best to be taken to prevent the depreciation of the currency of the several States, and to consider what is best to be done relative to the Regulating act. The Committee reported a commission for the Board of War.

Wed. July 2nd. An overcast day. Nine o'clock the Council met. A letter from Gen'l Schuyler dated ye 28th of June last, informing that the enemies fleet and army were arrived at Crown Point, and that the troops with him were insufficient to defend the extensive lines and forts and Ty. About 12 o'clock the Hessians that were taken passed by the Town House. There was a very great crowd of spectators. The militia of Hampshire were ordered to march immediately and rendevous at Fort Ar or Fort Edward for reinforcing the Northern Army. The Counci. passed on Mr. Webster's petition praying he might have an order of County to pay Abial Wood $2000-which he had of said Woods in his hands, that said Webster pay said money into the Treasurer of this State. Nath'l Jones' petition for enlarge. ment was considered, and voted that said Nath'l Jones be confined to the town of Newbound, it being made to appear that said Jones was enemical to his country. Dr. Churt had liberty to go to Rhode Island, to be exchanged for Dr. McHenry.

Thurs. July 3rd. The Council met at 9 o'clock. A fine day. A resolve passed that the Brigadiers of Hampshire and Berkshire should be ordered to march all the militia that was in their power, to muster immediately to Fort Edward or Fort Ann, with proper officers, there to rendevous, and to have the same pay and subsistence that other militia have had on like occasions. All persons concerned in Post riding to be exempt from personal military duty. Jos. Palmer was chosen third Maj. General of the militia of this State. Dined with Mr. Gill. At past 3 o'clock a General Council was convened and several civil officers chosen. The Gen'l Council was then adjourned until next Thurs. at 3 o'clock P.M.

Friday, July 4th, 1777. A fine day. At 9 o'clock the Council met, transacted several affairs of a Public Nature. At past 10 the Council and House walked in procession to the Old Brick Meeting House, where Dr. Gordon preached from the 1st of Kings, Chapter 2, verse -. A discourse well adapted to the occasion. After service the Council and House walked in procession, the Company of Cadets at their head, about half way down the street by the Town House and back to the Council Chamber, where the Council and House of Representatives and a number of gentlemen partook of a handsome collation provided, and many loyal toasts were drunk. The Council met at 3.30. I omitted to mention that the cannon were discharged at the Castle, Fort Hill, and from sundry ships in the harbor. Thirteen cannon were

fired in the street below the Town House, and about 300 of the militia of Boston, and the Cadet Company drawn up in the said street, fired three volleys. At night fireworks were played off, and several shells thrown, and several thousand men and women assembled. Gen'l Ward, Brigadier Danielson, Mr. Paine and myself went on the common to see the performance.

Sat. July 5. A very fine day. The Council met at 9 o'clock. A resolve of the house was sent up that Dr. Church who was on board a transport and had liberty from the Court to proceed to Rhode Island, should be taken from said vessel, and recommitted to jail. The Council unanimously non-concurred. The commissions of the Board of War, consented to by the House. By all the returns made by the several Colonels in the Continental Army, it appears there has been returned 7558 men.

Sunday, July 6th. A fine day. Mr. Paine and I went in the morning to Mr. Eliot's meeting. I dined at Mr. Carns, went to Mr. Howard's meeting in the afternoon.

Monday, July 7th. A fine day. The Council met at 10 o'clock. Capt. Claxton came before the Board, and informed them he arrived from France yesterday, and brought in 170 bbls. of powder, 40 chests of arms, 10 tons of lead, sundry anchors, cables, chain and rigging he took out of several vessels he had burnt. There was a resolve passed last Saturday, to give a bounty of 3 shillings per bushel for all the salt that shall be made out of salt water, within this state. Several letters rec'd from Ty. informing the enemy was within three miles of Ty.

Tuesday, July 8th. A fine day. The Council met at 9 o'clock. Yesterday nine members were chosen to form a board of War, the following gentleman, viz. Mr. Savage, Mr. T. Brown, Mr. Williams, Mr. Otis, Mr. Walker, Mr. Glover, Mr. Prescott, Mr. Osgood, Mr. Grey, who resigned, and Mr. Peleg Wadsworth who was chosen in his room. 12 o'clock a message came from the House to the Board, informing them they have despatched all public business, and desired a recess till the first Wednesday in September next, and were accordingly adjourned.

