|
Nov. 16.
Whitehall. |
1454. W. Popple, jr., to Constantine Phips, Agent for
New England. The Council of Trade and Plantations send you
copies of the complaints they have received from Mr. Gallop etc.,
that you may lay before them what you may have to offer in the
behalf of Col. Dudley. [C.O. 5, 912. p. 1.] |
Nov. 16.
Whitehall. |
1455. W. Popple, jr., to Josiah Burchett. The Council of
Trade and Plantations enclose extract of letter from Mr. Gallop etc.
to be laid before the Lord High Admiral's Council. They desire
to know whether the granting of such a Commission by
Gov. Cranston as referred to be regular and allowed of by H.R.H.,
Col. Dudley having a Commission of Vice-Admiralty for several
Colonies in New England, whereof Rhode Island is one. [C.O. 5,
912. p. 2.] |
Nov. 18.
Boston. |
1456. Lt. Governor Usher to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. In June, 1704, gave your Lordships account of
one James Austin, one of the pirates belonging to Capt. Quelch's
Company, was seized in Province New Hampshire, there was
found in a girdle aboutt him considerable quantity of gold, H.E.
sending for me to Boston and ordering me to deliver itt to Commissioners appointed for receiving the same, accordingly did.
Quotes receipt. Repeats part of letter of March 27, and refers to
Col. Allen's death and the proposal made to him. (See No.
1432.i.) Judge Col. Allen would not acceptt. As to proofe of
title, possession and constant claime, all in writeing on file, evidences
on both sides adm[itted] without any objection. Pray the case
may goe on and be heard before Governor and Co[uncill] and soe
apeal for England, or else liberty to bring an apeal from judgmt.
given; [if forced] to trye ye case anew, will be very prejudiciall
to Mr. Allen's interest, some of the evide[nces] being dead; the
Judges refused with greatt contemptt to give directions to Jury,
to find specially, tho' Col. Allen pressed for same and shewed
the orders from Queen and Councill for the same; with humble
submission thinck they deserve to be dismisst from Councill,
and being judges. When the Councill is called, very often butt
foure apear. Humbly pray Coll. Winthrop Hilton, Major Jos.
Smith, and Mr. Sampson Sheafe may be added to Councill;
persons well affected to Crown Governmtt. In Oct. lastt, by
H.E. orders, I wentt into Province Hampshire, called the Councill,
[and] communicated to them H.M. letter with a new Seal etc.
I visitted the Militia, finding nothing to be done for H.M. service.
I returned to Boston, giving accot. of my proceedings to H.E.,
whose order and directions shal observe. As to account of state
of Province and Fourtt refer to H.E.; as for Militia, the command
in good hands; as to the Fourtt, in good posture of defence;
the house for lodging souldiers nott finished, I judge 200l. would
have compleated the same; the enemy hath made noe attack
the last winter and summer, and due care taken for security of
Frontiers, ytt has nott bin for many years before, the Province
refuseing to give me any thing for my support in the Governmtt.,
though Mr. Partridge had in his time above 800l., wch. desire
may be considered. Signed, John Usher. Endorsed, Recd.
Dec. 31, 1706, Read March 28, 1707. Holograph. 1 p.
[C.O. 5, 864. No. 174; and 5, 912. pp. 337–340.] |
| Nov. 19. |
1457. Inhabitants of Newfoundland to the Queen. Return
thanks for the recall of Lt. Moody, and those under his command,
whose debauchery might have been the greatest ill consequence
to this Countrey, and for sending new troops under Major Lloyd.
And whereas a petition was signed by several of us last spring
in favour of Lt. Moody, it plainly appears by affidavits made by
most of us of his barbarous treatment to us, that it was ye continuance of his ill-usage obliged us to it. Had he been continued
here, most of us had resolved to goe for England. 118 signatures.
Annexed, |
|
1457. i. Commanders of ships trading to Newfoundland to the
Principal Secretary of State. The above Address is
the voluntary act of the inhabitants etc. St. Johns,
Oct. 7, 1706. 39 signatures. The whole 3 pp. [C.O. 194,
22. Nos. 54, 54.i.; and (without annexed certificate)
53.] |
Nov. 19.
Genl. Post Office. |
1458. Sir Robt. Cotton and Sir T. Frankland to Mr. Popple.
We return the Act for erecting a Post Office at Philadelphia,
with our remarks thereupon etc. Signed, R. Cotton, Tho.
Frankland. Endorsed, Recd. Read Nov. 20, 1705. 1 p.
Enclosed, |
|
1458. i. Remarks referred to in preceding. The preamble, made
before the death of his late Majesty, etc., must be altered.
The post of every single letter from Europe, the West
Indies etc. being fourpence is too small; it ought to be at
least as much as a letter from London to Dublin, which
is sixpence. Enclosures should be taxed. Whereas
it is proposed that for each letter from Boston or Road
Island to Philadelphia, or from Philadelphia to Boston
or Road Island, 18d. be paid, we think the postage
ought only to be taken one way, as in this office, where
postage is paid only at the receipt of letters, which will
also be more conform to the Act of Parliament and in all
probability may produce more letters, it being found
by experience that where the Post is more easy letters
do increase in proportion etc. As to the proposal that
all letters from Proprietors and Governors should go
free, we have by experience found that such a priviledge
is liable to many abuses. 1 p. |
|
1458. ii. Copy of an Act for erecting a Post Office at Philadelphia.
11 pp. [C.O. 5, 1263. Nos. 46, 46.i. ii.] |
Nov. 20.
Jamaica. |
1459. Governor Handasyd to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Acknowledges letters of June 28th and Aug. 30,
with H.M. warrant, and a new Broad Seal, which according to
your orders have been produced in Councill, and the old Seal broke,
which I now send to your Board. By Sir Charles Hedges' letter,
April 3, H.M. has been pleased to approve of my proceedings with
the Flag of Truce and Coll. Livesay's Officers being sent home, and
also of Coll. Edlyne to be made one of the Councill. Encloses the
Acts passed by this Assembly. As to the Quartering Act, I must
earnestly desire your Lordships will inspect into it, there being
such clauses tact to it as never were before heard of, that part
relateing to the soldiers being only for a year, and the other
for ever, which excludes all Foreigners serveing either in civill
imployments or in the Militia, by which severall Scotch, Dutch
and French Gentlemen, who have served in both capacities these
20 years and are as substantiall men as any in the Island, and in
my opinion as good subjects to H.M., are made incapable of both
services by this Act, which is a great discouragement to Forreigners
settling here, and prejudice to this Island, where white people
are so much wanted; and your Lordships may be assured I should
never have comply'd in passing it, did not the life of my Regiment
depend on it, and I hope your Lordships will so recommend it
that H.M. may not give it her Royall Assent. None of those
Gentlemen's imployments shall be disposed of, till H.M. pleasure
is further known in this matter, which I request your Lordships
will inform me of. Your Lordships will see by the Minutes now
sent to you, what pains the Councill and I have taken with the
Assembly, and what a headstrong obstinate people I have to deal
with; which you will likewise find by my Speech at their prorogation, and if H. M. will signify her displeasure at their proceedings
I doubt not but it will have great effect on them. I am now to
acquaint your Lordships of the hardships laid upon my Regiment
in relation to their subsistance here, which my Agent writes me
word he meets with from the Comptrollers of the Army, which
I earnestly request your Lordships' ffavour in removeing. I have
had severall bills sent me here for mony at 40, 80 and 100 days'
sight, and if my officers and soldiers can live so long without
subsistance, they may as well live 7 years. Some Bills have
miscarried, others are not complyed with, so that I have been
obliged to borrow mony here for the payment of my Regiment to
the summ of about 4,000l., which mony has been paid to my
Major, who has paid every officer and soldier their proportion of it;
the last summ was 1,338l. 14s. 0d., which I procured in February
last, allowing 15l. per cent., when Sir Gilbert Heathcote would
allow but 10l. p.c., for which mony my Major drew Bills on my
Agent, not doubting but they would have been comply'd with,
but they have not yet been answered, so that I have been obliged
here to pay the mony myselfe to the merchants I procured it
from, for fear any hardships should fall upon the credit of the
Treasury; and so far I have to say for myselfe in this matter, that
I never toucht one penny of the Regiment's mony but what
properly belonged to me. Several merchants here, as Coll. Knights
and others, are willing to pay 118l. Jamaica mony for 100l. sterling,
as long as the Spanish Trade continues, we giveing Bills on the
Agent payable on sight. I have agreed with Coll. Knight accordingly, who has appointed Mr. Kent, merchant in London, his
Correspondent, to wait on my Lord High Treasurer about it.
Our men-of-war here being on a cruize on Aug. 19 mett with a
violent storm, which did them a great deal of damage, but they are
all refitted, and have been at sea again except the Bristoll that lost
her main mast, and she will very soon be supply'd with one. The
Island is at present sickly tho' the sickness does not prove so
mortall as usual. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. |
|
P.S.—H.M.S. Hector brought in here on Nov. 18 two French
prizes. Endorsed, Recd. Jan. 10, Read April 1, 1706. Holograph.
3 pp. [C.O. 137, 7. No. 18; and 138, 11. pp. 436–440.] |
| Nov. 20. |
1460. Governor Handasyd to W. Popple. Acknowledges
letter of July 28. H.M. Proclamation for a Thanksgiving shall be
duly complyed with, etc. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed as
preceding. Addressed. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 7. No. 19; and 138, 11.
pp. 441, 442.] |
Nov.20.
Jamaica. |
1461. Governor Handasyd to Sir Charles Hedges. Acknowledges letters of July 10 and Sept 3, and H.M. Order for sending an
account of the Stores, Ordnance, etc., which is impossible to be
done by this packett. As to the exchange of the private men of
my Regiment, according to H.M. Proclamation, I informed both
officer and soldier, and they with myself return most hearty thanks
to H.M. for her great care of us, which hath put new life into us
all. They pray that H.M. will order us to be relieved at the expiration
of six years from our first landing. As to the merchants informing
you of the private men being well satisfied in staying, there are
not 20 men in my Regiment but would rather be engaged in the
most desperate attack that ever was known than stay behind
their officers, but if H.M. is pleased to grant this encouragement,
it will make everything easy both to officer and soldier. Repeats
preceding. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed, R. Jan. 11. 2 pp.
[C.O. 137, 45. No. 71.] |
Nov. 20.
New York. |
1462. Governor Lord Cornbury to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. By H.M.S. Lastoffe [Lowestoft], which arrived here on
July 20 last, I had the honour of your Lordships' letters of March 26,
1704/5, and April 20, 1705; in the first of which you are pleased to
acknowledge the receipt of two of my letters dated Nov. 6, with
the severall papers mentioned to be inclosed, except only the copy
of the grant made by King Charles II. of the lands from St. Croix
eastward to the Duke of York; I cannot imagine how that copy
was mislaid, but I now send another copy, by which you will find
that King Charles II.'s grant extends from St. Croix eastwards,
to the east side of De la Ware Bay westwards, soe that those
lands knowne by the name of the Lower Countys, (which lye on
the west side of De la Ware Bay, and of which the Duke of York
granted a lease to Mr. Penn) is not contained in the grant from the
King to the Duke, I doe not know of any other grant from King
Charles II to the Duke of York but this, and I doe not hear of any
grant made by King James, after he came to the Crowne, of those
lands to any person whomsoever, therefore I conceive those lands
are in the Queen to dispose of as she pleases. I am glad you are
pleased to approve of the choice I have made of Mr. Mompesson
to be Chief Justice; I hope he will discharge his duty to satisfaction.
