flood two years previously. Wilkesbarre was partially inundated, and many were preparing canoes to take off the inhabitants to the hills. This was termed the "Pumpkin fresh," from the immense number that floated down the stream to the astonishment of the people below. Great and irreparable losses were sustained in hay, grain and cattle, occasioning much suffering during the ensuing winter. Several houses and barns were swept away, and one or two lives were lost.

Other important personages crowd on the scene of action. The last grand movement of the Susquehanna Company, having in view the establishment of an independent government and State, in defiance of Pennsylvania, her power and her laws, was now in bold and energetic progress. Col. Franklin, "the hero of Wyoming," in the spirit of his oath on the bloody rifle, had aroused into action some of the boldest and most influential spirits in the land. In the proceedings which follow, fraught as Pennsylvania might well regard them, with war and treason; and justified as Franklin, and those gentlemen who connected themselves with his scheme, conscientiously believed, by the unendurable wrongs and oppressions inflicted with unsparing hand and remorseless rigour, on the poor settlers at Wyoming, will be found names conspicuous in the annals of the nation; official functionaries of the highest grade, and men of genius, whom literature as well as politics, was proud to crown with the chaplet of enviable distinction.

Joel Barlow, already known to fame, eminent for learning and distinguished by genius, which subsequently ensured his elevation to the honourable office of minister plenipotentiary to the court of France, acted, it will be seen, as secretary.

The Wolcotts, of Connecticut, were themselves a host. No less than three of the name will be found on the list of the grand commit

countenance, and even humour itself, forgot for a few minutes its usual haunt; and the simple jest, no less than the loud laugh, were unheard at any of the tables. So great and universal was the decorum, and so totally suspended was every species of convivial noise, that several gentlemen remarked that the company looked and behaved more as if they were worshipping than eating." In a word, good breeding was acknowledged by universal consent, to be mistress of the evening, and the conduct of her votaries at supper formed the conclusion of her triumphs.

At two o'clock in the morning the company broke up, and we returned home. Our ladies speak with great pleasure of the entertainment, and, as far as I have heard, no offence was given or taken the whole evening.

If this long letter gives you half as much pleasure in reading it, as I have had in writing it, it will add greatly to my proportion of pleasure derived from the entertainment. With great respect, I am madam, your sincere friend, and most humble servant.

tee of twenty-two. The name of Hosmer was also there. Oliver Wolcott, jr., was afterwards Secretary of the Treasury, and subsequently Governor of Connecticut. Such men did not move without high purpose and elevated aim. A prize to gratify ambition could alone have secured the co-operation of gentlemen holding station, enjoying consequence, and with prospects so flattering in society as theirs. But to the proceedings.

"At a meeting of the proprietors of the Susquehanna purchase, duly warned, and held at the State House of the city of Hartford, December 26, A. D. 1786,

"Col. Gad Stanley, moderator, Joel Barlow, clerk pro tem., several public papers and private letters relative to the present situation of the settlers at Wyoming were read. It was then moved that a committee be appointed to prepare the business for to-morrow, and that the meeting adjourn to that time; accordingly Major Judd, Mr. Pomeroy, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Beach, Mr. Barlow, Mr. Barton, Mr. O. Wolcott, Mr. A. Wolcott, Mr. Hosmore, were appointed, the meeting adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

"December 27. The meeting opened according to adjournment, and the committee reported: whereupon the following resolves were passed.

"Whereas, it is an object of great importance that the rights of the proprietors under the Susquehanna purchase be ascertained, and the claims of the settlers be reduced to a certainty, and their titles confirmed, therefore

"Resolved, That Maj. Judd, Saml. Gray, Esq., Joel Barlow, Esq., Oliver Wolcott, jr. Esq., Al. Wolcott, jr. Esq., Col. Gad Stanley, Joseph Hamilton, Esq., Dr. Timothy Hosmore, Col. Zebulon Butler, Col. Nathan Denison, Obadiah Gore, Esq., Col. John Franklin, Zerah Beach, Esq., Capt. Simon Spalding, Major John Jenkins, Major Paul Schott, Abel Pierce, Esq., Capt. John Bartle, Capt. Peter Loop, jr., John Bay, Esq., and Col. Ebenezer Gray, be, and they are hereby authorized and appointed commissioners, with full powers to ascertain, by reference to the records of the clerk of the Susquehanna Company, and the records of the settlers at Wyoming, the names of the proprietors claiming under said purchase; that as soon as may be they make out a fair and complete list of the names of all the proprietors, and annex thereto the proportions of land to which they are severally entitled. That as soon as said list may be completed, it shall be entered at large on the records of the said Company, and shall be considered as full and complete evidence of the title of said proprietors.

