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the president of South Carolina be confidentially requested to cause to be sent to count D'Estaing, from time to time, the earliest information respecting the force and situation of the enemy in Georgia and South Carolina.

That the President of Congress confer with the sieur Gerard, minister plenipotentiary from his most christian majesty, on the subject of the foregoing resolution, in order to obtain his interposition with count D'Estaing for the relief aforesaid.

Resolved, That the marine committee be directed forthwith to fit out two despatch boats to carry the despatches of Congress to count D'Estaing; and that the marquis de Britigny be requested to take charge of one of those despatches to the count.

JANUARY 28, 1779.

The President informed Congress, that the minister of France expects that the application for the aid to be asked of count D'Estaing should be accompanied with assurance of compensation, agreeably to the spirit and meaning of the fourth article of the treaty of alliance, to be hereafter settled by a convention between the court of France and the United States: Whereupon,

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take the same into consideration, and report such resolution on the subject as may be proper, in their opinion, for Congress to enter into on the subject.

The members chosen-Mr. Laurens, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Paca.

JANUARY 29, 1779.

Two members added, viz. Mr. Ellsworth and Mr. Duane.

FEBRUARY 3, 1779.

A memorial of this date, from the honourable sieur Gerard, minister plenipotentiary of France, was read, respecting the quantity of flour he can depend upon for the fleet of his most christian majesty in the West Indies.

Whereupon it was moved, That the committee of conference with the minister of France be instructed to represent the evils arising from the high rate of exchange; and confer with him on the means of preventing them.

On the question to agree to this, the being required by Mr. Laurens

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On the report of the committee to whom was referred the information given by the President

Resolved, That Congress, by requesting aid of count D'Estaing, have it in view to destroy the ships of war,

and expel or subdue the land forces of the common enemy invading the southern states.

Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed, who, together with the President, shall confer with the minister plenipotentiary of France, and prepare proper despatches and instructions to be sent by the marquis de Bretigny to count D'Estaing.

The members chosen-Mr. G. Morris and Mr. Laurens.

Ordered, That the committee apply to count D'Estaing for such supply of arms and ammunition as he can spare, to be sent in such way as he shall judge most safe, to Charleston, in South Carolina, for the use of the United States.

FEBRUARY 8, 1779.

The committee appointed to confer with the minister of France, on the subject of an act of Congress of the 5th, declaring their intention in requesting aid from count D'Estaing, made report of their proceedings: Whereupon,

Resolved, That it will not be expedient to make the proposed application for aid to count D'Estaing; and that the several acts of Congress on that subject be, and they are hereby repealed.

Ordered, That the President inform the honourable sieur Gerard, minister plenipotentiary of France, of the above resolution.

The committee, consisting of Mr. G. Morris, Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr. M. Smith, to whom was referred a letter of 5th December, 1778, from Mr. Bingham,

brought in a report: Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:

Whereas the general of Martinique hath made application, through the continental agent there, to Congress, stating the extreme necessity of the islands for provisions, and requesting that supplies may be exported from these United States

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a letter, to be signed by the President, to Mr. Bingham, informing him that the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, have not a sufficiency of flour for their own consumption: That the military operations, of which New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, have been the scene, have so reduced their resources of bread, as not to admit of further supplies than may be necessary for the army: That the wheat in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, has been so injured by a fly, which infests those states, as not to afford the succours in question: That South Carolina and Georgia abound in rice; and great quantities of that article and some other provisions may be had there; but that the navigation, by the late efforts of the enemy, hath become very insecure; and the vessels which may be sent there will be exposed to great hazard, unless accompanied by a strong convoy, or the marine force of the enemy in those states destroyed. The members chosen-Mr. M. Smith, Mr. G. Morris, and Mr. Ellsworth.

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