to be forthwith raised by this Colony; and proposals are made by us to the Congress of New-Hampshire, and Governments of Rhode-Island and Connecticut Colonies, for furnishing men in the same proportion.

“The sudden exigency of our publick affairs precluded the possibility of waiting for your direction in these important measures; more especially as a considerable re-enforcement from Great Britain is daily expected in this Colony, and we are now reduced to the sad alternative of defending ourselves by arms, or submitting to be slaughtered.

“With the greatest deference, we beg leave to suggest, that a powerful Army, on the side of America, hath been considered by this Congress as the only means left to stem the rapid progress of a tyrannical Ministry. Without a force superiour to our enemies, we must reasonably expect to become the victims of their relentless fury. With such a force, we may still have hopes of seeing an immediate end put to the inhuman ravages of mercenary troops in America, and the wicked authors of our miseries brought to condign punishment, by the just indignation of our brethren in Great Britain.

“We hope that this Colony will at all times be ready to spend and be spent in the cause of America. It is, nevertheless, a misfortune greatly operating to its disadvantage, that it has a great number of seaport Towns, exposed to the approach of the enemy by sea; from many of which the inhabitants have removed, and are removing their families and effects, to avoid destruction from ships of war. These, we apprehend, will be generally distressed from want of subsistence, and disabled from contributing aid for supporting the forces of the Colony; but we have the greatest confidence in the wisdom and ability of the Continent to support us, so far as it shall appear necessary for supporting the common cause of the American Colonies.

“We also enclose several Resolves for empowering and directing our Receiver-General to borrow the sum of one hundred thousand Pounds, lawful money, and to issue his notes for the same; it being the only measure which we could have recourse to, for supporting our forces. And we request your assistance in rendering our measures effectual, by giving our notes a currency through the Continent.

“JOSEPH WARREN, President pro tem.”

The Papers enclosed and referred to in the above, are as follow:

“In Provincial Congress, Watertown, May 3, 1775.

“Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and hereby is empowered to borrow the sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds, lawful money, and issue Colony security for the same, payable, with annual interest at six percent., June 1, 1777, and that the Continental Congress be desired to recommend to the several Colonies to give a currency to such securities.

“A true extract from the minutes:

“SAMUEL FREEMAN, Secretary pro tem.”

“In Provincial Congress, Watertown, May 3, 1775.

“Resolved, That the Securities given by the Receiver-General for the Moneys borrowed by him, in pursuance of the aforegoing Resolve, be in the form following, viz:

British dominions and possessions, whether in America or elsewhere, as His Majesty, in the due care of his subjects, may judge necessary for the security and protection of the same, cannot be rendered dependant upon the consent of a Provincial Assembly in the Colonies, without a most dangerous innovation, and derogation from the dignity of the imperial Crown of Great Britain. Nevertheless, in order to quiet and dispel groundless jealousies and fears, be it hereby declared, that no military force, however raised and kept according to law, can ever be lawfully employed to violate and destroy the just rights of the people.

Moreover, in order to remove for ever all causes of pernicious discords, and in due contemplation of the vast increase of possessions and population in the Colonies, and having at heart to render the condition of so great a body of industrious subjects there more and more happy, by the sacredness of property and of personal liberty; and of more extensive and lasting utility to the parent Kingdom, by indissoluble ties of mutual affection, confidence, trade, and reciprocal benefits; be it declared and enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and it is hereby declared and enacted by the authority of the same, that no tallage, tax, or other charge for His Majesty’s revenue shall be commanded or levied from British freemen, in America, without common consent, by act of Provincial Assembly there, duly convened for that purpose.

And it is hereby further declared and enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful for Delegates from the respective Provinces, lately assembled at Philadelphia, to meet in General Congress at the said Philadelphia, on the ninth day of May next, ensuing, in order then and there to take into consideration the making due recognition of the supreme legislative authority and superintending power of Parliament over the Colonies, as aforesaid.

And moreover, may it please your most excellent Majesty, that the said Delegates to be in Congress assembled, in manner aforesaid, may be required, and the same are hereby required, by the King’s Majesty, sitting in his Parliament, to take into consideration (over and above the usual charge for support of civil Government in the respective Colonies) the making a free grant to the King, his heirs and successors, of a certain perpetual revenue, subject to the disposition of the British Parliament, to be by them appropriated as they in their wisdom shall judge fit, to the alleviation of the national debt. No doubt being had, but this just, free aid, will be in such honourable proportion as may seem meet and becoming from great and flourishing Colonies towards a Parent Country labouring under the heaviest burdens, which (in no inconsiderable part) have been willingly taken upon ourselves and posterity, for the defence, extension, and prosperity of the Colonies.

And to this great end, be it further hereby declared and enacted, that the General Congress (to meet at Philadelphia as aforesaid) shall be, and is hereby authorized and empowered (the Delegates composing the same being first sufficiently furnished with powers from their respective Provinces for this purpose) to adjust and fix these partitions and quotas of the several charges to be borne by each Province respectively towards the general contributory supply; and this in such fair and equitable measure as may best suit the abilities and due convenience of all. Provided always, that the powers for fixing the said quotas, hereby given to the Delegates from the old Provinces composing the Congress, shall not extend to the new Provinces of East and West Florida, Georgia, Nova-Scotia, St. John’s, and Canada; the circumstances and abilities of the said Provinces being referred to the wisdom of Parliament in their due time.

And in order to afford necessary time for mature deliberation in America, be it hereby declared, that the provisions for ascertaining and fixing the exercise of the right of taxation in the Colonies, as agreed and expressed by this present act, shall not be in force, or have any operation, until the Delegates to be in Congress assembled, sufficiently authorized and empowered by their respective Provinces to this end, shall, as an indispensable condition, have duly recognized the supreme legislative authority and superintending power of the Parliament of Great Britain, over the Colonies as aforesaid. Always understood, that the free grant of an aid, as herebefore required and expected from the Colonies, is not to be considered as a condition of redress, but as a just testimony of their affection.

And whereas, divers acts of Parliament have been humbly represented in a Petition to His Majesty from America, to have been found grievous, in whole or in part, to the subjects of the Colonies, be it hereby declared by the King’s most, &c., &c., that the powers of Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty Courts in America shall be restrained within their ancient limits, and the trial by jury in all civil cases, where the same may have been abolished, restored; and that no subject in America, shall, in capital cases, be liable to be indicted and tried for the same in any place out of the Province wherein such offence shall be alleged to have been committed; nor be deprived of a trial by his peers of the vicinage. Nor shall it be lawful to send persons indicted for murder in any Province of America, to another Colony, or to Great Britain for trial.

And it it hereby declared and enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that all and every the said acts, or so much thereof as are represented to have been found grievous, namely, the several Acts of the 4 Geo. III. ch. 15 and ch. 34: 5 Geo. III. ch. 25: 6 Geo. III. ch. 52: 7 Geo. III. ch. 41 and ch. 46: 8 Geo. III, ch. 22: 12 Geo. III. ch, 24—with the three Acts for stopping the Port and blocking up the Harbour of Boston; for altering the Charter and Government of Massachusetts-Bay; and that intituled An Act for the Better Administration of Justice, &c.; also the Act for regulating the Government of Quebeck, and the act passed in the same session relating to the quartering of Soldiers, shall be and are hereby suspended, and not to have effect or execution from the date of this act. And be it moreover hereby declared and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all and every the before recited acts, or the parts thereof complained of, shall be, and are in virtue of this present act, finally repealed and annulled, from the day that the due recognition of the supreme legislative authority and superintending power of Parliament over the Colonies shall have been made on the part of the said Colonies.

And for the better securing the due and impartial, administration of justice in the Colonies, be it declared and enacted by the King’s most, &c., &c., that His Majesty’s Judges in Courts of Law in the Colonies in America, to be appointed with salaries by the Crown, shall hold their offices and salaries as His Majesty’s Judges in England, quamdiu se bene gesserit.

And it is hereby further declared by the authority aforesaid, that the Colonies in America are justly entitled to the privileges, franchises, and immunities granted by their several Charters or Constitutions; and that the said Charters or Constitutions ought not to be invaded or resumed unless for misuser, or some legal ground of forfeiture. So shall true reconcilement avert impending calamities, and this most solemn national accord between Great Britain and her Colonies stand an everlasting monument of clemency and magnanimity in the benignant Father of his People, of wisdom and moderation in this great Nation, famed for humanity as for valour, and of fidelity and grateful affection from brave and loyal Colonies to their Parent Kingdom, which will ever protect and cherish them.

The above Plan was offered by the Earl of Chatham to the House of Lords, on Wednesday, February 1, 1775, under the title of “A Provisional Act for settling the Troubles of America, and for asserting the supreme legislative authority and superintending power of Great Britain over the Colonies:” but being opposed by the Ministry, was rejected by a great majority; the numbers being for rejecting 61, for retaining 32; so it was not suffered to lie on the table for further consideration. Yet when it is considered that in the majority were all the Ministerial Lords, with all the Scottish Lords, and the Bishops, who usually vote as the Minister bids them, the sense of that House, that is, the independent part of it, does not seem to have been greatly against the bill.

B.F.