Upon consideration of the intelligence communicated to Council by the Honorable Nathan Dennisen, Esquire, Zebulun Butler, Esquire, and William Hooker Smith, and Nathan Cary, and the deposition of Andrew Ellicott, relative to the seizing and carrying off the person of Timothy Pickering, Esquire, Prothonotary of the county of Luzerne, by an armed banditti, assembled in said county for that purpose, Resolved, That the following proclamation be issued and published in the Freeman's Journal, printed in this city, and in the newspapers printed at York, Carlisle and Pittsburgh, vizt: Pennsylvania, s8: By the Vice President and the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, By depositions taken according to law, it appears that several evil disposed persons have conspired to obstruct the exccution of the laws in the county of Luzerne, and have violently seized and carried off the person of Timothy Pickering, Esquire, an officer of Government, whom they still retain as a prisoner: And whereas, it is of great importanee 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 three hundred dollars, for apprehending and securing John Jenkins, three hundred dollars for apprehending and secnring John Hyde, and the sum of one hundred dollars for apprehending and securing each and every of the following named persons, vizt: Daniel Earl, Benjamin Earl, Cady, Wilkes Jenkins, Joseph Dudley, Gideon Dudley, David Woodward, John Whitcomb, Timothy Kilburne and Thomas Kinney, or for apprehending and securing any other persons who shall be convicted of aiding and assisting in taking off the said Timothy Pickering. The reward for apprehending and securing any of the above named persons, will be paid on their being delivered to the jail of the county of Northampton, and all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs and Constables are hereby strictly enjoined and required to make diligent search and enquiry after, and to use their utmost endeavours to apprehend and secure the said offenders, so that they may be dealt with according to law. Given in Council, under the hand of the Honorable Peter Muhlenberg, Esquire, Vice President, and the seal of the State, at Philadelphia, this eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight. PETER MUHLENBERG, V. P. Attest-CHARLES BIDDLE, Sec'ry. A letter was written to the Sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia, directing him to take every prudent measure in his power to prevent the escape of John Franklin, now in his custody, permitting him only to enjoy the benefit of the air in the jail yard, twice a week for a limitted time and with circumspection. An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable William Augustus Atlee, Esquire, for one hundred and fifty pounds, being one quarter's salary due to him as one of the Judges. of the Supreme Court, ending the twenty-fifth of June, 1788, according to the Comptroller General's report. On motion, Resolved, That Mr. Redick, Member of this Board, be requested to go to the States of New Jersey and New York, in order to communicate to the Executives of those States the intelligence which Council has lately received of farther outrages committed in the county of Luzerne, and to request their aid in apprehending and securing the persons concerned in seizing and carrying off Timothy Pickering, Esquire, Prothonotary of Luzerne county, if they should enter either of the States aforesaid. Mr. Redick assured Council of his readiness to comply with this resolution. The following draft of instructions to Mr. Redick was read and approved, vizt: In Council, Philadelphia, July 9th, 1788. Dear Sir:-The Board this morning re-assumed the consideration of the letters and other intelligence received from Wyoming, and are unanimously of opinion that the most vigorous and determined measures are necessary to restore order and good government in that distracted country. In consequence of this determination, a proclamation is directed to issue offering ample rewards for apprehending the principals concerned in the late outrage against the person of Colonel Pickering; and in all probability an armed force will be speedily employed to reduce the insurgents to reason. But previous to this step being taken, the Board wish to communicate their intentions to their Excellencies the Governors of New York and New Jersey, to request that those Governments would take such steps as may best conduce to facilitate our endeavours to prevent, if possible, the inhabitants of those States from giving aid and assistance to the insurgents, while acting in open opposition and defiance to our laws, and to prevent their finding an asylum or protection within those States. Council now request that you, as a Member of the Board, and fully acquainted with every thing that relates to this business, would be pleased to proceed immediately to New Jersey and New York, to carry their intentions into execution. Your own discretion will govern you in transacting this important business; and the friendly disposition the States of New Jersey and New York have ever evinced toward this State, prevent the Board from entertaining the least doubt that those States will readily concurr in every prudent and necessary measures. With respect and esteem I am, dear sir, The Honorable PETER MUHLENBERG, Esquire, Vice President. The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer, vizt: In favor of the Honorable Peter Muhlenberg, Esquire, Vice President, for seven pounds eleven shillings and three pence, amount of his account for six days hire of a stage waggon to go to Lancaster on public business at the request of Council. In favor of Thomas Wigton, for fifteen pounds, to defray his expences in coming to and returning from this City on public business, relative to affairs in Luzerne county since the seizing and carrying off Colonel Pickering. A return of justices from the borough of Carlisle, in Cumberland county, (together with a petition against it) was received and read, by which it appears that an election for a third Justice of the Peace has been lately held in said borough by the Freeholders thereof, without their having previously applied to and obtained the permission of Council to hold such an election as is directed by Act of Assembly, dated the twenty-seventh day of February last; whereupon, it was Resolved, That the said election be set aside and made void as being illegal. A letter from David Rittenhouse, Esquire, State Treasurer, stating that from the very great deficiency in the payment of the public taxes he has hitherto not been able to collect and prepare for burning the annual sum of twenty thousand pounds of the last emission of paper money, and that if Council should think proper to write to the Collector of the imposts, it might hasten the payment of such a sum as when added to the sum of fifteen thousand pounds he has now collected would enable him to comply with the law, read, and the Secretary was directed to write to Mr. Delany, desiring him to use his utmost endeavours to collect and pay into the Treasury all monies which are due in his office for impost. was A letter was written to Colonel Zebulun Butler, expressing to him Councils approbation of the conduct of the officers of Government in Luzerne, relative to the rioters, and assuring them and the well affected inhabitants that should circumstances take an unfavorable turn they will on application be immediately supported by a sufficient number of troops, it being the full determination of Council to enforce the laws and restore peace and good government in that county. Upon consideration of a letter this day received from the Honorable David Redick, a letter was written to the Honorable the Delegates of this State, requesting them to apply to Congress for the assistance of the Continental troops (now on their rout to the Western country) in expelling the rioters in Luzerne county out of this State, and that for this purpose they may receive orders when at Easton to march into the said county of Luzerne, there to remain untill relieved by troops to be sent by the States. A letter from His Excellency Governor Livingston, acknowledging the receipt of Council's letter of the second instant, respecting the violent taking of Colonel Pickering, and assuring Council that should be receive any intelligence of the perpetrators being found |