the proportion heretofore assigned, or shall be willing to receive them, and, if convenient, to those of such towns that said poor may choose; provided said poor are possessed of a certificate from either of the selectmen, or overseers of the poor, of the towns of Boston or Charlestown, showing that they were inhabitants of either of those towns, on the first of March last; and the selectmen, or overseers of the poor of the towns qualified as aforesaid, to which the before mentioned poor may be conveyed, with a certificate as above prescribed, are requested to receive, and make provision for the same, as has been before directed all reasonable charges attending such removal to be paid by this colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Mr. Batchelder and Deacon Plympton, be a committee to bring in a resolve, for the purpose of supplying the Penobscot Indians with a small quantity of gunpowder.

Resolved, That the selectmen of the town of Watertown be, and hereby are empowered and directed, to take into their custody one Daniel Green, now in this town, who was wounded and taken a prisoner the 19th of April last, and convey him to the jail in Concord, there to be confined till the further order of this Congress, or some future house of assembly of this colony.

Adjourned to Monday morning, eight o'clock.

MONDAY, JULY 10, 1775.

[The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for supplying the Penobscot Indians with gunpowder, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :]

Whereas, application has been made to this Congress, by Capt. John Lane, agent for the Penobscot tribe of Indians, for a small quantity of powder, for supplying said Indians: therefore, Resolved, that the committee of supplies is hereby directed to deliver, out of the public stores of this colony, to the said John Lane, twenty-five pounds of powder, for the use aforesaid, taking said Lane's receipt therefor, to deliver the same to General Preble and Col. Enoch Freeman, on account of this colony; and said committee are hereby directed to replace the same again, as soon as may be, from some town in this colony, (if they judge it necessary,) that can best spare the same.

Ordered, That the warrants for surgeons, adjutant generals and quarter master generals, be committed to the committee of safety to be delivered.

Ordered, That Deacon Baker bring in a resolve, directing the receiver general to pay Mr. Hastings, for his services, as door-keeper.

Ordered, That the letter from John Scollay, Esq, [relating to the poor] of Boston, and the paper accompanying it, be put into the hands of the committee of safety.

Ordered, That the President, Doct. Church and Mr. Gerry, be a committee to prepare an answer to a letter this day received from General Lee, and that 11 o'clock be assigned for the choice of some person to attend General Lee, on an interview with General Burgoyne.1

Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Mr. Spear and Mr. Phillips, be a committee to examine a number of letters this day laid before the Congress, brought from London by Capt. Folger.

Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby ordered, that the committee of supplies immediately furnish General Washington with ten good horses, with saddles and bridles, for the public use.

Ordered, That Mr. Batchelder count and sort the votes for a person to attend General Lee on an interview with General Burgoyne. Mr.

(1) The following is the letter from Gen. Lee:

HEAD QUARTERS, JULY THE 10TH, 1775. "General Lee presents his respects to the president and gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and submits to their perusal a letter which he yesterday received from General Burgoyne, in answer to one which was read and approved of by the delegates of this province and other members of the Continental Congress. He begs leave to receive their commands with respect to the proposed interview. If they approve of it, he shall be glad to accept of it; if they disapprove, he shall reject it; but if they approve of it, he must request that they will depute some one gentleman of their body to accompany General Lee, and be witness of the conversation. He desires their answer immediately, as he has engaged to inform Gen. Burgoyne by four o'clock this afternoon, whether the interview is to take place. He shall likewise be much obliged to the gentlemen, if they will return the letter-but if they choose to take a copy, he can have no objection."

