They are paid once a week, and, by their happy | York, I have heard of no stealing among them. countenance, appear to want nothing. A sen--Theft is said to be a crime held in universal · tinel is not allowed to stand upon duty without a warm watch-coat in addition to his other clothing. The officers treat the soldiers with attention, humanity and respect, and appear to employ all the means necessary to inspire them with sentiments of honor. Except some horsejockeying and plundering, at the reduction of Thomas Rodney, esq. abhorrence among them. I have not seen or heard of any instance, yet, of a French soldier being whipped. Their desertions, I believe, have been rare, and their sickness but little. When will our army bear the comparison ? JAMES TILTON. PROCEEDINGS MARYLAND. the parliament of Great Britain, by imposing taxes upon many articles imported hither from thence, and from other parts beyond sea, has OF THE PEOPLE ASSEMBLED AT ANNAPOLIS, ISH GOODS. ANNAPOLIS, June 29, 1769. Several of the counties having entered into perfluities, and the province, in general, being purchase and pay for the manufactures of the imposed by a late act of parliament, laying mother-country; which taxes, especially those duties on tea, paper, glass, etc., we are clearly convinced have been imposed contrary to the spirit of our constitution, and have a direct and all political freedom, and reduce us to a state of dependence, inconsistent with that liberty we have rightfully enjoyed under the government of his present most sacred majesty, (to whom we owe, acknowledge, and will always and of his royal predecessors, ever since the joyfully pay all due obedience and allegiance) first settlement of the province, until of very late time-have thought it necessary to manifest tendency to deprive us, in the end, of unite, as nearly as our circumstances will admit, with our sister colonies, in resolutions for the purpose aforesaid; and, therefore, do hereby agree, and bind ourselves, to and with each other, by all the ties and obligations of honor and reputation, that we will strictly and faithfully observe, and conform to the follow We, the subscribers, his majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, the merchants, traders, freeholders, mechanics, and other inhabitants of the province of Maryland, seriously considering the present state and condition of the province, and being sensible that there is a ne-ing resolutions: cessity to agree upon such measures, as may FIRST, That we will not, at any time heretend to discourage, and as much as may be, after, directly or indirectly, import, or cause to prevent the use of foreign luxuries and super-be imported, any manner of goods, merchanfluities, in the consumption of which we have heretofore too much indulged ourselves, to the great detriment of our private fortunes, and, in some instances, to the ruin of our families; and, to this end, to practise ourselves, and as much as possible, to promote, countenance, and encourage in others, a habit of temperance, frugality, economy, and industry, and considering also, that measures of this nature are more particularly necessary at this time, as dise, or manufactures, which are, or shall hereafter be, taxed by act of parliament, for the purpose of raising a revenue in America (except paper not exceeding six shillings per ream, and except such articles only as orders have been already sent for) but, that we will always consider such taxation, in every respect, as an absolute prohibition to the articles that are, or may be taxed. SECONDLY, That we will not hereafter, THIRDLY, That we will not, during the time aforesaid, import any wines, of any kind whatever, or purchase the same from any person whatever, except such wines as are already FOURTHLY, That we will not kill or suffer to be killed, or sell, or dispose to any person, whom we have reason to believe intends to kill, any ewe-lamb that shall be yeaned before the first day of May in any year, during the time aforesaid. directly or indirectly, during the continuance of | paintings, carpets of all sorts, snuff-boxes, the aforesaid act of parliament, import, or snuff, and other manufactured tobacco, soap, cause to be imported, from Great Britain, or starch, playing cards, dice, English china, Engany other part of Europe, (except such articles lish ware, in imitation of China, delph and of the produce or manufacture of Ireland, as stone ware, of all sorts, except milk-pans, stone may be immediately and legally brought from bottles, jugs, pitchers, and chamber pots, marthence, and also, except all such goods as ble and wrought stone of any kind, except orders have been already sent for) any of the scythe-stones; mill-stones, and grind-stones, goods herein after enumerated, to wit, horses, iron castings, ironmongery of all sorts, except spirits, wine, cider, perry, beer, ale, malt, bar-nails; hoes, steel, handicraft and manufacturley, peas, beef, pork, fish, butter, cheese, tal-ers' tools, locks, frying-pans, scythes and sicklow, candles, oil, except Salad-oil, fruit, pickles, les, cutlery of all sorts, except knives and forks, confectionery, British refined sugar, mustard, not exceeding three shillings per dozen ; knives, coffee, pewter, tin-ware of all kinds, whether scissors, sheep shears, needles, pins