At the Courtho. of Philadia., Sepr. 21st, 1731.

PRESENT:

The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr.

Clement Plumsted,

Thomas Laurente. Esq'rs., Members of Council.

}

Derick Jansen, Esqr., one of His Majties Justices of Peace for the County of Philadelphia.

A List was presented of the Names of One hundred & six Palatines, who with their Families, making in all Two hundred & sixty nine Persons, were imported here in the Ship Britannia, of London, Michael Franklyn, Mr., from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, as by Clearance 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 and sign the Declaration inserted in the Minute of the 21st of Septr., 1727, & likewise took & subscribed the Declaration of Fidelity & Abjuration. Johannes Bartholomay Rieger, Louis Timothee, Geles Gelesen, Gisbertus Boors, Johannes Boors, Jacob Swenkoel, Henric Geber, Johannes Geber, Johan Henric Geber, Jacob Ritsch,

Lucas Vetter,

David Vetter,
Johannes Alberts,
Abraham Allshousen,
Johan Henrick Bahn,
Hans Michael Blatnert,
Veith Bruninger,
Johan Jacob Beyer,
Johan Adam Beyer,

Johannes Kirker,
Gottfried Krafft,

Valentine Klain,
Wilhelm Kerkes,

Wendel Lautermilch,

Christopher Lehman,
Johan Philip Lutz,
Hans Peter Lederman,
Michael Meyer,
Hans Jacob Mentz,
Christofall Meyer,
Johan Thomas Meyer,
Hans Henrick Martin,
Jacob Mier,
Michel Moths,
Johan Casper Muntz,
Christian Muller,
Herman Muller,
Mathias Nehs,

24th September, 1731.

MEMORANDUM: The Governor, by and with the Advice of some Gentlemen of his Council, this day issued a Commission to Thomas Watson of the County of Bucks, Esqr., appointing him to be the Officer of that County, for putting in Force a Law of this Province for regulating Weights & Measures.

At a Council held at Philadia., October 4th, 1731.

The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr.

Returns from the several Counties of the Province & from the County of New Castle of Persons elected for Sherifs & Coroners the

ensuing year were laid before the Board, with whose Approbation the Governor named the Persons following to fill those Offices:

For the City & County of Philadelphia. Charles Read & James Bingham being returned for Sherifs, & Owen Owen & John Roberts for Coroners, Charles Read is appointed Sherif, & Owen Owen Co

roner.

For the County of Bucks. John Hart and Isaac Penington being returned for Sherifs, & Willm. Atkinson & Jonathan Wolston for Coroners, Isaac Penington is appointed Sherif & Wm. Atkinson Coroner.

For the County of Chester. John Owen & William Smith being returned for Sherifs, & John Wharton & Benjamin Davis for Coroners, John Owen is appointed Sherif & John Wharton Coroner.

For the County of Lancaster. John Galbraith & David Jones being returned for Sherifs, & Joshua Lowe & Edward Smout for Coroners, John Galbraith is appointed Sherif & Joshua Lowe Coro

ners.

For the County of Newcastle. John Gooding & Henry Newton being returned for Sherifs, & Abraham Gooding & Robert Robertson for Coroners, Jno. Gooding is appointed Sherif & Robert Robertson Coroner.

And Commissions were Ordered to be issued accordingly; the Sherifs Giving Security as the Law directs.

OCTOBER 6th, OUT OF COUNCIL.

Returns from the Counties of Kent & Sussex being laid before His Honr., the Nomination was thus:

For the County of Kent. John Hall & Thomas Tarrent being returned for Sherifs, & Samuel Berry & Nicholas Loockerman for Coroners, John Hall is appted. Sherif & Nicholas Loockerman Co

roner.

For the County of Sussex Simon Kollock & James Finwick being Returned for Sherifs, & Cornelius Wiltbank & John Clowes for Coroners, Simon Kollock is appointed Sherif & John Clowes Coroner.

And Commissns. are ordered to be issued accordingly.

At the Courtho. of Philadia., Octobr. 14th, 1731.

PRESENT:

The honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr.

Clement Plumsted,

Esq'rs., Members of Council.

Thomas Griffits, Esqr., one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the City of Philadelphia.

A list was presented of the Names of Thirty three Palatines, who with their Families, making in all Seventy eight Persons, were im

ported in the Snow Louther, Joseph Fisher, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Dover, as by Clearance 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 Septemr., 1727, and likewise took & subscribed the Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration:

Gottfried Lehman,

Johan Christian Lehman,
Jacob Michol,

Jacob Keesey,

John Vendal Keesey,
Hans Jacob Brunner,
Hans Bonun,
Johan Matthias Cramer,
Hans Georg Haunrig,
Philip Pieter Visenant,
Johan Pieter Visenant,
Henrick Hovervass,
Philip Eckford,
Ulrick Michal,

Jacob Holtzinger,

Christopher Omborn,

Philip Kintz,

Dorst Hooste,

Melchior Heydon,

OCTOBER 15th.

The Representatives of the Freemen of this Province Elected the 1st instant, having mett yesterday in Assembly, pursuant to the Proprietor's Charter of Privileges, and the Law in that Case made and provided, and having proceeded to the Choice of a Speaker, notified the same by a Message to the Governor last night, and desired to know when he would be pleased to receive them that they may present their Speaker. And His Honour having named ten a clock this forenoon for that Purpose the House waited on the Governor accordingly, to whom Andrew Hamilton, Esqr., addressing himself said, that the House having thought fitt to chuse him their Speaker, he was now before His Honour for his Approbation. The Governor having approved of the House's Choice, the Speaker in their Name made the usual Request for the Freedom of Speech; Access to the Governor's Person, Protection during the accustomed time of Privilege, &c., which the Governor having promised, the House withdrew.

E.

At a Council held at Philadia, the 12th Novr., 1731.

PRESENT:

The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Governor.

The Governour acquainted the Board, that by the Ship from London which arrived yesterday, he had received a Letter from Mr. Paris the Agent for this Province, giving Account that the Sugar Islands were making great preparations for renewing, next Session of Parliament, their Application to obtain an Act for restraining the Trade of these Northern Colonies; That Petitions were coming from the Governor, Council and Assembly of each Island, to give their Application the greater Weight; that it would be necessary the Opposition should be made in the like manner, and therefore desiring that Petitions from Hence to his Majesty and both Houses of Parliament should be with all speed transmitted, together with full Instructions to himself; That the Act of establishing Courts of Judicature, passed here in the year 1727, had after a long Consideration of it before the Lords of Trade & Committee of Council, been repealed.

The Governor then observing that both these matters were of the greatest Consequences to the whole Province, & required the immediate Consideration of the Legislature, desired the Advice of the Board whether it would not be proper forthwith to call the Assembly, in order to lay these important Affairs before them.

The Board being unanimously of Opinion that the Speedy meeting of the Assembly for this purpose is absolutely necessary.

IT IS ORDERED that Writts forthwith issue, requiring them to meet at Philadelphia, the twenty second day of this instant, November.

E.

NOVEMBER 23d.

The House of Representatives having mett last night, in pursuance of the Writts issued, notified the same to the Governor, who directed a Council to be Summoned to meet this morning, in order to lay before them a Speech which he intended to make the House, and likewise the Advices which he had received from the President of His Majesty's Council of New York, touching the Incroachments of the French on that Government and the Erecting Fortifications in the Neighbourhood of Albany, with the Examination of Two Indian Traders taken here, relating to the Practices of the French in endeavouring to gain over to their Interest several Nations of Indians now in League with the English, of which His Honour had thought proper to take Notice in his said Speech, But a Quorum of the Council not meeting at the appointed time, The House was sent for, & the Governor spoke to them as follows:

"Gentlemen: