THURSDAY, December 1, 1774, A. M.

The committee appointed to bring in a resolve expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies, for their generous donations to the inhabitants of the town of Boston, reported. The report was recommitted for amendments.

The same committee reported a brief to be circulated through the several towns, to promote donations to the towns of Boston and Charlestown; also recommitted for amendments.

The committee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, the state of grievances, and the association, as stated by the Continental Congress, reported. The report was then taken into consideration, [and] the further consideration thereof [was] referred to three o'clock this afternoon.

||Resolved, That the choice of delegates, which was to have been at three o'clock this afternoon, be deferred till three o'clock to-morrow afternoon.||

||Then adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon.||

Afternoon.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee, agreeably to their resolve in the forenoon; after some debate thereon, it was ordered to be recommitted for an amendment,

The resolve expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies, for their donations to the town of Boston, &c., as amended, was read and accepted, and is as followeth :

Whereas, by the rigorous operation of the Boston Port Bill, the metropolis of this province, and the neighboring town of Charlestown, have been brought into the most distressful state, many of the inhabitants being deprived of the means of procuring their subsistence, and reduced to the cruel alternative of quitting their habitations, or of perishing in them by famine, if they had not been supported by the free and generous contributions of our sister colonies, even from the remotest part of this continent :

Resolved, That the grateful acknowledgments of this Congress be returned to the several colonies, for having so deeply interested themselves in behalf of said towns, under their present sufferings in the common cause; and that the Congress consider these donations, not merely as unexampled acts of benevolence to this province in general, which has also greatly suffered, and of charity to those towns in particular, but as convincing proofs of the firm attachment of all the colonies to the glorious cause of American liberty, and of their fixed de

termination to support them in the noble stand they are now making for the liberties of themselves and of all America.

The committee appointed to prepare a brief, reported their draught, amended: Ordered, to be recommitted for a revision, and for such further amendments as they shall think proper.

Ordered, That Mr. Devens apply to the secretary for a list of counsellors appointed by mandamus; and in case he should be refused such list, he is desired to take with him a notary public, and in his presence again desire the same and tender the secretary his fee.

||Then adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.

FRIDAY, December 2, 1774, A. M.

The doorkeeper [was] directed to call in the members, and to call none out till the further order of this Congress.

The committee on the state of the province reported. The report [was] taken into consideration.

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be referred till four o'clock this afternoon.||*||

The order of the day [was] moved for.

Afternoon.

Ordered, That Doct. Holten, Capt. Cushing, and Doct. Church, be a committee to sort and count the votes for five members to be chosen to represent this province at an American Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, at or before the tenth day of May next.

The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for five gentlemen to be delegated for the purpose aforesaid. The committee having counted and sorted the same, reported that the Hon. John Hancock, Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq., Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, Esquires, were chosen.

The consideration of the report of the committee made in the forenoon, [was] resumed: some time [was] spent thereon, then, ordered, that the further consideration thereof be referred till nine o'clock to-morrow morning.

Ordered, That the vote which passed yesterday, expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies for their donations made to the towns of Boston and Charlestown, be published in all the Boston newspapers and that it be attested by the president.

Resolved, That the committee appointed to publish the names of the mandamus counsellors who have been sworn and have not resigned,

a ||To which time this Congress stands adjourned.||

be desired to send a messenger to Mr. Hall, printer, in Salem, and inquire of him whether he hath a list of the counsellors appointed by mandamus, which he received from the secretary's office; and if he hath a list so received, to desire him to favor this Congress therewith. The report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, the state of grievances, and the association, as stated by the Continental Congress, being amended, was read, and a consideration thereof went into.

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be referred till tomorrow morning, ten o'clock.

ing.

Then the Congress|| adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morn

SATURDAY, December 3, 1774, A. M.

The Congress then went into the consideration of the report of the committee on the state of the province, agreeably to their order of yesterday. After a long debate thereon, it was ordered to lie on the table, and that the committee have leave to sit again.

Then the Congress|| adjourned till Monday next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.

MONDAY, December 5, 1774, A. M.

Ordered, That Doct. Winthrop, Mr. Sullivan, Mr Pickering, Mr. Bridge, and Mr. Cheever, be a committee to prepare an address to the clergy of this province, desiring them to exhort their people to carry into execution the resolves of the Continental Congress.

Then the Congress|| adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon.

