Sender: Richard Henry Lee’s Recipient: the Lord Mayor of London
[8 July 1775]1My Lord
Permit the Delegates of the people of twelve Antient Colonies to pay your Lordship and the August body of which you are head a just tribute of gratitude and thanks for the virtuous and unsolicited resentment you have shown to the violated rights of a free people.2 The City of London my Lord, having in all ages approved itself the patron of liberty, and the support of just government against lawless tyranny & usurpation; cannot fail to make us deeply sensible of the mighty aid our cause receives from such advocation. A cause my Lord worthy the support of the first City in the world, as it involves the fate of a great Continent, and bids fair to shake the foundations of a flourishing, and until lately, a happy empire.
North America My Lord wishes most ardently for a lasting connection with G. Britain on terms of just and equal liberty less than which generous minds would not offer, nor brave and free onesbe willing to receive. A cruel war has at length been opened against us and whilst we prepare to defend ourselves like the Descendents of Britons we still hope that the mediation of wise and great citizens will at length prevail over despotism and restore peace & harmonyon permanent principles, to an oppressed and divided Empire.
We have the honor to be
Manuscript, American Philosophical Society. In the hand of Richard Henry Lee.
1 On July 6 Lee was appointed with Robert R. Livingston, Jr., and Edmund Pendleton to prepare a letter to "the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the city of London." This draft was reported and approved with only minor changes on July 8. The final version is printed in the journals. JCC, 2:157, 170 - 71.
2 A reference to the address of the mayor and aldermen of London to the king, April 10, 1775, supporting the American cause. See Eliphalet Dyer to JosephTrumbull, June 3, 1775, note.