Ordered, That the Speaker do sign the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Coxe and Mr. Hopkinson wait upon his Excellency, and request to know when he will be pleased to receive the Address of the House.

Mr. Coxe reported that Mr. Hopkinson and himself had obeyed the order of the House, and that his Excellency was pleased to say the House should hear from him.

Thursday, January 26, 1775.

The House met: Present, Peter Kemble, David Ogden, Esquires, the Earl of Stirling, John Stevens, James Parker, the Chief Justice, Daniel Coxe, John Lawrence, and Francis Hopkinson, Esquires.

His Excellency came into the Council Chamber, and having signified that he was ready to receive the Address of this House, the House attended, and by their Speaker presented the following Address, viz:

To his Excellency WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Esquire, Captain-General, Governour and Commander-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of NEW-JERSEY, and Territories thereon depending in AMERICA, Chancellor and Vice Admiral in the same, &c.

The humble Address of his Majesty's Council of the said Province:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: We his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Council of the Province of New-Jersey, beg leave to return your Excellency our thanks for your Speech at the opening of this session, and to express our obligations for having given us so early an opportunity of transacting the publick business; and that you have been pleased therein to consult our convenience.

We agree with your Excellency that it would argue not only a great want of duty to his Majesty, but of regard to the good people of this Province, were we, on this occasion, to pass over; in silence the present alarming transactions which are so much the object of publick attention; and therefore beg leave to assure you, that, feeling ourselves strongly influenced by zealous attachment to the interests of Great Britain and her Colonies, and deeply impressed with a sense of the important connection they have with each other, we shall, with all sincere loyalty to our most gracious Sovereign, and all due regard to the true welfare of the inhabitants of this Province, endeavour to prevent mischiefs which the present situation of affairs seems to threaten; and by our zeal for the authority of Government on the one hand, and for the constitutional rights of the people on the other, aim at restoring that health of the political body, which every good subject must earnestly desire.

Your Excellency may be assured that we will exert our utmost influence, both in our publick and private capacities, to restore that harmony between the parent state and his Majesty's American Dominions, which is so essential to the happiness and prosperity of the whole Empire; and earnestly looking for that happy event, we will endeavour to preserve peace and good order among the people, and a dutiful submission to the laws.

To which his Excellency was pleased to reply in the words following, viz:

GENTLEMEN: I heartily thank you for this Address Your sentiments concerning the present alarming transactions; your expressions of zealous attachment to the interests Great Britain and her Colonies; your promises to exert your utmost influence to restore harmony between them, and to preserve peace, good order, and a dutiful submission to the laws, are such as evince your loyalty to the most gracious of Sovereigns, and your regard for the true welfare of the people Their constitutional rights will ever be found best supported by a strict obedience to the laws and authority of Government Whenever that barrier is broken down, anarchy and confusion, with all their attendant evils, will most assuredly enter and destroy all the blessings of civil society.

Friday, February 10, 1775, 4 o'clock, P M.

The House met: Present, Peter Kemble, Esquire, the Earl of Stirling, John Stevens, Esquire, the Chief Justice, Richard Stockton Stephen Skinner, and Daniel Coxe, Esquire.

Mr. Coxe in his place acquainted the House that he had received information that James Murdock, of the City of Perth Amboy, Surgeon, had presumed to send a challenge to one of the Members of this House, sitting as the General Assembly of this Colony, and moved the House that the said Member be called upon to produce the Letter containing the said challenge;

Whereupon, by order of the House, the said Letter was produced, and is in the words following, viz:

MY LORD: It is needless to repeat your Lordship's behaviour last night Mr. Murdock now desires of your Lordship time and place to have the satisfaction of a gentleman I am your Lordship's most obedient servant,

Jas Murdock.

Friday Morning,

Superscribed "This to Lord Stirling."

Resolved unanimously, That the said Letter is a most audacious insult to Lord Stirling; and that sending the same to him during the sitting of the General Assembly of this Colony, is a daring contempt of the authority, and a manifest violation of the rights and privileges of this House.

Ordered, therefore, That the Speaker do issue his Warrant, directed to the Sergeant-at-Arms, commanding him to apprehend and bring the said James Murdock forthwith before the House, to answer for the said contempt.

The House being informed that James Murdock was attending at the door in custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms,

Ordered, That he be brought in.

And on his appearance before the House, and the said Letter being shown to him, he acknowledged that he wrote and sent the same as directed, and that he meant it a£ a challenge; but said he had done it in the heat of passion; that he was sensible he had done exceedingly wrong, and was sorry for his indiscretion; and that he was ready to make such farther acknowledgments as the House should be pleased to direct.

Ordered, That the Sergeant-at-Arms withdraw with the said James Murdock, and that he remain in his custody till farther orders.

Saturday, February 11, 1775.

The House met: Present, Peter Kemble, Esquire, the Earl of Stirling, John Stevens, Esquire, the Chief Justice, Richard Stockton, Stephen Skinner, and Daniel Coxe, Esquires.

The House resumed the consideration of the Insult and Breach of Privilege committed by James Murdock.

Resolved, That the said Murdock be brought up before this House by the Sergeant-at-Arms; and that he receive such reprimand and admonition from the Speaker, as the nature of his offence requires; and that he be also commanded to make such submission and acknowledgment of his offence, as may be satisfactory as well to the House; as to Lord Stirling.

Whereupon, the said James Murdock was accordingly brought before the House, in custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms, and being reprimanded and admonished, did declare his unfeigned sorrow for the insult by him offered to the House, thanked the House for their lenity towards him, and with the fullest acknowledgments of his submission to, the House, implored their pardon and forgiveness, as well for the publick insult offered to them, as for the affront to Lord Stirling.

Whereupon, he was ordered to be discharged from custody, on paying the accustomed Fees to the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Monday, February 13, 1775.

The House met: Present, the Earl of Stirling, John Stevens, Esquire, the Chief Justice, Stephen Skinner, and Daniel Coxe, Esquires.

A Message from the House of Assembly, by Mr. Fisher and Mr. Aldridge, informing this House that the House of Assembly have no farther business before this House, and that the House have no objection to such application being made for a dismission.

To which the Speaker answered that there was no further business before this House, and that the House have no objection to such application being made for a dismission.