deeply feels the fufferings of their countrymen in the Massachusetts, under the operation of the late unjust, cruel, and oppreffive Acts of the British Parliament; that they most thoroughly approve the wisdom and fortitude with which their oppofition to those measures has been conducted, and they trust that the united efforts of America in their behalf will carry conviction to the British nation of the unwife, unjust, and ruinous policy of the present Administration. But if the late Acts of Parliament shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in such case all America ought to support the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay in their oppofition. The Congress also published a Declaration of Rights, to which they conceived themselves entitled by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English Constitution, and their several charters or compacts. After a specification of these rights, and an enumeration of the recent violations of them, they mention, that, in hopes of being restored to that state in which both countries formerly found happiness and prosperity, they have for the present only refolved to pursue the following peaceable measures, viz. to enter into a non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation agreement; and to prepare an address to the people of Great Britain, a memorial to the inhabitants of British America, and a loyal and humble petition to his Majesty. All thefe

these different addresses and declarations were drawn up with great ability, prudence, and moderation. They call upon the people of Great Britain to witness their loyalty and attachment to the common interests of the empire; they appeal to their own acknowledgment of this truth, manifested by the reimbursement of large fums of money which they had advanced during the late war, with zeal far beyond their proportional ability. They then proceed to state and examine the meafures of Government, and the Acts of the British Parliament, which they confider as hoftile to America. They adduce strong arguments to shew that the final success of the ministerial plans would in the end be as fatal to the liberties of Britain as to those of America. "Place us," say they, " in the same situation that we were in at the close of the last war, and our former harmony will be restored." In the memorial to the inhabitants of British America, they deeply deplore the neceffity which pressed them to an immediate interruption of commerce, and apologize by saying, "We are driven by the hands of violence into unexperienced and unexpected public convulfions, and are contending for freedom so often contended for by our anceftors." Towards the close they have these words: "We think ourselves bound in duty to observe to you, that the schemes agitated against these Colo nies have been so conducted as to render it prudent that that you should extend your views to the most unhappy events, and be in all respects prepared for every contingency.

But the Congress seemed to reserve their chief strength for the address to the KING, which is penned with extraordinary force and animation, in many parts rifing to a very high strain of eloquence. They express their " confidence, that as his Majesty enjoys the signal distinction of reigning over freemen, the language of freemen cannot be difpleasing:" adding, "Your royal indignation, we hope, will rather fall on those designing and dangerous men, who, daringly interpofing themselves. between your royal person and your faithful fubjects, have at length compelled us by the force of accumulated injuries to disturb your Majesty's repose by our complaints." They affure his Majesty, that for the support of civil government, and the administration of justice, such provifion has been, and will be made by the Colonial Legislatures as may be judged suitable to their respective circumstances. They affirm, that for their defence, protection, and security in time of peace, their Militias, if properly regulated, would be fully sufficient; and in cafe of war, his faithful Colonists will be ready and willing, as they have ever been when conftitutionally required, to demonftrate their loyalty, by exerting their most strenuous efforts in granting supplies and raifing forces. They say,

"We

"We ask but for peace, liberty, and safety. We wish not a diminution of the prerogative, nor do we folicit the grant of any new right in our favor. In the magnanimity and justice of your Majesty and Parliament we confide for a redress of our grievances, trusting that when the causes of our apprehenfions are removed, our future conduct will prove us not unworthy of the regard we have been accustomed in our happier days to enjoy. And appealing to that Being who searches thoroughly the hearts of his creatures, we folemnly profess that our counsels have been influenced by no other motive than a dread of impending destruction. We implore therefore your Majesty, as the loving father of all your people, connected by the same bands of law, loyalty, faith, and blood, not to fuffer the transcendent relation formed by these ties to be further violated in uncertain expectation of effects, which, if attained, never can compenfate for the calamities through which they must be gained. So may your Majesty enjoy every temporal felicity throughout a long and glorious reign, and your descendants inherit your profperity and dominions till time shall be no more." It is difficult to conceive how this address could be read without exciting, in the breasts even of the most obdurate, strong emotions of compunction and remorse; but there are those who have hearts and

understandings upon which no impression can be made

VOL. II.

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made by any effort of human reason, and who can resolutely "turn a deaf ear to the voice of the Charmer, charm he never so wifely."

In a fubfequent address to the Roman Catholic inhabitants of Canada, the Congress with perfpicuity and energy state to the Canadians the rights enjoyed under that Constitution from which by the late act they are debarred. "Thefe rights," fay they, "defend the poor from the rich, the weak from the powerful, the industrious from the rapacious, the peaceable from the violent, the tenants from the lords, and all from their fuperiors. They invite and folicit them to confult their own glory and welfare, and to unite with them in one focial compact. Your province," say they, " is the only link wanting to complete the bright and strong chain of union. Nature has joined your country to ours, join also your political interests by an acceffion to the general confederation." But the fpirit of liberty was too faint and feeble in Canada, and the aristocracy and priesthood too powerful to admit of any confiderable effect from this address. The Congress, having finished their deliberations, diffolved themfelves after an uninterrupted feffion of fifty-two days. Such was the noble and enthusiastic detestation of this Assembly to tyranny and flavery, that in one of their debates refpecting the probability and danger of a rupture with Great Britain, a leading Member rose up and faid,

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