them to lay up the fruits of their labour and keep them off the town." The testimony on the same point, in the State of New York, is not less conclusive, as will be seen by the ensuing extract from a report of the Secretary of that State, on the poor laws, in the year 1824. "Of the whole number of permanent paupers, (6,896,) the returns and estimates will warrant the assertion, that at least 1,585 male persons were reduced to that state.by the excessive use of ardent spirits; and, of consequence, that their families, (consisting of 989 wives and 2,167 children,) were reduced to the same penury and want; thus presenting strong evidence of the often asserted fact, that intemperance has produced more than twothirds of all the permanent pauperism in the State;and there is little hazard in adding, that to the same cause may be ascribed more than one-half of the occasional pauperism." In our own State, we are not without evidence to the same effect. The following passages have been taken from the communications of the directors of the poor, in different counties of this commonwealth, to be found on the Journals of the late House of Representatives. (1) Dauphin county.-"Could our poor houses be made, as well the schools of reform as asylums for the indigent, it would be a very pleasing circumstance; but it is a lamentable fact, that perhaps two-thirds of the paupers, in most of the poor houses in the State, have become such by dissipation, and only cease to remain its votaries from the want of means and physical abilities to indulge in it, and not from any change of disposition during their pauperage.” Franklin county."At the present time we have a number here, that if there was no institution, they would not be a charge; they calculate on being kept here a considerable time before they acquire an order of relief. Dissipation and other bad habits is the cause." Chester county."Those who come to us able to work, come to be fed and clothed, and to pass through the world in the most idle and easy way, and, generally speaking, they are very debauched and much depraved in their morals." The answers from the directors of the poor, in some of the counties of this commonwealth, to the enquiries of the committee on pauperism, in the year 1821, shed further light on this subject. The directors of Chester county say, "The great ease with which paupers obtain admission, and the vagrant idle dispositions of many who apply, and the want of power in the board to dismiss or place to service those able to work, which they cannot employ, that might be employed elsewhere, are among the causes of pauperism with us. Intoxication, and a disposition in many to spend all they can earn, taking chance for public support in time of need, is another cause of pauperism with us. Fornication and bastardy is another cause of pauperism with us." if drunkenness makes paupers, the poor laws in return makes drunkards, by holding out to them the public purse to supply the deficiences occasioned by their misspent earnings, and to support them when incapacitated by their intemperance from supporting themselves." (i) Upon the whole, your committee cannot shut their eyes to the fact, which they believe to be glaring and undeniable, that by far the greater number of paupers are individuals who have been reduced to want by their own debauched habits, intemperance or improvidence, 4. Whether any expedient has been found, by any modification of the system, to prevent the evils which it produces? So early as the 8th and 9th of William and Mary, much alarm was felt in England, on account of the rapid increase of the poor rates, and an attempt was then made to check the evil, by attaching an additional degradation to pauperism. By a statute passed in that year, every pauper was required, under severe penalties, to wear a badge or mark, indicating his situation. The effect of this badging law was, that although at first, some were deterred from asking relief, by an unwillingness to be subjected to a public exposure, yet the sense of shame gradually wore off-the evil was not arrested-the number of paupers continued to augment, as before, and any relics of pride and independence, which they might have possessed, and which might have been the means of redeeming them from their humiliating condition, were entirely destroyed. This expedient having failed entirely, another has been resorted to, in more modern times-that of erecting work houses for the reception of the poor. It is enough to say here, that the same effects have resulted from the system in England, which were produced by the device of badging the poor. The increase of their numbers has not been checked, and the character of that class has been, in every way, materially depressed. As this plan of erecting poor houses, has been introduced into this country, and is at this moment believed by many of our citizens, to afford the best mode of checking the progress of pauperism, it may not be improper to consider it more at large. The experience of England, has been briefly stated above; that of our own state, will be detailed hereafter. The present object of inquiry is, whether the plan be a reasonable one in itself, or at all likely to produce the effect for which it is designed. As a permanent check to the increase of pauperism, by acting on the sense of shame, the scheme appears altogether irrational. The humiliation attendant upon alms taking is, indeed, a powerful obstacle to mendicity, because the relief to be obtained is never entirely certain, and the feeling of degradation operates in its full force on a single beggar, who has no crowd of fellow paupers around him, with whom to share it. But the The directors of the poor, for the townships of Ox- poor laws give a full assurance that assistance will be afford and Lower Dublin, use this language on the sub- forded, and thus enhance the temptation, while the efject. "Of the number of paupers remaining in the fect of a poor house is to lessen the sense of shame, by house on the 1st of May, fifteen are coloured people, creating a community of paupers, protected from the and of that number four are mothers of bastard children. gaze of all who are not of their own class. If, howevIt is difficult to designate with accuracy the particular er, it should operate at all, it will be only upon the uncause to which the individual cases may be directly re- fortunate virtuous and honorable, and thus individuals, ferred; it is believed, however, that by far the greater of the very class for whose exclusive benefit the public number may be attributed, directly or indirectly, to the charity ought to be exerted, will be shut out from a pardeleterious poison of ardent spirits." Again: "The ticipation in it, in favor of the profligate and abandoned. number of illegitimate children, together with their mo- A poor house has been considered as affording a more thers, during the period of their nurture, is a serious and comfortable and cheaper subsistence to the paupers, increasing evil." And again: "Intemperance, consider than could be afforded in any other mode; and there are ed as the most productive source of pauperism, claims even yet some persons, who, in spite of all experience, the most serious attention to measures of prevention.-credit the possibility of such an institution producing an But if intemperance is considered as productive of pauperism, it should not be forgotten, on the other hand, that the unqualified mode of relief from the poor laws reciprocates equal encouragement to intemperance; and (1) p. 32. actual profit to the public. It is not to be denied that, with strict economy and attention, the same number of (1) The paper here quoted contains a very able view of the subject. It was probably written by Stephen Duncan, Esq. paupers may be more comfortably and more cheaply supported in one establishment, under the immediate superintendence of intelligent and efficient managers, than when maintained at board wages, or supplied with money, to be expended at their own discretion. It is to be observed, however, that as the accommodations are made more commodious and comfortable, the temptations to pauperism are rendered more irresistible, and of course the rapidity of its augmentation is enhanced. Even the industrious poor may be seduced to become members of this vast and well regulated family, in which they are to be better provided, in every way, than at their own houses, and to be protected entirely from all care and anxiety about their own subsistence. Thus the number of paupers will be augmented, and of course, though there may be a small saving at first, the expense must also at last be also increased. ready overstocked- Of course the wages of that labou must be so reduced as to afford a bare subsistence to those engaged in it. No more can be brought into oper ration, without loss in the first instance. If the public choose to sustain that loss, and to force into operation a certain amount of labour, the effect is, that, at least, to an equal extent, they force out of employment, individuals who were already barely supporting themselves by the fruits of their labour. What then has been gained? A certain number of paupers have been relieved at the public expense, and the consequence is, that at least an equal number of industrious individuals have been depressed into the class of paupers, and are in like manner to be relieved, and with the like effects. Your committee observe, that they have been unable to find a single establishment of this kind in the United States which has ever supported itself. Poor houses, as has been already stated, have been introduced very generally into many parts of this state. The following extracts from communications of the directors of the poor (1) in different counties may serve to show how usefully. Dauphin county."The yearly increase of paupers might justify a belief that the poor find their comforts increased in the practical operation of alms houses.' The population of the county in 1820, was 21,653; average number of paupers in that year 84; average expense, exclusive of the produce of the farm, interest of purchase money, about 50 dollars each per annum, or 96 cents per week. But it is to be further remarked, that there exists no probability that such an institution will, for a series of years, be well conducted. At first, indeed, there may be honest and intelligent men, of unusual public spirit, who having assisted in its establishment, will consent to devote their whole time and exertions to the promotion of its success. Such examples are honourable and laudable, but they are also of rare occurrence, and not to be looked for among ordinary men, or on ordinary occasions. The institution must at last fall, in a great degree, under the control of an hired superintendant. His office is not an honourable one; the incumbent will, in all probability, often be a man not very capable of resisting pecuniary temptations, or of persevering in the discharge York county.