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.

And whereas this Congress have, by a subsequent Resolve, superseded the appointment of the Muster-Masters aforementioned, and directed that Colonel Benjamin Lincoln, and Colonel Asa Whitcomb, be appointed Muster-Masters in the Massachusetts Army, whose business it shall be to pass muster on every Soldier that should be enlisted into the said Army, and by no means to accept of any but such as are able-bodied and effective men, and also to examine their Arms and Accoutrements, &c., that they are in proper order; and said Muster-Masters are thereby directed and empowered to receive from Henry Gardner, Esquire, Receiver-General, twenty Shillings, lawful money, for each and every Non-commissioned Officer and Private Soldier then mustered and sworn, and as shall appear with their Arms, &c., and shall give Bond to said Receiver-General, with sufficient sureties for such moneys drawn out of the Treasury, and shall forthwith pay out said sum of twenty Shillings advance pay, to each and every Non-commissioned Officer and Private Soldier, and on producing receipts from them to said Receiver-General, said Bonds shall be cancelled: And whereas it is found that sufficient ready cash cannot be obtained so soon as it will be needed for the purpose aforesaid: therefore,

Resolved, That each Non-commissioned Officer and Private Soldier aforesaid, (if he will accept the same,) shall, instead of twenty Shillings advance pay, upon the muster aforesaid, receive forty Shillings advance pay in three Notes, on interest from the Receiver-General to be paid in one year from the date of said Notes; and that for all such sums as the said Col. Lincoln and Col. Whitcomb shall receive of the Receiver-General in Notes as aforesaid, they give Bonds, and that such Bonds be discharged by receipts, as in and by the last mentioned Resolve is directed.

Ordered, That the President, Major Hawley, General Whitcomb, Mr. Gerry, Colonel Palmer, Colonel Lincoln, and Colonel, Foster, be a Committee to consider what measures are proper to be taken, for organizing the Massachusetts Army in the most effectaal and ready manner.

Resolved, That for the payment of advance pay to the Massachusetts Army, there be issued by the Receiver-General, on the credit of this Colony, a sum not exceeding-Twenty-Six Thousand Pounds, lawful money, in Notes of the following denominations, viz: of Twenty Shillings, of Eighteen, Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen, Twelve, Ten, Nine, and of Six Shillings; to. be four thousand three hundred and thirty-three of each denomination, and no more; and to be of the form following, viz:

COLONY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS-BAY.

No.

May 25, 1775.

The possessor of this Note shall be entitled to receive, out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, the sum of . . . . . . Shillings, lawful money, on the twenty-fifth day of May, Anno Domini 1776, with interest, at the rate of six per cent. per annum. And this Note shall be received in all payments at the Treasury, at any time after the date hereof, for the principal sum, without interest, if so paid before the said 25th day of May, Anno Domini 1776.

Receiver-General.

Which Notes shall be, received in all payments in this Colony; and no discount or abatement shall be made there-on in any payment, trade, or exchange whatsoever.

The Committee appointed to consider the practicability of providing Chaplains for the Army, reported.

The Report was read, and recommitted.

The Petition of Benjamin Thompson to the Committee of Safety, was read, and ordered to subside.

Adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Afternoon.

The Report of the Committee appointed to consider the practicability of providing Chaplains, was again read, accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, it is necessary that Chaplains should be appointed in the Massachusetts Army, under the command of the Honourable Artemas Ward, Esquire, which, if appointed on the establishment made by this Colony, will greatly enhance the Colony debt:

And whereas, it has been represented to this. Congress, that several Ministers of the Religious Assemblies within this Colony have expressed their willingness to attend the Army aforesaid in the capacity of Chaplains, as they may be directed by this Congress: therefore,

Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to the Ministers of the several Religious Assemblies within this Colony, that, with the leave of their several Congregations, they attend said Army in their several Towns, to the number of thirteen at one time, during the time the Army shall be encamped; and that they make known their Resolutions to the Congress thereon, or to the Committee of Safety, as soon as may be.

Resolved unanimously, That the President be desired to deliver to General Ward the Commission prepared for him by this Congress, as General and Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Forces.

Ordered, That Major Brooks, Colonel Mitchell, Esquire Rawson, Esquire Dix, and Major Bliss, be a Committee to examine the prisoner at the door, brought from Head-Quarter, and report some order to be taken thereon.

The President communicated to Congress the request of the Selectmen of Boston, that the Congress would permit Mr. Hall to carry two loads of Hay into Boston, one for himself and one for another person, (Lieutenant-Governaur Oliver:) Whereupon,

Ordered, That the messenger in waiting be dismissed.

Resolved, That only the Colonels of each Regiment should attend this Congress to receive their Commissions, unless they should be indisposed, or otherwise necessarily prevented; in which case the next Field-Officer may apply for his Commission, and Commissions for the inferiour Officers in his Regiment.

The Honourable Mr. Dexter having, by order of Congress, administered the Oath to General ward, his Commission was delivered to him by the President.

The following Commissions were likewise delivered, viz:

To Thomas Cogswell and John Wood, Captains, under command of Colonel Gerrish.

Ephraim Doolittle, Colonel;Ebenezer Learned, Colonel; Joseph Reed, Colonel; James Bricket, Lieutenant-Colonel, under Colonel James Fry; Calvin Smith, Major, under Colonel Joseph Read.

Danforth Keys, Lieutenant-Colonel, Jonathan Holman, Major, under Colonel Ebenezer Learned.

Ebenezer Clap, Lieutenant-Colonel, under Colonel Joseph Read.

Ordered, That Commissions be delivered to the Captains of Col. Fry’s Regiment, agreeably to a list exhibited.

Resolved, That nine o’clock next Tuesday morning, be assigned for taking into consideration the expediency of giving Lieutenants’ Commissions to the Subaltern Officers.

Resolved, That three o’clock next Tuesday afternoon, be assigned to consider a Motion made by Colonel Doolittle, for appointing a Muster-Master for the enlisted Companies at Northfield.

Ordered, That Captain Brown and Esquire Dix be a Committee to procure a Guard over the prisoners from Head-Quarters; and that the Guard who conducted them from thence be now released.

Adjourned until to-morrow afternoon, at four o’clock.

Sunday, May 21, 1775.

Met at four o’clock, and adjourned until to-morrow morning, eight o’clock.

Monday, May 22, 1775.

The Committee on the Petition from the inhabitants of Deer Island, reported as follows, viz:

The Committee on the Petition of a number of the inhabitants, of Deer Island, so called, in the County of Lincoln, beg leave to report: That they have made inquiry of the bearer of the Petition, Major Low, and find that the people there are greatly in want of provisions, and ought to be relieved; but whether it will be best to remove them from the Island, or to supply them with one hundred and fifty bushels of Corn, one hundred bushels of Potatoes, two barrels of Pork, twenty Cod-lines, with leads and hooks, and a small, quantity of Salt, we submit to the Congress.