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high crime in Israel to be in this respect like other nations;" and he regarded the general agreement "through so many provinces of so large a country," in the adoption of "one mode of self-preservation," of corresponding committees and congresses, as caused by "some supernatural influence on the minds of the main body of the people." There has been a disposition to take a semi-Tory view of the conduct of the people, by giving undue importance to the instances of mob action, and to overlook the remarkable adherence to social order that is seen through ten years of exciting controversy. The words of Dr. Langdon, on this point, are valuable. He said, "Universal tumults, and all the irregularities and violence of mobbish factions, naturally arise when legal authority ceases. But how little of this has appeared in the midst of the late obstructions of civil government! Nothing more than what has often happened in Great Britain and Ireland, in the face of the civil powers in all their strength; nothing more than what is frequently seen in the midst of the perfect regulations of the great city of London." And he bore the following testimony to the general obedience paid, at that time, to the local authorities and the inchoate nationality: "The judgment and advice of the continental assembly of delegates have been as readily obeyed as if they were the authentic acts of a long-established parliament. And in every colony the votes of a congress have had equal effect with the laws of great and general courts." This fact is a part of American history, -a history not made by the few, but by the many, a history which illustrates at every step the power of an enlightened public opinion.

On the 1st of June, the Provincial Congress ordered letters to be sent to Colonel Arnold, to the assembly of Connecticut, and the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, on the subject of retaining Ticonderoga and Crown Point.

On the 2d, congress was occupied with the details connected with the organization of the army. Among the papers addressed to Warren as president were memorials relative to the exposed position of the seaport towns; and a large committee was appointed to consider the subject of their protection.

On the 3d, a committee, with Gerry as the chairman, was appointed to hold a conference at Cambridge, with the committee of safety, on the subject of re-enforcing the army, and the general officers were invited to join in it.

On the 4th, Sunday, there were three sessions of the Provincial Congress. Elbridge Gerry, addressed a letter on this day to the Massachusetts delegates, in which he urged strongly the necessity of a local government and "of a regular general." In relation to the latter, Gerry says, "I should heartily rejoice to see this way the beloved Colonel Washington, and do not doubt the New-England generals would acquiesce in showing to our sister colony, Virginia, the respect she has before experienced from the continent in making him generalissimo. This is a matter in which Dr. Warren agrees with me; and we had intended to write you jointly on the affair." Warren, on this day, as "chairman of the committee of safety," united. with General Ward, ce general of the Massachusetts forces," and Moses

1 Life of Elbridge Gerry, i. 79.

Gill, "chairman of the committee of supplies," in a strong representation to the Continental Congress of the distresses of the colony, in the assurance, they said, that congress, as the wise guardians of the lives, liberties, and properties of the whole of this extensive continent, would attend to the circumstances of all who, under God, looked up to them for protection and deliverance.

On the 5th, a committee was appointed to examine certain mineral earth that had been submitted to congress," and, in such inquiry, to consult the Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq., and Professor Sewall."

On the 6th, Warren accompanied General Putnam to Charlestown, in order to effect an exchange of prisoners. Captain Chester and the Wethersfield company formed the escort. formed the escort. Warren and Putnam rode in a phaëton; two of the prisoners, who were officers, were on horseback; a lieutenant was in a chaise; and four wounded marines were in two carts. Warren and Putnam met Major Moncrief and other British officers at the house of Dr. Foster, in Charlestown, where an entertainment was provided. The affair "was conducted with the utmost decency and good humor." On this day, Warren was appointed on a committee to consider the expediency of authorizing armed vessels to cruise on the American coasts, protect its trade, and annoy its enemies. The members were enjoined to observe secrecy.

On the 7th, the business transacted by the Provincial Congress was uncommonly important. Elbridge Gerry, from a committee, reported that it was unnecessary for the colony to augment its forces.

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time was assigned for the choice of two majorgenerals. The president was directed to admonish Mr. Edwards on account of his speech on the committee of safety.

On the 8th, there was an important debate in the Provincial Congress on a report, signed by Gerry as chairman, to the effect that it was unnecessary to increase the force raised for this and other American colonies; when the committees of safety and supplies, and the several committees of the congress, were desired to be present. After debating the subject in the morning and the afternoon in committee of the whole, the report was accepted.

On the 9th, the Provincial Congress adopted a stringent order, directing the committee of safety to certify the claims or pretensions that any gentleman might have to a commission in the service, with a view to reducing the army to order.

On the 10th, the committee of safety presented an elaborate and valuable report, showing the confused state of the army from the date of the 19th of April, in consequence of more enlisting orders having been delivered than were sufficient to enlist the number of

men required. "At that time," the committee say, "but few men enlisted; and there was an apprehension that the province was in the utmost danger from the want of men." Hutchinson1 predicted to Gibbon, that "unless fanaticism got the better of self-preservation, they (the people) must soon disperse, as it

1 Hutchinson was tendered a baronetcy, which he declined. He died in England, on the 3d of June, 1780, suddenly, as he was stepping into his carriage, and was buried at Croyden. He was sixty-nine years of age.

Francis Bernard died June 16, 1779. A brief obituary of him, in the " Gentleman's Magazine,” says he was of Nettleham, Lincolnshire.

was the season for sowing their Indian corn, the chief subsistence of New England." This was the time when Warren "did wonders" in keeping the army together.

On the 11th, the Provincial Congress authorized Joseph Hawley to sign an address to the Continental Congress, which strongly reiterated the necessity "of a settled civil polity or government," making reference to the former application of the 16th of May. This address says, "The pressing weight of our distresses has necessitated the sending a special post to obtain your immediate advice upon this subject; and we do most earnestly entreat that you would, as soon as possible, despatch the messenger with such advice." This address repeats the considerations which Warren had urged in official and private letters.

On the 12th, there was a session of the Provincial Congress; but the absorbing topic of the day was the celebrated proclamation of General Gage, declaring "the infatuated multitudes" who were in arms, and their abettors, to be rebels, and offering pardon to all excepting Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

On the 13th, there was a long session of congress. Warren was appointed the chairman of "a committee to consider the subject-matter of a late extraordinary proclamation of General Gage;" and this committee prepared a counter-proclamation, which, though not issued at the time, was printed subsequently in the journals of the Provincial Congress.

On the 14th, the Provincial Congress chose Warren, by ballot, a major-general. The records say a committee was directed "to wait on the Hon. Joseph

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