Moses Gill, Esq., brought down a Petition of the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Worcester, setting forth, that one Monsieur Viart, under custody of the Committee of Safety there, stands in need of Clothing, and praying the consideration and direction of this Court.

Read, and committed to Colonel Howe, Colonel Doane, and Colonel Mclntosh.

Wednesday, October 11, 1775.

The Committee on the Proceedings of the Committee of Deer-Island, relative to the Schooner Nightingale, reported. After debate thereon, the question was put, whether said Report be accepted; and it was passed in the negative.

It was then moved that a Committee be appointed to bring in a Resolve directing the said Committee of Deer-Island to retain the Schooner abovementioned in their custody, till the further order of this Court; and the question being put, after much debate thereon, it passed in the negative.

It was then, on a motion made, Voted, That the vote for non-accepting of the above Report be reconsidered, and that four o’clock in the afternoon be assigned for a further consideration thereof.

Afternoon.

Message from a majority of the honourable Council, viz:

“Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

“We have taken under consideration your message of the 9th instant, relative to certain armed vessels at Long-Island, near Penobscot, to protect and guard those who are employed in cutting and transporting wood to Boston, for the use of the Ministerial Army; and, after the strictest inquiry, we find that there now are, or very lately have been, sixteen vessels at Long-Island, one twenty gun ship, one of sixteen guns, two tenders, ten large transports, and two wood sloops, who are taking wood from thence. And that Colonel Cargill had, ten days since, collected about five hundred men, with sixteen days’ provisions, and a sufficient number of boats to transport them from the main to the said islands; that he apprehended he had a force sufficient to prevent the enemy’s executing their purpose. It does not, therefore, appear to us necessary, at present, to make any further provision.”

Read, and ordered to lie.

Eldad Taylor, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee of both Houses to whom was referred the consideration of the Letter from Ambroise and Pierre Toma, two heads of the St. John’s Tribe of Indians, viz:

“The Committee of both Houses, to whom was referred the consideration of the letter from Ambroise and Pierre Toma, two of the heads of the St. John’s Tribe of Indians, in behalf of their tribe, and to confer with them, beg leave to report: That they have attended that service, and apprehend it may be of great service to this Colony, at this time, to cultivate a good harmony with the tribe of Indians near the settlements in North-America; to effect and continue which, and to prevent their seeking supplies from our enemies, they are of opinion that such a quantity of ammunition be procured, and sent to Penobscot, to the Truck-master there, as may be necessary to furnish that tribe, as the time draws nigh when they usually go a hunting. That there also be sent to the said Truckmaster a quantity of provisions and clothing, as shall be judged necessary to be sold them in exchange for furs that they may bring to him. That it is further the opinion of this Committee, that a letter be wrote that tribe, expressive of the desire we have that the friendship at present subsisting may be continued; that the expenses of these Indians be paid by the Colony, and such a present as this Court shall think proper be made to them, as a testimony of our friendship.

“WILLIAM SEVER, per order.”

Read and concurred.

A Letter prepared to be sent to the Continental Congress read and recommitted, and the Committee were directed to take into consideration the expense of procuring Powder from the several Towns in the Colony; and also the charge of the Massachusetts Forces.

A Letter of Captain Jacob Rogers, relative to a charge against him of assisting and refreshing the King’s Troops on the 19th of April last, and representing that his conduct has not been unfriendly to America, and therefore praying he may be freed from such an imputation, was read, and committed to Captain Stone, Deacon Codding, and Major Ely.

And thereupon Resolved, That the Petitioner notify the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Reading, and the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Stoneham, or the Selectmen of said Towns, if there are no such Committees, to attend the Committee of this House on Wednesday next, at three o’clock in the afternoon.

The House resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee relative to the Schooner Nightingale. It was then moved that the same be now accepted; and the question being put, it passed in the negative.

Thursday, October 12, 1775.

It was moved, that the vote of this House [on the 28th of September] for a non-acceptance of the Committee’s Report on the Proceedings of the Committee of Inspection of Deer-Island, relative to the Schooner Nightingale, be reconsidered; and after a long debate thereon, it was moved that the question be determined by yeas and nays; and the question being put, it passed in the negative.

The question was then put, whether the House will reconsider the vote of a non-acceptance of said Report, and it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, for the Report of the Committee relative to the two Chiefs of the St. John’s Tribe.

Eldad Taylor, Esq., brought it down accordingly.

Afternoon.

The Report of the Committee appointed to consider the Letter from the two Chiefs of the St. John’s Tribe of Indians was read, and committed to Captain Batchelder, Colonel Williams, and Mr. Rice.

The Committee appointed to consider the services of all the Officers and Soldiers, &c., before the first day of August last, reported. Read and recommitted; and Major Cross was appointed on the Committee, in the room of Major Hawley.

The Committee on the Petition of the Selectmen of Salem reported. The Report was recommitted.

A Petition of Andrew Gilman, praying a recompense for his services in cultivating a friendly disposition in the Indians, was read, and committed to Captain Batchelder, Colonel Williams, and Mr. Rice.

Ordered, That Major Brooks, Mr. Rawson, Colonel Barret, Colonel Thurston, and Mr. Moody, be a Committee to consider what is proper to be done relative to the Accounts of such Towns as have made provision for the Poor of the Towns of Boston and Charlestown.

Voted, That ten o’clock, to-morrow forenoon, be assigned for the consideration of the Report relative to Saltpetre.

Ordered, That Major Ely be on the Committee to consider some effectual measure for promoting the manufactory of Fire-Arms, in the room of Colonel Davis.

Friday, October 13, 1775.

Lieutenant William Clark, chosen by the Inhabitants of the Town of Gageborough, to represent them in the room of Captain William Clark, deceased, (as was made to appear by a Certificate from the Selectmen of said Town, ) was admitted to a seat in the said House.

Jabez Fisher, Esq., brought down the Bill for the better regulating the Militia of this Colony.

Voted, That four o’clock, in the afternoon, be assigned for the consideration of the Report of a Committee relative to Saltpetre.

The Letter prepared to be sent to the Continental Congress read again, and recommitted for amendment; and the Committee were directed to estimate the charge of the Massachusetts Forces, agreeable to our own establishment.

The Committee on the Petition and Accounts of the Selectmen of the Town of Salem, for Fire-Arms, Blankets,