Afternoon.

Resolved, That there be granted and allowed, to be paid out of the publick Treasury, to the Honourable James Warren, Esq., the sum of four Shillings per diem, for every day of his attendance in the General Court, during its several Sessions, over and above his pay as a member of this House.

In Council, October 4, 1775. Read and concurred.

Resolved, That the Thanks of this House be given to the Honourable James Warren, Esq., for his faithful services as President of the late Provincial Congress.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve respecting the Corporation and Overseers of Harvard College reported, Read and accepted.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the said Corporation and Overseers not to appoint any persons as Governours or Instructors, but such whose political principles they can confide in; and also to inquire into the principles of such as are now in office, and dismiss those who, by their past or present conduct, appear to be unfriendly to the liberties and privileges of the Colonies; and the Secretary is hereby directed to serve the President of Harvard College, and the Secretary of the Board of Overseers, severally, with a copy of this Resolve.

In Council, October 4, 1775: Read and concurred.

Walter Spooner, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee appointed to consider what was proper to be done with the two Vessels lately taken and carried, one into Cape-Ann, and the other into Marblehead.

Ordered, That a Message go to the honourable Board, desiring them to send down all the Papers that relate to the capture of the two Vessels aforesaid.

Ordered, That Mr. Hall, Mr. Caldwell, and Deacon Gould, be on the Committee to consider the Proceedings of the Committee of Deer-Island, in the room of Mr. Jewett, Deacon Rawson, and Mr. Gerry, excused.

Ordered, That a Message go to the honourable Board, desiring them to direct the Committee who were appointed to bring in a Militia Bill to sit forthwith.

The Report on the Petition from the Committee of Waldoborough. Read, and not accepted; and the Petitioners have leave to withdraw their Petition.

Charles Chauncy, Esq., brought down the Papers relative to the two captures; and at the same time informed the House that the honourable Board had agreed to the further assignment of Friday next, at ten o’clock, for the choice of Civil Officers.

The Report of the Committee appointed by both Houses to consider the capture and disposal of the Schooner Industry, Francis Butler, master, and her Cargo, was read, amended, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Marblehead be, and they hereby are directed to return an Inventory of the said Cargo to this Court, on oath, and cause said Cargo to be sold at publick vendue, and after paying the necessary charges of taking care of said Vessel and Cargo, and the sale of the same, that they bring, or cause to be brought, the remainder of the Money that said Cargo may sell for into the publick Treasury of this Colony, taking the Treasurer’s receipt for the same, there to be held till the further order of the General Assembly of this Colony; that the Money on board said Schooner, said to be the property of some inhabitants of Boston, be also delivered to the said Treasurer, taking his receipt therefor, that this Court may have opportunity to determine the propriety of delivering the same, whenever the owners shall appear.

And it is further Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence be directed to have the said Schooner appraised by three persons, under oath, and that they make return of said appraisement to this Court, as soon as may be; and that the said Schooner be delivered to the order of his Excellency General Washington, for him to improve as an armed vessel, he giving a receipt for the same, duplicate of which shall be lodged in the said Treasurer’s office.

It is also further Resolved, That the men who were present aiding and assisting in the capture of said Vessel, shall be allowed, out of the publick Treasury, such sums as this Court shall hereafter determine; they proving, by a certificate from said Committee, to the satisfaction of this Court, that they were so assisting.

The Report of the Committee appointed by both Houses to consider the capture and disposal of the Brigantine Dolphin, William Wallace, master, was read, amended, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety for the Town of Gloucester be, and they hereby are directed to deliver the Master of said Vessel his Wearing Apparel and Cabin Furniture, and that they also deliver the Mate and foremast hands thereof any Small property or adventure they may have on board; and that the said Committee of Safety, as soon as may be, return a true Inventory of the said Cargo to this Court, under oath, and that they cause the same, except what is to be delivered as aforesaid, to be sold at publick vendue, and to bring, or to cause to be brought, the Money that the same may produce into the publick Treasury of this Colony, and take the Treasurer’s receipt for the same, there to be held till some further order of the General Court.

And it is further Resolved, That the said Committee of Safety be directed to have the said Brigantine appraised by three men, under oath, and that they make return of said Appraisement to this Court, as soon as may be; and that the said Brigantine be delivered to his Excellency General Washington’s order, for him to improve her as an armed vessel, for defence of the Country; he giving his receipt for the same, a duplicate of which receipt said Committee are directed to lodge in the Treasurer’s office aforesaid.

And it is also Resolved, That there shall be allowed, out of the publick Treasury, to those persons who were present and assisting in the capture of said Vessel, such sums as this Court shall hereafter determine; they proving, by a certificate from said Committee or otherwise, to the satisfaction of this Court, that they were so assisting.

Wednesday, October 4, 1775.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare Accounts to be laid before the Continental Congress bring in a Resolve purporting some method of applying to said Congress for a gross sum, as a reimbursement of our expenses in the American cause, till said Accounts can be properly prepared and supported.

The Committee to receive Fire-Arms reported. The Report was recommitted.

Whereas some persons, in order to break through the Association, entered into by the Continental Congress in behalf of their constituents, and to contravene the Resolutions of the late Congress of this Colony, have ordered their Vessels into the eastern parts of this Province, and the good people there have been at great expense and trouble in coming to and attending on the General Court, to take necessary orders for the disposal of such Vessels by them so taken into custody; and whereas, to ease the people of this expense, it becomes necessary, in the present exigency of publick affairs, to have a more certain inquiry made into the reason of such captures, before the General Court shall take them under consideration:

It is therefore Resolved, That Samuel Jordan, Esq., Daniel Merritt, Alexander Campbell, William Nichols, John Bayne, John Springer, Joseph Wood, James Richardson, Adam Cogswell, Thomas Stincon, John Bateman, Thomas Milliken, and Ivory Hovey, be a Committee, until the further order of this or some future General Court of

*Petition of Jeremiah pote and Thomas Wyer humbly sheweth: That they being accused, by the Committee of Inspection of the Town of Falmouth, of counteracting the Association of the late honourable Congress of this Colony, by sending dry Fish to the West-Indies, are desirous of haying their cause before the General Court as soon as may be, that their conduct may appear in its true light, whereby they hope to, be delievered from all suspicion of being enemies to their Country; and they beg leave to assure this honourable Court, that they think they have and still do design religiously to adhere to and pursue every measure that is or shall be ordered for the defence of American liberty. And they, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.