202 AUTHEXTIC HISTORY 



MEETING ON BOSTON PORT BILL. 



Philadelphia^ June^ 1774. 

 At a very large and respectable meeting of the free-holders and freemen 

 of the city and county of Philadelphia, on Saturday, June 18, 1774, 

 Thomas Willing^ and John Dichinson, Usqrs., Chairmen. 



I. Resolved^ That the act of parliament, for shutting up the port of 

 Boston, is unconstitutional; oppressive to the inhabitants of that town; 

 dangerous to the liberties of the British colonies; and that, therefore, we 

 consider our brethren, at Boston, as suffering in the common cause of 

 America. 



II. That a congress of deputies from the several colonies in North 

 America, is the most probable and proper mode of procuring relief for 

 our suffering brethren, obtaining redress of American grievances, secur- 

 ing our rights and liberties, and re-establishing peace and harmony 

 between Great Britain and these colonies, on a constitutional foundation. 



III. That a large and respectable committee be immediately appointed 

 for the city and county of Philadelphia, to correspond with the sister 

 colonies and with the several counties in this province, in order that all 

 may unite in promoting and endeavoring to attain the great and valuable 

 ends, mentioned in the foregoing resolution. 



IV. That the committee nominated by this meeting shall consult 

 together, and on mature deliberation determine what is the most proper 

 mode of collecting the sense of this province, and appointing deputies 

 for the same, to attend a general congress ; and having determined there- 

 upon, shall take such measures, as by them shall be judged most expe- 

 dient, for procuring this province to be represented at the said congress, 

 in the best manner that can be devised for promoting the public welfare. 



V. That the committee be instructed immediately to set on foot a 

 subscription for the relief of such poor inhabitants of the town of Bos- 

 ton, as may be deprived of the means of subsistence by the operation of 

 the act of parliament, commonly styled the Boston Port Bill — the money 

 arising from such subscriptions to be laid out as the committee shall 

 think will best answer the ends proposed. 



VI. That the committee consist of forty-three persons, viz. John Dick- 

 inson, Edward Pennington, John Nixon, Thomas Willing, George Cly- 

 mer, Samuel Howell, Joseph Keed, John Eoberts, (miller) Thomas Whar- 

 ton, junr., Charles Thompson, Jacob Barge, Thomas Barclay, William 

 Eush, Eobert Smith, (carpenter,) Thomas Fitzsimons, George Eoberts, 

 Samuel Ervin, Thomas Mifflin, John Cox, George Gray, Eobert Morris, 

 Samuel Miles, John M. Nesbit, Peter Chevalier, Wm. Moulder, Joseph 

 Moulder, Anthony Morris, junr., John Allen, Jeremiah Warder, junr., 

 Eev. Dr. William Smith, Paul Engle, Thomas Penrose, James Mease, 



