My Lords,
Being directed by the ninth Instruction to give your Lordships notice If I suspend any Member of the Council in this Province without acquainting the other Councillors therewith and allso to render your Lordships my reasons for so doing: I trouble your Board with this Letter to inform your Lordships that yesterday I suspended Nathaniel Rice Esqre Secretary of this Province from his Seat in Council, the reasons for so doing were, the preservation of my life, and the peace of this Country. lately there was a villainous contrivance to murder me, I have reason to think and beleive Mr Rice was deeply concerned in that wickedness. I design to send your Lordships a clear account of this matter in the next Sett of Councill Journals.
My Lords many times the Councillors have been summoned several Courts have passed when the Council ought to sit and meet in Court yet I have not been able to make up a sufficient number of Members to hold a Council nor Court of Chancery since July Court last was twelve months. therefore Mr Halton and Mr Ashe are summoned to appear att the Council Chamber the 25th of this month to shew cause why they have absented themselves. it is allmost two years that Mr Halton has neglected comeing to Courts or Council Mr Ashe and Mr Rice more than a year. I purpose soon to fill up the Council to the number limited by the Instructions that the business of the Countrey may be carried on in the usual Course; which I hope will prove to the good likeing of the Lords of Trade and Plantations