where Colony should bid against Colony, all of them uninform'd what Ransom would redeem their Lives, and thus to extort from us at the Point of the Bayonet Sums the unknown Sums that should be sufficient to gratify, if possible to gratify, ministerial Rapacity, with the miserable Indulgence left to us of raising in our own Modes the prescribed Tribute.

When the Intelligence of these Proceedings arrived on this Conti nent, we perceived it appeared evident, that our Destruction was determined upon, and that we had no Alternative or choice to make but of. Our choice must be either an "unconditional Submission," as one of the Ministry express'd him self, or of Resistance.

Soon after the Intelligence of these Proceedings arrived on this Continent, where General Gage, who in the Course of the last Year, had taken Possession of the Town of Boston, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and still occupied it as a Garrison, Plans, on the 19th Day of last April last, sent out of from that Place a large Detachment of his Army, who made an unprovoked Assault on the Inhabitants of the said Province, at the Town of Lexington, as appears by the Affidavits of a great Number of Persons, some of whom were Officers and Soldiers of that Detachment, murdered Eight of the Inhabitants, and wounded many

by remorseless victors to conquered enemies? In our circumstances to accept them, would be to deserve them.

Soon after the intelligence of these proceedings arrived on this continent, General Gage, who in the course of the last year had taken possession of the town of Boston, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, and still occupied it as a garrison, on the 19th day of April, sent out from that place a large detachment of his army, who made an unprovoked assault on the inhabitants of the said province, at the town of Lexington, as appears by the affidavits of a great number of persons, some of whom were officers and soldiers of that detachment, murdered eight of the inhabitants, and wounded many others. From thence the troops

others. From thence the Troops proceeded in warlike array to the Town of Concord, where they set upon another party of the Inhabitants of the same Province, killing several and wounding ethers more, until compell'd to retreat by the People suddenly assembled to repell this cruel Aggression. Hostilities thus commenc'd by the British Troops, have been since prosecuted by them without Regard to Faith or Reputation. The Inhabitants of Boston being confined within that Town by the General their Governor and having in order to procure their Dismission entered into a Treaty with him, it was stipulated between the that the said Inhabitants having deposited their arms with their own Magistrates, should have free Liberty to depart, out of the said Town, taking with them their other Effects. They accordingly delivered up their Arms, but in open violation of Honor, in Defiance of the Obligations of a Treaties, which even savage Nations esteem sacred, General Gage the Governor ordered the Arms deposited as aforesaid that they might be preserved for their Owners, to be seized by a Body of armed men, soldiers, detained the greater Part of the Inhabitants in the Town, and compelled the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their most valuable Effects behind. By this perfidy, wives are separated from their

proceeded in warlike array to the town of Concord, where they set upon another party of the inhabitants of the same province, killing several and wounding more, until compelled to retreat by the country people suddenly assembled to repel this cruel aggression. Hostilities, thus commenced by the British troops, have been since prosecuted by them without regard to faith or reputation.-The inhabitants of Boston being confined within that town by the General their Governor, and having, in order to procure their dismission, entered into a treaty with him, it was stipulated that the said inhabitants having deposited their arms with their own magistrates, should have liberty to depart, taking with them their other effects. They accordingly delivered up their arms, but in open violation of honor, in defiance of the obligation of treaties, which even savage nations esteemed sacred, the Governor ordered the arms deposited as aforesaid, that they might be preserved for their owners, to be seized by a body of soldiers; detained the greatest part of the inhabitants in the town, and compelled the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their most valuable effects behind.

By this perfidy wives are separated from their husbands, chil

Husbands, children from their Parents, the aged and sick from their Relatives and Friends who wish to attend and relieve take care of them; and those who have been used to live with Elegance in Plenty and even Elegance, are reduced to deplorable Distress.

