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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 JOURNAL OF THE CONGRESS, FOR ^775* [Price Three Shillings.] n V w>> :?;*?•:' liiid 55-iiT ?3M" JO U R N A L OF THE PROCEEDINGS ( '{ OF THE CONG R E S S, HELD AT PHILADELPHIA, M4Y 10, 1775. Publifhed by Order of the CONGRESS. 1 ; / PHILADELPHIA: Printed; LONDON: Re-primed for J. Almon, oppofitc Burhngton-Houfe in Piccadilly, 1776. J s h J St a A LIST Of T H » DELEGATES » Who attended the CONGRESS, held at Philadelphia^ May lo, 1775. Ne^w-Hampjhire. Hon. >. Sullivan, Efqj | John Langdon, Efq. Mafachujett's-Ba^\ ^ Hon.>./Z^w^ri,Efq; John Adami, ECq; Hon. r/.(p. Cujhing, Efq; Rob, Treat Painl Efqj Mx, Samuel Adams ^ . Rhode-IJland. non. Step. Hopkins^ Efqj | Hon. ^-/^/w. ^^r^, Efq, ConneSficut. Hon. £//>^tf/^/ i)y,r, I Hon.^^r 5A.mj« Efq ^^^i I ^S/Vtf^ Deane, Efqj NeW'Tork. PbtltpLavingJion.Eic^i Henry Wifner, E(q'. James Duane ECq; Philip Schuyler, Efq; John fMEfq; George Clinton, Efq; John Jay, Efq; Xfie;;i M?rr/i. Efq] Simon Boerum, Efq; ^/■///^/w F/oyd, Efq; NeW'Jerfey. Francis Lewis, Efq; ■Rc^. ii. Living/Ion, Efq; >^« D'H/zr/, Efq; Richard Smith, Efq; James Kinfey, Efq; «S/^/A^« Cr^Wf', Efq; ^/w. Livingjlon, Efq; Pennfyhania. rWx M#«. Efq; 5.«/-. Fraiklin, Efq; John Morton, Efq; | y^;^,; ^/^^^ Ef^. S Lower I' ^ r Ul\- < A n ( 2 ) Lofwer Counties on Delaware. Hon. Cafiur Rodney y Efq; ( George Read, Efqj ThmasM'Keane, Efq; | Maryland. Hon.Maf.Tilgbman, Efq ' 7i&^. yoSn/on, jun. Efq; l?o^. Go/djhorougb, jun. Efq; Hon . P^;^/. Rando/pb.Efiii Geo. PFaJkington^ Efq; Patrick Henry, Efq; J?/Vi&. £r^»ry Z,^^, Efq; Virginia. IVilliam Paca, Efqj Samuel Chafe ^ Efqj 7o/j« //tf//, Efq; Thomas St one , Efq; Edmund Pendleton, Efqj Bf»/. HarrifoH, Efq; Richard Bland, Efqj' no. Jefferfon,-E(c^,' North-Carolina. William Hooper, Efq; I 2?/V-6tfr^ Gj/W/, Efqj Jofeph Hewes, Efq; j South-Carolina, Hon. 7itf«rj^ Middleton, Efq; Thomas Lynch, Efq; Ci6r/j/?. Gj^///^», Efqj John Rut ledge, Efq; Edivard Rutkdge, Efqj Pates to* reprefent the colony of New- York, in the next Cont:nent3l Congrels, to be held at Pbilao.^lphia on the loLn of May next, Philip Livingaon, James Duane, '"v'-"»*;-vV:i'''-.-„-^" icr, Lreorge Clinton, Lewis Morri<: * i?^ • rmne upon fuch meafur.s a, ftall b^ l"edt^ft effeflual for the prefervation and re eoJhV.f^ I %w^, Leonard Lupcnard. Jikac R^^S^f" .hort:hitt;ftaeStu:^^^^^^^^ requeft we a..e.d.d ,hrCo„;«ro7'fcnifr''°'' aflemto andapprobtion ofthe7b,7bfe|,r %W, John Fulman. Zcbulon ^1^ t V N£W.jERSEv./„ 4^.»%Per.h-Amboy;r«wa» ' January 24, 1775. •' ■''*'•'• ^efihej unam'mmSy, Thit I-im.c it- /• RICHAR^SlTA,:?,?^-* , Penn- I/; y,i ( 8 ) Pennsylvania. InAfembly, December i^, 1774, A, M, Upon Motion, Refohed, N. C. D. That the ho- nourable Edward Biddle, John Dickinfon, Thomas Mifflin, Charles Humphreys, John Morton, and George Rofs, Efquires, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed Deputies on the Part of this Province, to attend the general Congrefs, propofed to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, and that they or any four of them do meet thefaid Congrefs accordingly, unlefs the prefcnt grievances of the American Colonies (hall before that time be rcdrcfled. ExtraSifrom the Journals, CHARLES MOORE, Clerk of the Jjfembly, . In4lfembly,May6,ijys*'^-M' , Refoked, N. C. D. That Benjamin Franklin, hon. Thomas Willing, and James Wilfon, Efquires, be, and they are hereby added to the Deputies ap- pointed by this Houfe, to attend the Continental Congrefs, cxpedtcd to meet the tenth inftant in this city. ExtraSlfrom the Journals, CHARLES MOORE, Clerk of the Affemhly. Lower Counties on Delaware. In AJf:mbly^ Thurfday, March 16, 1775, A, M. On motion, Refohed, N. C. D. That the Hon. Ciefar Rodney, Thomas M'Kcan, and George Read, • Efqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed and au- thorized to rq>refent this government at the Ame- rican Congrefs, propofed to be held at the city of Phila- Philadclphm, on the tenth day of Mav n^ «. . any other time or place, with fiill powTr m rfil '' any two of them, together with the St^.f °' the other American CoIonieT to con^^^^^^^ ^"'"^ upon fuch further meafures L (h ^? **"^ ^^ree ^appy differences between Great Britain Za I DAVID THOMPSON. C/..,^;JS^.,, Maryland, it the citv of a!^^1 i- ?' ?">""« of on the 8th' Deo^^bef .,1 P"]"* ''y.«^J«»«n«nt »th day of tKe3: ""' "«'"«1 ««• «h« Congtefsfl>a..dernere4:^t^^J,t''i-h a redrefs of American erievances ,!!. ►v^'*'" "nee bind themfelves to execu^tn fl? .'"' J?'""" Aeir power, all Refok. onTwhW. rte fiiHT"" °/ Dc.g,estorVefc:rL^t^St any *(i!i M ': t > ) any one-GoiTgfc^, to fee held by virtnc of Aich atfi journrr i£. / ^ yt»« Signed by orders ••f(f ,dt ,aJpI|N DUCKET, qcxj^. •*t >'•*-♦»^^^' Vift6it«!A. At a Cdnventiort bf DdegatiFi^^ the couritKstnd torporations in tfiie colony of Vifi |inia, at the town of Richmond^ in the cotinty qf Henrico, ttiMotoday the 2othof Mfit*, 1775. :* The Convention proceeded to the cledron of De- legates ty ballot, to reprefent this colony in General Congftefe, to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, when the hon. Peyton Kanddfib, George Waihirigtbti, * Patrick Henry, flichard Henry Lee, Edmund Pchdleton, Bcnjaifiitt HarnfORi and JlichAfd BJafedi Efqts, Were choleh f^f ttiat i)ur|>o(c, r ar T^«« WJ^^ RAf^bbLPH; Prefidcnt. IQHN TAZBWELLj plcrlt of the G^vcnti6n, NQjiTH^CARdiiHA. At a gcneril meeting of Pelegatss of the inhabitants of this protineej frf Convention* at Kcwberh, the jthrday of AprilJ' Pr^fcnt, the hon. John Harvey, Efo) Moderatorl^' and 6S (nimbers. ,,j On motion, 12i^ Bfc.what lofluence t|iey have, to induct thc^fime Pljft^vanc^m every individual of this pro^iSr Th,s Hoofe having received k&nwtiiii, tli^ rM'^JL?"'.;**"' ^pointed by the Convention he d a, I?ewbe(n. a, ^elegatts to 'attend t£^S ' ud$it ' "'^'* '^°"«''^' '■'^ ^? **^^''^"^ ^a^i^a:&nJ*2&«"^'^'^'"*^ T . : JAMES, O^E|^,^^£^^, Sou^H-CARoimA. /« tycmmms Hmfi ^M. »- Jtmbl,,Fri4aj idofPeiruarj. t'ifi^^ ci^MZ^^^^*^?"^"^' «*• at the wy of Philadelphia m SeptemberTaft iimonrilothtt' fhinss recommended m i}«, f,..™! r>Ui-_' ■. ,? vi"^r ?* I .. t .t In h { r^ ) Deputies at the Congrefe,. da hereby nominate and appoint the Hon. H. Middlcion, Tho. Lynch, Chr. Gadfdeifiujohn Rutledg(r,«nd Ed. Rutledgc, Efqrs. Deputies for and in behalf of this Colony, to meet the Deputies appointed, or to be appointed, on the firt and behalf of the other Colonies, at the city of hiladelphia, or any other place, that (ball be agreed on by the faid Deputies in General Congrefs, with full power and authority to concert, agree to and ef- ^<^^My profecute fuch meafurcs, as in the opinion of tile laid Deputies and the Deputies to be affem- bled, ihall be moft likely to obtain a redrcfs of AmScncan grievances. RefoheJ, That the Deputies hereby appointed, oii^the part and behalf of this colony, are auihorifed and etnpowered to agree, that the Continental Con- ^^^^ »^l ^^^^ ** ^"5" ^"^"^^ *'"'«» 2n«J at fuch place as fhall be agreed on, and to adjourn from tiine to time ; provided it db not exceed nine months from mf «c pf their meeting in May next. -If. ^^ -jiueJed^TiiOMAS FARR, jun. C/^r/f. EMioB-jrofn the Jmrnah of the Provincial Con- greJsofSqvrH^CAROLiiJA,/>u6Ayheii6y order of the Congrefs, iith of January, lyj^^ ■ ' mived^That the hon. Henry Middlcton, Efq: Thomas Lynch, Chriftopher Gadfden, Jdhn Rut- ledge aod^EdNVard Ruflcdge, Efqrs. or aay three Ot them, be, and they are hereby appointed ai\d au- thorifed to rWent this Colony, on the tenth day of May next, or fooncr. if neccflary, at the American Vpngr«[f/ to be held at Philadelphia or clibwhere. with fell power to concert, agree upon, diredt and order fuch further meafures, as in the opinion ^thc faid; Deputies, and the Delegates of the other Ame- rican OJonies, to be aflcmblcd, fhall appear to be I) necefiryAr the recovery and eftaWifliment of AmM,c.nJt.ghtS attd Liberties/and fo XinJ harmony between Great-Britain and i,er CoE^ Upon Wotiofl, RrfcM. That the thanks of le fcrming Divine Service agreeable to the defirinf the Congrefs, and for his%iccellent prayer fowl adapted to the prefent occafioB y="o •wet^ ^Ordered That Mr. Bland. Mr. Willing, and Mr Suthvan. be a committee to «rait upon Mr Doche'" «nd return the thanks of the ConKrefs Z'JrltV the above Refolotion. ? « ^ *"' »gf«ableto Upon motion. .R,>/w^, That the doors be keoi ftut dnnng the time of bnfmcft, and that the mem! bers confider themfelves under the flror..eToblS t.ons of honour tb keep the proceedings fee etl' *J« "'i-'|y mall difea .hL to be'^Srp'ab ,"' ma^k^ita " •'' ■"■"'"'^ ^""<^^'' »"p"ho?i A circular letter from the Agents WilKa^, u i Ian. Benjaa^n Fntnklin. and Arthur L ' e£" direftid to the Speakers of fever.] Affemblles Td fundry papers therein referred to werel.^ K,f the Congrefs and read , the lette/ ifas foCf " SiK. London. Feb.^, lyy^, ^-^HJ^k"^" ''""''"'°'''"«' )P0. that the King had declared his intentions of laying the P«itinn C? his two Houfes of ParliamenT.^ It h« rccor^^'' been laid before each Hoafe bu u„d Ceu2 J J.nc«|^a variety of letters and other p^^S A motion made by Lord Chatham to withdraw the troops from Bofton, as the firft ftcp tewardsT conciliating plan, was reie'n the foregoinc letter !»- jngpubhflied n thenews-Dawr. i?^^ ' V** ^pertithem.. - "^"^^ P»P*"' « « not necefliry Mr. Hancock jaH before t^ii'^^' ' r''"'?*''^ fW^eP,ovinciJTo„gSofSc^:'.ttB'* together with certain fefolutlons fo^fd by fil* ?^ • ? u^'" ^S^' '" EngUnd. and an addr^?:' the inbabitants of Great-Britain, . on *he laletn gagewent between the troop's under Generilr md ihe inhabitants of Malichafett's &y f'alfo^: number W li V ( 'M number of dci^ofitiona duly aM^ftcd, rcktit e to ih« f:oramcnccmcnljof.faid hoaHifift, aH which imm read, and are si follows : di^ziiu^: - . .-iioi: . yn Provincial Congrefs, Watertown, May 3^ . To the Honourable American Continental Con- grife, to be convened at Philadelphia, on th« tenth of May, inftant. • MayitpleareyourHonourirl[;V ■ * THE Congrefs of this Colony, impreflcd with the deepeft concern for their Country under the prc- fent critical and alarming ftatc of its public affairs beg^4eave with the utmoft fabmiffion, whilft a^ing m fupport of theCaufc of America, to requeft the dircaion andaffiftance of your refpedablc affcmbly. i' The ioclofcd packet containing the copies of de- pofitions, which we have difpatched for London, alio an addrcfs to the Inhabitants of Great- Britain,' and a letter to our colony Agent, Benjamin Fraiik- Im, Efq; are humbly fubmitted to your confide^ ration^. The fanguinary zeal of the minifterial army, to ruindnd dcftroy the inhabitants of this Colony, in the opink>n of this Congrefs, hath rendered the efta- blifhment of an army indifpenfibly, ncccffary : we have accordingly paffed an unanimous refolvc for thirteen thoufand fix hundred men to be forthwith raifed by this Colony, and propofals are made by us to the Congrefs of New-Ham pfliirc, and go- vernments of Rhode-Ifland and Connedticut Co- lonies, for furni(hing men in the iamc pro- portion. They ' ( «7 > i T*!? .u'^'^^'y?.!?*"''^ of our puHic affairs pre- cluded the poffibiHty of waiting for yaurdirc^oa in thcfe important ms»fijrcs, more cfpccially as a confidcrabJe reinforcement from Great-Britain is reduced to the ikd alternative of defendini? our- felvcs by arms, or fubmitted to be flau^htcfeA - • With the grcateft deference, we bet leave to^ lugge jt, that a powerful army, oir the fide of America, hath been confidered by this CongrtSs a* the only means left to ftem the rapid pr^rei of a tyrannical miniftr^. Without a^cfope- nor to our enemies, we muft reafon ably expert ^a. become the via,ms of their relentlefs fury.^ifth fucha force, we may ftiU have hopes of feeingan immediate end put to the inhuman nayaws of mercenary troops in America, and the .^ickcd,^ authors of our miferies brought to condign pu^. mfhcnent, by the.juft indign«ionx)f our jJethrcn. in Great-Britain. 4*,*^% We hope that this Colony win,4t all' times, be ready to fpend and to he fpent in the caufe of America. It is, nevcrthclefs. a misfor^uae great- ly operating to its difadvantage, that it has /gr^t nuniber of fea-port towns cxpofcd to tkc approacli of the enemy by fca; from many of which, the inhabitants have removed and are removing their" families and cfFeas, to avoidh deftruaion from fliips of war. Thefc We apprehend, will be ge- nerally diftrefllid from want.6f fubfiftance. and, torces of the Colony; but we have thd greatcft confidence m the wildom and ability of the Con- tinent to fupport us, fa far as it ihall appear n^< ceflary for fupporting the common caufe of the American Colonies. ^ We alfo inclofe feveral refolves fbr impowcring' *^ and .)v| /'- 1: ( .8 ) -and direAing our receiver-general to borrow the fum of one hundred thoufand pounds, lawful' money, and to ilTue his notei for the fame, it being the only meafures which we could have recourlc to for lupporting our forces j and we requeft your •ffiftance in rendering our meafures efFeftual, by giving our notes a currency through the Continent. JOSEPH WARREN. Prefident, P. T. The papers inclofed and referred to in the above, are as follows : ' . JnProvinciaJCongrefi,WATEKTowu,May2,i77S. RefoheJ, That the Receiver-General be, and hereby is impowered and diredted, to borrow the fum of one hundred thoufand pounds, lawful money, and iflue colony fecurity for the fame, payable with annual intercft at fix per cent. June ift, 1777» *"<* ^^^^ tJ»e Continental Congrefs be defired to recommend to the feveral Colonies, to give a currency to fuch fecgrities. A true extraSffrom the Minutes, SAMUEL FREEMAN, Secretary, P. T. In PrevineiaiCongrefijWAT^RTowti,May 3 , i yy^, P^olved, That the fecurities given by the Rc^ ceiver-»General, for the monies borrowed by him, in purfuance of the aforegoing rcfolvc, be in the form following, viz* Colony oj the Massachusett's-Bay, No. the day of A.D.ijy bor, rowed and reccivrd of A: B. the fum of lawful money, for the ufe and fervice of the colony of the Maffachufett's-Bay, and in behalf of faid ra lony. I do hereby promife and oblige niyfelf ar?^ fucceflbrs, in the office of Treafufcr or Rccei a-* General, to repay to the faid or to his order, the firft day of June, 1777, theaforefaid lum of lavvful money, in Spanifh milled Dollars, at fijf flijlULlc v^ch, 6r in (he feveral Ipccies of coined filvcf ( 19 ) filvtfr and gold. enumcr«ed in an A^ made and paflcd m the 23d vcar of his late Majefty Kin^ Ocofge the SeconcT, intitled, " An AdtroraS gold, Eoghfh half-pence and farthings, may 1 fK "^"^^C '^j' governm.nt," and according to the ratci thcrem mentioned, with intcreft, to be paid annually at fix per cent. Witnefj my hand, F. F.i .. . And whereas inconveniences may arifc By th« fefbre?'""'^'' '^"^"^ "*'" ^°' finalllTums! i^.>/W, That the Rcceiver.General be, and he hereby ,s diredted not to ifliie any notes for « Ita fum than four pounds lawful money. * r. J^^^l^ FREEMAN, Sec.P.r. 10 the Hon, Benjamin Franklin, Efq. f n . at London. . -c. . ^''fJ'f'^JCongreft. Watcrtown, ^JnT 26, 1775. f,>'lf\°"^**^'' f" J™ confidence we repofein youf faithfulneft and abilities, we confider it the hap- pmefs of this Colony, that the important tnift^ Revolved on your hands, and we doubt not your k nd will make every poffible exertipn in our be- J>a f a^plcfoe tojou. although our circumftances 'U compel us often to interrupt your repofe by matters that.wiU furely give yo^ f4i„. 7f ngu- U^ mftance hereof is the occafion of the preLt letter. The contents of this packet will be our "pology for troubling you with it. •' From thefe you wHl fee how aqd by whom. 11 1^ < »0 ) frc art «tl^ft ipking«d into the hoitOrsdf a mdft •* Our.^li|ftir*ifelicltii^ ♦conveys tliis to you, as a Pac'iet m the itrvice of this Colo^> fjnd We requeft your ?ffiftancein Supplying Capt.Deihy, who com- mands her, with fuch neccfTadesids he ihall want, on the credit of your conftituents in Maflachu- ""feutiiicisioft ardently tvjih that the fevcral papers herewith inclofed may be immediately prmted ahddiflSfcWedthioUgh every tbwn in Eng"- land, .^tm cfpecia% fCjommuhicated to the Lord?- Mayor, Aidermco tadOjuncil of the city of Lon^ don, that they mf^y-taSte fuch Older thereon as they ruHy thipk proper* And We; lafe confident yo!tr;Adclity wtil wTtfcc fncJi improvcttieni of them, as ihall convince all-wfeo 4rc not determined to be jn^oiqdtflwfg l^ltndiKjfs, that it is the united efv forts of both Englands that can fave, either.' But that iJi^i^ever price our brethren in the orte may be jileafed to ptiton their coriftftutional Liberties, ive !ar» authorized to aflure .you, that the inhabi- tantsie^^heother^.f with "the greateft unanimity, are inflexibly refolted to icU their^s only at th» price 6f their lives. S^oed by order of the ProvinmlCtt/tgrefs,. ;.' JOSEPH WARREN, Fr.^f«/, P. r. ^ true copy from the original Minutes, m . . SAMUEL FREEMAN, Sec, P.T. The Bcpofitions relative to the eolnmencemcrit "»f hoftilijties, are as follows : « xxr. cii._.. ^Lexington, ^pri/^.2.5, 1775. vf^c vuiwiHOu. lifuwu, junaUian JUoung, and •^' 6 . .* Elijah ( 21 ) Elijah Sariderfbri,,iiI.of.Jawfiri nee- Wr^r^ ington, -in the coimly of SiX' ""^a ^"^ .cftify. J.^dlS^KTaU't^^'^S' *'^«^* havwg been dtfroiffed by Ae nffi-.. '^ l *'""'»'<'• vancing towards L«!„«^' ^'''" *f°°PS "d- "gukrs, whom I S to be ^„ n^' °0'^"= " damn them. u,. .„°m i. _*..*" Oftper, fay. Si i/ ' I I t " ) on the Lexington company, which did not fire a gun before the regulars difcharged on themv Eight of the Lexington company were killed \vhile they were difperfin^, and at a confidcrabk diftance from each othtr, and many wounded, and altho* a fpedator, I narrowly. efcaped with my life. ELIJAH SANDERSON." ' Lexington, jipriiz^i 177 c. " I Thomas Rice Willard, of lawful age, do teftify and dedare, that being in the houfe of Daniel Harrington, of faid Lexington, on the 19th inftant, in the morning, about half an hour before fun-rife, looked out at the window of faid houfe, and faw (as I fuppofc) about four hundred regulars in one body, coming up the road, and marched towards the North part of the common, back of the meeting-houfe of faid Lexington, and as foon as faid regulars were againft the eaft end of the meeting-houfe, the commanding of^ ficer faid fomething, what I know not, but upon that the regulars ran till they came within about ^'ght or nine lods of about an hundred of the mi- litia, of Lexington, who wcr« coUc^ked on faid common, at which time the militia of Lexington difperfed, then the officers made an huzza, and the private foldiers fuccecdcd them, diredlly after this an officer rode before the regulars, to the other fide of the body, and hallowed after the militia of faid Lexington, and faid, " Lay down your arms, damn you, why don*t you lay down your arms," and that there was not a gun fired till the militia of Lexington were difperfed, and further faith not. THOMAS RICE WILLARD." Lexmgt(ni^2$th April, lyy^, «* Simon Winfhip, of Lexington, in the county Sfiu ^rvvuicc - C Ik. ft _^£ff _». f - _ Oa i?ifUAiiciiiiiei!iH B ^7» outant trom the meeung-houfein faid Lexington he was metby a body of the King's regular trooos' and being flopped by fome officers oU^d JZ ' Sit to ho ft 3' ^; 7' °"'Sed by force t^ of he bodv 1h K ^"^"^ '? ""''' '" 'he midft been waS:, ?K '^'re«»°»nsd whether he had but hTl^^ *'''' ""5'"*' '""'' he anfwered no fa"heA ^1° "^•""i'"? "''"' «'"»«£ to W; latner s. Said Winfliip further teflifies thaf hi ^d it,„ , " '^"'"•nanded the troops to halt and dien to pr.me and load , this bciV done the partly coIleaedoA,K. ^^P*"/' who were •roops. flouri/hing his fword. a^d S f .'"'^ «o dStharl ? ""*""" '■"'"'«• 'h« 'here was ' »o aiicharge of arms on either fide till th^ ,.,!,,j fire was given by faid Officer as above SIMON WINSHIP." •• I John parke?:Swf;;f;«;^:id''7^- acciarc, that on the loth inflanf in tU^ ^ • • about one of .he clocCwn/in^r'/r /r?.' were , number of regular Officenriding "up'T.'d down i r dcwri the roady ftopprng aind' inrulting people a# tbcy palTed tb and on- a quick pace towards us^ with' three officers in their front on horfe-back and on full gallop to- wards us, the foremoft of which cried, throw down your arms ye villains, ye rebels ! upon which faid company difperfing, the foremoft of the three- ofHcers ordered their men, faying fire, by God fire ! at which moment we received a very heavy and clofe fire from them, at which inftant, beibg wounded, I fell, and feveral of our men were Ihot dead by me. Capt. Parker's men I believe- had not then fired a gun, and further the deponent- faith not. JOHN RO&INS;- Lexington eoplea* r niarch -c ftorcs on the ■whskt to M* mcd^ ft u«V"— «dratoly ) fire>— >earance id eight vocation »775- , dtf tcf- onnpany rv being ie green ik, there stroops, lance of and on Eficers in lUop to- , throw »n which he three- by God ry heavy it, beibg len were [ believe' ieponcnt- Lexington ( ^s ) " We. Benjamin Trn'of^/^"'^^' 'P^' ftx, and colony of Ma/rachnf,f,'c c^ or middle- England, of lawful .»c do teffifl ^n^'!,' f ^T" on the morning of ,hl nth nf A^ m^ 1"'"'' *" five o'clock, bein? on &n„fr^*''''''''*' ''''°"' mounted on hori we faw^'f .S""^/". 7. ftant, about one of two o'clock in the morning, being informed that fcvcral officers of the regulars had the evening before been riding up and down the road and had detained and infuited the inhabitants paffing the fame; and alfo undcrftanding that a body of regulars were marching from Bolton to- . wards Concord, with intent (as it was fuppofed) to take the flores belonging to the colony in that town, we were alarmed, and having met at the place of our company's parade, were difmilTcd by our captain. John Parker, for the prefent with orders to be ready to attend at the beat ot the drum. We further teftify and declare, that about five o'clock in the morning, hearing our drumi beat, we proceeded towards the parade, and foon found that a large body of troops were marching towards us : fome'of our company were coming up to the pa- rade, and others had reached it, at which time the company began to difperfe : whilft our backs were turned on the troops we were fired on by thern, and a number of our men were inftantly killed and wounded. Not a gun was fired by any perfon in our company on the regulars to our knowledge, before they fired on us, and they continued firing untii we had all made our efcape. ^^ Signed by each of the above Deponents. . Lexington^ isth of Aprih ^77 S^ '* We, Nathaniel Parkhurft, Jonas Parker, John Munroe. jun. John Winihip, Solornoa Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge, jun. Ebenezer Bowman, William Munroe, the 3d, Micah Hagar, Samuel Saunderfon, Samuel Haf- tings. and James Brown of Lexington, in the county of Middlefex, and colony of MalTachulett s- ciav, in New-Enaland, and all of lawful age, do " ' ' ® tcftify orning, egulars ►wn the abitants y that a fton to- ofed) to in that ; at the ilTcd by It, with e drum, out five beat, we and that ards us: the pa- time the :ks were lem, and Ued and on in ouF :, before ing until >» nenis. 'h 177 S^ Parker, Solumoa n Bridge, ;, the 3d, uel Haf- i, in the ichufett's- jlage, do icftify C 27 ) teftify and fay, that on the mornin., of the ninr*. teenthof April inftant. about one or two o'^k being informed that a number of regular officers haci been ndmg up and down .he road^the evening and night preceding, and that fome of the inhabitants as they were paffing, had been infuhed b/the of- ficers and flopped by them ; and being alfo informed that the regular troops were on their march from BoHon, in order (as it was faid) to take the Colony flores, then depofited at Concord, we met on the parade of our company in this town ; after the com. panyhad colledled, we were ordered by Captain ParKer (who commanded us) to difperfe for the prefent, and to be ready to attend the beat of the drum, and accordingly the company went into houfes near the place of parade. We further te- ftify and fay. that about five o'clock in the morning we attended the beat of our drum and w^re formed on the parade, we were faced towards the regulars then marching up to us, and fome of pur company were coming to the parade with their backs towVrds the troops, and others on the parade bcL^an to dif- perfe when the regulars fired on the company, before a gun was fired by any of our company on them. 1 hey killed eight of our company and wounded le- veral, and continued their fire until we had all m'ade our efcape. Signed by each of the above depcnentsr «« T ^- L o ^^^'"S^^^^^ ^pril 2C, I77r I Timothy Smith, of Lexington, in the county of Middlefex, and colony of Ma/rachufett'.- Bay ,n New-England, being of lawful age, do teltify and declare, that on the morning of the nine- teenth of April inftant, being on Lexington com- mon as a fpeftator, I faw a large body of regular troops marching up towards the Le^inofnn .r.^ AJ E pany ( 28 ) pany then difperfing, and likewlfe faw the regular troops fire on the Lexington con[)pany before the latter fired a gun j I immediately ran, and a volley was difcharged at me, which put me in imminent danger of lofing my life: I foon returned to the common and faw eight of the Lexington men who were killed and lay bleeding at a confiderable di- ilance from each other; and Icveral were wounded, and further faith not. TIMOTHY SMITH." Lexington^ April 2^, ^77 S* ** We Levi Mead and Levi Harrington, both of Lexington, in the county of Middlefex, and colony of Maflachufett's-Bay, in New- England, and of lawful age, do teftify and declare, that on the morning of the 19th of April, being on Lexington common, as fpedators, we faw a large body ot regular troops marching up towards the Lexington company, and fome of the regulars on horfes, whom we took to be officers, fired a piftol or two on the 3-,exington company, which was then difperfing ; Thefe were the firlt guns that were fired, and they were immediately followed by feveral vollies from the regulars, by which eight men belonging to the faid company were killed, and feveral wounded. ^ LEVI HARRINGTON, LEVI MEAD," • * Lexhigtcn, April 2 ^y ^775^ •' I William Draper, of lawful age, and an in- habitant of Colrain, in the county of Hampfhire, and colony of Mallachufett's-Bay, in New-England, do teftify and declare, that being on the parade of faid Lexington, April 19th inflant about half an hour before fun-rife, the King's regular troops ap- peared at the mccting-houfe of Lexington, Capt, * z Parker's ; regular fore the a volley raiminent d to the nen who rable di- /ounded, ^ITH." , boih of id colony and of ; on the exingtou body of ,exington :s, whom o on the fperfing ; and they lies from ng to the unded. GTON, 5» ^111- d an in- impfhire, England, parade of t half an oops ap- !, Capt, Parker's ( 29 ) Parker's company, who were drawn up back of faid meeting-houfe on the parade, turned from Ciid troops, making their efcape by difperfing ; in the mean time the regular troops made an huzza and r n towards Capt. Parker's company, who were dKperfing, and immediately after the huzza was made the commanding officer of faid troops (as I took him) gave the command to the faid troops, tl, ^^ A^c '*'"'" y°" ^''«'" ^"d immediately they fired before any of Captain Parker's company ftied 1 then being within three or four rods of faid regular troops, And further fay not. WILLIAM DRAPER." onH } T "" u ^^^"den, of lawful age,^ teftify and declare, that being in a pafture near the meet- ing-houfe at faid Lexington, on Wednefday laft, at about half an hour before fun-rife. I fay a num' ber of regular troops pafs fpeediiy by faid meeting- Tc \ t""" ^ '^"' "^^y ^"""^^'^^ ^ company of militia ot laid Lexington, who were aflembled to the num- ber of about one hundred in a company, at the dif- tance of eighteen or twenty rods from laid meeting- houfe i and after they had paffed by faid meetinl houfe, I faw three officers on horfe-back advance to the front of faid regulars, when one of them, being wuhin fix rods of the faid militia, cried out wt^n JZ' 7^^\ immediately," on which he brandiHied his fword over his head three times • mean while the fecond officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a piftol, pointed at faid mi- fini^ ^l^ '!