Address of the Noblemen, Etc., of the County of Caithness, to the King

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Address of the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of Supply, of the County of Caithness, in general meeting assembled, transmitted to the Earl of Suffolk, one of His Majesty' s principal Secretaries of State, and presented to His Majesty.

The humble Address of the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of Supply, of the County of CAITHNESS, in general meeting assembled.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

Alarmed with the prospect of seeing the greatest and noblest, because the freest empire that God ever framed, rent in pieces by an unnatural war with America, and an unprovoked faction at home, which has fomented and still foments that spirit of rebellion, we your Majesty' s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of Supply of Caithness, at this dangerous crisis, presume to express the sentiments of duty and loyalty which animate the breasts of the inhabitants of this most northerly part of your Majesty' s dominions.

We beg leave to assure your Majesty that the hearts of all your people are united in affection and gratitude to your person. That they approve highly of the lenient measures which your Majesty and Parliament have hitherto taken with regard to America; and that they will support with their lives and fortunes, the vigorous exertions which they foresee may soon be necessary to subdue a rebellion premeditated, unprovoked, and that is every day becoming more general.

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Untainted by the vices that too often accompany affluence, our people have been inured to industry, sobriety, and, when engaged in your Majesty' s service, have been distinguished for an exact obedience to discipline, and a faithful discharge of duty; and we hope, if called forth to action in one combined corps, it will be their highest ambition to merit a favourable report to your Majesty from their superior officers. At the same time, it is our most ardent prayer to Almighty God, that the eyes of our deluded fellow-subjects in America may soon be opened, to see whether it is safe to trust in a Congress unconstitutionally assembled, in a band of officers unconstitutionally appointed, or in a British King and Parliament whose combined powers have indeed often restrained the licentiousness, but never invaded the rational liberties of mankind.

Signed in our name, and by our appointment, by our Praeses, at Thurso, the 6th day of December, 1775.

Caithness Praeses.