committee to prepare the form of an oath to be administered to the general officers.

Ordered, That Col. Warren, Esquire Dix and Col. Foster, be a committee to draw up a resolve, recommending to the committees of correspondence of the several towns and districts in this colony, and to the selectmen of towns and districts who have no such committees, to take effectual care to ||"disarm|| all such persons, in their respective towns, who will not give them an assurance of their good intentions and regard to the interest of this country; and also to recommend to the people of this colony to take effectual measures to oblige all who are liable by law to appear in arms in the militia, to appear, when properly called upon by their officers.

Resolved, That the muster masters be, and hereby are empowered and directed, to administer the oath to the officers and private soldiers of the army now raising in this colony, agreeably to the form prescribed by this Congress.

The committee who were appointed to prepare a letter to the selectmen of the town of Hopkinton, reported the following, which was read and accepted, and ordered to be dated, signed, and delivered to the messenger in waiting:

"GENTLEMEN :-Your favor of the 7th instant was duly considered in Congress. We cannot but regret that any persons, who have heretofore evidenced their attachment to the rights and liberties of their country, should, in this day of trial and hazard, be so far influenced by an inordinate attachment to their personal safety, or the security of their property, as to desert the common interest, and basely refuse to contribute of their wealth, or assist, personally, in that struggle, which they are conscientiously led to approve. Nevertheless, gentlemen, such is the peculiar delicacy of our situation, that true policy suggests we should act with extreme caution respecting these fugitives. A violation of the natural right of an individual to remove his person and effects wherever he pleases, we apprehend would ill become those who are contending for the unalienable right of every man to his own property, and to dispose of it as he pleases. We would likewise suggest, that, should we restrain any inhabitant from conveying his goods to Philadelphia, our brethren there might justly arraign us of selfishness in such a transaction, and it would evidence such a distinction of interests in the two colonies, as might have a tendency to disunite us, at a time when the safety of the whole must ultimately depend upon

a ||discover.||

the firmest confederacy. We are ||thoroughly|| aware of the mischiefs too general a removal might produce; but we have so much confidence in the disinterested virtue of our countrymen, as to indulge hopes that Mr. Barrett's example will not become infectious. We highly approve the steady patriotism and manly jealousy of our brethren in Hopkinton, and are, with much esteem,

Gentlemen, yours, &c.

Ordered, That the president pro tempore, Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor, Doct. Holten and Doct. Dunsmore, be a committee to examine such persons as are, or may be, recommended for surgeons for the army now forming in this colony.

Resolved, That the persons recommended by the commanding officers of the several regiments, be appointed as surgeons to their respective regiments, provided they appear to be duly qualified upon examination.

A letter from the committee of correspondence, in Portsmouth, was received by a messenger, express. The messenger was admitted on the floor.1

Ordered, That said letter be committed, for an answer, to Doct. Church, the president and Capt. Foster.

A letter from Gen. Ward was read; whereupon,

Ordered, That Col. Danielson, Doct. Church, Col. Foster, Mr. Bliss and Mr. Rawson, be a committee to take the subject thereof into consideration, and report.

Leave of absence was given|| to Mr. Partridge.

The committee on the letter from Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, reported the following answer, which was read and accepted, and ordered to be copied and sent:

a ||granted.||

(1) The letter was addressed to the president of Congress, and is as follows:

PORTSMOUTH, May 6, 1775.

SIR-We have received intelligence, that Mr. Edward Parry, of this town, together with Mr. John Barnard and Mr. Wilson, are now confined in irons, in the county of Lincoln; for what cause we have not been able to explore.

But, from the past conduct of Mr. Parry, in this town, we are convinced he never merited such treatment; and, that it cannot but meet with the disapprobation of your Congress, which have constantly manifested, in all their proceedings, a contrary temper.

We trust the Congress will exert their influence to procure the immediate release of that gentleman, and wish that humanity and candor may distinguish all our noble struggles in the cause of liberty.

By order of the committee.

I am your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM WHIPPLE.

GENTLEMEN-The Congress have considered the subject of your express; are surprised that a gentleman, of the character you have mentioned, should have such just reason to complain of unmerited severity, from any of our brethren in this colony. From a regard to justice, as well as to your recommendation, gentlemen, we shall not fail to make immediate inquiry into this transaction; and if any outrage has been offered to innocent persons, the perpetrators, you may be assured, will be properly censured, and the sufferers meet with all that redress which it may be in the power of this Congress to obtain. Be assured, gentlemen, we shall be studious to maintain that character for humanity, which, we would wish, may ever be the characteristic of Americans; and [we] cannot but applaud those generous and benevolent sentiments, which influenced you in your application.

We are, &c.

The committee who were appointed to prepare the form of an oath, to be taken by the general officers, reported: the consideration whereof was referred to some future time.

Ordered, That Col. Mosely and Major Bliss be, and are hereby empowered and directed, to collect all the province arms which are in the county of Hampshire; and that Doct. William Whiting be empowered and directed to collect all the province arms which are in the county of Berkshire.

Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.

[Afternoon.]

Resolved, That Capt. Trueman Wheeler, of Great Barrington, be desired to assist Doct. Whiting in collecting the province arms which are in the county of Berkshire.

Mr. Sawyer informed the Congress, that Gen. [John] Whitcomb, on account of his various avocations, could not acccept of the office of muster master to which he had been appointed. Whereupon,

Resolved, That this Congress will now proceed to the choice of another person, by ballot, in his room; and that Mr. Sawyer, Esquire Dix and Major Fuller, be a committee to sort and count the votes.

On a motion made, Resolved, that this last resolve be reconsidered, and that to-morrow morning, eleven o'clock, be assigned for the choice of a muster master, in the room of Gen. [John] Whitcomb, who declines that trust.

Ordered, That Major Bliss, Deacon Whitney and Col. Patterson, be a committee to give notice to such members of this Congress as are now at Cambridge and Roxbury, and other absent members whom

they can notify, that a matter of the greatest importance is to be taken into consideration, at three o'clock, to-morrow afternoon, and to direct their attendance at that time.

The committee who were appointed to bring in a resolve recommending the disarming certain persons in the colony, reported; which report was read, amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz.:

"Whereas, there are divers persons now in this colony, who have, by their conduct, discovered themselves to be enemies to the rights of mankind, and the interest of America; and whereas, our very peculiar situation renders it absolutely necessary, not only to discriminate them from those who have shewn a disposition to be friendly to their country, but "likewise to put it out of their power to join with the open and avowed enemies of America, in their endeavors to ||injure, and subjugate their countrymen to the full operations of the tyrannical system of the British administration, and the ruin and destruction concerted by the British parliament against the secolonies: therefore,

Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended, to the several committees of correspondence, in the several towns and districts where such committees ||'have been appointed, and to the selectmen of such towns and districts as have not appointed them, to inquire into the principles and conduct of such suspected persons, and that they cause all such to be disarmed, who do not give them full and ample assurances, in which they can with safety confide, of their readiness to join their countrymen, on all occasions, in defence of the rights and liberties of America; and likewise, that they take effectual steps to put it out of the power of such persons to obstruct, by any means whatever, the measures which shall be taken for the common defence; and it is also hereby recommended, to the good people of this colony, that they take effectual care to secure obedience to the several resolves of Congress for the regulation of the militia, and cause a due regard to be paid to the orders of the several military officers, who have been elected by the suffrages of the several companies and regiments, agreeably to the resolves of Congress.

Ordered, That Major Fuller, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Webster, be a committee to get the resolve last mentioned printed, and dispersed through the several towns and districts in this colony.

Ordered, That the committee who were appointed to take into consideration the subject matter of the letter from Gen. Ward, now send a written message, by the messenger in waiting, to the general, inform

ing him that they are considering the same, and will make report as soon as possible.

Ordered, That said committee sit forthwith.

Ordered, That Mr. Fisher be added to said committee, in the room of Mr. Bliss, who is going to Cambridge on other business of the Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Webster, be a committee to bring in a resolve, recommending to the inhabitants of this province to save their straw.

Ordered, That Col. Mosely, Esquire Davis, Col. Walker, Deacon Hovey, Mr. Lewis, Capt. McCobb and Major Smith, be a committee to confer with the committee of safety, with respect to settling the ap pointment of field officers, and to sit forthwith.

Mr. Gerry, by leave of Congress, brought in a resolve, empowering the committee of supplies to furnish commissaries ||with necessaries|| for the army, &c., which was recommitted.

The committee appointed to consider the letter from Gen. Ward, reported an answer thereto, which was amended and accepted, and is as follows:

SIR-This Congress received your letter of this day, and the complaint enclosed, informing that several persons, falsely pretending to have your order to search for fire-arms, have committed robbery on private property; we have taken the matter ||"into|| consideration, and are of opinion that such criminals ought to meet with condign punishment. The persons suspected to be the offenders are one Saunders, Samuel Mallows, Jacob Whittemore, Edward Bugby and Ebenezer Smith, all of Roxbury, with two other persons unknown. Therefore, Sir, you are directed to apprehend the abovesaid persons, by a number of men under your command, and cause them to be carried before the committee of safety, who are hereby empowered and directed to examine them touching their offence, and search for, and, if possible, to find the goods, and direct that they are immediately replaced from whence they were taken. And if, on examination, the said persons are found guilty of the said robbery, the committee of safety are hereby directed to imprison them till the further order of Congress.

Ordered, That the committee just now appointed to confer with the committee of safety, respecting the appointment of field officers, be instructed to inquire into the state of the army at Cambridge and Roxbury, and if they find the numbers ||thereof || reduced, as is reported to

a seriously into.||