Committee on Letters from General Schuyler, the Commissioners in Canada, General Thomas, General Thompson, and General Arnold, Committee on Indian Affairs directed to devise ways and means for empowering the General to employ in Canada a number of Indians not exceeding two thousand, Two fast-sailing vessels to be sent with Provisions to Island of Bermudas, by the Secret Committee, Marine Committee to take measures for purchasing, manning, arming, and fitting at the Bermudas, two sloops of war for the service of the United Colonies, Captains for the new Frigates appointed, Names of the thirteen new Frigates, Marine Committee authorized to affix the names of each particular ship, Marine Committee directed to consider the propriety of building two more ships of war, Committee to devise ways and means for raising ten millions of Dollars, voted on the 6th, of May

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Thursday, June 6, 1776.

Sundry Letters and Papers being received, were laid before Congress, and read, viz:

Two Letters from Major-General Schuyler, of the 31st of May and 1st of June.

A Letter from the Commissioners in Canada, of the 27th and 28th of May.

Three Letters from General Thomas, of which, two to the

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Three from Brigadier-General Arnold, of the 17th, 25th, and 27th of May, to the Commissioners in Canada, enclosing a Cartel entered into between him and Captain Forster, for exchange of Prisoners.

One from Brigadier-General Thompson, of the 25th of May, to the Commissioners. Whereupon,

Resolved, That a copy of the Letter from the Commissioners in Canada be sent to General Washington.

Resolved, That Brigadier-General Wooster be directed immediately to repair to Head-Quarters at New York.

That the Letters just received and read, be referred to a Committee of five.

The Members chosen: Mr˙ Sherman, Mr˙ Wythe, Mr˙ Sergeant, Mr˙ F˙ Lee, and Mr˙ Gwinnett.

Resolved, That the Standing Committee for Indian Affairs be directed to devise ways and means for carrying into effect the Resolution of the 3d of this month, empowering the General to employ in Canada a number of Indians, not exceeding two thousand.

The Committee to whom was referred an extract of a Letter from a gentleman in Bermuda, dated 26th of April, and continued to May 1st, to a gentleman in Philadelphia, brought in their Report, which was read; and the same being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be instructed forthwith to fit out two fast-sailing Vessels, and load them with Provisions, to be sent immediately to supply the inhabitants of the Islands of Bermudas; and that the Committee of Secret Correspondence be directed to take such measures as they may think proper by those Vessels to discover the state of those Islands, and the disposition of their inhabitants; and that the Marine Committee be instructed to take such measures as they may think proper for purchasing, manning, arming, and fitting, at the said Islands, two Sloops of War for the service of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That the remainder of the Report lie on the table for consideration.

The draft of a Speech to be delivered to the Indians being read, was agreed to.

Resolved, That the delivery of this Speech be deferred for some days.

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due —

To Captain William West, for expenses in conducting Money to Williamsburgh, (Horse-hire, &c˙, included.) the sum of 219 40-90 Dollars;

To Melchior Meng, for twenty-one days' hire of his Wagon and Horses, carrying Money to Virginia, the sum of 42 Dollars;

To Benjamin Towne, the sum of 26 27-90 Dollars, for Cartouch-boxes, being so much paid him less than the price contracted for;

To Robert Porter, for Accoutrements for Colonel Hartley' s Regiment, the sum of 18 66-90 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid and charged to the said Regiment;

To John Kuntz, the sum of 21 40-90 Dollars, of which sum there is due, for entertaining General Lee' s Guards, the sum of 10 60-90 Dollars, and for Expresses, the sum of 10 70-90 Dollars;

To Michael Staddleman, for entertaining General Lee' s Guards, the sum of 11 39-90 Dollars;

To Benjamin Smith, for Board and Accommodations for Prisoners at Trenton, the sum of 31 4-90 Dollars. This money became due before the regulation of Congress for determining the price of their Board took place;

That there is due for expenses in apprehending Henry Edwin Stanhope and George Gregory, who broke their parole and ran from Northampton, the sum of 47 48-90 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid, and charged to the said Stanhope and Gregory.

Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid to J˙ Hancock, Esquire.

The Marine Committee having recommended sundry gentlemen for Captains and Subaltern Officers for the Ships building or built for the Continent, the same was taken into consideration. Whereupon,

Resolved, That Thomas Thompson be appointed Captain of the Frigate built in New Hampshire;

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John Hopkins and Samuel Tomkins for those building in Rhode Island;

Christopher Miller, for one of those building at New York; Nicholas Biddle, John Barry, Thomas Read, Charles Alexander, for those building in Philadelphia;

James Nicholson, for that building in Maryland.

Resolved, That the names of the thirteen Frigates be, the Congress, Randolph, Hancock, Washington, Trumbull, Raleigh, Effingham, Montgomery, Warren, Boston, Virginia, Providence, and Delaware.

Resolved, That Israel Turner be First Lieutenant, Joseph Doble Second Lieutenant, Mark Dennet Third Lieutenant, of Captain Manly' s Ship.

Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to affix the names to each particular Ship, and determine the Vessel which each Captain is to take command of.

That the Marine Committee be empowered and directed to consider the propriety of building two more Ships-of-War, and their size, and report to Congress.

Resolved, That three Members be added to the Committee appointed to devise ways and means for raising Ten Millions of Dollars, voted the 6th of May.

The Members chosen: Mr˙ Braxton, Mr˙ R˙ Livingston, and Mr˙ Tilghman.

Resolved, That Dr˙ Jonathan Potts be employed as a Physician and Surgeon in the Canada Department, or at Lake George, as the General shall direct; but that this appointment shall not supersede Dr˙ Stringer.

Resolved, That an Express be sent to Hugh Mercer, Esq˙, who was yesterday appointed a Brigadier-General, with his Commission, and that he be desired immediately to repair to Head-Quarters at New York.

A Memorial of Jacob Ummensetter was presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to contract for the casting of Cannon.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o' clock, tomorrow.