their designs and doings. And we trust that the God of Armies, on whom we rely for a blessing upon our arms, which we have taken up in support of the great and fundamental principles of natural justice, and the common and indefeisible rights of mankind, will guide and direct us in our designs, and at last, in infinite goodness to this his injured people, restore peace and freedom to the American world.

Voted, That Tuesday next, ten o’clock, before noon, be assigned for the further consideration thereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Colonel Grout, and Mr. Crane, be a Committee to fill commissions for the Field-Officers of the Regiment of Artillery, as recommended by the Committee of Safety.

Resolved, That a Commission be made out for Mr. Heath, as Colonel of a Regiment of the Massachusetts Army.

Resolved, That Deacon Plympton be appointed to countersign the small Notes, instead of Col. Richmond.

The Committee appointed to consider the application of President Langdon, reported; which Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommended to as many of the Overseers of Harvard College as can be called together, under the present circumstances of the College and the Country, to meet and join with the Corporation of said College in conferring Academical Degrees at the approaching season of the Annual Commencement on such candidates as may offer themselves and be judged qualified for the same, and to transact any other important matters relative to that Society, in the same manner and to all intents and purposes that the whole body of the Overseers might do, if present.

Voted, That the Receiver-General, Henry Gardner, Esquire, as also Deacon Plympton, have leave of absence from to-morrow afternoon until Monday morning.

Adjourned till eight o’clock to-morrow morning.

Saturday, June 17, 1775.

The Committee, on the account of Mrs. Coolidge, reported; the Report was ordered to lie on the table till the President came into Congress.

The Congress granted leave of absence to Mr. J. Orne, being bound on a journey to Philadelphia.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the property of some persons who have left their habitations in sundry Towns in this Colony, and also have discovered themselves to be enemies to the rights of this Colony and the Continent, &c., reported.

Ordered, That Mr. Edwards, Col. Thompson, and Col. Glover, be a Committee to consider upon the expediency and means of procuring Fire-Arms and Powder from Philadelphia and elsewhere, which Committee reported. The Report was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

The Committee appointed to consider upon the expediency and means of procuring Fire-Arms and Powder from Philadelphia and elsewhere, and to report in the form of a Resolve, report accordingly:

Resolved, That the Committee of Supply be directed to employ Mr. Joshua Orne, a member of this Congress, for this end, and that they, by letter, desire that the Honourable Continental Congress would be pleased to grant to Mr. Orne their aid in the premises.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the Resolve of the Committee of Safety, respecting the augmentation of the Army, and supplying the Army with Arms, &c., reported in part. The Report was considered and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, the hostile incursions this Country is exposed to, and the frequent alarms we may expect from the military operations of our enemies, make it necessary that the good people of his Colony be on their guard and prepared at all times to resist their attacks, and to aid and assist their brethren:

Therefore, Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommended to the Militia in all parts of this Colony to hold themselves in readiness to march at a minute’s warning to the relief of any place that may be attacked, or to the support of our Army, with at least twenty cartridges or rounds of powder and ball. And to prevent all confusion or delay, it is further recommended to the inhabitants of this Colony living on the sea-coasts, or within twenty miles of them, that they carry their arms and ammunition with them to meeting on the Sabbath, and other days when they meet for publick worship.

Resolved, That all vacancies occasioned by the officers going into the Army, or otherwise, in the several Regiments of Militia, be immediately filled up; and it is recommended to the Regiments, where such vacancies are, to supply them in manner and form as prescribed by the Re-Solutions of Congress.

Ordered, That the Resolve aforementioned, brought in by said Committee last mentioned, be immediately printed in handbills, and that the number be three hundred.

Voted, That Capt. Goodman, Mr. Brown, and Major Bliss, be, and hereby are appointed a Committee to get said three hundled handbills printed, and distribute the same to the several Towns and Districts in this Colony.

Resolved, That Doctor Moses Gunn be, and hereby is appointed to countersign the large Notes, instead of the Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq.

Colonel Jonathan Brewer’s list of Officers in his Regiment was presented.

Ordered, That a Commission be delivered to each of the said Officers, except to Joseph Stebbins, who has but twenty-one men in his Company.

Colonel David Brewer’s list of Officers in his Regiment was presented.

Ordered, That a Commission be delivered to each of said Officers.

Resolved, That Captain Holmes, Major Brooks, and Captain Smith, be a Committee to confer with the Printers Edes, Hall, and Thomas, and know of them respectively upon what terms they will print handbills, and also such pieces as may be desired by this Congress to be put in the weekly Papers, and make report to this Congress, in writing, with all convenient speed.

The Petition of sundry persons from Egamagon Reach was read, and committed to the Committee on the state of the sea-coasts.

On the Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of Egamagon Reach, No. 4, so called, praying for a small supply of Provisions:

Resolved, That it be recommended by this Congress to the Committee of Safety of the Town of Salem, or to the like Committee or Committees of Correspondence of any other Towns within this Province, to supply Messrs. Robert Byard and Alexander Greenlaw, of said Egamagon Reach, No. 4, for the present relief of the said inhabitants, with the following articles, viz: forty bushels of Indian Corn and five barrels of Pork; and take in return for the same, cord Wood, or such other payment as the said Robert Byard and Alexander Greenlaw may be able to make. And in case they, the said Byard and Greenlaw, should not make satisfaction for the same in a reasonable lime, it shall be allowed and paid out of the publick Treasury of this Province, and the said Byard anil Greenlaw shall refund the same as soon as may be.

Several of the Committees who were appointed to consider the state and circumstances of the sea-coasts, viz: Hon. Mr. Sever, Hon. Mr. Spooner, Colonel Cutt, and Captain Maynard, being absent,

Ordered, That Major Hall Mr. Aikin, Captain Morton, and Captain King, be appointed in their stead.

Resolved, That the vote for choosing Brigadier-Generals from the Colonels who have been commissioned by this Congress, be so far reconsidered as that Colonel Heath, though he has not yet received his commission, may be eligible to that office.

The Committee appointed to consider the Resolutions of the Committee of Safety, reported the following Resolve and Schedule, which were accepted:

Whereas, some of the inhabitants of the new plantations in this Colony, not incorporated, and some of the inhabitants of the neighbouring Colonies, together with a number of the late inhabitants of the Town of Boston, have enlisted into the Army now raising in this Colony, to