Josiah Whitney, Colonel; Ephraim Sawyer, Lieutenant Colonel.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

In the House of Representatives: Ordered, That the Secretary immediately give notice to the gentlemen elected Field and Staff Officers of the several Regiments to be raised in this Colony, to join the Army before Boston, till the first of April next, of their appointment to said offices, respectively.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Ordered, That the Secretary give the aforesaid notice, by making out a list of the said Field-Officers, and publishing the same in Edes's and Hall's Newspapers, apprizing them of their appointment, and directing them to repair to their respective posts in the Army, with all possible despatch.

The Committee of both Houses, appointed to take into consideration the Memorial of the Selectmen of Sherburne, in the Island of Nantucket, have attended that service, and beg leave to report as their opinion, that a representation of the present state of that Island and of the conduct of the Inhabitants, be made to the American Congress, and that the Inhabitants be supplied with necessaries for their subsistence in the manner directed by a Resolve of the Congress, until their determination on such representation may be had. All which is humbly submitted.

JOHN WINTHROP, per order.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and thereupon Ordered, That a'representation to the purpose mentioned in the foregoing Report, be made to the American Congress, accordingly; and that John Winthrop, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to make said representation.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and concurred, and Mr. Brown of Boston, and Mr. Gushing of Scituate, are joined.

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

Saturday, February 3, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourables William Sever, Walter Spooner, Caleb Cushing, John Winthrop, Thomas Cashing, John Whelcomb, Jedediah Foster, Eldad Taylor, James Prescott, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley. Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holton, Jabez Fisher, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquires.

In Council: Whereas, it appears by Doctor Gelston's confession, that he has contravened the Resolves of the American Congress, and has supplied the enemies of America with sundry articles of provision; and by other evidence it appears that the said Samuel Gelston is unfriendly to the rights and liberties of this country. And whereas, the greatest danger must necessarily result from permitting such persons to go at large and continue their traitorous practices of opposing the measures adopted for our defence, and of spreading false and discouraging rumours, and of communicating information of all our operations to our unnatural enemies. And whereas, the said Gelston did make his escape from the Messenger of the honourable House of Representatives, who had him in his keeping, and it appears necessary that he should be effectually secured,

It is further Resolved, That the said Samuel Gelston be forthwith confined in some jail in this Colony, that the Council shall order, there to remain till the further order of the Council.

And whereas, it appears, by the examination of John Brown and Doctor Gelston, that the said Brown has contravened the Resolve of the American Congress, and aided the said Doctor Gelston in making his escape from the Messenger of the honourable House of Representatives, who had him in custody, and carried him to Rhode-Island, where he and the said Gelston were apprehended and secured by order of the honourable Council,

It is further Resolved, That the said John Brown be forthwith confined in some jail in this Colony, that the Council shall order, there to remain till the further order of the Council.

And whereas, there was found in the custody of the said Brown, about ten pounds weight of India Tea, which is now in the custody of the Committee of this Court,

Therefore, Resolved, That the Messenger of the honourable House of Representatives be directed to cause the said Tea to be publickly consumed by fire, this day, at one o'clock, P. M.

In Council: Read, and accepted.

In the House of Representatives;Read, and concurred.

A Bill, entitled "An Act for altering the places appointed for the holding the Courts of Justice for the County of Middlesex," having passed the House of Representatives, to be engrossed.

In Council: Read a second time and passed a concurrence, to be engrossed.

In the House of Representatives; The House made choice of Mr. Samuel Gerry, as a Commissary for the forces stationed at the Town of Marblehead.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

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

Monday, February 5, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourables William Sever, Walter Spooner, Caleb dishing, John Winthrop, John Whetcomb, James Prescott, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoin, Michael Farley, Joseph Palm r, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, Benjamin White, Esquires.

In the House of Representatives: Whereas, representation has been made by this House, that Colonel Down, of Barnstable County, has sent two vessels to the West-Indies, loaded with the produce of the Colonies; and that Mr. Solomon Davis, of said Barnstable, is now loading two vessels, and Mr. Cutt, of Saco, another; and, that a vessel at Falmouth, in Casco Bay, is likewise loading with the like produce, contrary to the Resolution of the Arnerican Congress,

Therefore, Ordered, That Mr. Speaker, Major Cross, and Mr. Story, with such as the honourable Board may join, be a Committee to make inquiry into the matter, and report what is proper to be done.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and William Sever and Waller Spooner, Esqs., are joined.

The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider the subject matter of a report of a Committee of this Court, of the 10th instant, relative to a Petition of some of the inhabitants of Majabigwaduce, against the conduct of John Bakeman, Esq.; also, sundry depositions against several of the inhabitants of said place, for threatening th; life of said Bakeman, and supplying the ships of our enemies at Boston, with provisions, &c., together with a Leter from Timothy Parsons, complaining he is in danger of his life, from a number of lawless inhabitants of Pownalborough;and a Petition of John Tufts, setting forth, that the enemies at Boston have been, and are continually supplied will] wood, &.c, by a number of inhabitants of Long Island, and praying this Court's order thereon, have carefully attended that business; and, from all the evidence they can obtain, find that the conduct of said Bakeman as a magistrate and a friend to his country is unexceptionable; and it having been made to appear to your Committee by the depositions aforesaid, as well as other witnesses, that a number of men, inhabitants of Majabigwaduce, under the colour of a Committee of Safety, and others, have been supplying the fleet of our enemies at Boston, with wood, live stock, vegetables, &c., and do still persist therein; and, in order to carry on their base and wicked practices with impunity, have, and do threaten the life of said Bakeman, (who openly opposes such wicked conduct,) and did, in a lawless, hostile manner, with clubs, &c., by force and arms, enter the house of said Bakeman in-the night, between the 4th and 5th of December last; and, as he says, robbed him of a sum of money to the value of about twenty pounds,

* COUNCIL-CHAMBER, February 2, 1776.—GENTLEMEN: The Council have taken under consideration your letter, enclosing the intercepted letter from Elisha Alliss, Jun., to Major Gray. We fully approve of your vigilance in the publick canse, and if you shall find any persons attempting to injure the credit of the Continental Bills, or any of the Bills of Credit of this or the other United American Colonies, we trust you will use your utmost endeavour to secure them, that they may reccive such punishment as is the due demerit of such crimes and misdemeanors.

The Council further direct that you take such measures that Elisha Alliss, the writer of the letter above-mentioned, do not go out of the limits of the Town of Hatfield, or hold, without your permission, correspondence with any person who may be justly deemed inimical to the liberties of America, and if you shall find that his conduct shall bo such as will endanger the publick safety, that you cause him to be committed to close confinement.

In the name and by order of the Council.

To the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Hatfield.

IN COUNCIL, February 2, 1776: Read and accepted, and ordered to be signed by the President of the Council, and forwarded.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.