of a part or the whole sooner, which shall be at the discretion of the committee of safety; and, I hereby promise, to submit myself to all the orders and regulations of the army, and faithfully to observe and obey all such orders as I shall receive from any superior officer.

Resolved, That there be immediately enlisted out of the Massachusetts forces, eight thousand effective men, to be formed into companies to consist of a captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, one fifer, one drummer, and seventy rank and file; nine companies to form a regiment, to be commanded by a colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major; each regiment to be composed of men suitable for the service, which shall be determined by a muster master or muster masters to be appointed for that purpose; said officers and men to continue in the service of the province for the space of seven months from the time of enlistment, unless the safety of the province will admit of their being discharged sooner; the army to be under proper rules and regulations. Voted, That the field pieces be removed from Newburyport, and deposited, for the present, in the hands of Capt. Dexter, of Malden.

Voted, that a courier be immediately despatched to Stoughton, to require the immediate attendance of Col. Richard Gridley, and his son Scarborough Gridley, upon this committee.

Voted, That a courier be sent to command the attendance of David Mason, now upon furlough in Salem.

Voted, That Mr. Mason be ordered to provide one field piece, with every implement necessary for action, and proceed forthwith to provide for the remainder, till the whole are in a thorough state of preparation, unless otherwise ordered: the cannon to be provided for are eight three-pounders, and three six-pounders.

Voted, That orders be given to Capt. Dexter to conceal the cannon committed to his care, which was accordingly done.

Voted, That the resolve above written be so far reconsidered, as that the companies, rank and file, consist of fifty men each, and that no further obligation be required of those companies who are adjudged to be firmly enlisted by their respective officers.

Voted, That an establishment be proposed for the troops at an early day after the meeting of Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. Pigeon, the commissary general, be directed to carry thirty-five barrels of pork, and an half barrel of hog's fat, from the town of Salem to the town of Cambridge, by virtue of an order from Mr. William Bond.

Voted, That the general officers be forthwith desired to make a return of such officers and soldiers as are already under sufficient engagements to serve in the Massachusetts army.

Voted, That the general officers be desired, with all possible speed, to give in a list of such officers as they shall judge duly qualified to serve as colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors, for such a number of regiments as shall, with the officers and soldiers already engaged, make up an army of eight thousand men.

Voted, That Major Bigelow be applied to, to furnish a man and horse to attend the surgeons, and convey medicines agreeably to their directions.

APRIL 22, 1775.

Voted, That the commissary general be directed to have the stores belonging to the colony removed from all the sea port towns with all possible speed.

Voted, That Capt. Foster be ordered to take the care of the cannon and intrenching tools at Mr. Richardson's tavern.

Voted, That the commissary general be directed to inspect the intrenching tools, and, if any are out of order, to see them, with all possible speed, repaired.1

APRIL 24, 1775.

Resolved, That General Ward be desired, immediately, to direct all the field officers of the regiments of minute men now in Cambridge, to attend the committee of safety at their chamber at Mr. Steward Hasting's house.2

(1) Letter from the committee of safety to the committee of the inhabitants of Boston.

"CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 22, 1775."

"GENTLEMEN:-The committee of safety being informed, that General Gage has proposed a treaty with the inhabitants of the town of Boston, whereby he stipulates, that the women and children, with all their effects, shall have safe conduct without the garrison, and their men also, upon condition that the male inhabitants within the town, shall, on their part, solemnly engage, that they will not take up arms against the king's troops, within the town, should an attack be made from without. We cannot but esteem those conditions to be just and reasonable, and as the inhabitants are in danger of suffering from the want of provisions, which, in this time of general confusion, cannot be conveyed into the town, we are willing you shall enter into and faithfully keep the engagement aforementioned, said to be required of you, and to remove yourselves, and your women, children, and effects, as soon as may be."

"We are, &c."

(2) The committee forwarded the following letter to the Congress of New Hampshire :

"CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 24, 1775."

"Our friends from New Hampshire having shown their readiness to assist us in this day of distres, we therefore thought it best to give orders for enlisting such as were present in the service of

Resolved, That the inhabitants of Chelsea and Malden be, and hereby are, absolutely forbidden, to fire upon, or otherwise injure any seamen belonging to the navy under the command of Admiral Graves, unless fired upon by them, until the said inhabitants of Chelsea and Malden receive orders from this committee or the general of the provincial forces so to do.

APRIL 25, 1775.

Resolved, That the three cannon now at Marlborough, be brought to the town of Waltham, and mounted on the carriages prepared for them, till further orders.

Resolved, That Col Freeman, of Sandwich, be directed to take such a number of men as may be sufficient for the purpose, and secure the whale and such other boats at Cape Cod, as may be of use to this colony.

Resolved, That Col. Paul Dudley Sergeant, of New Hampshire, be desired, forthwith, to recommend ten persons belonging to the colony of New Hampshire, to receive beating orders for the enlistment of persons belonging to said colony, until they are discharged by this colony, or taken into the service of the colony of New Hampshire.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Provincial Congress, to reduce the regiments so far, as that the companies consist of fifty-nine men, including officers; and also, that they allow only two lieutenants to a company. Resolved, That

be ordered, with the troop of horse under his command, to proceed forward, as an escort to the honorable members of the Continental Congress on their way to Philadelphia, until they are met by an escort from the colony of Connecticut.

APRIL 26, 1775.

Voted, That an express be sent to General Preble, at Falmouth, desiring his attendance at Cambridge, as a general officer, or in his private capacity.

Ordered, That fifteen of the prisoners at Concord, be removed from thence to Worcester gaol immediately.

Upon a motion made, Voted, that the secretary of this committee

this colony, as many desired something may be done to hold them together, until the resolve of your Congress is known, when we are ready and desirous they should be discharged from us, and put under such command as you shall direct. Colonel Sergeant has been so kind as to afford his utmost assistance in concluding this matter."

"We are, &c. &c."

be directed and empowered to sign any papers or writings in behalf of this committee.

Voted, That Mr. Ephraim Jones, the gaol keeper of Worcester, be directed to receive fifteen prisoners from the gaol in Concord.

Voted, That this committee recommend it to the Provincial Congress, that they make an establishment for such a number of armorers as they may judge necessary for the forces belonging to this colony.

Resolved, That as many men as are not already enlisted, and incline to remain in the army, immediately enlist, in order that it may be ascertained what number may be still necessary to be raised in each town to complete the complement of troops for this colony, and to forward to each town their remaining quotas; and the men that may now enlist may be assured, that they shall have liberty to be under the command of such officers as may be appointed by the committee of safety, until the particular regiment and companies are completed; and the utmost care will be taken to make every soldier happy in being under good officers.

Resolved, That the resolve of the twenty-fourth instant, respecting the inhabitants of Chelsea and Malden, be reconsidered, and Ordered, that it be immediately remanded; also,

Resolved, That the inhabitants of Chelsea and Malden be hereby desired, to put themselves in the best state of defence, and exert the same in such manner, as under their circumstances, their judgments may direct.

APRIL 27, 1775.

Resolved, That Capt. Derby be directed, and he hereby is directed, to make for Dublin, or any good port in Ireland, and from thence to cross to Scotland or England, and hasten to London. This direction is, that so he may escape all cruisers that may be in the chops of the channel to stop the communicating of the provincial intelligence to the agent.

Voted, That it is the sense of this committee, that it would promote the service, if two majors were appointed to each of the general officers' regiments; and that it be recommended accordingly to the Provincial Congress.

A letter, dated twenty-sixth instant, was sent to the colony of Rhode Island, and another of the same tenor was sent to the colony of Connecticut, [which are as follow:]

[CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 26, 1775.]

[The distressed situation in which we are, and the dangers to which

the liberties of all America, and especially the New England colonies are exposed, will be the best apology for our importunate application to you for immediate assistance. We pray, as you regard the safety of your country, that as large a number of troops as you can spare, may immediately march forward, well stocked with provisions and ammunition; that they come under proper officers, enlisted for such a time as may be necessary; and, that as large a train of artillery as can be procured be sent down to our aid. We rely greatly upon you, as we know the bravery of your men. Our men have behaved with the utmost resolution; but as many of them came from home without any preparation, it is impossible to keep them in the field without allowing many of them time to return to their families for one or two days, during which time, we may all, possibly, be cut off, as we have a powerful and watchful enemy to deal with. We are far from despairing. We firmly trust, that, by the blessing of Heaven on us, we shall deliver our country. We are determined, at all events, to act our part with firmness and intrepidity, knowing that slavery is far worse than death. We pray, that our sister Rhode Island would immediately put in for a share of honor in saving the liberties of America; as a moment lost may never be recalled. May God direct you and us at this important moment, on which the fate of us and posterity depends.]

[We are, gentlemen, with great affection and respect,

Your most obedient servants.]

Ordered, That Col. John Glover take such effectual methods for the prevention of such intelligence being carried on board the Lively, ship of war, Capt. Bishop commander, now lying in the harbor of Marblehead, or any other, as may have a tendency to injure the most important cause we are engaged in, and, that he take such effectual methods for carrying this order into execution, as shall appear best calculated to effect this purpose.1

(1) The following letters were forwarded by the committee to the selectmen of Boston:

"CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 27, 1775."

"It is here currently reported, that General Gage gives out publicly, that the provincials fired upon his detachment before the troops fired upon the provincials. Such a report occasions astonishment and resentment, as there is the clearest evidence, not only that the troops fired first at Lexington and killed eight men there, before our people fired one gun, but then marched several miles further to Concord, and killed two men and wounded several others, before one gun was fired in that place by our men. He is a man, we trust, of too much honor to propagate such a false account, and has been scandalously deceived by his officers. We think it probable, that ten days may suf fice for removing your persons and most valuable effects. We hope you will take care, that your