Wednesday, July 9th. A rainy night and overcast day. At 10 A.M. the Council met. Had sundry letters, one from Gen'l Schuyler, with a memorandum of sundry presents to be given to the chiefs of the Six Nations, who are to meet at Albany the 15th of this month. The memorandum is as follows. 20 lbs. Vermillion. 50 doz. Knives. 20 lbs. Verdigris. 100 doz. Nee lles. 10 doz. small looking-glasses. 100 Bunches Beads. 12 pieces coarse Calico. 20 piecesBoxes Short Pipes.

4

Thursday, July 10. A fine day. The Board met at 10. A number of commissions signed, and warrants delivered, and other public business transacted.

An account taken from Mr. Ebenezer Davies:

From Quebec to Detroit 1000 miles. From Michilimackinaw to Detroit 170 miles. Twagoloche, 60.

Regulars at Niagara 600. At Fort Erie 60. At Detroit 80. At Michilimackinaw 270. At Quebec on the 13th of May there was 37 armed vessels, from 44 guns down to 6. In the whole province of Canada 10,000 Regulars. Forty men have been carried off in one day at St. Johns by sickness. St. Johns Fort was burnt with all its stores in Feb. last. Burgoyne arrived at Quebec the 1st of May. The number of cannon on the walls of Quebec 36. The Hessian troops very sickly and uneasy. He was taken prisoner by the Kickapoos and carried 3 or 4 hundred miles to the Northward.

Friday, July 11. A fine day. The Board met at 10. An express arrived at the Board from Gen'l St. Clair, that on the night of the 6th he had retreated and left Ty. which the enemy immediately took possession of. The enemy proceeded to Skensburg, and thus this important post was unaccountably given up. This evening at 9 o'clock, came Mr. Ward from Rhode Island State, one of their Council, who informed me that on the evening of the 10th inst. Lieut. Col. Barton and Capt. Adams having certain intelligence that Gen'l Prescott lodged in a house four miles out of town, and a quarter of a mile from the main guard, with only one sentry at the door. These two officers with 43 more, set off in boats from Warwick Neck, and proceeded to Rhode Island, which is about 8 or 9 miles, and landed within quarter of a mile of said house. They marched in three divisions. Col. Barton and Capt. Adams first advanced, the asked "Who was there?" They answered, them "advance and give the countersign." vanced and rushed on him and disarmed him. bolted, they stove in one of the windows and jumped into the room. The other men at the same time surrounded the house. They ran up the stairs and burst open the chamber door which led into Major Gen❜l Prescott's chamber. He called out he was a General Officer in His Majesty's service, and hoped they would treat him like a gentleman, as he had always treated the prisoners belonging to our State. His aid de camp jumped out of chamber window and was taken by the men below together with the sentry. All this was done without one gun being fired or any discovery being made.

sentry hailed them and

"Friends."
"Friends." He bade

They accordingly ad-
The fore door being

They repaired immediately to their boats with their prize. Just before they arrived at the place from whence they set out, the Island

was alarmed. They got on shore just at break of day that morning. Gen'l Spencer sent his coach for Gen'l Prescott.

Saturday, July 12. A rainy day. The Court met at 9 o'clock. Mr. Ward applied to the Court for assistance to defend their State. The Council took the affair into consideration, and resolved that a regiment should immediately be formed, consisting of eight companies, 86 men in each company, including non-commissioned officers and privates.

Sunday, July 13. An overcast day. An express arrived from Governor Trumbull, informing that Gen'l Howe had left the Jerseys and embarked his artillery, troops, and light horse, and had fallen down to Sandy Hook, on which the Council was collected together. At 9.30 o'clock orders were immediately issued, ordering all the militia to be ready to march at a minute's warning, well equipped with arms and ammunition and six days provision. An express was sent to Dartmouth to send out two small swift sailing vessels as spies, and on their discovering any of the enemies vessels, to repair to the nighest port in this state and send by express an account of the same to the Council. The Council adjourned till 12 o'clock. Went to Dr. Chauncy's meeting. Met according to adjournment. Passed several orders, adjourned till to-morrow at 10 o'clock.

