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1774 Plea For Leniency to King George III For Leniency For The American Colonies

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1774 Plea For Leniency to King George III For Leniency For The American Colonies
American Revolution
Original 1774 Dated Manuscript Petition Plea For Leniency For The American Colonies To King George III
December 27, 1774, A Petition to King George III, An Appeal for Leniency Toward the American Colonies, Fine.
This original two page Manuscript Document measures 12.75” x 7.75” and is Signed, “Frances Dodshon” being a petition to King George III to avoid conflict with the American colonies. The author writes, in full:

“Seek 27. 12mo 1774. Duty to God & the King Impels me to Address him in such Language as Divine Widom shall see meet to inspire - Let it seem a strange thing to thee O'King that one of thy Faithful Subjects Should be impress'd with a deep inward Travail of Spirit for thy prosperity, with that of thy Amiable Consort and your Royal Offsprint, on whose account my Knee has often been Bowed at the Throne of Grace - Give the King thy Judgements O Lord, & thy Righteousness to the Kings - I have been secretly favourd with a belief that this petition hath been accepted of him who inspired it, for he is known to the Truly dependent upon him to be a God hearing of prayers, and answering in his own time that which proceeds from the lively sensible operation of his Holy Spirit.

It was this that Qualified the Faithful Prophets plainly & weightily to address great & Powerful Kings and to disclose the mind of the Lord respecting them, and the Kingdoms which in the Course of his Providence they were permitted to govern; and it is evident from the sacred Writings that those Kings that feared God and hearkened to his messengers he never failed to Bless & prosper - Suffer me O King to inform thee of the Excercise I have Sustained for a considerable Time from a View which I have cause to believe was given by the Holy Spirit of the Alarming tendency of the Commotions that unhapply prevail in some parts of thy Dominions which if not timely & wisely suppressed will greatly I fear Involve this Nation in almost Irrepairable greivances & Troubles which I heartily wish may be rightly & Timely apprehended by those in Authority under thee and prudently avoided.

It does not seem to be my concern to enumerate the many disadvantages, this Nation must inevitably Sustain, if things should be varied to Extremities, what Lays with the greatest weight on me is the Dreafull Consequences that many attend Should the Sword be once Drawn for who can precisely determine where when or in what it may end. The painfull view given me of these important things has for some weeks past exceedingly affected me most gladly would I have divested myself of the distress it Brought and Sheltered myself under an apprehension of my inability to engage in things of so high a nature by infinite Wisdom will work by such Instruments as he sees meet - His powerful Word has been as a fire & in humble awful fear & Obedience I offer these Weighty things. O'King to thy Serious considerations, Imploring Divine Goodness to give thee a due Sence of them, and endow thee with Wisdom and Resolution to Act for thy Own and thy Subjects good and thy preservation of peace and Tranquility throughout thy Extensive Dominions - And wherein thy American Subjects may be thought blame Worthy, Suffer me O King to Intreat thee to Deal with them as a Tender Father & Compassionate Sovereign Chastize them not with Scorpions - Rebuke them but not in Anger So shall thou prevent the Effusion of Blood, The ending of a potent Empire & by Lenient Measure win and Secure to thyself their Obedience Loyalty and Affection. May God Almighty bless prosper & Direct thee is the fervent prayers of thy Faithful Friend & Loyal Subject, Frances Dodshon.”

Unfortunately for Dodshon, matters were already spiraling out of control: the final petitions for reconciliation would be placed before Parliament in February, 1775 but they would fall on deaf ears. George III approved New England Restraining Act on March 30, 1775 and Governor Gage received orders on April 14 to enforce it and to take action to prevent a more arms from falling into the hands of the rebels. This action would result in the battles at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Usual folds with light toning, else very good condition. A remarkable document that might have changed history had it found a receptive audience.