Appendix. 519

yours, and that they are persuaded of the Necessity of harmonizing
as much as possible, in proper Measures for Redress.

This House, upon considering the Acts of Parliament, prepared
an humble, dutiful and loyal Petition to his Majesty, setting forth,
That it is a fixed and unalterable Principle, in the Nature of Things,
and a Part of the very Idea of Property, that whatever a Man hath
honestly acquired, cannot be taken from him, without his Consent;
that this immutable Principle is ingrafted, as a fundamental, into the
English Constitution, and is declared, by Magna Charta, and the
Petition and Bill of Rights, and from thence every British Subject,
the most distant, is justly intitled to all the Rights of English-
men ; that this Right is further declared and confirmed by our Char-
ter ; under the Confidence whereof our Forefathers encountered every
Difficulty, to settle this Colony, which, under Providence, has en-
creased his Majesty's Subjects, extended the Trade, and added to the
Wealth of the Mother-Country; That we have always been permitted
to enjoy this Right, until lately; that we are not, nor can we ever be
effectually represented in the British Parliament; and that these
Statutes do, in our Apprehension, infringe the great fundamental
Principle, that no Man can be taxed, but with his own Consent, given
by himself or his Representative. This, Sir, is the Substance of our
Petition, and I am ordered to transmit it to Charles Garth, Esq;
special Agent for our House of Delegates, to be presented, and we
shall request him to co-operate with yours, and the other Colony
Agents, in endeavouring to procure us Relief, and hope with you, his
Majesty's great Goodness of Heart will incline him to receive the
dutiful Supplications of his remote Subjects with Favour and
Attention.

Just before the Close of our Session, we received a Message from
our Governor, a Copy of which you have herewith; and also a Copy
of the Address by our House, in Answer thereto, which will fully
convey to you their Sentiments on the Subject.
I am, in the Name,

and by Order of the House of Representatives,
Sir, with great Respect,

your most humble and obedient Servant,

Robert Lloyd, Speaker.