Early in 1781 Congress resolved to supersede the Board of Admiralty with a Secretary of Marine, but failed to find a man who was willing to accept the new office. In June, 1781, the plan of appointing an Agent of Marine, and vesting in him the duties of the Board of Admiralty, pending the selection of a Secretary of Marine, was brought forward in Congress. The commissioners of admiralty were able to forecast the results of this agitation for a new naval system.[261] 2 On July 9, 1781, Ellery informed Congress “that his family affairs pressed his return home, and therefore requested leave of absence.”[262] As there was at this time but one Congressional member serving on the Board, on the absence of Ellery no quorum could be obtained. Lewis now prayed Congress to permit him to resign, or to give him such further directions “as they in their wisdom shall deem meet.”[263] On July 17 Congress accepted his resignation.[264] On July 18 Congress put the marine prisoners in charge of the Commissary of Prisoners of the army, and ordered the seal of the admiralty to be deposited with the Secretary of Congress until a Secretary of Marine should be appointed.[265] The Revolutionary Naval Department was without a head. The Board of Admiralty was not a satisfactory executive. It was at all times dependent on its Congressional members for quorums. It proved to be slower, more cumbersome, and less responsible than the Marine Committee. The management of the navy still lacked unity and concentration. On the other hand, had the Board not been superseded, its commissioners would no doubt in time have developed greater expertness and technical skill than did the members of the Marine Committee. It should also be said that under more favorable auspices the Board of Admiralty would have shown a higher administrative efficiency than it did; for its lines had indeed fallen in unpleasant places, and a bankrupt federal treasury and a decadent Congress denied it the means requisite to the successful prosecution of its work. FOOTNOTES: [217] Force’s Archives, 5th, III, 1336, Robert Morris to American Commissioners at Paris, December 21, 1776. Morris wrote as follows: “So long as that respectable body persist in the attempt to execute, as well as to deliberate on their business, it never will be done as it ought, and this has been urged many and many a time by myself and others, but some of them do not like to part with power, or to pay others for doing what they cannot do themselves.” [218] Publications of Rhode Island Historical Society, VIII, 205, Papers of William Vernon and Navy Board. [219] Ibid., 257, Ellery to Vernon, March 23, 1779. [220] Force’s Archives, 5th, II, 1106, Jones to Morris, October 16, 1776. [221] Journals of Continental Congress, October 29, 1778. [222] Ibid., July 30, 1779. [223] Johnston, Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, I, 207-08, Washington to Jay, April, 1779.