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upon a redress of grievances, and aims not at independency) with others, be a committee to wait on his excellency, to inform him how the county is alarmed, and to remonstrate against the fortifications making on the neck, and the repeated infults offered by the foldiery, to perfons paffing and repaffing into Bofton, and to confer with him on thofe fubjects. The governor was waited upon to know if he would receive the committee with the addrefs; but defiring a private copy of it, that when he received them, he might be ready with a prepared answer, he was furnifhed with it, and afterward fixed on Monday the 12th for receiving the committée. The doings of the county delegates, and a copy of the addrefs to the governor have been fent off by exprefs to the general congrefs now met at Philadelphia. On the Monday, when the committee had delivered the address of the county, he anfwered to it, "I have no intention to prevent the free egrefs and regrefs of any perfon to and from the town of Bofton. I fhall fuffer none under my command to injure the perfon or property of any of his majesty's fubjects; but it is my duty to preferve the peace, and to prevent furprise; and no ufe will be made of the cannon, unless the hoftile proceedings of the people fhall render it neceffary." The patriots are waiting earnestly for the opinion of congrefs on the Suffolk refolves, in hopes that they will be approved of; and if fo, they will go on with greater refolution and courage; for they will confider fuck approbation as a declaration, that the colony will be fupported by congrefs, in cafe hoftilities are neceffary for the prefervation of its liberties, and is alfo juftifiable in arming and training the militia.

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men, who are fent as enemies to their country.' general had thoughts at one time of erecting a fort upon Beacon hill. The Boston committee obtained the plan of it, waited upon him, and informed him, that they heard he had fuch a defign, and that if he proceeded to execute it he would get himself into difficulties. He would not own that he had any fuch intention, but attempted rather to make them believe the contrary; on which they produced the plan, and told him it was the fame that was prefented to him the night before.

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On the other hand, the Maffachusetts committee of safety were not inattentive to their duty. They recom- Nov. mended to the committee of fupplies the procuring of 2, 8, pork, flour, rice and peas, and the depofiting of the fame partly at Worcester and partly at Concord. They further advised the procuring of all the arms and ammunition that could be got from the neighbouring provinces; and of spades, pickaxes, bill-hooks, iron fhovels and pots, mess bowls, cannon, ball, &c. &c.

Every thing now served to increase the mutual apprehenfion and animofity between the government and the people. Those of Bofton profeffed to be under no fmall terror, from an apprehenfion of danger to their property, liberties and lives. The foldiers on the other hand, confidered themselves in the midft of enemies. Each fide made profeffion of the best intentions in the world for its own part, and showed the greatest suspicion of the other. In this ftate of-doubt and profeffion, matters were made still worse by a measure, which seems not of fufficient importance in its confequences to justify its having been hazarded at fo critical a feason. This was the landing of a detachment of failors by night from

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the ships of war in the harbour, who spiked up all the cannon upon one of the batteries belonging to the town.

In the mean time, through the difpofition and promptitude of the people, the refolutions and recommendations of the provincial congrefs, had all the weight and Nov. efficacy of laws. At length the governor was induced to iffue a proclamation, in which they were charged with proceedings, generally understood as nearly tantamount to treafon and rebellion. The inhabitants were accordingly prohibited in the king's name, from complying, any degree, with the requifitions, recommendations, directions, or resolves of that unlawful affembly.

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When the provincial congrefs met again, having Mr. Samuel Adams prefent with them, they pushed their preparations for hoftile oppofition. These exertions fuited not the feelings of many in congrefs. Through timidity they began to ficken at heart, and upon the plea of fickness begged leave to return home, and were indulged. Mr. S. Adams penetrated the cause of their complaint; and, in order to stop the epidemical diftemper, expreffed his great willingness, that when members were not well, they fhould be allowed to return, but proposed that they should be enjoined, upon getting back, to inform the towns that they were no longer represented, that so others might be fent to supply their abfence. The propofal foon cured the malady; for the difordered chose to remain in congrefs rather than incur the displeasure of their conftitucnts, and be fupplanted by new fucceffors.

The provincial congrefs refolved upon getting in readinefs twelve thoufand men to act upon any emergency; and directed that a quarter of the militia fhould be in

lifted as minute-men, who were allowed the fiberty of choofing their own officers, and were to receive pay. They fent perfons to New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut, to acquaint them with what was doing, and to request that they would prepare their refpective quotas to make up an army of twenty thoufand men when wanted. Upon this a number of gentlemen were fent from thefe colonies to confult and fettle with a committee of about twenty, chofen by the congrefs for the purpose. There was a difficulty about fixing what should be the precife period for oppofing general Gage's troops; at length it was determined, that they fhould be oppófed whenever they marched out with their baggage, ammunition and artillery; for this would carry in it an apparent intention of acting hoftilely in fupport of British meafures.

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A committee was appointed to correfpond with the Dec. inhabitants of Canada; and it was refolved, that the following letter be addreffed to the several minifters of the gospel within this province

"REV. SIR,

WE cannot but acknowledge the goodness of heaven, in constantly supplying us with preachers of the gospel, whose concern has been the temporal and spiritual happiness of this people. In a day like this, when all the friends of civil and religious liberty are exerting themselves to deliver this country from its prefent calamities, we cannot but place great hopes in an order of men, who have ever distinguished themselves in their country's cause, and do therefore recommend to the ministers of the gofpel, in the several towns and other places in this VOL. I, E e

colony,

difcontinue the fortifications in and about Boston, prevent any further invafions of private property, reftrain the irregularities of the foldiers, and give orders that the communication between the town and country may be open, unmolefted and free.

The general in his anfwer faid, "No troops have given lefs cause for complaint, and greater care was never taken to prevent it; and fuch care and attention was never more neceffary from the infults and provocations daily given to both officers and foldiers. The communication between the town and country has been always free and unmolefted, and is fo ftill." This affertion may appear perfectly just to a military gentleman; but may be otherwise thought of by one in a civil department, who means that the entrance into a town should have neither guards nor fentinels, either to stop or challenge paffengers, whether by night or by day. The general intimated, that the hoftile preparations throughout the country, and the menaces of blood and flaughter made it his duty to fortify the neck. He concluded with" I ardently with, that the common enemies to both countries may fee, to their disappointment, that these disputes between the mother country and the colonies, have terminated like the quarrels of lovers, and increased the affection which they ought to bear to each other."

The congress have also made a declaration of rights (contained within a number of refolves) to which, they fay, the English colonies of North America are entitled by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English conftitution, and their feveral charters or compacts. In the first of these are life, liberty and proper

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