The Council met.

PHILADELPHIA, Friday, November 7th, 1788.

PICESENT:

His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President.

The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer, vizt:

In favor of the Honorable George Ross, Esquire, for fourteen pounds five shillings, being the amount of his account for attendance in Council from the seventeenth of October until the fourth iustant, inclusively.

In favor of Frederick Sneider, for fifteen pounds ten shillings, being in full for his wages as Doorkeeper to Council for the month of October. 1788.

Two certificates of the division of Bethlehem and Amwell townships, in Washington county, by the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the said county, for the more convenient election's of Jusof the Peace, agreeably to act of Assembly passed the thirty-first of March, 1784, were received and read.

Returns of elections of Justices of the Peace lately held in the several districts of Nottingham, Hopewell and Finley, together with a petition against the latter, were also received and read.

Upon consideration of the petition of Amos Walton, and a recommendation. from a considerable number of the inhabitants of Bucks county, it was

Ordered, That the fine of five pounds adjudged to be paid to the use of the Commonwealth, and the imprisonment to which he was sentenced by the last Court of Oyer and Terminer held in Bucks county, upon being convicted of perjury, be remitted.

On motion,

Resolved, That Mr. Read, Mr. Woods and Mr. Gregg, be a committee to consider of the most proper measures for giving effect to the act of Assembly passed the twenty-fifth of September, 1786, intituled An Act for the prevention of vice and immorality and of unlawful gaming, and to restrain disorderly sport and dissipation," so far as the same law prohibits the erecting theatres and exhib. iting of plays.

Joseph Hubley and Alexander Graydon, Esquires, appointed by Council to investigate the Complaint against Lazarus Brown MeLene, Esquire, Prothonotary of Huntingdon county, for misconduct in his office, now made report of the testimony taken by them, which was read.

The Council met.

PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, November 8th, 1788.

PRESENT:

His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.

Council being informed that the streets of the city of Philadel phia and the roads in the vicinity thereof, have been and are still infested with disorderly and wicked persons, who commit robberies and other outrages on the persons and property of the inhabitants; and a number of well disposed citizens, part of the militia in and near the city, having voluntarily offered to form themselves into patroles for the purpose of apprehending and bringing before a magistrate or magistrates all suspicious persons who are found lurking in secret or suspected places in the said city, or the country adjacent thereto, or in or near the said roads or streets, at improper seasons, or upon unlawful occasions, and all offenders who have fled from justice or are in the commission of robberies or other violent and disorderly breaches of the peace.

Resolved, That Council highly approve the virtuous and spirited intention of the said worthy and well disposed citizens, manifested in such their association to assist in preserving the peace and good order of the said city and its vicinity, and will support the said citizens in all legal measures relating to the premises.

Resolved, That the President be and he is hereby authorized and requested to make such arrangements for carrying into effect the laudable intentions of the said citizens, as are necessary to facilitate the accomplishment of their views and consistent with the laws of the State.

A return of the general election of Sheriffs and Coroners held in the county of Franklin, was received and read, and John Johuston thereupon appointed and commissionated Sheriff, and George Clark Coroner of the said county.

The return of an election of Justices of the Peace for the district of Finley township, in Washington county, which was read yesterday, was read the second time, together with a petition from several free holders, resident in said district, complaining of illegal proceedings at said election; whereupon it was

Ordered, That John Hoge, Thomas Scott and William McFarlen, Esquires, Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Washington, living near the said district, be authorized and directed to investigate the facts stated in the said petition, upon the oaths of such witnesses as may be adduced, and make report thereof to this Board in manner and form prescribed in and by an act of Assembly intituled "An Act to remedy the defects of the several acts of Assembly heretofore made for regulating the elections of Justices. of the Peace throughout this State," &ca., passed the thirty-first day of March, 1784.

John Reed and Hugh Scott, Esquires, were appointed and commissionated Justices of the Peace and of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Washington; the former for the district of the township of Cecil, and the latter for the district of the township of Nottingham, upon returns made according to law from the said several districts.

