to carry the Association into execution. Let us now hear your account of your friend’s conduct. Deluded by hopes that his plan would be considered, he was led weakly to sign the Association. And your inference is plain, that he is released from the obligation, because he was disappointed in his expectation. What, Sir, would your friend bind not only himself but his constituents to the performance of an agreement which must, in his opinion, lead to their destruction? Does his notions of the “sacred ties of honour, virtue, and love of his Country,” sit so easy on him, that he can enter into them to carry a favourite political point, and shake them off at pleasure, when his views are disappointed? One of the Pennsylvania Delegates, who dissented on the Association, and could not agree to carry into execution, staid away and declined signing it. I have now done with you. My view in writing these hasty remarks was not merely to defend the Congress, but to remove any bad impressions from your ill-grounded, base, and illiberal attack on them. To the impartial publick I submit how far I have succeeded.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY (MASSACHUSETTS) CONVENTION.

At a Convention of Delegates from the several Towns in the County of Cumberland, held at the Court-House in Falmouth, Wednesday, March 8, 1775,

ENOCH FREEMAN, Chairman.

Adjourned to the Assembly Room, twelve o’clock.

Met at the Assembly Room, according to adjournment.

The following new Members were admitted, viz:

From NORTH YARMOUTH—The Hon. Jeremiah Powell, Esquire, and Jonas Mason, Esquire.

From NEW GLOCESTER—Mr. Abel Davis and Mr. Moses Merril.

Resolved, That this Convention do earnestly recommend to the several Towns in this County strictly to observe the Resolutions of the Provincial Congress with respect to paying their Province Taxes to Henry Gardner, Esquire, of Stow; and considering the alarming situation which this Province is now unhappily brought into, it is further recommended that they comply with this Resolve as soon as possible.

Then adjourned to Thursday morning, nine o’clock.

Thursday, March 9, 1775.

Met, according to adjournment.

Whereas, for the information of the inhabitants of the remote Towns of this County, several of the Members thereof are desirous of knowing the circumstances that attend the importation of certain Goods which have arrived in the harbour of Falmouth, from Bristol, since the first of February last,

Voted, That Mr. Parsons, Clerk of the Committee of Inspection for said Falmouth, be desired to attend on this Convention, with the proceedings of said Committee respecting said Goods.

Mr. Parsons accordingly attended with said proceedings”, which being read,

Voted, That Captain Thomas Coulson, the Importer of said Goods, be desired to attend on this Convention.

Voted, That a Committee of three persons wait on Captain Coulson, to desire his attendance.

Voted, That Mr. Isley, Col. Mitchel, and Col. Thompson, be of this Committee.

Captain Coulson accordingly attended, and being asked for a manifest of the cargo brought for him by a vessel which lately arrived from Bristol, he presented to this Convention a manifest of two hogsheads of Lines and sundry Rigging, Sails, and Stores for a new Ship lately built by him in this place, which he said was the original and only account he had received of said cargo. Being then interrogated whether he intended to send the same back to Bristol, agreeable to the opinion of the Committee of Inspection for the Town of Falmouth, he answered, that he would send back the vessel with the two hogsheads of Lines, (when the vessel was repaired,) but that he could not send back the Rigging, Sails, and Stores, as he wanted them for his new Ship, which, he said, he could not send home without, but that he was willing to let the vessel lay in the habour with the said Rigging, Sails, and Stores on board, until the sitting of the Provincial Congress.

Said Coulson was then asked whether he would send back the said Vessel and Stores to Bristol, if it should be the opinion of the said Congress that he ought so to do. He answered that he would, if they would put him in a way to get his said new Ship home; but that otherwise he could not do it.

Captain Coulson was likewise asked whether the articles contained in the said manifest were all the vessel brought. He answered that there was nothing else on board said vessel; that nothing had been taken out of her but a bed belonging to one of the sailors, and that nothing should be taken out till he had the opinion of the Provincial Congress.

Then adjourned to the Library Chamber, three o’clock, P. M.

Three o’clock, P. M.

Met, according to adjournment.

After a full consideration of the foregoing matter respecting Captain Coulson, it appears to this Convention that the importation of the aforegoing Rigging, Sails, and Stores, is a violation of the Continental Association. And whereas the said Committee of Inspection have given it as their opinion, that the same ought forthwith to he sent back, without breaking any of the packages thereof; therefore,

Voted, (by a majority of twenty-three to three,) That this Convention do highly approve of the proceedings of said Committee, and we do earnestly request that said Committee would pursue every measure recommended by the Association of the Continental Congress for putting into execution the several articles thereof.

Resolved, That it be recommended, and it is hereby strongly recommended to the several Towns in this County, that they immediately take effectual care to provide themselves a stock of Ammunition, double at least to that required by the Province Law, and such a quantity of Provisions as may by them respectively be thought necessary for the exigencies of the present season. And as it is of the utmost importance that husbandry should at this day be more particularly encouraged, it is earnestly recommended that the inhabitants of this County would exert themselves, as far as possible, to promote the raising such necessaries of life as may be suitable to the qualities of their respective lands.

Voted, That the several Members of this Convention be and hereby are desired to recommend to the inhabitants of their several Towns, strictly to adhere to the Resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congresses. And that they use their best endeavours to discourage riots, mobs, and all tumultuous proceedings, and that they would endeavour, as much as in them lies, to promote peace, order, and decorum, as essentially necessary for the safety of the people at this critical day.

Voted, That such of the proceedings of this Convention be published as the Falmouth Delegates shall think fit.

Voted, That this Convention Be dissolved.

SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk.

GEORGE MASON TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Gunston-Hall, (Virginia,) March 9, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I have at last finished the Potomack River Bill, which I now send you, together with some very long remarks thereon, and a letter to Mr. Johnston, into which you will be pleased to put a wafer, when you forward the other papers to him. I also return the Acts of Assembly, and Mr. Johnston’s notes which you sent me. This affair has taken me five times as long as I expected; and I do assure you I never engaged in any thing which puzzled me more—there were such a number of contingencies to provide for, and drawing up laws, a thing so much out of my way. I shall be well pleased if the pains I have bestowed upon the subject prove of any service to so great an undertaking. But by what I can understand, there will be so strong an opposition from Baltimore and the head of the Bay, as will go near to prevent its passage through the Maryland Assembly in any shape it can be offered.

I suppose you have heard of the late purchase made by some North-Carolina gentlemen from the Cherokee Indians, of all the country between the Great Kanawha and the Tennessee Rivers. I think, considering this Colony has just expended about One Hundred Thousand Pounds