and beg leave to present an exact account of their expenses; that the Memorialists think it their duty to observe, that in order to keep up and give effect to the Association, it will be necessary to retain in pay the persons that are required in training the Battalions, an estimate of the expense whereof in future is herewith delivered; that the Memorialists cannot omit to mention to the House, that in pursuance of a recommendation from the Committee for the City and Liberties aforesaid, sundry sums of money were collected from a number of persons, who generously advanced the same towards the expense of the Association, until some publick and general mode of raising money should be fallen upon to discharge the debts the officers had already contracted; that the amount of the said collections is very inadequate to the purpose intended, as will appear by the account thereof annexed, and assurances were given to the subscribers that the said sums should be repaid as soon as sufficient publick moneys were raised by tax or otherwise.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Memorial from the Officers of the Military Association for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia was presented to the House, and read, setting forth, that the Memorialists, with great concern, perceive that fatal mischiefs will arise to the Association from the lenity shown towards persons professing to be conscientiously scrupulous against bearing arms; that people sincerely and religiously scrupulous are but few in comparison to those who upon this occasion, as well as others, make conscience a convenience; that a very considerable share of the property of this Province in the hands of people professing to be of tender conscience in military matters; that the Associators think it extremely hard that they should risk their lives and injure their fortunes in the defence of those who will not be of the least assistance to this great struggle; that the Memorialists therefore humbly conceive that some decisive plan should be fallen upon to oblige every inhabitant of the Province, either with his person or property, to contribute towards the general cause, and that it should not be left, as at present, to the inclinations of those professing tender conscience, but that the proportion they shall contribute may be certainly fixed and determined; that in order to give strength and permanency to the Association, the Memorialists thought it absolutely necessary that some general regulations should be formed, to be offered to the Associators for their government; that under this idea the Memorialists concurred with the Members of the Committees for the City, Liberties, and County, and the Officers of the County Battalions, in requesting the Committee of Safety, who appeared to be vested with extensive powers in the recess of the Assembly, to form rules and regulations adequate to the occasion; that those rules being formed, and recommended by the Committee of Safety, and by the Memorialists offered to the Associators, they refused to sign or agree to them, for the reasons contained in the paper herewith presented to the honourable House, in pursuance of their request; that the House will perceive the reason which pervades almost the whole of their objections is, the partiality and inequality of the Association, which being once obviated, the Memorialists respectfully offer it as their opinion, that the Associators will cheerfully put up with many inconveniences, and that all jealousies and suspicions about forms will cease; that the Memorialists therefore pray the honourable House will take the premises into their consideration, and fall upon some effectual plan to remedy the inconveniences attendant on their present situation, and to preserve together and properly direct the Associators, who express every wish to defend their Country in this season of difficulty and danger.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Friday, September 29, 1775.

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour with a list of the Orders and Certificates of the House, to be paid by the Supply Bill now before him, reported they had delivered the same according to order.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, laid before the House several letters from William Maclay, Esquire, Thomand Ball, and others, dated at Sunbury, Northumberland County, the 22d and 26th instant, acquainting his Honour “that a party of the Connecticut intruders, supposed to be a detachment from Colonel Butler’s Regiment, consisting, as it is at present conjectured, of nearly three hundred men, arrived last Saturday night at Freeland’s Mill, on the Warriour’s Run, about thirteen miles distant from the said Town, and that they immediately began to intrench themselves; from which circumstance, and that they brought neither women nor children, but instead of them fortifying and intrenching tools, and are accompanied by some of the sellers of lands in this County, under Connecticut rights, it is presumed their visit cannot be amicable.”

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Memorial from the Committee of Safety, with an estimate of Moneys already expended, and to be expended, for the defence of this Province, were laid before the House.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The House resumed the consideration of the two Memorials presented on the 27th instant, from the Officers of the Military Association for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia; and, after some time spent therein, referred the same to the consideration of the succeeding Assembly.

Ordered, That the Paper addressed to the said Officers, from the General Committee of Associators, and presented to the House with the last of the said Memorials, do lie on the table.

Saturday, September 30, 1775.

The House taking into consideration the several Letters sent down yesterday by the Governour, acquainting him with the intrusion of a number of People into this Province, under a pretended claim of the Colony of Connecticut, to the great annoyance of the good people of this Province,

Resolved, That the Delegates for this Province be specially directed to lay the same before the Congress, with the mischievous tendency the pursuing such measures will have, and procure the aid of that Assembly to quiet the minds of the good people of this Province, and prevent farther intrusion or extension of settlements under the said claim, until the matter shall be determined by the King and Council, to whom both sides have submitted the dispute.

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;” and acquainted the House that he should be ready to pass the same whenever presented to him for that purpose.

Ordered, That Mr. Gray and Mr. Parker wait on the Governour, and request to know at what hour to-day the House shall attend his Honour, to enact the said Bill into a law.

The House then taking into consideration the Governour’s support,

Resolved, That the additional sum of Five Hundred Pounds be allowed and given to the Hon. John Penn, Esquire, Governour and Commander-in-Chief of this Province, for his support for the past year.

And a Certificate for the said sum being made out accordingly, was signed by the Speaker, to be presented to his Honour when the House shall wait on him with the Bill to be passed.

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour, reported that his Honour was pleased to say he would be in the Council Chamber immediately, to pass the Bill that has been agreed upon.

Ordered, That Mr. Gray and Mr. Parker do see the great seal affixed to the said Bill, after the same shall be passed into a law, and deposite the said law in the Rolls Office.

A Message by Mr. Secretary.

“SIR: The Governour is in the Council Chamber, and requires the attendance of the House, to enact into a law the Bill to which he has given his assent.”

Then Mr. Speaker, with the whole House, waited on the Governour; and being returned from the Council Chamber, the Speaker resumed the chair, and reported they had waited on the Governour, and presented a Bill intituled “An Act for the support of the Government of this Province, and the payment of the Publick Debts,” to which his Honour had been pleased to give his assent, by