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hence, & says he wou'd be glad I had told him what Sum was expected. But this I have not presum'd to do any otherwise than by relating the Circumstances of these Indians, and that not so much for his Information as for the satisfaction such Relation may give to the Assembly, & indeed this is the reason why I have wrote so long a Letter to You, who know these matters much better than I do. I am with perfect Esteem & Regard,

Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant,

"Gov. Ogle."

"ANTHONY PALMER.

A Letter of the same Tenor with the above was sent to S William Gooch

"Sir:

"PHILADA., April 11th, 1748.

"Captain Higginbotham's Affair has been heard by the Council with all the Regard due to a Person under your recommendation.

"It appear'd that he had never seen the Land, and that neither he nor any under him had ever been possess'd of it, but on the contrary that Perie, the Person complain'd of, was in possession before and at the time of His Majestie's Order for quieting the Borders of the Provinces, which possession has continued in him ever since.

"Some Facts decisive in the opinion of our Council if true, & which perhaps have not come to Your knowledge, were insisted on by Perie. That before the Royal Order he was arrested by process frem Your Provincial Court for a suppos'd Trespass commited on this Land; That he was imprison'd at Annapolis several Days, & for his Release oblig'd to give Bail to abide the Judgment of the Court; That the Suit was continued against him until the Royal Order was made, by virtue of which the Provincial Court finally discharg'd him. The truth of these matters will best appear by Your Records But on the whole were unanimously of opinion that His Majesty's Order absolutely restrain'd them from dispossessing Perie of the Land he enjoy'd at the time the Order was made.

"I am sincerely sorry to hear by Captain Higginbotham that You were indispos'd, & most heartily wish You a speedy Recovery of Your Health, being with true Esteem & Regard,

"Sir, Your most obedient Servant,

"Gov" OGLE."

VOL. V.-15.

"ANTHONY PALMER

A Petition from the Pilots using the Bay & River of Delaware was read in these words, viz:

"To the Honourable ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr-, Presid" of the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, & Sussex, on Delaware, & Province of Pennsylvania,

"The humble Petition of the Pilots, Inhabitants of the County of Sussex, on Delaware.

"Whereas, Your Petitioners, as well pursuant to an Act of General Assembly of this Government as Your Honour's late Proclamation, are prohibited going on board any inward bound Vessel in the Bay & River Delaware, which said Act & Proclamation your Petitioners are fully convinced are justly Calculated for the safety of this Government, and therefore willing to pay all due obedience.

"And whereas, The Pilots that dwell in the Government of New Jersey (from a false Representation of Your Petitioners having Lycence to Cruise for Vessels & go on board the same as Pilots) are not restrain'd by any Law of that Government, but, as Your Petitioners are informed, have leave to Cruize and go on board Vessels as Pilots, & daily do the same within the Bay & River aforesaid, which in its Consequence may prove prejudicial to this Government, and likewise prevent Your Petitioners acquiring a Competent Support for their Familys, for Your Honour may be assur'd that no inward bound Vessel will call at Lewes for a Pilot when any other may be had Cruizing off.

"Your Petitioners therefore humbly entreat your Honour's Interest & Friendship with the Governor of the Jersey for restraining the Pilots of that Government in such manner & by such measures as may be thought most expedient, not only for the safety of this Government but that Your Petitioners may have an Equal Chance for their Livelyhood in their proper Employments; And Your Petitioners shall ever pray.

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On Consideration whereof, and of the Danger that might accrue to the Province & Counties if any Pilots shou'd be permitted to abuse their Trust in so shameful manner, the following Proclamation was agreed to, & the Secretary was order'd to engross it to be

sign'd by the President, & to prepare a Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to it, & to take care to have it published the next Market Day with all the usual Solemnity:

"By the Honourable the President & Council of the Province of Pennsylvania.

"A PROCLAMATION.

"Whereas, divers Insults, Captures, & Depredations were made & committed by our Enemies the last Summer in and near the Bay & River of Delaware, several Vessels taken, Plantations plunder'd, and the Goods, Negroes, and effects of the Inhabitants carried off, all which was the more easily effected by means of some Pilot Boats using the Bay & River aforesaid, which the Enemy by pretending to be friends had got possession of. To the end, therefore, that no means in our Power may be wanting for the preventing the like Insults, Captures, & Depredations for the future, and for the Security as well of the Inhabitants on both sides of the Bay & River of Delaware as of the City of Philadelphia and the Trade thereof, in this time of common Danger, We have thought fit to issue this our Proclamation, strictly enjoining & commanding all Pilots whatsoever using the Bay or River of Delaware, and all other Persons taking charge of any Ship or Vessel in or near the said Bay or River, that from & after the Tenth Day of April to the Twentyfifth Day of September in every Year during the Continuance of the Present War between Great Britain & France & Spain, or either of them, they do not presume on any pretence whatsoever to go on board any inward bound Vessel until the Commander thereof or some of the Mariners or People have first come on Shore, to the end that it may the more certainly be known whether such Vessel belongs to British Subjects or not, as they shall answer the contrary at their highest peril; And for the Discovery of Delinquents due Care will be taken & strict enquiry made of all Commanders of Ships, Mariners, & others, by the proper Officers to be appointed for that purpose.

"Given at Philadelphia, under the Great Seal of the said Province, the Eleventh Day of April, in the Twenty-first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, & Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, & Annoqz Domini, 1748.

"ANTHONY PALMER,

"By Order of the Honourable the President & Council,

"GOD SAVE THE KING."

"RICHARD PETERS, Secry.

It being thought necessary that proper Measures shou'd be taken as soon as possible for procuring Intelligence in case of an Enemy's

appearing in the Bay and River Delaware, to the end the Military preparations now made in this Government may be used to the best advantage, Mr. Taylor & Mr. Hopkinson are appointed to consider of the best Method of making Alarms in order to be laid before the Board for their Consideration.

At a Council held at Philada. 9th May, 1748.

PRESENT:

The Honourable ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.

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The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.

The Assembly being to meet on the 16th, Mr. Till, Mr. Taylor, & Mr. Hopkinson are appointed a Committee to consider their last Messages, & from thence & the Business transacted since at this Board, to prepare a Message to be sent to the House at their Meeting.

Certain advice being brought by several Vessels from the West Indies, that His Majesty's Fleet under the Command of Admiral Knowles had taken Port Louis, dismantled the Fort, & carried the Cannon to Jamaica, the President was desir'd to request of Governor Trelawney the Loan of some Cannon for the use of His Majestie's Subjects in this Province.

The Presid having receiv'd a Letter from P. Hopson, Esq Command-in-Chief at Cape Breton, dated at Louisbourg 18th April last, in answer to his of 5th March last, the same was read.

At a Council held at Philada. 14th May, 1748.

PRESENT:

The Honourable ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.

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The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.
A Letter from the Proprietor by the Post was read:

"Gentlemen:

"LONDON, October 29th, 1748.

"Since I wrote You jointly with my Brother, I have waited on the Duke of Bedford, & acquainted him of the insolent behaviour of

the Enemy's Privateers, desiring we might have a Ship station'd in our Bay, as the only means of preventing such attacks for the future; the Duke received my application as I cou'd wish, saw the necessity there was to grant my Request, and promis'd me his assistance at the Board when I shou'd present a memorial, which I did this Day, & their Lordships assur'd me that soon after Christmass they would order a Ship for this Service, which would be there as soon as the Season of the Year permitted, for that the Winter wou'd come so soon upon us as to render it unsafe for a Ship now sent to come upon your Coast.

"You may be assur'd I will watch this Business with great attention, & not suffer their Lordships to forget it, as I think it necessary for Your Security. This I write at random, but was willing to give You the earliest Notice, as it may make the People more easy. "I am, Gent", Your very affectionate Friend,

"The Presid' & Council of Pennsylvania."

"THO. PENN.

The Committee appointed to prepare a Message to the Assembly delivered in their Draught, which was read, & the Consideration thereof postpon'd to the next Council, that the Sentiments of the whole Board might be taken thereon.

The Indian deliver'd a Letter from Mr. Weiser, setting forth that James Denny had taken from him Horses & Skins to a considerable value, & that if some satisfaction was not made to the Indian by the Publick, it might be of mischevious consequence.

The Board having examin'd into the Circumstances of this Affair, agreed to lay his Case before the Assembly, & to recommend it to them to make him satisfaction.

At a Council held at Philada., May 17th, 1748.

PRESENT:

The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.

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The following Message to the Assembly being settled & agreed to, the same was order'd to be transcrib'd fair & deliver'd by the Secretary to the House at their Meeting in the Afternoon.

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