USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIV > Part 12
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A letter from John Boggs, Esquire, Agent of Confiscated Estates in Cumberland county, reporting to Council a tract of eighty acres of land, situate in said county, purchased by John Wilson, an at- tainted traytor, from Richard Rodgers, and which is now claimed by said Rodgers, and praying the direction of Council, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the said Agent be directed to take possession of the said premises, in the name of the Commonwealth.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, June 10th, 1784. PRESENT : His Excelleney JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John Boyd,
Stephen Balliott,
Isaac Mason, and
John McDowell,
Samuel J. Atlee.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, June 11th, 1784. PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine,
John Boyd,
John M'Dowell, Isaac Mason, and
Stephen Balliott,
Samuel J. Atlee.
Two orders were drawn on the Treasurer in favor of William Bradford, Junior, and James Wilson, Esquires, for the sum of three hundred pounds specie each, being fees allowed them for managing the controversy concerning the private right of soil in the territory heretofore in dispute between this State and Connecticut, the ju- risdiction and pre-emption of which the Court of Commissioners, at Trenton, on the thirtieth day of December, 1782, did adjudge of right to belong to this State.
The Comptroller General's report upon the account of Richard Johnston was read and approved, and an order drawn for thirty pounds specie in his favor, in part of the ballance of the said ac- count.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, June 12th, 1784.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President. James Irvine, Stephen Balliott,
Samuel J. Atlee, Isaac Meason, and
John McDowell, John Boyd.
A copy of the letter from the Honorable the Judges of the Su- preme Court, dated the seventh instant, and a copy of their opin-
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ion in the case of Charles Julian De Longchamps, inclosed in said letter, in answer to the questions proposed by Council, were trans- mitted to the Minister of France.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, June 14th, 1784.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John McDowell, Stephen Balliott,
Isaac Meason, and Samuel J. Atlee, Requires.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, June 15th, 1784.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John McDowell, Stephen Balliott,
Isaac Mason, and
Samuel John Atlee, &Esquires.
The Sheriff of the county of Chester appeared in Council, and laid before the Board a certificate from the Recorder, of his having . entered his securities, according to law.
The petition of John Moore, convicted of larceny at the Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at Philadelphia for the county of Phila- delphia, the seventh day of June, 1784, with the recommendation of the Magistrates, was read, and an order taken that the part of his punishment which related to cutting off his ears, should be re- mitted.
A letter from the Honorable Francis Hopkinson, Esquire, with an account of his fees, was read, and an order granted for the sum of fifty pounds, in part of his salary as Judge of the Court of Ad- miralty and Judge in the Admiralty Sessions of this State, for which he is to account.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, June 16th, 1784.
PRESENT :
Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John McDowell,
Samuel J. Atlee, i
Isaac Meason, Esquires.
Stephen Balliot,
The petition of James Bollard, John Hocklen and James Has- tens, convicted of larceny in the county of Philadelphia, was read, together with a recommendation from the Justices, upon which it was
Ordered, That the corporal punishment be remitted.
A letter from Jonathan Bayard Smith, Prothonotary of the county of Philadelphia, informing Council that Colonel Thomas Proctor, the present Sheriff, has given bond and security according to law, was read.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Stephen Balliot, Esquire, for the sum of two hundred and eighty. one pounds six shillings and three pence specie, in full of his ac- count for rations furnished to the troops stationed in North- ampton county, 'till February, 1783, inclusively, to be paid out of the fund appropriated to the frontier defence.
Two orders were drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Charles Hall's widow and Executrix, for the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings and ten pence half penny, State money, and the sum of one pound and one-half penny specie, ballances of said Charles Hall's State money and specie accounts, as late Agent of Forfeited Estates in the county of Lancaster, agreeably to the Comptroller General's report.
A letter from William Bradford, Jun'r, Esquire, Attorney Gene- ral, returning to Council two threatning letters sent of Monsieur Marbois, was read and filed.
