"taken such measures as will furnish them with so much Liquor as "they shall judge really necessary for them, and yet that it shall be 66 so restrained as that the ill Consequences arising from larger "Quantities forced on them, as the Practice has been, shall on our "parts be effectually prevented. I must therefore request you most "seriously to apply your thoughts to this important Subject, and to 66 appoint a Committee that may agree on a Bill to be brought into "the House for that Purpose. "Your concern also that our own Indians should be made easie, "& those Complaints be removed that they have made of the "Christians settling the Lands they claim, is prudent & just, & in "Complyance with your Request I shall not only move it to the "Proprietary Trustees to make a Purchase of these Indians, but "shall promote it by all the means in my Power. This I understand "has been long delayed, solely in Expectation of the Arrival of "some of our Proprietors, who as the Descendants of their late "Honourable Father for whose Name all the Indians have the high"est Regard, would be the most proper to manage such an Affair "with their own Estate. But as I am assured the Gentlemen now "in trust for them have all possible Zeal & Affection for the Peace " & true Interest of the Country, it is not to be questioned but that "convinced by the Necessity of it, they will proceed to the utmost Length of the Powers they are invested with so far as they can "with any Safety to themselves, to answer your & my Request in "so important a Affair. "August 7th, 1731." That upon Consideration thereof, & what was verbally represented by Mr. Logan, who attended the House & was heard on this Subject, a bill had been brought in for preventing the Indians from being abused by Rum & strong Drink, &c., but that afterwards the said Bill was thrown out by a large Majority, of which His Honour was acquainted by a verbal Message from the House, & at the same time requested that the Laws now in force for regulating the Indian Trade, might be strictly putt in Execution. The Governor then observing to the Board with what pernicious Consequences the Practice of carrying large quantities of Rum amongst the Indians might be attended, & how much the Publick Peace might be endangered thereby, Proposed to consider of some Expedient to prevent so great an Evil. And the Board thereupon were of Opinion that a Proclamn. should be published, to enforce Obedience to the Laws for regulating the said Trade, & to require all the Traders to attend the Governor personally for their Licenses; that a proper Examination may be made into their Character & past Behaviour, & that they come under such further Engagements as may be thought necessary for rendring the said Laws more effectual. And "TIS ORDERED that a Proclamation for this Purpose be prepared by the Clerk, and laid before the Council at their next meeting. The Governor acquainted the Board that an Opportunity now favourably presented itself of sending a Message to the Six (formerly called the Five) Nations by Shekallamy, who is willing to undertake it, & is a trusty good Man & a great Lover of the English; That therefore he was now to advise with the Council Touching the said Message; what Present might be proper to accompany it, and the Reward to be given Shekallamy. And the same being considered, the Board are of Opinion that an Invitation be sent to the Six Nations to come & visit us at Philadelphia; that a Present of about Ten pounds value shall accompany the Message, & It is Referr'd to Messrs. Logan & Preston to provide the same, & report what may be proper to give to the Messenger for his Trouble. At the Courtho. of Philadia., Augst. 17th, 1731. PRESENT: The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr. A List was Presented of the Names of Thirty nine Palatines, who with their Families, making in all One hundred & seven Persons, were imported here in the Ship Samuel, Hugh Peircy, Master, from Rottrrdm., but last from Cowes, as by Clearance from that Port. The Master being examined said he had no particular License for their Transportan.; They were then called in, and having declared that their Intentions were to settle & live peaceably in this Province, the several Persons whose Names are subjoined, did repeat & sign the Declaration inserted in the Minute of 21st of September, 1727, & likewise took & Subscribed the Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration. Johan George Crisner, Johannes Metzger, Christopher Kink, George Sebald Madinger, Hans George Bender, At a Council held at Philadia., Augt. 20th, 1731. PRESENT: The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr. Clement Plumsted, Ralph Asheton, } Esq'rs. The Minute of the preceding Council being read & approved, The Clerk according to order, laid before the Board a Draught of a Proclamation which being read was likewise approved, and 'tis ORDERED that the same be sealed & published forthwith, and that printed Copies thereof be sent into each of the Counties, which Proclamation is in these Words: "BY THE HONOURABLE PATRICK GORDON, ESQR., "Lieutenant Governour of the Province of Pennsylvania, & Counties "of Newcastle, Kent & Sussex on Delaware, "A PROCLAMATION. "WHEREAS by the Blessing of Almighty God on the just & "prudent measures which, at the first Settlement of this Colony were "entered into by its Honourable Founder, and have since been pur"sued by this Government, a firm & uninterrupted Friendship has "been maintained between the Inhabitants thereof, & its Native "Indians, AND WHEREAS the more effectually to secure the 66 same several expensive Treaties with them have been held, and "divers wholesome Laws have been Enacted for