-n''^"''f ^'P' \^^^zznuo till he had ^^l^tZ^f'^'^'iy'' ^^°^^' ^"^ ^hen he had thus finiffied brandiffiing his fword, he pointed it down towards faid militia, and immediately on Al vv hich ( 30 ) which the faia regulars fired a volley at the milma, and then I ran oflfas fall as I could, wl)ile they con- tinutd firing till 1 got out of their reach. ^ 1 farther u.Hfy, that ns foon as ever the officer cried " d.I- perfe. you rebels," the faid company of mihtm dn- pei fed every way as faft they could and vvh.lc they were difperfing, the regulars kept firing at them m- ceffantly. And ^-^^-J^^-'fESSENDEN,'' Lincoln, Jpril 22, -i?? 5- «« I John Bateman, belonging to the fifty le;ond reeiment, commanded by Col. Jones, on Wednel- day morning, on the 19th day of April indant was in the party marfhing to Concord, being at Lex- ington, in the county of Middlelex, being n>gh the meetina-houfe in faid Lexington, there was a Imall party of men gathered together in that place, when our faid troops marched by, and I teft.fy and de- Clare that I heard the word of command given to the troops to fire, and fome of faid troops did fire, and I faw one of faid fmall party 'ay dead on the cround nigh faid meeting-houfe ; and I teftify that 1 never heard any of the inhabitants fo much as fire one gun on faid troops. _^,, * ^t ., "^^ ^ JOHN BATEMAN." Lexington, Jpril 23,1 775. c. We John Hoar, John Wbithead, Abraham Garfield. Benjamin Monroe, Ifaac Parks, Wilham Hofmer, John Adams Gregory Stone, all otLin- "olT- the county of Middlefex. ^-f^-^^lfl' Bay all of lawful age, do teft.fy and fay, that on Wednefday laft we were alTembled at Concord ,n the morning of f.id day, in confequence of infor- ZZn received, that a brigade of regular troops f 3^ ) were on their march to the faid town of Concord^ who had killed fix men at the town of Lexington ^ about an hour afterwards we faw them approach- ing, to the number, as we apprehended, of about twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the faid troops then took pofTeJion of the hill, where we were firft pofted ; prefcntly after this we faw the troops moving to- wards the North Bridge, about one mile from the faid Concord meeting-houfe, we then immediately went before them and paffed the bridge juft before a party of them, to the number of about two hun- dred, arrived i they there left about one half of their two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the reft towards Col. Barrett's, about two nnles from the faid bridge ; we then feeing feveral fires in the town, thought thehoufes in Concord were in dan- ger, and marched towards the faid bridge, and the troops that were ftationed there, obferving our ap^ proach, ma;ched back over the bridge and then took up fome of the planks i we then haftened our march towards the bridge, and when we had; got near the bridge they fired on our men, firft three guns, one after the other, and then a confiderable number more j and then, and not before (having orders from our commanding officer not to fire till we were fired upon) we fired upon the regulars and they retreated. On their retreat through the town of Lexington to Charleftown, they ravaged and de- ftroyed private property, and burnt three houfes, one barn, and one Ihop Signed by each of the above deponents." Lexington^ April 23, 177c. ** We, Nathan Barret, Captain, Jonathan Far- rar, Jofeph Butler, and Francis Wheeler, Lieute- nant?, ( 3» ) nants, John Barret, Enfignjohn Brown, Silas Walter, Ephraim Mclvin, Nathan 13uttrick,Stcphcn Hofmcr, jun. Samuel Barret, Thomas Jones, Jofeph Chandler, peter Wheeler, Nathan Pierce and Edward Rich- ardfon, all of Concord in the county of Middlc- fex, in the province of MalTachufett's- Bay, of law- ful age, tertify and declare, that on Wednefday the 19th inftant, about an hour after fun-ri(e we afTem- bled on a hill near the Mceting-houfe in Concord aforcfaid, in confeqnence of an information that a number of regular troops had killed fix of our countrymen at Lexington, and were on their march to faid Concord : and about an hour afterwards we faw them approaching, to the number, as we ima- gine, of about twelve hundred ; on which we re- treated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the aforcfaid troops then took podeflion of a hill where we were firft ported. Prefently after this we faw them moving towards the North Bridge, about one mile from faid Meeting- houfe, we then immediate- ly went before them, and pafled the bridge juft before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived. They there left about one half of thefe two hundred men at the bridge, and proceeded with the reft towards Colonel Barret's^ about two miles from the faid bridge. We then feeing feveral fires in the town, thought our houfes were in danger, and immediately marched back to- wards faid bridge, and the troops who wereftationed there, obferving our approach, m'4^'ched back over the bridge, and then took up fome of the planks. We then haftened our fteps towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men, firfl three guns one atter the other, •and then a confiderable number more: upon which, and not before, (having orders from our command- ing we ima- iRg Officer not to fire till wc were iircd upon, wo fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. At Concord and on tlieir retreat through Lexington, they plundered many houfej, burnt three at lex- mgton together with a (hop and barn, a/id com- mitted damage more or left tp ajmoft every houfo from Concord to Charleftown. .c w T r 1. r, ^!s"^^h tbe above Deponents. *.AT %^/?^ ^"/^" ^"^ Ephraim Melvin, do tcltity and declare, that when the regular troops fired upon our people at the North bridge in Con- cord, as related in the foregoir;g depofitians, they Ihot one, and we believe two, of our people, before we fired a fingle gun at them. Lexington, JOSEPH BUTLER. April 23. 1775. EPHRAIM MELVIN." Concord, April 27. 177c *k" I' Timothy Minot^ junior, of Concord, on the 19th day of this inftant April, after that I had heard of the regular troops firing upon LexingtoQ rnen, and fearing that hoftilities might be commit- ted at Concord thought it my incumbent duty to fecure my family— After I had fecured my family, fome time after that, returning towards my own dwelling and finding that the bridge on the north part of fajd Concord was guarded, by regular troops, being a fpedator of what had happened at faid bridge, declare, that the regular troops ftationed on faid bridge, after they faw the men that were col- eded on the wefterly fide of faid bridge marched towards faid bridge, then the troops returned to- wards the eafterly fide of faid bridge and formed themfelves as I thought, for regular fight j after that they fired one gun, then two or three more, before the men that were ftationed on the wefterly pan of faid bridge fired upon them, TIMOTHY MINOT. i.jnlnr. I, 4exi?j, ^gton ri> ^ i kii sM k (' 34 ) Lexington, April 2'i,, 177$' y I, Jfttties Barret, of Concord, Colonel of a ijigirt)dnt of militia in the county of Middlefex, do teftl^ and fty, that oh Wedhcfday morning laft, aboul day break, I was informed of the approach of s^ Bumbief of the regular troops to the towrt of Con- cord, where were fome magazines belonging to this province, when there was affembled Ibme of the itailHift of this and the neighbouring towns, I ordered «hem to march to the North Bridge (fo called) Wbich theyliad pafl'cd and were taking up. I ordered faid militia to march to faid bridge, and paft ^be f^e, but not to fire on the King's troops, unlefs they were firft fired upon. We advanced near 4id brid^, when the faid troops fired upon o«r mlUtia ana killed two men dead on the fpot, ap4 Wounded feveral others, which was the firft firing i>f guns in the town of Concord : my de- tach mint then retu reed the fire, which killed and U^oqnded feVer el of the King's troops. JAMES BARRET cc Lexington, April 2"^, ^77 S* We, Bradbury Robinfon, Samuel Spring, Thaddeus Bancroft, all of Concord ; and James Adams, of Lexington, all in the county of Mid-- dlefex, all of lawful age, do teftify and fay, that on Wednefday morning laft, near ten of the clock, we faw near one hundred of the re- gular troops, being in the town of Concord at the Nor^h Bridge in faid town (fo called) and having^ palled the fame, they were taking up the (aid bridge, when about three hundred of our militia were advancing toward faid bridge, in order to pafs laid bride, when, without faying any thing to us, ihev difcharjred a number of euns on uSj which kil- 6 led el of a fex, do ng laft, roach of of Con- iging to lome of owns, I dge (fo king up. ge, and s troops, dvanced ed upon the fpot, the firft my de- lled and U ^77 i' Spring, i James of Mid^ ind fay, near ten ?" the re- rd at the d having^ the faid ir militia ?r to pafs ig to us, hich kil- led >' led two men dead on the fpot, and wounded fewtal others; when we returned the fire on them, which killed two of them, and wounded feveral, which was the beginning of hoftilities in the town of Con- Cord. BRADBURY ROBINSON SAMUEL SPRING, THADDEUS BANCROFT JAMES ADAMS." ■ ff^orcefiery ^pn7 26, 177c. Hannah BradiOi, of that part of Cambridge, called Menotomy, and daughter of Timothy Paine, of Worccfter, in the county of Woreefter, Efq; of awful age, teftifies and fays, That about five o clock on Wednefday laft, afternoon, being in her bed chamber, with her infant child, about eight days old, fhe was furprifed by the firing of the King s troops and our people, on their return from Concord. She being weak and unable to go out ofherhoufe, in order to fecure herfelf and family they all retired into the kitchen, in the back part of the houfe. She foon found the houfe furrouoded with the King's troops 5 that upon obfervation made, at leaft feventy bullets were fhot into the front part of the houfe J feveral bullets lodged in the kitchen where (he was, and one pafled throu^^h an eafy chair (he had juft gone from. The door of the front part of the houfe was broke open j flie did not fee any foldiers in the houfe, but fuppofed, by the noife, they were in the front. After the troops had gone off, (l^c mifTed the following things, which, fhe verily believes, were taken out of the houfe by the King's troops, viz. one rich brocade gown, called a negligee, one luteftring gown, one white qu:lt, one pair of brocade fhocs, three (hifts, *^ 2 eight /i M ■\ , < 3* > eight white taprons, three caps, one cafe of ivory' knives and forks, and fevcral other fmall articles. HANNAH BRADISH/* ** Mrs. Hannah Bradi(h, the above deponent maketh oath before us, the fubfcribers, two of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace for the county of Worcefter, and of the quorum, that the above de- pofition, acording to her beft recolledion, is the truth. Which depofition is taken in perpetuam rei mcmoriam, THOMAS STEEL, TIMOTHY PAINE." Concord y April 22,., 1775. ** I James Marr, of lawful age, teftify and fay, that in the evening of the eighteenth inftant, I re- ceived orders from George Hutchinfon, Adjutant of the fourth regiment of the regular troops ftationed at Bofton, to prepare and march : To which order I attended, and marched to Concord, where I was ordered by i\n oflScer with about one hundred men, to guard a certain bridge there; while attending that fervice, a number of people came along, in order, I fuppofe, to crofs faid bridge, at which time a number of the regular troops firft fired upon them. JAMES MARR." Medford, Aprilz^^iyy^. ** I Edward Thoroton Gould, of his Majefty's own regiment of foot, being of lawful age, do te^ ftify and declare, that on the evening of the eigh- teenth inftant, under the orders of General Gage, I embarked with the light infantry and grenadieis of the line, commanded by Col. Smith, and landed orj the marOics of Cambridge, from whence we proceeded proceeded to Lexington ; on our arrival at th.* place, we raw a body of provincial ."rLl^d to tiie number of about fixty or fcventv men !f„' ourapproacl, t),ey difperfed! and 7<^n{fTiZ began. butwl,id> party fired firft I canno teS %. as our troops rufl^ed on (houting and U"W F-.OUS to tlie firing, which was continued by "S toops fo long as any of the provincials wereTb^ feen. From thence we naarched to Concord on a h.11 near the entrance of the town, we faw Mother body of provmcials aflembled, the light iXt^v companies were ordered up the hill to diWfe th -m' on our approach they ret'reated towards'^ontrd the grenadiers continued the road under the hiHn ' wards the town. Six companies of 1 Jht infant™ ^ere ordered down to take VoMcn o^f ,h tg rcomman/H°''"'"''T''"'' '^"= the company i commanded wasone. three companies of theabove detachment went forward about two miles fn the mean t,me the provincial troops re>u"ed to the number of about three or four hundred T We drlw up on the Concord fide of the bridge, the p^^vincTab came down upon us. upon which we engS and gave the firil fire; this was the firft efgfgemeM after the one at Lexington ; a continued Sfrom both parties lafted through the whole day; TS was wounded at the attack of the bridg;. aX' rr'rM"' *'*.""= g««^ft humanity,^ and ^ken allpoffible c^e of by the provincials at Medford EDWARD THOROTON GOULD." Lieut. King's own Regiment. MtdeUefex Connty, April z^, '775- i ." J-ieut. Thoroton Gould, aforenamed, perfon- ally ( 38 ) ally made oath to the truth of the foregoing decla- ration by him fubfcribed, before us, TiiAD. Mason, Josiah Johnson, Simon Tufts, ' Juftices of the peacc> for the county aforefaid, Quorum unus. Province of Maffachufetfs-BayyCharleftowny ff. ** I Nathaniel Gorham, Notary and TabclUon Pnbljc, by lawful authority duly admitted and fworn, hereby certify, to all whom it doth or may concern, That Thadeus Maffon, Jofiah Johnfon, and Simon Tufts, Efqrs. are three of his Majefty'S Juftices of the peace (•^iorttm unus) for the county of Middlefex j and that full faith and credit is, and oui^ht to be given to their tranfadtions as fuch, both in court and out. In witnefs whereof, I have here- unto affixed my name and feal, this twenty-fixth day of April, Anno Domini, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-five. NATHANIEL GORHAM, Notary Public." (L. S.) (AUthcabo've depofitions are fworn to before Ju- Jiices of the Peace, and duly attejled by Notaries Public, in manner of the laji one.) In Provincial Co7jgrefs,W^tenown, April 26y 1775. To the Inhabitants 0/' Great-Britain. <* Friends and Fellow SubjeBs, " Hoftihties arc at length commenced in this Colony by the troops under the command of Gen. Gage, and it being of the greateft importance, that an early, true, and authentic account of this inhu- man proceeding fhould be known to you, the Con- grefs of this colony have tranfmitted the fame, and from want of a feflioo of the honourable Conti- nental Congrefs, think it proper to addrefs you on the alarming occafion. <( ii\ (C { 39 ) tranftaw,,, « will appear that, on the night pre- cedrag the nineteenth of April inftant, a body of the Kings troops, under the command of Colonel Smith, were fecretly landed at Cambridge, with «h'T"1'*'''S" '° *'''' ordeftrt.y the military and other ftores provided for the defence of this eolony, and depofited at Concord, thatfomein- habitants of the colony, on the night aforefaid whilft travelling peaceably on the road tetween Sol by armed men, who appeared to be oflicers of Gen. Oage s army ; that the town of Lexington by thele means was alarmed, and a company of the MM- t ms muftered on the occafion.l-TjMt the regut. fM^' °" ^r" 'i'^yo Concord, marched into the faid town of Lexington, and the faid company o„ ft3 "^P/v '"^ ^2'" '° difpcrfe.-That nStwith- ftanding this the regulars ru/hed on with ef«t violence, and firft began hoftilities, by firing on feid Lexington company, whereby they lulled eight, and wounded feveral others.— That the re- gulars continued their fire until thofe of faid corn- s' 7- " 7"' "'t"' ''"'*'' "°^ wounded, had Mchrnent then marched to Concord, where a num- .wn „/,h Tn T' 'Sa'" ^'^-^ °" ^y 'ho troops, wo of them killed and feveral wounded, befor^ riie provincials fired on them, and thatthefe hoftile iTfted ^hrl l! ''°°I» P™l"=^d an engagement that fefted through the day. in which many of the £»wrndT°'■'''^-^"'- '-f' -'^ tul' 7"" ^'""^ ^ particular account of the ravages of Charleftown, would be very difficult, ifnotim- pradicabie j \ii C 40 ); praftlGable> let it fuffice to fay, that a great nirmber of the houfes oq the road were plundered and ren- dered unfit for ufe ; feveral were burnt } women in child-bed were driven, by the foldiery, naked into theftreetsj o]d men peaceably in their houfes were (hot dead; and fuch fcenes exhibited as would di%race the annuls of the pipll uncivilized nations. " Thefe, ,breth;er>, , are marks of minifterial vengeance agajn^ this colony, for refufing, with her lifter colqnies, a fubmiffion to flaver ; bat ihey have not yet detached us from our K, )vereign. We profefs to be his loyal and dutiful i-jjeds, and fo hardly dealt with as we have been, are flill ready, with our lives and fortunes, to defend his perfon, family, crown, and dignity. Neverthclefs, to the Perfecution and Tyranny of his cruel Miniftry we will not tamely fubmit — ^appealing to Heaven for the juftice of our caufe, we determine to die or be irec. . ii <« We cannot think that thehonor, wifdom, and valout of Britons will lufFer them to be long ina(ftive fpeftators of meafures, in which they themfelves arc fo deeply interefted — Meafures purfued in op- pofitipD to the folemn protefts of many noble Lords, and exprefTed fenfe of confpicuous Commoners, whofe knowledge and virtue have long charac- terized them as fome of the greateft men in the na- tion' — Meafures executing contrary to the interefl:, petitions, and refolves of many large, refpedlable, and opulent counties, cities, and boroughs in Great Britain Meafures highly incompatible with ju- ftice, but ftill purfued with a fpecious pretence of eafing the nation of its burthens Meafures, which if fuccefsful, muft end in the ruin and fla- very of Britain^ as well as ike perfecuted American Colonies. •« We r t a a d n C P P ( 4' ) nfl.T^'^"'^"''^.''°P'■ *" the Great Soverelgii of 'he Umverfe, who hath fo often appeared for tSe Enghft Nat,on, will fupport you in every rat opal and manly exertion with thefe Colonies. forfavTnB wid,7hJM',K A'''" '" ' <^onftitutionalconneaion w.h the Mother Country, we fl.all foon be alto- gether a free and happy people. Per Order, n ,^^}^1^ WARREN, Prejdenf, P.T.'' Ordered, That the Secretary have the above de, pofitions and the Addrefs to the Inhabitants of Great-Bntain published. Rejohed, N. C. D, That the Congrcfs will on ^^ Monday next relblve itfelf into a committee of the whole, to take into confideraticn the /^ate of America. Ordered Tha^ the letter from the Provincial Congrefs of Maflachufett's-Bay be referred to tha Committee. Adjourned till to-morrow at ten o'clock, and from thence to Saturday. SATURDAY, May 13,177. The Congrefs met according to adjournment. The Congrefs being informed that Dodtor Ly- man Hall attended at the door, as a delegate from he panfh of St John's, in the colony of Georg^ anddefired to know whether as fuch he may be admitted to this Congrefs, ^ uigreed unanimoujly, That he be admitted as a 4elega^ from the parifh of St, John's, in the colp. ny of Georgia, fubj.ft to fuch regulations as the Congrefs fhall determine, relative fo his voting. Mr. Lyman Hall being accordingly admifted. produced his credentials, which were read and ap! proved, and are as follows : ^ G (f To ( 42 ) ^ To the honourable Gentlemen of the Congref?, defigned to be held at Philadelphia^ on May, Anna Domini, 1775. *i The Addrefi of the Inhabit ant i of the Parifl ofSt,^ Johns, in the Proviiice of Georgia. *' Gentlemen^ ** To give a particular detail of our many ftrug- gles in the caufe of liberty, the many meetings thereby occafioned, and held in this parilh, the en- deavours we have ufed to induce the tell of this province to concur with us, the attendance of our committee on the provincial conventions held at Sa- vannah in this province, and particularly that of the J 8th pf January laft, with their proceedingF, and the reafons of our difl'ent from tnem, we think would be tedious to you, and therefore fc;nd a fum- niary abftrad, which, with the account that may be given by Lyman Hall, Efq; appointed a delej^ate to reprefent and a<^ for this parilh in the general Continental Congrefs, to be held in May next, and the teftimonies of the honourable delegates from South Carolina, we hope will be fatibfadory. *' Immediately upon our being honoured with an anfwer to the reprefentation of our cafe, tinf- mitted to the honourable Congrefs, which lai - Philadelphia laft year, with a copy of the afibcivi tion there entered into, we had a meeting, and our proceedings then and lince that time, will in brief appear from the following abUrads of an Addrefs from this parifli to the Committee of Correfpondence in Charleftown, South Carolina, which' is as f-l- lows: * Gentlemen^ • Herewith will hz commuricate^ to you, tl e fe- veral fleps taken by this pari(h in their end^a*. ours to Congref?, 'ay^ Anna rijfi of St, ny ftrug- meetings , the en- It of this ce of our eld at Sa- hat of the lingF, and vi'C think id a fum- that may a delegate ic general lay next, ^ates from Ty. 11 red with .fe, t -nf- ich la. - 5e afibcia , and our 1 in brief n Addrefs fpondence ■ is as iA,^ . )u, tl e fe- nd :a- ours to ( 43 ) to conform as near as pofTible to the Refolu- tions entered in'o by the other Colonies : and the particular rieafures now adopted, for car* fying into execution the Continental AfTocia^ tion, which we embraced the earlieft oppor- tunity of acceding to by fubfcribing it; on con- dition that trade and commerce with the other Colonies be continued to us the fubfcribcrs ; and thereupon (houid have immediately fent to you for your approbation and indulgence, but were delayed by a fummons to attend a Provin- cial Congrefs in Savarinah, on the 1 8th of January ialt, for the purpofe, as we underftood, of a gene- ral alTociation with the other Colonies, and chuf- ^"g ^j^Jegates : At which time and place we at- tended, and acquainted the other pariflies aflem- bled on that occafion, that we had already acceded to the general AfTociation, on condition, as above-mentioned, and earneftly requefted them to do the fame. Had they acceded fully to the gene- ral Aflociation, we ihould have had no occafion to trouble you with this Addrefs ; but as they did not, we now apply to you, to admit us the fub- Icribers to an alliance with you, requefting that you will allow trade and commerce to be conti- nued to us, the fame to be conduced uhder fuch regulations and reftridions, as /hall be confiftent with the Continental AlTociation, and which oti our part we engage with all poflible care to keep inviolate. As we of this Parifb are a body de- tached from the reft (i. e. of this province) by our refolutions, and fufficiently diftinft by local Situation, large enough for particular notice, ad- joining a particular port, and in that refpeft. capable of conforming to the general Aflociation, G 2 if ( 44 ) ifconncded with you, with the fame fidelity as a diflant parifli of your own province ; we muft be confidered as comprehended within the fpirit and equitable meaning of the Continental Affociation, and hopeyou will not condemn the innocent with the guilty, efpecially when a due feparation is inade between them. * Give us leave to add only, that we wait your anfwer, ihall be glad of your advice, and are, with efleem» * Gentlemen, * Yours, &c.* St, Johns y^th February, 1775. ** iTo which we received the following Anfwer^* * Gentlemen, * Your letter, accompanying fundry papers, having been laid before a very full Committee of this Colony, and undergone the moft mature deli- beration : I am, by their defire, to acquaint you, that they have the higheft fenfe of your arduous ftuggles in favour of the common caufe of Ame- rica j and moft fincerely lament your prefent un- happy fituation: But would recommend a conti- nuance of your laudable exertions, and the lay- ing a ftate of your cafe before the enfuing Conti- nental Congrefs, as the only means of obtaining relief, and to put you in the fituation you wifli, which this Committee apprehend to be entirely out of their power to do, as it is their opinion, that the parifh of St. John, being part of the Co- lony of Georgia, (which, by not acceding to, has violated the Continental Affociation) falls un- der the 14th article of the faid Affociation, no part of which any Committee can prefume to do away, &c.* TT \J pUU ( 45 ) •* Upon the receipt of this anfwer, it was feri- oufly confidered in what manner to condud: in the prefent fituation ; and pfopofed whether we ftiould immediately break off all connexion and commerce whh Savannah, and all other inhabi- tants of this province, who have aot fully acceded to the Continental Aflbciation. ' r ** It was confidered, that as wc were denied commerce With any other Colony, and but one merchant among us confiderabie for dry goods had figned our Affociation, and he infufficient for a prefent fupply, and we utterly unable at prefent to procure materials or manufadtures for cloath- ing among ourfelves, wc muft, by fuch a refo- lution, become extremely miferable; it was therefore concluded, that till wc could obtain trade and commerce with fome other colony, it is abfolutely neceffary to continue it in fomerefpecSs with our own, and determined that it be carried on under the following regulations : " That none of us (hall diredtly or'indiredtly purchafe any flave imported at Savannah, (large numbers of which we underftand are there ex- pedted,) till the fenfe of the Congrefs Ihall be made known to us. *' That we will not trade at all with any mer- chant at Savannah or elfewhere, that Will not join in our aflbciating Agreement, otherwife than un- der the mfpeftion of a Committee for that pur- pofe appointed, and for fuch things only as they (hall judge neceflary, ^nd when they (liall think there ai^ neceffary reafons for fo doing. ** A -Committee was then nominated and ap- pointed to fit weekly on Thurfdays, for the pur- pofes aforefaid. . " It ( 46 ) »• It was then refolved, that a delegate be fctit from this parifli to the Congrefs, to be held at Philadelphia in May next, and that Tuefday the 2i(i of March be appointed for chufing one. «* On the faid 21ft of March, at a full meeting Lyman Hall, Efqj was unanimoufly chofen to reprefent and ^0: for the inhabitants of this parifli, tis u Delegate, at the General Congrefs to be held in Philadelphia in May next, who are determined faithfully to adhere to and abide by the determi- nations of him and the other honourable Mem- bers of the fame. *' Signed by order of the inhabit ant St By QANIEL ROBERTS, and twenty others, ,*f»/' Members of the Committee, Midway y St, Johns Parijh,' : I in the province of Georgia^ J ith ApriU A, D. I -jy^: A Petition from the county of Frederic, in Vif- .ginia, addreffed to the Congrefs, was prefented and read. Agreed, That it be referred to the Committee on Monday. Adjourned till Monday at 9 o'clock. MONDAY, May 15, 1775. The Congrefs met according to adjournment. Befides thofe who met at the opening of the Congrefs, the following members attended, from New- York, Mr. Jay, Mr. Wifner, Mr. Schuy- ler, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Morris, and Mr. R. R. Livingftoni fiom Pennfylvania, Mr. Wilfon ; from Maryland, Mr. Stone and Mr. Goldfbo- rough. Upon motion. Agreed, That the Secretary be allowed to employ Timothy Matlack as a clerk, he iaS ( 47 ) Keep icerct tl c tranfaftions of the Confrcfs that ...ay^bc ctrullcd to l.im or may con.e toCk'now. The city and country of New- York having through the Delegates of that province amS' to Congreft for advice, how to condt^ tTm- he CoCrfook tt'tlr ' "^'''' '^- Durine their rf-rh ■ "^ '"'° <^onfideratioD. to take^he onin '/TV" ''^<^='"«' "'"A""/ to take the opinion of the Congrefs bv Colonie/ upon which a queftion arofe, wttl.er^he d" "' gate from the parid, of St. John's, in tie Colons of Georgia, could be admitted to vote After ttr': r °"r'''" '^"^"'°"' «'"= Deleg;tefro; that parifh arofe, and after obfervin» th-,,7),. prdent diftrcfiful fituation of Amer c ^'affai" hal nie^'^that af ?e 1^"" «prefen,ing whole Colo. mes, that as he did not leprcfcnt a Colonv biii- only a part, he did not in/ft on giving a vo^; as , Colony, but was contented to hear ?nd Trtift • the debates, and ,o give his vote , a 1 cales ex tl-n t"cotiS?""^-'^ "' '- '""^^'^ orS^sj^jtrdtinSfs ^7"^' Ward. Efq, one of the DeLaterfrom d^Ss" whthT""' 'f p-'j""d\t c :^ arTaffolbws f ^'"' "^'' ""=^^ proved, and ^ -fc.»^/y* C^/otj oJ Rhodcllland, arj Provi- ZlrifJ"""""'"'' '" ^''■■"'■^''S''""/. in J.Q Vtk ( 4B ) ffo tbe Honourable STEPHEN HOPKINS, E/qi and the Honourable ^hmJEh WARD, EJq; Greetings Whereas the general Aflembly of the Cjlony aforefaid, have nominated and appointed you the faid Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward, to re- prefent the people of this Colony in a General ([^ongrefs of Reprefentatives from thjs and the other Colonies, to be holden in the city of Phi- ladelphia, and there in behalf of ^Ws Colony, to meet and join with the Commiliioners or Dele- gates from the other Colonies, in confulting upon proper meafures to obtain a repeal of the i'everal ads of the Britifh Parliament for levying taxes upon his Majefty's fubjeds in i^merlca without their confcnr, and upon proper meafures, to efta- bli(h the Rights and Liberties of the Colonies upon a juft and folid foundation, agreeable to the inftrudions given you by the General Aflembly. By virtue of an Ad of the General Aflembly, I, Henry Ward, ^qj Secretary of the faid Colony, have hereunto fet my hand and affixed the laid ieal of faid Colony, this feventh day of May, A. D. 1775, and in the fifteenth year of the reign of his mofl: facred Majcfty George the Third, by (he grace of God, King of Great-Britain, &c. iSignedJ HENRY WARD. The matter under confideration being refumed, the Congrefs Refohedt That it be recommended, . for the prefent, to the inhabitants of New- York, that if the troops, which are expeded, fhould arrive, the faid Colony ad on the defenfive, fo_ long as may be confident with their fafety and fecurity ; that the troops be permitted to remain in the bar- racks, fo long as they behave peaceably and quietly, but th°at they be not fuifered to ered for- tir-cations >, m-^ e C'jlony 1 you the 1, to re- \ General and the sf of Phi- olony, to or Dele- :ing upon .e ieveral ing taxes L without ), to efta- Colonies )le to the fembly. rembly, I, i Colony, the laid of May, the reign rhird, by D, &c. /ARD. refumed, , for the k, that if lid arrive, fo long as fecurity ; n the bar- eably and eredt for- tir.cations (' # ) tifications. or take any fte/is YSr' c'&tlinroif Jl- a'nd'tf ^1^ betw^n 4 tpwn aid fount J and taauf they cpniniit hoftilities of invade d«' th?t the warlike tefej 6?' removed frn debating and determining quef- tions laid down by the laft Congrefs. be adapted and obferved by the prefent Con|reft. ^^ . The Prefident laid before the Congrefs fome important intelligence he received laft night by exprefs, relative to the furprizing and taking of T,(ionderoga,byadetachmentfromMa(rachuf(Jtt's. Bay and Connecticut, which was read. h^Z T'"''' ^r^'"^' ^^^^ ^'' Brown who brought the exprefs be called in : After he with- lZ7:. 'h ^?T'^' ''^^"S '"'^ confideration tht ietters and intelhgepce communicated to them, R^/oM, Whereas there is indubitable evidence, that a defign is formed by the Britifli miniftryj of n^aking a cruel mvafion from the province of .Quebec upon thefc colonies, for the purpofe of have a(aually been taken to carry the faid defX into execution ; and whereas feveral inhabitants of die northern Colonies, refiding in the vicinity ot Ticonderoga, and immediately ^xpofed to in- curfions impelled by a juft regard for the defence and prefervation of themfelves and their country, men, from fuch imminent dangers and calamities' foX?^'" P°^!^^-n of ehat U in whicT was X ^3^^"^^fy,«{ cannon and military ftores. that would certainly have been ufed in the intend ' cd invafion of thefe colonies, this Congrefs ear- neftly recommend it to the Committees of the cities and counties of New-York and Albany, immediately to caufe the faid cannon and ftores to be removed from Ticonderoga to the fouth end of |.ake George, and, if neceffary, to apply iHJthe Colonies of New-Hampfhire, xMalTlKhufett's- H - if i- .«^ I I V ( ,5« ) Bay aii^. jppf^i^edicut,, for./aeh an additional body of iprcci^a? .will ^ JM^icnt to cf^abl^% ;^ ft^Dg poft a| that place, ^a^,cjfpyHep the ref^oiatjon of the former har- mony between Gre^t .Britain an^ thefe Colonies, fo afdgntly wiihed for by ih? latter, ih^ft render it prudent and. ebnfiftent- with the over-ruKng law 9f fe,lf-pr?(crvatiDn. Rejom^ ij^h^y this ^Copgrefs, will, to-morrow, refolve itiejf into a CprnmitteC' of the whole, to takeiqtafjb^eir, farther c^f^di^ration the ftatp of America. Adjourned till to-morro\y at 9 o'clock. 'jj^^DAY, May 19, 1775. The Congrefs met according to adjournment. ""' ^ iittee appointed to confider whafe The poOs are uejcejTaj^y.to b^ occupied in the Colony of N^^-if ptkj, . and by what number of troops it will be proper they ih9V»ld be gi^ar^cd, brought ii^ thqi" ;i;epprt^ which, h^ng read, was referred to "' c. committee of the- whole, , j^greefble to the order of the day, the Con r| grefs^j^eiQly^d themfelvcjs into aComm^.tsee of the whole, to take into consideration the ftate of Ame- rica, ^n4.,^p,ptinued fo to do, from df^y to ^iay, tUl Wednefda}?- 24th, ,on v^hich ciay the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Piefident, being under a neceliity of returning homp, and havyig_fet,ou^ this mocning early, the chair was Yacant, whereupon, 0;z motion, The Hun* John HaBi^Qck, Efq; . was unanimouliy chofen Prefidcnt. The al body ire thp n as it nd that cannon "ely rcr ler har- clonics, snder it ng :la,w lorrow, lole, to ftatp of aient. r whafe Colony roQps it 3rpugh^ sired to le Con?| 2 of ithe f Ame- Peiyton ^ffity of Qorning fq;,wa8 The (.53 ) , Th^.Congrefs then re'folved t-hcmfclves into a Pommutce of th^ whole, to take into confidcra- ^lon^he^flqte of America, and repeated the fame iOn^^he day following. i . .iiVxPN FRIDAY, May 26, 177c. ^The'Congrcft being met according to adjourn- tnent, one of the Delegates from New-Jerfey laid before them a minute from the journals of the AfTeiubly^of that Colony, together with a refolq- tion of the Commons of Great Britain, which were read as follows : ' • • ^ ^NewAjerfey^HoufeofJfembly.May 20, 1775. *' His Excellency having laid before the Houfe !! IJ^"^ "^^ refolution of the honourable Houfe Of Commons of Great Britain, of the ;; f^^ of February. 1775, containing a plan, formed for the accommodation of the unhappy " differences between our parent State and the ** Colonies; which plan, under the prefent cir^ * cumftances, this Houfe could not comply with aod adopt, and yet this Houfe being delirous ot making ufe of all proper means to effed a " reconciliation, do recommend it to their Dele- " gates to lay the fame plan before the Continen- tal Congrefs for their confideration." A truJe'c^jrom 'the Journal^ , RICHARD SMITH, Clerk of Jjfembly Copy of a Refolution of the Houfe cf Commons, Felruary 20, 1775. *' Rfohed, That when the Governor, Council and AiT^mbJy, or General Court of any of his u ^'i,^^y'^ provinces or Colonies in America, ** fhalJ propofe to make crovifion i:rrnr.i;no. tr. 6 *' the ould be devifed for the fpeedy and fecure con- veyance of intelligence from one end of the Con- tinent to the other, Refoked, That Mr. Franklin, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Lee, Mr. Willing, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. P. Livingfton, be a Committee to confider the beft means of eftabliihing pofls for conveying letters and intelligence through this continent. Refohedy That the order of the day be . poft- poned till to-morrow. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. TUBS DAY, May 30, 1775. The Congrefs met according to adjournment. A Member informed the Congrefs, that a Gen- tleman juft arrived from London, had brought with him a paper, which he fays he received from Lord North, and which was written, at the de- fine of his Lordfhip, by Mr. Gray Cooper, Un- der-Secretary to thfe Treafury, and as the Gentle- man underftood it to be his Lordfliip's defire that r.. /I u L^ ;_-^_j ^_ xi... o r- r__ that I, as ihall lorc. iportance ry (hould le Conti- rommend all Com- nediatdy Colonies id mean^ :ure con- the Con- nch, Mr. i Mr. P. • the beft tig letters be.poft- 5- rnment. It a Gen- brought ved from t the de- jer, Un- i Gentle- efire that r- r__ that ( 63 ) , that purpofe he had put it into his, hands. The Member farther ohferved, that he had (hewn ^htf paper to a Member near him, who was well ac- quainted with the hand-writing of Mr. Codper,' and that he verily believes the paper was written by Mr. Cooper. The paper being read, is as follows : ' _ , , ' » * / That it is earneftly hoped by all the real friends of the Americans^ that the terms exprelTed in the Refolution of the 20th of Feb. 1 aft, will be ac- cepted by all the Colonies, who have the leaft af- fedion for their King and country, Or a juft fenfe of their own intereft. That thefe terms are honourable for Great- Britain, and fafe for the Colonies. That if the Colonies are not blinded by fadlion, thefe terms will remove every grievance relative to taxation, and bethe bafis of a compaft between the Colonies and the Mother Country. That the people in America ought, on every confideration, to be fatisfied with them. That no further relaxation can be admitted. The temper and fpirit of the nation arc (o much againft concefTions, that if it were the in- tention of Adminiftration, they cpald not carry the queftron. But Adminiftration have no fuch intention, as they are fully and firmly perfuaded, that further conceffions would be injurious to the Colonies as well as to Great-Britain. That there is not the leaft probability of a change of Adminiftration. That they are perfectly united in opinion, and determined to purfue the moft effectual meafures, and to ufe t^f wh'^le fr>i-r.« «f ♦u^ 1.:^ — i — :r:^ be »v ( H ) fee found neccfTary, to reduce the rebellious and f^fradory Provinces £snd Colonics. There is fo great a fpirit in the nation againfl the Congrefs, that the people will bear the tem- porary diftrefles of aftoppagc of the American trade. They may depend on this to be true. Ordered,. To lie on the table. Agreeable to the order of the day, the Con- grefs r?folved itfelf into a Committee of the whole, to take into confideration the ftate of America, and continued fo to do the day follow- ingy when after fome time, the Prefident refumed the Chair, and Mr. Ward reported from the Committee, that they had proceeded in the buli- nefs, but not having come to a conclufion, de- fired him to move for leave to fit again. Refohed, That this Congrefs will to-morrow again refolve itfelf into a Committee of the whok, to take into their farther confideration the Aate of America. . A letter from Col, Arnold, dated Crown-Point, May 23, 1775, was ^aid before the Congrefs, in- forming, tnat he had certain intelligence, that •* on the 19th there were then 400 regulars at St. John's, making all poflible preparation to crofs the lake, and expedlcd to be joined by a number of Indians, with a defign of retaking Crown-Point and Ticonderoga," and carneftly calling for a reinforcement and fupplics. This letter being taken into confideration. Refolvedt That the governor of Connedicut be requefted immediately to fend a ftrong reinforce- ment to the garrifons of Crown-Point and Ticon- deroga, and that fo.many of the cannon and other Acres be retained, as may be neceflary for the im- mediate defence of thofc pods, until further order from ious and 1 againfl the tcm- an trade. he Con- of the ftate of follow- refumed rom the the bull- ion, de- - morrow e whole, the Aate n-Point, rrefs, in- ice, that ars at St. to crofs number irn-Point ig for a er being fticut be ;inforce- l Ticon- nd other r the im- ber order from ( 6j ) from this Congrefs, and that the Provincial Con- vention of New- York be informed of this Refolve, and deiircd to furnifli thofe troops with provifions and other necefTary (lores, and to take effectual care that a fufficient number of Battcaus be immediately provided for the lakes. Ordered, That the above refolve be immediately tranfmitted in a letter by the Prefident, to Governor Trumbull and the Convention at New- York. Ordered^ That the Prefident in his letter acquaint Governor Trumbull that it is the defire of the Con- grefs that he (hould appoint a perfon, in whom he can confide, to command the forces at Crown- Point apd Ticonderoga. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. t ' T H U R S D A 7, June i, 1775. The Congrefs met according to adjournment. The Committee appointed to confider ways and means to fupply thefc Colonies with ammunition and military ftores, brought in their report, which was read and referred to the Committee of the whole. Upon motion, Refohed^ That it be recom- mended to the government of Connedicut, or the General of the forces of that Colony, to appoint Commiflaries to receive at Albany and forward the fupplies of provifions, for the forces on Lake Champlain, from the Provincial Convention of New- York, and that the faid Convention ufe their utmoft: endeavours in facilitating and aiding the tranfportation thereof, from thence to where the laid CopimifTaries may dired:. K As ^. r / •/ 1/ ( 66 ) As this Congrcfs has nothing more in view than the defence of thefe Colonies, Refohed, That no expedition or incurfion ought to be undertaken or made, by any Colony or body of Colonifts, againft or into Canada j and that this Refolvebe immediately tranfmitted to the comman- der of the forces at Ticonderoga. Ordered, That the above Refolve be tranflated into the French language, and tranfmitted, with the letter, to the inhabitants of Canada. Ordered, That the Piefideiit tranfmit a co^-y of the above to New-York, and the other Colonies bordering on Canada. A petition from the committee reprefenting the people in that part of Augufta county, in the Co- lony of Virginia, on the weft fide of the Allegheny Mountain, was laid before the Congrefs and read, intimating ** fears of a rupture with the Indians, on account of Lord Dunmore's condudt," and de- firing " Commiflioners from the colony of Virginia, and province of Pennfylvania, to attend a meeting of the Indians at Pittiburg, i behalf of thefe Colonies." Ordered, That the above be referred to the De- legates of the Colonies of Virginia and PennfylT vania. The Congrefs then, agreeable to the order of the day, refolvtd itfelf into a Committee of the whole, to take into confideration the Oate of America, and after fome time fpent therein, the Prefident refumed the Chair, and Mr. Ward reported from the Com- mittee, that they had taken the matters referred to them into confideration, but not having yet come to a conclufion, defircd him to move for leave to fii again. Refohed^ thaii ( 67 ) Refohed^ That this Congfefs will to-morrow again refolvc itfcif into a Committee of the whole, to take into their farther icoofideration the ftate of America. '^^^ Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. FRIDAY, June 2, 1775. The Congrefs met according to adjournment. The Prefident laid before the Congrefs a letter from the Provincial ConvtMition of Maflachufett's- Bay, dated May 16, v/hichwas read, fetting forth the difficulties they labour under, for want of a re- gular form of government, and as they and the other Colonies are now compelled to raife an army to defend themfelves from the butcheries and devaf- tations of their implacable enemies, which renders it ftill more neceflary to have a regular eftablifhed government, requefting the Congrefs to favour them with " explicit advice refpeding the taking up and exercifing the powers of civil government," and declaring their readiiiefs to " fubmit to fuch a ge- neral plan as the Congrefs may direct for the Colo- nies, or make it their great ftudy to eftablifli fuch a form of government there, as fhall not only pro- mote their advantage, but the union and intereft of all America. Ordered, To lie on the table for firther con- iideration. Dodor Benjamin Church being dlredled by the Convention of MafTachufett's-Bay, to confer with the Congrefs refpedliing fuch other ma^tters, as may be neceflary to the defence of that Colony, and par- ticularly the ftate of the army therein. f^^J^^y^J T"l, , \J-t UCf Hi U_ U, a. liui iic uc iiiLi I.- 1 'uuU(.cr K 2 After V \ After he withdrew, an exprefs arriving with dii- patches from Maffachufett's-Bay, thePrefident laid before the Congrefs letters from the Conventions of that Colony and New-Hamp(hire, alfo from Go- vernor Trumbull, which were read. Upon Motion, RefeheJ, That no bill of ex- change, draught or order of any officer in the army or navy, their agents or contradors, be received or negotiated, or any money fupplied to them by any perfon in America. That no provifions or necelTaries of any kind, Le furnifhed or fupplied to or for the ufe of the Britifh army or navy, in the colony of Mafiachufett's-Bay. That no vefTel employed in tranfporting Britilh troops to Amerjca, or from one part of North- America to another, or warlike ftores or provifions for faid troops be freighted or furniflied with provi- fions or any neceffaiks, until further orders from this Congrefs. Ordered, That the above refolves be immediately publifhed. The order of the day being poftponed, the Con- grefs adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. SATURDAY, June 3, 1775. Met according to adjournment. A Letter from the Convention of New- York, together with fundry letters and papers enclofed, from Albany, were laid before the Congrefs and read. Ordered, To lie on the table. The letter from the Convention of Maffachufett's, dated the i6th of May, being again read. * Refotvedf ( ^9 ) Ttefched, That a Committee of iiveperfons be chofen to confider the fame, and report what in their opinion IS the proper advice to be given to that Convention. The follovi^ing perfons were chofen by ballot, to compofe that Committee, viz. Mr.J.Rutledge, Mr. Johnfon, Mr. Jay, Mr. Wilfon, and Mr. Lee. Rejohed, That a Committee of five be appoint- ed, to draught a petition to the King. That another Committee of three be appointed to prepare an addrefs to the inhabitants of Great- Britain. That another Committee of four be appointed to prepare an addrefs to the people of Ireland. That another Committee of three be appointed to bring in the draught of a letter to the inhabit tants of Janiaica, That another Committee of five be appointed to bring in an eftimate of money necefTary to be raifed. The Congrefs then proceeded to chufe by ballot thefeveral Committees, when Mr. Dickinfon, Mr. Johnfon, Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Franklin, were eledied to compofe the firft ; Mr. Lee, Mr. R. R. Livingfton, and Mr. Pendleton,' for the fecond 5 Mr. Duane, Mr. W. Livingfton! Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. J. Adams, for the third ; Mr. Hooper, Mr. Wilfon, and Mr. Lynch, for the fourth ; and Mr. Wafhington, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Deane, Mr. Cufhing, and Mr. Hughes, for the fifth. Adjourned till Monday at nine o'clock. On Monday and Tuefday the Congrefs met and adjourned, to give the Committees time to bring in their report. WEDNESDAY, June 7, 1775. The Congrefs met according to adjournment. The Committee appointed to make an eftimate of < i I iiU. ( 7° ) 6f the money ncceflary to be raifed, brought in their report, which was read and referred to the Com- mittee of the whole. On motion f Refohed, That Thurfday the 20th of July next, be oblerved throughout the Twelve Uni- ted Colonies as a day of humiliation, fafting and prayer, and that Mr. Hooper, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Paine, be a Committee to bring in a rcfolvc for that purpofe. The Committee appointed to prepare advice in anfwer to the letter from the Convention of Mafla- thufett's-Bay, brought in their report, which was lead and ordered to lie on the table for confideration. Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congrefs fefolved themfclves into a Committee of the whole, to take into their farther confideration the ftate of America ; after fome time fpent thereon, the Pre- "fident refumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported that the Committee had proceeded in the bufinefs teferred to them, but not having come to a conclu- fioii, delired him to move for leave to fit again. Refohed^ That this Congrefs will to-morrow again refolve themfclves into a Committee of the whole, to take into tbeir farther confideration the ftate of America. And that this be a (landing or- der till the bufinefs is compleated. ^ Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. THURSDAY, June 8, 1775. " Met according to adjournment. The Congrefs being informed that a Major Skene, with fome other officers, who arrived laft evening in a veflel from London, were, with their papers, in the cuftody of the troops of this city ; ihat the faid Skene has lately been appointed Go- vernor of the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point : that one of the officers with him is a lieu- tenant 3ught in :heCom- ; 20th of elve Uni- ting and amSj and efolvc for advice in 3f Mafla- lich was rderation. Congrefs ic whole, ; ftate of the Pre- reported ; buiinefs a conclu- agaln. I- morrow e of the ation the iding or- 7S' a Major ■ived laft ^ith their his city j nted Go- d Crown is a lieu- tenant ( 71 ) tenant in the regulars now in the province of Que- bec; and moreover, that thefaid Skene had decla- red, that he has authority to rai(e a regiment in A- mericai from all this, apprehending that the faid Skene is a dangerous partizan of A.iminiftration, and that his papers may contain intelligenc* of mi- nifterial deligns againft America, very important to be known. Refahed, That a Committee be appointed to ex- amine the papers of the faid Skene and LieutenaaU in their prefence. That the Committee confiil of Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Mifflin. That the faid Commictee be upon honour to conceal vvhatevu-rofa private nature may come to their knowledge by (uch examination ; and that they communicate to this Congrefs what they (hall difcover iclijtivc to the prefent difpute between Great Brijam and America. The remainder of the day being fpent in a Com- mittee of the whole, on the ftate of America, th© Congrefs adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock, FRIDAY, June 9, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The report of the Committee on the letter from the Convention of MaiTachufett's-Bay being again read, the Congrefs came ro ihs following refolution ; Refohed^ That no obedience being due to the Ad of Parliament for altering the Charter of the Colony of Maffachufett's-Bay, "nor to the Governor or Lieutenant Goverpor, w'ho will not obferve the diredlions of, but endeavour to fubvert that Charter, the Governor and Ivt-Governor of that Colony are to be confidered as abfent, and their offices vacant ; and ft V- ('' ,'J ( 7== ) and as there Is no Council there, and the inconve- nicncies arifing from the fufpenfion of the powers of government are intolerable, efpecially at a time when General Gage hath aduaily levied war and is carrying on hoftilities a^ain't hi' ^^ New- York, to have the powder-mills m that colony put nnoVuch a condi! Mon as immediately to manufacture into powder. may be proct red in the manner above direded. That It be recommended to the Committees of onir^'p^'f?" ofNew-Jerfey, andoftheco- w" °f A^/"".^^^?"*' ^°^«^ ^ou^ties on Dela- ware and Maryland, that they, without delay, col- CO omes, and tranfmu the fame to the Committee hr i' T^ '"? ^'^""1' °^ Philadelphia, to the end Wn ^°^^?!''^^^f "l^y be immediately manufadurcd into Gun-Powder for the ufe of the continent. 1 hat n be recommended to the Conventions and Committees of the colonies of Virginia, North- Carolina and South-Carolina, that they, without delay colled the Salt-Petre and Sulphur in their refpedive col^onieF, and procure thefe articles to be manufadlured as foon as poffible into Gun-powder lor the ufe of the continent. That it^be recommended to the feveral inhabi- tants of the United Colonies, who are polTefled of Salt-Petre and Sulphur for their own ufe, to dif- Powd ^"^^°^^ °^ manufaduring Gun- . That the Salt-Petre and Sulphur colleded in confequence of the abo.e refolves of Congrefs, he paid for out of the continental fund That Mr. Paine, Mr. Lee, Mr. Franklin, Mr. ^ Schuyler, > ' 4^ \^ \ iii ( 74 ) Bchinrlcr, and Mr. Jobnfon, be a Co«nmittfce to dIcvUe ways and n^ans to^introdvicc the awitfwttaw oi Salt-Peire in thcfe colonic«. . f*j*'^ • ; The Committee ior examining Governor Skene s letters, &c. Imviag communicated to Congrofs what they iomA r(;tative to tlio dilpute between Great Bcitain and there colonics. ^ Upon mtioMy Rcjbhed, That Governor Phihp Skene, Licot, Patrick Moncfieff, and Mr. Lundy, be rclealcd from their prcient confirvcmcnt, and per- mitted to go at Jarge any where within eight miles of the city between Delaware and Schuylkil, on their parole of honour not to pafs ihoTc limits, and that they wiH bold na corpe%>ondence with any perfon wh^tfo*v«r, on any political fubjc(^. Thai Mr. Gadfden be aclded to the Committee for cxaminittg' Governor Skene's papers, and that faid Committee have it in charge to execute the above refolvte. Adjourned till Monday at 9 o*clock. ,j ... MONDAY, June i2, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The Committee appointed to prepare a refolutio* for a Faft. bi ought in their report, wbkh being read, was agreed to as folio wa: As the Great Governor of the World, by his fu- prcme and univerfal Providence, not only conducts the courfe of nature with unerring wifdomand rec- titude, but frequently influences the minds of men to ferve the wife and gracious purpofes of his pro- vidential Government j and it being at all times our .indilpenfibie duty devoutly to acknowledge hi« fu- pcrintcndirg Providence, efpccially in times of im- nittfce to ,dji:i ;. -■ ■ Skene's [Tofs what en Great 5r Philip r. Lundy, and per- ight miles tylkil, on mils, and with any I. 'ommittee , and that fecute the :k. , refolutioii lich being by his fu- ly condu^s m and rec- tids of men )f his pro- 11 times our dge hi« (u- imes of im- nano inrr X n ^ fctiSrtg danger and public calamity, to fcVtrertOe and adore his immutable jufticc, as well as to hn* plorc has merciful intcrpofuion for our delivcrattce* ThisCongrefs, thtrcibre, confidcringthc prefent cri- tical alarming and calamitous ftatc of rhefe CdonieJ, doearncftly recommend that Thurfday, rfie 2oth day of July next, be obfcrvcd by the inhabitants of all the Englifh Colonies on this continent, as a day of public Humiiiatiorr, Fading afld Prayer; thatt»« may, with united hearts a«d voices, unfcigncdiy confefs and deplore our many fins j and ofief up our joint fupplications to the all-wife, omnipotent and mesrcirul difpofer of al! events, humbly bt* feecWng him to forgire our ii^iquititfs, to remove our prefent calamities^ to avert thofe defolating judgments, with which we arc threatened, and to blels our rightful Sovereign King George the Third, and infpire him with wifdom to difcern and purfuc the true inttreft of his fubjeQs, that a fpeedy end may be put to the citil difcord between Great-Bri- tain and the American Colonies without further ef* fufion of blood : And that the Britifh nation may be influenced te regard tbe things that behng to her peace ^ before they are hid from her eyes: fhat thefe Cobnies may ever b6 under the care and proteflioft of a kind Providence, and be profpered in all their interefts : That the divmc bleffing may dcfcend and reft upon all our civil rulers, and upon the repre* fentatives of the people in their feveral Aflemblies and Conventions, that they may be directed to wife and effedual meafures for prefer ving the union and fecuring the juft rights and privileges of the Colo- nies : That virtue and true religion may revive and flourifli throughout our land : And that all America La may t ( 76 ) may Coon behold a gracious interpofition, of H«aven for the redrefs of her many grievances, the refto- ration of her invaded rights, a reconciliation with .the parent; ftate, on terms conftitutionai and ho- nourable to both : And that her civil and religious privileges may be fecured to the lateft pofterity. { . And it is recommended to Chriftians of ail deno- minations to aiTemble for public worfhip, and to abftain froiji fcryile labour and recreation on faid day. Ordered^ That a copy of the above be figned by the Prefident, and attefted by the Secretary, and publiihed in the news-papers and in hand-bills. The Congrefs then refolved itfelf into a Com- mittee of the whole, to take into confideration the ways and means of raifing money, and having fpent thereon the remainder of the day and the day fol- lowing, adjourned till Wednefday at 9 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, June 14, 1775. Met according to adjournment. . Agreeable to the landing order of the day, the Congrefs refolved itfelf into a Committee of the whole, to take into confideration the ftate of Ame- rica, and afier fome time fpent thereon, the Prefi- denc refumed the Chair, and Mr. Ward reported that the Committee had come to certain refoluti- ons, which he was ordered to report, but not hav- ing come to a conclufion, they defired him to move for leave to fit again. The Refolutions being read were agreed to as follows: Refolved, That fix companies of expert riflemen be immediately raifed in Pennfylvania, two in Ma- ryland, and two in Virginia -, that each company con fill "»■ Heaven le refto- ion with and ho- reiigious irity. ,il deno- and to on faid Igned by ary, and >ills. s a Com- ition the ing fpent day fol- lock. 5. day, the e of the of Ame- he Prefi- rcported refoluti- not hav- i to move :ed to as : riflemen ^o in Ma- company con fill ( f? ) confift of a Captain, three Lieutenants f„uf Serjeants, four Corporals, a Drummer or trumH «r, and fixty-eiglit privates wumpeti. That tlie pay of the officers and privates be as folows. v,z. a captain twenty dollars per monih a lieutenant thirteen dollars and one tWrd oTa dol lar per month 5 a lerjeant eight dollars per month ' a corporal feven dollars and one third of a do^ar pe month , a drummer or trumpeter the fame p*^^' vates fix dollars and two thirds of a dolkr Mr month; to find their own arms and clothes ^ lowTngVord fr™ °' "'^ '""""-' ''^ - "^e fol- rnvfelf as » r.U- ''"* 't'' '''^ voluntarily inlifted A^lvfn ■■ '" "'^ American Continental ^aVI °"? ''"'"• ""''fs foonerdifchareed A ,ri I do bmd myfelf ,0 conform in all inftanfes to tX rules and regulations, as are or /hall be eftabliS for the government of the faid army. '""''"'"'^ Upon motion Refohed, That a Committee of five be appointed to prepare Rules and R,» 1 ? for the government of the army ^'S"'^"""' A letter trom the Convention of New v!^T A j the ,0th inftant, refpeainiavelT.I i;- t''?''!''^'' ped there, on fuVpicion o^hav.nf „fs ." ^°^ ' . Mpxitmdi till to-morrow at eight a'clock. FRIDAY, June i6, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The Prefident informed Col. Wafhinpton that the Congrefs had yefterday unanimoufly made chpicc of him to be General and Commander in Chief of the American forces, and r^quefted he would accept of that employnwnt. To which Col. -Washington, flanding in his place, anfwercd : Mr. Prefident^ " Though I am truly fenfibleof the high ho* nour done me in this appointment, yet I feci great diflrefs, from a confcioufncfs that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the exten- five and important truft : However, as the Con- grefs defire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I pofl'efs in their fer- vice, and for fupport of the glorious caufe. I beff they will accept my moft cordial thanks for this di- flinguifhed tcftimony of their approbation. " But, left fome unlucky event fhould happen unfavourable to my reputation, I beg it may be re- membered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare with the utmoll iincerity, 1 do not think myfcif equal to the coi.imand I am honoured with. " As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to affure the Con- grefs, that as no pecuniary confideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employm*»nt, at the expence of my domefiic eafe and happinefs. I do not wiih to make any profit from it. 1 will keep an exad: account of my expences. Thofe I doubt not they will difcharge, and that is all I defire." "Refohed ( So ) Refoked, That a Committee be appointed to draught a CommifTion and Inftmaions for the General, TbQ perfons chofen to compofe the Committee were Mr. Lee, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. J. Adams! The papers tranfmitted from the Convention' of New York being read, Refolved, That the fame be referred to a Com* mittee of five, and that they report what fleps, in their opinion, are neceffary to be taken for fecuring and preferving the friend(hip of the Indian nations. The following perlbns chofen for this commit- tee, viz. Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Henry, Mr. Duane, Mr. Wilfon, and Mr. P. Livingfton. The Congrefs then refumed the confideration of the report from the committee of the whole, and came to the following refolutions : Hefohed. That two Major-Generals be appointed for the American army. That the pay of each of the Major- Generals be Bne hundred 2ii\df:xty- fix Dollars ^tv month. That when any of thefe ad in a feparate de- partment, he be allowed for his pay and expences three hundred a^d thirty-tivo Dollars per month. That there be eight Brigadiers-General. Tnat the pay of each of the Brigadiers- General be one hundred and twenty-Jive Dollars per month. That there be one Adjutant-General. That his pay be one hundred -md twenty -jiiie Doi- griper month. That there be one CommifTary-General of ftores and provifions. That his pay be eighty Dollars per month. That there be one Quarter-Mafter General for the Grand Army, and one Deputy under him for the feparate army. Th^t That Vere be^s~v7 ^.U T."'^' aaing in a feD7rate rfln ? '''^ ^^J" ^^""'I 1 Hat there be a Commifflry of.he Mufters. ceifejr «;Tf/ waf,TK"r °lNew-YoX re- read, anl S'el "tt °" "'^ ^'f S^^'"^' ^"'' Yok be d;fir"^ mln r?'"' Convention of New .o march ,owaSwv";:f' '"'<^*»^'' ^<^J--'. Adjourned tiil to-m..ncw at .nine o'clock. I i i .1 (7 H f ■1 M SATURDAV ' 1 I- n it ( 82^ ) SATURDAY, June 17, 1 775. Met according to adjournment. The committee appointed to draught a Com- milTion to the General, reported the fame, which being read by paragraphs and debated, was agreed to as follows : In CONGRESS. ' The Delegates of the United Colonies df New-Hampfhire, Maflachufett's-Bay, Rhode- IHand, Conneaicut, New- York, New-Jerfey. Pennfvlvania, the Counties of New-Caftle, Keni and Suflex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina and Stath Carolina. r(? GEORGE WASHING?TON, Efq. W E repofing efpecial truft and confidence in your patriotifm, va':o jr, conduft and fidelity, do, by thefe prefents conftitnte and appoint you, to be General and Commander in Chief of the Army of the United Colonies, and of all the Forces now raifed or to be raifed by them, and of all othsirs, who flial! voluntarily offer their fervice, and join the faid army for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hoftile invahon thereof: A^d you are hereby vefted with full power and authority to adt as you fhall think for the good and welfare of the fervice. And we do hereby ftridly charge and require all officers and foldiers under your command, to be obedient to your orders, and diligent in the exercife of their feveral duties. And we do alfo enjoin and require you, to be carefil in executing the great truft repofed in you, by caufing ftria difciplinc and f i and order to be obferved in the army, and that tha foldiers be duly exercifcd and provided with all convenient necefTaries. And you are to regulate your condua in every reipea by the rules and difcipline of war fas here- wjth given you) and pundlually to obferve and fol- low fuch orders and directions from time to time ns you fhall receive from this or a future Congrefs of thefe United Colonies or Committee of Con- grefs. This Commiffion to continue in force, until re- voked by this or a future Congrefs. r^ J J rr^- , ^^ ^^^^'^ ^^ ^^^^ Congrefs. Ordered That the fame be fairly transcribed, figned by the Prefident, attefted by the Secretary and delivered to the General. Refohedumnimoujly. Whereas the Delegates of all the Colonies from Nova-Scotia to Georgia, in Congrefs affembied, have unanimoufly chofen George JVafimgton, Efq; to be General and Com- mander in Chief of fuch forces as are or fhall be railed for the maintenance and prefervation of Ame- rican Liberty j this Congrefs doth now declare, that they will maintain and affift him, and adhere to him the faid George Wafliington, with their Jives and fortunes m the fame caufe. . '^J!l,^''"g/«^s then proceeded to the choice of tat Officers m the army by ballot. Artemus Ward, Efq, was chofen firft Major Ge^ Horatio Gatesy Efq: Adjutant General. Rejokjcd That Horatio Gates, Efqj now chofen Adjutant General, fhall have the rank of Brigadier V/cneral. ® Charles Lee, Efq; fecond Major General. Adjourned till Monday at 9 o'clock, MON- j li lil.* I mi ml mm w '^m mwH ( 84 ) MONDAY, June 19, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The Prefident laid before the Congrefs fundry letters he had received from Mairachufett*6-Bay and I\cw-York, which were read. Ordered^ That Mr. Henry, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. i. Adams, be a Committee to wait upon General AC, and to inform him of his appointment, and requcft his anfwer whether he will accept the com- mand. The. Committee returned and reported, that they had waited on General Lee, and in- formed him of his appointment, and that he gave for anfwer, '* That he had the higheft ♦* fenfe of the honour conferred upon him by the " Congrefs ; that no effort in his power fliall be ** wanting to ferve the American caufe." The letters from MaiTachufett's-Bay being taken into confideration, the Congrefs came to the fol* lowing refolve : That the Governor of Connedicut be requefled to dirc<5t all the forces raifed in that colony, not em- ployed at Ticonderoga and Crown 'Point, or re- commended by his Congrefs to be marched to- wards New- York, to be immediately fent to join the combined army before Bofton : And it is ear- neflly recommended to the colony of Rhode-Ifland, and to the provincial Convention of New-Hamp- fl-iire, to fend immediately to the army befpre Bofton, fuch of the forces as are already embodied towards their quotas of the troops agreed to hs raifed by the New- England colonies. Refohedy That Mr. Lee, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. J. Adams, be a Committee to prepare the form of a commifTion for the Major Generals, alfo for the Brigadier Generals, and other officers in the army, Refolve^ ( ^$ ) RefoheJ, That there be four Major Generals The Con^refs then proceeded to chul'e the twa remaining Major Generals when P^p Schmkr Efqj was chofen third Major General, and Ifrael rutnam, Efqj was unanimoufly chofen fourth Ma- jor General. The Committee appointed to prepare the form ot a Lommiffion for the Major and Brigadier Ge- nerals, reported the fame, which being agreed Or W That a copy thereof be made* out figned by the Prefident, and attefted by the Secre- tary, for each of the Major Generals and Brigadier Generals. ° Ordered, That the Secretary get a number of Commiffions, with proper blanks, printed for the other officers. The Committee appointed to prepare a Petition read ■ ''^^°"^'^ ^ ^^^^Z^t of one, which wa5? Adjourned till to-morrow o o'clock. TUESDAY, June 20, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The Committee appointed to prepare inftrudlons to the General, reported the fame, which being read and debated, were agreed to. • • Adjourned till to-morrow at o o'clock WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1775. Met according to adjournmenr. Mr. Thomas JefFerfon appeared as a Delegate from the colony of Virginia, and produced his cre- dentials, which were read and approved, and are as loUows : ^ At a Convention of the Delegates for the coun- ties and corporations in the colony of Virginia, at the town of Richmond, in the town of Henrico, on Monday, zyxk March, 1775. On H HfMTM'i Vi \ ( 86 ) On a motion made, Rejolved, That Thomas JcfFcrfon, Efq. be appointed a deputy to rcprefeut this colony in General Congrefs, in the room of the honourable Peyton Randolph, Efq. in cafe of the non-attendance of the faid Pevton Randolph, Efq.- Attejl. JOHN TAZEWELL. Clerk of Convention, At a General Ailem^ly, began arid held at the Capitol, in the city of Williamlbuig, on Thurfd;iy ifl Jane, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Lord George the Third, by the grace of God of Great-Britain, &c. A. D. 177$' Monday, ^th June, i^thGAW. 177$- Refohed, N. C. O. That this Houfe doth en- tirely approve of the Proceedings and Refolutions of the Convention of Delegates for the counties and corporations, in the colony of Virginia, held at Richmond town, in the county of Henrico, the 20th of March, 1775; and that it be recom- mended to all the good people of this colony ftridly to conform to, and obferve the fame. By the Houfe of Burgeffes, PEYTON RANDOLPH, Speaker. Mr. Henry informed the Congrefs, that the Ge- neral had put into his hand fandry queries, to which he defired the Congrefs would give an anfwer. The queries being read and debated, Refolvedj That a Committee of five be appointed to prepare proper anfwers. The perfons chofen were Mr. Dean, Mr. Henry, Mr. J. Ruiledge, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Lee. On a motion made, Rfohed, That the General be allowed three Aids dc Camp. That ^'-^^K'^tlSE ( 8; ) That each of the Major- Generals have two Aids cie Lamp. That their pay be thirty-three dollars per month each. '^ Adjourned till to-morcow at 9 o'clock. THURSDAY, June 22, lyy^.. Met according to adjournment. The Committee appointed to prepare anfwers to the General's queric reported the fame, which were read. The Congrefs then came to the following Refo- lutioDs : Re/okeJ, That the number of Brigadier-Generals be augmented to eight ; and the fame were chofen by ballot as follows : Seth Pomeroy, Efqj firft Brigadier-General. Richard Montgomery, Efqj lecond ditto. David Woofter, Efqj third ditto. William Heath, Efq; fourth ditto. Jofeph Spencer, Efq; fifth ditto. John Thomas, Efqj fixth ditto. John Sullivan, Efq; feventh ditto. Nathaniel Green, Efq^ eighth ditto, Refohedt That the troops, including the volun- teers, be furnidied with Camp equipage and blankets, where neceflary, at the Continental ex- pence. Refohcd, That the officers now in the army, re- ceive their new Commiflions through the hands of the General. Refolved, That a fum not exceeding two millions of Spanifli milled Dollars, be emitted by the Con- grefs in bills of credit, for the defense of America. . • Refohedt ^^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) Sis. .^ ib^ ,.. ^ fe> 1.0 I.I 1^ |J0 "^ II 2.5 2.2 2.0 im 1.25 1.4 J4 L "" ^ 6" — ► V] <^ /^ >> *:^ ^<^^ <^>. #^ w '/ /A Photographic Sdences Corporation ^^^. m <> 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 A ^^^ <^ "^ t^^^ f/u V ( 88 ) Refoked, That the Twelve confederated Colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit, how direded to be emitted.^ Upon motion made, Refolvedy That the Colony of Pennfylvania raife two more companies of rifle- men, and thatthefe, with the fix before ordered to be by thenn raifed, making eight companie8« be formed into a battalion, to be commanded by fuch Field-Officers, Captains and Lieutenants as (hall be recommended by the Aflembly or Convention of faid Colony, , Adjourned till to-morrow 9 o'cldck. . ^77S^ TUESDAY, June 23, Met according to adjournment. , A letter from Crown-Point, dated June 10, was laid before the Congrefs and read. Information being given, that two officers who brought the let-* ter were at the door, and had fome things of impor- tance to communicate. Ordered, That they be introduced, and they were introduced. After they withdrew, the Congrefs came to the following Refolutions, viz. Refohed, That it be recommended to the officer commanding in the New- York department, to pro- cure, as foon as poflible* a lift of the men employed in taking and garrifoning Crown-Point and Ticon- deroga, and keeping pqfieflion of the lakes, and alfo of their diiburfements in order that they may be paid. . Refohed, That their pay be the feme as that of the officers and privates in the American army j the higheft of the officers not to exceed that of a Cap- tain, and that the pay comn:?nce the third day of May taft, and continue till they are difcharged. . - , ^ Refohed, ( 89 Refohed, That it be rccommewJcd to the Con- vention of New. York, that they, confuliing with General Schuyler, employ in the army to be raifcd for the defence of America, thofc called the Green Mountain Boys, under fuch officers as the faid JGrfeen Mountain Boys [hall cbufe. On a motion made, Refoke4, That a Commit- tee of five be chofen to draw up a Declaration to be pubhflied by General Waihington, upon his arrival at the camp before Bofton. The Committee chofen are Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. W. Livingftpn, Mr, Franklin, Mr. J^ y, and Mr. Johnfon. Argeeable to order, the Congrefs refolved itfelf into a Committe of the whole, to take into further confideration the ftate of America, and after fome timefpent therein, the Prefident refumedlhe chair, and Mr. Ward reported certain Refolutions come* into by them, and that not having yetfinilhed, they defired leave to fit again. . The Report of the Committee being read, was agreed to as follows : Refohedy That the number and denominatbn of the bills to be emitted, be as follows ; 49»ooo 49,000 49,000 49,000 ^9,000 49,000 49,000 49,000 i 1,000 ■ " . '•■ Total 403,800 Bills of 8 Do. of 7 Do. of 6. Po. of 5 Do. Do D0 Do. Do. of 4 of 3 of 2 of I of 2P Dollars each Dollars each Dollars each Dollars each Dollars each Dollars each Dollars each Dollar each Dollars each = 392»ooa = 343,000 = 294,000 ?= 245,000 = 196,000 = 147,000 = 98^000, = 49,Qoo = 236,000 , ■ ■ I . ip » 2,000,000 N Rifohed^ ( 90 ) Refalvid, That the form of the bills be as fol- lows : CONTINENTAL CURRENCT. ■ Jr<>per ftate for the defence of America. >^^ j ... The members chofen are Mr. Paine, Mr. Har- rifon, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Floyd, Mr. Gadfdcn, and Mr. Dickcnfoir. The Committee appointed to prepare a declara- tion to be publilhed by General Waihington, upon his arrival at the camp before Boflon, brought in their report, which was read and debated, and after fome tim€f referred for farther confideration till Monday next, . . ■ - Adjourned till Monday at 9 o'clock. MON- . . v^^&i'fc^;**^ .. ( 90 MONDAY, June 26, 1 77J. Met according to adjournment. A letter from Governor Trumbull was read, and referred to the Committee appointed to devifc ways and means for introducing the manufadure of falt-petre into thefe colonies. The ftate of North-Carolina being taken into confideration, the Congrefs came to thr. following rcfblutions. Whereas it is reprefented to this Congrefs, that the enemies of the liberties of America are purfu- ing meafures to divide the good people of the colo- ny of North Carolina, and to defeat the American AfTociation. •• r Refohed, That it may be recommended to all in that colony, who wiih well to the liberties )f Ame- rica, to affociate for the defence of American liberty, and to embody themfelves as militia, under proper officers, , Refohed, That in cafe the affcmbly or conven- tion of that colony, fhall think it abfolutely ne- cefTary for the fupport of the American Aflbcia- tion and fafety of the colohv to raife a body of forces not exceeding one thou land men, this Con- grefs will confider them as an American army, and provide for their pay. • The Congrefs then refumed the confideration of the declaration, and after fome debate, Refoked, That it be re-committed, and that Mr: Dickenfon and Mr. Jefferfon be added to the Commiwec. The committee for Indian affairs brought in their report, which was read. N a Ordered, 1 -.;l ill ( 9^ ) Ordered, That the Prcfident write to Governor Trumbull, and inform him, and alfo the Conven- tions of New Hamp{hire and MafTachufetts Bay, and the government o( Rhode Ifland, that the Congrefshave appointed George Wafhington, Efq^ Commander in Chief of all ihe Forces raifed, or to be raifcd, for the defence of America. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. TUESDAY, June 27, 1775. Met according to adjournment. On motion made, Refohed, That Governor Skene be fent under a guard to Weathersfield, or Middletown, in the county of Hartford, in Con- nedicut, there to be confined on his parole, not to go out of the bounds prefcribed to him by Governor Trumbull. Ordered, That the Delegates for Pennfylvania, take meafurcs to have the above refolve carried into execution. , A letter from the Convention of Maflachufetts Bay, received by exprefs, was laid before the Con- grefs and read. The Congrefs then refumed the confideration of the ftate of affairs in the New York department, and after fomc time fpent therein, came to certain re- folutions, which vrere ordered to be immediately tranfmitted to General Schuyler for his direction. The committee appointed to draw up an Addrefs to the Inhabitants of 'Great Britain, reported the fame, which was read. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'Clock. WEDNES- Sjgi&'''"." ( 93 ) WEDNESDAY, June 28, 1775, Mpt according to adjournment. The Committee appointed to prepare a draught of Rules and Regulations for the government of the Army, reported the (ame, which was read and taken into confideration. And the remainder of the day, and the day following being fpent thereon, adjourned till next day at 9 o'clock. FRIDAY, June 30, 1775, Met according to adjournment. The Congrefs refumed the confideration of the Rules and Regulations, which being gone through were agreed to, as follows : ^ ^ ^^ Whereas his Majefty's moft faithful fubjeds in hefe Colonies are reduced to a dangerous and cri- tical fituation, by the attempts of the Britifh Mi- nistry to carry into execution, by force of arms feveral unconftitut.onal and oppreffive adts of the Brmfh Parliament for laymg taxes in America, to enforce the colledion of thofe taxes, and for alter ing and changing the conftitution and internal pol hcc of fome of thefe Colonies, in violation of ihe natural and civil rights of the Colonies. And whereas hoftilities has been adually com- menced m the Maffachufett's-Bay, by the Britifli • troops, under the command of General Gage, and i'n aV^ ' r "^^^ "^ '^' ^"^^b««"^^ °f that Co- " Ipnyjieftroyed , the town of Bofton not only hav- mg been long occupied as a garrifoned town in ^ an ii Pi I''' 1' ( 94? ) an enemies country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a Tcverity and cruelty not to be jufti- fied even towards declared enemies. And whereas large reinforcements have been ordered, and arc foon expe■• H ( 96 ) Art. 5, Any officer or foldier, who (hall begir?, excite, caufc or join in any mutiny or fedition, in the regiment, troop, or company, to which he be- longs, or in any other regiment, troop or com- pany of the Continental Forces, either by land or fca, or in any part, poft, detachment, or guard, on any pretence whatfocver, (hall fufFer fuch punirti- ment as by a general court martial fliall be ordered. uirt. 6. Any officer, non-commiffioned officer,, or foldier, who being prefent at any mutiny or fe- dition, docs not ufe his utmofl endeavours to fup- prefs the firae, or coming to the knowledge of any mutiny, or intended mutiny, docs not, without delay, give information thereof to the commanding officer, fliall be puniflied by order of a general court martial, according to the nature of his offence. jirt, 7. Any officer, or foldier, who (liall ftrikc his fuperior officer, or draw or offisr to draw, or ihall lift up any weapon, or offer any violence again ft him, being in the execution of his office, on any pretence whaifocver, or fhall difobey any lawful commands of his fuperior officer, (hall fuf- fer fuch punifhment as fl^iall, according to the na- ture of his offence, be ordered by the fcntence of a general court-martial. Art. 8. Any non-commiffioned offiper or foldier, who flialldefcrt.or without leave of his commanding officer, abfent himfelf from the troop or company to which (( . 97 ) which ^e belongs, or from any detachment of nic lame, fliall, upon being convidcd thereof* Be pumlhGd according to the nature of his of* fence, at the difcrdion. of a general court-mar- tial. I . Art, 9, Whatfdever officef or foldief fhall b« conviacd of having ^dvifed or perfuaded ant othcrofficer or roldfcr to defa^t, fhall fufTcr Cuch punifhment as ihall be ordered by the fcntence o£ a generai court-martial. i 'rffo i t ^'"^A, 'n V^" officers, of what condition foi- ever, Ihall have power to part' and que'H all quar- rels, frays and diforders, though the perfonJ concerned Ihould belong to another r^gittiertt; troop or company , and ^ithct^ order officer^ to bfc arreltcd, or non-commiffioned officers or foldkit to be confined and imprifoned, till their proper lupenor officers Ihall be acquainted therewith ; and whoever (hall refufe to obey fudh officer (tho* of an inferior rank) or (hall draw his fword upon liim. (hall be puni(hed at the difcrction of aW iieral court»martial. • , "^''^VV; ^° ^^^^' °^ ^oJ^'er (hall ufe any reproachful or provoking fpeeches or eeftures to another J nor (liall prefume to Cend a challen^ft to any pcrfon to fight a duel ; And whoever (hall knowingly and willingly fuffer any perfon what*- foever to go forth to fight a duel i or (hall fe- cond,, ^promote, or carry any challenge, (hall be ' ' ' 11. "oiArt* 13. if any officer (hould think himfelf to be wronged .by his Colonel or the commanding afficecof the. regiment, and fhall, upon due ap* plication made to him, be refufed to be redrcfTcd, he may cbniplain to the General or Comrtiander in Chief of the Continental Forces, in order to obtain juftice, who is hereby required to examine into faid complaint, and fee that juftice be 'done, f^'h'j-ft ■ / . ''■^- Art. 14. If any inferior officer or foldier, fhall think himfelf wronged by his Captain or other officer commanding the troop or company to which he belongs, he is to complain thereof to the commanding officer gf the regiment, who is hereby m qaar* dcr, and, fuch abu» ed by any ; If upon officers or J any per- 5t, to the ontinent ; fc or omit offenders, tics injur- iiable him f, be pu- urtialy in mitted the himfelf to nmanding 1 due ap* redrciTcd, >mnfiander 1 order to o examine juftice be dier, fhall or other mpany to thereof to at, who is hereby 1>3 hereby required to fummon a re^iiiicntul cdtirt- martial, for the doing juflice to t1>«i .complainant , from which regimental court-martial, eithet party may. if he thinks himfelf flill aggrieved appeal to a general court-martial j buti if, upon a lecoiid hearing, the appeal fhall appear to be vexatious and groundlefs, the perfou fb appeal- ing, (liull be punifhed at the dilbrction of the ac- neral court-martial. ,„; j,.,,^,, ^, ' fi'^^' ^'^•^^^'^cvernon-commifrioncdoflicer or foldicr, fliall be conviaed, at a regimental court-martial, of having fold, or defigncdly, or through negleca wafted the ammunition, arms, or provihons, or other mihtary flores, delivered (o Jiim, to be employed in the fervice of this con- tinent, fhall if an officer, be reduced to a pri- vatecentineh and if a private foldier, fhall fufi^r fuch punifhment as fhall be o-dered by a reei- mental court- martiaj. "./ . .,., J Art, i6. All non-commiffioned officers ana foldiers, who fhall be found oi^ mile from the Camp, without leave in writing from their com* manding officer, fliall fufFer fuch punifhment as lliall be infolded on him or them by the fenffencc ot a regiment court-martial. Art, ly. No officer or foldier fhall lie out of his quarters, or camp, without leave from the commanding officer of the regiment, upon pe- nalty of being punifhed according to the nature ot his offence, by order of a regimental court- martial. ^ . O z Arf» (; ( r fOOf > * j#/^ 18* Every noo^^omrnilliorted ofHv<5r'M»i (oldier fliaU retire to hh quarters, or tent, at the ttating <)f the retreat ; in deiuult of vflmh, he ^all be pimiihed according to the nature of hia ©ffence, by ord^r of the comn:ianding officer. -iJlrf. 15^. No officer, non-con^miffioned ofii- vi(^»d thereof before a general court-manial, fuffer Aich punilhmcnt as by faid court-martial (hall bp ordered. Art. 3 1 . If any commander of any pofl, in- trenchment, or fortref^ fhall be compelled by the officers or foldiers under his command to give it up to the enepiy, or to abandon it, the commif- fioned officer, non-commidjoned-ofricers or fol- diers who (hall be convicted pf having fo offended, jliall fuffer death, or fuch othfr punidiment as may be inflicted upon them by the fenttijce of a general court-martial. Art' j^. All futtlers and retailers to a canip, and all perfons whatfoever, ferving with the coh^ tinental army in the field, though not inlifled foldiers, are to be fubjetft to the articles, rules, and regulations of the continental army. Art, t '03 ) /^^f' 33- No general court-martial fhall confift of aleis number than thirteen, none of which Ihall be under the degree of a commiflloned of^ iicer; and the prefident (hall be a field ofticer : And the prefident of each and every court- martial, whether general or regimental, (hall ■have power to adminifter an oath to every wit- nefs, in order to the trial of offenders. And the members of all courts-martial (liall be duly fworn by the prefident; and the next in rank on the court-martial ihall adminiftcr the oath to the prefident. J . , 1 ... ■ ^ ; jfrf, 34. The members, both of general and rqgimental courts-martial, (hall, when belong* ing to different corps, take the fame rank which they hold in the army; but when courts-martial ihall be compofed of officers of one corps, they fhall take their ranks according to" theip commiffions by which they are muftered in tfip faid corps. ^rf. 35. AU the members of a eourt-martiaJ, arc to behave with calmnefs, decency, and inir partiality ; and in giving of their votes, are to begin with the younge^ or loweft in commif- iion. ^rt. 36. No field officer fhall be tried by any perfon under the degree of a captain ; nor fhall any proceedings or trials be carried on, except- ing between the hours of eight in the morning, and three in the afternoon, except in cafes which require an immediate example. ^rt. 37. The commlffioned officers of every regiment may, by tl>e^appointment of their cofo- ..c. ^.^ vviiiwiaiiuiijg wiiiucr, iiwia regimentai courts- t^ewrts-martial for the enqukiilg ^tito fuciidif'- pvites or criminal matters as may come beforb them, and for the infli which fentence is to bfc confirmcu by the commanding officer, not beift j kjiiembef of the court-martial. * > v^;' 4//. 39. E^efy office!-, dommanding'ln' any Ifbh, fcaltle, or barrack, of elfeWhere^ where therdrps trrit!d>- his oommand confifts of detach- ments from different regiments, or of indepen- dent companies, may affemble coupts-itiartialfbr thetJ?ial of offenders in the faitse manned as if they were regimental, iwhofe fentertce' i5 not t6 tic. executed till it ihftjl :bc^ conftrmod » by tlie ikid commanding officer. . l^^ \r^ri. 40/ Nd perfon whatfoevef fliafl ufe me-> jrtacing words, figns, or gcftures in the prcfenc* of a couKt-martial then fitting, or (hall caufeany diforder or riot, fo as to diflurb their proceeding^, on the penalty^ of being punifhed at the difcretion of the laid court-martial. t • j^rf. 41. To the end that offertclers may be brought to.juflice; whenever any officer or fol- .■I mi'^ ^%'j%.x T ■ 'o r Uiiii-imiviix.-f he / v.; I ( w ) .ic (half by his compiai^ding officer, if an oificer, fe put in ?rreftj if ^nop-copimiffioniBd o0k^r or foldier, bf imprifoncd till be Ihail be cirher iriec} by ^ cpprt ma/tial, or (hall bs lawfully difcharged by proper authority. ^ ^rt. 42. No officer or foldier who (hall be put m arreft, or i.niiprifonment, (hall continue in "hi^ confinement more than eight days, or till fucli time as a court-martial can be conveniently af- lembled. ^ ' • • ' f. ■ ■ . Jrf. 43. No officer caq>maoding a guard, or provoft marfhal, (hall refufe to receive or keep any prifoper committed to his charge, by an ofcr bel bnging tp the, cpnfjn,eDtgr forces j^ whicH' pfgcer Ihall at the fame time dehver an account in wririnu- figned by himfelf, of the crime with which the f^id prifoner is charged. jirt 44. Np oificer coip,manding a guard, or pfovoftmarO^aJ, (hall prefume lo |:elea(e%i?y pri^ fpncr ccMnmittcd to hi? f^harge, ^it£out^>ro|Jf au« thority for fo doing ; nor /HaU he Ipfcr ap/ prifoner toefcape, on the penalty of being puniflaed for it by the fcntencc of a general courtrmartiaU *^ ^r/ 45. Every officer or provoft marihaj, to whofe charge prifoners (hall be committed, is here- by required, within twenty-four hours after fuch a)mmitment, or as foon as he (hall be relieved from his guard, to give in writing to the colonel of the regiment to whom the prifoner belongs (where the prifoner is confined upon the guard belonging to the faid regiment, and that his offence only relates to the negledt of duty ki his own corps,) or to the " commander ( io6 ) commander in chief, their names, their crimes, an^ the names of the officers who committed them, oh ^he penalty of being punifhed for his difobedience or negled:, at the difcretion of a general courts martial. ' Art. 46. And if any officer under grreft fhal| leave his coniinement before he is fet at liberty by the officer who confined him» or by a fuperior power, he (hall be ca(hiered for it. Art. 47. Whatfoever commiffioned officer (hall jbe conviifted before 4 general court-martial, of be- having in a fcandalous infrmous manner, fuch as i3 unbecoming the ch£^ra(5t^r of an officer and a gen% tleman, (hgll be dlfch^rge4 from the fervice. Art. 48. All officers, conduftors, gunners, ma^ trofTes, drivers, or any other perfons whatfoever, receiving pay or hire, in the fervice of the cqnti- liental artillery, (hall be governed by the aforefaid rules and articles, and (hall be fubjeA to be tried by (BOuYts-martial, in like manner with the officers ar4 ibldiers of the continental troops^ ♦ ■ ' " * ■ Art. 49, For differences arifing among themr felvcs, or in matters relating folely to their owq corps, the courts-martial may be compofed of their own officers j but where a number fufKcient of fuch officers cannot be aflembled, or in matters wherein other corps are interefted, the officers of artillery (hall (it in courts-martial, with the officers of the pther corps. Art. 50. All crimes not capital, and all difor- ficrs and negle^s, whjch officers and foldiers may A. ( '07 ) be guilty of, to the prejudice of good order and mi^ lUary dilciphne, though not mentioned in the artielci of war, are to be taken cognizance of by a general or regimental court-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offence, and be puniOied at their diicretion. Art. 51. That no pcrfons fliall be fentcnced by a courtMnartial td fuffcr death, except in the cafes exprefsly mentioned in the foregoing articles j nor ihall any punifliment be inflidted at the difcretion of a court-martial, other than degrading, cashiering, drumming out of the army, whipping not exceed- ing 39 laflies, fine not exceeding two months pay of the oiFendcr, imprifonment not execedine one month. ** Art. 52. The field oncers of each and ^very regiment are to appoint fome fuitable perfon belong* ing tofuch regiment, to receive all fuch fines as may arife within the fame, for any breach of any of the foregoing articles, and (hall dired the fame to be carefully and properly applied to the relief of luch fick, wounded, or neceffitous foldiers, as be-* long to fuch regiment ; and fuch perfon (hall account with fuch officer for all fines received, and the ap-^ plication thereof. : -^'' 53* All members fitting in courts-martial (hall be (worn by the Prefident of faid courts, which Prefident (hall himfclf be fworn by the officer in faid court next in rank :•— The oath to be suiminiftered previous to their proceeding to the trial «f any offender, in form following, viz^ ( loi ) " Tou A. ^.fwidr thut you ioi/l well and tru^ jfry, and impartiaUy determne the tkufg of the pri" fbner noiif to h tried y aaording fd fbe rules for re^ guldttttg the Continental Army, So help yon God." ' Jr/^. 54. Allp^tfonicialletd ib%V9t evidence, in ifty fcatfe, Before i XoM-ttizttU, Who fhall irfofe \6 ^iv* fevJdtrice, niall Be pdhiftifcd fdr fiikch refufali ^t thedrcrctidh hi luchcbiirt- martial. The bath t6Bd ictoiiirifterfcd in tli% follbwfng fortrt, viz. << Youfwear the evfdence pu fiall give in the cafe now in hearirrgj fhall b the truths the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God.*' • jrfr/*. 55. Every officer c(inimawdmg a regiment, trooji, br compatiy, ihall, upon notice given to him by the conli^miflary of the mufters, of fiom one of hii deputies, aflemble \\\t regiment, troop, or company under his command, in the next conve- nient place for their being muftered. Art. 56. Every colonel or other field officer, or officer commanding any corps, (o which there is no field officer, and adualiy refiding vt^ith it, may give forloughs to non-coipmiffioned officers and Toldiers, in fuch numbers, and for fo long a time, as he (h'all jtidge to be moft confiftent with the good 6f the fervice ; but no T>dh-commiffioned of- ficer 6r foldier Ihall, by leave of his captain, or inferior officer, commanding the troop or com- pany (his field officer not being prefent) be abfent above twenty days in fix months, nor (hall more than \^ than two private men l?e abfcnt ab the fame time from their troop or company, excepting fome cx-r traordin^ry occaTion fhall require it, of which <)ccafion the field officer prcfent with, and com- martding the regiment or independant corps, is to be judge. Art. 57. At every mutter the commanding of- ficer of each regioKnt, troop, or company, rhcil prcfent^ fhall give to the commiflary of mutters certificates figned by himfelf, fignifying how long fuch officer?, non-commifiionej officers, and fol- dicrs, who (hall not appear at the faid mutter, have been abfent, and the reafon of their abfence; which reafons, and the time of ablence, fhall be inferied in the mutter rolls, oppofite to the rcfpec- tive names of fuch abfentees : The faid certificates (hall, together with the mutter rolls, be by the faid comml{&ry tranfmitted to the General, and to this or any futui'e Corigrefs of the United Cplonies, or Committee appointed thereby, within twenty 'days next after fuch mutter being taken; on failure whereof, the commiflary fo ofl?ending, fhall be dTf- charged from the fervice. ^ Art. 58. Every officer who fliall be conyiaed before a general court-martial of having figned a falfe certificate, relating to the abfence of either officers, non-commiffioned officer, or private foldier, fliall be cattjicred. i ^ 11 Art. 59. Every officer who fhall knowingly make a falfe mutter of man or horfe, and every of- ficer or coram jfiary, who fhdl willingly fign, dired:, 6 or ( no ) or allow the fignin^ of the muftcr-rolls, whtffel/i fuch falfc muftcr is contained, fhall, upon proof made thereof, by two witneffes, before a general tourt-mariial be cafhiered, and moreover forfeit all fuch pay as may be due to him at the time of con- vidion for fuch offence. u4rt. 60. Any commiffary who fhall be convidled of having taken any gift or gratuity on the mu- ftering any regiment, troop or company, or on the ligning the mufter rolls, fliall be difplaced from hij office, and forfeit his pay as in the preceding article- y^rt. 61. Any officer who (hall prcfume to mu- fler any perfon as a foldier, who is at other times accuftomed to wear a livery, or who does not actu- ally do his duty as a foldier, (hall be deemed guilty of having made a falfc mufter, and fhall fuffcr ac- cordingly. ^rt. 62. Every officer who fhall knowingly make a falfc return to the commander in chief of thtf American forces, or to any his fuperior officer, au- thorifed to call for fuch returns, of the ftatc of the regiment, troop, independent company, or garrifon, under his command, or of arms, ammunition, cloathing or other flores thereunto belonging, fhall/ by a court-martial, be cafhiered. yirt. 63. The commanding officer of every regi- ment, troop, independent company, or garrifdn, in the fervice aforefaid, fhall, in the beginning of every month remit to the commander in chief of faid forces an exad return of the flate of the regimenf, troop, independent company, or garrifon under hit command, fpecifying the names of the officers not then refiding at their ports, and the rcafon for,- and tioM ( in ) time of their abfcncc : Whoever ihall be convicted of having through ncgledl or defign, omitted the Tending fuch returns, fhall be puniflied according to the nature of his crime by the judgment of a ge- ncral court-martial. ^ ^r/. 