House such measures as may be expedient for putting this City and Province into a state of defence.

Wednesday, June 28, 1775.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, returned the Bill intituled “An Act for the support of the Government of this Province, and payment of the Publick Debts, ” with a written Message to the House, which was read by order; and follows in these words, viz:

A written Message from the Governour to the House.

GENTLEMEN: It being unusual to make provision for the discharge of the Orders drawn for the payment of the publick debts before the end of the year, at which time there may probably be a sum sufficient for the purpose in the Treasury, arising from the funds heretofore provided, I cannot think it proper to give my consent to the Bill intituled “An Act for the support of the Government of this Province, and payment of the Publick Debts.”

JOHN PENN.

June 28, 1775.

Upon consideration of the foregoing Message,

Ordered, That Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Hillegas, Mr. Pearson, and Mr. Ross, be a Committee to prepare and bring in an Answer to the said Message.

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

The Committee appointed to take into consideration and report to the House such measures as may be expedient for putting this City and Province into a state of defence, reported they had essayed a draught of some Resolves for that purpose, which they presented to the Chair; and the same being read by order, was referred for further consideration.

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

Thursday, June 29, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Ordered, That Mr. Ferree and Mr. Ewing wait on the Governour, and inquire at what hour to-day the House shall attend him to enact into Laws the Bills that have been returned with his assent.

The Members return, and report, that they had waited on his Honour, and delivered their Message according to order, and that the Governour was pleased to say, he should be immediately ready to meet the House to pass the several Bills which have been agreed on.

The House then taking into consideration the time of adjournment, agreed to meet again on Monday, the 18th of September next, with which the Speaker is desired to acquaint his Honour when the House shall wait on him to pass the Bills.

Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas join with the Members of Council appointed by the Governour to compare the engrossed Bill with its original.

The Member reported he had assisted in collating the engrossed Bill with its original, and found them to agree.

Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas and Mr. Parker see the Great Seal affixed to the said Bills after they are enacted into laws, and deposite the same in the Rolls Office.

A Message by the Secretary.

“SIR: The Governour is in the Council Chamber, and requires the attendance of the House, to enact into laws the Bills returned with his assent.”

Mr. Speaker then, with the whole House, waited on the Governour; and being returned from the Council Chamber, the Speaker resumed the Chair, and reported, that the House had waited on his Honour, and presented three Bills, respectively intituled: “An Act to amend the Act intituled, ‘A supplement to the Act intituled, An Act appointing Wardens for the Port of Philadelphia, and for other purposes therein mentioned;’” “An Act for confirming the estate of Daniel Andrews, in and to certain lands, in Amity Township, in the County of Berks;” and, “An Act for confirming the estate of the heirs and representatives of John Taylor, late of the County of Chester, practitioner in physick, deceased, in a certain tract of land in the Township of Bradford, in the said County.” To which Bills the Governour had been pleased to give his assent by enacting the same into laws.

Mr. Speaker also reported, that he had acquainted his Honour the House purposed to adjourn to the 18th of September next, if the Governour approved thereof; to which he was pleased to say, he had no objection to the proposed time of adjournment.

The Members appointed to see the Great Seal affixed to the said Bills, and deposite the same in the Rolls Office, reported they had performed that service according to order.

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

The Committee appointed to strike the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit, directed by the Act intituled “A supplement to the Act intituled ‘An Act for erecting a new Jail, Workhouse, and House of Correction, in the City of Philadelphia, ’” passed the eighteenth of March last, produced to the Chair a receipt from Joseph Fox, Esquire, one of the Commissioners of the County of Philadelphia, for the said sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Pounds in the said Bills of Credit to him paid agreeable to the directions of the said Act.

The said Committee also produced two extra sheets unsigned, which had been printed to supply any loss or deficiency happening in the said Bills during the signing and numbering the same; which two extra sheets, containing sixteen Bills of five Pounds each, and sixteen Bills of fifty Shillings each, were burned by order of the House, in the presence of the Members.

The House resumed the consideration of the Resolves of the Committee appointed to consider of such measures as may be expedient for putting this City and Province into a state of defence, and after some time spent therein, adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow morning.

Friday, June 30, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded in the consideration of the Resolves of the Committee; which being put to the question, were agreed to by the House, and follow in these words, viz:

1. Resolved, That this House approve the Association entered into by the good people of this Province for the defence of their lives, liberty, and property.

2. Resolved, That if any invasion or landing of British Troops, or others, shall be made in this or the adjacent Colonies during the present controversy, or any armed ships or vessels shall sail up the River Delaware in a hostile manner, and such circumstances shall render it expedient in the judgment of the Committee hereafter to be appointed, for any number of the officers and private men of the Association within this Colony to enter into actual service for repelling such hostile attempts, this House will provide for the pay and necessary expenses of such officers and soldiers performing such military duty, while they are in such actual service.

3. Resolved, That the Pay of the officers and privates, while in such actual service, shall not exceed that of the Army raised by the Congress of the United Colonies, for the defence of the liberties of America.

4. Resolved, That this House do earnestly recommend to the Board of Commissioners of the City and County of Philadelphia, and of each County in this Province that have not made the provision hereinafter mentioned, and they are hereby enjoined, as they regard the freedom, welfare, and safety of their Country, immediately to provide a proper number of good new Firelocks, with Bayonets fitted to them; Cartridge-boxes, with twenty-three rounds of Cartridges in every box; and Knapsacks: not less than fifteen hundred of each article for the City and County of Philadelphia; three hundred for the County of Bucks; five hundred for the County of Chester; six hundred for the County of Lancaster; three hundred for the County of York; three hundred for the County of Cumberland; four hundred for the County of Berks; three hundred for the County of Northampton; one hundred for the County of Bedford; one hundred for the County of Northumberland; and one hundred for the County of Westmoreland: to be under the care of the Commanding Officers of the Battalions of the said Counties, for the immediate use of