|
June 12.
Hampton
Court. |
234. Order of King in Council. Approving representation of 10th, and ordering that the chief command of the Leeward Islands, in the absence of the Capt. and Lt. General, shall devolve as therein proposed, and that Governor Cosby's Commission be altered accordingly. Signed, W. Sharpe. Endorsed, Recd. 18th June, Read 22nd July, 1731. 2½ pp. [C.O. 152, 19. ff. 55–56v.] |
June 12.
Hampton
Court. |
235. Order of King in Council. Appointing David Bray, Councillor of Virginia, in place of Col. Man Page decd. Signed, W. Sharpe. Endorsed, Recd. 10th, Read 11th Aug., 1731. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 5, 1322. ff. 169, 169v., 170v. and 5, 21.f. 7.] |
June 12.
Boston. |
236. Governor Belcher to Duke of Newcastle. His former letters and the Journal of the Representatives enclosed must make it clear that there is no prospect of anything being done conformable to H.M. Instruction as to fixing a salary. Continues:—I am, My Lord Duke, perfectly devoted to H.M. service and honour, and the interest of His British Dominions and these I think not only consistent with but a strengthening of the prosperity of his Plantations, and after this way of thinking I have conducted the administration of the King's Government here. And before the year comes about I shall have spent more than the King has required for the support of his Govr., and yet have hardly been able to live as necessarily becomes H.M. Govr. I wou'd therefore with great submission repeat to your Grace that upon a sedate and reasonable review of this matter I can't believe it will be thought justice to me or for the King's honour that I must imploy my life in the King's service and that of his subjects here, to the continual consumption of my own estate, without the least support from the Crown, or from the people here. Yet this has been and is my hard case. I would therefore pray, My Lord Duke, that I may have H.M. leave to sign the inclosed bill etc. (v. 26th April, No. 157 i.) for my support, which your Grace must believe will strengthen me in the service of the Crown, and it will be a punishment upon the people to take their money, "for they really smile at the late Govr's spending 1000l. sterl. of his own estate without receiving a farthing from them" etc. Quotes cases of Lord Bellamont and Mr. Dudley. Concludes:— I suppose the great affairs of Europe have continually ingrost your Grace, and prevent me any answer to the many letters I have wrote etc., yet even this, My Lord Duke, makes this Assembly imagine the King has given over the affair of the 27th Instruction, etc. Signed, J. Belcher. Endorsed, R. Aug. 1st. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
236. i. Copy of bill for granting 5,400l. to Governor Belcher etc.; including 2,400l. previously voted but not consented to. June 8, 1731. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 898. Nos. 86, 86 i.] |
June 12.
Boston. |
237. Governor Belcher to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Regrets not having heard from the Board since their letter of 12th Feb. etc. Repeats gist of preceding letter to D. of Newcastle. Adds:—Should the King finally recede from his orders after so long a controversy (publisht in all the prints of Europe and America) I truly dread what would be the consequences to this Province. Some might be wild enough to fancy they were able to govern and protect themselves. Signed, J. Belcher. Endorsed, Recd. 23rd July, Read 4th Aug., 1731. Copy. 2¾ pp. Enclosed, |
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237. i. Duplicate of preceding end. i, [C.O. 5, 873. ff. 54–56, 57v.] |
| June 14. |
238. Sir W. Keith to Mr. Courand. Requests him to "put His Grace in mind to procure a reference to the Board of Trade upon" his petition etc. Continues: His Grace was pleased to promise to me it should be dispatch'd two weeks agoe " etc. Signed, W. Keith. Holograph. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 12. f. 64.] |
June 16.
Whitehall. |
239. Mr. Popple to Mr. Fane. Encloses, for his opinion in point of law, 15 Acts of New Jersey, 1730. [C.O. 5, 996. pp. 267–270.] |
June 16.
Whitehall. |
240. Same to Mr. Paris. Tuesday morning is appointed for the consideration of the Act of Pennsylvania for the establishing of Courts etc. [C.O. 5, 1294. p. 30.] |
June 16.
Whitehall. |
241. Mr. Popple to John Sharpe. In reply to his letter, the Board have appointed Tuesday morning next for the consideration of the Act of Pennsylvania for Establishing Courts etc. Has given Mr. Paris notice. They also desire to have his objections to the Act of Jamaica for the better regulating slaves etc. [C.O. 138, 17. pp. 314, 315.] |
June 18.
Hampton
Court. |
242. H.M. Warrant appointing David Bray to the Council of Virginia. Countersigned, Holles Newcastle. [C.O. 324, 36. p. 280.] |
June 18.
Boston in
New
England. |
243. Address of the Council and Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay to the King. We, your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, in great submission to your Majesty, as well as faithfulness to your subjects of this Province, humbly implore your Majesty's indulgence, and compassionate ear, while we lay before your Majesty our great difficulty by reason of your 27th Instruction to your Governour. We account it our greatest honour, and it is our highest joy, that in the compass of your Majesty's extensive Dominions, none are more firmly and zealously attacht to your Majesties person, and the august House of Hannover, than the whole body of this people: and as we are universally fixed in the principles of loyalty and obedience, and our hearts and affections strongly engaged to your Majesty, by the repeated instances of your paternal care and tenderness towards us; so particularly by your Majesties distinguishing goodness to this Province, in the appointment of your Majestie's present Governor, and being sincerely desirous to enable and encourage your Majesty's Governour, chearfully to manage the public affairs, your Majesties Council and the House of Representatives, soon after his arival pass'd a bill for his ample and honorable support, and again at the beginning of the present session, they have offered the sum of 5,400l., which sum he has declined accepting on account of your Majesties' Instruction, directing the settlement of a salary on the Governor; which Instruction, in faithfulness to the rights and privileges of your Majestie's subjects here, we cannot comply with, inasmuch as it would in a great measure alter, if not subvert our happy constitution, wherein it is designed that every part of the Legislature should be induced by interest, as well as duty, to consult an harmony with the others: And we beg leave to observe that the Council, and Representatives have a great dependance on the Governor in many particulars nearly affecting their interest, and that the Governor is under little, or no inducement, as to interest to cultivate a good understanding with them, more especially the House of Representatives, except that of their granting his support. And while your Majestie's Governor refuses to accept of anything, unless in the way of a fixed salary, and your subjects here, for the reason aforesaid, cannot come into such settlement, the Governor must needs be a sufferer for want of a decent and honorable support. We would therefore most humbly intreat your Majesty, to grant your royal order of leave, that your Governor may receive the sum that has already bin granted, and such further sums as may be granted for his honorable support, suitable to the dignity of his station, when he shall judge them to be so; which we doubt not this, and all succeeding Assemblys will readily come into, and should they not, we acknowledge your Majesty will have just reason to show your displeasure. Your Majestie's dutiful Council, and Representatives would also humbly beg leave to set forth the great difficulties arising from your Majestie's 30th. Instruction, whereby, should it be comply'd with, the House of Representatives would be hindered from passing on those accompts, which they humbly apprehend they have a good right unto, in conjunction with the other branches of the Legislature; and this is very consistent with the Royal Charter, forasmuch as the Governor, by warrant, with the advice and consent of your Majestie's Council, thereupon issues the money out of the Treasury, which the House of Representatives never pretended to intermeddle with, but always supposed, that this of right belonged to your Majestie's Governour and Council, by the Royal Charter, nor has any money ever been drawn out otherwise; and should this instruction take effect, the House of Representatives, who raise the public money, and whose constituents pay it, would not in many cases, be in any capacity to prevent misapplications of the money, or of obtaining any redress upon undue payments, which it is humbly conceived, would be against common right and equity; for the direction as to a future examination, can serve only to aggravate our distress, but noways helps to refund the money, or gain any relief: there being no possibility of impeachment here, as there is in such cases, in our Mother Countrey, before the Right Honorable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled. Wherefore your Majestie's Council, and House of Representatives would most humbly supplicate your Majesty to withdraw the Instruction aforesaid, so far as it respects the passing accompts. Signed, In the name, and by order of the Council, Josiah Willard, Secretary; In the name, and by order of the House of Representatives, John Quiney, Speaker. 1 large p. [C.O. 5, 898. No. 87.] |
June 20.
New York. |
244. Governor Montgomerie to the Duke of Newcastle. Abstract. Acknowledges letter of Sept. 25, 1730. Recommends Henry Lane for Council of N. Y. in place of Robert Walters decd., and Dr. John Rodman for Council of N. J., in place of John Hugg, decd. Has just returned from a conference at Albany with the Six Indian Nations, whom he found sincerely attached to Great Britain etc. Encloses packets lately sent to him by a courier from the Governour of Canada. Printed, N. Y. Col. Doc. V. p. 919. Signed, J. Montgomerie. Endorsed, R. 8th Sept. Holograph. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 1093. ff. 162–163v.] |
June 20.
New York. |
245. Governor Montgomerie to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Abstract. Has heard that his last letters were safely delivered, before he had an opportunity of sending duplicates. Longs with great impatience for their answer, as he cannot meet the Assembly of New York till he has instructions about the support of the garrison at Oswego, nor that of New Jersey till he knows the fate of the bills now before the Board. Recommends Henry Lane to fill the place in the Council of New York of Robert Walters decd., and Dr. John Rodmon as Councillor for N. Jersey in place of John Hugg decd. Has just returned from meeting the Six Indians at Albany, and found them sincerely attached to Gt. Britain. Set out, N. Y. Col. Doc. V. 290. Signed, J. Montgomerie. Endorsed, Recd. 29th July, 1731, Read 17th May, 1732. 1½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1056. ff. 1–2, 6v. (with abstract).] |
