alone render an accommodation lafting; and we flatter ourselves, that our pacific endeavours will be attended with a removal of minifterial troops, and a repeal of those laws, of the operation of which we complain, on the one part, and a difbanding of our army, and a diffolution of our commercial affociations, on the other.

Yet conclude not from this, that we propofe to furrender our property into the hands of your miniftry, or veft your Parliament with a power which may terminate in our deftruction. The great bulwarks of our conftitution we have defired to maintain by every temperate, by every peaceable means; but your minifters (equal foes to British and American freedom) have added to their former oppreffions an attempt to reduce us by the fword to a base and abject fubmiffion. On the fword therefore we are compelled to rely for protection. Should victory declare in your favour, yet men trained to arms from their infancy, and animated by the love of liberty, will afford neither a cheap or eafy conqueft. Of this at least we are affured, that our fruggle will be glorious, our fuccefs certain, fince even in death we fhall find that freedom, which in life you forbid us to enjoy.

Let us now afk what advantages are to attend our reduction? The trade of a ruined and defolate country is always inconfiderable, its revenue trifling; the expence of fubjecting and retaining it in fubjection certain and inevitable. What then remains but the gratification of an ill judged pride, or the hope of rendering us fubfervient to defigns on your liberty. Soldiers who have fheathed their fwords in the bowels of their American brethren, will not draw them with more reluctance against you. When too late you may lament the lofs of that freedom, U which

which we exhort you, while ftill in your power, to preserve.

On the other hand, fhould you prove unsuccessful; fhould that connection, which we most ardently wish to maintain, be diffolved; should your Minifters exhauft your treasures and wafte the blood of your countrymen in vain attempts on our liberty; do they not deliver you, weak and defenceless, to your natural enemies.

Since then your liberty must be the price of your victories; your ruin, of your defeat :-What blind fatality can urge you to a purfuit deftructive of all that Britons hold dear?

If you have no regard to the connection that has for ages fubfifted between us; if you have forgot the wounds we received fighting by your fide, for the extention of the empire; if our commerce is not an object below your confideration; if juftice and humanity have loft their influence on your hearts; ftill motives are not wanting, to excite your indignation at the measures now purfued: your wealth, your honour, your liberty are at ftake.

Notwithstanding the diftrefs to which we are reduced, we fometimes forget our own afflictions, to anticipate and fympathize in yours. We grieve that rafh and inconfiderate councils. fhould precipitate the deftruction of an empire, which has been the envy and admiration of ages, and call God to witness that we would part with our property, endanger our lives, and facrifice every thing but Liberty, to redeem you from ruin.

A cloud hangs over your heads and ours; e'er this reaches you, it may probably burst upon us, let us then (before the remembrance of former kindnefs is obliterated) once more repeat thofe appellations which are ever grateful in our ears.

Let us

entreat

t

entreat Heaven to ayert our ruin, and the deftruction that threatens our friends, brethren, and countrymen, on the other fide of the Atlantic.

Ordered, That the above addrefs be immediately printed, and fent by Mr. Penn to England.

The letter to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Livery of London, being again read and debated, was agreed to as follows:

My LORD,

PERMIT the Delegates of the people of twelve ancient colonies, to pay your lordship and the very refpectable body of which you are head, the just tribute of gratitude and thanks for the virtuous and unfollicited refentment you have fhewn to the violated rights of a free people. The city of London, my Lord, having in all ages, approved itfelf the patron of Liberty, and the fupport of just government, against lawless tyranny and oppreffion, cannot fail to make us deeply fenfible of the powerful aid our caufe muft receive from fuch advocates. A caufe, my Lord, worthy the support of the first city in the world, as it involves the fate of a great Continent, and threatens to shake the foundations of a flourishing, and until lately, a happy empire.

North-America, my Lord, wishes moft ardently for a lafting connection with Great-Britain, on terms of just and equal Liberty; lefs than which generous minds will not offer, nor brave and free ones be willing to receive.

A cruel war has at length been opened against

us, and whilft we prepare to defend ourselves like the defcendants of Britons, we ftill hope that the mediation of wife and good citizens, will at length prevail over defpotifm, and restore harmony and peace, on permanent principles, to an oppreffed and divided empire.

We have the honour to be,

My Lord;

With great esteem,

Your Lordship's

Faithful friends and fellow-fubje&s.

Ordered, That the above be tranfcribed, and then figned by the Prefident.

The Committee appointed to prepare a letter to Mr. Penn and the colony agents, reported a draught, which was read and approved as follows;

GENTLEMEN.

The perfeverance of the British ministry, in their unjuft and cruel fyftem of Colony Administration, has occafioned the meeting of another Congrefs.

We have again appealed to the juftice of our Sovereign, for protection against the deftruction which his Ministers meditate for his American fubjects. This petition to his Majefty, you will please, Gentlemen, to present to the King with all convenient expedition, after which we defire it may be given to the public. We likewise send you our fecond application to the equity and intereft of our fellow-fubjects in Great-Britain, and also a declaFation, fetting forth the causes of our taking up Arms Both which we wish may be immediately

put

put to prefs, and communicated as univerfally as poflible.

The Congress entertain the highest sense of the wife and worthy interpofition of the Lord Mayor and Livery of London, in favour of injured America. They have expreffed this their fenfe in a letter to his Lordship and the Livery, which we defire may be presented in the manner most agreeable to that refpectable body.

You will oblige us, Gentlemen; by giving the most early information to the Congrefs, and to the Speakers of our refpective Affemblies of your proceedings in this bufinefs, and fuch further intelligence as you may judge to be of importance to America in this great conteft.

We are with great regard,
Gentlemen, &c.

Ordered, The the above be fairly transcribed, and then figned by the Prefident, and by him fent under cover, together with the Petition to the King, and Addrefs to the Inhabitants of GreatBritain, and the letter to the Lord Mayor, &c. to Richard Penn, Efq; and that the Prefident requeft Mr. Penn, in behalf of the Congrefs, to join with the Colony Agents in prefenting the petition to the King.