at Philadelphia till a mob of Sailors came up when he and they most inhumanly treated him so that he was taken from them for dead.

He acknowledged the threatning and obstructing me when I was going to the ship, and likewise taking away the Pilot boat I had seized, and said he would do it again when there was occasion-his conduct was not in the least disapproved by the Magistrates present.

The Magistrates did not regard my Charge against him, but on my insisting on Mills, being someway secured they consented to bind him over to their own Court. An Uncle of Hughes, was ready for his Bonds

man.

They then bound me, and insisted on £200 security, but they refused any security I could give for my Negro which I offered them nor would they allow him to stay in the hands of the Constable till next morning; When I told them I would produce them any bail they should require as my friends were at some distance, but they ordered him immediately to prison.

There were present Hughes and his brothers and other relations who threatned destruction to any who gave me any assistance; during the whole time they could not produce any one to say that either I, or my Slave, ever was heard to use the least threatning word against the said Mills or any one else, since my first coming amongst them, the reason they give for binding me and sending my Slave again to prison, is, that Mills declared my son told him in Philadelphia, that his fathers Negro should do for him, but did not produce any proofs.

Since my ill treatment on 8 Nov! His Majs Vessels having been very vigilant has greatly obstructed their smugling by water therefore 1 being so distressed by these three Magistrates gives them full liberty to perform it on shore, for I am well assured, & have just reason to believe that there hath been & still is several

thousand pounds worth of contraband Goods lodged on this shore since the 8th of November last, which Goods they are now conveying by Land to Philadelphia, and have been so during a few days since in the open day to go to my door with a loaded Waggon, and men armed with Pistols in their hands challenging me to appear if I durst, to seize them.

Mills and the Boat now appear in public and he bids defiance to any.

These my assertions I can prove if the Witnesses are impartially examined, therefore I hope your Excellency doth plainly perceive that it is for my Zealous attachment to his Majesty that I am thus injured abused, and interrupted by these three Magistrates

My Instructions are, in any difficulties to apply to Your Excellency for assistance and protection, therefore do most humbly pray from Your Excellency a speedy redress as His Majesty's Revenue suffers entirely by the Actions and Power of these three Magistrates at Cape May.

[signed]

JOHN HATTON.

Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Franklin, transmitting two Orders of Council.

[From P. R. O. America and West Indies. Vol. 175 (193), No. 28.]

WHITEHALL Dec! 11th 1770.

Sir,

Gov Franklin.

Inclosed I send you two Orders of His Majesty in Council on the 9th instant; the one disallowing an Act passed in New Jersey in June 1765, entitled, “An Act for regulating the Practice of the Law and other Purposes therein mentioned;" the other confirming an

Act passed in May 1768, entitled, "An Act for choosing Representatives in the Counties of Morris, Cumberland and Sussex, & directing the Morris County taxes to be paid into the Eastern Treasury of this Colony;" and I am to signify to you His Majesty's Commands, that you do cause these Orders to be published in like manner as has been usual in such cases.

The inclosed Copies of the Representations of the Board of Trade, which I transmit to you for your private Information, will fully acquaint you with the Grounds of His Majesty's Determination upon these Acts; but I must not omit to observe to you, that although the Lords of the Council thought fit, in consequence of the Recommendation of the Board of Trade, to advise His Majesty to confirm the Act for electing Representatives for the Counties of Morris and Cumberland, yet it did not escape their Lordship's Notice that it did seem to be inconsistent with the additional Instructions transmitted to all His Majesty's Governors in 1767, requiring them not to give their Assent upon any Pretence whatsoever to any Law or Laws by which the Number of the Assemblies should be enlarged or diminished; and as their Lordships considered that a Strict Obedience to that Instruction is of the greatest Importance, they thought fit to recommend to His Majesty, that a Copy of it should be sent to you upon this occasion, and His Majesty, approving of what their Lordships recommend, has accordingly 11 Sept. 1767. directed me to send you the inclosed Copy thereof, and to signify to you His Royal Will and Pleasure, that for the future you should not, upon any Pretence whatever, deviate from the Directions it contains.

I am &ca

HILLSBOROUGH,

Copy of a Letter from Mr. Hatton, Collector of Salem, Etc., to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated Perth Amboy, Dec. 25, 1770, complaining of the ill treatment he had received.

[From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 257 (275).]

Gentlemen

PERTH AMBOY, 25th Decem' 1770

On my way to the Governor with the inclosed Remonstrance I received Yours of the 10th Inst. on the Receipt of which I went to Mr Skinner, Attorney General whose opinion I have now sent likewise the inclosed Remonstrance will give Your Honors a just Information of the further Ill treatment I have receiv'd M' Read Collector of Burlington hath bailed out Hughes. M' Read's actions are, as formerly; which is to distress me and the Service of the Revenue all He can. He is one of the 3 chief Judges of this Province & hath a Salary for it & is likewise one of the Governor's Council.

I am credibly informed that a Set of Merchants at Philadelphia have remitted a Quantity of money to this Province in Order to gain any Point they want & likewise make this Cape their Stanch Store, as they say they cannot do without It for their contraband Trade for since the 8th of last November there have been 5 other Vessels unloaded with Illicit Goods.

I have wrote three pressing letters to the Captain of His Maj Vessel in this River but no One hath yet appeared to give me any Relief. I hired a Sloop on purpose to go to them to get them to keep their Vessel or Tender in Our Bay which would be the proper place, whereby they would perceive, with my assistance on Land, all the proceedings of the smuglers there; but

they declined my Request saying they could not assist me on Shore, and Winter coming on they must lay up their Vessels, therefore I am obliged to keep concealed by day, & when I travel it is all by night, & expect no other than some Day to fall a Sacrifice to their Wicked Malice & Inventions. I left my Wife at the point of death thro' Fright for me & her Son. My Son being still Ill & at the Tavern He was taken to first, & will lose either his Arm or the use of it, which cannot yet be determined & hath undergone a Severe Illness myself going hundred of Miles to endeavor to procure Justice & have almost expended my last Farthing and am in the greatest distress for more, who am

Gentlemen &ca

JOHN HATTON

I am to call on the Governor on my way back for an answer to my Remonstrance of the 7th Ins'. He having sent to the Attorney General for his advice & the Result thereof I will inform You M' Skinner advises me to arrest the 3 Magistrates if I can get them before the Governor for their actions & false Imprisonment but I want Money, having now expended in this Affair upwards of 30£ Be pleased to excuse the Badness of this Letter as my Wounds in my Head & right Arm are still so bad that I can hardly think or hold my Pen.

Letter from Attorney-General Skinner to Mr. Hatton, giving his opinion on the proceedings of the Mag istrates at Cape May.

[From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 257 (275).]

Mr Hatton

Dec. 25, 1770,

I have considered the Papers you have laid before me, and those sent by M' Petit and am of opinion that