same being taken into consideration, the same votes and proceedings were generally approved of by Council and the said resolution concurred in.

On motion and order,

The Council resumed the consideration of the bill entitled "An act of free and general pardon, indemnity and oblivion," and the same being again read was unanimously rejected.

Mr. Speaker laid on the table a memorial from himself, as one of the Delegates from this State to Congress, representing that such is the state of his private affairs at present that it will be very injurious to him to give his attendance in Congress for some months to come, which may, with just reason, be expected by the General Assembly, therefore he prayed leave to resign his seat in Congress.

Which, by order, was read and postponed for consideration.

It appearing to the Council that Boaz Manlove, late of Sussex County, doth retain in his hands the sum of three hundred and eighty pounds, part of the Sussex County quota of the Bills of Credit ordered to be emitted by an Act of Assembly passed in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventyfive, entitled "An act for emitting the sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit on loan, and providing a fund for payment of Public Debts," and deposited in his hands as one of the signers of the bills,

On motion, leave is granted to bring in a bill for the recovery of the aforesaid sum of three hundred and eighty pounds, with interest from the first day of April last past, and thereupon Mr. Bassett delivered a bill for the purpose aforesaid at the table, which, by order, was read the first time.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.

EODEM DIE, P. M.

Council met.

The resolution of the House of Assembly of yesterday respecting the choice of the remaining civil officers on Thursday morning next was taken into consideration, and, on motion, the following message, drawn up at the table, was transcribed, and, by order, signed by the Speaker, to wit:

"A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNCIL TO THE HOUSE "OF ASSEMBLY.

"Gentlemen:

"The Council having taken into consideration the resolution "of the House of Assembly for the choice of the remaining Civil "Officers of this State on Thursday morning next, are of opinion, "upon a review of the other business before them, that the time "of choosing those officers had better be postponed till Friday "morning next, and wish that that time may be approved of by "the House of Assembly."

The bill against Desertion and harbouring of Deserters, &c., and the bill for the supporting and establishing the Bills of Credit issued by Congress, &c., being severally examined and compared with the amendments proposed by the Council, and the same appearing to have been severally made and entered in the said bills, the Council consent that the said bills be enacted into laws.

Ordered, That Mr. Sykes wait on the House of Assembly with the message aforesaid and the two last mentioned bills, together with the bill for aiding the discontinuance of the process of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Sykes, being returned, reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly and delivered the papers given to him in charge according to order.

On motion, by special order,

The bill for the recovery of a sum of money due from Boaz Manlove to this State was read a second time, and, after some amendments made, passed this House, and ordered to be sent to the House of Assembly for their concurrence.

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered at the Chair a written message from the Assembly, in answer to the message from the Council containing their reasons for adhering to their amendment of the 4th resolution of the House of Assembly for granting to Col. Jones, on certain conditions, an exclusive right to make salt in this State for sale for five years, and the same being read was laid on the table.

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

'On motion,

'IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, "WEDNESDAY, A. M., February 19th, 1777.

"Resolved, That Mr. Thompson, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Robinson be a committee to join Messrs. Sykes and Vandyke, a "committee of Council, to state an account of expenditures by this State for and in behalf of the Continent."

Which was read and approved.

The member from the Assembly aforesaid also delivered at the Chair the concurrence of the House of Assembly to the proposal made by the Council in their message of this day for postponing the choice of the remaining civil officers of this State till Friday morning next.

On motion,

Ordered, That Mr. Wiltbank wait on the House of Assembly with the bill entitled "An act of free and general pardon, indemnity and oblivion," and inform that House that the said bill is rejected by the Council.

And with the bill for the recovery of a sum of money due from Boaz Manlove to the Delaware State, for their perusal and con

currence.

And with the votes and proceedings of the Council of Safety of New Castle County, with the resolutions of the House of Assembly thereon, and for a bounty to be allowed to such of the Militia as marched and served six weeks, &c., with the approbation and concurrence of Council.

And with the orders of the House of Assembly for arresting Boaz Manlove and Thomas Robinson, and the Sergeant-atArms' return thereon, and the letter from the said Thomas Robinson to James Garrigen, Esq.

And with the approbation of Council to an appointment of the Committee for Publick Expenditures.

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

THURSDAY, 20th February.

Council met, and took into consideration the written message from the House of Assembly of yesterday respecting the grant of an exclusive right, on certain conditions, to Col. Jones to make salt in this State for sale for the term of five years, and some time being spent thereon, the following message, being drawn up at the table, was agreed to, and transcribed and ordered to be signed by the Speaker: *

A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and returned the bill for the recovery of a sum of money due from Boaz Manlove to the Delaware State, with a

*The message is not recorded in the minutes.

paper of amendments proposed by the House of Assembly thereto, which, being read and considered, were agreed to, and being made in the bill the same were ordered to be engrossed.

On motion and order,

The bill entitled,

"An act to render parts of divers acts of Assembly and certain law proceedings more conformable to the present Constitution,'

Was read a second time, and several amendments proposed being agreed to, the bill, with the amendments, were ordered to be returned to the House of Assembly for their consideration and concurrence.

Ordered, That Mr. Bassett wait on the House of Assembly with the last bill and its amendments and the foregoing message from the Council.

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

The Militia bill being engrossed was read and compared at the table and ordered to be sent to the House of Assembly for their examination.

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

Council met.

FRIDAY, February 21st, 1777.

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