Saturday, April 1, 1775, A. M.

The Committee appointed to report Rules, &c., for the Provincial Army, having made the additions directed, the same were read, and put in whole, and passed; it was then ordered to be recommitted for the bringing in a form of Oaths, and a Resolve relative to witnesses.

The Committee on the State of the Province reported a Resolve relative to furnishing the Indians with Blankets, who have enlisted as Minute-men, &c., and an Address to them; it passed, and is as follows:

In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 1, 1775.

Whereas, a number of Indians, natives of the Town of Stockbridge, have enlisted as Minute-men,

Resolved, That for their encouragement, the following Address to said Indians be presented to them by Colonel John Patterson, and Captain William Goodridge; and that Henry Gardner, Esquire, the Receiver General, be, and hereby is, directed to pay the sum of twenty-three Pounds, lawful money, into the hands of Colonel John Patterson and Captain William Goodridge, to be employed in purchasing a number of Blankets, and some Ribbons, which they are to present to the Indians enlisted as aforesaid, viz: one Blanket, and one yard of Ribbon, to each person that is or may be enlisted; and in case the whole of the money should not be employed in the purchase aforesaid, they are to be accountable for the residue.

To JOHOIAKIN MOTHKSIN, and the rest of our Brethren, the INDIANS, natives of STOCKBRIDGE.

Good Brothers: It affords us great pleasure and satisfaction, to hear by Colonel Patterson and Captain Goodridge, that our Brothers, the natives of Stockbridge, are ready and willing to take up the Hatchet in the cause of liberty and their country. We find you have not been inattentive to the unhappy controversy we are engaged in with our mother country, by reason of sundry Acts the British Parliament have passed, by which our rights and privileges have been invaded, and our property taken from us without our consent. We have frequently petitioned the King for redress of our grievances, and the restoration of bur rights; but instead of granting us relief, the King's Ministers have sent a large Fleet, and posted a great Army in the Town of Boston, who are daily abusing and insulting the inhabitants, in order to enforce obedience to these Acts. The whole Continent, from Nova Scotia to Georgia, by their Delegates, have lately presented a Petition to the King, praying for relief, to which we hope we shall receive a gracious answer. We wish the fire of friendship may be again kindled between both countries; but in case our Petition should not be attended to, and the Ministry should determine to deprive us of our rights and property by a Military force, we hold ourselves obliged to defend them at the point of the sword. This is a common cause; a cause you are equally engaged in with ourselves; we are all brothers; and if the Parliament of Great Britain takes from us our property and our lands, without our consent, they will do the same by you; your property, your lands will be insecure; in short, we shall not any of us have any thing we can call our own. Your engaging in this cause, discovers not only your attachment to your liberties, but furnishes us with an evidence of your gratitude to this Province for their past favours. They have frequently, at your request, made laws and regulations for your protection and defence against the ravages and hands of deceitful and designing men. They have constantly and cheerfully afforded you aid and assistance, because you have given them abundant proof of your fidelity. We have directed Colonel Patterson and Captain Goodridge, to present each of you that have enlisted in the service, with a Blanket and a Ribbon, as a testimony of our affection, and shall depend upon your firm and steady attachment to the cause you have engaged in.

Ordered, That Mr. Adams, Mr. Cushing, and Mr. Patterson, be a Committee to draught a Letter to the Reverend Mr. Kirkland, and an Address to the Chief of the Mohawk Indian Tribes.

Moved, That the Congress now go into consideration of what ought to be the conduct of the several Towns in case General Gage should send out his Precepts for convening a new Assembly on the last Wednesday in May next; and what ought to be their conduct in case he should not send out his Writs.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that in case Writs, in the form the law directs, should be issued, they ought to be obeyed.

Resolved, That in case Writs should not be issued forth, that a Congress be called on the last Wednesday in May next, and in case General Gage should not issue Precepts for calling an Assembly as the law directs, the Members of the Towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorchester, be desired to publish this Resolve, and appoint a place where they shall assemble.

Ordered, That Colonel Warren, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Gill, be a Committee to reduce the several Resolutions of this day, relative to calling a new Congress, to form, and bring in a Resolution accordingly.

The Committee reported; which was read, accepted, and is as follows, viz:

In Provincial Congress, April 1, 1775.

Resolved, That in case Writs are not issued according to law, for calling a General Assembly on the last Wednesday of May next, it be recommended to the several Towns and Districts in this Colony, to choose Delegates for a Provincial Congress, to meet on the said last Wednesday of May next, at such place as the present Members of the Towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorchester, shall appoint, who are desired to cause this Resolution to be published in the several Newspapers, as soon as it can be ascertained that Writs are not issued for calling an Assembly.

An application from the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Boston, and others, was read.

Ordered, That the consideration be referred to three o'clock this afternoon.

Afternoon.

The Congress proceeded to consider the application from the Committee of Correspondence of Boston, &c., agreeably to the order of the forenoon.

Ordered, That it be committed to Colonel Danielson, Mr. Gerry, Colonel Foster, Major Fuller, of Middleton, and Colonel Warren, to consider of, and report thereon.

The Members are enjoined to attend on the adjournment of this Congress, which will be at nine o'clock, A. M., on Monday next.

Monday, April 3, 1775, A. M.

Resolved, That the Committee on the State of the Province be desired to collect all the late intelligence from Great Britain, relative to their sending a reinforcement to General Gage, and on other matters which relate to this and the other Colonies, and report to the Congress what is best to be done.

Ordered, That Doctor Church, Colonel Pomeroy, and Doctor Warren, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve, to be inserted in the Salem Papers, requiring the attendance of all the absent Members, and a recommendation to the several Towns and Districts, who have not yet sent Members to the Provincial Congress, that they elect them, and direct their immediate attendance.

Ordered, That Major Bliss, Mr. Freeman, and Captain Osgood, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve, to be forwarded by an express, to call in the absent Members from the Counties of Hampshire, Berkshire, Worcester, and Bristol.

Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.

Afternoon.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve, requiring the attendance of absent Members, reported; which was read, and accepted, and is as follows:

Whereas, several Members of this Congress are now absent by leave of this Congress, and as the important intelligence received by the last vessels from Great Britain, renders it necessary that every Member attend his duty,

Resolved, That the absent Members be directed forthwith to attend in this place, that so the wisdom of the Province may be collected.

Ordered, That the Committee on the Memorial of the Town of Billerica, be joined to the Committee appointed to take into consideration the Memorial from the Town of Boston, and others.