The Petition of the Agents of the Plantations and Colonies of the Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey Pennsylvania, the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia, whose Names are hereunto subscribed. Humbly Sheweth

That the Act of Parliament passed in the Seventh Year of His present Majesty’s Reign. “for granting certain Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America &c.” is complained of as an Aggrievance by the Inhabitants of the said Colonies, for the following among other Reasons.

First, for that the said Duties are made payable only in Silver Money, which in some of the Colonies is not to be had in sufficient Quantity, whereby the Merchant is discouraged from dealing in Commodities that expose him to such Difficulty, and in most of the Colonies the Current Proportion of Silver Money is so exceeding small and so absolutely necessary for the Trade of the Country, more especially since the Restrictions laid here upon their Paper Currency, that the Collecting the Silver in Duties and carrying it away, disturbs and obstructs the common Course of Commerce, and greatly distresses all concerned in Trade.

Secondly. for that the appropriation by the Act of the Money to be raised, vizt. “for making a more certain and adequate Provision for the Charge of the Administration of Justice, and the support of Civil Government in such of the said Colonies and Plantations where it shall be found necessary” appears inequitable and unjust; all of the Old Colonies, each for itself, having from their Infancy provided, and continuing to provide, for the Charge of the Administration of Justice, and the support of civil Government without any Expence to the Crown, or to any neighbouring Colony, and yet by the Operation of this Act, they are moreover to be burthened with the payment of great Salaries to public Officers, in new Provinces wherein they have no Concern. The Petitioners therefore, and because the said Act hath occasioned great Discontents in the Colonies, and much ill Humour between the Inhabitants of Great-Britain and them, which if continued, may be prejudicial to their mutual Commerce and Common Interest, do pray that the said Act may be Repealed. And your Petitioners as in Duty bound &ca.