''This meeting being greatly alarmed at the late proceedings of the British Parliament, in order to raise a revenue in America, and considering their late most cruel, unjust and unwarrantable act for blocking up the port of Boston, having a direct tejidency to deprive a free people of their most valuable rights and privileges, an introduction to subjugate the inhabitants of the PJnglish colonies, and render them vassals to the British House of Commons, resolved, 1st, that they think it their greatest happiness to live under the illustrious house of Hanover, and that they will stedfastly and uniformly bear true and faithful allegiance to his majesty King George the Third, under the enjoyment of those constitutional rights and privileges, as fellow subjects, with those in England. Sndly ; but we conceive it a fundamental part of the British constitution, that no man shall be taxed, but by his own consent, or that of his Representatives in Parliament.

And as we are by no means represented, we consider all acts of Parliament imposing taxes on the Colonies an undue exertion of power, and subversive of one of the most valuable privileges of the English constitution.

3d. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the act of Parliament for shutting up the port of Boston, and divesting some of the inhabitants of pri-

348 HISTORY OF THE

Tate property, is a most unparalled, rigorous and unjust piece of cruelty and despotism.

4th. That unanimity and firmness of measures in the Colonies, are the most effectual means to secure the invaded rights and privileges of America, and to avoid the impending ruin which now threatens this once happy country.