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Show [62] E 63 J merits which nature had thrown in his courle, at length fulfilllltcd, notwithllanding the eflbrts of their accomplifhed general, to the detetn'ined bravery of their toes. d he‘lplen: dot of our {uccefs in that quarter called the attention of Europe to our fortitude and perfeverance, The weight and importance of a country which could r'elif't the altonifhmg efloi‘ts made by Great-Britain, were evrdent to thomolt carelefs obfervation, The acknowledgement of our indepentlence became therefore an object of l'erious deliberation. Awakened from their dream of glory to a View of their danger, the minill‘ry of England determined, if poflible, to recover what they had wantonly thrown away. ON the 21ft day of April, 177 , the Congrefs, then fitting at York-Town, received a letter from the general, ineloiiug a printed paper from Philadelphia, to the tollow~ " May it pleafe your Majefly, That it may bedeclared and enacted, and it is hereby decl ared and enae‘led, Etc. That from and after the pafling of this Act, the King; and Parliament of Great-Britain will not impofe any duty, tax or aflefsment whatfoever, payable with in any of his hia- jelly's colonies, provinces and plan tations in NorthAmcrica, except only fuch duties as it may be expedient to impofe for the regulation of com merce ; the net produce of fuch duties to be always paid and applied to, and for, the tile of the colony, prov ince or plantation, in which the lame {hall be relpeétively levie d, in their man- ner as other duties colleé'ted by the authority of the refpeétive General Courts, or General Afleinblies, of fuch colo nies, provinces or plantations, are ordinarily paid and applied" ing cater ; " D R A U G H T afa B [L L for dre/rzr/ng the intentions oft/1e Par/2471151711 iy‘ Great-Britain, (warn/[Hg [lie exert/j: (fit/Jr rig/5t ofz'zripo/I/zg faxes wit/Jill [its flflzjifly's colonies, provinces and plantations in AZrt/rflflierira. " V ' H E R E A S the exercile ofthc rightof taxation by the Parliament of G reat- Britain, for the purpole of railing a revenue in his Majefty's colonies, provinc es, and plantations in North- America, has been found by ex- perience to oecalion great unealinell‘es and dilorders, and has by limdry mifreprelei:tations been made the means of n'rilleading many of his inajelty's faithful fubjeéts, who yet acknowledge thejuf'tice ofcontributing to the common det‘tnce of the empire, provided fueh contribution s fl‘iould be railed under the authority of the Genera l Court, or General Ailembly, of each reipeé'tive colony , plantation : flat] tulwmr, in order as well as province of to remove the {aid unealinelies, and to quiet the minds of his Majejly's {ubjcéts, who may be dilpofed to return to their allegiance, as to refiore the peace and welfare of all his Nlaiel'ty's d0- rninions, It is expedient to declare, that the King and Parliament ofGreat Britain will not inipoliranv duty, tax or adelsnieiit, for the purpole of railing a revenue within any of the laid colonies, provinces or plantations: ‘-‘ May " DRAUGHT off! BILL to enable lair amt/171'): ta appoint Cammzij/fmei‘s wit/J fir 7L‘/¢'712‘1>010£7'I to trmz‘, r071fit/t, and agree upm t/JL' means of quitting 1/12 dzflrz/rrr now rte/fling in vermin of 1116' to/am'er, plant ations and province: 0f lVertb-flmerim. " F OR the quieting and extinguifhingof divers jeam loulies and miliipprehenfions of danger to their libertie s and legal rights, which have milled many of his IVIaJiefty's {ubjei'ts in the colonies, provinces and plan- tations of New-Hanmlhire, Mafliichufetts-Bay, Rhod eIfland, Conneoticut, New-York, New-Jerky, Penn - fylvania, the three lower counties on Delaware, lVlary a land, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, and fora fuller inaiiitEflation of the jult and gracious purpofes of his Majefly and his Parliament, to maintain and fecure all his {ubjeé‘ts in a clear and perfec t enjoyment of l‘uch liberties and rights; Be it ratified, SIC. That pcrfons to be appointed by his Majefly, under the Great Seal of Great-Britain, or any of them, {hall by force of this Act, have full power, commiflion and authority to treat, confii lt and agree with fuch body or bodies political and corporate, or with {uch allembly or aflemblies of men, or with fuch perfon or perfons, as in their wifllom and dileretion |