After some time spent in debate, the question was put.

The Congress divided.

The yeas went forth. Yeas, 49; Nays, 49.

So that Mr. President was obliged to decide, which he did by voting in favour of the motion.

And it was resolved in the affirmative.

Ordered, That the further consideration of the Report be adjourned.

Adjourned to eleven o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Wednesday, February 21, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

Mr. Salvador, from the Committee to inquire into the state of the interior parts of the Colony, lately in commotion; to consider what measures are proper to be pursued, to prevent future commotions therein; and also to consider of the cases of the State Prisoners, and to report what measures ought to be pursued with respect to them; delivered in a Report.

Ordered, That the consideration of the said Report be postponed.

The Congress then proceeded in the consideration of the Report of the Committee on the number of Forces necessary to be raised and kept in pay, for the service of this Colony, and made a further progress therein.

Resolved, That an Adjutant and a Quartermaster be allowed and appointed to the Regiment of Rangers.

A motion was made, that the daily Pay of the Privates in the Regiment of Artillery be augmented to ten Shillings currency.

A debate arose; the question was put, and passed in the negative.

A motion was made, that a daily Pay of ten Shillings be allowed to expert Riflemen who shall enter into a Regiment of Riflemen, to be raised for the service of this Colony.

A debate ensued; and the question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative.

A motion was made, that a Bounty of ten Pounds currency be allowed, on inlisting, to expert Riflemen entering in the Regiment of Riflemen.

After some debate, the question was put, and passed in the negative.

A motion was made, that the sum of five Pounds, currency, be allowed to every Private who shall, at the time of his entering into the Regiment of Riflemen, be provided with a good and sufficient Rifle-gun, as hire for the same, during the time for which he is engaged to serve.

A debate ensued; and the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

A motion was then made, to allow to such Riflemen a Bounty of seven Pounds and ten Shillings at the time of inlisting.

After some time spent in debate,

The Congress was adjourned to eleven o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Thursday, February 22, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The consideration of the Report on the number of Forces necessary to be raised, and kept in pay, for the service of this Colony, was resumed.

A motion was made, that a Bounty of nine Pounds ten Shillings, currency, be allowed and paid to every expert Rifleman who shall inlist in the Regiment of Riflemen to be raised for the service of this Colony.

A debate ensued; and the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

The whole of the said Report being gone through, the Congress came to the following Resolutions thereupon:

Whereas, it is absolutely necessary that a considerable body of Regular Forces be kept up for the service and defence of the Colony in this time of imminent danger;

Therefore, Resolved, That the First and Second Regiments be immediately augmented to their original establishment; and that their Bounty Money be increased to twenty-five Pounds per man. Also,

That the Regiment of Rangers be continued upon their present establishment of nine Companies, each to be augmented to fifty Privates; the Companies to be immediately completed, and the men inlisted according to the Rules and Articles for the government of the Troops: and it is hereby declared, that the said Regiment of Rangers shall be composed of expert Riflemen, who shall act on horseback or on foot, as the service may require; each man, at his own expense, to be constantly provided with a good Horse, Rifle, Shotpouch, and Powderhorn, together with a Tomahawk or Hatchet. Also,

That the Regiment of Artillery be continued upon their present establishment. Also,

That a Regiment of expert Riflemen, to take rank as the Fifth Regiment, under proper Field and other Officers, be immediately raised, to consist of seven Companies; each Company to consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, and one hundred Men, including four Sergeants and four Corporals: and it is hereby declared, that the said Regiment shall be inlisted to the 1st of June, 1777, subject to the Rules and Articles for the government of the Troops, and liable to be sooner discharged by publick authority, having one month’s pay advanced; each man in the said Regiment, at his own expense, during the service, finding his own clothes, except a uniform Hunting-shirt, and Hat or Cap, and Blanket, to be provided by the publick; and also, at his own expense, to be constantly provided with a good Rifle, Shotpouch, and Powderhorn, together with a Tomahawk or Hatchet; the Privates shall be allowed five Pounds, as the hire of their arms, during their service; nine Pounds and ten Shillings as Bounty, and ten Shillings daily Pay; the Sergeants, twelve Shillings and six Pence; the Corporals, eleven Shillings and three Pence; and the Commissioned Officers the same daily Pay as those of the First and Second Regiments. Also,

That a Company of Artillery, of one hundred Men, with proper Officers, be immediately raised for the defence of Fort Lyttleton, on Port-Royal Island; and one other Company of Artillery, consisting of sixty Men, with proper Officers, be, in like manner, raised for the defence of Georgetown. These Companies to be officered and paid in like manner, and in proportion to the Artillery establishment; and the men to be inlisted for the same term, and in like manner with the Regiment of Riflemen. Also,

That, of the Matrosses on the present establishment, the Seamen in the Colony Navy, and the Matrosses and Seamen expected to arrive here from the New-England Colonies, and other parts, in the whole upwards of nine hundred men, two hundred may, if found necessary, be established as Marines on board the Navy. Also,

That the Rations of the Regular Forces be increased to one pound and a half of fresh Beef, or to eighteen ounces of salt Pork; and that the Regiment of Rangers, the Regiment of Riflemen, the two Independent Companies of Artillery, and the Militia, upon actual service, be allowed Rations in like manner with the First and Second Regiments of Foot, and the Regiment of Artillery, and as increased by this establishment. Also,

That an Adjutant be appointed to the Regiments of Rangers and Riflemen, respectively; a Paymaster and a Surgeon to the Regiment of Riflemen, and a Sergeant-Major, a Quartermaster, and a Quartermaster-Sergeant, to each Regiment of the Regular Forces, Also,

That the men to be inlisted in the Regiment of Rangers and Riflemen, be approved of by the Commanding Officer of each Regiment, respectively, as expert Riflemen. And,

That the Captains in the Regiment of Riflemen, who shall first send, bring, or cause to be brought, to the Regimental Head-Quarters, sixty Men, approved as aforesaid, such Captains shall take priority of rank, respectively, in the said Regiment; and the said Captains, respectively, with the approbation of the Colonel of the Regiment, shall appoint their Lieutenants, Ensign, and Non-Commissioned Officers. And also,

Resolved, That all the Regular Forces of this Colony, both Naval and Military, shall, upon any emergency, and when the Congress or Council of Safety shall think proper, be liable, under either of their order and direction, to serve and act in any part of this or of a neighbouring Colony.