Therefore, Voted, That we will join with the other towns of this colony in such reasonable measures as shall be judged best for the general good, and most likely to obtain redress of our grievances.

Voted, That we esteem a General Congress of all the colonies the only probable method to obtain a uniform plan for the preservation of the whole.

Voted, That if it shall be judged best by said Congress to stop all exports to Great Britain and the West India Islands, and imports from thence, we will most cheerfully acquiesce in their determination; esteeming the benefits arising therefrom, mere trifles, compared with the rights and privileges of America.

Voted, That Messrs. William Ledyard, Thomas Mumford, Benadam Gallup, Esq., Amos Prentice, Charles Eldridge, Jr., Deac. John Hurlburt, and Amos Geer, be a committee to correspond with the committees of the several towns in this and the other British colonies.

A copy of record, examined by

WILLIAM AVERY, Town Clerk.

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Lyme, in New London county, by legal notice, convened and held in said Lyme the 20th of June, 1774. Eleazer Mather, Esq., was chosen Moderator of said meeting.

At the same meeting it was voted and Resolved, That we sincerely profess ourselves to be true and loyal subjects of his sacred majesty King George the Third.

Also Voted, &c., That we are heartily concerned for the difficulties attending the town of Boston, in consequence of the late extraordinary measures taken with them by the British Parliament, that affairs appear to us with a threatening aspect on the liberties of all British America.

Also Voted, &c., That we will to the utmost of our abilities, assert and defend the liberties and immunities of British America, and that we will co-operate with our brethren in this and the other colonies, in such reasonable measures as shall in General Congress, or otherwise, be judged most proper to relieve us and our brethren in Boston, from the burdens now felt, and secure us

from the evils we fear will follow from the principles adopted by the British Parliament respecting the town of Boston.

Also Voted, That Eleazar Mather, Esq., Mr. John McCurdy, John Lay, 2d, William Noyes, Esq'rs., and Mr. Samuel Mather, Jr., be a standing committee for the purpose of keeping up a correspondence with the towns of this and the neighboring colonies; and that they transmit a copy of these votes to the committee of correspondence for the town of Boston.

A true copy of record, examined by

JOHN LAY, 2d, Reg'r.

At a town meeting held in New London, Monday, the 27th day of June, A. D. 1774. Richard Law, Esq. chosen Mod

erator.

This town taking into serious consideration the alarming situation of the North American colonies, with regard to divers acts of the British Parliament, for raising a revenue on the subjects of said colonies without their consent, and also a late act of Parliament for blocking up the port of Boston, the metropolis of the province of Massachusetts Bay, a province that has ever afforded its utmost aid to Great Britain and her American dominions: and being advised that divers other acts of Parliament are probably passed since the last mentioned act, whereby their charter privileges will be utterly destroyed, and the inhabitants of said province reduced to a state of abject vassallage, unless relief can be had in the case.

We consider the province of Massachusetts Bay as destined to be the first victim of ministerial tyranny, and after her, the other colonies will share the same fate. It is manifest to us that the design of the British ministry is to reduce North America to slavery, with as much rapidity as possible; and then exert their utmost efforts against the liberties of Great Britain, and thereby reduce the British empire under the nod of an absolute monarch-whereby property and liberty-civil and religious will be annihilated, and the life of the subject be at the will of a despot. Therefore we hold it an indispensable duty, both to ourselves and posterity, to exert the powers heaven has endowed us with, to contribute every thing in our power, in a constitutional manner to avert the calamity hanging over this continent.

And therefore we declare and resolve:

In the First place, we most expressly declare, recognize, and acknowledge His Majesty King George the Third, to be the lawful and rightful King of Great Britain, and all other of his dominions and Countries; and that it is our indispensable duty, as being part of His Majesty's Dominions, always to bear faithful and true allegiance to His Majesty, and him to defend to the utmost of our power, against all attempts upon his person, crown, and dignity.

NOTE FOR PRESERVATION.-Soon after the ratification of the treaty of Paris, by which Great Britain acquired Nova Scotia, Canada, the Isle of Cape Breton, and other islands in the gulf and river St. Lawrence, the ministry announced their intention of quartering troops in America, at the expense of the colonies. They also avowed their determination of raising the revenue, necessary for that purpose, by a duty on foreign sugar, molasses, and stamped paper.

The act of Parliament, imposing the duty on the two first mentioned articles, was passed in 1764, and, though it caused general uneasiness and suspicion, yet the people peaceably submitted; but the act laying a duty on stamped paper, and making it essential to the validity of all legal and mercantile transactions, passed in the early part of the year 1765, was considered a violation of the British constitution, and an encroachment on British liberty. The right, claimed by Parliament, to tax the colonies without their consent, or even representation, more than the amount demanded, called forth a spontaneous burst of popular indignation. Several of the colonial legislatures animadverted with great severity upon the acts of Parliament, and passed spirited resolutions, asserting th rights of the colonies, and denying the constitutional power of Parliament to tax them without their consent.

The legislature of Massachusetts proposed a congress of deputies from each colony to deliberate upon the subject, and adopt the proper measures to procure the repeal of the act. On the first Tuesday in October, 1765, twenty-eight deputies from the colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina, met in the city of New York. The legislatures of Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, were prevented from sending deputies by their governors. This Congress, after recapitulating the grievances complained of, resolved to petition the King and Parliament for their redress. They also recommended to the several colonies to appoint special agents for the same purpose.

In the mean time combinations were formed in several of the colonies for resisting the execution of the law, by compelling the officers, appointed by the crown for the sale of stamped paper, to resign their offices. In the month of August, the effigy of Andrew Oliver, Esq., who had been appointed stampmaster for the colony of Massachusetts, was found hanging on a tree, ever since known by the name of "liberty tree," standing on one of the principal streets in Boston. The following night, a small building, which Mr. Oliver had erected for an office, was pulled down; the windows of his dwelling house

2d. That the cause of Boston is the common cause of all the North American colonies.

3d. That the preservation of the lives, liberties, and properties of the subjects in North America, depends (under God) on a strict union of all the colonies throughout the continent.

4th. That we earnestly wish for, and will promote all in our power, a General Congress of Commissioners from all the colonies on this continent, to be convened with all possible speed.

broken in, and a part of his furniture destroyed. The next day, he announced his determination of having no agency in the execution of the stamp act.

The same month, Jared Ingersoll, Esq., who had received the appointment of stamp-master in Connecticut, was burnt in effigy at New Haven; but notwithstanding this modest hint to resign his office, he signified his determination to discharge its duties. This annunciation, instead of allaying the indignation of the populace, aroused it to a still higher degree, and prompted them to secure his person, and convey him to Hartford for farther proceedings. The following account of their proceedings is copied from the Connecticut Courant of Sept. 23d, 1765, and does not differ materially from the relation given by Mr. Ingersoll, and published in the Connecticut Gazette of the 27th of the same month, (viz.):

"Last Wednesday afternoon, a large company of able bodied men, came to town (Hartford) on horseback from the eastern part of this government, and informed those who were willing to join them, that they were on their way to New Haven, to demand the stamp-master of this colony to resign his office; that a number of their companions were gone on the lower roads, and that they had all agreed to rendezvous at Branford, the next day, (Thursday) and that they should tarry in town that night; they then dispersed to different parts of the town for lodging. In the evening advice was received, that Mr. Ingersoll was on the road to this place; that he would be in town the next day, and that he intended to apply to the Assembly for protection; and it being conjectured that he might come to town in the night to shun the mob, (who he had heard were on their way to pay him a visit) it was agreed that a watch should patrol the streets all night, to prevent his coming in unnoticed; but they made no discoveries.

"On Thursday morning, the whole body, including a considerable number from this town, (Hartford) set off on their intended expedition, and in about an hour, met Mr. Ingersoll at the lower end of Wethersfield, and let him know their business. He at first refused to comply, but it was insisted upon, that he should resign his office of stamp-master, so disagreeable to his countrymen. After many proposals, he delivered the resignation, mentioned below, which he read himself in the hearing of the whole company; he was then desired to pronounce the words liberty and property, three times, which he having done, the whole body gave three huzzas. Mr. Ingersoll then went to a tavern and dined with several of the company; after dinner the company told Mr. Ingersoll, as he was bound to Hartford, they would escort him there; which they did, to the number of about five hundred persons on horseback. After they arrived in town, Mr. Ingersoll again read his resignation in public, when three huzzas more were

5th. That it is our hearty desire said General Congress should, among other of their determinations, resolve to stop all imports and exports to and from Great Britain, and otherwise discontinue trade as they shall see fit. That a General Congress should be annually held on this continent, and in that case point out the method for best effecting so noble a design on which the future happiness of the colonies greatly depends.

6th. That we will religiously abide by the resolves of the General Congress of the united North American colonies.

7th. That the resolves of the General Assembly of this colony, at their session in May last, be recorded at large in the Town Book.

8th. That Richard Law, Esq., Col. Gurdon Saltonstall, Mr. Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Maj. Samuel Holden Parsons, and Capt. Guy Richards, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to correspond with the committees of correspondence in this or any other colony in North America; and they are hereby directed to

given; when the whole company immediately dispersed without making the least disturbance."

The following is a copy of Mr. Ingersoll's resignation.

"WETHERSFIELD, Sept. 19th, 1765. "I do hereby promise, that I will never receive any stampt papers, which may arrive from Europe, in consequence of any act lately passed in the Parliament of Great Britain, nor officiate in any manner as stamp-master, or distributor of stamps within the colony of Connecticut, either directly or indirectly; and I do hereby notify all the inhabitants of his majesty's colony of Connecticut (notwithstanding the said office, or trust has been committed to me) not to apply to, me, ever hereafter, for any such stamped paper, hereby declaring that I do decline said office, and execute these presents of my own free will and accord, without any equivocation, or mental reservation.

"In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand,

"J. INGERSOLL."

"An aged gentleman, of Wethersfield, who was an eye witness, and distinctly remembers the transaction, represents it as being peculiarly pompous and imposing. He says Mr. Ingersoll was a middle aged man, dressed in the full costume of the time-brown coat, buckskin breeches, long boots, bob-tailed wig, and three cornered hat; that he mounted a stage, which had been prepared for his accommodation, and addressed the multitude with great ease and fluency, and that when he gave up his commission, he threw up his hat and commission, both of which he held in his hand; they cheered him with great enthusiasm. There were several other out-breakings of indignant feeling in other parts of the colony, but none worthy of particular notice.