MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, November 29, 1775.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Bowers go up to the honourable Board, and acquaint them that a Quorum of the House are met, and now proceeding on business; who reported, that he had delivered, the message.

A Letter from his Excellency General Washington, of this day, to the General Assembly.

Read, and thereupon Ordered, That Mr. Gardner, Mr. Pitts, and Colonel Orne, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to take the same into consideration, and report.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Captain Sharp and Mr. Boardmarn be added to the Committee for providing conveyances for the Poor of Boston, as they shall be sent out of that town.

Mr. Speaker communicated to the House a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Gordon, desiring to be excused from further serving the House as a Chaplain.

Whereupon, Resolved, That the House will now come to the choice of a Chaplain.

Ordered, That Mr. Rawson, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. Cooper, be a Committee to sort and count the votes.

Who reported, that Dr. Cooper was unanimously chosen.

Ordered, That Mr. Raivson wait on Dr. Cooper, and acquaint him of this choice.

The House then adjourned, to nine o'clock, to-morrow morning.

Thursday, November 30, 1775.

Mr. Speaker communicated to the House a Letter from the President of the Continental Congress, enclosing a Letter from the Continental Agents, dated London, September 2, 1775, giving information of their having presented the Petition of said Congress, and that no answer would be given. Read and sent up.

Mr. Speaker communicated to the House a Letter from the President of the Continental Congress, dated Philadelphia, November 1, 1775, enclosing a number of Resolves of Congress.

Read, and Ordered, That Mr. Gardner, Major Cross, and Colonel Bowers, with such as the honourable Board shall join, consider said Resolves, and report.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That the Committee for preparing Accounts for the Continental Congress, have liberty to take out of the Clerk's files such Vouchers as they may need to accomplish that business.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the Letter from General Washington, sent up yesterday, with the Report of a Committee thereon, signed

BENJAMIN LINCOLN, per order

In Council, November 30th, 1775: Read and accepted; and thereupon, Resolved, That Joseph Palmer, Esquire, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to wait on his Excellency General Washington, and with the 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 grauted io part of the Forces inlisted for the next year, can be supplied, and make report: And also, that Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to prepare a draft of a Letter to his Excellency General Washington, in answer to the last paragraph in said Letter, showing the reasons of this Colony's paying their men by lunar months. (A.) That it is not an innovation, and that it is matter of concern to this Court, that while we are doing justice to our men by complying with our contract with them, that it should produce disorder in the Army. (B.)

Read and concurred, with the amendment at A. B., viz: dele from A to B. And Mr. 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, in answer to the last paragraph in his Letter.

A Petition from the Selectmen of Newbury, praying an allowance for their trouble and expense in providing and collecting Blankets, Provisions, and Clothing, for the use of the Army, in obedience to repeated orders from Congress, and Committee of Supplies. And also, payment for provision and other articles procured for the men who marched on the 19th of April.

Read, and committed to Mr. Gardner, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Bryant.

A Petition from a Committee in behalf of the Town of Mendon, praying payment for Provisions expended for the subsistence of four Companies, who marched from that town on the 19th of April.

Read, and committed to the Committee on accounts of this nature.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That all Petitions from the Selectmen of the several Towns for allowance of charges, that have arisen by their procuring and conveying Provisions to their Soldiers on and about the 19th of April, be presented immediately to the Committee for considering accounts of that nature, without being first presented to this House.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Winthrop Gray be of the Committee for providing conveyances for the Poor of Boston, in the room of Mr. Pierce.

Mr. Rawson reported, that he had waited on Doctor Cooper, and that the Doctor's health, situation, and other engagements, would not admit of his attending the House as a Chaplain.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Cooper, Colonel Barret, and Major Cross, be a Committee to make inquiry and nominate to this House some suitable person to officiate as a Chaplain, and also for proper accommodations for his residence in this town, if necessary.

Afternoon.

A Petition of Nathan Wheeler, selling forth:"that though he had inlisted a considerable number of soldiers, he failed of a commission, by reason of the person from whom he received his orders, being deemed unworthy to have a regiment; that notwithstanding, he has continued in the service as a subaltern officer, and was in the late action at Charlestown, but has not received any establishment whereby he can be intituled to pay until the first of July;" and praying the interposition of this Court.

Read, and committed to Mr. Crane, Mr. Pitts, and Colonel Thayer.

A Petition of John Stevens, Chairman of the Committee of Safety and Correspondence of the Town of Gloucester, praying for Cannon, Ammunition, more Soldiers, and a number of Artillerymen, with a Field Officer to command the Troops stationed there, and the Militia when necessary, for the further defence of that Harbour.

Read, and committed to Captain Batchelder, Mr. Crane, and Mr. Hopkins.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Major Johnson, Colonel Thayer, and Mr. Nye, be a Committee to inquire whether the Commissary-General of this Colony and his Deputies have a right to make contracts with Bakers, and whether such contracts have been made.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Orne, Mr. Story, and Mr. Gerry, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve empowering the Standing Committee of this House on Accounts, to pass on Accounts of In holders, for affording entertainment to Soldiers on their march from their homes to the Army, and also to Prisoners and their Guards, and for the support of sick Soldiers and Indians.

The House then adjourned to nine o'clock, to-morrow morning.

Friday, December 1, 1775,

A Petition of Thomas Livermore, in behalf of a number of Prisoners in the Jail at Ipswich, setting forth, that they are in great need of Clothing, and praying relief.

Read, and committed to Mr. Story, Captain Gates, and. Colonel Spaulding.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve for enlarging the Commission of the Standing Committee on Accounts reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That the Standing Committee of the House