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Aug. 2.
Jamaica. |
68. Governor Handasyd to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I am now favoured with your Lordships' of Aprill 15,
the duplicate of which I received by the last packett. I gave
a short account in my last of the misbehaviour of the two
Captains of the men of war that were with Mr. Wager when
he engaged the Galleons, since which they have been brought
to a triall and are broke, which in my opinion is a very
favourable sentence; but what the evidences made out against
them I am a stranger to, any otherwise than by common
vogue. I am informed that Monsr. Du Cass sailed from the
Havanna July 4 or 5, with the fflota and merchant ships
richly laden, under convoy of 9 men of war, which are but
indifferently man'd, consisting in all of 50 sail; I hope our
British ffleet will meet with them before they get to their designed
port. The Vice-Admirall of Galleons, and the Spanish merchant
ships are still at Carthagene, and, 'tis said, will not sail this
year. Some trading sloops came from the Spanish coast 5
or 6 days ago; and there are now going out to Porto Bell
10 or 12 sloops under convoy of 2 men of warr, with the
manufactures of great Britain, and the prize goods lately brought
in here. Our men of war, which I gave your Lops. an account
of in my last, were sent to Porto Rico, in hopes to intercept
some Spanish and French ships that were arrived there from
France and Old spain, are returned without meeting with them,
they being gone before so far to Leeward, that they were out
of their reach. I am very uneasy to think of the misfortunes
that will attend our men of war here, if there is not care
taken to send supplys of men, since the last Act of Parliament
has deprived them of all other means of having any here.
They want now 300 men, and every day men are dying, besides
other accidents that happen, as desertion. All the help I
am able to give them is to spare them men out of H.M.
Regiment under my command, which I shall constantly do as
long as I have a man, since it is still for the good of H.M.
service, and I hope your Lops. will approve of it. |
|
P.S. This should have been sent by the Dunkirk's prize
but she did not sail, as was expected. Signed, Tho. Handasyd.
Endorsed, Recd. 18th, Read 19th April, 1709. Holograph. 2 pp.
[C.O. 137, 8. No. 37; and 138, 12. pp. 391–393]. |
Aug. 2.
London. |
69. Mr. Dummer to Mr. Popple. Gives sailings of the
Antego packet-boat, 120 days out and home. Account of Commodore Wager's engagement, May 28. It began a litle before
sunsett. An hour after, the Spanish Admirall, El Conde de Cassa,
Allegra, Commander blew up, and but 10 or 12 men saved;
the Rear Admirall was taken by the Commodore, being a ship
of 54 brass gunns, very richly laden. Sunday, May 30th, ye
Vice-Admirall was chased among the rocks of Cartagena. June
5th one of the capitall galleons was put on shoar on the litle
brow on the coast, and was fired by the Spanyards. There
are very great complaints against privateering on the coast,
which will infallibly destroy all our correspondence with the
Spanish West Indies. Signed, E. Dummer. Endorsed, Recd.
Read Aug. 3, 1708. 1 p. [C.O. 323, 6. No. 68]. |
Aug 3.
New York. |
70. Mr. Heathcote to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Refers to his proposals concerning Naval Stores. What in the
first place I aimed at was, to have diverted the Americans from
goeing on with their linen and wollen manufactorys, and to
have turned their thoughts on such things as might be benefitial
to Great Brittan, they are allready so far advanced in their
manufactorys that ¾ of ye linen and wollen the[y] use, is
made amongst em, espetially the courser sort, and if some
speedy effectuall ways are not found to putt a stop to it,
they will carry it on a great deal further, etc. I could have
furnished the Crown with all the light friggatts that would
have been wanted for this coast and the West Indies, and
that without putting the Crown to a new penny charge, etc.
etc. Set out, New York Docs. V. pp. 63, 64. Signed, Caleb
Heathcote Endorsed, Recd. 6th., Read 17th Dec., 1708. 2 pp.
[C.O. 5, 1049. No. 98; and 5, 1121. pp. 356, 357]. |
Aug. 4.
