thence; and that the said Committee be empowered and ordered to do and direct every thing that they shall find absolutely necessary for the safety of the Country, and the immediate relief of any helpless and indigent persons belonging to said Boston, who may arrive at the said Chelsea; and that the said Committee, as soon as may be, acquaint this Court of their proceedings in the premises.

In Council, July 30, 1775: Read and concurred, and Jedediah Foster, Joseph Palmer, and Moses Gill, Esqrs., are joined.

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

Monday, July 31, 1775.

Ordered, That the Secretary be directed to lay upon the table the Resolve of this House directing the Committee who were appointed to countersign the Notes for borrowing the sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds, emitted by the late Congress, to provide a number more for the Treasurer, that he may complete the borrowing said sum.

Ordered, That a Message go to the honourable Board, to inquire if the Board had concurred with the Resolve of this House relative to a new emission of Bills of Credit.

Walter Spooner, Esq., came down from the Board, and informed that the Board had not concurred with the Resolve for a new emission of Bills of Credit, but had it now under consideration.

Mr. Spooner, at the same time, brought down the Report of the Committee who were appointed to repair to Chelsea, to take care of the Inhabitants who might come out of Boston, viz:

The Committee appointed by the General Court to repair to Chelsea, to inspect the state and character of such inhabitants of Boston as have or may arrive there from thence, and to do and direct every thing that they should find absolutely necessary for the safety of the Country and the immediate relief of any helpless and indigent persons, belonging to Boston, who might arrive at said Chelsea, beg leave to report, that they proceeded immediately upon the business to which they were appointed, and on their way to and at Chelsea found sundry of the inhabitants of Boston, who had been allowed to remove, and by them were informed that the small-pox had not lately prevailed in that Town, and that General Gage had directed that the Almshouse Poor should be sent to Salem; but finding that no inhabitants were permitted to come out on the day that they were there, and that from General Gage’s past failure in the performance of his solemn agreements with that Town, it was very uncertain whether others might come out, agreeable to the just expectations of the people, they empowered and directed the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Chelsea, or the major part of them,* to make strict inquiry into the state and circumstances of all persons who should arrive there from Boston, and take care of, and provide for the indigent, and guard and secure the country against the small-pox, as in the commission to them (a copy whereof is herewith exhibited) will appear. All which is humbly submitted.

JEDEDIAH FOSTER, per order.

Ordered, That Major Hawley, Dr. Church, and Mr. Wheeler, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to bring in a Bill for vacating the Commissions of all such civil officers as have been appointed by the Governour, with the advice of Council.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve for the purpose of obliging the Treasurer and Receiver-General to give Bond, reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That no person who is or shall be chosen by this Court into the office of Treasurer and Receiver-General for this Colony for the present year, shall be esteemed duly qualified to enter upon the execution of that office, until he shall first have an oath duly administered to him for the faithful performance of the trust of his said office, and shall give bond, with sufficient sureties, to the acceptance of a Committee to be appointed by this Court to judge in their behalf, both of the sufficiency of the security and of such bonds, in the sum of one hundred thousand Pounds, lawful money, to the three oldest Counsellors of this Colony for the time being; who are hereby appointed a Committee in behalf of the Colony, and especially authorized to take said bond to themselves to the use of the Colony; which bond shall be conditioned for such Treasurer’s duly and faithfully discharging the duty of his office, according to law, and for rendering an account when and so often as he shall be required by the General Court, of all or any such sum or sums of money, securities, and other estate of this Colony, as he shall from time to time receive or be possessed of, to the use of the said Colony, and for his well and truly paying and delivering to his successor in said office, or to any other person that may be appointed by the General Court to receive the same, all such sum or sums of money, securities, or other estate of this Colony, as upon such settlement of his accounts as shall otherwise be found due and payable from him to the Colony, or for which he shall be found accountable. And it is further ordered, that in case such bond shall not be put in suit within three years from the date thereof, it shall be void and of no effect: and that Captain Dicks and Major Fuller, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to judge of the sufficiency of the bond to be taken as aforesaid, and of such as may offer to become sureties for the Treasurer as aforesaid.

In Council, July 31, 1775: Read and concurred, and Mr. Gill is joined.

Resolved, That eleven o’clock, to-morrow forenoon, be assigned for the choice of some gentleman in the room of the Hon. Mr. Pitts, who has declined an acceptance of his election to the Board.

Ordered, That Captain White, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. Jewet, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve for the purpose of confirming and making valid the Proceedings of the General Court yesterday, relative to such of the Inhabitants of Boston as come over Winnisimit Ferry to Chelsea, the adjournment from Saturday to Monday notwithstanding

Ordered, That Captain Brown procure two tables and some benches, to be placed in the chambers of the porches for the use of the Committees of the House.

Ordered, That Dr. Church, Mr. Currier, and Colonel Davis, be a Committee to consider the propriety of furnishing the Town of Newburyport with a quantity of Shot for the Cannon placed in a Battery erected in said Town.

Ordered, That Mr. Woodbridge, Dr. Baylis, and Major Cross, be a Committee to consider how the Warrants for the Surgeons shall be issued.

* To the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence of the Town of CHELSEA:

It having been represented to the Great and General Court, now held at Watertown, that the inhabitants of the Town of Boston are allowed to come out of that Town to Chelsea, by way of Winnisimit Ferry, the said Court, from an apprehension that many of said inhabitants are poor, and unable to remove themselves and the effects they may have with them to such places as they may be disposed to repair to, and that others may be in weak and infirm circumstances, and stand in need of immediate relief; and also that some may, through carelessness or otherwise, be the means of spreading the small-pox in the country: appointed us a Committee to repair to your Town and inspect the state and characters of the inhabitants of Boston who should move out in manner aforesaid, and provide against any difficulties arising therefrom. We, the said Committee, have attended accordingly, and find, upon full inquiry, that there is not so much danger of the small. pox as was first apprehended; and finding that the movement of those people is so slow, that we, the said Committee, cannot, consistent with our other duty, expected from us by the General Court, attend in person to the landing of the said inhabitants, not knowing what length of time General Gage may take in any degree to perform his engagements to the inhabitants of that Town, we therefore empower you, or the major part of you, and you are hereby empowered and directed, to cause a strict inquiry of all persons that shall land in your Town from Boston, and if you suspect they or their effects are infected with the small-pox, that you see that they be cleansed; and all such indigent persons as shall arrive from thence, and be recommended by the Committee of Donations to be objects of the charity of the people, that you cause them and their effects to be removed to such Towns as have not their proportion of such persons, agreeable to the vote of the late Congress; and all such persons as are so infirm that they cannot be removed, that you provide for them at the publick expense, until they can be removed, or until otherwise directed by the General Court; and if you find it needful, that you impress carriages, teams, attendants, and all other necessaries for the effectuating the purpose aforesaid in the most prudent manner and that you lay an account of your expenses, and time in carrying this order into execution, before the General Court, that whatsoever is just may be done to you, and all such as shall act under you and by your order.