All the above extracts occur in the body of the work. In that, particular references to volumes are intended, except the Journals of Congress, which being in chronological order, the dates are thought sufficient.

The short parts in the language of the editor, are distinguishable by a smaller type without the marks of quotation.

Although great care has been observed, it is not presumed to have secured entire correctness. Labor bestowed to discover and rectify any material errors which have escaped notice, will be gratefully considered in aid of the original purpose.

However this attempt may be estimated, the editor enjoys the consciousness of intending something useful-something to recall due attention and inquiry to examples and counsels, on which, under Providence, depended the preservation of this country, through the threatening dangers of a first, a second, and a third crisis in its history, as a Nation.

BOSTON, May, 1845.

REMARKS, ETC. INTRODUCTORY TO THE FIRST NUMBER.

This number begins with short accounts of some of the movements towards the first Continental Congress, and ends at the time when General Washington left Philadelphia, in pursuance of his appointment, as Commander-in-Chief of the American army, June, 1775; embracing the period in which our Union originated, and at the close of which this country took its departure on the great voyage of the Revolution.

The LEADING FATHERS then, were remarkable for their careful endeavors to explain to the understanding of the people, the causes and nature both of their difficulties, and of the measures which they adopted to remove those difficulties. Their language was intelligible. To their writings in this number, the reader is therefore referred, to satisfy such inquiries as the following:

What was the real point of difference, which led to the separation of this country from Great Britain?

To what degree, or how close at that period, was intended or supposed to be, that Connection which was formed preparatory to such separation from the mother country, and which was called THE UNION?

Who delegated the members to Congress? Did the Provinces, as Provinces; or, did the People delegate them?

What degree of power was vested in Congress; what degree cheerfully submitted to, did that body exercise?

For whom did Congress act? for the Provinces, as such; or, for the People?

The answers may be found in the expressions of Congress, those of public bodies in the Provinces or Colonies, and of distinguished individuals.

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First read the Extracts in the Preface.

PROCEEDINGS IN VIRGINIA, IN 1774.

In 1821, Mr. Jefferson said: In May, 1769, a meeting of the General Assembly was called by the Governor, Lord Botetourt. I had then become a member, and to that meeting became known the joint resolutions and address of the Lords and Commons of 1768-9, on the proceedings in Massachusetts. Counter resolutions, and an address to the king by the House of Burgesses, were agreed to with little opposition, and a spirit manifestly displayed itself of considering the cause of Massachusetts as a common one. The Governor dissolved us.

'The next event which excited our sympathies for Massachusetts, was the Boston Port Bill, by which that port was to be shut up on the 1st of June, 1774. This arrived while we were in session in the spring of that year. The lead in the House on these subjects, being no longer left to the old members, Mr. Henry, R. H. Lee, F. L. Lee, three or four other members, whom I do not recollect, and myself, agreeing that we must boldly take an unequivocal stand in the line of Massachusetts, determined to meet and consult on the proper measures, in the Council chamber, for the benefit of the library in that room. We were under conviction of the necessity of arousing our people from the lethargy into which they had fallen, as to passing events; and thought that the appointment of a day of general Fasting and Prayer, would be most likely to call up and alarm their attention. With the help, therefore, of Rushworth, we cooked up a resolution, somewhat modernizing the phrases, for appointing the 1st day of June, on which the Port Bill was to commence!-Jeff. Writ. vol. i, p. 3, 5.

The following is the Resolution, or Order, which may be found in Wirt's Life of Patrick Henry, page 95.

'TUESDAY, the 24th of May, 14 Geo. III. 1774. 'This House being deeply impressed with apprehension of the great dangers to be derived to British America, from the hostile invasion of the city of Boston, in our sister Colony of Massachusetts

Bay, whose commerce and harbor are, on the first day of June next, to be stopped by an armed force, deem it highly necessary that the said first day of June next, be set apart by the members of this House, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, devoutly to implore the divine interposition for averting the heavy calamity which threatens destruction to our civil rights, and the evils of civil war; to give us one heart and one mind, firmly to oppose, by all just and proper means, every injury to American rights.

