work, and that the said money be charged to the county, and reimbursed in the usual, or any other way, which the House may think proper.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Member presented to the Chair a paper from the Provincial Committee met on publick business at the Carpenter's Hall in this city, which was read by order, and is as follows, viz:

"At a Provincial Committee, composed of Deputies from the City and County of Philadelphia, and the Counties of Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Burks, Northampton, Northumberland, and Bedford, met at the Carpenter's Hall, on Tuesday, July 19th, 1774, THOMAS WILLING, Esquire, Chairman:

"Upon motion, agreed,

"That the ninth Resolve agreed to unanimously by this Provincial Committee, be copied, and sent to the honourable House of Assembly, viz:

"9. Resolved, unanimously, That there is an absolute necessity that a Congress of Deputies from the several Colonies be immediately assembled to consult together, and form a general plan of conduct to be observed by all the Colonies, for the purposes of procuring relief for our suffering brethren; obtaining redress of our grievances; preventing future dissensions; firmly establishing our rights; and restoring harmony between Great Britain and her Colonies on a constitutional foundation.

"Agreed, That Isaac Howell, Joseph Hart, Francis Richardson, Emanuel Carpenter, Joseph Donaldson, Robert Magaw, Daniel Broadhead, John Okely, and William Scull, be a Committee to wait upon the House with the above Resolve, and that they be instructed to inform the House that the Committee are employed in finishing their Resolves, and drawing up their sentiments on the present situation of publick affairs, which, when completed, will be laid before the honourable House.

"Signed order of the Committee,

THOMAS WILLING, Chairman."

The House resumed the consideration of the Governour's Message, which was again read by order, and after some debate thereon,

Ordered, That Mr. Hunter and Mr. Thompson wait, on the Governour, and request he will be pleased to furnish the House with an account of the number of men raised by the Magistrates for the protection of the frontier inhabitants, and an estimate of the expense that hath accrued on that measure to the present time.

July 20, 1774. The House met pursuant to their adjournment. Mr. Speaker and Mr. Rhoads laid before the House two Letters from Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, dated London, the 6th and 26th of April last, with some other Papers, on publick affairs, which being severally read were,

Ordered to lie on the table.

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour with the Message of last night, reported that they had delivered the same according to order; and that his Honour was pleased to say, he had already laid before the House all the Papers he was possessed of relating to the ranging companies on the frontiers, but would endeavour to procure as soon as possible, the further information requested by the House, and lay it before such Commissioners as may be appointed to pay the said Companies.

The House then proceeded in the consideration of the Governour's Message, and after some time spent therein, adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.

The House again taking into consideration the Governour's. Message and the Papers sent down with it,

Resolved, That Michael Hillegas, George Gray, Thomas Mifflin, and Charles Humphreys, Esquires, or any three of them, by and with the consent and approbation of the Governour of this Province for the time being, may draw orders on the Provincial Treasurer for any sum not exceeding two thousand pounds, to be disposed of in paying and victualling, until the tenth day of August next, a number of rangers lately raised by the Magistrates of Westmoreland County, for removing the panick into which the inhabitants of the said county have been thrown by the late Indian disturbances, and for other incidental expenses; and also in maintaining the peace and friendship subsisting between this Province and the Indians; the said sum to be paid out of the money struck by virtue of the Act, entitled, "An Act for the support of the Government of this Province, making the excise on wine, rum, brandy, and other spirits, more equal, and for preventing frauds in collecting and paying the said excise."

Resolved, That if, after the said tenth day of August, it shall appear to the Governour, and the said Michael Hillegas, George Gray, Thomas Mifflin, and Charles Humphreys, necessary to employ any number of the said rangers, this House will pass a Bill for paying and victualling them, until the 20th of September next, provided their number shall not exceed two hundred.

Resolved, That this House will make provision for paying the reward of one hundred pounds to any person who shall apprehend James Cooper and John Hinkson, who it is said, have barbarously murdered an Indian on the frontiers of this Province, and deliver them Into the custody of the keeper of the jail within either of the Counties of Lancaster, York, or Cumberland, or the sum of fifty pounds for either of them.

Resolved, That this House will, at its next sitting, pass a bill, and present the same to the Governour for indemnifying the Provincial Treasurer for the payment of the said moneys.

July 21, 1774.—This day the Provincial Committee, composed of Committees from the several Committees of the Province, waited on the House, and being admitted, their Chairman presented at the table sundry Papers, containing a number of Resolves on the present grievances of the Colonies, and Instructions to their Representatives, recommending such measures as appear to the said Committee most proper for obtaining redress; and then withdrawing, the said Papers were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table for the perusal of the Members.

The Order of Tuesday last being read,

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider the several Papers before them, received from the Speakers and Committees of Correspondence for Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Virginia, on the present state of the Colonies.

July 22, 1774.—The House met pursuant to adjournment; and the Order of yesterday being read, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the subject of the several Letters and Resolves received from the Colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Virginia, and, after some lime spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Rhoads reported from the Committee, that they had considered the business before them, and having come to a Resolve thereon, he was ordered to report the same whenever the House shall be pleased to receive it.

Ordered, That the Resolve of the Committee be received immediately.

Mr. Rhoads then (according to order) reported the said Resolve, which he first read in his place, and then delivered at the Clerk's table, where the same was again read, by order, and follows in these words, viz:

"The Committee of the whole House taking into their most serious consideration the unfortunate differences which have long subsisted between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and been greatly increased by the operation and effects of divers late Acts of the British Parliament:

"Resolved, n. c. d., That there is an absolute necessity that a Congress of Deputies from the several Colonies be held as soon as conveniently may be, to consult together upon the present unhappy state of the Colonies, and to form and adopt a plan for the purposes of obtaining redress of American grievances, ascertaining American rights, upon the most solid constitutional principles, and for establishing that union and harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies, which is indispensably necessary for the welfare and happiness of both."

The House resumed the consideration of the, Resolve from the Committee, of the whole House; and after some debate thereon, adopting and confirming the same.