think it absolutely necessary for the promoting of the Trade of this Colony, That the Remainder should Circulate in the Countrey, We have by a Bill prepared for that End, directed, That a Sume not Exceeding £8000. may be put out at Interest, as the best means We can find to improve the same: And hope for your Honour's Concurrence thereto.

As it was our Duty, so we have with the greatest readiness, applied ourselves to Consider, what his Ma'tie was most graciously pleased to recommend to us with respect. to the Indian Company; and have Considerately Inspected those Accounts which They have laid before us: And are of opinion That £100. advanced by them, towards building a Magazine, be repaid the said Company out of the publick money. But as it doth not appear to us, That any other Sumes, mentioned in the said Company's accounts, have been expended for the benefit of this Countrey, We should be unjust to ourselves and those We represent, if We agree to allow the same.

We are not apprized of any abuses in the Indian Trade, and therefore cannot lay it under any Regulations: But shall always be willing to take proper measures, for preventing both the Irregularitys of the Traders, and the ill Consequences thereof.

Your Honour having been pleased to inform us, That the Northern Indians expect, We should renew the Treaty made with them by the Lord Howard: We can make no other answer thereto than That (as We know of no Violation of that Treaty on our parts) We must, humbly referr, what is propper to be done in that affair, to your Honour and the Council, Who, We are intirely Satisfied, will take such Measures, as are most Expedient, to preserve the Friendship of those Nations.

We Conceive by the severall Treatys, your Honour hath made with the Indians, your Design was, to settle a

Barrier to our Frontiers, against the Incnrsions of Forreign Indians, But seeing the Saponys are the only people that have comply'd with their Treaty, We are of opinion your first good Intention is thereby frustrated, and cannot think the keeping upp Fort Christanna purely for their Security, any ways reasonable: and hope they may be content with the same protection other Tributarys enjoy.

We humbly Conceive the Hostages delivered by the Cattawbaw Indians, were taken for the Security of the Indian Traders; and think it reasonable, That as that Law which Erected the Indian Company, is repealed; They should be returned in such manner as may best preserve a good Understanding with that people, In Case the persons concerned in that Trade, do not think it worth their while to maintain them.

As the account your Honour hath given us, of your many fatiguing Journeys undertaken for the Service of this Government, Convinces us of your great Diligence; So Sir, We hope they will give you the Satisfaction of reflecting that you have deserved the Salary allowed by his Majesty.

On Consideration of the Royall Instruction you were pleased to lay before us, We have prepared an humble Address to our Soveraign, beseeching him to recall his additional Instruction, Whereby he hath signified his pleasure, That the Governour here, do not for the future pass any Act which may affect the Trade and Shipping of Great Britain, until it hath been there approved; and that he will permit our Governour, to pass any Act That shall by the Generall Assembly be thought for the Service of his Majesty and this Government. And likewise thought it requisite in the said Address, to beseech his Majesty that the power with which his Governour is vested, in Appointing the Judges of Courts of Oyer and Terminer, may be limited; for that

We apprehend, such power may prove of Dangerous Consequence.

The Bills which have been sent up by us to the Council, are cheifly founded upon the Greivances and Propositions of the people whome We Represent; And We hope Sir, That those which have had the Approbation and Concurrence of their Honours will Obtain your Favourable Assent.

Governor Spotswood's Answer to the Address of the General Assembly.

As I may well thank you Gentlemen for the opportunity you have afforded me to show my Moderation in Gouvernment, So I must give you thanks for this Change in your behaviour, and that you are come at last to Express yourselves in more respectfull Terms. Tho' the matter of your present Representation be still generally such as I can by no means concurr with you therein; But I shall not keep contending with you thereupon: For when I consider the daily charge of your sitting, I judge it is not worth while, And my thoughts are Le jeu ne vaut pas la Chandelle. What I left at the opening of this Session to your Consultation, I perceive you now referr back to me to advise with the Council thereupon, So that the Measures to be taken with the Northern Indians is a Work now to be begun, And such is the Circumstances of the Government, that I think it cannot be perfected without your assistance: But I observe by your reading Bills twice in one day That you are hurrying all Business over, and understand that it is out of an Impatience to be at your own plantations in the approaching Holydays; Wherfore I am willing to give you a

Recess by adjournment for a ffortnight or a month as it shall please you, And whatever Bills you have ready to be offered for my assent, I shall either this day pass them, or take time to consider them during your adjournment.

THE PASSAGE OVER THE MOUNTAINS.

[The following contemporary notice of this exploit occurs in a work entitled "The Present State of Virginia," by the Rev. Hugh Jones. Published in 1724.]

"Governor Spotswood, when he undertook the great discovery of a passage over the mountains, attended with a sufficient guard of pioneers and gentlemen, with a supply of provisions, passed these mountains and cut his Majesty's name upon a rock upon the highest of them, naming it Mt. George, and in complaisance to him, the gentlemen called the mountain next to it Mt. Alexander. For this expedition, they were obliged to provide a great quantity of horse-shoes, things seldom used in the eastern parts of Virginia, where there are no stones. Upon which account, the Governor upon his return presented each of his companions with a golden horse-shoe, some of which I have seen covered with valuable stones, resembling heads of nails, with the inscription on one side, 'Sic juvat transcendere montes.' This he instituted to encourage gentlemen to venture backward and make discoveries and settlements, any gentleman being entitled to wear this golden shoe who