1. The messenger was Jesse Brown.

2. On 21 Oct. Congress had accepted Louis Cloquet de Vrigny’s resignation of his commission because, Vrigny said, his furlough from French service had expired. Congress also had resolved on that date that a copy of Vrigny’s memorial to Laurens of 21 Oct., offering his resignation and requesting a mark of approval for his zeal and services, be sent to GW, and that GW “be empowered and directed to give Mons. de Vrigny such certificate and testimonial as his zeal and services entitled him to” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1033–34; Vrigny’s memorial is in DNA:PCC, item 78). GW agreed in his reply to Laurens of 26–27 Oct. to “pay a proper regard” to this act, but no certificate from him for Vrigny has been identified. On 28 Oct. Congress rejected Vrigny’s claim for pay and extra rations from 1 June 1777 to 31 Jan. 1778, “during which time he served as a volunteer,” but it agreed to pay him for the period from 1 Feb. 1778 to the time of his resignation (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1071).

3. Congress’s act of this date directs GW “to inform Congress of the progress which has been made in re-inlisting the army in consequence of the resolution of the 8 September” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1034). Laurens is referring to the enlistment act of 31 Aug., which authorized that “the usual bounty of 20 dollars be given to each recruit who shall inlist for three years, or during the war” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 11:853–54). The act of 8 Sept. authorized GW, “if he finds it necessary, to give an additional bounty of ten dollars” to such recruits (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:889–90).

4. On 20 Oct. Congress had read an intercepted letter that David Franks, commissary of British prisoners, had written to his brother Moses Franks in London on 18 Oct. (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1026). On 21 Oct., Congress resolved that the letter’s contents “manifest a disposition and intentions inimical to the safety and liberties of the United States; and that Mr. Franks, having endeavoured to transmit this letter by stealth within the British lines, has abused the confidence reposed in him by Congress, to exercise within the jurisdiction of these states the office of commissary to the British prisoners.” Congress then ordered Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold to arrest Franks and confine him in the new Philadelphia jail, and after resolving that Franks be not allowed to exercise his office after 10 Nov., Congress directed GW “to transmit a copy of these resolutions to Sir Henry Clinton, and to inform him, that Congress desire he will nominate a proper person who, having received their approbation, may exercise the office of commissary to the British prisoners” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1032–33). GW complied with Congress’s order in his letter to Henry Clinton of 26 October. For further information about efforts to remove Franks from his office, see John Beatty to GW, 26 Oct. and 1 Nov. (DLC:GW), and JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1110–11. Franks was banished to New York in November 1780.