Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/516

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5o6 Doc nine It ts unwearied pains and struggles for Power, that it is with a View to Obtain an Ascendancy in the House of representatives, sufficient to enable her to make such establishment General through the province ; or to some other designs unfavorable to those of different persuasions. Why else is she not satisfied with her Already disproportionate degree of power before mentioned? We only desire ourselves to enjoy and to transmit to our posterity the right of private Judgment ; and of Worshipping God accord- ing to the dictates of our own Consciences. For this important purpose, and to Strengthen our interest, we propose to Write to all our brethren on the Continent, to exhort them to form themselves into such Societies, to Correspond with each other on these Interesting concerns ; and thereby endeavour the preservation of our Common Liberty. We therefore earnestly intreat you, as you regard the religious liberty of the present and future Generations, to communicate this letter, to some of the leading members of your Congregation ; to use your interest and urge them to use theirs to get as many leading men of the various Non- episcopal Denominations among you as they shall think proper, to erect a similar society, or societies. Let us therefore. Notwithstanding our peculiar religious distinctions, heartily unite for our common Safety. We who reside in this City and are thereby under superior Advantages of intelligence, will be as Vigilant as possible, in discovering any meas- ures that may be pursued Detrimental to our Liberty ; and give you such information as we shall conceive Subservient to our common cause. We also propose to correspond with our Brethren in Scotland and Ireland, and with the Standing Committee of Dissenters in England, to engage them to favour the design. The latter may have it in their power to do us singular service. As soon as your Societies are Instituted, we shall be glad to be in- formed of it, and have the names of their members transmitted to us with directions how to direct to them. Their Letters to us may be di- rected to Esq. in New York, and sent to us by some safe private hand to save postage. Except on Extraordinary Occasions. We enclose you a Copy of the Articles on which our Society is founded with the names of the members, that you may form yours on the like plan. We would only mention, that the sooner your Societies are formed the sooner we shall be enabled to open our Correspondence, and begin to experience the Salutary effects expected from their institution. We shall from time to time open to them the particular instances in which they may be more peculiarly Serviceable to the Common interest. We Cannot conclude without recommending it to the members of the Socie- ties, to make it a matter of their prayer, that God would bless the design so far as it may tend to promote his Glory and the Good of his people. We are, with esteem, P. S. AVe would inform you that a number of us have lately had reprinted a small treatise written more [than] one hundred years ago, by Thomas Delaune entitled, A plea for the Nonconformists ; sold by Gar-