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CONTAININQ, The Bill Of Rights, a Lift of Grievances, Occafional Refolves, the Aflbciation, an Addrefs to the People of Great-Britain, and a Memorial to the Inhabitants of the uritifh American Colonies. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CONGRESS. <^*fa» PHILADELPHIA PRINTED. MDCCLXXIV. \V r\ f \ jn ^k a .1 • -IT «— z . I ( X ) Friday, Oaoier 14, 1774. The CoNGHSss came into the folio Refolutions. . Wing J K.J WHEREAS, fmce the clofe of the Jaft . «n» T''\" ^",^!^ P^^liament claiming a power of right to bind the people of Amc! rica. by fl^tuie in all cafes whatfo^-ver, hath m fome adts exorefsly impofed taxes on them, and m others under various pretences, but i„ facft for the purpofe of raifing a revenue, hath impofed rates and duties payable in thefe co- lonies, eftabhfhed a board of commiffioner* with unconftitutional powers, and extended the junfd.dion of courts of admiralty, pot only for coHeding the faid duties, but for the trial of caufes merely arifing within the body of a county. ^^ And whereas in confequence of other fta- tutes, judges, who before held only eftates at will in their offices, have been made depen- dant on the crown alone for their falaries, and ftandmg armies kept in time of peace. And It has lately been refolved in parliament, that by force of a rtatute made in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth, colonifts may be tranfported to England^ and med there upon accufations for tr^afons and - mifprifionF. or concealment of treafons com- ° mittcd do mitted in the colonies , and by a late ftatutf s.rid.':^^' '"" '"''''' '' "^" '•'"'" And whereas in the laft fefHon of parlia. An ad to d.fcont.nue in fuch manner, and - t^ 'T.'r^'^ '^''''^ mentioned, the ^^ landing and d.fcharging. lading or (IVipping ^^ of goods, wares and merchandize, at the town, and within the harbour of Bofton. in the province of Maflkchufetts-Bay, in North-America." Another intituled, " Aa ;; aa for the better regulating the g;vern- ment of the province of the MarTachufetts- I . .r'^^i^;^"g^^"'i''Andanotherintitu. -of; ^" ""^.^'^^ impartial adminirtration of juHice in the cafes of perfons queftioned ;; for any aa done by them in the^execution « JJ. ^ ^'^ ^Z' ^^' ^"Ppreflion of riots and tumults, in the province of the MalTa- chufcifs-Bay, in New-England." /ndan- other ftatute was then made, " for making more effeaualprovifion for thegovernmenl of the province of Quebec, &c." All which ftatutes are impolitic, unjuft and cruel as ""'^J f n"''^^"^^^"*'°''^^' ^"^ «^oft dangerous and deftrudive of American rights. And whereas, afTemblics have b?en fre- tjuently dilfolved, contrary to the rights of the people, when they attempted to deliberate on gapvancesi and their dutiful, humble,, ■ ; . loyal. ( 3 ) ■loyj'.anl reafon.ble petitions to the crown for r-drefs have been repeatedly treated^uh xontL'''= P™'"'='^"'°^ f™™ da- mages, that he might otherwife be liable to requiring oppreffive fecurity from a c aimant Mo^UTa rt ^''''^' ^^f-« he (hall be ter 1 %'±:1'- P?P-'/' -d are fub- venivcof American rj>hts. * mm Alfo. ( 8 ) Alfo^i2 Geo. III. ch. 24. intiniled *' An ' ad for the better fecujring his Majcfty's '« dock.yards, magazines, (hips, ammunition y and ftores,'' Which declares i new ofFence ip Aipenca, and deprives the American fub- jea of a conftitutional trial by jury of the vi- cinage, by authorifmg the trial of any peffon charge with the committing any offence de- fcnbed in the faid ad out of the realm, to be indidied and tried for the fame in any (hire or county within the realm. Alfo the three ads pafTed in the laft kf. fion of parliament, for flopping the port and blocking up the harbour of Bofton, for alier- ing the.qharter and government of MafTachuf. fetts Bay, and that which is intituled, " Anad *-' for the better adminiftration of juftice, &c.'* _^Airo the adt pafl'ed in the fame feffion for Cltabliihmgthe Roman catholic religion in the provmce of Quebec, aboliihing the equitable lyftem of Engliih laws, and ereding a tyran- ''^ ,f^^^^, ^? t^e gt^eat danger, from fo total 3 dtlhmjlanty of religion, law and govern- mem to thfi neighbouring Britifh colonies, by the affiftancc of whofe blood and treafure the laid country was conquered from France. AI16 the ad pafTed in the fame feffion for the better providing fuitable quarters for of- ficers and foldiers in his Majefty's fervice in iMorth- America. Alfo, ( 9 ) i *' Ail 4ajcfty's lunition ofFfeftce an fub- the vi- ' pef fon nee de- 1, to be [hire or aft fef- )rt and ■ alier- fachuf- Anaift J, &c.'* on for in the iitable tyran- ) total >vern- es, by re the :e. m for )r of- ce in Alfo, that the keeping a ftanding army in feveral of thefe colonies, in time of paace, without the confent of the legiflature of that colony ia which fuch army is kept, is againft law. The Congress, from time to time, pafled the following Refolves : Refohed, That this Congrefs do approve of the oppofition made by the inhabitants of the Ma0*achufett's-Bay, to the execution of the late adts of Parliament; and if the fame fhall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in fuch cafe, all America ought to fupport them in their oppofition. j Refohed, ^'hat it is the opinion of this body, that the removal of the people of Bof- ton into the country, would be, not only ex- trcinely difficult in the execution, but fo im- portant in its confcquqnces, as to require the utmoft deliberation before it is adopted. But in cafe the provincial meeting oif that colony fhall judge it abfolutely necefTary, it is the. opi- nion of this Congrefs, that all America ought to contribute towards recompenfing them for the injury ihey may thereby fuftain; and it will be recommended accordingly Refohed, Alfo. / 10 ) not be procured in Tlrl .n^' "'''"■' " """ "er. under the rules of h.^f"""''''' """"- Jaws founded thereon M ''^'■'^'■' »"'' «he application fitSX^^a^^^^^^^ ♦h- charter rishts^^i.^rinH^istt;' or aa under anv r„2 ^5- **!^ "''=' accept. feffion of parliament, chanfinfr^ "V^' ^'^ government and vio]«in^ ?f "^^ "' ^°"" "^ province of the M3,'',.fBY'" of the be held in deteftationanTlhl"? '''""?''' '■' of that defpotifm. which t^ "<,cked tools ftroy thbfe^ight, Xh God f "^ '° '''^ compaa hath |ive; t6 Imerica' "*'"''' ""''* BcSt' Zt&S^' .^' P-P'e of ftill to condua them.tl "■^'^' ^eadvifed hisexcellency G ne^P'T ^^''"-''ly towards troops now 'ftatS ^^^e.^ld his Majefty's ton, as far a« rar. 1 /ri? "^ 'O"'" of Bof- jm-^ediite fafety an'^Th '? '°'^''" ""'"' "'« ^ avoiding ,;/S^,„'J;J-««y of thetown, ""0 Of his Maieftv". I ^ *""^ ^'o'a- , .'™'y^%s,Ffoperty.oranyinfuli ' to ^ recom- »y of the J/penfion re it can- ble man^ and the ts of our y which known. er/bn or accept, ^ity, in the lafl brm of of the ughtto ' Dyatl d tools to de- e, an'd pie of dvifeii wards efty's Bof, their own J iola- nfult to ( 11 ) • to his troops ; and that tlrey peaceably and firmly perfevere in the line in which they arc now conducting themfelvcs on the deSfenfive. • Refolved, That the feizing, or attempting to feize any perfon in America, in order to tranfport fuch perfon beyond the fea, for trial of offences committed Within the body of a county in America, being againft Jaw', will juftify, and ought to meet with refinance and reprifal. Saturday, Odiober 22. Refihedy As the opinion of the congrcf?, that it will be neceffary that a congrefs {houlrf be held on the i oth day of May next, uhlefs the rcdrefs of grievances, which we have de- fired, be obtained before that time»-^And we recommend that the fame be held at the city of Philadelphia, and that all the colonies in North- America chujfe deputies as foon as poffiblc, to attend fuch congrefs. TaESDAY, Oilr/o^^r 25. Rcfohtd, That the congrefs in their own names, and in behalf of all thofc whom they reprefenr, do prcftnt their niofl grateful ac- knowledgements to ihofe truly noble, honor- able, and patriotic advocates of civil and reli- gious liberty J who have 3 generoully and C 2 powerfully, ' I ( 12 j outofparHamenf °^ '^'""'"' ^ch in and %ned by .he Priidttatet.rif ' 'yHE inhabitants of the town of Bofton frequent invafionsof n^;vo^ '^"' ^^^ ^"^^s^t^£t^-Sr- afls of parJiamTnf !' T 7*^'* '°'''= 'ate which thoft^'h ' '' ."^^ "^^"''°" of •''eapp.^h^Ltn-e^^rtV.^^^^^ condua- anr? fK/. ^ * '^ ^xprelled of their coloni^, f^^ tt pSS ;S"'°" °' '"^ • -■'ghts, to unite in thdr Inn r,"' '^°'"'»°" a6ts. In conf.quence o7thef/r •°" *° '^^^ h"e appointed ,,.?i^'^"'""^"t«. 'hey fuins: ; filing every dutiful- and oeareaKI. ~ ,• •o procure a cordiar a„d^ effe^rr'"" chation between Great-Britafn a„d ,hr"' -J;;caeve„.Hi?etrpi^-rd-e wK!:^e^drc;reSS7u^°Lr^r• irritate and fnrrr^ ^ .. i i '' ^^^^* to pored to ;^aS7byrer;s°rL^^^^^^^^ which may prevent the endeavour, of rh'* Congrcfs to reOore a good underft?„ J- • ' a parent ftate, and majTnS t'l^l* horrorsofa civil war. " •"' In order therefbre to quiet th^ ,^.vj„ remove the reafonaWejeatuwTh'el^o'^^^ the^ be ariUreTof rht tll}^''^, Z"'' communication'b ;;::„' fhl^f " 'J"" '^e Prvton Randolph, Prendent. THE Hi ( U ) • oni-^ i_ ... - THE ASSOCIATION, &c, WE,, his Majefiy's moft loyal fuhje&s, the Delegatesof the fevcral Colonics of New-Hamp(hire, Maflachufett's-Bay, Rhode- Ifland, Conncdicut, New- York, New- Jerfey, Pennfylvania, the Three Lower Counties of Newcaftle, Kent, and Suflex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,^ Nortn-Carolina, and 3outh Carolina, deputed to reprefent them in a continental Congrefs^ held in the city of Philadelphia, on the fifth day of September, 1'^J4j, avowing our allegiance to his Majefty, Qur affedtion and regard for cur fellow- fubjedts in Great-Britain andelfewhcre, affedled with the dccpcft anxiety, and moft alarming appre- henfionsat thofe grievances and diftrefTes, with which his Majefty's American fubjedls areop- prcfled, and having taken under our moftferi- ous deliberation, the ftate of the whole conti- nent, find>that the prefent unhappy fituation of our affairs, is occalioned by a ruinous fyftcm of colony adminiftration adopted by the Britifli Miniftry w ■** ■< » *! ''' f «5 ) thetji theBririrhp •,"'*''' and with been palibd for Sjt ^2?^'" "^'^ for depriving the AnferiSS i ""' Cofinl^'th • "J? -"«««i°-K 'b; 7u7 expolmg their lives to danger hv^iJJ ^' Ana „ p.^^^^^^^^^^^^ mg an arbitrary covernmeni *k" •' ^^^^°^'^' fluence of civil DrincinTecln?^' • ^ ^^ ^"- Portation. non-conrun^t o„ S „'on°°"""^ and ■ ( i6 ) 1 and the inhabitants of thtf feveral Colonies, whom wc rcprefent, firmly agree and affo- ciatc under the facred ties of virtue, honor, and love of our country, as follows^ Firji. That from and after the fi^fl: day of December next,we will not import intoBritifh America, from Great-Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares or merchandize whatfoever, 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 Ea{|-Indiatea from any part of tht world; nor any molaflec fyrrups, paneles, coffee; orpiemento, from theBritiQi plantations, or from Dominica; nor wines from Madeira, or the Weftcrn Illands; nor foreign indigo. Second. That we will neither import, nor purchafe any (lave imported, after the firfi day of December next ; after which time, we will wholly difcontinue the flave-trade, and will neithcrbe concerned in it ourfelves,nor will we hire our veflels, nor fell our commodities or manufadlures tothofe who are concerned in it. Third. As a non confumptlon agreement, ftridly adhered to, will be anefFedualfecurity for the obfervation of the non-importation, we, as above, folemnly agree and affociate, that, from this day, we will not purchafe or ufe any Tea imported on account of the E^ft-India com- '.I -.-j 1/, it compatiy-, or anyott which a dutf MtK been or.flia]|, be paid J' oind from and after the firft- day of^Mtirch ncxt^'^d Will not purchafe or ufc ■ any fcaft-India tiea M/hateverj noi» will we, no(» ^ fliall arty perfon for or under us, ptirchafe or ufe any:l6f thofe^goods, wares or rtierchan^ dize we have agreed not to import, which we (hall know, or have caufe to lUfpea, were impoi'ted after the firft day of December, ex- cept fuch as com6 under the rules and direc tions ofthe tenth article hereafter mentioned. tmtrth-. Th6 earneft dfeiire we have, not to '- injure ^ur felkxw.fubjea^ In Grcat-Britain '•» Ireland or the Weft- Indies, Mid uces us tcJ^n lulpend a non-exportation, until the tenth day of3Septcmbcri775.. at which t^ me; if the faid.:Aag and parts of Adls of the BHtFfh par- ' iiamencr.herein after mention^ ar^ not re- ' peal^d^ we will not, difeftly or mdiredly " cxjDort any merchandize or commodity what- foevef to Great^Britain, Ireland or the Weft- indic«, except rice td Europe. ' • TkWf^: f^''^. ^' are merchants, arrd ufe the Bnmfti dddlrifti trade, will give orders, as foon aspo&ble, to their faaors, agents ^h'd Oorre. ' fpondents, m Great-Britain and Ireland, iiotto ibip any goods to them, on any pretence what- , Soever, as they cannot be received in America; and if any merchant, rehding in Great-Britain ^ or Ireland, fhall dire^ly or in di redly ftiip inj- ^ ^ goods. ( >8 ) n goods, wares or merchandize, for America, In ordcf to break thcfaid non-importation agree- ment, or in any manner contravene the famo, on fuch unworthy condu<5l being wellattcfted|t b it ought to be made public j and, on the fanic being fo done, we will not from thenceforth have any commercial connexion, with fuch it merchant. Kn ''^ ' • - Sixth. That fuch of vcffch are owners will give pofitivc orders to their captaiaa,i or mafters, not to receive on board their veiTels any goods prohibited by the faid non-impor- tation agreement, on pain of immediate di£t:u mi(rionjfroq;i;ithcir fervice. ,'ui!;^ril Seventh. We will ufe our utmoft endeavours to improve the breed ofiheepandincreafe their ! number to the greateft extent, and to that end, il we will kill them as /paring as may be, efpe- • ciallythofeof the moft profitable kind j norwill ■ we exportany to the Weft-Indies orelfewhere; and thofe of us who are or may become over- ftocked with, or can conveniently fpare any fheep, will difpofe of them to our neighbours,, i, efpecially to the poorer fort, on moderate terms, j Eighth, That we will in our feveral na- tions encourage frugality, oeconomy, snd in- duftry; and promote agriculture, arts, andthe manufaftures of this country, efpecially that of wool J and will difcountenance and difcourage every I I ( '? ) every fpccies of extravagance 'Ahrdimpatlon, efpecially all horfe-raein'-, and all kinds of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibitions of /hevvsi plays, and other expenfive diverfions and en- tertainments. And on the death of any rela- tion or friend, none of us, or anyofourfami- lies will go into any further mourning drefs than 3 black crape otribbon on the arm or hat for grntlcmen, and a black ribbon and neck- lace 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 maybeoccafioncd bv this aflociation, but will fell the fame at the'rates we have been refpeaively accuftomcd to d^ for twelve months laft paft.— And if any ven- der of goods or merchandize, fliall MX any luch goods on high(ir terms, or fliall in any manner, or by any device whatfoevcr, violate or depart from this agreement, no perfon ought, nor will any of us deal with any fuch ' perfon orhis, or her fador or agent, at any time thereafter, for any commodity whatever. Te^Hh. In cafe any merchant, trader, or other perfons fhall import any goods or mer- chandize after the firfl day of December, and before the firft day of February next, the lame ought forthwith at the elcdlion of the ' owner, to be either refhippcd or delivered up to ^ 2 the iw. ( 20 ) ihc committeeof the county, or town wherein, they Ihall be importedi' to ^e ftuied'at- the rifque of the importer, until the non-importa- tion agreement fliall cea^e, 0;r be fold. under the dircdion of the committee aforefaidj and in the laft mentioi;ied cu(g, theownerqr owners of fuch goods, fliall be reimburfcd (out of the fales) the firflcoft and charges, the profit jif any, to be applied towards re|iqying and employiflg fuch poor inhabitants of thetown of Bofton.as are immediate fu^erers by the Boilon Port-i bill .; and a particular account, of all ^oojs fo returned, flored, or fold, to be inferted In the public papers ; and if any goods or mer- <;handizes fhall be imported after the faid firft day of February, the fame ought fonhwith to befent back again, without breaking any of the packages thereof. , ■ .--? r : OYi- Eleventh. That a Committee be chofen in every county, city, and town, hy thofe-who are qualified to vote for Repreientatives in the legiflature, whofe bufinefs it (liall be at- tentively to obferve the condudt of all per- fons touching- this afiociation j and when it fhall be made to appear to the fatis)- facftion of a majority of any fuch Com- mittee, that any peribn within the limits of their appointment has violated this afTocia- tion,that fuch majority do forthwith caufe the truth of the cafe to be publiflied in the Gazette, • inpio to I I ( 21 ) to the end, that all fuch foes to the qVhts of ^Britifli America may be pubJicIy knbwn' and univerfally contemned as the eneriifefe' pf American liberty; and thendefoftl^ Wh refpedhvely will break off all dealings wiili him or her. -■ Knif ,3 isio "1 Twe/JU, That the Committee of Corref- pondence in the refpedive Colonies do fre- quently mfpect the entries of their Cuftom- tioLifes, and mform each other from time to time of the true ilate thereof, arid of evep^ othtr material circumftance that may occw relative' to this affociation. ^Thirteenth, That all manufactures of this country be fold at reaforiable prices, fo that no undue advantage be taken ' of a futufi Scarcity of goods. -^ ^^' un Fourteenth. And we do further a^ree and refolve, that we will have no trade,^ com? merce, dealings or intercourfe Whatfoever with any colony or province, in Ndrtli'!' America, which fhall not accede to, or wliich fl)all hereafter violate this affociation, but ^llj hold them as unworthy of the rights of freemen " and as mimical to the liberties of their country' And we do folemnly bind ourfelves and our conftituents under theties aforefaid, to adhere fP this affociation until fuch parts of the fe! veral I' ( 22 ) of the laft war. as impofe or continue duties coffee, fugar, piemento, indigo, foreign paper glafs, and pa.nters colours, imported into America, and extend the powers of the Ad- miralty courts beyond th^ir ancient limits. dpr,ve the American fubject of trial by jur^ 'the n/o? ; J"''S^"=5^«ificate to indemnify otherw.fe be hable to. from a trial by his Slant of '.S-"' °PP"5'^= '"^^""'y '^"m =>='";- mant of Ih.ps or goods feized. before he ftall be allowed to defend his property, are repeal- ■ed-And unt.1 that part of the Aft of the W, ^' •■ ^4- 'ntituled, "An Aft for the tetter lecurn,g h,s Majefty's dock yards, magazines. Ihips, ammunition, and ftores." by which, any perfons charged with con^- mming any of the offences therein defcribed. in America may be tried in any /hire or untn Vf '" I'k' "^'™' '= repeaied-And until the four AQs paffed in the laft feffion IoIJa^^^','- ^'^- ">« f°^ «Wng the £!tW f "°?'""