|
| March 11. |
210. Heads of complaints against the Earl of Bellomont in his Government of New York, intended to be offered to the Committee of the House of Commons by the merchants, etc. (1) Upon his first arrival he gave encouragement to the Leislerian
party, thus reviving the animosities which several Acts of Assembly and a prudent Magistracy had almost extinguished. (2) Soon after his entry upon the Government, he called a General Assembly, whom he frequently sent for and treated with great scurrility. The Representatives prepared a law for healing these divisions, and when two of them came to tender this law to the Council for their concurrence and to the Governor for his assent, they were not admitted to deliver it, but the whole House was immediately sent for and dissolved by the Earl of Bellomont with opprobrious language, and a general charge of disloyalty. (3) Then, in order to procure Sheriffs and consequently an Assembly to his own humour, he garbled the Council, and upon frivolous pretences suspended ten of the most considerable for estates, parts and experience;—Cols. Bayard, Willet, Heathcote, Young and Townley, and Messrs. Pinhorn, Nicolls, Lawrence and Brooke, and placed six of the Leislerian faction in their room, viz.:— Abr. De Peyster, a merchant; Samuel Staats, a Dutch barber-surgeon; Johannes Carboyl, a Dutch mountebank; Robert Levingston, a Scotchman, the contriver of Kidd's piratical voyage; James Graham, a Scotchman, Attorney General; a Robert Walters, a son-in-law of Leisler; three of whom, Staats, Carboyl and Walters, in all public assessments were rated at no more than 150l., 25l. and 70l. estate. (4) He and this Council then appointed new Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace, mostly of the Dutch, and out of the meanest and mercenary people, having more regard to the faction they espoused than any other qualification. (5) He next permitted, if not directed, the taking up at midnight with sound of trumpet and drums the bones of Leisler and Milbourn, who had lain buried near nine years, and to lie in state some weeks, and afterwards to be publicly buried in the Dutch Church against the consent of the officers thereof, attended by 100 men in arms and a mob of 1,500 men, chiefly Dutch, the scum of that and the neighbouring Provinces, which struck such a terror into the merchants and other the principle inhabitants of New York, that most of them were forced to absent themselves for a time for their security. His Lordship, 'tis said, honoured this funeral by being a spectator out of a window. Tho' the ministers of the English, French and Dutch Churches addressed him to prevent the bodies being thus publicly buried, he would not vouchsafe them any satisfactory answer. (6) Soon after, he issued out writs for the election of a new Assembly upon the same day in all places except the two most remote counties, whereby the best freeholders were deprived of giving their votes at several elections. The Sheriffs performed the business they were appointed for by admitting some for freeholders who were not so, and rejecting others who were really so, as they voted for or against their party, and by appointing Inspectors of the poll who upon any complaint of unfair dealing gave this general answer, "If you are aggrieved, complain to my Lord Bellomont," and the same practice in all places gives just reason to believe the orders came from him. (7) To secure a majority of Assembly men such as he desired,
without any instruction from England he added two to the former number, one for the City and County of Albany, and one for the County of Orange, which last is by Act of Assembly made part of the County of New York, and has not twenty inhabitants freeholders, and never before had a distinct Representative. By this means Abra. Governeur, a Dutchman, so indigent as never to be assessed in the public taxes, and who, as is reasonably to be supposed, had a deed of some land made to him of purpose to qualify him for it, because he never had any land before, was chosen an Assembly man, and is since made Speaker. This fellow was formerly convicted of murther and pardoned, and soon after the Revolution publicly declared that Jacob Leisler had carried the Government of New York by the sword and had the same right to it as King William to the Crown, having conquered the kingdom of England. Of the 21 Representatives, there were but seven Englishmen, the rest all Dutch of the meanest sort, half of whom do not understand English, which can conduce little to the honour of an English Government and less to the security of the English interest there. (8) This Assembly expressed their gratitude to his Lordship by passing an Act for raising 1,500l. to be given to him and 500l. to his Lieutenant Governor, and another Act for paying debts chiefly contracted by his Lordship in unnecessary buildings, etc. (9) For the more effectual dispatching these Bills, Mr. Graham, Attorney General and late Speaker, who had before been made by orders from England one of the Council and ought to have been of that body, in the Assembly was continued Speaker of the House of Representatives, till they were passed, and then was called up to his higher post. (10) The charge of this largess falls principally on the merchants and substantial freeholders, who had no share in consenting to it. Three hundred and sixty-eight of the electors who returned the four Dutch members for the City and County of New York pay less to the public taxes than 29 of the electors who voted against them. The whole body of that faction pay scarce 1/5th part of the public assessments and scarce 1/50th of the revenue from Customs. (11) This Assembly, upon his Lordship's recommendation, vacated several particular grants of land under pretence of their being extravagant, and suspended Mr. Dellius from his ministerial function upon a malicious suggestion that he had deluded some Indians to make him a grant of lands, though they have recanted this, by which vacancy Mr. Dellius, who was the most useful man in that country for converting the Indians and keeping them firm to the English interest, hath been forced to leave the Province, to the great dissatisfaction of the Indians and hazard of their desertion to the French. But several other grants as large or larger were left untouched because in the hands of the Leislerians. (12) This Act was looked upon even by some of the Council and of his Lordship's party so very hard that the Council were equally divided over it, and it ought to have been dropped, but he acted in two capacities:—first gave his vote as one of the Council, in which capacity he has no vote in Assembly, and then confirmed it by his assent as
