which I had advice of the firing being heard in my former Letters. It was thus: A Serjeant & 9 men were out on the Scout & perceiving an Indian rowing along the river who escaped from them, they went along the river according to his Course. They soon after discovered 10 Indians in an Island making a raff; & lay by all night & in the Morning saw them coming over with their arms & cloaths on the raff. The Serjeant conducted his party along the river to get within reach of them when they should land. In doing this He discovered 14 Indians at a fire who immediately ran to their Arms & the Serjeant gave 'em his fire: they returned theirs & the 10 Indians in the river also fired But the Serjeants party advancing regularly & firing six rounds, the Indians made off with them 4 of their party wounded & leaving behind them the guns & Tomahawks of the 4 wounded with 3 pikes 15 pair of Mowsons & 15 pair of Stockings & many other things, Among which was part of the plunder of each of the houses that had been before attacked. I have desired Capt Gardner to thank the Serjeant &c in my Name & I will take an opportunity of rewarding him. The Serjeant had only one man wounded. This is all the Mischief that has been done except that on the 23 a Man would go out on hunting contrary to my orders & was Shot & Scalped near the river: & the Same day an House was burnt on the Pennsylvanian Side of the river. I have pretty well informed myself of the state of the frontiers of this province that are exposed to these irruptions & am persuaded that if the Assembly will enable me to build two or three more small forts & to raise 300 men for a constant frontier guard I shall be able to guarrantee the frontier Settlers from any attack but that of a regular Army of which We shall allways have timely advice. For I am assured that with a proper encouragement I shall have enough of resolute men that will outdo the Indians in their own way of Making War. But I cannot promise myself this Success till I feel the pulse of the Assembly: Before whom I shall represent the State of the province in such a manner as shall be most likely to engage them to take the most effectual measures for its defence. I have the honor to be My Lords Y Lordships most obedient FRA. BERNARD. Letter from Governor Bernard, giving an account of the Death of Mr. Ainsley, Chief Justice of New Jersey. [From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. VIII, I. 70.] PERTH AMBOY, July 7, 1758. To The Right Honble The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. My Lords I have just received advise of the death of Mr Ainsley Chief Justice of this Province. This was occasioned by his drinking milk and water when he was Very hot on Wednesday last & he died on the next day. I thought proper to give your Lordships the most early Notice of this Event & am My Lords Your Lordships most obedient & most humble Servant, FRA. BERNARD. Message from Governor Bernard to the Minisink Indians, accompanied by a Message to Teedyescung, King of the Delaware Indians, and resulting in a Conference held at Burlington, August 7 and 8, 1758. [From S. P. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 76.] Brethren, the Minisink, or Munsy Indians, and those of Pompton: It is with great pain I am to tell you, that Some Indians have invaded our province on the upper parts of the Delaware, and Shed much blood, and that you are Suspected to be Concerned in it. If you have been instigated to this by the false Suggestions of our Enemies, the French, we pity you; for these proceedings, if not immediately prevented, must Cause a discord between us; which though it may be greatly hurtful to our people, must in the End Entirely ruin yours. The throne of the great King is founded on Justice, and therefore if you have received any injury from any of his people living within our province, you Should have made your Complaints to me, who am ordered to do justice to all men, and I would have heard you with open Ears, and given you full Satisfaction. If therefore you have any anger boiling in your breasts, I, by this belt, invite you to Burlington, in five weeks, at which time our great Council will be together; there to unburthen your minds, and root out of your hearts the Seeds of Enmity, before they take too deep a root. And I will kindle a Council fire, and bury all the blood, that has Stained our ground, deep in the Earth, and make a new chain of peace, that may bind us and our children, and you and your children, in Everlasting bonds of love, that we may live together as brethren, under the protection of the great King, our Common father. If these words Should please you, and you Should choose that we Should be your friends rather than your Enemies, let all hostilities immediately cease, and receive this passport, and go to fort Allen, from whence you shall be conducted to Bristol, where you will find deputies, who will take you by the hand and lead you to me at Burlington. But if the time and place I have mentioned, be inconvenient to you, I Shall be ready to receive you in this Government where you can more agreeably to yourselves, attend.' ་ Letter from Governor Bernard to the Lords of Trade -had prorogued the Assembly-vacancies in the Council, Indian Affairs, etc. [From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 69.] PERTH AMBOY Aug 24. 1758. To the Right Honble The Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations My Lords Soon after I had the honor to make up my last dispatches to your Lordships I went to Burlington & open'd the Assembly which kept sitting till the 12th inst. when they having gone thro' all the necessary business before them I prorogued them & hope I shall The minutes of the Conference in full will be found printed in Smith's History of New Jersey, pp. 449 to 455. not have occasion to call them together again before the next Spring. I shall inform your Lordships of the proceedings thereof as soon as I can receive the papers to be laid before your Lordships which will be a guide to me in giving my sentiments where they shall be requisite At the meeting of the Assembly, M' Reading the President came into Council & beg'd leave to resign his place in the Council on account of his age & infirmities he being 73, and sensible that his faculties begin to fail him. Mr Leonard another of the Council wrote to desire the same favour on the same account. I have seen him & am quite satisfied that he is unable to act any longer. I promised to recommend their request to his Majesty & according to precedent, suspended them from their office till his Majestys pleasure should be signified. In consequence of this I am to lay before your Lordships a list of persons fit to be appointed Councellors. And as there are but two Councellors now remaining in West Jersey, I must submit to your Lordships that It may be proper to fill up both these Vacancies out of that division and shall therefore place that first. WEST JERSEY Charles Read Esq Member for Burlington & Dep. John Smith of Burlington Esq a moderate Man of Robert Hooper of Trenton Esq John Ladd Esq Member for the County of Glocester EAST JERSEY Peter Schuyler of Petersburgh Esq Lewis Johnston of Amboy Esq John Stevens Esq Member for Amboy |