Then Mr. [John] Randle, Deputy Secretary, attended, read and delivered a written Paper from His Excellency the Governor to the General Assembly as follows.: ー

The Law for ascertaining the price of all kind of Grain being very nigh expiring, I have called you together to consult you on that matter, and to observe to you at the same time that moderation and forbearance were the humane principles that have been the constant guide of our most gracious Sovereign; and all His Majesty's orders and commands tend to direct those Principles of Benevolence and Goodness to be followed. Until the deluded People in many parts of the Continent of America broke into faction, Rage and Anarchy, by Plundering His Majesty's Stores and Arsenals and committing many Acts of Violence in many Parts of His Majesty's Dominion even to open Rebellion.

The Consequence of such Violent and Atrocious proceedings hath caused Coercive measures to be exchanged and pursued with Violence in many Parts of His Majesty's Dominions in place of lenity and moderation. In vindication of the Resistance and Oppressions that many Persons have suffered for their Zealous attachment to our happy Constitution, and to our sorrow it is known that such Hostile and unwarrantable Proceedings have brought on the Horrors of a Civil War in many parts of His Majesty's Dominions, with the Loss of many a Brave Man. And myself hath been the greatest sufferer of any Person in these happy Islands, by the fall of a dearly beloved Son, in the Defence of and for the continuance of the justly admired and happy Constitution of great Britain, with this single consolation, that my Boy hath done his Duty. I think from His Majesty's well known lenity and Moderation I may be authorized to hold out the Flag of Truce to all such as do and will continue in Moderation and Submission, and properly support legal Government. And it is the Duty of every Governor to take care that His Majesty's Subjects be provided with Provisions at a reasonable and Moderate price, and to prevent forestalling and monopolizing. These were my Reasons for my giving my assent to the provision law last year; which is now very near expiring.

And notwithstanding very little of the wheat (as I am informed) hath been sold, It having been kept up at so high a Price, and so long as the Inhabitants could supply themselves in any shape they did not purchase. Yet so large a quantity of wheat being in these Islands hath alleviated the fears of starving which many Persons seemed to have. But as the late Act of Parliament which I but very lately received from London by a tedious Passage, may prevent any future supplies being brought into these Islands contrary to that Act. I think you will find it necessary to lower the price of the wheat that the poor may be able to purchase it, as the season for our little planting of Potatoes, &c. hath not been auspicious or fruitful for the present Season.

Gentlemen of the Assembly, I have now an Information to give you which I hope will be pleasing and Interesting to alleviate your fears of Starving, which many Persons have appeared to be terrifyed with.

It is the following Paragraph taken from my Lord Dunmore's letter to me, word for word: ー

"If the People of your Island are loyal, well disposed Subjects, and should have occasion for flour or any thing else that I can supply them with, I shall be willing at your Request to do so."

This assurance from my Lord is a comfort to me and I hope to all you, which benefit you may have in a legal way to all such as continue to profess Loyalty and act agreeable thereto, and I pray that you may be guided by a due sense of your Duty and Loyalty to His Majesty with a perfect obedience to the Sovereignty of the British Empire, as the only means to preserve yourselves in a state of tranquility and avert the impending danger that hang over such as do Revolt.

St. George's, May 15th, 1776.