cers to command the Forces to be stationed at Martha's Vineyard, who reported that the following gentlemen were chosen, viz:

Barachiak Basset, Esq., Major.

First Company: Nathan Smith, Captain; Jeremiah Manter, First Lieutenant; Fortunatus Basset, Second Lieutenant.

Second Company: Benjamin Smith, Captain; Mtlatiah Davis, First Lieutenant; James Shaw, Second Lieutenant.

Third Company: John Grannis, Captain; James Blossom, First Lieutenant; Samuel Hallet, Second Lieutenant.

Fourth Company: Elisha Nye, Captain; Stephen Nye, Jun., First Lieutenant; John Russell, Second Lieutenant.

Mr. Stephen Nye and Colonel Btriah Norton, Commissaries.

The same Committee having carried up the votes for the Officers to command the Forces to be stationed at Falmouth, in the County of Cumberland, reported that the following gentlemen were chosen, viz:

Joseph Frye, Esq., Colonel; Mr. Daniel llsley, Major; James Sullivan, Esq., Commissary.

For the First Company, to be raised in the County of Lincoln: Samuel McCobb, Captain; Benjamin Pattee, First Lieutenant; William Lithgow, Second Lieutenant.

For the Second and Fourth Companies, to be raised in the County of Cumberland: William Crocker, Captain; John Skillin, First Lieutenant; Ebenezer Morton, Second Lieutenant. John Rice, Captain; Josiah Davis, First Lieutenant; Levi Loring, Second Lieutenant.

For the Third and Fifth Companies, to be raised in the County of York: Benjamin Hooper, Captain; Humphrey Pike, First Lieutenant; Joseph Chadbourn, Second Lieutenant. Tobias Lord, Captain; Nathaniel Cousens, First Lieutenant; Edmund Webb, Jun., Second Lieulenant.

Ordered, That the Secretary lay upon the table the establishment for the Sea-Coast Forces, together with the form of the Beating and Inlisting Orders.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, to desire that they would, forthwith, call in their absent Members, that there may be a majority of the Council present at the Board.

John Taylor, Esq., came down, and informed the House that a quorum of the Board were expected in to-morrow.

The Committee appointed to collect the votes for Officers to command the Sea-Coast Forces, having carried up the votes for the Officers of the Company to be stationed at Kittery, reported that the following gentlemen were chosen, viz:

Philip Hubbard, Captain; Nathaniel Hobart, First Lieutenant; Nathaniel Bean, Second Lieutenant; Edward Cutt, Esq., Commissary.

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

Tuesday, January 2, 1776.

A Letter from the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., dated "Congress-Chamber, December 23, 1775," informing the Court that the money ordered by the Court in consequence of our Accounts, would be ready to be forwarded in three days, &c. Read, and sent up.

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

In Council, January 2, 1776: Whereas, an Order hath passed this Court, directing the Commanding Officer of the several Companies of Minute-Men and Militia, and, also, the Commanding Officers of the men stationed on the Sea Coasts, to lodge their respective Rolls in the Secretary's Office, in order to their being examined and passed on, and no provision is made in said Order that a copy of such Roll shall be lodged with the Treasurer of this Colony;

Therefore, Resolved, That Charles Chauncy, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to consider of, and report what is further necessary for this Court to do touching the premises.

Read, and concurred, and Mr. Mills and Deacon Stickney are joined.

A Petition of Ivory Hovey, in behalf of the Eastern Districts, lying between the River of Penobscot and Machias, praying the Court to establish a Court of Admiralty at Union-River, for reasons set forth in said Petition. Read, and committed to Colonel Orne and Mr. Hopkins, with such as the honourable Board shall join.

Resolved, That three o'clock, in the afternoon, be assigned to consider the Accounts of Labour done on Cambridge Bridge.

Resolved, That the second reading of the Bill to enable the Inhabitants of Falmouth to recover Goods taken from them at the time of the late fire there, be put off to four o'clock, in the afternoon.

The Bill, intituled "An Act for forming and regulating the Militia in this Colony," read a third time, and passed to be engrossed.

Afternoon

Ordered, That Major Smith, Colonel Freeman, and Colonel Thurston, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to inquire into the conduct of the Officers of the Companies stationed at Falmouth, in the County of Cumberland, at the time of the late fire there, and that the Committee on Muster-Roils be directed to defer passing on the Muster-Rolls of those Companies, until the Committee now appointed shall report.

A Petition of Joseph Pearse Palmer, praying a grant for his services as Quartermaster-General, from the 1st day of May last to the 14th of August following. Read, and committed to Colonel Orne, Mr. Brown, of Boston, and Mr. Bent.

Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Colonel Orne, and Mr. Gerry, be a Committee to confer with Mr. Phillips, on a proposal made by him for erecting a Powder-Mill at An-dover.

The Committee to whom was referred a Letter wrote by order of his Excellency General Washington, relative to a donation he had received from Fairfax, in Virginia, and requesting this House to receive and distribute the same, reported. Read, and accepted.

Resolved, That Mr. Brown and Mr. Pitts be a Committee to wait on his Excellency General Washington, and acquaint him that a major part of the Committee of Donations are now out of Boston; and, as said Committee were appointed for the purpose of distributing those charities, and, being the best judges of the circumstances of said Poor, are better able to answer the benevolent intentions of the contributors; this Court would, therefore, recommend it to his Excellency, that said Donation may be paid to the Committee of Donations, for them to distribute among said Poor, if his Excellency shall judge proper,

Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Gerry, and Colonel Orne, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve for erecting another Powder-Mill.

Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Gerry, Colonel Freeman, and Colonel Orne, be a Committee to consider some proper Orders and Regulations, to be observed by the Militia of this Colony when they shall be drawn out on an alarm, and, also, to report what further measures are proper to be taken for the defence of this Colony.

The Bill for enabling the Inhabitants of Falmouth to recover Goods taken from them at the time of the late fire there. Read a second time, and ordered to lie.

Ordered, That Mr. Freeman, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Hopkins, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve for the purpose of the aforesaid Bill.

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

Wednesday, January, 3, 1776.

The House considered the Resolve of the honourable Council, brought down the 28th ultimo, recommending to the several Towns in the Colony to encourage the manufacture of Saltpetre, and passed the following vote, viz:

Read, and concurred, with the following addition at A, viz: At A, add, "and the same price shall be allowed for any quantity under fifty pounds, as is allowed by this Court for any quantity above fifty pounds weight."