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refolved to prevent her receiving fo continual and formidable an acceffion of wealth and ftrength, by checking the growth of these fettlements, from which they were to be derived.

In the profecution of this attempt, events fo unfavourable to the defign took place, that every friend to the intereft of Great-Britain and thefe Colonies, entertained pleafing and reasonable expecta tions of feeing an additional force and extenfion immediately given to the operations of the union hitherto experienced, by an enlargement of the dominions of the Crown, and the removal of ancient and warlike enemies to a greater distance.

At the conclufion, therefore, of the late war, the moft glorious and advantageous that ever had been carried on by British arms, your loyal Colonies, having contributed to its fuccefs by fuch repeated and trenuous exertions as frequently procured them the diftinguished approbation of your Majefty, of the late King, and of Parliament, doubted not but that they should be permitted, with the reft of the empire, to fhare in the bleffings of peace, and the emoluments of victory and conqueft. While these recent and honourable acknowledgements of their merits remained on record in the Journals and Acts of that auguft legiflature, the Parliament, undefaced by the imputation, or even the fufpicion, of any offence, they were alarmed by a new fyftem of ftatutes and regulations, adopted for the adminiftration of the Colonies, that filled their minds with the most painful fears and jealoufies; and to their inexpreffible astonishment perceived the dangers of a foreign quarrel quickly fucceeded by domeftic dangers, in their judgement of a more dreadful kind.

Nor were their anxieties alleviated by any tendency in this fyftem to promote the welfare of the Mother-Country: for though its effects were more

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immediately felt by them, yet its influence appeared to be injurious to the commerce and profperity of Great Britain.

We fhall decline the ungrateful task of deferibing the irksome variety of artifices practifed by many of your Majesty's Minifters, the delufive pretences, fruitless terrors, and unavailing feverities, which have from time to time been dealt out by them in their attempts to execute this impolitic plan, or of tracing through a feries of years paft the progrefs of the unhappy differences between Great Britain and thefe Colonies, which have flowed from this fatal fource. Your Majefty's Minifters perfevering in their measures, and proceeding to open hoftilities for enforcing them, have compelled us to arm in our own defence, and have engaged us in a controverfy fo peculiarly abhorrent from the affections of your ftill faithful Colonists, that when we confider whom we must oppofe in this contest; and if it continues, what may be the confequence; our own particular misfortunes are accounted by us only as parts of our distress.

Knowing to what violent refentment and incurable animofities civil difcords are apt to exafperate and inflame the contending parties, we think ourfelves required by indifpenfable obligations to Almighty God, to your Majefty, to our fellow-fubjects, and ourselves, immediately to use all the means in our power, not incompatible with our fafety, for stopping the further effufion of blood, and for averting the impending calamities that threaten the British Empire. Thus called upon to addrefs your Majefty on affairs of fuch moment to America, and probably to all your dominions, we are earnestly defirous of performing this office with the utmost deference to your Majefty; and we therefore pray that your Royal magnanimity and benevolence may make the

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most favourable conftruction of our expreffions on fo uncommon an occafion.

Could we reprefent, in their full force, the fenti-. ments which agitate the minds of us, your dutiful fubjects, we are perfuaded your Majefty would afcribe any feeming deviation from reverence, in our language, and even in our conduct, not to any reprehenfible intention, but to the impoffibility of reconciling the ufual appearances of refpect with a just attention to our prefervation against thofe artful and cruel enemies, who abufe your Royal confidence and authority for the purpofe of effecting our deftruction.

Attached to your Majefty's perfon, family, and government, with all the devotion that principle and affection can infpire; connected with Great Britain by the strongest ties that can unite focieties, and deploring every event that tends in any degree to weaken them, we folemnly affure your Majefty, that we not only moft ardently defire the former barmony between her and thefe Colonies may be restored," but that a concord may be established between them upon fo firm a bafis as to perpetuate its bleffings uninterrupted by any future diffentions to fucceeding generations in both countries; and to tranfmit: your Majefty's name to pofterity, adorned with that fignal and lafting glory that has attended the memory of thofe illuftrious perfonages whofe virtues and abilities have extricated ftates from dangerous convulfions, and by fecuring happiness to others, have erected the moft noble and durable monuments to their own fame.

We beg leave further to affure your Majefty, that notwithstanding the fufferings of your loyal Colonists, during the courfe of the prefent controverfy, our breafts retain too tender a regard for the kingdom from which we derive our origin, to request fuch a conciliation as might in any manner be inconfiftent

with her dignity or her welfare. Thefe, related as we are to her, honour and duty, as well as inclination, induce us to fupport and advance; and the apprehenfions that now opprefs our hearts with unfpeakable grief, being once removed, your Majesty, will find your faithful fubjects on this Continent ready and willing, at all times, as they have ever been, with their lives and fortunes to affert and maintain the rights and interefts of your Majesty and of our MotherCountry.

We therefore befeech your Majefty, that your Royal authority and influence may be gracioufly interpofed, to procure us relief from our afflicting fears and jealoufies, occafioned by the system before mentioned, and to fettle peace through every part of your dominions; with all humility fubmitting to your Majefty's wife confideration whether it may not be expedient, for facilitating these important purposes, that your Majesty be pleased to direct fome mode by which the united applications of your faithful Colonists to the throne, in purfuance of their common councils, may be improved into a happy and permanent reconciliation; and that in the mean time meafures may be taken for preventing the further de ftruction of the lives of your Majesty's fubjects, and that fuch ftatutes as more immediately diftrefs any of your Majefty's Colonies be repealed. For by fuch arrangements, as your Majefty's wifdom can form, for collecting the united fenfe of your American people, we are convinced your Majefty would receive fuch fatisfactory proofs of the difpofition of the Colonists towards their Sovereign and the Parent State, that the wifhed-for opportunity would foon be reftored to them, of evincing the fincerity of their profeffions, by every teftimony of devotion becoming the most dutiful subjects, and the most affectionate Colonifts.

That your Majefty may enjoy a long and profperous reign, and that your defcendants may govern

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the dominions, with honour to theinfelves and happiness to their fubjects, is our fincere and fervent prayer.

JOHN HANCOCK.

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The marked difdain with which this Peti

tion was treated, precluded every hope of a re

conciliation.

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