Governor. (13) This Act verts all their lands in the Crown, and does not vert any of them in the Indians from whom it was pretended some of them were surreptitiously got, by which means his Lordship will have them in his power to dispose of. (14) This Assembly just before their rising made a remonstrance to his Lordship aspersing the two preceding Governors and arraigning their administration with great malice, falsehood and scurrility, which he ordered to be printed. (15) His Lordship has not been less active out of Assembly than in it, and given sufficient testimony what spirit animated that body. He has tendered extra-judicial oaths to several of His Majesty's subjects, requiring them to make answer to such questions he should ask them, and upon their refusal to swear has threatened to commit them into custody. (16) He committed to prison without bail two merchants of New York who had farmed the excise of Nassau Island, because they refused to discover upon oath what profits they had made, and afterwards procured an Act of Assembly to justify him and continue them in gaol. (17) He suspended the payment of 26l. per annum to the English minister and 30l. per annum apiece to two French Protestant ministers, which His Majesty had appointed to be paid out of the Revenue, for no other apparent reason than that they set their hands to an attestation of Mr. Dellius' good behaviour. (18) By a warrant out of his hand he turned Miles Forster, a merchant, out of a house, which he had purchased part of and was possessed of nine years, and had laid out great sums in the improvements of, under pretence of restoring it to Leisler's heir, tho' Leisler's heir had pretence only to one-third part, refusing to let the title be tried by law. (19) A dispute arising about the property of a whale found on the beach, whether she belonged to the Governor or private persons, whose marks that killed the whale were found in her, his Lordship refused to try the property, but imprisoned one Floyd, who was employed to cut her up, without bail till his Lordship had seized the whale and converted her to his own use. (20) By an Order of Council he turned another person out of his estate after four years' quiet possession, who had recovered it by a judgment at Common Law, which was confirmed upon an appeal to a former Governor and Council, after which no appeal lies but to the King in England, and for the better colour of this extraordinary proceeding this order was instituted..., a name unknown in that Province, as if it had been an appeal to that part of the Assembly who have no power to hear appeals nor ever pretended to it. (21) He turned out one of the Judges for no other apparent reason than for refusing to commit an Alderman by order of himself and Council for declaring his opinion in common Council that a certain place proposed to erect a new City Hall upon was too near the great guns. (22) The L.G. and Justices caused four Justices to be sent for from Albany to New York, 150 miles, and suspended them because they had taken upon oath the recantation of two Indians who had falsely accused Mr. Dellius. (23) He suspended Thomas Palmer, the Naval Officer, for no other
apparent reason than his being a witness in a civil action against Mr. Weaver, his Lordship's favourite, and has placed in his room one Paroculus Parmiter, an infamous fellow, convicted of forgery in England, of which his Lordship had notice, and yet has since made him Solicitor-General. (24) He detained a merchant ship several weeks on pretence of sending letters to the Government, and sent down armed men, who brought the master up in custody to New York. (25) He suspended Mr. Brooks from his office of Collector without any just cause. (26) He has lately made Charles Olliver, a second lieutenant in the L.G.'s Company, who has no estate in the Province, High Sheriff of New York. (27) He has displaced most of the militia officers and put in mean, indigent fellows, most of them Dutch. (28) He gave a licence to Hendr. Hanson and others to transport horses from Albany to Canada, which was never practised before and may be of very mischievous consequence in case of a war. This has alarmed the Indians, who are jealous these horses may be used against them. (29) He having got two of Kidd's crew in custody, Buckmaster, an Englishman, and Van Jail, a Dutch, he committed the Englishman to prison without bail, and admitted the Dutchman to bail. (30) He has committed one Clark to prison without bail upon suspicion of his having some goods of Kidd's, only because he had been on board Kidd's vessel. (31) The Mayor and Justices of New York, either through fear, partiality or by order, refuse to take any affidavits relating to his Lordship's proceedings. (32) In justification of these proceedings, he calumniates the people of New York of being pirates and favourers of piracy and breaking the Acts of Navigation, whereas it is evident that but one ship has for ten years past gone from thence on a piratical voyage, and that was pretended to be commissionated by Leisler. 'Tis true that several ships have had a constant trade to Madagascar for negroes, and some of them, having lately met with India goods which they bought at easy rates, transported them to New York. These are what I am informed by the merchants of London will appear to be true. Signed, John Key. Endorsed., Recd. Read March 11, 1699/1700. 8 pp. [Board of Trade. New York, 9. No. 17.] |
March 11.
New
Providence. |
211. Edward Randolph to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I set out from Bermuda in a new but very small sloop, the 2nd instant, and in three or four hours we break ground, run upon a rock and beat five or six hours, which made us very leaky. We endeavoured to get into a harbour, but were forced to sea and ply our pumps till our arrival here, the 10th. Read Elding has the Government by a deputation from Col. Webb, and commission, at his going to Pensilvania; he and three more masters of vessels with commissions from Webb, under pretence to suppress piracy and take one Kelly who had taken some vessels, forced Edwards, master of a briganteen belonging to Boston, to leave his vessel, shift for his life with his men and one negro woman, believing 'twas Kelly with his consorts, which Read Elding, James Risby, ... Humble, and ...
Groombridge, now at Philadelphia, brought hither, seized and condemned, and shared her money amongst them. 'Tis a remarkable story; the owners, living here, were upon a sham pretence clapt up in close imprisonment till Webb and his harpies had got the briganteen condemned, by which they were not able to appear at the Court to plead in defence of their vessel. I shall by a safe conveyance hence make a particular narrative of the whole proceedings, to show to your Lordships and to the world the great mischiefs which are done to His Majesty's good subjects by most vicious and scandalous fellows, who by some way or other make an interest to get into Government. Were the Lords Proprietors strictly obliged by bond to make reparation for all the damages they bring upon His Majesty's subjects by their negligence and imprudent choice they make of persons to send over to be Governors in the several Proprieties, they would either make a better choice or submit their countries to His Majesty's immediate Government. Signed, Edw. Randolph. Endorsed., Recd. June 24, Read July 25, 1700. 1¼ pp. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5. No. 29; and 26. pp. 246–248.] |
March 11.
Whitehall. |
212. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Heads of complaints against Lord Bellomont, intended to be offered to the Committee of the House of Commons in pursuance of the petition [Feb. 16], were communicated by Mr. Champante and read. |
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Answer to the order of the House of Commons considered. |
| March 12. |
Memorial from Mr. Wallis read. Directions given for drawing a licence for him to cut trees in New England. |
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Letter from Mr. Blackborne, Secretary to the Old East India Co., read. |
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Order of Council, March 7, about settling French Refugees, read. Draft of a letter from His Majesty to the Governor of Virginia accordingly ordered to be prepared. |
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Mr. Richards, the engineer, about to take care of the fortifications of St. John's, Newfoundland, desiring that the inhabitants might be directed to assist him, the Secretary was ordered to write to Mr. Burchett and Mr. Pulteney. |
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Order of Council, March 7, presented by M. Dupin, etc. They were directed to lay before the Board the Duke of Courland's title to Tobago, together with their contract, etc. |
| March 13. |
Letters to Mr. Pulteney and Mr. Burchett approved. |
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Letter from Mr. Burchett, (March 12,) desiring some of the Acts for encouraging the trade to Newfoundland, to be distributed there, read. Ordered that six be sent him. |
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Draft of a licence to Mr. Wallis approved. Letter to transmit it to the Earl of Jersey ordered. |
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Representation about the Rye and Bedford dispute, signed. |
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Draft of a letter to the Governor of Virginia about French Refugees approved. Representation to lay it before His Majesty ordered, signed and sent. |
| March 14. |
Representation upon the Jamaica Acts, Dec. 1698, signed and sent. |
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Letter to the Earl of Jersey signed and sent. |
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Mr. Martin, Mr. Haynes, Mr. Brain, and Mr. Byfield, merchants, presented proposals for bringing Naval Stores from America, which were read. They were directed to lay before the Board a full scheme of the powers they desire, and a more particular explanation of the terms they propose. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 400–405; and 97. Nos. 48–51.] |
March 12.
Maryland. |
213. Governor Blakiston to the Council of Trade and Plantations. In my last of Feb. 2 I transmitted the lists of ships coming and going out of this Province, as directed. The occasion of the accounts of the Revenues, how disposed of here, as likewise the number of arms, is not yet transmitted to your Lordships is no fault of mine, having given repeated orders to Mr. George Plater and Mr. George Muscham(p), H.M. Receivers, for adjusting them, has been impeded by the continued sickness of the Treasurer of this Western Shore, Mr. Robert Mason. I perceive you have received several letters of mine, and it is a great satisfaction to me that hitherto your Lordships are pleased to approve my conduct. I assured you (Feb. 2) of the strict watch I shall always have upon any pirates, but this place is no way convenient for their receptacle, but what may chance to come overland from the adjacent Governments. I shall not be wanting to give you notice, as I have already done, of any ships that shall be seized upon the Acts of Trade and Navigation. I have already received orders from the Commissioners of H.M. Customs relating to Scotchmen, and shall be no longer in the dark in that particular. You are pleased to hint that there are some things mentioned in my Instructions to transmit. When you have perused the Journal of Council and Assembly and the Body of Laws I transmitted Aug. 28, I hope your Lordships will not then think me much tardy, but I must own the Instruction I have about sending the number of planters and inhabitants, as also a yearly account of the increase or decrease, and how many of them are fit to bear arms, the reasons I shall assign for not doing as yet, I hope you think will be a just excuse, for the constable of each hundred are generally very illiterate, and not capable of performing it, but must be disgested into a better method, and when the list of taxables are taken again, which will be this year, I will endeavour to have it done better, for the last are so dark and confused, I was ashamed to send them to your Lordships. I have never acted anything where my Instructions have enjoined me but with the advice of the Council, as your Lordships may see by the said Journals, nor have I made any alteration of officers but amongst the Justices of the Peace in the respective counties, which there was a necessity of filling up by the mortality of severalls, as also giving out Commissions to the officers of the militia, all which I did by the advice of the Council; nor have I suspended any of the Collectors or made any change amongst the Naval Officers, except one Mr. Batson, which was so ignorant in the execution of his office, that in a bond he took for a sloop which went out of this Province, he inserted Scotland
though the sloop was so small she was not capable of going there, but when I demanded of him the reason, he told me he knew no better, though he had been here 16 years, and some time in that place. |
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I have already acquainted Mr. Penn of the repeated Order of Council to me about running out the line betwixt him and the Lord Baltimore. I have also given notice of it to the Lord Baltimore's Agents here, who tell me they have no directions or orders about it, but what the next ships may produce they cannot tell, but I shall lay it before the Assembly when they meet, that the grievances of those may be redressed that are kept in suspense of settling their land, if they desire it. The meeting of the last Assembly was in June, which time was not so convenient to the Planters, being in the middle of their crops of tobacco, so the Council have thought it advisable that they meet Ap. 26 next. I am put to great difficulties of getting a Council here at any time, for only Mr. John Hammond lives adjacent to the town; Mr. Thomas Tench is 30 miles off; Mr. Tasker about 40, and the rest 60 or 70. Mr. Tench is intended home this summer, so I shall still find that difficulty to increase upon me. I enclose copy of the form of writ for electing Assemblies. Signed, N. Blakiston. Since the above written, I have with some pains got the Accounts of the Revenue, copies of which I have here transmitted. Endorsed., Recd. June 29, Read July 26, 1700. 4 pp. Enclosed, |
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213. i. Abstract of above, with marginal notes. 1¼ pp. |
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213. ii. Copy of writ for electing Delegates to serve in the General Assembly. 1 p. |
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213. iii.–viii. Memoranda of accounts of Mr. Muschamp, Collector of Potomack District, and of Mr. Plater, Collector of Puttuxent District. 6 slips. [Board of Trade. Maryland, 4. Nos. 2, 2.i.–viii.; and 9. pp. 492–499.] |
March 12.