64. No futtler (hall be permitted to fell any kind of liquors or victuals, or to keep their Jtoufes or (hops open, for the entertainment of foldiers, after nine at night, or before the beating of the reveilles, or upon Sundays, during divine fervice or fermon. on the penalty of being difmiffed from all future futtling. * Art. 65. All officers commanding in the camp or many forts, barracks, or garrifons, are hereby re- quired to fee that the perfons permitted to futtle, Ihall fupply the foldiers with good and wholefome provifions at a reafonable price, as they fhall be sinfwerable for their neglea. Art, 66. No officers commanding in any camp garrifons, forts or barracks, fliall cither themfelvf s cxaa exorbitant prices for houfes or ftalls, let out to futtlers, or (hall connive at the like exadions in others nor lay any duty or impofitions upon, or b« interefted in the fale of fuch visuals, liquors, or other neceffaries of life, which are brought into the camp, garrifon, fort, or barracks, for the ufe of the foldiers, on the penalty of being difcharged from the fervice, . ° ^ rw'!'c ^\ ^^^^ 'i^' ^^"^''^^' o** Commander in ^W for the time being, fhall hav« full power of pardoning n hJl ( M» ) pariloning, or mitigating any of the punilhmcnts ordered to be it^^dcd, for any of the ofFcncc3 men- tioned in the fo^pgoing articles j and every offen- der con vlded as <|forcraid, by any regimental court- martial, may be pardoned, or have his puniflimcnt mitigated by the Colonel, or ofHccr commanding the regiment. y^rf. 68. When any commifljoned officer fliall happen to die, pr he killed in the fcrvice of the ynited Colonies, the Major of the regiment, or the officer doing the Major's duty in his abfencc, fliall immediately fccure all his eftedls, or equipage then in «jimp orqparie«i and ftjall, before the next re- girpent^l court-fnartiai, make an inventory iheicof, ^^^ forthwith tranfmit to the office of the Secretary qi the Congrefs, or Affcmbly of the province in j(fh\(;h the cpfps is ftationed, or (hall happen to be at the time of the death of fuch officer j to the end, that his executors may, after paynient of his debts in quarters, and interment, receive the over- plus, if any be, to his or their ufe. .11. • j^rt, 69. When any non-commiffioned officer or pFJvatc foldier Ml happen to die, or be killed in the i^rvjce of the United Colonies, the then coai- ipanding officer pf the troop or pompany, ftiaU, in the pfcfence pf two other commirTion^d officers, take an account pf whatever effeds h^ dies pQ:ffeffexJ of, and tranfmit the fame, as in the cafe above yio- { "3 ) ,vidcd for, in order that the fame may be fccured for, »nd paid to their rcfpcdtivc reprcfentativca.* •/« C O N G R E S S, Novmher 7, 1775. Refolvtd, That the followinc; additions and alterations or amendments, be made in the RULES and REGULATIONS of the Continental Army, viz. 1. All pcrfons convicted of holding a treacherous correfpon- dcncc with, or giving intelligence to the enemy, (hall fuffer death, or fuch other puuifhmcnt as a general court-martial Ihall think proper. 2. All cominifltoned officers found guilty by a general court- tnarti a of any fr. id cr embezzlement, ftiall forfeit all his pav- be ipjcfaac ca(hircd, and deemed unfit for farther fervice as an oiKcer. ;• r i'i ■ ;;. All non-commilHoned officers and foldiers convi£led before a regimental court-martial cf flealing, embezzling or deftroy- ing amnriunition, provifions, tools or any thing belonging to the public ftores, if a noti-commi/fioncd officer, to be reduced tl) the ranks, and punifhed with wipping, not lefs n\x^x\ fiftttn^ nor more than thirty-nine lafties, at the difcretion of the court- martial i if a private foldier, with the fame corporal punifh- nicnt. 4. In all cafes where a commiffioned officer is cafhiered for cowardice or fraud, it be added in the punifhment, that the crime, name, place of abode, and punifhment of the delinquent be publiflicd in the News-papers, in and about the Camp, and of that Colony from which the offender came or ufually refldcs: After which it (hall be deemed fcandalous in any officer to aflbciate with him. 5. Any officer or foldier, who fhall begin, excite, caufe, or join in any mutiny or fedition in the regiment, troop, or com- pany to which he belongs, or in any other regiment, tit)op, or company of the continental forces, either by land or fea, or in any party, po(}, detachment, or guard, on any pretence whatfoever, fhall fuffer death or fuch other punifhment as a general court-martial fhall diredl. 6. Any officer or foldier who (hall defert to the enemy^ and afrerwaids betaken, fhall fuffer death, or fuch other punifh- ment as a general court-martial fhall direft. 7. Whatfoever commiffioned officer fliall be found drunk on his guard, party, or other duty under arms, fhall be cafhitred and drummed out of the army with infamy.; any non-com- miffioned officer or foldier, fo offending, fhall be fentenced to —I, * ( 114 ) Ordered, That Mr. Dcanc, Mr. Cu(}»Ing and Mr Hewes, be a Committee to revife them for the prefs, and to get them printed. te whipt, not lefs than iuienty nor more than thh;-nine laflie?, according to the nature of the offence. g. Whatfoevcr officer or foiaier^ placed as "Otinil, Jhall ie found fleeping upon his poft, orfhall le?ive it before he liuU W regularly relieved, if a commiflioned officer, (hall be caih- iered and drummed out of the army with infamy ; if a non- miffioned officer or foldiev, fhall be fentenced to be whipped, not lefs than twenty nor more than thirty-nine laihes, according \q the, nature of the offence. t). No officer or foldier fliall lie out cf his quarters or can>p, without leave from the commanding officer of the regiment, upcp penalty, if any officer, of being multSled one month's j^ay for tSe hrff offence, and caftiiered for the fecond ; if a non- c'ofnniiilion'id officer or foldier, of being confined feven days on bread and water for , the firft offence, and the fame punifh- tnent and a forfeiture of a week's pay for the fecond 10. Whatfoever officer 01 .foldi-^r fliall mifbehave WmfLlf before the enemy, or fliamefully abandon any poft committed to his charge, or fhajl fpeak words inducing others to do the like, (hall lufler death. 1 1. All public ftores taken in the enemy's camp or magazines^ jwhether of artillery, ammunition, cloathing, or proviiions, Ihall be fccured for the ufe of the United Colonies. And all commiffioned officers found guilty by a general court-martial, of embezzling the fame, or any of them, (hall forfeit all his pay^ be ipfofaiio cafhiered, and deemed unfit for farther fervice as an officer. And all non-commiffioned officers and foldiers, convicted before a regimental court-martial of ftealing or em- bezzling the fame, if a non-commiffioned officer, fhall be re- duced to the ranks, and punifhed with whipping, not lefs than fftettiy nor more than thirty-nine lalhes, at the difcretion of the court martial, if a private foldier, with the fame punifliment. 12. If any officer or foldier fhall leave his poft or colours, in time of an engagement, to go in fearch of plunder, he ihall, if a commiffioned officer be caftiiered and drummed out of the army with infamy, and forfeit all fliare of plunder; if a non- commiffioned officer or foldier, be whipped, not lefs than twenty^ nor more than thirty-nine laflics, according to the nature of the offence, and fuicic ;U1 ihMQ of plunder taken from the enemy. 13. livery idung and lem for the t'-nine laflief, entlnil, fliall efore he fiuU [hall be cafli- y ; if a non- I be whipped, es, according rters or camp, the regiment, one month's nd ; if a non- id (even days fame puniih- nd ihave Wmfi-lf aft committed lers to do the or magazmes^ tr provi lions, ies. And all court-martial, forfeit all his farther fervice s and foldiers, saling or em- r, fhall be re- not lefs than cretion of the punifhment. or colours, in ider, he fhall, led out of the sr ; if a non- not lefs than I to the nature aken from the 13. livery { "J ) Refohed^ That the Congrefs will on Monday next rcfolve itfelf into a Committee of the whole, io confider the trade of thcfe Colonics. 17. Every oflicer commanding a regiment, troop, or company, fhalf, upon notice given to him by the commiJTary of the mufters, or from one of his deputies, aflemble the regiment, troop, or company under his command, in the next convenient place for their being muftered, on penalty of his being cafliicred, and muliSlied of his pay. 14. At every mufter, the commanding officer of each xe- giment, troop, or company, there nrefent, ihall give to the commiflary of mufters certificates, figneii by himfelf, fignifyiiig how long fuch officers, non-commiffioned officers, and foldiers, who ftiali not appear at the faid mufter, have been abfent, and the reafon of their abfence, which reafons and the time of abfence, fhall be inferted in the mufter rolls, oppofitc to the names of fuch abfentees: And the furgeons or their mates, Ihail at the fame time give to the fJomniiirary of mufters a cer- certificate figned by them, fignifying the ftate of health or fick- nefsofthofe under their care, and the faid certificate? diajl, to- gether with the mufter rolls, be by the faid Commiflary tranf- mitted to the General, and to this or any future Congrefs of the United Colonies or Committee appomted thereby, within twenty days next after fuch mufter being taken, on failure whereof, the CommifTary fo offending, ftall «be difcharged from the fervice. 15. Every office; who (hall be convifted, before a general court-martial, of having figned a falfc certificate relating to the abfence of either officer, non-commiffioned offrer, orpri- vate foldier ; and every Surgeon or Mate conviftsd of figrting a falfe certificate, relating to the health or ficicricfs of thofe under his care, fliall be cafhiered. 16 All officers and foldiers who fhall wilfully, or through negligence, dilobey any general or fpecial orders, (hall be puniln:^d at the difcretion of a regimental court-martial^ where the offence is againft a regimental order, and at the difcretion of a general court-martial, where the offence is againft an order given from the commander in chiif, or the commanding of- ficer of any detachment or poitj and fuch general court-martial can be had. a2 A num- 4 If, ( "6 ) A number of letters and fpceches from the Stockbridge Indians were laid before the Congrefs and read. Rejbked, That the Committee for Indian affairs, do prepare proper talks to the feveral tribes of In- dians, for engaging the continuance of their friend- {hip to us, and neutrality in our prefent unhappy difpute with Great-Britain. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. SATURDAY, July i, 1775. . Met according to adjournment. On motion made, Refohed, That in cafe any agent of the miniftry (hall induce the Indian tribes, or any of them, to commit adual hoftilities againft thcfe colonics, or to enier into an offenfive alliance with the Britifli troops, thereupon the colonies ought to avail theipfelves of an alliance with fuch Indian nations as will enter into the fame, to oppofe fuch Britifh troops and their Indian allies. Letters being received by exprefs from General Schuyler, which required an immediate anfwer, were laid before Congrefs, and after due delibera- tion, an anfwer was returned. On motion made, Refohed, That Lieutenant Patrick Moncrief have liberty to return to England, on giving his parole of honour, that he will not a6t againft the Americans in the prefent controverfy between Great- Britain and ihefe Colonies. v Adjourned till Monday at 9 o'clock. MO N- ( 117 ) MONDAY, July 3, ,775. Met according to adjournment. Sundry letters being laid before the Con^refs were read. ^ * Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congrefs refolved itfelf into a committee of the whole^ to confider the trade of thefe colonies, and after fome time, the Prefident refumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported a refoiution they had come to. The refoiution of the committee being read was at the defire of the colony of South-Clrolinal referred for farther confideration till to-morrow. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. TUESDAY. July 4, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The report from the committee of the whole, bemg refumed and debated, was agreed to as follows : Refolved That two afts pafled in the firftfeffion of the prderit Parliament, the one entitled, «' An • to rcftram the trade and commerce of the pro- vince of Maflachufett's-Bay and New-Hampfhire, andcolon.es of Connedicut and Rhode-Iflani and Providence Plantation, in North-America, to Great- Britain, Ireland and the BritiHi Illands in the Weft- Indies ; and to prohibit fuch Provinces and Colo- nies from carrying on any fiihery on the Banks of Newfoundland, or other places therein mentioned, under jti j i ii r> ■ « m ( iiS ) under certain conditions and limitations." The other entitled, " An Adt to reftrain the trade and commerce of the colonies of New-Jerfey, Pennfyl- vania, Maryland, Virginia and South-Carolina, to Great-Britain, Ireland and the Bntifti Iflands m the Weft -Indies, under certain conditions and liii^ita- tions,"are unconftitutional, oppreflive and cruel ; and that the commercial oppofition of thefe colo- nies, to certain acls enumerated in the Affoqation of thelaftCongrefs. ought to be made agamlt ihele, until they are repealed. Ordered, That the above be immediately pub- ' The petition to the King being again read, after fome debate, the further confideration pf it was de- ferred till to-morrow. ' Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'pl^cH. WEDNESDAY, July 5, 1775- . Met according to adjournment. r ^ Several letters were laid before the Congreft and ''t* appearing that Governor Philip Skene and Mr. Lundy have defigns inimical to America, _ . Ordered, That it be recommended to the Dele- gates of the colony of Pennfylvania, to^havc the Irder of Congrefs of the 27th of June aft, re^ed- L the fending Governor Skene to Connedticut, immediately carried into execution. Refohedl That Mr. Lundy be fent under guard along with Governor Skene to Conneaicut there to be confined in the fame manner as is ordered with rcfpea to Governor Skene. ^^^^^^^^^^ ( 119 ) Refohed, That fuch provifion be made for the fupport of Governor Skene and Mr. Lundy, as Governor Trumbull fhall ihink proper, at the ex- pence of the United Colonies. Ordered, That the Prefident write to Governor Trumbull 90 this fubjeft, and cnclofe him the above orders and refolves. The Congrefs then refumed the confideration of the petition to the King, and the fame being de- bated by paragraphs, was agreed to, and ordered to be engrofled. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock. THURSDAY, July 6, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The Congrefs took into confideration the addrefs to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, and after fome debate, the fame was re-committed. The committee to whom the declaration was re- commitcd brought in the fame, which being again read and debated by paragra|yhs, was agreed to a? follows: ( A DE- ( I20 ) A DECLARATION by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North- America, now met in Congrefs, at Philadelphia, fetting forth the caufes and necejity of their taking up Arms, If it was poffible for men, who exercife their reafon to believe, that the Divine Author of our exiftence, intended a part of the human race to hold an abfolute property in, and an unbounded power over others,' marked out by his infinite goodnefs and wiidom, as the objeds of a legal domination never rightfully refiflable, however fevere and op- preffive, the iiihubitants of thefe colonies might at leait require from the Parliament of Great-Britain fome evidence, that this dreadful authority over them has been granted to that body. But a reve- rence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dilates of common fenle, muft convince all thofe who refle' '*'='^'^'-='^' that thefe co- lonies enabled her to triumph over her enemies.l Towards the conclufion of that war, it pleafed FromT?"/°r'' " "•'""g^ inhiscounfels.- From that fatal moment, the affairs of the Bri- dually Aiding from the fummit of glorious pfof- perity, to which they had been advanced by rfie ZT, r^^'''""«°f one ™an, areatlengtifdTf! tufted by the convulfions, that now fliake it coits . ^ decpeft KJ^^^S^^JB^ ( 122 ) decpcft foundatic.ns.— The new miniflry finding the brave foes of Britain, though frequently de- feated, yet ftiU contending, took up the unfor- tunate idea of granting them a hafty peace, and of then fubduing her faithful friends. ^ Thefe devoted colonies vtrcre judged to be in fuch a ftatej as to prefent victories without blood- rhed, and all the eafy emoluments of ftatuteablc plunder.— The uninterrupted tenor of their peace- able and refpeaful behaviour from the bcgmnmg of colonization, their dutiful, zealous and ufeful Tervices during the war, tho* fo recently and am- ply acknowledged, in the moft honourable manner by his Majeily, by the late King, and by Parlia- ment, could riot fave them from the meditated innovations.— Parliament was influenced to adopt the pernicious projedl, and affuming a new power over them, have in the courfe of eleven years, given fuch decifive fpecimens of the fpirit and confequences attending this power, as to leave no doubt concerning the effeds of acquiefcence un- der it. They have undertaken to give and grant our money without our confent, though we have ever exercifed an exclufive right to difpofe of bur own property ; ftatutcs have been pafTed for extending the jurifdidion of courts of Admiralty and Vice Admiralty beyond their ancient limits; For depriving us of the accuftomed and in- eftimable privilege of trial by jury in cafe;; affeding both life and property j for fufpend- ing the legiflature of one of the colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another ; and for altering, fundamentally the form of government eftabliihed by charter, and kcLircd by adts of its own legiflature folemnly confirmed ( '^3 ) confirmed by the crown ; for exempting the " murderers of colonifts from legal trial, and in efFedt, from punifliment; for eredingin a neigh- bouring province, acquired by the joint arms of Great-Britain and America, a defpotifm dangei- rous to our very exifteijce j and for quartering fol- diers upon the colonifts in time of profound peace. It has alfo been refolved in parliament, that co- lonifts charged with committing certain offences, fhall be tranfported to England to be tried. But why fhould we enumerate our injuries in detail ? By one ftatute it is declared, that parlia- ment can " of right make laws to bind us in all cajes whatfeever:' What is to defend us againft: fo enormous, fo unlimited a power ? Not a (in- gle man of thofe who afllime it, is chofen by us ; or is fubjed to our controul or influence ; but on the contrary, they are all of them exempt from the operation of fuch laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted from theoftenfible pur- pofes for which it is raifed, would adually lighten their pwn burdens in proportion, as they increafe ours. We faw the mifery to which fuch defpo- tifm would rediuce us. We for ten years incef- fantly and ineffedlually befieged the Throne as fapplicants -, we reafoned, we remonftrated with parliament in the moft niild and decent language. Adminiftration, lenfible that we fliould regard thefe oppreftive meafures as freemen ought to do, fent over fleets and armies to enforce them. The indignation of the Americans was roufed, it is true; but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal and afl^edionate people. A Congrefs of Dele- gates from the united colonies was afllembled at Philadelphia, on the fifth day of laft September. R2 We - *'!fr^;.»a*»»---' ( 124 ) We refolved again to offer an humble and dutiful petition to the King, and alfo addrcffed our fel- low iubjeas of Great-Britain. Wc have purfued every temperate, every rcfpeftful meafure, we have even proceeded to break off our commercial intercourfe with our fellow fubjedts, as the laf: peaceble admonition, that our attachment to no nation upon earth (hould lupplant our attach- ment to liberty. —This, wc flattered ourfelve?, was the ultimate ftep of the controverfy : But fubfequent events have {hewn, how vain was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies. Seveial threatening expreflions againft the Co- lonies were inferted in his Majefty's Speech ; our petition, though we were told it was a decent one, that his Majefty had been pleafed to receive it gra- cioufly, and to promife laying it before his Par- liament, was huddled into both houfes among a bundle of American papers, and there negleded. The Lords and Commons in their addrefs, in the month of February, faid, " that a rebellion at that time adlually exifted within the province of Maffachufett's-Bay ; and that thofe concerned in it, had been countenanced and encouraged by unlawful combinations and engagements, entered into by his Majefty's fubjedts in feveral of the other Colonies; and therefore they befought his Majefty, that he would take the moft effedtual meafures to inforce due obedience to the laws and authority of the fupreme legiflature." — Soon after, the commercial intercourfe of whole Colonies, with foreign countries, and with each other, was cut off by an aft of Parliament ; by another, feveral of them were entirely prohibited from ihe fifheries in the feas near their coafts, on on which they always depended for* theif fuftenance ; and large reinforcements of (hips and troops were immediately lent over to General Gage. Fruitlefs were all the intreaties, arguments, and eloquence of an illuftriou^ band of the moft diftin- guifhed Peers and Commoners, who nobly and ftrenuoufly affcrted the juftice of our cauff, tf> ftay, or even to mitigate the hecdlefs fury with which thefe accumulated and unexampled out- rages were hurried on.— Equally fruitlefs was the interference of the city of London, ofBriftol, and many other refpeaable towns in our favour. Par- liament adopted an infidious manoeuvre calculated to divide us, to cftablifh a perpetual audion of tax- ations where Colony fhould bid againft Colony, all of them uninformed what ranfom would re- deem their lives, and thus to extort from us, at the point of the bayonet, the unknown fums that (hould be fufEcient to gratify, if poflible to grati- fy, minifterial rapacity, with the miferable in- dulgence left to us of raifing, in our own mod^, the prefcribed tribute. What terms more rigid and humilating could have been didated by re- morfelcfs vidors to conquered enemies ? In our circumftances, to accept them, would be to deferve them. Soon after the intelligence of thefe proceedings arrived on this continent. General Gage, who in the courfe of the lad year, had taken pofTeflion of the town of Bofton, in the province of MafTa- chufett's-Bay, and flill occupied it as a garrifon, on the 19th day of April, fent out from that place a large detachment of his army, who made an ynprovoked affault on the inhabitants of the faid province, at the town of Lexington, as appears by th's •'«'•««*-., -*»-■ ( 126 ) the aiTidavits of a great number of pcrfons. hint of whom were officers and loldiers of that de- tachment, murdered eight of the inhabitants, and wounded many others. From thence the troops proceeded in warlike array to the town ot Con- cord, where they fct upon another party of the inhabitants of the fame province, kilhng feveral, and wounding more, until compelled to retreat by the country people fuddcnly afTembled to repel this cruel aggreffion. Hoftilitics, thus commence^ by the Britifh troops, have been fince profecuted by them without regard to faith or rcputation.-- Thc inhabitants of Bofton being confined within that town by the General their Governor, anyi having, in order to procure their difmiflion, en.- tcred into a treaty with him, it wasftipulated that the faid inhabitants having depofited their arms with their own magiftrates, (hould have liberty to depart, taking with them their other effeas. Tjiey accordingly delivered up their arms, but in open violation of honour, in defiance of the obligation of treaties, which even favage nations efteenied facred, the Governor ordered the armsdepolited ^s aforefaid, that they might be preferved for their owners, to be leizcd by a body of foldiers ; de- tained the greatefl: part of the inhabitants in the town, and compelled the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their moll valuable efteds -behind. . By this perfidy, wives are feparated from their bulbands, children from their parents, the aged an have wantonly burnt Charleftown, befidcs a confider- able number of houfes in other places ; our fliips and vellels arc fcized; the necefl'ary fupplies ot provifions are intercepted, and he is exerting hi« iitmod power to fpread deArudtion and deve^latior^ around him. We have received certain intelligence, that Ge- neral Garletorl, the governor of Canada, is inftiga- ting the people of that province and the Indians to fall upon us ; and we have but too much rea- fon to apprehend, that fchemes have been formed to excite domeftic enemies againft us. In brief, a part of thefe Colonies now feel, and all of them are fure of feeling, as far as the vengeance of ad- miniftration can infli(5t them, the complicated ca-^ lamities of fire, fword, and famine. — We are re- duced to the alternative of chuling an uncondi- tional fubmiflion to the tyranny of irritated mi- nifters, or rcfiftance by force. — The latter is our choi9e. — We have counted the coft of this con- teft, and find nothing fo dreadful as voluntary flavery. — Honor, juftice, and humanity forbid us tamvly to furrender that freedom which we re- ceived from our gallant anceftors, and which our innocent pofterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and ^uiltofrelign- in^ iivg fucceeding generations to that wretchedners which inevitabljr awaits them^ if Wc bately entail hereditary bondage upon them. Our cauie is jail. Our union is perfed. Our Internal refourccg are great; and if neccffary, foreign afliftance is undoubtedly attainable.— W^ gratefully acknowledge, as fignal inftances of the Divine favour towards us, that his Providence ^ould not permit us to be calM into this fevere controverfy, until we were grown up to our prer rent ftrength. had been previoufly exercifed m warlike operations, and poffeflcd of the means of defending ourfelves.— With hearts fortified with thefe animating reflexion?, we moft folcmnly, be* fore God and the world declare, that, cxertmg ike utmoft energy of thofe powers, which oai? bencficient Creatpr hath gracioutty beftowed upori iis, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to affume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with'Uhabating firmnefs and perfcverance, embloy for the prefervation of our liberties, being vrith one mind refolved, to die Freemen rathe^ than to live Slaves. *" -Left this declaration (hould difquiet the mmds of our friends and fellow- fubjedts in any part of the empire, we affure them that we mean not to dilTolve that Union which has fo long and fo happily fubfiftcd between us* and which we fmcerely wifh to fee reftored. Neceflity has not yet driven us into ihat defperate mcafarc, or induced us to excite any other naiioi.to war againft them. We have not raifed ar^ mics with ambitious defigns of feparating from Great-Britain, and cftabliOiing independent ftates. —We fight not for glory or for conqueft. We exhibit to mankind the remarkable fpe^aclc of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without ( 129 ) any imputation, or even fufpicion, of oiFence. They boaft of their privileges and civilization, and yet offer no milder conditions than fervitude or death. — In our own native land, in defence of the free- dom that is our hirth-right, and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it— for the pro- tedion of our property, acquired folely by the' honeft induftry of our fore-fathers and ourfelves, againft violence aftually offered, we have taken up arms. We {hall lay them down when hofti- lities (hall ceafe on the part of the aggreffors, and aU danger of their being renewed fhall be remov-- ed, and not before. With an humble confidence in the mercies of the fupreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the Univerfe, we mofl devotly implore his divine goodnefs to proted: us happily through this great conflid, to difpofe our adverfaries to reconcilia- tion on reafonable terms, and thereby to relieve the empire from the calamities of civil war. On a motion made, Refohed, That a letter be prepared to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the city of London, expreffing the thanks of this Congrefs, for their virtuous and fpirited oppofition to the opprefTive and ruinous fyflem of Colony Adminiflration adopted by the Britifh Mi- niflry. Ordered, That the Committee appointed to draught an Addrefs to the people of Great- Bri- tain, do prepare this. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o*clock. FRIDAY, July 7, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The Committee to whom the Addrefs to the ^vupiw wi vjri vut-isriijiin wasre-couiniitieu, Drouglit in the fame, which being again read and deba- S ted. ,; ( 13° 5 ted, the farther confidcration thereof was deferred till to-morroW. Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o clock. SATURDAY, July 8, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The petition to the King being engroffed, was compared at the table and figned by the Members ^ To'tL KING'S Moft Excellent MAJESTY. Moft gracious Sovereing, „ r ^. r> ■ WE your Majefty's faithful fubjeds of the Co-: lonies of New-tlamp{hire, Maffachufett s-Bay, , Rhode-Ifland, and Providence Plantations^ Con- neaicut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennlylva- nia, the Counties of New-Caftle, Kent and Suffex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia. North-Caro- lina, and South-Carolina, in behalf of ourfelves. and the inhabitants of thefe Colonies, who have deputed us to reprefent them in General Congrefs, entreat your Majefty's gracious attention to this our humble petition. . «„ j The union between our Mother Country and thefe Colonies, and the energy or mild and jult government, produced benefits fo remarkably important, and afforded fuch an afTurance of their permanency and increafe, that the won- der and envy of other nations were excited, while they beheld Great^Britain rifmg to a pow- er the moft extraordinary, the world had ever known. Her rivals, obferving that there was no pro- bability of this happy connexion being broken by civil diilentions, and apprehending its future effeds, if left any longer undifturbed, refolved to «.«„.nf 1-.pr receiving fuch continual and formi- dable acceflions of wealth and flrength, by check- ( IJI ) ing the growth of thofe fettlements from which they were to be derived. In the profecution of this attempt, events fo , unfavourable to the defign took place, that every friend to the interefl: of Great-Britain and thefc Colojiies, entertained pleafing and reafonable es- peiitations of feeing an additional force and exer- tion immediately given to the operations of the union hitherto experienced, by an enlargement of the dominions of the crown, and the removal of ancient and warlike enemies to a greater dif- tance. At the conclufion thereof of the late war, the moil glorious and advantageous that ever had been carried on by Britith Arms, your loyal co- lonifts, having contributed to its fuccefs, by fuch repeated and ftrenuous exertions, as frequently procured them the diftinguiflied approbation of your Majefty, of the late King, and of Parlia- ment, doubted not, but that they fliould be per- mitted, with the reft of the empire, to (hare in the bleHings of peace, and the emoluments of viiftory and conqueft. While thefe recent and honourable acknow- ledgements of their merits remained on record in the journals and ads of that auguft legifla- ture, the Parliament, undefaced by the im- putation or even the fufpicion of any of- fence, they were alarmed by a new fyftem of ftatuteS and regulations adopted for the admi- niftration of the Colonies, that filled their minds with the moft painful fears and jealoufies ; and, to their inexpreflible aftoniihment, perceived the danger of a foreign quarrel quickly fucceeded by domeftic danger, in their judgment of a more jr.i I-! S z Nor < 132^ ) Nor were thefe anxieties alleviated by any ten- dency in this fyftem to promote the welfare of their Mother Country. For though its efFeds were more immediately felt by them, yet its in- fluence appeared to be injurious to the commerce and profperity of Great Britain. Wc (hall decline the ungrateful tafk of defcrib- ing the irkfome variety of artifices, pradtifed by many of your Majefty's minifters, the delufive pretences, fruitlefs terrors, and unavailing feveri- ties that have from time to time been dealt out by them, in their attempts to execute this impolitic plan, or of tracing through a ferics of years paft the progrefs of the unhappy differences between Great Britain and thefe Colonies, that have flowed from this fatal fource. Your Majefty's minifters, perfevering in their meafures, and proceeding to open hoftilities for enforcing them, have compelled us to arm in our own defence, and have engaged us in a contro- verfy fo peculiarly abhorrent to the affedtions of your ftill faithful Colonifts, that when we confi- der whom we muft oppofe in this conteft, and if it continues, what may be the confequences, our own particular misfortunes are accounted by us only as parts of our diftrefs. Knowing to what violent refentments and in- curable animofities, civil difcords are aptto exaf- perate and inflame the contending parties^ we think ourfelves required by indifpenfible obliga- tions to Almighty God, to your Majefty, to our fellovv-fubjeas, and to ourfelves, immediately to ufe all the means in our power, not incompatible with our fafety, for flopping the further eff^uflpn of blood, and for averting the impending calami- ties that threaten the Britifli empire. Thus called upon to addrefs your Majefty on affairs ( 133 ) affairs of fuch moment to America, and probably to all your dominions, we are earneftly defirous of performing this office, with the utmoft defe- rence for your Majefty ; and we therefore pray, that your Majefty's royal magnanimity and benevo- lence may make the moft favourable conftruc- tions of our exprefllbns ^n fo uncommon an oc- cafion. Could we reprefent, ip their full force, the fentiments that agitate the minds of us your dutiful fubjeas, we are perfuaded, your Majefly would afcribe any feeming deviation from reve- rence in our language, and even in our condua:, not to any reprehenfible intention, but to the impofTibility of reconciling the ufual appearances of refpea with a juft attention to our own prefer- vation againft thefe artful and cruel enemies, who abufe your royal confidence and authority, for the purpofe of affeding our deftrua:ion. Attached to your Majefty's perfon, family, and government, with all devotion that principle and affedion can infpire, connedied with Great Bri- tain by the ftrongeft ties that can unite focieties, and deploring every event that tends in any degree to weaken them, we folemnly aflure your Ma- jefty, that we not only moft ardently defire the former harmony between her and thcie Colonies may be reftored ; but that a concord may be efta- bliftied between them upon fo firm a bafis as to perpetuate its bleiTings uninterrupted by any fu- ture diflentions to fucceeding generations in both countries, and to tranfmit your Majefty's name to poftcrity, adorned with that fignal and lafting glory, that has attended the memory of thole illuftrious perfonages, whofe virtues anvl abilities have extricated ftates from dangerous convulfions, and, bv fecurino- hannineft; tn nthers. hcivi^ f^rf^pA the moft noble and durable monuments to their own fame. 'W'c (^34) We beg leave farther to aflTure your Majefty, that notwithftanding the fufferings of your loyal Colonifts, during the courfc of this prefent con- tiaverfy, our breads retain too tender a regard for the kingdom from which we derive our origin, to requeft fuch a reconciliation as might in any manner be inconfiftent Vith her dignity or her welfare. Thefe, related as we are to her, honoui' and duty, as well as inclination, indn- ns to *up- port and advances and the apprcL, 5, that nowopprefs our hearts with unfpcak:.le grief, being once removed, your Majefty will find your faithful fubjeas on this continent ready and wil- ling at all times, as they have ever been, with their lives and fortunes, to affert and maintain the rights and interefts of your Majefty, and of our Mother Country. *< . r» .1^^ We therefore befeech your Majefty, that your royal authority and influence may be gr^ioufty intcrpofed to procure us relief from our alfliCting fears and jealoufies, occafioned by the fyftem be- fore-mentioned, and to fettle peace thrcJugh every part of your dominions, with all humility fubnut- tingto your Majefty's wife confideration, whether it may not be expedient for facilitating thofe im- portant purpofes, that your Majefty be pleafed to direa fome mode, by which the united applica- tions of your faithful Colonifts to the Throne, in purfuance of their Common Councils, may be im- proved into a happy and permanent reconcilia- tion; and that in the mean time meafures may be taken for preventing the further deftru6tion of the lives of your Majefty's fubjefts ; and that fuch ftatutes as more immediately diftrefs any ot your Majefty's Colonies, may be repealed. i'or i)y lucn arrangcujwsiio aa jrv«» ,r.-j~-j - ' 3 wiidom ( '35 ) wifdom can form for colledling the united fenfe of your American people, we are convinced, your Majefty would receive fuch fatisfa<5tory proofs of the difpofition of the Colonifts towards tbcir fo- vereign and the parent flare, that the wiflied for opportunity would fuon be reltored to them, of evincing the lincerity of their profeffions, by every tcftimony of devotion becoming the mod dutiful fubjefts, and the moft affedtionate Colonics. . That your Majefty may enjoy a long and prof- perous reign, and that your defendants may go- vern your dominions* with honor to themfclves and happinefs to their fubjedts, is our fmcere prayer. The Committee appointed to prepare a letter to the Lord-mayor, &c. reported the fame, which was read. On motion, Refohed, That the fame Commit- tee prepare a letter to Richard Penn, Efq. and the Colony Agents, by name, in England. The Congrefs then refumed the confideration pf the addrels to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, which being debated by paragraphs, was agreed to as follows : The Twelve United Colonies by their Delegates in Congrefs, to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain. Friends, Countrymen, and Brethren 1 BY thefe, and every other appellation, that may defignate the ties, which bind US to each other, we entreat your ferious attention to this our fecond attempt to prevent their diflblution. Remembrance of former friendfliips, pride in the glorious atchievements of ourcommon anccftors and affedtion for the heirs of their virtues, have hi- therto preferved our mutual connexion; but when that friendfhip is violated by the grolTeft injuries; when the pride of anceflry becomes our reproach, ilaves ; Mi^lia TV V MX W 41 ( ^36 ) flaves ; when reduced to the melancholy alterna- tive of renouncing your favor, or our Freedom ; can wc hcfitatc about the choice ? Let the fpirit of Britons determine. In a former Addrefs, wc aflerted our Rights and ftated the injuries we had then received. Wc hoped, that the mention of our wrongs would have roufed that honeft indignation, which has flept too long for your honour, or the wel- fare of the empire. But we have not been per- mitted to entertain this plcafing expeaation. Every day brought an accumulation of injuries, and the invention of the miniftry has been con- ftantly cxercifed, in adding to the calamities of your American Brethren. After the moft valuable right of legiflation was infringed; when ' the powers aflumed by your parliament, in which we are not reprefented, and from our local and other circumilances cannot properly be reprefented, rendered our property precarious ; after being denied that mode of trial,' to which we have long been indebted for thefafety of our Perfons and the prefervation of our Liber- ties; after being in many inftances divefted of thole laws, which were tranfmitted to US by our c - mon AnceQors, and fubjected to an arbitrary code compiled under the aufpices of Roman tyrants ; after thofe charters, which encouraged our prede- cefibrs to brave death and danger in every (hape, on unknown feas, in defarts unexplored, amid(t barbarous and inhofpitable nations, were annuled ; when, without the form of trial, without a pub- lic accufation, whole colonies were condemned ; their trade deftroyed, their inhabitants impove- riflied; when foldiers were encouraged to embrue their hands in the blood of Americans^ by offers of impunity ; when new liiOues o. f alterna- 'reedom ; the fpirit ur Rights received, r wrongs )n, which • the wel- been per- pedlation. : injuries, )een con- imities of lation was by your ented, and ces cannot : property le of trial,' rthefafety Dur Liber- ed of thofe our c itrary coow in tyrants -, our prede- very (hape, ed, amidft e annuled ; lOut a pub- )ndemned i ts impove- mraged to Americans, ^,m^ ^^j4 ^e% ^\r trial ( ^37 ) trial were inftitiUed for the ruin of the accufed, where the charge carried with it the horrors of con- viction ; when a defpot : government was eftablifh- ed in a neighbouring province, and its limits ex- tended to every of our frontiers; we little imagined that any thing could be added to this black cata- logue of unprovoked imjuries : but we have unhap- pily been deceived ; and the late meafures of the Britilh miniftry fully convince us, that their objedt is the redudlion of thefe colonies to flavery and ruin. To confirm this affertion, let us recall your atten- tion to^hc affairs of America, fince our lafl addrels. Let us combat the calumnies of our enemies 5 and let us warn you of the dangers that threaten you, in our deftrudtion. Many of your fellow fubjeds, whofe fituation deprived them of other fupport, drew their maintenance from the fea j but the de- privation of our Liberty being infudicient to fatisfy the refentment of our enemiesj the horrors of fa- mine were fuperadded, and a Britifh Parliament, who, in better times, were the protedors of inno- cence and the patrons of humanity, have, without diftindion of age or f^x, robbed thoulands of the food, which they were accuflomed to draw from that inexhauf^ible fource, placed in their neighbour- hood by the benevolent Creator. Another a<5t of your legiHature fhuts our ports and prohibits our trade with any but thofe States, from whom the great law of lelf-prefervaiion ren- ders it abfolutely neceffary we fhould at prefent withold our commerce. But this adt (whatever may have been its defign) we confider rather as in- jurious to your opulence, than our interefl. All our commerce terminates with you j and the wealth, we procure from other nations is foon exchanged, for your fu per flui ties. Our remittances mud then , ..f ■ T cea(e ( 138 ) ceafc with our trade j and our refinements with our affluence. Wc truft howeter, that laws, which deprive us of every blefling, but a foil that teems with th« neceffarics of life, and that liberty which renders the enjoyment of them fecure, will not re- lax our vigour in their defence. We might here obferve on the cruelty and incon- fiftency of thofe, who while they publicly brand ua with reproachful and unworthy epithets, endea- vour to deprive us of the means of defence, by their interpofuion with foreign powers, and to deliver us to the lawlefs ravages of a mercilefs Soldiery, But happily wc ar« not without rcfources ; and though the timid and humiliating applications of a Britifh miniftry lliould prevail with foreign nations, yet in- duftrv, prompted by neceffiiy, will not leave us withodt the neceffary fupplies. We could wifli to go no further, and, not to wound the ear of huma- nity, leave untold thofe rigorous ads of oppreflion, which are daily exercifed in the town of Bofton, did we not hope, that by difclaiming their deeds and puniihingthe perpetrators, you would ^^ortly vin- dicate the honour of the Britilh name and rc-eftabiilh the violated laws of juftice. That once populous, flouriftiing and commercial town is now garrifoned by an army fent, not to protea:, but to enflave its inhabitants.— The civil government is overturned, and a military defpotifm ereded upon its ruins. Without law, without ri^h't, powers arc affumed unknown to the confti- tution. Private property is unjuftly invaded. The inhabitants daily fubjeded to the licentioufnefs of the foldiery, are forbid to remove in defiance of their natural rights, in violation of the moft foleiTMi compads. Or if, after long and wearifome fo- Ikitation, a pafs is procured, their cffeas arc de- . , laincd ( 139 ) tained, and cyen thole who are mofl: favoured, have no alternative but poverty or flavery. The diftrefs of many thonfand people, v/antonly deprived oF the ncceflaries of life, is a fubjedt, on which we would not wifh to enlarge. Yet we cannot but obfcrve, that a Britifli fleet (unjultified even by ads of your legiflature) are daily employed in ruining our commerce, feizing our fhips, and depriving whole communities of their daily bread. Nor will a regard for your honor per- mit us to be filent, while Britifli troops fully your glory, by actions, which the moft inveterate en- mity will not palliate among civilized nations ; the wanton and unnecefTary deftrudlionof Charleftown, a large, ancient and once populous town, juft: be- fore deferted by its inhabitants, who had fled to avoid the fury of your foldiery. If you ftill retain thofe fentiments of compaflion, by which Britons have ever been diftinguifhed j if the humanity, which tempered the valour of our common anceltors, has not degenerated into cruel- ty, you will lament the miferies of their defcendants. To what are we to attribute this treatment ; If to any fecret principle of the conftitution, let it be mentioned J let us learn, that the government, we have long revered, is not without its defcds, and that while it gives freedom to a part, it necef- farily enflaves the remainder of the empire. If fuch a principle exiils ; why for ages has it ccafed to operate ? Why at this time is it called into adtion ? Can ivo reafon be afligned for this condud ? Or muft it be refolved into the wanton excrcifc of arbitrary power ? Andfliall the defcendants of Bri- tons tamely fubmit to this ? — No, Sirs ! We ne- ver will, while we revere the memory of our gal- laoit and virtuous anceflors, we never can furrendei ' T 3 thofe t) ( 140 ) thofc glorious privileges, for which they fought, hied, and conquered. Admit that your fleets could deftroy our towns, and ravage our fea-coafts j thcfc are inconfiderablc objeds, things of no moment to men, whofc bofoms glow with the ardour of li- berty. Wc can retire beyond the reach of your navy, and without any fenfible diminution of the necelTarles of life, enjoy a luxury, which fromtha? period you will want j THE LUXURY OF BEING FREE. Wc know the force of your arms, and was it called forth in the caufe of juftice and your counr try, we might dread the ejxrtion ; but will Britons fight und'^r the banners of tyranny? Will they countcradt the labours, and difgrace the victories of their anceftors? Will they forge chains for their 'pofterity ? If they defcend to this unworthy tafk, will their fwords retain their edge, their arms their accuftomed vigour ? Britons can never beconie the jnftruments of oppreflion, till they lofe the fpirit of freedom, by which alone they are invincible. Our enemies charge us with ftdition. In what "does it confifl ? In our refufal to fubmit to unwar- rantable ads of injuftice and cruelty ? If fo, Oiew us a period in your hiGory, in which you have not been equally feditious ? We are accufed of aiming at independence j but how is this accufation fupported ? By the allegations ■ of your miniflers, not by our adions. Abufed, in- fulted, and contemned, what Heps have we purfued to obtain redrefs ? We have carried our dutiful pe- titions to the Throne. We have applied to your juaicc, for relief. We have retrenched our luxury, and with-held our trade. The advantages of our commerce were defigned as a compenfation for your protedtion : When you ceafed ( '4' ) ccafcd to protccl, for what were we to compcn« fate? What has been the fuccefs of our endeavours ? The clemency of our fovercign is unhappily di-* verted i our petitions are treated with indignity ; our prayers anfwercd by infuhs. Our application to you remains unnoticed, and leaves us the melan- choly apprcheniion ofypur wanting either the will, or the prjwcr, to alTift us. Even under thele circumftanccs, what meafurei have we taken that betray a defire of independence? Have we called in the aid of thofe foreign powers, who are the rivals of your grandeur ? When your troops were few and defencelefs, did we take ad- vantage of iheir dilUefs, and expel them our towns ? Or have we permitted them to fortify, to receive new aid, and to acquire additional ftrength? Let not your enemies and ours perfuadc you, that in this w" are influenced by fear, or any other unr worthy motive. The lives of Britons are ftill dear to us. They arc the children of our parents, and an uninterrupted intercourfe of mutual benefits had knit the bonds of friendlhip. When hoiliiities were (;:ommenced, when on a late occafion we were wantonly attacked by your troops, ihough we re- pelled their affaults, and returned their blows j yet we lamented the wounds they obliged us to give j nor have we yet learned to rejoice at a vidory over Englillimcn. As we wifli not to colour our actions, or difguife our thoiights j we fhall, in the fimple language of truth, avow the meafures we have purfued, the mo- tives upon which we have adted, and our future de- figns. When our late petition to the throne produced po other efFed: than frefli injuries, and votes of your legif- lil ( 142 ) keiaature, calculated to jultify every fcverity ; when vour fleets and your armies were prepared to wrelt ■ from us )ar property, to rob us of our liberties or ©ur lives; when the hoftile attempts of Gen. Gage evinced his defigns j we levied armies tor our fecu- rity and defence. When the powers veftcd in the governor of Canada, gave us reafon to apprehend danger from that quarter; and we had frequent intimations that a cruel and favage enemy was to be let loofe upon the defencclefs inhabitants of cur frontiers ; w ^. took fuch meafures as prudence dic- S asnetemty willjuftify We poffeffed our. felves of Crown-Point and Ticonderoga. Yet eiveus leave moft folemnly to affureyou, that we Lve not yet loft fight of the objed we have ever had in view, a reconciliation with you on conllitu- tional principles, and a reftoration of that frienoly intercourfe, which, to the advantage of both, we till lately maintained. The inhabitants of this country apply them- felves chiefly to agriculture and commerce. As their fafliions and manners are fimilar to yOurs, vour markets muft afford them the convemencics and luxuries, for -which they exchange the pr^ duce of their labours. The wealth ot this excend- ed continent centers with you ; and our trade is lo regulated as to be fubfervient only to your mtereft. You are too reafonable to exped, that by taxes (in addition to this) we fliould contribute to your cxpence, to believe after diverting the fountain that the ftreams can flow with unabated force. ^ ■ It has been faid, that we refufe to fubmit to the reftriaions on our commerce. From whence is this inference drawn ? Not from our words we having repeatedly declared the contrary j and we again ( «43 ) profefs our fubmiffion to the feveral a(5ts of trade and navigation paffed before the year 1763, truft- ing, neverthelefs, in the equity and juftice of Par- liament, that fuch of them as, upon cool and im- partial confideration, (hall appear to have impofed unneceflary or grievous reftridions, will, at fome happier period, be repealed or altered. And we chearfully confent to the operation of fuch 3(^8 of the Britilh Parliament as fliall be rcftrained to the regulation of our external commerce, for the pur- pofe of fecuring the commercial advantages of the whole empire to the mother country, and the com- mercial benefits of its refpeftive members, ex- cluding every idea of taxation internal or external, for railing a revenue on the iubjeds of America, without their confent. It is aliedged that we contribute nothing to the common defence. To this we anfwer, that the ad- vantages which Great Britain receives from the mo- noply of our trade, far exceed our proportion of the expence neceflary for that purpofe. But rtiould thefe advantages be inad quate thereto, let the re- flrititions on our trade be removed, and we wilt chearfully contribute fuch proportion when conlli- tutionally required. . It is a fundamental principle of the Britifh confti- tution, that every man fhould have at lead a repre- fcntative fhare in the formation of thofe laws by which he is bound. Were it otherwife, the regu- lation of our internal police by a Britilh parKiament, who are and ever will be unacquainted with ouc local eircumftance?, mu(t be always inconvenient^ and frequently oppreiTive, working our wrong, without yielding any poflible advantage to you. A plan of accommodation (as it has been ab- furdly called) has been propofed by your Minifters, to I (-J 1^1 i i • i-i ( 144 ) . to oar refpeaive affcmblieb. Were this propofal free from eveiyo ther objeaion but that which arifes from the time of the ofFer^ ft would not be unex- ceptionable. Con men deliberate with the bayonet at their bread ? Can they treat with freedom, while their towns are iJicked, when daily inftances of in^ jaftice and oppreffion difturb the flower operations of reafon? ^ . u /r J If this propofal is really fuch as you would offer and we accept, why was it delayed till the nation was put to ulclefs expence, and we were reduced to our prefent melancholy fituation ? If it holds forth nothing, why was it propofed ? Unlefs indeed to deceive you into a belief, that we were unwilling to liften to any terms of accommodation ? But what is fubm^rtpd to our confideration ? We contend for the difpofal of our property. We are told that our demand is unreafonable, that our affemblies may indeed colled our money, but that they muft at the fame time offer j not what your exigencies or ours may require ; but fo much as fhall be deemed fufficient to fatisfy the defires o^ a Muufter and enable him to provide for favourites and dependants. A recurrence to your own treafury will convince vou how litile of the money already extorted from us has been applied to the relief of your burthens. To fuppofe that we would thus gralp the (hadow, and give up the fubftance, is adding iniult to in- "'""we have neverthelefs again prefented an humble and dutiful petition to our Sovereign ; and to re- move every imputation of obftinacy, have requefted his Majefty to direct fome mode, by which the united apnlications of his faithful Colonies may . ' be imprOv;d imo a happy and pern^anent reconcili- ation. We are willing lo tie^it on fuch terms as can alone f 145 ) flione render an accdmnnodation lading ; and wd flatter ourfelves, that our pacific endeavours will be attended with a removal of miniderial troops, and a repeal of thofe lawsi of the operation of vvhich we complain, on the one part, and a difbanding of our army, and a dtfToiution of our commercial aflb- ciations, on the other. Yet conclude not from this^ that we propofe to furrender our property into the hands of your mi- niftry, or veft your Parliament with a power which may terminate in our deflrudion; The great bul- warks of our conflitution we have defired to main* tain by every temperate, by every peaceable means j but your minifters (equal foes to Britifh and Ame- rican freedom) have added to their former oppref- fions an attempt to reduce us by the fword to a baffe deUver you. weak and defencelel^, to your natunal enemies. ^, . v««f,#/^«»^ ^Sineethecvyour Bertf mxxQihc. the P"ce °f your viadries.,-^enr- ruin., of your defeat :-W^at ^^^^ fot^lky caa ur^e you to a purfmt deftruaiVc of all that B I itorts hold dear,? , «.• u * k«- - ^ If vou have no regatd Co the connexion that haa forage* fubfifted between us ; if you. Imve for^.6 the wounds^ we received fighting by your fide, for the Qxtentioh of the empire ; ifi our commerce i& notabobiea below your confidcration ; it jultice and humanity have loft their infl"^"*^« °" J!^^ hearts;, ftUl motives are not: wantiagi to^ excite vour indignation at.the«ieafures now puffued : your Wealth. . your hcmour,, your liberty, ar^ at ftake. . Notwithftanding the. diftrpfs to which^we are re- duced, wcLibmctimcSi forget our own afflj^^ons. to anticipate and fympathize in, yours We gneve that raOi and inconfiderate. councU ^'^"^^ pre^ pitate the deftrutlion of .an empire, ^hich has been, iheenvy and admiration of agc^, and :all.God to- witnefsl that we would pajt with our property,, endanger our lives, and facrifice everything but Li- berty, to redeem you from' rum. A cloud hangs over your heads and- ours ; cer, this reaches you, it may probably burft upon us. let us then (before the remembrance of former kind- nefs is obliterated) once more repeat thofe appella- tions which are ever grateful in cur ears. Let us ( H7 )' entreat Heaven to avert our ruin, and the dsfiruc- tion tliat threatens our friends, brethren, and countrymen, on the other fide of the Atlantic. Ordered^ That the above addrcfs be icnmediately printed, and fent by Mr. Penn to England. The letter to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Livery of London, being again read and debated, was agreed to as follows : Mv LORD, PERMIT the Delegates of the people of twelve ancient colonies, to pay your lordfliip and the very refpedtable body of which you are head, the juft tribute of gratitude and thanks for the virtuous and unfollicited refentment you have Ihewn to the violated rights of a free people. The city of Lon- don, my Lord, having in all ages, approved itfelf the patron of Liberty, and the fupport of juft go- vernment, againft iawldi tyranny and oppreflk>n, cannot fail to make us deeply fenfible of the powerful aid our caufe muft receive from fuch ad* vocates. A caufe, my Lord, worthy the fupport of the firft city in the world, as it involves the fate of a great Continent, and threatens to (hake the foundations of a flourifhing, and until lately, a happy empire. . North-Anserica, my Lord, wiflies moft ardently for a lafting connexion with Great-Britain, on terms of juft and equal Liberty j lefs than which ge- nerous minds will not offer, nor brave and free ones be willing to receive. •A cruel war has at length been opened againft U 2 US i .iSlf '^^. ■■:--.