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That under those Governments, these Liberties, thus vested in
their Ancestors, and transmitted to their Posterity, have been exer-
cised and enjoyed, and by the inestimable Blessings thereof (under
the Favour of Almighty God), the inhospitable Desarts of America
have been converted into Flourishing Countries; Science, Humanity,
and the Knowledge of Divine Truths, diffused through Remote
Regions of Ignorance, Infidelity, and Barbarism; the Number of
British Subjects wonderfully Increased, and the Wealth and Power
of Great-Britain proportionably Augmented.
That by Means of these Settlements, and the unparallelled Success
of your Majesty's Arms, a Foundation is now laid for rendering the
British Empire the most Extensive and Powerful of any Recorded
in History. Our Connection with this Empire, we esteem our great-
est Happiness and Security, and humbly conceive it may now be so
established by your Royal Wisdom, as to endure to the latest Period
of Time; This, with most humble Submission to your Majesty, we
apprehend will be most effectually Accomplished, by fixing the
Pillars thereof on Liberty and Justice, and securing the inherent
Rights and Liberties of your Subjects here, upon the Principles of
the English Constitution. To this Constitution these two Principles
are essential, the Right of your faithful Subjects, freely to grant
to your Majesty, such Aids as are required for the Support of your
Government over them, and other Public Exigencies, and Trials by
their Peers: By the One they are secured from unreasonable Im-
positions; and by the Other from Arbitrary Decisions of the execu-
tive Power.
The Continuation of these Liberties to the Inhabitants of America
we ardently Implore, as absolutely necessary to Unite the several
Parts of your wide extended Dominions, in that Harmony so
Essential to the Preservation and Happiness of the Whole, Protected
in these Liberties, the Emoluments Great-Britain receives from us,
however great at present, are inconsiderable, compared with those
she has the fairest Prospect of acquiring. By this Protection she
will for ever secure to herself the Advantage of conveying to all
Europe, the Merchandizes which America furnishes, and of Supply-
ing through the same Channel whatever is wanted from thence.
Here opens a boundless Source of Wealth and Naval Strength;
yet these immense Advantages, by the Abridgment of those in-
valuable Rights and Liberties, by which our Growth has been
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Nourished, are in Danger of being for ever Lost; and our subordi-
nate Legislatures, in Effect, rendered useless, by the late Acts of
Parliament imposing Duties and Taxes on these Colonies, and
extending the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Admiralty here, beyond
its antient Limits: Statutes by which your Majesty's Commons in
Britain undertake, absolutely to dispose of the Property of their
Fellow Subjects in America, without their Consent, and for the
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