equitable towards all our neighbors, and on that Almighty Being we rely, that, while we are struggling against rapine and tyranny, we shall be supported in the conflict, and our just endeavors be finally crowned with success.

The committee likewise reported, verbally, that it is their opinion, the said Indians should have, each of them, two yards of blue broadcloth, and one piece of ribbon, and have their expenses paid, out and home which report was accepted, and the committee of supplies directed to furnish said Indians with the said ribbon and cloth.

A copy of a letter from the president of the New York Congress to Major General Wooster, at Greenwich, forwarded to head quarters at Cambridge, was read, and committed to the committee just now appointed to consider some methods for regulating the army immediately.1

(I) The letter of the New York Congress was forwarded by Gov. Trumbull, with the communications which follow:

"LEBANON, June 19, 1775, A. M., 7 o'clock. "SIR-Inclosed are copies of notes taken by the Provincial Congress at New York, of the intelligence brought by Capt. Thompson, of the embarkation of four regiments from Ireland for New York, in consequence whereof Major General Wooster is requested by that Congress to march immediately within five miles of the city; and the latter informs me, that Capt. Sears informed him, that the people of New York intend to quarter our troops in the city. The military stores, which were at Turtle Bay, have fallen into the hands of General Wooster, consisting of too many articles to be enumerated; among which are, about five hundred good horse harnesses, a very considerable number of 13 and 10 inch carcasses, [shells and pots,] all well charged, a very great plenty of grape shot, cannon balls from 24 pounders down to 3, &c., &c."

"The Provincial Congress of New York forwarded, for the use of your camp at Cambridge, 655 lbs. of powder, which came as far as Stanford. They desired the same quantity might be forwarded from our eastern magazines. The governor, with his council here, agreed, on Saturday last, to send forward ten barrels of powder, containing 1100 lbs., from Norwich. Immediately after receiving the letter of Mr. Gerry, of 17th June, at 7 and 8 o'clock, P. M., I sent to Norwich directions to forward the same, night and day. The remainder of Col. Parson's regiment were ordered to march, forthwith, to join the rest at camp, with one pound powder, three do. ball, and six flints each. I have sent to hasten them on. I have, this moment, received advice from Col. Arnold at Crown Point, of 13th instant, that the Indians of the Cagnawaga tribe are determined not to assist the king's troops, and have passed a law, that the first of their tribe, who takes up arms against us, shall be put to death; which he says, is confirmed by five chiefs of that tribe there with their families, and they press hard for our army to march into Canada, as they are much disgusted with the regular troops. Three Indians, sent by him to Canada, it seems, have been much abused by the regulars, and are returned, and confirm that account: it is also confirmed, he says, by a gentleman of probity at Montreal; and that numbers of the Canadians have expected our army there, and are impatient of our delay, being determined to join us as soon as sufficient force appears to support them: that Gov. Carlton, by every art, can raise no more than twenty Canadians of the noblesse: that he threatens to burn Montreal, if the merchants won't defend the city, in case of an attack: that he has only 550 effective men, and thinks it would be very easy to possess ourselves of the whole country." "Col. Hinman writes, that he is in quiet possession of Ticonderoga, and does not find that there are any enemies about him."

"I

am,

with great truth and regard, gentlemen, your obedient, humble servant,
JONA. TRUMBULL."

"Joseph Warren, Esq., President of the Massachusetts Congress, and Elbridge Gerry, Esq., chairman of the committee of supplies at Massachusetts,"

Ordered, That commissions for the several officers of the train of artillery hereafter mentioned, be prepared and delivered, viz.: To Col. Richard Gridley, colonel: Mr. William Burbeck, lieutenant colonel. Mr. David Mason, 1st major: Mr. Scarborough Gridley, 2d major.

Resolved, That commissions be delivered to the several officers of the train of artillery, agreeably to the list exhibited by the committee of safety, except to Mr. John Wiley's company: and that the said committee be desired to recommend some persons for that company

anew.

Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Pickering and Col. Sawyer, be a committee to prepare commissions for the several officers of the train, agreeably to the foregoing resolve of Congress.

Notes of the Intelligence brought by Capt. Thompson.

"Capt. Thompson arrived at New York, Tuesday, 13th June, 1775; left Cork, in Ireland, on the 6th of May last, and informs, that six regiments had sailed, in 24 transports, for Boston, one regiment of horse included, which sailed 30th April. Three regiments were embarked, and the fourth embarking, to sail for New York, with the first fair wind. The regiments were all full, 700 men each, filled by drafts from the regiments that remain. Their places were to be filled by new recruits. The general report was, that these four regiments were coming to New York, and some captains, and other officers belonging to the troops, told Capt. Thompson in person, that they were coming to New York. One regiment arrived at Cork, from Kilkenny, the day Capt. Thompson sailed, which was the last regiment to embark for New York. He saw 12 large transports destined for New York he heard that 16 were to sail: one general officer was to come to New York."

"The troops coming to New York are to protect the people's property, and assist against mobs: the report in Ireland was, that those troops had been wrote for by persons here. The troops, in general, disliked the service: some officers had sold out: no ships of war were coming with the transports: a report prevailed in Ireland, that nine new regiments were to be raised. He heard that 30,000 Russians were ready at a moment's warning. The people of Ireland, in general, are well affected to the Americans, and are averse to the Americans' being taxed by the parliament of Great Britain. Capt. McIlvaine sailed (before Capt. Thompson) for Philadelphia, and has the numbers of the regiments coming to America."

"PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, New York, 17th June, 1775." "SIR-Being well informed that four regiments, containing near three thousand effective men, have sailed, in transports, for this city, we took the liberty to request the assistance of those brave sons of freedom who are under your command. We are, this instant, further informed, that the Mercury, ship of war, was cruising upon our coast, and is now at Sandy Hook, to order those transports to Boston immediately, and did, on Tuesday last, thirty leagues to the southeast of the Hook, deliver her orders to the old Spy, man of war, now a transport, with part of the forty fourth regiment on board, which immediately altered her course. From hence, we conclude, that a very capital stroke is meditated against our brethren of the Massachusetts Bay. You best can determine, sir, whether it is proper, on this occasion, for the forces under your command to march westward; but we are led to believe, that it is of more important consequence to secure the several passes with which nature hath bounteously fortified the eastern country, that, if some unexpected chance of war should prove fatal to us, in the first contest, the enemy may, by such means, receive a check in his career of vengeance. We beg you to transmit this intelligence to the provincial camp with the utmost despatch. We are, sir, your most humble servants.

By order of the Congress.

"To Major General Wooster, at Greenwich."

PETER V. B. LIVINGSTON, President."

"The above is a true copy of a letter just received from the Provincial Congress of New York,

and now forwarded by express.

By order of General Wooster.

JAMES LOCKWOOD, See'ry."

Ordered, That Major Whittemore wait upon Col. Gridley, to desire him to attend this Congress, to-morrow, to receive his commission. Ordered, That Deacon Nichols, Mr. Bent and Deacon Fisher, be a committee to consider the petition of Capt. Briant Morton.

Ordered, That Col. Gridley's list of staff officers be committed to the committee just now appointed to prepare commissions for the officers of the train.

Adjourned to Thursday morning, nine o'clock.

THURSDAY, June 22, 1775.

Ordered, That the secretary, Col. Cushing and Mr. Wheeler, be a committee to make a list of such officers of the army, as have been commissioned, and also to inquire who have not yet received their commissions.

Ordered, That an ensign's commission be delivered to Mr. Stephen Frost, of Capt. Locke's company, in Col. Gardner's regiment.

Ordered, That the selectmen of the town of Ashby, be directed to deliver the selectmen of the town of Townshend one half barrel of powder, provided they have two half barrels, the selectmen of Townsend giving a receipt for the same.

Ordered, That the petition of Col. Paul Dudley Sergent be committed to Col. Parks, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Mr. Nye.

Ordered, That the petition from Penobscot [for ammunition and provisions] be recommitted.

Ordered, That Doct. Francis Kittridge be desired to attend the hospital, as a surgeon, till the further order of Congress, and that Mr. Kendall be desired to inform Doct. Kittridge of his appointment.

Ordered, That the colonels of the several regiments in the Massachusetts army, be directed to recommend, immediately, suitable persons for surgeons and surgeons' mates.

Ordered, That a recommendation from the committee of safety, respecting aids de camp, be committed to Col. Glover, Major Goodwin and Dr. Whiting.

Ordered, That Major Whittemore, Mr. Davis and Deacon [^Gould,] be a committee to distribute the handbills respecting the due observance of the Lord's day.

