very able, judicious, and spirited defence of the rights and privileges of the Livery in Common-Hall assembled.

3. That a copy of the said Resolution be fairly transcribed and signed by the Town Clerk, and by him delivered to his Lordship.

4. That whoever advised His Majesty to declare he would not in future receive on the Throne any Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Livery of London, are enemies to the right of the subject to petition the Throne, because such advice is calculated to intercept the complaints of the People to their Sovereign, to prevent a redress of grievances, and alienate the minds of Englishmen from the Hanoverian succession.

5. That it is the opinion of this Common-Hall, that unless His Majesty hears the petitions of his subjects, the right of petitioning is nugatory.

6. That the thanks of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery, in Common-Hall assembled, be given to the Right Honourable the Earl of Effingham, for having, consistent with the principles of a true Englishman, refused to draw that sword which has been employed to the honour of his Country, against the lives and liberties of his fellow-subjects in America.

7. That the said Resolution be fairly transcribed and signed by the Town Clerk, and by him delivered to the Right Honourable the Earl of Effingham.

8. That an humble Address, Remonstrance, and Petition be presented to His Majesty, from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, in Common-Hull assembled, on this important crisis of American affairs.

9. To agree to the Address, Remonstrance, and Petition now read.

10. That the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, our Representatives in Parliament, the Court of Aldermen, the Sheriffs and Livery, in their Gowns, attended by the Recorder and other City officers, be desired to present the said Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, to His Majesty sitting on his Throne.

11. That the Sheriffs, attended by the Remembrancer, do wait on His Majesty on Monday next, to know his Royal will and pleasure when he will receive on the Throne the humble Address, Remonstrance, and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery, in Common-Hall assembled.

12. That the said Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, be not presented to His Majesty but sitting on the Throne:

The above motions being unanimously approved of, the Hall was adjourned.

London, June 27, 1775.

Yesterday the Sheriffs went up to St. James’s to know His Majesty’s pleasure when he would be pleased to permit the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Common Council, and Livery, to wait on him with their Petition, and Remonstrance. His Majesty being at Kew, they went thither, where they waited about three-quarters of an hour, when His Majesty signified to them, by a Lord in waiting, that they should go up to St. James’s to-morrow for an answer. They returned to the Mansion-House at nine o’clock.

London, July 4, 1775.

At a meeting of the Livery of London, in Common-Hall assembled:

The Lord Mayor acquainted the Livery that the Sheriffs waited on His Majesty at St. James’s on Wednesday last, and that Mr. Sheriff Plomer addressed His Majesty as follows:

“May it please your Majesty:

“We are ordered by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, in Common-Hall assembled, to wait upon your Majesty, humbly to know your Majesty’s Royal will and pleasure when your Majesty will be pleased to receive upon the Throne their humble Address, Remonstrance, and Petition.”

To which His Majesty answered:

“Your will please to take notice, that I will receive their Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, on Friday next, at the levee.”

Mr. Sheriff Plomer replied:

“Your Majesty will permit us to inform you, that the Lively, in Common-Hall assembled, have resolved not to present their Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, unless your Majesty shall be pleased to receive it sitting on the Throne.”

To which His Majesty answered:

“I am ever ready to receive addresses and petitions; but I am the judge where.”

The Lord Mayor then declared, that in consequence of the order of the Livery that the Address, Remonstrance, and Petition should not be presented to the King but sitting on his Throne, the Sheriffs’ Report to him, and Lord Hertford’s Letter, his Lordship had not attended His Majesty with the said Address.

Ordered, That His Majesty’s Answer, now reported, be entered in the books of the Livery of this City.

Resolved, That the King is bound to hear the Petitions of his People, it being the undoubted right of the subject to be heard, and not a matter of grace and favour.

Resolved, That His Majesty’s Answer is a direct denial of the right of this Court to have their Petitions heard.

Resolved, That such denial renders the right of petitioning the Throne, recognized and established by the Revolution, of no effect.

Resolved, That whoever advises His Majesty, directly or indirectly, to refuse hearing the humble Address, Remonstrance, and Petition of this Court, on the Throne, is equally an enemy to the happiness and security of the King, and the peace and liberties of the People.

Ordered, That the Address, Remonstrance, and Petition which His Majesty refused to hear on the Throne, be printed in the publick papers, and signed by the Town Clerk.

Resolved, That the following Instruction be given to our Representatives in Parliament:

“GENTLEMEN: You are instructed by the Livery in Common-Hall assembled, to move immediately on the next meeting of Parliament, for an humble Address from the House of Commons to His Majesty, requesting to know who were the advisers of those fatal measures which have planted Popery and arbitrary power in America, and have plunged us into a most unnatural civil war, to the subversion of the fundamental principles of English liberty, the ruin of our most valuable Commerce, and the destruction of His Majesty’s subjects; to know who were the advisers of a measure so dangerous to His Majesty’s happiness, and the rights of his people, as refusing to hear the petitions and complaints of his subjects. You are further instructed, gentlemen, to move for an; impeachment of the authors and advisers of those measures; that, by bringing them to publick justice, evil counsellors may be removed from before the King, his Throne may be established, the rights of the people be vindicated, and the whole Empire restored to the enjoyment of peace, liberty, and safety.”

Ordered, That the said Resolution be fairly transcribed, and signed by the Town Clerk, and by him delivered to our Representatives in Parliament.

Ordered, That the Sheriffs do wait upon His Majesty, and deliver into. His Majesty’s hand, in the name of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery in Common-Hall assembled, a fair copy of the Resolutions agreed to on Mid-summer-day and this day, signed by the Town Clerk.

Ordered, That the Sheriffs, attended by Remembrancer, do to-morrow wait on His Majesty with the aforesaid Resolutions.

Ordered, That the Resolutions of this day be printed in the publick papers, signed by the Town Clerk.

Signed by order:

RIX.

July 5, 1775.

The Sheriffs waited on His Majesty at St. James’s, when Mr. Sheriff Plomer addressed the King in the following words: