PREFA C E.

WHEN the committee for preparing a draught of instructions was appointed, it was considered, whether it would not be proper, to form some kind of a sketch, however imperfect it might be, of all the grievances, of the colonies, and of course of their constitutional rights.

SUCH an attempt, tho' very rude, might be improved by better hands; and it seemed absolutely necessary, no longer to confine ourselves to occasional complaints and partial remedies, but, if possible, to attain some degree of certainty concerning our lives, liberties and properties.

It was perceived, that if the instructions should be formed on this plan, they would com

prehend many and very important positions, which it would be proper to introduce, by previously assigning the reasons, on which they were founded. Otherwise, the positions might not appear to the committee to be just. From this consideration it became necessary, to render the instructions long and argumentative ; and whoever candidly reflects on the importance of the occasion, will think such a method very justifiable.

THE draught of instructions being brought into the provincial committee and read, and no objection being made to any of the principles asserted in them, it was not thought necessary, that the argumentative part should continue any longer in them. The committee, that brought in the draught, therefore moved, that this part of the instructions might be separated from the rest. Whereupon the draught was re-committed, for this purpose, to the committee, that brought it in. This was done.

SEVERAL additions have been made to the other part, now called " An Essay," &c. since the vote for publishing. The additions are distinguished by crotchets, thus and in these it was not thought necessary to observe the ftile of instructions. The notes have been almost entirely added since the vote.

August 1, 1774.

"Of the various instructions, on this occasion,

those which were drawn up by a convention of delegates, from every county in the province of Pennsylvania, and presented by them, in a body, to the constitutional assembly, were the most precise and determinate. By these it appears that the Pennsylvanians were disposed to submit to the acts of navigation, as they then stood, and also to settle a certain annual revenue on his majesty, his heirs and successors, subject to the controul of parliament, and to satisfy the demands of the East-India company, provided their grievances were redressed, and an amicable compact was settled, which, by establishing American rights in the manner of a new magna charta, would have precluded future disputes."

RAMSAY'S History of the American Revolution, vol. 1. page 134.