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Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council Mr Speaker & Gentlemen of the Assembly

The steady zeal you have shown for his Majesty's Person And Royal Family and Support of His Government and securing The payment of His Quitrents and His Unanimity with which you Have proceeded in doing Every thing Necessary according to your present Ability for the Peace Security and Defence of this and the adjoyning Colonies, and in securing your Religion, Rights, & Properties from French Encroachments and Papal Tyranny, Requires my Returning You sincere thanks Which I shall faithfully represent to his Majesty.

Your Application and the Dispatch you have made In Preparing and passing many Necessary Laws for the Improvement of The Trade, easy distributions of Justice, and for the Maintenance of an Orthodox Clergy well deserve the thanks of your Constituents, and of all Who wish Well to this Province.

I am Particularly oblidged to you for The Favourable Sentiments which You have Express'd of my Endeavour to serve his Majesty and to promote The Peace, Security and Improvement of this Colony According to the Trust his Majesty has reposed in me.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Assembly—

I Return you in Particular my hearty thanks for the supplys you Have Granted for the Defence of this Colony, and for the Assistance of Virginia and Contingencies of Government, with which you have Entrusted me. Which I shall Endeavour to Apply with the greatest Oeconomy for His Majesty's Service and security of this Province.

Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council Mr Speaker And Gentlemen of the Assembly.

As your Close Attendance and your Private affairs will require Your seperating at this time and Returning to your several Counties I most Earnestly recommend to you the Promoting Peace and Harmony In your several Counties and that you will exact yourselves in your Several Districts in putting in Execution the several Laws, formerly & New made for Promoting true Religion and Virtue. The due execution Of Justice, and Promoting the Trade and Improvement of this Province, and to take Care that the supply's you have so Chearfully Granted Be duely and Carefully Levyed and pay'd in, to Answer the Purposes for which they are granted Without which your Lives, Religion, Libertys and Properties Can't be secur'd Nor the Goverment Be Enabled to Defend you as all Laws are a Dead Letter if not Duely Inforced & put in Execution.

A Copy

Copy of the Governors Speech at the end of the Session.

Read April 8. 1755

C.59.