tions about it, &c., &c. And being retired, on consideration, Voted, That we hold ourselves under obligations of secrecy about it.; and his Honour the Deputy-Governour is desired to reward him for his trouble and expenses in coming here, and signify to him that we approve of his plan, and that it will be agreeable to have him proceed to make every necessary preparation and experiment about it, With expectation of proper publick notice and reward.

This Board having been empowered and authorized by the General Assembly in December last, to supply the Batteries at Groton, Stonington, New-Haven, &c., with Cannon and suitable Ammunition, from time to time, as they shall find necessary, and having considered and examined how, and in what manner, the same can be effected; and after the greatest care and inquiry can find no expedient to obtain them, unless by causing them to be cast and founded in the Furnace of Mr. Richard Smith, at Salisbury; and having made proper inquiry into the circumstances, &c., of said Furnace, and finding them to be such that there is a probability of success, and the matter being of so much importance, it is on consideration thought advisable to make the attempt; and is, therefore, considered, ordered, and resolved, by this Board, to improve said Furnace in the best manner for the purpose of casting Cannon and Cannon Ball, of such size and dimensions as shall be found practicable; and we directed that all proper preparations of materials of Ore, Coal, and all necessary implements for the use aforesaid, be forthwith made and provided in the best, and speediest, and most prudent manner.

And Colonel Jedediah Elderkin is hereby appointed a Committee to repair forthwith to Salisbury, and give proper orders and directions for providing every necessary material for setting forward and promoting said business, and getting every thing into the best readiness to carry on the same. And he is directed to improve, or cause to be improved for Coal, the Wood on fifty acres of land, near said Furnace, belonging to Mrs. Hamlin and Mrs. Whittlesey, heirs of the Honourable Colonel Newton, deceased, or so much thereof as shall be necessary, in manner and according to the terms and liberty given by the Reverend Mr. Whittlesey under his hand. And said Colonel Elderkin is allowed to take his son Bela, with him, to assist in any necessary services he shall be able to do, and is to make report of his doings in the premises to this Board.

This Board being informed that the Treasury of this Colony is exhausted of Money, by the many expenditures thereof, in various ways, for the support of the common rights of the United Colonies, and in particular by a considerable sum being drafted and expended for payment of the Connecticut Forces under his Excellency General Washington, near Boston, with a view to quiet the soldiery, and engage them more cheerfully to reengage in the service; and there being at this lime very pressing demands upon the Treasury for considerable sums, in order to furish and fit out the Battalion now raising, for reinforcing the Continental Army in Canada, and, also, three Regiments raising for recruiting said General Washington's Army, and without a present supply it will be impracticable to send off said how raising Troops, and there being no other apparent way to obtain it,

It is, therefore, Resolved, and Ordered, That any one of the Committee of Pay-Table, viz: William Pitkin, Thomas Seymour, Ezelriel Williams, Oliver Ellsworth, Esqs., or either of them, with such assistance as they shall judge necessary, repair forthwith to his Excellency General Washington, set before him the nature and necessity of the case, and request of him to pay and replace the sum arid sums which said Committee lately paid and advanced out of our Treasury, towards the pay and wages of said Forces in his camp by his approbation. And said Pitkin, &c., or either of them, is hereby authorized and empowered to receive the said sum, and the same, as soon as possible, lodge with the Treasury of this Colony, for the uses aforesaid, taking his receipts therefor.

Saturday, February 3, 1776.

Met according to adjournment—Present, as yesterday, except the Deputy-Governour, gone to Litchfield Court, and Esquire West, not come.

Moved by the Governour, by motion to him from Governour Griswold, that some encouragement should be given, to enable Mr. Bushnell to pay expenses incurred in preparing his Machine for the design projected, &c., and to carry forward the plan, &c., &c., it appearing to be a work of great ingenuity, &c., &c. A prospect that it may be attended with success, and being undertaken merely to serve the publick, and of considerable expense and labour, &c. It is thought reasonable that something should be done, &c.

Voted, and Ordered, That the Treasurer pay and deliver to his Honour the Deputy-Governour, the sum of sixty Pounds, to be by him improved for the use of the Colony and publick, according to instructions from, this Board. (N. B. Order drawn 25th May, 1776; delivered Deputy-Governour at Hartford.)

Voted, and Ordered, That the Committee of Pay-Table draw on the Treasurer in favour of Colonel Elderkin, for the sum of one hundred Pounds, to enable him to do the necessary to forward the Works to be done at the Furnace, at Salisbury, whither he is going by order, to prepare said Furnace for the casting of Cannon, &c.

(It is done, and the Governour lent him the Money, and his order endorsed.)

Passed an Account of Captain Harding, for service in going round the Sea-Coast to see about buying or building a Ship for defence, &c., at six Shillings per day, and expenses, two Pounds seventeen Shillings.

Appointed the Rev. Mr. Perry Chaplain for Colonel Wolcott's Regiment.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read February 9, 1776.]

Lebanon, February 3, 1776.

SIR: Your two letters of the 12th and 20th January last, enclosing the resolves of Congress of the 8th, 18th, and 20th of the same month, the first and last relative to a battalion for Canada, the other concerning Doctor Church, with the bundle of blank commissions, John Walker, your express, delivered me on the 27th.

We received on the 18th, the disagreeable news of the repulse of our troops in their attempts on Quebeck, and the fall of the brave and gallant General Montgomery, with others. On considering the necessity of reinforcing our troops in that quarter with all possible despatch, did immediately set forward raising and equipping a battalion in the northern part of this Colony. My Proclamation and orders were issued and sent thither the 20th of January. After receiving your resolves a second Proclamation was issued. I hear men inlist cheerfully, particulars of their progress, being at a distance from me, am unable to inform.

On the request of General Washington, had just before finished orders for two regiments to be raised to aid and assist General Lee in his expedition into the Colony of New-York. I hear they are filled, and numbers of gentlemen besides gone on that service; wish them success. General Washington not receiving the intelligence from Canada so early as it came to me, I received from him a requisition to raise four battalions to be marched to his camp near Boston, to reinforce the lines till 1st of April next; soon after this, he desired one to be raised for Canada, and but three for his camp; of these last, two companies are marched, and the rest of these three regiments will go forward next week.

As there appears a cheerful spirit to assist and succour our friends at Canada, I depend that some divisions of that battalion will begin their march very soon.

A difficulty arises from the want of money, our Treasury is very nigh exhausted. The twelve thousand five hundred dollars, ordered by Congress for this service, I find, since beginning to write, is received.

We have for the benefit of the common cause advanced far the greatest part of the money received from the honourable Congress, in pay of our troops at General Washington's camp, but through hurry have not had time to liquidate and prepare our accounts to lay before your body. The sum of fifty thousand pounds, requested in my latter letters, should think very safely advanced to the Colony, to be accounted for and delivered to our Delegates, to forward.