regulating the Trade "carried on with the said Natives, and for preventing their being "abused with Strong Liquors. Notwithstanding which divers Per"sons of late have made it their practice to carry amongst the said "Indians large Quantities of Rum, by Means whereof they are not only grievously wrong'd, but such fatal Accidents too often ensue, as without a timely Interposition may destroy that good Agreement "which hath hitherto subsisted between them and us, and likewise (6 very much endanger the Publick Peace, as appears by the repeated 66 Complaints not only of our own Indians, but of those to the "Northward, who have formerly been known by the Name of the "Five (but are now called the Six) Nations, AND WHEREAS the "Representatives of the Freemen of this Province, at their last Ses"sion of Assembly upon a serious Consideration of the Premises, "have requested me that I would cause the several Laws now in "Force, for regulating the Indian Trade & preventing Abuses "committed by selling Rum to the Indians be strictly putt in Execu"tion, I HAVE THEREFORE, by & with the Advice of the "Council, thought fitt to issue this Proclamation, Hereby Requiring "& Commanding all & singular His Majesty's Subjects within this "Province, who are any ways concerned in the Trade with the Indians, "that they carefully observe and practice the several Laws of this "Government thereunto relating, as they will answer the contrary "at their Peril; And that no Person or Persons whatsomever, presume to deal or traffick with the Indians in the Woods unless they "are recommended & licensed, as by an Act of General Assembly "of this Province, pass'd in the eight year of the Reign of His late Majesty KING GEORGE, of blessed Memory, Entituled An Act "to prohibit the selling of Rum and other Strong Liquors to the "Indians, & to prevent the Abuses that may happen thereby, is "appointed and directed. Hereby Notifying to all and every such "Person or Persons as shall hereafter be recommended by the Jus"tices of any of the County Courts of Quarter Sessions within this "Government, to Me for a License, that they present themselves "personally before me in order to obtain the same; AND WHEREAS "it hath been likewise represented to me, that several Non Residents "& unsettled Persons continue to come into this Province, and "clandestinely deal and traffick with the Indians, & not being under any proper Security are the less carefull of their Behaviour in their "dealings with & usage of the said Indians. "FOR PREVENTION thereof I hereby strictly enjoyn all & every of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace within this Government, & more particularly those in the remoter parts of the Prov"ince, that against such Offenders who shall hereafter be found "within the reputed Boundaries thereof, they cause an Act of Gen"eral Assembly of the said Province, passed in the twelfth year of "the Reign of his Late Majesty KING WILLIAM the third, of "blessed Memory, Entituled the Law about Indian Traders, to be "strictly put in Execution. "Given in Council at Philadelphia, under my Hand & the Great "Seal of the said Province the twentieth day of August, in the fifth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the second, by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, France & Ireland, "Defender of the Faith, &c., Annoq. Dom. 1731. "GOD SAVE THE KING." The Governor then informed the Board that Isaac Norris, Esquire, having for certain Reasons declined the Office of Chief Justice of this Province, some other proper Person ought to be appointed thereunto. And His Honour having named James Logan, Esquire, as a Gentleman whose well known Abilities sufficiently qualify him for that Station, The Board unanimously concurred in the said Nomination, & 'TIS ORDERED, that he be commissionated Chief Justice accordingly. The Governor further represented that by several Petitions from the Inhabitants of the back parts of Chester County, now laid before the Board, it appears there is great Want of a Magistrate there; And his Honour proposing that one John Karnaughan being in those parts, of whom he said he had received a favourable Character, should be assigned a justice of the Peace. The Board agreed thereto ORDERED that he be Commissionated accordingly. At a Council held at Philadia., Septemr. 2d, 1731. PRESENT: The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Governr. James Logan, Isaac Norris, Saml. Preston, The preceeding Minute being read & approved, the Governor proposed the issuing of a New General Commission of the Peace for the City & County of Philadelphia, but the Consideration thereof for several Reasons is thought proper to be deferred. At the Courtho. of Philadia., Septr. 11th, 1731. PRESENT: The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr. William Allen, Esqr., one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said City, &c. A List was presented of the Names of Fifty seven Palatines, who with their Families, making in all One hundred & seventy five Persons, were imported here in the Ship Pensylvania Merchant, Jno. Stedman, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Dover, as by Clearauce from that Port. The Master being examined said he had no particular License for their Transportation; They were then called in, & having declared that their Intentions were to settle & live peaceably in this Province, the several Persons whose names are subjoyned, did repeat & sign the Declaration inserted in the Minute of the 21st of Septr., 1727; & likewise took & subscribed the Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration. Michael Gabertz, VOL. II.-18 John Jacob Kryhe, Baltzar Seyler, Johan Nicolas Steymutz, |