The Honble Congress has resolvd to be at the Expence of the Education of the Elder Son; the other Son and two Daughters remain to this Time without other Assistance than what some generous & charitable Persons have afforded them.  Application has been made to the Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay & in September last to Congress on the Subject; but the Multiplicity of Business or other Causes have hitherto prevented their obtaining any Grant in their Favor—­in the mean time the Children of this patriotick Hero are suffering greatly on Account of their Education, and unless speedily relievd must suffer irreparably.  Nothing more need be said on a Subject which every patriotick as well as humane and generous American must feel sensibly, on recollecting the Character and Death of their brave Father, to induce them to their Reliefe, & thereby to discharge some Part of what they owe the brave Father of these deserted youth.

Whatever Sums may be subscribd, will be receivd by the Honble the President of the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay in Boston, & under their Direction will be applied to the Support and Education of these Children, in such a Manner as is becoming their Birth, and as will tend to render them great and good Citizens, & worthy of the Relation they stand in, to their illustrious Ancestor.

Philadelphia Novr 1st 1779

We the Subscribers engage to pay the Sums affixd to our Names to the Honble William Paca Esqr l, to be transmitted to the President & Council aforesaid.  Witness our Hands.

1 Member of Congress from Maryland.

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF MASSACHUSETTS.

[Ms., Massachusetts Archives.]

State of Massachusetts Bay in council Decr 23d 1779

[Ordered that Genl Ward

Mr Thos Cushing

Mr Adams

Mr Fisher Esqr

Mr Pitts be

a Comtee to wait upon the Hone House of Representatives with the following message]1

The Council Board have taken your Message of this Day in due Consideration.  It is important; nor out of Season.  It is most certainly incumbent on those who have accepted of Places of the highest Trust, to attend constantly to the Duties of their Stations.  This is the just Expectation of the Publick & ought never to be dispensed with.  The Board have been so sensible of the obligations they owe to their Country in this Regard, that they have frequently orderd a Call of their Members when it became necessary and previous to your Message they directed the Attendance of those who are now absent.  If the Publick suffers Injury from a Want of Application to its pressing Affairs, in any others;—­Members of the General Assembly, it is hoped the joynt authority of both Houses will be employd effectually to prevent it.

1 The portion here bracketed is not in the autograph of Adams.