Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing Report be laid before his Excellency General Washington.

In Council, November 2, 1775: Read and concurred.

The House being informed that Mr. Jedediah Phipps, of Sherburne, had made important improvements in the manufacture of Saltpetre, and was at the door,

Ordered, That he be admitted on the floor.

He came in accordingly; and having judiciously answered such questions as were put to him, and declared his entire readiness to communicate every discovery he had made,

Ordered, That the Committee who were directed to consider the most effectual method for encouraging the manufacturing of Saltpetre, and reported on the 31st ult., be directed to sit again on that business, and report if any further order is necessary to be taken thereon.

Ordered, That Colonel Orne be of the Committee for the purpose above mentioned, in the room of Mr. Phillips.

On the Petition of Samuel Stanwood the Committee reported. Read and accepted.

On the Representation made by Sam’l Stanwood, Chairman of the Committee of Safety and Correspondence for the Towns of Brunswick, Bowdoinham, and Topsham, *

Resolved, That the said Committees are hereby justified in their inquiries, and are directed to suffer the nine Vessels, in their Memorial mentioned, to return to Nantucket, with such necessaries as they can procure; provided, that each Master of those Vessels bind himself in a sum equal to the value of his respective Vessel and Cargo, payable to the Treasurer of this Colony, for the use of this Colony, conditioned, that he will sail directly for the Island of Nantucket, and there land the Cargo, in such Vessel contained, for the use of the inhabitants of said Island, and that the same shall not be disposed of to any other purpose; and the said Committee are hereby directed to take such Bonds, at the charge of such Masters of the said Vessels, previous to their permitting them to go out, and the same to transmit to the Treasurer of this Colony, as soon as may be.

In Council, November 2, 1775: Read and concurred.

Whereas Mr. Jedediah Phipps, of Sherburne, has produced to this Court several pounds of genuine Saltpetre, of his own manufacturing, and given full evidence of his knowledge in discovering earth impregnated therewith, as well as his abilities to manufacture said commodity; and also has consented to enter the employment of this Government, for improving the art and business aforesaid, and engaged to communicate his useful discoveries therein; therefore,

Resolved, That the said Mr. Jedediah Phipps be taken into the service of this Colony as aforesaid, until the 15th of December next, and he is hereby directed to repair to Newburyport, as soon as may be, and use his utmost efforts, with Doctor Whiting, Deacon Baker, and Captain John Peck, a Committee of this Court for the purpose aforesaid, or either of them, to make further improvements in the art of manufacturing said commodity; and for every day which he shall be absent from home, and employed agreeable to the direction of this Resolve, he shall be allowed and paid out of the publick Treasury the sum of six Shillings per day, for his service, and twenty Shillings per week, to defray his expenses, as already provided for said Committee.

In Council, November 2, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Committee directed to collect the sense of the several Resolves of former Congresses and this Court, respecting the Poor of Boston, reported.

Read, and Ordered, That Mr. Rawson, Major Brooks, and Major Jewett, compare said Report with the original Resolves.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the Report on the Memorial respecting Falmouth.

An Account of Israel Dickinson, for services at the reduction of Ticonderoga, read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Davis be of the Committee on the state of the Schooner and Cargo belonging to George Erving and Captain Wormwell, in the room of Mr. Jewett.

The Committee to consider the state of the Muster-Rolls, and report the best method to have them completed, reported, that on the back of the Rolls there be printed the following Resolve, viz:

Resolved, That any Officer or Soldier that shall be guilty of any frauds or falsehood in the return of any article or sum which he shall have received of this Colony, to be made in the within Muster-Roll, and be convicted thereof, such Officer or Soldier shall forfeit his wages, and be accordingly cashiered.

Read and accepted.

The Committee for waiting on General Washington, with a message in answer to his Letter on the articles of Wood and Hay, reported that they had delivered the message; and that the General informed them that he should want twelve thousand cords; and that he would order an estimate to be made of the Hay that would be wanted, and acquaint the Court thereof. Whereupon,

Ordered, That the Committee abovementioned, together with Mr. Dix and Mr. Ellis, take into consideration the request of General Washington, concerning the articles of Wood and Hay, and report the most effectual method of procuring them.

The Committee for considering the method of obtaining Vouchers to support the Accounts to be transmitted to the Continental Congress reported. Read and accepted.

Whereas many Vouchers are lodged in the hands of the Treasurer of this Colony, and in the Secretary’s office, that may be necessary to be produced to prove the several articles of charge to be transmitted to the Continental Congress by this Colony, which the Treasurer and Secretary may not think they can with propriety deliver out of their possession without the express directions of this Court; therefore,

Resolved, That the Treasurer and the Secretary be, and they are hereby severally directed to deliver unto the Committee appointed by this Court to prepare the accounts of charges and expenses incurred by this Colony in the defence of American liberty, to be transmitted to the honourable the Continental Congress, they, the said Committee, making out an account of the amount of the sums, supported by the several vouchers, and their date, and the names of the persons to whom any sums, as aforesaid, have been paid, and giving a receipt for the vouchers they shall receive; which receipt of said Committee shall be held good and effectual to discharge the Treasurer and the Secretary, in as full and ample manner and sort as though the vouchers had not been delivered as aforesaid.

In Council, November 3, 1775: Read and concurred.

Thursday, November 2, 1775.

A Petition of Benjamin Ames and Nathaniel Gage, in behalf of the Commission Officers in Colonel James Frye’s Regiment, praying compensation for the losses they sustained in the battle at Bunker’s Hill, read, and committed to Mr. Hubbard, Capt. Stearns, and Mr. Stickney.

The Report of the Committee on the Memorial concerning Falmouth, brought down yesterday, read, and non-concurred in the amendment proposed by the honourable Board.

* Representation of the Committee of Safety and Correspondence for the Towns of Brunswick, Bowdoinham, and Topsham: Beg leave to inform this honourable Court, that being informed that nine sail of vessels had arrived at Kennebeck, and had dispersed themselves through the various branches of said river, and were collecting fire-wood, butter, and other articles, we, therefore, thinking it our duty to wait on them, and inquire into the legality of their proceeding, have found that they had in no wise followed the direction of the Congresses or General Assembly, but were come here with only clearance from that part of the port of Boston called Nantucket, without consent of any Committee whatever, by them signified, and in direct opposition to a resolve of Congress of the 9th of June last.

We, therefore, being twelve in number, of the Committee of the several Towns above mentioned, having personally and particularly examined into this matter, and find, by the master’s own confession, that they brought with them no license from any Committee whatever, and that all their pretensions for carrying out of this place any of the above articles was a permit from one Samuel Goodwin and Samuel Emerson, two of the Committee of Safety from the Town of Pownalborough, to some of said vessels to sail out of said river, which we thought not legal. We, therefore, taking the whole into oar serious consideration, have ordered said vessels to be stopped, and hauled up, until the mind of this honourable Court is known; which determination of ours has been put into execution, and waits your Honours’ approbation.

*