securely lock up in some room the Press, Plates, and Stamp, with which the work shall be performed, and the impressions which shall be then made, in which the printing, stamping, and striking shall be done, and the keys of such room shall keep in their possession; and when all the said Bills shall be printed and struck, the Plates shall be delivered by the said Engraver or Engravers to the said Commissioners, and by them to the Commissioners hereafter to be appointed to sign the said Bills of Credit.

Resolved, That Colonel William Haywood, Mr. John Webb, Mr. William Williams, and Mr. David Summer, be Commissioners for the purpose of signing the Bills of Credit; that all Bills of one Dollar and under be signed by at least two of the said Commissioners, and that all the other Bills be signed by four of the said Commissioners; and after signing them, shall deliver the same to the Treasurers, or one of them, taking his or their receipts for the Bills so delivered; and that they be allowed the sum of twelve Shillings per thousand Bills signed by each for such services. And that the Commissioners appointed to superintend the striking, stitching, and binding the said Bills, be allowed the sum of twelve Shillings per thousand Bills so superintended each for such services. And if any of the Commissioners appointed as aforesaid should die, remove out of the Province, or refuse to act, the surviving Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall appoint others, or another, in the room of him or them so dying, removing, or refusing; which Commissioner or Commissioners so appointed, shall enter into bond, and such Commissioner shall, before his entering into office, take the following oath, to wit:

“I, A B, do swear, upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that I will, in consequence of the trust reposed in me by the Provincial Congress of this Province, faithfully execute the same; that I will not stamp, sign, or emit, or knowingly suffer to be stamped, signed, or emitted, more Bills than such as have been described by the said Congress; and as soon as such Bills are emitted, that the plates used in stamping the same shall be destroyed.”

The House taking the same into consideration, concurred therewith.

Resolved, That Lieutenant Edward Vail, as soon as may be, march the Troops under his command to the southward, in order to join his Regiment; and that his conduct stands justified by this Congress in obeying the Resolution of the Committee of Edenton, lately issued for his detention.

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

Tuesday, April 23, 1776.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Read the Petition of a number of people, styling themselves Members of Christ’s Church, setting forth they were for religious scruples bound by conscience against taking up arms; praying to be relieved in the premises.

The House taking the same into consideration, rejected the said Petition, nem. con.

Read the Petition of Philip Alston, setting forth he had been greatly injured by the Tories, particularly by a certain Captain Muse; praying relief.

Ordered, The said Petition lie for consideration.

Resolved, That Mr. Matthew Locke, Mr. John Pfifer, and Mr. Joseph Williams, for the District of Salisbury; Mr. James Jones, Mr. James Saunders, and Mr. Samuel Smith, for the District of Hillsborough; Mr. Benjamin McCulloch and Mr. William Johnston, for the District of Halifax; be appointed Commissioners to purchase thirty-six Geldings and the like number of Saddles and Bridles, with accoutrements, in each District; dark coloured Horses, not under four, nor above eight years old, nor under fourteen hands high, sound, and strong-made; and the said Commissioners do not exceed the sum of thirty Pounds for each Horse so purchased; that they be allowed for each Horse, with the accoutrements, the sum of fifteen Shillings for purchasing the same.

Resolved, That Mr. William Kennon be appointed Commissary to the First Regiment in this Province, Robert Salter Commissary to the Second Regiment, John Webb Commissary to the Third Regiment, Ransom Southerland Commissary to the Fourth Regiment, Peter Mallett Commissary to the Fifth Regiment, and Thomas Hart Commissary to the Sixth Regiment.

Resolved, That every person who shall inlist himself as a Trooper in the Light-Horse, shall be allowed three Pounds advance.

The Committee for taking into consideration the most practicable and expeditious method of supplying the Province with Arms, Ammunition, Warlike Stores, and Sulphur, and also the expediency of erecting Works for the making of Saltpetre, Gunpowder, and purifying Sulphur, laid the same before the House.

On motion, Resolved, The House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take under consideration the same.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole accordingly, and chose John Campbell, Esq., Chairman; and after some time spent therein, came to several Resolutions.

Then, on motion, Mr. President resumed the Chair, and Mr. Chairman reported, that the Committee had come to several Resolutions, but not having time to reduce them to form, desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, The said Committee have leave to sit again to-morrow.

Ordered, That Mr. Ralph Gorrel, Mr. Solomon Perkins, Mr. John Penn, and Mr. William Thompson, have leave to absent themselves for a few days from the service of the Congress.

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

Wednesday, April 24, 1776.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Mr. Rotheas Latham, one of the Members for the County of Hyde, appeared, subscribed the Test, and took his seat accordingly.

On motion, Resolved, The House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House, for taking under further consideration the Report of the Committee to consider the most practicable and expeditious method of supplying the Province with Arms, Ammunition, Warlike Stores, and Sulphur; and also the expediency of erecting Works for making Saltpetre, Gunpowder, and purifying Sulphur, &c.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole accordingly, John Campbell, Esq., in the Chair; and after some time spent, came to sundry Resolutions.

On motion, Mr. President resumed the Chair, and Mr. Chairman reported as follows, to wit:

Your Committee beg leave to report, that it is their opinion that Mr. Eaton Haynes, Mr. John Geddy, Mr. David Jeffers, and Mr. Henry Mason, be employed to proceed, at the expense of this Province, to Warwick and Petersburgh, in the Province of Virginia, and there to consult with —– Rubsamer, and observe the process by him made use of in manufacturing Saltpetre, and obtain from him instructions and information how the process may be most beneficially conducted in this Province; and, after having themselves made the experiment successfully in the presence of the said Rubsamer, and having obtained a certificate from him of that fact, to return to this Province; and that they be empowered to promise, in behalf of this Colony, that they will make the said Rubsamer a handsome gratuity for the extraordinary trouble he may take to further the purposes of the said Commissioners.

It is further the opinion of this Committee, that buildings be erected, and all the materials, implements, and utensils, necessary for the manufacturing Saltpetre, be procured, and that a manufactory be established in the County of Halifax, which shall be under the superintendence, direction and management of the said Commissioners; and that the said Commissioners shall have power to draw upon the Treasury of this Province for a sum of money not exceeding six hundred Pounds, to be applied to pay the expense of providing such works and, materials as shall be necessary for the above purpose, and that they employ under them such labourers and assistants as may be necessary to conduct the process most expeditiously and beneficially; and that the said Commissioners shall be allowed the sum of one shilling for every pound of Saltpetre which they shall make and deliver within two years into the hands of the Commissioners hereafter appointed to receive the same, for the benefit of the publick; and that the said Commissioners shall give bond, in the sum of twelve hundred Pounds, to the President