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Dec. 7.
Pennsylvania. |
16. Robert Quary to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
It was the middle of October before I arrived in Virginia. From
thence did immediately send away to Carolina in order to
H.M. commands and service. The time I spent in Virginia
gave me the opportunity to inform myself very nicely
into the affairs of that Government, wch. was never in a more
happy state in all respects then now; those few factious persons
that did endeavour to perplex the Government, have lately by the
Governor's prudence been so exposed and layd open to the
Assembly and whole Country, that they are become the contempt
of all good people, and the Governor's conduct and justice so
highly approved of, that the whole country doth unanimously
and entirely joyn in all things tending to H.M. service, the defence
and good of the Province. All which is matter of fact, wch. will
appear by the several Addresses etc. Governor Nicholson spent
out of his own pocket more then 500l. in a most splendid
Proclamation of H.M.; he hath improved the Revenue to a
very great degree; he found it very much in debt, which he
hath cleared; he hath almost finished and paid all the Publick
Buildings, and after all there is now more than ten thousand
pounds in Bank, the public taxes never easier or lighter, the
people never better sattisfyed and contented then now. There
is great want of arms and ammunition for the defence of the
country; the Militia put into the best order of defence they are
capable of, tho' I cannot depart from my former opinion that
the best security and defence of that and the neighbouring
Province is some Naval force. |
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By letters from Carolina of Sept. 26, I have certain advice
that the Government had all things in a readiness and prepared
to attack St. Augustine. The methods of their proceedings is
thus: they have prest ten vessels, and have four hundred men
to man them, which are ordered under a Irish Commander to
go to sea and land all the men at the most convenient place
neer the Fort. At the same time there is 100 more very good
men that goe within land at the head of a great number of
Indians, who are to fall on the town and fort by land as near as
possible at the same time, the methods being agreed on by sign.
I am very well satisfyed the design being thus laid cannot miscarry, the consequence of which will be of very great service to
H.M., by removing the ill neighbourhoods of the French and
Spaniards, and securing the South frontiers of the Main. I do
expect to receive by the first the particular success of the action,
which I will dispatch to your Lordships and do hope that the
present Governor of that Province will hasten the welcome news
of their victory to your Lordships. |
|
My next step is Roanoak, which is the north part of Carolina;
the people are very uneasy and discontented, and do labour
under great difficulty in securing the peace of the country. The
Proprietors have taken no notice of them for above seaven years
past; there is no settled Militia, nor any foundation of Government. The country produces great quantities of provisions and
tobacco. All their market for their tobacco is to New England,
from whence 'tis carried to Newfoundland and other wrong
marketts, to the great ruin of H.M. Revenue and of trade, wch.
mischief cannot be remedied until that part of the Propriety
be joined to H.M. Province of Virginia, then all the tobacco
will go home directly to England, wch. now by a most unreasonable
law made in Virginia they are hindered to ship off from thence. |
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The Government of Maryland hath for some years very much
encreased in the number of people, in their trade, in the value of
their land and improvements, H.M. Revenue much augmented,
my Lord Baltemore's rents very much advanced, and the people
very easy and satisfied, and all this is on all hands concluded
to proceed from no other course then that Province's being under
the immediate Government and protection of H.M. |
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I am now come to the Three Lower Counties, where, in
obedience to your Lordships' commands, I did at my arrival at
Newcastle shew them your Lordships' Instructions to me concerning them, then wch. nothing could have proved so great a
satisfaction, especially considering that it came in a juncture
of time when they and the Upper Counties were all in confusions.
The Lt.-Gov. Hambleton. [Hamilton] was pleased to summon
them to meet the members of Mr. Penn's Province in Assembly,
not according to the former method, for now the Upper Counties
are chosen and meet by vertue of Mr. Penn's late Grand Charter.
But the writ for the Lower Counties hath no foundation for
their being summoned as an Assembly. However, they appeared,
contrary to the expectation of the Lieut.-Governor and the
Quakers, and have managed themselves so prudently as to lay
the ground of the separation and confusion that must follow
at Mr. Hambleton and the Quakers' own doors, as will appear
from enclosed Addresses etc. The whole management of this
afaire was only a trick [of] Mr. Penn's to find out som culerable
pretence of laying down [?the] Government of the Three Lower
Counties, wch. he had for above 20 years [?usur]ped without
any Commission, power, or authority derived from the [?Crown]
of England, and in all this time had exercised all the regal power
of Government, as the erecting Courts etc. and did actually
execute several of H.M. subjects without either Judges, jury
or evidences being sworn or quallified according to Law. He
called Assemblys, levied money, and did all other Acts of Government, but now finding that your Lordships are pleased to enquire
into these affairs, he is willing to drop the Government of these
Counties, without noyse, which he thinks he hath now effected.
It is very necessary that H.M. Letter may be sent to one of the
gentlemen of the Lower Counties, impowering him to preserve
the peace of the Province, until such time as H.M. hath otherwise
disposed of that Government. I cannot recommend a better
man than Mr. Jasper Yeats, who is a gentleman of the best estate
in that country, a man of sense and good reputation. I have
tried all ways to purchase at any rate attested copies of several
Charters, which he past a very few days before he left this
country, but cannot prevail. They govern the country by
these Charters, and yet are afraid or ashamed to have them
seen. Mr. Penn, as it seems, now having greater assurance of
continuing his Government then he had when he granted these
extravagant Charters, which destroys the very being of Governmen, is now endeavouring by his Agents to recall or overthrow
his late Charters, but the topping Quakers of this Corporation
are resolved to hold their unbounded power as fast as they can,
so that all things is in a very great confusion. They flatter
themselves that, let what Government will come, they are above
it all, having the choice of all their magistrates and officers, which
cannot be removed by any power or Assembly whatsoever, they
have not only the Government of the City but of the whole
Province to that degree that the country is very uneasy; what
the consequences will be, time will shew. I thought it had been
Mr. Penn's duty to have laid those Charters before your honble.
Board. The members of the Lower Counties in their Address
set forth that they cannot get copies of them. At my arrival
here I found that Mr. Penn had filled the heads of all his friends
with strange notions of his extraordinary great influence at
Court, and that H.M. was pleased to blame him for not coming
oftener to visit hir, and had given him assurance of continuing
his Government. He hath given full encouragement to his
Corporation to exercise the powers of the Admiralty, so that
H.M. Officers of the Admiralty are but as so many cyphers,
nor doth the Custom-house Officer signify much more. For
instance, in June last came hither a brigantine from Curesaw,
one Butterworth, master, and put on shore a chest of European
goods and East India goods, without certificate or entry of the
said vessel or goods, which the Collector seized, and afterwards
seized the vessel, on board of which was a great quantity of
goods, but was forced from on board the vessel, and on complaint
to a Justice could have no assistance, but the vessel run away
to Road Island and there landed all his goods, and afterwards
had the impudence to return hither again with the briganteen,
when the Master had stripped off all his rigging, cables, anchors,
sails, and what was valuable, and then left her to the officer to
seize, which he did, and then went to the Lt.-Gov. to have his
assistance to search for the said rigging. The Governor was
pleased to say it was time enough when the vessel was condemned.
In the meantime all was removed and secured. In Sept. last one
Mr. Mulder, of Curesaw, imported into this place to the value of
1,400l. worth of European goods and rann them ashore; about
June one Stafford arrived here from Curesaw and landed a great
quantity of European goods and East India goods without
certificate or entry, one chest of which was seized and condemned.
I know Mr. Penn will be very angry to have the Religious People
of his Government so much as taxed with encouraging illegal
trade, and perhaps will not so much as know any of these instances,
though his Agent hath received his share of these condemnations.
I am very unwilling to aggravate things beyond the necessity
of my duty, but am very well assured that unless some measures
are taken to prevent illegal trade in this Government, and likewise in Connecticutt and Road Island, it will ruin all the honest
trade of America. The merchants of New York, as well as the
Officers of the Customs, did complain to me at my being there
last week, that unless some extraordinary methods are speedily
taken to prevent the illegal trade of these two Northern
Proprietary Governments, it will ruin all the trade of these
parts. They have got a way of late to go there directly from
Curesaw and procure false certificates for those goods, and so
carry them into the other Governments, which must be prevented,
else the consequence will be very fatal to the manufactury and
trade of England. In Oct. last there was a sloop bound for
Curesaw in which a merchant of this place designed to go, and
had ordered a tobacco cutter, which is a considerable trade in this
place, to pack him up a considerable quantity of tobacco in
flower-casque, but the merchant's money falling short, was
forced to leave part of the tobacco on the man's hands, wch.
