now doing duty at Salem; and that on their arrival at Boston they shall be under the field command of Colonel Josiah Whitney, and be employed in the service, as the Committee of this Court for the fortifying the Town and Harbour of Boston shall order. And that the said Company and Detachment, from the time of their march from their present posts to Boston aforesaid, and during their stay there, shall be on the same establishment of pay and subsistence as has been lately made by this Court for the Regiment now raising, to be commanded by the said Colonel Whitney; and that the Commissary for the Companies now posted at Gloucester supply the said Captain Giddens, and the Company under his command, with sufficient Rations, for their march to Boston, computing at the rate of one day for twenty miles travel. And that the Commissary for the Forces stationed at Salem supply the said Captain Ward, and the aforesaid Detachment, with sufficient Rations for their march to Boston, computing at the rate aforesaid. And that the honourable Council be empowered forthwith to make their orders to the above-named Captains, respectively, for the marching the said Company and Detachment to Boston aforesaid, and all other orders necessary for carrying this Resolve into execution.

Petition of Nathaniel Barber, setting forth: That he had had the honour of laying before you the state of the North Battery in this Town; since which he found two pieces of Cannon, (twelve-pounders,) have been taken from that dismantled Fortress; and on inquiry, find Mr. Nathaniel Barber, blacksmith, has taken them by order of Commissary Devens, and Assistant Quartermaster-General Frazer. Thought it my duty to give you this information. Likewise to acquaint your Honours, that at a meeting of the Committee of Inspection, held at Boston, the 9th instant, he was appointed to receive certificates of goods landed in this town, and to grant permissions to take on board merchandise to be exported, taking securities for their not being carried to the enemies of America In the first part of this business he has acted, but has not as yet granted any permissions, and thinks he cannot till the further directions of the honourable Court. As many vessels from different parts are daily expected, he humbly hopes such directions will immediately be issued; and as he has tarried in town upon expense, humbly craves the favour of your Honours that he may be appointed, promising faithfully to observe such rules and directions as you shall please to order. And as there is such an appointment in Philadelphia, hopes your Honours will take into consideration as soon as possible, as it will be of great service to this devoted town. It will expedite business, which, under the present circumstances of the town, ought not to be retarded.

Read, and committed to Colonel Norton, Colonel Williams, and Mr. Nye, with James Otis and Caleb Cushing, Esquires.

In the House of Representatives: The House made choice (by ballot) of the following gentlemen to be Field-Officers for the First Regiment of Militia, in the County of York, viz: Ebenezer Sawyer, Colonel; Edward Grow, Lieutenant-Colonel; John Littlefield, First Major; John Nowell, Second Major.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

In the House of Representatives: The House made choice (by ballot) of Enoch Learned, as Adjutant of the Third Regiment of Militia, in the County of Suffolk.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

In the House of Representatives: The House made choice (by ballot) of Henry Herrick, as Adjutant of the Eighth Regiment of Militia, in the County of Essex.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

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

Tuesday, April 23, 1776.

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

Whereas a Resolve passed this Court the 12th of April current, empowering and directing the Committee appointed to fortify the Harbour of Boston, to sink Ships in the channel, between the Middle-Ground and Castle-Rocks, so called, for preventing any vessel of more than two hundred tons from passing to Boston: And it is found that Castle-Island is in a direct line between our Fortifications on Dorchester Point and that part of the channel the water in which is to be reduced; and that our enemies may remove any obstructions we may lodge therein without being exposed to the fire from any of our Batteries:

It is therefore Resolved, That the Committee aforesaid be, and they hereby are, empowered and directed to repair and raise such Fortifications on Castle-Island as may be found necessary.

And as covering will be wanted for the men employed on that Island, it is further

Resolved, That the Resolve of the 18th instant, empowering the said Committee to purchase and remove to Noddle’s Island eight hundred feet of the Continental Barracks, be so far reconsidered as that the said Committee have liberty to remove so many feet of the said eight hundred to Castle-Island, and there rebuild them for the purpose aforesaid, as they shall judge necessary.

And whereas the design of raising a Regiment of men, and calling in a number of the Sea-Coast Companies, all to be under the command of Colonel Josiah Whitney, is to fortify the Harbour of Boston: And as this Court have appointed a Committee to see their orders relative to such Fortification carried into execution:

It is therefore Resolved, That the said Colonel Josiah Whitney be, and he hereby is, instructed to follow such directions as he may from time to time receive, from said Committee, in all things whatsoever which pertains to fortifying the Harbour aforesaid.

Whereas sundry persons of this Colony have joined our unnatural enemies, who have, in a hostile manner, been endeavouring to enslave the United Colonies, and others have absconded and removed out of this Colony, with intent to aid the despotick measures of our enemies; and divers of both sorts have left Estates, both Real and Personal, much of which have been already wasted, and more is liable to waste:

Therefore Resolved, That the Committeeof Correspondence, Safety, and Inspection, in each and every Town and Plantation in this Colony, where there is any Real or Personal Estate in their respective Towns, belonging to any person or persons that, in their opinion, have fled to Boston in the late time of distress, to secure themselves, or that have joined the unnatural enemies of the United Colonies, or that have withdrawn themselves out of this Colony to aid the despotick measures of our enemies, that they immediately take into possession all such Estates, and, according to their best discretion and judgment, for the use of this Colony, order and lease out such Real Estate to such person or persons, and for such sum and sums of money as they shall think proper, for the space of one year; and that they return to this Court a true Inventory of such Personal Estate as they shall receive into their possession belonging to each such person; and also an account to whom they shall let the said Estate, and the amount of the rent they shall agree to be paid for the same, any former order or resolve of the Congress of this Colony, or of the General Court, to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, always, That nothing in the aforegoing Resolve shall be construed to extend to such Estates as aforesaid, whether Real or Personal, as are now held and possessed by persons friendly to this Colony, by virtue of any written conveyance bearing date and actually executed on or before the 22d day of May, 1775.

And whereas sundry persons in this Colony did not actually join our unnatural enemies, nor remove out of this Colony, but have discovered a strong attachment to them, and been aiding and assisting them in their wicked designs all in their power, and have approved of their measures:

It is therefore further Resolved, That the Committee aforesaid be directed to return to this Court, at or before the second Tuesday of their next session, the names of all persons who have in any manner acted against or opposed the rights or liberties of this country, or who have signed or voted any address to General Gage, approving his errand to this Colony, or his administration since the dissolution of the General Court at Salem, in 1774, or to Governour Hutchinson, after the arrival of General Gage, or to General Howe; or who have signed and promoted any Association