-^«- \ M I is i't\ ( 148 > us, and whilft we prepare to defend ourfelvcs llko the dcfccndants of Britons, we ftiU hope that the mediation of wife and good citizens, will at lengtli prevail over dcfpotifm, and rcftore harmony and peace, on permanent principles, to an'oppreffed and divided empire. Wc have the honour to be, My Lord} With great cftecm. Your Lurdfhip's \. , . « Faiihfwl friends and fellow-fubjcas, Or^^rtff the report of the Committee on Indian affairs, and the fame being gone through, wus agreed to as follows ; That the fecuring and preferving the friendfhip of the Jndian nations, appears to be a fobjcffioner, fo themiddle and northern department the fam of % %ouZd% hundred andfi.ty.fi. and t^oh,rds, for each of their refpeftive departments, for de- [rlying the expence o'f treaties and prefcnts to the ^"rhat* the Commiffioners refpeaively have power "" Thaf in^'Srihe Commiffioners for th. re- Jtive ftriat or any one of them in e.tber j^rift fliall have fatisfaflory proof, that the Kb"^' fuperintendants, tl«ir deput.es or agent.. ^' a ,y oXr perlbn whatfoever, »'« aa.ve m ft^- ■ Lnr incitin.' the Indfans, or any of them, rmg up o"- '""^P . ji,g American colonies. ( '53 ) to be feized and kept in fafe cuftody, until order fiiall be tnken therein by a majority of the Commiflioners of the diftrifts where fuch feizure is made, or by the Conti- nental Congrefs, or a Committer of faid Congrefs, to whom fuch feizure, with the caufes of it, ihall, as foon as poffible after, be made known. That the Commiffioners fhall exhibit fair accounts of the expenditure of all monies by them refpedively to be received for the purpofes aforefaid, to every fucceeding Continental Congrefs, or Committee of Congrefs, toge- ther with a general ftate of Indian affairs in their feveral departments, in order that the Colonies ma}^ be informed from time to time of every fuch matter as may concern them to know and avail themfelves of, for the benefit of the common caufe. That as there is a Seminary for the inftrudion of In- dian youth, which has been eftabiilhed under the care of DoAor Wheelock, on Connecticut river ; and as there are nine or ten Indian youths at thatfchool, chiefly from the tribes refiding in Quebec ; and as for want of a pro- per fimd there is danger that thefe youths may be fent back to their friends, which will probably excite jcaloufy and diftruft, and be attended with bad confequences, the Commiliioners for Indian affairs in the northern depart- ment be authorifed to receive out of the Continental Trea- fury, a fum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars, to be applied by them for the fupport of the faid Indian youths. On motion made^ Refolved, That a Committee of five be appointed, to devife ways and means to protect the trade of thefc Colonies. The following were chofen, Mr. Jay, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Gadfden, Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee. Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock. t: U. X TIIURS- / ( 15+ ) THURSDAY, July 13, 1775- Met according to adjournment. Thf Committee appointed to prepare proper talks to ,he Indb„sTTe"ortcI?he fame, which was ,,vecdtoas follows : A Speech to the Six Confederate Nations, Mohawks, On das, Tufcaroras, Onon.:ag..s. ^ayugas, Senek , YrZZ Twelve United Colonies, convened m Conn- cil at Philadelphia. Brothers, Sachems and lyarriors, We the Deleeatcs from the Twelve U>""^2u\u viiKcs ' v' z Ncw.lla>nplhire, Maffachuf«ts-Bav, Rhod - S: Co^neaicut, NL-Vork, New-J^'ey; IVnfylva- •. -rViP three Lower Counties of Newcaitle, Kent and Suffel^nDeatre Maryland, Vkgin,a,N..rth-Caro^ Una nnd South-Carolina, now fittmg m General Con. Ss a PWadelpbia. fend this Talk to yon our Bo fhcrs We are fixty-five in number, chofen and ap. W> ued by tl e people throughout all thele province, ^nd colonies, to meet and fit together in one great Cou„. cil, to confult together for the common good of the land and fpeak and aft for them. . , . v Brothers, in our confultation we have judged .t pro- per andScffary to fend you tins Talk, - je are upon {he fame ifland, that you may be mformed f '^ '^^° of this great Council, the fituation of our civil conltitu- rion an'd our difpofition towards you our Indian Bro- thers of the Six Nations and their «»•«• , ^ (Three Strings, or a pall tielt.j Brothers and Friends, now attend. When ot" fathers crofl'ed the great ^vater and came ove; to this land, the King of England gave th^m^a ( '35 ) Talk: affurlng them that they and their children ihould be his children, and that if they would leave their na- live country and make fettlemcnts, and live here, and buy, and fell, and trade with their brethren beyond the water, they (hould ftill keep hold of the fame covenant chain and enjoy peace — And it was covenanted, that the fields, houfcs, goods and poUellions which our fathers Ihould acquire, fhould remain to them as their own, and be their children's forever, and at their folc difpofal. Trutting that this covenant (hould never be broken, our fathers came a great diftancc beyond the great vyater, laid out their money here, built houfes, cleared fields, raifed crops, and through their own labour and induftry grew tall and ftrong. They have bought, fold and traded with England ac- cording to agreement, fendin-g to them fuch things as they wanted, and taking in exchange fuch things as are wanted here. The King of England and his people kept the way open for more than one hundred years, and by our trade became richer, and by a union with us, greater and ftronger than the other Kings and people who live be- yond the water. All this time they lived in great friendfhip with us, and we witli them ; for we are brothers — one blood. Whenever they were flruck, we inftantly felt as though the blow had been given to us— their enemies were our enemies. Whenever they went to war, we fent our men to ftand by their fide and fight for them, and our money to help them and make them ftrong. They thanked us for our love and fent us good Talks, and renewed their promife to be one people forever. ii it X Brothers N^ < '56 ) Brothers anJ Frieni/s, open a kind Ear ! We will now tell you of the quarrel betwixt the Counfellors of King George and the Inhabitants and Colonies of America. Many of his Counfellors are proud and wicked mcn-^ They perfuade the King to break the covenant chain, and not to fend us any more good Talks. A confidera- ble number have prevailed upon him to enter into a new covenant againft us, and have torn afunder and caft be- hind their backs the good old covenant which their an^ ceftors and ours entered into and took fV-ong hold of. They now tell us they will flip thei / hand into our pocket without afking, as though it were their own ; and at their pleafure they will take from us our charters or written civil conftitution which we love as our lives ; aifo our plantations, our houfes and goods whenever they pleafe, without alking our leave. That our vellels may goto this ifland in the fea, but to this or that^ parti- eular ifland we fliall not trade any more.— And m cafe of ournon-corapliance with thefe new orders, they fliut up our harbours. Brothers, this is our prefent fituation— thus have ma- ny of the King's Counfellors and Servants dealt with us. If we fubmit, or comply with their demands you can eafily perceive to what ftate wc will be reduced. If our people labour on the field, they will not know who fliall enjoy the crop ; if they hunt in the woods, it will be un- certain who flialltafte of the meat, or have the fl&ins; if they build houfes, they will not know whether they may fit round the fire with their wives and children : they cannot be fure whether they fliall be permitted to eat, drink, and wear tin: fruits of their own labour and induilry. . ,r • j Brothers and Friends of the Six Nations, attend. We upon this ifland have often fpoke and intreated ^ the ( '57 ) the King and his Servants the Counfellors, that peace and harmony might ftil I continue between us ; that we cannot part with, or loofe our hold of the old covenant chain which united our fathers and theirs ) that we want to brighten this chain, and keep the way open as our fa- thers did ; that we want to live with them as brothers, la- bour, trade, travel abroad, eat and drink in peace. We have often afked them to love us and live in fuch friendlhip with us as their fathers did with ours. We told them again that we judged we were exceed- ingly injured, that they might as well kill us, as take away our property and the neceflaries of life. We have alked why they treat us thus? What has become of our repeated addrefles and fupplications to them ? Who' hath Ihut the ears of the King to the cries of his children m America? No foft anfwer— no pleafant voice from be- yond the water has yet founded in our ears. Brothers, thus ftands the matter betwixt Old England and America. You Indians know how things are pro- portioned in a family, between the father and the fon, the child carries a little pack—England we regard as the fa- ther ; this ifland may be compared to the fon. The father has a numerous family, both at home and upon this ifland ; he appoints a great nhmber of Servants to affift him in the government of his family : in procef^ of time, fomeof his fervantsgrow proud and ill-natured —they were difpleafed to fee the boy fo alert, and walk on fo nimbly with his pack ; they tell the father, and ad- vife him to enlarge the child's pack— they pre\-ail ; the pack is increafed— the child takes it up' again ;: as he thought it might be the father's pleafure, fpeaks but few words, thofe very fmall, for he was loth to offend the father. Thofe proud and wicked fervants finding tliey had prevailed, laughed to fee the boy Iweat and ftagger under his increafed load. By and by, they apply to the- fathfv :\ l:li .1 , -n ( -58 ) boys mtreats the f^*';,;/5tigtt b^ V^ht-ed ; he a decent manner, that the pa^^ m g | j,_^_ could not go -y^;'*:;;a^btSedfuchapack thers, m any °f*^''fX tears and mtreaf.es of the for the child: after all «f "'':' /". -.j f^^„i, » little, child, the pack IS redoubled ; the <=h'W 1™ j. „ while ftaggering ""-^^/^'^ "^f (,e"X once more, moment : however, he ^n'^'*". **=„', j,;, i.,ft humble thouoh fo faint he could o„3^^^ ^ L retirm. The fupplication-waits a ,«''"'^„, ,"° „ °u,a,_thole proud child concludes the father ""'^ "° „^^^^^ the '"''lt1:^''H. ttt^li- 'one ftrug^^le and SrSlicrl^^s--^'^ ^IJ'::!^^^^ Wm to take it in his the King's American fuhjeas or cludren Amidftthefe oppreffions, we "o^)! """ V\ . ,.■ .^ JZ^ and revf^^ns vo'- from fome of ^he K n| s '"'i '"""SUtarTourclm itusandour cries, trefles ; when they hearo our y fervants, they applied to the Kmg, alfo told «hole w . j,, j f„f. ;^::d"S"«'e'\ira't^%^^^^ Tpport L old covenant-chatn of the fathers. ^^^^^^^^^ y heard blm they, he is a more. The at (ervants in ightened; he if the old fa- d fuch a pack reaties of the tands a little, to fall every :r once more, is laft humble returns. The : — thofe proud or fl:<^pped the le ftruggle and ke it up again, ill him, and he h, and tell the ild ; they bring ) take it in his nt condition of d then heard a I of the King's nd feel our dif- s and our cries, wicked fervants, s boy, it had fuf- ; of its complaint : voice of a man, I hs rights, and "athers. Brothers ( ^59 ) Brothers llflen ! Notwithftanding all our intreatics, we have but little hope the King will fend us any more good talks, by rea- fon of his evil counfellors ; they have perfuaded him to fend i)n army of foldiers and many Ihips of war, to rob and deftroy us. They have fhut up many of our har- bours, feized and taken into pofleffion many of our vef- fels : The foldiers have ftruck the blow, killed fome of pur people : the blood now runs of the American chil- dren : They have alfo burned our houfes and towns, and taken much of our goods. Brothers ! we are now neceffitated to rife, and forced to fight, or give up our civil conftitution, run-away, and leave our farms and houfes behind us. This muft not be. Since the King's wicked counfellors will not open their ears, and confider our juft complaints, and the caufe of our weeping, and hath given the blow, we are de- termined to drive away the King*s foldiers, and to kill and deftroy all ihofe wicked men we find in arms againft the peace of the Twelve United Colonies, upon this ifland. We think our caufe is juft ; therefore hope God will be on our fide. We do not take up the hatchet and ftruggle for honour or conqueft ; but to maintain our civil conftitution and religious privileges, the very fame for which our forefathers left tlieir native land and came to this country. Brothers^ and Friends I We defire you will hear and receive what we hare now told you, and that you will open a good ear and lilkn to what we are now i;oing to fiiy. This is afmiily quar- rel between us and Old England. You Indians are not concerned in it. We don't wifh you to take up the hatchet againft the King's troops. We defire you to re-, main at home and not join either fide ; hut keep the hatchet buried deep. In the name and behalf of all our peonle u . X'r. ( ifio ) neoDle. xveaflc anddefirevou to lovejx-ace and maintam kand to love and fympithlze with us in our troubles ; hanhe ^al^ may Jke^^en ,vith »U our people and yours to pafs and repafe, without moleftation. ^ Brothers! we live on the fame ground w.th yo^ The fame ijland is our common >f ^-Pl;"- . ^« ^f^ to fit down under the fame tree of peace with you . L,et t°s water ite roots and cherifli its growth. t.U the large Uaref and flourifhing branchesihall extend to the fetting fun, and reach the Ikics. wSr;:t7eXd you .-Nothing, but peace noSanding our prefent 'difturbed fit"'"-"-^ ' application Aould be made to you by any °f *} ^'"f, umvife and wicked minifters, tojom on their lide, »ve on Iv idv"fe you to deliberate with great caution, and u. vour wSlook forward to the confequences of a your wiiaom i ^j^^ „„ compliance. Por it tiie r>.ing » <•» r . . oroperty, and deftroy us who are of the fame blood wittt Sfelves, what can you, who are Indians, expea from them afterwards ? , , , c a .„ Therefore we fay. Brothers, ta^c <^»'*-^°>'^ J^*- '" your covenant chain. You now know our d'^~ iowardsyr u, the Six Nations of Indians and y«"r a"'' • Leuh^s our good talk remain at Onondaga, yo»t central ."-c^mdUhoufl We depend "P°»/°» '° ^,"„\^^3 o^ quaint your allies to the northward, '\« [^" 'X^" the river St. Lawrence, that you have this Talk otoun at thlgreat Council-Fire of the Six Nations. And wh n you return, we invite your great men to come and ronve4 farther with us at Albany.where ^e intend t„ r- kindle the Council-Fire, which your and our ance ;rs fat round in great friendfhip. Sr»*A.n, .nJFnenJs ! ^ We greet you yll» Farewell. and maintain 3ur troubles ; r peopk and on. id with yoH. , We deiirc ithyou: Let till the large I to the fetting ig but peace, ation — and if of the King's their fide, we ution, and in 'cquences of a ake away our me blood with IS, expe ...... ».r t- lofen by the re. good mufl^et, 3net, fteel ram- I thereto, a cut- that will con- elvejlints and a giments-or bat- itenant-Colonel, fter. \ .Captain be ap- mbliesor Con- liWs of Safety tlons. '^ r the Provincial : recefs, by the d Aflcmblies or That . Tl^hat allthe militia take proper care to acqtiire milj- t^y (kill, and be well prepared for defence, bybeing each, man provided with one pound of good gunpowder, and four pounds of ball fitted to his gun.- ,,,.jV, " ., j , That one fourth part of tKe militia in every Cojony be felefte^. for minute men, offuch perfons as are willing to enter into this neceflary fervi^e, forme^^nto compa- nies and Utt;|iions, and thpir ojSicers chofeii and commii; fioned as ^orpfaid, ?o be ready op the fliorteft notice tq n^arch to ^y p(af» where their affiftancc m^y. be requi-I red, for the defence of their own or a neighbouring Co- lony r and as t:hefe minute m^n may eventually be; cal- led to adion Wore the yyhole body of the.Tnilitia arc fuiBciently trjjined, it is recommended that a more par- ti'cMl^r and diligent attenl,ion ^j^ paid to tl?eir inftruaion i^ military difcipiine. .•.*,,'. That fuch of the minute men, as defire it, be relieved by new draughts as aforefaid from the whpje. body of the militi^_,pncejn four months. ,,^^.4:,,., .'. As there are iome^eopie, who from religious' princi- ples cannot bear arms in any cafe, this congrefs. intend no violence to their confciences, but earneftly recommend it to them to contribute liberally, in this time of uni^ yerfal calaniity, to the relief of their diftrefled ' brethren in the feveral colonies, and to do all other fer vices to their opprefTed country, which they can confiftently with their religious principles. That it be recommenced to the AflemWies or Conven- tions in the refpedive colonies to provide, as foon as pof- fible, fufficient ftores of ammunitipn for their colonies ; alfo that they devife proper means for furnilhing with arms fuch effedive mean as are poor and unable to fur- ni(h themfelyes. That it be recommended to each colony to appoint a Committee of Safety, to fuperintend and dirca all mat- ters Ull I m i ft Ml,. .'.r .'i ( i«6 ) h« neceffarv for the fecurity and defence of their reljlec- tlTe cffl intherecefc of thrir Affemblies ^ Col^ "rhateach colony, at their own expencc make fuch proTtn by armed veffelscf ''^T „™h.«,'of sl^; live AfferoblieJ, Converticns, cf t ommittees ot battty flSltudg"exped.ent and (u.table to their "rcumftances »d &n,rfor theprotealon of 'h«r h,rW.r. and navigation on their fea coafts. agamft all '"l^wf"! >";»: Sonsfattacks and depredations, from cutters and flaps of ""-That it be recommended to the makers of arms for *e ufe of the militia, that they nwke good fubftanml mo- tets with barrels three feet ind a half m length, that ^. 'c^nr an ounce ball, and fitted with a good bayon« rndfteelVam-rod; and that the njaking feh arms be Micouraeed in thefe United Colonies. meSinany clony a militia is already formed un- derreS ions approved of by the Convention of fuch *lonf; or by fuc6 Affemblies as are anually ekaive, 3r to thedifcretion of fuch ConventM>n or Affem- Sy. rither to adopt the foregoing je^^'°"' 'V^^ whole or in part, or to continue *eir formo', as they, on confideraSon of all circumftances, fljall hmk beft. Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o clock. WEDNESDAY, Jui/y 19, i775- The Prefident laid before the Congrefs " l^"" f™" the General, with fundry papers enclofed. which were read and confidered, whereupon r„mm;tt«. OrJereJ, That Mr. Willon apply to the Committ« of ihe ity and liberties of Philadelphia, and r»ueft them to make diligent enquiry what quantities of duck. Ru^ ( '^7 ) fia (heeting, tow cloth, Oznabrugs and Ticklcnburgs can be procured in this city, and make return as foon as poffibie to this Congrefs. Refolved, That Jofeph Trumbull be Commiflary Ge- neral of ftores and provifions for the army of the United Colonies. Refohedf That the appointment of a Quarter Matter General, a Commiflary of Mufters, and a Commiflary of Artillery, be left to General Walhington. That General Thomas be appointed firft Brigadier General, in the army of the United Colonies, in the room of General Pomeroy, who never aded under the commiflion fent to him, an that General Thomas's commiflion bear the fame date that General Pomeroy*s did. That it be left to General Wafliington, if he thinks fit, to appoint three Brigade Majors, and commiflion them accordingly. That a Committee of three be appointed, to report the method of eftabliftiing an hofpital. The Committee chofen arc, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Paine and Mr. Middleton. That it be recommended to the colonies of New- Hampfliire, Maflkhufletts-Bay, Rhode-Ifland and Con- nefticut, to compleat the deficiencies in the regiments belong to their refpedlve Colonies, retained by the Ge- neral in the continental army before Bofton. That it be recommended to the colony of Rhode- Ifland, to compleat and fend forward to the camp before Bofton, as foon as poflible, the three hundred and fixty men, lately voted by their General Aflembly. That it be recommended t the colony of Conncfti- cut, to compleat and fend forward to the camp before Bofton, as loon as poflSble, the fourteen hundred men lately voted by their General Aflembly, On I 'Im i 1 (( i68 ) ■J. i?,rAh^f^ That a Committee be ap- of Souih-Carolma. Vireinia, be appointed Wates'to attend this eongrcis. ^ tT' M tTcc:S to Aournment. ThCd1^p..ct:rmG«-al Schiyler being taken intoconfiderat^". ^ Schuyler be empowered to Refohed, 1 hat , „, , .u, .^noos in the New York difpofe of and e-ploy »1 J^e «,ops_.n ^^._^^ department, m i"^" "^'^ "r ,, r^ „^ionies, the tribes of J. prceaion -^f;^„"f ^^^'Jtit^^^^^^^^^ moft effec- "Srpt» ^■b3^rt:v^i.u;?::d:^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ■ TjL..nP^ till to-morrow at eight o clock. "'*■- Anf^^^Xii^Pl^-'^ ■ ' *■ '( 159 ) t'RiOAY, July 21, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The committee appointed to prepare an addrcfs to the inhabitants of Jamaica, hav- ing brought in a draught, the fame was rcadi Ordered, To lie on the table. The Committee appointed to prepare ah addrefs to the people of Ireland^ brought in a draught. Ordered, To lie on the table; Refolved, That Mr. R. Bache, Mr. Ste- phen Pafchall, and Mr. M. Hillegas, be ap-i^ pointed to fuperintend the prefs, and to have the overfight and care of printing the bills of credit ordered to be ftruck by this Con- grefs. Refolved, That Mr. Willie jories, of North Carolina, be the fifth Commiffioner of Indian affairs in the Southern department. AgVeeable to order, the Congrefs refol- ved itfelf into a Committee of the whole, to take into confideration the ftate of America^ and after fome time fpent therein, the Pre- fident refumed the chair^ and Mr. Ward re- ported that they had come to certain rcfolu- tidns, which he read, and then defired leave to fit again; The committee appointed to devifc ways and means to proted the trade of thefe Co- lonies, brought in their report, which was read. Ordered^ That the fame be taken into confideration to-morrow morning. Z 7hc :m i il< '^iV^imfy.'T^.a li ( i6o ) The Ccngrcfs then entered upon the con- fideration of the report from the Committee of the* whole, and after fome debate, Refolved, That fuch a body of troops be kept up in the Maffachufetts Bay as Gen. Wafhington fhall think neceffary, provided they do not exceed twenty-two thouland ^ Adjourned till to-morrow eight o'clock. SATURDAY, July 22, 1775. Met according to adjournment. Ao-reeable to the order of yefterday, the Con^re^s took into conlideration the report of tie Committee appointed to devife ways and means to proteft the trade of thefe Co- lonies, and after fome debate, the further conrideration of it was poftponed to a future. "^"on motion, Refolved, That Dr. Frank- lin Mr. Jefterfon, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Lee be a Committee to take into conlidera- tion' and report on the refolution of the Houfe of Commons, Feb. 20, 1775, com- moniv called Lord North's motion. ^ Adiourned 'till Monday at 8 o'Clock. Monday being fpent in a Committee of the whole. TUESDAY, July 25, 1775- Met according to adjouirnnient. The v. { i6i ) "The Committee for that purpofe appoint^' "cd, * brought in this report for eftablifhing an hofpital, which was read. The Committee appointed to confider the ways and means of eftablifhing a poft, hrought in their report, which was read, and ordered to be confidered to-morrow. The Committee appointed to confider and report their opinion of the refolution of the Houfc of Commons, hrought in their re- port, which was read, ordered to 'lie on the table for the pcrufal of the members. The Congrcfs then refumed the confide- ration of the addrefs the AlTembly of Ja- maica, and the fame being debated by para- graphs, was agreed to as follows : Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Afe??ibly of Jamaica. WE would think ourfeives deficient in ■our duty if we fuffered this Congrefs to pafs over without exprefilng our efteem for the AfTembly of Jamaica. Whoever attends to the cond-ud of thofe who have been entrufted with the admini- ftration of Britiih affairs, during thefe laft twelve years, will difcover in it a deliberate plan to deftroy, in every part of the empire, the free Conftitution, for which Britain has been fo long and fo juftly famed With u dexterity, artful and wicked, they have va- ried the modes of attack according to the different charaaers and circumftanccs of thofe Z 2 who u I W 3' i \ (ibl) whom they meant to reduce. In the Eaftr Indies, where the effeminancy of the inha- bitants promifed an eafy conqueft, they thought it unneceffary to veil their tyrai>nic principles under the thinneft difguife. With- out deigning even to pretend a juftiiication of their condud, they lacrificed the Jives of millions to the gratification of their infatia- ble avarice and luft of power. In Britain, where the maxims of freedom were ftill known, but where luxury and diffipation had diminifhed the wonted reverence for them, the attack has been carried on m a more fecret and indired manner : Corrup- tion has been employed to undermine them. The Americans are not enervated by effe- minancy, like the inhabitants of India ; nor debauched by luxury, like thofe of Great Britain : It was therefore judged proper to aifail them by bribery, or by undifguifed force, Plaufible fyftems were formed ; fpetious pretences were made : All the arts of fonbiilry were tried to Ihew, thlt the Britilii miniftry had, by law, a right to en- flave us. The firft and beft maxims of the conftitution, venerable to Britons and to Americans, were perverted and prophaned. The power of parliament derived from the people to bind the people, was extended over thofe from whom it was never derived. It is afferted, that a {landing army may be conftitutionally kept among us, without our confent. Thefe principles, diflionourable - ■ to Ef!i iIH! m,'^ ( 163 ) to thofe who adopted them, and deftruiStivc Jo thofe, to whom they were rppHed, were neverthclefs carried into execution by the foes of liberty and of mankind ; ads of par- liament, ruinous to America, and unfervice- able to Britain, were made to bind us. Ar- mies, maintained by the parliament, were fent over to fecure their operation. The power, however, and the cunning of our ad- verfaries, were alike unfuccefsful. We re- fufed to their parliament an obedience, which our judgments difapproved of: We re- fused to their armies a fubmiffion, which fpi.^ rits unaccuftomed to ilavery, could not brooL But -while we fpurned a difgraceful fub- jedion, we were far from running into rafh, or feditious meafures of oppofition. t'illei with fentiments of loyalty to our fovereign, and of affedion and refped for our fellow fubjeds in Britain ; we petitioned, we fup- plicated, we expoftulated : — Our prayers were rejeded: — Our remonllrances were dif- regarded: — Our grievances were accumula-, ted. All this did not provoke us to violence. An appeal to the juftice and humanity of thofe who had injured us, and were bound to redrefs our injuries, were ii>efFedual ; we next refolved to make an appeai to their in- tereft; though by doing fo we knew we mufl facrifice our own, and (which gave us equal uneafmefs) that of our friends who had ne- ver offended us, and who were conneded ^ith us by a fympathy of feelings under op- preffions ■I ¥> u ■ ^ v i- ( 164 5 preffions nmilar to our o^h':' We' refdlved To give up our commerce; that we m.ghl preferve our liberty. We flattered ourfclve that when, by withdrawing our commerc.al nteclrfewith Britain, which we had an undoubted right either to withdraw or to con- ■3oyrou:>nlrial foes would be tW had fo long purfued, and to fobfew^' Britain. That this fcheme of non-impor- fation and non-exportation might be produc- tive of thedefired efFefts. w. were obliged ,0 include the iflands in it. trom this ne- cefTty, and from this necefSty alone, has our condua towards then. Proceeded. By converting your fugar plantations into fields 6f gra n. you can fSpply yourfelves with the "eclfTaries of life : wkle the prefent unhap- py ftruggle Ihall continue, we cannot do ""But why fhould we make a. apology to the patriotic Aflfembly of Jamaica, who know fo well the value of liberty ; who are fo fen- fible of the extreme danger to which ours is e^Dofed ; and who forefee how certainly the SruSion of our. muft be followed by the aeftruftion of their own ? ^^ '( »65 ) We receive uncommon pleafure from ob- ferving the principles of our righteous oppo- •fition diftinguifhed by your approbation : We feel the warmeft gratitude, for your pa- thetic mediation in our behalf with the crown. It was indeed unavailing — but arc you to blame? — Mournful experience tells us, that petitions a:e often rejected, while the fentiments and conduct of the petitioners entitle what they offer to a happier fate. That our petitions have l>een treated with difdain is now become the fmalleft part of our complaint: Miniflerial infolence is loft in minifterial barbarity. It has, by an ex- ertion peculiarly ingenious, procured thofe very meafures, which it laid us under the hard neceflity of purfuing, to be ftigmatized in parliament as rebellious : It has employed additional fleets and armies for the irifamous purpofe of compelling us to abandon them: It has plunged us in all the horrors and cala- mities of civil war : It has caufed the trea- fure and the blood of Britons (formerly fhed and expended for far other ends) to be fpilt and wafted in the execrable defign of fpread- ing liavery over Britifti America : It will not, however, accomplifli its aim : In the worft of contihgences, a choice v/ill ftill be left, which it never can prevent us from making. The peculiar fituation of your ifland for- bids your afliftance. But we have your good wifhes. From the good wifties of the friends . _ of t1 :) 'I a. I. ^ ( 166 ) of liberty and mankind we fliall always de- rive confolation. Ordered, That a fair copy be mado out, to be figned by the prefidcnt, and tranfmitted by the firft opportunity. The congrcfs then refuming the report ot the Committee of the whole, came to the following refblutions. Refolved that a body of forces, not exceed- ing five thoufand, be kept up in the New York department, for the purpofe of defend- ing that part of America, and for fecurmg the lakes, and proteding the frontiers from incurfions and invafions. That a further fum, amounting to the value of one million of Spanifh milled dollars be ftruck in bills of thirty dollars each. As the figning (o great a number of bills as has been direded to be iffued by this Con- grefs, will require more time than the mem- bers can poffibly devote to that bufinefs, con- fiftent with the attention due to the public fervice. Refolved, That the following gentkmen be appointed and fully authorifed to fign the fame, viz. Luke Morris, Samuel Meredith, Judah Foulke, Samuel Morris, Frederick Kuhl, Robert Strcttle Jones, Thomas Coombe, EUis Lewis, John Meafe, Thomas Lawrence, Panid Clymer, John Maxwell Nelbit, Tho- mas Barclay, John Bayand, William Craig, Thomas Barto, John Shec, Ifaac Hazlehurft, Robert Roberts, Anthony Morris, Mordecai Lewis, ( i67 ) Lewis, George Miiflin, Robert Tucknif^^ Andrew Buruier, William Jackfon, Jofeph Sims, James Milligan, and James Reed. That each of the continental bills be nqm- bered and figned by two of the above gentle- men„ That each gentleman, who figns the conti- nental bills, be allowed and paid out of the continental treafury, one dollar and one third of a dollar, for each and every thoufand bilis;^ figned aftd numbered by him. That the gentlemen appointed ta number and fign the bills do give their receipts for the fame, expreffing the number and deno- mination of them i and after numbering and iigning them, ftiall deliver the fame to the continental treafury, taking their receipts for the bills fo delivered. On motion, refolved. That Mr. Samuel Adams, Mr. Lee, and Mr. J. Rutledge, with the fecretary, be a Committee to revife the journal of this Congrcfs, and prepare it for the prefs. Adjourned till to-morrow- at 8 o'clock; WEDNESDAY, July 26, 1775. Met according to adjournment. Agreeable to order, the Congrefs refumed the coniideration of the report of the Com- mittee for eftablifhing a poft j and the fame being debated, was agreed to as follows; Agi That 1 i I yri ,V'... . 