reported, that it be referred to the next sessions. The Report was read and accepted.

Resolved, That leave be granted to Joseph Russell and others, adventurers in the Whale Fishery, to withdraw their Petition.

The Hon. Robert Treat Paine, Esq., accepted of his election to the honourable Board, and Colonel Orne, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Cushing, Mr. Dix, and Colonel Freeman, were appointed a Committee to wait upon him up.

Ordered, That Mr. Story, Mr. Gerry, and Major Cross, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve to suspend the grant of Powder to certain Eastern Towns.

Ordered, That Dr. Church’s attendance at this House be left a blank in the Pay-Roll.

Ordered, That Mr. Gerry’s attendance be made up for the whole continuance of the present session.

A Pay-Roll for the travel and attendance of the Members of this House was read, approved, and certified.

Deacon David Jeffries was appointed on the Committee to prepare Accounts of the sums disbursed by this Colony, in the present contest with Great Britain, in the room of Deacon Cheever, who declines, and Mr. Lothrop was appointed to notify him of the choice. The Committee being filled up, the Resolve expressive of their Commission was completed, accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas it is necessary that a just, fair, and full Account of the several sums of Money expended, and other disbursements made by this Colony in providing Military Stores and other necessaries for the defence of American liberty, should be prepared as soon as possible, that the same may be transmitted to the Continental Congress, for their consideration and allowance; therefore,

Resolved, That Mr. Isaac Lothrop, Captain George Partridge, Mr. William Greenleaf, and Deacon Jeffries, be and hereby are appointed a Committee, to sit during the recess of this Court, and prepare a full, fair, and just Account of all such sums of Money as have been advanced, expended, and disbursed by this Colony, in providing and preparing all sorts of Military Stores, Camp Equipage and Utensils, Provisions, and other necessary supplies for the use of the Army raised in defence of American liberty, and of all such sums as have been advanced and paid by this Colony, towards raising, equipping, and maintaining the Forces raised by this Colony, who have now joined the Continental Army, and such others as are raised in defence of the Sea.-Coasts; and, also, of such expenses as have been necessarily incurred in defending ourselves, from the 19th of April last until such time as the said Forces were raised, together with the charges of Expresses, and other incidential and necessary expenses; and that the said Committee prepare the proper Vouchers to support the several Accounts, that the whole may be ready as soon as possible, to be transmitted to the Continental Congress, for their consideration and allowance. And the Treasurer of this Colony and the several Committees are directed to furnish the abovenamed Committee with all such Papers and Vouchers as may be in their several possessions and custodies, which may be necessary to enable the same Committee to complete the foregoing design and commission.

The Committee on the Petition and Pay-Roll of Captain Thomas Goldthwait’s Company, of the Garrison at Fort Pownall, again reported, and the consideration of the Report was put off to the next session of this Court.

Whereas many Towns in this Colony have been ordered by this Court and late Congresses to bring into the Publick Magazine a part of their Town’s stock of Ammunition, for the use of the American Army, with encouragement of having the same replaced as soon as the state of the Colony Magazine and the demand of the Army would admit thereof, and great mischief may accrue from an unnecessary delay of this affair,

Resolved, That the Committee of Supplies be, and they hereby are empowered and directed to replace and deliver to the several Towns the Powder that has in consequence of the above Resolves, been ordered therefrom, as soon as the state of the Colony Magazine will admit thereof; special reference being had to the Towns which lie nearest to Boston, and are contiguous to the Sea-Coasts.

In Council, August 24, 1775: Read and concurred.

Michael Farley, Esq. brought down the Report of the Committee appointed to consider some method of calling in the outstanding Moneys:

“In Council, August 23, 1775.

“The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider of some method of calling in the outstanding Moneys due to this Colony, beg leave to report it as their opinion, that the following Resolves pass this Court, viz:

“Resolved, That the Assessors of each Town and District in this Colony for the present year be required, so far as in their power, to exhibit to this Court, on the second Tuesday of its next sitting, the sum total of the assessments made on their Town or District, for the Province Tax, from the year 1769 to the year 1774, inclusively, and to whom such assessments were delivered.

“And be it further Resolved, That each Constable or Collector in each Town or District in this Colony, or the executors or administrators of any of them that are deceased, be required to exhibit to this Court, on the second Tuesday of its next sitting, the sum total of the List committed to him to collect for the Province Tax, from the year 1769 to the year 1774, inclusively; and, also, of all payments that have been made by him to the Treasurer, with the Receipts, or attested copies thereof, from such Treasurer; and that this Resolve be printed in handbills, one of which to be sent to each Town and District.

“And be it further Resolved, That the several Sheriffs of the several Counties in this Colony, and their Under Sheriffs or Deputies, be required forthwith to pay unto Henry Gardner, Esq., Treasurer and Receiver-General for this Colony, all such Moneys as each of them have received, and as are still remaining on their hands, by virtue of any execution or executions, against any Constable or Collector, committed to them by Harrison Gray, Esq., formerly Treasurer of the Province of Massachusetts-Bay.”

Read and concurred.

Resolved, That three weeks from next Wednesday is a proper time for this Court to be adjourned to.

Afternoon.

The Resolve of the honourable Board appointing a Committee to transmit the transactions of this Court to the Continental Congress. Read and concurred, as taken into a new Draught, and Mr. Devens, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Lothrop, and Mr. Gerry, are joined to the Committee of the honourable Board.

Resolved, That Mr. Dix, Colonel Thayer, and Captain Derby, be a Committee to collect from the Files of the Committee of Supplies an account of all the Clothing, Accoutrements, and other articles by them supplied for sale to the Forces under the command of General Washington, which were established by this Colony; and said Committee are directed to apply to the Commissary of said Forces, and other proper Officers, by whom said Clothing, &c., were delivered, for copies of the receipts of the same, and to deliver them to the person who shall be appointed to pay off said Forces, so arranged that the Paymaster may at one view see the amount which either Captain is to deduct from his respective Company, and thereby prevent any loss of the publick debts due from the Soldiery of this Colony.

In Council, August 24, 1775: Read and concurred.

Ordered, That the Speaker, Mr. Gerry, and Colonel Ome, be a Committee to wait on his Excellency General Washington, to desire him to issue orders to the several Captains in the Massachusetts Forces to make the proper deductions from the Muster-Roils of their respective Companies, for the articles with which they have been supplied.

Jedediah Foster, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the Report of the Committee of both Houses on the Petition of Lydia Paddock, viz:

“The Committee of both Houses to whom was referred the Petition of Lydia Paddock, in behalf of her husband, Thomas Paddock, have attended that service, and have considered the said Petition and Answer thereto, and fully beard the parties: It appearing to the Committee that the said Thomas Paddock is not a friend to his Country, where by there is danger the said Paddock may serve the enemies of this Country, by supplying them with Provisions, &c.: