come together sincerely disposed to serve their Country, unbiased by any sinister views or improper resentments. This, gentlemen, I trust will be found to be your disposition in this most alarming situation of publick affairs. Let me conjure you, however, not to come to any precipitate resolutions respecting the plan of accommodation now communicated to you. I have no objection to give you any time you may think necessary for the due consideration of it. It is, indeed, a concern of a more interesting nature than ever before came under the consideration of an American Assembly. If it is adopted, all will yet be well. If it is totally rejected, or nothing similar to it proposed, or made the basis of a negotiation, it will necessarily induce a belief of what has been lately so often mentioned in publick, “That it is not a dispute about modes of taxation, but that the Americans have deeper views, and mean to throw off all dependance upon Great Britain, and to get rid of every control of their Legislature.” Should such sentiments ever prevail, they cannot but have the most fatal effects to this Country. I am, however, fully convinced that the body of the people in the Colonies do not even entertain a wish of the kind. Rather than lose the protection of Great Britain, America, were it ever so constitutionally and allowedly independent, would find it for its advantage to purchase that protection at an expense far beyond that Great Britain would ever think of requiring while we show her that regard and obedience to which she is justly entitled, and which our own interest and safety should prompt us to show, if there were no other considerations.

Taxation being the principal source of the present disorders, when that important point is once, settled, every other subject of complaint which has grown out of it will, no doubt, of course, be removed; for you may rely, gentlemen, that notwithstanding the many inimical and oppressive designs which the jealousies and suspicions of incensed people have attributed to Government, yet it is evident, from the whole tenour of the letters which I have had the honour to receive from the King’s Ministers, that His Majesty and they have nothing more at heart than to have these unhappy differences accommodated on some just and honourable plan, which shall at the same time secure the liberties of the people, without lessening the necessary power and dignity of Parliament.

God grant that the Colonies may manifest the same laudable disposition, and that a hearty reconciliation and harmony may take place of the present confusion and dissension.

WM. FRANKLIN.

Council Chamber, May 16, 1775.

Mr. Deputy Secretary laid before the House the copy of an Address to the King from the Lords and Commons of Great Britain, of the 7th of February, 1775, together with His Majesty’s Answer; also, a copy of a Resolution of the Honourable House of Commons of Great Britain, of the 20th of February last; all which were read.

Ordered, That his Excellency’s Speech and the said Papers be read a second time.

Mr. Tucker laid before the House a printed Pamphlet lately received from Great Britain, entitled “The Parliamentary Register, No. 5,” containing, among other things, a Paper entitled “An extract of a Letter from Governour Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Perth-Amboy, February 1, 1775; received February 28,” in these words, viz:

“The General Assembly of this Province are now sitting, being convened on the 11th of last month, in order to transact the publick business.

“At the opening of the session I had some hopes of prevailing on the House of Representatives not to approve of the proceedings of the General Congress held at Philadelphia, for which purpose a paragraph of my speech was particularly calculated. But the Delegates from this Province took the alarm, and used their utmost endeavours with the members to persuade them to give their approbation to those proceedings, as otherwise one grand end the Congress had in view would be entirely frustrated, namely: the preserving an appearance of unanimity throughout the Colonies, without which they said their measures could not have that weight and efficacy with the Government and people of Great Britain, as was intended.

“The scheme, however, met with some opposition in the House, every member proposing to defer the consideration of it to a future time, or to give their approbation to only some parts of the proceedings of the Congress; but by the artful management of those who espoused the measure, it was carried through precipitately the very morning it was proposed, as your Lordship will see by a copy of their Resolutions now enclosed, which were all previously prepared for the purpose.”

Which Extract was read, and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. Crane had leave of absence upon special occasion.

The House adjourned till nine o’clock to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, May 17, 1775.

The House met.

His Excellency’s Speech, together with the Papers accompanying the same, were read the second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House a Letter to him from John Smith, Esquire, Treasurer of the Eastern Division, dated Perth-Amboy, May 13, 1775, setting forth that he had attended the Justices and Freeholders of Middlesex, with the sum of Nine Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Eight Pounds and Three Shillings, to be sunk according to law on the Wednesday preceding; but that no sufficient number to constitute a Board had attended; and praying that an act of Assembly may immediately pass to cancel and burn said Bills; which Letter was read, and ordered a second reading.

The House adjourned till three, P. M.

The House met.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on. His Excellency’s Speech and the Papers accompanying the same, and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Fisher, Chairman of the Committee, reported that the Committee had gone through the matters to them referred, and had come to one Resolution, which he was ready to report whenever the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be made immediately.

Whereupon Mr. Fisher reported the Resolution of the Committee, as follows, viz:

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Excellency in answer to his Speech; to which the House agreed.

Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Mr. Wetherill, Mr. Kinsey, Mr. Paxon, and Mr. Lawrence, be a Committee to prepare and bring in the draught of an Address to his Excellency, in answer to his Speech.

Joseph Barton, Esquire, being duly returned a Representative in Assembly for the County of Sussex, and now attending, was admitted into the House, and took the usual oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration by law appointed, before Cortland Skinner, Esquire, authorized by dedimus potestatum.

Ordered, That Mr. Barton do take his seat in the House.

The House adjourned till ten o’clock to-morrow morning.

Thursday, May 18, 1775.

The House met.

The printed Paper, entitled “An Extract of a Letter from Governour Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Perth-Amboy, February 1, 1775; received February 28,” was read the second time.

Ordered, That Mr. Hinchman, Mr. Mehelm, Mr. Combs, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Holme, be a Committee to prepare and bring in the draught of a Message to his Excellency, to request his Excellency would be pleased to inform this House whether the said Extract is authentick or not.

The House adjourned till three, P. M.

The House met.

Mr. Hinchman, from the Committee appointed this morning, brought in the draught of a Message to his Excellency, according to order; which was read, amended, agreed to, and ordered to be engrossed.