when the Determinations taken there should be communicated to them-Urging, that in the mean while it would be highly expedient to take into Confideration the most proper Ways and Means of raifing a Supply for this Service; and that in doing thereof, they should industriously avoid whatever might be likely to occasion any Difference of Opinion between him and them, to the Detriment of the common Caufe, &c. That fome Provifion fhould be made for the Support of such Indians as, flying from the Enemy, had taken Refuge amongst their Brethren of Penfylvania: That the Inhabitants on the Frontiers had alfo by their Petitions applied to him for Protection: That the defenceless State of the Province in general, demanded their special Confideration: That it was become his indifpenfable Duty to prefs it upon them accordingly, &c. And in the Clofe of all he expreffed himfelt as follows.

It is with great Satisfaction, that I now communicate to you the Proceedings of the Commiffioners at the late Treaty at Albany; as, on Perufal there' of, you will clearly perceive, that the Lands on the River Ohio do yet belong to the Indians of the Six Nations, and have, long fince, been by them put • under the Protection of the Crown of England.

་

That the Proceedings of the French in erecting Forts on that River, and in the Countries adjacent, have ⚫ never received_the Countenance or Approbation of ⚫ thofe Nations; but, on the contrary, are exprefly • declared by them, to have been without their Privity or Confent.-That they are greatly alarmed at ⚫ the rapid Progrefs of the French, and in severe Terms reproach us with fupine Negligence, and the de• fencelets State of our Poffeffions; and, in Effect, call upon us to fortify our Frontiers, as well for the Security of their Countries as of our own. That, after a due and weighty Reflection on these several Matters, with many others of equal Importance, the Commiflioners thought it neceffary to confider of, and draw up a Reprefentation of the prefent State of the Colonies: And from thence, judging

6

that no effectual Oppofition was like to be made to ⚫ the destructive Measures of the French, but by an • Union of them all for their mutual Defence, devised likewife a general Plan for that Purpose, to be offered to the Confideration of their refpective Legiflatures.

6

And as both thofe Papers appear to me to contain Matters of the utmoft Confequence to the Welfare of the Colonies in general, and to have been digefted and drawn up with great Clearnefs and Strength of Judgment, I cannot but express my Approbation of them; and do therefore recommend them to you, as well worthy of your clofeft and moft ferious Attention.'

The Particulars contained in this Speech were also inforced by feveral Papers communicated at the fame Time: And the Houfe taking the Premiffes into Confideration, after various Debates, Divifions, Rejections, &c. agreed to a Bill for ftriking the Sum of 35,000 in Bills of Credit, and for granting 15,000 /. thereof for the King's Ufe, and for applying the Remainder to the Exchange of torn and ragged Bills: Which, being prefented to the Governor, produced the following Anfwer, viz.

The Governor promifed himself from the Requeft he made to the Houfe in his Speech at the Opening of the Seffion, that (confidering the Importance of the Occafion) they would have fallen upon fome Method of raifing Money for the King's • Use, to which he might have had no material Objection; and could not help therefore being extremely mortified at finding the Bil now prefented him for that Purpose, to be not only formed on the faid Plan, but to be nearly of the fame Tenor • with that to which he refufed his Affent at their laft Meeting. He has nevertheless complied with the Proffer he then made them, and has agreed to extend the Fund they have chosen to raise the Money upon, in the fame Proportion as they have increafed the Sum granted to his Majefty. But the

• House

Houfe is peremptory, and will admit of no Al⚫teration in their Bill. All then that remains, after • affuring them that the Governor, left the King's • Service should fuffer, has ftrained his Powers even beyond what he almoft dares think confiftent with his Safety, is, to fubmit our refpective Conduct to the Judgment of our Superiors. But he hopes this • alfo may be rendered unneceffary by the Arrival of the Gentleman that is to fucceed him in the Adminiftration, who may every Day be looked for among us: and who may poffibly think himself more at liberty, with respect. to the Matter in Controverfy, than the Governor can prefume to do. In the mean while it is hoped no confiderable Detriment may arife to his Majetty's Affairs in the fhort Interval between this and the Time of his actual • Arrival.

.

.

So much has already been faid upon this Subject · on another Occafion, that the Governor declines any farther Enlargement thereon, as well knowing that public Difputes of this Nature frequently terminate in private Animofities, which he is very de'firous of avoiding; and therefore only expects from the House that they will do him the fame Juftice he is willing to do them, in fuppofing him to act from 'his Judgment, when he tells them that he cannot recede from his Amendments."

ment.

This was the laft Act of Mr. Hamilton's GovernWeary of a Service, which he found incompatible, if not with his Notions of Honour, at least with his Repofe, he had defired to be difmiffed; and was fucceeded by Robert Hunter Morris, Efq.

In the Beginning of October, 1754, much about the Time of Mr. Morris's Arrival at Philadelphia, a new Affembly was to be chofen in the Course of the Year, and had been chofen accordingly.

To thefe, fummoned according to Form up to his Council-chamber, the new Governor made a fhort Speech; importing, His Perfuafion that the Proprietaries had nothing more at heart than the Welfare

and

and Profperity of the People: His own Self-flattery that it was from the Opinion that they had entertained of his Difpofition to promote the general Happiness to the utmost of his Power, they had made choice of him: The Refolution he had taken not to disappoint them: Affurances, that he fhould, upon all Occafions, be ftudious to protect the People committed to his Charge in their civil and religious Privileges, and careful to maintain the juft Rights of Government, as equally conducive to the public Good: A Recommendation, in particular, of the State of the Frontier both of that and the neighbouring Governments; where they would find the French acting with a steady Uniformity and avowed Refolution to make themfelves Mafters of the Country: An Interfperfion of certain Stimulatives, drawn from a Contemplation of the Miferies they would be expofed to, in cafe they fuffered the Enemy to ftrengthen themselves in their Pofts; and an earnest Call upon them, in his Majefty's Name, to exert themselves at that critical Juncture in Defence of their Country: And laftly, a Declaration, that if they fhould find any Laws wanting for the better Government of the Province, he should be ready to enter upon the Confideration of fuch as they should propose, and give his Confent to fuch as he fhould think reasonable.'

More Doubts than Confidence, it may be prefumed, this Speech excited: For the Affembly having, upon the Report, bestowed fome Time in the Confideration of it, thought fit to call for a Copy of the Governor's Commiffion, as alfo of the Royal Approbation, before they proceeded to answer it.

This Answer was alfo as dry, and as cautiously worded, as the Governor's Speech. They echoed back what Parts of it they could; and they joined iffue with the Governor in promifing with the fame Sincerity, to contribute every thing in their Power to jupport him in the Exertion of the juft Rights of Government, conducive to the good Ends by him specified. After which they proceeded in thefe

Words:

<

6

Words: The Encroachments of the French on his Majefty's Territories, and their hoftile Proceedings in this Time of Peace, are truly alarming; and as they have been long fince known in Great Britain, < we were in Hopes, on the Governor's Arrival, to have received Inftructions from the Crown how to ⚫ conduct ourselves on this important Occafion: But C as we have not had any fuch laid before us, the Royal Order fent to the feveral Colonies by the • Earl of Holderness, in his Letter of the Twenty eighth of August, 1753, appears to be the only Rule by which we can now act with Safety. And as we • find our late Affembly did what was moft confistent with the Truft repofed in them, to comply therewith, the Governor may likewife depend upon our doing whatever can be reasonably expected from us for the Good of this Province, or the ge⚫neral Intereft of the British Colonies on the Continent, whenever our Affiftance can be applied to any valuable Purpose. But at prefent, as we know not where to direct our Aid, and as this has not been the usual Time of doing Business, occafioned by the Governor's being obliged to give his Attendance elsewhere, we are inclined, if he has no • Objection, or any thing farther to lay before us, to make a fhort Adjournment; and if, during our Recefs, any Matters of Importance fhould come to his Knowledge, we shall chearfully attend the Go⚫vernor's Call of our House, and contribute our Affistance for the public Good.'

The Result was, that the Governor thanked them for their Speech, and concurred in their Propofition; upon which they adjourned accordingly.

In the Beginning of December they met again: And then the Governor communicated a Letter from Sir Thomas Robinfon, Secretary of State, dated July 5, 1754; by which it appears, That for upwards of ten Months, the Cafe of the Northern Colonies, actually invaded by the French, had not been made the foremoft Point of Confideration here at home; and that

the