Circular Letter from the Wilmington Committee to the Freeholders

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GENTLEMEN: At this conjuncture of British politicks, when the liberty and property of North American subjects are at stake, when the schemes of a designing Minister are so far matured to action, that the port of Boston is shut up, that the charter of Massachusetts Bay is cruelly infringed, and its Government converted into one nearly military, to be silent would be insidious.

To avoid such an imputation to this part of the Province, we, the subscribers, appointed a Committee of Correspondence for the town and District of Wilmington, at a most respectable meeting of the freeholders of this district, by their express command, take this earliest opportunity of acquainting you with their resolutions, a copy of which we now enclose you, and request that you would send the Members, already by you elected, to represent you in General Assembly, or such other persons whom you shall approve of, to appear as your Deputies at the Court House of Johnston County, on the 20th day of August next, possessed of the sentiments of those in whose behalf they attend, and with full power to express it as obligatory on the future conduct of the inhabitants of this Province; and then and there to consult and determine what may be necessary to the general welfare of America, and of this Province. We at the same time take the liberty to inform you that there has been set on foot a subscription for the

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We rely upon your sending an immediate answer to these our proposals, and wishing you success in all your efforts for the support of the constitutional liberties of America, permit us to subscribe ourselves, &c.