Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/453

 APPENDIX.

��Note A.

IT appears by the Journal of the House of Burgesses, of the 14th Novem- ber 1764, (pag-e 38), that a committee was appointed to draw up the follow- ing address, memorial and remonstrance ; which committee was composed of the following persons, to wit : Mr. Attorney (Peyton Randolph), Mr. liichard Henry Lee, Mr. Landon Carter, Mi-. Wythe, Mr. Edmund Pendleton, Mr. Benjamin Harrison, Mr. Gary and Mr. Fleming : to whom, afterWard, ]Mr. Bland was added. The address to the King is from the pen of the Attorney.*

" To the King's Most Excellent Majesty.

" MOST GRACIOUS SOVEKEIGJf,

" We, youi- Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Council and Burgesses of your ancient colony and dominion of Virginia, now met in general assem- bly, beg leave to assure your Majesty of our firm and inviolable attachment to your sacred person and government ; and as yourfaithful subjects, here, have at all times been zealous to demonstrate tliis truth, by a ready compliance with the royal requisitions during the late war, by which a heavy and oppres- sive debt of near half a million hath been incurred, so at this time they im- plore permission to approach the throne with humble confidence, and to en- treat that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to protect your people of this colony in the enjoyment of their ancient and inestimable right of being governed by such laws, respecting their internal polity and taxation, as are derived from their own consent, with the approbation of their Sovereign or his substitute : a right which, as men and descendants of Britons, they have ever quietly possessed, since, first, by royal permission and encouragement, they left the mother kingdom to extend its commerce and dominion.

" Your Majesty's dutiful subjects of Virginia most humbly and unanimously hope, that this invaluable birthright, descended to them from their ancestors, and in which they have been protected by your royal predecessors, will not be suffered to receive an injury, under the reign of your sacred Majesty, al- ready so illustriously distinguished by your gracious attention to the hberties of the people.

"That your Majesty may long live to make nations happy, is llie ardent prayer of )'our faithful subjects, the Council and Burgesses of Virginia.'"

1 '
 * Oil the authority of Mv. Tf-fFcv.oi;.

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