The Committee appointed to consider of the Donations for the Poor of Boston, reported. The Report was recommitted.

A Petition of Jonathan Brewer was read, and committed to Deacon Stickney, Doctor Taylor, and Col. Spaulding. The Petition is as follows, viz:

“Cambridge, July 4, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Whereas, a number of men that enlisted in different Companies in my Regiment have, through the low artifice and cunning of several recruiting officers of different Regiments, re-enlisted into other Companies, being over-persuaded by such arguments as, that Colonel Brewer would not be commissioned, and that if they did not immediately join some other Regiment, they would be turned out of the service; others were tempted with a promise to have a dollar each to drink the recruiting officer’s health; others by intoxication of strong liquor; by which means a considerable number have deserted my Regiment, as will be made to appear by the returns therefrom, as also the different Companies and Regiments they are re-enlisted into. In consequence of which my Regiment is, to the detriment of the service, considerably weakened; therefore your petitioner humbly prays that the honourable Congress will take this matter into consideration, and either order the re-enlisted men to the several officers they first enlisted under, or be pleased to direct to some method of filling up the Regiment, as the honourable Congress in their wisdom may see fit. And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

JONATHAN BREWER.

“To the Honourable Congress.”

Ordered, That Dr. Taylor, Mr. Lothrop, and Mr. Jewett, be a Committee to distribute the Pamphlets which contain the Depositions relative to the battle of Lexington.

Ordered, That Colonel Glover be of the Committee for stationing the Soldiers in the County of Essex, in the room of Mr. Gerry, excused.

The Committee appointed to examine the Accounts of the Committee appointed to procure Fire-Arms, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, Messrs. John Bliss, William Page, Abiel Sadler, and Lemuel Kollock, were appointed by this Congress to collect a number of Fire-Arms for the use of the Colony, and have, delivered said Arms to the Committee of Safety at Cambridge, as appears by receipts from said Committee, and have exhibited their accounts for said service, which accounts appear to be reasonable; therefore,

Resolved, That there be paid by the Receiver-General, to the several persons aforesaid, the following sums, viz: to Captain John Bliss, the sum of five Pounds, eleven Shillings; to William Page, six Pounds, seventeen Shillings; to Abiel Sadler, five Pounds, ten Shillings; to Lemuel Kollock, three Pounds, ten Shillings, and eight Pence; being in full of the aforesaid Account.

Ordered, That the list of persons of whom the Arms were procured, be lodged with the Receiver-General.

Ordered, That Mr. Partridge, Colonel Bowers, and Mr. Jewett, be a Committee to consider a Letter from General Ward.

The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of the eighteen Stockbridge Indians, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, it appears to this Congress, by a Petition from the Stockbridge Indians enlisted in the American Army, that they in their more serious hours, being sensible of their want of prudence in disposing of their money, are desirous that Congress in their wisdom would devise some method to prevent their getting too much strong drink; and they also request that all their wages that are now due, or shall hereafter be due to them for their services, be paid to Timothy Edwards and Jahleel Woodbridge, Esquires, or to their order; therefore,

Resolved, That Timothy Edwards or Jahleel Woodbridge, Esquires, be, and hereby are empowered to draw the wages of the aforesaid Indians, and deal out the same as they shall find said Indians have need thereof, according to any order or orders of the Congress that have been, or shall hereafter be made for paying all or any part of the wages due to the soldiers, and render an account of their doings to this or some, future Congress or House of Representatives, when required; and the Receiver-General is accordingly directed to pay the same to the said Timothy Edwards or Jahleel Woodbridge, Esquires, as aforesaid, and take their receipt therefor; and it is also recommended and enjoined by this Congress, that all persons who sell Spirituous Liquors, be particularly careful not to let said Indians have too much strong drink, as that wholly unfits them for any service.

The Committee appointed to consider a Letter of Mr. Alexander Shepard, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

The Committee appointed to take under consideration the Letter from Mr. Shepard, beg leave to report, by way of Resolve, as follows, viz:

Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is recommended to Mr. Alexander Shepard, Jun., that he retain in his hands all the Plans he hath of the Province of Maine, and that he do not suffer them to go out of his possession to any person, upon any consideration, until the further order of this or some future Congress or House of Representatives.

Ordered, That part of the Resolve, relative to the Light-Houses, which empowered the Selectmen and Committees of Correspondence to remove and secure the Lamps and Oil from the Light-House at the entrance of Boston Harbour, be reconsidered, and that Mr. Crane, Captain Holmes, and Deacon Washburn, be a Committee to consider at large on some measures for removing and securing the Lamps and Oil aforesaid.

Ordered, That Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Lothrop, be a Committee to consider a Letter from Mr. James Lyon, dated Machias, June 17, 1775.

Afternoon.

The Committee appointed to consider the state of the Donations for the Poor of Boston, reported. The Report was recommitted, and Mr. Batchelder added to the Committee, in the room of Captain Stone, absent.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve, for the purpose of calling the General Assembly together at any time sooner than the nineteenth instant, if occasion should require, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, this Congress, pursuant to the recommendation of the General Congress of this Continent, have sent out their Letters to the several Towns in this Colony, desiring that Representatives might be elected, and returned by them, to serve in a great or General Court or Assembly, to be convened, held, and kept for the service of this Colony at Watertown, on the 19th day of July current: And whereas, such unforeseen events may take place between this time and the said 19th day of July, as may render the convening of such General Court or Assembly at Watertown aforesaid, at the time aforesaid, very improper and unsafe; therefore,

Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esquire, Mr. Gill, Deacon Cheever, Mr. White of Brookline, and Captain Thatcher, be a Committee (in case they or the major part of them should judge it improper or unsafe that such General Assembly should be convened at the said Watertown at the time aforesaid) to agree upon and determine at what other place in this Colony the said General Assembly should be convened; and the said Committee, or the major part of them are hereby fully empowered to determine at what place it shall be most expedient that the said General Assembly should be convened, and to give notice thereof to the several persons who have been, or may be chosen to serve in such Assembly, in such way and manner as they shall judge most expeditious and effectual.

Ordered, That Dr. Church, Colonel Bowers, and Mr. Bayley, be a Committee to confer with General Washington on the subject of furnishing his table, and know what he expects relative thereto, and that they sit forthwith.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to procure necessary Furniture for the house provided for General Washington, complete the business of their commission, by purchase, or by borrowing.

Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler, Colonel Grout, and Mr.