proceedings, as appear to you needful and conveni- from the general sense of the people, and such of ent to be communicated for consideration: and to the representatives as they have had an opportunity observe all such further instructions as you may re ceive; and you are to report your doings with the of speaking to, that when the assembly does meet, doings of the commissioners at such meeting, to the (which will be probably very soon) the congress general assembly of this colony, for acceptance and will be approved, and a regular committee for the approbation. A true copy, examined by GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary. THOMAS FITCH, Esquire, governor and command. er in chief of his majesty's colony of Con(L. S.) necticut in New-England, in America, To Eliphalet Dyer, David Rowland, and William Samuel Johnson, esquires, GREETING: purpose appointed; in the mean time they think DIE SABATI, 9h, A. M. the 4th April, 171. Mr. Speaker represented to this house, that his Whereas, the general assembly of the said situation in the country rendered it vastly inconve colony of Connecticut, at their session holden at nient to him alone to correspond with the agent of Hartford on the nineteenth day of this instant, Sep-this colony, at the court of Great Britain, and more tember, nominated and appointed you, or any two especially so, during the recess of the house. Ordered. That the members of the city of New. of you, to be commissioners on behalf of this colony, to repair to New-York to attend a congress pro-York, or the major part of them, be a committee of posed to be held there by commissioners from the correspondence to correspond with the agent of several governments on this continent, to confer this colony at the court of Great Britain during the upon a general and united, loyal, humble and duti-recess of the house, concerning the public affairs ful representation to his majesty and the parliament, of this colony; and that they lay before the house of the present circumstances of the colonies, and copies of all such letters as they may write to him, the difficulties to which they are and must be redu- and also all such letters and advices at they may ced by the operation of the acts of parliament, for receive from him respecting the same. levying duties and taxes on the colonies, and to implore relief, &c. and have desired me to commission you accordingly. I do therefore, reposing a special trust and confidence in your loyalty, ability and good conduct, hereby constitute, authorize and commission the said Éliphalet Dyer, David Rowland and William Samuel Johnson, esquires, or any two of you, for and on behalf of this colony, to repair to the said city of New-York on the first day of October next, or at the time which, according to the intelligence you may receive of the convening of the other commissioners, may appear to you seasonable and best, to confer and consult with them or such of them as shall be present upon and convening, the matters and things before mentioned, for the purposes afore. said; wherein you are to observe such instructions as you have received, or shall further receive from the general assembly of the said colony of Connecticut, agreeable to the important trust reposed in you. Given under my hand, and the publc seal of said colony of Connecticut, within the same, the twenty-first day of September, in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign lord George the third, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, &c. Anno Domini, one thousand seven hun dred and sixty-five. By his honor's command, DIE JOVIS, 9h, A. M. 9th December, 1762. Alderman Livingston, from the committee appointed to correspond with the agent of this colony at the court of Great Britain, acquainted the house, that the committee conceived it expedient that one or more members should be added to the said com. mittee to correspond with the said agent about the affairs of this colony. Ordered, That Robert R. Livingston, esq. be add. ed to, and be made one of the said committee of correspondence. DIE JOVIS, 9h, A. M. the 18th October. 1764. Ordered, That the said committee appointed to correspond with the said agent, be also a committee during the recess of the house, to write to and correspond with the several assemblies or committees of assemblies on this continent, on the subject matter of the act, commonly called the stamp act, of the act restraining paper bills of credit in the colonies, from being a legal tender, and of the several other acts of parliament lately passed, with relation to the trade of the nothern colonies; and also on the subject of the impending dangers, which threaten the colonies of being taxed by laws to be passed in Great Britain. Extract from, compared and examined with the records of the proceedings of the general ngsembly of the colony of New-York. By THOMAS FITCH. From the colony of GEORER WILLYS, Secretary. WILLIAM BAYARD, Esquires, ABRAHAM LOTT, clerk. HENDRICK FISHER, Esqrs. Who produced the following appointment, viz: Appeared, and informed the congress that since At the desire of the speaker of the house of rethe above letter from the speaker of the house of presentatives as aforesaid, and at the earnest request representatives of Msssachusetts Bay, the general of many of our constituents, to consider of some method for humbly, loyally and dutifully joining in assembly of New-York have not had an opportuni-a petition to his majesty, that he would be graci ty of meeting, but that they confidently expect, (ously pleased to recommend to the parliament of act. Great