the Ship Johnston shortly to arrive in Miles River, but that he had no advice, nor had any reason to believe (except from the aforesaid letter from the Baltimore Town Committee) that the said ship would bring either Dry Goods or Salt.”

Mr. Braddock did likewise, at the same time, voluntarily enter into the following engagement and promise: “That if the Ship Johnston, or any other vessel having on board any Goods or Merchandise prohibited by the American Association, shall come addressed to him, or to any other agent or factor for Mr. Gildart, he will, in such an event, neither directly nor indirectly receive, nor assist in landing, storing, or following the said Goods or Merchandise, but that, on the contrary, he will, immediately and forthwith, give notice of the arrival of the said ship or other vessel to the above mentioned deputation, or to some four of them, (who are appointed to go on board such ship or vessel, and to examine the papers, viz: the manifest, the cockets, and log-book,) and that he would give directions for the immediate return of any ship or vessel addressed to him, without breaking bulk.”

Mr. Braddock delivered, at the same time, to the Committee an inventory of the Goods he has now on hand, with which they declared themselves satisfied for the present.

On the same day information being made to the Committee that Mr. Brascup, tavern-keeper at Talbol Court House, had, on Tuesday, the 23d of May, served up a Lamb at his table, he was accordingly called before the Committee to give an account of his conduct; and upon his informing them that he had not purchased more than two or three Lambs, which he had been assured were yeaned before the first day of January, and on his promise that he would not, for the future, purchase any more Lambs without a certificate from the seller that they had been yeaned, either before the first day of January or after the first of May, the Committee were satisfied, and dismissed Mr. Brascup.

Ordered, That the above proceedings be published in the Maryland Gazette.

Signed by order of the Committee:

ROBERT WILSON, Cleric pro tem.

ROBERT HANNA AND OTHERS TO GOVERNOUR PENN.

Pittsburgh, May 23, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: Shortly after our confinement here we wrote you in what manner we have been treated by the court of Fort Dunmore, as ’tis called, and also enclosed a list of actions brought against us for acting in our office, with the writs of adjournment from and to Staunton; but we have the greatest reason to believe it has not yet come to your hands, by reason of our receiving no answer. We have ever since remained, and now are in jail bounds, though often threatened with close confinement. We, with the assistance of one of our brethren now in the same state with us, (namely, Thomas Scott,) would inform your Honour as follows, viz: The said Scott was recognised on the thirteenth of November last past, to appear at the next court then to be holden at this place; notwithstanding the appearance was made accordingly, and no court held, yet the recognisance was continued; and since, the body of said Scott was arrested by armed force, with five writs, one at the suit of the King, and four civil processes, for acting by virtue of your Honour’s commission of the peace; to which process the said Scott appeared here at court the sixteenth instant, and upon the said recognisance, was adjudged by the court to be bound in five hundred Pounds, with two sureties in two hundred and fifty Pounds each, to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, and in particular not to act as a Magistrate by any authority derived from Pennsylvania. On refusing to give such bail, on account of the latter clause in particular, though sufficient bail for the prison bounds was tendered, was ordered, and put into close jail with murderers and thieves, and there detained about one hour; but on a motion to the court, made by Mr. Harvie, was admitted to prison bounds bail.

In consequence of the disagreeable circumstances we now labour under, and more especially those of us who have families, we look upon it absolutely necessary to send the bearer hereof express, (who is ordered to wait your answer,) praying your immediate instructions, whether we shall give the bail required by this court, break the bounds, or in what manner we shall be enlarged, or conduct ourselves to your Honour’s satisfaction, and the interest of the Government, to which we are closely attached.

Sir, the unhappy situation to which this Country is at present reduced by the proceedings of the Virginians, has rendered it impossible for us to collect any sum of money whatever; and our ready cash being nearly exhausted in defence of the cause, lays us under the necessity of applying to your Honour for the sum of fifteen Pounds, which we were obliged to promise to said express for his services, which we hope you will order him paid before he leaves Town, and also enclose such other sums of money as you may think sufficient to defray the past expenses, and answer the present necessities of your Honour’s most obliged and very humble servants,

ROBERT HANNA,
JAMES CAVET,
THOMAS SCOTT.

To the Honourable John Penn, Esq., Governour and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c.

ROBERT HANNA AND OTHERS TO GOVERNOUR PENN.

Pittsburgh, May 23, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: Messrs. Hanna and Cavet, who were apprehended and taken into custody the twenty-second of last February, as you have been already informed by despatches forwarded to you by them immediately for that purpose; and we are sorry to find that they have not as yet received any reply to their letters on that subject, although they are now upwards of three months confined to prison bounds at this place, to the great prejudice of their persons and families, by pretended authority from the Government of Virginia, which did, and still continues to tyrannize over this unhappy part of your Province, but more especially over us, who beg leave to address your Honour on this pressing occasion, for we are aimed at in a particular manner as the objects of their resentment, therefore are doomed to utter ruin and destruction, if they by any means can accomplish their aim. They are not satisfied with imprisoning our persons, (of which every one of us has participated in turn,) but insult and domineer over us as well in open court as every where else opportunity serves. They have procured a number of litigious law suits, entered against every one of us, for acting as Magistrates by authority from the Government of Pennsylvania, as well before, as since Lord Dunmore and his tools usurped the jurisdiction of this distressed part of the Province; the Militia continuing to kill our cattle and hogs, just as it suits them, without any questions asked of the owners, or satisfaction offered.

They likewise take upon themselves to determine our title to lands, as well between this and Ligonier, as beyond this place, by a jury of twelve men of their own choosing, without allowing the defendant the privilege, of objecting to any of that number; notwithstanding Magistrates of their own appointment could be procured on the ground to testify some of these select men were the sworn enemies of the defendants.

This was actually the case with Mr. Devereux Smith, the third instant, when Connolly in the like manner dispossessed him of a tract of land some miles eastward of this place, and declared it should be the property of one George Sly; and, in six days afterwards, the Sheriff broke open Mr. Smith’s door, and gave the said Sly possession. In short we are deemed and treated like degraded beings that are nowise entitled to the common right of mankind; and the very name of a Pennsylvanian is sufficient to render any man odious at this day now-a-days.

To conclude, we are worried out with repetitions of tyranny and oppression, and greatly injured in bodies, minds, and estates; in the meantime we are, with sincere attachments to your Honour’s person and Government, your Honour’s most humble and most devoted servants,

To John Penn, Esquire, Governour of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c.

P. S. As we find ourselves so deeply engaged in lawsuits