. tain & support this freedom of Commerce for two Years certain after its commencement-any reconciliation between us and Great Britain notwithstanding, and as much longer beyond that term as the late Acts of Parliament for restraining the Commerce, Fishing and Altering the Laws & Charters of any of the Colonies shall continue unrepealed. Message to the Governor, in Answer to his Message on the Support of Government, dated Nov 21-December 6, 1775. Ordered HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Dec! 6. 1775 That M Hinchman and M Mehelm do wait on his Excellency and in Answer to his Message of the 21st of November inform Him That this House have taken the same into their serious Consideration, and altho' they entertain the most grateful Sense of the Attention that has been shewn to the Wishes of the Colony in the Allowance of the Loan Act, and of his Majesty's gracious Inclination to give "every Indulgence that can consist with the true Principles of Commerce and the Constitution" and are Sincerely disposed to grant his Majestys Requisitions as far as the Circumstances of the Colony will allow, Yet at this Time the House cannot think it prudent to go into any Increase of the Salaries of the Officers of Government, nor do they apprehend that it will be beneficial for his Government over us to settle them longer than for the usual Time, or expedient to erect Buildings at present, better to accommodate the Branches of the Legislature. That the House hopes when it is Considered that on his Excellencys Arrival to this Government the Salary was raised from 1000 to £1200 Annum which has been continued ever since, that £60 a year has con stantly been granted to provide a House for his Excellencys Residence, that the Salaries of the Justices of the Supreme Court have been lately raised from 50 to £150 annum, that the other Crown Officers either have Salaries given to them or Fees equal to the Importance of their Service, That there are Places provided for the Legislature to meet and do the publick Business at Perth Amboy, and that altho such Provision is not made at Burlington yet no considerable Inconvenience has attended it. When his Excellency considers these Matters he will, we hope, be of Opinion with us that the House has shewn a Disposition to make such suitable Provision for the Support of Government as from Time to Time was in their Power, which Nothing has retarded more than the Inconvenience of Two Seats of Government, a Circumstance they sincerely wish was removed, But the House assure his Excellency that at a future Day when this Inconvenience shall be remedied, and the unnatural Controversy now subsisting, is happily settled, they will shew their Readiness to comply with every just Requisition, and demonstrate that they ever mean their Actions shall correspond with their Professions. By Order of the House Letter from Gov. Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, giving an account of his arrest by Col. Winds, also of the entering and searching the house of Mr. Skinner. [From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 178 (196).] PERTH AMBOY, Jan 8, 1776 Right Honble the Earl of Dartmouth, &c My Lord, I Yesterday writ to your Lordship informing you that my Dispatch of the 5th Instant was seized by 1 Lord Stirling. Soon after, about Noon, I had Intelligence that he had sent his Lieu! Col. W Winds, with a Party of Provincial Soldiers, to join a Party which had been for some Weeks before at the Barracks of this City. He gave out that he came to wait on the Governor on some particular Business; however, I heard nothing from him until about two o clock that Night, when I was awaked with a violent knocking at my Door, which alarmed my Wife so much that I was not without Apprehensions of her Dying with the Fright. Looking through the Chamber Window I perceived that a Number of armed Men had invested the House. My Servant going to the Door received a Letter from a Man who told him it was from Col. Winds, and that he must have an immediate Answer. -The Letter is in these Words, viz "His Excellency William Franklin, Esq "I have Hints that you intended to leave the Prov"ince if the Letters that were intercepted should be "sent to the Continental Congress, as I have particu"lar Orders concerning that Matter, I desire that you "will give me your Word and Honour that you will "not depart this Province till I know the Will & "Pleasure of the Continental Congress concerning "that Matter. 66 "From Your humble Servant 66 WILLIAM WINDS." To which I returned the following Answer. "Sir, Being conscious that my Letter which has "been intercepted contained nothing but what was my Duty to write as a faithful officer of the Crown "(being a mere Narrative of such Facts and Reports as had come to my Knowledge concerning publick "Transactions) I have not the least Intention to quit "the Province, nor shall I unless compelled by Vio 'See Duer's Life of Lord Stirling, 118. "lence. Were I to act otherwise it would not be con"sistent with my Declarations to the Assembly, nor my Regard for the good People of the Province." "Your humble Servant, 66 "WILLIAM FRANKLIN." Soon after a Number of Centinels were posted at different Places round the House till towards Day Light, when they were all with drawn, excepting one at my Front Gate, who still continues there.' And I have just received Intelligence that two of the Officers. were over heard to declare that they are determined to seize me at the Barracks till the Determination of the Congress is Known. Mr Skinner's House was invested the same Night when they obtained au Entrance and searched the House through for him, but without Effect, as he had the Precaution to leave the Town in the Morning, in order to endeavour to make his Escape across Staten Island to one of the King's ships at New York, where, from what I have since heard, he is probably arrived safe. Winds, I understand, has sent my Letter to Lord Stirling at Elizabeth Town, and waits farther Orders from him. He has just assured a Servant of mine. who met him in the Street, that he was extremely concerned for the Disturbance he had given me and MTM Franklin at such an improper Time of the Night, but that he could not avoid it, his Orders being positive to send his Letter to me at that Time. So that it seems I have no Body to blame but Lord Stirling for that Transaction. I find it is conjectured that the Congress will order me to be seized and sent to the Interior Part of the Country, that I may not have an Opportunity of 1 For the peppery correspondence between Gov. Franklin and Lieut. Winds on on this occasion, see Duer's Life of Stirling, 120-1. transmitting any more Intelligence to your Lordship. This has occasioned me to make another Copy of the Letter which was intercepted, in hopes of having some safe Opportunity of conveying it to New York in Time for the Ship.-Some of the Newspapers, &c. sent in the Original I have no Duplicates of. M: Dashwood Secretary of the General Post Office has been kind enough, on hearing of the Disaster which befel my Dispatch to send off a Man belonging to the Office at New-York for any Letters I may have for England; but as I find there are Centinels placed at all the Ferries, and in many other Places, it will not be prudent to trust him with this Dispatch. Whatever may happen I am determined that nothing shall influence me to swerve in the least from that Loyalty and Duty, which I owe His Majesty which has been the Pride of my Life to demonstrate upon all Occasions. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect and Regard, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient & most humble servant W FRANKLIN Report of Richard Jackson, Esq., on an Act passed in the Province of New Jersey in September, 1772, for the relief of Richard Stevens with respect to the imprisonment of his person. [From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 10, L. 39.] To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. May it please your Lordships In obedience to your Lordships Commands Signified to me by M Pownall, I have perused and consid |