The governor questions their right to have these instructions laid before them, and endeavours to put them beside their point, by magnifying the preparations of the French, &c. The assembly order the papers which had passed between the proprietaries and them to be printed, which till then they had avoided. Their unanimous resolutions concerning the proprietary instructions, in which they declare it as their opinion, that the said instructions were the principal if not the sole obstruction to their bill: also the most essential points contained in their reply to the governor's charges against them. A brief of the governor's sur-rejoinder. Some general remarks. The assembly make their appeal to the crown, inform the governor thereof, signify their inclination to adjourn till May, and give his instructions the coup de grace. The governor's expostulatory message thereon. He demands a copy of their minutes; they order him one when the printed copics were finished, and adjourn. Upon Braddock's arrival in Virginia, they are re-assembled by special summons: the demands made by message on that occasion. The governor reprimands them for having published Sir Thomas Robinson's letter in their minutes, and for not delivering him a copy of those minutes so soon as he had required them. The assembly's answer thereto. Orders and counter-orders to the printer of these minutes. Two Two messages from the governor; one communicating a design of general Shirley to build a fort within the limits of his majesty's territories near Crown Point, to which the assembly is required to contribute; and the other, notifying first the arrival of Braddock's forces, and then the expectations entertained at home, that the colonies would raise an additional number of forces, furnish provisions, &c. all terminated with a kind of menace of the resentment of his majesty and the parliament, in case of a disappointment. Twenty five thousand pounds granted to the king's use, 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. Refused by the governor, on the old pretence of a contrary instruction. A provision demanded for the expence of an Indian treaty. A memorial to the assembly from Mr. Quincy, a commissioner from the government of Massachusett's Bay, expressing both his concern, that the governor could not be induced to pass the said money-bill, and his acknowledgments of the chearfulness shown by them in granting 10,000l. for victualling the forces to be employed in New England; being part of the money so granted; and urging them to find out some other means of rendering their purpose effectual. The assembly resolve to raise the said sum on the credit of the province. Another paper of acknowledgment from the said Mr. Quincy. The governor refuses to return the said bill to the assembly; informs them the French had fitted out fif teen teen sail of the line, with six thousand land forces, and calls upon them to put the province into a state of defence, as the enemy could not be ignorant how plentiful and defenceless it was; yet advises a short adjourn ment. They meet again, and a squabble arising between them about a bill merely provincial, he revives the former controversy. The assembly's spirited answer to this captious mes sage. A remark thereon. They are re-assembled. A hardy assertion, concerning the paper-money act passed by governor Thomas, refuted by a fact. An acknowledgment from the officers of the regular forces of certain presents made to them by the as-. sembly. The governor's message to the assembly, said to be founded on a representation of general Braddock's, requiring them to enable him to furnish the said general with provisions under proper convoys, &c. &c. The assembly desire to have the general's letter laid before them, which the governor declines, and thereby occasions a new controversy. The assembly send up two other bills; one of 10,000/. for exchanging old bills, and one of 15,000l. for the king's use, on the model of that formerly passed by governor Thomas, and confirmed at home by the royal authority, since the instruction so often cited had been sent to the said governor. Such amendments offered to it by the governor, as he could not but be pre-convinced would not he allowed. The The assembly adjourn till September; but are again convoked in July, on occasion of Braddock's defeat. The governor's speech. The assembly vote an aid of 50,000l. by a tax on all real and personal estates. The governor makes a pompous offer in the proprietary's name, of certain lands west of Allegheny mountains, to such adventurers as would fight for them, and calls upon the assembly to afford some assistance to such as should accept the same. A remonstrance which certain inhabitants of certain places were induced to present to the assembly. The address of the assembly to the governor. Their 50,000/. money-bill returned, with an amendment, by which the WHOLE proprietary estate was to be exempted from tax. The message of the assembly to the governor on that occasion, desiring his reasons for that exemption. The governor's reply, containing four curious reasons. The assembly's rejoinder, refuting those reasons. Other papers which passed between them at the same crisis. The residue of Braddock's troops being recalled from the frontiers, notwithstanding an application of the assembly to the governor requesting their continuance, he calls upon the house to provide for the security of the Back-inhabitants. A remark thereon. The governor alarms and embarrasses them with petitions from certain persons requiring to be armed; intelligence of Indians actually set out, to fall upon their frontiers; recommendations to provide by law against exporting provisions to the enemy, as a requisite to fa cilitate cilitate the reduction of Louisburgh ; and demands of all manner of things for the assistance of colonel Dunbar, who, by orders from general Shirley, was again to proceed towards Fort Duquesne. A proposal from certain gentlemen of Philadelphia to subscribe 500l. in lieu of the proprietary proportion of the tax in question, and upon a presumption that the proprietaries would honourably reimburse them. The assembly send up their bill to the governor again, together with the said proposal, as containing by implication an acknowledgment that the tax was founded in equity, and also a farther security to the governor, in case he should give his assent to the bill. Their message to the governor, correcting his manner of stating the Louisburgh point, and observing, that all required of them from New England was to prolong the excellent laws they had already made. Some seasonable remarks. The governor's verbal answer to the assembly's message concerning the money-bill, adhering to his amendment. He contends for a militia. The assembly order 1,000l. if so much remain in their treasury, to arm the Back-inhabitants. They signify their purpose to adjourn, and refer the affair of a militia-bill to a new assembly. Their proceedings at the next meeting: the governor demands an additional supply of provision to be sent to Albany, at the requisition of governor Phipps, for the use of the forces of Massachusett's Bay: and another supply for the provisional troops of Connecticut and Rhode Island, which he was informed were raised in ad dition |