bound by their Station to perform some of the arduous duties of Magistrates, And remarked that it would be proper for the Gentlemen who meant to solicit Mercy for the Prisoners to do it in writing, in order that it may appear at a future day. They then retired.

Appointment of the Captains of the Galleys & Guard Boats; (Captains to return their Lieut's from among the Lieut's now in service.)

Application of the Rev'd S. Barton for a Pass into the City of New York.

Ordered, That a Pass for the said S. Barton & his wife to the City of New York, be made out.

Ap. of Rev'd Mr. A. Murray for time, &ca., referred.

John Knowles, Esq'r, attended the Council & represented that he had been made a Prisoner by the Enemy & carried by them to the city of New York, that he had been permitted on Parole to return to this City & to use his endeavours to obtain Abraham Iredale, of Horseham, in the County of Philadelphia, to be delivered in Exchange for him, the said John Knowles otherwise to return again to the City of New York.

On consideration, Council consent to exchange Abraham Iredale aforesaid, for John Knowles, Esq'r, now under Parole, to the Enemy, and it is

Ordered, That neither the said Abraham Iredale nor his bail shall be sued for default of his appearance in the next Court of Oyer & Terminer, to answer the charge of Treason made against him.

Petition of Negro Ralph, (formerly the property of John Ranken,) was read.

Ordered, That the said Petition lie on the table.

The Petition of a considerable number of respectable Citizens Praying, in effect, that Council will remit the punishment of death under which Samuel Lyons, Samuel Ford, Joseph Wilson & John Lawrence, now lie, was read.

Mem. Benja. Walton of Bucks County, & Casper Guyer of Philadelphia, are still in confinement.

A Letter from Benja. Blyth to the Hon'ble Tho's McKean, Esquire, Chief Justice, was read, & the same representing that Maclay, Esq'r, one of the Justices for the County of Cumberland had negligently suffered a certain Connelius Hutcheson, charged with High Treason, to make his escape; thereupon,

Ordered, That it be recommended to the Hon'ble Tho's McKean, Esq'r, Chief Justice, to make further enquiry into the said charge, & proceed therein according to Law.

Edward Burd, Esq'r, appointed Prothonotary of the Supreme Court, &ca.

Death Warrants for Lyons, Ford, Wilson & Lawrence, Delivered to Commodore Hazelwood, directed to Commodore John Hazelwood, or in his absence to the Officer Commanding.

The Council resumed the consideration of the Case of the Four Men under sentence of Death, & for the execution of whom Warrants have been issued:

Question." Shall Ford be spared?"

and thereupon,

"Shall Lawrence be spared?"
"Shall Wilson be spared?"
"Shall Lyons be spared?"

Negative.
Affirmative.

Affirmative.

Negative.

Ordered, That Joseph Wilson & John Lawrence, now under sentence of Death, & for the execution of whom Warrants have been issued, be reprieved for fifteen days.

A Warrant under the less Seal was issued, Commanding Robert Jewell, Esq'r, Keeper of the Prison of the United States in this City, commanding him to deliver Samuel Ford, Samuel Lyons, Joseph Wilson & John Lawrence, now under sentence of death, &c, to Commodore John Hazlewood, or in his absence to the officer commanding, to be dealt with as this Council shall order.

There having been many circumstances which render it highly probable that a certain Berkenhout, Doct. of Physic, a subject of Great Britain, & in the employ of the British Ministry, is now in this City, probably on some mischiefous design.

On consideration, a Warrant under the State Seal was issued, authorizing Col. Lewis Nicola, town Major, to seize the said Doctor Berkenhout & his papers, & bring him & them before this Council.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Ebenezer Cowell, (Armourer,) or his order, for the Sum of Eight hundred Dollars, for which Sum he is to account.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Lieu. Will'm Thompson, of the 9th Pennsylvania Reg't, for the Sum of Six hundred Dollars, for the recruiting service, to be charged to his account. On Application,

Ordered, That a Pass into the City of New York be granted to Elizabeth Shugart, wife of Lieu. Zachary Shugart, of the Pennsylvania flying camp, now a prisoner on Long Island.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Thomas Jordan, paymaster of Militia for the County of Northumberland, for the Sum of Three Thousand Pounds, for which he is to account.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Philip Boehm, jun'r, paymaster of Militia for the County of Northampton, for the Sum of Two Thousand & five hundred Pounds, for which he is to account.

