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 EXTRACT 
 
 * tt, o it T tt e 
 
 9 
 
 C t THE 
 
 HOUSE o F ASSEM 
 
 OF THE 
 
 pRovijscE ofNOVA-SCO 
 
 AtiAeoiiEss, Petition and MEMoRfALj 
 
 To the KIN G's Moft Excellent M a j e s h^ 
 The Lords spiritual indTsMPoHAj^ 
 
 AND 
 
 The COMMONS of GREAT-BRiTAiNTfr 
 i'ARtiAMEWT, afTqmbled, 
 
 B 
 
 8 t O N: 
 
 Printed aod Sold at DRAPE It's Prlntiog 0/fije, \% 
 NcWiUry St»ff«. MB»fi44*]|#, 
 
 A 
 
i v: 
 
 ^EXTRACT from the Votes 
 of the House of Assembly of 
 the Province of No v a S cot i a. 
 
 Wednesday June 14, 1775, 
 
 A ^Motion was made by Mr. Day, that a 
 ^dutiful, loyal, and humble addrefs to our 
 gf-acious -Sovereign and both houfcsof par- 
 lUmcnt be drawn, acknowledging the fupreme 
 authority of the BritiOi Parliament, and praying 
 that thelegiOature of this province may be permitted 
 to grant to his Majefty a ctrtain duty of impoft on 
 all commodities imported into the faid province 
 (not being the growth of his Majefty's European or 
 American dominions) (fait only excepted; and that 
 the fame may be accepted in lieu of all taxes paya- 
 ble in this province by virtue of any a<fls of Parlia- 
 ment ; the revenue arifing from fuch duties to be 
 at the difpofal of Parliament ; and humbly praying 
 to be delivered from certain grievances, and to be 
 allowed certain privileges therein to be fet forth. 
 And the houfe having taken the fame into confide- 
 /acion, Ordered, that Mr. Day, Mr. Denfon, Mr.' 
 Tonge, Mr. Morris and Mr. Gay, do prepare and 
 prinj; an Addrefs accordinslv. 
 
 ■ .*■ ' 
 
 Saturday,' 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 Saturday, June 24th, 1775. The Addrcfs, PhUU 
 on and Memorial to his Majefty^rtd bbih houfes of 
 Parliament, was read and agreed to by the houfc 
 with amendments. 
 
 Ordered, That three copies thereof, and duplicates 
 be immediately ingrols'd, and that Mr. Speaker, Mr. 
 Tonge, Mr. Day, and ^Ir. Dechampe, do examine 
 and compare the fame. ' ; .- 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. Speaker, do fign the faid ad- 
 dreffes in behalf of* this hOufe, and w ithoiit delay 
 tranfmit one of them to the Right Honorable the 
 Earl ot Dartmcurh to be prcfchted to his Majefty, 
 another to the Right Honorable the Lord Chancel- 
 for to be laid before the Houfe of Lords, and another 
 to the Right Honorable the Speaker of the Houfe 
 of Commons to be laid before that Honorablt Houfe. 
 
 ■, ■ * ' i /•■•■. 
 
 The F B T I T 1 o N, &c. is as follows. 
 
 To 
 
Petlti- 
 ifes of 
 houfe 
 
 licates 
 •,Mr. 
 amine 
 
 id ad- 
 
 delay 
 le thcs 
 
 incel- 
 lother 
 ^oufc 
 
 ioufc. 
 
 To 
 
 ( i ; 
 
 To the KING'S Mod Excellent Majesty, 
 theLORDSSpiKiTUA l and Temporal 
 andtheCOMMONSofGREAT-BKiTAiN 
 in Pakliam£nt afTembled. 
 
 The Address, Petition and Memorial 
 of the Reprelentatives of the Freeholders 
 of the Province of N o Y a S c o T i a, u\ 
 Oeneral Aflcmbly. 
 
 OIJR Io>a1 ard ever d-tifu! Houfe of 
 /\fl[embly of the jjrovi .cc of Nova Scotia, 
 molt hnmbly beg leave to addrefs our 
 gracious Suvereiga and both houfes of 
 parliament, at this dreadful and alarming Crfiis, 
 when civil dilcjrd and its melanchi ly confqueiccs 
 are impending over all Britidi America. 
 
