that you carefully observe the quality of the said road, and judge of the feasibleness of transporting provisions by the said road to the waters of Lake Champlain; that you take with you copies of the commission and instructions of the Committee of. Safety to Colonel Benedict Arnold, and inform yourselves, as fully as you shall be able, in what manner the said Colonel Arnold has executed his said commission and instructions.

That you make and give to the said Arnold, and any men whom he shall, by virtue of the said commission and instructions, retain in the service of this Colony, such orders as to you shall seem meet, provided always, that you do not. authorize the said Arnold to engage and retain in the pay of this Colony, as soldiers, a greater number than that specified in his said commission and instructions, and provided, that the said Arnold and his men whom he has retained, are free and willing to continue at one or both of the said posts, under the command of such chief officer as is or shall be appointed by the Government of Connecticut; and in case you shall order such number of men to be continued at or near the said posts, in the pay of this Colony, as you shall judge it necessary there should be, that you appoint a Committee of one or more persons, in the pay of this Colony, to provide supplies for such men, and a Commissary to deal out such supplies to them, which Committee and Commissary you are to appoint in writing under your hands.

And you are to determine and order respecting the said Arnold’s continuing in the commission and pay of this Colony, as to you shall appear most for the general service and safety, after having made yourselves fully acquainted with the spirit, capacity, and conduct of the said. Arnold.

And in case you shall judge it proper to discharge the said Arnold, that you direct him to return to this Colony, and render his account of the disposition of the money, ammunition, and other things which he received at his setting out upon his expedition, and also of the charges he has incurred, and the debts which he has contracted in behalf of this Colony, by virtue of the commission and instructions aforesaid. And in case you shall find any men at the said posts, properly retained and engaged there in the service of this Colony, that you cause them and their arms to be mustered, and that to such as shall pass muster you pay out of the moneys which you shall receive from our Receiver-General for that purpose, the same advance pay as is by order of Congress paid to such men as are retained and mustered to serve within this Colony; and in case you shall not find any men at the said posts properly engaged and retained in the service of this Colony, or that the number which you shall find so retained shall be much short of the number which said Arnold was empowered, to enlist, that then you, if you shall judge that the effectual security of said posts shall require it, and if you shall also find a proper person in those parts fit and suitable for the command of four hundred men, or such less number as together with such as you shall find ordered and posted by any other Colony or Colonies, and shall also find that soldiers can be raised in those parts so seasonably as that thereby the effectual maintaining of the said posts may be served or promoted, you are to appoint meet persons to be officers and commanders for such a number of men as you shall order to be enlisted, and give the necessary orders for raising, enlisting, and maintaining them for such term as you shall judge necessary for defence of said posts, and also appoint some sufficient and faithful man as Muster-master and Paymaster of such men, and leave sufficient moneys in his hands for that purpose, taking proper receipts and his security that the money so left shall be applied to that use.

And you are to take a careful survey of the ordnance and ordnance-stores at those posts, together with all other articles necessary for the maintenance thereof, and report the state thereof to this Congress.

And if you shall find it necessary to purchase powder for the men who shall be retained there on the part of this Colony, that you procure the same, and so much as you shall judge needful, in the best and most expeditious way you can, on the credit of this Colony.

And in general you are hereby fully empowered to do every thing in behalf of this Colony for the effectual securing and maintaining those posts, which you shall judge necessary, equal to the importance of the same.

You are further directed, when you shall have transacted what you are by the foregoing instructions authorized to do and transact at the posts aforesaid, by the very first opportunity to advise the general American Congress thereof, as also of your opinion of the necessity and importance of maintaining the said posts for general defence of these Colonies; and when you shall have made yourselves fully acquainted with the state and condition of the said posts, and the dispositions and establishments which you shall find are made for maintaining of them, if you shall judge that any further provisions are necessary for securing and maintaining them, you are directed fully and respectfully to signify your thoughts thereon to the General Congress.

You are also directed to advise the General Convention of the Colony of New-York, and the Governour of the Colony of Connecticut, respectively, of what you shall order and transact by virtue of the said instructions.

JOSIAH JONES AND JONATHAN HICKS TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Concord, June 14, 1775.

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY at WATERTOWN:

GENTLEMEN: The sentiments of our hearts are such, that we cannot but hope an honest declaration of them will produce some alleviation of the difficulties to which we are reduced. We faithfully acknowledge that we have heretofore entertained opinions variant from those of our fellow-countrymen in general; not, however, in consenting to the equity of every ministerial requisition or parliamentary claim, but in supposing it inexpedient and unsafe for us to bear arms against the power of Great Britain. If for this we should incur the imputation of cowardice, yet by no means let us be deemed traitors and enemies to our Country. We can say before God and man, with perfect sincerity, that we do most affectionately wish prosperity to our native land, and to the inhabitants in general of these American Colonies; and that we are ready at any time and at all times, so far as our abilities extend, to do any thing within the limits of justice that appears to us to be subservient to this important end. With the strictest regard to truth we affirm, that it was merely with a view of avoiding danger, and not from any want of friendship to our Country’s cause and interest, that we of late took up our residence in the Town of Boston; and we are not conscious of having offended our American brethren in any other instance of our conduct. Could we now have our liberty and be permitted to live securely in the country, we should be ready to bind ourselves under the most, solemn obligations never directly or indirectly to oppose, or in any respect knowingly to disserve the cause in which the people are so seriously engaged. If we should be so unhappy as not to discern the propriety and prudence of any measures by them adopted for the security of their lives, liberties, and properties, yet we are ready to submit to the united wisdom of this whole Continent, and to acquiesce in the judgment of our superiours, so far, at least, as in no degree to counteract their resolutions.

What we earnestly request, therefore, is, that the honourable Congress would take what we thus faithfully offer, under their candid consideration, and devise means for our liberation, that we may so serve our Country at least as to support ourselves, by our own industry, without being a publick charge. If we may not be wholly released from our confinement, it Would be a favour most thankfully accepted, to have the privilege of the yard, as the season is very warm. Whatever indulgences may be granted to us shall always be remembered with the warmest gratitude by, gentlemen, your very obedient humble servants,

MACHIAS COMMITTEE TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Machias, June 14, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We, the faithful and distressed inhabitants of Machias, beg leave once more, in the most respectful