Afternoon.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Thurston and Mr. Allen be of the Committee to receive Accounts from the Selectmen of the several Towns, of Provisions sent to the Army, by their respective Towns, immediately after the battle at Concord.

A Petition of Nicholas Sewell and Isaias Preble, praying liberty for a Schooner to go to the West-Indies, the owners giving bond that she shall bring back the whole or most of her proceeds in Powder, or other warlike stores, if they can be purchased. Read, and committed to Mr. Bragdon, Colonel Orne, and Mr. Rice.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Orne go with a message to the honourable Board, and inquire if they have passed on a Resolve of this House, determining a more expeditious method of settling Accounts.

Colonel Foster came down from the Council Board, and informed the House that the Board had non-concurred the Resolve on settling Accounts.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That the Secretary lay said Resolve on the table.

The Secretary accordingly laid the same on the table.

The Committee for considering the most effectual measures for encouraging the manufacturing of Saltpetre reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That Doctor Whiting, a Member of the Committee appointed by this Court to improve the art and business of manufacturing Saltpetre, be directed immediately to repair again to the Colony of Connecticut, to such person or persons as upon inquiry he shall suppose to be best skilled in the said art; and after gaining the best information to be obtained relative to this matter, that he repair, with Deacon Baker, another of said Committee, directly to Newburyport, and that they, with Captain John Peck, the other of said Committee, use their utmost efforts, until the 15th day of December next, for obtaining a successful and sure method of manufacturing said commodity; and that, in addition to the sum voted by this Court as a reward to each of the said Committee for every day they should be employed in said service, there be allowed and paid out of the publick Treasury the sum of two Shillings per day, to each of them, who, from the date hereof, shall be employed in the manner and during the time aforesaid, together with twenty Shillings per week, while absent from their families, to defray their expenses; and that, agreeable to a former Resolve of this Court, they cause to be published, in the plainest manner and as early as may be, all the useful discoveries they shall from time to time make in said business, in all the newspapers of this Colony.

Also, Resolved, That the said Committee be, and they hereby are empowered, in addition to half a dollar per pound, which they were directed by this Court to give for all the Saltpetre which should be manufactured in this Colony, and delivered to them before the first of October, 1776, to pay a bounty of four shillings per pound, for all that shall be manufactured as aforesaid, before the first of June next: provided that each manufacturer shall produce to them at least fifty pounds thereof, and a certificate from a majority of the Selectmen of the Town in which it shall have been made, that it was by him manufactured.

In Council, November 1, 1775: Read and concurred.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Fessenden and Mr. Cooper be a Committee to wait on General Washington this evening, and desire him to defer giving orders in consequence of the message sent him this morning, till further application from the House.

The acceptance of the Report of the Committee on a method for obtaining Muster-Rolls reconsidered; and

Ordered, That the Report be recommitted, and the Committee be directed to present a form.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That the Report of the Committee on a more expeditious method of settling Accounts be recommitted.

Wednesday, November 1, 1775.

The Committee on General Washington’s Letter, concerning the scarcity of Wood and Hay, reported. Read and not accepted.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Captain Batchelder, Colonel Orne, Major Brooks, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Cushing, be a Committee to wait on General Washington, and acquaint him with the true reasons of the scarcity of Wood and Hay, and inquire what quantity he wants of each.

An engrossed Bill for encouraging the fitting out Armed Vessels.

Read, and Resolved, That the Bill pass to be enacted.

“In Council, November 1, 1775.

“An engrossed Bill entitled an Act for fixing out Armed Vessels to defend the Sea-Coast of America, and for erecting a Court of Justice, to try and condemn all Vessels that should be found infesting the same, having passed the House of Representatives to be enacted; read a second time, and passed a concurrence to be enacted.”

A Memorial from the Selectmen of Newburyport, setting forth that there are a number of the Poor of the Town of Boston in that Town, and that they may be supported cheaper elsewhere.

Read, and committed to Mr. Nichols, Colonel Thurston, and Mr. Ingalls.

Doctor Holten brought down from the Council Board a Report upon a Letter from General Washington, concerning affording assistance to Gloucester.

“The Committee of both Houses appointed to take into consideration a Letter from his Excellency General Washington, respecting the fortifying Cape-Ann Harbour, have attended that service, and beg leave to report, as their opinion, that his Excellency the General be desired to direct Major Mason to proceed to the Towns of Concord, Worcester, Lancaster, and Leicester, there to view the Cannon now in those Towns, and such and so many of them (being the property of this Colony) as he shall judge fit for use, and necessary for the defence of said harbour, the Town of Gloucester have leave to remove to that place. And that it be earnestly recommended to the Selectmen or Committees of the Towns aforesaid, in whose care any Cannon (not the property of this Colony) may be, and viewed as aforesaid, that they deliver them to the Town of Gloucester, on this important occasion, if needed. And that Major Mason, or the Selectmen of the Town of Gloucester, have liberty, on the credit of this Colony, to procure, from any Town or person who may have it to spare, two barrels of Powder, to be replaced as soon as the stale of the Colony will admit of it; and if not replaced, such Towns or persons to receive pay therefor, out of the Colony Treasury, at a rate not exceeding five Shillings per pound, and said Gloucester to be accountable therefor to this Court. That Captain Batchelder wait on General Washington for the purpose above mentioned, and that the Selectmen of Gloucester be immediately served with a copy of this Resolve.”

Afternoon.

The Committee appointed to make inquiry into any fraud that may be committed by any person belonging to the Forces raised by this Colony, beg leave to report: That they have summoned before them Jeremiah Hill, Jun., a Captain in the Regiment commanded by Colonel James Scammons; and said Hill declares that some time in the summer past, when the said Colonel Scammons received the month’s advance pay ordered by this Colony for his Regiment, the said Colonel Scammons took the enlisting paper which the said Hill had enlisted his Company by, and made a mark thereon, and wrote by it “Daniel Scammons, his mark,” and then took a month’s advance wages, which he said was for his son of that name, who was about ten years of age, and then at home at Peppcrellborough, in the County of York; and that the said Daniel has never been in the camp. And the said Hill further informed the said Committee, that the said Colonel Scammons ordered him to make return of said Daniel as on furlough; and that some time in August last, the said Colonel Scammons told the said Hill, that as the said Daniel had never been in the camp, he must not consider him any more as a soldier; and that the said Colonel Scammons has, during this campaign, had a son for his waiter or servant, about twelve or fourteen years old. Whereupon, the Committee beg leave to report the following Resolve: