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This Convention, deeply considering the distressed and perplexed situation of British America, the weakness of all human counsels, and that the hearts of all men are in the disposal of the Supreme Being, do recommend that the eleventh day of this instant may be observed throughout this Province as a day of fasting and humiliation; and that the inhabitants of this Province, on that day, in an especial manner, by prayer and supplication, humbly and devoutly implore the blessing, support, and protection of Almighty God, for the preservation of the rights and liberties of America, and the restoration of peace, union, and happiness to the British Empire. This Convention, taking into consideration, that the time proposed for the meeting of the next Continental Congress is near at hand, and that it is highly expedient that the Delegates of this Province should attend the said Congress as early in their session as may be, where the state of the City and Colony of New-York, as well as the circumstances of the other Colonies and Provinces, may be best known, and measures for the security of the City and Colony of New-York, as well as the safety of all British America, be best concerted and provided for. And whereas, it is now altogether uncertain when an answer may be received to the Letter sent on Saturday last to the Committee of Correspondence in the City of Philadelphia; and it being necessary that the Members of this Convention should return to their respective Counties, it is, therefore, Resolved, That this Convention do now rise; and it is recommended to such of the Counties in this Province, where it may be necessary, forthwith to make choice of Deputies to represent them in a Provincial Convention, to be held in the City of Annapolis, on Monday, the 22d of May, unless an earlier or later day should be appointed by the Delegates of this Province, or any three of them, appointed to attend the Continental Congress. The following were received by return of the express sent by the Provincial Convention to the Committee of Correspondence for Philadelphia: Philadelphia, May 1, 1775. GENTLEMEN: We have duly received your favour of the 29th ultimo. As the accounts from New-York were not handed to this Committee through a channel that gave us the satisfaction we could wish; and as they were very important, we thought proper immediately to despatch some of our members to that place, in order that they might, on the spot, learn the true situation of affairs there, and what the inhabitants of New-York expect from the Southern Colonies. On their return, or on the receipt of any certain intelligence, we shall immediately communicate the particulars to you. In the mean time we have to inform you, that, upon the receipt of the late intelligence, this City and County immediately took the alarm, and are arming and forming with all possible expedition; and, by accounts from the other Counties in this Province, the same spirit prevails every where; and we hope, in a short time, we shall be in a condition to unite our efforts with the rest of the Colonies. Enclosed we send you a letter from Newport, Rhode-Island, which contains a particular account of the situation of affairs to the Eastward, together with some important intelligence. By order of the Committee: JOHN NIXON, Chairman. To Matthew Tilghman, Esq., Chairman of the Provincial Convention of the Province of Maryland, now sitting at Annapolis. Newport, April 25, 1775. GENTLEMEN: You have, without doubt, before this time, heard of the bloody, savage massacre of a number of the inhabitants of Lexington, a Town about twelve miles northwest from Boston, perpetrated by a detachment of aboutt welve hundred of the King’s Troops, and what ensued thereon. We enclose you two accounts, which may be more particular than any you have yet received. The one was brought us by a gentleman who left Cambridge on Thursday last, in the forenoon, and is contained in the handbill; the other is in the newspaper. Since we received these accounts, we have been credibly informed that the number of the King’s Troops killed and taken amounts to about three hundred, besides, many were wounded and carried into Boston; the number of Americans to about forty killed and wounded, and it is said about four or five taken prisoners. A large body of men, not less than twenty thousand, are assembled, and form a semicircle from Charlestown to Roxbury; what their plan of operation will be, is unknown. By a gentleman of the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Providence, in this Colony, who arrived here this afternoon, we are informed that the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay, now sitting, have determined that a Standing Army of thirty thousand men should be raised in the New-England Colonies, expecting that the Southern Colonies will assist in furnishing moneys for their support. That our people had taken possession of a hill on Dorchester Point, which commands General Gage’s works on Boston Neck, and that they had made intrenchments within gunshot of those works at Roxbury. That two Men-of-War had arrived at Boston, and brought the three Generals that have been expected; and that six thousand Troops had embarked for that place when those Men-of-War left England. There were not more than three hundred Americans in a body at any one time during the action on Wednesday, and they acquitted themselves with such intrepidity, as has convinced the King’s Officers that Americans can and will fight. All communication between the Town of Boston and the other parts of the Colony, being shut up, and things being in a state of confusion, renders it almost impossible to obtain any certain particular intelligence from that quarter; however, the foregoing account, we think, may be depended upon. We had hoped that the dispute between Great Britain and these Colonies would have been settled without bloodshed; but the Parliament of Great Britain, it seems, have determined to push their iniquitous unconstitutional measures by dint of arms. The sword of civil war has been drawn by the King’s Troops, and sheathed in the bowels of our countrymen. May peace, with liberty, soon present the scabbard; and may Americans never be obliged again to take up arms but against a foreign foe. We hope that the union which has so remarkably taken place throughout the American Colonies, may acquire, if possible, greater firmness, by this unjustifiable, inhuman, murderous attack upon our countrymen; for, upon an universal firmly cemented union of the American Colonies, under God, depends the salvation and establishment of American liberty. I am, in behalf of the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Newport, gentlemen, your and America’s sincere friend, WILLIAM ELLERY. To the Committee of Correspondence for the City of Philadelphia. In Committee, Philadelphia, May 1, 1775; received per Captain Whitman this day, and forwarded to Annapolis. J. B. SMITH, Secretary of Committee. NEWARK (NEW-JERSEY) COMMITTEE. At a Meeting of the Committee of Observation for the Township of Newark, April 24, 1775, present, eighteen Members: Mr. CALEB CAMP, Chairman. The Chairman having opened the business of the meeting, and related the purport of the expresses lately received from Boston, the following motions were made, and agreed to unanimously: That the members of this Committee are willing, at this alarming crisis, to risk their lives and fortunes in support of American liberty; and that it be recommended to our constituents to give all necessary support in their power to our brethren in the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, in the present alarming exigency. That it be also recommended to the Captains of the Militia in this Township to muster and exercise their respective Companies at least once every week, and carefully to exact that each man be provided with arms and ammunition, as the Militia Law directs. That it be requested of all heads of families and masters of apprentices, to encourage all of proper age under their
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