Tuesday, January 16, 1776.

A Petition of William Henshaw, praying consideration and allowance for his services as Adjutant-General, under the appointment of the Provincial Congress, in the Army under the command of General Ward.

Read, and committed to Colonel Thurston, Captain Ward, and Captain Carpenter.

Ordered, That the consideration of the Report relative to the Poor of Boston and Charlestow, be put off to ten o'clock, to-morrow morning.

Resolved, That Mr. Isaac Lothrop be, and he hereby is empowered to present the preceding state of disbursements of this Colony in the defence of American liberty, to the honourable Continental Congress for approbation and allowance, and to receive the balance of such sum, or sums, as shall be allowed thereon, and pay or cause to be paid the same to the Treasurer of the Colony aforesaid.

The Report of the Committee of both Houses on his Excellency General Washington's Letter of the 10th instant, was read, considered, and accepted as follows, viz:

The Committee appointed to consider what further measures are necessary to be taken for procuring Hay for the Army, reported. Read and accepted.

Whereas, by a Resolve of this Court, which passed this House the 16th of December last, it was recommended to a number of towns in the Counties of Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, Plymouth, and Worcester, as they regarded their own safety, and the general welfare of these Colonies, to take effectual measures to supply the camps at Cambridge and Roxbury with such quantities of Hay, as was set to the respective towns named in said Resolve, at the rates of five Pounds per ton for English Hay, and forty Shillings per ton for salt Hay: And whereas, upon a thorough inquiry made by this Court, it now appears that the allowance then made is below the market price, and short of what has been usually given by the inhabitants of this Colony, under a like scarcity with the present:

Resolved, That it be recommended to those towns which have not as yet forwarded to the camps the quantities of Hay which have been assigned them, that they send their respective quantities immediately, and receive pay therefor, at the rate of six Pounds per ton for English, and fifty Shillings per ton for salt Hay; provided the same shall be brought into camp within ten days from the date hereof; and lest the other towns mentioned in said Resolve, which, from an early regard to the recommendations of this Court, have already furnished their respective quantities of Hay, should be sufferers for so doing, they are to receive out of the Colony Treasury such sums as have been short paid them of the prices now allowed to be given therefor, on their producing proper certificates to the honourable Board of the quantities furnished as aforesaid, who are hereby empowered tor grant warrants for the same; and the Selectmen and Committees of Correspondence in those towns are desired to transmit to this Court the receipts for the Hay they have already carried into camps, that so their regard to the credit of this community, and zeal for the common safety, may appear upon the publick records of this Colony.

And whereas, it may so happen, that at the expiration of said ten days, some towns may still remain deficient; to prevent the sad consequences of such neglect, the Selectmen of any delinquent town are hereby directed and empowered to impress therein, for the use of the Continental Army, so much Hay as will make up the full quantity assigned such town by the aforesaid Resolve of this Court.

And the Committee named in the former Resolve, are directed to see that and the foregoing carried into execution; and Colonel Thompson is directed to get this Resolve printed in handbills, and dispersed through the several towns mentioned in the schedule annexed to the first Resolve.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to wait on his Excellency General Washington, on the subject of his Letter of the 10th instant, be a Committee to present his Excellency a copy of the Resolve of this Court for lending him the sum of fifty thousand Pounds.

On a motion Ordered, That the Committee appointed to procure Sulphur, be directed to make an average of the

price of what they may deliver to Mr. Samuel Phillips, Jun., according to what the Sulphur cost, which they may buy from time to time.

Eldad Taylor, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee of both Houses on his Excellency General Washington's Letter of the 15th instant, relative to the want of Fire-Arms for the Army, viz:

That his Excellency be informed, that it is the opinion of this Court, there would be a general supply of Fire-Arms brought into the camp, if he would give publick notice that if the Recruits would come well armed they should be allowed for the use of their Arms, and, iflost in the service, the just value of them should be paid, and that their Arms shall not be detained from them when their time of service shall expire. And that to detain the Arms of the Militia without their consent, would neither promote the good of the service, nor facilitate the arming the forces, as it would produce a general uneasiness through the conn-try. And that his Excellency be also informed that this Colony have in store but about two hundred Fire-Arms, part of which are out of repair; such as will do for the service, although provided for the particular use of this Colony, we shall be ready to deliver if they shall be needed, and do all in our power to aid his Excellency in arming troops.

JAMES PRESCOTT, per order.

In Council, January 16, 1776: Read, and sent down.

Read, and accepted, and thereupon Ordered, That the Committee appointed to wait upon his Excellency General Washington upon the subject of his Letter of the 10th current, be a Committee to present him a copy of the foregoing Report.

The House, agreeable to the Order of the Day, proceeded to the consideration of the Bill for reviving and continuing sundry Laws that are expired, or near expiring.

Ordered, That the further consideration of the same be put off to three o'clock, P. M.

Ordered, That the choice of a Committee to go to Falmouth, in the recess of the Court, be put off to four o'clock, to-morrow, P. M.

Afternoon.

Ordered, That Deacon Nichols, Deacon Watson, Major Brooks, Mr. Baldwin, Capt. Pilsbury, Deacon Wood, and Mr. Nye, be added to the Committee on Muster-Rolls, and the Committee are enjoined to sit forthwith, and give constant attendance.

The Bill for reviving and continuing sundry Laws that are expired, and near expiring, was again considered by the House, and it having gone through a second reading,

Ordered, That it be read again to-morrow, eleven o'clock, A. M.

Walter Spooner, Esq., came down and informed the House that the honourable Board were now ready to come to the choice of the rest of the Officers for the Sea-Coast Forces, and desired to be informed what Officers the House propose to begin with.

Whereupon, Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, informing them that the House propose to begin with the Officers for the Company to be stationed at Salem.

Ordered, That Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Cushing, of Plympton, and Deacon Cheever, be a Committee on the part of the House to receive and sort the votes for the Sea-Coast. Officers now to be chosen.

Who having carried up the votes for the Officers for the Companies to be stationed at Salem, reported that the following gentlemen were unanimously chosen, viz:

Benjamin Ward, Captain; Jonathan Harrenden, First Lieutenant; William Marston, Second Lieutenant.

The same Committee having carried up the votes for a Mustermaster for the County of Cumberland, reported, that Major Peter Noyes was unanimously chosen.

The same Committee having carried up the rotes for a Mustermaster for the County of Dukes-County, reported, that Colonel Beriah Norton was unanimously chosen.

The same Committee having carried up the votes for a Mustermaster for the County of Essex, reported, that Mr.. Daniel Hopkins was unanimously chosen.

The same Committeee having carried up the votes for