USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 5
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, February 3d, 1745. PRESENT :
The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor. Samuel Hasell, Abraham Taylor, ? . Esqrs.
Robert Strettel, James Hamilton,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
Since the last Meeting of Council two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor to inform him that the House agreed to the Amendments proposed by the Governor & Council to the two Bills, one Entitled "an Act for the more easy and speedy Recovery of small Debts," the other entitled "an Act for Amending the several Acts for Electing Members of Assembly," & desir'd they might be
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engross'd, but that the additional Clause propos'd, relating to At- tachments, was thought to be attended with many Inconveniences, & therefore declin'd.
February 1st, 1745.
MEMORANDUM.
Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor and delivered two other Bills, viz .: one Entitled "an Act for Amending the Laws relating to the Poor, & for the better appointment of Overseers of the Poor within the City of Philadelphia," the other Entitled " a Sup- plement to the Act entitled an Act for erecting Houses of Correc- tion and Work Houses in the respective Counties, & to the Act entitled an Act to enable Jeremiah Langhorne, &cª-, to Build a Court House in the County of Bucks," which were read for the first time, & the Act for amending the Laws, &ca., was committed to Mr. Hasel, Mr. Hamilton, & Mr. Taylor, to consider & amend.
The Governor laid before the Board a Letter from Governor Shir- ley, Dated at Boston the 13th Day of January last, Importing "that there was reason to believe the Canadians wou'd make a vigorous Attack upon His Majestie's Garrison at Annapolis Royal early next Spring, & that in Case they should succeed there all Nova Scotia would fall into their Hands, & the Loss of Louisbourgh might be the immediate Consequence of the Loss of Nova Scotia; or if the French shou'd attempt & Succeed in the Recovery of Louisbourgh in the Spring, in that case the Loss of Nova Scotia must be the fatal Consequence; and therefore giving it as his opinion that it will be absolutely necessary for the Province of Pennsylvania, & all the Neighbouring Governments which have not yet raised any Men for his Majestie's service in the Expedition, to furnish a large number, 500 of which he hopes Pennsylvania might raise." And likewise a Letter from Governor Clinton, Dated at New York the 27th of January, 1745, importing " that the Assembly had requested him to appoint Commissioners to Treat, in conjunction with such Com- missioners as should be appointed by the Neighbouring Govern- ments, for concerting measures for the mutual Security, Defence, and Conduct of the Northern Colonies during the present War, & that they had further requested him to represent to the several Gov- ernments the wavering Disposition of the Indians, and that Com- missioners ought to be appointed for this Province." And the Governor having wrote A Message to the Assembly on the Subject of the said Letters, the same was read and approv'd, & is as fol- lows:
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" Having received a Letter from Governor Clinton, and another
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from Governor Shirley, by the last Post, I have ordered the Secre- tary to lay them before You. And as I cannot take upon me to enter into any Engagements in Behalf of this Government without your Concurrence and Assurance of enabling me to perform them, my Answers to these Letters must arise from the Resolutions . of your House. My Sentiments of the Necessity of an Union of the several Colonies for the Defence of their Frontiers, and of securing the Fidelity of the Six Nations and the Indians dependent upon them, and my Apprehensions of their being otherwise seduced by, or compelled to join with the Enemy, have been so lately made known to You that I need not repeat them. If You shall Agree to my appointing Commissioners to confer with such as are & shall be appointed by the Governors of the several Colonies, I shall chear- fully assist them with the best Instructions I can form for their Conduct in an Affair of so great Importance.
" GEO. THOMAS.
" February 3d, 1745."
The Governor ordered the Secretary to inform Mr. Shoemaker of his being appointed a Member of Council, & to take care that he be Summoned to the next Council.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, February 4th, 1745.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor. Thomas Laurence, Samuel Hasell,
Abraham Taylor, Robert Strethil, Esquires.
James Hamilton, Benjamin Shoemaker,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approv'd.
Mr. Shoemaker took and subscribed the qualifications as a Mem- ber of the Council.
The Governor laid before the Board a Message he had receiv'd from the Assembly the 5th Instant, which was delivered by two Members, who were directed the same time to inform him that seve- ral of the Representatives having Business at the Courts and in the Country, the House was inclin'd to adjourn to the 24th Instant, to which he made no objection.