On the arrival of General Burgoyne in Boston, General Lee addressed a letter to that officer, expressing warm feelings of personal regard for his former companion in arms, and explaining his views of the rights of the Americans, and their determination and power to maintain them. General Burgoyne, in reply, proposed a meeting. "Above all," he says, "I should find an interview happy if it should induce such explanations as might tend in their consequences to peace. I feel, in common with all around me, for the unhappy people of this country: they foresee not the distress that is impending over them. I know Great Britain is ready to open her arms upon the first overture of accommodation. I know she is equally resolute to maintain her original rights, and if the war proceeds, your one hundred and fifty thousand men will not be a match for her power." The proposed interview was declined in the following note:

CAMBRIDGE, HEAD QUARTERS, JULY 11, 1775. "General Lee's compliments to General Burgoyne-would be extremely happy in an interview he so kindly proposed-but as he perceives that General Burgoyne has already made up his mind on this great subject; and as it is impossible that he, General Lee, should ever alter his opinion, he is apprehensive that the interview might create those jealousies and suspicions so natural in a people struggling in the dearest of all causes, that of their liberty, property, wives, children, and future generations. He must, therefore, defer the happiness of embracing a man whom he most sincerely loves, until the subversion of the present tyrannical ministry and system, which he is persuaded must be in a few months, as he knows Great Britain cannot stand the contest. He begs General Burgoyne will send the letters which his aid de camp has for him. If Gardiner is aid de camp, he desires his love to him."

Batchelder having attended that service, reported, that Mr. Elbridge Gerry was chosen.

Ordered, That Col. Porter, Doct. Taylor and Major Brooks, be a committee, whose business it shall be, in conjunction with the committee of safety, to make thorough inquiry into the subject matter of a letter this day received from General Washington, [relating to reenforcements for the army.] And that the committee be directed to confer with General Washington on the subject of his letter, and particularly inform him of the number of men we had generally estimated in the Massachusetts forces, from the returns of the general officers, from the money paid out of the treasury, for a month's advance pay to the soldiers, and from the provision made for billeting the said forces.1

(1) The following is the letter of General Washington mentioned in the text, addressed to the President of Congress:

HEAD QUARTERS, CAMBRIDGE, July 9, 1775. “SIR:-After much difficulty and delay, I have procured such returns of the state of the army as will enable us to form a judgment of its strength. It is with great concern I find it far inadequate to our general expectations and the duties which may be required of it. The number of men fit for duty in the forces raised in this province, including all the out posts and artillery, does not amount to nine thousand. The troops raised in the other colonies are more complete; but yet fall short of their establishment. So that upon the whole, I cannot estimate the present army at more than fourteen thousand five hundred men capable of duty."

"I have the satisfaction to find the troops, both in camp and quarters, very healthy; so that the deficiency must arise from the regiments never having been filled up to the establishment, and the number of men on furlough: but the former is much most considerable. Under all these circumstances I yesterday called a council of war; and, enclosed, I send you an extract of our determinations, so far as they respect the province of Massachusetts Bay." "Your own prudence will suggest the necessity of secrecy on this subject, as we have the utmost reason to think the enemy suppose our numbers much greater than they are: an error which it is not our interest to remove."

"The great extent of our lines, and the uncertainty which may be the point of attack, added to the necessity of immediate support, have induced me to order that horses, ready saddled, should be kept at several posts, in order to bring the most speedy intelligence of any movement of the enemy."

"For this purpose I should be glad that ten horses might be provided as soon as possible." "I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON."

"P. S. As I am informed the Congress proposes to rise immediately, I should be glad to know what committees are left, or upon whom the executive business devolves. G. W

N."

"AT A COUNCIL OF WAR, held at Head Quarters, July 9, 1775.-Present: His excellency General Washington, Generals Ward, Lee, Putnam, Thomas, Heath, Green, Gates."

"His excellency proposed to the consideration of the council-What number of troops may be necessary for the present service in and near Boston, to defend the posts already occupied, against the force supposed to be employed against us?"

"Upon which it was agreed, that the army for the above purpose ought to consist of at least 22,000

men."

"As it appears by the returns now made, that the number of effective men is far short of the above estimate, a question was proposed, viz. :"

"In what manner this deficiency should be supplied?"

