A Letter from Enoch Moody, Chairman of the Committee of Falmouth, representing the distressed situation of that Town, and praying assistance and direction. Read and sent up.

A Petition of the Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Salem, setting forth that many Poor, who entered there since the commencement of the present troubles, are now in the Continental Army, and have left families that are supported at the expense of that Town; praying direction of the Court. Read, and committed to Mr. Rice, of Pownalborough, Captain Clark, and Mr. Morgan.

A Petition of Henry Knox, praying leave to exchange House Furniture, which he left in Boston, with Henry Barnes, late of Marlborough, which he has now in his power. Read, and committed to Mr. Story, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Lock.

A Petition of Joseph Hawley, Esq., in behalf of the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Northampton, setting forth that several of the Officers and Privates who were sent there by the honourable Council, in August last, for safe-keeping, are in great need of Clothing, and praying for direction.

Read, and committed to Colonel Thurston, Colonel Porter, and Mr. Hall.

Mr. Story, agreeable to order, reported a Resolve for payment of the Soldiers stationed at Marblehead.*

Read and accepted.

Resolved, That the Treasurer of this Colony be, and he hereby is ordered to pay unto Mr. Elbridge Gerry and Colonel Orne the sum of two hundred and sixty-nine Pounds, five Shillings, to be by them applied towards paying the Soldiers, stationed at Marblehead, for one month’s billeting, and also paying each of the Officers and Men, stationed there, one month’s wages, in addition to what they have already received; they to be accountable to this Court for the same.

In Council, November 6, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Resolve for completing the Muster-Rolls, brought down the 3d instant, read and concurred, with the amendments.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Captain Partridge, Mr. Story, and Mr. Dix, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to examine the Muster-Rolls as they shall be returned; and, as they shall pass, to present them to the honourable Board, in order for payment.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Captain Partridge, Mr. Rice, of Pownalborough, and Mr. Hopkins, be a Committee to prepare the form of a Muster-Roll for the Soldiers stationed on the sea-coast.

The Committee for settling Accounts with the Committee of Supplies reported.

Read, and Ordered, That the Report lay on the table for the inspection of the Members.

Mr. Pitts, agreeable to order, reported a form for a Precept to issue to the late Inhabitants of Boston; which was read and accepted.

Afternoon.

A Petition of John Baker, in behalf of the Town of Rowley and the neighbouring Towns, assembled at Gloucester, setting forth the consequence of that Harbour for covering and succoring the friends of the United American Colonies, and praying that a Committee may be sent to take a view of the same.

Read, and Ordered, That Mr. Gould, Major Cross, and Mr. Hubbard, be a Committee to repair to Gloucester, for the purpose mentioned in the Petition, and report at the next meeting of this Court.

The Report concerning the payment of the Militia and Minute-Men, who mustered on and about the 19th of April, read, and committed to Major Hawley, Mr. Rawson, Mr. Gerry, Colonel Sayer, and Mr. Rice, of Pownalborough.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Orne, Mr. Hulbard, and Major Ely, be a Committee to procure a Resolve of this Court, which passed the House on the 31st of October, for encouraging the manufacturing of Saltpetre; also a Resolve for encouraging the manufacturing of the Fire-Arms, to be printed in handbills, and dispersed to the several Towns in this Colony as soon as possible.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Speaker wait on General Washington, and inquire if he has any objections to the publishing of Dr. Church’s Letter; and if he has, to ask that he would favour us with his reasons.

Tuesday, November 7, 1775.

On the Petition of Henry Knox, * the Committee reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That the Petitioner have leave to make use of the Household Furniture of the said Henry Barnes, he giving a receipt to the Committee of Correspondence, or the Selectmen of the Town of Marlborough, for what he shall so receive, and he to be accountable to this Court for the same.

In Council, November 7, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Report of the Committee for settling Accounts with the Committee of Supplies. Read again, and ordered to be recommitted, that a Resolve thereon be draughted.

Samuel Holten, Esq., came down from the honourable Board with a message, desiring that the House would lay before them a Resolve of the Continental Congress, to which reference is had in a late Order of this House, proposing a Joint Committee for considering the method of appointing Officers in the Militia.

Ordered, That Colonel Porter go to the honourable Board with the Resolve of the Continental Congress respecting the appointing Officers in the Militia.

Upon a motion, Resolved, That the President and Fellows of Harvard College be, and hereby are directed to remove the Library and Apparatus belonging to the said College, or such parts of them as they shall judge immediately necessary for the present instruction of the Students, from the places where they are now deposited, by an order of the late Congress, to Concord; and that they lay an account of the expense of such removal before this Court.

In Council, November 7, 1775: Read and concurred.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Rice, of Pownalborough, be of the Committee to repair to Gloucester, and to take a view of the Harbour, in the room of Mr. Hubbard.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That no private Petition be received hereafter, during the present sitting of this Court, without special leave therefor.

Afternoon.

An Account of Samuel Phillips, Junior, for sundry articles provided for the use of General Washington, by order of Congress, read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

John Taylor, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board a Resolve concerning the necessary qualifications of Retailers to receive Licenses.

* Petition of AzorOrne and Elbridge Gerry humbly showeth: That they being Representatives of the Town of Marblehead, that, by a late application of the Selectmen, by order of said Town, your petitioners find that the distresses of its inhabitants, by means of their poverty, and present danger of an attack from the enemy, without the means of defence, are exceeding great. Should such an event take place, and the enemy, by a near approach to the Town, be able to cannonade and burn the same, a great proportion of its inhabitants would be instantly reduced to a situation which your petitioners beg leave to be excused from describing. ’Tis with reluctance that your petitioners apply, on any occasion, to this honourable Court, when so pressed with the most important concerns; but the duty which they owe to their constituents obliges them, in their behalf, to pray your Honours that the wages and billeting money due to the established soldiers, posted in said Town, may be forthwith ordered to be paid them; that some supply of ammunition, if the circumstances of the Government will admit thereof, be sent to the inhabitants, to enable them, with advantage, to improve a fortification which, at a considerable expense and labour, they have lately began, and have now nearly erected; and that such provision for receiving into the country and supporting those inhabitants of said Town who, in case of the destruction of their habitations, would be destitute of the means of subsistence, may be made, as to your Honours shall seem meet. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

* Petition of Henry Knox humbly showeth: That your petitioner having been obliged to leave all his goods and house furniture in Boston, which he has no prospect of ever getting possession of again, nor any equivalent for the same, therefore begs the honourable Court, if they in their wisdom see fit, to permit him to exchange house furniture with Henry Barnes, late of Marlborough, which he now has it in his power to do. And your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.