 A^luated bv the warme(]: ties of durj and affec- 
 tion to the perfon and family of our moft gracious 
 Sovereign, animated with the firmeft artachment to 
 the Mother Country, zealous tofupport her power 
 and confequence over all the Briiifh dominions and 
 dreading a reparation from her government and 
 protection, as :he greateft political evil which caa 
 befal us or ourpofterity. 
 
 Influenced by the principles of humanity and the 
 
 juft rights of mankind in civil fcciety, v;e tremble 
 
 ^^t the gloomy profpedt before us, we feel for our 
 
 gracious King, we feel for our Mother Country, of 
 
 livhich njany of us are natives, we feel for the Britifh 
 
 tr^-^^ minimis cK«>w^ wii«W ^Hu-/ ItiiVi* iw j aij tit,»\^\Juj, utjvi 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 happy of mankind : aninnated with fuch principles 
 muy wc iK)t approach the Supre/nc LegiQatuie of 
 the l^ritilh empire, and as dutiful children ol juft 
 and indulgent parents, may we not moft humbiy 
 ioiicic for fuch regulations as we conceive moil 
 liktrly to prcferve the inhabitants of this province in 
 «:hjry and alif^oiance to our King, in rendering per- 
 mdnent their connexion with, and dependance on 
 «n thp SupreT.e Legidature of Great Britain, and 
 prefcrving inviolably to us and our joaeriiy the 
 j:j(t rig!)ts of men in civil fociety. 
 
 We are fully fenfible that we have no right to 
 pray for redrt-fs of grievances, to requeff privileges 
 or regulations unlcls we acknowledge your right 
 over us. Therefore we the Reprefentativcs of the 
 FreeholJers of the province of Nova Scotia, do 
 una niouQy, mod hu.-nb!y acknowledge our gracious 
 vSovercign George the Third, Ki:g of Great Britain, 
 the r.otds Spiritual and Temporarand the Commons 
 '■>f Great Briiain in Parli.iment aflernbled to be the 
 vSupK-mc; leg'flature of (his province and of all the 
 Britiih domimions, and that it is our indefpenfable 
 duty to pay a due proportion qf the expcnce of this 
 g'^eat empire. 
 
 Having thus as obedient fuhje<fls acknowledged 
 r>urduty to our King and our willing (ubmifTion to 
 the Supreme Legillarure of the Britifh Empire, we 
 hufiibly requed the right of being heard \a refpeft 
 fo our grievances or wiPuf^s, and as our proceedings 
 rwhis c'.ff.'mhlv may pofTiblv have fome irfiucnce, 
 wi:h other afit^rmblies in Amenca, we humbiy hope 
 It will not fcre.n prefuming if wc enter on thefubjeft. 
 
 We humbly conceive it will be necefiary to the ■ 
 peace and h3;>pi efs of the Bpitifli K;-op/re, that the 
 ta)i :oI be raifcd in. tlie Colanies and which (hhW be 
 
C 7 ) 
 
 at the difpofal oP the Britifh Parliament and the pro- 
 porrion ot each colony towards the imperial cxpcncc 
 fh juki be of f ich a nature, as it may never ai":cr be 
 rcceflTary to alter it. 
 
 We are alfo humbly of opinion that this tax 
 (hould be of fuch a narure, as (hould notdcprecia e, 
 but (hould iiicreafe in an equal ratio wirh the 
 affluence oFthc inhabitants of this province. 
 
 We are alfo humbly of opinion that the tax 
 fhould be of fuch a nature, as not to be liable to be 
 afFef^ed by the increafe or diminution of the meuls 
 of gold and filver in the world. 
 
 From thefe confiderarions, we humbly offer it as 
 our opinion that the fitteft tax for this purpofe, 
 would be a duty of (o much per cent upoa all 
 commodities imported into this province, not being 
 the produce of the Britilh dominions in Europe 
 and America, (except the article of Bay Salt) this 
 tax will include almoft all the luxuries made ule 
 of, and will increafe in an equal ratio with the 
 affluence of the inhabitants and if the rate of t!ic 
 feveral articles are fixed every ten year^ for the 
 future and fubfequcnt ten years, it will not be liable 
 to depreciate in value by theinc .-sfe of the metals, 
 of gold and filvcr. 
 
