|
June 16.
Whitehall. |
1,899. John Povey to William Lowndes. The Lords of Trade refer Colonel Holt's proposal for payment of his regiment's arrears (see No. 1,894) to the Lords of the Treasury, that care may be taken for the due payment of the Regiment's subsistence in future. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 44. pp. 212–213.] |
June 17.
Jamaica. |
1,900. Governor Sir William Beeston to Sir John Trenchard. I have deferred writing to the last moment in the hope of giving you some certain relation of the fleet and forces designed hither, but I have heard nothing of them yet but by report, which is that they sailed from St. Christophers on the 28th of March. Also some English prisoners, who escaped from Petit Guavos in a canoe and are got hither, say that the French reported that our fleet and
forces had about three weeks before that time taken the Cape (which is the most easterly settlement of the French in Hispaniola) without the loss of a man and were believed to have sailed down to Port D'Espe; but I cannot learn whether they have the assistance of the Spaniard nor in what condition they are. I have already written to you that I sent Colonel Beckford in February to the President of St. Domingo. Five weeks since I sent two sloops to search for them, and a week since the Experiment also, writing by each of them that the letters and passengers might be sent down; for it must needs be very troublesome and tedious to the passengers, especially since we do not know what commands or directions may have been given upon the Queen's death. But they keep all, and none return to me. What orders they have I know not, and therefore content myself with the hope that they want nothing (for if they did I doubt not that I should have heard from them) and that they concur in my opinion to perfect their work before they come hither, as I earnestly pressed them to do by my letters by Colonel Beckford. I am in great hopes that they will accomplish it, though it seems strange that they will not spare one small vessel to bring down the passengers and letters. The country continues in great health and quiet. The Council and Assembly have drawn up an address of condolence to the King, which by their desire I have sent to the gentlemen concerned for this Island for presentation. I beg your favour for them and for this Island. Signed, Wm. Beeston. Holograph. 1½ pp. Endorsed, R. 30 Aug. '95. [America and West Indies. 540. No. 38.] |
| June 17. |
1,901. Minutes of General Assembly of Montserrat. Richard Clayton sworn of the Council. [Col. Entry Book, Vol. XLVIII., p. 331.] |
| June 18. |
1,902. Minutes of Council of New York. Resolved that an address of thanks be sent to the King for sending recruits to the companies, that the officers and soldiers be civilly treated, and that the Governor at his inspection to-day give the men something with which to drink the King's health. |
|
The Council met again in the evening on intelligence from Colonel Ingoldsby that the French are marching on Albany, and from Maryland that a French fleet is designed to attack New York. Resolved unanimously that one of the two companies (Captain Hide's and Captain Weems's) which arrived from Boston yesterday, be despatched to Albany immediately and that the necessary arrangements be made for the same. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. pp. 37–38.] |
| June 18. |
1,903. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Message from the Governor (who was sick) that the measures of the Assembly for supplying the King's ships had failed, that the merchant-ships were ready to sail, and that it was urgently necessary to victual the ships. He also asked that petitions from the owners of the hired sloops should be referred to the Assembly. The Assembly brought up a bill to secure those persons who might advance money for the ships, which was read thrice and passed. An address of the Assembly for discharge of the brigantine Marygold was rejected by the Governor. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. p. 53.] |
June 20.
Whitehall. |
1,904. Order of the Lords Justices of England in Council. Referring the petition of William Sharpe to Lords of Trade and Plantations, with directions that his appeal be admitted. Signed, John Nicholas. ¾ p. Endorsed, Recd. 26 June. Read 27 June, 18 July, 1695. Annexed, |
|
1,904. I. Petition of William Sharpe to the Lords Justices of England. For leave to appeal against a decision of the Courts of Barbados, which in spite of the Governor's protest was confirmed by the Council, in two suits brought against him by his mother and her second husband in respect of her dower. 1½ pp. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 5. Nos. 98, 98I. and (order only) 44. pp. 193–194.] |
| June 20. |
1,905. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. Orders for sundry payments, chiefly on account of fortifications. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 77. p. 307.] |
| June 20. |
1,906. Minutes of Council of New York. The accounts of the four companies and other accounts from Albany referred for examination. Patents for land granted to Tobias Stoutenburg, Lucas Tienhoven and John Cornelius. Orders as to certain goods seized on suspicion of violation of the Acts of Trade. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. p. 39.] |
| June 20. |
1,907. Minutes of Council of New York in Assembly. The Representatives not being come to town, the Governor adjourned till to-morrow. |
| June 21. |
The Representatives in town waited on the Governor in Council, and being bidden to choose their Speaker selected James Graham, who was approved. The Speaker, having assured the Governor of the Assembly's loyalty to the present Government, claimed the usual privileges, which were granted. The Governor then recommended to them their own ease and comfort in securing the frontiers; the quota of 200 men fixed by the Queen's order as part of the joint force on that frontier; and the whole circumstances of the Province, in relation to the intelligence received from the Admiralty and from Albany. The Representatives then retired. Adjourned to 28th. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. pp. 697–698.] |
| June 20. |
1,908. Journal of House of Representatives of New York.
Names of the members. |
|
James Graham |
City and County of New York. |
|
Brande Schuyler |
City and County of New York. |
|
Lawrence Reade |
City and County of New York. |
|
Theunis de Key |
City and County of New York. |
|
John Abeel |
City and County of Albany and Rensselaerswyck. |
|
Dirick Wessels |
City and County of Albany and Rensselaerswyck. |
|
Killian van Rennselaer |
City and County of Albany and Rensselaerswyck. |
|
Henry Beekman |
Ulster County. |
|
William de Meyer |
Ulster County. |
|
Humphrey Underhill |
Westchester County. |
|
Joseph Purdy |
Westchester County. |
|
John van Eklin |
King's County. |
|
Cornelius Sebran |
King's County. |
|
Daniel Whitehead |
Queen's County. |
|
John Jackson |
Queen's County. |
|
Matthew Howell |
Suffolk County. |
|
John Tuthell |
Suffolk County. |
|
Thomas Stillwell |
Richmond County. |
|
Elias Duxbury |
Richmond County. |
|
Eleven members only appearing, the House adjourned till to-morrow morning. |
| June 21. |
Fifteen members attended and were sworn. James Graham chosen Speaker and approved. Heads of the Governor's Speech, of which a copy was requested (see preceding abstract) and furnished. Order for thanks to the Governor for his care of the Province and for his speech. |
| June 22. |
A list of the quotas appointed for the province was requested of the Governor and supplied. Address to the Governor asking that the daily votes might be printed. The Governor assented, but recommended better encouragement to the printer than at present given. Orders given to the printers accordingly. Order for £1,000 to be levied, whereof one-half to be for the Governor and the other for the officers and soldiers of the King's companies as he shall appoint. Adjourned to 24th. Printed. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. pp. 911–916.] |
| June 22. |
1,909. Minutes of Council of Barbados. The Governor, who was absent, sent a message that the Agents of the African Company refused to advance £700 for the King's ships, unless the like sum, claimed for hire of a ship, was paid to them from the Treasury; and that he had directed the Assembly to be informed that Mr. Cranfield had offered to lend £1,000 for the ships on certain conditions, and that the debt claimed by the African Company had never been urged before and could not, he thought, be substantiated. The Assembly however could not form a house, owing to the absence of members. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. pp. 54–55.] |
| June 24. |
1,910. Minutes of Council of Barbados. The Governor, being still sick, sent a message to the Assembly, that if they would not supply the King's ships, he himself would. The Assembly sent up a bill for securing any person who should advance £700 for the ships, which was thrice read and passed; also an address on the petition of the owner of the brigantine which was approved; also Bills for additional allowance to the soldiers and for a residence for the Governor, which were now read. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. p. 55.] |
| June 24. |
1,911. Journal of House of Representatives of New York. A Committee appointed to fix the proportions of each county towards the levy of £1,000. |
| June 25. |
A bill, to enable the City of New York to relieve the poor, read once and ordered for second reading. List of the sums to be paid by the different counties towards the levy of £1,000. |
| June 26. |
Report of a committee to examine what forces have been employed on the frontier since 1 May last read, the Governor having meanwhile furnished the muster-rolls of the forces at Albany. The report was objected to as too general and a further report was given
in as follows. The muster-rolls shew Major Peter Schuyler's Company to have included three officers and 41 non-commissioned officers and men on 1st of May last, to which ten private centinels have since been added. Major Howell's Company we find since 18 May to have included four officers and 44 non-commissioned officers and men, to which 22 privates have since been added. The allowance for privates was fixed in the report at eightpence a day, which in the case of Major Schuyler's Company was objected to as being less than was promised; and the report was ordered to be amended accordingly. |
| June 27. |
Amended report brought in fixing the pay of privates in Schuyler's Company at twelvepence, and in Howell's at eightpence a day, and recommending that a fund be raised to pay the troops up to the 1st of August. Report approved and a committee appointed to fix the proportions to be contributed by the various counties. Bill to enable the city and county of Albany to defray their necessary charges read a first time. |
| June 28. |
Report of the Committee, fixing the proportion to be paid by each county towards £800 for the payment of the forces at Albany, read and approved. The House addressed the Governor to pardon a soldier under sentence of death for mutiny in his passage to the Colony; with which the Governor complied. Order for bills to be drawn up for raising £1,000 and £800 for the purposes before specified. Adjourned to 1 July. Printed. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. pp. 916–924.] |
