and Minisink roads to prevent the arrival of more troops from New England, and to occupy those etations until further orders.* The President of Council, in his message to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania on the 18th. of September 1771, gave a detailed account of these transactions, at the conclusion of which, he says:

"At length our people reduced to the last extremity for want of provisions, were obliged to surrender upon terms of capitulation. Since which it is reported that the intruders have burnt the block-house and are fortifying themselves at a more convenient place in the neighborhood, and that they have intentions of seizing on Fort Augustat and the Provincial cannon, and other warlike stores there."

The Council were of opinion that it was proper to open a correspondence with the Government of Connecticut on the subject of the late events at Wyoming. Accordingly the President, James Hamilton, Esq. in a letter to Governor Trumbull of Connecticut dated Philadelphia, Oct. 4, 1771, after giving an account of these transactions, says:

"As the people concerned in these violent and hostile measures profess to act under the authority of your Government, and have made a capitulation expressly on behalf of the Government I have thought it proper and expedient to send

*See Ledlie's despatches of Aug. 15, 1771, on file in Secretary's office.

At Sunbury.

a messenger to your honor on purpose to know with certainty whether they have proceeded in any sort under your countenance or authority or that of your Assembly, and as this must be a matter within your knowledge I make no doubt but you will despatch the express with a speedy answer." Governor Trumbull in his answer dated at New Haven, Oct. 14, 1771, among other things, says:

"The persons concerned in those transactions have no order and direction from me, or from the General Assembly of the Colony, for their proteeding upon this occasion, and I am very confident that the General Assembly, friends as they ever have been to peace and good order, will never countenance any violent, much less hostile measures, in vindicating the right which the Susquehanna Company suppose they have to the lands in that part of the country within the limits of the Charter of this Colony."

He then proceeds to inform President Hamilton that he understands each of the contending parties at Wyoming charge the other with having been the first gressors, and that it is not his province to

determine between them. Governor Trumbull communicated this correspondence to the General Assembly which met the same month.

The Government of Pennsylvania, finding that the Connecticut forces had strongly fortified themselves at Wyoming, and that their numbers rapidly increased, gave orders for withdrawing their troops, and left the Connecticut party in quiet possession of the Valley.

I

The long contested plains of Wyoming appeared again to enjoy a season of peace, and the inhabitants began to feel the necessity of some system of civil Government, that which had hitherto existed being of a military nature. Accordingly a memorial was presented to the General Assembly of Connecticut by agents sent for that purpose, representing that the differences which then subsisted between the American Colonies and the Government of Great Britain, would undoubtedly prevent his majesty from granting a Charter of Government to the Susquehanna Company agreeably to the recommendation and resolution of the General Assembly in 1755; and as the settlements then subsisting on the Susquehanna under the Company's authority, were not sufficiently strong to defend themselves against powerful enemies, they prayed that they might be taken under the protection of the Government of Connecticut, and participate in a certain degree in her political institutions until his majesty's further pleasure might be known, The agents having returned to Wyoming reported that the Government of Connecticut had taken into consideration the situation of the Wyoming Colony, and had advised, first: to attempt a settlement with the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania of all subjects in dispute ; which negociation the Government of Connecticut would undertake on behalf of the Colony of Wyoming; and should this negocia tion fail of success, they would apply to his majes+ ty, for a legal settlement of the controversy with Pennsylvania, whenever present disturbances be

tween the Colonies and the mother country should be settled, and in the mean time the inhabitants of the Colony of Wyoming should protect and govern themselves in the manner they might think most advisable. In pursuance of these views the inhabitants of Wyoming, commonly called the "Settlers," proceeded to establish a Government for themselves. They laid out Townships, formed settlements, erected fortifications, levied and collected taxes, passed laws for the direction of civil suits, and for the punishment of crimes and misdemeanors, established a militia, and provided for the common defence and general welfare of the Colony. Neither the Grecian nor the Roman States in their proudest days of republicanism could boast of a Government more purely Democratic than was now established at Wyoming. The supreme power vested (where nature has placed it in all Governments,) in the whole body of the people, and it was exercised, not by representation, but by a majority of votes in a full meeting of all the citizens who chose to attend for that purpose. This meeting was called "The Meeting of the Proprietors," and it formed the grand Council of the Colony to which an appeal was in all cases reserved. "The Meeting of the Proprietors" chose a President for each sitting, called a "Moderator," and their proceedings were recorded in a book, by a clerk chosen also for one meeting only. This record formed the "Statute Book,” and was kept by the clerk of the last meeting. The meeting of the Proprietaries held no stated or periodical sess

4

ion, but assembled only whenever business made
it necessary.
The Executive power was vested in
a Committee, consisting of one person from each
Township in which settlements were commenced.
They were called the "Committee of Settlers,"
and were authorized to decide upon all matters of
minor importance both civil and criminal, and to
call The Meeting of the Proprietors" whenever
they thought proper.

The Judicial power was placed in three Courts, all having civil and criminal jurisdiction. The highest or Supreme Court, was "The Meeting of the Proprietors," to whom an appeal lay in all cases, and where the merits of each case were subject to revision, and all judgments, to correction. The second, or Executive Court, was the "Committee of Settlers," who corrected and entered judgments, and issued writs of execution. The common, or Ordinary Court, consisted of Three Freeholders, who were, in the first instance, to decide all controversies arising between any two or more individuals in their respective townships, and make a return of their award to the "Committee of Settlers," who issued execution to the proper Constable. A Constable for each Township was chosen at "The Meeting of the Proprietors."* Such was the system of Government established at Wyoming; imperfect like every other system in its origin. After a trial of two years it was found necessary to make certain alterations, and to in

*Westmoreland Records.