have quoted, show evidently that the proprietor, William Penn, never intended to grant an exemption from paying their just proportion towards the support of any power necessary for the good government of the Province, whether civil or military, and therefore can, with no degree of decent modesty, be pleaded in the present or any other case of the same kind. Besides, it is well known that no such claim of exemption from contributing their just proportion towards the support of any civil or military measure entered into for the maintaining of the Government against their external or internal enemies, has ever been granted the society, on account of any such scruple of conscience, in any part of the British Empire, though, as the addressers allege, the society has existed for upwards of an hundred years, during which period it has been obliged to, and still does pay taxes, levied for the purpose of defraying the expenses of military expeditions, both here and in Europe; nor do we recollect to have found the payment of such taxes on the list of grievances annually made out by the society, though they duly commemorate those to which the clause in the Charter of Privileges is evidently directed.

“Thus their own practice becomes a strong proof against them, and shows, at least, that if their religious principles are abridged, we are not the authors of the abridgment. Our petition is, that the scale of justice may hang even; and if there are such consciences as scruple to have impartial justice administered, we pray that this honourable House may, in their wisdom, discountenance them; for if such scruples once obtain favour from Government, it is plain who are most likely to claim and reap the benefit of them.

“We desire to conclude by assuring this honourable House, that we are determined, to the utmost of our power, to support the liberties of America, and to inform them, that as we ask no partial favour for ourselves, so we request that it may not be granted to others. We therefore beg that the prayer of our petition may obtain the most serious attention of this honourable House.

“Signed by order of the Committee:

“WILLIAM ADCOCK, President.”

Ordered, That the Military Commissions sent to the House from the Congress be delivered by the Clerk of the House to the respective officers.

Two petitions from George Hoffner and Benjamin Miller, of Philadelphia, were presented to the House and read, praying Commissions in the Battalion to be raised in this Province.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Pursuant to the Order of Friday last, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to take into consideration the present critical state of this Province; and having spent some time in the perusal of the several Memorials, Petitions, and other Papers referred to them, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Pearson reported, from the Committee, that they had made some progress in the business before them, but not having come to any result thereon, they requested leave to sit again in the afternoon; which being agreed to, the House adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Several Petitions, from a number of the Inhabitants of the County of Philadelphia, were presented to the House and read, setting forth, that the Regulations heretofore prescribed by the Committee of Safety, for the Associators of this Province, have not had the desired effect in the said County; that the Petitioners being impressed, at this time of difficulty and danger, with the necessity of regulating the Military Association of this Province, pray the honourable House to take the premises into their serious consideration, and grant the petitioners such Regulations as they (the Assembly) shall think most proper.

Ordered, That the said Petitions be referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Whole House.

The Order of the forenoon being read,

The House resolved itself a Committee of the Whole House on the Papers referred to them; and after further deliberation thereon, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Pearson reported, from the Committee, that they had made further progress in the business before them, but not being ready to report thereon, the Committee requested leave to sit again in the morning.

Ordered, That the said Committee have leave to sit accordingly.

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

Wednesday, November 1, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

A Representation from the City and Liberties of Philadelphia was presented to the House and read, setting forth, that the said Committee having been informed that the late honourable House had, on the 30th of June last, ordered fifteen hundred stand of Arms for this City and County, used their influence with the most considerable Gunsmiths to forbear engaging any work to go out of the Province, until the said Arms shall be completed, which they readily agree to, in expectation of being employed in making the said Arms; that having had some reason to fear the necessary vigilance had not been used by the Commissioners and Assessors, in the discharge of their trust, and apprehending it to be their duty so to do, applied to them to know whether the said Arms had been provided, to which application they have received no satisfactory answer, at which many of their fellow-citizens have expressed great uneasiness; that the said Committee are well assured there are divers able Gunsmiths now unemployed, and the pressing necessity of the times making the least delay extremely dangerous, they therefore do most earnestly pray the honourable House will appoint some persons to procure the said Arms, who will give the necessary attention to that important duty.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The Order of last night being read,

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider the state of the Province; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Pearson reported, from the Committee, that they had made further progress in the business before them, but not having finished their deliberations thereon, they desired leave to sit again in the afternoon; and the same being agreed to, the House adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Upon motion, Ordered, That the Barrackmaster do forthwith put the Barracks near this City into proper repair for receiving the Troops now raising in this Province; and that the said Barrackmaster do in future receive and comply with such orders from the Committee of Safety as they may find necessary to issue, for quartering Troops in the said Barracks.

The Order of the forenoon being read,

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider the state of this Province; and having spent some time therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Pearson reported, from the Committee, that they had not yet concluded their deliberations on the business referred to them, and desired leave to sit again to-morrow morning.

Ordered, That the Committee do sit again accordingly.

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

Thursday, November 2, 1775.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Upon motion, Resolved, That this House will take into their consideration to-morrow morning the appointment of Delegates to serve in the Continental Congress, on the part of this Province.

The Order of last night being read,

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider the circumstances of the Province; and after further debate thereon, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Pearson reported, from the Committee, that they had not yet come to a full result on the business before them, and requested leave to sit again in the afternoon; which being agreed to, the House adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

The Order of the forenoon being read,

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the present state of the Province; and