Whitehall. |
71. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary
Boyle. Capt. Vetch, who has lived many years at New York,
and at Boston in New England, and is well acquainted with
the settlements and strength of the French on the Northern
Continent of America, having delivered in to the Earl of Sunderland. as also to us, a proposal for destroying the French
settlements in those parts, which, when done, will be of great
benefit to this Kingdom, both in relation to its trade and the
security of our Plantations on the Continent, as is fully set
forth in the said proposal, we have the same now under consideration, in order to a report to H.M. But the said Vetch
having acquainted us that he intends to take the opportunity
of the Lord Lovelace's going to New York, to return to his
family there, unless it be thought necessary that he stay longer
in this Kingdom, in order to his better explaining his meaning
in the several parts of his proposal, and to his answering
any questions or objections that may arise thereupon, we have
directed him, in the absence of my Lord Sunderland, to attend
you with a copy of his said proposal; and are of opinion
that, if the same be approved, it will be necessary the said
Vetch do stay here for the purposes aforesaid, and therefore
we desire you will receive H.M. pleasure as to his going to
New York, etc. Autograph Signatures. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
71. i. Copy of Capt. Vetch's Proposal for driving the French
out of Canada. (Cf. July 27.) 15½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1084.
Nos. 37, 37.i.; and (without enclosure) 324, 9. pp.
249, 250.] |
Aug. 4.
Bermuda. |
72. Lt. Governor Bennett to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Acknowledges letter of March 25, received Aug. 1.
I also on July 29 had your Lordps.' of April 30, (being duplicate,
the originall not yet come to hand), inclosed by Mr. Jones to
his Attorney Mr. Daffey, whom I have told I shall be always
ready upon refusall, to advise Mr. Jones his tenants to pay
him their rent, and to performe everything required of me
by your Lordps.' letter. In it is mentioned that the late Lords
Commissioners wrote to me Aug. 30, 1705, incerting that it was
reasonable Mr. Jones his deputys here should enjoy one moiety
of the fees and perquisites of his places, dureing his absence.
Which letter I never recd., perhaps it was inclosed to Capt.
Jones to deliver me (he being att that time here) and his
reason for not soe doeing might be to carry on the designe
of makeing me accomptable for the whole, ffor I have been
often told, since he went for England he has said (before
his departure) I was £500 in his debt, and doubted not to
make me pay it. I hope my packet of Feb. 10, as also the
duplicate thereof, etc. are arrived. If soe, I doubt not but your
Lordps are convinced both as to my innocency and injurys,
and that justice will be done me with reparation for the latter.
Col. White and Capt. Tucker sailed from hence in the sloop
Lyon, Captain Edgley Commander, on June 29, being bound
for Bristol. Mr. Castleman, in return to my constant civility
to him whilst here, has wrote a most base and reflecting
letter, dated in April last, to one Doctor Starr, which he has
shown to severall, and amongst the rest to Col. Trimingham, of
H.M. Council: the contents of which are (leaving out the
scurility), that he intended to exhibite articles against me for
detaining his ship, which was the occasion of her being lost,
he narrowly escapeing with his life, (and to confirm his mean
and ungenerous designes and proceedings) he desires the Doctor
and Capt. Nelson to send to him what complaints they have
against me, that he may annex them to his, and that what
letters they write to be soe worded as proper to lay before
the Board. My Lords, I did not stop him nor his ship one
moment, nor acted any thing that he seemed to take amiss,
and the day he sail'd, he came by six in the morning to
take his leave, and returned me thanks for my great civilities
to him, which again (after being cast away) he acknowledged
by his letter dated from Philadelphia, May 17, 1705, a copy of
which my brother has, and will be produced when your Lordps.
pleases to desire it. What I pray of your Lordps. is, that
if Mr. Castleman or any one else should exhibite complaints or
articles against me, I may have a copy of them, and if I
can't justify myself, I shall willingly submitt to my fate.
Signed, Ben. Bennett. Endorsed, Recd. 14th, Read 17th Dec.,
1708. Holograph. 3 pp. [C.O. 37, 8. No. 75; and 38, 6.
pp. 438–441.] |
Aug. 4.
