on the continent. It is the alma mater to whom the youth of this colony in particular, are sent, whether designed for the pul pit, the bar, or other callings. Here they receive the rudiments of those qualifications by which they are enabled to serve their country in a civil or sacred department. The salaries of the ministers are moderate, but in, general sufficient for their support, by the aid of good economy. They cannot approve of often bringing politics into the pulpit, yet they apprehend it to be right upon special occasions. Who but must admit, that "it is certainly the duty of the clergy to accommodate their discourses to the times; to preach against such sins as are most prevalent, and to recommend such virtues as are most wanted. For example, if exorbitant ambition and venality are predominant, -ought they not to warn their hearers against the vices? If public spirit is much wanted, should they not inculcate this great virtue? If the rights and duties of magistrates and subjects are disputed, should they not explain them, show their nature, ends, limitations, and restrictions ?" You have frequently remarked, that though the partizans of arbitrary power will freely censure that preacher who speaks boldly for the liberties of the people, they will admire as an excellent divine, the parson whose discourse is wholly in the opposite strain, and teaches that magistrates have a divine right for doing wrong, and are to be implicitly obeyed; men professing christianity, as if the religion of the blessed Jesus bound them tamely to part with their natural and social rights, and slavishly to bow their neck to any tyrant; as if Paul was faulty in standing up for his Roman privileges, that he might escape a scourging, or falling a sacrifice to the malice of his countrymen, when he appealed unto Cæsar. [Dec. 8.] The provincial congress choose colonel Thomas and colonel Heath, additional generals, and soon after dissolved themselves, that they might be at home in time to keep thanksgiving with their families. It has been long a custom in the co lony to have a fast day in the spring, and a thanksgiving late in the fall of the year, or in the beginning of winter, when the heads of families collect their children around them; and beside attending the religious exercises of the day, feast upon a plentiful though not a splendid table, and are innocently merry. The observation of this day they call "a keeping thanksgiving. The appointment, of both days, belongs in an orderly way, to the governor; but in these extraordinary times the provincial congress appointed the public thansgiving, on which among other enumerated blessings, a particular acknowledgment was to be made to the Almighty, for the union which so remarka¬ hly prevails in all the colonies, The The assembly of Pennsylvania met toward the close of the year, and were the first legal body of representatives that ritified unanimously all the acts of the general congress, and appointed delegates to represent them in the new congress, to be held the ensuing May. It is thought that they were in a great measure dragged into it, from the fear of a provincial convention. No sooner did they receive at Rhode-Island the account of the royal preclamation, prohibiting the exportation of military stores from Britain, but the people seized upon and removed from the batteries about the harbour, above forty cammon, of different sizes. The assembly also passed resolutions for procuring arms and military stores by every mean, and from every quarter in which they could be obtained, as well as for training and arming the inhabitants. When copies of these resolutions and of the proclamation, arrived at Portsmouth, in New-Hampshire, the people of the province were spirited up to make their first hostile movement. Though governor Wentworth's influence could not prevent their appointing deputies, holding a convention at Exeter, and choosing delegates for the continental congress, yet he had the address to moderate their tempers, and to keep them from acts of violence. But the example of their neighbors, and the alarming situation of affairs, at length roused them to uncommon exertions. [Dec. 14.] More than four hundred men collected, and beset his majesty's castle at Portsmouth. Captain Cochran, who commanded, ordered three four pounders to be fired on them, and then the small arms; before he could be ready to fire again, the fort was stormed on all quarters, and the assailants immediately secured both him and his men, and kept them prisoners about an hour and a half, during which they broke open the powder-house, took all the powder away, except one barrel, and having put it in boats and sent it off, released him from his confinement. The hardy inhabitants of Marblehead, used to all the toils and dangers of a sea-faring life, being out of employ, have attended to military exercise for hours, three days in a week, and will soon constitute a fine regiment of soldiers. The gentlemen of the place have encouraged them by their own example, and made it profitable to them. Something similar has been practised at Salem and other towns. The militia of the colony will, therefore, acquire some knowledge of arms before they are called to engage in actual service, should that unhappily be the issue of present measures. The Virginia militia officers, under the command of lord Dun more, convened at Fort Gower, on November the fifth, have shown shown what may be expected from them; for though they resolved to bear the most faithful allegiance to his majesty, they declared that the love of liberty and attachment to the real in terests and just rights of America, outweighed every other consideration, and that they would exert every power within them for the defence of American liberty, when regularly called forth by the unanimous voice of their countrymen. Barnstable, in New-England, and Ridgefield, in Connecticut, have distinguished themselves in adopting measures different from the other towns in their respective colonies. But the NewYork representatives have given the greatest disgust. After the assembly's taking into consideration the regulations agreed upon at the grand congress, respecting commerce, they rejected the same. This however was thought to be compensated for, by the late resolution of the Pennsylvania convention [Jan. 23, 1775.] wherein they have declared, "That if the petition of the continental congress should be disregarded, and the British administration should determine by force to effect a submission to the late arbitrary acts of the British parliament; in such a situation, we hold it our indispensable duty to resist such force, and at every hazard to defend the rights and liberties of America." The convention likewise recommended in particular