“We are informed you have already been called upon to waste your lives in a contest with us. Should you, by complying in this instance, assent to your new establishment and a war break out with France, your wealth and your sons may be sent to perish in expeditions against their Islands in the West-Indies.

“It cannot be presumed that these considerations will have no weight with you, or that you are so lost to all sense of honour. We can never believe that the present race of Canadians are so degenerated as to possess neither the spirit, the gallantry, nor the courage of their ancestors. You certainly will not permit the infamy and disgrace of such pusillanimity to rest on your own heads, and the consequences of it on your children forever.

“We, for our parts, are determined to live free, or not at all; and are resolved, that posterity shall never reproach us with having brought slaves into the world.

“Permit us again to repeat that we are your friends, not your enemies, and be not imposed upon by those who may endeavour to create animosities. The taking of the fort and military stores at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the armed vessels on the lake, was dictated by the great law of self-preservation. They were intended to annoy us, and to cut off that friendly intercourse and communication, which has hitherto subsisted between you and us. We hope it has given you no uneasiness, and you may rely on our assurances, that these Colonies will pursue no measures whatever, but such as friendship and a regard for our mutual safely and interest may suggest.

“As our concern for your welfare entitles us to your friendship, we presume you will not, by doing us injury, reduce us to the disagreeable necessity of treating you as enemies.

“We yet entertain hopes of your uniting with us in the defence of our common liberty, and there is yet reason to believe, that should we join in imploring the attention of our Sovereign, to the unmerited and unparalleled oppressions of his American subjects, he will at length be undeceived, and forbid a licentious Ministry any longer to riot in the ruins of the rights of mankind.”

Ordered, That the above Letter be signed by the President.

Ordered, That Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Mifflin be a Committee to get the Letter translated into the French language, and to have one thousand copies of it, so translated, printed, in order to be sent to Canada, and dispersed among the inhabitants there.

Upon motion, Resolved, That no Provisions or necessaries of any kind be exported to the Island of Nantucket, except from the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, the Convention of which Colony is desired to take measures for effectually providing the said Island, upon their application to purchase the same, with as much Provision, as shall be necessary for its internal use, and no more.

The Congress deeming it of great importance to North-America that the British Fishery should not be furnished with Provisions from the Continent through Nantucket, earnestly recommend a vigilant execution of this Resolve to all Committees.

Ordered, That the above Resolve be immediately published.

As the present critical situation of the Colonies renders it highly necessary that ways and means should be devised for the speedy and secure conveyance of intelligence from one end of the Continent to the other,

Resolved, That Mr. Franklin, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Lee, Mr. Willing, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. P. Livingston, be a Committee to consider the best means of establishing Post for conveying Letters and Intelligence through this Continent.

Resolved, That the Order of the Day be postponed till to-morrow.

Adjourned till to-morrow, at nine o’clock.

Tuesday, May 30, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

A member, Mr. Willing, one of the Delegates for Pennsylvania, informed the Congress, that a gentleman, just arrived from London, had brought with him a paper, which he says he received from Lord North, and which was written, at the desire of his Lordship, by Mr. Grey Cooper, Under Secretary of the Treasury; and as the gentleman understood it to be his Lordship’s desire that it should be communicated to the Congress, he had for that purpose put it into his hands. The member farther observed, that he had shown the paper to a member, Doctor Franklin, who was well acquainted with the hand-writing of Mr. Cooper, and that he verily believes the paper brought by the gentleman was written by Mr. Cooper.

The Paper being read, is as follows:

“That it is earnestly hoped by all the real friends of the Americans, that the terms expressed in the Resolution of the 20th of February last, will be accepted by all the Colonies, who have the least affection for their King and Country, or a just sense of their own interest.

“That these terms are honourable for Great Britain, and safe for the Colonies.

“That if the Colonies are not blinded by faction, these terms will remove every grievance relative to taxation, and be the basis of a compact between the Colonies and the Mother Country.

“That the people in America ought, on every consideration, to be satisfied with them.

“That no further relaxation can be admitted.

“The temper and spirit of the Nation are so much against concessions, that if it were the intention of Administration, they could not carry the question.

“But Administration have no such intention, as they are fully and firmly persuaded that further concessions would be injurious to the Colonies as well as to Great Britain.

“That there is not the least probability of a change of Administration.

“That they are perfectly united in opinion, and determined to pursue the most effectual measures, and to use the whole force of the Kingdom, if it be found necessary, to reduce the rebellious and refractory Provinces and Colonies.

“There is so great a spirit in the Nation against the Congress, that the people will bear the temporary distresses of a stoppage of the American trade.

“They may depend on this to be true.”

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take under their farther consideration the state of America; and after some time spent therein, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported from the Committee, that they had proceeded farther in the consideration of the business referred to them, but not having yet come to a conclusion, desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That the Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of America.

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Wednesday, May 31, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment, and, agreeable to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of America. After some time the President resumed the chair, and the papers received being read, and referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Whole, the Committee sat again, and after some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported from the Committee, that they have proceeded farther in the business recommended to them, but not yet having finished, they have desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of America.

A Letter from Colonel Arnold, dated Crown Point, May 23, 1775, was laid before the Congress, informing that he had certain intelligence, that “on the 19th there were then four hundred Regulars at St. John’s, making all possible preparations to cross the lake, and expected to be joined by a number of Indians, with a design of retaking Crown Point and Ticonderoga,” and earnestly calling for a re-enforcement and supplies.

This Letter being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That the Governour of Connecticut be requested immediately to send a strong re-enforcement to the