Ludwig Stehler, Esquire, was also appointed and commissionated a Justice of the Peace and of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Northampton, upon a return made according to law, from the district of the township of Upper Milford.

The committee appointed to consider of the most proper measures for giving effect to the act of Assembly of the twenty fifth of September, 1786, for the prevention of vice and immorality and of unlawful gaming and to restrain disorderly sports and dissipation, so far as respects theatrical exhibitions, now made report, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The Council met.

PHILADELPHIA, Monday, November 10th, 1788.

PRESENT:

His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President.

An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Frederick Watt, Esquire, for sixty-nine pounds one shilling,

in full for his attendance in Council until this day, inclusively, and his mileage.

William Smiley, Esquire, was appointed and commissionated a Justice of the Peace and of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Washington, upon a return made according to law for the district of the township of Hopewell.

Upon the second reading of the report of the committee respecting the measures proper to be taken for effectually preventing the atrical exhibitions, it was

Ordered, That the said report be recommitted, and that Colonel Miles and Mr. Smilie, be added to the committee upon this busi

ness.

The committee appointed on the sixth instant to consider what further business is necessary to lay before the House of Assembly, reported a draft of a message, which was read, and some general propositions being agreed to, the further consideration thereof was postponed.

On motion.

Resolved, That Colonel Woods, Colonel Smith and Mr. Smile, be a committee to consider how far the several militia laws provide for the payment of pensions to the widows and children of deceased militia men.

The committee to whom were referred the rules and regulations of this Board, entered upon the minutes of Council of the thirtieth of November, 1787, now reported a sett of rules and regulations, which were read, and

Ordered, To lie on the table.

The Council met.

PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, November 11th, 1788
PRÉSENT:

His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President.

An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honora ble John Baird, Esquire, for the sum of thirty-seven pounds ten shillings, in full for his attendance until this day.

The report of the Committee upon the rules and regulations necessary for conducting the business of the Board, was read the second time and adopted as follows, vizt:

The committee appointed to report a sett of rules and regulations for the government of the Board, offer the following:

1st. When the President or Vice President assumes the chair the Members shall take their seats.

2nd. The minutes of the preceding day shall be read by the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary, before the Council proceed to any other business; errors and inaccuracies may be corrected, but no debate shall be admitted or question taken respecting the determination of the former day.

3rd. The Members shall forbear talking to each other when a question is before the Board, and shall keep silence except when they have occasion to speak in order.

4th. On all questions a majority of votes shall decide, and when the votes of the Members are equal in number, the President or Vice President who fills the chair at the time, shall have the casting voice, except when the votes are taken by ballot.

5th. Any member presenting a petition, memmorial, or other paper, shall first mention the general import of the same.

6th. Every motion made and seconded shall be reduced to writing, if requested by the President or Vice President in the Chair, or by any two Members.

7th. All petitions, memorials, or other papers, shall be subject to no other question on the first reading save that of their lying on table, but may be taken up by special orders in cases of emergency. 8th. Any member presenting any paper or offering any motion, to have the liberty of withdrawing the same at pleasure.

9th. If business of different kinds shall be called for by different Members at the same time, the President or Vice President who fills the Chair shall judge and give preference accordingly, but an appeal may be made to the Board, in which case their decision shall be had without debate.

10th. In all debates the Members shall address the Chair and conduct themselves with decency; and no Member shall be interrupted while speaking, nor shall he speak more than twice to the same subject until every Member who wishes to deliver his sentiments has had an opportunity of so doing.

11th. No Member shall absent himself from the Board after his name has been taken down by the Secretary, without leave.

12th. On a motion made and seconded to adjourn, the question shall be taken without debate, but previous to putting the question the President or Vice President who may be in the Chair, may call for such patents, orders, or other papers, which are of course to be signed.

The President or Vice President who shall fill the Chair for the time being, shall be judge of all questions of order, and may call the transgressing Members to order as often as they infringe the aforesaid rules, but any Member may be allowed to explan himself, and on being seconded shall be entitled to the decision of Council.