Wednesday, March 13, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment; and, taking into consideration the Bill intituled “An Act to increase the number of Representatives in Assembly for the City of Philadelphia, and in the several Counties therein named,” the question was called for, and put by the Speaker, whether the blank in the first clause of the said Bill shall be filled with the words “the twenty-fifth day of April next?” Carried in the affirmative.

The said Bill having been read the second time, and debated by paragraphs, the question was called for, and put by the Speaker, whether it shall be transcribed for a third reading? Carried in the affirmative.

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

Post Meridian.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House a Letter from the Committee of Safety, which was read by order, and follows in these words, viz:

“In Committee of Safety, Philadelphia, March 13, 1776.

“SIR: A company of soldiers being on their march to the southward, General Lee, under whose orders they are, has applied to this Board to settle the rates they are to pay for their accommodation on the road. The Board dismissed the application, as not being competent to the business; but as such cases will frequently happen in the course of the war, and the unsettled prices be a fruitful source of contention between landlords and soldiers, they submit to your honourable House whether it is not an object worthy of their attention to determine what rates are reasonable to be paid by all the American Troops on their march through this Province. I am, sir, your very humble servant.

“By order of the Committee:

“JOHN NIXON, Chairman.

“To John Morton, Esq.”

The House proceeded to the nomination of Field-Officers for the three Battalions to be raised for the service of this Province.

And Resolved, That Samuel Miles, Esq., of the County of Philadelphia, be, and he is hereby appointed Colonel of the two Rifle Battalions; and John Cadwallader, Esq., of the City of Philadelphia, Colonel of the Battalion of Musket-men, to be raised for the service aforesaid.

Resolved, That Daniel Broadhead, Esquire, of Berks County, James Piper, Esq., of Bedford County, and Caleb Parrey, Esq., of Philadelphia County, be, and they are hereby appointed Lieutenant-Colonels of the said three Battalions.

Resolved, That Enion Williams, John Patton, and James Potts, Esquires, of the County of Philadelphia, be, and they are hereby appointed Majors of the said three Battalions.

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

Thursday, March 14, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Bill, intituled “An Act to increase the number of Representatives in Assembly for the City of Philadelphia, and in the several Counties therein named,” being transcribed according to order, and read the third time, the question was called for, and put by the Speaker, whether the said Bill shall pass the House, and be sent to the Governour? Carried in the affirmative.

Ordered, That Mr. Rittenhouse and Mr. Montgomery wait on the Governour with the said Bill for his assent to the same.

The House, taking into consideration their Resolution of the 7th instant respecting the settlement of rank in the Battalions raising for the service of this Province,

Resolved, That Samuel Miles, Esq., take rank as First Colonel of the Pennsylvania Forces; and that the two Battalions of Riflemen be formed into one Regiment, to be commanded by the said Colonel.

Resolved, That John Cadwallader, Esq., take rank as Second Colonel of the said Forces, and that the Battalion of Musket-men be commanded by the said Colonel.

Resolved, That James Piper, Esq., take rank as Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Battalion; and Daniel Broadhead, Esq., as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Battalion in the Regiment of Riflemen.

Resolved, That Caleb Parrey, Esq., take rank as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Battalion of Musket-men.

Resolved, That Enion Williams, Esq., take rank as Major of the First Battalion, and John Patton, Esquire, as Major of the Second Battalion in the Regiment of Riflemen.

Resolved, That James Potts, Esq., take rank as Major of the Battalion of Musket-men.

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

Post Meridian.

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour with the Bill passed in the forenoon, reported they had delivered the same according to order, and that his Honour was pleased to say he would take the said Bill into immediate consideration.

A number of printed copies of the Instructions to the Recruiting Officers being produced at the table, the same were signed by the Speaker, by order of the House, and delivered to Colonel Miles.

Upon motion, Resolved, That an order for the sum of three thousand Pounds be drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., payable to Colonel Samuel Miles, to be immediately applied to the Recruiting Service.

And an order being drawn at the table accordingly, was signed by the Speaker, and delivered to Colonel Miles.

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

Friday, March 15, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House a Resolution of the honourable Continental Congress, which was read by order, and is as follows, viz:

“In Congress, March 14, 1776.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by arms these United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British Fleets and Armies; and to apply the Arms taken from such persons in each respective Colony, in the first place, to the arming the Continental Troops raised in said Colony; in the next, to the arming such Troops as are raised by the Colony for its own defence; and the residue to be applied to the arming the Associators. That the Arms when taken be appraised by indifferent persons, and such