1774.] mSTOHY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 279 



[us] in doing the business proposed, which we earnestly wish and 

 desire may answer the good proposed, and the good purposes 

 intended by it. 



Chester July 4th 1774." 



The following is the record of the proceedings of the 

 meeting : 



" At a meeting of a very respectable number of the Freeholders 

 and others, inhabitants of the County of Chester at the court- 

 house on AVcdnesday the 18th of July, 1774, in consequence of 

 public notice for that purpose given, Francis Richardson Esq. 

 Chairman. 



" This Assembly, taking into their serious consideration, the 

 present critical and alarming situation of American affairs, and 

 the unhappy differences now subsisting between Great Britain 

 and her Colonies, do agree and resolve as follow, viz : 



"1. That the inhabitants of this county do owe, and will pay 

 all due faith and allegiance to our lawful and rightful sovereign 

 Lord George the Third, king of G. Britain, and the dominions 

 thereunto belonging. 



" 2. That it is an absolute right, inherent in every English 

 subject, to have free use, enjoyment and disposal of all his 

 property, either by himself or representative, and that no other 

 power on earth can legally divest him of it. 



" 3. That the act of Parliament lately passed for shutting up 

 the port of Boston is unconstitutional, oppressive to the in- 

 habitants of that town, in its consequences 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. 



" 4. That the protection of the liberties of America is an in- 

 dispensable duty, which we owe to ourselves, who enjoy tliem, 

 to our ancestors who transmitted them down, and to our pos- 

 terity who will claim them at our hands, as the best birthright 

 and noblest inheritance of mankind. 



" 5. AVe do agree with the Committee of the City and County 

 of Philadelpliia, that a Congress of Deputies from the said 

 Colonies is the most profitable and proper mode of procuring 

 relief for our suffering brethren, obtaining redress, preserving 

 our rights and liberties, and establishing peace and mutual con- 

 fidence between our Mother country and her Colonies, on a 

 constitutional foundation. 



" 6. The inhabitants of this County ought and will cheerfully 

 adopt, adhere to, and assist in executing all and singular such 

 peaceable and constitutional measures, which may hereafter be 

 agreed upon and determined by the said general Congress." 



