which requires such an unequal sacrifice, while other Colonies (particularly Connecticut and Rhode-Island, the authority of whose Assemblies is the same way derived by Charter as ours,) continue their ancient forms of Government by these bodies without Conventions.

“That whatever temporary alterations in forms the urgency of affairs or the authority of the people can be conceived to justify or render expedient, that authority is fully vested in our Representatives in Assembly freely and annually chosen.

“Six parts in seven of your body are, by our inestimable Charter, vested with the power of determining in this matter. We look to you as intrusted with the conservation of our rights, and are firmly of opinion that your constituents, in general, will cheerfully be governed by whatever your wisdom may ordain in the present exigency, humbly recommending it to you always to keep in mind that, in times of confusion, every change should be cautiously adopted, and only such made as are absolutely necessary; in which particulars, the Province of South-Carolina (when impelled by necessity) has set a laudable example, regulating themselves with a view towards, and only until ‘an accommodation of the unhappy differences between Great Britain and America can be obtained, an event which, though traduced and treated as Rebels, they still profess earnestly to desire.’ ”

“To the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, in General Assembly met :

“Whereas a publication, styled ’A Protest of divers of the inhabitants of this Province in behalf of themselves and others, ’ hath appeared in the publick papers, addressed to the Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania, declared to be from ’the inhabitants of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, in behalf of themselves and others, ’ we, the subscribers, inhabitants of the City and County of Philadelphia, sensible of the many advantages derived to us from our excellent Constitution, and anxiously solicitous that they may be continued to us and our posterity, deem it our indispensable duty to declare that we are not represented in the said Protest, neither have we empowered any person or persons whatever on our behalf to sign it.”

Ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition of James Wallace, requesting to be appointed the Officer for the entering in and clearing out Vessels for the Port and District of Philadelphia, was presented to the House, and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

An Account of Lewis Nicola, Barrackmaster, for repairs of the Barracks, was laid before the House, read, and referred to the Committee of Safety to be paid.

An Account of Captain Spring, for storage of several articles in the Magazine, was laid before the House, read, and referred to the Committee of Accounts for examination.

The House adjourned to three o’clock in the afternoon.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, agreeable to the order of yesterday, laid before the House an Account containing a list of Orders drawn on him by the Committee of Safety; which was read, and ordered to He on the table for the perusal of the Members.

A Petition of Frederick Phile, to be appointed to the office of Collector of the Customs for the Port of Philadelphia, was presented to the House, and read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The Committee appointed this morning to draw up a Resolution to indemnify the Trustees of the Loan Office in cases where the Mortgagors have been deficient in their annual payments, &c, reported a Resolution for that purpose; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table for a second reading.

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

Thursday, May 30, 1776.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Petitions, signed by a number of the freemen and inhabitants.of the County of Cumberland, were presented to the House, and read, setting forth that, by the stagnation of Commerce, the circulation of money is nearly stopped among them; and that many, who have property sufficient, and are willing to discharge their debts, will be reduced to the greatest distress if sales by the Sheriff are permitted to be made indiscriminately; they therefore pray the House to make such regulations as shall appear best calculated to secure to creditors their just debts, and prevent the ruin of honest debtors.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The Resignation and Representation of Owen Jones, Esq., resigning his office as Provincial Treasurer, was presented to the House, and read.

The Resignation being accepted,

Resolved, That Michael Hillegas, Esq., be, and he is hereby, appointed Provincial Treasurer, in the room of Owen Jones, Esq.

Resolved, That the Officers named in the Act of Assembly, passed the last sitting, remove the Records in their care from place to place, under the restrictions in the said Act, and that this House will pay the expense of such removals.

Ordered, That the Members of the several Counties return to the House a list of the Magistrates in their respective Counties, and that they take into their care a volume of the Laws for, and to be delivered to each of the Magistrates and Board of Commissioners in their Counties; and shall give to the Clerk of this House a receipt for so many as they shall so take into their care.

A Member presented at the table Resolves of Congress, respecting the conduct to be observed to and by Prisoners-of-War; which were read by order, and are as follows:

“In Congress, May 21, 1776.

“Resolved, That all persons taken in arms on board any prize, be deemed prisoners, to be taken care of by the supreme Executive power in each Colony to which they are brought, whether the prize be taken by vessels fitted out by the Continent or by others.

“That such as are taken, to be treated as prisoners-of-war, but with humanity, and be allowed the same rations as the troops in the service of the United Colonies; but that such as are Officers supply themselves, and be allowed to draw Bills to pay for their subsistence and clothing.

“That Officers made prisoners in the land service be allowed the same indulgence.

“That the Officers be not permitted to reside in or near any seaport Town nor publick Post-Road, and that the Officers and Privates be not suffered to reside in the same places.

“That in case the Officers cannot draw or sell their Bills, the Congress will allow for each of them two dollars a week for board and lodgings, to be repaid by said Officers before they are released from their captivity.

“That no Tavern-keepers supply any Officers who are prisoners on the credit of the Continent.

“That the capitulations entered into with prisoners at the time of their surrender be punctually observed.

“That such Officers as surrender prisoners-of-war be put on their parole, unless Congress shall otherwise direct.

“That the form of the Parole be as follows:

“I,. .. . . . . . ., being made a prisoner-of-war by the Army of the Thirteen United Colonies in North-America, do promise and engage, on my word and honour, and on the faith of a gentleman, to depart from hence to . . . ., in the Province of . . . . ., being the place of my destination and residence, and there, or within six miles thereof, to remain during the present war between Great Britain and the said United Colonies, or until the Congress of the said United Colonies, or the Assembly, Convention, or Committee, or Council of Safety, of the said Colony, shall order otherwise; and that I will not, directly or indirectly, give any intelligence whatsoever to the enemies of the United Colonies, or do or say anything in opposition to, or in prejudice of, the measures and proceedings of any Congress for the said Colonies during the present troubles, or until I am duly exchanged or discharged.

“Given under my hand, this . . . . . day of . . . . ., A. D. 1776.

“That the said Parole be signed by the Officers.

“That such as refuse to subscribe the Parole be committed to prison.

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