Newport Rhode Island 1st May 1775.
(Copy)
Sir We the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Newport in the Colony of Rhode Island deeply impressed with a grateful Sense of the Support You have on all occasions given to His Majesty's faithful Subjects residing in this Town, and fully convinced that our Peace and Security has for some time past been owing in a great measure to your Attention to His Majesty's Service and spirited Conduct in the Execution of it; return You our unfeign'd Thanks.
It is with the utmost concern We acquaint You that the General Assembly of this Colony, at a late Sessions held at Providence, resolved to raise and embody Fifteen hundred Men for the express purpose (as declared in the Act) of Joining and Co-operating with the Forces of the Neighbouring Colonies, and though the Representatives of this Town enterd a timely protest against it, Yet we cannot rest here, We must as faithful Subjects to the King, and in Justice to Ourselves approve the Conduct of our representatives, by shewing our disapprobation of an Act pregnant with so much Evil, by every means that becomes Obedient Subjects and good Citizens.
The difficulties and dangers which may attend us by shewing this disapprobation are obvious, but while We have the Support of the King's Authority and Power, which is in your Hands, and which we earnestly Pray may be continued to Us, We shall cheerfully go on in our Endeavours to deserve that Peace and Security; We have hitherto enjoyed under the Mild and equal Laws of Great Britain, and which the Civil Power of this Colony appears to us unable to give.
These are Sentiments Sir, not hastily adopted, they have been uniformly the Rule of all our Actions.
We are Sir Very Respectfully [&c.]
Chas Dudley |
John Bell |
James Keith |
George Rome |
Jna Halliburton |
Jak: Brenton |
Wm Hunter |
Robt Ferguson |
Rot Jo: Zunn |