Monday last, and carried by a majority of two hundred and seventy-four to eighty-eight.

As these two measures are as yet in the first stages only of consideration, and as the Bill may possibly admit, in its further progress, of some alteration, I shall only say upon them, that I flatter myself that the firm determination of Parliament to preserve the Colonies in a due dependance upon this Kingdom, tempered with the justice and moderation expressed in the last Resolution of the Committee, will have the effect to produce such a conduct on the part of the Colonies as shall lead to a restoration of the publick tranquillity.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

DARTMOUTH.

Deputy Governour of Pennsylvania.

FROM THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH TO THE GOVERNOURS OF THE COLONIES.

SIR: You will have seen, in the King’s Answer to the Joint Address of both Houses of Parliament, on the 7th of February, (which Address and Answer have been already transmitted to you,) how much attention His Majesty was graciously pleased to give to the assurance held out in that Address, of the readiness of Parliament to afford every just and reasonable indulgence to the Colonies, whenever they should make a proper application, on the ground of any real grievance they might have to complain of; and therefore I have the less occasion now to enlarge upon the satisfaction it hath given His Majesty to see that Address followed by the enclosed Resolution of the House of Commons, which, whatever may be the effect of it, (I trust a happy one,) will forever remain an evidence of their justice and moderation, and manifest the temper which has accompanied their deliberations upon that question, which has been the source of so much disquiet to His Majesty’s subjects in America, and the pretence of acts of such criminal disorder and disobedience.

His Majesty ardently wishes to see a reconciliation of the unhappy difference which has produced those disorders, through every means by which it may be obtained, without prejudice to the just authority of Parliament, which His Majesty will never suffer to be violated; approves the Resolution of his faithful Commons, and commands me to transmit it to you, not doubting that this happy disposition to comply with every just and reasonable wish of the King’s subjects in America, will meet with such a return of duty and affection on their part, as will lead to a happy issue of the present disputes, and to a re-establishment of the publick tranquillity, on those grounds of equity, justice, and moderation, which the Resolution holds forth.

The King has the greater satisfaction in this Resolution, and the greater confidence in the good effects of it, from having seen that, amidst all the intemperance into which a people, jealous of their liberties, have been unfortunately misled, they have nevertheless avowed the justice, the equity, and the propriety of subjects of the same State contributing, according to their abilities and situation, to the Publick Burdens; and I think I am warranted in saying that this Resolution holds no proposition beyond that.

I am unwilling to suppose that any of the King’s subjects in the Colonies can have so far forgot the benefits they have received from the Parent State, as not to acknowledge that it is to her support, held forth at the expense of her blood and treasure, that they principally owe that security which hath raised them to their present state of opulence and importance. In this situation, therefore, justice requires that they should, in return, contribute, according to their abilities, to the common defence; and their own welfare and interest demand that their Civil Establishment should be supported with a becoming dignity.

It has been the care, and, I am persuaded, it is the firm determination of Parliament to see that both these ends are answered; and their wisdom and moderation have suggested the propriety of leaving to each Colony to judge of the ways and means of making due provision for these purposes, reserving to themselves a discretionary power of approving or disapproving what shall be offered.

The Resolution neither points out what the Civil Establishment should be, nor demands any specific sum in aid of the Publick Burdens. In both these respects it leaves full scope for that justice and liberality which may be expected from Colonies that, under all their prejudices, have never been wanting in expressions of an affectionate attachment to the Mother Country, and a zealous regard for the welfare of the British Empire; and therefore the King trusts that the provision they will engage to make for the support of Civil Government, will be adequate to the rank and station of every necessary Officer, and that the sum to be given in contribution to the common defence, will be offered on such terms, and proposed in such a way, as to increase or diminish, according to the Publick Burdens of this Kingdom are from time to time augmented or reduced, in so far as those Burdens consist of Taxes and Duties, which are not a security for the National Debt. By such a mode of contribution, the Colonies will have full security that they can never be required to tax themselves, without Parliament’s taxing the subjects of this Kingdom in a far greater proportion; and there can be no doubt that any proposition of this nature, made by any of the Colonies, and accompanied with such a state of their facilities and abilities, as may evince the equity of the proposal, will be received with every possible indulgence, provided it be, at the same time, unaccompanied with any declaration, and unmixed with any claims which will make it impossible for the King, consistent with his own dignity, or for Parliament, consistent with their constitutional rights, to receive it. But I will not suppose that any of the Colonies will, after this example of the temper and moderation of Parliament, adopt such a conduct; on the contrary, I will cherish a pleasing hope that the publick peace will be restored, and that the Colonies, forgetting all other trivial and groundless complaint which ill humour hath produced, will enter into the consideration of the Resolution of the House of Commons with that calmness and deliberation which the importance of it demands, and with that good will and inclination to a reconciliation which are due to the candour and justice with which Parliament has taken up this business, and at once declare to the Colonies what will be ultimately expected from them.

I have already said that the King entirely approves the Resolution of the House of Commons, and His Majesty commands me to say, that a compliance therewith by the General Assembly of New-York, [which has already shewn so good a disposition towards a reconciliation with the Mother Country,*] will be most graciously considered by His Majesty, not only as a testimony of their reverence for Parliament, but also as a mark of their duty and attachment to their Sovereign, who has no object nearer to his heart than the peace and prosperity of his subjects in every part of his Dominions. At the same time His Majesty considers himself bound by every tie to exert those means the Constitution has placed in his hands, for preserving that Constitution entire, and to resist with firmness every attempt to violate the rights of Parliament, to distress and obstruct the lawful Commerce of his subjects; and to encourage in the Colonies ideas of independence, inconsistent with their connection with this Kingdom.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

DARTMOUTH.

Governour of New-York.

Copy of a Resolution of the House of Commons, 27th February, 1775, enclosed by the Earl of DARTMOUTH, in his Circular Letter to the Governours of the Colonies, dated March 3, 1775.

Resolved, That when the Governour, Council and Assembly, or General Court of any of His Majesty’s Provinces or Colonies in America, shall propose to make provision according to the condition, circumstances and situation of such Province or Colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defence, (such proportion to be raised under the authority of the General Court or General Assembly of such Province or Colony, and disposable by Parliament,) and shall engage to make provision also for the support of the Civil Government, and the Administration of Justice in such Province or Colony, it will be proper, if such proposal shall be approved by His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament, and for so long as such

* These words were omitted in the Letters to the other Colonies.