It urged them to join in the measure proposed by their brethren of _Boston_ and _New-York_; and closed with “_United we conquer, divided we die_.” The _Pennsylvania_ merchants agreed with the other colonies in opinion, that the revenue acts were unconstitutional; but declined adopting the non-importation agreement, as they believed it to be premature. They knew that multitudes in Great-Britain would suffer much by a suspension of trade with her, whenever it should be carried into execution; and judged that it ought not to be made use of but as the last and most certain remedy, when petitions proved ineffectual. They saw clearly that the acts were manifestly injurious to the British trade, and hoped the parliament would therefore find it expedient to repeal them; and were willing to allow a proper time for the repeals being effected. These reasons induced them to refuse complying with the solicitations of their neighbours. But the merchants and traders of Philadelphia agreed upon a memorial, wherein they stated their grievances, which was transmitted to their mercantile friends in London, on whose assistance they relied for an application to government for relief; and this they hoped to obtain as to some of the chief, though it might not be all the articles of complaint. But the _Boston_ merchants and traders having been drawn in, partly by their connections with the politicians and the fear of opposing the popular stream, agreed upon a new subscription paper, [Aug. 1.] wherein they engaged as follows:—“We will not send for or import from Great-Britain, either upon our own account, or upon commissions, this fall, any other goods than what are already ordered for the fall supply.”—“We will not send for or import any kind of goods or merchandise from Great-Britain, _&c._ from the first of January, 1769, to the first of January, 1770, except salt, coals, fish-hooks and lines, hemp and duck, bar lead and shot, wool-cards and card-wire.”—“We will not purchase of any factor or others, any kind of goods imported from Great-Britain, from January, 1769, to January, 1770.”—“We will not import on our own account, or on commissions, or purchase of any, who shall import from any other colony in America, from January, 1769, to January, 1770, any tea, glass, paper or other goods commonly imported from Great-Britain.”—“We will not, from and after the first of January, 1769, import into this province any tea, paper, glass, or painters colours, until the act imposing duties on those articles shall be repealed.” The subscription paper was carried about town; and, at length, generally signed, though several respectable merchants remained non-subscribers. The same month the _Connecticut_ and _New-York_ merchants came into similar agreements; and those of _Salem_, the beginning of September. Some merchants had undoubtedly the foresight to provide for an abstinence from importation for a year, by unusually large orders.