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| Nov. 9. |
2,154. Minutes of Council of New England. A Committee appointed to settle the town of Quabang and grant the lots to the inhabitants. The 26th inst. appointed for a day of public thanksgiving. Mr. Randolph to appoint a deputy for the King's customs on the Western side of Kennebec river. Order for the treasurer to present his accounts. Sundry small petitions and orders. Order for a report as to Edward Cranfield's estate in New England, and as to money received by him from the purchasers of Edward Gove's estate. Order for an assessment on the county of Middlesex for the maintenance of two poor persons, and for Stow to be added to the county of Merrimac. Sundry small orders. [Col. Entry Bk. Vol. LXIV., pp. 80–84.] |
| Nov. 11. |
2,155. Minutes of Council of New England. The preacher for Thursday next to be prayed to hasten his sermon because of the short days. Order for the constables to be provided, at the town's charge, with staves seven feet long, to be painted with the King's arms, after the mode of London. Order for the Deputy-President, Mr. Randolph, and Mr. Wharton, to attend Sir Edmund Andros to the town on his arrival, and that the gunners at the forts be ready to salute on signal from the town-house, that the regiment be ready to receive him at the sea shore, and that the Castle company be ready to turn out at a quarter of an hour's warning. Adjourned to 18th. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXIV., pp. 84–86.] |
| Nov. 18. |
2,156. Minutes of Council of New England. Order for enforcing the law against licensed public-houses that refuse to pay their subscriptions to the King's receiver. Orders for payment of £50 to Edmund Randolph for extraordinary service, £25 to the Deputy-President for his pains as Judge of the Court of Pleas, and £25 to Richard Wharton for his services in the Narragansett Country. Sundry orders as to accounts and payments. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXIV., pp. 87–89.] |
| Nov. 20. |
2,157. Edward Randolph to Sir James Hayes. Since receipt of your obliging letter of 4 August we have a new face here, and the expectation of Sir Edmund Andros coming to be our Governor puts a general check on the old faction, which has been as stoutly supported by many in the new Government as was formerly by the old members. Mr. Dudley, wind-miller-like, has turned to every gale; but in spite of them all we have got the town house for our Church of England, where we have divine service twice every Sunday and prayers Wednesday and Friday mornings, and have sometimes seven or eight children, with their parents, baptised, and three or four hundred hearers. But not one of the Council except myself, and not above two or three of our Church are in any employment, civil or military. |
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Thus much as to our own affairs. There is lately a report from New York that the French of Quebec have again invaded and taken two or three forts from the Hudson's Bay Company. A French trader who was lately at Albany reported this for truth, and I believe it, since a merchant who was lately at Quebec, told me the late attempt upon the inhabitants was carried on by some of the inhabitants of Quebec, and when they heard that Mr. Bridges was arrived and complaining at Court, they expected to be called to account and obliged to give full satisfaction. But finding the matter delayed, they were encouraged to make this further attempt. I should be glad to find myself mistaken. The French in Nova Scotia are very high-handed with our fishermen, and our Governor will have not a few complaints of that nature. Captain George, R.N., has acted very imprudently here, and occasions the people to cry out. Certainly as matters now stand we can do the King no better service than to convince the people that his government is preferable, by laying aside passion and treating them with justice, which is a thing they are hitherto unacquainted with. They are very numerous, and it is far easier
to affright them to rebellion than to obedience. I am always at your service, and a well wisher to the Hudson's Bay Company. Signed, Ed. Randolph. Holograph. 1½ pp. [Board of Trade. Hudson's Bay I., pp. 35, 36.] |
| Nov. 23. |
2,158. Minutes of Council of New England. Order for allowance of one shilling in the pound and of a salary of £75 to Giles Dyer, Deputy-Collector of the King's customs, for payment of £10 to the Treasurer for extraordinary services, and for payment of £30 to Richard Smith to be employed in the service of the Narragansett Country. Adjourned to 8 December. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXIV., p. 90.] |
