it. and this Government; which I have under their hands to show for All that I desire of you for my own security is that you will engage in case his Roy" Highn's be fond of their Gift, that you will save me harmless. As for your affair with ye Lord Baltimore it is my opinion you should keep possession, and not part with the Dukes Interest before the Duke himself be acquainted with it. S' wishing you the same good success as I would'to my own selfe, with true and hearty respects I Doe assure you that I always am, My Hond Good ffriend, Your Humble and affectionate Servant, THOS. DONGAN. N. YORK, Octo" 10th, 1683. If you think fitt I would have you to send me the quitrents of ye Dukes lands & to let ye Lrd Baltimore be acquainted with it, since ye writing of this I hear ye Indians are gone from Albany what they have Done I cannot tell untill I see Mr. Grahame who is expected every minute. Wm. Penn, Esquire, proprietor & Governor of Pensilvania. WM. CLARK TO WILLIAM PENN, 1683. Dear Gouvernor : LEWIS, ye 15th 10mo 1683. Thine of the 23th of the 9 mo. and one by the hands of John Hill, with no date, came to my hands, but I had not An oppertunety to send Answer untill now. I shall observe what thee writes as to the platman; And As to the Lord Baltimore pretensions to these parts, I hear nothing of it, all things being quiet & well as to him. I did intend, According to thy order that my wife should A pickled sume oysters to A sent thee, and in order to it I sent my servants to get sume, And it being at the begining of the hard weather, they were forced to Leave the Connoa and Come away with out it after they had got them; but as soon as the weather is fitt for it, I doe intend to take care about it: I have thy commission to enter and clear vessells, and shall be as carefull in it as I can to prevent any damaige that may befall thee through the neglect thereof. Here is a report, as if thee should say that any person may transport Tobacco from these parts to New York without paying a penny p1 or giving Bond to pay it: But I have not, nor Shall not suffer any to be transported to that or any other place, (England excepted,) Vntill I have thy order for it: I have severall times demanded An Account of John Hill of his Entries and Clearings; He hath told me that he would give it me, but hath not, And now he is just goeing from home with the Society Sloop: It is Like he Intends to give thee an Account thereof when he comes there. Sume persons here make a dispute wheather we should elect a member for the Provincial Councill and Six for the Assembly on the 10th day of the first month, according as the Act of Settlement direct; Vnless there be a writ from thee for that purpose. I hear that thou have been pleased to send a new commission for Justice for the County of Kent, in which there is at least two persons justly to be objected against, * * had lately a bastard child laid to him, and * * at least suspected to have done unjustly about the goods of * * I hope thy Wife will come in the Spring of the yeare; if before I come to Philadelphia next first month, shall be carefull to go out with a Paylot, and when I shall go hence Intend to leave order about it; but I hope that she will be pleased to come ashore here and refresh herselfe. I did speak to Capt. Markham to desire him soe to doe. Cornelis Verhoofe is dead, and Halmainas Wiltbank on a sudden taken speachless and have no use of his right side hand nor foot, and have layen soe ever since the last Seaventh day was two weeks, not likely to live long. I have not more at present save only mine and my wife's dear love to thy folks and all friends. I remain thine to Sarve thee to My utmost power whilst WM. CLARK. Since my writing Halmainas Wiltbank departed this life. "This to William Penn, Proprietary & Govern "of the Province of Pensilvania & the Territories "thereunto belonging at Philadelphia. Delivered." PETITION WM. MARKHAM TO DUKE OF YORK, 1683.* To the most High and Mighty Prince James, Duke off York and Albany, &c. The humble Petition of Willam Markham, Gent., in ye behalfe off William Penn, Proprietor of Pensilvania, and Tenant to his Royall Highness, Humbly Sheweth: That his Majestie having an undoubted right to Newcastle, and yre Horkils, and other lands, lying near Maryland, both by Conquest and surrender, from the States of Holland, was pleasd to grant ye same to yor Royall Highness and yor Heirs, and yo' R. H. having since been gratiously pleased to grant yn under a rent, to Willam Penn, Esq' and his Heirs. *This is not signed and has no date, it was probably 1683, when Markham was sent over to England by William Penn. The said W. P. applying himself to ye planting and improving thereoff, (at very great charges,) is very much obstructed and hindred therein by ye Lord Baltimore, Proprietor of Maryland, who takes upon himselfe to lett and dispose thereof, and presumes to question yo' R. Highnesses title thereto, we deters all persons from dealing wth said Willam Penn, least ye said Lrd Baltimore should again with fire and sword destroy ye said plantation and inhabitants there, as his Ancestors formerly did, although they well knew yt not onely the said Town and lands, but much more wch he now enjoys, was inhabited and cultivated long before ye patent to y", and therefore did not pas to yTM thereby. These matters now being appointed to be here at ye Council table, at ye desire of and assurance from ye said Lrd Bers Agents, yt ye said Lrd would be here in Aprill last, and desired to be present at ye hearing, the same hath been putt off from time to time. m Now ye said L B., instead of coming to attend ye hearing here, is in ye mean time practising wth all your R. Highnesses Tenants there, by fair or foul means, to turne tenants to him, promising y protection and discharge; and your R. H. name sett up at first to ascertain yo' Rights and ye Confines of ye Territorys, have been taken down in ye night, and most obscene and unseemly marks (not fit to be mentioned here) set up in their place. Therefore, your Pet' prays for yor R. Highnesses Honor and Interest, yt the hearing and determining of these matters may not be delayed by ye said Lrd B. Pretences, wch seem to be made use of only for ye Carrying on of these his unhansome and foule practises in ye mean time, or that at least some stopp may be put to him till these matters may be heard and setled. And yo' Petit', as in Duty bound, shall ever pray. Honoble Sir: JOHN WEST TO WILLIAM PENN, 1683. NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 1683. As my tongue was uncapable to express soe my Penn hath ye same Inability to acknowledge ye many Exceeding great favors & kindnesses shewne to me when last here, wch added to your former, amount to soe vast a sume as will entail me yo' Perpetuall Debtor, & oblidge me for ever to be your faithfull friend and most humble servt, in wch office I think it my greatest honour to be Imployed. On Sunday ye 7th instant, I was present wth the Gov' when Mr. Angelo Delivered him ye pacquett from you, & then likewise Received yors Directed to myself, wch did not then peruse. But ye Governor, Reading his, resented the Proceedings of Lord Baltimore, & said he would take care of his Matys Interest in those parts, wch I after pticularly Informed him what it was, & being soe well taken by ye Governor, gave noe Roome for a Debate, weh If it had, should have made the best of my skill & Endeavour for yo' service, & hope what returned by Mr. Angelo will be to yo' satisfaction accordingly. The Governor carryes himselfe very Civill & Oblidgeing to all, & often has Repeated his great esteem for yo self, And the ffriendship by you made & settled, is rather Improved than Diminished. In the assizes, though he showed himself Magis Mars quam Mercurius, yett his behaviour was with discretion, Patience & Moderation, shewing in him that Principall of honour not willfuly to injure any, & had a Regard to Equity in all his Judgemts. By his Encouragemt & Proposal a stock is Raising amongst the Inhabitants here to mannage ye ffishing & Indian Trade abt Pemyquid; about £2,200 is already subscribed for that purpose. Yo affairs abt the Susquehanna Land und'stand is well Effected, though ye people of Albany, Jealous of their trade, much opposed yor interest therein; for ye pticulars of wh refer to y' Commissioners, Ffor News have none, ye latest being from your Parts, Sad Enough: our Assembly meets tomorrow, whose proceeding shall give you an account of, the Greater Number are of the Dutch Nation & believe will fully answer Expectation: have not been Capable to show my respects to Mr. Angelo as he deserves, wch hope my single condicon will Excuse, being very Ingeniously Industrious in yo' Concerns, & daily waiting for this Despatch, wch till now could not obtaine. To me nothing is more welcome then your lines, nor am more delighted then when yo' Commands give me the opportunity to serve you, wch in whatever I may be capable, hope shall never be wanting nor of yo' real beliefe & esteem, that I am, Honble Sir, Your most Oblidged and most asssured ffriend and humble Servant, JOHNN WEST. "To the Honble Wm. Penn, Esq., Proprietor Gov. DONGAN OF NEW YORK TO WILLIAM PENN, 1683. S': I was Surprised when Capt. Baker came to me and told me that you would purchase his interest of Governor Nicoll's his Patent, which seemed very Strange to me, because you advised me to it, and I told you I resolved upon it in Particular. Governor Rudiard came to me and seemed mighty angry that Í should offer to buy it, he alleadging that it is to Countenance the people to be mutinous against that Government, the which is absolutely contrary to my Principles and thoughts: if I have any Land there, as I question not but I shall before I see you, I shall as willingly submitt to the Laws of the Government as any one Living, and Lay down my Proportion of Payments with as great willingness as any of them all-he seems not to be well pleased with you, be cause he has heard you designed to buy one of the Patentees interests: I doubt not but what you do is for the Interest of his Royal Highness in this particular affaire: If possibly I can see you before Winter comes on, I will. All business goes on here to great Satisfaction; the Sesquehannok River is given me by the Indians by a second gift, about which you and I shall not fall out: I desire we may Joyne heartily together to advance the Interest of my Master and your good Friend: I expect to hear from you, how you would have me proceed Dear Sir, I am your affectionate Friend & Humble Servt, THO. DONGAN. GAN. Fort James, Oct 22, 1683. "For William Penn, Esquire, ST: "Governor of Pensilvania." Gov. THOS. DONGAN OF N. Y. TO WILLIAM PENN, 1683. I was very unwilling to slipp this so good an opportunity of writing to you, tho' my business had been no greater than to wish you a merry Christmas, & to let you know how earnestly I desire a seasonable time to come & see you. Capt. Talbott is gone for England, from where I very much long to hear some good news. There are quitt rents and other things due to us from your Parts before the time of your being Governor. I desire you to give orders to him who at that time was Collector to collect them & make returns hither. There is one Ephraim Harman at New Castle, who hath a spott of ground near the Borders of this Town, Hath given power to Mr. de Meyer to dispose of it. I desire of you to agree with him as cheap as you can for it, being convenient for me, tho' it is all wore out & yields neither Corn nor English grass, so that it cannot be much worth; I do not believe it above three score acres; the man will tell you how much it is; nobody, I hear, could live upon it. Please to pardon this trouble from S, Yaffectionate friend, N. York, Decbr 12th, -83. "For William Penn, Esq', "Governor of Pennsilvania." THOS. DONGAN. JOHN RICHARDSON TO WM. PENN, 1683. May It please youre Honor: There came to my house lately, some of the Honorable Lord Baltimore's officers, who having brought a leter to the Inhabitants of oure |