as are applied to the arming Continental Troops be paid for by Congress, and the residue by the respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

The House proceeded to the nomination of Officers for the Battalion of Musket-men to be raised for the defence of this Province.

And Resolved, That Thomas Herbert, Joseph Howell, Jun., Abraham Dehuff, Francis Murray, Abraham Marshall, John Nice, Patrick Anderson, and Peter Zachary Lloyd, Esquires, be, and they are hereby appointed Captains of the said Battalion.

It being represented to the House, that the Continental Troops at the Barracks of this City are in want of some necessaries usual in Quarters,

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety make inquiry into the circumstances of the said Troops, and give orders to the Barrackmaster to allow them the use of such Bedding and other conveniences at the Barracks as have been provided for the Troops of this Province.

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

Post Meridian.

A Petition from the Committee of Privates of the Military Association for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia 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 Petition of the Committee of Privates of the Military Association for the City and Liberties of PHILADELPHIA, humbly showeth:

“That your Petitioners, observing that this honourable House had, in the introduction to the Articles of Association, expressed an intention of altering such articles, rules, and resolutions, respecting the Military Association, as should be found inconvenient; and being desirous of obtaining such alterations as would give general satisfaction throughout the Province, and to save this honourable House the trouble of repeated applications for amendments, opened a correspondence with the country Battalions, to know what objections they had to the Resolutions of this honourable House; designing, if possible, to express the sense of the whole Province in their Petition. But as these objections did not come to hand in time, your Petitioners request this honourable House to take the amendments proposed in the enclosed papers into their serious consideration, and grant redress in such manner as shall appear most consonant to their wisdom and justice. They particularly recommend the article to your Honours respecting the provision which ought to be made for the support of the families of such Associators during their absence on actual service, whose maintenance depends on their labour; as no man who is able, by his industry, to support his wife and children, could ever consent to have them treated by the Overseers of the Poor as the law directs; we therefore pray, that such a fund be fixed for their supply as may be more worthy of men who are risking their all in defence of their country.

“And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will pray, &c.

“Signed by order of the Committee of Privates:

“WILLIAM ADCOCK, Chairman.”

The papers referred to in the above Petition, containing divers amendments proposed by the Committees of Privates of the Elk, or Fourth Battalion, in Chester County, and Colonel Galbreath’s Battalion, in Lancaster County, to the Rules and Regulations drawn up by the House at their last sitting, were read by order, and referred to the Committee of the House appointed to consider and report on sundry other papers of the same kind.

An Account from Major Lewis Nicola, Barrackmaster, was produced at the table, amounting to ten Pounds twelve Shillings and two Pence, for disbursements at the Barracks, and the same being allowed by the House, an order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., for the said sum in payment thereof.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, returned 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,” and acquainted the House he should be ready to pass the same whenever presented to him for that purpose.

Two Accounts from Jeremiah Trexler and Adam Yohe, were laid before the House, amounting to twenty-eight Pounds five Shillings and nine Pence, for expenses in entertaining and conducting a number of Indians from Easton to Philadelphia; which, being examined, were allowed, and an order drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., for payment.

The House then taking into consideration the appointment of Subalterns for the Rifle Regiment,

Resolved, That Thomas Paxton, Thomas Bartholomew Bowen, John Stoner, John Clerk, Jacob Levan, John Davis, John Thompson, William Gray, John Young, John Spear, Matthew Scott, and Edward Thompson, Esquires, be, and they are hereby, appointed First Lieutenants in the said Regiment of Riflemen.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House a Letter from Colonel John Cadwallader, which was read, and follows in these words, viz:

“Philadelphia, March 15, 1776.

“Sir: I am informed that the honourable House of Assembly have thought proper to appoint me a Colonel (second in command) in the Provincial service. I am very sensible of the honour conferred on me; but as the House have not granted my request, (which was the command of the First Battalion,) I beg you will be pleased to inform the House that I decline accepting the appointment.

“I am, sir, with great respect, your most obedient, very humble servant, &c.,

JOHN CADWALLADER.

“To the Hon. John Morton, Esq., Speaker of the honourable House of Assembly of Pennsylvania.”

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

Saturday, March 16, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment; and proceeding in the appointment of Subalterns for the Regiment of Riflemen,

Resolved, That Jacob Maise, Thomas Gourley, Jost Treisbach, Robert McPherson, John Perrin, John Carpenter, John Robb, James Hamilton, John Shannon, Joseph Finley, John Burns, and James Carnagan, Esquires, be, and they are hereby, appointed Second Lieutenants in the said Regiment.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House an extract of a Letter from Zebulon Butler, Esq., of Westmoreland, dated the 28th of February last, with the Depositions of Jeremiah Bickford and John Shewfert, relative to the late disturbances at Wyoming; which were read, and

Ordered to lie on the table.

Applications from Lieutenant-Colonel Broadhead and Major Coats, for the command of the Battalion of Musket-men, now vacant by the resignation of Colonel Cadwallader, were presented to the House and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The House adjourned to Monday next, at four o’clock, P. M.

Monday, March 18, 1776, P. M.

Mr. Speaker, with twenty-five Members, met pursuant to adjournment, and a quorum not appearing, they adjourned to ten o’clock to-morrow morning.

Tuesday, March 19, 1776.

A quorum met pursuant to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration certain Resolutions of Congress, sent down to the House, reported a draft of sundry Resolves for carrying into execution the several interesting matters recommended by Congress; which draft was read by order, and referred to further consideration.

The House proceeded in the nomination of Subalterns for the Rifle Regiment, and

Resolved, That Jacob Stake, Stephen Hanna, William Barnit, John Dungan, Abraham Smith, Thomas Boyd, Joseph Jacquet, Charles Taylor, Daniel Topham, Robert Campbell, David Sloan, and George Grant, Gentlemen, be, and they are hereby, appointed Third Lieutenants in the said Regiment.