ADDRESS OF THE BOROUGH OF LINLITHGOW.

Address of the Provost, Magistrates, and Council of the Borough of Linlithgow, in Council assembled, presented to His Majesty by Sir James Cockburn, Baronet, their Representative in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, the Provost, Magistrates, and Council of your Majesty’s ancient Borough of Linlithgow, in Council assembled, beg leave to approach your royal presence, and declare our abhorrence of that pernicious spirit of licentiousness and avowed rebellion that prevails among some of the Colonies in America. Nor can we regard with less abhorrence any persons who by their conduct have contributed to kindle, or still continue to encourage and foment this rebellion, which it is the indispensable duty of every good citizen to oppose and suppress.

It is with no less astonishment than indignation that we behold the misled and deluded Colonies, who have been nursed up from feeble beginnings to opulence and greatness, by the tender care of their Parent State, and protected from all their enemies in the full enjoyment of all their advantages, at an immense expense; who are blessed with the most excellent Constitution the world ever knew, enjoy the most mild and equal laws, and live under your Majesty’s most gracious reign, hurried into a behaviour so undutiful to your Majesty and their Parent State, and so destructive to themselves.

But while our thoughts dwell with deep concern on this subject, permit us, great Sire, to say, we are fully confident such wisdom and vigour in council, such spirit in enterprise, such conduct and firmness in execution, will be exerted under your Majesty’s auspicious direction, as, by the blessing of Heaven, may soon suppress this rebellion and all its abettors; reduce the deluded Colonists to a sense of duty and loyalty, restore peace, establish and extend commerce, and diffuse a spirit of unanimity, the strength of every State, over all the extensive Dominions of the British Empire.

To compass these important ends, our most zealous endeavours shall be cheerfully and vigorously exerted.

We beg leave to assure your Majesty of our most firm loyalty and attachment to your sacred person, family, and Government. That your Majesty may long reign in the hearts of a free, united, happy, and grateful people; and that some of your Majesty’s illustrious race, inheriting your royal virtues as well as throne, may rule in these realms to latest posterity, is the sincere and hearty prayer of this community.

This, in their name, in their presence, and at their appointment, is subscribed by

ROBERT CLARK, Provost.

Linlithgow, November 4, 1775.

ASSEMBLY OF JAMAICA.

Kingston, Jamaica, November 4, 1775.

On Tuesday the honourable House of Assembly met, according to Proclamation, when his Excellency the Governour was pleased to open the session with the following speech:

Gentlemen of the Council,

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly:

As I have very satisfactory experience of your zeal for the prosperity of this Country and attachment to its interests, it is with the greatest pleasure I meet you again in General Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly:

I have hitherto found you very ready to grant sufficient supplies for the support of Government, and all the exigencies of the publick service. I ask no more, and promise myself you will cheerfully raise them.

The state of the forts and fortifications shall be laid before you, which I recommend to your most serious consideration.

Gentlemen of the Council,

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly:

I firmly trust the business of this session will be carried on with harmony among yourselves, and the advantages of His Majesty’s service; which you cannot better or more acceptably promote, than by consulting the good of his subjects.

You may depend upon my hearty co–operation with you in every measure which may tend to such desirable purposes.

To his Excellency Sir BASIL KEITH, Knight, Captain–General, Governour, and Commander–in–Chief of JAMAICA, &c.

The humble Address of the Assembly:

May it please your Excellency:

We, His Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Assembly of Jamaica, return your Excellency our sincere thanks for your speech at the opening of this session.

We are happy that our zeal for the prosperity of this Country, and attachment to its interest, are satisfactory to your Excellency. We could not expect less from a gentleman so well disposed to promote its happiness.

The necessary supplies for the support of Government, and the exigencies of the publick, we shall cheerfully grant; and your Excellency’s recommendation will be an additional motive for our immediately taking into consideration the state of the forts and fortifications.

Gratitude to our Sovereign for the many benefits we enjoy under his auspicious reign, and our desire to express that gratitude, by endeavouring to render your Excellency’s Government easy, will impel us to carry on the publick business, as far as regards us, with harmony; and, being certain of your Excellency’s concurrence in every measure for the publick advantage, we shall endeavour to promote His Majesty’s service, by consulting the good of his subjects.

To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following answer:

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly:

I sincerely thank you for your address.

Your gratitude to the best of Sovereigns will be extremely pleasing to him; for his first wish is to reign in the hearts of his subjects. The manner in which you mean to show that gratitude calls forth feelings I want words to express; but I hope, by every act of administration, to convince you and your constituents, that no man is more warmly interested than I am in the prosperity of Jamaica.

FRANCIS MENTZES TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, November 4, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: Finding that a Battalion is now raising in the Province of Pennsylvania, for American Continental service, and being informed that the Adjutant, as well as Field–Officers, are to be appointed by the honourable the Continental Congress, in which you preside, I beg leave to address myself to you, as a gentleman ever willing to take notice of those who may be capable of assisting, in any manner, the grand cause of all British–America.I have made some application to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, for an office in the Battalion now raising, but have not had the influence of those gentlemen who are nominated by the Assembly for officers. I am desirous to enter into the service of the United Colonies of North America, in their present opposition to tyranny and oppression, and that not from motives of self–interest, but willing and could wish to be employed to act in the office to which I have the confidence to think myself equal. I am willing to be put to the trial. I could, perhaps, say much, from the opportunities I have had in Germany, during the last war, but think most prudent not to be ostentatious. My greatest ambition, at present, is to become Adjutant to the Battalion now raising in Pennsylvania; an office which I take the liberty to say I perfectly understand, as well in the field as in garrison. Pardon me, Sir, the liberty I have taken to address you in writing. As to my private character, gentlemen with whom you are acquainted, particularly Colonel George Ross and James Wilson, both of the Congress, will vouch for me.

I am your most obedient humble servant,

FRANCIS MENTZES.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Continental Congress.

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