occasioned a suit of Law; this made the business publick; afterwards the sloop alters hir voyage and designed for Jamaica, upon
which they put ashore divers casks, which they said was Indian
corn, but proved evidently to be cutt tobacco, which was seen
by a great many people as it lay on the wharfe; however, the
officer's eyes were shutt and the sloop is gone her voyage to
Jamaica. Mr. Penn hath made a kinsman of his Naval Officer,
who declare that whatever seizures he makes shall be tried in
the Court of Pleas, of which he is also the Clerk. This liberty
he pretends the Law gives him, although it be contrary to the
very intention of the Act. However, he hath been so good as
his word, for having seized a vessel which traded contrary to
Law, he brings his libel into the Court of Pleas, and there she was
acquitted. So that we have here only the name of a Court of
Admiralty, and as matters are managed by this Government at
present, it will not answer the end. There hath been a great
deal of art and industry used to impose on your Lordships a
second sham Militia to serve a turn. Great pains was taken to
perswade the people to list themselves, great promises made,
abundance of strong liquor spent and fine speeches, but all
amounted to no more than the gathering together about 30 or 40
men, to compleat wch. forces they drained the gaol of some,
borrowed some servants and others, and after all this scandelous
ragged Regiment had not above 6 swords amongst them, no
shews or stockins, and finding themselves exposed and ridiculed,
the Lieut.-Governor was ashamed of his Militia, so they were
dismissed and never appeared since, tho' I expect to find an
account of them in the Gazette, which is the least that Mr. Penn
can doe, to let the world know how formidable a Militia he hath
to defend H.M. good subjects of this Province. I will not trouble
your Lordships with the Quakers' severe threats against me
and all other concerned for H.M. interest, for my own part I
value it not, but the hard usage I met with in England by those
vexatious actions brought against me by Mr. Penn's contrivance,
one of which actions is still depending, doth very much startle
the Queen's Officers, and makes them very unwilling to act,
wch. is improved by the constant insults and threats of the
Quakers, who endeavour to persuade all men that Mr. Penn is
the chief steersman at the helm of Government in England. |
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I have lately been to New York, in order to H.M. Service,
which called me to attend on my Lord Cornbury, in order to a
convoy for the vessels laden with provisions which I am ordered
to despatch away to Jamaica for the supplying H.M. forces
designed for that place, which gave me opportunity not only
of observing the present happy state of that Province, but also
its late most miserable condition. No country was ever reduced
to more miserable circumstances than that poor Province was
under the late unhappy Government. Had it continued but
some short time longer, the very nature and being of an English
Government had been extirpated in all its parts, the trade of it
totally ruined, and deserted by all the English inhabitants, and
so left a prey to the French. A particular account of the barbarous and inhuman usage of most of the considerable persons
of that country is a subject fitter for a volume than a short
remark. I will therefore referr that, and proceed to acquaint
your Lordships with the happy change and postures of affairs
since the arrival of H.E., which cannot be better demonstrated
then by the Address of the Assembly and all the Counties of the
Provinces, the vast return and increase of its trade, which was
before quite ruined and decayed, the great joy and satisfaction
which appears in the countenances of all except a few of the
meanest and most despicable of the Dutch, and which is most,
the present happiness of that Government and people appears
by the cheerfulness and readiness of the whole in contributing
towards the support of H.M. Government against the French
and all other H.M. enemies. H.E. hath managed himself with
great prudence and conduct in relation to those fire-brands,
Attwood and Weaver, who have great judgment on them for their
wicked deeds, outlived not only their reputation, justice and
reason, but their great politicks and interest too, and have left
such an infamous carracter behind them that can never wear
off. It is the hopes and hearty wishes of all good men that my
Lord Cornbury will quickly be the happy instrument of healing
the breaches and restoring tranquillity to the poor distracted
inhabitants of the Jerseys, who are impatient till my Lord's
Commission comes, that so they may be freed from the tyranny
of the Quakers, who are more inhuman than the Taskmasters
of Egypt, nor are we of this Province without some hopes in
due time by your Lordships' order we may recover the influence
of H.M. grace, favour and protection. I do wholly rely on your
Lordships' favour in relation to the perfecting wt. your Lordships
were pleased to propose to H.M. on my behalf, the payment of
my 300l. towards the charges and expense of my voyage for
England, wch. is much short of what I am out of pockett. Your
Lordships were pleased to propose that I might be further
impowered and qualified to serve H.M. and your Lordships in
these parts of America. I gave in several memorials in behalf
of Mr. Jno. Moore, H.M. Advocate of the Admiralty, who hath
served now about 5 years without any reward, and in my absence
hath asserted H.M. interest with much courage and zeal. If
something be not done for his encouragement, it will be impossible
for me to keep him steddy. Signed, Robt. Quary. Endorsed,
Recd. 22nd, Read Jan. 27, 1702. 7 pp. Enclosed, |
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16. i. Abstract of preceding. 2¼ pp. |
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16. ii. Memorandum of Address of the Three Lower Counties
to the Board. (No. v. infra.) ½ p. |
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16. iii. Memorandum of several papers relating to the sitting
of an Assembly in Pennsylvania. (See below.) ½ p.
[C.O. 323, 3. Nos. 142, 142.i.–iii., 110; and (without
enclosures) 324, 8. pp. 194–211.] |
Dec. 7.
Pennsylvania. |
17. Memorandum of above Letter from Col. Quary to the
Council of Trade and Plantations. ¼ p. Enclosed, |
|
17. i. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia, Nov. 19, 1702. Present: Andrew
Hamilton, Lt.-Governor, Edward Shippen, John Guest,
Saml. Carpenter, Wm. Clark, Tho. Story, Caleb Pusey,
and James Logan, Secretary. Ordered, that the Members
of the Three Upper Counties doe give in writing under
their hands, Yea or No, whether they are willing to joyn
to act as an Assembly with the Members of the Three
Lower Counties as they are now respectively chosen. |
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Answer: We of the Upper Counties viz. Philadelphia,
Chester and Bucks are willing to joyn with the Members
of the Three Lower Counties to act as an Assembly in
a Charterall way, or according to Charter, and not
otherwise. Signed, David Lloyd, John Swift, Wm.
Paxton, Andrew Job, Nich. Pyle, Jo. Bennett, Joseph
Growden, Griffith Jones, Antho. Morris, Jere. Langhorne,
John Warrd. Copy. 1 p. |
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17. ii. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Pennsylvania.
Nov. 19, 1702. Ordered that, if in response to the
above question, either or both of the bodies of Representatives shall by their answers refuse to joyn with
the other, those who so refuse be desired in writing to
represent to the Governor and Council what methods
they propose for the forming of an Assembly to prevent
the Government suffering for want of one, when affairs
of such importance as have been proposed require
their immediate service. Signed, James Logan,
Secretary. Copy. 1 p. |
|
17. iii. Minutes of Council of Pennsylvania, Nov. 19, 1702.
Ordered that the following question be sent in writing
to the Representatives elected to serve in Assembly
for the Three Lower Counties annexed to Pennsylvania,
now convened at Philadelphia, and that they be desired
to give their answer under their hands also in writing:—Are the Members of the Lower Counties willing or not
to joyn with those of the Province on the foot they
[are] now respectively called? Copy. 1 p. |
|
17. iv. Answer of the Members of the Three Lower Counties
to the questions of the Governor and Council:—Finding
they are called here upon a different foot with those
of the Upper Counties, cannot, if there were no other
obstacle, join with them in legislation, but are chearful
and willing, when warrantably convened, to proceed in
Assembly to answer H.M. commands, and such other
matters of importance as then shall be laid before them,
though they will not presume to direct this Government
in what methods to convene them, they supposing it
not their business, but that of those who have the rule
over them. Signed, Ro. Trench, Richard Halliwell,
Jasper Yeates, Evan Jones, Thomas Sharp, John Footer,
John Hill, Joseph Booth. |
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17. v. Address of the Members of Assembly for the Three
Lower Counties to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Philadelphia, Nov. 21, 1702. The Members aforesaid
(all but four, absent by sickness) acknowledge letter
June 25 to Col. Quary, "returning their gratefullest
acknowledgments for your condescension, and beseeching
your Lordships to represent us to H.M. in the number
of dutiful and obedient subjects. The encouragement
given us (whereon we rely) of protection adds new life
to our drooping spirits, who have hitherto bin fed with
the empty promises of Mr. Penn, under the most solemn
assurance that on his return to England to gett us so
established and secured and put us in such a posture,
wee might be less apprehensive of an attack from an
enemy, either by sea or land. But we are now convinced
he has rather put a false gloss on our circumstances,
instead of representing the nakedness of our country,
hourly exposed to the insults of the most inconsiderable
enemy, having neither militia, officer, fortgun, powder
or shott, and in an open Bay, a consideration so
astonishing will hardly leave room to think of our many
intestine misfortunes. Wee are now summoned by a
writ from the Lieut.-Governor to meet the Members
of the Upper Counties (called the Province) that are
elected by colour of one of the Charters granted by
Mr. Penn to his favourites on his departure, in which
are several clauses destructive to all Government (as
would appear, could we come at a copy to lay before
your Board), and this scheme we are prest to own and
act conjunctly with, otherwise a separation must follow,
which we are well assured was concerted beforehand
and projected as an expedient to throw and drop that
part of the Government Mr. Penn has so slender a
pretention to. The results of this meeting the above
papers will tell. All the tobaccos of the River and
Bay are made in these Counties; tenn vessels has bin
mostly loaden therewith for England this year, and
much more would be rais'd, would H.M. be pleased
to countenance those that have hitherto laboured under
all the calumnies and depretiating characters the Quakers
could suggest, but to descend to particulars of that
kind is to large a field. We therefore humbly implore
your Lordships to state our condition to H.M., hoping
the Queen will vouchsafe to take us into her immediate
protection (whose reign God prolong)." Signed, Ro.
Trench, Richard Halliwell, Jasper Yeates, Newcastle
County; Thomas Sharp, Evan Jones, John Foster,
Kent County; John Hill, Sussex County. Endorsed,
Recd. 22nd, Read Jan. 27, 1702 (1703). Addressed.
2 pp. [C.O. 5, 1262. Nos. 10, 10.i.–v.] |
| Dec. 7. |
18. William Penn to [? the Council of Trade and Plantations].
Honble. Friends, I send the enclosed passages, by which you
will have hints of our circumstances in America, which I took
out of three letters lately received. They urge me to beg your
dispatch of the approbation, a ship lyeing in the Downs for the
first winde that presents. The security waits your letter to
make way for it. Signed, Your very respectfull Friend, Wm. Penn.
Endorsed, Recd. 7th. Read Dec. 8, 1702. Holograph. 1 p.
Enclosed, |
|
18. i. Copies of extracts from Letters from Philadelphia to
William Penn. (a) 29th, 5 mo., 1702. Hond. Governor,
By last post a packet arrived with orders directed to
proclaim the War, which was accordingly done, 24th
inst. Upon the occasion given, the Governor, as he
had done also before, [he] recommended to the People
to think of putting themselves in a posture of defence,
and since that issued Commissions for one Company of
Militia and intends to proceed all the Government
over. Those of the hot Church Party oppose it to
their utmost, because they will have nothing done
that may look with a good countenance at home; they
have done all they can to diswade all from touching
with it, but the Capt., who is one George Lowther,
mustering two days agoe, had a sufficient Company
for the first appearance. Lord Cornbe [sic] is now at
Albany treating with the Indians who come in to him very
slow; things on that quarter do really appear dark.
I wish we may be in no danger from thence. Harry of
Conostogo was here last week, and is gone up to
Onondagoes, who hath engaged to bring certain advice
how they stand affected. |
|
(b) 13th, 6th mo., 1702. Hond. Governor, Butterworth hath brought his brigantine in, the Governor
presses forward his militia, but the Church Party, as
they call themselves, leave no stone unturned to oppose
it; an Approbation is much wanted, and makes the
Governor very uneasy. About three weeks ago
Edmd. Du Casteel coming from Jamaica fell in with
the French fleet, Lat. 35 or thereabouts, commanded
by Chatau Renault convoying the Plate fleet home;
there were 36 men-of-war; the whole fleet in number 56.
