this Committee the present Petition ought to be referred; and that the Committee of Correspondence do instruct the Agent to solicit an answer to the said former Petition.

To which the House unanimously agreed.

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

Wednesday, December 6, 1775.

The House met.

The engrossed Message to his Excellency was read and compared.

Ordered, That the same be sent accordingly.

And the said Message is as follows, viz:

House of Assembly, December 6. 1775.

Ordered, That Mr. Hinchman and Mr. Mehelm do wait on his Excellency, and, in answer to his Message of the 21st of November, inform him that this House have taken the same into their serious consideration, and although they entertain the most grateful sense of the attention that has been, shown to the wishes of the Colony in the allowance of the Loan Act. and of His Majesty’s gracious inclinations to give “every indulgence that can consist with the true principles of commerce and the Constitution,” and are sincerely disposed to grant His Majesty’s requisitions, as far as the circumstances of the Colony will allow; yet at this time the House cannot think it prudent to go into any increase of the salaries of the officers of Government, nor do they apprehend that it will be beneficial for his government over us to settle them longer than for the usual time, or expedient to erect buildings at present, better to accommodate the branches of the Legislature.

That the House hopes, when it is considered that on his Excellency’s arrival to this Government, the salary was raised from one thousand Pounds to one thousand two hundred Pounds per annum, which has been continued ever since; that sixty Pounds a year has constantly been granted to provide a house for his Excellency’s residence; that the salaries of the Justices of the Supreme Court have been lately raised from fifty to one hundred and fifty Pounds per annum; that the other Crown officers either have salaries given to them or fees equal to the importance of their service; that there are places provided for the Legislature to meet and do the publick business at Perth-Am-boy, and that although such provision is not made at Burlington, yet no considerable inconvenience has attended it—when his Excellency considers these matters, he will, we hope, be of opinion with us, that the House has shown a disposition to make such suitable provision for the support of Government as, from time to time, was in their power, which nothing has retarded more than the inconvenience of two seats of Government, a circumstance they sincerely wish was removed. But the House assures his Excellency that, at a future day, when this inconvenience shall be remedied, and the unnatural controversy now subsisting is happily settled, they will show their readiness to comply with every just requisition, and demonstrate that they ever mean their actions shall correspond with their professions.

By order of the House:

RICHARD SMITH, Clerk.

Ordered, That Mr. Kinsey and Mr. Eldridge do wait on the Council, and inquire whether the Council have any thing further before them; if not, that this House proposes to apply to his Excellency for a dismission.

Mr. Hinchman reported that Mr. Mehelm and himself delivered the Messages of the House with them intrusted to his Excellency, who was pleased to say he would take the same into consideration.

Mr. Kinsey reported that Mr. Eldridge and himself delivered the Messages of the House with them intrusted to the Speaker in Council.

A Message from the Council, by Mr. Hopkinson:

Mr. Hopkinson informed the House that the Council have nothing further before them.

Ordered, That Mr. Fisher and Mr. Paxson do wait upon the Governour, and inform him that this House have gone through the business before them, and are desirous of a dismission.

Mr. Fisher reported, that Mr. Paxson and himself delivered the Message of the House to his Excellency, according to order, who was pleased to say the House should hear from him in the afternoon.

The House adjourned till three, P. M.

The House met.

A Message from his Excellency, by Mr. Deputy Secretary Pettit:

Mr. SPEAKER: His Excellency is in the Council Chamber, and requires the immediate attendance of the House.

Whereupon, Mr. Speaker left the chair, and, with the House, went to wait upon the Governour, who was pleased to give his assent to the following Bills, enacting the same, viz:

1. An Act for the support of Government of His Majesty’s Colony of New-jersey, to commence the first day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, and to end the first day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six; and to discharge the publick debts, and contingent charges thereof.

2. A supplementary Act to the Act entitled “An Act for striking One Hundred Thousand Pounds, in Bills of Credit, and directing the mode for sinking the same.”

3. An Act for the speedy recovery of Debts, from six Pounds to ten Pounds.

4. An Act to provide a more effectual remedy against excessive costs, in the recovery of Debts above ten Pounds, and for other purposes therein mentioned.

5. An Act to authorize the Board of Justices and Freeholders of the several Counties in the Colony of New-Jersey to defray the expense of taking Lists of the Inhabitants.

6. An Act to prevent Rams from running at large at certain seasons of the year.

7. An Act to empower Isaac Haines to erect a Dam, Mills, and other Water Works, on the southernmost branch of Ancocas Creek, in the Township of Evesham, in the County of Burlington.

8. An Act to enable the owners and possessors of Meadows and Tide Marsh, lying on both sides of the south branch of Pensawkin Creek, in the Counties of Burlington and Gloucester, to erect and maintain a Bank, Dam, and other Water Works, across the said Creek, in order to prevent the tide from overflowing the same.

And then his Excellency was pleased to prorogue the General Assembly till Wednesday, third day of January next, then to meet at Perth-Amboy.

COUNCIL OF NEW-JERSEY.

A Journal of the Proceedings of His Majesty’s Council for the Province of NEW-JERSEY, at a session of the General Assembly begun and holden at the City of BURLINGTON, on the fifteenth day of NOVEMBER, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, and in the sixteenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, King GEORGE the Third.

Wednesday, November 15, 1775.

The House met. Present:

The Chief Justice, Richard Stockton, Esq., Stephen Skinner, Esq., Daniel Coxe, Esq., John Laurence, Esq., Francis Hopkinson, Esq.

The House continued till to-morrow.

Thursday, November 16, 1775.

The House met. Present:

The Chief Justice, Richard Stockton, Esq., Stephen Skinner, Esq., Daniel Coxe, Esq., John Laurence, Esq.. Francis Hopkinson, Esq.

His Excellency came into the Council Chamber, and having, by the Deputy Secretary, commanded the attendance of the House of Assembly, the Speaker, with the House, attended, when his Excellency was pleased to make a Speech to both Houses, in the words following, viz:

[Here follows his Excellency’s Speech.]

After which, the Speaker, with the House of Assembly, withdrew.

The House continued till to-morrow.