Board the Report on tbe Petition of the Selectmen of Needham.

In Council, December 12, 1775: Read, and concurred, as taken into a new draft.

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

Wednesday, December 13, 1775.

Mr. Jewett having informed the House that he had applied to Doctor Calef, agreeable to order, for information relative to a Ship lately built at the New-Mills, in Danvers, and that Doctor Calef is now in waiting with the Papers relative to said Ship.

It was moved, and Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr Hopkins, and Colonel Cushing, be a Committee to receive of Doctor Calef such Papers as he may have in possession that respect said Ship.

Jabez Fisher, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board a certificate from J. Lowell, Chairman of the Committee of Safety of Newburyport, certifying, that in consequence of a Resolve of the General Court, the said Committee have examined the papers of Edward Rand, and find none that have relation to his political conduct, and that at the desire of Mr. Rand, he is sent to Watertown, and submitted to the direction of the Court.

In Council, December 13, 1775: Read, and Ordered, That Samuel Holten, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to examine into the character and conduct of the said Edward Rand, touching the charge alleged against him, and make Report.

Read, and concurred, and Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Hopkins are joined.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Daniel Sigourney be added to the Committee for taking care of the Inhabitants of Boston that may be conveyed out of that Town.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Story go with a message to the honourable Board, informing them that the House propose to put off the choice of Delegates from this Colony at the Continental Congress, to Friday next, at ten o'clock, forenoon.

Who reported that he had delivered the message.

The Report of the Committee on the Petition of the Committee of Inspection for the East part of the Town, of Pownalborough, Inhabitants of that town, read again, and

Ordered, That the further consideration of the Report be referred till the afternoon.

Mr. Devans, from the Committee for procuring Wood and Hay for the Army, acquainted the House that the Quartermaster-General has lately informed them, that the supply of those articles is very inadequate.

Ordered, That the consideration of this intelligence be taken up at three o'clock, in the afternoon.

Mr. Story brought in the following Resolve, which was read, and accepted:

Resolved, That the Inhabitants of the Towns of Chelsea, Maiden, and Lynn, be desired to furnish the Committee of this Court at Chelsea, with a sufficient quantity of Fire-Wood on the present occasion; and the Committee of Correspondence and the Selectmen of each of said towns are desired to afford all necessary assistance to the Committee of this Court in furnishing them with that article.

Afternoon.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That the Committee for examining Accounts of Innholders, and others, who afforded support to Colonel Phinney's Regiment on their march from Falmouth to the Army, be directed to examine the Accounts of all Innholders, and others, to the eastward of Cambridge, who afforded refreshment to Soldiers and Prisoners to and from Head-Quarters.

Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan bring in a Resolve further empowering the Committee for supplying the Army with Wood and Hay, to procure the article of Hay.

A Petition of Catharine Goldthwait, setting forth: "That the Committee of Correspondence of Marlhorough have entered on the estate of Henry Barns, Esq., late of said town, whereon she, the said Catharine, a niece and adopted ieir of the said Henry, and who has resided with him for about seventeen years, was left with part of his family in possession; that said Committee have sold part of the effects, and propose to dispossess your petitioner and the rest of the family," and praying the interposition of this Court. Read, and committed to Mr. Rice, Colonel Porter, and Colonel Mitchell

Jabez Fisher, Esq., came down from the honourable Board, and said that the Board concurred with the House in further referring the appointment of the Delegates from this Colony to the Continental Congress.

Ordered, That the Report on the Petition of the Committee of Inspection of Pownalborough be considered tomorrow morning, at ten o'clock, in the forenoon.

Samuel Holten, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the Report of the Committee on the Resolves of the Continental Congress.

In Council, December 13, 1775: Read, as reported anew by the Committee, and sent down.

In the Resolve, as reported anew, there is added at A, in the Resolution of the 9th of this instant, "The Committee of Inspection, Correspondence, or Safety."

Upon a motion, Ordered, That the Committee for hearing the Members from Lincoln and Waltham, respecting the Inhabitants of those towns carrying Wood to Cambridge and Winter-Hill, be directed to sit forthwith.

Samuel Holten, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board a Resolve of this House of November 9th, providing for the due management of certain parts of the Estates of Refugees.

In Council, December 13, 1775: Read, and concurred, with the amendments at A, B, and C, viz: at A, insert, "have left no person to occupy the same, and"; at B, insert, "on oath" at C, insert, "That justice may hereafter be done to the publick, as, also, to those individuals, when due inquiry can be made into their conduct."

Upon a motion, Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, requesting them to direct the Committee for bringing in a Militia Bill, to sit immediately.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down from the honourable Board the Resolve empowering a Committee to procure Powder-Mills to be erected and repaired. Passed in Council, viz:

In Council, December 13, 1775: Read, and concurred, with the amendment at A, viz: at A, insert "gun."

Read, and concurred, and Captain Crane and Captain Vose are added to the Committee mentioned in said Resolve.

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

Thursday, December 14, 1775.

John Whetcomb, Esq., brought down the Report of a Committee appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for raising and regulating a Militia in this Colony, containing the heads of such a Bill.

John Taylor, Esq., brought down the Petition of William Fayie, relative to certain Arms taken from a Sergeant in the service of the enemy, at the battle of Lexington, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In Council, December 14, 1775: Ordered, That the Petitioner notify the within-named Joseph Hayward, by serving him with an attested copy of this Petition and Order, that he may have opportunity to show cause, if any he hath, on the 21st day of this instant December, why the prayer of this Petition should not be granted.

Ordered, That Colonel Mitchell, Mr. Wood, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Jewett, Deacon Rawson, Captain Dix, and Major Fuller, be a Committee to proportion one hundred and fifty tons of English, and fifty tons of salt Hay, (to be provided for the Army,) among a number of towns in this Colony.

Ordered, That the Commissary-General of this Colony be directed to receive a number of Fire-Arms, manufactured by Mr. Bashmar, and allow him three Pounds each, for the same.

Ordered, That Major Ely be on the Committee appointed to hear the Members from Lincoln and Waltham, relative to those towns carrying Wood to Cambridge and Winter-Hill, in the room of Colonel Williams, absent.