I rejoyce extreamly to find that your Lordships approve of my
proceedings with relation to the Assembly, who continue still in
the same obstinate way, as you will perceive by the Bill which I
now send you, and by their Journal, which I likewise send. The
Bill was for raising 1,700l. for the defence of the frontiers, and they
inserted the same clauses in that Bill which had oblig'd me to
reject the money-bill prepared by the last Assembly; the Councill
made the same kind of amendments as they had done to the
former Bill, and the Assembly made the same answer as the last
Assembly had done, soe seeing they would not hear any manner
of reason concerning that matter, I adjourned them to Sept. 12,
but the Members not being come to towne, the House did not
sit till Sept. 26, at which time I recommended to them the providing
for the defence of the frontiers, but they thought fit to proceed
as they had done before, I herewith send your Lordships the copy
of another money-bill, where they have inserted the same clauses
as before, only in this they grant the money to the Queen, but not
to her heirs and successors, which is directly contrary to H.M.
Instructions to me. I likewise send you the reasons offered by the
Gentlemen of H.M. Councill, at a Conference with the House of
Representatives, against some clauses in the Bill; and the answer
of the General Assembly. Those innovations the Assembly now
aims at are carryed on by the same 3 men I mentioned to you in
my letter of July 8 last. As for what relates to stores of warr, I sent
by the Virginia Fleet an account of all the stores of warr expended
since my coming to this Government, to my Lord Duke of Marlborough, and another to your Lordshipps; if that method is not
approved of I will observe such other method as you shall please
to direct, and for the future they shall be sent half-yearly, according to H.M. commands, or oftener if any conveyance offers. As
for the consumption of powder, there has been noe other occasion
since I came hither than the salutes to vessels coming in and going
out, who salute the Fort, the Queen's happy accession to the
Throne, H.M. birthday and Gunpowder Treason are days on which
we fire guns, and the usage here has been hitherto, to salute the
Governor at his return from Albany or elsewhere, but this last
I have taken off, if you are pleased to order any other salutes to
be forborn, I shall obey your commands, another occasion of
consumption of powder since I came was this, Capt. Rogers,
Commander of H.M.S. Jersey, having received orders to goe to the
Island of Jamaica, wanted powder, and there was then none to be
bought in this towne, soe he applyd to me for some powder,
alledging he could not sail without he were supplyd with powder,
soe upon that exigency I did let him have out of the stores 20
barrils of powder; if I had not supplyd him, he must have gone
without it, I hope this will not be thought a fault. I shall not
fail to move the Assembly at their next Meeting to raise a fund for
the providing of millitary stores, etc. If I had found the small
arms here in the condition I ought to have done, I should not have
desired any new supply, but I found them all out of repair. How
far the Respits will bear the charge of recruits I can't tell, because
I don't know what the charge of raising men in England will be:
I will likewise obey your commands in acquainting the Assembly
that they must repay the charge of 50 barrills of powder to H.M.
Office of Ordnance in England, and as soon as I receive H.M.
