Robert Temple, Esq., and this committee have carefully inspected said letters, and had the said Mr. Temple before them, and examined him, both with regard to his principles and conduct in the present controversy between Great Britain and the colonies in America; and whereas, we think it the duty of this committee, at the same time that we applaud the vigilance of the committee of Cohasset, who have stopped those letters, and that of the town of Plymouth, who have sent two of their members with Mr. Temple to this committee, to do justice to individuals, in consequence of which, we Resolve, that it be recommended to the committee at Cohasset, to deliver Mr. Temple, such articles of his as are now in their possession, and likewise, that they and all others consider and treat him as a friend to the interest of this country, and the rights of all America.1

Col. Quincy, of Braintree, having proposed to this committee the erecting of a small defensive work against the depredations of our enemies upon the farms in his neighborhood, [they] do refer the matter to the council of war.

Col. Fellows having satisfied this committee that his regiment is full, he had a certificate thereof; and a recommendation that said regiment be commissioned accordingly, was given him for the honorable Congress.

It being expected that the present Congress will be dissolved this night, and hearing that one volume of copies of Mr. Hutchinson's letters, are in the hands of Capt. McLane, at the upper paper mills, in Milton, which volume may be of use to this colony, if in the hands of the Provincial Congress; therefore, Resolved, that the Rev. Mr. Gorden, of Roxbury, be desired and empowered to receive from said Capt. McLane, all such copies as are in his hands, or in any other hands,

(1) Robert Temple, Esq., subsequently, presented the following representations to the committee.

"I, Robert Temple, of Ten Hills, near Charlestown, New England, do declare, that I have received no injury to my property, nor have I been under any apprehensions of danger to eithor my person or property from the troops that are under the command of General Ward. But, it is a fact, that I have been so threatened, searched for, attacked by the names of tory and enemy to this country, and treated in such a manner, that not only my own judgment, but that of my friends, and of almost the whole of the town where I lived, made it necessary or prudent for me to fly from my home. I am confident, that this is owing to the wickedness of a few, very few, who have prejudiced some short sighted people against me, who live too far from my abode, to be acquainted with my proper character. I am confirmed in this opinion, from the kind protection that my wife and family have received, and continue to receive from General Ward, as well as from the sentiments which the committee of safety have been pleased to entertain of me.

Plymouth, May 31, 1775."

R. TEMPLE."

and to be accountable to the present or some future Congress for the

same.

MAY 30, 1775.

Elisha Lettinwell was directed to proceed with two teams to Chelsea, and bring up from thence the cannon and other stores saved from the schooner which has been burned by our people, and to lodge said stores in this town.

MAY 31, 1775.

The committee met, by adjournment, at Watertown, being the day appointed by charter for the election of councillors, when the Congress convened, and had a suitable discourse delivered [before] them by Mr. President Langdon, at the meeting-house, where the committee attended in the afternoon. Afterwards they met, and adjourned, to meet at Cambridge, on Tuesday morning, at eight o'clock.

JUNE 1, 1775.

On a motion made by Mr. Samuel Whittemore, of Gloucester, that the forces now raised in said town, and in Manchester, should remain there for the present, for the security of the sea ports: Voted, that there be returns immediately required of the number of men now in camp, and if it shall then appear that the safety of the whole will permit of it, the request will be granted.

JUNE 2, 1775.

A gun taken from Samuel Flagg, of Grafton, for the use of the colony, was appraised by a committee, appointed for that purpose, at forty shillings, lawful money; which gun was delivered Capt. Luke Drury, for the use of his company, and a receipt taken from him in the rough minutes.

Col. John Nixon having satisfied this committee that his regiment is in good forwardness, he had a certificate thereof, and a recommendation to the Provincial Congress that said regiment be commissioned accordingly.

JUNE 3, 1775.

Voted, That Mr. Devens be a committee, to join Col. Putnam, from the council of war, as a committee to wait upon the committee of supplies for a conference, and to desire their attendance at head quarters. Voted, That Col. Gridley be required to make immediate return of the regiment of artillery.

JUNE 5, 1775.

A number of officers belonging to Col. John Nixon's regiment, were

recommended to the Congress to be commissioned; and a list of said officers ordered to be put on file.

Col. Glover having satisfied this committee that he has about four hundred and sixty men in his regiment, a certificate was given him to that purpose, and it was recommended to the honorable Congress that said regiment be commissioned accordingly.

The honorable the Provincial Congress having, by their committee, inquired of this committee what progress has been made in raising a regiment for the train: Resolved, that the honorable Congress be informed that this committee have given out enlisting orders to raise nine companies, and that they will immediately procure a return, and forward it to the Congress.

JUNE 9, 1775.

A number of officers, belonging to Col. Whitcomb's regiment, were recommended to the Congress to be commissioned; as by copy of the list on file.

Two small arms, taken from General Brattle's house, were appraised by Capt. White and Mr. Devens, a committee appointed for that purpose, at one pound six shillings and eight pence; which guns were delivered Capt. Joseph Stebbins, for the use of his company, and a receipt taken for the same in the rough minute book.

Resolved, That the armorers repair no fire-arms for any soldier, without a certificate from his commanding officer, and that they keep an exact account of what arms they repair, and the soldiers' names to whom they belong; also what regiment they belong to; and also that the arms that first come be first repaired; and that this vote be transmitted to the several armorers in the colony service.

Capt. Hall, of Mistick, having informed the [committee] that a parcel of spars were brought on this side [of] Mistick bridge, Voted, that Mr. Hall be desired to remove them to such a place of security as he shall judge proper, till the further order of this committee.

Voted, That Capt. Ebenezer Winship have the recommendation of this committee to the honorable Congress, for being commissioned, with his subalterns, in Col. Nixon's regiment.

JUNE 10, 1775.

Whereas, a return has been made by Col. John Glover, of the state of his regiment, now at Marblehead, and it appearing to be for the safety of this colony [that] said regiment should continue for the present at said Marblehead, therefore, Resolved, that Col. John Glover be, and he hereby is directed, to continue said regiment, under his command, at Marblehead, until further orders, and that he hold them in

readiness to march, at a minute's warning, to any post where he may be directed; and that he fill up said regiment as soon as possible.

Whereas, sundry pieces of mowing land, belonging to persons who have left this town, have upon them considerable quantities of grass, which, if not cut soon, must diminish much in quantity, and as hay will be wanted for the use of this colony, therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended to the honorable Provincial Congress, that they appoint a committee of Congress to view said pieces of land, and act thereon as to them, in their wisdom, shall seem meet.

Voted, That Col. Learned be empowered to appoint one armorer and an assistant, for the army at Roxbury, provided he can obtain tools and accommodation for them.

A list of the gentlemen who have been commissioned, or who have received any encouragement for commissions, was sent to Congress, a copy of which is on file, [and is as follows:]

The following return was sent in to the Provincial Congress.

In obedience to a resolve of the honorable the Provincial Congress, "that the committee of safety certify to the Congress the names of such gentlemen as are candidates for the command of a regiment, with the number of privates, &c." This committee now report, that besides twenty gentlemen to whom they have given certificates, viz. : Col. Asa Whitcomb, General Ward, Lieut. Col. Ward, Col. Glover, Col. Fry, Col. Learned, Col. Read, Col. Nixon, Col. Fellows, General Thomas, Lieut. Col. Bayley, Col. Bridge, Col. Cotton, Col. Walker, Col. Prescott, Col. Scammon, Col. Donaldson, Col. Patterson, Col. Gardner, Col. Mansfield, Col. Gerrish; General Heath took out ten sets of orders, and has raised a full regiment, which has done duty in the army for several weeks, as he has informed this committee, but has made no return in writing, nor applied for a certificate: Col. David Brewer has received ten sets of orders, but has made no returns, though we hear he has enlisted a number of men as rangers: Col. Robinson has applied to this committee for a recommendation, in consequence of a petition signed by ten companies, the copy of which petition accompanies this report. The committee promised Col. Robinson that they would recommend him, if there should be a vacancy. Col. Woodbridge informs this committee, and it appears, that 360 men stand ready to go under him. The committee would observe, that Col. Woodbridge has been in the camp, with his minute men, doing duty ever since the battle, but did not apply to this committee for enlisting orders, until the committee had issued orders sufficient to com

plete the army, and therefore the committee did not give him orders, but promised they would recommend him, if there should be a vacancy.

Col. Porter, now in conjunction with Col. Patterson, and, by agreement with Col. Patterson, to have the chief command in the regiment, officiated some time in that capacity, waiting for the men raised by Col. Porter's orders to arrive; but they not arriving so soon as expected, another officer with several companies arrived, and offering to join Col. Porter's regiment, Col. Porter said he was willing to resign, rather than the public service should be hindered. Since this, we are informed by Col. Porter, that the men raised by his order are upon their march to Cambridge.

Col. Henshaw expected to have the command of a lieutenant colonel in General Ward's regiment, but the dispute between him and Col. Ward having been already laid before the Congress, and acted upon; we would further represent, that he has signified to this committee, that a number of companies incline to go under him, as by his return which accompanies this report.

About five or six weeks past, Mr. Greenleaf applied to this committee, desiring that the men raised in and about Newbury might not be annexed to Col. Gerrish's regiment, or any other where it would be disagreeable to them. He afterwards applied to this committee respecting said men, and desired that the eight companies enlisted upon orders issued by this committee, through Col. Gardner's hand, who have since petitioned in favor of Col. Little's taking the command of them, might be put under him as colonel of a regiment. We then found we had given orders for as many regiments as would complete the establishment made by this colony, and therefore did not give Col. Little any orders to raise a regiment, but promised that if any vacancy should happen he should have the preference. We find said companies were early in the field, and have done duty ever since, and are very well equipped.

Early after the 19th of April, this committee sent two sets of beating orders to the Hon. General Preble, desiring him to give out such orders to such persons as were suitable for commissions, in order to form a regiment; and Col. March was also supplied with ten sets of orders, for the purpose of raising a regiment, to be commanded by him. Soon after, it was represented to us, by the committee of correspondence of Falmouth, that it would be inconvenient to that county, in their exposed situation, to raise men for the army, and the same was agreed to by Colonels Phinney and March, and this committee: on