Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

would prepare a proper bill for continuing the embargo, &c.

The assembly's reply; in which they show, the governor had invalidated the acts of all the other colonies by the law he had passed in the Lower Counties.

Their message concerning the excise and Indian trade bills; and his answer, that he would not recede from his amendments because of his proprietary in

struction.

The instruction itself.

A remark; and the resolution of the house on the said instruction.

An act for emitting 4000l. in bills of credit, on behalf of the proprietaries, to supply so far the public occasions, till their receiver-general should be enabled by his receipts to make good their order.

An act, for striking and issuing the sum of 40,0001 for the king's use, sent up to the governor.

His message concerning an attack to be apprehended from the Indians about harvest time,

The assembly's answer.

A bill to permit the exportation of provisions for the king's service, notwithstanding the act of prohibition. The governor's evasive conduct in relation thereto. The assembly apprise him, July 5, of their intention to adjourn till August 2; and are told that he has no objection,

Notwithstanding which, he re-assembles them a fortnight afterwards, in the midst of their harvest, under the pretence of continuing the prohibition act.

Petition of the merchants in relation to the embargo.

The assembly's answer to the governor's message.

[blocks in formation]

Another message to him concerning the preamble to the 40001. bill on behalf of the proprietaries.

The governor's answer.

He sends down another preamble, which is not relished; refuses to pass the excise bill, and expunges the clause in the 40,000l. bill for taxing the proprietary

estate.

His message concerning Indian affairs, and the expence of conducting them.

The assembly's answer,

The governor's reply.

A parting compliment from general Shirley to the province.

A new session, and the governor's message thereon, The assembly's answer.

Governor Morris is superseded by governor Denny. The governor complimented on his arrival.

The first speech a continuation of the old system. The business of the assembly at a stand for a few days.

Their address; and message, requesting copies of his proprietary instructions.

Certain of the said instructions communicated.

[blocks in formation]

A message to the governor.

The governor's answer.

A bill prepared for striking the sum of 60,000l. for the king's use, to be sunk by an excise.

A conference on the said bill.

The assembly's answer to the governor's objections. The governor's answer, signifying, that he would not give his assent to it.

Resolutions of the assembly after a protest against the

instructions,

instructions, and a salvo for their own rights, to prepare a new bill.

A new bill prepared and passed.

A brief apology for the conduct of the assembly on this occasion.

A remonstrance voted.

Conclusion; with a testimonial of commodore Sprag in behalf of the assembly.

AN APPENDIX, containing sundry original papers relative to the several points in controversy between the governors and assemblies of Pensylvania, viz.

1. The representation of the assembly to the proprietaries, requesting them to bear a proportionable part of Indian expences.

2. The proprietaries' answer; and assembly's remarks thereon.

3. A message from governor Morris, containing his additional arguments to show the unreasonableness of taxing the proprietary estate for its defence, and in support of the restrictions he was under in that respect. 4. The assembly's answer thereto.

5. The governor's reply.

6. The assembly's rejoinder.

[Note. In the above four messages great part of the points in dispute between the proprietaries and people of the province are fully litigated; and the perusal of them is necessary to those who would have a thorough knowledge of the controversy.]

7. The speaker of the Pensylvanian assembly's paper of authorities relating to the rights of the commons over money-bills, and in support of the 50,000l. bills

[blocks in formation]

passed by the assembly, so far as it relates to the taxing the proprietary estate within that province.

8. Report of a committee of assembly on the proprietary instructions relative to money-bills; clearly demonstrating, that though the proprietaries would at length appear to be willing to have their estates taxed in common with other estates, yet that were laws passed pursuant to these instructions, much the greatest part of their estate would be exempted, and that the sums necessary to be granted for his majesty's service in that province could not possibly be raised thereby, &c. &c. A paper of importance.

9. Mr. Thomas Penn's estimate of the value of the proprietary estate in Pensylvania, upwards of twenty years ago; with remarks thereon, showing its prodigious increase since that time, the profits arising to the HOUSE OF PENN from their Indian purchases, and the huckstering manner in which they dispose of lands to the king's subjects in that province.

10. A specimen of the anonymous abuses continually published against the inhabitants of Pensylvania, by the proprietaries and their agents, with Mr. W. Franklin's refutation thereof.

11. Some remarks on the conduct of the last and present governor, with regard to their employing the provincial forces as regulars, rather than as rangers; and showing the secret reason why that province is at present without a militia-law, notwithstanding [the several bills which have been lately passed by the assembly for that purpose.

12. An account of sundry sums of money paid by the province for his majesty's service, since the commencement of the present troubles in America.

13. An extract from an original letter of Mr. Logan, containing, among other things, his opinion of the proprietary right to the government of the three Delaware counties; and which serves to account for the particular favour shown that government from time to time.

The Interest of Great Britain considered, with Regard to her Colonies, and the Acquisitions of Canada and Guadaloupe*.

I HAVE perused with no small pleasure the Letter addressed to Two Great Men, and the Remarks on that letter. It is not merely from the beauty, the force and perspicuity of expression, or the general elegance of manner conspicuous in both pamphlets, that my pleasure chiefly arises; it is rather from this, that I have lived to see subjects of the greatest importance to this nation publicly discussed without party views, or party

heat,

In the year 1760, upon the prospect of a peace with France, the late Earl of Bath addressed a Letter to Two Great Men (Mr. Pitt and the Duke of Newcastle) on the terms necessary to be insisted upon in the negociation. He preferred the acquisition of Canada, to acquisitions in the West Indies. In the same year there appeared Remarks on the letter addressed to two great men, containing opposite opinions on this and other subjects. At this moment a philosopher stepped into the controversy, and wrote a pamphlet entitled, The Interest of Great Britain considered, with Regard to her Colonies, &c. The arguments he used, appear to have carried weight with them at the courts of London and Paris, for Canada was kept by the peace.

The editor thinks it necessary to add the following further explanations. The above piece (which first came to his hands in the shape of a pamphlet, printed for Becket, 1761, 2d edit.) has none of the eight subdi

visions

« ForrigeFortsett »