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[C.O. 137, 21. ff. 94, 95, 97 v.] |
Nov. 4.
Whitehall. |
374. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Privy Council. Pursuant to your Lordships' order of the 1st inst. we herewith transmit to your Lordships the draught of an Instruction we have prepared for Jonathan Belcher Esq., H.M. Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, permitting him to give his assent to a bill passed by the Council and Assembly of that Province on the 8th of June last, for granting H.M. the sum of three thousand pounds for the support of H.M. Governor, that he may be thereby enabled to administer the affairs of H.M. Government. Annexed, |
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374. i. Draught of H.M. Instruction to Governor Belcher. Whereas a bill did pass the Council and House of Representatives of Our Province of the Massachusetts Bay on the 8th of June last, for granting to H.M. the sum of three thousand pounds for the support of H.M. Governor. And whereas application has been humbly made to us in your behalf, that we would graciously permit you to give your assent to the said bill. Now, having taken the premises into Our Royal consideration, Wee do out of Our special grace and favour to you, condescend to the request made in your behalf, and you are hereby impowered to give your assent to the aforesaid Bill. And whereas it hath been represented to us, that ye sum of three thousand pounds in bills of credit in that our Province of ye Massachusetts Bay is not at present equivalent to one thousand pounds, you are therefore hereby directed to remind the House of Representatives of our said Province that it is and always was our royal intention that the provision be made by them for our Governor of that our Province for the time being should amount to the full sum of one thousand pounds sterling p. annum. [C.O. 5, 917. pp. 103, 104.] |
Nov. 7.
St. James's. |
375. Order of King in Council. Approving draft of following additional Instruction prepared by the Council of Trade etc. Signed, James Vernon. Annexed, |
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375. i. H.M. Additional Instruction to Governor Belcher. St. James's, 8th Nov., 1734. Empowers him to give his assent to the Act of the Massachusetts Bay, 8th June last, for granting to H.M. £3000 for the support of H.M. Governor. Concludes:—And whereas it hath been represented unto Us that the sum of £3000 in bills of credit on that Our Province of the Massachusets Bay is not at present equivalent to £1000 sterling, you are therefore hereby directed to remind the House of Representatives of Our said Province, that it is and always was Our royal intention that the provision to be made by them for Our Governor of that Our Province for the time being should amount to the full sum of £1000 sterling per annum. Signed, G.R. Copy. [C.O. 324, 36. pp. 486–488.] |
Nov. 7.
Barbados. |
376. Governor Lord Howe to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses three Acts to which he has given his assent. Continues: The first is an Act to prevent clandestine marriages, which having been very frequent of late it was thought adviseable to pass an Act to put a stop to them, H.M. Attorney General having also been of opinion it wou'd be the most proper way to do it effectually. The second is an Act to allow interest on such orders as shall be issu'd in pursuance to the Act for the recovery of arrears etc. (v. 31st Aug.). I believe your Lordships will be of opinion it was absolutely necessary to pass this Act, that the fortifications might he immediately put into some tolerable posture of defence which could not otherwise have been done, the credit of the country being so low, none wou'd undertake to do anything without being allow 'd interest, till they were paid. The third is an Act to impower certain persons to purchase Pilgrim house and land for the use of the publick. Your Lordships will please to observe the last clause enacts that the said house etc. shall for ever after be and remain to the use of the publick etc. for the residence of the Governours or Commanders in Chief etc.; therefore as this Act is intirely in pursuance of the latter part of H.M. 25th Instruction to me, I hope it will meet with your Lordships' approbation, as also the other two, which I should not have given my assent to, had it not been represented to me in the strongest manner, and indeed it is my own opinion, they are absolutely necessary for the service of the island etc. Replies to the Board's request for a state of the island etc. 30th May, this being the first opportunity since he received it on 22nd Oct.