The other matters to this day referred being postponed, and the Order of the Day renewed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, November 9, 1775.

On motion made, Resolved, That every member of this Congress considers himself under the ties of virtue, honour, and love of his Country, not to divulge, directly or indirectly, any matter or thing agitated or debated in Congress, before the same shall have been determined, without leave of the Congress; nor any matter or thing determined in Congress, which a majority of the Congress shall order to be kept secret. And that if any member shall violate this agreement, he shall be expelled this Congress, and deemed an enemy to the liberties of America, and liable to be treated as such; and that every member signify his consent to this agreement, by signing the same.

A Letter from the Agents, Mr. Penn and Mr. A. Lee, respecting the delivery of the Petition, and the reception it met with, was read.

Ordered, That the substance of this Letter be published.

The Congress took up the Order of the Day, for appointing a Commander of the Fortresses on Hudson’s River, and some debate arising thereon,

On motion made, Resolved, That the appointment of a Commander of the said Fortresses be postponed to Wednesday next; and that Captain John Hanson take and keep the command of the said Fortresses, and the Troops there, until the Congress shall appoint a Commander.

On application made by the Delegates of Georgia,

Resolved, That the President draw an Order on the Treasurers in favour of the Delegates of that Colony, for the sum of 5,000 Dollars, towards the expense of the Battalion ordered to be raised in that Colony; the said Colony to account for the same.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee appointed to consider the application from the Inhabitants of Nova-Scotia; and after some debate, the same was postponed till to-morrow.

The Order of the Day renewed, and the several matters to this day referred postponed till to-morrow.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Friday, November 10, 1775.

On motion made, Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, for 1,000 Dollars, in favour of Mr. R. Livingston, Mr. Langdon, and Mr. Paine, the Committee appointed to repair to the northward.

On motion made, Resolved, That the Goods bought for the Northern Army be sent by land to Dobbs’s Ferry; and that the President write to the Convention of New-York, and desire them to have a Vessel ready to take in the said Goods, and transport them immediately to Albany.

Resolved, That the Medicines purchased in this City for the Army at Cambridge, be sent thither by land.

Resolved, That the President give written orders to Dr. Morgan, to call upon Mr. Sears, and desire him to deliver what Medicines he has under his care, or can procure, that they may be forwarded to the Camp at Cambridge, for the use of the Continental Army.

On motion made, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, to inquire into the state of the Colony of Virginia, to consider whether any and what provisions may be necessary for its defence, and to report the same to Congress.

That the Committee consist of five.

The members chosen: Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Johnson.

Resolved, That all Letters to and from the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, or the Chief Commander in the Army in the Northern Department, pass and be carried free of postage.

Resolved, That the Commander of the New-Jersey Battalion be directed to march six Companies of said Battalion, as soon as they are completed, to garrison the Fort on Hudson’s River, in the Highlands, in the Colony of New-York.

Resolved, That the President write to Governour Cooke, and request him to send to the Committee of Safety of New-York one ton of Powder, for the defence of that City and Colony.

Resolved, That there be paid to John Wendall, the express from Albany, who has been detained twelve days by order of Congress, the sum of 1 1-3 Dollar per day, for the time he has been detained.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, in favour of the Delegates of New-Jersey, for the sum of 5,000 Dollars, for the use of the Battalions.

Ordered, That the Delegates for Pennsylvania do call on the gentlemen appointed to sign the Continental Bills, and request them with all possible expedition to complete that business.

The Committee appointed to consider further ways and means of promoting the manufacture of Saltpetre brought in their Report, which was read, in these words:

It appears to your Committee, that skilful persons sent to Virginia, and employed there in a publick Saltpetre Work, under the inspection of gentlemen who will superintend it, may, with sufficient assistance, produce a considerable quantity of that article; and that a further supply of it may be procured from the other Colonies, if the Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils of Safety, will appoint proper persons in their respective Colonies, whose business it shall be to employ and set to work such and so many of their countrymen as they shall judge fit, to collect earth from which nitrous salt may be extracted, and to manufacture it into Saltpetre.

The Congress taking into consideration the said Report,

Resolved, That Richard Bland, Peter Poythress, John Bannister, John Buffin, Archibald Cary, Benjamin Watkins, John Tabb, Richard Adams, Richard Randolph, and Theodorick Bland, the younger, Esqrs., or any five or more of them, be desired and empowered to agree with the proprietors of the publick Warehouse, and of other places impregnated with nitre, in the Counties of Prince George, Dinwiddie, Chesterfield, and Henrico; Carter Braxton, John Syme, Burwell Basset, Bartholomew Dandridge, William Aylett, George Brook, George Lyne, and George Webb, Esqrs., or any five or more of them, with such proprietors in the Counties of Hanover, New-Kent, King William, and King & Queen; Edmund Pendleton, James Taylor, George Stubblefield, Mann Page, the younger, Joseph Jones, William Fitzhugh, of Somerset, and Fielding Lewis, Esqrs., or any four or more of them, with such proprietors in the Counties of Caroline, Spottsylvania, and King George; and Charles Carter, of Stafford, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Henry Lee, Thomas Blackburn, Charles Broadwater, and George Mason, Esqrs., or any three or more of them, with such proprietors in the County of Stafford, Prince William, and Fairfax, in the Colony of Virginia, to purchase, for the use of the United Colonies, all the Saltpetre which may, within twelve calendar months be, produced from the floors and yards of the Warehouses and other places, under the management of such persons as the Congress shall appoint for that purpose, and to pay to the owners of the soil, if they will manufacture it at their own expense, after the rate of two-fifths of a Dollar for every pound weight, avoirdupois, of clean, pure, and neat Saltpetre, delivered to the gentlemen above named, for the use of the United Colonies; and to hire labourers, and provide the necessary apparatus, to be employed under the direction of the said managers, in the soil of such persons as shall not choose to adventure in the business themselves, paying to the owners, if they require satisfaction, what they shall be willing to take, so that it do not exceed one forty-fifth part of a Dollar for every pound weight, avoirdupois, of Saltpetre of the like quality; in both which cases the Congress will make good the contracts, and will pay all such expenses as shall be incurred by the gentlemen desired to superintend the operation; on whose zeal, influence, and abilities, to procure with all convenient expedition a large quantity of this article, so necessary for the defence of their Country, and thereby render it a very important service, and, by their example and activity, to forward and encourage this useful work, the Congress rely with confidence.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Assemblies, Conventions, and Committees of Safety, of the. thirteen United Colonies, to appoint certain persons within each of