Humbly presuming, that the Church to which Your Majesty's Petitioners belong, would have the same Countenance, a Petition was sometime ago preferred for a Charter, to M"" De Lancey, lately Lieutenant Governor of tliis Province; but as the Lutheran Congregation of this City, have been disappointed in a like application, and your Petitioners are advised tliat, for want of an express Power in the Governor's Commission, there may be some doubt, whether a Cliarter of Incorporation granted here will be valid unless Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to give an Instruction for that Purpose; and as the old English Statutes of uniformity do not extend to America; and the growth and prosperity of Your important Dominions abroad, depend not only upon their enjoyment of the Liberty of Conscience, but the equal Eye of the Sovereign upon faitlifidl and loyal Protestants of every Denomination, and especially those of the two Communions established in Great Britain.

Your Majesty's Petitioners most humbly pray, that Your Majesty would be graciously pleased to issue Your Ptoyal Command under the Privy Signet and Sign Manual to the Governor or Commander in Chief of the said Province and liis Council for the time being and all otlier officers therein concerned under them, immediately after tlie receipt thereof, to grant and confirm the

PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW- YORK. 501

Premisses to your Petitioners and to create them a Body Politick and Corporate in Deed and in name, by the Name and Stile of " The Ministers, Elders, Deacons, and Trustees of the Preaby- " terian Church of the City of New York according to the West- '' minster Confession of Faith, Catechisms and Directory, " agreeable to the present established Church of Scotland;" and that they and their Successors may be thereby enabled under the Great Seal of the said Province to hold and enjoy the Premisses, and to acquire and hold a further Estate, and enjoy sucli other Powers and Privileges as may be. necessary for the pious Uses aforesaid, expressed in the form of a Charter; which, that Your Majesty may be more fully apprized of the whole aim of Your Petitioners, is hereunto annexed, or that Your Majesty in whose Grace and Clemency, Your People have the fullest Confidence, would be pleased to grant them such other aid, Protection and Countenance, as to Your Royal Wisdom shall seem meet.