legally joined together in Holy Marriage: And whereas Acts have been passed in other of our said Colonies to enable Persons who are our Liege Subjects by Birth or Naturalization to hold and inherit Lands Tenements and real Estates [which] had been originally granted to or purchased by Aliens antecedent to Naturalization; It is our expressed will and Pleasure that you do not upon any pretence whatsoever give your assent to any Bill or Bills that may have been or shall hereafter be passed by the Council and Assembly of the Province under your Government for the naturalization of Aliens, nor for the divorce of persons joined together in Holy marriage, nor for establishing a Title in any Person to Lands, Tenements & real estates in our said Province originally granted to, or purchased by Aliens antecedent to Naturalization.

G. R.

Extract from a letter from Cortland Skinner to Philip Kearny, relative to the proceedings of the Assembly in regard to the Treasurer.

[From Skinner Papers among Manuscripts of W. A. Whitehead, Vol. 2, No. 30.] Dr Sir

*

*

How our politics will turn, I can't say. Our politicians look sharp for a favorable Something, which is not yet found out to attack the Gov! I inclose you his speech, the words, "Confessions of some of them, corroborated by several striking circumstances," have been pitched upon and largely spoken to, & tho' the Gov' laid all his papers before us on which he founded his sentiments, yet we have wisely sent him a message requesting he will point out the striking circumstances &c. The Gov' has not returned any answer to this message delivered last night. I look upon this as an Essay, and when the Gov' tells

us on what he founds his opinion, if possible, it will be made the Subject of Debate. I find that three leading members are determined not to pay any regard to Confessions however supported by the most striking circumstances, nay, I believe that some would rather that the robbery was never discovered than the favorite scheme disappointed, the removal of the Treasurer and the favorite Controversy it wd open; the nomination of the Treasurer by the House and removal only by them is the darling object to which every other Consideration would be sacrificed. The week will open the Budget when we go upon the Gov's speech.

Rewards of 300£ each for Ford & Richardson and fifty pounds for King have been voted by the House, but they wd not join the Gov' and Pennsylva in sending men to apprehend them' ***

I am &c Your Affect & Dutiful

CORT SKINNER.

Affidavits having been made before David Ogden, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, that Ford and Richardson had been counterfeiting Pennsylvania bills of credit, JJudge Ogden sent the affidavits with sundry letters to the Supreme Court Judges of Pennsylvania, who laid them before the General Assembly of that body, which thereupon (September 23, 1773) requested the Governor to offer a reward of £300 each for the arrest of Joseph Richardson and Samuel Ford and their delivery to the Sheriff of Philadelphia at the county jail.—Penn. Archives, IV., 466. The Governor issued a proclamation accordingly.-Penn. Col. Records, X., 99. It does not appear that either of the men was arrested at this time. One, Samuel Ford, was appointed July 9, 1777, by the State Navy Board of Pennsylvania to be Second Lieutenant of the Effingham armed boat.-Second Penn. Archives, I., 183. During the attack on Fort Mifflin (November 1, 1777?) Ford deserted, for which he was executed in September, 1778.-1b., 236; Penn. Col. Records, XI., 565-6. Probably this was not the New Jersey counterfeiter, however, for the Rev. Dr. J. F. Tuttle says the latter settled in Virginia, taking the name of Baldwin, and lived there many years after the war.-Annals of Morris County, 98. His accomplice, Richardson, was arrested in Pennsylvania in February, 1777, and committed to the Lancaster jail for counterfeiting, and, doubtless, on suspicion of being disaffected to the American cause.-Penn. Archives, V., 239, 248-9, 254, 372; Penn. Col. Records, XI., 216, In March 1780, he was committed to the Philadelphia jail for the same offences, but was discharged on May 6 on condition that he would leave Pennsylvania and go to "some other part of America not in possession of the enemy. ."--Penn. Col. Records, XII, 270, 239. Perhaps he rejoined Ford in Virginia John King, Deputy-Sheriff of Morris county, was suspected of complicity with Ford and Richardson in their couterfeiting operations in that county, and possibly in their alleged robbery of the Treasury in 1768. He accused Sheriff Thomas Kinney of conniving at the escape of Ford.-Minutes of Council, Feb. 14, 1774, post; Annals of Morris County, 96; Proc. N. J. Hist. Soc., September, 1850, 56.—[W. N.]

Letter from Cortland Skinner to Philip Kearnyproceedings of the Assembly in reference to the Treasurer.

[From Skinner Papers among Manuscripts of W. A. Whitehead, Vol. II., No. 31.] 5 Dec 1773

Dear Sir

I recd yours by the Stage and Delayed an immediate Answer (as I had an opportunity) in Expectation that I should be able to give you a full account of our politics.

The Governor some time ago, agreeably to the request of the house, sent a detail of the confessions, and the circumstances attending them, that induced him to think the treasury was robbed by Ford. The language of this message was certainly unexceptionable, and needed no answer; it was only the governor's opinion on facts, of which they could judge, and difference in opinion was naturally to be expected; however, a committee was appointed to inspect the papers, &c., referred to by the Governor, of which Mr. Kinsey, of course was one. Every [day] since, he has been buried in his office writing for his life, for what end I know not, unless he means to show the treasury was not robbed, which I think he will not be hardy enough to do. He gives out that if lightning had blasted the treasury, Skinner is liable, and I fear he has rancor enough, if that had been the case, and he had it in his power, to compel him to pay it. All public business is at a stand, the Governor's speech not yet read in the house, but kept back with support, &c. &c., until the Governor, I suppose, shall be induced to submit to their demands.

*

*

*

*

*

Affec1y &c.

CORT SKINNER

Letter from Cortland Skinner to Philip Kearny, detailing the proceedings of the Legislature, in relation to the Treasurer.

[From the Skinner Papers among Manuscripts of W. A. Whitehead, Vol. II, No. 32.] BURLINGN, 19th Dec, 1773.

D. Sir

For these three days past, we have had under consideration the tremendous report of the committee, which has been preparing since the 30th of last month. It consists of 75 pages in Mr. K's hand writing. It is now before the Governor and Council. The committee thought it an artful measure to make it only a report to the house, and not a message to the Governor; not considering that their daily minutes were laid before him. He has now got it, and it is a vindication of Saml. Ford against the aspersions cast on him by the Governor;—an argument in answer to the Governor, that the treasury was robbed;-reflections upon the conduct of the Gov. and Council, touching the examinations of the convicts:-a censure upon the officers of government at Morris Court:-and yet a salvo for their mistaken zeal:-a declaration that Ford did not rob the treasury:-insinuates that it was not robbed: and yet that it was robbed; with at least a dozen barefaced lies, that the journals of the House, will show with many more contradictions and absurdities than I have time at present to enumerate. To contend was in vain: an absurdity pointed out was reconciled by the question, and the report carried by a great majority. I have never had more occasion for temper, and I think I have had a share of Job's on this trying occasion. During these debates, the treasurer presented two memorials praying and entreating to be tried; all are disregarded as yet, and

*** *

by this report the Gov. is to turn him out for his misfortune, while the assembly descend to plead the cause of Sam Ford, who they confess to be an arch villian.

*

*

*

To-morrow the House will determine on these memorials. How, you will easily guess, from the account I have given of their report. In short, right or wrong, the opinion of the House is to be followed, and dance as we will the people are to pay the fidler. The report was certainly framed to prevent any favorable impression on the people, with regard to the treasurer, from the Governor's message. Its length and falsehood will take time to confute. *

*

*

I am, dear Sir Your affecte

CORT SKINNER.

Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to Governor Franklin, informing him that the Boundary Line between New York and New Jersey had been approved by the King, and that the Lottery Act was under consideration.

Sir,

[From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 177 (195).]

WHITEHALL St January 1774.

Governor Franklin.

I have received and laid before The King your Letter of the 18th October.

You have already been acquainted that one of the Three Acts transmitted in your Dispatch of the 28th of November 1772, which you are anxious to know the fate of, has received His Majesty's Royal Allowance & Approbation, and I have now the satisfaction to inform you that the Act for establishing a Boundary between New York and New Jersey has likewise been