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vernment in the suppression of riots and tumults, and in the effectual support of lawful authority.

"Whatever remains to be done on this occasion, I commit to your wisdom, not doubting but your zeal for the honor of my Crown, your attention to the just rights and authority of the British Legislature, and your affection and concern for the welfare and prosperity of all my People, will guide you to such sound and prudent resolutions as may tend at once to preserve those constitutional rights over the Colonies, and to restore to them that harmony and tranquillity which have lately been interrupted by riots and disorders of the most dangerous nature."

In the dutiful Address which was voted the same day, the House assure his Majesty, "of their hearty concurrence with his Majesty's most salutary intentions; that they would exert their utmost endeavours to assert and support his Majesty's dignity and honor, and the legislative authority of this Kingdom over its Colonies; and that they would take into their consideration the most proper methods to provide for the restoration of tranquillity to those Colonies which had been disturbed by such violent and dangerous commotions."

Upon the same day all the Papers relating to the information and advices received from America, of the riots and tumults there, were laid before the House.

More Papers relating to America were laid before the House, which, together with the other Papers, were referred to a Committee of the whole House for Tuesday, the 28th.

More Papers were laid before the House, and referred to the said Committee.

The Committee met, and after several adjournments, on the 10th of February, following, the Chairman reported several Resolutions, which were agreed to by the House, as follows:

"1. Resolved, That the King's Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled, had, hath, and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make Laws and Statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the Colonies and People of America, subjects of the Crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever.

"2. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, that Tumults and Insurrections of the most dangerous nature, have been raised and carried on in several of the North American Colonies, in open defiance of the Power and Dignity of his Majesty's Government, and in manifest violation of the Laws and Legislative authority of this Kingdom.

"3. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee that the said Tumults and Insurrections have been encouraged and inflamed by sundry Votes and Resolutions, passed in several of the Assemblies of the said Provinces, derogatory to the honor of his Majesty's Government, and destructive of the legal and constitutional dependency of the said Colonies on the Imperial Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.

"4. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, to desire that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to give instructions to the Governors, of the several Provinces, where the above mentioned Tumults and Insurrections have happened, that they should, in his Majesty's name, require of the Assemblies of the said Provinces, to make proper recompense to those who have suffered in their persons or properties, in consequence of the aforesaid Tumults and Insurrections; and to assure his Majesty that this House will, upon this and all occasions, support the lawful authority of his Crown, and the rights of Parliament.

"5. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all his Majesty's subjects, residing in the said Colonies, who have manifested their desire to comply with, or to assist in, carrying into execution, the Act for laying a duty on Stamps, or any other Act of Parliament, in the British Colonies in North America, have acted as dutiful and loyal subjects, and are therefore entitled to, and will assuredly have, the favor and protection of this House."

"Ordered, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, pursuant to the fourth Resolution."

On the 5th of March, a Bill was brought from the Commons, intituled, "An Act for the better securing the Dependency of his Majesty's Dominions in America upon the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain."

Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 18th of the same month.

And also a Bill intituled, "An Act to repeal an Act made in the last session of Parliament intituled, 'An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp Duties, and other duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America; towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several Acts of Parliament relating to the Trade and Revenues of the said Colonies and Plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned.'"

Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 18th of March.

Whilst the Bill for repealing the Stamp Act was under deliberation, petitions from the Merchants of the city of Bristol, from the Merchants of Glasgow, from Edward Montague, Agent for the Colony of Virginia, and from the Merchants of the city of London, in favor of the said repeal, were received and read.

On the 2d of June, a Bill was brought from the Commons, intituled, "An Act for indemnifying persons who have incurred certain penalties inflicted by an Act of the last session of Parliament, 'for granting certain Stamp Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America;' and for making valid all instruments executed or enrolled there on unstamped paper, vellum, or parchment."

Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 6th of the same month.

It appears by a letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 24th, 1766, that the Governor, by advice of the Council, ordered the Mutiny Act and three other Acts to be printed by the Printer of the Laws, in the interval of the adjournment of the Assembly. Two companies of Artillery being driven on shore by distress of weather, and the said Act of Parliament having been consulted, the Council advised the Governor to order the Commissary to supply them with what they demanded under the Act, which was done. Upon the meeting of the Assembly a Message was sent to the Council, and earned by five members, to inquire by what authority Acts of Parliament were registered amongst the laws of that Province; and whether they knew of any Act (meaning of Assembly) requiring the registering of Ordinances (their term for Acts of Parliament) which their Legislature never consented to."

The Committee find that, on the 12th of March, 1767, the Lord Wycombe (by his Majesty's command) laid before the House copies of letters, &c., from his Majesty's Governors in America, which were ordered to lie on the table.

That on the 3d of April more copies of letters from his Majesty's Governors in America, were laid before the House, and ordered to lie on the table.

That on the 14th of May, it was ordered that an humble Address should be presented to his Majesty, "That he would be graciously pleased to give directions that there might be laid before this House copies of all Reports made to or by the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, together with all Orders and Proceedings made or had by the Secretaries of State, or his Majesty's Privy Council, relating to the Bill passed by the Governor, Council, and Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay, for granting compensation to the sufferers, and of free and general pardon, indemnity, and oblivion to the offenders in the late times, from the time of the receipt of the said Bill."

That on the 18th day of May, pursuant to the said Address, the Lord Wycombe laid before the House, a copy of the Report of the Committee of Council, &c., which papers were ordered to lie on the table.

That on the same day it was ordered, that an humble Address should be presented to his Majesty, That he would be graciously pleased to give directions, that there