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WE, his Majesty's most loyal subjects, the
Delegates of the several Colonies of
New Hampshire, Massachusett's-Bay, Rhode-
Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania, the Three Lower Counties of
Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-
Carolina, deputed to represent them in a conti-
nental Congress, held in the city of Philadel-
phia, on the fifth day of September, 1774,
avowing our allegiance to his Majesty, our af-
fection and regard for our fellow- subjects in
Great-Britain and elsewhere, affected with the
deepest anxiety, and most alarming apprehen-
sions at these grievances and distresses, with
which his Majesty's American subjects are op-
pressed, and having taken under our most seri-
ous deliberation, the state of the whole conti-
nent, find, that the present unhappy situation of
our affairs, is occasioned by a ruinous system of
colony administration adopted by the British Mi-

nistry about the year 1763, evidently calculated
for inslaving these Colonies, and, with them,
the British Empire. In prosecution of which
system, various Acts of Parliament have been
passed for raising a Revenue in America, for
depriving the American subjects, in many in-
stances, of the constitutional trial by jury, ex-
posing their lives to danger, by directing a new
and illegal trial beyond the seas, for crimes al-
ledged to have been committed in America:
And in prosecution of the same system, several
late, cruel, and oppressive Acts have been pas-
sed respecting the town of Boston and the Mas-
sachusett's-Bay, and also an Act for extending
the province of Quebec, so as to border on the
western frontiers of these Colonies, establishing
an arbitrary government therein, and discourag-
ing the settlement of British subjects in that
wide extended country; thus by the influence
of civil principles and ancient prejudices to dis-
pose the inhabitants to act with hostility against
the free protestant Colonies, whenever a wicked
Ministry shall chuse so to direct them.

To obtain redress of these grievances, which
threaten destruction to the lives, liberty, and
property of his Majesty's subjects in North-
America, we are of opinion, that a non-impor-
tation , non-consumption, and non-exportation
agreement, faithfully adhered to, will prove the
most speedy, effectual, and peaceable measure:
And therefore we do, for ourselves and the inhabi-
tants of the several Colonies, whom we represent,
firmly agree and associate under the sacred, ties

of virtue, honor and love of our country, as
follows.

First. THAT from and after the first day of
December next, we will not import into British
America, from Great Britain or Ireland, any
goods, wares or merchandize whatsoever, or
from any other place any such goods, wares or
merchandize, as shall have been exported from
Great-Britain or Ireland; nor will we, after that
day, import any East-India tea from any part of
the world; nor any molasses, syrrups, paneles,
coffee or piemento, from the British plantations,
or from Dominica; nor wines from Madeira,
or the Western Islands; nor foreign indigo.

Second. THAT we will neither import, nor
purchase any slave imported, after the first day
of December next; after which time, we will
wholly discontinue the slave-trade, and will
neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor will we
hire our vessels, nor sell our commodities or
manufactures to those who are concerned in it.

Third. As a non-consumption agreement,
strictly adhered to, will be an effectual security
for the observation of the non-importation, we,
as above, solemnly agree and associate, that,
from this day, we will not purchase or use any
Tea imported on account of the East-India com-
pany, or any on which a duty hath been or shall be
paid; and from and after the first day of March
next, we will not purchase or use any East-India
tea whatever; nor will we, nor shall any person for

or under us, purchase or use any of those goods,
wares or merchandize, we have agreed not to
import, which we shall know, or have cause to
suspect, were imported after the first day of
December, except such as come under the rules
and directions of the tenth article hereafter
mentioned.

Fourth. THE earnest desire we have, not to
injure our fellow-subjects in Great-Britain, Ire-
land or the West-Indies, induces us to suspend
a non-exportation, until the tenth day of Sep-
tember 1775; at which time, if the said Acts
and parts of Acts of the British parliament
herein after mentioned are not repealed, we will
not, directly or indirectly, export any merchan-
dize or commodity whatsoever to Great Britain,
Ireland or the West-Indies, except rice to
Europe.

Fifth. SUCH as are merchants, and use the
British and Irish trade, will give orders, as soon
as possible, to their factors, agents and corre-
spondents, in Great Britain and Ireland, not to
ship any goods to them, on any pretence what-
soever, as they cannot be received in America;
and if any merchant, residing in Great-Britain
or Ireland, shall directly or indirectly ship any
goods, wares, or merchandize, for America, in
order to break the said non-importation agree-
ment, or in any manner contravene the same,
on such unworthy conduct being well attested,
it ought to be made public; and, on the same
being so done, we will not from thenceforth

have any commercial connexion, with such
merchant.

Sixth. THAT such as are owners of vessels
will give positive orders to their captains, or
masters, not to receive on board their vessels
any goods prohibited by the said non-importati-
on agreement, on pain of immediate dismission
from their service.

Seventh. WE will use our utmost endeavours
to improve the breed of sheep and increase their
number to the greatest extent, and to that end,
we will kill them as sparingly as may be, espe-
cially those of the most profitable kind; nor will
we export any to the West-Indies or elsewhere;
and those of us who are or may become over-
stocked with, or can conveniently spare any
sheep, will dispose of them to our neighbours,
especially to the poorer sort, on moderate terms.

Eighth. THAT we will in our several sta-
tions encourage frugality, œconomy, and in-
dustry; and promote agriculture, arts, and the
manufactures of this country, especially that of
wool; and will discountenance and discourage,
every species of extravagance and dissipation,
especially all horse racing, and all kinds of
gaming, cock fighting, exhibitions of shews,
plays, and other expensive diversions and en-
tertainments. And on the death of any rela-
tion or friend, none of us, or any of our fami-
lies will go into any further mourning dress,
than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat

for Gentlemen, and a black ribbon and neck-
lace for Ladies, and we will discontinue the
giving of gloves and scarfs at funerals.

Ninth. THAT such as are venders of goods
or merchandize, will not take advantage of the
scarcity of goods that may be occasioned by
this association, but will sell the same at the
rates we have been respectively accustomed to
do, for twelve months last past. -- And if any
vender of goods or merchandize, shall sell any
such goods on higher terms, or shall in any
manner, or by any device whatsoever, violate
or depart from this Agreement, no person
ought, nor will any of us deal with any such
person, or his, or her factor or agent, at any
time thereafter, for any commodity whatever.

Tenth. IN case any merchant, trader, or
other persons shall import any goods or mer-
chandize after the first day of December,
and before the first day of February next, the
same ought forthwith at the election of the
owner, to be either reshipped or delivered up to
the Committee of the county, or town wherein
they shall be imported, to be stored at the
risque of the importer, until the non-importa-
tion Agreement shall cease, or be sold under
the direction of the Committee aforesaid; and
in the last mentioned case, the owner or owners
of such goods, shall be reimbursed (out of the
sales) the first cost and charges the profit if any,
to be applied towards relieving and employing
such poor inhabitants of the town of Boston, as

are immediate sufferers by the Boston Port-Bill;
and a particular account of all goods so returned,
stored, or sold, to be inserted in the public pa-
pers; and if any goods or merchandizes shall be
imported after the said first day of February,
the same ought forthwith to be sent back again,
without breaking any of the packages thereof.

Eleventh. THAT a Committee be chosen in
every county, city, and town, by those who
are qualified to vote for Representatives in the
Legislature, whose business it shall be attentive-
ly to observe the conduct of all persons touching
this association; and when it shall be made to ap-
pear to the satisfaction of a majority of any such
Committee, that any person within the limits of
their appointment has violated this association,
that such majority do forthwith cause the truth of
the case to be published in the Gazette, to the
end, that all such foes to the rights of British
America may be publickly known, and univer-
sally contemned as the enemies of American li-
berty; and thenceforth we respectively will
break off all dealings with him or her.

Twelfth. THAT the Committee of Corre-
spondence in the respective Colonies do fre-
quently inspect the entries of their Custom-
Houses, and inform each other from time to
time of the true state thereof, and of every other
material circumstance that may occur relative to
this association.

Thirteenth. THAT all manufactures of this
country be sold at reasonable prices, so that no
undue advantage be taken of a future scarcity
of goods.

Fourteenth. AND we do further agree and
resolve, that we will have no trade, commerce,
dealings or intercourse whatsoever, with any
colony or province, in North-America, which
shall not accede to, or which shall hereafter vio-
late this association, but will hold them as un-
worthy of the rights of freemen, and as inimical
to the liberties of their country.

And we do solemnly bind ourselves and our
constituents, under the ties aforesaid, to adhere
to this association until such parts of the several
Acts of Parliament passed since the close of the
last war, as impose or continue duties on tea,
wine, molasses, syrups, paneles, coffee, sugar,
piemento, indigo, foreign paper, glass, and
painters colours, imported into America, and
extend the powers of the Admiralty courts be-
yond their ancient limits, deprive the American
subject of trial by jury, authorise the Judge's
certificate to indemnify the prosecutor from da-
mages, that he might otherwise be liable to from
a trial by his peers, require oppressive security
from a claimant of ships or goods seized, before
he shall be allowed to defend his property,
are repealed -- And until that part of the Act
of the 12. G. 3 ch. 24. entitled, "An Act
for the better securing his Majesty's dock yards,
magazines, ships, ammunition, and stores," by

which, any persons charged with committing
any of the offences therein described, in Ame-
rica, may be tried in any shire or county within
the realm, is repealed -- And until the four Acts
passed in the last session of Parliament, viz. that
for stopping the port and blocking up the har-
bour of Boston -- That for altering the charter
and government of the Massachusett's-Bay ---
And that which is entitled, "An Act for the
better administration of justice, &c." --
And that "For extending the limits of Quebec,
&c." are repealed. And we recommend it to
the provincial conventions, and to the commit-
tees in the respective Colonies, to establish such
farther regulations as they may think proper,
for carrying into execution this Association.

THE foregoing Association being determined
upon by the CONGRESS, was ordered to be sub-
scribed by the several Members thereof; and
thereupon we have hereunto set our respective
names accordingly.