Peter Peterse, Esquire, Daniel Niel, Richard Ludlow, Thomas Post, and Doctor Nicholas Roche, are appointed a Committee of Correspondence for said Township.

Daniel Niel, Deputy Chairman to the General Committee, and Richard Ludlow, Deputy Clerk.

ADDRESS OF ISAAC WILKINS.

New-York, May 3, 1775.

MY COUNTRYMEN: Before I leave America, the land I love, and in which, is contained every thing that is valuable and dear to me—my wife, my children, my friends, and property; permit me to make a short and faithful declaration, which I am induced to do neither through fear, nor a consciousness of having acted wrong. An honest man and a Christian hath nothing to apprehend from this world. God is my judge, and God is my witness, that all I have, done, written, or said, in relation to the present unnatural dispute between Great Britain; and her Colonies, proceeded from an honest intention of serving my Country. Her welfare and prosperity were the objects towards which all my endeavours have been directed. They still are the sacred objects which I shall ever steadily and invariably keep in view. And when in England, all the influence that so inconsiderable a man as I am can have, shall be exerted in her behalf.

It has been my constant maxim through life to do my duty conscientiously, and to trust the issue of my actions to the Almighty. May that God in whose hands are all events, speedily restore peace and liberty to my unhappy Country. May Great Britain and America be soon united in the bands of everlasting amity, and when united may they continue a free, a virtuous, and happy Nation to the end of time.

I leave America, and every endearing connection, because I will not raise my hand against my Sovereign, nor will I draw my sword against my Country; when I can conscientiously draw it in her favour, my life shall be cheerfully devoted to her service.

ISAAC WILKINS.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE.

The Committee met, by adjournment, Wednesday morning, nine o'clock, May 3, 1775. Present:

A Letter dated New-York, May 3, 1775, from John Cruger and Jacob Walton, Esquires, received and read, and is as follows, viz:

New-York, May 3, 1775.

SIR: At the desire of the gentlemen who presented the Association to us, we have committed to writing our reasons for not signing it, which we have thought proper to communicate to you in order to be laid before the Committee.

It appears to us that signing this paper would involve us in the greatest inconsistency. As we were elected Representatives in General Assembly for this City and County, we conceive that the faithful performance of this important trust requires of us a, free, unbiased exercise of our own judgment. To submit this to the control of any power on earth would, in our opinion, be deserting that trust; but to engage implicitly to approve and carry into execution the regulations of any other body would justly expose us to the reproach of our own conscience, the censure not only of our constituents but of the whole world. In our legislative capacity we have already transmitted to the King and both Houses of Parliament, representations of our grievances. We have, to the utmost of our power, framed these in such a manner as we thought would be most likely to ensure them success by procuring a redress of our complaints, healing the present unhappy differences, and fixing for the Colonies, a permanent Constitution upon principles of liberty and a lasting union with the Mother Country. These representations were a long time in agitation, and a state of our grievances, with the Resolutions of the House thereon, were publickly known to our constituents, and no disapprobation, of our proceedings ever signified to us. Upon mature reflection, and after revolving our conduct with the most impartial deliberation, we cannot but approve what we have done, and will therefore patiently wait for the event, which will, we hope, be productive of much benefit not only to this Colony, but to the cause of American liberty in general; at least we have the fullest testimony of our consciences for the uprightness of our intentions.

We can with the greatest truth declare our approbation of any Association for preserving the peace, and good order of the City and Province, and for the protection of personal safety and private property, and so far are we from giving the least countenance to the claims of Parliament to a right of taxing the Colonies, that we will contribute to the utmost of our power measures necessary for preventing its being carried into execution. The preservation of the Constitution, which we are convinced gives us a right to an absolute exemption from Parliamentary taxation, we have most ardently at heart, and we shall at all times strenuously co-operate in opposing every violation of it. These reasons, with the publick manifestation of our principles contained in the representation of the General Assembly to the King and Parliament, we are persuaded, must be satisfactory to every reasonable man. But to engage for an indiscriminate approbation of the measures of others, and that before we know them, would be to prejudge matters of the utmost importance, and to preclude us from the exercise of our own judgments, and that, free deliberation without which our legislative powers would be a mere sound, and thereby to betray a trust which, we are under the most solemn engagements to preserve free and inviolate, and of which we cannot be divested until the period of the dissolution of the House. As the signing of this. Association, therefore, would in effect be to deprive ourselves of our legislative powers, we cannot but suppose, from the tenor of it, an exemption of us is implied in it.

With the most anxious concern; for the distresses of the inhabitants of the Massachusetts-Bay, and the most sincere wishes for their relief, and the liberty and prosperity of all the Colonies,

We are, Sir, your most humble servants,

JOHN CRUGER,
JACOB WALTON.

To Mr. Isaac Low, Chairman of the Committee.

Mr. McDougall, seconded by Mr. Duane, made a motion in the words following:

Whereas this Committee is informed that the Postmaster has discharged the Eastern Post-rider:

I therefore move, Mr. Chairman, that a Sub-Committee be immediately appointed to wait, on the Postmaster, to know the true state of the matter; and that they report his answer in writing.

Ordered, That Colonel Walton and Benjamin Kissam, Esquires, be a Committee for the above mentioned purpose.

Mr. Lamb, seconded by Mr. Brasher, made a motion in the words following, viz:

Whereas it has been confidently asserted that a considerable body of the British soldiery are ordered to this City from England; in consequence of which a number of Troops from Connecticut have lately marched into this City, with a view of aiding and assisting us in preparing for our defence:

I therefore move, that the thanks of this body be immediately presented to the officers and men for their kind offers of assistance, a conduct that is equally expressive of their anxious solicitude for our safety, as of a noble zeal in the service of our common Country, in this day of difficulty and danger.