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arming certain provinces would doubtlefs be con→ fiftent with prudence and safety, but it neither is, nor has been practicable, without having recourfe to force, and being mafters of the country."

It was thrown out in debate by a principal member of adminiftration, that it would be proper to alter the charters of Connecticut and Rhode-Ïland.

Inclosed we send you a copy of the Refolutions paffed in a committee of the whole houfe on Thursday laft, which are to be reported on Monday. It is faid that these Resolutions are to be the foundation of feveral bills to be brought in, but the port of these bills we have not yet learnt with fufficient certainty.

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We fend you likewife a copy of Lord Chatham's first motion in the Houfe of Lords, and of his plan of a bill for fettling the troubles between Great-Bri-, tain and the Colonies; both which were rejected on the first reading.

With great refpect we are, Sir,

Your most obedient humble Servants,

(Signed)

WILLIAM BOLLAN,

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,

ARTHUR LEE.

The papers referred to in the foregoing letter, be ing publifhed in the news-papers, it is not neceffary to infert them.

Mr. Hancock laid before the Congrefs, a letter from the Provincial Congrefs of Maffachufett's-Bay, together with certain refolutions formed by faid. Congrefs, and a copy of a letter fent by said Congrefs to their Agent in England, and an addrefs to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, on the late engagement between the troops under General Gage. and the inhabitants of Maffachufett's-Bay; alfo a

number

number of depofitions duly attefted, relative to the commencement of faid hoftilities, all which were read, and are as follows:

In Provincial Congress, WATERTOWN, May 3,

1775

To the Honourable American Continental Congrefs, to be convened at Philadelphia, on the tenth of May, instant.

May it please your Honours,

THE Congress of this Colony, impreffed with the deepest concern for their Country under the prefent critical and alarming state of its public affairs, beg leave with the utmoft fubmiffion, whilft acting in fupport of the Caufe of America, to request the direction and affistance of your refpectable affembly.

The inclofed packet containing the copies of depofitions, which we have difpatched for London, alfo an addrefs to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain, and a letter to our colony Agent, Benjamin Franklin, Efq; are humbly. fubmitted to your confide

ration.

The fanguinary zeal of the minifterial army, to ruin and destroy the inhabitants of this Colony, in the opinion of this Congrefs, hath rendered the establishment of an army indifpenfibly neceffary: we have accordingly paffed an unanimous refolve for thirteen thousand fix hundred men to be forthwith raised by this Colony, and propofals are made by us to the Congrefs of New-Hampshire, and governments of Rhode-Ifland and Connecticut Colonies, for furnishing men in the fame proportion.

They

The fudden exigency of our public affairs precluded the poffibility of waiting for

your direction in these important measures, more efpecially as a confiderable reinforcement from Great-Britain is daily expected in this Colony, and we are now reduced to the fad alternative of defending ourfelves by arms, or fubmitted to be flaughtered.

With the greatest deference, we beg leave to fuggeft, that a powerful army, on the fide of America, hath been confidered by this Congress, as the only means left to ftem the rapid progrefs of a tyrannical ministry. Without a force fuperior to our enemies, we must reasonably expect to become the victims of their relentlefs fury. With fuch a force, we may ftill have hopes of feeing an immediate end put to the inhuman ravages of mercenary troops in America, and the wicked authors of our miferies brought to condign punishment, by the just indignation of our brethren in Great-Britain.

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We hope that this Colony will, at all times, be ready to spend and to be spent in the cause of America. It is, nevertheless, a misfortune greatly operating to its disadvantage, that it has a great number of fea-port towns expofed to the approach of the enemy by fea; from many of which the inhabitants have removed and are removing their families and effects, to avoid destruction from fhips of war. Thefe we apprehend, will be generally diftreffed from want of fubfiftance, and difabled from contributing aid for fupporting the forces of the Colony; but we have the greatest confidence in the wildom and ability of the Continent to support us, fo far as it shall appear neceffary for fupporting the common cause of the

American Colonies.

We also inclose several refolves for impowering

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and

and directing our receiver-general to borrow the fum of one hundred thousand pounds, lawful money, and to iffue his notes for the fame, it being the only measures which we could have recourse to for fupporting our forces; and we request your affiftance in rendering our measures effectual, by giving our notes a currency through the Continent. JOSEPH WARREN, Prefident, P.T.

The papers inclosed and referred to in the above, are as follows:

InProvincial Congress, WATERTOWN, May3, 1775, Refolved, That the Receiver-General be, and hereby is impowered and directed, to borrow the fum of one hundred thousand pounds, lawful money, and iffue colony fecurity for the fame, payable with annual intereft at fix per cent. June ift, 1777, and that the Continental Congreis be defired to recommend to the feveral Colonies, to give a currency to fuch fecurities.

A true extract from the Minutes,

SAMUEL FREEMAN, Secretary, P. T. In Provincial Congress, WATERTOWN, May 3, 1775, Refolved, That the fecurities given by the Receiver-General, for the monies borrowed by him, in pursuance of the aforegoing refolve, be in the form following. viz.

No.. the day of

bor

Colony of the MASSACHUSETT'S-BAY, A. D. 177 rowed and received of A; B. the fum of lawful money, for the ufe and service of the colony of the Maffachufett's-Bay, and in behalf of faid colony. I do hereby promife and oblige myself and fucceffors, in the office of Treasurer or ReceiverGeneral, to repay to the faid or to his order, the first day of June, 1777, the aforefaid fum of lawful money, money, in Spanish milled Dollars, at fix fhillings each, or in the feveral fpecies of coined

filver

filver and gold, enumerated in an Act made and paffed in the 23d year of his late Majefty King George the Second, intitled, "An Act for afcertaining the rates at which coined filver and "gold, English half-pence and farthings, may pafs within this government," and according to the rates therein mentioned, with intereft, to be paid annually at fix per cent. Witness my hand, A. B..

C. D.

E. F.S

And whereas inconveniences may arife by the Receiver-general's iffuing notes for fmall fums, therefore,

Refolved, That the Receiver-General be, and he hereby is directed not to iffue any notes for a lefs fum than four pounds lawful money.

A true extract from the Minutes,

SAMUEL FREEMAN, Sec. P. T.

To the Hon. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Efq.
at London.

In Provincial Congress, Watertown, April 26,1775. "SIR,

"From the entire confidence we repofe in your faithfulness and abilities, we confider it the happiness of this Colony, that the important truft of Agency for it, in this day of unequaled diftrefs, is devolved on your hands, and we doubt not your attachment to the cause of the Liberties of mankind will make every poffible exertion in our behalf a pleasure to you, although our circumstances will compel us often to interrupt your repofe by matters that will furely give you pain. A fingular instance hereof is the occafion of the prefent letter. The contents of this packet will be our apology for troubling you with it.

"From these you will fee how and by whom D 2

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