Resolved, That it be recommended for the present to the inhabitants of New York, that if the troops, wch are expected should arrive, the sa Colony act on the defensive so long as may be consistent with their safety and security: that the troops be permitted to remain in the barracks, so long as they behave themselves peaceably and quietly, but that they be not suffered to erect fortifications or take any steps for cutting off the communication between the town and country; and that if they commit hostilities or invade private property, the inhabitants should defend themselves and their property and repel force by force; that the warlike stores be removed from the town; that places of retreat in case of necessity be provided for the women and children of New York; and that a sufficient number of men be embodied and kept in constant readiness for protecting the inhabitants from insult and injury.1 Mr. Willing laid upon the table. Two memorials, one from S[amuel] Shoemaker, the other from James and Drinker, respecting some cargoes purchased by them, and intended for NfLand, but wch are stopped by the Comm of this City, ||were laid before the Congress, and read, and ordered to lie on the table.|| Resolved, that a committee be appointed to consider what posts are necessary to be occupied in the Colony of New York, and by what number of troops it will be necessary they should be occupied guarded. [Upon motion,] 1This resolution, with a letter of transmittal from the New York Delegates in the Congress, was printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, 22 May, 1775. Bancroft says: "All parties tacitly agreed to avoid every decision which should invite attack or make reconciliation impossible. In conformity with this policy, Jay made the motion for a second petition to the King."—History of the United States, IV, 192. This motion was seconded by John Dickinson. John Adams, in his Diary [ Writings, II, 409], merely states that Dickinson "made or procured to be made" a motion for a petition. Resolved, That M: [George] Washington, M [Thomas] Lynch, M: S[amuel] Adams, and the delegates from New York, be the committee for the above service, and that they be desired to report as speedily as possible. Adjourned till to Morrow at 10 o'Clock. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment. The President after explaining the nature of the letter delivered to him yesterday. A memorial from Robert and John Murray, of NewYork, was laid before the Congress, and read.1 Ordered, That it lye up[on] the table. Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America; Resolved that a committee be appointed to consider what posts are necessary to be occupied and by what number of forces it will be proper they sh be guarded. The president then left the chair and the honble Mat thew Tilghman was called to it unanimously chosen to take the chair. The order of the day being then read, also the letter fron the provincial The President having taken the chair After some time spent thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. [Matthew] Tilghman reported from the committee, that they had taken the matter referred to them into their consideration, debated upon it; but not having come to any resolution, desired him to move for leave to sit again. Whereupon Resolved, That the Congress will to-morrow ||again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to 1See New Jersey Archives, First Series, X, p. 561. take into their farther America. consideration the state of Adjourned till to Morrow at 12 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment, and the order of the day being postponed till to Morrow: Upon motion, Resolved, that the Congress will tomorrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the state of America. The Congress then taking into consideration the propriety of passing a resolve to enforce the 14 Article of the Association and to stop supplies to Newfoundland and British fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland and the American coast and to army and navy in N. A. Upon entering into this debate M: Willing laid before the the memorial from S. Shoemaker and James and Drinker were read. The Congress then resuming the consideration of the matter in debate came into the following Resolution Resolved unanimously, That all exportations to Quebec, Nova Scotia, the Island of St. John's, Newfoundland, Georgia, except the Parish of St. John's, and to East and West Florida immediately cease, and that no provisions of any kind, or other necessaries be furnished to the British Fisheries on the American coasts until it be otherwise determined by the Congress.' Ordered, That this be published immediately. 'Printed in Pennsylvania Packet, 29 May, 1775. 2" COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA, May 17, 1775. "This day the public Commencement for Graduates in the Arts was held here, in the presence of the most illustrious assembly this Seminary ever beheld. "About half an hour after nine o'clock, agreeable to an invitation previously given to them, the Honorable Members of the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS were pleased to pro THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment. The Honble S[tephen] Hopkins, from Rhode island, and P[atrick] Henry, Esq, from Virginia, attended and took their seats in Congress. Upon Motion, Resolved, That the Rules of conduct to be observed in debating and determining questions laid down by the last Congress be adopted and observed by the present Congress.1 The president laid before the Congress, some important intelligence he receiv? last night, by express from New York, relative to the surprising and taking of Ticonderogo, by a detachment from Massachusetts bay and Connecticut, which was read as follows. [Here insert the letters.2] 3 Upon motion, Agreed, That Mr. Brown, who brought the express, be called in to give an acco! of the disposition of the Canadians, the taking of Ticonderogo and the importance of that post. Whereupon he was called in-and having given the necessary information he withdrew. The Congress, taking the matter into consideration came to the following Resolution, Resolved, Whereas there is indubitable evidence that a ceed in a body from the State-House to the College, where they were received at the gate by the Provost and conducted to the places prepared for their reception in the Hall. As soon as they were seated, the Trustees, with the Governor as President at their head, followed by the Provost, Vice-provost, Professors, Graduates and other Students, in their proper habits, entered the Hall, and took their places; the Galleries and other parts of the house being filled with as many of the respectable inhabitants of the city as could find room." From the Pennsylvania Packet, 22 May, 1775. In the Library Company of Philadelphia is a pamphlet of eight pages entitled: An Exercise; containing, a Dialogue and Two Odes Set to Music, for the Public commencement, in the College of Philadelphia, May 17th, 1775. Philadelphia: Printed by Joseph Crukshank, MDCCLXXV. 1See Journals, I, 24, 25, ante. 2 The letters were not entered upon the Journals. "John Brown. The information he gave is summarized in the Pennsylvania Packet, 22 May, 1775. design is formed by the British Ministry of making a cruel invasion from the province of Quebec, upon these colonies, for the purpose of destroying our lives and liberties, and some steps have actually been taken to carry the said design into execution. And whereas several inhabitants of the northern colonies, residing in the vicinity of Ticonderogo, and immediately exposed to incursions, impelled by a just regard for the defence and preservation of themselves and their countrymen from such imminent dangers and calamities have taken possession of that post, in which was lodged a quantity of cannon and military stores, that would certainly have been used in the intended invasion of these colonies, this Congress earnestly recommend it to the committees of the cities and counties of New York and Albany, immediately to cause the said cannon and military stores to be removed from Ticonderogo to the south end of Lake George; and if necessary to apply to the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, and Connecticut, for such an additional body of forces as will be sufficient to establish a strong post at that place and effectually to secure the s cannon and stores or so many of them as it may be judged proper to keep there.-And that an exact inventory be taken of all such cannon and stores in order that they may be safely returned when the restoration of the former harmony between great Britain and these colonies so ardently wished for by the latter shall render it prudent and consistent with the overruling law of self preservation. Upon motion Resolved, That the Congress will to Morrow again resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into [their farther] consideration the state of America. Adjourned till to Morrow at 9 o'clock. |