the Boston. The following form of a permit is for your government, blanks in which you are to fill up with the names and number of the persons, viz.: Permit A. B., the bearer hereof, with his family, consisting of persons, with his effects, fire-arms and ammunition excepted, to pass unmolested into the town of Boston, between sunrise and sunset. By order of the Provincial Congress. JOSEPH WARREN, clerk pro tem. Voted, That Andrew Craigie be appointed to take care of the medical stores, and to deliver them out as ordered by this committee; and that the secretary make out his commission accordingly. Voted, That it be recommended by this committee to the council of war, that Mr. Joseph Pierce Palmer be appointed to the post of quarter master general of the army. MAY 1, 1775. Voted, That the quarter master general be directed to clear that chamber in Stoughton College, occupied by S. Parsons, Jr., for a printing office for Messrs. Halls. : Whereas, many of our brethren of the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island are now with us, to assist in this day of public and general distress, in which we are all deeply concerned and, whereas, our brethren of said colonies have brought with them some of the paper currencies of their respective colonies, which have not, of late, had a currency with us, and for want of which, our common interests may greatly suffer: Resolved, That said paper currencies shall, from and after the date hereof, be paid and received within this colony, in all payments, to all intents and purposes, in the same proportion to silver, as the same are paid and received within the respective colonies by which the same have been issued. Resolved, That Col. Palmer be a committee to inquire into the matter, [to find] what colonies have such currencies, to alter this resolve agreeably thereto, and to present the same to the honorable Congress for their consideration. [Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Gordon have free access to the prisoners detained at Worcester and elsewhere, and that all civil magistrates and others be aiding and assisting him in examining and taking depositions of them and others.] MAY 2, 1775. Doct. Warren, Col. Palmer and Col. Gardner, [were appointed] a sub-committee, to confer with General Ward, relative to the proposal made by Col. Arnold of Connecticut, for an attempt upon Ticonderoga. A number of recantations, from the town of Marblehead, having been laid before the committee, for their opinion, as to the propriety of receiving them : Voted, That it is the opinion of this committee, that said recantations be received, and that the persons making them, be made acquainted with the proclamation lately issued by Congress, respecting those [who] may incline to get into Boston; and that it be recommended to the inhabitants of this province, that they be protected from all injuries or insults whatsoever, so long as they adhere to their several recantations, now before this committee, and continue to assist and abide by their country, and the inhabitants of Marblehead in particular, in the important dispute between Great Britain and America. Voted, That two muster masters be appointed, one at the camp in Cambridge, and one at the camp in Roxbury. Voted, That General Thomas be desired to give such orders, respecting the whale boats at Falmouth, and other ports southward, as he may judge proper. Voted, That the Massachusetts Congress be desired to give an order upon the treasurer, for the immediate payment of one hundred pounds in cash; and also to order 200 pounds of gunpowder, 200 pounds of lead balls, and 1000 flints, and also ten horses, to be delivered unto Capt. Benedict Arnold, for the use of this colony, upon a certain service approved of by the council of war: said Arnold to be accountable for the same, to this or some future Congress, or house of representatives of this colony. Voted, That two companies be raised in Braintree, for the immediate defence of the sea coast of said town; the said companies to be joined to such regiment in future as they may be ordered to, should there be occasion, or discharged from service, as soon as the public. good would admit of it: and that Col. Thayer be furnished with two sets of enlisting papers for this purpose.1 Voted, That General Thomas be, and he hereby is directed and empowered to stop the trunks mentioned to be in Col. Taylor's hands, until this committee send some proper persons to examine their contents.2 (1) This vote was reconsidered May 4th. (2) The following is a letter from General Thomas, dated May 2, 1775: "GENTLEMEN:-In consequence of directions from the committee of safety, I sent an officer, Resolved, That agreeably to a vote of Congress, General Thomas be directed and empowered to appoint suitable persons, to accompany such people into the country as may be permitted to bring their effects into Boston, upon the conditions mentioned in the proclamations posted up, and that General Thomas give such general orders as he may judge the common safety requires. Voted, That Col. Arnold, appointed to a secret service, be desired to appoint two field officers, captains, &c., to be allowed the same pay during their continuance in service as is established for officers and privates of the same rank, who are ordered by the Congress of Massachusettss Bay to be raised for the defence of the rights and liberties of America; the officers and privates to be dismissed by Col. Arnold, or the committee of safety, whenever they shall think proper. Voted, That the committee of supplies be desired to procure ten horses for Col. Arnold, to be employed on a special service. Voted, That Mr. Isaac Bradish, keeper of the prison in Cambridge, be supplied with provisions out of the colony stores, for the support of the prisoners under his care, who have or may be committed by the orders of the council of war or of this committee. The quarter master general having informed that some persons unknown had made spoil of liquors in the cellars of General Brattle, and Mr. Borland, and others, whereupon, Voted, that he be directed to take possession of those liquors, and other stores, immediately, in