southern department, until the further order of Congress.

That the board of war be directed to take effectual measures for supplying the said department with all necessary military stores.

JUNE 21, 1780.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. R. R. Livingston, Mr. M'Kean and Mr. Ellsworth, to whom was referred a note from the minister of France,

Resolved, That the minister of France be informed that Congress have used every means in their power to fulfil their engagements of January last; that they have apportioned the quotas of the several states, and called upon them most earnestly to complete the same; that the surrender of Charleston, and the diversion of our force to the southern department, together with the heavy loss sustained by fatigue and desertion in a long and toilsome march, have for the present considerably weakened the main army; that Congress have endeavoured to replace these deficiencies, by demanding large additional supplies of recruits and militia from the middle and eastern states, to take the field by the first of July; that their requests have been frequently reiterated in the strongest terms; that they have reason to believe that many of them are making great efforts to comply with their demand; and that they are not without well grounded expectations that the importance of the occasion will awaken all to the most vigorous exertions; that Congress have demanded from each state immediate information of the mea

sures they have adopted in consequence of their requisition; that they hope to be thereby enabled more fully to satisfy the wishes of the minister of France, relative to the matters contained in his memorial; that they do full justice to the solicitude of the minister of France, for the advancement of the mutual interests of his most christian majesty and these United States, and see with pleasure, in the warmth with which he urges measures evidently calculated for the immediate advantage of these states, the intimacy of the union of the allied powers.

And whereas Congress did, in behalf of the United States, assure his most christian majesty, by their act of 31st January last, that they would bring into the field twenty-five thousand men, exclusive of officers, and at the same time solicit a naval force to co-operate against the common enemy: and whereas advice has been received from the court of France, that his most christian majesty, in compliance with the solicitations of Congress, hath not only directed a considerable naval force to repair to North America, but hath subjoined thereto a respectable body of land, forces and whereas Congress in consequence of their engagements by their act of February last, did call on the several states to complete their quota of troops to the establishment mentioned in the said act; which quota they have since, from the disaster of Charleston, found it necessary to increase, and have accordingly approved the requisitions of their committee at headquarters: and whereas none of the states, whose battalions were deficient, have yet sent on their recruits to complete the same, nor afforded any assurances that the

requisitions of Congress and their committee will be complied with: and whereas the execution of the above requisition will be extremely hazardous and expensive, unless the further demands of Congress and their committee, for provision, are punctually complied with: Therefore,

Resolved, That the said states be requested explicitly, and without the least delay, to inform Congress how far they may rely upon their furnishing the several supplies of men, money and provisions, called for by Congress or their committee at headquarters.

And whereas the legislatures of many of the United States are not now convened, though earnestly requested by Congress to continue their sessions, or to vest in some person such powers as would enable them on the requisition of Congress or their committee, to draw forth the military resources of the state: and whereas Congress are not fully informed whether their magistrates are so empowered :

Resolved, That the supreme executive magistrate in each state, where the legislature is not now convened, be requested immediately to inform Congress what measures they have taken, or empowered to take, in compliance with the above requisitions of Congress, in order that Congress, whose duty it is, may provide that effectual measures be taken that every state in the union contribute their quota to the common defence.

Resolved, That the executive magistrate of every state be requested to correspond weekly with the committee of Congress at headquarters, advising them of the measures actually taken from time to time in pur

suance of the above recited requisitions of Congress and their committee.

JUNE 24, 1780.

The committee of commerce, to whom was referred a communication of the minister of France, and a letter of 18th May, from Mr. Carabasse, of Cape Francois, brought in a report: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the board of admiralty be directed to order one of the continental frigates to proceed as soon as possible to Cape Francois, and to take on board all such publick goods and stores as Mr. Carabasse may have in his hands to ship; and to proceed therewith to Delaware or Chesapeak Bay.

JULY 14, 1780.

Congress took into consideration the report of a committee on a memorial of Mr. du Simitiere; and thereupon came to the following resolution:

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Whereas Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, of the city of Philadelphia, hath, with great industry, and at much expense, collected materials for a literary work to be entitled, "Memoirs and observations on the origin and present state of North America," and hath solicited Congress to grant him encouragement in preparing and publishing the same; and whereas Congress are fully satisfied that a work of this nature will greatly tend to diffuse useful knowledge

Resolved, That for the encouragement of the said Mr. du Simitiere, in carrying on and completing his

said undertaking, it be, and it is hereby recommended to the several states, upon his application, to afford him such assistance as may be most beneficial to him, in rendering his said work complete and useful.

JULY 24, 1780.

On a report from the board of war,

Resolved, That the board of war and ordnance be authorized and directed to procure, with all possible despatch, six hundred and fifteen tons of shot for battering cannon, and nine hundred and forty-seven tons of shells, of such sizes as they shall deem proper, according to the requisitions made by the commander in chief.

JULY 25, 1780.

Resolved, That to enable the board of war to execute the authority vested in them by the resolution of the 24th, for the purpose of shot and shells, they be supplied with the sum of four millions of dollars; and that they be authorized to contract for the whole quantity of shot and shells mentioned in the resolution aforesaid, on the best terms possible; and agree on behalf of the United States, to make payment in specie, or an equivalent in the currency of these states, at such periods as shall be mutually agreed on between the said board and the manufacturers, with interest at six per cent. per annum, from such times as shall be fixed on by the said board.

That the said board be furnished with the further sum of four hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars, for the purpose of procuring the articles of military