effectual to obtain a redress of American grievances; and this Province bind themselves to execute, to the utmost of their power, all resolutions which the said Congress may adopt. And further, if the said Congress shall think necessary to adjourn, we do authorize our said Delegates to represent and act for this Province in any one Congress, to be held by virtue of such adjournment.

Signed by order,

JOHN DUCKET, Clerk.

FOR VIRGINIA.

At a Convention of Delegates for the Counties and Corporations in the Colony of Virginia, at the Town of Richmond, in the County of Henrico, on Monday, the twentieth of March, 1775:

The Convention proceeded to the election of Delegates by ballot, to represent this Colony in General Congress, to be held at the City of Philadelphia on the tenth day of May next, when the Hon. Peyton Randolph. George Washington, *Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Edmund Pendleton, Benjamin Harrison, and Richard Bland, Esquires, were chosen for that purpose.

PEYTON RANDOLPH, President.

JOHN TAZEWELL, Clerk of the Convention.

FOR NORTH-CAROLINA.

At a general meeting of Delegates of the Inhabitants of this Province, in convention at Newbern, the fifth day of April, 1775:

Present: the Honourable John Harvey, Esq., Moderator, and sixty-eight members. On motion,

Resolved, That William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Richard Caswell, Esquires, be, and they are hereby appointed Delegates to attend the General Congress, to be held at Philadelphia on the tenth day of May next, or at any other time and place that shall be appointed for that purpose; and they are hereby invested with such powers as may make any acts done by them, or any of them, or consent given in behalf of this Province, obligatory, in honour, upon every inhabitant thereof.

A true copy from the minutes:

JOHN HARVEY, Moderator.

Attested by Andrew Knox, Clerk.

In the Assembly, 7th of APRIL, 1775.

Resolved, That the House do highly approve of the proceedings of the Continental Congress, lately held at Philadelphia, and that they are determined, as members of the community in general, that they will strictly adhere to the said Resolutions, and will use what influence they have to induce the same observance in every individual of this Province.

This House having received information that William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Richard Caswell, Esquires, were appointed by the Convention, held at Newbern, as Delegates to attend the meeting of the Continental Congress, soon to be held at Philadelphia:

Resolved, That the House approve of the choice made by the said Convention.

A true cope from the Journal of the House of Assembly:

JAMES GREEN, JR., Clerk.

FOR SOUTH-CAROLINA.

In the Commons House of Assembly, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 3, 1775.

Whereas, the Continental Congress, held at the City of Philadelphia in September last, amongst other things, recommended to the several Colonies in North-America to choose Deputies as soon as possible, to hold another Congress at the same place, on the tenth day of May next; and this House being fully satisfied with the conduct and fidelity of their late Deputies at the Congress, do hereby nominate and appoint the Honourable Henry Middleton, Esquire, Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, and Edward Rutledge, Esquires, Deputies for and in behalf of this Colony, to meet the Deputies appointed, or to be appointed on the part and behalf of the other Colonies, at the City of Philadelphia, or any other place that shall be agreed on by the said Deputies in General Congress, with full power and authority to concert, agree to, and effectually prosecute such measures as, in the opinion of the said Deputies, and the Deputies to be assembled, shall be most likely to obtain a redress of American grievances.

Resolved, That the Deputies hereby appointed on the part and behalf of this Colony, are authorized and empowered to agree that the Continental Congress may meet at any future time, and at such place as shall be agreed on, and to adjourn from time to time, provided it do not exceed nine months from the date of their meeting in May next.

Attested:

THOMAS FARR, JR., Clerk.

Extract from the Journals of the Provincial Congress of SOUTH-CAROLINA, published by order of the Congress, the 11th of JANUARY, 1775.

Resolved, That the Honourable Henry Middleton, Esq., Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, and Edward Rutledge, Esquires, or any three of them, be, and they are hereby appointed and authorized to represent this Colony on the tenth day of May next, or sooner if necessary, at the American Congress, to be held at Philadelphia or elsewhere, with full power to concert, agree upon, direct, and order such further measures as, in the opinion of the said Deputies, and the Delegates of the other American Colonies to be assembled, shall appear to be necessary for liberties, and for restoring harmony between Great Britain and her Colonies.

Upon motion, Resolved, That the thanks of the Congress be given to the Reverend Mr. Duché for performing Divine Service, agreeable to the desire of the Congress, and for his excellent Prayer, so well adapted to the present occasion.

Order, That Mr. Bland, Mr. Willing, and Mr. Sullivan, be a Committee to wait upon Mr. Duché, and return the thanks of the Congress agreeable to the above Resolution.

Upon motion,

Resolved, That the Doors be kept shut during the time of business, and that the Members consider themselves under the strongest obligations of honour to keep the Proceedings secret, until the majority shall direct them to be made publick.

A Circular Letter from the Agents, William Bollan, B. Franklin, and Arthur Lee, Esquires, directed to the Speakers of the several Assemblies, with sundry papers therein referred to, were laid before the Congress and read; the Letter is as follows:

“London, February 5, 1775.

“SIR: Our last letter informed you that the King had declared his intentions of laying the Petition before his two Houses of Parliament. It has accordingly been laid before each House, but undistinguished among a variety of letters and other papers from America.

“A motion made by Lord Chatham, to withdraw the Troops from Boston, as the first step towards a conciliating plan, was rejected; and the Ministry have declared in both Houses the determination to enforce obedience to all the late laws. For this purpose, we understand, that three regiments of foot, one of dragoons, seven hundred marines, six sloops of war, and two frigates, are now under orders for America.

“We think it proper to inform you, that your cause was well defended by a considerable number of good and wise men in both Houses of Parliament, though far from being a majority; and that many of the commercial and manufacturing parts of the nation, concerned in the American trade, have presented, or, as we understand, are preparing to present, petitions to Parliament, declaring their great concern for the present unhappy controversies with America, and praying expressly, or in effect, for healing measures, as the proper means of preserving their commerce, now greatly suffering or endangered. But the treatment the petitions, already presented, have hitherto received, is such as, in our opinion, can afford you no reliance on present relief through their means.

“As soon as we learnt that the petition of the Congress was before the House of Commons, we thought it our duty to support it, if we might be permitted so to do, as there was no other opportunity for the numerous inhabitants of the Colonies to be heard in defence of their rights: accordingly