tion; and that we hear it with concern, that while we are doing justice to our men, by complying with our contract with them, that it should produce disorders in the Army.

In Council: Read, and accepted; and thereupon

Resolved, That Joseph Palmer, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to wait upon his Excellency General Washington, and, with the other General Officers, to devise some method whereby the deficiency in the Army, which may be caused by the Connecticut Forces leaving the service, and the furloughs granted to part of the Forces inlisted for the next year, can be supplied, and make report. Also, that Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to draft a Letter to his Excellency General Washington, in answer to the last paragraph in his said Letter, showing the reasons of this Colony's paying their men by the lunar months. And the Speaker and Colonel Bowers are joined on the Committee to wait on his Excellency General Washington, with the other General Officers; and Colonel Orne and Mr. Gerry are joined on the Committee to report a Letter to his Excellency the General, in answer to the last paragraph in his Letter.

Adjourned to nine o'clock, to-morrow morning.

Thursday, November 30, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourables Walter Spooner, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcomb, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Moses Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin White, John Winthrop, Esquires.

Resolve of the House, appointing a Committee of both Houses, to take into consideration several Resolutions of the Continental Congress, transmitted to the Speaker of the House, from the President of the Continental Congress, read, and concurred; and Walter Spooner and John Winthrop, Esquires, are joined.

Adjourned to to-morrow morning nine o'clock.

Friday, December 1, 1775.

Present in Council: Honourables Walter Spooner, John Winthrop, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcomb, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Moses Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquires.

Report of the Committee of both Houses, appointed to confer with the General Officers, respecting reinforcing the Army, until the new Army is complete. Read, and accepted. Sent down for concurrence. Came up; concurred by the House; and Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Plympton, and Captain Carpenter, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to proportion three thousand and eight men among the Regiments, in the Counties therein mentioned.

Read, and concurred, and John Whetcomb and Benjamin Lincoln, Esquires, are joined.

Order of the House, to appoint a Committee of both Houses, to confer with his Excellency General Washington, relative to depriving the enemy of the advantages they receive from Cape-Cod Harbour. Read, and concurred, and Walter Spooner, Esq., is joined.

Order of the House, to appoint a Committee of both Houses, to take into consideration a Letter from the Honourable James Otis, Esq., relative to the enemy's being supplied from Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

Read, and concurred, and Benjamin Lincoln and Samuel Holten, Esquires, are joined.

A Letter from General Frye, relative to the Military Forces in the County of Cumberland, under his command. Read, and sent down. Came up with an order of the House thereon, appointing Mr. Gerry, Colonel Sayer, Colonel Barret, with such as the honourable Board shall join, to be a Committee to take the same into consideration, and report.

Read, and concurred, and Joseph Gerrish and John Whetcomb, Esquires, are joined.

Ordered, That Walter Spooner and Benjamin Lincoln, Esquires, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to take into consideration the stale and circumstances of the Sea-Coast, and report whether, in their opinion, the whole, or any part of the men stationed for the defence thereof, can, with safety, be discharged; if any can be, in what part of the Colony.

Saturday, December 2, 1775.

Present in Council: Honourables Walter Spooner, John Winthrop, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcornb, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten Moses Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin, White, Esquires.

Adjourned to nine o'clock, Monday morning.

Monday, December 4, 1775.

Present in Council: Honourables Joseph Gerrish, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Charles Chauncy, Michael Farley Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Jabez Fisher, Esquires.

A Letter from Robert H. Harrison, Esq., Aid-de-camp to his Excellency General Washington, giving information that a number of persons were to be sent out of Boston by the enemy this day, infected with the small-pox. Read, and sent down.

In the House of Representatives: Whereas, it is necessary that a number of men should be immediately raised, agreeable to a Resolve of this Court, of yesterday, and as it appears to this Court, that the men stationed upon the Sea-Coast in the Towns of Newbury, Ipswich, Dartmouth, Rochester, and Wareham, may, without inconveniency, be spared from any further service in guarding the Sea-Coasts in those towns,

Therefore, Resolved, That the men stationed on the Sea-Coasts in the Towns of Newbury, Ipswich, Dartmouth, Rochester, and Wareham, be, and they hereby are, dismissed from the service aforesaid, from and after the 5th day of December instant, and that no further pay or allowance be made them for the service after that time.

In the House of Representatives: Whereas, by a resolve of this Court, passed on the 1st of December instant, the Commanding Officer in the Town of Lincoln was directed forthwith to assemble the Militia of that town, and cause the number of thirteen men to be inlisted to join the American Army;

And whereas, by a late resolve, the Inhabitants of the said town are directed to supply a certain quantity of wood for the use of said Army, which renders it inconvenient that any men should be taken from said town at this time,

Resolved, That the Commanding Officer of the Town of Lincoln be, and hereby is excused, from assembling the Militia, and inlisting any men to join the American Army as aforesaid, the aforesaid resolve notwithstanding.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

Adjourned to nine o'clock, to-morrow morning.

Tuesday, December 5, 1775.

Present in Council: Honourables Walter Spooner, John Winthrop, Joseph Gerrish, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Charles Chauncy, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquires.

* TO THE HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.

SIR: I must pray your Honour to acquaint the Council that, though I would gladly continue to officiate as Chaplain, yet, considering the difficulties that the winter season will lay me under, and the additional service necessarily falling upon me through the destitute condition of the late Reverend Mr. Adams's people, I find myself incapable of entertaining the hope of performing the duty; and must, therefore, humbly pray the honourable Council to excuse my continuing Chaplain.

Your Honour's humble servant,

WILLIAM GORDON.

November 29, 1775.

IN COUNCIL, November 29, 1775: Read, and ordered to be entered

on the files of Council.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.