|
Feb. 13.
Whitehall. |
99. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island. We send you herewith His Majesty's instructions relating particularly to the observation of the Acts of Trade in H.M. Colony of Rhode Island, the like whereof, mutatis mutandis, have been despatched to the Commanders-in-Chief of H.M. other Plantations in America. You will observe in the beginning of those instructions an enumeration of several Acts said to be therewith transmitted to you, which we accordingly send. And as we are charged with the care of transmitting those instructions to you and requiring a particular account of your conduct in the observation thereof, so we recommend the same to you as a matter of great importance for H.M. service and the most effectual means of wiping off the ill report which has lain upon that Government for irregularities in things of this nature. Signed, J. Bridgewater, Ph. Meadows, Wm. Blathwayt, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill. Enclosed to the Earl of Bellomont, |
|
99. I. The same letter, mutatis mutandis, to the Governor and Company of Connecticut. |
|
99. II. Letter to the same effect as far as "accordingly send," to William Penn (Pennsylvania). |
|
99. III. Letter to the same effect as far as "accordingly send," to Wm. Thornburgh (Carolina and Bahamas). [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 25. pp. 305–308.] |
| Feb. 13. |
100. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Col. Dungan presented to the Board several papers for perusal as promised, Feb. 10. |
|
The Earl of Bridgewater acquainted the Board that the Earl of Orford had desired that an extract of the Earl of Bellomont's letter relating to the ships of war lately at New York might be sent to the Admiralty Office. Ordered accordingly. |
|
Mr. Dubois and Mr. Richier presented a letter from Mr. Blackburne, Secretary to the East India Company, with an affidavit relating to Mr. Nicholas Trott's receiving Every the pirate, in the Bahama Islands. They desired that if the said Trott made any application to be again Governor of those Islands, they might have notice. Assistance of the Board promised to the East India Company in the prosecution of any persons concerned in piracy. |
| Feb. 14. |
Order of Council of July 16 upon the petition of John Tucker read and directions given for a representation thereon. |
|
Memorial of Mr. Brenton re Rhode Island read, and instructions directed to Lord Bellomont for enquiring into the irregularities of that Government. A representation ordered wherewith to lay before his Majesty the draft of a commission prepared for the same service. [Board of Trade. Journal, 11. pp. 391–393; and 96. Nos. 27 and 28.] |
| Feb. 14. |
101. Jahleel Brenton to Council of Trade and Plantations, offering a list of queries proper to be put by Lord Bellomont to Walter Clarke, late Governor, Samuel Cranstone, present Governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and Peleg Sanford, Judge of the Court of Admiralty, with regard to the issuing of commissions, etc. I am humbly of opinion that if an Act of Parliament could be obtained whereby all persons in the Government in
the Plantations might be obliged to take the oath appointed and subscribe the test and association it would much conduce to the good settlement thereof, as would also the appointment of some Commissioners out of that and the neighbouring colonies, empowering them to call before them and to hear, try and punish the mal(e) administrators of the said Government. It would tend much to His Majesty's service if Commissioners were appointed in Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island to administer to the officers of the Admiralty such oaths as are necessary to qualify them to execute their offices, since all forfeitures and penalties mentioned in the Act for regulating the Plantation Trade are to be prosecuted in the Courts of Admiralty there. And whereas by that Act all Governors in the Plantations are to be approved of by His Majesty, and since the said Cranstone has opposed the execution of H.M. Commission, whether he has not merited His Majesty's disapprobation is most humbly submitted. If your Lordships shall be pleased to appoint any persons to make enquiries into these matters and how loosely the present Government of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations execute their authority, the most considerable persons in that Government, viz. Francis Brimley, Peleg Sanford, Nathaniel Coddington, Caleb Arnold, and Josias Arnold, Esqrs., will give them the best account thereof. Signed, Jahleel Brenton. Copy. 4 pp. Endorsed, Recd. Feb. 10, Read Feb. 14, 1698/9. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 2. No. 48; and 25. pp. 309–318.] |