and thimplain or painted, waiters, and all kinds of japan-bles, razors, chirurgical instruments and specware, wrought copper, wrought and cast brass, tacles, cordage, or tarred rope of all sorts, and bell-metal, watches, clocks, plate, and all seines, ships' colors ready made, ivory, horn other gold and silversmiths' work, trinkets, and and bone ware of all sorts, except combs. jewelry of all kinds, gold and silver lace, joiners' and cabinet work of all sorts, lookingglasses, upholstery of all kinds, carriages of all kinds, ribbons and millinery of all kinds, except wig-ribbon, lace, cambric, lawn, muslin, kent-imported, or for which orders are already ing, gauze of all kinds, except Boulting-cloths, sent. silks of all kinds, except raw and sewing silk, and wig cauls, velvets, chintzes, and calicoes of all sorts, of more than twenty-pence per yard, East-India goods of every kind, except salt-petre, black pepper, and spices, printed linens, and printed cottons, striped linens, and cottons, check linens, and cotton checks of all kinds, handkerchiefs of all kinds, at more than ten shillings per dozen; cotton velvets, and all kinds of cotton, or cotton and linen stuffs, bedbunts, and bed-ticking of all sorts, cotton counterpanes and coverlids, British manufactured linens of all kinds, except sail-cloth, Irish and all foreign linens, above one shilling and six pence per yard; woolen cloth, above five quarters wide, of more than five shillings per yard; narrow cloths of all sorts, of more than three shillings per yard; worsted stuffs of all sorts, above thirteen pence per yard; silk and worsted, silk and cotton, silk and hair, and hair and worsted stuffs of all kinds, worsted and hair shags, mourning of all and every kind, stockings, caps, waistcoat and breeches patterns of all kinds, rugs of all sorts, above eight shillings; blankets, above five shillings, per blanket; men's and women's ready made clothes and wearing apparel of all kinds, hats of all kinds, of more than two shillings per hat; wigs, gloves, and mits of all kinds, stays and bodices of all sorts, boots, saddles, and all manufactures of leather, and skins of all kinds, except men's and women's shoes, of not more than four shillings per pair, whips, brushes, and brooms of all sorts, gilt, and hair trunks, FIFTHLY, That we will not, directly or indirectly, during the time aforesaid, purchase, take up, or receive, on any terms, or conditions whatever, any of the goods enumerated in the second resolution, that shall, or may be imported into this province, contrary to the intent and design of these resolutions, by any person whatever, or consigned to any factor, agent, manager, or storekeeper here, by any person residing in Great Britain, or elsewhere; and if any such goods shall be imported, we will not, upon any consideration whatever, rent or sell to, or permit any way to be made use of by any such importer, his agent, factor, manager, or store-keeper, or any person, on his, or their behalf, any store-house, or other house, or any kind of place whatever, belonging to us, respectively, for exposing to sale, or even securing any such goods, nor will we suffer any such to be put on shore on our respective properties. SIXTHLY, That if any person shall import, or endeavor to import, from Great Britain or any part of Europe, any goods whatever, contrary to the spirit and design of the foregoing resolutions, or shall sell any goods which he has now, or may hereafter have on hand, or may import, on any other terms than are herein expressed, we will not, at any time hereafter, | tions shall be binding on us, for and during the deal with any such person, his agent, manager, continuance of the before mentioned act of parfactor, or storekeeper, for any commodity what-liament, unless a general meeting of such perever; and that such of us as are, or may be sons at Annapolis, as may, at any time heresellers of goods, will not take any advantage after, be requested by the people of the several of the scarcity of goods, that this agreement counties in this province to meet, for the purmay occasion, but will sell such as we have pose of considering the expediency of dispensnow on hand, or may hereafter import, or have ing with the said resolutions, or any of them, for sale, at the respective usual and accustomed not exceeding four from each county, or a rates for three years last past. majority of such of them as shall attend, shall determine otherwise. SEVENTHLY, That we will not, during the time aforesaid, import into this province, any of the goods above enumerated for non-importation in the second resolution, which have been, or shall be imported from Great Britain, or some part of Europe, from any colony, or province, which hath not entered, or shall not, PROCEEDINGS within two months from the date hereof, enter OF MERCHANTS AND OTHERS OF BALTI into resolutions of non-importation, nor will we purchase, take up, or receive, on any terms, or conditions whatever, any such goods, from any person or persons, that may import the same; nor will we purchase, take up, or receive, on any terms, or conditions, any of the said goods, which may be imported from any province, or colony, which has entered, or may enter into such resolutions, unless a certificate shall accompany such