It was also enacted, that the price of labor, charges of innholders, and the prices of such articles of American produce and manufactures as were not stated in the act, should be ascertained by the civil authority and selectmen in the towns, according to the portions in the act prescribed, who were to make lists of such articles, with the prices, and lodge said lists with the town clerks, by the 20th of March, 1778; and no article was to be sold for a higher price than was stated in said list. And it was provided, that whosoever should ask or receive for labor, or any of the articles enumerated in the act, more than at the sate stated, either in bills of credit of this State or of the United States, or by way of barter or exchange, should forfeit for each article contracted for at a sum not exceeding 40 shillings, a penalty of 40 shillings; and if for a greater sum than 40 shillings, a penalty equal to the price received for such labor done or article sold. And if convicted, and unable to pay the penalty, the court were empowered to dispose of such person in service on board any armed vessel of this State, or in any regiment raised for the defence of the State, for a time sufficient to pay the same; and also be incapable of holding any office, civil or military, in the State, or maintaining any suit at law, or taking out any executions.

It was also enacted, that no person in the State should commence any suit in law or equity in any court, after the 20th day of March, 1778, while said act continued in force, until he had taken an oath, that neither himself or his agents, had received, or contracted to receive for any labor or articles sold in this State, after the 20th of March aforesaid, more than at the rates or prices fixed by law; and a certificate thereof endorsed on the writ, without which said writ should abate. Provided, if any person had been guilty of a breach of said act, (and not prosecuted,) he should go before authority, under oath, and render an account of all labor done, or articles sold over the stated price, and pay double of such surplus to said authority. Proof of probable guilt was made sufficient evidence to convict, unless the criminal should make oath that he was not guilty of the facts charged against him. It was also provided, that property impressed for the army should be paid for at the aforesaid prices.

The Legislature were informed that many selfish and evil minded tories con. tinued clandestinely to trade with the enemy, endangering the liberties and safety of the States; to prevent which, it was provided by said Assembly, that no person should at any time, pass from any town in Connecticut to Long Island, or any other island or place in possession of the British, without a license in writing, under the hands of the selectmen of the town, and one assistant or justice of the peace, on penalty of £100 lawful money; and if the offender should be unable, or refuse to pay the fine, said court were directed to bind over said convict, to serve in any military company raised for the defence of the State, or on board of any ship of war of the United States, without bounty or wages, or confined in gaol, at the court's discretion, not exceeding one year.

It was farther provided, that no such license should be given until the appli. cant had given bond, with surety, to the State Treasurer, in the penal sum of £400, with conditions that he should not carry with him any moneys, wares, goods, or merchandise, to carry on any trade with the enemy, or any other person, on any of the islands or places within the enemy's lines or possession; or buy any such wares, goods, &c., at or on any of said islands or places, or import the same into this State or the United States, during the war.

It was also provided, that when any wares, goods, &c., should be found in this State, imported from Long Island, or any other of said islands and places; such goods, &c., should be the property of the finder of said property, and be seized by warrant, at the expense of such finder, &c., and be proceeded against as provided in case of captures taken from the enemy on the sea; and if taken on the sound, within the enemy's lines, or coming from any of the said islands, contrary to this law, they were made lawful prizes to the captors, and subject to be libelled. And the selectmen of the towns in this State, with the advice of one assistant or justice of the peace, were authorized to seize and secure any vessel, boat, skiff, or other water craft they should have reason to suspect was intended for carrying on any of the evil practices forbidden by the law; which act was not intended to extend to prevent any friendly refugee from the islands aforesaid, resident in this State, from bringing his effects left on said islands, or the produce of his farm, having first procured a license therefor.

Congress, on the 22d of November, 1777, recommended to this State, to raise during the year 1778, by taxes, for the use of the United States, for the sup. plies of the war, the sum of $600,000, though not to be considered as the proportion of this State; but when paid, to be placed to the credit of the State, at 6 per cent. interest, from the time of its payment, until the respective quota should be finally adjusted by Congress, agreeable to the confederation to be adopted and ratified by the States; all which was approved by the Assembly. And to carry the same into effect, said Assembly laid a tax of 1 shilling on the pound, on the list of polls and rateable estates given in 1777, to be paid into the treasury by the 1st of June, 1778. And a further tax of 1 shilling on the pound on said list, and paid into the treasury by the 1st of November, 1778. Provided for the relief of the indigent, who should be unable to pay their proportion, that the authority and selectmen were directed to abate the whole or part of the taxes of such indigent persons who should most need such abatements, to the amount of one.twentieth part of such town's quota of said taxes. The Assem. bly directed the State Treasurer to pay to the order of Congress, $600,000 of the money that should be brought into the treasury by said taxes, and debit the same in the account of the United States.

It was enacted by the Assembly, that no bills of credit, emitted by order of said Assembly, except bills under the value of one dollar, should be current in any payment, trade, or dealing in this State, after the 20th day of March, 1778, except in the State treasury, or in payment of public taxes, or received into the treasury after the 1st day of July, 1778, except from persons in the army, or absent from the State, in which cases they were receivable until the 1st day of November, 1778. It was also provided, that the possessors of said bills, on delivering them into the treasury within the time limited aforesaid, should receive the Treasurer's promissory notes, or bills emitted on the credit of the United States, in exchange therefor. And the Treasurer was authorized to * issue such notes, payable in one year after date, at 6 per cent. interest, of like form and tenor of those issued in May, 1777; the amount of which notes were ordered, by said Assembly, not to exceed the sum of £235,000, and none of them for a less sum than £10.

Representation was made to the Assembly, that several persons in the State, under the law where any two men were allowed to hire a recruit, during the war, or for three years, and be exempt from detachments, &c., had in a

fraudulent manner, presumed to procure to enlist prisoners of war, who belonged to the British fleet or army, and stationed in this State; to prevent which it was enacted, that no person should be so exempted on account of any soldier or recruit thereafter procured to enlist, until he should procure a duplicate written certificate, under the hand of a recruiting officer, specifying the name, and place of abode of the recruit, so to enlist, the time of his enlistment, &c., nor until such certificate should be delivered to the commanding officer of the military company to which such exempted person belonged, nor in any case where such recruit should appear to have been, at the time of his enlistment, a prisoner of war, or belonging to the British army or navy.

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, proposed by Congress, to be entered into by the thirteen United States of America, was laid before the Assembly, by the Governor, read and considered. It was resolved, as the opinion of said Assembly, that said articles, in general, appeared to be well adapted to cement and preserve the union of said States, to secure their freedom and independence, and promote their general welfare; but that with some amendments they might be rendered more perfect, equitable, and satisfactory. And the delegates of this State were, by said resolution, instructed to propose to the consideration of Congress, the following amendments, viz.: 1st. That in the 8th article, as a rule for determining each State's proportion of the com. mon expense, instead of the value of the lands, buildings, &c., as expressed in said article, be inserted, the number of inhabitants in each State; this being in the opinion of this Assembly, a more certain, equitable, and peaceable rule than the other. Traders and manufacturers who employ and support great numbers of inhabitants, being sources of wealth to a State, as well as the produce of lands; besides it being very difficult, if not impossible to obtain such an esti. mate of the value of the lands and buildings in the United States, as would do justice or give satisfaction to the several States. 2d. That next after the 5th paragraph, in the 9th article, be inserted the following clause, viz.: Provided that no land army shall be kept up by the United States, in time of peace, nor any officers or prisoners kept in pay by them, who are not in actual service, except such as are or may be rendered unable to support themselves, by wounds received in battle in the service of said States, agreeable to the provision already made by a resolution of Congress. The said amendinents were approved of in substance, and the form left to Congress to adopt. And as other amend ments might be proposed by other States, and as it was highly necessary and expedient for the welfare and security of the States that the articles of confede. ration should be finally concluded and ratified as soon as possible; it was resolved, that the delegates of this State, who should be present in Congress, should be and were fully authorized and empowered, in behalf of Connecticut, to agree to, and ratify the said articles of confederation, with such amendments, if any should be, as by them, in conujnction with the delegates of the other States in Congress, should be thought proper.

It was enacted to raise two brigades in Connecticut, by voluntary enlistment; six battalions to be held in constant readiness, to march on the shortest notice, upon any tour of duty wherever the militia were liable to be called. Each bat. talion to consist of eight companies, and each company of 90 men, including officers; each field officer to command a company; each company (except the field officers) to be commanded by 1 captain, and each company to have 2

lieutenants and 1 ensign, 4 sargeants, 4 corporals, 1 drummer, and 1 fifer; each battalion to be commanded by 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant colonel, and 1 major. The field officers of each battalion to nominate the commissioned officers and staff of their battalion, out of such as had borne like commissions; and to be appointed to each battalion, 1 adjutant, 1 quarter master, 1 surgeon, 1 sargeant major, and quarter master sargcant; and the whole formed into two brigades, each under a brigadier general, appointed by the Assembly. The non-commis. sioned officers and soldiers, who should enlist into said battalions, and furnish themselves with a gun and bayonet, cartouch box, blanket, and knapsack, should receive therefor a premium of 10 shillings for a gun and bayonet, 2 shillings for a cartouch box, 16 shillings for a blanket, and 2 shillings for a knapsack. The brigadier general to appoint a brigade major in each brigade'; and each able bodied recruit entitled to a bounty of £3: 10, exclusive of previous allowance, and 20 shillings per callendar month during his continuance in said service when not on duty; and all commissioned, non-commissioned, and staff officers to have half pay, when not on duty; and when calied out on duty, to have the same wages, pay, and rations as the continental troops raised in the State were entitled; and if called and while in service out of the State, to the same refreshments as continental troops, and their polls exempt from taxes during their continuance in said battalions; said battalions to be kept up until the 1st day of March, 1779, unless sooner discharged. Each company to be called out for exercise once in 15 days, and the battalions called out for exercise three times in a year, with the same wages and rations when called out as aforesaid, in actual service; that said battalions should not be continued in service, at any one time, longer than three months from the time they should arrive at the place of their destination; said battalions to be under the articles of war, formed by this State, when called into service; to be furnished with cartridges by the captain of each company, as occasion might require; each regiment to havo one ammunition wagon ever ready for use, and each company, a baggage cart or wagon, tents, camp equipage, &c.; the captain made accountable for the tents to the towns, and for baggage carts and camp equipage of his company to be liable to the Treasurer of the State. Also to raise two companies of artillery, of 50 men in each company, including officers, to be raised one company out of each brigade, with the same pay, wages, &c., as other matross companies, the same premium, under the same regulations, as to pay, and tours of duty, as the said battalions. Each company to have 1 captain lieutenant, 1 lieutenant, I lieutenant fire worker, 4 sargeants, 4 corporals, 1 drummer, and 1 fifer; each company to have 4 fieid pieces, 1 ammunition wagon, and horses to draw them, to belong one company to each brigade aforesaid. Said battalions to be subject to the orders of the Assembly, the Governor, and other superior officers. Provided that if said battalions should not be filled up within a reasonable time, the Governor and Council of Safety were empowered to discharge so many of the commissioned officers as should be supernumerary, in proportion to the privates, under the rule adopted by Congress, and allow their wages until so discharged. A resolution passed, allowing bills of credit of the United States to be received by the Treasurer of the State, in filling the loan ordered, for calling in and sinking the bills of credit of the State, and to exchange the same for bills of Connecticut.

The committee of pay table were ordered to settle the accounts of the soldiers made prisoners on Long Island, fort Washington, and places adjacent, while in service of the United States, and who returned home between the 1st of Novem. ber, 1776, and the 1st day of February, 1777, who were sick with the small pox, or other disorders soon after their return, by disease which originated in service or in prison, with expense of sickness.

At the January session, 1778, sundry companies of artillery were ordered to be raised for the garrisons at New London, Groton, &c., to defend the sea coast, and having found such companies could not be raised according to the plan then adopted; the Assembly ordered, that the company of 50 men ordered for Groton and Stonington, should be stationed at Groton, with the same number of non-commissioned officers as were stationed there in 1777; and that an addi. tional number of 20 men, including 1 sargeant and 1 corporal, commanded by 1 lieutenant, should be raised for the fort at Stonington, under the same rules, &c., as those ordered raised in January aforesaid; with a bounty of £4 to each non.commissioned officer and private who should enlist, and be furnished, as provided in January aforesaid; and some proper person appointed to command at the forts at New London, Groton, and Stonington, with the rank and pay of major, to superintend the works, give orders about military stores and tools in said fortifications, and to continue in service until January, 1779. The Gover. nor and Council of Safety to appoint said officers, and carry said resolution into full effect.

Col. Joseph Thomson, of the 2d regiment of militia, was directed immediately to order a guard of 20 men for the defence of New Haven, to be drafted from the companies in said regiment, to be under 1 lieutenant, 1 sargeant, and 1 corporal, under the direction of Col. Thomson; and Jonathan Fitch, Esq., com. missary, was directed to supply them with provisions, to be continued in service until the 1st of April, 1778, unless sooner discharged.

Joseph Spencer, Esq., was appointed a member of the Council of Safety, until the rising of said Assembly, in May, (then) next, in the place of Titus Hosmer, resigned.

Maj. Thomson, commanding officer of a continental battalion, stationed at Farmington, and under marching orders, to proceed to the Saw Pitts, in the State of New York, informed the Governor, that said battalion was destitute of money, and many articles of clothing necessary for their march; and suggested the difficulties of marching without a sum of money, and the necessary articles of clothing from the State. The Assembly finding that said battalion had but recently received an ample supply of clothing, except stockings, shoes, and shirts; and that the men would probably soon receive their pay, or so much as would be necessary to procure said articles, and assist them on their march; the Governor was therefore requested to write to the commanding officer of said battalion, upon the subject, informing him that he expects him to march said battalion to the place of destination, according to his order, as soon as the circumstances of said battalion would allow, and to excite him to surmount every obstacle that might hinder the necessary service required. And the Governor and Council of Safety were authorized (if necessary) to afford such aid as they might judge expedient, to expedite the march, and charge the expenses to the United States.