plied to some other use, beneficial to the pub- | presents? and does it not prove what the prolic; or have remained ready in the treasury prietaries deny ?" for any emergency."

In return to the ninth they say, the people of Pennsylvania pay, proportionably, as much towards the support of his majesty's government, in the shape of duties and excise, as the proprietary family, or any other subjects; indeed as much as an infant colony can bear; and more they hoped and believed the justice of a British parliament would never burden them with: adding, "the proprietaries exemption was not published till now at their own instance; it was made use of as a private motive to themselves only in the representation."

To the tenth, which regards the Indian interpreter, among other things equally pertinent, they say, "we suppose the instance alluded to, wherein the assembly did not fully satisfy him, must have been such as the proprietaries were concerned in by the purchase of lands; and a part might be accordingly left for them to pay."-And for themselves and all other assemblies, they declare their hope and belief, that no service from the proprietaries to the province, will ever be suffered to pass without grateful acknowledgments and proper returns.

Of the proprietary right to a monopoly of land, whether from the crown or assembly, they, in answer to the eleventh article, waive all dispute; it being every way conclusive alike, "that those in whose favour such monopoly was created, ought, at least, to bear a part of the expense necessary to secure them the full benefit of it."

"13. It appears by their thirteenth paragraph, that the proprietaries think the part they voluntarily submit to bear, and expect always to bear, of public expenses, is greater than their proportion, equitably laid, would amount to. If this be so, and they are, as they say, 'far from desiring to avoid contributing to any public expense which it is reasonable they should bear a part of, although their estate is not by law liable to be taxed,' your committee are at a loss to conceive, why they should refuse, 'to enter into an agreement for the payment of any particular proportion of Indian or other public expenses,' when such agreement might save them money, and is proposed to prevent dissatisfactions, and to preserve union and harmony between them and the people; unless it be to show their ut ter contempt of such union and harmony, and how much they are above valuing the people's regard.

"The charge on former assemblies, that they neglected the defence of the proprieta ries' city, your committee cannot but think unkind, when it is known to the world, that they gave many thousand pounds during the war to the king's use, besides paying near three thousand pounds at one time, to mak good the damages done to the masters of ser vants, by the irregular and oppressive pro ceedings of the proprietary's lieutenant; an that their not providing cannon to defen the city was not from neglect, but other con siderations set forth at large in the printe proceedings of those times, needless now t Lastly, having already given the conclud- be repeated. At the same time it may be re ing five articles of the proprietary paper in the membered, that though the defence of th entire, it is but reasonable to subjoin the en- proprietaries' city, as they are pleased to terr tire answers, which were as follow. To wit: it, by batteries of cannon, was more their in "12. In the twelfth paragraph, three things terest (we will not say duty) than any othe appear somewhat extraordinary to your com- persons whatsoever, and they now represen mittee. 1. That the proprietaries should de- it as a thing so necessary, yet they themselve ny that treaties for land are made at less ex- really neglected, and even discouraged it pense on account of provincial presents ac- while some private gentlemen gave sum companying them; which we think any dis- nearly equal to that they mention, and man interested judge would at least allow to be contributed vastly more, considering the probable. 2. That they should say the last circumstances, by which means those batt purchase was made on no other account, but ries were not only completed in season, bu purely to save the province the expense of a the defence of both town and country in th present; as if they had no occasion to pur-way provided for; whereas this boasted a chase more land of the Indians, or found no sistance of four hundred pounds' worth o advantage in it. 3. That to prove such pur-cannon, was sent, like Venetian succours, a chases were not the cheaper on account of ter the wars were over. Yet we doubt no provincial presents accompanying them, they but the proprietary who sent them has lon should give an instance in which, they them- since had the thanks of those who receive selves say, the purchase was the dearer for them, though we cannot learn that they ev want of such presents. If purchases are dear-were favoured with any from him, for wh er to the proprietaries when no provincial pre- they did and expended in defence of his sha sents accompany them, does not this clearly of the province property." confirm the assertion of the assembly, that they are the cheaper when there are such

"14. The fourteenth paragraph of the pu prietaries' answer seems calculated mere

for the same design with which they charge | be obtained from chief governors, at three the representation, viz., to amuse the weaker thousand miles distance, often ignorant or mispart of the people. If they are really dispos-informed in our affairs, and who will not be ed to favour the drinkers of spirituous liquors, applied to or reasoned with when they have they may do it without a law, by instructing their lieutenants to abate half the license fees, which would enable the retailers to sell proportionably cheaper; or to refuse licenses to more than half the present number of public houses, which might prevent the ruin of many families, and the great increase of idleness, drunkenness, and other immoralities among us."

given instructions. We cannot but esteem those colonies that are under the immediate care of the crown in a much more eligible situation; and our sincere regard for the memory of our first proprietary, must make us apprehend for his children, that if they follow the advice of Rehoboam's counsellors, they will, like him, absolutely lose,-at least, the affections of their people. A loss, which how

more consequence to them than they seem at present to be aware of."

The assembly returned in October, for the remainder of the year 1753, and to last till October 1754, being composed of nearly the same persons as the last, met with the same dispositions, and proceeded on the same principles.

To have a sufficient currency was, as we have seen, the great provincial point; and from the facts already stated, it is sufficiently clear, that the proprietary-concurrence therewith was not to be obtained, but upon such terms as even silver and gold could never be worth. The loan-office, which was in the hands of the assembly, was still considered as an over balance for the land-office, in the hands of the proprietary, though they never came into competition, and no benefit could any way result to the province, but the proprietaries were sure to have their share of it.

"15. In return to the good resolutions ex-ever they affect to despise, will be found of pressed by the proprietaries in their fifteenth section, your committee hope that future, as well as past assemblies, will likewise endeavour to make the public good the rule of their actions, and upon all occasions consult the true interest and honour of the proprietary family, whatever may be the sentiments or conduct of any of its particular branches. To this end, we think the honest and free remarks contained in this report, may be more conducive than a thousand flattering addresses. And we hope, that when the proprietaries shall think fit to reconsider this matter, they will be persuaded, that agreeing to an equitable proportion of expense will be a good means of taking away one handle of dissension from men of warm, uneasy spirits,' if such should ever unhappily procure themselves to be elected." "16. Yet if the proprietaries are really desirous of preserving an union and harmony between themselves and this people, we cannot but be surprised at their last paragraph, whereby they endeavour to cut off the assembly's access to them, in cases where the answers received from their deputies may not be thought agreeable to the public good. No king of England, as we can remember, has ever taken on himself such state, as to refuse personal applications from the meanest of his subjects, where the redress of a grievance could not be obtained of his officers. Even sultans, sophies, and other eastern absolute monarchs will, it is said, sometimes sit whole days to hear the complaints and petitions of their very slaves; and are the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, become too great to be addressed by the representatives of the freemen of their province? if they must not be reasoned with, because they have given instructions, nor their deputy because he has "That there is a necessity of a farther adreceived them; our meetings and delibera-dition to the paper-money at present current tions are henceforth useless; we have only to by law within this province. know their will and to obey.

"To conclude; if this province must be at more than two thousand pounds a year expense, to support a proprietary's deputy, who shall not be at liberty to use his own judgment in passing laws [as is intimated to us in the fourteenth section of the answer we have been considering] but the assent must

What encouragement the near prospect of a war furnished to either; and what use was made of it; and at whose door the obstructions given to the public service are to be laid, will best be deduced from the sequel.

With the consideration of the state of their commerce, and the accumulated proofs resulting therefrom, that with the increase of their currency, the trade of the province, as well by importations from England as the exportations of their own product, had amazingly increased, the assembly opened their sessions in February, 1754; and taking in also the consideration of their currency with it, came to the following unanimous resolutions. To wit:

"That it is necessary that the paper-money of this province should be re-emitted for a farther time.

"That there is a necessity, that a sum should be struck to exchange the ragged and torn bills now current by law in this province."

Upon which resolutions, they afterwards or dered in a bill for striking forty thousand pounds, to be made current and emitted on loan, and for re-emitting and continuing the

and on the other hand, the governor sent them down a written message, accompanied with a letter to himself from the earl of Holdernesse, a second from the lords of trade, and a third from the French commandant on the Ohio to Mr. Dinwiddie, deputy governor of Virginia.

currency of the bills already in circulation; | majesty having been pleased to order a sum of money to be issued for presents to the Six Nations of Indians, and to direct his governor of New York to hold an interview with them, for delivering the same, for burying the hatchet, and for renewing the covenant chain, they thought it their duty to signify the same; and it having been usual upon the like occasions forThe earl of Holdernesse's letter was dated merly, for all his majesty's colonies, whose inAugust 28, 1753, and as it may be presum-terest or security were connected with or deed, was nearly the same with the other let-pended upon them, to join in such interview; ters, sent at the same time, to the governors and that, as the present disposition of those of the other provinces.

make a proper provision for appointing commissioners to be joined with those of the other governments, for renewing the covenant chain, &c. and that the said commissioners might be men of character, ability, integrity, and well acquainted with Indian affairs."

The letter of the French commandant was

Indians and the attempts made upon them to The contents of it were, “That his majes- withdraw them from the British interest, apty having received information of the march pear to them t to make such a general interof a considerable number of Indians, support- view more particularly necessary at that time, ed by some regular European troops, with an their desire was, that he, the governor, would intention, as it was apprehended, to commit lay this matter before the council and general some hostilities on parts of his majesty's do- assembly or the province under his governminions in America, his lordship had receiv-ment, and recommend to them forthwith to ed the king's commands to send him (the governor) intelligence thereof; as also to direct him, to use his utmost diligence to learn how far the same might be well grounded; and to put him upon his guard, that he might be at all events, in a condition to resist any hostile attempts that might be made upon any parts of his majesty's dominions within his govern- in answer to the representations of governor ment; and to direct him in the king's name, Dinwiddie, concerning the French encroachthat in case the subjects of any foreign princements on the Ohio, (for the European reguor state should presume to make any encroach- lars mentioned in lord Holdernesse's letters, ments on the limits of his majesty's domi- were of that nation, though so much caution nious, or to erect forts on his majesty's lands, had been used to suppress the very name) or commit any other act of hostility, he was and in very polite terms denied the whole immediately to represent the injustice of such charge. proceedings, and to require them forthwith to desist from any such unlawful undertaking; but if, notwithstanding such requisition, they should still persist, he was then to draw forth the armed force of the province, and to use his best endeavours to repel force by force.But as it was his majesty's determination not to be the aggressor, he had the king's commands most strictly to enjoin him, the said governor, not to make use of the armed force under his direction, excepting within the undoubted limits of his majesty's dominions: and that, whereas it might be greatly conducive to his majesty's service, that all his provinces in America should be aiding and assisting each other in case of any invasion, he had it particularly in charge from his majesty to acquaint him, that it was his royal will and pleasure, that he should keep up an exact correspondence with all his governors on the continent; and that in case he should be informed by them of any hostile attempts, he was immediately to assemble the general assembly, and lay before them the necessity of mutual assistance, and engage them to grant such supplies as the exigency of affairs might require."

The letter from the lords of trade, was dated September 18, and imported, "That his

In the governor's written message accompanying these papers, something was said of each; and of the last rather more (whatever the matter of fact really was) than it seems to contain. The French commandant says, "it belongs to his general at Canada, not to him, to demonstrate the reality of the king his master's right to the lands situated along the Ohio: that he shall forward the letter he has received to him; that his answer would be a law to him; that as to the requisition made to him, to retire, he could not think himself obliged to submit to it; that he was there by his general's orders, which he was determined to obey; that he did not know of any thing that had passed during the campaign, which could be esteemed an hostility; that if the governor had been more particular in his complaints, he had been more particular in his answer, &c."

The governor's comment is in these words, "An express has this week brought me governor Dinwiddie's account of that gentleman's [col. Geo. Washington's] return with the answer of the commander of the fort, who avows the hostilities already committed, and declares his orders from the king of France are to build more forts, take possession of all the country, and oppose all who shall resist,

English as well as Indians, and that he will *certainly execute these orders as early as the season will permit."

Indian trade had, in the course of the conferences, been made undeniably apparent, by the representations and complaints of the Indian

It is certain, at least, this language was | chiefs. never echoed at home:-and not a little ex- And the reader will of himself be furnished traordinary it is, to find this gentleman in his with proper reflections on the earl of Holdervery next paragraph, making so very free with nesse's letter to the governors of the seve· the French name, which the secretary of state ral provinces, imposing the double care upon had been so extremely careful to avoid the them, of defending themselves against the enmention of. croachments of the enemy, and also against all objections at home, in case of doing it improperly. To say nothing of the peculiar difficulty laid both on the province and governor of Pennsylvania, where there never had been any armed force on a provincial establishment at all.

The assembly took the whole into immediate consideration, and agreed upon the following answer, which was sent up to the governor the same day. To wit:

"Gentlemen (he proceeds to say) French forts and French armies so near us, will be everlasting goads in our sides; our inhabitants from thence will feel all the miseries and dreadful calamities that have been heretofore suffered by our neighbour colonies; all those outrages, murders, rapines, and cruelties, to which their people have been exposed, are now going to be experienced by ourselves, unless a force be immediately raised sufficient to repel these invaders. It is to be hoped, there- "The distressed circumstances of the Indifore, that as loyal subjects to his majesty, and | ans, our allies, on the river Ohio, demand in justice to your country, you will not fail our closest attention, and we shall not fail to to take into your consideration the present proceed in the matters contained in the goexigency of affairs; and, as it will be attend-vernor's message with all the despatch an afed with a very considerable expense, and require a large number of men, make provision accordingly, that I may be enabled to do what his majesty, as well as the neighbouring colonies, will expect from a government so populous, and likely to be so nearly affected with the neighbourhood of French garrisons."

In subsequent paragraphs, he farther informs the assembly, that the governors of Virginia, New York, and the Massachusetts, had made a tender of their assistance to the province, and expressed an earnest desire to act in concert with it; enforces the necessity of a general union of all the provinces, both in council and forces; recommends the appointment of some trusty person to reside, in behalf of the province, among the Indians upon the Ohio; | as also the preparation of a bill for better regulating the Indian trade; and concludes with the following stimulative, to wit:

"Gentlemen,

fair of so much importance will admit of, in which we doubt not to comply with every thing that can be reasonably expected on our part.

"In the mean time, having some days since prepared a bill, which we conceive absolutely necessary, not only to the trade and welfare of this province, but to the support of government, upon the success of which our deliberations at this time must in a great measure depend; we now lay it before him as a bill of the utmost importance, and to which we unanimously request he would be pleased to give his assent.

Four days the governor and his council employed in considering what return should be made to it; or, rather in searching out such an expedient as should force the province into the measures of the proprietaries, or else, by their refusal, embroil them with the government. In his very first paragraph he gave an absolute negative to their bill. He told them, that the product of their present funds was greatly more than sufficient for the support of government; that he hoped to find them better subjects to his majesty, and greater lovers to their country, than to make the issue of their bill, in which he and they had an equal right to judge for themselves, the rule of their conduct. "If, however, (continued he) you should be of opinion, that there will be a necessity to strike a farther sum in bills of credit, to defray the charges of raising supplies for his majesty's service in this time of A treaty with the Ohio Indians, it is to be imminent danger, and will create a proper observed, had been just concluded at the ex-fund or funds for sinking the same in a few pense of the province, by three commissioners, two of them selected out of the assembly by the governor ; and the necessity of regulating the

"There is so much to be done, and so little time to do it in, the season being so far advanced, and governor Dinwiddie expecting the forces from this province to join those of Virginia, early in March, on Potowmack, that I most earnestly entreat you will not delay the supplies, nor deal them out with a sparing hand, but use all the expedition in your power; for you will undoubtedly agree with me, that so alarming an occasion has not occurred since the first settlement of the province, nor any one thing happened that so much deserves your serious attention."

years, I will concur with you in passing a law for that purpose, thinking myself sufficiently warranted so to do, in cases of real emergency.

"And now, gentlemen, I hope you will, upon due consideration, be of opinion with me, that the chief end of your bill will be hereby, in a great measure answered, as the sum to be struck and circulated upon this occasion, will be such an addition to your present currency, as probably may be thought sufficient for some time."

paper-money instructions, by a long and ang paper sent to the house March 1; and, f getting what he had formerly said in the f lowing paragraph, "I do not blame you, ge tlemen, for contending for what you are pe suaded are your rights and privileges, a consequently can have no objection to yo examining the validity of the king's instru The assembly also, in their turn, took a suffi- tions;" flames out as follows, "Had I been cient time for deliberation, and having touch- enemy to the liberties and privileges of t ed on the unusual manner in which the go- people, or been desirous of gratifying my ov vernor had been pleased to reject their bill, passions at their expense, it must be confess and assumed some merit to themselves, in not you have furnished me with the fairest oco suffering any separate interests of their own sion a governor so disposed could possibly ha to interfere with the common good, observed, wished for. For example, you have voted there was some difference between the royal clause, proposed to be added to your bill orders and the governor's manner of repre- his majesty's express direction, at the reque senting them; chose therefore to adhere to of his two houses of parliament, to be d the former; availed themselves most pru-structive to the liberties of the people of th dently and sensibly of the cautions so circum- province, &c, and have even threatened stantially recommended and enforced in them; examine the validity of the king's instructio more especially concerning the undoubted if, by a perseverance in my opinion, I laid y limits, and the restrictions thereupon, that his under the necessity of doing it. What majesty may not be rendered the aggressor; this less than declaring, that the lords a said it would be highly presumptuous in them commons, and his majesty's privy cound to judge of those undoubted limits; that instead consisting, among others, of the most en of being called upon to resist any hostile at-nent lawyers in Great Britain, have reque tempt made upon any part of Pennsylvania, ed, and his majesty enjoined, an act direct they were called upon to grant such a supply contrary to law?" as might enable the governor to raise forces And he concludes with making a merit to be ready to join those of Virginia; that the province of the moderation he had show therefore they hoped the governor, under these in suppressing his sense of the provocatio circumstances, would concur with them, that then offered to him, in hopes of a more d the most prudent part for them would be to passionate behaviour for the future. wait the result of the government of Virginia, The very next day this paper was follow where no provision had as yet been made that by another more immediately in point: t they knew of, nor in any of the neighbouring governor, therein, undertaking first to defe colonies, though the several governors, in pur- his negative, and the use he had made of i suance of the king's command, had made the and, secondly, so to turn the tables on the a necessary requisitions of their several assem-sembly, that all the wrong should be on the blies, and they were equally bound by all the ties of general interest. They also superad- The use made of the different langua ded the regard due to the scruples of those used by the secretary of state and him, conscientiously principled against war, yet calls an evasion; and what they ought not, deeply sensible of the blessings they enjoyed, point of duty, to have taken any advantage and willing to demonstrate their duty and loy- He then declares he has undoubted assuranc alty, by giving such occasional sums of money that part of his majesty's dominions, with for the king's use, as might be reasonably ex- his government was, at that time, invaded pected from so young a colony; took notice the subjects of a foreign prince, who ha they had contracted a debt of fourteen hun-erected forts within the same; and requir dred pounds for presents to the Indians, and them to take notice, that he did then ca other charges arising from the late treaty, which they should cheerfully discharge, though their proprietaries had refused to contribute any part of their Indian expenses; agreed to send commissioners to Albany, as required, though the place was so remote, and to defray the expense, &c.

side, and all the right on his own.

upon them, pursuant to his majesty's order in the present emergency to grant such su plies as might enable him to draw forth th armed force of the province, &c. He the undertook to prove, that the place where t French had then their head-quarters w within the limits of the province; and tel The difficulty thus retorted on the governor, them, that if he did not communicate mat and his resentment it must be supposed quick-rials before to assist their inquiries into th ened thereby, he takes up the minutes of the fact, so neither had they applied to him f last day's sessions of the last assembly, and un- them; that if they had inquired for ther der the pretence of justifying his own charac-selves and suppressed the truth, it was e ter, revives the old controversy concerning the tremely disingenuous; if not, their negle