History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

274
HISTORY OF AMESBURV.
money or emits Bills on the credit of the United States trans-
mitting every half year to the respective States on account of
the sums of money so borrowed or emitted then add together
with an account of the expenditure of the same. The inhabitants
of this town are unanimously of opinion that all Commu-
nitys of people out in justice and have an undoubted right to
know the expendure of their public money.
Consider Dear Sir that the Articles of Confederation are per-
petual and not to be altered without such alteration be agreed
to in Congress and afterwards confirmed by the Legislative
authority of every State, the obtaining of which will be next to
an impossibility therefore it highly behooves every state, every
town and every indevidual to summons up their Power and
exercise their whole wisdom and see their way is clear before
they bind themselves and thousand and ten thousands yet unborn
in a perpetual covenant never to be altered.
The other Articles in the proposed Confederation the inhabi-
tants leave to the great wisdom of the General Assembly
together with our ardent prayers that they may be directed from
above to do that which may make the inhabitants of the United
States ever happy."
The presentation of these instructions was the last important
act of Capt. Pilsbury's life. He died before the close of the
year, having led a useful and honorable life. He commenced
his public life in 1728 as juror, and held almost every office
within the gift of the people. He was selectman in 1757 and
1764, and Representative to General Court and to the provin-
cial Congress in 1775. He was one of those who proposed
digging through the Pond ridge, which he and the venerable
Orlando Bagley successfully accomplished in 1 740, thus opening
a short cut from the pond to Powow river. For this act he
will long be remembered.
Committee of correspondence, inspection and safety, Jacob
Lowell, John Kelley, Capt. William Bayley, Isaac Merrill, Esq.'
Capt. Eli Gale.
A committee was chosen to settle with the selectmen and all
who may have the town's money in their hands.