them;"-but remember the taxes from America, the wealth, and we may add the men, and particularly the Roman Catholics of this vaft continent, will then be in the power of your enemies; nor will you have any reafon to expect, that after making flaves of us, many among us should refufe to affift in reducing you to the fame abject state.

Do not treat this as chimerical: -Know, that in lefs than half a century, the quit-rents referved to the crown, from the numberless grants of this vaft continent, will pour large ftreams of wealth into the royal coffers, and if to this be added the power of taxing America at pleasure, the crown will be rendered independent on you for fupplies, and will poffefs more treasure than may be neceffary to purchase the remains of liberty in your island.—In a word, take care that you do not fall into the pit that is preparing for us.

We believe that there is much virtue, much juftice, and much public fpirit in the English nation. -To that juftice we now appeal. You have been told that we are feditious, impatient of government, and defirous of independency. Be affured that these are not facts but calumnies.-Permit us to be as free as yourselves, and we fhall ever esteem a union with you to be our greatest happiness; we fhall ever be ready to contribute all in our power to the welfare of the empire -we fhall confider your enemies as our enemies, and your intereft as

our own.

But if you are determined that your minifters fhall wantonly fport with the rights of mankind; if neither the voice of justice, the

dictates of the law, the principles of the conftitution, nor the fuggeftions of humanity can reftrain your bands from the shedding human blood, in fuch an impious caufe, we must then tell you"That we never will fubmit to be hewers of wood or drawers of water for any miniftry or nation in the world.”

Place us in the fame fituation that we were at the clofe of the last war, and our former harmony will be reftored...

But let the fame fupineness, and the fame inattention to our common intereft, which you have for feveral years fhewn, fhould continue, we think it prudent to anticipate the confequences.

By the deftruction of the trade of Bofton, the ministry have endeavoured to influence fubmiffion to their meafures. The like fate may befal us all; we will endeavour therefore to live without trade, and recur for fubfiftence to the fertility and bounty of our native foil, which will afford us all the neceffaries and fome of the conveniencies of life. We have fufpended our importation from Great Britain and Ireland; and in lefs than a year's time, unlefs our grievances fhould be redreffed, fhall difcontinue our exports to thofe kingdoms and the Weft Indies.

It is with the utmost regret, however, that we find ourselves compelled, by the over-ruling principles of felf prefervation, to adopt meafures detrimental in their confequences to numbers of our fellowfubjects in Great-Britain and Ireland. But we hope, that the magnanimity and juftice of the British nation will furnish a parliament of fuch wifdom, independence, and public fpirit, as may fave the [0] 3

violated

acts of parliament have been paffed for raising a revenue in America, for depriving the American fubjects, in many inftances, of the conftitutional trial by jury, expofing their lives to danger, by directing a new and illegal trial beyond the feas, for crimes alledged to have been committed in Ameri. ca; and in profecution of the fame fyftem, feveral late, cruel, and oppreffive acts have been paffed re

Congress.

VE his majefty's moft loyal

the feveral colonies of New Hampfhire, Maffachufet's Bay, RhodeIfland, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Penylvania, the three lower counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Suflex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, deputed to reprefent them in a continental congrefs, held in the city of Philadelphia, on the fifth day of September, 1774, avowing our allegiance to his majefty, our affection and regard for our fellow-fubjects in Great-Britain and elsewhere, affected with the deepest anxiety, and moft alarming apprehenfions at thofe grievances and diftreffes, with which his majesty's American fubjects are oppreffed, and having taken under our moft ferious deliberation, the state of the whole continent, find, that the prefent unhappy fituation of our affairs is occafioned by a ruinous fyftem of colony adminiftration adopted by the British ministry about the year 1763, evidently calculated for inflaving thefe colonies, and with them, the British empire. In profecution of which fyftem, various

the Maffachufett's Bay, and also an act for extending the province of Quebec, fo as to border on the

eftablishing an arbitrary government therein, and difcouraging the fettlement of British fubjects in that wide extended country; thus by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices to difpose the inhabitants to act with hostility against the free proteftant colonies, whenever a wicked miniftry fhall chufe fo to direct them.

