colonies from issuing paper bills of credit, and make a merit of it in the province.

The assembly call upon the proprietaries to contribute to the expence of Indian affairs, which they decline. The assembly's representation thereon.

A bill for increasing the provincial paper-currency in proportion to the increase of the province, by an addition of 20,000l. thereto.

Rejected by the governor for being unseasonably 'timed.

And petitioned by the inhabitants.

A message from the governor (Hamilton) preparing the house to expect incursions from the French among the Indians in alliance with them, and requiring assistance on their behalf.

The answer of the proprietaries to the representation of the assembly concerning the expence of Indian affairs.

The assembly's message sent to the governor, together with the currency-bill he had before rejected. Another message to him concerning Indian affairs, and notifying a present of condolence to the Twightwee tribe.

Governor's message, importing his assent to the currency-bill, with a suspending clause.

Resolution of the assembly not to accept this clause, with their reasons.

A note of regret, that some temperament had not been found out at home, to prevent the controversy, which was now on the point of breaking out.

Remonstrance of the assembly against the said clause. The governor's message of adherence thereto.

The assembly's reply.

F 4

Their

Their reply to the proprietary's answer to the representation on Indian expences.

Unanimous resolution of the assembly concerning the necessity of a remission of their paper-currency.

Lord Holdernesse's letter and other papers laid before them, together with a written message from the governor thereon.

The assembly's answer, accompanied with their currency-bill.

The governor rejects it; but offers to pass a bill for striking a further sum on a proper fund for sinking the same in a few years.

The assembly prudently avail themselves of the caution in Lord Holdernesse's letter concerning undoubted limits, to decline taking any part in the broil, till the government of Virginia, as first concerned, should set the first example.

The governor revives the old controversy concerning the paper-money instruction.

Declares in another part he had undoubted assurance, that part of his majesty's dominions within his government was at that time invaded, and demands supplies to arm the province, &c.

The assembly demur, and desire a short adjournment. The governor not only persists in his former declaration, but maintains, that the case was the same, whether the invasion of the enemy was made in Virginia or Pensylvania.

The assembly adjourn to May 6. and are assembled by the governor April 2, in order to lay before them papers from governor Dinwiddie; and demand a supply. Debates in the assembly on the quantum, and a new adjournment.

Another

Another session, and a message from the governor, accompanied with intelligence, that the French were before the fort built by the Virginians on the Ohio; with dispatches and a proposition from the governors of Boston and New York, for an union of the colonies, &c.

A joint bill for granting an aid of 10,000l. to the king, and 20,000l. for replacing torn and ragged bills, offered. Amendments, proposed by the governor.

Unanimously rejected by the assembly, and for what

reasons.

The governor's reply.

A reflection thereon.

Resolutions of the assembly.

And message to the governor before their adjourn

ment.

They are re-convened by special summons on the occasion of Washington's defeat, and required to form chearful and vigorous resolutions for dislodging the enemy, in concurrence with Virginia.

The proceedings of the commissioners at Albany laid before them.

They prepare and present a bill for striking 35,000l. in bills of credit, and the rest for replacing defective bills. Which the governor evades for want of sufficient powers to pass it,

Governor Morris's arrival at Philadelphia, and first speech to a new assembly.

The assembly's answer and adjournment.

Being assembled again, a letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, secretary of state, is laid before them; and the governor in his speech requires them to raise and keep up a considerable body of troops.

9

They

They present a bill for raising 40,0007. on the former plan; half of this sum for the public service; with a message, expressing their concern at a paragraph in the secretary of state's letter, by which it appeared their conduct had not been fairly représented at home.

The old instruction, and an opinion of the attorneygeneral's, pleaded by the governor in bar of his assent, unless the money was raised in a five-years fund.

A letter from Sir Thomas Robinson to the governor of Pensylvania, dispatched at the same time with others of similar tendency to the other governors of the northern colonies.

Which the governor, in his comment upon it, endeavours to narrow the application of, to Pensylvania only.

A message from the assembly, fully demonstrating, that Pensylvania was not comprehended in the instruction insisted upon; and that in case it was, the present emergency was one of those, which, according to the very letter of that instruction, might be provided for notwithstanding: also desiring a sight of the instruc- tions he himself had received from his principals.

A second message, in which they call upon the governor to give his assent to the bill, as what would answer all the purposes recommended to them in Sir Thomas Robinson's letter.

The governor's reply, declining the bill as before; because the supply might be otherwise raised, and evading the communication of his instructions.

The assembly's rejoinder, justifying the requisition they made of his instructions; and intimating, that an appeal to the crown was the only method left them of being continued in the use and benefit of their birthright, and charter liberties?

The

The governor questions their right to have these instructions laid before them, and endeavours to put them beside their point, by magnifying the preparations of the French, &c.

The assembly order the papers which had passed between the proprietaries and them to be printed, which till then they had avoided.

Their unanimous resolutions concerning the proprietary instructions, in which they declare it as their opinion, that the said instructions were the principal, if not the sole obstruction to their bill: also the most essential points contained in their reply to the governor's charges against them.

A brief of the governor's sur-rejoinder.

Some general remarks.

The assembly make their appeal to the crown, inform the governor thereof, signify their inclination to adjourn till May, and give his instructions the coup de grace.

The governor's expostulatory message thereon.

He demands a copy of their minutes; they order him one when the printed copies were finished, and adjourn.

Upon Braddock's arrival in Virginia, they are re-assembled by special summons: the demands made by message on that occasion.

The governor reprimands them for having published Sir Thomas Robinson's letter in their minutes, and for not delivering him a copy of those minutes as soon as he had required them.

The assembly's answer thereto.

Orders and counter-orders to the printer of these minutes,

Two