It being represented to the House that Thomas Paxton, of Bedford County, is an improper person for a Lieutenancy in the Rifle service, to which he was appointed on the 15th instant,

Resolved, That James Francis Moore, of the said County, be, and he is hereby, appointed a First Lieutenant in the said Regiment, in the room of Thomas Paxton aforesaid.

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

Post Meridian.

Upon motion, Resolved, That an Order for the sum of one thousand Pounds be drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., payable to Lieutenant-Colonel Parrey, to be applied to the service of recruiting Men for the Musket Battalion.

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

The House being informed that William Rankin, Esq., of York County, appointed a Captain in the Rifle service, has resigned his Commission,

Resolved, That Philip Albright, Esq., of the said County, be, and he is hereby, appointed a Captain in the said service, in place of William Rankin aforesaid.

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

Wednesday, March 20, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment; and receiving information that John Shannon, of Bucks County, appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Rifle service, is an improper person to be continued therein,

Resolved, That the Commission of the said Shannon be vacated, and some other person appointed in his room.

The House resumed the consideration of Subalterns for the Battalion of Musket-men; and, having made some progress therein, adjourned to three o’clock in the afternoon.

Post Meridian.

A Petition from divers Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia, was presented to the House and read, setting forth that the high security required by our laws has been found a great discouragement to the setting Negroes at liberty in this Province, and praying such alteration of the laws as shall render a practice so humane and commendable less difficult in future.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The House, proceeding in the nomination of Subalterns for the Battalion of Musket-men,

Resolved, That Morton Garrett, John Davis, Joseph McClellan, Barnard Ward, Walter Finney, Peter Sheffner, Matthias Weidman, and Robert Caldwell, Gentlemen, be, and they are hereby appointed Lieutenants in the said Battalion.

Resolved, That James Lang, Hezekiah Davis, Michael App, Henry Valentine, Alexander Huston, Jun., John Hough, William Henderson, and John Kirk, Gentlemen, be, and they are hereby, appointed Ensigns in the said Battalion of Musket-men.

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

Thursday, March 21, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

A Memorial and Petition from John Secord, in behalf of himself and a number of other Settlers on the east branch of Susquehannah, above Wyoming, with the Affidavit of John Salmon, were presented to the House and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Upon motion, Resolved, That the Committee for settling the Battalion Accounts do, and they are hereby required and empowered to call before them all such persons as have been complained against by Petitioners to this House, for having exhibited to, and settled with the said Committee, unjust and exorbitant accounts of military expenses; and that the said Committee do examine strictly, upon oath or affirmation, where they judge it necessary, in order to discover and correct such errors as may have been committed.

The House, taking into consideration the refusal of John Cadwallader, Esq., to serve as Colonel of the Battalion of Musket-men,

Resolved, That Samuel Atlee, Esq., of the County of Lancaster, be, and he is hereby appointed, Colonel of the said Battalion.

Resolved, That George Wert, of Philadelphia, Gentleman, be, and he is hereby appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Rifle service, in the place of John Shannon, of the County of Bucks.

Resolved, That John Maxwell Nesbit, Esq., be, and he is hereby appointed Paymaster of the Pennsylvania Forces, Naval and Military.

Resolved, That a Dollar per diem be allowed to the said Paymaster for his services in both departments, and that he give security to the Speaker of this House for the time being, in the sum of two thousand Pounds, for the faithful discharge of his trust.

Resolved, That Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, pay such orders as shall be drawn by the Committee of Safety in favour of the said Paymaster, from time to time, for the purpose of paying the said Forces.

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

Post Meridian.

Upon motion, Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas, Mr. Gray, and Mr. Rittenhouse, be a Committee to contract with persons willing to undertake supplying the Troops to be raised for the service of this Province with Provisions.

Resolved, That Ludowick Sprogle, Esq., be, and he is hereby appointed Mustermaster of the Forces of this Province, and that he be allowed for his services eighteen Dollars per month.

Resolved, That the same Mustermaster bo enjoined to muster the said Forces at least once a month, and make a just return thereof to the Paymaster three days before they are to be paid; and, also, return a copy of his Muster-Roll monthly to the Committee of Safety, or to the Assembly of this Province when sitting.

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

Friday, March 22, 1776.

The House met pursuant to their adjournment; and, taking into consideration the expediency of appointing Surgeons and a Chaplain for the three Pennsylvania Battalions,

Resolved, That John Davis and William Curry, of Chester County, and Jacob Reiger, of Lancester County, Gentlemen, be, and they are hereby, appointed Surgeons of the said Battalions.

Resolved, That the Reverend William Rogers be, and he is hereby, appointed Chaplain of the said Forces.

Upon motion, Resolved, That Francis Mentges be, and he is hereby, appointed an Adjutant in the said Forces.

The Committee appointed to consider and report to the House the best mode of encouraging the raising of Flax in this Province, presented a written Report thereon at the table; which was read by order, and referred to further consideration.

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

Saturday, March 23, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

A Memorial from the Committee of Inspection and Observation for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, was presented to the House and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Upon motion, Ordered, That Mr. Miles, Mr. Rittenhouse, Mr. Rodman, Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Ross, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Swoope, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Dougherty, and Mr. Hunter, be a Committee to settle the rank of the Captains and Subalterns in the several Battalions of the Pennsylvania Forces.

The House being certified that Hezekiah Davis, lately appointed an Ensign in the Musket-Battalion of the said Forces, was previously engaged in the Continental service, and has not been discharged,

Resolved, That the appointment of the said Davis in the corps aforesaid, be, and the same is hereby declared void.

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