Bermuda. |
73. Same to same. The duplicate of your Lordps. of April
15 (the original not yet come to hand) concerning the trade
to Africa, I recd. on Aug. 2, and the 3rd being Council day,
I had that speedy opportunity of qualifying myself to answer
what is required therein: |
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(1) No negroes, either on the Royal African Company's
acct. or separate traders, have been imported into these Islands
directly from Africa since June 24, 1698 to Dec. 25, 1707. |
|
(2) About 36 years agoe, a small ship (her name nor
Capt's. remembred), went from hence to Callebar on the coast of
Guiny, and brought back 125 negroes, near half of whom were
disposed off here (but att what prices I cannot learn); the
rest were reshipt for Carolina and Virginia. Also abt. 25
years since, another ship went from hence to Callebar, comanded
by one Capt. Stone (her name not remembred) and brought
back abt. 90 slaves: But most of them was carry'd to North
Carolina, Virginia, and places on the Continent, and there
disposed off, but att what rates can't be inform'd. And the
way this plantation has been supplyed with negroes hath been
from Barbados. |
|
(3) Not one vessell is employed to goe from this place to
the coast of Africa, either on the Company's acct. or separate
trade. I shall carefully observe your Lordps.' commands in
transmitting half-yearly accts. of negroes, by whom imported,
and att what rates sold, if any vessells arrive here from the
coast of Guiny: And as for not haveing given an account according to my Instructions of the number of negroes these Islands
are yearly supplyed with, I answer; that since my arrivall,
I have not heard of any negroes being imported to be sold;
this Country for several years haveing been (by their great
increase) over stockt, which has occasioned many of them to
be sent to the Southerne plantations, and Northern parts of
America, and there disposed of. Signed, Ben. Bennett. Endorsed as preceding. Holograph. 3 pp. [C.O. 37, 8. No. 76;
and 38, 6. pp. 441–443.] |
Aug. 4.
Bermuda. |
74. Lt. Governor Bennett to Mr. Popple. Refers to Castleman etc. as in No. 72. Signed and endorsed as preceding.
Holograph. 2 pp. [C.O. 37, 8. No. 77; and 38, 6. p. 444.] |
Aug. 4.
Bermuda. |
75. Lt. Governor Bennett to Mr. Popple. Refers to former
letters. I have now none to answer. etc. Signed and endorsed
as preceding. Holograph. 1 p. [C.O. 37, 8. No. 78; and
38, 6. p. 445.] |
Aug 4
Whitehall. |
76. Mr. Secretary Boyle to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Encloses following for their report to H.M. Signed,
H. Boyle. Endorsed, Recd. 4th, Read 9th Aug., 1708. 1 p.
Enclosed, |
|
76. i. Extract of letter from Col. Jones, Antigua, March
9, 1707/8. q.v. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 7. Nos. 51, 51.i.; and
153, 10. pp. 186, 187.] |
Aug. 4.
Whitehall. |
77. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governors of Plantations. Circular letter requiring annual accounts of Stores of
War to be sent in pursuance of Order of July 25, 1708, upon
pain of H.M. highest displeasure. [C.O. 5, 1362. pp. 298–300; and 324, 9. pp. 250–252; and 5, 727. pp. 51–53.] |
Aug. 4.
Whitehall. |
78. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary
Boyle. Communicate news contained in Governor Handasyd's
letter of June 17. 1½ pp. [C.O. 138, 12. p. 312; and 318,
3. No. 35.] |
Aug. 7.
Boston. |
79. Governor Dudley to Mr. Popple. Acknowledges receipt of letters of May 7, 1707 etc. With all solemnity the
Union was published at Boston, and a few days after at Portsmouth in New Hampshire, and H.M. commands read in Council,
etc. It is a very great accident if this letter come safe. Signed,
J. Dudley. P.S. Here are two ships runners this comes in
one and my letters to their Lordships of the same date are
in the other that one may arrive, tho I hope for both. Endorsed,
Recd. Oct. 30, Read Nov. 10, 1708. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 865. No.
1; and 5, 913. pp. 24–26.] |
Aug. 8.
Windsor. |
80. Lord High Admiral to the Queen. Having received very
pressing applications from the merchants tradeing to Jamaica,
Barbadoes, Leeward Islands, Virginia and Portugal, that a
squadron of H.M. ships may be sent into the Soundings for
security of their trade from the squadron gone to sea under
Monsieur Du Gue, and ten or eleven ships having been appointed
to convoy the Queen of Portugal to Lisbon, I humbly propose
that the remainder of the 26 ships under the command of Sir
George Byng be forthwith ordered into the Soundings, for the
security of the Trades coming home, in regard their convoys
are very weak, and that the merchant ships expected from
Jamaica have no convoy at all. Signed, George. 1½ pp. [S.P.