Admiralty
Office. |
214. J. Burchett to Wm. Popple, desiring copies of the Act to encourage the Trade of Newfoundland, 10th and 11th, William III., for Capt. Fairborne. Signed, J. Burchett. Endorsed., Recd. Read March 13, 1699/1700. 1 p. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 4. No. 9; and 25. p. 371.] |
| March 12. |
215. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Information having been received that George Duncan had spoken seditious words at the house of Thomas Harrison, H.M. Clerk of the Crown and Peace, evidence of all persons present ordered to be taken, and Duncan to be arrested. |
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The Solicitor and Attorney General gave their opinion that persons not born in England, Ireland or the Plantations were not, according to the Act for preventing frauds and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, qualified to act as Justices of the Peace. It is the unanimous opinion of this Board that all such persons are disabled by the said Act. |
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Joseph Hole allowed a drawback on some wine turned sour. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. pp. 497, 498.] |
| March 12. |
216. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts Bay. His Excellency having received fresh advices of the conspiracy of the Pennicooke and other Indians speedily to break into rebellion, ordered that intelligence thereof be sent to Major Joseph Hammond of Kittery, and that His Excellency's pleasure be signified unto him that he communicate the same unto the several Towns and Plantations within his regiment, and that he give effectual order for the keeping of military watches and keeping out scouts to espie the Indians' motions. Also that he cause a view to be taken of all arms, and that the inhabitants be provided with ammunition as the law directs, and be in readiness to pass upon duty for their defence and the repelling of any insult of the Indians, and that their fortifications be repaired. Letters ordered to Capt. John Hill, Commander of H.M. Fort Mary at Saco, and Col. John Pynchon at Springfield, and Major Jonathan Tyng at Dunstable to the same effect. |
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Advised, that His Excellency communicate the Indians' design to the Assembly to-morrow, and propose to their consideration the making provision by an Act for the levying and disciplining of soldiers; the erecting of a Court Martial; and transporting of soldiers into the neighbouring Provinces and Colonies for their succour and assistance, as occasion may require; as also to propose the making provision for procuring a suitable stock of ammunition and to grant a supply for the Treasury. |
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Ordered that 50 barrels or more of powder be forthwith provided. [Board of Trade. New England, 49. pp. 276, 277.] |
March 13.
Boston. |
217. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Massachusetts Bay. Mr. Speaker, with the House of Representatives, attended His Excellency in the Council Chamber. The Governor addressed the Council and Assembly, explaining that it was absolutely necessary to summon them on account of the reported combination of Indians. He proposed for their consideration the levying and exercising of soldiers, who should be obliged to march out of the Province if need be; the making a law to punish mutiny and desertion, and the provision of arms, ammunition and a war fund. |
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The Assembly returned to their House, and after consideration of the information about the Indians, suggested that a Joint Committee of the two Houses should consider the Governor's proposals. |
| March 14. |
Report of the Committee for Indian affairs read and laid before the Board. His Excellency proposing whether it were not necessary that some proper methods be speedily taken to undeceive the Indians concerning the malicious report that His Majesty designed to extirpate them, a Proclamation was ordered accordingly, and also requiring all persons to avoid provoking the Indians, and to be on their guard. Report of the Committee sent down to the Representatives. |
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Bills for putting the Militia in readiness, and for sending assistance to neighbouring Provinces and Colonies, were read twice, committed, reported, passed and ordered to be sent down. [Board of Trade. New England, 49. pp. 313–316.] |
March 13.
Whitehall. |
218. William Popple to Mr. Burchett. The Council of Trade and Plantations desire that Capt. Fairborne may be directed to endeavour to persuade the inhabitants of Newfoundland to assist Capt. Richards, who is appointed by the Board of Ordnance to take care of the fortifications there, upon reasonable terms, and more especially in the winter time, when Capt. Fairborn shall be come away and when, their fishing being over, they will have little else to do. I send you six copies of the Act as desired, March 12. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 25. p. 372.] |
March 13.
