The Committee of both Houses appointed to lay before this Court a Sketch of the Harbour of Boston, and examine and report particularly the number of Passages there are for Ships into the same &c. have attended the business assigned them; and report the Sketch of the Harbour of Boston herewith, and the following Answers to the Questions proposed in our Commission. "~ow many Passages are there for Ships into the harbour of Boston, and what distance are they from the Capital." Strictly speaking there are but three ー The northermost between pulling Point and the North End of Deer Island a narrow and very crooked Channel, running on the back of Apple Island: seldom used, except by Fishing Vessels and light Coasters; this Passage is about Four miles from Boston. The next is the Ship Channel, which leads from the Light House through the Narrows, and enters the harbour between the East head of Long Island and the South point of Deer Island (here the Passage in at Brawd Sound unites with this) and is about five miles from Boston. The other leads from the light House, South of Georges Island thro' Nantasket Road, and runs between Rainsfords Island and Long Island, and enters the Harbour between the West Head of Long Island, and the East Head of the Moon, so called, this is about the same distance from Boston. "What is the depth of the Water in, and the Width of the Channel at each Passage, the heigth of the Land adjoining, and the distance therefrom to the Opposite side of the Channel. ー " As the Northern Passage is not navigable for the smaller Ships of War, the Committee made no further observations relative to it. ー The next is the

Ship Channel, which leads thro' the Narrows (here the Water is about Five Fathoms deep at low Water, width of the channel uncertain, perhaps Fifty Rods, the adjoining lands law) and Enters the Harbour between Long Is: land, and Deer Island as aforesaid, the width of the Channel at the Entrance about Three quarters of a Mile, the adjoining land on the South Side of the Channel ー viz, Long Island, is about Ninety feet high, and little more than three Quarters of a mile to the opposite side of the Channel, depth of Water from Six to Fourteen fathom. The other passage viz ー between long Island & the Moon, so called width of the channel about Eighty Rods, depth of the Water Thirteen Feet, the adjoining Land ー viz ー The Moon ninety four feet high, distance therefrom to the opposite side of the Channel, Three Eighth's of a mile.ー

Whether it is necessary to the best good of the Colony & its Capital, that all the Passages to the Town of Boston should be continued open, and what are the advantages and what are the disadvantages which will result from stopping either ー and which if any ought to be stopped

Your Committee are of opinion that it is not necessary to the best good of the Colony or the Capital thereof, that all the Passages thereto should be kept open, for if the Passage at the Narrows only is Stopped, or the depth of Water reduced, there will be sufficient Passages left open for all Merchant Ships ー As at it hath been affirmed by Persons skilled in Military and maritime affairs, that a Fleet of Ships with a leading Gale of Wind, and Flood Tide, pass with so great Velocity as to run little or no Hazard in passing by a Strong Fortification, as was experienced at Quebec in the Course of the last war ー If so it seems to be as necessary to reduce the depth of Water in the Narrows, as it is to Fortify the Island, or any other Places; because it is there only that Capital Ships of War can pass, and therefore there, above all other places as it is easiest Effected, their Efforts to enter the Harbour should be effectually obstructed.

"Where can Fortifications be erected most easily to resist the Enemy in their attempts to enter the harbour aforesaid ー ["]

On the East Head of Long Island, and on the Island called the Moon, on the east head thereof, and on the East Head of Pettick's Island, with necessary redoubts

Can a communication be kept up between said Posts and the Main in case of a Seige, and are they commanded by any neighbouring hills ー "

Redoubts & Block Houses on the eminences of Long Island, one of which is the only neighbouring Hill that commands the East Head thereof with proper covered ways from One to the other, will secure a retreat to the moon, which communicates with Squantum Neck at low water almost dry Shod. The Post on the East Head of the Moon, so called, is not commanded by any Neighbouring Hill. Petick's Island is so near the town of Hull that a safe retreat to it is cover.ed by the Guns of the Proposed Fort thereon; besides they may retreat the Length of the Island to the Town of Braintree, this Point is commanded only by a Hill on the same Island, and a Garrison there may be supplied with Water, and a retreat be secured from it by some redoubts &c.

"Whether at all times these Posts can be supplied with water ー " No doubt but they may, as there appears to be springs of Fresh Water on all those islands.ー

Your Committee beg leave further to suggest, that in case it should be thought proper to reduce the depth of Water in the Channel at the narrows, and Erect a Fortification on the East Head of Long Island, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the Enerriy to remove the Obstruction in the. Narrows, as it is open to the Fire from such Fortification ー That if the Narrows are stopped the capital Ships can have no safe Harbour above the Light House, below it they can't ride, save that to the Westward of George's Island, called Nanaskett Road, which may at all times be commanded by a Battery on the East Head of Pettick's Island.

That the passage in by the way of Broad Sound so called is very difficult navigation but that there is, as your Committee are informed, four fathom of Water; it is possible that Vessels between the size of frigates & what are called Capital Ships, altho' they never have attempted; yet in case the Nar-. rows should be stopped, may in future attempt to pass to the Capital that way, therefore as the Channel is very narrow between what is called the middle Ground and Castle Island, whether it would not be best to reduce the depth of Water there also

That besides those Posts abovementioned, there are many others which may be fortified with small expence, and will promote the General design of securing the Harbour aforesaid, and the Neighbouring Towns.

Benjn Lincoln, per Order

[Endorsed] In the House of Representatives ー Read, & Majr [Joseph] Hawley

Mr [James] Sullivan, Mr Nichols, Mr [Samuel] Phillips and Colo [Azor] Orne, with such as the Honble Board shall join, be a Committee to consider the same, and the Sketch of the Harbour of Boston accompanying, and report what places they apprehend are proper to fortify without delay-'

In Council Read and Concurred and John Whetcomb, Benjamin Lincoln, Joseph Palmer and Moses Gill Esqrs, are joined