Benjamin Fordham of New Bern in the County of Craven and Province of North Carolina maketh oath that he was messenger to the house of Assembly at the session held at New Bern some time in June one thousand seven hundred and forty six and that a day or two before the said Assembly was prorogued he heard it talked by Mr. Benjamin Peyton and Mr. Samuel Sinclare and several other Members of the House of Assembly, that they apprehended that the Assembly would be prorogued to Wilmington at Cape Fear, and that the said Members did in the hearing of this Deponent consult and agree among themselves not to go to the Assembly if it should be prorogued to Wilmington aforesaid and said that if they the Northern Members would agree not to goe there would not be Members enough to make a house, and that then there could not be any Assembly held at Wilmington, and this Deponent further maketh oath that in passing to and fro' among the Members of that Assembly he often saw them in clubs or companies and heard them talking and consulting not to go the Assembly if it should be prorogued to Wilmington but that he cant charge his memory with the particular names of the Members who were in company at the several times, when he see and heard them consulting and talking not to go as aforesaid to Wilmington (except those above mentioned) this Deponent not expecting to be called upon or examined on the affair, did not give any great attention to what he see and heard and further this Deponent maketh oath that he was present and heard that Assembly prorogued by his Excellency Gabriel Johnston Esqre Governour in Council to Wilmington at Cape Fear to meet in November then next ensuing, that he heard it afterwards generally talked that an Assembly was held there agreable to the said Prorogation and that the Northern Members in general did not go to the said Assembly and further this Deponent saith not