word “the” obliterated, and the word “by” there inserted. And that the word “Assemblies” be obliterated, and the word “Colonies” inserted in its stead.

And the question being put, whether the Congress does agree to the said seventh paragraph, with these amendments, it was carried in the affirmative, in the manner following, to wit:

Resolved, therefore, That this Congress does agree with their Committee in the said seventh paragraph of their Report, as now amended.

Mr. Morris (seconded by Colonel Woodhull ) then moved that a Resolution be entered into by this Congress, and added to those mentioned in the said Report of the Committee on the Plan of Accommodation with Great Britain, to wit:

“Resolved, That no one article of the aforesaid Report be considered as preliminary to another, so as to preclude an accommodation without such article; and that no part of the said Report be deemed binding or obligatory upon the Representatives of this Colony in Continental Congress; the same being merely intended to testify our sense of a mode by which the unhappy differences between Great Britain and America may be finally accommodated, and of the propriety of an overture for that purpose.”

And the same being read a second time, was unanimously resolved and agreed to.

The Congress being informed by several Members, that nothing has as yet been done towards cleansing the Barracks in this City,

Therefore Ordered, That Messrs. Garret Roorback and John Lamb be requested to have all the Barracks in this City immediately cleansed and made wholesome, so that they may be ready to receive such Troops as this Congress shall direct.

Mr. Melancton Smith (seconded by Mr. Hobart ) then moved in the words following, to wit: I move for the following addition to the Report; “And as the free enjoyment of the rights of conscience is of all others the most valuable branch of human liberty, and the indulgence and establishment of Popery all along the interior confines of the old Protestant Colonies tends not only to obstruct their growth, but to weaken their security, all concerns of a religious and ecclesiastical nature, so far as they may be under the cognizance and control of civil authority, ought to remain exclusively with the respective Colony Legislatures, as the most inestimable object of their internal police.”

The said motion being delivered in at the table, and read a second time, Mr. Thomas Smith moved for the following amendment, to wit: that from the word “security” to the end of the said motion, be obliterated, and instead thereof the following words inserted, to wit: “that the Parliament of Great Britain cannot constitutionally or of right interfere or interpose in any wise howsoever in the religious and ecclesiastical concerns of the Colonies.”

Which amendment being read, Mr. Morris proposed the following additional amendment, which was read and agreed to, to wit: That between the words “that” and “the,” the word “neither” be inserted, and that the words “cannot constitutionally or,” be obliterated; and instead thereof the words “nor any other earthly legislature or tribunal ought or can,” be inserted in their stead.

And both the amendments being together read and agreed to, nemine contradicente, the said motion, as before amended, was again read, and is in the words following, to wit: “And as the free enjoyment of the rights of conscience is of all others the most valuable branch of human liberty, and the indulgence and establishment of Popery all along the interiour confines of the old Protestant Colonies tends not only to obstruct their growth but to weaken their security, that neither the Parliament of Great Britain, nor any other earthly legislature or tribunal, ought or can of right interfere or interpose in any wise howsoever in the religious and ecclesiastical concerns of the Colonies.”

And debates arising on the said motion, as now amended, and the question being put thereon, whether the Congress agrees thereto, and will order it to be added to, and made a part of their said Plan of Accommodation, it was carried in the affirmative, in the manner following, to wit:

Ordered, therefore, That the same motion, as amended, and last read, be added to and made a part of the said Plan of Accommodation; and that it be inserted therein, immediately following that part of the said Plan of Accommodation which was reported by the Committee, and preceding the Resolution last before made and entered into.

Mr. McDougall then made a motion (which was seconded by Mr. Brasher ) in the words following, to wit: “As I conceive it would be presumptuous in this Congress to offer our sentiments either directly or indirectly to the Continental Congress, on a Plan of Accommodation with Great Britain, until the same be called for by that honourable body, I move that our Committee’s Report on that subject be not transmitted to our Delegates until a private Letter be wrote to them, signifying that we have digested our sentiments on that subject, and are ready to furnish them to those gentlemen, when called for by them or by the Continental Congress, or until we have received their answer to such Letter.”

This Congress being about to adjourn,

Ordered, That the said motion be postponed for further consideration.

Colonel Hoffman obtained leave of absence.

The Congress then adjourned till nine o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Die Solis, 9 ho. A. M., June 25, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and opened with prayers by the Rev. Mr. Ingles. Present:

Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., President.

List of the Members was not called.

A Letter from General Schuyler, dated at New-Brunswick, June 24, 1775, informing this Congress that General Washington, with his retinue, would be at Newark this morning, and requesting this Congress to send some of its Members to meet him there, and advise the most proper place for him to cross Hudson’s River in his way to New-York,