to contribute to the public charges than any other chief goverror of any other colony."

In answer to this the assembly, May 1751, respectfully represented, "that the preserving a good understanding with the Indians was more for the interest of the proprietary estate than that of any other estate in the province, as it gave the proprietaries an opportunity of purchasing lands on the frontiers at a low price, and selling them at a high one, which would otherwise be impracticable: that, therefore, the obligations of justice and equity being stronger than those of law, they were certainly bound by them to contribute to the expence of those Indian treaties and presents by which the good understanding so beneficial to them was maintained; that though taxes in form, for the immediate support of the proprietaries' substitute, and for defraying the charges of these Indian treaties, had not of late years been imposed on the province, the charge of all (by the interest of the papermoney, which was a virtual tax, the excise, which was a real one, producing about 3000l. per annum, and the tax arising from licenses of various kinds, amounting yearly to a sum not inconsiderable, and appropriated wholly to the governors support,) was paid by the province: that the assembly had always paid the Indian interpreter for his public services to his full satisfaction: that they believed future assemblies would not fail to do whatever could be reasonably expected from them in regard to his son, when he should be qualified to succeed him; as also to discharge all just debts for expences properly chargeable to the province, whether incurred there or in England, whenever the accounts should be exhibited that by the act forbidding all but the proprietaries to purchase lands of the Indians, they had obtained a monopoly of the soil, consequently ought to bear the whole charge of every treaty for such purchases, as the profit was to be wholly theirs: that their paying for land (bought as was conceived much cheaper on account of the provincial presents accompanying those treaties) was not a satisfactory reason, why they should not bear a part of the charge of such other treatics as tended to the common welfare and peace of the pro

vince: and that upon the whole, as the interests of the proprietaries were so constantly intermixed more or less, with those of the province, in all Indian treaties, and as it appeared the proprietaries thought they paid more than their share, while the people thought they paid abundantly too much, they apprehended the surest way to prevent dissatisfaction on all sides, would be to fix a certain proportion of the charge of all future provincial treaties with the Indians, to be paid by the proprietaries and province respectively: which, not only as a proposal equitable in itself, but conducive also to preserve that union and harmony between the proprietaries and people, so evidently advantageous to both, they hoped, would, on further consideration, be agreed to.” How this was received we shall see in its place.

The assembly proceeded soon after, to take into consideration the growth of the province, and the state of their commerce; and finding both to be such as required an extension of their paper-currency, on the same grounds and for the same ends as at first gave rise to it, unanimously resolved to strike an additional sum of twenty thousand pounds, in order to replace defective bills, and increase the provincial capital, in proportion to the increase of inhabitants; as also to re-emit and continue the sums already in circulation.

A bill was accordingly prepared in January, 1753, and sent up to the governor (Hamilton) for his concurrence; but though that gentleman was a native of the province, with rather better qualifications for his post, and, as may be supposed, more affection for the people than is common with governors, he had his reasons for not seeing this provincial point in the same light that the province did, and therefore returned the bill in a day or two, with his negative upon it: qualified indeed with expressions of concern for his so differing in opinion with them, but founded in the dislike raised in Britain by the late too general and undistinguishing complaints against the plantation bills of credit, which rendered the time very unseasonable for any application to the crown concerning the extension or re-emission of theirs; and fortified by a caveat, which sounded so much the more plausible

is it seemed to be drawn from their own premises, namely, hat the many advantages they derived from the use of papernoney ought to make them extremely careful, how they ook any step which might possibly endanger it.

The assembly, on the other hand, gladly fastened on an ac<nowledgment so express in favour of the thing; and, from he same sense of it, declared themselves to be equally careul with the governor in the conduct and direction of it: but aving so done, they went on to say, 'that as they did not hink the dislike raised in Britain of the plantation-bills, as so general and undistinguishing, or still so warmly substed as the governor seemed to apprehend, so neither did ey conceive the time to be unseasonable for an application › the crown about theirs: that they were equally concerned ith the governor for their difference of opinion, and that ey might not seem to act too precipitately in an affair of ich importance, they chose to make a short adjournment, efore they took his objection into consideration.'

