you for three months, (unless sooner discharged,) as scouting parties, to make their Head-Quarters at. Great Cohos; not taking more than ten of the inhabitants of said Great Cohos in the number. And you are to make return, as often as you can conveniently, of your routes, discoveries, &c., &c., to Colonels Bayley, Hurd, and Charles Johnson, at Lower Cohos, and take their instructions from time to time for your future conduct.

The men you inlist are to be paid thirty shillings as a bounty, and assure them I hey shall receive forty shillings per month when your roll is made up. And the Company are to choose a Lieutenant, Ensign, and two Sergeants. You, as Captain, shall receive £6, your Lieutenant £4, and Ensign £3, each Sergeant 48s. per month. The Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign, to receive no bounty.

To Captain Jeremiah Eames.

CAPTAIN ROBERT PARKER TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Lee, July 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am to inform you that I have just received a letter from Peter Bigerat, Esq., merchant in Martinico, who informs me that there has been a great scarcity of provisions there, owing to a number of vessels being detained in France on account of contrary winds. On the 6th of May was the first arrival for a long time; and since, unto the 14th of the above month, fourteen sail have arrived, and brought one hundred thousand weight of gunpowder, a great many chests of firearms, and great quantities of coarse woollen cloths. There are likewise twelve sail expected hourly, with ten thousand or twelve thousand weight of powder in each vessel. He further adds, there is not a board or codfish in the Island, and you may have immediate despatch and a great price for the above articles; therefore, if your Honours think fit to send a vessel with fish and lumber, I think there is a great prospect of making a good voyage, and little or no danger of being taken, as there are no cruisers on this coast, they being chiefly traced up in the West-Indies on account of the hurricane months. If your Honours see fit to hire a vessel and send it for the above purpose, I know of one that is a good sailer and will answer, and shall be glad to serve you in so good a cause if you think me worthy of being trusted as master.

And am, with respect, your most obedient, humble servant,

ROBERT PARKER.

N. B. My letter was dated the 14th of May. He says powder was 5s. 10d., on account of our vessels waiting there so long, but it has since fallen a great deal, and he thinks it will be low. The woollen goods are cheap, and I fear they will be much wanted in our Army next winter. R. P.

RESOLVES OF MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

Resolves of the General Assembly of the Colony of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, begun and held at WATERTOWN, in the County of MIDDLESEX, on WEDNESDAY, the twenty-ninth day of MAY, being the last WEDNESDAY in said month, Anno Domini, 1776.

Resolve for supplying the Town of GLOUCESTER with Cannon, &c., passed MAY 31, 1776.

Whereas the Committee for fortifying the Harbour of Boston are doubtful whether the safety of the Colony will admit of Peter Coffin, Esq., being supplied by the Commissary-General with two pieces of Cannon, eighteen-pounders, agreeable to a Resolve of Court of the 8th instant: Therefore,

Resolved, That said Commissary be directed to deliver to the said Peter Coffin, Esq., either two pieces of Cannon, eighteen-pounders, or two other Cannon, such as said Committee may judge may be best spared, consistent with the safety of the Colony, agreeable to the spirit and intention of said Resolve of the 8th instant; together with the Carriages, Spunges, and all other appurtenances, and one hundred Balls for each Cannon, suitable for the same.

Resolve for filling up the four Companies at DORCHESTER, passed JUNE 3, 1776.

Whereas an Order passed the late General Court, directing that the four Companies which had done duty at Dorchester, Braintree, Weymouth, and Hingham, should be immediately filled up, and commissionated by the Council, and should be upon the sea-coast establishment; but no Inlisting Orders were delivered out; for want of which, and from the apprehension of their services being required without the limits of said Towns, the Order of Court has not been complied with: Therefore,

Resolved, That Inlisting Orders, agreeable hereto, be immediately delivered out, and signed by the Honourable Joseph Palmer, Esq., and that said Companies, when full, or nearly full, shall have their Officers commissionated by the Council; and if they should be required to do duty out of said Towns, in other pans of this Colony, they shall, during the time of their so doing duty, be entitled to the same pay that other Troops employed in said service may be entitled to.

Resolve for paying Colonels MARSHALL and WHITNEY one month's advance Wages, &c.; passed JUNE 3, 1776.

Resolved, That David Jeffries, Esq., be, and he hereby is, ordered and directed to pay to each Non-Commissioned Officer and Private Soldier (or his order) in the Regiments under the command of Colonel Marshall and Colonel Whitney, and in the seven Companies of Matrosses commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Crafts, on their passing muster, one month's advance wages, and 13s. 4d. in lieu of a blanket, together with one penny per mile from his usual place of abode to Boston: Provided., That the Captains of the several Companies shall exhibit to said Paymaster a roll, on oath, expressing each man's name, the town wherein he has been last a resident, and the number of miles from thence to Boston; and that there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony to the said David Jeffries, the sum of £2000, for the purposes aforesaid—he to be accountable to this Court for the same.

Resolve to supply Captain WIGGLESWORTH with seven Fire-Arms; passed JUNE 3, 1776.

Resolved, That the Commissary-General be, and he hereby is, directed to deliver unto Captain John Wiggles-worth, commander of a Vessel fixed out by this Colony, to cruise to observe the motions of the enemy's ships, the number of seven Smallarms and appurtenances, for those men that are not able to procure them themselves—the said Wigglesworth giving his receipt to be accountable to this Court for the same.

And it is further resolved, That the Honourable the Council be, and they hereby are, desired to give the said Wigglesworth a commission as Captain of said vessel, to cruise against the enemy's ships.

Resolve appointing a Committee to purchase Cannon for the armed Vessels;passed JUNE 3, 1776.

Resolved, That Captain Batchclor, Mr. Durfee, and Brigadier Palmer, be a Committee, with the Commissary-General of this Colony, to purchase and provide what Cannon are necessary for the armed Vessels of this Colony, with all expedition.

Resolve on the Account of JACOB BOARDMAN; passed JUNE 3, 1776.

On the Account of Jacob Boardman, for fitting out the Schooner Britannia:

Resolved, That there be paid to him, out of the publick Treasury, the sum of £11, in full of his Account.

Resolve to erect a Fortification at PLYMOUTH; passed JUNE 4, 1776.

Resolved, That a Fortification be erected on the Gurnet, at the entrance of the Harbour of Plymouth, and a number of men posted there, to secure that Harbour against the enemy's ships going in to land men there, or securing themselves against the danger of the sea, and for securing a place of rendezvous for the Continental and Colonial vessels, and a retreat for their prizes when they cannot get into the northern Harbours.