Resolved, That this House do unanimously approve of the Proceedings of the Congress.

Resolved, That James Kinsey, Stephen Crane, William Livingston, John De Hart, and Richard Smith, Esquires, or any three of thorn, be and they are hereby appointed to attend the Continental Congress of the Colonies, intended to be held at the City of Philadelphia in May next, or at any other time or place, and that they report their proceedings to the next session of the General Assembly; instructing the said Delegates to propose and agree to every reasonable and constitutional measure for the accommodation of the unhappy difference at present subsisting between our mother country and the. Colonies, which the House most ardently wish for.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do transmit a copy of the foregoing Resolutions to the Speakers of the Assemblies of New-York and Pennsylvania.

Resolved, That the thanks of this House be given to James Kinsey, Stephen Crane, William Livingston, John De Hart, and Richard Smith, Esquires, for their faithful and judicious discharge of the trust reposed in them at the late Continental Congress.

JONA DEARE, Clerk.

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour, re ported that they had delivered their message according to order, and that his Honour was pleased to say he had no business at present to lay before the House, but if any should occur during their sitting, he would acquaint them with it by Message.

Tuesday, February 21, 1775.

Upon motion, the Draught of Instructions reported at the last sitting for the Deputies appointed on the part of this Province to attend the Continental Congress to be held at Philadelphia in May next, were again read, and referred to further consideration.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, sent down a written Message to the House, which was read by order, and is as follows, viz:

GENTLEMEN: At a time when the disputes between Great Britain and her Colonies are drawing towards an alarming crisis, I cannot, consistent with my duty to his Majesty, or a proper attention to the true interests of the people over whom I preside, avoid recommending to you any measure which occurs to me as proper for the Representatives ,of the Province to pursue, or which, in my opinion, may have a tendency to compose those unhappy differences.

You will agree with me, gentlemen that in all cases wisdom dictates the use of such means as are most likely to attain the end proposed. On the present occasion it is conceived that any grievances which his Majesty's, subjects in America apprehend they have reason to complain of, should be humbly represented to his Majesty by the several Assemblies, as the only proper and constitutional mode of obtaining redress, and I have the best reason to believe that a proper attention will be paid to such representations and to any propositions that may be made through that channel, on the present state of American affairs.

This mode, therefore, I earnestly recommend to you to adopt; and I most ardently wish that the proceedings of this as well as the other Colonies, may be of such a temperate and dutiful nature, as to afford a foundation for a reestablishment of that harmony with the mother country which is so essential to both.

JOHN PENN.

February 21, 1775

Thursday, February 23, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment, and taking into consideration the Governour's Message of the 21st instant, after some time spent in debate thereon, referred the same to further consideration to-morrow morning.

Friday, February 24, 1775.

The House met pursuant to their adjournment, and proceeded, agreeable to the Resolution of yesterday, in the consideration of the Governour's. Message, which producing a debate of considerable length, the question was called for and put by the Speaker, Whether the further consideration thereof shall be postponed till some day in the week after next? Carried in the affirmative.

Saturday, February 25, 1775.

Upon motion, Resolved, That this House will, on Wednesday, the 8th of March next, resume the consideration of the Governour's Message.

Saturday, March 4, 1775.

Upon motion by a Member, that the Doors be opened and the reputable inhabitants of the City admitted to hear the debates of the House on Wednesday next, the question was put by the Speaker, and carried in the negative.

Tuesday, March 7, 1775.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, sent down a written Message to the House, which was read by order, and is as follows, viz: GENTLEMEN: On Saturday last a number of Indians of the Tuscarora, Nanticoke, and Conoy Tribes, who reside on the heads of the Susquehannah, came to Town with their families, on a friendly visit to this Government.

They have represented to me that they are very poor, and in great want of clothing and other necessaries, which they earnestly request to be supplied with.

As I think humanity, as well as good policy, requires that we should comply with their request, I must recommend it to you to make immediate provision for furnishing them with a present of such goods as their necessities demand, and defraying the expenses of their journey.

JOHN PENN.

March 7, 1775.

A Representation and Petition from the American Philosophical Society, was presented to the House, and follows in these words, viz:

To the Honourable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA in General Assembly met.

GENTLEMEN: It must yield a sensible satisfaction to the good people of this Province which you represent, to find, that although it be among the youngest of our American settlements, its reputation has risen high among the sister Colonies, and has extended even to the remotest parts of Europe, on account of our many publick spirited Institutions, and our rapid improvements in all useful arts. This satisfaction is also greatly increased, when we consider that, not withstanding these Institutions, through the necessity of the case, were generally obliged to derive much of their first support from the benevolence of individuals, yet, a liberal spirit for their encouragement and final establishment, has gone forth among our Representatives, in proportion, to the increase of our Provincial funds; and indeed the savings of publick money, after supplying the exigencies of the state, are never more laudably directed than towards the promoting whatever is useful and ornamental in society.

It is with unfeigned gratitude that your Petitioners re-collect the repeated occasions you have given them of acknowledging your bounty and protection in carrying on their designs for the advancement of useful knowledge," and it is their firm resolution never to abuse your former indulgence by any future unnecessary or unimportant" applications. By the means now in their own power, they hope in general to be able to prosecute their plan, except so far as they may sometimes find it incumbent on them humbly to suggest to you the encouragement of useful inventions, and the patronizing undertakings beneficial to the whole community; and it is in this last view that they presume to address you at this time.

Amidst the variety of fields which in this new world lie open to the investigation of your Petitioners, they have, for several years, turned their views towards one wherein they hope to gather some of their chief laurels, and to make discoveries alike honourable to their country and themselves. Our distance from the chief Observatories in the world, the purity and serenity of our atmosphere, invite us, nay, loudly call upon us, to institute a series of regular As-