A letter, from the navy board of the eastern department, dated 16 December last,¹ to the Marine Committee, was laid before Congress and read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee. . . .

The Marine Committee, to whom was referred the letter of the 18 November, 1777,² from the navy board for the eastern department, brought in a report,³ which was taken into consideration;

Resolved, That, considering the necessity of the case, the encouragement given by the said board, to man the ship Providence, be approved:

That the bounties given to seamen by the resolve of Congress of the 29 March, 1777,⁴ is not to be stopped out of their wages, but deducted from their prize money, where any future prize money is obtained:

That the said navy board be supplied with a number of blank commissions, and that they be empowered to grant commissions to officers not above the rank of lieutenants, where vacancies may happen, and the good of the service absolutely requires that they should be immediately filled, but not otherwise:

That the commissary general of purchases be directed to give an order upon the late commissary, J. Trumbull, for 500 bushels of salt, in favour of the navy board in the eastern department, unless they should be already provided therewith.

Resolved, That the remainder of the report be postponed.⁵