qualified as aforesaid, to which the before-mentioned Poor may be conveyed, with a certificate as above prescribed, are requested to receive and make provision for the same, as has been before directed; all reasonable charges attending such removal to be paid by this Colony.

The Committee directed to prepare a Letter to the Continental Congress, reported. The Report was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

In Provincial Congress, Watertown, July 9, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: With hearts deeply affected by the sufferings of our friends in the Town and Harbour of Boston, under the cruel hand of tyrannick power, we think it incumbent on us to take every measure which may tend to their release. To that end we now beg leave humbly to suggest to your Honours, whether it would not be expedient immediately to seize every Crown Officer within the United Colonies, and them in safe custody retain, until this purpose be effected, and full compensation have been made them for the unjust and perfidious treatment they have received from General Gage.

We have only once more to express our wishes, that if the general service will permit, you might adjourn to some convenient place nearer the seat of action, that we might more speedily obtain the aid and advice of the Grand Council of the Continent in these important matters, which, though of general concern, do more immediately affect us.

Ordered, That it be fairly drawn, authenticated, and sent forward.

Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Mr. Batchelder, and Deacon Plympton, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve for the purpose of supplying the Penobscot Indians with a small quantity of Gunpowder.

The Committee made a Report; which was accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, application has been made to this Congress by Captain John Lane, Agent for the Penobscot Tribe; of Indians, for a small quantity of Powder for supplying said Indians;therefore,

Resolved, That the Committee of Supplies is hereby directed to deliver out of the publick stores of this Colony, to the said John Lane, twenty-five pounds of Powder for the use aforesaid, taking said Lane’s receipt therefor, to deliver the same to General Preble and Colonel Enoch Freeman, on account of this Colony; and said Committee are hereby directed to replace the same again as soon as may be, from some Town in this Colony, (if they judge it necessary,) that can best spare the same.

Resolved, That the Selectmen of the Town of Water-town be, and hereby are empowered and directed to take into their custody one Daniel Green, now in this Town, who was wounded and taken a prisoner on the 19th of April last, and convey him to the jail in Concord, there to be confined till the further order of this Congress, or some future House of Assembly of this Colony.

Adjourned to Monday morning, eight o’clock.

Monday, July 10, 1775.

Ordered, That the Warrants for Surgeons, Adjutant-Generals, and Quartermaster-Generals, be committed to the Committee of Safety to be delivered.

Ordered, That Deacon Baker bring in a Resolve directing the Receiver-General to pay Mr. Hastings for his services as Doorkeeper.

Ordered, That the Letter from John Scollay, Esq., of Boston, and the Paper accompanying it, be put into the hands of the Committee of Safety.

Ordered, That the President, Doctor Church, and Mr. Gerry, be a Committee to prepare an answer to a Letter this day received from General Lee;and that eleven o’clock be assigned for the choice of some person to attend General Lee, on an Interview with General Burgoyne.

Letter from General LEE.

Head-Quarters, July 10, 1775.

“General Lee presents his respects to the President and gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and submits to their perusal a letter which he yesterday received from General Burgoyne, in answer to one which was read and approved of by the Delegates of this Province, and other Members of the Continental Congress. He begs leave to receive their commands with respect to the proposed interview. If they approve of it, he shall be glad to accept of it; if they disapprove, he shall reject it. But if they approve of it, he must request that they will depute some one gentleman of their body to accompany General Lee, and be witness of the conversation. He desires their answer immediately, as he has engaged to inform General Burgoyne by four o’clock this afternoon, whether the interview is to take place. He shall likewise be much obliged to the gentlemen if they will return the letter; but if they choose to take a copy of it, he can have no objection.

Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Mr. Spear, and Mr. Phillips, be a Committee to examine a number of Letters this day laid before the Congress, brought from London by Captain Folger.

Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is ordered, that the Committee of Supplies immediately furnish General Washington with ten good Horses, with saddles and bridles, for the publick use.

Ordered, That Mr. Batchelder count and sort the votes for a person to attend General Lee, on an interview with General Burgoyne.

Mr. Batchelder having attended that service, reported that Mr. Elbridge Gerry was chosen.

Ordered, That Colonel Porter, Doctor Taylor, and Major Brooks, be a Committee, whose business it shall be, in conjunction with the Committee of Safety, to make thorough inquiry into the subject-matter of a Letter this day received from General Washington;and that the Committee be directed to confer with General Washington on the subject of his Letter, and particularly to inform him of the number of men we had generally estimated in the Massachusetts Forces, from the return of the General Officers; from the money paid out of the Treasury for a month’s advance pay to the soldiers; and from the provision made for billeting the said Forces.

The Committee appointed to prepare a Letter to General Lee, reported. The Report was accepted, and ordered to be authenticated and sent forward to General Lee by Doctor Church, Doctor Taylor, and Mr. Gerry, a Committee for that purpose.

SIR: The Congress have perused the Letter from General Burgoyne, which you was kind enough to submit to their inspection. They can have no objection to the proposed interview, from a want of the highest confidence in the wisdom, discretion, and integrity of General Lee;but beg leave to suggest, that as the confidence of the people in their General is so essentially necessary to the well-conducting the enterprize in which we are engaged; and as a people contending for their liberties are naturally disposed to jealousy, and not Inclined to make the most favourable construction of the motives of conduct which they are not fully acquainted with, whether such an interview might not have a tendency to lessen the influence which the Congress would wish to extend to the utmost of their power to facili-tate and succeed the operations of war.

The Congress, agreeable to your request, have, to prevent, as far as we are able, any disagreeable consequences which may arise from the jealousy of the people on such an occasion, appointed Mr. Elbridge Gerry to attend you at the proposed interview, if you shall think proper to proceed in it; and as they do not think themselves authorized to counteract the General’s inclination, they would submit it to his opinion, whether the advice of the Council of War might not be taken in a matter of such apparent delicacy.

To the Honourable General Lee.

Ordered, That Colonel Mitchell, Captain Batchelder, and Deacon Nichols, be a Committee to consider the circumstances of the Town of Hull, and report what is best to be done.

Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Deacon Nichols, and Captain Stone, be a Committee to Consider the situation of the publick stock of Powder, and report what shall be done with it.