-"The effect of establishing workof a laborious duty, in spite of his own interest. His in-houses and houses of industry, is a great improvement on terest must always be, to promote waste and disorder, the old township system, the expenses are much rebecause, amidst waste and disorder, his opportunities of duced, and the paupers more comfortably situated." speculation will be more frequent and more secret. The population of the county, in 1820, was 38,759; aveWhen the abuses of profusion and ill government have rage number of paupers, 100; attached to the institution been once introduced into such an institution, it is diffi- is a farm of 134 acres of limestone land, on which the cult to eradicate them. They become at last inveterate buildings are erected, and another tract of woodland, and incurable-the public funds are dissipated-the 159 acres, from which fuel alone is obtained. comfort of the inhabitants is destroyed-all salutary re- Cost of real property and buildings, gulations for their ease and benefit are violated-they fall into the worst and most degrading habits of every kind, and a scene must ensue of vice, misery, and wretchedness, loathsome and irredeemable. The experience of England has proved the justice of these views. "The best regulated poor houses," says an English statesman, "present a dreadful state of existence; a society with no one common bond of feeling; every endearing relation destroyed. In its place a principle of savage selfishness pervading all classes, engendering mutual jealousy and hatred. Age, infirmity, youth, idleness and profligacy, indiscriminately huddled together. Can any mortal contemplate such a conclusion of life, and not bless the attempt to preserve him from it." (1) With regard to the idea that an institution of this kind, be it ever so well conducted, may be made to produce a profit to the public, or even to support itself, it may be proper to say a few words. The profit, if any, must of course result from the labour of the able bodied inmates. They will cone there, because they are too idle to work for themselves out of doors, or because they find it impossible to procure employment. In the first case, they will of course be as idle as ever, unless compelled to work, since it is not to be supposed that men, who will not labour for their own support, will voluntarily labour for that of the public, The only effectual mode of compelling them to work, is to withhold their subsistence, until they have earned it. If this be done, they might as well have been left out of doors, for precisely on this footing they stood before they threw themselves on the public. It seems absurd to incur the expense of erecting a poor house for a purpose such as this. Then, as to those who cannot procure employment. This must arise from the market for the kind of labour for which they are qualified, being al (1) Mr. Curwen, Deb. H. of C. May 28, 1816. The interest of which is Money annually drawn from county treasury upon average heretofore, $30,000 $1,800 2,000 3,800 Average expense of each pauper, exclusive of the produce of the farm, 38 dollars, or 73 cents per week. Franklin county." The effect of establishing such institutions. we give you such information as we have derived from our experience in our official situation. Such institutions we consider highly necessary for the blind and infirm that has met with misfortunes, and has not wherewith to support themselves. At the present time, we have a number here, that if there was no institution, they would not be a charge; they calculate on being kept here a considerable time, before they acquire an order of relief. Dissipation and other bad habits is the cause. This we consider as some of the effects of establishing such institutions. Such institutions we consider are abused in this way."-The farm consists of 160 acres; the average number of paupers in 1823, 64; average expense of each pauper, exclusive of the farm produce, $37 01. Delaware county.-"The establishment of a house of employment in this county, has increased the number, or from some other cause, there is more than when maintained in the different townships; but we have no hesitation in saying, that the effect has been such, as to make their situation more comfortable; the morals and health better preserved."-No statement of the expense distinct from the produce of the farm. Chester county.-"By establishing poor houses with proper regulations, the paupers receive a more comforta ble subsistence and maintenance, with less expense, than (1) Journal H. R. 1823-4, p. 32. Whole monies expended. $7857 00 7390 03 7984 78 6003 63 7074 06 Average annual expense of each pauper, $27 12, or 52 cents per week. 1822 306 Philadelphia." The number in the alms house during the year ending the 4th Monday in May, 1823, was 1204; the number of regular out door paupers, 1222; those who received occasional relief, average 330; in the children's asylum, 173; amounting in the whole to 2929; which, as the census of our corporation amounted to 111,724, is a little less than 1 in 38; to these may be added 161 illegitimate children." "The average weekly expense of supporting the paupers in the alms house, during the period before mentioned, was 764 cents each; for the support of those out of doors 73 cents each; those in the children's asylum 70 cents each, and 2502 dollars were paid for bastard children, more than received from their putative fathers." The kind of inhabitants to be met with in these poor houses generally, may be found stated in the extracts from these same communications of the directors, in a former part of this report. Upon the whole, your committee are convinced, that the effect of a public compulsory provision for the poor, is to increase the number of paupers; to entail an oppressive burthen on the country; to promote idleness and licentiousness