And whereas it will not be expedient to put any of the Forces of this Colony upon the Continental establishment, so as to be subject to Continental Articles, and entitled only to Continental Pay, and to their discharge in December next; it being more proper to keep all the Colony Troops upon the present footing, as to their quantum of pay, their articles, and the time of inlistment:

Therefore, Ordered, That the Council of Safety do return the thanks of this Colony to the Continental Congress for their attention to its security; that they state the peculiar circumstances and the heavy expenses which have been, and will be incurred, by this Colony, in the measures necessary for her defence; and that they do request the Continental Congress to allow this Colony so much Money as the expenses of three Battalions, upon the Continental establishment, would amount to for one year; and to give Continental Rank to the Officers of the three Regiments raised in June, and of the Regiment of Artillery raised in November, from the dates of their respective Commissions, or, at least, from the 1st day of November, when they resolved to allow this Colony three Battalions.

Resolved, That all the Officers and Men in the Naval and Military Forces of this Colony shall take the same oath of fidelity as is prescribed in the Rules and Articles for the government of the Troops.

Resolved, That this Congress will, by ballot, elect the Field-Officers of the Regiment of Riflemen to be raised, separately.

A motion was made, that the Captains for the said Regiment be also elected, by ballot, by the Members of Congress.

After some debate, the question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative.

Resolved, That the Captains of the two Companies of Artillery, to be raised for the defence of Beaufort and Georgetown; be also balloted for, to-morrow, by the Members of Congress.

Resolved, That this Congress will proceed to ballot for the said Officers to-morrow afternoon.

Captain Leger, from the Committee on the Memorial of Charles King Chitty, delivered in a Report.

Ordered, That the said Report be taken into consideration to-morrow.

Colonel Powell, from the Committee to consider and report the number of country Militia necessary to replace the detachments to be discharged the 1st day of March next, and in rotation to do constant duty in and near Charles-town—the means of obliging absentees liable to bear arms, to return—the best division of the country Militia—and such measures as will tend to render the Militia most serviceable, delivered in a further Report.

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.

Mr. Motte, from the Committee on the Petition of John Sigell, delivered in a Report.

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be likewise postponed.

Colonel Powell, from the Committee on the Petition of Joseph Buffington, delivered in their Report.

Ordered, That the consideration of that Report be also postponed.

Captain Roger Smith, from the Committee to inquire and report the quantity of Flour now in Charlestown; the quantity that will be wanted; the best means of obtaining Salt, Sugar, Rum, and other necessaries, on reasonable terms; with the causes of, and remedies for, the present impositions in the advanced prices on the necessaries of life, other commodities and labour; delivered in a Report.

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

Adjourned to ten o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Friday, February 23, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

Resolved, That a Mustermaster-General be appointed for the Naval and Land Forces of this Colony, with power to appoint one Deputy.

Ordered, That Colonel Gadsden, Colonel Moultrie, Colonel Motte, Colonel Gervais, and Dr. Oliphant, be a Committee to ascertain and report the special duties of the said Mustermaster-General.

The Congress then proceeded to take under consideration the Report on the state of the interior parts of the Colony, and made some progress therein.

Adjourned to five o’clock in the evening.

In Congress, Friday Evening, February 23, 1776.

The Congress met.

A motion was made, that the election of Field-Officers for the Regiment of Riflemen to be raised, be determined by a majority of ballots of the whole number of Members present in Congress, and not otherwise.

A debate ensued; and the question being put, the Congress divided. The yeas went forth.

So that it passed in the negative.

The Congress then proceeded to ballot for a Colonel of the said Regiment.

And Isaac Huger, Esq., was declared, by majority of votes, duly elected.

The Lieutenant-Colonel was then balloted for,

And Alexander McIntosh, Esq., declared duly elected, by a majority of votes.

The Major was next balloted for,

And Benjamin Huger, Esq., declared, in like manner, duly elected.

A motion was made, that the Captains for the Regiment of Riflemen be postponed till to-morrow.

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

The Congress then proceeded to ballot for the Captain to command the Company of Artillery, to be raised for the defence of Georgetown; and also for the Captain of a like Company, for the defence of Fort Lyttleton, Port-Royal.

And the majority of votes, for the former, were declared to be in favour of Paul Trapier, Jun., Esq.; and for the latter, in favour of William Harden, Esq.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Saturday, February 24, 1776.

The Congress met.

And yesterday’s Journal was read.

Resolved, That the Privates in the Regiment of Riflemen to be raised, shall remain, and be continued, in the same Companies wherein they were respectively first in-listed.

Resolved, That the Committee on the Publick Accounts, do, and they are hereby required, to give all possible aid and assistance to Colonel Gadsden, or the Commanding Officer of the Colony Forces for the time being, and also to Captain John Copithorn, in procuring and supplying all such articles for the publick service, as the said Commanding Officer shall, from time to time, apply for.

Read a Petition of Thomas Farr, Jun., Esq., Clerk of the late Commons House of Assembly, with his Account against the publick.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee of such Members of the present Congress as were members of the said Commons House on Publick Accounts.

Whereas a Constitutional Post is now established, under the authority of the Continental Congress: And whereas it is of the utmost consequence, in the present time of imminent danger, that the Post-riders do not meet with the least delay in their progress:

Therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended, and it is hereby recommended, to the Keepers of all the Publick Ferries in this Colony, to give all possible despatch to the passage of the Constitutional Post-riders over their respective Ferries.

Resolved, That Mr. Bee, Captain John Huger, Colonel Richardson, Colonel Thomas, Captain Hammond, Major Henderson, Mr. John Owen, Colonel Thomson, Captain Harrington, Mr. De Saussure, Captain Simons, and Dr. Farrar, be, and they are hereby appointed, Commissioners