Ordered, That Mr. Getry, Col. Gerrish and Doct. Taylor be, and hereby are appointed a committee to confer with the abovesaid Joseph Brown, who now waits the further advice of this Congress.

Ordered, That said committee be, and they are hereby authorized to consider what is proper to be done; to sit forthwith, and make report as soon as may be.||

The president, likewise, received a letter from Worcester,1 in

taken to answer yours of the 26th instant; we, sir, sensibly feel the distresses of our brethren in the Massachusetts Bay, and can only say, that, as brigadier of the three battalions under my command, in the county of Providence, I will furnish you, upon any alarm, with six hundred men; but the situation of matters is such, occasioned partly by our assembly's not appointing officers for the fifteen hundred men, which they ordered to be raised for your assistance; and partly by the seizure made by the man of war, at Newport, of three hundred barrels of flour, bought by this colony for supplying our army, that it will be impossible for our forces immediately to proceed to join your army, unless they go destitute of provision, which we imagine here would rather be a burden than a help to our friends; however, men are enlisting very fast, and, when our assembly meets here, which will be next week, you may rely on it, that our forces will, as fast and as soon as possible, march to your assistance.

I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JAMES ANGELL.

(1) Information of the arrival of intelligence from Europe, was contained in a most interesting letter from the Hon. John Hancock, who, on his way to attend the Continental Congress, remained at Worcester two days, waiting for suitable escort, and for the coming of his colleagues.

WORCESTER, 24th April, 1775, Monday Evening. "GENTLEMEN:-Mr. S. Adams and myself, just arrived here, find no intelligence from you and no guard. We just hear an express has just passed through this place to you from New York, informing that administration is bent upon pushing matters; and that four regiments are expected there. How are we to proceed? Where are our brethren? Surely we ought to be supported. I had rather be with you; and, at present, am fully determined to be with you before I proceed. I beg, by the return of this express, to hear from you; and pray furnish us with depositions of the conduct of the troops, the certainty of their firing first, and every circumstance relative to the conduct of the troops, from the 19th instant to this time, that we may be able to give some account of matters as we proceed, and especially at Philadelphia. Also I beg you would order your secretary to make out an account of your proceedings since what has taken place; what your plan is; what prisoners we have, and what they have of ours; who of note was killed on both sides; who commands our forces, &c."

"Are our men in good spirits? For God's sake, do not suffer the spirit to subside until they have perfected the reduction of our enemies. Boston must be entered; the troops must be sent away, or [blank] Our friends are valuable, but our country must be saved. I have an interest in that town: what can be the enjoyment of that to me, if I am obliged to hold it at the will of general Gage, or any one else? I doubt not your vigilance, your fortitude and resolution. Do let us know how you proceed. We must have the castle. The ships must be [blank] Stop up the harbor against large vessels coming. You know better what to do than I can point out. Where is Mr. Cushing? Are Mr. Paine and Mr. John Adams to be with us? What are we to depend upon? We travel rather as deserters, which I will not submit to. I will return and join you, if I cannot travel in reputation. I wish to hear from you. Pray spend a thought upon our situation. I will not detain this man, as I want much to hear from you. How goes on the Congress? Who is your president? Are the members hearty? Pray remember Mr. S. Adams and myself to all friends. God be with you. I am, gentlemen, your faithful and hearty countryman,

To the gentlemen committee of safety.

JOHN HANCOCK."

closing one from New York, which gave information of the arrival of a packet there, with despatches for general Gage, and recommended that care be taken to intercept the same.

Ordered, That Col. Grout be directed to carry the letter last mentioned to the committee of safety, now sitting at Cambridge.

The Congress then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, seven o'clock.

SUNDAY, April 30, 1775, A. M.

The committee appointed yesterday to wait on the committee of safety, reported, that they had attended the business to which they were appointed, and brought from said committee the following ac

count.

IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, Cambridge, April 29, 1775. Agreeably to the order of the Provincial Congress, this committee have inquired into the state and situation of the cannon and ordnance stores, with the provision made for the companies of artillery, and beg leave to report as follows, viz. :

In Cambridge.-Six three pounders complete, with ammunition, and one six pounder.

In Watertown.-Sixteen pieces of artillery of different sizes; the said six pounder, and sixteen pieces, will be taken out of the way; and the first mentioned six pieces will be used in a proper way of defence.

Capt. Foster is appointed to command one of the companies of artillery, and ordered to enlist said company.

Capt. William Lee, of Marblehead, [has been] sent for, to take the command of another, and several other persons [have been] sent for, to take the command of other companies.

JOSEPH WARREN, Chairman.

Ordered, That Col. Grout be directed to request of the committee

of safety a report, respecting the inhabitants of Boston.

A motion was made for an addition to the committee of safety, and, after some debate, the matter was ordered to subside.

The Congress then adjourned to twelve o'clock this day.

[Noon.]

The Congress 'met at twelve o'clock, and then adjourned to half an hour after one.

a then adjourned after meeting according to adjournment.||

[Afternoon.]

"At half an hour after one, the Congress met again,|| and adjourned to half an hour after three at which time the Congress met again

Ordered, That another express be immediately sent to the committee of safety, to procure their result with respect to moving out the inhabitants of Boston.

Ordered, That Col. Mosely be directed to repair forthwith to Cambridge on this errand.

The president was then desired to write a short letter to said committee on this important purpose. The letter is as follows:

IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, April 30, 1775.

SIR-I am directed to inform you, that it is with regret, this Congress find themselves obliged to send to the committee of safety a third messenger, to request their immediate report on the subject of the removal of the poor inhabitants of Boston.

To wait for that report, the Congress have suspended all proceedings on that matter, and sat in almost impatient expectation, by several adjournments, since seven o'clock this morning. I am obliged to request your answer by this express, without loss of time, that the Congress may then see what it is their duty to conclude on.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir,

To Joseph Warren, Esq.,

Your most obedient humble servant,

Chairman of the Committee of Safety:

JOHN MURRAY.

Ordered, That Esquire Dix, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Bullen, be a committee to inquire into the conduct of the several towns relative to

the prisoners of war.

Ordered, That the resolve relative to altering the time ||of the first meeting of the|| county committees, be printed in the Salem Gazette and in the Massachusetts Spy.

A committee from the committee of safety offered to this Congress a resolve, respecting the liberation of the inhabitants of Boston, which being read and amended, was accepted, and is as follows:

IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown, April 30, 1775. Whereas, an agreement has been made between general Gage and

a Congress met pursuant to adjournment.||

the inhabitants of the city of Boston, for the|| removal of the persons and effects of such of the inhabitants of the town of Boston as may be so disposed, excepting their fire arms and ammunition, into the country:

Resolved, That any of the inhabitants of this colony, who may incline to go into the town of Boston with their effects, fire arms and ammunition excepted, have toleration for that purpose; and that they be protected from any injury and insult whatsoever in their removal to Boston, and that this resolve be immediately published.

P. S.-Officers are appointed for giving permits for the above purposes; one, at the sign of the Sun, at Charlestown; and another, at the house of Mr. John Greaton, Jun., at Roxbury.

Ordered, That attested copies of the foregoing resolve be forthwith posted up at Roxbury, Charlestown and Cambridge.

Resolved, That the resolution of Congress, relative to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston, be authenticated, and sent to the selectmen of Boston, immediately, to be communicated to general Gage, and also be published in the Worcester and Salem papers.

Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Holmes and Col. Farley, be a committee to consider what steps are necessary to be taken for the assisting the poor of Boston in moving out with their effects to bring in a resolve for that purpose; and to sit forthwith.

||Then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, seven o'clock.

[MONDAY,] May 1, 1775, [A. M.]

The committee who were appointed to consider what steps are necessary to be taken with respect to assisting the poor of Boston in moving out with their effects, reported. The report was recommitted for amendment, and Capt. Smith, of Granby, Col. Mosely, Capt. Goodridge and Major Smith were added to the committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Patridge, Doct. Baylies and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to inspect the papers of this Congress, and consider what would be proper to furnish the printer with for publication, and make report.

The committee appointed to inspect the papers of the Congress, reported several extracts of letters for publication, which are ordered to be delivered to Mr. Hall, of Salem, for that purpose.1

(1) The letters published by Mr. Hall, appear to have been intercepted communications from soldiers, in Boston, relating to the incidents of the march to Concord. They will be annexed to the narrative of that excursion, in the Appendix.

On a motion made, that the sense of the Congress be taken on this question, viz. whether the commissions to be given for the officers of the army now forming in this colony, shall be signed by the president of the Congress: the question was put, and it passed in the affirmative. The Congress then adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.

Afternoon.

A letter brought from North Hampton, by express, from Major Hawley, respecting the bearer of despatches from general Gage, was read on which, Ordered, that Col. Gerrish, Esquire Gardner and Major Gooding, be a committee to take the same into consideration, and report.

The committee appointed to consider the letter from Major Hawley, reported, that the most likely way of detecting the bearer of the despatches to general Gage, was, to forward the said letter by Major Gooding to the committee of safety, at Cambridge, that they may take order thereon; which report was accepted, and the said letter, together with two anonymous letters from London, were ordered to be sent to the said committee of safety.

Moved, That William Reed, Esq. be admitted in this house, to represent to this Congress the sufferings he met with on the 19th April, at Lexington. The question being put, after debate had thereon, it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That Capt. Bragdon, Capt. Dix and Mr. Gill, be a committee to confer with the abovenamed Esquire Reed, and to make report of their conference.

Resolved, That Mr. Gerry have leave to bring in an order of this house, for leave to the several members of this Congress to pass the guards of the colony army without molestation.

Mr. Gerry accordingly brought in an order for this purpose, and after debates had thereon it was ordered to be recommitted,

The committee appointed to prepare the form of a commission for the officers of the colony army, reported. The form which they reported was read and accepted, and is as follows:

THE CONGRESS OF THE COLONY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

To

Greeting:

We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your courage and good conduct, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, the of the regiment of raised by the Congress aforesaid for the defence of

said

foot

said colony.

to be