In Obedience to your Excellency's Order in Council of the 4*i^ ultimo, referring to us a Letter of the 29^^ July last, from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations ; and requiring our Advice and Information on the Petition therein inclosed.

504 PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

lately presented to his Majesty, by the " Present Ministers of the Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, praying to be incorporated by a Charter under the Seal of the Province of New York, for the Purposes set forth in the said Petition." The Committee have duely considered the same, and beg leave to represent to your Excellency :

That on tlie 8"' February 1759, a Petition was preferred to Lieutenant Governor De Lancey by the " Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Lutheran Church of the City of New York" praying to be incorporated ; and afterwards on the 14^^ March following, reported by the Committee to whom it was referred, and a Charter advised to be granted to the Petitioners -- That on the 30' h March 1759, a like Petition was presented to M'' De Lancey by the " Minister Elders Deacons and Trustees of the Presbyterian Churcli of the City of New York" and referred to a Committee -- That on the 9^^ February 1763, an Application of the same Nature was made by the " Minister, Elders and Deacons of the reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the Township of Orange" and referred to a Committee -- That on the 16^^ March 1763, a Petition of the '-Minister, Elders, and Deacons of tlie French Protestant Churcli, of the City of New York," praying to be incorporated, was read in Council ; and likewise referred to a Committee -- And that on the 9^^ September 176S, the Lutherans by a second Petition, prayed a Warrant might Issue to the Attorney General; to prepare a Draft of the Charter ordered on tlieir former Petiiion ; both which Petitions, tlje Council advised M Colden to transmit to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations -- That M"" Colden, whose Reasons will appear by his Letters on this Subject, did transmit the said two Petitions ; and received their Lordships Answer, by their Letter of the 15^^ July 1764, wherein is the following Paragraph.