Second Continental Congress: July 11, 1775

The Report on Indian Affairs is deferred until Wednesday.  John Hancock sends George Washington the 1) Declaration and 2) Address to the People of Great Britain. John Adams considers the latter “not to my taste.”

Link to date-related documents.

Journals of the Continental Congress [Edited]

The Report of the Committee on Indian Affairs was debated and deferred until tomorrow.

Information arrived that there were two companies of Riflemen in Lancaster instead of one.  Resolved, that “both the companies be taken into the continental service.”

Resolved, that the Pennsylvania delegates be at liberty to send 50 Hussars, “who have been in actual service,” to join the troops “before Boston” under Washington.

“An address and Application from delegates of the several of the deputies from the different parishes of the Islands of Bermuda,” to the Congress, was read.

Congress adjourned till tomorrow at nine o’Clock.

John Hancock to George Washington

Since my last to you, nothing has taken place in Congress particularly respecting your Department.  I by order of Congress forward you the Declaration, & Address to the People of England.

[P.S.] I hope to be with you soon, as there seems to prevail an Opinion that we may have an adjournment in a little time.

John Adams to James Warren

I have the pleasure of enclosing you, a Declaration. Some call it a Manifesto.  And We might easily have occasioned a Debate of half a day, whether, it should be called a Declaration or a Manifesto.  Our Address to the People of Great Britain will find many Admirers…but it is not to my taste.  Prettiness’s, Juvenilities, much less Puerilities, become not a great Assembly like this the Representative of a great People.

Edited with commentary by Gordon Lloyd.