into the consideration of the House, and such amendments made as you in your wisdom shall see meet,

“Per order of the Committee:

“JOSEPH HART, Chairman.

“Bucks County, in Committee, February 27, 1776.”

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition from divers Inhabitants of the Township of New-Britain, concerning the settlement of the account of expenses exhibited to the Committee for Captain William Roberts’s Company, in the said Township, was presented to the House, and read, praying the said Account may bo re-examined.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition from a number of Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Northampton; a copy of a Memorial from the said Freeholders and Inhabitants, delivered to Congress in December last, and several Affidavits taken in the said County, were presented to the House, and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

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

Post Meridian.

The Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Answer to the Governour’s Message, reported an essay for that purpose; which, being read and agreed to by the House, was ordered to be transcribed.

A Memorial from the Committee of Safety was presented to the House, and is as follows, viz:

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

The Memorial of the Committee of Safety.

“The Committee have, ever since their appointment, applied themselves with the greatest zeal and fidelity to the important trust confided to them, in providing means for the defence of this Province; they were, however, such means only as were thought more immediately requisite for our security against the attempts made by a Naval Armament, and were, besides, necessarily confined within the limits of the funds allotted to them by your honourable House; but they beg leave to represent that, as every day brings with it fresh proofs of the violence of the British Ministry, and of their fixed purpose to subdue the free spirit of America, that has yet given such obstructions to all their schemes of tyranny and despotism-a purpose assisted, too, by an obsequious Parliament which may not speak the genuine sense of the nation, though it has unhappily the direction of its force, it truly becomes us to prepare seriously for the storm gathering over the Colonies, and which, in the uncertainty of its course, may, in a few weeks, fall upon this Province. This being the idea of the Committee, they have come to the following Resolution, claiming the most earnest attention of your honourable House thereto:

“Resolved, That application be made to the honourable the House of Representatives, praying that they will take order for the raising of two thousand Men, to act in the defence of this Province; and this Board will represent it as their opinion, that it will be most for the publick service, that one Battalion of Regular Troops be formed out of that number, and the remainder be a body of Riflemen.

“The Committee beg leave to solicit your attention to another object, also of extensive importance—the Military Association; the general sentiments concerning which, they have, in the recess of Assembly, had an opportunity of collecting. And though such numbers already have, and, we hope, will still engage in it, under its present form, as may prove a considerable addition to our strength; yet, as there are material objections made to it, and, as they understand, are to be laid before your honourable House by divers respectable bodies of men, they submit to you whether it will not be highly expedient and consistent with good policy, immediately to remove every cause of discontent on this head from the minds of the Associators, who, under an apprehension of partial and unequal burdens imposed on them, haveinevertheless, had the virtue not to refuse their services to their country, in confidence that your honourable House will reconsider the several provisions and regulations complained of, and give them satisfaction therein.

“By order of the Committee:

“ALEXANDER WILCOX, Chairman.

“In Committee of Safety, Philadelphia, February 22, 1776.”

Ordered to lie on the table.

The House, being informed by the Speaker that the Indians now in town request to be supplied with a Horse, a Beaver-Trap, and some other necessaries,

Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas and Mr. Parker provide the said Indians with the articles they mention, and such other little matters as the Members think expedient.

The Answer of the House to the Governour’s Message being transcribed, according to order, was signed by the Speaker, and follows in these words, viz:

May it phase your Honour:

We have taken into our consideration your Message of the 22d instant, respecting the expenses incurred, in obedience to your order for carrying into execution the laws of this Province, in the County of Northumberland, and request your Honour would be pleased to furnish the House with a copy of the orders given on that occasion; and, also, that you will direct a particular account to be laid before us of the expense which has accrued, to enable us to judge of the propriety and amount of the provision expected from us.

Signed by order of the House:

JOHN MORTON, Speaker.

March 1, 1776.

Ordered, That Mr. Rodman and Mr. Hunter wait on the Governour with the foregoing Answer to his Message, and deliver the same.

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

Monday, March 4, 1776, P. M.

Upon motion, the House took into consideration the Petition of John Marshall, Threadmaker; and after some debate,

Ordered, That Mr. Gray, Mr. Parker, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Swoope, and Mr. Dougherty, be a Committee to view the Machines contrived by the Petitioner for throwing and twisting of Thread, and report their opinion thereof.

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

Tuesday, March 5, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

By the Return of the Sheriff of the County of Philadelphia, produced at the table, it appearing that David Rittenhouse, Esq., was, on the 2d instant, elected a Representative in Assembly for the City of Philadelphia; and the said gentleman this day attending the House, he was qualified as a Member, and took his seat accordingly.

Upon motion, Ordered, That this House will, on Friday next, take into consideration the great number of Petitions lately presented from the several back Counties, for an increase of Members to represent the said Counties, respectively, in Assembly.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, sent down to the House a copy of his Letter to the Magistrates of Northumberland County, on the 25th of November last, which was read by order, and follows in these words, viz:

“Philadelphia, November 25, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: I have just now received a Message from the Assembly, founded on a letter addressed to them from the County of Northumberland, respecting the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming, requesting me to give orders for a due execution of the laws of this Province in the Counties of Northumberland and Northampton. In consequence thereof, I do most cheerfully order you to use your utmost diligence and activity in putting the laws of this Province in execution throughout the County of Northumberland; and you may depend on the faith of the House, and my concurrence with them, that every proper and necessary expense that may be incurred on the occasion shall be defrayed.

“I am, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

“JOHN PENN.

“To William Plunket, Esq., and his Associates, Justices of the Peace for the County of Northumberland.”;

On delivery of the above, Mr. Secretary informed the House his Honour had not yet received a proper account of the expenses attending the late expedition to Wyoming; but would give immediate orders to have such account laid before him, and communicate the same to the House.

Upon motion, the House resumed the consideration of the