Since my last Address under the 26th Ulto. by Messenger Millet, I have had the honor of receiving and presenting to Congress Your
Excellency's favor of the 31st August-this has been a week in the hands of a Committee & remains unreported therefore I am without subject for reply.(1)
My present duty is to forward two Acts of Congress viz.(2)
1. Of the 2nd Instant for continuing the present Embargo on Provision until the last day of January 1779 and for divers other purposes therein mentioned.
2. An Act of this date for exchanging with Continental Currency such local Bills of Credit as have been received in the Loan Office of each State respectively.(3)
These will be found within the present Cover.
I have the honor to be &c.
1 President Lowndes' August 31 letter to Laurens, in which he had sought clarification of a 1776 congressional resolution pertaining to the authority of state officials to appoint Continental officers in the several states, is in PCC, item 72, fols. 465 68. For the disposition of this issue, which was referred to committee on September 29 and resolved on November 17, see Laurens to Benjamin Lincoln, November 24, 1778, note 3.
2 See JCC, 12:976-77, 982-43. Laurens transmitted these two resolves of Congress to the remaining states (except Georgia, for which see note 3 below) in letters dated October 7, 1778. PCC, item 13, 2:98-102.
3 Laurens sent a copy of this resolve to Georgia enclosed in an October 4 letter to Gov. John Houstoun explaining Congress' October 2 extension of the embargo on provisions. PCC, item 13, 2:96-97.