Member of this Congress to go to Philadelphia, with the application of this Congress to the Continental Congress.

The Committee reported that Doctor Benjamin Church was chosen.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the Letter from Colonel Legate, reported; which Report, being read and amended, was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, it is of the utmost importance that the men who shall be enlisted in to the Artillery Company should be well qualified for that employment; and it being impossible to enlist the men for the Artillery at large in the Colony so soon as the service requires: therefore,

Resolved, That the Officers of the Artillery be allowed to enlist the men from the several Regiments already engaged, when the men are willing to engage in that service, until the whole Artillery establishment shall be completed. Always provided, that such enlistments shall be no prejudice or hindrance to the Officers with whom such men are already enlisted, in entitling them to their respective commissions, and that not more than four men be taken from any one Company. And the Officers of the Train of Artillery are directed to use their endeavours to enlist as many (who are not under any previous engagement in the Army) as they can speedily; and the Officers from whose Regiment or Company any person is enlisted into the Train of Artillery, are also directed to fill up their said Regiment or Company with all convenient speed, by enlisting other Soldiers in the place of those enlisted into the Train of Artillery.

Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Pitts, Doctor Taylor, the President, and Mr. Batchelder, be a Committee, to consider what measures it would be expedient to take, relative to the prisoners in Boston, and the inhabitants which are there kept in duress.

The Committee appointed to apply to the Committee of Safety for a list of Officers, &c., reported verbally, that they had no other list than what they had before sent to the Congress; that they had received no returns, and knew not how many had enlisted, or whether any Regiments were completed.

Ordered, That Colonel Barrett, Doctor Taylor, and Mr. Fuller, be a Committee to take into consideration a Petition from the inhabitants of Canaan and Norridgewock, on Kennebeck River, and report.

The Committee who were appointed to consider the information from Dartmouth, reported. The Report was recommitted for further examination and inquiry into the affair.

Ordered, That Mr. Freeman and Doctor Holten be added to the Committee appointed to examine Hutchinson’s Letters.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, May 17, 1775.

A Letter from Edward Mott to this Congress, dated 1lth May, 1775, giving an account of the taking of the Fortress at Ticonderoga, was read, together with a Letter from Ethan Allen. Also an application from Col. Easton and others; whereupon,

Ordered, That Colonel Foster, Mr. Sullivan, and Doctor Holten, be a Committee to introduce Colonel Easton to this House, to give a narrative of that transaction, and that each Member have liberty to ask him any questions.

Ordered, That Mr. President, Doctor Taylor, Colonel Foster, Doctor Holten, and Mr. Cross, be a Committee to take the same into consideration and report.

A Resolve from the Committee of Safety, relative to the seizing the servants and friends to Government, (improperly so called,) was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Resolved, That three o’clock, P. M., be assigned for the purpose of considering the expediency of making out a Commission to General Ward.

The Congress appointed two other Monitors, viz: Mr. John Hale and Captain Woodbridge Brown.

The Resolve and form of an Oath to be taken by the General Officers, were read, amended, and accepted, and are as follow, viz:

Resolved, That the General Officers of the Massachusetts Army, now raising for the defence and security of the rights and liberties of this, and our sister Colonies in America, shall, each and every of them, repeat, take, and subscribe the following Oath, to be administered by . . . ., viz:

“ I, A.B., do solemnly swear, that, as a General Officer in the Massachusetts Army, I will well and faithfully execute the office of a General, to which I have been appointed, according to my best abilities, in defence and for the security of the estates, lives, and liberties, of the good people of this, and the sister Colonies in America, in opposition to Ministerial tyranny, by which they are, or may be oppressed, and to all other enemies and opposers whatsoever. That I will adhere to the Rules and Regulations of said Army, established by the Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay, observe and obey the Resolutions and Orders which are, or shall be passed by said Congress, or any future Congress, or House of Representatives, or legislative body of said Colony, and such Committees as shall be by them authorized for that purpose; and that I will disclose and make known to the authority aforesaid, all traitorous conspiracies, attempts, and designs whatsoever, which I shall know to be Made, or have reason to suspect are making, against the Army, or any of the English American Colonies.”

Ordered, That Jonas Dix, Esq., be directed to take Depositions, relative to the destruction of private property by the King’s Troops, on the nineteenth ultimo, and their driving women in child-bed out of their houses, and killing old men unarmed.

Henry Gardner, Esq., informed the House that he was willing to continue to serve this Colony in the office of Receiver-General.

Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Deacon Nichols, and Mr. Rawson, be a Committee to consider what steps are proper to be taken for the relief of such of the inhabitants of Boston as come over to Charlestown, who are not able to take care of themselves.

The Committee appointed to consider the account of taking the Fortress of Ticonderoga, reported the following Resolve, and Letter to the Assembly of Connecticut, which were accepted, and the Letter ordered to be authenticated and sent forward:

GENTLEMEN: We have the happiness of presenting our congratulations to you on the reduction of that important fortress, Ticonderoga. We applaud the conduct of both the officers and soldiers, and are of opinion, that the advantageous situation of that fortress makes it highly expedient that it should be repaired, and properly garrisoned. In the mean time, as we suppose that there is no necessity for keeping all the cannon there, we should be extremely glad if all the battery cannon, especially brass cannon, which can be spared from that place, or procured from Crown Point, (which we hope by this time is in the Hands of our friends,) may be forwarded this way, with all possible expedition, as we have here to contend with an Army furnished with as fine a train of artillery as ever was seen in America. And we are in extreme want of a sufficient number of cannon to fortify those important passes, without which we can neither annoy General Gage, if it should become necessary, nor defend ourselves against him.

We therefore must most earnestly recommend this very important matter to your immediate consideration; and we would suggest it, as our opinion, that the appointing Colonel Arnold to take charge of them, and bring them down, with all possible haste, may be a means of settling any disputes which may have arisen between him and some other officers, which we are always desirous to avoid, and more especially at a time when our common danger ought to unite us in the strongest bonds of unity and affection.

We are, gentlemen, &c.

This Congress having received authentick intelligence that the Fort at Ticonderoga is surrendered into the hands of Colonel Ethan Allen and others, together with the Artillery and Artillery Stores, Ammunition, &c., thereunto belonging, for the benefit of these Colonies, occasioned by the intrepid valour of a number of men under the command of the said Colonel Allen, Colonel Easton of the Massachusetts, and others; and by the advice and direction of the Committee for that expedition, the said Colonel Allen is to remain in possession of the same and its dependencies, until further order:

Resolved, That this Congress do highly approve of the same; and the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut