It has always been the Custom in this Province, when the Assemblies have been called by our Governors on Occasion of Letters received, to communicate such Letters to the House for their Consideration.

To give a Committee of the House a Sight of such Letters, does not seem to us sufficient; for if the Letters are to be the Foundation of any important Step to be taken by the Assembly, we think they should lie before the House, to be read as often as is necessary to a thorough Understanding of the Matters they contain or require.

We know not what Assurances the Governor expects us to give, that the General’s Letter shall not be printed, nor what will be satisfactory; nor are we inclined to give any Assurances of the Kind, till we see the Letter; nor do we think any previous Assurances necessary, being certain that the Prudence of the House will be sufficient to prevent the Publication of any Thing that is unfit for the Publick View.

And since the Importance of the Contents of that Letter is given by the Governor, as the Reason of his hasty calling us together at this unseasonable Time of the Year, and as we cannot take the Letter into Consideration without seeing it, we hope he will not, by starting new Methods of Proceeding, and engaging us in trivial Disputes, any longer obstruct or delay the Publick Service.