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

Saturday, August 12, 1775.

A Memorial from the Town of Salem. Read, and committed to Mr. Gerry, Deacon Rawson, and Colonel Orne.

Ordered, That the Memorial of the Selectmen of the Town of Salem, respecting the replacing of the Powder which they had lent to the Colony, be committed to the aforementioned Committee.

The Report of the Committee appointed to draw up a Resolve to prevent the needless expense of Gunpowder, was read and accepted.

Whereas there has been a frequent firing of small-arms in divers parts of this Colony, whereby many of the inhabitants have been needlessly alarmed, and much Ammunition unnecessarily expended: therefore,

Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is, recommended to the inhabitants of this Colony not to fire a gun at beast, bird, or mark, without real necessity therefor; and it is recommended to the Selectmen and Committees of Correspondence and Inspection in the several Towns and Districts in this Colony, to use their endeavours that the spirit of this Resolve be strictly and faithfully adhered to, and that this Resolve be published in the several newspapers.

In Council, August 12, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Petition of Mr. Dolliver, one of the Selectmen of the Town of Marblehead, was read; and

Ordered, That the Petitioner have leave to withdraw his Petition.

The Report of the Committee on the Petition of a number of Recruiting Officers in General Ward’s Regiment, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That the Secretary be directed to attend the House, to inform the House if the honourable Board have passed upon the Resolve respecting the Commissary-General’s supplying the Army with Provision, without having regard to any contract of the Committee of Supplies.

Ordered. That a Committee of three persons be chosen by ballot, to receive the Clothing for the Army, collected agreeable to the directions of the Congress of the 19th of June and the 9th of July, and that three o’clock this afternoon be the time assigned for that service.

Michael Farley, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the Resolve of the Committee of both Houses, respecting Andrew Hamilton, viz:

“In Council, August 11, 1775.

“The Committee of both Houses appointed to examine one Andrew Hamilton, taken up at Kennebeck, on suspicion of affording supplies to our enemies, beg leave to report: That the said Hamilton appears to be a crafty, designing person, formerly held a commission under the Crown, does not give any good reason for his taking passage for Boston, and has been very officious in prying into the management of the publick affairs of this Colony. Your Committee, for these reasons, are of opinion he should be sent to Springfield Jail, to have the liberty of the yard during his good behaviour, otherwise to be put under close confinement, there to remain until further information can be obtained respecting him, or he be discharged by order of this Court.

“CHS. CHAUNCY, per order.”

Read and concurred.

The Treasurer having acquainted the House that a large part of the Hundred Thousand Pounds which he was to borrow on the credit of the Colony had not been received—

Ordered, That Mr. Gardner be directed to inquire of Mr. Revere, how long before he can strike off any number of the Bills he was ordered by this House to print.

Mr. Gardner reported that Mr. Revere would not be able to strike off any of the Bills aforementioned until Thursday or Friday next.

Ordered, That Mr. Revere be directed to strike off five hundred more Blanks for Province Notes, and that Mr. Gardner be directed to inform him of this order.

The Bill for vacating the Commissions of the Civil and Military Officers was read. The new Draught passed, with amendments.

The Bill declaratory of the right of the Towns and Districts to send Representatives to the General Court. Read the third time, and recommitted, to have a clause inserted relative to the unconstitutional restrictions of the Towns of Newbury and Newburyport, and then passed to be engrossed.

Ordered, That Colonel Bowers, Major Hawley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Gardner, and Colonel Freeman, be a Committee to carry it up to the Board.

The Committee who were appointed to reduce to writing the verbal Report of the Committee of the Whole House yesterday, relative to the contract of the Committee of Supplies for Beef, reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That as the Massachusetts Army, raised for the defence of American liberty, is now become part of the Continental Army, that therefore all contracts made by our Committee of Supplies, for victualling said Massachusetts Army, are terminated; and the Commissary-General of said Continental Army is to be considered at liberty to purchase supplies for victualling said Army, of such persons and in such way and manner as he shall see fit.

In Council, August 14, 1775: Read and concurred.

Ordered, That Captain Goodman, Colonel Thompson, and Mr. Sewall, be a Committee to consider what method shall be taken to convey to Newburyport the Stores ordered for Deer-Island.

Joseph Palmer, Esq., came down with a Message from the Board, desiring that the Contract of the Committee of Supplies with the Butchers might be sent up to them.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the honourable Board, to acquaint them that the House are not in possession of the Contract which the Committee of Supplies made with the Butchers.

The Report of the Committee of both Houses, with respect to Edward Parry, was read and concurred, viz:

“In Council, August 9, 1775.

“The Committee appointed to examine Mr. Edward Parry, &c., have attended that service, and considering his close connection with and dependance on persons employed by the Crown, his disposition to supply our enemies with masts, plank, &c., contrary to the known sentiments of this people, and that his being restrained from doing it he considers as acts of violence and injustice, all which appear under his own hand, beg leave to report, as their opinion, that the said Edward Parry be immediately sent to the Town of Sturbridge, in this Colony, there to be detained and provided for by the Selectmen of that Town, until the further order of this Court; and if, on any pretence whatever, he shall presume to leave said Town of Sturbridge, unless by order as aforesaid, he shall be taken and put under close confinement, until the further order of this Court.

“BENJ. LINCOLN, per order.”

Afternoon.

The Petition from Deer-Island, presented to the late Congress, was read, and committed to Captain Parker, Major Howard, and Mr. Woodbridge.

Ordered, That Colonel Freeman, Mr. Story, Deacon Rawson, Colonel Grout, and Captain Stone, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to consider what method can be taken to obtain the release of those Inhabitants of Boston who are now in jail in that Town.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider what method can be taken to obtain the release of those Inhabitants of Boston who are now in jail, be also a Committee to examine the Letters in the possession of Mr. Joseph Greenleaf, and to confer with him, and the rest of the Committee of which he is a member, upon the subject of the intelligence he has to communicate.

Ordered, That the Messenger of the House be directed to take into custody Mr. Mills, late a Printer in Boston, and bring him before the House forthwith.

Ordered, That Joseph Otis, who has lately acted as a Sheriff in Boston, under the late Act of Parliament for

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