shed some blood, soon after we spake to you last, by our letter. But we, with a small twig, killed so many, and frightened them so much, that they have shut themselves up in our great town, called Boston, which they have made strong. We have now made our hatchets and all our instruments of war sharp and bright. All the chief counsellors who live on this side the great water, are sitting in the grand council house in Philadelphia. When they give the word, we shall all, as one man, fall on, and drive our enemies out of their strong fort, and follow them till they shall take their hands out of our pouches, and let us sit in our council house, as we used to do, and as our fathers did in old times. BROTHERS Though you are small, yet you are wise use your wisdom to help us. If you think it best, go and smoke your pipe with your indian brothers, towards the setting of the sun, and tell them all you hear, and all you see, and let us know what their wise men say. If some of your young men should have a mind to see what we are doing here, let them come down, and tarry among our warriors. will provide for them while they are here. We BROTHERS: When you have any trouble, come and tell it to us, and we will help you. To Capt. Solomon Uhhaunnauwaunmut, Chief Sachem of the Moheakounuck tribe of Indians, at Stockbridge. [Whereas, it appears to this Congress, that great benefit may arise to the American cause, should our friends of the Stockbridge, or Moheakounuck tribe of Indians, send belts and messengers to the several tribes connected with them; and as the same may be attended with expense; therefore, Resolved, that the selectmen of the town of Stockbridge, for the time being, be a committee to promote the forwarding such messengers and belts, and that the committee aforesaid be allowed to draw out of the public moneys, in the hands of Stephen Nash, late collector for the town of Stockbridge aforesaid, any sum or sums, exceeding fifteen pounds, for which said committee shall account to this, or some future Congress, or house of representatives, and be allowed all reasonable charges that have or may arise for promoting and forwarding the premises.] not The committee appointed to establish an allowance of provisions for the soldiers, reported. The further consideration of the report was put off to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. A colonel's commission was delivered to Col. John Fellowes. FRIDAY, June 9, 1775. A petition from the selectmen and others of the town of Manchester1 was read, and committed to the committee who were appointed to consider the circumstances of the sea port towns. Col. Bowers and Mr. Fisher, who were of the committee appointed to consider the petition of the convention of committees of the county of Worcester, being absent, Ordered, that Major Bliss and Doct. Taylor be appointed in their room. Col. Bowers, who was on the committee appointed to consider the situation and circumstances of the sea coasts, being absent, Ordered, that the Hon. Mr. Spooner be appointed in his room. Ordered, That Capt. Stone of Oakham, Deacon Hovey, Col. Prescott, Col. Farley and Col. Grout, be a committee to consider what is proper to be done with the prisoners brought to this place from Arun. del. Ordered, That Capt. Goodrich, Mr. Mitchel and Mr. Johnson, be a committee to consider a petition from Abiathar Angel, and report. A petition from the town of Berwick was read, and committed to the committee appointed to consider the situation and circumstances of the sea coasts. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for the purpose of enforcing two resolves of the Continental Congress, reported: the report was accepted, and with the said resolves of Congress here follow, viz. : IN CONGRESS, May 17, 1775, at Philadelphia. Resolved, That all exportations to Quebec, Nova Scotia, the Island of St. Johns, Newfoundland, Georgia, except the parish of St. Johns, and to East and West Florida, immediately cease; and that no provisions of any kind, or other necessaries, be furnished to the British fisheries on the American coasts, until it be otherwise determined by the Congress. May 29. Resolved, That no provisions or necessaries of any kind be exported to the island of Nantucket, except from the colony of the Massachu (1) The people of Manchester, suffering under the pressure of military duty, which interrupted the cultivation of the fields and the prosecution of the fishery, requested liberty to raise and employ a company of men for the defence of the town, to be placed on the provincial establishment, and attached to the regiment of the army stationed nearest to the petitioners. (2) The convention of the committees of Worcester county, in addition to a former memorial, voted to remonstrate against the right of the delegates returned from the districts of Charlton and Paxton to hold their seats in Congress. The objections against the validity of the elections are not stated in the records. setts Bay, the convention of which colony is desired to take measures for effectually providing the said island, upon their application to purchase the same, with as much provision as shall be necessary for its internal use, and no more. The Congress deeming it of great importance to North America, that the British fishery should not be furnished with provisions from this continent through Nantucket, earnestly recommend a vigilant execution of this resolve to all committees. A true copy from the minutes. CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'ry. The foregoing resolves of the Continental Congress, being read and considered, Resolved, that the same be forthwith printed in hand bills, together with this resolve, and dispersed in the several sea port towns in this colony, that due obedience may be paid to the same. Further, Resolved, that the inhabitants of the island of Nantucket have liberty to purchase such provisions as are necessary for the internal use of said island, in any of the New England governments; provided, nevertheless, that no provisions or necessaries of any kind be exported to the said island of Nantucket, without a permit in writing from the committee of safety of this colony, or such person or persons as they shall appoint to give such permit, expressing the quantity so to be transported, be first had and obtained; and