Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, to inquire if they have any matter to send down that requires an immediate attention of the House.

Jabez Fisher, Esq., came down and informed the House that the Board do not expect to send any Messenger down this forenoon.

A Petition of the Selectmen of Watertown, praying to be reimbursed the expense of mounting eight pieces of Cannon that were brought out from Boston in October last. Read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

Afternoon.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down a Letter from Mr. Timothy Parsons, dated Pownalborough, January 2, 1776, relative to the conduct and behaviour of one Baker and one White there, and praying that something may be done by the Court for the peace of the town, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In Council, January 12, 1776: Read, and committed to the Committee on the Petition of Majabigwaduce.

Read, and concurred.

Jedediah Foster, Esq., brought down the Militia Bill, with a vote of Council proposing amendments therein.

The House considered the Report of the Committee appointed to consider a Plan for fitting out Armed Vessels, &c.

Whereupon, Ordered, That the Report be recommitted, and the Committee are directed to report an estimate of the expenses of building and furnishing the Vessels therein proposed to be provided.

John Whetcomb, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee of both Houses on the two Petitions of the Selectmen of the Town of Dorchester.

In Council, January 12, 1776: Read, and accepted,

John Whetcomb, Esq., at the same time brought down a Deposition of Ebenezer and James Goodel.

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

Saturday, January 13, 1776.

A Petition of Samuel Osgood, praying an allowance for his services as Major of Brigade, from the 19th of April to the 28th of July. Read, and committed to Mr. Pitts, Mr. Hobart, and Mr. Phillips.

The Report of the Committee of both Houses on the two Petitions of the Selectmen of Dorchester, was considered, and not accepted, and ordered to be recommitted, and the Committee are directed to consider and report upon said Petitions separately.

A Petition of the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Manchester, praying that they may have liberty to raise a Company of men to be under the direction of Colonel Foster, of Gloucester, for particular reasons set forth in the Petition, or that the town may be otherwise assisted and relieved. Read, and committed to the Committee on the state of the Sea-Coast.

John Whetcomb, Esquire, brought down a Deposition of Ebenezer and James Goodel, relative to one Joseph Bowditch, of Salem, his refusing to take Bills of publick Credit in discharge of a bond due to him from Mr. George Small, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In Council, January 12, 1776: Read, and committed to John Taylor, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join.

Read, and concurred, and Colonel Grout and Mr. Brown, of Boston, are joined.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, informing them that the House propose, on Monday next, ten o'clock, A. M., to come to the choice of Officers for the Company to be stationed at Plymouth, for Officers of the Company to be stationed at Truro, and for a Captain to command a Company at Cumberland, in the room of Captain Rice, engaged in the Continental service, if agreeable to the honourable Board.

Whereas, the Captains and Lieutenants of the Militia who have lately joined the Army, as a temporary reinforcement, have not been commissioned according to the several stations to which they may have been elected, and whereas they may continue a longer time in service than was at first expected:

Therefore, Resolved, That the honourable Council of this Colony be desired to commissionate all such Officers as aforesaid, according to their several ranks, who, with fifty men or upwards, (accounting in said number Officers, and also, such men as have inlisted from the respective Companies into the Continental Army,) shall incline to continue in the service till the last of this month, or till the 10th of February next, if occasion shall require, upon their being certified of their appointments, according to the Resolves of this Court, and of their retaining the number of men specified in this Resolve.

Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Gerry, with such as the honourable Board may join, be a Committee to revise the Militia Bill, and report what amendments they think are proper to be made therein.

Then the House adjourned till Monday next, ten o'clock, A. M.

Monday, January 15, 1776.

Captain Phineas Smith, who was returned a Member from the Town of Granby, made his first appearance in the House.

A Petition of the Selectmen of Rehoboth, setting forth, that the inhabitants of said town have erected a breastwork for their defence, and mounted four pieces of ordnance therein, and praying some consideration and allowance therefor, and liberty to raise a Company in said town. Read, and committed to the Committee on the state of the Sea-Coast.

The Memorial of William Hunt, brought down December 23. Read, and dismissed.

Resolved, That ten o'clock, to-morrow, A. M., be assigned for consideration of the Report relative to the Poor of Boston and Charlestown.

Resolved, That twelve o'clock, to-morrow, be assigned for the choice of a Committee to go to Falmouth, in the recess of the Court.

Resolved, That three o'clock, to-morrow, P. M., be assigned for the consideration of the Resolve for erecting a pentagonal Fortification for the security of warlike stores.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, to inform them that the House propose, at three o'clock, in the afternoon, by joint ballot, to come to the choice of Officers for the Company to be stationed at Truro, and also for a Captain to command a Company to be raised in the County of Cumberland, in the room of Captain Rice, if agreeable to the honourable Board.

Whereupon, Benjamin Lincoln, Esquire, came down and informed the House that the honourable Board had agreed to come to the choice of the above-mentioned Officers, agreeable to the proposal of the House.

Resolved, That four o'clock, in the afternoon, be assigned for the choice of some person to go to Philadelphia with the Accounts of this Colony, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Cooper bring in a Resolve for raising the price of Hay which has been, or may be, procured for the Army, by order of the Court, to six Pounds per ton, and to recommend to those towns who have not procured the quantity set on them, respectively, to provide the same immediately.

Ordered, That Mr. Cooper, Major Davis, Captain Thatcher, Mr. Jewett, and Colonel Thompson, be a Committee to consider what further is necessary to be done for supplying the Army with Hay.

A Letter from his Excellency General Washington, relative to a want of Fire-Arms for the Army. Read, and committed to Mr. Pitts, Colonel Wood-bridge, and Captain Smith, with such as the honourable Board may join.

The Committee on the Petition of Caleb Hyde reported. Read, and recommitted; and Mr. White, of Hatfield, and Mr. Hobart, are added to the Committee; and the Committee were directed to inquire thoroughly into the matter.

Resolved, That the person from Hartford, who was sent for on the business of erecting Powder-Mills, proceed first to Andover.

Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Pitts, Colonel Thurs-