A meeting of the respectable inhabitants of Middletown, in Hartford county, was called, and held in said town, on the 15th day of June, 1774, when there was assembled more than five hundred of said inhabitants, and the Hon. Jabez Hamlin, being chosen chairman, they unanimously came into the following Resolves, viz:

1st. That we will heartily concur in any salutary measures that may or shall be devised and come into, or recommended by a General Congress, from all or most of the colonies, or by the greater places of trade and commerce on the continent, or by the inhabitants of this colony, for the preservation of the rights of British Americans.

2d. That Messrs. Matthew Talcott, Richard Alsop, and Titus Hosmer, be our committee of correspondence, whose duty it shall be to collect all such intelligence as may be necessary to enable us to act our part presently, and to good effect in the system of America; to communicate such intelligence to others as may be useful to them, and the common cause, and in our behalf, to co-operate with the committees of other towns in this colony, in concerting or executing any general plan of proceeding for the good of the whole.

Certified by

TITUS HOSMER, Clerk.

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Glastenbury, on the 23d day of June, A. D. 1774. Col. Elizur Talcott, Chairman. Voted, That it is the opinion of this meeting that the act of Parliament imposing a duty on tea exported to America, for the purpose of raising a revenue, is subversive of the rights and liberties of the British Americans, unconstitutional and oppressive. And we consider the late act of Parliament for blocking up the port of Boston, and others that are pending with respect to the province of Massachusetts Bay, designed not only to enslave that province, but as we all hold our liberties and privileges on the same footing with them, we consider those acts as aimed at the liberties of all the English colonies in America.

We, therefore, are resolved to exert ourselves to the utmost of our power, in every lawful way, to oppose, resist, and if possible, defeat the designs of our enemies to enslave us. And we

are of opinion, that the safest and most effectual method to obtain a repeal of those acts, and to restore us to the enjoyment of our rights and privileges, will be an universal agreement of all the colonies, that all commercial connections with Great Britain and the West Indies be withheld. And as we are informed that a General Congress of all the colonies is proposed, we are of opinion that such a Congress would be very expedient, and that is the most probable method to cement the colonies together in a firm union, on which (under God) our only security depends. And when this Congress shall convene (which we hope will be as soon as possible) we shall be ready to adopt any measures which shall be thought by them to be the most effectual to obtain relief from the burdens of which we justly complain.

Voted, That Col. Elizur Talcott, William Welles, Ebenezer Plummer, Isaac Mosely, Thomas Kimberley, Josiah Hale, and Capt. Elisha Hollister, be a committee of correspondence, to receive and answer all letters, and to promote and forward such contributions as shall be made in this town, for the relief of our distressed friends in Boston, and that they transmit a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to the committee of correspondence at Boston, as soon as possible.

A true copy.

Test,

WILLIAM WELLES, Clerk.

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Lebanon, legally warned and holden the 18th of July, A. D. 1774, on account of the most alarming and dangerous situation of American liberties, occasioned by the all-grasping claim of the Parliament of Great Britain to tax the colonies, and bind them by their acts in all cases whatsoever; and to consider what we ought to do for the relief of Boston, suffering the bitter effects of those claims, first carrying into dreadful execution on them by several late acts, &c.

Present about three hundred respectable freeholders.

At the desire of the selectmen, a discourse well adapted to the important occasion, was previously delivered by the Rev. Dr. Williams, from Luke, chap. iii., verses 2, 3.

Col. William Williams, Moderator.

The town having taken the matters aforesaid into their serious consideration, are of opinion-That the controversy now subsisting between the Parliament of Great Britain and the English American colonies, respecting the rights and liberties of the latter, is a matter and cause of the most important and interesting nature, that can affect our minds, next to our own everlasting welfare. We do therefore,

In the First place, with humble gratitude and reverence, this day again acknowledge, recognize, and adore the marvellous loving kindness of the Lord our God, who inspired our ancestors with resolution and fortitude to forsake their native land, where they could not enjoy civil and religious liberty, to explore and settle a new world, and supported them through a painful and distressing variety of perils and hardships, too many to be recounted, and enabled them to accomplish a happy settlement in this now fruitful land, to plant his Gospel here, and in the course of his providence, granted them great and important liberties, civil and religious; which, by his goodness, and the pious care of our fathers, are transmitted to us, their children. And we do also, with pious and affectionate gratitude, call up the dear remembrance of our excellent and renowned forefathers, who with incredible labor, obtained, and transmitted to us the precious rights and liberties we have enjoyed, and resolve to imitate their example and virtues; and in humble confidence that our God will not yet forsake us, though our iniquities testify against us, yet trusting in his mercy, we believe it to be his command, and our indispensable duty to him, to ourselves and posterity, to stand fast in the liberty wherewith he has made us free. We do therefore,

