Colonel Scammon having satisfied the Committee that his Regiment was nearly full, a Certificate was given him thereof; and it was recommended to the Provincial Congress that his Regiment be commissioned accordingly.

General Thomas having satisfied this Committee that his Regiment was complete, a Certificate was given him thereof; and it was recommended to the Provincial Congress that his Regiment be commissioned accordingly.

Resolved, That it be recommended to Congress immediately to take such order respecting the removal of the Sheep and Hay from Noddle’s Island, as they may judge proper, together with the stock on the adjacent islands.

Voted, That the Commissary-General be directed to supply twenty-five men of Captain Sprague’s Company, who are stationed at Chelsea.

May 26, 1775.

The Congress having passed a Resolve, that the house of John Vassal, Esquire, be appropriated for the use of the Committee of Safety: Therefore,

Resolved, That the Quarter-Master General be directed to clear the said house immediately of the Soldiers now lodged there, that it may be improved for that purpose.

Colonels Ward and Gardner having satisfied this Committee that their Regiments were in good forwardness, a Certificate to that purpose was given them; and it was recommended to the honourable Provincial Congress that said Regiments be commissioned accordingly.

Colonels Patterson and William Prescott having satisfied this Committee that their respective Regiments are nearly full, a Certificate was given them of the same; and it was recommended to the Provincial Congress that said Regiments be commissioned accordingly.

Colonels Cotton and Bridge having satisfied this Committee that their respective Regiments are full, a Certificate was given them thereof; and it was recommended to the Provincial Congress that said Regiments be commissioned accordingly.

Colonels Asa Whitcomb, Frye, and Doolittle, having satisfied this Committee that their respective Regiments are nearly full, a Certificate was given them thereof; and it was recommended to the honourable the Provincial Congress that said Regiments be commissioned accordingly.

Colonel Walker having satisfied this Committee that his Regiment was complete, a Certificate was given him thereof; and it was recommended to Congress that said Regiment be, commissioned accordingly.

Colonel Donaldson having satisfied this Committee that his Regiment is in good forwardness, a Certificate was given him thereof; and it was recommended to the honourable Congress that said Regiment be commissioned accordingly.

May 27, 1775.

Colonel Mansfield having satisfied this Committee that his Regiment is in good forwardness, he had a Certificate thereof, and a recommendation to Congress that the Regiment be commissioned accordingly.

Mr. Wesson, keeper of Thomas Oliver, Esquire’s, farm, had orders to secure any creatures that might be put into his enclosures by ill-disposed persons, and to inform the Committee thereof.

Voted, That agreeable to the recommendation of General Ward. Jacob Rhodes, of Charlestown, be empowered to impress such Cattle as may be necessary for the removal of two Boats from that Town to Cambridge.

Joseph Smith, keeper of John Vassal, Esquire’s, farm, had orders to secure any creatures that might be put into his enclosures by ill-disposed persons, and to inform the Committee thereof.

May 28, 1775.

A number of Guns taken from some persons in Grafton, were appraised by a Sub-Committee appointed for that purpose, and delivered Luke. Drury, for the use of his Company, and a receipt taken in the rough minutes, as, reference thereto being had, will particularly appear.

May 29, 1775.

A number of Letters taken from Robert Temple, Esq., by the Committee of Safety of Cohasset, were sent to this Committee for examination, and though the Committee think that the matter is not strictly within their commission, yet, considering that the present Congress must be dissolved this day, and the good and safety of this Colony may be affected by an immediate examination of said Letters: Therefore,

Resolved, That the matter be immediately taken up by the Committee; and as Mr. Temple is now attending, that he be so directed respecting said Letters, as shall, after examination, appear necessary to promote the greatest good of this Colony.

Voted, That a Committee be chosen to draw up a Certificate for Mr. Temple and an order for his receiving the goods taken from him.

The Committee, appointed for that purpose, reported a Certificate, which was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

“Whereas the Committee of Inspection of the District of Cohasset, have transmitted to us a number of Letters found in the possession of Robert Temple, Esq.; and this Committee having carefully inspected said Letters, and had the said Mr. Temple before them, and examined him, both with regard to his principles and conduct in the present controversy between Great Britain and the Colonies in America: And whereas, we think it the duty of this Committee, at the same time that we applaud the vigilance of the Committee of Cohasset, who have stopped those Letters, and that of the Town of Plymouth, who have sent two of their members with Mr. Temple to this Committee, to do justice to individuals; in consequence of which we Resolve, that it be recommended to the Committee at Cohasset to deliver Mr. Temple such articles of his as are now in their possession; and likewise that they, and all others, consider and treat him as a friend to the interest of this Country, and the rights of all America.”

Colonel Quincy, of Braintree, having proposed to this Committee the erecting a small defensive work against the depredations of our enemies, upon the farms in his neighbourhood, they do refer the matter to the Council of War.

Colonel Fellows having satisfied this Committee that his Regiment is full, he had a Certificate thereof, and a recommendation that said Regiment be commissioned accordingly, was given him for the honourable Congress.

It being expected that the present Congress will be dissolved this night, and hearing that one volume of copies of Mr. Hutchinson’s Letters are in the hands of Captain Mc-Lane, at the upper Paper-Mills, in Milton, which volume may be of use to this Colony, if in the hands of the Provincial Congress: Therefore,

Resolved, That the Reverend Mr. Gordon, of Roxbury, be desired and empowered to receive from said Captain McLane all such copies as are in his hands, or in any other hands, and to be accountable to the present or some future Congress for the same.

May 30, 1775.

Elisha Lettinwell was directed to proceed with two Teams to Chelsea, and bring from thence the Cannon and other Stores saved from the Schooner which has been burned by our people, and to lodge said Stores in this Town.

MASSACHUSETTS PROVINCIAL CONGRESS:

Journal of the Proceedings of the Congress of the Colony of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY; assembled at CONCORD, Saturday, APRIL 22, 1775.

Mr. RICHARD DEVENS, Chairman,
Mr. JOHN MURRAY, Clerk.

Mr. Gerry represented to Congress, that a Letter from Mr. Quincy to Mr. Adams, had been delivered to him, with a desire that it might be opened by Congress in Mr. Adams’s absence:

After some debate,

Ordered, That the Members present, belonging to the Committee on the state of the Province, retire, open, and peruse the said Letter, and report to Congress what parts they think proper.

The Committee retired, and desired that the whole be read in Congress;