[Philadelphia] July 30th 1778
Colonel John Beatty
Comy. Genl. of Prisoners
Sir
Your letter of yesterdays date hath been received and laid before Congress.1—You will find herein A Copy of a Resolve passed in consequence thereof which for the present will answer all the questions you have proposed except what relates to the French Seamen2 — on that head we expect you will receive Instructions from the French Minister3 through Colo. Boudinot.4 We think it necessary to explain that you are not to consider the means to be furnished the seamen for going on to Boston as meaning the advance of Money, that being to be done at Boston, but you will give Orders to the proper Continental Officers to supply them on the way with Provisions. We are Sir [&c]
LB, DNA, PCC, Marine Committee Letter Book, fol. 168 (M332, roll 6).
1. Beatty's letter has not been found, but Beatty had written Congress on 24 July requesting hard money to pay off prisoners' debts, requisite to exchange. That letter had been read in Congress on 28 July and tabled. Beatty to the Continental Congress, 24 July 1778, DNA, PCC, item 78, vol. 3: 13–20 (M247, roll 38); JCC 11: 725.
2. See Journal of the Continental Congress, this date, immediately above.
3. Conrad-Alexandre Gérard.
4. Elias Boudinot, a delegate to Congress from New Jersey, was the former commissary general of prisoners.
