supplies for the said Troops, or any others sent in like manner, will be considered by all America as aiding and assisting in the execution of the oppressive acts of the British Parliament, against which, as fundamentally destructive of the most invaluable rights and privileges of the Colonies, America has unitedly remonstrated.

In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 6, 1775.

Resolved, That the foregoing be signed by the President, in behalf of this Congress, and sent to the Committee of Inspection of the County of Bristol.

Ordered, That the application from the Selectmen of Billerica, and the application from the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Boston, and others, be again committed to the Committee who had them under consideration, and reported that they lie on the table.

The Committee ordered to sit immediately.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

Friday, April 7, 1775, A.M.

Ordered, That Doctor Warren and Doctor Church be added to the Committee on the State of the Province.

Mr. Crane laid on the table a number of Letters which were sent to him from Stoughton, and said to be from Colonel Gilbert, and others.

Ordered, That Colonel Thomas, Mr. Devens, Mr. Crane, Mr. Gardner, and Doctor Perkins, be a Committee to take them into consideration and report; they reported as expedient that they be read.

Ordered, That the Committee on the State of the Province be. directed to wait on the Honourable Governour Hopkins and the Honourable Governour Sessions, and congratulate them on their arrival to this Town, and hold a correspondence with them on the present state of our publick affairs.

The Committee appointed to consider on the application from Billerica, &c., reported; the Report amended, accepted, and is as follows, viz:

In Provincial Congress, April 7, 1775.

Resolved, That the following Letter be signed by the President, and directed to the Selectmen of Billerica:

GENTLEMEN: This Congress, deeply sensible of the high-handed insult offered to the Town of Billerica, the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, and this Continent in general, in the vile and ignoble assault on the person of Thomas Ditson, by a party of the King's Troops, under General Gage's command, do highly approve of the manly and resolute conduct of the Town of Billerica, by their manifesting a due resentment to the General, and demanding a constitutional satisfaction.

Notwithstanding you have not. received that satisfaction from the General which you had a just right to expect, yet this Congress humbly hope, under Providence, that the time is fast approaching, when this Colony and Continent will have justice done them in a way consistent with the dignity of freemen, on such wicked destroyers of the natural and constitutional rights of Americans

Gentlemen, we are confident that the Town of Billerica will still continue in the candid pursuit of peace and good order, which manifestly appears in their late conduct.

Ordered, That the Letters which have been received, or laid on the table by Mr. Crane, be sent to the Committee on the State of the Province.

Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.

Afternoon.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the application from the Committee of Correspondence of Boston, and others, reported; the Report read, and accepted, and is as followeth, viz:

GENTLEMEN: Your Petition and Memorial of the 31st March we have received, since which, intelligence of the most extraordinary nature from Great Britain has come to hand.

We are, gentlemen, much pleased with the spirit and sentiment of your Memorial; but as the greatest and most important matters now demand our immediate attention and the consideration of them will take up the most important matters in your Petition, we therefore most earnestly recommend to you, gentlemen, as guardians of the publick interest, to exert yourselves, that the Militia and Minute-men of your Counties be found in the best posture of defence, whenever any exigence may require their aid; but as the plans laying for the general good oblige us to request that, whatever patience and forbearance it may require, you would act only on the defensive, until the further order of this Congress; and, therefore, though we could wish a particular account of the Ministers' Troops, while stationed among you, might be taken on sufficient evidence, yet we could not advise to any measure respecting them that our enemies might plausibly interpret as a commencement of hostilities; but, on the contrary, let your characteristick be, as it always has been, conservators of peace and good order, and the just rights of mankind.

We most earnestly wish that the blessing of Heaven may accompany your laudable endeavours to preserve the publick weal of this Province. We remain, &c.

In Provincial Congress, April 7, 1775.

Resolved, That the foregoing Letter be signed by the President, in behalf of this Congress, and sent to the Committee of Correspondence of the Towns of Boston, Milton, Roxbury, Dorchester, Cambridge, Newton, Watertown, Lynn, Malden, Woburn, Charlestown, and Marlborough, directed to William Cooper, Clerk of said Committees of Correspondence.

Ordered, That Captain Osgood, Major Fuller, of Middleton, and Mr. Webster, be added to the Committee appointed to disperse the Handbills, &c.

Adjourned until to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.

Saturday, April 8, 1775, A. M.

The Doorkeeper 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 a Resolve relative to raising and establishing an Army, and that Committees be appointed forthwith to repair to Connecticut, Rhode-Island, and New-Hampshire, to inform them of our resolution, and desire their co-operation, &c.

Resolved, That the Report be considered in paragraphs.

Ordered, That the Members be enjoined to attend.

Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.

Afternoon.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report made in the forenoon, which passed Present, 103 Members; in favour, 96—and is as follows:

In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 8, 1775.

Resolved, That the present dangerous and alarming situation of our publick affairs, renders it necessary for this Colony to make preparations for their security and defence by raising and establishing an Army, and that Delegates be appointed forthwith to repair to. Connecticut, to Rhode-Island, and New-Hampshire, informing them that we are contemplating upon, and are determined to take effectual measures for that purpose, and for the more effectual security of the New England Colonies and the Continent, to request them to. co-operate with us, by furnishing their respective quotas for general defence.

Resolved, That there be sent two Delegates to each New England Colony with the above Resolve.

Resolved, That the Congress choose, in the first place, Delegates to repair to Connecticut. Accordingly, chose Colonel Foster and Mr. Bliss.

Resolved, That they choose in the second place, Delegates to repair to Rhode-Island. Accordingly chose Colonel Timothy Walker and Doctor Perkins.

Resolved, That in the third place, the Congress choose Delegates to repair to New-Hampshire. Accordingly chose Mr. Freeman and Captain Osgood.

Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Adams, and Captain Osgood, draught a Letter to each of the Colonies, viz: Connecticut, Rhode-Island, and New-Hampshire.

Resolved, That the Committee on the State of the Province take into consideration what number of men, in their opinion, will be necessary to be raised by the four New England Governments, for their general defence, and report.

Adjourned to Monday next, nine o'clock, A. M.