Friday, June 7, 1776

The committee to whom was referred the letter from Eseck Hopkins, commodore of the continental fleet, dated Providence, May 22d, brought in their report, which, being taken into consideration, was agreed to; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Mr. Charles Walker, of New Providence, ought to be paid the value of the sloop Endeavour, together with four tons of lignum vitae, and one hundred cedar posts, taken by the said commodore, for the use of the colonies, and the damages the said Walker has sustained by the taking and detention of said vessel, lignum vitae and posts; the said Walker giving a full acquittance for the said vessel, goods and damages.

Resolved, That the governor and Council of the colony of Connecticut be requested to appoint judicious and in different persons to appraise the vessel and goods aforesaid, at the time when they were taken into the seance of the colonies, and to estimate the full damages sustained by the said Mr. Walker, and report it to this Congress forthwith, that the said Walker may be indemnified by this Congress.

Resolved, That the said Walker have his election to receive his vessel again, and the hire of her, and his damages, or the value of her to be ascertained as aforesaid.(1)

The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the resolutions of the convention of South Carolina, respecting the batallions raised In that colony; and, after some debate,

Resolved, That it be recommitted.

Information being given that complaint is made with respect to the powder manufactured at Mr. O[swald] Eve's mill:

Resolved, That Mr. [Henry] Wisner, Mr. [Robert Treat] Paine, and Mr. R[obert R.] Livingston be a committee to enquire into the defect, and take measures to have it remedied.

Certain resolutions ||respecting independency|| being moved and seconded,

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.(2)

Resolved, That the consideration of them be referred till to morrow morning; and, that the members be enjoined to attend punctually at 10 o'Clock, in order to take the saline into consideration.

The committee to whom was referred the consideration of an attempt made to counterfeit the bills of credit, emitted by Congress, brought in their report:

The Committee to whom was referred the consideration of the attempt made to counterfeit the Bills of Credit emitted by Congress, Beg Leave to report, that it appears to the Committee bar sundry affidavits, the Confessions of the parties charged, and other papers, that Elizabeth Vandine, the wife of Henry Vandine, of Morris County, in the Province of New Jersey, with the Privity of her said Husband, has counterfeited several Bills of the Continental Currency, some of which were passed by the said Vandine, and others of them by his wife, and that the said Vandine and his wife were, for the said offense, committed to the goal of the County of Morris bar order of the Committee of the Township of Morris. Whereupon your Committee came to the following Resolutions:

That it be recommended to the provincial Convention of the Province of New Jersey to direct the said Henry Vandine to make satisfaction to such persons as have been injured by taking the said counterfeit bills.

That the said Henry and Elizabeth remain in Confinement, or be let out on good Bail for their appearance to abide their trial for the above offense, as to the said Convention shall seem most proper.

That it be recommended to the respective Legislatures of the United Colonies to pass Acts of Legislation for making the continental Bills of Credit a lawful tender in all payments, and for the most effectual preventing the counterfeiting thereof.(3)

||Ordered, To lie on the table for considerations||

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

(1) The original of this report, in the writing of John Adams, is in the Papers of the Contintinental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 169. Back

(2) This resolution, in the writing of Richard Henry Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 11. It has the following endorsement in three writings: " Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Com. that the first Resolution [Benjamin Harrison] be postponed to this day three weeks, and that in the mean time [Charles Thomson], least any time skid be lost in case the Congress agree to this resolution [Robert R. Livingston], a committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration to the effect of the said first resolution [Charles Thomson]." The postponement was made to give an opportunity to the Delegates from those Colonies which had not as yet given authority to adopt this decisive measure, to consult their constituents. The motion was seconded by John Adams. Back

(3) This report, in the writing of William Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 7. Back