sary, to draw bills on the late application for loans. The words "conformably to measures already taken," referred to the above secret provision, and were meant to show that the payment to the army did not originate in the memorial, but in an antecedent attention to the wants of the army.

In the discussion of the second clause, the epoch of the of August, 1780, was objected to by the Eastern Delegates. Their States having settled with their lines down to later periods, they wished now to obtain the sanction of Congress to them. After some debate, a compromise was proposed by Mr. HAMILTON by substituting the last day of December, 1780. This was agreed to without opposition, although several members disliked it. The latter part of the clause, beginning with the word "Resolved,” &c., was considered as a very solemn point, and the basis of the plans by which the public engagements were to be fulfilled, and union cemented. A motion was made by Mr. BLAND to insert, after the words "in their power," the words "consistent with the Articles of Confederation." This amendment, as he explained it, was not intended to contravene the idea of funds extraneous to the Federal Articles, but to leave those funds for a consideration subsequent to providing constitutional ones. Mr. ARNOLD, however, eagerly seconded it. No question, however, was taken on it, Congress deeming it proper to postpone the matter till the next day, as of the most solemn nature, and to have as full a representation as possible. With this view, and to get rid of Mr. BLAND's motion, they adjourned; ordering all the members not present, and in town, to be summoned.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25TH.

The Secretary of Congress having suggested to a member that the contract with the Court of France specifying the sums due from the United States, although extremely generous on the part of the former, had been ratified without any such acknowledgments by the latter; that this was the first instance in which such acknowledgments had been omitted, and that the omission would be singularly improper at a time when we were soliciting further aids; these observations being made to Congress, the ratification was reconsidered, and the words "impressed with," &c., inserted.

The report on the memorial was resumed. By Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. FITZSIMMONS, and one or two others who had conversed with Mr. Morris on the change of the last day of December for the day of August, it was suggested that the change entirely contravened the measures pursued by his Department; and moved for a reconsideration of it, in order to inquire into the subject. Without going into details, they urged this as a reason sufficient. The Eastern Delegates, although they wished for unanimity and system in future proceedings relative to our funds and finances, were very stiff in retaining the vote which coincided with the steps taken by their constituents. Of this much complaint was made. Mr. RUTLEDGE, on this occasion, alleging that Congress ought not to be led by general suggestions derived from the Office of Finance, joined by Mr. GERVAIS, Voted against the reconsideration. The

consequence was, that South Carolina was divided, and six votes only in favor of the reconsideration. Mr. HAMILTON having expressed his regret at the negative, and explained more exactly the interference of the change of the epoch with the measures and plans of the Office of Finance, which had limited all State advances and settlements to August 1780, Mr. RUTLEDGE acknowledged the sufficiency of the reasons, and at his instance the latter date was reinstated. On this second question Connecticut also voted for August.

The day of August being reinstated before a question on the whole paragraph was taken, Mr. GORHAM objected to the word "general" before funds as ambiguous, and it was struck out; not, however, as improper, if referring to all the States, and not to all objects of taxation. Without this word the clause passed unanimously, even Rhode Island concurring in it.

Congress proceeded to the third clause relative to the commutation of half-pay. A motion was made by Mr. HAMILTON, to fill the blank with "six "-this was in conformity to tables of Dr. Price, estimating the officers on the average of good lives. Liberality in the rate was urged by several as necessary to give satisfaction, and prevent a refusal of the offer. For this motion there were six ayes, five noes; the Southern States and New York being in the affirmative, the Eastern and New Jersey in the negative. Colonel BLAND proposed six and a half, erroneously supposing the negative of six to have proceeded from its being too low. It was, on the contrary, rather doubtful whether the Eastern States would concur

in any arrangement on this head; so averse were they to what they call pensions. Several having calculated that the annual amount of half-pay was between four and five hundred thousand dollars, and the interest of the gross sum nearly two-thirds of that sum, Congress were struck with the necessity of proceeding with more caution, and for that purpose committed the report to a Committee of five-Mr. OSGOOD, Mr. FITZSIMMONS, Mr. GERVAIS, Mr. HAMILTON, and Mr. WILSON.

On the motion of Mr. WILSON, Monday next was assigned for the consideration of the resolution on the second clause of the report on the memorial from the army. He observed, that this was necessary to prevent the resolution from being, like many others, vox et preterea nihil.

MONDAY, JANUARY 27TH.

A letter from General Washington was received, notifying the death of Lord Stirling, and enclosing a report of the officer sent to apprehend Knowlton and Wells. (See page 209.)

The following is an extract from the report: "He (one Israel Smith) further said, that Knowlton and Wells had received a letter from JONATHAN ARNOLD, Esquire, at Congress, part of which was made public, which informed them that affairs in Congress were unfavorable to them, and would have them to look out for themselves. What other information this letter contained, he could not say. I found, in my march through the State, that the last menVOL. I.-18*

tioned gentleman was much in favor with all the principal men in that State, I had any conversation with."

Mr. ARNOLD, being present at the reading, informed Congress that he was surprised how such a notion should have prevailed with respect to him; that he had never held any correspondence with either Knowlton or Wells, and requested that he might be furnished with the extract above. In this he was indulged without opposition. But it was generally considered, notwithstanding his denial of the correspondence, that he had, at least at second hand, conveyed the intelligence to Vermont.

A long petition was read, signed as alleged, by near two thousand inhabitants (but all in the same handwriting) of the territory lately in controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia, complaining of the grievances to which their distance from public authority exposed them, and particularly of a late law of Pennsylvania interdicting even consultations about a new State within its limits; and praying that Congress would give a sanction to their independence, and admit them into the Union. The petition lay on the table, without a single motion or remark relative to it.

The order of the day was called for, to wit, the resolution of Saturday last in favor of adequate and substantial funds.

The subject was introduced by Mr. WILSON, with some judicious remarks on its importance, and the necessity of a thorough and serious discussion of it. He observed that the United States had, in the course of the Revolution, displayed both an unexampled