in the Counties of Burlington, Gloucester, and Cumberland? It was carried as follows, viz:

FOR W. ELLIS, ESQ.

FOR E. HAND, ESQ.

The Report of the Committee to whom were referred the Resolves of the Continental Congress, read a third time; and, after sundry Amendments,

Ordered, unanimously, That the same do pass.*

The Petition of Ebenezer Cowel, Jun., setting forth, that John Barnes, Esq., High Sheriff of the County of Hunterdon, had refused to receive and execute two Writs issued under the authority of the people, pursuant to the Ordinance of this Convention, read. Whereupon,

Ordered, That Mr. Barnes immediately attend this House.

Mr. Barnes appeared before this House, and, in answer to the above charge, informed the Convention that he declines acting as Sheriff under the authority of the people, and is willing to be superseded. Wherefore,

Resolved, That a new Sheriff be appointed.

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

Friday, July 19, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

The Committee of Burlington County having called before them Drury Wake, Esq., on a charge of his being inimical to the liberties of this country; and having made adjudication thereof, the said Drury Wake refused to abide thereby, and appealed to this Convention; the Committee made report of their proceedings; which being read in the presence of the said Wake, and proof being given concerning the same,

Ordered, That the said Drury Wake, Esq., be committed to the common Jail of Salem, the keeper whereof is hereby commanded to receive him into his custody, and keep him in close confinement until the further order of this Convention, or future Legislature of this State.

Ordered, That Colonel Joseph Borden be directed to employ some officer of the Militia, with such Guard as may be necessary, to deliver Drury Wake, Esq., together with the order of this Convention for his commitment, to the keeper of the common Jail of Salem.

Whereas Drury Wake, Esq., appeared before the County Committee of Burlington, on a charge of his being inimical to the liberties of this country; which Committee, after hearing proofs and allegations, made an adjudication on said charge, and the aforesaid Drury Wake appealed from the adjudication of the said Committee to this Convention:

Resolved, therefore, That the said Drury Wake pay all the costs arising on the above prosecution, including the expense of taking him to the Jail of Salem, to be taxed by the County Committee of Burlington.

Mr. William Smith appeared before the Convention upon a charge exhibited against him by the Committee of Woodbridge; and after hearing and considering the several matters alleged and proved relative to the said charge, this House are of opinion that no offence appears to have been made good against him, and do therefore discharge him from all further attendance on this House, or on said Committee, unless some new charge be made appear by which he shall be found guilty of some offence against the State.

Ordered, That Ebenezer Foster, Esq., have leave, on his parole, and security in the sum of £1,000, to remove to the publick house of Mr. White, in Barnard’s-Town, in the County of Somerset, and not to go more than six miles from thence, unless with leave of this Convention, or the future Legislature of this State.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Conrad Hendricks was brought before this Convention upon a charge transmitted against him by the Committee of the Provincial Congress of New-York; and after hearing and considering the several matters alleged against him, this House are of opinion that no offence has been proved against him, and do therefore discharge him from all further attendance.

*An Ordinance for detaching two thousand of the Militia.—Passed JULY 18, 1776.

Whereas the honourable Continental Congress have resolved, “That General Washington be desired to call to his assistance two thousand of the men who have marched into New-Jersey to form the Flying-Camp, and that the Convention of New-Jersey be requested immediately to supply their places with an equal number of the Militia of that State:” And whereas the situation of New-York, the vicinity of New-Jersey to the enemy, and, above all, the arrival of Lord Howe, who, it is probable, will speedily make some decisive movement, render it absolutely necessary that the most immediate and effectual steps be taken to guard against the incursions of the British Troops, and to strengthen the Army of the United States:

Resolved, therefore, unanimously, That two thousand of the Militia of this State be immediately detached to supply the place of the like number taken from the Flying-Camp in New-Jersey, and ordered to New-York.

Resolved, That said two thousand Militia compose four Battalions, consisting of thirty Companies of sixty-four non-commissioned officers and privates, under the command of a Brigadier-General.

Resolved, That the said Militia continue in service for the space of one calendar month, computing from the time of their joining the Flying-Camp, unless sooner discharged; that they have the same Pay, Rations, and allowance, as the Brigade under General Heard are entitled to receive from the Continental Congress, computing from the time of their marching to the place of destination; and that they conform in all instances to the regulations which are or shall be made for the government of said forces.

Resolved, That the said Battalions shall be formed as follows: One Battalion to consist of two Companies from the County of Bergen, three Companies from the County of Essex, and two Companies from the County of Morris.

One Battalion to consist of two Companies from the County of Somerset, two Companies from the County of Sussex, and four Companies from the County of Hunterdon.

One Battalion to consist of three Companies from the County of Middlesex, three Companies from the County of Monmouth, (whereof Captain Stillwell’s Company is to be one,) and two Companies from the County of Salem,

One Battalion to consist of three Companies from the County of Burlington, three Companies from the County of Gloucester, and one Company from the County of Cumberland.

And, in order that proper Officers may be immediately appointed,

Resolved, That the Field-Officers, with the Captains and Subalterns in each County, do forthwith assemble, and agree upon one Captain, one Lieutenant, and one Ensign, for each Company, to be raised in their respective Counties; and that the Field-Officers appointed to the command of each Battalion do appoint an Adjutant and Quartermaster for the Battalion.

Resolved, That each man come equipped with a good Musket with a Bayonet, (if the latter can be procured,) a Tomahawk, a Cartouch-box, Blanket, Canteen, and Knapsack.

Resolved, That the Colonels of said Battalions be directed to make return as soon as possible to this Convention, or to the Brigadier-General, to be by him laid before the Convention, of the number of men which turned out in each County of this State in the Battalions aforesaid.

Resolved, That the four Battalions above directed to be raised form one Brigade.

Resolved, That the following officers be appointed to the command of the respective Battalions, viz: For the Battalion to be raised in Bergen, Essex, and Morris, Edward Thomas Colonel, Ellis Cook eutenant-Colonel, Maurice Goatscius Major; for the Battalion to be raised in the Counties of Somerset, Sussex, and Hunterdon, Mark Thompson Colonel, Abraham Bonnel Lieutenant-Colonel, and Enos Kelsey Major; for the Battalion to be raised in the Counties of Middlesex, Monmouth, and Salem, George Taylor Colonel, Whitton Cripps Lieutenant-Colonel, and John Duychinck Major; and for the Battalion to be raised in the Counties of Burlington, Gloucester, and Cumberland, Charles Read Colonel, Josiah Hillman Lieutenant-Colonel, and William Ellis Major.

Resolved, That any of the said two thousand Militia, while in service, be at liberty to inlist in the Brigade under the command of General Heard, and on such inlistment, shall be entitled to the bounty of three pounds, agreeable to the late Ordinance of Congress.

And whereas Camp-kettles are extremely scarce, and indeed impossible to be procured:

Therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended to the said Militia to bring with them a sufficient number of Kettles; and for this purpose it is further recommended, that every Company be divided into lots, six men in a lot, and that each lot furnish itself with a Kettle. And if said Kettles, or any of them, should happen to be taken by the enemy, or endamaged or destroyed in the service, this State will make the owners full compensation for such injury or loss.

The zeal, alacrity, and spirit, which the inhabitants of New-Jersey have manifested during the present most important contest for freedom, is a happy presage, as well as the strongest assurance, that this requisition of their Representatives will be carried into instant execution; and the rather so, as the Brigade now directed to be raised is particularly destined to guard this State. We flatter ourselves that it is almost useless to recommend the utmost despatch, as the enemy is at hand, and the danger pressing and great. The vicinity of a mortal foe, whose avowed design is to reduce us to the most abject state of vassalage, is surely a call sufficient for freemen. Our brethren of Pennsylvania pour out in thousands: may New-Jersey keep the illustrious example in view, and evince to the world that the Militia of this State are equally zealous in the glorious cause of American freedom! Remember, the hour is approaching which will, in all human probability, decide the fate of America—which will either ensure your title to the rank of freemen, or debase you to the lowest class of slaves. Life, liberty, and property, all await the issue of the present struggle. Arise, then, and exert yourselves!