A Message from the Assembly to the Governor.
May it please the Governor :
We have taken into our Consideration the last Message with the two Letters which the Gov" was pleased to send us ; and as to the proposal made by the Governor of New York for the appointment of Commiss" from the several Colonies, we think it will be both
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difficult and unnecessary for us to be particular in our Sentiments concerning it, until we are ascertained how it will be taken by other Colonies ; and whether any, & which of them, shall concur in such an Appointment. If such Commissioners shall be thought neces- sary for securing the Indians of the Six Nations in the British Interest, or for any other purposes which may appear to us to be for the general Good, we shall chearfully concur in it. And we are made acquainted that such an Appointment is generally acceded to by other Colonies, and the time and place of Meeting proposed; it will then, we think, be time enough for us, who are near the Centre of these Colonies, and who meet frequently on the Public Affairs of the Province, to deliver our Resolutions thereupon.
As to the Letter from Governor Shirley, we observe it was writ- ten before the account of the Arrival of the Regiments sent from Gibralter to the Garrison at Louisbourgh, and the Proposition he makes appears to us to be intended principally as an Expedient to have taken Place in case of their Miscarriage; and as by the Pub- lick Accounts there is reason to believe those Regiments are since arrived, we presume the Necessity of the Application to this Pro- vince may be removed.
The Expedition to Carthagena, the Manning of divers private Ships of War, and the numbers which have enlisted in the King's Service, with the Recruiting Officers from the Islands of Jamaica and Antigua, have drained this Province of many of its inha- tants, and had we no other Objections we conceive it can hardly be thought reasonable the Province of the Massachusetts should have the Assistance required from hence, even tho' it were necessary, rather than from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, whose Situation and engagements Interest them more deeply than us in the preservation of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.
"Sign'd by Order of the House. " JOHN KINSEY, Speaker. " 12th Mon. 5th, 1745."
The Bill entitled "an Act for amending the Laws relating to the Poor, & for the better appointment of Overseers of the Poor within the City of Philadelphia," was read a second time, & divers Amend- ments were reported and proposed by the Committee, which were read and approved.
The Bill entitled " a Supplement to the Act entitled ' an Act for erecting Houses of Correction and Work houses in the respective Counties,' and to the Act entitled an 'Act to enable Jeremiah Langhorn, &ca., to Build a Court House in the County of Bucks,'" were read a second time & some Amendments propos'd, which were read and approv'd.
The Secretary was order'd by His Honour to transcribe the several Amendments fair, & deliver them with the Bills to the House.
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24th February, 1745, P. M.
MEMORANDUM.
Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor & acquainted him that the House was met according to their Adjournment, & ready to receive any thing the Governor shou'd have to lay before them. His Honour was pleas'd to say he shou'd to-morrow morn- ing send down to the House the Bills that had been laid before them, with some Amendments.
At a Council held at Philadelphia February 28th, 1745.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gover- nor.
Abraham Taylor, Robert Strethil, } Esqrs.
James Hamilton,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
The Governor laid before the Board a Bill entitled "an Act for the Re-emitting and continuing the Loan of the Bills of Credit of this Province ;" which was read for the first time.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, March 3d, 1745.
PRESENT : .
The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gover- nor.
Abraham Taylor, Robert Strethil, Esqrs.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approv'd.
The Governor laid before the Board the Bill Entitled "an Act for the Re-emitting and continuing the Loan of the Bills of Credit of this Province ;" which was read a second time, and some Amend- ments being propos'd the same were agreed to, & the Secretary re- ceived His Honour's Commands to transcribe them fair & deliver them to the House with the Bill.
The Governor likewise laid before the Board two other Bills, one entitled "a supplementary Bill to the Act entitled 'an Act for pre- venting the Exportation of Bread and Flour not Merchantable,'" the other entitled "an Act for the more effectual suppressing profane Cursing and Swearing;" which were read; and the Flour Act was committed to Mr. Hasell, Mr. Taylor, & Mr. Strethil, to consider & Amend.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, March 4, 1745.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gover- nor.
Thomas Laurence,
Samuel Hasell,
Abram Taylor,
Robert Strethill, Esqrs.
James Hamilton, Benjamin Shoemaker,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approv'd.
The Bill for preventing the Exportation of Bread and Flour not Merchantable, and the Bill for the more effectual suppressing pro- fane Cursing and Swearing, were read a second time, & some Amend- ments being propos'd to both Bills, they were order'd to be tran- scrib'd fair & delivered with the Bills to the House.
The Governor laid before the Board a Bill for erecting a House of Correction & Work House in the Burrough of Bristol, in the County of Bucks, & for raising of Money on the Inhabitants of the said Burrough for the Publick Use and Benefit thereof ; which was read and agreed to.
A Message was delivered by two Members of Assembly to the Governor in Council, that the Amendments propos'd to the Bill for the Re-emitting & Continuing the Loan of the Bills of Credit of this Province were agreed to by the House; whereupon, the Gov- ernor said they might proceed to engross the Bill.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, March 7th, 1745.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Samuel Hasel, Abraham Taylor, S Esqrs.
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved.
The Governor inform'd the Council that the House had agreed to the Amendments propos'd to the Flour Act, & that he had told them they might order the several Bills which had been approv'd to be engross'd, and Mr. Taylor & Mr. Strethil were desir'd as a Committe of Council to examine them when engross'd, with a Committee of the House, which they did, and found them to agree with the Copies, but that as in one of the Bills there were some words that were rendered superfluous by one of the Amendments agreed to, the Governor, on a Message from the House, assented they shou'd be erased.
The Governor further inform'd the Council that he had appointed
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this Day, at 12 o'Clock, to receive the Speaker & the whole House in order to pass the several Bills, and accordingly the Speaker, at the head of the whole House, presented the following Bills, which the Governor Enacted into Laws, Viz4:
" A Bill for the Re-emitting and Continuing the Loan of the Bills of Credit of this Province."
" A Bill for amending the several Acts for Electing Members of Assembly."
" A Bill for the more easy and speedy Recovery of small Debts."
" A Supplement to an Act entitled 'an Act for Erecting of Houses of Correction and Work Houses in the respective Counties,' And to the Act entitled 'an Act to enable Jeremiah Langhorn, &cª", to Build a Court House in the County of Bucks.' "
" A Bill for Erecting a House of Correction and Work House in the Borough of Bristol, in the County of Bucks, and for raising of Money on the Inhabitants of the said Borough for the Public Usc and Benefit thereof."
" A Supplementary Bill to the Act Entitled ' An Act for pre- venting the Exportation of Bread and Flour not Merchantable.'"
" A Bill for the more effectual suppressing profane Cursing & Swearing."
And Mr. Laurence & Mr. Hassel were desir'd to see the Great Seal Affixed to them.
The Speaker at the same time presented the Governor with two Orders, one on the Trustees of the Loan Office for £500, and the other on the Provincial Treasurer for £1,000, & inform'd the Gov- ernor that the House propos'd to Adjourn to the 19th of May, to which His Honour made no objection.
1209129
At a Council held at Philadelphia, June 3d, 1746.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor.
Thomas Laurence,
Robert Strethil,
Abraham Taylor,
Benjamin Shoemaker, Esqrs.
James Hamilton,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Governor inform'd the Board that on the 19th of May two Members of Assembly had waited on him to inform him the House was met according to their Adjournment, and that he had sent a Message to the House the next Day and received an Answer from them, which, together with the Letter & the several Papers therein referr'd to, were read, and the Messages were ordered to be enter'd.
-
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A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" You will see by the Letter and other Papers received from Gov- ernor Clinton since your last Meeting, that I am again desired to appoint Commissioners in order to concert Measures with those already appointed by him and by Governor Shirley for the Security and Defence of His Majestie's Colonies during the present War, and that the positive Refusal of the Six Nations to join in the War against the French and the Indians in Alliance with them is urged to shew the immediate Necessity of such an Appointment.
