Proclamation of Governor Basse against certain immigrants from Scotland.

[From P. R. O. B. T., among West Indies, Vol. 383.]

By yeHonble Jeremiah Basse Esq' Gov" of his Majesties Provinces of East & West Jersies.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS by a Letter from White Hall dated ye 24 of January last past directed to me from ye Honble James Vernon Esq' one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State, I am given to understand that severall Shipps of force have been fitted out in Scotland, with design, (as some of yo Adventurers therein have declared) to settle themselves in some part of America, and that the Enterprise hath bin laid and Contrived, & is now effectually carried on by Projectors and Undertakers without their Acquainting of his Majesty with their Intentions; So that his Majesty cannot but look upon such an undertaking to tend to ye Breach of Peace with his ffriend & Ally ye King of Spain, & to Militate against ye Treaties his Majesty hath entered into with that Crown, & of dangerous consequence also to his Majesties Colonies in ye West Indies;

These are therefore in his Majesties name, & in pursuance of his Majesties Commands signifyed to me in ye said Letter strictly to prohibit & forbid all & every his Majesties Subjects, & others Inhabiting within this Gov'mn' to hold any Correspondence or to give any Assistance, Aid, or Reliefe whatsoever to any of said Shipps, or to any Person, or Persons concerned therein while they are engaged in yo afores" Enterprise; or to Transport, or carry, or cause, or suffer to be Transported, or carried any Armes Ammunition, Provisions

or other necessaries whatsoever out of this Province either in their own Vessells, or in any other Shipps, or vessells for ye use of ye said Shipps, or Persons, or any of them, as they do tender his Majesties Pleasure & Service, and will answer ye Contrary at their Peril.

Given at Burlington ye 25th day of May Anno R R Gulielmi Tertij Angt & Undecimo: Annoq Dom' 1699.

Letter from the Towns of Newark, Elizabethtown, Perth Amboy and Freehold to the Proprietors, condemning Governor Basse.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Proprieties, Vol 6, D 28.]

Worthy Gentl.

The Representatives of this Province of East New Jersey, haveing made an address to Jeremiah Bass Wherein as we are informed, they Tell him he has Spent his Estate in Endeavouring the good of the Province, and they hope he will long continue theire Governour; with much more the like fullsome fflatteries. Wee think it our duty to Informe Your Hon; That address was made and Passed, by A Number of his own Creatures in the house, and that it is Very Farr, from being the Sentiments of the Generallity of y Province, that he has Spent any money for their good; and as farr from their desires, that he may continue their govern! for instead of Keeping up the hon' of Governm as was his duty, he has upon all Occasions basely Prossituted it; Which to Instance were but to recount all his Acts of Governm' Wherein it was Possible for him So to do. Wee owe the Unhappy circumstances Our Port lies under to his Cowardize and

Sloath; who when he knew of a Force, comeing to take the Ship Hester, an houre before their arrivall, took no care to prevent her being Surprized and when he had Force Enough to Retake her; being Earnestly desired by them to head'em himselfe, or to Comic'onate Some other; he refused & Trembling left them. the Ship Lay two days before the Town of Perth Amboy; the Souldiers ridiculeing the Governm' of the Jerseys; Calling for their Govern all their Continued Insults, he no other ways resented, then by desiring Them not to be angry, and Presenting their Capt with Brandy and oy' Provisions and drinking the Earl of Bellomonts health to them. were the Ill Effects of these Proceedings, our only Sufferings; We might Prhaps, have been Patient under our Pressures; but as meanness of Spiritt, is Seldome Unaccompanied with other Vices So are we no less oweing to his Malice, then his Folly for our hurt, Our Rights and Priviledges, are by him invaded in the highest degree; and in lieu of the Free Electing Representatives, we are Forc't to Submitt, to the Arbitrary Will of himselfe, and his Councill; by whose advice (Tho unminuted) he took the Writt from the Constable, the people being met to Elect, Pretending informality in it, and because one of his own Faction could not be Chosen, he appointed the Election two days after; tho the same methods were at first took, as ever had been Since East Jersey has been a Province, and he has not only Stuck, by advice of his Councill, to Violate Our Libertys, and Privilidges, but Likewise Your Possitive Instrucc'ons remaining upon the Publick Records, Which by his Commic'on he is tied Up to Obey. One Instance Shall Serve Viz Instrucc'on 8th To Lay no Tax upon uncultivated Land, &c. The Proceedings of the last Assembly, Will Sufficiently Informe Yo' Hon, That no Govern' has had a Councill, that could better Suite and Answer his Sinister designes then That of Mr. Basses.

These things Much hono we thought fitt to let you know that you may take Such Prudent Measures, as may be most Conducive for your owne and Our good. By Ord of the Town of New Worke

Order of King in Council, referring a petition of the Proprietors of West Jersey for an approval of Andrew Hamilton as Governor, to the Lords of Trade.

[P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 3, C. 21.]

At the Court at Kensington the 31th day of May

1699. Present

THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAY IN COUNCILL. Upon reading this day at the Board the Petition of the Proprietors of the province of West New Jersey in America Humbly praying His Ma' to allow and Approve of their Choice of Andrew Hamilton Esq to be Governor of the said province of West New Jersey. It Ordered by His Ma' in Councill that it be Referr'd to the Lords Comm's of Trade and plantations to examine the matter of the said Petition, a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed, And to Report to this Board what They conceive fit to be done & thereupon.

EDWARD SOUTHWELL

[Petition enclosed in the foregoing order.]

To the Kings most Excell Mate

The humble Petic'on of the Proprietors of the Province of West New Jersey in America.

Sheweth

That Andrew Hamilton Esq! by appointment of yo! Pet's having Executed the Office of Governour of the province of West New Jersey in America for severall yeares past with great Fidelity and Reputation Yo Pets at the Generall Request of that people have againe Nominated him to be Governor of the same Province; as a person the most acceptable to the Country, and thereby most capable of serving the Crown both in Peace and Warr.

Yo! Pet's therefore doe most humbly beseech Yo! Mate to allow and approve of their Choice of the said Andrew Hamilton to be Governor of the said province of West New Jersey.