506 PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

lest sudi Incorporations niiglit be considered as repugnant \o tlie provisions of those Statutes.

All which is humbly submitted ^

By Order of the Committee

Jos : Reade Chairman. City of New York ) iM«h March 1767 S

KING'S OKDEK IN COUNCIL DISMISSING THE PETITION OF THE PKESBYTEKIAN CHUKCH.

[Counc. Min. XXVI.]

[Seal J At the Court at S^ James's

The twenty sixth day of August 1767. Present The Kings Most Excellent Majesty Arcli Bisliop of Canterbury Viscount Falmouth Lord President Viscoimt Barrington

Duke of Grafton Eord Le Despencer

Earle of Shelburne Mr. Secretary Conway

Viscount Townsend

Whereas there was this Day read at tlie Board a Report from the Right Honoble the Lords of the Committee of Counoil for Plantation affairs, dated the 24**1 of this Instant, in the Words following viz'

"Your Majesty having been pleased, by your Order in Council "of the 28^i» May 1766, to direct the Lords Commissioners for " Trade and Plantations, to Consider and report their Opinion to " this committee, upon a petition of the present Ministers, Elders, " Deacons and Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of New York, " humbly praying, for the reasons therein contained, that your "Majesty would be graciously pleased to create them a Body " Politick and Corporate, by the Name and stile of the Ministers, " Elders, Deacons and Trustees of the Presbyterian Chui-eh of

PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 507

" the City of New York, according to the Westminister Confession " of Faith, Catechisms and Directory, agreeably to the present " Church of Scotland, and that they and tlieir Successors may " be thereby enabled, under the Great Seal of the Province, to " hold and enjoy the said Churcli and Ground belonging to the " same, and to acquire and hold a further Estate and enjoy such " other Rowers and Privilges as may be necessary for the ^' Encouragement of Religious Worship ; and that Your Majesty " would be graciously pleased to grant them such other Aid, " Protection and Contenance, as to Your Royal Wisdom should "seem meet -- And the said Lords Commissioners having, in "obedience to Your Majesty's said Order of Reference, reported " to this Committee, that it appearing, as well upon the face of " the said Petition itself, as from otlier papers in possession of " that Board, that many Proceedings had been had before the " Council of New York, touching an application of the Presby- " terian Churoh there, for a Charter of Incorporation, it was " thought advisable to transmit a Copy of the said Petition to " the Governor there, with Directions to communicate the same " to the Council for their Advice and Information thereupon, " and to report in the fuUest manner, the present State and "condition of tliis Protestant Establishment, and also all the " proceedings upon a Petition to the same Etfect presented to them " during the Administration of Lieutenant Governor Colden, and " the Reasons why such application did not sucx^eed at that time.