272 HISTORY OP 



several acts kindled in every patriotic bosom, a strong 

 opposition to the measures of the mother country, and 

 one circumstance after another led to an open rupture 

 between the colonies and the parent country, which hap- 

 pened about the year 1773, when the Bostonians threw 

 the tea overboard. From that time on, a flame was 

 kindled in every breast. Gen. Gage, from Britain, arrived 

 at Boston in 1774, with more troops, some having arrived 

 before, "to dragoon the Bostonians into compliance." — 

 The Bostonians had to suffer much; but their sufferings 

 excited the sympathy of others. Associations for their 

 relief were formed in nearly all the colonies ; even this 

 county was not the last nor least to aid in relieving their 

 suffering brethren, as will fully appear from the following 

 precious relic, which is deposited in the Prothonotary's 

 oflice of Lancaster county ;* 



Copy of a letter from the committee of correspondence 

 for the city of Philadelphia, directed to the freeholders 

 and other inhabitants of this place, dated about the 12th 

 of June, 1774. Runs in the words following to wit: 



Philadelphia, 



Gentlemen : — We beg leave to refer you to the enclosed 

 paper for the stops we have taken on the present alarm- 

 ing occasion. Tiie Governor declining to call the As- 

 sembly, renders it necessary to take the sentiments of 

 the Inhabitants ; and for that purpose it is agreed to call 

 a Meeting of the Inhabitants of this city and the county 

 at the State House, on Wednesday, the 15th instant. — 

 And as we would wish to have the sentiments and con- 

 currence of our brethren in the several counties, who 

 are equally interested with us in the General Cause, we 

 earnestly desire you to call together the principal Inhab- 



*An abridgement of this relic would have destroyed the in* 

 terest of the whole. 



