naval committee be instructed to engage the seamen and marines to the first of January, 1777, unless sooner discharged by Congress."* On the same day the committee that had been appointed on the subject of re-captures brought in their report, and it was resolved, "That in cases of re-captures, the re-captors have and retain in lieu of salvage, one eighth part of the true value of the vessel and cargo, or either of them, if the same hath, or have been in possession of the enemy, twenty-four hours; one fifth part if more than twenty-four hours, and less than forty-eight hours; one third part if more than forty-eight and less than ninetysix hours; and one half, if more than ninety-six hours, unless the vessel shall, after the capture, have been legally condemned as a prize by some court of admiralty; in which cases, the share detained as a prize to be divided between the owners of the ship making the re-captures, the colony or the continent, as the case may be, and the captors agreeable to a former resolution."+ On the 9th of December the following resolution was passed: "Resolved, That the committee appointed to fit out armed vessels, be empowered to employ the following officers, and that their pay be as follows, viz. Midshipman, 12 dollars per calendar month. "Pilot according to the usual rates; when absolutely necessary, the commander to give such further gratuity as may be necessary for the good of the service." On the 11th December it was resolved, "That a committee be appointed to devise ways and means for furnishing these colonies with a naval armament, and report with all convenient speed. • Journals of Congress, vol. 1, p. 260. † Idem, vol. 1, p. 261. “Resolved, That the committee consist of a member from each colony, viz. Mr. Bartlett, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Deane, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Crane, Mr. Morris, Mr. Read, Mr. Paca, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Hewes, and Mr. Gadsden." 3 On the 13th this committee reported; and it was resolved, "That five ships of thirty-two guns, five of twenty-eight guns, three of twenty-four guns, making in the whole thirteen, can be fitted for sea, probably by the last of March next, viz. in New-Hampshire one, in Massachusetts-Bay two, in Connecticut one, in Rhode Island two, in New-York two, in Pennsylvania four, and in Maryland one. "That the cost of these ships, so fitted, will not be more than 66,666 2-3 dollars each, on an average, allowing two complete suits of sails for each ship, equal in the whole to 866,666 2-3 dollars. "That the materials for fitting them may be all furnished in these colonies, except the articles of canvas and gunpowder; and that therefore it will be proper the Congress direct the most speedy and effectual means of importing the said articles of canvas and powder; that of the former, 7500 pieces will be wanted, and that of the latter, one hundred tons. "Resolved, That a committee be appointed with full powers to carry the said report into execution, with all possible expedition, (except what relates to canvas and powder) at the expense of the United Colonies. "Resolved, That the appointment of this committee be deferred till to-morrow. "Resolved, That it be an instruction to the secret committee, to embrace the best and earliest, opportunities to procure the quantity of duck and powder mentioned in the above report. On the same day it was resolved, "That the committee appointed to fit out armed vessels, be authorised to give able-bodied seamen, that may be willing to enter on board the ships of war of the United Colonies, eight dollars per calendar month." On the 14th, Congress proceeded to the appointment of a committee, to carry the report of the 13th into effect. It was resolved, “That the said committee consist of a member from each colony. “Resolved, That the choice be by ballot. "The members chosen, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Deane, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Crane, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Read, Mr. Chase, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Gadsden, and Mr. Houston." On the 16th this committee was empowered to draw on the treasury for a sum not exceeding 500,000 dollars, to carry the resolution respecting a naval armament into effect. The following resolve shows the almost insurmounta ble difficulties the government met with in its military preparation, through want of articles indispensably necessary, in war. This, however, so far from checking the patriotic spirit of Congress, and the determined ardour of the people, only animated them to greater exertions. On the 19th of December it was resolved, "That the committee of safety of Pennsylvania be requested to supply the armed vessels, which are ready to sail, with four tons of gun-powder, at the continental expense. "That the said committee be requested to procure and lend the said vessels as many stands of small arms as they can spare, not exceeding 400, to be repaid by Congress, either in kind