These were the first stores ordered or procured by Connecticut for the army. During the same session, Williain Pitkin, Thomas Seymour, Oliver Ellsworth, and Ezekiel Williams, Esq'rs., or any three of them, were appointed a committee with full power to examine, liquidate, settle, and give needful orders for the payment of the several accounts of expenses that had been, or should be incurred relative to the assembling, equipping, supporting, or paying wages to such of the colony as should, or might enlist or assemble for the defence of the colony, for the then eurrent year; and said committee were to act under the orders of the General Assembly.

The committee of Pay Table, were empowered to take bonds with sureties, of each commissary; in which bond such commissary was obliged faithfully and justly to dispose of all money he should receive, and account with the committee of Pay Table for the same.

It was also enacted that the chief officers and captains of the several companies then to be enlisted, should be the pay masters of their respective companies; and the committee of pay table were directed to take bonds with sureties of each captain, or other person who should act as pay master, and account also with the committee of pay table; and receive as a compensation for such service, one and a half per cent.

The immense amount of money required at this time, by the colony, to equip their recruits, provision and march them, in the then impoverished state of the country, could not be procured on so sudden an emergency. The Legislature, therefore, bold and daring in the enterprize, it being a war for their dearest rights and their liberty; passed an act (in April, 1775) that there should be forthwith imprinted the sum of fifty thousand pounds, bills of credit on the colony, equal to lawful money, of suitable denominations as the committee should direct, and of the same tenor with the (then) late emission of bills of credit, without interest, and payable at or before the 10th day of May, 1777; and dated the 10th day of May, 1775. William Pitkin, George Wyllys, Elisha Williams, Benjamin Payne, and Thomas Seymour, Esq'rs., or any three of them, were appointed a committee to take charge of imprinting said bills, with all convenient speed, and to sign and deliver the same to the Treasurer of the colony, taking his receipt therefor, and the Treasurer was to pay the same out of the Treasury, under orders of the Assembly.

And providing for a Sinking Fund, a tax of seven pence on the pound, was levied on all the polls and rateable estate in the colony, to be paid by the 10th day of May, 1777, in bills of credit of this emission, or lawful money, and the Treasurer was ordered to issue his warrants to collect the same.

The colony powder, was ordered by the Legislature to be placed in the hands of one gentleman in each county, in the colony, viz.: Capt. Jabez Huntington, to take charge of all the powder in Windham county; Winthrop Saltonstall, in New London, and Jabez Huntington, of such as should be lodged in Norwich. That 28 half barrels of powder lodged at New Haven, should be sent into Fairfield county, to the care of Thaddeus Burr; and that 14 half barrels of powder at New Haven, be sent to the care of Lynde Lord, Esq., at Litchfield, and the remainder of the powder at New Haven, to be taken charge of by Jonathan Fitch, Esq., of New Haven-all of which powder was to remain in the care of said persons, subject only to the order of the General Assembly, except on some sudden emergency, then by order of the selectmen of the several towns where lodged.

It was also resolved that if any more powder should be sent into the colony for colony use, that a suitable proportion should be delivered to John Lawrence, Esq., of Hartford, and the remainder distributed into the several counties in suitable proportions, to the care of the gentlemen above named.

April, 1775. Robert Fairchild, Esq., and Daniel Judson, were appointed by the Assembly, to enquire after, and take charge of, for the use of the colony, all stores of the camp of a military kind, owned by the colony, or which could be found with the heirs of Theophilus Nichols, Esq., then late deceased, and a commissary of the government, &c., and report the next session of said Assembly.

April, 1775. Jedediah Strong, was also appointed to enquire at Albany, for arms belonging to this colony, left there during the last war, and return them as soon as might be.

April, 1775. Daniel Lyman, Enos Allyn, Thomas Howell, Dudley Woodbridge, Joseph Denison, 2d, Stephen Babcock, Gurdon Saltonstall, Thomas Mumford, John Lay, John Deshon, Richard Dickinson, and John McCurdy, were appointed a committee by the Legislature, to consider on the best method and means of securing, defending, and protecting the sea coast, ports and shipping in the colony; to state facts, and report their opinions thereon to said Assembly in May (then) next, without expense to the colony.

The Legislature appointed Col. Gurdon Saltonstall, Samuel Mott, Esq., and Capt. John Deshon, a committee forthwith to prepare carriages and necessary apparatus for the cannon at New London, so that they might be put in the best order for use, in case of necessity for defence.