among the labouring classes; and to afford to the profligate and abandoned, the relief which ought to be bestowed on the virtuous and industrious alone. That the poor laws have not done away the necessity for private charity; that they have been onerous to the community, and every way injurious to the morals, comfort, and independence of that class for whose benefit they were intended. That no permanent alleviation of the system can rationally be expected from the erection of poor houses, or from any other expedient of a similar kind; and that the only hope of effectual relief, is in the speedy and total abolition of the system itself. In this country, where there are no privileged orders, where all classes of society have equal rights, and where our population is far from being so dense, as to press upon our means of subsistence, it is indeed alarming to find the increase of pauperism progressing with such rapidity. It should be observed, too, that in this State particularly, our citizens, in all probability, are on the verge of becoming extensively engaged in manufactures, and the example of England may teach us, that it is on a manufacturing population, that the poor laws operate most deleteriously and fatally. An agricultural people are naturally more hardy and independent, and will resist for a longer time, the temptations which the system holds out to them. It was when a large proportion of the inhabitants of England betook themselves to manufactures, that the rapidity of the increase of pauperism was enhanced in an enormous degree. We are rapidly treading in the footsteps of England; there the disease has been tampered with, until it has become inveterate and incurable; and her best and wisest men regard it and despair. We should profit of her experience, and return upon our steps while the path is open. It is believed, that with prudence and caution, we may still do so; but whatever is to be done, should be done quickly, for in the meantime, we are hurrying towards the precipice. and we cannot tell how soon retreat may become impracti cable. Care should be taken, however, not to act with rashness or precipitation. It is necessary to ascertain the precise extent of the evil, before it can be known what mode will be the safest and most operative of its extinc tion. Your committee therefore suggest, that the overseers, directors, guardians, and managers, throughout the state, should be compelled to send annually to the Secretary of State, to be laid before the Legislature, an account of the actual state of pauperism in their respective counties, boroughs, townships, and districts. Complete and accurate information will thus be always within the reach of the house. In the city of Philadelphia, and the adjoining districts, however, the evil is much more aggravated, and the necessity of a reform more urgent than throughout the state-(since the paupers in 1822-3, composed nearly one thirty-eighth of the whole population) and it seems necessary to institute, without loss of time, a strict and thorough inquiry into the state of pauperism in that part of the commonwealth. Your committee therefore earnestly recommend the passage of the bill from the Senate, (referred to them) entitled, "An act to authorise the appointment of commissioners to investigate the causes and extent of pauperism within the city and liberties of Philadelphia, and for other pur poses therein mentioned," in conformity with the prayer of the petition of the Society for the Promotion of Public Economy, which was also referred to them. When all the necessary information shall have been thus collected, measures may be taken for the extinction of the evil. In the mean time, it is very important to arrest, if possible, its further progress, and your committee would suggest the propriety of prohibiting the raising by poor rates or assessments, in any future year, in any part of this commonwealth, a greater sum than that levied by such rates or assessments during the present. Thus much it is believed might be wisely and safely done at once. Your committee have not hitherto entered into the details of the system, but they will now offer one or two suggestions on the impropriety of some of its provisions. By the existing laws, any two justices or aldermen, on complaint made to them by the overseers or guardians, may direct any person "likely to become chargeable," to be removed to whatever place within the commonwealth, they may consider as the place of legal settlement of such person, unless the individual thus likely to be. come chargeable shall give sufficient security to discharge and indemnify the district or township. It is true that an appeal lies to the Mayor's Court or Quarter Sessions, from such order of removal, but in the mean time the order is executed and the man is dragged to perhaps a distant part of the state. If the order of removal should be quashed on an appeal, the consequence is, that perhaps just when the individual has become reconciled to his new place of residence, he is liable to be seized and dragged back again. The expense of these removals and of the litigation of appeals from them, is not trifling but this is not the worst. The power is arbitrary and dangerous, and capable of being used tyrannically and oppressively; it is one to which no freeman, whose only offence is poverty, should ever be subjected. Those who are actually disabled by infirmity of any kind, should be relieved, if at all, at the place of their actual residence, and their proper township be called on to reimburse the expense. As to the able bodied poor, if they desire assistance, they