The Committee appointed to consider the subject of a Letter from General Green, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

The Congress having taken into consideration the difficulties and troubles which have, and daily are arising in our camps, by reason of divers evil-minded persons selling Spirituous Liquors, by which means it is not in the power of the officers, although a constant exertion has been hitherto made, to prevent the same, in order to keep that steady government in camp so absolutely necessary; therefore,

Resolved, That if any licensed person shall, after the fifteenth instant, presume to sell any Spirituous Liquors to any soldier, without a permit from the Captain, or commanding officer of the Company he belongs to, specifying the quantity, shall, for the first offence, forfeit his license, and for the second, suffer such punishment as shall be inflicted on him or her by a Court-Martial; and any person who is not a licensed person, or whose license is without the limits of said camp, who shall presume to retail any Spirituous Liquor to any of the Troops, shall suffer for the first offence the penalties inflicted by a Court-Martial: this Resolve not to extend to any person who shall have a license or permit from the General, or commanding officer.

The Committee appointed to bring in a list of such Towns as might supply the Army with Shirts, Breeches, &c., reported. The Report was recommitted for introducing the form of a receipt.

The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of the inhabitants of Frenchman’s Bay, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of Thomas Donnell and others, of Frenchman’s. Bay, have attended that service, and beg leave to report by way of Resolve:

Whereas, Mr. Philip Hodgkins has applied to this Congress for a supply of Provisions for the inhabitants of Frenchman’s Bay, and being at a great distance from the Committee of Correspondence of that place; therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended, and it is by this Congress accordingly recommended to the Governour and Company of the Colony of Connecticut, that they suffer the inhabitants of Frenchman’s Bay to purchase such Provisions in said Colony as they stand in need of.

Major Hawley, who was appointed to bring in a Resolve explanatory of the Resolve of this Congress relative to the Refugees, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, a certain Resolve was made and passed on the twenty-first day of June last, respecting the improvement of the estates of several persons who have fled to Gen. Gage, in manner as is expressed in the said Resolve; and it being made to appear to this Congress that the said Resolve is taken in such a sense in divers parts of this Colony as to make it necessary that some explanation of the said Resolve should be made by this Congress; therefore,

Resolved, That henceforward the said Resolve ought not to be construed to extend to any estates of such per-sons, excepting such estates as are left unimproved, and void of any occupant or possessor, and that no other estate of such persons ought to be treated in the manner prescribed in the said Resolve, until they shall be regularly indicted and tried for their supposed offences.

Ordered to be printed in the several Papers.

Resolved, That eight o’clock to-morrow morning be assigned for the consideration of the expediency of appointing a Surgeon-General of the Massachusetts Army.

Ordered, that the Account Books of Major Barter be committed to the care of the Committee of Supplies.

Adjourned to Sunday morning, eight o’clock.

Sunday, July 9, 1775.

The Committee appointed to consider a Resolve relative to seizing the Crown Officers, reported, by way of Resolve, as follows:

Reflecting with the greatest concern on the miseries of our friends and brethren in the Town and Harbour of Boston, who are now suffering under the cruel hand of tyranny, and can think of no other method to release them than to take into safe custody all the Crown Officers in the United Colonies; therefore,

Resolved, That it be, and is hereby humbly suggested to the most serious consideration of the honourable Continental Congress now sitting at Philadelphia, whether it would not be proper to seize immediately, and take into custody every Crown Officer in said Colonies, and them safely keep, until our suffering brethren are liberated and fully compensated for their loss and sufferings. All which is humbly submitted.

The Report was recommitted, and the Secretary was added to the Committee, and the Committee directed to report, by way of Letter, and to insert a clause relative to the desire of this Congress that the Continental Congress would adjourn nearer the seat of action.

The Committee appointed to consider a Resolve of the Committee of Safety recommending the appointment of four Master Armourers, reported. The Report was ordered to lie on the table, till the Committee, for revising the commision of the Committee of Safety and the commission of the Committee of Supplies, reported.

Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Pickering, and Mr. Woodbridge, be a Committee to consider a Letter from Mr. John Scollay, relative to the Poor of the Town of Boston. The Letter is as follows, viz:

“Boston, July 8, 1775.

“SIR: His Excellency the Governour having, by Mr. Secretary Flucker, sent a message to the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Committee of Donations, respecting the removal of the poor, and other inhabitants of the Town of Boston, they attended the same, and after deliberating on the matter, presented to Mr. Secretary their doings thereon, a copy of which is here enclosed, to which his Excellency has been pleased to accede.

“As there has of late been an interruption of the inhabitants, with their effects, passing out of the Town into the Country, perhaps the matter may have dropped with you, and proper accommodations may not have been provided for the reception of any more of the Poor of the Town than have already left it; and as the state of the inhabitants is really distressing, we shall be glad an immediate attention be given to the above, and that we, as soon as may be, know your resolutions thereon. As many of these poor unhappy people are not in a condition to be removed by land carriage, therefore, we should think, that the place of their destination might be as near water carriage as may be convenient. If it would not be thought assuming, we would beg leave to suggest the Towns of Salem or Marblehead, as proper places for the above purpose.

“His Excellency does expect, that whatever vessels or other carriages may be employed in this business, ample security be given that they shall be safe from any detention, and that they, and the persons that occupy Them, be permitted to return without hindrance or molestation.

“I am, in behalf of the Committee, your most humble servant,

J OHN SCOLLAY, Chairman.

“To James Warren, Esquire.”

“The Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Committee of Donations, having received a message from his Excellency the Governour, by Mr. Secretary Flucker, respecting the removal of the poor, and other inhabitants of the Town, and attended the same, with all proper deference and respect, beg leave to represent; that the number of the poor in the Alms-house, amounts to about two hundred, of which they suppose that one hundred and sixty or one hundred and seventy may be removed, for which the Selectmen, Overseers, and Committee aforesaid, will make all proper provision, his Excellency providing boats and carriages for transportation by water or land, as may be thought best, and allowing such quantities of provisions, bedding, clothing, and medicine, as may be necessary and proper. The few unhappy persons that may be unable to be removed, must, be left, and are earnestly recommended to his Excellency’s well-known humanity.

“As to the poor, and other inhabitants of the Town, who if not already, will soon be reduced to the greatest distress, the Selectmen, Overseers, and Committee apprehend, that by far the greatest part, if not the whole, would immediately remove themselves, with the small assistance