that the same be exported from such port only, in this colony, as shall be expressed in the same permit. The order of the day was moved for. The report of the committee on the establishment of an allowance of provisions for the soldiers, was read and considered, and after debate thereon, was recommitted. The committee on the petition from the county of Worcester reported, that it is the opinion of the committee, that the delegates chosen by the districts of Paxton and Charlton, as mentioned in said petition, have not a right to seats in this house. Moved, That a commission be delivered to Col. John Glover, as colonel of a regiment in the Massachusetts army. [Afternoon.] The report of the committee on the petition from the county of Worcester was considered, and, after much debate, the question was put, whether said report be accepted, and it passed in the negative. Ordered, That the guard who has in custody the prisoners from Arundel, be relieved by a guard from the town of Watertown. Ordered, That Mr. Sayer be added to the committee, who were ap pointed to consider some measures for commissioning the officers of the army, in the room of Col. Porter, who has leave of absence. Leave of absence was granted to the Rev. Mr. Thayer, and the Rev. Mr. Curtis, and it being moved that they be directed to return as soon as may be, the question was put, and it passed in the negative. Col. Porter, who was of the committee to consider the letter of Mr. Gridley to the committee of safety, relative to the train, being absent, Mr. Partridge was appointed in his room. Resolved, That the committee of safety be required, as soon as may be, to certify to this Congress, the names of such gentlemen as are candidates for the command of a regiment, with the number of privates that have been enlisted under them, and any other claims or pretensions that any gentleman may have to a commission in the service. Ordered, That the papers exhibited to this Congress by Capt. Phelps be returned to him by Major Bliss. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. SATURDAY, June 10, 1775. Ordered, That the committee of safety be directed to make return, in writing, to this Congress, as soon as may be, of the names of all those persons who claim, or offer themselves to be commissioned as colonels of regiments in the colony army, and are not commissioned, with any agreement that may have been made with any such persons by the committee of safety; as also, a state of those regiments, which such persons claim the command of, as to their numbers, equipments, and the time they have been engaged in service. The committee appointed to consider what is proper to be done with the prisoners brought from Arundel, reported as follows, viz.: The committee appointed to examine the persons and papers sent to this Congress, by the committee of the town of Arundel, have attended that service; and, after due perusal of said papers, Josiah Jones and Jonathan Hicks, therein referred to, were brought before them. Said Jones in his defence says, he had no concern with the sloop Polly, otherwise than as a passenger in her to Nova Scotia; notwithstanding which, it appears clearly to this committee, by said papers, as also by the evidence of Capt. Smith, master, herewith transmitted, that said Jones went on board said sloop as supercargo, in the service of general Gage, to bring hay and other articles to Boston, to supply our enemies. We find by said Jones' account of himself, that he went to Boston soon after the memorable Lexington battle, of the 19th of April last, in company with John Ruggles, of Hardwick, who was ordered by a committee to the said town of Hardwick; and that said Jones was knowing to the proceedings of said committee against said Ruggles, before they set out together from Weston to take refuge in Boston; and that they left the common road, and went in the woods and difficult places, to pass the town of Roxbury. The committee, upon the whole, have not the least reason to doubt, of said Jones' being a notorious enemy to his country, and of his having been in the actual employment of our enemies against the just liberties of the people. [They] therefore beg leave to report the following order, viz.: IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, June 10, 1775. Ordered, That Josiah Jones, taken from the sloop Polly, be sent, with a sufficient guard, to the town of Concord, in the county of Middlesex, and committed to the common jail, there to remain until the further orders of the Congress, or house of representatives of this colony. Said Jonathan Hicks in his defence says, that since the public disputes respecting the liberties of the country, he has not liked the part that has been acted, in many respects, on either side, therefore could not see his way clear to join with any. Upon examination, the committee find by evidence, that at Gardinerston, while he lived there, he expressed himself highly against committees of correspondence, &c., calling them rebels, and using other opprobrious language against the people who appeared for liberty, and endeavored to hinder their unity. That, also, while he the said Hicks lived at Plymouth, he was esteemed by the good people there, inimical to the liberties of his country by his general conduct, and that at certain times he appeared very high, and once drew his sword or spear upon certain persons. Said Hicks, upon the whole, owns his general conduct has been such, as the people for liberty call tory, but still says he is against the oppressive acts. Said Hicks confesses, that the evening after the battle of Lexington aforesaid, he left Plymouth, and took shelter with the troops at Marshfield, not thinking himself safe in the country; that he went with them to Boston, and there remained until he went on board the sloop Polly, with Jones, and says he designed for Halifax, there to tarry, if he could find business, in order to be out of the noise. Capt. Smith, master of said sloop, can give no account of Hicks' business on board; all he can say is, he in general appeared inimical, calling the liberty people rebels, &c. The committee, therefore, beg leave to report the following order : IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown, June 10, 1775. Ordered, That Jonathan Hicks, taken from the sloop Polly, be sent, |