appointed a Committee to agree for, and fix out, with all possible despatch, on account of this Colony, on the best terms, as many vessels as may be sufficient for the importing ten thousand barrels of Flour, two thousand casks of Rice, and one hundred tons of Pig-Iron, from any of the Southern Colonies that shall to them appear most safe, and may be effected in the most expeditious manner; and that the said Committee deliver unto the Commissary-General of this Colony the aforesaid Flour, Rice, and Iron, when imported, taking his receipt for the same.

And it is further Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, into the hands of said Committee, the sum of eighteen thousand Pounds, for the above purpose, said Committee to be accountable to this Court for the same.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Waller Spooner and Moses Gill, Esquires, are joined.

In Council: Whereas, Benjamin Greenleaf, Esquire, was appointed one of the Committee of this Court for building sundry sloops-of-war, and his attendance at the Council is necessary for the despatch of the important business of this Colony, on which account he has desired to be excused from the service of building the said sloops:

Therefore, Ordered, That Richard Derby, Esquire, be appointed on said Committee for building the said Sloops, in his room.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and concurred.

In the House of Representatives: Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Colonel Brooks, and Mr. Vose, with such as the honourable Board may join, be a Committee to make some farther experiments of the Saltpetre that is manufactured in this Colony.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Benjamin Lincoln and John Taylor, Esquires, are joined.

Adjourned to Monday morning, ten o'clock.

Monday, February 19, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourables Benjamin Greenleaf, Walter Spooner, Caleb Cushing, Thomas Cushing, John Whetcomb, Samuel Holten, Eldad Taylor, Jedediah Foster, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Jabez Fisher, Moses Gill, John Taylor, Ben. jamin White, Esquires.

Major Hawley, Colonel Freeman, Major Fuller, Mr. Cheever, and Captain Goodman, came up with a message from the House, to acquaint the Board the House is desirous of a conference with both Houses, (immediately, if the Board pleases,) on the subject of regulating Law Processes in Civil Causes, and the Proceedings of the Inferior Courts of Common Pleas in the several Counties of this Colony, until some days in the sitting of this Court after their next meeting.

Thomas Cushing, Esquire, went down with a message to inform the House that they agreed to the foregoing proposal of the House, and that, as the Council-Chamber was not sufficient to hold both Houses, the Board proposed that the Conference be held in the Meeting-House, and that the Board were ready to attend, whenever the House should signify to the Board that they were ready.

Colonel Freeman came up with a message from the House, to inform the Board that the House are now ready to proceed on the proposed Conference, and that they had proposed, also, that the President of the Council should preside at the Conference.

In the House of Representatives: Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Speaker, Colonel Brooks, Major Fuller, and Major Bliss, with such as the honourable Board may join, be a Committee to consider what is proper to be done with respect to regulating Proceedings in Civil Causes, be, and report.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Benjamin Greenleaf, Walter Spooner, Thomas Cushing, Jedediah Foster, Esquires, are joined.

In the House of Representatives: Ordered, That . . .be a Committee, with such as the honourable Board may join, to take into consideration a Letter from the Honourable James Otis, Esquire, relative to a French Vessel cast on shore on the Cape.

In Council: Read and concurred, and Benjamin Lincoln, Joseph Palmer, and Moses Gill, Esqs., are joined.

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

Tuesday, February 20, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourables Benjamin Greenleaf, Walter Spoon, er, Caleb Cushing, Thomas Cushing, John Whetcomb, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, Jedediah Foster, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Mosea Gill, John Taylor, Esquires.

In the House of Representatives: It having been the laudable practice of this Government, to recommend and appoint days for fasting and prayer, upon solemn and special occasions, besides our Annual Fast; and as this Court apprehend, that the present time is big with the most important events, to this and the other Colonies, and that these events are in the hands of the Supreme Governour of the Universe,

Therefore, unanimously Resolved, That the honourable Board be, and hereby are desired to set apart Thursday, the 7th day of March next, to be observed as a Day of Solemn Humiliation and Prayer, devoutly to implore of Almighty God, that the vocal dispensations of Providence, in the peculiar events which have lately taken place, may be duly resented, and the great end for which they are designed, happily accomplished. That He will, also, command His blessings upon our Council and Arms in the present struggle with Great Britain, for those inestimable: rights, civil and religious, with which God and Nature has invested us, and made it our duty to endeavour at every hazard to hand down to posterity; and that they cause a Proclamation to be immediately issued, and sent to the several Ministers and Pastors of the several denominations of Christians in this Colony, for the purpose aforesaid.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Ordered, That Benjamin Greenleaf, Thomas Cushing, and Jedediah Foster, be a Committee to draft a Proclamation for the purpose aforesaid, and report.

In the House of Representatives: Whereas, it is probable, it may be found for the interest of the Colony, that part of quantities of the Flour and Rice, lately ordered to be imported from the Southward, should be brought into some port eastward of Boston,

Resolved, That in addition to the Committee already appointed to procure the same, there be chosen from that part of the Province, two more for the same purpose, and Major Cross is accordingly chosen on the part of this House.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Benjamin Green-leaf, Esquire, is joined.

Mr. Brown came up with a message from the House, to inform the major part of the Council, that the House had now no business of a publick nature before them, and that they desired a recess to the 20th March next.

Mr. Phillips came up with a message from the House, to inform the major part of the Council, that the Housa had reconsidered their former request, and desired to be adjourned or prorogued to the 13th of March next.

The Secretary went down with a verbal message to the House, from the major part of the Council, which he, delivered in the words following, viz:

MR. SPEAKER: I am directed by their Honours, of the major part of the Council, to acquaint the honourable House that they have consented to the enactment of the, following Bills:

A Bill for assessing a Tax of seventy-five thousand Pounds, to defray the charges of this Colony.

A Bill for regulating the Militia of this Colony.

A Bill for altering the places of holding the Courts of Law in the County of Suffolk.

A Bill to enable the Inhabitants of Falmouth to support prosecutions against persons who have in possession goods taken from said Inhabitants during the late fire.

A Bill for reviving a number of Laws that are expired, or near expiring.

A Bill to encourage the fixing out of Armed Vessels for the defence of America.

A Bill for carrying into execution a Resolve of the American Congress, for ascertaining the number of Inhabitants in this Colony.

And they have seen fit to adjourn the Great and General Court of this Colony to Wednesday, the 13th day of March next, at ten o'clock, A. M., to which time and place the said General Court is, accordingly,

Adjourned.