“That three Provincial Brigadiers-General be employed for the Flying Camp—two from Pennsylvania and one from Maryland. That the said Brigadiers-General be appointed by the respective Colonies above-mentioned. That the Flying Camp be under the command of such Continental General Officers as the Commander-in-Chief shall direct. That the Militia, when in service, be regularly paid and victualled in the same manner as the Continental Troops.

“Resolved, That the Militia be engaged to the first day of December next, unless sooner discharged by Congress.

“That the pay of the Militia commence from the day of their marching from home, and that they be allowed one penny a mile, lawful money, in lieu of rations, for travelling expenses, and one day’s pay for every twenty miles between home and the general rendezvous, going and returning.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary. ”

By special order, the same was read a second time.

On motion, Ordered, That a Resolution of the Assembly of this Province, of June 14th instant, in consequence of the foregoing requisition of Congress, be read; and the same was read accordingly.

By special order, the same was read a second time, and is in the words following, viz :

“IN ASSEMBLY, June 14, 1776.—Resolved, by the Members of Assembly now met, That they are earnestly desirous of carrying into execution the Resolutions of Congress of the 1st instant; but that as they despair, after repeated disappointments, of procuring a quorum of the House, they find themselves unable at this time to proceed on said Resolutions.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“ABEL EVANS, Clerk. ”

On motion, Ordered, That the copy of a Minute from the Proceedings of the Committee of Safety of this Province, entered on the Journal of this Conference on Saturday last, be read; and it was read accordingly.

Whereas it appears to this Conference that the six thousand Militia required of this Colony by Congress, and agreed by the Assembly of this Province to be raised, are absolutely necessary for the defence and security of the Thirteen United Colonies: And whereas it appears that the requisition of Congress was made to the Colony of Pennsylvania, and that the same cannot be complied with by the Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Province; and that unless this Conference (being the only representative body of this Colony that can at this time with propriety interpose in this business) undertake to accomplish the desires of the Congress, and of the Assembly in the premises, the aforesaid Flying Camp cannot be raised in due time; and the liberties and safety of this Province as well as of the other Colonies, may be thereby endangered: And whereas the Militia of this Province at first associated by the advice and under the authority of the Committees of Inspection and Observation of the City and the several Counties: Therefore,

Resolved, unanimously, That this Conference do recommend to the Committees and Associators of this Province to imbody four thousand five hundred of the Militia, which, with the fifteen hundred men now in the pay of this Province, will be the quota of this Colony required by Congress.

Resolved, unanimously, That Messrs. Hill, Gurney, Hart, Montgomery, Morgan, Cunningham, Gray, McAlister, Mc-Clean, Espy, Cook, and Perry, be a Committee to devise ways and means for raising the said four thousand five hundred men, and to inquire into all matters necessary to fit them for taking the field.

On motion, unanimously Ordered, That the Chairman, Dr. Rush, and Colonel Smith, be a Committee to draft a Resolution declaring the sense of the Conference with respect to an Independence of this Province on the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain, and report to-morrow morning.

Resolved, unanimously, That it be recommended to Commodore Samuel Davidson, and to the Captains of the Row-Galleys, &c., to forbear to take any steps which may involve the Fleet in confusion; and that they wait the result of an interview which this Conference intend to propose to the Committee of Safety, and that Messrs. Blewer, Levis, Bird, Loller, and Colhoon, be a Committee to wait on those gentlemen on board their vessels to-morrow morning.

The Committee appointed to wait on the Chairman of the Committee of Safety reported that they had waited on George Clymer, Esq., according to order, and had delivered the message they had in charge, and that he said he would immediately call the Committee, and give an answer this afternoon.

The draft of an Address, &c., was, by order, read a second time; and being considered and amended, was agreed to unanimously, and is in the following words:

“The Address of the Deputies from the Committees of PENNSYLVANIA, assembled, in Provincial Conference, June 22:

“To THE PEOPLE OFPENNSYLVANIA.

“FRIENDS AND COUNTRYMEN: In obedience to the power we derived from you, we have fixed upon a mode of electing a Convention to form a Government for the Province of Pennsylvania, under the authority of the People.

“Divine Providence is about to grant you a favour which few people have ever enjoyed before, the privilege of choosing Deputies to form a Government under which you are to live. We need not inform you of the importance of the trust you are about to commit to them. Your liberty, safety, happiness, and everything that posterity will hold dear to them, to the end of time, will depend upon their deliberations. It becomes you, therefore, to choose such persons only to act for you in the ensuing Convention as are distinguished for wisdom, integrity, and a firm attachment to the liberties of this Province, as well as to the liberties of the United Colonies in general.

“In order that your Deputies may know your sentiments as fully as possible upon the subject of Government, we beg that you would convey to them your wishes and opinions upon that head immediately after their election.

“We have experienced an unexpected unanimity in our councils, and we have the pleasure of observing a growing unanimity among the people of the Province. We beg that this brotherly spirit may be cultivated, and that you would remember that the present unsettled state of the Province requires that you should show forbearance, charity, and moderation towards each other. We beg that you would endeavour to remove the prejudices of the weak and ignorant respecting the proposed change in our Government, and assure them that it is absolutely necessary to secure property, liberty, and the sacred rights of conscience, to every individual in the Province.

“The season of the year and the exigencies of our Colony require despatch in the formation of a regular Government. You will not, therefore, be surprised at our fixing the day for the election of Deputies so early as the 8th of next July.

“We wish you success in your attempts to establish and perpetuate your liberties, and pray God to take you under his special protection.

“Signed by unanimous order of the Conference:

“THOMAS McKEAN, President. ”

Colonel Roberdeau and Mr. Parker, from the Committee of Safety, delivered in at the table a Letter from George Clymer, Esq., Chairman of said Committee, enclosing the Instructions given to Captain Davidson by that Committee.

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

Monday, June 24, A. M.

The Conference met according to adjournment; but many of the Members being on Committees, the Conference adjourned to three o’clock, this afternoon.

June 24, 1776, P. M.

The Conference met.

The Committee appointed for that purpose brought in a draft of a Declaration on the subject of the Independence of this Colony of the Crown of Great Britain, which was ordered to be read, by special order. The same was read a second time, and, being fully considered, it was, with the greatest unanimity of all the Members, agreed to and adopted, and is in the words following, viz :

“Whereas, George the Third, King of Great Britain, & c., in violation of the principles of the British Constitution,