July 17

v1:1580

Wednesday, July 17, 1776.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed immediately to deliver to Mr˙ J˙ Mease half a ton of Saltpetre, to be by him forwarded to Colonel Moylan, Quartermaster-General.

Sundry Letters were laid before Congress, and read, viz:

One from the Convention of New-York, dated the 12th, with sundry papers enclosed: which were referred to the Board of War;

One from Brigadier-General Wooster;

One, of the 11th, from Richard Ellis; and One, of the 15th, from Carpenter Wharton.

Resolved, That an Order for 15,000 Dollars be drawn on the Treasurers, in favour of Carpenter Wharton; he to be accountable.

The Board of War, to whom the Letter of General Washington, of the 14th, was referred, brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration;

Whereupon, Resolved, That General Washington, in refusing to receive a Letter said to be sent from Lord Howe, addressed to "George Washington, Esq˙," 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 others the commanders of the American Army, but such as shall be directed to them in the characters they respectively sustain.

Ordered, That the above be published.

The President informed Congress that he had been under the disagreeable necessity of committing Captain Gamble to prison, on account of his ill behaviour;

Whereupon, Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to inquire into the conduct of Captain Gamble, since he was made prisoner of war, and report specially to Congress.