Browsing: Papers of John Adams, Volume 3

11. A bill on armed vessels was originally proposed on 9 Oct. in response to a resolve of the congress of 18 July permitting each colony to make whatever preparation it wished to protect itself from British depredations. It became law on 1 Nov. with the concurrence of the Council ( JCC , 2:189; Mass., House Jour. , 1775–1776, 2d sess., p. 151, 217) .