oppofition to thofe Acts. In confequence of these fentiments, they have appointed us the guardians of their rights and liberties, and we are under the deepest concern, that, whilft we are purfüing every dutiful and peaceable measure to procure a cordial and effectual reconciliation between Great Britain and the Colonies, your Excellency fhould proceed in a manner that bears fo hoftile an appearance, and which even thofe oppreffive Acts do not warrant. We entreat your Excellency to confider, what tendency this conduct must have to irritate and force a people, however well difpofed to peaceable meafures, into hoftilities, which may prevent the endeavours of this Congrefs to reftore a good understanding with a Parent State, and may involve us in the horrors of a civil war.

"In order therefore to quiet the minds, and remove the reasonable jealoufies of the people, that they may not be driven to a state of defperation, being fully perfuaded of their pacific difpofition towards the King's troops, could they be affured of their own fafety; we hope, Sir, you will difcontinue the fortifications in and about Bofton, prevent any further invafions of private property, reftrain the irregularities of the foldiers, and give orders that the communications between the town. and country may be open, unmolefted, and free.

"Signed, by order and in behalf of the General Congrefs,

PEYTON RANDOLPH, President.”:

The

The rights of America being thus afferted, and her grievances enumerated, for the maintenance of the one, and the more effectual redress of the other, the Congress judged it expedient to form a non-importation, non-confumption, and non-exportation agreement, in the fubfequent terms.

NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT.

WE, his Majefty's moft loyal subjects, the Delegates of the feveral Colonies of New-Hampfhire, Maffachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Ifland, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, the three Lower Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Suffex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, deputed to represent them in a Continental Congrefs, held in the city of Philadelphia, on the fifth day of September, 1774, avowing our allegiance to his Majefty, our affection and regard for our fellow-fubjects in Great-Britain and elsewhere, affected with the deepest anxiety, and moft alarming apprehenfions at thofe grievances and diftreffes with which his Majefty's American fub.: jects are oppreffed, and having taken under our moft ferious deliberation the ftate of the whole Continent, find, that the prefent unhappy fituation of our affairs is occafioned by a ruinous fyftem of Colony Administration adopted by the British Miniftry about the year 1763, evidently calculated for enflaving thefe Colonies, and, with them, the British Empire.. In profecution of which fyftem, various Acts of Parliament have been paffed for raifing a revenue in America, for depriving the American fubjects, in many inftances, of the conftitutional trial by jury, expofing their lives to danger, by directing a new and illegal trial beyond the feas, for crimes alledged: to have been committed in America; and in profe

cution of the fame fyftem, feveral late, cruel and oppreffive Acts have been paffed refpecting the town of Boston and the Maffachusetts-Bay, and also an Act for extending the province of Quebec, fo as to border on the western frontiers of thefe Colonies, establishing an arbitrary government therein, and difcouraging the fettlement of British subjects in that wide extended country; thus by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices to difpofe the inhabitants to act with hoftility against the free Proteftant Colonies, whenever a wicked Miniftry fhall chufe fo to direct them,

To obtain redress of these grievances, which threaten destruction to the lives, liberty, and property of his Majefty's fubjects in North-America, we are of opinion, that a non-importation, non-confumption, and non-exportation agreement, faithfully adhered to, will prove the most speedy, effectual, and peaceable measure and therefore we do, for ourfelves and the inhabitants of the feveral Colonies whom we reprefent, firmly agree and affociate under the facred ties of virtue, honour, and love of our country, as follows:

I. That from and after the first day of December next, we will not import into British America, from Great-Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares, or merchandize whatsoever, or from any other place any fuch goods, wares, or merchandize, as thall have been exported from Great-Britain or Ireland; nor will we, after that day, import any EastIndia tea from any part of the world; nor any molaffes, fyrups, paneles, coffee, or piemento, from the British plantations, or from Dominica; nor wines from Madeira, or the Western Islands ; nor foreign indigo.

II. That we will neither import, nor purchase any flave imported, after the first day of December next; after which time, we will wholly difcontinue the flave trade, and will neither be concerned in it

ourfelves,

ourfelves, nor will we hire our veffels, nor fell our commodities or manufactures to thofe who are concerned in it.

III. As a non-confumption agreement, ftrictly adhered to, will be an effectual fecurity for the observation of the non-importation, we, as above, falemnly agree and affociate, that, from this day, we will not purchase or ufe any tea imported on account of the East-India Company, or any on which a duty hath been or fhall be paid; and from and after the first day of March next, we will not purchafe or use any Eaft-India tea whatever; nor will we, nor fhall any perfon for or under us, purchafe or use any of those goods, wares, or merchandize, we have agreed not to import, which we fhall know, or have caufe to fufpect, were imported after the first day of December, except fuch as come under the rules and directions of the tenth article herein after mentioned.

IV. The earnest defire we have not to injure our fellow-fubjects in Great-Britain, Ireland, or the Weft-Indies, induces us to fufpend a non-importation, until the tenth day of September 1775; at which time, if the faid Acts and parts of Acts of the British Parliament herein after mentioned are not repealed, we will not, directly or indirectly, export any merchandize or commodity whatfoever to GreatBritain, Ireland, or the West-Indies, except rice to Europe.

V. Such as are merchants and use the British and Irish trade, will give orders, as foon as poffible, to their factors, agents, and correfpondents, in GreatBritain and Ireland, not to fhip any goods to them, on any pretence whatfoever, as they cannot be received in America; and if any merchant, refiding in Great-Britain or Ireland, fhall directly or indirectly fhip any goods, wares, or merchandize, for America, in order to break the faid non-importation agreement, or in any manner contravene the fame,

on fuch unworthy conduct being well attefted, it ought to be made public; and, on the fame being fo done, we will not from thenceforth have any commercial connection with fuch merchant.

VI. That fuch as are owners of veffels will give pofitive orders to their Captains or Mafters, not to receive on board their veffels any goods prohibited by the faid non-importation agreement, on pain of immediate difmiffion from their fervice.

VII. We will use our utmost endeavours to improve the breed of fheep and increase their number to the greatest extent; and to that end, we will kill them as fparing as may be, efpecially thofe of the moft profitable kind; nor will we export any to the Weft-Indies or elsewhere: and those of us who are or may become over-ftocked with, or can conveniently fpare any fheep, will difpose of them to our neighbours, efpecially to the poorer fort, on moderate terms.

VIII. That we will in our feveral ftations encourage frugality, economy, and industry; and promote agriculture, arts, and the manufactures of this country, efpécially that of wool: and will difcountenance and difcourage every fpecies of extravagance and diffipation, efpecially all horfe-racing, and all kinds of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibitions of fhews, plays, and other expenfive diverfions and entertainments. And on the death of any relation or friend, none of us, or any of our families will go into any further mourning drefs, than a black crape or ribband on the arm or hat for gentlemen, and a black ribband and necklace for ladies, and we will difcontinue the giving of gloves and scarfs at funerals.

IX. That fuch as are venders of goods or merchandize will not take advantage of the fcarcity of goods that may be occafioned by this affociation, but will fell the fame at the rates we have been refpectively accustomed to do, for twelve months laft paft.

And