y
those Acts grant their property without their consent."

Then, after showing the impracticability, on various grounds, of the
representation of the colonies in the British Parliament, on which
account local subordinate Legislatures were established, that the
colonists might enjoy the inalienable right of representation, the
circular letter proceeds:

"Upon these principles, and also considering that were the right in the
Parliament ever so clear, yet for obvious reasons it would be beyond the
rule of equity, that their constituents should be taxed on the
manufactures of Great Britain here, in addition to the duties they pay
for them in England, and other advantages arising to Great Britain from
the Acts of Trade, this House have preferred a humble, dutiful, and
loyal petition to our most gracious Sovereign, and made such
representation to his Majesty's Ministers as they apprehend would tend
to obtain redress.

"They have also submitted to consideration, whether any people can be
said to enjoy any degree of freedom if the Crown, in addition to its
undoubted authority of constituting a Governor, should appoint him such
a stipend as it shall judge proper, without the consent of the people,
and at their expense; and whether, while the judges of the land and
other civil officers hold not their commissions during good behaviour,
their having salaries appointed for them by the Crown, independent of
the people, hath not a tendency to subvert the principles of equity and
endanger the happiness and security of the subjects.

"In addition to these measures, the House have wrote a letter to their
agent, Mr. De Berdt, the sentiments of which he is directed to lay
before the Ministry, wherein they take notice of the hardship of the Act
for Preventing Mutiny and Desertion, which requires the Governor and
Council to provide enumerated articles for the King's marching troops,
and the people to pay the expense; and also the commission of the
gentlemen appointed Commissioners of Customs to reside in America, which
authorizes them to make as many appointments as they think fit, and to
pay the appointees what sums they please, for whose malconduct they are
not accountable." ...

"These are the sentiments and proceedings of this House; and as they
have too much reason to believe that the enemies of the colonies have
represented them to his Majesty's Ministers and the Parliament as
factious, disloyal, and having a disposition to make