General Assembly for that purpose, to ballot for two Commissioners of the Colony Treasury.

And the ballots being cast up, Mr. Speaker reported that William Parker, Esq., one of the gentlemen balloted for, appeared to have the votes of a majority of the Members present.

And he was accordingly declared duly elected.

Both Houses then proceeded to ballot for another Commissioner of the Treasury.

And the ballots being cast up, Mr. Speaker reported that Edward Blake, Esq., was duly elected a Commissioner of the Treasury.

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

Wednesday, April 10, 1776.

The House met according to adjournment.

A Petition of David Baty was presented and read.

After which, the Member who presented it requested leave to withdraw the same.

And it was withdrawn accordingly.

On motion, that this House do resolve that it is necessary a Commander of the Navy of this Colony, subordinate to the President, should be appointed, a debate arose, and the question being put, it passed in the negative.

The Clerk of the Legislative Council brought from that House a Bill to revive and continue, for the time therein mentioned, the several Acts and clauses of Acts therein particularly mentioned, and to appropriate certain Penalties, and confirm the powers of Commissioners of Roads; read a second time in the Legislative Council.

The House was moved for leave to bring in an Ordinance for vesting certain powers and authorities, in subordination to the President, in the Commander-in-Chief, for the time being, of the first-rate Vessel in the Colony service.

And the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

Ordered, That such an Ordinance be brought in; and that the Honourable Mr. Drayton, Captain Lempriere, Captain John Huger, Colonel Pinckney, and Captain Moultrie, do prepare and bring in the same.

Mr. Dupont reported from the Committee to whom the Petition of Henry Aitkin was referred. And he read the Report in his place, and afterwards delivered it in at the Clerk’s table, where the same was read, and is as followeth:

That, having examined the accounts of the Petitioner, they found a balance of three thousand one hundred and fifty-eight Pounds sixteen Shillings due from the Ship Port-Henderson, of which, five hundred and fifty-eight Pounds twelve Shillings were for wages. That the sum of three hundred and one Pounds sixteen Shillings and nine Pence appears to be a Bill of Exchange paid to Mr. Nathaniel Russell, which bill being drawn upon himself, is now of no value. They, therefore, recommend that these two sums, making together eight hundred and sixty Pounds eight Shillings and nine Pence, currency, be paid to Captain Aitkin out of the proceeds of the cargo of the Ship Port-Henderson; also, the sum of four hundred and sixty-nine Pounds eight Shillings and nine Pence, which Captain Aitkin has received from sundry passengers, and expended on the said Ship, and which is now demanded of him by the said passengers.

Message from the Legislative Council, by their Clerk.

“In the Legislative Council, April 10, 1776.

“Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen:

“Upon the third reading of the Bill to empower the Court of Admiralty to have jurisdiction in all cases of capture of Ships or Vessels of the inhabitants of reat Britain, Ireland, and the British West-Indies, and to establish the trial by Jury in such cases, this House is of opinion that some amendments are necessary to be made thereto. We, therefore, desire your House will be pleased to appoint a Committee, to confer with a Committee of this House in the Conference-Room immediately, on such amendments. Our Committee are the Honourable Mr. Bee and the Honourable Dr. Oliphant.

“By order of the House:

“GEORGE GAB. POWELL, Speaker.”

Message to the Legislative Council.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to a Message just now received from your House, this House have appointed a Committee, to confer with a Committee of your House, on such amendments as may be necessary to be made to the Bill to empower the Court of Admiralty to have jurisdiction in all cases of capture of Ships or Vessels of the inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West-Indies, and to establish the trial by Jury in such cases. Our Committee are Colonel Pinckney and the Hon. Mr. Drayton.

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

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

Colonel Pinckney, from the Committee of Conference, reported several amendments proposed in the Conference; which being read, were severally agreed to, and ordered to be made parts of the Bill.

A Bill to revive and continue, for the time therein mentioned, the several Acts and clauses of Acts of the General Assembly, therein particularly mentioned, was read the third time.

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

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

Ordered, That Captain Moultrie and Mr. Bacot do carry the same to the Legislative Council.

Captain Moultrie reported, that he, with Mr. Bacot, had delivered the Bill they had in charge to the Legislative Council.

A Petition of Thomas Fletchall, Robert Cunningham, Patrick Cunningham, Robert Pearis, Elisha Robinson, Pinkethman Hawkins, James Alexander, Thomas Wisdom, William Dodgen, Henry Green, and Robert Proctor, Prisoners in Charlestown Jail, principal actors in the late commotions in the interior parts of the Colony, was presented and read.

After some debate thereon, a motion was made, and seconded, for leave to withdraw the Petition.

And the question being put, it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That the Petition do lie on the table.

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 Ships or Vessels of the inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, the British West-Indies, Nova-Scotia, and East and West-Florida, and to establish the trial by Jury in such cases; read the third time, and passed in that House.

Ordered, That the Bill be engrossed.

The Clerk of the Legislative Council brought from that House an Ordinance to ascertain the duties of a Mustermaster-General of the Land and Naval Forces in the service of this Colony; read a third time, and passed in the Legislative Council.

Ordered, That the Ordinance be engrossed.

The House was moved, that a Committee be appointed to prepare an Address to be presented to his Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief, requesting that he will be pleased to order a day of solemn Fasting, Prayer, and Humiliation, to be observed throughout this Colony.

Ordered, That Colonel Pinckney and the Rev. Mr. Tennent be a Committee to prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That Captain McQueen, Mr. Verree, and Mr. Chiffelle, be a Committee to inquire and report the names of such persons amongst the late; Insurgents, as are proper to be excepted in a declaration of pardon or amnesty.

Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do issue Writs for the election of Members of the General Assembly, to fill up such vacancies as have already happened, or may, from time to time, happen in any of the Parishes and Districts throughout the Colony.

On motion, Resolved, That this House will now proceed to ballot, jointly with the Honourable the Legislative Council, for a Captain of the Ship Prosper.

The Members of the Legislative Council being introduced into the General Assembly for that purpose, the balloting was proceeded in accordingly.

And the ballots being reckoned, Mr. Speaker reported.

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