“Can a communication be kept up between said posts and the main, in case of a siege, and are they commanded by any neighbouring hills?”

Redoubts and block-houses on the eminences of Long-Island, (one of which is the only neighbouring hill that commands the east head thereof,) with proper covered ways from one to the other, will secure a retreat to the Moon, which communicates with Squantum-Neck at low water, almost dry shod. The post on the east head of the Moon, so called, is not commanded by any neighbouring hills. Pettick’s Island is so near the town of Hull, that a safe retreat to it is covered by the guns of the proposed fort thereon; besides, they may retreat the length of the Island to the town of Braintree. This point is commanded only by a hill on the same Island, and a garrison there may be supplied with water, and a retreat be secured from it by some redoubts, &c.

“Whether at all times these posts can be supplied with water?”

No doubt but they may, as there appears to be springs of fresh water on all these Islands.

Your Committee beg leave further to suggest, that in case it should be thought proper to reduce the depth of water in the channel at the Narrows, and erect a fortification on the east head of Long-Island, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the enemy to remove the obstruction in the Narrows, as it is open to the fire from such fortification. That if the Narrows are stopped, the capital ships can have no safe harbour above the Light-House; below it, they cannot ride, save to the westward of George’s Island, called Nantasket-Road, which may at all times be commanded by a battery on the east head of Pettick’s Island.

That the passage in, by the way of Broad-Sound, so called, is very difficult navigation; but that there is, as your Committee are informed, four fathom of water. It is possible that vessels between the size of frigates and what are called capital ships, although they never have attempted, yet in case the Narrows should be stopped, may in future attempt to pass to the Capital that way; therefore, as the channel is very narrow between what is called the Middle-Ground and Castle-Island, whether it would not be best to reduce the depth of water there also.

That besides these posts above-mentioned, there are many others which may be fortified with small expense, and will promote the general design of securing the harbour aforesaid, and the neighbouring towns.

BENJAMIN LINCOLN, per order.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and Major Haw-Icy, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Phillips, and Colonel Orne, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to consider the same, and the sketch of the Harbour of Boston accompanying, and report what places they apprehend are proper to fortify, without delay.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and John Whetcomb, Benjamin Lincoln, Joseph Palmer, and Moses Gill, Esquires, are joined.

Whereas this Court have received information that considerable parts of the Real and Personal Estates of the Mandamus Counsellors, Commissioners of the Customs, and other open and avowed enemies to the rights and liberties of America, who have departed this Colony since April 19th, 1775, are now in the occupation and possession of persons who have clandestinely taken the same, and others under pretence of gift, sale, 9r attachment, claim a right to hold and enjoy such Estate and effects, by which practices the publick or individuals may be greatly injured:

For prevention whereof, Resolved, That the Committee appointed to take inventories of, and secure, till the further order of this Court, the Estate and effects of said absconders, in the Town of Boston, be, and hereby are empowered to cause any such person or persons, as they know, and have good cause to suspect have in their occupation, or possession, any Estate, late the property of the aforesaid Mandamus Counsellors, &c., and them to examine thereon, and, if need be, to require answers upon oath, respecting the concealment or conveyance of said effects as the law allows in similar cases with respect to the effects of intestates; and said Committee are also authorized and directed to take into their possession and secure such Estate and effects, as also the Estate and effects of any persons in Great Britain, which, by virtue and powers of attorney, were under the care and direction of said Mandamus Counsellors, &c., until the further order of this Court, any attachment or civil process made or commenced since the 19th of April last not-withstanding.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Eleazer Warner, the sum of two Pounds, in full for the loss he sustained in the battle of Bunker’s Hill.

Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Thursday, April 4, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourable James Otis, Benjamin Creenleaf, Caleb Cushing, Thomas Gushing, John Winthrop, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcomb, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Charles Chauncy, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Moses Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquires.

In the House of Representatives: Ordered, That the Resolves of Congress, just received, be committed to . . . . . . . . . with such as the honourable Board may join, to consider the same and report.

In Council: Read, and concurred, and Joseph Palmer and Samuel Holten, Esquires, are joined.

Ordered, That the Colonels of the late reinforcement to the Continental Army do make up their Rolls, and lodge them for examination and allowance.

The Committee appointed to take under consideration the erecting a Monument to the memory of the Honourable Major-General Joseph Warren, beg leave to report, that they have attended that service, and find that the place where his body was buried is discovered, and that the Lodge of Freemasons in this Colony, whereof he was late Grand Master, are desirous of taking up the said deceased’s remains, and, in the usual funeral solemnities of that Society, to decently inter the same, and that his friends are consenting thereto. Wherefore your Committee are of opinion that the said Lodge have leave to put their said intentions into execution, in such a manner as that the Government of this Colony may hereafter have an opportunity to erect a Monument to the memory of that worthy, valiant, and patriotick American.

JAMES SULLIVAN, per order.

Read, and accepted, and the said Lodge has leave to put their intentions as aforesaid into execution accordingly.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury, to Jonathan Crosby, the sum of five Pounds eight Shillings, in full of his account of losses sustained in the battle of Bunker’s Hill

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Moses Richardson, the sum of one Pound four Shillings, in full for a Greatcoat lost by him in the battle of Bunker’s Hill

In Council: The Council having been informed by Mr. John Kinney and Mr. Thomas Black, that a small sloop, loaded with English goods, from Boston to Halifax, having on board a certain Jolly Allen, and six or more other Tories, with about twenty women and some children, was cast on shore about a week since at Provincetown, upon the Cape, and that said vessel has the small-pox on board:

Therefore Ordered, That Benjamin Greenleaf and Joseph Palmer, with such as the honourable House may join, be a Committee to consider what is proper to be done relative to this affair, and report.

In the House of Representatives: Read, and concurred, and Mr. Fabyan, Colonel Mitchell, and Colonel Freeman, are joined.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Benjamin Ball, the sum of four Pounds nine Shillings, in full for the losses his son met with in the battle of Bunker’s Hill.

Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Friday, April 5, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourable James Otis, Benjamin Greenleaf, Caleb Gushing, John Winthrop, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcomb, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Charles Chauncy, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Moses Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquire

In Council: Ordered, That Joseph Palmer, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to give directions for the fortifying Boston Harbour.