To obtain redress of these grievances, which threaten de ftruction to the lives, liberty, and property of his majesty's fubjects in North America, we are of opinion, that a non-importation, nonconfumption, and non-exportation agreement, faithfully adhered to, will prove the most speedy, effectual, and peaceable measure; and therefore we do, for ourselves and the inhabitants of the feveral colonies, whom we reprefent, firmly agree and affociate under the facred ties of virtue, honour, and love of our country, as follows:

First. That from and after the first day of December next, we will not import into British America, from Great-Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares or merchandize

what

whatsoever, or from any other place, any fuch goods, wares or merchandize, as fhall have been exported from Great Britain, or Ireland; nor will we, after that day, import any Eaft-India tea from any part of the world; nor any molaffes, fyrups, paneles, coffee, or piemento, from the British plantations, or from Dominica; nor wines from Madeira, or the western islands; nor foreign indigo.

Second. That we will neither import, nor purchase any flave imported, after the first day of December next; after which time, we will wholly difcontinue the flave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor will we hire our veffels, nor fell our commodities or manufactures to thofe who are concerned in it.

Third. As a non-confumption agreement, ftrictly adhered to, will be an effectual fecurity for the ob. fervation of the non-importation, we, as above, folemnly agree and affociate, that, from this day, we will not purchase or ufe any tea imported on account of the Eaft-India company, or any on which a duty hath been or fhall be paid and from and after the first day of March next, we will not purchase or use any Eaft-India tea whatever; nor will we, nor fhall any perfon for or under us, purchafe or use any of thofe goods, wares, or merchandize, we have agreed not to import, which we fhall know, or have caufe to fufpe&t, were imported after the first day of December, except fuch, as come under the rules and directions of the tenth article herein after mentioned.

Fourth. The earnest defire we

have, not to injure our fellow-fubjects in Great Britain, Ireland, or the Weft-Indies, induces us to fufpend a non-exportation, until the tenth day of September, 1775; at which time, if the faid acts and parts of acts of the British parliament herein after mentioned are not repealed, we will not, directly or indirectly, export any merchandize or commodity whatsoever to Great Britain, Ireland er the WeftIndies, except rice to Europe.

Fifth. Such as are merchants and ufe the British and Irish trade, will give orders, as foon as poffible, to their factors, agents and corre→ fpondents, in Great Britain and Ireland, not to fhip any goods to them, on any pretence whatsoever, as they cannot be received in Ame. rica; and if any merchant, refiding in Great Britain or Ireland, fhall directly or indirectly fhip any goods, wares, or merchandize, for America, in order to break the faid non-importation agreement, or in any manner contravene the fame, on fuch unworthy conduct being well attefted, it ought to be made public; and, on the fame being fo done, we will not from thenceforth have any commercial connexion with fuch merchant.

Sixth. That fuch as are owners of veffels will give pofitive orders to their captains or mafters, not to` receive on board their veffels any goods prohibited by the faid nonimportation agreement, on pain of immediate difmiflion from their service.

Seventh. We will ufe our utmoft endeavours to improve the breed of fheep and increase their number to the greatest extent, and to that end, we will kill them as fparing as may be, especially thofe of the most [0] 4

profitable

profitable kind; nor will we export any to the Weft-Indies or elsewhere: and thofe of us who are or may become over-stocked with, or can conveniently fpare any fheep, will difpofe of them to our neighbours, efpecially to the poorer fort, on moderate terms.

Eighth. That we will in our feveral stations encourage frugality, œconomy, and induftry; and promote agriculture, arts, and the manufactures of this country, efpecially that of wool: and will difcountenance and difcourage every fpecies of extravagance and diffipation, efpecially all horie-racing, horie-racing, and all kinds of gaming, cock. fighting, exhibitions of fhews, plays, and other expenfive diverfions and entertainments. And on the death of any relation or friend, none of us, or any of our families, will go into any further mourning drefs, than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat for gentlemen, and a black ribbon and necklace for ladies, and we will difcontinue the giving of gloves and fcarfs at funerals.

