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liation. We are willing to treat on fuch terms as can alone render an accommodation lafting; and we flatter ourfelves, that our pacific endeavours will be attended with a removal of minifterial troops, and a repeal of thofe laws, of the operation of which we complain, on the one part, and a difbanding of our army, and a diffolution of our commercial affociations on the other." They, after that, infinuated the danger the inhabitants of Britain would be in of lofing their freedom, in cafe their American brethren were fubdued. The addrefs is intended to conciliate the minds of the inhabitants of Britain, to the measures that the colonifts have already taken, or may be obliged further to take, and to obtain the countenance of the former.

The petition to the king, the addrefs to the inhabitants of Great Britain, and the letter to the lord mayor, &c. were ordered to be fent under cover to Richard Penn, efq; whom the prefident was to requeft, in behalf of the congrefs, to join with the colony agents in prefenting the petition to the king. Mr. Penn failed four days after this order for England.

The congrefs agreed upon appointing commiffioners to fuperintend Indian affairs in behalf of the colonies, Proper talks to the Indians were ordered to be prepared, 13. which were reported the next day, and accepted.

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The congrefs refolved to recommend to all able-bodied effective men in each colony, between fixteen and fifty, immediately to form themselves into regular companies of militia; to acquire military skill, and to be well prepared for defence; and that a fourth part of the militia in every colony be selected for minute mén, and be ready to march wherever their affiftance may be re

quired. It was earneftly recommended to thofe, who could not conscientiously bear arms in any cafe, to contribute liberally to the relief of their diftreffed brethren and to do all other fervices to their oppreffed country, which they could confiftently with their religious prinçiples. They allo propofed that each colony fhould appoint a committee of fafety, to direct all matters neceffary for the fecurity of their respective colonies, in the recess of their affemblies and conventions; and fhould. make fuch provision by armed veffels or otherwife, as might be judged expedient, for the protection of their harbours and navigation on their fea coafts, against all hoftile cutters and fhips of war.

This being the day appointed for the continental faft, 20. congrefs agreed to meet, and go in a body to divine fervice, both parts of the day. They requested Mr. Duché to preach before them in the morning, and Dr. Allifon in the afternoon. But before service, they met time enough to read some dispatches brought by express from general Schuyler; and a letter from the convention of Georgia, fetting forth that that colony had acceded to the general affociation, and appointed delegates to attend the congrefs,

The day was kept at Philadelphia, as the most solemn faft ever held in that city. It was religiously obferved throughout the united colonies. The united fynod of New York and Philadelphia, had published a paftoral letter fome time before: it was read on that day, in the churches under their care, which are very numerous. They faid in it, "As the whole continent, with hardly any exception, feem determined to defend their rights by force of arms, it becomes the pe

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culiar duty of thofe, who profefs a willingness to hazard their lives in the caufe of liberty, to be prepared for death, which to many must be a certain, and to every one is a poffible or probable event. It is well known to you (otherwise it would be imprudent thus publicly to profefs) that we have not been inftrumental in inflaming the minds of the people, or urging them to acts of violence and diforder. Perhaps no inftance can be given on fo interesting a fubject, in which political fentiments have been so long and fo fully kept from the pulpit, and even malice itself has not charged us with laboring from the prefs; but things are now come to fuch a height, that we do not wish to conceal our opinions as men. Suffer us therefore to exhort you, by affuring you, that there is no army fo formidable as those who are fuperior to the fear of death. Let therefore every one who, from generofity of fpirit, or benevolence of heart, offers himself as a champion in his country's caufe, be perfuaded to reverence the Lord of Hofts, and walk in the fear of the Prince of the kings of the earth; and then he may, with the most unfhaken firmness, expect the iffue either in death or victory."

After several other exhortations, they offered fix advices, in fubftance as follows: " rft. Let every opportunity be taken to exprefs your attachment to king George and the revolution principles. We recommend efteem and reverence for the perfon of the prince, who has probably been mifled into the late and prefent meafures by thofe about him; neither have we any doubt, that they themselves have been in a great degree deceived by false information from interested perfons refiding in America.-2dly. Be careful to maintain the union

which at present fubfifts in all the colonies, on which the fuccefs of every measure depends.-3dly. We earnestly befeech all focieties to watch over their members, and discourage luxury of living, public diverfions, and gaming of all kinds.-4thly. We recommend a regard to public order and peace; that all perfons confcientiously pay their debts, and to the utmost of their power serve one another, fo that the evils infeparable from a civil war may not be augmented by wantonnefs and irregularity.-5thly. We recommend to all ranks, but particularly to thofe who may be called to action, a fpirit of humanity and mercy. We recommend that meeknefs and gentleness of fpirit which is the noblest attendant on true valor. That man will fight most bravely, who never fights but when it is neceffary, and who ceases to fight as foon as the neceffity is over.Lastly, We would recommend to all focieties, not to content themselves with attending devoutly on fafts, but to continue habitually in prayer, and to have frequent voluntary meetings for folemn interceffion with God on the important trial."

The acceffion of Georgia, was owing much to the exertions of the reverend Dr. Zubly; who roufed the attention of many in the province to the alarming fituation of American affairs; fo that at length a general election was held for delegates to fit in provincial congrefs. They met on the fourth of July in Savannah; and requested the governor to appoint a day of fafting and prayer through the province, that a happy reconciliation might foon take place between America and the parent ftate, and that, under the aufpicious reign of his majesty and his defcendants, both countries might re

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amazed to find the name of Howe in the catalogue of her enemies:-she loved his brother." The former lord Howe fell by a fhot from a French Indian, after landing on the left toward the bottom of Lake George, and while heading his corps and marching under the command of general Abercrombie, to attack Tyconderoga. The Maffachusetts affembly, to express their affection and strong sense of his worthy character, had a monument erected to his memory in Westminster-abbey.

The quotas of the several colonies toward the common expence was fettled, for the prefent, subject to a future revifion and correction.

The affemblies of New Jerfey, Pennfylvania and Virginia, having referred to the congrefs the refolution of the house of commons, comprehending lord North's conciliatory plan, they expreffed their opinion upon it, to the following purpose, viz... The colonies are entitled to the fole and exclufive privilege of giving and granting their own money. As they poffefs a right of appropriating their gifts, fo are they entitled at all times. to inquire into their application. This privilege of giving or withholding their monies, is an important barrier against the undue exertion of prerogative.

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"The propofition contained in the refolution is unreasonable and infidious: unreasonable, because, if we declare we accede to it, we declare without refervation, we will purchase the favor of parliament, not knowing at the fame time at what price they will pleafe to eftimate their favor; it is infidious, because, individual colonies, having bid and bidden again, till they find the avidity of the feller too great for all their powers to fatisfy, are then to return into opposition, divided from

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