296 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

Original.

[Secretary Conway to Sharpe.]

S^t James's March 31^st 1766
Sir,
Herewith I have the Pleasure of transmitting to you Copies
of Two Acts of Parliament just passed. The first for securing
the just Dependency of the Colonies on the Mother Country:
The Second for the Repeal of the Act of the last Session,
granting certain Stamp Duties in America: and I expect
shortly to send you a Third for the Indemnity of such Persons
as have incurred the Penalties imposed by the Act just repealed,
as such a Bill is now depending & has made a considerable
Progress in the House of Commons
The Moderation the Forbearance, the unexampled Lenity
& Tenderness of Parliament towards the Colonies, which are
so signally displayed in those Acts, cannot but dispose the
Province committed to your Care, to that Return of chearfull
obedience to the Laws & Legislative Authority of Great
Britain & to those Sentiments of respectfull Gratitude to the
Mother Country, which are the natural, & I trust will be the
certain Effects of so much Grace & Condescention, so remark-
ably manifested on the Part of His Majesty, & of the Parlia-
ment; & the future Happiness & Prosperity of the Colonies
will very much depend on the Testimonies they shall now
give of these Dispositions
For as a dutifull & affectionate return to such peculiar
Proofs of Indulgence & Affection may now, at this great
Crisis, be a means of fixing the mutual Interests & Inclina-
tions of Great Britain & her Colonies on the most firm & solid
Foundations, so it cannot but appear visible that the least
Coldness or unthankfullness, the least murmuring or Dissatis-
faction or any Ground whatever of former Heat, or too much
prevailing Prejudice, may fatally endanger that union, & give
the most severe & affecting blow to the future Interests of
both Countries.
You will think it scarce possible, I imagine that the paternal
Care of His Majesty for His Colonies, or the Lenity & Indul-
gence of the Parliament should go farther than I have men-
tioned: yet so full of true unanimity are the Sentiments of
both, & so free from the smallest Colour of Passion or Preju-
dice, that they seem disposed not only to forgive, but to forget
those most unjustifiable marks of an undutifull Disposition,
too frequent in the late Transactions of the Colonies, & which
for the Honour of those Colonies, it were to be wished had
been more discountenanced, & discouraged, by those who had
Knowledge to conduct themselves otherwise.
A Revision of the late American Trade Laws is going to be
the immediate object of Parliament: Nor will the late Trans-