18 Assembly Proceedings, September 23-28, 1765.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 52
Sept. 23

You Robert Saunders as Serjeant at Arms Attending the Lower
House of Assembly You Cornelius Howard as Doorkeeper to the
Lower House of Assembly Do Swear that you will severally faith-
fully Diligently and Honestly Discharge your Offices as Serjeant
at Arms Attending the Lower House of Assembly and as Door
keeper to the Lower House of Assembly And that you shall not

Disclose or reveal the Secrets thereof
So help you God

The following Letters Viz:^t
Sir
The House of Representatives of his Majestys Province of the
Massachusetts Bay at the Session of the General Assembly in May
last being informed of the late Act of Parliament relating to the
Sugar Trade with the foreign Colonies and the resolutions of the
House of Commons relating to the Stamp Duties and other Taxes
proposed to be laid on the British Colonies were humbly of Opinion
that those Measures have a Tendency to deprive the Colonists of
some of their most essential Rights as British Subjects and as men

particularly the light of Assessing their own Taxes and being free

from any Impositions but such as they Consent to by themselves or
Representatives
Our Agent Informs us that in a Conference he had with M:^r
Greenville on these Subjects he was told that the Ministry were
desirous of Consulting the ease the quiet and Good will of the
Colonies Such Expressions induce us to hope that there is nothing
punitive in these Measures and that humble dutifull Remonstrances
may yet have their effect. But if while these things are thus publickly
handled no Claim is made no Remonstrance is preferred on the part
of the Colonies such Silence must be interpreted a tacit cession of
their Rights and an humble Acquiescence under all their Burdens
The House have wrote fully upon this Subject to the Agent of
this province and directed him to remonstrate against these Measures
and to endeavour a Repeal of said Act and if Possible to prevent
the Imposition of any further duties and Taxes on the Colonies for

p. 240

this purpose they were desirous of the united Assistance of the
several Colonies in a Petition against such formidable Attacks on
what they Conceive to be the inseparable Rights of British Subjects
and that the Agents of the several Colonies might be directed by
the Representatives of the people on the Continent of North America
to unite in the most Serious Remonstrance against Measures so
Destructive of the Liberty the Commerce and property of the Colon-
ists and in their Tendency so pernicious to the real Interest of
Great Britain.
The House have done us the Honour to Appoint us a Committee
in the Recess of the General Court to Inform the several Houses