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the circumstances of the other colonies and provinces, may be best known, and measures for the security of the city and colony of New York, as well as the safety of all British America, be best concerted and provided for. And whereas it is now altogether uncertain when an answer may be received to the letter sent on Saturday last to the committee of correspondence in the city of Philadelphia, and it being necessary that the members of this convention should return to their respective counties, it is therefore, Resolved, That this convention do now rise.-And it is recommended to such of the counties in this province, where it may be necessary, forthwith to make choice of deputies to represent them in a provincial convention, to be held in the city of Annapolis, on Monday the 22d of May, unless an earlier or later day should be appointed by the delegates of this province, or any three of them, appointed to attend the continental congress.

The following were received by return of the express sent by the provincial convention to the committee of correspondence for Philadelphia.

GENTLEMEN,

Philadelphia, May 1, 1775.

We have duly received your favor of the 29th ult. As the accounts from New York, were not handed to this committee through a channel that gave us the satisfaction we could wish; and as they were very important, we thought proper immediately to despatch some of our members to that place, in order that they might, on the spot, learn the true situation of affairs there, and what the inhabitants of New York expect from the southern colonies. On their return, or on the receipt of any certain intelligence, we shall immediately communicate the particulars to you.

In mean time we have to inform you, that, upon the receipt of the late intelligence, this city and county immediately took the alarm, and are forming with all possible expedition; and by accounts from other counties in this province, the same spirit prevails every where; and we hope, in a short time, we shall be in a condition to unite our efforts with the rest of the colonies.

Inclosed we send you a letter from Newport, Rhode Island, which contains a particular account of the situation of affairs to the eastward, together with some important intelligence,

By order of the committee,

JOHN NIXON, chairman.

TO MATTHEW TILGHMAN, Esq. chairman of the provincial convention of the province of Maryland, now sitting at Annapolis,

GENTLEMEN,

Newport, April 25, 1775.

You have, without doubt, before this time, heard of the bloody, savage massacre of a number of the inhabitants of Lexington, a town about 12 miles north-west from Boston, perpetrated by a detachment of about 1200 of the king's troops, and what ensued thereon. We inclose you two accounts, which may be more particular than any you have yet received: The one was brought us by a gentleman who left Cambridge on Thursday last in the forenoon, and is contained in the hand bill; the other is in the newspaper. Since we received these accounts, we have been credibly informed that the number of the king's troops, killed and taken, amounts to about 300, besides many were wounded and carried into Boston; the number of Americans to about 40 killed and wounded, and it is said about 4 or 5 taken prisoners. A large body of men, not less than 20,000, are assembled, and form a semicircle from Charlestown to Roxbury: what their plan of operation will be is unknown. By a gentleman of the committee of correspondence for the town of Providence, in this colony, who arrived here this afternoon, we are informed, that the provincial congress of the Massachusetts bay, now sitting, have determined that a standing army of 30,000 men should be raised in the New England colonies, expecting that the southern colonies will assist in furnishing monies for their support. That our people had taken possession of a hill on Dorchester point, which commands general Gage's works on Boston Neck, and that they had made entrenchment within gun shot of those works at Roxbury. That two men of war had arrived at Boston, and brought the three generals that have been expected, that 6000 troops had embarked for that place when those men of war left England. There were not more than 300 Americans in a body at any one time during the action on Wednesday, and they acquitted themselves with such intrepidity as has convinced the king's officers, that Americans can and will fight All communication between the town of Boston and the other parts of the colony being shut up, and things being in a state of confusion, renders it almost impossible to obtain any certain particular intelligence from that quarter: However, the foregoing account we think may be depended upon. We had hoped that the dispute between Great Britain and these colonies would have been settled without bloodshed; but the parliament of Great Britain it seems have determined to push their iniquitous unconstitutional measures by dint of arms. The sword of civil war has been drawn by the king's troops, and sheathed in the bowels of our countrymen. May

peace, with liberty soon present the scabbard; and may Americans never be obliged again to take up arms but against a foreign foe. We hope that the union, which has so remarkably taken place throughout the American colonies, may acquire, if possible, greater firmness by this unjustifiable, inhuman, murderous attack upon our countrymen; for, upon an universal firmly cemented union of the American colonies, under God, depends the salvation and establishment of American liberty. I am, in behalf of the committee of correspondence for the town of Newport, gentlemen, your and America's sincere friend.

WILLIAM ELLERY.

To the commmittee of correspondence for the city of Philadelphia.

In committe, Philadelphia, May 1, 1775, received per capt. Whitman this day, and forwarded to Annapolis.

J. B. SMITH, Sec. of committee.

At a meeting of the DELEGATES appointed by the several counties of the province of MARYLAND, at the city of Annapolis, on Wednesday the 26th day of July, 1775, and continued till the 14th day of August, in the same year, were present,

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE MEMBERS. The hon. MATTHEW TILGHMAN, Esq. was chosen chairman. And GABRIEL DUVALL, appointed clerk.

Resolved unanimously, That the following association be signed by the members of this convention, and by all other the freemen of this province.

ASSOCIATION of the FREEMEN of MARYLAND, July 26, 1775. The long premeditated, and now avowed design of the British government, to raise a revenue from the property of the colonists, without their consent, on the gift, grant, and disposition of the commons of Great Britain; and the arbitrary and vindictive statutes passed under colour of punishing a riot, to subdue by military force, and by famine, the Massachusetts bay; the unlimited power assumed by parliament to alter the charter of that province, and the constitutions of all the colonies, thereby destroying the essential securities of the lives, liberties, and properties of the colonists; the commencement of hostilities by the ministerial forces, and the cruel prosecution of the war against the people of the Massachusetts bay, followed by general Gage's proclamation, declaring almost the whole of the inhabitants of the united colonies, by name or description, rebels and traitors; are sufficient causes to arm a free people in defence of their liberty, and justify resistance, no longer dictated by prudence merely, but by necessity, and leave no other alternative but base submission, or manly opposition, to uncontrollable tyranny. The congress chose the latter, and for the express purpose of securing and defending the united colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the above mentioned acts into execution by force of arms, Resolved, That the said colonies be immediately put into a state of defence, and now supports, at the joint expense, an army to restrain the further violence, and repel the future attacks, of a disappointed and exasperated enemy.

We, therefore, inhabitants of the province of Maryland, firmly persuaded that it is necessary and justifiable to repel force by force, do approve of the opposition by arms, to the British troops employ

to enforce obedience to the late acts and statutes of the British parliament, for raising a revenue in America, and altering and changing the charter and constitution of the Massachusetts bay, and for destroying the essential securities for the lives, liberties, and proper. ties of the subjects in the united colonies. And we do unite and associate as one band, and firmly and solemnly engage and pledge ourselves to each other, and to America, that we will, to the utmost of our power, promote and support the present opposition, carrying on, as well by arms, as by the continental association, restraining our commerce.

And as in these times of public danger, and until a reconciliation with Great Britain, on constitutional principles, is effected, (an event we most ardently wish may soon take place) the energy of government may be greatly impaired, so that even zeal unrestrained may be productive of anarchy and confusion; we do, in like manner unite, associate and solemnly engage, in maintenance of good order and the public peace, to support the civil power in the due execution of the laws, so far as may be consistent with the present plan of opposition, and to defend, with our utmost power, all persons from every species of outrage to themselves or their property, and to prevent any punishment from being inflicted on any offenders, other than such as shall be adjudged by the civil magistrate, the continental congress, our convention, council of safety, or committees of observation.

That the committees of observation in every county, as soon as conveniently may be, appoint persons in each parish or hundred, to offer or carry the said association to all freemen resident within their county (the household of his excellency the governor excepted) and require their subscription to the same, which association, when subscribed, shall be returned by the committees to the convention. And in case any freeman within their county shall not subscribe, upon application or within ten days thereafter, his name, shall be returned by the said committee to the next convention, to the end that the convention may take order therein.

Resolved, That there be forty companies of minute-men enrolled in this province as soon as may be, each of which companies to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer, one fifer, and sixty-eight privates; and that the said forty companies be enrolled in the counties and proportions following, to wit:

In Worcester, 1, Somerset 1, Dorchester 2, Talbot 1, Caroline 1, Queen Anne's 2, Kent 1, Cecil 2, St. Mary's 2, Calvert 1, Charles

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