The engrossed Message to his Excellency was read and compared, and the same is as follows, viz:

Ordered, That Mr. Dey and Mr. Hewlings do wait, upon his Excellency with the following Message:

May it please your Excellency:

A printed Pamphlet lately received from Great Britain, entitled “The Parliamentary Register, No, 5,” has been laid before this House, containing, among other things, a Paper entitled “An Extract of a Letter from Governour Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Perth-Amboy, February 1, 1775; received February 28,” in these words:

“The General Assembly of this Province are now sitting, being convened on the 1lth of last month, in order to transact the publick business.

“At the opening of the session I had some hopes of prevailing on the House of Representatives not to approve of the proceedings of the General Congress held at Philadelphia, for which purpose a paragraph of my speech was particularly calculated. But the Delegates from this Province took the alarm, and used their utmost endeavours with the members to persuade them to give their approbation to those proceedings, as otherwise one grand end the Congress had in view would be entirely frustrated, namely: the preserving an appearance of unanimity throughout the Colonies, without which they said their measures would not have that weight and efficacy with the Government and people of Great Britain, as was intended.

“The scheme, however, met with some opposition in the House, every member proposing to defer the consideration of it to a future time, or to give their approbation to only some parts of the proceedings of Congress; but by the artful management of those who espoused the measure, it was carried through precipitately the very morning it was proposed, as your Lordship will see by a copy of their Resolutions now enclosed, which were all previously prepared for the purpose.”

We request your Excellency will be pleased to inform this House whether the said Extract contains a true representation of the words or substance of the Letter, or any part of the Letter by your Excellency written, relative to the proceedings of the last session of Assembly.

By order of the House:

RICHARD SMITH, Clerk.

House of Assembly, May 18, 1775.

Mr. Fisher, from the Committee on the Address to his Excellency, brought in a draught; which was read, and ordered a second reading.

Mr. Deputy Secretary Pettit laid before the House His Majesty’s, royal approbation of two Acts of Assembly of this Province; and also His. Majesty’s royal disallowance of one other Act, in these words, viz:

“At the Court at St. James’s, the 20th day of February, 1775, Present: The King’s Most Excellent Majesty, Lord President, Duke of Queensbury, Duke of Newcastle, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Rochford, Earl of Dartmouth, Viscount Falmouth.

“Whereas, by commission under the great seal of Great Britain, the Governour, Council, and Assembly of His Majesty’s Colony of New-Jersey are authorized and empowered to make, constitute, and ordain Laws, Statutes, and Ordinance for the publick peace, welfare, and good government of the said Colony, which Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances are to be as near as conveniently may be, agree able to the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom, and are to be transmitted to His Majesty for his royal approbation or disallowance.;. And whereas, in pursuance of the said powers, two Acts were passed in the said Colony in the last session of the General Assembly there, which have been transmitted, entitled as follows, viz:

“An Act for striking One Hundred Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit, and directing the mode for sinking the same.

“An Act for the relief of Abner Hatfield, an insolvent debtor.

“Which Acts, together with the representation from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations thereupon, having been referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Lords of His Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council for Plantation Affairs, the said Lords of the Committee did this day report as their opinion to His Majesty, that the said Acts were proper to be approved. His Majesty taking the same into consideration, was pleased, with the advice of his Privy Council, to declare his approbation of the said Acts; and pursuant to His Majesty’s royal pleasure thereupon expressed, the said Acts are hereby confirmed, finally enacted, and ratified accordingly; whereof the Governour or Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s said Colony of New-jersey, for the time being, and all others whom it may concern, are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

G. CHETWYND.”

“At the Court at St. James’s, the 20th day of February, 1775. Present: The King’s Most” Excellent Majesty, Lord President, Duke of Queensbury, Duke of Newcastle, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Rochford, Earl of Dartmouth, Viscount Falmouth.

“Whereas, by commission under the great seal of Great Britain, the Governour, Council, and Assembly of His Majesty’s Colony of New-Jersey are authorized and empowered to make, constitute, and ordain Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances for the publick peace, welfare, and good government of the said Colony, which Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances are to be as near as conveniently may be, agreeable to the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom, and are to be transmitted for His Majesty’s royal approbation or disallowance: And whereas, in pursuance of the said powers, an Act, was passed in the said Colony in the last session of General Assembly, and transmitted, entitled as follows, viz:

“An Act for lowering the interest of Money to” Six per Cent within this Colony.

“Which Act, together with a representation from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations thereupon, haying been referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Lords of His Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council, the said Lords of the Committee did this day report as their opinion to His Majesty, that the said Act ought to be disallowed. His Majesty, taking the same into consideration, was pleased, with the advice of his Privy Council, to declare his disallowance of the said Act; and pursuant to His Majesty’s royal pleasure thereupon expressed, the said Act is hereby disallowed, declared void, and of none effect; whereof the Governour or Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s said Colony of New-Jersey, for the time being, and all others whom it may concern, are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly:

“G. CHETWYND.”

The House, adjourned till 9 o’clock to-morrow morning.

Friday, May 19, 1775.

The House met.

The Address to his Excellency was read the second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

The House accordingly resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the Address, and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Fisher, Chairman of the Committee, reported that the Committee had gone through the Address, and had made sundry amendments to the same; and by leave of the House Mr. Fisher reported the Address with the amendments; which were read; and the Address being further amended in the House, was agreed to.

Ordered, That the said Address as amended and agreed to, be engrossed.

The House adjourned till three, P. M.

The House met.

The engrossed Address to his Excellency was read and compared.

Ordered, nem. con., That Mr. Speaker do sign the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Tucker and Mr. Hinchman do wait upon his Excellency and desire to be informed when his Excellency will be attended, by the House with their Address.

Colonel Ford, had leave of absence, on urgent business.

Mr. Tucker reported that Mr. Hinchman, and himself waited on his Excellency according to order, and that his Excellency was pleased to say the House should hear from him.

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