Ordered, That Mr. Cushing, Col. Palmer, and Mr. Bigelow, be a committee to count and sort the votes: [which committee] reported, that Col. Thomas Gardner was chosen.

Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province take the late newspapers from England into consideration, and report what there is relating to this province.

Ordered, That the Rev. Mr. Murray, Mr. Mayhew, and Col. Pomeroy, be a committee to bring in a resolve recommending a day of fasting and prayer.

Congress adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

SATURDAY, April 15, 1775, A. M.

The committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending a day of fasting and prayer, reported, [which report was] amended and accepted, and is as follows:

Whereas, it hath pleased the Righteous Sovereign of the universe, in just indignation against the sins of a people long blessed with inestimable privileges, civil and religious, to suffer the plots of wicked men, on both sides of the Atlantic, who, for many years, have incessantly labored to sap the foundation of our public liberties, so far to succeed, that we see the New England colonies reduced to the ungrateful alternative of a tame submission to a state of absolute vassalage to the will of a despotic minister, or of preparing themselves speedily to defend, at the hazard of ||alife,|| the unalienable rights of themselves and posterity against the avowed hostilities of their parent state, who openly threaten to wrest them from their hands, by fire and sword;

In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as men and christians, to reflect, that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, or prepare to act a proper part under them when they come; at the same time, all confidence must be withheld from the means we use, and reposed only on that God, who rules in the armies of heaven, and without whose blessing, the best human councils are but foolishness, and all created power vanity.

It is the happiness of his church, that when the powers of earth. and hell combine against it, and those who should be nursing fathers become its persecutors, then the throne of grace is of the easiest access, and its appeal thither is graciously invited by that Father of mercies, who has assured it that when his children ask bread he will not give them a stone:

Therefore, in compliance with the laudable practice of the people of

God in all ages, with the humble regard to the steps of Divine Providence towards this oppressed, threatened, and endangered people, and especially in obedience to the command of Heaven, that ||"bids|| us to call on him in the day of trouble,

Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommended to the good people of this colony, of all denominations, that Thursday, the eleventh day of May next, be set apart as a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that a total abstinence from servile labor and recreation be observed, and all the religious assemblies solemnly convened, to humble themselves before God, under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them; to implore the forgiveness of all our transgressions, a spirit of repentance and reformation, and a blessing on the husbandry, manufactures, and other lawful employments of this people; and especially, that the union of the American colonies in defence of their rights, for which, hitherto, we desire to thank Almighty God, may be preserved and confirmed; that the Provincial, and especially the Continental Congress, may be directed to such measures as God will countenance: that the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes open to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation and all its connections and that America may soon behold a gracious interposition of Heaven, for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.

Ordered, That it be copied, authenticated, and sent to all the religious assemblies in this colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Mr. Cheever, and Mr. Stephen Hall, be a committee to get the resolves printed and dispersed. Adjourned to three o'clock [in the afternoon.]

Afternoon.

IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 15, 1775.

Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is, directed to pay to Messrs. Edes and Gill, printers, the sum of thirty-six pounds, six shillings, and ninepence, lawful money, for printing for said province, to the twenty-seventh of March last.

IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 15, 1775. Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and is hereby directed, to pay to Richard Devens, the sum of eleven pounds, nineteen shillings, and six

pence half penny, for sundry accounts by him paid and discharged for services done for the said province.

IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 15, 1775.

Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is, directed, to pay unto Jeremiah Hunt, the sum of four pounds, four shillings, for his attendance as doorkeeper, for paper and quills, "for the Congress.

Ordered, That Henry Gardner, Esq., Col. Barrett, and Col. Henshaw, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and return him the thanks of this Congress for his faithful attendance on and ||||| officiating as their chaplain during this session.

Ordered, That the same committee be directed to wait on the committee of the proprietors of this house, and return them the thanks of this Congress for the use thereof.

Ordered, That, on the return of the members to their respective towns, they use their interest with the inhabitants thereof, that they immediately pay their public moneys to Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this colony.

Ordered, That the members use their interest to promote the military discipline.

Resolve for adjournment passed, and is as follows:

Resolved, That this Congress be adjourned from this day, to Wednesday, the tenth day of May next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to meet at Concord, in the county of Middlesex; and, considering the great uncertainty of the present times, and that important unforeseen events may take place, from whence it may be absolutely necessary that this Congress should meet sooner than the day abovesaid, notwithstanding the adjournment aforesaid;

It is farther Resolved, That the members of this Congress for the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorchester, or the majority of them, be, and they are hereby authorized, in case they should judge it necessary, to give notice to the several members of this Congress, in such way as they shall think proper, to meet at Concord aforesaid, at any earlier day than the abovesaid tenth day of May, which shall be by them appointed; and it is further recommended to the members of this Congress, that they conform themselves to such notice.

Ordered, That the thanks of this Congress be given to the presi-

a by him furnished for the use of.

b especially for.||

e presented to the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.l

dent for his constant attendance ||on|| and faithful discharge of his - duty as president during the several sessions hereof.

The business being finished, the president declared the Congress adjourned according to the resolve.]

CONCORD, [SATURDAY,] April 22, 1775.1 Mr. Richard Devens ||was chosen|| chairman, [and] Mr. John Murray clerk.

Mr. Gerry represented to Congress, that a letter from Mr. Quincy to Mr. Adams, had been delivered to him, with a desire that it might be opened by Congress in Mr. Adams's absence: after some debate, Ordered, That the members present belonging to the committee on the state of the province retire, open, and peruse the said letter, and report to Congress what parts they think proper: the committee returned, and desired that the whole be read in Congress; which being done, Ordered, That the same be sent to Doct. Warren, to be used at his discretion.

Adjourned to Watertown, at 4 o'clock, P. M.

WATERTOWN, [April 22,] 1775, 4 o'clock, P. M,

Congress met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That Mr. Watson notify the committee of safety,3 of the time and place of our adjournment, and request their attendance, with whatever plans they may have in readiness for us, and also notify the

a until Wednesday, the tenth day of May next, conformably to the preceding resolve.|| (1) Two days only elapsed after the Provincial Congress had adjourned, and the members, returning to their respective homes, were widely separated, before apprehensions of immediate danger arose, and, on the 18th of April, grew so intense, that the committee constituted from Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorchester, met, and issued the following summons to recall each delegate:

"Sir: Having received certain intelligence of the sailing of a number of troops to reenforce the army under general Gage; this, with the industrious preparations making in Boston for a speedy march into the country, impresses us with the absolute necessity of convening the Provincial Congress at Concord, as soon as may be, agreeably to a vote of Congress, at the last session. You are therefore requested immediately to repair to Concord, as the closest deliberation, and the collected wisdom of the people, at this alarming crisis, are indispensably necessary for the salvation of the country." RICHARD DEVENS, per order.

The notice, although circulated with the utmost speed of express messengers, could not have reached many of the members before the march of the British troops to Concord had roused the land to arms.

The adjournment of Congress from Concord to Watertown, was undoubtedly made, from the great necessity, that the body holding the executive and legislative powers of government, should be near to the army of the people, already in the field.

(2) The letter of Mr. Quincy has not been recovered, nor does any paper on the files of the Congress indicate its contents.

(3) The committee of safety had been in constant session during the preceding day and night in Cambridge.

absent members that are at Cambridge, and request their punctual attendance.

Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Cushing, and Mr. Crane, be a committee to wait on the selectmen, for liberty of the use of the meeting-house during the session of Congress here: they returned, and reported that the selectmen readily granted their request.

Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Col. Cushing, Col. Barrett, Capt. Stone, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Watson, and Esquire Dix, be a committee to take depositions, in perpetuam, from which a full account of the transactions of the troops, under general Gage, in their route to and from Concord, &c., on Wednesday last, may be collected, to be sent to England, by the first ship from Salem. Adjourned to this place, to-morrow, at 7 o'clock, A. M.

[SUNDAY,] April 23, 1775, [A. M.]

Congress met "according to adjournment, and adjourned to the school-house.

Upon a letter from Gen. Ward1 respecting the New Hampshire troops, Resolved, unanimously, that it is necessary for the defence of the colony, that an army of 30,000 men be immediately raised and established.

Resolved, That 13,600 men be raised immediately by this province. Resolved, That the committee of safety be a committee to bring in a plan for the establishment of the officers and soldiers necessary for the army to be 'immediately raised,|| and [that they] sit immediately. Voted, That Col. Cushing, Mr. Sullivan, Col. Whitcomb, and Mr. Durant, be added to the committee of safety.

(1) This letter of Gen. Ward, which is lost, probably related to a communication from Col. Greenleaf, dated at Newburyport, April 21, stating, that "we have sent forward the bearer to have your orders, with all possible despatch, by his return, whether the forces that are coming from the province of New Hampshire and from the eastern parts of our province should be sent back, especially those that live near the sea shore. We are well informed that numbers passed our river yesterday at the upper ferry: besides, four companies went through this town on their way to you. We have a party of men from this town, upwards of one hundred upon their march to you: if they are not wanted, and you think proper, you can order our express to turn them back. We sent off last evening two field pieces to you: if not wanted, they may be of some use here."

A letter from Gen. Ward, of the date mentioned in the text, is preserved; it states; "My situation is such that, if I have not enlisting orders immediately, I shall be left all alone: it is impossible to keep the men here, excepting something be done:" and implores immediate action on the measures necessary for the organization of an army.

The committee of safety write thus to the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire: "Our friends from New Hampshire having shewn their readiness to assist us in this day of distress, we therefore thought it best to give orders for enlisting such as were present in the service of this colony, as many desired something may be done to hold them together, until the resolve of your Congress is known, when we are ready and desirous that they should be discharged from us and put under such command as you shall direct."