The state of the Navy, that great bulwark, safety, and protection of the commerce of this nation, demands, and we hope will engage, your serious attention; and that you will inquire by what fatal mismanagement and corrupt influence, after such immense sums have been voted during a peace establishment, that it is in its present deplorable condition.

We particularly instruct you to exert yourselves in preventing the farther effusion of the blood of our innocent fellow-subjects in America, and to put a speedy end to the present unnatural and ruinous civil war.

We also desire you to use your unwearied endeavours to assist and support the Representatives of the City of London, for obtaining a repeal of every obnoxious and unconstitutional act, and in bringing to the justice of their Country the advisers of such nefarious measures as have been adopted during the last fourteen years, tending to subvert the Constitution of this Country, and which we are convinced will very soon effect the ruin and destruction of the British Empire.

This motion for instructing the Members being carried in behalf of Publick Liberty, it was then moved, “That a Letter should be addressed from the Freeholders of Middlesex to those of Great Britain.” The Letter was read, and the motion “That it be addressed to the Freeholders of Great Britain” passed. The Letter is verbatim as follows:

A Letter from the Freeholders of MIDDLESEX to the Freeholders of GREAT BRITAIN.

The perilous situation of publick affairs, and the calamities which threaten the whole Empire, are the reasons, and we hope will be a sufficient apology for our addressing you.

The vote of the late House of Commons, by which a Representative was forced upon us, to the immediate violation of our rights, and the eventual injury of those of all the electors in the Kingdom, remains yet on record. It remains as a precedent against the most sacred and fundamental franchise of the people, to authorize the same violence, by Ministers as arbitrary and Representatives as corrupt.

We trust, Gentlemen, that you will not cease to co-operate with us till that dangerous and shameful record be condemned and done away in the most solemn and effectual manner.

The present state of America is such as ought to give the deepest alarm and concern to every man who regards the rights of human nature, the liberties of Englishmen, and the happiness and safety of the whole Empire. The arbitrary and inhuman conduct of the present Administration has driven our most affectionate American fellow-subjects into despair and resistance. Seven years’ supplication for a redress of their grievances has been answered by an army to enforce them. Their petition last year to the King implored peace, liberty, and safety. In return they received acts of the most inhuman restraints and open hostilities, in the desolation of their Country, the destruction of their People, and the conflagration of their Towns. They have again besought His Majesty, in a late humble petition, “to stop the farther effusion of blood, and to direct some mode by which he would be pleased to receive the united proofs of their devotion, as most dutiful subjects and most affectionate Colonists.” They declare their most ardent desire that the former harmony between them and the Parent State may be established upon the most lasting foundation. They expressly declare they do not “request such reconciliation as may be in any manner inconsistent with the dignity or welfare of this Country.” We cannot conceive what can be offered fairer or fuller on their part.

But the Ministry, it seems, have advised His Majesty to give this petition no answer, and thereby to deprive the petitioners of every hope of redress and reconciliation. They are farther making the most open and extensive preparations for war. Even Roman Catholicks are allured and incited to take up arms against our Protestant fellow-subjects. Thus we see these most pernicious measures prosecuted by the worst and most dangerous means.

The immediate injury of such a war to our commerce and manufactures, the consequence of that to the produce of the land, the additional taxes necessary for such distant and expensive operations, must sink this unhappy Country, already overburdened with the enormity of her debt, into unavoidable ruin. Upon the land must the whole expense ultimately fall. Upon the landholders, then, it is especially incumbent to use their utmost influence in stopping the course of this unnatural and fatal war.

The Americans have repeatedly appealed to the justice and humanity of their fellow-subjects in Great Britain. We hope such an appeal will never be made in vain. We lament the fate of those brave British soldiers who have been sacrificed in so inglorious and hateful a contest. We are persuaded our fellow-subjects in America are contending in the cause of liberty, and are cruelly oppressed. We will never willingly aid in urging the oppression, or trampling upon the rights of any part of the dominions. We cannot see any probable consequence from the prosecution of this Ministerial war, but misery, shame, and ruin to the whole Empire.

Upon these principles, we have instructed our Representatives in Parliament. Upon these principles, Gentlemen, we wish for your co-operation, in establishing liberty, peace, and harmony, through all His Majesty’s Dominions.

The following Resolutions were then passed, and carried with loud plaudits of approbation:

That the thanks of the Freeholders assembled be given to the Right Honourable the Earl of Effingham, the soldier and citizen, for having refused to draw his sword against the majesty of the people and the rights of his fellow-subjects, in acting up to the principles which he professed.

That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Sheriffs, for their readiness in calling the meeting.

The meeting was then adjourned.

C. SHIRREFF TO MAJOR WILLIAM SHIRREFF.

St. Augustine, September 25, 1775.

My DEAR MAJOR: By Captain Lain, who has just arrived from Virginia with another transport to carry the remainder of the Fourteenth to that part, tells me he forwarded my letters to you I sent by him, which I hope you received. He has now brought us news and letters from the officers of the Fourteenth, in Boston, to those here; and being informed you are wounded, and not having a line from you or any friend, causes me great pain, and I am distressed not a little about your welfare, &c. I wish myself often with my friends in the Forty-Fifth, who I hear are with you. As things have since fell out, I should have got a Company; and had I now my choice, I would sooner be in that station, and have a brush every day, than remain in oblivion here. And as we have been long threatened to be visited by our Georgia neighbours, it is now expected they will put their scheme into execution, take the powder, and burn the barracks and Town. And, in consequence of withdrawing the Troops from here, those people that fled here for protection, and all our merchants, intend not to trust to the lenity of a mob, but move off with their families and effects to the West-Indies. We are already distressed sufficiently; and, when this takes place, the Lord only knows what we shall do. This Colony will be knocked up. No sign of any Companies, as yet, from Pensacola; and as for the necessaries of life, we shall fare bad; our planters minding their indigo, and neither raise corn nor rice; and this we used to have from Charlestown and, New-York, but now is at an end. I sincerely wish these troubles were at an end, for they very materially affect every individual.

Your ever obliged and affectionate brother,

C. SHIRREFF.

Major William Shirreff, Boston.

C. SHIRREFF TO GENERAL ROBERTSON.

St. Augustine, September 25, 1775.

SIR: An opportunity now offering, I embrace it to acquaint you that on the first detachment going from this to Virginia, I delivered, by order of Major Furlong, to them, forty blankets; and these now going will also be supplied complete with bedding; but as the order will not come out till they just go on board, I shall not, in this, be able to tell you the quantity sent. I have, by order of the Governour, delivered him a return of all my stores; and, as my Brigade-