| June 25. |
1,912. Minutes of Council of Virginia. Advice of twelve ships fitting out in France for attack of the English Colonies in America was read, and orders thereupon having already been issued to the commanders of the militia and for watching of the coast, it was resolved that nothing further remained to be done except to make platforms for the great guns at James City and York, and Colonel Byrd was ordered to enter into an agreement for making the same. Order for a proclamation to forbid any person to go on board any vessels until the said vessels shall have sent ashore to say who they are. Several advices from England of Queen Mary's death were produced, but it was resolved to take no notice till the news should be announced from Whitehall. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 53. pp. 2–3.] |
| June 25. |
1,913. John Povey to Major Garth. Directing him to attend the Lords Justices on the 27th inst. to report what progress has been made towards sending away the Barbados recruits to the Leeward Islands. Draft. ½ p. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 5. No. 99.] |
| June 25. |
1,914. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. Order for payment of a quarter's salary to the Governor, and of other accounts. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 77. pp. 307–308.] |
| June 25. |
1,915. Minutes of General Assembly of Montserrat. Order for all the negroes to be employed on 1st July in repair of the trenches, and that each plantation send with its negroes an overseer and tools. Joint Committee appointed to adjust the accounts of the Island. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XLVIII., p. 331.] |
June 25.
Whitehall. |
1,916. Memorial of Sir Thomas Laurence. Pursuant to instructions received from Governor Nicholson I beg to represent as follows. The French have twice attempted of late years to possess themselves of the river Ohio or Spirito Santo which falls into the Bay of Campeachy, after a course supposed to be continued from the lakes adjoining to Canada through New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Carolina and Florida into the said Bay. It is proposed that the King be advised to possess himself of the mouth of that river by the consent of the King of Spain, or to move that King to build some forts there to hinder the French from extending their Colonies on the back of the English provinces. To prevent the French from drawing the inland Indians into a further trade and confederacy, small forts or trading houses for their peltry and furs should be set up in convenient places upon the Western inland frontier, and instructions sent to the Governors of Virginia and Maryland to encourage such design. Governor Nicholson also asks that the petition of Burley and Mason may be laid before the King. As to Maryland, the Governor at his arrival found the militia much out of order and with few arms. He is now upon the settlement of it, which will be perfected next spring. His method may be seen from the Minutes of the Council. Finding at St. Maries no forts or standing forces to secure the arms and ammunition, he thought it best to distribute them proportionally among the several counties, as not liable to be seized all at once by an enemy or an insurrection, nor subject to the danger of the great and frequent lightnings of this climate. As to the defence of Virginia and Maryland, they are open countries full of grass and with many rivers, but without towns and with the inhabitants living at a distance from one another. It is therefore judged that shipping is the best and only way to secure them, and the Governor proposes that one small frigate of twenty to thirty guns be sent to each province with one man-of-war sloop or brigantine, a small fire-ship, and a quantity of suitable materials, for there are many small sloops to be had in the country. These vessels will answer three purposes, (1) the suppression of illegal traders, (2) the securing the country from hostile privateers and pirates, which can easily come and go which way they please, and (3) the securing of the country from insurrection; the great guns, arms and ammunition being in a few and unfortified places and easily seizable on all occasions. As to the trade of Maryland and Virginia, if store of shipping and clothing come in, the people will mind nothing but planting tobacco; but if otherwise, necessity will enforce them to go upon manufactures and handicrafts, the want of which in the present war makes them go much upon cotton, especially in Virginia. Several of the Council are great promoters of it; the Collectors and Auditor also plant and encourage it. In Virginia they have ginns made to prepare their cotton for the working of it, and Sir Edmund Andros shewed one of them to Governor Nicholson in Jamestown, made by a person encouraged by him. They already make clothing of cotton and have an Act passed by Sir Edmund Andros to encourage the making of fulling-mills. This the London merchants know to be true. The planting of cotton is managed much after the manner of tobacco, but with this
