"I am bound as well in justice as gratitude to acknowledge our neighbours in the Jerseys have done more in the common defence, than all the other ajacent provinces,—they sent us four hundred pounds in silver, sixty odd proper men well armed, who passed upon duty on the frontiers one year, they have now sent up thirty men at their own charge and considerd of a way for their maintenance during the war. Gentlemen-I consider your principles; that you will not carry arms, nor levy money to make war, tho' for your own defence, yet I hope you will not refuse to feed the hungry and cloath the naked, my meaning is, to supply those Indian Nations with such necessaries as may influence them to a continuance of their Friendship to these provinces.

"And now, Gentlemen, if you will consider wherein I may be useful to you, according to the tenor of my commission, in redressing your grievances, if you have any, you shall find one ready to act by the rules of loyalty, with a true regard to liberty and prosperity."

What return was made to the latter part of the Message does not occur, but in this and the succeeding session in September this year, several laws were passed, which ends the administration of governor Fletcher.

CHAPTER VI.

WILLIAM PENN RESTORED TO HIS GOVERNMENT SENDS A COMMISSION TO W MARKHAM, TO BE HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.-The Petition of Right so CALLED, AS AGREED ON BY THE ASSEMBLY IN FLETCHER'S ADMINISTRATION.

In the latter end of the last year, Will Penn, through the mediation of his friends, the lords Rochester, Ranelagh & Sidney, in which lord Somers, the duke of Buckingham and Sir John Trenchard were also assisting, was admitted to make his innocency appear, which he did so effectually that he was not only readily acquitted of the charge agst him but had his government restored, the three first mentiond lords went to the King the 25 November and represented to him W. Penns case as not only hard, but oppressive; that there was nothing against him but what imposters or those that were fled, or that had since their pardon, refused to verify (and had asked W. Penn pardon for saying what they did) had alledged against him; That they (the lords) had long known W. Penn, some of them 30 years, and had never known him to do an ill thing, but many good offices, and that if it was not for being thought to go abroad in defiance of the government, he would have done it two years ago, that he was therefore willing to wait to go about his business as before with leave that he might be the better respected in the liberty he took to follow it. King William answerd, that W. Penn was his old acquaintance as well as theirs-that he might follow his business as freely as ever, and that he had nothing to say to him; upon which they pressed him to command one of them to declare the same to the secretary of state, Sir John Trenchard, that if he came to him or otherwise he might signify the same to him, which the king readily did, and lord Sidney as Penns greatest intance* was to tell the secretary,

* Manuscript torn. Probably acquaintance.-Ed.

which having accordingly done, the secretary after speaking himself, and having it from king Williams own mouth, appointed Penn a time to meet him at home and then (the 30th of November) in company with the marquis of Winchester told him he was as free as ever, adding that as he doubted not his prudence about his quiet living, so he assured him, he should not be molested or injured in any of his affairs, at least while he held that post.

W. Penn being thus at liberty, and again reinstated in his government, soon afterwards sent a commission to William Markham, to be his lieutenant governor of the province of Pennsylvania and territories.

During governor Fletchers administration, the assembly had in modest vindication of their priviledges drew up a paper, which they calld the petition of right, and sent, but at what time is not certain," to that governor in the following terms.

[Take it in from the Pennsa Votes, vol: 1. p: 99 &c.]

"It passed the house the 30th of the 3d mo. 1693.

CHAPTER VII.

WILLIAM MARKham Lieutenant Governor-COPY OF HIS WRIT TO SUMMON THE ASSEMBLY-REMONSTRANCE FROM THE ASSEMBLY TO HIM-THE THIRD FRAME OF GOVERNMENT-RELIEF FOR THE ALBANY INDIANSWILLIAM PENN WITH HIS WIFE & FAMILY ARRIVES HE MEETS THE ASSEMBLY-AGREES WITH THEM UPON A CHARTER-HIS SPEECH TO THEMTHE ASSEMBLYS ADDRESS-GRANTS THE CITY OF PHILAD THEIR CHARTER -HE RETURNS TO ENGLAND-LEAVES THE GOV* UNDER CARE OF ANDREW HAMILTON.

1696. William Markham being now lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, and territories under William Penn, called an assembly to meet him pursuant to law and charter the 26th of the 8th month 1696, who having chose John Simcock of Chester their speaker, proceeded to observe by message to the governor, that tho' he had convened them by his writs, not so conformable to their charter as they could have desired, yet they had obeyed the same and consider'd what he had laid before them, viz: to answer the late queens letter and the proprietaries promise upon his restoration to the government, on which they told him they were unanimously ready, and willing to perform their duty therein, so far as in them lay if the governor would settle them in their former constitutions, enjoyd before the government was committed to governor Fletchers trust.

(The form of his writ for that purpose may be seen by the following to the sheriff of Kent.

William Markham Esq: governor, under William Penn absolute proprietary of the province of Pennsylvania and counties annexed: To Arthur Meston sheriff of the county of Kent, Greeting,

Whereas their sacred majesties William and Mary, by the grace of God, king and queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defenders of the faith &c, did by their letters patent under the great seal of England, bearing date the one and twentieth day of October in the fourth year of their reign, for the reasons therein exprest, find it absolutely necessary to take the government of their said province of Pennsylvania into their own hands, and under their immediate care and protection, and therefore did constitute and appoint Benjamin Fletcher esq. captain general and governor in chief of

Having sent a message to this effect the speaker with the house waited upon the governor by his desire; he deliverd a letter to them from their late governor Fletcher, still desiring they might make some law, for the relief of the Indians at Albany; the house thereupon appointed a committee to meet a committee of the council to consider of a way to answer the queens letter mentioned before, and to preserve the peoples priveledges, and accordingly meeting together the expedient they fell upon, as reported to the house was thus.

"At a committee the thirty first of the eighth month 1696. The matter committed to consideration being what may be the best expedient to answer the queens letter with this proviso, that the governor at the request of the assembly will be pleased to pass an act with a salvo to the proprietary and people, and that he will also issue out his writs for chusing a full number of representatives on the tenth day of the first month next to serve in provincial council and

their majesties province of New York, to be captain general in and over their said majesties province of Pennsylvania, and the counties of New Castle and all the tracts of land depending thereon in America, thereby commanding and requiring him the said Benjamin Fletcher to take the said province of Pennsylvania and country under his government who accordingly took the same under his government by publication of the said letters patent, in the town of Philadelphia upon the 26th of April 1693, and whereas their sacred majesties have since been most graciously pleased by their letters patent under the great seal of England, bearing date the 20th day of August in the sixth year of their reign, for the reasons therein exprest, To restore the said William Penn, proprietary of the said province of Pennsylvania, and territories unto the administration of the government thereof, and whereas the said Wm Penn has been pleased by his commission under his hand and seal of the said province, bearing date the 24th day of the 9th month 1694 to constitute me governor under him of the said province of Pennsylvania, and counties annexed, strictly charging and commanding me to govern according to the known laws, and usages thereof. I Therefore by virtue of the said power and authority derived unto me command you, that forthwith you summons all the freemen of your said county to meet upon the tenth day of April at the usual place of meeting, then and there according to law, & charter; to chuse three persons to serve in provincial council, one for three years, one for two years, and one other for one year, and six persons to serve as members