with two cords of Fire-Wood per day only; and that the Town of Dedham be henceforth directed to supply the Army at Cambridge with one cord of Fire-Wood per day, for the time and on the condition that the Town of Natick were originally ordered to do, in addition to three cords already ordered they should supply to the camp at Roxbury.

A Petition from the Committee of Inspection for the East. Precinct of the Town of Pownalborough, that the Committee of Correspondence of said town might be called to account for their conduct, and that Abiel Wood, and one Williamson, might be removed from the town. Also, a Petition from a number of the Inhabitants praying for the same.

Read, and committed to Mr. Wood, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. Cushing, with such as the honourable Board shall join, to take the same into consideration, and report what is proper to be done.

A Petition from the Indians in Grafton praying for relief.

Read, and committed to Mr. Crane, Deacon Batchelder, Mr. Perry, Mr. Putnam, and Mr. Fairfield.

A Petition from the Selectmen of the Town of Boxford, praying allowance for sixteen men in the service of the Colony at Cape-Ann, for fourteen days; also for ten men for the same term of time.

Read, and committed to Mr. Hall, Captain Batchelder, and Mr. Pilsbury.

Jabex Fisher, Esquire, brought down from the honourable Board the following Vote of Council, viz:

In Council, December 5, 1775: On motion, Ordered, That Walter Spooner, Charles Chauncy, and Joseph Palmer, Esquires, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to take into consideration the circumstances of the Sea-Ports of this Colony, and where it will be necessary to keep Forces during the winter season, and to wait on his Excellency General Washington, and represent to him the exposed situation of such place, or places, as they may judge necessary to be guarded, and to request bis protection of them, and make report.

Read, and concurred, and Mr. Sullivan, Colonel Orne, Colonel Lovell, and Captain Tobey, are joined.

Samuel Holten, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board, a draft of a Letter to the Continental Congress, relative to paying the Troops of this Colony by the lunar month, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In Council, December 5, 1775: Ordered, That a fair draft of the above Letter be signed by, in the name, and by order of the whole Court, and sent down to the Delegates of this Colony in American Congress, to be by them communicated. Read, and concurred,

And the President of the Council is directed to sign, and send forward the above Letter, agreeable to the vote of Council.

Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Colonel Orne, and Colonel Williams, be a Committee to take under consideration the several Tavernkeepers' accounts for billeting Colonel Phinney's Regiment to Head-Quarters from Falmouth.

Afternoon.

On a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Cooper, Captain Batchelder, and Colonel Lovell, be a Committee to inquire into the state of the Treasury, and report what sums are in the Treasury,

On a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wood, Mr. Gushing, Mr. Gerry, and Mr. Cooper, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to prepare, and bring in a bill to regulate the Militia of this Colony.

A Letter from Joseph Greenleaf, Esquire, containing accounts of experiments in refining Sulphur.

Read, and committed to Mr. Pitts, Major Moody, and Mr. Hobart.

A Petition of Joseph Greenleaf, Esquire, representing that he, together with Doctor Jonathan King, and Captain Phineas Upham, had discovered the method of manufacturing Copperas and Alum; also, Oils of Vitriol and Sulphur, Spirits and Balsam of Sulphur, and praying for an exclusive privilege of manufacturing said articles for the term of ten years.

Read, and committed to Mr. Low, Mr. Rawson, and Colonel Thompson.

On a motion, Ordered, That Dummer Jewet, Esq., apply to Doctor Calef, of Ipswich, and require of him such information relative to a new Ship lately built by his direction at the New-Mills, as he can confirm, when called upon, on oath, and that he be desired to furnish them with a copy of all the papers relative to this matter, which he has received from the person or persons by whose order said Vessel was purchased or built.

Ordered, That Elbridge Gerry, William Cooper, and William Story, Esquires, be a Committee to bring in a Bill for the further emission of Bills of publick Credit.

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

Wednesday, December 6, 1775.

On a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan prepare and bring in a Resolve relative to Vessels bound to other Colonies, and make report.

On a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Lovell, Captain Brown of Abinglon, and Mr. Ingalls, be a Committee to consider Petitions and Accounts of men wounded on and after the 19th April last.

On a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Cutt be a Committee to confer with the Quartermaster-General relative to the price of Wood on Winter-Hill, and the road the carts shall go in, and to inquire whether the Troops at Maiden and Chelsea are a part of the Brigade on Winter-Hill

On a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Cooper, Deacon Hawson, Mr. Pitts, Captain Vose, and Colonel Orne, be a Committee to take into consideration the state of the Poor of Boston, lately came out, and also a Letter from the Committee at Point-Shirley, and to report to this House what is proper to be done.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration a Letter from the Selectmen of the Town of Boxford, reported. Read, and accepted.

Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and hereby is directed to pay to Aaron Wood, Esq., thirty nine Pounds seven Shillings, to be by him applied for the payment of one Sergeant and forty-five Privates for their service as soldiers at Gloucester, viz: the Sergeant one month, and the men half a month each; and also for the billeting, &c., of said soldiers.

Mr. Sullivan, agreeable to order, reported a Resolve relative to Vessels bound to other Colonies. Read, and accepted.

Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is recommended to the Inhabitants of the United Colonies, not to supply any person belonging to this Colony, with provision, or other merchandise, to be transported by water to any place whatever, unless such person shall produce a Certificate, signed by the Secretary of this Colony, in form following:

"Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, December, A. D., 1775.

" This is to certify, that,. ........master of .........owned by,......... is a person of integrity, and may be safely trusted with such provisions and merchandise as he may purchase, to transport in said vessel to this Colony. Secretary."

And it is further Resolved, That the Secretary shall sign a number of such Certificates, leaving blanks for the name of the vessel, owner, and master, and shall deposite the same with such persons as shall be appointed by this Court in the sea-port Counties to receive the same, and each of such persons so appointed, on application made to them therefor, and recommendation for the same being produced, signed by the Committee of Correspondence, or Safety, and Selectmen of the town where the owner and master of such vessel live, shall have power to fill up said blanks for, and deliver the same to such persons as may be confided in, and shall engage to send vessels as aforesaid, for the purpose aforesaid, they having first given bond to the Treasurer of this Colony, in a sum equal to the value of such vessel and cargo, conditioned for the landing any