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

Monday, August 7, 1775.

The Committee on Colonel Arnold’s Account reported* a Resolve for the payment of one hundred and seventy-three Pounds, twelve Shillings, and one Penny half-penny, to Captain Isaac Matthews, in discharge of several orders drawn by Colonel Arnold, which were endorsed by the persons in whose favour they were drawn, and made payable to said Matthews: which Resolve was accepted.

In Council, August 7, 1775: Read and concurred.

Benjamin White, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee on his Excellency General Washington’s Letter, relative to such persons as may come out of Boston, and a Resolve thereon, viz:

The Committee of both Houses, to whom was referred the consideration of a Letter from his Excellency General Washington, relative to such persons as may come out of Boston, and be suspected of being inimical to the liberties of this Country, report by way of Resolve:

“In Council, August 7, 1775.

“Resolved, That Joseph Greenleaf, Esq., Capt. Edward Proctor, and John Peck, be a Committee, whose duty it shall be to give constant attendance at the place where the people coming out of Boston to Chelsea shall land, and strictly examine into the characters and circumstances of all such persons as may arrive from Boston at the said Chelsea; and if, upon inquiry, any of the said persons shall appear to be enemies of this Country, then the said Committee are directed to keep in custody all such suspected persons, until a proper representation shall be made to this Court, and order given thereon.”

Read and concurred.

Benjamin Chadbourne, Esq., brought down the Resolve for stationing the Forces in the County of Lincoln, with the Report of the Committee of both Houses appointed to confer on the subject of it, viz:

“August 7, 1775: The Committee of both Houses, having fully considered the amendment proposed, are of opinion the same ought to be made in the foregoing Resolve.

“ENOCH FREEMAN, per order.”

Read and concurred.

The Bill for a new emission of Bills of Credit was sent up for concurrence.

The Clerk was directed to dele the word Province, if it should be inadvertently made use of in any Resolve, and to insert the word Colony in its stead.

Ordered, That Colonel Freeman and Captain Carpenter, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to examine the three Women brought to this Court on Saturday last, and report what is proper to be done with them.

In Council, August 7, 1775: Read and concurred, and Charles Chauncy, Esq., is joined.

Ordered, That Freeman, Major Bliss, and Capt. Brown, be a Committee to agree with some person to print the Journals of this House.

Eldad Taylor, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the following Order, viz:

“In Council, August 7, 1775.

“Ordered, That Greenleaf, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to direct the making a Colony Seal, agreeable to the form prescribed by this Court on Saturday last.”

Read and concurred, and Deacon Plympton and Mr. Mills are joined to the Committee of the honourable Board.

The Committee appointed to consider the expense of billeting Soldiers reported.

The Report was ordered to lie on the table.

Afternoon.

The Committee on the Letter from Newburyport, respecting Bridget Phillips, again reported.

The Report was read, and again recommitted.

James Prescott, Esq., brought down a Letter from his Excellency General Washington,* relative to those Soldiers and Non-Commissioned Officers who absent themselves from duty, with a Letter from Mr. Nathaniel Green, relative to one Thomas Cowden, of Fitchburgh, who has been soliciting a Commission in the Army.

Read, and Ordered, That Dr. Church, Colonel Freeman, and Mr. Devens, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to consider the same, and report.

In Council, August 8, 1775: Read and concurred, and Walter Spooner and John Winthrop, Esqs., are joined.

A Petition of Mr. Joseph Patrick, praying an allowance for the expenses of his journey from Deer-Island, to procure Supplies, &c., for the inhabitants of the eastern parts of the Colony, read, and committed to Mr. Story, Major Brooks, and Deacon Rawson.

A Petition and Account of the Hon. Jedediah Foster, Esq., of his expenses on a journey to Lebanon, in Connecticut, by order of the Provincial Congress, were read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

An Account of Mr. Daniel Jones, for the supply of his Excellency General Washington and the Hon. General Lee, Esquires, their company and household. Read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

An Account of Mr. John Walton, for making Boxes for the removal of the Library of Harvard College, was read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

Benjamin White, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee appointed to examine the three Women brought to this Court on Saturday last; which was accepted by the honourable Board, viz:

“In Council, August 7, 1775.

“The Committee appointed by both Houses to examine three women lately come out of Boston, and brought to this Court, beg leave to report, as our opinion, that Mrs. Goldthwait, wife of Major Joseph Goldthwait, may be permitted to go to Stafford, to endeavour the recovery of her health, by use of the waters there, and to be under the care of the Selectmen of said Stafford during her stay in that place, and afterwards to remove Rehoboth, to reside with her brother, Mr. Joseph Brigham, there to be under the care of the Committee of Correspondence of said Town (without any expense to the publick) until the further order of this Court. The others, viz: Mrs. Goldthwait,

* The Committee to whom was referred the examination of Colonel Arnold’s Account having proceeded so far as to find that the several orders drawn by him on the late Provincial Congress, to pay sundry persons, viz: Martin Marvin, £3 17s. 6d.; John Adas, £2; Collin McKensie, £11 9s. 3d.; Elisha Painter, £7 14s. 4d; John Sparden, £34 2s. 6d.; Richard Gill, £10 17s.; Winthrop Hoit, £4; William Woods, £8 16s. 7d.; Ebenezer Averill £3 9s.; Paul Averill, £3 14s.; Samuel Adams, £53 7s. 3d.; Samuel Keep, £2 10s. 10d.; Robert Lewis, Esq., £27 17s. 10½d.; amounting in the whole to one hundred and seventy-three Pounds, twelve Shillings, and one Penny and a half, which several orders are endorsed over and made payable to Captain Isaac Matthews. And they find that Colonel Arnold has in his account against this Colony given credit for the aforementioned orders, your Committee therefore beg leave to report the following Resolve, viz:

Resolved, That the sum of one hundred and seventy-three Pounds, twelve Shillings, and one Penny and a half, be paid by the Colony Treasurer to the said Captain Isaac Matthews, in discharge of the aforesaid several orders.

* HEAD-QUARTERS AT CAMBRIDGE, August 7, 1775.

SIR: By the General Return made me for last week, I find there are great numbers of soldiers and non-commissioned officers who absent themselves from duty, the greatest part of whom, I have reason to believe, are at their respective homes in different parts of the country, some employed by their officers on their farms, and others drawing pay from the publick while they are working on their own plantations, or for hire. My utmost exertions have not been able to prevent this base and pernicious conduct. I must, therefore, beg the assistance of the General Court to co-operate with me in such measures as may remedy this mischief. I am of opinion, that it might be done, either wholly or in part, by the Committees in the several Towns making strict and impartial inquiry of such as are found absent from the Army; upon what account they have left it; by whose leave, and for what time; to require such as have no impediment of sickness, or other good reason, to return to their duty immediately, or, in case of failing, to send me an account of their names, and the Company and Regiment to which they belong, as soon as possible, that I may be able to make examples of such delinquents. I need not enlarge upon the ruinous consequences of suffering such infamous deserters and defrauders of the publick to go unnoticed or unpunished, nor use any arguments to induce the General Court to give it immediate attention. The necessity of the case does not permit me to doubt the continued exertions of that zeal which has distinguished the General Court upon less important occasions.

I have the honour to be, Sir, with much respect and regard, your most obedient humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. Col. Otis, President of the Council of Massachusetts-Bay.

P. S. The enclosed respects a prisoner sent up from Prospect-Hill, who is sent herewith under guard for examination by the Committee appointed for that purpose.

G.W.