might be the Confequence of their refusing to grant the neceffary Supplies, as they might be affured his Majefty would not condefcend to recommend to them in vain the making Provision for their own Defence, but would doubtlefs, upon their Refufal, be enabled by his Parliament to oblige those who reaped the immediate Benefit of fuch a chargeable Protection to contribute their Proportion of it; and that if by a Dif appointment in the Articles expected to be fupplied by them, the great Expence the Nation had been put to for the Security of thefe invaluable Branches of the British Empire, fhould be rendered unavailable, they could not but think they would juftly draw upon themselves the Refentment of his Majefty, and a British Parliament.”

How unusual foever fuch Language was on fuch Occafions, and how inconfiftent foever with the Claims and Rights of Freemen, the Affembly not only ftifled their Refentments of it, but proceeded the very fame Day to do all that was required of them with all the Alacrity imaginable.

Twenty five Thoufand Pounds was the Sum they granted to the King's Ufe: Five Thoufand Pounds of it was appropriated for the Sum borrowed for the Service at the last Sitting: Ten Thoufand Pounds for the Purchase of Provifions, at the Requeft of the Government of Majachufet's Bay, for victualling their Forces: Five Thousand Pounds, to answer the occafional Draughts of General Braddock: And the remaining Five Thoufand for the Maintenance of fuch Indians as had taken refuge in the Province, and other contingent Expences in their Votes expreffed. And the whole was to be raised by an Emiffion of Paper Bills to the fame Amount, and to be funk by an Extenfion of the Excife for ten Years.

If the other Part of the former Bill concerning torn and ragged Bills, was mentioned, or at all infifted upon, it could not be carried; the Majority on this Occafion refolving, That no provincial Confideration of

that

that Kind fhould furnish the leaft Pretence for any Obstruction to the general Service.

Upon the 28th of March 1755, this Bill was left with the Governor, and on the firft of the next Month he fent them the following Meffage, viz.

• Gentlemen,

• Your Bill for ftriking Twenty five thousand Pounds, ⚫ being contrary to his Majefty's Inftructions relating to Paper-money, and of the fame Nature with the • Bill I refufed my Affent to the laft Sitting of the Affembly, I cannot pass it into a Law, without a • Breach of Duty to the Crown; and I am concerned you fhould offer fuch a Bill to me, when you had agreed to fubmit the Dispute between us, upon one of the like Kind, to his Majefty.

As this is a Time of imminent Danger, and the • Forces raifed and deftined for the Service of the • Colonies must wait the Supplies from this Province, I again intreat you to fall upon fome other Method • of raifing Money, that we may not lofe this happy Opportunity of recovering his Majefty's Dominions, now invaded by the Subjects of the French King, and preventing their unjuft Encroachments for the future.

• But if thefe repeated Recommendations of fo reafonable a Supply, fhall fail of the defired Effect, and any ill Confequences fhould attend it, his Majefty and his Minifters, a British Parliament, your own Conftituents, and the neighbouring Governments, will be at no Lofs on whom to lay the • Blame.'

This Meffage was alfo accompanied with another dated March 31; in which the Governor having referred to an Account to be given them by his Secretary, of feveral Matters committed to the Care of one Scarroyady, an Indian Chief, by the Ohio Indians, made ufe of it as an additional Goad to the Afferably in the Manner following:

• Gen

• Gentlemen,

So much depends on the Difpofition and Meafures of the Indians at this Time, that I must earnestly recommend it to you to make Provision for the enfuing Treaty, as well as to enable me to take proper Notice of this Chief, who is fo hearty in our Intereft, and of the young Men he has brought along with him, in order to be employed in fome Services, which, he fays, are of Importance to the general Caufe.

It will readily occur to you, that the feveral Weftern Indians, who with well to the English In< tereft, 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 Reafon, it will be of the laft Confequence, that this Chief, and thefe young Men, go from us well cloathed, and perfect⚫ly well pleased.'

On the fame Day alfo, Mr. Quincy, Commiffioner to the Province from the Government of Maffachufet's Bay, prefented a Memorial to the Affembly, which, containing an unquestionable Teftimonial in their Favour, deferves to be inferted intire as fol- · lows, viz.

• Gentlemen,

I am extremely forry to find, that notwithstanding all the Motives and Arguments I was able to offer his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, he did not fee his Way clear to give his Confent to the Money Bill you have laid before him.

The Chearfulness with which you therein granted • Ten thoufand Pounds, for victualling the Forces intended to march from New-England to fecure his Majefty's Territories, leaves me no Room to doubt 6 your ZEAL for his MAJESTY'S SERVICE, or your hearty Concurrence with the Government I have the Honour to reprefent, in the Measures now propofed

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 fome • other Means of rendering it effectual.

The Advantages which a fpeedy and vigorous • Execution of thofe Measures promifes to all the Colonies, and the Mischiefs which a Neglect of them will intail upon us and our Pofterity, are clearly pointed out, and fully illuftrated in the Papers ⚫ which have been the Subject of your late Delibe• rations.

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 fpend her Treasure as freely as her Blood, and, were her Abilities equal to her Zeal, would as chearfully bear the whole Expence, as the undertakes the whole Hazard of the Enterprize. But the • vast yearly Charge she is subjected to, by her Vicinity to the French, and the Neceffity of defending fo extensive a Frontier from the Incurfions of those 'perfidious People, and their Indians, both in Time of Peace and War, has fo exhausted her Finances, ⚫ and burdened her with fuch a Load of Debt, that, without the Affiftance of the neighbouring more ⚫ wealthy Colonies, fhe muft drop the Defign, however promifing and glorious, as utterly impracti• cable.

Happy will your Province be, Gentlemen, if you can ftill keep thofe dangerous People at a Diftance " from your Borders, by which you will be free from the many Mischiefs we have always fuffered by their Neighbourhood.

The Opportunity is now offered you, and, if embraced, will, by the Bleffing of God, fecure your future Peace and Profperity. But whatever you do, • should be determined inftantly, for the Seafon flies, and a Delay may be as pernicious as a Refufal.

I have juft received Advice, that Connecticut has • voted Fifteen hundred Men, and that even the little • Govern

Government of Rhode-lland has granted Four < Hundred, the Expence of which will be more than is afked of you. New-York seems heartily difpofC ed to do her Part; and there is Reafon to think ⚫ that your good Example may have an advantageous Influence on your Neighbours of New-Jersey.

I need fay no more to urge you to a speedy and effectual Refolution, but conclude, with the utmost Refpect, Gentlemen, Yours, &c.'

The reft of the Day was spent in Debates, as it was natural it should: But on the Morrow they refolved to raise Fifteen Thousand Pounds on the Credit of the Province, in the Manner they had done before; that is to fay, Five Thousand Pounds to repay the Sum fo before borrowed for victualling the King's Troops, and Ten Thoufand Pounds to answer the Request of the Malachufets Government, fo earnestly enforced by Mr. Quincy.

Thus, one would think, they had done all that could be reasonably required of Men: They had dropt the particular Concern of the Province: They had overlooked whatever was offenfive in the Governor's Meffages and Behaviour to them, they had forborne all Altercation thereon: And Mr. Quincy, on Behalf of the Government he reprefented, prefented them fuch a Paper of Acknowledgment, as abundantly verifies all that is here faid of them: To wit,

• Sir,

The Sum which this Honourable Affembly has 'granted to his Majefty's Ufe, and appropriated for victualling the Troops intended to be marched for fecuring his Majefty's Territories, is an Inftance of your Concern and Zeal for the Public Safety, which I • doubt not will be highly acceptable to his Majefty. And as it was made in Confequence of my Appli'cation to you, I beg Leave to return you my grateful Senfe and Acknowledgment; and to affure you, in the Name and Behalf of the Government I have P • the

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