John Pomroy, Esquire, was appointed and commissionated a Justice of the Peace and of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Westmoreland, upon a return made according to law, for the district of the township of Derry.

Mr. Clymer, Mr. McLene, Mr. Peters, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Finley, Mr. Logan, a committee from the General Assembly, attending were introduced and a conferrence was held upon the subject of the depreciation of the paper currency.

Henry Taylor, Esquire, was appointed and commissionated a Justice of the Peace for the district of the township of Straban, James Edgar a Justice of the Peace for the district of the township of Smith, and William McFarland a Justice of the Peace for the district of the township of Amwell in the county of Washington, upon returns made according to law, for the said several districts.

Henry Taylor, James Edgar, and William McFarland, Esquires, were also appointed and commissionated Justices of the Court of Commonpleas in and for the county of Washington.

On motion,

Ordered, That the said Henry Taylor, Esquire, be appointed and commissionated President of the Court of Common Pleas, of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace and Jail Delivery, and of the Orphans' Court of the county of Washington.

Two returns of Justices from the districts of the townships of Cecil and Dickinson in the county of Washington, were read and not allowed, as the whole of Dickinson, and part of Cecil district has been struck off to the county of Alleghany.

Upon consideration of the petition and recommendation in favor of James Skelton of Chester county,

Ordered, That the fine of ten pounds, payable to the use of the Commonwealth, which was imposed upon him by the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the peace of the said county, upon his being convicted of fornication and bastardy, be remitted.

The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer, vizt: In favor of the Honorable Abraham Smith, Esquire, for the sum of forty-two pounds, in full of his account for his attendance in Council from the eighth of August untill the second of October, 1788, inclusively.

In favor of the Honorable Thomas M'Kean, Esquire, for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, being one quarter's salary as Chief Justice of this Commonwealth, ending the twenty-fifth of September, 1788, according to the Comptroller General's report.

In favor of Frederick Sneider, for the sum of fifteen pounds, for his wages as Doorkeeper to Council, from the first untill the thirty-first of September, 1788, inclusively,

In favor of Joseph Hubley, Esquire, for the sum of fifteen pounds, in full for his services in conducting one hundred and sixteen recruits from Philadelphia to camp, and until his return to Lan. caster, in the months of June and July, 1780.

Council taking into consideration the resolution of the General Assembly, dated September the thirteenth last, authorizing and empowering this Board to appoint two persons as Commissioners, to negotiate and complete the purchase of the triangular piece or tract of country lying and being between the northern boundary of this State and Lake Erie, from the Indians who have just claims thereto.

Thereupon,

Resolved, That General Richard Butler and General John Gibson, be appointed Commissioners to carry into effect the said resolutions so far as circumstances will admit.

Resolved, That Mr. Maclay and Mr. Smilie be appointed a Committee to prepare and report to the Board, a draft of instructions to the said Commissioners.

An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable William Maclay, Esquire, for seven pounds ten shillings, in full for his attendance Council from the twenty-third of September untill the second of October, 1788, inclusively.

On motion,

Resolved, That in cases where patents have or may hereafter issue, and when error or errors shall have crept in through the inadvertance or mistake of any of the officers concerned in the surveying or other departments of the Land Office business, and where a new patent may be necessary to rectify such mistake, the seal of the Commonwealth may be affixed without fee or reward.

Upon consideration of the report of the committee to whom were referred the several memorials from Thomas Briton and others, and from Anthony Butler, in behalf of Messieurs John Penn, Junior, and John Penn, Esquires, with the several papers accompanying the same, vizt:-That an interference by Council respecting the lots alluded to in said memorials, while a dispute is depending at law between the parties aforesaid, will be improper; it was Resolved, That the same be adopted.

The consideration of the report of the Commissioners appointed by act of Assembly, dated the twenty-ninth of September, 1787, to survey and regulate the district of Southwark, was postpon'd.

The committee appointed to prepare a draft of instructions to the Indian Commissioners, made report of the following, which was read and adopted, vizt:

In Council, Philadelphia, October 2nd, 1788. GENTLEMEN:-You will herewith receive a resolution of the Honorable the General Assembly of the thirteenth ultimo, together with the several resolutions of Congress, respecting the triangular piece of Country which lies adjoining Lake Erie and the northern line of Pennsylvania, by which you will find that this State is now vested with both right of jurisdiction and soil. You will likewise receive a commission for the purpose of purchasing from the Na

tives their claim to the soil, agreeably to the constant usage of Pennsylvania, as also a rough draft of the country in question, laid down by Mr. Ellicot, in the best manner he has been able from his present knowledge of it.

The Supreme Executive Council are very sensible of the great difficulties which you progress in this business, must be attended with not having the monies necessary for this service in your present disposal, nor would the Board by any means have imposed the task under such a circumstance, had it not been on account of the advantage which will probably result from the present Convention of these Indians at Muskingum, or perhaps the advantage of finding them at Pittsburgh on their way to their own country, might be a more favorable place, so that you will have either in your

power.

The Board have great reliance on your prudence, sagacity and particular knowledge of these people, as well as a proper knowledge of their present disposition from the Continental transactions, which one of you have or are now especially conversant with. If therefore, you shall find the Indians who have just claims in a proper temper or otherwise, you will be governed accordingly, whether to commence the business at present or leave it over until you shall have prospects more favorable; it is, however, hoped that you may be able to dispose the minds of these people, at least to appoint delegates to meet at a certain future day and place, to finish what you have happily now begin.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, with great respect,

Your most obedient and very humble servant,

PETER MUHLENBERG, V. President. General RICHARD BUTLER and JOHN GIBSON, Commissioners for purchasing from Indians, &ca.

An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the said Commissioners, for sixty pounds, to enable them to proceed in carrying into effect the before mentioned resolutions.

Two orders were drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Captain James McLean, the one for forty-five pounds six shillings and three pence, being one month's pension due to himself and the corps of Invalids under his command, and the other for sixteen pounds seven shillings for his subsistence in the months of July, August and September, 1788, according to the Comptroller General's report.

Upon application of Captain James McLean, informing Council that the corps of Invalids under his command are destitute of sufficient cloathing for the approaching season, and requesting directions from Council with respect to the manner of supplying them,

Ordered, That the said corps be supplyed at the expence of the State with such articles of cloathing as are necessary for the ensu ing season, and that the amount be deducted from their several pensions.

Upon the petition and recommendation from the Justices of Berks county, in favor of Jacob Miller,

Ordered, That the several fines due to the State, and the punishment at hard labour, to which the said Jacob Miller was sentenced by the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the peace and jail delivery of said county, held in the month of August last, upon his being convicted of larceny upon two indictments, be remitted.

Upon consideration of the petitions of James Eagen and John Miller of Lancaster county, and recommendations in their favor from some respectable inhabitants of said

Ordered, That the several fines and that part of the several forfeitures of a quantity of liquors which belongs to the Commonwealth, incurred by them for neglecting to enter the same with the Collector of Excise of Lancaster county, be remitted.