as we suppose it productive of absolute slavery, so we must be justified in never submitting to it.

France was once free, but in consequence of submitting to taxation without representation, their estates and lives are at the absolute disposal of the king. The Cortes of Spain had once the same rights as our parliament; but having allowed the King on a particular occasion to raise money without their interposition, they lost their authority, and the people their freedom.

The present act respecting the blocking up of the port of Boston, we consider dangerous and destructive. We are not so lost to every generous principle of the human mind, as not to sympathize with our brethren of Boston, who have in a more especial sense been struggling in a common cause, and are now suffering for our common liberties. We are determined to support with all our power the town of Boston, in defence of rights common to us all, and never to submit to the iron hand of despotism and oppression.

It is with grief we find, that the house of representatives are removed from their ancient seat in Boston. We hope, that as former houses have protested against such indignity, so the present house will not tamely acquiesce in it.

We are obliged to say, that so far from thinking the late Governor Hutchinson a friend, we look upon him to have been enimical to the province, and we think the man who would abridge English liberties,' would willingly see the town of Boston ruined, and the civil policy of the province subverted.

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We resent the base treatment, which that illustrious defender of American liberties, DR. FRANKLIN, has received for detecting such wicked designs, and we have the pleasure to be assured, that though he.

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may be reviled, he cannot be disgraced.* May he still live to be the guardian of our rights, and the Scourge of the enemies of our liberty on both sides of the Atlantic; and when he dies, may mourning patriots erect a monument of marble, to perpetuate his memory. ******

In such a situation we do not think it sufficient only to weep at the distresses of our country; but we believe that our union is our life, the contrary our death. We mean therefore to preserve this union inviolable at all hazards. We are determined in a manly, firm, virtuous, and joint way, neither to yield to fear on the one hand, nor intrigue on the other, in defending and preserving our liberties. And before they are wrested from us, we will struggle hard, very hard for them, considering ourselves as the guardians of unborn millions. And O our God, in the midst of this struggle, which we think is agreeable to thy will, we look up to thee for direction and assistance! May the liberties of America, still flourish under thy smile, as they anciently did

*See Ann. vol. 2 page 317, Dr. Holmes.

Provincial Congress, Watertown, May 1, 1775.

It has been represented to this Congress, that about five thousand of the inhabitants of Boston, are indigent and unable to be at the expense of removing themselves. Therefore resolved that the Selectmen and Committees of Correspondence most convenient to Boston, aid and assist such poor inhabitants of said town, with teams and waggons as shall procure a certificate from the Committee of donations, that they are not able to remove themselves. And it is further recommended to the Selectmen of the several towns specified in the annexed schedule to provide for such inhabitants, in the best and most prudent way, until this or some other Congress, take further order thereon, and render their accounts to this or some future Congress or house of representatives for allowance, which reasonable accounts shall be repaid out of the public treasury.

The form of the certificate was as follows, "The bearer and his family, removing out of the town of Boston, are recommended to the charity and assistance of our sympathizing brethren in the several towns in this province.

By order of the Committee of donations. Four in family. A. N. Clerk. According to the schedule referred to above, 49 persons were assigned to Chelmsford and 54 to Billerica. Papers on file, Town Clerk's Office.

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in the days of our fathers. And do thou give us a head to contrive and a heart to execute! Grant that in the most adverse situation of our affairs, we may trust in thee. And may this be the prevailing sentiment of us all, 'In freedom we're born and in freedom we'll die'.

September 29-1774,

A town meeting was called to choose a representative to attend at the next session of the General Court, to be holden at Salem, Oct. 5. The representative was instructed to adhere firmly to the charter of this province, granted by William and Mary, and to do no act which could be possibly construed into an acknowledgement of the validity of the act of parliament for altering the government* of the Massachusetts Bay-to acknowledge the Hon. Board of Counsellors, elected by the general court last May,as the only rightful, constitutional Council of this province; to join with the members, who may be sent from other towns in the province, and meet with them at a time to be agreed on in a general Provincial Congress.

When Parliament on hearing of the destruction of the tea in Boston, passed the act, which shut up the harbor of Boston, and deprived its inhabitants of the means of subsistence, this town expressed their deep sympathy in an address, and evinced the sincerity of it by sending immediate relief. A drove of sheep was gratuitously collected and Messrs. Samuel Howard and Simeon Stevens, appointed to

*The Council heretofore had been chosen by the general court, but an act of parliament, passed this year, invested the right of appointing counsellors in the crown, and that of appointing and removing Judges of the inferior courts, commissioners, sheriffs, &c. in the Governor. See Ramsey's His. Am. Rev. vol. 1, p. 105.

1774.-A new burying place, was granted and given in the south west part of the town, by Dr. John Betly, and accepted by the town.

take charge of them and see them delivered to the sufferers in Boston.

At the first Provincial meeting in Concord, two delegates Jona. W. Austin, Esq. and Samuel Perham, appointed by the town, were present. For an adjourned meeting of this provincial congress in Cambridge, Feb. 1, 1775, was chosen a new delegate, Col. Simeon Spalding. To carry the measures, adopted at this and a subsequent meeting on the following November into operation a committee of Inspection was chosen, consisting of Capt. Oliver Barron, Dr. Jonas Marshall and Capt. Benjamin Walker, whose duty was to prevent the purchase and sale of any goods, wares and merchandize, imported from Great Britain, Ireland and the provinces thereunto belonging. A committee of correspondence was also raised and joined with the Committee of Inspection, unitedly constituting a committee of safety.

Agreeably to the plan, proposed by the provincial congress, for the immediate defence of the province, the town voted to raise fifty two minute men, including officers, who were to be disciplined half a day every week, and to receive 8d. per man, for every half day over and above what the militia are disciplined: To equip the alarm list, and to provide arms, and blankets for the soldiers, to be enlisted under Capt. John Ford.

Moral Reform-1774,

THOUGH the town has never been very much dis tinguished for dissipation of manners, for idleness and intemperance, riot and excess; yet at this time it seems there were certain persons of loose morals and dangerous habits, who were introducing and abetting practices highly alarming to the more sober and virtuous part of community. To arrest the progress of growing iniquity, an article was inserted

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in a warrant for calling a town meeting, of the following import, viz. to see if the town will empower some suitable persons to take such measures as they shall think proper to punish and discourage vice and profaneness, and call to an account idle, disorderly persons, who waste their time and substance in public houses at unlawful gaming, horse-racing and excessive drinking, frolicking and sabbath-breaking. Upon this article the town adopted a judicious measure, which may instruct future generations, how to proceed in like circumstances. The Selectmen and fifteen others* were empowered to devise and execute such measures as they may think proper for promoting a reformation among persons of the above description.

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The committee reported as follows. That the said Committee make inquiry and obtain the best information that may be had of idle, disorderly persons, who waste their time and substance at public or private houses, in unlawful gaming, excessive drinking, or frolicking, and such as are known to be frequently at horse-racing, or guilty of profane cursing and swearing, or of Sabbath breaking, or of any other unlawful and unbecoming behaviour; and that their company be shunned; and that people leave off dealing with them as far as is consistent with good reason and justice, not entertaining them in their houses by night or by day; but manifesting a dislike to their conduct, and bearing testimony against their vicious practices, look upon them as disturbers of the peace and good order of society; that the committee converse with such persons, and use their endeavors *Selectmen.-David Spalding, Capt. Oliver Barron, Joseph Warren, John Minot, Zebulon Spalding.

Committee. Simeon Spalding, Joseph Adams, Jona. Bigford, Aaron Chamberlin, Samuel Stevens, Jr. John Ford, Benjamin Parker, John Robins, Benja. Walker, Dr. J. Marshall, Thomas Marshall, Samuel Howard, David Parker, Benja. Fletcher and William Pierce.