short time. It is true, our going away from our families and business at this time, will be attended with very great inconveniences, but we are willing to suffer that, and a great deal more, rather than bring a disgrace on the commission which we bear under your Honor.

I am, with great respect, your Honor's most obedient and most humble servant,

DEVEREUX SMITH.

Mr. McFarlane's Letter is of the same tenor with the foregoing one from Mr. Smith.

The Board taking into consideration the said letters, as will as the letters and papers laid before them at their last meeting, are of opinion, that the most advisable step to be taken on this occasion by the Government will be to appoint Commissioners to go as soon as possible to Williamsburg, in order to represent to the Government of Virginia the ill consequences which may happen to the persons and properties of his Majesty's subjects, if an immediate stop be not put to the disorders and violent proceedings which have been begun and are now carrying on under the authority of the Government, within the western lands of this Province; and also to confer with the said Government on the most proper measures for establishing peace and good order among his Majesty's subjects of both Governments; and for that purpose to endeavour to agree upon a temporary line of jurisdiction; and further, to request the said Government will, without loss of time, join with the Proprietaries of this Province in an application to the Crown to appoint Commissioners for running and ascertaining the true boundary lines between Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Board were likewise of opinion that a letter should be wrote to the three Magistrates who have been put under an arrest by Mr. Conolly, thanking them for their spirited behaviour, and acquainting them that proper care shall be taken to supply them at the expense of this Government, with all necessaries which may render their situation as comfortable and easy as possible until their discharge can be obtained; and also that a letter of instructions be sent to the other Magistrates of Westmoreland respecting their future conduct.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Friday, 22d April, 1774:

Present, the Honorable John Penn, Esquire, Governor, Richard Peters, Andrew Allen, James Tilghman, Edward Shippen, Jun., Esquires.

A member of Council laid before the Board draughts of two letters proposed to be sent to the Magistrates of Westmoreland county, which were read, and after a few alterations made to them, were ordered to be fairly transcribed, and despatched to morrow by the express, who came from that county.

The letters follow in these words, viz:

Philadelphia, April 22, 1774.

GENTLEMEN: I received your several letters informing me of your arrest and confinements on warrants issued by Doctor Conolly, and cannot but greatly approve your spirit and the attachment you have shown to the interest of this Province. But as the confinement of your persons at so great a distance from your homes must be very injurious to your private concerns, if you can procure your enlargement, by finding bail, I shall by no means disapprove such A step. I shall with all possible expedition, send Commissioners to my Lord Dunmore, to apply for your discharge; and as Colonel Wilson is so obliging as to offer to call at Staunton, in his way home, I have instructed him to procure for you any security or credit you may stand in need of, and shall do every thing in my power to free you from your disagreeable situation, or to make it as comfortable as may be.

I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant,

JOHN PENN.

To Æneas Mackay, Devereux Smith, and Andrew McFarlane, Esquires, Justices of the Peace for the County of Westmoreland.

Philadelphia, April 22, 1774.

GENTLEMEN: The present alarming situation of our affairs in Westmoreland county, occasioned by the very unaccountable conduct of the Government of Virginia, requires the utmost attention of this Government, and therefore I intend, with all possible expedition, to send Commissioners to expostulate with my Lord Dunmore upon the behaviour of those he has thought proper to invest with such power as hath greatly disturbed the peace of that county. As the Government of Virginia hath the power of raising a militia, and there is not any such in this Province, it will be in vain to contend with them in the way of force; the Magistrates therefore, at the same time that they continue with steadiness to exercise the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania with respect to the distribution of justice and punishment of vice, must be cautious of entering into any such contests with the officers of my Lord Dunmore as may tend to widen the present unhappy breach; and therefore as things are at present circumstanced I would not advise the magistracy of Westmoreland county to proceed by way of criminal prosecution against them for exercising the Government of Virginia. I flatter myself that our Commissioners to Virginia will succeed according to our expectations, and that our affairs to the westward will soon be put upon a peaceable and quiet footing. I am gentlemen, your very humble servant.

JOHN PENN.

To William Crawford, Esq., and his Associates, of Westmoreland County.

CORRESPONDENCE LAID BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

ARTHUR ST. CLAIR TO JOSEPH SHIPPEN.

Ligonier, January 15, 1774.

SIR: This will be delivered by Mr. Hanna, one of the trustees for Westmoreland county. To some management of his I believe, the opposition to fixing the county town at Pittsburg is chiefly owing—it is his interest it should continue where the law has fixed the courts, pro tempore; he lives there; used to keep public house there; and has now, on that expectation, rented his house at an extravagant price. Erwen, another trustee, adjoins, and is also public house keeper. A third trustee lives in the neighbourhood, which always make a majority for continuing the courts at the present place. A passage in the law for erecting the county is, that the courts shall be held in the foregoing place (the house of Robert Hanna) till a court house and jail are built; this puts it in their power to continue them as long as they please—for a little management might prevent a court house and jail being built this twenty years. This is explanation of a petition to the House, which was sent down lately—it was begun and ended on the Friday of the court week. An unexpected opportunity to Philadelphia offered that day, by reason of which it is to the House only, and signed but by a few people, but the few that have signed It are the principal people; and who acted more from their feelings for multitudes, who they saw suffering than from their own inconvenience. A like petition to the Governor will soon be forwarded, which will be countenanced, by, I am certain, five-sixths of the whole people.

Mr. Hoofnagle I hope will be almost home Before you receive this. I beg you will excuse inaccuracies I wrote in the greatest hurry—Mr. Hanna holding his horse whilst I write. I will see you early in the spring.

And am, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

AR. ST. CLAIR

Joseph Shippen, Jun., Esq.

ARTHUR ST. CLAIR TO GOVERNOR PENN.

Ligonier, February 2, 1774.

I am honored with your letter of the 20th January, which reached me the 28th, and am happy to find the method pursued at Pittsburg, on the 25th, did not very materially differ from that you had been pleased to direct.