Refolved unanimously, That his Majesty's most faithful fubjects in thefe Colonies are reduced to a dangerous and critical fituation, by the attempts of the British Miniftry to carry into execution, by force of arms, feveral unconftitutional and op-. preffive acts of the British Parliament for laying taxes in America; to enforce the collection of those taxes, and for altering and changing the Conftitution and internal police of fome of thefe. Colonies, in violation of the natural and civil rights of the colonists..

Hoftilities being actually commenced in the Maffachufett's-Bay, by the British troops under the command of General Gage, and the lives of a number of the inhabitants of that Colony deftroyed, the town of Bofton having not only been long occupied as a garrifoned town in an enemy's country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a feverity and cruelty not to be juftified even to-. wards declared enemies; large re-inforcements too being ordered and foon expected, for the declared purpose of compelling these Colonies to fubmit to the operation of the faid acts; that therefore, for the exprefs purpose of fecuring and defending these Colonies, and preferving them in fafety against all attempts to carry the faid acts into execution by force of arms, thefe Colonies be immediately put into a ftate of defence.

But as we moft ardently with for a restoration of the harmony formerly fubfifting between our mother country and thefe Colonies, the interruption of which muft, at all events, be exceedingly injurious to both countries, that with a fincere defign of contributing by all the means in our power, not incompatible with a juft regard for the undoubted rights and true interefts of thefe

Colonies,

Colonies, to the promotion of this most defireable reconciliation, an humble and dutiful petition be. prefented to his Majefly.

Refolved, That measures be entered into for opening a negociation, in order to accommodate the unhappy difputes fubfifting between GreatBritain and thefe Colonies, and that this be made a part of the petition to the King.

Refolved unanimously, That the militia of NewYork be armed and trained, and in conftant readinefs 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 cafe any infult should be offered by the troops, that may land there, and to prevent any attempts that may be made to gain poffeffion of the city, and interrupt its intercourfe with the country.

Refolved unanimously, That it be recommended to the Provincial Convention at New-York, to perfevere the more vigorously in preparing for their defence, as it is very uncertain whether the earneft endeavours of the Congrefs, to accommodate the unhappy differences between Great-Britain and the Colonies, by conciliatory measures, will be fuccessful.

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

Refolved, That this Congrefs will to-morrow again refolve itfelf into a Commitee of the whole, to take into their father confideration the ftate of America.

Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock.

SATURAY

SATURDAY, May 27, 1775

The Congress met according to adjournment. The President laid before the Congrefs a letter from the Convention of New-Jerfey, 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 ftate 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 fome debate, recommitted to the fame committee.

Upon motion, Agreed, That Mr. Washington, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Mifflin, Mr. Dean, Mr. Mor ris, and Mr. S. Adams, be a Committee, to confider on ways and means to fupply thefe Colonies with ammunition and military ftores.

Upon motion, The memorial of Robert Murray and John Murray, defiring to be restored to their former fituation with refpect to their commercial privileges," was taken into confideration, and after fome time spent thereon,

Refolved, That where any perfon hath been or hall be adjudged by a Committee, to have violated the Continental Affociation, and fuch offender fhall fatisfy the Convention of the Colony, where the Offence was or fhall 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 fincere refolution to conform to the Affociation for the future, the faid Convention or Committee, of the parish of St. John's aforefaid, may fettle the

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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.

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

Adjourned till Monday 9 o'clock.

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment. The Committee to whom the letter to the inhabitants of Canada was re-committed, brought in the fame, was read and approved, and is as follows:

C

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 fenfe of common danger confpired with the dictates of humanity, in urging us to call your attention, by our late Address, to this very important object.

Since the conclufion of the late war, we have been happy in confidering you as fellow fubjects, and from the commencement of the prefent plan, for fubjugating the Continent, we have viewed you as fellow-fufferers 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 defpotic adminiftration, to common ruin, we perceived the fate of the proteftant and catholic Colonies to be ftrongly linked together, and therefore invited you to join with us in

refolving

refolving to be free, and in rejecting, with difdain, the fetters of flavery, however artfully polished.

We moft fincerely condole with you on the arrival of that day, in the course of which, the fun could not fhine on a fingle free-man in all your extenfive dominion. Be affured that your unmerited degration has engaged the most unfeigned. pity of your fifter Colonies; and we flatter ourfelves you will not, by tamely bearing the yoke, suffer that pity to be fupplanted by contempt.

When hardy attempts are made to deprive men of rights bestowed by the Almighty, when avenues are cut through the most folemn compacts for the admiffion of defpotifm, when the plighted faith of government ceases to give fecurity to loyal and dutiful subjects; and when the infidious ftratagems and manœuvres of peace become more terrible than the fanguinary operations of war, it is high time for them to affert those rights, and, with honeft indignation, oppose the torrent of oppreffion rushing in upon them.

By the introduction of your prefent form of government, or rather prefent form of tyranny, you and your wives and your children are made flaves. You have nothing that you can call your own, and all the fruits of your labour and induftry 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 tranfported into foreign countries, to fight battles, in which you have no intereft, and to spill your blood in conflicts from which neither honour nor emolument can be derived: Nay, the enjoyment of your very religion, on the prefent fyftem, depends

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