directions for remitting the value of the said powder, I shall
punctually obey. I had not desired presents for the Indians,
did I not know that it is impossible to keep the Indians steady
without presents, I wish that may doe. I thank your Lordshipps
for the Representation you have made about a man of war for
this place, if I durst have writ for two I should have done it, for it
is certain a fifth rate and a sixth rate will suit this Government
much better than a fourth rate. As for the matter of Bayard and
Hutchins, I did send your Lordshipps an Act of Assembly by the
Virginia fleet, which I hope will answer the intent. I have received
the copy of Capt. Nanfan's Petition, I have considered it well and
I doe confesse I have not seen anything like it before, I have
inquired dilligently into the severall things which that Gentleman
sees fit to make causes of complaint. The first is that the very
next day after he had adjusted matters with his creditors, he had
private notice that Mr. Matthews and others had entred actions
against him to a considerable value, with intent, as he conceives,
to make him end his life in prison, he being then reduced to a very
low estate of health, by the former hardships he had suffered,
and from which he is not perfectly yet recovered. Now to satisfie
you upon this point, I send you a certificate under the hand of the
Town Clerk of New York, by which your Lordshipps will see what
actions were entred against him, by whom and for what. As to
that part of this complaint relating to the hardshipps he has
suffered, he has never been one minute in prison since I came
into this Province, but that you may be satisfied as fully as may
be in that part likewise, I send an affidavit made by the Sheriff
who had him in custody, by which your Lordships will see, what the
hardships are which he has undergone, the truth of that affidavit
is known to everybody here, he was soe well used by that Sheriff
that to my knowledge he has been severall days at a time upon
Long Island which is out of the Bailywicke of New York. As for
his being deprived of his vouchers, I am sorry a Gentleman will
offer to say any such thing, for he knows very well he might have
had all his things away with him if he had pleased. In order to
obey your Lordshipps' orders, in giving such directions as may
be fit, that noe person whatsoever may in any manner hinder his
correspondents from transmitting over to England the vouchers
of his accounts which he would referr to, I have sent for those
persons whom I have alwayes observed to be the persons he
trusted most, namely Mr. Walters, Mr. Abraham Governeur, and
Mr. De Reimer, I asked them if they had any of Capt. Nanfan's
papers or vouchers in their hands, and if they had any orders
from Capt. Nanfan to transmit them to England. They severally
made answer that they had noe papers belonging to Capt. Nanfan
in their hands, only Mr. Governeur said he had an old blotted
book in his hands, but that he had noe orders to send it, nor could
it be of any use to Capt. Nanfan if he did send it; Mr. Walters
indeed said that he was bound for Capt. Nanfan in a considerable
sum of money to one Theobalds, a merchant in this city, to facilitate
his going for England, that Capt. Nanfan gave him bills of exchange
for that money, upon his Lady in Barbadoes, that he had sent those
bills to Barbados, and that Mrs. Nanfan returned for answer that
her husband had ordered her not to pay those bills; Mr. Walters
farther said that at this very time he is sued by Theobalds for that
money; I asked these Gentlemen if they knew any body else here,
in whose hands he might probably leave any papers, they said
they knew not anybody that he had left any thing with; if any
correspondent of Capt. Nanfan's comes to me for assistance, he
shall certainly have it, to the utmost of my power; but I am apt
to believe that Capt. Nanfan will be pusled to find vouchers to his
accounts; I am sure it was so when he was here; however,
I hope your Lordshipps will not think fit that the 1,500l. he mentions
to be in Mr. Thrale's hands should be paid to him, till his accounts
are stated, because I believe he will appear to be debtor more then
the 1,700l. he demands, upon the balance of the account. I have
received the Acts of Parliament you are pleased to mention, and
have caused them to be published in every County of the Provinces
of New York and New Jersey, and I will take care to pursue the
directions of them upon all occasions. I have likewise received
H.M. letter, directing the accounts I am to send of the publick
stores, which I will be sure to obey. I did intend to have sent one
account by this conveyance, but I could not get the account of the
stores from Albany time enough, but if it please God I live till
spring. I will send such an account as I hope may be satisfactory.