 Wc therefore humbly pray that the fupreme 
 legiQaturc of the Britifh Empire, will plcafe to 
 accept of a tax as above pointed our, and foconfcious 
 are weof yourjufticcand humanity, that we requeft 
 to know what proportion, would be pleafing or 
 agreeable to you, reminding you Co confider that 
 this province having no manufactories or lucrative 
 commerce muft ever have a fparcky of Specie. 
 
 W 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 We alfd humbly pray tint when the exigencies of 
 theihcc m\y require any furiher fu^plies from this 
 prorinc^ r.^uc tlu-a fucii reqjjficiDn- may be made 
 in ih'i uiiAi mi:ner forneriy pr.v'ticed, whereby wc 
 miy iiive n ;)pp)rcuiicy of fiisving our duty and 
 attachmsuc to our Sovereif;;!, and oiir fenfe of the 
 caalc for which llich rcqMifiLion is mid.,% b/ whicii 
 means and thiconly our gracious So^/ereign, can be 
 acquii.ited wich the true lenfcofthe pc-jpfc in thcfc 
 his diftan: dominiuns. 
 
 Wc alfo humbly pray thut voii will permit us and 
 inftruc} y(;ur governor to aflent to am ai> to diC- 
 qu^lify and deprive every men.berof the community 
 from che righs and privileges of a fubjed in civil 
 prbfeairions, who fhilibedcreaed in any illicit trade 
 or fraudulertc dealing, to^^c her with their aiders, 
 aBec:ors or concealers in this or any oiher branch of 
 the ,-evenL^i?, 
 
 This will render onncceiTiry a miiltiudc of 
 ofriccrs empldv^:'d todfetea illicit trade and preveri 
 that dlfgult and evij ftpuk which has been created by 
 thdr inluicrrtce, and will prevent rhac corruption of 
 rn miters and that contempt of the crime of perjury 
 which is now become fo op?n and fiigranc. Wc 
 humbly rcquffl thst you will appoint good and 
 fuiHcienc falari.'s to the officers cfthecuftoms, and 
 ablblureiy forbid rhem to take any fee in any cafe 
 whatfoever as w- have found thnt the detail of revenue • 
 duty in allies departajenrs have been clogi^cd with 
 vnnecellary forms and trifling regulations coincreafe 
 the feesand pcfqui{]rc5 ofthe ofBcers, and are alCb • 
 humbly of opinion that if thofe officers were under the 
 cortroul of the governor, the council and judges of 
 the lup'eme court of the province, it would be 
 .• ore for (he advani.ige of hi* Majcdy's fervice and 
 ^1:g gcjd of the rev-niie. We alfo humbly rtqueft 
 
 ihiC ' 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 th'st if the mode of uxation be pleading to you, .^haC 
 you will permit and order the Ifgiflaiivc council and the 
 judiics of Uic fupreme court for the time being, to 
 determine and affix the rate of the taxed articles 
 C7cry ten years fur every fubfequent ten years. 
 
 Youi* ever dutiful loyal and afFcsnionate houfc of 
 afTcmbly would not in thefe unhappy times prefumc 
 to mention their own grievances or rcqueft any 
 particular privileges, Icalt you fhould fuppc>fe they 
 were meant conditional of their juft duty and sllegi- 
 aiice this day acknowledged, but as jhe humble 
 friends of our King and Mother Country, may we 
 not refpeflfully point cut thofe meafures whkh 
 may bed tend to preferve the inhabirants of this 
 province in loyalty and allegiaoce, and alcho we 
 are not at this time in fuch circumOiancei as to raifc 
 a revenue for the fupport of the interior civil 
 government of this province, agreeable to the 
 prcfent plan cftablidied by his Majefty, and which 
 feems abfblutely neceflary for the dignity of govern- 
 ment in a country whofe particular fituatiun and 
 advantages are fuch, as may probably induce 
 governnienito order ic to be the head quarters cf 
 the Britifti hnd and fea forces in America : Rut 
 altho we may be unable wholly to fupport fo large 
 yet neccfTary civil lift, yet we are willing to fet 
 apart a fund for that purpofe, which will ncceflfarily 
 increafe with the opulence and number of the 
 inhabitants and will in time relieve our parent ftat« 
 from the heavy burthen of our fupport j our poverty 
 as a province will not prevent a Britilh King and 
 Parliament from hearing and juftly relieving us, 
 when as humble and dutiful fubjefls and being well 
 acquainted with this country and i'S inhabitants we 
 Qfily beg leave to inform our gracious King and 
 
 would l^ft tend tg the peace and happincfa of this 
 country. g * \Yjj 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 Wtr therefore moft humbly prefume to offer, as 
 our Opinion j 
 
