On motion of Mr. Ridgely,

That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill to prohibit the importation of Slaves into this Government,

Ordered, That Messrs. Ridgely, Read, and Clowes be a Committee for that purpose.

Thursday, March 16, 1775.

The Committee appointed to consider of an allowance to be made to the gentlemen who attended the late Congress at Philadelphia; on behalf of this Government, for their expenses during the sitting thereof, now report to the House that they have considered the same, and are of opinion that the sum of Sixty Pounds be allowed to each of the said gentlemen, for their expenses on that service.

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the House do approve of the same, and that Orders be drawn by the Speaker on the Trustees of the several Loan-Offices of this Government for the same, according to the directions of the Proportion Act.

On motion,

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the Honourable Cæsar Rodney, Speaker, Thomas McKean, and George Read, Esquires, be and they are hereby appointed and authorized to represent this Government at the American Congress, proposed to be held at the City of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, or at any other time and place, with full power to them or any two of them, together with the Delegates from the other American Colonies, to concert and agree upon such further measures as shall appear to them best calculated for the accommodation of the unhappy differences between Great Britain and the Colonies, on a Constitutional foundation, which the House most ardently wish for, and that they report their proceedings to this House at their next meeting.

Friday, March 17, 1775.

On motion,

Ordered, That Messrs. Evans, Ridgely, McKinly, Hall, and Rench, be a Committee to prepare Instructions for the gentlemen appointed to represent this Government at an American Congress to be held at Philadelphia, in May next.

Monday, March 20, 1775.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House a Letter which he had received from three of the Colony Agents in London, which was, by order, read, and ordered to be transcribed upon the Minutes of the House; and follows in these words, viz:

London, December 24, 1774.

SIR: This is just to inform you, that having received the Petition of the General Congress to the King, we immediately communicated the same to Lord Dartmouth, Secretary of State for the American Department, as the regular official method, and that by which only we could have expectation of obtaining an answer. His Lordship this day informed us, that he had laid the same before the King; that His Majesty, had been pleased to receive it very graciously, and to say it was of so great importance that he should, as soon as they met, lay it before his two Houses of Parliament. We can now only add, that we are in great respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servants,

W. BOLLAN,
B. FRANKLIN,
ARTHUR LEE.

To the Honourable the Speaker of the Assembly of the three Lower Counties on Delaware.

Tuesday, March 21, 1775.

A Petition from several Inhabitants of New-Castle County, and two Petitions from a number of the Inhabitants of Kent County, praying the House to pass a Bill for establishing a Militia, were presented to the Chair, and by order read the first time.

To the Honourable the Representatives of the Counties of NEW-CASTLE, KENT, and SUSSEX, in General Assembly met, 14th March, 1775.

The Petition of the Inhabitants, freemen of Kent County, most humbly sheweth:

That we conceive a well-regulated Militia, composed of the gentlemen Freeholders and other free men, to be not only a Constitutional right, but the most natural strength and most stable security of a free Government, from the exercise of which a wise people will not excuse themselves even in time of peace.

That, happily secure in the affectionate protection of our Mother Country, we have for some time past been carelessly negligent of Military art and discipline, and are, therefore, the more exposed to the insult and ravages of our natural enemies at this unhappy time, when we have lost our interest in the esteem and affection of our Parent State.

We, therefore, pray your Honours to take our case into your most serious consideration, and by passing an Act of Assembly establishing a Militia throughout this Government, grant us relief in the premises, and your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

Thursday, March 23, 1775.

The Doorkeeper informed the House that Mr. Secretary waited at the door.

Ordered, That he be admitted; and he was admitted accordingly, and presented to the Chair a written Message from his Honour the Governour, with copies of two Proclamations, referred to in the same.

On motion,

Ordered, That the same be read; which was done accordingly.

Ordered, That his Honour the Governour’s Message be transcribed on the Minutes; and follows in these words, to wit:

A Message from the Governour to the Assembly.

GENTLEMEN: At your last sessions in October, I informed you that the jurisdiction of this Government had been extended to the boundary lines now run and marked by Commissioners appointed by the proprietors of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and recommended it to you to establish such divisional lines in the Counties as the settlement of the new boundary might require; but soon after your last adjournment, I was obliged, by His Majesty’s commands, signified to me in a letter from the Secretary of State, by my Proclamation, dated the 2d of November, to supersede that which I had issued on the 15th of September, for the above purpose of extending the jurisdiction until His Majesty’s pleasure should be further known therein.

I have now, gentlemen, the satisfaction, to acquaint you, that I have lately been advised by the Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth, that His Majesty, on further consideration of the matter, is graciously pleased to approve of the arrangement made by my Proclamation of the 15th of September, and to permit me to recall that of the 2d of November, so that you are now at full liberty to resume the business I recommended to you at your last session.

JOHN PENN.

New-Castle, 23d March, 1775.

Friday, March 24, 1775.

The Committee appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill to prohibit the importation of Slaves into this Government, now laid one on the table, which they submitted to the correction of the House.

On motion, by order, the same was read the first time.

The Committee appointed to prepare Instructions for the gentlemen appointed by the House to represent this Government at the American Congress, proposed to be held at Philadelphia in May next, now report, that they have essayed a draught of the same, which they laid on the table for the inspection and correction of the House.

On motion, by order,

The same was read the first time.

On motion, by special order,

The Bill to prohibit the importation of Slaves into this Government, was read the second time, paragraph by paragraph, and, after sundry amendments, passed the House, and was ordered to be engrossed.

Saturday, March 25, 1775.

The engrossed Bill to prohibit the importation of Slaves into this Government was read and compared.