Diary of Christopher Marshall, June 8, 1774

This day a petition was presented to John Penn, our governor, (signed by near nine hundred respectable freeholders in and near this city,) requesting him to call the Assembly, in order to consider the proceedings of the British Parliament towards America in their proceedings against the town of Boston, &c. &c., to which his Honour was pleased to return the following answer, "Gentlemen, upon occasions when the peace, order, and tranquillity of the Province require it, I shall be ready to convene the Assembly; but as that does not appear to be the case at present, I cannot think such a step would be expedient or consistent with my duty."

SOURCE: William Duane, Editor, Passages from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, Kept in Philadelphia and Lancaster during the American Revolution, Vol. 1, 1774-1777, p. 7