175; Plymouth 75; Worcester 225; Barnstable 75; Bristol 125.—One thousand.

Resolved, That there be a Committee appointed to go into each of the aforesaid Counties, and there cull together and confer with the commanding officers of the several Regiments, and settle the proportion allotted to each County that shall be raised from each Regiment, in said County; and determine in what manner they shall be formed into regular Companies, and officered by some of the officers of the standing Militia, having, in settling the proportion, proper regard to the situation of said Regiment; that very few if any men be taken from the sea-coast, or very near it, which is exposed to the ravages of the enemy; and that the Colonel, or commanding officer of each Regiment, immediately use his utmost endeavours to cause his proportion of men, so allotted to thorn, to be raised and marched into the camp without delay, there to be subject to the orders and directions of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and the rules and regulations thereof, until they shall be discharged by the General, or the Assembly of this Colony.

Resolved, That the Companies consist of fifty men, including one Captain, two Lieutenants, two Sergeants, two Corporals, one Drummer, one Fifer; and that they be paid according to the following establishment, for each month (consisting of thirty days) they shall remain in said service, and so in proportion for a less time than a month, viz: each Captain £6 10s.; each First Lieutenant £4 10s.; each Second Lieutenant £4; each Sergeant £3 5 s.; each Corporal £2 19s.; each Drummer and Fifer £2 19s.; each Private £2 14s.

Resolved, That for the future there shall be no distinction between Minute Men and the Militia in general, and that the Colonels of the several Regiments of Militia have the direction of the whole within the limits of their respective Regiments, as well those formerly inhabitants of some of the seaport Towns, and now residing in the Regiments aforesaid, as the other inhabitants.

Resolved, That the Field-Officers of each Regiment in this Colony return their names, and the Regiment they command, to the Secretary’s office of this Colony, as soon as a Secretary shall be appointed.*

Resolved, That the following Letter be sent to the several Towns:

“To the Military Officers, Selectmen, and Committee of
Correspondence in the Town of . . . . .

“GENTLEMEN: You are hereby most earnestly requested to procure the execution of the subsequent Resolve, with the greatest possible expedition.

“In Provincial Congress, Watertown, July 12, 1775.

“Whereas, a very speedy augmentation of the Army is indispensably necessary, and has been requested by his Excellency General Washington, to serve as a temporary re-enforcement until the new levies now raising to fill up the Regiments in the field may be completed; therefore,

“Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby most earnestly recommended to the commanding officer of every Company in the Town of . . . ., that they immediately raise and send to the camp at Cambridge . . . . . . . able-bodied men, † each provided with a good firelock, ammunition, and blanket; who shall be detained not longer than one month, at furthest, from the beginning of their march, and be paid honourably for their service, all due regard in the pay being had to the difficulty of complying with this requisition in the present urgency of the business of husbandry.

“Those who are required from . . . ., together with others who are called from . . . . ., will form one Company, under the command of such officers as the Field-Officers of that Regiment from which the greatest number of said Company is taken, shall appoint. And the Field-Officers above mentioned, or the major part of them, are desired accordingly, without delay, to appoint one Captain and two Lieutenants, of persons who now are or have been in command, well calculated to serve the publick in these departments. By order of Congress:

“A true copy,            Attest.”

Resolved, That the Resolve passed this forenoon, recommending to able-bodied men, who have left their seaport Towns, to return, be reconsidered.

Adjourned to eight o’clock to-morrow morning.

Thursday, July 13, 1775.

A Letter from General Washington’s Secretary, dated nine o’clock, P. M., July 12, 1775, was read, and is as follows:

Head Quarters, Cambridge, July 12, 1775, 9 o’clock, P. M.

GENTLEMEN: By some late intelligence from Boston, received this day, of the state and situation of the enemy in and about Boston, his Excellency the General is of opinion that the re-enforcement of Militia proposed to the Congress may be dispensed with at present, without any injury to the publick service. The time of harvest, the expected Troops from the Southward, and the repeated calls which have been made of the like nature from this Province, are strong reasons to postpone this measure, if consistent with safety. And as these advices are so authentick as to deserve confidence, the General hopes his determination will be agreeable to the Congress. You will therefore, Sir, be pleased to communicate this to them, in order that the most early countermand may be given to orders, if already issued, or prevent them if they have not.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

By his Excellency’s command:

JOSEPH REED, Secretary.

To the Honourable James Warren, Esq., President of the Honourable Provincial Congress, Watertown.

In case of Mr. Warren’s absence, or the dissolution of the Congress, this letter to be opened by the Committee of Safety.

JOSEPH REED, Secretary.

Whereupon, Resolved, That the Resolves passed yesterday, for raising a temporary re-enforcement, be reconsidered.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committees of Correspondence, and Selectmen in the several Town, to forward and promote the new levies as much as possible; and that they exert themselves to send to the Camp, immediately, such soldiers as have staid beyond their furlough, or have left the service without being discharged.

A Petition from the Selectmen and Committee of Harps well was read, and committed to Mr. Johnson, Mr. Perry, and Deacon Baker.

The following Instructions, reported to Be given Captain Davis, were considered:

Captain DAVIS:

SIR: You are hereby desired to repair to Stonington, in Connecticut, and take charge of the Brig Nancy and cargo, lying in said harbour, upon receiving the consent of his Honour Governour Trumbull; to take account of said cargo, and make sale of such part or parts thereof, as shall be sufficient to discharge the portage bill, and such other incidental charges as may necessarily arise. You are then directed to secure the remaining part of said cargo in good and sufficient stores, at the place above mentioned, and to make a return of your doings to this Congress, or House of Representatives to be convened. Which cargo is to be appropriated to the use of this Colony, and to be draughted at the discretion of the Committee of Supplies.

By order of Congress.

After debate, the Report was ordered to be dismissed.

Ordered, That Captain Stone, Captain Baker, and Mr. Learned, be a Committee to consider to what Towns the ten Prisoners now under guard In this Town, shall be sent.

* I have omitted the fragment which was copied on the Journal from an imperfect Report on file, and have inserted in place of it the above Resolutions, which are also on file.—F.

† Apportionment of the twenty Companies among the Towns in the several Counties:

Dedham, 22; Medfield, 6; Wrentham, 22.—Total 50.

Needham, 8; Stoughton, 17; Stoughtonham, 6; Medway, 8; Bellingham, 5; Walpole, 6—Total 50.

Danvers, 11; Topsfield, 8; Boxford, 11; Bradford, 13; Middletown, 6.—Total 49.

Andover, 30; Haverhill, 18; Methuen, 10.—Total 58.

Woburn, 17; Reading, 17; Stoneham, 3; Wilmington, 4; Lexington, 6; Bedford, 4; Dracut, 5.—Total 51,

Concord, 17; Billerica, 13; Chelmsford, 9; Tewksbury, 4; Stow, 5; Acton, 4.—Total 57.

Newton, 13; Natick, 4; Sherburn, 5; Weston, 5; Waltham, 8; Framingham, 13; Lincoln, 4.—Total 52.

Marlborough, 20; Sudbury, 18; Hopkinton, 8; Holliston, 5.—Total 51.

Littleton, 6; Westford, 8; Groton, 13; Shirley, 3; Pepperell, 6; Town-shend, 6; Ashby. 2; Dunstable, 5.—Total 49.

Bridgewater, 33; Pembroke, 13.—Total 46.

Middleborough, 30; Hanover, 9; Abington, 11.—Total 50.

Taunton, 17; Easton, 8; Norton, 9; Dighton, 9; Mansfield, 5.—Total 48.

Rehoboth, 27; Attleborough, 15; Rainham, 6; Berkley, 5.—Total 53.

Worcester, 17; Leicester, 8; Shrewsbury, 13; Paxton, 5; North-bridge, 2; Spencer, 6; Upton, 4.—Total 55.

Grafton, 8; Oxford, 8; Sutton, 17; Charlton, 8; Sturbridge, 10; Dudley, 6.—Total 57.

Lancaster, 22; Harvard, 11; Hubbardston, 2; Leominster, 6; Bolton, 10.—Total 51.

Brookfield, 22; Weston, 7; Brimfield, 9; South Brimfield, 6; Monson, 5; Palmer, 5—Total 54.

Hardwich, 12; Greenwich, 5; Holden, 5; New-Salem, 5; Petersham, 7; Athol, 4; New Braintree, 8; Rutland District, 10.—Total 56.

Sunbury, 11; Fitchburgh, 4; Westminster, 6; Ashburnham, 2; Wichendon, 2; Templaton, 6; Royalston, 2; Princeton, 4; Rutland, 11; Oakham, 4.—Total 52.

Southborough, 8; Westborough, 8; Northborough, 5; Mendon, 17; Uxbridge, 18.—Total 50.