Your Committee beg leave to report, that they have settled the rank of the Regiment of Riflemen, consisting of two Battalions, and the Battalion of Musketry, as follows, viz:

First. The Officers to rank according to the number endorsed on their respective commissions.

Secondly. The Officers of the First Battalion of Riflemen to take rank of the Officers of the Second Battalion, where their commissions have the same number endorsed.

Thirdly. The Officers of the Regiment of Riflemen to take rank where the Officers of the Musketry are of the same number.

Fourthly. All promotions to go and be made by seniority in the particular Battalion where a vacancy happens.

All which is submitted to the House by

Upon motion, Resolved, That Captain Joseph Shaw, Josiah Hart, and William Roberts, who have been brought before a Committee of this House to rectify errors committed in the settlement of their respective accounts of military expenses, do forthwith pay the fees arising to the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the allowance to the several Witnesses who have attended on the occasion.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do tax the Bills to be respectively paid by the said Joseph Shaw, Josiah Hart, and William Roberts, and that they be served with copies of the same by the said Witnesses, who are hereby authorized to demand payment.

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

Friday, March 29, 1776.

Upon motion, Ordered, That Mr. Miles, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Ross, be a Committee to prepare and bring in a draft of Rules and Regulations for the government of the Penn-sylvania Forces.

Mr. Parker, in behalf of the Committees appointed to strike the several sums of thirty-five and eighty thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit, pursuant to Resolutions of the late and present House of Assembly, produced at the table the receipts of Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, for the said several sums, in Bills of Credit aforesaid, to him paid as directed by the said Resolutions.

The same Member also produced six unsigned extra sheets of the said thirty-five, and three of the eighty thousand Pounds, printed to supply any accidental loss during the signing and numbering of the said Bills; which extra sheets being examined, were burned by order of the House, in the presence of the Members.

The Committee, to whom the several Memorials from the County Committees, and Petitions from the Officers and Privates of the Military Association, together with the Rules and Articles for the better government thereof, were referred for consideration and amendment, presented a Report thereon in writing, which was read by order, and referred to further consideration.

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

Post Meridian.

The House took into consideration the Resolution laid before them from the honourable Continental Congress of the 14th instant, together with a later Resolve of the same body, in the words following, viz:

“Whereas in the execution of the Resolve of Congress of the 14th of March, respecting the disarming disaffected persons, many Fire-Arms may be taken which may not be fit for use to arm any of the Troops mentioned therein:

“Therefore Resolved, That all the Fire-Arms so taken, being appraised according to said Resolve, none of them shall be paid for but those that are fit for the use of such Troops, or that may conveniently be so made; and the remainder shall be safely kept by the Assemblies, Conventions, Councils, or Committees of Safety, for the owners, to be delivered to them when the Congress shall direct.”

And, after a debate of considerable length, adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Saturday, March 30, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

And resuming the consideration of the Resolutions of Congress before them last night, after further debate thereon,

Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas, Mr. Reed, Mr. Brown, Mr. Bartholomew, Mr. Grubb, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Dougherty, and Mr. Hunter, be a Committee to prepare and bring in a draft of Resolves directing the mode of disarming disaffected persons, and procuring Arms from other inhabitants of this Province, pursuant to the foregoing Resolutions of Congress.

Tuesday, April 2, 1776.

An Account of expenses incurred by raising a Troop of Horse in Westmoreland County, amounting to £. . . . ., was laid before the House; and, after some debate, referred to the Committee appointed to settle the Accounts of Battalion expenses.

A Member produced at the table an Account of sundry goods, amounting to ninety-three Pounds ten Shillings, furnished by Joseph Spear to George Croghan, Esq., to be given to the hostages left by the Delawares and Six Nation Indians, to evince their sincere desire of preserving peace with this Province, when war was commenced between the Shawanese and Virginians; and, also, to the Deputies sent with speeches.

Which Account being read, and appearing irregular, was ordered to lie on the table.

The House resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee appointed to consider the Rules and Regulations for the better government of the Military Association in this Province, together with the objections made to the same by the Officers and Privates of the said Association; and, after some time spent therein, adjourned to three o’clock in the afternoon.

Post Meridian.

The House proceeded in the consideration of the; Report of the Committee upon the Rules and Regulations, &c.; and having made some progress therein, adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, April 3, 1776.

The Committee appointed to settle the rates to be allowed for the entertainment of Troops marching in and through this Province, and the hire of Carriages employed in transporting Provisions, Baggage, and Military Stores for the use of such Troops, reported an essay for that purpose, which was read by order, and is as follows, viz:

Resolved, That there shall be allowed and paid to every Inn-holder, or other person, who shall furnish Provision to Troops marching in and through this Province, the sum of six Pence for each Meal, with one pint of Cider or Small-Beer, that shall be by them so furnished to any soldier of the United Colonies, or in the pay of this Province, or to any Associator, when called into actual service, and no more.

Resolved, That there shall be paid fifteen Shillings per diem, and no more, for every Wagon or Cart, with a Driver, (the said Driver maintaining himself and horses, and the load of each Wagon or Cart not exceeding two thousand weight,) that shall be employed in transporting Provisions, Baggage, and Military Stores, for the use of Troops in the pay of the United Colonies, or of this Province, or of Associators, when called into actual service.

The Committee appointed to prepare and bring in a draft of Rules and Regulations for the government of the Pennsylvania Forces, reported, “That they had examined the Rules and Regulations made by the honourable Congress for the government of the Continental Forces, and recommend that the same be adopted for the government of the Forces of this Province.”

The House again took up the Report of the Committee upon Rules and Regulations, and having made further progress therein, adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Post Meridian.

Upon motion, Resolved, That all Commissions to Officers of the several Battalions of Associators in this Province, be issued and signed by the Speaker of the Assembly for the time being.

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