The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-09-30 00:00:00, page 4

In GENERAL ASSEMBLY, of Pennsylvania.
Mow day, September 27, 1779.
The Bill, intitled “AnAR to enable the Sheriff of
" the city and county of Philadelphia, for the time being,
" to confine prisoners in the old goal in the said city,
was re.:d the second time, and being again read and de
bated by paragraphs, was ordered to be transcribed for a
third reading, and in the mean time printed for public
coufidemtiou. Extras from th Minutes,
JOH N 910 RRI S, Jun.
Clerk of the Gen.ral Assembly,
An ACT to enable the Sheriff of the city and count, of
rhilahfha, jor the terne tang, to confine prisoners in
<bc old goallH the Jaid city.
WHEREAS in and by ad Art of Assembly of this
Commonwealth, passed the 27th day of August,
in the y,ir of ^r Lord One thousand seven hundred and
Seventy eight, intitled “ An Art to indemnify William
Dewees, &c/ is is envied, that the Sheriffs of the city
and county aforefaid may keep an 1 hold in the hid 011
port, any felons, criminals tiiid other persons, who shall
be ble to be kept and holden m the goal of the said city
and bounty, from the time of puffing the said Art, for
aid during the term of one year:
A NDWHEREAS it is necessary to enable the
said Sheriffs to confine prisoners in the said goal for a lon
ger time, and to indemnify James Claypoole, Esq; the
present Sheriff of the said catvand county, for imprifon
ip~ sundry persons in the said goal, after the expiration of
one year, froth and alter the palling of the said Art:
Be it there,tore enacted, and it is b*eb, et. J, 1, the Ee
fcrefenlaivet of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Penh
fylvama in G^at Affemby met, and b) the authority 0,
"the fame, Tint the Sheriff of the city and county aforefaid,
for the time being, may k^p, hold and impnfon in the
said old goal, all traitors, ielous, criminals, and debtors,
who are or sh " oe liable by the Laws of this Common
wealth to be hidden, kept and imprisoned in the goal of
the laid city and county, for and during the times m their
r^fpeflive commitments, warranted by the said Laws,
mentioned and xproffed ; any thing in the before recited
Law to the contrary in any kife not with Handing.
And be it further enaßed b, the authority afcreJaid, That
the said James Claypoole, Esq ; the present Sheriff of toe
said city and county and his deputies, shall le, and they
are hereby indemnified and saved harmless agamd all and
all manner offuits and artions which may be brought a
gain' ? him, them or any of them, for or by reason Qf the
k . and ipaprifoning of any person or persons that are
now imprisoned or have been imprisoned in the said goal,
fiiice the fid 27th day of Asguft last, who ought to have
been imprisoned in the goal of the said city and county ;
pod that if any such fun or artion shall be broughtagainft
/him or them, the fame is hereby declared to be barred.
Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be deem
ed or taken to difannul or make void the said recited Art,
or any clause, article, matter or thing therein contained;
except what is hereby Altered or fopplted,but that the fame
articles, clauses, matters and things nd thereby altered or
supplied, shall be and remain in full force and virtue.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY cf Pennsylvania,
Monday, September 27, 1779.
The Bill intitled "An art tor the more effertua! and
honorable reward of the Pennsylvania troops in the
service of the United States of North-America," was
read the second time, and being debated by paragraphs
it was ordered to be tranferibed for a third reading,
and in the mean time printed for public consideration.
Extrart from the minutes,
JOHN MORRIS, junior,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
An ACT for the more effertual supply and honor
able reward of the Pennsylvania troops iivthe feY
vice of the United States of North-America.
V— HEREAS the honourable the Congress of
'V these United States, did on the 15th day of May,
Anno Domini, 1/78, resolve and provide in the words
and manner following, viz. " That all military offi
" cers commifEonea by Congress who now are, or
"hereafter may be, in the service of the United States,
<c and shall continue therein during the war, and do
" not now hold any office of profit under the said
“ Bates, or any of them, shall after the conclusion of
“ the war be intitled to receive annually or the term '
" of seven ye^rs, if they hall live so long, one half of
" the present pay cf such officer, provided that no ge
" neral officer of the cavalry, artillery, ' infantry,
" sh II be intitled to receive more than the cue half
V part of the pay ofa Colonel of such corps refpehive
" ly, and provided that this resolution ihall not extend
" to any officer m the service of the United States un-.
" left he shall h^ve taken the Oath of Allegience to, and
“ shall equally refije within, some one of the United
" States " And wnereas the military commissioned
officers in the federal army of these United States have
not only d ftinguifhed themselves in the field by their
courage and bravery, but have exhibited extraordi
nary proofs of patriotism, disinterested nefs, and facrifice
of private confederations to the public good: And
whereas the continuance of the war and the signal ser
vices and bufferings of the said troops since the pacing
the above resolve, have made it highly proper to en
large and extend the benefits thereof: and the legifla
fure of this Bate being desirous to manifeft a just sense
of the important fervicies which have been rendered
by the said officers and soldiers, and in future to
supply them with such necessaries as may enable them
to support and perform the duties of their several Ra
tions with chearfulnefs and alacrity ;
Be it enabled by the representatives, etc. that the
half pay aforefaid, so far as it refperts the military
commissioned officers of this Bate in the service of the
United States, shall be continued to the said officers
and every es them surviving the said term of seven
years, and who shall be intitled and admitted to the
fame, in pursuance of the said resolves, for and dur
ing the life of such officers and officer: and that the rules
following shall be duly observed in the application
and payment thereof, that it to fay,
PHILADELPHIA: Printed and Sold by JOHN DUNLAP, in M a nket-ft r m
First, that no person shall have or receive any part
of the fame who was a minor under the age of 16 years
when the regiment or company in which he served
shall be reduced.
Secondly, That no persons shall have or receive the
said hlf p y, or any part thereof but such as have
done artual service in some regiment or company.
Thirdly, That the said half pay nor any part there
of shall be allowed to any person by virtue of any
warrant or appointment, except to such persons as
would have been otherwise intitled to receive'the fame
as reduced officers, or to such brevet officers as are
hereafter mentioned.
Fourthly, That the fame shall not be allowed or
extended to the officers of any new raised corps, or of
any troops who have been inlifted for a ihorter term
than the continuance of the present war.
Fifthly, That the fame shall not be allowed to any ,
officer who shall not have taken the Oath or Oaths of
Allegiance which now are or hereafter m y be required
of the other fubjerts of this date; and also reiide in
' some one of these United States.
And be it further enarted, etc. That from and after
the publication of this art, the widows of such com
missioned military officers as have fallen in battle or
died in actual service or captivity, and whose husbands,
if they had lived, would have been intitled to such ,
half pay, and those who may hereafter become the .
widows or officers so falling in battle, or dying in aflu
al service or captivity during the continuance of the
present war, shall be intitled to the half of the pay
which t'heir husbands were refpertively intitled to
whilst in said service during their widowhood, and no
longer. l
And be it further enarted, &c. That on the peti
tion of any of the said widows to the Orphan's Court
in the county Therein such petitioner may dwell, the
said court shall in a summary way inquire into the
claim of such widow to the half psy allowed by this
art, and the Hid court, on receiving fatisfartory proof'
o' the marriage, and that the husband of the said wi
dow would, it he had lived, have been intitled to half
pay under this art, which proof shall be by a certifi
c^ unlei the iiahd and seal of the colonel or other
commanding officer of the regiment, battalion or com
pany to which the deceded last belonged, setting
forth the commission which he last held, and the regi
ment, battalion or company in which he lift served,
and also the time did place of his death ; such certifi
cate to be attested under tiie hands of two witnesses:
and the said petitioner shall also produce to the court
the commission under win .such claim fhtll be made,,
or at least a certificate from the hon. the board of war
of the United States th it such commission had issued ;
whereupon, if the said court shall be satisfied of the
justice of such claim, it shall proceed to call up and
afeert in the fame by way of annuity, and make an
order on the county treasurer for the payment of such
annuity, either quarterly or annually, as to the said
cour shall seem meet, according to the true intent
and meaning of this art : and the said treasurer shall
advance and pay the said annuity, as it becomes due,
out of ay monies belonging to the Bate which he mi,
have in iris hands, and shall be allowed the fame in
passing hisaccounts.