 That no native of this province may ever be ap- 
 poincd a Governor or Lieut. Gxjvcrnor in this 
 provirxs i tbcambicion of affluent individuals toac- 
 qmrc governments, have led tofa^Stionand parties 
 lubverii.e of th, peace and happinefs of the people. 
 ii:cf good of the province and the honor of govern- 
 'ucnf probably the prefent difputes in America may 
 iiavc b'.'cn promot'.dby this caufe. 
 
 ^ W*^ are humbly of opinion that the members of 
 tne kgiOative council fhould be appointeJ for life, 
 and that no perfun (hould be appointed a member of 
 ihe council un'cfs he be polTcffed of landed pro- 
 perty in the province to the value of one thoufand 
 pounds at iea(t. And we moft humbly pray that 
 no culkSh: or under officer of the cuftoms, or any 
 ofTicer who is directly or indireftly concerned in the 
 cullc:ho,i of chc protinrliil revenue^ may ever be 
 aami:.cd to a feat at the council board. 
 
 We humbly pray moft fervently that the officers 
 or ttie cuftoms ;ind every officer concerned in collec- 
 ting the provinci.;! reirenue may be prohibited from 
 U^ ving as reprelentatives in general affembly. 
 
 ^ '*'*'e hombl'/ pray that the eMions for the repre- 
 j<?n ativts of the people, may be triennial, may be 
 by ballot, and thtit the day of de^ion triennially may 
 be fixed by h'Jv and that every officer of govern- 
 iTent be pafticulari/ prohibited from interfering in 
 dtf^iuns under fevere and heavy penalties. 
 
 We humbly pray that the judges of thefupreme 
 cou-t in this province, m»y have their commifTioni 
 ci_urir,g guod behaviour ia ihc fee manner as in 
 
 K'-vlaad. 
 
 *^ ■ , ^ 
 
to o^er as 
 
 ver be ap- 
 )r in this 
 uals CO ac- 
 nd parties 
 ic people, 
 )f govern- 
 crica may 
 
 lembcrs of 
 I for life, 
 lember of 
 ided pro- 
 : thoufand 
 pray that 
 ns, or any 
 ned in the 
 ' ever be 
 
 le officers 
 in Collec- 
 ted from 
 bly. 
 
 he repre- 
 1, may be 
 iiall/ may 
 f govern- 
 rfcring in 
 
 : fupreme 
 nmifTioni 
 nncr as in 
 
 W« 
 
 ^^'o'^J^JCvv^ 
 
 'I ) 
 
 We humbly pray that after the dece.ifr- of thf p (?- 
 fcnt judgps, thn all furure judges mav be cippoi- K-d 
 in England, and may not be nati^ts nf tiii? prcvi^.c;' -, 
 we can trace the prefent unhappy diforJers in A'mc-* 
 rica, to the want of a regulation of this kind. 
 
 We humbly reqiicd your Majcfty will gr,iclQun/ 
 permit the legiflature of this provinc^^ to afcertain 
 the numbers and boundaries o^tlic feveral CHJciics h\ 
 this province. 
 
 Mod j;racious King» grant and permit us a Sherff 
 jn each and every coum'y, and dcfiver us from a 
 Frovoft Marlhal prefiding over this wr e province, 
 whofe influence owing to the nature of bis office 
 and the number of his deputies mud be t.xce:T:vL% 
 and whofe power in cleiflions is ob(^>!ucc, if we are 
 not relieved in this particular we can have nq prttea- 
 fions even to the name ot freemen. 
 
 We humbly pray that your MnJL-dy wilf r.nci- 
 oufly permit and order that a Recorder of dee:!'s-jr.d 
 conveyances be appointed in each and every cownty 
 and not a deputy to a principal rending eHewlxre. 
 