goods, under the hands of a committee of merchants (if any) of the place from whence such goods shall come or if no such committee, then under the hands of at least three of the principal merchants there, who have entered into resolutions of non-importation, that such goods were imported before such resolution was entered into in such place. And that we will not purchase, take up, or receive, on any terms, or conditions whatever, after the expiration of six months, from the date hereof, from any colony, or province aforesaid, any of the said enumerated articles, which have been, or shall be imported from Great Britain. EIGHTHLY, We, the tradesmen and manufacturers, do likewise promise, and agree, that we will not avail ourselves of the scarcity of European goods, proceeding from the resolutions for non-importation, to raise or enhance the prices of the different articles, or commodities, by us wrought up, or manufactured; but that we will sell and dispose of the same, at the usual and accustomed rates we have done for these three years past. LASTLY, That, if any person, or persons, whatever, shall oppose, or contravene the above resolutions, or act in opposition to the true spirit and design thereof, we will consider him, or them, as enemies to the liberties of America, and treat them on all occasions, with the contempt they deserve; provided that these resolu MORE COUNTY, RELATIVE TO IMPORTATION OF EUROPEAN GOODS. At a meeting of the merchants, and others, inhabitants of Baltimore county, associators for non-importation of European goods, held, at Mr. Little's, November 14, 1769, JOHN SMITH, chairman- The committee of enquiry having reported, that William Moore, jun. had imported a cargo of goods in the Lord Cambden, captain John Johnston, from London, of the value of £900 sterling, which they were in doubt were not within the terms of the association. The following question was put, whether William Moore, jun. has imported the said cargo within the terms mentioned in the agreement of the 30th of March last, to which he was a signer? Upon which question, the gentlemen present were unanimously of opinion, that the said cargo was imported contrary to that agreement. Of which determination William Moore being informed, he alleged, as a justification of his conduct, that at the time he signed the agreement, he objected to Mr. John Merryman, who then had the carriage thereof, (and who is now absent in London) that he would not sign, unless he had liberty to send off his orders for fall goods, and to import the same: That some few days afterwards Mr. Merryman informed him, that the merchants of the town would give leave to send off the orders, and receive the fall goods; and that, in consequence of this information, he signed the agreement, without any such condition, written or expressed, in the same opposite to his name. After which the question was put, whether Mr. Moore should have liberty to land and vend his whole cargo? Which was determined in the affirmative. The committee of enquiry having also reported that Benjamin Howard had imported a cargo of goods, of the value of £1700 sterling, in the Lord Cambden, captain John Johnston, London, which they were in doubt were not within the terms of the association of 30th March. Upon which the following question was put, whether Benjamin Howard be permitted to land and vend the said cargo, he having alleged that he never signed the association of the 30th March, being then an inhabitant of Anne-Arundel county, and that he apprehended he was entitled to import within the terms of the general association of the 22d June, to which he was a subscriber, his orders for the said cargo having been transmitted the 1st of May. Resolved in the affirmative, ACTION OF THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND UPON THE SUBJECT OF THE BOSTON PORT-BILL. QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, MAY 30, 1774. At a meeting of a considerable number of the magistrates, and other the most respectable inhabitants of Queen-Anne's county, at Queen's town, on the thirtieth day of May, 1774, in order to deliberate upon the tendency and effect of the act of parliament for blocking up the port and harbor of Boston. Duly considering and deeply affected with the prospect of the unhappy situation of Great Britain and British America, under any kind of disunion, this meeting think themselves obliged, by all the ties which ever ought to preserve a firm union among Americans, as speedily as possible to make known their sentiments to their distressed brethren of Boston; and therefore publish to the world, That they look upon the cause of Boston in its consequences to be the common cause of America. That the act of parliament for blocking up the port and harbor of Boston, appears to them a cruel and oppressive invasion of their natural rights, as men, and constitutional rights as English subjects, and if not repealed, will be a foundation for the utter destruction of American freedom. That all legal and constitutional means ought to be used by all America, for procuring a repeal of the said act of parliament. That the only effectual means of obtaining such repeal, they are at present of opinion, is an association, under the strongest ties, for breaking off all commercial connections with