Text Analysis: petition of the house of burgesses to the house of commons

Petition of the Virginia House of Burgesses to the House of Commons: December 18, 1764

Who is writing?
~The Virginia House of Burgesses is writing to the House of Commons, as stated in the title.

Who is the audience?
~The audience is the House of Commons, but to be more specific: "To the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of Great Britain in Parliament assembled"

Who do the writers represent?
~They represent the colonists or the people who are effected by the stamp act.

What is being said, argued and/or represented?
~The House of Burgesses is requesting that the House of Commons take into consideration the people who will suffer from the British Parliament Stamp Act, and not pass the Stamp Act. The House of Burgesses demonstrates the sufferings from the colonists, and states that it is unconstitutional to pass the stamp act without the people's consent.

How is it being said , argued and/or requested?
~This petition is being stated in a very kind and professional way. They list the many sufferings that will harm the people to persuade the House of Commons into not passing the Stamp Act.

What proof and/or justification is being used to legitimize the request?
~The Petition is legitimate because the House of Burgesses uses examples to justify there comments to show the House of Commons that they are legitimate. In the first paragraph, they state that the council and the House of Burgesses met in General Assembly, and then goes on to tell what they came up with. This helps you realize that this is legitimate.