IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS TRENTON June 1st 1775. Gentlemen.

Anxiously desirous to promote as far as possible an Union among the Inhabitants of this Colony. We have thought proper to recommend to them the enclosed association, which we desire may be immediately signed by the good people of your Township.— That at a time when our most valuable Priviledges are invaded, we may, in a uniform manner, make our defence, And prevent the Evils to which our unhappy Situation Exposes Us.

(Signed)

To the Committee of observation for the Township of in the County of

We the Subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the township of in the County of & Province of New Jersey, having Long Viewed with Concern the avowed design of the Ministry of Great Britain to raise a Revenue in America; being deeply affected with the Cruel hostilities already commenced in Massachusetts Bay for carrying that arbitrary Design into execution; Convinced that the rights and privileges of America depends, under God, on the firm Union of its Inhabitants, Do, with hearts Abhorring Slavery, and ardently wishing for a Reconciliation with our Parent State on Constitutional Principles, solemnly Associate and Resolve, under the sacred Ties of Virtue, Honour and Love to our Country, that we will personally, And, as far as our Influence extends, endeavour to support and carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental and Provincial Congress for defending our Constitution, and preserving the same inviolate.

We Do also further Associate and agree, as far as shall be consistent with the measures adopted for the preservation of American Freedom, to support the

Magistrates and other Civil Officers in the execution of their duty agreeable to the Laws of this Colony, and to observe the directions of our Committee acting according to the Resolutions of the afforesaid Continental and Provincial Congresses, firmly determined by all means in our power to guard against those Disorders and Confusions to which the peculiar circumstances of the times may expose Us.

Copy of an Act of the Assembly of Connecticut respecting the Prisoners made at Ticonderoga & Crown Point.

COLONY OF CONNECTICUT

Anno regni Regis Georgii tertio 15t0

At a General assembly of the Governor and company of the english colony of Connecticut in New England in America, holden at Hartford on the second thursday in May Anno Dom: 1775.

Whereas there is convincing evidence that a design is form'd by the british ministry, of making a cruel invasion from the province of Quebec upon the northern colonies for the purpose of destroying our lives and liberties, and some steps have actually been taken to carry said design into execution, and whereas several inhabitants of the northern colonies, residing in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, immediately exposed to incursions impell'd by a just regard for the defence and preservation of themselves and their countrymen from such imminent dangers & calamities, have taken possession of that post, and of Crown point in which were lodged a quantity of cannon and military stores, that would certainly have been used in the intended invasion of these colonies, and have also taken into their custody a number of officers & soldiers, who were keeping and holding said posts, and of their own motion have sent them into this colony, and as this

colony has no command of said posts, now in the possession of people of several colonies, it is impracticable for said officers & soldiers to return to said posts, and the dictates of humanity require that said officers and soldiers with their families, should be provided for, and supported while they remain in this colony it is therefore Resolved by this assembly that Col: Erastus Wollcott &c. &c. be and they are hereby appointed a committee, and they are order'd and instructed at the expence of this colony to take care of and provide for said officers and soldiers with their families at present, and see that they be treated with humanity kindness & respect according to their rank & station, and encourage assist & advise said soldiers in procuring such profitable labour, and business as they may be capable of wherever said soldiers can find persons willing to entertain and give them employment, untill by advice of the continental congress (or otherwise) this assembly shall take further order concerning them, and that the commander in chief make a proper return under his hand to said committee of the Corps under his command.

GEORGE WYLLYS Sec

Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to Gov. Franklin, referring to the Congress in Philadelphia, and to the Skirmish near Boston.

[From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 177 (195).].

WHITEHALL 7th June 1775

Sir

Governor Franklin

I have received and laid before the King your despatches of the 18th of Feb: 7th of March and 3a of April No 19, 20, & 21.

You may with Confidence rely on the Assurance I

have already given you that whatever you may transmit of the nature you mention in N: 21, shall be communicated only to the King's Confidential Servants.

The present State of North America makes every Intelligence of that sort, more and more Important; and your continuing to transmit it to me is considered as a mark of your Duty and Attachment to the King.

It is evident now that the appointment of Delegates to the new Congress at Philadelphia could not have been prevented by any measures in your power to pursue, had it been otherways The King is persuaded you would not have failed to have shewn your Zeal on that Occasion.

We have received an Account through the Channel of a private Ship sent on purpose, as we conceive, by the Provincial Congress assembled in Massachusetts Bay of a Skirmish between a Detachment of the King's Troops and some Rebel provincials in the neighbourhood of Boston, this Account as you will readily believe is made up with a view to create alarm here and answer the ends of faction; but as we have not yet any Intelligence from General Gage I can only say with great Satisfaction that it has failed of its Object and has had no other Effect than to excite that just Indignation that every honest Man feels at the Measures adopted in North America for supporting by Acts of open Rebellion, a resistance to the Laws and Authority of this Kingdom.

I am &ca

DARTMOUTH.

Letter from Gov. Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, giving intelligence of the movement of troops in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

[From P. R. O. America & West Indies, Vol. 177 (195).]

PERTH AMBOY, July 4, 1775

The Right Honble the Earl of Dartmouth &c &c My Lord,

I am honoured with your Lordship's Circular Dispatch of the 15th of April, and shall not fail to pay due Attention and Obedience to His Majesty's Pleasure therein signified.

The State of Affairs in this Province continues much the same as mentioned in my Dispatch (N° 23) sent by the last Packet. It is reported that a Thousand of the New Jersey Militia are ordered to march to the City of New York, to join the Connecticut People now there under the Command of one Wooster; but as this Report has prevailed for some Days, and I can't learn that any of our Militia appear to be in Motion, or are making preparations for a March, I suspect it to be premature.

I am just informed that 300 Rifle-Men are to march this Day from Philadelphia to join the New England Army at Cambridge; and that they are soon to be followed by 500 more. In short, ever since the Lexington Affair, as your Lordship will see by the public papers, Hostile Measures seem to engross the Attention of the whole Continent. I know nothing of the Proceedings of the Congress except what are published. But a Gentleman who was lately at Philadelphia writes to me,

"I cannot hear of any Steps taken, or likely to be