of the American Association and safety of the Colony, to raise a body of Forces not exceeding one thousand men, this Congress will consider them as an American Army, and provide for their pay.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the Declaration, and after some debate, the same was recommitted, and Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Jefferson were added to the Committee.

A Letter from the Committee of Albany, received by express, was laid before the Congress and read.

The Committee for Indian Affairs brought in their Report, which was read.

Upon motion,

Resolved, That the Delegates of Pennsylvania be appointed from this Congress, to wait on the Committee of this City, and to request of them that a supply of Powder be immediately furnished for the use of the Fortifications of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and sent forward immediately.

Ordered, That the President write to Governour Trumbull, and inform him, that the Congress had appointed George Washington, Esq., Commander-in-Chief of all the Forces raised, or to be raised, for the defence of America.

Ordered, That the President also write to the Provincial Conventions of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, and to the Government of Rhode-Island, and inform them of the same appointment.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the state of America.

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

Tuesday, June 27, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Upon motion, Resolved, That Governour Skene be sent under a guard to Weathersfield, or Middletown, in the County of Hartford, in Connecticut, there to be confined on his parole, not to go out of the bounds prescribed to him by Governour Trumbull.

Ordered, That the Delegates for Pennsylvania take measures to have the above Resolve carried into execution.

A Letter from the Convention, of Massachusetts-Bay, dated 20th of June, received by express, together with several other Letters, were laid before the Congress and read.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Letter from Albany, and after some debate, the Congress came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That Major-General P. Schuyler be directed to repair, as soon as conveniently he can, to the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, to examine into the state thereof, and of the Troops now stationed there, and how they are supplied with provision and necessary stores; into the state also of the Sloop and other navigation on the Lakes; also, to obtain the best intelligence he can of the disposition of the Canadians and Indians of Canada; that he confer with Colonel Hinman and Colonel Arnold on the subject of Colonel Arnold’s Letter to this Congress, and report as soon as possible the state of the whole, as near as it can be ascertained, to this Congress; and that he give orders for the necessary preparation of Boats and Stores, for securing to the United Colonies the command of those waters adjacent to Crown Point and Ticonderoga.

Resolved, That as Governour Carleton is making preparations to invade these Colonies, and is instigating the Indian Nations to take up the hatchet against them, Major-General Schuyler do exert his utmost power to destroy or take all Vessels, Boats, or Floating Batteries preparing by said Governour, or by his order, on or near the waters of the Lakes.

Resolved, That if General Schuyler finds it practicable, and that it will not be disagreeable to the Canadians, he do immediately take possession of St. John’s, Montreal, and any other parts of the country, and pursue any other measures in Canada which may have a tendency to promote the peace and security of these Colonies.

Resolved, That if General Schuyler shall have occasion for a larger quantity of ready Money and Ammunition, for carrying on such expedition, than he can in convenient time procure from the Provincial Convention of the Colony of New-York, that he do in such case apply to the Governour of Connecticut for such supplies as may be necessary, and can be furnished by that Colony; and that Governour Trumbull be desired to furnish such supplies, and this Congress will make provision for reimbursing the same.

The Committee appointed to draw up an Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, reported the same, which was read.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the state of America.

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

Wednesday, June 28, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment, and resumed the consideration of the Articles of War. After some debate, the further consideration of them was put off till to-morrow.

The Order of the Day put off till to-morrow.

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

Thursday, June 29, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

A number of Letters and Speeches from the Chiefs of Stockbridge Indians to the Congress, also copy of a Message from said Indians to the Canada Indians, and their Answer, were laid before the Congress and read.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the Rules or Articles of War. Alter some debate, the same was deferred till to-morrow.

The Order of the Day put off, and adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Friday, June 30, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The consideration of the Articles of War being resumed, the Congress agreed to the same.

Whereas, His Majesty’s most faithful subjects in these Colonies are reduced to a dangerous and critical situation, by the attempts of the British Ministry to carry into execution, by force of arms, several unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the British Parliament for laying Taxes in America, to enforce the collection of those Taxes, and for altering and changing the Constitution and internal Police of some of these Colonies, in violation of the natural and civil rights of the Colonies:

And whereas, hostilities have been actually commenced in Massachusetts-Bay, by the British Troops under the command of General Gage, and the lives of a number of the inhabitants of that Colony destroyed; the Town of Boston not only having been long occupied as a garrisoned Town in an enemy’s Country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a severity and cruelty not to be justified even towards declared enemies:

And whereas, large re-enforcements have been ordered, and are soon expected, for the declared purpose of compelling these Colonies to submit to the operation of the said acts, which hath rendered it necessary, and an indispensable duty, for the express purpose of securing and defending these Colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the said acts into execution, that an armed force be raised, sufficient to defeat such hostile designs, and preserve and defend the lives, liberties, and immunities of the Colonists; for the due regulating and well ordering of which,

Resolved, That the following Rules and Orders be attended to, and observed by such Forces as are or may hereafter be raised for the purposes aforesaid.

ARTICLE I. That every Officer who shall be retained, and every Soldier who shall serve in the Continental Army, shall, at the time of his acceptance of his commission or enlistment, subscribe these Rules and Regulations; and that the Officers and Soldiers, already of that Army, shall also, as soon as may be, subscribe the same, from the time