may think proper (His Majesty's fleet or army only excepted.)

And this Congress recommend to the captors of said Ship, to make some gratuity to each of the Seamen on board, to enable them to travel to some other parts in pursuit of business.

The draft of a Letter to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, in answer to their Letter respecting raising Artillery Companies ln this Province, was read, and agreed to, and ordered to be engrossed; which was done accordingly, and is in the words following:

GENTLEMEN: The Congress have taken into their serious consideration the important matters recommended to them by your letter of 5th ultimo.

It is with pleasure that this Congress find that you have taken so very necessary a step, as to cause a survey to be made of the Jersey-Shore upon the River Delaware; and this Congress concur with you in opinion, that the necessity of making an early provision to guard both shores against common danger, is a measure of the highest importance, and requires immediate consideration.

This Congress very gratefully acknowledges the patriotick tender you have been pleased to make of your service, in giving or receiving mutual assistance, as the circumstances and situation of things may require; and this Congress will most cheerfully co-operate with you, in promoting all such measures as may be best calculated to advance the common cause.

In pursuit of this plan, this Congress have agreed to raise forthwith two companies of Artillery, and to purchase twelve field-pieces, for the defence of this Colony, to be stationed one half in East-Jersey, and the other half in West-Jersey. But as it is probable, that the officers appointed to the command of these companies may have occasion for some instruction, to improve them in the art of gunnery, this Congress, in such case, will rely upon your friendly declarations of affording such assistance as may be required.

With regard to the purchase of cannon, the Committee appointed by this Congress have orders to procure them on the best terms; and this Committee we recommend to your attention, if it should be found necessary to give you any further trouble in the management of this affair.

This Congress have made provision for paying a bounty of one shilling per pound for such merchantable saltpetre as shall be made in this Colony before the first day of January next. But should it be found necessary for any persons to acquire more practical knowledge of the art of making this necessary article, this Congress will in such case most gladly accept your obliging offer, and give a recommendation to such persons accordingly.

By order,&c.

The engrossed Ordinance for numbering the Inhabitants of this, colony was read and compared.

Resolved, That the same do pass.

The engrossed Ordinance for disbanding Minute-Men, &c., was read and compared.

Resolved, That the same do pass.

This Congress have before them a certified copy of a Letter lately wrote by Corilandt Skinner, Esq., Attorney-General of this Colony, to his brother, Colonel Skinner, in Great Britain, containing many sentiments and expressions prejudicial to the peace and welfare of the United Colonices.

And whereas, by a law of this Colony, passed the last session of General Assembly, a salary was provided for, and granted the said Attorney-General, under confidence of his friendly disposition towards the interests of this Province; which confidence, from the tenouror said Letter, no longer subsists; and Mr. Skinner having left the Colony, ceases to perform the duty of his office. This, Congress, therefore, as a duty they owe their constituents, request the Treasurers of this Colony, and each of them, to stop all payments, of salary to the said Corllandt Skinner, until this Congress shall give further order thereon.

Adjourned to three o'clock, in the afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

The engrossed Ordinance for raising two Companies of Artillery, and providing for their pay and subsistence, was read and compared.

Resolved, That the same do pass.

The honourable Continental Congress having recommended to this Congress to provide Carriages for transporting Baggage and Military Stores through this Colony: In compliance wherewith, it is

Resolved, That the Treasurers of this Colony, appointed by Congress, or either of them, do deposite the sum of twenty-five Pounds, Proclamation money, in the hands of each of the Chairmen of the Committees of the Counties of Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, Hunterdon, and Sussex, taking proper receipts for the same, to be at the disposal of the respective Committees of the Counties aforesaid, to be by them laid out and applied in paying the expense of Baggage-Wagons employed in this Colony; for which money the Chairman of said respective Committees shall be accountable to the Congress of this Colony, or Committee of Safety, and shall render true accounts of their disbursements, when and as often as thereunto required.

The engrossed Ordinance for paying a bounty on Saltpetre and common Salt, manufactured in New Jersey, and for purchasing Saltpetre, was read and compared.

Resolved, That the same do pass.

The Ordinance to provide for the payment of Incidental Charges, was read the second time, agreed to, and ordered to be engrossed. The aforesaid Ordinance being engrossed, was read and compared.

Resolved, That the same do pass.

Azariah Dunham brought from the Continental Congress their determination upon the application of this Congress for Forces to be stationed in this Colony; which, being read, is in the words following:

"Application being made to Congress, by the Convene tion of New-Jersey, for two move Battalions, and two Companies of Artillery, to be raised in that Colony; and the same being referred to a Committee, on the Report of the said Committee, the Congress did not agree to the raising any more Battalions or Companies in that Colony.

"March 1, 1776. "CHARLES THOMSON.

On motion, Resolved, That a Letter of Instruction to the Delegates of this Province in Continental Congress, be immediately prepared and sent to them. A draft of which being produced, was read and agreed to, and is as follows:

GENTLEMEN: You must be sensible that this Congress are extremely destitute of the means of information, compared with your body, and, of course, unable to point out any certain line of conduct for you to pursue. Your deliberations must no doubt be formed upon the measures of the British Ministry, which are uncertain, extraordinary, and new almost every week. We, therefore, only request that you would join in the general voice of the United Co-lonies, and pursue such measures as you may judge most beneficial for the publick good of all the Colonies.

By order, &c.,

This Congress, sensible of the extreme scarcity of Blankets now wanted for the Continental Forces, do recommend it to all the inhabitants of this Colony, who may have any good Blankets that they can possibly spare, to dispose of the same to the Commissary on reasonable terms, for the use of said Forces.

Resolved, That John Anderson, of New- York, be employed to print the Minutes and Ordinances of this silting, and that the President sign an Order for the same; and that the Treasurers of this Colony, or either of them, pay to the said John Anderson, so much as Abraham Clark and Lewis Ogden, Esquires, shall certify that they have agreed shall be paid for printing the same.

The Congress adjourned to the fourth Monday in May next, then to meet at Burlington, unless sooner called by the President or Vice-President.

An Ordinance directing the manner of signing the General Association, by persons of tender consciences, and enforcing the same; and, also, for amending the Militia Ordinance, passed at the last session of this Congress

Although it is not the design of this Congress to offer violence to conscience, yet it is highly necessary that all the inhabitants of this Colony should associate, as far as