USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 14
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"Now, this is humbly to Request your Honour that if they come down to Harris' Ferry to meet your Honour there, Augustus may have your Honour's Passports, and be Safely Conducted by Proper and Careful Officers to Bethleham again, for so much I have Pro- mised him, and he Expects it from your Honour.
"I am, Your Honour's Humble Servant,
"SPANGENBERG."
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At a Council Held at Mr. Turner's, Thursday, 6 May, 1756.
PRESENT :
Robert Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker,
Thomas Cadwalader, Joseph Turner, Esquires.
Richard Peters, John Mifflin,
The Secretary read the Draught of a Letter to General Shirley, relating to Sir William Johnston's Letter, and being approved, it was ordered to be wrote fair, & signed by him, and then sent under a flying seal to Sir Charles Hardy, with a Proper Letter on the Sub- ject. Copy of Yesterday minute was ordered to be sent to General- Shirley, with a Letter of Thanks for his kind order about the Arms, &c.
The Western post not being come in, Owing, as it is Supposed to the Enemy Indians, committing Ravages at and about Winchester, the Council Ordered an Express to be sent to the Governor, with the Letters from General Shirley and a Copy of the Last Minutes of Council, & the Secretary prepared a Letter to the Governor, which was approved.
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At a Council Held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 11th May, 1756.
PRESENT :
James Hamilton,
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters, Robert Strettle, Esquires.
John Mifflin, Thomas Cadwalader,
The Secretary Informed the Council that two members had called at his House with a Message to the Governor, but he was not at Home, & that the Clark called on him to know if the Governor had left a message for the Assembly with him, the Secretary told the clark that he had not, but his Brother had wrote to him, by Mr. John Smith, member of Cumberland, that a message would be sent time Enough, as he hoped to be in town as last night.
About five o'clock yesterday, in the afternoon, the Express arrived with a Message from the Governor to the House, in these words : " Gentlemen :
" The People of the Frontier Counties to the Westward, Dis- tressed by the Cruel Ravages of the Indians, having lost Great numbers of their fighting men, and the Remainder being Drove from their Habitations into the interior Parts of the Province, or Worn out with constant Watchings, there is the Greatest Reason to apprehend, upon the next attack, the Counties of York & Cum- berland will be Entirely Evacuated, and the River Sasquehannah become the frontier on that side, notwithstanding all the Commis-
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sioners and myself have been able to do for their safety; the consider- ation of this Deplorable and Dangerous situation, of those Counties which the most considerable of their Inhabitants, have in the most affecting manner, Laid before me, Induced me to call you Together before the time to which you stood adjourned, that the Best & speediest measures might be taken to Prevent, if Possible, the total Ruin and Desolation of so Considerable a part of the Province, which there is too much Reason to fear, for what has already Hap- pened, & that our Enemies will come in Larger Bodies, and favoured by the Season of the year, do us much Greater Mischiefs than they Hitherto done.
" The Law for the Better Ordering and Regulating such as are willing & Desirous to be United for military purposes, within this Province, has Contributed very little towards the Defence of the Frontiers, and as I observed to you when I Passed it, is so Defec- tive in itself, and requires so much Time to carry it into Execution, that Nothing Good is to be expected from it, tho' many Companies have formed themselves under that Law, yet as it is not in my Power to Order any of them to the frontiers, they are, as to that most Martial Service, Entirely useless; I must, therefore, recom- mend it to you, to form such a Militia Bill as is just & Equal, that may be carried into Immediate Execution, and may enable me to Draw the Strength of the Province to such parts as Stands most in need of it, that the Burden of Defending the Frontiers, & Conse- quently the Province, may not fall too Heavily upon the few In- habitants whose Circumstances oblige them to remain in the Back Counties.
" By the Latest Accounts from Europe, there is the Greatest Reason to apprehend that the French have sent, or intend to send, a Considerable Armament into America, which, in all Probability, will be the Seat of War; and as I conceive, they will Depend upon being Supplied with Provisions from these Colonies, through the Dutch Settlements in the West Indies, and have already had Great Quantities ; that way it may Greatly Contribute to our Success, if the Channel of their Procuring supplies be stopped, which in my Opinion, cannot be effectually done, but by a General Embargo ; and we shall thereby not only Distress them, but be better able to supply his Majesty's Forces Employed in Our Defence; I therefore Reccommend it to you to Prepare a Bill to Enforce and Render Effectual by Proper Penalties, and the Sanction of the Law, such an Embargo as shall be thought Necessary by my self & the Gov- ernors of the Neighbouring Provinces to answer those Ends.
