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March 11.
Admiralty
Office. |
792. J. Burchett to William Popple. In answer to yours of yesterday to Mr. Bridgeman, I am to inform you that pursuant to the King's orders given some time since, seven men-of-war were prepared, two for the Leeward Islands, three for Barbados, and two for Jamaica. But the King afterwards ordered that the squadron, which is now gone to the West Indies, should consist in part of the ships so provided, which obliged the Admiralty to find others in their room. These are now all ready, except their provisions, and if the merchants are willing that their trade should stay until they be provided therewith, all possible despatch will be made, and then the convoys may proceed as first designed; but the Admiralty thought it might have been for the service, by victualling three ships first, to proceed with the trade that might be ready to sail with them (sic). Signed, J. Burchett. 1 p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 12 March, 1696–7. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 4. No. 40; and 34. pp. 121–122.] |
| [Mar. 11.] |
793. Heads of a charter for a Company for working copper mines in New England. 1½ pp. Endorsed, Presented by Colonel Ledgett in answer to the heads ordered on 15 February. Recd. Read, 11 March, 1696–7. [Board of Trade. New England, 8. No. 74; and 36. pp. 141–143.] |
March 11.
Kensington. |
794. Order of the King in Council. That the representation of the Council of Trade as to Lieutenants Shanke, Sydenham
and Wright be referred to the Duke of Schomberg and the General Officers sitting at the Horse Guards, to examine the petitioners' complaints, send to New York for sworn information and proceed therein as they think best for the King's service. Copy. ½ p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 9 June, 1697. [Board of Trade. New York, 7. No. 14; and 52. p. 145.] |
March 12.
Council
Office. |
795. John Povey to William Popple. I enclose the Act for vesting Sir Francis Watson's estate in Major Lowe. It was affixed to other Acts of Jamaica, lying in the Council Office, which are under the public seal of the island. Signed, John Povey. ¼ p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 13 March, 1696–7. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 8. No. 49; and 56. p. 80.] |
| March 12. |
796. The Merchants of Barnstaple to William Popple. Being concerned in several ships intended for Newfoundland, we desire your advice as to when the ships and forces mentioned in your letter of 30 January will be ready, how many they will be, and how many there are of them. Four signatures. ½ p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 15 March, 1696–7. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 3. No. 56.] |
March 12.
Bideford. |
797. Richard Usticke to William Popple. I have communicated yours of 9th inst. to the merchants here trading to Newfoundland. They beg that the convoy for their fishing ships may be at Milford by the 25th inst., and that the said man-of-war may be directed to stop in the river of Waterford for forty-eight hours to ship bread and provisions which are there awaiting them, bread being not to be purchased here at any rate. The Cadiz and Oporto vessels, lately arrived, have imported sufficient salt to supply Newfoundland for the year, so that the convoy to Portugal is thereby saved. Signed, Richd. Usticke. 1 p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 15 March, 1696–7. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 3. No. 57.] |
March 13.
Port
Annapolis,
Maryland. |
798. Governor Nicholson to Council of Trade and Plantations. I forward a petition from William Dent, whom I have found to be one of the best lawyers in this province, have retained in many cases and with the advice of the Council have appointed Solicitor-General. He has been very faithful and diligent, for the Attorney-General, being both Collector and Receiver of Patuxent District, cannot always attend to law affairs. I ask that £50 may be paid to him out of fines and forfeitures, and £30 or £40 a year from the time when an order to that effect is sent here. Signed, Fr. Nicholson. ½ p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 6 Aug., 1697. Enclosed, |
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798. I. Petition of William Dent to Governor Nicholson. I have helped the Attorney-General from time to time since November, 1694, have been engaged in all the Crown cases, and have refused to accept fees for them except when employed by you. This has cost me over 10,000 lbs. of tobacco a year of private practice, in return for which I have received no salary. I beg that some kind of salary may be settled on me. Inscribed, Copy of a Minute of the Council of Maryland, 12 December, 1696, requesting the Governor to recommend petitioner's case to the King. 1¼ pp. Endorsed as the covering letter. |
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Duplicate of the above letter and enclosure, the letter endorsed, Recd. 15th. Read, 16th November, 1698. [Board of Trade. Maryland, 3. Nos. 12, 12I., 13, 13I.; and 9. pp. 68–69.] |
March 14.
