After further consultation about the armed vessels &c., the following bill and resolve was prepared and pass'd, viz:

Whereas the General Assembly of this Colony at their session in July last, resolved that two armed vessels of suitable burden be immediately fitted out and be armed with a proper number of cannon, swivel-guns and small arms, and furnished with necessary warlike stores and well officered and manned, for the defence of the sea coasts in this Colony, under the care and direction of his Honor the Governor and Committee of Council appointed to assist him in the recess of the General Assembly, who are thereby authorized and directed to procure, furnish and employ the same accordingly:

In pursuance of said resolve and direction, the Governor and Committee aforesaid having taken all proper steps and care to find how and in what manner the said resolve may be most properly carried into execution, are of opinion, that a certain brig, called the Minerva, belonging to Capt. [William] Griswold and now lying in Connecticut River at Rocky Hill, is one proper vessel to be employed for the service aforesaid, and do therefore agree and resolve, to take up and employ said brig in the service of this Colony as aforesaid, during such term as said Assembly or this Committee shall find needful to employ her in said service; and do hereby appoint Titus Hosmer and Ezekial Williams, Esqrs and Cap. Giles Hall, a committee to take up and retain said brig in the service aforesaid, to finish the contract for the hire and charter of said brig and execute proper writings, to cause the same to be justly apprized with all her furniture and tackle proper to be retained and used as an armed vessel and make a proper inventory thereof. And the said committee are further directed and impowered to furnish, procure and provide all necessary additional sails rigging and furniture and also all proper and necessary ship-stores and provisions, and furnish from the Colony stores, as far as may be, the necessary cannon, swivels, small arms, pistols, shot, powder, &c. &c., taking further needful directions from time to time from his Honor the Governor and said Committee.

And the Committee of the Pay-Table are hereby directed to draw on the Treasurer of this Colony in favor of said committee for such sums of money as they shall find necessary to enable them to accomplish the service aforesaid; and they to render their account of their disposition and disbursement thereof to the General Assembly, or to the Governor and said Committee.

At the same time &c. The Governor and Council having concluded to take up and employ the brig Minerva, belonging to Cap. Griswold, for an armed vessel &c. according to Act of Assembly &c, do appoint Cap. Giles Hall to be Captain and Commander of said brig and he to be allowed £7.0.0 P month.

Thos. Horsey, of Derby, to be 1st Lieut., his wages 5.0.0 P month.

to be one carpenter a 60/s. P month, and one pilot, and that said vessel be mann'd with forty seamen and forty soldiers or marines, exclusive of officers, to have and be allowed viz:

the sea men 2.5 p month

and the marines not exceeding 2.0 p month

And Cap. Hall is hereby instructed and directed forthwith to raise said 40 seamen and forty marines or soldiers by voluntary inlistments, and to incourage and ingage forty five shillings per month to the seamen, and not exceeding 40 S. per month to the soldiers or marines during their continuance in said service, and to have one month's pay advanced before they enter into and proceed on any cruise in said service. And said Cap. Giles Hall is hereby appointed Pay Master of said seamen and marines or vessel's crew, and is authorized to draw money out of the Colony treasury for that purpose, in manner as the land-officers are enabled to do, giving sufficient bond with surety as by law provided for paymasters of the troops in the land service. And his Honor the Governor is hereby desired to give proper commissions and warrants to the necessary officers on board said vessel.

At the same time pass'd the following Instructions to Titus Hosmer, Ezl Williams, Esqrs and Cap. Giles Hall, a committee, &c.

Gent: The Governor and Committee of Safety (by a subcommittee) have agreed with Cap. Griswold, owner of the Brig Minerva, to charter said brig for the use of the Colony as an anned vessel, at the rate of 4s.L.M. per month per ton, with condition that if we should charter any other vessel at the same rate, for which we must furnish more sails or rigging than will be necessary for his, the interest of the expence of furnishing the other with sails &c. more than will be requisite for said brig is to be allowed to said Griswold in addition to said four shillings. That said brig be apprized by indifferent good judges, with all the requisite tackle and furniture at our receiving her, and an inventory thereof be taken, and that whatever betterments shall be made to or on said brig by the Colony shall be received by the owner on her return, if we chuse it, and an allowance be made to him for the full value of such betterments so far as the vessel is rendered more valuable or useful to him; and if any special damage is done to said brig beyond the necessary decay and wear by time, the same to be allowed the owner in addition to the charter-party.

The Colony to risque the vessel.

Said Committee to observe the above agreement. And said Committee are further instructed to employ said Cap. Griswold to do any service in and about the necessary additional rigging and furnishing said brig which [may] be properly done by him, at a reasonable price beyond what may be best done by Cap. Hall and his men.

Said committee are further instructed and desired to enquire and look out and recommend to us proper persons for the following offices, viz. master and mate, gunner and gunner's mate, boatswain and boatswain's mate and carpenter.

Copy of the 3 foregoing given, &c.