USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 28
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" The General gives you the Strongest Assurances that all such Indians as shall be disposed to join his Majesty's Forces shall be well Supported and furnished with every thing necessary for War- riors, and for any particular Services that an Indian shall be em- ployed to do, he shall be rewarded to his Satisfaction.
" By General Forbes' Order, " JAMES GRANT, Lieutenant 62d Regiment."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1759.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Esquires.
Lynford Lardner, Thomas Cadwalader,
A Petition from the Neutral French, setting forth the present Distresses of those Poor People, was read; Mr. Hughes only atten- ding as Commissioner, it was recommended to him to speak to Mr. Lardner, that they might be taken care of; and they were desired to enquire of the Overseers of the Poor, what had actually been done for them.
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The Indians came into Council, and the Speech agreed to yester- day was delivered to them.
After the Governor had finished, the Cayuga Chief conferred with the principal Indians and Thomas King, and after some time spent in Consultation, the Indians, by Thomas King the Speaker, returned the Governor thanks for his Speeches, repeating them one by one, and said they were very agreeable.
They complained that they had not been supplied with Liquor, not one Person having ordered them a Tub of, Punch all the Time that they had been in town.
That they inclined to go home to-morrow, but being told that some Cloaths and proper Necessaries were preparing, they agreed to stay longer, and it was recommended to Mr. Hughes to use all the Dispatch possible.
MEMORANDUM.
On Monday, the Nineteenth, the Presents were delivered to the Five Indians from Canawaago, or Boucaloonce, by the Secretary, Joseph Fox, and John Hughes.
A Passport and Letter was delivered to Ensign Biddle, and he was ordered to conduct the Indians to Fort Pittsburg.
MEMORANDUM.
On Tuesday, the Twentieth, Andrew Montour waited on the Se- cretary in the Morning, to acquaint him that the Indians had said a great deal to him, and were very much dissatisfied. What he said was reduced to Writing, sent to the Governor, and to Governor Glenn, for General Forbes, to Colonel Boquet, and to General Am- herst, in these words :
" Andrew Montour came to tell the Governor that the Messen- gers from Boucaloonce, or Canawaago, were very uneasy, and ap- prehended that it would hurt the English Interest very much at this Critical Time should they return with such general answers as they have got, and nothing more precise be said to them. At pre- sent, they neither know what will be done by the army, nor what is desired of the Indians, both which all the Indians on the Ohio and parts adjacent, wait to know, and expect the Messages by them, and if they should return without them, the cannot be An- swerable for the Consequences. For the Indians, if kept any Longer in this State of uncertainty, will be constrained to join the French, which they have no mind to do, provided the English General will engage their Services by open and affectionate Mes- sages. Why is this not done ? They are acquainted the General is Sick ; Is there no Body else to do the King's Business ?
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" They love their Brethren, the English, and to them they are Sincere. They intend this Morning to dispatch two of their In- dians with Messages to all the Indians on the Ohio, setting forth their kind reception, and the reasons why they stay so long, and desiring them in the strongest 'Terms not to Suffer the French to strike the English at Pittsburg, or any where else, but to wait till their return, and till they shall hear what the English say to them, which they hope will be sent by them ; they will wait, tho' with reluctance, some time longer for these Messages.
" They say further, that it is absolutely necessary Andrew Mon- tour should be ordered to go with them, and empowered to deliver with them whatever Messages were sent to the Indians, as he is every where known and confided in, and they had it in charge to desire he might come with them. They further beseech the Person who is first in Command, to be open and let them know his Pur- poses, and what he expects from the Indians who are dispersed to take any reasonable part he shall ask of them.
" Andrew Montour told the Indians he was an Officer, and Sub- ject to the General's Orders, and could not Consent to go with them, except by written Orders from him. Ensign Biddle will conduct the Indians if the Governor Pleases.
" On reconsidering the matter, the Indians from Canawaago thought it best to wait till General Amherst should come to Town, as he was daily expected, and to sent off two of their Young Men to acquaint their People with the present General's Indisposition, and the expectation of the Commander-in-Chief's coming to this City, and that they would stay to speak with him, so that only two went away under the care of Ensign Biddle."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 26th of February, 1759.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY Esq., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell, Richard Peters, Esquires.
A Letter from Secretary Pitt of the Ninth of December last, received by Doctor Hack from General Amherst, and the General's Letter to the Governor, were read and ordered to be entered. The Secretary was desired to form a Message upon these Letters to be laid before the Assembly, who were to meet this afternoon on their own adjournment, which was accordingly drawn, approved, ordered
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to be transcribed, and delivered in the morning to the House, with the above Letters :
A Letter from Secretary Pitt to Governor Denny. " WHITEHALL, December 9th, 1758.
" Sir :
" His Majesty having nothing so much at heart as to improve the great and important advantages gained to last campaign, as well as to repair the Disappointment at Ticonderogo; and by the most Vigorous and extensive efforts to avert, by the Blessing of God on his arms, all Dangers which may threaten North America from any future Irruptions of the French; And the King not doubting that all His faithful and brave subjects there will chearfully Co-operate with, and Second to the Utmost, the large Expence and Extraor- dinary Succors Supplied by this Kingdom for their preservation and Defence. And His Majesty considering that the several Provinces, from Pennsylvania inclusive to the Southward, are well able, with proper Encouragement, to furnish a Body of Several Thousand Men to join the King's Forces in those parts, for some offensive operations against the Enemy; And his Majesty not judging it Expedient to limit the Zeal and Ardour of any of His Provinces by making a Repartition of the Forces to be raised by each respec- tively for this most important Service, I am commanded to signify to you the King's pleasure, that you do forthwith use your utmost Endeavours to Influence with the Council and Assembly of your Province to induce them to raise, with all possible Dispatch within your Government, at least as large a body of Men as they did for the last Campaign, and even as many more as the Number of its Inhabitants may allow, and forming the same into Regiments as far as shall be found Convenient, that you do direct them to hold them- ยท selves in readiness, as early as may be, to march to the Rendezvous at such Place or Places as may be named for that Purpose by the Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces in America, or by the Officer who shall be appointed to Command to King's Forces in those Parts, in order to proceed from thence in Conjunction with a Body of his Majesty's British Forces, and under the Supreme Com- mand of the Officer to be appointed as above, so as to be in a Situa- tion to begin by the first of May, if Possible, or as soon after as shall be any way practicable, such offensive Operations as shall be judged by the Commander of his Majesty's Forces in those parts most expedient for annoying the Enemy, and most Efficacious towards removing and repelling the Dangers that threaten the Frontiers of any of the Southern Colonies on the Continent of America, and the better to facilitate this important Service. The King is pleased to leave it to you to issue Commissions to such Gentlemen of your Province as you shall Judge from their Weight and Credit with the People, and their Zeal for the Public Service, may be best disposed and enabled to quicken and effectuate the
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Speedy levying of the greatest Number of Men, In the Disposition of which Commissions I am persuaded you will have nothing in View but the Good of the King's Service, and a due Subordination of the whole when joined to his Majesty's Commander, and all Officers of the Provincial Forces as high as Colonels inclusive, are to have Rank according to their Several Respective Commissions, agreeable to the Regulations contained in his Majesty's Warrant of the 30th of December, last year.
" The King is further pleased to furnish all the Men so raised as above, with arms, ammunition, and Tents, as well as to order Pro- visions to be issued to the Same by his Majesty's Commissaries in the the same Proportion and manner as is done to the rest of the King's Forces, And a sufficient Train of Artillery will also be pro- vided for at his Majesty's Expence for the Operations of the Cam- paign. The whole, therefore, that the King expects and requires from the several Provinces, is the Levying, Cloathing, and pay of the Men, and on these Heads also, that no Encouragement may be wanting to the fullest exertion of your Forces, His Majesty is . further most graciously pleased to permit me to acquaint you, that strong Recommendations will be made to Parliament in their Ses- sion next Year, to grant a proper Compensation for such Expences as above, according as the active Vigour and Strenuous Efforts of. the respective Provinces shall justly appear to merit.
" It is His Majesty's Pleasure that you do, with particular Dili- gence, immediately collect and put into the best Condition all the Arms issued last Campaign which can be any way rendered Ser- viceable, or that can be found within your Government, in order that the Same may be employed as far as they will go in this Exi -. gency. I am at the same time to acquaint you, that a reasonable supply of Arms will be sent from England, to replace such as may have been lost, or have become unfit for future Service.
"I am further to inform you, that Similar Orders are sent by this Conveyance to Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Northern Governments are also directed to raise Men in the same Manner, to be employed in such offensive Opera- tions as the Circumstances in those parts may point out, which it is hoped will oblige them so to divide their attention and Forces as will render the several Attempts more easy and Successful.
" It is unnecessary to add any thing to animate your Zeal in the Execution of his Majesty's Orders on this great Occasion, where the future Safety and welfare of America, and of your own Province in particular, are at Stake ; And the King doubts not, from your known Fidelity and Attachment, that you will employ yourself with the utmost Application and Dispatch in this urgent and decisive Crisis.
" I am, Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant,
"W. PITT."
VOL. VIII .- 18.
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A Letter from General Amherst to Governor Denny. NEW YORK, 16th February, 1759.
" Sir :
"I yesterday had the Honour of receiving a Letter from Mr. Secretary Pitt, bearing date the 9th of December last, signifying to me that His Majesty had Judged it expedient to Dispatch his Orders to the Several Governors in North America for Levying the same or a greater Number, if Possible, of Men than they did for the last Campaign, and at the same time enclosed to me the Copies of his Circular Letters to the Northern and Southern Governors on that subject, wherein the King's Directions are so fully stated, that I can have little else to add, than my most earnest recommendations to you forthwith to use your utmost Endeavours and Influence with the Council and Assembly of your Province, to induce them to raise with all possible dispatch within your Government, at least as large a Body of Men as they did for the last Campaign, and even as many more as the number of its Inhabitants may allow, in which I should hope you will prove the more Successful, as I have already prepared you for it so long ago, as by my Letter of the 13th December last.
" As I propose to begin the Operations of the ensuing Campaign so soon as the season will permit me, and, if possible, much earlier than the first of May. I must, notwithstanding Mr. Pitt's Letter, desire that the Troops of your Province may be ready by the tenth of April at furthest.
"I must likewise particularly recommend to you the Strict and immediate Observance of His Majesty's directions relative to the collecting and putting into the best Condition, all the Arms issued last Campaign, and that have not been returned, which can be any way rendered serviceable, or that can be found within your Govern- ment, in order that the same may be employed as far as they will go in this Exigency.
" And as most People in North America have arms of their own, which, from their being accustomed must be more agreeable and proper for them, I do as an Encouragement for their Coming pro- vided with them, engage to pay for every one of those they shall so bring, and that may be spoilled or lost in actual Service, at the rate of Twenty-five Shillings a Firelock, which I understand was allowed last Campaign.
"I am, with great Regard, Sir,
" Your most Obet Hume. Servant,
" JEFF. AMHERST."
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A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. " Gentlemen :
"I now lay before you a Letter I lately received from one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated the Ninth Day of December last, wherein he is graciously pleased to signify his Reso- lution to improve the great and important Advantages gained the last Campaign, as well as to repair the Disappointment at Ticon- deroga, and by the most vigorous and extensive efforts to avert, by the Blessing of God on his Arms, all Dangers which may threaten North America from any future Irruptions of the French, and that his Majesty not doubting but all his brave Subjects there will chearfully co-operate with, and Second to the utmost, the large Ex- pence and Extraordinary Succors Supplied by the Kingdom of Eng- land, for their Protection and Defence; and his Majesty consider- ing that the Several Provinces, from Pennsylvania inclusive to the Southward, are well able, with proper Encouragement, to furnish a Body of several Thousand Men to join his Majesty's Forces in those parts, for some offensive operations against the Enemy, has therefore signifyed to me his Pleasure, that I should forthwith use my utmost Endeavours and Influence with you, to Induce you to raise, with all Possible Dispatch, within this Province, at least as large a Body of Men as you did for the last Campaign, and even as many more as the number of its Inhabitants may allow, to hold themselves in readiness to march as early as may be to the Rendez- vous, at such place or places as may be named for that Purpose by the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's Forces in North America, or the Officer who shall be appointed to command the King's Forces in those parts, to proceed, in Conjunction with a Body of His Ma- jesty's British Troops, so as to begin as soon as practicable, such Offensive Operations as shall be judged, by such Commander of His Majesty's Forces, most Expedient for annoying the Enemy, and most efficacious towards removing and repelling the Dangers that threaten the Frontiers of the Southern Colonies on this Continent. His Majesty is further pleased to furnish all the Men, so raised, with arms, Ammunition and Tents, as well as to order Provisions to be issued for the same by his Majesty's Commissaries, in the same Proportion and Manner as is done to the rest of the King's Forces, and a Sufficient Train of Artillery will also be provided, at his Majesty's Expence, for the Operation of the Campaign. The whole, therefore, that the King expects from you is, the Levying, Cloathing, and Pay of the Men; and that no Encouragement may be wanting to the fullest Exertion of your force, His Majesty is further most graciously pleased to acquaint me, that Strong recom- mendations will be made to Parliament, in their Sessions Next Year, to grant a proper Compensation for such Expences, according as the active Vigour and strenuous Efforts of the respective Province shall justly appear to merit.
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" Gentlemen :- In obedience to the King's Commands I do most earnestly recommend it to you to take these matters into your im- mediate Consideration, and loose no Time in complying with the Reasonable Requisitions His Majesty makes of you. A Sense of Duty to the best of Kings; the Preservation of your own Liberties and Possessions, which his Majesty is wisely and vigorously en- deavouring to support and transmit to your Posterity, are motives that must inspire you with the highest Zeal; and the example of the Parliament of Great Britain, unanimously concurring with his Majesty's Measures, must animate you to exert yourselves to the utmost of your Power on this interesting Occasion, and, I doubt not, will induce you chearfully to raise the Supplies required of you. I also lay before you a Letter from General Amherst, Commander- in-Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America, requesting that the Forces raised by this Province may be in readiness by the Tenth of April, at which Time he proposes to take the Field. I must, therefore, press you to use Dispatch in your Councils, that such Advantages as the General may reasonably expect to reap from opening the Campaign so early may not be frustrated.
" WILLIAM DENNY.
" February 27th, 1759."
The Governor then laid before the Board a Message from the Honourable the Proprietaries to the Assembly, with their Answer to a Paper intituled Heads of Complaint, presented to them by Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, together with the said Heads of Com- plaint, all which Papers his Honour had received by the Packet from the Proprietaries, and by a Letter from them was directed to lay before the House. They were ordered to be entered in the Minutes of Council, and the Secretary was directed to deliver them to the House with the foregoing Letters and Message :
A Message from the Honourable the Proprietaries, Thomas and Richard Penn, Esquires, to the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania.
" Gentlemen :
" In the Month of August, in the last year, Mr. Franklin de- livered to us a Note or Billet intituled Heads of Complaint. When first delivered it was a blank Paper, neither dated, Signed, or ad- dressed to any Person ; but a few Days after he did sign it, and set a Date to it of the Twentieth of August.
"It appeared to us to be very short and general, and to allude to Sundry Transactions in Pennsylvania, which were to be sought for in your Votes, and without the aid whereof it was not possible to guess at the meaning of Mr. Franklin's Note.
" Whether such a Paper was delivered to him of his own Choice, or by direction, he best knows; but we believe it is the first of the
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kind on any such great Occasion ; and you will give us leave to acquaint you, that the importance of the matter, the preservation of Order and Decency between the Assembly and us, and the Ne- cessity and usefulness of a free Intercourse between us and them, seemed to require a very different Representation.
" However, we overlooked that Piece of Disrespect, and applied ourselves to Select from all your Publick Votes and Transactions what we judged might be the intent and meaning of the said Paper ; and as we found the most Material Parts thereof consisted of mat- ters wherein the Powers of Government and the Rights and Preroga- tives of the Crown (intrusted to us) were concerned, we thought it right, and so acquainted Mr. Franklin to take the Opinions and advice of his Majesty's Attorney and Sollicitor General thereon, that. we might act with the greatest Caution and Security in mat- ters of such great importance.
" At the Time Mr. Franklin delivered us his Paper, the Long vacation was begun, and the Lawyers gone into the Country ; but the first Day the returned to Town we laid all those Matters before the Gentlemen for their Opinions, which were so long delayed by means of an obstruction given by one of your Agents, that we could not obtain the same for a whole Year (wanting eight days only) after the Papers had been laid before them.
" As soon as we had been advised by those Gentlemen, we re- turned our Answer in Writing, signed by our Agent, to Mr. Franklin ; and now send you hereto annexed a Copy of the said Heads of Complaints, and our Answer thereto.
"We are always ready to receive Representations from the House of Representatives on any matter that requires redress. As to the Legal Rights of Government, or the Powers and Preroga- tives of the Crown, we must support them as a duty which we owe to the Crown, to the Nation in General, and to the Inhabitants of the Province in particular.
" As to those matters which concern our Property, we have a right, and are so advised, to prevent any Injury being done thereto, and are not to be deterred from taking the necessary Care therein by those Misrepresentations of and unjust Charges against us, which have been repeatedly printed, and are even glanced at in the Heads of. Complaint presented to us, as if we had refused to con- tribute a reasonable Proportion to the Defence of the Country ; and Injury the greater, because those who uttered it knew that we had contributed a very considerable Sum to the Expence of the War, and, in the Opinion of many People, and from all the In- formation we can procure, more in proportion than any Person in the Province.
" As to any matters which may relate to yourselves, we are ready to receive the fullest Information, and also to enter into free Con-
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ferences on all the Several Subjects with any Persons of Condour whom you shall Authorize and impower for that Purpose; which matter we the rather mention to you in regard that we having ordered to settle the Draught of a Supply Bill, which Mr. Franklin he excused himself from joining therein, as not having Power to enter into Terms with respect to that one Single Measure.
"We shall always be open to Representations and conviction, and we see no matters remaining but such as may, by the desirable Methods of free Conferences with Persons of Candour, and em- powered for that Purpose, be well settled to mutual Satisfaction on both Sides, and to the Welfare and Happiness of the Province, which we have most affectionately at Heart.
" As Mr. Franklin's Paper contained an Expression of desire that Harmony might be restored between the Several Branches of the the Legislature, and we are certain you cannot wish it more ardently than we do, we choose to mention what appears to us to be the readiest, the easiest, and the most desirable Method of obtaining that happy End.
" THOMAS PENN.
" P.ICHARD PENN.
" London, November 28th, 1758."
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" Heads of Complaints.
" Ist. That the reasonable and necessary Power given to Deputy Governors of Pennsylvania by the Royal Charter, Sections fourth and fifth, of making Laws, with the advice and Consent of the As- sembly, for raising Money for the Safety of the Country and other Public uses, according to their best discretion, is taken away by proprietary Instructions, inforced by penal Bonds, and restraining the Deputy from the use of his best Discretion; tho', being on the Spot, he can better Judge of the Emergency, State, and Necessity of Affairs, than Proprietaries residing at a great distance, by means of which Restraints Sundry Sums of Money granted by the Assem- bly for the Defence of the Province have been rejected by the Deputy, to the great Injury of his Majesty's Service in Time of War, and Danger of the Loss of the Colony.
"2d. That the Indubitable Right of the Assembly to judge of the mode, measure, and Time of granting Supplies, is infringed by Instructions that enjoin the Deputy to refuse his assent to any Bill for raising Money, unless certain Modes, Measures, and Times, in Such Instructions directed, made a part of the Bill ; whereby the Assembly, in time of War, are reduced to the necessity of either losing the Country to the Enemy, or giving up the Liberties of the People, and receiving Law from the Proprietary ; and if they
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should do the latter in the present Case, it would not prevent the former, the Restricting Instructions being such as that, if complied with, it is impossible to raise a Sum Sufficient to defend the Country.
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