[Philadelphia] Thursday 14 Decr. Much of the Day was spent upon an Answer to that Part of Gen. Washns Letters requesting Directions what to do with the Ships & Cargoes lately taken by our armed Vessels which was at length referred after learned Debates & Authorities from Vattel 2 &c Much Altercation Whether a former Resolution of Congress had passed agt confiscating the Ships taken in Carrying Military Stores or Goods to Boston, the Colonies on Vote were equally divided upon it, however it was agreed that the Cargoes should be forfeited & that such Matters ought. to be tryed in the Admiralty Court and by the Course of the Law of Nations not of the Municipal Law... A Member from each Colony ([Stephen] Crane for New Jersey, tho now absent) chosen by Ballot to procure or cause to be built and fitted out the 13 Ships of War yesterday ordered 3... [James] Duane presented a Petition from Peter Berton of New York praying Compensation for a Vessel taken by the Men of War, it was referred by Ballot to [Thomas] Lynch, E[dward] Rutledge & myself ー
1. Richard Smith's Diary, LC.
2. Emeric Vattel (1714-67) Swiss jurist.
3. "Mr. [Silas] Deane was left out of the delegation by his State, and some others of the naval committee were dispersed, when Congress appointed a committee of twelve, one from each State, for naval affairs, so that I had no longer any particular charge relative to them; but as Jong as I continued a member of Congress, I never failed to support all reasonable measures reported by the new committee." John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States:... (Boston, 1856), III, 12.
