to meet the enemy in the field, and being thereby exposed to the greatest danger, as most capable of repelling it, no regard has been shown either to the expense of equipment, or loss of time in acquiring this useful and necessary knowledge. The hardships and partiality of the regulation will further appear more strongly, when it is considered that your Petitioners will probably be called out to do duty before many of the field-days arrive; so that the strongest temptations are held out, from the smallness of the penalty, to the lazy, the timid, and disaffected, to avoid the danger and fatigue, by neglecting to qualify themselves, or at a critical moment evading their duty. So apparent already are the effects of this regulation, that persons of the above character affect to ridicule those whose patriotism would lead them to activity and action when necessary, by representing this honourable House as rating their lives at fifty shillings apiece. Such easy terms of exemption, in times of such imminent danger, your Petitioners humbly conceive, seem rather an invitation to prefer ease, security, and convenience, to the publick interests and safety, and, if unaltered, will leave your Petitioners little to hope or expect, but the exertions and efforts of a generous few, whose zeal will probably prove their destruction. Your Petitioners humbly presume that, when so much is at stake, and there is so little prospect of securing it but by the sword, the terms imposed upon Non-Associators should be such as to induce every man of suitable age and strength (not truly conscientiously scrupulous) to join in the Association, and not such as would lead every one, whose attachment to the cause of his country did not supersede every other consideration, to pay his fine, and decline serving; they, therefore, cannot but lament, that while they, who are enemies to the liberties and cause of America, may, under the authority of the Province, appear in the garb of its best friends, by paying less than five shillings per month; they who are really its best friends, are liable, by an accidental deficiency, to be reproached with cowardice, and exposed to infamy.

“Your Petitioners, sensible that a compensation for arms, and past time employed in the publick service, involves several important considerations, do not presume to point out any sum, but beg leave to state their complaint, and leave it to the wisdom and justice of the House to give them suitable redress.

“Secondly. Your Petitioners beg leave to represent, that, under the present regulations, the estates of Non-Associators pay nothing but in common with Associators; and by this means such persons who, by age or other incapacity, are not included in the above articles, have the protection and security arising from the Association, upon easier terms than others—an indulgence for which your Petitioners can see no good reason, and which involves some of the most considerable estates in the Province; besides, personal service being principally required for the protection of property, your Petitioners would, with all humility, submit to the honourable House whether an annual sum of so much in the Pound, over and above the taxes paid equally by Associators and Non-Associators, ought not to be levied on the taxable estates of all Non-Associators, and others who do not come within the limits of the recommendation of the honourable Continental Congress respecting a General Association.

“Thirdly. Your Petitioners beg leave to point out a defect in the above regulation respecting apprentices: in some cases the apprentice is willing to associate, and the master withholds his consent; in others, the master consents and the apprentice refuses. Your Petitioners would humbly propose that, in the former case, the master should pay the fine; and in the other, that the apprentice, if of estate, shall pay the fine by his guardian or next friend; and if non-estated, suffer such punishment as the House shall deem proper and suitable to the offence.

“Fourthly. Your Petitioners do most earnestly remonstrate against the application of the fines and penalties levied in consequence of the Association. As the money to arise is not by the way of tax to defray the charge which the Associators may occasion, they humbly conceive that reason, custom, and precedent, all concur in showing that such appropriation ought to be for the immediate support and encouragement of the Association; and this, they humbly submit, might very properly be done in the following manner: That all such fines and penalties, whether levied from Associators or Non-Associators, be carried unto a fund by themselves, to be appropriated, First, To the relief of such Associators as may be wounded, or otherwise disabled in actual service. Secondly, To the relief and support of the widows and children of those who may be killed in actual service, by way of annuity. Thirdly, To the providing of arms and accoutrements for such Associators as are unable to furnish themselves. Fourthly, To pay such Associators as, through poverty, are not in the publick tax-books, for the time they may spend in the field. The residue, if any, to be applied as before proposed. Such an appropriation, your Petitioners conceive, would give life and spirit to the Association; and, upon a call of actual service and danger, the mind of the brave Associator would be relieved from those anxieties for his family which would otherwise damp his ardour, and induce him to avoid danger rather than meet it.

“Fifthly. In order to prevent any evasion of the regulations now or hereafter to be made, your Petitioners pray, that all persons alleging scruples of conscience, or claiming exemption by virtue of age or otherwise, be, if required, under a test by oath or affirmation, before they be admitted to the indulgence claimed. As the above exceptions are not made in favour of pretenders, but of those who are truly and really entitled thereto, your Petitioners humbly conceive no good reason can be offered against such claimants‘ giving full satisfaction on this head to those of their fellow-citizens who are risking all that is dear and valuable to them in life, in defence of the rights and interests of the Province, in which those of all its inhabitants are included.

“Sixthly. Your Petitioners beg leave to represent, that it has been the practice of all countries, and is highly reasonable that all persons, (not being mercenaries,) who expose their lives in defence of a country, should be admitted to the enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of a citizen of that country which they have defended and protected. Under this consideration your Petitioners beg leave to submit to the House the case of a number of brave and spirited Germans, and others, who have cheerfully joined in the Association, but are not entitled to the privileges of freemen electors. Good policy, as well as gratitude, suggest the propriety of granting every indulgence which can attach them to this country, and animate them in its defence. Your Petitioners therefore pray that some mode may be adopted for the purpose.

“Seventhly. Your Petitioners pray this honourable House to revise the thirty-fourth article of the Rules framed the last session for the government of the Associators, by substituting in the place of the penalty therein mentioned, “that such offender shall be forever hereafter incapable of holding any office of profit or trust under the authority of this Province.” They moreover pray this honourable House to give directions to two or more Associators, to join the Commissioners of this City and the several Counties, in hearing the appeals of such persons as are mentioned in the eleventh resolution framed in the last session of this honourable House.

“Eighthly. It is with great concern your Petitioners inform this honourable House, that, notwithstanding the directions given and pointed out the last session, there is great reason to fear the Assessors in many places, from different motives, have omitted to execute the branch of their office which respects the Association. Your Petitioners therefore pray this honourable House to make some further provision against such neglect, so that the salutary and beneficial effects arising from the Association may not fail through the neglect, or other misconduct, of those entrusted to carry into execution the intentions of this honourable House.

“Your Petitioners, with the utmost humility, request this honourable House to take these matters into their serious consideration, and grant them such relief as, in their wisdom and equity, shall seem best calculated to remove that inequality which appears in the foregoing terms of exemption, and such other redress as the nature of the case may merit and require. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.

“Signed by order of the Committee of Privates:

“SAMUEL SIMPSON, Chairman.“

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Memorial from the Officers of the Military Association of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia was presented to the House, and is as follows, viz: