442 Journal and Correspondence

C.S.C.

that the readiness of the Inhabitants of these States, to enter
into the service for limited times, in defence of their invaluable
privileges on all former occasions gives good ground to hope,
the same zeal for the Public Good will appear in future, when
necessity calls for their assistance, and the uncertain length of
time which Forces raised during the continuance of the War,
may be compelled to serve, may prevent many from enlisting,
who would otherwise readily manifest their attachment to the
common cause, by engageing for a limited time. Therefore,
Resolved, That all non Commissioned officers, and soldiers
who do not incline to engage their service dureing the con-
tinuance of the present war, and shall enlist to serve three
years, unless sooner discharged by Congress, shall be entitled
to and receive, all such Bounty and Pay as are allowed to
those, who enlist during the continuance of the present war,
except the one hundred acres of land, which land is to be
granted to those only who enlist without Limitation of time,
and each recruiting officer is required to provide two distinct
enlisting Rolls, one for such to sign who enlist during the con-
tinuance of the war, and the other for such as enlist for three
years, if their service shall be so long required.
By order of Congress
(Copy) John Hancock President.

Original.

[B. Rumsey to Jenifer.]

Philadelphia, 13^th Nov^r 1776.
Sir.
Congress have this day given an answer to the Resolutions
of our State, which being an entire new one, we have dis-
patched to the proper place to be considered. They resolve
that the Troops may be enlisted for three years, and a Bounty
of twenty Dollars only be given, or during the war, and one
Hundred acres of land be added to the Bounty, they will not
specify where the land lies belonging to the United States.
Our instructions run that they are to be inlisted during the
war, of course when our State accedes to it we can proceed.
Congress has got rid of the difficulty with Respect to the
Land and has not closed in with either of the propositions
made by our State, nor receded intirely from their own Reso-
lution.
But if they have escaped they embarrass us. What can we
do with our Regulars? they are enlisted during the war;
Must we inlist them again in the service of the States for
three years? I imagine our State will not incline to do so if
they do we ought to have Instructions on that Head.
King brought only one of the Bundles of Commissions up,