39 



His Excellency Samuel Morris, Governor, 



Tench Francis, Esq. Secretary. 



William Govett, Treasurer and Deputy Secretary. 



Josiali Hewes, Samuel Nicholas, Robert Roberts, Wil- 

 liam Gray, Peter Kuhn, Gustavus Risberg, Benjamin 

 Scull, Andrew Tybout, James White, John D. Mercier, 

 John Patton and William Hall, the two last of whom, 

 were new members. 



The committee on the revision of the old code of laws, 

 adapted to the altered circumstances of affairs of Govern- 

 ment, made report, which being read by sections, after 

 amendment, was agreed to, as follows: 



WHEREAS, the Court of Great Britain, soon after 

 the peace of Versailles, in the year 1763, began to oppress 

 the inhabitants of then British America, by laying restric- 

 tions on their trade, and making laws to bind them in all 

 cases tvhatsoever, contrary to the original charters, and 

 the just and natural rights of freemen, and in the year 



1775, did with a strong fleet and army invade the same, 

 which obliged the inhabitants thereof, to unite for their 

 mutual defence, and after frequent application to the 

 Court of Great Britain, without obtaining redress, they 

 were necessitated to declare themselves on the 4th of July 



1776, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES^ in 

 consequence thereof, a large military force invaded this 

 State, and the virtuous inhabitants thereof, being unprovi- 

 ded for defence, were obliged to withdraw into the neigh- 



