|
Feb. 1. Whitehall. |
370. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary
Craggs. Enclose draught of Commission for Governor Lord
Irwin, in the same terms as that afterwards prepared for Lord
Belhaven (Tobago excepted) and Mr. Worsley v. Dec. 21.
[C.O. 29, 14. pp. 90, 91.] |
Feb. 2. Golden Square. |
371. Bishop of Salisbury to Mr. Popple. Desires to be
heard on behalf of his kinsman, Francis Yonge, Surveyor
General of Carolina and Bahama Islands, in case any person
shall endeavour to get into his employments etc. Signed, W.
Sarum. Endorsed, Recd., Read 3rd Feb., 1720/1. Addressed.
1 p. [C.O. 5, 358. ff. 76, 77v., 78v.] |
Feb. 2. Charles Town, So. Carolina. |
372. John Lloyd to Mr. Secretary Craggs. Complains
of the behaviour of Capt. Hildesley, H.M.S. Flamborough.
Upon his arrival, he behaved civilly to James Moore, Governor
Elect, etc., but afterwards "entred into such measures, as to
revile ye Governmt. and rail publickly against ye measures
that had been taken, and to encourage Governor Johnson to
resume his Governmt., offering him his assistance. This and
a quarrel between him and Col. Rhett occasioned some representation to be made from hence to the Lords of the Admiralty
before my return. Upon my landing a month agoe, I waited
upon Capt. Hildesley, who received me with a great deal of
civility, and we both appointed to meet over a bottle at night,
when our conversation turned upon the affairs of this Colony,
certain advices being then come of Mr. Nicholson's being
appointed" etc., where he telling me what he could have done
or might still doe to restore Mr. Johnson, I replyed that Mr.
Johnson till some time after his arrivall, had acted very wisely,
in not attempting to make any division or disturbance among
ye people but patiently waiting ye answer from England etc.,
and that the King would not approve of anybody, that should
disturb the peace of his subjects etc. We parted very friendly
yet we never conversed together, but Governor Johnson and
he dining together last Saturday was fortnight, the Flamboro'
fired 15 guns and it was given out it was for news being come
that a stop was put to Governor Nicholson, this with some
other declarations made by that Company that very day, to
amuse and devide people, made it necessary for ye Governmt.
to issue out a Proclamation and to annex to it ye decretall
order of ye Regency and ye London Gazet, wherein Mr. Nicholsons being appointed Governor and sworne before ye Regency
was published. On fryday last he order'd his Lieut. Mr.
Haycock on board ye Samuel, John Jones Master, bound and
clear'd for London and to take his cheife mate on board ye
Flamborough where he received 24 severe lashes on his bare
back, and was afterwards put on shoar where shewing how he
had been used, there gather'd together a great number of sailors
belonging to ships in harbour, and I happening to goe by at
that instant, got them dispersed immediately. The same day
the mate gave an information upon oath, how he had been
served by ye Lieut.'s order, and demanded a warrant against
him, which was granted, but ye Justices first writ to him to
acquaint him of ye information that was made, and that ye
warrant would be served upon him if he did not goe before a
magistrate and enter his recognizance, which he answering with
an unmannerly letter, the warrant was served upon him on
shoar, and he is now in the Martial's custody having refused to
enter into a recognizance. The same day Capt. Hildesley made
a signall for ye mars. of ships to come on board, where a very
few went, to whome he rayl'd against ye countrey saying there
was neither Governmt. nor Justice in it, and abundance of
stuff to this purpose. On Sunday last he made a Speech on
ye Bay here, to the Mars. of shipps, saying that he was Govnr.
