15fi HISTORY OP 



were encouraged to come to Pennsylvania to settle and 

 improve the country, upon tlie invitation of the proprie- 

 tary. Tlicir industry and utility had before that period 

 been proverbial. 



This information, and the report of expected arrivals, 

 were laid before the Assembly, whereupon William 

 Webb, Samuel Ilollingsworth, and John Carter, were 

 appointed a committee to inquire into the facts, and make 

 report to the next House. These gentlemen investigated 

 the grave charges, and in 1728, made a report favorable 

 to the Germans and Swiss, who had been invited by the 

 original proprietary, William ; " that they had honestly 

 paid for their lands, and were a quiet and industrious 

 people, honestly discharging their civil and religious 

 duties. But tliat some had made a settlement on lands 

 without any right, and refused to yield obedience to 

 the Government; that those persons had entered this 

 colony from that of New York," says the report, &c. — 

 These some, were but few who had settled " upon Tul- 

 pahaca creek," about the year 1722, or 23. These, 

 "from New York," had settled on the Tulpehocken 

 lands, by Governor Keith's permission. They were 

 thirty-three families in 1723 Avith other natives of 

 Germany, who were by the bounty and goodness of 

 Queen Anne in(hiced to transpoit themselves and 



ber should alarm the Government so much as to pass an act 

 laying a duty of forty shillings, per head, on aliens, i. e. Ger- 

 mans, Swis-^', Dutch and French!!! The influx of paupers — 

 not Germans — which was so great during 1729, should have 

 excited more alarm, than the few aliens. 



During the year 1729, there were of English and Welsh pas- 

 sengers and servants, 267, Scotch servants, 43, //-tsA passengers 

 and servants, 1155, Palatine (alien, or 40 shilling head) passen- 

 gers, 243 ; by the way of New Castle, chiefly passengers and 

 servants from Ireland, 4500. — JIugh. His. Acd. 163. 



