His Excellency made the following Speech to the Council
Gentlemen of the Council
"This being one of our Stated Quarterly Meetings I shall be glad to near any thing you have to offer for His Majestys Service as for the good of the Province and I wou'd now more particularly ask your Advice and Opinion whether it may be necessary or Expedient soon to meet the Assembly to see whether the Governour Council and Assembly can fall into any Act or Acts for the Better Suppressing the Riots and disorders which has disturbed the peace of the Province for a great Number of years past (long before my Arrival).
"And also to have your advice whether it may be best to give Orders for an Especial and Speedy prosecution of such as have been or may be Apprehended for Breaking open the Kings Goals of the Province in these things I say I shall be glad of your advice and am always ready Chearfully to join with you in such measure as may be judgd will most of all Contribute to the Establishment of the peace and Tranquility of the Province."
J Belcher
Elizabeth Town August 10: 1752
The Council taking the same into Consideration are of Opinion that there is no reason to hope for any Success from any Application to the Assembly in Respect to the Riotts untill His Majesty shall be pleased to send His Especial Commands therein and therefore cannot [advise] His Excellency to call the Assembly on that Account only That as to the prosecutions they are of Opinion that His Majestys Attorney General shou'd proceed according to the known Laws of the Land and that they see no Room to give any particular direction therein.
A Petition from the Mayor Recorder Aldermen and Common Council of the free borough of Elizabeth in behalf of themselves and others the Inhabitants within the said Borough to have their Charters Altered & some further Privligdes &ca. was read.
A Petition of Joseph Bonney and his Letter of the 20th. of July was read.
The Council are of Opinion that Neither His Excellency or the Council can do any thing in Respect to the Petition of Joseph Bonney
