mittees as aforesaid, send an account of all the Powder, Lead, and Flints, delivered to the Minute-Men or others, that was used or left in the camp for the benefit of the Army on the alarm on the 19th day of April last, or otherwise be left in the camps for the use of the Army, that the same may be paid for by this Court.

On the Petition of Elizabeth Sampson and others, Indian inhabitants of Grafton, praying to be relieved respecting their income by the Interest money in the hands of the Guardians of that Tribe:

Resolved, That whereas, the Honourable Artemas Ward, Esquire, one of their present Guardians, is necessarily em ployed in the Continental Army, and the others have neglected to relieve those Indians, it is become necessary that new Guardians should be appointed, who shall, by sucli appointment, be vested with the same power, in all matters respecting the property of those Indians, as the present Guardians have.

The List of Fees for the Courts of Admiralty were again considered, and recommitted to Colonel Otis, Mr. Jewett, and Mr. Perry.

The Committee to whom the Militia Bill was recommitted, reported an amendment to it. Read and accepted.

The Bill for reviving and continuing sundry Laws that are expired, and near expiring: Read a third time, and passed to be engrossed.

On a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Cooper, Major Cross, and Colonel Lovell, be a Committee to consider the necessity of raising a Company of Matrosses to defend the fortresses erected in the Town of Marblehead.

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

Thursday, January 18, 1776.

An Account of Mr. Joseph Palmer, for his time and ex pense in bringing Doctor Gelston from Falmouth.

Read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

An Account of the Selectmen of the Town of Worcester, for providing Clothes for the Prisoners in the Jail in the County of Worcester. Read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

It was moved, That a Committee be appointed to consider the expediency of establishing a Chaplain and an Armourer for the Forces to be stationed at Falmouth, in the County of Ctimberland; and the question being put, it passed in the negative.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down the Militia Bill, with the following Vote of Council, viz:

In Council, January 17, 1776: Read, and non-concurred, and passed to be engrossed, with the label H H, and the label at the end of the Bill, reported by the Committee appointed to revise the Bill, and accepted by the honourble House.

Read, and concurred.

Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee of both Houses appointed to examine into the character and conduct of Doctor Samuel Gelston, lately apprehended by order of the General Court.

In Council, January 17, 1776: Whereas, it appears by Doctor Gelston's confession, that he has contravened the Resolves of the American Congress, and has supplied the enemies of American liberties with sundry articles of provision; and, by other evidence, it appears that the said Samuel Gelston is unfriendly to the liberties of this country, and is a dangerous person:

Therefore, Resolved, That the said Samuel shall not be liberated until he shall give bond, with two good sureties, to the Treasurer of this Colony, in the penal sum of one thousand Pounds; the condition where of shall be, that the said Samuel will not, in any way, assist or correspond with any of the enemies of this country, and that he will be of good behaviour and peaceable towards all persons who are friendly to American liberty, and that he will at anytime, appear and answer to any complaint which may hereafter be made against him, when he shall be thereunto required by order of this Court, and that he will, abide the order thereon.

Read, and non-concurred,

Whereas, it appears by Doctor Gelston's confession, that he has contravened the Resolves of the American Congress, and has supplied the enemies of American liberties with sundry articles of provision; and, by other evidence,, it appears that the said Samuel Gelston is unfriendly to the liberties of this country: And whereas, the greatest danger must necessarily result from permitting such persons to go at large and continue their traitorous practices of opposing the measures adopted for our defence, of spreading false and discouraging rumours, and of communicating in formation of all our operations to our unnatural enemies:

And it is, therefore, Resolved, That the honourable Board be, and they hereby are desired to cause the said Samuel Gelston to be forthwith confined in some Jail in this Colony, until it shall appear to the General Court, or other proper authority of this Government, that he can with safety to the United Colonies be again set at liberty.

The Committee of both Houses on the Petition from the Town of Dorchester, relative to Jane Jackson and her two children, report, by way of Resolve, viz:

Whereas, it appears that Jane Jackson and her two children, have been sent over from Castle-William into the Town of Dorchester, since which they have been maintained at the expense of the said town, notwithstanding their application to General Washington (by order of this Court) to desire his assistance in conveying them back to Boston, he refusing to concern himself in the matter:

Therefore, Resolved, That the Selectmen of Dorchester be, and they are hereby directed to remove the said Jane Jackson, with her two children, into some inland town, where they may be maintained at the cheapest rate; and provided either of the said persons are able to work, that they be put out for that purpose to lessen the charge of their maintenance as aforesaid. The said Selectmen to lay their Accounts before this Court for examination and allowance.

In Council, January 17, 1776: Read and accepted.

Read and concurred.

Charles Chauncy, Esq., brought down the Report of The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider the Resolve of the honourable Board on the appointment of the gentlemen delegated to represent this Colony at the Continental Congress, viz:

In Council, January 18, 1776: Whereas, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Pabie, and Elbridge Gerry, Esqs., have been chosen, by joint ballot of the two Houses of Assembly, to represent the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, in the American Congress, until the first day of January, A. D. 1777:

Resolved, That they, or any one or more of them, are hereby fully empowered, with the Delegates from the other American Colonies, to concert, direct, and order such further measures as shall to them appear best calculated for the establishment of right and liberty to the American Colonies, upon a basis permanent and secure against the power and arts of the British Administration, and guarded against any further encroachments of their enemies; with power to adjourn to such times and places as shall appear most conducive to the publick safety and advantage.

Read, and concurred, and the Secretary is hereby directed, as soon as may be, to signify to each of those gentlemen their appointment, with an attested copy of this order.

On information received from the Committee of Correspondence of St. Georges, respecting two vessels held in custody by said Committee:

Resolved, That the Vessels mentioned in said information from the Committee of St. Georges, be held in custody by the said Committee, until the Courts shall be opened for the trial of Vessels which have been in any way employed in aiding and assisting our enemies, (according to the Act of this Colony made for that purpose,) and that the said Vessels, and their appurtenances, be delivered into the hands of the captors, when said Courts shall be opened for the aforesaid purposes.

It was represented to the House that Colonel Arnold, now in this town, had an open letter, and other papers, directed to some gentlemen in Philadelphia, which lately came from England, and which he was not willing to show to any private person, but would communicate it to this House, if requested: