USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 18
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"Do you propose to send your own account of the Sums advanc'd by you for the Provision & Pay of the four Pennsylvania Com- panies while they were under your Command to me, to be trans- mitted to Mr. Shirley and Mr. Knowles in the manner directed by their joint Letter? Or as You have already sent over some Accounts relating to these Companies when you paid them off in June, do You chuse to send them with their proper Certificates immediately to the Duke of New Castle or to those Gentlemen? If you take this last method, then I conceive, as Mr. Thomas' accounts of all the Monies paid on account of those four Companies till they ar- riv'd within your Province are already Liquidated & lodg'd in the proper Office in England, there remains no more for the Council to do than to transmit with authentick Certificates the Copies of the several Minutes of Council & of Assembly that have pass'd or shall pass touching or any wise concerning the American Levies. This being the Light in which this Affair appears to me at present I shall be oblig'd to you to give me your Sentiments on it, that the Council may do what is regular & what will be expected from them in pursuance of the Orders transmitted to them by Governor Shirley & Admiral Knowles' Letters.
"I am, with sincere Regard, "Your Excellency's most obed' humble Servant,
"ANTHONY PALMER.
"I have enclos'd Copies of the Messages between ye Council & Assembly on this Subject.
" His Excelley GEORGE CLINTON, Esqr."
"PHILADA., Dec" 5th, 1747. “ Sir.
"The enclos'd Copies of the Messages that have pass'd between the Council & Assembly of this Province will inform You what has been done in pursuance of your Excellency's & Admiral Knowles' Letters, and what likelyhood there is of a complyance with His Majestie's Demand.
"The Assembly soon after presenting their answer sent a Message by two Members to inform the Board that the House had adjourn'd to the 1st Monday in January, & tho' the Persons who brought the
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Message were told that there were under Consideration several mat -. ters of great consequence, yet they broke up, & thereby prevented all further Applications from the Board.
"One of the Members who were sent to inform the Council of this unexpected adjournment said it was made on a supposition that the certain Sum wanted to Pay off the Soldiers wou'd be then known. One wou'd think by this that at least he believed they wou'd ad- vance the Money, but as they have not, that we hear of, declared their willingness to do it, we cannot take upon us to give any other Expectations than what may be gather'd from their answer.
" When Mr. Clinton shall have adjusted the Sum due to the Officers & Men at the time of their dismission he will furnish Us. with the Account, and we shall not fail to repeat our Recommenda- tions of this Service to the Assembly at their next Sitting.
" What they design to do with respect to the several matters already concerted or to be concerted by the Commissioners for the common Safety of all the Colonies, which depends so much on dis- lodging the French from their Stronghold at Crown Point, & thereby securing the Indians to the English Interest, cannot be known, for they return'd' no answer to the Message which accompanied your Letter of the 9th Nov" on that Subject.
" I am Your Excellency's most obedt Servant,
" ANTHONY PALMER.
"". His Excelley. WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq"."
A Letter from Mr. Weiser was read, & ordered to be enter'd, &. laid before the Assembly at their next Sitting.
"PAXTON, NOV". 28th, 1747.
" Sir :
" Last night I arrived here with the Indians all in good Health but Canachquasy, the Speaker, who took sick by the way from Philadelphia to my House, and one of the Women, but I hope not. dangerously. This Day I deliver'd the Goods to them, and they are well pleased for my adding two half Barrels of Powder to the four which they were to have. George Croghan was present, and he undertook to find Men and Horses to carry the Powder and the Lead, with two Casks of Liquor for them, to Ohio. I was oblig'd to allow them the Liquor because they all followed my Advice and did not get drunk, neither in Town nor by the way. Seaiohady, after they had received the Goods, spoke to me in the following manner : 'Brother, I am very glad that our Brethren in Philadel- phia took into their serious Consideration what we have said to them. The French Party is very strong among us, and if we had failed in our Journey to Philadelphia, or our Expectations wou'd not have been granted by our Brethren in Philadelphia, the Indians would have gone over to the French to a Man, and wou'd have re- ceived Presents (or Supplies) from the French, who have offer'd it,
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
but now I hope We've got the better of them. Let me desire You to set out early in the Spring with the Supplies our Brethren have been pleased to promise Us, and send somebody before You to give us timely Notice that we may meet, for we are scattered up & down the Country, & we will send three or four Men to meet You by the way and to convey You to the place appointed ; pray don't miss, and let us that are for our Brethren the English not be asham'd ; the French Party who speak now under the Ground will speak above the Ground if You shou'd miss, but if You arrive early in the Spring all the Indians will unite heartily, & the French Party will be brought over to us.' They spoke to me & George Croghan, who must be my guide. I made answer that nothing should be wanting that I could do, and if I was alive and well I hoped to see them in their Country next Spring before the Grass comes out, or at farthest when they begin to Plant their Corn.
