[{"insert":"WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1776"},{"attributes":{"align":"center"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That the Secret Committee be directed immediately to deliver to Mr. Mease, to be sent forward to Colonel Moylan, quarter master general, half a ton of saltpetre.\n\n\tSundry letters were laid before Congress, and read, [viz.]\n\n\tOne from the convention of New York, 12 July, with sundry papers enclosed; referred to the Board of War:\n\n\tA letter from Brigadier General Wooster;\n\t\n\tA letter from Carpenter Wharton, of the 15; Whereipon,\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That an order for 15,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of Carpenter Wharton; he to be accountable.\n\n\tA letter from Richard Ellis, of the 11.\n\n\tThe Board of War, to whom the letter of General Washington, of the 14, was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That General Washington, in refusing to receive a letter said to be sent from Lord Howe, addressed to \"George Washington, Esq"},{"attributes":{"script":"super"},"insert":"r"},{"insert":".\" acted with a dignity becoming his station; and, therefore, this Congress do highly approve the same; and do direct, that no letter or message be received, on any occasion whatsoever, from the enemy, by the commander in chief, or other, the commanders of the American army, but such as shall be directed to them in the characters they respectively sustain.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Ordered"},{"insert":", That the above be published.\n\n\tThe president informed Congress, that he had been under the disagreeable necessity of committing Captain Gamble to prison, on account of his ill behaviour;\n\n\tWhereupon,\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That the Board of War be directed to enquire into the conduct of Captain Gamble, since he was made prisoner of war, and report specially to Congress.\n\n\tThe Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of the director general of the American hospital; Whereupon,\n\n"},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"strike":true,"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":", For the better Government of the general Hospital of the American Army, for explaining and ascertaining more fully the duties of the Director General, the directors of Hospitals, the Surgeons and Mates, both Hospital and Regimental."},{"insert":"\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That the number of hospital surgeons and mates be increased, in proportion to the augmentation of the army, not exceeding one surgeon and five mates to every five thousand men, to be reduced when the army is reduced, or when there is no further occasion for os great a number:\n\n\tThat as many persons be employed in the several hospitals, in quality of store keepers, stewards, managers, and nurses, as are necessary for the good of the service, for the time being, to be appointed by the directors of the respective hospitals:\n\n\tThat the several regimental chests of medicines, and chirurgical instruments, which now are of hereafter shall be, in possession of the regimental surgeons, be subject to the inspection and enquiry of the respective directors of hospitals, and the director general; and that the said regimental surgeons shall, from time to time, when thereto required, render account of the said medicines and instruments to the said directors, or if there be no director in any particular department, to the director general; the said accounts to be transmitted to the director general, and by him to this Congress; and the medicines and instruments not used by any regimental surgeon, to be returned when the regiment is reduced, to the respective directors, and an account thereof by them rendered to the director general, and by him to this Congress:\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", that an Additional Apothecary with such Number of mates as the Service may require, be allowed, under the Title of Apothecary to the Army, and in subordination to the General Hospital Apothecary of the General Hospital.\n\n\tThat the several directors of hospitals, in the several departments, and the regimental surgeons, where there is no director, shall transmit to the director general regular returns of the number of surgeons' mates, and other officers employed under them, their names and pay; also, an account of the expences and furniture of the hospital under their direction; and that the director general make report of the same, from time to time, to the commander in chief, and to this Congress:\n\n\tThat the several regimental and hospital surgeons, in the several departments, make weekly returns of their sick to the respective directors in their departments:\n\n\tThat no regimental surgeon be allowed to draw upon the hospital of his department, for any stores except medicines and instruments; and that, when any sick persons shall require other stores, they shall be received into the said hospital, and the rations of the said sick persons be stopped, so long as they are in the said hospitals; and that the directors of the several hospitals report to the commissary the names of the sick, when received into, and when discharged from the hospital, and make a like return to the Board of Treasury:\n\n\tThat all extra expences for bandages, old linen, and other articles necessary for the service, incurred by any regimental surgeon, be paid by the director of that department, with the approbation of the commander thereof:\n\n\tThat no more medicines belonging to the continent be be disposed of "},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":"by sale till the Army is fully supplied,"},{"insert":" till further order of Congress:\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", that no Surgeon or Surgeon's Mate shall receive a Commo as such in the Army, without having first undergone an Examination by the director of the Hospital of the Department in which he may desire employment or the director Genl and obtained a Certificate from the Commdr and director of that department, or the Director Genl, of his Abilities and knowledge in his business.\n\n\tThat the pay of the hospital surgeons be increased to one dollar and two thirds of a dollar by the day; the pay of the hospital mates be increased to one dollar by the day; and the pay of the hospital apothecary to one dollar and two thirds of a dollar by the day; and that the hospital surgeons and mates take rank of regimental surgeons and mates:\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", that the Storekeepers of the several Hospitals be paid by the month, and the Stewards and Managers of the said Hospitals be paid by the Month a sum not exceeding \t\t\t dollars.