tection as may be thought proper, therefore, Voted, that the town of Braintree be hereby empowered to raise one company, the town of Hingham another company, and the town of Weymouth half of one company, for the immediate defence of the sea coasts of said towns; the said two companies and a half to be joined to such regiment in future as they may be ordered to, should there be occasion, or discharged from service on the last day of December next, or sooner if

(1) The petition of the selectmen of Braintree, Weymouth, and Hingham, follows:

"To the honorable Committee of Safety now sitting at Cambridge:

"The petition of the selectmen of Braintree, Weymouth, and Hingham, humbly sheweth: that the several towns to which they respectively belong, are in a defenceless state, and as we apprehend, in great danger of an attack from the troops now in Boston, or from the ships in the harbor; more especially, as they are now, or will soon be, in want of fresh provisions; that we have been at the trouble and expense of keeping up a military watch in each town for this fortnight past, at an expense which we are by no means able to bear, which is no real defence unto us. Besides all that has been said, the inhabitants of the said towns have been, and are still likely to be, in our present situation, almost constantly kept in tumult and disorder, and unable to keep about their business, to their great damage."

"Your petitioners therefore, humbly pray your honors, to take our distressed state into your wise and serious consideration, and grant us, at least, the return of those men that have enlisted into the service from our several towns, or such other relief and protection as in your wisdom you shall think fit, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray."

A petition for powder and arms was received from the committee of Brunswick:

BRUNSWICK, MAY 3, 1775.

"GENTLEMEN:-We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, beg liberty to inform you of our situation, as we are chosen by this town to examine into the circumstance of it, which we have done, and find the town very deficient as to arms and ammunition, and have sent by water to Salem, but have just had our money returned back without arms or ammunition; at present, we have not more than one quarter of a pound of powder to a man throughout the town, nor more than one firelock to two men; and in this defenceless state, we are obliged to apply to you to assist our trusty friend whom we have sent, Capt. Nathaniel Larrabee; and as we think it would be unsafe to transport powder by water, we have ordered him to take only one hundred weight, and for him to consult with you how and in what way it would be safest to get arms and more powder down to us. We should esteem it as a favor, to be informed from you, by way of letter, at every convenient opportunity, of our public affairs."

"We are, gentlemen, yours, ever to be commanded,

the public safety will admit of it, and that the selectmen of said towns be furnished with a copy of this vote and one set of beating orders, respectively.]

Resolved, As the opinion of this committee, that the public good of this colony requires, that government in full form ought to be taken up immediately, and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Congress now sitting at Watertown.

[The] sub-committee reported the draught of a letter to the governor and company of the colony of Connecticut, requesting the speedy march of three or four thousand of their men, which was accepted, and ordered, that a fair copy be transmitted immediately. [It is as follows:]

[CAMBRIDGE, MAY 4 1774.]

[The distressed situation in which a wicked and despotic administration have involved this colony, will justify us in your eyes, as we presume, in our present most earnest and pressing desire, that you will immediately send us three or four thousand men of your establishment, in order to enable us to secure a pass of the greatest importance to our common interest, and which the enemy will certainly possess themselves of as soon as their reenforcements arrive; and if they once get possession, it will cost us much blood and treasure to dislodge them; but it may now be secured by us, if we had a force sufficient, without any danger; therefore, we earnestly repeat our request for three or four thousand men for this present purpose, with all possible despatch, and supported with all necessary stores of ammunition and provisions; and we would beg, that they may be forwarded in companies or regiments as fast as they can be got ready; this will make it easier to the troops, and to the country through which they may pass, and may, probably, be of more essential service to our common cause.]

[To the Governor and Company of Connecticut.]

Voted, That William Cooper, Jun., be appointed a clerk to this committee in the room of Mr. Palmer, appointed quarter master general; Samuel Cooper was added as an assistant.

Voted, That a chest of medicines be removed from hence to Roxbury, under the care of General Thomas.

There having been eight guns sent in for the use of the colony, Col. Whitcomb and General Heath were appointed to appraise the same, who reported as follows, viz.: one gun taken of Capt. How, appraised at £2; one ditto of Joel Brigham, £2; one ditto of John Baker,

£1 8s.; one ditto of Aaron Agar, £2 8s.; one ditto of James Stone, £1 4s.; one ditto of Asa Fay, £1 10s.; one ditto of Aaron Fay, £1 1s. 4d.; one ditto of William Bethank, 18s.; total, £8 9s. 4d.

Memorandum, Col. Jonathan Ward gave a receipt for the above guns, for which he made himself accountable, which receipt is entered in the minute book.

A letter was reported for the inhabitants of New York, which was accepted, and a copy of the same [put] on file, [and is as follows:]

[CAMBRIDGE, MAY 4, 1775.]

[It is with great satisfaction this committee received your letter of the second instant, expressive of your tender care, and sympathy with this colony under our alarming situation. All we can write on this occasion is, that the exigency of our affairs requires all the assistance which your better judgment shall dictate. We rest assured, that your zeal for the common safety will inspire you to do every thing that is proper for the safety and preservation of the unalienable rights of America.]

