Boston, December 22, 1774.

TO THE PRINTERS OF THE BOSTON NEWSPAPERS.

As Messrs. Edes and Gill, in their paper of Monday, the 12th instant, were pleased to acquaint the publick, that the Association sent by Brigadier Ruggles, &c., to the Town of Hardwick, &c., together with his son's certificate thereof, and the Resolves of the Provincial Congress thereon, must be referred till their next," I was so credulous as to expect then to have seen their next paper adorned with the form of an Association, which would have done honour to it, and, if attended to and complied with by the good people of the Province, might have put it in the power of any one very easily to have distinguished such loyal subjects to the King, as dare to assert their rights to freedom, in all respects consistent with the laws of the land, from such rebellious ones, under the pre-text of being friends to liberty, are frequently committing the most enormous outrages upon the persons and properties of such of his Majesty's peaceable subjects, who, for want of knowing who to call upon (in these distracted times) for assistance, fall into the hands of a banditti, whose cruelties surpass those of savages; but finding my mistake, now take the liberty to send copies to your several offices to be published in your next papers, that so the publick may be made more acquainted therewith than at present, and be induced to associate for the above purposes; and as many of the people, for some time past, have been arming themselves, it may not be amiss to inform them that their numbers will not appear so large in the field as was imagined, before it was known that independency was the object in contemplation; since which many have associated in different parts of the Province to preserve their freedom and support Government; and as it may become necessary in a very short time to give convincing proofs of our attachment to Government, we shall be much wanting to ourselves if we longer trample upon that patience which has already endured to long-suffering, and may, if this opportunity be neglected, have a tendency to ripen many for destruction who have not been guilty of an overt act of rebellion, which would be an event diametrically opposite to the humane and benevolent intention of him whose abused patience cannot endure for ever, and who hath already, by his prudent conduct, evinced the most tender regard for a deluded people.

TIM. REGGLES.

THE ASSOCIATION.

We, the subscribers, being fully sensible of the blessings of good Government, on the one hand, and convinced, on the other hand, of the evils and calamities attending on tyranny in all shapes, whether exercised by one or many, and having of late seen, with great grief and concern, the distressing efforts of a dissolution of all Government, where-by our lives, liberties, and properties are rendered precarious, and no longer under the protection of the law; and apprehending it to be our indispensable duty to use all lawful means in our power for the defence of our persons and property against all riotous and lawless violence, and to recover and secure the advantages which we are entitled to from the good and wholesome laws of the Government, do hereby associate and mutually covenant and engage to and with each other as follows, namely:

1st. That we will, upon all occasions, with our lives and fortunes, stand by and assist each other in the defence of his life, liberty, and property, whenever the same shall be attacked or endangered by any bodies of men, riotously assembled, upon any pretence, or under any authority not warranted by the laws of the land.

2d. That we will, upon all occasions, mutually support each other in the free exercise and enjoyment of our undoubted right to liberty, in eating, drinking, buying, selling, communing, and acting what, with whom, and as we please, consistent with the laws of God and the King.

3d. That we will not acknowledge or submit to the pretended authority of any Congress, Committees of Correspondence, or any other unconstitutional assemblies of men; but will, at the risk of our lives, if need be, oppose the forcible exercise of all such authority.

4thly. That we will, to the utmost of our power, promote, encourage, and when called to it, enforce obedience to the rightful authority of our most gracious Sovereign, King George the Third, and of his laws.

5thly. That when the person or property of any of us shall be invaded or threatened by any Committees, mobs, or unlawful assemblies, the others of us will, upon notice received, forthwith repair, properly armed, to the person on whom, or the place where such invasion or threatening shall be, and will, to the utmost of our power, defend such person and his property, and, if need be, will oppose and repel force with force.

6thly. That if any one of us shall unjustly and unlawfully be injured, in his person or property, by any such assemblies as before mentioned, the others of us will unitedly demand, and, if in our power, compel the offenders, if known, to make full reparation and satisfaction for such injury; and if all our means of security fail, we will have recourse to the natural law of retaliation.

In witness of all which we hereto subscribe our names this * * * * * day of * * * * *.

ARTHUR LEE TO R. H. LEE.

London, December 22, 1774.

MY DEAR BROTHER: The proceedings of the Congress meet with universal approbation here, and have operated like an electrick shock upon the Ministry and their dependants. They begin to reprobate their own measures, and each to exonerate himself from the charge of having advised them. The King consented to receive the Petition of the Congress, and Lord Dartmouth told us it was found to be decent and respectful. I expect we shall receive his Majesty's answer time enough to send with this.

The Merchants have advertised for a meeting, and every thing seems to promise a speedy accommodation. The terms of that must depend on you. Your demands must be made with great moderation, and should not, nay, I think, cannot be receded from one iota. Depend upon it, the same firmness and unanimity which have compelled a conciliatory disposition, will enforce a full redress. Be therefore firm, and fear not. The excess of my anxiety for our ultimate success, and the termination of these unhappy disturbances, makes me sometimes apprehensive that these specious appearances will make you remiss in your preparations for a different conduct'; that you will forget that he who sheathes the sword before the peace is concluded, exposes himself to a shameful defeat. But, trusting to your wisdom, I hope you will treat them as appearances only, which firmness, vigilance, and unanimity alone, on your part, can realize.

December 24th.—Lord Dartmouth this day informed us that his Majesty received your Petition very graciously, and, for its importance, would lay it before his Houses of Parliament when they met.

I communicate to you the following copy of a letter from Lord Chatham, because I think it must give you infinite satisfaction; at the same time I must entreat you not to let it get into the Press, as it would be a breach of honour in me:—"I have not words to express the infinite satisfaction which I feel since Congress has conducted this most arduous and delicate business with such manly wisdom and calm resolution as do the highest honour to their deliberations. Very few are the things contained in their Resolves that I could wish to be otherwise. Upon the whole, I think it must be evident to every unprejudiced man in England, who feels for the rights of mankind, that America, under all her oppressions and provocations, holds out to us the most fair and just opening for restoring harmony and affectionate intercourse as heretofore. I hope that the minds of men are more than beginning to open on this great subject, so little understood, and that it will be found impossible for freemen in England to see three millions of Englishmen slaves in America."

Such praise from the character of the age ought to inspire you with confidence, if any thing can add to the conscious dignity of freemen, and make you resolve to maintain your demands with immoveable firmness.

December 26th.—I was yesterday in the Country with Lord Chatham, to show him the Petition of the Congress. He approves of it exceedingly. His words were, "The