to report a set of Rules for conducting the business of this Council.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

Council met.

WEDNESDAY, A. M., October 30th, 1776.

Present all the members.

Slator Clay attended and took and subscribed a qualification for the faithful execution of the office of Clerk of this Council, and that he will not disclose or reveal the secrets thereof.*

The committee appointed to report a set of Rules for conducting the business of this Council brought in their report, which, by order, was read and agreed to, and follows in these words, to wit: RULES TO BE OBSERVED BY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL DURING THE SITTING THEREOF.

1. That all members of Council shall appear at the calling over their respective names at every adjournment.

2. That no member of Council shall be allowed to speak to any one matter or thing above three times, without license from the Speaker first had and obtained, and that no member presume to speak in the House sitting, but direct his discourse to the Speaker standing.

3. That no member of Council shall presume to speak or interrupt any other member whilst he is speaking.

*The oath here mentioned is given in the “ Book of Qualifications,” as follows: I, Slator Clay, do swear that I will faithfully, according to the best of my abilities, perform the office of Clerk of the Council of the Delaware State, and that I will not disclose or reveal the secrets thereof.

SLATOR CLAY.

4. That no member go out of the House during the sitting thereof and continue thereout above the space of half an hour without leave first had and obtained.

5. That where any question is put in Council that may cause a debate, the names of the members who are for the affirmative, and also those who are for the negative, be set down at large on the minutes, being first moved for by one or more of the members thereof.

The Speaker laid on the table a letter addressed from the Honorable John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress, inclosing sundry resolutions respecting the augmentation and reënlistment of the Continental army during the war, which were read and laid on the table for consideration.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

EODEM DIE, P. M.

Council met.

Present all the members.

A committee from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, were admitted and delivered the following verbal message, to wit:

That the House of Assembly requested the Council to appoint a committee to confer with a committee of their House on the subject matter of making a Great Seal for this State, and withdrew.

The Council, taking the same into consideration,

Resolved, That Messrs. Sykes and Vandyke be appointed a committee from this House to confer with the committee of the House of Assembly on the subject of forming a device and making a Great Seal for this State.

Ordered, That Mr. Bassett wait on the House of Assembly and inform them of the said appointment.

Mr. Bassett, being returned, reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly, according to order, and informed them of the same appointment.

The Council entered upon the consideration of the letter from the President of Congress and the resolutions inclosed therewith, and thereupon

Resolved, That the following message be transcribed, signed by the Speaker, and sent to the House of Assembly, that is to

say:

Gentlemen:

A letter from the Honorable Mr. Hancock, as President of the Congress, inclosing sundry resolutions of that body respecting the augmentation and reënlistment of the Continental army during the continuance of the war, being laid before us, we think it our duty to give you this immediate information thereof, sending herewith the letter and its inclosures, and as this business is of the greatest importance, we wish that it might be proceeded upon in the most effectual and expeditious way, and therefore propose to your honorable House the appointment of committees by both Houses to confer upon the subject matter of the said letter and resolutions of Congress, who may severally report upon this business.

Ordered, That Mr. Collins wait on the House of Assembly with this message and the President's letter with its inclosures.

A committee from the House of Assembly, attending, were admitted and delivered the following verbal message, that is to say:

That Messrs. McKean, Cook and Robinson were appointed a committee by the House of Assembly to confer with the committee of Council on the forming a device and making a Great Seal for this State, and that they were then ready to attend the

conference.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

THURSDAY, October 31st, 1776.

The Council met. Present all the members.

Mr. Collins reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly and delivered the message aforesaid, with the President of Congress's letter and its inclosures, according to order.

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered a written message from that House, as follows, to wit:

"Gentlemen:

"This house has taken into consideration your message relating "to the enlistment of a Battalion in this State to continue in the "service of the United States of America during the present "war, together with the letter from the President of the Congress "and its inclosures, and thereupon appointed Messrs. Robinson, "Ridgely and McKean a committee to confer with a committee "of your honorable House on the subject matter thereof, at such "time and place as your House shall appoint.

And the same being taken into consideration,

Ordered, That Messrs. Sykes, Vandyke and Collins be a committee to confer with the committee appointed by the House of Assembly on the subject matter of the message aforesaid, to meet at the house of Mr. Anderson this afternoon.

Ordered, That Mr. Vandyke wait on the House of Assembly and inform them of this appointment.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

FRIDAY, November 1st, 1776.

Council met. Present all the members.

Mr. Vandyke reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly, according to order, and informed them of the appointment of the committee of Council as aforesaid.

Some of the members desiring leave to attend committees, adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

Council met.

SATURDAY, November 2d, 1776.

The committee appointed to confer with a committee of the House of Assembly respecting the raising of a Battalion from this State to serve in the Army of the United States of America during the present war, upon the terms mentioned in the resolutions of Congress, made their report, which, by order, was read the first time.

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the resolutions of that House upon the report of their committee respecting the raising of the battalion aforesaid to serve during the present war, for the approbation and concurrence of the Council, which, by order, was read the first time.

On motion,

By special order, as well the report of the committee of Council as the resolutions of the House of Assembly aforesaid, were read