confer together upon the Accounts of the late Committee of Safety, and make report to this House as soon as may be; and that Captain Prentice, Doctor Nichols, and Dea­con Knowles, be a Committee for that purpose.

Voted, That the Account of Meshech Weare, Esq., for his time and expenses going to Cambridge, amounting to four Pounds twelve Shillings, be allowed and paid out of the Treasury, and that the Treasurer pay him the same ac­cordingly.

Voted, That Samuel Cutts, Esq., be, and hereby is, appointed Commissary and Victualler to our Troops at Piscataqua, for the current year, and that he deliver out no more than single Rations to any of the Officers of our Troops; and that he deliver to each man one gill of Rum, per day, when going on fatigue, and not otherwise: the number to be ascertained by the Adjutant; and that he deliver out Provisions agreeable to the Return of the Quartermaster, every allowance day; and that he render his Accounts to this House, or to the Committee of Safety, at every three months’ end.

Adjourned to half-past two o’clock, P. M.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, That John McClary, Esq., Doctor Dearborn, and Captain Moulton, be a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer upon the expediency of sending some part of the Militia to Ports­mouth and Newcastle, immediately, for the defence of Piscataqua Harbour, and places adjacent.

Voted, That the balance of the Account of the Committee of Durham, for Fire-Rafts, amounting to six Pounds one Shilling and three Pence, be allowed and paid out of the Treasury, and that the President of the Council give order of payment thereof accordingly.

Voted, That the Hon. Meshech Weare, Esq., Ebenezer Thompson, Esq., and Nathaniel Folsom, Esq., of the Council, the Hon. Philips White, Esq., Pierce Long, John Dudley, Josiah Moulton, Stephen Evans, and Robert Wilson, Esquires, of the Assembly, be, and hereby are, appointed a Committee of Safety for this Colony, to act in the recess of the General Court, with the same powers and authority as any former Committee of Safety of this Colony have had; and also to convene the Council and Assembly upon any emergency, in the time of their recess. That any five of them be a quorum to do business; that they render an account of their doings to this House the first week of their next session; and that they have eight shillings per day for their attendance on the business, paying their own expenses.

The Petition of Rebecca Felton, concerning the Will of her late husband, William Felton, being read,

Voted, That the Petitioner be heard thereon, on the second Thursday of the next sitting of this Assembly.

Voted, To choose a Committee of three Members of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to Confer together upon the Accounts of the late Committee of Safety, and report to this House as soon as may be; and that Captain Prentice, Dr. Nichols, and Deacon Knowles, be the Committee for that purpose.

Which Committee, being joined by a Committee of the honourable Board; made report as follows, viz:

That they are of opinion that the expenses of the said Committee of Safety be paid out of the publick money, and recommend that each of them be paid five shillings per diem wages.

WYSEMAN CLAGETT, Chairman.

Whereas there are sundry Towns in the Colony, settled these few years, both within the lines of what is called Mason’s Patent, and under grants from the Crown, which have not the benefit of Incorporation, and thereby unable to choose proper Officers to assess and collect the Colony Taxes,

It is hereby Resolved, That, upon application of three of the Freeholders of said Town to the Selectmen of the adjoining Town, (if incorporated,) otherwise to the Selectmen of the nearest Town incorporated, they (the Selectmen) are authorized, and hereby required, to undertake and act for such Town, and to take Inventories of Estates, make Rates, and issue Warrants, to such or either of the Freeholders of said Town as they may think suitable persons; to levy, collect, and receive the said Rates and Taxes, (the charge of the Selectmen’s time in said business to be included and paid by the Town so taxed.) which Tax shall be transmitted to the Receiver-General, according to his warrant.

The House adjourned to to-morrow morning, eight o’clock.

Saturday, March 23, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, That the expenses of the late Committee of Safety of this Colony be paid out of the Treasury; and that they receive out of the Treasury five Shillings per day each for wages, and that the President give order for payment thereof.

Voted, That the balance of the Account of Nathaniel Folsom, Esq., amounting to two Pounds eight Shillings and six Pence, be allowed and paid out of the Treasury, and that the President of the Council give order of payment.

Voted, To choose a Committee to agree with Colonel Toppan, for the purchase of seven Cannon, belonging to him, now at our Batteries, at Piscataqua Harbour, not to exceed twenty Pounds for each Cannon; and that Mr. Sherburne and Colonel Evans be the Committee for that purpose, to make report to the Committee, of Safety.

Voted, That Deacon Williams have and receive, out of the Treasury, twenty-four Shillings in full, for the use of his House, and firing, for the several Committees of this House, to this time, and that the President of the Council give order of payment.

Voted, That the several Officers, appointed by this House, proceed in their respective business immediately after their taking their respective oaths of office, (without having com­missions;) not to interfere with a former Vote of this House for opening the several Courts to try criminal cases and trespass only.

Voted, That Colonel Timothy Walker be added to the Committee for examining Accounts, &c.

Voted, That the Committee of Supplies be paid for their services and expenses, eight Shillings per day when doing business abroad, and four Shillings per day when they did business at home.

Voted, That the Inventories of Rateables, Estates, and Polls, in and throughout this Colony for the current year, be taken in the month of April next, and the several, rates at which the said Estates are to be set, to be hereafter con­sidered by this Court.

Voted, That Captain Long, our Barrackmaster, be ordered to build Barracks, or hire Houses, on Great-Island, to lodge our Soldiers in, as he shall find most convenient.

Voted, That Mr. Elijah Grout have, and receive, out of the Treasury, twenty-five Pounds, to be by him accounted for, and that the President of the Council give order of pay­ment,

Voted, That Captain Prentice, Colonel Evans, Mr. Patten., and Mr. Grout, be a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer together about the Pay-Roll of the Members of this House, and to make report to this House as soon as may be.

Which Committee being joined by a Committee from the honourable Board, made report: That it is their opinion that each Member receive their pay out of the Treasury, in the same manner, and on the same conditions, they did the last session, and that the Secretary ’and Clerks immediately make out the roll for the same.

NATHANIEL FOLSOM, Chairman.

Therefore, Voted, That the pay of the several Members of the Council and of this House, for this session, be drawn out of the Treasury in the same manner, and on the same conditions, as for the last session; and that the Secretary and the Clerk of the House immediately make out the Rolls for the same, and certify them to the, Treasurer.

Then the House adjourned to the first Wednesday in June next, the fifth day of said month, then to meet at the Court-House in Exeter, at three of the clock, afternoon.

Clerk House of Representatives.