"And it was unanimously agreed, that it ought to be done by sending an officer from each company

The committee appointed to prepare a letter to General Lee, reported. The report was accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forward to General Lee, by Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Gerry, a committee for that purpose.

SIR-The Congress have perused the letter from General Burgoyne, which you was kind enough to submit to their inspection. They can have no objection to the proposed interview, from a want of the highest confidence in the wisdom, discretion and integrity of General Lee, but beg leave to suggest, that, as the confidence of the people in their General, is so essentially necessary, to the well conducting the enterprize in which we are engaged, and as a people contending for their liberties are naturally disposed to jealousy, and not inclined to make the most favorable constructions of the motives of conduct which they are not fully acquainted with, whether such an interview might not have a tendency to lessen the influence, which the Congress would wish to extend, to the utmost of their power, to facilitate and succeed the operations of war.

The Congress, agreeably to your request, have, to prevent, as far as we are able, any disagreeable consequences, which may arise from the jealousy of the people on such an occasion, appointed Mr. Elbridge Gerry to attend you at the proposed interview, if you shall think proper to proceed in it, and as they do not think themselves authorized to counteract the general's inclination, they would submit it to his opinion, whether the advice of the council of war might not be taken in a matter of such apparent delicacy.

To the honorable General Lee.

Ordered, That Col. Mitchell, Capt. Batchelder, and Deacon Nichols, be a committee to consider the circumstances of the town of Hull, and report what is best to be done.

Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Deacon Nichols, and Capt. Stone, be a committee to consider the situation of the public stock of powder, and report what shall be done with it.

in the forces raised in Massachusetts Bay, to recruit the regiments to which they respectively belong, to the establishment fixed by the Provincial Congress, the colonies of Rhode Island and Connecticut being already engaged in recruiting. And that, in the mean time, his excellency the General do apply to the Provincial Congress of this province, for their assistance, in procuring a temporary reenforcement, subject to the same military rules as the army now raised, inasmuch as the present extent of lines, and great probability of an early attack, render such reenforcement indispensably necessary."

Afternoon.

Resolved, That the resolve which passed yesterday, relative to Daniel Green, be reconsidered, and that Capt. Stone be appointed to bring in a resolve with regard to him.

Ordered, That Mr. Baker, Mr. Kollock, and Capt. Parker, be a committee to consider an account of Mr. John Gill.

Ordered, That Capt. Vose, Mr. Jewett, and Mr. Bigelow, be a committee to consider an account of Mr. Moses Lammon, for a gun sold Barnabas Evans.

Ordered, That the committee for signing the bills, &c., be directed to sit, and despatch the business, that the soldiers may be paid off, according to the order of Congress.

Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Mr. Bigelow, and Capt. Harnden, be a committee to consider the account of Mr. Isaac Bissell.

Resolved, That the committee of supplies, be directed to write to the selectmen of Charlestown and Walpole, in the government of New Hampshire, and desire them to inform them, what cannon there are in those towns belonging to this colony, and the said committee are to take into their custody such as they shall find to be the property of this colony.

Resolved, That Mr. Stephen Hall be on the committee in the room of Doct. Gunn, to sign the colony notes.

Mr. Israel Nichols' account was passed upon, and Ordered, that the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay Mr. Israel Nichols, the sum of eighteen shillings, in full of his account.

Capt. Stone, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve, respecting Daniel Green, which was accepted:

Resolved, That the selectmen of Watertown be, and hereby are directed, to take Daniel Green, a prisoner, taken in the late battle on the 19th of April last, who is now in this town, and safely convey him to Mr. Jones, prison keeper at Concord; and said prison keeper is hereby directed safely to keep, and properly support the said Green, until further order of the Congress or House of Representatives.

The committee on Capt. Lane's account, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz.:

Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay John Lane, the sum of three pounds six shillings, for horse hire, and expenses, from Falmouth to Watertown, and back again, in behalf of the Penobscot tribe of Indians.

Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay to Mr. Simon Hastings, the sum of eight pounds four shillings,