Britain to redress our grievances by repealing, Cæsar Rodney and Thomas M'Kean, esqri. upseveral of the late acts of parliament affecting the peared from the government of the counties of New northern colonies, particularly that called the stamp Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware, and inRobert Ogden, esq. Hendrick Fisher, esq. and formed this congress, that the representatives of Joseph Borden, esq. were directed to attend at the the said government could not meet in general ascongress now met at New-York, and join the mea sures there to be concluded, for the purposes afore-sembly after the above letter was wrote, and before said, and to make report of their proceedings there- the first day of this instant: that the said assembly in, at the next meeting of the general assembly. consists only of eighteen members, fifteen of whom JOHN LAWRENCE. have appointed the other three to attend here, &c. by three several instruments of writing, which are in the words following, to wit: Signed by order, From the province of JOHN DICKINSON, JOHN MORTON, GEORGE BRYAN, Esqrs. semblies on this continent, to be held at New-York on the first of October next, and, after some time Resolved, That Mr. Speaker, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. CHARLES MOORE, Extract from the journals of the house of represen To all whom these presents may come: Pennsylvania, Who produced the following appointment in general assembly, September 11th, 1765, A. M. KNOW YE, That we, the subscribers, five of The house resumed the consideration of their re- ment of the counties of New-Castle, Kent and Susthe representatives of the freemen of the governsolution of yesterday, to appoint a committee of three or more of their members, to attend the ge-pressive taxes imposed upon the good people of sex, upon Delaware, sensible of the weighty and opneral congress of committees from the several as this government by divers late acts of parliament, and of the great infringement of the liberties and just established rights of all his majesty's colonies on this continent, occasioned by the late measures in England; and being of opinion that the method proposed by the honorable house of assembly of the province of Massachusetts-bay is the most likely to obtain a redress of these grievances; and, taking into consideration the misfortune we, at present, labor under, in not having it in our power to convene, as a house, and, in a regular manner, to appoint a com mittee: yet, zealous for the happiness of our constituents, think it our duty, in this way, to serve them as much as in us lies, (assured of the hearty approbation of any future house of assembly of this government); and, therefore, do hereby nominate and appoint Jacob Kollock, Thomas McKean and Cæsar Rodney, esqrs. three of the representatives of the same government, a committee, to repair to the city of New-York on the first day in October next, and there to join with the committees sent by the other provinces, in one united and loyal petition to his majesty, and remonstrance to the honorable aforesaid acts of parliament, therein dutifully, yet house of commons of Great Britain, against the most firmly, asserting the colonies' right of exclusion from parliamentary taxation; and praying that they may not, in any instance, be stripped of the ancient and most valuable privilege of a trial by their peers, and most humbly imploring relief. tatives for the province of Pennsylvania: Wednesday, September 11th, 1765, A. M.-The committee appointed to prepare instructions for the deputies nominated by this house to attend the proposed congress at New-York on the first of next month, reported an essay for that purpose, which they presented to the chair; and the same being read and agreed to by the house, follows in these words, viz: Instructions to the committee appointed to meet the committees of the other British continental colonies, at New-York: It is desired by the house that you shall, with the committees that have been appointed by the several British colonies on this continent to meet at NewYork, consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies, and the difficulties they are and must be reduced to, by the late acts of parliament for the levying duties and taxes upon these colonies; and join with the said committees in loyal and dutiful addresses to the king and to the two houses of parliament, humbly representing the condition of these colonies, and imploring relief, by a repeal of the said acts; and you are strictly required to take care that such addresses in which you join, are drawn up in the most decent and respectful terms; so also avoid every expression that can give the least offence to his majesty or to either house of parlia ment. You are also directed to make report of your pro- September 26th, 1765. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our Kent county, to wit: THOMAS COOK, WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, JOHN EVANS. WB, whose names are here underwritten, memthe counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon bers of the general assembly of the government of Delaware, for the said county of Kent, though sensible of the impropriety of assuming the functions Clerk of the assembly.of assemblymen during the recess of our house, yet, zealous to concur in any measure which may be productive of advantage to this government and the other British colonies on the continent of America in general, have appointed, and, as much as in us lies, do appoint, Jacob Kollock, esq. Cæsar Rodney, esq. and Thomas M'Kean, esq. members of said assembly, to be a committee to meet with the other committees already appointed, or to be appointed, restraints lately laid on their trade and commerce, by the several and respective assemblies of said and especially from the taxes imposed by an act of other colonies, at the city of New-York, on the first the last session of parliament granting and applyTuesday in October next, in conjunction with the ing certain stamp duties and other duties in the Briother committees, to consider of the present dis tish colonies and plantations in America, whereby tressful circumstances of the said colonies, occa-they are deprived, in some instances, of that invalusioned, in some measure, (as we apprehend), by se-able privilege of Englishmen and British subjectsveral late acts of parliament, and to join with them trials by juries, that you take care that such repre in an humble address to his most gracious majesty, sentation shall humbly and decently, but expressly, and the parliament of Great Britain, for the redress contain and assertion of the rights of the colonies of our grievances, or in any other expedient that to be exempt from all and every taxations and imshall be agreed on, by the said committees, which positions upon their persons and properties to which may tend to promote the utility and welfare of the they do not consent in a legislative way, either by themselves or by their representatives, by them British dominions in America. freely chosen and appointed. JOHN VINING, JOHN CATON, JOHN BARNS, September 13th, 1765. Sussex county, to wit: WILLIAM KILLEN, Signed by order of the house, From the province of ROBERT LLOYD, Speaker. THOMAS LYNCH,? CHRIST' GADSDEN, Who produced the following appointment: Esqrs. WE, whose names are here underwritten, memThursday, 25th July, 1765.-The house, (accordbers of the general assembly of the government of the counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon ing to order), took into consideration the letter from Delaware, for the said county of Sussex, though sen- the speaker of the house representatives of the sible of the impropriety of assuming the functions of Massacusetts-bay, laid before them on Friday last of assemblymen during the recess of our house, yet, and, debate arising thereon, and some time spent zealous to concur in any measure which may be therein, Ordered, That the said letter be referred to productive of advantage to this government and the a committee of the following gentlemen, viz: capt. other colonies on the continent of America in gene. Gadsden, Mr. Wright, Mr. Gaillard, Mr. Wragg, ral, have appointed, and, as much as in us lies, do Mr. Parsons, Mr. Pinckney, colonel Lawrence, Mr. appoint Jacob Kollock, esq. Cæsar Rodney, esq and Rutledge, Mr. Manigault and Mr. Drayton. Friday, 26th July, 1765.-Captain Gadsden reThomas M'Kean, esq. members of the said assembly, to be a committee to meet with the other comported, from the committee appointed to consider mittees already appointed, or to be appointed, by of the letter sent from the speaker of the house of the several and respective assemblies of the said representatives of the province of Massachusettsother colonies, at the city of New-York, on the first bay to the speaker of this house, and to report their Tuesday in October next, in conjunction with the opinion thereupon of the expediency and utility of said other committees, to consider of the present the measures therein proposed, and the best means distressful circumstances of the said colonies, occa-of effecting the relief therein mentioned: That they are of opinion the measure therein prosioned, in some measure, (as we apprehend), by several late acts of parliament; and to join with them posed is prudent and necessary, and therefore rein an humble address to his most gracious majesty commend to the house to send a committee to meet and the parliament of Great Britain for redress of the committees from the houses of representatives our grievances; or on any other expedient, that shall or burgesses of the several British colonies on the be agreed on by the said committees, which may continent, at New-York, on the first Tuesday in Octend to promote the utility and welfare of the Bri-tober next. tish dominions in America. DAVID HALL, BENJ'N. BURTON, September 17th, 1765. EDWARD TILGHMAN, Esqrs. Instructions from the honorable the lower house of as- That the said committee be ordered to consult there, with those other committees, on the present circumstances of the colonies, and the difficulties which they are and must be reduced to, by the operation of the acts of parliament for levying duties and taxes on the colonies; and to consider of a general and united, loyal and humble representation of their condition to his majesty and the parliment, and to implore relief; that the result of their consultation shall, at their return, be immediately laid before the house, to be confirmed or not, as the house shall think proper. And the said report being delivered in at the clerk's table and read a second time, the question was severally put, that the house do agree to the first, second and third paragraphs of this report? It was resolved in the affirmative. Gentlemen-You are to repair immediately to Friday 2d August, 1765.-Motion being made, rethe city of New-York, in the province of New-York, solved, that this house will provide a sum sufficient and there join with the committees from the houses to defray the charges and expences of a committee of representatives of the other colonies, in a gene of three gentlemen on account of their going to, ral and united, loyal and humble representation to convening at, and returning from the meeting of his majesty and the British parliament, of the cir- the several committees proposed to assemble at cumstances and condition of the British colonies and New-York on the 1st Teusday in October next, to plantations, and to pray relief from the burthens and consult there with those other committees on the present circumstances of the colonies, and the dif-nists, with the several inconveniences and hardficulties which they are and must be reduced to by ships to which they are and must be subjected by the operation of the acts of parliment for levying duties and taxes on the colonies, and to consider of the operation of several late acts of parliament, para general, united, dutiful, loyal and humble repreticularly the act called the stamp act; and after sentation of their condition to his majesty and the parliament, and to implore relief. some time spent therein, the same was postponed for further consideration, Ordered, That the public treasurer do advance out of any monies in his hands, to the said committee, a sum not exceeding six hundred pounds sterling, for the purpose aforesaid. Resolved, That this house will reimburse the treasurer the said sum. Ordered, That the following gentlemen be ap pointed a committee for the purpose aforesaid, viz: Mr. Thomas Lynch, Mr. Christop her Gadsden and Mr. John Rutledge. Then the congress adjourned until to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock. Wednesday, Oct. 9th, 1765, A. M.-Then the congress met according to adjournment. The congress resumed the consideration of the rights and privileges of the British American colonists, &c. the same was referred after sundry debates, for further consideration. Then the congress adjourned until to-morrow Thursday, Oct. 10th, 1765, A. M.-Then the con Thursday, 8th August, 1765.---Ordered, That the said speaker inform Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden and John Rutledge, esquires, that they are appointed a committee to meet the committees of the several other colonies on the continent, on the morning, 11 o'clock. first Tuesday in October next, at New-York; and that he do acquaint them it is the desire of the gress met according to adjournment, and resumed, house, that they repair to New-York on the said first Tuesday in October next, for the purpose mentioned in the report of the committee, as agreed to by this house on Friday the 26th day of July last. &c. as yesterday—and then adjourned to 10 o'clock, to-morrow morning. Friday, Oct. 11th, 1765, A. M.-The congress Ordered, That three copies of the proceedings of met according to adjournment, and resumed, &. as this house relative to the said matter, be made out yesterday-and then adjourned to 10 o'clock, to and signed by the speaker, and that he deliver one morrow morning. of the said copies to each of the said gentlemen. RAW: LOWNDES, Speaker. Then the said committees proceeded to choose a chairman by ballot; and TIMOTHY RUGGLES, esq. on sorting and counting the votes, appeared to have a majority-and thereupon was placed in the chair. Resolved, nem. con. That Mr. John Cotton be clerk to this congress during the continuance thereof. Then the congress took into consideration the several appointments of the committees from NewYork, New Jersy, and the government of the lower counties on Delaware-and Resolved, nem. con. That the same are sufficient to qualify the gentlemen therein named, to sit in this congress. Resolved also, That the committee of each colony, shall have one voice only, in determining any questions that shall arise in the congress. Then the congress adjourned until to morrow morning, 9 o'clock. Tuesday, Oct. 8th, 1765, A. M.—The congress according to adjournment. Upon motion, voted, that the provinces bet is adjourned to. Voted, that Mr. justice Livingston, Mr. McKean and Mr. Rutledge be a committee to inspect the proceedings and minutes, and correct the same. Then the congress took into consideration the rights and privileges of the British American colo †There appears to be some error here.-[ED. Saturday, Oct. 12th, 1765, A. M.-The congress met according to adjournment, and resumed, &c. as yesterday-and then adjourned to Monday morning next, 10 o'clock. Monday, Oct. 14th, 1765, A. M.-The congress met according to adjournment, and resumed, &c. as on Saturday last-and then adjourned to to-mor row morning, 9 o'clock. Tuesday, Oct. 15th, 1765, A. M—The congress met according to adjournment, and resumed, &c. as yesterday-and then adjourned to to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock. Wednesday, Oct. 16th, 1765, A. M.-The congress met according to adjournment, and resumed, &c. as yesterday—and then adjourned to to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock. Thursday, Oct. 17th, 1765, A. M.-The congress met according to adjournment, and resumed, &c as yesterday-and then adjourned to to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock. Friday, Oct. 18th, 1765, A. M.-The congress met according to adjournment, and resumed, &c. as yesterday-and then adjourned to-to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock. Saturday, Oct. 19th, 1765, A. M.