ing the case of the said Benjamin to the consideration of Council, was read; and thereupon,

Ordered, That Colonel Bayard and Doct'r Gardiner be requested to make inquiry into the said case, and report thereon to Council. Colonel Bayard and Doctor Gardner report, that on enquiry it appeared highly probable the case of Benjamin Ford deserved. attention, and that he had really been detained among the enemy by force; and thereupon,

Ordered, That the Board of War be informed, that Council consent to the enlargement of Benjamin Ford, he entering surety in the Secretary's office in the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds. not to return within the lines of the enemy.

A deed was examined and signed by the Honorable the Vice President, to Benjamin Evans, conveying a certain two story carpenter's shop and lot of ground thereunto belonging, situate on the north side of Pine street, between Third street and Fourth street, in the city of Philadelphia; containing in breadth east and west twenty feet, and in length or depth north and south one hundred and sixty feet (from Pine to Union street :) Seized and sold agreea bly to law, as the estate late of William Evans, an attainted traitor, to the said Benjamin Evans, for the sum of nine thousand pounds, lawful money of Pennsylvania, subject to the yearly ground rent of four bushells and a half of good merchantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University of this State; three-fourths of which sum he hath paid to the Agents of Forfeited Estates in the city of Philadelphia, the remaining one-fourth being reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the twenty-sixth instant.

A petition from Thomas Forrest, of the city of Philadelphia, in behalf of his mother, Sarah Forrest, setting forth that she was lately bound by recognizince to appear at the Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery now sitting for the city and county of Philadelphia, to answer certain misdemeanors alleged against her by a certain James Child, aged about fourteen years, &c., and praying this Board will be pleased to direct the Attorney General to enter a noli prosequi as to the said charge, and thereby prevent any further prosccution thereof, was read; and on consideration,

Ordered unaninimous, The Attorney General be directed to enter a noli prosequi accordingly.

VOL. XIII.-7.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. Isaac Connelly, for the sum of ten pounds specie, amount of an account of expences of a company of Colonel Marshe's battalion of militia Artillery on the twenty-fourth instant, being set apart as a day of rejoicing for the taking of Lord Cornwallis.

An order to the Honorable James Potter, Esquire, for the sum of fifty pounds specie, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to account.

On consideration,

Ordered, That the seventh class of the second battalion of the militia of the city and liberties of Philadelphia be called into service, for the purpose of relieving the guards now on duty.

A letter from Thomas Long, Esquire, of the county of Bucks, praying leave to resign his office of Justice of the Peace, in consequence of his being elected one of the Representatives in General Assembly for the said county of Bucks, was read; and thereupon,

Resolved, That the said resignation be accepted.

A deed was examined by the Honorable the Vice President, to Thomas Armor, Junior, of the town of York, conveying a certain tract of land situate in Newberry township, in the county of York, containing two hundred and fourteen acres and allowance, part of No. 6, late the estate of James Rankin, an attainted traitor: Seized and sold agreeably to law, to the said Thomas Armor, Jun'r, for the sum of one thousand and fifteen pounds, old Continental money, which sum he hath paid to the Agents of Forfeited Estates in the said county. Deed dated the twenty-fourth instant.

James Cunningham, Esquire, Councillor elect for the county of Lancaster, attended in Council, and took the oath of allegiance and oath of office required by the Constitution; and thereupon took his seat at the Board as a member thereof.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Thomas Nevell, for the sum of fifty pounds specie, in part of his account for repairing the State House steeple, for which sum he is to account. An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Lieutenant John Hughes, of the seventh Pennsylvania regiment, for the sum of nine pounds specie, being money paid by him as a bounty to William Thomas for enlisting as a soldier in the said regiment.

The Council having received information that the light house is in danger of being much injured by the washing of the sea, took into consideration the state of office of Wardens of the port of Philadelphia, and it appearing that the gentlemen formerly appointed to that office, had not entered the security, nor taken the oaths required by the Constitution to qualify them for the said office, proceeded to choose others in their stead; and thereupon,

Ordered, That Luke Morris, Andrew Caldwell, Joseph Blewer, Francis Gurney, Joseph Dean, Matthew Irwin and Benjamin G. Eyre, be appointed Wardens of the port of Philadelphia, and be commissioned accordingly.

A letter from the Honorable Robert Morris, Esq., Financier General, dated the nineteenth of the present month, inclosing a state of the subsidy allowed by France to the United States of America,.and the advance upon the loan proposed to be made in Holland, was read; and thereupon,

Ordered, That the same be laid before the General Assembly. Sebastian Levan, Esquire, Councillor elect for the county of Berks, attended in Council and took the affirmation of allegiance and of office required by the Constitution; and thereupon, took his seat at the Board as a member thereof.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mary Hitchcock, for the sum of twelve pounds five shillings specie, amount of an account for repairing the light house, haling material, mending the well, &c., at Cape Henlopen.

The Council taking into consideration the case of John Jeremiah Rice, an attainted traitor, late an inhabitant of this State, taken prisoner at sea in an armed boat in the service of the King of Britain, and now confined in the gaol of this city, and he being recommended to this Board by his Excellency the President of Congress for a pardon, in consideration of his having made an important discovery of the designs of the enemy at New York; there

upon,

Resolved, That a pardon be granted to the said John Jeremiah Rice accordingly.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Frederick Sneider, for the sum of twenty-seven pounds three shillings and four pence specie, balance of his account for his wages to the thirty-first of October, and for wood purchased for the Council.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable John Lacey, Esquire, for the sum of two hundred and fifteen pounds specie, to be by him paid to Messrs. M'Calla and Willet of Bucks county, for the purpose of paying for provisions furnished to the militia lately called into service under General Lacey, for which the said M'Calla and Willet are to account.

A letter from his Excellency Thomas M'Kean, Esquire, President of Congress, was received and read, inclosing an act 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 thanksgiving and prayer.

Ordered, To lie on the table.

A letter from Bernard Dougherty, Esquire, of the county of Bedford, dated the second instant, praying leave to resign his office of Justice of the Peace, in consequence of his being elected one of the Representatives in General Assembly for the said county, was read; and thereupon,

Resolved, That the said resignation be accepted.