USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIII > Part 25
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To the Honorable the Chevalier De La Luzerne, Minister Pleni- potentiary of his most Christian Majesty :
The address of the President and Council of the State of Penn- sylvania.
SIR :- The Secretary of Foreign Affairs has communicated to us that you, sir, as " Minister Plenipotentiary of his most Christian Majesty, had announced to the United States in Congress assem- bled, at a public audience, the birth of a Dauphine of France." An event of so much importance to the French Nation, and so flattering to their hopes, becomes highly interesting to us; and when we consider it as advancing the personal felicity of that illus- trious and magnanimous Prince, from whom the people of America have received such powerful aids and so many proofs of his royal regards and friendship, we feel the most lively and animating joy. And it is with the highest veneration and the warmest gratitude,
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
that we present our warmest congratulations to his most Christian Majesty, and to his Royal Consort, for whom we feel a respect which we cannot express, and felicitate them on this auspicious oc- casion.
The attention which you, sir, have always shewn to the State of Pennsylvania, affords us full assurance that you will represent to your august Sovereign the sincerity with which we rejoice at every event that adds to his glory or happiness, and more especially in the present instance.
May the great Governor of the Universe take into his holy keep- ing the King, the Queen, and the Dauphin of France, and pour out his choicest blessings upon them.
WILLIAM MOORE, President.
To which the Minister of France was pleased to give the follow- ing answer :
GENTLEMEN :- I cannot be charged with a duty more agreeable to fulfil than that of transmitting to his Majesty testimonies of the part you take in the favour which Heaven has done him, in grant- ing a Dauphin to his wishes and to those of the French Nation .- Since I have had the advantage of living among you, gentlemen, I have been frequently a witness of the sincere interest you have taken in every thing that may concern your ally. The more the two nations are acquainted, the more they love and esteem each other, and the more they are sensible of the necessity of an unal- terable union. These circumstances will render still more agreea- ble to his Majesty the sentiments of the Council of Pennsylvania on the subject of the birth of an heir to his crown. The young Prince will one day be informed of the joy which the Pennsylva- nians have shewn on this occasion. He will learn that they were his friends from his cradle, and it will please him to be theirs the whole time of his life.
Philadelphia, May 20, 1782.
The following passes were granted on petition, vizt :
To Margaret Oxley and Margaret Loofborough.
The petition of Mary Hall was read, praying pardon ; and the same being considered,
Resolved, That she be pardoned, on condition that she leave the State and never return to it again.
WHEREAS, Many purchasers of the city lots have neglected to pay for the same in due time, agreeably to the terms of sale ; there- fore,
Ordered, That the State Treasurer do charge interest to all the delinquents until the respective sum in arrear is fully paid.
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In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, May 20, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President, (now first returned from his family.)
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Cunningham, and
Mr. Levan.
Ordered, That a pass to Elizabethtown, in New Jersey, be granted to Elizabeth Cozens and Mary Baker, with permission to return.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, May 21, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Cunningham, and Mr. Levan.
David Duncan, Esquire, late Commissioner of Purchases in the county of Westmoreland, having represented that there remains in his hands a quantity of flour, grain and forage, purchased agreea- bly to act of Assembly passed the twenty-third day of March, 1780, intitled An Act for procuring a supply of provisions and other necessaries for the use of the army, which articles are in danger of great waste. On consideration,
Ordered, That the said David Duncan, Esquire, be directed to make sale at public auction, of the aforesaid articles, or otherwise dispose of them, as he shall judge most for the interest of the State, as soon as may be, and make report of his proceedings therein to this Board.
WHEREAS, On the twenty-fifth day of May, 1778, at a time when the British Parliament, Ministry, and King, were artfully attempting, by insidious means, to divide and destroy these United States, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, with a dignity becoming. the Representatives of a virtuous and free people, en- tered unanimously into the following resolve, vizt :
1. " Resolved, unanimously, That the delegates or deputies of " the United States of America, in Congress assembled, are invested
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
" with an exclusive authority to treat with the King of Great " Britain, or Commissioners by him duly appointed, respecting a " peace between the two countries.
2. " Resolved, unanimously, That any man, or body of men, " who shall presume to make any separate or partial convention or "agreement with the King of Great Britain, or with any Commis- " sioner or Commissioners under the crown of Great Britain, ought "to be considered and treated as open and avowed enemies of the " United States of America.
3. " Resolved, unanimously, That this House highly approve of " the declaration of Congress, 'that these United States cannot " with propriety, hold any conference or treaty with any Commis- " sioners on the part of Great Britain, unless they shall, as a pre- "liminary thereto, either withdraw their fleets and armies, 'or else "in positive and express terms, acknowledge the independence of " the said States.'
