hend sundry persons of this County, who have rendered themselves conspicuous in contending for the violated rights and liberties of their countrymen; we do recommend, should such an audacious measure be put in practice, to seize and keep in safe custody, every servant of the present tyrannical and unconstitutional Government, throughout the County and Province, until the persons so apprehended be liberated from the hand of our adversaries, and restored safe and uninjured to their respective friends and families.

14. That, until our rights are fully restored to us, we will, to the utmost of our power, and we recommend the same to the other Counties, to withhold all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies, and abstain from the consumption of British merchandise and manufactures, and especially of East India Teas and Piece Goods, with such additions, alterations, and exceptions only, as the Grand Congress of the Colonies may agree to.

15. That, under our present circumstances, it is incumbent on us to encourage Arts and Manufactures amongst us, by all means in our power, and that * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * be and are hereby appointed a Committee to consider of the best ways and means to promote and establish the same, and to report to this Convention as soon as may be.

16. That the exigencies of our publick affairs demand that a Provincial Congress be called to concert such measures as may be adopted, and vigorously executed by the whole people; and we do recommend it to the several Towns in this County, to choose members for such a Provincial Congress, to be holden at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October, next ensuing.

17. That this County, confiding in the wisdom and integrity of the Continental Congress, now sitting at Philadelphia, pay all due respect and submission to such measures as may be recommended by them to the Colonies, for the restoration and establishment of our just rights, Civil and religious, and for renewing that harmony and union between Great Britain and the Colonies, so earnestly wished for by all good men.

18. That whereas, the universal uneasiness which prevails among all orders of men, arising from the wicked and oppressive measures of the present Administration, may influence some unthinking persons to Commit outrage upon private property; we would heartily recommend to all persons of this community, not to engage in any routs, riots, or licentious attacks upon the properties of any person whatsoever, as being subversive of all order and government; but, by a steady, manly, uniform, and persevering opposition, to convince our enemies, that in a contest so important, in a cause so solemn, our conduct shall be such as to merit the approbation of the wise, and the admiration of the bravo and free of every age and of every country.

19. That should our enemies, by any sudden manœuvres, render it necessary to ask the aid and assistance of our brethren in the country, some one of the Committee of Correspondence, or a Selectman of such Town or the Town adjoining, where such hostilities shall commence, or shall be expected to commence, shall despatch couriers with written messages to the Selectmen, or Committees of Correspondence of the several Towns in the vicinity, with a written account of such matter, who shall despatch others to Committees more remote, until proper and sufficient assistance be obtained; and that the expense of said couriers be defrayed by the County, until it shall be otherwise ordered by the Provincial Congress.

At a Meeting of Delegates from the several Towns and Districts in the County of Suffolk, held at Milton, on Friday, the 9th day of September, 1774:

Voted, That Doctor Joseph Warren, &c., be a Committee to wait on his Excellency the Governour, to inform him that this County are alarmed at the Fortifications making on Boston Neck, and to remonstrate against the same, and the repeated insults offered by the soldiery to persons passing and repassing into that Town, and to confer with him upon those subjects.

Attest,

WILLIAM THOMPSON, Clerk.

To his Excellency THOMAS GAGE, Esquire, Captain-General and Commander-in-chief of his Majesty's Province of MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

May it please your Excellency:

