Instructions to the Governor, by permitting him to assent to a Law for issuing a certain quantity of Paper Bills of Credit without a suspending Clause, or to acquiesce in a Breach of the said Instructions as has been done in the neighbouring Colonies of New York and Pennsylvania, where the Governors have upon a Presumption of the necessity of the Service, provided for such Service, by passing Laws for issuing Paper Bills of Credit without suspending Clauses, and contrary to the Tenor of your Majesty's Instructions with respect to the duration of the Currency of such Bills. Under these Circumstances, and in this Case, We cannot but be of Opinion that it would be more for Your Majesty's Interest and the Advantage of the said Colony, to alter the Instructions than tacitly to acquiesce in a Breach of it, in as much as in the one case the Quantity of the Sum to be issued as well as the Limitations and Restrictions under which it is to be issued may be ascertained, whereas in the other case the Legislature there will be left at large to issue it under such Regulations both with respect to the Nature of the Security and the duration of the Currency of the Bills as they shall think proper, which may operate to the Prejudice of the Colony, of the Trade and Commerce of this Country, and of Your Majesty's Colony's and Plantations in General. Which is most humbly submitted Extracts from a letter from Secretary Pitt to Governor Bernard, of New Jersey, urging preparations for the invasion of Canada. [From New York Colonial Documents, Vol. VII., p. 350.] [This Circular from Secretary Pitt to the Governors of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey, is dated at Whitehall, 9 December, 1758. After alluding to the great advantages gained during the last Campaign, and to the King's Confidence in his faithful and brave subjects in the American Colonies, he says:] * * * * I am Commanded to signify to you the King's pleasure that you do forthwith use your utmost Endeavours and influence with the Council and Assembly of your province, to induce them to raise with all possible dispatch, within your Government at least as large a body of Men as they did for the last Campaign, and even as many more, as the number of its inhabitants may allow; and forming the same into Regiments as far as shall be found convenient, and that you do direct them to hold themselves in readiness as early as may be to march to the rendez-vous at Albany, or such other place, as his Majty Commander in Chief in America shall appoint in order to proceed from thence in Conjunction with a body of the King's British Forces, and under the Supreme Command of his Majty's said Commander in Chief in America, so as to be in a Situation to begin the Operations of the Campaign by the 1st of May if possible, or as soon after as shall be any way practicable, by attempting to make an irruption into Canada, as above, by the way of Crown Point, and if found practicable to attack either Montreal or Quebeck, or both of the said places successively. * * And * * the better to facilitate this important Service, the King is pleased to leave it to you to issue Commissions. to such Gentlemen of your provce, as you shall judge from their weight and credit with the people, and their zeal for the public Service, may be best disposed and able to quicken and Effectuate the speedy levying of the greatest number of men. * * * The King is further pleased to furnish all the Men, so raised as above, with Arms, Amunition and Tents, as well as to order provisions to be issued to the Same by His Majty's Commissaries, in the same proportion and manner as is done to the rest of the King's forces. A sufficient Train of Artillery, will also be provided at His Majty's expence for the Operations of the Campaign, and the Ship, that Conveys this, carries orders for timely providing, at the King's charge, with the utmost diligence, and in an Ample Manner, boats and Vessels necessary for the transportation of the Army on this Expedition. The whole therefore that His Majty Expects and requires from the Several Provinces, is, the levying cloathing and pay of the Men. * * It is His Majty's pleasure, that you do, with particular diligence, immediately collect, and put into the best condition all the arms, issued last Campaign, which can be, any ways, rendered serviceable or that can be found within your Governt', in order that the same may be employed, as far as they will go, in this Exigency. I am at the same time to acquaint you, that a reasonable supply of arms will be sent from England, to replace such, as may have been lost, or have become unfit for future Service. * * * I am ettc, W. PITT. Order of the King in Council approving the appointment of Charles Read and John Smith as members of the New Jersey Council in place of John Reading and Thomas Leonard. [From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 78.] AT THE COURT AT ST. JAMES'S THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1758. PRESENT The Kings most Excellent Majesty in Council. Upon reading this day at the Board, a Representation from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations setting forth, That John Reading and Thomas Leonard Esq two of His Majestys Council in the Province of New Jersey, have desired leave to resign their Seats at that Board, on Account of their Age and Infirmaties; and that Charles Read' and John Smith Esq have been recommended to them as Persons every way qualified to serve His Majesty in that Station; The said Lords Commissioners therefore propose, that they may be appointed of His Majestys Council in the said Province in the room of the said 1 Charles Read was Collector of Customs at Burlington, 1732-1751, and perhaps longer.-Archives, VII, 150, 381, 650; Papers of Lewis Morris. 128. He was Secretary of the Province, at least from 1748 to 1760, and was again commissioned Secretary, February 16, 1762. In 1748 was recommended by Governor Belcher for a seat in the Council.-Archives, VII, 139; VIII, Part 2, p. 257; Book AAA of Commissions, Trenton, fol. 339, 366. Judge Field says he held the place of second Judge of the Supreme Court for some months prior to the death of Chief Justice Morris, in January, 1764; he was appointed to succeed the latter, but in October was displaced, and occupied again the position to which he had been appointed in 1749. The appointment was recommended by Lord Stirling, but was severely criticised by William Smith, the historian.-Provincial Courts of New Jersey, by Richard S. Field, 1849, p. 158; Life of Lord Stirling, by William A. Duer, 1847, p. 80.—[W. N.] John Reading and Thomas Leonard'-His Majesty in Council approving thereof, is pleased to Order, as it is hereby Ordered, that the said Charles Read and John Smith Esq be constituted and appointed Members of His Majestys said Council in the Province of New Jersey, in the room of the said John Reading and Thomas Leonard Esq; And that the said Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, do cause Warrants to be prepared for that Purpose, and lay the same before His Majesty at this Board. W. SHARPE Letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor Bernard, in answer to several communications from him. [From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 16, p. 263.] WHITEHALL Feb'ry 8 1759 TO FRANCIS BERNARD ESQ Governor of New Sir, Jersey. We have receiv'd your Letters to Us dated the 20th June, 3 of July, 14th & 31st of Augst 15th Septem! & 31st of Oct last, with the several papers transmitted with and referr'd to in them. The Situation in which you found the Province upon your Arrival, its Frontiers ravaged by a cruel and 1 Thomas Leonard came from Massachusetts, where his family had been since 1652, and settled at Princeton probably as early as 1710. He soon became a very large land owner in that section of New Jersey. "He was a man well educated for those days, and possessed as much if not more public spirit than any of his contemporaries in the community. He was almost continually in office, some time Presiding Judge of Common Pleas in Somerset County, and for nearly a quarter of a century he served as a member of the Colonial Legislature at various sessions between 1723 and 1744 from Somerset County. He was a member of the eighth General Assembly, held at Perth Amboy. He died in 1759.”—History of Princeton and its Institutions, by John F. Hageman, 1879, 1, 42-9; Savage's Genealogical |