Mr. Sullivan, according to Order, reported the following, which was read, and accepted, viz.

May it please your Honors:

The House has just received Intelligence that there are now at Long Island, near Penobscot River, several Persons employed in cutting Wood, in order to supply our Enemies, the Ministerial Army, now in Possession of the Town of Boston; and that Admiral [Samuel] Greaves has sent a Number of armed Vessels to guard and protect the Providers and Carriers of said Wood. And as the Militia, with the Forces raised in this Colony to defend the Sea Coast are under the Command of your Honors, the House begs Leave to suggest to you the Necessity of your taking this Matter under Consideration; that your Honors may order such Reinforcements as you shall judge necessary. And the House further begs Leave to suggest that one Captain [David] Bradish, now in the Army, can give your Honors information of the above Facts.

Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Orne, Mr. Pitts, Col. Sawyer, and Mr. Mills, be a Committee to wait upon the Majority of the honorable Council with the foregoing Message. [Endorsed] In Council, October 9, 1775; Read and by the major part of the Council, Ordered, That William Sever, Walter Spooner, and Moses Gill, Esqs., be a Committee to consider the merits thereof, and report.

Afternoon.

The Report of the Committee appointed to consider the Expediency of fitting out armed Vessels was taken into Consideration. Read and accepted.

Whereas the the unnatural Enemies of these Colonies have infested the Sea Coasts with armed Vessels, and are daily endeavouring to distress the Inhabitants, by plundering Live Stock, and making Captures of Provision and other Vessels, being the Property of said Inhabitants: And whereas the Grand Congress of America have resolved, "That each Colony at their own Expence, make such Provision by armed Vessels or otherwise, as their respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Committees of Safety shall judge expedient, and suitable to their Circumstances and Situations, for the Protection of their Harbours and Navigation on the Sea-Coasts, against all unlawful Invasions, Attacks and Depredations, from Cutters and Ships of War:" And whereas it is the Duty and Interest of each Colony to exert itself as well for the Purpose of keeping Supplies from the Enemy, as for those mentioned in the Resolve just recited.

Therefore, Resolved, That a Committee be now appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for the Confiscation of all armed and other Vessels, that shall be taken and brought into this Colony, together with their Cargoes, Appurtenances, &c. which shall have been found making unlawful Invasions, Attacks or Depredations on our Sea Coasts or Navigation, or improved in supplying the Enemy with Provisions, &c. or employed by them in any other Respect whatever. ー And that Provision be made in said Bill for encouraging such of the Inhabitants of this Colony, as shall for this Purpose be recommended by the Committees of Correspondence and Safety of the Town in which they shall dwell, to fit our armed Vessels under such Regulations as the General Court shall order; and that all Vessels and Cargoes that shall be taken by said Inhabitants or others, properly authorized to take the same, and that shall be legally condemned in this Colony, shall be the Property of the Captors, they paying the Charges of Condemnation. Also, that further Provision be made in said Bill for determining the Salvage that shall be allowed on such Vessels as shall be retaken from the Enemy before Condemnation; and for erecting a Court for the Trial and Condemnation of all Vessels, Cargoes, &c. as aforesaid, that shall be taken and brought into this Colony.