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Oct. 15.
Jamaica.
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566. Sir Chas. Lyttelton, Deputy Governor, to Sec. Sir Henry
Bennet. Has received the King's commands of the 29th April to
cease from making further attempts on the Spaniards, and hopes
soon to establish trade with them, especially in negroes, which
they can fetch from nowhere else so easily. From letters lately
received from Mr. Coventry, finds that the war with privateers was
not intended to be taken off by the King's instructions, so has
not thought it his duty to call them in. The work at the fort,
which is three parts finished, now at a stand, and will need 2,000l.
more to finish ; unless his Majesty will allow at least 100 men in
pay for a garrison, it would be better to leave it as it isopen
to the land, for there would be more mischief feared from themselves
than from the enemy. In time of danger it cannot be
defended with less than 300 men, and such a number is scarce
possible to be had upon a sudden alarm as is to be expected. The
nearest settlement is 20 miles distant, and it would be a hard
matter to persuade a militia to march so far from their own private
concerns : the negroes can be nowhere else so conveniently kept,
but to keep them in great numbers would be very unsafe without
a guard. The island in a much more prosperous condition than
it was some months since, especially as to its plenty of provisions,
which are cheaper by one-half than when they first landed about
14 months since. Hog, which is the planters' food, has fallen from
7d. to 2d. per lb., and tame cattle, sheep, and horses have mightily
increased of late. Wishes he could say the planters had also
increased, for since Lord Windsor's arrival not more than 200 have
come, and the year has been very sickly, and carried away great
numbers. The discouragements given at the Windward Isles have
been very great, and unless his Majesty take some very particular
course therein, he must not expect this island well settled, without
some accidental advantage, as the negro trade, draw them down. Does
not desire to continue here, being much more desirous to return to
wait on his Majesty's person, and to resign his affairs here into an
abler hand, which he every day expects to do. 3 pp. [Col. Papers,
Vol. XVII., No. 80.]
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Oct. 15.
Jamaica.
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567. Copy of the preceding letter. Indorsed, Copy of that by
Mr. Warren. 3 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 81.]
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Oct. 16/26 N.S.
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568. Copy of the agreement of sale by Jacques Berruyer and
Julien Desloires to Charles de la Forge of the islands of Martinique,
Grenada, Grenadines, and St. Allouzie [? St. Lucia] for 41,500
livres, dated April 1, 1651. Indorsed by Williamson, "Sale of
the West Indy Company of their pretensions to Martinique, Grenada,
Grenadines, &c." 5 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 82.]
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[Oct. 19.]
Barbadoes.
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569. Warrant to the Provost-Marshal of Barbadoes. To take
Humphrey Walrond into custody until he give the Council an
account upon oath of the sums of money received by him as President
of the island for permitting certain Spaniards to trade with
the island in Sept. and Oct. 1662 and May 1663, and until he pay
such moneys as are due thereon to his Majesty. Certified copy by
Edward Bowden, Deputy Secretary. Indorsed, Received 19 Oct.
1663. Read in Council May 9, 1664. 2 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol.
XVII., No. 83.]
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[Oct. 19.]
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570. Another copy of the preceding. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol.
XVII., No. 84.]
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Oct. 23.
Jamaica.
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571. Sir Chas. Lyttelton to Sec. Bennet. On the 19th inst.
there were brought into port two Spanish prizes, by a captain of a
small vessel, who in fight with the first so disabled his own ship
that he was forced to quit her and enter the prize, and when plying
on the coast of Hispaniola fell in with the second, which, finding
that he carried an English flag on a Spanish vessel, bid "him amaine
for the King of Spain," but after four hours' fight, being cruelly torn
and damnified, at length submitted. This ship is the Maria of
Seville, of 300 tons, carrying 1,000 quintals of quicksilver for the
King of Spain's mines in New Spain, besides wines, olives, and other
goods, which, on account of the loss of the bills of lading, are not
yet known. There are 70 prisoners, amongst them some friars, one
of whom "goes Visitor-General to his order, which is Mercenarians."
The captain, and owner of most of the cargo, Don Michell de Valencia,
is a person of quality, and treated with all civility, and he and a
merchant, Joseph de Castro, will at their own request be shortly
sent to Campeachy. The letters, which seem much to aim at
attempts upon Jamaica, say that they cannot despatch a fleet from
Spain before June. The first prize was worth very little, and the
goods are like to be sold for a quarter at most of their value, by
reason of the want of money. Has presumed by Mr. Rumball to
present him with a small trifle of Guinea trade. The bearer,
Mr. Warren, is a very understanding man, and well able to inform
him concerning much of the place. 3 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII.,
No. 85.]
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Oct. 23.
Jamaica.
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572. Copy of the preceding letter, without the postscript. 3 pp.
[Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 86.]
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Oct. 23.
Point Cagua.
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573. Minutes of the Council of Jamaica. Ordered that if any
negroes shall raise a mutiny, any two justices of the peace may
order their masters to sell or send them off the island. That the
credit and rates of tobacco may be regained, ordered that two justices
of the peace in each precinct swear in persons to roll and make
tobacco, which no others shall presume to do. That Lt.-Col. Lynch
cause an Assembly of 30 freeholders to be fairly chosen in the several
quarters of the island before Dec. 20 next. That the Act for chaining
boats to the shore, for the avoiding of persons running away, be
published.
Four proclamations of the Deputy Governor in accordance with
the above Minutes of Council. 4 pp. [Col. Entry Bks., No. 37,
pp. 22, 23, and No. 34, pp. 85-88, 90.]
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Oct. 27.
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574. Capt. Thos. Teddeman to the Navy Commissioners. Greenaway
has arrived from the Barbadoes, and says there are two Barbadoes'
ships in Dover road, who came in company with him. [Dom.,
Chas. II., Vol. LXXXII., No. 65, Cal., p. 316.]
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Oct. 28.
Barbadoes.
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575. Warrant from Lord Willoughby to the Provost-Marshal of
Barbadoes. To enter any house in which he supposes Humphrey
Walrond to be secreted ; and in case of resistance to raise force and
command all officers, soldiers, constables, and other persons whatsoever
to aid and assist him ; and having entered such house to arrest
Humphrey Walrond (if there found) and keep him in custody until
he pay such moneys as shall prove to be due from him to the King.
Indorsed, The second warrant. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII.
No. 87.]
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Oct. 29.
Whitehall.
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576. The King to (Francis) Lord Willoughby. Whereas his
Majesty has made a grant of the province of Carolina to Edward Earl
of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, John Lord Berkeley, Anthony
Lord Ashley, and others, to be by them and their assigns settled and
planted ; and whereas his Majesty is informed that divers persons
under his command desire to go thither, which will be rather advantageous
to the settled plantations, by lessening the excessive
increase of commodities, which has abased the prices, so that the
planters and traders cannot subsist, it is his Majesty's pleasure that
he hinder not any free and disengaged persons under his government
from going to Carolina, and that he give order to all Governors and
Deputy Governors under his command to observe the same. With
mem. that the same letter was sent to the Governor of the Bermudas
excepting the last clause of giving order to all Governors, &c. 2 pp.
[Dom. Entry Bk., Chas. II., Vol. XIV., pp. 16, 16.]
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