Jefs inhabitants to every misery from the inclemency of the winter; and not only urging favages to invade the country, but inftigating negroes to murder their mafters: And whereas the parliament of G. Britain hath lately paffed an act, affirming thefe colonies to be in open rebellion; forbidding all trade and commerce with the inhabitants thereof, until they fhall accept pardons, and fubmit to defpotic rule; declaring their property, where-ever found upon the water, liable to feizure and confifcation; and enacting, that what had been done there, by virtue of the royal authority, were juft and lawful acts, and fhall be fo deemed: From all which it is manifeft, that the iniquitous scheme concerted to deprive them of the liberty they have a right to by the laws of nature and the English conftitution, will be pertinaciously purfued: It being, therefore, neceffary to provide for their defence and fecurity, and juftifiable to make reprisals upon their enemies, and otherwife to annoy them, according to the laws and ufages of nations: The Congrefs, trufting that fuch of their friends in G. Britain (of whom, it is confeffed, there are many intitled to applaufe and gratitude for their patriotism and benevolence, and in whofe favour a difcrimination of property cannot be made) as fhall fuffer by captures, will impute it to the author of our common calamities, do declare and refolve as followeth; to wit,

Refolved, That the inhabitants of thefe colonies be permitted to fit out armed veffels, to cruise on the enemies of thefe United Colonies.

Refolved, That all fhips and other veffels, their tackle, apparel, and furniture, and all goods, wares, and merchandifes, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of G. Britain, taken on the high feas, or between high and low water mark, by any armed vessel fitted out by any private perfon or perfons, and to whom commiffions fhall be granted, and, being libelled and profecuted in any court erected for the trial of maritime affairs in any of these colonies, fhall be deemed and adjudged to be lawful prizes, and, after deducting and paying the wages of the feamen and mariners on board of fuch captures as are merchant ships and veffels fhall be intitled to, according to the terms of their contracts, until the time of the adjudication, that! be condemned to and for the ufe

of the owner or owners, and the offcers, marines, and mariners of fuch armed veffel, according to fuch rules and proportions as they fhall agree on. Provided always, That this refolution fhall not extend to any veffel bringing fettlers, arms, ammunition, or warlike ftores, to and for the use of these colonies, or any of the inhabitants thereof, who are friends to the American cause, or to fuch warlike ftores, or to the effects of fuch fettlers.

Refolved, That all fhips or veffels, with their tackle, apparel, and furniture, goods, wares, and merchandifes, belonging to any inhabitant of G. Britain, as aforefaid, which fhall be taken by any of the veffels of war of thefe United Colonies, fhall be deemed forfeited, one third, after deducting and paying the wages of feamen and mariners, as afore faid, to the officers and men on board, and two thirds to the use of the United Colonies.

Refolved, That all fhips or vessels, with their tackle, apparel, and furniture, goods, wares, and merchandifes, belonging to any inhabitant of G. Britain, as aforefaid, which fhall be taken by any veffels of war fitted out by and at the expence of any of the United Colonies, fhall be deemed forfeited, and divided, after deducting and paying the wages of feamen and mariners, as aforefaid, in fuch manner and proportion as the affembly or convention of fuch colony shall direct.

Refolved, That all vessels, their tackle, apparel, and furniture, and cargoes, belonging to inhabitants of G. Britain, as aforefaid, and all veffels which may be employed in carrying fupplies to the minifterial armies, which fall happen to be taken near the fhores of any of these colonies, by the people of the country, or detachments from the army, fhall be deemed lawful prize; and the court of admiralty within the faid colony is required, on condemnation thereof, to adjudge, that all charges and expences which may attend the capture and trial, be firft paid out of the monies arifing from the fales of the prize, and the remainder equally divided among all those who fhall have been actually engaged and employed in taking the faid prize. Provided, That where any detachments of the army fhall have been employed as aforefaid, their part of the prize-money fhall be diftributed among them in pro

portion

provifions. This may be entirely relied upon; this his Majefty's officers have an undoubted right to expect, and what they infift upon; and this I not only now folemnly require, in his Majefty's name, but alfo as (probably) the best friend the people of Georgia have, advife them with out the leaft hefitation to comply with; or it may not be in my power to infure them the continuance of the peace and quietude they now have, if it may be called fo.

His Majefty has been graciously plea fed to grant me leave to return to England; and (whatever may be thought) my regard for the province and people is fach, that I cannot avoid (and poffibly for the last time) exhorting the people to fave themselves and their pofterity from that total ruin and deftruction which (al, though they may not, yet) I muft clearly fee is at the threshold of their doors; and I cannot leave them without again warning them, in the moft earneft and friendly manner, to defift from their prefent plans and refolutions. It is ftill in their power; and if they will enable me to do it, I will (as far as I can) engage to give, and endeavour to obtain for them, full pardon and forgiveness for all paft crimes and offences: and this conjure them to confider well, and moft feriously of, before it is too late. But, let things happen as they may, be it remembered, that I this day, in the King's name, offer the people of Georgia the olive-branch, that moft defirable object, and ineftimable bleffing, the return of peace and happiness to them and their pofterity.

Capt. Barclay has defired me to notify, that he is willing and ready to give every affiftance in his power to the captains of all fuch merchant-fhips as may be legally cleared out, to enable them to proceed on their respective voyages. I am alfo to acquaint you, that the detention of the fchooner on Friday or Saturday laft proceeded entirely from a mistake by the officer who commanded the armed floop, and that, if the owner will fend down, the schooner will not only be delivered up, but any reasonable price paid for the damaged rice that was on board, part of which has been used to feed hogs and poultry; or they may take it away again. I am alfo to mention, that the fame armed floop will be fent up to-morrow to Four-mile-point, in order to get fresh water, and for no other purpofe. VOL. XXXVIII.

This letter, which I confider as of the utmoft confequence and importance to the whole people of Georgia, I must defire you will be pleafed to communicate to the congrefs, if fitting; and if not, to thofe who are called the council of fafety; and efpecially to the inhabitants of the town and province in general; and acquaint them, that I fhall expect their full and clear answer to every part of it in a reasonable time.

I am, with perfect esteem, Gentlemen, your most obedient and faithful fervant, JA. WRIGHT."

The Answer of the Congress to the Governor's letter, addressed to the Members of his Majefty's Council.

"Savannah, Feb. 17. 1776. "GENTLEMEN,

THE letter which you laid before Congrefs from his Excellency the Governor, who fuddenly and unexpectedly left us, has been confidered with all that attention which the ferious nature of the fubject demanded. On the one hand, we feel the most inexpreffible reluctance and pain, in being obliged to confider thofe as enemies whom we but lately loved as friends and fellow-citizens; and on the other, we find ourselves neceffitated by the laws of felf-prefervation and defence, in fome measure to regulate our conduct by that idea.- His Excellency acquaints you, that a very confiderable force, both by fea and land, is arrived at Cockspur, and it seems no addition to both is daily expected; but that, for the prefent, they do not mean to commit any act of hostility against this province. What their views there are, we are much at a lofs to determine; fince the appearance of fuch an armament, certainly implies a defign againft fomewhere. Perhaps their first and immediate operation may not be against this province; but are we not to confider ourfelves as a part of the whole? and is not this very errand to enforce thofe meafures which we have united to oppofe?. Under this view we appeal to all mankind, whether it would not be treachery, and a mean desertion of the cause, were we voluntarily (let the confequences be what they may) to contribute any thing to their affiftance which we can with-hold? You may believe us, Gentlemen, when we tell you, we want words to exprefs the concern we feel at the fituation of this province; we know the inconveniencies that muft arife

I i

from

from a diffolution of order and government, and could only chufe fuch a ftate as the alternative of a greater evil: our concern is also much increased, when, as a confequence, we find ourselves drove to the neceffity of setting up a diftinction between Englishmen and Americans, and of denying the former what we would cheerfully grant the latter. It would be needlefs and endless to enumerate the measures that have brought on this fituation; fuffice it to fay, that on our parts we have defired, and do now defire, nothing but the rights of Englishmen; and are firmly and obftinately determined to facrifice every thing to the purchase of them. By his Excellency's letter to you we find two things are required by the commander of the forces below; a friendly intercourfe, and supply of fresh provifions. As to the former, when you reflect upon the jealoufies and fufpicions that have taken poffeffion of the mind on both fides of the question, you will readily agree with us, that it is not only impoffible, but also, if attempted, might, from a small act of imprudence or inadvertence on either fide, precipitate the scene we fo much deprecate. And as to the latter, we hope our reasons and apprehenfions before affigned will fufficiently juftify us, in diffenting from the fame. This we mean as to the forces in general: the Scarborough man of war being a ftationed fhip, and the captain having declared he has only come to protect the trade, and not with any hoftile intentions against this province, we look upon in quite a different point of light, and have accordingly wrote to Capt. Barclay, that we have no objection to his being fupplied from time to time with fuch articles of provifions as the town af fords, fo long as the perfons and properties of the inhabitants remain unmolefted. All we requeft of him is, that he would be pleafed to do it through the medium of an agent or commiffary in town, and by a boat to be kept for that purpose, manned with people belonging to the place. This caution we think neceffary, as you know the town is at prefent filled with men whofe zeal or imprudence might perhaps carry them into exceffes which we wish to prevent, hould they intermix with men of different principles from themselves.

By order of the Congrefs, ARCHIBALD BULLOCK, President."

David Matthews, Efq; received a letter from Governor Tryon, dated, Ship Duchess of Gordon, North river, New York, March 16. 1776, viz.

"SIR, I defire you will lay before the gentlemen of the corporation the inclosed exhortation to the inhabitants of this colony, and that you will communicate the fame to the public, and alfo have it inferted in the feveral news-papers published in the city of New York. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, WM. TRYON.

The exhortation appeared in the NewYork Gazette of March 18. viz.

"To the Inhabitants of the Colony of

New York.

NOTWITHSTANDING prejudice, delufion, and faction, have hitherto, among too many, ufurped the feat of reafon and reflection, and every exhortation I have offered to the inhabitants of this province, (in whofe affection I have been taught to be happy), has been reviled, and treated with neglect; yet, as my wifhes for their profperity, and feelings for their calamities, cannot eafily be fuppreffed, even towards the difobedient, I cannot but repeat my endeavours to recal thofe who have revolted from their allegiance, to a sense of their duty; and to comfort those who have been the objects of oppreffion, for their zealous attachment to our happy conftitution, and their steady obedience to the fovereignty of the British empire.

It is in the clemency and authority of Great Britain only, under God, that we can look for happiness, peace, and protection; and I have it in command from the King, to encourage, by every means in my power, the expectations in his Majefty's well-difpofed fubjects in this government, of every affiftance and protection the state of Great Britain will enable his Majefty to afford them, and to cherifh every appearance of a difpofition ou their part to withstand the tyranny and mifrule which accompany the acts of thofe who have but too well hitherto fucceeded in the total fubverfion of legal government. Under fuch affurances, therefore, I exhort all the friends to good order, and our juftly-admired conftitution, ftill to preferve that conftancy of mind which is inherent in the breafts of virtuous and loyal citizens; and I trust a very few months will relieve them from