At a Council holden at Halifax
on the 5th November 1776

Intelligence having been received that an Expedition is now forming in New England by raising an Army for the Invasion of this Province, and that for that purpose, Magazines of Provisions were already forming: -It was considered and Advised that Application be made to Sir George Collier Commander of the King's Ships in this Harbour, that he would dispatch such Men of War or Armed Vessels as he could spare, to the Rivers Kennebect, Penobscot and Passamaqouddy, to gain the best information, respecting such designs.Resolved that a Schooner of about fifty Tons burthen now in this Harbour, be purchased and fitted out for the better defence of the Coast of this Province