state of the Treasury, and also to empower the said Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the late Powder Receiver.

Ordered, That Captain Roger Smith do, with one of the Members of the Legislative Council, examine and compare with the original draft the engrossed copies of a Bill for the more effectual prevention of the desertion of the Soldiers and Sailors in the service of this Colony, and for the punishment of those who shall harbour or conceal them, or who shall purchase, receive, or conceal the Arms, Clothes, or Accoutrements of Deserters; and a Bill to prevent Sedition, and punish Insurgents and disturbers of the publick peace.

Captain Moultrie reported, that he, with one of the Members of the Legislative Council, had examined and compared the Bill and the Ordinance he had in charge, and they were found correct.

Captain Roger Smith reported, that he, with a Member of the Legislative Council, had examined the engrossed Bills he had in charge, and found them right.

Colonel Pinckney, according to order, presented an Ordinance to ascertain the duties of a Mustermaster-General of the Land and Sea Forces in the service of this Colony.

And the same was received, and read a first time.

Ordered, That the Ordinance be read a second time.

An Ordinance to ascertain the duties of a Mustermaster-General of the Land and Naval Forces of this Colony, was read a second time.

On motion, to fill up a blank for the daily pay of the Mustermaster-General with five Pounds,

The question being put, it was passed in the negative.

A motion was then made to fill up the said blank with four Pounds ten Shillings.

And the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

A motion being made to fill up the blank for the daily pay of a Deputy to the Mustermaster-General with three Pounds,

The question being put, it passed in the negative.

A motion was then made to fill up the said blank with fifty-five Shillings.

And the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

Resolved, That the Ordinance do pass.

Ordered, That it be sent to the Legislative Council.

Ordered, That Captain Trapier and Mr. Berwick do carry the said Ordinance to the Legislative Council.

Ordered, That the Honourable Mr. Drayton and Colonel Pinckney do wait on his Excellency the President with the Message of this date, and also the Ordinance and three Bills that have been engrossed and examined, and to request that he will be pleased to cause the seals to be affixed thereto, and also to signify his pleasure when he will receive this House to present the same for his assent.

An Ordinance for altering the time of holding the Circuit Courts, and the Courts of Common Pleas, and General Sessions in Charlestown, and for other purposes therein mentioned, was read a third time.

Ordered, That the Ordinance be sent to the Legislative Council for their concurrence.

Ordered, That Mr. Elias Horry and Mr. Salvador do carry the same to the Legislative Council.

On motion, Resolved, That this House will make provision for supplying all the Forces in the service of the Colony with necessary Salt, not exceeding one quart per month each man, instead of one pint, hitherto allowed.

On motion, Resolved, That every Member of this House now in Charlestown do punctually attend the meeting there­of, to-morrow morning, under a fine of five Pounds, to be paid immediately.

On motion, Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow afternoon, at five o’clock, proceed to choose by ballot such Officers as remain to be chosen.

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine of the clock.

Tuesday, April 9, 1776.

The House met according to adjournment.

Upon representation made to this House, that Gabriel Manigault and Lionel Chalmers, Esquires, requested to be excused from being of the Commissioners appointed by Congress on the 24th of March last, to appraise and value the Houses in Charlestovm, being too far advanced in years and infirm to perform that service; and that the number of Commissioners then appointed were insufficient for the purpose,

Resolved, That Mr. Manigault and Dr. Chalmers be excused, agreeable to their request, and that Messrs. Samuel Prioleau, Joshua Ward, John McCall, John Hopton, Joseph Dill, William Miller, Hopkin Price, Jonathan Sarrazin, Daniel Legar é, William Doughty, and Thomas Doughty, be added to the said Commissioners.

On motion, Resolved, That the sum of one thousand Pounds be allowed and paid to Peter Timothy, Secretary to the late Congress, in full for his services in that station to the 26th of March last.

Resolved, That his Excellency the President be authorized to issue his orders to the Commissioners of the Colony Treasury, for the payment of the said sum of one thousand Pounds to the said Peter Timothy, and also of his salary as Secretary to the late Council of Safety; and also, for payment of such Accounts as shall appear to be due to him for printing for the publick of this Colony.

On motion, Resolved, That his Excellency the President be empowered to order payment of whatever shall appear to be due to Peter Bonnetheau, Esquire, as Assistant to the Secretary of the late Congress, during their last session, and for such other services as he has performed, which have not yet been provided for.

The Report of the Committee to whom the Petition of Thomas Singleton was referred, being taken into consideration, and agreed to by the House,

Resolved, That the sum of six hundred Pounds, currency, be paid out of the Colony Treasury to Thomas Singleton, in full of all his demands against the publick for damages he sustained by the intrenchment being laid through his Land in Charlestown-Neck, and for the purchase of his Boat, which was taken into the publick service in November last.

Captain Trapier reported, that he, with Mr. Berwick, had delivered the Ordinance they had in charge to the Legislative Council.

Mr. Bull reported, that he, with the Rev. Mr. Tennent, had delivered the Bill they had in charge to the Legislative Council.

Mr. Elias Horry reported, that he, with Mr. Salvador, had delivered the Ordinance they had in charge to the Legislative Council.

A motion was made, that this House do resolve to choose another Delegate to the Continental Congress.

After some debate, the previous question was moved for, and put, whether that question should be now put? And it passed in the negative.

The Clerk of the Legislative Council brought from that House a Bill to increase the number of Firemasters in Charlestown, and to empower any three of them to pull down any such Houses, or other Buildings, as they shall adjudge necessary for the stopping and preventing the spreading of Fire; read a third time in that House.

Ordered, That the Bill be engrossed.

And the same being engrossed,

Ordered, That Colonel Pinckney, together with one Member of the Legislative Council, do examine and compare the same with the original draft.

Colonel Pinckney reported that, having examined and compared the Bill according to order, the same was found right.

Ordered, That the said Bill be carried to his Excellency the President, in order to have the seal affixed thereto.

On motion, Resolved, That this House will make like provision the present year for the Clothing of the First and Second Regiments of Infantry, and the Regiment of Rangers in the service of this Colony, as was made for them by resolution of Congress for the year past.

Ordered, That the following gentlemen be a Committee to purchase and ship such commodities as may be necessary to be shipped and sold for payment and procuring of Clothing for the First and Second Regiments of Infantry, and the Regiment of Rangers, in the service of this Colony, and for the hiring or purchasing and fitting out proper vessels for that