Adams Papers Digital Edition

Diary of John Adams, volume 3

17th of November 1775.

Saturday November 25. 1775.

[Thursday. November 23. 1775.] JA

1775-11-23

 [Thursday. November 23. 1775.] Adams, John
Thursday. November 23. 1775.

Thursday. November 23. 1775. The Committee for fitting out armed Vessells laid before Congress, a draught of Rules for the Government of the American Navy and Articles to be signed by the Officers and Men employed in that Service, which were read and ordered to lie on the Table for the Perusal of the Members.1

1.

This “draught” was the work of JA. It was debated, probably amended, and adopted by Congress on 28 Nov., and was printed (with some last-minute changes) as Rules for the Regulation of the Navy of the United Colonies of North-America . . . , Phila.: William and Thomas Bradford, 1775. See JCC , 3:364, 375–376, 378–387, 393, 513. A facsimile reprint of this exceedingly rare founding document of the United States Navy was issued by the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, 1944.