and that he would whip any mar. of a ship that used his men
ill, by which he exposed himself so much that one of them asked
him why he did not discharge his Lieut. out of his custody, if
he was Governr., and then ye rest laugh'd much. Just after
this I met him upon ye Bay, where among other things he told
me he would take it as a piece of friendship if I used my interest
to get his Lieut. discharg'd. I answered that could not be
done, without his making it up with the mate or entring into a
recognizance. I told him I would speake to the owner to make
it up with the mate, which he offered to do upon a small concession from the Lieutenant, which however the Captain did
not think fit he should make etc. These proceedings of a Captain
of a King's shipp, in a Govermt. so unestablished as this is at
present, might have had a mischevious consequence, were
not the people almost unanimous; they have however occasion'd
more disturbances and commotions than anything that has
happen'd from ye beginning of ye Revolution etc. We expect
General Nicholson here dayly, where he is very much long'd
for, and it is impossible to express the due sence the inhabitants
have of ye King's goodness, in taking them under his protection
etc. P.S.—Governor Rogers of Providence was here for about
six weekes and fought a duel with Capt. Hildesley upon some
disputes they had at Providence, they were both slightly
wounded. The former is returned to his Government. Signed,
John Lloyd. 4 pp. [C.O. 5, 387. No. 20.] |
Feb. 4. St. James's. |
373. H.M. Warrant appointing Anthony Corbiere Naval
Officer in Jamaica, and revoking the patent of Thomas Betts.
Countersigned, J. Craggs. Copy. [C.O. 324, 34. pp. 36, 37.] |
Feb. 4. Barbados. |
374. Samuel Cox to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Encloses duplicates of dispatch by way of Bristol. Continues:—Mr. Frere's Speech att his first sitting in Council June 30th,
1720, now transmitted, (though I can not gett the same under
the Seal) hath been kept as a secrett from me, and though I
sent the Minutes of that Council with my former Address both
to your Lordships and Mr. Secretary Craggs, in those of the
fifth of August, yet it will be found that there is no mention
made of it therein,—which shews first, how I am served by the
Secry. here. and what just ground I had to complain, for want
of the Minutes and other proceedings. Then (with humble
submission) I think it shew's very plainly, a settled resolution
taken to keep this poor Island in slavery, the suspended Members
do appear all very heartily to have therein joined, by the
approbation they give thereof in returning thanks for the same.
I think I need not further trouble your Lordships on that head,
who have seen that modell of government so fully exposed,
only submitt it for your Lordships to make such use thereof to
his most sacred Majesty, as shall be meet etc. I have lately
received intelligence upon oath from severalls, and an express
from the Generall of the French Islands, giving an account of
a pyrate in that neighbourhood, who is become very formidable
by the addition of severall vessells and great numbers of men,
exercising thereabouts the vilest cruelties on the subjects of
all Nations, and very earnestly solliciting me "to send what
force I can to join with such as he can raise," in order to exterminate that race of robbers. Common humanity would
determine what should be done in such an exigence, but we
had this consideration to add, that we may soon expect him to
windward of this Island, which might be attended with fatall
consequences. And the Seahorse frigate, commanded by Capt.
Thomas Durell, happening to be here, in order to convoy the
New England vessells to Tortuga for salt, and the Rose and
Sharke, having been gone from hence but a few dayes, I immediately called a Council, we advised with Mr. Durell, of whose
zeal for such a necessary service, I hold myself obliged to give
the most ample account to your Lordships and Mr. Secretary
Craggs, but he proposed my assistance of some more force, as
well as of men and arms. All which the Members of the Council
unanimously agreed to. But (alas) we found ourselves altogether
unable to propose any means of doing it. Our Treasury empty,
our funds all anticipated, the Island itself impoverished, by
Mr. Lowther's rapines and exactions, so that I could not propose
the raising any further force, especially considering that they
who armed some vessells last year, on the like account, were
frustrated of the rewards and encouragements promised, by
which the publick faith is entirely forfeited. Yet, that we
might do something, the Gentlemen now in the Councill have
generously advised, and we have engaged our own creditt, for the
victualling, paying, and other expences for some supernumerary
men, whom I provided with arms from our own magazine, and
issued out press warrants for making up such a complement
as he required, and have dispatched the said frigate, and sent
to Mr. Whittney also to rendesvouz att Fort Royall, to join
such forces as Mr. De Feuquieres can raise of his most Christian
Majesty's for that intent. I most humbly apply to your Lordships, and beg your Lordships good offices for proper orders,
that the victualling, paying, and other charges of this Expedition,
may be defrayed by his Majesty; it being entirely for H.M.
service, and so much tending to the publick good, etc. Signed,
Saml. Cox. Endorsed, Recd., Read 30th March, 1721. 2¾ pp.
