392 HISTORY OF 



from British Parliamentary despotism. Witness my 

 hand, the thirtieth day of March, A. D., one thousand 

 seven hundred and seventy-five. (Signed) 



"Charles Hamilton." 



Edward Shippen, Esq., George Ross, Esq., Jasper 

 Yeates, Esq., William Atlee, Esq., Adam Simon Kuhn^ 

 Esq., and William Bausman, Esq., or any four of them, 

 are appointed a standing committee of correspondence for 

 the county of Lancaster. 



The members of the committee for the county of Lan- 

 caster, now present, taking into consideration the conduct 

 of George Ross, Esq., in the late interesting dispute in 

 the House of Assembly of this province, respecting the 

 answer given to his honor, the Governor's message, re- 

 commending a separate petition to his Majesty from the 

 the said House of Assembly, do unanimously approve of 

 the active part taken by the said Mr. Ross in opposition 

 to that measure, as the same would tend to introduce dis- 

 union amongst the colonies ; and do return the thanks of 

 the committee to Mr. Ross, and the other worthy. members 

 of the honorable house, who have so steadily adhered to 

 the true welfare of their constituents in opposing a deep- 

 laid plan to disunite us. 



May 1st: — The association of the freemen and inhabi- 

 tants of the county of Lancaster, the 1st May, 1775. 



Whereas, the enemies of Great Britain and America 

 have resolved by force of arms to carry into execution the 

 most unjust, tyrannical, and cruel edicts of the British 

 Parliament, and reduce the freeborn sons of America to a 

 state of vassalage, and have flattered themselves, from 

 our unacquaintance with military discipline, that we 

 should become an easy prey to them, or tamely submit 

 and bend our necks to the yoke prepared for us : We do 

 most solemnly agree and associate imder the deepest sense 



