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shall be compatible with the melancholy exigency of our publick affairs. Carried unanimously in the affirmative. Ordered, That the following gentlemen be a Committee for the above purpose, viz: Mr. Duane, Mr. Scott, Mr. John Jay, Mr. Van Schaack, Mr. Kissam, Mr. McDougall, Mr. Low, and Mr. Lewis. Resolved, That a Committee of Correspondence and Intelligence be appointed, and that it consist of the following persons, viz: Mr. Low, Mr. Van Schaack, Mr. Kissam, Mr. Scott, Mr. Jones, Mr. P. V. B. Livingston, Mr. Van Cortlandt and Mr. McDougall, who are desired to transmit to England, and to the Committees of the principal Cities on this Continent, copies of the Association entered into in this City, with such further acts and resolutions of this Committee for advancing the common cause, as they shall direct to be published. The Committee adjourned until to-morrow morning, nine o’clock. ASSOCIATION OF NEW-YORK. New-York, May 4, 1775. The following Association was set on foot here last Saturday, April 29, and has been transmitted, for signing, to all the Counties in the Province, and signed by most of the men of this City: “Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depend, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the powers of Government: We, the Freemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of the City and County of New-York, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts-Bay, do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves; and do associate, under all the ties of religion, honour, and love to our Country, to adopt and endeavour to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention, for the purpose of preserving our Constitution and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on constitutional principles, (which we most ardently desire,) can be obtained; and that we will, in all things, follow the advice of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individuals and private property.” GOVERNOUR WANTON TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF RHODE-ISLAND. Newport, May 2, 1775. To the General Assembly of the ENGLISH Colony of RHODE-ISLAND, &c., to be held at PROVIDENCE, within and for said Colony, on the first WEDNESDAY in MAY, 1775. GENTLEMEN: As indisposition prevents my meeting you in the General Assembly, that candour I have so often experienced from the Representatives of the freemen of this Colony encourages me to hope that you will excuse my personal attendance at this Session. Since the last Session of the General Assembly at Providence, I have had the honour of receiving a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, dated Whitehall, the 3d of March, 1775, enclosing the Resolution of the House of Commons, respecting the provision which they expect each Colony or Province in America to make for the, common defence, and also for the civil Government land the administration of justice in such Colony, both which I have directed to be laid before you, and also a letter from the Committee of the Provincial Congress, which are all the publick letters I have received during the recess. As the dispute between Great Britain and the Colonies is now brought to a most alarming, dangerous crisis, and this once happy Country threatened with all the horrours and calamities of a civil war, I consider myself bound by every tie of duty and affection, as well from an ardent desire to see a union between Britain and her Colonies established upon an equitable, permanent basis, to entreat you to enter into the consideration of the Resolution of the House of Commons, and also his Lordship’s Letter which accompanied that Resolution, with the temper, calmness, and deliberation which the importance of them demands, and with that inclination to a reconciliation with the Parent State which will recommend your proceedings to His Majesty and both Houses of Parliament. The prosperity and happiness of this Colony is founded on its connexion with Great Britain, “for if once we are separated, where shall we find another Britain to supply our loss? Torn from the body to which we are united by Religion, Liberty, Laws, and Commerce, we must bleed at every vein.” Your Charter privileges are of too much importance to be forfeited; you will, therefore, duly consider the interesting matters now before you with the most attentive caution; and let me entreat you not to suffer your proceedings for accommodating these disputes, which have already too long subsisted between both Countries, to have the least appearance of anger or resentment; but that a kind, respectful behaviour towards His Majesty and both Houses of Parliament accompany all your deliberations. I shall always be ready to join with you in every measure which will secure the full possession of our invaluable Charter privileges to the latest posterity, and prevent the good people of this Colony from that ruin and destruction which, in my opinion, some of the orders of the late Assembly must inevitably involve them in, if they are not speedily repealed; for, besides the fatal consequences of levying war against the King, the immense load of debt that will be incurred, if the late Resolutions for raising an Army of Observation of fifteen hundred men within this Colony be carried into execution, will be insupportable, and must unavoidably bring on universal bankruptcy throughout this Colony. If I have the honour of being re-elected, I shall, as I ever have done, cheerfully unite with you in every proceeding (which may be consistent with that duty and allegiance which I owe to the King and the British Constitution) for increasing the welfare and happiness of this. Government. I am, with great respect and esteem, gentlemen, your most humble servant, J. WANTON. PROVIDENCE, RHODE-ISLAND, COMMITTEE TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF MASSACHUSETTS. Providence, May 2, 1775. SIR: The bearer hereof, John Lascell, hath been appointed by the Committee of Inspection for this Town to ride as a special post between this and Cambridge, Roxbury, &c. He will return on Friday next. We have only to inform you that the General Assembly of this Colony meet here to-morrow, for the purpose of an annual election, &c., in which session the melancholy situation of your Colony in particular, and of America in general, will be seriously attended to. What will be the result, God Almighty only knows; we wish and expect the best. Should any thing occur demanding particular notice, you will please to intimate it. We are, Sir, with unfeigned affection, your friends and brethren, JAMES ANGELL, President Committee of Safety at Cambridge. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN CONNECTICUT TO HIS FRIEND IN NEW-YORK, DATED MAY 2, 1775. I received your esteemed favour of the 24th April, and observe your fears respecting the times, which are truly distressing; however, I feel no apprehensions from General Gage’s ever being able to penetrate into the country thus far, if he was even reinforced with fifty thousand men. In the last conflict there never was more than two hundred and fifty men engaged with the Troops, who made out to kill, wound, and take prisoners, upwards of two hundred of his
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