Mr. Dingee appeared in the House and assigned the indisposition of his wife as an excuse for his non-attendance hitherto, which was admitted. Mr. Dingee being informed of the contents of the written paper, subscribed by Jacob Bennett and delivered to this House on Saturday last, wherein mention is made of five persons, supposed to be inhabitants of this State, going on board a British ship of war with live stock, one of which persons passed there by his name, requested that the said Jacob Bennett, and all other persons who had any knowledge of that transaction, might be summoned before this House, to give evidence thereof, at some future day, and that in the meantime his attendance in Council be dispensed with, as he did not choose to continue his seat here while under such a suspicion. Resolved, That Mr. Dingee's attendance in Council be dispensed with till further order. Ordered, That the Speaker issue other summonses, directed to Jacob Bennett, John Trip and Levi Potter, and summonses for Griffith Minshall, Jun., John Marshall and Joseph Poole, requiring their attendance on this House on Friday next, at 11 o'clock, to give evidence of their knowledge of the charge against Mr. Dingee, at which time he is ordered to attend. The House taking into consideration the condition of the Militia of this State, and it appearing that there had been for some considerable time past almost a total neglect of the attendance of associators on muster and review days, and a general omission to levy the penalties and taxes imposed by the articles and rules made for the better governing of the Militia by the late House of Assembly, and that the said articles and rules required some attention and amendments for their more effectual execution, therefore, On motion, Ordered, That a committee of four be appointed to bring in a bill for the more effectual establishing a Militia in this State. The members chosen are: Mr. Vandyke, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Cantwell and Mr. Wiltbank. The House resuming the resolution of the House of Assembly for the appointment of a committee to settle and adjust the ac counts of the officers and privates of the 2d Delaware Battalion, raised for the Flying Camp, previous to their being passed by the Commissary of Musters; Ordered, That Messrs. Sykes and Vandyke be a committee from this House, to join with the committee named by the House of Assembly in the business aforesaid. Adjourned till to-morrow morning. Council met. THURSDAY, January 16th, 1777. Mr. Sykes, one of the persons appointed to procure a Great Seal for this State, agreeable to the resolve of this House of the 2d of November, delivered at the table the following report from that committee, to wit: "The committee appointed to get a skillful engraver to make "the Great Seal of this State, which was agreed upon by both "Houses, now report that they could procure no person capable "of executing the work to undertake it at this time, being en"gaged in other very important business for the safety of their country. That upon consulting an ingenious gentleman in the "art of heraldry, they are humbly of opinion that the Great Seal agreed upon would be more suitable for a medal than the seal 'of a State, and therefore submit the same to the consideration "of both Houses." 66 The House, taking the same into consideration, are satisfied with the reasons assigned for not carrying the resolutions aforesaid into execution, and resolved that the said committee be discharged. A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the following resolutions of that House for concurrence of Council, to wit: "IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, "MONDAY, January 13th. "On motion, Resolved, That the former vote respecting a Great Seal be rescinded. "On motion, "Ordered, That Messrs. Cook, Robinson and McKean be a "committee to confer with a committee of Council on the subject "matter of a device for and making of a Great Seal for this State, "and also to fix upon a seal which shall be held and deemed to "be the Great Seal pro tempore until the Great Seal to be agreed "upon by both Houses be made." Which, being taken into consideration, was concurred in. Resolved therefore, That the resolution of the 2d of November last respecting a Great Seal be rescinded. Ordered, That Messrs. Cantwell and Wiltbank be a committee from this House to confer with the committee of Assembly on the subject matter of forming a Great Seal and fixing a seal pro tempore. Ordered, That Mr. Vandyke wait on the House of the Assembly with the concurrence and appointment aforesaid. Who, being returned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order. The report of the proceedings of the commissioners appointed to repair to the army to nominate officers for the battalion to be raised as the quota of this State to serve during the war, being resumed, Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three to report thereon. The members chosen : Mr. Cantwell, Mr. Sykes, and Mr. Vandyke. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock. Council met. FRIDAY, January 17th, 1777. The witnesses ordered to be summoned respecting the charge against Mr. Dingee, a member of this House, his being on board a British ship of war on or about the 30th of December last, all attending except Levi Potter, who was out of the State and not summoned, Ordered, That notice be given to the Honorable the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and such of the members thereof as are in town, that the examination of the witnesses is to be had forthwith, that they may be present if they think fit. The Speaker of the Assembly, with a number of the members of that House, attending, were admitted accordingly. Mr. Dingee also attending by order. The Council proceeded to the qualifying and examining Jacob Bennett, John Trip, Griffith Minshall, Jun., John Marshall, and Joseph Poole, severally and apart, respecting their knowledge of Mr. Dingee's being one of the five persons who had come on board the Pearl, ship of war, belonging to his Britannic Majesty, while they were prisoners there, all of whom having deposed that Mr. Dingee was not one of the persons aforesaid, nor had been on board the said ship of war during the time they were prisoners, to their knowledge or belief, Thereupon the Council are unanimously of opinion that the suspicion of Mr. Dingee's being one of the persons who had come on board the British ship of war aforesaid during the time the witnesses aforesaid were prisoners is groundless. Ordered, That Mr. Dingee take his seat as a member of this House. The committee appointed to confer with a committee of the House of Assembly on the subject matter of a device for and making a Great Seal for this State, and also to fix upon a seal to be used instead thereof pro tempore, brought in their report, Which was read and referred for consideration. Council met. SATURDAY, A. M., January 18th, 1777. A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair divers resolutions of that House for concurrence, as follows, to wit: "IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, 'FRIDAY, A. M., January 17th, 1777. "Resolved, N. C. D., That Mr. McKean be a committee to "employ skillful workmen to make a silver seal of the diameter "of three inches and of a circular form, and that there be en"graven thereon a Sheaf of Wheat and an ear of Indian Corn, "and an Ox, in full stature, in a shield with a river dividing the "wheat sheaf and ear of Indian corn from the Ox, which is to be "cut in the nether part of the shield below the river; that the "supporters be an American Soldier, under arms, on the right, "and an Husbandman, with a Hoe in his hand, on the left, and "that a Ship be the crest; and that there shall be an inscription "round the same, near the edge or extremity thereof, in the "words following, in capital letters: "THE GREAT SEAL "OF THE DELAWARE STATE," with the figures 1777; "which shall, from and after the delivery thereof to the President "and Commander-in-Chief, be the Great Seal and deemed the "Arms of this State. "Resolved, That the Seal of the County of New Castle shall "be deemed and held to be the Great Seal of this State pro tem |