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Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation of Our Public Affairs - 14

his Majesty would be pleased to commissionate some fit Person, to be Governor over them.------That it has been represented to us by several Letters, Memorials, and other Papers, as well from the Inhabitants as Proprietors, that they are at present in Confusion and Anarchy, and that it is much to be apprehended, left by the Heats of the Parties that are amongst them, they should fall into such Violences, as may endanger the Lives of of many Persons, and destroy the Colony.” (b)

In Consequence of these Disorders, and and Petitions from the People, the Proprietors were oblig’d to surrender that Government to the Crown; Queen Anne then reigning; who of all our Crowned heads since the Revolution, was by far the least favourable to Dissenters; yet here Instructions to Lord Cornbury, her first Governor, were express and full in their Favour, viz.

INSTR. 51 “You are to permit a Liberty of Conscience to all Persons, (except Papists) so that they may be contented with a quiet and peaceable Enjoyment of the same, not giving Offense or Scandal to the Government.”

INSTR. 52. “And whereas we have been informed that divers of our good Subjects inhabiting those Parts, do make a religious Scruple of Swearing, and by reason of their refusing to take an Oath in any Court of Justice and other Places, are or may be liable to many Inconveniences, or Will and Pleasure

(b) Grants and Concessions, and original Constitutions of New-Jersey, printed at Philadelphia by W. Bradford p. 606.

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