[Philadelphia] Friday, August 16, 1776
The Congress resumed the consideration of the instructions given to Commodore Hopkins, his examination and answers, &c. and, thereupon came to the following resolution:
Resolved, That the said conduct of Commodore Hopkins deserves the censure of this house, and the house does accordingly censure him.
Ordered, That a copy of the resolutions passed against Commodore Hopkins be transmitted to him.2
1. Ford, ed., JCC, V, 660-62.
2. "Although this Resolution of Censure was not, in my Opinion demanded by Justice and consequently was inconsistent with good Policy, as it tended to discourage an Officer and dimminish his Authority by tarnishing his reputation; Yet as it went not so far as to cashier him, which had been the Object intended by the Spirit that dictated the Prosecution, I had the Satisfaction to think that I had not laboured wholly in vain, in his defence." Butterfield, ed., Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, III, 408.
