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we have enjoyed under your Majesty’s mild and constitutional Government. While we thankfully acknowledge these blessings, it is with the utmost abhorrence we observe a most unnatural spirit of disaffection, which has, for some time past, prevailed in several of your Majesty’s Colonies in America, and which has now broke out into a daring and open rebellion; a rebellion the more unjustifiable and ungrateful, as being raised against the dignity of your Majesty’s crown, and the legislative authority of Great Britain, which has always been anxiously concerned and careful to provide for their safety and security, even at the expense of much blood and treasure. We beg leave to assure your Majesty, that we, and the whole inhabitants of this Burgh, whom we represent, are ready, with our lives and fortunes, to support all such measures as your Majesty and the wisdom of Parliament shall judge necessary to put a speedy end to this unnatural rebellion, which appears to us to have been greatly fomented and encouraged by the machinations of a seditious and discontented party at home. That Almighty God may bless your Majesty’s Councils, give success to your arms, that a speedy reconciliation may take place among all your subjects, and that you may have a long and prosperous reign, over a free and happy people, is our sincere prayer. Signed in presence and by appointment of the Town Council of Selkirk, this 21st day of November, 1775 years. THOMAS CURRER, Chief Magistrate. ADDRESS OF THE NOBLEMEN, ETC., OF THE COUNTY OF BANFF. Address of the Noblemen, Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of the Land-Tax of the County of Banff, transmitted to the Earl of Suffolk, one of His Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, and presented to His Majesty. To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty. The humble Address of the Noblemen, Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of the Land-Tax of the County of BANFF. Most Gracious Sovereign: We, your Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the Noblemen, Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of the Land-Tax of the County of Banff, beg leave to approach your royal person, to testify our disapprobation and abhorrence of the conduct of your Majesty’s Colonies in America. We admire your Majesty’s moderation and temper, which, while your Majesty exerts that firm and constitutional spirit to subdue, yet still holds forth the benevolence to pardon those who return to duty. We most humbly assure your Majesty, that we will support your Majesty, to the utmost of our power, in maintaining the authority of the Legislature over every part of the British Dominions. We pray God to direct your Majesty’s Councils and measures, and that your Majesty may long reign over a free, happy, and united people. Signed in our name, presence, and by our appointment, at Banff, the twenty first day of November, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five years, by our Praeses. FIFE. ADDRESS OF THE FREEHOLDERS, ETC., OF THE STEWARTRY Address of the Justices of the Peace, Freeholders, and Commissioners of the Land-Tax for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in Quarter-Sessions assembled, presented to His Majesty by William Stewart, Esq., Representative in Parliament for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty. The humble Address of the Justices of the Peace, Freeholders, and Commissioners of the Land-Tax for the Stewartry of KIRKCUDBRIGHT, in Quarter-Sessions assembled. Most Gracious Sovereign: Impressed with the deepest sense of the blessings we enjoy under your Majesty’s auspicious reign, we cannot help testifying our abhorrence of those attempts which are made to disturb its tranquillity by our rebellious fellow-subjects in North-America. Warmly attached to our inestimable Constitution, it is our earnest wish that every part of it may be preserved inviolate. To attain this great end, it appears to us an indispensable requisite, that the supremacy of the British Legislature be asserted over every part of the Empire. With such sentiments as these, we must express our disapprobation of the principles of those men who make British liberty to consist in an undistinguished opposition to every measure of Administration. The fatal effects of a conduct resulting from such principles are now severely felt by the misguided Colonists on the other side of the Atlantick. We lament and pity the mischiefs which evil counsels, licentiousness, and a factious spirit, have produced among a deluded people. But since conciliatory proposals have been disregarded, and mildness and forbearance construed into timidity, we humbly apprehend that vigorous measures are now become absolutely necessary to bring back these ungrateful children to a proper sense of their duty to their Mother Country. Being fully persuaded that these measures will be such as are consistent with the honour, the dignity, and the liberty of Britons, we will support them with our lives and fortunes. We cannot conclude without expressing a wish that, undisquieted by faction, and undisturbed by rebellion, your Majesty may long continue to reign over the hearts of your people. Signed by order and in presence of the Court: WILLIAM GORDON, Praeses. Kirkcudbright, November 21, 1775. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM WALTER HATTON TO N. COFFIN, RECEIVER-GENERAL AND CASHIER OF HIS MAJESTY’S CUSTOMS AT BOSTON, DATED NORFOLK, NOVEMBER 21, 1775. It is now, and has been for some time past, an established rule to break open all letters either going from or directed to any officer in the service of the Crown. It was with difficulty, I will assure you, that I now am able to transmit them, as my going from Accomack to this place was opposed by upwards of three hundred people of the County, who will not allow any vessel to come to this place, for fear of supplying the ships of war and other troops with provision; and I am doubtful whether I may not be obliged to take a shelter in some of the ships, or at least on this side the bay, as I expect, during the confused usurpation of power, that an officer of the customs, if he only acts with spirit, or as his duty and oath bind him, that he will immediately fall under the lash of the d——d Committees, &c., who, on such occasions, will show them as little mercy as they themselves may expect in the future world. And as I have, on sundry occasions, opposed their measures, and strove to convince the deluded people of their error, I have, by that means, rendered myself obnoxious to them, and no doubt, if ever in their power, shall have their whole weight of vengeance laid on me. But while I am acting in favour of Government and my own steady principles, I make no doubt but I shall be able, with half their number, to meet them in the field; as I hold it to be an established point, “that those who fight or take up arms against Government are always in dread, and fight to great disadvantage: knowing that they are fighting against their Sovereign, by whom alone they can hope for assistance against their real enemies, and who, out of his grace and favour, has offered them protection from all their foes, and who would be glad to see them return to their duty, and embrace the proffered grace.” They know that the halter is round their necks, and, if taken, (which they can do no less than expect,) that they are liable to be trussed up, without any delay; whilst the favourers of Government know the goodness of their cause, and the support that may at any time be given, from the friends thereof, to assist them against all enemies. They also, no doubt, are assured, that if they fall in a glorious and good cause, that they have done their duty, and may expect their reward in a future life. You will be glad, no doubt, to hear, out of so many enemies to Government, *
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