Ed. was on board the Admiral and had a pass from
him, assuring him there was no war; whether the
Admiral knew no better or not, is uncertain; Edmd.
did not then. Bembo lies still at Jamaica; they say
he hath dispatched an express home, which is about
them, but it was not publickly known in the West Indies
that any fleet so large was in those parts. I forgot to
mention an intrigue of D. Loyd's and J. Moor's (who
are now most strictly united) to confuse all our Courts
and their proceedings; that a stop being put to the
administration of Justice, such complaints may be now
sent home as they were upon the convulsions of this
Government, when the King took it into his hands
before; he is now made by J.M., Col. Quary's Deputy
Judge of the Admiralty, Advocate of the said Court,
and is now at Newcastle upon a trial in it, notwithstanding his opposition to it before thy arrival
occasioned thee so much trouble. J. Moor is the Queen's
Advocate of the Admiralty and Col. Quary's Deputy
Judge, and he that cried out so much of D. Loyd for
his disrespectful expressions of the late King's Commission to the Officers of the Admiralty, whom I turned
out within 14 days after the order from the Lords to
that effect Justices came to hand [sic], he (J. Moor)
hath thought fit to make his Deputy Advocate, wch.
seems to be without Justice, if not without president,
to the poor subject. I beg your dispatch of the
Approbation for the publick peace and security. 2 pp.
[C.O. 5, 1262. Nos. 11, 11.i.; and 5, 1290. pp. 262–266.] |
Dec. 7.
St. Jago de la Vega. |
19. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. Governor Thomas
Handasyd took the oath relating to the Acts of Trade and
Navigation. He read a letter from H.M., Sept. 7, 1702. "Our
will and pleasure is that forthwith upon receipt hereof you cause
such a number of barracks to be built as may be sufficient to
receive 3,000 men, the same to be placed at greater distances
than they usually are in Europe," which he recommended to the
serious consideration of the Board. The Board unanimously
gave their opinion that it would be impossible to perform H.M.
commands in building of barracks, there being no provision
of a fund made by H.M. for defraying such a considerable expense.
But that all due care shall be taken to provide all conveniences
of House-room that can be got in the towns and places adjacent
for their present reception, not doubting but they will come
provided with tents and hammacoes. Ordered that the Receiver
General pay the 15d. per diem, which was ordered to be paid
to the French and Spanish prisoners, and place what he shall so
pay to account of H.M. Revenue. [C.O. 140, 6. p. 112.] |
Dec. 8.
Whitehall. |
20. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Sir Bevill
Granville. Enclosing copies of petitions and Order of Council
[July 9 and Nov. 26], relating to Appeals. All which papers
you are to communicate to H.M. Council of Barbados and together
with them to consider the same, and thereupon to signify to us
what may be the consequences of any such alteration as has
been proposed, and what is the general sense of the inhabitants.
Signed, Wm. Blathwayt, Jno. Pollexfen, Mat. Prior, Weymouth,
Dartmouth, Ph. Meadows. [C.O. 29, 8. p. 266.] |
| Dec. 8. |
21. William Popple to William Penn. Your letters of the
4th and 7th inst. have been laid before the Council of Trade and
Plantations, and upon consideration of your Declaration enclosed
in the first, not finding the same so conformable to H.M. Order in
Council as they conceive it ought to be, their Lordships have
directed me to return it to you, and therewith also to send you
(as I do here enclosed) the form of a Declaration prepared by
themselves in conformity to H.M. said Order, which they desire
you to dispatch accordingly, upon fair large paper; and I am
further to assure you that upon the receipt thereof they will make
no delay in what remains to be done by them in pursuance of
H.M. aforesaid Order. Annexed, |
|
21. i. Copy of Declaration, as signed by Penn, Dec. 10.
[C.O. 5, 1290. pp. 267, 268.] |
Dec. 8.
Jamaica. |
22. Peter Beckford to [? the Earl of Nottingham]. In
obedience to H.M. Commission, I delivered up the Government
of this Island to Col. Handyside the 4th inst., and hope I shall
deserve H.M. gratious approbation for what I have done whilst
in it. I promised your Lordship an account of our Privateers,
whom we then left on the Isthmus of Darien, designed for the
mines of St. Maries (or Sta. Crux d'Cana), where they were assured
from both Indians and Spaniards of meeting with a considerable
booty, if they could take the mines without being descryed.
Aug. 13, our people to the number of 400 or more landed at the
Sambles, and were there joined by 50 French straglers, who had
lived amongst the Indians for some time, and about 70 or 80
Indians under the command of one Pedro, a sensible Indian,
who understands English, French and Spanish, and assured our
people they should be joined by more Indians as they march'd
along, and were accordingly by about 150 more. By reason of
the continuate rains and badness of the way (the mountains
being almost inaccessible) they did not get to the mines till the
31st. The Spaniards had got some intelligence of our men's
landing, and had therefore sent advice to the mines, for within
a day and a half's march of the mines our people met with a party
of 11 Spaniards posted to descry us; an advanced party of ours
fell in with them, killed two, took seaven; however, two made
their escape to the Towne; and though we made all the
dilligence that was possible after them, yet they got to the town
about three hours before us, so that the Spaniards, taking alarm,
fled with all their gold, negroes, and whatsoever else they could
carry into the mountains. Some of the Spaniards, to the number
of about 60, had posted themselves in a small kind of a brest
work upon an eminence above the town, but upon the approach
of forty of our men, they quitted their post, flung down their
arms, and made the best of their way into the woods. We had
but one man wounded, though we received their fire; the
Spaniards were, I suppose, in two much haste to take aim; however, our men gave them a volley, kil'd 4 and took about 14,
prisoners, met with some gold, but abundance of rich goods
which they gave a considerable part of to the Indians, for it was
not possible for them to bring it back, their very arms being
luggage enough in such a march. The Indians were very serviceable to our men, both in their march and retreat back. This
town of St. Crux and the mines lye within half a day's march
of St. Maries. These mines are opened up at the foot of a very
steep mountain, the Spaniards having worked it upwards for the
more easy carrying of the water, which discharges itself into a
small valley, begirt all round with mountains. The water seems
all discoloured from the tincture of these or other mines, and
the valley being very flat and swampish renders the place very
unhealthy. Our people worked in the mines about 7 days till
they began to grow sickly, which prevented their attempting of
St. Maries, from whence they might have gone by water to
Panama, the River of St. Maries discharging itself into the South
Sea; during the time of their stay they workt and wash'd about
100 pound wt. of gold. This gold, my Lord, grows in the hard
solid rocks and generally appears in little sparks, but sometimes
in large stringy veins: the miners dig the solid rock, pound
and grind it to dust, then wash it. I have sent your Lordship
two pieces, one of the top of the mine, which they term the
Mother of Gold, and the other a small peece of the rock which
has the gold in it, tho' not rich, which will give your Lordship a
better idea than anything I can say. We took about 80 of their
negroes, some of their top miners. It's said that the Spaniards
had above 1,000 negroes at work at this mine, who would all
have come into us, but were afraid, as well as the Spaniards of
the Indians, who are not used to give them any quarter, and
yet without the aid of these salvages, such a march as our people
went, would not have been judged practicable, for the Spaniards
do affirm that no Christians ever pas'd those mountains before; but
had they gone the way which I thought they would have taken
they need not have met with half those obstacles, nor would
their march have been near so long; however, God be praised,
we lost but two men in the expedition, and the Spaniards may
see that we can find the way to their mines, whenever H.M.
commands us, and if ever we visit these mines again my advice
should be to land at Golden Island, and march by way of the
Stocados, a work of but 4 or 5 days to St. Maries, which lyes
within half a day's march of these mines, and then you have no
river to cross but Rio Grande. Or if you land at Orange Bay,
which lies between Chagre and Puerto Bello, you may march to
Panama in 48 hours; from thence you have the sea to the River
of St. Maries, which will carry you up to the Town of that name;
but several other ways might be contrived, which I shall be
very ready to acquaint your Lordship with, whenever your
Lordship shall be pleased to lay your commands on, signed,
Pe. Beckford. P.S.—I cannot tell whether your Admiral Benbow
may have informed your Lordship of the number of soldiers on
board Ducass' fleet, though I sent him letters taken in a Spanish
pacquet-boat brought in hither by one of our privateers. Ducass
sent 500 soldiers (who were 2,000 in all) to the Havana with 2 sail
of men-of-war, and 500 more with the Vice-King of Mexico, the
Marquis D'Albequerque, to La Vere Crux, with 2 other ships
of war. When he met our Admiral, he had left 4 men-of-war
and 1,000 soldiers, 500 whereof he has, I suppose, landed at
Carthagena, and sent the other to Chagre. Ducass is now
careening at Carthagena, and his intentions are to go to the
Havana to meet the other ships who are to careen there, where
they will be joyned with some merchant ships; for the Spaniards
write that when Ducass should arrive, they should be a fleet of
20 sail, intended immediately on their conjunction for Europe.
Signed, Pe. Beckford. Endorsed, R. Feb. 6, 1702/3. 3 pp.
