as may be agreed on by the general Congress of Deputies from the several Colonies.

Resolved, That our Burgesses be instructed to vote against every motion or proposal for clogging the usual imports from, and exports to, the West Indies.

Resolved, That our Burgesses be instructed to oppose the importation of slaves and convicts, as injurious to this Colony, by preventing the population of it by freemen and useful manufacturers.

Resolved, That it be recommended to our Burgesses to vote for the encouragement of raising sheep, hemp, flax, and cotton.

Resolved, That our Burgesses be hereby instructed to endeavour to procure a general Association against trading and dealing with every Colony, Province, County, or Town, that shall refuse to come into the general plan which may be adopted by the several Colonies and Provinces on the Continent.

Resolved, That our Burgesses be hereby instructed to use their utmost endeavours that subscriptions be opened in the several counties of this Colony, for the relief of the cruelly oppressed and distressed inhabitants of the town of Boston.

Resolved, That our Burgesses do meet the first day of August, in Williamsburg, to consult upon the most proper means for carrying these or any other Resolves which may be judged more expedient, into execution.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the general plan adopted at the ensuing Congress, ought to be strictly adhered to by the whole Colony; and that this meeting will faithfully adopt such measures as may be then agreed upon.

Resolved, That the above Resolutions be printed, for the perusal of the freeholders and inhabitants of this County.

THOMAS ABBOTT, Clerk.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER RECEIVED IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED LONDON, JULY 27, 1774.

With respect to politicks, it is not necessary, in this advanced part of the season, to write much. The Resolutions of Philadelphia, and those of Maryland and Virginia, I must, however, tell you, are esteemed both by the Court and the merchants of the city, as very inoffensive, and as the mere ebullitions of a set of angry men, whose force was spent the day they were made; and the proposed Congress is spoken of, and really considered, both by Administration and all the merchants of the city, as a scheme that will produce no sort of security to the liberty of the Colonies, nor trouble to Administration; and it is under this general apprehension that the stocks continue so uncommonly high as they are at present, and have been for some time past. Mr. Hutchinson is in good health, and apparent high spirits. He is much quoted by Administration; and they are assured by him that their proper and spirited measures will unquestionably excite a perfect submission in all parts of America. Depend on it, that it is only such parricides as Mr. Hutchinson, &c, that support the despotick and destructive schemes and wishes of the enemies of America; and it is from their infamous suggestions that Administration is taught to laugh at your proposed Congress, as they are assured by them, and from both New York and Philadelphia, that it will produce nothing more than a remonstrance or petition of right, (which by-the-by it is already determined not to receive,) and that you are so attached to your private interests, you will never stop either imports or exports. The honest hearted Americans, at present in this city, are daily both at Court and in London ridiculed, on account of the high sounding declarations of patriotism, made, as it is said, by the cowardly Americans; and are hourly mortified with the detestable opinions of Hutchinson, and other natives of America, being pleasingly repeated and relied on. But, for my part, however I am perpetually insulted with the prostituted sentiments of these men, I persuade myself your countrymen are not so contaminated with the vices and effeminacy of this Nation, not to see that this is the important crisis when they ought to make a solemn, sullen, united, and invincible stand against the cruel, tyrannick, and ruinous system of policy adopted and exercising by this Legislature against the rights and freedom of America; and, let me add, that, if the Deputies of the several Provinces, when convened in Congress, do not, one and all, firmly resolve to establish through every county and township in their respective Provinces, a solemn League and Covenant, and under the obligation of an oath or affirmation, not to purchase or use the manufactures of this country, (save what are collected already within the Provinces,) and, if possible, not to export any provisions to the West India Islands; and, at the same time, they do not religiously resolve to meet again in Congress every six months, for the purpose of forming a suitable plan for the permanent security of American rights and freedom; I say, if these things are not done; and if they do not determine faithfully to stand by each other until every Act passed this session is reversed; and until all their just rights and privileges are fully recognised and established by this Legislature, our children will be irremediably deprived of that inheritance of liberty which our fathers carefully and piously transmitted to us.

TO THE INHABITANTS OF NEW-JERSEY.

New-Jersey, July 27, 1774.

Friends and Countrymen:

We are involved in a dispute with the mother country that is of the most serious nature. It is now brought to a crisis, and upon our conduct, at this time, every thing will depend.

If we calmly view the controversy, we shall find that both sides are wrong; the Parliament, in carrying their authority of right of taxation farther than is consistent with the rights of the Colonists; the Colonists too far, in denying all authority of Parliament. To draw the line is difficult; but yet, I apprehend, a calm, prudent, and steady perseverance in what is right, not making extravagant arid improper demands, will bring about a reconciliation. We have lost the distinction between internal and external taxation, and absurdly call every impost upon trade a taxation; but if we would restore words to their proper meaning, we should find that taxes are certain portions of our estates taken from us by the legislative authority, for the publick service, and are to be paid whether we will or nor; that, on the other hand, duties are certain rates set on certain articles of merchandise, for the discouragement of foreign manufactures that interfere with our own, or on articles of luxury; and are either intended as prohibitions of those articles, and therefore laid high, or are set so low as to raise a revenue to the state, and are levied only on the consumer; so that, under this species of taxation, every person -contributes as he pleases, but none are compelled; hence, a wide difference in the taxes, if we may, with propriety, call the last by that name.

The duty on tea has raised this mighty contest, fomented, I fear, by men whose interest it is to discourage the trade with Britain for this article of luxury, because it will deprive them of their enormous gains in their trade with the Dutch, to whom they make no scruple to pay duties, though their consciences will not permit them to pay any to the state that protects them, even while they are carrying on their destructive commerce.

Let us, my countrymen, be steady in our duty to Great Britain, and, at the same time that we carefully guard our liberties, let us not deny the authority of Parliament, where it alone can have jurisdiction, and thereby break that bond of union which has made the Empire we belong to so great and glorious. In short, while we contend for our lights, let us not attempt to deprive them of theirs, by denying that we are bound by the Acts of the British Legislature, in laying duties upon any foreign articles imported to us; we, in fact, declare an independency inconsistent with our interest, and with every idea of a Colony, which in itself carries the idea of dependence. Instead, therefore, my countrymen, of persisting in the absurd denial of the authority of Great Britain, in imposing any duties upon tea, or other articles of luxury and foreign produce, let us endeavour to draw a line which will put an end to the present, and prevent future, contests between as and the mother country.

We are a part of a very great and powerful Empire; and though, from our great distance from the mother country, we cannot be represented in Parliament, and have