They then resolved to present an Address to the Governor calling on him to offer a reward of £50 for the discovery of the Author or Authors, and say that the House will provide means to meet the expense. Writing under date of Sept. 23, 1765 to Secretary Conway in England, Lieutenant Governor Colden remarks on this general subject:[11] “Soon after it was known that Stamp Duties were by Act of Parliament to be paid in the Colonies, virulent papers were published in the Weekly Newspapers, filled with every falsehood that malice could invent to serve their purpose of exciting the people to disobedience of the Laws and to Sedition. At first they only denied the authority of Parliament to lay internal taxes in the Colonies but at last they have denyed the Legislative Authority of the Parliament in the Colonies, and these papers continue to be published. I agreed with the Gentlemen of the Council that considering the present temper of the people this is not a proper time to prosecute the printers and Publishers of the Seditious Papers. The Attorney General likewise told me that he does not think himself safe to commence any such Prosecution.” And in another letter to Secretary Conway under date of Oct. 12, 1765,[12] he again refers to the matter. “Since the last which I had the honour to write to you of the 23d of September, this town has remained quiet the inflammatory Papers continue to be published, exciting the People to oppose the execution of the Act of Parliament for laying a Stamp Duty in the Colonies. The most remarkable of these Papers is enclosed. This was distributed along the Post Roads by the Post Riders. I examined the Post Master in this place to know how this came to be done. He assured me that it was without his knowledge; that he had examined the Post Riders and found that one or more Bundles of them were delivered at Woodbridge, New Jersey, to the Post Rider, by James Parker Secretary to the General Post Office in N. America. Parker was formerly a printer in this place and has now a printing Press and continues to print occasionally. It is believed that this Paper was printed by him. The Gentlemen of the Council think it prudent at this time to delay making more particular inquiry least it should be the occasion of raising the Mob which it is thought proper by all means to avoid.” (_To be continued._) [Illustration] FOOTNOTES: [1] Minutes, General Assembly, Oct. 27, 1747. [2] Minutes, General Assembly, Oct. 27, 1747. [3] Minutes of General Assembly of that date. [4] Minutes, General Assembly, Oct. 19 and Oct. 21. [5] Minutes, General Assembly of that date. [6] Minutes, General Assembly, Nov. 13, 1753. [7] Minutes, General Assembly, Nov. 14, 1753. [8] Minutes, General Assembly, March 19, 1756. [9] Minutes, General Assembly, Mar. 23, 1758. [10] Minutes, General Assembly, Nov. 29th, 1765. [11] Doc. Rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., VII, 759. [12] Doc. Rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., VII, 767.