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Show ‘ly 6., .A ,fiifi g.» Eng."- -;‘, ill/III! THESE fentiments are extorted from hearts that much more willingly would bleed in your majel'ty's fervice. Yet fo greatly have we been mifreprefented, that a ne- cefhty has been alleged of taking our property from us without our confent, " to defray the charge of the ad- miniftration of jufl'ice, the fupport of civil government, and the defence, protection, and fecurity of the colonies." But we beg leave to allure your majelty, that fuch provifion has been and will be made for defraying the two firlt articles as has been and {ball bejudged by the legifla- tures of the feveral colonies juft and fuitable to their re- fueétive circumf'tances: and for the defence, protection, and fecurity of the colonies, their militias if propein regulated, as they earneftly delire may immediately be done, would be fully quicient at leatl in times of peace 3 and in cafe of war, your faithful color1ilts will be ready and willing, as they ever have been when contlitutionally required, to demonflrate their loyalty to your majefly, by exerting their molt flrenuous efforts in granting fupplies and railing forces. YiELDING to no Britif‘n fubjeé‘ts in affeétionate attachment to your majetiy's perfon, family, and govern- ment, we too dearly prize the privilege of exprtfling that attachment by thofe proofs that are honourable to the prince who receives them, and to the people who give them, ever to refign it to anybody of men upon earth, ll id we been permitted to enjoy in quiet the inheritance left us by our forefathers, we thould at this time have been peaceably, cheerfully, and ufefully employed in re- commending ourfelves by eVery tetlimony of devotion to your niajefty, and of veneration to the Rate from which we We derive our origin. But though now expofed to un- expected and unnatural fcenes of diftrefs by a contention with that nation in whofe parental guidance on all im~ portant affairs we have hitherto, with filial reverence, confiantly truf'ted, and therefore can derive no inftruetion in our prefent unhappy and perplexing circumftances from any former experience; yet, we doubt not, the purity of our intentions and the integrity of our conduct will juftify us at that grand tribunal before which all mankind mutt fubmit tojudgment. WE afk but for peace, liberty, and fafety. We wifh not a diminution of the prerogative, nor do we folicit the grant of any new right in our favour. Your royal authority over us and our connexion with Great-Britain, we {hall always carefully and zealoufly endeavour to fupport and maintain. FILLED with fentiments of duty to your majef'ty and of affection to our parent flare, deeply impreffed by our education, and ltrongly confirmed by our reafon, and anxious to evince the fincerity of thefe difpofitions, we prefent this petition only to obtain redrefs of grievances, and relief from fears and jealoufies oecafroned by the fyf'tcm of flatutes and regulations adopted fince the clofe of the hill war for railing a revenue in America---extending the powers of courts of admiralty and vice admiralty---trying perfons in Great-Britain for offences alleged to be com- mitted in American-alleé‘ting the province of Maffachufetts-Bay-u-and altering the government and extendinot the limits of Quebec : by the abolition of which fyflem, the harmony between Great-Britain and theft: colonies, to neceflary to the happinefs of both, and f0 ardently de- fired by the latter, and the ufual intercourfes will be im- mediately rcf'torcd. In the magnanimity and juftice of your majefty and parliament we confide for a redrefs of our other grievances, truf'ting, that when the eaufes of our apprehenfions are removed, our future conduct} will prove us not unworthy of the regard we have been accuftomed, in our happier days, to enjoy. For appealing to that Being who fearches thoroughly the hearts of his creatures, we folemnly profefs that our councils have been influenced by .5.‘ 4 "*fi' 7‘ royal perfon and your faithful fubjetfts, and for leveral‘ years putt incelllintly employed to dillolvethe bonds 01' fociety, by abuling your majefly's authority, rnifreprc- fentiifg your American fubjeéts, and profecrrting the moft (lefpcrate and irritating projects of opprefiion, have. at length compelled us by the force of accumulated injuries, todfevere to be any longer tolerable, to difturb your majet'ty's repofe by our complaints. :4m& men who daringly interpoling themfelves between your we - ":13." 412.: _a__~.'7-- [14] |