Thus I hope I have answered your Lordshipps' letter of March 26,
1704/5, that of April 20, which relates to New Jersey, I shall answer
by another letter. The Assembly which was sitting at the time
when I wrote last, did pass several Bills:—(1) for the better explaining and the more effectually putting in execution an Act for settling
a Ministry; (2) for continuing and enforcing a Post Office; (3) to
prevent the running away of negro slaves out of the County of Albany
to the French at Canada; (4) to enable the Justices of the Peace
for the City and County of Albany to raise 100l. for the repairing a
common goal, and City and County Hall; (5) for the preservation
of deer; (6) for reviving and continuing an Act for regulating slaves;
(7) for an allowance to the Burgesses of West Chester; (8) for
continuing an Act for laying out, regulating and clearing common
highways in this Colony; (9) to enable William Bradford of the city
of New York, Printer, to sell and dispose of the real estate of John
Dewsbury, decd., for the payments of debts; (10) declaring the
illegality of the proceedings against Col. Nicholas Bayard and
Alderman John Hutchins for pretended high treason, and for
reversing the said judgment and all proceedings thereon. These
ten Acts are all that could be passed that Sessions; I earnestly
entreat your Lordships to recommend the first Act to H.M. for
her royal confirmation; it is an Act that will make the Ministers
in the country very easy, whereas hitherto they have been very
uneasy, because their maintenance was soe precarious, which by
this Bill is made more certain. The second is an Act of absolute
necessity, for without it the post to Boston and Philadelphia will be
lost. The third is an Act become necessary by some of their
negroes lately running away into Canada. The fourth is soe
necessary that their gaol, City and County Hall are tumbling
down. The fifth was passed at the request of most of the best
people of Long Island, and I think it is reasonable. The sixth is
what the country have found benefitt by and therefore are desirous
it should be continued. The seventh is noe more then what the
other Members are allowed, and therefore I cannot but think it
reasonable. The eighth is a very necessary Act, the Commissioners appointed by the former Act not being able to finish the
work in the time. The ninth is a private Act for the sale of the
estate of one Dewsbery, I can offer noe better reasons for the passing
that Act, than those contained in it, which I hope will appear
sufficient. The tenth will likewise speak for itself. I did
acquaint Col. Bayard what the Queen's pleasure was, and he chose
rather to doe it by this Act then to give security, I hope it will
answer Mr. Attorney Generall's objections to the former Bill,
therefore I hope H.M. will be gratiously pleased to confirm all the
above mentioned Acts. I have received the Commission for
the tryal of pyrates (April 20, 1705), which I will take care to
pursue upon all occasions, and will give you an account of all
proceedings from time to time in that affair. Signed, Cornbury.
Endorsed, Recd. Feb. 1, Read April 4, 1706. Holograph. 5 pp.
Enclosed, |
|
1462. i. Speech of Governor Lord Cornbury to the Assembly
of New York. The season being so farr advanced, I shall
not trouble you att this time wth. anything but what I
thinck of absolute necessity to be provided for, that is the
deffence of the Frontiers, 100 Fuziliers and 50 outscouts
will be necessary for yt. service. I hope you will prepare
such a bill for ye raising a summe sufficient to answer
that charge, as I may give my assent to it without
breaking my Instructions, etc. I had almost forgott
to put you in mind for ye sea expedition this last summer,
which I think ought to be discharged, several debts
having been contracted upon that service. Endorsed,
Recd. Feb. 1, 1705/6. Copy. 1 p. |
|
1462. ii. Copy of reasons offered by the Council of New York
to the Assembly against some clauses in a Bill for raising
money for the defence of the Frontier. (1) The money is
granted to H.M. only, and not to her heirs and successors,
contrary to the Governor's Instructions. (2) It is
provided that the Treasurer shall give security to H.M.
to be accountable to the Assembly, which is contrary
to H.M. Instructions. (3) It is provided that a certificate
under the hand of the Col. or Capt. in the precinct where
any man shall be detacht, and a certificate from ye Mayor
and Aldermen of Albany, or ye major part of them,
shall be a sufficient authority to ye Treasurer to pay;
which is also contrary to H.M. Instructions. Same
endorsement. 1¼ pp. |
|
1462. iii. Reply of the Assembly to preceding. The Assembly
cannot receive ye message this day sent from the Councill
but with ye greatest surprise imaginable, they having
often been acquainted with ye constant resolution of this
House relating to amendments to money Bills, etc.
(Cf. July 8.) Same endorsement. 1 p. |
|
1462. iv. The Council's Amendments to the above Bill.Same
endorsement. 2 pp. |
|
1462. v. The answer of the Assembly to the Council's objections,
No. ii. (1) The Assembly have hardly ever so much as
named, in any of their Acts for money for the defence of
the Frontiers, H.M. or her heirs, etc., yet having directed
the uses of the money raised agreable to ye main scope
and meaning of H.M. Instructions, they have passed with
the Governors and many of them been confirmed
by the Crown. (2) This clause is not restrictive, but that
the Treasurer may also be accountable to H.M. etc.
(3) It is natural to conclude that it is H.M. intent that
the Assembly should be duly informed that the moneys
granted should be applied to the uses for which it is
appointed. The Instructions have been generally taken
as a restriction on ye Governor not to dispose of any
public moneys allotted for ye general support of ye
Governmt. without the approbation of the Council, etc.
In general, (a) The Assembly have experienced such an
uninterrupted animosity and misunderstanding between
the several Governors and all the Receivers appointed
immediately by the Crown, that none of 'em have as yet
been able to avoid a suspition, which having hitherto
been succeeded by a totall exclusion, all possibility of
rendring any accot. to, or viewing or examining any
accot. by Assembly has been illuded, and the disposition
of all publique monys left in the dark. (b) The several
Receivers loosing their offices, and being strangers in those
parts, their removall from hence (without return) has been
a necessary consequence, and is one principal reason that
the Assembly is wholly excluded from all manner of knowledge of ye rise and fall of ye severall branches of ye
usuall revenues, the application of that or any extraordinary taxes, and all other matters that may give satisfactory insight into ye raising and paying of moneys. (c)
Tho' considerable sums have been raised and duely paid in
for the defence of Albany and ye frontiers, which is
common barrier and bullwork not only to this and the
adjacent Colonies, but also for the preservation of Virginia
and Maryland (valuable jewels to the Crown), which
will be in inevitable danger of being lost, should Albany
and the Indians there fall into the hands of ye French,
yet it appears that severall hundred pounds raised for that
end has not so much as been pretended to be applied to
that use, but considerable sums pretended to have been
paid to men for the defence long before they had any being
there or were concerned in the service. Other valuable
sums are charged to have been paid for the accommodation of detached soldiers, which are as yet due and
unpaid, and many of the pretended detached fuzileers
were never there on duty. (d) H.M. Letter having
directed the Assembly to raise money not only as ample
but also as effectual as may be to ye Common Defence,
they earnestly desire your Honours' concurrence to this
Bill. Same endorsement. Copy. 2¾ pp. |
|
1462. vi. Governor Lord Cornbury to the Assembly of New
York. I send for you at this time because I intend to
put an end to this Sessions. I did appoint this Sessions
for noe other purpose, but that you might have an
opportunity before the winter to make effectuall provision for the defence of the Frontiers, wch. the sourness
of some of the Members of your House hindred the
doing of in the summer's sessions, and I did well hope, that
since H.M. commands to me had been communicated to
you by the Council, that you would have met in better
temper. I am sorry I have been mistaken in my
expectation, because the Country may suffer by it. I
hope noe accident may happen, but if there does, I take
the world to witness it must lye at your doors, and noewhere else, because you have offered me such a bill as
you well know I could not assent to without breaking
the Queen's commands, which I will never doe, if the
Queen had made use in her Instructions of any dubious
or ambitious [?ambiguous] words, by the interpretation
of which I might have had it in my power to gratify you,
I should readily have done it, but the commands of her
most sacred Majesty the Queen are positive and in very
plain, express words, which will by noe means admitt
of the construction you have thought fitt to put upon
them. In the answer you make to the reasons offered
by H.M. Councill at a conference, you say that by H.M.
Instruction to the Governor it's natural to conclude, etc.
(see preceding, No. iii). I must and doe affirm that you
never have been denied the sight and perusal of any publick
account when you have desired it, and I doe affirm I
never have disposed of any publick moneys without
the advice of H.M. Council since I came into the Province.
As to (c), these I must look upon only as immagination,
without any reality, or if these mistakes have really been
committed, that you are not desirous to have them
redressed, for if you had, you would have applyed to me
and informed me of them, that they might have been
redressed, and the like prevented for the future, but that
you have never done yet, these things I thought fitt to
observe to you, that the world may not be led into
mistakes by the false representations which some people
have whispered about. I can't help takeing notice to
you that the Gentlemen who readily gave the Government
creditt for many things necessary for the sea expedition
last summer, think themselves hardly used, when they
see the Assembly takes noe care to provide for the paying
the charges of that expedition, though it is well known
it was encouraged by severall members of the Assembly.
I doe think fitt to prorogue this Assembly to May 1st.
Same endorsement. Copy. 2¼ pp. |
|
1462. vii. Governor Lord Cornbury to the Assembly of New
York. The occasion of my requiring your attendance
at this time is to acquaint you that, upon a French
Privateer's comeing upon this coast, and even to the
very mouth of the Harbour, the Councill were of opinion
with me that all proper ways and means ought to be used
to take, destroy or drive away the said Privateer, in order
to the effecting whereof I did order severall vessells to be
fitted for that service, but the people being generally
unwilling to goe upon that service without some
encouragement, I was advised to issue a proclamation
promiseing a reward of 2,500 pieces of eight, to be divided
among all such persons as should voluntarily engage in
that service, provided the said privateer were taken or
otherwise destroyed, the vessells were manned with
abt. 350 men, were victualled for ten days and sayl'd
to the Horekills in search of the Privateer, but had not
the good fortune to meet with him; the revenue being
so low that it will not answer the necessary charges of
the Goverment, is entirely unable to defray this necessary
charge. I therefore thought it proper to acquaint you
with it, and to lay before you an accot. of wt. this
expedition has amounted to, which I have in my hand,
and I leave it to you to consider whether it will not be
reasonable that some reward be given to the officers
and men imploy'd. Communicates and recommends
the Act to encourage the importing of Naval Stores, etc.,
with H.M. recommendations to them to pass such Acts
as may make the said Act of Parliament most usefull and
effectuall. Communicates the Acts prohibiting trade
with France and to prevent traiterous correspondence, etc.
I am further commanded by H.M. to move this Assembly
to raise a fund for the purchase of Military Stores, and
for the supplying other uses as the defence of the Province
may require. I hope you will comply with H.M.
expectations, that the Goverment may be in a condition
to defend itself agt. any insult of the enemy. I have
lately received a letter from the Council of Trade in which
they express themselves thus: "We conceive no reason
why the Councill should not have right to amend any
bills sent to them by the Assembly, even those relating
to money." This I hope will put an end to the difference
wch. has arisen of late between this Board and the House
of Representatives. If you are desirous to have a copy
of the whole clause in the letter, you shall have it.
Same endorsement. Copy. 1¾ pp. |
|
1462. viii. Copy of a Bill for raising a sum to answer the charge
of fuziliers and outscouts for the defence of the frontiers, etc.,
Oct. 3, 1705. Referred to supra. Same endorsement.
13 pp. [C.O. 5, 1049. Nos. 9, 9.i.–viii.; and (without
enclosures), 5, 1120. pp. 427–434; and (duplicate of
No. vii.), 5, 3. No. 25; and 5, 1084. No. 29.] |
Nov. 20.
Whitehall. |
1463. W. Popple, jr., to Mr. Penn. The Council of Trade
and Plantations intending to report with all speed upon the
Laws of Pennsylvania, desire you to certify to them, under your
hand, which and how many you did actually pass in person and
sign during your stay in Pennsylvania. [C.O. 5, 1291. p. 232.] |
