of such works as shall be found necessary for the defence of it, and the town, in case another armed force, (which I by no means expect,) should be sent hither. I shall leave three or four regiments, as circumstances may require, for the security of the stores, and throwing up such works as shall be deemed necessary for the purposes above-mentioned, and shall direct the officer commanding them to receive such instructions, in respect to the latter, as you may think proper to give.

It has been suggested to me that in the town of Boston, &c., there is a good deal of property belonging to Refugees, and such other inimical persons, as, from the first of the present dispute, have manifested the most unfriendly disposition to the American cause, and that part of this property is in such kind of effects as can be easily transported, concealed, or changed; I submit to you, therefore, gentlemen, the expediency of having an inquiry made into this matter before it is too late for redress, leaving the decision thereupon (after the quantum or value is ascertained, and held in a state of durance) to the consideration of a future day. I have ordered that no violence be offered by the soldiery, either to the property or persons of those people; wishing that the matter may be taken into consideration by your honourable body, and in such a way as you shall judge most advisable.

The enclosed came to me a few days ago, and I beg leave to recommend the purport of it to the consideration of the Court. I shall take the liberty to add, as my opinion, that the Congress expect nothing else than that the Field-Officers of the Massachusetts Regiments should receive the same pay as those of the other Colonies have done, and that they expected, at the time the pay was fixed, that fifteen pounds to a Colonel, twelve pounds to a Lieutenant-Colonel, and ten pounds to a Major, was the actual establishment of this Government. I could wish, therefore, they were allowed it, to remove the jealousies and uneasinesses which have arisen.

I am, with great respect and esteem, gentlemen, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable General Court.*

Inventory of Stores belonging to the King, and left in BOSTON; taken the 18th and 19th of MARCH, 1776, by order of THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esq, Quartermaster-General of the Continental Army.

A Brigantine, about 120 tons burden, loaded with Oil and Pearl.

A Schooner, about 80 tons, scuttled, with 200 hogsheads of Salt on board.

150 hogsheads of Salt in a store.

100 bundles of Iron Hoops.

Long Wharf—157 Pack Saddles.

123 Water Casks.

A Brigantine, scuttled, about 140 tons.

A Sloop,               do.            70 tons.

A Schooner,          do.            40 tons.

1,000 chaldron of Sea Coal.

52 Iron Grates.

General Gage’s Chariot, taken out of the dock, broken. A quantity of Cordage and old Cable, broken.

Five Anchors.

Green’s Wharf—about 200 Blankets; four and two-thirds Jars (large) of Sweet Oil.

Hatch’s Wharf—three Cannon, double-charged and spiked.

Hancock’s Wharf—a new Ship, about 300 tons, scuttled; a Schooner, about 70 tons, scuttled.

About 1,000 bushels of Salt.

3,000 Blankets.

30 Water Casks.

Tudor’s Wharf—a Ship, about 350 tons, scuttled.

Dummet’s Wharf—5,000 bushels Wheat in store; a Sloop, about 60 tons, scuttled; a Fishing Boat.

Webb’s Wharf—a Sloop, about 60 tons, scuttled.

Fuller’s Wharf—about 500 bushels of Salt.

Fitch’s Wharf—a Schooner, 70 tons, scuttled.

B. M. General’s Office—about 1,000 bushels Sea Coal, and one Clock; also, Lumber; about 150 hogsheads of Lime; four barrels of Flour; 100 empty iron-bound Casks, carried to Fort-Hill by General Putnam’s order; 10 24-pound Cannon Cartridges.

Tileston’s Wharf—300 hogsheads of Salt.

Three Brigantines—one, 150 tons; one, 120 tons; and one, 130 tons.

The Brig Washington, commanded by Captain Martindale, with all her Guns, in the dock.

One and a half hogshead of Sugar.

A quantity of Pickets, Fascines, and Gabions, in store.

About 5,000 feet of Boards.

Griffin’s Wharf—a number of Iron Grates.

