150 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

His Excellency is pleased to lay before this Board the fol-
lowing Letter with the Two Acts of Parliament therein
referred to.
S^t James's 31^st March 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 County.
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 Per-
sons as have incurred the Penalties imposed by the Act just
Repealed, as such a Bill is now depending and has made a Con-
siderable Progress in the House of Commons.
The Moderation, the Forbearance, the unexampled Lenity
and tenderness of Parliament towards the Colinies, 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 and Legislative Authority of Great
Britain, and to those Sentiments of respectful Gratitude to
the Mother Country, which are the natural and I trust will be
the certain Effects of so much Grace and Condescension, so
remarkably manifested on the part of his Majesty, and of the
Parliament, and the future happiness and Prosperity of the

p. 426

Colonies will very much depend on the Testimonies they shall
now give of these Dispositions.
For as a dutiful and affectionate return to such peculiar
Proofs of Indulgence and Affection may now at this great
Crisis be a means of fixing the mutual Interests and Inclina-
tions of Great Britain and her Colonies on the most firm and
Solid Foundations, so it cannot but appear visible that the least
Coldness or Unthankfulness, the least Murmuring or Dis-
satisfaction on any Ground whatsoever of former Heat, or too
much prevailing prejudice, may fatally endanger that Union,
and give the most severe and affecting blow to the future In-
terests of both Countries.
You will think it scarce possible, I imagine, that the paternal
Care of His Majesty for his Colonies, or the Lenity and Indul-
gence of the Parliament should go farther than I have men-
tioned; yet so full of true Unanimity are the Sentiments of
both, and so free from the smallest Colour of Passion or
Prejudice, that they seem disposed not only to forgive, but to
forget those most unjustifiable Marks of an undutifull Dis-
position, too frequent in the late Transactions of the Colonies,
and which for the Honour of those Colonies, it were to be
wished had been more discountenaced, and discouraged, by
those who had knowledge to conduct themselves otherwise.