A resolution was passed authorizing the Governor to give Brig. Gen. Spencer an order, to direct the colonels of the six regiments under his command, to order the respective captains, to forward the enlistments of men for the special service, defence, and safety of the colony, and to hold themselves in readiness to march on the shortest notice. And the four regiments commanded by Brig's. Spencer and Putnam, and Col's. Hinman and Parsons, or such part of them as the Governor should order, forthwith to be in readiness, and march to Boston, or to some place contiguous, as should be ordered.

An act was passed repealing the act constituting the action of Book Debtthe Legislature believing, if it existed, many accounts would be barred by the statute of limitations, in time of war, to the prejudice of officers and soldiers, who were necessarily absent from their homes.

Also for the same reasons, was an act passed, exempting debtors from imprisonment for debt, and releasing those who were in prison for debt, on execution or attachment; which act was to continue in force until the rising of the Legislature in October (then) next.

NOTE. John Patterson, Esq. of Piermont, of the province of N. Hampshire, agent of said town, preferred a petition in favor of said Piermont, stating its exposed situation to Quebec, at that alarming period, and expecting an attack by the French and Indians from Canada; that said town had voted to supply themselves with arms and ammunition, of which they were nearly destitute; and being without money in the infant state of the town, prayed the colony of Connecticut to sell them fifty pounds of powder, offering their note, with security, to be paid in May, 1776, with interest, and signed by John Patterson, Agent.

A resolution passed, directing the powder to be delivered, and to take said Patterson's note for the same, payable the 1st day of May, 1776, with interest.

An enquiry was had in the town of Waterbury, as to the major part of a company who were discovered to be inimical to the American cause, composed of officers and soldiers; the true whigs praying to be annexed to a new company. A committee was appointed, consisting of Thomas Mattthewson and Timothy Judd, to examine the facts, and report to the next Assembly.

Joseph Munson, of New Haven, and Joseph Webb, of Wethersfield, had leave given to export to the West India Islands, 46 cattle and 80 barrels of pork, which had been purchased before the laying of the embargo.

The session of the Assembly was closed by passing the following preamble and resolution, viz. :

Considering the dark and gloomy aspect of Divine Providence, over this colony and land, and that it is the indispensable duty of every people suffering under the afflictive chastisements of a righteous God, with deep repentance, supplication, and amendment of life, to endeavor by all the ways which God has prescribed, to avert his anger and incline him to become reconciled to his people. It is therefore Resolved by this Assembly, That it be recommended to all the Ministers of the Gospel in this colony, that they earnestly endeavor to dissuade their several congregations from all excess and all diversions which may be improper in the present day of distress; and that both they and their people cry mightily to God, that he would be pleased to spare his people, and be gracious unto them, and visit them with his loving kindness and tender mercies, and not give up his heritage to reproach; but preserve unto them their great and important rights and privileges, and guide and prosper the public counsels of this colony and land; and in this hour of difficulty and distress, graciously manifest his power in the deliverance and salvation of his people, to the glory of his own

name.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

MAY SESSION,

Held on the 11th day of said month, A. D. 1775, and continued in session until the 31st day of said May.

Hon. JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Governor.

The same Assistants, (Conant absent.)

Ar this session of the Assembly, the town of Westmoreland was to form the 24th regiment, with all the powers, privileges, and advantages that other regiments of the colony had.

A sum of money being required to defray the incidental charges of Government, it was enacted forthwith to print fifty thousand pounds, in bills of credit on the colony, equal to lawful money, of the tenor of the last emission of bills of credit, without interest, payable by the 1st day of June, 1778, to be dated the

1st day of June, A. D. 1775; and Jabez Hamlin, Wm. Pitkin, George Wyllys, Elisha Williams, Benjamin Payne, Thomas Seymour, and Jesse Root, Esq'rs., or any three of them were to be a committee to see that said bills were immediately printed, and to sign and deliver them to the Treasurer of the colony. And as a Sinking Fund, a tax of seven pence on the pound was granted, and ordered to be levied on all the polls and rateable estate in the colony, payable into the Treasury by the 1st of June, A. D. 1778; payable also in bills of this emission or lawful money. Warrants were issued to collect said tax.*

The embargo laid by the Assembly in April last, was continued on the articles mentioned in said act, until the 1st day of August (then) next, and the Governor was so directed to make proclamation, reserving to the Governor and Council, power to discontinue in whole or part at an earlier time, if they should judge it expedient.

