Twenty-seven made a vote, and that Jonathan Allen, Esq., James Allen, and Zachariah Horsewit, were unanimously chosen.

The Secretary, by order of the major part of the Council, went down to the honourable House, with the following Message, viz:

“Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

“You yesterday desired the Council, by a verbal message, that they would desist from making out any commissions, either civil or military, for the present. You cannot but be sensible of the exposed state of the Colony to the depredations of our merciless enemies, who would, we have the fullest reason to believe, with eagerness, avail themselves of an opportunity to wreak their vengeance upon this Colony, and, if possible, to do something to excite in the minds of the people sentiments of their valour, very different from what can be entertained of them at present, by those who have heard of their late precipitate flight from Boston, and other instances of their shameful conduct. You must also be sensible that, in order to prevent such mischiefs, it is of the highest importance that our Militia should, without loss of time, be put upon the best footing possible for making a defence, which is far from being the case at present, as a considerable part thereof is still destitute of officers. The Council can conceive of no sufficient reason why they should delay, under these circumstances, to make out commissions to persons duly appointed to offices; but if you will suggest any, we shall consider them with due attention, as we are greatly concerned both for the safety and reputation of the Colony.

“In the name and by order of the major part of the Council:

“JAMES OTIS, President.”

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

Friday, April 19, 1776.

Present in Council: Honourable James Otis, William Sever, Benjamin Greenleaf, Walter Spooner, Caleb Cushing, John Winthrop, Benjamin Chadbourn, Thomas Cushing, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcomb, Jedediah Foster, Eldad Taylor, James Prescott, Benjamin Lincoln, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, Esquires.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to fortify the Harbour of Boston be, and they hereby are, empowered and directed to purchase, on the best terms they may be had, eight hundred feet of the Continental Barracks, provided their cost with the expense of removing and rebuilding them, shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be less than the value of new ones, and cause them to be removed to, and rebuilt on, Noddle’s Island; and they are directed to appoint some suitable person to superintend the taking down, removing to, and rebuilding the same at the place aforesaid, and also all the carpenter’s work necessary to be done on said Island; and also, some suitable Engineer, to attend and direct the raising of the Fortifications ordered on said Island; and they are also directed immediately to cause to be built on said Island a convenient Bake-House and Brew-House, sufficient for one Regiment of men.

Resolved, That the Commissary-General of this Colony be, and hereby is, directed to purchase, if they are not on hand, and transport them to and lodge them in some safe store near Noddle’s Island, two hundred barrels of Beef, the same quantity of Pork, three hundred quintals of dried Cod-Fish, five hundred bushels of Beans or Peas, one thousand three hundred gallons of Molasses, five hundred barrels of Flour, forty barrels of Vinegar, three thousand pounds of Soap and Butter, Rice and Milk, for the Regiment of men to be stationed on said Island, according to the allowance voted them; three hundred barrels of Cider, a sufficient quantity of Spruce for making six hundred barrels of Beer, forty empty Barrels, twenty cords of Wood, one thousand wooden Canteens, one hundred and twenty Mess-Pots, the same number of wooden Mess-Bowls, and the like number of Pails; and the Commissary is directed to deliver out said articles at such time, to such person, and in such proportion, as he shall be directed in future by this Court.

Whereas the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General Jail Delivery, according to law should be holden at Worcester, within and for the County of Worcester, on the Tuesday next preceding the last Tuesday of April, current: And whereas several of the Justices and officers of the said Court are members of this Court, which is likely to continue sitting beyond the said time, and it is probable that matters of great importance may require the attendance of all the members of this Court at that time:

Therefore Resolved, That the said Courts be, and hereby are, adjourned to the third Tuesday of September next, being the time at which the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General Jail Delivery, is to be holden at Worcester, within and for the said County of Worcester; and that all pleas, processes, writs, actions, suits issued or to be issued, complaints, precepts, recognisances, and all other matters and things returnable, and having and that should have had day in the said Courts, if the same were holden the day next preceding the last Tuesday in April, current, shall be returnable, and have day in the said Courts on the said third Tuesday of September next, and shall abide and continue unto that time, and shall then be proceeded on, heard, and determined, to all intents and purposes, as effectually as if said Courts were held on the day by law appointed as aforesaid.

Whereas the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General Jail Delivery, according to law should be holden at Northampton, within and for the County of Hampshire, on the last Tuesday of April, current: And whereas several of the Justices and officers of the said Court are members of this Court, which is liable to continue sitting beyond the said time, and it is probable that matters of great importance may require the attendance of all the members of this Court at that time:

Therefore Resolved, That the said Courts be, and hereby are, adjourned to the fourth Tuesday of September next, being the time at which the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General Jail Delivery, is to be holden at Springfield, within and for said County ofHampshire, and that all pleas, processes, writs, actions, suits issued or to be issued, complaints, precepts, recognisances, and all other matters and things returnable and having and that should have had day in the said Court, if the same were holden the last Tuesday in April current, shall be returnable and have day in the said Courts on the said last Tuesday of September next, and shall abide and continue unto that time, and shall be proceeded on, heard, and determined, to all intents and purposes as effectually as if said Courts were held on the said last Tuesday of April.

Resolved, That the Commissary-General of this Colony be, and he hereby is, directed to apply to General Ward for the loan of two and a half barrels of Powder, from the Continental Store, in order to prove a number of Cannon lately cast for the use of this Colony; and that said Commissary deliver said Powder, if obtained, to Mr. Burbeck, for the purpose aforesaid.

Ordered, That Captain Watson, Colonel Bowers, and Brigadier Thompson, with Benjamin Greenleaf and Benjamin Chadbourn, Esquires, be a Committee to examine Captain Solomon Davis and Prince Gorham, with respect to their importing Goods contrary to the Resolutions of the Continental Congress, and report.

In the House of Representatives: The House made choice of Richard Weldon as Captain of the Armed Brigantine building at Dartmouth, for the service of this Colony.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

Ordered, That Colonel Bowers and Mr. Durfee, with Jedediah Foster, Esq., be a Committee to consider what shall be done with the warlike Stores lately imported into Dartmouth in the Sloop Betsy, .... Jenny, Master.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Captain Reuben Dow, the sum of four Pounds, in full of his charge in going home, nursing, and boarding, in consequence of his being wounded.

Resolved, That Colonel Bowers and Mr. Rawson, with John Whetcomb, Esq., be a Committee immediately to apply to General Ward, and desire him to remove about one hundred men from Beverley, and as many more as can be spared from Bunker’s Hill, and employ them in building Barracks and erecting a Fort at Noddle’s Island; and that Colonel Josiah Whitney be directed immediately to repair to Boston, and to order the men belonging to his Regiment, as fast as they are raised, to march to the same place, in order to forward the works before-mentioned.

Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow morning