the making of salt, gun-powder, salt-petre, and steel. Among the many sons of liberty of which they were composed, Mr. Charles Thomson was eminent for inflexible spirit; but Mr. Thomas Mifflin was as the very soul of the capital and province. Such are his natural and acquired accomplishments, his unwearied exertions, his zeal, his address, his sprightliness, that he enlight ens and invigorates every thing around him. the The inhabitants of Maryland were no less zealous on present critical occasion, than those of the most active provinces. They were all in motion, forming county meetings, entering into associations, choosing committees, and recommending measures for carrying the resolutions of the continental congress into effectual exccution. The convention has appointed a sum of money for the purchase of arms and ammunition. Every person who refuses to contribute to the purchase, is deemed an enemy to his country. Many of the principal gentlemen are ambitious of appearing in arms to defend its liberties. They have taken the power of the militia out of the hands of the governor, and established it by their own authority, for the defence of the Massachusetts as well as of themselves; and thus have shown to all the world, their approbation of New-England measures. The lower counties of the Delaware have acted in like manner. [Jan. [Jan. 27.] The New-Hampshire assembly, in answer to a letter from Maryland, has gone further than ever before, in saying, "You may depend upon the ready concurrence of this house, with the measures thought necessary to be pursued by the other colonies in the great cause of liberty." But the province did not trust to the complection of the assembly. A convention of deputies was appointed by the several towns, and held at Exeter, when the proceedings of the continental congress were unanimously approved; and members chosen to represent them at the ensuing one, two days before the assembly gave their answer. Most of the New-Yorkers accommodate themselves to the measures appointed by the general congress. The general committee in Charleston, South-Carolina, upon receiving an account of these measures, immediately convened a provincial congress, and procured a return of representatives from every parish and district in the colony, by which mean the body consisted of more than two hundred, while the constitutional assembly amounts to no more than forty-nine. The increase of the representatives naturally served the cause of the country, by engaging a greater number of leaders in support of it. This first provincial congress met on the eleventh of January; they have unanimously approved the proceedings of the general congress, and resolved to carry them into execu tion. Committees of inspection and observation have also been appointed, whose business it is to see that the public resolutions are universally obeyed, that so they may not be broken through the selfishness of individuals. This is the prevailing mode of guarding against such selfishness in every colony. From the former success of non-importation agreements, and a belief that the trade of America is indispensably necessary to Britain, it is generally hoped and expected in the southern states, that the obnoxious acts will be repealed. They have no idea of an appeal to the sword, notwithstanding all the military parade that exists. A bloodless self-denying opposition is the whole of their real intention, and all the sacrifice that they imagine will be required. Similar sentiments prevail among great numbers in the Massachusetts; who, while they are preparing for war, expect that present appearances will never terminate in it; for that Great-Britain will not fight with her best customers, but will relax and accommodate when they find the Americans absolutely determined to use their arms rather than submit. Persons who discover great anxiety about the continuance of trade, are considered as selfish, preferring private interest to the good of the country; and under this thought, the intemperate zeal zeal of the populace in some places, transports them beyond the limits of moderation, to apply singular punishments to in dividuals who counteract the general sense of the community. There is however to appearance an amazing agreement through the continent; and it may be imagined, that the inhabitants of the twelve colonics have but one heart, and but one understanding. Assemblies, conventions, congresses, towns, cities, pri vate clubs and circles, are seemingly animated by one great, wise, active, and noble spirit-one masterly soul, enlivening one vigorous body. All their acts tend to the same point, the supporting of the measures of the continental congress. But be assured there are great numbers in every colony, who disapprove of these measures-a few comparatively, from principle and a persuasion that the same are wrong, and that they ought to submit to the mother country-some through attachment to the late governmental authority exercised among them-many from self-interest-but the bulk for fear of the mischievous consequences likely to follow. The professing friends of liberty have acted in a spirited manner, while the others have lain still. Such as have discovered a disposition to oppose popular measures, have not been supported, and therefore have declined making further efforts, and absented themselves from town and other meetings. The popular cry being against them, they have sought personal peace and safety in remaining quiet. But could the truth be ascertained, it would probably be discovered, that in most of the town and other mectings, even in New-England, far more than half the parties having a right to attend, from various causes were absent; and that there were a great many among the absentees, who were such, because they knew that matters would be carried at such meetings contrary to their own sentiments. Not only so, but it may be reasonably supposed, and time may prove, that several in assemblies, conventions, and congresses, voted against their own opinion, to secure them-selves from resentment, and to promote their present interest. An inclination has appeared in several of the governmental gentlemen now in Boston, to attempt opening the court at Worcester, and to support it by the aid of two regiments. It has been the subject of conversation. When the proposal of marching them came to be considered in council, it was laid aside. The governor was well pleased with the determination. He certainly does not wish to bring on a rupture. Now let me conclude with giving you a picture of the Massachusetts colony, which you will be inclined to pronounce an uncommon and astonishing curiosity. Some hundred thousand people are in a state of nature, and yet as still and peaceable at present |