affected also with a near-sightedness, which accentuated his naturally reserved manner. His adminis

tration was broken by an interval of two years by the death of his father to whose proprietary interests he succeeded. He was still at the head of the colony when the great crisis of 1776 inaugurated the movement for American Independence and in the reorganization of the government was superseded by the Committee of Safety and the Supreme Executive Council. He continued to be officially recognized by the Assembly until May, 1776, when his name was omitted from official documents. Upon April 6 of that year, a certificate for the sum of five hundred pounds was delivered to him for his support.* With varying for tunes because of his persistent neutrality, he remained at his beautiful country seat "Lansdowne," located on the Schuylkill in what is now Fairmount Park, during the Revolution, and died there in 1795, at the age of sixty-seven. His administrations covered the periods from November, 1763, to May, 1771, and from August, 1773, to May, 1776.

*Last action of the Assembly with regard to the payment of salary to a Royalist Governor.

Resolved, That the sum of five hundred pounds be allowed and given to the Honourable John Penn, Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief of this Province towards his support for the current year.

And a certificate for the said sum being drawn at the table, the same was ssigned by the Speaker, to be presented to his Honour when the House shall attend him with the bills.

April 6, 1776.

Proclamation for the continuance of magistrates and

BY

other officers.

Y THE HONOURABLE JOHN PENN, ESQUIRE, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, the Honourable Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esquires, true and absolute Proprietaries and Governors-inChief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, have been pleased by their Commission under their Hands and Seals, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June last, to constitute and appoint me to be their Lieutenant Governor of the said Province and Counties, with all necessary Powers and Authority for the well governing of the same; which said Appointment the King's Most Excellent Majesty, in a Council held at St. James's, the thirtyfirst day of August last past, was graciously pleased to allow and approve of: Therefore, in pursuance of the said Trust in me reposed, having a special regard to the safety of the State and Government of the said Province and Counties, & to prevent failures in the Administration of Justice therein, I have, by and with the advice and consent of the Council of the said Province & Counties, thought fit to ordain, and do hereby ordain and declare, that all Orders and Commissions whatsoever, relating to the Government of the said Province and Counties, heretofore lawfully and rightfully issued, which were in force on the Thirty-first day of October last, shall be, continue and remain in full force, power and virtue, according to their respective

Tenors, until my further pleasure shall be known therein; and that all Persons whatsoever, who on the thirty-first day of October last, held or enjoyed any Office of Trust or Profit in this Government, by virtue of any such Commission as aforesaid, shall continue to hold & enjoy the same until they shall be determined by me as aforesaid, or by other sufficient Authority. And I do hereby further command & require all Magistrates, Officers, and Commissioners whatsoever, in whom any publick Trust is reposed in the Government of the said Province and Counties, that they diligently proceed in the performance and discharge of their respective duties therein, for the Safety, Peace, and well being of the same.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province at Philadelphia, the First day of November, in the Fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George, the third King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &ca., And in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three.

By His Honour's Command,

Joseph Shippen, Jun'r, Secretary.

JOHN PENN.

Proclamation of reward for the apprehension of the perpetrators of certain highway robberies and the murder of Henry Hamilton.

B'

Y THE HONOURABLE JOHN PENN, ESQUIRE, Lieutenant Governor, & Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, Information hath been made to me, not only that divers attempts have of late been made to rob, but that several Robberies have been actually committed on His Majesty's Subjects travelling on the Highways near the City of Philadelphia, by Persons unknown, one of which Robberies was committed on Saturday last, on the Wissihiccon Road, and was accompanied with the Murder of Henry Hamilton, the person robbed, to the great terror and annoyance of the said Subjects, coming to and returning from the said City. And Whereas, it is of great importance that a stop should, as soon as possible, be put, in this young Colony, to Crimes of so evil and pernicious a nature, and the authors and perpetrators thereof brought to condign and exemplary punishment, I have therefore thought fit, with the advice of the Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby offering a Reward of Two Hundred Pounds to any Person or Persons who shall make known & cause to be apprehended all, or any of the Persons who were concerned as Perpetrators or Accomplices in the Robbery and Murder of the said Henry Hamilton; And the sum of fifty Pounds for the making known and apprehending all, or any of the Persons concerned as Authors, Perpetrators, or Accomplices, in any of the other Robberies, or attempts to rob, on the said Highways, since the

first day of October last, so that he or they shall be convicted thereof, according to the due Course of Law. And I do hereby strictly charge and command all Magistrates, Sheriffs, and other Officers whatsoever, within this Government, to use their utmost Care and Diligence in detecting and apprehending the said Offenders, that they may be brought to Justice.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the twenty-second day of November, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Sixty-three, And in the Fourth Year of His Majesty's Reign.

By His Honour's Command,

JOHN PENN.

Joseph Shippen, Jun'r, Secretary.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

Proclamation making known the terms of a royal proclamation for the erection of the new Province. of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida and Grenada, with regulations for the government thereof. Y THE HONOURABLE JOHN PENN, ESQUIRE, Lieutenant Governor, and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware.

BY

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, His Majesty was graciously pleased on the seventh day of October last, to issue His Royal Proclamation in the words following, viz't:

George R.:

Whereas, We have taken into our Royal Consideration the extensive and valuable Acquisitions in America, secured to our Crown by the late Definitive Treaty of Peace, concluded at Paris the tenth day of February last, and being desirous that all our loving