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actions there, however provoking prevent, I dare say, the full
operation of that Kind & indulgent Disposition prevailing
both in His Majesty & His Parliament to give to the Trade &
Interests of America, every Releif, which the true State of
their Circumstances demands, or admits
Nothing will tend more effectually to every conciliating
Purpose, & there is nothing therefore I have in Command
more earnestly to require of you than that you should exert
yourself in recommending it strongly to the Assembly, that
full & ample Compensation be made to those, who, from the
madness of the People, have suffered for their Deference to
Acts of the British Legislature: and you will be particularly
attentive that such Persons be effectually secured from any
farther Insult: And that as far as in you lies you will take
Care by your Example & Influence, that they may be treated
with that Respect to their Persons & that Justice in regard to
all their Pretensions which their Merits & their Suffering
undoubtedly claim. The Resolutions of the House of Com-
mons, which by His Majesty's Commands I transmit to you
to be laid before the Assembly, will shew you the sense of
that House on those Points; And I am persuaded, it will, as
it certainly ought, be the Glory of that Assembly to adopt &
imitate those Sentiments, of the British Parliament, founded
on the clearest Principles of Humanity & Justice.
I must mention one Circumstance in particular, which ought
to recommend those unhappy People, whom the Outrage of
the Populace has driven from America, to the Affection of all
that Country: which is, that unprovoked by the Injuries they
had suffered, to a forgetfullness of what they owed to Truth &
their Country, they gave their Testimonies with Knowledge,
& without Passion or Prejudice: & those Testimonies had I
beleive great Weight in persuading the Repeal of the Stamp
Act.
Your situation which has made you a Witness of the Dis-
traction of that Country, will enable you to form the best
Judgment of the Behaviour which your Province ought to use
upon this Occasion, & of the Arguments which you ought to
employ to enforce the necessity of such a Behaviour as is suit-
able to their present Circumstances.
I am, with great Truth and Regard
Sir
Your most obedient
humble Servant
H. S. Conway
Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.
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