SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment. A Letter from the prov. Convention of New York, together with sundry Letters and papers enclosed, ||from Albany, were laid before the Congress and read. Ordered, To lie on the table. Upon motion Resolved, That a committee of five persons be chosen to take into consideration the letter from the Convention of Massachusetts bay, dated the 16 of May, and report to this Congress what in their opinion is the proper Advice to be given to that Convention. The following persons were chosen by ballot, to compose that committee, viz. M J[ohn] Rutledge, M [Thomas] Johnson, M: [John] Jay, M: [James] Wilson, and M [Richard Henry] Lee. Upon motion Resolved, That a committee be appointed for the purpose of borrowing the sum of six thousand pounds for the use of America; for the repayment of which with interest, the Congress will make full and ample provision, and that the sd com[mittee] apply the sa sum of money to the purchase of gunpowder for the use of the Continental Army. That the Delegates for Pensylvania compose sa Committee, with power as well to borrow the money as to apply it to the purpose intended. Upon motion Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to draught a petition to the King. That a committee ||of three|l be appointed to report an address to the people of Great Britain. Also a committee ||of four be appointed|| to report an address to the people of Ireland. Also a committee ||of three be appointed|| to draught a letter to the inhabitants of Jamaica. That the three last committees consist each of three. That a Committee [of five] be appointed to bring in an estimate of the money necessary to be raised. That this committee consist of 5 persons. That the committee to report a petition to the King be M: [John] Dickinson, M: [Thomas] Johnson, M J[ohn] Rutledge, M [John] Jay, and M [Benjamin] Franklin. That the Committee to report an Address to the inhabitants of Great Britain be M: [Richard Henry] Lee, M R[obert] R. Livingston and M' [Edmund] Pendleton. That M [James] Duane, M Will. Livingston and M S[amuel] Adams and M J[ohn] Adams be y com[mittee] to report an Address to the people of Ireland. That M [William] Hooper, M [James] Wilson and [Thomas] Lynch be a committee to draught a Letter to the inhabitants of Jamaica. That M [George] Washington, M [Philip] Schuyler, M: [Silas] Deane, M [Thomas] Cushing, and M: [Joseph] Hewes be a committee to bring in an estimate of the money necessary to be raised. Resolved, That this Congress will on Monday resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into their farther consideration the State of America. Adjourned till Monday at 9 o'Clock.' "The Congress, tho' not numerous, are yet a very unwieldy Body, in their very nature, as no motion or resolution can be started or proposed but what must be subject to much canvassing before it will pass with the unanimous approbation of Thirteen Colonies, whose situation and circumstances are various. And Unanimity is the basis on which we mean to rise; and I thank God, it hitherto prevails to a most surprising degree. Besides, our business has run away with us, as I may say, for though the Northern Expedition met with a warm approbation, yet the resolutions necessary to be formed respecting those posts put by the forming a general plan of operation, which, had it been previously laid, every such manœuvre would, of course, have been provided for at once." Silas Deane to his wife, 3 June, 1775. Writing to Lord Dartmouth, 7 June, 1775, Lieutenant Governor Colden, of New York, said: "In this gloomy Prospect of Affairs the Friends of Government have received a glimpse of Hope upon hearing that Mr. Duane, a Delegate from New York, has moved in the Continental Congress to introduce a Plan of Accommodation which produced a warm debate, but was carried in favour of the motion." Collections of the New York Historical Society, 1877, p. 421. MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1775 The president and A number of the members met according to adjournm' But several of the colonies not being represented the president adjourned the Congress till to Morrow at 9 o'Clock. TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment but the several committees not being ready to report adjourned till to Morrow at 9 o'Clock. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment. The Committee appointed to make an estimate of the money necessary to be raised, brought in a report, that they had prepared which was read and ordered to lie on the table referred to the committee of the whole. On motion, Resolved, That Thursday the 20th of July next, be observed throughout the twelve United Colonies, as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer: and that Mr. [William] Hooper, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, and Mr. [Robert Treat] Paine, be a committee to bring in a resolve for that purpose. The committee appointed to prepare advice in answer to the letter from the convention of Massachusetts bay, dated 16th of May &c. brought in their report, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table ||for consideration.|| The Congress agreeable to the order of the day, resolved themselves into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America; after some time spent therein, the president resumed the chair; and M: [Samuel] Ward reported, from the committee that they had proceeded in the business referred to them, but not having 6521-VOL 2—05———6 come to a conclusion, desired him to move for leave to sit again. Resolved, That this Congress will, to Morrow, again resolve themselves into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of America; and that this be a standing order till the business is compleated. Adjourned till to Morrow at nine o'Clock.|| THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment. The Congress being informed, that a major [Philip] Skeene, with some other officers, were arrived ||last evening, in a vessel from London, and were, with their papers, now in the custody of the troops of this city and that the said Major Skeene has been lately appointed governor of the forts of Ticonderoga, and Crown Point; that one of the officers a lieutenant has commission in the regular troops, now in the province of Quebec; and moreover, that the Skene had declared, he had authority to raise a Regiment in America; from all this, apprehending that the said Skene from his appointment is a dangerous partizan of Administration, and that his papers may contain intelligence of Ministerial designs against America, very important to be known, Resolve, That a committee be appointed to examine in the presence of the s Skene and lieutenant, all the papers in their possession. That this committee consist of Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [Silas Doane, and [Thomas] Mifflin: That the s committee be upon honor to conceal whatever of a private nature may come to their knowledge by Much examination; and that they communicate, to this Congress, whatever may relate to the present dispute, between Great Britain and America. The congress then resolved themselves into a committee of the whole to take into their farther consideration the state of America, after some time spent therein the presid! resumed the chair and M: [Samuel] Ward reported from the committee that not having yet compleated the business referred to them desired him to move for leave to sit again. Resolved, That this congress will to Morrow again resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into their farther consideration the state of America. Resolved, That the consideration of the report of the committee, wch yesterday was ordered to lie on the table, be taken up as the first business to Morrow morning. Adjourned till to Morrow at 9 o'clock. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1775 The Congress met according to adjournment. The report of the committee, on the Letter from the convention of Massachusetts bay, being again read, Congress came to the following resolution: Resolved, That no obedience being due to the Act of parliament for altering the charter of the Colony of Massachusetts bay, nor to a Governor, or a lieutenant-Governor, who will not observe the directions of, but endeavour to subvert that charter, the gov! and lieutenant-gov 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 intollerable, especially at a time when Gen 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 |