Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-03-25 00:00:00, page 2

Counties refpedively, to meet together as soon as may
be, and cast lots for rank of their battalions ; and the
rank of the officers in each battalion (hill be determined
by the lot drawn by their refpedive Colonels; and the
Captains so elected in the sub divisions, (hall meet and
cast lots for their rank in the battalion to which they
belong; and the rank of the subaltern officers of each
company (hall be determimed by the lot drawn by their
refpedive Captains ; and the said Lieutenants (hall,
within ten days, or as soon as may be, having regard to
their local fixation, transmit proper certificates to the
President of the Supreme Executive Council, of the
names of the persons so as aforefaid elefled, and their
rank, both of battalion, and companies in the feverai
battalions, in order that commiffioris may forthwith be
granted to them agreeable to the said certificates. And
no Militia officer (hall be required to take and subscribe
any oath or affirmation, at this time, to qualify him to
4 receive a commission to aft in the character to wliich lie
(hall be elected.
[ To be continued. ]
re CHANGE of government in the State of
Pennsylvania having taken place, the powers of
the feverai officers under the late government have
thereby ceased and become void, it therefore becomes
necessary for the security and well being of this Com
mon-Wealth, that an office of record for the probate
of wills and granting let ers of administration, com
monly caked " The Register's Office," and an office
of record for recording of deeds, should be at all times
kept in each city and county, as the prelent Conffitu
tion directs, Be it therefore enarted by the Reprefeota
tives of the Freemen of the Common Wealth of Penn
sylvania in General Affem^y met, and by the authority
of the fame, That Samuel Morris, Elq; be, and he is
hereby conflicted and appointed Register for the pro
bate of wills, and granting letters of administration for
the city and county of Philadelphia; and that John
Morris, the younger, Esq; be, and he is hereby ccn
ftituted and appointed Recorder of Deeds for the said
city and county of Philadelphia; and that the follow
ing persons be, and they are hereby constituted and
appointed Registers forthe probate of wills and granting
letters of administration, arid Recorders of deeds for
the feverai counties following refpedvely, that is to
fay, Jafeph Hart, Esq; for the county of Bucks; Tho
mas Taylor, E<q; for the county of Chester; Peter
Hooffnagie, Esq; for the county of Lancaster; Archi
bald M'Clean, Esq; for the county o f York; John
Creig, Esq; for the county of Cumberland; Henry
Christ, Esq; for the caynty of Berks; John Orndt,
Bq; for the county of Northampton; Robert Gal
breath, Esq; for the county of Bedford; John Simp
lon, Esq; for the county of Northumberland, arid
James Kiukcad, Esq; for rhe county of Weftmoreland;
every of which said officers is to be commiffiohed as
the C^nftitutEn of this State dire&s.
/rudbe it farther enacted by the authority aforefaid,
That the persons herein and hereby appointed to the
offices af^rebid, before they enter on the duties of
their refp^ive offices, shall feudally take the oath or
affirmation, agreeable to the laid C^nftitutibn, and
give b >nd to the 8 eaker of the House of Assembly for
the time being, with one or mere Sufficient furefcs, in
the following kns reflexively, that is to fay the
Register fir the city and county of Philadelphia, in the
firm of one thousand pounds; the Recorder of Deeds
for rhe said city and c.unty of Philadelphia in the sum
oftifeen hundred pounds; the Remitter and Recorder
of Deeds for the county of Bucks in the sum of one
thousand pounds; the Register and Recorder of Deeds
for the county of Chester, in the sum of fifteen hun
dred p mods ; the Register and Recorder of Deeds for
the county of LancaAer, in the sum of fifteen hundred
pounds; the Register and Recorder of Deeds for the
county of \ ork, in the sum of twelve hundred pounds;
the Register and Recorder or Deeds for the county of
Cumberland, in the sum of twelve hundred pounds ;
the Register and Recorder of Deeds for the county of
Berks, in the sum of one thousand pounds; rhe Re
gifter and Recorder of Deeds for the county of Nor
thampton, in the sum of one thousand pounds ; the
Register and Recorder of Deeds for the county of Bed
ford, in the sum of fix hundred pounds; the Register
and Recorder of Deeds for the county of Northumber
land, in the sum of fix hundred pounds; and the Re
gister and Recorder of Deeds for the county of Weft
moreland, in the sum of fix hundred pounds; which
Ld bonds shall Severally be conditioned for the true
and faithful execution of their feverai and refpeßive
offices, and for delivering up the records and other
writings belonging to the said refpt&ive offices, whole,
fife, and undel.ced, to their successors in the said
offices.
And be it farther enabled by the authority aforefaid,
that the feverai and refpedive officers appointed by
this Ad, shall have, life, and exercise all the powers,
and be fubjed to, and governed by the laws of this
State in all things concerning their said offices respec
tively ; and may take and receive the fame fees as by
the said laws the late Registers and Recorders of Deeds
ought or might have received and taken.
And be it farther enarted by the authority aforefaid,
That each and every of the Registers and Recorders
An ACT for eflabtifhing in the city of Philadelphia,
and in each county in this State, an office for the pro
bate and regfering of mills, and granting letters of
administration, and an office for the recording of
deeds.
of Deeds herein appointed, aid their heirs, executors,
and administrators, and every of them, are hereby re
quired and enjoined to deliver up to the person who
shall be appointed to succeed them io the said offices
lefpedively, all the records and other writings, and
also the feais belonging to the feverai offices aforefaid,
whole, fafe, and undefaced, under the penalty of three
thousand pounds, to be recovered as other fines, and
directed to be recovered within this State.
And be it farther enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That every Register for the probate of wills and grant
ing letters of administration, by this Aft appointed, or
that may be hereafter appointed, may and (hall keep a
deputy to officiate in bis absence, for whole conduct
the Register that shall so appoint him (hall be account
able; and every such deputy is hereby declared to be
able and capable in law to take probate of wills, and
grant letters of administration as aforefaid, and to do
whatever else, by the laws us this State, appertains to
the said office. And if any Register or Recorder of
Deeds, by this Ad appointed, shall resign his office,
remove out of the county, die, or otherwise becomein
capable of executing both or either of the said offices, as
directed by the laws aforefaid, then, in either of the said
cases, the President and Council for the time being (hall,
as soon as may be, appoint and commiflionate another
person to be Register and Recorder in the Head of such
Register and Recorder as shall so resign, remove, die,
or otherwise become incapable as aforefaid; and every
person so appointed and commissioned as aforefaid, shall
be deemed aed taken to be the proper Register and Re
corder for the county for which he shall be so appoint
ed and commifiioned, until farther order be taken in
the premises, by the General Assembly of this State.
Provided always, and be it farther enarted by the au
thority aforefaid, That the Officers by, this Ad appoint
ed, and called Registers, ia each county rcfpe&ively,
shall not be accountable to any other Register as their
superior, and that so much of the laws of this State,
as relate to rhe Pegifter General's office, which by this
AA is altered and supp fed, is hereby declared to be
repealed, and made null and void. And in as much as
the detention of the books, records, and other papers,
and feais in the office of Register, and in the office of
Recorder of Deeds, may be very injurious to many of
the inhabitants, Be it therefore enafted by the authority
aforefiid, That if any or either of the officers, that
have last held and kept the said office or offices, shall
refufe to deliver up the said books, records, and other
papers, apd feais of office, fafe and in good order to
the person by this AX for each county refpe&ively ap
pointed, and complaint shall be thereof made to any
one Justice of the county, where such refufal shall be
made, such Justice shall issue his warrant, in the na
ture of a capias, causing such officer to be brought be
fore him ; and if the complaint (hall be supported with
good evidence, the said Justice shall commit the said
Register or Recorder to the common goal of the coun
ty, there to remain, without bail or main prize, ar ril
the said books, records, aad other papers, and the
said seals of office, shall be delivered up as afore
faid.
And be it farther enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That if any of thd officers named in this A& shall
neg^ea or refufe to take the oaths or affirmations pre
scribed by the Constitution of this State, and otherwise
qualify him/elf as is bythis a& directed, for the space
of ten days after he shall be informed of bis ap'point
merfi, if on the east fide of the river Sufquehannah,
and within thirty day# if on the weft fide of said river,
rhe President in Council shall appoint, and commiffion
ate iome fit person to be the officer in his stead.
JOHN JACOBS, Speaker.
Passed March 14th, 1777.
HOU SE of LO R D S.
<^7HE N his Majesty had retired after delivering
VV his speech to both Houses of Parliament, the
Earl of Carlifle moved that an Address be presented to
his Majesty, thanking him for his paternal regard of
his people; congratulating him on his success in Ame
rica, and assuring him of future support, &c. In this
he was seconded by Lord Falkland. On which the Mar
quis of Rockingham proposed the following amendment
to the Address, viz. He proposed leaving out the whole
Address from the word “ That" in the beginning, and
in the place of the Address now offered to substitute,
“ To assure his Majesty that, animated with the meft
earnest and sincere zeal for the true interest and real
glory of his reign, we behold with inexprefbie concern
the minds of a very large and lately loyal and affection
ate part of his people, entirely alienated from his go
vernment; nor can we conceive, that such an event as
the disaffection and revolt of a whole peop'e could'have
taken place without some considerable error in the con
duct observed towards them. The erroneous measures,
we conceive, are to be imputed to a want of fufficient
information being laid before Parliament, and to too
large a degree of confidence being reposed in those Mi
nisters, who from their duty were obliged, and from
their official situations were best enabled, to know the
temper and disposition of his Majesty's American fub
jeCts, and were therefore presumed molt capable of
pointing out such measures as might produce the molt
salutary effects. Hence the schemes which were form
ed for the reduction and chaftifanent of & supposed in
L O N D O N, November 5.
considerable party of factious men, have driven thirteen
large provinces to despair. Every aft which has bees
proposed as a means of procuring peace and submission,
has become a new cause of war and revolt ; and we
new find ourselves almost inextricably involved in a
bloody and expensive civil war, which, besides ex
haofting at present the strength of all his Majesty's do
minions, exposing our alites to the designs of their and
our enemies, and leaving this kingdom in a meft peril
ous situation, threatens in its issue the most deplorable
Calamities to the whole British race.
