484 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

their conduct with any Public Body that has not authority to
interfere in our Provincial concerns and to vv^ch we are not
accountable. That the readiness, with w^h this Province on a
late occasion ordered some companies of their minute men
down to their Eastern Shore Counties of Virginia for their
protection, and the readiness disposition the Council of Safety
have on every occasion demonstrated to cooperate with their
colony in every measure proposed by them will evince to the
world their regard for the Safety & Welfare of that Colony
and clear the convention from the unjust imputation of having
promoted Gov^r Edens passage to assist in the destruction of the
Colony of Virg^a under pretence of his returning to England. I
have not the letter or what they call the address to Gov^r Eden
here but by what I recollect of it I think they may be told that
the Council cannot conceive the letter or address to Gov^r Eden
can support or justify him in assuming any Public character or
enable him to promote any measures that may tend to disunite
the Colonies, or be productive of the danger apprehended to
the Common cause of America. N. B. Would it not be proper
to omit the address. If you incline to say any thing in the clause
in the Resolves relating to the reasons assigned for his
departure, you may I think well tell him, that when we con-
sider that the president of the Council of State on whom by
act of Assembly of this Province in the absence of the Governor
the Government is to devolve, is a native of the Province and
his connexions, fortune and family in it, we cannot apprehend
he will consider himself under equal obligations to execute the
ministerial mandates, with a Governor who is a native of Eng-
land, & who has his family connexions, and fortune in that
Country, or if he should unfortunately, be equally ready to
obey them — do we apprehend that he will have equal influence
or power to carry any measures proposed by them into
execution, We therefore are persuaded the convention acted
with the greatest discretion & prudence in continuing the
Government in its old and at present established form till they
should themselves be convinced that there was no probability
of a reconciliation with Great Britain and should find them-
selves under an absolute necessity of altering it, and we are
convinced that in their proceedings they were neither deceived
by any professions of friendship to Am^a made by Gov^r Eden,
or influenced by any dependance or proprietary power, but
actuated by strict justice and honour only, and we are satisfied
their conduct has met with the approbation of their constituents,
who we are convinced will treat in a manner becoming their
good sense, and spirit, every attempt of any external provincial
Body whatsoever that may presume to dictate to them or to
interfere with the administration of Government or internal