or value, as the committee may desire. "That if the powder and arms that may be supplied and lent to the continent for the use of the said armed vessels, shall not be replaced on or before the first day of February next, the Congress engages that their whole influence and authority shall then be exerted immediately, to replace the same, by procuring powder and arms from some other part of the continent." The vessels, alluded to in the above resolve, constituted the squadron under the command of Commodore Hopkins. On the 22d of December the naval committee laid before Congress a list of the officers the had appointed; at the same time several resolutions were passed. "Ezek. Hopkins, Esq. commander in chief of the fleet Dudley Saltonstall, captain of the Alfred. Abraham Whipple, captain of the Columbus. Nicholas Biddle, captain of the Andrew Doria. John Burrows Hopkins, captain of the Cabot. First lieutenants. John Paul Jones, Rhodes Arnold, Stansbury, Hersted Hacker, Jonathan Pitcher. Second lieutenants. Benjamin Seabury, Joseph Olney, Elisha Warner, Thomas Weaver, M'Dougall. Third lieutenants. John Fanning, Ezekiel Burroughs, Daniel Vaughan. "Resolved, That the pay of the commander in chief of the fleet be 125 dollars per calendar month. ( "Resolved, That commissions be granted to the above officers agreeable to their rank in the above appointment. "Resolved, That the Committee for fiting out armed vessels, issue warrants to all officers employed in the fleet under the rank of third lieutenants. "Resolved, That the said Committee be directed (as a secret committee) to give such instructions to the commander of the fleet, touching the operations of the ships under his command, as shall appear to the said committee most conducive to the defence of the United Colonies, and to the distress of the enemy's naval forces and vessels bringing supplies to their fleets and armies; and lay such instructions before the Congress when called for. "Resolved, That the said committee be directed to consider how the shares of the prizes allotted to the captors ought to be divided between the officers and men, and report to Congress.” In compliance with this last resolve, the naval committee reported on the 6th of January 1776, when it was resolved, "That the commander in chief have one-twentieth part of the said allotted prize-money, taken by any ship or ships, armed vessel or vessels, under his orders and command. "That the captain of any single ship or armed vessel, have two-twentieth parts for his share: but, if more ships or armed vessels be in company when a prize is taken, then the two-twentieth parts to be divided amongst all the said captains. "That the captains of marines, lieutenants of the ships or armed vessels, and masters thereof, share together, and have three-twentieth parts divided amongst them equally, of all prizes taken when they are in company. "That the lieutenants of marines, surgeons, chaplains, pursers, boatswain, gunners, carpenters, the master's mates, and the secretary of the fleet, share together, and have two-twentieth parts and one half of a twentieth part, divided among them, equally of all prizes taken when they are in company. "That the following petty warrant and petty officers, viz. allowing for each ship, six midshipmen; for each brig, four midshipmen, and each sloop, two midshipmen, one captain's clerk, one surgeon's mate, one steward, one sail-maker, one cooper, one amourer, two boatswain's mates, two gunner's mates, two carpenter's mates, one cook, one cockswain, two sergeants of marines for each ship, and one sergeant for each brig and sloop, have threetwentieth parts divided among them equally: and when a prize is taken by any ship or vessel on board or in company of which the commander in chief is, then the commander in chief's cook or cockswain to be added to this allotment, and have their shares with these last mentioned. "That the remaining eight-twentieth parts and onehalf of a twentieth part, be divided among the rest of the ship or ships' companies, as it may happen, share and share alike. "That no officer or man have any share, but such as are actually on board their several vessels, when any prize or prizes are taken, excepting only such as may have been ordered on board any other prizes before taken, or sent away by his or their commanding officers." By a resolution of the 9th of January, it appears that Congress were desirous of extending the protection of armed vessels, in the public service, to merchant vessels, by convoy. For it was resolved, "That a letter be written to Mr. Tilghman, informing him, that the Hornet and Wasp are under orders to sail to the capes of Delaware, and that such vessels, as are ready to sail, may take the benefit of that convoy. "That the committee for fitting out armed vessels, be directed to give orders to the captains of the Hornet and Wasp, to take under their convoy, such vessels as are ready to sail." On the 25th of January it was resolved, "That the direction of the fleet fitted out by order of Congress, be left to the |