and force Parliament to recede from every thing before they thought it requisite.

The Merchants in London have advertised a meeting on the 4th of January; but, as we are told, they are quite non-plussed how to act; they neither know what to petition for, nor what the Americans want. If their complaints be for the loss of trade, were we to judge of the briskness of it in other parts of England, by what we see and know of it from Leeds to Manchester, inclusive, they could not advance a greater falsity, than to say there is any want. At this place we can truly say there never was known a better at the season; we believe never so good, the Spring of the year 1771 only excepted. Both our and the American politicians err in the idea that our manufacturers cannot find a vent but on the other side the Atlantic. 'Tis true their sudden and uncertain demands now and then get our Goods above their intrinsick value; of course we lose our European trade; but when they get again into their regular channel, the European demands are renewed.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE DEPUTY GOVERNOUR OF PENNSYLVANIA TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH, DATED PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 31, 1774.

I am to inform your Lordship, that since my last the Assembly of this Province have met agreeable to their adjournment, and have, to my great surprise, unanimously approved the transactions of the late Congress, and appointed Deputies to attend another, proposed to be held at this City, in May next, as you will perceive by the printed votes, which I enclose for your Lordship's fuller information.

There seems to be too general a disposition every where to adhere strictly to the Resolutions of the Congress; and the Committees for this City and the adjacent Districts have already taken upon them to regulate the disposition of all British Goods imported since the first of December. They are put up at publick auction in lots, and I am informed it is so managed that they are struck off to the owners at an advance of one per cent, above their first costs and charges, which, according to the recommendation of the Congress, is to be applied to the relief of the poor of Boston.

Annapolis, December 31, 1774.

In compliance with the recommendation of the Deputies of the several Counties of this Province, at their late Convention, to such of the gentlemen, freeholders, and other freemen of this Province, as are from sixteen to fifty years of age, to form themselves into Companies, and to choose their officers, on Saturday, the 17th instant, a number of the citizens met, formed themselves into two Companies, and chose their officers agreeable to the recommendation. The Companies are composed of all ranks of men in this City; gentlemen of the first fortunes are common soldiers. This example, it is not doubted, will be followed by every Town and County in this Province. It is said that there are a sufficient number of citizens to form another Company, which it is hoped will be immediately done.

And this day the inhabitants of Elk Ridge Hundred, in Anne Arundel County, met, formed themselves into a Company, and chose their proper officers, being of opinion that a well-regulated Militia will contribute to the preservation of American Liberty.

CHARLES COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Charles County, at Port Tobacco Town, on the 2d day of January, Anno Domini 1775, in consequence of notice by the Committee,

Captain GEORGE DENT, Chairman,
JOHN GWIN, Clerk.

The Proceedings of the last Provincial Convention, held at the City of Annapolis, were read, considered, and unanimously approved.

Resolved unanimously, That Captain George Dent, Samuel Hanson, William Smallwood, Josias Hawkins, Francis Ware, Joseph H. Harrison, Thomas Stone, Daniel Jenifer, Robert T. Hooe, John Dent, Samuel Love, Thomas Hanson Marshall, and Philip Richard Fendall, be, and are by this meeting appointed Deputies to represent this County in the next Provincial Convention to be held at the City of Annapolis, and that any three or more of them have power and authority to act for and bind this County.

Resolved, That a general subscription, to he managed and conducted by gentlemen in each Hundred of this County, will be the most agreeable and effectual method to collect what remains to be made up of the sum of money appointed to be raised in this County by the last Provincial Convention.

Resolved, therefore, That the following gentlemen do forthwith open subscriptions in the respective Hundreds for which they are appointed, to be offered to every free person in each Hundred, and subscriptions taken, viz:

PICCAWAXEN PARISH.—Mr. Samuel Love in the Lower Hundred, and Captain George Dent in the Upper Hundred.

PORT TOBACCO PARISH.—Mr. Josias Hawkins and Captain Francis Ware in the East Hundred, Mr. Samuel Hanson, Jun., in the Upper Hundred, Mr. Daniel Jenifer in Cedarpoint Hundred, and Mr. Robert T. Hooe, in Port Tobacco Town.

DURHAM PARISH.—Captain Joseph H. Harrison in the Lower Hundred, and Mr. William Smallwood in the Upper Hundred.

KING GEORGE PARISH.—Captain John Dent for the part within this County.

TRINITY PARISH.—Mr. Belain Posey in the West Hundred, Doctor John Parnham in the East Hundred, Mr. Alexander M'Pherson in Bryantown Hundred, and Mr. Robert Young, in Benedict Hundred.

Resolved, That it is the duty of the said gentlemen to note, and return to the Committee of this County, a list of such persons (if any there be) who are able, and on application refuse to subscribe, that their names and refusal may be recorded in perpetual memory of their principles.

Resolved, That the said gentlemen do, as soon as possible, collect the subscriptions to them respectively made, and pay the same to Philip Richard Fendall, Esquire, Treasurer, to be applied by the Committee of this County to the purposes mentioned in the tenth Resolve of the last Provincial Convention.

Resolved, That the gentlemen appointed to take subscriptions for the purpose aforesaid, do collect the subscriptions already made to the Town of Boston, and also do obtain such additional subscriptions for the relief of the brave sufferers in that distressed Town, as can be got, and that the whole may be made in readiness to be sent as soon as possible.

It is recommended by this meeting that the inhabitants of this County, in forming themselves into Companies, do confine themselves to their respective Hundreds as much as can with convenience be done.

The following gentlemen, to wit: Philip Richard Fendall, George Dent, Jun., Daniel Jenifer Adams, William Harrison, John Skelton, John Lancaster, James Neale, Walter Rye, Thomas Sims, Joshua Saunders, Henry Boarman, John Craig, Robert Gill, Jun., John Moron, and George Tubman, are, by this meeting, added to the Committee of Observation for this County.

Ordered, That these proceedings be published in the Maryland Gazette.

JOHN GWIN, Clerk.

MEETING OF WEST INDIA MERCHANTS, LONDON.

London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, January 3, 1775.

At a General Meeting of the West India Merchants, the Chairman produced a Letter which he received, signed by several gentlemen of the West India Islands, of which the following is a copy:

London, January 1, 1775.

SIR: The very alarming situation in which the West India Islands are placed by the late American proceedings, induces us to apply to you, as Chairman of the Society of West India Merchants, to request that they will not come to any resolution, as a separate body, at their next meeting, but that they will join with us in calling a General Meeting of the whole body of Planters, and West India Merchants,