advantage, the frost kills it not. This last year being wet and cold was bad for both, but it is not to be doubted that in two or three years' time, the way of managing cotton will be as well understood as that of tobacco. The increase is great, cotton producing a quantity of seed. In Maryland some few have begun it, but they generally speak of that improvement by the example of Virginia. From this and upon the opinion that too much tobacco was planted in Maryland, this last Assembly was going upon proposals of manufacture of hemp, flax and cotton, but were stopped and discouraged therein by Governor Nicholson, as shewn in the Journal of Assembly. It is suggested whether an Act of Parliament should not be passed to prevent the planting of cotton in these Colonies. In the two counties of Dorchester and Somerset, where the Scotch-Irish are most numerous, they almost clothe themselves by their linen and woollen manufactures and plant little tobacco, which, learning from one another, they leave off planting. Shipping therefore and the bringing in of all manner of English clothing is to be encouraged, and if they be brought in at easy rates, the planter will live comfortably and will be induced to go on planting tobacco. For want of shipping in some places on the eastern shore they plant no tobacco, not finding a market for what they have. They have some thousands of hogsheads lying on their hands, which is a great discouragement to those whose sort of dark tobacco will not keep. Besides, the merchant will rather deal for new tobacco than old, of which seven or eight thousand hogsheads now in their hands is like to be spoiled by want of shipping. The embargoes ordered to be laid on Maryland are therefore conceived by the country to be very prejudicial to trade, convoys coming but once a year, and the ships which go away together never being able to keep together or assist each other, especially in the winter voyages. It is proposed that a person be appointed as a muster-master and clerk of the check, to see that the men-of-war ordered on the service of these governments have their complement of men, keep cruising and not lying in harbour, and do not press the seamen of merchant-ships, to the disturbance of legal traders. Governor Nicholson proposes Mr. Randolph, the Surveyor-General, for this employment, since the duty of his place takes him to all the Governments. |
|
As to privateers and pirates, the Governor represents that they come from the Red Sea to New England, New York and Pennsylvania. Last year about sixty persons came and shared £1,000 to £1,500 a man. They come first to Providence and the Bahama Islands and to South Carolina, where they leave or dispose of their ships, and from thence disperse into these parts in small vessels. Sometimes they come directly to Pennsylvania, New York and New England and from these places fit out again to the Red Sea. Their sharing of such large sums tempts the people of these parts to go along with them, and they are a great hindrance to trade, for the seamen run from the merchant-ships to go with them, as do also many of the men from the King's ships. They will grow very numerous and so be able to run away with ships of force, unless some speedy course be taken with them, especially in Virginia and Maryland, where there are no places to secure ships and few men lie on board but are at work in the country. Such an attempt
was actually made in Virginia with the Henry, prize. The trial of illegal traders contrary to the Acts of Trade and Navigation requires to be regulated so that the King may have right done him. The country juries will hardly ever find against them. Quœre, how is this matter settled in Barbados and other Colonies? The Governor proposes that some qualified person may be sent over to reside in these western Colonies, to send him from time to time an impartial account of their condition and Government. Governor Nicholson represents that the people of Pennsylvania send to Surinam and Curaçoa in their own and New England vessels, observing the times of the Dutch ships coming there from Europe, and from thence bring the goods of the Dutch and of those countries and sell them as cheap in Pennsylvania as they can be bought in England, sending them also into Virginia and Maryland. Several Scotch merchants in Pennsylvania drive a continual trade into their own country, and from thence carry the tobacco of Maryland and Virginia to Surinam and Curaçoa in bread-casks covered with flour at each end. Care is therefore to be taken to stop the illegal trade carried on in Pennsylvania, where it is now as irregular as ever it was practised in Boston, both to Scotland and to Holland as well as to Surinam and Curaçoa. They entertain pirates and privateers; they send their illegal goods into Maryland and