presumes that the very respectable gentlemen of the Congress now sitting at Philadelphia, will permit him to declare, and, as a man of honour and veracity, he can and does solemnly declare, that however wrong and mistaken he may have been in his opinions, he has always meant honestly and openly to do his duty as a servant of the publick. Accordingly his conduct, as a printer, has always been conformable to the ideas which he entertained of English liberty, warranted by the practice of all printers in Great Britain and Ireland for a century past, under every Administration; authorized, as he conceives, by the laws of England, and countenanced by the declarations of the late Congress. He declares that his press has been always open and free to all parties, and for the truth of this fact appeals to his publications, among which are to be reckoned all the pamphlets, and many of the best pieces that have been written in this and the neighbouring Colonies in favour of the American claims. However, having found that the inhabitants of the Colonies were not satisfied with this plan of conduct, a few weeks ago he published in his paper a short apology, in which he assured the publick that he Would be cautious, for the future, of giving any further offence. To this declaration he resolves to adhere, and he cannot but hope for the patronage of the publick so long as his conduct shall be found to correspond with it. It is his wish and ambition to be an useful member of society. Although an Englishman by birth, he is an American by choice, and he is desirous of devoting his life, in the business of his profession, to the service of the Country he has adopted for his own. He lately employed no less than sixteen workmen, at near one thousand Pounds annually; and his consumption of printing paper, the manufacture of Pennsylvania, New-York, Connecticut, and the Massachusetts-Bay, has amounted nearly to that sum. His extensive foreign correspondence, his large acquaintance in Europe and America, and the manner of his education, are circumstances which, he conceives, have not improperly qualified him for the station in which he wishes to continue, and in which he will exert every endeavour to be useful. He therefore humbly submits his case to the consideration of the honourable gentlemen now assembled in the Continental Congress, and begs that their determination may be such as will secure him, especially as it is the only thing that can effectually secure him in the safety of his person, the enjoyment of his property, and the uninterrupted prosecution of his business.

JAMES RIVINGTON.

May 20, 1775.

TOWN MEETING IN BROOKLYN, NEW-YORK.

Brooklyn, Kings County, Nassau Island, May 20, 1775.

At a general Town Meeting, regularly warned, the Magistrates and Freeholders met, and voted Jeremiah Remsen, Esq., into the Chair, and Leffert Lefferts, Esq., Clerk.

Taking into our serious consideration the expediency and propriety of concurring with the freeholders and freemen of the City and County of New-York, and the other Counties, Townships, and Precincts, within this Province, for holding, continuing, and maintaining a Provincial Congress of Deputies, chosen out of the whole Province, to advise, consider, consult, watch over, protect, and defend, at this very alarming crisis, all our civil and religious rights, liberties, and privileges, according to their collective prudence:

After duly weighing and considering the unjust plunder and inhuman carnage committed on the property and persons of our brethren in the Massachusetts, who, with the other New-England Colonies, are now deemed, by the Mother Country, to be in a state of actual rebellion, by which declaration England hath put it beyond their own power to treat with New-England, or to propose or receive any terms of reconciliation, until those Colonies will submit as, or shall become a conquered Country; the first effort to effect which was by military and naval force; the next attempt is to bring a famine (a dreadful engine of war) amongst them, by depriving them of both their natural and acquired right of fishing—natural by their situation, acquired by their joint exertions to acquire the sovereignty of those fisheries: Further, contemplating the very unhappy situation to which the powers at home, by oppressive measures, have driven all the other Protestant Provinces, (in which we are Included,) we have all evils in their power to fear, as they have already declared all the Provinces aiders and abettors of rebellion: It remains only with the infallibility and omnipotency of Parliament, to determine how the Crown of England can propose to, or accept of any conditions of accommodations from any of these Protestant Provinces: Therefore,

1st. Resolved, That Henry Williams and Jeremiah, Remsen, Esquires, be now elected, chosen, and deputed by us, and in our behalf, Deputies for this Township, to meet and associate with all the Deputies of the Cities, Counties, Townships, and Precincts, within this Province of New-York, in a Provincial Convention, intended to be holden in the City of New-York on Monday next, the twenty-second day of this present instant, May, and so to continue to meet from time to time, and at all times, according to the adjournments of the said Provincial Convention, and then and there to consider, consult, agree, determine, act, and do all prudential and necessary business accordingly.

2d. Resolved, That we, confiding in the wisdom and equity of said Convention, collectively, do consent, agree, and conclude to observe, abide by and fulfil, all necessary and warrantable acts, associations, orders, and directions, as the said Provincial Congress shall, in their prudence, require, direct, and enjoin.

Signed by order of the Town Meeting:

LEFFERT LEFFERTS, Clerk.

COMMITTEE FROM CONNECTICUT TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

SIR: As we are much indisposed, think it most prudent to set out for Connecticut, and shall leave this City at two o’clock this afternoon. If the Convention have any commands to the Governour and Company of that Colony, we shall be proud of the honour of executing them. Mr. Edwards will go afterwards to New-Jersey, and, on his way to Connecticut, will wait on the Convention of this Province for further intelligence, and will give them such information as lies in his power.

We are, Sir, your most obedient humble servants,

NATHANIEL WALES,
THADDEUS BURR.

The Honourable Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq.

MEETING OF COMMITTEES FOR KINGS COUNTY, NEW-YORK.

Flatbush, May 22, 1775.

At a meeting held this twenty-second day of May, of the several Deputies of the different Townships in Kings County, for the purpose of electing Delegates to represent the County of Kings in Provincial Congress, now held in the City of New-York, agreeable to said meeting, they have and hereby do appoint Richard Stilwell, Theodorus Polhemus, John Lefferts, Nicholas Covenhoven, Johannes E. Lott, John Van Der Bilt, Henry Williams, and Jeremiah Remsen, Esquires, Delegates, or any three of them, to represent and fully to act In behalf of the before mentioned County, in Provincial Congress before named, now held in the City of New-York.

ABRAHAM E. LOTT, Secretary.

MEETING OF FREEHOLDERS AT JAMAICA, NEW-YORK.

At a meeting of a number of the Freeholders of Queens County, at Jamaica, on the 22d day of May inst., pursuant to publick notice thereof given, I certify that the following persons, to wit: Col. Jacob Blackwell, Jonathan Lawrence, Daniel Rapelje, Esq; Zebulon Williams, Esquire, Samuel Townsend, Esq., Joseph French, Esq., Joseph Robinson, Nathaniel Tom, Thomas Hicks, Esq., and Captain Richard Thorne, were unanimously chosen and elected Deputies for the said County, to meet in Provincial Congress with the Deputies from the other Counties within this Province. Given under my hand this 22d day of May, 1775.

DANL.KISSAM, Chairman.

Vote of the Town of JAMAICA, in QUEENS County, NEW-YORK, on the expediency of choosing a Deputy; presented

*