The CASE of the French Protestants Refugees, settled in and about London, and in the English Plantations in America.  
WHereas there is a Clause in a Bill brought into the Honourable House of Commons, Entitled, An Act for preventing Frauds, and Regulating Abuses in the Plantation-Trade; in these Words, viz.  
And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That no Alien or Foreigner, or any Person or Persons, other than such as are Natives of England or Ireland, or such Persons as are born in His Majesty's Plantations in Asia, Africa, or America, shall, after the Day of _____ Exercise the Trade or Occupation of a Merchant or Factor, in any of the said Plantations, upon pain of the Forfeiture of one to His Majesty, one to the Governor of the Plantation, where such Persons shall so offend, and the other to the Person suing for the same in any of His Majesty's Courts in the Plantation where such Offence shall be committed, etc.  
The French Protestants Refugees in this Kingdom, in behalf of themselves, and of the French Protestant Refugees settled in the English Plantations in America, do humbly Represent, That having been cruelly prosecuted in their Native Country, for the sake of their Religion, they came and sheltered themselves in this Kingdom, being invited thereto by the late King Charles the Second Declaration of the 28th of July 1681: And since, by another of his present Majesty, made the 25th of April 1689, inviting all French Protestants hither, and promising them their Protection etc.  
That upon this Encouragement they came over in great Numbers, bringing all they could convey away with them, with their Trades, Arts, and Manufactures, and were very kindly received by this Nation, and had that Favour shown to them, that a great many of them were made Free Denizens.  
That they also being invited by several of the Lords Proprietors of the English Plantations in America, to go thither and inhabit those Countries, many of them transported themselves and Families there, with great Hazards, Troubles and Charges.  
That some Hundred Families of them are now settled there, and have improved in a manner those Colonies, by making the Ground Arable, and by their Trades, Labours and Industry; insomuch, that particularly Carolina and New York are, for the most, inhabited by them.  
That the said French Protestant's Refugees, settled here and in those Countries, have, on all Occasions, shown their Loyalty, Zeal and Affection, to the present Government, by supporting very cheerfully the Charges and Taxes of the Land, and wearing Arms for the Defence of it, especially in the Attacks of Quebek, Martinico, Guadalupa, Jamaica, and St. Domingo, several having lost their Lives, and others being wounded, in those Occasions: And many there and here being come to great Losses, both by the Earthquake at Jamaica, and by the Enemy's Privatiers at Sea.  
That if such a Clause should be inserted, all those poor People there would be reduced to the greatest Extremities, or forced to return back to England, where they must starve, or be maintained by the Public Charity. Besides the great Prejudice those who are settled in this Kingdom will unavoidably receive by it, having the most part of their small Stocks employed in the Plantation Trade, to support their Brethren there, and procure a small Livelihood to their Families here.  
Therefore they humbly pray this Honourable House to commiserate their Condition, and use such Methods for their Relief, as this Honourable House in their Wisdom and Charity shall think fit.