view to insult Majesty, and widen the breach between this and the parent state, and even to dare the vengeance of the Supreme Authority of the British Empire in America, which, without some immediate, powerful interposition, will, it is to be feared, be felo de se. The writer of the foregoing (according to a letter of Gen' Gage of the 20 Sept. 1774) was afterwards obliged by the mobs to make the following concessions. 菌 1 That the three late Acts of parliament are unconstitutional. 2dly That it is just the people should use all suitable means to oppose the same. - 3dly That I shall neither directly, nor indirectly countenance the taking place of said Acts. 4thly That I never have nor will use any means to disunite the people in pursuing all salutary measures to retain our ancient rights and privileges. LORD DARTMOUTH TO GAGE. (Separate & Secret.) 17 October 1774 SIR, In the present moment every circumstance of intelligence respecting what passes in America is of importance and information, which at any other time, would be thought of no consequence, deserves attention. I am told that Mr Lee, a major upon half pay with the rank of Lieu Colonel, has lately appeared at Boston, that he associates only with the enemies of government, that he encourages the discontents of the people by harangues and publications, and even advises to arms. This gentleman's general character cannot be unknown to you, and therefore, it will be very proper, that you should have attention to his conduct, and take every legal method to prevent his effecting any of those dangerous purposes, he is said to have in view. I am &c ARTICLES EXTRACTED-ME AGENT (MASS) DE BERDT'S ACCOUNTS. SECY OFFICE MASS" 1774 To publishing 500 Appeals to the World To publishing 500 Extracts of a letter & Remarks Copying Assembly's Letters to Noblemen & Gentlemen Presents to Doorkeepers, Messengers of the Council Chamber, messengers of Lords & Commons, Board of Trade & Secretary of State's offices, Noblemens Servants Newspapers, Pamphlets. General Retaining fee to the Clerks of the House of Commons to be immediately informed when any affairs of importance come before the House respecting America. Transmitted in Gen. Gage's letter of 26 June 1774, because they appeared to him extraordinary. PAPERS RELATING TO VIRGINIA. (Notes of G. Chalmers.) 24th May 1774 the House ordered the 1st day of June, when the Harbour of Boston, which is now hostilely invaded, will be shut up, be kept as a day of fasting and humiliation to avert the heavy calamity, which threatens destruction to our civil rights, and the evils of civil war, and to give them one heart and mind, firmly to oppose, by all just and proper measures, every injury to American rights. 29 May 1774 Lord Dunmore wrote Lord Dartmouth (rec'd 4th July 1774)" the Assembly met on the 5th of May 1774 and a few days thereafter an account arrived of the Act of Parliament for blocking the Port of Boston, which had induced the Burgesses again to declare, what they are fond of having it thought always originates with them, a determined resolution to deny and oppose the authority of Parliament. Accordingly, R. Carter Nicholas, the Treasurer, made motion for the order that passed for a public fast in order to prepare the minds of the people for other resolutions, to inflame the whole country, and instigate the people to acts, that might raise the indignation of the Mother Country." "In order to prevent the bad effects, I have dissolved the Assembly by the unanimous advice of the Council and shall not call another, till I receive the King's orders." He had heard that this was a hasty measure and disapproved by the wiser members. 27 May 1774. After the dissolution, 89 Burgesses entered into an association that an attack on any of their Sister colonies to compel submission to arbitrary taxes is an attack on all British America that the shutting up the Port of Boston is a most dangerous attempt to destroy the constitutional rights of all North America. That they will consume no East India goods till American grievances are redressed. And they appointed a committee of correspondence in order to consider the expedience of a congress to meet annually to deliberate on general measures for the general interests of America. 6 July 1774. Lord Dartmouth wrote Lord Dunmore To grant no back lands. To maintain the Jurisdiction on the Ohio & not to encourage settlements there. The information contained in your letter of May last of what passed in Virginia in consequence of the measures pursued in Parliament, respecting the Town of Boston has given me the greatest concern. There was reason to hope, from appearances in the other Colonies, that the extravagant proposition of the people of Boston would have been everywhere disregarded. But it may now be well doubted, whether the extraordinary conduct of the Burgesses of Virginia, both before and after their dissolution as a House, may not become (as it has already become in other instances) an example to the other Colonies. In this view of what has passed, and under the many aggravating circumstances stated in the papers your Lordship has transmitted, it will become my duty to lose no time in Consulting with the rest of the Kings Servants what advice it shall be proper to give his Majesty thereupon approved highly of his lordships conduct on that Occasion. The Conduct of Col: Cresap who had Murdered an Indian to be inquired into. Did not know that Cresap lived in Maryland. 6 June 1774. Lord Dunmore wrote to Lord Dlls After the dissolution of the assembly and before the Burgesses had left Williamsburgh, there arrived an express from Boston to the Committee of Correspondence hereas had been done to other Colonies-to excite them to shut up the Courts of Justice agt English Creditors to join in an association agt Imports & Even Exports - and proposing a Congress of Deputies from all the Colonies forthwith. Unable to suggest what lengths the people will go. The Burgesses immediately called together the Inhabitants of Williamsburgh who adopted all those violent Measures and Summoned a Convention to Consist of the late dissolved Burgesses to meet 1st Augt. next. [Printed paper inclosed, consisting of the Annapolis resolves of the 25 May 1774-& the vote of the Town of Boston of the 13 May -that if all the Colonies join &c.] The printer says, that the Speaker expressed an earnest desire to have the Transactions of the different Colonies transmitted to the late Burgesses as speedily as possible. This done by a printed hand-bill, which states that many Private letters from principal gentlemen at home - bold & spirited - which Conjure the people to persist in defence of their liberties, as their Conduct will afford a precedent to future ages they inform us of many secret transactions going forward in England against & warn of the Consequences shall publish these in the next paper. But gave the conclusion of one letter of a disinterested Englishman: "after the subjection of Boston & perhaps all the N. England governments, N. Jersey & N. York are to be the next in course, and they talk of taking away Pens charter. Look to yourselves; exert all your faculties to the utmost; your virtues will be put to a severe trial, and if they are not genuine & well founded they will not stand the test. Alas! how is my soul shocked at the present situation of England, my native country, a great, a generous, & a late happy people, but now how changed, how fallen! The men who are really wise and good deprived of all opportunities of acting; the poor and middling people ruined and oppressed; the rich lost in luxury & dissipation; a set of weak & wicked men misguiding the reins of Government; the people taxed to death without mercy; place-men & pensioners without number, &c." 8 Sept. 1774. Lord D. wrote to Lord D. of his information that the Cause of the Indian war was the encroachments of the Virgs on their lands: That Connolly had presumed to rebuild Fort Pitt, which had been dismantled by the Kings express order. States the various treaties with the Indians since 1763 -& the orders given for their Protection, but in vain — |