duous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. These, I doubt not, they will discharge, and that is all I desire."

'Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draught a Commission and instructions for the General.

'The persons chosen to compose the committee, were Mr. Lee, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. J. Adams.'

'June 16.-Secret Journals.

6 Resolved, That the Provincial Convention of New York be desired immediately to apply to Governor Trumbull, to order the Connecticut troops now stationed at Greenwich, Stamford, and other parts adjacent, to march towards New York; and that part of them occupy such parts upon that island, as the said Provincial Convention shall judge best adapted to prevent the communication between the town and country from being cut off; the remainder of the troops to be employed in securing the navigation of Hudson's river, by erecting batteries at such places as the said Convention shall judge most proper to answer that purpose.'

•Saturday, June 17.-The committee appointed to draught a Commission to the General, report the same, which, being read by paragraphs and debated, was agreed to as follows:

'IN CONGRESS.

'The delegates of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina,

'TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQ.

We, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be General and Commander-in-chief of the army of the United Colonies, and of all the forces now raised, or to be raised, by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their services, and join the said army for the defence of American liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof. And you are hereby vested with full power and authority to act, as you shall think for the good and welfare of the service.

'And we do hereby strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under you command, to be obedient to your orders, and diligent in the exercise of their several duties.

And we do also enjoin and require you to be careful in exercising the great trust reposed in you, by causing strict discipline and order to be observed in the army, and that the soldiers be duly exercised, and provided with all convenient necessaries.

And you are to regulate your conduct in every respect by the rules and discipline of war, (as herewith given you,) and punctually to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or any future Congress of these United Colonies, or Committee of Congress.

This commission to remain in force, until revoked by this, or a future Congress.

'Ordered, That the same be fairly transcribed, signed by the President, attested by the Secretary, and delivered to the General. 'Resolved unanimously, Whereas, the delegates of all the Colonies, from Nova Scotia to Georgia, in Congress assembled, have unanimously chosen George Washington, Esq., to be General and Commander-in-chief of all such forces as are, or shall be, raised for the maintenance and preservation of American liberty ; this Congress doth now declare that they will maintain and assist him, and adhere to him, the said George Washington, with their lives and fortunes in the same cause.

'The Congress then proceeded to the choice of the officers in the army, by ballot:

'Artemas Ward, Esq. was chosen first Major-General. 'Horatio Gates, Esq., Adjutant-General.

'Resolved, That Horatio Gates, Esq., now choson AdjutantGeneral, shall have the rank of Brigadier-General.

เ

Charles Lee, Esq., second Major-General.

'Monday, June 19, 1775. The President laid before Congress sundry letters he had received from Massachusetts Bay and New York, which were read.

'Ordered, That Mr. Henry, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. J. Adams, be a committee to wait upon General Lee, and to inform him of his appointment, and request his answer, whether he will accept the command.

'The committee returned and reported, that they had waited on General Lee, and informed him of his appointment, and that he gave for answer, "That he had the highest sense of the honor conferred upon him by the Congress; that no effort in his power shall be wanting to serve the American cause.'

The above is the record of the Committee's report, in the public journals of Congress; but, in their secret journals of the same day, is the following:

'After the words, "That no effort in his power shall be wanting to serve the American cause," add, "but before he entered upon the service, he desired a conference with a committee to consist of one delegate from each of the associated Colonies, to whom he desired to explain some particulars respecting his private fortune."

'Whereupon, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Dyer, Mr. P. Livingston, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Ross, Mr. Rodney, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Henry, Mr. Caswell, and Mr. Lynch, were appointed as a committee to confer with General Lee.

6

The committee returned and reported, that they had conferred with General Lee, who had communicated to them an estimate of the estate he risked by this service. Whereupon,

'Resolved, That these Colonies will indemnify General Lee for any loss of property which he may sustain by entering into their service, and that the same be done by this, or any future Congress, as soon as such loss is ascertained. *

Public Journals again. The letters from Massachusetts Bay, being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolve:

That the Governor of Connecticut be requested to direct all the forces raised in that Colony, not employed at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, or recommended by this Congress to be marched towards New York, to be immediately sent to join the combined army before Boston. And it is earnestly recommended to the Colony of Rhode Island, and to the Provincial Convention of New Hampshire, to send immediately to the army before Boston, such of the forces as are already embodied towards their quotas of the troops agreed to be raised by the New England Colonies.

'Resolved, That Mr. Lee, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. J. Adams, be a committee to prepare the form of a commission for the MajorGenerals, also for the Brigadier-Generals, and other officers in the army.

'Resolved, That there be four Major-Generals.

The Congress then proceeded to choose the two remaining Major-Generals, when Philip Schuyler, Esq. was chosen third Major-General, and Israel Putnam, Esq. was unanimously chosen fourth Major-General.

'The committee appointed to prepare the form of a Commission, reported the same.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be made out, signed by the President, and attested by the Secretary, for each of the Major Generals, and Brigadier Generals.

'Ordered, That the Secretary get a number of commissions, with proper blanks, printed for the other officers.

The Committee appointed to prepare a petition to the King, reported a draught of one, which was read.*

'June 21. Mr. Henry informed the Congress that the General had put into his hand sundry queries, to which he desired the Congress would give an answer.

In a letter to Arthur Lee, dated Aug. 21, 1775, Ralph Izard wrote, I am very much pleased with General Lee's letter to General Burgoyne. Lee has acquired considerable property; and I have been assured, by people who know well that he would never risk the losing of it by entering into the service of America.— Cor. R. Izard, vol. i., p. 118.

"The queries being read and debated,

'Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to prepare proper answers.

The persons chosen, were Mr. Dean, Mr. Henry, Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Lee.

On a motion made,

'Resolved, That the General be allowed three Aids-de-camp. 'That each of the Major Generals have two Aids-de-camp. 'That their pay be thirty-three dollars per month, each. 'June 22. The Committee appointed to prepare answers to the General's queries, reported the same, which were read.

The Congress then came to the following resolutions: 'Resolved, That the number of Brigadier Generals be augmented to eight; and the same were chosen by ballot, as follows:

Resolved, That the troops, including the volunteers, be furnished with camp equipage, and blankets, when necessary, at the Conti

nental expense.

'Resolved, That the officers, now in the army, receive their new Commissions through the hands of the General.

'Resolved, That a sum not exceeding two millions of Spanish milled dollars be emitted by the Congress in bills of credit, for the defence of America.

Resolved, That the twelve Confederated Colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit, now directed to be emitted. 'Mr. Thomas Jefferson, appeared as a delegate from the Colony of Virginia, and produced his credentials, which were read and approved, and are as follows:*

'At a Convention of the delegates for the counties and corpora. tions in the Colony of Virginia, at the town of Richmond, in the County of Henrico, on Monday, 27th March, 1775,

'On a motion made,

'Resolved, That Thomas Jefferson, Esq., be appointed a deputy to represent this Colony, in General Congress, in the room of the Honorable Peyton Randolph Esq., in case of the non-attendance of the said Peyton Randolph, Esq.

'Attest,

JOHN FAZE WELL, Clerk of the Convention.'

* Mr. Jefferson took his seat, and this entry was made, on the 21st.

'At a General Assembly began and held at the Capitol, in the city of Williamsburgh, on Thursday, 1st June, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our lord, George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, &c. A. D. 1775.

MONDAY, 5 JUNE, 15th G. III. 1775. 'Resolved, N. C. D. That this house doth entirely approve of the proceedings and resolutions of the Convention of delegates, for the counties and corporations in the Colony of Virginia, held at Richmond town, in the county of Henrico, the 20th of March, 1775; and that it be recommended to all the good people of this Colony, strictly to conform to, and observe the same.

'By the House of Burgesses,

6

PEYTON RANDOLPH, Speaker.'

'June 23. On motion made,

'Resolved, That a Committee of five be chosen to draw up a declaration, to be published by General Washington, upon his arrival at the Camp before Boston.

The Committee chosen are Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Johnson.'

This Committee brought in their report the next day (Saturday), and after being read and debated some time, it was referred till Monday, when it was resumed, further debated, and then recommitted, Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Jefferson being added to the Committee.

'June 26. Ordered, That the President write to Governor Trumbull, and inform him and also the Conventions of New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay, and the Governor of Rhode Island, that the Congress have appointed George Washington, Esq., Commander-in-chief of all the forces raised or to be raised for the defence of America.

'July 6. The Committee to whom the Declaration was recommitted, brought in the same, which being again read, and debated by paragraphs, was agreed to as follows:

'A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America now met in Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes aud necessity of their taking up arms.

'If it was possible for men who exercise their reason to believe that the Divine Author of our existence intended a part of the human race to hold an absolute property in, and an unbounded power over others, marked out by his infinite goodness and wisdom, as the objects of a legal domination never rightfully resistible, however severe and oppressive, the inhabitants of these Colonies might at least require from the Parliament of Great Britain some evidence, that this dreadful authority over them, has been granted to that body. But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity,