Impositions are practised by persons selling adulterated plate. An office erected for the purpose of assaying and stamping all plate offered for sale, would tend to prevent fraud, and give security the purchasers of that article.

The disabled pensioners have lately been paid out of the unappropriated funds of the State. It appears that these funds are insufficient to discharge the demands made on them, and if the pensions are continued to be paid, some other provision is neces

sary.

The magazine for storing of gunpowder in this city is not only improperly situated with respect to the town, but too small to contain the quantities now imported and manufactured in the neighborhood. We therefore think a revisal and alteration of the laws passed the twenty-eighth of March, 1787, respecting gunpowder, is now highly necessary.

The depreciation of our paper Money calls for the attention of the Legislature. We wish for a conference with a committee of your Honorable House on this important subject.

We have called upon the respective county Lieutenants for returns of persons subject to the performance of militia duties, and of those who have actually attended on muster-days, agreeably to your resolution of the twenty-ninth day of March last. These returns shall be laid before the General Assembly as soon as they come to hand.

We also herewith communicate a resolution of Congress, dated July the eleventh, 1788, respecting pensioners, an extract of a letter from General Harmar, dated June the thirtieth, 1788, copies of the ratification of the Federal Constitution by the States of Virginia, South Carolina, and New York, with amendments proposed by Virginia and New York; also a letter from the President of the Convention of North Carolina, inclosing the proceedings of the said Convention, a letter from Thomas Paine, Esquire, dated at Paris, May the fourth, 1788, inclosing the opinion of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, on the principles and construction of the model for a bridge over the Schuylkill, a letter from General St. Clair, of July the twenty-fourth; and a resolution of Congress, of August the twelfth, 1788, relative to the holding in readiness the militia on the frontiers, to act in conjunction with the Foederal troops, in defending the western country against Indian hostilities, two letters from Charles Thompson, Esquire, Secretary of Congress, dated the twentieth and twenty-fifth days of August, 1788, the one inclosing a copy of the Journal of Congress from the commencement of the Foederal year to the twentieth of August, 1788, and the other inclosing a requisition of the United States in Congress assembled, for the year 1788, and a memorial from Captain John Armstrong. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

Council Chamber, Philadelphia, September 6th, 1788.

Christopher Kucher, John Cannon,

Upon consideration of a representation from the Justices of the city and county of Philadelphia, in favor of Simon Gore, now confined in the jail of this city,

Ordered, That the fine due to the State, and the imprisonment to which he was sentenced, for a contempt of a late court of justice, be remitted.

A letter from Charles Thomson, Fsquire, Secretary of Congress, inclosing an act of the United States, in Congress assembled, of the fourth instant, by which they relinquish and transfer to this State the jurisdiction of the tract of land on lake Erie, which the State has agreed to purchase of the United States, was read.

Council taking into consideration the act of Congress, dated the fourth instant, which was received and read yesterday, it was Resolved, That the same be transmitted to the General Assembly, together with the following letter, vizt:

In Council, Philadelphia, September, 9th, 1788.

SIR-By direction of the Board, I do myself the honor to transTM mit you for the consideration of the General Assembly an act of Congress, passed the fourth instant, by which the United States relinquish and transfer to the State of Pennsylvania all their right,

title, and claim, to the Government and jurisdiction of the tract of land on lake Erie, which the State has agreed to purchase of the United States.

By accounts received from Pittsburgh, a pacific disposition is manifested on the part of the Indians, and there is now reason to expect a large meeting of the northern and western tribes at Muskingam, to hold a treaty with the Continental Commissioners. This favorable opportunity ought not, in the opinion of Council, to be missed, for altho' the quantity of triangle purchased from the Board of Treasury cannot be ascertained with precision before the necessary lines are run, agreeably to the act of Congress, in the sixth day of June last, yet, as a great part of the expence attending treaties with Indians is incurred by collecting and furnishing them with provisions, charges which in this instance may be avoided, Council therefore earnestly recommend the appointing Commissioners on the part of this State, to attend the ensuing treaty for purchasing from the Indians who may appear to have just claims to the same, the whole of the triangle aforesaid, as nearly as the bounds of the same may be ascertained by the best information which can be now obtained.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your most obedient and very humble servant,

PETER MUHLENBERG, V. P. Honorable THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esq'r, Speaker of the General Assembly.

The Council met.

PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, September 10th, 1788.

PRESENT:

The Honorable PETER MUHLENBERG, Esquire, Vice President.

The petition of Elizabeth O'Hara and Margaret Jackson, being read,

Ordered, That the fine of five pounds imposed upon Elizabeth O'Hara, and her servitude to hard labor, and the fine of Margaret Jackson, of fifty-two pounds two shillings and six pence, and servitude to hard labor, be remitted.

On motion,

Ordered, That Monday next be appointed for going into the consideration of the petition from several persons resident in the North

ern Liberties, relative to certain vacant lots of ground bounding upon Vine, Callowhill and other streets in said Liberties, which they conceive have become the property of the Commonwealth.And that the petitioners be notified to attend with such papers as they may have to produce in support of the said petition.

Ordered, That the Attorney General, Land Officers and Comptroller General, be also requested to attend at the same time to confer with Council on the subject of the said petition.

Mr. Peters, Mr. Lowrey, Mr. Rittenhouse, Mr. Finlay and Mr. Irwin, a Committee from the General Assembly attending were introduced, and a conferrence was held upon the subject of the letter transmitted yesterday from Council to the General Assembly, relative to a purchase of the tract of country lying between this State and Lake Erie from the Indians.

The following draft of a letter from Council to the General Assembly, was read and approved vizt:

In Council, Philadelphia, September 10th, 1788.

SIR-I have the honor to enclose you by order of Council, for the consideration of the General Assembly, a petition from Jacob Gerhard, one of the collectors of taxes in Montgomery county, whose case, if truly stated, claims the attention of the Legislature.

I have the honor to be,

With great respect, your obedient and

Very humble servant,

PETER MUHLENBERG, Vice President.

Honorable THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esq'r., Speaker of the General Assembly.

The Council met.

PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, September 11th, 1788.

PRESENT:

The Honorable PETER MUHLENBERG, Esquire, Vice President.

Henry Hill,

Nathan Dennisen,

Abraham Smith,
William Maclay,
John Cannon,

The several fines payable to the use of the Commonwealth by Elizabeth Ellis and Mary Munroe, imposed upon them by the City Court held in July, 1787, upon their being severally convicted of larceny, were remitted, it appearing to Council that their term of servitude in the work-house is expired.

Upon application of Colonel William Henry, Lieutenant of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, an order was drawn upon the Treasurer in his favor, for three hundred and twenty-two pounds eight shillings and two pence, payable out of the monies arising from the militia fines in the said City and Liberties of Philadelphia, for defraying the expence of exercising the militia of said City and Liberties on the ensuing muster day, for which sum he is to ac

count.

On motion,

Ordered, That the consideration of the petition from sundry persons resident in the Northern Liberties, relative to a number of vacant lots in the said Liberties, which was appointed for Monday next, be postponed untill the Wednesday following.

Mr. Logan, Mr. Scott and Mr. Burkhalter, a Committee from the General Assembly attended, and a Conferrence was held respecting John Franklin, a State prisoner, now confined in the jail of this city.

VOL. XV.-35.