each Member of the House, and one for each Parish in the Colony.

The Protest of a number of the Inhabitants of the Town of Swanzey, against the election of the Hon. Jerathmeel Bowers, Esq., was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Taylor, and Dr. Holten, be a Committee to prepare Rules and Orders for the regulation of the House.

Then the House adjourned to eight o’clock to-morrow morning.

Thursday, July 20, 1775.

A day appointed by the honourable Continental Congress to be observed as a day of Fasting and Prayer throughout the Continent,

The House met, and adjourned to eight o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Friday, July 21, 1775.

Resolved, That to-morrow morning, ten o’clock, be assigned for the choice of a Chaplain for the House.

The Order of the Day moved for.

Ordered, That Major Hawley, Colonel Otis, Mr. Jewet, Mr. Wood, and Deacon Rawson, be a Committee to collect and sort the votes for Counsellors.

Major Hawley having assisted in collecting the votes for eighteen Counsellors for the territory called the Territory of Massachusetts-Bay, desired to be excused from further attendance. He was accordingly excused, and Dr. Taylor appointed in his place.

The Committee having collected and sorted the votes for eighteen Counsellors for the territory called the Territory of the Massachusetts-Bay, reported that the House had elected sixteen, viz:

Hon. James Bowdoin, Esq., Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Hon. Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Hon. Jedediah Foster, Esq., Hon. Michael Farley, Esq., Hon. Joseph Palmer, Esq., Hon. Jabez Fisher, Esq., Hon. James Pitts, Esq., Hon. Caleb Gushing, Esq., Hon. John Winthrop, Esq., Hon. John Adams, Esq., Hon. James Prescott, Esq., Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq., Hon. Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., and Hon. Azor Orne, Esq.

Resolved, That if more than two gentlemen shall have a majority of votes, those gentlemen shall be deemed elected who shall have the greatest number of votes.

The Committee then, having received and sorted the votes, reported that Mr.Samuel Adams as elected.

Afternoon.

The House proceeded to bring in their votes for another Counsellor for the Territory of the Massachusetts-Bay; and the Committee having received and sorted the votes, reported that Eldad Taylor, Esq., was elected.

The same Committee having collected and sorted the votes for four Counsellors for the territory formerly called the Colony of New-Plymouth, reported that the Hon. William Sever, Esq., Walter Spooner, Esq., James Otis, Esq., and Robert Treat Paine, Esq., were elected.

The same Committee likewise collected and sorted the votes for three Counsellors for the territory formerly called the Province of Maine, and reported that the Hon. Benjamin Chadbourn, Esq., Enoch Freeman, Esq., and Charles Chauncy, Esq., were elected.

The same Committee likewise collected and sorted the votes for one Counsellor for the Territory lying between the River Sagadahock and Nova-Scotia, and reported that Dr. John Taylor as elected.

The same Committee likewise having received and sorted the votes for two Counsellors at large, reported that Mr. Moses Gill and Dr. Samuel Holten were elected.

Ordered, That Colonel Gerrish, Deacon Fisher, Major Hawley, Dr. Holten, and Mr. Wheeler, be a Committee to provide some convenient place for the Council to sit in.

Ordered, That the Clerk, Captain Batchelder, and Mr. Hopkins, be a Committee to prepare a Letter whereby to inform the afore-named Counsellors of their election.

The Committee on the Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of the Town of Mansfield, reported verbally, that the Petitioners have leave to withdraw their Petition.

The Report was accepted by the House.

Ordered, That Major Hawley, Colonel Barret, Captain Dix, Colonel Grout, and Mr. Bancroft, be a Committee to consider a Letter from Horatio Gates, Esq., Adjutant-General in the American Army.

On a motion made, Resolved, That this last order be reconsidered, and that the Letter of Mr. Gates be referred for consideration to the honourable Board.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare a Letter to the Counsellors this day elected, sit forthwith.

The House then adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o’clock.

Saturday, July 22, 1775.

The Committee appointed yesterday to prepare a Letter to the honourable Counsellors, reported a form to be signed by the Speaker, which was accepted; and thereupon,

Ordered, That Captain Bragdon, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Durfee, be a Committee to forward a copy thereof to each of the absent Counsellors immediately.

A Letter from James Sullivan, Esq., to the President of the late Congress, was communicated to the House, and committed to Captain Goodman, Colonel Cushing, and Mr. Greenleaf.

A Petition of Messrs. William Greenleaf, Oliver Wendall, and John Pitts,* with a Letter from Mr. John Scollay, of Boston, to those gentlemen, relative to the Poor and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, was read, and committed to Col. Cushing, Dr. Church, and Mr. Pitts.

Ordered, That Colonel Otis, Major Johnson, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Greenleaf, and Dr. Rice, be a Committee to take into consideration the circumstances of the Soldiers raised by this Colony, with regard to their month’s Advance Pay, as well those raised for the protection of the seacoasts, as others.

Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Captain Goodman, Mr. Rawson, Mr. Jewet, and Mr. Durfee, be a Committee to consider a Petition of the Committee of a new Plantation called Fryburgh; as also the Proceedings of a Meeting of the Town of Pownalborough, containing an account of an embassy of three persons from thence to Canada.

The Committee appointed to provide some convenient place for the Council to sit in, reported, verbally, that a large Chamber in the House of Mr. Fowle might be procured; but being unfinished, the Committee recommended that there be a rough floor laid, and chairs provided for that purpose.

The report was accepted, and Captain Brown, Captain Dix, and Major Fuller, were appointed to prepare said Chamber accordingly.

Resolved, That Colonel Joseph Otis e, and hereby is appointed to administer to the Officers and Soldiers stationed in the County of Barnstable and Naushon Island, the oath appointed by the late Provincial Congress, in the room of the Hon. James Otis, Esq.

Resolved, That Elisha Toby, Esq., be, and hereby is appointed to administer the same oath to the Officers and Soldiers stationed in the County of Bristol, in the room of the Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq.

*To the Honourable Council and House of Representatives of the Colony of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, in NEW-ENGLAND:

The Petition of William Greenleaf, One of the Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Boston, Oliver Wendall, and John Pitts, Selectmen of said Town, humbly sheweth: That your Petitioners, on the 20th inst., received a Letter (by a trumpeter) from John Scollay, Esq., Chairman of a Committee of Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and Committee for receiving Donations, all of said Town of Boston, purporting the distressed situation of the poor and other inhabitants of said Town, who are desirous of being removed from their cruel confinement, which cannot be effected without the assistance of General Gage, who requires that the vessels and other carriages, with the persons who are employed in transporting them, shall meet with no detention or annoyance; all which will appear to your Honours by the papers accompanying this Petition, Therefore your Petitioners, deeply anxious for their friends and fellow-citizens, entreat your Honours that in your great wisdom you would devise some measures for their speedy relief. And as in duty and affection bound, shall ever pray.

WM. GREENLEAF,
OLIVER WENDALI.,
JOHN PITTS

WATERTOWN, July 21, 1775.