to be justly appraised, with all her furniture and tackle proper to be retained and used as an armed vessel, and make a proper inventory thereof. And the said Committee are further directed and empowered to furnish, procure and provide all necessary additional sails, rigging and furniture, and also all proper and necessary ship stores and provisions; and furnish from the Colony stores, as far as may be necessary, cannon, swivels, small-arms, pistols, shot, powder, &c., taking further needful directions from time to time from his Honour the Governour and said Committee. And the Committee of the Pay-Table are hereby directed to draw on the Treasurer of this Colony in favour of said Committee for such sums of money as they shall find necessary to enable them to accomplish the service aforesaid, and they to render their accounts of their disposition and disbursements thereof to the General Assembly, or to the Governour and said Committee, at the same time, &c.

The Governour and Council having concluded to take up and employ the Brig Minerva, belonging to Captain Griswold, for an Armed Vessel, &c., according to Act of Assembly, &c., do appoint Captain Giles Hall to be Captain and commander of said Brig, and he to be allowed £7 per month; Thomas Horsey, of Derby, lobe First Lieutenant, his wages £5 per month; James Hopkins, Second Lieutenant, £4; Master, £4; Mate, £3; Gunner, £3; Gunner’s Mate, £2 8s.; Boatswain, £3; Boatswain’s Mate, £2 8s., each; Timothy Larabet to be Steward, wages £3; Sylvanus Backus to be Cook, wages £3. To be one Carpenter at 60s. per month, and one Pilot. And that the said Vessel be manned with forty seamen and forty soldiers or marines, exclusive of officers; to have and he allowed, viz: the Seamen £2 5s. per month, and the Marines not exceeding £2 per month. And Captain Hall is hereby instructed and directed forthwith to raise said forty seamen, and forty marines or soldiers, by voluntary enlistments, and to encourage and engage forty-five Shillings per month to the seamen, and not exceeding forty Shillings per month to the soldiers or marines, during their continuance in said service, and to have one month’s pay advanced before they enter into and proceed on any cruise in said service. And said Captain Giles Hall is hereby appointed Paymaster of said seamen and marines, or vessel’s crew, and is authorized to draw money out of the Colony Treasury for that purpose, in manner as the Land Officers are enabled to do, giving sufficient bond with surety as by law provided for the Paymasters of the Troops in the land service. And his Honour the Governour is hereby desired to give proper commissions and warrants to the necessary officers on board said vessel.

At the same time passed the following Instructions to Titus Hosmer, Esq., Ezekiel Williams, Esq. and Captain Giles Hall, a Committee, &c.:

GENTLEMEN: The Governour and Committee of Safety, by a Sub-Committee, have agreed with Captain Griswold, owner of the Brig Minerva, to charter said Brig for the use of the Colony, as an armed vessel, at the rate of four shillings per month L. M. per ton, with condition, that if we should charter any other vessel at the same rate, for which we must furnish more sails or rigging than will be necessary for his, the interest of the expense of furnishing the other with sails, &c., more than will he requisite for said Brig, is to be allowed to said Griswold, in addition to said four Shillings. That said Brig be appraised by indifferent good judges, with all the requisite tackle and furniture, at our receiving her, and an inventory thereof be taken; and that whatever betterments shall be made to or on said Brig by the Colony shall be received by the owner on her return, if we choose it, and an allowance be made by him for the full value of such betterments, so far as the vessel is rendered more valuable or useful to him; and if any special damage is done to said Brig, beyond the necessary decay and wear by time, the same to be allowed the owner in addition to the charter party. The Colony to risk the vessel.

Said Committee to observe the above agreement.

And Said Committee are further instructed to employ said Captain Griswold to do any service in and about the necessary additional rigging and furnishing said Brig, which can be properly done by him, at a reasonable prince beyond what may be best done by Captain Hall and his men.

Said Committee are further instructed and desired to inquire and look out and recommend to us proper persons for the following officers, viz: Master and Mate, Gunner and Gunner’s Mate, Boatswain and Boatswain’s Mate, and Carpenter.

Copy of the three foregoing given, &c.

The Committee of New-London, &c., having requested that some Soldiers may be stationed there, on the Men-of-War appearing off there, &c.,

It is Voted and Ordered, That two Companies, viz:

Major Lattimer’s and Captain Shipman’s, be stationed there for the present, for their defence, &c.; and the Governour desired to give orders accordingly.

Also, Voted and Ordered, That four of the six-pound Cannon with the Carriages now at New-London, be delivered to Colonel Jabez Huntington, or order, of Norwich, for their defence, &c.

Order given accordingly.

Adjourned to Monday next at 9 o’clock in the morning.

Monday, August 7, 1775.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety Present:

His Honour the Governour, Jabez Huntington, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esquires.

A number of Letters received by the Governour, and answers, read, &c.

Mr. Huntington, one of the Committee appointed at the last meeting, reported, that they had not yet found a very proper and suitable small Vessel to be fitted out as a Runner and Cutter, &c. After much discourse about the matter of arming the same, &c., he, with the other Committee, directed to make further inquiry, &c., and report.

Captain Niles, appointed at the last meeting to be Captain of said small Vessel, was present, and accepted to take the command of her, &c.

The news of three or four Men-of-War and eight or ten other Ships appearing off New-London, yesterday morning, being brought by express the same day, we are now further informed by Col. Huntington, &c., that they are bearing to Fisher’s Island, supposed with a design to take the stock, &c.

This Committee having reason to apprehend hostile attacks on our sea-coasts, from said Ships, and others which will probably be sent to distress us, &c., it is by the Governour and this Council judged of much importance for all, especially those at and near the sea-coasts, to be in the best posture of defence; and this Council do therefore advise and desire his Honour the Governour to direct and order the Colonels or chief officers of the 3d, 8th, 20th, 7th, and 2d Regiments of Militia, forthwith to draw off and enrol one-fourth part of their respective Regiments, and see that the same be completely equipped with fire-arms, powder and ball, formed into cartridges, suitable for their pieces, and every necessary implement. The powder and ball, if need be, to be supplied out of the several Town stocks; each man’s cartridges to be numbered and marked, and deposited with the Captain or other commissioned officers of the respective Companies, ready to be delivered on any emergency. And said fourth part to hold themselves in readiness as Minute-Men, to march at the shortest notice, to any place attacked or in danger of being attacked, by-sea or land, and the same to succour and defend, &c. And the Field-Officers, with the advice of the Captains within said Regiments, be further directed and empowered to nominate and appoint suitable Officers to lead, conduct and order them in their march and operations.

Having at the last meeting ordered Major Lattimer’s and Captain Shipman’s Companies, of Col. Webb’s Regiment, to New-London, &c., &c., do now order one other Captain with his Company, of said Col. Webb’s Regiment, at his discretion, to march and be stationed at New-Haven, for its defence for the present. And do further order, that two suitable Cannon at New-Haven be properly fixed and mounted for Field-Pieces, if not already done by them. That Ship-carriages be prepared for four other Cannon of