Letter from Governor Hardy to the Secretary of State on the declaration of war against Spain.

[From America and West Indies Vol: 12 (190).]

PERTH AMBOY 29th April 1862.

The Rt honble the Earl of Egremont

My Lords,

I have the honor of your Lordships letter of the 7th January by the Enterprize as also a duplicate of the same by the Packet, inclosing me his Majestys Declaration of War against Spain, which I have according to His Majesty's command caused to be proclaimed in both divisions of this Province; and I have taken such steps as I hope will effectually prevent the Enemy receiving any Supplys of provisions, ammunition, or Stores from hence.

In my letter of the 2 ins! I inform'd your Lordship that the Assembly of this Province had voted the full number of Men for the Provincial Regiment which is now compleat and will in a very few days be ready for Service I have now the pleasure to acquaint your Lordship, that on my Second Application to the Assembly they with great cheerfulness and unanimity agreed to grant the necessary encouragement for raising the Quota demanded of them by His Majesty's General for recruiting the Regular Forces, I shall therefore do every thing in my power to raise the Men as soon as possible. I shall only add that altho' Our Assembly did not see this affair in its true light at first yet as they have now comply'd with the whole of His Majestys Requisition I humbly hope they will not lye under the weight of His Majestys displeasure.

I am with the greatest respect

My Lord Your Lordships

most Obedient & most Humble Servant

JOSIAH HARDY

Letter from Governor Hardy to Secretary Pownallthe Commissions during good behavior had been relinquished by the Judges-R. H. Morris strongly recommended for Chief Justice-the death of Andrew Johnston of the Council expected.

Sir

[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 9, K, 26.]

PERTH AMBOY 22d June 1762.

This goes by Mr Barons who will send to the Office a Box containing all the Bills passed to this time with the proceedings of the House of Assembly. I was in hopes to have sent likewise the Copy of the Journal of the Council, but I have not yet been able to obtain it from the Secretary

I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that all Commissions during good behaviour are now at an end in this Province, by the Judges having determined to accept their Commissions in such manner as His Majesty shall think proper. M' Morris who now acts as Chief Justice, will be very proud to continue in the Office if His Majesty approves of him, if not he will immediately resign, but I own for the good of the Province I wish their Lordships would be pleased to recommend to His Majesty, to order his Mandamus appointing M Morris to the Office, which would at once settle all future Commissions of this kind

I am hourly expecting to hear of the Death of M! Andrew Johnston, one of the Council of this Province, I shall endeavour to recommend a proper person to succeed him, but it will be difficult to comply with my instructions in this particular, as I don't know of any Person in the Western Division fit for the Council, there are many in the East Division who will be glad of the honour, but very few that are properly quali

fy'd I shall therefore hope their Lordships will excuse me if I do not recommend so many, when this vacancy happens, as the instruction directs. You will please to communicate to my Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations such part of this letter as you think proper

I am with great truth Sir

Your most Obedient Humble Servant

JOSIAH HARDY

Sir Jeffrey Amherst to the Commanding officer at Elizabethtown (Capt. Elias Dayton)-Gov. Hardy had informed him that upwards of twenty men were ready at Elizabethtown to Embark for Albany -Orders that they do so.

(From N. J. Hist. Soc. MSS.)

To the Officer Commanding a Party of the New Jersey Troops at Elizabethtown.

Governor Hardy having Acquainted me that he Expected Twenty men and Upwards of the New Jersey Troops to be Ready at Elizabeth Town, at this day, I Now send a Boat to Receive you and them, & Desire you will immediately Embark & proceed to the North River, where you will find a Sloop ready to Receive you; And you will, without loss of time, proceed in her to Albany, when upon your Arrival, you will shew these Orders to Colonel Bradstreet, or Captain Winepress & follow & Obey such further Directions as you shall Receive from them.

Given under my Hand at Head Quarters in New York this 8th day of July 1762.

JEFF. AMHERST.

By His Excellency's Command.

ARTHUR MAIR

Letter from Governor Hardy to the Lords of Trade announcing the death of Andrew Johnston, and recommending Stephen Skinner as his successor as Treasurer of East Jersey, and three other gentlemen for the Council, etc.

[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 9, K, 27.]

PERTH AMBOY 16th July 1762.

The Right Honble The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations

My Lords

I am sorry to acquaint Your Lordships of the death of Mr Andrew Johnston one of His Majestys Council and Treasurer of the Eastern division of this Province, this Gentlemen is a great loss to the Community both in his publick as well as private capacity, as it would be a very great inconvenience to the Province to keep vacant the post of Treasurer I have appointed Mr Stephen Skinner to that employment during His Majestys pleasure, which I hope your Lordships will approve, he being well qualify'd for the Trust.

As it will be necessary for His Majestys Service that the present vacancy in the Council should be filled up. as soon as possible, I beg leave to recommend the following Gentlemen to Your Lordships Viz', James Parker John Barbarie and John Smyth Esq all residing in this town, they are Men of Abilities and known loyalty to his Majesty. I am sorry it is not at present in my power to comply so far with his Majestys instructions as to send the Names of three Persons from the Western division, but I do not know of any one in that part of the Country properly qualify'd for so im portant a trust. I must take the liberty to observe that it would be a very great convenience in carrying on the publick Service to have at least three of the Council

residing here, especially at this time when there are frequent occasions for their meeting; Two of them live at New York and the others at such a distance that I cannot get them together under three days notice by sending Expresses different ways, which puts the Province to a considerable expence. I therefore hope that in the future nomination of Councillors Your Lordships will be pleased to have some regard to their residence.

I am further to acquaint Your Lordships that the Judges of the Superior Courts have consented to resign their Commissions, during good behaviour and to act in their several stations till His Majesty's pleasure shall be known. in a former letter I observed that I had revoked several Commissions of this nature granted to the Judges of the Common Pleas, by the late Governor Belchier.

I am endeavouring to put the Militia of this Province on a better footing than it has been hitherto, they should consist of about 12700 Men which with five Troops of Horse and four Companys of Cadets of about 70 Men in a Company is the only defence we have to trust to, we have no Forts mounted with Cannon to protect the harbour which is a very fine one and capable of containing large Ships. The Province is pretty secure on the land side by Pensylvaina and New York at the back of it, but we have no defense against Ships.

I wrote Your Lordships by the Launceston Man of War the 18th of last month and by that opportunity I sent Copys of all the Bills past by the Assembly with Copys of their Proceedings since I came to the Administration, and I will as soon as possible send Copys of the Journals of the Council.

I am with the greatest respect My Lords

Your Lordships most Obedient

and most Humble Servant

JOSIAH HARDY