Petition to the King, June 6, 1766

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The Address of the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, in General Assembly met,

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN: We, your Majesty' s dutiful, loyal, and faithful subjects, the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, under a deep sense of your Majesty' s great condescension and justice, beg leave to render to your Majesty our unfeigned thanks for your most gracious assent to the act repealing the law granting certain Stamp duties in America. The paternal concern for the welfare and prosperity of all your Majesty' s subjects, however remote, which your Majesty has demonstrated on this very important occasion, cannot fail of fixing in the hearts of the good people of this Province the most inviolable affection and loyally to your Royal person and Government, and exciting their sincerest prayers for the long continuance of your Majesty on the Throne of those extensive dominions, whose happiness and glory have been the invariable objects of your care and attention.

The assurance which your Majesty has been pleased to give us, of "your approbation of the dutiful behaviour of the Province of Pennsylvania, amidst the too prevailing distractions which have agitated the other Colonies," fills our breasts with sentiments of the most respectful gratitude, and demands our warmest thanks. This instance of your Majesty' s condescension and goodness must engage the people we represent to continue to recommend themselves still further, by their dutiful behaviour, to your Royal favour and protection.

We humbly entreat your Majesty will further permit us to embrace this opportunity of expressing the high sense we entertain of the justice and tenderness of your Parliament, who, ready to hear and consider the aggrievanccs of your Majesty' s subjects, have, upon a just representation of the unhappy circumstances of your Colonies, manifested their good dispositions and lenity to us in our late distressed situation.

Fully sensible how much the happiness of your people depends on a perfect harmony and connection between Great Britain and her Colonies,we assure your Majesty, that no care or endeavours shall be wanting, on our part, to promote and establish that union of affections and interests so essential to the welfare of both, and to preserve that loyalty and affection to your Majesty' s person and Government, which we esteem to be one of their first and most important duties.

Signed, by order of the House, JOSEPH FOX, Speaker.

June 6, 1766.

A true copy from the Journals:

CHARLES MOORE, Clerk of Assembly.