Whereas, a considerable quantity of Hay is wanted for the use of the American Army, and, unless speedily supplied, very great inconveniences, and, perhaps, fatal consequences may ensue.

It is, therefore, Resolved, That the several Towns mentioned in the schedule hereto annexed, be called upon immediately to furnish such quantity of Hay, and of such sort, and to cause the same to be conveyed to such camp as is therein pointed out, for which they will be allowed and paid at the rate of five Pounds per ton for English Hay, and forty Shillings per ton for salt Hay; and it is expected that the teamsters take of the person, or persons, authorized to receive such Hay, certificates expressing the quantity they deliver; and that such certificates be transmitted to the Secretary's Office within twenty days from the date hereof.

And it is earnestly recommended to the Selectmen and Committees of Correspondence of those Towns, respectively, as they regard their own, and their country's welfare, to see that this requisition be punctually complied with on their part; and the gentlemen hereafter named, are appointed a Committee to cause this Resolve to be communicated to the several Towns concerned; and to take such further steps as may be necessary to procure a full compliance with the same, viz: Mr.Terry and Mr. Kingsbury, for Suffolk County; Mr. Phillips and Mr. Moody, for Essex;Deacon Plympton, Mr. Hayward., and Mr. Bent, for Middlesex;and Colonel Cushing, for Plymouth.

The House then adjourned to Monday next, ten o'clock, A. M.

Monday, December 18, 1775.

A Petition of William Tallman, of Dartmouth, praying for liberty to export a cargo to the West-Indies, for the purpose of procuring Arms and Ammunition. Read, and committed to the Committee appointed to fit out Vessels for that purpose.

The Committee on the Petition of Catharine Goldthwait, reported. Read, and not accepted, and the Petition was dismissed.

A Petition of Joseph Dean, praying that the Court would permit him to send a Vessel to Surinam with molasses casks, to bring home the amount of a certain sum due to him in the produce of that place. Read, and committed to the Committee appointed the 15th current, to consider the subject-matter of Thomas Russell's Petition.

A Letter from the Honourable John Hancock, Esquire, President of the Continental Congress, enclosing two Resolves of said Congress relative to raising a new Army of twenty thousand three hundred and seventy-two men, officers included, to lie before Boston. Read, and sent up.

Ordered, That Colonel Thompson, Mr. Hopkins, and Colonel Cushing, be a Committee to consider a representation of Philip Hodgkins, relative to the capture of the Sloop Advance, from Boston, commanded by Captain Nehemiah Eastman, with two Depositions accompanying; together with a Memorial of the Committee of this Court at Union-River, respecting the same Sloop; and likewise, respecting the Brig Betsy, commanded by Captain Benjamin Wormstead, bound from Boston to Halifax, who delivered himself and Vessel to the Commitee of Deer-Island.

And, also, a Petition of the said Committee at Union-River, praying for liberty to send a number of Vessels which are by them detained for countervailing the Resolves of Congress, to the Southern Colonies for provision.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider the foregoing papers, be directed to inquire into the conduct of Colonel Cargill, relative to the said Sloop Advance, and report what is proper to be done.

The Committee on the Petition and Account of the Selectmen of Newburyport, for carting Provisions, and also for sundry articles supplied the men who marched from that town on the 19th April last. Read, and committed.

A Letter from the Committee of Frenchman's Bay, at the Eastward, representing that Captain John Rust has delivered to their care two hundred and eighty-eight bushels of Wheat, and nineteen barrels of Ship-stuff, being donations for the Town of Boston;and wishing they might have liberty to make use of it for the inhabitants of that part of the Colony, praying, however, the direction of this Court.

Read, and committed to Mr. Cooper, Mr. Swift, and Mr. Wheeler.

John Taylor, Esquire, brought down the Report of the Committee appointed to consider sundry Depositions relative to some of the inhabitants of the Island of Nantucket, and a Letter from the Honourable James Otis, Esquire, of Barnstable, relative to the conduct of the Tories of that town, viz:

The Committee find there is great reason to suspect that some of the said inhabitants of Nantucket have had undue connection with some of the officers and soldiers belonging to our enemy's fleet; and it having been made to appear to this Committee, by the depositions aforesaid, that a certain Doctor Samuel Gelston, of said Island, has been guilty of many infamous practices in supplying our said enemies with provisions, &c, contrary to the Resolution of the Continental Congress, the authority of this Court, and the known sense of the whole Continent:

Therefore, beg leave to report, by way of Resolve, viz:

Resolved, That Major Joseph Dimock, of Falmouth, in the County of Barnstable, be, and he hereby is empowered and directed to repair to said Island of Nantucket, with such assistance as he shall think sufficient, and apprehend said Samuel Gelston, and bring him before this Court as soon as may be, that he be dealt with according to the nature of his high-handed offence, and that he be, and be hereby is empowered and directed to command such aid and assistance as he may need, in order to apprehend said Gelston, and the Committee ask leave to sit again.

In Council, December 18, 1775: Read, and accepted, and the Committee are ordered to sit again. Read, and concurred.

The House considered the amendments proposed by the honourable Board to be made in a Resolve of this House, brought down the 13th current, which passed the 9th of November last, relative to the management of the Estates, of Refugees, and thereupon concurred with the amendments; proposed at B, and non-concurred with those proposed ai. A and C.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board to know if they have passed upon the Resolve of this House,, on the Petition from the Town of Hardwick, relative to the estate of Brigadier Ruggles, a Refugee.

Walter Spooner, Esquire, accordingly came down and