lency approved their choice and made the following Speech to the Council and House of Representatives: Gentlemen: EARL OF BELLOMONT'S SPEECH. I have called you together at this time to give you an opportunity of serving the common interests of your country by redressing the grievances the Province lies under, and, of making such Laws as may, by the blessing of God, establish you in safety and happiness for the time to come. I am very sensible of the great sufferings you sustained all this last war by this Province being a Frontier towards the Eastern Indians — a cruel and perfidious enemy in their own nature, but taught and encouraged to be more so by the Jesuits and other popish Missionaries from France, who were not more industrious during the war to instigate their Indian disciples and proselytes (as they are pleased to call 'em) to kill your people treacherously, than they have been since the peace to debauch those Indians from their former subjections to the Crown of England, insomuch as at present, they seem to have departed from their allegiance to the Crown and revolted to the French. I have taken such measures as quickly to find out whether those [P. 3.] Indians will return to their obedience to the Crown or no; if they do not, and that they commit any Hostilities upon you, I doubt not but find an easy way of subduing them. Upon the report of His Majesty's Engineer, whom I sent to view the Fort on the Great Island and the harbour of this Town, I find the situation is naturally well disposed, but the Fort so very weak and untenable that it requires the building a new substantial one to secure you in time of war. You will do well to take this matter into consideration as soon as may be. This Province is well seated for trade, and your harbor here on Piscataqua River so very good that a fort to secure it would invite people to come and settle among you; and as you grow in numbers so will your trade advance and flourish, and you will be useful to England, which you ought to covet above all things, not only as it is your duty, but as also it will be for your glory and interest. Such a King as God hath blest you at present, and such a nation as that of England, ought to excite in us a noble ambition to be religiously faithful to the first, and zealously subservient to the latter. I recommend to you, gentlemen of the House of Representatives, the providing for the necessary support of the Government, you being best able to judge what the charge will be, and its belonging to you of right to provide the means to defray that charge. Gentlemen:-You will do well to think of everything that may conduce to your own happiness and advantage, wherein you may depend on my concurrence with you, for I have all the disposition imaginable to do the King and this Country the best service I am capable of. The bill for reviveing and continuing of writs, processes, actions, suits, &c., depending in the late Superiour Court of Judicature within this Province, and discontinued, &c., was read this day. Ordered, that a Bill for returning of Jurors to serve in the several Courts of Justice within this Province was read this day. Ordered, that the Secretary do give notice unto Major W Vaughan and Major Joseph Smith, to appear at this board on Wednesday morning, ten o'clock, and that they bring the Accts of the treasury of this Province, committed to them. Adjourned till tomorrow morning, ten o'clock. Orders of the House. [Copied from MS. Minutes of the Assembly.] For regulating the House they have voted, that the following articles be observed, viz.: 1. First. That every member of this Assembly that shall be absent att the time apointed for meeting, and att calling over, shall pay three pence to the Clark for every such defect. offend Secondly. That whosoever, by any misbehave in speech or action, justly of the members of the House, he shall for the first be admonished; the second, fined, as the House think meet. any Thirdly. That none shall speak twise, untill every man have liberty to speak once. Fourthly. That every member directs his speach to the Speaker, and not to another, and when they have a mind to speak to any case they ask leave of him to speak. Fifthly. That none smoak tobacco in the house after calling over, on Penalty of 3d for the Clerk. Sixthly. That the speaker shall have a casting vote, when there shall be an equal vote. Seventhly. That any member of the house shall have liberty to Enter his Decent from any vote without giveing any Reason thereof. Eighthly. That if the speaker be absent, the House may choose a speaker pro tempore, that the affairs of the House may be carried on notwithstanding such vacancy. Ninthly. That if Any member after being Entered and Qualified, shall absent himself a day without leave from the House, he shall pay a fine of five shillings; except he show to the house a sufitient Reason for his soe absenting. Tenthly. That if any member of this House shall be, by the major part of the House, thought unfitt and not qualified for sd place, it shall be in their power to dismiss such Person, giving notise to the Town where he belonged to choose another to fill up such vacancy. Adjourd untill the 8th inst., ten of the clock. [P. 4.] At a Council and General Assembly, held by His Excellency Richard Earle of Bellomont, Capt. Gen The Bill about reviveing the Supreme Court of Judicature read a second time. His Excellency proposes to the Council that he thinks they could not, with justice, proceed to a third reading of said bill until Colonel Samuel Allen, late Governor of this Province, be heard in answer to that part of said bill which reflects on the justice of his administration. Ordered, by his Excellency and Council, that Colonel Samuel Allen have notice to appear here in person or by his council, at four o'clock in the afternoon; and that the petitioners, Mr. Richard Waldron and Major Wm Vaughan and Capt. Henry Dow, do also attend at the same time to make good the suggestions of their petitions, delivered in on Monday, 31st of July past, against the said Colonel Sam' Allen, upon which petition the said bill is grounded. And it is also ordered that if Colonel Sam' Allen requires it, he may have a copy of said petition and bill. The bill about the due qualification of Jurors read a second time. The bill forbidding holding any correspondence with, or assisting any person or persons fitted out of Scotland, and are said to have been settled in a certain place called Calledonia, &c., read a second time. The petition of Samuel Comfort, L' of the fort, for salary, read. Adjourned till afternoon at three of the clock. [P. 5.] At a Council and General Assembly held at Portsmouth by adjournment, Martis die Aug. octavo, Anno 1699, Post merediem. Present, His Excellency Richard Earle of Bellomont, Capt. Gen The bill for the due qualification of Jurors read a third time. The said bill was passed by his Excellency and Council, and it is ordered to be carried to the House of Representatives for y' concurrence. A Letter from the Lords Coms of the Council of Trade and Plantations, relating to Mr. Charles Story negotiating the affairs of this Province in England, was read in Council. Ordered, That Colonel Sam' Allen, Mr. Richard Waldron, Major William Vaughan and Capt. Henry Dow be desired to appear at this Board to-morrow morning at ten of the clock precisely. Adjourned till to-morrow morning ten of the clock. At a Council and General Assembly held at Present, His Excellency Richard Earle of Bellomont, Capt. Gen", &c., John Hincks, Nath' Fryer, Peter Coffin, Esqs. Robert Elliott, Capt. Jno. Gerrish, } Esqs. Major Wm Vaughan and Major Joseph Smith appeared according to notice given them, and presented their acco as Treasurers of this Province. |