USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 8
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Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Shippen, of Phil- adelphia-about sending an agent to England to solicit aid for the College.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Aug. 3 1752
MR SHIPPEN
Sir
I am sensible you are heartily engagd to promote the Welfare of our Infant College the Establishment and growth whereof will but crawl along for many
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
years to come unless some suitable person can be found to go Home and Solicit the Aid & benefactions of our Friends in England and Scotland and to this end I have wrote Mr. Hazard' that I think the Revd Mr Ten- nent a very suitable person and I desire you to give him my kind Respects and let him know I believe it the general Request of the Trustees that he wou'd un- dertake a voya in favor of the College.
You will remember that the 16: of next mo. is to be the Commencem' at Newark * I hope you, Mr. Tennent & M' Hazard will not fail to come for it is high time to fix the place for building of the College and to put it forward without any further delay Sir your Friend & most Humble servt
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lord Hardwicke- about orders from the King.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Aug 5 1752
LORD HARDWICKE
May it please your Lordship
I did my Self the Honour of writing Your Lordship at large the 3: of Decr last and which Mr Partridge ad- vises me was duly delivered and which was a particu- lar Answer to the honour of Your Lordships Letter of 31 of Augt preceding and in which Letter Your Lord- ship was pleas'd to write me of His Majestys late Order in Council part whereof was for the Issuing of "a Commission to Inquire into any Grievances of the
1 Similar letter to Mr. Hazard, of Philadelphia .- ED.
-
's
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
people of this Province relating to their Possessions " this Commission and any other Order His Majesty had to give in this Affair I have been impatiently Expect- ing from March last to this time but I have not recd a . word relating to it either from the Secretary of State or from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plan- tations for which I am very sorry as the whole Legis- lature and the people of the Province seem very desirous of the Kings Orders & till they arrive I think it would be only prostituting the Kings honour and Authority to make new Attempts with the Assembly as to the long subsisting affair of the Rioters &c. & His Majestys Council are of the same way of thinking as will be seen by their Minutes which I duly Trans- mitted in May last to the Secretary of State and to the Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations. And till the Kings Orders Arrive I have no new footing to go upon with the Assembly or to Act with greater firmness & vigour as Your Lordship is pleased to mention.
I doubt not but Your Lordship will have been ac- quainted that in a Session I held with the Assembly in Febr last the Council and they agreed in a Bill & to wch I Consented for raising money to pay all the Debts of the Province to Nov' next and if upon the Arrival of the King's Orders some good Law can be projected & passed for putt“ an end to Rioting this will soon be- come a happy and flourishing Province nor shall any thing in my power be left undone to Contribute to it. * * *
Thus My Lord I have taken the freedom to lay be- fore you the present State and Circumstances of this Province and of my care and fidelity to do every thing that lies with me for Supporting the Kings honour & Interest & I wou'd therefore humbly hope for the Con- tinuance of Your Lordships Patronage and favr that Nothing may be done to my prejudice (and so to my
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
Familys) Altho' I am inform'd that the young Mr. Morris is trying all the ways in his power to hurt me per fas aut ne fas or as the Poet sayes Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo
I remain &c J BELCHER.
Letter from Governor Belcher to Earl Granville- asking for continued confidence.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Aug 7, 1752
EARLE GRANVILLE
May it please Your Lordship * * I am now to ask pardon for the freedom I take of Addressing Your Lordship at this time but so it is My Lord (and so Your Lordship is Sensible) that those who are Governours of His Majestys Plantations have many to please and let their Conduct be never so Cautious and Unacceptionable some will be displeased and of Consequence be striking at them with all the Ill Offices in their power and this I understand is in some Measure the Case with me in this Province and that Mr Morris now in England and a Son of my late immediate Predecessor is using all his Arts & Chicanery to Misrepresent my Administration but I humbly hope Your Lordship nor any of the King's Ministers will give Ear to his Case and unjust Insinuations for I am My Lord & will be an honest Man Maugre the Malice & base Attempts of my petulant Enemies who have never yet had the Confidence openly and fairly to At- tack me well knowing that I have done to the Utmost of my power from my first Arrival to this Governmt to this time for Supporting His Majestys honour & In- terest & at same time for promoting the Welfare &
8
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
prosperity of His People & which are things very Com- patible and what His Majesty justly expects from all His good Servts
I was My Lord Advised the last fall from Whitehall that there wou'd soon be coming hither some Special Orders from the King respecting the Riots & Confu- sions wch hath at times been Subsisting in this Prov- ince for a great Number of years past and which Orders I have been earnestly wishing for & so have the whole Legislature & the whole Province as hoping they may tend to an entire Suppression of the dis- orders & Tumults that have been too long & too fre- quent here and were this once Accomplish'd I believe New Jersey wou'd be as flourishing & as fine a Prov- ince for its bigness as any in His Majestys Dominions. I again therefore earnestly wish the above mentiond Orders may soon Arrive.
It was My Lord a privilege under Nero one of the Roman Tyrants that a Subject shou'd not be Con- demnd unheard with how much greater Confidence then may an English Subject depend upon such a privilege under the reign of the Wise, just and Gra- cious Administration of His Britannic Majesty and enjoy the benefit of the Salutary Laws of His King- dom if therefore My Lord any thing shou'd be objected to my Administration I think I may justly Expect to be serv'd with an Authentick Copy of it with full time to be allowed me to make Answer before there may be any Censure or Opinion made out against me and to this end let me humbly pray for Your Lordships favour & Countenance.
I always am with the highest Deference and Respect My Lord Your Lordships
Most Gracious &c J. BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lord Halifax-about the affairs of the Province.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZ: TOWN Aug 6 1752
LORD HALIFAX
May it please Your Lordship
I think I. did my Self the honour of writing Your Lordship in December last on the Affairs of this Prov- ince and which I understand was put into Your Lord- ships Hands-but Notwithstanding the hopes I at that time Conceived of rece His Majestys Especial Orders relating to the Affairs of this Province I have not to this day heard any thing of them either from the Secr'y of State or from Your Lordships Honable Board altho' the whole Legislature and the people of the Province in general have been earnestly wishing to receive them hoping they may have a Tendency to put an end to the Riots and disorders that have at one time & another (for nearly fifty years past) been subsisting in this Unhappy Province.
Some months agoe I forwarded to Your Lordships office the Journals of the Meeting of the Assembly of this Province in Feb. last wherein the Council agreed on An Act to raise Money for Paymt of all the Prov- ince debts to Nov' next to which I consented & if upon the Arrival of the Kings expected Orders some Meas- ures shou'd be enterd into by this Legislature for Sup- pressing the Tumults & disorders that have been too long & too frequent in this Government I believe New Jersey will soon become a flourishing and happy Prov- ing I therefore once more beg of Your Lordship that such Orders may be Expedited.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
I doubt not but Your Lordship has seen what I Transmitted to Your Honourable Board of one Simon Wickoff who stood Committed for High Treason at His Majesty8 Goal at Amboy being delivered therefrom in a Riotous manner upon which I Summond His Majesty Council in Order to have their Advice and Opinion what Steps wou'd be proper to take in such an Extraordinary Affair & whether to Call the Assem- bly together but Your Lordship has before this seen that they tho't it Advisable to do nothing in the mat- ter till His Majesty Orders above mentioned shou'd Arrive and which on my part I shou'd gladly carry into Execution to the Utmost of my power for the best Support of His Majesty Authority and Interest in this Province and for promoting the Welfare & pros- perity of the people and which things I have made the Cardinal points of my Administration. And while I mention this Your Lordship will please to allow me to say that let the Kings Gov's Abroad Conduct their Administration never so Cautiously yet there will be some who delight in Mischief that will be Carping and this I am told is in some Measure my Case I wou'd therefore humbly beg of Your Lordship not to make any partial Censure or Opinion upon my Administra- tion from the Insinuations of such Whisperers who Phaps wou'd never be easy unless things wou'd be just according to their Mistaken Fancies and Imaginations. My Lord you are sensible that even under Nero one of the Roman Tyrants a Man was never to be Condemnd unheard surely then every One living under the Gov- ernmt of His British Majesty who is a pattern for all Christendom of Wisdom, Justice and Clemency can- not be hurt in his Character or Interest by the base- ness of his Enemies without being Serv'd with an Authentick Copy of any Complaint & time Sufficient given him to make Answer thereto and as Your
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. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
Laship has the great honour of being Fam'd for Your Justice Probity and Impartiality let me humbly ask it of you as a favour that the purport of this Letter may have its due Weight with Your Lordship when any Attempt may be made with You to my prejudice and which will always oblige me to be & remain as I am with all possible Esteem & Respect
My Lords, Most obedt. J BELCHER
Message of Governor Belcher to the Council-relating to the admission of L. M. Ashfield to their body. [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZABETH TOWN Aug. 11 1752
Gent" of the Council
After what I said to you in Oct" last & is on the Council Minits I am Surprised at the Motion made yesterday by Mr Alexander relating to the King's Man- damus for Admitting M' Ashfield into the Council with which I once more tell you, you have no business or Concern nor will I hear anything from you about it this I say to save yourselves or me any further trouble and if you are minded to show that Young Gen" any Respect I wou'd Advise you to teach him his Duty in this matter to the King's Governour and when he practices it he shall have my Ans".
J BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. . [1752
Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade -urging the transmission of orders from the King.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Augt 13 1752
To the Lords of Trade
May it please Your Lordships
I wrote you the 9. of June past since which I have not the hon' of any of your Lordships.
I am now to Advise your Lordships that I met His Majesty's Council the 10. Inst and what was then and there Transacted your Lordships will find in the inclosed Minits of Council, whereby your Lordships will see that it is their Opinion that it wou'd be fruit- less to call the Assembly to lay before them any thing Respecting the Riot or to Order a prosecution of any of the Rioters untill His Majesty shall be pleased to send His Especial Orders therein and this I think will Convince your Lordships of the necessity of Expedit- ing such Orders.
I have the Pleasure of Informing your Lordships that the publick debts of the Province are all punctu- ally paid up to this time that there is peace and Tran- quillity among the People, in all things the Affair of the Rioters Excepted
I have the honour to be with great Respect
My Lords Your Lordships Most obedient & Most Humble Servant.
J. BELCHER.
[In a letter of the same date to Richard Partridge he said: * * "By late Letters I have had I have all possible reason to believe that Morris [Robert Hunter Morris] is making his Utmost efforts to have me re. moved you must therefore wait upon the Prime Min-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
ister and all my Frds you think may be of Service to prevent his gratifying his Malice."]
The Minitts of the Council of the Province of New Jersey on the 10th & 11th of August 1752 At a Council held at Elizabeth Town on Mon- day the Tenth of August 1752
PRESENT
His Excellency the Governour The Honoble James Alexander, Andrew Johnston James Hude-Peter Kemble Esqrs
His Excellency made the following Speech to the Council
Gentlemen of the Council
"This being one of our Stated Quarterly Meetings "I shall be glad to hear any thing you have to offer "for His Majestys Service as for the good of the Prov- "ince and I wou'd now more particularly ask your Ad- "vice and Opinion whether it may be necessary or "Expedient soon to meet the Assembly to see whether "the Governour Council and Assembly can fall into "any Act or Acts for the Better Suppressing the "Riots and disorders which has disturbed the peace " of the Province for a great Number of years past " (long before my Arrival).
" And also to have your advice whether it may be " best to give Orders for an Especial and Speedy prose- "cution of such as have been or may be Apprehended "for Breaking open the Kings Goals of the Province "in these things I say I shall be glad of your advice "and am always ready Chearfully to join with you in
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
"such measure as may be judgd will most of all "Contribute to the Establishment of the peace and "Tranquility of the Province."
J BELCHER
ELIZABETH TOWN August 10: 1752
The Council taking the same into Consideration are of Opinion that there is no reason to hope for any Suc- cess from any Application to the Assembly in Respect to the Riotts untill His Majesty shall be pleased to send His Especial Commands therein and therefore cannot His Excellency to call the Assembly on that Account only That as to the prosecutions they are of Opinion that His Majestys Attorney General shou'd proceed according to the known Laws of the Land and that they see no Room to give any particular direction therein.
A Petition from the Mayor Recorder Aldermen and Common Council of the free borough of Elizabeth in behalf of themselves and others the Inhabitants within the said Borough to have their Charters Altered & some further Privligdes &cª was read.
A Petition of Joseph Bonney and his Letter of the 20th of July was read.
The Council are of Opinion that Neither His Excel- lency or the Council can do any thing in Respect to the Petition of Joseph Bonney without aid of the Leg- islature that for anything that appears there may be relief for him in the Courts of Justice.
The Council taking into Consideration the Petition of the Mayor Recorder &cª of the Free Borough of Elizabeth are of Opinion that the same be referred to M: Alexandr M". Hude M" Johnston M' Kemble M". Ogden or any three of them and that the Petitioners or some of them have Notice to deliver to the Committee a Draught of the Charter they Petition for.
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1752] ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
His Excellency was pleased to Nominate John Roye and Ichabord Tompkins as Justices of the Peace in the County of Somerset to whom the Council agreed.
Orderd they be added to said Commission.
Also Nominated Stephen Crane and Timothy White- head to be Justices of the Peace for the County of Es- sex to which the Council agreed:
Ordered that they be added to the Commission for said Countys in Rank according to their Appointments.
His Excellency by advice of Council signed the fol- lowing Warrants.
Nº 200. To himself for a Quarters Salary due this day 250. 0.0 201. To himself for a Quarters House Rent due this day 15. 0.0 · 202. To the Honoble James Alexander Esq' forty one days attendance in Council between the 7. of Octo- ber 1743 & the 18: November 1743 12. 6.0
203. To the Honoble James Alexander Esq" for one hundred and Seventy two days Attendance in Council between 29: of March 1749 to February 14: 1752
204. To the Honble John Reading Esq" for forty three days Atendance in Council in September and Octo- ber 1751 6. 8.0
205. To Samuel Nevill Esq! Second Jus- tice of the Supreme Court for Attending the Supreme Court at Burlington in May 1752 and for Holding the Court of Nisi Prius and Court of Oyer & Terminer in the County of Hunterdon on the Third Tuesday in May 1752 .
51.18.0
16. 0.0
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
206. To Ditto for his Salary as Second Judge of the Supream Court from the 10: of May to the 10: of Aug- ust 1752 6. 5.0
207. To Charles Read Esq! for a Quarters Salary as Clerk of the Council for the Quarter ended this day 7.10.0
20S. To Ditto for a Quarters Salary as Third Justice of the Supream Court for the Quarter ended this day 6. 5.0
209. To Joseph Warrell Esqr for a Quar- ters Salary as Attorney General for the Quarter ended this day 7.10.0
210. To Andrew Johnston Esq! for a Quarters Salary as One of the Treasurers of the Province for the Quarter ended this day 10.00.0
211. To Samuel Smith Esq' for Quarters Salary as one of the Treasurers of the Province for the Quarter end- ed this day 10.00.0
212. Samuel Smith Esq' for Copying the Votes of the General Assembly and the Laws passed in the Ses- sions at Burlington in September and October 1751 Also for Pens, Ink & Paper 10.18.0
213. To John Smith a Quarters Salary as Clerk of the Circuits for the Quar- ter ended this day 5.00.0
214. To William Bradford in full of his Account allowd . 141. 1.0
215. To Ditto for One Hundred and Sixty Bound Books of the Laws of the Province as P Act of General Assembly 200.00.0
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
216. To Anthony Elton for a Quarters Salary as Door keeper to the Council for the Quarter ended this day 2.10.0
M: Alexander acquainted His Excellency that Lewis Ashfield Esq? was at the Door attending with his Majestys Mandamus to His Excellency for Swearing and admitting him One of His Majestys Council of this Province with a Certificate of his Acquital by due Course of Law of what he had been Chargd with and allegd as Reason for the Delay of his Qualification and prayd that he might be calld in.
His Excellency adjourned the Council to Meet to morrow morning at Ten O'Clock.
TUESDAY AUGUST 11: 1752
The Council Met Present His Excellency the Gov- ernor The Honble James Hude, Andrew Johnston & Peter Kemble Esqrs
His Excellency gave the following Answer to the Motion of James Alexander Esq' of yesterday.
Gentlemen of the Council
" After what I said to you in October last & is on "the Council Minits I am Surprized at the Motion "made yesterday by M! Alexander relating to the "Kings Mandamus for admitting M' Ashfield into the " Council wth wc? I once more tell you, You have no "Business or Concern nor will I hear anything from "you about it this I say to save Yourselves or me any "further trouble and if you are minded to show that " Young Gentleman any Respect I would advise you to "teach him his Duty in this matter To the Kings "Governour and when he practices it he shall have "my Answer."
J BELCHER
ELIZABETH TOWN August 11: 1752
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
His Excellency laid before the Board for their Con- sideration a Charter proposed for the Incorporation of the Five Dutch reformd Churches in the Counties of Middlesex, Somersett and Hunterdon wch being Read It is Orderd that it be Referrd to their next Quarterly meeting and that in the mean time the Secretary do procure the Statute of Mortmain.