[C.O. 137, 45. No. 29.] |
| Dec. 8. |
23. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Letter to
Sir Bevill Granville signed. |
|
Letter from Mr. Penn, Dec. 4, enclosing a Declaration signed
by him, read. But their Lordships not finding his said
Declaration conformable to H.M. Order in Council directed the
same to be returned to him, together with the form of a Declaration
now prepared by themselves in conformity to the said Order,
and that it be signified to him that, upon his dispatch of this
Declaration, they will make no delay in what remains to be done
by them in that matter. |
|
Letter from Mr. Penn of the 7th inst., with extracts enclosed, read. |
|
Sir Wm. Dane, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Burridge,
Members of Parliament for Bristol, Liverpool and Lime, acquainted
the Board that having understood there had been application
made by some merchants of London to H.R.H. the Lord High
Admiral against the sending any considerable fleet and convoys
to Virginia, this next season, they had petitioned H.M. to the
contrary, and did expect to have found both those petitions
referred to this Board; but their Lordships acquainting them
that no such reference is yet come, they said they would enquire
into the matter, and endeavour to promote it, and then wait upon
the Board with their reasons against the design of the London
Petitioners, wch. they esteem to be very pernicious to the Colony
and Trade of Virginia and to H.M. Revenue arising by Customs
on Tobacco. |
| Dec. 9. |
Copies of Brigadier Selwyn's Instructions about settling the
Public Revenue in Jamaica, Aug. 14, 1701: and of
Col. Handaside's Commission to be Lt. Gov. of Jamaica, June 20,
1702, lately received from the Earl of Nottingham's Office, were
laid before the Board. |
|
Orders of Council, Oct. 22, approving Governors' Instructions,
read. |
|
Order of Council, Oct. 30, read. |
|
Letter from Governor Winthrop, July 29, read. |
|
Letter from Col. Maurice of New Jersey, Sept. 29, read. |
|
Letter from Mr. Larkin, July 1st, read. |
|
Memorial from Mr. Usher, Nov. 16, read. |
|
Their Lordships proceeded to the further consideration of
the Act for the setling and strengthening H.M. part of
St. Christopher's, and directed a Representation to be drawn in
order to the repealing of it. |
| Dec. 10. |
Mr. Eccleston and Mr. Wych [?Wyeth] desiring a Copy of the Act
lately received from Maryland for the maintenance of Ministers
etc. in order to such observations as they shall find proper to be
made thereon, their Lordships acquainted them that they had
not yet had leisure to peruse the said Act, but when they came
to consider it, they would be mindful of their desire. |
|
Ordered that the Address from the Inhabitants of New York
to his late Majesty, dated Dec. 30, 1701, as likewise their Address
to the House of Commons, received in Lord Cornbury's letter,
Sept. 27th, be sent to the Earl of Nottingham. |
|
Representation to H.M. for the repeal of an Act of
St. Christopher's, signed. |
|
Letter from Mr. Penn, enclosing Declaration, together with a letter
from Col. Hamilton to him relating to the State of Pennsylvania,
read. Secretary ordered to write to Mr. Lowndes that security
may be taken for Col. Hamilton's observing the Acts of Trade
in Pennsylvania, in the same manner as has been lately done
for the respective Governors of Carolina, and of the Bahama
Islands; and in order thereunto directed the names of Paul
Docmanique and Adolph Philips, proposed by Mr. Penn, to be
inserted in the bond to be taken for that purpose. |
|
Ordered that a Copy of the Report of a Committee of Council
be annexed to H.M. Order in Council relating to Appeals in
Barbadoes, be enclosed in the letter from the Board of the 8th inst.
to Sir Bevill Granville. [C.O. 391, 15. pp. 309–316; and
391, 96. Nos. 197–199.] |
Dec. 10.
[10 Xber.] |
24. William Penn to [? William Popple]. Esteemed Friend,
I have neither so good paper not so good a hand, so send the
same executed by me, to avoide giveing occasion to any of the
Lords to think I delay wth. designe to triffle wth. them. If it
please not, I must desire that the same Clark write it over fair
in the best paper, not folded, and I will signe and seale it, and
satisfy him, tho' with some reluctancy, I must needs say, without
Govermt. in only Council tell me I may do it, for that Goverment is the subject matter the declaration refers to. I have
here enclosed part of a letter from Governor Hamilton that
confirms what I suggested of the necessity of the dispatch of an
approbation, and that some turbulent people will not be satisfyed
full nor fasting. I am with truth, Thy affect. Frd. Wm. Penn.
Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec. 10, 1702. Holograph. 2 pp.
Enclosed, |
|
24. i. Lt. Gov. Hamilton to William Penn. Burl[ington],
Sept. 19, 1702. The last I had from you was by
Mr. Morris, April 24. This is the first opportunity
I have had since to write by. I wrote several letters
of the 7th and 9th of May by John Satchell, who came
by Guy, and several since. In one I sent you a certificate
from Jamaica, and attested by Mr. Bailey to be a true
copy of the original in his hands, that the indico for
which Wm. Roydon's sloop was seized (which I mentioned
to you in mine of Dec. last) had paid the duties and bond
given pursuant to the Act of Parliament. I hope
then I shall not be blamed for having admitted him to
bail to produce this certificate. As to the state of your
country in general, filthy foul practices are used to
run the inhabitants into confusion, but as yet both
Province and Territories keep Courts at their seasons
appointed by Law, except the Court at Bucks, wch. by
a stratagem of D. L[loyd?] was adjourned without doing
anything, wch. I shall put out of his power next time.
Since I proclaimed the war, I have appointed officers
for the Province and territories. Noebody can imagine
what ungentleman-like practices are set afoot by those
who to the scandal of their profession call themselves
Churchmen, to discourage those who have inlisted
themselves to continue; they cause their wives to fall
upon them for leaving their business, as they call it,
and they that want, they busily dissuade them to
appear any more in arms, for, say they, the chief
argument we have to defeat the present Government
under Mr. Penn is to have it to complaine that we are
without a Militia, and your appearing will remove that
complaint. However, the Cavalier part of the Church
despise those mean devices, and take Commissions
and industriously encourage the inhabitants to inlist
themselves. The small-pox has run thro' your country
and West Jersey, and by the extream variety of weather
fevers and agues are very frequent, but praise to God
he carried off but few. Poor New York lies under a
sorer affliction, for after the small-pox had run over
the town, a malignant fever ensued, wch. has carried
off several hundreds, among others Col. Menville and
the Secretary, and rages at present at that rate that
all communication is broke up with them, but by the
post most families left the town and settle in the Jerseys
and Long Island, and my Lord Cornbury forced to
keep at Albany. I hope the cold weather will abate
it; it is far more terrible than that sickness wch.
happened at Philadelphia the fall before your arrival.
My humble duty to his Grace the D. of Hamilton.
I humbly make my acknowledgements for the honour
you tell me he doth me in remembering me. I designe
next post to write to his Grace. I thank God all our
family are in good health, and begg you and your Lady
accept their humble regards, and soe doth in great
sincerity, yr. most obedient servant, And. Hamilton.
1¼ pp. |
|
24. ii. Declaration of William Penn. I underwritten do by
these presents declare and promise that the Queen s
Royal Approbation and allowance of Col. Andrew
Hamilton to be Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania
and the Three Lower Counties upon Delaware River,
for one year only, shal not be construed in any manner
to diminish or set aside Her Majesty's claim of right
to the said Three Lower Counties. In witness whereof
I hereunto set my hand and seal, this 10th day
of December, 1702. Signed, Wm. Penn. Sealed.
Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec 10, 1702. ¾ p. [C.O. 5,
1262. Nos. 12, 12.i., ii.; and 5, 1290. pp. 273–277.] |
Dec. 10.
St. Jago de la Vega. |
25. Lt.-Governor Handasyd to the Earl of Nottingham.
Upon the receipt of H.M. Commission to me as Lt.-Gov., I have
by and with the advice of the Council called an Assembly, which
will meet in 40 days from the date hereof, in order to put things
in their due channel, and that the Law may have its due course,
there having been no Court held here these two years. Several
Councillors being aged and infirm and cannot attend in Council,
and there being a vacancy in the room of Sir Thomas Muddiford,
decd., I beg your Lordship would be pleased to put in as
Councellor Lt.-Col. Francis Rose, a man that is faithful and
zealous for H.M. service, and one of a very good estate in this
Island. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed, R. Feb. 6, 1702/3.
1 p. [C.O. 137, 45. No. 32.] |
Dec. 10.
St. Jago de la Vega. |
26. Lt.-Governor Handasyd to the Earl of Nottingham.
Acknowledges receipt of letters. The fleet being out upon a
cruise, I have writ to Rear Admiral Whetston, that H.M. service
requires his return here, at which time I shall deliver him the
letter enclosed for Admiral Bembo. In relation to the troops,
as well as those under H.M. pay as the inhabitants of the Island,
there shall be all diligent care taken to have them in readyness;
as to the secrecy of the matter, that H.M. enemies may not come
to know it, may I have my just reward as an ungrateful traitour
if anything shall happen to H.M. disadvantage whilst blood in
my veins. As to what H.M. is pleased to order about the building
of barracks for 3,000 men, I do not know whether such may be
intended as were raised in Ireland, 40,000l. would not defray
the charge in this country, where such buildings are unreasonably
dear, but others I hope may be contrived not to cost above 3,000l.,
and yet prove serviceable for 3 or 4 years; neither brick nor
mortar need be made use of, and the expense of the workmanship
(wherein many white men are not to be employed) will not be
very chargeable. They will be made tight to keep out the rain
and protect against the sun, and no extraordinary provisions
need be made against the cold in so warm a climate. My utmost
endeavours shall be in obedience to this and all other H.M. commands, which I will immediately put in execution, though I am
very much afraid of my being streightned in part of time of [sic].
The Island is at present pretty healthy, but has been sickly.
Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed, R. Feb. 6, 1702/3. 1¾ pp.
[C.O. 137, 45. No. 31.] |
| Dec. 10. |
27. Lt.-Governor Handasyd to the Earl of Nottingham.
Enclosing Minutes of Council of Jamaica, Dec. 4 and Dec. 7.
Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Addressed and sealed. Much torn.
1 p. Enclosed, |
|
27. i. Minutes of Council of Jamaica, Dec. 4, 1702. St. Jago
de la Vega. H.M. Commission constituting the
Hon. Thomas Handasyd Lieut.-Governor and Commanderin-Chief was read, and he took the oaths appointed
and subscribed the Test. Then he proceeding to swear
the Council, Col. Beckford proposed a scruple, whether
his having had a Commission and acting as Lt.-Governor
does not suspend him from being a Councellor. The
Board unanimously gave their opinion that, there being
no other Instructions but those of Genl. Selwyn in the
Island, wherein he is named as one of the Council, he
undoubtedly remains so still; whereupon he took the
oaths with the rest. Emmanuel Moreton, a newly
appointed Councillor under H.M. Privy Seal, was also
sworn. The Clerk of the Council and Provost Marshal
also took the oaths. |
|
Letter to the Governor from the Governor of Carolina
read:—"St. Augustine, Sept. 16, 1702. The feeling
sense we in Carolina had of the danger not only of the
loss of this H.M. Colony, but in processe of time the
same fate to all H.M. Plantations on this Maine, did
for our immediate and particular preservation (as soon
as we received H.M. Proclamation of War) raise force
enough, as we thought, to take and subdue the Town
and Castle of St. Augustine, and the Spaniards living
in it. And that which prompted us to make the more
haste was to prevent that assistance of soldiers and
ships of war, which, as we have been informed, the
French designed to send to them, which if they had
done, the inhabitants of Carolina must necessarily
have deserted their Colony. The Castle is very strong
and regular, and if manned by French soldiers will
not be subdued but by a royal force and Navy, which
will be an extraordinary but necessary charge to the
Crown. We are now Masters of the field and town,
and have shut up all the Spaniards, men, women and
children, in the Castle, which for want of such things
as are necessary for taking such vastly strong-built
places of defence (except your Excellency please to
supply us with out of H.M. stores) we may be forced to
leave untaken. The things we want are two or three
mortar pieces, 50 or 60 shells, 20 barrels of powder,
2,000lb. of fusee shot, 200 granados with all the necessaries
that belong to the mortar pieces and granadoes, together
with an ingineer to use them and 200 great gun-shot
and 100lb. of match. Lt.-General Robt. Daniell (a
person that hath borne a considerable part of the charge,
hazard and labour of this service, and who for his
loyalty to the Crown and forwardness to serve his
country, is worthy of very much creditt and respect)
will give your Excellency a particular relation of our
present circumstances and future designs, as well as
an account of our wants. We design to tarry here
till his return, unless an overpowering assistance of
French or Spaniards first come to assist the besieged,
or that want of victuals or water force a surrender.
The latter we have not much reason to hope for so soon,
which with the things sent for we doubt not will effect
in three or four days. Signed, Ja. Moore." |
|
The Governor acquainted the Board with H.M.
Instructions that upon demand of assistance from any
the neighbouring Colonies, we should, as far as we were
able, give it to them, and thereupon Lt.-Gen. Daniell
was desired to give an account to the Board of what
was really and absolutely necessary. He gave a list:—One mortar, 50 shells, 10 barrels of powder, 500lb. small
shot, 200lb. swan shot, 100lb. of match, two hand
mortars, 200 hand granadoes. Resolved, upon due
consideration of the advantage it may be to H.M.
subjects in those parts, that the mortar and such other
things in the list as we could spare should be supplyed
to him, he giving security for the return of the mortar,
and such of the other things as should not be spent
before St. Augustine's Castle, to this Island in six
months. |
|
The Governor proposed whether it would not be most
convenient that writs should be issued immediately
to chuse a new Assembly, and that the Council of War
now summoned be put off. The Board advised that
writs be issued for an Assembly to meet at St. Jago de
la Vega, Jan. 13 next. Proclamation ordered accordingly.
The Governor proposed it to the consideration of the
Board whether any and what way could be used to reduce
the Gentlemen about Caymanas (who have refused to
pay for the quarters of their soldiers in town) to such
a temper that there may be no animosity nor difference
between them and the Magistrates about it. Whereupon the Council unanimously advised the Governor
that those Gentlemen should be summoned to appear
here the next Council Day to give their reasons. |
|
Order that a Proclamation be immediately issued
for the continuance of all Officers, Military and Civil,
in their respective posts till further notice. |
|
Minutes of Council of Jamaica, Dec. 7, 1702. See
under date. Endorsed, Recd. Feb. 6, 1702/3. 8½ pp.
[C.O. 137, 45. Nos. 30, 30.i.] |
Dec. 10.
Whitehall. |
28. [? William Popple] to Wm. Lownds. Refers to Order in
Council, Nov. 11. |
|
Mr. Penn having thereupon offered to the Council of Trade and
Plantations that Mr. Paul Dominique and Mr. Adolph Phillips,
merchants of London, are willing and ready to be sureties as
required for Col. Hamilton, in the penalty of 2,000l., their
Lordships send you the draught of a bond (approved of by
Mr. Attorney General) for the Lord High Treasurer's directions,
that the security be accordingly taken at the Exchequer or
elsewhere as his Lordship shall think fit. [The copy of the bond
was the same as that for Sir Nath. Johnson etc.] [C.O. 5, 1290.
pp. 278, 279.] |
[? Dec. 10.]
New York. 10 ber. |
29. Governor Lord Cornbury to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Since my last by H.M.S. Advice, Capt. Caldwall,
the said Captain, notwithstanding a positive order to the contrary,
which he had received from me in writing, did receive on board
his ship the Countess of Bellomont before she had given sufficient
security for the several sums of money the late Earl of Bellomont
in his lifetime, and her ladyship since his death, or their Agents,
have received upon account of the four companies of fuzileers
here, and which have not been paid to the said companies, nor
to their use. By which means the officers here must either lose
a very considerable sum of money, or must be at very great
charges to sue my Lady Bellomont and Mr. Champante. I
intreat you that I may have some fuller instructions concerning
any man-of-war that may be appointed to attend this Colony;
the Captains of the Queen's ships are not willing to think themselves under the command of the Governor of the Province
where they are, only if the ship is ordered out to cruise they will
obey, but if there is occasion to send an officer and a few men
to make any seizure, or upon any other private service, and the
Governor sends to the Captain for any one particular officer,
which he thinks he can better trust then another, the Captain
will send the number of men desired, but another officer; besides,
before he will suffer him to proceed upon the service required,
he will see the Instructions received from the Government;
that great inconveniencys may happen by such proceedings did
in some measure appear when I was at Albany; Mr. Weaver,
who had upon my issuing a proclamation against him, surrendered
himself, and promised to make up his accounts with the Deputy
Auditor and some other persons I had appointed for that purpose,
when he had given his accounts privately to the Deputy Auditor,
thought fit a second time to run away with Mr. Atwood, and
leave his bail in the lurch, the Gentlemen of the Council, whom
I had left in towne, thought it their duty to pursue those two
sparks, and sent to Capt. Stapleton, H.M.S. Jersey, desiring him
to send his master with 12 men to be sent on an expedition for
the Queen's service. The Captain immediately sent the boat
and men, but instead of the master, sent a midshipman to command the men; the Gentlemen of the Council gave their orders
in writing to the midshipman, and bid him proceed immediately,
but instead of that, he returned on board the ship and delivered
the orders he had received to his Captain, who kept them, and
gave him orders in writing from himself; with these orders the
midshipman went to the place to which he was directed, a small
creek in East Jersey; there he landed, and was told that Atwood
and Weaver had been there the day before, but were gone to a
farm-house, half-a-mile farther into the country, where they
then were; this being a very young man, and his orders from
his Captain being to go to the Creek and no farther, he returned
to New York without going to the farm-house, so that the taking
of these two men was disappointed, whereas if the officer that
was desired had been sent, I am fully perswaded they had been
taken, because I know him to be a very dilligent good officer, and
fit to be trusted. |
|
Since the Advice sailed, no vessel has sailed from this Port for
England, till now that the Benjamin store-ship, which has taken
in all the masts that were provided by the late Earl of Bellomont,
and as much of the timber as was brought down to York; there
is more lies in the woods, which shall be brought down as soon
as the frost is hard enough to bear a sledge, but it cannot be
done sooner. I hope your Lordships will be pleased to direct
that we may be supplyed with stores of all sorts, of which we
stand in great need, espetially cannon; many of those we have
being so honey-combed that they are not fit for service, and
powder, not having 200 barrels left, and some barrels of that
spoiled. The General Assembly met, according to adjournment,
Oct. 20, at Jamaica, and sat there till Nov. 19, on which day I
did, at the request of the House, adjourn them to New York,
to meet there Nov. 16 (the sicknesse being, God be praised, quite
over); there they continued their Sessions till Nov. 27, during
which time they passed several bills, 15 of which I send transcripts
for your approbation, and hope the Queen will be pleased to
approve of them: the 1st is for levying and collecting 1,800l.
for maintaining 150 fuzileers and 30 men to be employed as
scouts for five months for the defence of the frontiers. I hope
the reason for passing this is soe evident that your Lordships
will easily consent to the confirming of it. The next is to enable
the City of New York to supply the vacancy of their officers
in case of death or other disability. The reason for this Act is
the defect in their Charter, by which they are not impowered
to chuse new officers in lieu of those that dye in the year. The
third is for granting to H.M. 2,000l.; the 4th to appoint Commissioners to state the accounts and debts of this Province.
This Act I earnestly intreat may be confirmed, for without it,
it will be impossible to find out the debts of this Province. The
next is for destroying of wolves, a very necessary bill. The
6th carries its reason in its title; the 7th is for settling the Militia;
if this Act is not confirmed, we shall have no militia at all in
this Colony. The 8th, for regulating of slaves is become absolutely
necessary through the great insolency that sort of people are
grown to. The 9th is absolutely necessary to prevent some
doubts that might arise upon the adjournment of the Supream
Court; the 10th to repeal several Acts of Assembly. This
I did refuse to pass for some time, till the House passed the 14th,
for continuing the Revenue, upon which I passed them both,
which I hope you will approve of. The 11th for a free school,
I hope wants no recommendation. The 12th being for the good
of the City and a charge upon themselves only, I hope will be
approved of. The 13th is of very great use to trade, and therefore
I hope may be confirmed. The 15th, for the better maintenance
of the poor, is extremely wanted in this City, and therefore I
intreat it may be confirmed. I have no doubt at their meeting
in spring the Assembly will continue to do their duty to H.M.
to the utmost of their power. Encloses Addresses to be laid
before H.M. Signed, Cornbury. Endorsed, Recd. Feb. 5, Read
March 5, 1702 [1703]. Holograph. 4 pp. Enclosed, |
|
29. i. Abstract of preceding. ¾ p. |
|
29. ii. Copy of Lord Cornbury's Order to Capt. Caldwall not
to take the Countess of Bellomont on board the Advice.
(See supra.) Sept. 23, 1702. Signed, Cornbury.
Endorsed as letter. 1 p. |
|
29. iii. Copy of an Address from the Governor, Council and
Representatives of New York to the Queen. Congratulate H.M. happy accession etc. Many of us in
this Province have had the misfortune to be misrepresented as disaffected to the Government and
Laws of England, and particularly to the person of his late
Majesty, and several of us severely treated as such,
by the persons then executing the powers of Government here, notwithstanding, we have all of us in our
respective stations most studiously and constantly
given proofs of our readiness to support the Government
of England as by Law established. We firmly resolve
upon all occasions to give fresh demonstrations of our
inviolable duty, zeal and affection to your Majesty's
person and Government etc. Signed, Cornbury, William
Smith, Pa. Schuyler, Sa. Sh. Broughton, Wm. Lawrence,
Gerard Beekman, Caleb Heathcote, Rip Van Dam,
John Bridges, W. Nicoll, K. V. Renslaer, Tho. Garton,
M. Howell, Danll. Whitehead, Hen. Beeckman, J. Abeel,
John Stillwell, Joseph Mundy, Mÿndert Schuylers,
Evert Bancker, Wm. Willott, Abraham Lakeman,
Josiah Hunt, Cornelius Seberinsth, Cornelius Van Brunt,
Stephen de Lancey, John Jackson, J. V. Cortland,
Ph. French, Tho. Codrington. Endorsed, Recd. Feb. 5,
1702. 2 pp. |
|
29. iv. Copy of Address from the Representatives of New
York to the Queen. Your Majesty's loyal, faithful and
most affectionate subjects, the Representatives of your
Colony of New York, met in General Assembly, most
humbly pray your Majesty's gracious leave to offer
to your Royal consideration, that from the arrival of
the late Earl of Bellomont here, your Majesty's English
subjects in these parts, and those of foreign birth united
with them in inclination and interest and entituled
to the English Laws and Liberties by the bounty of
your Majesty's Royal Predecessors, have been misrepresented as pirates, encouragers of unlawful trade,
with such other evil and odious characters as those
who had projected our ruin thought suitable to obtain
their ends. The designs were not carried so close but
that we soon were sensible of our misfortunes and the
consequences intended by our adversaries, by all fitting
ways we endeavoured to set ourselves right in the
judgments of our superiors, but, to our unspeakable
grief, found the prepossession so great, and the obstacles
of our relief so many that it was impossible for us to
surmount them. Though the difficulties we met with
were surprising, yet knowing our own innocence, we
resolved to leave no means untried to do ourselves
justice etc. Recounts history of the Addresses and trial
of Bayard etc. The indictments of the condemned was
found to be good by a lesser number than 12, and the
Jury picked out to try them of the meanest and most
ignorant of the people, to that degree that several of
them having been lately interrogated by this House
for what fact Bayard and Hutchins were condemned,
pretend they have wholly forgotten, tho' it is now not nine
months since these things were acted etc. A Bill having
been brought into this House for declaring the illegality
of these proceedings and to hinder the like for the future,
although we cannot but be most sensibly toucht with
the heavy doom and great calamity of those our fellow
subjects whose crimes in this matter we have not
discerning enough to discover, yet being informed your
Majesty has graciously been pleased to give directions
for an Appeal to your Majesty, we think it our duty
humbly to lay this state of their case at your Majesty's
Royal pleasure, that thereupon we may rightly proceed
in the said Bill. We are entirely satisfied with the
happiness we enjoy under your Majesty's glorious reign,
and the blessing we have in being under the administration of the Lord Cornbury etc. Signed, W. Nicoll,
M. Howell, K. V. Rensselaer, Phillip French, John Abeel,
Stephen de Lancey, Tho. Garton, Danl. Whitehead,
J. V. Cortlandt, Tho. Codrington, John Jackson, John
Stillwell, William Willett, Myndert Schyler, Joseph
Mundy, Josiah Hunt, Abraham Lakeman, Evert Bancker,
Henry Beekman. Endorsed as preceding. 5 pp. |
|
29. v. Memorandum of Journal of Assembly of New York,
Oct. 20–Nov. 27, 1702. ¼ p. |
|
29. vi. Memorandum of Acts of Assembly, New York,
Nov. 27, 1702. ¼ p. |
|
29. vii. Memorandum of Accounts of the Revenue of New
York, June 10–Sept. 29, 1702. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 1048.
Nos. 1, l.i.-vii.; and (without enclosures) 5, 1119.
pp. 391–400.] |
Dec. 10.
Boston. |
30. Governor Dudley to the Earl of Nottingham. Since my
last by the Dreadnought, I have the ill news of the loss of the
packet-boat, which went from hence in July, wherein were copies
of the Laws etc.; all which were repeated by the Dreadnought
and this conveyance, and shall be also sent again from New
Hampshire, whither I am going for that end, and particularly
to take care in the several Articles directed by the Lords of Trade.
(June 12.) I gave your Lordship account that the privateers
fitted out from the several parts of this Province have taken
19 ships from the French, and the three last were one with arms,
clothes and provisions sent from Quebeck to the Kennebeck
Indians, according to articles lately made between the Indians
and the Governor of Canada, upon which the Indians were
universally to rise upon the English; the other two were
brigantines sent from Quebeck with suitable provision to Placentia,
there to take in 50 men each, to cruise upon our coasts for
provisions, which are much wanted in all the French settlements,
especially at Port Royal, the next settlement to the English
pale, and by this means I have yet the Eastern Indians as far as
Penobscutt in good order and quiet, though with a great deal
of difficulty, the French Jesuits being amongst them at all times,
whose influence must needs prevail to run them into mischief
with the first of the spring; in order whereunto the Assembly
have agreed to an Act of listing every fourth man in this Province
to be ready armed and clothed, fit for a march in 24 hours, and
I have scouts out every day in all the frontiers. There are two
other Acts, in addition to the Impost and Excise and Grant of
6,000l. tax to be raised in 12 months, which will defray the year's
expense as they have settled it in peace, but is no fund in case
of the Indians rising, which has never cost us less than 1,000l. per
month, and I am not to expect an easier shock from the French
and Indians than heretofore. The other(s) are private Acts, or
of less importance, all laid before your Lordship by these ships. |
|
The last ships I also offered your Lordship what I said to the
Assembly referring to H.M. commands for the rebuilding of
Pemaquid and the settlement of salaries and the support of the
Civil List, but a six weeks' Session, which ended Nov. 21, could
obtain nothing from the Assembly in either point. The Committee
of the Assembly I carried with me to Pemaquid, reported the
reasonableness of H.M. demands, and the just advantage thereby,
but was refused by the Assembly, and with an unwonted rudeness
to deny a conference with the Council thereupon, but upon my
message to them that I could by no means allow such a refusal,
and upon which I should immediately have dissolved them,
they better considered and acknowledged their mistake, but the
Conference was ineffectual, though at the same time the letters
from the Lords Commissioners for Trade referring to that very
affair came to my hands, and was read unto them, upon which so
many of the Council consented to the return of the Committee
as made a Quorum, but the Assembly at last refused it. And as
resolved they have been in the Article of Salaries, having granted
no more than 500l. for my support for one year, beginning from
my arrival, though I had been appointed Governor 12 months
before and commissioned 6 months of that time. That sum is not
above the fifth part of the necessary expense of a Governor of
this Province, which they very well know themselves, since
servants and good horses are dearer here than in England. The
same they have done in the case of the Judges, allowing them
50l. apiece, when in all other Provinces there is 500l. per annum
given to the Chief Judge, and proportionable to the rest of the
Judges; and for the Lieutenant-Governor but 100l. |
|
Upon what is abovesaid referring to Road Island, I humbly
offer it as my duty to H.M. affairs here, that I shall with the
greatest difficulty, if possibly contain this Province in any secure
posture referring to the Acts of Trade, while the Road-Islanders
do what they please; and at this time, though they have done
something against the French, their vessel they sent out was without
any commission, and so has the face of a pirate rather than H.M.
ship, and their military part is without any form, and the impost
of this Province by their neighbourhood being but 50 miles by
land is defeated, there being no duty there, and ships coming
out of the sea land what they please there. So that if any considerable impost be laid upon wines and rum etc., which would be
the best Revenue here, will come to little, till H.M. will please
to remove that little shadow of Government there remaining;
but the greatest consideration is not yet mentioned, the figure
the Government makes is no wise so good as an ordinary head
borough in the Kingdom of England, while they are a very
important Province, and have the best harbours and outletts to
the sea in all the North America. The major part of the people
by far would rejoice to be annexed and brought under H.M.
immediate Commission, if H.M. please so to command. The
provisions for Jamaica have been now ten daies on board, the
best of all sorts etc. As to the soldiers for Jamaica, I never
expected any assistance from the Gentlemen in Government
here; however, I have successfully granted three Commissions
to proper persons for officers of three companies, and one of them,
who has very happily taken four ships from the French this
summer, Capt. Thomas Laramore, is now ready to go on board
with a very good company, but I have made bold to assure them,
they shall be very kindly dealt with abroard, being voluntiers
etc. (as Nov. 8). I hope, upon the report of their good reception,
I may be able to get two Companies more against the Spring,
especially if I can maintain a quiet with the Indians, though
this whole matter be very grievous to most of the people here,
who would be glad if any discouragement should happen to
these voluntiers at Jamaica, to prevent any more going after
them, which makes me now importunate that H.M. may send
such order as may make this first instance happy, and settle the
communication and mutual support of the Plantations severally.
In the raising of Capt. Laramore's men, I have been out as the
enclosed account will shew. I humbly pray it may be paid to
Mr. Constantine Phipps. I would not have askt anything of H.M.
on this account, if this Province had been just to give me any
tolerable support; I cannot live here in the just figure of a
Governour under 1,000l. per annum, and the country is able to
bear it as any Province belonging to the Crown of England,
but without H.M.'s warrant to take that or what H.M. pleases
out of the Revenues which must necessarily be granted to the
support of the Government, I shall not obtain it here. I also
humbly pray that your Lordship will please to obtain a warrant
for Col. Byfield, Judge of the Admiralty, Paul Dudley, Attorney
General, and that two frigotts, one a fourth-rate and the other
less, for the guard of the coast, and the canon sent, long since
directed for this Province, and if I may find favour to be commanded for H.M. service, I will sacrifice all that is dear to me
to make this Province know their Dependence and Duty, and
nothing will mortify those men, that neither regard the Crown
nor favour the Church of England, more than to see their Governor
live happily, without any inferior dependence upon them on
account of his maintenance. And while I am endeavouring to
send some of the people hence for H.M. service in the West Indies,
if I might in exchange have two foot companies from England
for the Castle of this place and the other fortifications in New
Hampshire to be commanded one by myself and the other by
the Lieutenant-Governor, I should be able to give a better account
of everything here. |
| Dec. 18. |
Capt. Larrimore is now on board with his officers and soldiers
in good order. Signed, J. Dudley. Endorsed, Recd. Jan. 30,
1702/3. 5 pp. Enclosed, |
|
30. i. Copy of a letter from Col. Dudley to Thomas Newton,
Deputy Judge of the Admiralty, Oct. 10, 1702. In the
affair before you referring to the French ships taken
by Mr. Wanton and now at Rhode Island, by vertue of
a Commission from Governour Cranston, it is my duty
and office to acquaint you for H.M. especial service,
that the Government of Rhode Island, besides their
being very obnoxious at this time for their refusal of
obedience to H.M. commands, never had the least
pretension or shadow to any Admiralty jurisdiction,
and their power and Commission given to the said
Wanton have no countenance of authority, nor do
give any power that can have any operation in law,
and therefore the allowance of it in a Court of Admiralty
will absolutely reflect upon the Judge that shall allow it.
However, the caption is good to the Queen and those
ships are good prize in H.M. harbour of Rhode Island,
must be condemned to H.M. use, but before you can
proceed to that, the ships and goods must be in the
care and possession of the Commissioners of prizes,
Andrew Belcher and John George, or one of them,
and if they will not admit of that, you have no manner
of rule to proceed to condemnation, unless you will
answer the after embezzlements yourself. When that is
obeyed, you may justly proceed to condemnation, but
you will not determine the captors right, unless their
Commission be from H.M., my Lord High Admiral of
England, or some of their Vice-Admiralls, because you
know how strict the Law is in that case, but they are
in the Queen's favour, as all other uncommissioned
captors in England are, and of that I must be advised,
being Vice-Admiral by Commission of that Province,
and I shall do therein what appertains to my duty.
Upon the whole I desire and expect that you sit Judge
alone in that matter, because I am informed some of
that Province intend to be Assessors with you, that
H.M. Commissioners aforesaid, or one of them, be in
possession of the ships and goods before the process,
and that then an Advocate admitted make the
proceeding at Law, and that the judgment of it so
appear before H.M. and that the Commission of that
Government be disallowed and the Captors referred to
attend me further in the matter. Signed, J. Dudley.
Note subscribed in Governor Dudley's hand:—Notwithstanding Mr. Newton, Deputy to Mr. Atwood, condemned
the three ships upon Cranston's Commission, who has no
right in derogation of the Commission which I published
at Newport on Road Island for the Vice-Admiralty of
that Colony, and upon that same pretence all the late
piracies have been committed from that Government,
and all are [? our] saylers and others fit for the service run
from the Governments where the Queen's authority is
preserved, to make up a swarm of people without any
Government over them. Endorsed, Recd. Mar. 1702/3. 1¾ pp. |
|
30. ii. Copy of Letter from the Assembly of Rhode Island,
Newport, Sept. 17, 1702 (q.v.), to Governor Dudley,
relating to the Militia. Endorsed as preceding. 2½ pp. |
|
30. iii. Copy of Governor Dudley's Warrant for beating up
for Voluntiers for Jamaica, Roxbury, Nov. 27, 1702.
Same endorsement. 1 p. |
|
30. iv. List of Capt. Thomas Laramore's Company, raised
in the Massachusetts Bay for H.M. especial service in
the West Indies, mustered by Governor Dudley on
board the Gospir frigate, Dec. 16, 1702. Thomas
Laramore, Capt., John Eyres, Lieut., Joseph Wells,
Ensign; Charles Sherlock, John Woodwell, William
Collins, Benjamin Pickering, Daniel Grenough, Samuel
Willis, Daniel Johns, Martin Margery, John Wayte,
John Dreyden, William Flynt, Andrew Mackarty,
Thomas Kempthorn, Francis Fuller, John Putnum,
Alexander Osborn, Samuel Brown, John Swett, Daniel
Hobbs, James Mackarty, Francis Clark, Adam Meinzey,
Joseph Davis, Daniel Ralph, John Hadlock, William
Carter, Joseph Packer, Thomas Clay, Benjamin Wright,
Jonathan Osburn, Jeremiah Hacker, William Leach,
Benjamin Dean, William Wise, John Martin, Israel
Bradsley, Mathew Burdiall, Peter Hipsley, Samuel Hall,
Samuel Shalote, Nathaniel Frost, Joseph Gorton, Thomas
Sawtle, John Ames, Benjamin Harris, Thomas Dennis,
Richard Convers, Thomas Pym, John Countryman,
Harry Jones, William Dawes, Thomas Rouse, James
Hayes, John Troop, Ralph Bayes, Isaak Dennis, John
How. Signed, J. Dudley. Same endorsement. 1 p. |
|
30. v. A List of the Militia and Civil Officers in the
Massachusetts Bay, Boston, Dec., 1702. (1) The Boston
Regiment—810 men. Charles Hobby, Col., Thomas
Savage, Lt.-Col., Benjamin Davis, Major. (2) First
Regiment of Suffolk County—650 men. Nicholas Paige,
Col., William Tailer, Major. (3) Second Suffolk Regiment—540 men. Ephraim Hunt, Lt.-Col., Samuel Eelles,
Major. (4) Lower Middlesex Regiment—1,060 men.
John Phillips, Col., Francis Foxcroft, Lt.-Col., James
Converse, Major. (5) Upper Middlesex Regiment—871 men. Jonathan Tyng, Lt.-Col., Thomas Browne,
Major. (6) South Essex Regiment—700 men. John
Hathorne, Col., John Legg, Lt.-Col., Samuel Browne,
Major. (7) Middle Essex Regiment—638 men. John
Wainwright, Col., John Appleton, Lt.-Col., Francis
Wainwright, Major. (8) North Essex Regiment—750
men. Daniel Peirie, Col., Dudley Bradstreet, Lt.-Col.,
Thomas Noyes, Major. (9) Hampshire Regiment—836
men. John Pynchon, Col., Samuel Partridge, Lt.-Col.,
John Pynchon, 2dus, Major. (10) York Regiment—280 men. Joseph Hammond, Major. (11) Plymouth
County Regiment—720 men. Nathaniel Thomas, Col.,
Isaac Winslow, Lt.-Col., John Bradford, Major.
(12) Barnstable County Regiment—700 men. John
Thacher, Col., John Goreham, Lt.-Col., William Bassett,
Major. (13) Bristol County Regiment—915 men.
Nathaniel Byfield, Col., Benjamin Church, Lt.-Col.,
Ebenezer Brenton, Major. (14) Duke's County Regiment—120 men. Benjamin Shiffe, Major. (15) Island of
Nantucket—52 men. Total, 9,642. List of Civil Officers
follows, named passim. Same endorsement. 8¾ pp.
[C.O. 5, 863. Nos. 4, 4.i.-v.] |
| Dec. 10. |
31. Governor Dudley to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Mainly duplicate of preceding letter. Additions:—I am sorry the
[New Hampshire] papers and records are presented so ill written
and out of form. I shall take notice of it, but it will be hard
to reform it, there being not a person fit in all the Province for a
Secretary, and the salary and benefits amount not to more than
30l. per annum, which will not encourage a suitable person to
attend the office. However, what your Lordships have observed,
I hope shall be reformed for the future. After references to Rhode
Island, And in this Province [? Massachusetts], the Council being
of the people's election, many the most loyal persons and of the
best estates, are not imployed, and those that are, so many of
them are Commonwealth's men, and all do so absolutely depend
for their stations upon the people that they dare not offend them,
and so H.M. has no manner of service from them, nor countenance
to H.M. affairs, which makes my station very difficult and prevents
everything that looks like an expense, which the poor country
Representatives obstinately withstand, and are glad of any
countenance from the Gentlemen of the Council therein.…
Signed, J. Dudley. Endorsed, Recd. Jan. 30, Read April 19, 1702/3.
5 pp. Enclosed, |
|
31. i. Abstract of preceding. 2¼ pp. |
|
31. ii. Copy of Col. Dudley's Speech to the General Assembly
of the Massachusetts Bay, Oct. 21, 1702. Since I last
saw you, I have in obedience to H.M. commands visited
all the frontiers to the eastward as far as Pemaquid,
and had then the opportunity of conference with the
Sachems of those parts, which has occasioned the quiet
we have hitherto had on that side, and saved you the
trouble of an earlier meeting than at this time, which
truly I was very apprehensive would not have been
prevented, and how long it shall last I have no assurance,
and therefore we ought to be in all points ready. The
last session I communicated to you H.M. Instructions
referring to the rebuilding of Pemaquid, which I must
still with all earnestness offer to you, and when it is
considered that all the stores necessary are in place, the
foundation get good, and lime to be had very near and
easy, the rebuilding cannot be thought to be half the
original charge. The Indians in their Treaty, and since,
urge the necessity of another Trading House beyond
that at Casco Bay, and I judge it as necessary as they,
if we intend to hold them depending, and that may
as well be at Pemaquid as anywhere else, and better,
because the harbour is good, and our honour depends
upon our asserting our own which we so unluckily lost.
These things added to H.M. directions in the matter,
I hope will have their due weight with everybody. I
hope the Gentlemen of the Council and Assembly, that
were with me there, will when that affair is before you,
represent that matter as it is. I did the last session
also by H.M. especial command lay before you the
necessary provision of a House for the Government
at Boston and a salary for the Governour, the Lieutenant
Governour, the Judges and other officers of the Government. I am obliged to tell you, Gentlemen, that there
is no other part nor Province belonging to the Crown
of England, where there is not a stated honorable support
for the Governour, and all other publick officers arising
from the countrey, and I hope we shall prevent its being
observed at home that we are particularly priviledged
and as singular in the neglect of our duty. I shall lay
before the House of Representatives a list of all officers
of salary and shall desire your consideration of it in
the first place, and I am sure I have no reason to doubt
your regard to H.M. directions, to my own just
expectations from you, neither for myself nor any
other the officers of the Government, amongst whom
I know none that have a stated salary, unless it be the
Judges, who, I understand, are supported with 40l. per
annum, scarce enough to maintain a servant and horse,
while the next Province, much less than ourselves, pays
500l. per annum to the Chief Justice. If we hope to
have a Government we must support it, and there are
very easy waies, by a proper impost and excise, to do it,
without any burthen upon the trade or husbandry
of the country. Endorsed, Recd. Read Jan. 30, 1702/3.
Copy. 2¼ pp. |
|
31. iii. Copy of Minutes of Council in Assembly of the
Massachusetts Bay relating to the rebuilding of Pemaquid,
May 27–Nov. 18, 1702. |
|
Oct. 21. Report of the Committee upon H.E.'s speech
relating to Pemaquid, read. Concerning the expense
thereof, John Walley and Nathaniel Thomas were directed to carry it down to the House of Representatives. |
|
Oct. 29. The report was returned from the Representatives with their vote against it. |
|
Nov. 3. This vote was complied with and the Board
proposed a Conference. The Representatives refused.
The Board then passed a resolution that such refusal
of a Conference upon that head or any other affair
referring to the Government is a great infringement
upon the rights and interest that the Council have in
this Government and desire that this their Declaration be
entered accordingly, and do yet insist upon the said
Conference and desire the Governor to direct it
accordingly. This vote was sent down. |
|
Nov. 4. A message was sent up from the Representatives with an order that a Conference be held. |
|
Nov. 5. The Conference was held. |
|
Nov. 10. The Representatives sent up a message
that they were still of the mind that it is not proper in
this juncture of time to proceed on so weighty an affair
as the building of Pemaquid Fort, the present circumstances of the Province being considered, and especially
considering the late credible advice that the Eastern
Indians are prevailed upon by the French to become our
enemies, and a powerful body of Indians are upon
their march against us; and that an Address and
Memorial by a Committee of this House joined with a
Committee of the Board be prepared to lay before
H.M. what may be necessary referring to the same. |
|
Nov. 11. Upon reading the above message, H.E.
summoned the Representatives to attend, and communicated to them H.M. Instructions, referring to
salarys and rebuilding Pemaquid, and that no Law be
made for the raising of duties upon wines etc. to continue
for less than one year. |
|
Nov. 16. H.E. summoned the Assembly and reminded
them that he had but two things of moment to communicate to them at the opening of this Assembly; the
one, that of H.M. command for the building of the Fort
at Pemaquid, and the other that of providing for the
support of the Government; neither of which they
had brought to any effect. He communicated to them
a letter from the Council of Trade, Sept. 15. |
|
The Board accepted the report of the Committee
appointed to consider the question of the Fort, Oct. 21.
[See Cal., 1702. No. 1135.ii.] This report with the vote
of the Board upon it was again sent down to the
Representatives. |
|
Nov. 17. Vote of the Representatives sent up that
this House doth still insist upon their votes heretofore
sent up for a Committee of both Houses to be appointed
to prepare an humble address to H.M. and are troubled
that it hath been delayed so long. Answer sent down
that the Council know of no other motion from the
Representatives relating to addressing H.M. save only
about the matter of Pemaquid, to which they have no
answer to their vote past yesterday for accepting of
the report of the Committee. |
|
Nov. 18. The Report of the Committees referring to
Pemaquid was sent back from the Representatives,
with the order of the House that they adhered to their
vote referring to Pemaquid sent up on the 10th.
Conference appointed to prepare an humble Address
to H.M. referring to the erecting a Fort at Pemaquid
and such other things as they shall think proper at
this time to be laid before H.M. |
|
Nov. 21. Draught of the above Address sent up.
Message sent down that in said draughts the votes of
the Council referring to Pemaquid were wholly neglected,
from which the Council could not depart, and there
being no present opportunity of forwarding the same,
to desire they might be left to further consideration,
and that the necessary business before them might be
dispatched, for that H.E. intended to dismiss the
Assembly this afternoon. |
|
Nov. 2. Resolve of the Representatives sent up that
it is not convenient (the circumstances of the Province
considered) to state salarys, but to allow as the Great
and General Court shall from time to time see necessary.
It was decided to send that resolve down again for
reconsideration. |
|
Nov. 11. Resolve sent up from the Representatives,
that 600l. be paid out of the Public Treasury to H.E.
Joseph Dudley for his service as Governour and for
house rent for the present year beginning from the time
of H.E.'s arrival, the 500l. granted last session to H.E.
being part thereof. The Board resolved that they
were not satisfied with the provision offered as a suitable
maintenance for H.E. Resolve sent down to the
Representatives for their reconsideration. And see
Cal., 1702, Nov. 11. |
|
Nov. 14. Resolve sent up from the Representatives
that another 100l. be allowed H.E. The Council
expressed their disapprobation, and returned the resolve
for reconsideration. |
|
Nov. 18. The Representatives sent up the above
resolve unaltered. The Council resolved that this
resolve having been sent down to the Representatives
with a message from the Board to move their reconsideration thereof, and the 500l. therein mentioned
being a present to H.E., and not to be considered in
this matter, and the 200l. expressed to be for H.E.
service as Governor being very much below the dignity
of his station and dishonourable to this Government;
the Representatives not seeing fit to have reconsideration
thereof, the Council desire H.E.'s acceptance of the
said 200l. at present, in hopes the Assembly will have
further consideration of that matter in another session
and do that which is proper and honourable for the
Government. Endorsed as preceding. 14½ pp. |
|
31. iv. Copy of Proclamation appointing Oct. 22 a day of
Public Fasting and Prayer throughout the Massachusetts
Bay "to implore the Divine Mercy, that H.M. life and
health may be long continued and her just arms prospered for subduing the exorbitant power of France;
that her provinces and territories in America may be
preserved and defended; the present infection removed
from our neighbours and ourselves etc. Signed, J. Dudley,
Boston, Oct. 1, 1702. Printed. 1 p. |
|
31. v. Proclamation for a General Thanksgiving on Dec. 10,
throughout the Massachusetts Bay, "Whereas it hath
pleased Almighty God to preserve the sacred person
of Her most excellent Majesty Queen Anne, and
continued the happy union between H.M., her allies
and confederates, and prospered her arms the year
past, and hath also by H.M. most gracious settlement
of this Province under her Royal protection and the
present administration of the Government, preserved
us from any inroad or depredation by the enemy, and
hath succeeded our just endeavours in obedience to
H.M. Royal Commands against the French, the
implacable enemy of the Protestant Religion and the
Peace of Europe, and hath given us a plentiful harvest,
notwithstanding the unseasonable weather in the summer
past, and good health in most parts throughout the
Province." Signed, J. Dudley, Cambridge, Nov. 21,
1702. Printed. 1 p. |
|
31. vi. Memorandum of Act of the Massachusetts Bay,
empowering persons to make sale of a messuage and
lands in Cambridge belonging to the heirs of Nathaniel
Goodkin, clerk, decd., being minors, Oct. 15, 1702. ¼ p. |
|
31. vii. Memorandum of 8 Acts of the Massachusetts Bay,
passed May 27–Oct. 15, 1702. ¼ p. |
|
31. viii. Memorandum of an Act of the Massachusetts Bay
to enable Samuel Sewal and Hannah his wife to settle
certain lands at Muedy River in the County of Suffolk
upon Samuel Sewal their eldest son. Oct. 15, 1702. ¼ p.
[C.O. 5, 863. Nos. 5, 5.i.–viii.] |
| Dec. 10. |
32. Governor Dudley to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Duplicate of preceding letter. Endorsed, Recd. Nov. 20, 1703.
[C.O. 5, 863. No. 6; and 5, 910. pp. 479–490.] |
Dec. 10.
Whitehall. |
33. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. We
humbly lay before your Majesty the Act passed in the General
Assembly of St. Christophers, June 18, 13 William III, for settling
H.M. part of this Island. Quote objections of the Attorney
General, q.v. [Cal., 1702.] For which reasons we humbly offer that
your Majesty would be pleased to signify your disallowance
of the said Act. Signed, Weymouth, Dartmouth, Ph. Meadows,
John Pollexfen, Matt. Prior. [C.O. 153, 8. pp. 128–130.] |
| Dec. 10. |
34. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Capt. Hovenden Walker,
H.M.S. Burford, attending produced his order relating to the
forces under his convoy, and then moved this Board that
the sick men might be brought on shoar and taken care of; that
the land forces might likewise be brought on shoar and encampt,
having tents for that purpose, and that they should be supplied
with provisions from the ships; that some of the ships under
his command might be sent down to lie off Martinico, to keep
out their privateers and other vessels from going in there; that
some small vessels might be sent with them to cruise; that notice
be sent to Col. Codrington of the arrival of our forces here. All
wch. proposals were agreed to. Ordered that the forces be
encamped on the land of Judge Buckworth, who offered the same
for this service. |
|
Proclamation ordered prohibiting the selling of rum etc. to the
soldiers. |
|
The Hon. Samuel Cox, who had undertaken to advance money
for the sick and wounded seamen, said that it was impossible
to take due care of them at 7s. per week, everything being
extraordinary dear here, and prayed leave to advance 3d. more
per week for each man. Ordered accordingly. |
|
The President acquainted Capt. Walker that he was informed
Lt. Cæsar Brooks (who had killed Major Wm. Edwards on shoar)
was on board his ship, notwithstanding a warrant issued for
apprehending him. He answered that he had kept him close
prisoner, and he should be forthcoming when demanded for his
trial. |
|
Mr. Hart and Mr. Roberts attending with the Articles that are
agreed on between the Governors of Martinico and this Island,
said that they had brought up all the English prisoners, and
that the French had sent up a sloop to carry down the French
prisoners that are here. |
|
Ordered that the French Flag of Truce have his dispatches
forthwith to return with the French prisoners to Martinique.
[C.O. 31, 6. pp. 320–322.] |
| Dec. 10. |
35. Minutes of Council of Bermuda. H.M. Order about
Col. Day read. Whereupon it is the unanimous opinion of this
Board that all due obedience be paid to the said Order, and that
it be left in the Secretary's Office, and copies given, if desired. |
|
H.M. Order for continuing the use of the Public Seal, read. |
|
Ordered that the Secretary write to the Collector of Carolina
to return a copy of the clearings of the Shadow from this place,
and under what circumstances she came. |
|
A protest from Mr. Larkin against the Governor and Council's
proceedings in putting off an Admiralty Court, Sept. 30, for
denying copies of Minutes, taking affidavits in his absence, and
against H.E. for imprisoning and detaining him [read]. |
|
It is the opinion of this Board that the Governor may grant
out Commissions for privateers or others against H.M. enemies.
[C.O. 40, 2. p. 52.] |
