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 harbour of Boston. [Dissentient three.]

2d. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that if the Colonies come into a joint resolution to stop importations from and exportation to threat Britain and the West Indies, until the Act for blocking up the harbour of Boston be repealed, the same may be the means of preserving North American her liberties. [Dissentient three.]

3d. Resolved, 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 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Britain after the first day of December next, or such other day as may be agreed upon, until the said Act shall be repealed, and that such Association shall be upon oath. [Dissentient nine.]

4th. Resolved, 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 time as may be agreed upon, and that, if agreeable to the sense of our sister Colonies, Delegates shall The appointed from this Province 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 establish general plan of conduct for the important purposes aforementioned.

5th. Resolved, 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,

6th. Resolved, That Captain 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, together with John Smith, Thomas Harrison, William Buchanan Benjamin Nicholson, Thomas 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.

7th. Resolved, 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.

8th. Resolved, That the Chairman be desired to return the thanks of this meeting to the gentlemen of the Committed 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, Cleric.

DEPUTY GOVERNOUR PENN TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH

Philadelphia, 31st May, 1774.

MY LORD: I take the opportunity of the Packet to acquaint your Lordship, that as soon as the people of Boston knew of the, late Act of Parliament for shutting up that port, an express was despatched from thence with the intelligence to this city, with a proposal to concur with them in putting a total stop to the importing or exporting any kind of goods whatsoever until the above Act should be repealed. In consequence; of this, a considerable number of merchants and others had a meeting at a tavern in this city, where I understand the matter was taken into consideration and debated. The only resolution that I can learn they came into was to prefer a petition to me to convent; the Assembly on the occasion; and I am told a petition ,has framed for that purpose, and is now handed about floe town to the signed, and will he presented to me in a few days. Should so affrontive an application be really made to me, your Lordship may be assured I shall treat it as it deserves. I have, however, been informed, that the movers of this extraordinary measure had not the most distant expectation of succeeding in it, but that their real scheme was to gain time by it to see what part the other Colonies will take in so critical a conjuncture.

Should any further steps be taken here that may be worthy your Lordship’s information, I shall not fail immediately to communicate them. I have the honour to be, &c.,

JOHN PENN.

GOVERNOUR FRANKLIN TO THE EARL OF DEPARTMOUTH

Extract.

Burlington, 31st May, 1774.

Since my last I have received tm circular despatches from Mr. Pownall, dated March 10th and April 6th, enclosing copies of his Majesty’s Message to both Houses of Parliament relative to the late disturbances in America, their Resolutions thereupon, and the Act of Parliament respecting the port of Boston. The latter has been published in the usual manner, though the people in this Colony are not concerned in carrying on any commerce with the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

It is difficult as yet to foresee what will be the consequence of the Boston Port Act. It seems as If the merchants of Philadelphia and New-York, at their late meetings, were inclined to assist or co-operate with those of Boston, in some degree, but not to carry matters so far as to enter into a general non-importation and exportation agreement, as was proposed to them by the town of Boston. However, I believe it may the depended upon, that many of the merchants, on a supposition that a non-importation agreement (so far as respects from. Great Britain) will be certainly entered into by next autumn, have ordered a much greater quantity of goods than common to be sent out by the next fall ships from England.

A Congress of members of the several Houses of Assembly has been proposed in order to agree upon some measures on the present occasion; but whether this expedient will take place it is as yet uncertain. The Virginia Assembly, some time ago, appointed a Committee of Correspondence to correspond with all the other Assemblies on the Continent, which example has teen followed by every other House of Representatives. I was in hopes that the Assembly of this Province would not have gone into the measure; for though they met on the 10th of November, yet they avoided taking the matter into consideration, though frequently urged by some of the members, until the 8th of February, and then I believe they would not have gone into it, but that the Assembly of New-York had just before resolved to appoint such a Committee, and they did not choose to appear singular.

GOVERNOUR GAGE TO THE EARL OF DEPARTMOUTH

Extract.

Boston, 31st May, 1774.

I wish I had met with a ready disposition to comply with the terms of the Act of Parliament, instead of a resolution to ask assistance from the other Colonies; but I don’t find there is any inclination in the rest to shut up their ports, which was not to be expected considering what they before suffered from their non-importation agreements. If they intend, or not, to take any resolutions In behalf of Boston, farther than giving good words, is not known here.

The violent party seems to break, and people fall off from them, but no means are yet adopted to comply with the Act. The Assembly has shown no disposition to begin upon it, but were hurrying the business of supplies through their House, to throw it off themselves, and to avoid meeting at Salem, by adjourning themselves when the supplies had passed their House; but leeching intelligence of their designs, I adjourned them, on a sudden to the 7th of June, and then to meet at Salem.

They, as yet, have only presented me with a petition to proclaim a day of fasting and prayer, but as they lime lately had a day of the kind, according to custom, and as I saw no cause for an extraordinary day of humiliation, I have judged it best not to comply.