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reason, and anxious to evince the sincerity of these dispositions, we present this petition only to obtain redress of grievances, and relief from fears and jealousies, occasioned by the system of statutes and regulations adopted since the close of the late war, for raising a revenue in America--extending the powers of courts of admiralty and vice-admiralty --trying persons in Great-Britain for offences alledged to be committed in America-affecting the province of Massachusetts-Bay-and altering the government and extending the limits of Quebec; by the abolition of which system, the harmony between Great-Britain and these colonies, so necessary to the happiness of both, and so ardently desired by the latter, and the usual intercourses will be immediately restored. In the magnanimity and justice of your majesty and parliament, we confide for a redress of our other grievances, trusting, that when the causes of our apprehensions are removed, our future conduct will prove us not unworthy of the regard, we have been accustomed, in our happier days, to enjoy. For appealing to that Being, who searches thoroughly the hearts of his creatures, we solemnly profess, that our councils have been influenced by no other motive, than a dread of impending destruction.

PERMIT us then, most gracious sovereign, in the name of all your faithful people in America, with

the utmost humility to implore you, for the honour of Almighty God, whose pure religion, our enemies are undermining; for your glory, which can be advanced only by rendering your subjects happy, and keeping them united; for the interests of your family depending on an adherence to the principles that enthroned it; for the safety and welfare of your kingdoms and dominions, threatened with almost unavoidable dangers and distresses, that your majesty, as the loving father of your whole people, connected by the same bonds of law, loyalty, faith, and blood, though dwelling in various countries, will not suffer the transcendent relation formed by these ties to be farther violated, in uncertain expectation of effects, that if attained, never can compensate for the calamities, through which they must be gained.

WE therefore most earnestly beseech your majesty, that your royal authority and interposition may be used for our relief, and that a gracious answer may be given to this petition.

THAT your majesty may enjoy every felicity, through a long and glorious reign over loyal and happy subjects, and that your decendents may inherit your prosperity and dominions till time shall be no more, is, and always will be, our sincere and fervent prayer.

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"The address of congress to the king, is penned with extraordinary force and animation, in many parts rising to a very high strain of eloquence.

"It is difficult to conceive how this address could be read without exciting in the breasts, even of the most obdurate, strong emotions of compunction and remorse." BELSHAM'S Memoirs of the reign of Geo. 3. page 65.

THE

DECLARATION

BY THE

REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE UNITED COLONIES OF NORTH-AMERICA,

Now met in congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms.-July 6th, 1775.

IF it was possible for men, who exercise their

reason to believe, that the Divine Author of our existence intended a part of the human race to hold an absolute property in, and an unbounded power over others, marked out by his infinite goodness and wisdom, as the objects of a legal domination never rightfully resistible, however severe and oppressive, the inhabitants of these colonies might at least require from the parliament of Great-Britain some evidence, that this dreadful authority over them has been granted to that body. But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of common sense, must convince

all those who reflect upon the subject, that government was instituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be administered for the attain. ment of that end, The legislature of Great-Britain, however, stimulated by an inordinate passion for a power not only unjustifiable, but which they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very constitution of that kingdom, and desperate of success in any mode of contest, where regard should be had to truth, law, or right, have at length, deserting those, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic purpose of enslaving these colonies by violence, and have thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with their last appeal from reason to arms. -Yet, how

ever blinded that assembly may be, by their intemperate rage for unlimited domination, so to slight justice and the opinion of mankind, we esteem ourselves bound by obligations of respect to the rest of the world, to make known the justice of our cause.

OUR forefathers, inhabitants of the island of Great-Britain, left their native land, to seek on these shores a residence for civil and religious freedom. At the expence of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, without the least charge to the country from which they removed, by unceasing labour and an unconquerable spirit, they effected settlements in the distant and inhospitable wilds of America, then filled with numerous and warlike

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