out America. We beg leave to recommend mutual prudence and caution, whilst we are opposing, to the utmost of our power, the execution of arbitrary laws and tyrannical government.That it is our duty, and we will religiously observe and carefully adhere to the good and wholesome laws of our own land; afford our aid and assistance to the magistrates thereof, and, to the utmost of our power, maintain and preserve order and government amongst ourselves. Whilst we view with grief and detestation those unnatural enemies of our constitution, from amongst ourselves; those vile anathemas, who from motives selfish or servile, to court arbitrary promotion, or servilely to cringe to despotic sway, are affording their aid and assistance to, and co-operating with, the ministerial tools of arbitrary power; are unworthy of that friendship and esteem which constitutes the bond of social happiness, and ought to be treated with contempt, and a total neglect; whilst we applaud the fortitude of our suffering brethren, and feel ourselves charitably inclined, and have appointed a committee to take in subscriptions for their relief. And judging it expedient, and being desirous of keeping up a mutual correspondence with the towns of this and the neighboring governments,-do appoint Ephraim Root, Esq., Capt. Ebenezer Kingsbury, Doct. John Crocker, Capt. Elias Buell, and Mr. William Wilson, a committee of correspondence, for the purpose aforesaid.

The foregoing is a true copy of record, passed unanimously, and ordered to be entered on the records of the town, and inserted in the New London Gazette.

Attest,

NOAH PORTER, Clerk.

At a meeting of delegates from the towns in the counties of Hartford, New London, and Windham, and part of the county of Litchfield, held at Hartford, on the 15th of September, 1774. William Wolcott, Esq., Chairman; and Capt. Samuel Wyllys, Clerk.

This meeting, taking into their serious consideration the absolute necessity of a non-consumption agreement, being entered into by the consumers, in order to support, and render permanent, such non-importation agreement as shall be recommended

by the General Congress of delegates from all the free British colonies in America, now convened at Philadelphia; and also, that their opinion and resolution thereon hath not been yet fully made known to the delegates from this colony in said Congress :

Do Declare and Resolve, That in case the said General Congress shall recommend a non-importation of British goods only, or of British and West India goods, we will enter into a solemn contract and agreement, not to purchase or consume any article that shall be prohibited by such non-importation agreement, and to use our utmost endeavors to render the same general and effectual; and do hereby make known, that we have in general been assured by the towns we represent, that they will readily accede to, adopt, and religiously observe such non-consumption agreement as aforesaid. And whereas this meeting is informed, that great quantities of English and India goods are ordered by sundry sordid and avaricious men in our neighboring colonies, to be purchased in England, and imported this fall, to give them an unreasonable advantage, and prevent the salutary effects of a non-importation agreement:

Resolved, That such mercenary wretches, whose avarice can seek for gratification in the distress and ruin of their country, are wholly unworthy of our confidence, friendship, or support; and that our non-consumption agreement may be useful to any good purpose, we will not purchase any merchandise of them, or transact any business for them, or suffer them to transact any for us, but will wholly withdraw from them, and leave them to the consolation of possessing, and contemplating the curious monuments of British industry, and American slavery, which they would so greedily amass to themselves, for such sordid, wicked purposes; and shall consider in the same light, and treat in the same manner, every person that shall purchase any such goods of them, or do business for them, or employ them in their business.

Resolved, That the committees of correspondence for the several towns we represent, be desired to make diligent enquiry after the persons who have ordered goods as aforesaid, and inform the next county and colony meeting, of what they may discover, that their names may be published, their conduct exposed, and their persons avoided.

Resolved, That if any merchant, or traders in the towns aforesaid, shall attempt to engross any great or unusual quantity of

goods, with design to forestall and elude a non-importation agreement, we will find ways and means, without violating his private rights, to defeat his views, and make him sensible that virtue and public spirit will be more for his interest than low selfishness and avarice can be. These measures, dictated by necessity, we enter upon for the preservation of our liberties which we have received from our Creator, and may not resign, or suffer to be ravished from us; at the same time, it is the warmest wish of our hearts, that the wisdom and equity of the British Parliament may relieve us from our fears and dangers, and that we may once more and forever, look up to our parent country with confidence and pleasure, and secure our own rights, contribute all in our power to promote the honor, interest, and happiness of our elder brethren in Great Britain. And,

Whereas we cannot yet be advised what measures the General Congress will recommend, and therefore are at present unable to adjust the particulars of a non-consumption agreement, we think it may be of use to the merchants and traders in the aforesaid towns, to be made acquainted with our resolutions aforesaid, and that we determine in proper time to carry them into execution.

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the committee of correspondence, for the town of Hartford, for their care and attention to the interest of the public in calling this meeting; and that they be desired to call a colony meeting at a suitable time and place, to finish the business now begun and entered upon, taking the advice of the committees of correspondence for the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Middletown therein.

The inhabitants of many towns in the colony, viz. :-Plainfield, East Haddam, Enfield, Bolton, Stonington, Colchester, Haddam, Ashford, Tolland, Coventry, and others, held similar meetings, and passed patriotic resolves in favor of sustaining Massachusetts, in her oppressed situation by the crown.

CONNECTICUT, and the CAMPAIGN OF 1776.

THE campaign of 1776, was one of the most interesting periods of the revolutionary war. It commenced under the most prosperous and favorable circumstances to the American cause, and was full of extraordinary and exciting incidents. The successful resistance made to the arms of Great Britain in 1775; the high reputation which the Bunker Hill battle had given to the American militia, and the final expulsion of the British from Boston, had raised the highest expectations of success among the American people-who had gained from the past more confidence than wisdom, and had vainly thought the contest nearly at an end, when it was scarcely begun. The British, on the other hand, had profited by the experience of the last, and were making the most extensive and thorough preparations for the ensuing campaign. At this critical juncture of the war of the revolution, no colony was more deeply interested in the result than Connecticut, and none better prepared for the emergency. The people of this colony had for more than a century, enjoyed one of the most beneficent colonial governments that ever fell to the lot of the subjects of a monarchical government. They had literally governed themselves, although nominally subject to the crown of Great Britain. Notwithstanding their extraordinary privileges, no colony stepped forth with more alacrity to the aid of the oppressed people of Massachusetts than Connecticut; and none exhibited more sympathy or poured forth their blood and treasure more freely in the onset. In the campaign of 1775, she sent forth her thousands to the aid of Massachusetts; and not only this, but she was the first to commence offensive operations against Great Britain. Her citizens, unaided by any other colony, had conquered the forts on Lake Champlain, captured the garrisons, and secured the prisoners and munitions of war in Connecticut. She had also been the first to rally in sustaining the cause of the revolution in the commercial city of New York, where she had sent her militia under Gen. Wooster, in the summer of 1775. Again in the autumn

of the same year, her citizens had destroyed one of the most offensive royal presses in the colonies; and finally, by the advice of Gen. Washington, Connecticut had raised a force, which, commanded by Gen. Lee, had wrested New York from the royal authority early in 1776. The last movement was not graciously received by the committee of safety of New York, who exercised the powers of government during the recess of the Provincial Congress of New York. The Connecticut forces were met on the frontier by the committee of safety, who earnestly entreated Gen. Lee, and his little army, to pause on the borders of Connecticut; but the heroic Connecticut forces were not dissuaded from their patriotic enterprise by the timid and vacillating policy of the New York committee, but marched into the city, and for the first time planted the standard of liberty, independence, and resistance to British oppression in that city, which has since become the commercial emporium of this great republic. It is an historical fact, that there was not sufficient patriotism or energy in the city of New York, in 1776, although having the glorious example of Boston before them, to acheive their own independence, and establish a government of their own choice; but for their first emancipation from the thraldom of the British government, the citizens of New York were indebted to the generous sympathy of the hardy yeomen of Connecticut. The patriotic band from Connecticut maintained their position in New York until the arrival of the American army, under Washington, in the beginning of April, 76. The design of the British during this campaign, proved to be, the possession of New York. A part of their fleet, from Halifax, arrived off Sandy Hook, on the 23d of June; the remainder followed within a week, and Gen. Howe established his head quarters at Staten Island.

On the 8th of August, Gen. Washington states that for the several posts on New York, Long Island, Governor's Island, and Paulus Hook, he had but 13,557 effective men. His nominal force was somewhat larger.

Opposed to him was the entire British force, concentrated at Sandy Hook, consisting, by the middle of August, of more than 24,000 men, combined with a fleet of more than 130 vessels. Subsequently, the American army was augmented by fourteen regiments of militia, from Connecticut, comprising from nine