Mr. Coxe was sent for, and attended accordingly ; when the following Questions were put to him, to which he made the Answers subjoined, viz.

I. Have you received any Commission for distributing of Stamps in New Jersey?

Answer. No. Nor do I know that any such Commission is in Being.

II. Or any Instructions from the Commissioners of Stamps in England?

Answer. Nothing more than to sign the Bond, and Orders to acquaint them of the Quantity which would be wanted for six Months.

III. Are any Stamps arrived directed to be distributed in New Jersey ?

Answer. I know of none of my own Knowledge; but have been told there were some Packages of Stamps marked W. C. and that by Bill of Lading, they were consigned to Mr. John Hughes, of Philadelphia; but I have not myself received either Bill of Lading, or Letter of Advice.

IV. Do you think, as you have not received any Commission or Instructions relative to the Stamps in New Jersey, that you could legally undertake the Execution of the Office, supposing that there was no Likelihood of any Opposition being given to it, and that you had not sent over your Resignation?

Answer. I do not think myself empowered to execute the Office, as I have not received any Commission or Instructions.

V. On Supposition that you had received such Commission or Instructions, would you undertake the Distribution of the Stamps?

Answer. No.

VI. What is the Reason of such Resolution?

The general Disturbance in the Province; and as I am firmly of Opinion it would occasion violent Disorders and Bloodshed, and that I should be injured both in Person and Estate.

After some Time spent in Consideration of the Matter, recommended by the Governor, the further Consideration thereof was referred till To-morrow Morning. Then the Council adjourned till Nine o'clock Tomorrow Morning.

THURSDAY, November 7, 1765.

The Council met, and resumed the Consideration of the Matters referred to them by the Governor, when they were unanimously of Opinion as follows, viz.

1. We think the Governor is not authorized to accept of Mr. Coxe's Resignation, nor impowered to appoint a Distributor of the Stamps in his Room, until some Instructions are received from His Majesty's Ministers, or other proper Authority, relative thereto.

2. We believe there is not one Man in the Province able to give the proper Security, that would undertake the Office if it was offered to him.

3. We think that no Person would at present be safe in undertaking the Execution of the Office in this Province, on account of the violent Resentment too generally imbibed against the Act; and the many repeated Threats by written Advertisements, and otherwise, against any that should be aiding or assisting in carrying the same into Execution.

4 and 5. On considering the Governor's 4th and 5th Queries, the Council esteem it a Matter of so much Difficulty and Importance at this dangerous Conjuncture, that they desire further Time, and a full Council, to consider of the Answer thereto.

6. That though we shall, as far as is consistent with the Peace of the Province, heartily second your Excellency's Intention of securing the Stamp'd Papers, yet, as we have undoubted Reason to know, that the popular Clamour runs at present very high, in many Parts of the Province, against the Stamp Act, as the many inflammatory Speeches, Writings and tumultuous

Gatherings, with avowed Threats to destroy the Stamps, do evidence; we think it by no means safe or adviseable for your Excellency to send for the Stamps from under Captain Hawker's Protection. And it is further our Opinion, that it will be by no means expedient to have Recourse to the Military Aid offered by the General, even if he could now afford it, (which is much to be doubted considering the present Commotions at New York) as there is the strongest Reason to expect, that in such Case the Peace of the Province would be immediately broken, and nothing less than a Civil War would ensue. Therefore, as there is no Place of Security in the Province, and as it would be dangerous, if practicable, to bring in such a Military Force as the General could spare, we advise, that your Excellency do write to Captain Hawker, to desire that when he lays up his Ship, that the Stamp'd Papers on Board, said to be for New Jersey, be offered to Mr. Coxe, who has given Bond to the Commissioners of the Stamp Duty in England, and if he refuses to take Charge of them, then that they may be suffered to remain with the King's Stores, belonging to the Ship, in whatever Place the Captain may think proper to deposit them, there being a better Chance for their Preservation by that Means, out of the Province, than by any other Method we can at present devise.

Mr. Ogden acquainted his Excellency, and this Board, that it was desired by many People of the Eastern Division, that the Assembly should be called to meet on this Occasion; his Excellency did thereupon declare, that though he had no particular Commands of the Crown, or other Business, that made a Meeting of the Legislature necessary; yet that if the Speaker, and nine others of the Representatives, would signify under their Hands to the Governor, that they thought it expedient for the public Service, that the Assembly should be called, he would immediately (if advised so

to do by his Council) issue his Summons for the Purpose, convening them together in as short a Time as possible; but that from the present Indisposition of his Lady, it would not be in his Power to meet them at Amboy, or at any other Place than Burlington.

The Council do advise his Excellency, on such Application, to summon the General Assembly to meet at Burlington.

A true Copy from the Minutes of Council

CHARLES READ, Sec.

A Copy of his Excellency's Letter to Captain Hawker in Pursuance of the foregoing Minute of Council.

Sir,

BURLINGTON, Nov. 9, 1765.

As you informed me in your Letter of the 3d of October, that it would be necessary that I should provide some Place of Security, towards Winter, for the Stamp'd Paper destined for New Jersey, as you would then be obliged to take every Thing out of the Ship, in order to lay her up, I lately summoned a Meeting of His Majesty's Council of this Province, to consult them on the Measures necessary to be taken for that Purpose-Their Advice on the Occasion is contained in the enclosed Extract from their Minutes.

The Council do not mean that you are to be answerable for the Safety of the Stamps, if you comply with our Request; but their Reason for advising the Measure, is, because they imagine that the People of one Province will not endeavour to destroy the Stamps destined for another; and that the Stamps might as well be given up directly to the Populace, as to send them into New Jersey, where there is no Place of Defence whatever.-Perhaps Mr. Coxe, as he has given Bond to take Care of them, will, for his own Sake, en

deavour to fall upon some Expedient to secure them. by secreting them, or otherwise, till some Person appears duly authorised to receive them from him. I am, with great Regard, Sir, Your most humble Servant,

To Capt. James Hawker,

WILLIAM FRANKLIN.
Commander of His

Majesty's Ship Sardoine.

Letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor Franklin, inclosing a copy of the representation from the Bishop of London concerning licenses for marriages in New Jersey.'

[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 17, page 191.]

WHITEHALL Dec. 12th 1765

To William Franklin Esq Governor of New

Sir

Jersey.

The inclosed Memorial stating the propriety of Licences for Marriages in New Jersey being directed to the Clergy only, has been presented to Us by the Bishop of London.

If there is no Law in force, by which the Civil Magistrate is authorized to perform the Marriage Rites, or if long usage and custom has not established such a practice; We see no objection to what his Lordship proposes: But as it does not appear to Us from any Information we can collect here, how the case stands in respect to this matter, we desire you will by the first opportunity acquaint Us, whether the civil Mag

For representation from Bishop of London, see page 504.