A letter from Ebenezer Hazard, dated the twenty-first of November instant, inclosing a resolve of Congress of the twentieth of July, 1778, recommending to the several States to assist him in making a collection of the various State papers relative to the origin and progress of the several European settlements in North America, and such as relate to the rise and progress of the present war with Great Britain, &ca. ; whereupon,

Ordered, That the keepers of the public records do admit the said Ebenezer Hazard to inspect such public records as relate to the settlement of this State, and the rise and progress of the present war with Great Britain, and that he be permitted to take copies of such of those papers as he may have occasion for.

A return of an election said to have been held at the house of Ezekiel Roe, in Bethlehem township, in Washington county, for electing Justices of the Peace for said township, was presented and read, and on enquiry it appeared that the said election was not appointed by a Justice of the Peace for the said county, where "a vacancy had happened," the case provided for by law, but in consequence of a neglect to chuse according to the directions of the law; wherefore the said election is void.

The Council, thereupon, proceeded to the choice of a Justice of the Peace for the said township of Bethlehem, agreeably to the directions of the act of Assembly, entitled "A further supplement to the act entitled 'An Act directing the mode and time of electing Justices of the Peace for the city of Philadelphia and the several counties in this Commonwealth, and for other purposes herein mentioned,"" and appointed Thomas Crooks, Esquire; and

Ordered, That he be commissioned accordingly.

A petition from Barnabas Binney, a Physician and Surgeon in the Hospital of the United States, was read, praying a settlement of the depreciation of his pay, agreeably to act of Assembly passed the first day of October last. On consideration,

Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition be granted; and that the Auditors be directed to settle his account accordingly.

A petition from Sarah Coombe in behalf of John Coombe, son of the Reverend Thomas Coombe, late of the city of Philadelphia, praying permission for the said John Coombe to go to New York, was read; and thereupon,

Resolved, That the same be granted.

Mr. Dougherty, Mr. Slough and Mr. Montgomery, a committee from the Honorable House of Assembly appointed to confer with the Council on the present mode of assessing and collecting the public taxes, &c., attended in Council. On consideration,

Ordered, That Mr. Vice President, Doctor Gardner, Mr. Byers and Mr. Cunningham, be a committee to confer with the said Committee, and to report thereupon.

The petition from Samuel Sterett was read, praying allowance for his services as Muster Master of the Militia, and referred to Mr. Vice President and General Lacey to consider and report thereon.

The report of John Lukens, Esquire, Surveyor General of the State, in the case of Joseph Egg, respecting a lot of ground in the city claimed by him, referred to him by order of the fifth instant, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A letter from Charles Thomson, Esquire, dated November the twenty-first, 1781, inclosing divers resolves of Congress of the fourteenth of November instant, respecting the controversy subsisting between this Commonwealth and the State of Connecticut, and assigning the fourth Monday in June next for the appearance of this State and Connecticut, by their lawful agents, at the place in which Congress shall be then sitting.

The following is the proceeding of the General Assembly relative to this subject, on Monday, the twelfth day of March, 1781:

WHEREAS, The confederation of the United States is now happily completed, and an opportunity is thereby offered to bring to final, settlement the long depending dispute between this State and the State of Connecticut; therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Supreme Executive Council to take all necessary and expeditious measures for the consideration and determination of the said dispute, agreeably to the ninth article of the Confederation of the United States.

The Honorable James Ewing, Esquire, presented to the Board the following accounts for his attendance in Council, viz: Dr. The State of Pennsylvania to James Ewing. Dor attendance in Council from the twenty-sixth of October to the twenty-second of November, 1781, inclusive, 28 days, a 25s,

To mileage on seventy-eight miles coming to Philadelphia and returning, 156 miles, a ls,

And thereupon,

£35

7 16

£12 16

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable James Ewing, Esquire, for the sum of forty-two pounds sixteen shillings specie, agreeably to the above account.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. James Loughead, for the sum of five hundred pounds specie, for the purpose of paying the militia of the city and liberties of Philadelphia lately called into service, the same to be charged to Colonel William Henry, Lieutenant of the said city and liberties, and to be paid out of the money arising from militia fines and no other.

