Richard Henry Lee to Arthur Lee

I am extremely obliged to you for your favor of the 18th. of March, which, with our brother Williams 26th. of same month are the only letters I have receiv’d from either of you lately. And I am the more concerned at this, as Ships from London, late in April, have arrived in Potomac, Rappahanock, and the Southern rivers. At this time of immense danger to America, when the dirty Ministerial Stomach is daily ejecting its foul contents upon us, it is quite necessary that the friendly streams of information and advice should be frequently applied to wash away the impurity. We had been sitting in Assembly near three weeks, when a quick arrival from London brought us the Tyrannic Boston Port Bill, no shock of Electricity could more suddenly and universally move - Astonishment, indignation, and concern seized on all. The shallow Ministerial device was seen thro instantly, and every one declared it the commencement of a most wicked System for destroying the liberty of America, and that it demanded a firm and determined union of all the Colonies to repel the common danger. The first step taken by our Assembly was to appoint the 1st. of June, the day on which hostility began against America, to be observed as fast. The spirit that this denoted was not liked by Government and we were dissolved in two days afterwards, the Country business unfinished, no fee bill passed, and the Courts of Justice consequently stopt. The day after our dissolution, the late Members assembled and sent the inclosed advice to the people - The day before we were dismissed, I had prepared a sett of Resolves the two last of which were thus expressed.

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Resolved that the blocking up or attempting to block up the Harbor of Boston until the people there shall submit to the payment of Taxes imposed on them without the consent of their Representatives, is a most violent and dangerous attempt to destroy the constitutional liberty and rights of all British America. Resolved that [ ] be appointed Deputies from this House to meet at [ ] such Deputies from the other Colonies, as they shall appoint there to consider and determine on ways the most effectual to stop the exports from N. America, and for the adoption of such other methods as shall be most decisive for securing the Constitutional rights of America against the Systematic plan formed for their destruction.

It is beyond doubt that these would have been assented to by a majority of an hundred to one, and I was prevented from offering them by a great many worthy Members wishing to have the public business first done, as they were persuaded, from many conversations they had hear’d, that a dissolution would not take place until the Country business was finished. It was not until most of the late Members had quitted Town, that an Express arrived with the Resolve of Boston and the determinations of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and some other northern Colonies. This occasioned a meeting of 25 late Burgesses who sent letters of invitation to all the late Members to meet in Williamsburg on the 1st. of August next to consid<er> of stopping the Exports land Imports from this Colony. So the matter stands at present, and in the meantime the sense of the Counties is taking both in Maryland and Virginia. Many Counties in the two Provinces, all that have hitherto met, have resolved on the propriety of stopping Exports, Imports, and Courts of Justice until Boston is redressed, and American grievances removed. An Indian invasion of this Colony having lately happened [has compelled the] calling of [a new] Assembly, and writs are now out returnable the 11th. of Augt.

It has excited much curiosity and conversation in the Country, how the meeting of Assembly comes to be put off to the 11th. when all the late Members were publickly invited to meet on the 1st., especially as it is pretty certain that almost every Man of the late Assembly will be chosen again into the New one, and as the calling an Assembly was determined in Council on the 17th. or 18th. of Julye, which admitted of making the writs returnable to the 27th. or 28th. of July. This County have already, (and I suppose the rest will follow) directed their Representatives not to fail being in Williamsburg on the first, in order to prevent a prorogation which may happen from having the power of preventing the advice and assistance of this Colony from reaching the rest.

I suppose when we meet, the first thing done, will be to invite an immediate Congress of Deputies from all the Colonies, when no doubt his Majesty will receive the united supplication of his truly loyal American Subjects for the removal of their great grievances, and the Merchants and Manufacturers of G.B. will receive the American Apology for stopping their exports and imports, it being most repugnant to their inclinations to do injury to them their innocent fellow subjects, if invincible necessity did not compel the adoption of this, the only method that Heaven has left us for the preservation of our most dear, most antient and constitutional exemption from Taxes imposed on us not by the consent of our Representatives, hoping they will pity, forgive, and assist us in procuring redress. Thu I think I have given you as just an account of our present unhappy political state as I am able, and will now proceed to private affairs! From the Knave Templemans estate I have recovered for you the £14. Sterg. for which your horse was sold to him, which with the interest amounted to £16.8. Sterg. & the money Capt. Roman has had for the Ships use. I shall inclose you his bill for it on our brother William.

I shall also inclose Lord Shelbumes Almanac to you - I observe that worthy Lord still continues his friendship for the distressed Americans. You will much oblige me by writing as often as you can to my little Boys, advising a close attention to the business that carried them to England. The present Mrs. Lee has furnished me with two daughters, Nancy & Henrietta, who are fine thriving girls - These make my number 6, our brother Thom has 7, Phil 2, Loudon 0 - Farewell

my dear brother

R. H. Lee

I have written our brother W. solely on business referring him for politics to You. NOTES;