And be.it further enarted, etc. That the said Or
phans Court shall once in three months in every year
examine the record of such annuities, and fend an au
thentic lift ofthe names of the said widows and sums to
v 'heli they are respectively intitled, to the county trea
surer, distinguishing therein the names of such annui
tants as nave died or been married again ; and the clerk
of said court, once in every year or oftner if required,
shall transmit a copy of such lift to the secretary of
the fupceme executive council of this Bate.
And be it furtherenarted, etc. .That all lands which
have been or may hereafter be granted within this
ftateto any officers or soldiers of the line of this state,
by virtue of any resolution of Congress or law of this
state, as a reward for their services, ihall be and are
hereby exempted from taxation forand during the life
of such officer or soldier respectively, unless the fame
shall be transferred or aliened to any other person.
And be it further enarted etc. That every major
general, brigadier general, colonel, lieutenant colo
nel, major, captain, lieutenant, ensign, chaplain, sur
geon, and surgeon's mate, belonging to the line of the
troops of Pennfyivania, and engaged to serve during
tn. prefect war, shall during their continuance in artu
al fer l ice be furnished with one compleat suit of regi
mental uniform cloaths once in every year, and that
the supreme executive council fh.ll from time to time
purchase nd procure the fame at the charge of this
commonwealth, out of any of the unappropriated mo
nies in the state treasury, the said suit of cloaths to
consist of t^e following articles, viz. 1 hat, 1 coat, 1
waistcoat, 2 pair of breeches, 3 pair of flockings thread
or worked, 3 pair of ihoes, 3 shirts, 3 flocks.
Provided always, that no officer shall be Entitled to
receive more rhm one suit in one year, altho 'he may
hold two offices
'"id whereas the officers and soldiers of the troops
of thi§ state in the army of the United States of Ame
rica, mliited for and during the continuance of the pre-
^ r ' a °° serving in the field, have been greatly
distressed by the excessive advance in the price of di
vers necessaries and accomodations not included in the
ration of provisions furniihed to them by the Publick,
a "° by the difficulty of procuring them at places
dirtant from the placeof manufacture or importation:
And whereas this house did heretofore, by sundry
refolves,-authorize and impower the supreme executive
council of this state to.draw upon the state treasurer
to '' me '° r an y sums of money which they
should.judge necessary to relieve in some measure the
necessities of the officers and soldiers now serving in the
army of the United States, ^nd to appoint commissa
ries to purchase rum, sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate,
tobacco and hard soap, and such other articles as to
the laid council might appear necessary and fuitabie
for the comfort of the said troops, under such regula-
ttons lihd reßrirtions as are let forth arid expressed in
the said resolves: and whereas the council in the
execution of the said resolves did dirert that the distri
bution and issue of the said 'enumerated articles liiould
not exceed the ratio or proportion following, that is
to fay; for eapii ration of provisions to whin each of
ficer and soldier aforefaid ihall be refpedively intitled
by the arts of congress, one pint of rum, h If a pound
of sugar, a quarter 01 a pound of toffee, ofit ounce of
tea, half a pound of chocolate, and one quarter of a
pound of tobacco, once in every week; and the fame
having been lound by experience to be beneficial and
fatisfartory;
Be it enabled by the authority aforefaid, That the
purchase and supply of the faio enumerated articles fhall'
be and are hereby continued for the benefit of the said
officers and soldiers of this state, during their virtual
service in the army of the Ignited States and that the
said articles shall be dihributed and issued to them ill
the proportions above let forth, and at the following
prices, to wit,
Rum or spirits by the gallon sf.
Mufeovado sugar rs. gd. per pounty
Tea at ivf. per pound,
Hard soap at if. 3d. per pound,
Tobacco at gd. per pound :
And that the supreme executive council ill 11 defray
the expence of procuring the said articles, and the dis
tribution thereof from time to time, out of such monies
as are or may be in the state treasury not specially ap
propriated. Provided that if any one or more of the
laid articles cannot be procured, the said officers and
soldiers shall be supplied with so much of some one or
more of the other articles as will be equal in value
thereto. And provided also, that no officer shall be
deemed intitled to a proportion of the said eloathing
or flores for more than one commission, nor any officer
holding or appointed to any rank by brevet, unless
when so appointed and distinguished by the hon. Cbn
grefs for extraordinary merit and so lignified in his
commission; in whica case and the fame being duly
made known to the supreme executive council, such
brevet officer shall be impowered by special order of
council to receive like privileges and benefits as other
officers in the line.
Be it further enarted, etc. That the officers, fecmen
and marines employed in the service of this state, and
who were in artual fervice'on the 13th of March last,
continuing therein till the end of the present war, or
till regularly difehargqd, shall be inthtsd to the al
lowances and benefits herein before granted to the mi
litary officers and soldiers refpertively of the Penrify
vania troops, as to half pay and eloathing, and to like
supply and distribution of the articles above enume
rated, fubjert to the fame limitations and conditions;
the half pay of the said officers of the navy to com
mence it the expir tibn of the present war or their
difeharge.
Be it also enacted by the authority aforefaid, That
the widows of any of trie said officers of the said navy
who now are, or have been in artual service, and have
been killed or died in such service, shall be intitled to
half pay in the fame manner and under the fame limi
tations and conditions as the widows of officers in the
land service herein before mentioned.
And whereas it may often happen that officers both
in the sea and land service may be killed or die therein,
having a child or children, and no wife, or such widow
may re-marry or die, in which case the said children
may become destitute:
Be it therefore enarted, etc. That in such case the
said Orphans court shall, and it is hereby impowered
to, nominate one or more suitable persons to be guar
dians of the said child or children, and to order and
direct the half pay to which the father would have
been intitled to be paid to such Guardian or Guar
dians, for such time and an such manner as to the said
court shall seem meet, so as the fame be not longer
than such child or children refpertively attains the age
of 14 years, and in like manner, in case of the death
or re-marriage of afiy officer's widow having a child
or children to transfer and set over the half pay by
her enjoyed to the use and benefit of such child or
children, not exceeding the term aforefaid,
And be it further enarted, etc. That all theofficers
and soldiers who have been or shall be transferred
from any of the regiments forming the line of this
state, or by a resolve of Congress made part of the quo
ta of this state, and regularly transferred to the Inva.
lid regiment, shall be and they are hereby intitled to
all the benefits, privileges and advantages which are
by this art granted to any officers or soldiers belonging
to this state.
And to prevent any doubts which may hereafter
arise as to the persons intitled to the benefits of this art.
Be it enarted etc. That by the line of Pennsylvania
is meant and to be understood the eleven regiments
of infantry now in actual service, and the regiment of
artillery now commanded by Colonel Thomas Prortor.
Be it also enarted by the authority aforefaid, That
if any difficulty or doubt should arise concerning the
persons intitled to the benefits and advantages granted
by this art, (other than the widows and children afore
faid,) the fame shall be adjusted and finally deter
mined by the supreme executive council of this state.
Lately published and to be fold by JOHN DUNLAP,
in Market-street, Philadelphia,
TREATIES
OF
AMITY and COMMERCE,
AND OF
ALLIANCE
Eventual and Defenfive,
Between His Most Christian MAJESTY and the
Thirteen UNITED STATES of America.