from transporting the smallest article from one part of the Town to another, water-borne, without danger of a seizure, or to get hay, cattle, &c., from any of the islands, not withstanding there is no other way of transportation.

Your Excellency, we apprehend, must have been greatly misinformed of the character of this people to suppose such severities tend either to a submission to the Acts, or reconciliation with the Troops; and the County are sorry to find the execution of the Acts attempted with an higher hand than was intended, unless the Acts themselves should be thought too lenient.

Bringing into the Town a number of Cannon from Castle William sending for a further reinforcement of Troops, with other concurring circumstances, strongly indicating some dangerous design, has justly excited in the minds of the people apprehensions of the most alarming nature, and the authors must be held accountable for all the blood and carnage made in consequence thereof. Therefore this County, in duty to God their country, themselves, and posterity, do remonstrate to, and earnestly desire your Excellency, as you regard the service of the King, and the peace and welfare of the Province, to desist from any further hostile preparations, and give the people assurances thereof by levelling the Intrenchments and dismantling the Fortifications, which will have a tendency to satisfy their doubts, and restore that confidence so essential to their quiet and his Majesty's service.

By order of the Convention of Committees for the County of Worcester.

HIS EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER.

GENTLEMEN: I have repeatedly given the strongest assurances that I intended nothing hostile against the Town or Country, and therefore desire you to ease the minds of the people against any reports that may have been industriously spread amongst them to the contrary; my wish is to preserve peace and tranquillity.

With respect to the execution of the Port Bill, it is a matter belonging to other departments; and if any thing is done, not warranted by said Act, the law is open for redress.

THOMAS GAGE,

PENNSYLVANIA ASSEMBLY.

At an Assembly held at Philadelphia the fourteenth day of October Anno Domini 1774, P. M.

By the Returns of the Sheriffs of the several Counties, it appears that the following gentlemen were duly elected and chosen to serve in Assembly as Representatives of the freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania for the ensuing year, viz:

For the County of PHILADELPHIA.— George Gray Henry Pawling John Dickinson Joseph Parker Israel Jacobs Jonathan Roberts Michael Hillegas Samuel Rhoads.

For the City of PHILADELPHIA.— Thomas Mifflin Charles Thomson

For the County of BUCKS.—John Brown John Foulke William Rodman Benjamin Chapman Joseph Galloway Robert Kirkbride Gerardus Wynkoop. John Honey

For the County of CHESTER.—Benjamin Bartholo mew John Jacobs Joseph Pennock James Gibbons Isaac Pearson Charles Humphreys John Morton An thony Wayne

For the County of LANCASTER.—James Webb Joseph Ferree Matthias Slough. George Ross.

For the County of YORK.—James Ewing Michael Swoope For the County of CUMBERLAND.— Wm. Allen John Montgomery.

For the County of BERKS.—Edward Biddle Henry Chreist.For the County of NORTHAMPTON.— Wm. Edmonds For the County of BEDFORD.—Bernhard Dougherty

For the County of NORTHUMBERLAND.—Sam. Hunter.

For the County of WESTMORELAND.— Wm. Thompson

A quorum of the Representatives being met, proceeded, according to the Charter of Privileges and Laws of this Province, to the choice of a Speaker, when Edward Biddle. Esquire, was unanimously chosen Speaker for the ensuing year, and placed in the Chair accordingly.

Ordered, That Mr. Gray Mr. Miffiin Mr. Brown Mr. Bartholomew Mr. Webb Mr. Swoope and Mr. Edmonds be a Committee to wait on the Governour and acquaint him, that, pursuant to the Charter of Privileges and the Laws of this Province, a quorum of the Representatives being met, have chosen a Speaker for the ensuing year, and request to know at what hour to-morrow his Honour will be pleased to receive the House, that they may present their Speaker for his approbation.

The House adjourned to nine o'clock, to-morrow morning.

October 15.—The House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Members appointed to wait on the Governour with the Message of last night, reported they had delivered the same, according to order, and that his Honour was pleased to say he would be in the Council Chamber at eleven o'clock this morning, to receive the House with their Speaker.

A Message by Mr. Secretary:

"SIR: The Governour is at the Council Chamber, and requires the attendance of the House, to present their Speaker."

Then Mr. Speaker, with the whole House, waited on the Governour, and, being returned from the Council Chamber, the Speaker resumed the Chair, and reported that the House had waited on his Honour, and presented their Speaker, of whom the Governour had been pleased to approve, and that he (the Speaker) had then, in the name and on behalf of the House, claimed their usual privileges, viz:

First. That the Members of the House, during their sitting, may enjoy freedom of Speech in all their propositions and debates.

Secondly. That they may, at all seasonable times, have free access to the Governour, the better to enable them to discharge the business of the publick.

Thirdly. That their persons and estates may be free from all manner of arrests, molestations, and injuries during the time of accustomed privilege.

Fourthly.—That the Governour would be pleased to take no notice of any report concerning any matter or thing moved or debated in the House, until the same shall be passed into Resolves, nor give the least credit to such report.

Fifthly. That his own (the Speaker's) unwilling mistakes may be excused, and not imputed to the House, but that he may have liberty of resorting to them for an explanation of their true intent and meaning, and of reporting the same to the Governour.

All which he had claimed as the just and indefeisible rights and privileges of the freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania derived and confirmed to them by the Laws and Charter of the said Province; and that the Governour was pleased to say, "They were the undoubted rights and privileges of the House, in which they might rely on his protection."

The Qualification by law appointed to be taken by Members of Assembly, and the test of Abjuration, being prepared, were then taken and subscribed, first by Mr. Speaker, in the Chair, and afterwards by the Members present, in their order.

Resolved, unanimously That John Dickinson Esquire, be, and he is hereby, added to the Committee of Deputies appointed by the late Assembly of this Province to attend the General Congress now sitting in the City of Philadelphia on American Grievances.

Resolved, That this House will provide an Entertainment, to be given on Thursday next, to the Deputies from the several Colonies attending publick business in this City.

Ordered, That Mr. Gray Mr. Hillegas Mr. Mifflin Mr. Rodman Mr. Pearson Mr. Wayne and Mr. Ross with the Speaker, be a Committee to provide and super intend the said Entertainment, and that Mr. Speaker do invite the gentlemen of the Congress accordingly.

It being represented by Mr. Hillegas that Cayashuta an Indian Chief of note, and a friend to this Province, is now in Town and in want of some necessaries:

Ordered, That Mr. Hillegas do procure the necessaries requested by the said Indian Chief, defray his expenses while in Town, and present him with the sum of ten pounds, in behalf of this Government.