all instances to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the said Army.’

“Resolved, That a similar recommendation issue to the Assembly or Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, to raise one Battalion on the same terms as those ordered to be raised in New-Jersey, and to be officered in like manner.

“Resolved, That the men enlisted be furnished with a hunting shirt, not exceeding in value one dollar and one-third of a dollar, and a blanket, provided these can be procured, but not to be made part of the terms of enlistment.”

“A copy from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary”

“By order of the Congress:

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.”

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Representation and Petition from the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia was presented to the House and read, setting forth, that the manufacture of Saltpetre has been attempted, under the patronage of the said Committee, and that it is now at a stand, for the want of a sufficient fund to carry it on; that the Petitioners, being sensible of the vast importance of this article to the Province of Pennsylvania and the Colonies in general, beg leave to recommend to the honourable House to take the said manufacture under their patronage.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Upon motion, The Rules of the House for regulating the conduct and attendance of the members were read, as usual, and agreed to be observed, with the following additional Resolves, viz:

Resolved, That every member absent upon any meeting of the House shall be liable to be sent for by the members present, at the expense of such absent member.

Resolved, That every member who shall absent himself from the service of the House, without leave from the Speaker for so doing, shall be subject to a fine of five Shillings for every day’s absence, unless such member can assign to the House a satisfactory reason for the same.

Resolved, That such members as do not appear at the place of meeting within half an hour after the time appointed in the fore and afternoon, shall pay one Shilling; but if a quorum be not present at the same time, then each absent member shall pay two Shillings and eighteen Pence for every hour’s absence after, unless he can show cause to the satisfaction of the House, which shall be determined by an immediate vote.

Resolved, upon the question, That Mr. Swoope be, and he is hereby appointed to demand and collect all fines incurred by any breach of the said Rules, for the use of the Pennsylvania Hospital.

The House adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Thursday, October 19, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to examine the Laws of the Province, with the Minutes of the late Assembly, and report such of the Laws as are expired or near expiring, together with the several matters recommended by that Assembly to the consideration of this House, reported, that, upon inspection of the said Minutes, they find the late Assembly left unfinished and referred to their successors the several matters following, viz:

Report of the Committee.

The respective cases of Richard Taylor, Jacob Muck, Alexander Stewart, Richard Ray, Francis Owens, and James Mackey, insolvent debtors.

The Petition from the Board of Commissioners and Assessors of the County of Chester.

Two Memorials from the Officers of the Military Association of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia.

The Memorial from the Committee of Safety.

And that, upon examining the Laws of the Province, it appears to the Committee that the Act intituled “An Act for punishing wicked and evil disposed persons going armed in disguise, &c.,” passed February the 24th, 1770, was limited to five years, and from thence to the next sitting of Assembly.

“An Act for the relief of the Poor,” passed March, 9 1771, limited to five years, and from thence to the next sitting of Assembly.

“An Act for regulating and continuing the Nightly Watch, &c.” passed March the 9th, 1771, limited to five years, and from thence to the next sitting of Assembly.

Submitted to the House by

October 19, 1775.

Upon consideration of the foregoing, the Memorial and Estimate from the Committee of Safety, with the two Memorials from the Officers of the Military Association of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, were read by order, and, after some debate, referred to further consideration.

The House resumed the consideration of the Letter and Resolves from the Continental Congress, presented at the table yesterday by a member of the Committee of Safety, respecting the appointment of Officers for the new Battalion proposed to be raised in this Province for the general service; and, after some time spent therein,

Resolved, That this House will, on Wednesday next, the 25th instant, receive the applications of such persons as shall offer themselves for Commissions in the said Battalion.

Pursuant to the Resolution of yesterday, the House took into consideration the motion for a reappointment of the present Committee of Safety, with the addition of some new members, and approving the persons proposed.

Resolved, That Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, George Gray, Samuel Miles, Robert Morris, Benjamin Bartholomew, George Ross, Michael Swoope, John Montgomery, Edward Biddle, George Taylor, Bernard Dougherty, Samuel Hunter, Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwallader, Andrew Allen, Joseph Read, Owen Biddle, Henry Wynkoop, Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnston, Richard Reily, Nicholas Fairlamb, Samuel Morris, Jun., Thomas Wharton, Jun., Robert White, George Clymer, Samuel Howell, Merchant, Alexander Wilcox, John Nixon, James Meas, and James Biddle, Gentlemen, be, and they are hereby appointed a Committee of Safety for this Province, during the ensuing year.

Resolved, That any seven or more of the said Committee, with the President, or, in his absence, the Vice-president, be a Board for transacting any business that may properly come before them.

The House adjourned to three o’clock, P.M.

The House resumed the consideration of the Petition from the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, respecting the manufacture of Saltpetre in this Province, and, after a debate of some length,

Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas, Mr. Gray, Mr. Morris, Mr. Brown, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Slough, Mr. Swoope, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Chreist, Mr. Kachlein, and Mr. Dougherty, be a Committee to inquire and report to the House what progress has been made in the manufacturing of Saltpetre in the City of Philadelphia, what sum is required to prosecute this business to effect, and whether it be expedient to encourage making the said article in a more general way, among people in different parts of the country, by advancing the price already offered, or by any other probable means not hitherto attempted in this Province.

The House adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Friday, October 20, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

A Petition from the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia was presented to the House and read, setting forth that the honourable the Continental Congress has recommended to the inhabitants of all the United English Colonies in North-America, that all able-bodied, effective men, between sixteen and fifty years of age, immediately form themselves into regular Companies of Militia, &c.; and that although a considerable number of the freemen of this Province had, before the said recommendation, associated for the purpose of defence against all invaders, yet the said recommendation has not been fully complied with, and, in our opinion, it is become absolutely necessary that general regulations should be made to take place