 Our gracious Kino; cannot be inf-nfible of the 
 great necefiity there is that the mofr re f|:eda[)lc pf r- 
 fons m the community be appointed to the coin.niili- 
 ons of the peace; legal authority unlefs aided hv in? 
 good opinion of the people, eao havf m- Ijrjle rrt>5l 
 probably the reafon why the mofr rsfpc^^lablo vcrUvl 
 decline the office is, bcciure th.cy are li.ble r</he dif- 
 mifled unheard The want of p^.wcr ia i!>e mm- 
 itrates to execute and inforce thclaws has been'a 
 general complaint in Ameiic^. 
 
 . We hunibly pray that the govcrno% council and 
 judges of the fuprcme court, may confiture a rourt 
 Ot Vicc-acn?jrnlcy throughout iheprovinro, 'odeier- 
 
 P ^ 
 
( ^^ ) 
 
 r 
 
 mine all caufes cognifable in fuc.h courts, agreabJe tp 
 )aw and equity, and to receive no fees therefor. 
 
 We humbly pray that any two or more of the 
 judges of the fuprprae court and a jury balloted for 
 and ftruck bv'thc parties fhall conftitute a court of 
 eqity in all civil cafes throughout the province, fob-' 
 jea only to appeal? to bis Majefty in council, where 
 the property contefted may amount to five hundred 
 pourids fterling or upwards. 
 
 We humbly pray to be delivered from the op- 
 prelfion of practitioners in the law, and pray that iii 
 all civil adlions, their fees, charges and pcrquifites 
 ir.iy be limitecj to f^ve per cent, on all fums declared 
 for or defended 5 it is not the defirc of our <yood 
 Kin^, to hav^e his quiet and inoffenfiye fubjcfts in this 
 quarter of the globe given up to be perfccuted by a 
 few tapaciousitieri. . 
 
 Moft benign King, Your Majefty was gracioufly 
 pleafed to grant trads of land in this province upori 
 various conditions of fettlement and payment of quit 
 rciTts ; many of the conditions of fcttJement were 
 imprafticable and others (o cxpenfive ihat the gran- 
 tees wete not able fully to efFe^l: tbenfi. We humbly 
 pray to be exonerated from thefe fevcre conditions, 
 and that you will gracioufiy hnriit the power of the 
 court of efcheats to defaults in the payment of the 
 quit rent only. - 
 
 This houfe is forry to obferve that moft cruel ufe 
 has been made of this pow er of efcheaiing land, even 
 to the depriving of two old officers of the gratuity gi- 
 ven them by y(}urM,^jefty,for near fortv years oJFmi- 
 Jirary fervice, and that to graiifv two domefticks of 
 thatgovernor who ordered the efoheatment; and at 
 this ume a trad of land is advcjiized to be efcheaied, 
 
 • on 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 on which the proprici rs hare laid out near foui 
 thoufand pounds. 
 
 Finally, We moft humbly requeft th« the aflem^ 
 bly of this province may be called together annually; 
 and that no governor may be allowed to diffolve or 
 prorogue them when he (hall be informed that dicy 
 are preparing a petition to our gracious King and 
 Parliament of Great- Britain. 
 
 Moft gracious Sovereign, we have unhappily exJ 
 pcricnccd that the rcdrefs of our grievances, and thof« 
 rcquefted regulations could not comt from uf in the 
 conftitutional mode of laws, which muft have 
 pafled a council, fomc of them without property ia 
 the province or intcreft in our welfare. 
 
 May the G D of all goodnefs fhower down on' 
 our gracious Sovereign and his beloved family every 
 temporal blcfllng. / /^ 
 
 May the fpirit of concord, juftice and public vlrJ 
 tue dircfls the councils of the Britifh Senate, and 
 niay the Father of mercies preferve conftitutional 
 freedom to the Bntifti race in every part of the globeJ 
 
 WILLIAM NESBITT, Speaker; 
 Halifax, June 24th, 177^. 
 
 QuERE, Would not a proceeding fimilar to thd 
 foregomg, had it been adopted by the different 
 alTemblies on the continent, have prevented the mis* 
 fortunes under which we at prelcnc labour ^ 
 
 *i r? «. *» 
 
 »!, ,!.. /.. ^ g\ .