Congress to Philadelphia; of the Committees forbidding people to work for the Troops, or to supply them with materials, and necessaries for their quarters; committing insults, and destroying bricks and straw coming from the country. All these proceedings appeared to be carried on systematically, and to have some concealed design, which could be no other than to oblige the Troops to force their quarters upon the inhabitants, or show their reseptment in some shape, that might afford a pretence to cry out against military oppression, to alarm the Continent, and obtain assistance from the Congress; and as there was a suspicion of their project, precautions were taken to defeat it.

I have no doubt that the aim of the hot leaders here has been to have a body of Troops in pay, and under their direction, and to persuade the other Colonies to contribute towards the expense; but not succeeding in that attempt, that they have next tried in this Provincial Congress to usurp the Government entirely, as the surest means to procure both money and Troops by their own authority. This is pretty apparent from some of their Resolves, as well as from what has fallen from some of the Members of the Congress; but they have not yet been able to bring the majority into their schemes; and I don't find that their new Treasurer has had any money paid into his hands.

I transmit your Lordship the publications of this Congress, since my last, and you will see that it is now dissolved, and that another is to be chosen in February, when the Chiefs will probably try to get members more inclined to serve their ends. Their violence terrified many of their party, who have given assistance to preserve peace and quiet, by which people have had time to cool and hearken more to reason; but I don't infer that they are more inclined to receive the new Laws, or that a little matter would not raise them again. But people who have been maltreated for their attachment to Government, have recovered themselves during the calm, and in several places have associated for their mutual defence. I have, been given to hope great good effects from these associations, which I have taken pains to promote, though I confess that I expect the associators will be composed only of former protesters and addressers, who have stood forth for a time, but overwhelmed by superiour numbers, have been forced to recant.

Moderation has been proscribed from this country, and their correspondents appear to have advised them against conciliatory measures, but to fly to extremities.

I enclose your Lordship a printed extract of a letter, the contents of which was spread abroad before the publication, and is said publickly to have been written by a gentleman remarkable for his correspondence with this country. More of the same tenor have been written, particularly one in September, it is said, by the same person, to the late Speaker, wherein, I am told, he extols their wisdom in procuring a General Congress, and disappointing the views of Administration to divide the Colonies, and recommends union and the most vigorous proceedings, as the surest means to overcome the mother country.

From the difficulty to procure materials, which few would venture to supply, although the Barrack-master General exerted himself remarkably, there was no possibility to get all the Troops in quarters so soon as we wished; and the Regiments from Quebec were obliged to stay in the transports till about ten days ago, when the whole was under cover.

The Asia and the Boyne are arrived, the first two days after the Scarborough, and we are waiting impatiently for news of the Somerset.

P. S. Since finishing my letter, I have received some votes that the Assembly of Rhode-Island has passed, of which I enclose a copy, together with a copy of an Act passed by the said Assembly, published in the Newport Mercury. It is said that they certainly mean here to try to usurp the Government at the next meeting of this Congress; and, it is added, to resume their first Charter.

CAROLINE COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a Meeting of the Committee for Caroline County, December 16, 1774, James Taylor, James Upshaw, William Woodford, John Tennant, Thomas Lomax, Benjamin Hubbard, and Edmund Pendleton, Junior, gentlemen, or any three of them, were appointed a Committee to inspect the books of the Merchants at Port Royal and Conway's Warehouse, to see that they have respectively dealt with their customers upon the same terms as they had done for a year preceding the Association, and to make report of their proceedings to this Committee.

Walker Taliaferro, Anthony Thornton, John Armistead, John Jones, and Samuel Haws, gentlemen, or any three of them, were appointed a Committee to inspect the books of Patrick Kennon, Merchant, for the same purpose; and William Nelson, George Baylor, Richard Johnston, John Miner, and George Guy, gentlemen, or any three of them, were appointed a Committee to inspect the books of Samuel Hargrove, Merchant, for the same purpose.

Afterwards, at a meeting of the County Committee, December 26, from the Reports of the several Sub-Committees, it appeared "that Edward Dixon, James Bowie, Junior, and Samuel Hargrove, Merchants, had shown their books to the Committee, who were satisfied that they had, in their dealings, conformed to the Association; but that James Miller, Andrew Leckie, James Dunlop, William Dixon, John Wallace, and Patrick Kennon, Merchants, had refused to suffer their books to be viewed, even their day-books, with which the Sub-Committee would have been satisfied." And all the said last mentioned Merchants, except Mr. Kennon, having notice of this meeting, and not appearing to offer or send any excuse or reasons for their refusal, the same is ordered to be published; and as from such conduct, a suspicion arises that they have transgressed the Association, in selling Goods at a higher price than they had been, accustomed to do for a year next preceding, it is recommended to the people of this County, as they would avoid being considered as enemies to American Liberty, not to have any dealings with those Merchants, until they shall give the satisfaction required.

Ordered. That Mr. Kennon have notice to appear before this Committee, on the second Friday in January, to answer his refusal.

SAMUEL HAWS, Clerk.

YORK COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE.

Agreeable to notice given to the Freeholders and Inhabitants of York County, entitled to vote for Members of Assembly, a respectable number of them met at the Court House, in York, December 16, 1774:

James Dickson, Philip Rothrock, John Hay, Michael Hahn, and Richard Bolt, were appointed Judges of the Election.

Whereupon, the Electors proceeded to vote by ballot, and the following persons were duly chosen as a Committee for that County: James Ewing, Michael Swope, James Smith, Thomas Hartley, Henry Slegle, Joseph Donaldson, George Eichelberger, George Irwin, John Hay, Archibald M'Clean, David Grier, David Kennedy, Thomas Fisher, John Kean, John Houston, George Kientz, Simon Coppenheffer, Joseph Jefferies, Robert M'Corley, Michael Hahn, Baltzer Spengler, Daniel Mefferly, Nicholas Bittenger, Michael Smyser, Thomas Weems, Henry Miller, Leonard Hutton, Benjamin Davis, Jacob Dahtel, Frederick Fischel, James Dickson, William M'Clellan, of Cumberland Township, William Cathcart, Patrick Scott, Michael Dautel, Michael Bard, Casper Reineeker, Henry Liebhard, John Maxwell, George Oge, John O. Blenes, William M'Clellan, of Warrenton Township, Philip Albright, James Dill, Henry Banta, Senior, William Kilmery, William Chesnee, Francis Holton, Peter Reel, and Andrew Finley; any ten of whom, with their President or Vice President, (if their attendance can be had,) to do business, except in such case in which other regulations may be made.

This Committee is chosen in such a manner, that there is at least one of that body in each Township of the County, so that the inhabitants of the several Districts will have the earliest intelligence of any material transactions, or may be assembled upon important business on the shortest notice.

On the day following the election, the Committee met at the same place, when they elected James Smith, President, Thomas Hartley, Vice President, John Hay, Treasurer, and George Lewis Lefler, Clerk of the Committee.