[C.O. 28, 17. ff. 69–70v.] |
Feb. 5. Whitehall. |
375. Mr. Popple to Mr. West. Encloses for his opinion
in point of law Act of Bermuda to supply the deficiency of several
funds, etc. [C.O. 38, 7. p. 459.] |
Feb. 7. |
376. Petition of Capt. Pechell to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Being informed that the South Sea Company
has petitioned H.M. for the French lands in St. Kitts, petitioner,
on behalf of Capt. Andrew Thannet of St. Christophers, planter,
repeats application for confirmation of a grant of lands (v.
C.S.P. 20th Dec. 1716.) Endorsed, Recd. 7th Feb., 1720/1
Read 14th Sept., 1724. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 14. ff. 296, 297 v.] |
Feb. 7. Arlington Street. |
377. Governor Lord Irwin to Mr. Popple. I've this morning a litle return of my distemper etc. Pray acquaint their
Lordps. that in my Commission the Island of Tobago is not
mention'd, tho' perticularly so in ye 106 instruction; several
gentlemen of ye Island of Barbados has desired me to speak
of it etc. Signed, Irwin. Endorsed, Recd. Read 7th Feb.,
1720/1. Holograph. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 17. ff. 7, 8v.] |
Feb. 10. Whitehall. |
378. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Recommend dismissal of Peter Schuyler and Adolphus Philips
from the Council of New York, and appointment of Cadwalader
Colden and James Alexander in their stead, as proposed by
Governor Burnet. 1¾ pp. [C.O. 5, 1079. No. 122; and 5, 1124.
pp. 251, 252.] |
Feb. 10. St. James's. |
379. Order of King in Council. Approving preceding,
and ordering accordingly. Signed, Robert Hales. Endorsed,
Recd. 2nd., Read 8th June, 1721. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1052. ff.
157, 158v.] |
Feb. 14. St. James's. |
380. The King to Governor Sir N. Lawes. Whereas you
having represented unto us in Council that some persons of
Our Island of Jamaica, are inclined to interprett Our last letter
of 15th Jan., 1719/20 for paying £2706 6s. 3d. and £938 17s. 6d.
to Lord A. Hamilton, late Governor, and others out of the first
and readiest of Our Revenues there, to be a suspension or
revocation of our Instructions to you, for taking your salary
as Our Governour, as if all demands were to be postponed till
the said money shd. be paid; and therefore praying that you
may receive your salary as usual; And whereas Lord A.
Hamilton hath also represented unto us in Council, that the
first of the summs above-mentioned was expended by him when
Our Governour of Jamaica, and by the Council there, for the
support of the soldiers of that Island, at a time when the
Assembly was not sitting, and when the Act for subsisting them
was expiring; without which supply they must inevitably have
starved, and the said Island been without defence; and that
the other sum is due to him for the like service, and for his
salary etc. Refers to previous Orders on the subject and that of
Jan. 15, 1720. Continues: And the Lords of the Committee
of Our Privy Council for hearing appeals etc. from the Plantations etc. having him as well as your Agent thereupon,
have reported their opinion, that the debt due to Lord A.
Hamilton, being prior to all others, ought to be discharged before
any other demands, and without further delay, and that Our
aforementioned letter for paying the same, out of the first and
readiest of Our Revenues of Jamaica should be confirmed, and
that We should please to signifie Our pleasure to you, that you
do in the strongest terms, recommend to the Assembly the
making good the deficiencies that may be occasioned by the
payment of the debts aforementioned, as having been contracted
for their own security, etc., orders accordingly. Countersigned,
Townshend. [C.O. 324, 34. pp. 38–41.] |
Feb. 14. Whitehall. |
381. Lord Townshend to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses following for their report. Signed, Townshend.
Endorsed, Recd. 14th, Read 15th Feb. 1720/1. ¾ p. Enclosed, |
381. i. Petition of some proprietors of Barbados to the King.