Whitehall. |
219. William Popple to Mr. Pulteney. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations have desired the Admiralty to direct the Commander-in-Chief of H.M. ships of war to assist Capt. Richards as requested. They desire you to move the Board of Ordnance that he may have orders to pay the inhabitants of Newfoundland such wages as may be reasonable. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 25. pp. 373, 374.] |
| March 13. |
220. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Representation upon the difference between New York and Connecticut about the right of Government over the towns of Rye and Bedford. Col. Fletcher, late Governor of New York, having advised us (Cal. 1697. No. 1098) that these towns had revolted to Connecticut, and that Connecticut had at Rye in an hostile manner disturbed the execution of H.M. writ for the election of a representative for the General Assembly of New York, we desired Lord Bellomont after his arrival to enquire into the matter, and, he having sent us the reports of the Commissioners appointed by him for New York and of Commissioners from Connecticut, we humbly represent that, in order to the settling a division line between the said Province and Colony, Commissioners were appointed by Charles II., who in 1664 by the mutual consent of both parties signed a report by which those boundaries were to be settled, but it being afterwards found that some places named in it were not at that distance from other places which had been agreed upon, as the Commissioners for New York declared, to be the rule and measure of their proceeding, and that the towns of Rye and Bedford, which by the supposed distance of the foresaid places named for boundaries would have been included in the Province of New York, were by the mistake about that distance made to fall within the Colony of Connecticut, another agreement was made, Nov. 1683, between Col. Dongan, then Governor of New York, for the then Duke of York, and the Governor of Connecticut, Robert Treat, by which the division line is more exactly expressed, so as to remove all future controversy about Rye and Bedford, by including them un-
doubtedly in the Province of New York. An exact survey was made, landmarks were fixed, and these towns, yielded by the Governor and Company of Connecticut, received under the Government of New York, and so continued until the beginning of 1697. Nevertheless it being now objected by the Commissioners from Connecticut that their Commissioners in 1683 had no power to alter the bounds formerly agreed upon, and further that there is a proviso in the agreement of 1683 submitting the same to the approbation of Charles II. and the Duke of York, which was not declared, and that therefore the Agreement ought to be esteemed void, we answer that the Commissioners were the Governor of that Colony himself and others joined with him in the same Commission, which we conceive to be sufficient authority from that Government, and that the acquiescence of that Government under the settlement then made during the last year of Charles II., the whole time of James I. and at least eight years of your Majesty's reign is a sufficient bar against their cavil upon the proviso, or at least if the want of King Charles' and the Duke of York's approbation be esteemed of any moment, your Majesty is yet in right to supply it. We therefore humbly offer that your Majesty would please to declare your approbation of the Agreement of 1683 and to give directions accordingly to the Commander-in-Chief and Council of New York and the Governor and Company of Connecticut, that the boundaries expressed in that Agreement may forever hereafter remain the division line between the Province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut. Signed, Stamford, Ph. Meadows, Wm. Blathwayt, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, G. Stepney. [Board of Trade. New York, 54. pp. 99–104 ; and 44A. No. 34.] |
March 14.
Kensington. |
221. Order of King in Council, approving above Representation, and instructing the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations to prepare draughts of letters to the Earl of Bellomont and Governor and Company of Connecticut accordingly. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed., Recd. Read March 26, 1700. ¾ p. [Board of Trade. New York, 9. No. 18; and 54. p. 105.] |
| March 14. |
222. Memorandum of above order of Council. ½ p. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5. No. 30.] |
March 14.
Admiralty
Office. |
223. Mr. Burchett to Mr. Popple. By this night's post I shall forward the Acts of Parliament to Capt. Fairborne, and orders to use his best endeavours to prevail with the inhabitants there to assist Capt. Richards in the works of the fortifications. Signed, J. Burchett. Endorsed., Recd. March 15, Read March 19, 1699/1700. ½ p. [Board of Trade. Newfoundland, 4. No. 10; and 25. p. 374.] |
March 14.
Whitehall. |
224. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Earl of Jersey, enclosing draught of a licence to William Wallis to cut trees in New England for H.M. Navy. Signed, Stamford, Ph. Meadows, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney. Annexed, |
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224. i. Draft of licence referred to above. [Board of Trade. New England, 37. pp. 412–416.] |
March 14.
Whitehall. |
225. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King, enclosing draft of letter to the Governor of Virginia. Signed, Stamford, Ph. Meadows, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, George Stepney. Annexed, |
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225. i. Draft of letter for His Majesty's signature to the Governor of Virginia. We will and require you upon the arrival of the Marquis de la Muce, M. de Sailly, and other French Protestant Refugiez to settle in Norfolk County, in Virginia, to give them all possible encouragement by granting unto them such tracts of land as usual to new-comers in that Province, and giving them such further assistance in settling their families and promoting their endeavours in planting as may be reasonable. March 18. Signed, Jersey. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 37. pp. 392–394.] |
March 14.
Kensington. |
226. Order of King in Council, approving above draft. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed., Recd. March 18, Read March 26, 1700. ½ p. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 8. No. 7; and 37. p. 396.] |
| March 14. |
227. Proposals (? of Mr. Haynes, etc.) for bringing Naval Stores from America. We will produce in H.M. Plantations 1,000 barrels of tar and pitch in two years, and 1,000 more the year following, and deliver in some one port of H.M. Plantations the tar at 8l. and the pitch at 10l. 10s. sterling a last of 12 barrels, etc. 1 p. Endorsed., Recd. Read, March 14, 1699/1700. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 5. No. 45; and 35. pp. 177, 178.] |
March 14.
