it might reflect honour upon our Country, yet higher motives have taught us upon all occasions to demonstrate by every testimony our devotion to our King and Parent State.

Still animated by the same principles, and most earnestly desirous of enjoying our former undisturbed condition of dependance and subordination productive of so many blessings to “both Countries,” we cannot express the satisfaction we should receive “if, by any possible means,” we could “be instrumental in restoring the publick tranquillity.” Should such an opportunity offer, we shall endeavour with the utmost diligence and zeal to improve it, and to convince His Majesty and our Mother Country, that we shall ever be ready and willing with our lives and fortunes to support the interests of His Majesty and that Country, by every effort that can be reasonably expected from the most loyal subjects, and the most dutiful Colonists.

Until Divine Providence shall cause, in the course of his dispensations, such a happy period to arrive, we can only deprecate, and, if it be possible, strive by prudence to avoid the “calamities of a civil war;” a dreadful misfortune, indeed, and not to be exceeded but by an utter subversion of the liberties of America. Signed by order of the House:

JOHN MORTON, Speaker.

May 4, 1775.

Ordered, That Mr. Brown and Mr. John Jacobs wait on the Governour and deliver the foregoing Answer to his Message.

A Petition from a considerable number of the inhabitants of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, was presented to the House and read, setting forth that the Petitioners, deeply affected with a sense of the imminent dangers to which this Province particularly and the Colonies in general are exposed at this instant, are compelled, by the first law dictated by nature, to endeavour to preserve themselves from utter destruction, and therefore look up to the honourable House, the guardians of publick liberty, in whom the people of this Province have reposed the highest trust, for that protection which, under the favour of the Almighty God, it is in their power to afford; that the Petitioners in this contest for freedom and all the blessings attending it, have been greatly encouraged by the firmness, wisdom, and publick spirit of the late and present House of Assembly; and affairs being now reduced to extremity by the commencement of a civil war on this Continent, which, in all probability must, in its course, soon reach Pennsylvania, the Petitioners most humbly and fervently beseech and supplicate the honourable House to grant, raise, and apply with all possible despatch, a sum of money, at least amounting to Fifty Thousand Pounds, towards putting this Province into a state of defence, in such manner as to the House shall appear most proper and effectual.

Ordered to lie on the table.

May 5, 1775.—The House met pursuant to their adjournment.

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour with the Answer of the House to his Message of the second instant, reported they had delivered the same according to order.

The House resumed the consideration of the Petition presented yesterday from the inhabitants of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, for aid from Government towards putting the Province into a state of defence; and after a debate of some length, adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

The House met at three o’clock P. M., and proceeded to the consideration of the Petition from the inhabitants of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, and after further time spent therein, adjourned to ten o’clock to-morrow morning.

May 6, 1775.—The House met pursuant to adjournment. Being acquainted that with Captain Osborne, who arrived yesterday, came passenger Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, late Agent for this Province in London:

Resolved, n. c. d., That the said Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, be, and he is hereby added to the Deputies appointed by this House on the part of Pennsylvania, to attend the Continental Congress expected to meet on the 10th instant in this City.

Resolved, n. c. d., That the Honourable Thomas Willing, Esquire, of Philadelphia, and James Wilson, Esquire, of Carlisle, be also added to the said Deputies for this Province.

Post Meridian, May 9, 1775.—The House resumed the consideration of the Petition from the inhabitants of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, and after some time spent therein, adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Upon motion, the House resumed the consideration of the Draught of Instructions to the Deputies for this Province, brought in at the last sitting, which being considered, and, after some alterations, agreed to by the House, was ordered to be transcribed.

A Petition from the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, respecting engagements they have entered into for the publick security, whereby a considerable debt hath accrued, which cannot be discharged without the aid of the Legislature, was presented to the House and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The Instructions to the Deputies appointed by this Province to attend the Continental Congress being transcribed according to order, were signed by the Speaker, and follow in these words, viz:

GENTLEMEN: The trust reposed in you is of such a nature, and the modes of executing it may be so diversified in the course of your deliberations, that it is scarcely possible to give you particular instructions respecting it.

We shall, therefore, in general, direct that you meet in Congress the Delegates of the several British Colonies, to be held on the 10th instant, to consult together on the present critical and alarming situation and state of the Colonies, and that you exert your utmost endeavours to agree upon and recommend such further measures as shall afford the best prospect of obtaining redress of American grievances, and restoring that union and harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies so essential to the welfare and happiness of both Countries.

You are directed to make report of your proceedings to this House at their next sessions after the meeting of the Congress. Signed by order of the House:

JOHN MORTON, Speaker.

May 9, 1775.

The House adjourned to ten o’clock to-morrow morning.

May 11, 1775.—The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Taking again into consideration the Petition from the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, after some debate,

Ordered, That the Committee of Accounts do examine the Funds of the Province, and report to the House what sum they may immediately draw from thence.

The House adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Three o’clock, P. M. —The Committee of Accounts reported that, upon examining the Provincial Funds, they find the sum of Two Thousand Pounds at the disposal of the House.

Upon motion,

Resolved, That George Gray, Michael Hillegas, and Charles Humphreys, Esquires, or any two of them, are hereby authorized and empowered to draw orders on Samuel Preston Moore, Esquire, to the amount of Eighteen Hundred Pounds, out of the Interest Money in his hands, and on the Provincial Treasurer for the sum of Two Hundred Pounds, out of the rents of the Province Island, to be disposed of and applied towards discharging certain engagements lately entered into for the publick security.

The House then adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow morning.

May 12, 1775.—The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Upon motion,

Resolved, That Mr. Gray, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Mifflin, Mr. Charles Thomson, Mr. Wynkoop, Mr. Wayne, Mr. Slough, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Dougherty, Mr. Hunter, and Mr. William Thompson, or