The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of Messrs. Sheppard and Hunt, reported:

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the Petition of Messrs. Sheppard and Hunt, with the Account committed, having examined the same, beg leave to report facts as they find them relative thereto, viz: That in June last the late Congress for this Colony appointed a Committee to inquire into the state of and organize a Battalion of men then at Ticonderoga, who were to be supplied with every necessary from New-York, as ordered by the Continental Congress. That the said Provincial Committee gave no orders to Colonel Easton, or the Surgeon they had appointed, to provide Medicine for said Battalion, but that the committed Account have, by said Colonel Easton’s order, been forwarded to the use of said Battalion. Your Committee also find that the said Committee appointed by the late Congress, appointed a Committee of Supplies near Ticonderoga, lest the service might suffer through any deficiency from New-York, which Committee of Supplies your Committee do not find were applied to for said Medicine. All which facts are humbly submitted to the honourable House, that they may take such order thereon as to their wisdom may seem proper.

THOMAS RICE, per order.

The Report was recommitted.

A Petition of Mr. Charles Miller,* Deputy Commissary-General, praying for directions with respect to a quantity of Provisions, which may be in danger of being spoiled by heat, was read, and committed to Mr. White, of Hatfield, Captain Thatcher, and Deacon Rawson.

Ordered, That when any Member of the House, being appointed Chairman of a Committee, is excused, and another appointed in his stead, the second gentleman named in the Committee shall act as Chairman.

Ordered, That Mr. Davis be appointed, in the room of Colonel Freeman, on the Committee who were to consider the Petition of Messrs. Sheppard and Hunt.

The Committee appointed to prepare an Answer to a Letter received from the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Saybrook, reported.

The Letter was accepted, and ordered to be copied and sent forward.

Ordered, That information be given to the Committee of Supplies’, that there are Donations to the value of fifty Pounds now in the hands of the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Saybrook, and that the said Committee of Supplies be directed to take proper care of the same.

A Petition of the Commissioned Officers of Colonel Learned’s Regiment, praying for some Advance Pay, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That Colonel Freeman, Major Fuller, Captain Derby, Colonel Mitchell, and Mr. Hopkins, be a Committee to consider the Report of the Committee of Safety to the late Provincial Congress, relative to a new emission of Bills of Credit, and report to this House what is best to be done thereon.

Resolved, That four o’clock in the afternoon be assigned for the choice of a Counsellor, in the room of Colonel Orne, who has declined going to the Board,

Afternoon.

Ordered, That those Gentlemen of the Committee of Supplies, who are Members of this House, be directed to give their immediate attendance, and bring with them a copy of the Resolves of Congress which compose their Commission.

The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the honourable Board, relative to the circumstances of the eastern parts of the Colony, reported the following, which was accepted:

To the Honourable the Council of the Colony of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: The papers accompanying this request will inform you of the critical situation of the inhabitants of the eastern parts of this Province. We request your Honours to take this matter under your consideration, and take such orders thereon as the exigency of their circumstances may require; and this House will concur in those measures which may be judged necessary for their defence.

Ordered, That Colonel Bowers, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Jewet, Mr. Greenleaf, and Dr. Baylis, be a Committee to carry the above Address to the honourable Board, together with the Petition from Deer-Island, the Petition from St. George’s, and the Letter from Mr. Murray.

The Order of the Day was moved for, and Colonel Bowers, Captain Brown, and Colonel Freeman, were appointed a Committee to receive and sort the votes for a Counsellor for the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, in the room of Colonel Orne; who reported that the Honourable John Whitcomb, Esq., was chosen.*

The Committee on the Petition of Messrs. Sheppard and Hunt again reported, as follows:

Upon recommitment, July 26, 1775, your Committee further find, that the Medicine charged to the committed account has as yet, and doubtless will prevent all further supplies of the like kind to be made by the Committee of Supplies for Ticonderoga, appointed by this Colony; and that, although the quantity of Medicine charged in said account be twice so much as be necessary for the use of the Battalion till the first of October next, yet as they are not, upon the whole, extravagantly charged, and considering the difficulty there may be in procuring Medicine for the future, your Committee humbly give it as their opinion, that this Colony pay the account committed, deducting ten Shillings, being miscast, and that the whole be considered the property of this Colony.

Per order:

THOMAS RICE.

Read and accepted.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury, to Messrs. Levi Sheppard and Ebenezer Hunt, of Northampton, or to their order, the sum of ninety Pounds, nine Shillings, and seven Pence, in full discharge of their account for Medicines delivered to Colonel James Easton, for the use of the Troops at Ticonderoga; and the Receiver-General is hereby directed to pay the same accordingly.

In Council, July 29, 1775: Read and concurred.

Ordered, That Mr. Partridge bring in a Resolve empowering the Committee of Supplies for the Troops at Ticonderoga to take a receipt of the Surgeon of said Troops, for the Medicines he may receive of Messrs. Sheppard and Hunt, and to see that they are discreetly made use of.

Resolved, That the two Votes passed yesterday, upon General Ward’s Letter, be reconsidered; and that Major Hawley bring in a Resolve, expressive of the sense of said Votes.

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

Thursday, July 27, 1775.

Ordered, That Major Hawley, Major Bliss, Major Brooks, Major Johnson, Colonel Freeman, Colonel Cushing,

*To the Honourable the Council and House of Representatives for the Colony of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY:

The Petition of Charles Miller, Deputy Commissary-General for the Forces of the Colony aforesaid, humbly sheweth: That several quantities of Provisions, both of Bread and Meat, having been ruined by extraordinary hot weather, of which your Petitioner hitherto acquainted the honourable Committee of Supplies, from whom he received such directions as to justify his conduct in the disposal of them. As this honourable House is assembled, the honourable Committee of Supplies recommends your Petitioner to apply for directions in what manner to proceed with such Provisions as may be spoiled, by heat or otherwise, in the Colony Stores in future. Your Petitioner would beg leave to acquaint your Honours, that about three thousand weight of Loaf Bread, soured and unfit for food, is now in the Colony Store, and prays your Honours’ immediate directions, what may be done with the same And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

CHARIES MILLER, Deputy Commissary-General,

CAMBRIDGE, July 25,1775

*HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WATERTOWN, July 25, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: I am directed by this House to acquaint you that they have elected you a Member of the honourable Council for this. Colony the current year; and as you, Sir, are sensible that matters of the greatest importance demand our speediest attention, we hope you will take your seat at the Council Board as soon as may be.

I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JAMES WARREN Speaker.

The Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq.