USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 32
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The Vessells contracted for, on the Island Service are to be of 150 Tuns & 26 men Capt" & Officers included. The two We have taken at freight for the Continent are of 200. Tuns & 30. men, all are fitted for War. We hope & think this will be found suffi- cient for the Service.
We are with great truth & respect My Lords
Your most obedient humble Servant EVERARD FAWKENER.
10
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146
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to Rev. George White- field - informing him of the erection of Nassau Hall.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN (N J. Nov 3 1755
Dear Mr. Whitefield * *
% * *
* *
I humbly thank him [God] & bless his holy Name that he smiles on the Infant College of this Province so far as that Nassua Hall is erected & rooft & is going on to be finished with all Expedition. * * *
If it be the Will of God to waft and bear you as the Eagle does her Young to these obscure Parts of America O how cou'd I embrace you! * *
* but I hardly expect it and desire to be resigned to his holy Will in this and all things else.
Revd & Dear Sir
Your Bro: in Christ Jesus.
J BELCHER
Circular from the Lords of Trade to the Gover- nors of the Colonies in America-relating to the establishment of packet-boats, etc.
[From P. R. O. B. T. Plantations General, No. 39, Ent. Book K., p. 435.] To Charles Lawrence Esq L' Gov! of Nova Scotia.
WHITEHALL Nov! 4. 1755 Sir,
The Post Master General having in obedience to His Majesty's Commands provided Vessels for the carrying on a regular monthly Correspondence with His Maj- esty's America Colonies, I am directed by the Lords
147
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to acquaint you therewith, and that the first of these Vessels will be dispatched for the Continent on the 15th of this Month, to go and return between Falmouth and New York, where the first Vessel is to remain twenty days. And as it is of great importance to His Majesty's Ser- vice, that their Lordships should have frequent and certain Intelligence of the true State of all His Maj- esty's Colonies and Plantations in America, their Lordships desire, that you will not fail of acquainting them by the Return of every Paquet with all publick Occurrences, which may happen in the Province under your Government; and likewise transmit to their Lordships all such publick Papers as are required to be transmitted.
I am, Sir, Your
most obedient humble Servant, JOHN POWNALL, Secry.
A like Letter was writ to all the other Gov"s of His Majesty's Colonies on the Continent of America. And a like Letter to the Gov's of His Majesty's Islands in the West Indies, except that instead of the Words, "For the Continent on the 15th of this Month, to go "and return between Falmouth & New York, where "the first Vessel is to remain twenty days," the fol- lowing Words were used, "For the Islands on the 8th "of this Month, and will take the usual Course of "Barbados, Antiqua, Montserrat, Nevis, St Christo- "phers, & Jamaica."
148
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to Sir Thomas Rob- inson-about military affairs.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Nov. 4 1755
SIR T. ROBINSON
Sir
The last I had the honour to write you was on the 17: of Sept and went by way of Boston & its Duplicate by the Way of Phila and which I hope have got well to hand & I humbly referr you thereto.
I am now to own the Honour of your Letters of 26: of July & 28: of Augt which came to my hands yester- day by the way of Boston the Contents whereof I ob- serve with close Attention-The French Embassador withdrawing from the British Court in an inceeremo- nious manner & His Majesty's having order'd the English Secy at Paris so to leave the Court of France give Reason to think there may be soon an open rup- ture between the two Crowns and I shall in Obedience to his Majesty give immediate Notice thereof to all his Majestys Subjects within this Government that they may take the necessary Care and Circumspection in the present Conjuncture and I shall at all times be diligent in transmitting to you for the King's Infor- mation everything material that may come to my Knowledge of the Motions and Proceedings of the French about this and the neighbouring Colonies.
I take Notice the Lords Justices have ordered that Major General Shirley shall take upon him (in the Place of the late General Braddock) the Command of the Kings Troops in N. America with like Powers with which Major General Braddock held the same-I shall therefore Correspond with Major General Shirley in all things as I did with his Predecessor & regularly
149
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
observe such Directions as I shall receive from him from time to time and shall look over such Letters as I at any time wrote General Braddock & duly transmit him what may be necessary & material for His Maj- esty: Service.
I think it my duty, Sir to tell you that I last night recd an Express from M' Morris L. Gov of Pennsyl- vania with an undoubted Acct of the March of Fifteen hundred French & Indians to attack the Frontiers of Virginia & Pensylvania & which has put all the In habitants into the utmost Consternation and Distress & Gov' Morris seems to be in great Pain and Anxiety with Respect to Pensylvania where the Assembly seem deaf to the Shrieks and Cries of their Neighbours who are barbarously murdered from day to day nor will that Assembly raise any men in defence of their Country altho' its said they are able to raise twenty Thousand effective men-but if they will obstinately stand still I see no Reason why the French & Indians may not proceed & take Possession of the City of Philª the Capital of that Province; but of these things I doubt not Gov' Morris writes you more particularly.
I have summon'd the Assembly of this Province to meet me the 12th Inst when I shall communicate to them your Letters and such others as I have recd re- specting the Situation of Affrs in this & the neighbour- ing Provinces & press them to do all in their Power for their own Safety & in aid and Assistance of their poor distressed Neighbours.
And now, Sir, let me pray your Particular Notice of what I wrote in my last respecting Quebec for untill that be reduced with the whole Country of Canada the King's Territories in N. America will be continually subjected to the Rage & Depredations of the savage French and Indians-& its generally thought the Provinces here coud raise & spare twenty five thou- sand men His Majesty furnishing Arms and the money
150
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
for paying them & the men being raised here will save the vast Charge of Transportation.
I again ask pardon for thus repeating this Matter & am with the greatest Deference & Regard - Honoble Sir Your most Faithfull &c.
J BELCHER
Accounts of the Treasurer of West New Jersey from fifteenth of April, 1854, to the fifth November, 1755. [From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 19.]
Account of cancelled money received by Sam1 Smith Treasurer.
4th mo or Aprill 27 1754 From Cape May by Aaron Leaming Esq" one Bundle seal'd said to contain 154. 2.6
5th mº 31 1754 From Salem by Wm Hancock Esq one Bundle said to contain 416. 7.0
Octo" 21 1754 From Cape May by Aaron Leaming one Bundle said to contain 1.17.6
8th mº 19 1755 From Salem by Wm Hancock Esq one Bundle said to contain 211.11.6
Province of New Jersey to Sam Smith Treas- urer of the Western Division.
DEBTOR.
4th mo or April 15 1754 To Cha Read Esq his Wart N. 279 & D.º N 275 £13.15.0
To my own Wart N 278 . 10. 0.0
To Wm Hancock Esq his Certificate 10. 4.0
To Jnº Reading Esq his Wart N 204 12.18.0
To Ch Read Esq his Certif. . 11. 2.0
To Richª Saltar Esq his Wart 284 9.12.0
1755]
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. 151
To Jos Warrell Esq his War' N 276 £7.10.0
To Wm Hancock Esq his Certif 13.16.0
To Wm Mickle Esq his Certif 11.14.0
To Rd Wood Esq his Certif 13.16.0
To Jos Ellis Esq his Certif 6.18.0
To Jacob Spicer Esq his Certif 10.10.0
To Sam1 Nevill Esq his Wart N 291 40. 0.0
To Ch Read Esq his Certif 12. 6.0
To Jonathan Thomas his Wart N 304 . 7.18.0
To Sam1 Nevill Esq his Wart N 289 6. 5.0
To Barzillai Newbold Esq his Certif
10.16.0
To Wm Mott Esq his Certif
10. 4.0
To John Reading Esq his Wart N 250 .
6. 0.0
To Robt Ogden Esq his Certif .
9. 6.0
To Ditto his Wart N 321
1. 0.0
To Anth Elton his Wart N 315
5. 0.0
To Ch Read Esq his Wart N 300 .
7.10.0
To Do
- 312
7.10.0
To Do - 290 . 4.13.0
To my own War's N 299, N 310
20. 0.0
To Aaron Leaming Esq his Certif
7.16.0
To Eben' Miller Esq his Certif 8.14.0
To my own Certif 7.10.0
To Barzillai Newbold Esq his Certif 7.10.0
To Rd Saltar Esq his Wart N 308 7. 6.0
To Joseph Warrell Esq his Wart N 297 7.10.0
To Henry Paxson Esq his Certif . 7.10.0
To Jacob Spicer Esq his Certif 8. 8.0
To John Ladd Esq his Certif
8. 2.0
To Sam1 Nevill Esq his War' N 307
6. 5.0
To Do his Certif 4. 4.0
To Joseph Yard Esq his Certif
6.12.0
To Peter Midlagh Esq his Certif .
7.10.0
Decem' 9 1754 To Rd Saltar Esq his Wart N 329 6. 5.0
To John Deacon Esq his Certif 11.14.0
To Jos Warrell Esq his Wart N 326 7.10.0
152
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
To Sam1 Nevill Esq his Wart 324 £6. 5.0
To Dº N 325 20. 0.0
To James Holmes Esq his Certif 11. 2.1
To Do Another
6.12.0
To Sam1 Clement Esq his Certif
6.12.0
To the Govrs Wart N 335 D° 336 1
265. 0.0
To Anth Elton his two Warts N 332 & 344 5. 0.0
To my own Wart N 328 10. 0.0
To Do 340 10. 0.0
& to my Certificate . 4. 4.0
To Jacob Spicer Esq his Certif 6. 0.0
To Aaron Leaming Esq Do . 6. 6.0
To James Holmes Esq his Do . 3.12.0
To Rd Saltar Esq his Wart N 338 & 349
12.11.0
To Ch Read Esq his Certif
4.16.0
To Wm Hancock Esq his Certif
8.14.0
To Do another .
5.14.0
To Do another
8. 2.0
To Eben Miller Esq his Certif . 9. 0.0
To Do another 6.12.0
To Jacob Spicer Esq his Certif
9.16.0
To John Ladd Esq his Certif
5. 8.0
To Do another .
7.16.0
To Joseph Yard Esq his Certif
8. 2.0
To Do another
5. 8.0
To Aaron Leaming Esq his Certif
10. 4.0
To Ch Read Esq his Certif
7.10.0
To my own Certif
5. 2.0
To Henry Paxson Esq his Certif
5. 2.0
To Do another 3.12.0
To Rob' Lawrence Esq his Certif
3.18.0
To Do another 7.10.0
To Sam' Nevill Esq his Certif
6.18.0
To Barzillai Newbold Esq his Certif
4.16.0
To Do another .
3.12.0
To Thos Leonard Esq his Wart N 350 . 7. 4.0
153
1755] ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
To Judge Nevills War' N 354 £6. 5.0
To Do another 355 . 10. 0.0
To Judge Leonards Wart N 76
24.12.0
To Sam1 Clement Esq his Certif .
5. 8.0
To Dº ano"
8. 8.0
To Eben' Miller Esq his Certif
9. 6.0
To Aaron Leaming Esq his Certif 8. 8.0
To Jacob Spicer Esq his Certif
9. 6.0
To Henry Paxson Esq his Certif 8. 2.0
To Barzillai Newbold Esq his Certif
8. 2.0
To my own Certif 6.18.0
To the Gov's Wart N 364 N 365
265. 0.0
To James Holmes Esq his Certif
7.10.0
To Cash paid Josep Yard Esq to pay for Transporting &c Col Dunbar & his Horses through the Province 200. 0.0
CR.
4th m° or Aprill 27 1754 By Cash of Aaron Leaming Esq one of the Comrs of Cape May £1. 0.0
Nov 4 1754 By Cash of Jeremiah Leaming Esq Collector of Cape May in full of their Quota to the Provincial Tax paya- able 21st Inst 33. 8.4
Nov 15 By Cumberland Ditto
70.16.9
20 By Morris D°
74. 1.8
22 By Salem Do
139.14.2
28 By Hunterdon Do .
283.11.0
Decr 9 1754 By Burlington Do 250. 0.9
20 By Gloucester D° . 156. 7.2
Province of New Jersey in the Sinking Fund Tax.
DR.
5 m° or May 14 1755 To the whole money then in my hands recd on the Sinking Fund Tax then sunk according to Law 607. 0.0
154
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
CR
Nov 4 1754 By Cash from Cape May In full of their Quota payable ye 21st Instant 25.11. 54
15 By Cumberland Ditto In full 54. 3.10₺
20 By Morris D° In full 85. 0. 3}
21 By Sussex D° In full 37. 1. 0
22 By Salem D° In full . 106.16.11₺
28 By Hunterdon D° In full 216.11.11₺
Decem' 20 1754 By Gloster D° In part . 81.14. 6
Septem' 18 1755 By Burlington D° In full 191.15. 1}
Province of New Jersey In the first Expedition Money 1755.
