that, without equivocation, mental evasion, or secret reservation, he pay the most exact and faithful attention to the intent and meaning of these conditions, according to the rules and regulations of war; and that he every day appear, between the hours of ten and twelve o’clock, to the Officer of the Guard.

Mr. Thomas Harvey, one of the Members from Perquimans County, and Mr. William Dickson, one of the Members from Duplin County, appeared, subscribed the Test, and took their seats in Congress.

On motion, Ordered, That the nomination and appointment of Military Officers to the Regiments directly to be raised in this Province, be considered to-morrow.

Resolved, That Messrs. John Campbell, William Thompson, James Coor, Matthew Locke, Thomas Person, John Spicer, and Solomon Shepherd, be a Committee to take into consideration a Letter from the Committee of Carteret County.

The Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Friday, April 12, 1776.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The Committee to inquire into the cost of sundry Merchandises deemed useful to the service of this Province, as per invoice exhibited by Mr. John Wright Stanly, and to agree with him for the same, reported as follows, viz:

Your Committee have examined the invoices of sundry goods imported by John Wright Stanly, the cost of which appears to amount to the sum of three thousand one hundred and sixty-two pieces of eight, (pieces eight Shillings and eight Pence,) and two rials, charged at St. Eustatia, on which an advance of seventy-five per centum for risk and charges appear reasonable, as they were bought in barter; also sundry other goods by invoice produced, amounting to three thousand nine hundred and thirty-four pieces of eight, (pieces eight Shillings and eight Pence.) four rials, and four stivers, bought with ready money, on which an advance of eighty-seven and a half per centum for risk and charges, and twenty per centum for the risk, trouble, and commission, Mr. Stanly had in the adventure.

Your Committee are further of opinion the five hundred pounds of Gunpowder offered by Mr. Stanly, at eight Shillings per pound, is, at this time, a reasonable price; which several sums amount in the whole to four thousand eight hundred and forty-eight Pounds one Shilling one Penny and three Farthings, Proclamation money, which your Committee are of opinion may be allowed and paid to Mr. Stanly for the said goods, on account and for the use of the publick, on delivery of said goods at Newbern, in good order, to such person or persons as the Congress shall appoint to receive them.

Humbly submitted to the House.

The Congress taking the same into consideration, and the said Report being read, concurred therewith.

The Congress having agreed with Mr. John Wright Stanly, on account of the publick, for sundry goods and merchandises, as per invoice exhibited,

Resolved, That the Treasurers, or either of them, pay to John Wright Stanly the sum of four thousand eight hundred and forty-eight Pounds one Shilling one Penny and three Farthings, Proclamation money, for sundry goods and merchandises purchased of him on account and for the use of this Province, he first producing a receipt from John Green and David Barron, that all and every article contained in said invoice are bona fide and actually delivered into their possession, in good and merchantable order, and that the Treasurers be allowed in their accounts with the publick.

On motion, Resolved, that Mr. John Green and Mr. David Barron, of Newbern, be requested to receive and take into their possession, from Mr. John Wright Stanly, sundry goods and merchandises, as per invoice exhibited, amounting to four thousand eight hundred and forty-eight Pounds one Shilling one Penny three Farthings, at the risk and on account of the publick, till further orders.

Mr. Harnett, Chairman, from the Committee to take into consideration the Petition of Joseph Wood and co-partners, praying an order to dispose of the Effects of his Excellency Josiah Martin, Esquire, &c, reported as follows, to wit:

Your Committee having inquired into the several allegations set forth in the said Petition, do report as follows: That the said Joseph Wood and partners, with the permission of the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, did, on the 5th day of January last past, load on board the Sloop Joseph, William Raddon, Master, sundry goods and merchandises, on their own account, to the value of six hundred and seventy Pounds three Shillings and seven Pence; on the account of William Todd, one hundred and ninety Pounds; of Joseph Wood, Jun., ten Pounds; of William Raddon, nine Pounds eighteen Shillings, prime cost in Philadelphia;all which were consigned to the said Joseph Wood, Jun., and bound to Georgia;that in his passage the said Sloop and cargo were taken by an armed vessel called the General Gage, George Sybels, Master, and carried into CapeFear, where Josiah Martin, Esq., late Governour of this Province, bore the chief command; and the officers under the command of the said Josiah Martin did violently seize the said Sloop and cargo, and apply them to the use of the enemies of America, whereby the said Joseph and partners lost one thousand five hundred Pounds, current money of Pennsylvania, over and above the profits they might reasonably have made.

The House taking the same into consideration, concurred therewith.

Resolved, That the inlisting of the Continental or Provincial Regular soldiers into the service of any armed vessel or privateer, is highly improper, and greatly injurious to the service; and that all those who have presumed to inlist any soldiers, knowing they belong to such service, have acted in a manner contrary to the interest of this Colony, and have been guilty of a breach of the Continental Rules and Regulations, and are hereby ordered to return the, soldiers so in-listed to the several corps to which they belong; and that If the officer or officers belonging to such armed vessels or Privateers do not immediately restore the soldiers so inlisted by them to the officer or officers of their respective corps, that then, and in that case, they will be considered as unworthy of any command under this Congress, and deemed enemies to American liberty: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to extend to such soldiers as had served six months from the time of their inlistment.

The Select Committee to take into consideration the usurpations and violences attempted and committed by the King and Parliament of Britain against America, and the further measures to be taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defence of this Province, reported as follows, to wit:

It appears to your Committee, that, pursuant to the plan concerted by the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a power over the persons and properties of the People, unlimited and uncontrolled; and, disregarding their humble petitions for peace, liberty, and safety, have made divers Legislative acts, denouncing war, famine, and every species of calamity, against the Continent in general. The British Fleets and Armies have been, and still are, daily employed in destroying the People, and committing the most horrid devastations on the country. That Governours in different Colonies have declared protection to slaves, who should imbrue their hands in the blood of their masters. That the ships belonging to America are declared prizes of war, and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated. In consequence of all which, multitudes of the People have been destroyed, or, from easy circumstances, reduced to the most lamentable distress.

And whereas the moderation hitherto manifested by the United Colonies, and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother country on constitutional principles, have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid wrongs and usurpations, and no hopes remain of obtaining redress by those means alone which have been hitherto tried, your Committee are of opinion that the House should enter into the following Resolve, to wit:

Resolved, That the Delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be empowered to concur with the Delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign alliances, reserving to this Colony the sole and exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of appointing Delegates from time to time, (under the direction of a general representation thereof,) to meet the Delegates of the other Colonies, for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.