"That if objections be made that a resort to a " variety of Colony Legislatures, for general aids, is " inconvenient, and that large, unappropriated Grants "to the Crown, from America, would endanger the " Liberty of the Empire, then the Colonies are ready "and willing to assent to a Continental Congress, " deputed from the several Colonies, to meet with a " President appointed by the Crown, for the purpose " of raising and apportioning their general aids, upon " application made by the Crown, according to the " advice of the British Parliament, to be judged of by " the said Congress.

"And as the free enjoyment of the Rights of Con- " science is, of all others, the most valuable branch of " human Liberty ; and the indulgence and establishment of Popery, all along the interior confines of " the old Protestant Colonies, tends not only to " obstruct their growth but weaken their security ; "that neither the Parliament of Great Britain nor " any other earthly Legislature or Tribunal ought or " can interfere or interpose, in any wise, howsoever, " in the religious and ecclesiastical concerns of the " Colonies.

" That the Colonies, respectively, are entitled to a "free and exclusive power of legislation, within "themselves, respectively, in all cases of internal " polity, whatsoever, subject only to the negative of " their Sovereign, in such manner as has been, here^ " tofore, accustomed.

" Resolved : That no one Article of the afore; " going Report be considered preliminary to another, " so as to preclude an accommodation without such. " Article ; and that no part of the said Report be