Whereas some Persons in order to break through the [Continental] Association, enter'd into by the Continental Congress in Behalf of their Constituents, and to contravene the Resolutions of the late Congress of this Colony have ordered their Vessels into the Eastern Parts of this Province, and the good People there have been at great Expence and Trouble in coming to and attending on the General Court, to take necessary Orders for the Disposal of such Vessels by them so taken into Custody:

And whereas, to ease the People of this Expence, it becomes necessary, in the present Exigency of publick Affairs, to have a more certain Enquiry made into the Reason of such Captures, before the General Court ー shall take them under Consideration.

It is therefore Resolved, That Samuel Jordan, Esq; Daniel Merritt, Alexander Campbell, William Nichols, John Bayne, John Springer, Joseph Wood, James Richardson, Adams Cogswell, Thomas Stinson, and John Bateman, be a Committee, untill the further Order of this or some future General Court of this Colony, to examine into the Reason and Justness of the Capture of any Vessel or Vessels that may be taken in Custody by any Committee of Inspection, Safety, or Correspondence, of any Town, Place, or District, or other Person, between Penobscot and Machias. and may order any Vessel or Vessels so taken to be discharged or held, according to the Nature of the Charge, and Provided always, That when any Committee of Inspection, Safety or Correspondence, of any Town, District, or Place, within the Limits aforesaid, or any Owner, or Master of any Vessel so taken and determined, shall be aggrieved at the Determination of said Committee by this Court appointed, such Committee of any Town, Place or District, or Owner or Master of any such Vessel or Vessels may bring their Cause, at their own Expence, before the General Court of this Colony; where they shall be heard, and have the Order or Determination of said Committee by this Court appointed reversed, if the same shall appear to said Court to be unreasonable and unjust.