hundred Pounds due to them at Tobago and Grenada, and praying for liberty to sail in a vessel there, to collect the same. Read, and committed to Mr. Rawson, Deacon Codding, and Mr. Allen.

The Committee on the Petition of the Committee and other inhabitants of Machias, Goldsborough, and other townships in the County of Lincoln, (read January 26,) reported Read, and accepted.

Resolved, That there he paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to the aforementioned Benjamin Foster and others, the sum of three hundred and fifty Pounds, lawful money, provided the said Benjamin Foster and others, before named, shall all of them give their bonds, jointly and severally, to pay the same in one year from the date thereof, to the Treasurer of this Colony, for the use of the same, which money the afore-mentioned persons shall dispose of in the best manner they can, to purchase Provisions for the inhabitants of Machias, Chandler's River, Goldsborough, Narraguagus, Number-Four, and Pleasant-River, to be divided among the said Plantations as the afore-mentioned persons shall direct, having respect to their circumstances, numbers, and necessities.

The same Committee reported on the two other Petitions committed to them at the same time.

Thereupon, Resolved, That the Petitioners have leave to withdraw the said Petitions.

Mr. Speaker communicated to the House an anonymous Letter, dated Dartmouth, January 12th, hinting that it is suspected English goods are clandestinely imported from England, by the way of the West-Indies and Nantucket, into the said Town of Dartmouth. Read, and committed to Colonel Barret and Mr. Durfee, with such as the honourable Board may join.

Resolved, That Major James Stone be, and hereby is appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment of Militia to be raised in the County of Worcester, to join the Army before Boston, till the first of April next, in the room of Colonel Danforth Keys, who declines serving.

Ordered, That Mr. Hobart get the Militia Bill printed and dispersed to the several towns in the Colony.

Resolved, That on Friday next, at ten o'clock, A. M., the House will lake into consideration the Report of a Committee relative to the Poor of Boston and Charlestown.

Resolved, That on Friday next, at three o'clock, P. M., the House will proceed to the choice of a Committee to go to Falmouth, agreeable to a Vote of the House which passed the 5th current.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board to desire them to send down the division of the several Counties into Regiments, if they have agreed on them.

Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., brought down the division of several Counties, accordingly, viz: Hampshire, Suffolk, Worcester, Lincoln, Plymouth, and Berkshire.

Joseph Palmer, Esq., brought down the Report of a Committee of both Houses on the Letter from the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Hatfield, read 29th current.

In Council, January 31, 1776: Whereas, the General Court have received such information as that there is reason to apprehend that a confederacy is forming by some evil-minded persons, in this and other Colonies, which may injure the credit of the Continental Bills, and the Bills of this and the other Colonies:

Therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committees of Inspection and Correspondence, in all the towns in this Colony, to make strict inquiry in their several towns, and if they shall find any person within the same endeavouring by any way whatever to prevent the credit of the Continental Bills, or the Bills of this or any other of the United Colonies of America, or to alter or counterfeit the same, that they cause such person to be arrested and secured, and give information thereof to this Court, in order that such person may be proceeded with according to the just demerit of such high crimes and misdemeanors, and that this Resolve be published in all the Newspapers in this Colony Read, and concurred.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, made choice of Field-Officers for the Regiments hereafter mentioned, viz:

For the First, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Regiments, in the County of Worcester. For the six Regiments in the County of Lincoln, and for the two Regiments in the County of Barnstable.

Afternoon.

Michael Farley, Esq., brought down the division of the County of Barnstable into Regiments.

Charles Chauncy, Esq., brought down the arrangement of the Regiments in the County of York.

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

Thursday, February I, 1776.

The Petition of the Selectmen of Rehoboth, read 26th current. Read again, and Ordered, That Captain Stearns, Doctor Baylies, and Colonel Thayer, be a Committee to repair to Rehoboth, and view the Fortifications mentioned in the said Petition: And, also, that said Committee view Taunton-River, near Kade's Ferry, at Freetown, and make report to this Court of the true circumstances of those places, and what would be proper for this Court to do to put them in a defensible state.

On a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Speaker, Col. Orne, and Colonel Freeman, with such as the honourable Board, may join, be a Committee to bring in a Bill establishing a Test, by which all persons inimical to the rights and liberties of America, shall be distinguished from their friends, and to provide some methods to secure us against the practices and designs of our enemies.

On a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Thompson, Colonel Doane, and Colonel Smith, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to see if there is sufficient provision made for making the Continental Bills, and the Bills of Credit of this Colony, a tender in all payments, and to prevent the counterfeiting and depreciation of the same, and if there is not, to bring in a Bill for that purpose.

Resolved, That three o'clock, in the afternoon, be assigned for the choice of some persons to go to Philadelphia with the Accounts of this Colony, and the vouchers thereof.

The Committee on the Petition of Nathaniel Guild, (read January 25,) reported Read, and not accepted.

And thereupon, Ordered, That Captain Ellis, Mr. Perry, and Captain Carpenter, be a Committee to repair to Stoughtonham, and make inquiry relative to the matter of the said Petition, and, in particular, whether the Furnace therein mentioned can be well supplied with Wood, without taking any from the farm of Isaac Royal, Esq., and report a state of the wood-lots in the neighbourhood of that Furnace.

The House made choice of Joseph Cushing, Esq., as Brigadier for the County of Plymouth.

The House made choice of Field-Officers for the Regiment in Dukes-County, for the Second and Third Regiments in the County of Plymouth, and for the Second Regiment in the County of Worcester.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board with the arrangement of Regiments in the County of Suffolk, and desire the Board to include therein a Regiment for Boston, and rank the whole as they see fit.

Afternoon,

The Committee on the Petition of Benjamin Crocker, read yesterday, reported. Read, amended, and accepted.

Resolved, That Benjamin Crocker be allowed to go in a Vessel, of which himself is master, to the West-Indies, in order to collect any moneys which may be due to him and others there; he giving bonds, with sufficient sureties, in the sum of one thousand Pounds to the Treasurer of this Colony, that he will not carry in said Vessel any cash or produce of the Colonies; and that he will return to some port of the United Colonies (other than Boston, Nantucket, or New-York) with the proceeds of the collectors of such debts, and not purchase any goods from any Island contrary to the Continental Association. And it is hereby recommended to the said Crocker, to purchase Arms, Ammunition, or any kind of Military Stores enumerated in a late Resolution of the Congress, if there to be obtained.