entitled to cruise for or make prize of any Vessel or Cargo before he shall have obtained a commission from the Congress, or from such person or persons as shall be for that purpose appointed in some one of the United Colonies.

“That it be, and is hereby, recommended to the several Legislatures in the United Colonies, whether Assemblies or Conventions, as soon as possible to erect Courts of Justice, or give jurisdiction to the Courts now in being, for the purpose of determining concerning the captures to be made as aforesaid; and to provide that all trials in such cases be had by a Jury, under such qualifications as to the respective Legislatures shall seem expedient.

“That all prosecutions shall be commenced in the Court of that Colony in which the captures shall be made; but if no such Court be at that time erected in the said Colony, or if the capture be made on open sea, then the prosecution shall be in the Court of such Colony as the captor may find most convenient. Provided, That nothing contained in this Resolution shall be construed so as to enable the captor to remove his prize from any Colony competent to determine concerning the seizure, after he shall have carried the Vessel so seized within any harbour of the same.

“That in all cases an appeal shall be allowed to the Congress, or such person or persons as they shall appoint for the trials of appeals, provided the appeal be demanded within five days after definitive sentence, and such appeal be lodged with the Secretary of Congress within forty days afterwards; and provided the party appealing shall give security to prosecute the said appeal to effect. And in case of the death of the Secretary during the recess of Congress, then the said appeal to be lodged in Congress within twenty days after the meeting thereof.

“That when any Vessel or Vessels shall be fitted out at the expense of any private person or persons, then the captures made shall be to the use of the owner or owners of the said Vessel or Vessels; that where the Vessels employed in the capture shall be fitted out at the expense of any of the United Colonies, then one-third of the prize taken shall be to the use of the captors, and the remaining two-thirds to the use of the said Colony; and where the Vessel so employed shall be fitted out at the Continental charge, then one-third shall go to the captors, and the remaining two-thirds to the use of the United Colonies. Provided, nevertheless, That if the capture be a Vessel-of-War, then the captors shall be entitled to one-half of the value, and the remainder shall go to the Colony or Continent, as the case may be, the necessary charges of condemnation of all prizes being deducted before distribution made.

“That in cases of recaptures, the recaptors have and retain, in lieu of salvage, one-eighth part of the true value of the Vessel and Cargo, or either of them, if the same hath, or have been, in the possession of the enemy twenty-four hours, and less than forty-eight hours; one-third part if more than forty-eight and less than ninety-six hours; and one-half if more than ninety-six hours; unless the Vessel shall, after the capture, have been legally condemned as prize by some Court of Admiralty; in which case the recaptors to have the whole. In all which cases, the share detained, or prize, to be divided between the owners of the Ship making the recapture, the Colony, or the Continent, as the case may be, and the captors, agreeable to the former Resolution.

“December 26, 1775.—Whereas the Congress, on the 29th day of November, resolved that a further sum of three millions of Dollars be emitted in Bills of Credit:

“Resolved, That the thirteen United Colonies be pledged for the redemption of the Bills of Credit so directed to be emitted.

“That each Colony provide ways and means to sink its proportion of the said Bills, in such manner as may be most effectual, and best adapted to the condition, circumstances, and equal mode of levying taxes in each Colony.

“That the proportion or quota of each respective Colony be determined according to the number of Inhabitants, of all ages, including Negroes and Mulattoes in each Colony.

“That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils, or Committees of Safety, of the respective Colonies, to ascertain, by the most impartial and effectual means in their power, the number of Inhabitants in each respective Colony; taking care that the list be authenticated by the oaths or affirmations of the several persons who shall be intrusted with this service; and that the said Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety, do, respectively, lay before Congress a Return of the number of Inhabitants of their respective Colonies, as soon as the same shall be procured.

“That each Colony pay its respective quota in four equal payments; the first to be made on or before the last day of November, 1783; the second on or before the last day of November, 1784; the third on or before the last day of November, 1785; and the fourth or last on or before the last day of November, 1786.

“And that for this end the several Assemblies or Conventions provide for laying and levying Taxes in their respective Colonies towards sinking the Continental Bills. That the said Bills bo received by the Collectors in payment of such Taxes, and be by the Collectors paid into the hands of the Provincial Treasurers, with all such other moneys as they may receive in lieu of the Continental Bills; which other moneys the Provincial Treasurers shall endeavour to get exchanged for Continental Bills; and where that cannot be done, shall send to the Continental Treasurers the deficiency in silver and gold, with the Bills, making up the quota to be sunk in that year; taking care to cut, by a circular punch of an inch in diameter, a hole in such Bills, and to cross the same, thereby to render them unpassable, though the sum or value is to remain fairly legible. And the Continental Treasurers, as fast as they receive the said quotas, shall, with the assistance of a Committee of five persons, to be appointed by the Congress then sitting, or by the Assembly or Convention of the Province of Pennsylvania, examine and count the Continental Bills, and in the presence of the said Committee, burn and destroy them.

“And the silver and gold sent them to make up the deficiencies of quotas, they shall retain in their hands until demanded in redemption of Continental Bills that may be brought to them for that purpose; which Bills, so redeemed, they shall also burn and destroy in the presence of the said Committee. And the Treasurers, whenever they have silver or gold in their hands for the redemption of Continental Bills, shall advertise the same, signifying that they are ready to give gold or silver for such Bills, to all persons requiring it in exchange.

“Resolved, That the Inspectors of the Press deliver the proof-sheets and checks of the Continental Bills to the Continental Treasurers, and that they deliver one of each to the Delegates of every Colony, to remain with the Provincial Treasurer to be appointed in such Colony, and to retain the rest in their hands.

“Whereas there is reason to believe that divers persons, either from inattention to the publick good, or with design to retard the recruiting service, have arrested and imprisoned, for very trifling debts, many Soldiers who had engaged to risk their lives in defence of the rights and liberties of America; and as it has always been found necessary, in time of war, to regulate and restrain a practice of such pernicious tendency, and in such cases to abate the rigours of law:

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Legislatures in these Colonies, whether Assemblies or Conventions, to pass Acts or Ordinances prohibiting the arrests of Continental Soldiers for small debts. And in order that the same rule may pervade all the Colonies, that no such Soldier be arrested at the suit of any of his creditors, unless the said creditor make oath that the said Soldier is justly indebted to him in the sum of twenty-five Dollars over and above all discounts; and that the estate of no such Soldier be liable to attachment at the suit or for the benefit of all his creditors, unless their debts in the whole, on being ascertained by their oaths, shall amount to more than one hundred and fifty Dollars.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.“

The Committee of Accounts, to whom the Barrackmaster’s Account was referred for consideration, reported they had examined the same, and are of opinion it ought to be immediately paid.

And an Order being drawn at the table on Michael Hillegas, Esq., for two hundred and eleven Pounds seventeen Shillings and six Pence, in discharge of the said Account, the same was signed by the Speaker, and delivered to Mr. Hillegas.