respective British Colonies in America, in defence of their just rights and freedom; you are desired to publish in the New-York Journal the following Proceedings and Resolutions of a General Committee, consisting of the Committees of a number of Towns, by which the whole County was well represented at a meeting in October last. The long delay of the publication was occasioned by some unfair practices of a small but mischievous party, together with the remote situation of the County from the City of New-York.

At a meeting of the Committees from a number of Townships in the County of Cumberland, and Province of New-York, held at the County-Hall, at Westminster, on the 19th and 20th of October, 1774, to consider a Letter very lately received from Mr. Isaac Low, Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence of New-York, dated May 21st, 1774, to consult on measures proper to be taken at this important day: present, eighteen Delegates from twelve Towns.

Colonel JOHN HAZELINE chosen Chairman.

After having read Mr. Chairman Low’s Letter, and the Act of the British Parliament in laying a duty or tax on Tea, for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, the Boston Port Bill, so called, and divers other late Acts of the British Parliament; sundry debates being had thereon,

Voted, That John Grout, Esquire, Mr. Joshua Webb, Doctor Paul Spooner, Mr. Edward Harris, and Major William Williams, be a Committee to take into consideration the aforesaid Letter, and divers aforesaid Acts, and report to this meeting. Who reported as follows:

This County being in its infant state, contending with the hardships of subduing the wilderness, and converting it into fruitful fields, being situated here in a corner, at a considerable remove from the populous, civilized parts of the Country, conceive they, by their own experience, in a small degree feel the sufferings of their ancestors.

The first planters in America endured hunger, cold, and other distresses, until they, by their arduous industry, found suitable relief from their bountiful fields and their own expenses; and as the people of this County were chiefly born in some one or other of the New-England Provinces, and conceive them to be at least as loyal to the King as any subjects he can boast of, are surprised to find, by the late Acts of Parliament, that all Americans are deprived of that great right of calling that their own, which they by their industry have honestly acquired; are surprised to find a power arise in Britain, which, with impunity say, they have a right to bind the Colonies in all cases whatsoever, and attempt to exercise that authority, by taking, at their pleasure, the properties of the King’s American subjects without their consent; especially since some of the former Kings of Great Britain by charter granted to their subjects in New-England, their heirs, and assigns, and all others who should settle within certain boundaries, divided into Colonies, all the liberties and privileges of natural free-born subjects of England; yet, notwithstanding this, that such a power should arise under the mere inspection of the King, unrebuked, to claim all American property, and actually to take as much as they please, in direct breach of the solemn compact between a former King, on his part, and his successors, made with the first planters of these Colonies, and others that after should be born among them, or join them, or be born on the seas when going thither; and we do not conceive those whose rights are as aforesaid solemnly declared, are more sacred in respect of the security of their property, than the right of this and other Colonies whose rights are only natural as British subjects; for he who has nothing but what another has power at pleasure lawfully to take away from him, has nothing that he can call his own, and is, in the fullest sense of the word, a slave—a slave to him who has such power; and as no part of British America stipulated to settle as slaves, the privileges of British subjects are their privileges, and whoever endeavours to deprive them of their privileges is guilty of treason against the Americans, as well as the British Constitution. Therefore Resolved,

I. That as true and loyal subjects of our gracious Sovereign, King George the Third of Great Britain, &c., we will spend our lives and fortunes in his service.

II. That as we will defend our King while he reigns over us, his subjects, and wish his reign may be long and glorious, so we will defend our just rights, as British subjects, against every power that shall attempt to deprive us of them, while breath is in our nostrils, and blood in our veins.

III. That considering the late Acts of the British Parliament for blocking up the Port of Boston, &c., which we view as arbitrary and unjust, inasmuch as the Parliament have sentenced them unheard, and dispensed with all the modes of law and justice which we think necessary to distinguish between lawfully obtaining right for property injured, and arbitrarily enforcing to comply with their will, (be it right or wrong.) we resolve to assist the people of Boston in defence of their liberties to the utmost of our abilities.

IV. Sensible that the strength of our opposition to the late Acts consists in a uniform, manly, steady, and determined mode of procedure, we will bear testimony against and discourage all riotous, tumultuous, and unnecessary mobs which tend to injure the persons or properties of harmless Individuals; but endeavour to treat those persons whose abominable principles and actions show them to be enemies to American liberty, as loathsome animals not fit to be touched or to have any society or connection with.

V. Resolved, That we choose a Committee to correspond with the other Committees of Correspondence of this Province and elsewhere, and that Mr. Joshua Webb, John Grout, Esquire, Deacon John Sessions, Major William Williams, and Captain Jacob Hoisington, be a Committee as aforesaid.

VI. Resolved, That the thanks of this Committee be given to the Committee of Correspondence in the capital of this Province, for the notice they have taken of this infant County.

VII. Resolved, That Mr. Chairman forward these Resolves to Mr. Low, Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence at New-York, and communicate to him by Letter the reasons why his Letter to the Supervisors of this County was answered no sooner.

VIII. Resolved, That Colonel Hazeltine, the Chairman, have the thanks of this Committee for his good services as Chairman.

The above Report being divers times read, paragraph by paragraph,

Voted, nemine contradicente, That the same be accepted as the sense of this meeting, and as their Resolves.

By order of the Convention:

JOHN HAZELTINE, Chairman.

COLONEL ARNOLD TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Ticonderoga, June 23, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: The Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, on the fourteenth day of June last, appointed Walter Spooner, Frederick Foster, and James Sullivan, a Committee to repair to the fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, on the Lake Champlain, to inquire into the importance of holding those posts, and also the method by which they may be maintained; to establish there in the pay of said Colony, so many men to defend the same posts as they should judge necessary, not exceeding four hundred: And the said Committee were also by said Congress directed, when they should have made themselves fully acquainted with the situation and importance of said posts, respectfully to signify their thoughts thereon to your Honours.

Wherefore, by order of said Committee, I take leave to inform you, that it is the opinion of said Committee, such is the importance of these fortresses, that should they once be in the hands of the enemies to America, the Colony of New-York, together with the New-England Colonies, would be in continual danger of having depredations committed on them by the regular forces who would be possessed of those garrisons; and should the Canadians and savages, who, we hope, are not yet at enmity with us, be inclined to take part with the Ministerial Army the distress of the Colonies before mentioned must be extremely great. A garrison at the south end of Lake George, however tenable, could be of but little service to the New-England Colonies, because the most easy route for an army from