Resolved, That the Commissary of ibis Colony be, and he hereby is directed forthwith to provide, with the utmost diligence, sundry Military Stores, agreeable to the preceding estimate, amounting to the sum of ten thousand nine hundred and seventeen Pounds three Shillings and four Pence; that he procure such only as are of good quality, and give the preference to the persons in this Government who will supply them at the most reasonable rates; and that he give certificates, from time to time, of the articles received, and their amount, to the persons supplying the same, which certificates shall be considered by the Committees on Accounts as sufficient vouchers to the amount of said sum, exclusive of what the honourable Board shall deliver thereof to the Commissary to purchase such of the said Stores as must necessarily be procured out of this Colony; and said Committees are directed to pass, and make payment of the same, accordingly; and the honourable Board are hereby empowered to order so much of the said ten thousand nine hundred and seventeen Pounds three Shillings and four Pence out of the publick Treasury as the Commissary shall apply for and they shall find necessary, to procure what of the said articles cannot be procured in this Colony.

Afternoon.

Mr. Speaker communicated to the House a Letter from Samuel Freeman, dated November 25, 1775, concerning goods that were stolen at the burning of Falmouth.

Read, and committed to Mr. Sullivan, Doctor Rice, and Colonel Sayer.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That three o'clock on Monday next, P. M., be assigned for the choice of a Committee to provide for erecting a Powder-Mill, and a Manufacturer of Gunpowder.

A Petition of Ebenezer Beal, setting forth, that he received a wound in assisting in the taking an armed Cutter in Machias-River, and is thereby disabled from providing for himself, and praying for support.

Read, and committed to the Committee for receiving Petitions of wounded men.

Colonel Whitcomb brought down a Report of the Committee on the Letter of Governour Trumbull.

Whereas representation has been made to the Court, that supplies of provision more than are necessary for internal consumption, and for such voyages as may be prosecuted consistent with the Resolves of Congress and the General Assembly of this Colony, have been lately shipped from this and the neighbouring Colonies for the Islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. (B.)

Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Falmouth, in the County of Barnstable, be, and they hereby are directed forthwith to return to this Court a true copy, upon oath, of all permits which they have granted to the inhabitants of Nantucket, or any other person, or persons, in their behalf, for obtaining provisions from the inhabitants of this and the neighbouring Colonies, to supply said inhabitants of Nantucket. (C.) And the Selectmen of the Town of Sherburne, on the Island of Nantucket, as also of each town on Martha's Vineyard, are directed forthwith to make strict inquiry into the importation of provisions into the respective towns, since the 28th of September last; and of all provisions now into said towns; and to make returns thereof on oath to this Court as soon as may be: And the inhabitants of this Colony, and of the other United Colonies, are desired to withhold further supplies of provisions (D) from said Island, until the further recommendation of this Court; and the Printers of the Colonies aforesaid are respectively desired to cause this Resolve to be inserted in their newspapers.

Read, and concurred with amendments at B, C, and D, viz: At B insert, "and that the inhabitants of the said Island of Nantucket have abused the indulgence of the Court by supplying our enemies with such provisions Sic, as were admitted to be transported to them for their internal consumption only."At C insert," and to suspend granting any permits in future to the said inhabitants, or any person on their behalf, until the further order of this Court. At D insert, "fuel or other necessaries."

Ordered, That Mr. Story procure the above Resolve to be printed in the several publick Papers of this Colony, and a copy thereof conveyed to the Selectmen of Sherburne, in Nantucket, and of the several towns in Martha's Vineyard, and the Committee of Correspondence in Falmouth.

Mr. Gerry communicated an extract of a Letter from one of the Delegates of this Colony at the Continental Congress, inquiring what number of men in the Colony would engage as Marines; what vessels may be hired upon Government service, at what places others may be built, &c.,

Read, and Ordered, That Mr. Speaker, Mr. Gerry, and Colonel Orne, consider an answer to said Letter, and report.

The House then adjourned to Monday next, three o'clock, P. M.

Monday, December 11, 1775.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Watson go with a Message to the honourable Board, and inquire whether they have passed on a Resolve of this House providing for the disposal of certain parts of the Estates of such enemies to their country as have fled therefrom.

Moses Gill, Esquire, came down from the honourable Board, and said the Resolve is now under consideration.

Ordered, That Mr. Cooper, Mr. Pitts, and Colonel Lovell, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to take into consideration a Letter from Thomas Crafts, Junior, informing that the Small-Pox has broke out in two families that are brought out of Boston, and that they are in great need of fire-wood.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the Resolve on the Letter from Governour Trumbull, on the conduct of the people at Nantncket.

In Council, December II, 1775: Read, and concurred, with the foregoing amendments, with the addition at E, in the first amendment, viz: at E, add, "there is great reason to suspect."

Read, and concurred in the amendments proposed.

The Committee on the Petition of Ebenezer Beal reported Read, and accepted.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the Colony Treasury unto Ebenezer Beal, of Machias, the sum of sixteen Pounds, in full for his loss of time, six months, and his boarding.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That a Resolve of this House, of the 7th of this instant, for dismissing certain Post-Riders, be reconsidered, and that the Report be recommitted.

Eldad Taylor, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board a Letter from the honourable the President of the Continental Congress, enclosing certain Resolves.

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

A Petition of Nehemiah Hinds, setting forth, that he has acted as Chief Surgeon from April 19th to July 20th, following, and praying pay accordingly.

Read, and committed to Doctor Fletcher, Colonel Mitchell, and Mr. Hobart.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Story go to the honourable Board and desire they would direct the Committee on the Militia Bill to set as soon as may be.

John Taylor, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board a Report of the Committee on the Petition of a number of Inhabitants of the Town of Pownalborough.

Read, and Ordered, That the consideration of the above be taken up at ten o'clock, to-morrow morning.

The Committee on an Extract of a Letter from a Member of this Colony at the Continental Congress, reported. Read and accepted.

In the House of Representatives, December 11, 1775.

Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is strongly recommended to the Committees of Correspondence and Safely of the Town of . . . . . , and in case of a deficiency of both said Committees, to the Selectmen of said town, that they cause to be made to this Court a true return of the number of men in said town who are desirous of inlisting, and fit for Marines, or Seamen, on board of armed vessels, either in the pay of the Continent or of this Colony, or of private adventurer?, who shall fix out said vessels; also