Ordered, therefore, that the members of this House do attend in their places, at the hour of ten in the forenoon, on the said first day of June next, in order to proceed with the Speaker and the Mace to the church in this city, for the purposes aforesaid; and that the Rev. Mr. Price be appointed to read prayers, and to preach a sermon suitable to the occasion. In consequence of this order, Governor Dunmore on the following day dissolved the House.

'We retired to the Apollo,' says Mr. Jefferson,' agreed to an Association, and instructed the committee of correspondence to propose to the corresponding committees of the other Colonies, to appoint deputies to meet in Congress at such place, annually, as should be convenient to direct from time to time, the measures required by the general interest: and we declared that an attack on any one Colony should be considered as an attack on the whole. We further recommended to the several counties to elect deputies to meet at Williamsburgh the first of August ensuing, to consider the state of the Colony, and particularly to appoint delegates to a General Congress, should that measure be acceded to by the committees of correspondence generally. It was acceded to. Philadelphia was appointed for the place, and the fifth of September for the time of meeting.

'We returned home, and in our several counties invited the clergy to meet assemblies of the people on the first of June, to perform the ceremonies of the day, and to address to them discourses suited to the occasion. The people met generally, with anxiety and alarm in their countenances, and the effect of the day, through the whole Colony, was like a shock of electricity, arousing every man, and placing him erect and solidly on his centre. They chose universally delegates for the Convention.'-Jeff. Writ. vol. i, p. 6.

The following are extracts from the Association mentioned above by Mr. Jefferson.

'An Association, signed by eighty-nine members of the late House of Burgesses.

We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the late rep

* The name of a public room in the Raleigh Tavern.'

resentatives of the good people of this country, having been deprived, by the sudden interposition of the Executive part of this government, from giving our countrymen the advice we wished to convey to them in a legislative capacity, find ourselves under the hard necessity of adopting this, the only method we have left, of pointing out to our countrymen such measures as, in our opinion, are best fitted to secure our dear rights and liberty from destruction, by the heavy hand of power now lifted against North America.

1 'We are clearly of opinion, that an attack made on one of our sister Colonies, to compel submission to arbitrary taxes, is an attack made on all British America, and threatens ruin to the rights of all, unless the united wisdom of the whole be applied. And for this purpose it is recommended to the Committee of correspondence, that they communicate with their several corresponding Committees, on the expediency of appointing deputies from the several Colonies of British America, to meet in General Congress at such place annually, as shall be thought most convenient, there to deliberate on those general measures which the united interests of America may from time to time require.-Wirt's Life of Patrick Henry, p. 96-7.

The 27th day of May, 1774.

The spirit and views of the people of the several counties appear in their instructions to their delegates; and, of their instructions, the reader may judge by the following extracts from those of the county of Hanover.

TO JOHN SYME and PATRICK HENRY, junior, esquires.

'Gentlemen: You have our thanks for your patriotic, faithful, and spirited conduct, in the part you acted in the late Assembly as our Burgesses, and as we are greatly alarmed at the proceedings of the British Parliament respecting the town of Boston and the Province of Massachusetts Bay; and as we understand a meeting of delegates from all the counties in this Colony is appointed to be in Williamsburgh on the first day of next month, to deliberate on our public affairs, we do hereby appoint you, Gentlemen, our delegates; and we do request you, then and there, to meet, consult, and advise, touching such matters as are most likely to effect our deliverance from the evils with which our country is threatened.

'The importance of those things which will offer themselves for your deliberation is exceedingly great, and when it is considered that the effect of the measures you may adopt will reach our latest posterity, you will excuse us for giving you our sentiments, and pointing out some particulars, proper for that plan of conduct we wish you to observe.

Country, here, evidently meant Virginia. At that time it was so applied to others Provinces; and, subsequently, Patriotism signified attachment and fidelity to a Province, a State or to the whole Union, as the views of individuals were less or more extended.