you to do it; if not, you will please to excuse this impertinence, of, sir, your obliged and most humble servant

THOMAS SMITH.

Joseph Shippen, Esquire.

REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND ASSESSORS.

To the Honorable John Perm, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in-chief of the Province of Pennsylvania.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOR: The Board of Commissioners and Assessors for the county of Westmoreland, at this critical junction, humbly beg leave to represent to your Honor the disagreeable situation they are now in, by reason of the present disturbances in this county. The Board beg leave to inform your Honor, that they have duly and regularly laid the assessments of the county, according to the laws of this Province; they have also issued the proper duplicates to the different Collectors by them appointed to collect the same; but the people residing in the back parts of the county, or the greater part of them, absolutely refuse to pay their taxes, or to serve the county in the office of Collector. On which account the Board has been under the necessity to be at a great expense by reason of their frequent meetings, which consequently must come off the public, and are unable without further assistance to execute their duty.

They therefore pray your Honor's advice and assistance in this matter and for further particulars, refer your Honor to George Wilson, Esquire, who was an eye witness to the disturbance of the Court, by the meeting of a number of armed men; and the Board begs leave to assure your Honor that every step shall be taken in their power for the benefit and advantage of the Province.

By order of the Court,

Westmoreland, April 8, 1774,

THOMAS SMITH TO JOSEPH SHIPPEN, JUN.

Bedford, April 13, 1774.

SIR: If you have received my letter, which I did myself the favour to write by Colonel Wilson, you will not be surprised to be informed of the continuation of the outrages committed by the Virginians. They have now arrested three of the Magistrates of Westmoreland county, who are now on their way to Augusta jail, exposed to the insults of the rabble who are sent as their guard. The crime alleged against them is, I am informed, the answer which the Court gave to Conolly's modest address and proposals 1 hope, for the honor of this Province, that it will not set calmly looking on and see its Magistrates, as its Magistrates, taken by a set of lawless men, when they were within its known limits, and hurried away like criminals to the jail of another Province, there to be confined contrary to all law and justice, to satisfy the whim and caprice of a man who seems either to have totally divested himself of any regard of natural justice, (I was going to say to the law of nations, if I might be allowed the expression,) or else be made the tool of a set of desperate men, who have more cunning than himself—for I have many reasons to think that this scheme was hatched at Fort Pitt. The reasons that could induce any man of common sense to take such a step I am at a loss to guess.

The bearer of this was sent down to go to Philadelphia with the account of these proceedings. I thought it my duty to enable him to pursue his journey, by accommodating him with money; he has acted some time as Under Sheriff, and if the High Sheriff had conducted himself in the same spirited, unsuspected manner, that this man has done, 1 am persuaded that these disturbances might have been prevented. But he, in the first place, had so little regard to his duty, that he let Conolly at liberty on his promise to return at the court, and when he was ordered to raise the posse, his conduct was a little mysterious, and he was extremely backward and remiss. The bearer can give you further information in this particular.

I am sir, your very humble servant,

THOMAS SMITH.

VIRGINIA ASSEMBLY.

The Speech of his Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, his Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice Admiral of the same, to the General Assembly, convened at the Capitol, on Thursday the 5th of May, 1774.

Gentlemen of the COUNCIL, Mr. SPEAKER, and Gentlemen of the HOUSE OF BURGESSES:

Having had nothing in particular charge from his Majesty to offer to your consideration, I have consulted only your own ease in the time of assembling you for the necessary business of the Colony, in which I recommend to you to proceed with that despatch which the public convenience requires.

Mr. SPEAKER and Gentlemen of the HOUSE OF BURGESSES:

I have not, at this time, any thing to require of you; but I hope that your resolutions, on the various matters which shall be the subject of your deliberation, may be influenced by prudence and moderation.

Gentlemen of the COUNCIL, Mr. SPEAKER, and Gentlemen of the HOUSE OF BURGESSES:

My ardent desire faithfully to promote the service of his Majesty, who ever evinces the good of his people to be the first object of his thoughts, will make me heartily concur with you in all measures, and assent to all such laws as shall be for the welfare and true interest of this country.

To his Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, his Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, and Vice Admiral of the same:

The humble Address of the COUNCIL.

MY LORD: We his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Council of Virginia, now met in General Assembly, beg leave to return your Excellency our most cordial thanks for your Speech at the opening of this session; and to acknowledge that your Lordship, as well upon this as every other occasion, since the commencement of your administration, hath consulted the ease and convenience of the people committed to your care.

To promote the service of his Majesty, and to advance the interest of our country, ever have been the first objects of our wishes. Actuated by these motives, we will concur with the House of Burgesses in framing such laws as shall be for the welfare and true interest of this Colony; and with that despatch the importance of the subjects will admit of.

Permit us to take this opportunity of congratulating your Excellency on the safe arrival of the Countess of Dunmore, and your family in this country; an event, which while it adds greatly to your Lordship's domestic felicity, gives us a pleasing earnest of your intention of continuing among us.

To which his EXCELLENCY was pleased to return the following Answer:

GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL: The faithful and united assistance which I have constantly received of you fully convinces me of your zeal for his Majesty's service as well as of your firm regard to the interests of your country; and makes this fresh declaration of both extremely grateful to me, as it must be likewise to your Sovereign and country.

I thank you very heartily for your kind congratulation upon the arrival of my family, the happiness of which will increase to me as it proves more agreeable to you from whom I have received every mark of regard and attention.

To his Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, his Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor