Strictly Speeking I Do not want [torn off] to any Set of men Onely I wish to be properly Respected by those in authority I am a free Citizen and am Dependent [torn] I Should think that the recommendation of John Pickering Esqr and Other Gentle men in the Neighbouring towns of my acquaintanc migt have more Influence in the Councel than the Rabble party in Newington I fear Government may be Called on again to Disperse the Insurgent and If that Should be the Caise I believe I Shal Endevour to Sleep in a whole Skin and not medle where I have no authority but I hope matters will be to my Satisfaction I Subscribe My Self a true friend to Government and would Recommend to my Self and all under my Influence to Remember the words of the aPostle Paul in 13th Chapter of Romans Let Every Soul be Subject to the higher Powers for the Powers that be are ordained of God and So onwards.

Benjamin Adams

PS Sir If you Please you may Communicate these Lines to the President and Counce when you See them if you think best or otherwise.

[7-225] [Relative to the election of Representative, 1782.] To the Honorable House of Representatives for the State of New Hampshire in General Assembly Convean'd

The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants & Freeholders of Newington in the County of Rockingham and State aforesaid— qualified by the law of Said State to Vote in Electing Representative Humbly Shews that Your Petitioners togather with Other Inhabitants & freeholders of Said Newington aforesaid Qualified as aforesaid being Notified Agreeable to the Preceipt to the Selectmen of Said Newington Directed & Agreeable to the Common Custom Met in Said Newington on Monday the Ninth Day of December Instant One O'Clock afternoon Two of the Selectmen being Present Read the Preceipt & then the Notification & Desired the People to bring in their Votes for a Moderator to Govern Said Meeting Cap' Ephraim Pickering Came forward & Said no man had any Right to Vote in any Matter or thing but such as had Taken a Certain Oath which he then Produced Said Oath Being Read Many of the People had Taken the Same Oath-Others Said they had no Objection Against Taking Said Oath-But to be Deprived of the Priviledge of Voting in Town Meeting Because they Could not Swallow an Oath at first Sight without Consideration was Depriving them of One of their Most Valueable Rights that a free People Ought to Enjoy then the People Proceeded to the

Choice of a Moderator & Voted for Benja Adams Esq' & Capt Ephraim Pickering Equal Votes but by a Despute arising about a Moderator-Benja Adams Esq' Refused Taking the Seat But Cap Eph Pickering took the Seat & then Proceeded to the Choice of a Representative Cap' EphTM Pickering Being Moderator alow'd on his part any Person to Vote whither Under Oath or Not-But the Oppersite Party was Denyed Voteing without Taking Said Oath by which Means Cap' Eph Pickering was Declared Chosen Representative in Newington On which Declaration Benj Adams Esq' Came Forward & Requested the favour of Entering a Dissent against the Proceedings of Said Meeting as being Conterary to Law & the Constitution which we are now under Said Dicent Being Enter'd by fourteen or More of the Inhabitants then present therefore we the Subscribers are humbly of the Opinion that the Said Cap EphTM Pickering is not Legally Chosen to Represent them in General Assembly & Ought not to have a Seat in Your Honourable House & Ought to be Dismised from Said House and we Request that You Send Out to Said Newington a New Preceipt to Chuse a Representative to Represent them in General Assembly Your Petitioners wait Your Honourable Decision on Said Petition as in Duty Bound will Ever Pray Newington December ye 12th 1782

[7-226] [Petition for authority to send a Representative,

1784.]

State of New-Hampshire

To the honble the Councel and House of Representatives for said State in General Assembly conven'd on the 30th day of March 1784

Humbly shew the subscribers being more than a majority of legal voters in the Town of Newington in the County of Rockingham and State afores, that, the Inhabitants have had and exercised the Right and privilege of sending a Representative to the General Court for more than sixty years past-that tho' the number of voters for the choice of a Representative is short of what the new constitution of government requires in order to send a Representative yet the said Town is so situated as renders their being classed with any other Town, Parish or Place very inconvenient Wherefore your Petit pray that a Writ may issue to s Town to elect and send a Representative to the General Court and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray &c

[In H. of Rep., March 31, 1784, the petition was granted, and a precept ordered to be issued.—ED.]

[7-229] [Communication from Benjamin Adams, 1786.]

Newington Dec2 28: 1786

Sir I Have been Informed that Some Expressions in the Letter I Wrote to you some time past when Laid before the President and Counsel has Given some Umbrace to Some Gen

tlemen in Councel which I am Exceeding Sorry for If any such Expressions were Looked on as affrontive I am sorry for It: I Did not mean any such thing. I must Confess I felt some thing warm against Some of my Enemies in my own town when I wrote sd Letter and Did not think so prudently as probably I might have Done All such Expressions as are Imprudent and affrontive I am Sorry for and do ask His Exellencies and the Councls Pardon praying that they may forgive Every thing that has been offered as affrountive and Call it an error in Judgment or a Peccadillo and not a Crime unPardonable I am Redy and willing to Support Government and Defend it at this Critical time against all Invaders of our Sacred Rights and should Rejoice to be Incouraged by authority so far that I might Do it with the Greatest Charefullness: I beg your Honours would take my matter Into your Serious Consideration again and grant me my request: I ad no more I Subscribe myself your true friend and Humble Sarvant at all times Benjamin Adams

To Hon' Joshua Wentworth Esq

PS Sir-Be Pleased to Lay the above before the President and Counsel

[7-231] [Remonstrance to the Appointment of Mr. Adams.] To his Excellency John Sullivan Esquire, President of the State of New Hampshire, &c &c &c—

The Petition of sundry Persons Inhabitants and Freeholders, of the Town of Newington in said State, subscribing hereto, Humbly sheweth,

That your Petitioners have been informed that Mr Benjamin Adams of said Newington has been recommended by some person or persons, to your Excellency, to be appointed a Justice of y Peace. They therefore beg leave with the greatest deference and submission to inform your Excellency, that said Mr Adams is quite unacceptable to the Inhabitants of the said Town in general, and as they conceive, to the People of the County at large. That it is with regret they thus express their sentiments of a person whom they do not wish to injure, but they feel themselves constrained to speak their minds from a regard to your Excellency, to prevent the effect of mistaken,

or

Partial Information, which they have Heard has been given, and from a regard to the public Good, which they have the fullest Confidence is the Object of your Excellency's

Conduct. They therefore humbly pray that the said M' Adams may not be appointed to said Office, but that your Excellency would be pleased to appoint Mr Timothy Dame of said Town, or some other suitable person, acceptable to the People, and a Friend to his Country; as to your wisdom shall seem good; and they as in duty bound shall ever pray &c &c &cDated in Newington January first 1787

[7-228] [Certificate of George Gains relative to Mr. Ad

ams, 1786.]

State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss Portsmouth Jan" 1786

These may Certifie all Whom it doeth or may Concern that Benjamin Adams Esq' of Newington Was some time in the Year 1778 brought before the Committee of Safety for said State being Charged with Inimical Conduct towards his fellow Citizans in the Dispute with Brittain and after a full hearing (before said Committee) of his accusers he the said Adams Was honorably acquitted the Subscriber at that time had the honor of being one Said Committee

George Gains

[7-232] [Petition for the Incorporation of a Library, 1797.]

To the Hone the Senate and House of Representatives for the state of New Hampshire, in General Court Convened at Portsmouth December 1st AD 1797—