ht to
remain in a state of nature as long as they please, they proceed to a
report upon the natural rights of the colonists as men, christians,
and subjects; and then form a list of infringements and violations of
their rights. They enumerate and dwell upon the British parliament's
having assumed the power of legislation for the colonies in all cases
whatsoever--the appointment of a number of new officers to superintend
the revenues--the granting of salaries out of the American revenue, to
the governor, the judges of the superior court, the king's attorney
and solicitor general. The report was accepted; copies printed; and
six hundred circulated through the towns and districts of the
province, with a pathetic letter addressed to the inhabitants, who
were called upon not to doze any longer, or sit supinely in
indifference, while the iron hand of oppression was daily tearing the
choicest fruits from the fair tree of liberty. The circular letter
requested of each town a free communication of sentiments on the
subjects of the report, and was directed to the select men, who were
desired to lay the same before a town meeting, which has been
generally practised, and the proceedings of the town upon the business
have been transmitted to the committee at Boston. This committee have
their particular correspondents in the several towns, who, upon
receiving any special information, are ready to spread it with
dispatch among the inhabitants. It consists of twenty-one persons of
heterogeneous qualities and professions, &c."

_Gordon's Hist. Am. War_, vol. I. p. 312.

* * * * *

NOTE--No. VII.--_See Page 425._

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE MEMBERS COMPOSING THE FIRST CONGRESS:

_New Hampshire._

John Sullivan,
Nathaniel Fulsom.

_Massachusetts Bay._

James Bowdoin,
Thomas Cushing,
Samuel Adams,
John Adams,
Robert Treat Paine.

_Rhode Island and Providence Plantations._

Stephen Hopkins,
Samuel Ward.

_Connecticut._

Eliphalet Dyer,
Roger Sherman,
Silas Deane.

_From the city and county of New York, and other counties
in province of New York._

James Duane,
Henry Wisner,
John Jay,
Philip Livingston,
Isaac Low,
John Alsop.

_From the county of Suffolk, in the province of New York._

William Floyd.

_New Jersey._

James Kinsey,
William Livingston,
John Dehart,
Stephen Crane,
Richard Smith.

_Pennsylvania._

Joseph Galloway,
Charles Humphreys,
Samuel Rhoads,
G