The omission of Tobago from the Governors Letters
Patents may give pretence to foreign powers to lay
claim thereto etc. (v. 7th Feb.). Signed, Robert Davers,
J. Walters, Wm. Walker, Timothy Salter, Abel Alleyne.
1½ pp. [C.O. 28, 17. ff. 9, 10, 10v., 12v.] |
Feb. 15. Whitehall. |
382. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. Enclose Office accounts from
Midsummer to Christmas, 1720. There was then three months
salary due to the Secretary and other officers, and three quarters
due to this Commission etc. Accounts annexed. [C.O. 389,
37. pp. 203–205.] |
Feb. 15. Whitehall. |
383. Council of Trade and Plantations to Lord Townshend.
Reply to Feb. 14th. We do not find Tobago was ever inserted
by name, in any Commn. to a Governor of Barbados. King
Charles II in 1664 made a grant of that Island to the Duke of
Courland, upon certain conditions, which the said Duke not
having perform'd, it was declar'd in Council in 1686, that he had
forfeited all right and title to the said grant. The Commns.
issued since yt. time having been drawn according to former
precedents, Tobago has not been inserted by name notwithstanding the aforesaid Declaration in Council, but has been
understood to be included in ye general words of ye Commission,
and was inserted by name in ye Instruction; however as H.M.
right and title to the said Island is unquestionable, we have no
objection why Tobago should not be inserted by name, in my
Lord Irwin's Commissn, as desir'd by the Petrs. [C.O. 29, 14.
pp. 92, 93.] |
Feb. 16. |
384. Address of Assembly of Barbados to the King. Cf.
March 25. Your Majesty's fatherly love of all your people,
your great goodness to hear, and readiness to redress their
grievances, embolden us to approach your Royal Throne, humbly
to represent the present state of this your Majesty's (once
flourishing) Collony, under the administration of the Honble.
Saml. Cox Esq. etc. That Gentleman, at the time of the
devolution of the Government upon him, found the offices civil
and military, filled with persons of fair fortunes, and characters,
and distinguish't by their attachment to your Majesty's interest, and the people of the Island in general well satisfied,
and united more than ever, and matters might well have continued in that happy situation, had it pleased the President.
But the peace and tranquillity of the Island is broken etc., by
the conduct of the said President, who hath already suspended
seven members of H.M. Council, turned out seven of the eight
Colonels of the Regiments, the Masters in Chancery, and all the
Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas, c[h]anged the Commission of the Peace, and threatens daily to dissolve the
Assembly. We cannot express the discontents occasioned by
those changes, which tend apparently to revive and support
an expiring faction among us, who are known enemies to the
peace of their countrey, and have been always suspected of
disaffection to your Majesty, and your Royal House. We beg
leave to further to represent to your Majesty that an illegal
trade, between this and the French islands, is now openly
carried on, French goods are daily in great quantitys imported
here, from Martinique, and our money, and even the provissions
necessary for our support, are sent thither in return, to the
enriching a few self-interested men, and impoverishing of the
rest of the inhabitants, and by means of this fatal trade, the
French not only grow acquainted with our landing places, bays
and harbours, but visit and learn the condition of our lines,
forts, and batterys. These mischiefs, we cannot hope to have
redrest by the Legislature here, nor have we an oppertunity as
an Assembly, to lay our just complaints before your Majesty,
since it hath pleased the President, ever since his coming to
the Presidentship, to command the Assembly to adjourn from
time to time, without presuming to go on any business; We
therefore humbly cast ourselves at your Majesty's feet,
beseeching your Majesty to consider the premisses, and to make
such an order therein as your Majesty in your great wisdom
shall see fitting etc. Signed, Edmund Sutton, Speaker, and 19
others. Copy. 3 pp. [C.O. 28, 44. ff. 1–2v.] |
Feb. 16. |
385. Petition of Col. Vetch to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. On behalf of his father-in-law, Robert Livingston,
senr., prays that his son, Philip Livingston, may have a Commission to succeed him in his places as Secretary to the Indian
Affairs, Town Clerk, Clerk of the Peace and Common Pleas in
Albany, which he desires to resign by reason of old age. Whilst
he has been Speaker of the Assembly, the said places have been
wholly executed by his son etc. Signed, Sam. Vetch. Endorsed,
Recd. 12th May, Read 8th June, 1721. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1052.
ff. 161, 162v.] |
Feb. 17. South Carolina. |
386. Governor Nicholson to Lord Townshend. The Assembly mett the 25th of the last month and it is proposed they
will break up next Satterday there being several things of moment
before them. The Committee of Correspondence by order of
the Assembly now write to John Lloyd Esq. our Agent and send
him several papers etc. and he is to wait upon your Lordps.
concerning them and give your Lordps. an accot. why Francis
Yonge, Esq. could not come by this opportunity but I hope in
God he will depart hence in about three weeks by him will be
transmitted a full accot. of all our affairs, of which he will fully
inform your Lordp. etc. Signed, Fr. Nicholson. 1 p. [C.O.
5, 387. No. 21.] |
Feb. 18. St. James's. |
387. H.M. Warrant for admitting Cadwalader Colden and
James Alexander to the Council of New York and discharging
Peter Schuyler and Adolphus Philips. Countersigned, Townshend. Endorsed, Recd. 25th Feb., Read 8th March, 1720/1.
1½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1052. ff. 153, 154v.; and 324, 34. pp. 41, 42.] |
Feb. 20. Admiralty Office. |
388. Mr. Burchett to Mr. Popple. H.M.S. the Winchester,
commanded by Captain James Stuart, and a frigate of 30 guns
being design'd convoy to Newfoundland this year, and Captain
Stuart being the Commadore, asks for such Instructions and
Heads of Enquiry, as the Council of Trade may think necessary
etc. Signed, J. Burchett. Endorsed, Recd. 21st, Read 24th
Feb., 1720/1. Addressed. ¾ p. [C.O. 194, 7. ff. 19, 20v.] |
Feb. 24. Whitehall. |
389. Lord Townshend to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses following. Concludes:—I must desire your
Lordps. will give me the state of that matter, and furnish me
with proper arguments to be used in a representation to the
French Court against such encroachments. Signed, Townshend.
Endorsed, Recd. 27th Feb., Read March 1st, 1720/21. 1 p.
Enclosed, |
389. i. Extract of letter from Capt. Purvis, H.M.S. Dursley
galley, to Mr. Burchett. 23rd Feb., 1721. The master
of the Canseux ship that I spoke with at Lisbon, gave
me an account, that the French are now settling on
an Island on the coast of Nova Scotia called St. Jean,
which will be a very great prejudice to the English
fishery etc. ¾ p. [C.O. 217, 3. Nos. 20, 20. i.] |
Feb. 25. |
390. Governor Rogers to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Not having been honoured with any of your Lordships
commands, I write this only to accompany the Minutes of the
Council's proceedings commencing where the last I had the
honour to send you left off, vizt., 8th Feb. 1717 etc. It will be
a great satisfaction to me that they may meet wth. your Lordship's approbations, which has been my earnest endeavours;
tho' I must informe yr. Lordships that it is impossible I can
subsist here any longer on the foot I have been left ever since
my arrivall. I have perpetually transmitted advices of the
difficultys I laboured under, being first left in the utmost distress
by H.M. ships after just seeing me landed, wth. a few sick men,
to encounter near 500 of the pirates, and ever since have not
been able (notwithstanding the many letters I have writt) to
prevaile on any of them to come near me, except the Flamboro'.
Nor have I had any recruits worth mentioning, either of men
or cloths, since I first raised and cloathed the Company, three
years agoe, so that I have been forced to buy clothing at very
extravagant rates here in America as well as provisions, not
only for the garrison, but four times that number of the inhabitants and saylors, on many occasions, but especially for
about three months that the embargo was laid on ye shipping,
wee expecting to be attackt by the Spaniards every day, to
procure these things I have been at great expences, in freighting,
fitting out, and maning severall vessells, as well for fetching
them, as for following and suppressing the pirates, and all this
without the least support, from England, or any possibility
of raising one penny here (had the people been able to have
contributed towards deffraying these expences) for want of
power to call an Assembly, wch. I have continually wrote for,
without a sillable of answer from any one. By doing all this
I have contracted great debts, and the bills I drew, to defray
severall of these expences, wch. ought to have been immediately
paid have been protested, so that now I have no other sattisfactions left me in this abandon'd place and condition, but that
of haveing done my duty to His Majestie and my Country, tho'
at the hazard of my own intire ruin. Yett tho' I have wanted
all manner of encouragemt., I have so done my duty, that I
can assure you, I do not hear of a pirate near these Islands, and
have put the place in such a posture, that if it be supported
from home, and with small expence more to ye Crown, wch. I
hope to have the honour of proposeing to yr Lordships when I
come home. This island (to confirm what I have often wrote
you) may be made ye most convenient magazine for trade for
all this part of the world, and secured from the attacks of any
of its enemy's, and in time of warr, may distress them
by its scituation, so near the chief of both the French and
Spanish settlements. This place so secured by my industry,
indefatigable pain, and the forfeiture of my health, has
since been sold for fourty thousand pounds and myself by
a manager at home, and Copartner's Factotum here, thought
not to diserve any share of it. But on the contrary all the
unworthy usage a man can have, has been given me, and all ye
expency's designed to be thrown on me, but that I have an intire
relyance on the honour and justice of my Lord Londonderry,
Mr. Wm. Chetwind, and Mr. Docminicque, the only surviving
of the Co-partners worth mentioning. I depend I have H.M.
leave to go home, having written for it, above a yeare since.
I shall therefore (tho' no such leave is arrived) proceed to do
so, by the way of Carrolina, the next month, and leave the
Governmt. in the hands of Mr. Fairfax, a kinsman of Coll.
Bladens, but without some care taken to support the place from
home, I cannot expect he will be able to hold it long after my
departure, tho' I shall put him in the best posture I can, wth.
provissions and every thing else I shall paun myself further for,
at Carrolina, for the Guarison's maintenance and I perswade
myself, I shall not want your Lordships good offices to have me
excused by H.M. for thus leaving my Government, since without
going my selfe it can no longer be supported etc. Signed,
Woodes Rogers. Endorsed, Recd. Read 27th June, 1721.
3½ pp. [C.O. 23, 1. No. 35.] |
Feb. 26. Whitehall. |
391. Lord Townshend to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses letters and papers from Governor Philipps to
the late Mr. Secy. Craggs, "which you will please to peruse and
to make a representation of such matters you shall judge proper"
etc. Signed. Townshend. Endorsed, Recd. 27th Feb., 1720/21,
Read 23rd May, 1722. 1 p. Enclosed, |
391. i. Governor Philipps to Mr. Secretary Craggs, Annapolis
Royal, 27th Sept., 1720. Endorsed, R. 24th Feb.
Duplicate of C.S.P. Sept. 26th, 1720. |
391. ii. Same to Same. 24th Nov., 1720. Duplicate of
C.S.P. 24th Nov., 1720. [C.O. 217, 4. ff. 49, 50v.–60,
61, 61v., 62v.] |
Feb. 26. St. James's. |
392. Order of King in Council. Approving of draught of
Commission for the Lord Viscount Irwin to be Governor of
Barbados. Signed, Robert Hales. Endorsed, Recd. 2nd, Read
8th June, 1721. ¾ p. [C.O. 28, 17. ff. 122, 123v.: and (duplicate
signed, Temple Stanyan), 5, 191. p. 1a.] |
Feb. 27. |
393. Mr. Attorney General to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Reply to 3rd Jan. I apprehend the principal
question intended by your Lopps. related to the negative given
by the Governor to the election of the Speaker for the Assembly.
And as to that I am of opinion the Governor has a negative
voice, the words of the Charter [of the Massachusetts Bay]
being very general and expressly applicable to the case vizt.
that in all elections and acts of Government whatsoever to be
made or done by the Generall Court or Assembly the Governour
shall have a negative voice etc. And as the words extend to
this case the account given by the Governour how that clause
came to be inserted in the Charter strongly fortifys this construccon etc. I think the negative voice of the Governour will
extend to all elections which can be comprized within the words
of yt. clause in the Charter which are very generall and seem
to me to extend to all elections originally made by the Assembly.
I insert the latter words to exclude any construction as if I meant
any elections of members of the Assembly. Signed, Rob.
Raymond. Endorsed, Recd. 28th Feb., Read 7th March, 1720/1.
1⅓rd. pp. Enclosed, |
393. i. Extract of letter from Governor Shute, 1st June,
1720. |
393. ii. Extract of Charter of the Massachusetts Bay
[C.O. 5, 868. ff. 33–35, 38v.] |