were mistaken. In every engagement the Americans appeared with a bravery worthy of men that fight for the liberties of their oppressed Country; their success has been remarkable; the number of the slain and wounded on every occasion vastly exceeds theirs; and the advantages they gained are the more honourable, because, with a patience that scarce has an example, they bore every act of injustice and insult till their lives were attacked, and then gave the fullest proof that the man of calmness and moderation in council, is usually also the most intrepid and courageous in battle.

You will doubtless lament with us the hundreds that died in their Country’s cause; but does it not call for greater sorrow that thousands of British soldiers fought and found their deaths, when they were active to enslave their brethren and their Country?

However irritating all those proceedings, yet so unnatural is this quarrel, that every good man must wish and pray that it may soon cease, that the injured rights of America may be vindicated by milder means, and that no more blood may be shed, unless it be of those who fomented, and mean to make an advantage of those unhappy divisions.

From the proceedings of the Congress, a copy of which accompanies the present, you will be convinced that a reconciliation, on honourable principles, is an object which your Delegates never lost sight of. We have sent an humble and manly Petition to His Majesty; addressed his representative, our Governour; provided, as far as in our power, for internal quiet and safety; and Delegates will soon attend the General Congress, to assist and co-operate in every measure that shall be thought necessary for the saving of America.

His Excellency, at our request, having appointed the nineteenth instant as a day of humiliation, and news being afterwards received that the Continental Congress had recommended the twentieth instant to be observed as such, both days have been observed with a becoming solemnity, and we humbly hope many earnest prayers have been presented to the Father of Mercies on that day, through this extensive Continent, and that he has heard the cries of the destitute, and will not despise their prayers.

You will permit us most earnestly to recommend to you a steady perseverance in the cause of liberty, and that you will use all possible caution not to say or do any thing unworthy of so glorious a cause; to promote frugality, peace, and good order; and, in the practice of every social and religious duty, patiently to wait for the return of that happy day when we may sit quietly under our vine and fig-tree, and no man make us afraid.

J. J. ZUBLY,
N. W: JONES,
GEORGE WALTON.

The following are copies of a Petition from the Inhabitants of Georgia, which was presented to the King on Friday, October twenty-eighth, by Governour Johnstone, and of Letters which accompanied it:

Savannah, July 14, 1775.

To GEORGE JOHNSTONE, Esquire:

SIR: It is with a singular pleasure I am desired to transmit the accompanying papers to you, sensible that in a cause where the essential rights of so many millions are concerned, no endeavours on your part will be wanting to give them their full effect.

The many proofs which the people of this Province had of your magnanimity, justice, and disinterested integrity, in establishing the neighbouring Colony of West-Florida, have rendered your name respected throughout America; and your subsequent conduct has endeared you still further to every lover of mankind in the eastern and western world. These motives have determined the Congress in the application they now make.

I am sensible If the same Councils prevail, the task of conveying such disagreeable truths to the Throne must prove very painful; but we believe there is no person who would undertake the office with less reluctance, or execute it with more becoming duty and respect to His Majesty.

I am, &c.

Savannah, Georgia, July 14, 1775.

SIR: When turbulent and wicked minds are employed solely to raise commotions in the State, and disturb the tranquillity of the subject; when, by their baneful influence, life, property, and freedom, are inhumanly invaded, and the innocence and loyalty of thousands are unjustly questioned; we, the inhabitants of Georgia, by a just delegation from the different Parishes, being now convened in Congress in this Town, have resolved to address His Majesty in a dutiful petition, setting forth our grievances, and the bad tendency of the many wicked and treacherous proceedings against this Continent, that have passed since the year 1763.

Although we know the fate of all other petitions on this head, and cannot flatter ourselves that we should meet with one different; yet, as the right of petitioning is the subject’s, we beg leave to enclose this our prayer and remonstrance to you, hoping and trusting on the noble sentiments you entertain and support, in favour of us much injured Americans, that, countenanced by one of your great abilities, it may approach the Throne.

We assure you, Sir, we are, and always were, firmly attached to His Majesty’s family; nor can any thing shake our integrity. But when, by evil and wicked Ministers, our birthright as Englishmen shall be violated, that integrity must urge us to hand down to our children a right so invaluable.

We conceive our immediate dependance on the Crown can by no means hinder our doing that indispensable duty in joining with the rest of America against acts that tend to enslave a people whose loyalty and faith were never even suspected, until the actions of the times wanted an excuse.

We have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servants,

A Committee of Intelligence.

To George Johnstone, Esquire.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty:

The humble Address and Representation of his loyal subjects, the Delegates of the Inhabitants of GEORGIA, now met in Provincial Congress:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY: Though we bring up the rear of American petitioners, and, from the fate of so many petitions presented to your Majesty from America, your great City of London, and others of your European subjects, have a most melancholy prospect, we still hope He, by whom Kings rule, and to whom Monarchs are accountable, will incline you to pay some regard to our most humble and faithful representation.

In times like these, when the edge of present feeling is blunted by the expectation of calamities still greater, we must take the liberty to speak before we die. We would acquaint our Sovereign with things which greatly affect his interest; we would endeavour to awaken the feeling and pity of our common father.

Your Majesty is the rightful sovereign of the most important empire in the universe. The blessings of Providence on your arms has put a country in America under you of greater importance and extent than several kingdoms in Europe. In this large extent of territory, by some late acts, Popery is not only tolerated, (which we conceive would have been but an act of justice,) but an indulgence has been granted, little short of a full establishment, to a religion which is equally injurious to the rights of sovereigns and of mankind. French and arbitrary laws have there, by authority, taken place of the just and mild British Constitution; and all this has been done with a professed and avowed design to overawe your Majesty’s ancient Protestant and loyal subjects, some of whom had no small share in the merit of that conquest. Acts to raise a perpetual revenue on the Americans, without their consent, have been enacted, which at one stroke turn all your American subjects into slaves, and deprive them of that right which the most oppressive task-master does not deny to the servant bought with his money. Experience must now have shown, as it will clearer, should these acts be enforced, that instead of increasing the revenue, or lessening the burden of your European subjects, they can only serve to increase their taxation.