discount or abatement shall be made thereon, in any payment, trade, or exchange whatsoever.

The committee appointed to consider the practicability of providing chaplains for the army, reported; the report was read, and recommitted.

The petition of Benjamin Thompson to the committee of safety, was read, and ordered to subside.1

Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.

[Afternoon ]

The report of the committee appointed to consider the practicability of providing chaplains, was again read and accepted, and is as follows, viz.:

Whereas, it is necessary that chaplains should be appointed in the Massachusetts army, under the command of the Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq., which, if appointed, on the establishment made by this Congress, will greatly enhance the colony debt; and, whereas, it has been represented to this Congress, that several ministers of the religious assemblies within this colony, have expressed their willingness to attend the army aforesaid, in the capacity of chaplains, as they may be directed by this Congress; therefore, Resolved, that it be, and it is hereby recommended, to the ministers of the several religious assemblies within this colony, that, with the leave of their several congregations, they attend said army in their several turns,|| to the number of thirteen at one time, during the time the army shall be encamped, and that they make known their resolutions, to the Congress, thereon, or to the committee of safety, as soon as may be.

Resolved, unanimously, that the president be desired to deliver to Gen. Ward, the commission prepared for him by this Congress, as general and commander in chief of the Massachusetts forces.

Ordered, That Major Brooks, Col. Mitchell, Esquire Rawson, Esquire Dix and Major Bliss, be a committee to examine the prisoner at the door, brought from head quarters, and report some order to be taken thereon.

The president communicated to the Congress the request of the selectmen of Boston, that the Congress would permit Mr. Hall to carry

a litowns.||

(1) Mr. Benjamin Thompson, of Concord, in New Hampshire, represented, that he had been arrested and confined in Woburn, upon suspicion of being inimical to the liberty of the country: that the committee of correspondence had made a public examination, but were not pleased to acquit or condemn him: that his personal safety and reputation depended on a thorough and impartial investigation of the charges against him: and prayed the committee of safety to take the subject iuto consideration, and afford him a full and fair trial, and an honorable discharge from confinement.

two loads of hay into Boston, one for himself and one for another person, (lieutenant governor Oliver;) whereupon, Ordered, that the messenger in waiting for an answer be dismissed.

Resolved, That only the colonels of each regiment should attend this Congress to receive their commissions, unless they should be indisposed, or otherwise necessarily prevented; in which case, the next field officer may apply for his commission, and commissions for the inferior officers in his regiment.

The Hon. Mr. Dexter having, by order of Congress, administered the oath to Gen. Ward, his commission was delivered to him by the president.

The following commissions were likewise delivered, viz. to Thomas Cogswell, John Wood, captains, under the command of Col. Gerrish; Ephraim Doolittle, colonel; Ebenezer Learned, colonel; Joseph Reed, colonel; James Bricket, lieutenant colonel, under Col. James Fry; Calvin Smith, major, under Col. Joseph Reed; Danforth Keyes, lieutenant colonel, Jonathan Holman, major, under Col. Ebenezer Learned; Ebenezer Clap, lieutenant colonel, under Col. Joseph Reed. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the captains of Col. Fry's regiment, agreeably to a list exhibited.

Resolved, That nine o'clock, next Tuesday morning, be assigned for taking into consideration the expediency of giving lieutenants' commissions to the subaltern officers.

Resolved, That three o'clock, next Tuesday afternoon, be assigned to consider a motion made by Col. Doolittle, for appointing a muster master for the enlisted companies at Northfield.

Ordered, That Capt. Brown and Esquire Dix, be a committee to procure a guard over the prisoners ||brought|| from head quarters, and that the guard who conducted them from thence be now released.

Adjourned till to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock.

SUNDAY, May 21, 1775, A. M. Met at four o'clock, and adjourned to to-morrow morning, eight o'clock.1

(1) From this date until the dissolution of the second Provincial Congress, no journal of the proceedings is preserved. The fragments on the following pages, have been gathered from the papers on the files, from the copies of resolves certified to be correct by Mr. Secretary Freeman, and from authorized publications in the prints of the times. These relics afford a very imperfect history of the doings of the Congress during the last eight days of its existence, and excite deep regret for the loss of the record, which, it is probable, from the evidence afforded by the volumes preserved, was never entered in regular form by the clerk.

MONDAY, May 22, 1775.

[The committee on the petition from the inhabitants of Deer Island, reported as follows, viz. :]

[The committee on the petition of a number of the inhabitants of Deer Island, so called, in the county of Lincoln, beg leave to report, that they have made inquiry of the bearer of the petition, Major Low, and find that the people there are greatly in want of provisions, and ought to be relieved: but whether it will be best to remove them from the island, or to supply them with 150 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of potatoes, 2 barrels of pork, 20 cod lines, with leads and hooks, and a small quantity of salt, we submit to the Congress.]

[Ordered, That the consideration of this report be deferred until there is a fuller house.]

[The committee appointed to consider what measures should be adopted in relation to the estates of persons unfriendly to the country, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, and ordered to be published in the newspapers printed in Cambridge and Salem :]

[Whereas, a number of men, some of whom have, in times past, by the good people of this province, been raised to the highest places of honor and trust, have become inimical to this colony; and merely on principles of avarice have, in conjunction with the late Gov. Hutchinson, been trying to reduce all America to the most abject state of slavery and as well to avoid the just indignation of the people, as to pursue their diabolical plans, have fled to Boston, and other places, for refuge:]

[Therefore, Resolved, That those persons, among whom are the mandamus counsellors, are guilty of such atrocious and unnatural crimes against their country, that every friend to mankind ought to forsake and detest them, until they shall give evidence of a sincere repentance, by actions worthy of men and christians; and that no person within this colony shall take any deed, lease, or conveyance whatever, of the lands, houses, or estates of such persons. And it is hereby recommended to the committee of inspection, in every town in this colony, to see this resolve fully enforced, unless in such cases as the Congress shall otherwise direct.]

[A letter was received from Gen. Ward, recommending that the ordnance, arms and ammunition, mentioned in the following list, be immediately procured, and sent to head quarters, for the supply of the army of Massachusetts :]

[30 twenty-four pounders, and if that number of cannon cannot be

obtained, that the weight of metal be made up with eighteen pounders, double fortified: 10 twelve pounders: 18 nine pounders: 21,600 pounds of powder, and 80 balls for each gun: 1500 stands of arms: 20,000 pounds of musket powder: 40,000 pounds of lead: 1700 iron pots :]

[Ordered, That the letter be referred to the committee of safety.] [The Congress having requested the Rev. Doct. Langdon to deliver a sermon before the next Massachusetts Congress, at their meeting in Watertown, on the last Wednesday of this month, and he having signified that he will comply with such request:]

[Resolved, That it is the desire of this Congress, that the reverend ministers of the gospel in this colony, would assemble at that time, agreeably to their ancient custom, and hold a convention as usual, if they think proper: as, in the opinion of this Congress, the cause of religion, and the political interest of this colony, may be served by such meeting.]

[Ordered, That the secretary be directed to cause the foregoing resolution to be published in the newspapers, as soon as may be.]

[A letter was received from the committee of safety, inclosing a communication from Col. Benedict Arnold, giving information of the surrender of Ticonderoga.]1

[Ordered, That the following letter to Col. Arnold, reported by a committee, be accepted, signed by the secretary, and forwarded in the name and behalf of this Congress, as soon as may be.]

[SIR-This Congress have this day received your letter of the 11th instant, informing the committee of safety of the reduction of the fort at Ticonderoga, with its dependencies, which was laid before this Congress by said committee. We applaud the conduct of the troops, and esteem it a very valuable acquisition.]

[We thank you for your exertions in the cause, and considering the situation of this colony at this time, having a formidable army in the heart of it, whose motions must be constantly attended to; and as the affairs of that expedition began in the colony of Connecticut, and the cause being common to us all, we have already written to the general assembly of that colony, to take the whole matter respecting the same under their care and direction, until the advice of the Continental Congress can be had in that behalf, a copy of which letter we now enclose you.]

[The president communicated the following letter from the Hon James Russell, commissioner of imposts:]

(1) The letters of Col. Arnold will be found in the Appendix.

[CHARLESTOWN, May 19th, 1775.

To JOSEPH WARREN, ESQ., President of the Provincial Congress. SIR-I yesterday, by Major Fuller, Mr. Whittemore and Mr. Bliss, received a resolve of the Congress, appointing them a committee to call on me, to know whether I have any of the public moneys in my hands; in answer thereto, I would desire you, Sir, to inform the Provincial Congress, that the light money, for several years past, since the increase of light houses, and more especially since the obstructions of the last year upon our trade, has not been sufficient to defray the expense of said houses; and I have, consequently, been under a necessity to apply the money arising from the impost for that purpose. Ever since I received the favors of my country in being chosen to the impost office, I have done all in my power to discharge my duty therein, to their satisfaction. The means of procuring oil, by the unhappy and increasing troubles of our country, appearing very uncertain and precarious, I have endeavored to purchase as large a stock as I could; and as the impost bill expired on the first of March last, the public moneys I have in my hands, will not be more than sufficient to enable me to pay for the oil contracted for, to complete the stock for the present year.

I am your most humble servant,

JAMES RUSSELL.]

[Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Hale and Mr. Kollock, be a committee to take the foregoing letter into consideration, and, in particular, to inquire into Mr. Russell's right of making the contract therein mentioned, and the circumstances of it, and report as soon as may be.]

TUESDAY, May 23, 1775.

[The committee appointed to consider the letter from Brownfield, reported, that they find by the bearer of the letter, that the inhabitants have some arms, powder, &c, and are not in immediate danger, except from indians, who are friendly at present; and the state of our affairs calls for such large supplies, that the consideration of their request should be deferred till the sitting of the next Congress.]

[The report was accepted, and Mr. Israel Hobart was directed to inform the bearer of the letter of the action of the Congress thereon.] [The committee appointed to bring in a resolve respecting the depredations of the British troops on the islands and sea coasts, reported as follows :]