are informed that numbers have expressed their willingness to return to their duty upon assurances of pardon, alleging that they have been seduced and misled by the false and malicious reports of others:

It is therefore declared, That all such persons as shall, without delay, return peaceably to their homes and conform to the orders of Congress, shall be treated with lenity and indulgence, and, upon their good behaviour, shall be restored to the favour of their country, provided that such as shall appear to have been the leaders and principals in those disorders, who, to their other guilt, have added that of seducing the weak and unwary, shall yet be treated according to their demerits.

Adjourned to meet at Trenton, to-morrow morning, ten o’clock.

Trenton, Friday, July 5, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Isaac De Cow, Esq., having resigned his commission of Second Major of the First Regiment of Foot Militia in the County of Hunterdon, whereof Isaac Smith, Esquire, is Colonel;

Ordered, That his resignation be accepted.

Ordered, That Colonel Joseph Borden do provide Wagons, and every other necessary, to accommodate the Rifle Battalion of Pennsylvania, consisting of five hundred men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Broadhead, in their march to Monmouth County, the place of their destination.

Resolved, That the Artillery Company under the command of Captain Hugg be ordered to march immediately with their Artillery to New-Brunswick, and from thence to such place as General Livingston shall direct.

Letter from John Dennis, Esq., urging the necessity of removing the Officers and other Prisoners of War from the publick places in which they are at present, as the soldiers have been continually plotting with the Negroes, discouraging persons from inlisting in the Continental service, ridiculing the Congress, &c:

Ordered, That the President immediately write to the honourable Continental Congress, enclosing a copy of the Letter from Mr. Dennis, and requesting their advice in what manner to dispose of the said Prisoners of War.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That Commissions be made out for the following persons, officers in the Battalion ordered to be raised in the Counties of Somerset and Hunterdon, destined to reinforce the Army at New-York: Richard Stites Captain, Peter Low First Lieutenant, Derick Lame Second Lieutenant, John Garrish Ensign, Jeremiah Dunn First Lieutenant, William Cummins Second Lieutenant, David Smalley Ensign.

Ordered, That the Treasurer for the Western Division do advance to the Wives of William Berths, Sergeant Willson, and Hugh MacLean, the sum of 25s., Proclamation money, per month, each; which sum is to be stopped out of their pay in the hands of Captain Brearley.

Petition from the Township Committee of Piscataway, setting forth, that certain disaffected persons had been taken and carried out of the said Township before trial, and praying that this Congress would take some order therein, was read; whereupon,

Ordered, That the President write to General Heard on the above subject.

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

Saturday, July 6, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That Mr. Cooper and Mr. Dick be a Committee to prepare the draft of a Bill to regulate the ensuing election.

Resolved, That the several persons appointed Muster-Masters of the levies directed to be raised by the late Ordinance of this Congress, pay the said levies their subsistence money.

Ordered, That the Prisoners now in Jail on account of being disaffected to the cause of the United Colonies, be brought to trial on Wednesday next, at three o’clock, afternoon.

Resolved, That a number of the Militia in the County of Cape-May, not exceeding five-and-twenty, commanded by one commissioned officer, be raised and stationed at the Point of Cape-May.

Ordered, That Mr. Memucan Hughes be Commissary and Paymaster of the said detachment of Militia.

It appearing to be absolutely necessary, in the present dangerous situation of publick affairs, that this Congress continue sitting; and many Members having been called away by a regard to their private affairs at this busy season of the year, others by an attention to their families in the neighbourhood of the enemy, and some (we are sorry to say) having wholly neglected their duty to the publick, by departing without leave; Therefore,

Ordered, That such Members as shall attend be empowered to transact any business which may arise and require immediate consideration, whether a sufficient number to constitute a quorum attend or not.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon. Met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That Mr. Joseph King be Adjutant, and Mr. Joshua Gordon Regimental Quartermaster, of the Battalion to be raised in the Counties of Sussex and Morris, under the command of Colonel Martin, destined to reinforce the Army at New-York.

Congress received a Letter from the Honourable President Hancock, enclosing the following Resolve:

“IN CONGRESS, July 5, 1776.—Resolved, That the British Officers and Soldiers who are Prisoners, and now in the Colony of New-Jersey, be sent from thence to the Town of York, in the Colony of Pennsylvania; and that the Convention, or Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, be requested to carry this Resolve into immediate execution.

“By order of Congress:

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.”

Ordered, That the above Resolve of the Continental Congress be forthwith carried into immediate execution, and that the necessary steps be immediately taken for that purpose.

Ordered, That the President do take the parole of honour of Mr. John Lawrence, of Monmouth County, not to depart the house of Mr. Rensselaer Williams; and if Mr. Lawrence should refuse to give the same, that the President order him to be confined under such guard as he may deem necessary.

Adjourned to nine o’clock, on Monday morning.

Monday, July 8, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

On application, Ordered, That the President take the parole of Mr. Lawrence not to depart the Township of Trenton, unless with leave of Congress.

A Petition from sundry Inhabitants of the Township of Alexandria, in Hunterdon County, praying that no Member of Congress may hold any post of profit; that all publick accounts may be fairly stated and put on the Journals; that the yeas and nays may also be inserted, &c.; read, and ordered a second reading.

Ordered, That the Commissioners send forward, without delay, the Camp-kettles by them purchased for the use of General Heard’s Brigade; that the Commissioners divide them to each Battalion, according to the directions of General Heard; and that they take receipts of the several Regimental Quartermasters for the number of Camp-kettles delivered as aforesaid.

Also, Ordered, That they send forward the Lead, Flints, and Canteens, Knapsacks, Cartridge-paper, Brushes and Wires, and Intrenching Tools, by them purchased, to General Livingston’s Brigade, to be by him disposed of as necessity may require.

Captain Charles Harrison having resigned his commission,

Ordered, That his resignation be accepted.

The Committee appointed to prepare a draft for regulating