privately carry away our tobacco. The way to prevent that illegal trade is to put in there some good custom-house officer and to have a small frigate constantly attending to cruise about the Holekills and the capes of the river Delaware. The people of Virginia and Maryland going there and observing the advantages that they reap by their manufactures, handicrafts and illegal way of trading, are encouraged to do the same in their own provinces, or else to leave Maryland and to settle there so as to enjoy the like advantages; and the rather because great tracts of land are suffered to be taken up by particular persons, so that young men and free men cannot take up land so easily or conveniently as in Pennsylvania. When Governor Nicholson was in Philadelphia in August last, several of the most considerable merchants and Protestants there moved him to solicit the King to confer the penny per pound arising from the side trade for the maintenance of an able minister to reside among them. He was then informed that £130 was then in bank on the penny per pound duty and forfeitures to the King. South Carolina not being in Governor Nicholson's government is the centre of illegal trade, the West Indian Islands, Virginia and Maryland furnishing themselves with the goods brought thither by illegal traders. In South Carolina they go much upon woollen and linen manufacture, make good stuffs and have silk and cotton. Signed, Thomas Laurence. Holograph. 5¼ pp. Endorsed, Read 25 July, 1695. [Board of Trade. Maryland, 2. No. 115 and 8. pp. 186–193.] |
| June 27. |
1,917. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Lord Bellomont's draft Commission read, with a draft clause giving him command of the militia of New Hampshire and the Narragansett Country and of the quota of Rhode Island. Lord Bellomont presented a memorial as to his salary. The Agents for Massachusetts and Mr. Allen attending, the Agents' petition referred on 6 June
(see No. 1,876) was considered, and the claim of Massachusetts for the annexation of New Hampshire was heard; in answer to which Mr. Allen begged to be heard by Counsel, and the matter was postponed. |
|
List of Documents received on 28 June from Governor Russell. [Board of Trade. Journal, 8. pp. 53–58.] |
| June 27. |
1,918. Minutes of Council of New York. Order for payment of £24 10s. to Giles Gaudineau for attendance on the sick soldiers. Sundry accounts respecting the soldiers referred for examination. Order for sundry payments on account of military expenses. Patent for land granted to Warner Wessels and John Neering. Committee appointed to consider the form of a commission for holding Courts of Judicature. |
| June 28. |
A letter from the Government of Connecticut read, saying that the Queen's letter as to their quota had not reached them. Resolved to send them a copy of that letter, and to apply again for their quota. Orders for payments. Order for a Committee to ascertain the cost of an addition to the Governor's lodgings in the fort. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. pp. 39–43.] |
| June 28. |
1,919. Minutes of Council of New York in Assembly. Certain of the Representatives waited on the Governor with an address for the pardon of a mutinous Grenadier. The Governor granted their request, and ordered that the prisoner should be carried to the Assembly to return his thanks. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. p. 698.] |
| June 28. |
1,920. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. Orders for payments, some part of them to be discharged from quit-rents due from Thomas Ball. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 77. p. 308.] |
| June 28. |
1,921. Order of the Lords Justices of England in Council. Referring the petition of Anthony Gomez Serra and others, on behalf of the Jews in Jamaica, to Lords of Trade and Plantations for report. Signed, John Nicholas. |
|
The petition of Anthony Gomez Serra and others, on behalf of the Jews of Jamaica and Barbados, to the Lords Justices. We have for many years been settled in Jamaica and Barbados as free denizens, under the encouragement promised to those who should do so, and in both Islands have behaved as faithful subjects. We have sustained great losses since the war, particularly in Jamaica owing to the earthquake. Until lately we have always been taxed in our parishes equally with our neighbours, but now by the ill-will of our fellow-traders we have been distinguished from the rest of the inhabitants and exorbitantly taxed by the lump, the yearly sum being increased until it is so high that unless we are relieved we shall be compelled to leave the Islands. We beg therefore for equal treatment with our subjects, and that you will order the Governors of Barbados and Jamaica not to suffer us to be taxed beyond proportion with the rest of the inhabitants, and that we may be exempted from bearing arms on the Sabbath day, except in case of imminent danger from an enemy. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 54. pp. 24–26.] |
June 28.
Whitehall. |
1,922. Order of the Lords Justices of England in Council. Referring the petition of John Taylor to Lords of Trade and Plantations for report. Signed, John Nicholas. |
|
Petition of John Taylor to the Lords Justices. I am under contract with the Navy Board for supply of masts, etc. for the Royal Navy. Last year I received orders from the Board to supply four loadings of naval stores and endeavoured to comply with them; but my agent in New Hampshire informs me that owing to war with the Indians and the incapacity of the inhabitants to defend themselves, the supplies cannot certainly be provided unless they have more strength than their own to defend them. I beg therefore that New Hampshire may be joined to Massachusetts for its protection. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXVII., pp. 269–270.] |
June 28.
London. |
1,923. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to Colonel Philip Ludwell. Yours of 16 March reports that you received no letters from us, so we send you a copy of our last. We are glad to hear that your part of the country is in as fair a way to prosper and increases in inhabitants. We shall give them all the encouragement we can. As for a letter from Mr. John Gibbs which you mention to have arrived in the country, we cannot believe Mr. Gibbs guilty of such imprudence. The letter can have no force, and ought not in the least to influence the people, if he were a proprietor, as to which our former letters will have satisfied you. He is not a Governor nor can be, unless his power be derived from us. Signed, Craven, Bath, Ashley, Wm. Thornburgh for Sir John Colleton, Tho. Amy. [Board of Trade. Carolina, 4. p. 27.] |
June 28.
London. |
1,924. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to Governor John Archdale. We have received a letter from Mr. Joseph Blake reporting a difference with the King of Spain's subjects. We regret this, and advise that you give no offence to that Crown, which is in league with us, but to treat its subjects with all imaginable tenderness and at the same to secure our property by the best methods you can. Colonel Kendall, late Governor of Barbados, tells us that the people there complain of the packing of the beef from Carolina, which is done with such carelessness, or rather design, as to bring it into disreputation. You must take care to let the people know this, and that they must preserve their honour and reputation in trade if they wish to thrive. Mr. Stewart writes a very encouraging account of Carolina and asks for the refusal of a spot of land for which he will give full worth. You will show him all favour you can in this matter. Signed, Craven, Bath, Ashley, Wm. Thornburgh for Sir John Colleton, Tho. Amy. [Board of Trade. Carolina, 4. p. 28.] |
June 28.
London. |
1,925. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to Secretary Paul Grimball. Our last, together with our instructions to Governor Archdale answers all parts of your letter to Mr. Thornburgh. We hope that ere this Mr. Archdale is with you, and has satisfied the people of our zeal for their welfare in spite of any reports spread by Major Boone. You have never given us any occasion to dislike your proceedings so far as to discard you (as you wrote to Mr. Thornburgh); on the contrary, though we have put great confidence
in Governor Archdale, we have particularly instructed him to encourage all who had performed their duty with integrity and diligence in any place of trust, and not to displace them. Signed, Craven, Bath, Ashley, Wm. Thornburgh for Sir John Colleton, Tho. Amy. [Board of Trade. Carolina, 4. p. 28.] |
June 29.
Barbados. |
1,926. Edward Cranfield to the Duke of Shrewsbury. Our flag of truce to Martinique has returned without any prisoners, Count de Blenac fearing lest they should be employed against the French at Hispaniola, from which we have no accounts yet. We hear that all the French forces that can be spared from windward have been sent to their aid, which makes us sit easy for our trade to and from the island ever since. Now that we have entered the calm months the sickness increases, and, as the physicians report, with greater malignancy than ever. Four ships arrived here from Cadiz this week, with soldiers and stores for our fleet. Freight being scarce here, they will be despatched soon enough to sail with seven or eight more that are now loading and may be ready in a month. The Bristol will convoy them to the latitude of Deseada, and return to do the like for the next fleet. We are in great want of shipping, and half the crop remains unshipped. The Governor has been dangerously ill, but is now recovered. Signed, Edw. Cranfield. 1 p. Endorsed, R. 28 Sept., '95. |
|
A duplicate of the same letter, addressed to Sir John Trenchard. [America and West Indies. 456. Nos. 60, 61.] |
