and that at the same Time the two Members deliver'd him a paper, which was read, and is as follows, viz" : "In Assembly, October 18th, 1744, P. M. "The House taking into their Consideration the several Messages which they received from the Governor, "Resolv'd, "That Samuel Levis and Abraham Chapman do wait upon the Governor and return him the Hearty Thanks of the House for the care he has shewen for the Province, and particularly respecting Indian Affairs, And to acquaint him that the House have given directions to their Committee of Correspondence to prepare Instructions for their Agent, the better to enable him to oppose the Bill lately brought into Parliament, of which the Governor was pleased to send them a Copy-a Bill which if past into a Law appears to the House destructive of all their Liberties, and likely to be attended with the most dangerous Consequences to all the King's Subjects in America, That they have ordered a Sum of Money to be remitted to their Agent for defraying the Expences which shall arise on the Opposition directed to be given to this Bill; That as the Governor is in a few days Time to be at Newcastle, and it will be inconvenient to divers of the Members to stay long at this Season of the Year, and as the House are of opinion no great inconvenience can arise by their not giving a more particular Answer to the Governor's first Messuage, they hope he will not take it amiss that they chuse to defer the same untill the next sitting of Assembly. Copy from the Minutes. B. FRANKLIN, Cl. of Assem Two Members of Assembly waited upon the Governor to inform him that the House intended to adjourn to the seventh day of January next, if the Governor had no objection to that Time. His Honour said he had no Objection, but if any Thing should happen that might require their Attendance before that Time, he would call them together. The Speaker, with the whole House, waited on the Governor and presented the Bill entitled "An Act for the more speedy Trial of Capital Offences committed by any Indian or Indians in the Remote parts of the Province," to be past into a Law, which was accordingly by the Governor pass'd into a Law of this Province, and a Warrant was issued to affix the Great Seal thereto. MEMORANDUM. On the 7th January, 1744. Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor to acquaint him that the House was met in pursuance of their Adjournment, and if he had any Thing to lay before them they were ready to receive it. The Governor said He had nothing at present to lay before the House, but was ready to receive any Thing they might have to lay before him. On the 10th January Two Members waited on the Governor and presented him with an Order of the House, signed by the Speaker, for £500, in part of His Support for the present Year, and acquainted His Honour that the Business now before the House not being in forwardness for present dispatch, the House intended to Adjourn to the 22d of April, if the Governor had no Objection to that Time. The Governor than'k the House for the Sum they had presented him with, and made no Objection to the proposed Time of Adjournment. At a Council held at Philadelphia, 13th February, 1744. PRESENT: The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov William Till, Robert Strettell, Esqrs. The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved. The Governor laid before the Board several Letters and Papers which he had received by Express from Governor Shirley, relating to an Expedition form'd by the Government of New England for the Reduction of Cape Breton, wherein "he earnestly desires that all may be done that is possible to engage this Province to do its full part in concert with them for carrying on this Expedition, and that we would either join them or soon follow them with a sufficient force both for the Land and Sea Service, and that we would likewise procure what private Ships of War we could possibly influence to go." And on reading the several Letters and Papers, it was the unanimous Opinion of this Board that the Assembly should be called to meet as soon as possible, and that at their meeting the Dispatches should be forwith laid before them. Whereupon His Honour ordered Writs to be prepared to summon the Assembly to meet on the 25th Instant. MEMORANDUM. 25th February, 1744. Two Members of the Assembly waited on the Governor and acquainted him that the House was met and ready to receive any Thing he might have to lay before them, and desired a Copy of the VOL. IV. 48. Writs by which they were Summon'd. The Governor said he would send them a Message in the Morning, together with the Writs by which they were called together. At a Council held at Philadelphia the 4th March, 1744. PRESENT: The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov ernor. Thomas Laurence, Ralph Assheton Abraham Taylor, Samuel Hasell, Robert Strettell, Esqrs. The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved. The Governor laid before the Board his Message to the Assembly about the Expedition concerted by the Government of New England for the Reduction of Cape Breton, and the Assembly's Answer to it, which were read, and are as follows: A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. "Gentlemen: "The Papers which I have order'd to be laid before You will inform you of my reason for calling you together before the Time to which you stood Adjourned. The Government of New England requests our Aid for the Reduction of Cape Breton. The Enterprize shews a fine publick Spirit in that People, and if it succeeds will be greatly for the Honour of His Majesty and the Interest of all his Colonies in North America. The Conquest of Louisburg, which is the only French Port of Consequence in this Part of the World, either for Strength or the Accommodation of large Ships, will banish all apprehensions for the future of Maritime Attempts upon the Colonies, or their Trade upon this Coast; but the Advantages to us and to our Mother Country are so many and so Evident that it will be losing Time to Enumerate them. Dispatch, you will see, is the life of the undertaking. Let me recommend that to You, Gentlemen, with regard to a Provision of Money. I promise you that the Disposition of it shall be diligently and faithfully made, and in such a manner as you shall advise may be most for the Service it is intended to promote. "GEO. THOMAS." A Message from the Assembly to the Governor. "May it please the Governor: "The Message we last received, with the Papers to which the Governor was pleased to refer us for the Occasion of our being called together, we have taken into our Consideration with that Attention and Regard the Importance thereof justly requires. "We are willing to suppose the Expedition intended by the Government of the Massachusetts against Cape Breton is, as the Governor is pleased to Express it, the Result of a fine Publick Spirit,' and we would chuse to avoid any Remarks thereon which can justly give them Umbrage, and yet we cannot but think if they expected the Assistance of the Neighboring Colonies, it is reasonble they should have consulted them, both as to the Enterprize and the manner in which it was to be executed, whereas the present Scheme is wholly their own, and if the other Colonies do not accede to it in the manner it is now projected, it is too late for Alterations, how advantageous soever they might prove. If the Design succeed, they will be entitled to but small part of the Honour; if it miscarry, they may indeed be time enough to share a principal part of the Disgrace. "Permit us to add, that as the Assistance they expect from Great Britain or the King's Ships, seems to us uncertain, the Aids desired of the neighbouring Colonies, if granted, such as probably must come too late, the Attempt in it self extremely hazardous, the Danger which may arise from a diversity of Opinions between Officers equal in Authority, independant of each other, without any. Commander-in-Chief to Control or Direct them, great and unavoid able. In a word, as there are no directions from the Crown concerning it, the Sentiments of the Ministry, and how such a Procedure will be relish'd by our Superiors, unknown, and as it may possibly interfere with or disconcert their Measures, had we not other reasons to determine us we should think it not prudent to unite in an Enterprize where the Expence must be great, perhaps much bloodshed, and the Event very uncertain." The Governor Signified to the Board that as Sundry Magistrates in the several Counties were dead since issuing the last general Commissions of the Peace, it would be proper to renew them, and desired the Members to prepare Lists of such as they would judge Worthy to be put into Commission. The Governor laid before the Board a Letter he had received from the Governor of Virginia, desiring his Assistance for settling a Peace between the Catawba's and the Indians of the six. Nations, and enclosing their Answer to a Message sent them by the Governor of Virginia pursuant to the Treaty at Lancaster. MEMORANDUM. Two members of Assembly waited on the Governor to inform him that the House was inclined to Adjourn to the 22d of April, if he made no objection to it. His Honour said he had nothing to object to the proposed Time of Adjournment. MEMORANDUM. 22d April, 1745. Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor to acquaint him that the House was met pursuant to their Adjournment, and that if the Governor had any thing to lay before them they were ready to receive it. The Governor returned for Answer that nothing proper for the Consideration of the House had occur'd to him since their last meeting, that if during their sitting any thing of that kind should arise, he would communicate it to them, and that if they had any business to lay before him, he would give it all the Dispatch in his Power. At a Council held at Philadelphia, 25th April, 1745. PRESENT: The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov ernor. Thomas Laurence, Abraham Taylor, The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approv'd. The Governor laid before the Board a Petition from the Inhabitants of the back Part of this County and the Eastern Parts of Lancaster County, renewing their former request for a new County, which were read, and their Case being thought proper to be recommended to the Assembly, the same was done by the Governor in the following Message: A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. "Gentlemen: "Several of the Inhabitants of the back Parts of Philadelphia and Lancaster Counties having renew'd their Petition to me, setting forth the Inconveniences they labour under on Account of their great distance from the County Courts, and praying that a New County may be erected, agreeable to the Lines marked in a Map of the Province formerly delivered, I repeat to you what I said to a former Assembly, that if it shall be thought likely to conduce to the Security, Ease, and good Order of that Part of the Government, I shall be willing to grant the Prayer of the Petition, and as a Provision will be best made by a Law for the Establishment of Courts of Judicature, I shall be also willing to join with you in One for that or any other necessary purposes. "April 25th, 1745." "GEO. THOMAS. |