Naval, 7. under date.] |
| [Aug. 10.] |
81. Col. Lloyd to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Since I had the honour to wait on your Lordships last, I recd. a
letter from Brigadier Genll. Handasyde, who tells me he has
put a stop to the intended escheat of my Negroes, but advises
me to take such methods as may prevent any accidents in case
of alteration of Governmt. I, and those whose Estate I possesse,
have been 37 years in quiet possession, nor doe I yet know
any defect in my title; but because there are sometimes extraordinary proceedings in those remote countrys, I humbly desire that your Lordships will represent the matter to H.M.,
soe as there may be an order to the Governors to doe what
my Agents in that country shall desire ad corroborandum titulum as was donne in Mr. Whitchurch his case. Signed, Richd.
Lloyd. Endorsed, Recd. Read Aug. 10, 1708. 1 p. [C.O.
137, 8. No. 15; and 138, 12. p. 313.] |
Aug. 10.
Whitehall. |
82. Mr. Secretary Boyle to Governor Lord Lovelace. You
are to pass a grant of glebe-land not exceeding 500 acres
for the subsistance of Joshua de Kocherthall, etc. Set out, New
York Docs. III. 328. Signed, H. Boyle. [C.O. 5, 210. p. 112.] |
Aug. 10.
Whitehall. |
83. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Board of
Ordnance. Enclose copy of account of Stores of War at Barbadoes. Cf. May 18, 1708. [C.O. 29, 11. p. 287.] |
Aug. 11.
Whitehall. |
84. Mr. Popple to Mr. Solicitor General. The Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations having occasion to consult
you upon two Acts past in the Leeward Islands, they have
commanded me to send you the state of the case as follows,
vizt.:—The 8th Feb. 170¾, an Act was past by the Generall
Assembly of Antego, for establishing Courts, etc. The 22nd
June, 1705, an Act was past by a General Assembly of all
the Leeward Islands at Nevis, whereby the aforesaid Act is
enacted to be in force throughout all the said Islands. Dec.
12th, 1705 the forementioned Act past at Antego was repealed
by the Queen: that past by the General Assembly of all the
Islands at Nevis not being then transmitted over for H.M.
pleasure. Upon which they desire your opinion, whether the
Queen's repeal of the Antego Act does not supercede and make
void the Act past at Nevis; and whether the said Nevis Act
does not remain in force till there be a particular and express
repeal thereof by the Queen. [C.O. 153, 10. pp. 188, 189.] |
Aug. 11.
Whitehall. |
85. Mr. Secretary Boyle to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Reply to Aug. 4. H.M. is not duly informed whether
Capt. Vetch's proposal be of such use as to deserve incouragement. You are to report your opinion, in order to H.M.
declaring her further pleasure, etc. Signed, H. Boyle. Endorsed, Recd. 11th, Read 13th Aug. 1708. 1 p. [C.O. 323,
6. No. 69; and 324, 9. p. 253.] |
Aug 11.
Whitehall. |
86. Mr. Popple to Mr. Burchett. Encloses copies of affidavits relating to Capt. Fane, to be laid before H.R.H., the
Lord High Admiral. See May 18, 1708. [C.O. 29, 11. p. 288.] |
Aug. 13.
Whitehall. |
87. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Handasyd.
Acknowledge letters of May 19 and June 17. The information
we had in relation to the privateers who had committed irregularities on the Spanish coast was not from Commodore Kerr,
and besides you might have perceived by what we writ July
31, 1707, that it was not a report lightly taken up, for we
told you that we had it from very good hands. We are not
a little surprized at what you write about transmitting the
Minutes of the Assembly according to H.M. Instructions, all
H.M former Governors of Jamaica, as well as those of the other
Plantations, constantly doing it. But seeing you find such
difficulty in complying with that part of H.M. commands, we
think it needfull that you inform yourself of the grounds and
reasons why a thing, designed only for the good and benefit of
the Island, should meet with any obstruction or opposition,
and if you find that no reason is offer'd against it, and that
it appears only to be humour and obstinacy, you are to return
to us the names of such obstinate opposers, and in the meantime you are to take notice and to acquaint whomever it may
concern, that H.M. does require and expect that her orders
in this particular shall be punctualy complyed with. As for
prizes you will see by ye Act for the encouragement of the
trade to America, that that matter is now otherwise regulated;
however, it will be necessary that when any prizes are taken,
either by H.M. ships of war or by the Jamaica privateers, that
you give us as particular an account thereof as may be for
H.M. information. And upon this occasion we cannot but
rejoice with you for Commodore Wagger's good success. And
we doubt not from the good character we have of him but he
will be able to give a good account of the ships that are in
the Havana with Mr. du Casse. We are very sorry to perceive
the Spanish trade is so dull but if care be taken that the
privateers be kept within just bounds, as is provided by the
last mentioned Act, we doubt not but that trade will increase
and flourish again. We expect the account of the Pattent Officers
you promise. As to the copy of the Proclamation which you
have sent us, we can by no means approve thereof, for in
one place it is said, "and as an encouragement to all such
as shall discover any such lands so held upon orders or otherwise without patent as aforesaid, whereof the possessor or
proprietor shall neglect our bounty hereby offered; we do hereby
promise that we will grant such patents of land so conceal'd
to such discoverer" etc., which is contrary to H.M. Instructions,
for by the said Instructions you are not to make grants of forfeited lands or escheats, till H.M. pleasure be known therein.
