At a Council holden at Halifax on the 15th of August 1775

Present

His Excellency the Governor  The Honorable Jonathan Belcher

Charles Morris, Richard Bulkeley, Henry Newton, Arthur Goold, John Butler, James Burrows, Counsellors

The Governor laid before the Council letters received last night from Windsor from the Lieut. Governor² [and] Mr. [Isaac] Deschamps assistant Judge of the Supreme Court, dated the 12th Instant received the 14th. at night; setting forth that by Persons lately arrived from Machias in the Bay of Fundy, there was intelligence receiv'd that the People of that Place were mediating a design of equipping two Vessels, the Diligent Schooner lately taken being one of them who were to proceed up the Bay of Fundy & thence into the Bason of Minas in order to come to Windsor & destroy the Vessells lying there laden with Hay & Provisions for Boston to destroy the Cattle in the Country if they could not carry them off, also that they were fitting out several small Vessels in order to Cruize & Seize on the Vessells laden with Provisions, and the Lieut. Governor signifies by his letter that he has strong reasons to believe that a great part of the Militia of the Bay of Fundy had no inclination to oppose their Country Men is case of any attempt.

And the Council having taken the foregoing Intelligence into Consideration were of Opinion that application should be made to the Officer Commanding the Navy in this Harbour that he wou'd Order His Majesty's Ship Senegal to proceed to the Bay of Fundy without loss of time for the purpose of protecting the Vessells laden with Provisions and Stores for the Army, & all Vessells Sailing to & from there, to give all possible aid & Protection to that part of the Province. The same to be signified to the Commanding Officer by Letter.

And the Governor Signified his intention to Order all the Recruits for the new Corps now raising in this Province to march forthwith to Windsor with seventy five rounds of ammunition each, there to be quarter'd untill further Orders & to receive directions for their Conduct from the Magistrates, to which the Council consented & Agreed.

Order'd that the Colonel of Militia have in readiness the Men upon whom they. can most depend to March on the first notice, And that all Officers of the Militia do take the Oath to Government at the next Meeting of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace in the County to which they belong.