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have an advantage over the Other, and make Some act of Assembly, to Keep the disparity for ever. the Eighth article, is ye Limiting ye number of Assembly men, their Quallifications, their L'pps may alter the number if they thinke fit. the Proprietors Judges that number ye ye fittest, and as to their qualifications, its only modally-different, from ye House of Commons in England. the Proprietors, and Severall Persons in that country, have large tracts of Land, and if every body, were admitted (though of Never so little worth) to be Lawmakers, those Persons of best Estate in ye Countrie, and ye Prop's Interests, would be at y disposall, of ye tag, rag, and Rascallity. These S are ye Proprietors Reasons, and I hope in youre Opinion, they are good Reasons, as to the method of Grantiug those things, they leave it to your Lordships.

The pressent circumstances of things, in that Country, requires that there be some thing Speedily done, and if there was an Order sent, comanding an Obedience to Coll Hamilton till matters was adjusted (which I feare will take up some time) it might hinder ye Spilling abundance of humane blood. Inclos'd are Some names of Persons for Councellors, and Some Papers we came from Jersie, if there is any other perticuler, relating to y1 Country, weh you thinke fit to be apris'd of. If I can do it, you man comand.

ST

Your Most Obedient Servant

Sept: 13: 1701

L. MORRIS.

[Enclosed in the foregoing.]

BLE

TO THE RIGHT HON THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS FOR TRADE & FOREINE PLANTATIONS.

THE HUMBLE MEMORIALL of the Greatest part of ye Proprietors of the Provinces of East and West

Jersie.

May it Please your L'ps.

We are humbly of opinion, y' the right to ye goverment of the Provinces, of East and West Jersie (untill we do make a Surender of it, or untill we are disposest of it by due course of Law) is Lodg'd in us, and as we are Willing to part wth this right, and put those goverments, under his Majesties more Imediate Administrac'on; and to that End Have presented our Humble memoriall, to their Excelle's: the Lords Justices (wch is by them refer'd to your L'ps) conteining such conditions, as we are Willing to make this Surend' upon wch we presume are no other, then Such as will Secure to us Our civil Rights; and to ye Inhabitants of those Provinces, Such priveledges as is necessary they should Enjoy; and Which we Humbly hope, your Lordships will advise His Majestie to grant: And more Especially the thirteenth article of ye said memoriall, without we we thinke our properties cannot well be secured; and without which in Our Opinion, we cannot be safe in making A Surrender.

We do therefore most Humbly Propose and Pray, y Coll Andrew Hamilton (in whom we have an Entire confidence y' he will put in Execution ye Acts of Navigation, and Sedulously act on yo behalfe of His Majestie, in pursuance of such Instructions as he shall from time to time Receive) may be Governour of that Province He having during his past Administration,

behav'd himselfe As became a good man; Administering Justice Equally to the Inhabitants, and discharging the trust by us repos'd in Him, with faithfullnesse and Truth; and on all ocasions procuring what assistance he could, of Men and money to the frontiers during the Last Warr wth France.

We begg your L'ps further to consider, that this is not onely the desire of (by far) ye major Part of yo Proprietors, here in England, but of all ye proprietors in America, and ye whole province of West Jersey, and of 5-6ths of East; and that it is Opos'd by none but M Dockwra, and A small number of the meaner sort, who Sides wth one Bowne, who we can by no means Admitt to be Govern, unlesse we designe to have our Interests in that Country totaly ruin'd, as your L'ps will percieve, by A protest made in yt country, and Sundry depositions taken there, and are ready to be product before your Lordships.

We allso Intreat your L'ps, to look upon coll° Hamilton as an Indifferent Person, and that there is no other reason to thinke him byas't to A party, then to thinke all the Magistrates in the world so, who Endeavour to punish those who breake ye Laws; Opose their Authority; and Obstruct ye Publique Justice.

It is rare to find in any human Societie, an agree ment of all ye members; we are (by farr) y majority, y' Pray that Coll Hamilton may be continued, Govern! of yt Province, and we humbly hope our desires may be complyed with.

L. MORRIS

In behalfe of all ye Proprietors Residing in East Jersie.

JOSEPH ORMSTON for Edward Anthill Charles

Ormston and selfe.

GILBERT MOLLESON

THO LANE
PAUL DOCMINIQUE

E. RICHIER
FFRAN: MINSHULL
MICHAEL WATTS
for all the Proprietors of
West Jersie

[Enclosed in the foregoing letter.]

Persons Recommended by ye Majority of the Proprietors of the Province of East and West Jersie to be of ye Councill in New Jersie.

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the Board may be Inform'd of ye characters of Persons in that Country by

St Edmond Andross Coll Joseph Dudley Capt" Jasper Hicks Capt" Christopher Billop Capt" James Thomas M' Adolph Phillips M: James Mills Mr Thomas Palmer the Reverend George Keith:

Memorial of Jeremiah Basse to the Lords of Trade, asking to be heard before any final decision, as to the Surrender of the Government of East & West Jersey.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Proprieties, Vol. 6, G. 35 ]

TO THE RIGHT HONORBLE THE LORDS COMMISSES OF TRADE &

THE HUMBLE Memorial of J Bass on the behalfe of His Majesties Province of East Jersie.

May itt please Your Lordsh*.

Being Informed that some few of the Proprietors of the Jersies have made some proposals of surrendring their Pretentions to that Government vnto his Majesty, & have also petitioned for the Aprobation of their late Governor Hamilton but not being aqvainted with the termes of their Surrender or the contents of the saide petition I must humbly move on the behalfe of the saide Inhabitants least theare should be any thing thearin that may be derogotary to their just rights & interests that your Lordships would be pleased to Order Me Coppys boath of the saide Pretended Articles of Surrender & Petition that I may advice with Councill on the same & that your Lordships would be pleased to Allow me time if theare should appeare any thing contrary to the Interests of the Inhabitants to give in Reasons against either the saide Articles or Petition. This my Lords I am the rather Induced to Request of your Lordships in that I am advised by Council Learned in the Law That these Pretended proprietors of the Jersies have no Legal Title to the saide Government of the Jersies.

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