May 30, 1776

At the end of May 1776, Benjamin Towne devoted more than two full pages of his four-page newspaper to a nearly 200-year old text. At the recommendation of “A.B.,” Towne printed an excerpt from the Voyages of Richard Hakluyt, containing the “letters patents granted by the Queene’s Majestie to M. Walter Ralegh, now Knight, for the discovering and planting of new lands and countries.” “A.B.” suggested that the “original ideas entertained both by Sovereign and people, at the first emigration from England to North America” were “clearly shewn” in these letters patent. There was “no reserved right of monopolizing our trade, of imposing taxes, or of legislating for the colonists in any instance.” This author felt that the “present rules in England” had gone against the principles expressed “in this ancient charter,” and wanted to bring it to the public’s attention. 

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

Mr. Towne,

The original ideas entertained both by Sovereign and people, at the first emigration from England to North America, are so clearly shewn in the letters patent granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh, that you will oblige and entertain many of your readers by publishing the enclosed authentic paper from Hakleeyt’s voyages, 2. vol. Page 243. We see therein no reserved right of monopolizing our trade, of imposing taxes, or of legislating for the colonists in any instance. On the contrary, the countries to be discovered were to be held by homage and allegiance, the single connecting bond between the old and the new. Protection was only to be removed “If the said Walter Ralegh, &c. should do any act of unjust or unlawful hostilitie to any the subjects of us, &c.” The present rulers in England have thought proper to exclude the inhabitants of these colonies from the protection of the British crown, and to cast off their allegiance, because they have opposed attempts to take from them without their consent, “that whereunto they shall attaine with great paine and perill,” as it is expressed in this ancient charter, and which that just Queen thought they ought to enjoy with pleasure and profit.

A.B.

[...]