Afternoon.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, state of grievances, and the association, as stated by the Continental Congress, and it was accepted, and is as followeth :

Resolved, That the proceedings of the American Continental Congress, held at Philadelphia on the fifth of September last, and reported by the honorable delegates from this colony, have, with the deliberation due to their high importance, been considered by us; and the American bill of rights therein contained, appears to be formed with the greatest ability and judgment; to be founded on the immutable laws of nature and reason, the principles of the English constitution, and the respective charters and constitutions of the colonies; and to be worthy of their most vigorous support, as essentially necessary to liberty likewise the ruinous and iniquitous measures, which, in violation

of their rights, at present convulse and threaten destruction to America, | appear to be clearly pointed out, and judicious plans adopted for defeating them.

Resolved, That the most grateful acknowledgments are due to the truly honorable and patriotic members of the Continental Congress, for their wise and able exertions in the cause of American liberty; and this Congress, in their own names, and in behalf of this colony, do hereby, with the utmost sincerity, express the same.

Resolved, That the Hon. John Hancock, Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esqrs., Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, Esqrs., or any three of them, be, and they hereby are appointed and authorized to represent this colony on the tenth of May next, or sooner, if necessary, at the American Congress to be held at Philadelphia, with full power, with the delegates from the other American colonies, to concert, direct, and order such further measures as shall to them appear to be best calculated for the recovery and establishment of American rights and liberties, and for restoring harmony between Great Britain and the colonies.

And whereas, it is of the utmost importance that the salutary association of the Continental Congress be effectually executed, and the plans of foes to America defeated; who, aided by tyrannical power, intend to import goods, wares, and merchandize prohibited by the association, which may clandestinely be vended, as goods imported before the first of December instant, by assistance of such merchants and traders as to this intent shall basely prostitute themselves; and it will be extremely difficult to distinguish between goods imported before the said first of December, and such as after said day shall, in violation of the association, be imported and secretly dispersed throughout the colony: and whereas, it is expressly recommended by the Continental Congress "to the Provincial Conventions, and to the committees in the respective colonies, to establish such further regulations as they may think proper, for carrying into execution the association;"

Resolved, That from and after the tenth day of October next, it will be indispensably necessary, that all goods, wares, or merchandize, directly or indirectly imported from Great Britain or Ireland; molasses, syrups, paneles, coffee, or pimento, from the British plantations, or from Dominica; wines from Madeira or the Western Islands, and foreign indigo, should cease to be sold or purchased in this colony, notwithstanding they shall have been imported before the first of December aforesaid, unless the acts and parts of acts of parliament, (partic

a ||and.||

ularly enumerated in a paragraph of the American Congress's Association, subsequent to the fourteenth article,) shall be then repealed: and it is hereby strongly recommended to the inhabitants of the towns and districts in this colony, that from and after the said tenth of October, they cease to sell or purchase, and prevent from being exposed to sale within their respective limits, any goods, wares, or merchandize, &c., above enumerated, which shall at any time have been imported into America, whether before or after the first of December aforesaid, unless said acts of parliament shall then be repealed. And it is likewise strongly recommended to the committee of inspection, (which ought immediately to be chosen, agreeably to the said association, by each town and district in the colony not having already appointed such committees,) that they exert themselves in causing the association, as thereby directed, to be ||"strictly|| executed; and that after the said tenth day of October, (unless the acts of parliament aforesaid are repealed,) they apply to all the merchants and traders in their respective towns and districts, and take a full inventory of all goods, wares, and merchandize aforesaid in their possession, whether they shall have been imported before or after the first of December aforesaid, requiring them to offer no more for sale, until said acts ||'|| shall be repealed. And if any merchants, traders, or others, shall refuse to have an inventory taken, or shall offer for sale after the said tenth of October, any such goods, wares, or merchandize, it is expressly recommended to the committees aforesaid, that they take the goods into their possession, to be stored at the risk of the proper owners, until the repeal of the acts aforesaid, and publish the names of such refractory merchants, traders, or purchasers, that they may meet with the merits of enemies to their country. And the towns and districts throughout the province are also advised that they by no means fail vigorously to assist and support their committees in discharging this as well as other duties of their offices, and to cause this resolution to be executed by every measure which they shall think necessary.

Resolved, That John Adams, Esq. be joined to the committee on the state of the province.

Resolved, That the above report made by the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, &c., as reported by the Continental Congress, be published in all the newspapers in the province, and that it be signed by the president and attested by the secretary; and also, that copies thereof be sent to all the towns and districts in the province.