of their sitting afterwards, to answer for their conduct in not returning the Precept sent to them by the late Congress, requiring them to send a Member, to represent the Towns of Mason and Raby in said Congress.

Adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, That Deacon Amos Dakin have a seat as a Member of this House until the matter of his choice be heard and determined by this House.

Voted, That the Account of the Selectmen of Sandown, for Blankets, amounting to nine Pounds, be allowed and paid out of the Treasury, and that the President of the Council give order on the Treasurer for payment thereof.

Voted, That Samuel Cutts, Esq., Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., and John, Dudley, Esq., be a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer together, and make report to this House, what business is most necessary to be entered upon immediately.

Which Committee made report as follows, viz:

The Committee appointed by both Houses, to report the business necessary to be acted upon at this session, beg leave to report as follows:

That the Superior Court be opened (as soon as may be) for punishing criminals and trespassers.

That the Courts of General Sessions of the Peace for the several Counties be in future opened, and held as usual; likewise the Inferior Courts for the trial of trespasses only.

That five hundred men, including officers, and those under the command of Captains Salter and Daniels, be raised, and be on the lines at Portsmouth, by the first day of April next; and the company of Artillery be raised, and to be reckoned a part of said number: their wages to be the same as those in the Colony service the last year. That there be one gentleman appointed to act as a General officer, to command all the troops, in case of an alarm or attack. That proper measures be taken to complete the several Minute Regiments. That no officer inlist any man for the service of this Colony who hath not a good fire-arm. That provision be made for the five hundred men, and such of the Militia as may be called in. That the resolve giving and confirming to the several Constables and Collectors the same power and authority for collecting of Rates and Taxes they formerly held by law, be printed in handbills, and distributed. That proclamation be made of the form of Civil Government lately established in this Colony, and the list of civil officers, that all persons may Conform accordingly. That in case of an alarm or attack when the Council and Assembly, or Committee of Safety, are not sitting, the General officer call in the Militia for the defence of this Colony.

That a Proclamation issue for a general fast.

MATTHEW THORNTON, Chairman.

Which Report being read and considered,

Voted, That the same be received, accepted, and established as a Resolve of this House.

Voted, That the balance of the Account of Nicholas Nicolle, amounting to two Pounds five Shillings and eight Pence, be allowed and paid out of the Treasury, and that the President of the Council give order on the Treasurer for payment thereof.

Adjourned to half-past eight o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Friday, March 8, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

A Petition of Leonard Whiting, Benjamin Whiting, Samuel Cummings, and Thomas Cummings, relative to their being summoned before the Committee of Safety of Hollis, Dunstable, Merrimack, and Litchfield, being read,

Voted and Ordered, That the Petitioners be heard thereon, on the 20th day of March instant, if this House be then sitting; and if not, then on the second day of their sitting afterwards; and that they cause Robert Fletcher, the Chairman of the Committee of Safety, or Correspondence, of Dunstable, Hollis, Litchfield, and Merrimack, to be served with a copy of the Petition and Order thereon, that the said Committee may appear and show cause, if any they have, why the prayer thereof should not be granted; and the said Committee are hereby ordered to cease all further proceedings against the Petitioners until that time.

A Petition of Enoch Bean against Benjamin Dow and others, being read and considered,

Voted and Ordered, That Benjamin Dow and Noah Dow, both of Gilmanton, and John Glidden and David Glidden, both of the Gore, so called, be cited to appear before this House, on Friday, the 22d day of March instant, to answer for their contempt of the order of the Congress appointing a Committee of Safety of Gilmanton, to hear and try a trespass, or trespasses, complained of by said Bean, to be committed by said Dows and Gliddons upon lands in said Bean’s possession.

Voted, That Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., Joseph Badger, Esq., Dr. Dearborn, Captain Nathaniel Sartel Prentice, and Mr. Elijah Grout, be a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to revise and correct the Table of Fees for the several Officers of this Colony, and to make report to this House as soon as may be.

Voted, That Moses Nichols, Esq., Colonel Walker, and Mr. Baldwin, be a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer together, and make a form of a Proclamation of the Publick Officers appointed for this Colony, and of the opening of the several Courts of Justice, and also for a Publick Fast throughout this Colony, and to make report thereon to this House as soon as may be.

Adjourned to half-past eight o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Saturday, March 9, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, That Timothy Walker, David Gilman, and Stephen Evans, Esquires, be a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to hear, examine and adjust Accounts and Demands against this Colony, by way of petition or otherwise, and to make report to this House as soon as may be.

Voted, To choose a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer and consult about the best method of securing the Powder Vessels expected soon on this coast, and to report thereon to this House as soon as may be; and that Captain Long, Mr. Sherburne, and Ichabod Rawlins, Esq., be the Committee for that purpose.

Which Committee, being joined by a Committee from the Board, made the following Report, viz:

The Committee appointed to devise ways and means for the security of the expected Powder Vessels, beg leave to make the following report: That it is advisable to send a small vessel to all the Eastern ports, to give them intelligence that two of the enemy’s privateers are hovering about our harbour, which we have reason to apprehend are cruizing after our powder vessels, now expected, and beg them to apprize the Captains thereof, if they should go into their ports. Likewise, that a Committee be appointed to lookout for a suitable vessel to fix as a privateer, to be employed to cruize after our enemies; and to make an estimate of the cost, and make return of their doings as soon as may be.

NATHANIEL FOLSOM, Chairman.

Voted, To choose a Committee to look out for a proper Vessel of War to guard our coast, and to make an estimate of the cost and expense of such Vessel, and to confer with the Captains of the Privateers now in Piscataqua Harbour about taking the Armed Vessels now hovering on this coast, and also to despatch a small Vessel (if they think necessary) to the Eastward, to acquaint the people there of the said Armed Vessels, and make report as soon as may be; and that Mr. Cutts, Captain Long, and Mr. Sherburne, be the Committee for that purpose.

Adjourned to Monday next, at three o’clock, afternoon.

Monday, March 11, 1776, P. M.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, To choose a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer and consult about some method respecting opening the Civil Courts, and what restrictions they shall be laid under: and Colonel David Gilman, Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., and Matthew Patten, Esq., be the Committee for that purpose.

Voted, To choose a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to write an answer to