Attorney Genll. of this Province, and the Governour named Andrew Hamilton as a person who he believed wou'd be found as capable of that office as any in the place, and thereupon desired the opinion of the Board, who unanimously Concurr'd with the Governrs. nomination. The Governour observ'd to the Board that great numbers of fforeigners from Germany, strangers to our Language & Constitutions, having lately been imported into this Province daily dispersed themselves immediately after Landing, without producing any Certificates, from whence they came or what they were; & as they seemed to have first Landed in Britain, & afterwards to have left it Without any License from the Government, or so much as their knowledge, so in the same manner they behaved here, without making the least application to himself or to any of the magistrates; That as this Practice might be of very dangerous Consequence, since by the same method any number of foreigners from any nation whatever, as well Enemys as friends, might throw themselves upon us; The Governour, therefore, thought it requisite that this matter should be Considered by the Board, & accordingly it was Considered, & 'tis Ordered thereupon, that all the masters of vessels who have lately imported any of these fforeigners be summoned to appear at this Board, to Render an acct. of the number and Characters of their Passengers respectively from Britain; That all those who are already Landed be required by a Proclamation, to be issued for that purpose; to Repair within the space of one month to some Magistrate, particularly to the Recorder of this City, to take such Oaths appointed by Law as are necessary to give assurances of their being well affected to his Majesty and his Government; But because some of these foreigners are said to be Menonists, who cannot for Conscience sake take any Oaths, that those persons be admitted upon their giving any Equivalent assurances in their own way and manner, & that the Naval Officer of this Port be required not to admit any inward bound vessell to an Entry, until the master shall first give an exact List of all their passengers imported by them. At a Council held at Philadia., y 9th Septemr., 1717. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. William Trent, Jonathan Dickinson, JAMES LOGAN, Sec'y. Capt. Richmond, Capt. Towor, & Capt. Eyers, waited upon the Board with the List of the Palatines they had Imported here from London; By which List it appeared that Capt. Richmond had Imported Óne hundred & sixty-four, Capt. Towor Ninety-one, and Capt. Eyers One hundred & Eight. VOL. III.-2 At a Council at Philadia., yo 28th Septemr., 1717. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. Anthony Palmer,. The Governour acquainted the Board that Coll. Spottswood, Governour of Virginia, being now here on a visit, had informed him that he had some matters of Importance to the Peace and Security of these Northern Colonies to Communicate to the Governour of New York & himself; That Brigadeer Hunter having given Coll. Spotswood an Invitation to see him at New York, He had resolved to proceed thither, and that it was necessary than decent that he himself also should accompany him thither; Provided, that the Council be of Opinion that his absence at the time of the Ensuing Elections, when some Officers named to the Governr., are to be chosen and Commissionated by him will prove no detriment to the Publick, but that it may be supplied in those cases by the Council; Whereupon the Law Intituled, and act for the further Securing of the Administration of the Government, was read, by which it appeared that the Council, in the Governour's absence, were Invested with full power to act in his stead in all those Cases, as also in all others, Legislation only excepted. At a Council held at Philadia., the 3d Octobr., 1717. Richard Hill, William Trent, PRESENT: Samuel Preston, Anthony Palmer, The Governonr in pursuance of the Resolution of the Last meeting of the Board, being Departed with Collo. Spotswood for New York, Severall affairs of Government Required the Council in his absence to meet; and being accordingly now mett, Pursuant to an Act Intituled, an act for the further Securing the adm'acon of Governmt., Richard Hill, Eldest Councellor Present, was chosen President, Who took the chair, and ordered that should there happen to be occasion by the Lievt. Governrs. Death or Long absence, he being now Gone to New York with an Intent to Return in Eight or Ten days, That notice shall be given of such Death or Long absence to the Board of Trade, and also to the Governr. in Chief, according to the Directions of the said act. Owen Roberts, Sherif of the City and County of Philada., waited on this Board, & presented his Return of Coroners for the Ensuing year, and Richard Walker, the first named in the said Return, was appointed Coroner of the City and County of Philadelphia, for the Ensuing year. Enoch Story, Coroner of the City & County of Philada., Presented his Return of Sherifs for the sd. City & County, & Owen Roberts ffrst named in the Returns is appointed Sherif of the said City & County of Philadelphia, for the Ensuing year. The Return of Coroners for the County of Bucks was Presented to this Board, and William Biles first named in sd. Return is appointed Coroner for the sd. County for Ensuing year.. The Return of Sherifs for the County of Bucks, was Presented to this Board, and John Hall of the sd. County is appointed Sherif, he living in the Town of Bristol, which will be more convenient for the service of the Publick, and then the Conncil adjourn'd to the afternoon. The Corporation of this City Waited upon this Board, in Order to Present Jonathan Dickinson, Mayor Elect to be qualified, who took the Qualifications by Law required. Owen Roberts, Richard Walker & John Hall, took the several Qualifications by Law required; also, the Qualification for the Discharge of their Duty in their Respective offices. The Coroner of the County of Chester, presented to this Board the Return of Sherifs for the sd. County, and Nicholas ffairlamb is appointed Sherif of the sd. County for the Ensuing year, he Living in the Town of Chester, which will be convenient for the service of the Publick. The Sherif of the sd. County of Chester Presented to this Board the Return of Coroners for the sd. County, and Jonas Sandeland, first named in the sd. Return, is appointed Coroner of the said County for the Ensuing year. The Council adjourned till To morrow morning. At a Council at Philadia.,.y 4th of October, 1717. RICHARD HILL, Presidt. William Trent, Jonathan Dickinson, Samuel Preston. PRESENT: Anthony Palmer, The Council being met, Nicholas ffairlamb, Sherif of the County of Chester, took the Qualifications by Law Required, as also his affirmacon for the Due Execucon of his Office. At a Council at Philadia., ye 19th of October, 1717. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. Isaac Norris, Jonathan Dickinson, Samuel Preston. Robert Assheton, The Governour acquainted the Board that he had Received a Letter from the Assembly at New Castle, who were now sitting, which was Read, and that he Intended to be there to-morrow night, that he thought it requisite that some of the members of Council shou'd attend him thither, for that he believed that the Assembly Intended to Proceed to Business. At a Council at Philadia., ye 12th Novemr., 1717. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. Jasper Yeates, Isaac Norris, Jonathan Dickinson, Samuel Preston, Robert Assheton, The Governour askt the Board whether they agreed with him in Opinion, that it was his Duty to Call for an accot. of Certain moneys Received by the late Treasurer of this Province, by the Direction of an act of Assembly, now read, vizt.: An act for raising Two Thousand Pounds for the Queen's use, and that the sd. money wou'd be most properly Lodged in his hands, whose Receipt is by the sd. act Declared to be sufficient, & the only Legal Discharge therein mentioned to the late Treasurer his Exrs., and the sd. act having appointed the Governour the Person by whom the sd. money is to be paid to the Order of the Crown, no time should be Lost in Calling for and securing the same according to the Direction of the sd. act, to which the Council agreed. The Governour askt the opinion of the Board about Publishing a Proclamacon for giving a suitable reward to any person who shall in a Certain time Discover to the Governour or other magistrates any Person or Persons within this Province, or that shall arrive here within the time prefixt, so as that they may be Convicted of Piracy, or to have had any Intercourse by way of Concealing or Giving Assistance to the Pirates, who have lately Infested our Coast & Interrupted our Trade, with a promise that the Governour will most heartily Interest himself to obtain his Maties. most Gracious pardon to such of the Pirates themselves as will voluntarily come unto him and Discover any of their accomplices, so as that they may be convicted by Legal Testimony, and that all Magistrates, &c., be strictly Comanded to take notice of Vagabonds & Suspected persons, more Especially sea faring men, who can give no accot. of themselves, that they may be secured on suspicion, in order to be Dealt with as the Law Directs, to which the Board unanimously agreed, and a Proclamacon was ordered to be Immediately Drawn. A Peticon of Jane Hayes & Ann Hayes, of the County of Chester, was Read, and Deferr'd till the Atty. Genll. & Chief Justice were present. The Governour acquainted the Board that he had Deliver❜d to one of the Proprictors Comrs., vizt: Mr. Logan. a scheme Concerning the Quitrents of the three Lower Counties, and now desired Mr' Logan to Communicate the same to the rest of the Comrs., that they make report the next Council. Then the Council adjourned. At a Council held at the Govrs. house in Philada., y° 11th ffebry 1717. The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. Richard Hill, Samuel Preston, PRESENT: James Logan, The Governour acquainted the Board, That for as much as there seemed to be a necessity upon him to Issue a Comision for the Tryal of Certain Criminals now in Goal for murther, and that he is not satisfied with the presentments and fforms heretofore used in this Province, vizt. to Grant such Comissions in the Governours name, which the Governr. Conceives from the Kings Royal Prerogative, as it is ascertain'd to be understood in the sense of the Law, by the statute Hen. 8, Anno 27, Cap. 24, ought to be granted & Issue in the Kings name. The Governour therefore desires that the Board will maturely Consider a matter of such Importance, and either Concur in Opinion with him to have Comissions of Oyer & Terminer or Goal Delivery, and all Comissions of the Peace for the future to be Issued in the Kings name and tested by the Governour, or otherways that they will so far agree upon such other certain form, to be used in Granting the said Comissions, as will save harmless and Justify the Governour in his proceeding therein; upon a Debate, and Observing that some members were absent, the farther Consideration of the matter proposed was delay'd to friday next, being yo 14th Instant, at nine in the morning precisely, and the Council was adjourned to that time accordingly. At a Council held at Philada., yo 14th ffebry, 1717. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. The last minute of Council was Order'd to be Read, then the Governour spoke as follows. GENTLEMEN : In your last Debates on this Subject, I think it was Generally agreed that such Commissions ought not to run in the Lievtenant Govrs. name, for that was said to be an alteration in the stile which |