July 11, 1775.

The following commission from the honourable Congress to this Committee was this day received from said Congress, viz: (Commission recalled.)

The following Letter was received from General Washington, by his Secretary, Mr. Reed:

“July 10, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: I am directed by the General to put into your hands a Frenchman, who will be delivered to you with this. His companions, after being in our camp some days, went off to the enemy, which has led to suspicions of this man; but there is no express charge against him. As he is not properly charged with any military offence, the General apprehends the detention of him will fall most properly in your department, and if you should be of opinion that sending him into the country would be sufficient, the General would be quite satisfied. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

JAS. REED, Secretary.”

His Excellency General Washington having signified to this Committee that they send Monsieur Viart to the Town of Worcester,

Resolved, That a Post immediately proceed with said Viart to Worcester; and that Mr. Devens provide a horse for that purpose.

Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence in the Town of Worcester are hereby required and directed to take into their custody Monsieur Viart, a Frenchman; that they suffer him on his parole to have the liberty to walk for his health to a convenient distance about the Town, but to guard against his escape till they shall receive further orders on this subject, either from the General or this Committee.

The following order was issued:

“Cambridge, July 11, 1775.

“To the Taverners and Innholders on the road between CAMBRIDGE and WORCESTER:

“You are hereby required to supply with necessary provisions Mr . . . . . . ., and a Frenchman with him, (he being on the publick service,) and charge the same to this Colony.”

Two Small-Arms were delivered Colonel Mansfield, for the use of his Regiment} amounting to five Pounds, eight Shillings, and four Pence, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book.

The honourable the Congress of this Colony having passed a Resolve that this Committee be appointed to draw up and transmit to Great Britain a fair and impartial account of the late Battle of Charlestown, as soon as possible; this Committee being exceedingly crowded with business; therefore

Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Cooper, Rev. Mr. Gardner, and the Rev. Mr. Peter Thatcher, be desired to draw up a true state of said action, as soon as may be, and lay it. before this Committee.

The Committee of Safety at Marblehead were advised by this Committee that five Ships sailed this day from Boston, their destination unknown.

The Taverners and Innholders on the road to Marblehead were required to supply Mr. Thomas Williams, an Express in the Colony service, with necessary Provisions, and to transmit an account of the charge thereof to this Committee.

Whereas, a number of Horses have been taken from the enemy by our Soldiers, and a difficulty arises whose property the Horses in justice ought to be: therefore,

Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby, recommended to the honourable Congress to take such order respecting the same as to them in their wisdom shall seem meet.

Colonel Doolittle had one set of Enlisting Papers delivered him.

The following Letter was received from General Washington’s Secretary, Mr. Reed:

“July 12, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: A number of persons taken up last night upon the Island near Boston, have been brought here. As the General is absent, it is thought best to refer them to your care. You will please, therefore, to do what is proper with them. I am, gentlemen, most respectfully, your very humble servant,

J. REED, Secretary.

“To the Committee of Safety.”

Whereas, his Excellency General Washington, by his Secretary, Mr. Reed, has sent to this Committee fifteen persons taken at Long-Island; this Committee apprehending that by their commission they have no power to dispose of said persons: therefore,

Resolved, That the above fifteen persons be immediately sent to the honourable the Congress at Watertown, and that Mr. Richard Devens and Colonel Orne be a Committee to go to the Congress with this Resolve.

July 12, 1775.

Whereas, frequent complaints have been made to this Committee that many of the Arms returned from the Armourers have not been sufficiently repaired; which errour may have arisen from ignorant or careless persons being employed as Armourers, or for want of a Master Workman or Superintendent in each shop: therefore,

Resolved, That Benjamin Guillam, an Armourer in the shop belonging to Gideon Frost, be, and hereby is, directed to work as a Master Armourer in said shop, and to superintend the other Armourers in that shop: whose duty it shall be to receive into said shop such Arms as may at any time be sent there, by any of the Colonels in that part of the American Colony Army belonging to this Colony, in order to be repaired; to see that such Arms are properly repaired; to deliver the same, when so repaired, to the persons from whom they were received; to see that no persons who are employed in said shops as Armourers, are either ignorant of said business, or careless, or idle; and if any such should be employed in the shop, said Guillam shall, without delay, inform this Committee thereof; and that he suffer no more than eight Armourers, including himself, to be employed at any one time in said shop.

Captain Samuel Fletcher is permitted to cut off Mr. Thomas Oliver’s Farm three tons of English Hay, and all the black Grass and salt Hay growing on his Farml, and that Mr. Sanger be directed accordingly.

July 13, l775.

A Resolve relative to Prisoners from Machias, passed, as on file.

Mr. Benjamin Guillam, an Armourer, had an order on the Committee of Supplies for two hundred of Iron and what Files and old Brass he has occasion for, for himself and others that work in his shop.

Mr. Monroe recommended Seth Johnston, of Old Rutland, and Enoch Putnam, of Granby, as proper persons for Armourers.

“Received of the Committee of Safety one Small-Arm for the use of my Company in Colonel Ward’s Regiment; which Gun I promise to return, unless lost in action, said Gun being appraised at forty-two Shillings.

“SETH WASHBURN, Captain.”

Received of the Selectmen of the Town of Mendon, by the hands of Stephen Partridge, six Small-Arms, appraised at fifteen Pounds.

“Received of the Committee of Safety four Pounds each, by an order on Henry Gardner, Esquire, Receiver-General; said four Pounds to be paid us as Recruiting Officers in the late Colonel Gardner’s Regiment.

“SOLOMON BOWMAN, Lieutenant.
“CALEB BROOKS, Lieutenant.”

His Excellency General Washington having this day ordered to the direction of this Committee ten prisoners, taken some time past at Machias, on board an armed Cutter, the Committee, apprehending from their commission of the 8th instant that they are altogether restricted from acting as a Committee but only in the recess of Congress, except in conformity to certain special Resolves of Congress, or for making provision for the Poor of Boston and Charlestown, and guarding against the Small-Pox, as mentioned in said commission, have resolved that the said prisoners be sent to Congress for their orders, and that Dr. Church be directed to attend Congress with this Resolve.