VOTES AND OF THE COUNCIL OF THE DELAWARE STATE. At a meeting of the Council at the Town of Dover, in the County of Kent, by adjournment, on Monday, the first day of December, Anno Domini, 1777, a sufficient number of members to compose a House not attending, the Council adjourned till to morrow. TUESDAY, December 2d, 1777. The following members appeared, viz : For New Castle County-George Read (Speaker), Nicholas Vandyke, Peter Hyatt. For Kent County-Thomas Collins, John Baning, Richard Bassett. And adjourned till to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, December 3d, 1777. The Council met, and Col. John Jones, a member for Sussex County, appeared in the House. The Representatives of the Counties not having formed themselves into a House of Assembly, the Council adjourned from day to day till Monday, the 8th of December, 1777 MONDAY, December 8th, 1777. The Council met and adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock. The Council met. TUESDAY, December 9th, 1777. Present all the members as on last Wednes day, except Mr. Jones. The minutes of the last meeting of the Council were read. Resolved, That a copy of that part of the proceedings of the Council respecting the raising and pay of 600 Militia within the State, for its protection and defence, and also the appointment of committees for adjusting the accounts of expenses of former service of the Militia of the State, with the mode recommended for discharging the same, be made out and sent to the House of Assembly, with a message from the Council setting forth the reasons that induced them to adopt the said measures, and recommending it to the House of Assembly to make such provision in the premises as they may judge necessary, consistent with the Laws and Constitution of the State. Ordered, That Messrs. Bassett and Vandyke be a committee to prepare a draught of such message and report the same in the afternoon. Adjourned till 3 o'clock. EODEM DIE, P. M. The Council met. Some of the members attending the Committee, Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, A. M., December 10th, 1777. The Council met. The same members present as on yesterday. The committee appointed to prepare the draught of a message to the House of Assembly now delivered one in, and the same being read was ordered to be transcribed and signed by the Speaker, and is in these words, to wit: Gentlemen: The Council herewith transmit a copy of their resolutions of the 29th October last, directing the raising of 600 troops within this State for the protection and defence thereof, and providing for the payment and support of said troops, and also appointing committees to receive, examine and adjust the accounts of expenses which had accrued and become due to the Militia of the State for former service, with the mode recommended for discharging the same. As the Representatives of the several Counties in the State did not form themselves into a House for transacting of the public business, the Council, on their part, were induced to adopt the measures contained in said resolutions to prevent the persons of the inhabitants near the water from being seized and taken prisoners and their property plundered by the crews of the enemy's ships of war, which then were in the Delaware; to put a stop to the illegal and pernicious trade carried on with the enemy by the inhabitants of this State; and to remove the complaints made by the Militia of non-payment for former services, which the Council were apprehensive would not only tend to delay the raising said troops, but also prevent the Militia from turning out in cases of emergency. The Council now recommend it to your honorable House to take the said resolutions into your consideration, and make such further provision in the premises as you may judge necessary, consistent with the Laws and Constitution of the State. Ordered, That Mr. Collins wait on the House of Assembly with the said message and copy of the resolutions of this House of the 29th October last respecting the raising and pay of the 600 Militia within the State for its protection and defence, and also the appointment of committees for adjusting the accounts of expenses of former service of the Militia of the State, with the mode recommended for discharging the same. Who, being returned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order. 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 had chosen their Speaker, and were now ready to proceed on any business that the Council should think fit to lay before them. The Council resumed the consideration of the petition from divers of the inhabitants, freeholders and electors of Sussex County, complaining of their being prevented from electing Representatives for that County to the General Assembly, and also of Sheriffs and Coroners, for the ensuing year, by an armed force, and thereupon Ordered, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill for the holding an election in that county, at a short day, for the choosing of Representatives to the General Assembly, and also for the election of Sheriffs and Coroners, for the ensuing year; and Resolved, That the petition aforesaid, with the papers attending the same, be sent to the House of Assembly for their perusal, and that that House be requested to appoint a committee to confer with a committee of Council on the subject matter of the said petition, who shall severally report thereon. Ordered, That Mr. Baning wait on the House of Assembly with the said petition and a copy of the foregoing order and resolve. Who, being returned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order. Resolved, That Mr. Vandyke, Mr. Bassett, and Mr. Collins be a committee to bring in the bill aforesaid for holding an election in Sussex County at some short day. Adjourned till 3 o'clock. EODEM DIE, P. M. The Council met. A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair a "Bill to remedy the loss of divers Public Seals of Office in the County of New Castle," which, by order, was read the first time. And also the following resolution, to wit: "IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE DELAWARE STATE, "WEDNESDAY, P. M., December 10, 1777. "Resolved, That Messrs. Craghead, Lockwood, and Black be |