Petition of the inhabitants of East Jersey, asking to be taken under the government of the King, should the Proprietors not appoint a suitable person as Governor.

[From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 6, No. G. 23.]

TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

THE HUMBLE PETON Your Majtys Loyall Subjects inhabiting in your Majtys Province of East New Jersey in America.

Humbly Sheweth.

THAT M Jeremiah Basse was sent over by the Proprietors of this Your Majty Province In the year 1697 with a Commission from them to govern the said Province, whose Authority was by many opposed, for that (as it was alleged) he wanted our Majtys Royall approbation as by Act of Parliament is required, whereupon very great disturbances have arisen amongst the Inhabitants of this Your Majtys Province.

That the Councill here did give an account to the said Proprietors, of those disturbances & at the same time did advise and assure them that no Gov! by them commissionated would satisfy the People here without Your Majty Royall approbation.

That yet notwithstanding (in contempt of your Majtys known Laws and against the advice of the Councill aforesaid) They the said Props have sent over Colonell Andrew Hamilton (in the year 169 ) to govern the s Province by virtue of a commission from themselves only, not having your Majty Royall approbation, who has thereupon assumed the Government; and by force of arms holds Courts to the great terrour of your Majty good Subjects; and has pressed Sundry Persons

to his assistance therein, some of whom he has imprisoned, and fined for no other cause but for refusing Obedience to his Illegall Authority commanding them to take up Arms against their peaceable Neighbours. WE Your Majus Loyall Subjects labouring under these and many other grievances and oppressions by the Proprietor of this your Majtys Province of East New Jersey, do in most humble manner lay ourselves prostrate before your Maj (the fountain of Justice) humbly imploring your Majty will be graciously pleased, according to your Princely Wisdome, to take into consideration Our evill circumstances under the present Props And that Your Majty will be graciously pleased to give Your Royall Command to the said Props (if the Right of Government is invested in them) that with Your Majtys Royall approbation they commissionate for Gov! a fitt Person, qualifyed according to Law, who as an indifferent Judge may decide the Controversies, arising between the Prop's and the Inhabitants of this Your Majty Province, and settle all the differences which at present they labour under, or if otherwise Your Majty be graciously pleased to take the Government immediately into Your Majty own hands, We humbly pray (if it may be for your Majty Service) That East and West New Jersey's may be one distinct Government

And Your Pet's as in duty bound shall ever Pray &c 1

1 These names are written in columns in the draft, but as they are not original autographs, it is impossible to say in what order they were written. All those hav. ing an asterisk appended are very doubtful.

Kend. Hendickson Jn: Swinney

Jo: Fitz Randolph Jn. Herne

[Transmitted in a letter of Mr. R. Yard, Secretary of the Lords Justices, July

Letter from Lewis Morris to the Lords of Trade in relation to the disorders in New Jersey.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Proprieties. Vol. 6, G. 28 ]

Mem! from Mr Lewis Morris lately come from ye Jerseys, relating to ye Disorders in those Prov. inces.

TO THE RIGHT HONBLE THE LORDS COMMISSES FOR TRADE & FORREIGN PLANTATIONS

MY LORDS.

In Obedience to your L'ps comands, I have perus'd the Petic'ons of East and West Jersie, & the better to Enable Your L'ps, to Judge of ye hardships y Petic'on'rs lye under, I take Leave to Lay before your L'ps, ye State of those two Provinces, but more particularly, of East Jersie, weh is as follows.

M: Basse ariv'd ye last of March 1698, and some time in Aprill, aply'd himselfe to ye then Governor (Hamilton) and Councill, Producing a Comission, from ye Proprietors (of East Jersie), for Governour of that Province, but not Producing an Approbation, As was Expected, the Governour told him, yt though he was assur'd y Proprietors, had given what authority they had, to M Basse and had thereby Sup'seded him, yet he did not thinke, Mr Basse without ye Kings Aprobation, was sufficiently authoris'd to Enter upon y Government, however, he left that matter with y Councill, who adjourn'd for a day or two, & at y time appointed, part of them met Againe, (some of which are in y number of the Petic'oners) and notwithstanding that Barr; acknowledg'd him their Governour, & twelve daies after swore him, and Was themselves sworne by him.