night. When the boats had nearly reached the opposite shore, and were entangled in a margin of ice, too thin to bear the weight of a man, they were, without any previous challenge, fired upon repeatedly by, a party from the top of the bank. Jesse Lukens received a mortal wound, of which he is since dead; sundry others narrowly escaped. As a landing could not be effected, the boats returned.

“Baffled in this second attempt, the weather being intolerably severe, and receiving information that the persons we wished to arrest were the chief in command in their breastworks, it was thought advisable to desist from any further attempt. The boat, with the wounded men, was fired on while within gun-shot. A constant fire was kept up on our men from the opposite side, while they retreated through a long Narrows; one man only, however, was wounded, in the arm.

“We are sorry to inform your Honour, that a very considerable expense is incurred in this unfortunate affair. We, however, hope that the other branch of the Legislature will show the same readiness in properly resenting this daring insult on the Government of the Province, which we have ever experienced in your Honour.

“We are, with great respect, your Honour’s most obedient, and most humble servants,

“WILLIAM SCULL, Sheriff.
“SAMUEL HARRIS, Coroner.
“WILLIAM PLUNKET,
“SAMUEL HUNTER,
“MICHAEL TROY,
“JOHN WEITZEL.”

Friday, February 23, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment. A Petition from the Field-Officers of the Association in the County of Berks, was presented to the House, and follows in these words, viz:

“To the Honourable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, in General Assembly met:

“The Petition of MARK BIRD, DANIEL BROADHEAD, BALFAR GEEHR, and JONATHAN POTTS, Esquires, Field-Officers in the several Battalions in BERKS County, in behalf of said Battalions, humbly showeth:

“That the establishment of a Militia by this honourable House for the defence of the Province, gave great satisfaction to the inhabitants of this County, in general. But as we are humbly of opinion that the Militia law, in its present form, will not answer the good ends intended by it, and, therefore, gives great concern to many well-wishers to their country, we have taken the liberty to point out to the honourable House such parts of the said law as arc generally objectionable, and to propose such alterations as, in our judgment, would be more satisfactory to the people, and better fulfil the design of the Association; trusting that the honourable House will patiently hear and consider the petitions and representations of their constituents at all times, and give such redress as, in their wisdom, shall appear right and reasonable; and hoping that, as this application proceeds from the most earnest wishes to serve our country, whatever may be the opinion of the House with respect to the propriety of the amendments proposed, it will not (as it is not intended) prove offensive to the House.

“To the Rules and Regulations for the better government of the Military Association in Pennsylvania, we beg leave to make the following objections, and propose the following alterations, &c.

“First: 26th Article. The Provincial Arms and Accoutrements will be delivered to the poorest Associators, by whom there is the greatest danger of loss. Is it not severe upon the commanding, or other officer, who is obliged to deliver arms, &c., to a large number of this class of people, to be accountable for their delivery to the Assembly, &c., at every other event than loss in actual service? If an Associator should run off, or be not able to purchase other arms, &c.; in case an accident should happen to those belonging to the Province, the officer cannot be justly censured; and if he does not fail in his duty, he ought not to be punished.

“Secondly: 27th Article. The Militia, in general, are yet very ignorant of Military discipline; and as actual service is expected from them early next summer, we think no time should be neglected in training them. We, therefore, humbly propose that the Companies should be exercised twice a week, except when they meet in Battalion, and then once a week, and the Battalions once a fortnight, till the 1st day of June next. After which time, it might, perhaps, be sufficient to exercise the men once every week, in Companies, and once in every month in Battalion.

“32d Article. Drum-Majors and Fife-Majors will be extremely useful in the Militia, and have a great deal of trouble. We wish the House would consider whether there is sufficient encouragement given to them.

“34th Article. A family may labour under such circumstances as to make it nearly impossible for the head of it to march with the Company. We submit it to the House, whether it would not be too heavy a punishment for a man in that situation to be held up to the publick as a coward and betrayer of his country. We think it would not injure the service to intrust the Captain with the power of dispensing with the personal attendance of any of his men, upon their finding another whom he approves of, well accoutred, and ready to march with the Company. But, unless an Associator should be situated in the manner before mentioned, we think the punishment rather too light for his basely withdrawing himself from the defence of his country, at the time of an invasion.

“35th Article: We think the expense of maintaining the families of poor Associators, entering into actual service, will fall too heavy on particular townships, many of which arc very poor. The benefit derived from the service of such Associators will extend to the. whole Province, and, therefore, the expense of providing for their families, in their absence, should be refunded by it. We would pray the House, also, to consider whether it would not have a good effect in encouraging the poorer sorts of people to act with spirit, by engaging to maintain them in case of their being disabled from labour in the service.

“37th Article. It would desolate whole townships to draft off whole Companies at a time. We would propose, when the ranks of the Captains are fixed, that the privates in each Company ballot which shall march first on any emergency; and if a full Company is necessary, let the eldest Captain take one-third of the men from each of the three eldest Companies, and take their tour of duty in that manner.

“38th Article. And in the mode for levying taxes, Res. 12th. For what purpose should any distinction be made between the application of the fines of Associators and Non-Associators? Associators’ fines are to be immediately applied towards payment of the publick taxes, and burnt. The fines paid by the Non-Associators are to be safely preserved in the hands of Michael Hillegas, Esquire, for some unknown occasion.

“Resolutions directing the mode of levying Taxes on Non-Associators.

“1st Article. Many healthy, rich people, who are above fifty years of age, having no children under their care, and their servants being excused, they bear no part of the burden of associating. If they are able to pay a tax of . . . we think they should be put on a footing with other Non-Associators.

“2d Article. We think Assessors ought not to be excused on any pretence, from performing the duties enjoined them, without at least paying the expense of another person’s performing that duty.

“8th Article. Resistance against a common enemy is equally advantageous to the whole community, and all the members of it should contribute their proportion towards it. But, as some persons declare themselves conscientiously scrupulous of joining in this most essential purpose of society, it ought not to be made their interest to act so destructive a part to the very existence of the community. The Associators, by these resolves, are obliged to furnish themselves with a good firelock, bayonet, steel-ramrod, worm, priming-wire and brush, cartridge-box, twelve flints, a knapsack, powder-horn and pouch; he must attend twenty days in the year at the place of exercise, at his own expense, and, in case of an invasion, must risk his life not only in his own defence, but in that of the Non-Associator’s person, family, and property. The penalty on the Non-Associators for refusing to do a duty which he owes to his country, and to be at all this trouble, expense, and risk, is only fifty Shilling