"a Committee of Accounts for the present year; and that Mr. Craghead wait on the Council and propose to them the ap"pointment of a committee of their body to join the committee of this House in the business referred to them, if they think "proper."

64

Which, by order, was read the first time.

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

THURSDAY, A. M., December 11th, 1777.

The Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

FRIDAY, A. M., December 12th, 1777.

The Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday.

The committee appointed to bring in a bill for holding an election in Sussex County at some short day, now delivered one in, which, by order, was read the first time.

On motion, by special order,

The same was read the second time by paragraphs and passed, and ordered to be transcribed, and that Mr. Baning wait on the House of Assembly with the transcribed bill for their consideration and concurrence.

A message from the Vice-President to the General Assembly, respecting the advance of a sum of money to Lieutenant Colonel

Pope, to purchase clothing for the Delaware Battalion in the Continental service, was delivered at the table, and, by order, read the first time.

On motion and order,

The resolve of the House of Assembly of Wednesday last, for the appointment of a Committee of Accounts for the present year, was referred to Messrs. Bassett and Vandyke, to report thereon to-morrow morning.

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

SATURDAY, A. M., December 13th, 1777.

The Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday.

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair certain resolutions for the borrowing of seven hundred and fifty pounds, on the credit of the State, to be put into the hands of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Pope, to enable him to proceed in the purchase of clothing for the Delaware Regiment.

Which, by order, were read, and an amendment proposed by way of addition to the last resolve being agreed to, the same was transcribed.

Ordered, That Mr. Hyatt wait on the House of Assembly with the said resolutions and the amendment proposed thereto for their consideration and concurrence.

Who, being returned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

EODEM DIE, P. M.

Col. Jones, who had been absent, now appeared in Council.

The committee to whom the resolve of the House of Assembly of Wednesday last, for the appointment of a Committee of Accounts for the present year, was referred, do now report it as their opinion that the following message be sent to the House of Assembly, to wit:

Gentlemen:

The Council have taken your resolution of Wednesday last, for the appointment of a Committee of Accounts for the present year, into consideration, and are of opinion that the whole business cannot be well executed by one committee. By the generality of the appointment, accounts between this State and the United States, future accounts of the Militia within this State, Loan Office accounts, Military Treasurers' accounts, with some others, will be included. This, we apprehend, was not intended by you; but, if so, we cannot consent thereto. To state the accounts of expenditures by this State for and in behalf of the Continent will be a tedious business, requiring knowledge, attention and care, and it may be too burthensome to exact any other service of the committee who may be appointed for that purpose. Therefore we submit it to you whether it is not necessary to appoint committees severally for the several services.

Which being agreed to,

Ordered, That the same be transcribed and signed, and that Mr. Jones deliver the same to the House of Assembly.

Who, being returned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order.

On motion and order,

The bill to remedy the loss of divers Public Seals of Office in the County of New Castle was read a second time, and, upon consideration thereof, divers amendments were proposed and agreed to.

Ordered, That the same be transcribed and sent by Mr. Bassett to the Assembly.

Who, being returned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order.

It appearing to the Council that the committee appointed by the General Assembly, at their meeting in January last, to procure the making and engraving of a Great Seal of this State, have not yet completed that business, and that the Seal of New Castle County, ordered by the General Assembly to be the Great Seal of this State pro tempore until the seal to be procured as aforesaid should be delivered to the President, hath fallen into the hands of the enemy, and still is in their possession, by means whereof there is not at this time any Great Seal of the State to affix to laws and commissions; therefore

Resolved, That the ancient Seal of the County of Kent, dated '83, shall be held and deemed to be the Great Seal of the State pro tempore, until the Great Seal ordered to be made and engraven as aforesaid shall be delivered to the Commander-in-Chief of the State.

Ordered, That Mr. Bassett wait on the House of Assembly with this resolve, for their concurrence.

Who, being returned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order.

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered at the Chair a "Bill for reviving the Levy Court and Court of Appeal for the County of New Castle, and for reëstablishing the process in the Supreme Court throughout the State, and for occasional adjournments or removals of the Courts from the County Towns;" and a "Bill directing the choice of Assessors for the present year in such Hundreds in the County of New Castle where Assessors have not been chosen agreeable to the laws of this State, and for other purposes therein mentioned," for the consideration and concurrence of Council.

Adjourned till Monday morning, 10 o'clock.

The Council met.

MONDAY, A. M., December 15th, 1777.

Present the same members as on Saturday.

On motion and order,

The "Bill directing the choice of Assessors for the present year in such Hundreds in the County of New Castle where Assessors have not been chosen agreeable to the laws of this State, and for other purposes therein mentioned," was read the first time.

Ordered also,

That the "Bill for reviving the Levy Court and Court of Appeal for the County of New Castle, and for reëstablishing the process in the Supreme Court throughout the State, and for occasional adjournments or removals of the Courts from the County Towns," have its first reading, which was done accordingly.

On motion and order,

The "Bill directing the choice of Assessors for the present year in such Hundreds in the County of New Castle where Assessors have not been chosen agreeable to the laws of this State, and for other purposes therein mentioned," was read a second time.

Ordered also,

That the "Bill for reviving the Levy Court and Court of Appeal for the County of New Castle, and for reëstablishing the process in the Supreme Court throughout the State, and for occasional adjournments or removals of the Courts from the County Towns," have its second reading, which was done accordingly.

Ordered, That both the said bills be committed to Messrs. Collins, Vandyke, and Jones, to report thereon.

A member from the House of Assembly returned to the Chair the resolution for adopting the ancient Seal of Kent County as the Great Seal of this State pro tempore, with the concurrence of the