And your Petitioners further beg leave humbly to represent, That as they conceive nothing can tend more to the with-drawing the Affections of the _Five Nations_ of _Indians_ from the _English Interest_, than the Continuance of the said Act, which, in its Effects, restrains them from a free Commerce with the Inhabitants of _New-York_, and may, too probably, estrange them from the _English Interest:_ Whereas by a Freedom of Commerce, and an encourag'd Intercourse of Trade with the _French_, and their _Indians_, the _English Interest_ might, in time, be greatly improved and strengthened among the _Indians_ in general, who, by such Latitude of Trade, might be link'd to our Friendship in the strongest Ties of their own Interest, as well as Inclinations. That therefore, and as the said Act was, in its Effects, so plainly destructive and prejudicial to the Trade and Interest of these Kingdoms, and so much for the Interest of the _French_, and greatly promoted that Mischief which it was intended to prevent, Your Petitioners most humbly pray your Majesty, That you would be graciously pleased to give the necessary Directions to your Governor of _New-York_, not to pass any new Act for the reviving or continuing the said Act prohibiting Trade with the _French_ of _Canada_; and that if any such Act, or any Act of the like Tendency, be already passed, that the same may be repealed. _And your Petitioners shall ever pray_, &c. _Samuel Baker_, _Rob. Hackshaw_, _Jo. Lloyd_, _Sam. Storke_, _J. Bayeux_, _Sam. Fitch_, _Rich. Jeneway_, _Jos. Lowe_, _Asher Levy_, _John Paine_, _J. Bull_, _Fra. Wilks_, _Wm. Parkin_, _John Gilbert_, _Jos. Paice_, jun. _Rich. Mico_, _Jo. Miranda_, _Geo. Streatfield_, _John Everet_, _Thompson Hayne_. * * * * * _At the Court at_ St. James'_s the 30th Day of_ April, 1724. P R E S E N T The K i n g's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Upon Reading this Day at the Board the humble Petition and Representation of _Samuel Baker, Samuel Storke_, and several others, Merchants of _London_, trading to _New-York_, in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Persons concern'd in the _New-York_ Trade, which _Petition_ sets forth, That great Discouragements have been brought upon the _British Trade_, by an Act passed in the said Colony of _New York_, the 19th of _November_, 1720, entitled, _An Act for the Encouragement of the_ Indian Trade, _and rendering of it more beneficial to the Inhabitants of this Province, and for prohibiting the selling of_ Indian Goods _to the_ French. And that as the said Act was to continue in force only for three Years, they are informed the Government of _New-York_ either have, or are about passing an Act to revive and continue the same: Wherefore they humbly pray, that the Governor of that Colony may be ordered, not to pass any new Act for that purpose; and if any such Act be already pass'd, that it may be repealed.