Meeting of the Freeholders and Freemen of Philadelphia

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At a very large and respectable Meeting of the Freeholders and Freemen of the City and County of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, held on Saturday, June 18, 1774.

T˙ WILLING, and JOHN DICKINSON, Esqs˙, Chairmen.

Resolved, 1st. That the Act of Parliament for shutting up the port of Boston, is unconstitutional, oppressive to the inhabitants of that town, dangerous to the liberties of the British Colonies, and that, therefore, we consider our brethren at Boston as suffering in the common cause of America.

2d. That a Congress of Deputies from the several Colonies in North America, is the most probable and proper mode of procuring relief for our suffering brethren, obtaining redress of American grievances, securing our rights and liberties, and re-establishing peace and harmony between Great Britain and these Colonies, on a constitutional foundation.

3d. That a large and respectable Committee be immediately appointed for the City and County of Philadelphia, to correspond with the sister Colonies, and with the several counties in this Province, in order that all may unite in promoting and endeavouring to attain the great and valuable ends mentioned in the foregoing resolution.

4th. That the Committee nominated by this meeting shall consult together, and, on mature deliberation, determine, what is the most proper mode of collecting the sense of this Province, and appointing Deputies for the same to attend a general Congress; and having determined thereupon, shall take such measures, as by them shall be judged most expedient for procuring this Province to be represented at the said Congress, in the best manner that can be devised for promoting the public welfare.

5th. That the Committee be instructed immediately to set on foot a subscription for the relief of such poor inhabitants of the town of Boston, as may be deprived of the means of subsistence by the operation of the Act of Parliament, commonly styled the Boston Port Bill, the money

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6th. That the Committee consist of forty-four persons, viz: John Dickinson, James Pemberton, Edward Pennington, John Nixon, Thomas Willing, George Clymer, Samuel Howell, Joseph Read, John Roberts, (miller,) Thomas Wharton, Jun˙, Charles Thomson, Jacob Barge, Thomas Barclay, William Rush, Robert Smith, (carpenter,) Thomas Fitzimons, George Roberts, Samuel Ervin, Thomas Mifflin, John Cox, George Gray, Robert Morris, Samuel Miles, John M˙ Nesbit, Peter Chevalier, William Moulder, Joseph Moulder, Anthony Morris, Jun˙, John Allen, Jeremiah Warder, Jun˙, Reverend Dr˙ William Smith, Paul Engle, Thomas Penrose, James Mease, Benjamin Marshall, Reuben Haines, John Bayard, Jonathan B˙ Smith, Thomas Wharton, Isaac Howell, Michael Hillegas, Adam Hubley, George Schloffer, and Christopher Ludwick, to whose approved integrity, abilities, and sincere affection for the interest of this immense Empire, their constituents look up for the most propitious events.