from the Committee, of Safety, desiring some assistance from this town, by men to guard and defend that town, for a short, time, as by their letter, herewith exhibited, may more fully appear. Your petitioners laid said letter before the town. The town thought it absolutely necessary that the Town of Gloucester should be well guarded, and agreed that, notwithstanding we had a large number of men already in the Army, if fifteen more would inlist themselves, to guard the Town of Gloucester for the term of fifteen days, they should be paid at the same rate per month as the soldiers had in the Army, (not doubting but it would be made a general charge,) and also six shillings per week to each man for his support while there; on which encouragement, thirteen privates, one drummer, and Lieutenant Samuel Cummings, an officer in the Militia, under whose command they inlisted for that service, making fifteen in the whole, marched to Gloucester, on the 31st of said October, and returned home again at the expiration of fifteen days. Your petitioners, therefore, pray that your Honours would order such allowance to pay the said soldiers for their service and support, as is allowed and paid to the soldiers in the Army for the like term of time, and in the same stations."

In the House of Representatives: Resolved, That there be paid out of the Treasury of this Colony unto Deacon Gold, Representative for the town of Topsfield, the following sums, viz:

In Council: Read, and concurred.

Petition of John Bunker, of Mount Desert, in the County of Lincoln, Mariner, setting forth: "that your petitioner, on the 24th of November last, by his own device, took and secured a schooner, between fifty and sixty tons, from Fort Cumberland, in Nova-Scotia, Isaac Danks, master, bound for Boston, laden with cattle, butter, cheese, roots, &c., which vessel your petitioner carried into Goldsborough, and left her in the care of one Mr. William Nichols; your petitioner prays your Honours that he may be ordered the possession of the said schooner, to remove her to some secure place for the benefit of himself and his country, or where your Honours shall see fit."

In the House of Representatives: Whereas, Mr. John Bunker and others did, on the 24th day of November last, at Mount-Desert, take a schooner, called the Falmouth Packet, Isaac Danks, master, laden with live stock, butter, cheese, sauce, &c., and in our enemy's service, bound to Boston; and said Bunker not knowing any provisions made in such cases, delivered said schooner and cargo into the hands of the Committee of Goldsborough, till he should have the order of this Court thereon;

Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee of Goldsborough aforesaid, be, and they hereby are directed to deliver said schooner with her cargo, or the proceeds thereof, if the same or any part thereof has been disposed of by said Committee, as also, the papers and appurtenances to her belonging, unto the said John Bunker, that said vessel may be brought to trial at some court of justice, erected by the General Court of this Colony, to try the capture of vessels.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

The Committee of both Houses, who were appointed a Committee to inquire into the conduct of the Officers stationed at Falmouth, have attended that service, and, upon the best inquiry, cannot find that any of said Officers have been guilty of breaking their orders at the time of the late fire in that town; and as there is no evidence against them in that respect, the Committee are of opinion their Muster-Rolls pass for payment according to the establishment.

In Council: Read, and accepted, and

Thereupon, Resolved, That the Committee on Muster-Rolls be directed to pass on the Rolls of the Officers stationed at Falmouth, in common with others, without preference or distinction.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and concurred.

In the House of Representatives: Whereas, Mr. Samuel Philips, Jun., has proposed to build a Mill, with all expedition, at Andover, for manufacturing Gunpowder, and this Court is willing to give all reasonable encouragement to so important and necessary an undertaking;

It is therefore, Resolved, If the said Mill shall be erected within a reasonable time, in the judgment of the General Court, that during the term of one year next, after the said Mill shall be erected and fitted to go, there shall be delivered to the said Philips by this Colony, from time to time, so much Saltpetre as shall be sufficient to keep the said Mill constantly employed, provided the same can be manufactured and purchased within this Colony, at the rate and bounty which is already, or that hereafter may be established by the General Court for the same; and, also, that the Committee of this Court appointed to purchase Saltpetre, be not obliged to reserve by them at any one time a larger quantity than will be sufficient to keep the said Mill in employ for more than the term of one week. In case said Mill shall be obliged to stand still any part of said year for want of Saltpetre, and the same be made to appear to the satisfaction of this Court, said Philips shall be allowed to receive a sufficient quantity of Saltpetre to employ said Mill the same length of time it was obliged to stand still, and to manufacture it into powder, on the same terms, as during the aforesaid year. And in case said Philips requires it, there shall be delivered to him so much Sulphur as is necessary to manufacture the Saltpetre into Gunpowder, he, the said Philips, paying this Colony the first cost of the Sulphur, and he, the said Philips, shall, at his own expense not only provide a sufficient quantity of good charcoal for all the Gunpowder he shall manufacture for the Colony, but also provide, and keep at his own cost, a good and sufficient guard at his Powder-Mill at all times, to prevent any wicked and designing persons from destroying the same, and to be at all other necessary expenses in manufacturing said Powder. The said Philips shall enter into bonds, as the Council shall order, that he will well and truly deliver the Commissary-General of this Colony so many pounds of good merchantable Gunpowder, as he shall be able to manufacture of the Saltpetre which he shall receive of the Colony, or any Committee appointed by the General Court to manufacture or procure the same; and also, be at the expense of transporting said Powder to the Colony Store, and of transporting to his said Mill, such Sulphur and Saltpetre as the Colony or the Committee of said Colony shall deliver him; and also, that he will cause to be published, all the discoveries which be shall make relative to the construction of said Mill and the manufacturing Powder, as aforesaid.

And it is also, Resolved, That the said Philips shall be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, eight Pence per pound, for as many pounds of good merchantable Gunpowder as he shall manufacture of the Saltpetre, which he shall receive of the Colony as aforesaid, on his delivering such Gunpowder to the Commissary of the Colony.

And it is also, Resolved, That the several Committees that are, or may be appointed by the General Court, to procure Saltpetre or Sulphur, are hereby directed to deliver said Philips, from time to time, so much Saltpetre and Sulphur as shall be sufficient to keep the said Mill constantly employed as aforesaid, and to take duplicate receipts thereof, specifying the quantity of each, and also the price of the Sulphur, one whereof shall be lodged with the Commissary aforesaid, and the other said Committee are directed to keep.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

In the House of Representatives: Ordered, That there be a Committee of both Houses to consider the Resolves passed the 9th ultimo, relative to withholding Supplies from Nantuckct, and to consider some relief for the Inhabitants of Martha's Vineyard.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Jedediah Foster, Esq., is joined.

In Council: Ordered, That Charles Chauncy, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to examine the Accounts of the Committee of Council appointed to concur and pay Accounts.