The Palatine Emigration. 



115 



of Protestant descent, found no difficulty in changing their 

 religion, while the Lutherans readily communed either in 

 the English or German churches. They married rapidly 

 so as to secure the additional sum allowed to married cou- 

 ples, and because the Carolina proprietors had indicated 

 an intention only to take families. 



In view of the necessity of taking definite action for dis- 

 posing of tlTis multitude, and for their temporary relief in 

 reaching permanent homes, the justices of the peace for 

 the county of Middlesex and other citizens on June 7th, 

 petitioned the queen for authority to take a collection in 

 their behalf in all churches and otherwise in the county. 

 The queen not only acceded to their request but issued a 

 Brief addressed to all the counties of the kingdom, includ- 

 ing Wales and Scotland, in which recital was made of the 

 oppressions these emigrants had suffered from their national 

 enemy the French, as far back as 1689, and collections were 

 ordered to be taken up in all the churches, and the curates 

 and wardens were to go from house to house to solicit 

 charity, to be disposed of by a commission. Over twenty- 

 two thousand pounds were paid into the chamber of the 

 city of London as the result of these collections. Besides 

 this and other sums expended, the whole charge occa- 

 sioned to the queen's government on account of these 

 Palatines, till they were finally settled in the new homes 

 secured for them, amounted to more than one hundred 

 and thirty-five thousand pounds. 



While the charitable disposition of the benevolent led 

 them to contribute so liberally for their needs, the encou- 

 ragement given to these foreigners was displeasing to mul- 

 titudes. Their more zealous patrons were conscious of it, 

 and an appeal in very touching language in the name of 

 the leaders of the Palatines was addressed to the tradesmen 

 of England, beseeching them not to regard their coming 

 with jealousy as the possible means of evil to themselves. 



