empire; if our commerce is not an object below your consideration; if justice and humanity have lost their influence on your hearts; still motives are not wanting to excite your indignation at the measures now pursued: your wealth, your honour, your liberty are at stake.

Notwithstanding the distress to which we are reduced, we sometimes forget our own afflictions to anticipate and sympathize in yours. We grieve that rash and inconsiderate counsels should precipitate the destruction of an empire which has been the envy and admiration of ages, and call God to witness, that we would part with our property, endanger our lives, and sacrifice every thing but liberty, to redeem you from ruin.

A cloud hangs over your head and ours; ere this reaches you, it may probably burst upon us; let us, then, (before the remembrance of former kindness is obliterated,) once more repeat those appellations which are ever grateful in our ears; let us entreat Heaven to avert our ruin, and the destruction that threatens our friends, brethren, and countrymen, on the other side of the Atlantick.

Ordered, That the Address be published, and a number of them sent by Mr. Penn to England.

The Letter to the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of London, being read again, and debated, was approved, and is as follows:

MY LORD: Permit the Delegates of the people of twelve ancient Colonies, to pay your Lordship, and the very respectable body of which you are head, the just tribute of gratitude and thanks, for the virtuous and unsolicited resentment you have shown to the violated rights of a free people. The City of London, my Lord, having in all ages approved itself the patron of liberty, and the support of just government, against lawless tyranny and oppression, cannot fail to make us deeply sensible of the powerful aid our cause must receive from such advocates; a cause, my Lord, worthy the support of the first City in the world, as it involves the fate of a great Continent, and threatens to shake the foundations of a flourishing, and, until lately, a happy Empire.

North America, my Lord, wishes most ardently for a lasting connexion with Great Britain on terms of just and equal liberty; less than which generous minds will not offer, nor brave and free ones be willing to receive.

A cruel war has at length been opened against us, and whilst we prepare to defend ourselves like the descendants of Britons, we still hope that the mediation of wise and good citizens, will at length prevail over despotism, and restore harmony and peace, on permanent principles, to an oppressed and divided Empire.

We have the honour to be, my Lord, with great esteem, your Lordship’s faithful friends and fellow-subjects.

Signed by order of the Congress:

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

Ordered, That the above Letter be fairly transcribed, and signed by the President, and sent by Mr. Penn.

The Committee appointed to prepare a Letter to Mr. Penn and the Colony Agents, brought in the same, which being read, was approved, and is as follows:

GENTLEMEN: The perseverance of the British Ministry in their unjust and cruel system of Colony administration, has occasioned the meeting of another Congress.

We have again appealed to the justice of our Sovereign for protection against the destruction which his Ministers meditate for his American subjects. This Petition to His Majesty you will please, gentlemen, to present to the King with all convenient expedition, after which we desire it may be given to the publick. We likewise send you our second application to the equity and interest of our fellow-subjects in Great Britain, and also a declaration setting forth the causes of our taking up arms: both which we wish may be immediately put to press, and communicated as universally as possible.

The Congress entertain the highest sense of the wise and worthy interposition of the Lord Mayor and Livery of London, in favour of injured America. They have expressed this, their sense, in a letter to his Lordship and the Livery, which we desire may be presented in the manner most agreeable to that respectable body.

You will oblige us, gentlemen, by giving the most early information to the Congress, and to the Speakers of our respective Assemblies, of your proceeding in this business, and such further intelligence as you may judge to be of importance to America in this great contest.

We are, with great regard, Gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servants.

By order of the Congress.

Ordered, That the above be fairly transcribed, to be signed by the President, and then by him sent under cover, with the Petition to the King, and Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, and Letter to the Lord Mayor of London, to Richard Penn, Esq., and that the President request Mr. Penn, in behalf of the Congress, to join with the Colony Agents in presenting the Petition to the King.

Order of the Day put off; and

Adjourned till Monday, at nine o’clock.

Monday, July 10, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

It being suggested that there was a gentleman in Town well acquainted with the situation and disposition of the Indians,

On motion, That he be introduced, he was introduced accordingly. After he withdrew, the Committee appointed to prepare proper talks to the Indians, reported the same, which were read.

The Committee appointed to devise ways and means of putting the Militia into a proper state of defence, brought in their Report, which was read.

Mr. Alsop informed the Congress that he had an invoice of Indian goods, which a gentleman in this Town had delivered to him, and which the said gentleman was willing to dispose of to the Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. P. Livingston, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Alsop, be a Committee to examine said invoice, and report to the Congress.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee respecting the Militia, and after some debate, the same was deferred till to-morrow.

The Order of the Day put off, and the Congress adjourned till to-morrow, at nine o’clock.

Tuesday, July 11, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The Report of the Committee on Indian Affairs was taken up and read, and, after some debate, the same was deferred till to-morrow.

On information that there were two Companies of Riflemen raised in Lancaster instead of one,

Resolved, That both the Companies be taken into the Continental service.

On motion, Resolved, That the Delegates from Pennsylvania have liberty to treat with, and employ, fifty Hussars, who have been in actual service, and send them forward to join the Troops before Boston, under General Washington.

“An Address of the Deputies from the different Parishes of the Island of Bermuda,” to the Congress, was presented and read.

The Order of the Day was postponed, and the Congress adjourned till to-morrow, at nine o’clock.

Wednesday, July 12, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Information being given that there was a gentleman from the Province of Quebeck in Town, who could give some intelligence of the disposition of the Canadians,

On motion, Resolved, That he be called in; and he was accordingly introduced and examined.

Two Letters, from N. Cooke, Deputy-Governour of Rhode-Island, the other from General Ward, were read.

The Report of the Committee of Indian Affairs was then taken into consideration, which being debated by paragraphs, the Congress came to the following Resolutions:

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