June, 1777, the aforesaid sum of . . . . . . . . Pounds, lawful money, in Spanish milled dollars, at six shillings each, or in the several species of coined silver and gold enumerated in an act for ascertaining the rates at which coined silver, and gold, English half-pence and farthings, may pass within this Government, and according to the rates therein mentioned, with interest, to be paid annually, at six per cent.

The Committee on the Letter from Mr. Lee to Doctor Taylor, reported verbally, that a copy of said Letter be forwarded to our Members of the Continental Congress.

Upon a motion, the question was put, whether the above Report be accepted, and passed in the negative.

Resolved, That in all orders for impressing Horses and Carriages, the Horses and Carriages of the Members of this Congress be excepted, and that a copy of this Resolve be sent to the Committee of Safety and Committee of Supplies.

Ordered, That at three o’clock this afternoon, the Congress will take into consideration the propriety of establishing pay for a Brigade Major.

Ordered, That at five o’clock this afternoon, the Congress will come to the choice of a Committee of three persons (by ballot) to procure a Copperplate for printing the Colony Notes, and to countersign them.

Ordered, That the Committee who reported a Resolve relative to borrowing Money, &c., bring in a Resolve that no note be given by the Receiver-General for a less sum than four Pounds

Adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Afternoon.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve that no note be given by the Receiver-General for any sum less than four Pounds, reported; the Report was amended and accepted, and is as follows:

“Whereas, inconveniences may arise by the Receiver-General issuing notes for small sums:

“Therefore, resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and he hereby is, directed not to issue any notes for a less sum than four Pounds, lawful money.”

The Report of The Committee appointed to take into consideration the advance pay to the Soldiers, was taken up and read, but as part of the Report is superseded by a Resolve in the morning:

“Therefore, ordered, That the Report be recommitted, and that part thereof which hath been superseded be left out, and that each Soldier be allowed twenty Shillings, lawful money, advance.

The Order of the Day was moved for.

Resolved, That Captain Parker, Colonel Howe, and Colonel Farley, be a Committee to take into consideration the propriety of establishing pay for a Brigade Major.

The above Vote was reconsidered.

The Committee appointed to report the form of an Oath, reported; the Report was read, and recommitted.

Ordered, That Major Fuller and Captain Brown, of Watertown, be a Committee to count and sort the votes for a Committee to procure a Copperplate for printing the Colony Notes, and to countersign them.

The Committee having attended that service, reported, that the Honourable Samuel Dexter, Esquire, Doctor Joseph Warren, and Mr. Moses Gill, were chosen.

Mr. Cheever, who was appointed to wait on the Reverend Doctor Cooper, and desire his attendance on this Congress to officiate as their Chaplain, reported, that he had attended the service assigned him, and that the state of the Doctor’s affairs was such that he could not attend, according to the desire of the Congress.

The Committee appointed to report a Letter to the Continental Congress, reported; the Report was read and accepted, and ordered to be copied, and forwarded as soon as may be.

Ordered, That Colonel Davis be desired to wait on the Reverend Mr. Gordon, and desire that he would attend on this Congress, and officiate as their Chaplain during their session in the Town of Watertown.

The Committee who were appointed to take under consideration the advance pay to the Soldiers, reported; the Report was recommitted, and Captain Stone and Doctor Taylor added to the Committee.

The Committee who were appointed to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prisoners by the Troops, under General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, reported a Resolve; which was read and accepted, and Ordered, that any Member who desires a copy may have one.* The Resolve is as follows:

“Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of this Colony were taken prisoners by the Troops, under the command of General Gage, on the nineteenth of April last, and are by him so held:

“Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that an application be sent to General Gage, signed by the wives or nearest relations of such prisoners, and the Selectmen of the Towns to which they respectively belong, desiring that he would discharge their friends from their said imprisonment; and they are empowered hereby to offer to send in to the General an equal number of his Troops, now in the hands of this people, who were taken prisoners on the aforesaid nineteenth of April, upon his liberating their friends as aforesaid.”

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow morning.

Thursday, May 4, 1775.

Colonel Davis, who was appointed to wait upon the Reverend Mr. Gordon, to desire that he would officiate as Chaplain to this Congress, reported that he had waited upon Mr. Gordon, and that Mr. Gordon informed him that he would attend accordingly.

The Committee who were appointed to take into consideration the advance pay to the Soldiers, again reported; which Report was read, amended, and accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forthwith to Head-Quarters. It is as follows:

“Whereas, the distressed state of this Colony, at this alarming crisis, calls for its utmost exertions that the Army now to be raised be forthwith completed:

“Therefore, resolved, That each non-commissioned Officer and Private Soldier, who has or shall enlist himself into the service of this Colony, shall have twenty Shillings paid him out of the Receiver-General’s Office, as an advance; and that the Commanding Officer of each Regiment, who shall be empowered to act as Muster-Master for his said Regiment, shall draw from the Receiver-General’s. Office the sum of twenty Shillings for each Non-commissioned Officer and Private, Soldier in his said Regiment, and pay the same, according to the tenour of this Resolve, as soon as said men shall have enlisted themselves and be duly sworn, and give his bond (with sufficient surety) to the Receiver-General therefor; said bond to be discharged by a receipt produced by said Officer from each Non-commissioned Officer and Private Soldier, that he has received the same.”

On application made to this Congress for an order on the Committee of Supplies for one barrel of Powder, for the use of the inhabitants of Falmouth, in Casco-Bay:

Ordered, That this matter be referred to the said Committee of Supplies; they to act thereon as they think best.

The Order of the Day moved for.

The absent Members were ordered to be called in.

On a motion made, that a Committee be appointed to bring in a Resolve containing a reconsideration of a Resolve passed by this Congress at Concord, the first of April

* IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, MAY 3, 1775.

The Committee who were appointed by this Congress to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who Were taken prisoners by the Troops under General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, beg leave to report, they are of opinion, that if an application were sent to General Gage, signed by the wives or nearest relations of such prisoners, and the Selectmen of the Towns to which they respectively belong, who are empowered hereby to offer to send in those names, it would be the most effectual method which could be taken for their release; but if such application should be unsuccessful, they think it would be highly expedient for this Congress to consent to an exchange of prisoners; further, to take such measures in assistance to the friends of those unhappy captives as, in their wisdom, they may think will be proper to be taken for that purpose.