Resolved, That at four o'clock, in the afternoon, this House will, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, for the consideration of the Heads of a Militia Bill.

The Report of the Committee appointed to consider several Resolves of the Continental Congress, read, and recommitted.

Afternoon.

A Letter from his Excellency General Washington, enclosing a Letter from Colonel Otis and Colonel Freeman, relative to Shubael Lovell, a Tory, taken prisoner by Colonel Otis. Read, and sent up.*

A Petition of the Committee of Correspondence of Pownalborough, relative to the conduct of Captain Timothy Langdon, and praying the Court to explain the Resolve of Congress relative to stationing soldiers on the sea-coast. Read, and committed to Colonel Gushing, Captain Gates, and Colonel Cutt. Captain Langdon and Captain Reed, the bearer of the Petition, to be heard by the Committee on the subject thereof.

The Committee appointed to take under consideration the state of the Prisoners in Worcester Jail, reported. Read, and accepted.

Resolved, That the Selectmen of the Town of Worcester be, and they are hereby directed and empowered carefully to examine the said Prisoners, in said Jail, and supply them with clothing and fuel, so far as they shall think is absolutely necessary to make them comfortable, and no further, and lay their account before this Court for examination and allowance.

John Taylor, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee of both Houses, appointed to inquire into the character and conduct of Edward Rand, viz: That there is no evidence sufficient to support the charge alleged against said Rand, and that, in general, his character stands fair, and that he be discharged without any further inquiry.

SAMUEL HOLTEN, per order.

In Council, December 14, 1775: Read, and accepted, and Ordered, That the said Rand be discharged without further inquiry. Read, and concurred.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider the Heads of a Militia Bill; and, having appointed the Hon. William Cooper, Esq., Chairman, the Speaker left the chair.

The Speaker reassuined the chair, and the Committee, by their Chairman, reported, that the said heads of the Militia Bill, as amended, be accepted. They were, accordingly, read, and accepted, and the Committee of both Houses, who brought in the same, were directed to bring in a Bill agreeable thereto.

Then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.

Friday, December 15, 1775.

A Petition of Thomas Russell, praying that the Court would permit him to send a schooner to the foreign WestIndies, in ballast, &c. Read, and thereon Ordered, That Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hopkins, and Colonel Sawyer, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to consider the matter at large, and report.

A Petition of Lemuel Williams, of Dartmouth, praying that he may have liberty to export a certain cargo for the purpose of procuring arms, ammunition, &c., Read, and ordered to lie.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board to inform them that this House is now ready to proceed, by joint ballot with the Board, to the choice of five gentlemen to represent this Colony at the Continental Congress, agreeable to the Order of the Day.

Joseph Palmer, Esquire, came down and informed the House, that the Board are now ready to join with the House in the choice of five gentlemen to represent this Colony at the Continental Congress:

Whereupon, Mr. Hopkins, Colonel Cushing, and Cap-

* CAMBRIDGE, December 14, 1775.—SIR: I received the enclosed letters, and refer them, with the prisoner, to the consideration of the honourable House, at which you preside.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant.

By his Excellency's command: STEPHEN MOYLAN, P. T. S.

To the Honourable James Warren, Esq., Speaker of tho honourable House of Representatives, Massachusetts-Bay.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 14, 1775: Read, with the Letters accompanying, and sent up.

J. WARREN, Speaker.

IN COUNCIL, December 18, 1775: Read, and, on examination of the said Shubael Lovell by the major part of the Council, Ordered, That the said Shubael Lovell be sent to the Jail in Plymouth, and there held in close confinement, until he give bond, with good sureties, for the liberty of the yard, and be supported there at his own expense, until tho further order of the major part of the Council, and that a mittimus go to the Keeper of the said Jail accordingly.

FERKZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

BARNSTABLE, December 12, 1775.—MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXECLLENCY: The enclosed letter was sent me by the Governour of Rhode-Island, on the receipt of which, with the advice of the Field Officers of this regiment, I took up the writer, and, with tho advice of Colonel Otis, have Bent the man to your Excellency, by Lieutenant Lothrop. The two men mentioned in the letter, we talked with, but have dismissed them till further orders, as there was no proof against them but their being mentioned in the letter sent Captain Ayscough.

As to Mr. Lovell's character and situation, he is one that we have always looked upon as a Tory, and something busy in the Opposition. He has a large family of small children that want his assistance. I pity the man's folly. As I shall be at Head-Quarters this week, with the Militia ordered from this regiment, shall do myself the honour to wait on you further about the matter. Should be glad Lieut. Lothrop might have the care of him till I see your Excellency. I am your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,

JOSEPH OTIS.

To His Excellency General Washington, per Lieut. Lothrop.

SANDWICH, December 12, 1775.—MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: Colonel Olis, the younger, the author of the letter to your Excellency enclosed herewith, sent the same open to me, as we were together in ordering Mr. Lovell apprehended and sent a prisoner to your Excellency. Upon reading it, I thought it would not be improper to add, that the two Lovells mentioned in this delinquent's letter, owned that they told Shubael Lovell, the prisoner, they wished he had returned their names to the King's officers as friends to Government, and as having refused to take up arms, &c.

This Shubael, though ho appears an ignorant fellow, hath considerable influence among the Barnstable Tories, hath practised coasting to Nantucket the summer past, and I have no doubt hath communicated every thing of intelligence to the navy, if not frequently supplied them with provisions. Doctor Gelston, to whom he alludes in his letter, we have taken a number of depositions of his having supplied them considerably from Nantucket. He swears he will do it in defiance of the people, and threatens communicating the small-pox to any one who resists him. I wish he was taken, but cannot get any one, as yet, to join me in sending on for him. I hope your Excellency will take care that he is taken. The depositions concerning him are now in the hands of Joseph Nye, Esq., at the General Court. I shall be furnished with more, and be at Head-Quarters with Colonel Otis, this week, by Thursday, when shall take the liberty to wait on your Excellency. In the mean time, I am, with the greatest sincerity, your Excellency's obedient, humble servant,

N. FREEMAN.

To His Excellency George Washington, Esq., Captain-General, and Commander of the Continental Army at Cambridge, per Lieutenant Lothrop.

NANTUCKET, November 16, 1775; CAPTAIN Ayscough. SIR: After my humble respects to you, I am very sorry of the misfortune you met with, as I was informed, by the master of your tender, that you had very much hurt one of your eyes, which I took this opportunity to let you know that I am still a good friend to Government, and to let you know, by writing, that I never have been actor in any things against Government, and have never taken up any carnal weapons against the King's troops, but have suffered so as to have my gun taken from me, because I have bore my testimony against the measures that the America have taken to get their liberties, as they say they do; and, as I will not take up arms against the King's troops, and to rightly boar the title of a Rebel against my King, I have been threatened of being shot by those that is greatly against Government, yet I never intend to take up arms (through Divine assistance, although I may lose my life,) against my King, Knowing he has undoubted right to be a terror to evil-doers, and I hope he will be a praise to them that do right.

Captain Ayscough, I shall take it a great favour, and should be humbly obliged to you, if you would inform the Governour and Admiral of me, as it is not a thing impossible for me (by land) to get a letter to Boston, or to come myself, to let them know my mind, without risking my life, and wife and children's lives, and to lose all my estate; and, as you took me and my schooner, about two or three months ago, as I was going into Nantucket, and did use me with great civility, and I did their let you know my mind about the forces, and you did take my name down, and where I lived, which now makes me to take the boldness to trouble you with these few lines, desiring you would oblige mo so much as to do all you can for me in these evil times, that if it should please the King's Majesty to show any mercy to any innocent persons, that I might share part with such, as a true King's subject, so that I might Rave my life and estate, if the King should conquer the America. And I would, also, inform you that I have got a brother, and a cousin, whose name is Daniel Lovell and Christopher Lovell, which, both of thorn, are good friends to Government, which did desire me, that if 4 had a chance, to inform some of the King's officers of them.

And now, pray, sir, don't let any body that is of the America party to know that I ever sent a letter to you, or that I ever desired you to return my name to the Governour, by no moans, if you have any regard to my life; and you will, in keeping it private, greatly oblige me, your humble servant,

SHUBAEL LOVELL, of Barnstable,

Living at Hingham.

To Captain James Ayscough, of His Majesty's ship Swan.

P. S. Pray, sir, be pleased to accept a few vegetables, to be delivered to you by Doctor Gelston, a bold and staunch friend tp Government and me,

S. LOVELL.