all the houses which are deserted, and that a particular account of such stores be taken, and that they be then committed to the care of the commissary general. [A letter to the governor and company of the colony of Connecticut was reported, accepted, and is as follows:] [CAMBRIDGE, MAY 2, 1775.] [We yesterday had a conference with Doct. Johnson and Col. Wol on whom I could depend, to the house of Governor Hutchinson, who brought off all the papers he could find in that house; but I was informed that Colonel Taylor, of Milton, had lately taken several trunks out of the governor's house, not many days ago, in order to secure them from being plundered. I immediately sent another messenger to Col. Taylor, for all the papers that belonged to Governor Hutchinson which he had in his possession; he sent me for answer, he did not know of any papers that belong to said Hutchinson, but just now comes to inform me that there are several trunks in his house, which he took as aforesaid, which he expects will be sent for very soon. I suspect there may be papers in said trunks, and if it is thought proper, two or three judicious persons be sent to break open and search for papers, he will give them his assistance. This, gentlemen, is submitted to the consideration of the honorable committee." "I have, gentlemen, the honor to subscribe myself, your most obedient humble servant, "ROXBURY CAMP, MAY 2, A. D. 1775." JOHN THOMAS." cot, who were appointed by your assembly to deliver a letter to, and hold a conference with General Gage. We feel the warmest gratitude to you for those generous and affectionate sentiments which you entertain toward us. But you will allow us to express our uneasiness on account of one paragraph in your letter, in which a cessation of hostilities is proposed. We fear that our brethren in Connecticut are not even yet convinced of the cruel designs of administration against America, nor thoroughly sensible of the miseries to which General Gage's army have reduced this wretched colony. We have lost the town of Boston, and we greatly fear for the inhabitants of Boston, as we find the general is perpetually making new conditions, and forming most unreasonable pretensions for retarding their removal from that garrison. Our sea posts on the eastern coasts are mostly deserted: our people have been barbarously murdered by an insidious enemy, who, under cover of the night, have marched into the heart of the country, spreading destruction with fire and sword. No business but that of war is either done or thought of in this colony. No agreement or compact with General Gage will, in the least, alleviate our distress, as no confidence can possibly be placed in any assurances he can give to a people whom he has first deceived, by taking possession of and fortifying the town of Boston, and whom he has suffered his army to attack in the most inhuman and treacherous manner. Our relief now must arise from driving General Gage with his troops out of the country, which, by the blessing of God, we are determined to accomplish, or perish in the attempt, as we think it better to meet an honorable death in the field, whilst fighting for the liberties of all America, and far preferable to be butchered in our own houses, than to be reduced to an ignominious slavery. We must entreat, that our sister colony Connecticut, will afford, immediately, all possible aid; as, at this time, delay will be attended with all that fatal train of events, which would follow from an absolute desertion of the cause of American liberty. Excuse our earnestness on this subject, as we know that upon the success of our present contest depend the lives and liberties of our country and succeeding generations.] [We are, &c.] [To the Governor and Company of Connecticut.] MAY 3, 1775. Voted, That two companies be raised in the towns of Malden and Chelsea, for the defence of the sea coast of said towns, the said companies to be joined to such regiments in future, as they may be or dered to, should there be occasion, or discharged from service as soon as the public good will admit of it. Voted, That the quarter master general be directed to pay the strictest attention, that the household furniture of those persons, who have taken refuge in the town of Boston, may be properly secured, and disposed of in places of safety. The following orders were given Col. Arnold, relative to an attempt upon Ticonderoga, viz. : To Benedict Arnold, Esq., commander of a body of troops on an expedition to reduce and take possession of the fort of Ticonderoga: SIR-Confiding in your judgment, fidelity, and valor, we do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, colonel and commander in chief over a body of men not exceeding four hundred, to proceed, with all expedition, to the western parts of this and the neighboring colonies, where you are directed to enlist those men, and with them, forthwith, to march to the fort at Ticonderoga, and use your best endeavors to reduce the same, taking possession of the cannon, mortars, stores, &c., upon the lake; you are to bring back with you, such of the cannon, mortars, stores, &c., as you shall judge may be serviceable to the army here, leaving behind what may be necessary to secure that post, with a sufficient garrison. You are to procure suitable provisions and stores for the army, and draw upon the committee of safety for the amount thereof, and to act in every exigence, according to your best skill and discretion, for the public interest, for which this shall be your sufficient warrant. BENJAMIN CHURCH, JUN., [For the] committee of safety. By order, WILLIAM COOPER, Secretary. Cambridge, May 3, 1775. MAY 4, 1775. [Moved and Voted, That the vote passed the second of May, respecting the raising of two companies in Braintree, be reconsidered, and that the copy of said vote together with the two enlisting papers, be ordered to be returned into the hands of said committee of safety; and whereas, a petition from the towns of Braintree, Weymouth, and Hingham, hath this day been presented to this committee, setting forth the exposed situation of those towns, and praying for such relief and pro |