EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS SENT BY THE BOSTON COMMITTEE; TO THE PEOPLE OF EVERY TOWN IN THE PROVINCE, WITH A PAPER WHICH THEY ARE TO SIGN.

Boston, June 8, 1774.

There is but one way that we can conceive of to prevent what is to be deprecated by all good men, and ought by all possible means to be prevented, viz: the horrours that must follow an open rupture between Great Britain and her Colonies; or on our part, a subjection to absolute slavery; and that is by affecting the trade and interest of Great Britain so deeply as shall induce her to withdraw her oppressive hand. There can be no doubt of our succeeding to the utmost of our wishes, if we universally come into a solemn league not to import goods from Great Britain, and not to buy any goods that shall hereafter be imported from thence, until our grievances shall be redressed. To these, or even to the least of these shameful impositions, we trust in God our countrymen never will submit.

We have received such assurances from our brethren in every part of the Province, of their readiness to adopt such measures as may be likely to save our country, and that we have not the least doubt of an almost universal agreement for this purpose; in confidence of this, we have drawn up a form of a covenant to be subscribed by all adult persons, of both sexes; which we have sent to every town in the Province, and that we might not give our enemies time to counteract us, we have endeavoured that every town should be furnished with such a copy on or before the fourteenth day of this month, and we earnestly desire that you would use your utmost endeavours that the subscription paper may be filled up as soon as possible, so that they who are in expectation of overthrowing our liberties, may be discouraged from prosecuting their wicked designs; as we look upon this, the last and only method of preserving our land from slavery without drenching it with blood; may God prosper every undertaking which tends to the salvation of tills people. We are, &c.

Signed by order and in behalf of the Committee of Correspondence for Boston.

WILLIAM COOPER, Clerk.

FORM OF A COVENANT SENT TO EVERY TOWN IN MASSACHESETTS.

We the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of ****** having taken into our serious consideration the precarious state of the liberties of North America, and more especially the present distressed condition of this insulted Province, embarrassed as it is by several Acts of the British Parliament, tending to the entire subversion of our natural and charter rights; among which is the Act for blocking up the harbour of Boston. And being fully sensible of our indispensable duty to lay hold on every means in our power to preserve and recover the much injured Constitution of our country; and conscious at the same time of no alternative between the horrours of slavery, or the carnage and desolation of a civil war, but a suspension of all commercial intercourse with the Island of Great Britain, do, in the presence of God, solemnly and in good faith, covenant and engage with each other:

1st. That from henceforth we will suspend all commercial intercourse with the said Island of Great Britain, until the said Act for blocking up the said harbour be repealed, and a full restoration of our charter rights be obtained. And

2d. That there may be the less temptation to others to continue in the said, now dangerous commerce, we do in like manner solemnly covenant, that we will not buy, purchase, or consume, or suffer any person, by, for, or under us, to purchase or consume, in any manner whatever, any goods, wares, or merchandise, which shall arrive in America from Great Britain aforesaid, from and after the last day of August next ensuing; And in order as much as in us lies, to prevent our being interrupted and defeated in this only peaceable measure entered into for the preservation and recovery of our rights, we agree to break off all trade, commerce, and dealings whatever with all persons, who, preferring their own private interest to the salvation of their own perishing country, shall still continue to import goods from Great Britain, or shall purchase of those who do import, and never to renew any commerce or trade with them.

And, whereas the promoting of industry, economy, arts and manufactures among ourselves is of the last importance to the civil and religious welfare of a community: we engage,

3d. That from and after the first day of October next ensuing, we will not by ourselves, or any for, by or under us, purchase or use any goods, wares, manufactures, or merchandise, whensoever or howsoever imported from Great Britain, until the harbour of Boston shall be opened, and our charter rights restored.

And last. As a refusal to come into any agreement which promises the deliverance of our country From the calamities it now feels, and which like a torrent are rushing upon it with increasing violence, must evidence a disposition inimical to, or criminally negligent of, the common safety, we agree, that after this covenant has been offered to any person, and they refuse to sign It, we will consider them in the same light as contumacious importers, and withdraw all commercial connections with them forever, and publish their names to the world.

Witness our hands, June —, 1774.

ADDRESS OF MERCHANTS AND OTHERS, OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON, TO GOVERNOUR GAGE, PRESENTED AT SALEM, JUNE 8, 1774.

May it please your EXCELLENCY:

We esteem it not one of the least consolations to this Province, that this day of its distress, that his Majesty hath been pleased to appoint to the head of it, a gentle-man of your Excellency's Known ability, steadiness, and moderation. The long command which you have held in another department in America, in which you have displayed every good quality of the heart and mind, gives us the most favourable hopes of your future administration; and makes us the less regret the parting with our late worthy Governour, whose wise and faithful administration hath given us the most entire satisfaction.

We therefore, merchants, traders and others, of the town of Boston, for ourselves, do now wait on your Excellency to pay you our hearty congratulations on your arrival at the metropolis, to acknowledge our gratitude to our Sovereign for his gracious appointment of you to the head of this Province at this very important conjuncture; and to give you our firm assurances that we will do every thing in our power, in our respective stations, to promote peace and good order, and to make your administration easy and happy.

We cannot well express to your Excellency the distress of mind we feel at the approaching calamity, which will soon overwhelm the town of Boston, particularly the trading part of it, by the operation of a late Act of Parliament for shutting up the harbour.

The real miseries which this will occasion to our fellow-townsmen cannot well be conceived. A mind like your Excellency's, fraught with tenderness and humanity will anticipate our sufferings; and requires a description of the evil, to prompt you to a ready exertion of all your interests to avert or remove it.

We could wish a discretionary power had been lodged with your Excellency to restore the trade to its usual course immediately on the Act being fully complied with; but as the Act stands, being only to be repealed by his Majesty in Council, on your Excellency's favourable representation of us, it will take so much time before it can be effected, as will involve us in unspeakable misery, and, we fear, total ruin. Making restitution to the East India Company for damage done to the persons and property of individuals among us, by the outrage of rash and inconsiderate men, we look upon to be quite equitable; and we, who have ever disavowed all lawless violences, do bear our testimony against them, and particularly against that action which we suppose to be the immediate cause of our heavy chastisement, are willing to pay our proportions whenever the same can be ascertained, and the mode of laying it determined on. As soon as compensation shall be made, and all other terms of the Act complied with, we have no doubt your Excellency will make such favourable representations of our case to his Majesty in Council, as that he may be graciously pleased to restore us to his Royal favour.