ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Court at St. James’s, the 6th day of November, 1775: Present, the King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Report from a committee of the Lords of His Majesty’s most honourable Privy Council, dated the 4th of this instant, upon considering a representation from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, proposing that all ships and vessels clearing out for the coast of Africa, for trade, should be permitted to take on board and export such quantities of Gunpowder and Military Stores as shall be necessary for their respective voyages: His Majesty, taking the said report into consideration, is pleased, with the advice of his Privy Council, to approve thereof, and to order, as it is hereby ordered, that all ships and vessels clearing out for the coast of Africa, for the purpose of carrying on the trade for Slaves, Ivory, and Gold, be permitted to take on board, as an assorted part of their cargoes, as much Gunpowder, and as large a quantity of Trading-Guns, Pistols, Cutlasses, Flints and Lead Balls, Bars and Shot, as the exporters shall think necessary; provided, that sufficient security be given to the principal officers of His Majesty’s customs of the port in which they are fitted out, and before they proceed upon their respective voyages, in treble the value of the articles so exported, that the same shall be expended in trade upon the coast of Africa; which security is not to be cancelled until proof of such expenditure has been made by the oath of the Captain or master of the ship or vessel, in like manner as is practised with regard to Spirits and East-India goods, used in carrying on that trade. And His Majesty is further pleased to order, that all ships and vessels trading to the said coast be allowed to take on board, for their defence, whatever quantity of Carriage-Guns, Swivels, and Small-Arms, shall be judged proper by the respective masters thereof; provided, that no greater quantity be taken on board any one ship, for her defence, than twelve Carriage-Guns and twelve Swivels, together with one Musket or Blunderbuss, one pair of Pistols, and one Cutlass, for every person of which the ship’s company shall consist, and Ammunition in proportion; provided, that sufficient security be, in the like manner, first given to the said principal officers of the customs at the ports where the ships shall be fitted out, in treble the value thereof, to bring back the Carriage-Guns, Swivels, and Small-Arms, so taken on board for the defence of the ships, when the voyage is completed; and to account upon oath for the expenditure of the Ammunition. And the right honourable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly.

W. BLAIR.

ADDRESS OF THE BOROUGH OF NAIRN.

Address of the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of the Borough of Nairn, presented to His Majesty by Col. Hector Munro, their Representative in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the Borough of NAIRN.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most faithful subjects, the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of the Borough of Nairn, think it our indispensable duty upon this occasion to approach our Sovereign, and, with unanimous voice, to testify that loyalty and attachment, which so mild and equitable a Government must ever create in the minds of a grateful and affectionate people.

Deeply sensible of the many blessings we enjoy under the happy auspices of such a reign, we cannot but reflect with horror and detestation on the audacious attempts that have been made to alienate the affections of your subjects, and kindle the flame of civil war. May such infernal machinations recoil on those flagitious heads that framed them, and every latent viper of sedition be dragged to open light.

The differences between Great Britain and her Colonies have now come to such a crisis, that every community, every individual, ought to be interested in the publick cause. Weak as our utmost efforts may be deemed, and limited our powers, each heart and hand devoted to your service will, with the most ardent zeal, contribute in promoting such measures as may be now thought necessary for reestablishing the violated rights of the British Legislature, and bringing back to order and allegiance your Majesty’s deluded and unhappy subjects in America..

By order of the Magistrates and Council,

LEVIS ROSE, Provost.

Nairn, November 6, 1775.

ADDRESS OF THE CITY OF HEREFORD.

Address of the Mayor, Aldermen, and chief Citizens of the City of Hereford, presented to His Majesty by Sir Richard Symons, Baronet, one of their Representatives in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most faithful subjects, the Mayor, Aldermen, and chief Citizens of the ancient and loyal City of Hereford, in Council assembled, beg leave, at this alarming and critical juncture, to tender our sentiments of duty and affection to your Majesty, and our inviolable attachment to our free and happy Constitution.

Penetrated with these sentiments, we lament the unnatural defection of part of your Majesty’s subjects in America, from their allegiance to this their Parent State, as well as the unsuccessful endeavours hitherto used to bring them back to their duty.

We trust your Majesty, of your great wisdom and clemency, will apply wise and wholesome measures to conciliate their affections, and reclaim those deluded people to a true sense of their duty and interest.

But, alas! should such measures fail, we beg leave to assure your Majesty that we are ready, to the utmost of our abilities, to support your Majesty in such vigorous and constitutional measures as may best conduce to accomplish this salutary purpose, and promote the happiness and dignity of your Majesty and the whole British Empire.

Given under our common seal, at the Guildhall in the said City, the sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.

ADDRESS OF THE BURGH OF INVERNESS.

Address of the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of the Burgh of Inverness, presented to His Majesty by Colonel Hector Munro, their Representative in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of the Burgh of INVERNESS.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of your Burgh of Inverness, beg leave to approach your throne with the most sincere expressions of duty and attachment to your Majesty’s person and Government.

We acknowledge, with the highest degree of gratitude, the many blessings we enjoy in common with all your subjects, under your Majesty’s mild and just Government; and we cannot avoid expressing our utmost detestation and abhorrence of that spirit of rebellion which has unhappily broke forth among your Majesty’s subjects in America, and has induced them to take up arms against your Majesty and the just authority of the Legislature,

It is with the greatest sorrow that we behold the seditious designs of discontented and factious men so far attended with success as to seduce your infatuated and deluded subjects in the Colonies from their allegiance and duty to your Majesty and their Parent State; and we do solemnly declare our determined resolution of supporting your Majesty’s Government, to the utmost of our power, against all attempts that may be made to disturb it, either at home or abroad.

Our most sincere and ardent prayers are, that your Majesty’s reign may be long and prosperous, and that you may always have the satisfaction of finding yourself the Sovereign of a grateful, free, and happy people.

Signed in our name, and by our appointment, the seal of the Town being affixed, at Inverness, the 6th day of November, 1775.

WILLIAM CHISHOLM, Provost.