swasive methods You Can Contribute to restore that peace and Tranquility to the Provinces on which their welfare and Happiness depend, You will do a most acceptable and Essential service to Your Country; But having taken every step with the utmost Prudence and Lenity can Dictate in Compassion to the folly and Ignorance of some misguided people, You will not on the other hand fail to use Your utmost power for the repelling all Acts of Outrage and violence, and to provide for the maintenance of peace and good order in the Province by such a timely Exertion of force as the Occasion may require; for which purpose you will make the proper application to General Gage or Lord Colvill, Commanders of his Majesty's Land and Naval Forces in America: For however unwillingly his Majesty may Consent to the Exertion of such powers as may endanger the safety of a single subject, Yet he cannot permitt his own Dignity and the Authority of the British Legislature to be trampled on by force and violence, and in avowed Contempt of all Order, duty and Decorum; If the Subject is agrieved he knows in what manner Legally and Constitutionally to apply for Relief, But it is not Suitable Either to the Safety or Dignity of the British Empire that any individuals under the pretence of Redressing Grievances, should presume to Violate the Public Peace.

I am &c

HS CONWAY

Representation from the Bishop of London to the Lords of Trade desiring their instructions to the Governor of New Jersey, that, for the future, marriage licenses may be directed only to a Protestant minister of the Gospel there.

[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 9, K 48.]

Nov. 12. 1765

The Bishop of London at the request of the Clergy of the Province of New Jersey begs leave to represent to the Lords of Trade and Plantations, that by an old Law the Licences for Marriages are directed to any Protestant Minister or Justice of the Peace, which however necessary at the first Establishment of the Colony to facilitate Marriages, when there were few Ministers in the Country, seems at present not only prejudicial to the Clergy, who are depriv'd of a considerable part of their Income, but gives occasion to many Inconveniences and abuses.

It appears by a letter from New Jersey dated Dec : 20th 1760, that the Clergy of that Province petitioned their Governor (Mr Boone) to alter the Direction of the Licences. By his Answer He did not think himself authoriz'd by his Instructions to comply with their Petition, as He thought such an Alteration must take place by Order of the Lords of Trade upon the Bishop of London's Application.

The Clergy of New Jersey have repeated their request to the Bishop of London, who hopes, that the Lords of Trade and Plantations will take the matter into Consideration, and if they see no particular Objections will give their Instructions to the Governor of that Province, that for the future Marriage Licences may be directed only to a Protestant Minister of the Gospel.

Letter from Governor Franklin to the Lords of Trade, transmitting a copy of the Minutes of Council— The seditious spirit from the neighboring Colonies is beginning to appear in New Jersey-At the last Supreme Court only criminal matters were transacted-The lawyers have entered into an agreement not to act under the Stamp Law.

[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 9, K. 51.]

BURLINGTON, Nov! 13. 1765

To the Lords of Trade

My Lords,

of August I have The Directions it

Your Lordships Letter of the 23 just had the Honour to receive. contains with respect to the Correspondence to be carried on with your Board I shall not fail to observe.

I acquainted your Lordships, in my Letter of the 10th of last Month, with the Steps I had taken for the Preservation of the Stamps destined for this Province, upon the Resignation of the Person appointed Stamp Distributor. I was in hopes that before the time the Act was to take Place, I should have receiv'd some Orders or Instructions from His Majesty's Ministers relative to the carrying the same into Execution. But as none came by the last Pacquet, which left England about the Middle of September, I summoned His Majesty's Council for this Province, in order to consult them on the Occasion. Their Opinion and Advice are contained in the Minutes enclosed, to which I must beg leave to refer your Lordships, as they contain a true State of the Difficulties we are under on Account of the Stamp Act.

Nothing in my Power has been wanting to preserve

the Quiet of the Province, and I had the Satisfaction to find, that, notwithstanding the Commotions which prevailed for several Months past in the neighbouring Governments, the Inhabitants of New Jersey till very lately demean'd themselves as became peaceable & loyal Subjects. But the many seditious inflammatory Writings which have been circulated thro' this Province from the Colonies on each side of us, have, at length raised the same kind of Spirit here which has so long appeared there, and the greatest Address is necessary to prevent its producing the same outrageous Consequences.

We are indeed particularly circumstanced in this Province, with regard to the Stamp Act; for, even if there were no Opposition given to it, it could not be put in Force, as no Commission or Instructions for the Purpose are yet come to hand, if sent from England and without them the Person nominated to be Distributor of Stamps could not be qualified to execute the Office, were he so inclined.-I hear that in the neighbouring Colonies the People intend to force the Officers of the Government to carry on Business as formerly, without any Regard to the Stamp Act, and, if they succeed in the Attempt, I doubt not but the People of New Jersey will follow their Example. At the last Supream Court held there the 5th Instant no Business was done except what related to Criminal Matters; The Lawyers have entered into an Agreement not to act under the Stamp Law: And as the

The lawyers of New Jersey have the credit of being the first to make an effective opposition to the Stamp Act. At a meeting of the leading members of the profession, held at Perth Amboy on the 19th of September, 1765, it was unanimously resolved that they would not make use of the stamps for any purpose or under any circumstances. On the following day Chief-Justice Smyth invited the members of the bar to a conference on the subject, and inquired of them in the first place, "Whether if the stamps should arrive, and be placed at the city of Burlington by or after the first of November, they would, as practitioners, agree to purchase them for their necessary legal proceedings ?" In reply they said: "That they would not, but rather suffer their private interests to give way to the public good,

publick Officers think that they should not be safe in acting contrary to it, there is a Stop put, in a great Degree, to all publick Business. We cannot, to be sure, continue long in this Situation, but the Event is not a little dreaded by many.

I am, with great Respect, My Lords, Your Lordships most obedient & most

humble Servant

W FRANKLIN

Letter from Governor Franklin to Secretary Conway, in relation to the Stamp Act, and the troubles therefrom spreading from the neighbouring Provinces into New Jersey-The Minutes of the Council and Notes of the Assembly are sent in order to form a true judgment of the situation of the Province.

[From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 172 (190).]

BURLINGTON-New Jersey-Nov! 30th 1765 To the Right Honorable Henry Seymour Conway, Esq Secretary of State.

Sir,

I did myself the Honour of writing to you the 23 of Sept last, when I imformed you of the Resignation of the Person appointed Distributor of the Stamps for this Province, and the then quiet Disposition of the

was:

protesting against all riotous proceedings." They were then asked: "Whether, in their opinion, the duties could possibly be paid in gold and silver?" Their reply They could not be paid in gold and silver even for one year." The ChiefJustice finally asked them: "Whether as the act required the Governor and ChiefJustice to superintend the distribution of stamps, he would be obliged to accept the appointment of distributor, in case the Governor should fix upon him for that office?" They answered: "That the Governor was not empowered by the act to