take the mail from the westward, and proceed immediately to Newport: That he be allowed for his services at the same rate as hath heretofore been allowed to the Post-Rider between Newport and Boston; and that the Post-Rider pay the post of every letter to such office nearest to which he shall receive it, and be under oath for the faithful performance of his trust: That this Act continue in force until further orders from this Assembly: That his Honour the Deputy Governour be requested to write to and transmit a copy of this Act to the Governour of Connecticut, and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Massachusetts-Bay, requesting them to pay their proportions of the expense of the Post-Riders, as usually practised.

Whereas Mr. Thomas Lindsey presented unto this Assembly an account, by him charged to the Colony, for the use of his Packet for carrying the Colony Committee to New-Shoreham, and bringing them back: Which being duly examined, It is Voted and Resolved, That eight Pounds and eight Shillings, to wit, the first article of his charge, be and hereby is allowed; and that the same be paid to him out of the General Treasury.

It is Voted and Resolved, That Messrs. Nathaniel Mumford, Thomas Greene, Carder Hazard, Nathan Miller, and Gideon Mumford, be, and they or the major part of them are hereby appointed a Committee to audit the accounts of the Committee of Safety, who are hereby directed to pay off the Troops to the last day of this month, and to close their accounts on the eighth day of September next: That the Committee hereby appointed meet at Providence on the fifteenth day of September, to proceed upon the said business, and make report to this General Assembly at the then next succeeding session: And that his Honour the Deputy-Governour transmit the said accounts, as soon as may be after they shall be audited, to the Honourable the Continental Congress.

Whereas notwithstanding the humble and dutiful Petition of the last Congress to the King, and other wise and pacifick measures taken for obtaining a happy reconciliation between Great Britain and the Colonies, the Ministry, lost to every sentiment of justice, liberty and humanity, continue to send Troops and Ships-of-War into America, which destroy our Trade, plunder and burn our Towns, and murder the good people of these Colonies:

It is therefore Voted and Resolved, That this Colony most ardently wish to see the former friendship, harmony and intercourse between Britain and these Colonies restored, and a happy and lasting connection established between both Countries, upon terms of just and equal liberty; and will concur with the other Colonies in all proper measures for obtaining those desirable blessings: And as every principle, divine and human, require us to obey that great and fundamental law of nature, self-preservation, until peace shall be restored upon constitutional principles, this Colony will most heartily exert the whole power of Government, in conjunction with the other Colonies, for carrying on this just and necessary war, and bringing the same to a happy issue. And amongst other measures for obtaining this most desirable purpose, this Assembly is persuaded that the building and equipping an American Fleet, as soon as possible, would greatly and essentially conduce to the preservation of the lives, liberty and property of the good people of these Colonies; and therefore instruct their Delegates to use their whole influence, at the ensuing Congress, for building, at the Continental expense, a Fleet of sufficient force for the protection of these Colonies, and for employing them in such manner and places as will most effectually annoy our enemies, and contribute to the common defence of these Colonies: And they are also instructed to use all their influence for carrying on the war in the most vigorous manner, until peace, liberty and safety be restored and secured to these Colonies upon an equitable and permanent basis.

It is Voted and Resolved, That the Delegates for this Colony to the Congress, to be holden by adjournment at Philadelphia on the fifth day of September next, be and they are hereby fully authorized and empowered to receive of the Continental Treasurer the money due from the United Colonies to this Colony, for the several sums of money advanced for raising of forces, purchasing arms, tents, provisions, clothing and warlike stores, for the defence of the said United Colonies; and transmit the same to the General Treasurer of this Colony, by such faithful person or persons as they can trust, and under such guard as they shall judge expedient and necessary.

Whereas the Honourable Samuel Ward, Esq., one of the Delegates from this Colony to the Congress, held at Philadelphia on the tenth day of May last, hath made a report unto this Assembly of many of the Proceedings and Resolves of the said Congress, consisting of measures by them taken for defending the United Colonies against the attacks of our cruel and unnatural enemies, measures for the security of the frontiers, the preservation of peace and friendship with the people of Canada and the Indian Nations, the emission of a Continental Currency for defraying the expenses of the war, a Petition to the King, an Address to the People of England, an Address to the People of Ireland, a Letter to the Lord Mayor of London, a Letter to the Assembly of Jamaica, the establishment of a General Post-Office, and some occasional Resolutions: It is thereupon Voted and Resolved, That the said Report be and the same is hereby accepted and approved, and that the thanks of this Assembly be given to the Delegates of the Continental Congress in general, and to the Delegates of this Colony in particular, for their wise, spirited and faithful discharge of the important trust reposed in them.

It is Voted and Resolved, That the Delegates from this Colony to the Congress, to be holden at Philadelphia by adjournment on the fifth day of September next, be and they are empowered to apply to their own respective uses two hundred Dollars each, of the money which they may receive of the Continental Treasurer in behalf of this Colony, on account of their expenses and services at the Congress, and that they be severally accountable to the Colony therefor.

It is Voted and Resolved, That the Continental Currency emitted by the Congress, at their last session in Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May last, be and it is hereby made a lawful lender, at the rate of six Shillings lawful money a Dollar, and in the same proportion as to Gold and Silver, in all payments whatsoever, whether of a publick or private nature, and whether clue in lawful money, Dollars, Gold or Silver coin, Sterling money, Bills of Exchange, or any other currency whatsoever. And it is further Voted and Resolved, That whosoever shall counterfeit the said Continental Currency or Bills, or pass the same in this Colony, knowing the same to be counterfeit, such person or persons, upon legal conviction thereof, shall be liable to and suffer the same pains, penalties and punishments, as by law persons counterfeiting the lawful money bills of this Colony are liable to.

It it Voted and Resolved, That eight Fieldpieces be provided and prepared for the use of the Colony; and that Mr. Nicholas Power be and he is hereby appointed to provide and prepare six of said Fieldpieces, and Mr. Jacob Greene the other two; and that the said Nicholas Power put in order the Carriages of the Colony Guns placed in the Providence Battery.

It is Voted and Resolved, That a bounty of three Shillings a pound be allowed, and paid out of the General Treasury, on every pound of Saltpetre that may be made in this Colony by the twenty-sixth day of August, A. D. 1776, suitable to be manufactured into Gunpowder, and three Shillings a pound for every pound of such Saltpetre, exclusive of said bounty; and that Mr. Joseph Brown, Jabez Bowen, Esq., and the Secretary of this Colony, be and they are hereby appointed inspectors and provers of the quality thereof; and that no person be entitled to said bounty and value until he shall have first made oath be-for the Secretary that the Saltpetre offered for inspection was actually made in this Colony; and that in order to its being so proved, that the manufacturers thereof convey the same to the Town of Providence, and that the same be delivered to and deposited with the General Treasurer.

It is Voted and Resolved, That his Honour the Deputy Governour be requested to write a Letter to his Excellency General Washington, informing him of the steps this