dangerous Riots, and tumultuous Assemblies, all which threaten the Subversion of our Happy Constitution, and may render us an easy Prey to our Enemies) and all that we can do is, to enquire into and present the Grievances of the People we represent, (when any such really appear before us) and sue for Redress.

Upon the Whole, Mr. Speaker, by all that has been said, I think it plainly appears, that the Petitioners have sate themselves down, and taken Possession of several Tracts of Land, without any real Right and Title to the same; and have occupy'd and taken the Profits of them so long to themselves, without making any Satisfaction to the true Owners and Proprietors thereof, that they now begin to think in good earnest, that they have the best Right to those Lands, and that the true and bona fide landlord is a Cheat! and an Impostor! And when he comes to seek for his own, he is branded as an Invader of their Liberties and Properties truly, and charged with unjust Molestation and virulent Oppression: These are Regular and Sure Steps indeed to acquire Estates! I must own, Sir, I have been very long and tedious in this Affair, but as there has been a great Misunderstanding and wide Difference subsisting between the Proprietors of East New-Jersey, and some Sort of People, I could not be silent, and suffer such gross Absurdities, and manifest Untruths to be imposed upon the Honourable the Representatives of the Colony of New Jersey, without endeavouring in the fullest and most open Manner, to set every Circumstance in a clear Light, supported by the Records and Matters of Fact; and I think the Petitioners have offer'd neither in Support of their Pretences. Wherefore, and for that this House is no Court of Justice to examine into Titles to Lands, or any Property in Question between his Majesty's Subjects, (tho' we have Right to enquire into the MalAdministration of Courts of Justice, if any such were complained of, but no such Thing appears here) I say,

for these Reasons, I humbly move, that these Petitions may be rejected.

Yet nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, to shew that I am entirely free from Resentment, and in Compassion to a great Number of poor People, who may have been seduced into the late Riots thro' their Ignorance, and for restoring the Peace of the Colony, I further move, that this Honourable House would be pleased to apply to his Excellency the Governor (either by a short Address or Message as they shall think proper) to extend his Majesty's Mercy to those People by a general Pardon, under such Restrictions and upon such Conditions as to his Excellency shall deem proper.

[N. B. The great Number of &c's in these two Petitions are not owing to any Omissions of the Words of the Petitions, but to a Peculiarity in the Stile of the Drawer: The like may be seen, in the Paper printed in the Post-Boy of February 17th, referred to in the last Petition, where there are 21 &c's; but these two Petitions are still more plentifully graced with them, as their Number amounts to 38.]

Petition to the House of Representatives by certain of the Rioters.

[From Papers of F. J. Paris in New Jersey Historical Society Library, Vol. P., and from P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 5, F. 86, Enclosure.]

To the Honourable House of Representatives of the Colonie of New Jersey convened in General Assembly April 24th Anno Dom:

1746.

May it please your Honnours

Whereas it is set forth by the Council of Proprietors. So called in their printed Memorial of March 25th 1746, That their Basis or foundation Respecting their Titles

to the Lands Scituate in New Jersey Stands firm and strong, And that their properties Rents, and Franchises were Secured and Established to them by Concessions of the Crown upon their Surrendering the Government &c: And if the fundamental Rule (as they term it Calling it an Act of 1683 touching Indian purchases, Stands good as an Established Law and Act of this Province Rendring all those Criminal who have not acted in Concert there with, who sees not the Advantage accruing to said Proprietors Even above any or all others in and by the dessign on foot viz of Sending home to England, whence it must necessarily follow that their regretting a matter of So great Concern as for the Peace and Tranquility of the Country which they allow themselves have much at heart, and which (according to their Induction Set forth in their print aforesaid) must needs be Detrimental to the purchasers as tending to the Subversion of their Interest and propertie in the Lands purchased by them and rendering their Application home of no Validity) cannot but be deemed (in men of Such Carecter and Destinction as many of them bear and Carry) a thing rare and Strange if not without any precedent, But all this notwithstanding, we your Petitioners having humbly offered our Address to the Legislative Powers. Do yet beg Leave further to Add That meeting with Something Like an Offer in Mr. Ogden's Letter No 4 in the print aforesaid, wherein is Set forth a Message Sent to Some of the Committee (by an Unfaithful Messenger Surely. or they must have heard Something of it before) Proposing a Tryal at Law in this Province with them in order to carry the matters in dispute to England by an Appeal &c: And that he would Commence An Action for that purpose against Such person as they Should name &c: the which being So Agreeable with and unto what we have had a dessign for & desire unto, as hath been declared by our repeated

Offers, made them to that end and purpose. We shall gladly Embrace the Opportunity to Joyn in Issue according to the aforesaid proposall for a Tryal in a Court of Law and do accordingly desire the Action may be commenced and brought against Francis Speire of horsneck so called Provided in the meantime That all Writts & processes against us may Cease and we with All We have by Delegation Concern in and for may be Secure in holding their and our Rights and Possessions Untill the Matters in Controversy shall have a full & finall Determination. at home. Unless it Shall please Either partie to give up. or come to Some Composition otherways by Concessions. And may our several Remonstrances & Petitions have their due weight in your wise Administrations and Consultations to the end we may obtain our Rights and Priviledges Unitedly & Repeatedly desired & requested) confirmed by our Legislative Powers and your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall allways Pray.

NATHANEL WHEELER
SAM HARRISON

JONATHAN PERSON

JOHN CONDICT

NATHANEL CAMP

SAMUEL BALDWIN

MICHEL COOKE

P. S: It is desired that the Proprietors so Called Concerned in the premisses Shall come under obligation agreeable to said Proposals and Provisos in order to try the Action above mentioned.

List of Rioters in Essex County 1746.

[From Papers of James Alexander in Rutherfurd Collection, Vol. I.]

List of Rioters in Essex County Returned upon a Record of View (on a Second Riot) filed in the Supream Court in May term 1746:

NB the Circumstances of the above Riots [and of those in 1745 and 1747] were the gathering together of great Numbers of people Armed: Assaulting and wounding Sheriffs and other Officers: Breaking open County Goals: and Rescuing and Releasing prisoners, Legally Committed.