Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Colonel Gerrish, and Doctor Taylor, be, and they hereby are appointed a Committee to confer with the abovesaid Joseph Brown, who now waits the further advice of this Congress.

Ordered, That said Committee be, and they are hereby authorized to consider what is proper to be done, and make report forthwith.

The President likewise received a Letter from Worcester, enclosing one from New-York, dated April 24, 1775, which gave information of the arrival of a Packet there, with despatches for General Gage, and recommended that care be taken to intercept the same.

Ordered, That Colonel Grout be directed to carry the Letter, last mentioned, to the Committee of Safety, now sitting at Cambridge.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, seven o’clock.

Sunday, April 30, 1775.

The Committee appointed yesterday to wait on the Committee of Safety, reported that they had attended the business to which they were appointed, and brought from said Committee the following account:

“Agreeably to the order of the Provincial Congress, this Committee have inquired into the state and situation of the Cannon and Ordnance Stores, with the provision made for the Companies of Artillery, and beg leave to report as follows, viz:

“In Cambridge, six three-pounders complete, with ammunition, and one six-pounder.

“In Watertown, sixteen pieces of artillery, of different sizes. The said six-pounder and sixteen pieces will be taken out of the way, and the first mentioned six pieces will be used in a proper way of defence.

“Captain Foster is appointed to command one of the Companies of Artillery, and ordered to enlist said Company.

“Captain William Lee, of Marblehead, has been sent for to take the command of another, and several other persons have been sent for to take the command of other Companies.

JOSEPH WARREN, Chairman.”

Ordered, That Colonel Grout be directed to request of the Committee of Safety a Report respecting the inhabitants of Boston.

A motion was made for an addition to the Committee of Safety, and after some debate, the matter was ordered to subside.

The Congress then adjourned to twelve o’clock this day.

The Congress met at twelve o’clock, and adjourned to half after one.

Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and adjourned to half after three.

At which time the Congress met again.

Ordered, That another express be immediately sent to the Committee of Safety to procure their result with respect to moving out the inhabitants of Boston.

Ordered, That Colonel Mosely be directed to repair forthwith to Cambridge, on this errand.

The President was then directed to write a short Letter to said Committee on this important purpose. The Letter is as follows:

“In Provincial Congress, April 30, 1775.

“SIR: I am directed to inform you, that it is with regret this Congress find themselves obliged to send to the Committee of Safety a third messenger, to request their immediate Report on the subject of the removal of the poor inhabitants of Boston.

“To wait for that Report the Congress have suspended all proceedings on that matter, and sat in almost impatient expectation, by several adjournments, since seven o’clock this morning. I am obliged to request your answer by this express, without loss of time, that the Congress may then see what it is their duty to conclude on. I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN MURRAY.

“To Joseph Warren, Esquire, Chairman of the Committee of Safety,”

Ordered, That Mr. Dix, Doctor Taylor, and Mr. Bullen, be a Committee to inquire into the conduct of the several Towns relative to the prisoners of war.

Ordered, That the Resolve, relative to altering the time of meeting of the County Committees, be printed in the Salem Gazette, and in the Massachusetts Spy.

A Committee from the Committee of Safety offered to this Congress a Resolve respecting the liberation of the inhabitants of Boston, which being read, and amended, was accepted, and is as follows:

“Whereas, an agreement has been made between General Gage and the inhabitants of the Town of Boston, for the removal of the persons and effects of such of the inhabitants of the Town of Boston as may be so disposed, excepting their fire-arms and ammunition, into the country:

“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 and insult whatsoever, in their removal to Boston, and that this Resolve be immediately published.”

“P. S. Officers appointed for giving permits for the above purpose are, one at the sign of the Sun, at Charlestown, and another at the house of Mr. John Greaton, Jun., at Roxbury.”

Ordered, That attested copies of the foregoing Resolve be forthwith posted up at Roxbury, Charlestown, and Cambridge.

Resolved, That the Resolution of Congress, relative to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston, be authenticated, and sent to the Selectmen of Boston, immediately to be communicated to General Gage, and also be published in the Worcester and Salem Papers.

Ordered, That Dr. Taylor, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Holmes, and Colonel Farley, be a Committee to consider what steps are necessary to be taken, for the assisting the poor of Boston in moving out with their effects, to bring in a Resolve for that purpose, and to set forthwith.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, seven o’clock.

Monday, May 1, 1775.

The Committee who were appointed to consider what steps are necessary to be taken with respect to assisting the poor of Boston in moving out with their effects, reported; the Report was recommitted for amendment, and Captain Smith, of Granby, Colonel Mosely, Captain Goodridge, and Major Smith, were added to the Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Patridge, Doctor Baylies and Mr. Greenleaf, be a Committee to inspect the Papers of this Congress, and consider what would be proper to furnish the Printer with for publication, and make report.

The Committee appointed to inspect the Papers of the Congress, reported several extracts of Letters for publication, which are ordered to be delivered to Mr. Hall, of Salem, for that purpose.

On a motion made, that the sense of the Congress be taken on this question, viz: Whether the Commissions to be given for the Officers of the Army, now forming in this Colony, shall be signed by the President of the Congress: the question was put, and it passed in the affirmative.

Congress then adjourned to three o’clock, this afternoon.

Afternoon.

A Letter brought from Northampton, by express, from Major Hawley, respecting the bearer of despatches from General Gage, was read.

On which, Ordered, That Colonel Gerrish, Esquire Gardner and Major Gooding, be a Committee to take the same into consideration, and report.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the Letter from Major Hawley, reported, that the most likely way of detecting the bearer of despatches for Governour Gage, was, to forward the said Letter by Major Gooding, to the Committee of Safety at Cambridge, that they may take order thereon.

Which Report was accepted, and the said Letter, together with two anonymous Letters from London, were ordered to be sent to the said Committee of Safety.