The GOVERNOUR's Speech to the Assembly, at Philadelphia the 15 September 1701.
YOU cannot be more concerned than I am at the frequency of your service in Assembly, since I am very sensible of the Trouble and Charge it Contracts upon the Country: But the Motives being considered, and that You must have met of Course in the next Month, I hope you will not think it a Hardship now. The reasons that has [...]n your Sessions, is the Necessity I am under, through the Endeavours of the Enemies of the PROSPERITY of this Country, to go for ENGLAND; where taking Advantage of my Absence, some have attempted, by false or unreasonable Charges, to undermine our Government, and thereby the true value of our Labours and Property, Government having been our first Encouragement. I Confess I cannot think of such a Voyage without great Reluctancy of mind, having promised my self the quietness of a Wilderness, and that I might stay so long at least with you, as to render every Body intirely easie and safe: For my Heart is among you as well as my body, what ever some people may please to think: and no unkindness, or disappointment shall (with submission to God's Providence) ever be able to alter my Love to the Country, and Resolution to return and settle my Family and Posterity in it; but having reason to believe I can at this time best serve you and myself on that side of the Water, neither the rudeness of the season nor Tender Circumstances of my Family can over-rule my Inclinations to undertake it.
Think therefore, (since all men are Mortal) of some suitable Expedient and Provision for your Safety, as well in your Priviledges as Property, and you will find me ready to Comply with whatsoever may render us happy by a nearer Union of our Interests.
Review again your Laws, propose New ones that may better your Circumstances; and what you do, do it quickly, remembring that the Parliament sits the end of the next Month, and that the sooner I am there, the safer I hope we shall be here.
I must recommend to your Serious Thoughts & Care the Kings Letter to me, for the Assistance of New-York, with Three-hundred and Fifty pounds Sterling, as a Frontier Government, and therefore Exposed to a much greater expence in proportion to other Colonies; which I call'd the last Assembly to [Page]take into their Consideration, and they were pleased for the reasons then given, to refer to this
I am also to tell you the good News of the Governour of New-York, his happy Issue of his Conferences with the five Nations of Indians, that he hath not only made Peace with them, for the Kings Subjects of that Colony, but (as I had by some Letters before [...] [...]m) for those of all other Governments under the [...] of England o [...] the [...] of America, as also the Nations of Indians within those Respective Colonies, which certainly Merits our Acknowledgements.
I have done, when I have told you, that Unanimity and Dispatch are the Life of Business, and that I desire and expect from you, for your own sakes, since it may so much Contribute to the Disappointment of those, that too long have sought the Ruine of our Young Country.
The ASSEMBLY's Address to the GOVERNOUR
WHe have this day in our Assembly, read thy speech delivered (Yesterday) in Council, and having duly considered the same cannot but be under a deep sense of sorrow for thy purpose of so speedily leaving us, and at the same time taking Notice of thy Paternal regard to us and our Posterity, the Freeholders of this Province and Territories annexed, in thy Loving and Kind Expressions of being ready to Comply with what soever Expedient and Provisions we shall offer for our Safety as well in Priviledges as Property and what else may render us happy in a nearer Union of our Interests; Not doubting the performance of what thou hast been Pleased so Lovingly to promise, do in much Humility and as a token of our Gratitude, return unto them the unfeigned Thanks of this House.
Printed at Philadelphia by Reynier Jansen 1701.