—As to the fortifications, I have not only had them examin'd by the Commissioners of the several divisions but have been all round the island to view them myself and find them in a most miserable condition, some few of the great guns would be fit for service but are now useless for want of carriages, the walls of all the batteries and even of the chief forts are almost intirely destroyed, nor are there any small arms that are fit for service belonging to the publick but about one hundred in the magazine, and even the best have not a bayonet belonging to them; but in pursuance to the Act which I had the honour to transmit to your Lordships in my last packet, for applying part of the surplus of Mr. Worsley's tax to the repairs of the fortifications, as I have view'd and order'd the most necessary forts to be repair'd, I hope I shall be able soon to give your Lordships a better account of them; there are several other forts and batterys which might be of great service if it was possible for the inhabitants at this time to repair them, but they are not, neither do I know when they will be, in a condition to do it, their circumstances are so very bad, which leads me to give your Lordships my reasons for the decay of their strength; if your Lordships will be pleas'd to compare the list I lately sent over of the inhabitants fit to bear arms with the lists that former Governours have sent over, I believe you will find their numbers are very much lessened, and daily decrease by the inhabitants running off this island, some to our Northern Colonys and I am afraid many to foreign Governments; I must here observe theirleaving this place is by some imputed, and I believe it may be an inducement to a few of them, to the weak and defenceless condition in which this island is at present, and the great danger there is of it's being taken in ease of a war, but as, by appointing the best officers to command the Militia this place will afford and by seeing them do their duty myself every exerciseing day, I have taken care to get the Militia in such order and discipline that they have not been in, as I am inform'd, for several years past; and as I have already got the Field train in such forwardness that I shall have thirty good peices of artillery mounted with ten tumbrells all finish'd and fit for immediate service by Christmas, and as the chief forts are begun to be repair'd, and as I have taken opportunitys to let the people know upon the first breaking out of war, there will be a squadron of ships sent to protect them, and that I have good reason to believe there will be fifty-seven ordnance here very soon by H.M. commands to supply those in the chief forts that are unfit for service, I hope their fear and this cause for quitting the island will soon cease; but I must here take the liberty to represent to your Lordships that if the small arms I formerly askt for might be sent upon condition and with orders to H.M. Governour etc., not to deliver any out to private persons without paying for them, unless the enemy were actually landing upon the island; and I beg leave to say I hope this might be thought the more reasonable, as the inhabitants have promis'd to be at the expence of building an armoury for them at the Governour's house and allow an armourer fifty pounds pr. annum for the care of them; if this is granted, I am perswaded it will be a great encouragement to the people and effectually put a stop to all their fears, tho' I must freely own I am of opinion, the chief reason for their running off the island is their poverty occasion'd by the great decay the trade of this island hath lately fallen into, which brings me to the last head your Lordships have directed me to give an account of; as I was desirous your Lordships should have as full a state of this as possible I sent for several of the chief planters and merchants to give me their opinions upon it, who all agree, the trade of this island is now and has been for some time past brought to a very low ebb. partly by the late misfortune of short cropps, but chiefly by the low prices our commodity's are reduc'd to by the great increase of the foreign Sugar Colonys; They are also of opinion, several Acts in this island are very great cramps upon trade and require a speedy redress, particularly an Act intituled an Act concerning forestallers and ingrossers of provisions, 1672 etc.; an Act intituled an Act to prevent the inconveniency upon the inhabitants by forestallers, ingrossers and regraters, 1676 etc.; to prevent the exportation of horses and asses from this island, 1715 etc.; an Act intituled an Act for laying an imposition on all sugars, mollosses, rum, cotton and ginger imported into this island, which are not the naturall growth and manufacture of some of H.M. Colonys, 1715 etc.; an Act intituled a supplemental Act to the Act last mentioned, 1717. I must also represent to your Lordships as my humble opinion that as to the three first abovemention'd Acts the repealing of them will be of greatadvantage to the island, as it will open and give opportunitys to enlarge the provision trade which this island is in great want of, and as to the two last mention d Acts the late Act of Parliament for the benefit of the Sugar Colonys has sufficiently provided against the importation here of the articles of sugar, rum and mollosses therein mentioned, and as to the article of cotton, not taken notice of in the said Act of Parliament, they are of opinion in which I also concurr that the taking off the duty of sixpence p. pound imposed thereon by the said Acts wou'd be advantageous to the trade of this island as well as to the Brittish cotton manufacture which requires a much greater quantity of that commodity than is produc'd in all the British Colonys, therefore recommend the repealing the said Acts to your Lordships' consideration. They have also recommended to me, which I submit to your Lordships' judgment, whether, giving liberty for the Spaniards to come with their vessells to this island with cash, cocoa, indigo, logwood and other their American produce, not interfering with the produce of H.M. Plantations, for the purchase of European commoditys imported here as well as provisions and other goods, as it wou'd be of very great advantage to the trade of this island, it might not also be a great addition to the trade of Great Britain. The merchants here assure me, and by the best information I can get, it is confirmed to me the French and Dutch in their Sugar Colonys give them the same liberty and that they reap considerable benefit thereby, how far this liberty may interfere with the trading Companys in England I can't say, but as it was very strongly recommended to me. I hope your Lordships will think it was my duty to mention it to you. They have also represented to me that the merchants of Great Britain, Ireland and H.M. American Colonys trading to this place, as well as the merchants and factors and other inhabitants here have suffer'd very much of late years in their fortunes by the running away of many of the inhabitants of this island, who are indebted to them, with all their slaves and effects to South Carolina where they have been protected by a law of that Province from any arrests or suits for such debts as they have here contracted; that the only reason for the first passing such a law was to promote the settlement of that Colony, which being now perfected, the keeping it still in force, as they apprehend, is no longer necessary and therefore humbly desire a repeal of the said law as a matter of very great importance to the whole trade of the island. But the chief point they aim at and which I must think wou'd be of the greatest advantage and the surest means to recover the drooping trade of this island and thereby also its strength, is a free and direct exportation of at least their improv'd sugars to foreign markets, which if it were granted, as it would immediately put them on an equal footing with foreigners, they wou'd soon after gain a superiority over them and thereby add a considerable ballance to the national stock; it wou'd not only preserve H.M. Sugar Plantations and thereby support and maintain H.M. Northern Colonys and promote a great consumption of the produce of Ireland, but would also be greatly advantagious to the trade.navigation and strength of Great Britain. I must again repeat, as I look upon this to be the most certain if not the only method to retreive this sinking Colony, I represent it to your Lordships as a matter which requires the most serious and speedy consideration. |
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Encloses accounts of imports of negroes and wines, Aug. 1723– Sept. 1734, "by which your Lordships will see how greatly the trade of this island in these two respects has lately decreas'd etc." Continues:—I have had complaints made me by the merchants that two vessells have lately been taken by the Spaniards, the one a brigantine belonging to this Island, the other a sloop of Virginia bound to this Island; as to the first, I have herewith inclosed a copy of the joint and separate depositions of the master and supra cargo etc. they being now off the Island I cou'd not get original deposition, which therefore I hope your Lordships will excuse, and to which I beg leave to refer, your Lordships will observe she was taken the fourteenth of February last, the reason I did not send your Lordships an account of this before, was, the owners of her begg'd of me to give them a letter to the Governour of Porto Rico to try whether he wou'd not give her up before I sent an account of it to England, which I granted in compassion to them who are inhabitants of this Island and will be ruin'd unless their brigantine with the cargo be restor'd, but the said Governour wou'd not even suffer the vessell that carried the owners with my letter to come to an anchor, though they had a pasport from General Mathew, but made them keep out at sea in danger of being lost, and when with difficulty he gave them leave to come ashore with their letters in an open boat he wou'd give no answer to them but told the merchant, the brigantine was a good prize, she having two mules on board which he was satisfied was the produce of some part of the Spanish Coast; he was answer'd they were not and they were there ready to prove by two evidences the mules were taken off of Spanish Town, at which Island they had been about sixteen or eighteen months and were the produce of Beef Island, both Islands under General Mathew's government; but to this he would give no further answer, but order'd his guards to see the men into their boat directly. The vessell and cargo was sold for two thousand four hundred pounds Barbados currency. The sloop, belonging to Mr. Woodbridge of Virginia, was taken betwixt Cape St. Nicholas on Hispaniola and Cape May on Cuba by a Spanish sloop, the master and his company were put ashore on Turks Island, one of the uninhabited Bahamas, from thence they got a passage in a sloop belonging to Bermudas that happen'd to touch there for salt, the sloop cargo and two negro's belonging to Mr. Woodbridge were carried into Barocoa on Cuba; full proofs of these facts will be sent home as I am inform'd by the Governour of Virginia; as the merchants here make a great clamour against these proceedings of the Spaniards, I thought it my duty to acquaint your Lordships with them. Signed, Howe. Endorsed, Recd. 18th Feb., Read 16th July, 1735. 8½ large pp. Enclosed, |