" We cannot avoid lamenting, that in consequence
of the credit given to the representations of Ministers,
no hearing has been g ; ven to the reiterated complaints
and petitions of the Colonies ; neither has any ground
been laid for removing the original caule of those un
happy differences, which took their rife from questions
relative to parliamentary proceedings, and which only
tan be . fettled by parliamentary authority. By that fa
tal omission, the Commissioners nominated for the appa
rent purpose of making peace, were furnifhed with no
legal powers, but that of giving or witholding pardons
at their pleasure; and for relaxing the fefrerities of a
fing'e ad of Parliament, leaving the whole foundation
of this unhappy controversy, just as it flood in the be
ginning.
" To represent to his Majesty, that in addition to
this neglect in the beginning of the last session, his Ma
jesty in his gracious Speech to both Houses of Parlia
ment declared his reflation of fending out Commission
ers, for the purpose therein expressed, " as speedily as
^offible," no such Commissioners were sent till near se
ven months afterwards, and until the nation was alarm
ed by the evacuation of the only town then held for his
Majesty in the Thirteen United Colonies. By this de
lay, afis ofthe most critical nature, the effects of which
must as much depend on the power of immediately re
laxing them on submission, as in enforcing them on
disobedience, had only an operation to inflame and ex
afeerate. But if any colony, town or place, had been
induced to submit by the operation of the terrors of
these ads, there were none on the place of power to
refore the people, so Submitting, to the common rights
of subj ^ion b Theiohabitants of the Colonies, apprized
that they were put out /of the protection of Govern
ment, and feeing no means provided for their entering
into it, were furnifhed with reasons but too colourable,
for breaking off their dependency on the Crown of this
kingdom. To assure his Majesty, that removing our
confidence from those who, in so many ioßances, have
grofsiy abused it, we shall endeavour to restore to Par
liament the confidence of all his people.
; " To this end it may be advifeable to make a more
minute enquiry into the grievances ofthe Colonies, as
well as into the condurt of Ministers. With regard 10
them, we may think it proper particularly to enquire
how it has happened that the commerce of this king
dom has been left exposed to the reprisals of the Colo
nies, at the very time when their seamen and fifhermen
being indiferiminately prohibited from the peaceable
exercise of their occupations, and declared open ene
mies, must be exported, with a certain assurance, to be
take themselves to plunder, and to wreak their revenge
on the commerce of Great Britain.
^ That we understand, that amidst the many difaGers
and disgraces which have attended his Majesty's arms
in many parts of America, an.advantage has been gain
ed by his Majesty's British and foreign mercenary forces
in the province of New-York; that if a wife, moderate
and provident use be made of this advantage, it is not
improbab'e, that happy effects may result from that use;
and we assure his Majesty that nothing shall be want
ing on our part, to enable his Majesty to take fall ad
vantage of any disposition to reconciliation, which may
be the consequence of the miseries of war, by laying
down oo our part real permanent grounds of connexi
on between Great Britain and the Colonies, on princi
ples of liberty, and terms of mutual advantage.
“ That whilst we lament the effufion of Englifo blood
(which we hope has not been greater or other than ne
ceffty required or honour juftified) we fhould'humbly
congratulate his Majesty on any event leading to the
great desirable end of fettling a peace which might pro
mise to last, by the restitution of the antient affection
which has happily subsisted in former times, between
this kingdom and its Colonies. Any other would ne
ceflarily require, even in case of a total conquest, aa
army to maintain, ruinous to the finances, and incom
patible with the freedom of his Majesty's people. We
should look with the utmost (home and horror on any
event of what nature soever, that should tend to break,
thefpirit of any part of the British nation, to bow them
to an abjert unconditional submission to anyp^wer what
soever; to annihilate their liberties, and tofubdue them
to servile principles and pafive habits, by the mere force
of foreign mercenary arms; because, amidst the ex
cesses and abuses which have happened, we mus refpert
the Ipirit and principles operating in those commotions.
Our wish is to regulate not to destroy them, for the dif
fering in some circutnftances; those very principles evi
dently bear so exa& an analogy with those which sup
port the mos valuable part of our conflitution, that it
is impoflible, with any appearance of justice, to think of
wholly extirpating them by the jword in any part of his
Majesty's dominions, without admitting consequences
and establishing precedents, the most dangerous to the
liberties of this kirgdem."