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so impertinent a Paper, but in Compassion to their Weakness and Ignorance of the Nature of our Constitution, especially in Matters of Government, and as the Memorialists had presented a subsequent one, and had shewn an Appearance of Concern for their past behaviour therein, and had then presented themselves before the Council with great Submission and Repentance, The Council informed them they were still ready to treat them with Lenity, and in order to shew them the falsity as well as Impudence of the Contents of their Memorial, it was ordered to be read Paragraph by Paragraph, and the Truth of the several Allegations minutely discussed, and Remarks made by the Lieutenant Governor on each Paragraph, to the following Effect, vizt.
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It was observed in Answer to this Paragraph of their Memorial of the 10th of June
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"That they were affected with the Proceedings
"of the Government towards them."
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That they had been always treated by the Goverment with the greatest Lenity and Tenderness. That they had enjoyed more Privileges than English Subjects, and had been indulged in the free Excercise of their Religion. That they had at all times full Liberty to consult their Priests, and had been protected in their Trade and Fishery, and had been for many Years permitted to possess their Lands (part of the best Soil of the Province) tho' they had not complied with the Terms, on which the Lands were granted, by Taking the Oath of Alllegiance to the Crown.
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They were then asked whether they could produce an Instance that any Privilege was denied to them, or that any hardships, were ever imposed upon them by the Government.
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They acknowledged the Justice and Lenity of the Government.
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Upon the Paragraph where
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"They desire their past Conduct might be considered."
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It was remarked to them that their past Conduct was considered, and that the Government were sorry to have occasion to say that their Conduct had been undutifull and very ungratefull for the Lenity shown to them. That they had no Returns of Loyalty to the Crown, or Respect to His Majesty's Government in the Province. That they had discovered a constant
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