general Gage's command, do highly approve of the manly and resolute conduct of the town of Billerica, by their manifesting a due resentment to the general, and demanding a constitutional satisfaction. Notwithstanding you have not received that satisfaction from the general which you had a just right to expect, yet this Congress humbly hope, under Providence, that the time is fast approaching, when this colony and continent will have justice done them, in a way consistent with the dignity of freemen, on such wicked destroyers of the natural and constitutional rights of Americans. Gentlemen, we are confident that the town of Billerica will still continue in that candid pursuit of peace and good order, which manifestly appears in their late conduct. Ordered, That the letters which have been received or laid on the table by Mr. Crane, be sent to the committee on the state of the province.|||| Afternoon. The committee appointed to take into consideration the application from the committee of correspondence of Boston and others, reported; the report [was] read and accepted, and is as follows: GENTLEMEN :-Your petition and memorial of the 31st of March we have received; since which, intelligence of the most extraordinary nature from Great Britain has come to hand. We are, gentlemen, much pleased with the spirit and sentiment of your memorial: but, as 'matters of the greatest importance|| now demand our immediate attention, and the consideration of them will take up the most important matters in your petition; we, therefore, most earnestly recommend to you, gentlemen, as guardians of the public interest, to exert yourselves that the militia and minute men of your counties, be found in the best posture of defence, whenever any exigence may require their aid; but as the plans laying for the general good oblige us to request, that, whatever patience and forbearance it may require, you would act only on the defensive, until the farther order of this Congress. And, therefore, though we could wish a particular account of the ministers' troops, while stationed among you, might be taken on sufficient evidence, yet we could not advise to any measures, respecting them, that our enemies might plausibly interpret as a commencement of hostilities but, on the contrary, let your characteristic be, as it always has been, ||'regard|| of peace and good order, and the just rights of mankind. a ||Adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon.|| c conservators.|| We most earnestly wish that the blessing of Heaven may accompany your laudable endeavors to preserve the public weal of this province. We remain, [&c.] IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 7, 1775. Resolved, That the foregoing letter be signed by the president, in behalf of this Congress, and sent to the committees of correspondence of the towns of Boston, Milton, Roxbury, Dorchester, Cambridge, Newton, Watertown, Lynn, Malden, Woburn, Charlestown and Marlborough, directed to William Cooper, clerk of said committees of correspondence. Ordered, That Capt. Osgood, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Mr. Webster, be added to the committee appointed to disperse the handbills, &c. The Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock. SATURDAY, April 8, 1775, A. M. [The] doorkeeper [was] directed to call in the members, and to call none out till the farther order of this Congress. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve relative to raising and establishing an army, and that committees be appointed forthwith to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and NewHampshire, to inform them of our resolution, and desire their co-operation, &c. Resolved, That the report be considered in paragraphs: Ordered, that the members be enjoined to attend. Adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon. Afternoon. The Congress resumed the consideration of the report made in the forenoon, which passed: present 103 [members] in favor 96-[which report] is as follows: IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 8, 1775. Resolved, That the present dangerous and alarming situation of our public affairs, renders it necessary for this colony to make preparations for their security and defence, by raising and establishing an army, and that delegates be appointed forthwith to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New-Hampshire, informing them that we are contemplating upon, and are determined to take effectual measures for that purpose; and for the more effectual security of the New England colonies and the continent, to request them to co-operate with us, by furnishing their respective quotas for general defence. Resolved, That there be sent two delegates to each New England colony with the above resolve. Resolved, That the Congress choose in the first place delegates to repair to Connecticut: accordingly chose Col. Foster and Mr. Bliss. Resolved, That they choose in the second place delegates to repair to Rhode Island: accordingly chose Col. Timothy Walker and Doct. Perkins. Resolved, That in the third place the Congress choose delegates to repair to New Hampshire: accordingly chose Mr. Freeman and Capt. Osgood. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Adams and Capt. Osgood draught a letter to each of the colonies, viz.: Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Resolved, That the committee on the state of the province take into consideration what number of men, in their opinion, will be necessary to be raised by the four New England governments for their general defence, and report. Adjourned to Monday next, nine o'clock in the forenoon. MONDAY, April 10, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to draught a letter to the colonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, reported; the report [was] read and accepted, and is as follows: IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 10, ||a1775.