give the Indians Notice of This, and to put them upon their Guard. He further informed the Council that Andrew Montour had been at Onondago to invite the Six Nations to a Treaty at Winchester, and on his Return home meeting Mr. West had desired him to let his Honour know that the Six Nations did not encline to come to Winchester, not thinking it proper to leave their Houses at a time of so much danger, and that he found the Indians not a little intimidated at the large Armament of French and French Indians which had gone by Oswego in their way to Ohio, especially after hearing what was said by Seven Indians who came into Council while he was present, and declared they were sent by the Governor of Canada to inform their Council that the King of France, their Master, had raised a Number of Soldiers to chastise the Twightwees and drive away all the English Traders from Ohio, and take those Lands under their own care, because the Indians acted a foolish Part, and had not Sense enough to take care of their own Lands. It is true Mr. Montour said they ordered these seven Indians to tell the Governor of Canada they wou'd not suffer him to build Forts there, nor take Possession of those Lands, nor drive away the English; that those Lands belonged to the Indians, and that neither French nor English shou'd have any thing to do with them; that the Indians were owners of the Soil and independent of Both, and wou'd keep the Lands in their own hands; but notwithstanding this Answer Mr. Montour said he saw plainly the Indians were frighted, and that there was a Strong Party for the French among the Indians, and the Senecas particularly were in their Interest and countenanced this Proceeding.

After maturely considering these several Accounts, the following Message was drawn and ordered to be sent to the Assembly:

"A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.

"Gentlemen:

"By the Intelligence contained in the several Papers now laid before you, it may be expected that the Country of Alleghany situate on the Waters of the Ohio, partly within the Limits of this Province and partly within those of Virginia, already is or will be in a very little Time invaded by an Army of French and Indians, raised for this Purpose by the Governor of Canada, And that the Indians inhabiting these, who are of the Six Nations with a Mixture of Shawonese and Delawares, Friends and Allies of Great Britain, will be obliged to retire and leave their Country for want of means to defend it against this armed Force, as will also the Twightwees lately recommended to our Alliance by the Six Nations, And that his Majestie's Subjects of this and the neighbouring Colonies now carrying on a just and lawful Trade with these Indians will be cut off or made Prisoners and their Effects seized and plundered unless the Messengers dispatched by me to Ohio, immediately on receiving

the advices from the Governor of New York, shall have arrived time enough to give our Traders and Indian Allies an opportunity of taking Measures for their own Security.

"The Advices communicated to me by Governor Clinton are further confirmed by Mr. Andrew Montour, who happening lately to be at Onondago on Business of the Government of Virginia with the Six Nations, heard the Message of the Governor of Canada avowing these Hostile Proceedings delivered to the Council there by seven French Indians, together with the Council's answer asserting their Independency and the Property of the Soil, and forbidding the French from Settling their Lands at Ohio or disturbing the English Traders; But Your own Judgment will suggest what such Prohibition can amount to from a People who are not at present in a Condition to defend themselves, and who besides are starving for want of the Necessaries of Life.

"Under these Difficulties what can they do unless his Majestie's Governors, to whom they will undoubtedly make very earnest Applications, shall afford them Assistance? And if this be not now given them suitable to their Necessities, can it be thought that they will any longer adhere to their Alliances or hesitate to put themselves and their Allies under the Protection of France, who they see in a condition to protect them?

"Think, Gentlemen, I beseech You, of the Consequences of having Forts built and Indian Nations settled by the French within and near the Limits of this Province, and within a small Distance from the inhabited Part of it. Are the People settled on our West Frontiers like to live in Peace and Quietness, or to be able to preserve their Possessions? or will they not desert them and the Fruits of their Labour and seek for Habitations elsewhere rather than see themselves continually exposed to the Inroads and Depredations of Enemy Indians? But there is no need for me to enlarge on this disagreeable Subject, or to set forth the sad Effects that must unavoidably arise from the Neighbourhood of French Forts and Settlements, since these will naturally offer themselves to the Mind of every One. I therefore earnestly entreat You to take this Matter into Your Serious Consideration, and as there is great Reason to expect that Applications will be made to me as well on the Part of the Six Nations at Onondago as by those who reside to the Westward and are like to be more immediately affected by these Proceedings, I request you would in your present Sessions enable me to give them Assistance answerable to their Exigencies, sensible as you must be that it is the indispensible Duty of every Government to protect and take care of all its Inhabitants, whether they be his Majestie's Natural born Subjects or Natives of America in Amity with the Crown of Great Britain or their Friends and Allies. "JAMES HAMILTON.

"22d May, 1753."

VOL. V.-39.

The Persons ordered by the Minute of the twenty-fourth of June last to lay out a Road from Easton to Saucon, made their Return, which was read in these words:

"To the Honourable the Governor and Council of the Province of Pennsylvania.

"In Pursuance of an order from the Honourable Board, of the 24th Day of June, 1752, there was laid out a Road Beginning at the Ferry across the West Branch of Delaware River to Easton, in the county of Northampton, and from thence extending the several Courses and Distances following, viz': South twenty-seven Degrees and an-half East thirty Perches, South seventy Degrees West fourteen Perches, South-South-West forty-six Perches, South fifty-four Degrees West twenty-six Perches, South twenty Degrees, West one hundred and ten Perches, South twenty-three Degrees and a-half West twenty Perches, South forty four Degrees West sixty-nine Perches, South sixty-one Degrees West forty-two Perches, South forty-two Degrees West fifteen Perches, South eleven Degrees and an-half East seventy-nine Perches, South seventeen Degrees East fifty-eight Perches, South sixty Degrees East thirty-two Perches, South thirtysix Degrees East sixty-two Perches, South twenty Degrees West fiftythree Perches, South one Degree and an-half East ninety-two Perches, South twelve Degrees West thirty-six Perches, South twenty-seven Degrees West fifty-two Perches, South forty-four Degrees West forty-four Perches, South eighty-nine Degrees West fifty-six Perches, South sixty-seven Degrees West eighty-two Perches, South seventyfour Degrees and an-half West seventy-three Perches, South eightyfour Degrees and an-half West one hundred and thirty-four Perches, South forty-two Degrees West eighty-four Perches, South twentysix Degrees and an-half West thirty-eight Perehes, South forty-one Degrees West twenty-two Perches, South ten Degrees and an-half West thirty-nine Perches, South nine Degrees East seventy-eight Perches, South twenty-four Degrees East fifty-four Perches, South twenty-two Degrees West sixteen Perches, South two Degrees West twenty Perches, South forty-one Degrees East thirty-four Perches, South Seventy-five Degrees East twenty-six Perches, South seven Degrees East fourteen Perches, South twenty Degrees West twenty Perches, South thirty-five Degrees West twenty Perches, South thirty-nine Degrees West fifteen Perches, South thirty-two Degrees and an-half West forty-two Perches, Sotith nineteen Degrees East thirty Perches, South ten Perches and an-half, South forty Degrees East eight Perches, South sixty Degrees East sixteen Perches, SouthEast ten Perches, South thirty-three Degrees East thirteen Perches, South nine Degrees East forty Perches, South five Degrees West forty-seven Perches, South thirty-one Degrees West twenty-eight Perches, South twenty-three Degrees West twenty-eight Perches, South ten Degrees West fifty-two Perches, South thirty-five Degrees West sixty-two Perches, South forty Degrees West thirty-two Per

ches, South fifty Degrees West twenty-six Perches, South seventyfive Degrees West twenty Perches, South forty-four Degrees West seventy-two Perches, South forty-eight Degrees West twenty-eight Perches, South sixty-nine Degrees West nine Perches, South sixtyone Degrees West forty-eight Perches, South forty-one Degrees West seventeen Perches, South sixty Degrees West twenty-six Perches, South fifty-one Degrees and an-half West one hundred and sixty Perches, South fifty-six Degrees and an-half West eighty-six Perches, South-West forty-seven Perches, South twenty-eight Degrees West eighteen Perches, South thirty-four Degrees West fortyfive Perches, South forty-six Degrees and an-half West eighty-six Perches, South twenty-six Degrees West thirty-six Perches, South thirtyseven Degrees West nine Perches, South eighty-eight Degrees West twenty-two Perches, South sixty-six Degrees West sixteen Perches, South twenty-eight Degrees West sixteen Perches, South seven Degrees West twenty-four Perches, South thirty-eight Degrees East forty-two Perches, South three Degrees West sixteen Perches and an-half, South twenty Degrees West sixteen Perches and an-half, South thirty-nine Degrees West eighty-seven Perches, South twentythree Degrees West sixty-six Perches, South fifty-one Degrees West fifty-five Perches, South-west forty-one Perches, South nineteen Degrees West forty-four Perches, South twenty-three Degrees West eighteen Perches, South twenty-nine Degrees West thirty-one Perches, South seventeen Degrees, East fifty-seven Perches, South thirty-eight Degrees West forty-five Perches, South fifty-six Degrees West thirty-nine Perches, South forty-eight Degrees West forty Perches, South fifty-five Degrees East twenty-three Perches and anhalf, South forty Degrees West twenty-four Perches, South twentyeight Degrees West fifty-six Perches, South thirty-eight Degrees West sixty-one Perches, South eighty-five Degrees West seventynine Perches and an-half, South eighty-seven Degrees West sixtyseven Perches, South fifty-one Degrees West forty-six Perches, South twenty-seven Degrees West twenty Perches and an-half, South thirty. Degrees West two hundred and sixty-eight Perches, and South fortyseven Degrees West eighty-five Perches, to the great Road leading from Saucon to the city of Philadelphia near Brigs' Plantation, in Bucks county, Being in all Thirteen Miles and one hundred and Three Perches.

"April the 14th, 1753."

"WM. PARSONS,

"JOHN CHAPMAN,
"JACOB HUCHART,
"WILLIAM ARMSTRONG.
"STEPN. TWINING, Jun'r.

A Petition was read of sundry of the Inhabitants of the Counties of Berks and Northampton, purporting that there was great want of a High Road from Easton, the County Town of the said County of

Northampton, to Reading, the County Town of the said County of Berks, the Roads commonly used not being laid out by any Authority either from this Board or from the respective Courts of the said Counties, were often diverting and obstructed and rendered almost impassible. The Prayer of which Petition being granted, It is ordered, that Francis Parvin, Jacob Levan, Benjamin Lightfoot, James Boone, Sebastian Zimmerman, and Joseph Penrose, on the Part of Berks County, and William Parsons, Peter Traxler, Jun" John Traxler, Timothy Horsefield, John Everat, and Lodowick Klutz, on the Part of Northampton County, or any Six of them, view the Place where such a road is wanted, and if they are satisfied that there is a Necessity for such a Road, that they or any two of them lay out the same. Francis Parvin, Jacob Levan, William Parsons, or Timothy Horsefield, being one of the Number in laying out the said Road; and that of the said Road laid out by Course and Distance as streight as possible for the general Accommodation of the Inhabitants, and with as little Damage as may be to any private Persons-a Return be made to this Board together with a Draught of the said Road.

The Judges of the Supream Court having held a Court of Oyer and Terminer on the twenty-seventh Day of April last at York Town, and on the Thirtieth of the same Month at Lancaster, laid their Proceedings before the Governor, in which it appeared that John Swales was convicted of the Murder of Thomas Reily, at York; and as the Judges gave the Governor to Understand that it was an attrocious Murder, a Warrant was ordered to be drawn for his Execution. At Lancaster Catherine Reynolds was convicted of the Murder of an Infant Bastard, and sundry favourable Circumstances being repeated by the Judges, who represented her as a fit object of Mercy, She was reprieved.

Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor and desired to know if he had as yet received any Answer from the Proprietaries to their Representation delivered the twenty-fourth Day of August, 1751; the Proprietaries having sent the Governor their Answer, he ordered both to be put upon the Minutes and then sent the Secretary with it to the House.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 30th May, 1753.

PRESENT:

The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.

Robert Strettell,)
Joseph Turner,

Esquires.

Richard Peters,

The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.