Friday, October 13, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

The following Letter from the President of the Continental Congress, enclosing the Minutes of that House as to the raising of two Battalions in this Colony immediately, and also forty-eight blank Commissions for the Captains and Subaltern Officers, was laid before this Congress; and the Letter and Minutes were read, and ordered a second reading.

“Philadelphia, October 12, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Some late intelligence, laid before Congress, seems to render it absolutely necessary, for the protection of our liberties and safety of our lives, to raise several new Battalions, and therefore the Congress have come into the enclosed resolutions, which I am ordered to transmit to you. The Congress have the firmest confidence that, from your experienced zeal in this great cause, you will exert your utmost endeavours to carry the said resolutions into execution with all possible expedition.

“The Congress have agreed to furnish the men with a hunting-shirt, not exceeding the value of one dollar and one-third of a dollar, and a blanket, provided these can be procured; but these are not to be made part of the terms of enlistment.

“I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.

“To the Members of the Convention of New-Jersey.

“P. S. By order of Congress, I forward you forty-eight commissions for the Captains and subaltern officers in the New-Jersey Battalions.”

“In Congress, Monday, October 9, 1775.

“On motion made,

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of New-Jersey, that they immediately raise, at the expense of the Continent, two Battalions, consisting of eight Companies, each Company of sixty-eight Privates, and officered with one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Ensign, four Sergeants, and four Corporals.

“That the Privates be enlisted for a year, at the rate of five Dollars per calendar month, liable to be discharged at any time, on allowing them one month’s pay extraordinary.

“That each of the Privates be allowed, instead of a bounty, a felt Hat, a pair of yarn Stockings, and a pair of Shoes; the men to find their own Arms.

“That the pay of the Officers, for the present, be the same as that of the Officers in the present Continental Army; and in case the pay of the Officers in the present Continental Army is augmented, the pay of the Officers in these Battalions shall be in like manner augmented, from the time of their engaging in the service.

“October 12, 1775.

“Resolved, That each Captain and other Commissioned Officer, while in the recruiting service of this Continent, or on their march to join the Army, shall be allowed two Dollars and two-thirds of a Dollar per week, for their subsistence; and that the men who enlist shall, each of them, whilst in quarters, be allowed one Dollar per week, and one Dollar and one-third of a Dollar when on their march to join the Army for the same purpose.

“That the President transmit to the Convention of New-Jersey blank Commissions, to be filled up by the said Convention, to the Captains and subaltern Officers in the said two Battalions; and that the appointment of the Field-Officers be, for the present, suspended, until the Congress shall take order on that matter.

“The form of the enlistment to be in the following words:

“I, . . ., have this day voluntarily enlisted myself, as a Soldier in the American Continental Army, for one year, unless sooner discharged, and do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the said Army.

“A true copy from the Minutes.

“CHAS. THOMSON, Secretary.

“By order of the Congress.

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.”

A Memorial from Jonathan D. Sergeant, Esq., Treasurer to the late Congress, with a report of his proceedings, were read, and ordered a second reading.

A Letter from the Chairman of the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, enclosing two Letters, said to have been written by the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Odell, of Burlington, to certain persons in Great Britain, and referring the consideration of the said Letters to this Congress, was laid before the Congress, and the several Letters were read, and ordered a second reading.

A Memorial from the Rev. Mr. Odell, praying that this Congress will be pleased to appoint an hour for his being heard this day, was read, and ordered a second reading.

A motion was made by Mr. Mehelm, that this Congress do, in general, keep their doors open; and, on the question being put, it passed in the negative.

On motion made,

Ordered, That the several Associations, with the lists of such persons as have not associated, returned to this Congress, be filed for the inspection of the Deputies.

A Petition from the Freeholders of Hackensack, objecting to the election of the Committee of that Precinet, and referring the merits of that election to this Congress, was read, and ordered a second reading.

A Petition from a number of the Freeholders of the Precinct of Hackensack, praying that the said election may be confirmed, was read, and ordered a second reading.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Letter from the Continental Congress, recommending two Battalions to be immediately raised in this Colony; and, after some time spent therein,

Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Mr. Ogden, Mr. Abraham Clark, and Mr. Stewart, be a Committee to prepare the draught of an answer, and to report the same this afternoon.

The Letter from the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, with the Letters of the Rev. Mr. Odell sent there-with, and also the Memorial of Mr. Odell, desiring to be heard respecting the above Letters, were all read a second time; and, Mr. Odell attending,

Ordered, That Mr. Odell hath leave to return to his house at present, upon his parole of honour to attend this Congress on Tuesday next, at three o’clock, in the afternoon.

The Committee appointed to examine the Muster-Roll of Minute Officers reported, that they had inspected those of Captain Toubrook, Captain Shaw, and Captain Anderson, and recommend that their Commissions be granted.

Ordered, That Commissions do issue accordingly to the Officers of those Companies.

The Congress adjourned till three o’clock, P. M.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Several Memorials having been presented to this Congress, from gentlemen who offer themselves for commissions in the two Battalions expected to be raised in this Colony, it is

Ordered, That all such Memorials as already have or hereafter may be received on this subject, be filed, until this Congress shall have come to a determination as to the raising of those Battalions, and then to be taken into consideration.

The Committee appointed to prepare the draught of an answer to the Letter from the Continental Congress, reported a draught, which was read, and ordered to be engrossed.

The following engrossed answer, to the Letter from the Continental Congress, was read and approved, and ordered to be signed by the President and despatched immediately.

Trenton, October 13, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The Congress of New-Jersey, animated with equal affection to the common cause of America, and equally with the other Provinces desirous to promote its general interest, as far as in their power, are sorry to find their good intentions likely to be restrained by one of the resolutions of the honourable Continental Congress of the 12th instant, obligingly communicated to us by their President.

We cannot but observe, that if the nomination of the