172 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

or have not enrolled in the militia, so far as such arms will extend
and the deficiency shall be made up by borrowing the firelocks of
such of the militia as will lend on the public faith, which is hereby
pledged to return the same in the like order as received, or in case
of loss, the value thereof. And all firelocks so lent, shall be valu-
ed by to freeholders, and a certificate given to the owner by the
officers who enrolled the men supplied therewith, of the recept
and value of the same arms.

That all arms so furnished by the council of safety, or committee
of observation, or lent as aforesaid, as well as the tents, cartouch
boxes, kettles and pots, shall be carefully preserved and returned,
and if any shall not be returned from gross negligence, the cap-
tain of the company where such negligence shall be suffered, shall
be answerable to the public for the loss, and the immediate delin-
quent to the captain.

That the council of safety in the recess of convention direct the
formation of the companies in battalions, and appoint what com-
panies shall compose such battalions.

That for ascertaing the rank of the captains, lieutenants and en-
signs of the said companies, commissions shall issue by the con-
vention or council of safety, and be dated of the day such captain,
lieutenant, or ensign shall have enrolled the number of men ex-
pressed in his warrant; and rank as between officers of equal de-
gree, shall take place according to such date; but where there shall
be enrollments completed on the same day by officers of the same
degree, the rank shall be settled by ballot between such officers,
and the commissions marked accordingly.

That on the issuing of the warrants or granting commissions as
aforesaid, there be paid by the treasurer of the shore where such
person resides, on producing an order from the council of safety,
the sum of £69 15 0 to each captain, £46 10 0 to each lieutenant,
and £ 37 5 0 to every ensign, out of the bills of credit, to be ad-
vanced to the non-commissioned officers and privates in part of
their wages, at the discretion of the officer, who shall be answerable
for, and accountable to this province for the money advanced as
aforesaid.

That as some of the militia may be under contracts to perform
particular services by the year, month, or other time, any such who
shall enroll as aforesaid, shall be entitled to their wages for the time
they shall have continued in the service of their employer in con-
sequence of such contract, in proportion to the time they shall have
served.

That the several companies shall be mustered and passed by