| Description | London, considers the enclosed should be published in all their newspapers and communicated to those to whom it is addressed by every possible means, "It might be improved by introducing this sentiment, that the same principle which induces our Ministers to take the American money by violence from them, will in all probability soon operate on them without the soldiers poor pittance of pay" Dr Franklin about to depart for Philadelphia, vote of £500 granted by Bill of Rights Society, for sufferers in Boston, and fishermen of New England, with seal (broken)
Enclosures, printed circular signed D Smith, to consider of a petition to the House of Lords against an unjust and inhuman Bill, which has passed the House of Commons, intitled, 'A Bill to restrain the trade and commerce of the province of Massachusetts Bay' (in William Lee's writing) "In consequence of this summons, the Corporation drew up and presented a strong petition to the House of Lords, which with the resolution of the Bill of Rights Society shows the disposition of the people of London with respect to America more strongly than anything I can say"
Printed address to the soldiers signed "An old soldier" and beginning "Gentlemen, you are about to embark for America, to compel your fellow subjects there to submit to popery and slavery, it is the glory of the British soldier, that he is the defender, not the destroyer, of the civil and religious rights of the people", reminds them of James II, and of his seizure of the seven bishops, note in William Lee's writing "This has been sent to Ireland to be published there London Mar 1775"
For full description see HMC 14th report available in SRO reading room |