« "P *= harbour of Bofton t^^t t^ u''? .M^fl"^chufetfs-Bay-1-And that which ,s intituled, ■• An Ad for t e • th .. F"'""*"'r °f J"'^'"' &c."-And «"t For extending the limits of Quebec «?c. are repealed. And we recommend it to the ( , 23 ) the provincial conventions, and to the commit- tees m the refpedive Colonies, toeftabliihfuch farther regulations as they may think proper tor carrying into execution this AflQciation/ The foregoing AiTociation being determined 7uf y^l^^'^r^''*'^'' ofderedTobe fubfcnbed by the feveral Members thereof and thereupon wc have hereunto fet our re' ipedtive names accc— •'- - ' InCongrefs, Pbiladeipbia, 05tober 20, 1774. Signed, PEYTON RANDOLPH, Prefident, NeW'HampjJjireV^^^ Sullivan, '^ [Nathaniel Fo LSOM. Thomas CusHi?! {*nwiviA{,v.USHI?JG, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine. Rhode-IJlandl^'^^^^^^ Hopkins, •^ LSamuel Ward. f Eliphalet Dver, ConnemcudKoG^R Sherman, . LSilasDeane, New^Tork fn f' NeW'Tork < Kyi' ( 24 ) JoHi^ Alsop, John Jay^, James Duane, Will 1^4 MtJi'LpY^^ M' Henry ,\J(^| sne r,: ; vd 1? ; ; .S. BoERUM. ;d badt^McL ■j) y^i^oji:; 3'/.,(i c. v/ \T ^ r •WillJAM'" ": /•' I STEpH^Epi ,( ^Richard .ljam Livingston, >QR;ANp. > Smith. Pen?ijyhama ^ Joseph Galloway, J?":"? xPa Pendleton* ^^ ■ f William Hoopekj r^off^-Cayo/maA Joseph Hewes, K* Caswell, !HeNRV MlDDLEt0K> Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, Edward RyxLEpQB. Ji t To ^mi^m'mmmm ■rr U\ TO THE PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN, FROM THE DELEGATES, Appointed by the levcral Englijh Colonies of New-Hamp/hire, Majfachufett's-Bay, Rhode- IJland and Providence Plantations, Connec ticut, New-Tor k, New-Jerfey, Pennfyl- vaniay The Lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South-Carolina, to confider of their Griev- ances in General Congrefs, at Philadelphia, September $th, ijj^* Friends and Fellow SubjeSts, WHEN a Nation, led to greatnefs by the hand of Liberty, and poflefled of all the glory that heroifm, munificence, and humanity can beftow, defcends to the un- grateful tafk of forging chains for her Friends and Children, and inftead of giving fupport to Freedom, turns advocate for Slavery and Oppreflion, there is jreafon to fufpedt fhe has cither ceafed to be virtuous, or been ex- tremely negligent in the appointment of her rulers. In ( 27 ) In almoft every age, in repeated conflidsi in Jong and bloody wars, as well civil as fo- reign, again ft many and powerful nations, againll the open affaults of enemies and the more dangerous treachery of friends, have the inhabitants of your ifland, your great and glorious anceftors, maintained their indc- pendance and tranfmitted the rights' of men and the bleffings of liberty to you their pc- irerity. • f Be not furprized therefore, that we, who are defcended from the fame common anceftors • •that we, whofe forefathers participated ih all the rights, the liberties and the conftitution you fo juftlyboaft, and who have carefully conveyed the fame fair inheritance to us guarantied by the plighted faith of govern- ment, and the moft folemn compads "with Bnti(h Sovereigns, ihould refufe to furiender them to men, who found their claims on no principles of reafon, and who profecute them with a defign, that by having our lives and property in their, power, they may with the greater facility enflave you. The caufe of America is now the obiea: of univerfal attention: it has at length become t^ery ferious. This unhappy country has not only been oppreffed, but abuied and mifrepre- lented; and the duty we owe to ourfelves and pofterity, to your intereft, and the general wel- ^ 2 farq h \ ^' ( ?8 ) fare 'of thb Britifli empire, leads lis to addrcls you on this very impoitant lubjcdt. Know then, That we confidcr ourfelves, and do infirt, that we are, and ought to be, as free as our fellew fubjedts in Britain, and that no power on earth has a riglit to take our pro- perty from us without our confcnt. That we claim all the benefits fecurcd to the fubjedt by the Englifh conftitution, and parti- cularly that ineftimable one of trial by jury. That we hold it eflential to Englifh Liberty, that ho man be condemned unheard, or pu- niflied for fuppofed offences, without having an opportunity of making his defence. That we think the Lcgiflature of Great- Britain is not authorized by the conftitution to cftabliih a religion, fraught with fangui- nary and impious tenets, or, to ered: an arbi- trary form of government in any quarter of the glohe. Thefe rights, we, as well as you, deem facred. And yet facred as they arc, they have, with many others, been repeatedly ' and flagrantly violated. Are not the Proprietors of the foil of Great-* Britain Lords of their own property ? can it be taken from them without their confent ? will they yield it to the arbitrary difpofal of any raao, ■ ( 29 ) man, or number of men wliatever ?,-.Yoa know they will not. vnui,, Why then are the Proprietors of the foH of America le(s Lords of their property than you are of yours, or why (hould they fubmit it to the difpofal of your Parliament, or any other Parliament, or Council in the world, not of their eledtion ? Can the intervention of the fea that divides us, caufe difparity in rights, or can any reafon be given, why EngliflilUbjefts, who live three thoulknd miies from the royal palace, ihould enjoy lefs liberty than thofe who are three hundred miles diftant from it ? Reafon looks with indignation on fuchdif- tindtions, and freemen can never perceive their propriety. And yet, however chimerical and unjuft fuch diferiminations are, the Par- Jiamcnt affert, that they have a right to bind us in all cafes without exception, whether we confent or not j that they may take and ufc our property when and in what manner they '^'cafe; that we are penfioners on their bounty 'iat we poffefs, and can hold it no !or/ on they vouchafe to permit. Such decL .ons we confider as herefies in English politic?, and which can no more operate to deprive us of our property, than the interdids of the Pope can divert Kings of fceptres which the laws of the land and the voice of the people have placed in their hands. At r r i ( 30 ) Atr the condufion of the late war a war rendered glorious by the abilities and integrity of a Minifter, to whofe efforts the Britifli empire ojWOiS it^.fafety and its fame : At the i;onclu(ion of this war, which was fucceeded by an inglorious peace, formed under the au- fpicesof a Minifter of principles, and of a family unfriendly to the proteftant caufe, and inimical to liberty.— We fay at this period, and under the influence of that man, A plan for cnflaving your fellow fubje^s in 'America was concerted, and has ever fince ■been pertinaciouily carrying into execution. .'U^Prioj: to, this aera you were content with drawing from iw the wealth produced by our commercp. You r?ftrained our trade in every -way that could conduce to your emolument. You exercifed unbounded fovereignty o/cv the fea. You, named the ports and nations to which alone our merchandize (h|)uld be carried, and with whom alone we fliould trade; and though fo me of thefe reftridions were grievous, we neverthdefs did not com- plain i we looked up to you as to our parent ilate to which we were bound by the ftrongeft ties : And were happy in being inftrumental to your profperity and your grandeur, We call upon you yourfelves, to witnefs our loyalty and attachment to the common intereft of the whole empire : Did we not, in the laft U- ^- ( 31 ) war. add all the ftrength of this vaft contihene to the force which repelled our common ene- my? Did w: not leave our native (horcs, and meet difeafe and death, to promote the fuccefs of Britirli arms in foreign climates? Did you not thank us for our zeal, and even rcimhurfe us large fums of money, which, you confcfTpdi we had advanced beyond our proportion and far beyond our abilities ? You did. To what caufes, then, are we to attribute the fudden change of treatment, and that fyllem of flavery which was prepared for us at the reAoration of peace ? : Before we had recovered from the diftreffes which ever attend war, an attempt was made to drain this country of all its mpney,- by the oppreffive Stamp-a^, Paint, glafs, and other commodities, which you would nsot permit us to purchafe of other nations, were taxed i nay, although no wine is made i^ any country fubjedto the BritiOi ftate, you prohibited our procuring it of foreigners, without paying a tajf, impofed hv your parh'an^ent, on aU we imported. 1 hcfe and many other im- pofitions were laid upon us moft unjuftly and unconftitutionally, for the exprefs pur- pofe of raifmg a revenne.— Jn order to filence complaint, it was, indeed, provided, that this revenue fhould be expended in America for its protedtion and defence.