for themselves; that the Petitioners beg leave to present just accounts of expenditures, and to place reliance on the wisdom and justice of the honourable House for reimbursement of the past, and provision for future necessary expenses.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition from divers languishing Debtors in the Jail of this City was presented to the House and read, setting forth, that they are subjected to great inconveniences and hardships, from their friends and families having been of late debarred access to them, and praying relief.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition from Christopher Tully was presented to the House and read, setting forth, that he is the first person who perfected and introduced in this Province a machine for spinning, twenty-four threads at once by one man or woman, with the same facility and despatch as a single thread can be spun on a common wheel; and it being the first of the kind made here, the Petitioner lost a great deal of time, and was at extraordinary expense in completing it; that the Petitioner has also engraved the figure of the said machine for the Pennsylvania Magazine, and with it a description of every part, in so particular a manner that any workman may make one by the engraved plate and the description; whence it is possible this very useful invention may soon become as common here as in England, which cannot but be a great advantage to the industrious part of the people in this Country, and the publick in general; that if the honourable House should therefore think the Petitioner deserving of any gratuity for his trouble and expense in perfecting and publishing the said machine, it will be gratefully received and acknowledged by him.

Ordered to lie on the table.

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

Friday, October 27, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to consider the Memorial of 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, reported, “that they had taken the said Memorial into their serious consideration, and are satisfied that the matters and things therein represented are justly stated, and deserve the attention of the House.”

Ordered, That the above Report be taken into consideration in the afternoon.

The Order of yesterday, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House at ten o’clock, this morning, was read by order, and postponed to Tuesday next.

A Committee from the Meeting of Representatives of the people called Quakers, this day waited on the House, and, being admitted, presented an Address in behalf of that Society, which being read by one of the Committee, they withdrew, and the said Address follows, in these words, viz:

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

“The Address of the People called Quakers respectfully sheweth:

“That we have with deep concern and affliction considered the sorrowful alteration in the state of this once peaceful Province; and the present conjuncture appearing to us the most critical and important ever known among us, we request our address to you at this time may obtain your serious, weighty, and deliberate consideration.

“We observe by the minutes of your proceedings, and the copy of a petition with which you have favoured us, that several memorials and petitions have been presented to you, by divers inhabitants, chiefly of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, the consideration of which hath so weighty impressed our minds, that we apprehend we shall fall short of our duty to ourselves, to our Country, and to posterity, if we do not express our concern on the endeavours used to induce you to enter into measures so manifestly repugnant to the laws and Charter of this Province, and which, if enforced, must subvert that most essential of all privileges, liberty of conscience, and we apprehend will not only increase the publick distresses, but occasion grievous sufferings to many conscientious people, of divers religious denominations.

“It is well known, that for above one hundred years past, we, as a religious society, have declared to the world that we could not, for conscience sake, bear arms, nor be concerned in warlike preparations, either by personal service or by paying any fines, penalties, or assessments imposed in consideration of our exemption from such services.

“That for many years after becoming a distinct religious society, our ancestors suffered many grievous persecutions and oppressions for adhering to these our religious principles, which we are convinced are founded on the example and express injunction of Christ, our Lord and Lawgiver.

“That in expectation of being entirely relieved from the divers oppressions to which they were subjected on this and other accounts, and of enjoying perfect liberty of serving God, and of walking before him in the way and manner they believe to be most agreeable to him, our ancestors were induced to leave their native land, and encounter the dangers and difficulties of settling this, then a wilderness; and although they were assured that our honourable proprietor, William Penn, was united with them in religious profession and principles, yet, in order to secure this inestimable privilege of liberty of conscience to themselves and their posterity in the fullest manner they could, before they came from their native land, they entered into a solemn contract with him for this purpose, as appears by the thirty-fifth section of laws, agreed upon in England, the fifth day of the third month, 1682, in the following words, viz:

“‘ That all persons living in the Province, who confess and acknowledge the one Almighly and Eternal God to be the Creator, Upholder, and Ruler of the world, and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall in no wise be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion or practice, in matters of faith and worship, nor shall be compelled at any time to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever.’

“This hath ever been understood to be the fundamental part of the Constitution of this Province, from its first settlement; and that it was not limited to the acts of publick worship only, in the manner many, for want of full consideration, would now interpret it, is very evident from the first clause of our present Charter of Privileges, viz:

“‘ Because no people can be truly happy, though under the greatest enjoyment of civil liberties, if abridged of the freedom of their consciences, as to their religious profession and worship; and Almighty God, being the only Lord of conscience, Father of Lights and Spirits, and the author as well as object of all divine knowledge, faith, and worship, who only doth enlighten the minds and persuade and convince the understandings of people; I do hereby grant and declare, that no person or persons, inhabiting in this Province or Territories, who shall confess and acknowledge one Almighty God, the Creator, Upholder, and Ruler of the world, and profess him or themselves obliged to live peaceably under the civil Government, shall be in any case molested or prejudiced in his or their person or estate, because of his or their persuasion or practice, nor be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place, or ministry, contrary to his or their mind, nor to do or suffer any other act or thing contrary to their religious persuasion.’

“This Charter was received by the Representatives of the people, in confirmation of their rights and privileges, and we desire may ever be considered and regarded as the most firm compact between the proprietaries and people of this Province; the wisdom manifested therein being so conspicuous as to engage the attention and approbation of the most judicious and knowing men of our own and other nations, and especially in the great care taken to guard against the instability of future human counsels, by providing in the most solemn manner, in the last paragraph of this Charter, that this most essential liberty and privilege should be preserved inviolate, in the following memorable conclusion of it, viz:

“‘But because the happiness of mankind depends so much on enjoying liberty of their consciences, as aforesaid.