Jabez Fisher, Esquire, brought down the following Resolve, which passed the honourable Board the 27th current, viz:

Whereas, many Accounts against this Colony are exhibited by Innholders, and others, without any charge of the particular articles which would justify the foot of such accounts;

Therefore, Resolved, That all Accounts exhibited against this Colony in future, by Innholders, or others, shall particularly specify the several articles and charges thereof, which may, collectively, make up the foot of such Accounts, and no others will be received; and that this Resolve be published in the Watertown, Cambridge, and Worcester Newspapers, for three weeks successively, next after the date hereof.

The Resolve of this House containing directions to the Committee on Muster-Roils, which was brought down yesterday, was read, and recommitted to Major Hawley, Mr. Sullivan, and Captain Partridge, who, having amended the same, reported. Read, and accepted, as follows, viz:

Ordered, That the Committee of both Houses, lately appointed to examine the Muster-Roils ordered by this Court to be made up to the 1st of August last, be directed not only carefully to see to it, that all such stoppages be made on the said Rolls as are directed to be made by the Resolve passed in the House on the 3d of November last, and concurred by the Council on the 6th of the same month, but that they diligently inquire, and endeavour fully to find out, whether any officer, or officers, borne on such Rolls, are indebted to the Government for any moneys received to pay their regiments or companies their advance pay, which they have not accounted for to the Paymasters of the Colony; and, also, whether any non-commissioned officers or privates have received their advance pay more than once; and in all instances where the said Committees shall find that any officers or privates are indebted to the Government on such accounts, that they stay the payment of so much of the wages of the particular person so indebted, whether officers or soldiers, borne on the said Rolls, as may indemnify the Government; and, in order more effectually to do the same, the said Committee is hereby directed and empowered to call upon such of the Commissaries, Paymasters, and Committees of Supplies, as have been in the service of this Colony, for all accounts and certificates necessary to enable them to make the stoppage, as aforesaid; and that an addition be immediately made to the said Committee, of two on the part of the House, and one on the part of the Board, and that any five of such increased Committee be a quorum, and that the said Committee be hereby directed and required, constantly to attend the business of examining and correcting the said Rolls, until they shall be finished, and, from time to time, as soon as they shall have passed on such Rolls, that they present the same to the honourable Board for their concurrence, and that the Board, as soon as they shall have passed thereon, make their warrant on the Treasurer for what shall appear to be due to each man borne on the said Rolls.

Ordered, That Major Gooding and Colonel Porter be added to the Committee above-mentioned, on the part of the House.

The House again considered the Resolve for stationing Forces to guard the Sea-Coasts, and the further consideration thereof was put off to three o'clock in the afternoon.

Ordered, That Mr. Pitts bring in a Resolve, empowering the Committee appointed to consider the information against Mr. Elias Haskitt Derby, to send for witnesses.

Afternoon.

John Taylor, Esq., brought down the following Resolve, viz:

In Council, December 28, 1775: Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is recommended to the Selectmen of the several Towns in this Colony, as soon as may be, to call their towns together, and to insert in the Warrants to be by them issued for calling said Town Meetings, a clause or article for devising ways and means for introducing the art of manufacturing Saltpetre into private families in such towns; and it is hereby recommended to the said towns to appoint Committees, and grant all such encouragement as they shall judge proper to this necessary business. And it is recommended to the Selectmen to lay before their towns for their consideration, the several methods for collecting materials and making Saltpetre, which have been published by the honourable the Continental Congress, and by this Court.

And it is further recommended to all private families to exert themselves in collecting earth from the foundations of houses, barns, stables, dove-houses, and all other buildings, and from cellars and other places, and in learning the art of extracting Saltpetre from the same, (A.)

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve directing how the Bills of Credit should be numbered and signed, reported. The Report was read, and considered, and recommitted.

The Report of the Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve for establishing of Forces to guard the Sea-Coast, was again considered, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, the time for which the men raised by this Colony for the defence of the Sea-Coast thereof, is near expired, and it being necessary that there should be new levies for that purpose:

It is, therefore, Resolved, That there shall be forthwith raised and inlisted in the pay of this Colony, for the defence of the same, twelve hundred men, upon the following establishment, to serve and be in pay from the time of their marching from their homes to their respective stations, (provided they pass muster,) to the last day of December, 1776, unless the General Court shall see fit to discharge them, or any part of them, before; each Company to have one Captain and two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, three Corporals, one Drummer, and one Fifer; the Captain's pay to be five Pounds eight Shillings per month; the First Lieutenant's pay, three Pounds twelve Shillings per month; and the Second Lieutenant's, three Pounds three Shillings per month; each Sergeant's pay, forty-four Shillings; each Corporal's and Drummer's, forty Shillings, and Fifer's and Private's pay, thirty-six Shillings per month; and where it may be necessary to appoint a Field-Officer or Officers over some part of the said men so raised, the pay of a Chief or First Colonel shall be nine Pounds, a Lieutenant-Colonel eight (A) Pounds, and for a Major seven Pounds per month, accounting thirty days to a month. And that each officer and soldier aforesaid, shall arm and equip himself with a good, effective fire-arm, cartridge-box, blanket, and knapsack, half a pound of powder, twenty bullets, and four flints; and no non-commissioned officer or private soldier shall be allowed to pass muster, unless so equipped and provided. And it is recommended to the Selectmen of each town, that they, out of their town's stock, supply the persons so inlisted, being inhabitants of their town, with the quantity of ammunition aforesaid, on such persons paying a reasonable price for the same, and being otherways unable to procure it.

And it is also Resolved, That each officer and private soldier shall within two months next after passing muster, be further armed and equipped with a bayonet and belt, and a canteen sufficient to hold one quart, upon penalty of having six Shillings a month deducted out of their wages for all the time they shall be unprovided therewith, after the expiration of the said two months; and the Captain or Commanding Officer who shall make up the Muster-Rolls, is hereby ordered to deduct the same.

And it is also Resolved, That the allowance of provisions to each officer and private soldier, by the day, shall be one pound of (B) flour bread, or one pound and-a-quarter of other bread, one pound of pork, or one pound and-a-quarter of beef; and where salt fish can be had, they shall be allowed one pound of fish one day in seven, instead of one day's allowance of meat; also one Shilling and eight Pence per week to purchase milk, butter, peas, and other sauce, soap, and vinegar.

And it is Resolved, That there shall, upon the aforesaid establishment of the twelve hundred men aforesaid, be stationed at a place called Martha's Vineyard, in this Colony, two Companies, consisting of seventy-five men each, including officers.

And it is also Resolved, That there shall be stationed upon the same establishment at the Elizabeth-Islands, in this Colony, two Companies, to consist of seventy-five men each, including officers; which four Companies aforesaid