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 a You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of in leading, ordering and exercising the said in arms, both inferior officers and soldiers, and to keep them in good order and discipline; and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their ; and you are yourself to observe and follow such orders and instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from the general and commander in chief of the forces raised in the colony aforesaid, for the defence of the same, or any other your superior officers, according to the military rules and discipline in war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. Ordered, That a fair copy of the foregoing form of a commission be taken, and transmitted to the press, and that one thousand copies thereof be printed. Mr. Gerry again reported the form of a pass for the use of the members of this Congress, which was accepted, and six hundred of them ordered to be printed. It is as follows: TO THE GUARDS OF THE COLONY ARMY. Pursuant to a resolve of the Provincial Congress, you are hereby ordered to permit a member of said Congress, to pass and repass at all times. Secretary. IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown,|| May 1, 1775. Resolved, That the general officer of the army of this colony be, and he hereby is directed to sign a sufficient number of blank passes for members of this Congress, and to deliver the same to the secretary ||of Congress.|| The committee who were appointed to consider of measures for assisting the poor of Boston to move out of said town, having amended their report, again reported: which report being read ||and amended,|| was accepted, and one hundred and fifty copies thereof ordered to be printed, and a copy ||thereof|| forthwith transmitted to the committee of donations, in Boston, and that Mr. Gill take the charge of transmitting the same. The report is as follows, viz.: IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown,|| May 1, 1775. Whereas, the inhabitants of the town of Boston have been detained by general Gage, but at length, by agreement, are permitted to remove, with their effects, into the country, and as it has been represented to this Congress that about five thousand of said inhabitants are indigent, and unable to be at the expense of removing themselves: Therefore, Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to all the good people of this colony, and especially to the selectmen, and committee of correspondence most convenient to Boston, that they aid and assist such poor inhabitants ||of said town|| (with teams, waggons, &c.,) as shall procure a certificate from the committee of donations, that they are unable to remove themselves; and it is further recommended to the selectmen of the several towns specified in the schedule annexed, to provide for said inhabitants in the best and most prudent way and manner,|| until this, or some future congress, shall take further order thereon, and that the said selectmen receive, support and employ their proportion of said inhabitants assigned them in said schedule, and no other; and render their accounts to this, or some future congress, or house of representatives, for allowance, which reasonable accounts shall be paid out of the public treasury and it is further recommended, to the committee of donations, to apply said donations for the removal of said inhabitants, and for their support whilst removing; and in case that is insufficient, it is further recommended to said committee of donations, that they make up said deficiency, and lay their accounts before the Congress for allowance, which reasonable expense shall be paid out of the public treasury of the colony and it is further Resolved, that the inhabitants of Boston thus removed shall not, in future, be considered as the poor of said town into which they remove; and it is to be understood, that if the number of the poor who shall be removed in consequence hereof, should surpass, or fall short of the number herein calculated, the distribution of them shall be increased or diminished, in proportion ||according to this regulation: County of Suffolk.-Wrentham, 89 persons; Stoughtonham, 32; Medway, 38; Bellingham, 25; Walpole, 31; Middlesex.-Concord,66; Marlborough, 80; Billerica, 54; Framingham, 63; Chelmsford, 49; Sherburne, 31; Sudbury, 85; Weston, 41; Westford, 45; Littleton, 41; Hopkinton, 42; Stow, 36; Groton, 61; Pepperel, 34; Townsend, 26; Natick, 20; Dracut, 35; Bedford, 29; Holliston, 34; 215 Tewksbury, 28; Acton, 32; Dunstable, 30; Lincoln, 29; Plymouth.—Bridgewater, 81; Abington, 22; Halifax, 12; Bristol.-Taunton, 103; Rehoboth, 129; Dartmouth, 113; Norton, 47; Mansfield, 30; Attleborough, 75; Raynham, 31; Easton, 35; Berkley, 25; Berkshire. Sheffield, 54; Great Barrington, 24; Stockbridge, 25; Pittsfield, 31; New Marlborough, 30; Egremont, 13; Richmond, 23; Lenox, 16; Tyringham, 13; Lanesborough, 32; Sandisfield, 23; Williamstown, 20; East Hoosock, 10; Hampshire. Springfield, 68; Wilbraham, 31; Northamp- Worcester.-Worcester, 82; Lancaster, 103; Mendon, 76; Whole amount, 1016 115 588 314 [788] [539] 4903 Ordered, That Mr. Partridge, Mr. Lothrop and Doct. Baylies, be directed to assist the secretary in copying the foregoing report. The committee appointed to confer with William Reed, Esq., reported the following [statements of losses sustained by each from the British troops,] presented to them by William Reed, Esq., of Lexington, in behalf of Joseph Loring, Joseph Loring, Jun., Widow Mulliken and Joseph Pond, viz. :1 Whereupon, Ordered, That the committee of supplies be, and they are hereby directed to deliver to said William Reed, Esq., or to his order, for the use of the said Joseph Loring, Joseph Loring, Jun., Widow Mulliken and Joseph Pond, one barrel of pork. Ordered, That Mr. Hollock, Col. Howe and Capt. White, be a committee to consider what is proper to be done with respect to furnishing the army with some present necessaries. All [the] committees [were] enjoined to sit. [TUESDAY,] May 2, [1775, A. M.] Resolved, That another president be chosen pro tempore, and that he be chosen by nomination. Col. Warren was then nominated and chosen. Ordered, That Mr. Partridge, Doct. Taylor and Mr. "Dix,|| be a committee to wait on Col. Warren, and inform him of said choice. Col. Warren accordingly attended, and, after offering his reasons for excuse, Moved, that a committee be appointed to wait on Doct. Joseph Warren, informing him of the absence of the Rev. Mr. Murray, who has lately officiated as president ||of this Congress,|| and to know ||of Doct. Warren|| if he can now attend the Congress in that station. Whereupon, Ordered, that Doct. Dunsmore be a committee for that purpose.2 Ordered, That Col. Gerrish, Col. Warren, Hon. Mr. Dexter, Mr. a ||Dicks.|| (1) These statements have shared the fate of many of the most interesting documents of the time, and are not on the files. From some representations subsequently made, it appears, that the loss sustained by Deacon Joseph Loring, was estimated to be £720; that of Mrs. Lydia Mulliken, £431; including buildings, household furniture and wearing apparel. The house of Deacon Loring, near the spot where the brigade of Lord Percy joined the retreating detachment under Lieut. Col. Smith, is stated by himself to have been the first destroyed by the troops, in Lexington, on the memorable 19th of April. From the nature of the relief granted by Congress, it may be presumed, that some of the petitioners had suffered so severely as to be without the means of providing food. (2) The reply to the invitation of Congress is brief: "Doct. Warren presents his respects to the honorable Provincial Congress: informs them that he will obey their order, and attend his duty in Congress in the afternoon." Cambridge, May 2, 1775. |