chusetts service for the defence of the sea-coast in this Colony, agreeable to an establishment made for the defence of the sea-coast for the year 1776, and cause them to pass muster as soon as may be.

".................day of.......... A. D. 1776."

" We, the subscribers, do hereby engage and inlist ourselves as Soldiers in the service of the Massachusetts Colony, for the defence and protection of the Sea-Coasts in said Colony, from the day of our inlistment to the last day of December, 1776, on the establishment for that purpose made, unless the said service shall admit of a discharge of a part or the whole sooner, which is to be determined by the General Court of said Colony. And we do hereby oblige ourselves to submit to all the orders and regulations of the Army, and faithfully to observe and obey all such orders as we shall, from time to time, receive from our superior officers."

Ordered, That the following gentlemen be a Committee to proportion four thousand Blankets to be procured for the Army, on the several Towns in the Counties hereafter mentioned, viz: For Suffolk, Colonel Lovell; Essex, Mr. Jevvett; Hampshire, Major Bliss; Barnstable, Colonel Otis; Dukes-County, Colonel Norton; Worcester, Mr. Bancroft; Middlesex, Mr. Johnson; Plymouth, Colonel Mitchell; Bristol, Colonel Godfrey; York, Colonel Cutt; Berkshire, Major Smith.

The Resolve of this House relative to the Estates of the Refugees, read, and committed to Mr. Nye, Mr. Hovey, and Mr. Hobarl.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to apportion four thousand Blankets, &c., be instructed to pay a due consideration to those Towns from which a late draft of the Militia has been made, and also to those Towns where the Sea-Coast Forces are to be raised.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider what Fees are proper to be allowed to the Courts of Admiralty, sit forthwith.

The Report of the Committee of both Houses on the Petition of Deborah Cushing, brought down yesterday, was read and concurred, with the amendment at A, viz: At A insert "in the judgment of said Committee."

Mr. Pitts, agreeable to order, reported the following Resolve, which was read, and accepted, viz:

Whereas, information has been given to the Committee appointed to inquire into the complaint against Mr. Haskilt Derby, relative to his having violated a Resolve of the Continental Congress, that Israel Turner, of Pembroke, Captain Joshua Burnam, of Ipswich, and Edward Davis, now at Barnstable, can give material evidence thereon;

Therefore, Resolved, That said Committee be, and are hereby empowered and directed to summons them to appear, or have their depositions taken, properly authenticated, and laid before this House.

The Militia Bill was again considered and recommitted.

Afternoon.

Mr. Speaker read to the House a Letter from Willian Watson, Esquire, dated Plymouth, December 27, 1775, informing him of the capture of a Sloop bound to Boston, from New-York, loaded with pork, beef, geese, apples, fee, sent by Governour Tryon, and taken by a Plymouth Privateer, accompanying a number of prisoners sent to this Court under the charge of Mr. Elkanah Bartlett.

Benjamin Lincoln, Esquire, brought down the following Vote of Council, viz:

In Council, December 29, 1775: Whereas, several of the United Colonies have of late thought it expedient and necessary to fit out Armed Vessels for the defence of American liberty, and it appears to this Court necessary that measures be taken by this Colony for our further protection by sea:

Therefore, Resolved, That John Adams and Joseph Palmer, Esqs., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to consider and report to this Court a plan for fitting out one or more Armed Vessels for the defence of American liberty.

Read, and concurred, and Colonel Orne, Mr. Brown, and Colonei Otis, are joined.

The Militia Bill having gone through a second reading: Ordered, That it be immediately read again. The same Bill was accordingly read a third time, and recommitted.

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

Saturday, December 30, 1775.

Resolved, That those Officers and Men, of the four Companies now stationed at Brainlree, Weymouth, and Hingham, who are not inlisted into the Continental Army, be, and they are hereby directed to continue and do duty on their posts until the further order of this Court.

The Committee appointed to consider how the Bills of Credit of the present emission should be signed and numbered, reported. Read, and accepted.

Resolved, That the several Bills for completing the sum of seventy-five thousand Pounds, which this Court has ordered to be emitted by a late Act, be signed and numbered in the following manner, viz:

That the Bills of the several denominations, from eight Pence to seven Shillings, inclusively, be signed by any one of the Committee appointed for this purpose, as said Committee shall agree. That the Bills of the several denominations, from ten Shillings to forty-eight Shillings, inclusively, be signed by any two of the same Committee. That one of them shall sign with black ink, and the other with red ink. The several Bills to be numbered by the above mentioned Committee in such manner as shall by them be determined.

Ordered, That Colonel Grout and Mr. Mills be added to the Committee appointed to consider the Accounts of Selectmen of sundry Towns for Provisions supplied the Troops immediately after the battle of Lexington; and Colonel Howe in the room of Mr. Cross, absent.

A Letter from his Excellency General Washington, dated 29th current, relative to the four Companies doing duty at Braintree, Weymouth, and Hingham, and informing the Court that he does not think himself at liberty to extend the Continental Guards beyond Squantum and Chelsea, &c. Read, and sent up.

Order of the Day moved for.

Ordered, That Major Bliss, Mr. Rice, and Mr. Hale, be a Committee to count and sort the votes for some gentlemen to serve on the Committee of Accounts in the room of Major Brooks, excused.

Who reported that Mr. Mighill was chosen.

Resolved, That a message go to the honourable Board, to inform them that this House propose to come to the choice of Officers for the Sea-Coast Forces, at four o'clock, in the afternoon, by joint ballot, if agreeable to the honourable Board.

The Committee appointed to apportion four thousand Blankets on several Towns, &C., reported.

The Report was read, and three o'clock, P. M., was assigned for the consideration of the same.

Afternoon.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, informing them that this House is ready, according to the Order of the Day, to proceed to the choice of Officers for the Sea-Coast Forces, and propose to begin with a Colonel to command the four Companies to be stationed at Gloucester.

Ordered, That Colonel Gardner, Deacon Rawson, and Colonel Sayer, be a Committee on the part of the House to count and sort the votes for the Officers aforesaid.

Samuel Holten, Esquire, came down and informed the House, that the Board being engaged in business of importance, could not in the forenoon send a message to inform the House that they agreed to their proposal of coming to the choice of Officers to command at Gloucester, but that the Board was now ready to come to the choice of a Colonel to command the four Companies stationed there.

The Committee having carried up the votes for a Colonel to command the four Companies at Gloucester, reported that Colonel Joseph Foster was chosen.

The same Committee having carried up the votes for