Wednesday, July 16. * * * * of those that were candidates for their 1st Degree, the number was forty one. The names of those who were candidates for the 2d degree, the number was seven; these were proposed by the President of the Council for their approbation, that they might be admitted to take their respective degrees. Those that had taken their second degree before this time, the number was 29. The President informed the Board that there was a member of the Corporation, and a tutor of Harvard College wanting. The Board gave direction to the corporation to choose two gentlemen in their room. Deacon Storer was chosen treasurer of the Corporation in the room of Hon. John Hancock.

Thursday, July 17. A very fine day. The Council met at noon. An express arrived from New Hampshire, requesting arms and lead, also gave an account that Howe with all his forces was got 30 miles up the North River. Thomas Cushing and myself were appointed to consider what power the Council were clothed with in the recess. Found their power so limited they did not choose to grant any fire arms, but gave orders to the Committee of War to furnish Hampshire with five tons of lead, and five thousand flints.

Friday, July 18. A fine day. The Council met at 10 o'clock. Passed an order that a number of arms returned by Col. Graton should be received by the Committee. A warrant was ordered to be

passed on the Treasurer to pay £400. to enable the Committee at Plymouth to pay the bounty to the men destined for the State of Rhode Island. An order was passed that the sheriff of the County of Suffolk should convey the Hessian non-commissioned officers to Cambridge jail to close confinement, and one officer sent to Newtown to be confined within two miles from where he lives, and to give his parole. Ordered that the Board of War deliver Dr. Abel Marsh and Chas. Phelps 300 arms for the use of Dan'l Clapp, appointed Commissary for the St. Johns Expedition. Also to said Phelps 150 lbs. powder, 300 lbs. Lead and 400 Flints.

Sat. July 19. A very warm pleast day. The Council met at 10 o'clock. The Commissary Gen'l was ordered to lay in wood sufficient for 1000 men for three weeks at Noddle's Island; for 1000 at the Castle, and 1000 at Hull. Mr. Hodgdon came from Ty. He was in Ty. when it was taken, and says there was on the several forts 163 bbls. powder, 3000 bbls flour, and between 8 and 900 bbls. of beef and pork. It was with great reluctance the soldiers left Ty. Ten days before they left their posts, 400 arms arrived at the landing at the lower end of Lake George. Gen'l St. Clair on being informed of it, ordered them immediately back again to Fort Edward. Last night an express arrived from Portsmouth with despatches from Dr. Franklin from France, for Congress. Set (?) at 4 o'clock, A.M.

Sunday, July 20th. A fine day. Went to hear Dr. Chauncy in the morning, and to hear Mr. Stillman in the afternoon. Spent the evening with Gen'l Ward at Capt. Ervins.

Monday, July 21. A fine day. The Council met at 10 o'clock. The Board received a letter from Dr. Franklin, in which he informs that he has purchased for the States 205 Brass 4-pounders, with their carriages, traces for the horses, shot, &c., 26 Brass Mortars, a great number of shell, 30,000 fusils, and that a number of expert officers of artillery and engineers, with a vast quantity of powder, have been shipped and gone for America. The above letter is dated 27th of May last. A resolve of Council passed that 50 men should be drafted from the militia of Boston, to do duty at Hull, under the direction of Col. Craft, for six weeks. A letter from Mr. Deane, and one from Mr. Lee, was received, who writes very encouragingly, that a quantity of cables, anchors, sailcloths, hats and coarse linen from Spain, were shipped for America. On the petitions of Capt. Bray and Deane that they might have liberty to go to Caprisal (?) and bring up their wives and children and effects: As it appeared to the Council they were well affected to this State, their prayer was granted. Dr. Church petitioned the Council for liberty of the yard, but as he was ordered to close confinement, the Council did not enlarge him, supposing.they had not the power.