That on reading the eighth paragraph, Mr. Clinton moved that the word "their," between the words "branches" and "authority", be struck out; and the words "in exercising an" be substituted; and between the words "Dominions" and "has," the following words be inserted, to wit: "which authority, when founded in expediency, and calculated for the genera weal of the whole Empire."

On which, debates arose, and the question having been put thereon, it passed in the negative in the same manner as the preceding question.

That on reading the eleventh paragraph, Mr. Clinton moved that the words "the Roman Catholick religion," between the words "which" and "has," be struck out, and the following substituted, to wit: "A sanguinary religion, "equally repugnant to the genuine simplicity of christianity, and the maxims of sound philosophy." On which debates arose, and the question having been put thereon, it was carried in the negative, in the same manner as the two last questions, excepting that Captain Seaman was for the negative.

That on reading the 12th paragraph, Mr. Clinton moved that the following words be struck out of the latter end thereof, to wit: "At the same time we also must express our disapprobation of the violent measures that have been pursued in some of the Colonies, which can only tend to increase our misfortunes, and to prevent our obtaining redress.&qout; On the question, debates arose, the Committee divided, and it passed in the negative, in the same manner as the two preceding questions before the last.

That after going through the same, paragraph by paragraph, and having made several amendments thereto, on the question whether they agree to the same, and would direct him to report them to the House? It passed in the affirmative.

Which Report he read in his place, and afterwards delivered it, with the said draught and amendments, in at the table, where the same were again read. On the question, whether the House agree to the same, and would order the said draught and amendments to be engrossed? It pasin the affirmative.

Ordered, That the said draught and amendments be engrossed.

And then the House adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

Die Sabbati, 10 ho., A. M., the 25th March, 1775.

The engrossed Petition to the King's most excellent Majesty, was read: On the question, whether the House agree to the same ? It passed in the affirmative.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker sign the said Petition in behalf of this House.

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

The humble Petition of the General Assembly of the Colony of NEWYORK.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

1. We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the General Assembly of the Colony of New-York, beg leave most humbly to approach your Majesty.

2. Inviolably attached to your royal person and Government, to which we are bound by the strongest ties of duty and affection, and in the fullest assurance that your paternal care is extended over ALL YOUR PEOPLE, as well the inhabitants of the New World as those who flourish and are happy under your more immediate influence in the Old, we are emboldened to throw ourselves at your Majesty's feet, humble Petitioners in behalf of the loyal Colony we represent.

3. Vouchsafe, then, most gracious Sovereign, to attend to the prayer of your faithful subjects, and while we are pleading our own cause, and the cause of liberty and humanity, deign to consider us as advocates for our sister Colonies also.

4. The present unhappy and unnatural disputes between the parent state and your Majesty's American Dominions, give us the deepest and most unfeigned concern. We lament it as one of the greatest misfortunes, that the happy and peaceful harmony which has hitherto subsisted between us should now by any means be interrupted; and 'tis the earnest and first wish of our hearts that it may be speedily restored, and placed upon so permanent a basis, as that neither time or accidents may be ever able to disturb it.

5. We acknowledge, with the warmest gratitude, the favour and protection of our mother country, which, flowing from policy, dictated by wisdom and humanity, hath enabled us to become so important a part of the British Empire; and we beseech your Majesty to believe us, when we assure you that we still retain the duty and affection of children; that we love and reverence our venerable parent; and that no calamity would be so truly afflicting to us as a separation from her. We acknowledge there are appearances which may be construed to our disadvantage, and that several of the measures pursued by the Colonies are by no means justifiable; yet, while we disapprove and condemn them, we entreat you, as the indulgent father of your people, to view them in the most favourable light, and to consider them as the honest, though disorderly struggles of liberty, not the licentious efforts of independence.

6. Your Majesty's American subjects have hitherto been in a state of infancy, and till lately have submitted implicitly, and without repining, to the authority of the parent state. They have now reached the period of maturity, and think themselves entitled to their birth-right, an equal participation of freedom with their fellow-subjects in Britain. It is with this view we now address your Majesty: we mean not to become independent of the British Parliament; on the contrary, we cheerfully acknowledge our subordination to it as the Grand Legislature of the Empire; we wish only to enjoy the rights of Englishmen, and to have that share of liberty, and those privileges secured to us, which we are entitled to upon the principles of our free and happy Constitution. Permit us, therefore, most gracious Sovereign, to lay our grievances before you, which we now do with the greatest humility, and in the fullest assurance that your royal justice and clemency will be exerted in our behalf.

7. Your Majesty's subjects in this Colony think it essential to freedom, and the undoubted right of English men, that no Taxes should be imposed on them without their consent given personally, or by their Representatives. This right we do not at present enjoy, inasmuch as the British Parliament (in which we have no representation) have claimed and exercised a right of making laws, binding upon us in all cases whatsoever. This claim, and this exercise of unlimited power by the Parliament, we esteem a grievance of the most dangerous nature, and directly tending to the subversion of our constitutional liberties. We are willing, to the utmost of our abilities, to contribute our proportion for the support of Government; but we would do it in a constitutional manner, by the interposition of the COLONY LEGISLATURE.

8. We likewise beg leave to declare to your Majesty, that we consider the Acts of Parliament, raising a Revenue in America, but more especially those to provide for the support of Civil Government, and the administration of justice in the Colonies, and extending the Courts of Admiralty beyond their ancient limits, giving them a concurrent jurisdiction, in causes heretofore cognizable only in the Courts of Common Law, and by that means depriving the American subjects of a trial by Jury, as grievous and destructive of our rights and privileges.

9. That the Act of Parliament authorizing the apprehension of persons resident in the Colonies, on suspicion of certain offences, and sending them out of the same to be tried, is dangerous to the lives and liberties of your Majesty's American subjects, as it deprives them of a trial by a JURY OF THE VICINAGE, which, in all cases, is the grand security and birth-right of Englishmen.

10. That we humbly conceive the Act requiring the Legislature of this Colony to provide for the services therein mentioned, and the other for suspending the Legislative power thereof, till such requisition should be com-