"The Affairs of the Frontiers and the Particular Expedition for Building a Fort at Shamokin, which is of so great Importance to the Province, requiring my Personal care and attendance here for some Time Longer, it gives me Concern that I cannot be at Phila- delphia at this time ; but you may be assured I will Give all the
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Dispatch Imaginable to any Bills you may propose, which the Sec- retary will Send me from time to time by Express.
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" Harris' Ferry, May 9th, 1756."
The Secretary delivered the said Message to the House, and was desired by the Clerk to stay a Little, which he did, and then the Clerk told him that the House expected a Copy of the Writ, by which they were Summoned, would have been Delivered, as they could not Proceed to Business without it. The Secretary said he would apply to the Council for there advice.
The Council was therefore called by the Secretary, and being In- formed of this message by the Clerk, and asked what he should do, they Advised him to deliver a Copy to the Clerk, as this had al- ways been done, and which was not adverted to by the Governor.
At a Council Held at Philadelphia, May 12th, 1756.
PRESENT :
James Hamilton,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Robert Strettle, Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters,
Thomas Cadwalader,
Esquires. John Mifflin,
The Secretary Laid before the Council Two Letters from Sir Charles Hardy, one Dated the 5th May, Relating to an Embargo, with Copies of the Acts passed in New York, the other dated the 9th of May, in Answer to Letters received from the Governor and Secretary, both which were Read and ordered to be Entered as Folows :
A Letter from Governor Hardy to Governor Morris. "FORT GEORGE, New York, 5th May, 1756.
" Sir :
" In my Letter to you of the 16th & 18th of Last month, I had the Honour to propose a Law to be passed in the several Colonies for the Prohibiting the Exportation of Provisions, to Prevent the Enemy's drawing Supplys by any Indirect means from the Pro- vision Colonies, or if the Legislatures declined such a measure that the Several Governors would agree to lay an Embargo which would fully answer this Good Purpose.
" Upon the meeting of the General Assembly of this Province, I recommended to them to frame a Bill for this Purpose, and have now the Pleasure to Inform you that I passed such a Law yester- day, a Copy of which I inclose you, which you will please to ob- serve is to Continue in Force three months, if your Province & New Jersey Concurr in the same measure.
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" I cannot but there fore hope our Neighbouring Colonies will join with us in Taking the most Effectual Method of Distressing the Enemy in this Particular. I think it is out of all doubt that the French West India Islands are in great want, and must meet with Great Difficulties in Supplying themselves if the Exportation to the Dutch and other Neautral Islands is stopt. I hope, Sir, you will see this matter in the same Light that I do, and favour me with your Opinion of it and the Determination of your Legislature upon it. I am, with Great Regard,
"Sir, your most Obedient Humble Servant,
" CHAS. HARDY."
A Letter from Governor Hardy to Governor Morris. " FORT GEORGE, New York, 9th May, 1756.
" Sir :
" This Morning I received your favour from Lancaster, and con- gratulate you on the Law your Assembly have at Last past for Regulating your Forces and Subjecting them to Military Discipline. This may Enable you to make the Proper use of the Troops you have raised, and it is astonishing to think the Legislatures of these Colonies can be so Blind not to see the Necessity of such a Law, when they must, upon the least Reflection, know that Forces with- out such Laws and Regulations, are Nothing. I wish the Forces on the Crown Point Expedition may not feel the want of such a Regulation.
" Mr. Peters this morning sent me by the Post some Dispatches from your Council, under a flying Seal, for General Shirley, which I shut and sent off to him by Express. In my last Letters to Sir William Johnston on the same Subject, I pointed out to him the Limitations in your Proclamation, and recommended it Strongly to him to use it in Argument at his Meeting with the Indians, to Shew and Convince them that you could have no other meaning in having recourse to Arms, than Repelling those Indians who had, and were still Committing the most unheard of Barbarities, in the very Heart of the Province. This Carefully and Properly ex- plained to them, I trust, will take off any Impressions with them, and the cessation of Hostilities, advised by your Council during the Negotiation, will be a still stronger Argument & Confirmation of your Disposition towards them. That this Matter may be Ac- comodated for the General Interest of these Colonies, is my Hearty wish, and no Influence this Government has, shall be want- ing to Accomplish it. An Alarm of the other Day, sent by Ex- press, that the French and Indians were appearing in Bodys to form attacks at the Carrying Place and German Flats, has again
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Carried Sir William Johnston up with a Body of Militia from the City and County of Albany, and will consequently Suspend [I hope but for a short time] the meeting at Onondago. These Allarms have been frequent, and turned out only Scouting Parties, and I am inclined to think this no other. How farr it will be Practicable to Prevail on the Six Nations to call the Delawares and Shawonese that may submit to them to Settle in the Country they Inhabit if they have Sufficient good Lands to spare. I think, little ac- quainted as I am in this Particular, it will be Highly necessary for you to seat them in Security and Quiet on Lands upon the Dela- ware River. Do not they Claim some such to be their Property ? If they do, let them have it Unmolested ; they will then be under the care and Watchful Eye of their Uncles, the Mohawks. But of all this I shall endeavor to get full Information, and will let you know what may or can be expected. By a Letter I received from Governor Fitch this Post, he informs me an Embargo has been Laid on the Provisions of that Colony, and is to Continue till the 25th Instant. Mr. Fitch thinks this Measure absolutely Neces- sary, and is Ready to Concurr with us in it, and has no Doubt but his Assembly will come into any proper Measures with the Neigh- bouring Governments. Governor Belcher writes to the same pur- pose. What has been done here, you are informed of by my last ; in the Expediency and Necessity of the Measure we all Concurr then why not Carry it into Execution, and that without delay ? Surely, if we are in fight with our Enemies, we are not to furnish them with Provisions ; the means to Distress them, and oblidge them to Slacken their Motions on this Continent, is in our own Hands, by preventing them Getting by Indirect means the Bread that must Support them. I hope you will see this in the same light I do, and that it is of the utmost Consequence to these Colonies, by not only laying the French under the Greatest Difficulties in Canady, as well as their West India Islands, I think wants no ar- guments to prove, and though it may be late in the Season, let us improve our past Delays, and most Heartily Unite and Concurr in a measure, upon which, I am of opinion, our future as well as present Security greatily depends. To answer this Great and Salutary pur- pose, I would recommend to you that the Exportation of Provi- sions be Prohibited by law in the Several Colonies I have Re- fferred to, saving for the use of the Garrison at Nova Scotia, and his Majesty's Ships employed there ; and the Forces and Ships in the West Indies, or any part of this Continent. With Respect to our Sugar Islands, I think there may be such care and such provi- sion made in the Law with regard to them, that they should not in the Least want their necessary Supplies. Their Governors should write for what they want, and return a Certificate that such had been landed for the use only of their Government. I think when they see the Cautions taken by the Governments of this Continent, they would not be so wanting to themselves, and their own Preser-
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vation, as to Suffer any Provisions to be Exported from them. As no time should be lost in determining this matter, I hope you will be pleased to Communicate your Sentiments and determination upon it to the several Governments of Jersey and Connecticut. I take for Granted the others, if they can send Supplys, will not at- tempt it, after they see such a Resolution of those I mentioned, and as your own is the Principal, and most able to furnish the Greatest Quantity, its Example must Greatly Determine the Rest. "I am, with Great Regard, Sir,
" Your most Obedient & Humble Servant,
"CHAS. HARDY."
The Council considering that the Governor had recommended an Embargo in his message to the Assembly, thought Propper that the Secretary should Give a copy of Governor Hardy's Letter of the fifth of May, and an Extract of that of the Ninth as far as Related to the Embargo, to the Speaker or one of the members of Assem- bly, and Copies were Delivered by the Speaker Accordingly.
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MEMORANDUM.
On Fryday the fourteenth Instant the Assembly adjourned about one o'Clock ; at three the Governor's Letter and message came to Hand. The following message was sent to the Governor by two members, with the Embargo Bill :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please the Governor :
" Being met at the Governor's call, we are concerned that he cannot be at Philadelphia at the time he Appointed, since the trans- acting Publick Business with him at so Great a Distance must be attended with Difficulties & Inconveniences.
" As by the Care of the Governor and Commissioners for Dis- posing of Sixty Thousand Pounds, by us Granted for his Majesty's Service, the Frontier of this Province is now in a Better State of Defence from Each other, all Strongly Garrisoned; & the Soldiery .- + in pay of this Government, if they were at first remiss in their Duty, are now reduced to due obedience and Discipline by our Ex- tending hither at our last sitting, the Act of Parliament for pun- ishing Mutiny and Dessertion ; we cannot but hope the Distresed Inhabitants of the Counties of York & Cumberland may by the Blessing of God on those means, become more Secure in their Set- tlements, and their late fears and Apprehension be considerably abated, Especially as we Understand there are in the interior Coun- ties many formed companys, as yet unemployed, who are Ready to enter into the Service and march to the Frontier Whenever the
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Government shall think fit to call for them,; and a Considerable sum is still in the Hands of the Comissioners where with the Ex- pence might be Defrayed. The Marching the Militia to the Fron- tier on Every Alarm, we conceive would be less Effectual for its De- fence, and much more Expencive and Burden some to the People than their proportion of a tax for the maintainance of standing Guards. We have, indeed, had little Experience of a militia in this Province, & a law for Regulating it was a new thing to us; it is, there fore, very Possible that our first Esay of this Kind may have Defects and Imperfections, But as the Governour did not point them out when we Presented the Bill, and he gave his Assent, and they have not Since occurred to us, all we can say on this Head at present, is, that whenever he shall think fit to send us down such Supplementary amendments as he conceives will make it a Good law, and Effectual to answer its Purposes, we will take them into Serious Consideration ; this the Governor may possibly be ready to do by the time to which we stood adjourned, now not far Distant.
" We have here with sent a Bill for prohibiting the Exportation of Provisions or Warlike Stores from this Province, which we hope will meet with the Governor's Concurrence, being in Conformity with the Law lately passed in the Colony of New York; but as all Restrictions laid upon such Exportations by the Legislature of this Province must be Rendered altogether inefectual, as Great Quanti- ties of the Produce thereof may be exported through the three lower Counties not subject to our Laws, unless they are Laid under the same Restrictions within the Government, we have refered the Continuance of our Law to such future act as the Governor and Assembly of those Counties shall pass for that purpose; we appre- hend a Strict Compliance with this Law will be of Great service to the British Interest, and, therefore, earnestly recommend it to the Governor to use his utmost Endeavours that this, when it shall have received his assent, may be Effectually carried into Execution.
" As the Season Requires the Present Attendance of many of the members at their Plantations, they propose to adjourn this day to the time of their former adjournment, the twenty-fourth In- , stant, When they hope the affairs of the Governor is at present en- gaged in may be in such a Situation as to permit his Return to meet them in Philadelphia.
"Signed by order of the House.
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday the 20th May, 1756.
PRESENT :
Robert Streetle, ) Joseph Turner, John Mifflin, Richard Peters,
Esquires.
The post Brought a letter from General Shirley to the Governor of the 12 Instant, inclosing one from Sir William Johnston of the 10th, which were read & the Original sent to the Governor. A Letter from Captain Spry, dated at Halifax 24th April last, was read & the Original sent to the Governor.
A Letter from Gen1. Shirley to Governor Morris. " ALBANY, May 12th, 1756.
" Sir :
"I was favoured yesterday with Mr. Peters' Letter, wrote by order of your Council in answer to Mine, inclosing you the Copy of Sir William Johnston's Letter to me upon the Subject of your De- claring War against the Shawonese & Delaware Indians, &c., & have as they desired transmitted Sir William Johnston a Copy of it & of the Declaration of Warr, &c., as I have also Sir Charles Hardy. 1
" For your better Information of the Situation of the Indian Af- fairs in this Country of the Six Nations, & the Sudden change of the scene there with regard to Sir William Johnston's Meeting of the Council to be held at Onondago, as also of the Inefficacy of the Measures lately taken by him for putting an End to the Depredations & Murders committed by the Shawonese within your Borders, I send you Inclosed a Copy of his Letter to me dated the 10th Instant.
" I leave you to your own Reflection upon the Contents, having only time to subscribe myself, with Great Truth and Esteem,
" Dear Sir, Your Honour's most faithfull Humble Servant,
"WILLIAM SHIRLEY."
A Letter from Sir William Johnston to General Shirley. " FORT JOHNSTON, 10th May, 1756. " Sir :
" I met the Express between Albany & Schenedady with Captain Falkner's Letter, advising that a Large Body of French & Indians were Marching to cut off the German Flatts. I sent the Express forward to Colonel Burton, who I doubt not Communicated the In- telligence to your Excellency without loss of time ; at Schenedady I dispatched Orders to the Militia to join me the Hither End of
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the German Flats, for which place I set Out with all possible Dis- patch, and as I thought no time ought to be lost I was too much to write to your Excellency at that juncture; upon a Muster at the Flatts I found I had with me above 1,400 Militia & Indians ; the Albany Detachment did not Come Up. I dispatched Scouting parties all round the German Flatts for several Miles, but made no Discovery of any Enemy ; I have some Scouts still out whom I desired to take a larger Circuit, & I sent some Indians to reconitre the Enemy, who are to Go as far as Onegochi if they can do it Safely.
" I find the Indians, the Onondagas Expected, are very warmly against my Going to the Meeting at Onondaga. Deputies from the two Mohawk Castles are to meet me here to-morrow, also the Half King & Several Seneca Chiefs, who are here with him now, when they say they will Give me their Reasons; besides I am informed the Southern Indians who proposed this Meeting have Changed their pacific Measures & are gone over to the French on the Ohio, but as I expect to-morrow's Meeting will throw some new lights upon this Affair I will defer saying any thing more upon it till that is Over, when I shall transmit your Excellency. what passes, & at the same time Answer your Favour of the Twenty-ninth Ultº from New York.
"Our Militia here are Quite wore out with the Repeated Fatigues they have lately suffered.
"I wish the Companies of Rangers your Excellency mentions were ready to go upon duty, when I would hope to be able to join Indians with them, & unless this method takes place I despair of the Communication to Oswego being secured.
" Captain Butler writes me that Colonel Bradstreet says he has as many Indians with him as he Wants ; he might have more if he thought them Necessary.
"I am your Excellency's most Obedient Humble Servant,
"WILLIAM JOHNSTON."
A Letter from Captain Spry to Governor Morris. " FOUGUEUX, Halifax Harbour, 24 April, 1756.
" Sir :
" I take leave to Inclose to You Orders for the Captains of his Majesty's Vessels on the Lake Ontario, which I must beg your care of, and that you will Please to send them thither by the first Con- venient Opportunity. I have long wished to hear from you, and Indeed have expected it with some Reason, as I think my good Friend you are already indebtted to me three Letters, which I don't take very kind from one whom I have formerly taken to so much Pleasure in Cor- responding with. We have no news in this Corner of the World
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worth Communicating. I have received no Letters from England since the 5 Decem., so that we are totally Ignorant what they are about. I am getting my little weak Squadron ready for Sea with all possible dispatch, and hope, not withstanding the Situation wo are in for want of Men, to pay your Neighbours at Louisburg a visit by the third or fourth of May; but if we meet with a French Squadron we shall certainly be well drubb'd.
" I have Buryed since I came into America upwards of one Hun- dred and Seventy seamen from my own Ship with out being able to procure a man in their Rooms. Guess then, Sir, how Distressed must be my Circumstances. I have earnestly intreated General Shirley to send me a Speedy Reinforcement, & he has Promised me all the assistance in his Power, and to recommend to the rest of the Colonies to do the like ; Forty or Fifty from Each Colony would man us Compleatly, and Enable us to do our Duty like Englishmen.
"I flatter my Self, Sir, should such a Proposal be made, you would think it an Equitable and as Reasonable one, and Give me all the Assistance in your Power, as 'twill be impossible for me to procure a sufficient number of men in America by any other Method. " I hope you have Enjoyed your Health since I had the Pleasure of hearing from you last, and let me intreat you to beleave me,
" Dear Sir, your most faithfull & Obedient Servant, "R. SPRY."
The Governor on the Eighteenth Instant having passed the Act for the more Effectual obstructing the Exportation of Provisions and Warlike Stores from the Province of Pennsylvania, the same was delivered to the Secretary this afternoon at five o'clock by Mr. Rush, the Smith, and the Council ordered a Copy to be served on the Colector and Naval Officer, which was done accordingly.
A Messenger was then Dispatched to Newcastle and Lewes with Embargos.
MEMORANDUM.
On the Twenty-fifth the Secretary delivered the Embargo act to the Speaker, that it might undergo the usual forms in the House; and, therefore, had omitted publishing the act till it should be signed by the Speaker.
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