The General further emulating the his ministerial Masters, by a Proclamation bearing Date on the 12th Day of June, after venting the grossest Falsehoods and Calumnies against the good People of these Colonies, proceeds to "declare them all either by Name or Description to be Rebels and Traitors, to supercede the Course of the Common Law, and instead thereof to publish and order the Use and Exercise of the Law Martial." His Troops have butchered our Countrymen; have burnt Charlestown, besides a considerable Number of Houses in other Places; our Ships and Vessels are seized; and the necessary supplies of Provisions are stopp'd intercepted; and he is now spreading Destruction and Der astation around him as far as he ean, all the complicated Cal and he is exerting the utmost Power to spread Destruction and Devastation around him. We have received certain Intelligence that Governor General Carleton, the Governor of Canada, by Orders from the Ministry is instigating the People of that Province and

dren from their parents, the aged and the sick from their relations and friends, who wish to attend and comfort them; and those who have been used to live in plenty and even elegance, are reduced to deplorable distress.

The General, further emulating his ministerial masters, by a proclamation bearing date on the 12th day of June, after venting the grossest falsehoods and calumnies against the good people of these colonies, proceeds to "declare them all, either by name or description, to be rebels and traitors, to supersede the course of the common law, and instead thereof to publish and order the use and exercise of the law martial."-His troops have butchered our countrymen, have wantonly burnt Charles-Town, besides a considerable number of houses in other places; our ships and vessels are seized; the necessary supplies of provisions are intercepted, and he is exerting his utmost power to spread destruction and devastation around him.

We have received certain intelligence that General Carleton, the Governor of Canada, is instigating the people of that province and the Indians to fall upon us; and we have but too much reason to

the Indians to fall upon us; and that Schemes have been form'd to excite domestic Enemies against us. In brief, a Part of the Colonies now feels, and all of them are sure of feeling, as far as the Vengeance of Administration can inflict them, all the complicated Calamities of Fire, Sword and Famine. By our The Suggestions of Duty and Affection can no longer lull us into a lethargie No tion, too lately relinquished, that Armies and Fleets are only design'd to intimidate us. We are reduced to the Alternative of chusing an unconditional Submission to the Tyrannie Vengeance of irritated Ministers who know we despise them and that they deserve to be thus despised are therefore implacable Tyranny of irritated ministers, or Resistance by Force. The latter is Choice.

The latter is our

We know, that by an infamous Surrender of the Freedom and Happiness of ourselves and our Posterity, we might obtain that wretched Honor, Justice and Hu manity forbid us basely to surren der that Freedom Liberty and Happiness which we receiv'd from our gallant Ancestors, and which it is our Duty to transmit undi minished to our Posterity. Called upon by the Law of self preserva tion implanted in our Nature by our allwise Creator, with prepared

apprehend, that schemes have been formed to excite domestic enemies against us. In brief, a part of these colonies now feels, and all of them are sure of feeling, as far as the vengance of administration can inflict them, the complicated calamities of fire, sword, and famine.—We are reduced to the alternative of chusing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance by force.The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery.-Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them.

Hands We have counted the Cost of this Contest, and being perfectly convinced, that it is infinitely find nothing so dreadful and resolved Hearts we will in our Computation, as Infamy and voluntary Slavery united, Honor, Justice and Humanity forbid us tamely to surrender that Freedom which we receiv'd from our gallant Ancestors, and which our innocent Posterity have a Right to receive from us. We cannot endure the Infamy and Guilt of resigning succeeding Generations to that Wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary Bondage upon them.

Our Cause is just. Our Union is perfect. Our hearts are re solved. Our Hands are prepared. Our preparations are nearly completed. Our internal Resources within our own Country are many great; and our Assurance of foreign Assistance is certain. We gratefully acknowledge as a singular Instance of the Divine Good ness Favor and consider it as a singular mark of his Favor towards us, in not permitting us to be that his Providence would not permit us to be called into the severe Controversy, untill our we were grown up to our present Strength, was had been previously exercised in warlike Operations, to which some Years ago we were almost entire Strangers, and that we were pos

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Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favour towards us, that his Providence would not permit us to be called into this severe controversy, until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike. operation, and possessed of the means of defending ourselves.— With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the