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sired to make to us, must be supposed disagreeable) may not now be in the house, but may be succeeded by more prudent persons returned for their places, who would be careful not to press a matter too far, in which the rights of the people are not really concerned: however, the answer we give must be to the representation sent us. And we desire, in any matter of the like nature, that the house will be satisfied with such an answer, as the governor may have orders to give on our behalf.

THOMAS PENN,

RICHARD PENN.'

In the temper the assembly was in before the reading of this ungracious paper, it was but natural to expect, that they would have taken fire immediately, and proceeded at once to their own justification.

But, much to the honour of their prudence, they took a different method. They ordered it to lie on the table, together with their own votes, report, representation, &c. alluded to in it; and returning to the two points already before them, resolved to clear their way, by dispatching them first. *These, it will be remembered, were the currency-bill, returned to the house by the governor before their adjournment, with a negative, and the governor's message with respect to the resolution of the Indians to withstand the French, in case they should be invaded by them on the Ohio.

They had also under consideration several new dispatches from their agent here at home, and also an account of the value of their imports from hence; which for the year 1749 was in all two hundred and thirty-eight thousand six hundred and thirty-seven pounds two shillings and ten pence. For the year 1750, two hundred and seventeen thousand seven hundred and thirteen pounds and ten pence. And for the year 1751, one hundred and ninety thousand nine hundred and seventeen pounds five shillings and one penny. Whence it was apparent, that for want of a sufficient currency, to invigorate the industry, and supply the wants of the province, the importations from hence were in a gradual course of de

clension.

And after mature deliberation on the whole matter, they again sent up their bill to the governor with the following message, viz.

'May it please the Governor,

"The governor's apprehension, at our last sitting, that the dislike raised in Great Britain of the bills of credit in the plantations, by the late too general and undistinguishing complaints, so warmly subsisted, as to make any application to the crown about our currency at that time unseasonable, induced the house, notwithstanding their different sentiments, to make a short adjournment, to consider farther of the weight of that objection; and also of the sums by that bill proposed to be made, and continued current in this province. And now, when we reflect, that though the complaints against a paper-currency, arising from the excesses of some colonies therein, were indeed at first too general and undistinguishing, so as to occasion the bringing into parliament a bill for restraining the same in all the colonies; yet, as upon strict enquiry (a state of our currency then lying before them) the parliament thought fit to alter the bill, and lay the restraint only on those colonies where that currency had been abused, we cannot but look on this as distinguishing in our favour; especially as we are assured, that no complaints were ever made of our currency by the British merchants, trading hither, who only could be affected by it; but that on the contrary they have, whenever called upon for their opinion, by the parliament or the lords of trade, appeared openly and warmly in its favour, and declared (as they did in 1739, when our act for eighty thousand pounds, the present sum, was under consideration) That it was not only a reasonable sum, but absolutely necessary for carrying on the commerce of the country; which appears by the report of the said lords, made on that occasion to the council. And as the exports from Britain to this province, of which we have authentic accounts, had then, in the three preceding years, amounted to no more than one hundred and seventy-nine thousand six hundred and fifty-four pounds nine shillings and two pence sterling; and now in the years 1749, 1750, and 1751, they

amount to six hundred and forty-seven thousand three hun. dred and seventeen pounds eight shillings and nine pence sterling; and our numbers of people, and domestic trade, and the occasions for a medium of commerce, are equally increased, there cannot, we think, be any doubt, but the British merchants will now likewise be of opinion, that the small addition we at present propose is absolutely necessary, though they may not think it so suitable to our circumstances as a larger sum; one hundred thousand pounds of paper-currency bearing by no means the same proportion to our trade now, as eighty thousand pounds did then. And it is certain, that, as the money circulating among us diminishes, so must our trade and usefulness to Great Britain, and our consumption of its manufactures, diminish.

'Upon the whole, we intreat the governor to consider the distressing circumstances under which the trade, and in consequence the whole province, must languish, if, contrary to our expectations, the bill we now present him should not be enacted into a law. And we are well assured, that as the gQvernor has been pleased to declare his sentiments of the many advantages we derive from the use of paper-money, his transmitting it home, in a true light, will make our application to the crown as effectual as it is seasonable.'

The governor now demurred in his turn, and by his secretary gave the house to understand, that, as it was usual for the assembly to meet again in August to finish the business of the year, he chose for that and some other reasons, to keep the bill under consideration, till that time.

In this the house acquiesced: and having suspended all resolutions on the proprietaries' paper, and the draught prepared by a committee of their own in answer to it, till their next sitting, proceeded to the Indian affairs, and having come to proper resolutions thereon, transmitted them also, together with the following judicious message to the governor, to

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'We have, on all occasions, acknowledged our grateful sentiments of the governor's regard and justice towards the

Indians, our allies; and we now again return our hearty thanks for his continued care, and for communicating the intelligence he has received concerning their present distresses. In pursuance of which, we have resumed the consideration of the letters laid before the house, with the message of the 16th of October last, together with the governor's late message and papers, sent down to us before and since the return of the expresses dispatched to Ohio. We have also carefully examined the messenger himself, and such Indian traders, and others, who could give us any information of the numbers, and designs of the forces, raised by the governor of Canada, and of the condition of the Twigtwees, as well as the other Indians, our allies, upon the waters of Ohio, and upon mature deliberation, have resolved to contribute generously to their assistance, by a present suitable to their want of the necessaries of life.

'Though the alliance between the crown of Great Britain and the Six Nations, and the protection and assistance they expect to receive in virtue of that alliance, is more immediately under the direction of the government of New York; and although Virginia, at this time, has entered largely into the trade, and will, no doubt, on the present occasion, assist them and their allies, yet we have always endeavoured, in proportion to our abilities, by presents, as well as by obliging our Indian traders to behave with justice towards them, to preserve their friendship; and on the present occasion, notwithstanding we have the misfortune to differ in sentiments with our proprietaries in the part they ought to bear in these expences, we have rather considered the advantages both they and the province may receive by our liberality, which we have voted cheerfully, and recommended the distribution. to the care of the governor, that the Six Nations at Onondage (upon any application to be made to him in their own behalf, or for their allies who reside to the westward, and are likely to be more immediately affected) may be satisfied, and the present intended them best answer their necessities, and our peaceable and friendly intentions.'

The present was eight hundred pounds; two hundred pounds as a present of condolence to the Twigtwee nation, for the loss of fourteen of them, cut off in the preceding year, by the French and their Indians," and the rest to be distributed by the governor among the other nations, at his own discretion.

Thus far all was calm and quiet,—and at their next meeting, in the latter end of August, they received two other messages from the governor, relating to the money-bill and the Indian present: the latter importing, that he had not, as yet, received any application for any purpose whatever, from any of the Indians; nor even such well-grounded advices of their wants and distresses as to induce him to make any use of the credit reposed in him: that he had, however, dispatched Weiser [the interpreter] for intelligence; and that, having received advices by all who came from the westward, that the French were on their march towards the Ohio, and had sent out their parties to scour the woods before them, he had not sent the present of condolence, for fear of its falling into the enemies' hands, &c.

And as to the former, it related to the currency-bill, returned at the same time with some few amendments, to which he, the governor, presumed the house could have no objection; and concluded with these remarkable expressions: 'I cannot, however, but acquaint you, that in giving my assent to this bill, I have acted rather in compliance to your repeated application, than that, in my own judgment, I could think an addition, to our currency at this time, absolutely necessary: I am in hopes, nevertheless, that as the sum to

7 They suffered this loss in defence of some English traders then in one of their towns. The French came with a strong body, and demanded that the traders and their goods should be delivered up to them. The Indians determined to protect them, but were overpowered by numbers; some of the traders were killed and the rest carried to Montreal, and afterwards sent prisoners to France. This was before the commencement of the present war, and one of the many hostilities of the like kind previous to our seizing their ships.

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