Compared wth Minitts of Council of the Province of New Jersey of wch this is a true Copy
August 12, 1752 CHA READ D Secr!
Letter from Governor Belcher to Messrs. Belcher and Foye, Massachusetts, about the promotion of manufactures.
[From Papers of Gov. Belcher in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Aug 19. 1752.
Messrs Belcher & Foye
Gent"
*
(Extract. ) X * X
I am fully in opinion with you and my other Friends in New England that there is no Wiser or better Meas- ure to go into for retrieving the Miserable Circum- stances of your Province than to promote Manufactures among Your selves and at same time to be practising Economy and all possible Frugality and I have often wondered that Gentlemen of Substance have not long before this Set up a Glass House for which you are much better Accomodated than any one can be in this Province where such a work has already turn'd out to great Profit.
But you put me upon a Hard Task to procure you any Tolerable Information as to the Carrying on of those Works here in which the Managers are very close and
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ADMINISTRATION. OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
Secret however I will take all the prudent Steps I can to make you an Answer in this matter and to get a Sample of the Clay you mention but as I am here at a great distance from those Works it will require time to Obtain what I desire for you.
I am Sirs Yours &c.
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Alford, of Boston-thanking him for a subscription to the College-manufacture of glass, etc.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZABETH Augt 24 1752
Col Alford Boston
My worth Friend
Sir
* * As head of the Trustees of our little College I do in their Names most heartily thank you for your kind & generous Subscription for the Encouragement & better Establisemt of this Seminary put forward I believe for promoting the honour & interest of the Kingdom of the Blessed Jesus as well as for giving an Opportunity to the Inhabitants of this & the Neigh- bouring Provinces to Improve themselves in Religion & Human Literature. Pray make my Compliments to Mr [James] Allen with the rest of the Subscribing Benefactors and I pray God to Reward this their good Will and bounty plentifully into their own Bosoms.
* * *
I have begun to make Inquiry about the Glass Works in this Province wch are 130 miles from this Town & as I know no proper person near them capable of get- ting the Information you desire I have hardly a lean
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
hope of rendring you any Service in that matter in which the Undertakers are very close & Secret. I was well Acquainted with one Caspar a German who lived at Phila and was the first and principal Undertaker of the Glass Works in this Province and with whom I discours'd particularly about them (5 years ago) and he Complained to me that the Clay for the Furnace Bottoms was but poor and often gave way to their great damage and Complain'd also that they cou'd not make their Glass so Clear and strong for want of Help their Works being near two hundred miles from any Quantity of it.
This Caspar is lately dead and from a very poor man rais'd and left a Fortune of 20. or 30,000 £ Str. I have had from others Engag'd in the Works the same Com- plaint of want of proper Materials for the Mettle and for the Furnace and as I really think there can be no good & honest Intelligence gain'd from those Under- takers were I to Advise you, you shou'd send to Lon- don for a Head Operator & 2 or 3 Skilfull Assistants and at same time to bring with them a Quantity of Sturbridge Clay for your Bottoms if it can by any way or meanes be got aboard a Ship for its Exportation is prohibited upon a great Penalty and yet my Frds Con- triv'd to send me 3 or 4 Hhd: about 30 years agoe for the Bottoms of my Copper Furnaces & wch bad defy- ance to the Hottest fire but it was a very Chargeable thing to get.
I am told a Glass Undertak" is going forwd at N. York & that about a Month agoe they had 5 Skilfull Work men came to them from Holland or London.
Honoble Sir Yr Assured Frd &c.
J. BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade- relative to his not admitting Lewis Morris Ash- field to a seat in the Council.
[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 7, H. 13.]
ELIZABETH TOWN N J September 15 1752
May it please Your Lordships
Although I have once and again, wrote Your Lord. ships, respecting the King's Mandamus, for Swearing and Admitting M' Lewis Morris Ashfield; to be one of His Majestys Council of this Province, and that an Indictment for a Misdemeanor, lay against him in One of the Kings Courts here, and which I judg'd a reason- able Obstacle, against his being Admitted, but from the said Indictment, he was Acquitted -- in March last,- through a mear Criticism in the Law, although I sup- pose there was hardly a person present, but believed him truely and really guilty, of the Substance of that Indictment; and I think it proper, now to forward to your Lordships-
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