For the County of WESTMORELAND: William Thompson.

A majority of the above gentlemen met this day, pursuant to Charter and the Laws of the Province, and a quorum not appearing, they adjourned to Monday next, at four o’clock, P. M.

Monday, October 16, 1775.

A quorum of the Representatives being met, proceeded, according to the Charter of the Privileges and the Laws of the Province, to the choice of a Speaker, when John Morton, Esq., was unanimously chosen Speaker of the House for the ensuing year, and placed in the chair accordingly.

Tuesday, October 17, 1775.

The Qualification by law appointed to be taken by Members of Assembly, and the Test of Abjuration, being prepared, were then taken and subscribed, first by the Speaker in the chair, and afterwards by the Members present in their order.

The House then proceeding, as usual, to the appointment of their Officers and Committees for the ensuing year:

Resolved, That Charles Moore be, and he is hereby appointed Clerk of this House for the ensuing year; and he took and subscribed the usual qualification accordingly.

Resolved, That Abel Evans be, and he is hereby appointed Assistant Clerk to the House for the ensuing year, and he took and subscribed the usual qualification accordingly.

Resolved, That William Sheed be, and he is hereby appointed Sergeant-at-Arms to this House for the ensuing year.

Resolved, That Andrew McNair be, and he is hereby appointed Doorkeeper to this House for the ensuing year.

Resolved, That Mr. Miles, Mr. Morris, Mr. Rodman, and Mr. Pearson, with the Speaker, be a Committee of Correspondence for the ensuing year.

Resolved, That Mr. Parker, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Tuining, Mr. Bartholomew, Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Ross, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Chreist, Mr. Kachlein, and Mr. Dougherty, be a Committee of Grievances for the ensuing year; and that they have power to send for persons, papers, and records, as occasions require.

Resolved, That Mr. Hillegas, Mr. Gray, Mr. Morris, Mr. Chapman, and Mr. Pearson, be a Committee to audit and settle the accounts of the General Loan-Office of this Province and other publick accounts of the ensuing year; and that they have full power and authority to send for persons, records, and papers, by the Sergeant-at-Arms to this House, in order that the said accounts be fully adjusted and made ready to be laid before the House on the first day of their meeting in September next.

Resolved, That the Minutes of the Proceedings of this House be printed and published weekly, being first revised by the Committee to be appointed for that purpose; and that the Speaker do appoint the printing thereof, and that no persons, but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same.

Resolved, That if any four Members, upon the decision of a question, shall desire to have the yeas and nays, with the names of the Members, entered on the Journals of the House, it shall be allowed.

Resolved, That Joseph Fox, Esq., be, and he is hereby appointed Barrack-Master of the Barracks in the Northern Liberties of this City for the ensuing year.

Resolved, That William Bowsman, of the Borough of Lancaster, be, and be is hereby appointed Barrack-Master of the Barracks in the said Borough for the ensuing year.

Wednesday, October 18, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Gibbons, this day appearing, was qualified as usual, and took his seat accordingly.

Upon motion, Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas, Mr. Gray, Mr. Morris, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Slough, Mr. Swoope, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Chreist, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Dougherty, be a Committee to slate an account of the several grants made by this Province to the Crown, from the year 1755 to the year 1764, inclusive, which were to be sunk by taxes, &c., and report the balances outstanding, with those in the hands of the Treasurer, that the House may be ascertained of the sum yet to be raised to complete the said grants.

A motion being made and seconded, for reappointing the Committee of Safety, with an addition of some new Members, the said motion was referred for consideration till to-morrow morning.

Upon motion, Ordered, That Mr. Parker, Mr. Miles, Mr. Pearson, and Mr. Dougherty, be a Committee to examine the Laws of this Province, and report such to the House as are expired or near expiring, together with the several matters recommended over by the Fate Assembly to the consideration of this House.

A Member presented at the table a Letter from the Continental Congress to the Committee of Safety for this Province, enclosing certain Resolves of the said Congress, passed the 9th and 12th of this instant, which were read by order, and are as they respectively follow, viz:

“Congress Chamber, October 12, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: The present situation of affairs renders it absolutely necessary, in the opinion of the Congress, 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 into execution the said Resolutions, and raise the Battalion recommended to be raised with all possible expedition.

“The commissions I will fill up with the names of the persons you determine upon, immediately on the receipt of the list.

“I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.

“ To the Gentlemen of the Committee of Safety for Pennsylvania.”

“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, and 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 shoes, and a pair of yarn stockings; 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 is augmented, the pay of the Officers in these Battalions shall in like manner be 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, viz:

“‘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

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