nine Shillings, for the use of the Selectmen of Ashfield, in full of their Account for Provisions supplied the Army.

Whereas it is represented to this Court that a navigable Canal may, without much difficulty, be cut through the Isthmus which separates Buzzard‘s Bay and Barnstable’s Bay, whereby the hazardous navigation around Cape-Cod, both on account of the shoals and enemy, may be prevented, and a safe communication between this Colony and the Southern Colonies be so far secured:

Resolved, That James Bowdoin and William Sever, Esquires, with Colonel Freeman, Brigadier Godfrey, and Mr. Cushing, or the major part of them, be a Committee to repair to the Town of Sandwich, and view the premises, and report whether the cutting a Canal as aforesaid be practicable or not; and they are hereby authorized to employ any necessary Surveyors and Assistant for that purpose.

A Bill entitled “An Act for establishing the style of Commissions, and altering the style of Writs, Processes, &c.,” having passed the House of Representatives to be enacted:

In Council: Read a second time, and passed a concurrence to be enacted.

A Bill entitled “An Act for executing in this Colony the Resolve of the American Congress for disarming such persons as are disaffected to the cause of America,” having passed the House of Representatives to be enacted:

In Council: Read a second time, and passed a concurrence to be enacted.

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

Thursday, May 2, 1776.

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

A Bill entitled “An Act for regulating the Fees and Allowances of the several Officers within this Colony,” having passed the House of Representatives to be enacted:

In Council: Read a second time, and passed a concurrence to be enacted.

Whereas no person or persons in this Colony has as yet made it appear to this Court that he or they have entitled him or themselves to the Premiums offered by this Court in and by their Resolve of the 14th day of February last, for erecting such Powder-Mills as are described in the said Resolve, &c.; and as this Court are of opinion that it would be expedient and conducive to the publick safety that there should be at least two Powder-Mills in this Colony besides the Powder-Mill at Andover, and the two that are erecting at the cost of the Colony:

It is therefore Resolved, That the term of nine months, from the 15th of February last, be allowed for erecting the Powder-Mills in said Resolve described; and that such person or persons as shall, in all respects other than by the time limited in the said Resolve, comply with the terms and conditions thereof within the said nine months, shall he entitled to the said Premiums.

In the House of Representatives: The House made choice of William, Brown, Adjutant of the First Regiment in Middlesex; Thomas Knowles, Adjutant of the Second Regiment in Barnstable; Isaac Johnson, First Major of the Third Regiment in Plymouth; and William Eaton, First Major of the Fifth Regiment in Lincoln.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

Whereas by a Resolve of this Court of the 1st of April last, the Commissary-General was directed to clear out and repair all such Cannon now lying at Boston and Castle-Island, which he judges may be made fit for use: And whereas it is of great importance to this Colony that the most speedy and effectual measures be immediately taken to carry into execution the Resolve before-mentioned:

Resolved, That Lemuel Robinson, Esq., be appointed, with the Commissary-General, for the purposes in said Resolve mentioned; and they are directed to procure all such of said Cannon as they shall judge fit for use to be repaired in the most expeditious manner.

Whereas by reason of the removal of the Continental Army from this Colony, it is become necessary that Guards should be kept at some parts of the Sea-Coasts near Boston:

It is therefore esolved, That one new Company of men, to consist of one hundred men, inclusive of Officers, be immediately raised for the defence of the Sea-Coasts of this Colony, on the same establishment of pay and subsistence which was granted by the Resolve above-mentioned; the said Company to be constituted in manner following, viz: one Captain, two Lieutenants, four Sergeants, four Corporals, one Drummer, one Fifer, and eighty-seven Privates; and that the said Company shall be posted and do duty in such manner, and in such divisions or parties, as the honourable Council shall order; who are hereby empowered to distribute the said Company at Dorchester, Weymouth, Braintree, and Hingham, until the further order of this Court. And the Captain and Subalterns for the said Company shall be appointed by this Court, and the Non-Commissioned Officers, Drummer and Fifer, for the same, shall arm and equip himself with a good effective Fire-Arm, Bayonet, Cartouch-Box, Blanket, and Knapsack, half a pound of Powder, twenty Bullets, and four Flints; and none of the said men shall pass muster unless so equipped and provided. And all the Officers and Privates of said Company shall be holden to serve, and be in the pay of this Colony, as hereafter expressed, viz: The Commission Officers from the time of the date of their respective commissions, and the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates from the time they shall pass muster respectively, unto the first day of December next, unless the General Court shall discharge them, or any part of them, before that time; and that the Commissary-General shall appoint some faithful man under him, to issue Rations to the said Company, according to the establishment of subsistence for the men raised for the defence of the Sea-Coast, expressed in the Resolve abovesaid of the 27th of December last.

Resolved, That Mr. John Hale be, and he hereby is, licensed to erect a Powder-Mill in the Town of Springfield, in the County of Hampshire.

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

Friday, May 3, 1776.

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

A Bill entitled “An Act for raising and forming a Regiment of Horse out of the several Regiments of Foot, in the County of orcester,” having passed the House of Representatives to be enacted:

In Council: Read a second time, and passed a concurrence to be enacted.

In the House of Representatives: The House made choice (by ballot) of the following Officers for the Penobscot Regiment, viz: Joseph Brewer, Colonel; Jonathan Lowder, Lieutenant-Colonel; John Mitchell, Junior, First Major; Daniel Neal, Second Major.

In Council: Read, and concurred.

Whereas by a Resolve which passed the honourable House of Representatives the 31st of October last, and was concurred by the Board the 1st day of November, 1775, the Commissary-General was directed to pay for all such Fire-Arms, manufactured in this Colony, and finished as in said Resolve expressed, and delivered to the Commissary‘s store in Watertown on or before the 1st of June next, the sum of three Pounds for each Fire-Arm; and for the convenience of such manufacturers, it was also resolved that the several persons whose names are in said Resolve mentioned, be respectively empowered to receive for the Colony at the price, and during the time aforesaid, all Fire-Arms which should be offered them for sale, manufactured as aforesaid: And whereas the Commissary-General has not obtained the number of Fire-Arms which he has been directed to procure for the use of this Colony: Therefore,

Resolved, That the Commissary-General of this Colony, and the several persons mentioned in the Resolve above referred to, be authorized and empowered to receive and pay for each Fire-Arm manufactured and finished as before-mentioned, that shall be delivered them, until the 1st day of October next, the sum of three Pounds; and are hereby

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