And whereas in the acts pass'd of late years for raising Money for the publick Service of Our Province of New Jersey, a very irregular practice has prevailed, of nominating Commissioners for carrying into Execution the several Services thereby directed, which Commissioners and other Officers named in the said Acts are thereby authorized to draw out of the Hands of the Treasurer such Sums as they shall, Judge necessary, without the Warrant of Our Governor or Commander in Chief of Our said province for the time being, with the Consent of Our Council, and without being made accountable for their Conduct in the application of such monies, in such manner as is prescrib'd by Law and by Our Royal Instructions to you in that behalf; by which means all the Checks which have been so properly establish'd for the Support of Our just Authority and for the Security of the Rights and properties of Our loving Subjects, are set aside: It is therefore Our express Will and Pleasure that you do not, upon pain of Our highest Displeasure, give your Assent to any Act for raising money for the above mention'd purposes, in which Commissioners shall be nam'd for carrying into Execution the several Services thereby directed, (unless such Commissioners shall have been previously nominated or approv'd by you) or by which the several Sums thereby granted shall be directed to be issu'd and applied to the Services to which they shall be appropriated, otherwise than by your Warrant, by and with the Advice and Consent of Our Council, to be accounted for unto Us and Our Commissioners of Our Treasury or Our High Treasurer for the time being, and audited by Our Auditor General of Our plantations or his Deputy for the time being, according to the Directions of the 20th Article of Our Royal Instructions to you in that behalf.

Speech of Governor Bernard to the Legislature of New Jersey, March 6, 1759.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Vol. 24, No. 24.]

Gentlemen of the Council and

Gentlemen of the General Assembly.

I have had the honour to have His Majesty's commands Signified to me by M! Secretary Pitt; by which I am required to use my utmost endeavour to induce you to raise, with all possible dispatch at least as large a Body of Men as you did for the last campaign and as many more as the Number of the inhabitants of this Province may allow, to act in conjunction with His Majesty's British Forces under the command of his commander in chief in America. I have therefore called you together as soon as I Possibly could; that you may take this great and Important business into your immediate Consideration.

When we reflect upon the happy success that has lately attended his Majesty's Arms, we cannot Sufficiently Adore the divine Providence. The Justness of his cause and the steadiness and unanimity of his Councils have produced the desired effects; and have shown that France is not so formidable as her own insolence and the timidity of her neighbours have represented her.

In Europe by the extraordinary virtue of one Man, the great and glorious King of Prussia, Supported moderately by Great Britain we have seen the whole land force of France, assisted as it has been by its unnatural alliance with most of the Germanic & Northern Powers, repulsed and Kept at bay, by which lucky diversion whilst they have been defeated and disabled in those fields where they chose to exert their force they have rendered themselves defenceless in all other

parts. Hence a Terror has been Struck throughout their coasts, their fleets have been blocked up; their fortifications have been dismantled, and their Shipping has been destroyed in their own ports; and their trade has been ruined by the cutting off their communication with their Colonies abroad.

In Affrica they have lost the rich settlement of Senegal; in the West Indies, we have just receiv'd certain advice that the valuable Island of Guadaloupe has been taken by our forces. In North America their only fortress of any great strength fortified to the best advantage defended by a large garrison, and provided with all necessary stores has been obliged to submitt to the British Arms. And tho' another expedition had not the Success that was expected yet that disappointment was almost immediately after retreived by the taking of fort Frontinac, by a Detachment of Provincials: an event which, if it had produced no other advantage, than the change it has contributed to in the Minds of the neighbouring Indians, is of the greatest importance.

Nor have our negotiations in America been less successful than our Arms, at the Treaty of Easton (which was brought about by the wise measures of the Governor of Pensylvania and in which this Province bore a considerable and honourable part) a firm peace has been concluded between the confederate Indians with Nations dependant on them, and the English; and all matters of difference between them have been amicably and fully adjusted In consequence of which, by the prudent and Steady conduct of Brigadier General Forbes, the French have been obliged to abandon the Country about the Ohio; and those very Indians who had hitherto Defended them in the possession of it, have received the English and desired to be restored to that good friendship which they formerly had with them. We are also assured by them, that many Na

tions to the Westward and Southward of that Country intend to take this opportunity to put themselves under the protection of the British Empire; some renewing & others now first commencing an Alliance with the English Nation.

Under those circumstances what have we not to hope for the forces that were before necessarily divided may now be conveniently united, and the Subduer of Louisbourgh is to Command the Invasion of Canada. With this fair prospect before you, you wou'd be injurious to yourselves as well as ungreatfull to your King if you should not contribute all in your power to the Common cause.

Gentlemen of the General Assembly

I shall order the letter I have receiv'd from Mr Pitt and one from Major General Amherst to be laid before you, under the Confidence expressed in them that no unnecessary communication of the designations mentioned therein shall be made, I shall also communicate to you some extracts from other letters from General Amherst, from all which you will perceive that it is expected that you will send into the field, this year a greater force than you did last: I must therefore earnestly recommend to you that if you think the circumstances of the Province will possibly admit of it, you will make an Addition to the Number of the forces granted by you Last year: I shall have other things to recommend to your consideration: but till you have formed your resolutions on this business, I shall not interrupt it with any lesser concerns.

Gentlemen of the Council & Gentlemen of the General Assembly

I shou'd trifle with you if I was to endeavour to use any arts of persuasion on this subject; Your own breasts will furnish you with more forcible arguments for exerting yourselves to the utmost of your Power at this critical time, than I can suggest; every motive

that can influence the human mind to action must incite you to this: Your honour your Interest your religion, your property; your present Safety and the preservation of your posterity. In short if you have a mind to have the freedom and independence of your Country to all future times the present is that, in which it must be Effected.

Answer of the General Assembly, March 14.

To his Excellency Francis Bernard Esqr Captain General & Governor in chief in and over his Majesty's Province of New Jersey & Territories thereon Depending in America Chancellor & Vice Admiral in the Same &c

May it Please your Excellency

We His Majesty's dutifull and Loyal Subjects the Representatives of the Colony of New Jersey in General Assembly Conveined have taken M Secretary Pitts Letter into Consideration and in pursuance of the Methods proposed have without Loss of time gone through the Necessary measures for Compleating the Levies with all the expedition that the Nature of the Case seems to require

We concur with your Excellency that the happy Success which has lately attended His Majesty's Arms is a Sufficient Cause to adore the Divine Providence. Those who can soon forget the Differrence between the Situation of things now and but a little time past must let very distinguishing Turns of Superior direction Soon escape their Notice; and but unthankfully receive the blessings that infinite wisdom has been pleased to render very Conspicuous among our fellow Subjects of the English Nation, a memento that to a Considerate mind is not less extraordinary in its Nature, than it is a Standing Obligation to Vigilance & gratitude.