and others, as entered the 19^th
inst., for which purpose he had ordered them to sit at this time, and a
debate being had thereupon, it was moved to his Excellency that the
Council might sit on a further day, there being only a bare quorum
present, to which his Excellency agreed; advised that all those members
of the Council who live within 40 miles of the town of Boston be
summoned then to attend, which was done accordingly, to meet on
Saturday, the 27^th inst.

* * * * *

Novem^r 27^th. Present in Council: His Excellency Tho^s. Hutchinson,
Esq^r., Governor.

[Illustration: THOMAS GAGE, THE LAST ROYAL GOVERNOR.]

Samuel Danforth,[51] James Russel, James Humphrey,
Isaac Royal, James Pitts, Artemas Ward,
John Erving, Samuel Dexter, John Winthrop, Esq^rs.
James Bowdoin. George Leonard.

His Excellency, after representing to the Council the disorders
prevailing in the town of Boston, recommended to them to proceed on the
petition of Rich^d Clarke, and others, relative to those disorders, and
required their advice. After a long debate, it was moved to his
Excellency that a Com^tee of the Council be appointed to prepare the
result of the said debate, to be laid before his Excellency, to which he
consented, and James Bowdoin, Sam^l Dexter, and John Winthrop, Esq^rs.,
were appointed accordingly. Mr. Bowdoin made a report, which was
considered and debated by the Council, and it was moved to his
Excellency that he would adjourn the Council to a future day for further
consideration, and he appointed Monday, the 29^th for that purpose.

Novem^r 29^th, 1773. Present in Council: His Excellency Tho^s.
Hutchinson, Esq^r., Governor.

Samuel Danforth, Esq^r. James Bowdoin, Geo. Leonard,
Isaac Royal, James Russell, Artemas Ward,
John Erving, James Pitts, John Winthrop,
Samuel Dexter, Esq^rs.

His Excellency directed that the Council proceed upon the business for
which it stands adjourned. After debate upon the report of the Com^tee
the question whether it should be accepted was put, which passed
unanimously in the affirmative as the advice of the Council to his
Excellency, in the words following, viz.:

Previous to the consideration of the petition before the Board, they
would make a few observations occasioned by the subject of it. The
situation of things between Great Britain and