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general censure incurred by a great part of this Colony from the mode of conduct here adopted for the purpose of opposing the British Government, we have entered into the following Resolves and Agreements, viz:
First. Resolved, That whilst me enjoy the privileges and immunities of the English Constitution, we will render all due obedience to his most gracious Majesty King George the Third; and that a firm dependence on the mother country is essential to our political safety and happiness.
Second. Resolved, That the privileges and immunities of this Constitution are yet (in a good degree) continued to all his Majesty's American subjects, except those who, we conceive, have justly forfeited their title thereto.
Third. Resolved, That we suppose the Continental Congress was constituted for the purpose of restoring harmony between Great Britain and her Colonies, and removing the displeasure of his Majesty towards his American subjects; whereas, on the contrary, some of their Resolutions appear to us immediately calculated to widen the present unhappy breach; counteract the first principles of civil society, and in a great degree abridge the privileges of their constituents.
Fourth. Resolved, That notwithstanding we will, in all circumstances, conduct with prudence and moderation, we consider it an indispensable duty we owe to our King, our Constitution, our country, and posterity, to defend, maintain, and preserve, at the risk of our lives and properties, the prerogative of the Crown, and the privileges of the subject from all attacks by any rebellious body of men, any Committees of Inspection, Correspondence, &c.
[Signed by one hundred and forty-one Inhabitants' whose names are to be seen at the Printer's.]
READING (CONNECTICUT) COMMITTEE.
Whereas, there was a certain number of Resolves published in James Rivington's Gazetteer' of the 23d of February' 1775, and said by said Rivingion to be signed by one hundred and forty-one Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town of Reading' and the adjoining parts, in the County of Fairfield, and Colony of Connecticut; and whereas said Resolves are injurious to the rights of this Colony, and breathe a spirit of enmity and opposition to the rights and liberties of all America, and are in direct opposition to the Association of the Continental Congress; and notwithstanding said Resolutions were come into with a (seeming) view to secure to the said signers some extraordinary privileges and immunities, yet either through negligence in the Printer, or upon design of the subscribers, said signers' names are not made publick: And now, if there be any advantage in adopting those principles, we are willing they should be entitled thereto; and for which end, and for the more effectual carrying into execution said Association, we have taken some pains, and by the assistance of him who carried said Resolves to said Printer, we have obtained the whole of said names. But as we mean not to publish the names of any except those that belong to said Reading, their names are as follows, viz:
| David Knap, | John Drew, | John Sandford, |
| Andrew Knap, | Jonathan Meeker, | John Lyon, |
| Daniel Lyon, | Samuel Hawley, | John Mallery, |
| Nehemiah Seely,Jun; | Jonathan Mallery, Jr., | John Raymond, |
| Stephen Lacy, | John Seymour, | Eli Lyon, |
| James Adams, | Jesse Bearslee, | Enos Wheeler, |
| Zaccheus Morehouse, | Darling Gyer, | David Crowfoot, |
| Ephraim Whitlock, | Ebenezer Williams, | Thomas Munson, |
| Jabez Lyon, | Paul Bartram, | Nehemiah Seely, |
| Prince Hawse, | John Gyer, | Charles M'Neil, |
| Andrew Patchen, | Abel Burr, | Stephen Betts, |
| Ezekiel Hill, | Shubael Bennet, | Ephraim Meeker, |
| David Manrow, | John Picket, | John Layne, |
| Daniel Morehouse, | John Picket, Jun., | James Morgan, |
| Ephraim Deforest, | Obed Hendrix, | Nathaniel Gyer, |
| Lazarus Beach, | Isaac Platt, | Asa Norton, |
| Seth Hull, | Enos Lee, | Eleazer Olmsted, |
| Hezekiah Platt, | John Lee. | Isaac Bunnel, |
| Zebulon Platt, | Nathaniel Barlow, | Thaddous Gyer, |
| Timothy Platt, | Asael Patchen, | William Manrow, |
| Lazarus Wheeler, | Benjamin Sturgis, | Joseph Gyer, |
| Joshua Hall, | Ebenezer Sturgis, | John Sherwood, |
| Jonathan Knap, | William Lee, | Simeon Mungor, |
| James Gray, | Seth Banks, | Joseph Burr. |
| Peter Lyon, | David Turney, |
N. B. There are only forty-two Freeholders in the above number; there are several minors, &c., to make the above number of seventy-four, that belong to said Reading; and we hereby hold them up to publick view, as opposers to the Association of said Congress.
Signed by order of the Committee of Observation for said Town of Reading.
EBENEZER COUCH, Chairman.
MR. RIVINGTON: You are desired by many staunch friends to the King and the Constitution, in this Colony, to insert the names of the subscribers to the Reading Association, as published in the Gazetteer' on the 23d of February.
JOHN LYON.
| Captain Joshua Hall, | Ebenezer Lyon, | Seth Banks, |
| Capt. James Morgan, | Peter Thorn, | John Byington, Jun., |
| Lieut. Daniel Lyon, | Peter Jackson, | John Pickwit, |
| Lieut. Peter Lyon, | David Munro, | John Pickwit, Jun., |
| Ensign Sam. Hawley, | Jabez Adams, | Abel Platt, |
| David Knap, | John Bartram, | Joseph Platt, |
| Stephen Belts, | Andrew Knap, | Neh. St. John, |
| Timothy Platt, | David Turny, | Israel Rowland, |
| Joseph Lyon, | Gersham Bulkley, | Silas Griffen, |
| Lazarus Beach, | John Raymond, | William Bradley, |
| Seth Hull, | Eli Lyon, | William Hambleton, |
| John Sanford, | Nathaniel Guyer, | James Rowell, |
| James Gray, Jun., | Ephraim Robbins, | Joseph Edwards, Jun., |
| John Lyon, | Isaac Bunnell, | C. Fairchild, |
| John Drew, | Darling Guyer, | J. Morehouse, |
| John Mallery, | David Crofut, | Isaac Drew, |
| John Mallery, Jun., | Thomas Munson, | Peter Drew, |
| Ephraim Meeker, | Jonathan Lyon, | Benjamin Williams, |
| Ephraim Deforest, | Gersham Lyon, Jun., | Samuel Judd, Jun., |
| James Adams, | Jesse Lyon, | James Gray, |
| Joseph Burr, | Thomas Lyon, | Nehemiah Whitlock, |
| Hezekiah Platt, | Stephen Couch, | Samuel Judd, |
| Zebulon Platt, | Ebenezer Williams, | Ezra Kellogg, |
| Jesse Bardslee, | Paul Barbram, | Jabez Taylor, Jun., |
| Jonathan Knap, | John Guyer, | Silas Taylor, |
| Simeon Munger, | Abel Burr, | Jonathan Judd, |
| Prince Hawes, | Abel Burr, Jun., | Benjamin Bailey, |
| John Seymour, | Shubael Bennet, | William Judd, |
| John Hall, | Eleazer Olmsted, | Hezekiah Whitlock, |
| Moses Knap, | Obed Hendrix, | Samuel Hoyt, Jun., |
| Neil M'Neil, | Abner Gilbert, | James Hoyt, |
| Barnard Kane, | Isaac Platt, | Samuel Bailey, |
| C. M'Neil, | Jonathan Burr, | Michael Benedict, |
| Jabez Lyon, | William Manrow, | Comfort Barnum, |
| Calvin Wheeler, | Enos Lee, | Ezra Percy, |
| Lazarus Wheeler, | Silas Lee, | Nathaniel Picket, |
| Enos Wheeler, | John Lee, | Elijah Barnum, |
| Stephen Lacy, | Nathaniel Lee, | Ebenezer Whitlock, |
| Dr. Asa Vorton, | Joseph Fairchild, | James Davis, |
| Jonathan Meaker, | Nathaniel Barlow, | Solomon Cutis, |
| John Lane, | Thaddeus Guyer, | Daniel Cascis, |
| Neh. Seely, Jun., | Joseph Guyer, | Nehemiah Seely, |
| Zaccheus Morehouse, | Asael Patchen, | Peter Bulkley, |
| Ephraim Whitlock, | Ben. Sturges, | Ebenezer Mills, |
| Andrew Patchen, | John Sherwood, | John Drew, |
| Ezekiel Hill, | Ebenezer Sturges, | Nathan Mallery, Jun., |
| Daniel Morehouse, | William Leo, | Josiah Platt. |
| William Caldwell, |
N. B. Obadiah Platt having been proscribed in Mr. Gaine's Paper, on a suspicion of subscribing the Association, the publick may be assured the above is the very list delivered to the Printer; and that Obadiah Platt's name was not inserted in it.
There are no signers to this piece under twenty-one years of age.
TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
GENTLEMEN: Your assuming the Government of Massachusetts Bay' makes it unnecessary for me to make any apology for addressing you in this publick manner, further, than by acquainting you that it is to represent to you the distresses of some of those people, who, from a sense of their duty to the King, and a reverence for his laws, have behaved quiet and peaceable; and for which reason they have been deprived of their liberty, abused in their persons, and suffered such barbarous cruelties, insults, and indignities, besides the loss of their property by the hands of lawless mobs and riots, as would have been disgraceful even for savages to have committed. And the Courts of Justice being shut up in most parts of the Province, and the Justices of those Courts compelled by armed force, headed by some who are members of your Congress, to refrain from doing their duty at present, it is rendered impracticable for those sufferers to obtain redress, unless it be by your interposition, or the aid of military force, which will be applied for in case this application fails.
A particular enumeration of all the instances referred to, is apprehended unnecessary, as many of your members are
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