2dly. Profess, testify, and declare it to be our firm and unshaken opinion and belief, that the claim of this and the other colonies to all the rights, immunities, and privileges of free and natural English subjects, born within the realm of England, being founded on compact, grants, stipulations, and charters from the rightful kings of England, by them and their successors recog nized, and by us long enjoyed; is a claim founded also in the laws and rights of nature, in the highest principles of justice and equity, and on the only foundation principles of legal government; and is therefore a just, valid, and effectual claim, and that in which all that is valuable and dear to us in this world, is

embraced and comprehended; and as such we will ever consider, and to the utmost of our power defend and support it.

3dly. That the late act of Parliament for blocking up the port and harbor of Boston, thereby depriving them of the only means of their subsistence; and the two more recent ones, essentially violating the charter rights of the Massachusetts Bay, and making material alterations in the mode and administration of government, and justice therein, is an axe laid to the root of the tree, and in direct opposition to, and utterly subversive of this and every claim and idea of liberty and property in English America.

4thly. That therefore the cause of Boston and the Massachusetts Bay, is the common cause of all the English American colonies.

5thly. That forasmuch as we assume not wisdom enough to prescribe ways and means to avoid the dreadful evils comprised in said acts, and the principles on which they are founded; nor can they be averted but by the joint act and approbation of the whole; we therefore ardently approve of, and rejoice in the proposal of a General Congress of commissioners from all the colonies; from whose joint wisdom, integrity, and virtue, we have the strongest hopes a sure foundation will be laid for the restoration and security of the just and precious privileges of the millions of America; and to their wisdom and prudence, we do for the present, so far as to us appertains, cheerfully refer the all important cause. And if they should think proper to come into a joint agreement to break off all commercial intercourse with Great Britain and the West Indies, except for the necessaries of life, (if such there be included in it) until American liberties are restored and placed on a solid basis; we will most cheerfully acquiesce in, and inviolably adhere to such agreement, as a measure most likely (in our opinion) to effect that grand and important design.

6thly. In contradiction to the infamous slanders and lies spread by wicked and designing men, and which have prejudiced the mind of our king, that the people of the colonies are "factious and rebellious, aim at total independence," &c., we declare it to be our steadfast design and fixed resolution to maintain our duty and loyalty to the king, and delight in a constitutional dependence on the crown of Great Britain; and that nothing but a persevering design to deprive us of the freedom which we have

earned, to which we are entitled by every principle of justice, for which we have solemnly compacted with our king, which our God has given us to possess, and to which, by his favor, we are born, can ever render us willing to become thus independent. 7thly. That in our opinion, Boston, the capital town of New England, is first made to suffer the almost unparalleled hardship and distress aforesaid, not so much on account of the destruction of East India tea in their harbor, as for their having been ever forward and resolute in defence of their, and the common rights of the colonies; and we are the more grounded in this opinion, as it is most notorious that they used their utmost endeavors in a variety of ways, to accomplish the safe return of the aforesaid tea to the owners, and that all their endeavors for that purpose were effectually defeated by the power and authority of the late Governor Hutchinson, and the commissioners of the customs.

8thly. That forasmuch as this town is resolved to contend earnestly for liberty and property, and are not willing that either should be violated, even in the hands of our enemies, and as the aforesaid tea in the harbor of Boston, fell a just and necessary sacrifice in defence of both, it is the opinion of this town, that the proprietors of it, (base as they are in becoming the tools of oppression) ought to be indemnified therefor by the aforesaid Governor Hutchinson, and the commissioners of the customs, whose joint and successful efforts to prevent its return to them was the cause, without which it had never been destroyed.

9thly. That all those persons of what class or denomination soever, who have lately paid servile adulation to the aforesaid Governor Hutchinson on his departure to Great Britain; and in their addresses complimented him for his attachment to the interest of his country, the wisdom and faithfulness of his administration, &c.; have thereby counteracted the united voice and sense of their whole legislature, strengthened and increased the credit and influence of the said Governor with the King and Parliament of Great Britain, which we have reason to believe has been and will be exerted to injure and oppress his country, and have therefore forfeited the confidence of their countrymen, and ought to be treated by ALL with the utmost neglect and contempt.

10thly. That in the opinion of this town, it is of the utmost importance that the town of Boston, and province aforesaid,