"That said Commissioners shall thereupon make a scrutiny of every person settled upon said lands, and that such settlers as shall appear to have been proprietors, heirs or assigns of proprietors, shall immediately procure their locations to be surveyed and ascertained, which after being approved by said Commissioners shall be accorded as parcel of their proprietary right.

"That whenever it shall appear that any settler or proprietor has made a location by permission, and under authority from any proprietor, or the Company, the quantity of land located shall be surveyed as aforesaid, and if approved by said Commissioners, shall be recorded, and considered as parcel of the right of said original proprietor, unless otherwise provided by the vote of this Company; that said Commissioners be, and they are hereby directed to ascertain, locate and survey, to each and every person, who has in consequence of any person, vote, or agreement of said Susquehanna Company, gone and settled on said lands, the amount of his grant, which being recorded, shall vest a full and complete title thereto, in favour of such person. That said Commissioners be also directed and empowered to locate and survey, in favour of such persons as they shall judge proper, who shall actually settle and occupy said lands, by themselves, their heirs or assigns, not exceeding 200 acres on any proprietor's right, who has either by himself, or by some person under him, settled and remained on said lands; which survey and location being recorded shall vest a complete title in such settlers, and shall be considered as parcel of such proprietor's right.

"That said Commissioners shall locate and survey all such grants as they may make in favour of any new settler on said lands, in such towns as have been already granted, as far as vacant lands can be found for that purpose, or on such gores of land as remain ungranted between said towns: Provided that nothing herein shall be construed to affect the title of any actual settler in such town. Said Commissioners are to take especial care that the property of widows and orphans be in no instance infringed.

"That said Commissioners shall, as soon as may be, convene together and appoint some particular place for holding their court, and they shall in no instance hold their court in any other place than that first agreed upon, unless it shall not be convenient to meet at such place, in which [case] it shall be in their power to adjourn to any other place, and they shall appoint some proper person for their secretary, who shall keep fair and accurate records of all their proceedings and determinations.

"That said Commissioners be, and they are hereby authorized to make locations and surveys in favour of any settlers or proprietors, on any of the broken or mountainous lands lying within five miles of the river, not convenient to lay out townships five miles square, and annex the same to such townships as they judge proper, provided that such locations shall in no instance exceed six hundred acres to the proprietor of a full right, or in proportion to the proprietor of a less quantity than a full right, including any location heretofore made by such proprietor, or any person under him, and also including such locations as may by the said Commissioners be made in favour of any settler on his proprietary right.

"And said Commissioners are hereby authorized to grant new townships, agreeable to the former votes of this company, and the powers heretofore granted to any Committee for that purpose are hereby declared to cease and determine.

"And said Commissioners are hereby authorized to inquire into the particular circumstances of any locations and settlements that have been made contrary to the former regulations of this Company, and confirm or disallow the same, as they shall judge most conducive to the interests of this Company:-And it is hereby ordered that no location which may hereafter be made contrary to the regulations contained in this act, shall in any instance be admitted or confirmed.

"That any three of the said Commissioners, together with their Secretary, shall be a quorum to transact any of the business afore

said.

"That the expense of locating, and surveying and determining all matters aforesaid, shall be paid by persons in whose favour such locations, &c., shall be made or done: and that said Court of Commissioners shall in no instance exact or receive unreasonable or exorbitant fees.

"That any five of said Commissioners, with their Secretary, shall' be a COURT, with power to hear and finally determine all controversies between actual occupants respecting the title of lands, and to award equitable costs in the usual forms of trials at law; this power to determine whenever a form of internal government shall be established in that country.

"Resolved likewise, That the Commissioners aforesaid, or a majority of them, be, and they are hereby fully authorized and empowered to do and transact any other matters and things which they may judge necessary for the security and protection of the settlers on said

lands, and for the benefit of the Company of Proprietors, hereby rati fying and confirming whatever said Commissioners may do in the premises. JOEL BARLOW, Clerk, pro tem."

Test,

Long as this document is, we have chosen to place in our pages the full record of all that it contained of material import. Except the copy before us, there is not, probably, another in existence. It will be seen that, in truth, the Committee is an Executive Directory, with full powers, or rather a Government; and doubtless meant, in its appointment, to be a provisional government, in and over the new State, contemplated to be erected by the dismemberment of Pennsylvania.

These proceedings were a prelude to the highly important and stirring scenes which it will be our duty to record in the annals of the coming year.

On the 27th of December a Supplement was passed to the Act establishing Luzerne county, within four days of the close of the year, its whole operation being thrown into 1787; and moreover, as it introduces a person of far too high distinction to bring forward at the close of a letter, we shall postpone its consideration till our

next.