— Thefe exadions however can receive no jufti- f.cation «>»«»'ollon was blocked up by x ik'et, and an army })laced in the town. Their trade was to be ftjipeiulcd, and thoufuuii; reduced to tlie necrHUy of gaining fubliflence from cliarity, till they ihouid fiil^mit to paCs under the yoke, and content to become flaves, by conleirmg the omnipotence of Parliamcni, and acquictcing in whatever difpofition they mifjit think proptr to make of their lives and property. Let jufticc and humanity ceafe to be the boail of your nation ! confult your hiflory, ex- amine your records of former tranfai3ions, nay turn to the annaly of the many arbitrary flates and kingdoms that furround you, and fhew us a fmglc inilance of men being condemned to iutfer for imputed crimes, unheard, unque- llioned, and widiout even the fpecious for- mality of a tri.di and that too by laws made exprelsly for the purpofe, and which bad no cxiilenye at the time of the fad committed. If it be didicuh to reconcile thefc proceedings to the genius and temper of your laws and conftitution, the talk will become more ar- duous when we call upon our minirterial cne- F z lilies i r 41 \l ^m t ) WfflS ( 36 ) fU 'I mies to juflify, not only condemning m untried, and by hcarfay, but involving the innocent in one common punifliment with the guilty, and for the ad of thirty or forty, to bring poverty, diilrefs and calamity on thir- ty thouland fouls, and thotc not your enemic'-, butyour friends, brethren, andfeliow-fubjeds. It would be fome confolation to us, if the catalogue of American oppreffions ended here. It gives us pain to be reduced to the neceliity of reminding you, that under the confidence repofed in the faith of government, pledged in a royal charter from a Britifli Sovereign, the fore-fathers of the prefent inhabitants of the MafTachufett's-Bay left their former ha- bitations, and eftablifhed that great, flourifb- ing, and loyal Colony. Without incurring or being charged with a forfeiture of their rights, without being heard, without being tried, without law, and without jnflice, by an Adl of Parliament, their charter 'is de- ilroyed, their liberties violated, their con- ftitution and form of government changed : and all this upon no better pretence, than becaufe in one of their towns a treipafs was committed on fome merchandize, faid to be- long to one of the Companies, and becaufe the Miniflry were of opinion, that fuch high political regulations were neceffary to com- pel due fubordination and obedience to their ip[)andates, ' '' Nor I ( 37 ) Nor are thefe the only capital grievances under which we labor. We might tell of difroiute, weak and wiciced Governors havin? been let over us ; of LegiHatures beini? fuf- pendcd for aiTerting the rights of Britilh fub- jedts— of needy and ignorant dependents on great men, advanced to the feats of juftice and to other places of truft and importance! —of hard rellridions on commerce, and a great variety cf leiTer evils, th. recolledion of which IS almoftloft under the weight and pref- fure of greater and more poignant calamities. Now mark the progre/Tion of the minify teriaJ plan for enflaving us. Well aware that fuch hardy attempts to ake our property from us ; to deprive us of that valuable right of trial by jury; to feize our perfons, and carry us for trial to Great tJntain ; to blockade our ports ; to deftrov our Charters, and change our forms of eo. vernment would occafion, and had already occafioned great difcontent in all the Colo- nies winch might produce oppofition to thefe mealures : An Ad: was pafied to proted, in- demnify, and Icreen from pimifhment fuch as might be guilty even of murder, in endeavour- ing to carry their oppreffivc cdids into execu- tion: And by another Act the dominion of v^anada is to b^ fe extended, modelled, and governed, as that by beiqg c'ifunited from us! detached :/ ( 38 ) detached from onrinterefls, by civil as well as religious prejudices, that by their nujnbers daily fwelling with Catholic emigrants from Europe, and by their devotion to Adminiftra- tion fo friendly to their religion, they might become formidable to us, and on occalion, be fit inftrumentts in the hands of power, to , reduce the ancient free Protcftant Colonies to the fame ftate of flavery with themfelvcs. This was evidently the object of the Act : — And in this view being extremely danger- ous to our liberty and quiet, wc cannot tor- bear complaining of it, as hoftile to Britidi' America, — Superadded to thcfe confidera- tions, we cannot help deploring the unhappy condition to which it has reduced the many EngliQi fettlers, who, encouraged by the Royal Proclamation, promifing the enjoy- ment of all their rights, have purchafed eftates in that country. — They are now the fubjects of an arbitrary government, deprived of trial by jury, and when imprifoned can- not claim the benefit of the habeas corpus Act, that great bulwark and palladium of English liberty :— Nor can we fupprefs our aftonifhment, that a Brif:ifli Parliament fhould ever confent to eftablifli in that coun- try a religion that has deluged your ifiand in blood, and difperfed impiety, bigotry, perfe- cution, murder and rebellion through every part of the world. • ' . This -'V«*(Uu. ^"•^Biwiaaf^waRwuwfiM^'S' ( 39 ) Tills being a true flate of fads, let us be- feech you to conlider to what end they lead. Admit that the Miniftry, by the powers of Britain, and the aid of our Roman Catholic neighbours, (hould be able to carry the point of taxation, and reduce us to a ftate of pcrfedt humiliation and llavery. Such an cnterprize would doubt Icfs make fome addition to your national debt, which already prelTes down your liberties, and fills you with Penfioners and Placemen.— We prefume, alfo, that your comme ce will fomewhat be diminifhed. However, fuppofe you fhould prove viftorious —-in what condition will you then be ? What advantages or what laurels will you reap from fuch a conqueft ? May not a Minlftry with the fame armies enflave you — it may be faid, you will ceafe to pay 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 exped:, that after makiny flaves of us, many among us fhould refufe to aflift in reducing you to the fame abjedc ftate. Do no treat this as chimerical- -Know that in lefs than half a century, the quit-rents referved to the Crown, from the numberlefs grants ( 4° ) grants of this vaft continent, will pour large flreams of wealth into the royal coffers, and if to this be added the power of taxing America at pleafure, the Crown will be ren- dered i'ndependant on you for fupplies, and will polTefs more treafure than may be necef- fary to purchafe the remains of Liberty in your Illand. — ^— In a word, ta ■ > ;:.^e that you do not fall into the pit that . . icpa.ring for us. '• r < jti. We believe there is yet much virtue, much juftice, and much public fpirit in the Englifla nation — To that juftice we now appeal* You have been told that we are feditious, impatient of government, and defirous of in- dependancy. Be afltired that thefe are not fails, but calumnies Permit us to be as free as yourfelves, and we fhall ever efteem a union with you to be our greater glory and our greateft happinefs, we fliall ever be ready to contribute all in our power to the welfare of the Empire — we (hall confider your ene- mies as our enemies, and your intereft as our own. But if you are determined that your Minif- ters (hall wantonly fport with the rights of mankind— -If neither the voice of juftice, the di(ftates of the law, the principles of the conftitution, or the fuggeftions of humanity can reftrain your hands from fhedding human blood l( ( 41 ) blood in fuch an impious caure, we muft then tell you, that we never will fubmit to b^ hewers of wood or drawers of water for any miniftry or nation in the wprld. Place us in the fame fituation that we were at the clofe of the laft war, and our former harmony will be reftored. But left the fame fupinenefs and the fame inattention to our common in tereft, which you have for feveral years (hewn, (hould continue, we think it prudent to anticipate the confe- quences. By thedeftrudlion of the trade of Bofton, the Miniftry haveendeavoured to induce fub- miflion 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 conveniences of life. — We have fufpended our importation from Great Bri- tain and Ireland ; and in lefs than a year's time, unlefs our grievances fliould be re- drefled, fliall difcontinue our exports to thofe kingdoms and the Weft-Indies. It is with the utmoft regret however, that we find ourfejves (impelled by the over- ruling principles of felf-prcfervation, to adopt G meafures » «/ / it lll't " 1 1 f- if ( If I I i 1 1- I '] I ' J fr ( 40 • meafures detrimental in their confcquences to numbers of our fellow fubjeas in Great- Britain and Ireland. But we hope, that the magnanimity and ju/licc of the Briti/h Nation will furnifh a Parliament of fuch wifdom, in- dcpendancc and public fpirit, as may fave the violated rights of the whole empire from the devices of wicked Minifters and evil Coun- fellors, whether in or out of office, and thereby reftore that harmony, friendship and fraternal afFedion between all the Inhabitants of his Majefty's kingdoms and territories, fo ar* dently wiihcd for by every true and honeft American. TAe Congress then refumedthe conftderation of the memorial to the inhabitants of the Britifi colonies, and the fame being debated by para- graphs and amended, was approved, and is as follows-"^ :i TO ( 43 ) T O T H E INHABITANTS OF THE COLONIES Of NeW'Hamp/hire, Majfachufetfs- Bay, Rhode-IJland and Providence Plantations ; ConneSiicut, New-Tork, New-Jerfey, Penn- fyhania, the Counties of Newcajile, Kent and Suffex on Delaware ; Mary/and, Fir- ginia. North Carolina and South Carolina, Friends and Fellow Countrymen, WE, the Delegates appointed by the good people of the Colonies to meet at Philadelphia in September laft, for the purpofes mentioned by our refpective Conlhtuents, have in purfuance of the truft repofed in us, affemblcd and taken into ourmoft ferious confideration the important matters recommended to the Congrefs. Our refolu- tjons thereupon will be herewith communi- cated to you. But as the fituation of public affairs grows daily more and more alarming; and as it may be more fatisfactory to you to be informed by us in a collective body, than in any other manner, of thofe fentiments that have been approved, upon a full and free difcuffion by the Reprefentatives