fore of opinion that our fellow-subjects, the Americans, are justified in every constitutional opposition to the said Acts.

GEORGIA.

By his Excellency Sir JAMES WEIGHT, Baronet, Captain-General, Governour and Commander-in- Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of Georgia, Chancellor, Vice-Admiral, and Ordinary of the same:

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, the Collector of his Majesty's Customs in the Port of Savannah, in this Province, did, on Wednesday, the fifteenth day of February, instant, in the Stores and upon a Wharf, (at the distance of about a quarner of a mile from the Town of Savannah,) in the occupation of Andrew Elton Wells, seize and take in his possession eight hogs heads of Molasses, and six hogsheads and one barrel of French Sugars, the Duties arising therefrom not having been discharged or paid; and the better to secure the said effects, appointed one James Egdar, a waiter, usually employed, to take care of the same, and applied for and obtained two Seamen from his Majesty's armed Schooner the Saint John, to assist the said waiter. And whereas, about twelve of the clock of the night ensuing the same day, a large number of people, disguised with their faces smutted, and armed with Pistols and Cutlasses, in a very riotous and unlawful manner, assembled themselves together and proceeded to the place where the effects seized as aforesaid remained in the possession and under the care of the persons aforesaid, and there struck, and in a very riotous and disorderly manner abused the waiter aforesaid, tore his clothes from his body, and tarred and feathered him, and threw the Seamen over the wharf into the River Savannah, and rescued, removed, and carried off the effects so as aforesaid seized. And whereas, one of the Seamen, namely, David Martin, was seen in the water begging for mercy, and bath not since, although the most diligent inquiry hath been made after him, been seen or heard of, and from the former conduct of said Seaman, and many other circumstances declared upon oath, there is the greatest and most probable reason to believe the said David Martin, not being permitted to come out of the River, there perished and was drowned.

And whereas, such proceedings are not only shocking, unwarrantable, and illegal, but subject the offenders and perpetrators thereof to great and severe pains and penalties; and it is highly necessary such atrocious offenders should receive the punishments due to their offences. To the intent, therefore, that the persons concerned in the above matters and offences, may be apprehended and brought to condign punishment, I have thought fit, by and with the advice of his Majesty's Honourable Council, to issue this my Proclamation, offering, and I do hereby promise a reward of Fifty Pounds, lawful money of this Province, to any person or persons who will give such information against any one or more who was active and concerned in rescuing the effects aforesaid, and in committing the other riotous, unlawful, and unwarrantable proceedings, so as he or they may be apprehended upon and convicted of the said offences; the said reward to be paid upon conviction of any one or more of the offenders. And if any person who may have been an accomplice, (other than the person or persons who actually treated the Waiter in the manner above described, or actually threw or forced the Seaman, non-resisting, into the River,) will inform me, he shall receive his Majesty's pardon, and be admitted as King's evidence.

Given under my hand and the great seal of his Majesty's Province, at the Council Chamber, in Savannah, the twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, and in the fifteenth year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Third.

JAS. WRIGHT.

By his Excellency's command,

THOS. MOODIE, Dep. Secretary.

GOD save the King.

AUGUSTA COUNTY (VIRGINIA) MEETING.

After due notice given to the Freeholders of Augusta County, to meet in Staunton, for the purpose of electing Delegates to represent them in Colony Convention, at the Town of Richmond, on the 20th day of March, the Freeholders of said County thought proper to refer the choice of their Delegates to the judgment of the Committee, who, thus authorized by the general voice of the people, met at the Court House on the 22d day of February, and unanimously chose Mr. Thomas Lewis and Captain Samuel M'Dowell to represent them in the ensuing Convention.

Instructions were then ordered to be drawn up by the Reverend Alexander Balmain, Mr. Sampson Matthews, Captain Alexander M'Clenachan, Mr. Michael Bowyer, Mr. William Lewis, and Captain George Matthews, or any three of them, and delivered to the Delegates thus chosen; which are as follows:

To Mr. THOMAS LEWIS and Capt. SAMUEL M'DOWELL:

The Committee of Augusta County, pursuant to the trust reposed in them by the Freeholders of the same, have chosen you to represent them in a Colony Convention, proposed to be held in Richmond, on the 20th of March, instant. They desire that you may consider the people of Augusta County as impressed with just sentiments of loyalty and allegiance to his Majesty King George, whose title to the Imperial Crown of Great Britain rests on no other foundation than the liberty, and whose glory is inseparable from the happiness of all his subjects. We have also a respect for the parent state, which respect is founded on religion, on law, and the genuine principles of the Constitution. On these principles do we earnestly desire to see harmony and a good understanding restored between Great Britain and America. Many of us and our forefathers left their native land, and explored this once savage wilderness, to enjoy the free exercise of the rights of conscience and of human nature. These rights we are fully resolved, with our lives and fortunes, inviolably to preserve; nor will we surrender such inestimable blessings, the purchase of toil and danger, to any Ministry, to any Parliament, or any body of men upon earth, by whom we are not represented, and in whose decisions, therefore, we have no voice.

We desire you to tender, in the most respectful terms, our grateful acknowledgments to the late worthy Delegates of this Colony, for their wise, spirited, and patriotick exertions in the General Congress, and to assure them that we will uniformly and religiously adhere to their Resolutions, prudently and generously formed for their country's good.

Fully convinced that the safety and happiness of America depend, next to the blessing of Almighty God, on the unanimity and wisdom of her Councils, we doubt not you will, on your parts, comply with the recommendation of the late Continental Congress, appointing Delegates from this Colony to meet in Philadelphia on the 10th of May next, unless American Grievances be redressed before that time; and as we are determined to maintain unimpaired that liberty which is the gift of Heaven to the subjects of Britain's Empire, we will most cordially join our countrymen in such measures as may be deemed wise and necessary to secure and perpetuate the ancient, just, and legal rights of this Colony and all British America.

As the state of this Colony greatly demands that Manufactures should be encouraged by every possible means, we desire you to use your endeavours that Bounties may be proposed by the Convention for the making of Salt, Steel, Wool Cards, Paper, and Gunpowder; and that, in the mean time, a supply of Ammunition be provided for the Militia of this Colony. We entirely agree in opinion with the gentlemen of Fairfax County, that a well regulated Militia is the natural strength and stable security of a free Government, and therefore wish it might be recommended by the Convention to the officers and men of each County in Virginia, to make themselves masters of the military exercise, published by order of his Majesty, in the year 1764.

Placing our ultimate trust on the Supreme Disposer of every event, without whose gracious interposition the wisest schemes may fail of success, we desire you to move the Convention that some day, which may appear to them most convenient, be set apart for imploring the blessing of Almighty God, on such plans as human wisdom and in-