On motion, Resolved, N. C. D., That it is necessary that a Provincial Convention be called by this Conference for the express purpose of forming a new Government in this Province, on the authority of the People only.

Resolved, unanimously, That a Committee be appointed to ascertain the number of Members of which the Convention ought to consist, and the proportion of Representatives for the City and each County; and that two Members from the City and each County be appointed on said Committee, except from Westmoreland, which can furnish but one.

And the following gentlemen were appointed, viz: Messrs. Rayard, Bull, Kidd, Davis, Atlee, Bird, Matlack, Mather, Hart, Levis, Cunningham, Holier, Gray, Smith, McClean, Espy, Weitzell, Cook, Levers, McAlister, Creigh, Piper, Hunter.

Resolved, That the Committee now appointed be instructed to fix upon some number, not less than ninety nor more than one hundred and ten, for the whole Province.

Then the Conference adjourned to half after three o’clock P. M.

Wednesday, June 19, 1776, P. M.

The Conference met.

A Petition from the German Associators of the City and Liberties ofPhiladelphia was read, praying that all Associators who are taxable may be entitled to vote.

Ordered to lie on the table for the perusal of the Members.

On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That this Conference will now enter into a consideration of the qualifications of Electors, and of persons who may be elected.

Resolved unanimously, That this Conference will immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to enter upon said consideration.

The President left the Chair. The President resumed the Chair.

Colonel Hart, from the Committee of the Whole, reported that the Committee had come to no resolution, and desired leave to sit again.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole have leave to sit again to-morrow morning at eight o’clock.

The Conference adjourned to eight o’clock to-morrow, A.M.

Thursday, June 20, 1776.

The Conference met, every Committee present.

The order of yesterday, for resolving the Conference into a Committee of the Whole, was read.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Conference will now go into a Committee of the Whole.

The President left the Chair. The President resumed the Chair.

Colonel Hart reported from the Committee of the Whole, that they had come into two Resolutions, which he was ready to report when the Conference would receive them.

Ordered, That they be received forthwith.

Then the said Resolutions being read and considered, were agreed to by the Conference, without one dissenting voice, and are as follow, viz:

“Resolved, That every Associator in the Province shall be admitted to a vote for Members of the Convention, in the City or County in which he resides; provided such Associator be of the age of twenty-one years, and shall have lived one year in this Province immediately preceding the election, and shall have contributed at any time before the passing of this resolve to the payment of either Provincial or County taxes, or shall have been rated or assessed towards the same.

“Resolved, That every person qualified by the laws of this Province to vote for Representatives in Assembly, shall be admitted to vote for Members of the intended Convention; provided he shall first take the following Test on Oath or Affirmation, if thereunto required by any one of the Judges or Inspectors of the election, who are hereby empowered to administer the same.

“I,. . . . . . . . . . ., do declare that I do not hold myself bound to bear allegiance to George the Third, King of Great Britain, &c., and that I will not, by any means, directly or indirectly, oppose the establishment of a free Government in this Province by the Convention now to be chosen, nor the measures adopted by the Congress against the tyranny attempted to be established in these Colonies by the Court of Great Britain. ”

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole have leave to sit this afternoon at three o’clock.

Then the Conference adjourned to three o’clock this afternoon.

Thursday, June 20, 1776, P. M.

The Conference met.

On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That whereas the County of Westmoreland hath been exempted from the payment of Taxes for three years last past, and thereby many persons may be excluded from a vote at the ensuing election, in consequence of the foregoing regulations, contrary to the intention thereof; therefore, every person of twenty-one years of age, being a freeman, residing in said County, shall be admitted to vote, he being an Associator, and having lived one year in this Province next preceding the election, and taking the Test aforesaid, if thereunto required.

Resolved, unanimously, That the election shall be made by ballot, in the manner heretofore used in this Province at the general election.

Resolved, unanimously, That no person who has been published by any Committee of Inspection or the Committee of Safety in this Province as an enemy to the liberties of America. and has not been restored to the favour of his country, shall be permitted to vote at the election of Members for said Convention.

The Conference then adjourned to eight o’clock to-morrow, A. M.

Friday, June 21, 1776.

The Conference met.

On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That every voter at the proposed election shall be a freeman; and, if thereunto required by any of the Judges or Inspectors, shall, before his vote is received, take the foregoing Test.

Resolved, unanimously, That any persons qualified to vote for Members of Assembly by the laws of this Province may be elected a Member of Convention; provided that he shall have resided at least one year immediately preceding the said election in the City or County for which he shall be chosen, and shall, before he takes his seat in Convention, take the following Oath or Affirmation, viz:

“I, . . . . . . . . . . ., do declare that I do not hold myself bound to bear allegiance to George the Third, King of Great Britain, &c., and that I will steadily and firmly, at all times, promote the most effectual means, according to the best of my skill and knowledge, to oppose the tyrannical proceedings of the King and Parliament of Great Britain against the American Colonies, and to establish and support a Government in this Province on the authority of the peqple only, &c. That I will oppose any measure that shall or may in the least interfere with or obstruct the religious principles or practices of any of the good people of this Province as heretofore enjoyed.”

Also, Resolved, That no person elected to serve as a Member of Convention shall take his seat, or give his vote, until he shall have made and subscribed the following Declaration :

“I, . . . . . . . . . . ., do profess faith in God the Father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God, blessed forevermore; and do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration.”

An Address and Petition from the Commanders of the thirteen Row-Galleys in the service of this Province, praying to be heard on a difference with the Committee of Safety, was presented at the table, and read.*

* To the honourable the Conference of Committees of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA: The Address and Petition of the Commanders of the thirteen How-Galleys in the service of said Province, respectfully showeth:

That your Petitioners, having addressed the publick on the 16th of May last, in an appeal respecting the actions of the 8th and 9th of the said month with the Roebuck and Liverpool men-of-war, were, in consequence of a memorial from the Committee of Safety to the honourable House of Assembly, dated May 24, summoned to appear before a Committee of the House, with our evidences, as we expected to prove the facts alleged in our appeal; but, to our great disappointment, the Committee aforesaid, after spending one afternoon in inquiring whether your petitioners were the authors of said appeal, never called upon us to produce