as the present. There is no defending ourselves against the Consequences, and we must patiently submit. But if the two Houses of Parliament have a Right to call for State Papers to be laid before them, as being the great Council of the Nation, it seems astonishing they should not, from Motives of Policy, keep those kind of Communications perfectly secret, as all other national Councils do. The Evil is not merely the exposing an Officer to the Resentment of an ungovernable Populace but the furnishing the Enemies of the Nation with such Intelligence of the State of Affairs as must often be of great Detriment to the Publick. I must beg therefore that the secret Intelligence I sent your Lordship by the last Packet may be destroyed, as should it be copied & transmitted here, it would probably prove the Destruction of a very worthy Gentleman, and one of the warmest Friends to Government in this Country. I have the Honor to be, with the greatest Respect & Regard, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient W FRANKLIN Resolutions of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey in favor of non-exportation, and appointing a fast day. [From the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, Wednesday, May 31, 1775, No. 1695.] IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, at Trenton, New Jersey, May 26, 1775 THE Continental Congress having resolved unanimously, "That all exportations to Quebec, Nova Scotia, the Island of St. John's, Newfoundland, Georgia, except the Parish of St. John's, and to East and West Florida, immediately cease, and that no provisions of any kind, or other necessaries, be furnished to the British Fisheries on the American Coasts, until it be otherwise determined by the Congress.' Resolved unanimously, That this Congress earnestly recommend to the good people of this province, that they most religiously adhere to the said Resolution; and that the Secretary publish this our Resolve in one or more of the public News-Papers. JONATHAN D. SERGEANT, Secretary. [From the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, June 7, 1775, No. 1696.] IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS of New Jersey, Trenton, June 3, 1775. Resolved, THAT this Congress do earnestly recommend to the inhabitants of every religious denomination, throughout this province, that Thursday the twenty-ninth day of June, inst. be observed by them, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, (unless the Continental Congress shall, before that time, appoint some other day) in order to deprecate the displeasure of Almighty God, in this season of public calamity; and humbly to implore his divine Blessing on such measures as may be used for supporting our invaluable rights and privileges; and restoring concord and harmony between Great Britain and her American Colonies. H. FISHER, President. Letter from Samuel Holland to the Earl of Dartmouth, transmitting the plans of last summer's survey. [From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 279.] PERTH AMBOY, New Jerseys, 27th May. 1775. The Right Honorable the Earl of Dartmouth My Lord, I have now the Honor to transmit the Plan of Our last Summers Survey of Boston Harbor, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, the Elizabeth Islands, & Narraganset Bay, by a Scale of two Miles to an Inch; & to elucidate these Surveys I have added thereto the Sea Coast from Falmouth in Casco Bay; & included the Bounds of the several Townships, Claims & Patents of the Province of New Hampshire. I have likewise the Honor to transmit a plan of Boston Harbor, & another of Plymouth Harbor, both by the large Scale: -All of which I hope will receive Your Lordship's Approbation, & give a Sufficient Idea of the Country. The Soundings, Sholes & other particulars which are wanting in these Plans, to make them of the least Use to the Navigator, I wish I could have inserted. But as I have had no assistance from the Navy in that Respect, I must hope an opportunity will sometime offer, for completing that requisite Addition, & which I presume will be all that is found Wanting to make them perfect. I am affraid this Summer's Surveys will not equal those of former Years; as the present Situation of public Affairs is such as to make the Continuance of Our Ship under the Admiral's immediate Command, still necessary, & she is now at Halifax, which is inconvenient for our getting the Stores requisite for our Equipment; but I will endeavour to do all that can be done: Yet My Lord, this will occasion no material Delay to the Service, as there is much Drawing to be done, which will employ those of my Party fully, who are not surveying. I hope then to be ready with the projection, whenever I am favored with the Nova Scotia Surveys of M Desbarres, which I have taken the Liberty to request might be sent me as soon as possible, as the Want of them is the only Thing which delays that Performance; & as to send It to Your Lordship without their being inserted, would not do us the Honor we flatter ourselves We shall obtain, by transmitting one Compact Piece, so neither will it give that satisfaction or be of that Utility it ought. I am, With sincere Respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's Most Obedient & Most Humble Servant SAMUEL HOLLAND. Proceedings of the Inhabitants of Shrewsbury. [From New Jersey Historical Soceity Manuscripts.] At a Meeting of freeholders and Inhabitants of the township of Shrewsbury this 27th Day of May, 1775, the following Persons were By a Great Majority Chosen a Committee of Observation for the Said town agreeable to the Direction of the General Continental Congress held at Philadelphia y 5th of September, 1774, viz: Josiah Holmes, Joseph Throckmorton, Thomas Morford, Garret Longstreet, Nicholas Vanbrunt, Cornelius Vandeveer, Samuel Longstreet, Daniel Hendrickson. Ordered, that Daniel Hendrickson and Nicholas Vanbrunt, or Either of them, Do attend the provincial Congress now Sitting at Trentown, With full power to Represent there this town of Shrewsbury. And that Josiah Holmes, David Knott and Samuel Breese Be a Sub-Committee to prepare Instructions for the Deputy or Deputies who are to attend the Congress at Trentown. Josiah Holmes was Unanimously Chosen Chairman. JOSIAH HOLMES, Chairman and Town Clerk. Letter from Gov. Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, giving an account of proceedings in New Jersey, the effect of "the unfortunate affair at Lexington," and transmitting a number of Papers. [From P. R. O., America and West Indies, Vol. 195.] PERTH AMBOY, June 5th 1775 Right Honble the Earl of Dartmouth, &c My Lord, I informed your Lordship in my last Dispatch (N 22.) that I had called a Meeting of the Assembly, in order to lay before them the Resolution of the House of Commons of the 20th of Feb' respecting the Taxation of the Colonies. As that Resolution was greatly misunderstood and misrepresented throughout America, and had not been properly explained in any of the Colonies, His Majesty's Council of this Province were of opinion it could answer no valuable Purpose to communicate it to the Assembly, unless it was accompanied with the Explanation of it given in your Lordship's separate Dispatch of the 3d of March; but as your Lordship, in your private Letter of that Date, |