should be left to find their own way, to the place in which they may be entitled to receive it. Your committee are desirous of calling the attention of the House to another highly objectionable feature of the present system, the mode of laying the rate. The imposition of taxes, is one of the most important acts of legislation; and it is held to be essential to a government, founded on free and just principles, that a tax should be imposed by a body directly responsible to the people, and never by the same body by which its proceeds are afterwards to be expended, particularly when that expenditure cannot possibly be subjected to a very strict accountability. This principle, however, is viola ted, in the existing mode of laying the poor rates, by the overseers and managers, with the approbation of two justices, or of a certain number of aldermen and justices, and by the county commissioners, as mere ministerial officers, upon the requisition of the directors of the poor, in such counties as have an alms house and house of employment. The necessity of obtaining the approbation of aldermen or justices, is not a check on which much reliance should be placed, in a matter of this kind. Your committee would suggest, that the poor rates should be laid throughout the State, by the same persons who impose the county taxes, and in the city of Philadelphia and annexed districts, by a concurrent act of the respective corporations to whom the municipal government is entrusted. No money should be borrowed to supply a deficiency in the funds, but by the same authority which is empowered, in the first instance, to lay the rate. Your committee recommend to the House the following resolution's. 1. Resolved, That it is expedient to provide by law for compelling the managers of the alms house, and the guardians, overseers and directors of the poor, throughout the commonwealth, to transmit annually to the Secretary of State, to be by him laid before the legislature, a full account of the actual state of pauperism in their respective counties, boroughs, townships and districts. 2. Resolved, That it is expedient to prohibit the raising, by poor rates or assessments, in any future year, in any part of this commonwealth, a greater sum than that raised by such rates or assessments during the present year. 3. Resolved, That it is expedient to repeal so much of the several poor laws of this commonwealth, as authorises the granting of orders of removal, and to prohibit any overseers, directors, guardians or managers, from relieving any able bodied person, who may not be legally settled in the place where such relief is granted. 4. Resolved, That it is expedient to repeal so much of the poor laws of this commonwealth, as points out the mode of making and laying poor rates and assessments, and to provide a mode of making and laying such rates and assessments more in conformity with the principles of our government. 5. Resolved, That the committee be instructed to bring in a bill or bills, in conformity with the principles of the above report and resolutions. that way of thinking which Government requires, but likewise to his strong distates and resentments against persons of what merit soever upon any supposition of a slight, or upon the most groundless whispers of those who ought to be below his notice. As also to his inflexibility and irreconcilable Temper upon any dissatisfaction or jealousy which his weakness renders him extremely liable to entertain. 'Tis now about ten months since, upon his leaving New Castle county without one magistrate in it, by his affixing on the Court house a writing to make void his last commission without issuing any other, in which state they continued many weeks, that we thought it incumbent on us to remonstrate to him on that matter and some others wanting redress, in a representation of which the Secretary, we suppose, transmitted a copy. A month after the date of that, a Commission was granted to persons several of whom were in that business, altogether new. His brother Birmingham the first named, was absent, being Gone for Europe before, the next, a man of some little experience vizt. Isaac Coodin died very soon after, and then there were only such ignorant and willfull persons left to act, that it became scandalous a county of such importance should be under their direction. Nor was this the only unhappy County. In those three Lower, the Governor seems to claim a greater authority than elsewhere, and the weaker thy Right of Government is there he is persuaded that by the Royal Approbation his becomes the stronger, and hence all of them being more peculiarly under his own management have felt the effects of it. But his Seat being in New Castle county and therefore himself very often there, that neighbourhood have been made more particularly sensible of his conduct. In the mean time on the complaints of divers from New Castle we were anxiously concerned for their condition. That County, because of its Inhabitants intermixing with those of Maryland may be accounted our frontier to the other, as it is also to this Province by Sea, the disturbancies lately given by Maryland about our Boundaries and the great strength they conceived they had now obtained by the Young Lord Baltimore's suc cession after his making himself a convert, makes it of very great importance that that County should be made easie, and as far as possible united. But besides this there is another consideration that upon the late advices For the following three Documents we are indebted to the family of the late Dr. George Logan of Stenton-from Europe very sensibly affects us, vizt. That in that they throw light upon the early history of the State. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COUNCIL TO THE PROPRIETOR WM. PENN. Philad. 11th 6th mo. 1715. May it please the Proprietor! It would be matter of great satisfaction and comfort to as might these Tenders of our Respects find thee in the same state of Health and in that vigour and serenity of thought thou hast formerly been blessed with. Nor are we without hopes from the late accounts we have had of thy being at the Bath (as it is our most earnest desire) that God in his mercy may be yet graciously pleased to restore thee to the inspection of thy own affairs, from which, by so melancholy a cause thou hast been so long sequestered. Thy Government here being by this means for so long a time denied the influence of thy orders and directions, has been no small unhappiness to it, Yet as we have been named of thy Council to assist in the Public Affairs of it, we hope, considering the discouragement we have lain under, we have not been wanting in using our endeavours for thy interest and that of the Publick, which we take to be most intimately interwoven. But are sorry we have occasion to say that we cannot find means to bring these endeavours to the desired effect, and must at length think it our duty in plain terms to represent the obstructions which to us appear principally to cause not only from the natural unaptness (in an uncommon degree) in the Gentleman thou hast placed over us for County there are a great number of Sweeds who have a Church at Christina, and who upon some conjunctures which may happen might not prove so friendly inclined to us as is consistent with our safety, for these People have of late been too much taken notice of by their original country, and by their using their own language and having their own ministers sent from time to time from the Government of Sweden they have too much kept up the distinction of their nation from us, and as they are generally very loyal to their Prince, may on some occasion think of another sovereign than ours of Great Britain. As this is but a melancholy consideration should our Fleet find themselves involved in War in the Baltic, so tho' all our endeavours can scarce be sufficient to render us secure, yet we cannot but think that all prudent precautions should be used. Both these considerations we have prest upon the Governor earnestly requesting him that laying aside all Reservments he would Commissionate such persons in the County without distinction as might be most capable to serve the Publick. Jasper Yeates, a man of the first Rank both for his Estate and Good sense, is removed wholly into that County and is Seated near the town. John French, tho' thro' a too ready an obedience to the commands of his Superiors*; he unhappily overrated it in the "False Alarm,' has in general acquitted himself both with an ability and integrity not easily to be met with in these parts, of which the Lord Baltimore's friends are so sen、 Gov. Evans is here alluded to, sible that they have made him Great offers, (now when his necessities by reason of his disappointments very much straiten him) to remove to them and quit us.These two persons we thought our selves obliged more particularly to recommend to the Governour and for that purpose not long ago, spent a whole evening till midnight with him but all to no purpose, he will rather forfeit all, even his life, he says rather than employ John French whom he loads with many frivolous and groundless calumnies, (tho' if he will pay him what money he spent of his in England he offers at the same time to restore him to all his places. Next morning two of us waited on him again in hopes the arguments used over night might have wrought upon him, and he was at length prevailed on to promise, which he often repeated that excepting John French and his brother Birmingham whom he would not have joined with Jasper Yeates he would commissionate any others that we should name to him, Their Court being just at hand we met again the same day and named such as we thought might be most serviceable and agreeable to the Country, tho' in truth they are but poorly stocked at present with Persons of ability. But notwithstanding all his promises he retracted, and absolutely refused to Grant any new Commission at all which we fear will have the worst effect because he kept Several there in heart who were much dispirited by his late proceedings, some of us Staked all our credit with the Governr. that it should be obtained. To the List presented, tho' drawn with the utmost impartiallity objections were made almost to every person upon some old Resentment, but against Jasper Yeates nothing could be found but that he is the Proprietor's Enemy which we know can at this time have no manner of foundation but on the contrary that his undertaking to act (which some of us with much courting prevailed on him to promise,) would, as matters now stand be of very great service.