eighty pieces of heavy cannon, twenty pieces brass cannon, from four to eighteen-pounders, and ten or twelve mortars; at Skenesborough, on the South Bay, three or four pieces of brass cannon; the Fort, in a ruinous condition, is supposed to have about forty or forty-five men, a number of small arms, and considerable stores. A sloop of seventy or eighty tons on the lake.

Voted, That an order be given to Major Bigelow, desiring him to have the Province Arms, either in Worcester or Concord, immediately brought to this Town.

Voted, That Mr. John Chandler Williams be directed to attend this Committee, that he may be employed as an Express.

Voted, That the Committee appointed yesterday, to consider the state of the Town of Boston, be now desired to sit, and form a plan for the liberation of the inhabitants.

The Sub-Committee, on the removal of the inhabitants from Boston, reported; which report was accepted, and Dr. Warren, Col. Palmer, and Col. Orne, were appointed to wait upon the Congress with the proposals.

Voted, That two Offices be opened to deliver permits for such persons as desire to enter Boston with their effects.

Voted, That Colonel Samuel Gerrish be appointed to the office of granting permits, at the house of Mr. John Greaton, of Roxbury.

Voted, That Colonel William Henshaw be appointed to the office of graining permits, at the sign of the Sun, in Charlestown.

The following Orders were delivered to Col. Gerrish:

“You are hereby empowered, agreeably to a vote of the Provincial Congress, to grant liberty that any of the inhabitants of this Colony, who may incline to go into Boston with their effects, fire-arms and ammunition excepted, have toleration for that purpose, and that they be protected from any injury or insult whatsoever in their removal to Boston. The following form of a permit is for your government, the blanks of which you are to fill up with the names, and number of the persons, viz:

“Permit A. B., the bearer hereof, with his family, consisting of . . . persons, with his effects, fire-arms and ammunition excepted, to pass unmolested into the Town of Boston, between sunrise and sunset.

“By order of the Provincial Congress:

“JOSEPH WARREN, Clerk, pro tem.”

Voted, That Andrew Craigie be appointed to take care of the Medical Stores, and to deliver them out as ordered by this Committee; and that the Secretary make out his commission accordingly.

Voted, That it be recommended by this Committee to the Council of War, that Mr. Joseph Pierce Palmer be appointed to the post of Quarter-Master General of the Army.

Whereas, proposals have been made by General Gage, to the inhabitants of the Town of Boston, for the removal of their persons and effects into the country, excepting their arms and ammunition:

Resolved, That any of the inhabitants of this Colony, who may incline to go into the Town of Boston with their effects, fire-arms and ammunition excepted, have toleration for that purpose, and that they be protected from any injury or insult whatsoever; this Resolve to be immediately published.

May 1, 1775.

Voted, That the Quarter-Master General be directed to clear that Chamber in Stoughton College, occupied by S. Parsons, for a Printing Office for Messrs. Halls.

Whereas, many of our brethren of the Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode-Island are now with us, to assist in this day of publick and general distress, in which we are all deeply concerned: and, whereas, our brethren of said Colonies have brought with them some of the Paper Currencies of their respective Colonies, which have not of late had a currency with us, and for want of which our common interest may greatly suffer:

Resolved, That said Paper Currencies shall, from and after the date hereof, be paid and received within this Colony, in all payments, to all intents and purposes, in the same proportion to silver as the same are paid and received within the respective Colonies by which the same have been issued.

Resolved, That Col. Palmer be a Committee to inquire into the matter, to find what Colonies have such Currencies, to alter the Resolve agreeably thereto, and to present the same to the honourable Congress for their consideration.

Voted, That the Reverend Mr. Gordon have free access to the Prisoners detained at Worcester and elsewhere, and that all civil Magistrates and others be aiding and assisting him in examining and taking depositions of them and others.

May 2, 1775.

Doctor Warren, Colonel Palmer, and Colonel Gardner, were appointed a Sub-Committee to confer with General Ward, relative to the proposal made by Colonel Arnold, of Connecticut, for an attempt upon Ticonderoga.

A number of Recantations, from the Town of Marble-head, having been laid before the Committee for their opinion as to the propriety of receiving them:

Voted, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that said Recantations be received, and that the persons making them be made acquainted with the Proclamation lately issued by Congress, respecting those who may incline to get into Boston; and that it be recommended to the inhabitants of this Province that they be protected from all injuries or insults whatsoever, so long as they adhere to their several Recantations, now before this Committee, and continue to assist and abide by their Country, and the inhabitants of Marblehead in particular, in the important dispute between Great Britain and America.

Voted, That two Muster-Masters be appointed, one at the Camp in Cambridge, and one at the Camp in Roxbury.

Voted, That General Thomas be desired to give such orders respecting the Whale-Boats at Falmouth, and other parts southward, as he may judge proper.

Voted, That the Massachusetts Congress be desired to give an order upon the Treasurer for the immediate payment of one hundred Pounds, in cash; and also order two hundred pounds of Gunpowder, two hundred weight of Lead Balls, and one thousand Flints, and also ten Horses, to be delivered unto Captain Benedict Arnold, for the use of this Colony, upon a certain service approved of by the Council of War: said Arnold to be Accountable for the same, to this or some future Congress, or House of Representatives of this Colony.

Voted, That two Companies be raised in Braintree, for the immediate defence of the sea-coast of said Town; the said Companies to be joined to such Regiment in future as they may be ordered to, should there be occasion, or discharged from service as soon as the publick good would admit of it; and that Colonel Thayer be furnished with two sets of enlisting papers for this purpose.

Voted, That General Thomas be, and he hereby is directed and empowered to stop the Trunks mentioned to be in Colonel Taylor’s hands, until this Committee send some proper persons to examine their contents.

Resolved, That agreeably to a Vote of Congress, General Thomas be directed and empowered to appoint suitable persons to accompany such people into the country as may be permitted to bring their effects into Boston, upon the conditions mentioned in the Proclamations posted up, and that General Thomas give such general orders as he may judge the common safety requires.

Voted, That Colonel Arnold, appointed to a secret service, be desired to appoint two Field-Officers, Captains, &c., to be allowed the same pay during their continuance in service as is established for officers and privates of the same rank, who are ordered by the Congress of Massachusetts-Bay to be raised for the defence of the rights and liberties of America; the officers and privates to be dismissed by Colonel Arnold, or the Committee of Safety, whenever they shall think proper.

Voted, That the Committee of Supplies be desired to procure ten Horses for Colonel Arnold, to be employed on a special service.

Voted, That Mr. Isaac Bradish, Keeper of the Prison in Cambridge, be supplied with Provisions out of the Colony Stores, for the support of the Prisoners under his care, who have or may be committed by the orders of the Council of War, or this Committee.

The Quarter-Master General having informed that some persons unknown had made spoil of Liquors in the cellars