DR
5th mº or May 24 1755 To Cash paid Jos Yard & Jos Hollinshead &c for Bounty Money to Capt Woodwards Comp' being 100 men 150. 0.0
26 To Cash pd Abr Hewlings for paying Capt Woodward for Leather Breeches 330. 0.0
28 To Cash pd Aaron Leaming Jos Hollins- head & Abr™ Hewlings Esq's to pay for Transports Cap Woodwards Company to Amboy & for Cloathing 171.10.0
6 mº 7 1755 To Cash pª Jos Hollinshead & Jos Yard two of the Comrs to pay for making Cloaths & Shoes . 100. 0.0
10 To Cash pd Abr Hewlings to pay for Checkª Linen &c 122.10.0
14 To Cash pª Abr Hewlings & Jos Hollins- head" for paying for sundry Cloathing
bot at Phila & Powder Lead Kettles &c 1,163. 7.0 7th mº 29 1755 To Cash pª Abr Hewlings & Jos Hollinshead to pay for provisions &c to the Eastward 1406.10.0
CR
5th mº or May 24 1755 By Cash of Dan1 Smith Jun" one of the Signey . 480. 0.0
1755]
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
155
28 By D° of Abr Hewlings Esq 171.10.0 6 m or June 2 1755 By D° of Abr Hewlings & Dan1 Smith J! 441. 0.0
By D° at same time . 336. 0.0
14 By D° of Do 608.17.0
7th m 24 1755 By D° of Do
1406.10.0
Province of New Jersey in the second Expedi- tion Money 1755.
DR
Sep. 27. 1755 To Jacob Spicer Esq One of the Commissioners to pay for Cloaths 768.12.0 Octor 6 1755 To Jacob Spicer Esq to pay for Cloaths . 574. 2.6
18 To Do for pay for Cloathing &c . 55. 7.0
28 To Henry Paxson Esq for signing the Bills ,
15. 0.0
Nov' 5 1755 To Jacob Spicer Esq to pay for Provisions CR 753.15.0
Sepr & Octo" 1755 By Cash recd of Henry
Paxson Esq . 7500. 0.0
Be it remembered that on this present 5th of Nov" 1755 Personally appeared before me Rob Smith Esq One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Burlington Sam Smith Esq One of the Treasurers of New Jersey, and on his Solemn Affirma- tion According to Law did declare that these five Sheets of Paper contain a true Account of his receipts & disbursemts as Treasurer from the fifteenth day of the 4th mo called Aprill A D 1754. To this time to the best of his knowledge & belief.
SAM- SMITH
Affirmed to the day & year above before ROBT SMITH
156
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Allen-the enemy threatening to invade the Province.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN NOV' 6: 1755
COLL ALLEN.
Sir
This day at one o'Clock I received yours of yester- days Date p the Post with the Inclosed from Col' An- derson & highly approve your duty to your King & Country in giving me the earliest Acct of the Approach of the French & Indians towards this Province upon which & other Intelligences I have order'd Col' Stout to muster His Regiment immediately to be in a readi- ness upon the first Notice that shall be had of the Enemy's entring this Province and the said order I now inclose you and hereby direct you to carry it im- mediately to your Col' who will communicate to you its Contents & in which I order and Direct you to be aiding & assisting with your utmost Power for His Majesty& Service & honour and for the Safety of this Province and tell Col' Stout to send to Col Anderson an Acct p Express of what I have ordered and I expect from you constantly p Expresses, if necessary an acct of the Proceedings of the Enemy
I am Sir, Your ready Friend
J BELCHER
P. S. As I have sent my Orders pr Expresses to every Col! of the Province respecting the present Exigency of Affairs, Col' Stouts is gone among the the rest.
