has made common to all the Americans. At present, I believe this to the case, and that almost every one amongst us sees the necessity of checking the progress that arbitrary power is making.

Would to God your relief could be speedily effected by the means pointed out by the vote of your town; but the minds of men, at least in two of the principal Colonies, cannot yet be brought to combat with the most powerful principle in human nature: I mean self-interest, which must be so generally renounced during a suspension of trade. Many indeed who are not swayed by selfishness, are for offering the olive branch to the mother country, unaccompanied by the threats and menaces implied in that measure; and proposing through a general Congress such terms of accommodation as will leave us the essential rights of Englishmen, and suffering her at the same time to reap those advantages in trade which some suppose she had in contemplation, in first settling these Colonies, notwithstanding the opinion which old charters in many early transactions justify, that the absolute independence of the Colonies was intended. If these two ideas are not to be fairly reconciled in theory, they think, perhaps, a temporary compromise, which should leave any determinate principles out of the question, may be effected. Our people seem bent upon first trying this experiment; the necessity of harmony and perfect unanimity, which all seem sensible of, has reconciled very different interests among us, and by yielding to each other, the Quakers and Presbyterians, and other contending sects, have met on this point.

A measure of this kind seems calculated rather as a general barrier against the encroaching power of Parliament, than to give immediate relief to people in your situation. We all wish, however, that your firmness should remain unshaken, until the remedy to be applied shall have had its operation; but this seems hardly possible. Patriotism, assailed by poverty and want, has seldom stood its ground. The general subscription to be opened here, which I hope will be followed in other places, will show that your neighbours have not absolutely forsaken you in the day of distress; it will in some measure alleviate the wretchedness of the poor, and stifle their clamours for bread. Would to Heaven this proposed charity may be in the least adequate to the occasion, that the hard necessity of complying with dangerous and disgraceful terms might be utterly taken away.

It is said there is a crisis in political, as well as in natural disorders; this may be, when the apprehensions of any great evils shall have made such progress as to incline men to make the strongest and most decisive efforts to avoid them. I believe we are not ripe yet for these efforts; the two bills before Parliament for taking away the peculiar privileges of your Province, and making the soldiery masters of your lives, will probably quicken and mature our resentments, and give us a greater certainty of approaching tyranny.

But I have to ask your pardon for this tedious letter. I expect in a few weeks to see you at Boston, with a brother of Mr. Dickinson's.

I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE CLYMER.

Josiah Quincy, Jun.

SOUTH-HAVEN (NEW-YORK) RESOLUTIONS.

At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Parish of South-Haven, in the County of Suffolk, and Colony of New-York, the 13th of June, 1774.

Mr. WILLIAM SMITH, Moderator.

It is voted and agreed, that the Act of Parliament, for blocking up the harbour of Boston, is unconstitutional, and has a direct tendency to enslave the inhabitants of America, and put an end to all property.

And it is also the opinion of this meeting, that if the Colonies all unite, and strictly, adhere to a non-importation agreement from Great Britain and the West Indies, and have no trade with them, we should have great reason to expect in a short time a repeal of that oppressive Act; and for that purpose we do heartily desire that such an agreement may be entered into.

And it is further voted and agreed by this meeting, that the following gentlemen, viz: William Smith, Esquire, Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull, Colonel William Floyd, Mr. Thomas Fanning, Captain Josiah Smith, Captain David Mulford, and Captain Jonathan Baker, be a Standing Committee for this place, to correspond with the Committee of Correspondence in the City of New-York and others; and that they do immediately communicate the above sentiments to them.

Signed by order of the meeting,

W. SMITH.

Charlestown, S. C, June 13, 1774.

At a Meeting of the General Committee this day, it was

Unanimously agreed, That a General Meeting of the inhabitants of this Colony be called, on Wednesday the 6th of July next, at eight o'clock in the morning, at the Exchange, in Charlestown, to consider of the papers, letters, and resolutions, transmitted to the Committee from the Northern Colonies; and also of such steps as are necessary to be pursued, in union with the inhabitants of all our sister Colonies on this Continent, in order to avert the dangers impending over American liberties in general, by the late hostile Act of Parliament against Boston, and other arbitrary measures of the British Ministry: And that public notice thereof be immediately given in the Gazettes."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN NEW-YORK.

Charlestown, S. C, 13th June, 1774.

Circular letters are despatched by express to all the most leading men throughout this Colony, in order to remove some jealousies which have been industriously excited, to acquaint them with the present dangerous situation of every American and his posterity, and to engage their union, assistance, and influence, in their several districts, to attend, either personally or by deputies authorized to declare their sentiments, at a general meeting of Delegates from every part of the Colony, to be held at Charlestown, the 6th of July next.

The Virginia packet, which was particularly addressed to our merchants, is to be immediately returned to them with our thanks for their polite communication, and an intimation that we shall be glad to have, in a private way, their sentiments before the 28th instant, when our Committee are to meet again, agree upon and prepare what should be proper to lay before and recommend to the general meeting on the 6th of July, where we should also be glad to see them.

Even the merchants now seem generally inclined to a non-importation. How much farther we shall go will depend upon the expected advices from the other Colonies, and the spirit and vigour with which they act.

I could wish your Committee had extended its correspondence to Georgia, and beg leave to recommend the doing it still, without delay.

I am particularly desired to request from every Colony the most speedy information of their respective annual exports of unwrought iron, to Great Britain. How many tons each could supply to this Colony—also what quantity of hoes, axes, tools, cutlery, and other articles usually imported from Great Britain, each Colony can supply, &c.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER RECEIVED IN PHILADELPHIA.

Charlestown, S. C, June 14, 1774.

The inhabitants are much alarmed at the arbitrary proceedings of the British Ministry, and our Committee have met, in consequence of the letters received from the Northern Colonies, and are resolved to co-operate with them in any prudent measure which may be thought likely to remedy the grievance. I believe whatever New-York and your city may conclude on, (we place so much confidence in your moderation and firmness,) our town will readily join in with. Our tea remains here entirely unmolested; if the duty is not taken off the present session of Parliament, we shall probably have orders to send it home,