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In Council: Read, and Ordered, That the Petitioners, as soon as may be, serve the Inhabitants of the Town of. Newton with an attested copy of this Petition and Order, by leaving it with the Town-Clerk of the said town, that they may show cause, if any they have, on Tuesday, the 26th current, why the prayer of said Petition should not be granted.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and non-concurred and the consideration thereof referred to the next "May session.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and ordered to be referred accordingly.

The Committee of both Houses, appointed to examine into the character and conduct of Edward Raud, touching the charge alleged against him, have attended that service, and fully heard and examined Mr. Raud touching the same; and have, also, heard Captain Epes, who was appointed by the Court to make inquiry into the affair; and, also, one of the Committee of Newburyport, who has given us an account of Mr. Raud's character, in general.

Therefore, your Committee beg leave to report, as their opinion, that there is no evidence sufficient to support the charge alleged against said Raud, and that, in general, his character stands fair, and that he be discharged without further inquiry.

In Council: Read, and accepted; and Ordered, That the said Raud be discharged without further inquiry.

In the House of 'Representatives: Read, and concurred.

Petition of Ebenezer Beal, setting forth: "that he being on board of a vessel fitted out at Machias, for the purpose of taking one of His Majesty's armed Cutters, which they engaged and took on the 12th day of June last, in Machias-River, in which engagement your petitioner was wounded by a ball entering his hip, where it is now lodged, and renders your petitioner incapable of getting a livelihood. He, therefore, prays your Honours to take his case into your consideration, and grant him such relief as your Honours may think proper."

In the House of Representatives: Resolved, That there be paid, oat of the Colony Treasury, to Ebenezer Beal, of Machias, the sum of sixteen Pounds, in full, for his loss of time (six months) and his boarding.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

Petition of Ebenezer Munroe, setting forth: "that he belonged to Captain John Parker's Company, of Lexington; was, on the 1.9th day of April last, wounded by the King's troops through the right arm, which rendered him unable to labour for more than six weeks, besides being at the charge of board and of the Surgeon. Therefore, prays your Honours would take his case into your consideration, and afford him such relief as your Honours may think proper."

In the House of Representatives: Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Ebenezer Munroe, the sum of four Pounds, in full, for boarding, nursing, and doctoring.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

Adjourned till ten o'clock, to-morrow morning.

Friday, December 15, 1775.

Present in Council: Honourables William Sever, Benjamin Greenleaf, Walter Spooner, Caleb Cushing, John Winthrop, Jedediah Foster, James Prescott, Eldad Taylor, John Whetcomb, Benjamin Lincoln, Charles Chauncy, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, Moses Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquires.

Mr. Hopkins came up with a message from the House, to inform the Board that the House were ready to come to the choice of five Delegates, by joint ballot, to represent this Colony in American Congress.

Agreeable to assignment, Mr. Palmer went down with a message to the House, to inform them that the Board are now ready to proceed to the choice of five Delegates, by joint ballot, agreeable to the proposal of the honourable House.

The Committee of both Houses, appointed to sort the votes for five Delegates, to represent this Colony in American Congress, reported that the number of votes were

On the part of the Board,	17
On the part of the House,	112
Total,	129

Sixty-five makes a vote.

The Hon. John Hancock, Esq., had

129

"Hon. Samuel Adams, Esq.,

124

"Hon. John Adams, Esq.,

126

"Hon. Robert Treat Paine, Esq.,

And were accordingly chosen.

Mr. Story came up with a message from the House, to inform the Board that the Delegates now chosen were to remain in that office till December next, if agreeable to the Board.

Mr. Spooner went down with a message to the House, to inform them that the Board agreed to the time limited by the House for commission of the Delegates in American Congress.

Mr. Story came up with a message from the House, to inform the Board that the House proposed to come to the choice of Officers to command at Gloucester, by joint ballot, at ten o'clock, to-morrow, if agreeable to the honourable Board.

Jedediah Foster, Esq., went down with a message to the House, to inform them that the Board had agreed to the foregoing proposal of the honourable House.

Adjourned till ten o'clock, to-morrow morning.*

Saturday, December 16, 1775.

Present in Council: Honourables William Sever, Benjamin Greenleaf, Walter Spooner, Caleb Cushing, John Winthrop, John Whetcomb, Jedediah Foster, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley, Charles Chauncy, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, Mores Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquires.

The Committee of both Houses appointed to take into consideration sundry Resolves of the Continental Congress, and report, have attended that service; and report on the Resolve of said Congress, dated October the 26th, 1775, as their opinion, that a Committee of both Houses be appointed to engage and fix out, with all possible despatch, on the account and risk of this Colony, ten vessels, to be laden with as much provision, horses, or any other produce of this Colony, except horned cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry, as they may deem necessary; for the importation of ammunition, sulphur, and saltpetre, arms, and German steel, for manufacturing gun-locks, &c.; and that the said Committee be empowered to give orders to the commander of such vessel, to export the said cargo to the foreign West-Indies, for the purposes aforesaid. All which is humbly submitted.

In Council: Read, and sent down.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and accepted.

In Council: Read, and concurred; and, thereupon

Resolved, That William Sever, Benjamin Greenleaf, and Moses Gill, Esquires, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee for the purposes mentioned in the above Report.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and concurred; and the Speaker, Colonel Orne, Captain Foster, and Major Cross, are joined to the Committee of the honourable Board.

Mr. Batchelder came up with a message from the House,

* HAVERHILL, December 7, 1775.—SIR: I am informed by the Deputy Secretary's letter, that I have lately been appointed by the honourable Council for this Colony a Justice of the Superior Court.

I think I am truly sensible of the great and unexpected honour conferred on, and the great trust reposed in me by that appointment. To continue in a private station would be much more agreeable to my natural bash flunks, yet, when my country calls, it is my duty, and I think I am heartily willing to exert myself for its service. But considering the abilities requisite for, and the duties incumbent on one who sustains that office, and the difficulties attending a due discharge of those duties at all times, and more especially at this season, when the people have for a long time been, in a great measure, loose from Government, I confess I feel such a diffidence that I do not know whether I could support myself under such a burden. Did my capacity set me foremost in the list of my countrymen, for the discharge of that necessary and important office, I ought not to hesitate about undertaking it. But, while I am certain there are many whose abilities arc so much superior, I should, at such a juncture as this, rather be an enemy to my country than a friend, if I accepted it.

I have great reason to respect the honourable Council, who have thought me in any measure qualified for that station; and, was I capable of filling it with that dignity at this time requisite, I should not, as I now do, decline it. Would pray you, sir, to communicate this in such way and manner as you think would be most agreeable.

Remain, sir, your very respectful, humble servant,

NATHANIEL PEASLEE, Sergeant.