The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia, Dec. 22:

At a Meeting of the Officers, under the Command of the Right Honourable the EARL of DUNMORE, convened at Fort Gower, Nov. 5th, 1774, for the Purpose of considering the Grievances of BRITISH AMERICA; An Officer present addressed the Meeting in the following Words:

"GENTLEMEN,

It is with the utmost Concern we see the present distracted State of our Country, and the Calamities of our Fellow Subjects in Boston, and ourselves, it only remains that we should give our Country the strongest Assurance, that we are ready at all Times, to the utmost of our Power, to maintain her just Rights and Privileges.

We have lived above three Months in the Woods, without any Intelligence from Boston, or from the Delegates at Philadelphia.

It is possible, from the groundless Reports of designing Men, that our Countrymen may be jealous of the use such a Body would make of the Arms in their Hands at this critical Juncture. -- That we are a respectable Body is certain, when it is considered that we can live Weeks without Bread or Salt, that we can sleep in the open Air, without any Covering but that of the Canopy of Heaven, and that our Men can march and shoot with any in the known World. Blessed with these Talents, let us solemnly engage to one another, and to our Country in particular, that we will use them to no Purpose, but for the Honour and Advantage of America in general, and of Virginia in particular. It behoves us then, for the Satisfaction of our Country, that we should give them our real Sentiments, by way of Resolves, at this very alarming Crisis."

Whereupon the Meeting made choice of a Committee to draw up and prepare Resolves for their Consideration, who immediately withdrew, and after some Time spent therein, reported, that they had agreed to and prepared the following Resolves, which were read, maturely considered, & agreed to, Nemine Contradicente, by the Meeting, and ordered to be published in the Virginia Gazette.

Resolved, That we bear the most faithful Allegiance to his Majesty King George the III d. while his Majesty delights to reign over a brave and free People; that we will, at the Expense of Life, and every Thing dear & valuable, exert Ourselves in Support of the Honour of his Crown and the Dignity of the British Empire.

But, as the Love of Liberty, and Attachment to the real Interests and just Rights of America, outweigh every other Consideration, we resolve, that we will exert every Power within us for the Defence of American Liberty, and for the Support of her just Rights and Privileges, not in any precipitate, riotous or tumultuous Manner, but when regularly called forth by the unanimous Voice of our Countrymen.

Resolved, That we entertain the greatest Respect for his Excellency the Right Honorable Lord DUNMORE, who commanded the Expedition against the Shawanese, and who, we are confident underwent the greatest Fatigue of this singular Campaign, from no other Motive than the true Interest of this Country.

Signed by Order and in Behalf of the whole Corps,
BENJAMIN ASHBY, Clerk.