respective polls, in the list given in for the year 1775, and that those who have already inlisted, or shall hereafter inlist into the Continental Army for the ensuing campaign, shall be exempted from paying taxes on their polls in the list to be given in for the year 1776; and that the persons of such as shall so inlist, or have already inlisted, be exempted from arrest for debt until the terra of their service is expired.

An Act empowering the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, or Officers commanding a Detachment, or Out-posts, &c., to administer an Oath.

Be it enacted by the Governour, Council, and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, raised or to be raised by this and the rest of the United Colonies, or any officer in the service of the said United Colonies, commanding any detachment or out-post, shall have power and authority to administer an oath, and swear any person or persons to the truth of any information or intelligence, or any other matter relative to the publick service.

An Act for altering and further ascertaining the Bounds and Limits of the Town of WESTMORELAND, in this Colony.

Be it enacted by the Governour, Council, and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the Town of Westmoreland, in this Colony, shall be bounded east by the River Delaware, south by a line of latitude just forty-one degrees north from the Equator, and extend west on said line to the termination of fifteen English miles west of the East Branch of the River Susquehannah; from thence to run northerly a straight line to the Forks of the River Tioga, and continuing the same course to the north line of this Colony, which shall be the west line of said Town and of the County of Litchfield; and said Town is bounded north by the north line of this Colony, as described in the Charter from King Charles the Second, bearing date the 23d day of April, A. D. 1662. And whereas part of the land contained in said Charter to this Colony is claimed by the Proprietors of the Colony of Pennsylvania, by virtue of a grant from King Charles the Second, made subsequent to the grant to the Governour and Company of this Colony, and a number of persons are settled on part of said lauds under said claim, and also numbers of persons are settled on other parts of said disputed territory, under the title of this Colony, which are included within said Town of Westmoreland, and in order to preserve the peace of said inhabitants and harmony and friendship between the Colonies, pursuant to the advice of the honourable Congress of the United Colonies, until the controversy concerning the title of said lands can be settled and determined, either by an amicable agreement or some competent judicature:

It is resolved by this Assembly, That all the present inhabitants on said disputed territory shall remain quiet in their present possessions, without molestation from any person or persons under the jurisdiction of this Colony, provided they behave themselves peaceably towards the inhabitants settled under the claims of this Colony, and provided the persons belonging to this Colony who have been lately apprehended on said lands by some of the people of Pennsylvania, be released, and all the effects, as well of those who have been already released, as those now in custody, be restored to them; and all persons are hereby strictly forbid making any further settlements on said lands, without special licence from this Assembly, or giving any interruption or disturbance to any persons already settled thereon; this temporary provision to remain in force during the pleasure of this Assembly, and shall not affect or prejudice the legal title of this Colony, or of any particular persons to any of said lands in company.

Resolved by this Assembly, That, for the future, the Delegates of this Colony who shall be appointed to attend the General Congress of the United Colonies of America shall be annually chosen by this Assembly at their session in October, and such of said Delegates who shall be directed to attend, shall on the first day of January next after their being elected as aforesaid, attend said Congress, if then sitting; always provided, that if it shall so happen that said new chosen Delegates shall not arrive at the place where said Congress be then sitting, that the Delegates then attending at said Congress in behalf of this Colony, do continue to sit and act until said new elected Delegates shall arrive and take their seals in said Congress.

Resolved by this Assembly, That the Selectmen for the time being of each Town in this Colony be, and they are hereby appointed Inspectors of Nitre and Saltpetre made and manufactured in this Colony, with all the power and authority given to Inspectors of Saltpetre, in and by an act of this Assembly, intituled An act for encouraging the manufactures of Saltpetre and Gunpowder; which Saltpetre or Nitre shall, from time to time, be delivered to such person or persons as his Honour the Governour; and Committee of Safety shall appoint to receive the same, and cause it to be manufactured into Powder for the use of the Colony.

Resolved by this Assembly, That Mr. Titus Hosmer, Mr. Ephraim Strong, Captain John Holbrook, Colonel Jabez Hamlin, and Doctor John Dickerson, be a Committee to examine where any mines or mineral substances containing Sulphur may be found within this Colony, and procure proper experienced workmen to separate the Sulphur from its ore, and make experiments on such ores, as to be able to form a judgment what will be the expense of manufacturing Sulphur, and whether it will be practicable to carry on that manufacture to any advantage, and make report to the next session of the General Assembly, or to his Honour the Governour, in case they shall be prepared to make a report before such session of the Assembly; and in case report shall be made by said Committee to the Governour, his Honour the Governour, with the advice of his Council of Safety, is empowered to give orders to such Committee to proceed in manufacturing Sulphur for the use and at the expense of this Colony, and to empower said Committee to receive of the Treasurer such sums of money as shall by them be judged necessary to be used for carrying on said manufacture to the best advantage.

Resolved, That the Brigantine owned by Captain John Greggs be purchased for the use of this Colony, to be fitted and improved as an Armed Vessel for the defence thereof; and that Colonel David Waterbury be a Committee to purchase said Brigantine and appurtenances, at a price not exceeding one thousand pounds, taking an inventory of the appurtenances belonging to said Brigantine, and a bill of sale thereof, to the Governour and Company of this Colony; and that he make report thereof to this Assembly; and in case the said Colonel Waterbury shall purchase said Brigantine, that with all convenient despatch he proceed with her to the Port of New-Haven.

Resolved by this Assembly, That Colonel David Waterbury and Captain Isaac Sears be empowered and directed to inquire, view, examine, and find out some suitable Vessel, to be improved for an Armed Vessel in defence of this Colony, and what terms such an one may be either purchased or chartered, with their judgment, estimate, and opinion thereon, and report make to this Assembly at their present session.

Resolved by this Assembly, That Colonel David Waterbury and Captain Isaac Sears be a Committee to view and examine a certain Brigantine belonging to Captain John Greggs, at Greenwich, and find whether said Brigantine, in their opinion and judgment, is fit to be improved for an Armed Vessel for defence of this Colony, find the terms she may be purchased or chartered, and report accordingly.

Resolved by this Assembly, That the Troops now stationed on the seacoast of this Colony by order of the Governour and Council of Safety be, and they are hereby continued for the defence thereof; that the Battery of Groton be furnished with six Cannon—thirty-two pounders, or in lieu thereof, six twenty-four pounders; and that the Battery at Stonington be supplied with six Cannon—two eighteen and four twelve pounders; and that the Battery at New-Haven be supplied with sixteen Cannon, viz: six eighteen, and ten twelve-pounders; and that the Harbour of Milford be supplied with six of the Cannon now at New-