A subscription being then opened for the relief of our brethren in Massachusetts-Bay, and it being thought highly necessary, at this important crisis, that supplies should be sent to them, and money being the only means by which that relief could be afforded with certainty, the sum of one hundred and seventy-five Pounds was immediately contributed, and it is expected that a much larger sum will be given, when collections are made from the whole County.

PENNSYLVANIA ASSEMBLY.

Monday, May 1, 1775.

The House met pursuant to their adjournment.

Ordered, That Mr. Gray and Mr. Hillegas wait on the Governour, and acquaint him that a quorum of the Representatives being met, they are ready to receive any business his Honour may be pleased to lay before them.

Mr. Charles Thomson laid before the House a Letter from William Bollan, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, Esquires, dated London, February 5, 1775, which was read by order, and is as follows, viz:

SIR: Our last letter informed you that the King had declared his intention of laying the Petition before his two Houses of Parliament. It has accordingly been laid before each House, but undistinguished among a variety of letters and other papers from America.

A motion made by Lord Chatham, to withdraw the Troops from Boston, as the first step towards a conciliating plan, was rejected; and the Ministry have declared, in both Houses, the determination to enforce obedience to all the late laws. For this purpose, we understand that three Regiments of Foot, one of Dragoons, seven hundred Marines, six Sloops-of-War and two Frigates, are now under orders for America.

We think it proper to inform you that your cause was well defended by a considerable number of good and wise men in both Houses of Parliament, though far from being a majority, and that many of the commercial and manufacturing parts of the Nation, concerned in the American Trade, have presented, or, as we understand, are preparing to present Petitions to Parliament, declaring their great concern for the present unhappy controversies with America, and praying expressly, or in effect, for healing measures, as the proper means of preserving their commerce, now greatly suffering or endangered. But the treatment the Petitions already presented have hitherto received, is such as, in our opinion, can afford you no reliance on any present relief through their means.

As soon as we learned that the Petition of the Congress was before the House of Commons, we thought it our duty to support it, if we might be permitted so to do, as there was no other opportunity for the numerous inhabitants of the Colonies to be heard in defence of their rights. Accordingly we joined in a Petition for that purpose. Sir George Savile kindly undertook to present it, but on previously opening the purport of it, as the order is, a debate arose on the propriety of receiving it, and, on a division, it was rejected by a great majority.

The following extract of a letter from General Gage to Lord Dartmouth, as laid before Parliament, we think it our duty to transmit, viz:

“December 15, 1774.—It is said Your Lordship’s idea of disarming certain Provinces would doubtless be consistent with prudence and safety, but it neither is, nor has been practicable, without having recourse to force, and being masters of the Country.”

It was thrown out in debate by a principal member of Administration, that it would be proper to alter the Charters of Connecticut and Rhode-Island.

Enclosed we send you a copy of the Resolutions passed in a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday last, which are to be reported on Monday.* It is said that these Resolutions are to be the foundation of several Bills to be brought in; but the purport of these Bills we have not yet learned with sufficient certainty.

We send you likewise a copy of Lord Chatham’s first motion in the House of Lords, and of his plan of a Bill for settling the troubles between Britain and her Colonies, both which were rejected on the first reading.

With great respect, we are, Sir, your most obedient humble servants,

WM. BOLLAN,
B. FRANKLIN,
ARTHUR LEE.”

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour with the Message of the House, reported they had delivered the same according to order, and that his Honour was pleased to say he should lay some business before the House shortly.

The House adjourned to ten o’clock to-morrow morning.

May 2, 1775.—The House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Governour, by Mr. Secretary, sent down a written Message to the House, together with a copy of a Resolution of the House of Commons, passed the 20th of February last, which were read by order, and are as they respectively follow, viz:

A Message from the Governour to the Assembly.

GENTLEMEN: I have ordered the Secretary to lay before you a Resolution† entered into by the British House of

* That it is the opinion of this Committee, that an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, to return His Majesty our most humble thanks for having been most graciously pleased to communicate to this House the several papers relating to the present state of the British Colonies in America, which, by His Majesty’s commands, have been laid before this House, and from which, after taking them into our most serious consideration, we find that a part of His Majesty’s subjects, in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, have proceeded so far to resist the authority of the Supreme Legislature, that a rebellion at this time actually exists within the said Province, and we see, with the utmost concern, that they have been countenanced and encouraged by unlawful combinations and engagements, entered into by His Majesty’s subjects in several of the other Colonies, to the injury and oppression of many of their innocent fellow-subjects, resident within the Kingdom of Great Britain and the rest of His Majesty’s Dominions. This conduct, on their part, appears to us the more inexcusable, when we consider with how much temper His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament have acted in support of the laws and Constitution of Great Britain. To declare that we can never so far desert the trust reposed in us as to relinquish any part of the sovereign authority over all His Majesty’s Dominions, which by law is vested in His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament, and that the conduct of many persons in several of the Colonies during the late disturbances, is alone sufficient to convince us how necessary this power is for the protection of the lives and fortunes of all His Majesty’s subjects; that we ever have been, and always shall be, ready to pay attention and regard to any real grievances of any of His Majesty’s subjects, which shall, in a dutiful and constitutional manner, be laid before us; and whenever any of the Colonies shall make a proper application to us, we shall be ready to afford them every just and reasonable indulgence; but that at the same time we consider it as our indispensable duty, humbly to beseech His Majesty that His Majesty will take the most effectual measures to enforce due obedience to the laws and authority of the Supreme Legislature; and that we beg leave, in the most solemn manner, to assure His Majesty, that it is our fixed resolution, at the hazard of our lives and properties, to stand by His Majesty against all rebellious attempts in the maintenance of the just rights of His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament.

Ayes, two hundred and ninety-six; noes, one hundred and six.

Amendment proposed to leave out from the first [and] to the end of the question, and insert [to assure His Majesty, that in order to fix the true dignity of his Crown, and the authority of Parliament on a sure foundation, we shall endeavour to recover the hearts of his subjects in America, too many of whom are unhappily alienated from their usual affection to their Mother Country, by endeavouring to remove all those causes of jealousy and apprehension which have arisen from an unfortunate management of His Majesty’s affairs, and from acts of the last Parliament, made without sufficient information of the true state of America.]

Question put, that the words proposed to be left out stand part of this question? Ayes, three hundred and four; noes, one hundred and five.

† The Resolution of the House of Commons.

Lunæ, 20° Die Februarii, 1775.—The House in a Committee on the American Papers, motion made and question proposed,

That it is the opinion of this Committee, that when the Governour, Council, and Assembly, or General Court, of any of His Majesty’s Provinces or Colonies in America shall propose to make provision, according to the condition, circumstances, and situation of such Province or Colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defence, (such proportion to be raised under the authority of the General Court or General Assembly of such Province or Colony, and disposable by Parliament,) and shall engage to make provision also for the support of the civil Government, and the administration of justice in such Province or Colony, it will be proper, if such proposal shall be approved by His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament, and for so long as such provision shall be made accordingly, to forbear, in respect of such Province or Colony, to levy any duty, tax, or assessment, or to impose any further duty, tax, or assessment, except only such duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy or impose for the regulation of Commerce, the nett produce of the duties last mentioned to be carried to the account of such Province or Colony respectively.