A petition from John Cox was presented to Congress and read: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell Mr. Cox half a ton of powder, for the use of the private vessel of war by him fitted out.

The Congress are so fully persuaded of the necessity of protecting the frontiers of New York from the incursions of the enemy, that they recommend that business to General Schuyler's immediate attention and direct that if the situation of affairs will admit of it, he take proper steps for erecting a fort at Oswego and building gallies on Lake Ontario, and pursue such other measures as may be best fitted to answer the views of Congress.

That posts be taken and forts erected at Presque isle, Le Beuf, and Kittanning, and a battalion be raised to erect and garrison the same.

That the commissioners of Indian affairs in the middle department be directed to inquire what naval force on Lake Erie will be necessary to secure to the United States the command of the navigation of that lake and ー to report the result of their inquiry as soon as possible to Congress.

The Marine Committee in pursuance of the order of Congress, reported that they have called before them, divers of the inferior officers, belonging to the ships Alfred and Columbus, and having heard their complaints against the Captains Saltonstal and Whipple, in their presence, are of opinion, that the charg against Captain Saltonstal does not appear to the committee to be well founded, and that the charge against Captain Whipple amounts to nothing more than a rough, indelicate mode of behaviour to his marine officers; ² Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed to order the Captains, Saltonstal and Whipple, to repair to their respective commands; and that it be recommended to Captain Whipple to cultivate harmony with his officers.

The committee, to whom the letter from John Macpherson, of the 31 of May, was referred, brought in their report, as follows:

That they had examined Mr. Macpherson, respecting the contents of his letter, who alleged, that he had a promise of being appointed commander in chief of the American navy, by Messrs. Randolph, Hopkins and J. Rutledge, a committee of Congress to whom he communicated an important secret; but that he produced no evidence in support of such allegation; that they enquired of Mr. Hopkins about this promise, in the presence of Mr. Macpherson, and that Mr. Hopkins declared he recollected nothing of the kind: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the application and request of Mr. Macpherson is unreasonable.