[245.] The Town having been informed by several Persons that a number of Soldiers with their Baggage landed Yesterday at Wheelwrights Wharff- one Gentleman supposing that there was not less than Sixty Men - Voted, that Mr. William Mollineux Ezekiel Goldthwait Esq. be a Committee to make enquiry from time to time, whether any more Troops came up from Castle Island than they think necessary, and if they shall find it to be otherwise, that they then immediately acquaint the Selectmen in order for their calling a Meeting of the Inhabitants Voted, that all Matters and things which remain unfinished at this Meeting be referred over to the General Town Meeting in May next to be then considered of and acted upon Voted, unanimously, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to the Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. and the other Gentlemen, Moderator and Pro. Temp. Moderators of this Meeting for dispatching the Business thereof - Then the Meeting was dissolved. [246.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston legally qualified and warned in publick Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday the 8th. Day of May Anno Domini - 1770 Prayer was made by the Rev. Dr. Chauncey The Precept and Warrant for calling the Meeting read read Joshua Henshaw Esq. one of the Selectmen proposed in their Name to the Inhabitants Assembled to proceed to the Choice of one or more Persons to Represent them in the Great & General Court or Assembly to be held at upon Wednesday the 30th of May Currant, and in order thereto to consider and ascertain the number of Gentlemen to be Elected; accordingly it was Voted to proceed to the Choice of Four Representatives, and then it was declared by the Selectmen that no Votes will be received but such as are unfolded, and that they propose the Poll shall be closed at 12 O'Clock The Votes being brought in the number of the same were found to be Five hundred and thirteen and upon sorting them it appeared that the Four following Gentlemen were chose Vizt. The Honble. James Bowdoin Esq. Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. Mr. Samuel Adams Honble. John Hancock Esq. 439 510 510 511 [247.] The choice of Representatives being over & declared by the Selectmen the Inhabitants were directed to withdraw, and bring in their Votes for a Moderator of this Meeting in order that the Town may proceed in transacting the other Affairs mentioned in the Warrant; accordingly the Inhabitants withdrew, and brought in their Votes, and upon sorting them it appeared that the Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. was chosen The Honble. James Otis Esq. having by the advice of his Physicians, retired into the Country for the recovery of his Health. Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be given to the Honble. James Otis Esq; for the great and important Services which as a Representative in the General Assembly through a Course of Years He has rendered to this Town and Province; particularly for his undaunted Exertions in the Common Cause of the Colonies from the beginning of the present glorious Struggle for the Rights of the British Constitution. At the same Time the Town cannot but express their Ardent Wishes for the recovery of His Health, and the continuance of those publick Services that must long be remembered with Gratitude, and distinguish his Name among the Patriots of America Voted, that the Gentlemen the Selectmen be a Committee to transmit to the Honble. James Otis Esq. an attested Copy of the aforegoing Vote Voted, that this Meeting be Adjourned to 3. O'Clock P: M: 3 O'Clock P: M: Met according to Adjournment. The Petition of a number of the Inhabitants that the Selectmen may be empowered to make sale of several pieces of unimproved Land in diverse parts of the Town" was read-where upon [248.] Voted, that Mr. William Whitewell Thomas Daws Esq. Mr. Samuel Downe Mr. Moses Gill Mr. Josiah Quincy Mr. Robert Pierpont be a Committee to take the Petition into Consideration; confer with the Petitioners; enquire and search out what vacant Lands belong to the Town -and Report as soon as may be That Article in the Warrant Viz.t. "Whether the Town will give Instructions to the Gentlemen that may be chosen to Represent them in the next General Assembly—was read whereupon Voted, that Richard Dana Esq. Mr. Josiah Quincy Dr. Joseph Warren Benjamin Kent Esq. be a Committee to Consider of and prepare proper Instructions which they are desired to lay before the Town at the Adjourn ment. The Committee who draw up by Order of the Town a Narrative of the late horred Massacre perpetrated by the Soldiery in this Town on the 5th of March last; presented an Appendix to said Narrative, which having been read and considered Voted, that the Same be accepted, and that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to said Committee for their strict adherance to the design of the Town in their appointment; and for their perfecting the Business in so correct and masterly a manner The Committee appointed to consider of the Petition [249.] Of Mr. Jacob Emmons praying, "that the Town would make him satisfaction for the damage he has or may sustain by the taking away of his Lands in Paddys Alley for the enlarging of a Street"; Reported verbally, "That in their Opinion Mr. Emmons the Petitioner had not pursued the steps of the Law, for the obtaining a compensation for the Land, taken from him by a Committee of the Justices and Selectmen who laid out or enlarged the Passage Way called Paddys Alley; that therefore the granting the Prayer of his Petition