The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

124 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1774.
ment, ancd their opinion that the vital interests of all
the colonies were equally concerned, they advised the
Committee of Correspondence to communicate with
the Committees of the other colonies, on the expediency of appointing deputies to meet in a general
congress. Although the idea of a congress was in the
minds of many persons throughout the continent, and
had been proposed in town meetings at Boston and
New York, yet this was the first public assembly by
which it was formally recommended. As the governor
had dissolved the legislature, and no other business
seemed necessary to be done, many of the delegates
returned to their homes. Such as stayed behind, attended the religious services on the day appointed for
the fast. Washington writes in his Diary, that he
"went to church, and fasted all day."
While they were waiting to perform this duty, letters-were received from Boston, giving an account of
a town meeting in that place, and a resolution to call
on the inhabitants of the colonies generally to enter
into an agreement, that they would hold no further
commercial intercourse with Great Britain, either by
imports or exports. Twenty-five of the late delegates
were still in Williamsburg, among whom was Washington; and, on the 29th of May, they met to consider
the subject. On one essential point they differed in
opinion; and, as their number was small, they thought
it not proper to determine upon any public act, which
should go abroad as the presumed sense of the colony.
They did no more, therefore, than state the matter
clearly in a circular letter, and recommend a meeting
of deputies at Williamsburg on the 1st of August, for
the purpose of a more full and deliberate discussion.
The circular was printed, and distributed in the several counties.