In Council, February 16, 1776: Read, and accepted, and thereupon,

Resolved, That Captain Robert Cochran be permitted, by the major part of the Council, to inlist a number of Seamen for the defence of South-Carolina, not exceeding three hundred men, out of the inhabitants of this Government, excepting such as are employed in the Continental Army, in the Armed Vessels fitted out either by this Colony, or by any of the inhabitants thereof, or in the Forces raised by this Government for the defence of the Sea-Coasis, (A.)

Read, and concurred, with the amendment at A, viz: At A, add "of whom none are to be inlisted."

The Committee on the Petition of Nathan Jones, reported. Read, and the consideration thereof referred to the next session.

Resolved, That the twentieth day of March next will be a proper time to which this Court may be adjourned.

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

Whereas, the condition of the Inhabitants of that part of the County of Lincoln, lying between Penobscot-River and Goldsborough, appears to this House so necessitous and distressing, as that humanity dictates they should be relieved by the General Court:

Therefore, Resolved, That there be lent, out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Philip Hodgkins, Alexander Campbell, Francis Shaw, Benjamin Foster, and Stephen Smith, the sum of four hundred Pounds, to be by them laid out in some of the Southern Colonies on this Continent, to purchase Provisions and Ammunition, which, when imported into said County, to be by them distributed among said Inhabitants between Penobscot-River and Goldsborough, in the most equal manner they can, they, the said Philip Hodgkins, Alexander Campbell, Francis Shaw, Benjamin Foster, and Stephen Smith, giving bond, jointly and severally, to the Treasurer of this Colony, or his successor in said office, for the payment of said sum, on or before the 16th day of February next.

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

Saturday, February 17, 1776.

The Committee of both Houses appointed to make inquiry after virgin Lead, &c., beg leave to report:

That a sub-Committee has been to Northampton, and examined a Lead Mine there, which has been worked, and in which, as Mr. Clap, the Clerk of the Works informed us, much loss had been sustained. He also told us, that Mr. Bowdoin, Colonel Ward, and Mr. Hedge, were the present proprietors; that they owned about two hundred and twenty-five acres of land; had a store-house, stamping-mill, and smelting-house; that they would sell ail their estate there for one thousand pounds, lawful money, as he believed; that their land is bounded about half a mile upon a river, upon which is said mill. Said Clap also said, that many assays had been made upon the ore, and it produced, in that small way, from fifty to seventy-five per cent, head; but in smelting, in the large way of business, they could not produce any lead, but it all ran into glass, they not understanding the business; he said that they stamped and washed the ore, and in that state, without smelting, they sold considerable quantities to the potters.

The sub-Committee are of opinion, that if the present proprietors' right is purchased, it will be necessary to purchase other lands, perhaps to the amount of one thousand pounds, lawful money, more, so as to command the river, roads, and the summit of the mountain, in which it is likely are belter mines than that which has been opened; and as the buildings are much out of repair, and others will be needed to carry on the business, it will require at least one thousand pounds, lawful money, more to set the work in a good way of business. There will be twelve or fourteen miles cartage to water carriage.

The sub-Committee also examined a Lead Mine in Southampton, very convenient for working and water; but as this had not been opened, and the winter preventing, they could not make full discovery of the quantity. They also examined a mine in Worcester; but its situation would not admit of its being worked to advantage.

The sub-Committee brought from Northampton some of the ore, and obtained Mr. Clark to make an assay, in doing which he saved twenty-five per cent, lead, and he supposed that he lost twenty-five per cent more. They have, also, endeavoured to have another assay made by Mr. Hurd, but his fire-place being very small, the assay failed, he not being able to raise a sufficient heat.

The Committee beg leave to sit again, and desire to be instructed whether they shall now transmit this Report to the American Congress, or wait for further light in this matter; and, also, whether they shall examine into the process, &c., of the lead-works now carrying on at Middletown, in Connecticut.

ELDAD TAYLOR, per order.

Resolved, That the said Committee be (A) instructed to transmit a copy of the foregoing Report to the American Congress, and that they examine into the process, &c., of the Lead-Works now carrying on at Middletown, in Connecticut, and that they be desired to sit again.

John Whetcomb, Esq., brought down the Resolve of the House for suspending proceedings in Civil Courts, with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In Council, February 17, 1776: Read, and concurred, as taken into a new draft.

Read, and non-concurred, and Major Hawley and Mr. Phillips, with such as the honourable Board shall join, are appointed a Committee to prepare a new draft.

On a motion, Resolved, That all matters that have had day in this House during the present session, which have not, or cannot now be acted upon, have the same day in the next session of the General Court.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down the Resolve of the House for granting four hundred Pounds for the use of the Inhabitants of this Colony below Penobscot; with the following Vote of Council thereon, viz:

In Council, February 17, 1776: Read, and concurred, with the amendment at A, B, viz: Dele from A to B, and in place thereof, insert "for the purpose of supplying the necessities of the Inhabitants between Penobscot-River and Goldsborough, with Provision and Ammunition."

Read, and concurred. Ordered, That a message be sent to the honourable Board to know if they have given out Commissions to the Major-Generals and the several Brigadiers elected by this Court.

The Secretary came in, and informed the House that a major part of the honourable Council had issued only a Commission for the first Brigadier in the Colony.

Ordered, That a message go to a major part of the honourable Council, and desire them to suspend granting Commissions to the Brigadiers till the next sitting of the Court.

Ordered, That Mr. Vix and Major Johnson be added to the Committee on the Rolls of the Militia and Minute-Men, who are to sit in the recess of the Court, so long as while a quorum of the Council shall sit.

Ordered, That Major Rice, Deacon Rawson, and Mr. Watson, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve containing some instructions to the Committee on the Rolls of the Minute-Men and Militia.

Afternoon.

The Committee appointed in the forenoon to bring in a Resolve containing some instructions to the Committee on the Rolls of the Minute-Men and Militia, reported. Read, and not accepted.

The Committee appointed to consider what further Supplies are necessary to be procured for the use of the Colony, reported. Read, and accepted.

Whereas, the Administration of Great Britain, by their despotick and cruel measures from time to time, and, finally, by shedding the blood of the inhabitants of the British American Colonies, has obliged us to take up arms for our defence, and thereby we are engaged in an unnatural war, which has, in a considerable degree, prevented the importation of bread, corn, flour, and other articles of subsistence and defence, into this Government from the neighbouring Colonies, whereby great part of the usual supply is cut short, and as the sea-coasts of this Colony are surrounded with ships-of-war and cutters, which makes it necessary for