[Watertown] Wednesday, January 10, 1776.
Mr. Speaker communicated to the House a Letter from his Excellency General Washington, inclosing a Copy of Peleg Wadsworth's Account of Cape-Cod Harbour.
Read, and Sent up:
Afternoon.
The House proceeded according to the Order of the Day to the Choice of a Committee on the Part of the House, for the Purposes expressed in a Resolve brought in by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry. And Col. [Elisha] Porter and Mr. [John] Brown of Boston being nominated, were appointed.
The Resolve, being amended, passed the House, and is as follows, viz.
Resolved, That Col. Porter, and Mr. Brown of Boston, with such as the Hon. Board shall join, be, and they hereby are appointed a Committee to settle the Accounts remaining unsettled on the Books of the late Committee of Supplies, and to collect or pay the Balances that may be due to or from the Colony on said Accounts; also to take the care of the Brigantines Rockingham and Unity's Cargoes, and such a Part of the Schooner Macaroni, as belongs to the Colony; also to see that the Order of this Court be complied with by Capt. William Johnson, late Commander of the Schooner Brittania, relative tohis delivering to the Commissary of said Colony, the neat Proceeds of the Cargo of said Schooner, consigned him by the said late Committee of Supplies, exclusive of what he shall produce Receipts of having delivered agreable to any Order of said Court: And they are further directed to receive from the Files of said Committee of Supplies, all the Papers relative to said Vessel, or any of the Persons having Accounts unsettled as aforesaid, and upon the Arrival of any of them, to cause the Proceeds of their Cargoes (if vested in Military Stores) to be delivered to the Colonial Commissary, and take his Receipts therefor, and to certify to the standing Committee of Accounts, the Sums which they shall find necessary to dicharge the Portage Bills, Hire, and other necessary Charges attending the said Voyages, that shall be due from the Colony aforesaid. And the standing Committee on Accounts are hereby empowered to pay and discharge the Portage Bills, Hire of Vessels, and other Charges that shall be examined and certified by the Committee now chosen as aforesaid, they to be accountable to the General Court for their Doings.