throughout the Province. That this honourable House being the body from whom the people most earnestly wish to receive the regulations which are become so indispensably necessary, the petitioners do most earnestly pray that this honourable House will recommend to the inhabitants of this Province such military regulations as, in their wisdom, they shall think will carry the said recommendation of the honourable Continental Congress effectually into execution. That the petitioners, being sensible “there are some people, who, from religious principles, cannot bear arms in any case,” wish not to do “violence to their consciences;” but, as by the exertions of the Associators, the liberty, property, and lives of those people will be equally defended with their own, (without any danger to the lives, liberty, or property of the said people,) the petitioners further pray that the terms of exemption may be adequate to the dangers, loss of time, and expense incurred to those who shall associate under the proposed regulations.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The Committee appointed to report to the House a state of the several grants made by this Province to the Crown, from the year 1755 to the year 1764, and the sum remaining to be raised to complete the said grants, presented to the Chair a Report thereon, in writing, which was read by order.

Upon motion, Resolved, That this House will resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next, the 24th instant, to take into their consideration the present critical state of this Province.

The Petition of George Jacob Housman, an insolvent debtor in the Jail of Philadelphia, was, on motion, again read, and referred, with the several Insolvent Petitions recommended over by the late Assembly, to the Committee of Grievances, for inquiry.

Upon motion, the House took into consideration part of the Memorial from the Committee of Safety, recommending the appointment of a Commodore or Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Boats provided for the defence of this City and River, and, after some time spent therein,

Resolved, That it is their opinion such an officer is at this time necessary, and that it be referred to the Committee of Safety to consider of and report to the House a person proper for the service.

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

A motion was made and seconded for appointing a Committee to prepare and bring in a bill for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies, &c.; and, after some debate thereon, was postponed for further consideration.

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

Saturday, October 21, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

A Petition from the Committee of the Privates of the Association of the City of Philadelphia and its Districts was presented to the House and read, setting forth that the Petitioners have lived to see the unhappy time when the liberties of America must be finally lost, unless preserved by arming the inhabitants thereof in their defence. That the strength and power of the enemy, and the determined spirit with which the war is likely to be prosecuted, render the utmost efforts of this, as well as of the rest of the United English Colonies, absolutely necessary. That the Petitioners do therefore humbly pray the honourable House, in their wisdom, to recommend to their constituents some general plan of a militia law, which shall equally extend to all the good people of this Province; and that any indulgence which may be thought necessary to be granted by the House, to any freeman of the Province, may be equally open to all, and granted on such terms as the House may think adequate to the many difficult and dangerous services of those who are willing to hazard their lives and fortunes in defence of their Country; that this, the Petitioners are persuaded, would give such general satisfaction to those who have already associated, that they would cheerfully exert their utmost abilities in the service of their Country.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The House adjourned to Monday next, at four o’clock, P. M.

Monday, October 23, 1775.

Mr. Speaker, with twenty-five Members, met pursuant to adjournment; and a quorum not appearing, they adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Tuesday, October 24, 1775.

A quorum met pursuant to the adjournment of last night.

Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Pyle, this day appearing in the House for the first time since their election, were qualified as usual, and took their seats accordingly.

Upon motion, Ordered, That Mr. Dickinson be added to the Committee of Correspondence, and Mr. Miles to the Committee of Accounts.

The order of Friday last, for resolving the House into a Committee of the Whole House on this day, to consider the present critical state of the Province, being called for, was read by order, and the execution thereof postponed to Thursday next, the 26th instant.

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

Wednesday, October 25, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Jacobs, this day appearing in the House for the first time since his election, was qualified as usual, and took his seal accordingly.

Pursuant to the Resolution of Thursday last, a number of applications for Captain’s, Lieutenant’s, and Ensign’s commissions, in the new Battalion to be raised in the Province of Pennsylvania, were this day received by the House, with the respective recommendations produced in favour of the applicants, which were severally read, and referred to the afternoon for consideration.

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

The House resumed the consideration of the several Petitions and applications, presented in the forenoon, for Captains’ commissions in the new Battalion; and, after some time spent therein,

Resolved, That William Allen, Jun., Jonathan Jones, William Williams, Josiah Harman, Marien Lamar, Thomas Dorsey, William Jenkins, and Augustine Willet, be, and they are hereby appointed Captains in the said Battalion, and recommended to the honourable Continental Congress for commissions accordingly.

A Memorial from the Committee chosen by the Freeholders of the Counties of Northumberland and Northampton, to solicit assistance, and devise means for keeping the peace of the said Counties, and defending them against the Connecticut intruders, was presented to the House, read, and is as follows, viz:

“To the Honourable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, in General Assembly met.

“The Memorial of the Subscribers, being a Committee chosen by the Freeholders of the Counties of NORTHUMBERLAND and NORTHAMPTON, to solicit assistance, and devise means for keeping the peace of the said Counties, and defending them against the CONNECTICUT intruders, sheweth:

“That the late House of Assembly, taking into consideration 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, did specially direct their Delegates to lay the same before the Congress, with the mischievous tendency the pursuing such measures will have, and to procure the aid of Congress to quiet the minds of the good people of this Province, and prevent further intrusions and extension of settlements under the said claim, until the matter shall be determined by the King in Council, to whom both sides have submitted the dispute.’

“That the honourable Congress were pleased to appoint five of their body as a Committee to hear the parties, and to devise some effectual means for answering the aforesaid purposes; and the said Committee, being attended by your