The Governor laid before the Board a Deposition made by James Cunningham, Servant to Peter Chartier, Indian Trader at Alleghenny, and sworn to on the 18th Instant before James Armstrong, Esqr., one of the Justices of Lancaster County, whereby it appears that Peter Chartier, his Master, had accepted a Military Commission under the French King, and was going to Canada, which is likewise confirmed by a Letter wrote by Peter Chartier to Jacob Pyat, an other Indian Trader, a copy whereof was also laid before the Board, and the Governor having prepar'd a Message upon the affair of the Catawbas, and upon these Informations of the Desertion of Peter Chartier, the same was read and approv'd.

A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. "Gentlemen:

"Since your last Meeting I received a Letter from the Governor of Virginia enclosing the Catawbae's Answer to a Message he had sent them pursuant to the Treaty at Lancaster, and desiring my Assistance for settling a Peace between them and the Indians of the Six Nations. I made no difficulty of Promising my best Offices to prevent, if possible, a further effusion of those unhappy people's Blood, and immediately engaged Conrad Weiser to undertake another Journey to Onantago so soon as the Spring should be far enough advanced to afford Grass for his Horses. As the Treachery of the Catawbae's in a former Instance has rendered them justly suspected by the Six Nations, I despair'd of perswading the latter to send Deputies to their Country, and, therefore, instructed Conrad Weiser to propose Williamsburg, or some other Town in Virginia, for the place of Holding the Treaty; but in case the Six Nations cannot be brought to agree to that to consent to its being at Philadelphia upon condition that they limit the Number of Deputies to five on each side, Notwithstanding Governor Gooch has promised to defray the Expence of this Negotiation, the Charge of an Express or two, or perhaps a few Strowds for a Present to the Indians, will probably fall upon this Province, and I doubt not but You will chearfully provide for it.

"I have just received Information that Peter Chartier, after disposing of his Effects in this Government, has gone over to the Enemy. His conduct for some years past has rendred him generally suspected; and it seems my Repremanding him for some very Exceptionable Parts of it is made use of amongst other Things to excuse his Infidelity. Had he been punished as he deserved for the Villanous report he spread two Years ago among the back Inhabitants in order to Spirit them up against such of the Six Nations as should happen to travel through those parts of the Country, he would not have been at this Time with the Enemy; but an Apprehension that the Shawnese (whose perfidious Blood partly Runs in Chartier's Veins), might resent upon our Traders any severitys to

him, restrained me from making use of such, and induced me to chuse the Gentle Method of Reproof which his Brutish Disposition has construed into an affront.

"I am likewise informed that he has persuaded a considerable number of the Shawnese to remove from their old Town to a greater distance upon another River, and it is not to be doubted but that a Person of his Savage Temper will do Us all the Mischief he can. If you think it worth while, I will send a Special Messenger to persuade those Shawnese to return to their former place of Abode, or I will take any other Method you shall advise; tho' it is my Opinion, the Advantages of the Trade Excepted, the further these People remove from our Borders, the better it will be for Us. I have wrote Letters from Time to Time to the Shawnese Chiefs, inviting them down to Philadelphia, and particularly a very kind one the last fall, which Peter Shaver tells me he deliver'd, but that I have of late received no Answer may be imputed to Chartier's influence over them, and it is too probable that he will make use of it to defeat any future Attempts we shall make to revive their friendship with us.

"April 25th, 1745."

"GEO. THOMAS.

The Governor laid before the Board a Complaint made by Shick Calamy to Conrad Weiser, that several great abuses had been Committed by the bringing Rum to Indian Towns, contrary to the Laws of this Province; whereupon, a Proclamation was order'd to be prepar'd and laid before the Council next Council day to prevent these Abuses for the future.

MEMORANDUM.

On the 26th Day of April, Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor with a Written Message, in answer to the last of His Honour's two Messages of Yesterday, and at the same Time acquainted him that his other Message was under the Consideration of the House, and that they proposed to Adjourn to the 18th Aug next, if he had no Objection to that time. His Honour said he had no Objection.

A Message from the Assembly to the Governor. "May it please the Governor

"The good Offices the Governor hath been pleased to undertake, at the desire of the Governor of Virginia, for settling a Peace between the Indians of the Six Nations and the Catawbas, and for preventing, if Possible, a farther effusion of those unhappy, People's blood, is very agreeable to Us, and will, We hope, be attended with the Success desired. And if, for the Accomplishing so good purposes, it become necessary that the Deputies of those Nations should meet at Philadelphia, and consequently occasion a Charge to this Province, and altho' it be reasonable that the Government of Vir

ginia, according to their Promise, do defray the Expence of that negociation, yet as we look upon it at all Times prudent, and more particularly so in the present Critical Juncture of Public Affairs, to cultivate a good understanding with the Indians, and do not doubt of all the frugality requisite, whatever Charge shall necessarily arise for the Expresses and Presents the Governor is pleased to mention, we shall chearfully provide to pay.

"The Infidelity of Peter Chartiers in his going over to the Enemy, and his persuading a considerable Number of the Shawnese to remove from their old Town to a greater Distance on another River, gives us some Concern, as it looks like an Attempt to destroy the Friendship which hitherto Subsisted between those Indians and this Government. It is very probable, from the same treacherous Principles, Chartier may be induced to do us all the Mischief in his Power amongst those Indians; and if a Special Messenger was sent to them it may be attended with some Danger; and considering Chartier's Influence perhaps not be sufficient to induce them to return to the Place of their former Abode, were such Return allow'd to be of Advantage to this Province. We must, however, refer the conducting this Affair to the Governor's Prudence, upon such farther Advices as he may hereafter receive, returning him our hearty Thanks for the care he hath hitherto taken in these Affairs, and making no Question but that as occasion shall require every prudent Measure will be taken to Defeat Chartier's Perfidious Designs, and preserve, if possible, the Shawonese steady in their friendship with this Government."

At a Council held at Philadelphia, 7th May, 1745.

PRESENT:

The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov

ernour.

Robert Strettel, Esqr.

The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approv'd. The following Proclamation being prepared by the Secretary, according to the directions of the last Council, the Governor thought it necessary, as the Indian Traders were in Town and Conrad Weiser was going to Onantago, that the same should be publish'd immediately, and therefore sign'd it, together with a Warrant to affix the Great Seal to it.

"By the Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.

"A PROCLAMATION.

"Whereas, by several Acts of Assembly of this Province, the sell

ing of Rum to the Indians is Prohibited under severe Penalties, and particularly by an Act of the 12th of King William, it is enacted as follows: That all Rum, Brandy, or other Strong Liquors that shall be carried or offer'd to Sale or Disposal to or at any of the Indian Towns or Habitations within the Bounds of this Province, shall be forfeit, and it is hereby declared to be forfeit, One-Third to the Governor and Two-Thirds to such Person or Persons as shall Seize the same; and all Persons (as well Indians as others) are hereby impowered to seize and secure all such Rum, Brandy, or other strong Spirits so found at any Indian Towns or Settlements aforesaid. And by another Act of the 8th Year of the late King George the first, it is among other things enacted, 'That no Person whatsoever, otherwise than is therein declared, shall Sell, Barter, or Give to any Indian or Indians, or to any other Person for their Use, nor by any Means, directly or indirectly, furnish or cause to be furnished any Indian or Indians with any Rum, Wine, or other strong Liquors, mixed or unmixed, under the Penalty of Twenty Pounds for each Offence; One Half to the Governor for Support of Government, and the other Half to the Informer, or such Person or Persons as will sue for the same.' And further, 'That in case any Rum or other Spirits, above the Quantity of one Gallon, be carried among the Indians at their towns, or beyond the Christian Inhabitants, the Person carrying the same, or he in whose Possession the same shall be found, shall forfeit and pay the sum of Twenty pounds to the uses aforesaid." And further, "That any Person or Persons whatsoever, after the first Day of August then next following, under the Penalty of Twenty pounds for the Uses aforesaid, shall trade or traffick with any Indian for any Commodity whatsoever, but at their own dwelling Houses & Places of Residence with their ffamilys, within some settled Township of this Province, without being first Recommended to the Governor for his Licence by the Justices of the County Courts of Quarter Sessions where he resides, or the next Quarter Sessions within this Province to the Place of such Residence; and that no Person shall be so licenced without giving Bond in the said Quarter Sessions, with one or more Substantial Freeholders of the same County to be bound with them in the Sum of One hundred Pounds, conditioned that he will duly Observe the Laws of this Province for regulating the Trade with the Indians, which Recommendations and Licences shall be renew'd Annually in the manner before directed; and shall further, by his Oath or Affirmation, Oblige himself that he will not directly or indirectly sell or dispose of any Rum or other Spirits, mixed or unmixed, to any Indian.'

"And whereas frequent Complaints have been made from Time to Time by the Indians, and of late earnestly renewed, that divers gross irregularities and abuses have been committed in the Indian Countrys, and that many of their People have been cheated and enflamed to such a degree by means of strong Liquors being brought

and sold amongst them contrary to the said Laws, as to endanger their own Lives and the Lives of others, I have, therefore, by and with the advice of the Council, thought fit for the future Prevention of such disorders, as far as in me lies, to publish this Proclamation, strictly charging and commanding That no person or persons do hereafter presume to trade with the Indians without first obtaining a License from the Governor for the Time being, according to the directions given in the said Acts of Assembly; and I do hereby also strictly enjoin the Magistrates of the several Counties within this Province, and especially those of the County of Lancaster, where these Abuses are mostly carried on, to be very vigilant and carefull in the discharge of the Duties required of them by the said Acts of Assembly, and in Particular to demand such Licence of Persons Travelling with Goods to Trade with the Indians, and to make or cause diligent search to be made for any Quantity of Rum or other strong Liquors exceeding the Quantity allowed by Law, which they shall have reason to suspect is carrying to the Indians. Moreover, in as much as by the said Act of Assembly of the 12th of King William, all Rum, Brandy, and other Spirits carried into any of the Indian Towns, is declared to be forfeit, One Third to the Governor and the other Two-thirds to the persons seizing the same, I do hereby give full Power and Authority to any Indian or Indians to whom Rum or other Strong Liquors shall hereafter be offered for Sale contrary to the said Laws, to stave and break to pieces the Cask or Vessel in which such Rum or other strong Liquor is contained, without being accountable to me for my Third part.

"Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the Province of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, this seventh day of May, in the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George II. King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, & and in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and forty-five. "GEORGE THOMAS.

"By command.

"Richard Peters.

"GOD SAVE THE KING."

At a Council held at Philadelphia, the 27th May, 1745.

PRESENT:

The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov

ernor.

Thomas Laurence,

William Till,

Robert Strettell,

Samuel Hasell,
Abraham Taylor. Esqrs.

The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved.