History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

396 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [ir?7.
Delegates from tliirty-three towns were present. The convention
was called for the special purpose of considering
the suffering condition of the northern army. But there
were various other matters of importance to be considered.
It approved the course of the General Court in establishing
Courts of General Sessions of the Peace ; denied the
petition of Jonathan Moseley, a tory, who asked that his
son, put in jail for refusing to do military duty, might be
liberated ; On account of the desecration of the Sabbath by
travelers, it recommended that innholders should refuse
entertainment to persons traveling on that day ; recommended
a plan for uniformity of prices in the county ; and
advised the committee on supplies to forward at once such
as were especially needed for the welfare of the army.
Another subject of paramount importance was the open
and defiant position of the tories. Encouraged by the dis-
asters that had befallen the armies of the Republic, the
royalists had become overbearing and obstructive. An
appeal was made to the General Court to devise such means
of relief as might be deemed expedient.