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chap, ii.] WEST INDIES. 
It has, I know, been urged, that the principles 
I have thus laid down, and the rights which I have 
allotted to the inhabitants of the British colonies, 
‘ May it please your honour, 
‘ We, his majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the council of 
‘ Jamaica, have agreeably to your honour’s message, laying before us 
‘ the address of the house of assembly to your honour, taken into our 
■ serious consideration the subject matter thereof: we have also exa- 
‘ mined and considered the proceedings now in the office of the regis- 
‘ ter of the court of chancery, and the determination of his excellency 
‘ the late chancellor, touching the release of Pierce Cooke and Lach- 
‘ lan M'Neil, from a commitment of the assembly. Although we 
* have the most favourable opinion of the late chancellor’s intention in 
‘ that decision, yet finding that no chancellor or judge in this island, 
£ ever before took upon himself to make any determination upon a 
* warrant or commitment of either branch of the legislature, it is 
* with concern we observe, that such proceeding of the late chancellor 
‘ in so new, in so delicate a case, by discharging the said Pierce Cooke 
' and Lachlan M'Neil from the commitment of the house of assembly, 
* was unprecedented and irregular. 
‘ It is also with sorrow of heart we have seen and felt this his ma» 
* jesty’s colony, ever since that determination, labouring under a va- 
‘ t'iety of distresses, flowing chiefly from the apprehensions of his ma- 
‘ jesty’s subjects, that the establishing a precedent of this nature in 
* the court of chancery, might lay a foundation for chancellors and 
‘ judges of inferior courts to interfere in, and to take upon them to 
* determine on the privileges of the legislative bodies of this island. 
* Permit us therefore to recommend to your honour, as the only ex- 
4 pedient which we conceive will be effectual to quiet the minds of the 
people, to unite the several branches of the legislature, and to re- 
‘ store peace and tranquillity to this country, that you will be pleased 
to cause the said determination made by the late chancellor, whereby 
4 the 6aid Pierce Cooke and Lachlan M £ Neil were discharged from 
Vol. Ill 
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