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tion to engage and secure the Canadians and remote tribes of Indians, for the purpose of harassing and destroying these Colonies, and reducing them to a state of absolute slavery. And whereas, the safety and security of said Colonies depend in' a great measure, (under God) on their firmness, unanimity, and friendship:
Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Boston, be and they are hereby directed and empowered, in such way and manner as they shall think proper, to open and establish an intimate correspondence and connection with the inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, and that they endeavour to put the same immediately into execution.
The Committee appointed to take into consideration what is necessary for this Congress to do for the encouragement of making Saltpetre, reported. The Report was read and accepted, (excepting that part thereof which relates to Essay-masters, which part was referred for further consideration to the next meeting of the Congress,) and is as followeth, viz:
Resolved, That this Congress do now appoint a Committee to draw up directions in an easy and formidable style, for the manufacturing of Saltpetre, and that the same be printed and sent to every Town and District m the Province, at the publick expense.
2d. That for the encouragement of such as are disposed to set up the manufacture of Saltpetre, this Congress do engage to purchase the whole quantity that shall be manufactured in this Province within twelve months from this date, at the rate of fourteen Pounds per hundred.
3d. That a proper Essay-master be appointed in every County, to receive and pay for the Saltpetre which shall be brought to him with a satisfactory certificate that the same was actually manufactured in this Province.
The Committee on the State of the Province, reported again the form of a Receipt, two of the same tenor and date to be signed by the Receiver General, one of which is to. be lodged with the Town or District Treasurer, or Clerk, who shall send their money, and the other to be kept by the Constable, Collector, or other Officer who shall pay the same to him; which was read and accepted, and is as followeth:
Resolved, That it is proper and expedient, that Henry Gardner, Esq., Receiver General of this Province, should, for the greater security of the Province, give two several Receipts for all such sums of money as he shall for the future receive for the, use of the Province; and for the greater satisfaction of all such persons as shall make payments to the said Receiver General, it is hereby recommended to the said Henry, or his successor in office, that he make both such Receipts, as near as possible, to the form following, to wit:
" * * * * * * * * * 177 .
"Received of A. B. the sum of * * * * * * * * * * * * being (part) (or the whole) of the Province Tax set on the Town of C * * * * * by the General Court, in the year 17 * * , for which sum I have given the said A. B. another Receipt of the same tenor and date with this."
One of which Receipts the person paying the said money is requested to lodge with the Treasurer or Clerk of the Town and District on whose account the money shall be paid, or such other person as the inhabitants of such Town or District shall appoint.
Ordered, That Mr. Adams, Major Hawley, Mr. Gerry, Honourable Mr. Cushing, Mr. Paine, Colonel Palmer, and Mr. Freeman, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve holding up to the people of this Province the imminent danger they are in from the present disposition of the British Ministry and Parliament, and that there: is reason to fear that they will attempt our sudden destruction, and the importance it is to the inhabitants of this Colony to prepare themselves for the last event.
The Committee on the State of the Province, reported a Resolve relative to Pedlars, &c, which was read, considered, and accepted, and ordered o be published in all the Newspapers, and is as followeth, viz:
Whereas, the practice of Pedlars and Petty Chapmen, in going from Town to Town selling East India Goods and Teas, and various sorts of European Manufactures, in direct opposition to the good and wholesome laws of this Province, whereby they are liable to the forfeiture of all their Goods, besides being subject to the penalty of twenty Pounds, does manifestly tend to interrupt and defeat the measures necessary to recover and secure the rights and liberties of the inhabitants of these Colonies. And whereas, the law relating to Pedlars and Petty Chapmen, cannot at present be effectually carried into execution, it is therefore hereby earnestly recommended to Committees of Inspection of the several Towns and Districts in this Province, that they be very vigilant and industrious to discover and find out when any Pedlars and Petty Chapmen shall come into their respective Towns and Districts; and that the said Committees, whenever they shall find out that any Pedlar or Petty Chapmen shall be in the Town or District for which such Committee is appointed, that such Committee, without fail, make a thorough and careful search and examination of the Packs, Baggage, and all the Goods, Wares, and Merchandises of such Pedlars and Petty Chap men; and in case such Committee shall find any India Teas or European Manufactures in the possession of such Pedlars or Petty Chapmen, it is further recommended to such Committee to prevent, by all reasonable means, such Pedlars and Petty Chapmen from vending any such Teas and Manufactures; and it is hereby recommended to the inhabitants of this Province not to trade with such Pedlars and Petty Chapmen for any article whatever.
Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Bigelow, be a Committee to direct and forward the Pamphlets printed by order of Congress, to the several Towns and Districts in the Province.
The Order of the Day was moved for.
Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Pitts, and Colonel Mans field, be a Committee to sort and count the votes for a General Officer, in addition to those already appointed.
The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for a General Officer. The Committee having counted and sorted the same, reported that the Honourable John Whit-comb, Esquire, was chosen.
Ordered, That the Members from the Town of Boston be desired to wait on the Honourable John Whitcomb, Esq., with a copy of the Resolve electing him a General Officer, and request his answer whether he will accept that trust, as soon as may be.
Ordered, That the Report of the Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve holding up to the people the imminent danger they were in, &c., be now read; which was done accordingly, and accepted, and ordered to be printed in all the Newspapers, and is as followeth, viz:
Whereas, it appears to this Congress, from the present disposition of the British Ministry and Parliament, that there is real cause to fear that the most reasonable and just applications of this Continent to Great Britain, for "Peace, Liberty, and Safety," will not meet with a favourable reception; but, on the contrary, from the large reinforcements of Troops expected in this Colony; the tenor of intelligence from Great Britain, and general appearances, we have reason to apprehend that the sudden destruction of this Colony in particular is intended, merely for refusing, with the other American Colonies, tamely to submit to the most ignominious slavery;
Therefore, Resolved, That the great law of self-preservation calls upon the inhabitants of this Colony immediately to prepare against every attempt that may be made to attack them by surprise; and it is, upon serious deliberation, most earnestly recommended to the Militia in general, as well as the detached part of it in Minute-men, that they spare neither time, pains, nor expense, at so critical a juncture, in perfecting themselves forthwith in military discipline, and that skilful instructers be provided for those Companies which may not already be provided therewith.* And it is recommended to the Towns and Districts in this Colony, that they encourage such persons as are skilled in the manufacturing of Fire-Arms and Bayonets, diligently to apply themselves thereto, for supplying such of the inhabitants as may still be deficient.
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