|| SIR, OR GENTLEMEN:-In consideration of the measures that have been taken by the British administration, to subjugate the North American colonies; the rapidity with which their plans have been hitherto executed; the late very alarming intelligence from Great Britain; the false and inflammatory accounts that have been laid before our sovereign and his parliament, to induce them to consider this colony as in a state of rebellion, and our sister colonies as countenancing us therein, and the violent measures that are ordered, in consequence thereof, together with the daily and hourly preparations there are making by the troops under the command of general Gage, in Boston; this Congress have come to a full conclusion, that very little, if any expectation of the redress of our common and intolerable grievances is to be had from the humble and dutiful petition and other wise measures of the late honorable Continental Congress; and a ||1810.|| therefore have come into certain resolutions to be communicated to you by delegates, appointed for that purpose, in which they are earnestly desirous of the concurrence of your colony. Wishing that the American colonies may, at this important crisis, be under the direction of Heaven, I am, in the name and by order of the Congress, [&c.] Ordered, That the foregoing be signed by the president, in the name and behalf of this Congress. Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province take into consideration, and report, what number of men, in their opinion, will be necessary for the army ["proposed] to be raised. Resolved, That there be an addition of three|| to the delegates appointed to repair to the neighboring governments, and that this Congress 'come to the choice of them at three o'clock this afternoon, by ballot. Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. The order of the day [was] moved for. Afternoon. Ordered, That Major Fuller, Capt. Greenleaf and Mr. Ellis, be a committee to count and sort the votes for the gentlemen to be added to the delegates appointed to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, and that they bring in their votes for a gentleman to repair to Connecticut. Having counted and sorted the votes, [the committee] reported that the Hon. Timothy Danielson, Esq. was chosen. Ordered, That votes be brought in for a gentleman to be added to the delegates appointed to repair to Rhode Island. After counting and sorting the votes, [the committee] reported that the Hon. James Warren, Esq. was chosen. Ordered, That votes be brought in for a gentleman to be added to the delegates appointed to repair to New Hampshire. After counting and sorting the votes, [the committee] reported that Mr. Elbridge Gerry was chosen. Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province be directed to draught such instructions as they shall think necessary to be given to the delegates appointed to repair to the neighboring governments, and report. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve, relative to exercising the minute men in battalions, and that they be paid a [prepared.] b three added.|| c choose them.|| out of the public treasury, &c.: Ordered, that the consideration of this report be deferred till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. ||Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. TUESDAY, April 11, 1775, A. M. The committee on the state of the province reported instructions to the delegates appointed to repair to Connecticut, &c.; [which report was] read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be signed by the president, and is as follows: IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 11, 1775. GENTLEMEN:-The thorough knowledge you have of our public affairs, and the distressed circumstances of this devoted province, makes it unnecessary to be particular in any instructions with regard to the important trust committed to your care. We would, notwithstanding, in general, give you some hints, which may serve to cement and continue that union which has so happily taken place in this continent. In order to effect these desirable ends, [we instruct you] that, ||as|| soon as may be, you repair to Connecticut, and endeavor to obtain such an early conference with the governor and company of that colony as the pressing exigencies of our affairs may demand : and as an immediate exertion of our united efforts to recover and maintain those invaluable blessings of liberty, which are, in part, wrested from us by the hands of arbitrary power, and of which we have no other prospect of a restoration, under God, but by the firm and unshaken resolutions and conduct of America; and as ministerial vengeance appears to be levelled at the north east colonies in particular, it is of the utmost importance, that immediate measures, such as are consonant with the union of all the colonies, be pursued for their mutual defence; and that you would endeavor to obtain an explicit and full answer, so that we may unitedly exert our strength in the common cause for the salvation of our country; and to this end we would recommend your continuance there until this important purpose may be effected, which we presume will be as soon as circumstances will admit; you will, however, govern yourselves with respect to time and conferences, as to you, in your wisdom, shall seem meet; and may God bless your endeavors for the common good. Ordered, That the letter to New Hampshire be directed to the Hon. John Wentworth, Esq. A letter from Mr. Barber [was] read; thereupon Ordered, that it be |