that his sons should bear commissions in the American service in the Pennsylvania line, without pay or the emoluments of command, unless in case of actual service; whereupon, out of respect to the memory of that brave officer, and as a tribute of esteem to his family,

Resolved, That the said request be complied with, and that the Honorable Board of War be requested to issue commissions of Ensigns to Pierre Baron De Kalb and to John Baron De Kalb.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable John Lacey, Jun'r, Esquire, for the sum of twenty pounds specie, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to

A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the President to Joseph Carson, of Philadelphia, merchant, conveying a certain tract or piece of meadow ground situate on Hollander's Creek, in the township of Moyamensing, in the county of Philadelphia, bounded and being as follows, to wit: Beginning at the corner of Plunket Fleeson's and John Hall's land; thence extending by the said John Hall's land north eighty degrees east twentyeight perches to the bank of Hollander's Creek; thence by the said bank seventeen perches and seven-tenths of a perch to a corner ; thence south seventy-nine degrees west twenty-eight perches to a corner of Plunket Fleeson's land; thence by the same north thirteen degrees west seventeen perches and two-tenths of a perch to the place of beginning; containing three acres, be the same more or less: Seized and sold agreeably to law, as the estate late of Peter Campbell, an attainted traitor, to the said Joseph Carson, for the sum of six hundred pounds, old Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of three bushels of good merchantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University of this State, threefourths of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents of Confiscated Estates in the said county, and the remaining onefourth being reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the first instant.

Petitions from the following persons now confined in the gaol of Carlisle, in the county of Cumberland, were read, to wit:

William Compton, convicted of felony in stealing one bay mare, the property of John Young, and sentenced to pay a fine of six pounds to the use of the State.

James Brandon, convicted of larceny and sentenced to pay a fine equal to the value of the goods stolen, to the use of the State.

John Thomas, convicted of felony in stealing one grey gelding, the property of John Knowles, and sentenced to pay a fine of twenty pounds to the use of the State.

Setting forth that they are unable to pay the said fines, and praying the Board to remit the same. On consideration,

Resolved, That the said fines be remitted.

A like petition from Patrick Grant, confined in the said gaol, was also read, praying remission of his fine; thereupon,

Resolved, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the said Patrick Grant, be remitted.

On consideration,

Resolved, That Clement Biddle, Esquire, be appointed Quarter Master General of the militia of this State, with the rank of Colonel.

Resolved, That Mr. William Cooper be appointed and commissioned to be Ensign of Captain Thomas Stokely's company of Rangers, raised in the county of Westmoreland for the defence of the western frontiers of this State, to take rank from the first day of May last.

A letter from his Excellency the President of Congress, inclosing a resolution of Congress dated the 10th day of September, 1781, recommending to the State of New Jersey and Pennsylvania immediately to embody three thousand men, each properly officered and equipped, and cause them to rendezvous at such place or places as the commanding officer shall direct; and the same being read and considered,

Ordered, That three classes of the militia of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, four classes of the county of Philadelphia, four classes of the county of Chester, four classes of the county of Bucks, three classes of the county of Lancaster, three classes of the county of Berks, two classes of the county of Northampton, the whole of the Light Horse of the city and the said counties, the whole of the Light Horse of the counties of York and Cumberland, and two companies of Artillery, be immediately called into service; and that the said militia do rendezvous as soon as possible at Newtown, in the county of Bucks.

A letter from his Excellency the President of Congress, of the tenth instant, was received and read, inclosing a resolution of Congress of the fourth ins't, and copies of letters from the Honorable

Mr. Holker and Count De Barras, respecting apprehending French seamen; thereupon,

Ordered, To lie on the table for further consideration.

The petition of Solomon Molina and company, respecting a tax demanded of them, with a letter from Mr. Holker, Consul of France, recommending the same to the consideration of the Council, was read and considered; and thereupon,

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Commissioners; and that it be recommended to them to grant to the said Solomon Molina and company every indulgence in their power consistent with the laws of the State.

The Council taking into consideration the proposal made by William Smith for taking under his care and superintending the artillery stores, buildings, &c., at Billingsport, Mud Island, and the Pest House, to wit: The land at Billingsport to be fenced in, and a licence for a public house; the bank at Mud Island to be sufficiently repaired and kept in order at the public expence; a fence to be kept up around the lot at the Pest House, at public expence; and a good boat provided for each of the two above mentioned places; Mr. Smith to keep a man at Fort Island: And thereupon agreed to the said terms; and

Ordered, That Captain Boys be directed to deliver over to William Smith the artillery, stores, &c., at Billingsport and Mud Island.

A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the President to Elijah Weed, conveying a certain lot or parcel of land, situate on Province Island, marked on the general plan of the said island, No. 1: Beginning at a stake by the bank of Mingo creek, in the middle of a ditch between the said lot and the lot No. 2, purchased by John Fromberger; thence by the same south twentyeight degrees east fifty-eight perches and two-tenths to a stake in the middle of a road leading from Schuylkill ferry to Tinicum and Chester; thence by the same road south seventy-eight degrees west thirty-six perches and eight-tenths to a stake; thence by the banks of Eagle and Mingo creeks on the several courses thereof seventy

perches and eight-tenths to the place of beginning; containing ten acres and fifty perches of land, strict measure: Sold agreeably to law, for the redemption of the bills of credit of this State of the 29th of April, 1780, to the said Elijah Weed, for the sum of eight hundred and seventeen pounds eleven shillings and ten pence, which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Treasurer of the State, as by his receipt, produced to this Board, appears. Deed dated the twelfth instant.

WHEREAS, The Honorable Congress of the United States have transmitted to this Board an extract of a letter from the Count De Barras to the Consul of France for the Middle district, respecting the employment of French sailors on board the Merchant and other vessels of this port; and it has been earnestly recommended to the Legislatures and Executives of the several States to give effectual aid in apprehending all sailors subjects of His Most Christian Majesty, and otherwise discouraging and preventing such sailors leaving his said Majesty's service; whereupon,

Resolved, That all Magistrates, Sheriffs, Constables, and other officers of this State, both civil and military, be directed to aid and assist in the apprehending and securing all French seamen; and that it be recommended to all merchants, captains of vessels, and other inhabitants of this State, to discourage the employment of such seamen in any vessels belonging to or sailing out of this port.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. William Turnbull, for the sum of two hundred and six pounds ten shillings specie, amount of his account for blankets purchased for the use of the State.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of William Scott, Esquire, of Yorktown, for the sum of fifteen pounds, State money of the seventh of April, 1781, balance of his account for purchasing cattle for the use of the army, in the county of York.

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

To John Selles, for the messuage or tenement called the Ferry House, and six lots of land, situate on Province Island, in the county of Philadelphia, and marked in the general plan of said island from No. 9 to 14 inclusive; containing fifty-one acres and one hundred and fifty-seven perches: Sold agreeably to law for the redemption of the bills of credit of this State of the twenty-ninth of April, 1781, to the said John Selles, for the sum of five thousand five hundred and sixty-two pounds four shillings and seven pence, which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Treasurer of this State, as appears by the said Treasurer's receipts, produced to this Board. Deed dated the thirteenth instant.

To Major James Parr, for a plantation or tract of land situate in the township of New Garden, in the county of Chester, containing sixty-four acres, be the same more or less: Seized and sold agreeably to law, as the estate late of Stephen Anderson, an attainted traitor, to the said James Parr, for the sum of three hundred pounds, subject to a yearly ground rent of nine bushells of good merchantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University of this State, three-fourths of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents of Forfeited Estates in the said county, as by said Agents' receipt appears, the remaining one-fourth being reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the thirty-first day of August last.

To do. for a tract or parcel of land situate in the township of East Marlborough, in the county of Chester, containing three acres and twenty-six perches, be the same more or less: Seized and sold agreeably to law, as the estate late of John Jackson, an attainted traitor, to the said James Parr, for the sum of seventy-one pounds, subject to a yearly ground rent of two bushels and two-fifteenth parts of a bushel of good merchantable wheat, payable as aforesaid; three-fourths of which sum he paid to the said Agents, the remaining one-fourth reserved as aforesaid. Deed dated the thirty-first day of August last.

To ditto. for a plantation or tract of land situate in the township of East Marlborough, in the county of Chester, containing twenty