As you will perceive by H.M. Order in Councill of May 26.
And you will more particularly understand H.M. pleasure in
these matters when you shall receive an additional Instruction,
now lying before H.M. for her Royall signature, upon the
Petition of divers merchants in relation to your proceedings
against their lands and negroes. We writ you at large in our
forementioned letter of June 25 in relation to the Members of
the Councill, being Factors to the African Company, whereto
we now refer you. We also acquainted you in our foresaid
letter, that H.M. had been pleased to appoint Mr. Peck of the
Councill in the room of Col. Sadler deceased, and therefore
when Col. Low and Col. Long shall arrive, there will be 11
Counsellors upon ye Island; and we shall take the first opportunity to offer another person to H.M. to make the number
of Counsellors compleat. [C.O. 138, 12. pp. 314–317.] |
Aug. 13.
Whitehall. |
88. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Crowe.
Acknowledge letter of May 18. As to what you write touching
the repeal of the Act about the Governor's holding General
Sessions, and to the new one past and transmitted hither, we
shall take the said Acts into consideration at a convenient
time, and lay the same before H.M., and so soon as H.M. shall
have declared her pleasure thereupon, we shall signify the same
to you. Before we sent you our opinion upon your suspension
of the Law mentioned in our letter of Jan. 29 last, in relation
to Mr. John Holder, we had read and maturely considered that
part of the Minutes of Council and Assembly which you sent
us touching that matter, and are therefore very much surprized at your saying, that if we had perused the Minutes of
Councill at a Court of Grievances, we should have seen that
you had no share in suspending the execution against Holder.
We admit, that writs of error or appeals from inferior Courts
brought before you in Councill, or other matters cognizable in
Council, the same being determined by a majority, do become
the acts of that Board, for which you are not personally answerable; but for the reasons sent you, June 25, we take Holder's
case to be of another nature, and are still of opinion that the
suspending of execution upon the judgment passed against him
by an Act of the Legislature, is a matter no ways cognizable
before you in Councill, or releivable by any other authority than
of the Legislature, by which the said Law was first made.
We must observe to you, that among the Acts of Assembly
last transmitted to us, we find one (relating to the late repealed
Paper Act) wherein there is a clause to compel Holder to
account for a summe of money, therein mentioned in like
manner and under the like penalties and forfeitures as are
contained in that former Clause, for his refunding the 5 per
cent., while that Law (so lately passed and by a new Assembly)
was depending, he had a good opportunity of applying for
relief against the hardships complained of in the refunding
Clause, but we presume he had no hopes of relief, tho' from
a new Assembly, since we do not find from the Minutes of
Councill or of Assembly, that any step has been made therein;
and by this our observation, you will find that we have perused
the papers last sent us. We shall expect the list you promise
us of all the Patent Officers, and the value of their places, by
the first conveyance, as also the copies of the Publick Accounts,
together with those of the Revenue. We shall consider what
you write in relation to Counsellors, and give you notice of
what shall be done therein. We have layd before H.R.H.
the affidavits etc., against Capt. Fane. You ought yourself
to have transmitted them to H.R.H. as well as to us. We
are glad to hear that H.M.S. Greenwich, in her cruizing, has
met with and taken a French prize. You will do well to
send us the best account you can of all prizes that shall be
taken from time to time. You say that in the new Commission
of the Peace, we shall find there are none but men of the
best estates. You would have done well to have incerted in
the list of their names, to which you referr, their qualifications,
for the bare list of them gives us no information. [C.O. 29,
11. pp. 289–293.] |
