Letter to the Merchants of Canada.

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Mr˙ Scott, from the Committee appointed to confer with Mr˙ Price, of Montreal, reported a draught of a Letter to the Merchants of Canada; which was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 13, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Mr˙ Price, one of the inhabitants of your Province, has signified to us the absolute necessity of keeping up a communication between New-York and Canada, by the establishment of a regular post. The friendly sentiments which we feel for our brethren in the northern parts of this Continent, commanded our ready acquiescence in those reasons which that gentleman assigned in favour of such a communication as the necessary commercial intercourse between you and the rest of the world seems evidently to require. You may easily conceive that our ability is equal to our wishes, to support that communication up to Crown Point. To establish that place or Ticonderoga for the exchange of the mails between your country and ours, is the most proper expedient to obtain the end proposed; and the means of communication between Montreal and the place to be agreed on for exchange of the mails, rest entirely with you. Upon the first information you may be pleased to afford us of an establishment in your quarter, we shall not fail in conspiring with you by a similar establishment on our part.

We should be extremely sorry should the misrepresentations of the enemies of America impress our brethren in Canada with an opinion that the Confederated Colonies on this Continent aim at independence. Our allegiance to our Prince, and our attachment to the illustrious House of Hanover, we rank among our most singular blessings. A due subordination to Parliament, in matters for which they alone are competent, we wish firmly to maintain. Our resistance to Ministerial measures proceeds not either from a desire to oppose the rightful authority of our Sovereign, or the constitutional acts of the supreme Legislature of the British Empire. But while we are contented that Great Britain should enjoy that pre-eminence alone which properly belongs to the parent State, as individuals we are resolved to stand on the same secure basis of liberty with our fellow-subjects on the other side of the Atlantick, which can never be obtained under taxations by authority of Parliament. In prosecuting this idea of freedom, we include our brethren the inhabitants of the Province of Quebeck, as far as will consist with the utmost of their wishes.

For a further evidence of the sincerity of our intentions, we beg leave to refer you to Mr˙ Price, and to assure you that we are, gentlemen and brethren, with the most undissembled friendship, your very humble servants.

By order and on behalf of the Congress.

To the Gentlemen Merchants of the Province of Quebeck,

Ordered, That two copies of the said Letter be engrossed, signed by the President, and delivered to Mr˙ Price unsealed, to be by him sealed at such time and place as he shall, think most prudent.

Ordered, That one half of the printed Letters to the inhabitants of Quebeck be delivered to Mr˙ Price, and that he be requested to have them distributed in the most advantageous manner.

The Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o' clock.