Letter from the Congress at Philadelphia

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The Lord Mayor now informed the citizens that he had received a letter from the Congress at Philadelphia, signed John Hancock, and addressed to the Lord Mayor and Livery of London, which was read, and is as follows:

Philadelphia, July 8, 1775.

"MY LORD: Permit the Delegates of the people of the twelve ancient Colonies to pay your Lordship, and the very respectable body of which you are head, the just tribute of gratitude and thanks for the virtuous and unsolicited resentment you have shown to the violated rights of a free people. The City of London, my Lord, having in all ages approved itself the patron of liberty and the support of just government, against lawless tyranny and oppression, cannot fail to make us deeply sensible of the powerful aid our cause must receive from such advocates — a cause, my Lord, worthy the support of the first city in the world, as it involves the fate of a great Continent, and threatens to shake the foundations of a flourishing, and, until lately, a happy Empire.

North-America, my Lord, wishes most ardently for a lasting connection with Great Britain, on terms of just and equal liberty; less than which generous minds will not offer, nor brave and free ones be willing to receive.

A cruel war has at length been opened against us; and whilst we prepare to defend ourselves like the descendants of Britons, we still hope that the mediation of wise and good citizens will at length prevail over despotism, and restore harmony and peace, on permanent principles, to an oppressed and divided Empire.

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We have the honour to be, my Lord, with great esteem, your Lordship' s faithful friends and fellow-subjects.

By order of the Congress:

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Livery of London."

Mr˙ Stavely moved that the Letter should be entered on the Records of the City, and the motion was received with only about a dozen dissenting hands.