ARCHIVES Fourth Series. Chapter I. JAMES HAMILTON, Lieutenant Governor. 1759-1763. President of the Council. 1771. OR A SECOND AND THIRD TIME THE REIGNS FOR of Government fell into the hands of one of the most distinguished and honored sons of the Province. Himself a Philadelphian by birth and the son of a governor, with great wealth and extensive estates which gave him a strong personal interest in his colony, his administrations were nevertheless marked by close adherence to the unpopular and oppressive instructions of the Proprietaries. He died in New York in 1783, enjoying the unique honor of having three times presided over his native province, first from November, 1748, to October, 1754, second from October, 1759, to November, 1763, and third from May to October, 1771. A Proclamation for the continuance of officers in BY their respective offices. Y THE HONOURABLE JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commanderin-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Dela ware. A PROCLAMATION. Forasmuch the Honourable Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esquires, true and absolute Proprietaries and Governors in Chief of the province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, have been pleased by their Commission, under their Hands and Great Seal, bearing date the nineteenth day of July 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 tenth 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, and 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 and 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 seventeenth day of this Instant November, 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 said seventeenth day of November held or enjoyed any Office of Trust or profit in this Government by virtue of any such Commission as aforesaid, shall continue to hold and enjoy the same until they shall be determined by me as aforesaid, or by other Sufficient authority. And I do further hereby Command and require all magistrates, officers and Commissioners whatsoever, in whom any publick Trust is reposed in this Government, 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, in the Thirtythird year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith, &c., and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine. JAMES HAMILTON. By His Honour's Command, GOD SAVE THE KING. I Speech to Teedyuscung, Chief of the Delawares. AM GLAD I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF SEEing you so soon after my arrival. I have a just sence of the kind part you have taken in promoting the Good Work of peace, and shall be ready at all times to do you any service in my power. I desire if at any time you shall meet with uneasiness you will immediately come and let me know it, and I assure you by this string, that my Ear shall always be open to you. Gave a String of Wampum. Brother: I laid what was said to me at our last meeting before the Assembly, who were then setting; and what I shall now speak in answer thereto, you are to consider as spoke not only by me, but by them and all the good People of the province, and hearken to it. Brother: The sight of our Flesh and Blood, after a tedious Captivity, gives us great pleasure, and I thank you for the Return of the four prisoners, and expect you will continue to do your utmost that all be returned to us as soon as possible. Gave a String of Wampum. Brother: You have acted a just part in bringing the six Horses that have been Stolen from the poor people on the borders by some of your unthinking young men. The Inhabitants are now Returning to their Plantations in full confidence that they shall not be injured either in their persons or propertys. You must be sensible that most of their Work cannot be carried on without Horses, and therefore the taking them away will ruin the Farmers. This practice must be put an end to, and the persors guilty of it be brought to Justice, or it will endanger the peace which you and I have taken so much pains to establish. We give you this String to encourage you to reprove your young Men, and to be careful that all the Horses they have taken away may be returned to their right owners. Gave a String of Wampum. Brother: By our Treaties it is our duty to inform each other of every thing that may be of use to us; We are neither of us to keep the other blind-folded, but to be open and unreserved on all necessary Occasions; We thank you for your Intelligence as to the good dispositions of the Indians, and for the pains you have taken in publishing the Peace far and wide, and for promoting this good disposition. Brother: We thank you for letting us know that you attended at a great Meeting of Indians, which was held this summer at Atsunsing. You know that you were appointed at Easton to be a Counsellor and Agent on the part of this Province; in consequence of your excepting this place of Trust, it is expected by us that you attend at all meetings of Indians, where you think you can promote our service, and We thank you for your attendance at that Council, and for acquainting us of the good disposition of the indians present at it. We are informed that there is to be, in the Spring, a very great Council at some Town beyond the Ohio, and that you have received a very kind Invitation to be present; we think you may be of very great service in communicating all the matters that have been agreed to by us in our Conferences at Easton, and, therefore, desire you will not fail to go there and let them know how sincerely we are disposed for Peace, and that We shall use our utmost endeavours to establish it in such a manner as it may last as long as the Sun gives Light. We must insist on your attendance at the general meeting, as we have a reliance on your Council, and a Right to your assistance; and for your Encouragement, if you think proper, We shall send Mr. Frederick Post and Isaac Stille with you. Gave a Belt of Wampum. Brother: We observe what you say as to the Minisink Indians; you know that at the last Treaty, at Easton, they joined heartily in the Peace, and promised to deliver us all the Prisoners. We thank you for your advice, and shall follow it, both with respect to the Minisinks and Six Nations. Gave a String of Wampum, |