and the House, I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

“BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

“To the Honourable John Morton, Esq.”

Upon consideration of the foregoing Letter,

Resolved, That the seat of the said Member in this House be vacated accordingly, and that the Speaker do issue his order to the Provincial Secretary for the election of another fit person in the room of the Member who has resigned.

The House resumed the consideration of the Governour’s Message, the Letter sent down with it, and the Petition from the Magistrates and Sheriff of the County of Northumberland; and, after a debate of some length, adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Post Meridian.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House a copy of his Order to the Secretary, requiring him to issue a Writ for the election of a Member of Assembly in the place of Benjamin Franklin, Esq., who has resigned; which was read by order, and follows in these words, viz:

Pennsylvania, ss.

By a Resolve of Assembly of this day, I am empowered and directed to order the Provincial Secretary that he do issue a Writ to the Sheriff of the County of Philadelphia for the election of a Member to serve as a Representative in this Assembly for the City of Philadelphia, in the room of Benjamin Franklin, Esq., who has requested leave to resign his seat in the said Assembly.

Therefore, by virtue of the said Resolve, and in pursuance of a law of this Province in that case made and provided, I do require that a Writ be issued to the Sheriff of the said County for the purpose aforesaid, according to the direction of the said law.

Dated at Philadelphia, the 27th day of February, Anno Domini 1776.

JOHN MORTON, Speaker.

To Joseph Shippen, Esq., Provincial Secretary.

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

Wednesday, February 28, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

A Petition, signed by a considerable number of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read, praying an allowance of more Members to represent the said County in Assembly.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Hillegas presented at the table an Account from Messieurs William and Thomas Bradford, Printers, amounting to fifteen Pounds, for forty copies of the Journal of Congress; which was read, and referred to the Committee of Accounts.

A Petition, signed by a considerable number of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Berks, was presented to the House, and read, praying an allowance of more Members to represent the said County in Assembly.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition, signed by a number of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Bedford, was presented to the House, and read, praying an allowance of more Members to represent the said County in Assembly.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Upon motion, the House took into consideration the several Memorials and Petitions from the Officers and Privates of the Military Association, pointing out defects, and praying alterations in the Rules and Regulations formed by the House for the better government of the said Association; and, after a debate of considerable length, adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Post Meridian.

Petitions from the Counties of Cumberland and Northumberland, signed by a great number of the Inhabitants, were presented to the House, and read, praying an allowance of more Members to represent the said Counties in Assembly.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The House proceeded in the consideration of the Memorials and Petitions from the Officers and Privates of the Military Association; and, after further debate,

Ordered, That Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Gray, Mr. Reed, Mr. Rodman, Mr. Brown, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Slough, Mr. Ross, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Chreist, Mr. Kachlein, Mr. Dougherty, and Mr. Hunter, be a Committee to revise the Rules and Regulations formed by this House for the better government of the Military Association, together with the Resolutions directing the mode of levying taxes on Non-Associators; to report such alterations and additions thereto as shall appear necessary; also, to select from the Petitions of the Associators, lately presented, such parts as point out defects, and propose amendments to the said Rules and Regulations, and lay them before the House in one view, for the more easy consideration thereof.

The House resumed the consideration of the Governour’s Message of the 22d instant; and, after some time spent therein,

Ordered, That Mr. Reed, Mr. Rodman, and Mr. Ross, be a Committee to prepare and bring in an Answer to the said Message.

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

Thursday, February 29, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Resolutions of Congress, laid before the House the 22d instant, were again read by order, and are as follows, viz:

“In Congress, October 26, 1775.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Provincial Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, to export to the foreign West-Indies, on account and risk of their respective Colonies, as much Provision or other Produce (except horned Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, and Poultry) as they may deem necessary for the importation of Arms, Ammunition, Sulphur, and Saltpetre.

“November 4, 1775.—Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies or Conventions of the Colonies, respectively, to set and keep their Gunsmiths at work, to manufacture good Fire-locks with Bayonets; each Firelock to be made with a good Bridle-lock, three-quarters of an inch bore, and of good substance at the breech; the Barrel to be three feet eight inches in length; the Bayonet to be eighteen inches in the blade; with a steel Ramrod, the upper end thereof to be trumpet-mouthed. That the price to be given be fixed by the Assembly or Convention, or Committee of Safety, of each Colony; and that, until a sufficient quantity of good Arms can be manufactured, they import as many as are wanted, by all the means in their power.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Legislatures, Assemblies, or Conventions of the Colonies, to enact a law or pass an ordinance inflicting the following punishments upon such as harbour Deserters, knowing them to be such, viz: A fine upon all such offenders, not less than thirty nor more than fifty Dollars; and in case of inability to pay the fine, to be punished with whipping, not less than thirty-nine lashes for each offence. Also, that they empower the Commander-in-Chief, or the officer commanding a detachment or any out-post, to administer an oath, and swear any person or persons to the truth of any information or intelligence, or any other matter relative to the publick service.

“November 25, 1775.—Resolved, That all such Ships-of-War, Frigates, Sloops, Cutters, and Armed Vessels, as are or shall be employed in the present cruel and unjust war against the United Colonies, and shall fall into the hands of, or be taken by, the inhabitants thereof, be seized and forfeited to and for the purposes hereinafter mentioned.

“That all Transport Vessels in the same service, having on board any Troops, Arms, Ammunition, Clothing, Provisions, or Military or Naval Stores, of what kind soever; and all Vessels, to whomsoever belonging, that shall be employed in carrying Provisions or other necessaries to the British Army or Armies, or Navy, that now are or shall hereafter be within any of the United Colonies; or any Goods, Wares, or Merchandise, for the use of such Fleet or Army, shall be liable to seizure, and, with their cargoes, shall be confiscated.

“That no Master or Commander of any Vessel shall be