Petition of Ignatius Labatte & Philip Angle, inhabitants of Fort Pitt, praying a pass with a Batteau laden with fur, to New Orleans, was read; & thereupon,

Ordered, That a pass be accordingly granted.

A Resolve of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly was read, in the following words, to-Wit:

"In General Assembly, Friday Septem. 4, 1778, A. M.

"Resolved, That the Vice President & Council be authorized, impowered & required to take the most effectual measures for preventing the exportation of provisions from this State, until a law shall be enacted, or other regulations made by this Assembly. On consideration,

Ordered, That agreeable to the Resolve of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, the Embargo on provisions be continued for & during fifteen days from this date, & that a Proclamation be issued for that purpose accordingly.

The Resolve of Congress of yesterday being read, to wit:

"In Congress, September 3d, 1778.

"WHEREAS, Gen'l Washington has required that the Continental Troops in Philadelphia be sent to join the main Army, & that they they be replaced by the City Militia:

"Resolved, That the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania be requested to call out immediately three hundred of the Militia of the State, to serve as Guards in the City of Philadelphia, & perform such other Military Services as shall be required of them.

"Resolved, That the Artillery Reg't raised in Pennsylvania, Commanded by Col. Tho's Proctor, be considered as part of the quota of Troops to be furnished by that State, which is to be Credited for the Men now in the Regiment, & also for any which shall be hereafter recruited therein, & that the Government of the said State be requested to furnish Col. Proctor with the State bounty, to enable him to fill up the Regiment to its compliment of Men. "Extract from the Minutes,

"CHA. THOMSON, Sec'y."

Ordered, That the seventh Class of the Militia of the City of Philadelphia be now called into service.

Col. Samuel Atlee having represented that there was a considerable Sum of Money due to him for his Pay, &ca.; on Consideration that there may be a necessity of his advancing some Money to his inferior Officers,

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Col. Sam'l Atlee, for the Sum of Seven hundred & fifty Pounds, for which he is to account.

ort

ns,

d,

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of William Henry, Esq., Armourer, or his order, for the Sum of Ten thousand & nine hundred Pounds, to be charged to his account.

Application for William Stringer, Clerk, for permission to retire to England.

Application for Mrs. Robinson.

A Letter from Col. Will'm Irvine, of the 7th Pennsylvania Reg't, recommending Capt. Bratton & Lieut Russel & Millegan to go on the recruiting Service, and thereupon Recruiting ordes were accordingly given them as follows:

To Capt. Will'm Bratton to Lancaster County, with orders to the Lieutenant of the said County, to Supply him with Money from time to time, as he may have occasion; and to Lieu. James Millegan to York Town, with orders to the Lieu. of the County of York to furnish him with Money for this service, and Lieu. Alex'a Russell, to Carlisle, with orders on the Lieu. of Cumberland County. Lien. Millegan to have orders to call on the Lieutenants of York & Cumberland. Lieu. Russel orders to the Lieutenant of the County of Lancaster.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Cap't John Pearson, of the 9th Pennsylvania Reg't, or his order, for the Sum of One Thousand Dollars, for the Recruiting service, for which he is to acco❜t.

Colo. Hart & Mr. Read reports, That on examining the papers of Doctor Berkenhout, they found a letter which he (the Doctor) acknowledges he had written the Evening before his arrest, with intention of sending it to Richard Henry Lee, Esq'r, of which the following is a Copy:

"Sir:

"The important business in which you are engaged will not permit you to favour me with as much of your conversation as I am inclined to wish, for I presume therefore, to trouble you with the following reflexions on paper; they appear to me of consequence sufficient to deserve a moment's attention.