a Bill to enable the Keepers of Records in the Counties of Philadelphia and Chester to remove them to more safe and convenient places, if the state of publick affairs shall require it.

The House adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Post Meridian.

The House met, and adjourned to ten o’clock to-morrow morning.

Saturday, February 17, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill to enable the Keepers of the Records in the Counties of Philadelphia and Chester to remove them to more safe and convenient places, reported they had essayed a draft for that purpose, which they presented to the Chair; and the same being read the first time, was ordered to lie on the table for a second reading.

A Petition from Major Lewis Nicola, of the City of Philadelphia, for the office of Barrackmaster, was presented to the House and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Upon motion, by a Member, representing the utility and expediency of immediately erecting a Powder-Mill for the use, and on account of, this Province, and requesting the sentiments of the House thereon, the same was taken into consideration; and, after some debate,

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this House that the erecting such Powder-Mill is a proper and necessary measure in the present circumstances of the Province, and that the same ought to be immediately carried into execution, under the direction of the Committee of Safety, upon the best terms that can be had, as to the place, materials, and persons to be employed in such undertaking.

The House adjourned to Monday next, at four o’clock, P. M.

Monday, February 19, 1776, P. M.

Mr. Speaker, with twenty-five Members, met pursuant to adjournment, and a quorum not appearing, they adjourned to ten o’clock to-morrow morning.

Tuesday, February 20, 1776.

A quorum met pursuant to adjournment.

A Petition from Major William Coats, of the Northern-Liberties, for the office of Barrackmaster, was presented to the House and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Memorial from the Managers of the United Company of Philadelphia, for promoting American Manufactures, was presented to the House and read, setting forth, That the Memorialists, having been appointed by a large number of the inhabitants of the said City, and the County adjacent, as Managers of a Manufactory of Linen, Woollen, and Cotton, they have made very considerable progress in the institution, and at present employ above seven hundred persons as spinners, weavers, bleachers, &c.; but the present high price of flax operates as a great discouragement to this undertaking, which is wholly owing to the real scarcity of that article. And as an increase equal to the demand, in the ensuing year, may prove very uncertain, if left to the private opinion of individuals with respect to the quantity wanted, the Memorialists beg leave to recommend to the honourable House the offering bounties on that article, upon the plan of the Dublin Society; the happy effects of which have been evidenced in the extensive establishment of a very beneficial manufacture through the Kingdom of Ireland or to give such other encouragement as the House may judge proper.

That the Memorialists, calling to mind the publick spirit of former Assemblies of this Province, in the article of hemp, are emboldened in this application, trusting that the present House will not yield to any set of men in zeal for the publick good.

That the Memorialists further beg leave to represent, that there is now introduced into the Manufactory a machine for spinning cotton and wool, by which one person can perform the work of three; but as the expense of such machines (being about seven Pounds) renders it impracticable for the poorer sort of people to procure them, they are as yet but little used among us; but the Memorialists are of opinion if the honourable House would appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of erecting a number of the said machines, and fixing them in different parts of the country, it might be the means of introducing them into general use, in every family that could accomplish the purchase, which would be a considerable saving of labour, and contribute greatly to the establishment of American Manufactures.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Upon motion, the House resumed the consideration of the several Petitions from William Masters, John Britton, John Ladd Howell, Lewis Nicola, and William Coats, for the office of Barrackmaster, in the room of Joseph Fox, Esq., who has resigned; and, after some time spent therein,

Resolved, That Major Lewis Nicola be, and he is hereby, appointed Barrackmaster of the Barracks in the Northern-Liberties of the City of Philadelphia, for the remainder of the present year.

The House resumed the consideration of the Bill entitled “An Act to enable the Keepers of Records in the Counties of Philadelphia and Chester to remove them to more safe and convenient places;” which being read the second time, and debated by paragraphs, was ordered to be transcribed for a third reading.

Thursday, February 22, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House sundry Resolutions and Orders from the honourable Continental Congress, which were read, and referred to further consideration.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, sent down a written Message to the House, with a Letter from Northumberland County, therein referred to; which were read by order, and are as they respectively follow, viz:

A Message from the Govemour to the Assembly.

“GENTLEMEN: In consequence of your message of the 25th of ovember last, founded on a letter addressed to you from the County of Northumberland, respecting the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming, I took the earliest opportunity of giving orders to the Magistrates of that County to put the laws of this Province in execution in their County. The letter I have since received from the Magistrates and Sheriff (which I have ordered the Secretary to lay before you) will inform you of the steps they took, in pursuance of my order, and of the unfortunate event of their proceedings.

“As a considerable expense must have arisen on this attempt to execute the laws of Government, I doubt not you will readily make provision for defraying it.

“JOHN PENN.

“February 22, 1776.“

Letter to the Govemour from NORTHUMBERLAND.

“Sunbury, December 30, 1775.

“SIR: In pursuance of your Honour’s letter of the 25th ultimo, the Magistrates of this County delivered into the hands of our Sheriff warrants, and other legal processes, against a number of persons residing at Wyoming, in this County, who have been charged, on oath, with the most illegal practices, and some of them with the greatest crimes. The Sheriff, apprehensive of resistance, judged it prudent to raise the posse of the County. A body of near five hundred men accompanied him to the neighbourhood of Wyoming, where they were met by some people from Wyoming, one of whom was said to be an officer. To these men the intention of the Sheriff and his posse was sufficiently explained, and the strongest assurances given that no violence or molestation should be offered to any person submitting to the laws. The Sheriff proceeded, however, but a little further, when he was most unexpectedly fired upon-one man (Hugh McWilliams) killed, and three others dangerously wounded. It was soon found impossible to force a passage on that side of the river, as the Narrows, naturally strong, had been fortified with the greatest care, and were lined with numbers of men, to which ours bore no reasonable proportion. An attempt was made to cross the river, with design, if possible, to arrive at the settlement of the persons against whom process had issued, without further molestation. This attempt was, for greater secrecy, made in the