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| Oct. 26. |
898. William Popple. to William Lowndes, enclosing an extract from Governor Nicholson's letter, July 1, relating to the Revenue of Virginia. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 37. p. 362.] |
| Oct. 26. |
899. William Popple to Sir Thomas Trevor, submitting for his opinion the forms of oaths, commissions &c. submitted by the Governor of Virginia, July 1. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 37. p. 362.] |
Oct. 26.
Whitehall. |
900. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. On further consideration of Col. Nicholson's letter, July 1, the letters to Mr. Lowndes and Mr. Attorney General, Oct. 11 and 19, ordered to be sent. |
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Micajah Perry's letter, Oct. 16, read. |
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Capt. Leake's report on Newfoundland laid before the Board. |
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Letter from Capt. Wm. Lilburne, Newfoundland, Sep. 18, laid before the Board. |
| Oct. 27. |
Answer to Mr. Secretary Vernon's letter about Sir W. Beeston prepared, and signed. |
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Letter to Mr. Secretary Vernon transmitting the old Virginia seal ordered. |
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Mr. Weaver permitted to see papers relating to the two late Acts of the General Assembly of New York—granting £1,500 to Lord Bellomont etc. and annulling extravagant grants of land—against
the passing of which a caveat has been entered and which it is his duty to defend. |
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Copy of the Order of Council, Aug. 22, upon Mr. Richier's petition, ordered to be sent to Mr. Attorney General for his opinion. |
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Representation about pirates seized in the Plantations ordered. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 223–227; and 96. Nos. 169, 170.] |
Oct. 27.
Whitehall. |
901. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary Vernon. In answer to your letter of the 22nd, we have not any late advice concerning the condition of Sir William Beeston's health, but he having some while ago, in many letters, complained to us of uneasiness under the shortness of his salary, which as L. G. is but £1,000 per annum, whereas the salary of a Governor of Jamaica has been usually £2,000, and his expressions in those letters all of them importing that his expense in supporting the honour and charge of that Government is much greater than the advantages he receives by it, and that by means thereof he impairs his own fortune, we are led to believe that this may be the true ground of his present desire to come to England. And we thereupon further beg leave to lay before his Majesty our humble opinion, that if instead of giving Sir William Beeston leave to return to England, his Majesty would, in consideration of his great pains and diligence in the discharge of his duty during the late war and the advances he has made of his own money upon many occasions for the public service (notwithstanding his great losses by the earthquake and his constant burden in supporting the dignity of his place), be graciously pleased to constitute him Governor with the usual salary, that would not only tend to his particular satisfaction but also to H.M. service and the welfare of the island, which being now in a very good way of improvement under his management and the inhabitants generally well satisfied therewith might be in danger of receiving some prejudice by his coming away at this time. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, John Pollexfen, John Locke, Abr. Hill. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 56. pp. 387–389.] |
| Oct. 27. |
902. Agreement between Captain Thomas Drummond, Councillor in Caledonia, and William Fulton, in the name of Ebenezar Brenton, John Porterfeild, John Cockburn and himself. If, after the safe arrival of the sloop Society, Joseph Lord master, at Caledonia, the people of Scotland be not there, Capt. Drummond obliges himself to pay in exchange between the sloop Society and the sloop Anna £300, to buy the Society's cargo at 50 per cent. advance on the invoice of the prime cost, and to fit the Anna for sea. William Fulton on his side obliges himself to deliver the Anna to Captain Drummond at Caledonia or elsewhere upon the coast of New Spain this present voyage. Signed, at St. Thomas, West Indies, 27 Oct. 1699, Thomas Drummond. Alexander Stewart and Joseph Lord, witnesses. Certified true copy, William Fulton, John Porterfeild. Endorsed, A true copy. Bellomont. [America and West Indies. Bermudas, 477. No. 60.] |
Oct. 27.
Whitehall. |
903. William Popple to Sir Thomas Trevor, enclosing petition of Isaac Richier and asking whether he have a right in
law to demand security from Mr. Trott. [Board of Trade. Bermuda, 29. p. 231.] |
| Oct. 26. |
904. Minutes of Council of Virginia. The Pamunkey Indians desiring the lands sold by them may be confirmed to the buyers, the Commissioners were instructed to proceed according to the Order of Assembly only and to refer all cases not therein provided to the next Assembly. The Revising Committee recommended to settle the bounds of all counties and parishes. Richard Reynolds and others ordered to be prosecuted for a riot on the petition of Lt.-Col. Samuel Bridges. General muster of New Kent Militia ordered for Nov. 14, the Governor to be present. The Governor invited to represent to the King the growing danger of the pirates. |
| Oct. 27. |
Warrants for the execution of Samuel Bray for the murther of his wife, Sarah, and of Peter Indian for the murther of John Crostick, signed. The Providence ordered to be sold. Ordered that none be pilots without commissions obtainable on production of certificates from five masters of ships accustomed to sail to those parts and the Court of the County of residence. County Court Clerks ordered to make a return of all fines and forfeitures in their counties to the Secretary's Office, and Commanders in Chief of muster-rolls of militia to the Council Office. Late Collectors and Naval Officers to deliver their books and papers to the Governor. Lt. William Wilson representing that one Stoakes, an inhabitant of the country, had been pressed on board the Essex prize as a common sailor, ordered that he be discharged and Wilson provide another good sailor in his stead. Various proclamations ordered, approved. Form of a warrant to the Escheators approved. Mr. Auditor ordered not to take anything for any parcel of land under five acres. Mr. Auditor ordered to send to England for all Acts of Parliament passed in this reign. The proceedings of the Council were read. Petition of Richard Lee, after 20 years' service, to be dismissed the Council, granted. He was appointed Naval Officer of all Potowmeck River except Stafford County. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 53. pp. 348–356.] |
| Oct. 27. |
905. Micajah Perry of London, Merchant, to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The coasts of Virginia, Maryland and Carolina are infested with pirates. Cases of the Maryland Merchant and the Charles quoted. Advices from the Plantations importune me to humbly desire that some men of war may be appointed to cruize on their coast. Signed, Micajah Perry. Endorsed, Recd. Oct. 27. Read Oct. 31, 1699. 1 p. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 5. No. 28; and 35. pp. 94–97.] |
| Oct. 27. |
906. Memorandum of preceding memorial. ¼ p. Endorsed, Recd. Oct. 27, Read Oct. 31, 1699. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 7. No. 4.] |
Oct. 28.
Doncaster,
St. Thomas. |
907. Rear-Admiral Benbow to Mr. Secretary Vernon. I sailed from Jamaica Sept. 4, H.M.S. Maidstone in company, to visit the Windward Islands as directed. The Lynn I sent to Curason and Cartagena to demand some of my Prince's subjects which are there. The Sandados prize and Germoon I ordered to
cruize between Cape St. Antonio and the Bay of Matansco thirty-four days, hearing that pirates were thereabouts. Also to countenance Capt. Brahoult who was going on a wreck which was cast away about two years since off the Havana with great treasure. We all sailed together. The Falmouth I left in port, not having men to sail her. I arrived at Nevis, Feb. 9. In this passage nothing of moment has happened more than the usual trade winds, which blowing very hard and inclining southerly with squalls, my sails being bad, I made no attempt to go farther to windward. The President of Nevis informed me of the many abuses our English nation suffers by the insolence of the Governor and inhabitants of the Island of St. Thomas, also their trading and protecting pirates and those that trade with them. I sailed from Nevis on this errand Oct. 17 and arrived at St. Thomas 20th, went into their harbour, wrote to the Governor to know by what authority he hoisted the King of Denmark's Flag on Crab Island, it belonging to the King, my master, and that contrary to the Law of Nations he suffered the inhabitants of this island to trade with pirates and gave them protection. His answer was that he highly wondered why I should mention his hoisting the Danes' flag on Crabb Island, it being the King his master's, and would persist in it, and to the inhabitants trading with pirates, he said it was a free port and they will trade with anybody, as instance the Brandingburg's factor here, who has bought great part of Kidd's cargo and is protected by this Government, and says he will trade with any, and be accountable to none but his master. The people of this island are very insolent, and are ready to commit all the villainy in the world when [they] have opportunity: the Governor has now several goods in his possession which came out of Kidd, as also great quantity of money, which he took as pawns of the master of the vessel which brought the goods, to let him depart. This St. Thomas is one of the westermost of the Virgin Islands and is about twenty miles in length, five or six over, mountainous, but a great deal of good land; the harbour is near the middle and on the south side, very commodious for ships, and water enough for any ship, and would be of great use to our English nation in case of a war in these parts, and may be made very easy secure, which is now only a receptacle for thieves. Signed, Benbow. |
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P.S.—This day I sailed from hence, tho' with regret, for Jamaica, thinking to look into the Bay of Samana, also St. Domingo; here are a great many pirates on the coast, but so much cover that 'tis very hard to come at them. Endorsed, Read Jan. 26. 3 pp. [America and West Indies, 669. No. 1.] |
| Oct. 31. |
908. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary Vernon. We send you the two old seals of Virginia, broken and defaced, sent to us by Col. Nicholson, July 1. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, Jno. Pollexfen, Jno. Locke. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 37. p. 363.] |
| Oct. 31. |
909. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. We humbly lay before your Majesty the draughts of such letters upon part of our representation, Sept. 12, as we conceive, mutatis mutandis, may be proper for your royal signature to the Governors of
your Majesty's Plantations. But the remaining and more important part concerned the sending of pirates hither to be tried, and since the Attorney and Solicitor General and the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty propose different ways for the doing thereof we submit copies of their proposals to your Majesty's choice. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Phil. Meadows, John Pollexfen, John Locke. Annexed, |
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909. I. Draught of a letter to the Governor the Earl of Bellomont. Whereas it may sometimes happen that you may have intelligence of pirates keeping upon their guard or at a distance by sea or land, so that it may be difficult for you to seize them, in such cases you are to insinuate to them by letters, messengers or otherwise that those who shall be forwardest to surrender themselves and most ingenious in their confessions, will have the surest grounds to hope for our mercy. Direction concerning the punishing of the Jailer at Boston according to the Representation of Sept. 12. "Or if the law be defective in that point that you endeavour to get some effectual Act passed there and in each of our Provinces under your Government for preventing not only the like mischiefs but in general the escape of all prisoners for the future." |
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The same letter mutatis mutandis to |
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Francis Nicholson, Lt.-Governor General of Virginia. |
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Nath. Blakiston, Capt.-General and Governor-in-Chief of Maryland. |
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Mr. Grey, Capt.-General and Governor-in-Chief of Barbados. |
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Sir Wm. Beeston, Lt.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Jamaica. |
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Christopher Codrington, Capt.-General and Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands or to the President and Council of Nevis for the time being. |
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Saml. Day, Lt.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bermuda Islands. |
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Wm. Penn, Proprietor and Governor of Pennsylvania. |
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The Governor and Company of Connecticut. |
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The Governor and Company of Rhode Island. |
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The Lords Proprietors of Carolina. |
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The Lords Proprietors of the Bahama Islands. |
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Memorandum. No letter was writ to the Jerzies because of the dispute depending relating to the title to those Governments. |
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Memorandum. These letters were dated and signed by His Majesty, Nov. 10, 1699. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 35. pp. 85–94.] |
| Oct. 31. |
910. Petition of the owners of the Dolphin, praying for relief against Samuel Day. Signed, Jacob Mears. Endorsed, Recd. Read Oct. 31, 1699. 1 p. [Board of Trade. Bermuda, 3. No. 51; and 29. pp. 231, 232.] |
| Oct. 31. |
911. Wm. Thornburgh to Wm. Popple. As soon as ever the Lords Proprietors of Carolina and the Bahamas are in town,
the Lords Commissioners shall have a full answer. (Vide No. 893.) Signed, Wm. Thornburgh. Endorsed, Recd. Read Nov. 6, 1699. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 4. No. 16.] |
Oct. 31.
Whitehall. |
912. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Memorial of Micajah Perry about pirates read. Representation ordered. Letter to Mr. Secretary Vernon about Virginia seals signed. Order of Council, Oct. 23, about the French on St. Lucia, read. Representation ordered to be drawn accordingly. Mr. Neale's answer about standard silver in the Mint read; Secretary directed to desire like information about gold. Mr. Mears' further memorial about the Dolphin considered. Representation about sending for pirates signed. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 228, 229; and 96. No. 171.] |
