The Council met. PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, May 6th, 1790 PRESENT: The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President. James Hunter, merchant, and John Dunlap, printer, were offered and accepted as sureties for David Kennedy, Esquire, who was on the thirtieth of last month re-appointed Secretary of the Land Office of this State. Council proceeded to the further consideration of that part of the report of the committee on the petition of John Weitzel, Esquire, which was postponed on the tenth of April last, when on motion made by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Martin, it was agreed that an order be drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of John Weitzle for the sum of fifty-eight pounds sixteen shillings, which appears to be due to him for provisions furnished to John Vancampen, who was Commissary for supplying the militia sent to Wyoming in the year 1784, the said sum having been allowed to the said Van Campen in the settlement of his account with the public, and not paid to Mr. Weitzel. The Secretary was directed to call on the Comptroller General to enquire and inform Council what forwardness the accounts are in which were directed by Council to be forwarded to our Delegates in Congress. The Secretary returned and informed Council that the Comptroller General will send in a statement to Council to morrow. Upon application of the Secretary for leave of absence for a few days to go to Reading, it was unanimously agreed to grant the same. The Council met. PHILADELPHIA, Friday, May 7th, 1790. PRESENT: His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President. The Register General's and Treasurer's reports upon the following accounts, were read and approved, vizt: Of John Hubley, Esquire, Prothonotary of the county of Lancaster, for the fees he received for tavern and marriage licences, and the tax upon writs, between the twentieth of September, 1789, and twentieth day of March, 1790, amounting to two hundred and eleven pounds six shillings. Of John Christie, Esquire, Collector of Excise for the county of Chester, for monies received by him for excise from the twentysixth of August, 1788, to the twenty-sixth of August, 1789, amounting to nine hundred and seventy-five pounds nineteen shillings and eight pence. On motion of Colonel Miles, seconded by Colonel Willing, it was Resolved, That Captain Joseph Stiles, Commissary of Military Stores for this State, be directed to make a return of all the stores under his care belonging to the State, and that he inform Council where they are deposited. William Gray and Joseph Rakestraw were offered and accepted as sureties for Francis Johnston, Esquire, who was re-appointed Receiver General of the Land Office on the thirtieth of last month. An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable William Wilson, for the sum of sixty-five pounds ten shillings, being a ballance due upon his account for attendance in Council between the fourth of January and tenth of May, 1790, inclusive, and his mileage coming to Philadelphia and returning home. 1 The Council met. PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, May 8th, 1790. PRESENT: His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President. The Register General and Treasurer's reports upon the account of Henry Miller, Esquire, Prothonotary of the county of York, for the tax upon four hundred and sixty-seven writs of mesne process, and three hundred and twelve executions issued between the twenty-first of March, 1789, and twentieth of March, 1790, amounting to one hundred and fifty-five pounds sixteen shillings, was read and approved. Two letters from the Comptroller General relative to the settlement of the public accounts between this State and the United States, were received and read. On motion, Resolved, That the Deputy Secretary inform the Comptroller General that Council are extremely anxious to have all accounts between the United States and this State, adjusted and prepared for immediate settlement, and therefore require him to use every exertion in his power for that purpose, the time fixed by him for compleating that important business as reported to Council by their committee, having expired last week. Resolved, That the Comptroller General lay before Council without delay an abstract of the accounts of this State against the United States. It appearing to Council from the examination of certain accounts and vouchers which have been laid before them, that the Comptroller General hath in some instances dispensed with necessary forms of law, particularly in the case of Joseph Thompson, late Surgeon's Mate in the regiment of Light Cavalry, commanded by Stephen Moylan, Esquire, Resolved, That the Comptroller General be directed to inform Council why the necessary forms which by law, are enjoined to be observed by him in the duties of his office, have been dispensed with in the instance of granting to his brother Samuel Nicholson, a certificate of the commutation of pay, which was due to Joseph Thompson, late a Surgeon's Mate in the army of the United States, and why certain certificates issued in pursuance of a law passed the twenty-seventh of April, 1790, express on the several certificates, that they were issued in pursuance of law passed the first day of April, 1784. A petition from Thomas Martin, of Wyoming in the county of Luzerne, stating that he has been turned out of his house and farm, by order of two Justices of the said county without a hearing, and as he conceives contrary to law, was read, and the same referred to the Vice President, Mr. Gregg and Mr. Wilkins, who were requested to consult the Attorney General, if they judge proper. The Council met. PHILADELPHIA, Monday, May 10th, 1790. PRESENT: His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President. The letter received on the fourth instant, from the Chief Councillors and Warriors of the Six Nations of Indians, stating that they have been plundered in their camps, and their property has been taken by some bad white people, being again read and considered, it was Resolved, That the following letter be written by the President in answer thereto, vizt: In Council, Philadelphia, May 10th, 1790. BROTHERS: We have received and seriously considered your letter, directed to the President and Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. It gives us pain to hear from you that some bad people have plundered your camps and taken your property. Our laws do not permit one man to injure another. We are willing to give you an opportunity of laying before the government of Pennsylvania your grievances, and of explaining your wishes; and agreeably to your request, we hereby invite three of your chief counsellors and warriors, vizt: Cornplanter, Half Town, and the New Arrow to come to Philadelphia, on Wednesday the first day of September next, when the General Assembly will be in session. We have granted a commission to your particular friend Joseph VOL. XVI.-24. Nicholson, to act as the interpreter to your three Chiefs, and will give him directions to conduct them to this city. To Kientwoughko or Cornplanter, THOMAS MIFFLIN.· Chief Counsellors and Warriors of the six nations of Indians. The Council met. PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, May 11th, 1790. PRESENT: His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President. Samuel Miles, Samuel Edie, Amos Gregg, Christopher Kucher, The following letter was written by the President to the Honorable Thomas Jefferson, Esquire, Secretary of State, vizt: In Council, Philadelphia, May 11th, 1790. SIR-I have the honor to send you herewith an act of the General Assembly of this State, passed the twenty-eighth day of September, 1789, "to cede to and vest in the United States the light house at Cape Henlopen, and all the beacons, buoys and public piers, together with the lands and tenements thereunto belonging, and the jurisdiction of the same." I have the honor to be, with great respect, Honorable THOMAS JEFFERSON, Esquire, 2 A letter from Henry Hill, Esquire, one of the Executors of the last will of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, with an extract from his will, bequeathing his portrait, by Martin, in 1767, to the Supreme Executive Council, to be placed in the Council Chamber, was received and read; and thereupon, |