But tho' this Step, taken by the Assembly, is wrong, and unworthy the Dignity of a House of Assembly, yet it gives us this Satisfaction, that thereby they plainly discover their own designs, and as plainly prove to every Man that has common Sense enough to know what his real Interest and Security in this case is, that the Council have been the true Patrons and Friends of the People on this Occasion. Some People, perhaps, may imagine, that by the Method proposed by the Council, the Militia would be put under a stricter Discipline than is necessary, and that it would occasion a needless Expence to the People, by forming one Troop of Horse out of every Regiment; but if such People would consider, that unless a Militia be well disciplined, and under good Regulation, they never will be able to make any tolerable defence; and as our Sea-coast, as well as the Land on the Back of us, is very extensive, and as we cannot know what Part of it an Enemy may enter or land at, every Man, that knows any thing, must know, that Troops of Horse are absolutely necessary on such an Occasion, who, by being able to march much faster than Foot Companies can, may oppose and distress the Enemy till the Foot Companies can be brought up to their Assistance, by which Means many hundred Families in such a Part of the Province may be preserved from Ruin. Since then no one can tell where the first Blow may be struck; since Troops of Horse are most fit to hinder the Progress of an Enemy; since it is for the Peoples own sakes that such are proposed; since such a discipline can only be designed for the Preservation of the People, their Liberties and Estates, and was to be at an End as soon as Peace is proclaimed; and since these are the only Means in our Power for our defence, such Troops, and such a Discipline, must be looked upon as absolutely necessary at this Time.

Upon the whole, we beg Leave to observe to your Excellency, that as we have throughout this Representation preserved an honest Sincerity, and the strictest Truth, of which, from your own Knowledge of Things, and of our past Conduct, we persuade ourselves your Excellency will make no Doubt; so we conceive that we have just Reason to apprehend, from the past and present Conduct of the House of Assembly, that this second Rejecting of the Bill for making current 40,000 1. by the Council, has been the chief Cause (we heartily wish it were the only Spring) of these unhappy, these ill-timed Differences. We are sensible, Sir, nay, we are well assured, that many People in this Colony, who have taken the Publick Money, will for some Time be distressed by paying of it in again; but all that we can say, as a Branch of the Legislature, is, that we heartily pity their Condition; but we cannot, in justice to our Country, and to the Trust reposed in us by His Majesty, redress a private Misfortune at the Expence of the publick Weal.

But why the Government should not, at this Time, be supported in as ample a Manner as it has been at any Time before, we own we are at a Loss to know, seeing there is now in the two Treasurers Hands, of the Interest Money arising from the Loans of this Province, which, by the Laws that gave it Being, is absolutely appropriated to the Support of Government, a Sum sufficient to support it for at least three Years to come; the House of Assembly having notwithstanding lessened your Excellency's Salary one Half, reduced that of the Chief Justice to one Fourth, and cramped all the rest of the Officers of the Government, let their Pretences be what they will, must convince the World, that they do intend, by such a Conduct, to compel your Excellency and the Council to fall in with their Measures; but we trust, that

neither your Excellency, nor the Council, will prostitute the Trust reposed in you and them by His Majesty.

The Assembly indeed, by their Votes and Resolves, pretend a Necessity of being frugal of their Money (as they are pleased to term it) in order to be able to assist His Majesty in case of Necessity; but we are well assured, that His Majesty would be much better pleased with their supporting His Government in the usual Manner, with their putting His Colony in a proper Posture of Defence, and with their preserving Peace, Unanimity, and a good Understanding among His People here, than with any trifling Sum they are able to assist His Majesty with at this Time.

What Lengths the Gentlemen of the Assembly might have gone upon this Occasion, were it not for a noble Stand made by some worthy and more Knowing Members of that House, we shall not take upon us at this time to say; we are willing to impute their present Conduct to a mistaken Zeal, and their Want of a necessary Knowledge of the true Boundaries that divide the distinct Parts of which our happy Constitution is composed, that is, the three Branches of the Legislature; and we still live in Hopes, that when they come to Know how essentially necessary every Part, when confined to the proper Limits of its own Power, is to the Preservation and Well-being of the Whole, they will alter their present Measures, and heartily join with us in procuring to ourselves and the People, for whom we act, many salutary Laws, productive of Wealth, Peace, and lasting Happiness.

As we can, from the Tranquillity of our Minds, assure your Excellency, that we have acted every Part with strict Honour in Defence of His Majesty's Prerogative for the Preservation of our happy Constitution, and in Support of the true Liberties, Privileges, and real Well-being of the People of this Colony; so we humbly pray, that your Excellency will lay this

our humble Representation at His Majesty's Feet, where we doubt not it will meet with a Treatment worthy the Known Justice of our Royal Master.

By Order of the House,

JOHN READING, Speaker.

Letter from Governor Morris to the Lords of TradeRecommendations for the Council.

Triplicate,

[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. V, F. 71.]

Kingsbury febry 1st 1744-5

[N. B. Neither of the two former were receiv'd when this came. 28. May 1745.]

My Lords,

This serves to Informe your Lps that my Letters to Your Lordships & the Secretary of State and the Publick Papers are put into a Small box directed to your Lordships being too bulky to be made up conveniently any other way I sent them to New York to be put on board a Ship call'd the Queen of hungary one Hilton (I think) Master. Inclos'd is a representation of the Council to me which if the other papers should not come to hand may give your Lps some insight into the present state of Our affaires. Partridge our Agent, or rather the Assembly's Agent, was directed by our late Assembly to Appeare against the Bill to be brought into Parliament with relation to the Paper currency: But he has no such Orders from the Government. Lest he should Pretend to it and use that Assemblys direction as such I Inclose a copy of my letter to him.

I have mentioned in mine to your Lps the Assemblys complaint of the Councills not being full. I could fill

them up to no more than Seaven; which I have done as there was Occasion: But to take away all pretences of complaint on that head, I have recommended to Your Lordships to fill them up with the following persons viz. Edward Antill' and James Hude' who are allready sworne into the Councill I have pray'd may be confirm'd, and that Andrew Johnstone', John Coxe, Peter Kimbol [Kemble?] and Thomas Leonard may be added to make up Eleaven residing Councellors. Alexander the 12th resides at New York; he has a great interest in this Province and is an usefull man when he can attend. I have more fully mentioned this to Your Lps in my Letter; and write this lest that should not come to hand and this should, the men I have recommended are some of the most considerable men in the

1

Edw. Antitl

This gentleman resided at Raritan Landing and was, connected by marriage with the Morris

family. He was remarkable for his eccentricities.-See Contributions to East Jersey History, p. 227.-ED.

2

Jac. Hude

was one of a Woodbridge family of considerable note, but resided in New Brunswick, where he died in November, 1762, holding the office of Mayor of the city. His obituary in the New York Mercury states that he had held almost all the honorable offices and employments in the government, as well as those conferred by the people, and adds: "His death is not only an irreparable loss to the poor, who had at all times free access to his person and his advice and assistance without fee or reward, but to the public is a subject of great regret."-See Contributions to the History of Perth Amboy, p. 374.-ED.

ized by "good equality of temper, circumspection of conduct, an open, yet grave, engaging mien, much goodness of heart and many virtues, both public and private," See Contributions to East Jersey History, p. 72.—Ed.