cles before-mentioned ought to be under a very strict regulation, to prevent any misapplication of what may be intended for our friends there. We submit it to your consideration, whether it would not be advisable to require either a certificate from some Committee of Inspection in those Governments, and, where such certificate cannot be conveniently obtained, and the people applying for such permits are residents of New-England, or of your Colony, to require the shipper, or the master of the vessel in which the provisions are to be exported, to give bond that they shall be landed or delivered to our friends in those Governments, and to oblige the master to make oath, that he will ' use his best endeavours, that they shall be so landed and delivered.

"We are, with great respect, your most humble servants,

"JOHN HANCOCK

"THOMAS CUSHING

"SAMUEL ADAMS,

"JOHN ADAMS.

"To Samuel Purviance, Jun."

Mr. Mark Alexander having applied to the Committee for liberty to load the Sloop Grampus, John Brackett, master, with Provision for the use of the Colonies, to Massachusetts-Bay, the same was granted, on his entering in a bond with said master in double of the value of the cargo, that he will land the same, and produce a certificate thereof from a Committee of the port where it was landed, to this Committee, and that the usual Oath be taken by them,

Mr. Mark Alexander, on behalf of George Welsh and Elisha Thatcher, made application for permission to load the Schooner Peggy, John Lathrop, master, for the same parts as above;which was granted on the above condition.

Messrs. John Philpot and William Sterrett were summoned to appear before this Committee, to give information against Mr. Samuel Carson, Sen., merchant in Philadelphia, for speaking disrespectfully of this Committee. They appeared accordingly, and declared that they were in company with Mr. Carson, in Philadelphia, and heard him say, "he had been informed while he was at Baltimore, that a quantity of Tea had been imported at Baltimore, and that he was informed it was not to be now produced, and, that a parcel of Handkerchiefs had come to Baltimore, which had been directed to be destroyed, and that only about a dozen had been burnt, and the remainder secreted and sold."

The Committee, looking on it as an imputation on their character, directed the Committee of Correspondence to write to the Committee of Correspondence at Philadelphia, to desire Mr. Carson to produce his author.

The same information was given by Messrs. Carvel Hall and Aquila Hall, of Harford County, respecting Mr. Carson.

A copy from the Minutes.

Attested by:

GEORGE LUX, Secretary.

The Committee met, Monday, December 18, 1775:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, Robert Alexander, William Buchanan, Thomas Harrison, Benjamin Nicholson, Darby Lux, Isaac Grist, John Smith, Thomas Gist, Benjamin Griffith, John Cradock, William Wilkinson, William Asquith, John E. Howard, Thomas Sollers.

Captain William McNeil, of the Sloop Ranger, from Turk's Island, and addressed to Abraham Vanbibber, reported his cargo, subscribed, and took the Oath in such cases required, with an exception of fifteen hogsheads Molasses, which were imported from Grenada, and are ordered to be stored under the inspection of Mr. Isaac Grist, who is to keep the key, and in case Captain McNeil. departs the Province, he engages to export the Molasses, or in some other measure dispose of it agreeable to the Committee.

Captain Jacob Small, of the Sloop Rosannah, from Barbadpes, and addressed to Mr. Thomas McCobb, reported his cargo, subscribed, and swore;and Mr. McCobb is desired to attend this Committee at their first meeting after his arrival in Town.

Captains John Rogers and Adam Muir, both of Accomack County, in Virginia, having applied for permits, they were ordered not to leave this port till further orders;and Captain Nathaniel Smith is ordered to take away their sails, and keep them stored till further orders from the Committee.

Mr. Richard Taylor came, and reported his cargo, which he imported in Captain Isaac Vanbibber, and offered to take the Oath, which was accepted as satisfactory.

The Committee having taken into consideration the defenceless stale of Baltimore, and the dangers to which it is, in its present state, exposed, came to a resolution, that until some other measure be taken for the defence of the Town, by the Convention or Council of Safety, the Guns which are in Town be cleaned and put in order for service, and that proper Carriages for mounting the same be immediately procured to be made.

Ordered, That Messrs. William Buchanan, Jesse Hollingsworth, Isaac Grist, and Benjamin Griffith, give directions for cleaning the said Guns, and making suitable Carriages for them.

Ordered, That a Pilot-Boat be immediately stationed at Whetstone-Point;that the said Boat be armed with two swivel Guns and six Muskets, and manned with six men;that the Officer commanding the Boat bring to all vessels, and that he do not permit any vessel to sail out without a permit in writing, signed by three Members of this Committee, which number will attend every morning from ten to twelve o'clock, (Sundays excepted,) where all masters of vessels must repair immediately after their arrival, and report their cargo, &c., and they must bring certificates from some Committee, Council of Safety, or Provincial Convention.

Ordered, That the following Resolve of the Provincial Convention be entered in the Minutes:

"In Provincial Convention, December 11, 1775.

"Resolved, That no Boat, or other Vessel, belonging to this Province, go out of this Province without a License in writing from this Convention, the Council of Safety hereafter to be appointed, or from some Committee of Observation, in which the particular place such Vessel or Boat shall be designed to go to, shall be expressed in all Licenses granted by the Committees of Observation. And if any such Boat or Vessel shall be navigated beyond the limits of this Province without such License, or if, after having obtained such License, the skipper thereof shall, without absolute and inevitable necessity, go to, or touch at, any place out of this Province, other than that mentioned in such Licence, or shall carry any person or Letter, of which he shall not give previous notice to such Committee, or shall bring back any person or Letter, of which he shall not give notice to some Committee of Observation, as soon as may be after his return, such skipper, and all other persons accessary to such misbehaviour, may be punished by imprisonment;but it is understood that this Resolution is not to prohibit crossing Potomack, although the Boats or Vessels employed or used therefore should go up the creeks or arms of Potomack-River making into Virginia, or to prohibit the passing and repassing at the Ferry on Pocomoke River.

"Signed by order:"

G. DUVALL, Clerk."

Messrs. Isaac Grist, Benjamin Griffith, and George Woolsey, or any two of them, are appointed to hire and contract for the said Boat.

The Committee, considering the peculiar situation of the Vessels arming in this Port, and the necessity that the same should be kept as private as possible,

Ordered, That where sufficient reasons appear to the Committee, that the permission to the Vessels trading in this Bay will be productive of any ill consequence, in such case the Committee detain such Vessel, or Vessels, from sailing.

A copy:

GEORGE LUX, Secretary.

At a meeting of the Committee, Tuesday, December 19, 1775:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Jun., Chairman, Thomas Harrison, William Buchanan, John Smith, Isaac Grist, Benjamin Griffith, William Asquith, James Calhoun, John Boyd.

The Committee, considering the danger that might arise by too extensive a liberty being granted to Vessels passing and repassing to and from this Port,