when he is in the Massachusetts province, he can legally be called or styled Commander in Chief in New Hampshire?

Whether, when he is in the Massachusetts province, he can sign commissions, patents or writs, for calling an Assembly in New Hampshire, and date them the same day he signs them there and transmit them to be passed by his Majesty's council here, which must be some days after?

Whether in the Council's meeting to pass or consent or advise any such patent, or writ, or proclamation, you think there is any necessity of the Lieut. Governor's presence, when by his order the Council is convened? And

Whether, when the Chief Governor is personally out of the province, all proclamations, writs for assembly or orders, ought not to be in the name of the Lieut. Governor or the eldest counsellor first named in his Majesty's Instructions resident within the province, with the approbation of the Council, when proper?

One motive of my desiring the opinions of the gentlemen of the Council upon the dispute and these queries, is, lest I might lie under the imputation of ignorantly submitting my power without making any struggle for it, and that an entry may be made in your journals of this affair with your opinions, that the same may be a precedent for future times.

But I hope gentlemen will be cautious and weigh this matter fully and consider what consequences it may have. Your opinions shall determine me until his Majesty's pleasure be known upon it. (1)

DAVID DUNBAR.

[P. 397.] Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secundi Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ et Hiberniæ &c. Septimo.

A JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE of Representatives of his Majes Province of New Hampshire began and held at Portsmouth in the Province aforesaid, January the 1st A. D. 1733–4.

The Persons returned according to the Kings writ as Reprepresentatives to serve in General Assembly for the several Towns are as followeth, viz.

(1) It is a subject of regret, that the Council records relating to this matter are not to be found-probably they were destroyed by the fire which consumed Secretary Waldron's house in May, 1736. ED.

[P. 398.] The Honble George Jaffrey and Jotham Odiorne, Esq. came down and acquainted the House that they were authorized by his Excellency to administer the oaths to the members Pursuant to an act of Parliamt which being done the gent Return'd.

Joshua Pierce, Esq. came down with a Mess from his Excellency, viz. That his Excell Directed the House to make choice of a Speaker.

The House proceeded to the choice of their Speaker. Andrew Wiggin Esq. was chosen Speaker. Then the House made choice of James Jeffrey for their Clerk, and he was sworn accordingly.

A Mess pr Mr. Secretary, viz. That his Excelly Requires the attendance of Mr. Speaker & the House in the Council Chamber.

Mr. Speaker and the House went up accordingly.

His Excellency made a Speech. Mr. Speaker obtained a coppy & Returned.

Then the House adjourned to the 2a curr*.

Wednesday January 2a A. D. 1733-4.

His Excellency's Speech was read and is as followeth, viz. Gen't of the Council & House of Representatives.

By the last Ships from London I have received an account of the French King's Declaring War against the Emp of Germany with whome his Brittanick Majtie is in alliance, & how far this unhappy Rupture may lead to a Gen" War in Europe is uncertaine; however I think it a faire Alarm to all his Majties Dominions to put themselves in a Posture of defence & you cannot but be sensible how naked & Exposed this Province is both by Sea and Land, Fort William & Mary at the Entrance of this River (the only Fortifications his Majtie has in this Province) you know Lyes [P. 399] in a miserable condition, nor are you ignorant how often I have prest the Repaire of this Fortress

upon the Assembly here, altho' it has forty Guns yet it has for a long time had only a Capt a gunner and two centinels belonging to it. I hope your own safety as well as his Majties Hon' (at this critical juncture) will put you up on doing what is absolutely necessary in this important affaire.

I have, Gent frequent Complaints of the ruinous condition of the Goale of the Province which will Require a large Repaire or Rather Rebuilding as soon as may be, their being continual Hazards of Escapes thro' its present Deficiency.

Gen't of the House of Representatives.

You verry well know there has been no money in the Treasury of the Province for neare three years past, which has greatly Exposed & dishond the Kings Govermt and has been a Publick Injustice & oppression-this with the threatening aspect abroad (I have no doubt) will lead you to make ample Provision for what I have now mentioned as well as for all the other Exigencies of the Goverm*.

Gen't of the Council,

& House of Representatives,

Upon my meeting of the Assm of the Mass Bay in April last I earnestly recomended to them the passing an Order (agreeable to what had been done in this Province) for putting a stop (at present) to any process in the Law agt the Borders on the disputed Lines of the two Provinces, But the Public Prints have long since told you it had not the desired Success.

In January last, I wrote verry fully to the Right Honble the Lords of Trade, praying them to Represent this long unhappy Dispute to his Majtie, that there might be an end put to the Contention; to which letter I have recd the Hon" of their Lordships Answer, saying they hope upon the return [P. 400] of my answer to their letter no further delay may be occasioned to the accomplishing a matter of so_much advantage to both Provinces, and my answer to their Lordships Letter is Long since gone forward, and I shall rejoyce in seeing this troublesome affaire bro't to a happy conclusion.

Gent In whatsoever you can project for his Majties Hon" & service and for the Prosperity of his good subjects in this Province you shall have my hearty assistance and consent.

Jany 1st 1733-4.

J. BELCHER.

Governor Belcher's Letter.

[The following is a Copy of Gov. Belcher's Letter above referred to, and which has never before been published. It was found by Hon. C. H. Bell, of Exeter, among Papers of Secretary Waldron.] EĒD.

Although I have wrote you pr. this Conveyance of 5th, 8th & 12th Instant, yet the ship being detain'd, I think it my Duty to say to your Lordships, that I have taken all possible Care and Pains, ever since my Arrival, to have the long contested Boundaries betwixt the Massachusetts and New-Hampshire adjusted, agreeable to His Majesty's Royal Orders to me, but I can see no prospect of its being accom

plish'd, and the poor Borderers on the Lines, (if your Lordships will allow me so vulgar an Expression) live like Toads under a Harrow, being run into Goals on the one side & the other, as often as they please to quarrell, such is the sad Condition of His Majesty's Subjects, that live near the Lines. They pull down one another's Houses, often wound each other, and I fear it will end in Bloodshed, unless His Majesty in his great goodness gives some effectual Order to have the Bounds fixt.

Although, my Lords, I am a Massachusetts man, yet I think this Province alone is culpable on this head. New-Hampshire has all along been frank and ready to pay exact Duty and Obedience to the King's Order, and have manifested a great Inclination to Peace and good Neighbourhood, but in return the Massachusetts Province have thrown unreasonable Obstacles in the way of any Settlement, and altho' they have for 2 or 3 years past been making offers to settle the Boundaries with New-York & Rhode-Island in an open, easy, amicable way, yet when they come to settle with New-Hampshire, they will not do so with them, which seems to me a plain Argument that the leading men of the Massachusetts Assembly are conscious to themselves of continual Incroachments they are making upon their Neighbours of NewHampshire, and so dare not come to a Settlement. I say, my Lords, in Duty to the King, and from a just Care of His Subjects of NewHampshire, I think myself oblig'd to set this matter in the Light I now do, nor do I ever expect to see it settled, but by a peremptory order from his Majesty appointing Commissioners to do it, and those agreed to by both Assemblies Februa 1730–1.

Joseph Talcott Esq. Gov. of Connecticut,

Joseph Jenks Esq. then Gov. of Rhode Island, &

Adolph Phillips Esq. Speaker of the Assembly at N. York, are Gentlemen of good Ability and Integrity, and altho' the Massachusetts, I fear, will still decline joining in the affair, yet I believe NewHampshire from their Desire to Peace and good Order, would rejoice to see such a Direction from the King, & be glad to be at the whole Charge rather than the Dispute should still continue. I therefore humbly pray your Lordships so to represent this affair to His Majesty, that there may be an End of Strife and Contention.

And if your Lordships approve of the Bill I now send you for emitting Bills of Credit on a Foundation of Gold and Silver, & that I may have His Majesty's Leave for doing it in the Massachusetts, I pray I may also have the same Liberty of doing it in New-Hampshire, where they are in great Distress for something to pass in lieu of money, and without speedy Help it will be almost impossible for that little Province to support any Trade.

I have the honour to be with all possible Esteem and Respect

Boston,

Janus 13th 1732-3

My Lords

Your Lordships

Most obedient and

Most Humble Servant
J. B.

These may certify that His Excelly the Governor, sent me this paper from Boston, and assured me that the contents of it were a genuine copy of what he had wrote and sent to the Lords of Trade & Planta

tions: and also that he afterwards shew me an original letter from the secretary of the Plantation Board, which acknowledged their Lordships' receipt of the Governor's said letter. As witness my hand August 1st 1739: Rich Waldron.

Post Meridiem.

Capt John Rindge Inform'd the House of his proceedings in Great Brittaine Relating to the affaire of the Boundary Lines, & that he had substituted Capt. John Thomlinson (1) to act in that affaire and hop'd the House would accept him, and laid several letters from the said Thomlinson and also the coppy of the address or petition the said Rindge presented his Majte in Council relating to the affaire of the Lines before the House, all which were read in the House.

Then the House unanimously voted Thanks to the said John Rindge for the good service he had done in Great Brittaine in the affaire of the Boundary Lines between this Province and the Province of the Massachusetts.

Then the House adjourn'd to the 3a currt.

Thursday, Jan" 34 A. D. 1733-4.

Voted, That Theo. Atkinson, Peter Weare & John Rindge, Esqs. be a Comittee of this House to draw up an answer to his Excell Speech & present it the House for approbation. His Excell speech read again.

The Question was put Whether the House would proceed to Raise a Tax upon the People of this Province to pay the present Debts. It past in the negative twelve agt it and fower for it

[P. 401.]

Post Meridiem.

Voted-That John Rindge & Bart Thing Esqs. be a Co

(1) In 1732, a number of Gentlemen attached to the Episcopal church erected a new edifice in Portsmouth, for the worship of God, according to the ritual of the English liturgy. It stood nearly on the ground where St. John's church now stands. It was called Queen's Chapel in honor of Queen Caroline, consort of George II., who gave the books for the altar and pulpit, the plate, and two elegant mahogony chairs, which are still in use every Sabbath in the altar by the rector. Mr. Thomlinson contributed liberally towards the erection of their church, and procured the aid of persons in London to complete it. It was consecrated in 1734; and in 1736, they obtained Mr. Arthur Brown for their minister, with a salary from the Society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts. Mr. Brown continued service as rector till his death, in June, 1773. See. Belk., Adams' Ann. and Brewster's Rambles.