" Scaiohady pressed upon me to put the Government in mind of what he had said against the Traders in Rum, that it might be suppressed, for the Indians (said he) will drink away all they have and not be able to do any thing against the Enemy for want of Ammunition ; and if rightly considered, Death, without Judge or Jury, to any Man that carrys Rum to sell to any Indian Town, is the only remedy to prevent that Trade & a just reward to the Traders, for nothing else will do. It is an abomination before God & Man, to say nothing of the particular Consequences it is alto- gether hurtful to the Publick, for what little Supplies we can give them to carry on the War is not half sufficient, they must buy the greatest part with their hunting, and if they meet with Rum they will buy that before anything, and not only drink away their Skins but their Cloathing and every thing they may get of us; in short, the Inconveniences occasion'd by that Trade are numerous at this very time, the English & French Party will fall out in their Drunk- enness and murder one another, & the English will be charged with the mischief thereof. I must leave off before I wear out your Patience, & remain,
" Sir, Your very Dutiful, " CONRAD WEISER.
"P. S .- Scaiohady told Shikalamy at my House very privately that Peter Chartier & his Company had accepted of the French Hatchet, but kept in their bosom till they wou'd see what Interest they cou'd make in favour of the French.
"To RICHARD PETERS, Esqr."
The Board appointed Mr. Lawrence & Mr. Logan a Committee to consider what methods can be apply'd to prevent the abuses com- plained of by the Indians, & to make their Reports so as to form a proper Message to the Assembly on this Subject at their next Sitting.
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Mr. Lawrence is requested to issue a Writ to apprehend a French- man, one Captain De Cheverie, who was order'd to go on board Captain Casnay along with the Spanish Prisoners, yet notwith- standing this Order continues in Town, & walks publickly about the Streets.
-.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, at the Court House, the 7th Dec"", 1747.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Thomas Lawrence, Samuel Hasell,
William Till, Abraham Taylor, Esqrs.
Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson,
The Associators to the number of near Six Hundred being drawn up under Arms before the Court House, the Secretary was order'd to make the following Declaration :
" Gentlemen-
"I am commanded by their Honours the President & Council, to acquaint You that Your Proceedings are not disapprov'd by the Government, & that if You go on & chuse your Officers according to your Articles, Commissions will be readily granted them."
In the Council Chamber at Philadelphia, 8th December, 1747.
PRESENT :
Thomas Lawrence, Samuel Hasell,
Abraham Taylor, Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, 1 Esqrs. Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
The Members taking into Consideration the State of the War in general, the Sickness that lately rag'd over this City & the Province, the probability of our Enemies making a Descent on the City, & the calamitous Situation of our Frontiers on the Dismission of the Forces rais'd for the intended Expedition against Canada, thought it highly necessary to awaken in the minds of the Inhabitants of this Province a just Sense of their Condition, & to call upon them by a Proclamation to implore with fervency & Solemnity the mer- ciful Protection of Almighty God, & appointed Mr. Taylor & Mr. Hopkinson a Committee to prepare a suitable Proclamation for a General Fast against to-morrow in the Afternoon.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, 9th Dec"-, 1747.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esq., President.
Thomas Lawrence,
William Till,
Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Esqrs. .
Joseph Turner,
Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
Mr. Taylor & Mr. Hopkinson having prepar'd the Draught of a Proclamation for the appointment of a General Fast on Thursday, the 7th Day of January next, the same was read & approv'd, & order'd to be engross'd & publish'd to-morrow forenoon at the Court House with the usual Solemnity.
" By the Honourable the President & Council of the Province of Pennsylvania. "A PROCLAMATION "FOR A GENERAL FAST.
"Forasmuch as it is the Duty of mankind, on all suitable oc- casions to adknowledge their dependence on the Divine Being, to give Thanks for the Mercies received, and no less to deprecate his Judgments and humbly pray for his Protection; And as the ca- lamities of a bloody War, in which our Nation is now engaged, seem every Year more nearly to approach us, and the Expedition form'd for the security of these Plantation hath been laid aside, As the Inhabitants of this Province & City have been sorely visited with mortal sickness in the Summer past, & there is just reason to fear that unless we humble ourselves before the Lord & amend our Ways, we may be chastized with yet heavier Judgments, We have, therefore, thought fit, on due consideration thereof, to appoint Thursday, the seventh Day of January next, to be observed throughout this Province as a Day of Fasting & Prayer, exhorting all, both Ministers & People, to observe the same with becoming seriousness & attention, & to join with one accord in the most hum- ble & fervent Supplications That Almighty God would mercifully interpose and still the Rage of War among the Nations & put a stop to the effusion of Christian Blood ; That he would preserve and bless our Gracious King, guide his Councils, & give him victory over his Enemies to the establishing a speedy & lasting Peace ; That he would bless, prosper, & preserve all the British Colonies, and particularly that he would take this Province under his Protec- tion, Confound the designs and defeat the Attempts of its Enemies, & unite our Hearts and strengthen our Hands in every Undertaking that may be for the Publick Good, and for our defence & Security in this time of Danger; That he would graciously please to bless the succeeding Year with Health, Peace, & Plenty, & enable us to
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make a right use of his late afflicting Hand in a sincere and tho- rough Reformation of our Lives & Manners, to which the Minis- ters of all Religious Societies are desir'd earnestly to exhort their People. And it is recommended to all Persons to abstain from servile Labour on the said Day.
"Given at Philadelphia, under the Great Seal of the said Province, the ninth Day of December in the Twenty-first Year of the Reign our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &ca. Annoqz Domini, 1747.
" ANTHONY PALMER, President.
" By Order of the President & Council.
" RICHARD PETERS, Secry. "GOD SAVE THE KING."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, 29th Decr., 1747. PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esq., President.
Thomas Lawrence, Samuel Hasell,
Abraham Taylor, Robert Strettell, Esqrs.
Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
A Letter from Governor Shirley, Dated at Boston the 5th Instant, was read & order'd to be enter'd.
" Sir :
" BOSTON, Dect- 5th, 1747.
" I am favour'd with Your Letter of the 10th of November, which I communicated to Mr. Knowles, who is now sail'd for his Command in the West Indies. And I am to inform You that since mine of the 29th Oct". to You, Mr. Knowles & I have received a Letter from Governor Clinton, wherein he acquaints us that he had paid the Levies of his own Government, Pennsylvania, Maryland, & Virginia, to the 24th June last, after the rate of Six pence Sterling + Day over & above the Provisions which have been allowed 'em, & that he shou'd pay them off, at least the Levies of his own Gov- ernment, the remainder still due to them at the same rate, which intirely fixes the Article of Pay with Regard to the Levies of those four Governments, and will make any Abatement or Stopage in the Pay of the Levies of the other Governments for Provisions or bil- letting Money allow'd them by the Colonies seem unequal & grevious, & raise the utmost Discontents among them, to the preju- dice of His Majestie's Service in general upon any future Emer-
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
gencies of the like Nature; all which Mr. Knowles & I think it most adviseable to prevent, and therefore look upon ourselves in a great measure oblig'd to conform to Mr. Clinton's Rate of Payment with Respect to the New England Forces & those of New Jersey, which we have accordingly determin'd shall be paid 6d a-Day, with- out any Deduction for the Provisions or billetting Money allow'd them by the respective Governments where they were rais'd, which determination we the more readily come into, as We find it is agreeable not only to the expectation of the Soldiers but to the opinion likewise of all the Governments concern'd in the Expedi- tion from whom we have yet heard ; and this we thought it wou'd be proper, Sir, to communicate to You, that in case You are to pay the Pennsylvania Levies what remains due to them, You may know Mr. Knowles' & my opinion therein, viz., that they shou'd be paid Sixpence Sterling # Day clear of any Stoppage for Provisions or billetting which they have actually receiv'd.
"You have not mention'd any thing to Mr. Knowles & me con- cerning the Arms & Cloathing of the Pennsylvania Levies, so that I conclude Your Government has no demand upon the Crown for the Expence of them, and if it had I presume You wou'd have Transmitted us the Accounts & Vouchers, that we might have transmitted them to His Grace, with the other Accounts of the Ex- pedition, pursuant to his Grace's Directions to us.
"I am, with great Regard & Esteem, Sir, " Your most obedt humble Servant, "W. SHIRLEY.
" Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esq"."
A Letter in Answer having been prepar'd, the same was read & approv'd.
" PHILADA., 29th Dec', 1747. "Sir :
" Your Excellency's letter of the 5th Instant came to hand yester- day, and as the Assembly sits on Munday next, there will be an op- portunity of laying it before them. It is suppos'd they will then come to their final Resolutions with respect to His Majestie's Demand, which will be transmitted to you when received without Delay.
"Your Excellency will be pleas'd to be referr'd to Mr. Lawrence's Letter of the 20th October last, in answer to Admiral Knowles & Your joint Letter, wrote in my absence, wherein he informs You that Governor Thomas advanced the sums that were laid out in the Purchase of Arms, Clothes, &ca-, for the four Pennsylvania Com- panies, and sent authenticated accots thereof with proper Vouchers to his Grace the Duke of New Castle, and as the Bills drawn for those Sums were paid, & none of the Accounts or the Vouchers are in
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the Power of the Council, they judg'd You wou'd agree with them that these Accounts wou'd not now be now meddled with, & that no more cou'd be expected than to give Your Excellency Informa- tion of what Governor Thomas had done.
"The Forces rais'd here being under Governor Clinton's Com- mand, he was requested to observe the same Method, & to make the same Demands with respect to them as he did with respect to the other Companies, & tho' I have not yet receiv'd his answer, I make no doubt but the Pennsylvania Forces met with the same Treatment as the others, and if it shou'd happen that Your Direc- tions have not been punctually complied with, is undoubtedly owing to the particular Circumstances the Forces were in at the time of their Discharge.
" I am, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, "ANTHONY PALMER.
" His Excelley. WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq."
" Much time was taken up in the serious Consideration of the State of the Province, and least the Cannon wrote for to England for the Supply of the Batteries, the principal thing relied on for the Defence of the City, shou'd not arrive in time, it was unani- mously agreed to take the opportunity of the Post to apply to Gov- ernor Clinton & Governor Shirley for a Loan of Cannon till ours shou'd come, and the Letters being immediately prepared, were read & signed by the Members. That to the Governor of New York in these words :
" PHILADA., 29th Decr., 1749.
"Sir :
"By the frequent Informations we have had & are daily receiving of the Designs of our Enemies from English Prisoners who have been among them, there is great Reason to fear this City will be attempted in the Spring; and as our Assembly consist for the most part of Quakers principled against Defence, the Inhabitants despair of their doing any thing for their Protection, they having been very frequently applied to for that End without Success. These Considerations have induced great numbers, as well in the Country as in Town, to enter into an Association for the Defence of this City & Province, and several Companies are already form'd. As a further Security, the Associators have contriv'd to raise a Sum of Money to be laid out in Building a battery or two on the River, and have wrote to England to purchase Cannon fit for the purpose ; but as the Designs of our Enemies will probably be put in Execu- tion in the Spring, the Cannon they have wrote for may possibly arrive too late; we therefore, at the Request of great numbers of the Associators, and from our own Sense of the great Danger to which this Colony lies exposed, earnestly entreat Your Excelley. that You wou'd furnish this Government with as many battering Can-
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL,
non as can conveniently be spared, which we assure Your Excellency shall be return'd on Demand. Your Compliance with our Request will contribute much to His Majestie's Service, as it may be the means of preserving this valuable part of His Dominions, or at least prevent the plundering of the City, and will conferr the highest obligations on Us & the rest of the Inhabitants of this Province.
" We are, with perfect Esteem & Regard,
" Your Excellency's most obedient Servants,
" ANTHONY PALMER, " THOMAS LAWRENCE, " SAMUEL HASELL, " WILLIAM TILL, " ABRAHAM TAYLOR, " ROBERT STRETTELL,
" BENJM. SHOEMAKER,
"THOMAS HOPKINSON, "JOSEPH TURNER.
" His Excelley GEORGE CLINTON, Esqr."
The same Members sign'd the Letter to Mr. Shirley which fol- łows:
" PHILADA,, 29th Decr., 1747. " Sir :
" By the frequent informations we have had & are daily receiving of the Designs of our Enemies from English Prisoners who have been among them, there is great Reason to fear this City will be attempted in the Spring; and as our Assembly consist for the most, part of Quakers principled against Defence, the Inhabitants despair of their doing anything for their Protection, they having been very frequently applied to for that End without Success. These Con- siderations have induced great numbers, as well in the Country as in Town, to enter into an Association for the Defence of this City & Province, and several Companies are already form'd. As a fur- ther Security, the Associators have contrived to raise a Sum of Money to be laid out in building a Battery or two or the River, and have wrote to England to purchase Cannon fit for the purpose ; but as the Designs of our Enemies will probably be put in Execution in the Spring, the Cannon they have wrote for may possibly arrive too ate; We therefore, at the Request of great numbers of the Associa- ors, and from our own Sense of the great Danger to which this Colony lies expos'd, earnestly entreat Your Excellency that You would furnish this Government with as many battering Cannon as can conveniently be spared, which we assure Your Excellency shall be return'd on Demand. Your Complyance with our Request will contribute much to His Majestie's Service, as it may be the means of preserving this valuable Part of his Dominions, or at least prevent he plundering of the City, and will conferr the highest Obligations On Us & the rest of the Inhabitants of this Province.
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"We further beg your Excellency wou'd use your Interest with the Commanders of such of His Majestie's Ships as may be station'd within Your Government or at Cape breton, that they may extend their Cruises to our Capes, without which our Trade, we imagine, will be quite block'd up & destroy'd next Summer.
" We hope the Liberty we have taken will meet with a favourable Interpretation, & that the same Zeal which Your Excellency has shewn upon a former occasion to augment his Majestie's Dominions may, without prejudice to your own Government, be exerted to the preservation of this Province.
"We are, with perfect Esteem & Regard, &ca
" His Excellency. WILLM. SHIRLEY, Esqr."
The Secretary laid before the Board a number of Blank Military Commissions, which were Signed by the President & the four Eldest Members of Council present, in order to be ready against New Year's Day, the Day appointed by the Associators to Elect & present their Officers.
At a Council held at Philadelphia the 1st January, 1747.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Hasell,
William Till,
Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker, Esqrs.
Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
The Associators having form'd themselves into several Companies, appear'd this Day under Arms & proceeded to chuse their Officers, & the following Gentlemen being Elected & return'd for the Appro- bation of the Council, the Secretary was order'd to fill up the Blanks in the Commissions Sign'd last Council Day, with their names, & to Countersign the Commissions.
John Inglis, Esqr., Lynford Lardner, Gent.,
Captain. Lieutenant.
Thomas Lawrence, Jun, Gent.,
Ensign.
Capt".
John Ross, Esqr., Richard Swan, Gent.,
Lieut.
Philip Benczet, Gent.,
Ensign.
James Polegreen, Esqr.,
Capt".
William Bradford, Gent., William Bingham, Gent.,
Lieut.
Ensign.
Charles Willing, Esq.,
Captain.
Lieut.
Atwood Shute, Gent., James Claypoole, Gent.,
Ensign.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
William Cuzzins, Esqr.,
Captain.
George Spafford, Gent.,
Lieut.
Abraham Mason, Gent.,
Ensign.
Thomas Bourne, Esqr.,
Captain.
Robert Owen, Gent.,
Lieut.
Peter Etter, Gent.,
Ensign.
Peacock Bigger, Esqr.,
Captain.
Joseph Redmond, Gent.,
Lieut.
Joseph Wood, Gent.,
Ensign.
Thomas Bond, Esqr.,
Captain.
Richard Farmer, Gent.,
Lieut.
Plunkett Gleeson, Gent.,
Ensign.
Septimus Robinson, Esqr.,
Captain.
William Klemm, Gent.,
Lieut.
William Rush, Gent.,
Ensign.
Richard Nixon, Esqr.,
Captain.
Richard Renshaw, Gent.,
Lieut.
Francis Garrigues, Gent.,
Ensign.
James Coultas, Esq.,
Captain.
George Gray, Jun., Gent ..
Lieut.
Abraham Jones, Gent.,
Ensign.
The above Gentlemen after receiving their Commissions withdrew into another Room, & in a little time waited on the Council to in- form their Honours that they had proceeded to elect their Superior Oficers, and that the Choice falling on Abraham Taylor, Esqr., for Colonel, Thomas Lawrence, Esqr., for Lieutenant Colonel, & Samuel McCall for Major, they pray'd Commissions might be granted, & the Secretary was order'd to prepare them accordingly, to be sign'd next Council.
At a Council held at Philadelphia 4th JanTy., 1747.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr. President.
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Hasell,
Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
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