THE FOLLOWING

"Address to the inhabitants of Quebec-the first petition to the king-the declaration to the armies—the second petition to the king —and the address to the several states,"

EXTRACTED FROM THE JOURNALS OF CONGRESS,

Have always been ascribed to the pen of

MR. DICKINSON.

VOL. II.

A

!

THE

Address of Congress

TO THE

INHABITANTS OF QUEBEC.

Dated October 26th, 1774.*

FRIENDS AND FELLOW-SUBJECTS,

WE, the DELEGATES of the colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina and SouthCarolina, deputed by the inhabitants of the said colonies, to represent them in a general congress at Philadelphia, in the province of Pennsylvania, to consult together, concerning the best methods to obtain redress of our afflicting grievances; having accordingly assembled, and taken into our most

* Vide Journals of Congress, vol. I, page 58.

serious consideration, the state of public affairs on this continent, have thought proper to address your province, as a member therein deeply interested.

WHEN the fortune of war, after a gallant and glorious resistance, had incorporated you with the body of English subjects, we rejoiced in the truly valuable addition, both on our own and your account; expecting, as courage and generosity are naturally united, our brave enemies would become our hearty friends, and that the Divine Being would bless to you the dispensations of his over-ruling providence, by securing to you and your latest posterity, the inestimable advantages of a free English constitution of government, which it is the privilege of all English subjects to enjoy.

THESE hopes were confirmed by the king's proclamation, issued in the year 1763, plighting the public faith for your full enjoyment of those advantages.

LITTLE did we imagine that any succeeding ministers would so audaciously and cruelly abuse the royal authority, as to withhold from you the fruition of the irrevocable rights, to which you were thus justly intitled.