would be attended with difficulties, particularly by opening a Door for other Persons to apply to the Town who are under like Circumstances" whereupon it was motioned that Mr. Emmons have leave to withdraw his Petition, and the Question being accordingly put - Passed in the Affermative. Voted, that the Sum of One hundred and twenty Pounds be allowed and paid unto Mr. John Lovell, for his Salary as Master of the South Grammar School for the ensuing Year, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, and to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter. Voted, that the Sum of One hundred Pounds be allowed and paid unto Mr. Samuel Hunt for his Salary as Master of the North Grammar Schoo! for the ensuing Year, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due and to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter. Voted, that the Sum of One hundred Pounds be allowed & paid unto Mr. John Proctor for his Salary as Master of the Writing School in Queen Street for the Year ensuing, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, and to commence at the expiration of the last Qu. Voted, that the Sum of One hundred Pounds be allowed & paid unto Mr. Samuel Holbrook for his Salary as Master of the Writing School in the Common for the ensuing Year, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, and to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter [250.] Voted, that the Sum of One hundred Pounds be allowed and paid unto M3. John Tileston for his Salary as Master of the North Writing School the ensuing Year, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, and to commence at the expiration of the last Quart'. Voted, that the Sum of Sixty Pounds be allowed & paid unto Mr. James Lovel for his Salary as Usher of the South Grammar School for the Year ensuing, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, and to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter Voted, that a further Sum of Forty Pounds be allowed and paid unto Mr. James Lovel as an encouragement for him to remain and exert himself in the Service of the Town the ensuing Year, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due & to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter Voted, that the Sum of Fifty Pounds be allowed and paid unto Mr. James Carter for his Salary as Usher of the Writing School in Queen Street, the Year ensuing, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, and to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter Voted, that a further Sum of Twenty five Pounds be allowed and paid unto Mr. James Carter as an encouragement for him to exert himself in the Service of the Town the Year ensuing, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, and to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter Voted, that the Sum of Fifty Pounds be allow'd & paid to such Person as the Selectmen shall Appoint an Assistant for the Master of the Writing School in the Common the ensuing Year, the same to be paid him quarterly as it shall become due, & to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter [251.] Voted, that the Sum of Thirty four Pounds be allowed and paid unto Mr. John Tileston Master of the Writing School at the North End for providing an Assistant for the Year ensuing, the same to be paid him Quarterly as it shall become due and to commence at the expiration of the last Quarter Voted, that the Sum of One hundred Pounds be allowed and paid out of the Town Treasury unto Mr. David Jeffries for his Services as Treasurer of the Town the Year past, and for all his Expences in that Office Voted, that this Meeting be Adjourned to Tuesday May 15th. 3. O'Clock P: M: Tuesday May 15: 3. O'Clock P: M: Met according to Adjourn To the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of Boston in Towa Meeting Assembled May 15: 1770 Pursuant to a Vote of the Town of Boston at their Annual Meeting the 8th. Day of May last desiring the Selectmen to Visit the several public Schools in the Town, and to invite such Gentlemen to accompany them therein as they should think proper, and to Report thereon We the Subscribers accordingly attended that Service on Wednesday the 5th Day of July last accompanied by the following Gentlemen vizt. [252.] The Honble. James Bowdoin Esq. Thomas Hubbard Thomas Flucker Esq. The Honble. James Pitts Esq. The Representatives of the Town The Overseers of the Poor The Revd. Mr. Samuel Checkley [253.] Mr. Simeon Howard And found the South Grammar School had 142 Scholars; the North Grammar School 60 Scholars; the South Writing School 203 Scholars; the North Writing School 253 Scholars; the Writing School in Queen Street 251 Scholars; all in very good order. Voted, that the above Report be accepted, and that the Gentlemen the Selectmen be desired to visit the publick Schools the Year ensuing, and invite such Gentlemen to accompany them as they may think proper. The Committe Appointed to examine the Accompts of Mr. David Jeffries Town Treasurer have attended that Service and find the same right cast and well vouched; in which he charges himself with sundry Fines, Rents and other Incomes of the Town, as also with the Taxes of £8000,, all which amount to the sum of £12331,, 2,, 64 including the balance of old Account. And the said Treasurer discharges himself by Sundry Abatements made the Collectors amounting to £347,, 17,, 9 By Drafts made by the Selectmen amounting to £3113,, 84 of which he has paid £2553,, 16,, 11 and by Drafts made by the Overseers of the Poor which contain the Charges of the Alms house amounting |