Government of this Province, we take this opportunity to wait on you with our congratulations on that occasion.

"Your Excellency has arrived at a juncture when the harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies is greatly interrupted, whereby your station, though elevated, must needs be rendered less agreeable to you than it would have been; but if you should be the happy instrument of restoring in any measure that harmony, and of extricating the Province from their present embarrassments, you will doubtless consider these happy effects as more than a compensation for any inconveniences arising to you from the peculiar circumstances of the times. His Majesty's faithful Council on all occasions will cheerfully co-operate with your Excellency in every attempt for accomplishing those desirable ends.

"We wish your Excellency every felicity; the greatest of a political nature, both to yourself and the Province is, that your administration in the principles and general conduct of it may be a happy contrast to those of your two immediate predecessors. It is irksome to us to censure any one, but we are constrained to say there is the greatest reason to apprehend that from their machinations (both in concert and apart) are derived the origin and progress of the disunion between Britain and the Colonies, and the present distressed state of this Province—a Province to which the latter of them, in an especial manner, owed his best services, and whose liberties and rights he was under every obligation of duty and gratitude to support.

"The inhabitants of this Province claim no more than the rights of Englishmen, without diminution or ' abridgment;' these, as it is our indispensable duty, so it shall be our constant endeavour to maintain to the utmost of our power, in perfect consistence, however, with the truest loyalty to the Crown; the just prerogatives of which your Excellency will ever find this Board zealous to support.

"Permit us, sir, on this occasion, to express the firmest confidence that, under their present grievances, the people of this Province will not in vain look to your Excellency for your paternal aid and assistance; and, as the great end of Government is the good of the people, that your experience and abilities will be applied to attain that end; the steady pursuit of which, at the same time it insures their confidence and esteem, will be a source of the truest enjoyment, self-approbation.

"We thank your Excellency for the assurance you have given ‘that you shall with pleasure concur with the two Houses to the utmost of your power in all matters that tend to the welfare and prosperity of the Province;' and your Excellency may be assured that we shall contribute every thing on our part to promote measures of so salutary a tendency."

June 14th, 1774. The Committee appointed to present the foregoing Address, waited on his Excellency therewith yesterday, and read as far as that part which reflects on the administration of his Excellency’s two immediate predecessors, when he desired the Chairman not to proceed any further, and that he would assign his reasons for refusing to receive it, in a Message to the Council; and on the same day sent by his Secretary the following Message:

"Gentlemen of the COUNCIL:

"I cannot receive an Address which contains indecent reflections on my predecessors who have been tried and honourably acquitted by the Lords of the Privy Council, and their conduct approved by the King.

"I consider this Address as an insult upon his Majesty, and the Lords of his Privy Council, and an affront to myself.

T. GAGE."

ADDRESS OF MERCHANTS AND OTHERS, INHABITANTS OF SALEM, TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOUR GAGE, ON SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1774.

To his Excellency THOMAS GAGE, Esq., Captain-General, Governour and Commander-in-chief, of the Province of MASSACHUSETTS BAY, in NEW ENGLAND, and Lieutenant-General of his Majesty's Forces:

May it please your EXCELLENCY:

We, Merchants and others, Inhabitants of the ancient town of Salem, beg leave to approach your Excellency with our most respectful congratulations on your arrival in this place.

We are deeply sensible of his Majesty's paternal care and affection to this Province, in the appointment of a person of your Excellency's experience, wisdom, and moderation, in these troublesome and difficult times.

We rejoice that this town is graciously distinguished for that spirit, loyalty, and reverence for the laws, which is equally our glory and happiness.

From that public spirit and warm zeal to promote the general happiness of men, which marks the great and good, we are led to hope under your Excellency's administration for every thing that may promote the peace, prosperity, and real welfare of this Province.

We beg leave to commend to your Excellency's patron-age the trade and commerce of this place, which, from a full protection of the liberties, persons, and properties of individuals, cannot but flourish.

And we assure your Excellency we will make it our constant endeavours by peace, good order, and a regard for the laws, as far as in us lies, to render your station and residence easy and happy.

Signed by forty-eight persons.

HIS EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER.

GENTLEMEN: I thank you for this very kind Address, and your obliging congratulations on my arrival at this place. The favourable sentiments you are pleased to entertain of me are extremely flattering, and merit my warmest acknowledgments.

I doubt not that you will continue to cherish that spirit of loyalty and reverence to the laws that has distinguished the ancient town of Salem. And no attention or protection shall be wanting on my part to encourage such laudable sentiments, which cannot fail to increase your trade and commerce, and render you a happy and flourishing people.

HARFORD COUNTY (MARYLAND) RESOLUTIONS.

At a Meeting of a very considerable and respectable body of the Inhabitants of Harford County, Maryland, on the 11th of June, 1774.

AQUILA HALL, Chairman.

1st. 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 to unite in the most effectual constitutional means to obtain a repeal of the late Act of Parliament for blocking up the harbour and port of Boston.

2d. Resolved, That therefore we will join in an Association with the other counties of this Province, on oath, not to export to, or import from, Great Britain, any kind of produce or merchandise after such a day as the Committees of the several counties at their general meeting shall fix, until the repeal of the Boston Port Act.

3d. Resolved, That we will deal with none of the West India Islands, Colony or Colonies, person or persons whatsoever residing therein, who shall not enter into similar resolves with a majority of the Colonies within such time as the General Committees of this Province shall agree, but hold him or them as an enemy or enemies to American liberty.

4th. Resolved, That we will join in an Association with the other counties, to send relief to the poor and distressed inhabitants of Boston, to enable them firmly to persevere in defence of the common cause.

5th. Resolved, That the merchants ought not to advance the price of their goods, but sell them as they intended had not these Resolves been entered into.

6th. Resolved, That the gentlemen of the law ought to bring no suit for the recovery of any debt due from any inhabitant of this Province, to any inhabitant of Great Britain, or this, or any other Colony, until the said Act be repealed, except in such cases where the debtor is guilty of wilful delay in payment, having ability to pay, or is about to abscond or remove his effects, or is wasting his substance, or shall refuse to settle his account by giving his bond on interest, (or security if required) which fact or facts are to be made appear to some neighbouring Magistrate, and certified under his hand.