That upon their former petition on tliis behalf, your Excellency was graciously pleasexi to search out the bottom and foundation of a certain false Rumour, in clandestine manner spread abroad, of some of the Inhabitants, Petitioners, having held and maintained a Correspondence with some of the Inhabitants of the kingdom of France, discovering the weakness of the strength and Fortifications of this Province, and how easily it might be made a Conquest to the French, her Majestys declared Enemies, (a Crime so detestible in its nature, and so much abhorred by your Excellency's Petitioners,) and having found the same to prove false and abortive, your Excellency was also graciously pleased to communicate the same to the honourable, the Gentlemen of Her Majestys Privy Council for this Province, in' Council, for their Opinion thereupon; For which your Excellencys Petitioners do retui-n to your Excellency their most humble and hearty Thanks.

But so it is, may it j)lease your Excellency, that the Rumour thereof, by process of time, and other means, has, in a strange manner, overspread the whole Province. And altlio' it be

PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 433

variously Reported, and with great Uncertainty, yet it is of

pernicious Consequence to all the French Refugees in general.

and disturbs their peace and quiet, and obstructs that uifection

and familiarity which they had formerly enjoyed with the other

Inhabitants of this Province, to their just Grief and Resentment.

They therefore humbly Pray, May it please your Excellency,

To give direction to the Secretary to let them have the Copys