The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1774-10-24 00:00:00, page 3

BOSTON, (Monday) oftober 17.
On Tuesday the 11 th instant, the PROVINCIAL
CONGRESS met at Concord, when the Hon.
JOHN HANCOCK, Esq ; was chosen Presi
dent, and BENJAMIN LINCOLN, Esq ; Se
cretary.
Friday last, the following message was presented
to his Excellency the Governor, viz.
In Provincial Congress, Thursday, Oftober 13, 1774
ORDERED , That Col. Leg, Hon. Col. Ward,
Col. Orne, Capt. Gardner, Henry Gardner, Esq; Mr.
Devins, Mr. Graham, Capt. Browne, Col. Pomeroy,
Hon; Col. Prefcot, Col. Thayer, Mr. Williams, Capt.
Heath, Capt. Upham, Mr. Barnes, Capt. Doolittle, ■
Mr. Lothrop, Maj. Thomson, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pick
ering, and Capt. Thompson, be a Committee to wait
on his Excel'ency with the following Message.
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
May it pleafeyour Excellency,
TAE Delegates from the several towns in the
province of Maffachufets-Bay, having con
vened in General Congress, beg leave to address
your Excellency: The miserable state of the pro
vince, occasioned by the intolerable grievances and
oppreflions to which this people are fubjefted, and
the danger and deftruftion to which they are ex
posed, of which your Excellency must be sensible,
and the want of a General Assembly have rendered
it indispensably necessary to colleft the wisdom of
the province by their Delegates in this Congress, to
concert some adequate remedy for preventing im
pending ruin, and providing for the public fafety.
It is with the utmost concern, we fee your hostile
preparations, which have spread such an alarm
through this province and the whole continent, as
'threatens to involve us in all the cqnfufton and hor
rors of a civil war; and while we contemplate an
event so deeply to be regretted by every good man,
it must occasion the surprise and aftonilhment of all
mankind, that such measures are pursued again!!
a people whose love of order, attachment to Bri
tain, and loyalty to their prince, have been exem
plary,
Your Excellency must be sensible, that the foie
end of government, is the prote&ion and security
of the people; whenever therefore, that power
which was originally instituted to effeft these im
portant and valuable purposes, is employed to har
rafs distress or enslave the people, in this case, it
becomes a curse, rather than a blessing. The most
painful apprehensions are excited in our minds by
the measures now pursuing, the vigorous executi
on of the Port Bill with improved severity, must
eventually reduce the capital and its numerous de
pendancies to a state of poverty and ruin: The afts
for altering the charter, and administering justice
in the Colonyt are manifeftly designed to abridge
this people of their rights, and to licentiate mur
d rs; and if carried into execution, will reduce
them to a state Of slavery: The number of troops
in the capital encreafing by daily accessions drawn
from the whole continent, together with the for
midable and hostile preparations which you are now
makiag on Boston neck, in our opinion greatly en
danger the lives, liberties and properties, not only
of our brethren in the town of Boston, but of this
province in general. Permit us to afle your Excel
lency ! Whether an inattentive and unconcerned
acquiesce to such alarming, such menacing mea
sures, would not evidence a state of infinity; or
whether the delaying to take every joffible precau
tim for the security of the province, would not be
a most criminal negleft in a people heretofore rigidly
tenacious of their constitutional rights.
Penetrated with the most poignant concern, and
solicitous to preserve union and harmony between
Great-Britain and the Colonies, so indispensably
necessary to the well being of both, we entreat your
Excellency to remove that brand of contention the
fortrefs at the entrance of Boston : We are much
concerned that you Ihould have^ been induced to
conftruft it, and thereby caufelefsly excite such a
spirit of resentment and indignation as now ge
rally prevails We assure you, Sir, that the good
people of this colony, never have had the least in
tention to do any injury to his Majcfty’s troops ; but
on the contrary, most earnestly defirc that every ob
stacle to treating them as fellow-fubj efts may be
immediately removed, and are constrained to tell
your excellency, that the minds of the people will
never be relieved till those hostile works are demo-
Lihed: And we request as you regard his Majesty’s
honour and interest, the dignity and happiness of
the empire, and the peace aad welfare of this pro
vince, that you immediately desist from the fortrefs
now conftrufting at thefouth entrance into the town
of Boston, and restore thepafs to its natural state.
In Provincial Congrejs at Concord, Oft. 14, 1774.
RESOLVED, That the several Constables and
Colleftors of Taxes throughout the Province, who
have, or fttall have any monies in their hands, collect
ed on province assessments, be advised not to pay the
fame, or any part thereof, to the Hon. Harrison Gray,
Esq; but that such- Constables and Collectors, as
*Ub such Conftablcs and Collectors as have or (hall
have any county monies in their hands, take and ob
serve such orders and directions touching the fame,
as Ihall be given them by the several towns and dis
tricts by whom they were chosen. And that the She
riffs and Deputy Sheriffs of the several Counties in
the Province, who have in their hands any province
monies, be also advised not to pay the fame to the
said Harrison Gray, Esq : but that they retain the
fame in their hands refpeftively, until further advise
of a Provincial Congress or order from a constituti
onal Assembly of this Province. And that the pre
sent Assessors of the several towns and diftrifts in the
province be advised to proceed to make assessments
es the tax granted by the Great and General Court
of the province at their last May session, and that such
assessments be duly paid by the persons affefled, to
• such person or persons as Ihall be ordered by the laid
towns and diftrifts refpeftively. And the Congress
strongly recommend the payment of the tax accord
ingly.
Gentlemen,
THE previous menaces daily thrown out and the un
usual warlike preparations throughout the country,
made it an aft of duty in me to pursue the measures I
have taken in confrufting what you call a fortrefs, which
unless annoyed, will annoy no body. It is surely highly
exasperating, as well as ungenerous even to hint that the
lives, liberties, or properties of any persons except avowed
enemies are in danger from Britons ; Britain can never
harbour the black design of wantonly defraying or enfta
ving any people on earth ; and notwithstanding the enmity
Jhewn. the king’s troops, by withholding from them al
mof every necessary for theirprefervation, they have not
as yet difeovered the refeniment which might jufly be ex
po ft ed to arise from such hostile treatment.
No person can be more solicitous than myfelf, to preserve
union and harmony between Great-Britain and her colo
nies, and I ardently wish to contribute to the completion
of a work so salutary to both countries : But an open and
avowed disobedience to dll her authority, is only bidding
defiance to the mother country, and gives little hopes of
bringing a spirited nation to that favourable disposition,
which a more decent and dutiful conduft might effeft.
Whilftyou complain of afts of parliament that make
alterations inyourcharter, and put you, infome degree, on
the fame footing with many other provinces, you will not
forget that by your pref ent assembling, you are yourselves
subverting that charter, and now afting in direst violation
of your own constitution. It it my duty therefore howe
ver irregular your application is, to warn you of the rock
you are upon, and to require you to desist from such illegal
and unconftitutionalproceedings. T. GAGE.
Province-House, Oftober t^th, 1774.
Last Wtek the Rev. Dr. Langdon of Portfinouth was
inftailedprefident of Harvard-College in Cambridge ; he
having accepted the invitation of the corporation to dis
charge the duties of that important office.
GRAND AMERICAN CONGRESS.
PHILADELPHIA, 1774.
In Congress, Saturday Oftober 8, 1774.
RESOLVED, that the Congress approve of the
opposition, by the inhabitants of the Mafla
chufetts-Bay, to the execution of the late afts of Par
liament, and if the fame Ihall be attempted to be
carried into execution by force, that in such case all
America ought to support them in their opposition.
In Congress, Monday, Oftober 10, 1774.
RESOLVED, unanimously, That it is the opinion
of this body, that the removal of the people of Bos
ton into the country, would be not only extremely
difficult in the execution, but so important in its
consequences as to acquire the utmost deliberation
before it is adopted; but in case the Provincial Meet
ing of that Colony Ihall judge it absolutely necessary,
it is the opinion of the Congress, that all America
ought to contribute towards recompensing them for
the injury they may thereby sustain, and it will be
recommended accordingly.
In Congriss, Monday Oftober 10, 1774.
RESOLVED, That every person, or persons,
whatsoever, wh® Ihall take, accept, or aft under any
commission or authority in any wife derived from the
Aft of Parliament, passed last Session, changing the
form of Government, and violating the charter of
the province of Massachusetts-Bay, ought to be held
in detestation and abhorrence by all good men, and
considered as the wicked tools of that despotism,
which is preparing to destroy those rights which God,
Nature, and Compaft have given to America.
In Congress, Tuefda , Ofto't , 11, 1774.
As the Congress has given Geneial Gage an as
surance of the peaceable disposition of the people of
Boston, and the Maffachufetts-Eay,
RESOLVED, unanimously, That they be advised
A true Extraft from the Minutes,
BENJAMIN LINCOLN, Sec’ry.
(There were above 260 Members present at the
Provincial Congress when the foregoing Message
passed, with only one diffentient.
The Provincial Congress adjourned from Concord
on Friday last, to this Day, to meet at Cambridge.)
B O S T Q N, (Tburfday) Oftober 20.
On Monday last, his Excellency gave the following An
swer to the Address of the provincial Congress, vix.
To Col. Lee, &c.
still to condudl themfelvcs peaceably towards his Ex
cellency General Gage, “and his Majesty’s troops, •
now stationed in the town of Boston, as far as can
possibly be consistent with their immediate fafety,
and the security of the town, avoiding and difeoun
tenancing every violation of his Majesty’s property,
or any insult on his troops, and that they peaceably
and firmly persevere in the line they are now con
dufting themselves, cn the defenfive.
In Congress, Tuesday Oftober 11, 1774.
RESOLVED, That the Congress recommend to
the inhabitants of the colony of Massachusetts-Bay,
to submit to a suspension of the administration of
justice, where it cannot be procured in a legal and
peaceable manner, under the rules of the present
charter and laws of the colony founded thereon, un
til the effe6l of their application for a repeal of the aft
by which their charter rights are infringed, is known.
N E W - Y O R K, (Thursday) Oft. 20.
We have authority to assure the public, that the
reports which have been circulated refpedting a
neighbouring Governor’s having wrote to the mi
nistry, recommending certain hostile measures against
America, are without any just foundation.
Extraft of a lettter from England, July 26.
“ The great men in London seem quite alhamed
of their violent measures with Boston. Be firm, my
Friends, and true to one another, and the Americans
will gain a complete and an important viftory.
A Non importation agreement is the only engine in
your power : The only adAifable step you can take.
That would affeft the manufafturers, and make your
concerns theirs.
Extraft of a paragraph of a letter from a Gentle
man in London, to his friend in this city.
“ In reply to your paragraph refpefting the con
duft of Philadelphia, and your city, in regard to
the tea Ihips ; I have not heard that administration
has call the least reflection on either of the above
mentioned provinces, or their conduft therein. Bos
ton is the present objefts of their resentment, and.
Ihould they succeed therein, every other province
will have their resentment in course, as opportunity
offers.”
NEW-HAVEN, Oftober 21.
Colony of Connefticut, Oftober 20, 1774.
In the House of Representatives,
Resolved unanimously,
r pHAT Contributions from alljhe towns in this co
lony for supplying the necessities, and allevi
ating the distresses of our brethren at Boston, ought
to be continued in such manner and so long as theij
occasions may require.
Test. Rich’d Law, Clerk.
HARTFORD, Oftober 24.
Wednesday last arrived at New-London from
Turks-Island, Capt. Isaac Seymour of this Place.
A few Days before he arrived, died on board, Mr.
James Caldwell, jun. Son of Capt. James
Caldwell, of this Town.
LOST, about three weeks iince, between Hart
ford and Middletown, a pair of long SADDLE
BAGS. Whoever has found the fame, and return
them to the printing-office in Hartford, ihall be
handsomely rewarded, by
'pAKES this Method to return his sincere Thanks
to all his Friends and Customers for their past
Favours since he came to this Town—and to ac
quaint them he has just received, and now has ready
for Sale at his Shop kept at Madam Sarah Edwards*
a little Eastward of the Court-House in Hartford:
A new and frefli Supply of
Englilh, India, and Scotch GOODS, both for Gen
tlexien and Ladies, suitable for the Season, which
Particulars are too tedious to name—Amongst which
is a good Assortment of Irilh Linnens, and Checks,
Nails and Glass, choice Tea, Coffee, Chocolate,
Indigo, Pepper, Allspice, Whalebone, &c. &c. &c.
All which he is determined to fell very cheap for
Calh : but no Abatement made on the Prices alked.
Likewise, choice Coffee to be fold by the Quantity
as cheap as in York or elsewhere.
CASH given for FLAX-FEED.
HORSEMANSHIP.
BY Christophir H. Gardner the original
Americanßiderwho will performon one & two 1
horses, equal to any thing of the kind ever perform
ed in this country, this present Tuesday.—Tickets
at a quarter of a dollar to be had at Mr. David Bull’s
tavern, no persons will be admitted without tickets
had before 1 o’clock, as heme n t mjunt prcc’dely
at that time.
Hartford, Oftober, 24th, 1774.
To be Soldai the Printing-Oppce in Hartford,
CONSIDERATIONS on the Measures carrying
on by Great-Britain, against the Colonies in
North-America. This excellent Pamphlet which
was firft publilhed in England, and fold for One
Shiling and Six-Pence Sterling, may now be had at
the moderate Price of One Peftcreen.
SAMUEL WESCOTE,
Edward Dod, jun.