The Council resumed the consideration of the proclamation of Congress of the twenty-sixth ultimo, recommending to the several States to set apart the thirteenth day of December next, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, and a proclamation being prepared, was real and considered, and ordered to be published, the proclamation is as follows:

By his Excellency WILLIAM MOORE, Esquire, President, and the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, The United States in Congress assembled, by their proclamation bearing date the twenty-sixth day of October last, for the many great and solemn considerations therein mentioned, have recommended to the several States to set apart the thirteenth day of December next to be religiously observed as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, that all the people may assemble on that day with grateful hearts to celebrate the praises of our Gracious Benefactor; to confess our manifold sins; to offer up our most fervent supplications to the God of all grace, that it may please Him to pardon our offences and incline our hearts for the future to keep all his laws; to comfort and relieve all our brethern who are in distress or captivity; to prosper our husbandmen and give success to all engaged in lawful commerce; to impart wisdom and integrity to our councillors, judgment and fortitude to our officers and soldiers; to protect and prosper our illustrious ally, and favor our united

exertions for the speedy establishment of a safe, honorable and lasting peace; to bless all our seminaries of learning, and cause "the Knowledge of God to cover the earth as the waters cover the "seas:" Wherefore, as well in respect to the said recommendation as from the plain dictates of conscience, publickly to acknowledge the favor and goodness of Divine Providence, and the duty incumbent on us to implore its further protection: We do hereby earnestly recommend to the good people of Pennsylvania accordingly to set apart the said thirteenth day of December next, for the pious purposes expressed the said proclamation; and that they abstain from all labor on that day.

Given by order of the Council, under the hand of his Excellency WILLIAM MOORE, Esquire, President, and the seal of the State, at Philadelphia, the twenty-second day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty

one.

WILLIAM MOORE, President.

Attest-TIMOTHY MATLACK, Secretary.

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH.

A petition from Martha Robbins, praying a pass to the city of New York, was read; and thereupon,

Resolved, That the same be granted, on condition that she do not return again during the present war.

A committee of the General Assembly attended in Council, and presented the following orders of the House, vizt:

"In General Assembly, November 21st, 1781, A. M. "Ordered, That Mr. Lilley, Mr. M'Lene and Mr. Duncan, be a "committee to obtain information from Council of what specific "supplies have been furnished by this State on account of the "United States, and what supplies are now on hand."

"Same day, P. M.`

"Ordered, That Mr. Lilley, Mr. M'Lene and Mr. Duncan, the "committee appointed this morning receive information from the "Honorable the Supreme Executive Council, of the annual amount "of the sales of the Province Island and city lots, and confer with "them respecting the propriety of continuing the sale of the said "lots for the present.'

And a free conference with the said committee was had, in which the Council freely expressed their opinion in favor of continuing the sale of the said lots; and

Ordered, That the case of specific supplies furnished to the Continent, remain under the consideration of the Board.

This being the day upon which the signers of the representation of divers inhabitants and freemen of the county of Philadelphia, respecting the late general election, or some person or persons on their behalf, were called upon to specify to the Council the names of the persons therein alluded to, and no person or persons appeared in their behalf, nor any return in writing was made thereupon, although the requisition for that purpose was published in several of the newspapers of this city.

The following deeds were examined and signed by his Excellency the President, to wit:

To Joseph Carson, conveying two pieces or parcels of land situ ate in the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia; one of them containing two acres three-quarters of an acre and sixteen perches; and the other containing one-quarter of an acre: Seized and sold agreeably to law, as the estate late of Christopher Sower, to the said Joseph Carson, for the sum of two thousand five hundred and sixty pounds old Continental money, which sum he hath paid to the Agents of Forfeited Estates in the county of Philadelphia. Deed dated the twentieth of November, 1781.

To do., for two certain pieces or parcels of land contiguous to each other, situate in Germantown township, in the county of Philadelphia; containing six acres and three-quarters of an acre: Seized and sold agreeably to law, as aforesaid, for the sum of one thousand six hundred and ten pounds old Cotinental money, which sum hath been paid as aforesaid. Deed dated the twentieth day of November, 1781.

To Peter Blanchard, for three lots of ground in the city of Philadelphia, marked in the general plan of city lots No. 417, 418 and 419, sold agreeably to law for the redemption of the bills of credit. of this State of the twenty-ninth of April, 1780, for the sum of ninety-two pounds.

To Joseph Dean, Esq'r, for 9 city lots, numbered from 392 to 400, sold as aforesaid, for two hundred and fifty-two pounds, and lot No. 378 sold for forty-five pounds.