America and West Indies: July 1738, 1-15

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 44, 1738. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1969.

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Citation:

'America and West Indies: July 1738, 1-15', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 44, 1738, ed. K G Davies( London, 1969), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol44/pp156-162 [accessed 29 November 2024].

July 1738, 1-15



July 1. Charlton.	324 Earl of Egmont to Harman Verelst. The bishop has not used the Trustees civilly in refusing to see Mr. Norris when recommended by them, and his putting him off till Monday (when informed that it was necessary he should be ordained to-morrow) makes me think he will not ordain him, for which let him answer God. However, I have written myself to him, copy enclosed, and I advise your going this very morning with it to Fulham and take Mr. Norris that if my lord consent he may examine Mr Norris and ordain him to-morrow Take Mr. Smith if he has the leisure and inclination to go. I would have you venture the departure of the ship by waiting till Sunday week in case the bishop should say he cannot ordain till then but that then he u ill. If he neither will do it to-morrow nor promise it the Sunday after, you must look out for another bishop. I would by no means speak to Dr Bundy to attend you to Fulham or even to write to the bishop unless there be a necessity, for I take him not to desire any minister should go unless on the fond foot he left us for not agreeing to. Yet if there were a necessity perhaps he might write, though I doubt it, he not having assisted at our meetings even as Trustee. Signed. P.S. Should you apply to the Bishop of Gloucester tell him I would have waited on him if I had known he was in town. If any of them scruple to do the work because the Bishop of London declines it you must summon up your best reasons for explaining the bishop's reason Mr. Norris lodges in St. Martin's street, Leicester Fields, at Mr. Brown's, a tailor's. I hope you will take care to have a board on Wednesday. 2 ¼ small pp. Enclosed,
	324. i Same to Bishop of London, 1 July 1738, asking that Mr. Norris may be speedily ordained deacon and priest in order to catch the boat leaving in ten days or a fortnight Otherwise several hundred souls will be deprived of public worship to the great scandal of foreigners settled among them and the exposing them to run astray and either become deists or by necessity turn dissenters. Copy. 2 small pp. [C.O. 5, 640, fos. 130–133d.]
July 3. Fulham.	325 Bishop of London to Earl of Egmont. I have ordained Mr. Norris deacon and am ready to ordain him priest on Sunday next. But I cannot regularly proceed farther than I have already done till I know what his salary is and under what authority and direction he is to be Copy. 1 small p. [C.O 5, 640, fos. 34–35d.]
July 3. Blandford in Plymouth Sound	326 James Oglethorpe to Duke of Newcastle. Contrary winds detained us in St. Helen's Road till 30 June. We then sailed with the Hector, Sir Yelverton Peyton commander, and five transports. We beat up against the wind but at last were forced to put in here. With the very first wind we shall proceed All the men under my command are healthy. Signed. ¾ p. [C.O. 5, 654, fos. 158–159d.]
July 4. Whitehall.	327 Council of Trade and Plantations to Committee of Privy Council. Pursuant to your order of 27 May last we have considered Col. Dunbar's petition for some recompense for his great expenses in building forts and settling people in some lands deemed to be the western parts of Nova Scotia. In 1729, it being apprehended that the crown had a right to all land between the Penobscot and St. Croix rivers, Col. Dunbar was empowered by H.M.'s instructions of 27 April 1730 to lay out lands for all persons so desirous under certain conditions. Upon Col. Dunbar's arrival, he took possession of an old fort called Pemaquid which the crown had frequently recommended to the Massachusetts government to be taken care of, and repaired it at a very considerable expense. Col. Dunbar set out six different townships. In the neighbourhood of this fort and in most of the townships, as we have been informed by Mr. Tripsach, lieutenant in Col. Phillips's regiment, and Mr. George Mitchell, Deputy-Surveyor of the Woods and Lands, there were about fifty families settled, houses built and lands cleared for them, chiefly at Col. Dunbar's expense, which the said families were to have repaid him. But on application to H.M. in Council it was found that some other persons claimed the lands whereon these settlements were made, and an order was made that possession should be restored to such claimers and the colony dislodged. The persons so settled being dispersed were incapable of making any satisfaction to Col. Dunbar who by his zeal in making the settlement has been a great sufferer. On which account, though we cannot recommend the said Col. Dunbar's pretensions as a direct claim from the crown, we nevertheless think him a proper object of H.M.'s bounty and compassion. Entry. Signatories, Monson, M. Bladen, James Brudenell, R. Plumer. 5 pp. [C.O. 5, 917, fos. 112d.–114d.; draft in C.O. 5, 896, fos. 98–99d.]
July 5.	328 Letter of attorney by Trustees for Georgia to Harman Verelst to receive the 8,000l. granted by Parliament. Entry. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 670, p. 366.]
July 5. Palace Court.	329 Minutes of meeting of Trustees for Georgia. Read letter of attorney empowering the accountant to receive at the Exchequer 8,000l. granted by parliament; sealed the same, secretary to countersign. Received, 12 copies of Dr. Coneybeare's sermons preached before the Charity Schools, 4 May 1738, being a benefaction of S.P.C.K. ¾ p. [C.O. 5, 687, p. 86.]
July 6. Whitehall.	330 Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. In your instruction to Robert Johnson late governor of South Carolina you permit him to assent to Acts for establishing a paper currency, taking care that a clause be inserted suspending their execution till your pleasure be known. Col. Broughton in May 1736 passed an Act for emitting 210,000l. in paper bills of credit, wherein there is a suspending clause. We have considered the said Act and had the opinion of Mr. Fane thereon and also consulted several eminent merchants and planters of and traders to Carolina, and represent that the general purport of the Act appears to us to be agreeable to your instruction and has many good clauses and provisos in it; but there are some particulars therein to which we have objections. There is a clause directing the treasurer to discount or allow 10 per cent, on all duties inwards which shall be paid into the treasury in silver or gold which is evidently against the intention of the proclamation of 18 June 1704 enacted into a law in 1707 to prevent the drawing money from one colony to another by setting an unequal value thereupon to the great prejudice of trade. There is a provision in this Act for creating a security for an old debt of 100,000l. in paper money now current in that province out of the interest arising by the loan of 110,000l. part of the new bills, but there is no clause in it to oblige the borrowers to repay any part of the principal towards the sinking of the said bills which in out opinion ought to have been provided for by gradual payments annually and should have commenced at least upon the acquisition of a sufficient fund for the discharge of the old debt. We do not therefore lay the Act before you for approbation but propose it may lie by and that the governor now going thither may be instructed to recommend to the council and assembly the passing another law for the same purpose not liable to these objections. Entry. Signatories, Monson, M. Bladen, R. Plumer, R. Herbert. 5 ¾ pp. [C.O. 5, 401, pp. 279–285; draft in C.O. 5, 381, fos. 282–285d.]
