To do., for lots No. 74, 75, 76 & 77, sold for two hundred and fifty-five pounds. Deeds dated this day. The President laid before the Board a letter signed by Joseph Cowperthwait and John Jones, and dated November the 23d, 1781, which he reports came to his hand yesterday afternoon after the Council had adjourned, and the same was read'; by which it appears that they decline to specify to Council the names alluded to in the representation of divers inhabitants and freemen of the county of Philadelphia, or to specify the facts on which the general allegations in the said representations are founded. The Council resumed the consideration of the cases of James Jones and Mary Hall, ordered for execution this day; and there upon, Ordered, That the execution of the sentence against James Jones and Mary Hall, be delayed until Saturday the first day of December next; and a warrant was accordingly issued. A committee of the General Assembly, appointed by the Honorable House, to confer with the Council upon a bill for the further relief of the frontier counties, intitled "An Act for the relief of the suffering inhabitants of Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland, Westmoreland and Washington counties, and the township of Armagh, in Cumberland county," attend in Council, The minute of the House expresses "to confer with Council on the subject of the defence of the frontiers, and to bring in additional clauses for that purpose," as appears by a note of the minute not signed; and A free conference being had, it appeared to be the sentiments of the Council and of the committee, that an additional company is necessary for the defence of Washington county, and to complete the four companies now established, and that it might be proper to make application to Congress for such assistance from the United States as would render an incursion into the Indian country prudent and practicable. An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Samuel Sterett, Esquire, for the sum of seventeen pounds five shillings specie, for twenty-three days' service as Muster Master of the militia of this State. On consideration, Resolved, That Joseph Reed, Esquire, William Bradford, Junior, Esquire, Attorney General of the State, and James Wilson, Esquire, be appointed to appear as Council in behalt of this State, on the fourth Monday of June next, being the day assigned for a hearing of the dispute subsisting between this Commonwealth and the State of Connecticut, at the place in which Congress shall be then sitting. The petition of Thomas Pixley, praying a pass to go to New York, and from thence to England, was read; and thereupon, Ordered, That the same be granted, on condition that he do not again return. A letter from Charles Hall, dated Lancaster, November the 23d, 1781. A letter from Robert Morris, Esquire, Superintendant of Finance, and Richard Peters, of the Board of War, respecting the state of the barracks. The Committee of General Assembly, appointed to confer with Council on the defence of the frontiers, &c., again attended in Council, and read a draft of a report intended by the said committee to the House, and observations thereon were made by several of the members of the Council. On consideration of the proposals made by Bernard Dougherty and Charles Cessna, for supplying the Ranging company and militia which may be employed in Bedford county for the defence of the frontiers, Ordered, That twelve pence per ration be allowed from the first day of March next, so long as the said troops shall keep the field. The rations to consist of One pound of bread, One pound of beef, or a lb. of pork, One quart of salt, & Two quarts of vinegar, To every hundred rations. Eight pounds of soap, & To every 7 hundred rations. The rations to be delivered at such places as the said troops may from time to time be stationed within the county of Bedford, aud that seventy-five pounds specie be advanced to the said Contractors. Several depositions respecting the robbery of several of the Collectors of the county of Chester being read, an essay of a message to the General Assembly was also read, and being amended, was signed, and is as follows, viz: A message from the President and Council to the Representatives of the freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met. GENTLEMEN :-The daring and too successful attempts which have been lately made to rob the Treasurer of the county of Bucks, and several Collectors of that county and of Chester, are truly alarming. As the proclamation issued by us offering a large reward for apprehending the perpetrators of the robbery committed on the said Treasury has not yet had the desired effect, and the vigilance of the officers of justice has hitherto been eluded in the other instances, should every means in our power prove ineffectual to discover and bring those villians to justice, there is reason to fear that like attempts will be made in other counties of the State, especially as it is but too probable there may yet remain some among us whose disaffection to the present revolution may induce them to countenance or conceal men guilty of such atrocious crimes. We have, therefore, thought fit to lay before the House such depositions as have been given in to us concerning those robberies, in full confidence that you will give attention to a case of so great importance, and make such laws as will deter the disaffected from such mischievous and dangerous measures, and be most likely to prevent a repetition of such enormities. WILLIAM MOORE, President. VOL. XIII.-9. In Council. PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, November 27, 1781. As yesterday. PRESENT: An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Joseph Stiles, Commissary of Military Stores, or his order, for the sum of four hundred pounds specie, to be charged to his account. The petition of Joseph Morris and Thomas Forrest, respecting a lot of ground claimed in right of Samuel Fox, was read and referred to John Lukens, Esquire, Surveyor General, to report thereon. The Council being informed that his Excellency General Washington arrived last evening in this city, Ordered, That the following address to him be presented, to wit: To his Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and Commander-in-Chief of the allied army: SIR-Our cordial acknowledgments are ever due to your Excellency for the great and disinterested service you have rendered our common country; but on this occasion we approach you with peculiar pleasure, and can only regret that the common language of congratulation will too imperfectly convey our grateful sense of the late eminent display of your military virtues in the capture of a British General and his whole army. We are at a loss which most to admire, the wisdom of the plan, or the skill and gallantry of the execution, and are too sensible of the important consequences flowing from this great event, to wish to restrain the effusion of gratitude to your Excellency, to our brave and generous allies, and to our gallant countrymen, thus led by their beloved General to victory and to glory. Our prayer shall ever be that Heaven may distinguish you with its choicest blessings, as the best reward of such great and glorious services. IN COUNCIL, Phil'a., Nov. 27, 1781. WILLIAM MOORE, President. His Excellency the President reports that the address to his Excellency General Washington, was this morning presented to him, and that his Excellency the General was pleased to make the following reply, to wit: To his Excellency William Moore, Esquire, President of the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania: SIR-I consider this very polite address of the Supreme Executive Council as a fresh mark of that attention which I have ever received from them. My services I consider as my country's due, and when they meet the approbation of my fellow-citizens, I shall ever esteem myself happy in so agreeable a reward. The late success of the American arms at Yorktown, in Virginia, so vigorously aided by the noble exertions of our generous ally, if properly improved, will, I doubt not, be attended with the happiest consequences. I must sincerely thank you, sir, for your kind wishes for my personal prosperity, and beg you to be assured that a full establishment of peace, liberty and independence to this and the other United States of America, is the most ardent wish of, Sir, your most obed't & very h'ble servant, G'E WASHINGTON. Application was made for a pass for Mrs. Lawrence, her daughter and three servants, to New York, and also Mr. John and Staats Lawrence to Elizabeth town. On consideration, Ordered, That a pass be granted to Mrs. Mary Lawrence, and her daughter Mary Lawrence, to go to New York, not to return during the war, and that a pass be also granted to John Lawrence and Staats Lawrence to go to Elizabeth town. His Excellency the President laid before the Board a representation on behalf of the people called Quakers, signed by "John Drinker, Clerk," on behalf of a meeting "of the representatives of the said people in Philadelphia, the 22d of 11th mo., 1781.", |