Clunn Ensign, of a Company in Trenton, in the County of Hunterdon, whereof Isaac Smith, Esq., is Colonel.

A Petition from sundry Inhabitants of the Township of Shrewsbury, in Monmouth County, praying that no new mode of Government may be established; that the present may continue, as being sufficient for the exigency of our affairs; and that no measures may be adopted that tend to separate this Colony from Great Britain; was read, and ordered a second reading.

A Petition from the South Ward of New-Brunswick, praying that a new Government be established, and that a speedy and absolute independence upon Great Britain be proclaimed, &c.; read, and ordered a second reading.

A Petition from the Committee of Tewkesbury and Readingtown, in Hunterdon County, praying that the bounty offered by a late Resolve of this Congress, in order to induce the Militia to turn out, may be augmented; read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Committee of the North Ward of the City of Perth-Amboy, having transmitted to this Congress an appraisement of Arms, taken from the non-Associators within their bounds:

Ordered, That the same be filed.

The Committee to whom were referred the Memorials and Representations respecting certain disaffected persons in the Counties of Monmouth, Hunterdon, Bergen, and Sussex, made Report, and, after sundry amendments, the same was agreed to, and the Congress came to sundry Resolutions thereupon, which are as follow, viz:

Resolved, That it be referred to the County Committee of Sussex, to take order with the persons who have been charged with behaving in a disorderly manner in that County; and that they be empowered to punish the delinquents according as the case may require, not exceeding fine and imprisonment.

Resolved, That the Affidavits transmitted to this Congress by the President of the Provincial Congress of New-York, respecting a supposed defection in the County of Bergen, be transmitted to the Committee of that County; and that they be directed immediately to examine strictly into the truth of the case, and report their Proceedings to this Congress as speedily as possible.

Resolved, That the following persons: Richard Robins and Moses Ivins, of the County of Monmouth, and John Vaught, Frederick Fritz, George Updike, and William Rittenhouse, of the County of Hunterdon,—be required to attend this Congress, on Tuesday, the 25th day of this instant June, at nine o’clock, in the forenoon, and that the President employ persons to serve the summonses.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

Pursuant to Certificate of Election,

Ordered, unanimously, That David Chambers, Esq., be Colonel, Thomas Lowrey Lieutenant-Colonel, and Cornelius Stout Second Major, of the Third Battalion of Foot Militia in the County of Hunterdon.

A Petition from part of Captain John Phillips’s Company, in the Third Battalion of Hunterdon, praying that the said Company may be joined to the First Battalion; read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Memorial of William Nathaniel French, setting forth, that the Estate of his father and family, of whom he is the representative, lies in England and the Island of Barbadoes, and lest the same may be forfeited, praying that he may be exempted from all military calls, associations, &c.; read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Whereas some doubts have arisen whether the late Ordinance of the Provincial Congress, directing a bounty of one shilling a pound to be paid for all merchantable Saltpetre manufactured in this Province, should be allowed on any Saltpetre unless in those cases where the same was purchased by the respective Committees: For removing which doubts,

Resolved, That the aforesaid bounty be paid for all Saltpetre manufactured in this Colony, upon the proof and under the limitations in the said Ordinance directed, whether the same be sold in this or any other Colony.

Ordered, That Dr. Thomas Ewing be appointed Surgeon to the Battalion directed to be raised in the Counties of Burlington, Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem, under the command of Colonel Silas Newcomb.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for the Company of Artillery in West-Jersey, immediately purchase the following articles for the use of said Company, viz: Powder, 600 weight; Cannon-ball, 500 weight; Double-headed and Grape-shot, 1,500 weight; Lead, 600 weight; Knapsacks and Haversacks, 64 of each; Intrenching Tools, Spades and Shovels, 20; Hoes, 6; 2 Worms; 4 Rammers and Sponges; 4 Handspikes, capped with iron; a sufficient quantity of coarse Osnaburgs, or Crocus, for making up Cartridges with Grape-shot; 36 Canisters for the same purpose; 600 Tubes, ready filled; and a sufficient quantity of Port-fires, Tube-boxes, and boxes for transportation of Cartridges.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o’clock.

Thursday, June 20, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Pursuant to Certificate of Election from the Committee of Salem, prior to the Militia Ordinance,

Ordered, That Samuel Dick, Esq., be Colonel, Whitton Cripps, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel, William Mecum, Esq., First Major, and Edward Hall, Esq., Second Major, of the Western Battalion of the said County; and that they be commissioned accordingly.

A Letter from President Hancock, of the 19th instant, was read; together with a Resolve of the Continental Congress, in the words following, viz:

“IN CONGRESS, June 19, 1776.—Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of New-Jersey to proceed on the examination of Mr. Franklin; and if, upon such examination, they shall be of opinion that he should be confined, to report such opinion to this Congress, and then this Congress will direct the place of his confinement, they concurring in sentiment with the Convention of New-Jersey, that it would be improper to confine him in that Colony.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

Adjourned to six o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

The Certificate of Election for Members of Congress for the County of Burlington; read, allowed, and filed.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o’clock.

Friday, June 21, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

A Petition from sundry Inhabitants of the Township of Morris, in the County of morris, praying that all officers in civil Government may be annually elected by the people; that the fees of all officers may be as low as possible, &c.; was read, and ordered a second reading.

Ordered, That the President write to General Livingston, and inform him that it is the desire of Congress that he would take the command of the Militia destined for New-York.

The honourable the Continental Congress having resolved “That letters be written to the Conventions of New-Jersey and New-York, and to the Assembly of Connecticut, recommending to them to authorize the Commander-in-Chief in the Colony of New-York to call to the assistance of that Colony, when necessity shall require it, such of the Militia of those Colonies as may be necessary, and to afford him such other assistance as the situation of affairs may require; and that it be further recommended to the Convention of New-York to empower the said Commander-in-Chief to impress carriages and water-craft, when necessary, for the pub-lick service; and also to remove ships and other vessels in Hudson’s and the East Rivers, for the purpose of securing them from the enemy:”

This Congress, sensible of the importance of securing New-York against the attempts of the enemy to cut off the communication between the Eastern and Southern Colonies; and although they have directed the immediate raising of five Battalions to join the Continental Army for that purpose; yet, as it is impossible to ascertain the number of the enemy, they are of opinion that, in the present uncertain state of publick affairs, the inhabitants of this Province ought, in cases of extraordinary danger, to give all the occasional assistance