“Resolved, by the Lords and Temporal,
and Commons, in Parliament assembled, that the votes, resolutions,
and proceedings of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts Bay,
in the months of January and February,one thousand seven hundred and
sixty-eight, respecting several late Acts of Parliament...in all
cases whatsoever, are illegal, unconstitutional, and derogatory of
the right s of the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain...that the
resolution of the said House of Representatives of the province of
Massachusetts Bay, to write letters to the several houses of
representatives of the British colonies on the continent desiring
them to join with the said House of Representatives of the province
of Massachusetts in petitions which do deny, or draw into question,
the right of Parliament to impose duties and taxes upon his Majesty's
subjects in America; and in pursuance of the said resolution, the
writing such letters in which certain late Acts of Parliament,
imposing duties and taxes , are stated to be infringements of the
rights of his Majesty's subjects of the said province, are
proceedings of a most unwarrantable and dangerous nature, calculated
to inflame the minds of his Majesty's subjects in the other colonies,
tending to create unlawful combination...that the declarations,
resolutions, and proceedings in the town meetings at Boston, on the
14th of June, and the 12th September, were
illegal and unconstitutional, and calculated to excite sedition and
insurrections in his Majesty's province of Massachusetts Bay...that
the appointment at the town meeting on the 12th September
of a convention to be held in the town of Boston on the 22nd
of that month to consist of deputies from the several towns and
districts in the province of the Massachusetts Bay, and the writing
of a letter by the selectmen of the town of Boston to each of the
said towns and districts, for the election of such deputies were
proceedings subversive of his Majesty's government...that the
elections by several towns and districts in the province of
Massachusetts Bay of deputies to sit in the said convention and the
meeting of such conventions, in consequence thereof were daring
insults offered to his Majesty's authority, and audacious usurpations
of the powers of government...we conceive that nothing can be more
immediately necessary, either for the maintenance of your Majesty's
subjects therein from being further deluded by the arts of wicked and
designing men than to proceed, in the most speedy and effectual
manner for bringing to condign punishment the chief authors and
instigators of the late disorders, we most humbly beseech your
Majesty that you will be graciously pleased to direct your Majesty's
governor of Massachusetts Bay to take the most effectual methods of
procuring the fullest information that can be obtained, touching all
treasons, or misprisons of treason committed within his government,
since the thirtieth day of December and to transmit the same,
together with the names of the persons who were most active in the
commission of such offenses, to one of your Majesty's principal
secretaries of state, in order that your Majesty may issue a special
commission for inquiring of, heating, and determining the said
offenses...”
George III, February 9, 1769
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