The Chiefs Assembled.

Present—

as before.

Sunday January 28th

The Onondaga speaker addressed Col: Johnson and after repeating the Message to the Shawanese, declared their entire approbation of the same and their resolution to have it faithfully delivered, then gave an exhortation to those who were to carry it recommending it to them, not to hearken to any ill advisers they might meet on the road, but to mind alone the business they were sent on. Col: Johnson then gave the whole particular advice respecting their conduct, charging them to avoid giving credit to the several Reports which were propagated by designing persons, whether Whites or Indians, that his Maj" having first formed the Depart for preventing abuses, had directed that all transactions with them, should pass thro' one general Channel whereby, their grievances and all their affairs would be soonest known, and attended to by Government, from whom they should conceal nothing, and in so doing, every thing necessary for their information should be communicated to them, and that their adherence to this advice would secure them the continuance of His Maj'*'' favour and protection.

The Indians in return expressed their thanks for this advice, which perfectly corresponded with their resolutions- and then after some cloathing and presents ettc were given to the Chiefs they took their leave.—

a True copy. Exd.

Joseph Chew Secr

Earl of Dartmouth to the Governors of New-York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Deputy-Governor of Pennsylvania.

[ Plantations General (S. P. O.) CCLXI.]

Inclosed I send you, by the King's command a joint address by both Houses of Parliament to His Majesty upon a Consideration of the papers which had been communicated to them relative to the state of the American Colonies, together with His Majesty's most gracious answer to the said address.

I likewise send you a printed copy of a Bill brought into the house of Commons for restraining the Trade and Fisheries of the four New England Governments for a limited time, together with the copy of a resolution declaratory of the sense of Parliament upon the subject of taxation, which resolution was moved in the Committee on Monday last, and carried by a Majority of 274 to 88.

As these two measures are as yet in the first stages only of consideration, and as the Bill may possibly admit, in its farther progress, of some alteration, I shall only say upon them, that I flatter myself, that the firm determination of Parliament to preserve the Colonies in a due dependance upon this Kingdom, tempered with the Justice and moderation expressed in the last resolution of the Committee, will have the effect to produce such a conduct on the part of the Colonies as shall lead to a restoration of the public tranquility.

22 Febry 1775.

I am ettc.

DARTMOUTH.

My Lord

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth.

[New-Tork Papcr» (8. P. O.) CLXVII., No. 18. ]

New York 1st Mar 1775

I informed your Lordship in my last letter of the 1st of February that the Assembly of this Province had resolved to petition the King &c. The Committee of the House appointed to state the greivances of the Colony, did not report till the latter end of last week. The Report was recommitted to a Committee of the whole House and is to be taken into consideration this day. They have not got their Petition ready to transmit by this Packet. I was informed that the Boston and Quebec Bills were at first rejected in the Committee, as not being any part of the Greivances of this Colony, it seems, however, my Lord, that they were at last brought into the Report, and I am afraid may not now be got rid of in the House. The Assembly have been very firm in rejecting several attempts to draw them into an approbation of the Proceedings of the Continental Congress. The numbers on the negative side have been neerly two to one. Last week a Motion was made to take the sense of the House on the necessity of appointing Delegates to join the continental Congress in May next, which passed in the negative seventeen to nine

It is surprizing, my Lord, that nothwithstanding the firmness with which the assembly have discountenanced the Measures of the late Congress, and the approbation this part of their conduct has received from a large Majority of their constituents, the non importation association of the Congress is ever rigidly maintained in this Place. The enemys of Government do all they can to propagate an opinion that the Ministry will yet draw back and quiet the Colonies by a Repeal, they constantly hold up the case of the stamp Act, and find this an Argument which influences many friends of the Government to lye bye; dreading the consequences of making themselves conspicuous in the Cause should Government again yield. I doubt not they will before long be convinced of the Folly of such expectations But at present I really think, my Lord, such an opinion has a good deal influenced the measures that have been pursued here, so contrary to the Spirit of our Assembly Votes. Two vessels have arrived here since the first of February one of them from Glasgow has been obliged to depart with her Cargoe to Jamaica. Neither the Master of the Ship nor the merchant to whom the Cargoe was consigned, would demand any assistance, or shewed any inclination to have the goods landed. It was not therefore possible for Government to interfere with any propriety. The second ship is from London; she still lies a few miles below the Harbour, and it is said is to carry her Cargo to Halifax. Neither the master nor owners of this ship or Cargoe, have made any application to Government. The success, my Lord, which the violent Party have had in preventing there vessels from Landing their Cargoes here, has given them great spirits, and is a strong counterpoise to the conduct of the Assembly—Your Ldp. will beleive it has chagrined me a good deal

Since it was known that our Assembly would not appoint Delegates for the May Congress the mischeivous folks have been very busy at work endeavoring to bring about a Provincial Congress in this Colony; in order by that means to get provincial delegates appointed. They may no doubt get some people to meet, and these may take upon them to act for the whole Province, tho not the twentieth part. I find my Lord many people are apprehensive this business may embroil the Colony in troubles, that have been hitherto kept at a distance

We have had, My Lord, only one hundred men or the Royal Irish Regiment1 in this City for several months past, and the Kings Fisher Sloop of War in the harbour. The moderate Inhabitants have constantly expressed a wish that we had a more formidable Power in the Place to awe the licentious & encourage the freinds of Government, convinced that it would be for His Matys Service, I wrote to Admiral Graves on the 20"' Ult and suggested to him the utility of sending one of the large Ships from Boston to this Place. I mentioned of what consequence it would be to keep the command of Hudsons River which must be passed by the Southern People before they can join the Eastern. The Idea of their really fighting the Kings Troops, is so full of Madness and folly, that one can hardly think seriously of it—yet my Lord a neglect of proper precautions may encourage wild enthusiasts to attempt what they would not otherwise venture upon.

Except the measures that are pursued in support of the non importation association, the people of this Province are in other respects very quiet and shew no inclination to copy the extravagant Plans of their neighbours

I send your Lordship a Pamphlett lately published in this Place. We have had several good political peices published here this winter this is esteemed one of the best, it is wrote by Mr Galloway of Philadelphia8

We have had under Our consideration the Laws of New York passed in February and March 1774 and altho we do not see sufficient reason to recommend the disallowance any of them yet some of them appear liable to objections which it is Our duty to point out to you.

The Acts for empowering the Magistrates of Albany and New York to raise money for the purposes therein mentioned subjects those Magistrates to punishments and penalties of which there is no example or precedent in any case of the like nature provided for by similar Laws in this kingdom and such severity is not only in its nature improper as tending to lessen the dignity of and throw an odium upon the first Magistrates of those Cities but is also unecessary because by the common law they would be responsible for any neglect that should have the effect essentially to defeat the purpose of the Acts.

The Act to prevent the abatement of Suits is in many respects very objectionable indeed the whole tenor and purport of the Bill is liable to much doubt but the principal objections lie

1 The 18th Foot.

"A candid Examination of the Mutual Claims of Great Britain and the Colonies; with a plan of Accommodation, on Constitutional principles." New York. 8vo. pp. 62. — ED.

to those Clauses by which an Action may proceed without making all the persons interested parties in the Cause, and allowing only eighty days for the appearance of the Representatives of deceased parties which term however reasonable it may be in respect to persons residing in the Colonies must be accompanied with a manifest injustice to such as may happen to be resident either in England Ireland or the East Indies.

The Act for the relief of Insolvent Debtors with respect to the imprisonment of their persons by confining the benefit to a few individuals appears to us to be improper it is contrary to the usage and practice in this Kingdom and has an aspect of partiality that ought ever to be avoided in such Cases.

Unless there may have been some paculiar reasons which do not appear for adopting this Mode. We cannot but think it is a precedent that ought not to be followed in any future provision for such a purpose but that the benefit of Insolvency whenever it may be fit to be granted should be made general.

Earl of Dartmouth to the Governors in North America.

You will have seen in the King's answer to the joint address of both houses of Parliament on the 7,h of February, which address & answer have already been transmitted to you, how much attention His Maj" was graciously pleased to give to the assurance held out in that address, of the readiness of Parliament to afford every just and reasonable indulgence to the

1 Chaklxs Francis Gsktille, second son of Fiancis, 1st Earl of Brooke and Warwick, was born 12 May, 1749, and died, unmarried, 23d April, 1809. He was a member of the Board of Trade from January 25, 1774, to September 6, 1780. Bealton'i Political Annalt, IIL, 61. — Ed.

27 Febv 1775

Colonies, whenever they should make a proper application on the ground of any real grievance they might have to complain of, and therefore I have the less occasion now to enlarge upon the satisfaction it hath given His Maj" to see that address followed by the inclosed resolution of the house of Commons, which, whatever may be the effect of it, (I trust a happy one) will forever remain in evidence of their Justice and moderation & manifest the temper which has accompanied their deliberations upon that question, which has been the source of so much disquiet to His Majt'* subjects in America, and the pretence for Acts of such criminal disorder & disobedience.

His Maj ardently wishing to see a reconciliation of the unhappy differences which have produced those disorders, by every means through which it may be obtained, without prejudice to the just authority of Parliament, which His Majesty will never suffer to be violated, approves the resolutions of his faithful Commons, and commands me to transmit it to you, not doubting that this happy disposition to comply with every just and reasonable wish of the King's subjects in America, will meet with such a return of duty and affection on their part, as will lead to a happy issue of the present disputes, and to a re-establishment of the public tranquility on those grounds of equity justice and moderation, which this resolution holds forth. The King has the greater satisfaction in this resolution, and the greater confidence in the good effects of it, from having seen, that, amidst all the intemperance into which a people jealous to their liberties have been unfortunately misled, they have nevertheless avowed the Justice, the equity, and the propriety of subjects of the same State, contributing, according to their abilities and situation, to the public burthens; and I think, I am warranted in saying, that this resolution, holds no proposition beyond that.

I am unwilling to suppose, that any of the King's subjects in the Colonies, can have so far forgot the benefit they have received from the Parent State, as not to acknowledge that it is to her support, held forth at the expense of her Blood and Treasure, that they principally owe that security which hath raised them to their present state of opulence and importance; in this situation, therefore, Justice requires that they should in return contribute, according to their respective abilities, to the common defence, and their own welfare and interest demand that their Civil Establishment should be supported with a becoming dignity.

It has been the care, and I am persuaded it is the firm determination of Parliament, to see that both these ends are answered; and their wisdom and moderation have suggested the propriety of leaving to each Colony to judge of the ways and means of making due provision for these purposes, reserving to themselves a discretionary power of approving or disapproving what shall be offered.

The resolution neither points out what the Civil Establishment should be, nor demands any specific sum in aid of the public burthens. In both these respects it leaves full scope for that Justice and liberality which may be expected from Colonies, that, under all their prejudices, have never been wanting in expressions of an affectionate attachment to the Mother Country, and a zealous regard for the general welfare of the British Empire, and therefore the King trusts that the provision they will engage to make for the support of Civil Government will be adequate to the Rank and Station of every necessary Officer, and that the sum be given in contribution to the common defence will be offered on such terms, and proposed in such a way, as to increase or diminish according as the public Burthens of this Kingdom are from time to time augmented or reduced, in so far as those Burthens consist of Taxes and duties which are not a security for the National debt. By such a mode of contribution the Colonies will