157
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Proclamation of Governor Belcher to the several Colonels of Militia Regiments-directing them to muster their troops.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
By His Excelly JONATHAN BELCHER ESQR Capt General and Governour in chief in and over His Majesty's Province of Nova Caesarea or New Jersey and Territories thereon de- pending in America, Chancellor and vice Admiral in the same
To the Honoble Andrew Johnston Esq" Col! of the Regiment of Militia in the County of Middlesex or to the Commanding Officer of the said Regimt for the time being.
Having received for two days past p Expresses from M' Morris Gov' of Pensylvania very particular and undoubted Accounts of the near Approach of the French and Indians to several of the Frontier towns of that Province and cautioning me that there may be a Probability of their falling upon this Province, and these Accounts being confirmed to me from other Per- sons, I do hereby in duty to His Majesty & for the better safety of His good subjects of this Province di- rect & command you to muster your Regiment imme- diately and strictly examine them whether they are equipt with Arms and Ammunition According to Law & upon the first Notice of the Enemy's entring this Province to march with all possible dispatch with your Regiment to meet and repell them; and that you keep me constantly advised of all your Proceedings in this Matter.
158
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
Given under my Hand at Eliza Town this sixth day of Nov! in the twenty ninth year of His Majesty Reign. J. B.
Annoq: Domini 1775.
[On the 12th of November an additional Proclama- tion directed that the troops should be kept in readi- ness to march to the borders of the Province with those of Pennsylvania.]
The Same to-Colonel Abraham Vankempen, of the County of Sussex-John Low, Essex-Joseph Stout, Hunterdon-Nicholas Gibbon, Cumberland & Cape May. Joseph Tuttle, Morris-Charles Read, Burling- ton. Cornelius Vanhorne, Somerset - John Read, Monmouth. John Schuyler, Bergen.
Letter from Governor Belcher to Governor Morris of Pennsylvania - referring to the threatened ap- proach of French and Indians on that Province. [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Nov 10 1755 L GOVERNOUR MORRIS Sir
I recd p Express your several Letters from New Castle and Phila of Oct! 29th and the first and second Ins! & another without date, with the several Letters they inclosed giving an Acct of the Approach of the French & Indians towards your Province and in their way committing the most Barbarous outrages in mur- dering and Captivating the Inhabitants as they come along-and all this without Resistance! surely your Assembly will no longer be deaf to the shrieks & Cries of their murdered neighbours.
I have summoned the Assembly of this Province to
159
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1754]
meet me here on Wednesday next the 12: Inst when I shall lay before them what you have sent me respect- ing the Present Exigency of Affairs, but if Pensyl- vania who may readily raise twenty or thirty thousand men will do nothing for the defence of their Country or for saving the lives of their Wives & Children I am afraid the Assembly of this poor Little Province will hardly think it reasonable to send their People out of the Province in defence of their Neighbours and so leave themselves to the Incursions and depredations of the Enemy in this Time of Common danger.
We have no arms in this Province belonging to the Crown & indeed but very few and but little Amuni- tion belonging to the Inhabitants or I shou'd readily answer your Request on that Head.
General Shirley has under his Command at Albany, Oswego & near Lake George eight or nine thousand men that I shou'd think it wou'd be prudent for you in this time of Distress to make early and Pressing ap- plication to him to send for His Majesty's Service & Honour & for the Safety of these Colonies two or three thousand of those Troops till they shall be more wanted elsewhere.
I observe in yours of the 24 Curry that the French and Indians are making rapid- Marches to these Colonies.
And I have therefore this day sent my Orders p Ex- press to every Col' in this Province immediately to muster his Regimt and to have them in the best readi- ness for marching, & repelling the Enemy if they shoud enter this Province which it is well known is in a miserable Defenceless State.
I wish you and your Province the Favour and Pro- tection of Almighty God and am,
Honoble Sir Your most obedient humble Serv!
J BELCHER
160
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755. . .
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lieut .- Gov. Pownall -about the movement of Troops.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Nov 10 1755.
Lieut. Gov. Pownall.
Sir
I yesterday recd your Letter dated at Albany 29: of Oct' and have consider'd its Contents.
As General Shirleys Notifications to the Gov' of Pen- sylvania and Maryland were to pass thro' this Province and even thro' this town if it was desired that I myself or any Body for me shou'd attend the Congress you mention, I believe you will think with me that I ought to have had the Proper and same Notification that all the other Gov's have had, without which I can see no Propriety in doing what you have mentioned.
