sidered as part of the thirteen thousand six hundred men, agreed to be inlisted by this Colony, where they have done duty, &c.; and to request that his Excellency would order them lo be paid by the United Colonies," beg leave to represent: That as the propriety of such an order depends on various circumstances, and as many important matters are constantly soliciting his Excellency's attention, the Committee report the following state of facts, to be laid before him, so that he may be the better enabled to answer the request of this Court:

Upon application from the towns aforesaid, as also from those of Chelsea and Maiden, on or about the 1st of May last, to the Committee of Safety of this Colony, who then had the direction of raising and stationing the forces within the same, praying that they would (from a consideration of the situation of said towns, and that the enemy could land in any of them, from Boston harbour, within an hour after they enter their boats, and in some parts in less than half an hour; and, also, that they could, from thence, easily penetrate into the country,) order a detachment from the camps as a guard, to be stationed in these towns: The said Committee of Safety, with the Council of War, after full inquiry and deliberation, determined that it was necessary that a party should be constantly stationed on the sea-coasts of those towns, to watch the motions of the enemy, and prevent their landing. But as no troops could well be spared, at that time, from either of the camps of Cambridge ox Roxbury, they directed that there should immediately be raised, one company in Hingham, one in Weymouth, and two in Braintree, (also, two at Chelsea and Maiden) and that these companies should be joined to such regiments, in future, as should be directed.

The men were raised as ordered, and were then, and ever have been, considered as part of the thirteen thousand six hundred men to be raised by this Colony. They were so considered by the General Officers, and have been employed in such services, place and places, as the commanding officer at Roxbury hath, from time to time, directed, as will appear by his orders to the several Captains of said companies, some copies of which accompany this representation.

A company from Roxbury was, as soon as the state of that camp would admit of it, detached to the assistance of these (bur companies; and upon their being ordered back in August last, two other companies, also part of the Continental Army, were sent to supply their place, and the place of a company drawn from Cuhasset, a (own adjoining to Hingham. When these four companies were raised, this Colony had it not in contemplation to raise men for tire general defence of the sea-coasts, and they never have been considered by us in any other point of view than as part of our quote for the common defence; and being stationed far within the narrow limits of the harbour of Boston, his Excellency will, undoubtedly, from all these considerations, grant the reasonable request of this Court, and order these forces to be paid by the United Colonies.

In Council, December 26, 1775.

Read and accepted; and, thereupon,

Resolved, That the Committee who were appointed to wait upon his Excellency General Washington, with a representation of the state of the said four Companies, be excused that part of their service; and that the Committee appointed to wait upon his Excellency, to request his informing this Court how far he will extend his guards, &c., present him with the foregoing Report and Representation, with the papers accompanying them, and request his ordering payment to said companies.

Sent down for concurrence.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

In the House of Representatives, December 26, 1775.

By His Excellency Guy CARLETON, Captain-General and Governow-in-chief in and over the Province of QUEBECK, and the Territories depending thereon, in AMERICA, Vice-Admiral of the same, and Major-General of His Majesty's Forces, commanding the Northern District, &c., &c., &c.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, it has been found expedient to raise and embody a Militia within this city, to co-operate with, and to assist, His Majesty's troops, in this garrison, in the preservation of the city, and of the persons and property of His Majesty's good and faithful subjects, resident therein, against certain rebellious persons who have invaded this Province, a number of whom have lately appeared in arms before the walls of this town: And whereas, information has been given me, that some persons, resident here, have contumaciously refused to enroll their names in the Militia lists, and to take up arms, in conjunction with their fellow-citizens, for the purposes aforesaid; and that others, who had enrolled their names, and had, for some time, carried arms in the defence and preservation of the city, have lately laid them down: And, also, (hat some persons are busy in endeavouring to draw away, and alienate, the affection of His Majesty's good and faithful subjects, of this city, from His Majesty's person and Government: For these reasons, and in order lo rid the town of all useless., disloyal, and treacherous persons, I have thought fit to issue this Proclamation, and I do, hereby, strictly order and enjoin all and every person and persons whatsoever, liable to serve in the Militia, and residing at Quebeck, who have refused or declined to enroll their names in the Militia lists, and to take up arms in conjunction with His Majesty's good subjects of this city, and who still refuse or decline so to do, as well as those who having once taken up arms, have afterwards laid them down, and will not lake them up again, to quit the town in four days from the date hereof, together with their wives and children, and to withdraw themselves out of the limits of the District of Quebeck, before the first day of December next, under pain of being treated as Rebels or Spies, if, thereafter, they shall be found within the said limits.

And, inasmuch as the persons, who, in obedience to this Proclamation, are to quit this town and district, may have bought up a considerable quantity of the provisions brought in for the subsistence of the inhabitants of the town, and it would be imprudent to suffer those provisions to be carried out, more especially as the country abounds with the necessaries of life, I do, hereby, further order and enjoin all and every such person and persons, to deliver In, forthwith, to the Hon. George Allsop, Esq., Commissary, a true inventory or list of their provisions and stores. In order that they may be fairly and justly valued, and the full price paid to the respective proprietors, before, their departure.

Given under my hand and seal of arms, at the Castle of St. Lewis, in the City of Quebeck, this twenty-second day of November, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, in the sixteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third, by the grace of God, of Gredi Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

GUY CARLETON.

By His Excellency's command:

H. T. CRAMAHE.

GOD save the King.

DEPOSITION OF JOHN BOURS.

I, John Bours, here, in the presence of Almighty God, as I hope for ease, honour, and comfort, In this world, and happiness in the world to come, most earnestly, devoutly, and religiously swear, neither directly nor indirectly to assist the wicked instruments of Ministerial tyranny and villany, commonly called the King's Troops and Navy, by furnishing them with provisions or refreshments of any kind, unless authorized by the Continental Congress, or the Legislature, as at present established, of this particular Colony of Rhode-Island.

I do also swear, by the same tremendous and Almighty God, that I will neither, directly nor indirectly, convey any intelligence, nor give any advice to the aforesaid enemies so described; and that I pledge myself, if I should, by any accident, get the knowledge of such treason, to inform immediately the Committee of Safety.

And as it is justly allowed, that when the sacred rights and liberties of a nation or community are invaded, neu-