July 7. Jamaica.	331 Governor Edward Trelawny to Duke of Newcastle. My last to you Was of 26 May by H.M.S. Dunkirk, Capt. Fox. The council and assembly are now sitting but have concluded nothing except their having passed a bill to double my salary during my continuance in this government. I find the militia in a very unserviceable state and that it is not in my power to put it on a much better foot, though the safety of the island principally depends upon the courage, number and regulation of that body. It was formerly in a very flourishing condition with regard to all those points: their alteration from that state to this which they are now in is owing chiefly to the following causes. By a clause in the Act of Militia it is enacted that no person shall be obliged to serve in a lower commission than his former, nor one who has been an officer to serve as a private man. And as the government has of late years passed through the hands of many governors and presidents there have been very frequent removals and promotions of officers according to the different judgements of the successive persons in the administration and their dispositions towards the gentlemen and others of all ranks and conditions. Besides, as it is not only burthensome and expensive but often hazardous to serve in any capacity by reason of the frequent and unsuccessful attempts to reduce the rebellious negroes and of their dangerous incursions, many have obtained commissions and have been permitted to resign them immediately in order to be exempted from all service. There is another clause in the same act by which it is enacted that if any person removes his abode from one precinct to another his commander is obliged to give him his discharge, so that such persons likewise, if officers, are exempted from all service till they have a commission in the precinct where they abide pro tempore equal to the former. By these means the number of useless reformed officers has multiplied exceedingly; and the young gentry of the best estates and interest finding low mean persons, even such as have been servants to their parents or others, advanced to superior commissions are unwilling to act under them. I have in discourse represented to most of the principal gentlemen the bad situation of their militia, who unanimously agree it is so and wish for a reformation by a new law; but they will not consent to any wherein there shall not be a clause to prevent the removal of officers except by a court-martial with a proviso nevertheless that such clause shall not be in force during martial law. I am not willing to seem inclined to anything which may tend to the diminution of H.M.'s prerogative or the power of the governor; yet I am sensible the country must be ruined if a reformation is not made. Finding myself under these difficulties I have not yet publicly recommended this affair nor propose to do so till I shall have H.M.'s commands about it which there is time to receive before next sessions, which will be about February next. I must observe that there is another great defect in the Militia Act which is that the penalties upon those who are wanting in their duty are so trifling and so difficult to be put in execution that nobody regards the orders of his commanders. It is easy therefore to conceive with what contempt a gentleman of fortune who may indeed be obliged to serve as a private man if he declines acting as an officer will use such persons as before-mentioned, though under their command. Copies of my speech to the council and assembly, their address to me, and my answer are annexed. I likewise send a list of the warrant officers who now supply the vacant commissions, recommending them to H.M.'s favour for the said commissions in order to encourage fit persons to accept of such warrants; and this I do for that reason in preference to William Newton, George Bird and James Long who came with me to this place in hopes of being employed in H.M.'s troops. These three gentlemen I think worthy to be next recommended. Signed. 4 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 20 September. Enclosed,
	331. i Speech of Governor Trelawny to Council and Assembly of Jamaica, 15 June 1738, directing attention to the problem of the rebellious negroes. Copy. 2 pp.
	331. ii. Address of Assembly of Jamaica to Governor Trelawny, 20 June 1738, with Governor Trelawny's acknowledgement. Copy. 2 pp.
	331. iii. List of gentlemen who have acted by warrant from the president as lieutenants to supply the vacancies of commissioned officers and who are recommended to H.M. to have commissions: Walter Graham in Sir Alexander Cummins's company, Charles Ramsay in Capt. Robinson's, James Murray in Capt. Merrick's, James Cunningham in Capt. Newton's, Thomas Alcraft in late Capt. Harman's, David Ross in late Capt. Harris's. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 56, fos. 103–108d.]
July 11. Whitehall.	332 William Wood to Thomas Hill. Having seen Mr. Wragg and other traders of London to Carolina and also received a letter from Bristol, I beg that the Council of Trade and Plantations may be moved to report on the merchants' petition against the Act of South Carolina for emitting 210,000l. paper money. In the course of some years past the traders conceive they have shown the fatal effects which the issuing of paper bills of credit and the imposing of duties on negroes are to the trade of this kingdom. It is truly a very sensible concern to them to be informed that other reasons against the said Act were expected from them than those they had before given in against paper money in general and this Act in particular. I have never written one letter on paper money or negro duties to Mr. Popple or yourself that was not done by the direction of some of the traders. Nor do I know any one person either of London, Bristol or Liverpool trading on his own account to Carolina either directly or by way of Africa that is not an humble suitor to H.M., not only that Mr. Horsey may be instructed not to pass any law either for the creating and issuing any new bills of credit or for the continuance of any duties on the importation of negroes into Carolina, but that the said Act may have H.M.'s disapprobation. Signed. 1 small p. Endorsed, Recd. 11 July, Read 12 July 1738. [C.O. 5, 366, fos. 101–102d.]
July 11. Whitehall.	333 Duke of Newcastle to Governor Edward Trelawny of Jamaica, enclosing copy of complaint of French ambassador that Capt. Thomas Harris, at his departure from S. Servans in France in November 1736, carried away a negro boy of twelve years and a half named John George Anthony and sold him to one Jones at Wanstead in Essex. The king directs that enquiry be made for the boy who is said to have been put on a ship for Jamaica. Entry. 1 p. Enclosed,
	333. i. Memorial alleging the facts given in covering letter, and claiming the return of the mulatto, the condemnation of Thomas Harris and damages proportionate to the prejudice to the boy's education. Capt. Harris lives at Helford Comb, Devonshire, where his wife has a small shop. French. Entry. 1 ¼ pp.
	333. ii. Report by Nicholas Paxton, H.M.'s solicitor in criminal matters, to Duke of Newcastle. The boy is stated to have gone on Industry, Capt. Clarke, for Jamaica. Directions have been sent for him to be delivered to the attorney-general there. Entry. 1 ¼ pp. [C.O. 324, 37 pp. 113–116; draft of covering letter in C.O. 137, 56, fos. 109–110d.]
July 12. Georgia Office.	334 Benjamin Martyn to Andrew Stone enclosing the following. Signed 1 small p. Enclosed,
	334. i. 3 July 1738, Blandford at Plymouth; James Olgethorpe to Trustees for Georgia. Though the wind was contrary we beat up from St. Helen's with the tides of ebb but were obliged to anchor every flood in the open sea. The masters of the transports cannot hold out with such severe service so we are forced to put into Plymouth. The men-of-war bound for Newfoundland are also obliged to put in here. We hope for easterly and northerly winds and shall set out with the first. I am very impatient to be in Georgia considering the present situation of affairs. Our people are all healthy and of out near 700 there has but one person died since they left Dunstable. We have discovered that one of our soldiers hath been in Spanish service and that he has strove to seduce several men to desert with him to them on his arrival in Georgia. He designed also to have murdered the officers or such persons as could have money and to have carried off their plunder. Two of the gang have confessed and accused him but we cannot yet discover the rest. The fellow has plenty of money and he said that he was to have had 60 or 100 crowns according to the number of men he carried off, he is yet very obstinate, refusing to give any account of his correspondents. We shall not try him till we come to Georgia because we hope we shall make more discovery. Copy. 1 ¼ small pp. [C.O. 5, 654, fos. 160–163d, entry of covering letter in C.O. 5, 667, fo. 74.]
July 12. Palace Court.	335 Minutes of meeting of Trustees for Georgia. Received receipt from Bank for 8,000l. paid in by the accountant. Read Gen. Oglethorpe's letter on board Blandford at Plymouth, 3 July 1738, ordered copy to be sent to Andrew Stone for Duke of Newcastle. Read authority to Rev. William Norris to perform religious offices in Georgia; sealed the same, secretary to countersign. 1 ½ pp. [C.O. 5, 687, pp. 87–88.]
July 12.	336 Appointment by Trustees for Georgia of Rev. William Norris to perform religious and ecclesiastical offices in Georgia in succession to Rev. John Wesley whose authority is hereby revoked. Entry. Signatory, Benjamin Martyn. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 670, p. 367.]
[July 12.]	337 Petition of Samuel Wragg of London, merchant, agent for Assembly of North Carolina, to Council of Trade and Plantations. Understanding that the questions of titles and rents of lands in North Carolina have been again taken up, petitioner asks for copies of any orders, representations and directions made or to be made. Signed. 1 ¼ pp. Endorsed, Recd., Read 12 July 1738. [C.O. 5, 295, fos. 132–133d.]
July 13. Whitehall.	338 Council of Trade and Plantations to Duke of Newcastle enclosing draft of general instructions and of those relating to the Acts of Trade for Samuel Horsey, governor of South Carolina, together with representation thereon. Entry. Signatories, James Brudenell, Monson, R. Plumer, M. Bladen. 1 p. Enclosed,
	338. i. Same to the King, 13 July 1738. We have made no alteration in the general instructions to Governor Horsey excepting in the following articles save that we have transposed some of them in order to bring all that are relative to the same subject together. The purport of the 20th article of the late governor's instructions was to allow the assembly to divert certain funds from the first appropriation for seven years for the encouraging and settling newcomers into the province, and that instruction having been complied with we have now omitted it. An Act having been passed for the purposes mentioned in the 21st instruction to Col. Johnson for the emitting of paper money we have thought fit to omit the said instruction although we have some objections to the Act as may appear by our representation of 6th inst. In the 43rd article to Governor Johnson relating to the settling in new townships for securing the frontiers of the province, two of them were directed to be settled on the River Alatamaha but the said river being now included in the province of Georgia they are omitted in this article and the number of townships reduced to nine. We have added the 84th article to make these instructions agreeable to the commissions given by you to Col. Oglethorpe and to Col. Horsey. The 106th article to Governor Johnson about re-establishing a fort on the Alatamaha river is omitted because the said river is now included in Georgia. The 108th article in these instructions is framed agreeable to three several additional instructions given by you to the late governor and lieut.-governor of this province in relation to the settlement of a township by Col. Purry which we have inserted in pursuance of an order of the Committee of Council of 27 May last. The draft of instructions relating to the Acts of Trade are the same as you have already approved to other governors in America. Entry. Signatories, as covering letter. 5 pp. [C.O. 5, 401, pp. 291–296; draft in C.O. 5, 381, fos. 286–289d.]
July 13. Whitehall.	339 Same to Committee of Privy Council. Pursuant to your order of 4 February 1736/7 we have considered the petition of the merchants of London trading to South Carolina against the Act passed in South Carolina in May 1736 (fn. n1) for emitting 210,000l. in paper bills of credit. [Report as in No. 330] Entry. Signatories, James Brudenell, Monson, R. Plumer, M. Bladen. 5 ½ pp. [C.O. 5, 401, pp. 285–290; draft in C.O. 5, 381, fos. 290–293d.]
July 14.	340 Samuel Wragg to Duke of Newcastle. The late lieut.-governor of South Carolina being dead since your signifying to him 11 October last the agreement for my receiving from the province of South Carolina 450l. for the charge of the victualling the German passengers and the detention of the ship Three Sisters at Cowes (though it amounted to a much larger sum) and 5l. 5s. per head for the freight of so many of the said Germans as should be landed at Charleston out of the fund appropriated for the encouragement of poor Protestant families to settle there, I beg your signifying the said agreement to Samuel Horsey, appointed governor of the said province to whom Gen. Oglethorpe has communicated the same, that he may be duly authorized thereby in directing the same to the council and assembly pursuant to the intent thereof. Signed. 1 small p. [C.O. 5, 388, fos. 179–180d.]
July 14. London.	341 James Pearce to Harman Verelst. By yesterday's post from Cowes I received a letter from Richard Hill of Charleston of 9th ult. which I hope will prove of great advantage to our American settlements especially to Georgia and Carolina; and as this gentleman is a man of sense and veracity you may inform the Trustees thereof. He says as under:
	There has happened an affair very lately which may be of great moment and very fortunate to this province if rightly managed. For the Choctaw Indians, a very powerful nation inhabiting on the Mississippi River and entirely in the French interest, have made peace with the Chickesaws, who are our allies, who have prevailed on the former to send an embassy to our government to desire our trade, acknowledging that the French cannot supply them as we do our allies and that they are now convinced that the French kept them at variance and war with their neighbours purely to weaken them all and then to make their advantage of it. These people, they say, have 10,000 fighting men settled in near 50 towns and live about 900 miles distance from hence. If we can fix them in our interest it will prodigiously enlarge our Indian trade and weaken the French in such a manner that we shall have little to fear from them.
	I shall be glad of a confirmation of this news, not doubting but that our legislature will be glad of this opportunity to secure our frontiers against our encroaching neighbours. Signed. 1 ¼ pp. [C.O. 5, 640, fos. 136–137d.]
July 15. Palace Court.	342 Minutes of meeting of Trustees for Georgia. Rev. William Norris laid before the Trustees his deeds of ordination and declaration thereupon. ½ p. [C.O. 5, 687, p. 89.]