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Ordered, That the above resolves be immediately published.

The order of the day being postponed, the Congress adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

SATURDAY, June 3, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

A letter from the convention of New-York, together with sundry letters and papers enclosed, from Albany, were laid before the Congress and read. Ordered, To lie on the table.

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 con

vention.

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

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to draught a petition to the king.

That another committee of three be appointed to prepare an address to the inhabitants of Great-Britain.

That another committee of four be appointed to prepare an address to the people of Ireland.

That another committee of three be appointed to bring in the draught of a L, letter to the inhabitants of Jamaica.

That another committee of five be appointed to bring in an estimate of the money necessary to be raised.

The Congress then proceeded to chuse, by ballot, the several committees, when Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Franklin, were elected to compose the first; Mr. Lee, Mr. R. R. Livingston, and Mr. Pendleton, for the second; Mr. Duane, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. J. Adams, for the third; Mr. Hooper, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Lynch, for the fourth; and Mr. Washington, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Deane, Mr. Cushing, and Mr. Hewes, for the fifth.

Adjourned till Monday at nine o'clock.

On Monday and Tuesday the Congress met and adjourned, to give the committees time to bring in their report.

WEDNESDAY, June 7, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed to make an estimate of the money necessary to be raised, brought in their report, which was read and referred to the committee of the whole.

On motion, Resolved, That Thursday the 20th of July next, be observed throughout the twelve United Colonies, as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer: and that Mr. Hooper, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Paine, be a committee to bring in a resolve for that purpose.

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.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved themselves into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of America; after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair; and Mr. Ward reported, that the committee had proceeded in the business referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve themselves into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of America; and that this be a standing order till the business is completed. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

THURSDAY, June 8, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The Congress being informed, that a major Skene, with some other officers, who arrived last evening, in a vessel from London, were, with their papers, in the custody of the troops of this city; that the said Skene had lately been appointed governor of the forts of Ticonderoga, and Crown-Point; that one of the officers with him, is a lieutenant in the regulars, now in the province of Quebec ; and moreover, that the said Skene had declared, that he has authority to raise a regiment in America; from all this, apprehending that the said Skene is a dangerous partizan of administration, and that his papers may contain intelligence of ministerial designs against America, very important to

be known.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine the papers of the said Skene and lieutenant, in their presence.

That the committee consist of Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Mifflin : That the said committee be upon honor to conceal whatever, of a private nature, may come to their knowledge by such examination; and that they communicate, to this Congress, what they shall discover relative to the present dispute, between Great-Britain and America.

The remainder of the day being spent in a committee of the whole, on the state of America, the Congress adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

FRIDAY June 9, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

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, not to a governor, or a lieutenant-governor, who will nor observe the directions of, but endeavour 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 inconveniencies, arising from the suspension of the powers of government, are intolerable, especially at a time when general 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 chuse such representatives, and that the asssembly, 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.

Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

SATURDAY, June 10, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

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Sundry letters, from Massachusetts-Bay, Ticonderoga, Crown-Point, &c. being laid before the Congress, were read; and the same being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several towns and districts in the colonies of Massachusetts-Bay, New-Hampshire, Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, and the eastern division of NewJersey, to collect all the salt-petre and brimstone in their several towns and districts, and transmit the same, with all possible despatch, to the provincial convention at New-York.

That it be recommended to the provincial convention of the colony of New-York, to have the powder-mills, in that colony, put into such a condition as immediately to manufacture, into gun-powder, for the use of the continent, whatever materials may be procured in the manner above directed.

That it be recommended to the committees of the western division of NewJersey, the colonies of Pennsylvania, lower counties on Delaware and Maryland, that they, without delay, collect the salt-petre and sulphur in their respective colonies, and transmit the same for the committee of the city and liberties of Philadelphia; to the end, that those articles may be immediately manufactured into gun-powder, for the use of the continent.

That it be recommended to the conventions and committees of the colonies of Virginia, North-Carolina and South-Carolina, that they, without delay, collect the salt petre and sulphur in their respective colonies, and procure these articles to be manufactured, as soon as possible, into gun-powder, for the use of the continent.

That it be recommended to the several inhabitants of the United Colonies, who are possessed of salt-petre and sulphur, for their own use, to dispose them for the purpose of manufacturing gun-powder.

That the salt-petre and sulphur, collected in consequence of the above resolves of Congress, be paid for out of the continental fund.

That Mr. Paine, Mr. Lee, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Schuyler and Mr. Johnson, be a committee to devise ways and means to introduce the manufacture of saltpetre in these colonies.

The committee for examining governor Skene's letters, &c. having communicated to Congress what they found relative to the dispute between Great-Britain and these colonies;

Upon motion, Resolved, That governor Philip Skene, lieutenant Moncrief, and Mr. Lundy be released from their present confinement, and permitted to go at large any where within eight miles of the city, between Delaware and Schuylkill, on their parole of honor, not to pass those limits, and that they will hold no correspondence with any person whatsoever, on any political subject.

That Mr. Gadsden be added to the committee for examining governor Skene's papers, and that said committee have it in charge to execute the above resolve.

Adjourned till Monday at nine o'clock.

MONDAY, June 12, 1775. Met according to adjournment.

The committee, appointed to prepare a resolution for a fast, brought in their report, which, being read, was agreed to as follows:

As the great Governor of the world, by his supreme and universal providence, not only conducts the course of nature with unerring wisdom and rectitude, but frequently influences the minds of men to serve the wise and gracious. purposes of his providential government; and it being, at all times, our indispensable duty devoutly to acknowledge his superintending providence, especially in times of impending danger and public calamity, to reverence and adore his immutable justice as well as to implore his merciful interposition for

our deliverance:

This Congress, therefore, considering the present critical, alarming and calamitous state of these colonies, do earnestly recommend that Thursday, the VOL. I: I.

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20th day of July next, be observed, by the inhabitants of all the English colonies on this continent, as a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer; that we may, with united hearts and voices, unfeignedly confess and deplore our many sins; and offer up our joint supplications to the all-wise, omnipotent, and merciful Disposer of all events; humbly beseeching him to forgive our iniquities, to remove our present calamities, to avert those desolating judgments, with which we are threatened, and to bless our rightful sovereign, king George the third, and to inspire him with wisdom to discern and pursue the true interest of his subjects, that a speedy end may be put to the civil discord between Great-Britain and the American colonies, without farther effusion of blood: And that the British nation may be influenced to regard the things that belong to her peace, before they are hid from her eyes: That these colonies may ever be under the care and protection of a kind Providence, and be prospered in all their interests; that the divine blessing may descend and rest upon all our civil rulers, and upon the representatives of the people, in their several assemblies and conventions, that they may be directed to wise and effectual measures for preserving the union, and securing the just rights and privileges of the colonies; that virtue and true religion may revive and flourish throughout our land; and that all America may soon behold a gracious interposition of heaven, for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of her invaded rights, a reconciliation with the parent state, on terms constitutional and honorable to both; and that her civil and religious privileges may be secured to the latest posterity.

And it is recommended to Christians, of all denominations, to assemble for public worship, and to abstain from servile labour and recreation on said day. Ordered, That a copy of the above be signed by the president and attested by the secretary, and published in the newspapers, and in hand-bills.

The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the ways and means of raising money, and having spent thereon the remainder of the day, and the day following, adjourned till Wednesday at nine o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, June 14, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

Agreeable to the standing order 'of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America; and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the committee had come to certain resolutions, which he was ordered to report; but not having come to a conclusion, they desired him to move for leave to sit again.

The resolutions being read, were agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia; that each company consist of a captain, three lieutenants, four serjeants, four corporals, a drummer or trumpeter, and sixty-eight privates.

That each company, as soon as completed, march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light-infantry, under the command of the chief officer in that army.

That the pay of the officers and privates be as follows, viz. a captain 20 dollars per month; a lieutenant thirteen dollars and one-third of a dollar per month; a serjeant eight dollars per month; a corporal seven dollars and onethird of a dollar per month; a drummer or trumpeter the same; privates six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar per month; to find their own arms and

clothes.

That the form of the enlistment be in the following words:

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JOURNALS OF CONGRESS, 1775.

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have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said army. Upon motion, Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to prepare rules and regulations for the government of the army.

The following persons were chosen to compose that committee: Mr. Washington, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Deane, Mr. Cushing, and Mr. Hewes.

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.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration the ways and means of raising money, and the state of America. This to be a standing order, until the business is completed.

Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

THURSDAY, June 15, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The committee, to whom the letter from the convention of New-York was referred, brought in their report, which being read,

Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress be given to the convention of New-York, for their vigilance in the case of capt. Coffin's vessel, and that it be recommended to them that the vessel be unloaded, and the cargo safely stored, until all just suspicions, concerning the destination of it, shall be removed.

Ordered, That the above be transmitted, by the president, in a letter to the chairman of the convention of New-York.

Agreeable to order, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the committee had come to some farther resolutions, which he was ordered to report.

The report of the committee being reed and considered,

Resolved, That a general be appointed to command all the continental forces, raised, or to be raised, for the defence of American liberty.

That five hundred dollars, per month, be allowed for the pay and expenses of the general.

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of a general, by ballot, and George Washington, esq. was unanimously elected.

Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock.

FRIDAY, June 16, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The president informed col. Washington that the Congress had yesterday unanimously made choice of him to be general and commander in chief of the American forces, and requested he would accept of that employment; to which colonel Washington, standing in his place, answered:

"MR. PRESIDENT,

"Though I am truly sensible of the high honor done me, in this appointment, yet I feel great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust: However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I possess in their service, and for support of the glorious cause. I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their approbation.

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