bring in a Resolve for the purpose of recommending the observance of such Resolves of Congress as are of a publick nature, and to continue any considerable time in force.

The Committee on the Petition of the Committee of Safety of the Town of Salem, respecting the Poor of the Town of Boston, reported. The Report was read, and thereupon,

Ordered, That a Committee of four Members from Boston, and three from the country, be chosen to take care of the Poor of the Town of Boston who may go into Salem.

Resolved, That Mr. William Greenleaf, Mr. Isaac Smith, and Deacon Sharp, on the part of the Town of Boston, and Captain Shillaber on that of the country, be of that Committee; and that the appointment of three other gentlemen to complete the Committee be deferred, and the Committee above-named are hereby empowered and directed to act in this matter until the Committee be filled up.

In Council, August 5, 1775: Read and concurred.

Resolved, That the vote of this House directing the Money Bills to be printed on types be reconsidered, and that they be printed on copper plates; and that the Committee appointed to inquire what they could be printed for be a Committee to agree with Mr. Revere for printing the same.

The Committee appointed to consider what method shall be taken to furnish those Soldiers with Blankets who are not yet furnished, reported.

The Report was ordered to lie on the table.

The Order of the Day moved for, and the House accordingly took under consideration the expediency of making the pay of the Representatives a publick charge; after debate thereon, the matter was ordered for the present to subside.

Ordered, That there be a further assignment for the second reading of the Bill for annulling the Commissions of the several civil and military Officers in this Colony, and that nine o’clock to-morrow morning be accordingly assigned for that purpose.

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

Saturday, August 5, 1775.

Ordered, That Mr. Story, Mr. White, and Captain Parker, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve to establish the rates by which Teamsters shall be paid for transporting the Poor of Boston and their effects, and to desire the honourable Board to give orders on the Treasury for the payment of such Teamsters.

Voted, That Major Hawley have leave to bring in a Bill settling the rights of Representation of the several Towns and Districts in this Colony.

Eldad Taylor, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board a Letter from Justin Ely, of West-Springfield, directed to said Taylor, relative to the Donations for the Poor of Boston and Charlestown, which was read, and committed to Dr. Whiting, Major Ely, and Mr. Crane.

Jedediah Foster, Esq., came down and informed the House that the honourable Board had directed their Members of the Committee appointed to consider what was necessary to be done relative to a Colony Seal, to sit forthwith, and that it was the desire of the Board that this House would direct their Members of said Committee to sit with those of the Board; whereupon,

Ordered, That Major Bliss and Dr. Whiting be of the said Committee, in the room of Dr. Church and Mr. Cushing, who are absent,

A Petition of Prince Gorham, of Barnstable,* praying for liberty to export a quantity of Fish to St. Eustatia, was read, and committed to Captain Batchelder, Deacon Plympton, and Captain Bragdon.

Ordered, That Mr. Story and Mr. White be added to the Committee on Colonel Arnold’s Account.

The amendments proposed by honourable Board in the Resolve for stationing an additional Force in the County of Lincoln, were read and considered, and non-concurred; and the House adhere to their own Vote.

Sent up.

The Bill for annulling the Commissions of the several Officers, civil and military, in this Colony, was read a second time, and ordered to be read a third time at four o’clock in the afternoon.

The Committee on the Letter from Dartmouth reported.

The Report was recommitted, and the Committee instructed to bring in a Resolve to prohibit the sailing of all Vessels bound on foreign voyages, without the express license of the General Court; and to recommend to the honourable Board to write Letters to the several Assemblies of the other New-England Governments, advising them to pass a similar Resolve.

Benjamin Chadbourne, Esq., brought down a Vote of Council, appointing Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., and Joseph Palmer, Esq., with such as this House shall join, to be a Committee to examine the Proceedings of the late Provincial Congresses, and to bring in a Bill for the confirmation of the same, or such parts thereof as they shall judge necessary.

Read and concurred, and Dr. Whiting, Esquire Davis, and Mr. Dickerson, were joined to the Committee of the honourable Board.

James Prescott, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee appointed to consider what was necessary to be done relative to a Colony Seal, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

The Committee appointed for the within purpose report, that the device of the old Province Seal be not taken up, and that the device herewith be the established form of a Seal for this Colony for the future.

JAMES OTIS, per order.

In Council, August 5, 1775. Read and accepted, with this amendment, viz: instead of an Indie: hawk and cap of liberty, there be an Indian holding a sword in the right hand, and Magna Charta in the left hand; with the words “Magna Charta” imprinted on it; and around him these words: “Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem.”

The Committee on the Petition of Prince Gorham reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That Prince Gorham and Benjamin Cobb be, and they are hereby permitted to export from Chatham to the Island of St. Eustatia forty hogsheads of old Jamaica and new scale Fish, forty barrels of Alewives, and two thousand bunches of Onions, but no more Provisions than are absolutely necessary for the vessel’s use, to be under the inspection of the Committee of Inspection of said Chatham: always provided, that the said Fish, Alewives, &c., shall not be cleared out for any of His Britannick Majesty’s Dominions.

In Council, August 5, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Committee to whom was recommitted the Report of the Committee of both Houses who were appointed to confer with Mr. Brown on the situation of the Inhabitants of Boson, again reported. Read, amended, and accepted.

Whereas it has been represented to this House, that several persons are detained in Boston by General Gage, for the purpose of procuring the release of Jones and Hicks from Concord Jail, and until they shall be suffered to go into Boston; therefore,

Resolved, That the said Jones and Hicks be released from the Jail at Concord, and suffered to go into Boston, upon condition that the several persons who have been detained on account of their imprisonment, viz: John Gill, Thomas Boylston, Peter Edes, Wm. Starr, James Lovell, Samuel Whitwell, Samuel Partridge, John Leach, Richard Boynton, and all the Selectmen of Boston, and also

*COLONY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, Aug. 5, 1775.

To the Honourable the General Court, now sitting at WATERTOWN:

Humbly sheweth Prince Gorham, of Barnstable, on behalf of himself and Benjamin Cobb, that your petitioners, and the Town we live in, are much in want of Powder and other necessaries, which may be obtained in the West-Indies; and that your petitioners have on hand forty hogsheads of old Jamaica Fish, forty barrels of Alewives, and two thousand bunches of Onions, which are now perishing, and which your petitioners cannot dispose of here: wherefore, your petitioners humbly pray your Honours to grant them a permit to export the same to St. Eustatia, and receive from them warlike stores and other necessaries. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.

PRINCE GORHAM, for self and Co.

*