Agreed, That the Congress meet here to-morrow morning at half past nine o’clock, in order to attend Divine Service at Mr. Duché’s Church, and that in the afternoon they meet here, to go from this place and attend Divine Service at Doctor Allison’s Church.

Resolved, That the nomination of three of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, in the Southern Department, be left to the Council of Safety, appointed by the Colony of South-Carolina.

That Mr. John Walker, of Virginia, be appointed one of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, for the Southern Department.

Adjourned till to-morrow, at half past nine o’clock.

Thursday, July 20, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

An Express arriving with despatches from Gen. Schuyler, the same were read.

A Letter was likewise received from the Convention of Georgia, and read, setting forth that that Colony had acceded to the General Association, and appointed Delegates to attend this Congress.

Adjourned till one o’clock, P. M.

P. M. Met according to adjournment.

The Despatches from General Schuyler being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That General P. Schuyler be empowed to dispose of and employ all the Troops in the New-York Department, in such manner as he may think best for the protection and defence of these Colonies, the Tribes of Indians in friendship and amity with us, and most effectually to promote the general interest, still pursuing, if in his power, the former orders from this Congress, and subject to the future orders of the Commander-in-Chief.

Adjourned till to-morrow, at nine o’clock.

Friday, July 21, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the Inhabitants of Jamaica, having brought in their Report, the same was read.

Ordered, To lie on the table for further consideration.

The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the Inhabitants of Ireland, brought in a draught.

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That Mr. R. Bache, Mr. Stephen Paschall, and Mr. M. Hillegas, be appointed to superintend the Press, and to have the oversight and care of printing the Bills of Credit ordered to be struck by this Congress.

Resolved, That Mr. Willie Jones, of North-Carolina, be the fifth Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in the Southern Department.

Mr. Wilson having made a Return of the Duck, &c., that can be procured in this City,

Ordered, That Mr. Wilson inquire whether Russia Sheeting will answer for making Tents.

Ordered, That the Resolves respecting the Militia be immediately published.

Agreeable to the Standing Order, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the state of America, when Doctor B. Franklin submitted to their consideration the following sketch of Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, proposed by the Delegates of the several Colonies of NEW- HAMPSHIRE, &c., in General Congress met at PHILADELPHIA, MAY 10, 1775.

ARTICLE I. The name of this Confederacy shall hence-forth be, The United Colonies of North America.

ARTICLE II. The said United Colonies hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, binding on themselves and their posterity, for their common defence against their enemies, for the securities of their liberties and properties, the safety of their persons and Families, and their mutual and general welfare.

ARTICLE III. That each Colony shall enjoy and retain as much as it may think fit of its own present laws, customs, rights, privileges and peculiar jurisdictions within its own limits; and may amend its own Constitution as shall seem best to its own Assembly or Convention.

ARTICLE IV. That for the more convenient management of general interests, Delegates shall be annually elected in each Colony, to meet in General Congress at such time and place as shall be agreed on in the next preceding Congress. Only where particular circumstances do not make a duration necessary, it is understood to be a rule, that each succeeding Congress be held in a different Colony, till the whole number be gone through; and so in perpetual rotation; and that accordingly the next Congress after the present shall be held at Annapolis, in Maryland.

ARTICLE V. That the power and duty of the Congress shall extend to the determining on war and peace; the sending and receiving Ambassadors, and entering into alliances (the reconciliation with Great Britain;) the settling all disputes and differences between Colony and Colony, about limits or any other cause, if such should arise; and the planting of new Colonies when proper. The Congress shall also make such general ordinances as, though necessary to the general welfare, particular Assemblies cannot be competent to, viz: those that may relate to our general commerce, or general currency; the establishment of posts; and the regulation of our common forces. The Congress shall also have the appointment of all General Officers, civil and military, appertaining to the General Confederacy, such as General Treasurer, Secretary, &c.

ARTICLE VI. All charges of wars, and all other general expenses to be incurred for the common welfare, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which is to be supplied by each Colony in proportion to its number of male poles between sixteen and sixty years of age. The taxes for paying that proportion are to be laid and levied by the Laws of each Colony.

ARTICLE VII. The number of Delegates to be elected and sent to Congress by each Colony shall be regulated, from time to time, by the number of such polls returned; so as that one Delegate be allowed for every five thousand polls. And the Delegates are to bring with them to every Congress an authenticated return of the number of polls in the respective Provinces, which is to be taken triennially, for the purposes abovementioned.

ARTICLE VIII. At every meeting of the Congress, one half of the Members returned, exclusive of proxies, shall be necessary to make a quorum; and each Delegate at the Congress shall have a vote in all cases, and if necessarily absent, shall be allowed to appoint any other Delegate from the same Colony to be his proxy, who may vote for him.

ARTICLE IX. An Executive Council shall be appointed by the Congress out of their own body, consisting of twelve persons; of whom, in the first appointment, one third, viz: four shall be for one year, four for two years, and four for three years; and as the said terms expire, the vacancies shall be filled by appointments for three years; whereby one third of the Members will be changed annually. This Council, of whom two-thirds shall be a quorum in the recess of Congress, is to execute what shall have been enjoined thereby; to manage the general Continental business and interests; to receive applications from foreign Countries; to prepare matters for the consideration of the Congress; to fill up, pro tempore, Continental Offices that fall vacant; and to draw on the General Treasurer for such moneys as may be necessary for general services, and appropriated by the Congress to such services.

ARTICLE X. No Colony shall engage in an offensive war with any Nation of Indians without the consent of the Congress, or Grand Council abovementioned, who are first to consider the justice and necessity of such war.

ARTICLE XI. A perpetual alliance, offensive and defensive, is to be entered into as soon as may be with the Six Nations; their limits to be ascertained and secured to them; their land not to be encroached on, nor any private or Colony purchases made of them hereafter to be held good; nor any contract for lands to be made, but between the Great Council of the Indians at Onondaga and the General Congress. The boundaries and lands of all the other Indians shall also be ascertained and secured to them in the same manner, and persons appointed to reside among them in proper Districts; and shall take care to prevent injustice