Benjamin Hitchborne, lately taken on board a Man-of-War at Newport, be suffered to come out of Boston, with their families and effects; and that the said Jones and Hicks be produced on the lines at Roxbury or Charlestown, at such time as shall be agreed on, in order to be exchanged for the persons aforesaid; and that Mr. John Pitts and Captain Brown, of Watertown, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to wait on his Excellency General Washington, and desire him to send into Boston a Trumpeter with a copy of this Resolve to the Selectmen of said Town.

Afternoon.

The Speaker, by leave of the House, brought in the following Resolve, which was passed, and sent up for concurrence:

Whereas by a Resolve of Congress of the 27th of June last, four of the nine Companies by said Resolve to be raised in the Counties of Plymouth and Barnstable, for the defence of the Sea-Coasts, are to be stationed in the County of Plymouth, according to the direction of the Field-Officers of the First Regiment in the County of Plyntdtith, and under their direction; and whereas there are four Field-Officers in said Regiment, and two of them live at a great distance from the Sea-Coast and from the other two, from which many inconveniences arise: therefore,

Resolved, That the honourable Board be desired to empower any two of said Field-Officers to station, order, and direct said four Companies; the Commanding Officer of said Regiment being one of the two.

In Council, August 5, 1775: Read and concurred, and Colonel James Warren and Thomas Lothrop are appointed to the above.

A Letter from Mr. Thomas Amory to Mr. Moses Gill, relative to a cargo of Flour taken, for the use of the Colony, from a Schooner of the said Amory’s, at Nantucket; and another from Mrs. Abigail Austin to the Committee of Supplies, desiring the Committee of Supplies to accept an order from Mr. Amory in favour of Mrs. Austin, for the value of it, were read, and committed to Major Haw-ley, Colonel Thompson, and Captain Goodman, who were instructed to confer with the Rev., Mr. Gordon on the subject.

Eldad Taylor, Esq., brought down the Resolve for Stationing an additional Force in the County of Lincoln, with the following Order of Council thereon, viz:

“In Council August 5,1775.

“Read, and Ordered, That Mr. Freeman and Dr. Taylor, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to confer on the subject of the foregoing Resolve, and report.”

Sent down for concurrence.

Read and concurred, and Major Hawley, Mr. Gerry, and Dr. Whiting, are joined to the Committee of the honourable Board.

The Bill for annulling the Commissions of the several Officers, civil and military, in this Colony, read the third time and passed to be engrossed.

Sent up for concurrence by Major Hawley, Major Bliss, Mr. Morgan, Major Ely, and Dr. Whiting.

Major Goodwin was added to the Committee appointed to consider the Letter from Newburyport, relative to Bridget Phillips, in the room of Mr. Jewet.

Mr. Morgan and Mr. Gallop were added to the Committee appointed to procure the Resolves of Congress for the Eastern Settlements, in the room of Mr. Pilsbury and Mr. Devens, absent.

The Committee appointed to consider a Letter from Justin Ely, of West-Springfield, to Eldad Taylor, Esq., reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That the Selectmen of the several Towns in the County of Hampshire, where any donations of Grain for the Poor of the Towns of Boston and Charlestown are or may be deposited, be and they are hereby empowered and directed to have all such Grain (except Indian Corn) reduced to Flour, and transported to Watertown, and there delivered to the Committee of Supplies, as soon as may be; and that the expense of flouring said Grain and transporting said Flour to Watertown be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, on the delivering the same as is abovementioned.

And it is further Resolved, That Mr. John Hale be a Committee to retransport from Hartford to Springfield all such Grain and other articles as have been given in donations for the use of said Poor, by any of the inhabitants of said County of Hampshire; which Grain and other articles have been sent down the River to Hartford; and that said Committee be also empowered and directed to reduce said Grain to Flour, and transport said Flour to Water-town, there to be delivered to the Committee of Supplies, as aforesaid, and that the expense of retransporting said Grain from Hartford, flouring and conveying the same to Watertown, be also paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony.

And it is further Resolved, That in case any part of said Donations have been or shall be in Indian Corn, the said Selectmen or Committee are empowered and directed to dispose of the same, either for Money or some other kind of Grain, or other Provision necessary for the Army, which may be more conveniently transported.

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

A Petition of Colonel Benedict Arnold, praying to be refunded for a number of Blankets which he supplied his Soldiers with, was read, and committed to Captain Carpenter, Mr. Hovey, and Mr. Seuall.

Three Women, who came over Winnisimit Ferry from Boston yesterday, were brought under guard to this Court by Captain John Wood.*

Captain White brought down from the honourable Board a Letter from his Excellency General Washington, relative to persons coming out of Boston.

Dr. Taylor brought down from the honourable Board sundry Depositions relative to the treatment which a Committee of the late Congress received at Ticonderoga, viz: Ebenezer Marvin’s, Isaac Matthews’s, and Samuel Wright’s.

Resolved, That the Ladies before mentioned be deliver-ed to Captain Crafts, in this Town, and he is hereby directed to receive them into custody, and to keep them in some suitable house for entertainment, at their own expense, with a suitable guard, until Monday morning next, and the further order of this Court.

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

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

Sabbath-day, August 6, 1775.

Ordered, That Captain Goodman, Colonel Thompson, and Esquire Davis, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to consider the Letter received yesterday from General Washington, relative to the Inhabitants coming out of Boston, and report thereon.

Sent up for concurrence.

Afternoon.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the honourable Board, to know if they have any matter to lay before the House this afternoon: whereupon,

Mr. Chauncy came down and informed the House that the honourable Board had a matter under consideration, which would be sent down very soon.

James Prescott, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee of both Houses on the Letter from General Washington. Read and non-concurred, and ordered to be recommitted, to be taken into a new draught by way of Resolve.

*MALDDEN, August 5, 1775.

Mrs. Hannah Goldthwait, wife of Mr. Joseph Goldthwait, Mrs. Sarah Goldthwait, wife of Mr. Benjamin Goldthwait, and one Mrs. Chamberlain, came over Winnisimit Ferry yesterday, being Friday, about five o’clock, P. M., with a horse and chaise: no such instance having happened before, and Mrs. Hannah Goldthwait, being wife to the Barrack-Master to the King’s Troop in Boston. Knowing it to be my duty to be very cautious at this crucial day, thought proper to acquaint the General with this affair, who directed me to conduct them to the Great and General Court of this Province.

I have not discovered any thing inimical or exceptionable in their conversation or conduct, but, on the contrary, have behaved themselves with all complaisance and resignation to my requisitions and appear to be engaged in the cause of liberty.

LOAMMI BALDWIN, Lt. Col.