NEW-HAMPSHIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, June 12, 1775,

Met according to adjournment.

And there being but a thin House, adjourned till tomorrow, nine o’clock.

Tuesday, June 13, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The Deputy Secretary came into the House, and informed the House that Colonel Weare had taken the oaths, and was qualified as a Member of this House.

Meshech Weare, Esq., having been chosen Clerk to this House, and now being present, the oath for the faithful discharge of that office was administered to him by the Speaker.

The Committee appointed to consider the matter respecting the admission of the Members called in from the new Towns by virtue of the King’s writ, made report as on file; which being read and considered, and after debate thereon, the question was put, Whether the Members returned for Plymouth, Orford, and Lime, should be admitted to a seat in this House?

It passed clearly in the negative.

Tuesday, June 13, 1775, P. M.

The Committee appointed to prepare an Answer to the Governour’s Speech, laid before the House the following draught of an Answer, viz:

May it please your Excellency:

Our grateful acknowledgments are due to you for your kind assurance given this House in your Excellency’s speech, that you will afford all the facility in your power to every measure that may be conducive to the publick good; and that you will make the happiness and prosperity of this Government the object of your warmest wishes and constant pursuit. Your Excellency may be assured, that we, in our department, will ever consult and steadily pursue such measures as we may judge will be most likely to promote the prosperity of this Province. We desire the Treasurer’s Accounts may be laid before us as soon as may be, which we will immediately proceed to inspect.

It is with the most anxious concern we view the unhappy controversy between Great Britain and her Colonies rapidly advancing to the most serious issue; a matter of such a momentous, interesting nature, cannot fail of engaging our most serious attention, while it fills us with the deepest solicitude and distress. We most ardently wish it in our power to effect, by any measures we could take, the restoration of publick tranquillity, and the re-establishment of the much-desired reconciliation with our Mother Country, upon a just, solid, and permanent basis, that the blessings of the British Constitution might thereby be diffused and enjoyed through every part of this wide and extended Empire. But we are apprehensive the settlement of the present distressing difficulties is an object of such magnitude, and a matter of such general concernment to all the Colonies, as far exceeds our circumscribed power and influence. As a variety of methods have been proposed, and measures pursued, in order to effect this desirable end, all of which have hitherto proved ineffectual, we are entirely at a loss to know what measures we can take that may afford a prospect of success. Was it in our power to settle this most unnatural, unfortunate contest, in a way consistent with the true interest and rights of the whole Nation, our calamities would be but of short duration; and we trust, had it been equally in the power of the Colonies, as it ever was their wish, matters would never have proceeded to such extremity. Intimately connected as we are with the Parent State, by the strongest ties of kindred, religion, laws, and interest, it ever must be our most sincere desire and zealous endeavour to adopt and constantly pursue such measures as may have the most likely tendency to strengthen and perpetuate such connexion, and to promote the general interest and happiness of the whole Empire.

With hearts deeply impressed with the most affectionate attachment to, and concern for, the interest and prosperity of Great Britain, as inseparably connected with our own, we trust that our conduct will invariably manifest the rectitude of our intention, and out sincere aim to restore and establish peace and harmony between Great Britain and her Colonies, and to advance the prosperity of both Countries.

Voted, That the foregoing be presented to his Excellency the Governour, in answer to his Speech at the opening of the present General Assembly.

The Deputy Secretary brought down the following Message from his Excellency, viz:

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Assembly:

When a general spirit of jealousy, alarm, and apprehension, have either banished the sober reason, or blinded the cool judgment of men; when the love of order and respect to the laws, reverence and attachment to the ancient and happy Constitution of this Province, seem wholly to have deserted their seat, and disorder and confusion introduced in their stead; and when the people, as it were, seem to have lost sight of any possible alternative but slavery or civil war, and abandon the hope that there is yet remaining of possibility of reconciliation with the Mother Country, I think it incumbent upon me, in this most alarming and dangerous situation, to recommend to your most serious consideration the Resolution of the House of Commons of the 27th of February last, which hath been approved by His Majesty. There appears in this solemn Resolution so great an affection, tenderness for your liberties, and readiness to be reconciled, upon principles consistent with the just rights and dignity of the Parent State, and the privileges of the Colonies, as precludes the necessity of particular observations upon it; and I cannot but trust that it will meet with the just and grateful return from you that may be naturally expected from the wisdom which the hour of serious reflection will call forth, and from the feelings which calm consideration will produce; and be finally productive of those happy effects for which it lays so fair a foundation. But as this is a subject of a most weighty nature to the good people of this Province, the security of whose lives and properties may rest upon the moment of your decision as their Representatives, I cannot give a greater instance of my duty to His Majesty, and of zeal for the true interest of this Province, than by affording you time for candid consideration, and an opportunity to take the real, and, on this very serious occasion, I hope dispassionate sentiments of your constituents, from whence my most fervent prayers to Heaven are, that a disposition for reconciliation may spring up, whose blossoms being mutual affection and a desire for peace and harmony, we may speedily reap the blessed fruit of happy prosperity to this Province, and perpetual glory to the united British Empire.

I do therefore adjourn the General Assembly, and it is hereby adjourned accordingly, to Tuesday, the 11th day of July next, then to meet at the State-House in Portsmouth, in order to proceed to the consideration of this and the other publick affairs of the Province.

In the mean time I most earnestly recommend it to you, by all means in your power, to discourage and discountenance all acts and measures tending to increase our difficulties, by widening the breach between us and our Mother Country, which unhappily but too much prevail throughout the Province, and to use your best endeavours to cultivate a quiet and peaceable disposition among your constituents.

J. WENTWORTHT.

New-Hampshire Council Chamber, June 13, 1775.

NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY

In Committee of Safety, June.15, 1775.

Captain HENRY ELKINS, Sr:

You are hereby directed to man two whale-boats out of your company, and keep them constantly cruising off and on the coast, and direct them to acquaint all vessels bound to Piscataqua, having Provisions, Salt, or Molasses on board, that the man-of-war there has orders to seize them; and advise them to get into York, Newburyport, Hampton, or Rye, as they may judge expedient.

By order of the Committee.

The Committee gave the Receiver-General orders to deliver to Captain Henry Elkins twenty pounds of Gunpowder, taking his receipt for the same, to be accounted for.