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376. i. Joint Deposition of Alphonso Maison, of St. Michael's Town, Barbados, master of the brigantine Friends'Adventure, Messrs. William Thomas and John Sterling, merchants of St. Michael's, owners, and John McAlpine, merchant of St. Michael's. Describe voyage and seizure by Spaniards referred to in preceding. Signed, Alfonso Maison, John McAlpine. Endorsed, Recd, 18th Feb., 173 4/5 31/3 pp. |
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376. ii. Account of new negroes and wine imported into Barbados.Negroes. Pipes of wine. |
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Negroes
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Pipes of Wine. |
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Aug. 8, 1723—Aug. 8, 1724 |
2578 |
1349¾ |
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1725 .. .. .. .. |
2952 |
1157 |
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1726 .. .. .. .. |
3914 |
1432½ |
|
1727 .. .. .. .. |
3007 |
1261 |
|
1728 .. .. .. .. |
4141 |
1563½ |
|
1729 .. .. .. .. |
4661 |
1504 |
|
1730 .. .. .. .. |
2908 |
1543 |
|
1731 .. .. .. .. |
3832 |
1317½ |
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1732 .. .. .. .. |
3081 |
688½ |
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1733 .. .. .. .. |
1532 |
990¾ |
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1733. Dec. 13—13th Sept., 1734 |
738 |
411½ |
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——— |
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Total, |
33,344 |
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Endorsed as preceding, ¾ p. [C.O. 28, 24. ff. 114–121 v.] |
Nov. 7.
Barbados. |
377. Governor Lord Howe to the Duke of Newcastle. Duplicate of preceding covering letter and enclosure No. i. Signed, Howe. 3¾ pp. [C.O. 28, 45. ff. 327–328 v., 329–330 v.] |
Nov. 7.
St. James's. |
378. Order of King in Council. Confirming Act of Jamaica to establish the title of the Hon. E. Charlton etc. Signed, Ja. Vernon. Endorsed, Recd. 31st May, Read 12th June. 1735. 1⅓ pp. [C.O. 137, 21. ff. 145, 145 v., 148 v.] |
Nov. 7.
St. James's. |
379. Order of King in Council. Confirming Act of New York to repeal part of a clause in the act therein mentioned. Signed. Ja. Vernon. Endorsed, Recd. 31st May, Road 12th June, 1734. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 5, 1057. ff. 10, 10 v., 11 v.] |
Nov. 9.
South
Carolina. |
380. Governor Johnson to the Council of Trade and Plantations. In obedience to your Lordships' commands transmitted to me, by Mr. Popple's letter of the 30th of May last to enquire what further encouragements may be necessary to engage the inhabitants of this Province to apply their industry to the cultivation of naval stores of all kinds; and likewise of such other products as may be proper for this soil and climate (that do not interfere with the trade and product of Great Britain) I have duely consider'd thereof and taken the advice of such here as I thought capable. Hemp. The General Assembly of this Province did the last Sessions pass a law whereby they gave unto Mr. Richd. Hall one hundred pounds sterling per annum and sent him to Holland to procure three hundred bushls, of hemp seed and twentybushels of flax seed, but was so unfortunate as to ship the sd. seeds on board of Capt. Paul, who stay'd so long in London, and afterwards detained nine weeks in the Chanel by contrary winds, that he did not arrive here till the 15th of May, too late (as it was found by experience) to plant the same, and it's generally concluded, that the seed is spoilt; But the Assembly is now met, when I will streniously recommend the affair of hemp to their consideration, and to send to Philadelphia and New York to procure seed for that purpose. The said Mr. Hall is obliged by the law to instruct our planters to manure, cultivate and manage hemp till it is fitt for the market (for which he is extreamly well qualified). The law that now subsists in Great Britain, that allows a bounty on the importation of hemp, expires in about six years, I think. If the Parliament will continue the same for a longer term of years, it will mightily encourage our industrious planters to proceed thereon with vigour. When any progress is made in it shall inform your Lordships. Flax. Mr. Hall is of oppinion that flax also would do extraordinary well in this country, and if a bounty was given thereon it might much encourage the propagation thereof. Live Oak. Here are in great quantitys live oak timber trees grown in this Province and in H.M. Province of Georgia, which oak by reason of it's durableness, crookedness of growth suitable to the most difficult timbers, in the building men of war, is superior to any English oak, which is the oppinion of men of good understanding whom I have conversed with, particularly of one Berry who was lately a builder when I was in England (if not now) in H.M. yards at Deptford, who built a ship thereof in this Province. Cyprus. We have in this Province a vast quantity of Cyprus timber (almost inexhaustable, which is extraordinary good and durable free from knots, and very proper, as men of understanding do affirm) for decking H.M. men of warr, because of it's durableness and lightness when dry, and men of judgment are of opinion that it would make very good masts for H.M. largest ships, some of them are five foot thick at the bottom, and carry a good thickness all along as farr as eighty foot wthout limb or knott. There is a great many of those trees that are thirty-six inches and upwards through, and seventy-five feet long; It's true they grow in muddy, watery grounds and are very heavy when cut down green, but being squar'd and put upon loggs, a considerable way from the ground, I'm informed will grow very light, and they may easily be brought out of the swamps in flood time, which is generally twice or more in a year. This timber (in my opinion) deserves your consideration. Ther's this great advantage that attends both live oak and Cyprus, the former grows upon Continent and islands near the sea, the latter in swamps adjoyning to fresh water rivers, so that there will be but very little occasion for land carriage. Yellow pine of moderate size for masts are plenty and esteemed better than white pine of New England. We have not that quantity of white oak in this Province, as they have to the northward, but I am inform'd it is superiour in quallity: for Capt. Austin built a large ship for Mr. Wragg about 20 years since, and the Indians' warr obliged them to send to Virginia and Rhode Island for plank, and he informed me that what came from Virginia was better than that that came from Rhode Island, and some that he had cutt here was better than either. Boards, Plank &ca. I have been informed that the Sweeds and other northern country's have risen the price of their boards plank &ca., to almost double to what they were sixty years since; but the distance is so great from this to Great Britain and the freight consequently high that wee can't pretend to go thereon, without encouraged by a premium. Pott and Pearl Ashes. Here is in this Province a Sweedish gentn. (who as I am informed) has sent for a person that understands the making of pott ash in order to proceed thereon, and there is now in Georgia a person that has fixed his works in order to make pottash, some of which will be speedily sent home to Mr. Oglethorp, who undoubtedly will communicate the same to your Lordships, and if the duty of sd. comody. (as coming from America) be taken off, it will be a great encouragment, for many others to proceed thereon, as also on pearl ashes, which Mr. Hall is of opinion, may be easily made in this Province. Druggs. Here is a design in Georgia forming to introduce (if possible) several valuable druggs etc. from Natolia and Syria and other places in the Streights. These two provinces lye pretty near the latitude of this place, for which reason those commodities may probably be produced here. And if the Parliament would grant some encouragemt. for the importation thereof into Great Britain it would quicken or forward the design. Silk is another commodity which this country doth produce as appears by divers samples that have been sent home and well approved of by men of good understanding in that commodity. Diverse planters here and the Trustees of Georgia have lately propagated a considerable quantity of white mulberry trees, and I hope they'l apply their industry that way, and it would be a great encouragement if the Parliament would take off the duty on importation thereof to Great Britain. The advantage which Great Britain has by experience found by a late Act that gives us liberty to transport our rice directly to Europe to the southward of Cape Finistere so great as may be plainly made appear, and no frauds pretended as I have heard of, that I doubt not but H.M. and Parliament will prolong the same, and if that liberty was extended to the Dutch, French and Spanish Islands and Continent of America, and to the southward of Cape Ushant in France, it would enlarge the trade and I believe an additional advantage to Great Britain. I beg leave to give my opinion that H.M. settlements on this Continent, particularly this Province and the Province of Georgia ought at this time to be encouraged, because I am informed that the French increase very fast at New Orleans, and are extending their limits by building forts, so that H.M. Brittish Empire in America is more than one half surrounded by the French from the mouth of the Missisipy River to the mouth of that of St. Lawrence. I aprehend, if a considerable premium was to be given to the first person that made the first tun of good wine, a less to the 2d. and a less to thethird it might induce people to plant vineyards, and the like for silk, for being commoditys that require much charge and labour before any proffit arises from them, prevents peoples ingaging in it; but this Province is not able to bear the expence. As to your Lordships' Instructions of the 16th of June 1732 relating to laws made, manufactures sett up, and trade carried on here, which may affect the trade, navigation and manufactures of Great Britain, they remain in the same state as when I had the honour to communicate my sentiments last to your Lordships on that subject, only we have a potter set up here who makes coarse potters ware etc. Tarr and pitch has hitherto been the staple commoditys of this Province by which many familys are supported; the great quantitys that have been made, especially when the large premium of £4 p. ton was given, occasions a scarcity of lightwood pine near the rivers, and obliges going still further back, and consequently the more chargeable in proportion to the distance from the landings on the rivers, for this reason together with the large premium of 10s. p. barril on green tarr, or that made from standing trees prepared according to the directions of the Act of Parliament, many people have endeavoured to make it after that manner, but as yet without success, perhaps it may be for want of that skill and knowledge which the Swedes &ca. are masters of, which induces me to be of opinion that the sending over a proper person, or any other way effectually to instruct us in this particular would not only be an encouragement to the inhabitants, but also a great saving of the trees fitt for that use and render perpetual the supplys which this and the neighbouring Provinces might afford to Great Britain. The augmenting the premium on naval stores would be also a further incouragement. Turpentine and rozin this Province is likewise capable of producing large quantitys, probably enough to answer the demands and consumption at home, altho what is made at present is not very considerable, it being not more than ten or twelve years since they first began, and do increase therein every year etc. Continues:—As to hemp and flax, neither of these have been yet produced in any quantitys so as to render it certain that the country is capable of it, yet it is judged by a very skilfull person, one Mr. Hall, that many parts of the Province is very proper for, and will produce both in great plenty, and by a late Act of Assembly, this gentleman has incouragement to remain here three years, and employ his skill and best endeavours to bring one or both if possible to perfection; of his success therein your Lordships will be duely informed hereafter etc. To encourage further these articles a larger premium on the former and some premium on the latter may be needfull, as the great distance hence to Great Britain renders the navigation very chargeable on bulky commoditys. And as to ship timber that excellent sort called live oack equal or rather superior to English oack and fit for standards, knees and circular parts, grows in great plenty on the islands and places near the sea coast; our other oaks I cannot recommend for duration or strength. As to masts, yellow pines of moderate size are plenty and esteemedbetter than the white pines of New England, but as the country is generally low and flatt it will be very difficult and chargeable to gett out such as grow at any distance from the water. Cyprus trees of prodigious size of four foot diameter and 80 or 90 foot high free of knots are plenty and grow near the rivers, but whether they are fitt for masts I can't say, the wood being pretty soft, I fear they may not answer so well for that use, nevertheless they may be very fit for docking and other uses in ship building etc. As to the latter part of your Lordships' order, what products are proper for the soyl etc. The country has not yet had inhabitants who were inclined or capable of making many trials for new products, which leaves the more room to hope for improvements; as they found rice, tar and pitch gainful commoditys, very little prospect appear'd of employing their time and labour to more advantage than in those articles, and indeed, considering our situation and the several staple products of the British Colonies, there seems few articles left to fall to our share; our great hopes has been silk, wines and pot ash, neither of these being yet made to perfection, I mean any quantity and how far we may in time advance in them or other new products can't yet be determin'd. The granting a premium on these or any other articles and procuring proper persons to be sent over to instruct, will no doubt in few years discover what this Province is capable of. I observe Mr. Popple's letter of 3rd. July, 1733, which came to hand with that of the 30th of May, 1734, I am at a loss to know what private act your Lordships mean, not mentioning the said law, nor can I recolect any private law that has been sent in my time, but I shall be very carefull in observing my 25th Instruction as your Lordships direct, for the future. A few days ago I received by Captain Shubrick, Mr. Popple's letter by your Lordships' orders dated the 22nd August last, relating to lands being taken up within the 6 mile line of the township of Purysburgh and the Attorney and Sollicitor General's opinion thereupon. I must beg leave to state the facts as to that matter. As soon as Mr. Pury had marked the tree where he designed the middle of his town to be, I issued a Proclamation prohibiting any person taking up lands within 6 miles of that place, for I desire your Lordships will observe the town and contiguous 6 miles round, where not then survey'd, the season of the year not being proper for surveying; as soon as it was, Colo. Bull was sent to survey it and found several tracts of lands had been survey'd within the limits of the 6 miles, he reported this to the Council, and withall gave his opinion it would be more advantagious to the township to have what was wanting below the town laid out above where he thought the land was better and they would have a larger extent on the river; upon this consideration the Council being of opinion they were not strictly confined to the form, but had a discretionary power to do for the best, orderd Colonel Bull to give double the quantity above the town instead of below; Mr. Purry was then at the town and made no objection as Colo. Bull told me, but afterwards he and the people of Purisburgh altered their sentiments, and he petition'd the Council to haveit altered, I told him the Council would consider of it, and do the township justice, but he dropt the application and, as it seems by your Lordships' letter, has applyed to H.M.; the township and 6 miles not being run out occasioned these surveys, for it is impossible to judge of distances in the woods, for which reason we have had both the 20,000 acres and 6 miles of the other townships surveyed and marked to prevent mistakes. When H.M. orders come over I shall cause a new survey to be made, and I believe the people of this Province will aquiece in parting with them, there are not many, for as soon as I found the uneasiness it gave the township, I refused signing such grants as I could discover were likely to be within the 6 miles line of the said township, besides since I have found such mistakes have happen'd there is a proviso in all grants that they shall not be within the 6 mile line of any township. As to Mr. Thorpe's barony run out upon Mr. Lowndes' patent, and said to be within the 6 miles line of Purisburgh, Mr. St. John took upon himself to have it surveyed, without any warrant from me. Your Lordships are misinformed as to 8000 acres surveyed for me and in my name within those limits; the case is thus, about the time Colo. Purry had marked the tree where he designed his town, Colo. Bull acquainted me he believed he knew of a good piece of land worth having, and if I pleased he would survey 12,000 acres of it for me upon my patent as others had done; the Surveyer General was not then arrived, I found everybody that had patents had made use of them, and many mesne conveyances derived from them; mine was at one penny p. acre yearly quit rent, by which I thought the King could not be damaged, for it was a much higher rent than I was impowred to grant lands att. Col. Bull surveyed 12,000 acres for me, it so remain'd till the Quit Rent Act was passed, and sent home, after which I was informed H.M. disapproved of that part confirming patents, upon which I resolved not to dispute with H.M. or sett a bad example to others in relation to patents, but swore to my family right, relingquished 4,000 acres of the 12,000 and issued a warrant to resurvey 8,000 acres of it, to hold it at H.M. appointed quit rent, which I was qualified to by the number of souls in my family to take up; but the land jobbers used me in a most unparaled and unjust manner for by contrivance between Mr. St. John his deputy and them, they got upon the land a day before . . . . ., the deputy who had my warrant came there and survey'd the best of it for themselves, without regard to the justness of the survey or the King's Instructions for surveying land, returned their plotts into Mr. St. John's office, which he certifyed, altho he refused mine which was returned the next day; I appealed to the Council who gave it in my favour, and they orderd him to certify my plott in the usual form, which he likewise refused, and they have applied to H.M. to have the land against the Council's decree, thus am I put upon tryal whether I shall have a foot of land either upon my patent or family right, and those are the people who at the same time represent I have run it upon the 6 miles of Purisburgh,but don't think that an objection to having it themselves, being striving for it at this time. As to its being within the 6 mile line of Purysburgh, Col. Bull assures me when he surveyed it, he thought it more than 30 miles from it, but does now apprehend if a survey was made which hitherto has not, he believes 3 or 400 acres of the 8000 may possibly fall within the 6 mile line; I have all along told the people of Purisburgh, if it so happens, they are very welcome to it. This, my Lords, is a true state of the case, and thus am I misrepresented by the land jobbers in everything I do, while they by deceipt or fraud endeavour to rob me and others of their rights, and the Legislature of the worthy caracter they deserve. I must beg leave to inform your Lordships of an affair which perhaps may be represented from Virginia as a hardship done them, the young ungovernable fellows of the Cherokee Indians, but far from being the generality of them, have of late been very insolent, they have threatned sevl. of our traders to take their lives away, if they did not sell their goods cheaper than they can afford, altho prices of all sorts of goods are settled by agreement betwixt them and us, and they actually proceeded so far as to seize a whole store of goods to the value of 4 or £500 this currency; our traders were so allarmed that they durst not go into their towns again and the General Assembly passed a resolution that no trade should be carried there, until they made submission and promised amendment, so the trade was intirely stopped from hence; in the mean time we had an account that some Virginia traders were on the road carrying great quantitys of goods, powder and ball, which obliged us to send orders to stop them at the Catawba nation till the Cherokees came down to make their submission, which the Virginians perhaps may think a hardship, but I hope your Lordships will think a prudent act of self preservation, comendable in us not to suffer people to be supplyed with arms and ammunition that had given us such cause to believe they designed mischief to the Province. The Virginia traders saw and heard their insolence in their town, and said they would not supply them with more goods till we had brought them to reason, and I must observe to your Lordships that it is the Virginians underselling the traders of this Province that occasions their insolence to us, and would oblige us to sell cheaper than we can afford; could we be free from their attacks wee should readily give up the trade to the Virginians, but nothing keeps an Indian a friend, but finding a benefit by being so, and supplying them with goods; they think so, and as we expected, the stopping of the trade has brought about 60 of them to Charles Town at this time, who have made their submission, acknowledged their fault, and promised restitution, and we shall again open the trade, and suffer the Virginians to proceed immediately, we having no other view in what we did but the preservation of this H.M. Province, and using the properest means to bring those savages to reason. I have proclaimed the live years' Protection Law repealed. And have again, as your Lordships require, issued a Proclamation, prohibitingany lands being taken up, within 6 miles of the townships. Mr. Purry is arrived with about 280 souls; I orderd provisions to be ready against their arrival, and I doubt not but the Assembly to whom I recommended it will make good any deficiency that may happen in subsisting them for a year, having already subsisted those that arrived before above a year and 8 months, besides great assistance given to Georgia, and subsisting other new comers from Ireland and other places. I beg your Lordships will be persuaded I have done my utmost to have all the publick Acts sent you; it was the last Sessions that the Assembly examined the Treasurer's accounts, I have made him draw out copys of them, which have now lain five or six months before Mr. St. John to be audited, as I am directed before they are sent home, but not yet finished by him. but he promises they shall soon be done, then they shall be transmitted. I have been so ill above these two months last past that it is with the greatest difficulty I am able to indite this letter, which I hope will induce your Lordships to excuse the imperfections you may observe in it, particularly such matters as appear pretty much alike, which proceeds from being the opinion of different persons. I also send your Lordps. other persons' opinions on some of the same heads, for your better information, and particularly Mr. Hall's observations on the linnen and hemp manufactures. The Assembly have now under their consideration the building a fort on the frontier of the Cherokee nation, for fear the French should do the same and bring over that nation into their interest. Signed, Robt. Johnson. Endorsed, Recd. 31st Dec, 1734, Read 1st Jan., 1735. 16 pp. Enclosed, |
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380. i. Mr. Hall to Governor Johnson, Charles Town, 8th Nov., 1734. Encloses following in answer to his enquiry. Signed, Richd. Hall. 1¾ pp. Enclosed, |
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380. ii. Observation upon the linen and hemp manufactures of Great Britian and methods for encouraging planting of hemp in S. Carolina. Endorsed as covering letter. 7 pp. [C.O. 5, 363. ff. 195—203 v., 205—208 v.,; and (copy of first part of covering letter down to "St. Lawrence," dated Oct. 30, 1734) 5, 636. ff. 45—46]. |