A letter from Charles Thomson, Esquire, Secretary to Congress, inclosing two acts of Congress, dated the third instant, one of them for raising seven hundred men to take possession of the western posts as soon as evactuated by the British troops, and the other relative to the number of troops necessary to attend the Commis- sioners to hold a treaty with the Indians, and the provisions and stores to be furnished, was read, and ordered to be laid before the Gen'l Assembly.
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The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, June 17th, 1784. PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine,
John Boyd, and )
John McDowell,
Isaac Meason, Esquires.
Samuel J. Atlee,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable John Boyd, Esquire, for thirty-nine pounds seventeen shillings & six pence specie, in full for his attendance in Council 'till the six- teenth instant inclusively, and his mileage.
A letter from the Minister of France, reminding Council of his former requisition, requesting to have delivered up to him Charles Julian de Longchamps, was read, together with sundry inclosures.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, June 18th, 1784.
PRESENT :
Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John Boyd, and )
John McDowell, Isaac Meason, Esquires.
Samuel J. Atlee,
Upon the petitions of Thomas Green and Jacob Bawer, the for- mer convicted of horse stealing, and the latter of larceny, in the county of York, it was
Ordered, That the fines adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the said Thomas Green and Jacob Bawer respectively, be remitted.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Lieutenant John Cunningham, for forty pounds two shillings and ten pence specie, ballance of his account, agreeably to the Comptroller Gene- ral's report of this day, to be paid out of money arising from mili- tia fines in the county of Lancaster.
Council taking into consideration the act of Congress of the third instant, and other matters of great importance to this State, judge it absolutely necessary that the Representatives be called to meet in General Assembly before the time to which they stand adjourned ; therefore,
Resolved, unanimously, That the Representatives of the Frec- men of this Commonwealth be called to meet in General Assem-
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
bly on Tuesday the twentieth day of July next, to make such pro- vision as the welfare of the State may require.
Ordered That a copy of the above resolution be transmitted to the Sheriffs of the respective counties of this Commonwealth, who are hereby required forthwith to notify to the members of their respective counties.
A letter from Colonel James Moore, inclosing two petitions from divers inhabitants settled at Wioming, dated the eighth and eleventh instant, was read.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, June 19th, 1784.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John McDowell, Stephen Balliott,
John Boyd,
· Jamuel J. Atlee, and
Isaac Meason.
John White attended, and Council agreed to allow him thirty- one pounds ten shillings for riding Express to the counties of Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Bedford, Westmoreland and Washington, with dispatches to the several Sheriffs of said counties, for calling the General Assembly, and thereupon, an order was drawn in his favour for fifteen pounds specie, in part of said sum.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of James Mc Wil- liams, for the sum of thirty-three pounds three shillings and eight pence, State money, for principal and interest due upon his certi- ficate for a horse furnished for public use, to be paid according to resolution of Assembly dated the eighth day of April, 1782.
An address from Council to the Chevalier De la Luzerne, Min- ister Plenipotentiary from His Most Christian Majesty to the United States of America, was this day agreed to, and transmitted to the said Minister in the following words, vizt :
To His Excellency the Chevalier De la Luzerne, Minister Plenipo- tentiary of His Most Christian Majesty to the United States.
SIR :- The Executive Council of Pennsylvania cannot witness your preparations to embark for your native country, without ex- pressing the pain we feel at the prospect of your departure, and the high sense we entertain of the zeal and ability with which you have promoted the union of France with the United States, during your residence among us.
VOL. XIV .- 10.
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MINUTES OF THE
We beg leave to assure you at the same time, that the return of peace, and our general intercourse with the powers of Europe, have not in the least lessened our sense of our many obligations to the illustrious Monarch of France, nor our gratitude for the benefits we derived from the bravery and treasure of the French Nation.
We are happy in this opportunity of acknowledging that your conduct towards the Supreme Executive power of the State, has been uniformly marked with all that decency and respect which characterize the gentlemen of the Nation to which you belong.
Accept our best wishes for your safe and speedy voyage. May you long possess the favor of your Sovereign, and the esteem of your countrymen, and enjoy in every stage of life the pleasures which arise from faithful contributions to the interests of humanity.
JAMES EWING, Vice President. Council Chamber, June 19th, 1784.
Upon the petition of John Sumrall, William Shrater, James Clark, Robert Vance, John Neil, Hugh Nelley, Samuel Bradley, John Leany, Alexander Meat, Thomas Ralph, Ralph Cherry, and John Hughes, convicted of selling spirituous liquors by small mea- sure without licence, in the county of Westmoreland; it was
Ordered, That in consideration of the peculiar distresses to which the inhabitants on the frontiers during the late war, have been reduced, the several and respective fines adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the persons before mentioned, be remit- ted.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, June 21st, 1784.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel J. Atlee,
John McDowell, Isaac Meason, and
Stephen Balliott, John Boyd.
Council agreed to allow John Noacre twelve dollars for riding express to the Sheriffs of the county of Berks and Northumber- land, with orders to call the General Assembly.
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· SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, June 22nd, 1784.
PRESENT :
Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine,
Samuel J. Atlee, and )
John McDowell,
Isaac Meason, Esquires.
Stephen Balliott,
Thomas Dyer, Esquire, was appointed and commissioned to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Bucks, upon a return made agreeably to law for the district of the townships of Tinicum and Plumstead.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, June 23rd, 1784.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel J. Atlee, and )
John McDowell, Isaac Meason, Esquires.
Stephen Balliott,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of his Excellency Thomas Mifflin, Esquire, President of Congress, for the sum of three hundred and five pounds and sixteen shillings, in full for his attendance in Congress 'till the third instant, and his mileage going to Congress and returning.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable James Read, Esquire, for the sum of eighteen pounds seven shil- lings and six pence specie, in full for his attendance in the Council of Censors 'till the twenty-second instant, inclusively, to be paid agreeably to resolution of the General Assembly dated the twenty- second day of November, 1783.
This day Council received the following letter from the Minister of France, to wit :
" PHILADELPHIA, 14th June, 1784.
" SIR :- I have passed many years with too much satisfaction in this city not to feel the most sensible regret on leaving it. The interests of the two nations are so firmly united, that I could, with- out ceasing to be a Frenchman, consider myself a citizen of the United States. Separated from my nearest connections for more
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than five years, and in times of public calamity and danger, I have found in this city everything which could make amends for the want of those enjoyments of which I was necessarily deprived.
"I beg you will allow me, on taking leave of your Excellency and Council, to assure them that I preserve all my life the remem- brance of the friendship which they, as well as all the citizens of Philadelphia, have constantly shewn me.
"I sincerely sollicit the continuance of it, and beg they will be perswaded that the sentiments which attach me to this country will only end with my life.
"I am, with respect, your Excellency's most humble and obe- dient servant,
"LE CHEV'R DE LA LUZERNE.
" To his Excellency the President and Honorable the Council."
Which being read, was Ordered, To be filed.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, June 24th, 1784.
PRESENT :
Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine,
John McDowell, Stephen Balliott,
Samuel J. Atlee, and Isaac Meason.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of William Grey, for four hundred and thirty-six pounds seven shillings State money, and in favor of John Beatty, for eleven pounds fifteen shillings and six pence State money, in full for principal and interest due upon their respective certificates, furnished for public use, to be paid ac- cording to resolution of Assembly dated the eighth day of April, 1782.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Nichol- son, Esquire, Comptroller General, for the sum of five hundred pounds State money, for paying one-third part of depreciation cer- tificates to officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, for which said Comptroller is to account.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, June 25th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esq'r, President.
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John Boyd, and Isaac Meason.
John McDowell, Stephen Balliott,
Ordered, That James Wilson, Esquire, be requested to assist the Attorney General in the trial of Charles Julian de 'Longchamps.
John Richards and Henry Scheetz, Esquires, were appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Philadelphia, upon returns made agreeably to law for the districts containing the townships of Frederick, New Hanover and Douglass, and Springfield, Whitemarsh and Plymouth.
The petition of Christopher, Jun'r, and Charles Marshall, re- specting interest due upon Gerard William Beekman's loan office · certificates, was read, and referred to Thomas Smith, Esquire, Loan Oficer, who is requested to report to Council his objections against complying with the application of the petition.
Henry Slaymaker, Esquire, was appointed and commissioned to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Lancaster, upon a return made agreeably to law for the district of the townships of Lampeter & Strasburg.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Plunket Fleeson, Esquire, be appointed a Justice of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Philadelphia.
And that Daniel Griffith and George Pierce be appointed Jus- tices of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Chester.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, June 26th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel J. Atlee,
Isaac Meason, and
John Boyd,
Esquíes.
Stephen Balliott,
On consideration,
Ordered, That Henry Wynkoop, Esquire, be appointed Presi- dent of the County Court of Common Pleas for the county of Bucks ; and that the said Henry Wynkoop and Joseph Hart, Es- quires, be appointed Justices of the said court, and commissioned accordingly.
. Ordered, That the said Henry Wynkoop be appointed and com- missioned to be President of the Court of Quarter Sessions in and for the said county of Bucks.
The resignation of John Donnaldson, Esquire, as one of the Wardens of the city of Philadelphia, was read, and accepted ; whereupon,
The Council proceeded to fill the vacancy occasioned by the said resignation, and Joseph Bullock was chosen,
Ordered, That Major Thomas B. Bowen and Captain Erkurius Beatty, Agents appointed by Congress to receive from the Paymas- ter General the certificates for the arrears of pay due to the officers and soldiers of the line of this State, and to distribute the same to the individuals to whom they belong, be directed to countersign the same before distribution.
Three deeds were examined and signed by His Excellency the President, to James Loughead, for lots No. 1257, 1258, and 1259. Consideration £123 0 0 State money of the 29th of April, 1780. To Peter Stretch, for lots No. 1640 and 1641. Consideration £185 0 0, in like money. And to Philip Moore, for lots No. from 974 to 979, inclusive. Consideration £361, in like money; which sums have been paid into the hands of the Treasurer of the State. Deeds dated the twenty fourth of June, 1784.
A letter from the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia, inclosing a return of the expenditure of fifteen hundred pounds specie, lately granted by Council for the improvement of the navigation of the bay and river Delaware, was read.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, June 28th, 1784. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Isaac Meason, and 7 Esquires.
Stephen Balliot,
John Boyd,
Samuel J. Atlee,
Upon the petition of Mary McGuire, in behalf of George Mc- Guire, convicted of larceny in the county of Chester, it was
Ordered, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the said George McGuire be remitted.
The Comptroller General's reports upon the following accounts were read and approved, vizt :
Of William Grey, Esquire, Pay Master of the county of North- umberland.
Of Walter Clark and William Murray, Sub-Lieutenants of the said county ; and
Of John Jones, Esquire.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, June 29th, 1784. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, . Samuel J. Atlee,
John McDowell, John Boyd, and
Stephen Balliot, Isaac Mason.
A letter from the Commissioners of the Taxes in the county of Westmoreland, with sundry depositions inclosed, relating to a conspiracy to prevent the levying taxes in the county of Fayette, and a robbery upon Collectors, was read; and on consideration it was
Ordered, That a proclamation be issued in the following words, vizt :
Pennsylvania, ss :
By the President and the Supreme Executive Council of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, By depositions taken according to law, it appears that several evil disposed persons have conspired to prevent the
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levying of taxes in the county of Fayette, and that in pursuance thereof, the Collectors of the townships of Manallin and Spring- field, in the said county, were in the month of the duplicates then in their possession:
And whereas, It is of great importance to the good people of this Commonwealth that such heinous offenders should be brought to condign punishment; we have thought fit to offer, and do hereby offer a public reward of fifty pounds for each and every of the said conspirators and robbers, or any of them, to any person or persons who shall apprehend and secure them, or any of them, to be paid on conviction for the same. And all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and Constables, are hereby strictly enjoined and required to make dili- gent search and inquiry after, and to use their utmost endeavors to apprehend and secure the said offenders, so that they may be dealt with according to law.
Given in Council under the hand of his Excellency John Dickin- son, Esquire, President, and the seal of the State, at Philadel- phia, this twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.
JOHN DICKINSON. Attest :- JOHN ARMSTRONG, Jun'r, Secretary.
GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH !
John Gill, Esquire, was appointed and commissioned to be a Justice of the Peaec in and for the city and county of Philadel- phia, upon a return made agreeably to law for Lower Delaware ward, in the said city.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, June 30th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel J. Atlee,
John McDowell, John Meason, and
Stephen Balliot, John Boyd.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Doctor Joseph Eaker, for forty pounds four shillings and nine pence, ballance of his account for medicine and attend- ance upon Captain Robinson's company of Rangers, from January 'till October, 1783, agreeably to the Comptroller General's report of February the 17th, 1784.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In favor of the Honorable Samuel J. Atlee, Esquire, for sixty pounds five shillings specie, in full for his attendance as Council- lor 'till the first of July, 1784, inclusively, and his mileage. .
An order was drawn upon the Naval Officer in favor of Messrs. Arthur Donnaldson and Levi Hollinsworth, for the sum of fifteen hundred pounds specie, to be by them applied in removing or de- stroying the Chevaux de frize in the river Delaware, to be paid out of the fund appropriated by resolution of the General Assembly dated the twenty-second of September, 1783, for that purpose, and arising by the late impost laws.
The records of the conviction of Anthony Wilt, for burglary in the county of York, and of George Sheffer, for burglary, and Wil- liam Welsh, for robbery in the county of Berks, were read, and their cases being fully considered ; it was
Ordered, That execution of the sentences of the Court be made and done upon them the said Anthony Wilt, George Scheffer, and William Welsh, on Saturday the seventeenth day of July next, and warrants to the Sheriffs of the counties of York and Berks were issued accordingly.
Upon the petitions of James McGuire, Alexander McClain, and John Butler, convicted of larceny in the county of Philadelphia; it was,
Ordered, That the several and respective fines adjudged to be paid to the use of the State be remitted.
Upon the petition of Andrew Jack, convicted of larceny in the county of Cumberland ; it was,
Ordered, That the corporal punishment to which he was sen- tenced by the Court, be remitted.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, July 1st, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John Boyd, and
John McDowell, Isaac Meason, Esquires. George Wall, Jun'r,
A dedimus potestatem was issued to James Benezet, and Samuel Benezet, Esquires, for the county of Bucks.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of the Honorable John McDowell, Esquire, for twenty- four pounds two shillings and six pence specie, in full for his at-
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tendance as Councillor 'till the thirtieth of June, 1784, inclusively, and his mileage.
In favor of the Honorable David Espy, for the sum of twenty- six pounds five shillings specie ; and in favor of the Honorable Samuel Davidson, Esquire, for twenty-six pounds five shillings, in full for their attendance respectively, in the Council of Censors 'till the thirtieth day of June, 1784, inclusively, to be paid ac- cording to resolution of Assembly dated the twenty-fourth of No- vember, 1784, inclusively.
In favor of Colonel James Moore, for the sum of fifty pounds specie, for provisions furnished to the troops stationed at Wioming, as he the said Colonel Moore, alledges, for which he is to account.
In favor of Frederick Sneider, for fifteen pounds eleven shillings and seven pence specie, in full for his wages as Doorkeeper 'till the thirtieth of June, 1784, inclusively, and cash paid for newspapers, &ca.
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