Dartmouth. |
799. John Whitrow to William Popple. Pray inform me when the convoys for Newfoundland will sail, for we are in great pain about it, since the usual time for ships to sail on fishing voyages is the 1st of March at latest. We beg that the convoys may be dispatched as soon as possible, otherwise we must, to our own great loss, abandon our voyages. Signed, John Whitrow, jun. ¾ p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 18 March, 1696–7. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 3. No. 58.] |
| March 15. |
800. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Order for the Secretary to ascertain when the men-of-war for the convoys to the West Indies will be ready. |
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Draft representation concerning the private Act as to Sir Francis Watson's estate agreed to. Mr. Yellowton again made application for encouragement to his scheme for transporting men to Jamaica, and was told that if the Jamaica Agents would support it, his application would be more maturely considered. |
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Jacob Tiley, who said that he had made fourteen voyages to Newfoundland, applied for employment in the projected expedition, and was referred to the Admiralty. Mr. Blathwayt produced an extract of a letter of this day's date to him from Mr. Burchett. It was thought fit to defer any answer until to-morrow. He also announced that the King had ordered H.M.S. Crown to sail to Milford to convoy the fishing ships. Letters of 12th inst. from Barnstaple and Bideford to the Secretary read (Nos. 796, 797), and order given to him to answer them (No. 807). Order for a letter to be drawn up to the Governor of Massachusetts to give assistance to Colonel Gibsone's expedition; the King having given orders to the Treasury about procuring him credit. |
| March 16. |
Order for copy of the representation as to the union of New York, New England, etc. to be furnished to Mr. Vernon, for drawing up a commission to the Earl of Bellomont. |
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Mr. Merret produced a petition from Poole (No. 790) and gave his opinion as to the rendezvous that should be appointed for the merchant-ships. The Secretary was directed to write to the out ports accordingly, and also to the Secretaries of the Admiralty (Nos. 806, 807). |
| March 17. |
The Council ordered a letter to be drawn to Sir William Trumbull respecting a project to detach ships to lie in wait for the French squadron, bound to Canada, at the mouth of the great river. |
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The Duke of Shrewsbury's letter read, ordering Lord Bellomont's commission and instructions to be prepared (No. 804). |
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Mr. Burchett's letter of yesterday read (No. 808), and communicated to the Agents of Jamaica and the Leeward Islands, the latter of whom was directed to attend again to-morrow. |
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Mr. Nicoll presented his estimate for the expenses of the two Indians lately brought to town. A letter ordered, directing that £50 be paid to him on account. |
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Mr. Bulkley presented another petition against Mr. Graves. The Secretary was directed to write again to Mr. Thornburgh and also to the Secretary of Customs on the matter. |
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Colonel Gibsone attending was informed of the provision made for giving him credit, and, reporting that the store of medicaments and hospital-provisions was very-short, was directed to apply to the King's physicians. Draft letter from the King to the Governor of Massachusetts, to give assistance to Colonel Gibsone, approved and sent to Mr. Secretary Trumbull. Petition from the town of Plymouth read (No. 805), also petition from the town of Poole, of which latter copy was ordered to be sent to the Admiralty. |
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Representation as to the Act concerning Sir Francis Watson's estate signed. |
| March 18. |
Letter from John Whitrow of 14th inst. read (No. 799). It was judged to have been already sufficiently answered. |
| March 19. |
Mr. Burchett's letter of yesterday read (No. 819). Order for a letter to the Mayor of Poole that a cruiser should be sent to that coast as soon as possible. Colonel Gibsone, again calling attention to the defect in the orders for medicaments for the Newfoundland expedition, was again requested to draw up an estimate of what he desired, which he promised to do. |
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Mr. Gilbert Heathcote's letter of 18th inst. read (No. 821), and orders given to the Secretary for his reply (No. 828). The Council obtained a copy of the Order in Council whereby the King granted £500 for transportation of men to Jamaica. |
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Mr. Tucker's letter of 17th read (No. 812). Ordered that Mr. Penn be summoned to attend on Monday next. Mr. Randolph's letter of 17th also read (No. 813), and order given for the opinion of the Commissioners of Customs to be obtained thereupon. |
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Mr. Cary attended to ask as to the convoy to the Leeward Islands, and was informed of the King's orders thereupon, whereupon he declared that the merchants were desirous rather to part in the manner appointed than to stay longer. Order for the despatches for the West Indies to be sent to Commissioner Greenhill, with an intimation that he is ordered to pay the postage of this and other packets. |
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Sir Henry Ashurst presented a paper asking for consideration of the memorials of the State of Massachusetts, which the Council promised to give as soon as possible. Letter to Mr. Secretary Trumbull as to the Canada fleet signed and sent (No. 830). [Board of Trade. Journal, 10. pp. 27–40.] |
March 15.
Whitehall. |
801. William Popple to the Secretary of the Admiralty. The Council of Trade supposing that some resolution may be taken for the despatch of the convoys for the West Indian trade, desire to be informed what ships are appointed for that service, and when and where they will be ready, that they may accordingly order their dispatches to be sent. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 34. p. 122.] |
March 15.
Admiralty
Office. |
802. Extract of a letter from Josiah Burchett to William Blathwayt. The King last night directed that all merchant ships bound for Newfoundland should proceed with the men-of-war that first go there. Please inform the Admiralty at which of the
Western ports the merchant-ships are, that directions may be given to the Commodore either to call for them there, or at their intended place of rendezvous. ¼ p. Endorsed, Recd. Read, 15 March. 1696–7. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 3. No. 59; and 25, p. 95.] |
March 15.
Whitehall. |
803. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Codrington. Several merchants here trading to the Island of Nevis have received information that the Statute of Limitation is likely to be pleaded in the Courts there, and have represented the injustice of this in a memorial, of which copy is enclosed (No. 735). Their desire appearing to us very reasonable, we recommend it to your care to prevent the passing of any such Act, and if it be or have been under deliberation, to report to us your reasons for or against it. Signed, J. Bridgewater, Ph. Meadows, Wm. Blathwayt, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 45. pp. 66–67.] |
