June last, (A,) and Henry Gardner, Esq., is directed to pay the same accordingly. (B.)

Whereas, Joseph Trumbull, Esq., Commissary-General of the Continental Army, has applied to Henry Gardner, Esq., Treasurer of this Colony, for the loan of two thousand Pounds, to enable him, in his said capacity, to make provision for the Troops marching into Canada, to succour and recruit the Army there; and it appears to this Court that it be necessary to advance the service that the Treasurer should comply with his request:

Therefore, Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., Treasurer of this Colony be, and he hereby is empowered to advance out of the Treasury two thousand Pounds to Joseph Trumbull, Esq., taking his obligation for the repayment of the same on demand.

Whereas, this Court, at the request of his Excellency General Washington, have ordered that a Regiment should be raised in the Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire, to reinforce the Army in Canada, with all possible despatch, and to effect the same, have proportioned among the several towns in those Counties such a number of men as they apprehend each town ought to raise, and have appointed a Committee out of each County to assist in raising the men, and forming them, when raised, into Companies, viz: Major Pyncheon, Major Ely, Colonel Field, Mr. Dickenson, Major Bliss, and Colonel Howe, for the County of Hampshire; and Doctor Whiting, Captain Goodrich, and Major Smith, for the County of Berkshire:

Therefore, Resolved, That the said Committee be, and they are hereby directed to use their utmost endeavours with the Field-Officers of the Regiments to be raised as aforesaid, and the Committees of Correspondence and Safety, and the Selectmen of each town within their respective Counties, to have the several proportions of men affixed to each town therein, raised with all possible expedition, and, when raised, to form them into Companies of ninety men each, including officers, and as soon as each Company have chosen their several officers, that they cause them to march forthwith into Canada.

Ordered, That Mr. Story bring in a Resolve for paying to the order of Colonel Porter, the sum of one hundred Pounds, for procuring necessaries for the Regiment to be raised for reinforcing the Army in Canada.

Mr. Story agreeable to order, reported. Read, and accepted.

Whereas, it has been represented to this Court, that sundry articles are necessary to be procured to supply the Regiment agreed to be raised to march into Canada; and as the Quartermaster-General has no money in his hands at present sufficient to advance for that purpose:

Therefore, Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony to Elisha Porter, Esq., the sum of one hundred Pounds, to enable him to purchase such articles as are necessary for the men that are to be under his command, to proceed to Canada, he, the said Porter, leaving with the Treasurer an order on the Quartermaster-General of the Army for the amount of said sum.

And it is further Resolved, That the Blankets that were provided by order of this Court, in the Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire, for supply of the Army, be delivered to the said Porter, for the use of his Regiment, he paying unto the Treasurer of this Colony the amount of what the said Blankets cost.

Afternoon.

On a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Story, Mr. Cooper, Captain Batchelder, Mr. Mills, and Mr. Nye, be a Committee to revise the several Resolves of this Court relative to Saltpetre, and report what is proper further to be done.

Ordered, That Major Ely, Captain Brown, of Watertown, and Major Brooks, be a Committee to make an experiment of the Powder which was manufactured at Weymouth, from Saltpetre made in this Colony, and brought to the House by Colonel Lovell, and that Colonel Lovell attend them in making the experiment.

Ordered, That the Treasurer be directed to pay the two thousand Pounds which the Court have this day resolved to lend Joseph Trumbull, Esquire, Commissary General of the Continental Army, in Continental Bills, if said Trumbull should desire it.

The House considered the List of Fees for the Courts of Admiralty, and ordered that it be recommitted; and Mr. Story and Captain Batchelder were added to the Committee, in the room of Mr. Jewett and Mr. Perry, absent.

Resolved, That the Men ordered by this Court to be raised from the Militia in this Colony, to serve in the American Army until the 1st day of April next, be divided into Regiments, as follows, viz:

Resolved, That ten o'clock, to-morrow, A. M., be assigned for the choice of Field and Staff-Officers for the six Regiments to be raised from the Militia in this Colony, to serve in the Continental Army before Boston, till the 1st of April; and that such Officers be chosen agreeable to the method pointed out in the Militia Bill.

Major Hawley, by leave of the House, brought in the following Resolve. Read, and accepted:

Whereas, a certain Act, intituled "An Act for establishing and regulating the Fees of the several Officers within this Province hereafter mentioned," made and passed at the session of the Great and General Court of this Colony, begun and held at Boston, in the County of Suffolk, upon Wednesday, the 6th day of January, 1773, expired on the last day of October last, and at present there is no Act or laws of this Colony now in force for establishing and regulating the fees of the several officers in the said Act mentioned, excepting a certain Act made and passed in the fourth year of the reign of William and Mary, King and Queen, entitled "An Act for regulating Fees," which last mentioned Act has, by divers temporary Acts, from time to lime, been superseded and suspended as insalutary, and the fees thereby settled and established appear to be, in many instances, extravagant and unreasonable:

It is, therefore, Resolved, That henceforward, until the further order of the General Court, it shall be lawful for all Officers named and mentioned in the Act first above mentioned to take and receive, for the several services therein specified, such and no higher Fees than the Fees, or sums of Money, specified in the said first-mentioned Act, and be subject to the pains and penalties there provided for the offences against the same.

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

Tuesday, January 23, 1776.

The Committee appointed to make an experiment of some Powder which was manufactured at Weymouth, from Saltpetre made in this Colony, reported, that they had effectually proved the same, and found it very good; and at the same time laid on the table two flatted leaden balls which were discharged from a small-arm, loaded with two inches of powder, into a tough white-oak tree, at the distance of eight rods, which penetrated the tree two inches.

The Members were called in.

The House considered and passed upon the Proclamation brought down the 19th instant, viz:

By the Great and General Court of the Colony of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY:—A PROCLAMATION.