The County of Suffolk being greatly, and, in their opinion, justly alarmed at the formidable appearances of hostility now threatening his Majesty's good subjects of this County, and more particularly of the Town of Boston, the loyal and faithful capital of this Province, beg leave to address your Excellency, and represent, that the apprehensions of the people are more especially increased by the dangerous design carrying into execution, of repairing and manning the Fortification at the south entrance of the Town of Boston, which, when completed, may, at anytime, be improved to aggravate the miseries of that already impoverished and distressed City, by intercepting the wonted and necessary intercourse between the Town and Country, and compel the wretched inhabitants to the most ignominious state of humiliation and vassalage, by depriving them of the necessary supplies of provision, for which they are chiefly dependent on that communication. We have been informed, that your Excellency, in consequence of the application of the Selectmen of Boston, has, indeed, disavowed any intention to injure the Town in your present manœuvres, and expressed your purpose to be for the security of the Troop? and his Majesty's subjects in the Town. We are, at a loss to guess, may it please your Excellency, from whence your want of confidence in the loyal and orderly people of this County could originate; a measure so formidable; carried into execution from a pre-conceived though causeless jealousy of the insecurity of his Majesty's Troops and subjects in the Town, deeply wounds the loyalty, and is an additional injury to the faithful subjects of this County, and affords them a strong motive for tills application. We therefore entreat your Excellency to desist from your design, assuring your Excellency, that the people of this County are by no means disposed to injure his Majesty's Troops. They think themselves aggrieved and oppressed by the late Acts of Parliament, and are resolved, by Divine assistance, never to submit to them; but have no inclination to commence a war with his Majesty's Troops, and beg leave to observe to your Excellency, that the ferment now excited in the minds of the people, is occasioned by some late transactions: by seizing the Powder in the Arsenal at Charlestown; by withholding the Powder lodged in the Magazine of the Town of Boston, from the legal proprietors; insulting, beating, and abusing, passengers to and from the Town by the soldiery, in which they have been encouraged by some of their officers; putting the people in fear, and menacing them in their nightly patrole into the neighbouring Town, and more particularly by the fortifying the sole avenue by land to the Town of Boston,

In duty, therefore, to his Majesty and to your Excellency, and for the restoration of order and security to this County, we, the Delegates from the several Towns in this County, being commissioned for this purpose, beg your Excellency's attention to this our humble and faithful Address, assuring you that nothing less than an immediate removal of the Ordnance, and restoring the entrance into the Town to its for merstate, and an effectual stop of all insults and abuses in future, can place the inhabitants of this County in that state of peace and tranquillity in which every free subject ought to live.

His Excellency was waited on to know if he would receive the Committee with the above written Address, but desiring he might have a copy of it in a private way, that so when he received it from the Committee, he might have an answer prepared for them; he was accordingly furnished with a copy. His Excellency then declared that he would receive the Committee on Monday, at 12 o'clock.

Saturday, September 10, 1774.

The Congress taking the foregoing into consideration,

Resolved unanimously, That this Assembly deeply feels the suffering of their countrymen in the Massachusetts Bay, under the operation of the late unjust, cruel, and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament; that they most thoroughly approve the wisdom and fortitude with which op position to these wicked Ministerial measures has hitherto been conducted, and they earnestly recommend to their brethren a perseverance in the same firm and temperate conduct, as expressed in the Resolutions determined upon at a meeting of the Delegates for the County of Suffolk, on Tuesday the 6th instant, trusting that the effect of the united efforts of North America in their behalf, will carry such conviction to the British Nation, of the unwise, un just, and ruinous policy of the present Administration, as quickly to introduce better men and wiser measures.

Resolved unanimously, That contributions from all the Colonies for supplying the necessities, and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at Boston, ought to be continued, in such manner, and so long as their occasions may require.

Ordered, That a copy of the above Resolutions be transmitted to Boston by the President.

Ordered, That these Resolutions, together with the Resolutions of the County of Suffolk, be published in the newspapers.

The Committee appointed to examine and report the several Statutes which affect the Trade and Manufactures of the Colonies, brought in their Report, which was ordered to lie on the table.

Adjourned till Monday morning.

Monday, September 19, 1774, A. M.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The Report brought in on Saturday, being read, as follows:

* * * * *

Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee appointed to state the Rights of the Colonies, &c., to which Committee the Honourable Thomas Cushing, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Mifflin, Esquires, were added.

Adjourned from day to day till Thursday.

Thursday, September 22, 1774.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Upon motion,

Resolved unanimously, That the Congress request the Merchants and others in the several Colonies, not to send to Great Britain any orders for Goods, and to direct the execution of all orders already sent, to be delayed or suspended, until the sense of the Congress on the means to be taken for the preservation of the liberties of America is made publick.

Ordered, That this Resolution be made publick by handbills, and by publishing it in the newspapers.

The Committee appointed to state the Rights of the Colonies, &c., having brought in a Report of the Rights, the same was read, and the consideration of it referred till Saturday next.

Ordered, That a copy of this Report be made out for each Colony.

Saturday, September 24, 1774, A. M.

The Congress entered upon the consideration of the