Hubbard’s Wharf—about 1,500 Rugs and Blankets. 50 Water Casks, iron-bound, carried to Fort-Hill by General Putnam’s order.

One cask of Deck Nails.

About 200 cords of Wood.

About 200 chaldron of Sea Coal.

South-Battery, or Laboratory—52 pieces of Cannon, trunnions broken off, and spiked; 600 feet of Boards; about 30 iron-bound Casks, carried to Fort-Hill by order of General Putnam.

A number of Ball and empty Shells.

A Brigantine, 120 tons; a Schooner, 60 tons.

Wheelwright’s Wharf—14 Anchors; three and a half hogsheads of Brimstone.

300 hogsheads of Salt.

A quantity of Logwood.

Three hogsheads of Sea Coal.

One 13-inch Mortar, with an iron bed; a number of Shells, Carcasses, and Cannon Shot, in the dock.

Hall’s Wharf, and in his possession—600 bushels of Corn and Oats; 100 sacks Bran; eight hogsheads of Molasses; 100 empty iron-bound Casks; two Schooners, about 60 tons each; one Sloop, about 40 tons; 10 Horses, Teams, and Harness.

Hutchinson’s Wharf—a new Ship, about 350 tons, scuttled; two Brigs, about 120 tons each, scuttled; two Sloops, about 60 tons each, scuttled.

Winnisimit—a new Ship, building, thrown off the stocks, 200 tons; about 100 bushels of Salt; store pulled down.

Peck’s Wharf—about 100 hogsheads essence of Spruce.

10 hogsheads of Beef.

Six hogsheads of Molasses, not quite full.

* The Committee of both Houses, appointed to take into consideration a Letter from his Excellency General Washington, dated the 21st of March instant, as also the Report of a Committee who, by order of Court, had waited on his Excellency, to confer on the subject-matter of the removal of the Continental Troops now in this Colony, having attended to the business assigned them, report as followeth:

As our enemies are now withdrawn from the Town of Boston, and it appearing to your Committee that it is a matter of the utmost importance to secure said Town against the approaches of large ships-of-war in future, that a Committee of both Houses be appointed as soon as possible to lay before this Court a sketch of the Harbour of Boston, and examine and report particularly the number of passages there are for ships into the same, and what distance they are from the capital; what is the depth of water in, and the width of the channel at each passage; what is the height of the land adjoining, and the distance therefrom to the opposite side of the channel; whether it is necessary to the best good of this Colony, and its capital, that all the passages to the Town of Boston should be continued open; what are the advantages, and what the disadvantages, that will result from stopping either of the passages thereto; which passage, if any, ought to be stopped; where can fortifications be erected most easily to resist the enemy in their attempt to enter the harbour aforesaid; whether such posts are on the main, or on an island or islands; and if on an island, whether a communication can be kept up between it and the main in case of a siege; whether those posts are commanded by any neighbouring hills; and if by any, by what hills; and whether, at all times, a garrison at such posts can be supplied with water.

And whereas this Colony is greatly weakened by the destruction of our fortifications and warlike stores by our enemies, and will be more so on the removal of the Continental Army, as a large proportion of the men and arms therein are from this Government:

Your Committee are therefore of opinion that an application be immediately made to his Excellency General Washington, and request that he would further consider the exposed, and, at present, the defenceless state of this Colony, and, if consistent with the general interest, he would continue here six Regiments of the Continental Troops for the defence of this Government, instead of the three or four Regiments his Excellency hath informed this Court he intends to leave.

W. SEVER, per order.

In Council, MARCH 25, 1776: Read and accepted; and Ordered, That B. Lincoln and Joseph Palmer, Esquires, with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing Report,

Sent down for concurrence.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

In House of Representatives, MARCH 25, 1776: Read and concurred; and Mr. Cooper, Mr. Brown of Boston, and Deacon Nicolls, are joined. Sent up.

WILLIAM COOPER, Speaker pro tem.