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that they were noticed* of by the council, or any of the Civil Magistrates. The Committee think it necessary here to insert the following extracts. The first extract is from his Majesty's most gracious Speech from the Throne, on the 8th day of November, 1768: "At the close of the last Parliament, I expressed my satisfaction at the appearances which then induced me to believe, that such of my subjects as had been misled in some parts of my Dominions, were returning to a just sense of their duty; but it is with equal concern that I have since seen that spirit of faction which I had hoped was well nigh extinguished, breaking out afresh in some of my Colonies in North America, and in one of them, proceeding even to acts of violence, and of resistance to the execution of the law; the capital town of which Colony appears, by late advises, to be in a state of disobedience to all law and Government, and has proceeded to measures subversive of the Constitution, and attended with circumstances that manifest a disposition to throw off their dependence on Great Britain. On my part I have pursued every measure that appeared to be necessary for supporting the Constitution, and inducing a due obedience to the authority of the Legislature. You may rely upon my steady perseverance in these purposes; and I doubt not but that, with your concurrence and support, I shall be able to defeat the mischevious designs of those turbulent and seditious persons, who, under false pretences, have but too successfully deluded numbers of my subjects in America, and whose practices, if suffered to prevail, cannot fail to produce the most fatal consequences to my Colonies immediately, and in the end, to all the Dominions of my Crown." The second extract is from your Lordships Address to his Majesty on his said most gracious Speech: "We feel the most sincere concern, that any of our fellow subjects in North America, should be misled by factious and designing men, into acts of violence, and of resistance to the execution of the law, attended, with circumstances that manifest a disposition to throw off their dependence upon Great Britain. At the same time that we shall be always ready to contribute to the relief of any real grievance of your Majesty's American subjects, we most unfeignedly give your Majesty the strongest assurances, that we shall ever zealously concur in support of such just and necessary measures, as may best enable your Majesty to repress that daring spirit of disobedience, and to enforce a due submission to the laws; always considering that it is one of our most essential duties to maintain inviolate the supreme authority of the Legislature of Great Britain over every part of the Dominions of your Majesty's Crown." The third extract is from his Majesty's most gracious Answer to your Lordships Address: "Your zealous concurrence in every measure that can bring relief to my People is well known to me, nor do I doubt of the attention that you will always give to any real grievances of my American subjects. The strong assurances I receive from you at the same time of your determination to vindicate the just Legislative authority of Parliament over all the Dominions of my Crown, deserve my warmest approbation. The Committee find that on the 15th of November the Lord Harwich acquainted the House, "That he had received his Majesty's commands to lay before the House, Papers relating to the late Disturbances in America; and that the same would be laid before the House in a few days." That accordingly, on the 28th of November, the Lord Harwich laid before the House, copies of all Letters, &c., relating to the late Proceedings of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, together with a list thereof, which was read by the Clerk. December 15th. That on the 15th of December, the House came to the following resolutions: "1. Resolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the votes and resolutions, and proceedings of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts Bay, in the months of January and February last, respecting several late Acts of Parliament, so far as the said votes, resolutions, and proceedings, do import a denial of, or to draw into question, the power and authority of his Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, 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, are illegal, unconstitutional, and derogatory of the rights of the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain. It was then ordered, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, to return his Majesty thanks for the communication which he has been pleased to make to his Parliament, of several Papers relative to public
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