Address of the Freeholders

v3:1259

Address of the Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, Commissioners of Supply, and Heritors of the County of Haddington,

v3:1260

The humble Address of the Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, Commissioners of Supply, and Heritors of the County of HADDINGTON, convened at their Quarter Sessions, the thirty-first day of OCTOBER, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.

We, your Majesty' s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, Commissioners of Supply, and Heritors of the County of Haddington, being under the deepest concern at that rebellion which has lately broke out in some of your Majesty' s Colonies in America, humbly beg leave to address your Majesty on this most critical occasion, and to testify our disapprobation of these unjustifiable proceedings, with the most solemn assurances that we will, to the utmost of our power, support your Majesty in suppressing the said rebellion, and in maintaining the authority and dignity of the King and Parliament of Great Britain.

With much regret we see Colonies which owe their existence, their boasted opulence, and every blessing they enjoyed in their late prosperous state, to the unwearied and tender care of their Parent Country, regardless of the hand that has reared and supported them, at the expense of so much blood and treasure, and ungratefully attempting to throw off their dependance on their Mother Country.

From the experience we have had of the clemency of your Majesty' s Government, and the temper and moderation of both Houses of Parliament, we are fully satisfied that no endeavours will be wanting to induce our deluded fellow-subjects to return to that allegiance which they owe to your Majesty, and to that obedience which they owe to the Constitution, which our ancestors judged no expense too great to establish, and which has flourished, pure and uninterrupted, under the mild Government of the House of Hanover.

May that Being who governs the universe direct your Majesty' s measures and councils, so that from the present confusion order may arise, and peace be again restored; and that your Majesty may long reign over an happy and united people, is the earnest prayer of your Majesty' s most dutiful and loyal subjects.

Signed by our Praeses, and by our authority.

GEORGE BROWN, Proeses.