ordered of such estates as are so mortgaged, a taxation of the County will ensue, which must unavoidably, amidst the variety of other taxes, involve the whole country in ruin; that the Petitioners are willing to do every act in their power, by their industry, to pay off and discharge on their parts what is required of them; and pray the honourable House will grant them such indulgence and relief, as the particularity of their case may appear to deserve.

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Representation from John Secord, in behalf of himself and other Inhabitants of Pennsylvania, at or near Wyoming; a Memorial from a number of Inhabitants of the County of Northumberland, respecting the Wyoming disputes, and sundry other papers relative to that subject; were presented to the House, and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The House resumed the consideration of their vote of yesterday, for levying and taking into pay fifteen hundred men for the defence of this Province; and having spent some time therein,

Resolved, That one thousand of the said Levies be Riflemen, and divided into two Battalions, of five hundred men each.

Resolved, That the remaining five hundred of the said Levies be a Battalion of Musket-men.

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

Post Meridian.

The House proceeded to the consideration of the Officers requisite for the three Battalions to be raised in this Province, and

Resolved, That the two Rifle Battalions have one Colonel, and that each Battalion consist of six Companies, to be officered with one Lieutenant-Colonel, one Major, six Captains, eighteen Lieutenants, twenty-four Sergeants, six Fifes, six Drums, one Adjutant, two Surgeons, and one Quartermaster; seventy two Rank and File.

Resolved, That the Battalion of Musket-men consist of eight Companies, to be officered with one Colonel, one Lieutenant-Colonel, one Major, eight Captains, eight Lieutenants, eight Ensigns, sixteen Sergeants, sixteen Corporals, eight Fifes, eight Drums, one Adjutant, two Surgeons, and one Quartermaster; fifty-two Privates.

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

Thursday, March 7, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

A Petition from the Committee of Correspondence of the County of Bedford, was presented to the House, and is as follows, viz:

“To the Honourable the Representatives of the Feeemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, in General Assembly met.

“We think it our duty, as Members of the Committee of Correspondence of the County of Bedford, humbly to represent to the honourable House the peculiar situation of that County; by reason of which, we flatter ourselves that the unusual request which we, in behalf of the Associators within the same, are now going to make, will not appear altogether unreasonable.

“Our County is new, and on the frontiers; its inhabitants few, and scattered amongst the mountains; by reason of which, they are under much greater inconveniences and difficulties in associating and mustering than those of the more interior parts of the country, having frequently twenty or thirty miles to ride for that purpose. This must necessarily take up much of their time, which, on account of their being mostly new settlers, is a peculiar loss and hardship on them, as it is almost their only treasure. Yet, notwithstanding these circumstances, we can, with great truth and pleasure, assure the honourable House that they are not only as unanimous in their patriotick principles, but as constant at their exercise as any in the Province, who have none of their disadvantages to encounter; besides, several of the officers and Companies have been at a pecuniary expense in paying fuglemen, drummers, fifers, and for drums, &c., which they could ill afford; and others of them, for this reason, have not yet been able to procure these articles, nor to be taught the exercise so completely as they could wish. By reason of our remote and scattered situation, it is often impossible for us to receive the necessary information in time to enable us to regulate ourselves according to the modes recommended to the Counties to transact their business in; to this cause it is owing, that we could not comply with the advertisement published some time ago respecting these articles. It will, perhaps, be said, Let them (such as have not already done it) buy and supply themselves with such articles in the same manner the other Counties have done, and then let them deliver in their accounts of the expenses incurred, and they will be paid in the same regular manner. However trifling such expense may appear, yet we are well convinced that it is out of the power of many of them to advance money sufficient for such purpose. By this confession, our County will perhaps appear too insignificant to merit any attention or encouragement. To those altogether unacquainted with the situation of a frontier and new settlement, this would appear to be the case; but when it is remembered that, upon a late demand, we, in a few days, raised and sent off a Company of Riflemen; that the greatest number of our inhabitants are inured to hardship, and that many of them were in the service in the late war, particularly against the Indians; these circumstances will, we believe entitle us to some regard. We, therefore, beg leave to submit to the honourable House, whether it would not be expedient to empower the Committee appointed to settle the accounts of the Associators within the Province, to draw on their Treasurer in favour of your Petitioners, or of such other persons in the County as may be thought most proper, for such a sum of money as will answer in some measure these necessary purposes; the persons to whom it is delivered to be answerable for it; the accounts sent down properly authenticated, in a limited time, and subject to the same control as the other Associators’ accounts have been; and if it appear that the persons who shall receive the money have paid it where they ought not, they to be answerable in the first instance. We should not think it necessary that much more than half the sum paid to an equal number of Companies in any other part of the Province should be advanced, as we think that will answer every valuable purpose. We hope our request will appear the more equitable, when (added to the reasons arising from our situation) it is considered that, at a future day, we will have to pay our proportional part of the very large sums paid to most of the other Associators in the Province; and, indeed, our people will urge this point so strongly to us, that it will be impossible to keep up that spirit of unanimity, and that readiness to lend their little aid in time of need, in conjunction with their more powerful compatriots; but they will become languid and indifferent, if they see that no regard is paid to their situation, when they feel that those advantages are denied to them, which it is out of their power to obtain by the same method which those did who were not under their local and other disadvantages. We had twenty Companies returned to us, which are to be formed into two Battalions; the reason this was not sooner done, was, that we delayed it till we should receive the Articles of Association for them to sign, which they are now doing.

“As we have no other view in this representation than a faithful discharge of the trust reposed in us, we pray the honourable House will not construe the only means we could think of to answer the end, into an offence. We shall be ready, to the utmost of our power, to do our parts in carrying into execution any other method that may be proposed, if the prayer of our Petition shall be thought improper; which the honourable House will be pleased to take into their consideration. And their Petitioners, as in duty bound, we pray,&c.

“GEOERGE WOODS, chairman.

“THOMAS SMITH.”

Sundry Petitions and Recommendations from the Counties of Mancaster and Northumberland, having been presented at the table in behalf of John Morrow, William Hay, James Crouch, William Mackey, Hawkins Boon, William Caldwell, and Robert King, as persons suitable for Officers in the Rifle Battalions to be raised for the service of this province; the House took the same into consideration; and, after some time spent therein,

Resolved, That John Morrow, of Lancaster County, be, and he is hereby, appointed a Captain in one of the Rifle-Battalions to be formed for the above service.

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