of fo great a part of America, we efteem ourfelves G 2 obliged %\ i 6 :'l i • P % ( 44 ) obliged to add this Addrcfs to thcfcRcfolu^ (ions. In every cafe of oppofition by a people to their rulers, or of one ftutc to another, duty to Almighty God, the creator of all, reijuircs that a true and impartial judgment be Jormcd of the mi-afures leading to fuch oppoiition } and of the caufes by which it has been provoked, or can in any degree bo juftified : That neither affection on the one hand, nor lefcnimeni on the other, being permitted to give a wiong biafs to reafon, it may be enabled to take a difpairionate view of all ciicumiLnccs, and icttlc the public conduct on the Iblid foundations of wildotn andjulticc. From Councils thus tempered arife the fureft hopes of the divine favour, the firmeft encouragement to the parties engaged, and the ftrongeft recommendation of their caufe to the rcll of mankind. With minds deeply impreiTtd by a fenfc of thefe truths, we have diligmlly, deliberately and calmly enquired into and confidered thofe exertions, both of the legiflative and executive power of Great-Britain, which have excited fo much uneafnicfs in America, and nave with equal fidelity and attention confidered the conduct of the Colonics. Upon the whole, we find ft '"^^^rnmum. C 45 ) find ourfelves reduced to the diTagrecable aK ternativc, of being filent and betraying the innocent, or of fpcaking out and ccnibring thofe we wi(h to revere.- -In making our choice of thefc diftreding difficulties, we pre- fer the courfe dilated by honefty, and a re- gard for the welfare of our country. Soon after the conclufion of the late war there commenced a memorable change in the treatment of thefe Colonics. By a ftatutemadc in the fourth year of the prefent reign, a time o\ profound peace, alledging, ** the expediency of new provifions and regulations f )r extend- !"^ ^'/.''T"'^'''''' between Great-Britain and lus Majefly's dominions in America, and th'- necefftty of raifing a Reveme in the faid domi- nions for defraying the expences of defendinsr, proteding and fecuring ihe fume," the C(wl mons of Great-Britain unditnook to give ^ndL p/?Mo his Majefty many rates and duties, to be paid in thefe Colonies. To enforce the obfervance of this Ad, it prefcribes a great number of fevere penalties and f:)rfeitures • and in two fedions makes a remarkable dil Itindtion between the fubjcds in Great-Bri- tain and thofe in America. By the one, the penalties and forfeitures incurred there are to be recovered in any of the King's Courts of Record at U'eprnfier, or in the Court of Ex- chequer in Scotland ; and by the other, the penalties and forfeitures incurred here are to be recovered in any Court of Record, or in any \\ f 46 ) any Court of Admiralty or Vice- Admiralty, at the eleclton of the informer or profcutor. The inhabitants of thefc Colonics confidinij in the jufticc of Grcat-Britain, were fcarccly v\\o\vcdfufficient time to receive and confidcr this Aa, before another, well known by the name of the Stamp A61, and pa/Ted in the fifth year of this reign, cngrolTed their whole at- tention. By this ftatute the Britifli Parliament cxercifed in the moft explicit manner a power oUaxingm, and extending the jurifdicflion of Courts of Admiralty And Fice- Admiralty in the Colonies, to matters arifing within the body of a county, direded the numerous pe- nalties and forfeitures, thereby inflidted, to be recovered in the faid Courts, In the fame year a tax was impofed upon UR, by an Adt, eftablifhing feveral new fees in the cuftoms. In the next year, the Stamp Ad was repealed i not becaufe it was founded in an erroneous principle, but, as the repealing A^ recites, becaufe ** the continuance thereof would be attended with many inconveniencies, and might be pro- dudive of confequences greatly detrimen- tal to the commercial intereft of Great- Britain." In the fame year, and by a fubfequent Aa It was declared, *» that hisMajefty in Parlia- ment, aWNM ■'™»"*|!*!!S^^f ( 47 ) mcnt, of nVht had power to hind the people of thefc CoIoDies by Statutes in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER." In the fame year, another Ad was paflcd. ^rimpofing rates and duties payable in thefc Colonies. In this Statute the Commons avoiding the terms of giving and frrantinir « humbly befought his Majefty thati Si be cnaded. &c." But from a declaration infhe preamble that the rates and duties were "in lieu of feveral otherj granted by the Statute firft ^^^ov^ni^ntion^ for rai^ng a revenue ^nd trom fome other expreffions it appears, that thefc duties were intendedyir that pur pofe., « !? *^ir^ ^TA 7^7>) an Aa was made Ja !r J ^/« Majefty to put the cuftoma and other duties m America under the manage mentofCommiffioiiers, &c." and the Kin? thereupon creded the prefmt expenfivc Board ot Commiffioners, for the exprefs purpofc of carrying into execution the feveral Aaf re- lating to ttic revenue and trade in America, After the repeal of the Stamp- Adl, having again refigned ourfelves to our antient unfu^ picious afFeaions for the parent ftate. and anxious to avoid any controverfy with her. in hopes of a favourable alteration in fenti- ments and mcafures towards us, we did not prcfs ^S ( 48 ) prcfs out objections againft the above-men- tioned Statu ees madefubfcqucnt to that repeal. Adminiflration attributing to trifling caufes, a condudt that really proceeded from generous motives, were encouraged in the fame year (1767) to make a boldtr experiment on the patience of America. By a Statute, commonly called the GLifs^ Paper and fea Act, made fifteen months af- ter the repeal of the Stamp- Act, the Commons of Great-Britain refumert their former lan- guage, and again undertook to '*give and grant rates. and duties to be paid in thefe Colonies," for the exprefs purpole of " mtfing a revenue^ to defray ihe charges of the adminijlration of juftkc, the fupport of civil government, and defending the King's dominions," on this con- tinent. The penalties and forfeitures, in- curred under this Statute, are to be recovered in the fame manner, with thofe mentioned in the foregoing Ads. To this Statute, fo naturally tending to dif- turb the tranquillity then univerlal tJirough- out the Colonies, Parliament, in the fame fciiion, added another no Icfs extraordinary. Ever fince the making the prefent peace, a ftanding army his been kept in thefe Colonies, From refpeafor the mother country,the inno- vation v« ( 49 ) vation was not only tolerated, but the provin- cial Legidatures generally nfiade provifion for fupplying the troops. The Affcmbly of the province of New- York, having paffcd an Aft of this kind, but differing in fome articles, from the di^ regions of the Aft of Parliament made in the Mth year of this reign, the Houfe of Rcpre^ ientatives in that Colony was prohibited by a Statute made in the feffion laft mentioned, from making any bill, order, rcfolution or vote, except for adjourning, or chufing a bpcaker, untd provifion fhould be made by the faid AfTembly for furnifhing the troops within that province, not only with all fuch neceffarics as were required by the Statute 'Which they were charged with dijoheying, but alfo with thofe required by two or othtTjubfequent . btatiites, which were declared to be in force until the twenty-fourth day of March, 1769. Thefe Statutes of the year i y6j revived the apprcfaenaons and diicontents, that had en- tirely iubfided on the repeal of the Stamp ^^; and amidft the juft fears and jealoufics thereby occafioned, a Statute was mide in the next year (1768) to eftablifli Courts c^{ M^ mralty^ixA Vice^ Admiralty o^ anew model, cxprcfsly for t\m end of more effeeiually re- oovcring ih^ penalties ^v^d forfeitures inflided by Acts of Parliament, framed for the pur- pofe Qi raying a revenue in America, 6cc. ^H The i ^} I * ( 5° )• The immediate tendency of thefe ftatutes is, to fubvert the right of having a (hare in legiflation, Isy rendering AiTeqiblies ufelefs > the right of property, by talcing the money of the Colonifts without their confent j the right of trials by jury, by fubftituting in their place trials in Admiralty and Vice- Admiralty Courts, where fingle Judges prefide, holding their Commiflions during pleafure j and un- duly to influence the Courts of Common Law, by rendering the Judges thereof totally dependant on the Crown for their falaries. Thefe ftatutes,not to mention many others exceedingly exceptionable, compared one with another, will be found, not only to form a regu- lar fyftem, in which every part has great force, but alfo a pertinacious adherence to that fyftem for luhjugating thefe Colonies, that are not, and from local circumftances, cannot be re- prcfcnted in the Houfe of Commons, to the uncontroulable and unlimited power of Par- liament, jn violation of their undoubted rights and liberties, in contempt of t/i^.ur humble and repeated fupplications. • ^ This condua muft appear equally aftonifh- ing and unjuftifiable, when it is confidered ,how unprovoked it has been by any behaviour of thefe Colonies. From their firft fettlement, their bittercft enemies never fixed on any of them u charge of dilloyalty to their Sovereign • . , Qr ( 51 ) or dififfeaion to their Mother- Country. In the wars fhe has carried on, they have exerted themfelves whenever required, in giving her afliflance; and have rendered her fervices, which ilie has publicly acknowledged to< be extremely important. Their fidelity, duty and ufefulnefs during the laf> war, were fre« quently and afFedionatcly confefled by his late Majefty and the prefent King. The reproaches of thofe, who are moft un- friendly to the freedom of America, are prin- cipally levelled againft the province of MafTa- chufett's-Bay; but with what little reafon, :will appear by the following declarations of a perfon, the truth of whofe evidence, in their favour, will not be queftioned— -Governor Bernard thus addrefles the two Houfes of Af- fembly, in his fpeech on the 24th of April, I762.— " The unanimity and difpatch, with which you hav£ complied with the requifitions of' his Majejiy, require my particular acknow- ledgement. And it gives me additional plea- fure to obferve, that you have therein adted under no other influence than a due fenfe of your duty, both as members of a general em- pire, and as the body of a particular province.'* In another fpeech on the 27th of May, in the fame year, he fays, — '*• Whatever Ihall be the event of the war, it muft be no fmall fa- tisfadion to us, that this province hath con- tributed its full fhare to the fupport of it. II 3 Every it ': i 11 ( 5« ) 'Avery thing that hath been required of it hatb been cdmplied •witk ; and the execution of the powef-s committed to me, for raifmg the provirtcial tro6|^s hath been as full and cbmjDliete as the grant of them. Never before were regiments fo eafily levied, fo well com^ pojfed, artd fo fcarly irt the field as they have been this year ? the Common ptoplc feemed to be animated with the fpirit of the general Court, and to vie with them in their readi- nefs to ferve the King." "Such was the condud of the People of the Maflfachufett's^Bay, during the laft war. As to their behaViofur before that period, it ought ROt to have been forgot in Great Britain, that iiot only on every occafion they had conftantly and ^hearfuUy complied with the frequent royal requifitions— but that chiefly by their vig6rous efforts, Nova-Scotia wafe fubdued in 1^10, and Louifboug in 1745. Foreign quarrels being ended, c^nd the do- fliefl^ic difturbances^ that quickly fucceededon accountof theStamp-Ary a nature as that of ** writing to the other colonies^ on tbefubjeSi of ** their intended reprefentations againftfome late " ABs of Parliament" then declares that, " his Majefty ccnfiders this ftep as evidently ** tending to create unwarrantable combina- <* tions to excite an unjuftifiable oppolition to ** the conftitutional authority of Parliament," and afterwards adds, — " It is the King's plea- **fure, that as foon as the General Court is ** again aflembled, at the time prefcribed by " the Charter, you fhould require of the Houfe '* of Reprefentatives, in his Majefty's name, ** to refcindxhs. refolution which gave birth " to the circular letter from the Speaker, *' and to declare their difapprobation of, ** and dilfent to that rafli and hafty pro- ** ceeding." " If the new Affembly IhouM refufe to " comply with his Majefty's reafonable ex- *f pedation, it is the King's pleafure that you Jf fliould immediately dilfolve them." I This ( 5S ) This letter being laid before the Houfe, and the refolution not being relcindcd according to the order, the Aflcmbly was diflblved. A letter of a fimilar nature was lent to other Governors to procure rcfolutions approving the condudt of the Reprcfcntatives of Mada- chuflett's-Bay, to be r^tvWtv/ alfo ; and the Houfes of Reprefentatives in other colonies refufing to comply, AfTemblics were diflblved. Thefe manclates fpoke a language to which the ears of English fubjeds had Vor feveral generations been ftrangers. The nature of aflcmblies implies a power and right of deli- beration ; but thefe commands profcribing the exercife of judgment on the propriety of the requifitions made, left to the Aflcmblies only the eledlion between didlated fubmiflion and threatened punifhment : a punifliment too, founded on no other ad, than fuch as is deemed innocent even in flaves— of agreeing in petitions for redrefs of grievances, that equally affeded all. The hoftile and unjuflifiable invafion of the town of Boflon foon followed thefe events in the farpe year ; though that town, the pro- vince in which it is fituated, and all the co- lonies, from abhorrence of a conteft with their parent flate, permitted the execution even of thofe flatutes againft which they fo unani- moufly ( 59 ) rfjoufly were complaining, remoaftrating and fupplicating. • Adminiftration, determined to fubdue a fpirit of freedom, whicli Engli(h Minifters fhouldhave rejoiced to cherifli, entered into a monopolifing combination with the Eafl- India Company, to fend to this Continent vaft quantities of Tea, an article on which a duty was laid by a ftatute, that, in a par- ticular manner, attacked the liberties of America, and which therefore the inhabi- tants of thefe Colonies had refolved not to import. The cargo fent to South-Carolina was ftored, and not allowed to be fold. Thofe fent to Philadelphia and New-York were not permitted to be landed. That fent to Bofton was deftroyed, becaufe Governor Hutchinfon would not fufFer it to be returned. On the intelligence of thefe tranfadions arriving in Great-Britain, the public fpirited town laft mentioned was fingled out for de- ftrudtion, and it was determined, the province it belongs to fhould partake of its fate. In the laft felTion of parliament, therefore, were paffed the ads for (hutting up the port of Bofton, indemnifying the murderers of the inhabitants of Maflachufett's-Bay, and changing their chartered conftitution of government. To inforce thefe ads, that I 2 province ( 6o ) province is again Invaded by a fleet and army. To mention thefe outrageous proceedings, is fufficient to explain them. For the' it is pretended, that the province of Maflachu- I'ett's-Bay has been particularly diirefpedtful to Great-Britain, yet, in truth, the behaviour of the people-, in other colonies, has been an equal ** oppofition to the power affumed " by Parliament." No ftcp however has been taken againft any of the reft. This artful cohdudl conceals feveral dcfigns. It is expefted that the province of Malfachu- fett's-Bay will be irritated-into fome violent adion, that may difpleafe the reft of the Continent, or that may induce the people of Great-Britian to approve the meditated vengeanceof an imprudent and exafperated miniftry. * If the unexampled pacifick temper of that province iLall difappoint this part of the plan, it is hoped the other colonies will be fo far intimidated as to defert their bre- thren, fuffering in a common caufe, and that thus difumted all may be fubdued. To promote thefe defigns, another meafure has been purfued. In the feffion of parlia- ment laft mentioned, an adl was paffed, for changmg the government of Quebec, by which ( 6i ) which act the Roman Catholic rch'glon, in- Itead ot being tolerated, as ftipulated by the treaty of peace, is cftabhau'd ; the people there are deprived of the right to an alTcm- bly, trials by jury and the Engliih laws incivil eaics are abolilhcd. and inflead thereof, the French laws eftabli/hed, in direct violation of his Majefty's promife by his royal proclama^ tion, under the faith of which many Engliih fubjccts fettled in that province : and the limits of that province are extended fo as to comprehend thofe vaft regions, that lie ad- joining to the northernly and weflernly boun- daries of thefc colonies. The authors of this arbitrary arrangement flatter themfelves, that the inhabitants, de- prived of liberty, and artfully provoked againft thofe of another religion, will be pro- per inftruments for affifting in the oppreffion of fuch, as differ from them in modes of go- vernment and faith. ^ From the detail of facts herein before re- cited, as well as from authentic intelligence received, it is clear beyond a doubt, that a refolution is formed and now is carrying into execution, to extinguifh the freedom of thefe colonies, by fubjecting them to a defpotic government. } At ( 62 ) At this unhappy period, we have been authorized and direded to meet and confult together for the welfare of our common coun- try. We accepted the important trutt with diffidence, but have endeavoured to difcharge it with integrity. Though the ftate of thcfe colonies would certainly jiidify other meafures than we have advifed, yet weighty reafons determined us to prefer thofe which we have adopted. Jn the iirrt: place, it appeared to us a condu(5l becoming the character, thefe colo- nies have even fuftained, to perform, even in the midlt of the unnatural diftreffes and im- minent dangers that furround them, every act of loyalty; and therefore,, we were induced to Offer once more to his Majefty the peti- tions of his ftuthful and opprelTed fubjedts in America. Secondly, regarding with the, ten- der affection, which we knew to be fo uni- verfal among our countrymen, the people of the kingdom, from which we derive our ori- ginal, we could not forbear to regulate our fleps by an expectation of receiving full con- viction, that the colonifts are equally dear to them. Between thefe provinces and that body, fubfifts the focial band, which we ardently wilh may never be dilTolved, and which can- not be diffolved, until their minds fhall be- come indijpiitably hoflik, or their inattentim fliall permit thofe who are thus hoftile to per- iifl in profecuting with the powers of the realm .^tes. ' '-"SHSP .rr^w*:' .1 C 63 ) realm, the deftruaive meafures already ope rating againft the colonifts ; and in either cafe, fliall reduce the latter to fuch a fitua- tion, that they fhall be compelled to re- nounce every guard, but that of felf-prefer4 vation Notwithftanding the vehemence with which affairs have been impelled, thev Jiave not yet reached that fatal point. We do .not incline to accelerate their motion already alarmingly rapid ; we have chofen a method of oppofition, that does not preclude a heartvr reconciliation with our fellow-citizens on the otlier fide of the Atlantic. V/e deeply de- plore the urgent neceffity that preffes us to an immediate interruption of commerce, that may prove injurious to them." Wc truft thev will acquit us of any unkind intentions to- wards them, by refleding, that we fubjea: ourfelyes to fimilar inconveniencies ; that wc are driven by the hands of violence into un- experienced and unexpeded public convul- fions, and that we are contending for free- dom, fo often contended for by our anceftors. The people of England will foon have an opportunity ofdeclaring their fentiments con- cerning our caufe. In their piety, generofity ^nd good fenfe, we repofe ^higi. confidence; and cannot, upon a review of paft events be feS tV''"-^^^^"^^^^"^^- -f true religion, and the aiTertors of the rights of mankind. I l'«(€i n 11 iir% n ( 64 ) mankind, will take part againft their affec- tionate proteftant brethren in the colonies, in favourof o«r open and their own Jeer et enemies, whofe intrigues, for feveral years paft, have been wholly cxercifed in Tapping the foun- dations of civil and religious liberty. Another reafon, that engaged us to prefer the commercial mode of oppofition, afoie fi-om an affurance, that this mode will prov6 efficacious, if it be perfifted in with fidelity and virtue; and that your condudl will be influenced by thefe laudable principles, cah- not be queftioned. Your own falvation, and that of your pofterity, now depends upon yourfclves. You have already fhewn that yoil entertain a proper fenfe of the bleflings you are driving to retain. Againfl the temporary inconveniencies you mny inWtv from a flop- page of trade, you will weigh in the oppofit^ balance, the cndlefs miferies you and your defcendants muft endure from an eflablifh^d arbitrary power. You will not forget the ho- nour of your country, that mull from your behaviour take its title in the ertimation of the world, to glory, or to fliame ; and you •will, with the deepeft attention, reficd:, that if the peaceable mode of oppofition reccm- mended by us, be broken and rendered inef- feftual, as your cruel and haughty miniflerial enemies, from acontemptuous opinion of your firmncfs. vj ( 65 ) firmnefs, infolently predift will be the cafe, you muft inevitably be reduced to chufe, ei- ther a more dangerous conteft, or a final, ruinous, qnd infamous fubmiffion. Motives thus cogent, arifing from, the emergency of your unhappy condition, muft !n' 7m ' No. God gave it to you ; and the temporal pow- ers with which you have been and arc con- ne(fted, firmly ftipulated for your enjoyment of it. If laws divine and human, could fe- cure it againft the defpotic caprices of wicked men, it was fccured before. Are the French laws in civil cafes reftorcd ? It fecms fo. But obferve the cautious kindnefs of the mi- mfters who pretend to be ycur benefadors. -The words of the ftatute are, that thofe t** laws (hall be the rule, until they ihall be varied or altered by any ordinances of the Governor and Council." Is the *' certainty and lenity of the criminal law of England, and its benefits and advantages," commended in the faid ftatute, and faid to **have been fenfibly felt by you," fecured to you and your defcendants ? No. They too are fubjedt to arbitrary " alterations" by the Governor and Council J and a power is cxprefsly referved of •* appointing fuch courts of criminal, civil and ecclefiaftical jurifdidtion, as fhall be thought proper." Such is the precarious tenure of mere will, by which you hold your lives and religion. The ( n ) . > It . \ 1 ■ * 9 The Ciown and its Mlnlftcrs arc im- (Towcred, as far as they coufd be by Paf-Jia- rncnf, to efta^Hfti even the Inqui/uionxiidi among you. Have you art A trembly corti- poled of worthy men, elected by yourfclves, and in wholii you can confide, to make laws for yon, to watch over your welfare, and to dire(a in what quantity, and in what manner, yout .money Hiall be taken fron^ you ? No. 'fhe power of making Jaws for ^Qw is lodged in the Governor and Council, all of them dependant upon, and remove- able at the pkafure of a Minifter.-— He/ides, another lite ftatute, mac^e without your confent, has fubje(fted you to the ipipoli- tionsof Exc/fe, the horror of all free Itaics j' 5 they wrefling your property from you by' the nioft odious of taxes, and laying opeh.^jp irifolcnt tax-gatherers, houfes the fcenes of^ domeftic peace and comfort, and called the| caftles of English fnbjeds in the hooks of their laws. And in the very ad for alter- ing your government, and intended to flat- ter you, you ar^ net authorifid to ** aflefs, levy or apply any rates and taxes, hut for the inferior piirpofes of making roads^ and ereding and repa' \ng public buildings, or for other local conveniencies, within your re- fpedive towns and diftrids." Why this de- grading diftinflion ? Ought not the property' L honeftly ( 74 ) honcftly acquired by Canadians to be held as {acred as that of Englijhmcn ? Have not Ca- nadians fenfe enough to attend to any other public affairs, than gathering ftones from one place and piling them up in anoihcr ? Unhappy people ! who are not only injured, but infultcd. Nay more ! — With luch a fuperlative contempt of your underftanding and fpirit has an infolent Minifter prcfumed to think of you, our refpedablc fellow-fub- jcds, according to the information we have received, as firmly to perfuade themfelves that your gratitude, for the injuries and in- fttlts they have recently offered to you, will engage you to t^ke up arms, and render yourlelves the ridicule and deteftation of the world, by becoming tools, in their hands, to afTift them in taking that freedom from wj, which they have treacheroufly denied io you -, the unavoidable confequence of which at- tempt, if fuccefsful, would l?e the extindion of all hopes of you or your pofterity being ever rcftored to freedom : For idiotcy itfelf cannot believe, that, when their drudgery is performed, they will treat you with lefs cruelty than they have us, who arc of the fame blood with themfelves. What would your countryman, the im- mortal Monte/^^ieu, have faid to fuch a plan I of 1.1 . ^ 7S ) of domination, as has been framed for you ? 1 Icar his words, with an intcnfcnefsof thought fuited to the importance of the fubjcQ. — ** In a free ftate, every man, who is fup- pofcd a free agent, ought to be concerned in his own government : 1 herefore the iegijla^ tivc ihould rclide in the whole body of the people, or their reprefentatives." — « The po- Jiiical liberty of the fubjed is a tranquility of mind, arifing from the opinion each per- fon has of his fafety. In order to have this liberty, it is requifite the government be fo conrtituted, as that one man need not be afraid of another. When the power of making laws, and the power of executing them, are united in the fame perfon, or in the fame body of Magiftrates, there can be no liberty ; becaufe apprehenfions may arife, left the fame Monarch or Senate (hould enail tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyran- nical manner," The power of judging (hould be exercifed by perfons taken from the body of the people, at certain times of the year, and purfuant to a form and manner prefcribed by law. ^'bere is no liberty, if the power oi judging be not Jeparated ftom, the legiflative and executive power;;." L 2 ** Military ( 76 ) c** Military nicn belong to a profciriorr, wnich may be ufeful, but is often dangerous." — " The enjoyment of liberty, and even its fupport and prefcrvatlon, con fills in every man's being allowed to fpeak his thoughts, and lay open his fentiments." Apply thefe dccifive maxims, fand:ified by the authority of a name which all Europe reveres, to your own ftate. You have a Go- vernor, it may be urged, vellted with the executive powers, or the powers of r Iminijlrar iion. In him, and in your Council, is lodged the power of making laws. You have yudgcs, who are to decide every caufe afFeding your lives, liberty or property. Here is, indeed, an appearance of the feveral powers being fepa- rated and difiributedmXo dijferent hands, for checks one upon another, the only effedual mode ever invented by the wit of men, to promote their freedom and profperity. But fcorning to be illuded by a tinfeled outfide, and exerting the natural fagacity of French- men, examine the fpecious device, and you- will find it, to ufe an expreflion of holy writ, f*apaintcd fepulchre," for burying your lives, liberty and property. Your yudgeSi and your Legijlative Council, as it is called, are dependant on your Governor y and ' I { 77 ) aod he \% dependant on the fervarit of the Crown in Great 13ritain, The legiflative, executive, and judging pow tT(> are tf//inoved by the nods of a Miniiler. Privileges and immunities laft no longer than his Tmiles. When he frowns, their feeble forms diffolve. Such a treacher- ous ingenuity has been exerted in drawing up the code lately offered you, that every fentence, beginning with a bt^nevolent pre- tenfion, concludes with a deftrudlive powers and the fubftance of the whole, diverted of its fmooth words, is^.-that the Crown and its Miniftcr rtiall be as abfolute throughout your extended province, as the defpo' -,£ Aim or Africa. What can proted your pro- perty from taxing edids, and the rapacity of i^eceffitous and cruel mafters ? your perfons from Letters de Cachet, gaols, dungeons, and qpprelfivefervice? your lives andgeneral liber- ty from arbitrary and unfeeling rulers f We defy you, carting ycur view upon every fide, to difcover a fingle circumftance, prornifmg from,any quarter the fainteft hope of liberty to you or your pofterity, but from an entire adoption into the union of thefe Colonies. What advice would tht truly great man before mentioned, that advocate of freedom ajid humanity, give you, was he now living, and knew that we, your numerous and powerful ( 78 ) powerful neighbours, animated by a juft love of our invaded rights, and united by the in- diflbluble bands of affedtJon and intereft, called upon you, by every obligation of regard for yourfelves and your children, as we now do, to join us in our righteous conteft, to make common caufe with us therein, and take a noble chance for emerging from a humili- ating fubjedion under Governors, Intendants, and Military Tyrants, into the firm rank and condition of Englifh freemen, whofe cuftom it is, derived from their anceftors, to make thofe tremble, who dare to think of making them miferable.'* Would not this be the purport of his ad- drefs ? " Seize the opportunity prefen^ed to you by providence itfelf. You have been con- quered into liberty, if you act as you ought. This work is not of man. You are a fmall people, compared to thofe who Avith open arms invite you into a fellowship. A mo- ment's reflection fliould convince you which will be moft for your intereft and happinei?, to have all the reft of North-America your unalterable friends, or your inveterate ene- mies. The injuries of Bofton have roufed and aftbciated every colony, from Nova-Scotia to Georgia. Your province is the only link wanting to complcat the bright and ftrong chain. I ( 79 ) . chain of union. Nature has joined your country to theirs. Do you join your politi- cal interefts. For their own fakes, they never will defert or betray you. Be affured that the happinefs of a people inevitably de- pends on their liberty, and their fpiri'; to aflcrt it. The value and extent of the ad- vantages tendered to you are immenfe. Hea- ven grant you may not difcover them to bq bleffings after they have bid you an eternal adieu." We are too well acquainted with the li- berality of fentimcnt diftinguifhing your na- tion, to imagine, that difference of religion will prejudice you againft a hearty amity with us. You know, that the tranfcendant na- ture^ of freedom elevates thofe, who unite in the caufe, above all fuch low-minded in- firmities. The Swifs Cantons furni(h a memorable proof of this truth. Their union is compofed of Catholic and Prote- ftant ftates, living in the utmoft concord and peace with one another, and thereby enabled, ever fince they bravely vindicated their freel dc ), to defy and defeat every tyrant that has invaded them. Should there be any among you, as there generally are in all focieties, who prefer the .favours ( 8o ) favours of minirters, and their own interefl-s, to the welflirt- of their country, the tennper df fuch (clfith perlbns wiH render them in- cre^dibly active in. oppofing all public fpirited meafures, from an expcd^ation of b-ing well rewarded for their fordid mduftry, by thei# fuperiors i but we doubt hot you will h6 upon your guard againft fuch men, and not facrifice the liberty and happinefs of the whole Canadian people and their polkrity, to ©ratify the avarice and ambition of indivi- duals. , . •?/ ,«.■<;{ . ' " ■'..,, I We do ijot afk you, by this addreis, t'cy commence a^s of hoftility againft the gd-^ vernment of our common Sovereign. We only invite you to confult your pwn glory and welfare, and not to fuffcr yourfelves to be inveigled or intimidated by infamous mi- nifters fo far, as to become the inftrument. of their cr-uelty and defpotifm, but to unite with us in one fecial compadt, formed on the generous principles of equal liberty, and cemented by fuch an exchange of beneficial and endearing offices as to render it perpe- tual. In order to complete this highly de- fireable union, we fubmit it to your confi- deration, whether it may not be expedient for you to meet t"02;ether in your feveral towns and diftrias, and cled deputies, who afterwards ift ( 8. ) afterwards meeting In a provincial con^^refs, may chufe delegates, to reprefent your pro- vince in the continental Congrefs to be Ijeld at Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May, In this prefent Congrefs, beginning on the 5th of lall month, and continued to this day, it has been with univcrfal pleafure, and an unanimous vote, refolved. That we /hould confider the violation of your rights, by the ad: for altering the government of your pro- vince, as a violation of our own, and that you (hould be invited to accede to our con- federation, which has no other objects than the perfect fecurity of the natural and civil rights of il the conftituent members, ac- cording to their refpective circumftances, and the prefevation of a happy and lafting conedion with Great-Britain, on the falutary and conftitutional principles herein before mentioned. For efFeding thefe purpofes, wc have addrefled an humble and loyal petition to his Majeily, praying relief of our grievan- ces J and have aObciated to flop all importa- tion from Gi'eat Britain and Ireland, after the firft day of December, and all exportatioril to thole kingdoms andthg-Wefl-Indies, after the tenth day of next '^^ptember, unlefs the faid grievances are r .d'-^'ied. M i That tf |.,v. ( 82 ) That Almighty God may incline your minds to approve our equitable and necelTiiry mea- fures, to add yourfelves to us, to put your fate, whenever you fufFer injuries which you are determined to oppofc, not on the fmall influence of your fingic province, h\:x. on the confolidatcd powers of North-America, and may grant to our joint exertions an event as happy as our caufe ?s juft, is the fervent prayer of us, your fincere and affectionate friends and fellow fubjedts. By order of the Congrefs, Henry MiDDELTON,^Prefident. OJlober 26, i774t ilnds mea- your I you fmall n the , and event rvent onate dent. BOOKS printed for J. AI. MON, oppofirc Burlington House, in PiccaDii.lv. Spcelily will he puhlijhcd. TU2 Memorial of the Count dcGiiines, Ambaflador from the Ki:)g ot France to the Court of (ircat IJrifaiiu 1 nnflated Ironi tlie Pans Copy. _ The tenih and eleventh volumes of the Dt-hates and Procerl- Jngs of the IIcuilc of Commons, which complete that Work to the Diirdution of the lall Failiament, on tht firll of Oiitober, 1774, 10s. 6d. in Koards. \* Thofc Noblemen and Gentlemen, who are in poffcTion of any of the former Volumes of this Work, are defired to complete their Sets as foon as poUihle ; becaiife there will be no more detached Volumes fold, when the prelbat iniprelfion IS dilpofed of. '■ Ji'ft puhlljhed. The nine former Volumes of this Colleftion of the Debates and rroceedingoftheHoufe of Commons, from 1742101-/72 • bound 2I. 143. The eleven Volumes neatly bound 'and lettered, 3I, 6s. TheProtefts of the Houfe of Lords, from 1^242 (the firft upon record) to 1772. 2 Vols bound, 13s. 6d. The Debates of the Houfe of Commons of Ireland, in the Years 1763 and 176+. Taken by Sir James Caldwell, Bart, and dedicated, by periniffion, to the Earl of Chatham, 2 Vols, bound, I js. ii The Protelb ST the Lords of Ireland, from i6u (the firft upon record) t» 1770, i Vol. bound 4s. The whoic fixteen Volumes (being all primed in Oaavo) may be had uiuformly bound, handfomely gilt and lettered, five Pounds, or four Guineas and an half, plain— This fet of Books is one of the moft ufeful and proper to be placed in a Gentleman s Library, it being allowed to contain the trueft Hiftory of the prefent Times. There is now, and for f owe Time paft has bsen preparing for the Prefs. ^ An Account of the Debates and Proceedings of the Houfe of l.oi^s from 1 742 ; at which Time, the Colkaion of Debates of Lords and Commons, known by the Name of Chandler's CoUedion, ceafes ; and to which, this CoUedion of Lords and Commons is offered as a Continuation, to the Diflblution m 1774. c*t'r^^ !-^ '^""^ ^"^"'" ^^^" ^"y Account of the Proceedines of the Houle of Lords during this Period, was taken, it is hut^- bly requeued of any Gentleman, who may be in polTefnon of any Speeches, Papers, or other Materials, proper for this Work that he will be fo oblij/ing to rommunicdte them to the i-ubiilher, who will make any Compenfation, if required. BOOKS printed for J. A F. M O N. - ■ An Appeal to the Jufticc rind IntcrcHs of the Pepple of Great Bj-itain, in tlie prefent Difpmes with America. By an Old Member of i^viiiarnent. Is. 6d. A new Eflay on the ConUitution:*! 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A CoUedion of Intereiling Letters from the public Papers, particularly inclttdirig thofe written on the fevcral Changes of Adminiftration, the Taxation of the Colonies, &c. from the AcceiSon of the prefent King to tie End of 1768. Two Volumes, Oftavo, los. 6d. •»* It is an Obfervation in Kennct's '^egifter, which Lofd Soracrs has taken for ' ' ' '^ " "^ motto to his ColMtion of Trafts, is^ef which daily "That the Bent and Genius of the Age is'^efl: known in a *• free Country, by the Pam^ Mets and Papers *« come out." 1 •« » • A Colleaion of interefting Political Trafts ; pubhfhed m London during the lail ten Years, on the moft important fchjects. Eight Volumes Oaavo, two Guineas, half bound and lettered. •^* In this Colleftion are contained, among other valnablo Tra6^s, the Letters on Libels. Lord Somers on Grand Juries;. Trial of Zensv-^r. Principlesof the Changes in 1765. Hillory of the P,(!inonty. Cafe of the Duke of Portland. Trafts on the Nullum Tempus. State of the Nation. 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