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Mr. Hancock laid before the Congress a letter from the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay, together with certain resolutions formed by said Congress, and a copy of a letter, sent by said Congress to their agent in England, and an address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, on the late

engagement between the troops under Gen. Gage, and the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay; and also a number of depositions, duly attested, relative to the commencement of said hostilities, all which were read.

Ordered, That the secretary have the depositions and the address to the inhabitants of Great Britain published.

Resolved, N. C. D. That the Congress will, on Monday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America.

Ordered, That the letter from the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay, be referred to that committee.

JUNE 2, 1775.

The president laid before the Congress a letter from the Provincial Convention of Massachusetts Bay, dated May 16, which was read, setting forth the difficulties they labor under for want of a regular form of government, and as they and the other colonies are now compelled to raise an army to defend themselves from the butcheries and devastations of their implacable enemies, which renders it still more necessary to have a regular established government, requesting the Congress to favor them with "explicit advice respecting the taking up and exercising the powers of civil government,” and declaring their readiness to “submit to such a general plan as the Congress may direct for the colonies, or make it their great study to establish such a form of government there, as shall not only promote their advantage, but the union and interest of all America."

Ordered, To lie on the table for farther consideration.

Doct. Benjamin Church being directed by the convention of Massachusetts Bay, to confer with the Congress respecting such matters, as may be necessary to the defence of that colony, and particularly the state of the army therein,

Ordered, That he be introduced.

After he withdrew, an express arriving with despatches from Massachusetts Bay, the president laid before the Congress letters from the conventions of that colony, and New Hampshire, also from Gov. Trumbull, which were read.

JUNE 3, 1775.

The letter from the convention of Massachusetts, dated the 16th May, being again read,

Resolved, That a committee of five persons be chosen to consider the same, and report what in their opinion is the proper advice to be given to that convention.

The following persons were chosen by ballot, to compose that committee, viz.: Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jay, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Lee.

JUNE 7, 1775.

The committee appointed to prepare advice in answer to the letter from the convention of Massachusetts Bay, brought in their report, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table for consideration.

JUNE 9, 1775.

The report of the committee, on the letter from the convention of Massachusetts Bay, being again read, the Congress came to the following resolution:

Resolved, That no obedience being due to the act of parliament for altering the charter of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, nor to a governor, or a lieutenant governor, who will not observe the directions of, but endeavor to subvert that charter, the governor and lieutenant governor of that colony are to be considered as absent, and their offices vacant; and as there is no council there, and the inconveniences, arising from the suspension of the powers of government, are intolerable, especially at a time when Gen. Gage hath actually levied war, and is carrying on hostilities, against his majesty's peaceable and loyal subjects of that colony; that, in order to conform, as near as may be, to the spirit and substance of the charter, it be recommended to the provincial convention, to write letters to the inhabitants of the several places, which are entitled to representation in assembly, requesting them to choose such representatives, and that the assembly, when chosen, do elect councillors; and that such assembly, or council, exercise the powers of government, until a governor, of his majesty's appointment, will consent to govern the colony according to its charter.

Ordered, That the president transmit a copy of the above to the convention of Massachusetts Bay.

JUNE 14, 1775.

A letter from the convention of New York, dated 10th instant, respecting a vessel which is stopped there, on suspicion of having on board provisions for the army and navy at Boston, was read and referred to the delegates of Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut and New York.

JUNE 27, 1775.

A letter from the convention of Massachusetts Bay, received by express, was laid before the Congress, and read.

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.

Gov. Gage's Proclamation.

PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

By the Governor.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, a number of persons unlawfully assembled at Cambridge, in the month of October last, calling themselves a Provincial Congress, did, in the most open and daring terms, assume to themselves the powers and authority of government, independent of, and repugnant to his majesty's government legally and constitutionally established within this province, and tending utterly to subvert the same; and did, amongst other unlawful proceedings, take upon themselves to resolve and direct a new and unconstitutional regulation of the militia, in high derogation of his majesty's royal prerogative; and also to elect and appoint Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, to be receiver general, in the room of Harrison Gray, Esq., then, and still, legally holding and executing that office; and also to order and direct the moneys granted to his majesty, to be paid into the hands of the said Henry Gardner, and not to the said Harrison Gray, Esq.; and further earnestly to recommend to the inhabitants of the province to oblige and compel the several constables and collectors to comply with and execute the said directions, contrary to their oaths, and against the plain and express rules and directions of the law; all which proceedings have a most dangerous tendency to ensnare his majesty's subjects, the inhabitants of this province, and draw them into perjuries, riots, sedition, treason and rebellion:

For the prevention of which evils, and the calamitous consequences thereof, I have thought it my duty to issue this proclamation, hereby earnestly exhorting, and in his majesty's name strictly prohibiting all his liege subjects within this province, from complying, in any degree, with the said requisitions, recommendations, directions, or resolves of the aforesaid unlawful assembly, as they regard his majesty's highest displeasure, and would avoid the pains and penalties of the law. And I do hereby charge and command all justices of the peace, sheriffs, constables, collectors, and other officers, in their several departments, to be vigilant and faithful in the execution and discharge of their duty in their respective offices, agreeable to the

well-known established laws of the land; and to the utmost of their power, by all lawful ways and means, to discountenance, discourage and prevent compliance with such dangerous resolves of the abovementioned, or any other unlawful assembly whatever.

Given at Boston, this 10th day of November, in the fifteenth year of the reign of his majesty George the third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, &c., Anno Domini, 1774.

By his Excellency's command,

THOMAS FLUCKER, Secretary.

God save the King.

THOMAS GAGE.

The Committee of New York to the Provincial Congress.

NEW YORK, APRIL 19, 1775.

GENTLEMEN' -The following very interesting accounts were this day received by the snow General Johnson, Capt. Dean, in thirty-one days from England. The writer is a person of undoubted veracity, and has the best means of intelligence, who may be depended on, having for these twelve months past always furnished the most certain advices of the ministry's designs, &c. In consideration of which, and the present posture of affairs in America in general, but more particularly on account of the situation of your province, and the consequences to which it is more immediately liable, it is thought an indispensable duty to give you this late advice. It is unfeignedly wished that you may improve it to your own safety, as well as to the advantage of the whole continent.

We have the honor to be, with great respect,

Your obedient servants,

HENRY REMSEN, Deputy Chairman.

To the Hon. Provincial Congress.

Extract of Letters, &c.

LONDON, FEBRUARY 24, 1775.

Providence seems to have placed me here, in order to give you the earliest intelligence of the most interesting affairs, relative to the colonies.

To my great astonishment, I have now before me an act for blocking up the other colonies; and another called the black act, to prevent the fisheries. The whole nation seems to be deeply affected at such an enormous crime, which is supposed to be done at the request of the king and his

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