Letter from Lieutenant Governour Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth

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In my letter, No˙ 3, I submitted to your Lordship my opinion, that Government here cannot prevent the frequent meetings of the people, which have become common every where; and I am now convinced, that if Government had interfered, the most violent men would have gained great advantage, and would have prevented the acquiescence in the nomination of moderate men, which has now taken place, to meet at the general Congress of Deputies from all the Colonies, proposed to be held at Philadelphia next month.

The meeting of the Delegates, I am of opinion, cannot be prevented; if they pursue only such prudent measures as are calculated to remove the destructive dissensions which subsist between Great Britain and her Colonies,

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Great pains have been taken in the several counties of this Province, to induce the people to enter into resolves, and to send Committees to join the City Committee; but they have only prevailed in Suffolk County, in the east end of Long Island, which was settled from Connecticut, and the inhabitants still retain great similarity of manners and sentiments.

From a view of the numerous resolves of the people in all the Colonies, which appear in every newspaper, your Lordship might be led to think a stupid fatal hardiness intoxicated the whole. But there are every where many people who are seriously alarmed at the critical posture of the contention between Great Britain and her Colonies. They look forward with the deepest anxiety, and would rejoice in any prudent plan for restoring harmony and security. Could it be thought consistent with the wisdom of Parliament, to lay aside the right of raising money on the subjects in America, and in lieu thereof, that the several American Assemblies should grant and secure to the Crown a sufficient and permanent supply to pay all the officers and ordinary expenses of Government, they are of opinion this would be a ground-work upon which a happy reconciliation might be effected — the dependence of the Colonies on Great Britain secured — Government maintained, and this destructive contest amicably terminated. For this purpose, they hope an address to his Majesty will be formed at the general Congress.