4. "Resolved unanimously, That Congress have no power, autho- " rity or right, to do any act, matter or thing, whatsoever, that may " have a tendency to yield up or abridge the sovereignty or indepen- " dence of this State, without its consent previously obtained.
5. "Resolved unanimously, That this House will maintain, sup- " port and defend, the sovereignty and independence of this State, " with their lives and fortunes.
6. "Resolved unanimously, That it be recommended to the Su- "preme Executive Council of this State forthwith to order the " militia to hold themselves in readiness to act as occasion may " require.
" AND WHEREAS, There is the fullest evidence that the same " spirit of wickedness and folly which, at that time, governed the " Councils of the British nation, has excited the rulers of that " people under more specious names and pretences, to repeat the " insulting attempt :
"And Whereas, The people of a free State are entitled to the " fullest and clearest information of the principles on which their " Representatives in the Executive as well as the Legislative, mean " to proceed in every great concern, this Council conceive it to be " their duty to declare that, as they fully and unanimously approve " of the said recited resolutions, so they determine to adhere " strictly to them on all occasions ; and it is the unanimous opinion of " this Council, that any propositions which may be made by the Court " of Great Britain, in any manner whatsoever, tending to violate the " treaty subsisting between us and our illustrious Ally, ought to be " treated with every mark of indignity and contempt; and at the " time this Council, considering the advantages which Nations derive " from amity and commerce founded on good faith, esteem and " mutual interest, and well knowing the benefit which Great Bri- " tain might derive from America were she to adopt principles of " moderation, wisdom and justice, cannot so far suppress their
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" desire for the general interest of mankind and the dignity of " human nature as not to feel some concern while they see that " once powerful and respectable nation continuing to act upon prin- " ciples which, if persisted in much longer, must, by destroying " all title to the esteem, faith and confidence of these United States, " render treaties of amity and commerce between us and them ab- " solutely and altogether impracticable."
Ordered, That the foregoing resolutions be published.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, May 22, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Cunningham, and
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Levan.
The Honorable Joseph Montgomery, Esq'r, presented to the Council the following account for his attendance in Congress, vizt :
From the 22nd of February till the 21st of May, 1782,
89 days, a 30s , . - -
- £133 10 - 16 10
Deduct for absence, 11 days, - .
£117
Mileage to Paxton, 100 miles, at 1s. -
5
£122
And thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Joseph Montgomery, Esquire, for the sum of one hundred and twenty-two pounds specie, agreeably to the said account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of his Excellency the President, for the sum of two hundred pounds specie, in part of his salary, for which the said President is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Michael Huff- nagle, for the sum of fifty two pounds six shillings and six pence specie, for rations supplied to Captain Thomas Stokely's company of Rangers, raised in the county of Westmoreland, being in full.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of George Evans, for the sum of seventy-five pounds specie, for providing an enter-
289
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
tainment on Thursday next, agreeably to order of this Board, for which he is to account.
The Honorable Sebastian Levan, Esquire, presented to the Council the following account, vizt :
For attendance in Council, from the thirteenth of April till the twenty-second day of May, 1782, inclusive, 40 days, a 17s. 6 ₺ day, - - £35 To one day omitted, vizt : 12th of March last, - - 17 6
Mileage, 120 miles, - - -
-
3
£38 17 6
And thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Sebastian Levan, Esquire, for the sum of thirty eight pounds sev- enteen shillings and six pence specie, amount of the said account.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, May 23, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Gardner,
Mr Cunningham, and Mr. Levan.
On consideration,
Ordered, That two Majors General and four Brigadiers General of the militia and the ballots being taken,
The Honorable James Potter, Esquire, was unanimously elected to be Major General.
James Wilson, Esquire, was unanimously elected to be Briga- dier General ; and
Percifer Frazier and Daniel Hiester, Jun'r, Esquires, were in like manner elected to be Brigadier Generals.
Ordered, That the commission of General Potter bear date on this day ; and the commissions of the other Generals bear date as follows, viz: General Wilkinson's on the twenty-fourth, General Frazier's on the twenty. fifth, and General Hiester's on the twenty- seventh instant,
Ordered, That one-half the Light Horse of the city and liber- ties of Philadelphia, and of the counties of Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks and Northampton, VOL. XIII .- 19.
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MINUTES OF THE
"one-half of the regiment of Artillery, and four classes of the mi- litia of the said city and counties, do hold themselves in readi- iness to march at the shortest notice, and that the Lieutenants of the said city and counties respectively do issue their orders ac- cordingly.
Ordered, That the arms of the State be immediately repaired ; that the Lieutenant of the city and counties respectively, do make return of the arms to this Board as soon as possible ; and that the said Lieutenants be enjoined to pay the most exact attention to this order.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. William Woodhouse, for the sum of twenty-eight pounds three shillings and six pence specie, amount of his account for sundry books for the Comptroller General's office.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the city and liberties of Phila- delphia, do call into service a guard for the prisoners in the new jail, to consist of one Captain, two Subalterns, two Sergeants and thirty-five privates, to enter on duty on Tuesday evening next, at the guard house near the new jail, at six o'clock.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, May 24th, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Cunningham.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colonel Stephen Balliott, for the sum of two hundred and thirty-two pounds four shillings and six pence specie, in full of his account for rations supplied to the militia called out for the defence of the frontiers of Northampton county, for the months of March and April.
The Honorable James Cunningham, Esq., presented to the Board the following account, vizt :
For attendance in Council to 1 day, (to wit,) the 18th Dee'r, last, £ 1 5
From the twenty-first of March till the twenty fifth of May, 1782, inclusive, 65 days, a 17s 6, - -
56 17 6
4 1 Mileage, 162 miles, a s6, . -
£62 3 6
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
And thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable James Cunningham, Esquire, for the sum of sixty-two pounds three shillings and six pence specie, amount of the said account.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, May 25th, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Levan, Mr. Gardner, and
Mr. Cunningham.
The Honorable Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Clymer and Mr. Root, three of a committee appointed by Congress to confer with the respective States on the subject of the necessary preparations for opening the campaign with vigor, especially on the subject of passing laws for levying for the use of Congress, a duty of five per cent. ; filling up the line of the several States ; passing of laws for the quotas of the present year; and exciting the Executives of the several States to a vigorous exertion of the authority committed to them, to in- force the collection of the money accordingly.
The committee were informed that laws for levying the five per ' cent. had been passed in this State. That every exertion had been made for recruiting the men for filling up the line of Pennsylvania, which, however, had fallen greatly short of their wishes, and even of their expectations ; that the whole of the Pennsylvania line was probably two thousand, rank and file, and that there was little probability of any considerable number being now ob- tained, although the State had made it a point to appropriate the monies of this State to that as a first object, and that a law had been passed for filling the quotas of the State for the present year ; and a vigorous exertion was now making to give the law its utmost effect, and there was some reason to hope, that by the first of July, the State may be able to pay into the office of Finance, about fifty or perhaps sixty thousand.
They further informed the committee, that Council had ordered the militia of the State to hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice, to the amount of about one hundred and fifty Light Horse, two hundred and fifty Artillery, and three thousand five hundred Infantry.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
1 PHILADELPHIA, Monday, May 27, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Van Campen, (now re- turned from his family.)
On motion,
Resolved, That the Board do approve of the orders given by the Honorable James Potter and Colonel Samuel Hunter, Lieutenant of the county of Northumberland, to Captain Robinson, to take Lieuten- ant Samuel McGrady into pay, and to raise thirty volunteers to serve as soldiers for the defence of the said county, for the space of six months, if not sooner discharged by order of this Board ; the volunteers so raised are to do duty in Captain Robinson's com- pany, and to be paid, each of them, three pounds fifteen shillings specie, per month, for each month they are continued in service, and they are to have the usual rations while in service.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Nichol- son, Esquire, for the sum of two thousand pounds, State money of the seventh of April, 1781, for paying one-third of depreciation certificates to officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, for which he is to account
A return of Justices for the district of Earl in the county of Lancaster, was received and read, by which it appears that Emanuel Carpenter and Jonathan Rhuland were duly elected Justices for the said district ; whereupon,
Resolved, That Emanuel Carpenter be appointed a Justice of the Peace for the county of Lancaster, and that he be commissioned accordingly.
The Council taking into consideration the state of the fron- tiers;
Ordered, That the act entitled " An Act to enable the Supreme Executive Council to negotiate such loans as may be necessary to procure a sufficient sum of money for the defence of the frontiers of this State, and the support of civil Government," be published, and that the Treasurer of the State be authorised to receive from any person or persons all such sum and sums of money as he, she, or they, respectively, shall lend to the State, for the purposes ex- pressed in the said law, and give his certificate for the same, to be paid with interest thereupon, at six per centum per annum, agreea- bly to the said law : provided, that no less sum than five pounds be received from any one person.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The petition of Reuben Haines and Samuel Miles, on behalf of themselves and the residents of the city and county of Philadel- phia holding lands in the county of Northumberland, was read, praying this Council would be pleased to direct the Commissioners of the county of Northumberland to postpone the sales of the said lands until the next sitting of the General Assembly ; and on con- sideration,
Ordered, That the Council are of opinion it is not within the powers of this Board to interfere in the manner requested by the petitioners.
The Council resumed the appointment of the general officers, and the ballots being taken, James Irvine was unanimously elected Major General, and Frederick Watt was unanimously elected Briga- dier General.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, May 28, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Van Campen.
An order was drawn on the 'I'reasurer in favor of Joseph Dyer, for the sum of twenty pounds specie, for forty days work at the Light House at Cape Henlopen, at 1s. 10} per day.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, May 29, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President. Mr. Gardner, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Van Campen.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Mr. Robert Ralston be appointed to muster the militia now called into service from the city and liberties of Phila- delphia, for the purpose of guarding the prisoners now in this city.
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MINUTES OF THE
A petition from Mrs. Jane Bartram, praying permission of this Board to come from the city of New York to the city of Philadel- phia, and that a bond, signed by herself and others, conditioned that she do not return from New York during the continuance of the present war without permission from this Board, was read ; and on consideration,
Ordered, That the prayer of the said petition be granted.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, May 30, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Van Campen, and Mr. Levan.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. William Morrison, for the sum of forty-three pounds ten shillings and ten pence one farthing, State money of the seventh of April, 1781, balance of his account as one of the Commissioners for purchasing cloathing in York county.
A petition from John Taylor, late of the county of Chester, at- tainted of high treason, was read, praying this Board to take his case into consideration, and grant him a pardon for the said offence. Thereupon,
Resolved, That a pardon be granted him, on condition that he take the oath or affirmation of allegiance to the State, and give se- curity himself in the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds specie, and two sureties, each in the sum of one hundred and twenty-five pounds specie, for his good behaviour during the present war.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, May 31, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. Levan.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform John Maxwell Nesbitt, Sharp Delany, and Joseph Shewell, to attend at this Board on Mon- day next.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor George Wall, Junior, Esquire, for ninety pounds nine shillings and six pence specie, in full for his services as Agent of Confiscated Estates in the county of Bucks.
In favor of the same person, for the sum of thirty-one pounds seventeen shillings and two 'pence, State money of the seventh of April, 1781, being the balance for soldier's certificates received by him, and overpaid in the sale of John Reid's estates in Bucks county.
In favor of James Stevenson, for the sum of three hundred pounds, in part of his pay as Auditor for settling the depreciation of the pay of the Pennsylvania line, for which he is to account.
The report of John Lukens, Esquire, Surveyor General, on the petition of Samuel Preston Moore, and others, referred to him by order of this Board, respecting a claim to divers city lots, was read; and
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A like report on the petition of Mary Jenkins, referred the 18th of January last, respecting a claim to divers city lots, in right of the original purchases of Joseph Allibone and John Price, was read ; and
Ordered, To lie on the table. .
A like report on the petition of Nicholas Young, respecting a claim to divers city lots appurtenant to the original purchases of John and Thomas Pierce, was read ; and
Ordered, To lie on the table.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, June 1, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. Levan.
Ordered, That all persons who have demands against the State. for horses and cattle purchased under the act of the General As- sembly passed the first day of June, 1780, and for which certifi- cates have been issued, be required to send in their certificates on or before the first day of August next, to the Waggon Masters and Commissioners of Purchase of the county in which they respect- ively live, or to Colonel Jacob Morgan, Junior, late Superintendant of the Commissioners of Purchase in this city, at which time the accounts of those purchases will be finally closed and settled.
Ordered, That the foregoing resolution be published.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, June 3, 1782.
PRESENT : 1
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Van Campen.
This being the day appointed for the meeting of the Board of Property, the Honorable the Vice President and Doct'r Gardner were appointed members of the said Board, to meet at four o'clock this afternoon.
Ordered, That the following stores be immediately provided by the Quarter Master General, for the use of the militia of this State, vizt :
Three marques, four hundred common tents, five hundred camp kettles, two thousand knapsacks, one hundred canteens, two ream of paper, with ink and quills, one thousand five hundred cartouch boxes, and three covered waggons.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Colonel Clement Biddle, for one thousand pounds specie, for the purpose of providing camp equipage for the militia of this State now ordered to hold themselves in readiness, for which he is to account.
In favor of Mr. Jacob Morris, for the sum of thirty-nine pounds specie, for pay as one of the Auditors of the Public Accounts, in full to the twenty-third day of March, 1782.
In favor of John Shee, Esquire, for the sum of forty-eight pounds specie, in full for his pay as one of the Auditors of the Public Accounts till the twenty-third day of March, 1782.
In favor of James Trimble, for the sum of seven pounds one shilling and two pence specie, amount of his expences in going to Reading, as a witness in behalf of the State in the cause pending between the State and the children of Andrew Allen, respecting the Big Spring tract.
In favor of Joseph Reed, Esquire, for the sum of twenty pounds specie, as a fee in the cause between the State and William Pol- lard.
In favor of Jared Ingersoll, Esquire, for the sum of nine pounds specie, as a fee in the cause between the State and Thomas Proc- ter, respecting Hog Island.
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