A draught of a letter to the governor and company of Rhode Island, respecting the sending a number of troops immediately, was reported, whereupon, Voted, that the same be accepted, and transmitted by an express.1

Voted, That a sub-committee be appointed to wait upon the council of war to recommend their giving orders for a return of the enlisted men, and that they will take order, that such men as are enlisted, may be admitted to join the camp with all expedition, that so such men as are far from home, and do not intend to enlist, may have leave to depart as soon as it can be done with safety to the colony.

Voted, That Col. Gardner be appointed to lay this vote before the council of war.

Voted, That it be recommended to the council of war, that six companies of each of the two regiments to be raised in the county of Plymouth, be ordered to join the army at Roxbury, as soon as they are completed; and that the four other companies of each of said regiments, which may be raised most contiguous to the sea coast of said county, be retained for the immediate defence of said sea coast, to be regulated by the colonels of said regiments until further orders.

(1) The letter to Rhode Island was in the same words with that sent to Connecticut.

Voted, That Col. Palmer and Col. Cushing be appointed to lay the foregoing vote before said council.

Advice being received, that a number of transports with troops are just arrived at Boston from England, Doct. Church, Col Palmer, and Mr. Devens, were appointed to confer with the council of war, upon the occasion.

Voted, That Col. Bricket be desired to take possession of all the arms and ammunition that he shall find in Mr. Borland's house, and bring them to head quarters.

MAY 7, 1775.

Whereas, it appears to this committee, that great uneasiness may arise in the army, by the appointment of surgeons who may not be agreeable to the officers and soldiers in their respective regiments, therefore, Voted, that it be recommended to the Congress, to allow the colonel of each regiment to nominate the surgeon for his regiment; said surgeon to nominate his mate; and unless there is some material objection made against them, that they be accordingly appointed.

Mr. George Babcock, charged with the care of a house, having complained that certain persons had come to said house, and taken from thence considerable furniture, Voted, that this complaint be referred to Congress, and that Mr. Cushing be desired to accompany said Babcock there, and that the above vote be sent to the council of war for their approbation; which vote being sent, it was approved of accordingly.

Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the selectmen and committee of correspondence for the town of Sudbury, that they use their utmost influence, that the effects of Col. Ezra Taylor of that town, be secured from any injury whatsoever.

Ordered, That the selectmen and the committee of correspondence for the town of Chelsea, be desired to take such effectual methods for the prevention of any provisions being carried into the town of Boston, as may be sufficient for that purpose.

[The following letter to the chairman of the committee of safety and protection of Albany, was accepted, and ordered to be forwarded.]

[SIR-We have received your important and very agreeable letter of May current, by the worthy gentleman, Captain Barent Ten Eyck. While we lament the effusion of the blood of our friends and fellow countrymen, shed by more than brutal cruelty, urged on by the corrupt administration of a British minister of state; yet, amidst all our sorrows on that mournful occurrence, we rejoice greatly, at the

bright prospect lying before us, in the unanimity of the colonies on this extended continent. We have the highest satisfaction in the assurance from you, that the citizens of Albany continue firmly and resolutely to cooperate with their brethren in New York and with the several colonies on the continent, in their opposition to the ministerial plan now prosecuting against us, and that the city have unanimously appointed a committee of safety, protection and correspondence, which we esteem as a necessary measure to bind us all in one indissoluble bond of union in the common cause of the American colonies.]

[Be assured, Sir, that we shall ever esteem it as our honor and interest to correspond with you, at all times, on matters tending to promote the common good. Suffer us to say, that we have the greatest pleasure in your information, that the extensive county of Albany will follow your laudable example, and in the important aid the general cause will receive from our sister colony, New York. The enclosed, you may depend upon it, is a well authenticated account of the late engagement in this colony, and supported by a great number of affidavits.]1

[Permit us to say, Sir, that you may rely upon the resolution of the people of this colony to exert themselves, in every possible way, and that they have, long since, devoted their lives and fortunes in the glorious cause of liberty and their country; and that they never can give up their stand, to oppose despotism and tyranny, while they have such full assurances from their sister colonies, that they are equally engaged in the defence of the natural and constitutional rights of Americans. The blood of our neighbors, repeatedly and untimely poured out, cries aloud to the survivors to defend the American rights for which they bled and died. We have their wounds fresh in mind, and while the colonies are united, we have the fullest assurance, under God, of the salvation of our country.]

[We are, Sir, affectionately,

Your very humble servants.]

[In Committee of Safety, Cambridge, May 7, 1775.]

MAY 9, 1775.

Moved and Voted, That the Congress be desired to direct their secretary to furnish this committee with copies of all such resolves as have passed the Congress in any ways relative to the duty enjoined this committee, and as the circumstances of this colony are very different from (1) The narrative will be found in the Appendix.