The Legislature ordered that there should be provided 90 marques or officer's tents, 500 tents for privates, and cloth for 48 tents, 460 tents for private soldiers, 1092 iron pots that would contain about ten quarts each, if pots could not be procured, then to purchase tin kettles and 1098 pails; two brass kettles of ten gallon size, for the use of each company; 2,500 wooden bowls; four frying pans for each company; 6,000 quart rumlets; 60 drums, and 120 fifes for the use of said troops; six standards, one for each regiment, distinguished by their color, as follows, viz.: for the 1st regiment, yellow; for the 2d, blue; for the 3d, scarlet; for the 4th, crimson; for the 5th, white; for the 6th, azure-a medicine chest and apparatus, to the value not exceeding £40, for each regiment; a set of surgical instruments for the whole corps on each destination, and such medicine as should be left, to be returned to the colony; 70 books, each in quarto of one quire each, covered with cartridge paper; 2 reams of writing paper; 10 reams of paper for cartridges; one cart or wagon for each company. Allowed to the troops three-fourths of a pound of pork or one pound of beef, one pound of bread or flour, three pints of beer to each man per day, beef to be fresh two days in a week; also a half pint of rice or a pint of Indian meal; 6 ounces of butter; three pints of peas or beans, to each man per week. Also one gill of rum to each man upon fatigue per day, and at no other time; milk, molasses, candles, soap, vinegar, coffee, chocolate, sugar, tobacco, onions in the season, and vegetables be provided for said troops at the discretion of the general and field officers.

That 1s. and 6d. be paid to each man that should supply himself three pounds of ball; 3s. for a pound of powder; 3d. for six flints; otherwise to be supplied from the town stock, or out of the colony ammunition. Soldiers marching east, to be furnished out of the colony stock at New London, Norwich, and Windham, or Mansfield; and two assistants or justices to adjust the accounts of what should be received of the towns, and the pay table give an order on the Treasurer. The pay masters to keep the ammunition account for such as provide for themselves, ball, powder, &c. The flints to be distributed to each county, and one ton of the balls in the care of the Treasurer to be sent to Windham.

* It will be observed that in April, an emission of £50,000 of bills of credit were issued, making in April and May, £100,000 in bills of credit, issued within two months, and the colony taxed fourteen pence on the pound to redeem the bills.

An act was passed directing the manufacture of 3,000 fire arms, for the use of the colony, describing the kind of guns, length, bore, &c., giving a bounty of 5s. for each stand of arms, with a good lock that should be made in the colony, by the 20th day of October (then) next, (if not sold out of the colony); and a bounty of 1s. and 6d. for every good gun lock made within the colony by the 20th day of October; and that all such arms so manufactured within the colony should be purchased at a reasonable price, over and above the premium given.

A committee was appointed to enquire and report to the Governor, as soon as might be, the probable number of arms that could be manufactured in the colony by the 20th of October aforesaid; and to call upon the Treasurer for the necessary funds to pay for them, and receive the arms so purchased for the use of the colony, and secure the same.

It was also enacted; that a bounty of ten pounds should be paid for every fifty pounds of salt petre that should be made from materials found in this colony, within one year after the rising of the Assembly. Also a bounty of five pounds for every one hundred weight of sulphur, that should be manufactured within the colony, from materials found in any of the British colonics, in America, within one year as aforesaid.

An act for regulating and ordering the troops that were or should be raised for the defence of the colony.

Whereas God in his providence hath been pleased in great mercy to bestow upon the inhabitants of this colony, all the rights, liberties, and immunities of the free and natural born subjects of the realm of England, which have been established and confirmed by a sacred compact, and secured by a royal charter ; which rights, liberties, and immunities, were the birth.right of our brave, virtu. ous, and religious ancestors whilst in England, who rather than submit to reli. gious or cruel tyranny, chose to leave their pleasant seats and all their happy prospects in their native country, bravely encountered the danger of untried seas and coasts of a howling wilderness, barbarous men, and savage beasts, at the expense of their case and safety of their blood, their treasure, and their lives; transplanted and reared the English constitution in these wilds, upon the strong pillars of civil and religious liberty, and having led the way by their great example, bequeathed their inestimable purchase as a sacred and unalienable legacy to their posterity, who have ever since united the sincerest loyalty to their sovereign, and the warmest affection for their elder brethren in England, with the enjoyment of their aforesaid rights, liberties, and immuni. ties, nor have they till lately been thought incompatible.

And whereas, since the close of the last war, the British Parliament claiming a power of right to bind the people of America by statute in all cases whatsoever, hath in some acts expressly imposed taxes upon them, and in others, under various pretences, but in fact for the purpose of raising a revenue, hath imposed rates and duties, payable in these colonies, established a Board of Commissioners with unconstitutional powers, and extended the jurisdiction of courts of admiralty, not only for collecting said duties, but also for the trial of causes merely arising within the body of a country.

And whereas in consequence of other statutes, judges who before held only estates at will in their offices, have been made to depend on the crown alone for their salaries; and standing armies kept in time of peace; and it has been lately resolved in Parliament, that by force of a statute made in the thirty-fifth