Upon motion, Resolved, That the thanks of the Congress be given to the rev. Mr. Duché, for performing divine service, agreeable to the desire of the Congress, and for his excellent prayer so well adapted to the present occasion. Ordered, That Mr. [Richard] Bland, Mr. [Thomas] Willing, and Mr. [John] Sullivan, be a committee to wait upon Mr. Duché, and return the thanks of the Congress, agreeable to the above resolution. Circular letter from the Agents. Upon motion, Resolved, That the doors be kept shut, during the time of business, and that the members consider themselves under the strongest obligations of honor to keep the proceedings secret, until the majority shall direct them to be made public. A circular letter from the agents, William Bollan, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, Esq, directed to the Speakers of several Assemblies, dated 5 Feb, 1775, with sundry papers therein referred to, was laid before the Congress and read; the letter is as follows: SIR, [here insert it] "LONDON, February 5, 1775. Our last letter informed you, that the king had declared his intentions of laying the petition before his two houses of parliament. It has accordingly been laid before each house, but undistinguished among a variety of letters and other papers from America. A motion made by lord Chatham, to withdraw the troops from Boston, as the first step towards a conciliating plan, was rejected; and the ministry have declared in both houses the determination to inforce obedience to all the late laws. For this purpose, we understand, that three regiments of foot, one of dragoons, seven hundred marines, six sloops of war, and two frigates, are now under orders for America. We think it proper to inform you, that your cause was well defended by a considerable number of good and wise men in both houses of parliament, though far from being a majority: and that many of the commercial and manufacturing parts of the nation, concerned in the American trade, have presented, or, as we understand, are preparing to present, petitions to parliament, declaring their great concern, for the present unhappy controversies with America, and praying expressly, or in effect, for healing measures, as the proper means of preserving their commerce, now greatly suffering or endangered. But the treatment the petitions, already presented, have hitherto received, is such, as, in our opinion, can afford you no reliance on the present relief through their means. As soon as we learnt that the petition of the Congress was before the house of commons, we thought it our duty to support it, if we might be permitted so to do, as there was no other opportunity for the numerous inhabitants of the colonies to be heard in defence of their rights: accordingly, we joined in a petition for that purpose. Sir George Saville kindly undertook to present it. But, on previously opening the purport of it, as the order is, a debate arose on the propriety of receiving it, and on a division, it was rejected by a great majority. The following extract of a letter from general Gage to lord Dartmouth, as laid before parliament, we think it our duty to transmit, viz. "Dec. 15, 1774. Your lordship's idea of disarming certain provinces, would doubtless be consistent with prudence and safety, but it neither is, nor has been practicable, without having recourse to force, and being masters of the country." It was thrown out in debate by a principal member of administration, that it would be proper to alter the charters of Connecticut and Rhode-Island. Inclosed, we send you a copy of the resolutions passed in a committee of the whole house, on Thursday last, which are to be reported on Monday. It is said that these resolutions are to be the foundation of several bills to be brought in, but the purport of those bills we have not yet learnt with sufficient certainty. We send you likewise, a copy of lord Chatham's first motion in the house of lords, and of his plan of a bill for settling the troubles between Great-Britain and the colonies; both which were rejected on the first reading. With great respect, we are, sir, your most obedient, humble servants, (Signed) WILLIAM BOLLAN, The papers referred to in the foregoing letter, being published in the newspapers, it is not necessary to insert them.|| Mr. [John] Hancock produced and laid before the Congress a Letter from the provincial Congress of Massachusetts bay, together with certain resolutions formed by sd Congress, and a Copy of a letter, sent by so Congress to their agent in England, and an address to the inhabitants of G-Bn, on the late engagement between the troops under Gen! Gage, and the inhabitants of Massachusetts bay; on Wednesday 18 ult: also a number of depositions, duly attested, relative to the commencement of hostilities, all which were read, and are as follows: [here insert them] IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, May 3, 1775. To the Honorable American Continental Congress, to be conven'd at Philadelphia, on the tenth of May Instant. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS, The Congress of this colony, impressed with the deepest Concern for their Country, under the present critical and alarming state of its public Affairs, beg leave, with the most respectful submission, whilst acting in support of the Cause of America, to request the direction and assistance of your respectable Assembly. The inclosed Packet, containing Copies of the Depositions, which we have despatched for London, also an Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, and a Letter to our Colony Agent, Benjamin Franklin, Esq are humbly submitted to your Consideration. The sanguinary Zeal of the ministerial Army, to ruin and destroy the Inhabitants of this Colony, in the Opinion of this Congress, hath rendered the Establishment of an Army indispensably necessary. We have accordingly passed an unanimous Resolve for thirteen thousand six hundred Men, to be forthwith raised by this Colony; and proposals are made by us to the Congress of New Hampshire, and Governments of Rhode Island and Connecticut Colonies, for furnishing men in the same proportion. The sudden Exigency of our public Affairs, precluded the possibility of waiting for your direction in these important measures; more especially, as a considerable Reinforcement from Great Britain is daily expected in this Colony, and we are now reduced to the sad alternative of defending ourselves by arms, or submitting to be slaughtered. With the greatest deference, we beg leave to suggest, that a powerful Army, on the side of America, hath been consider'd, by this Congress, as the only mean left to stem the rapid Progress of a tyrannical Ministry. Without a force, superior to our Enemies, we must reasonably expect to become the Victims of their relentless fury: With such a force, we may still have hopes of seeing an immediate End put to the inhuman Ravages of mercenary Troops in America, and the wicked authors of our Miseries, brought to condign punishment, by the just Indignation of our Brethren in Great Britain. We hope that this Colony will, at all Times, be ready to spend and be spent in the Cause of America. It is, nevertheless, a Misfortune greatly operating to its Disadvantage, that it has a great Number of Sea Port Towns, exposed to the approach of the Enemy by Sea; from many of which, the Inhabitants have removed, and are now removing their Families and Effects, to avoid Destruction from Ships of War: These, we apprehend, will be generally distressed from want of subsistence, and disabled from contributing Aid for supporting the Forces of the Colony; but we have the greatest Confidence in the wisdom and ability of the Continent to support us, so far as it shall appear necessary for supporting the common cause of the American Colonies. We also inclose several Resolves for impowering and directing our Receiver General to borrow the Sum of one hundred thousand Pounds, Lawful Money, and to issue his Notes for the same; it being the only measure, which we cou'd have recourse to, for supporting our Forces; And we request your assistance in rendring our measures effectual, by giving our Notes a currency through the Continent. JOSEPH WARREN, President, P. T1 The papers inclosed, and referred to, in the above, are as follows: IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, May 3, 1775. Resolved, That the Receiver General be, and hereby is impower'd and directed to borrow the Sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds, lawful money, and issue Colony Security for the same, payable, with Annual Interest, at six cent. June 1st., 1777, and that the Conti 'The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, vol. I, folio 1. nental Congress be desired to recommend to the several Colonies, to give a currency to such Securities. A true extract from the minutes, SAMUEL FREEMAN, Secretary, P. T. IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, May 3, 1775. Resolved, That the Securities given by the Receiver General for the Monies borrowed by him, in pursuance of the aforegoing Resolve, be in the form following, viz. No. The COLONY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY. A. B. the Sum of Day of A. D. 177 Borrowed and received of lawful money, for the Use and Service of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay; and in behalf of said Colony, I do hereby promise and oblige myself, and successors in the Office of Treasurer, or Receiver General, to repay to the said or to his Order, the first Day of June, 1777, the aforesaid Sum of lawful Money, in Spanish Milled Dollars, at six shillings each, or in the several Species of Coined Silver and Gold, enumerated in an Act made and passed in the 23d Year of his late Majesty, King George the Second, intituled "An Act for ascertaining the Rates at which coined Silver and Gold, English half-pence and farthings, may pass within this Government:" and according to the Rates therein mentioned, with Interest, to be paid annually, at six per Cent. Witness my hand A. B. C. D. E. F. And whereas, Inconveniencies may arise by the Receiver General's issuing Notes for small Sums: Therefore, Resolved, That the Receiver General be, and he hereby is directed, not to issue any Notes for a less Sum than four Pounds, lawful money. A true extract from the Minutes, SIR, SAMUEL FREEMAN, Secretary, P. T.1 To the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Esq. at London." IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, April 26, 1775. From the entire Confidence we Repose in your faithfulness and Abilities, we consider it the happiness of this Colony, that the impor 'The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 74, folio 53. 2 Franklin was on his way to America when this letter was written; and it was given to Arthur Lee, acting agent in London. |