216. To Anthony Elton for a Quarters Salary as Door keeper to the Council for the Quarter ended this day

2.10.0

M: Alexander acquainted His Excellency that Lewis Ashfield Esq was at the Door attending with his Majestys Mandamus to His Excellency for Swearing and admitting him One of His Majestys Council of this Province with a Certificate of his Acquital by due Course of Law of what he had been Chargd with and allegd as Reason for the Delay of his Qualification and prayd that he might be calld in.

His Excellency adjourned the Council to Meet to morrow morning at Ten O'Clock.

TUESDAY AUGUST 11: 1752

The Council Met Present His Excellency the Governor The Honble James Hude, Andrew Johnston & Peter Kemble Esqrs

His Excellency gave the following Answer to the Motion of James Alexander Esq' of yesterday. Gentlemen of the Council

66

"After what I said to you in October last & is on "the Council Minits I am Surprized at the Motion "made yesterday by M Alexander relating to the Kings Mandamus for admitting M Ashfield into the Council wth weh I once more tell you, You have no "Business or Concern nor will I hear anything from "you about it this I say to save Yourselves or me any "further trouble and if you are minded to show that "Young Gentleman any Respect I would advise you to "teach him his Duty in this matter To the Kings "Governour and when he practices it he shall have "my Answer."

ELIZABETH TOWN August 11: 1752

J BELCHER

His Excellency laid before the Board for their Consideration a Charter proposed for the Incorporation of the Five Dutch reformd Churches in the Counties of Middlesex, Somersett and Hunterdon wch being Read It is Orderd that it be Referrd to their next Quarterly meeting and that in the mean time the Secretary do procure the Statute of Mortmain.

Compared wth Minitts of Council of the Province of New Jersey of wch this is a true Copy

August 12, 1752

CHA READ D Secr

Letter from Governor Belcher to Messrs. Belcher and Foye, Massachusetts, about the promotion of manufactures.

[From Papers of Gov. Belcher in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]

I am fully in opinion with you and my other Friends in New England that there is no Wiser or better Measure to go into for retrieving the Miserable Circumstances of your Province than to promote Manufactures among Your selves and at same time to be practising Economy and all possible Frugality and I have often wondered that Gentlemen of Substance have not long before this Set up a Glass House for which you are much better Accomodated than any one can be in this Province where such a work has already turn'd out to great Profit.

But you put me upon a Hard Task to procure you any Tolerable Information as to the Carrying on of those Works here in which the Managers are very close and

Secret however I will take all the prudent Steps I can to make you an Answer in this matter and to get a Sample of the Clay you mention but as I am here at a great distance from those Works it will require time to Obtain what I desire for you. * *

I am Sirs Yours &c.

J BELCHER

Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Alford, of Boston-thanking him for a subscription to the College-manufacture of glass, etc.

[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]

ELIZABETH Aug 24 1752

Col Alford Boston

Sir

My worth Friend

*

As head of the Trustees of our little College I do in their Names most heartily thank you for your kind & generous Subscription for the Encouragement & better Establisem of this Seminary put forward I believe for promoting the honour & interest of the Kingdom of the Blessed Jesus as well as for giving an Opportunity to the Inhabitants of this & the Neighbouring Provinces to Improve themselves in Religion & Human Literature. Pray make my Compliments to Mr [James] Allen with the rest of the Subscribing Benefactors and I pray God to Reward this their good Will and bounty plentifully into their own Bosoms.

I have begun to make Inquiry about the Glass Works in this Province wch are 130 miles from this Town & as I know no proper person near them capable of getting the Information you desire I have hardly a lean

hope of rendring you any Service in that matter in which the Undertakers are very close & Secret. I was well Acquainted with one Caspar a German who lived at Phil and was the first and principal Undertaker of the Glass Works in this Province and with whom I discours'd particularly about them (5 years ago) and he Complained to me that the Clay for the Furnace Bottoms was but poor and often gave way to their great damage and Complain'd also that they cou'd not make their Glass so Clear and strong for want of Help their Works being near two hundred miles from any Quantity of it.

This Caspar is lately dead and from a very poor man rais'd and left a Fortune of 20. or 30,000 £ Str. I have had from others Engag'd in the Works the same Complaint of want of proper Materials for the Mettle and for the Furnace and as I really think there can be no good & honest Intelligence gain'd from those Undertakers were I to Advise you, you shou'd send to London for a Head Operator & 2 or 3 Skilfull Assistants and at same time to bring with them a Quantity of Sturbridge Clay for your Bottoms if it can by any way or meanes be got aboard a Ship for its Exportation is prohibited upon a great Penalty and yet my Frds Contriv'd to send me 3 or 4 Hh about 30 years agoe for the Bottoms of my Copper Furnaces & weh bad defyance to the Hottest fire but it was a very Chargeable thing to get.

I am told a Glass Undertak" is going forw" at N. York & that about a Month agoe they had 5 Skilfull Work men came to them from Holland or London.

Honoble Sir Y' Assured Frd &c.

J. BELCHER

Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Traderelative to his not admitting Lewis Morris Ashfield to a seat in the Council.

[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 7, H. 13.]

ELIZABETH TOWN N J September 15 1752

May it please Your Lordships

Although I have once and again, wrote Your Lord. ships, respecting the King's Mandamus, for Swearing and Admitting Mr Lewis Morris Ashfield; to be one of His Majestys Council of this Province, and that an Indictment for a Misdemeanor, lay against him in One of the Kings Courts here, and which I judg'd a reasonable Obstacle, against his being Admitted, but from the said Indictment, he was Acquitted--in March last,through a mear Criticism in the Law, although I suppose there was hardly a person present, but believed him truely and really guilty, of the Substance of that Indictment; and I think it proper, now to forward to your Lordships—

A letter from the Judge who tryd the matter As also the Kings Attorney General Notes, of some Particulars that past at the Tryal.

These things I pray your Lordships to read, and Consider.

As also Mr William Morris Affirmation, relating to the said Lewis Morris Ashfield rude, and Indecent Treatment of His Majesty, in the Person of His Gover

nour.

And the said Lewis Morris Ashfield' Recognizance, For his good Behaviour.

These things, May it please Your Lordships, being duly weighed, I cannot but Suppose, You will be fully in Opinion with me, that they are a Just and reasona