11. That the sum of three hundred Pounds be laid out in Axes, Spades, and Intrenching Tools, for the use of this Colony. To which the Congress agreed.

12. That the sum of five hundred Pounds be laid out in procuring a train of Artillery for the use of this Colony. To which the Congress agreed.

13. That the sum of five hundred Pounds be appropriated, to encourage the erecting of Saltpetre Works in this Colony.

And on the question being put, whether this sum or the sum of one thousand Pounds be appropriated to this use, it passed for one thousand Pounds.

On motion made, Resolved, That the sum of one thousand Pounds, voted by this Congress to encourage the erecting of Saltpetre Works in this Colony, be appropriated to the payment of a bounty of one Shilling per Pound, over and above the market price, for any quantity, not exceeding twenty thousand pounds weight, of good merchantable Saltpetre, which shall be made and manufactured in this Colony, on or before the first day of January, 1777: Provided, that the Continental Congress shall not offer the like premium for Saltpetre manufactured in any of the United Colonies.

On motion made, Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that the sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds, Proclamation Money, be immediately emitted in Bills of Credit, for the use of this Colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hart, Mr. Mehelm, Mr. Elmer, and Mr. Dunham, be a Committee to prepare the draught of an Ordinance for emitting the aforesaid sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds, in Bills of Credit, and to make a provision to sink the same; and also to appoint Commissioners to purchase and procure the several articles enumerated in the foregoing Resolutions, and that they report the same to this Congress.

The Congress adjourned until two o’clock, P. M., to-morrow.

Wednesday, October 25, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

A motion was made by the Deputies of the County of Salem, and seconded by the Members of Hunterdon, that, as soon as this session is ended, this Congress doth dissolve itself, in order that a new election may take place upon more extensive principles, to wit:

That, at such new election, such Householders, or reputable single men, as are possessed, bona fide, of a personal estate of the value of fifty Pounds, Proclamation Money, or upwards, and have been resident at least one year in the County, may be admitted to vote with those that are Freeholders.

Ordered, That the consideration of this motion be postponed until this Congress shall determine the Petitions from the Counties of Hunterdon and Sussex, praying that Householders may be admitted to vote at future elections.

And thereupon, pursuant to the Order of the Day, the Congress resumed the consideration of the several Petitions from the Counties of Hunterdon and Sussex, praying that Householders may be admitted to vote at future elections; and having duly weighed and considered the several arguments for and against the prayer of the said Petitions, and also the above motion of the Deputies of the County of Salem, for a dissolution of this Congress; the previous question was put, whether this Congress will proceed to determine the consideration of the above Petitions and motion at this time, or postpone the same to the next session, in order that the sense of the Colony in general may be known.

Resolved, That the same be postponed to the next session of this Congress.

The Petition from Middlesex, respecting the Field-Officers of Colonel Wetherill’s Regiment, was read a second time; and on the question being put, whether the prayer of the said Petition be granted or not, it passed in the negative, unanimously.

The Petition from several persons of Captain Harrison’s Company of Light-Infantry, praying that the Petitioners may be indulged in continuing in that Company, notwithstanding the late Resolution of this Congress, was read a second time; and it now appearing, that the Company in Nottingham, to which the Petitioners belonged, is united to another Company; It is therefore Resolved, That the prayer of the said Petition be granted, and that a Commission do issue to John Matthews, one of the Lieutenants.

The Certificate of the election of Field-Officers for the Battalion on the north side of Cohansie Creek, in Cumberland County, was read a second time.

Ordered, That Commissions do issue to the several persons therein named.

Ordered, That Commissions do issue to Captain Thomas Wolverton, and to the Officers of his Company of Minute-Men, in Sussex County.

Ordered, That Commissions do issue to Samuel Forman, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel, Elisha Lawrence, Esq., First Major, and James Mott, Esq., Second Major, of the Second Regiment of Militia in the County of Monmouth.

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

Thursday, October 26, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

A Petition from the Committee of Sussex County, objecting to the appointment of John Budd Scott, Esq., as First Major of the First Regiment of Militia in that County, and praying that Mr. Scott’s Commission may be vacated, was read, and ordered a second reading.

The Committee appointed to prepare the draught of an Ordinance for striking the sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds, in Bills of Credit, for the use of this Colony, and to make a provision to sink the same, &c., reported a draught of such Ordinance; which was read, and ordered a second reading.

The following engrossed draught of the form of an advertisement, respecting the enlistment of men for the two Battalions, recommended to be raised in this Colony, was read and passed.

Ordered, That the same be sent to the press as soon as possible, and that two hundred copies be printed for the use of this Colony.

Whereas the honourable Continental Congress have recommended to this Congress, that there be immediately raised, in this Colony, at the expense of the Continent, two Battalions, consisting of eight Companies each, and each Company to consist of sixty-eight Privates, and officered with one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Ensign, four Sergeants, and four Corporals, on the following conditions:

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 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 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.

The form of an 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.”

This Congress, desirous to carry into execution the above