what is proper to be done relative to the Nantucket people’s giving the Bonds required by this Court, apply to the Receiver-General for such Bonds as have been received by him.

Charles Chauncy, Esq., brought down a Letter from the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Marblehead, relative to the capture of a Vessel belonging to New-Providence, and a state of facts reported thereon by a Committee from the honourable Board, viz:

“The Committee appointed to take into consideration the lettter, from, the Committee of Correspondence of Marblehead, beg leave to report facts: That by the logbook it appears that the Schooner Industry, (being the schooner mentioned in said letter, ) Francis Butler, master, sailed from Boston for New-Providence, July 24, 1775; arrived at Providence, August 25; sailed again from Providence for Boston, September 6, and came into Marblehead, September 27, 1775. And by the best accounts we can at present obtain, she has the following cargo, viz: about one hundred and fifty Turtles, (one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty, as the Mate says;) nineteen barrels of Limes; one thousand four hundred Lemons, (two thousand as the Master says;) two thousand one hundred Oranges, (twelve hundred as the Master says;) cash, three or four hundred Dollars, and thirty or forty numbered chests or packages opened. Josiah King, Mr. Josiah Clark, and Captain Butler, owners.

“The clearance papers are for Salem, but the log-book says for Boston. Captain Butler says, that he made signal of distress, but our boats would not speak with him. The Master told the Mate, as was said to the Captain’s face, ‘that it was a bad affair, being in our hands, ’ and was angry about the delivery of the log-book. The Master says, that he was fired at in the bay, near the Light-House. He says, that he would have run the vessel upon the rocks, rather than have fallen into our hands; but says, he was bound to Salem.

“Josiah Nottage, Jun., mate, says, that the permit or pass, from the Admiral at Boston, was to go to New-Providence, and return to Boston; but that in the harbour they took the pass from Butler, and gave a receipt for it. Says that she was bound to Salem; that Lewis Gray had about thirty or forty dollars on board, and the Captain about three or four hundred dollars; that he expected a man-of-war in Marblehead harbour; spoke with no armed vessel in the bay; heard several guns, but does not know whether any were fired at them or not. The Captain says, that he was fired at by a brig and tender, in the bay; that he (the Captain) had both a pass and permit—but the pass was taken from him, and a receipt given, but had it not about him; one hundred and eighty pieces of eight, belonging to Captain Daniel Martin, in Boston, and a little cash belonging to himself.”

“In Council, September, 29, 1775.

“Read and accepted; and thereupon,

“Ordered, That Charles Chauncy, Esquire, and Joseph Palmer, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to take the foregoing matter under consideration, and report what is proper to be done with the said vessel and cargo.”

Read and concurred; and Colonel. Orne, Mr. Gerry, and Mr. Sullivan are joined.

The Committee appointed to employ some person to attend the Muster-Master General, to obtain a return of the Massachusetts Forces, reported, that they had engaged Mr. John Kneeland for that purpose. The Report was accepted, and the said Committee was directed to inform Mr. Kneeland that the House approve of him for that service.

Charles Chauncy, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee appointed to form a proper Preamble or Introduction to the Acts of this Colony, lately passed.

“In Council, September 29, 1775.

“The Committee of both Houses appointed to form a proper Introduction to the Acts of this Colony, lately passed, have attended that service, and are of opinion that the Introduction be in the words following, viz: ‘Acts and Laws passed by the Great and General Court or Assembly of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, begun and held at Watertown, upon Wednesday, the 19th day of July, 1775.’

“Read and accepted; and thereupon,

“Resolved, That the Introduction to the Acts of this Colony, passed the last session, be in the words following, viz: ‘Acts and Laws passed by the Great and General Court or Assembly of the Massachusetts-Bay, begun and held at Watertown, upon Wednesday, the 19th day of July, 1775.’”

Read and concurred.

A Memorial and Petition of Isaac Backus, Agent for the Baptist Churches, was read, and Thursday next, at three o’clock in the afternoon, was assigned for the consideration of it.

Afternoon.

The Committee on the Petition from Waldoborough reported.

The Report was ordered to lie till there is a fuller House.

The Bonds of those people of Nantucket who have applied for Permits to send their vessels on whaling voyages being laid before the House, were examined, and the Committee were directed to lodge them with the Receiver-General; and the adventurers aforesaid were permitted to proceed on said voyages accordingly.

Ordered, That Colonel Orne, Mr. Gerry, and Mr. Sullivan, with such as the honourable Board may join, be a Committee to consider the circumstances of the capture of a Brig, bound from Quebeck to Boston, and carried into Cape-Ann, and report what is proper to be done thereon.

In Council, October 2, 1775: Read and concurred; and Charles Chauncy and Joseph Palmer, Esqs., are joined.

The Committee on the Petition of a number of Prisoners in Concord Jail reported. The Report was recommitted.

Ordered, That Mr. Story, Colonel Thompson, and Captain Parker, be a Committee to consider at large the subject of a Petition of Philip Bass, Junior, and Edward Carnes, Jun., relative to the Sloop Belisle, taken off Seguin-Island, and carried into Kennebeck River; and report.

A Petition of the Selectmen of the Town of Springfield, praying payment of an Account, for aiding General Washington on his way through Springfield to the Camp at Cambridge, and for transporting Powder, &c., was read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

Monday, October 2, 1775.

Jedediah Foster, Esq., brought down a Letter from General Washington, and a Memorial of Captain Jacob Rogers, and other Papers relative to the request of said Rogers, for protection, &c., with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

“In Council, September 29, 1775.

“Read, and Ordered, That Samuel Holten, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to consider some proper means of protection for the said Rogers, and report.”

Read and concurred; and Colonel Orne and Mr. Wheeler are joined.

Benjamin White, Esq., brought down a Letter from Captain Jacob Rogers, setting forth the dangerous situation he is in, and praying the protection of the honourable Board, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

“In Council, October 2, 1775.

“Read, and Ordered, That Samuel Holten, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to consider the request contained in the foregoing Letter, and report.”

Read and concurred; and Colonel Orne and Mr. Wheeler are joined.

Afternoon.

A Petition of William Holland, praying that he may have liberty to fit out his Brigantine as a Privateer, and be himself commissioned as Master thereof, was read, and committed to Mr. Pitts, Colonel Thompson, and Captain Morton.

On the Memorial and Petition of Paul Mendall,

Resolved, That the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Hardwick be, and hereby are empowered to sell so much of the Stock belonging to the Estate of Timothy Ruggles, a refugee, as they shall