ry into the state of the militia, town stocks, &c., reported; the report was recommitted for amendments.

Afternoon.

The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to inquiring into the state of the militia, &c., having amended their report, again reported, which [report] was read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be printed, and a copy thereof, attested by the president, sent to each town and district in this province and is as followeth, viz:

Whereas, it appears necessary for the defence of the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of this province, that this Congress, on the first day of their next session, should be made fully acquainted with the number and military equipments of the militia and minute men in this province, as also the town stock of ammunition in each town and district :

It is therefore, Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommended to the commanding officers of each regiment of minute men that now is or shall be formed in this province, that they review the several companies in their respective regiments, or cause them to be reviewed, and take an exact state of their numbers and equipments: and where there is any company that is not incorporated into a regiment, the commanding officer thereof shall review the several companies, or cause them to be reviewed, and take a like state of their numbers and equipment: and it is also recommended to the colonels or commanding officers of each regiment of militia in this province, that they review the several companies in their respective regiments, or cause them to be reviewed, and take a state of their numbers and accoutrements, which said state of the minute men and militia, shall be, by said officers, returned, in writing, to this Congress on the first day of their next session after the adjournment.

And it is further Resolved, That it be recommended to the selectmen of each town and district in the province, that on the same day they make return in writing, of the state of the town and district stock of ammunition and warlike stores to this Congress.

Mr. Paterson reported a resolve relative to appointing an agent for and in behalf of this province, to repair to the province of Quebec, &c., which was recommitted; and he, with Mr. Bigelow and Col. Henshaw, are directed to bring in a resolve, directing and empowering the committee of correspondence for the town of Boston, to establish an intimate correspondence with the inhabitants of the province of Quebec, &c.

||Then the Congress|| adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

WEDNESDAY, February 15, 1775, A. M. Resolved, That at three o'clock this afternoon, the Congress will come to the choice of a general officer in addition to those already appointed.

The committee appointed to bring in a resolve empowering the committee of safety to give orders to the committee of supplies, to make such further provision for the defence of the government as they shall think necessary, reported; Ordered, that the consideration of this report be referred to the next session of this Congress.

The committee appointed to bring in a resolve empowering the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston, to correspond with Quebec, &c., for and in behalf of this province, reported; the report was read and accepted, and is as followeth, viz. :

Whereas, it appears the manifest design of administration, to engage and secure the Canadians and remote tribes of Indians, for the purpose of harassing and distressing these colonies, and reducing them to a state of absolute slavery: and, whereas, the safety and security of said colonies depend in a great measure, under God, on their firmness, unanimity, and friendship;

Therefore, Resolved, That the committee of correspondence for the town of Boston, be and they are hereby directed and empowered, in such way and manner as they shall think proper, to open and establish an intimate correspondence and connection with the inhabitants of the province of Quebec, and that they endeavor to put the same immediately into execution.

The committee appointed to take into consideration what is necessary for this Congress to do for the encouragement of the making of saltpetre, reported; the report was read and accepted, (excepting that part thereof which relates to assay masters, which part was referred for further consideration to the next meeting of this Congress,) and is as followeth, viz. :

Resolved, [1st] That this Congress do now appoint a committee to draw up directions, in an easy and familiar style, for the manufacturing of saltpetre, and that the same be printed, and sent to every town and district in the province, at the public expense.

2d. That for the encouragement of such as are disposed to set up the manufacture of saltpetre, this Congress do engage to purchase the whole quantity that shall be manufactured in this province, within twelve months from this date, at the rate of fourteen pounds, &c., [for each hundred pounds weight.]

3d. That a proper assay master be appointed in every county, to receive and pay for the saltpetre which shall be brought to him with a

satisfactory certificate that the same was actually manufactured in this province.

The committee on the state of the province reported again the form of a receipt, two of the same tenor and date to be signed by the receiver general; one of which is to be lodged with the town or district treasurer or clerk, who shall send their money, and the other to be kept by the constable, collector, or other officer, who shall pay the same to him; which was read and accepted, and is as followeth :

Resolved, That [it] is proper and expedient, that Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this province, should, for the greater security of the province, give two several receipts for all such sums of money as he "for the future may receive|| for the use of the province; and for the greater satisfaction of all such persons as shall make payments to the said receiver general, it is hereby recommended to the said Henry [Gardner,] or his successor in office, that he make both such receipts as near as may bell to the form following, to wit: 177—, Received of ABthe sum of being part ||or the whole|| of the province tax set on the town of C by the general court in the year 17—, for which sum, I have given the said A— B— another receipt of the same tenor and date with this.

One of which receipts, the person paying the said money, is requested to lodge with the treasurer or clerk of the town or district on whose account the money shall be paid, or such other person as the inhabitants of such town or district shall appoint.

Ordered, That Mr. Adams, Major Hawley, Mr. Gerry, Hon. Mr. Cushing, Mr. Paine, Col. Palmer, and Mr. Freeman, be a committee to bring in a resolve|| holding up to the people of this province, the imminent danger they are in, from the present disposition of the British ministry and parliament, and that there is reason to fear that they will attempt our sudden destruction: and the importance it is to the inhabitants of this colony to prepare themselves for the last event.

The committee on the state of the province, reported a resolve relative to pedlers, &c., which was read, considered, and accepted; and ordered to be published in all the newspapers, and is as followeth, viz. :

Whereas, the practice of pedlers and petty chapmen, in going from town to town, selling East India goods and teas, and various sorts of European manufactures, in direct opposition to the good and wholesome laws of this province, whereby they are liable to the forfeiture of all their goods, besides being subject to the penalty of twenty pounds,

a shall for the future receive.||

b||possible.||

c ||bill.||

does manifestly tend to interrupt and defeat the measures necessary to recover and secure the rights and liberties of the inhabitants of these colonies and whereas, the law relating to pedlers and petty chapmen, cannot, at present, be effectually carried into execution:

It is therefore hereby earnestly recommended to the committees of inspection of the several towns and districts in this province, that they be very vigilant and industrious to discover and find out, when any pedlers and petty chapmen shall come into their respective towns and districts; and that the said committees, whenever they shall find out that any pedler or petty chapman shall be in the town or district for which such committee is appointed, that such committee, without fail, make a thorough and careful search and examination of the packs, baggage, and all the goods, wares, and merchandize of such pedler and petty chapman, and in case such committee shall find any India teas or European manufactures, in the possession of such pedler or petty chapman, it is further recommended to such committee to prevent, by all reasonable means, such pedler and petty chapman, from vending any such teas and manufactures; and it is hereby recommended to the inhabitants of this province, not to trade with such pedlers and petty chapmen for any article whatever.

Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Browne, and Mr. Bigelow, be a committee to direct and forward the pamphlets printed by order of Congress to the several towns and districts in the province.

The order of the day was moved for.

Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Pitts, and Col. Mansfield, be a committee to count and sort the votes for a general officer in addition to those already appointed.

The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for a general officer. The committee having counted and sorted the same, reported, that the Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq., was chosen.

Ordered, That the member from the town of ||Bolton|| be desired to wait on the Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq., with a copy of his being elected a general officer, and desire|| his answer, whether he will accept that trust, as soon as may be.

"The committee appointed in the morning to bring in a resolve holding up to the people the imminent danger they are in, &c., reported the report was read,|| accepted, and ordered to be printed in all the newspapers, and is as followeth, viz :

a ||Boston.||

b the resolve electing him.

c ||request.||

d ||Ordered, That the report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve, holding up to the people the imminent danger they were in, &c., be now read; which was done accordingly, and||

Whereas, it appears to this Congress, from the present disposition of the British ministry and parliament, that there is real cause to fear that the most reasonable and just applications of this continent to Great Britain, for "peace, liberty, and safety," will not meet with a favorable reception; but, on the contrary, from the large reenforcements of troops expected in this colony, the tenor of intelligence from Great Britain, and general appearances, we have reason to apprehend that the sudden destruction of this colony in particular is intended, " for refusing, with the other American colonies, tamely to submit to the most ignominious slavery;

Therefore, Resolved, That the great law of self-preservation, calls upon the inhabitants of this colony, immediately to prepare against every attempt that may be made to attack them by surprise; and it is, upon serious deliberation, most earnestly recommended to the militia in general, as well as the detached part of it in minute men, that they spare neither time, pains, nor expense, at so critical a juncture, in perfecting themselves forthwith in military discipline, and that skillful instructors be provided for those companies which may not already be provided therewith: and it is recommended to the towns and districts in this colony, that they encourage such persons as are skilled in the manufacturing of firearms and bayonets, diligently to apply themselves thereto, for supplying such of the inhabitants as may still be deficient.

And for the encouragement of American manufacturers of fire arms and bayonets, it is further Resolved, that this Congress will give the preference to, and purchase from them, so many effective arms and bayonets as can be delivered in a reasonable time, upon notice given to this Congress at its next session.

The committee appointed to take into consideration the address from the committee of correspondence of the town of Scituate, and other towns in that vicinity, reported: their report was read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be published in the newspapers, and is as followeth, viz:

Voted, That the Congress do highly approve of the vigilance and activity of the selectmen and the committees of correspondence of the several towns of Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury, Pembroke, Hanover, and Scituate, in detecting the falsehoods and malicious artifices of certain persons belonging to Marshfield and Scituate, not respectable either in their numbers or their characters, who are, with great reason, supposed to have been the persons who prevailed upon General Gage to take the imprudent step, of sending a number of the king's troops