Great Britain, until the said act of parliament be repealed, and the right assumed by parliament for taxing America, in all cases whatsoever, be given up, and American freedom ascertained and settled upon a permanent constitutional foundation. That the most practicable mode of forming such an effectual association, they conceive to be a general meeting of the gentlemen, who are already or shall be appointed committees, to form an American intercourse and correspondence upon this most interesting occasion. That in the mean time they will form such particular associations as to them shall seem effectual; yet professing themselves ready to join in any reasonable general one that may be devised as aforesaid. That these sentiments be inmediately for warded to be printed in the Maryland and Pennsylvania Gazettes. to attend a general congress of delegates from the other colonies, at such time and place as shall be agreed on, in order to settle and estab That Edward Tilghman, Solomon Wright, Turbut Wright, John Browne, Richard Tilgh-lish a general plan of conduct for the important man Earle, James Hollyday, Thomas Wright, purposes aforementioned. William Hemsley, Adam Gray, Clement Sewell, Richard Tilghman, James Kent, John Kerr, James Bordley, and William Bruff, be a committee of correspondence and intercourse, until some alteration is made in this appointment by a more general meeting. Attested by JAMES EARLE, clk. com. BALTIMORE COUNTY, MAY 31, 1774. At a general meeting of the freeholders, gentlemen, merchants, tradesmen, and other inhabitants of Baltimore county, held at the court house of the said county, on Tuesday the 31st of May 1774, Captain CHARLES RIDGELY, Chairman I. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the town of Boston is now suffering in the common cause of America, and that it is the duty of every colony in America to unite in the most effectual means to obtain a repeal of the late act of parliament for blocking up the harbor of Boston.-Dissentient three. II. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that if the colonies come into a joint resolution to stop importations from, and exportations to Great Britain and the West-Indies, until the act for blocking up the harbor of Boston be repealed, the same may be the means of preserving North America in her liberties. Dissentient three. III. That therefore the inhabitants of this county will join in an association with the several counties in this province and the principal colonies in America, to put a stop to exports to Great Britain and the West-Indies, after the first day of October next, or such I other day as may be agreed on, and to put a stop to the imports from Great Britain after the first day of December next, or such other day V. Unanimously,-That the inhabitants of this county will, and it is the opinion of this meeting, that this province ought to break off all trade and dealings with that colony, province or town, which shall decline or refuse to come into similar resolutions with a majority of the colonies. VI. That Capt. Charles Ridgely, Charles Ridgely, son of John, Walter Tolley, jun. Thomas Cockey Dye, William Lux, Robert Alexander, Samuel Purviance, jun. John Moale, Andrew Buchanan, and George Risteau, be a committee to attend a general meeting at Annapolis. And that the same gentlemen, toWilliam Buchanan, Benjamin Nicholson, Thogether with John Smith, Thomas Harrison, mas Sollars, William Smith, James Gittings, Richard Moale, Jonathan Plowman, and William Spear, be a committee of correspondence to receive and answer all letters, and on any emergency, to call a general meeting, and that any six of the number have power to act. VII. That a copy of the proceedings be transmitted to the several counties of this province, directed to their committee of correspondence, and be also published in the Maryland Gazette, to evince to all the world the sense they entertain of the invasion of their constitutional rights and liberties. VIII. That the chairman be desired to return the thanks of this meeting to the gentlemen of the committee of correspondence from Annapolis, for their polite personal attendance in consequence of an invitation by the committee of correspondence for Baltimore town. Signed per order, WILLIAM LUX, Clerk. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, JUNE 4, 1774. as may be agreed upon, until the said act shall | At a meeting of a very considerable and rebe repealed, and that such association shall be upon oath.-Dissentient nine. IV. Unanimously.—That it is the opinion of this meeting, that as the most effectual means of uniting all parts of this province in such association, as proposed, a general congress of deputies from each county be held at Annapolis at such times as may be agreed upon and that if agreeable to the sense of our sister colonies, delegates shall be appointed from this province spectable body of the inhabitants of Anne Arundel county, inclusive of those of the city of Annapolis, on Saturday the 4th day of June, 1774, Mr. Brice Thomas Beale Worthington, moderator. I. Resolved, unanimously, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the town of Boston is now suffering in the common cause of America, and that it is incumbent on every colony in America to unite in effectual means |