attempted by the instruments of despotism. Prosecutions have been commenced by the officers of the Crown, apparently for no other purpose than that of silencing the Press, by denouncing ruin to such Printers as shall discharge their duty to the publick with the becoming spirit of Englishmen. Nor is this all. In the very mode of prosecution an eye hath been had to Star Chamber tyranny. The Printers of our newspapers have not been presented on the oaths of jurors, but on the bare suggestion of an officer of the Crown, who, by filing information, ex-officio, against His Majesty’s innocent subjects, (to whom no crime whatever hath been imputed by their peers,) thereby supersedes the utility of grand juries, in direct violation of Magna Charta, and to the total overthrow of the great bulwark of English liberties.

Conceiving an opposition to such oppressive measures to be a duty incumbent on the People at large; desirous as well of rescuing the Press from the shackles of Ministerial slavery, as of affording some protection to those Printers who may otherwise suffer in the cause of liberty, the members of the London Association have determined to support the freedom of the Press upon true constitutional grounds, and they have therefore agreed to the following Resolutions.

Resolved, That the freedom of the Press is essential to the existence of a free Government.

Resolved, That by a judicious exercise of the freedom of the Press the minds of men are enlightened; knowledge, both civil and religious, is diffused, and the People are taught to prize as inestimable those political rights secured by the Revolution.

Resolved, That any attempt totally to destroy, or partially to infringe the liberty of the Press, is to frustrate the blessings we, as Protestants, enjoy from the Reformation, and to violate the privileges we, as Englishmen, inherit from the laws and Constitution of our Country.

Resolved, That the ex-officio Informations filed by the Attorney-General are unconstitutional stretches of arbitrary power, tending as effectually to destroy the liberty of the Press, as the most arbitrary process that ever issued from the Star Chamber during the reigns of the detestable Stuarts.

Resolved, That as we are well convinced of the despotick intentions of Ministry, we will endeavour to defeat their attempts to exercise an improper jurisdiction over the Press. Should any effort be made to revive the office of a Licenser, we will oppose it as unwarrantable; and should any expounder of the laws (for judges are no more) sport with the sacred Charter of our liberties, and tamper with juries on questions relative to the freedom of the Press, we will never cease our struggles until a criminal of such magnitude is made amenable to Parliamentary justice.

Resolved, That at the same time as we wish to cherish the liberty, we would entirely discountenance the licentiousness of the Press. Publications, therefore, which have a tendency to depreciate the Revolution, whether they assume the title of “Memoirs,” “Histories,” or “State Compilations,” are equally to be reprobated, as so many atrocious libels on that happy establishment secured to us by the accession of the illustrious House of Hanover.

Resolved, That if those Printers who have shown themselves favourable to the rights of British subjects shall be harassed by expensive prosecutions, (nominally at the suit of the Crown, but virtually and substantially at the instigation of the Ministry, and certainly at the expense of the People,) we will patronise such Printers, that freedom of the Press may not be wounded through their sides.

Resolved, That this Association will appropriate the sum of one hundred Pounds out of their fund, to be expended as occasion may require, in the defence of the Printers of such papers as shall appear to have the most just claim to publick protection.

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to every friend of civil and religious liberty throughout the Kingdom, to assist in an undertaking, the utility of which is self evident; for as to the revival of letters we owe our deliverance from Monkish superstition, so to the freedom of the Press alone shall we be indebted, if the liberties of our Country survive the wishes of Administration.

Signed by order of the Association:

THOMAS JOEL, Secretary.

NEW-YORK CONGRESS TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

In Provincial Congress, New-York, October 4, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We take the liberty to enclose a proposal made by a merchant of New-York, for obtaining gunpowder. As we are not competent to give permission for the voyage proposed, we submit the same to you, and request your direction as soon as possible.

We are, most respectfully, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servants.

By order:

NATHL. WOODULL, President.

To the Hon. the Continental Congress.

New-York, September 27, 1775.

SIR: About the 1st of July last I sailed from this place, bound to Martinico and Guadaloupe, amongst the French Islands, provided with necessary letters and interest, with the sole intention of procuring a quantity of gunpowder and ammunition for the use of this Colony; but on my arrival at those places, found that the whole that could be procured had been bought up and shipped off in one or two vessels from this place and Philadelphia. During my stay at Martinico, as I was particularly recommended to and connected with George Mitchell, Esq., the English agent, a principal merchant there, and interpreter to the Governour; he, in confidence, informed me that several of their merchantmen that had sailed for old France, and were expected to return about the last of October or the first of November, had carried out large orders for powder, and that he expected a large quantity, the most of which would fall under his management and disposal, and proposed to supply me with any quantity; and previous to my entering into a contract with him, he obtained permission of the Governour for my vessel to return there and trade without molestation. In consequence of which he engaged to deliver me five tons or upwards, on condition of my return with my vessel-load of flour, about five hundred barrels. I therefore request, as you are a member of the Provincial Congress, if you think proper to lay this matter before them, to submit the importance of it to their consideration; and should they think proper to encourage my completing this contract, and grant me a permission to load for that purpose, you are authorized to assure them an ample security shall be given for the faithful performance of it; that the same shall be put into execution with the greatest despatch, secrecy, and safety, being provided with the completest vessel for that purpose, and every other matter necessary to ensure success. I am, &c.

NEW-YORK CONGRESS TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
[Read October 7, 1775.]

In Provincial Congress, New-York, October 4, 1775.

SIR: The enclosed state of information is of such a nature, that it is conceived highly proper to communicate it with all despatch to the Congress.

We are, Sir, respectfully, your very humble servants.

By order:

NATHL. WOODHULL, President.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., President of the Continental Congress.

New-York, October 3, 1775.

Captain John Hamilton sailed from Liverpool the 17th of August, and arrived here last night: says that it was reported and believed at Liverpool,and that he saw it in the London papers, that thirty Battalions and four Squadron of Dragoons, in all ten thousand men, were to embark at Embden for Boston; that a part of their baggage was already at Embden; that some transports were already arrived at Embden; that by common report they were to sail the middle of August, and that they were to be commanded by a General Officer of their own country.

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in FALMOUTH, to his friends in NEW-YORK, dated JULY 26, 1775.—It is confidently said that ten thousand Hanoverians, and some Regiments from Great Britain, are to be sent to Boston, as a re-enforcement to General Gage’s Army; that General Gage is to be recalled, at his own request, and Sir Jeffery Amherst is to succeed him.