directed to apply to the Council for a warrant or warrants upon the Treasurer of this Colony for such sum or sums as they may judge necessary for the purpose.

Whereas the time fixed by this Court for receiving and paying for Saltpetre manufactured in this Colony, at the rate of seven Shillings a pound, expires on the 1st of June; and lest there should be a neglect in continuing the manufacture of that important article:

It is Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony the sum of five Shillings (inclusive of three Shillings before engaged) a pound, for every pound of good and merchantable Saltpetre that shall be manufactured in this Colony, from and after the 1st day of June nest, until the 1st day of October next, and delivered to such persons as the General Court shall appoint to receive the same; and Mr. Story is appointed to cause this Resolve to be printed in the several Newspapers.

Whereas a Company of men, stationed at Gloucester, under the command of Captain Daniel Giddings, were ordered by a Resolve of this Court to march to Boston, to assist in fortifying that Town and Harbour; and whereas it appears to this Court that the men stationed at Gloucester are not more than sufficient to guard and defend that place:

Therefore Resolved, That the Resolve for ordering the Company of men aforesaid to march to Boston, be, and hereby is, declared null and void, and that the Company aforesaid remain in the station they were fixed at Gloucester aforesaid, till the further order of this Court.

Resolved, That the Committee for fortifying the Town and Harbour of Boston, be, and they hereby are, empowered to hire, in behalf of this Colony, a further number of men, not exceeding two hundred, if they find them necessary, on the best terms they can be procured; and said men to be employed in fortifying said Harbour with the utmost expedition, and them, or any part of them, to dismiss as soon as the safety of the Town and Harbour of Boston will permit, or by order of the General Court.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to the Honourable Thomas Cushing, Esq., the sum of twenty-two Pounds, thirteen Shillings and five Pence, in full of his Account of Expenses in travelling to and from Philadelphia, to attend the Congress.

Resolved, That there be immediately raised for the defence of this Colony, a Company of Artillery, consisting of fifty able-bodied effective men, viz: Captain, with the rank of Major, one Captain-Lieutenant, two Lieutenants, four Sergeants, four Corporals, six Bombardiers, six Gunners, one Drummer, one Fifer, and twenty-four Matrosses; to be under the immediate direction of Colonel Josiah Whitney, until the further order of this Court, the Commissioned Officers to be appointed by this Court, and commissioned by the Council; they, (the said Commissioned Officers,) or the major part of them, to appoint the Non-Commissioned Officers, and inlist the remainder of the Company. And each of the Company shall be equipped and provided with the same kind of warlike accoutrements, and shall have the same allowance of provisions, as is provided and established for the Regiment last raised for fortifying the Town and Harbour of Boston; and shall be holden to continue in the service of this Colony from the time of their inlistment to the 2d day of May next, if the service shall require.

Resolved, That there shall be allowed and paid to each Officer and Private in the Company aforesaid, at the rates following, by the Calendar month, viz:

Resolved That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to the Honourable Benjamin Greenleaf and others, the Committee of the General Court appointed to purchase Sulphur, the sum of two hundred Pounds, for the purpose aforesaid.

A Bill entitled “An Act for providing a speedy and cheap course for the Recovery of Debts,” 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: Ordered, That the following Letter be signed by the President of the Council, and be forwarded to the Indian Chiefs of the Penobscot Tribe, viz:

“To our Brethren the INDIAN Chiefs of the Penobscot Tribe:

“FRIENDS AND GOOD BROTHERS, Greeting: This letter is to acquaint you that we received your favour by Lieutenant ilman, dated at Penobscot River, the 22d of November, 1775, by which you have acquainted us that you made choice of Mr. Jonathan Lowder for your Truckmaster, and finding that Mr. Preble was appointed, you were not contented, and that you want to know how the alteration came to be made. You say you have heard that it was altered by means of two young Indians that came here. In answer to this, we tell you that we are sorry that you are not contented with Mr. Preble, and have so many complaints against him. This alteration in the Truckmaster happened by a very great mistake, as both these men were to keep at Penobscot; but we trust you will excuse it, as we were then very much troubled with the white people of Old England, which we have since drove out of our Colony. You tell us that when you agree to a thing, you mean to stand to it. We mean to stand to all the promises we have made to you. You may depend on it, that all we have promised you will be done by us. Captain Lane is obliged to go to New-York, and he cannot come to yon this summer; but we have ordered Lieutenant Gilman to keep at Penobscot with you. You desire us to mind nobody but the heads of your tribes. We desire you for the time to come, to sign all the letters you send us with your mark, that we may not be deceived.

“Dear Brothers: We have the pleasure to tell you that, by the help of God, we have drove the wicked people of Old England out of our Colony, and we trust and believe we shall be able to keep them out. We have built forts in almost all our towns that are near the water. We are also building a great many ships of war, with which we intend to drive; away all their ships. We have heard that our enemy intends to go to Canada this summer. If they do, we trust you will help us to drive them away, if we should want you.

“Your letter came so late that a great many of our Court were gone home before we read it; therefore we shall order the further consideration of it to the next General Court, which will be in June. They will find you a Truckmaster that you will be contented with, who will trade with you and supply you with such things as you will want, if they can be bought.

“We wish you a blessing, health, and prosperity, and are your friends and brothers, &c.”

Resolved, That Lieutenant Andrew Gilman be, and he hereby is, directed to continue in the service to which he was heretofore appointed by the Congress of this Colony, a late Resolve of this Court to the contrary notwithstanding. And that there be paid to the said Andrew Gilman, out of the Colony Treasury, the sum of four Pounds, as advance wages.

Resolved, That the Committee of Inspection for Deer-Island, be, and they hereby are, directed to deliver unto Jonathan Rich, of Marblehead, the Schooner Nightingale, with her cargo and appurtenances, that was taken into custody some time in August last past, by said Committee, it not appearing upon examination that the said Rich has acted anything against this or the other United Colonies whereby his property should be forfeited: he giving the said Committee a discharge from any demands he may have against them for detaining said vessel and cargo.

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

Saturday, May 4, 1776.

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

Whereas by a Resolve of this Court in March last, a Committee was appointed, after the enemy fled from Boston, to repair to the Town of Boston, and there take possession of Houses and Real Estates, personal, and other moveable