Ordered, That Mr. Pickering be appointed, in the room of Col. Coffin, to consider the petition of Mr. Kirkwood, keeper of the lighthouse on Thatcher's island.1

a [Gool.]

(1) James Kirkwood represented, that he had been deprived of his salary for two years, and had not been remunerated for his disbursements in maintaining the lights on Thatcher's island, and

Ordered, That Mr. Hinsdale, Col. Farley and Capt. Batchelder, be a committee to take into consideration a petition from George Vincent of Salem.

Ordered, That Doct. Whiting be appointed to draft a resolve, that application be made to the committee of safety by every person that is to be appointed a military officer.

Ordered, That the proclamation for a fast be recommitted for amendment, and that Mr. Webster and Deacon Fisher be added to the committee.

Ordered, That a hospital be provided for the camp at Roxbury, and that Col. Davis, Doct. Taylor and Doct. Whiting, be a committee to provide one accordingly, and to supply the same.

Ordered, That Major Fuller of Newton, be appointed to take care of the plates, until the further order of this Congress, or some future house of representatives of this colony.

Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Webster and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to take into consideration Col. Phiney's regiment.

Ordered, That Mr. Goodman be appointed, in the room of Col. Grout, on the petition of Mr. Parry.

Afternoon.

Ordered, That Mr. Paul Revere's account1 be committed to Col. Farley, Mr. Hall and Mr. Bailey.

Ordered, That Capt. Batchelder, Major Goodwin and Mr. Hobart, be a committee to consider the propriety of commissioning the officers in Col. Gerrish's regiment.

Ordered, That Mr. Pickering be appointed, to fill up commissions for Samuel Patch, as captain, and Zachariah Walker and Joshua Brown, as lieutenants, in Col. William Prescott's regiment.

Ordered, That a letter be sent to General Ward, in answer to his letter, and that Col. Lincoln be appointed for that service.

Voted, That a particular number of men shall be settled, to entitle Col. Phiney to the command of a regiment.

Voted, That Col. Phiney be directed to bring up to the camp four hundred men with effective fire arms, and that a time be limited to bring up one hundred more, at least, with effective fire arms, and in that case [he] to be entitled to a colonel's commission, and not otherwise.

prayed relief from the pecuniary difficulties he experienced by reason of the postponement of the payments due for his services and expenses.

(1) Col. Paul Revere charged for engraving four copper plates of the colony notes, at 61. each, 241. and for printing 14,500 impressions, at 31. 6s. 8d. the thousand, 481, 6s. 8d.

L

Ordered, That Mr. Pickering be appointed, to make out commissions to the officers in Col. Gerrish's regiment.

Ordered, That the committee of safety be directed, as soon as possible, to prepare and transmit to this Congress, perfect lists of the names of such gentlemen as they judge fit and worthy to be commissioned in the several regiments granted by this Congress, and for which the said committee have not already transmitted lists, that so our army may be organized as soon as possible.

On the petition of the selectmen of the town of Townshend, Resolved, that it be recommended to the selectmen of the town of Ashby, to deliver to the selectmen of the town of Townshend, one half barrel of gunpowder for the use of the inhabitants of said Townshend; which shall be replaced in the town of Ashby by this Congress, or a house of representatives, so soon as the state of our magazines will admit; or otherwise, said town of Ashby shall be fully paid for said powder, out of the public treasury: provided the said town of Ashby have two half barrels, as has been represented to this Congress.

The committee appointed to consider by what means the army before Boston, may be effectually and most expeditiously strengthened, beg leave to report in part, that they judge it absolutely necessary that the eight companies stationed in the county of Plymouth, belonging partly to General Thomas's regiment, and partly to Col. Cotton's regiment, be immediately ordered to join the army as soon as possible, and that directions be immediately given to General Ward for that purpose. JOSEPH HAWLEY, per order.1

[The committee reported the following letter to general Ward, which was accepted:]

SIR-As it appears to this Congress highly probable, that the army of our enemies will speedily make the utmost efforts to force your lines and penetrate into the country, they have judged it absolutely necessary for the strengthening of the army before Boston, that the eight companies now posted in the county of Plymouth, belonging partly to General Thomas's regiment, and partly to Col. Cotton's regiment, should immediately join the said army. You are therefore directed, without delay, to give the orders necessary for the marching the said eight companies to the said army as soon as may be.

(1) In the original journal, the resolve in relation to the removal of the troops from Plymouth, is repeated, under the date of June 23.