ment of Massachusett's Bay, for victualling their forces; five thousand pounds to answer the occasional drafts of General Braddock; and the remaining five thousand for the maintenance of such Indians as had taken refuge in the province, and other contingent expenses in their votes expressed; and the whole was to be raised by an emission of paper bills to the same amount, and to be sunk by an extension of the excise for ten years.

If the other part of the former bill concerning torn and ragged bills was mentioned, or at all insisted upon, it could not be carried; the majority on this occasion resolving, that no provincial consideration of that kind should furnish the least pretence for any obstruction to the general service.

Upon the 28th of March, 1755, this bill was left with the governor, and on the 1st of the next month he sent them the following message, viz.

"Gentlemen,

"Your bill for striking twenty-five thousand pounds being contrary to his Majesty's instructions relating to paper money, and of the same nature with the bill I refused my assent to, the last sitting of the assembly, I cannot pass it into a law, without a breach of duty to the crown; and I am concerned you should offer such a bill to me, when you had agreed to submit the dispute between us, upon one of the like kind, to his Majesty.

"As this is a time of imminent danger, and the forces raised and destined for the service of the colonies must wait the supplies from this province, I again entreat you to fall upon some other method of raising money, that we may not lose this happy opportunity of recovering his Majesty's dominions, now invaded by the subjects of the French King, and preventing their unjust encroachments for the future.

"But, if these repeated recommendations of so reasonable a supply shall fail of the desired effect, and any ill consequences should attend it, his Majesty and his ministers, a British Parliament, your own constituents, and the neighbouring governments will be at no loss on whom to lay the blame."

This message was also accompanied with another, dated March 31st, in which the governor, having referred to an account to be given them by his secretary of several matters committed to the care of one Scarroyady, an Indian chief, by the Ohio Indians, made use of it as an additional goad to the assembly, in the manner following;

"Gentlemen,

"So much depends on the disposition and measures of the Indians at this time, that I must earnestly recommend it to you to make provision for the ensuing treaty, as well as to enable me to take proper notice of this chief, who is so hearty in our interest, and of the young men he has brought along with him, in order to be employed in some services, which, he says, are of importance to the general cause.

"It will readily occur to you, that the several western Indians, who wish well to the English interest, wait with impatience for the return of this chief, and will form their measures according to the report which he shall make to them of our treatment of them; for which reason, it will be of the last consequence, that this chief and these young men go from us well clothed and perfectly well pleased."

On the same day also, Mr. Quincy, commissioner to the province from the government of Massachusetts

Bay, presented a memorial to the assembly, which containing an unquestionable testimonial in their favor, deserves to be inserted entire as follows, viz.

"Gentlemen,

"I am extremely sorry to find that, notwithstanding all the motives and arguments I was able to offer his honor the lieutenant-governor, he did not see his way clear to give his consent to the money bill you have laid before him.

"The cheerfulness with which you therein granted ten thousand pounds for victualling the forces intended to march from New England to secure his Majesty's territories, leaves me no room to doubt your zeal for his Majesty's service, or your hearty concurrence with the government I have the honor to represent, in the measures now proposed for our common safety; and therefore, though you are unhappily disappointed in the manner of your grant, I flatter myself you will not fail to find some other means of rendering it effectual.

"The advantages which a speedy and vigorous execution of those measures promises to all the colonies, and the mischiefs which a neglect of them will entail upon us and our posterity, are clearly pointed out, and fully illustrated, in the papers which have been the subject of your late deliberations.

"In rendering this important service to the crown, to the British nation, and to their fellow-subjects in the other governments, New England offers to spend her treasure as freely as her blood, and, were her abilities equal to her zeal, would as cheerfully bear the whole expense, as she undertakes the whole hazard of the enterprise. But the vast yearly charge she is subjected to, by her vicinity to the French, and

the necessity of defending so extensive a frontier from the incursions of those perfidious people and their Indians, both in time of peace and war, has so exhausted her finances, and burthened her with such a load of debt, that, without the assistance of the neighbouring more wealthy colonies, she must drop the design, however promising and glorious, as utterly impracticable.

"Happy will your province be, Gentlemen, if you can still keep those dangerous people at a distance from your borders, by which you will be free from the many mischiefs we have always suffered by their neighbourhood.

"The opportunity is now offered you, and, if embraced, will, by the blessing of God, secure your future peace and prosperity. But whatever you do, should be determined instantly, for the season flies, and a delay may be as pernicious as a refusal.

"I have just received advice, that Connecticut has voted fifteen hundred men, and that even the little government of Rhode Island has granted four hundred, the expense of which will be more than is asked of you. New York seems heartily disposed to do her part; and there is reason to think that your good example may have an advantageous influence on your neighbours of New Jersey.

"I need say no more to urge you to a speedy and effectual resolution, but conclude, with the utmost respect, Gentlemen,

"Yours, &c."

The rest of the day was spent in debates, as it was natural it should; but on the morrow they resolved to raise fifteen thousand pounds on the credit of the province, in the manner they had done before; that

is to say, five thousand pounds to repay the sum so before borrowed for victualling the King's troops, and ten thousand pounds to answer the request of the Massachusetts government, so earnestly enforced by Mr. Quincy.

Thus, one would think, they had done all that could be reasonably required of men; they had dropped the particular concern of the province; they had overlooked whatever was offensive in the governor's messages and behaviour to them, they had forborne all altercation thereon; and Mr. Quincy, on behalf of the government he represented, presented them such a paper of acknowledgment, as abundantly verifies all that is here said of them, to wit;

“Sir,

"The sum which this honorable assembly has granted to his Majesty's use, and appropriated for victualling the troops intended to be marched for securing his Majesty's territories, is an instance of your concern and zeal for the public safety, which I doubt not will be highly acceptable to his Majesty. And as it was made in consequence of my application to you, I beg leave to return you my grateful sense and acknowledgment; and to assure you, in the name and behalf of the government I have the honor to represent, that it will be duly applied to the purposes for which it was granted."

The governor, however, dissatisfied still, because disappointed and defeated, first evaded the assembly's demand of the restitution of their bill according to custom, and then refused it, saying, "That it was a bill of so extraordinary a nature, that he thought it his duty to lay it before his Majesty, and should keep it for that purpose."