Inclosed I send you Copy of an Affidavit relating to the near Approach of the Enemy to this Province wherein it appears to me that the People call'd Mora- vian are as Snakes in the Grass and Enemies to King George and His Subjects and if upon further Enquiry what is in the aforementioned Affidavit be confirmed I shall immediately give orders that all the Arms & Amunition among the Moravians in this Province be seized & kept in safe Custody with all their Publick Paper still further Orders & of this I write Gov" Morris hoping he will do the same.
And as by the latest Advices there is great reason to apprehend the French and Indians may soon be upon the frontiers of this Province, I did a few days ago send Expresses to every Col! in this Province imme- diately to muster his Regiment & to see that they be equipt with Arms & Amunition according to Law & to be ready to march to any Part of the Province from
161
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
whence they may receive Advices of the Enemy's coming in.
With my Compliments to the several Gov"s at the Congress I am, Sir Your Honours
Friend & Most humble serv!
J. BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania-about the condition of military affairs.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Governor Morris
ELIZ TOWN NOV! 10: 1755 Sir
My last was the 6: Inst-I am now to own your Honours Favour of the same Date which came to my hands p Express on the 8: with further Accts of the Approach of the Enemy to the Frontiers of Pennsyl- vania &c. as also Your Honours Message to your Assembly of the 5: Inst & their Answer which to me seems full of Chicanery and Evasion.
I am sorry for the unhappy Situation Your Honour is in without men, money or Arms to do any thing in Defence of His Majesty's Honour and Interest and of the Safety of the Poor People under your Care-as things cannot hold in this way but with the utmost Hazard of the Kings losing a fine Province, I think it high time that the Gov' & Councill shou'd address the King to take the Governmt into His own hand, (& if no other Way) to be done by an Act of the British Parliament & I shoud think it the wisest measure the Proprietors cou'd go into to join in such an Application for its very plain they are not able to defend their Province & really, Sir, the present Constitution seems to me to stand upon a very farraginous System.
11
162
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Inclosed I send Your Honour Copy of an Affidavit I rec" last Night from M' Sec'ry Read by which you will find the little Province of N. Jersey is alive, alert & exerting & p the Acc" I have recd from the Frontiers if the Enemy enter this Province they may happen to meet with a warm Reception.
I think p this Affidavit the Moravians are a perfidi- ous Crew and if this Acct shoud be farther Confirmed to me I shall order that all the Arms & Amunition with their Publick Papers be immediately seized and kept in safe Custody till my further direction-& I believe your Honour will think it prudent & reasona- ble so to act with the Moravians in your Governm'. at Bethlehem and elsewhere-I am
Sir, Your Honours Most obed! &c. J BELCHER
Message of Governor Belcher to the Council and As- sembly of New Jersey, November 13th, 1755.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Gentlemen of the Council & of the General As- sembly.
The present Situation of Affairs in this time of com- mon danger has made it necessary for His Majesty's Honour & Interest and for the better Safety of this Province to call You together at this time to Commu- nicate to you several things I have received since I last met you and I shall order them to be laid before you for your more Particular Information, viz. White- hall May 13: 1455. The Lords Justices Order upon Your Petition to His Majesty & the Bill you had Pro- jected for emitting 70,000£. in Paper Currency .- Also the Lords of Trade Representation to the King of the 19: of March on the same Affair.
163
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Whitehall July 26, the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Robinson® Letter of the Expectation that France wou'd proceed to an open Rupture with Great Britain, &c. Halifax Oct 1: 1755 Admiral Boscawens Letter to Lt Gov" Phips as to a Prohibition of the Exportation of Provisions &c .- Camp at Oswego Sept 9th 1755. General Shirley's Letter of the present State of things respect- ing the King's Troops under His Command & of the Expediency of Commissioners from this & the neigh- bouring Governmts to meet at N. York the 15. Inst in a General Consultation for His Majesty's Service & for the Safety of the Provinces .- New Castle & Phila Oct 29: & Nov' 1: 1755 Gov' Morris® Letter with Particular Accounts of the Barbarous Murders & depredations perpetrated by the French and Indians on the Poor distressed People of Pennsylvania.
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