Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, May 16, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

A memorial from Robert and John Murray, of New-York, was laid before the Congress, and read.

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself 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 Mr. Tilghman reported from the committee, that they had taken the matter referred to them into consideration, but not having come to any resolution, 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.

Adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, May 17, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment, and the order of the day being postponed till to-morrow:

Upon motion,

Resolved unanimously, That all exportations to Quebec, Nova-Scotia, the island of St. John's, Newfoundland, Georgia, except the parish of St. John's, and to East and West Florida, immediately cease, and that no provision of any kind, or other necessaries be furnished to the British fisheries on the American coasts, until it be otherwise determined by the Congress. Ordered, That this be published immediately. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

THURSDAY, May 18, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The honorable Stephen Hopkins, esq. from Rhode-Island, and Patrick Henry, esq. from Virginia, attended and took their seats in Congress.

Upon motion, Resolved, That the rules of conduct, to be observed in debating and determining questions, laid down by the last Congress, be adopted and observed by the present Congress.

The president laid before the Congress, some important intelligence he received last night, by express, relative to the surprising and taking of Ticonderoga, by a detachment from Massachusetts-Bay and Connecticut, which was read.

Upon motion, Agreed, That Mr. Brown, who brought the express, be called` in: After he withdrew, the Congress, taking into consideration the letters and intelligence communicated to them,

Resolved, Whereas there is indubitable evidence, that a design is formed by the British ministry, of making a cruel invasion from the province of Quebec, upon these colonies, for the purpose of destroying our lives and liberties, and some steps have actually been taken to carry the said design into execution; and, whereas, several inhabitants of the northern colonies, residing in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, and immediately exposed to incursions, impelled by a just regard for the defence and preservation of themselves and their countrymen from such imminent dangers and calamities, have taken possession of that post, in which was lodged a quantity of cannon and military stores, that would certainly have been used in the intended invasion of these colonies; this Con

gress earnestly recommend it to the committees of the cities and counties of New-York and Albany, immediately to cause the said cannon and stores to be removed from Ticonderoga to the south end of lake George; and, if necessary, to apply to the colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, and Connecticut, for such an additional body of forces as will be sufficient to establish a strong post at that place, and effectually to secure said cannon and stores, or so many of them as it may be judged proper to keep there. And that an exact inventory be taken of all such cannon and stores, in order that they may be safely returned, when the restoration of the former harmony between Great-Britain and these colonies, so ardently wished for by the latter, shall render it prudent, and consistent with the over-ruling law of self-preservation.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of America.

Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

FRIDAY, May 19, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed to consider what posts are necessary to be occupied in the colony of New-York, and by what number of troops it will be proper they should be guarded, brought in their report, which, being read, was referred to the committee of the whole.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved themselves into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America, and continued to do so, from day to day, till Wednesday the 24th, on which day the honorable Peyton Randolph, president, being under a necessity of returning home, and having set out this morning early, the chair was vacant, whereupon, On motion, the honorable John Hancock, esq. was unanimously chosen president.

The Congress then resolved themselves into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America, and repeated the same on the day following.

FRIDAY, May 26, 1775.

The Congress being met according to adjournment, one of the delegates from New-Jersey laid before them a minute from the journals of the assembly of that colony, together with a resolution of the commons of Great-Britain, which were read as follows:

"NEW JERSEY, HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, May 20, 1775.

"His excellency having laid before the house, a copy of the resolution of the honorable house of commons of Great-Britain, of the 20th of February, 1775, containing a plan formed for the accommodation of the unhappy differences between our parent state and the colonies; which plan, under the present circumstances, this house could not comply with and adopt, and yet this house being desirous of making use of all proper means to effect a reconciliation, do recommend it to their delegates to lay the same plan before the Continental Congress, for their consideration.

"A true copy from the journals,

"RICHARD SMITH, Clerk of Assembly."

Copy of a resolution of the house of commons, February 20, 1775. "Resolved, That when the governor, council and assembly, or general court, of any of his majesty's provinces, or colonies, in America, shall propose to make provision according to the condition, circumstances, and situations of such province or colony, for contributing their proportion for the common defence, (such proportion to be raised under the authority of the general court,

or general assembly of such province or colony, and disposable by parliament,) and shall engage to make provision also for the support of the civil government, and the administration of justice, in such province or colony, it will be proper, if such proposal shall be approved by his majesty, and the two houses of parliament, and for so long as such provision shall be made accordingly, to forbear, in respect of such province or colony, to levy any duty, tax or assessment, except only such duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy, or to impose, for the regulation of commerce, the neat produce of the duties, last mentioned, to be carried to the account of such province, or colony, respectively."

Ordered, That the above be referred to the committee for taking into consideration the state of America.

The Congress then resolved itself 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 Mr. Ward reported from the committee, that they had come to some resolutions which he was desired to report, but not having finished the business, desired him to move for leave to sit again.

The report from the committee being read, the Congress came into the following resolutions:

Resolved unanimously, That his majesty's most faithful subjects, in these colonies, are reduced to a dangerous and critical situation, by the attempts of the British ministry to carry into execution, by force of arms, several unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the British parliament for laying taxes in America; to enforce the collection of those taxes, and for altering and changing the constitution and internal police of some of these colonies, in violation of the natural and civil rights of the colonists.

Hostilities being actually commenced in the Massachusetts-Bay, by the British troops, under the command of general Gage, and the lives of a number of the inhabitants of that colony destroyed, the town of Boston having not only been long occupied as a garrisoned town in an enemy's country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a severity and cruelty not to be justified even towards declared enemies; large reinforcements too being ordered and soon expected, for the declared purpose of compelling these colonies to submit to the operation of the said acts; that therefore, for the express purpose of securing and defending these colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the said acts into execution, by force of arms, these colonies be immediately put into a state of defence.

But, as we most ardently wish for a restoration of the harmony formerly subsisting between our mother country and these colonies, the interruption of which must, at all events, be exceedingly injurious to both countries, that with a sincere design of contributing by all the means in our power, not incompatible with a just regard for the undoubted rights and true interests of these colonies, to the promotion of this most desirable reconciliation, an humble and dutiful petition be presented to his majesty.

Resolved, That measures be entered into for opening a negotiation, in order to accommodate the unhappy disputes subsisting between Great-Britain and these colonies, and that this be made a part of the petition to the king.

Resolved unanimously, That the militia of New-York be armed and trained, and in constant readiness to act at a moment's warning; and that a number of men be immediately embodied and kept in that city, and so disposed of as to give protection to the inhabitants, in case any insult should be offered by the troops, that may land there, and prevent any attempts that may be made to gain possession of the city, and interrupt its intercourse with the country.

Resolved unanimously, That it be recommended to the provincial convention at New-York, to persevere the more vigorously in preparing for their defence, as it is very uncertain whether the earnest endeavours of the Congress,

to accommodate the unhappy differences between Great-Britain and the colonies, by conciliatory measures, will be successful.

Upon motion, Agreed, That Mr. Jay, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Deane, be a committee to prepare and bring in a letter to the people of Canada.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration the state of America.

Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

SATURDAY, May 27, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The president laid before the Congress a letter from the convention of NewJersey, which was read, and referred to the committee of the whole.

Information being given, that there is a gentleman in town who can give a full and just account of the state of affairs in Canada;

Ordered, That he be introduced, which was done.

The committee appointed to draught a letter to the inhabitants of Canada, brought in the letter, which was read, and after some debate, re-committed to the same committee.

Upon motion, Agreed, That Mr. Washington, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Mifflin, Mr. Deane, Mr. Morris and Mr. S. Adams, be a committee, to consider on ways and means to supply these colonies with ammunition and military

stores.

Upon motion, The memorial of Robert Murray and John Murray," desiring to be restored to their former situation with respect to their commercial privileges," was taken into consideration, and after some time spent thereon,

Resolved, That where any person hath been or shall be adjudged by a committee, to have violated the continental association, and such offender shall satisfy the convention of the colony, where the offence was or shall be committed, or the committee of the parish of St. John's, in the colony of Georgia, if the offence be committed there, of his contrition for his offence, and sincere resolution to conform to the association for the future, the said convention, or committee of the parish of St. John's aforesaid, may settle the terms upon which he may be restored to the favour and forgiveness of the public, and that the terms be published.

Ordered, That this be made public.

Resolved, That the order of the day be postponed till Monday.

Adjourned till Monday, at nine o'clock.

MONDAY, May, 29, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The committee, to whom the letter to the inhabitants of Canada, was recommitted, brought in the same, which was read, and approved, and is as follows:

To the oppressed inhabitants of Canada,

FRIENDS AND COUNTRYMEN,

Alarmed by the designs of an arbitrary ministry, to extirpate the rights and liberties of all America, a sense of common danger conspired with the dictates of humanity, in urging us to call your attention, by our late address, to this very important object.

Since the conclusion of the late war, we have been happy in considering you as fellow-subjects, and from the commencement of the present plan for subjugating the continent, we have viewed you as fellow-sufferers with us. As we were both entitled by the bounty of an indulgent Creator to freedom, and being both devoted by the cruel edicts of a despotic administration, to common ruin, we perceived the fate of the Protestant and Catholic colonies to be strongly

linked together, and therefore invited you to join with us in resolving to be free, and in rejecting, with disdain, the fetters of slavery, however artfully polished.

We most sincerely condole with you on the arrival of that day, in the course of which, the sun could not shine on a single freeman in all your extensive dominions. Be assured, that your unmerited degradation has engaged the most unfeigned pity of your sister colonies; and we flatter ourselves you will not, by tamely bearing the yoke, suffer that pity to be supplanted by contempt.

When hardy attempts are made to deprive men of rights, bestowed by the Almighty, when avenues are cut through the most solemn compacts for the admission of despotism, when the plighted faith of government ceases to give security to dutiful subjects, and when the insidious stratagems and manœuvres of peace become more terrible than the sanguinary operations of war, it is high time for them to assert those rights, and, with honest indignation, oppose the torrent of oppression rushing in upon them.

By the introduction of your present form of government, or rather present form of tyranny, you and your wives and your children are made slaves. You have nothing that you can call your own, and all the fruits of your labor and industry may be taken from you, whenever an avaricious governor and a rapacious council may incline to demand them. You are liable by their edicts to be transported into foreign countries to fight battles in which you have no interest, and to spill your blood in conflicts from which neither honor nor emolument can be derived: Nay, the enjoyment of your very religion, on the present system, depends on a legislature in which you have no share, and over which you have no controul, and your priests are exposed to expulsion, banishment, and ruin, whenever their wealth and possessions furnish sufficient temptation. They cannot be sure that a virtuous prince will always fill the throne, and should a wicked or careless king concur with a wicked ministry in extracting the treasure and strength of your country, it is impossible to conceive to what variety and to what extremes of wretchedness you may, under the present establishment, be reduced.

We are informed you have already been called upon to waste your lives in a contest with us. Should you, by complying in this instance, assent to your new establishment, and a war break out with France, your wealth and your sons may be sent to perish in expeditions against their islands in the West-Indies. It cannot be presumed that these considerations will have no weight with you, or that you are so lost to all sense of honor. We can never believe that the present race of Canadians are so degenerated as to possess neither the spirit, the gallantry, nor the courage of their ancestors. You certainly will not permit the infamy and disgrace of such pusillanmity to rest on your own heads, and the consequences of it on your children forever.

We, for our parts, are determined to live free, or not at all; and are resolved, that posterity shall never reproach us with having brought slaves into the world.

Permit us again to repeat that we are your friends, not your enemies, and be not imposed upon by those who may endeavor to create animosities. The taking of the fort and military stores at Ticonderoga and Crown-Point, and the armed vessels on the lake, was dictated by the great law of self-preservation. They were intended to annoy us, and to cut off that friendly intercourse and communication, which has hitherto subsisted between you and us. hope it has given you no uneasiness, and you may rely on our assurances, that these colonies will pursue no measures whatever, but such as friendship and a regard for our mutual safety and interest may suggest.

We

As our concern for your welfare entitles us to your friendship, we presume you will not, by doing us injury, reduce us to the disagreeable necessity of treating you as enemies.