liege subjects within this province to pay due regard to this my proclamation, as they will answer the contrary at their peril. "Given under my hand, this fifth day of August, &c. JAMES WRIGHT. By his excellency's command, THOMAS MOODIE, Deputy-Secretary. Agreeably to adjournment, a general meeting of the inhabitants took place on the 10th of August, to consider the state of the colonies in America; when it was resolved that his majesty's subjects in America were entitled to the same rights and immunities with their fellow-subjects in Great-Britain. That as protection and allegiance were reciprocal, and under the constitution, co-relative terms, the subjects in America had a clear and indisputable right, as well from the gen. eral laws of mankind, as from the ancient custom of the land, so often recognised, to petition the throne upon every emergency. That an act of parliament lately passed for blocking up the port and harbour of Boston, was contrary to their ideas of the British constitution-First, that in effect, it deprived the inhabitants of the use of their property secondly, that it was an expost facto law, and indiscriminately blended as objects of punishment, the innocent with the guilty. That the act for abolishing the charter of Massachusetts, tended to the subversion of American rights gene rally; for beside those liberties which the original' settlers brought over with them as their birthright, particular immunities were granted by these charters as inducements and means of settling the provinces and they were of opinion that these charters could not be disolved but by a voluntary surrender of the people, declared by their representatives. That the parliament of Great-Britain had no right to tax the Americans without representation, and that every demand for the support of government, should be by requisition made to the several houses of representatives. That it was contrary to natural justice and the law of the land, to transport any person to Great-Britain, or else. where, to be tried under indictment for a crime committed in any of the colonies; as the party prosecuted would thereby be deprived of the privilege of trial by his peers from the vicinage; the injured perhaps deprived of egal reparation; and both lose the full benefit of their witnesses. That they would concur with their sister colonies in every constitutional measure to obtain redress of grievances, and by every lawful mean in their power maintain those inestimable blessings, for which they were indebted only to GoD and the constitution of their country. And that the committee appointed by the meeting of the inhabitants of this province on the 27th of the preceeding month, together with the deputies then present from the different parishes, should form a general committee to act, and that any eleven or more of them should have full power to correspond with the committees of the several provinces upon the continent and that copies of these resolutions as well as all other proceedings, should be transmitted without delay to the committees of correspondence in the respective provinces. A committee was appointed to receive subscriptions for the suffering citizens in Boston, consisting of William Ewen, William Young, Joseph Clay, John Houstoun, Noble Wimberly Jones, Edward Telfair, John Smith, Samuel Farley, and Andrew Elton Wells, Esquires. In a few hours, five hundred and seventy-nine barrels of rice were contributed, and shipped for that 'port. A few days after this meeting, another was called by governor Wright, to try the strength of his party; intending to adopt his measures accord. ingly. About one third of the inhabitants in and near Savannah, including his council and other civil and military officers, met at the Court-house, and signed a dissent against the republican proceedings and a protest against their meeting, as being unconstitutional. Similar papers were placed in the hands of the governor's influential friends and sent in different directions over the country to obtain subscribers; allowing a sum of money to each of those persons, proportioned to the number of subscribers they obtained, and as a compensation for their services. Under these advantageous circumstances, the royal servants were suc cessful in obtaining signatures from many timid men, who were favourably disposed to the American cause. The only press in the province at that day, was under the immediate influence and con.. trol of governor Wright, and warmly attached to the royal cause. The number of subscribers was magnified to a considerable majority of the provincial population. In some instances the number of subscribers exceeded the population of the parishes from whence they came; and from others the signatures of men were affixed who had been dead many years. The printer was also charged with partiality to the royal government, in withholding facts from the public which would have given the true impression; which had a tendency to strengthen the British, and weaken the American cause. The republican party in America became disgusted with the plan of petitioning the king and parliament, the effects of which were generally a delay of one or two years; and then, if any notice was taken of them, it was in terms so vague, as to require another year for explanation; and then was made to mean any thing or nothing. In the mean time, some new burthens were imposed upon the provinces for the purpose of keeping them under the yoke of bondage; adding two grievances while they were removing one. It was evidently the policy of the British government, to keep this extensive country, growing fast in population, in complete subjection. To effect this purpose, the talents and cunning of the British ministry were incessantly employed. They strictly adhered to the right of taxation to produce a revenue; but it was softened down, from motives of policy, until it had become unproductive. The new ministerial principles, were considered as a direct attack upon the rights and liberties of the colonists. A most violent ferment was every where excited, and resolutions were entered into, declaring those who refused their countenance and aid, to be inimical to the common interest of the country, and to be treated as enemies. Another act of parliament was passed essentially abridging the colonial privileges. The council heretofore elected by the general court of Massachusetts, was to be appointed by the minis try; and the provincial governors were vested with the power of appointing and removing at pleasure the judges, attorney-generals, provost-marshals, justices, sheriffs, and all other civil officers; and the governors' salaries were fixed and paid by the crown, independant of the provincial legislatures.The meetings of the people were expressly forbidden, without leave having been previously obtained from the governors in writing, expressing the special objects of such meeting; and that no matter should be treated of, excepting the election of public officers, and the business expressed in the governor's permission. Jurors who had been previously elected by the freeholders and in |