And that the Committee of Inspection of Falmouth be, and hereby are directed, to see that there be no more provision carried off in said Vessel than what is necessary for victualling the people belonging to her during the voyage.

Thomas Cushing, Esq., brought down the list of Brigadiers, as chosen by this House the 30th ultimo, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In Council, February 1, 1776: Read, and concurred with the amendment at A, viz: At A, dele the name of "John Camming" and insert "the Honourable James Prescolt, Esquire."

A Bill for Preventing the commencement and prosecution of Civil Actions. Read a first time, and, on a motion made that a time be assigned for the second reading of the same, and debates had thereon, the question was put, it passed in the negative.

Benjamin While, Esq., brought down the Vote of this House, appointing a Committee to bring in a Bill for establishing a Test, &c, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In, Council, February 1, 1776: Read, and concurred, with the amendment at A, and William Sever and Thomas Cushing, Esquires, are joined.

At A, insert, "and that it be an instruction to the Committee that they immediately, and previous to their reporting any Bill for this purpose, write to the Delegates of this Colony at the American Congress, and obtain information from them, whether the Congress have taken, or are about to take any measures for this purpose, or if they have taken any, what those measures are."

Read, and non-concurred, and the House adhere to their own vote.

Benjamin White, Esq., at the same time brought down the arrangement of the Regiments of Militia in the County of York. And, also, the Report of the Committee of both Houses, appointed to make an estimate of the expense of building and furnishing two Vessels for the defence of American liberty.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to the choice of some person to repair to Philadelphia with I he Accounts of this Colony, and the vouchers to said Accounts; and the Committee appointed to collect the votes, reported that Mr. Joseph Henderson was unanimously chosen.

On a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Freeman, Major Sewall, and Mr. Story, be a Committee to agree with Mr. Henderson on the terms for which' he will perform the aforesaid service.

The House were informed that Doctor Gelston, and one Brown, who was suspected of assisting said Gelston in making his escape from the Messenger of this House, were at the door, under the custody of Mr. Sanger.

Whereupon, Ordered, That Colonel Freeman, Major Sewall, and Mr. Story, be a Committee to employ some persons to take said Gelston and Brown into close custody, and them secure until the further order of the Court.

Ordered, That Mr. Singletary, Deacon Hovey, and Colonel Jones, be a Committee to collect and count the vote's for Military Officers, in the room of the Committee first chosen for this purpose, who are absent.

The House then proceeded to the choice of Officers for the First, Fifth, and Sixth Regiments in the County of Middlesex.

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

Friday, February 2, 1776.

Ordered, That the Secretary immediately give notice to the gentlemen elected Field and Staff-Officers of the several Regiments, to be raised in this Colony, to join the Army before Boston until the 1st of April next, of their appointment to said offices, respectively.

A Letter from William West, of Middleton, on Rhode-Island, relative to the apprehending Doctor Gelston, and other papers accompanying.

Read, and committed to the Committee of both Houses appointed to examine Doctor Gelston; and the said Committee are directed to examine Mr. Brown, who was taken

with said Gelston, and report what is proper to be dona with him; and also to report what ought to be done with some Tea found in his saddlebags.

Jedediah Foster, Esq., brought down a Petition of Captain Jeremiah Obrien, representing that the Vessels in which he has been cruising since the 21st of August last, in the service of the Colony, now lie at Newbury, completely equipped for sea, with about fifty men on board them, &c, and praying the Court to determine whether they shall be discharged or not. Read, and committed to Colonel Orne, Major Cross, and Mr. Caldwell.

On a motion, Resolved, That Tuesday next, ten o'clock, A. M., be assigned for the consideration of the Report of a Committee relative to the Poor of Boston and Charlestown.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, to know if they passed upon the Vote of this House relative to Doctor Gelston.

Moses Gill Esq., came down to desire the House to send back the list of Brigadiers.

James Prescott, Esq., came down and informed the House, that the Papers relative to Doctor Gelston were in the hands of the Committee of both Houses, who have not yet reported.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, to desire that they would direct the Committee to examine Doctor Gelston to sit forthwith.

On a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Orne, Mr. Cooper, and Colonel Freeman, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve for explaining that part of the Militia Bill which excludes all persons belonging to, or being a part of, the established Forces of the United Colonies of this Colony, from being elected to, or holding any office in the Militia of this Colony.

The House made choice of Field-Officers for the Third and Fourth Regiments of Militia in the County of Bristol, for those of the Third Regiment in the County of Middlesex, and for those of the Second and Third Regiments in the County of York.

Afternoon.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, made choice of Colonel Daniel Thurston, Mr. Jewett, of Littleton, and Captain Walker, to repair to Falmouth, in the County of Cumberland, in the next recess of this Court, and inquire into the state and circumstances of that town, and such other towns as they may think proper, and report to the House at the next sitting of the Court. The same was sent up accordingly.

The Members from each County were directed to complete the list of Officers for the Regiments in their respective Counties.

Whereas, the non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers who inlisted into this Colony's service in the late campaign became entitled to the bounty of a Coat, or money for the same; and sundry of said non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers are since deceased, and left no estate worth administering upon; therefore, to enable the heirs of those deceased to receive the bounty aforesaid, without taking administration on the estate of such deceased,

Resolved, That where there is no Administrator qualified to receive the Bounty aforesaid, upon the Selectmen of such Town where such non-Commissioned Officer or Soldier belonged, or had his last residence, certifying to the Committee of Clothing that there is no administration appointed on the estate of any such deceased; and, also, the said Selectmen, or some of the commissioned officers of the Company to which such deceased belonged, signifying to what Company and Regiment he, or they, belonged; and that the bounty aforesaid hath not been received, the said Committee of Clothing be, and they hereby are directed to pay unto the Selectmen (or their order) of each town, respectively, where such deceased non-Commissioned Officer or Soldier belonged, or had his last residence, the sum of twenty-five Shillings, for the use and benefit of the heirs of such deceased; but, in case such deceased non-commissioned Officer or Soldier hath left no heir, that then the said bounty be retained for the use of this Colony.

The Committee on Clothing were directed to get the above Resolve printed in the Watertown Newspapers.