,
" My Answer to this Letter was in substance, that I had laid his former Letter on this Subject before you, as I should this at your next Meeting, and I repeated that you had expressed a readiness to enter into any reasonable Measures for His Majestie's Service and the Welfare of the Colonies, but that you had thought it would be time enough to appoint Commissioners for this when you should be made acquainted with the Resolutions of the Neighbouring Gov- ernments. I observed, likewise, that those of Virginia, Maryland, & Connecticut, were still unknown to us.
" As my Sentiments on this matter have been fully delivered to you already, I shall only add, that notwithstanding the seeming Resolution of the Council of the Six Nations to preserve a Neu- trality, it is much to be apprehended that their young Men who are fond of Military Achievements will join the French Indians in their barbarous Incursions upon the British Colonies, and that the old Men not having Power to restrain will be obliged to wink at them, and perhaps in the end break out into an open Revolt. How fatal such a procedure will be to this and the British Colonies in general you will judge, and I trust that you will not be so wanting to your- selves as not to take the most reasonable Measures to prevent it.
" GEO. THOMAS. " May 20th, 1746."
A Message from the Assembly to the Governor.
" May it please the Governor :
" We look upon it as a Matter of great Importance to this and the neighbouring Governments that the most effectual Measures be taken, as often as it becomes necessary, to secure the Six United Nations, and the Indians in Alliance with them, in their Fidelity to the Crown of Great Britain, and to cultivate and maintain that Friendship and good Understanding which hath so long subsisted between us and them. To this end, as the Governor well knows, this Province hath at many times been at great Expence as well in Presents made to those Indians as for carrying on of Treaties with them, sometimes in conjunction with other Colonies, sometimes
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seperately. At all which Treaties, and particularly those lately held, the Indians have constantly declared themselves steady, un- alterable, and determined to continue their antient Amity with this and the neighbouring Governments; and therefore we hope, that tho' they may have refused to join in the present War against the French and their Indians, they will remain firm in their Friend- ship to us and other the British Colonies. However, as the Gov- ernor and the Governor of New York seem to apprehend the Danger of their Revolt, and the Necessity of appointing of Com- missioners from the several Governments, we continue our former Resolutions that if such Commissioners shall be thought necessary, either for securing the Indians in the British Interest or for any other purposes which shall appear to us to be for the general Good, we shall chearfully concur in it. But since, as the Governor is pleased to observe in His Message, the Sentiments of most of the other Colonies are unknown to us, and it is uncertain whether they will accede to such Appointments or not, And as it does not ap- pear to us that a Meeting of Commissioners for New York, the Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania only, would be of any great Ser- vice, therefore, as formerly, we think it best to postpone our par- ticular Resolutions in the Affair until the Determination of the other Colonies are made known to us.
"Sign'd by Order of the House. "JOHN KINSEY, Speaker.
"3d Mon. 21st, 1746."
MEMORANDUM.
Two Members of the Assembly waited on the Governor to in- form him that the House was inclined to Adjourn to the Eighteenth Day of August if he had no objection to that time. The Governor said he had no Objection.
The Governor having received by Express from Boston a Letter from the Duke of Newcastle, Dated at Whitehall, 9th April, 1746, relating to an intended Expedition against Canada, the same was read, and ordered to be entered at length.
" Whitehall, April 9th, 1746.
" Sir :
"I am commanded to acquaint You that His Majesty has been pleased to order Five Battalions of His Troops, under the command of Lieutenant General St. Clair, to go from hence as soon as pos- sible, with a sufficient Convoy of Men of War, to Louisbourgh, in order to be employ'd together with the Regiments of Major General Frampton, which has been some time ordered to embark for Louis- bourgh, and with the other two Regiments sent thither from Gib- ralter, and also with such Troops as shall be levied for that pur- pose in North America, for the immediate Reduction of Canada.
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And I am commanded by His Majesty to signify his Pleasure to You (as I do to the other Governors of the said Colonies) that you should forthwith make the necessary Dispositions for raising as many Men as the shortness of the time will permit within your Government, to be employ'd in Concert with His Majesty's regular Forces on this important Service. It is hoped that Lieutenant General St. Clair will be able to sail from hence, with the Troops under his Command, the Latter end of April or the Beginning of May.
"It is the King's Intention that the Troops to be raised should consist of Companies of One hundred Men each; and that those that shall be raised in the several Provinces of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, & Virginia, should be formed into one Corps, to be commanded by Mr. Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (whom the King has been pleased, on this occasion, to promote to the Rank of a Brigadier General), and that they should rendezvous at Albany within the Province of New York, or at such other Place as Mr. Gooch shall think proper to appoint, in order to proceed from thence by Land into the Southern Parts of Canada.
"The Troops to be raised in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, are to rendezvous at Louisbourg, and to proceed with the forces sent from hence, under Convoy of His Majestie's Fleet, up the River of St. Lawrence to Quebec.
"In consequence of these Dispositions, His Majesty has order'd me to recommend it to you in the strongest manner to proceed im- mediately to raise as large a Body of Men as the shortness of the time will permit within your Government, and you will appoint such Officers as you shall think proper to command them; for which pur- pose a number of Blank Commissions will be sent you by the next Conveyance. And you will transmit to Mr. Gooch a particular ac- count of what you shall be able to do herein; and you will follow such directions as you shall receive from Mr. Gooch, with regard to the Place of Rendezvous and every thing relating to the proceedings of the said Troops.
"You will assure all those that shall engage in this Service, as well Officers as Soldiers, that they will immediately enter into His Majesty's pay-the Officers from the time they shall engage in His Majesty's Service, and the Soldiers from the respective Days on which they shall enlist; and that they shall come in for a share of any Booty to be taken from the Enemy, and be sent back to their respective Habitations when this Service is over, unless any of them shall desire to settle Elsewhere.
" As to the Article of Arms and Cloathing for the Men to be raised, His Majesty has commanded me to recommend it to You and the other Governors to take care that the Soldiers may be provided with them ; And His Majesty has authorized and empowered Lieutenant
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General St. Clair to make a reasonable allowance for defraying that Expence.
"You will recommend it to the Council and Assembly of Penn- sylvania to provide a sufficient quantity of Provisions for the sub- sistence of the Troops.
"I am ordered by His Majesty to recommend it to You to make strictest Enquiry for any Persons that may be acquainted with the Navigation of the River St. Lawrence; And if You can find any such, You will engage them at any rate to serve as Pilots on board His Majestie's Fleet, and you will send them as soon as possible to Louisbourg for that Purpose.
"I am, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, " HOLLES NEWCASTLE."
It was the unanimous opinion of the Board that Writs shou'd Issue to Summon the Assembly to meet on the 9th Instant, & that in the mean time a proper Proclamation shou'd be prepared to be published on that Day.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, 9th June, 1746.
PRESENT :
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Captain Palmer,
Thomas Laurence,
Samuel Hasell,
Abraham Taylor, Esqrs.
Robert Strethil, Benjamin Shoemaker,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved.
The Governor laid before the Board the Draught of a Proclama- tion, which was approved, and the Secretary was directed to get it immediately engross'd in order to be publish'd this Evening at Six o'Clock at the Court House.
" By the Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esq". Lieutenant Gov- ernor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.
"A PROCLAMATION.
" His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, one of His Majestie's prin- cipal Secretaries of State, having by His Letter of the 9th of April last signified unto me, as well as to the other Governors of the Northern Colonies, That His Majesty has been pleased to order a considerable. Body of His Troops from England under the Com- mand of Lieutenant General St. Clair, with a sufficient Convoy of Men of War to Louisburg, for the immediate Reduction of Canada, and that I should forthwith make the necessary Dispositions for
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raising as many Men as the shortness of the time will permit within my Government to be employ'd in concert with His Majesty's regu- lar Forces on this Important Service.
"That it is the King's Intention the Troops to be raised should consist of Companies of One hundred Men each; and that those that shall be raised in the several Provinces of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, be formed into one Corps to be commanded by Mr. Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Vir- ginia (whom the King has been pleased on this occasion to pro- mote to the Rank of Brigadier General), and they should rendez- vous at Albany, within the Province of New York, or at such other Place as Mr. Gooch shall think proper to appoint, in order to pro- ceed from thence by Land into the Southren Parts of Canada ; whilst those to be raised in the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, are to Rendez- vous at Louisburg, and to proceed with the Forces sent from Eng- land under Convoy of His Majesty's Fleet up the River St. Lawrence to Quebec.
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