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shortly to be held, and we are firmly persuaded the Governor
will not stir from his Station or do any Thing to disturb the
Peace of the Province between this Time and the Meeting of
that Body. We consider the Congress as having the supreme
Authority over the Continent and look up to them with Rev-
erence and Esteem, but that they cannot interfere with uncon-
troulable Power in the internal Polity of this or any other
Province, and herein we are supported by the Resolves of the
late Convention — if unhappily however they do not approve
our Conduct we are determined to call a Convention with all
convenient Speed and lay our whole Transactions before them,
that they may judge of the Propriety of what we have done.
We omitted informing you before that the Governor assured
us on his Honour, that he had received no other Letters from
the Ministry at Home but those he delivered to us and of
which we have heretofore sent you Copies: he has also given
us leave to search all his Papers if we think proper. We are
not convinced that he has carried on any Correspondence
with the Ministry unfriendly to America; if on Suspicion only
we seize the Head of the Civil Government all Commissions
of Magistrates, Sheriffs and other Offices flowing from him
must be at an end, and the Council of Safety have no Power
to fill the Vacancy — the convention have this Power inherent
in them as Representatives of the People, they have not com-
municated it to us, that we can find — on seizing the Governor
therefore the Convention ought to be immediately called
together to take the State & Condition of the Province into
their Consideration, and make Provision for the civil depart-
ment. If you recommend calling it earlier than the 27th we
shall pay due attention to the Day you fix on — we have done
every Thing in our power to promote the Interest and Peace
of the Province, and are firmly persuaded that if this Storm
blows over, that we shall continue to enjoy quiet some Time
longer, if not the whole Campaign; and perhaps before
another, all will be settled happily.
We write to the President by this Opportunity, and we think
ourselves fortunate in having W. P. with us and approving of
all we have done, and we doubt not you would have acted in
Substance as we have done, had you been here on the Spot.
Our Council consisting of D. J. C. C. J. H. B. R. and J. L.
were unanimous in their Opinion, and if we are suffered to go
on our own Way all will end as it should do — if on the other
hand the Governor is treated with Ignominy and Rigour and
laid under Arrest and guarded &c we cannot tell what will be
the Consequence — this we are certain of our Government will
be shaken to its very Foundations, and in what Form it would
be settled again we know not. A. Ross was taken by our
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