Moved, That William Read, Esq., be admitted in this House, to represent to this Congress the sufferings he met with on the 19th April last, at Lexington.

The question being put, after debate had thereon, it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That Captain Bragdon, Captain Dix, and Mr. Gill, be a Committee to confer with the above named Esquire Read, and to make report of their conference.

Resolved, That Mr. Gerry have leave to bring in an order of this House, for leave to the several Members of this Congress to pass the Guards of the Colony Army without molestation.

Mr. Gerry accordingly brought in an order for this purpose, and after debates had thereon, it was ordered to be recommitted.

The Committee appointed to prepare a form of a Commission for the Colony Officers, reported.

The form which they reported was read, and accepted, and is as follows:

“The Congress of the Colony of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY.

“To . . . . . . . . . . Greeting:

“We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your courage and good conduct, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, the said ……. to be ….. of the Regiment of foot …… raised by the Congress aforesaid, for the defence of said Colony. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a . . . .. . . .. in leading, ordering and exercising the said . . . .. . . .. in arms, both inferiour officers and soldiers, and to keep them in good order and discipline; and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their……, and you are yourself to observe, and follow, such orders and instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from the General and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces raised in the Colony aforesaid for the defence of the same, or any other your superiour officers, according to military rules and discipline in war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. By order of the Congress:

“ . . . . . . President pro tem.

“. . . ., the . . . . of . . . . A.D. 1775.

“. . . . . . Secretary pro tem.”

Ordered, That a fair copy of the foregoing form of a Commission be taken, and transmitted to the press; and that one thousand copies thereof be printed.

Mr. Gerry again reported the form of a Pass for the use of the Members of this Congress; which was accepted, and six hundred of them ordered to be printed. It is as follows:

“To the Guards of the Colony Army.

“Pursuant to a Resolve of the Provincial Congress, you are hereby ordered to permit . . . ., a Member of said Congress, to pass and repass at all times.

“. . . . . . Secretary.”;

Resolved, That the General Officer of the Army of this Colony be, and he hereby is directed to sign a sufficient number of blank Passes for Members of this Congress, and to deliver the same to the Secretary.

The Committee who were appointed to consider of measures for assisting the poor of Boston to move out of said Town, having amended their Report, again reported: which Report being read, was accepted, and one hundred and fifty copies thereof ordered to be printed, and a copy forthwith transmitted to the Committee of Donations in Boston, and that Mr. Gill take the charge of transmitting the same.

The Report is as follows, viz:

“Whereas, the inhabitants of the Town of Boston have been detained by General Gage, but at length, by agreement, are permitted to remove, with their effects, into the country; and as it has been represented to this Congress, that about five thousand of said inhabitants are indigent, and unable to be at the expense of removing themselves:

Therefore, Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to all the good people of this Colony, and especially to the Selectmen, and Committee of Correspondence most convenient to Boston, that they aid and assist such poor inhabitants with teams, wagons, &c., as shall procure a certificate from the Committee of Donations that they are unable to remove themselves; and it is further recommended to the Selectmen of the several Towns specified in the schedule annexed, to provide for said inhabitants, in the best and most prudent way, until this, or some future Congress shall take further order thereon; and that the said Selectmen receive, support, and employ their proportion of said inhabitants, assigned them in said schedule, and no other; and render their accounts to this or some future Congress, or House of Representatives, for allowance; which reasonable accounts shall be paid out of the publick Treasury. And it is further recommended to the Committee of Donations, to apply said donations for the removal of said inhabitants, and for their support whilst removing; and in case that is insufficient, it is further recommended to said Committee of Donations, that they make up said deficiency, and lay their accounts before the Congress for allowance, which reasonable expense shall be paid out of the publick Treasury of the Colony. And it is further Resolved, That the inhabitants of Boston thus removed, shall not, in future, be considered as the poor of said Town into which they remove; and it is to be understood, that if the number of the poor who shall be removed in consequence hereof, should surpass or fall short of the number herein calculated, the distribution of them shall be increased or diminished, in proportion to this regulation: