Voted, That the Members of the Town of Boston be desired to communicate this recommendation with the schedule to the Committee of Donations.

The Committee on the State of the Province reported a Resolve relative to appointing a Committee to apply to a suitable number of persons to be in readiness to enter the service of this Colony as Officers, when an Army shall be raised.

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be referred to three o'clock, P. M.

Ordered, That at four o'clock, P. M., the Congress will come to the choice, by ballot, of a person to serve on the Committee of Safety, instead of Doctor Fisher, who was excused.

Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.

Afternoon.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report referred, agreeably to the Order of the Day. After some debate thereon, it passed, and is as follows, viz:

In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 14, 1775.

Resolved, That a Committee be now appointed to apply to a suitable number of persons, to be in readiness to enter the service of this Colony to act as Field Officers. Such Field Officers, in conjunction with the Committee, to apply to proper persons as Captains, and they to determine on such Subaltern Officers as may be necessary for each Regiment, when an Army shall be raised; the Committee and Officer, coteris paribus, to give the preference to persons who have been chosen Officers in the Regiments of Minute-men.

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety be the Committee to apply to a suitable number of persons to act as Officers, as recommended in the foregoing Resolve.

Ordered, That the Congress now proceed to the choice of a gentleman to serve on the Committee of Safety, in the place of Mr. Fisher.

Ordered, That Mr. Gushing, Colonel Palmer, and Mr. Bigelow, be a Committee to count and sort the votes.—Reported that Colonel Thomas Gardner was chosen.

Ordered, That the Reverend Mr. Murray, Mr. Mayhew, and Colonel Pomeroy, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve, recommending a day of Fasting and Prayer.

Ordered, That the Committee on the State of the Province, take the late Newspapers from England, into consideration, and report what there is relating to this Province.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

Saturday, April 15, 1775, A. M.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve recommending a day of Fasting and Prayer, reported; amended, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, it hath pleased the Righteous Sovereign of the Universe, in just indignation against the sins of a people long blessed with inestimable privileges, civil and religious, to suffer the plots of wicked men on both sides of the Atlantic, who for many years have incessantly laboured to sap the foundation of our publick liberties, so far to succeed, that we see the New England Colonies reduced to the ungrateful alternative of a tame submission to a state of absolute vassalage to the will of a despotick Minister, or of preparing themselves speedily to defend, at the hazard of their lives, the unalienable rights of themselves and posterity, against the avowed hostilities of their parent state, who openly threaten to wrest them from their hands by fire and sword.

In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us as men and Christians, to reflect, that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgment, or prepare to act a proper part under them when they come; at the same time, all confidence must be withheld from the means we use, and repose only on that God who rules in the Armies of Heaven, and without whose blessing the best human councils are but foolishness, and all created power vanity.

It is the happiness of this Church, that when the power of Earth and Hell combine against it, and those who should be nursing Fathers become its persecutors, then the Throne of Grace is of the easiest access, and its appeal thither is graciously invited by that Father of Mercies who has assured it, that "when his children ask bread, he will not give them a stone." Therefore, in compliance with the laudable practice of the people of God, in all ages, with humble regard to the steps of Divine Providence toward this oppressed, threatened, and endangered people, and especially in obedience to the command of Heaven, that binds us to call on Him in the day of trouble:

Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the good people of this Colony of all denominations, that Thursday, the eleventh day of May next, be set apart as a day of Publick Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer; that a total abstinence from servile labour and recreation be observed, and all their Religious Assemblies solemnly convened, to humble themselves before God, under the heavy judgments felt and feared; to confess the sins that have deserved; to implore the forgiveness of all our transgressions; a spirit of repentance and reformation; and a blessing on the Husbandry, Manufactures, and other lawful employments of this people; and especially, that the union of the American Colonies in defence of their rights, (for which, hitherto, we desire to thank Almighty God,) may be preserved and confirmed; that the Provincial, and especially that the Continental Congresses, may be directed to such measures as God will countenance; that the people of Great Britain and their Rulers may have their eyes open, to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the Nation and all its connections; and that America may soon behold a gracious interposition of Heaven, for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.

Ordered, That the foregoing be copied, authenticated, and sent to all the Religious Assemblies in this Colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Mr. Cheever, and Mr. Stephen Hall, be a Committee to get the Resolves printed and dispersed.

Adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon.

Afternoon.

In Provincial Congress, Concord, 15th April, 1775.

Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esquire, Receiver General of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is directed to pay to Messrs. Edes and Gill, Printers, the sum of thirty-six Pounds, six Shillings, and nine Pence, lawful money, for printing for said Province to the 27th of March last.

In Provincial Congress, Concord, 15th April, 1775.

Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esquire, Receiver General of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is directed to pay to Richard Devens, the sum of eleven Pounds, nineteen Shillings, and six Pence, Half-Penny, for sundry accounts by him paid and discharged, for services done for the said Province.

In Provincial Congress, Concord, 15th April, 1775.

Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esquire, Receiver General of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is directed to pay unto Jeremiah Hunt, the sum of four Pounds, four Shillings, for his attendance as Doorkeeper, and for Paper and Quills by him furnished, for the use of the Congress.

Ordered, That Henry Gardner, Esquire, Colonel Barret, and Colonel Henshaw, be a Committee to wait on the Reverend Mr. Emerson, and return him the thanks of this Congress for his faithful attendance on, and especially for officiating as their Chaplain during this session.

Ordered, That the same Committee be directed to wait on the Committee of the Proprietors of this House, and return the thanks of this Congress for the use thereof.

Ordered, That on the return of the Members to their respective Towns, they use their interest with the inhabitants thereof, that they immediately pay their publick moneys to Henry Gardner, Esquire, Receiver General of this Colony.

Ordered, That the Members use their interest to promote the Military discipline.

Resolve for adjournment passed, and is as follows:

Resolved, That this Congress be adjourned from this day, to Wednesday, the 10th day of may next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to meet at Concord, in the County of Middlesex. And considering the great uncertainty of the present times, and that important unforeseen events may