NUMBER III.

The following Letter was addressed to the Author by the honourable John Jay.

BEDFORD, West Chester County, New York,

12th February, 1823,

SIR-I received, by the last mail, your friendly letter of the 30th ultimo, the principal object of which, you observe, is to obtain from me, if I recollect minutely on the subject, a correct account of the part which your grandfather acted in the three leading committees appointed by the Congress of 1774; these were committees to prepare an address to the king of England-to the people of Great Britain and to the Colonies. The committee for the first address, consisted of Messrs. Lee, J. Adams, Johnson, Henry, and Rutledge; to this committee, Mr. Dickenson was afterwards added. You further observe, that it had been generally understood that Mr. Lee was the writer of that address; but that it has since been ascribed to Mr. Dickenson. So many years have elapsed since the Congress of 1774, that my recollection, as to many of the occasional and incidental circumstances, which occurred in the course of their proceedings, is not distinct.

It appears, from the journals of that Congress, that the committee to prepare an address to the king, reported a draught of such an address, on the 21st October; that, after some debate it was recommitted, and that Mr. J. Dickenson was, on that day, added to the committee. So soon afterwards as the 24th October, they again reported; and on the next day, viz. the 25th October, the address they had reported, was debated, and, after some amendments, approved. By which of the members of the committee it was written, I do not remember to have been informed. To me, it appears probable that the same draught which had been recommitted, was, with the co-operation of Mr. Dickenson, amended, and again reported. That Mr. Dickenson, between the 21st October, when he was added to the committee, and the 24th

October, when they, for the last time reported, should have proposed to the committee to lay aside their draught, and that he, with their approbation, should have undertaken, and to their satisfaction, have finished, an entire new address, is, in my opinion, improbable, especially considering his sense of propriety, and the characters and abilities of the gentlemen of that committee.

On the 11th October, 1774, the Congress "Resolved, unanimously, That a memorial be prepared to the people of British America, stating to them the necessity of a firm, united, and invariable observation of the measures recommended by the Congress, as they tender the invaluable rights and liberties derived to them from the laws and constitution of their country. Also, "That an address be prepared to the people of Great Britain." "Ordered, That Mr. Lee, Mr. Livingston, and Mr. Jay, be a committee to prepare a draught of the memorial and address."

It was agreed, in the committee, that Mr. Lee should prepare a draught of the proposed memorial, which was the first, both in order and importance; and that I should prepare a draught of the proposed address to the people of Great Britain, both of which were done accordingly. On the 18th October, the address to the people of Great Britain was reported to Congress. On the 19th October, it was debated by paragraphs, and sundry amendments made; and was recommitted, in order that the amendments might be taken in. On the 21st October, it was returned to Congress, and the amendments directed, being made, the same was appointed. On the 19th October, the committee reported a draught of a memorial to the inhabitants of the British colonies. On the 21st October, the Congress resumed the consideration of the memorial, and the same, being debated by paragraphs and amended, was approved. I have always believed that this memorial was written by Mr. Lee, nor have any reasons to doubt it, come to my knowledge. On the same day, viz. 21st October, the Congress "Resolved, That an address be prepared to the people of Quebec, and letters to the colonies of St. Johns, &c." "Ordered, That Mr. Cushing, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Dickenson, be a committee to prepare the above address and letters." Hence it appears, that your idea of my being one of that committee, is not correct. On the 24th October, the address to the people of Quebec, being brought in, was read, and, after some debate, was recommitted. the 26th October, the committee to whom the address to the inhabitants of Quebec was recommitted, reported a draught, which was read, and, being debated by paragraphs and

On

amended, was approved." I have often heard it said, and not heard it contradicted, that this address was written by Mr. Dickenson. On the 25th October, the Congress "Resolved, That the address to the king, be enclosed in a letter to the several colony agents, &c. and "Ordered, That Mr. Lee and Mr. Jay prepare a letter to the agents." On the 26th October, the letter to the agents being brought in by the committee, was read and approved; this letter was written by Mr. Lee.

The committee (mentioned in the postscript of your letter) appointed to state the rights of the colonies, &c., included a number of gentlemen, whose information and talents, enabled them to discuss and elucidate those topics very ably; but, I cannot particularize how far Mr. Lee, or any other individual of those gentlemen, contributed to the accomplishment of that business. The uninterrupted deputation of Mr. Lee to Congress, by his native and important state, during many years of danger and difficulty, and his continued participation in the transaction of affairs of such moment, afford inferences on which much might be said. Although a recent increase of sickness, renders occupation irksome to me, yet as a further increase of it might suspend, and perhaps prevent my attending to your inquiries, I think it better to answer your letter thus concisely, than to postpone writing. Those inquiries need no apology. The friendly sentiments expressed in your letter, merit, and have my acknowledgments. best wishes for your success and welfare, I am, Sir, Your obedient servant,

With the

NUMBER IV.

To the King's most excellent Majesty.

The humble address and petition of the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons, in common council assembled.

Most gracious sovereign, your majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons, of the city of London, in common council assembled, with all humility, beg leave to lay themselves at your royal feet, humbly imploring your benign attention to the grievous distractions of their fellow subjects in America.

The characteristic of the people, sire, over whom you reign, has ever been equally marked for an unparalleled loyalty to their sovereign, whilst the principles of the constitution have been the rule of his government, as for a firm opposition, whenever their rights have been invaded.

Your American subjects, royal sir, descended from the same ancestors with ourselves, appear equally jealous of the prerogatives of freemen, without which they cannot deem themselves happy.

Their cheerful and unasked for contributions, as well as willing services to the mother country, while they remain free from the clog of compulsory laws, will, we are sure, plead powerfully with the humanity of your disposition, for readily granting them every reasonable opportunity of giving as freemen, what they seem resolutely determined to refuse, under the injunction of laws, made independent of their own consent. The abhorrence we entertain of civil bloodshed and confusion, will, we trust, sire, if not wholly exculpate us in your royal mind, yet plead powerfully in our favour, for the warmth with which we lament those measures, the dsetructive principles of which, have driven our American brethren to acts of desperation.

Convinced of the earnest disposition of the colonists to remain firm in all duteous obedience to the constitutional authority of this kingdom, permit us most gracious sovereign to beseech you, that those operations of force, which at present distract them with the most dreadful apprehensions, may be suspended; and that, uncontrolled by a restraint incompatible with free government, they may have an opportunity of tendering such terms of accommodation, as we have

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no doubt will approve them worthy of a distinguished rank among the firmest friends of this country.

Your petitioners do therefore most earnestly beseech your majesty to dismiss immediately, and for ever, from your councils, those ministers and advisers. As the first step towards a full redress of those grievances, which alarm and afflict your whole people.

So shall peace and commerce be restored, and the confidence and affection of all your majesty's subjects be the solid supporters of your throne.