This day the Severall Proprietors of East and West New Jersey in America did, in Person present a Deed of Surrender by them Executed, under their Hands and Seals, to Her May in Councill, and did acknowledge the same the same to be their Act and Deed, and humbly desire Her Ma to Accept the same, that it might be Enrolled in the Court of Chancery, Whereby they did Surrender their Power of the Government of those Plantations, which Her Ma" graciously accepted, And was pleased to Order as it is hereby ordered, that the same be Enrolled in Her Matys said High Court of Chancery And the said Instruments are to be Delivered to M Atturney Generall, who is to take care that the same be Enrolled accordingly.

Colonel Blakinston of Maryland, to Mr. Moore of Pennsylvania, relating to the irregularities in that Province and New Jersey, with Mr. Moore's An

swer.

[From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 6, K 44.]

Letter from Coll: Blakiston to Mr Moor of Pensylvania, Enquiring into the irregularities of y Province & the Jerseys, With ye Said Moores Answer. [April 21, 1702.]

S

Maryland 2o Decbr 1701.

I cannot have recourse to a Person better qualify'd

1 The copy from the Public Record Office does not contain these names. They are inserted as printed in Smith's History of New Jersey, p 219, and in Grants and Concessions, p. 617.-ED.

than y' self upon this Subject who is every way so good a Judge of Men and Actions

I have here inclos'd y" a copy of a parragraph of the Honble the Lords Commissionars of Trade letter to me requiring an Acco' of the Miscarriages of this Goverment dureing the Proprietors time as also the Irregularityes of Pennsylvania and the Jerseys. I must be very imperfect in my acc's of Pennsylvania & the Jerseys without you can furnish with the State of this matter, for I have no correspondency with any body in Pennsilvania but y' self and Coll' Quary, for you know the Inhabitants are most Quakers. I know Coll' Quary is gone home arm'd cap-apee of the transactions of Pennsilvania, and I would by no means anticipate what he has to lay before that Honble board for I believe he has done it ere this, and that would be only troubling their Lordships with a reppition of what he in person will fully satisfye them of, I am more a Stranger to the Affairs of the Jerseys, but they lyeing so adjacent to you, possibly you may furnish me with something materiall to signify to their Lord ships, as likewise if any thing worth observation, has happened in Pennsylvania since Coll' Quary went away, & also desire you will lett me know, to whom Mr Penn has intrusted his Goverment in his absence it is reported here that Coll' Hamilton is left he is a Gentleman to whom I am an absolute Stranger, therefore I shall say nothing concerning him. I know you will excuse this trouble as being ever Industrious in distinguishing y' regards due to his Majestys service, so I will make know apologyes but assure you I am Your most faithfull frd & Serv

[Note by Mr. Moore.]

N BLAKISTON'

Rec'd y above of Cap Hill, March 10 at night Answer'd 21st Aprill 1702 on the other side.

1 Governor of Maryland.-Ed.

S

[Answer of Mr. Moore.]

Philadelphia Aprill 21: 1702

Your Excellencies by Cap Hill of the 2 of December came not to my hands till the 10th of March at night wch I much wondred at the Commands therein lay'd and all others from your hands readyly should follow but before I had them what was most materiall was transmitted to Col' Quary. Things have been here at full Stopp expecting the issue att home. And now by a Vessell newly arriv'd we have account the matter is called for by the house of Commons from the Lords of Trade and the doom ere this past, the Administrac❜ons of this and the Jerseys is at pr'sent under Col' Hamil tons care, we hear the latter have surrender'd their Goverment to the King wch will be a leading case to the rest. I have not a Syllable from Coll' Quary, N York continues still in confusion, the English scatter'd and waiting my Lord Cornburys arrivall. Mr Vesey the minister is now in Jersey. Maj: Wenthorp Governour of Connecticut and Coll' Hamilton, have interposed their advice like honest gentlemen but reason wil not be hearkn'd to, Col Bayard is reprieved at last noe accon' yett in the Indies tis said the Spaniard refused the french Convoy, and have taken their plate ashore and laid up their Ships for this year. I doubt not yo' Excellencies has later news from England than wee, We hear of your Exsellencies intention for England but flatter our Selves shall have the honour of seeing y" here ere y' departure, my humblest regards to your Lady and Self beggs acceptance. I am J M.

Order of Council, referring to the Lords of Trade a Petition from Peter Sonmans and William Dock

wra.

[From P R. O. B. T., Proprietors, Vol. 6, I 36.]

ORDER OF COUNCIL, upon the Petic'on of Mr Sonmans & Mr Dockwra relating to a Gov to be appointed by her Majesty for East & West New Jersey.

At the Court of St James's the 14th day of May 1702.

L. S.

PRESENT.

THE QUEENS MOST EXCELLENT MATY IN
COUNCILL

Upon reading this day at the Board the Petition of Peter Sonmans and William Dockwra, for themselves and on behalf of others Proprietors of the Provinces of East and West New Jersey in America, relating to a Governor to be appointed by her May for the said Provinces. It is ordered by her May in Councill that it be as it is hereby Referred to the Lords Comm's of Trade and Plantations to Examine the Allegations of the said Petition, a copy whereof is hereunto annexed, and to Report to this Board a true State of the matter of Fact therein set forth, with their Opinion upon the whole matter.

TO THE QUEENS MOST EXCELL MATIR

THE HUMBLE PETIC'ON OF PETER SONMANS and WILLIAM DOCKWRA for themselves and on the behalf of others Proprietors of the Provinces of East and West New Jersey in America. Sheweth.

That whereas the Lords Comms for Trade & Plantations have represented to yo! Mate that the reduceing of the Colonies of EAST and WEST NEW JERSEY to an Orderly form of Government under a Governour constituted by yo! Maties im'ediate Com'ission will be of great Service in preventing illegall Trade, Harbouring of Pyrates &c. and that when a Surrender of the said Government shall be made yo! Mate would be pleased to Nominate some Person wholly unconcerned in the Factions which have divided the Inhabitants of those parts, as by the said Representac'on hereunto annexed does more at large appeare, Yo! Pet's in Obedience to yo! Mate are ready to Surrender' their Right of Government and are informed that some of the West Jersey Society and a few others joyning with one Andrew Hamilton and those of his Faction (Notwithstanding the Representation of the said Lords Comm's to your Matte) have presumed to Petic'on yo! Matie in behalf of the said Andrew Hamilton to be Governour of the said Province, who tho' he was formerly Governour under the Com'ission of the Proprietors of the said Colonies, was by the Proprietors of East Jersey dismissed for his Mismanagements and Male Adminis trac'on, and has been guilty of protecting Scotch Ships and encourageing illegall Trade to the infringement of

1 In the margin of the document is the following: "Mem'd'm. The Petitioners by a Mem'l to the Board [25th May] desire that these words might be corrected and made have already surrendered."