And the said Report being taken into consideration immediately, amended, and agreed to,

It was Resolved, That the Regiment of Militia, commanded by Colonel Richard Richardson, be, in the following manner, divided into four Battalions; each under a Lieutenant-Colonel and Major, resident in the District, and the whole under the command of Colonel Richardson, viz: That part of the said Regiment lying eastward of Santee and Wateree Rivers, into two Battalions, to be divided by Rafting-Creek, from the mouth and north branch thereof up to its source, and thence, by a line due east, to Lynch’s Creek; and the other part of the said Regiment, lying westward of Wateree-River, into two other Battalions, to be divided by Wateree-Creek, and the south branch thereof up to its source, then down Jackson’s Creek to the mouth, and to Shyra’s Ferry, on Broad-River. And that the Fork between Saludy and Broad Rivers be divided into three Regiments, according to the division of Districts by the Resolve of Congress of the 9th of February last, one Regiment in each of the said Districts.

Resolved, That Thomas Lynch, Sen., Esq., one of the Delegates of this Colony in the Continental Congress, on account of his ill state of health, have leave to return to this Colony, if he shall think it necessary.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Sunday, March 24, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

Mr. John Rutledge, from the Committee to prepare a plan or form of Government, in addition to their former partial Report, made a further Report.

And the said further Report being taken into immediate consideration, and amended, and the whole Report being gone through,

Ordered, That the same be forthwith fairly engrossed upon royal paper, and laid before the Congress.

Resolved, That Gabriel Manigault, Thomas Smith, John Scott, Senior, Samuel Prioleau, Senior, Lionel Chalmers, Esqs., and Messrs. Benjamin Baker, Richard Moncrieff, Thomas Young, and William Banbury, be, and they are hereby, appointed Commissioners, they, or any five of them, to appraise and value the Houses in Charlestown, in order that if, during the present unnatural civil war, any of those Houses should be damaged or destroyed, and any recompense should hereafter be thought proper to be made, such owners of them as shall be in readiness, by arms, to defend Charlestown, and Widows and Orphans, may be recompensed accordingly. And that the said Commissioners, or a majority of them, as aforesaid, shall, upon oath, and, as soon as possible, make return of the said appraisement, together with the names of the proprietors, or inhabitants, of the Houses respectively that are abandoned.

Resolved, That the same allowance as has been heretofore granted to the Delegates of this Colony, be given to the Delegates now representing, and to represent, this Colony in the Continental Congress.

Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress be forthwith, by Mr. President, presented, by letter, to Colonel Richard Richardson, for the very important and signal services he has rendered to his country, and to the common cause, by putting a stop to the late dangerous and alarming insurrection, which the enemies of America had excited in the interior parts of the Colony; desiring the Colonel to signify the thanks of this Congress also to the officers and men who were under his command upon that expedition.

Resolved, also, That the thanks of this Congress be returned to Major Andrew Williamson, for his important services on the same occasion.

And Major Williamson being present in Congress, received thanks accordingly.

Resolved, That Mr. President be desired to transmit the thanks of this Congress to Major James Mayson, for his services upon the late expedition under Colonel Richardson.

Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress be returned to Stephen Bull, Esq., of Sheldon, Colonel of the Granville County Regiment of Militia, for his important services in the command of the Colony Forces in Savannah; and that he be desired to signify their thanks to the officers and men then under his command.

And thanks were accordingly returned to Colonel Bull.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Monday, March 25, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Report of the Committee to prepare proper Rules and Articles for the government of the Navy of this Colony, being taken into consideration,

The said Rules were amended, and agreed to.

Ordered, That the Secretary do forthwith cause a proper number of copies of the said Rules and Articles to be printed, for the use of the Navy of this Colony.

Resolved, That every Officer who actually keeps a Servant, and does not take a Soldier from the Regiment to wait on him, shall be allowed a ration of Provision for such Servant per day.

Ordered, That Captain Williams, Captain Winn, Mr. Loocock, Mr. Prince, Colonel Wofford, and Mr. Beard, be a Committee to consider and report proper places in the interior parts of the Colony, at which the election of Members of Congress, or of the General Assembly, should be held, where such places are not already appointed, or where those already appointed may be improper or inconvenient; and also, of proper persons to attend and receive the votes of the electors.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Tuesday, March 26, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Committee to whom the Petition of David Duncan was referred, reported, that they had, to the satisfaction of both parties, settled the dispute between him and Mrs. Lingard.

The engrossed copy of “A Constitution, or form of Government,” being laid before the Congress,

rdered, That Colonel C. C. Pinckney and Mr. Salvador be a Committee to examine and compare the same with the rough draft thereof.

George King, Esq., was returned duly elected on the 6th instant, as a Representative for the Parish of St. Matthew, in the room of Tacitus Gaillard, Esquire, who had declined serving.

On motion, to establish a proper rank between the Officers of the Land and Sea Forces of this Colony:

Whereas it is expedient for the publick service, that a proper rank should be established between the Officers in the Navy and the Officers in the Land Forces of this Colony:

Therefore, it is Resolved, That rank be established in the following manner:

The Captain of a Ship, or Frigate, of not less than twenty guns, all not less than nine-pounders, of three years’ standing, to rank with a Colonel.

The Captain of a Ship, or Frigate, as aforesaid, of less than three years’ standing, to rank with a Lieutenant-Colonel.

The Captain of a Ship that does not carry twenty guns, all not less than nine-pounders, to rank with a Major.

The Master or Commander of a Snow or Brigantine, Schooner or Sloop, each carrying not less than fifty men, to rank with a Captain of Foot. And

Lieutenants in the Navy, to rank with Lieutenants of Foot.

Colonel C. C. Pinckney reported, that he, with Mr. Salvador, had carefully examined the engrossed copy of the Constitution or form of Government, and that they found it correct.

Ordered, That the following Title be prefixed to the said engrossed copy:

“South-Carolina.

“In a Congress, begun and holden at harletown, on Wednesday, the first day of November, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, and continued, by divers adjournments,