7 1 ; ( '6s ) ^ ,,ii;.That a poft-rhafter-general be appointetr' 'for the. united Colonies, who fhall hold his office at Philadelphia, and fhall be allowed a ' {l\laryof looo dollars per annum, forhimfclf, and 340 dollars per annum, for a fecretaFy and comptroller, with power to appoint fuch, and fo many deputies as to him may fecm proper and necellary. i; • That a line of ports be appointed under the direaion of the poft-mafter general, from Falmouth, in New England, to Savannah, in Georgia, with as many crofs polls as he -ihall think fit. .... -^ That the allowance to the deputies, m lieu of falary and all contingent expences, fhall be. 20 per cent, on the fums they colled: and pay into the general poU-office annually, when the whole is under or not exceeding 1000 dollars, and ten percent, for all fums above 1 000 dollars a year. That the feveral deputies account quarterly with the general pofl-office, and the poft- maflcr general annually with the Continental treafurers,! when he fhall pay into the receipt of the fliid^'treafu.ors the profits of the polt- oflice ; and if tlie necefliuy expence of this eflablifhment fliould exceed the produce of it, the deficiency fliall be made good by the united Colonies, and paid to the poil-maflcr general by the Continental treafurers. On motion made, refolved, That it be re- commended to the pofl-mafler general to eflablifh a weekly pofl to South- Carolina, ^ That That It be left to the poft-mafter general to appoint a fecretary and comptroller. The Congrefs then proceeded to the dic- tion of a poft-mafter generd for one year, and until another is appointed by a future Con- grefs, when Benjamin Franklin, Efq ; was unanimoufly choien. Adjourned tiiJ to-morrow at 8 o'clock, THURSDAY, July 27, 1775. Met according to adjournn»ent. The Congrefs took into confideration the report of the Committee on eftablifhing an hofpital for the army, and the fame being debated, was agreed to as follows. That for the eflablifliment of an hofpital for an army confifting of twenty thoufand men, the following officers and other atten- dants be appointed with the following al- lowance or pay, viz. One diredor general and chief phylician, his pay per day four dollars. Four furgeons, each ditto one and one third of a dollar. One apothecary, ditto, one and one third of a dollar. Twenty furgeons mates, each ditto, two thirds of a dollar. One clerk ditto, two thirds of a dollar. Two ftore-keepers, each four dollars per month. Aa 2 One ( 17© ) One nurfc to cilery ten fick, one fifteenth of a dollar per day, or two dollars per month. Labourers occafionally. The duty of the above officers. The direaor to furnilh medicines, bed- ' ^ing, and all other necelTaries, to pay for the fame,, fuperintend the whole, and make his report to, and receive orders from, the comr mander in chief. , -r,* Surgeons, apothecary, and mates, to viiit and attend the fick, and the mates to obey the orders of the phyficians, furgeons and ^^Ma^tron.' To fuperintend the nurfes, bed- dine, &c. . Nurfes. To attend the fick and obey the matron's orders. i j- xv Clerk. To keep accounts for the director andftore-kecpers. Store-keeper. To receive and deliver the bedding and other neceffaries by order of the diredtor. , , , , The Congrcfs then proceeded to the elec- tion of officers for the hofpital, when Benjamin Church was unanimoudyeleaed, to be diredor of, and phyfician in, the hof- • Refolved, That the appointment of the four furgeons and the apothecary be left to Doaor B. Church. • That the mates be appointed by the lur- r^'^' " • ' That m ( i^7« ) That the number of mates do not exceed twenty. That the number be not kept in conftant pay, unlefs the fick and wounded fliould be fo numerous as to require the attendance of twenty, and to be diminiihed as circumftan- ces will admit, for which purpofe the pay is fixed by the day, that they may only receive pay for a(5tual fervice. That one clerk, two flor'e-keepers, and j6ne nurfe to every ten fick be appointed by the direftor. Upon motion mide, refolved, That the paymafter give bond with two furcties, in the fum of fifty thoufand dollafs, for the faithful performance of his office. That the bond be made payable to the fame perfons, to whom the bonds of the Conti- nental treafurers are payable. James Warren, Efq; was then unani- moufly elected paymafter general. Refolved, That the paymafter in the New York department give bond to the fame perfons as above direded, with two fureties, in the fum of 25,000 dollars, for the faithful performance of his office. Adjourned till to-morrow at 8 o'clock, FRIDAY, July 28, 1775. Met according to adjounrment. Ordered, That Mr. M*Kean, and Mr. Wilfon, prepare the form of bonds for the f ontinentai treafurers to execute. The i i ,i ^. ^> /N ^ «> W EMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A €.0 M V ■^. /!/ Vl% f/> f/i 1.0 1.1 -.A Vi 2.5 Z2 1^ 2.0 118 1.25 1.4 1.6 ,4 6" !*■ V " %. ^ s,^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 1% WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. M580 (716) 872-4503 e s. \y _-jf^ "ii" <> «* (, 172 ) h;The Cohgrefs then proceeded to the elec- tion of a Paymafter for the Forces in the New- York department, when Jonathan Trumbull, jun. Efq; was unanimouay elec- ted to that office. ^ x / jl The Addnefs to the People of Ireiandbe- ing again read by paragraphs, was agreed to as follows : 1:0 the People of Ireland. From the delegates appointed by the United Colonies oj New Hampjhire, Majjacbufetts-Bay, Rhode-IJland and Providence Plantationsy ConneBtcut, New-Tor k, New-Jerfey, Pennfyhania, the Lower Counties on Delaware^ Maryland, Virginia^ North-Carolina and South Caro- lina, in' Geiieral Congrefs at ^Philadelphia, theiothoj'May, 1775. Friends and Fellow Subjedis, AS the important conteft, into which wc have been driven, is now become interefting to every European ftate, and particularly af- fcAs the members of the Britifli empire, we think it our duty to addrefs you on the fub- \cQi. We . are defirous, as is natural to in- 'iure'd innocence, of poffeffing the good opi- nion of the virtuous and humane— We are peculiarly defirous of furnrihing you with a true ftate of our motives and objefts j the better to enable you to judge of our condud with accuracy, and determine the merits of tlie controverfy with impartiality and pre- cifion. ,_ However WSi* lie clec- ; in the onathan ifly elec- liandbe- tgreed to delegates of New )de-IJland nneBicutt )ania, the \daryland, ith Caro- iladelphia. vhich wc iterefting ularly af- ipire, we the rub- ral to in- good opi- — We are >u with a edtsj the r condudt merits of ' and pre- However ( 173 ) However incredible it may appear, that, at tms eniigntened period, the leaders of a nation, which in every age has facrificed he- catorhbs of her braveft patriots on the altar of liberty, fhould prefume gravely to allert and, by force of arms, attempt to eftablifli an arbitrary fway over the lives, liberties, and property of their fellow fubjedts in Ame- rica j it is neverthelefs a moft deplorable and indilputable truth, Thefe Colonies have, from the time of their firfl fettlement, for near two centuries, peaceably enjoyed thofe very rights, of which -the Minifty have, for ten years paft, endea- voured, by fraud and by violence to deprive them. At the conclufioii of the lafl vs^ar the genius of England and the fpirit of wif- dom, as if offended at the ungrateful treat- ment of their fons, withdrew from the Bri- tifh counfels and left that nation a prey to a raceof minifters, with whom ancient Eno-- lifh honefty and benevolence difdained "to dwell. From that period, jealoufy, difcontent, oppreffion and difcord have raged amono- all . 'his Maj<;fty's fubjedts ; and filled every part of his dominions with diftrefs and complaint. Not content with our piirchaling of Bri- tain at her own price, cloathing and a thou- sand other articles ufed by near three milli- -ons of people on this vaft continent j not fa- tisfied with the amazing profits arifingfrom the monopoly of our trade, without givino- us either time to breathe after a long though glorious 1 ' -^i«*^'r*j^ ( 174 ) ■ glorious war, or the leaft credit for the blood and treafure we have expended in it ;— Not- withftanding the zeal we had inaiufefted fof the fervice of our fovereign, ai>d the warm- eft attachment to the conftitutign c^ BrA^m and the people of England, a black and hor- rid defign was formed to convert U5 from freemen into flaves, from fubjeas into vaf- fals, and from friends into enemies. Taxes for the firft time fmce we landed on the American fhores, were, without our con- fent, impofedupon usj an unqonihtutional edia to compel us to furniih neceffarieg for a ftanding army, that we wifhed tp fee dif- banded, was iiTued; and the legiflat;ure of New- York fufpended for refufmg to comply witli it. Qnr ^ntient and ineftimaWe right of trial \>y jury was, in many inftances, abo^ Uflied i and the common law of the land made to give place to Admiralty jurifdidi- ons, judges wei:c rendered, by the tenure of. their commiffw>ns, entirely dependent on the wmof,a.minifter. New crimes were arbitrarUy created;' and new courts, un- known to the conftitutiQp, inftituted. WiAJt- ed and infidious Governors have been fet over us ; and dutiful p^titipp^s for the removal of even t;he n»tQifiQu^ly infaipdous GqyejiUQF Hutchinfpn, were branded with the pppro- bious appellation of fcandalous and defama* tory. ilardy attempts have been made un- der colour of parliamentary authority to tee Americans, and carry them to Great IJxitam to {'75) to be tried for offences committed in the co- lonies. Ancient charters have ao longer remained (acred, that of Maflachufetts-Bay was violated; and their form of government eflentially mutilated and transformed. On pretence of punilhing a violation of fonie private property, committed by a fev;^ dif- guifed individuals, the populous and flou-" rifhing town of Bofton was fouroundcd by fleets and armies ; its trade deilroyedj its port blocked up ; and thirty thoufand citi- zens fubjedted to all the miferies attending fo fudden a convulfion in their commercial metropolis j and to remove every obilacle to the rigorous execution of this fyftem of op- preffion, an ad: of parliament was pafled evi- dently calculated to indemnify thofe, who might, in the profecution of it, even em-, brue their hands in the blood of the inha- bitants. Though preiTed by fuch an accumulation of undeferved injuries America flill remem- bered her duty to her fovereign. A Con- grefs, confifting of deputies from twelve United Colonies alTembled. They in the moft refpedtful terms laid their grievances at the foot of the throne; and implored his Majefty's interpofition in their behalf. They alfo agreed to fufpend all trade with Grent Britain, Ireland and the Weft-Indies, hop- ing, by this peaceable mode of oppofition, to obtain that juflice from the Britilh minf- try which had been fo long folicited in vain. B W " And ffi f )^> (.76) And here permit us w affure you, that it wa* ^th the «moft reluaance we could prevail Toon ourfelvcs to ceafe our commercial con- Son" with yo""fland.--Your parhament h,d done us no wrong— You had ever been frienX to the rights of mankmd; and we acknowledge, with pleafure and gratitude. thatTar nation has produced Patriots, who hive^nobly diftingui&ed themfelves m he c;„g iForbearance rewarded with the imputation of cowardice. Our trade with foreign ftates was prohibited; Bb 2 and V ^'1 I' : '( '78 ) ancl an aft of Parliament paffed to prevent our even fifhing on our own coafts— Our peaceable Affemblics for the purpofe of con- fulting the common fafety, were t^eclared fcditious J and our averting the very rights which placed the Crown of Great-Bntam • on the heads of the three fuccefllve prmces of the houfe of Hanover, ftiled rebeUion— Orders were given to reinforce the troops m America-The wild and barbarous favages of the wilderncfs have been folicited by gifts to take up the hatchet againft us j and^infti- gated to deluge our fcttlements with the blood of innocent and defcncelefs women ^nd children-Thc whole country was more- over alarmed with the expefted horrors of domeftic infurreaions-Refinements in pa- rental cruelty, at which the genius of Bri- tain muft bluOi ! Refinements which ad- mit npt of being even recited without hor- ror, or pradtifed without infamy! We fhould be happy were thefe dark machinations the mere fuggeftions of fufpicion-We are forry to declare; that we are pofleffed of the moft authentic and indubitable evidence of their reality, , The miniftry, bent on pulling down the pillars of the conftitution, endeavoured to erea the ftandard of defpotifm in America ; and if Ibcccfsful, Britain and Ireland may fhudder at the confequences ! Three of the moft experienced Generals arc fent to wage war with their fellow fub- jefts ; ( V9 ) jedtsj and America is amazed to i^t;! t^e pame of Howe in the catalogue of her ene- mies'—She loved his brother. Defpairing of driving the Colonies to re- fiftance by any other me^ns than adtual hof- tility, a detachment of the army at Boftqii marched into the country in all the array pf war i and unprovoked, fire4 upon, and killed feveral af the inhabitants — The neighbour- ing farmers fud^enly affembled, and repelled the attack — From this, all corniii\inication between th? town and country was inter- cepted — The citizens petitiojied the General for permiflion to Jeave the town, and he promifed on furrenderipg their arms, to per- mit them to depart with their other effeds — They accordingly furrendered their arm^is, and the General violated his faith — Under various pretences, palTports were delayed and denied ^ and many thoufands of the in- habitants are at thi§ day confined in the town in the utn^oil \vr^tchednefs and want — The larne, the blind, and the fick, have indeed been turned out into the neighbour- ing fields J and fome, eluding the vigilance of the fentinels, have efcaped from the town by fwimming to the adja<^ei>t Ihorcs. The vv^ar haying ^hus began on the part of General Qage's troops, the country arm- ed and embodied. The re-inforcements from Ireland foon after arrived ; a vigorous jittack was then made upon the Provincials — in their ^larch the troops furrounded t|ie town ■1 f>. iSi " P;"-"^; -cuous and unmeritted "'f^y-^^'treatTes ■'i^na all faith at an end, and facred treaties fufned into tricks of ftate-When we per- ci-ve o" fr^n-J^ and kinfmen maffacred. our habitations plundered, our houfes ^„ flames, and their once h^PPy '"^^'"*^"*t,me oX by thehandof charity-Whocan blame ::[o%ndea*ouring to reftr^n the Progrds of defolation ? Who can cenfure our repel- line the attacks of fuch a barbarous band ? I^L in fuch circumftances. would no obey X^r^at. the univerfal, the divine^ Uw of felf-prefervation ? ^^^^^j^ ( >8' ) • Though vilified as wanting fpirit, we ar©- dctcrirdned to bchav« like men — Though infuhcd and abu^; wc wifli for rcconcilia- tign — Though defamed as fc^itious, we are ready to obey the laws — An4 though charged with rebellion, will chearfuUy bleed in de- fence of our fovcreign' in a righteous caufe — What more can we fay ? — What more can we offer ? But we forbear to trouble you with a te- dious detail of the various and fruitlcfs offers and applications we have repeatedly made, not for penfions, for wealth, or for honors, but for the humble boon of being permitted to poffefs the fruits of honeft induftry, and to enjoy that degree of liberty, to which God and the conftitution have given us an un- doubted right. Bleffed with an indiffoluble union, with a vftsiety of internal refources, and with a firm rcJiance on the juftice of the fupreme difpofer of all human events, wc have no doubt of rifrwg fuperior to all the machinations of cwil and abandoned minifters. We already aiiticipace the golded period, when liberty, with all thegentle arts of peace and humanity, ftiall eftabiilh licr mild dominion in this weftern world, and eredi eternal monuments to the memory of thofe virtuous patriots aiui martyrs, who fhall have fought and bled and. fuffered in her caufe. Accept our moll graceful acknowledgments for the firiendly diipofition you have ahviiya fliewji towards ust— We know that you are not 11 < :^L^riii,alt:f,:.ia:.L- i-JXf ^ l82 ) not with6ut your grievances— Wc fymja- thize with you in your diftrcls. and are plcafcd to find that the dcfign of fubjugatirtg us, haspcrfuadfd adminiftrgtion to difpcnfcto Ireland, fomc vagrant rays of minifterial fun- ihine— Even the tender mercies of govern- ment have long been cruel towards you— In the rich paftures of Ireland, many hungry parricides have fed, and grown ftrong to labour in its deftruftion. Wc hope the pa- tient abiding of the meek may not always be forgotten 5 and God grant that the iniquitous fchemcs of exterpating Liberty from the Britiih empire may be fo on defeated. But wc fhould be wanting to ourfclves, we (hould be perfidious to pofterity ; we Ihould be unworthy that anceftry from which we derive out defcent, (hould wc fubmit with fblded arms to military butchery and depreda- tions to eratify the lordly ambition, or fa- tLte the Ivaricc of a Britifh Miniftry. In defence of our perfons and properties, under aaual violation, we have taken up arms-- When that violence {hall be removed, and hoftilities ceafe on the part of the aggreffors, they (hall ceafc on our part alfo— tor the atctievemcnt of this happy event, we confide in the good offices of our fellow fubjeas be- yond the Atlantic. Of their friendly dilpofi- > Ln we do not yet defpond ; aware as they muft be, that they have nothing more to cxpea from the fame common enemy, than the humble favour of being laft devoured. Adjourned uU to-morrow at 8 ^^^^^^ ( i83 ) SATURDAY, July 29, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The CongTefs rcfumed the confideration of the report from the Coimnittce of the whole, and came to the following refolution: Refolved, That the pay of the Commif- fary General of Muftcrs be 40 dollars per month. Deputy Commiflary General of Stores an4 Provifions 60 dollars per ditto. Deputy Adjutant-General 50 dollars per ditto. Deputy Muftcr-Mafler-General 40 dollars per ditto. Brigade-Major 3 3 dollars per ditto. Commiflary of Artillery 30 dollars per ditto. Judge Advocate 20 dollars per ditto. Colonel 50 dollars per ditto. Lieutenant-Colonel 40 dollars per d'tto. Major 33 dollars and one-third per ditto. Captain 20 dollars per ditto. Lieutenant 13 dollars and one-third per ditto. Enlign 10 dollars per ditto. Serjeant 8 dollars per ditto. Corporal, Drummer, and Fifer, each 7 dollars and one-third per ditto. Private 6 dollars and two-thirds per ditto. Adjutant 18 dollars and one-third per ditto. Quarter Mailer 18 dollars and one-third per ditto. C c Chaplain ' \.-' I' ..» i^ ( 184 ) Chaplain 20 dollars per ditto. That the pay of the lighc- infantry^ be tntf fame as that* in the regiment, from a captain to a pri\:^te, both iiiclufive. Tnat in the artillery the pay be of a captaia 26 dollars and two thirds per month. ^ Captain lieutenant 20 dollars per ditto. Lieutenant jfirft and fecond 1 8 dollars and one third per ditto. Lieutenant fireworker 1 3 dollars and on© third per ditto. Serjeant 8 dollars and one third per ditto. Corporal 7 dollars and a half per ditto. Bombardier 7 dollars per ditto. Matrofs 6 dollars and five fixths of a dollar per ditto. That the appointment of provoft-marfhal, waggdn-mafler, and mafler carpenter, be left to the commander in chief of the army, who is to ^.:i their pay, having regard to the pay the ' "-Cw-eive in the m.inifterial army, and the proportion that the pay of the officers in faid army bears to the pay of our officers. William Tudor, Efq j was ekaed judgt advocate to the army. Refolved, That Michael liillegas and George Clemer, Efquires, be joint f jafurers of tlie united Colonies : That the treafurers relide in Philadelphia, and that they fhall give bond with furety for the faithful per- formance of their ofKce, in the fum of one hundred thoufand dollars to John Hancock, Henry Middletcn, John Dickinfon, John Alfop* , when it reviews the pacific and refpedful cxpoftulations, which, during that v^rholc time, were the fole arms we oppoied to them ; when it obferves that our complaints were cither not heard at all, or were anfwered with new and accumulated injuries; when it rccollefts that the minifler himfelf, on an early occafion declared, " that he would never treat with America till he had brought her to his feet," and that an avowed partifan of miniftry has more lately denounced againft us the dreadful fentence ** deknda eft Car- thago" that this was done in prefence of a Britifh fenate, and being unreproved by them, muft be taken to be their own fenti- ment, (efpecially as the purpofe has already in part been carried into execution, by their treatment of Bofton and burning of Charlef- town) when it confidcrs the great armaments with which they have invaded us, and the circumftances of cruelty with which thefe have commenced and profecuted hoftilities j when thefe things, we fay, are laid together and attentively confidered, can the world be deceived into an opinion that we are unrea- fonable ? or can it hefitate to believe with us, that nothing but our own exertions may de- feat the minifterial fentence of death or ab- jedt fi^bmifTion. On ( 196 ) On motion made; Rcfclvcd, That Mr. Langdon, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Hopkins, Mr Dcane, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Crane, Doaor FranlcUn, Mr. Rodney, Mr. Johnfon Mr. Henry, Mr. H'cwcs, Mr. Gadfdcn, and Mr. Hall be a Cominittec in the recefs of Con- erefsl to make enquiry in all the Colonies after^irgin lead and leaden ore, and the beft method of colkaing, fmelting and re- "llefolved, that the above mentioned gen- tlemen be a Committee in the recefs of the Conercfs, to enquire into the cheapeit and eafieft methods of making fait in thele Co- Aereeable to the order of the day, the Conercfs took under confideration the ftate of trade after the tenth of September, and after fome debate, the fame was poftponed to a future day. On motion, Refolved, That when the Congrefs adjourns for recefs, it be adjourned to meet at Philadelphia. Two petitions, one from fundry mer- chants in New- York, and the other from fnndry merchants in Philadelphia, refpedting the fale of teas imported before the lateaffo- ciation, were laid before the Congrefs, Ordered, To lie on the table. Adjourned till to-morrow at 8 o'clock. # TUFSDAY, hat Mr. i, Docane, .Efquites,thefum of 50,<^<^^ii^«|r^^^ ^em paid u^to ^c Govcrn'or and Company ,<>f.tbe^aid ^ld!iy, in pattv^f the fums ^Z Mbem dilbitffed m the continental fervice . idie faid Governor and Company to acceuiit iRirfolvd, That the fumtsf 100,060 dol- lars Wimmediateiy forwarded from thexon- tinetital treafitry to the Paymafter General, no be applied to the ufe of t^^^^^X ^^ j^/^ N^-York 4epartmc«t,^in fvch mannf as General Sehv^yler by his;v(rarrant ^?lVi^t and appoint ; and that if the abovefumjhdl :be expended before the next m«Jtmg of th«J Congrefs, then, ^t Generiil Sc^uylen or rth?fomma«4erin^Wef. for t^e ti^me b|in'g 4« that, department, be enipowered to_ dtaw upon the continental tre^*"''y/f,^^ ™' fum not exceeding 200,000 dollars, to be iapplied for the ufe, and in the manner abote nientimied. ^ R^folved, iblic fcN ition and uance of and that :count tC3i g for thd arid tliey Delegates ElipMet ts Dcancrf ^ to be by CoTttpany fums by 1 fcrvice i accduAt 3,060 dcil- n the eon- r General^ my in tii„, to this their Meeting on the .oth of May. to tms *'""' JOHN HANCOCK, Prefident. ' Charles Thomson, Secretary. i\ ' Great inteods impor- iiernfey, ery Eu- the Bri- ienomi- ::ongref8 eft-India ver ftate, vhomfo- r iflands, Lm on the jnt with- of Geor- X of fep- AL of the ESS, from ay, to this Prefident. Speedily will be Puhlijhed, (Sold by J. A. MOW, oppofite Buhmnctok-housk, P,ccAD,..r.) A M A P of the Middle Britifli Colonies m NORTH-AMERICA. Philadelphia, in 1755; and fince correded and improved as alfo extended, with the Addition of New-England. &c. and bordering Parts of C^W^, trom adual Surveys now lying at the Board of Trade. By T. P O W N A L L, MP. Late Governor, &c. &c. of his M a t f bound il. 14s. The ^S having been he faid Atlas is nmer.t, by Cap- i from Captain informed that I Copies of the urveyor- General merica, for the 1 taken for fuch at the Board of taken in the lat- lALL, by Autho- 1"imc piibliflied, Map, or Survey, HOLLAND." '^iccadilly, Prefcrvation avkward *rt impofllble. In briet' is, To icleit from all beft Account of every It; to piin; it in Octavo, y Voliime, to giv> a co- rd Volume cuntjins the econd Volume is now rs. e Proceedings and De- ent of Inland; inclu- ft of the Penfions on n accurate State of the the public Accounts of g the Fifth Seflion of ;nt held at Dublin, on ^ober, 1775. It was in Difpute with Annrica i'ime, introduced into Ir bound ii. 14s. The ( 5 ) The ProtpRs of the Houfe of Lordt, from 1241 (the firft upon recori)) to 1771. 2 Vols, buund, 1 3s, 6d. The Uebatts of the Houfe of Common'! of Ireland, in th'^ Years 1-63 and 1764. Trtkcn by Sir James Caldwell, Bart, and dedicated by pernniili n, to the Earl of Chatham, 2 Vols. bound, 12s. The IV.tefts of the Lords of Ireland, from 1634 (the firll upon record) to 1770. i Vol. bound, 4s. Propoj'ali for Pnnt'msr, The Parliamentary Hiftcry of England, from the Acceflion of Charles the Second, to the Death of George the Second; In Thirty Volumes Odiavo, Price Nine Guineas, neatly bound. The Va- riety of Publications of the PructeJingj of Parliament, during this long and intcrtfting period have been aliiduoully colledti a and care- fully reviled, by fev.-ral intelligent CJentlemcn, The Colh-ftion of Debates ui'ually called ChandlerU Colkfitoii, will be includd in this Work ; with I'uch Corrections, as the Journals of Parliament, and other authentic Publicati- ons, have made nccedary ; tuijether with a great Number ot ars, which efcapad the Notice of the former Editors; and fome which have been printed iince that Publication ; and leveral which have not yet been printed. The Work which is now offered ro the Public, is not a crude hafly Compilation ; it is the Produdlion of ieveral Years Labour; clofe Application ; di- ligent Search} and, the Editors hrpe, judici- ous Seleilion. In the laft Volume will be given a copious Index to the whole. The former Parliamentary Hirtory ends whTcthis begins, Subfcriptions iirc ta en in by the Publiflier, No Money is d fired at the Time of Subfcribing. As foon as Two Hundred Copies are fubfcribed for, the Work vvill be fent to Prefs. Select Trafts on American Affair;; from the Beginning of the Yiar 1768, to the end of the Year 1775. In four Volumes, Oc- tavo, ll, IS. This Collection, contains the following.— Letters to the Miniftry from the Governors, &c. in America. Letters to the E.irl of Hilll- birough, from the lame. Letters from a Far- mer in Pentsfylvanii to the Inhjbi. ants ot the Britirti Cul"n;es. A New E'iay ontheCon- ftitu'ional Power of Gr:at-Bri;ain ovtr the Colonies in America, hy the t'eniifylvaiiia Farmer. An App^^al 10 the JnMice and Inte- relts of the People of Gn'at-Brit.iin, in the pri'fent Difputes with America. A Second Appeal, by the I'am^'. An Litended .Speech in Support of the Petition from th" Am'-rican Congrcfs. Law of Liberty, by Dr. Zubly. Votes and Journal of the Annerican Coiifrcfs in 1774, Journal of the Procc dings of the Ameiican Congiefs in 1775. A Colli ftion of intercfling Political TraAb publiflieJ in London during the lad fen Yeats, on the mod important Sul'jedls Eight Vol*. Oftavoil. 2s. half bound and lettered. This Crlleifion, Cor.U'ns the following. —-Letter from CanJor, Junior. Letter on Li- bels, Warrant-, &(.-. Another Loticr in Matr terofLih:'l, Trial of Zenger. Lord Somen on Grand Juries. Jura Ponuli Anglicani. Two Sj-eecliesof Lord flardwicke, when Lord Ch-'ncclliir, Principles of fome late Ciungei (in 1765). Iliftoryofthe Minority. True Hiftory ot a Short Adminiftration. Enquiry into the Principles of the fame Gentleman. Short Confideratians upon f>iiie late Grant!!. Free Appeal to the People. H .ncft Eleftor's Propnfal. Lettci to the Duke <;f Gra!tr>n. Spe ch ,of Mr, Grenyille on expelling Mr. Wilk-s. Relleftions on the Cafe of Mr. V/ilkes, Defcription of a Parliament. Con- federations on the Times. Enquiry into the State cf the French M^inarchy. Letter to Samuel Johnfon. Duke of Portland's Cafe. Defence of Nullum Tcmpus Bill. Debates on the fame. Letter to Loid Bute. Mr. Hope's Letters to Lord Hopetoun, &c. State of the Nation, Appendix to tlie Same. Cm- fiderations on the Deper.dericijs on GreatBri- tain. Mollyneux's Cafe in Ireland. Fq- gitivc Pieces of Iri/Ii Politics. Two Speeches on the Convention with Spain. The Right ot the State, as concerned in the Allalrs of the F-aft Indies, By T.Pownall, Efq. Pre- fent State of the Britifh Intereft in Inlii. Authentic Papers (laid before thcHoufeof C mmons) relativs to the e.ipediiior\ againA the Car bbs, and to the Sale of Lands, in the Ifland of St. Vincent, 2S, 6d. Letters to and from the Eaft India Conapa- ny's Serv nts in Bensjal, Fort St. George, and Bombay ; (laid before the Houfe of Com- mons) relative to treaties and grants from the country powers ; from 1756 to 1766. With an Appendix, confitting of papers'relaiive to the Company's late bargain with Guvern- ment, 3s. Authentic Letters, Papers, &c. laid be- fore the Houfe of Commons relative to the Spaniards taking Falkland's Ifland, 3s. The three preceding articies half boai)4 and lettered, 6s. The Beginning. Progrcfs, and Conclufion of thelnte War. With other intereflingmalten confijtred, is, 6d, Some atcount of the Charafter of the lite Right Hon. Henry Billon Legge, containing the Levteis which paded between him and Mr.Samuc; Ma. tin, relative to the Hampfljire Election, and his DifinifTijn. is. The Budget, 1764, is. The State of the Nation (1765) with re- gard to its income, expenditure, and unfunded debt : by the fame author, is. ■«. < 6 ; A Caveat .-ly, 2s. Obfervations on Sir J. Dalryinple's Memoirs «f Great Britain, is^ Pl^n offered by th«; Earl of Chatlum lor ietlling the TroubU'8 in Ainurica, is. 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