purpose, viz: George Abbott Hall, Roger Smith, Thomas Corbett, Robert William Powell, and Aaron Loocock, Esquires.

Colonel Pinckney reported, that he had delivered the several engrossed Bills and Ordinances he had in charge to his Excellency the President, to have the seals affixed to them; and that his Excellency was pleased to say he would have the seals affixed accordingly; and that he would receive this House in the Council Chamber at six o’clock, with such Bills as they may then have ready to present for his assent.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Treasury do advance and pay to George Abbott Hall, Roger Smith, Robert William Powell, Thomas Corbett, and Aaron Loocock, Esqs., such sums of Money as may be necessary for the purchase of Rice, or other produce of this Colony, to be shipped by them to a foreign market, in order to be sold, and the produce thereof applied in the purchase of Clothing for the First and Second Regiments of Infantry, and the Regiment of Rangers, in the service of this Colony; and also, for the hire or purchase, and fitting out of proper vessels for that service.

Ordered, That this Resolution be sent to the Legislative Council for their concurrence, and to his Excellency the President for his assent.

Ordered, That the said Message be engrossed, and that Mr. Speaker do sign the same.

Ordered, That Colonel Pinckney and Mr. Chiffelle do carry the said Message to the Legislative Council.

The Report of the Committee to whom Mr. Champney’s Account was referred, being taken into consideration, was agreed to by the House, viz: That Mr. Champneys, for the sundry articles enumerated in his account, for which he charges the publick five hundred Pounds, is entitled to no more than fifty Pounds for damages at his Plantation. That seventy-five Pounds be allowed him for the hire of Stores at his Plantation. That a commission of five per centum be allowed him on sixteen hundred and fourteen Pounds eleven Shillings and eleven Pence, the amount of Rice retailed for the publick benefit, which is eighty Pounds fourteen Shillings and six Pence; and that one hundred and seven Pounds ten Shillings be allowed him for Boards delivered to Mr. Cannon for the publick use; and that those allowances made, (the Congress having before disallowed the charge he made of five hundred and eighty-one Pounds four Shillings and five Pence, for buying and selling Rice,) leave a balance due from Mr. Champneys to the publick, on sale of Rice, thirteen hundred and one Pounds seven Shillings and three Pence, subject, in the opinion of the Committee, to the direction of this House.

Ordered, That the said balance of thirteen hundred and one Pounds seven Shillings and three Pence, in the hands of Mr. John Champneys, due to the publick, be by him paid into the Colony Treasury within one month.

The House being informed that several sums of Money remain due to the publick for Rice sold,

Ordered, That Mr. Gibbes, Mr. William Parker, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Blake, Mr. Chiffelk, Mr. Roger Smith, Mr. Simons, Mr. Dupont, and Mr. Hall, be a Committee to inquire and report what quantities of Rice, and other commodities, have been received and purchased on the publick account by the Commissioners appointed for that purpose under the authority of Congress, and also to inquire and report what other Rice and commodities have been purchased or shipped by order of the Secret Committee and Council of Safety, how the same has been disposed of, and what sums or balances are now due to the publick on the score of such Rice and commodities.

Ordered, That the said Commissioners have power to send for Persons and Papers, and to demand and receive from all persons who shall appear to be indebted to the publick on the foregoing accounts, the several sums from them respectively due, and to pay over the same into the hands of the Commissioners of the Treasury.

John Neufville, Esq., one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, requested leave to resign that office; and persisting in his request, it was granted.

A Petition of Henry Aitkin, late Master of the Ship Fort-Henderson, was presented and read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the following Committee, viz: Mr; Dupont, Mr. Roger Smith, and Mr. Chiffelle.

The Clerk of the Legislative Council brought from that House a Bill to empower the Court of Admiralty to have jurisdiction in all cases of capture of the Ships and other Vessels of the inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, the British West-Indies, Nova-Scotia, and East and West-Florida; to establish the trial by Jury in the Court of Admiralty in cases of capture, and for the other purposes therein mentioned; read a second time in that House. Also, an Ordinance to ascertain the duties of a Mustermaster-General of the Land and Sea Forces in the service of this Colony; read twice in the Legislative Council.

The Ordinance being then read a third time in this House,

Ordered, That the same do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Middleton and Mr. Bull do carry the said Ordinance to the Legislative Council.

The Clerk of the Legislative Council brought from that House an Ordinance for altering the time of holding the ensuing Circuit Courts, and the Courts of Common Pleas, and the General Sessions, in Charlestown, and for other purposes therein mentioned; read a third time in that House.

Resolved, That the Ordinance do pass.

Ordered, That the Ordinance be engrossed.

A Bill to empower the Court of Admiralty to have jurisdiction in all cases of capture of the Ships and other Vessels of the inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, the British West-Indies, Nova-Scotia, and East and West-Florida, to establish the trial by Jury in the Court of Admiralty, in cases of capture, and for the other purposes therein mentioned; was read a third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass; and that the title be, An Act, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Bull and Mr. Salvador do carry the Bill to the Legislative Council for their concurrence.

And then the House adjourned till half-past five of the clock, in the afternoon.

Five o’clock, P. M.

The House met according to adjournment.

Message from the President, by the Clerk of the Council.

“; Mr. SPEAKER: His Excellency the President is now in the Council Chamber, ready to receive this House with any Bills they may have to present for his assent.”

And then the Messenger withdrew.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, attended his Excellency in the Council Chamber.

And being returned, Mr. Speaker reported that this House, with the Legislative Council, having attended his Excellency in the Council Chamber, and presented to him the following Ordinance and Bills, he had been pleased to give his assent to them, viz:

An Ordinance to repeal part of an Ordinance of the General Assembly, passed the 23d day of February, 1771, appointing Henry Peronneau and Benjamin Dart, Esquires, joint Publick Treasurers, and to appoint Commissioners to take a state of the Treasury; and, also, to empower the said Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the late Powder Receiver.

An Act to increase the number of Firemasters in Charlentown, 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, and for altering and repealing such parts of an Act as is therein mentioned.

An Act to punish those who shall counterfeit, or utter knowing them to be counterfeit, the Certificates issued by the late Houses of Assembly, or the Continental or Colonial Currency, which hath been already, or shall be hereafter issued.

An Act 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 and conceal them, or who shall purchase, receive, or conceal the Arms, Clothes, or Accoutrements of Deserters.

Ordered, That the latter Act be forthwith printed, and made publick.

The House then proceeded, with the Members of the honourable the Legislative Council, who attended in the