Whitehall. |
228. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. We have duly considered the Acts passed in a General Assembly of Jamaica, Dec. 1698, and humbly report that the (1) Act to continue the additional duty is expired; (2) the Act for appropriating 1,500l. to the use of Sir William Beeston, in consideration of his diligence during the war and expence in supporting the honour and charge of his Government, which whilst he was Lieutenant Governor exceeded the advantages he received by it, we recommend for your Majesty's approbation. The other Acts we see no reason why your Majesty may not be graciously pleased to approve of. List of Acts annexed. Signed, Stamford, Ph. Meadows, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 57. pp. 23–25.] |
March 14.
Kensington. |
229. Order of King in Council approving the laws referred to in preceding. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed., Recd. April 4, Read April 5, 1700. 1¾ pp. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 9. No. 12; and 57. pp. 26, 27.] |
| March 14. |
230. Minutes of Council of New York. Proclamation ordered forbidding the transportation of horses to Canada. |
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Complaint of Mrs. Davis, one of the King's tenants, that John Rodman is about to pull down a party wall between her house and the City Hall, referred to Col. Cortlandt. |
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Liberty granted to John Latham, shipwright, and Company to cut timber for His Majesty's service in any vacant land. |
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82l. ordered to be paid to David Hendrickse, whose boat was lost in assisting H.M.S. Newport when aground at the mouth of the narrows coming into this port. |
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Petition of Benjamin Fennile, Marchand, to be excused payment of additional customs for some goods shipped for this port via Boston. William Sharpas announced that he had delivered the letters to Gov. Penn, Col. Quary, Col. Markham and Gov. Blakiston. He delivered to His Excellency a sealed bag from Gov. Blakiston containing some pirates' treasure, which the Lieut. Governor and Council sealed without opening. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. pp. 296–298.] |
| March 15. |
231. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Massachusetts Bay. Bill for levying soldiers read twice, committed, amended, passed and ordered to be sent down. Bill for assessment of taxes, amended in Committee, passed and sent down. |
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Bills for putting the militia in readiness, and for succouring neighbours, passed by the Representatives, sent up, and passed. Bill for punishing mutiny and desertion read twice and committed. |
| March 16. |
Several amendments were agreed upon. |
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Bill for levying soldiers, passed by the Representatives and sent up, was passed. His Excellency gave his consent to this Bill and those passed yesterday. |
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The Representatives desired the Governor to send forces to guard the frontiers. Upon which it was advised that His Excellency be pleased to order the levying of 145 soldiers out of the militias of several counties to be posted at several places. [Board of Trade. New England, 49. pp. 317–319.] |
| [?]March 18. |
232. Memorial of Nicholas Dupin and others to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Quotes provisions of the grant by Charles II. of Tobago to James, Duke of Courland, in return for the Fort of St. Andrew in Guinea and all other forts there to the said Duke belonging. By agreement Nov. 9, 1699, the Duke's envoy granted to petitioners 50,000 acres of land in Tobago. We pray your Lordships to report that it is reasonable for His Majesty to confirm this contract, and crave leave to answer any objections raised. Signed, Nicholas Dupin, Richd. Goddard, John Britton, Tho. Puckle, Jos. Blake. Mem. that Col. Monck, late Governor of Tobago under the Duke of Courland, may be called for. Endorsed., Recd. March 18, Read March 22, 1699/1700. 3 pp. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 8. No. 38; and 45. pp. 30–32.] |
March 18.
