hereinafter prescribed, to be administered by any two or more of said Council or Assistants, or such others as shall be by the said Council or Assistants, or the major part of them, thereunto appointed, that is to say,

“You A B, being appointed to the office of . . . . . , do solemnly swear that you will honestly, faithfully, and impartially execute all the duties of the said office, according to the best of your skill and abilities. So help you God.”

And be it further enacted and declared by the authority aforesaid, That all Commission Officers, civil and military, who have been or may be commissionated in manner as aforesaid, having taken the said Oath in manner as above prescribed, shall be, and are hereby authorized, empowered, and required to proceed in the execution of their respective offices, and that every act and thing which shall be done by such Officers, respectively, in the execution of such commission and office, shall be, to all intents and purposes, valid and effectual in law, without his or their taking or subscribing any other oath or declaration whatsoever; any law, usage, or custom whatsoever in any wise to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.

In Council, August 23, 1775: This engrossed Bill having had two several readings, Resolved, That it pass to be enacted.

Ordered, That a Message go to the honourable Board, desiring them to send down Captain Sloan’s Muster-Roll, and two Orders drawn by Colonel Arnold on this Colony, viz: one in favour of Major Jonathan Brown, and one in favour of Colonel Eleazer Oswald.

Caleb Cushing, Esq., brought down Captain Sloan’s Muster-Roll and the two Orders sent for by the House.

Michael Farley, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the following Resolve, viz:

“In Council, August 22, 1775.

“Resolved, That the Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf, Eldad Taylor, and Joseph Palmer, Esqs., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to make inquiry in this Colony after Virgin Lead and Leaden Ore, and the best methods of collecting, smelting, and refining it; and also to inquire into the cheapest and easiest method of making Salt in this Colony: the said Committee to transmit the result of their inquiries to the Delegates of this Colony at the Continental Congress.”

Read and concurred, and Colonel Freeman, Captain Greenleaf, Dr. Whiting, and Mr. Story, were joined.

Samuel Holten, Esq., brought down a Bill empowering the Courts of General Sessions of the Peace within this Colony to grant Licenses to Innholders and Retailers in certain cases.

An engrossed Bill to confirm and establish the Resolves of the several Provincial Congresses in this Colony. Read, and passed to be enacted.

On a motion made by the Hon. Jerathmeel Bowers, Esq.,

Ordered, That Colonel Freeman bring in a Resolve directing and empowering Dr. Baylis, Colonel Williams, and Captain Toby, to repair to Swanzey, and inquire into the conduct of said Bowers and the treatment of him by some persons in that Town.

Mr. Dix reported that such was the situation of Mr. Gerry’s health, that he desired the House would excuse him from serving on the Committee to which he was this afternoon appointed; and he was excused accordingly.

Colonel Porter likewise desired to be excused from serving on said Committee; and having offered his reasons therefor, he was accordingly excused.

Resolved, That to-morrow morning, ten o’clock, be assigned for the choice of three persons on the above Committee, in the room of those gentlemen who have been excused.

A Petition of George Armstrong, praying a reward for his bravery at Noddle’s Island and Deer-Island, and other services as a volunteer in the American Army, was read, and committed to Captain Thatcher, Major Bliss, and Deacon Rawson.

Captain John Sloan’s Pay-Roll was recommitted to the Committee on Colonel Arnold’s Account.

Ordered, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony to Joseph Otis, Esq., Captain Batchelder, and Mr. Daniel Hopkins, the sum of ten Pounds, lawful money, to be by them delivered to the Chief of the St. François Tribe and the four Indians who attend him, as a present from this Court.

Also, Ordered, That the above Committee procure for, and present to the above Indians five Blankets, and lay their Accounts before this House.

In Council, August 23, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Committee on the Petition and Pay-Roll of Thomas Goldthwait, Esq., reported.

The Report was recommitted, and the Committee were instructed to bring in a Resolve directing that the payment of said Roll be made to the several persons mentioned therein, or to their order.

Ordered, That a Precept be issued to the Town of Oxford, directing the Inhabitants of that Town to choose some person to represent them in this Assembly, in the room of the late Captain William Watson, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Story, Colonel Orne, and f Guile, be a Committee to prepare a Precept to be issued to the dispersed Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, requiring them to choose some person to represent them in this Assembly, in the room of the Honourable Samuel Adams, Esq., elected to the Board.

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

Wednesday, August 23, 1775.

Resolved, That the Resolve of this Court which passed the 21st instant, directing the Receiver-General to pay Colonel Otis and others, ten Pounds, for the use of five Indians of the St. François Tribe, be reconsidered.

An engrossed Bill for making and emitting of Bills of Publick Credit. Read and passed to be enacted.

The Committee appointed to consider how the two Armed Vessels at Machias should be supplied with Provisions and Ammunition, reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Captain Jeremiah Obrian, appointed Commander of the Armed Schooner Diligent, and of the Sloop Machias-Liberty, now lying in the Harbour of Machias, fixed for the purpose of guarding the Sea-Coast, the sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds, lawful money of this Colony, for supplying the men with Provisions and Ammunition. Also, that there be delivered to the said Obrian, out of the Colony Store, one hundred Cannon Balls of three pounds weight each, and two hundred Swivel Balls; for all which, and the captures he shall make, he is to account with this Court.

Colonel Freeman, agreeable to order, brought in the following Resolve, which was accepted, and sent up for concurrence, viz:

Whereas Jerathmeel Bowers, Esq., a Member of this House, complains that he has been wrongfully accused of counteracting the Resolves of the Continental Congress, and of acting a part inimical to the rights and liberties of his Country, whereby he hath suffered in his character and interest; and having been heretofore possessed of the esteem and confidence of his countrymen as a friend to their rights and liberties, still avowing his inalienable attachment thereto: and as it is possible that the Committee of Correspondence and Inspection, who thought it their duty to stigmatize him in the publick papers, might be misinformed or mistaken in their judgment,

Therefore it is Resolved, That Dr. Baylis, Colonel George Williams, and Captain Toby, be a Committee to make inquiry of said Committees, and to examine and hear the evidences they may produce against him; and also to give the said Bowers a fair hearing in his defence, and to report to this House a true state of the case at the next sitting of this Court, that the said Bowers may be acquitted or censured, as he shall be found deserving.

Resolved, That the vote for appointing three persons as a Committee to prepare accounts of the expenses this Colony has been at, in the present contest with Great Britain, be so far reconsidered as that said Committee should consist of four persons.