removal of the powder from the publick Magazine of the Colony.

That his Excellency’s ill-founded and injurious charge, to criminate the body of the people in this Colony, is hostile, and cannot be justified; therefore, he has forfeited the confidence of the inhabitants of this Country.

That those members of His Majesty’s Council who recommended and assisted in such Proclamation, and also since gave their advice to the good people of this Country, prefaced with cruel and indecent allegations, manifestly implying seditious and rebellious actions, tending to raise bitter dissensions and animosities, acted without prudence, policy, moderation, or generosity; and we are most sensibly grieved, that those whose duty and high department should warm them to every mode of reconciliation, should not only countenance, but themselves become incendiaries to fix, by their publication, a stigma by such an unmerited stricture on their brethren and fellow sufferers.

That our application for redress of grievances so justly founded, so often and vainly repeated; our long sufferance and forbearance under such unfellow-feeling, unrelenting measures, and our ardent wishes and endeavours for a reconciliation, by the restitution of our just rights and privileges, as we enjoyed them in the year 1763, evinces our attachment to our once happy Constitution, and our allegiance to our gracious Sovereign.

We, in order to exculpate ourselves and our constituents from such heinous maledictions, and to convince the world of our upright intentions, pledge ourselves to support the Constitution, and His Majesty King George the Third, in all his just rights and prerogatives, with our lives and fortunes.

Published by order of the Committee.

TO THE PUBLICK.

Norfolk, Va., May 25, 1775.

The inhabitants of the Borough of Norfolk, in townmeeting assembled, being informed that Captain Collins, of the Magdalen armed schooner, is endeavouring to dispose of a sloop seized by him, lately belonging to John Bowdoin, Esquire, of the Eastern Shore; and being also further informed, that the said Collins has made application to some persons for the purchase of a pilot boat, probably with an intention to convert her into a tender, to distress the trade of this or some other Colony: The inhabitants of this Borough are therefore determined to give no encouragement to him, or any such men, nor purchase any of their prizes from them, nor in the least contribute to their emolument by bidding for the plunder of our countrymen; nor will we sell any pilot boat or any other vessel to them for their hostile purposes, nor in any respect have any kind of dealings with them. And the inhabitants of this Borough, assembled as aforesaid, do further resolve, to have no dealing with any person that, in spite of the ties of duty and attachment to his Country, shall counteract these our resolutions, by granting any assistance for the destruction of our rights and properties, or of any other of the good people of the confederated Colonies. And we invite all persons to accede to this resolution.

Test:

WILLIAM DAVIES, Secretary.

TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

Williamsburgh, May 25, 1775.

Whilst we are almost involved in all the terrours of a civil war; whilst the injured genius of America cries aloud for justice; and whilst the only measures by which an accommodation can be procured meet with a most daring and unjust opposition from some of our most distinguished men, who should rather be the principal promoters of it: can I, without doing violence to reason, avoid exclaiming against the inhumanity of the action? Were they Englishmen, I should only say that they could not divest themselves of that partiality for their native Country, almost inherent in, our nature, and of consequence had imbibed wrong principles; but for Americans, both born and brought up among us, to sell their Country for a smile, or some ministerial office, what language is sufficient to express the indignation, the contempt, which such conduct must naturally create, in every virtuous breast. Alas! Great Britain, thy vices have even extended to America. So small an isle is become insufficient to contain such innumerable pollutions. Americans! the torrent as yet is but small; only a few are involved in it; it must be soon stopped, or it will bear all before it with an impetuous sway. The warlike Coriolanus, after he had fought many great and memorable battles in the service of his Country, after he had opposed in Carioli, an extensive city, all its inhabitants, as valiantly as ever extravagant fiction represents Hector to have done in the Grecian camp; I say, after he had performed such meritorious actions for his Country, when he found himself treated contemptuously, and banished from the city for taking up arms against his Country in his own defence, has all his former glory sullied. In what light, then, must we look on our countrymen, who espouse the side of the infamous Ministry? The conclusion is obvious. Pity for the despicable wretches bids me cease to draw it.

VOLUNTARIUS.

Kent-County upon Delaware, May 25, 1775.

The Militia Officers of above twenty Companies, chosen in the several Districts throughout said County, met together at Dover; and that the business of the day might be conducted with order and regularity, they chose Captain John Haslet, Chairman, and Lieutenant Mark McCall, Clerk.

The following Association was then drawn up, and unanimously approved and subscribed, viz:

“We, whose names are hereunto written, Military Officers, duly elected and chosen by the good people of the several Hundreds and Districts of the County of Ken upon Delaware, pursuant to the direction and recommendation of the Committee of Inspection for said County, do hereby jointly and severally, for ourselves and each of us, solemnly promise and engage, by the sacred ties of honour and love for our Country, that we and each of us will, to the utmost of our abilities, well and faithfully execute the important offices conferred upon us by our fellow-subjects, and in our military and every other capacity, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, defend the liberties and privileges of America, as well natural as constitutional, against all invaders, or such as may attempt any the least violation or infringement of them.

“And we do further, in manner aforesaid, promise and agree, that we, and each of us, will subject ourselves to such pains, penalties, military punishments, and disgrace, as Courts Martial, to be constituted from time to time of the officers of our own body, shall or may inflict on any of us offending against the rules of military discipline, or contravening, in word or deed, the true interest of America, or the spirit and principle of this Association.”

The Convention next proceeded to divide the County into two Divisions, each division to contain one Regiment of men, and then chose the necessary Field-Officers for each Regiment, viz:

For the Upper Regiment.

The Honourable Cæsar Rodney, Esq., Colonel;
Thomas Collins, Esquire, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Mr. French Battell, Major.

For the Lower Regiment.

John Haslet, Esquire, Colonel;
William Rhodes, Esquire, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Mr. Robert Hodgson, Major.

They then settled an uniform plan of their future conduct, with rules to be observed in every Company; and broke up in perfect harmony.

Published by order of the Convention:

MARK MC CALL, Clerk.

ARTHUR ST. CLAIR TO GOVERNOUR PENN.

Ligonier, May 25, 1775

SIR: An express from Pittsburgh, with despatches for your Honour, having called here this morning, I embrace the opportunity to inform your Honour that a commission is come up from Virginia to collect the Colony duty on all peltries exported from that place, and that notice has been given to the traders there to conduct themselves accordingly. I think they will find some way to evade paying it, and those that are not yet come in, will certainly