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That your Memorialists humbly conceive one of the most essential
Rights of these Colonies, which they have ever, till lately, uninter-
ruptedly enjoyed, to be Trial by Jury.
That your Memorialists also humbly conceive another of these
essential Rights to be the Exemption from all Taxes, but such as are
imposed on the People by the several Legislatures in these Colonies,
which Right also they have, till of late, freely enjoyed.
But your Memorialists humbly beg Leave to represent to your
Lordships, That the Act for granting certain Stamp Duties in the
British Colonies in America, &c. fills his Majesty's American Sub-
jects with the deepest Concern, as it tends to deprive them of the
Two fundamental and invaluable Rights and Liberties above men-
tioned, and that several other late Acts of Parliament, which extend
the Jurisdiction and Powers of Courts of Admiralty in the Plan-
tations, beyond their Limits in Great-Britain, thereby make an
unnecessary and unhappy Distinction as to the Modes of Trial,
between us and our Fellow Subjects there, by whom we never have
been excelled in Duty and Loyalty to our Sovereign.
That from the natural Connection between Great-Britain and
America, the perpetual Continuance of which your Memorialists most
ardently desire, they conceive that nothing can Conduce more to
the Interest of both, than the Colonists free Enjoyment of their
Rights and Liberties, and an affectionate Intercourse between Great-
Britain and them. But your Memorialists (not waving their Claim
to these Rights, of which with the most becoming Veneration and
Deference to the Wisdom and Justice of your Lordships, they appre-
hend they cannot Reasonably be deprived) humbly Represent, That
from the peculiar Circumstances of these Colonies, the Duties im-
posed by the aforesaid Act, and several other late Acts of Parliament,
are extremely Grievous and Burthensome, and the Payment of the
said Duties will very soon, for want of Specie, become absolutely im-
practicable; and that the Restrictions on Trade by the said Acts, will
not only greatly distress the Colonies, but must be extremely deteri-
mental to the Trade and true Interest of Great-Britain.
Your Memorialists therefore, impressed with a just Sense of the
unfortunate Circumstances of the Colonies, and the impending de-
structive Consequences which must necessarily ensue from the Exe-
cution of those Acts, animated with the warmest Sentiments of filial
Affection for their Mother Country, most earnestly and humbly
entreat, That your Lordships will be pleased to Hear their Counsel
in Support of this Memorial, and take the Premisses into your most
serious Consideration, and that your Lordships will also be there-
upon pleased to pursue such Measures for Restoring the just Rights
and Liberties of the Colonies, and preserving them for ever inviolate,
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Md.Hist.Soc.
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