USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 37
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his Executors or Administrators, for the Recovery of the Money so to be expended by the said Overseers respectively with Six # Cent. Interest for the same.
"32d. Pa. 26, Line 10. Dele [and other Necessaries].
"33d. " " Line 14. After [other] add [Excepting Parents for their young Children under the Age of Fourteen Years, Hus- bands for their Wives, and Masters being Mechanicks for their indented Apprentices, And unless the Person or Persons entring into such Bond for the Passages or Freights of each other shall duly sign and seal the same with the Approbation and in the Pre- sence of some one Magistrate of the City or County where such Bond shall be given, who shall attest the same.
"34th. Pa. 26, Line 14. Dele the last Line of Page 26, all 27, 28 (and leaving out the Rider), 29, 30, 31, and to the End of the 4th Line in Page 32.
"35th. Pa. 32, Line 8. After [otherwise] dele [directed shall be recovered by the Provincial Treasurer, one half to the Trustees of Province Island] and in Place thereof insert [appropriated shall (after all reasonable Charges and Expences of recovering the same deducted) be applied and paid as follows, that is to say : One-Third Part thereof to and for the Use of the Health Officer for the Time Being, One-Third Part thereof to and for the Use of the Informer who shall sue for the same, and the other Third Part thereof to the Trustees of the Province Island aforesaid for the Time being].
" 36th. Pa. 7, Lines 12 & 13. Dele [and the other half to the In- former] and in Place thereof insert [and Sallaries of the Keeper and Servants of the said Pest House, Furniture, and other necessary Uses thereof ].
"37th. Pa. 7, Lines 12 & 13. Dele Two last Lines of Page 32, all 33, and to the End of the 3d Line of Page 34, and in Place thereof insert [And be it enacted by the Authority aforcsd., that the Health Officer aforesaid for the Time being shall have and receive for every such German or other Passenger or Servant imported into this Province after the Publication of this Act the Sum of Six Pense, to be paid by the Merchant or Importer of such Passengers and Servants, and to be recovered in case of Refusal by Warrant . from any one Justice of the Peace in the same manner as Debts under Forty Shillings are recovered in this Province]."
Then the Governor laid before the Board a Bill entituled "An Act to prevent the Exportation of Provisions, Naval or Warlike Stores from this Province to Cape Breton or to any other the Do- minions of the Frenth King or Places at present in Possession of any of his Subjects," which was read and agreed to except that Para- graph which excepts Boats and small Craft carrying Provision to and from the City of Philadelphia, which is proposed to be left out, and the Act in Force to be continued for a longer Term.
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On considering the Minutes of Council of Yesterday the following Message was wrote and sent to the House, together with Copies of Indian Minutes of the 20th and 24th of December last and those of Yesterday :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" Scarrooyady coming to Town without an Interpreter I sent for Mr. Weiser, and Yesterday received from this Chief an Account of his Proceedings in the Discharge of the several Matters committed to his Care by the Ohio Indians and the Governments of Virginia, Maryland, and this Province, which, together with what passed when he was last here in his way to the Six Nations, will be laid before You by the Secretary.
" So much depends on the Disposition and Measures of the In- dians at this Time that I must earnestly recommend it to You to make Provision for the ensuing Treaty, as well as to enable me to take proper Notice of this Chief who is so hearty in our Interest, and of the young Men he has brought along with him in order to be employed in some Services which he says are of Importance to the general Cause.
"It will readily occur to You that the several Western Indians who wish well to the English Interest wait with Impatience for the Return of this Chief, and will form their Measures according to the Report which he shall make to them of our Treatment of them, for which Reason it will be of the last Consequence that this Chief and these young Men go from Us well cloathed and perfectly well pleased.
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" April 1, 1755."
A Bill entituled " An Act for Striking the Sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit and giving the same to the King's Use, and for providing a Fund to sink the Bills so to be emitted," was read, and the following Message to the Assembly was drawn up and agreed to :
" Gentlemen-
"Your Bill for striking Twenty-Five Thousand Pounds being contrary to his Majesty's Instructions relating to Paper Money, and of the same Nature with the Bill I refused my Assent to the last Sitting of Assembly, I cannot pass it into a Law without a Breach of Duty to the Crown, and I am concerned that You should offer such a Bill to me when You had agreed to submit the Dispute be- tween Us upon one of the like Kind to his Majesty.
" As this is a Time of imminent Danger, and the Forces raised and destined for the Service of the Colonies must wait the Supplies from this Province, I again entreat You to fall upon some other
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Method of raising Money that We may not loose this happy Oppor- tunity of recovering his Majesty's Dominions now invaded by the Subjects of the French King, and preventing their unjust En- croachments for the future.
"But if these repeated Recommendations of so reasonable a Supply shall fail of the desired Effect, and any ill Consequences should attend it, his Majesty and his Ministers, a British Parlia- ment, your own Constituents, and the neighbouring Governments, will be at no Loss on whom the lay the Blame.
" ROBT. H. MORRIS. " April 1, 1755."
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MEMORANDUM.
On the Third of April Two Members waited upon the Governor and acquainted him that the House desired him to return their Bill for striking Twenty-Five Thousand Pounds for the King's Use. The Gov" informed them that He found that Bill to be of so extraordi- nary a Nature that he thought his Duty required him to lay it be- fore his Majesty, and accordingly for that Purpose he should keep it.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday, 5th April, 1755. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
John Penn, Richard Penn, Esquires.
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Governor informed the Council that he had received the Day before yesterday Intelligence of the French having fitted out Fifteen Sail of Line of Battle Ships, and sent in them Six Thousand Land Forces, and that they were destinated for North America, and he had thereupon sent the following Message to the Assembly :
"Gentlemen-
" I have received Intelligence that the French have fitted out fifteen Sail of Line of Battle Ships, with which they are sending Six Thousand Land Forces; and tho' the King's Ministers are informed of the general Destination of this Armament for North America, yet the particular Place they intend to make a Descent upon is still a Secret. But as they have already gained a Footing, and have a Body of Troops on the Back of this Province, and can- not be ignorant of the defenceless State of this plentiful Colony, VOL. VI .- 23.
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there is too much Reason to fear that their Designs may be against Us
"I think it, therefore, my Duty, Gentlemen, to call upon You to enable me to put this Province into a Posture of Defence by estab- lishing a regular Militia, and providing the necessary Stores of War.
"ROBERT H. MORRIS.
" April 3, 1755."
The German Bill was returned to the Governor with a Message that the House had agreed to sundry of his proposed Amendments, and desired that he would be pleased to pass the same as it now stands ; but as, upon looking into the Paper delivered by the House, he saw the principal ones were not agreed to, he gave them no Answer, and said he saw no Use in altercating this Matter at this Time.
The Assembly's Answer to the Governor's proposed Amendments to the German Bill.
" Bill-Page 1, 2, 3, & Part of 4, to the word accountable. The House agree to insert so much of the Governor's Amendments (Page 1, 2, 3, & 4 to the Word accountable), so far as the Proviso in the said Amendments relates to his Majesty's Ships of War, viz. : Begin- ning with the Word [Provided].
" (Amendm' No. 1). Line 21, Page 2, and ending with the word [Distempers] Line 27. For the Rest the House adhere to the Bill.
" Page 5 & 6. After the Word [aforesaid] add [or in case of his absence from the Mayor, Recorder, or any two Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia].
" (Amendm1. 2). Pa. 5, L. 13. Agreed to the Governor's Amend- ment.
" (Amendm'. 3). Pa. 5, L. 17. Agreed to the Governor's Amend- ment.
" (Amendm. 4). P. 6, L. 12. Adhere to the Bill in the first Part of this Amendment and agree to insert ['with the names of all such Persons'].
" (5). Pa. 7, L. 1. Agree to this Amendment.
" (6). L. 12 & 13. Agree to the addition of the Words ['and Report of the said Physicians and Health Officer or either of them'] but let the Words [or otherwise] stand as in the Bill.
" (7). Page 7, 8. Agree to add the Amendment after the Word [Being] P. 7, and the rest stand as in the Bill.
" (8, 9). Page 7, 8. Adhere to the Bill.
1
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" (10). P. 9, L. 14. Adhere to the Bill.
" (11). P. 10, L. 5. Add the Governor's Amendment and let the Bill stand as it is.
" (12). P. 10, L. 6. Adhere to the Bill.
" (13). P. 10, L. 16. Adhere to the Bill.
" (14). P. 10, L. 18. Adhere to the Bill.
" (15). P. 11, 12). Adhere to the Bill.
" (16). P. 12, L. ult. Adhere to the Bill.
" (17). P. 13, L. 9. Agree to the Amendment.
" (17). P. 13, L. 15. Agree to the Amendment.
" (17). P. 13, L. 16. Agree to the Amendment.
" (18). P. 14, L. 8. We do not agree to the Dele, But agree to the Amendment from the Words [and if] 2d Line of the said Amendment to the Word [Act] at the End of the said amendment (No. 18).
" (19). P. 15, L. 8. Agreed to Amendment.
" (20). P. 15, L. 10. Adhere to the Bill.
" (21). P. 15, L. 15. Agree to the Amendment and add after the Words [or upwards] ' from the last Port.'
" (22). Page 17, L. 12. Agreed to.
" (23). Page 17, L. Ult. Agreed to.
" (24). Page 18, L. 18. Agreed to. " (25). Page 19, L. 5. Agreed to.
" (26). Page 20, L. 14. Add the Amendment to the Bill as it stands.
" (27, 28). P. 20, 21. Adhere to the Bill.
" (29). P. 21, L. 5. Agreed to.
" (30). P. 21, 12. Agreed to. " (31). P. 22, L. 8 to P. 26, L. 5. Adhere to the Bill. " (32). P. 26, L. 10. Agreed to.
" (33). P. 26, L. 14. After [other ] add ' Excepting Parents for their young Children under the Age of Fourteen Years, and Hus- bands for their Wives; Provided always, That the Person or Per- sons entring into such Bond or Bonds for the said Passages or Freights shall duly sign and seal the same with the Approbation and in the Presence of some one Magistrate of the City or County, within this Province, where such Bond or Bonds shall be given, who shall attest the same.'
" (34). From last Line P. 26 to line 4, P. 32, including Rider. Adhere to the Bill.
" (35). P. 32, L. 8. Adhere to the Bill.
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" (36). P. 32, L. 12, 33. Adhere to the Bill.
" (37). From P. 32 to L. 3, P. 34. Adhere to the Bill. " April 4, 1754, P. M."
The Bill to prevent the Exportation of Provisions and naval or warlike Stores to the French having been engrossed with the Al- terations agreed on and compared by a Member of Council and a Member of the House, the Governor sent the Secretary with a Message that he was ready to receive the House in order to pass the same into a Law; and the Speaker attending with the House the same was enacted into a Law, and a Warrant sign'd to affix the Great Seal to it, and Mr. Peters was desired to see it fixed, and the act lodged in the Recorder's Office.
The Governor and Council were informed that there was found among John Kinsey's Papers the Lords Justices' Approbation of eleven Pennsylvania Acts, bearing Date the twenty-ninth of Octo- ber, 1748, one of which was an Act for granting Five Thousand Pounds to the King's Use out of the Bills of Credit now remain- ing in the Hands of the Trustees of the General Loan Office for exchanging torn and ragged Bills, and for striking the like Sum to replace in their Hands, passed the twenty-fourth of June, 1746. It is supposed that it was sent by the agent to Mr. Kinsey in order to be given to Governor Hamilton to be enter'd in the Council minutes, but he had neglected to do it, and therefore Mr. Hamilton not seeing it in the Minutes had taken it for granted that the act was not ratified, and accordingly mentioned it in one of his Messages to the Assembly as never offered to the Lords Justices nor approved by them, and the present Governor had said the same Thing; but now the Notification of the Approbation being discovered, it was inspected and ordered to be entered, and is as follows : 1
" At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 29th Day of October, 1748.
"PRESENT :
" Their Excellencies the Lords Justices.
" Mr. Vice Chamberlain, " Duke of Bedford,
" Lord Chancellor, "Lord Chief Justice Willes,
" Lord President, " George Dodington, Esqr.,
" Earl of Harrington, " William Pitt, Esq.
" Lord Privy Seal, " Henry Pelham, Esq.
" Whereas, in Pursuance of the Powers granted to the Proprieta- ries of the Province of Pennsylvania by Letters patent under the Great Seal, the Deputy Governor, Council, and Assembly of the said Province did in 1744, 1745, 1746, and 1747, pass several Acts which have been transmitted, Eleven whereof are entituled as follow, viz *:
"1. 'An Act for the new Appointment of Trustees of the Gene-
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ral Loan Office of Pennsylvania, and for making current Ten Thou- sand Pounds in new Bills of Credit, to exchange such of those now by Law current as are torn and defaced, passed the 26th of May, 1744.'
"2. ' An Act for re-emitting and continuing the Loan of the Bills of credit of this Province, passed the 7th of May, 1745.'
"3. ' An Act for granting Five Thousand Pounds to the King's Use out of the Bills of Credit now remaining in the Hands of the Trustees of the General Loan Office, for exchanging torn and ragged Bills, and for striking the like Sum to replace in their Hands,' passed the 24th of June, 1746.
"4. ' An Act for the speedy Trial of Capital Offences committed by any Indian or Indians in the remote Parts of the Province,' passed the 19th of October, 1744.
" 5. ' An Act for erecting a House of Correction and a 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 publick Use and Benefit thereof,' passed the 7th of March, 1745.
"6. ' An Act for amending the several Acts for electing Mem- bers of Assembly, passed the 7th of March, 1745.'
"7. ' An Act for the more easy and speedy Recovery of small Debts, passed the 7th of March, 1745.'
"8. 'A supplementary Act to the Act entituled 'An Act for preventing the exportation of Bread and Flour not merchantable, passed the 7th of March, 1745.'
" 9. ' An Act for the more effectual suppressing prophane cursing and Swearing, passed the 7th of March, 1745.'
" 10. ' A Supplement to the Act entituled ' An Act for erecting Houses of Correction and Work-houses in the respective Counties,' and to the Act entituled ' An Act to enable Jeremiah Langhorne, &ca, to build a Court House in the County of Bucks, passed the 7th of March, 1745.'
" 11. ' An Act for the Continuence of an Act entituled 'An Act for the better securing the City of Philadelphia from the Danger of Gunpowder, passed the 8th of May, 1747.'
"Their Excellencies the Lords Justices this Day took the said Acts into Consideration, and having received the Opinion of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, and also of a Com- mittee of the Lords of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Coun- cil thereupon, are hereby pleased to declare their Approbation of the said Acts ; and pursuant to their Excellencies Pleasure there- upon expressed the said acts are hereby confirmed, finally enacted, and ratified accordingly-Whereof the Deputy Governor, Council, and Assembly of the said Province, and all others whom it may concern, are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.
""'W. SHARP.'"
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MEMORANDUM.
Governor Shirley and Governor Delancey came to town in their Way to General Braddock, and the Governor determining to accom- pany them He acquainted the House with his Intention in the following Message :
" Gentlemen :
"I expect Governor Shirley and Governor Delancey in Town this Evening in their Way to Annapolis to meet General Braddock, Governor Dinwiddie, and Governor Sharpe, whither I propose to accompany them. I imagine they will chuse to go forward early to- morrow morning as the affairs We are called together upon will admit of no Delay.
"I think it necessary to notify this to You and reccomend it to you to make a short adjournment, as it is very probable that I shall have several Matters to lay before you upon my Return.
" BOB'T. H. MORRIS. " April 8, 1755."
The Governor having received a Letter from the Reverend Mr. Spangenberg at Bethlehem that some Sasquehannah Indians were on their Road from Wyomink to pay a Visit to the Government, he ordered the Secretary to lay the Letter before the Assembly, that Provision might be made for them in his Absence.
A Letter to Governor Morris from Mr. Spangenberg.
" May it please your Honour :
" Having been informed by a Messenger from on the Mahony that a certain Embassy of Indians dwelling on the Sasquehannah are daily expected there, who intend to go by Way of Bethlehem to Philadelphia. Whatever their Business may be I cannot tell but thought it my Duty to acquaint your Honour of it, that We might know your Honour's Pleasure in what manner to treat them, and to receive by Mr. Horsefield, who comes with this to wait upon your Honour, the Governor's Commands in this Affair, will oblige very much,
" Your Honour's most humble and most obedient Servant,
"SPANGENBERG, mpp.
" BETHLEHEM, April 4th, 1755."
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Scarrooyady was presented to Governor Shirley and Governor Delancey in a private Conversation with the Governor. He made heavy Complaints that the Indians which he brought from the Country of the Six Nations in order to serve the Governm' were
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naked, and he should be ashamed to carry them with him to Aucgquick in so miserable a Condition ; and if they should be per- mitted to go so bare to Aucgquick it would prejudice the Indians there mightily against the People of Pennsylvania, whereupon the Governor sent a verbal Message by the Secretary in these Words :
"The Governor commands me to inform the House that the Indians express much Dissatisfaction, and say their young Men are ashamed to go naked thro' their Brethren's Country, and show themselves among their People at Aughquick without Clothes. He further recommends it to the House to send a careful Man with them at least one Day's Journey, and that they give to Scarrooyady a sufficient Sum to defray their Expences in their Journey to Aughquick."
On the Ninth April the Assembly sent the following Message to the Governor and at the same Time acquainted him that the House proposed to adjourn to the Twelfth of May next; he told them that this was rather too long a Time, but he would call them sooner if any Thing should be done with the General to make their Meeting be- fore the Twelfth necessary :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
"May it please the Governor :
"As the Season of the Year is now favourable, and the Time when the Indians ought to plant their Corn, We hope the heavy Charges We have sustained for supporting them through the Win- ter are nearly over; Nevertheless, as We are unwilling to leave them entirely beyond our Notice, We are of Opinion it may be ad- visable to settle the Indians from Aughquick and such Others as may continue to take Refuge among Us, upon their own Lands at French Town, where there is, as our Interpreter informs Us, a considerable Quantity of cleared Land, formerly an Indian Settlement. Herc they might plant their Corn and hunt towards their own Subsistence, and occasionally apply to this Government for Help in Cases of real Necessity. But as our Treasury in exhausted by the immediate Calls of the Crown in Support of the British Interest in North America, We are not able to assist them in the Manner We could wish and desire; and what we can do must be conducted with Jus- tice & Frugality.
"The Governor has been pleased to recommend to Us particularly to make Provision for the ensuing Treaty, and to enable him to take proper notice of Scarrooyady and the young Men he has brought along with him; We shall provide for this Chief and the young Men to their Satisfaction. But as this is the first Time We have heard of the Treaty, and the Governor has not been pleased to lay before Us the Necessity of such a Treaty or the Matters to be treated of when there, We presume He will not expect any immediate Resolves
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of this House till he shall be pleased to communicate such further Information on that Head as he may judge necessary.
" Sign'd by Order of the House. "ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
"In Assembly, April 9, 1755."
At a Council in the Council Chamber at the State House, Mon- day the 14th April, 1755.
PRESENT :
Robert Strettell, - Benjamin Shoemaker, Lawrence Growden, Esquires.
Joseph Turner, William Logan,
Packsenosa, a King of the Shawonese.
Tatenscung, or Honest John, a Sachem of the Delawares.
Mamalatasecung, or Abraham, a Sachem of the Mohiccons.
Maseecheinen, a Sachem of the Delawares.
Tepeschawaunk, a Sachem of the Delawares.
Gootanecke, a Sachem of the Mohickons.
Waghoolalenun or Jo, the Interpreter.
Scarrooyady, a Sachem of the Six nations.
John Davison, the English Interpreter.
The President acquainted the Indians that the Governor being absent the Council represented him and bid them welcome, and in order to wipe the Tears from their Eyes and clear their Throats, and that they might open their Hearts freely and without Deceit or Dis- guise deliver what they had to say, they gave them a string of Wampum.
Gave a String.
Tatenscung in answer said :
" Brethren-
"It having been always the Custom of our Grandfathers and Us on our meeting our dear Brothers the English to have the House Where We sit in Council swept and cleaned out, I have, therefore, brought this small Wing with me to sweep clean the House."
Gave a String.
" But as the Wind blows the Dust into your Eyes and Ears I have brought a fine soft Cloth to wipe it away that you may sec
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your Brothers clearly and hear the better what they have to say to you."
Gave a String.
" Dear Brothers :
"You sent Us about a Year ago by Conrad Weiser or his Son a String of Wampum to let Us know that it was a long Time since You had seen Us, and that You were afraid our Hearts were estranged or changed from You and that the Chain of Friendship was grown rusty, and to desire that When any Thing scared or troubled Us We should make You acquainted with it, and to assure Us that You would be always glad to see Us and to assist Us, and We are now come to acquaint You that our Hearts and Affections remain still the same towards You and to brighten the Chain with You."
Gave Three Strings of Wampum.
And then proceeded :
" Dear Brothers-
" We are now come down to see You and have a great deal more to say to You, but being wearied with our Journey desire You will appoint a Time when You will hear Us."
Gave Four Strings of Wampum.
The President then desired to know whether they came to speak to them of Matters relating to the War or about Land Affairs, and
Gave a String of Wampum.
Teedyuscung Tatenscung answered that they had no particular Business, but that as it is now a long Time since the Covenant of Friendship settled with their Grandfathers by old William Penn was . brightened, they come down'to renew it with Us, and being much tired desire they may have Time to rest them till the day after to- morrow before they meet the Council again.
At a Council at the State House Wednesday the Sixteenth of April, 1755.
PRESENT :
Robert Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker,
Joseph Turner, William Logan, & Esquires.
Lawrence Growdon,
The same Indians and Interpreters as before.
The President let the Indians know that the Council was ready to hear what they had farther to say.
Tatenscung spoke as follows:
" Brethren :
" We came from Wyomink by the Road which our Uncles the
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Six Nations had made clear and open for Us to our Brethren the English.
"Our Uncles had kindled a Fire for Us (by Covenant made with our Brothers the English) in the middle of that Road; that when We got up in a morning We heard great Storms of Wind blow, but looking up the Road towards our Uncles We saw them sitting with their Doors open, and in like manner looking towards our Brothers the English had the Satisfaction to see them in the same peaceable and quiet State."
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