Resolved, That no obedience being due to the Act of Parliament for altering the Charter of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, nor to a Governour, or a Lieutenant-Governour, who will not observe the directions of, but endeavour to subvert that Charter, the Governour and Lieutenant-Governour of that Colony are to be considered as absent, and these offices vacant; and as there is no Council there, and the inconveniences arising from the suspension of the powers of Government are intolerable, especially at a time when General Gage hath actually levied war, and is carrying on hostilities against His Majesty’s peaceable and loyal subjects of that Colony; that, in order to conform, as near as may be, to the spirit and substance of the Charter, it be recommended to the Provincial Convention, to write letters to the inhabitants of the several places which are entitled to representation in Assembly, requesting them to choose such representatives, and that the Assembly, when chosen, do elect Counsellors; which Assembly and Council should exercise the powers of Government, until a Governour, of His Majesty’s appointment, will consent to govern the Colony according to its Charter.

Ordered, That the President transmit a copy of the above to the Convention of Massachusetts-Bay.

Upon motion,

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, take into consideration the ways and means of raising Money.

Resolved, That the Provincial Convention of New-York be requested to convey, as soon as possible, to Providence, in Rhode-Island, or to any Port in the Government of Massachusetts-Bay, five thousand barrels of Flour for the use of the Continental Army.

Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence at Providence, and in the Government of Massachusetts-Bay, where the said Flour may be, carried be desired to receive and forward it to the Camp before Boston as soon as may be; and to lodge such part thereof as cannot be immediately sent thither, in places of security.

Resolved, That this Congress will make provision for defraying any expense incurred for this service.

Ordered, That a copy of the above Resolves be immediately transmitted by the President to the Convention of New-York.

Adjourned till to-morrow, at nine o’clock.

Saturday, June 10, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Several Letters, from Massachusetts-Bay, Ticonderoga, Crown Point, &c., were laid before the Congress and read.

Upon motion, the Congress came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby earnestly recommended to the several Colonies of New-Hampshire, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, and the interiour Towns of Massachusetts-Bay, that they immediately furnish the American Army before Boston with as much Powder out of their Town, and other publick stocks, as they can possibly spare; keeping an exact account of the quantities supplied, that it may be again replaced, or paid for by the Continent. This to be effected with the utmost secrecy and despatch.

That it be recommended to the several Towns and Districts in the Colonies of Massachusetts-Bay, New-Hampshire, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, and the Eastern Division of New-Jersey, to collect all the Saltpetre and Brimstone in their several Towns and Districts, and transmit the same, with all possible despatch, to the Provincial Convention of New-York.

That it be recommended to the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-York, to have the Powder-Mills in that Colony put into such a condition as immediately to manufacture into Gunpowder, for the use of the Continent, whatever materials may be procured in the manner above directed.

That it be recommended to the Committees of the Western Division of New-Jersey, the Colonies of Pennsylvania, Lower Counties on Delaware, and Maryland, that they, without delay, collect the Saltpetre and Sulphur in their respective Colonies, and transmit the same to the Committee for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia; to the end, that those articles may be immediately manufactured into Gunpowder, for the use of the Continent.

That it be recommended to the Conventions and Committees of the Colonies of Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, that they, without delay, collect the Saltpetre and Sulphur in their respective Colonies, and procure these articles to be manufactured, as soon as possible, into Gunpowder, for the use of the Continent.

That it be recommended to the several inhabitants of the United Colonies, who are possessed of Saltpetre and Sulphur, for their own use, to dispose of them for the purpose of manufacturing Gunpowder.

That the Saltpetre and Sulphur, to be collected in consequence of the above Resolves of Congress, be paid for out of the Continental Fund.

Resolved, That Mr. Paine, Mr. Lee, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Schuyler, and Mr. Johnson, be a Committee to devise ways and means to introduce the manufacture of Saltpetre in these Colonies.

The Committee for examining Governour Skene’s Letters, &c., having communicated to Congress what they found relative to the dispute between Great Britain, and these Colonies,

Resolved, That Governour Skene, Lieutenant Moncrief, and Mr. Lundy, be released from their present confinement, and suffered to go at large any where within eight miles of the City, between Delaware and Schuylkill, on their parole of honour not to pass those limits, and that they will hold no correspondence with any person whatsoever on any political subject.

That Mr. Gadsden be added to the Committee for examining Governour Skene’s Papers, and that they enlarge them upon their parole, agreeable to the above Resolve.

Resolved, That the Order of the Day be postponed till Monday next.

Adjourned till Monday, at nine o’clock.

Monday, June 12, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The Committee appointed for preparing a Resolve for a Fast, brought in a Report; which, being read, was agreed to, as follows, viz:

As the great Governour of the world, by his supreme and universal providence, not only conducts the course of nature with unerring wisdom and rectitude, but frequently influences the minds of men to serve the wise and gracious purposes of his providential government; and it being, at all times, our indispensable duty devoutly to acknowledge his superintending providence, especially in times of impending danger and publick calamity, to reverence and adore his immutable justice as well as to implore his merciful interposition for our deliverace:

This Congress, therefore, considering the present critical, alarming, and calamitous state of these Colonies, do earnestly recommend that Thursday, the twentieth day of July next, be observed, by the inhabitants of all the English Colonies on this Continent, as a day of publick humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that we may, with united hearts and voices, unfeignedly confess and deplore our many sins, and offer up our joint supplications to the allwise, omnipotent, and merciful Disposer of all events; humbly beseeching him to forgive our iniquities, to remove our present calamities, to avert those desolating judgments with which we are threatened, and to bless our rightful Sovereign, King George the Third, and inspire him with wisdom to discern and pursue the true interest of all his subjects, that a speedy end may be put to the civil discord between Great Britain and the American Colonies, without farther effusion of blood; and that the British Nation may be influenced to regard the things that belong to her peace, before they are hid from her eyes; that these Colonies may be ever under the care and protection of a kind Providence, and be prospered in all their interests; that the divine blessing may descend and rest upon all our civil rulers, and upon the Representatives of the people, in their several Assemblies and Conventions, that they may be directed to wise and effectual measures for preserving the union, and securing the just rights and privileges of the Colonies; that virtue and true religion may revive and flourish throughout our land; and that America may soon behold a gracious interposition of Heaven, for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of her invaded

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