In Pursuance of your Excellency's Order in Council of the 25th day of April last, referring to us (amongst other things) the Consideration of a letter from the Lords of Trade to your Excellency bearing date the 28*^ day of June last, we beg leave to Report our Sentiments upon the Subject matter of that part thereof communicated to us as folio weth.

What in our opinions gave Occasion to the Passing the Law affecting the Moravians,- Entitled "An Act for securing of his Majesty's Government of New York," was.

That as this and Several other Colonys on the Continent had for some years before been infested with Suspicious, Vagrant, Stroling Preachers, who under the Specious pretence of Greater

QUAKERS AND MORAVIANS.

Godliness than their Neighbours, had debauched the Minds of the people with Enthusiastical Notions, at least, and Created Great Seisms & Divisions in the protestant Congregations, & so far infatuated their Votaries as to ingross their whole time to the utter neglect & Ruin of many Family s. And Information haveing some time before been given to this Government by General Oglethorpe (at the Time of the detection of the Negro plot here) of some Intelhgence Received at Georgia from a Spanish prisoner, " That popish Emissarys were Dispers'd " Amongst his Majesty's Colonies upon this Continent, under " Several Disguises, Such as School-masters, Dancing Masters, " Physicians and Such Like, That they might under Such " colourable appearances gain famihar admittance into Private " familys, k have an opportunity of debauching & Distracting " the minds of the people, in order to carry on their wicked " purposes, of Creating Disturbances & Occasioning Revolts " among his Majesties Subjects ;" and there was great Reason to apprehend, that the late Conspiracy here, was Caused by such Vilanous Practices of disguised Papists who had Stolen in Amongst us.