Army, and other necessary expenses of this Colony; and whereas, divers others of the sister Colonies have issued Notes or Bills, for the payment of their respective Forces; and it is necessary, that the Notes and Bills of this and the sister Colonies should have free currency; therefore,

Resolved, That the Notes and Bills of the Colony of Rhode-Island, at and after the rate of six Shillings and nine Pence an ounce for silver, and the Bills and Notes of this and all the other Colonies (excepting Nova-Scotia and. Canada ) at and after the rate of six Shillings and eight Pence an ounce for silver, shall be taken and received, and accounted a good and sufficient tender for the payment of all debts, and the damages that may arise upon the non-performance of any promises, and also be received into the publick Treasury of this Colony, without any discount or allowance whatever And if any person whatever shall refuse to take any of the Notes or Bills of the Colonies aforementioned at the rates before expressed, for any debt, or in satisfaction for the damages sustained by reason of the non-performance of any promise, or shall ask, demand, or receive, any discount, gratuity, or premium, for receiving any of the Bills or Notes aforementioned, he or she so offending shall be deemed an enemy to the Country. And the several Committees of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety in their respective Towns, are required to return the names of all persons who shall contravene this Resolve to this or some future Congress, or House of Representatives, that they may take order thereon as to them shall seem meet.

The Resolve relative to the commencement of the pay of the Officers and Soldiers, was considered, and recommitted, and Mr. Batchelder and Major Fuller added to the Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Webster, Major Perky, and Mr. Mighill, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve for the purpose of recommending to the Governour and Company of the Colony of Connecticut, to suffer the inhabitants of the eastern parts of this Colony to purchase and carry out of said Colony such Provisions as their necessitous circumstances may require.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to prepare a Letter to the Continental Congress, be empowered and directed to communicate it to the Committee of Supplies, and then to forward the same to the Delegates of this Colony at said Congress, without reporting it to this Congress, said Delegates to communicate it to the Continental Congress, if they think proper.

The following Letter was received from Mr. Pidgeon, the Commissary-General:

“Cambridge, June 28, 1775.

“MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: As not only the baker, (whose conduct I detest if it proves as mentioned in Captain Stone’s letter,) but also numbers of my assistants are accused of bad conduct, I beg that a Committee may be chosen to examine all, my conduct and books; for as in the opinion of Major Hawley, (whose judgment I revere,) I am responsible for all those I appointed—although I can safely say I took as much pains in the choice of those I employed as I could possibly do in similar circumstances were I accountable—I am so much exposed, if it be really so, I must beg that some other may be chosen in my place, as I do not choose to act on that footing. I am perfectly willing that all the officers should be appointed by the Congress. Your Honour’s obedient humble servant,

“JOHN PIDGEON, Commissary-General.”

Ordered, That Mr. Starkweather, Captain Partridge, Colonel Dexter, Mr . Singletary, and Colonel Coffin, be a Committee to examine into the conduct and books of Mr. John Pidgeon, Commissary-General, Mr. Pidgeon having desired that a Committee be appointed for that purpose; and that said Committee consider the expediency of furnishing Mr. Miller, a Deputy-Commissary, with a Horse.

Resolved, That to-morrow morning, ten o’clock, be assigned for the purpose of considering the proposal of the Commissary-General for an allowance of Molasses for the Soldiers.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve relative to the commencement of the pay of the Officers and Soldiers, reported the following, which was accepted, and ordered to be published in the Papers, and is as follows, viz:

Resolved, That each commissioned Officer in the Colony Army shall draw pay, according to the present establishment, from the time of engaging in the publick service on receiving beating orders, and that each non-commissioned officer and private draw pay from the time of his enlisting in said service; also, that such of the Minute-men and Militia as marched into the field on the19th of April, and soon after, and have remained there, and since engaged in said Army for the defence of the Colony, shall be paid for their service, agreeable to the present establishment, from the time of their first marching into the field.

Ordered, That Doctor Taylor, Mr. Hall, Major Brooks, Mr. Partridge, and Deacon Fisher, be a Committee to consider the written proposal of Doctor Whiting, relative to Saltpetre.

Adjourned to eight o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Thursday, June 29, 1775,

A Petition from Mr. John Calef was read, and committed to Major Fuller, Colonel Coffin, Mr. Hopkins, Captain Parker, and Mr. Mighill.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve for the purpose of recommending to the Governour and Company of Connecticut to supply the eastern country with Provisions, reported. The Report was accepted.

A Letter from the Committee of Safety, enclosing a Letter from Mr. Samuel Smith, Chairman of the Committee of Northfield, was read, and ordered to be sent to the Committee of Supplies.

The Committee appointed to consider the Petition from Narragaugus and other Towns at the eastward, reported. The Report was ordered to subside, and the Petitioners had leave to withdraw their Petition.

Ordered, That the President, Major Hawley, Doctor Whiting, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Greenleaf, be a Committee to prepare an Address to Generals Washington and Lee, to be presented to them on their arrival here.

The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of Officers belonging to Colonel Prescott’s, Colonel Fry’s, and Bridge’s Regiments, reported; which Report was accepted.

Ordered, That the Resolve passed the 19th instant, relative to Spears, &c., be recommitted to Major Goodwin for amendment.

The Committee appointed to consider a proposal made by Doctor Whiting, for sending some person to New-York, to advise with Doctor Graham and others and procure from them directions for the manufacture of Saltpetre, reported; which Report was ordered to lay on the table; and Mr. Phillips and Doctor Whiting were appointed to confer with Mr. Professor Sewall, on the subject-matter contained therein.

The Committee appointed to consider some methods for supplying the Soldiers stationed on the sea-coast, with Provisions, reported. The Report was amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

The Committee appointed to consider what method would be most expedient to supply the Soldiers to be raised for the defence of the sea-coasts with Provisions, beg leave to report:

Resolved, That the Selectmen of the several Towns or Plantations on the sea-coast, or, where there are no Selectmen, the Assessors of such place where any such Soldiers shall be stationed for their defence, be, and they hereby are directed, to supply the Officers and Soldiers with suitable Provisions for their support, so long as said men continue in the Colony service, and do their duty of Soldiers in their several stations; for which Provisions, the said Selectmen or Assessors shall be paid out of the publick Treasury the sum of five Shillings for each man, per week, which shall be so supplied. And it is recommended to the owner of the Elizabeth Islands to supply the Soldiers that may be stationed on said Islands, for which they shall be allowed, out of the Treasury aforesaid, the same sum per week which is allowed for the supply of the Soldiers to be stationed in the other parts of the sea-coasts.