Governor was pleased to give to the Commissioners appointed to Treat with the Indians at Albany, and their Report concerning that Treaty laid before us by the Governor's Directions; both are very satisfactory to Us; the former as it is a fresh Instance of the Governor's care for the Inhabitants of the Province, and for which we therefore render him our hearty thanks, and the latter as it shews the Indians of the Six Nations yet retain their antient Friendship towards this & other the King's Colonies in America. War in most Cases is attended with some disagreable Consequences amongst Indians, with many and of the worst kind, for which and and other Reasons it would have been most agreable to us if the Circumstances of Public Affairs would admit the Indians of the Six Nations to remain Neutral. And it gives us great concern that the pernicious Conduct of the French at Canada in setting their Indians on destroying the Inhabitants of some of our Neigboring Governments hath given them so much cause to think they are put under the Necessity of engaging the Indians in Amity with us to declare War against the French & their Indians, and to avenge themselves of the Injuries done. "We cou'd have heartily wished the Mediation which the Governor was pleased to undertake at the desire of the Governor of Virginia to obtain a Reconciliation between the Indians of the Six Nations and the Catawbas had been effectual. Their destroying each other not only weakens the British Interest in America, but at this time must be particularly injurious to the Six Nations, as they are likely to be engaged by the Government of New York in a War with the French & their Indians. But if Coll Gooch, at whose Request this Mediation was undertaken, continues to decline it, we know not what further can be done. We think, however, it was prudently done in the Governor to acquaint the Six Nations with the Resolutions the Catawbas have taken, as well to save their Deputies the Trouble of a fruitless Journey as us the Expence it must otherwise have occasioned. "When we consider the Information transmitted to the Governor of New York, now laid before us, touching the preparations said to be making by the French & their Indians upon a Branch of the River Mississippi for an Attack upon the back parts of this & some of the Neighboring Colonies, in all its Circumstances it leaves us room to doubt whether it hath a real Foundation. It was, however, discreetly done in the Governor to acquaint the People of Lancaster County with the Report; and as the employing of some of the Delaware Indians to keep Watch, and to give those Inhabitants Notice if any Danger shall Approach, may contribute to render them the easier in their present situation, we approve of the Governor's Conduct therein; and the Expence which shall arise by this means we are willing to pay. "As to the Letter the Governor is pleased to lay before us, re ceived from Admiral Warren, in relation to Cape Breton, since we have so lately given a Sum of Money which was laid out in Provisions, and which the Governor was pleased to apply to the use of the Garrison on that Island; and as the Admiral thinks himself, in conjunction with Sr. William Pepperel, authorized to draw Bills for any purposes which they shall think necessary to preserve that Important acquisition, we think they can be at no loss, especially at a time when Bills of Exchange are in so great demand, to raise any Sum of Money they may think fitting without any Assistance of ours. "The unnatural Rebellion which hath broke out, and was lately carrying on in Scotland, supported by France and Spain, gives us great concern. It is astonishing to Us how any of our fellow Subjects, who enjoy so many and great Priviledges under the present happy Establishment, should be so blinded toward their true interest as to countenance a Popish Pretender against our present King; and we heartily join in our Prayers to Almighty God to establish his Throne, protect his Royal Person, and confound the Devices of his Enemies, open and concealed. “We return the Governor hearty thanks for the Assurance he is pleased to give us, 'That whatever shall be laid before him for the welfare of the Province will meet with a favourable Reception.' We have divers things of this kind now before us, which in due time we shall offer to his Consideration, 'not doubting of as much dispatch as the nature of the Business will admit of.' "Sign'd by Order of the House. "JOHN KINSEY, Speaker. "11th Month, 1745.” At a Council held at Philadelphia, January 23d, 1745. PRESENT: The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor. Abraham Taylor, James Hamilton, Esqrs. The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved. The Assembly having sent two Bills to the Governor, One Entitled "An Act for the more easy & speedy Recovery of small Debts," the other Entitled "An Act for amending the several Acts for Electing Members of Assembly," the same were read for the first time. At a Council held at Philadelphia, January 25th, 1745. PRESENT: The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esq Lieutenant Governor. Thomas Laurence, Abraham Taylor, Samuel Hasell, } Esqrs. The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved. Mr. Laurence offer'd to the Governor & Council a Return of the King's High Road leading from the City of Philadelphia thro' Frankfort towards Bristol, made by Anthony Palmer, Benjamin Fariaan, Job Goodson, Edward Brooks, & Thomas Chalkley, in pursuance of an Order of Council of the 7th of May, 1725, and said he did at the Instance of many People who had Lands adjoining the Road, and who desired it might either be confirmed or the Road Survey'd & Laid out anew. The Board taking into Consideration the length of time since the said Road was laid out, and that no Notice had ever been taken of the said Return so as to open the Road agreeable thereto, & that the same had never been Confirm'd or Recorded, It is now referr'd to Mr. Laurence, Mr. Hasell, Mr. Strettel, & Mr. Shoemaker, to view the said Road, & in case they should judge it necessary to be Survey'd & Laid out, De Nova to take to their Assistance the Surveyor General, & to cause it to be donc, & make Return thereof to the Council in order for Confirmation. The two Bills sent up by the Assembly, One Entitled "an Act for the more easy & speedy Recovery of small Debts," the other entitled "an Act for amending the several Acts for Electing Members of Assembly," were read a second time & agreed to with some Amendments, which were put in Writing, & the Secretary was order'd to deliver them to the House, along with the Bills. At a Council held at Philadelphia, February 3d, 1745. PRESENT: The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor. Samuel Hasell, Abraham Taylor, } Esqrs. The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv❜d. Since the last Meeting of Council two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor to inform him that the House agreed to the Amendments proposed by the Governor & Council to the two Bills, one Entitled "an Act for the more easy and speedy Recovery of small Debts," the other entitled "an Act for Amending the several Acts for Electing Members of Assembly," & desir'd they might be engross'd, but that the additional Clause propos'd, relating to Attachments, was thought to be attended with many Inconveniences, & therefore declin'd. MEMORANDUM. February 1st, 1745. Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor and delivered two other Bills, viz.: one Entitled "an Act for Amending the Laws relating to the Poor, & for the better appointment of Overseers of the Poor within the City of Philadelphia," the other Entitled "a Supplement to the Act entitled an Act for erecting Houses of Correction and Work Houses in the respective Counties, & to the Act entitled an Act to enable Jeremiah Langhorne, &c to Build a Court House in the County of Bucks," which were read for the first time, & the Act for amending the Laws, &c, was committed to Mr. Hasel, Mr. Hamilton, & Mr. Taylor, to consider & amend. The Governor laid before the Board a Letter from Governor Shir. ley, Dated at Boston the 13th Day of January last, Importing "that there was reason to believe the Canadians wou'd make a vigorous Attack upon His Majestie's Garrison at Annapolis Royal early next Spring, & that in Case they should succeed there all Nova Scotia would fall into their Hands, & the Loss of Louisbourgh might be the immediate Consequence of the Loss of Nova Scotia; or if the French shou'd attempt & Succeed in the Recovery of Louisbourgh in the Spring, in that case the Loss of Nova Scotia must be the fatal Consequence; and therefore giving it as his opinion that it will be absolutely necessary for the Province of Pennsylvania, & all the Neighbouring Governments which have not yet raised any Men for his Majestie's service in the Expedition, to furnish a large number, 500 of which he hopes Pennsylvania might raise." And likewise a Letter from Governor Clinton, Dated at New York the 27th of January, 1745, importing "that the Assembly had requested him to appoint Commissioners to Treat, in conjunction with such Commissioners as should be appointed by the Neighbouring Governments, for concerting measures for the mutual Security, Defence, and Conduct of the Northern Colonies during the present War, & that they had further requested him to represent to the several Governments the wavering Disposition of the Indians, and that Commissioners ought to be appointed for this Province." And the Governor having wrote A Message to the Assembly on the Subject of the said Letters, the same was read and approv'd, & is as follows: A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. "Gentlemen: "Having received a Letter from Governor Clinton, and another from Governor Shirley, by the last Post, I have ordered the Secretary to lay them before You. And as I cannot take upon me to enter into any Engagements in Behalf of this Government without your Concurrence and Assurance of enabling me to perform them, my Answers to these Letters must arise from the Resolutions of your House. My Sentiments of the Necessity of an Union of the several Colonies for the Defence of their Frontiers, and of securing the Fidelity of the Six Nations and the Indians dependent upon them, and my Apprehensions of their being otherwise seduced by, or compelled to join with the Enemy, have been so lately made known to You that I need not repeat them. If You shall Agree to my appointing Commissioners to confer with such as are & shall be appointed by the Governors of the several Colonies, I shall chearfully assist them with the best Instructions I can form for their Conduct in an Affair of so great Importance. "February 3d, 1745." "GEO. THOMAS. The Governor ordered the Secretary to inform Mr. Shoemaker of his being appointed a Member of Council, & to take care that he be Summoned to the next Council. At a Council held at Philadelphia, February 4th, 1745. PRESENT: The Honoble. GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor. The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approv❜d. Mr. Shoemaker took and subscribed the qualifications as a Member of the Council. The Governor laid before the Board a Message he had receiv'd from the Assembly the 5th Instant, which was delivered by two Members, who were directed the same time to inform him that several of the Representatives having Business at the Courts and in the Country, the House was inclin'd to adjourn to the 24th Instant, to which he made no objection. A Message from the Assembly to the Governor. May it please the Governor: We have taken into our Consideration the last Message with the two Letters which the Gov" was pleased to send us; and as to the proposal made by the Governor of New York for the appointment of Commiss from the several Colonies, we think it will be both |