absence, Death, Poverty, or other Disability, and the other saving Clause in the Sixth Page to all and every other Person and Persons who may think him, her, or themselves aggrieved, their Rights by Appeal, Writs of Certiorari, Writs of Error, or other Writs, as they shall be advised to be made returnable to the Supream Court of this Province, &c., is liable to the same objections, but is more dangerous with regard to the Consequences, as those Writs may be brought without Limitation of Time.

"For these Reasons I cannot pass this Bill into a Law.

"Philadelphia, February 1st, 1750."

"JAMES HAMILTON.

"An Act for the more effectual preventing Accidents which may happen by Fire, and for suppressing Idleness, Drunkeness, and other Debaucheries," was read and agreed to with some amendments, which were ordered to be transcribed and delivered to the House with the Bill.

"An Act for the better regulating the Nightly Watch within the City of Philadelphia, and for Enlightening the Streets, Lanes, and Allies of the said City, and for raising of Money on the Inhabitants of the said City for defraying the necessary Expences thereof," was read a second time. It appearing to the Council that the Design of the Bill was really for the Publick Utility but wanted many amendments, the following Message was agreed to and sent to the House, and the Governor detained the Bill till the next Sessions :

"A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.

"Gentlemen:

"I am very sensible of the many Dangers the Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia are exposed to by the Darkness of their Streets and the want of a well-regulated Watch in the Night, of their earnest Desires to have and your good Intentions to provide a suitable Law for their speedy Relief, and therefore no Bill concerning the City, with regard to its general Design and Utility, can possibly be more agreeable to my Inclinations than that now before me for the better regulating the Nightly Watch within the City of Philadelphia, and for enlightening the Streets, Lanes, Allies of the said City, and for raising of Money on the Inhabitants of the said City for defraying the necessary Expences thereof; But as the Provisions in the Bill which relate to the Properties, and may essentially affect the Liberties of the Citizens and other Inhabitants of the Province resorting to the City, are such as we have yet had no experience of, and seem in many Instances to deviate from the Laws of our Mother Country in the like Cases, I have resolved, in order to give it mature and deliberate consideration, to advise untill your Meeting, after next adjournment. "JAMES HAMILTON.

"February 1st, 1750."

John Morris, alias John Morrison, Labourer, Elizabeth Robinson, Spinster, Francis M'Coy, Taylor, and John Crow, Labourer, all of the City of Philadelphia, having been tried for Burglary at the Supreme Court held at Philadelphia the twenty-eighth, Twentyninth, and thirtieth Days of January last, and convicted and condemned to death, the Record of their Conviction and Sentence was read. The Governor signified to the Council that the Judges in their Report to him had represented all of them as really guilty of the Facts with which they were charged, and that they were attended with many aggravating Circumstances, but that Crow, in Extenuation of his Guilt, had early made a Confession of the Fact, and informed of the Persons concerned with him, who were apprehended on Crow's Information, and if Mercy was to be extended he was the least guilty. After duly considering the horrid nature of the Crime, a warrant was ordered to be made for the Execution of Morrison, Robinson, and M'Coy, and a Reprieve for John Crow.

A Bill Entitled "An Act for erecting Houses of Correction and Workhouses in the Counties of Lancaster, York, and Cumberland, within this Province," was presented to the Governor by the Assembly for his concurrence, and was read the first time and in part considered.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the sixth of February, 1750.

PRESENT:

The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.

The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved. The Governor on the second Instant received the following Message from the Assembly in answer to his relating to the Watch Bill, whereupon he had resumed the consideration thereof, and after consulting the Attorney General and such of the council as were members of the City Corporation, he had drawn up a Set of amendments which were read, and after long consideration and some alterations the amendments were agreed to and the Secretary was ordered to return the Bill with those amendments.

A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.

"May it please the Governor:

"We have read and considered the Governor's Message upon our Bill for regulating the Nightly Watch, &, and are much pleased

to find how sensible he is of the many Dangers the Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia are exposed to by the Darkness of their Streets and the want of a well-regulated watch in the Night; of the earnest Desires of the Inhabitants, and of our good Intentions to provide for their speedy Relief.' This induces us to hope the Governor, upon mature Consideration, will be pleased to pass our Bill, as on our Parts we have carefully endeavoured to answer the Desires of the Inhabitants of this City as nearly as might be in conformity with the Prayers of their Petition, upon which the Bill was originally founded. But we are deeply affected with the apprehensions the Governor entertains, That the Provisions in the Bill which relate to the Properties, and may essentially affect the Liberties of the Inhabitants of the Province resorting to the city, are such as we have had no experience of, and seem in many Instances to deviate from the Laws of our Mother Country in the like cases.' In forming of this Bill we have constantly had in view the Method prescribed by our Laws for raising County Rates and Levies, because on long experience we have found them to give general Satisfaction to the Inhabitants of this Province, and effectual in discharging the Publick Debts with Honour. We are not sensible of any material Difference in this Bill unless the Inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, by any misfortunes peculiar to themselves, must be precluded from that Benefit which every other Part of the Province has a Right to; And should we in any instance 'seem to deviate from the Laws of our Mother Country in like cases,' we hope, on examination, they will appear neither to contradict nor vary from them farther than our Charters and our Laws warrant us in order to make them more suitable to the circumstances of this Province.

"The Necessity of an immediate Provision for securing the Inhabitants of this city from their Fears and the great Dangers they are liable to continually for want of a sufficient and regular Watch in the Night, call upon us to become earnest sollicitors with the Governor that he would be pleased to give the Bill now lying before him all the Dispatch the circumstances of these unhappy times require.

"Signed by order of the House,

"2d February, 1750."

"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.

The Bill for erecting Houses of Correction and work-houses in the Counties of Lancaster, York, and Cumberland, within this Province, was read, amended, and the Bill ordered to be returned to the House with the amendments.

The Governor having received by the last Post a Letter from Governor Clinton, with some Papers relating to Indian Affairs, the same were read and sent to the Assembly and are as follows:

A Letter from Governor Clinton to Governor Hamilton. "ST.:

"Your Favour of the 22d instant I have received, and am glad that you are of the same opinion with me in relation to Indian Affairs.

"I send you a copy of an Inscription on a leaden Plate stolen from Jean Coeur some months since in the Seneca's Country, as he was going to the River Ohio, which plainly demonstrates the French Scheme by the exorbitant claims therein mentioned; also a copy of a Cajuga Sachim's Speech to Col Johnson, with his Reply, on the subject matter of the Plate, which I hope will come time enough to communicate to your Assembly.

"I am with very great Regard, S'"

"Your Honour's most obedient and very humble Servant,

"FORT GEORGE, 29th January, 1750.”

"G. CLINTON.

The Speech of a Cajuga Sachim to Col. Johnson, with his Reply. "MOUNT JOHNSON, December 4th, 1750.

"At the desire of the Five Nations, I called the Chiefs of the Mohawks to my House where Scanaghradeya, a Cajuga Sachim, after the usual compliments, spoke to me as follows:

"Brother Corlear & Warraghiyagee:

"I am sent here by the Five Nations (with a Piece of writing which the Senecas our Brethren got by some Artifice from Jean Cour) to you, Earnestly beseeching you will let us know what it means, and as we put all our Confidence in you or Brother, hope you will explain it ingeniously to us.'

"Deliver'd a leaden Square Plate.

"A Belt of Wampum.

"Brother-I am ordered further to acquaint you that Jean Cour, the French Interpreter, when on his Journey (this last summer) to Ohio River, Spoke thus to the Five Nations & others in our Alliance.

"Children-Your Father (meaning the French Governor) having out of a tender Regard for you considered the great Difficulties you labour under by carrying your Goods, Canoes, &c., over the great carrying Place of Niagara, has desired me to acquaint you that in order to ease you all of so much trouble for the future he is resolved to build a House at the other end of said carrying • Place, which he will furnish with all necessaries requisite for your use.'

"A Belt of Wampum.

"Brother-Jean Cour also told us that he was now on his way to Ohio River, where he intended to stay three years & desired some of Us to accompany him thither, which we refused, whereupon he answered he was much surprised at our not consenting to go with him, inasmuch as it was for our Interest & ease he was sent thither to build a House there, also at the carrying Place between said River Ohio and Lake Erie, where all the Western Indians should be supplied with whatever Goods they may have occasion for, & not be at the trouble & loss of time of going so far to Market as usual, (meaning Oswego) after this; he desired to know our opinion of the Affair & begged our Consent to build in said Places; he gave us a large Belt of Wampum thereon desiring our answer, which we told him we would take some time to consider of.

"Brother-We have nothing further to add at present but to acquaint you that your Brethren the Senecas have made two new Sachims, which they desired I would let you know, and their titles, so that when you may have occasion to speak to them you should be at a Loss therein; they are called O'nogh'caritawey and Sagangiona, two very good men, whom we hope may be agreeable to you.' "A String of Wampum.

"Brethren of the Five Nations:

"I am always glad to see you here at my House, but never more so than at this Juncture, as it puts it in my Power now to be of the greatest Service to you and of convincing you that the Confidence you have always reposed in me was justly grounded, and will ever prove the greatest advantage to you while you continue to behave as you should, and follow your Brother the Governor's advice and not suffer yourselves to be wheedled or mislead by the fine Speeches of your greatest Enemy the French, who have not nor ever had your welfare at heart, as you are sensible of from their many former Cruelties and ill Treatment to your People. But their Scheme now laid against you and yours (at a time when they are feeding you up with fine Promises of serving you in several Shapes) is worse than all the rest, as will appear by their own writing here on this Plate. Note. I repeat here the Substance of said writing with some necessary additions. Giving a large Belt of Wampum to confirm what I said, which Belt with the rest are to sent through all the nations as far as Ohio River.

"Brethren-This is an affair of the greatest Importance to you, as nothing less than all your Lands and best Hunting Places are aimed at, with a view of secluding You entirely from Us and the Rest of your Brethren, viz., the Philadelphians, Virginians, &, who can always supply You with the necessaries of Life at a much lower rate than the French ever did or could, and under whose Protection you are and ever will be safer and better served in every respect than under the French. These and a hundred other substantial Reasons I could give you to convince you that the French