Ninth. That fuch as are venders of goods or merchandize, will not take advantage of the fcarcity of goods that may be occafioned by this affociation, but will fell the fame at the rates we have been refpectively accustomed to do, for twelve months laft paft.-And if any vender of goods or merchandize, fhall fell any fuch goods on higher terms, or fhall in any manner, or by any device whatsoever, violate or depart from this agreement, no perion ought, nor will any of us deal with any fuch perfon, or his or her factor or agent, at any time thereafter, for any commodity whatever.

Tenth. In cafe any merchant, trader, or other perfons fhall import any goods or merchandize after the first day of December, and before the first day of February next, the fame ought forthwith, at the election of the owner, to be either re-shipped or delivered up to the committee of the county or town wherein they fhall be imported, to be ftored at the rifque of the importer, until the non-importation agreement fhall ceafe, or be fold under the direction of the committee aforefaid; and in the laft mentioned cafe, the owner or owners of fuch goods, fhall be reimburfed (out of the fales) the firft coft and charges; the profit, if any, to be applied towards relieving and employing fuch poor inhabitants of the town of Bolton, as are immediate fufferers by the Bofton port bill; and a particular account of all goods fo returned, ftored, or fold, to be inferted in the public papers; and if any goods or merchandizes fhall be imported after the faid first day of February, the fame ought forthwith to be fent back again, without breaking any of the packages thereof.

Eleventh. That a committee be chofen in every county, city, and town, by thofe who are qualified to vote for reprefentatives in the legiflature, whofe bufinefs it fhall be attentively to obferve the conduct of all perfons touching this affociation: and when it shall be made to appear to the fatisfaction of a majority of any fuch committee, that any perfon within the li mits of their appointment has violated this affociation, that fuch majority do forthwith cause the truth of the cafe to be published in the Gazette, to the end that all

fuch

fuch foes to the rights of British America may be publickly known, and univerfally contemned as the enemies of American liberty; and thenceforth we refpectively will break off all dealings with him or her.

Twelfth. That the committee of correfpondence in the refpective colonies do frequently infpect the entries of their custom-houses, and inform each other from time to time of the true ftate thereof, and of every other material circumstance that may occur relative to their affociation.

Thirteenth. That all manufactures of this country be fold at reafonable prices, fo that no undue advantage be taken of a future fcarcity of goods.

Fourteenth. And we do further agree and refolve that we will have no trade, commerce, dealings or intercourse whatsoever, with any colony or province, in NorthAmerica, which fhall not accede to, or which fhall hereafter violate this affociation, but will hold them as unworthy of the rights of freemen, and as inimical to the liberties of their country.

And we do folemnly bind ourfelves and our conftituents, under the ties aforefaid, to adhere to this affociation until fuch parts of the feveral acts of parliament paffed fince the clofe of the laft war, as impofe or continue duties on tea, wine, molaffes, fyrups, paneles, coffee, fugar, piemento, indigo, foreign paper, glass, and painters colours, imported into America, and extend the powers of the admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American fubject of trial by jury, authorise the judge's certificate to indemnify

the profecutor from damages, that he might otherwife be liable to, from a trial by his peers, require oppreffive fecurity from a claimant of fhips or goods feized, before he fhall be allowed to defend his property, are repealed. And until that part of the act of the 12. G. III. ch. 24. intituled, "An act for the better fecuring his Majesty's dock dock yards, magazines, fhips, ammunition, and ftores," by which any perfon charged with committing any of the offences therein described, in America, may be tried in any hire or county within the realm, is repealed.—And until the four acts paffed in the last feffion of parliament, viz. That for ftopping the port, and blocking up the harbour of Bofton-That for the altering the charter and government of the Maffachufett's-Bay-And that which is intituled, "An act for the better administration of juftice," &c - Aud that "For extending the limits of Quebec, &c." are repealed. And we recommend it to the provincial conventions, and to the committees in the respective colonies, to establish fuch farther regulations as they may think proper, to carry into execution this affociation.

The foregoing affociation being determined upon by the congress, was ordered to be fubfcribed by the feveral members thereof: and thereupon we have hereunto set our refpective names accordingly.

In Congress, Philadelphia, Oct. 20, 1774. Signed,

PEYTON RANDOLPH, Prefident. New Hampshire. John Sullivan, Nat. Folfom.

Mafacbufett's Bay. Tho. Cufh