Ordered, That Mr. Patridge, Mr. Lothrop and Doctor Baylies, be directed to assist the Secretary in copying the foregoing Report, &c.

The Committee appointed to confer with William Read, Esq., reported the following, (presented to them by Wm. Read, Esq., of Lexington, in behalf of Joseph Loring, J. Loring, Jun., Widow Mulliken, and Joseph Pond,) viz:

“Joseph Loring, Joseph Loring, Jun., Widow Lydia Mulliken, and Joseph Pond, had their houses, furniture, provisions, and all apparel, burnt by Gen. Gage’s Troops in the late battle, whereby they are reduced to a state of abject poverty. William Read, Esquire, prays, in behalf of the above distressed inhabitants of Lexington, that they may have a present relief from the honourable Congress of one hundred and sixty pounds of Pork, in order to prevent their starving.”

Whereupon, Ordered, That the Committee of Supplies be, and they are hereby directed to deliver to said William Read, Esq., or to his order, for the use of the said Joseph Loring, Joseph Loring, Jun., Widow Mulliken, and Joseph Pond, one barrel of Pork.

Ordered, That Mr. Hollock, Colonel How and Captain White, be a Committee to consider what is proper to be done, with respect to furnishing the Army with some present necessaries.

All the Committees were enjoined to sit.

Adjourned until to-morrow morning.

Tuesday, May 2, 1775.

Resolved, That another President be chosen pro tem., and that he be chosen by nomination.

Colonel Warren was then nominated and chosen.

Ordered, That Mr. Patridge, Doctor Taylor and Mr. Dix, be a Committee to wait on Colonel Warren, to inform him of said choice.

Colonel Warren accordingly attended, and after offering his reasons for excuse, Moved, that a Committee be appointed to wait on Doctor Joseph Warren, informing him of the absence of the Reverend Mr. Murray, who has lately officiated as President, and to know if he can now attend the Congress in that station. Whereupon,

Ordered, That Doctor Dunsmore be a Committee for that purpose; who accordingly waited upon Doctor Warren, and received the following reply:

“Cambridge, May 2, 1775.

“Doctor Warren presents his best respects to the honourable the Provincial Congress: informs them that he will obey their order, and attend his duty in Congress in the afternoon.”

Ordered, That Colonel Gerrish, Colonel Warren, Hon. Mr, Dexter, Mr. Gill, and Capt. Brown, of Abington, be a Committee to consider the propriety of taking measures for securing the records of those Counties which are more immediately exposed in this day of danger.

Ordered, That the Honourable Mr.Dexter, Colonel Warren, and Mr. Gill, be a Committee to prepare a draught of a Letter to the Delegates of Congress, now in Connecticut, giving them instruction with respect to the arrival at this Colony of two gentlemen from the Assembly of Connecticut, with an address to General Gage, and a commission to treat with him respecting a cessation of hostilities, &c.,

Ordered, That Captain Stone, of Oakham, Deacon Rawson, and Major Fuller, of Newton, be a Committee to draw up the form of an oath to be taken by the Officers and Soldiers of the Army, now forming in this Colony.

The Committee appointed to consider what might be proper to be done with respect to furnishing the Army with some present necessaries, reported.

The Report was read, and ordered to lie on the table for the present.

A Letter from Manchester, to Doctor Taylor, respecting a computation of the Taxes paid by Great Britain and America, &c., was read: Whereupon,

Ordered, That Mr. Webster, Deacon Cheever, and Captain Stone, be a Committee to take the said Letter into consideration, and make report.

The Committee who were appointed to prepare a Letter to the Delegates of this Congress at Connecticut, reported; which Report being read, was unanimously accepted, and is as follows, viz:

“GENTLEMEN: Although this Congress entertain the highest opinion of the virtue and publick spirit of the Colony of Connecticut, and have not the smallest doubt, of the attachment of the General Assembly of that Colony to the glorious cause of freedom, now threatened with total destruction by a corrupt Ministry; yet the arrival of two gentlemen, of the first character, from that Colony, with an address to General Gage, and a commission to treat with him on the subject of American grievances, and to propose, as we are informed, a cessation of hostilities, at a time when that gentleman can be considered in no other light than as an instrument in the hands, and under the absolute direction of Administration, to subjugate, and for that detestable purpose, to spread slaughter and destruction among His Majesty’s loyal subjects; of his disposition to do which, he has recently given a flagrant proof in massacring a number of innocent people, who were in the peace of God and the King; and by other acts of injustice and cruelty, we cannot but be greatly alarmed for the consequences. Any interruptions of that happy union of the Colonies which has taken place, would prove of the most fatal tendency, and we cannot but view every kind of negotiation between any Colony and the chief instrument of ministerial vengeance here, as being likely to operate towards such an interruption. We apprehend that things are now reduced to such a state, that nothing but an immediate recourse to arms, and a steady and persevering exertion in military operations can possibly prevent our destruction, and that a recourse to any other method is, at best, nugatory and vain.

“Any proposals, either to Parliament, to the Ministry, or to their Agents here, made separately by a single Colony, may produce most tremendous events with regard to America; and we apprehend nothing could be more pleasing to our enemies than the making such proposals. We are so deeply impressed with the sense of the importance and absolute necessity of a thorough union of the Colonies, and particularly with respect to the raising and supporting an Army, to act with the utmost vigour at this alarming crisis; and so fearful of any measures taking place, whereby the common cause may be endangered, that we have unanimously concluded it necessary to suggest to you our fears respecting the effects of this embassy from Connecticut to Gage; and we expect you will make a proper representation of the sentiments of this Congress to their Assembly, in hopes that you will receive such an explanation of their motives, and such assurances of their intention immediately to co-operate with this Colony, as may remove every gloomy apprehension, and confirm us in that high estimation in which we have ever held the respectable Colony of Connecticut.