House of Assembly thereto; and also the bill to remedy the loss of divers Public Seals of Office in the County of New Castle, with the amendments proposed by the Council, to which the House of Assembly also agreed.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed.

A member of the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the following resolution, to wit:

"On motion,

"IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,

"MONDAY, December 10, 1777.

"Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow in the forenoon, "adjourn for this present sitting to some future day.

"Ordered, That Major Bryan wait on the Council with a copy "of the above resolution respecting the adjournment of the Gen"eral Assembly."

Which being read and considered,

Resolved, That a committee of Council be named to confer with a committee of the House of Assembly on the subject of the said resolution.

Whereupon Messrs. Vandyke and Bassett were appointed.

Ordered also, That Mr. Vandyke deliver the following verbal message to the House of Assembly, to wit:

Gentlemen:

The Council having received a notice from your House of their intention to adjourn to-morrow in the forenoon, do apprehend that the business now before them and necessary to be completed before the rising of the General Assembly cannot be gone through by the time limited by you; therefore the Council do propose to the House of Assembly the appointment of a committee of their House to confer with Messrs. Vandyke and Bassett, a committee of Council, on the subject of the adjournment, as proposed by the House of Assembly.

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

A member from the House of Assembly informed the Chair that Messrs. Patterson, Craghead, and Bryan were appointed a committee to confer with the committee of Council as to the time of adjourning.

The said committee of conference met and agreed that it be recommended to the House of Assembly to reconsider their resolution for adjourning to-morrow in the forenoon.

A message from the Vice-President to the General Assembly, with a resolution of Congress of the 14th of November last, respecting the sufficiency of the force within the State to prevent the disaffected from furnishing the enemy with provisions, and also a request for a speedy representation of the State in Congress, was delivered at the table, and, by order, read the first time.

On motion,

Ordered, That Col. Collins wait on the House of Assembly and propose to them the choosing of Delegates for this State to Congress for the ensuing year, by joint ballot of both Houses, to-morrow, at 3 o'clock, P. M.

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

Mr. Bassett having applied for leave of absence for a few days, it is granted to him."

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the following message from the Assembly, to wit:

"A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSEMBLY TO THE COUNCIL. "Gentlemen:

"The House of Assembly have taken into their consideration "your proposition relative to the choice of Delegates from this "State to Congress, and think it expedient that both Houses "should, previous to the election, meet and put in nomination persons qualified for Delegates to Congress, agreeable to the

"mode heretofore used by both Houses in such cases; and there"fore this House propose to the Council to meet at 10 o'clock "to-morrow morning, at such place as the Council may think "proper."

Which, being read, was agreed to, and the following answer, drawn up at the table, was ordered to be sent to the House of Assembly, to wit:

AN ANSWER from the COUNCIL TO A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSEMBLY.

Gentlemen:

The Council agree to the meeting proposed by the House of Assembly at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning, to put in nomination persons who shall be balloted for as Delegates to Congress, and that the place of meeting be in the Council Room.

Mr. Hyatt, appointed to deliver the same, reported that he had so done according to order.

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and informed the Chair that the House of Assembly acceded to the place of meeting fixed by the Council. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

TUESDAY, A. M., December 16th, 1777.

The Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday except Mr. Bassett, and adjourned till to-morrow morning.

WEDNESDAY, A. M., December 17th, 1777

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

Mr. Clayton, a member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the following message, to wit:

"A MESSAGE from the AssEMBLY TO THE COUNCIL.

"Gentlemen:

"The House of Assembly, being unable to meet yesterday "by the absence of one of their members, could not attend the "Council for the purpose of putting in nomination persons quali"fied for Delegates to Congress, agreeable to the joint resolution "of both Houses, do therefore propose to meet the Council "forthwith for the purpose aforesaid; and they also propose to "your honorable House that both Houses proceed to the elec"tion, by joint ballot, at 3 o'clock. P. M.

"Signed by order of the House.

"Dover, 17th December, 1777."

"SAM'L WEST, Speaker.

Which being read, the Council agreed to the time of nomination and balloting for Delegates as proposed in the said message.

Ordered, That Mr. Baning wait on the House of Assembly and inform them thereof, and that the Council are now ready to receive the House of Assembly in the Council Room.

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

The Council and Assembly being met in the Council Room, to put in nomination persons who are to be balloted for as Delegates to Congress, agreeable to the order of the day, on a motion made that the General Assembly do fix upon the number of Delegates that shall represent the State in Congress the en

suing year, previous to the putting any person in nomination it is unanimously agreed that three persons shall be chosen for this

service.

Then the members proceeded to put in nomination divers persons, whose names being taken down for the consideration of the members of both Houses, the General Assembly adjourned till 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

The General Assembly met.

EODEM DIE, P. M.

Then the members of both Houses proceeded to the ballot, which, being taken down, it appeared that Cæsar Rodney, Nicholas Vandyke, and Thomas McKean, Esquires, had a majority of voices, and are declared duly elected Delegates from this State to Congress for the ensuing year.

Then the members of Assembly withdrew.

The committee to whom the bills 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, and also the bill for reviving the Levy Court and Court of Appeal for the County of New Castle, and for reestablishing the process in the Supreme Court throughout the State, and for occasional adjournments or removals of the Courts from the County Towns, were committed, report it as their opinion that the subject matter of the said two bills hath relation to each other and ought to be formed into one bill; and the committee further report that they essayed the draught of such a bill, by way of amendment to the said two bills, which they submit to the correction of the Council. On motion and order,

The said bill of amendment was read the first time.