—The congress met according to adjournment, and resumed, &c. as yesterday; and upon mature deliberation, agreed to the following declarations of the rights and grievances of the colonists in America, which where ordered to be inserted: The members of this congress, sincerely devot- with Great Britain, mutually affectionate and aded, with the warmest sentiments of affection and vantageous. duty to his majesty's person and government; in- 13th. That it is the right of the British subjects violably attached to the present happy establish- in these colonies, to petition the king or either house ment of the protestant succession, and with minds of parliament. deeply impressed by a sense of the present and Lastly, That it is the indispensable duty of these impending misfortunes of the British colonies on colonies to the best of sovereigns, to the mother this continent; having considered as maturely as country, and to themselves, to endeavor, by a loyal time would permit, the circumstances of the said and dutiful address to his majesty, and humble apcolonies, esteem it our indispensable duty to make plication to both houses of parliament, to procure the following declarations, of our humble opinion, the repeal of the act for granting and applying respecting the most essential rights and liberties certain stamp duties, of all clauses of any other acts of the colonists, and of the grievances under which of parliament, whereby the jurisdiction of the adthey labor, by reason of several late acts of parlia-miralty is extended as aforesaid, and of the other late acts for the restriction of the American commerce. ment. 1st. That his majesty's subjects in these colonies, owe the same allegiance to the crown of Great Britain, that is owing from his subjects born within the realm, and all due subordination to that august body, the parliament of Great Britain. Upon motion, voted, that Robert R. Livingston, William Samuel Johnson and William Murdock, Esqrs. be a committee to prepare an address to his 2d. That his majesty's liege subjects in these colonies are entitled to all the inherent rights and pri- majesty, and lay the same before the congress on vileges of his natural born subjects within the king-Monday next. dom of Great Britain. Voted also, that John Rutledge, Edward Tilgh. 3d. That it is inseparably essential to the freedom man and Philip Livingston, Esqrs. be a committee of a people,and the undoubted rights of Englishmen, that no taxes should be imposed on them, but with to prepare a memorial and petition to the lords in their own consent, given personally, or by their re-parliament, and lay the same before the congress on presentatives. 4th. That the people of these colonies are not, and from their local circumstances, cannot be, represented in the house of commons in Great Britain. Monday next. Voted also, that Thomas Lynch, James Otis and Thomas McKean, Esqrs. be a committee to prepare 5th. That the only representatives of the people a petition to the house of commons of Great Britain, of these colonies, are persons chosen therein, by and lay the same before the congress on Monday themselves; and that no taxes ever have been, or 6th. That all supplies to the crown, being free gifts of the people, it is unreasonable and inconsistent with the principles and spirit of the British constitution, for the people of Great Britain to grant to his majesty the property of the colonists. Then the congress adjourned to Monday next, at 12 o'clock. Monday, Oct. 21st, 1765, A. M.-The committee appointed to prepare and bring in an address to his 7th. That trial by jury is the inherent and inval-majesty, did report, that they have essayed a draught uable right of every British subject in these colo- for that purpose, which they laid on the table, and *ies. 8th. That the late act of parliament, entitled, An humbly submitted to the correction of the congress. act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, The said address was read, and, after sundry and other duties in the British colonies and plan-amendments, the same was approved of by the contations in America, &c. by imposing taxes on the inhabitants of these, colonies, and thesaid act, and gress, and ordered to be engrossed. several other acts, by extending the jurisdiction of the courts of admiralty beyond its ancient limits, have a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of the colonists. 9th. That the duties imposed by several late acts of parliament, from the peculiar circumstances of these colonies, will be extremely burthensome and grevious, and from the scarcity of specie, the pay. ment of them absolutely impracticable. The committee, appointed to prepare and bring in a memorial and petition to the lords in parliament did report that they had essayed a draught for that purpose, which they laid on the table, and humbly submitted to the correction of the congress. The said address was read, and after sundry amendments, the same was approved of by the con. gress, and ordered to be engrossed. The committee appointed to prepare and bring in 10th. That as the profits of the trade of these colonies ultimately centre in Great Britain, to pay for the manufactures which they are obliged to take from thence, they eventually contribute very large- a petition to the house of commons of Great Britain, ly to all supplies granted there to the crown. did report that they had essayed a draugt for that 11th. That the restrictions imposed by several late acts of parliament, on the trade of these colonies, purpose, which they laid on the table, and humbly will render them unable to purchase the manufac- submitted to the correction of the congress." tures of Great Britain. The said address was read, and after sundry 12th. That the increase, prosperity and happiness of these colonies, depend on the full and free enjoy- amendments, the same was approved of by the con. ment of their rights and liberties, and an intercourse,gress and ordered to be engrossed. |