as one step, which in all probability, will contribute very much towards producing that Effect. "For farther particulars concerning the situation of this County, I refer you to Colonel Wilson, who is kind enough to go on the present Occasion to Philadelphia. "I am Sir, your very Humble Servant, "Te the Honorable JOHN PENN, Esquire." Here follows Dr. Conolly's Address to the Magistrates of Westmoreland County, referred to in the foregoing Letter: "Gentlemen: "I am come here to be Occasion of no Disturbances, but to prevent them. As I am countenanced by Government, whatever you may say or conceive, some of the Justices of this Bench are the cause of this Appearance, and not me. I have done this to prevent myself from being illegally taken to Philadelphia. My Orders from the Government of Virginia not being explicit, but claiming the Country about Pittsburg, I have raised the Militia to support the Civil Authority of that Colony vested in me. "I am come here to free myself from a Promise made to Captain Proctor, but have not conceived myself amenable to this Court, by any Authority from Pennsylvania, upon which Account I cannot apprehend that you have any Right to remain here as Justices of the Peace constituting a Court under that Province; but in order to prevent Confusion, I agree that you may continue to act in that capacity, in all such Matters as may be submitted to your determination by the acquiesence of the People, until I may have Instructions to the Contrary from Virginia, or until His Majesty's Pleasure shall be farther known on this Subject. "J. CONNOLLY." The Answer of the Magistrates of Westmoreland County to the foregoing Address of Dr. Conolly, viɛ" : "The Jurisdiction of the Court and officers of the County of Westmoreland rests on the legislative Authority of the Province of Pennsylvania, confirmed by His Majesty in Council. That Jurisdiction has been regularly exercised, and the Court and Officers will continue to exercise it in the same regular manner. It is far from their Intention to occasion or foment Disturbances, and they apprehend that no such Intentions can with Propriety be inferred from any part of their conduct, on the Contrary, they wish and will do all in their Power to preserve the public Tranquility. In order to contribute to this very salutary Purpose, they give Information that every step will be taken on the part of the Province of Pennsylvania to accommodate any Differences that have arisen between it and the Colony of Virginia, by fixing a temporary Line betwixt them." The Deposition of Henry Read, relative to the Disturbances made in Westmoreland County by the Virginians, Vizt: "Westmoreland County, ss: "The Deposition of Henry Read, of Pittsburg, Yeoman, (he being of full age,) taken before us, two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid, on his solemn Oath of the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, is as follows, viz: That on this day about eleven o'clock, Doctor John Connolly, at the Head of a number of armed Men on Horseback, came into Pittsburg, and alighted near the Houses of John Ormsby and Joseph Spear, Esquire, when said John Connolly came into Mr. Spear's House, and soon after went out again; that this Deponent, William Amberson, and some others, were tying up Mr. Spears Skins at his Door; that Connolly then ordered one Reily to lay hold of that Fellow, pointing to said Amberson, who is Mr. Spears, and acts for him as store-keeper and Clerk; that Reily laid hold of Amberson by the Arm-that Amberson then requested he might have liberty to lock up the Store, and was endeavouring to go towards the Store Door, when Mr. Connolly came up and seized Amberson by the Breast, and said let the Skins and Store go to the Devil, if your Master was here I would serve him in the same manner; that then Connolly, with several armed Men, took said Amberson down to the Fort; that after some Time this deponent saw said Amberson and Edward Thompson brought up from the Fort to the Town, and guarded by a number of armed Men; that after they had drank some Toddy at Mr. Ormby's Porch, they took Amberson and Thompson to William Christy's House, and placed several armed Men at the Door; that in this State this Deponent left them, and came off Express to give information to Mr. Spear at Westmoreland Court-that there was in Mr. Spear's House a large Quantity of Goods and Skins; and further this Deponent saith not. HENRY REED. "Sworn and Subscribed this 7th day of April, 1774. "W. CRAWFORD. The Board taking the above Letters and Papers into Consideration, thought it adviseable for the Governor to defer writing an Answer thereto, or taking any Steps in consequence of the Intelligence they contain, till the return of the Express from Williamsburg, who was lately dispatched by this Government to the Earl of Dunmore, on the Subject of the above mentioned Disturbances. At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday 21st April, 1774. PRESENT: The Honorable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governor. Richard Peters, Andrew Allen, Edward Shippen, Jun. Esquires. The Express sent to Williamsburg being returned without any Answer from the Government of Virginia, The Governor recommended to the Board the Consideration of the Subject relative to the Disturbances and violences committed by the People of that Colony, within the County of Westmoreland, and laid before them three Letters he received two days ago by Express from Eneas McKay, Devereux Smith and Andrew McFarlane, Esquires, Magistrates of that County, each dated the 9th of April Instant, which were severally read, and Mess" McKay and Smith's Letters follow in these words, Viz': "Sir: "PITTSBURG, 9th April, 1774. "I have just Time to inform your Honor that the Justices Devereux Smith, Andrew McFarlane and myself, returned from Court late last night to this Place, and that we were all three taken Prisoners at half an Hour past nine o'clock this morning, by order of Dr. Conelly, and because we refused giving Bail, we are ordered to be sent off this Afternoon to Stanton, in Virginia, where I suppose we will spend the most of this summer, which gives me no manner of Concern so far as it affects my own Person, altho' I can't but feel for, and lament the distressing situation of my Wife and Children, left here exposed to the Insults and Tyranny of a lawless Mob, whose aim is to subvert Government and good order, and enrich themselves with the Spoils of their Neighbors. "I am, with due Respect, Sir, "Your humble and most Obedient Servant, "Sir: "PITTSBURGH, April the 9th, 1774. "When Justices McKay, McFarlane, and I, returned from attending the Court last Evening, we were informed that Doctor Connolly was determined to issue King's warrants for us, which were served on the above mentioned Gentlemen and myself this day, by Mr. Conolly's Sheriff. The Crime which we are charged with, is for the Answer we gave Doctor Conolly in writing, by the Concur rence of the Court at Westmoreland, a Copy of which was inclosed to your Honor p favor of Colonel Wilson. Mr. Connolly offered to enlarge us, on condition of giving Bail to take our Trial at Stanton Court in Virginia, which the other Gentlemen and I refused, so that we are to go to Jail this day, where we intend to remain 'till your Honor's Pleasure is known, which we make no doubt will be in a short Time. 'Tis true our going away from our Families and Business at this Time will be attended with very great Inconveniencies, but we are willing to suffer that, and a great deal more, rather than bring a disgrace on the Commission which we bear under your Honor. "I am with great Respect, Sir, "Your Honor's most Obedient, Mr. McFarlane's Letter is of the same Tenor with the foregoing one from Mr. Smith. The Board taking into Consideration the said Letters, as well as the Letters and Papers laid before them at their last Meeting, are of opinion that the most adviseable step to be taken on this occasion by the Government, will be to appoint Commissioners, to go as soon as possible to Williamsburg, in order to represent to the Government of Virginia the ill Consequences which may happen to the Persons and Properties of His Majesty's Subjects, if an immediate stop be not put to the Disorders and violent proceedings which have been begun and are now carrying on, under the Authority of that Government, within the Western Bounds of this Province, and also to confer with the said Government on the most proper Measures for establishing Peace and good Order among His Majesty's Subjects of both Governments, and for that Purpose to endeavor to agree upon a temporary Line of Jurisdiction; and further to request the said Government will, without Loss of Time, join with the Proprietaries of this Province in an application to the Crown to appoint Commissioners for running and ascertaining the true Boundary Lines between Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Board were likewise of Opinion that a Letter should be wrote to the three Magistrates who have been put under an Arrest by Mr. Connolly, thanking them for their spirited Behaviour, and acquainting them that proper Care shall be taken to supply them, at the Expence of this Government, with all Necessaries which may render their Situation as comfortable and easy as possible, until their Discharge can be obtained; And also, that a Letter of Instructions be sent to the other Magistrates of Westmoreland, respecting their future Conduct. At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Friday 22d April, 1774. A Member of Council laid before the Board Draughts of two Letters proposed to be sent to the Magistrates of Westmoreland County, which were read, and after a few Alterations made to them, were ordered to be fairly transcribed and dispatched to-morrow by the Express who came from that County. The Letters follow in these Words, Viz" : "Gentlemen: "PHILADELPHIA, 22d April, 1774. "I received Your several Letters informing me of your Arrest and Confinement, on Warrants issued by Doctor Conolly, and cannot but greatly approve your Spirit, and the Attachment you have shown to the Interests of this Province. But as the Confinement of your Persons, at so great a Distance from your Homes, must be very injurious to your private Concerns, if you can procure your enlargement by finding Bail, I shall by no means disapprove such a Step. I shall, with all possible Expedition, send Commissioners to my Lord Dunmore, to apply for your Discharge; and as Colonel Wilson is so obliging as to offer to call at Stanton in his way home, I have instructed him to procure for you any Security or Credit you may stand in need of, and shall do every Thing in my Power to free you from your disagreeable Situation, or to make it as comfortable as may be. "I am, Gentlemen, "Your very humble Servant, "JOHN PENN. "To Æneas Mackay, Devereux Smith, and Andrew McFarlane, Esquires, Justices of the Peace for the County of Westmoreland." "Gentlemen: "PHILADELPHIA, 22d April, 1774. "The present alarming Situation of our Affairs in Westmoreland County, occasioned by the very unaccountable Conduct of the Government of Virginia, requires the utmost Attention of this Government, and therefore I intend, with all possible Expedition, to send Commissioners to expostulate with my Lord Dunmore upon the Behaviour of those he has thought proper to invest with such power as hath greatly disturbed the peace of that Country. As the Government of Virginia hath the Power of raising a Militia, |