ants, of our faid province for the time being, or the major part of them, full power and authority to do and execute all and every fuch acts, matters, and things, which the faid Governour, or Lieutenant, or Deputy, Governour, of our faid province or territory, for the time being, might or could lawfully do or exercife, if they, or either of them, were perfonally prefent, until the return of the Governour, or Licutenant, or Depnty, Governour, fo abfent, or the arrival, or conftitution, of fuchother Governour, or Lieutenant, or Deputy, Governour, as fhall or may be appointed by us, our heirs, or fucceffors, from time to time.

The Admi

erected by

rity of the

but either

Provided always, and it is hereby declared, that no- ralty-Court thing herein contained fhall extend or be taken to erect is not to be or grant, or allow the exercife of any Admiralty-Court any authojurisdiction, power or authority, but that the same shall province, be and is hereby referved to us and our fucceffors, and under the fhall from time to time be erected, granted and exerEngland, or cifed by virtue of commiffions to be iffued under the the Seal of the High Great Seal of England, or under the Seal of the High Admiral Admiral, or the Commiffioners for executing the office of England. of High Admiral of England.

Great Seal of

And further, our exprefs will and pleasure is, and we do, by these presents, for us, our heirs, and fucceffors, ordain and appoint, that these our letters patent fhall not, in any manner, enure, or be taken, to abridge, bar, This char. or hinder, any of our loving fubjects whatfoever, to ufe ter shall not be any hinand exercise the trade of fishing upon the coafts of New- drance to England, but that they, and every of them, fhall have the full and free power and liberty to continue and ufe the their trade faid trade of fishing upon the faid coafts, in any of the on the feas thereunto adjoining, or any arms of the faid feas New Engor falt-water rivers, where they have been wont to fish; and to build and fet-up on the lands, within our faid

province

the king's subjects in

of fishing

coasts of

land.

A reservation of large trees for the

navy.

province or colony, lying wafte, and not then poffeffed by particular proprietors, fuch wharfs, ftages, and workhouses, as fhall be neceffary for the falting, drying, keeping, and packing of their fifh, to be taken or gotten upon that coaft, and to cut-down and take fuch trees and other materials there growing, or being, upon any parts or places lying wafte, and not then in poffeffion of particular proprietors, as fhall be needful for that purpose, and for all other neceffary easements, helps, and advantages, concerning the said trade of fishing there, in fuch manner and form as they have been heretofore at any time accustomed to do, without making any wilful waste or spoil; any thing in these presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

And lastly, for the better providing and furnishing use of the of mafts for our royal navy, we do hereby reserve to us, our heirs, and fucceffors, all trees of the diameter of twenty-four inches, and upwards of twelve inches from the ground, growing upon any foil, or tract of Jand, within our faid province or territory, not heretofore granted to any private perfons; and we do restrain and forbid all perfons whatfoever from felling, cutting, or destroying any fuch trees without the royal license of us, our heirs and fucceffors, first had and obtained, upon penalty of forfeiting one hundred pounds fterling unto us, our heirs, and fucceffors, for every fuch tree fo felled, cut, or destroyed, without fuch licenfe had and obtained in that behalf; any thing in thefe prefents contained to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding. In witnefs, &c. Witnefs ourselves at Westminster the feventh day of October.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FREEHOLDERS AND OTHER INHABITANTS

OF THE

TOWN OF BOSTON,

IN TOWN MEETING ASSEMBLED, ACCORDING TO LAW.

[PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE TOWN.]

To which is prefixed, as Introductory,

AN ATTESTED COPY OF A VOTE OF THE TOWN AT

ALL accounts of the difcontent fo general in our colonies, have of late years been induftriously fmothered, and concealed here; it seeming to fuit the views of the American minifter, to have it understood, that by his great abilities all faction was fubdued, all oppoffition fuppreffed, and the whole country quieted. That the true ftate of affairs there may be known, aud the true caufes of that discontent well understood, the following piece (not the production of a private writer, but the unanimous act of a large American city) lately printed in New-England, is republished here. The Earl of Hillsborough.

This nation, and the other nations of Europe, may thereby learn with more certainty the grounds of a diffenfion, that poffibly may, fooner or later, have confequences interefting to them all.

The colonies had, from their first fettlement, been governed with more eafe than perhaps can be equalled by any inftance in hiftory, of dominions fo diftant. Their affection and respect for this country, while they were treated with kindness, produced an almost implicit obedience to the inftructions of the prince, and even to acts of the British parliament, though the right of binding them by a legislature in which they were unreprefented, was never clearly underftood. That refpect and affection produced a partiality in favour of every thing that was English; whence their preference of English modes and manufactures; their fubmiffion to restraints on the importation of foreign goods, which they had but little defire to use; and the monopoly we fo long enjoyed of their commerce, to the great enriching of our merchants and artificers. The mistaken policy of the stamp-act first disturbed this happy fituation; but the flame thereby raised was foon extinguished by its repeal, and the old harmony restored, with all its concomitant advantages to our commerce. The fubfequent act of another administration*, which, not content with an established exclufion of foreign manufactures, began to make our own merchandize dearer to the consumers there by heavy duties, revived it again: and combinations were entered into throughout the Continent, to ftop trading with Britain till thofe duties fhould be repealed. All were accordingly repealed but one, the duty on tea. This was referved profeffedly as a standing claim and exercise of the right affumed by parliament of laying fuch duties. The colonies, on this

That of the Duke of Grafton, as First Lord of the Treasury, and Mr. Charles Townshend (brother to General Lord Viscount Townshend,) as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

repeal,

repeal, retracted their agreement, fo far as related to all other goods except that on which the duty was retained. This was trumpeted here by the minifter for the colonies as a triumph; there it was confidered only as a decent and equitable measure, fhowing a willingness to meet the mother country in every advance towards a reconciliation. And the difpofition to a good understanding was fo prevalent, that poffibly they might foon have relaxed in the article of tea alfo. But the fyftem of commiffioners of customs, officers without end, with fleets and armies for collecting and enforcing thofe duties, being continued, and acting with much indiscretion and rashness, giving great and unneceffary trouble and obftruction to business, commencing unjust and vexatious fuits, and haraffing commerce in all its branches, while that minifter kept the people in a conftant state of irritation by inftructions which appeared to have no other end than the gratifying his private refentments*, occafioned a persevering adherence to their refolution in that particular: and the event fhould be a leffon to minifters, not to rifque, through pique, the obftructing any one branch of trade, fince the courfe and connection of general business may be thereby disturbed to a degree impoffible to be forefeen or imagined. For it appears, that the colonies, finding their humble petitions to have this duty repealed, were rejected and treated with contempt, and that the produce of the duty was applied to the rewarding with undeferved falaries and penfions every one of their enemies, the duty itself became more odious, and their refolution to ftarve it more vigorous and obftinate. The Dutch, the Danes and French, took the advantage thus offered them by our imprudence, and began to fmuggle their teas into the plantations, At

Some of his circular letters had been criticised and exposed by one or two of the American assemblies.

firft