-The signing of a legal Writt against his Brother, which no Justice when applied to dare without perjury deny, the faulting of his intermeddling with or directing the Justices in the business of the Court, which is contrary to Law, or any other act that falls not in with making his passions the Rule and Standard of Justice to the People, seems to be crime sufficient to exclude any man. county to Sale to the best Bidder and took a consideration for it. When last Fall he actually sold even the Sheriff's place for this city and county for 30 Pistoles to the person who now holds it, the other pretence becomes but an aggravation. But we have dwelt too long on this subject to which we were induced thro' a consideration of the great Importance of New Castle county, and how necessary it is that John French be continued in it. But by keeping a Deputy in that Clerk's place for whom he must provide, he feels so little advantage by it, that being much straitned other ways it falls far short of yielding a subsistance, and his best services in that county would lie in a more active way. The People yearly choose him for Sheriff but the Governor will by no means commissionate him. We therefore think it our duty to recommend this affair to thee, for if we can judge in the matter we believe it will be very much for thy interest and the country's security that he above all others should be Sheriff of that County and therefore hope, if this man continues thou wilt give him thy positive orders to prefer him in the place, if the People choose and present him, for tho' 'tis objected that those two offices of Sheriff and Clerk ought not to be in the same person, we conceive in this case they can scarce be accounted so, for John needs not concern himself in the clerk's office his Deputy wholly managing it, who himself has given the security required for the just discharge of it; and without some such support we are sensible John cannot possibly subsist among us, But must remove to those who will know better how to value him as an officer, and the consequences of his loss before the differences with the Lord Baltimore are over should there be nothing else to be apprehended, might prove very unhappy to thy interest and that county, tho' the Governor not only desires, but seems to labour it. We cannot omit on this occasion furthur to hint That if there should be a breach with Sweeden, especially should France espouse their Quarrel, or even without that consideration, It may be requisite to represent to the ministry the state of this River where there are such numbers of those People, especially when the Indians of America seem so unsettled with whom these old Inhabitants have a more intimate acquaintance than any other. May it please the Proprietor! John French was formerly a most approved officer with him till on that unhappy business of Park's Ship, and Sloop, the Governor sent him to England; John ex- It is with no small concern we find ourselves obliged pected his Part of the Prize as Informer, but in his ab- to give thee the trouble of such a Representation. But sence the Governor had dissipated the whole Cargo ex- as our Fortunes and Families are fixed to this place, and cepting a small matter he could not reach, at his Return as more is expected from us than others by reason of the John being highly provoked, taxed the Governor with Trust we have undertaken, we should be deficient in acting dishonourably and ruining him, and from hence our duty to thee, to the Country and ourselves should the quarrel proceeded. But if the Governor failed of we continue silent and leave thee wholly uninformed of ruining him before, he cannot well deny, we believe, our condition. We therefore in behalf of thy whole but he has heartily endeavoured it since. His Clerk's Government beseech thee to take these matters into thy office must be taken from him because a Breach of the serious consideration. Or, if it should please God still Peoples Privileges, which is, that upon a vacancy the to continue thy visitation, we as earnestly desire of those Justices may present three persons to the Governor for who have the care of thy concerns, and whose business his choice to appoint one. John, soon after his arrival it will be to peruse and consider this, not to pass over waiting on the Justices had their hearty approbation be- with disregard what we are obliged thus to represent, fore he published ye Commission and they immediately but that we may be favoured with an answer. In other qualified him and took his Deputy's security, who was affairs of Government such as Legislation, we have freely well approved of also by the Court as a person brought spent our time and labour in exerting ourselves the more, up to the business; the Governor sometime after not- by reason of the Governors inability, of which he is so withstanding gave a susedeas to his Commission, but sensible in those affairs, that he makes himself little more upon the interposition of the Commissioners of Proper- than passive, and on such occasions it gives us some ty in thy behalf requesting him that he would not fly in trouble to cast a veil over his defects in the sight of the the face of thy authority, he withdrew it and suffered Assembly that they may not too Glaringly appear, tho' him still to hold the place. The Assembly of those 'tis impossible wholly to cover them. But in his pasCounties afterwards took notice of this violence done to sions and Resentments against men he shews himself so thy authority; but tho' both the Assembly and the court fully, that all endeavours prove generally too fruitless. approved both of the commission and their clerk, it can- We must therefore request, if 'tis expected that a Counnot be forgiven as a breach of the Peoples Privilege.cil should undergo the fatigue of attending him, He Which would he as well observe in other cases might have some colour with it; But while he declares that he who will give most money shall have any place in his disposal, when he lately put the office of clerk for Kent may have such orders for his future conduct, (if he must be continued over us) that Publick affairs may be managed with more ease, Regularity and steadiness, for few men in a Publick character ever stood more in need |