Lime-street. |
233. Richd. Haynes to Wm. Popple, enclosing additional proposals for bringing Naval Stores from the Plantations. Signed, Rich. Haynes. Endorsed., Recd. March 18, Read March 19, 1699/1700. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
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233. i. Additional proposals for bringing Naval Stores. By Naval Stores we mean pitch, tar and rozin. We incline not to undertake freight so long beforehand, yet if their Lordships will let us know what they will allow in peace and war we will soon give our answer. The powers we expect are no more than whereof there is a precedent in the Greenland Act. ¾ p. |
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233. ii. Certificate that the tar brought from the Plantations in America is as good, if not better, than that brought from Stockholm, and that it has nothing of burning quality as some represent. Signed, Andw. Fryer. March 16, 1699. ¼ p. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 5. Nos. 46, 46.i. ii.; and 35. pp. 178–183.] |
| March 18. |
234. Minutes of Council of Virginia. Letter of Council of Trade, Nov. 30 last, read. Proclamation about Pirates ordered accordingly. The Committee appointed to revise the laws recommended to provide good and wholesome laws to prevent escapes from gaol. |
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Peter Hack, Dep. Collector of Potowmeck River, having seized the Jane of Dublin, Wm. Thornton, Master, on suspicion of illegal trade, prosecution ordered. The trial being delayed for a witness to come out of Maryland, ordered that the ship be appraised, and upon the Master's giving security to the value of her, he is to be allowed to proceed to his loading. |
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Richard Chichester, Collector of Rappahanock River, complaining that he needs a boat, ordered that if His Majesty have any boat in that river he is to have it, and, if not, to buy one. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 53. pp. 392–394.] |
| March 18. |
235. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Massachusetts Bay. Mutiny Bill, with amendment, agreed to and sent down. |
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Bills against deserters, and to prevent the deserting of the frontiers, read twice and committed. |
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Bill amending the Act for establishing precedents and forms read twice and committed. |
| March 19. |
The above three Bills were amended, passed and sent down. The House of Representatives proposed to His Excellency in Council that a day of Public Fasting and Prayer might be appointed throughout the Province for averting the threatened trouble from the Indians. A Proclamation was ordered accordingly. |
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The Council in Committee agreed to several proposals about the erection of houses for trading with the Indians. |
| March 20. |
Petition of the inhabitants of the upper part of Kittery, called Barwick, praying to be made a distinct township, referred to consideration of the next Assembly. This order sent down for concurrence. |
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Bill ordered to be brought in containing the approved proposals about Trading Houses for the Indians. |
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Bills about assessing taxes and punishing soldiers returned up, and passed. |
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Proclamation for a general Fast, April 25, agreed to. |
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Bills, for setting up Trading Houses for supplying the Indians, and in addition to the Act for building with stone or brick in Boston and preventing fire, read twice and committed. [Board of Trade. New England, 49. pp. 319–323.] |
March 19.
Whitehall. |
236. W. Popple to Richard Haynes. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations desire that you and the other gentlemen concerned in your proposals would more plainly express at what prices you will undertake to deliver the commodities as well here as in the Plantations, in doing whereof you may propose what difference you think fit with relation either to peace or war, and, if any such delivery be to be made in the Plantations, at what particular place you undertake to do it. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 35. pp. 183, 184.] |
| March 19. |
237. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Attorney and Solicitor General ordered to prosecute George Duncan. |
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Writs ordered to be issued for a new Assembly to meet in St. Michael's Town, Tuesday, April 16. |
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Order for payment of 1,140l. 5s. 4d. signed, for hire of the Anna Bonadventura upon an expedition to Martinico (1693 ?). |
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The Solicitor and Attorney General ordered to take evidence about the breaking open of the Custom House at Spight's Town. |
| March 20. |
Ordered that the Churchwardens of St. Peters and St. Lucie's put down the acres of land belonging to those who have not sworn to it, as they stood entered in the Church books 12 months ago. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. pp. 498–500.] |
March 19.
Whitehall. |
238. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Letter from Mr. Burchett, March 14, read. |
| March 20. |
Letter from Mr. Haynes, March 18, with proposals about Naval Stores, etc., read. Secretary ordered to enquire at what price they propose to deliver pitch, tar and rosin, here and in the Plantations, and, if delivered in the Plantations, at what place they propose to do it. Progress made with answer to the House of Commons. |
| March 20. |
Letter from Mr. Thurston about sending money, etc., to the soldiers at Newfoundland, read. Secretary ordered to send it to Mr. Burchett, and desire him to move the Admiralty accordingly. Progress made with answer to the House of Commons. |
| March 22. |
Memorial from M. Dupin about Tobago laid before the Board. Representation directed. |
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Reply from Mr. Burchett, that H.M. ships are on the very point of sailing for Newfoundland, read. Mr. Thurston informed. Answer to the Order of the House of Commons agreed upon. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 406–409; and 97. Nos. 52–55.] |
March 20.
London. |
239. Richd. Haynes to Wm. Popple. In answer to their Lordships' enquiry, we stated the price in our first proposals (March 14). As to delivery here, the common freight we reckon may be 6l. or 7l. a last, and probably, if encouraged, we may undertake the importing it. But from which place we must for the present forbear to name. Signed, Richd. Haynes. Endorsed., Recd. March 20, Read March 26, 1700. 1 p. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 5. No. 47; and 35. pp. 184, 185.] |
