multiplying of Laws, but from a strict Observance & due Execution of good and wholesome Ones in Force. You, Gentlemen, represent the whole Body of the Freemen of the Province, who are the principal Objects to be considered in Government, and as your House subsists throughout the year, it may be as convenient for you to meet from time to time on your Adjournments as before, for thus you will have Opportunities of consulting and advising of what may best contribute to the Publick Weal; And you will always find this Board, in whom the Powers of the Administration are lodged, most ready and willing to concur with and put such Advice in Execution. We have also the further great Advantage of the Presence of One of our Honourable Proprietors amongst us, who, as the true Interest of his Family is inseperable from that of the People, cannot but be always acted by the warmest Inclinations to advance the general Good of the Whole.

"As to my self, on whom the Burthen of the Administration falls the heaviest, tho' it truly gives me no small Uneasiness, that I am hereby called from the quiet Retirement I had proposed in these advanced years of my Life, yet as I have ever been animated with a most sincere Zeal for the Honour & true Interest of this Province, I shall submit to the Necessity, and to the best of my Ability, with the Assistance of the Gentlemen my Brethern of this Board, endeavour to acquit my self in all Things with Fidelity to His Majesty and to our Proprietors, and with a just and due Regard to the People.

"And as nothing contributes more directly to the Honour and Prosperity of any Government than a perfect unanimity amongst all the Parts of it, We shall hope that, in a sincere View to the Common Good, all proper Measures & Endeavours will, on every Hand, be used to promote and improve the same."

At a Council held at Philadia., Augt. the 13th, 1736.

PRESENT:

The Honble JAMES LOGAN, Esq., President.

The Address of the House of Representatives, in answer to the Speech of yesterday, was laid before the Board by the President, and is in these Words:

"To the President and Council of the Province of Pennsylvania: "The Address of the Representatives of the Freemen of the said

Province in Assembly met, in answer to the Speech of the said President and Council.

"May it please the President & Council:

"The Death of the worthy Gentleman, Our late Governor, sensibly affects us: The Inclinations he has shown to promote the Welfare of the Publick, with a due Discharge of his Duty to the King and to our Proprietors, and a Regard to the Rights and Liberties of the People of this Province, gives us just Cause to regret our Loss.

"The Administration of Government by this change, and the Laws of the Province, devolving on the President & Council, the Steps they have been pleased to take in pursuance of those Laws for the Continuance of Magistrates and other Officers in their several Stations, and preventing a Deficiency in the Administration of Justice, is Matter of Satisfaction to us, as it needs must be to every other Well-wisher to our Happy Constitution.

"To multiply Laws, unless the Circumstances of Government require it, we agree, cannot be productive of the most desirable Advantages of it; but the infant State of the Colonies in America often require the aid of the Legislature in making of new or amending of old Laws. And tho' we were disappointed last Session in obtaining the Bills we prepared to be pass'd into Laws, yet we hope a prudent Administration of Justice in our Courts of Law may prevent any great Inconveniency until another Appointment of a Governor shall be made.

"In the mean time, if any Advice or Assistance of ours during our Continuance, shall be necessary in respect to the putting in Execution the Laws now in Force, or to any other Thing which may relate to the public Weal, we shall always be ready to contribute what lies in our Power to so good Purposes. The Declaration you are pleased to make of your Readiness to concur with and put such advice in Execution, Merits our acknowledgement, and we esteem it an Instance of the Regard you have for the Welfare of the Province.

"The Presence of one of our Proprietors amongst us was formerly much desired, and is now happily enjoyed. The Interest of that Honourable Family and ours are undoubtedly Inseparable, and therefore we have just Reason to hope their warmest Inclinations will be joined with Ours to promote the common Benefit.

"To be called from Quiet & Retirement in an advanced age of life to undergo the Fatigue and Burthen of Government, may give the President some uneasiness; yet the advantages that may result to the People of this Province, by having one at the Head of the Administratiion of long and great Experience, animated with a sincere Zeal for their true Honour and Interest, will, we hope, induce him to pursue the laudable Purposes he has proposed, and

with the assistance of the Gentlemen of the Council to acquit himself of the Trust reposed in him, with Fidelity to the King & to the Proprietors, & with a just Regard to the People of this Province; and as it our Duty, while we have the Honour to be a House, so we hope it will be the Care of the succeeding Assemblies by a becoming Unanimity, and with a sincere View to the Publick Good, to do what may contribute to the Happiness & Prosperity of the People of Pennsylvania.

"Signed by Order of the House,
"A. HAMILTON, Speaker."

To which Address the Board directed that an Answer in writing should be sent down by the Secretary in these Words:

"From the President and Council of Pennsylvania to the House of Representatives.

"Gentlemen:

"We heartily thank you for your kind Address, and as we have a full Dependence on, and are satisfied in, your Declarations, so you may be assured, that while we are concerned, nothing in our Power shall be wanting that may contribute to advance the true Interest of Pennsylvania.

"JAMES LOGAN.”

August 20th 1736.

Sassoonan or Allummapees, the Delaware Chief, with Peasquitoman, Lappapeton, Onytamuchon, & Tolales, Delaware Indians, John Haus, a Cayooge, Cousin to Capt. Civility, & Teshansomen, a Tuscarore, with several young Men, Women, & Children, to the Number of twenty-five in the whole, coming to town on a visit to this Government, this day was appointed for hearing what they had to offer, and

'At a Council then held.

PRESENT:

The Honble THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary.

The President.

Samuel Preston,

Clement Plumsted,

Thomas Griffitts,
Charles Read,

Esqrs.

And Sassoonan with the above-named Indians.

The Proprietor by Peter Bizallion, Interpreter, told them, that he & the Council who are always well pleased to see their Brethren the

Indians, & particularly their old friend Sassoonan, are now mett to hear what they have to say.

Sassoonan, by the Interpreter & Peasquitoman, said That they were not come on any particular Business, or to treat about any thing of Importance, but only to pay a friendly visit to their Brethren, whose Welfare they think themselves obliged to enquire after, as they & the Indians are one People.

That when they came from home, they expected to have seen here their good friends, the Proprietor, the Governor, and the Council all together, but when they had come so farr on their Journey as George Boones, they heard that one of their good Friends the Governor was Dead; this News made them sorrowful, but they are comforted in meeting their other friends, who they hope will still continue their Regard towards the Indians, & their Care & Concern for preserving the same friendship that has hitherto subsisted between us and them.

Then presenting two small strings of Wampum, He desired that our Tears on account of that loss may be wiped away, and that we may not longer be sorrowfull, but that the Sun may again shine out to dispell the Clouds, & our Hearts grow chearfull.

The Cayoogoe Indian, presenting two other small strings of Wampum said, that some of the six Nations had been lately at Shamokin, & had enquired kindly touching their Brethren here, towards whom they shewed much Love and Friendship.

row,

Sassoonan afterwards presenting a Belt of Wampum of ten Rows, said, that as the Minds of Men were apt to be discomposed by Sorhe now gave this Belt with their earnest desire that our Minds should return to the same Frame & Composure as formerly, and that by eating and drinking we should endeavour to forget our Grief. That this is the whole of what they have to say.

In answer to which they were told thus :

Sassoonan is an old Man, he must remember that there have been many Treaties between this Government and the Indians, that the Chain of Friendship has been often brightened & strengthned. Our Treaties have been faithfully kept on our part, they have likewise been carefully observed on the part of the Indians, and we hope they will always continue firm and lasting.

That these Treaties were first begun by Willm Penn, their father, who, on his coming into this Country, received the Indians kindly, & treated them as his Children & Friends, that, on his leaving this Country, he appointed a Governor in his Room, who by his Order continued to observe the same method he had done in receiving & treating all the Indians; that several other Governors have been here, all of whom acted under the authority & by the Appointment of Will Penn's family; that the late Governor was a good Man, and did always what he believed was agreeable to

Will. Penn's family; he was an ancient Man, & is now gone, for whose Death we are all sorry; but the Indians are still to consider that it is with Will Penn's family that they are to treat, & one of his Sons is now here present. One Governor is appointed, & is either removed by Death, or succeeded by another, but WillTM. Penn & his family are always the Governor's-in-chief, with whom the Indians have principally to do.

He was then asked what he knew of the six Nations.

He answered, he knew nothing particularly of them, that he has been in Expectation of seeing them for each of these three years past, but he understands they have been detained by Nations that come to treat with them; first one Nation comes & treats with them, & when they have finished, & the six Nations are ready to sett out hither, another Nation comes to treat with them, & thus they have been prevented from coming here, but he expects they will be with us next Spring.

That he heard this Spring a great Number of Indians from the Winter Country were come amongst the six Nations, who not knowing them or their Dispositions, had kept together, & were resolved not to leave home, till they knew further the Intentions of those Indians, who are said never to have seen white People, Corn, or Bread. The Indians being withdrawn,

It was considered by the Board, that by the several Treaties subsisting between this Government and the Indians, they had been encouraged to come and visit us, for improving and strengthning the friendship and good understanding, which by the Care of our first Honble Founder was happily begun, & has since without any Breach or Inturruption been carefully preserved on both sides; That the present Visit being made on the foot of these Treaties, and the Death of the Governor (an Event which they could not have learn't when they set out from home), having furnished them with an Opportunity of paying their Compliments of Condolance on that occasion, it is necessary on the part of this Government, that proper Notice should be taken of them, & Return made to the Belt & Strings of Wampum they have now delivered.

Whereupon It is Ordered that goods suitable and necessary for them, not exceeding the value of Twenty Pounds, should be given them, and the Charges of their Entertainments defrayed; both which are Recommended to the Provincial Treasurer.

August 21st.

The Present for the Indians being provided, they were sent for, to whom the President with the Treasurer spoke as follows: "You were told yesterday by the Proprietor & Council, that as