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", that the duties and priviledges of the Surgeons and Mates, not heretofore particularly ascertained, be conformable to the established Usage of other well regulated Armies, as far as is consistent with the Good of the Service, until otherwise settled and directed by this Congress.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", that the Appointments of Surgeons [Surgeons mates] Storekeepers, Stewards, Managers and Nurses, heretofore mentioned, shall be made by the Director General in the Northern and Eastern Departments; and of the Middle department by the Director, which may hereafter be app'd in that dep't; and in the Southern Dep't by the director of that dep't with the approba. of the Commandr of the respect departments.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", that it be recommend to Congress to purchase the Medicines [now in Phila] belonging to Doctor Morgan.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", that in all levies of Troops hereafter to be raised for the Service of the Continent a stoppage of \t\tout of the months pay of each Man be made for the Use and support of the several Continental Hospitals.\n\n\tThat the director general, and the several directors of hospitals, be empowered to purchase, with the approbation of the commander of the respective departments, medicines, and instruments for the use of their respective hospitals, and draw upon the pay master for the same, and make report of such purposes to Congress.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":"\tResolved, That the second paragraph in the third page of the report be recommitted."},{"insert":"\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That Nicholas Hausegger be appointed colonel; George Stricker, lieutenant colonel; Ludowick Weltner, major of the German battalion:\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That another company be added to the German battalion:\n\n\tThat John David Woelper be appointed to command said company.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That Samuel Brady be first lieutenant, William M'Murray, second lieutenant, Henry Fortney, third lieutenant, of the independent company commanded by Captain Doyle.\n\n\tThe Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy pay master general for the flying camp; and the ballots being taken,\n\n\tRichard Dallam, Esq"},{"attributes":{"script":"super"},"insert":"r"},{"insert":". was elected.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That Colonel Smallwood, of the Maryland troops, be ordered to repair, with the troops under his command, to New York as soon as possible, and put himself under the command of the General:\n\n\tThat the General be informed that these troops are to be considered as part of the two thousand which he was empowered to call his assistance from the flying camp, by the resolution of yesterday.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That it be earnestly recommended to the convention of New Jersey, to cause all the stock on the sea coast, which they shall apprehend to be in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy, to be immediately removed, and driven back into the country to a place of safety.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That a committee of three be appointed to revise the journals, and direct what part of it ought to be published:\n\n\tThe members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, [jun.] and Mr. [Francis] Hopkinson.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That the Secret Committee appointed o the 11th of this month, be directed to apply to the convention of Pennsylvania, now sitting, and request them to appoint a select committee of their body, to confer with them on a matter of importance relating to their colony.\n\n\tA petition from Jean Baptiste de Vidal, of Canada, was presented to Congress, and read:\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That it be referred to a committee of five, and that they be directed to enquire into the character of the petitioner, and all others in similar circumstances, applying for relief and report to Congress.\n\n\tThe members chosen, Mr. [Benjamin] Rush, Mr. [William] Paca, Mr. [Thomas] Heyward, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, and Mr. [George] Walton.\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That Mr. J. [ohn] Adams, Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, and Mr. [Robert] Morris, be a committee to bring in a resolution for subjecting to confiscation the property of the subject of the crown of Great Britain, and particularly the inhabitants of the British West Indies, taken on the high seas, or between high and low water mark.\n\n\tThe Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the rules and ordered for the government of this house; Whereupon,\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Resolved"},{"insert":", That the following rules be observed:\n\n\t1. So soon as nine Colonies [states] are present in the house, the Congress proceed to business.\n\n\t2. No member shall depart from the service of the house, without permission of the Congress, or order form his constituents.\n\n\t3. No member shall read any printed paper in the house during the sitting thereof, without leave of the Congress.\n\t\n\t4. When the house is sitting, no member shall speak "},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":"or whisper"},{"insert":" to another, so as to interrupt any member who may be speaking in the debate.\n\n\t5. Every member, when he speaks, shall rise from his seat, and address himself to the chair, and when he has finished, shall sit down again.\n\n\t6. No member shall speak more than twice in any one debate, without leave of the house.\n\n\t7. When two members rise together, the president shall name the person to speak.\n\n\t8. No motion shall be debated, until the same be seconded.\n\n\t9. When a motion shall be made, and seconded, it shall be reduced in writing, if desired by the president or any member, delivered in at the table, and read by the president, before the same shall be allowed to be debated.\n\n\t10. When a motion is made and seconded, the matter of the motion shall receive a determination by the question, or be laid aside, by general consent, or postponed by the previous question, before any other motion be received.\n\n\t11. If a question in a debate contain more parts than one, any member may have the same divided into as many questions as parts.\n\n\t12. No person shall be appointed to any office of profit, unless he shall have the consent of seven colonies [state,] nor shall any ballot be counted, unless the person for whom the ballots shall be given, be first named to the house, before the balloting be gone into.\n\n\tAdjourned to 9 o'clock to Morrow.\n"}]