Adjourn they did accordingly; and at their next meeting, hich was towards the end of May the same year, found emselves earnestly pressed by a message from the governor, one hand concerning Indian affairs, and on the other by titions from a considerable number of inhabitants, for a rther addition to their paper-money, supported by a variety allegations of the most interesting and affecting nature. The governor's message, whether premature or not will st appear from the sequel, prepared the house to expect, that the country of Allegheny situate on the waters of the hio, partly within the limits of Pennsylvania, partly within ose of Virginia, already was or soon would be invaded by 1 army of French and Indians from Canada: in which case e Indians inhabiting there, who were a mixture of the Six ations, Shawnese, Delawares, and Twigtwees lately recomen 'ed as allies to the province by the said Six Nations,

be obliged to leave the country, and his majesty's bjects trading with them would be cut off, &c. unless warmed by the messengers sent to them by himself purpose: that Montour, an interpreter, had heard

: that

the French declaration delivered, and the reply of the Indians, which was firm and resolute, but not to be relied upon is they were in want of all things."-So far was matter of intelligence. The rest was a pathetic representation of dangers and mischiefs to be apprehended on their own frontiers, and exhortations to enable him to give the Indians assistance answerable to their exigencies.

And upon the heels of this message, the governor also communicated to them the answer of the proprietaries to the representation of the assembly above exhibited; and which, if purposely calculated to divide the province and inflame the animosities already kindled, could not have been better framed or better timed for those fatal purposes.

Professions of attachment to the true and real interest of the province, of sparing no cost or pains whenever it should' appear to them necessary to advance it, and acting such a part in considering the matter of the representation as all disinterested persons should think just, they set out with: and, having made this ground for themselves, they proceed to charge the assembly with being actuated by ill will to hem on one hand, and a desire to ingratiate themselves with the weaker part of the electors on the other. In the ext paragraph they say after we had, 'ordered our governor › give you the answer which he did, to your former aplication, we had no reason to expect a repetition of the plication directly to ourselves, as you might well suppose e had considered the matter before we had returned our rst answer, and the repeating the request could only proice the repeating the answer, the occasion for which does ot appear to us. It is possible, that one purpose may be in der to shew more publicly this difference in opinion beeen us and yourselves; and if that was ever intended, it ill be convenient we should set this matter in a clear light Ithough it may make our answer longer than we could sh) that the true state of the matter may appear.' They then urge the authority of the board of trade, in justifiion of their former assertion, that they were no more obliged contribute to the public charges, than the chief governor

of any other colony: they will not allow that their honoured father had any assistance from the people in making his purchases, or that there is the least colour for pressing them so unseasonably to contribute to the public charge, seeing that the said charge did not much exceed one half of the revenue:—and they not only return to their first charge, that the assembly by so doing, could only mean to captivate the weakest of the people, and so by their assistance continue to hold their seats in the assembly, but farther, cite as so many proofs, the time of making their first representation, which was just before an election: their printing the report and most extraordinary resolutions on which the said representation was founded, which seemed to argue it was rather intended as an address to them the said populace, than to the proprietaries, and the solemn repetition of the same request as if it was a matter of great value and importance.

Take the next article in their own words. 'Wherefore, on this occasion, it is necessary that we should inform the people, through yourselves their representatives, that, as by the constitution, our consent is necessary to their laws, at the same time that they have an undoubted right to such as are necessary for the defence and real service of the country; so, it will tend the better to facilitate the several matters which must be transacted with us, for their representatives to shew a regard to us and our interest: for, considering the rank which the crown has been pleased to give us in Pennsylvania, we shall expect from the people's representatives on all occasions, a treatment suitable thereto; and that whilst we desire to govern the province according to law only, they should be as careful to support our interests, as we shall always be to support theirs.'

Recurring again to the revenue, they affected to be truly concerned for being obliged to acquaint the public with a state of it, settle that state at six thousand pounds a year, arising from the excise and the provincial bills: again assert, that the annual expence of government for a series of years, including Indian charges, amounts to little more than half that sum: and that of all this revenue, about four hundred