|
June 22.
Whitehall. |
842. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Earl of
Nottingham. Since H.M. happy accession to the Crown, new
Instructions have been sent to all the Governours in the West
Indies, except to Jamaica, which Instructions differ from those
given in the late reign, as well in relation to the oaths that are
to be taken by all in office, as to the discipline of the Navy, lately
resolved on by H.M. in Councill. New instructions with proper
alterations were drawn for Jamaica, intended for my
Lord Peterborough; but his Lordship not going and no other
Governour having been since appointed, the Lieutenant Governour
of Jamaica can only act by the former Instructions; upon which
consideration we are humbly of opinion, that the Instructions
drawn up for my Lord Peterborough, and remitted to your
Lordship, may be past under the Seal and sent to the present
Lieutenant Governour, which we humbly submit to H.M.
pleasure. Signed, Dartmouth, Robt. Cecill, Ph. Meadows, John
Pollexfen, Mat. Prior. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 45. No. 48; and 138, 10.
pp. 478, 479.] |
June 22.
Whitehall. |
843. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Ordered
that the Secretary do inclose to the Governor of Barbadoes the
letter for the Lieut. Gov. of Bermuda and a duplicate of the last
letter to him. |
|
Proposals made by Mr. Penn read. Ordered that he have
notice to attend on Wednesday in the morning. |
|
Petition of Rowland Tryon read and a report to H.M. prepared. |
|
Letter to Lord Nottingham relating to Col. Handasyd's
Instructions, signed. |
| June 23. |
Representation on Mr. Tryon's petition signed. |
|
Acts of Maryland, 1692, together with Sir Thomas Trevor's
report on them, Oct., 1699, considered. Their Lordships observing
that a revision of the Laws of that Province had been made by
the Assembly in July, 1699, wherein several former Laws were
continued, and others altered, and that by the repealing one Act
therein contained, An Act ascertaining the Laws of this Province,
these first abovementioned do remain in force notwithstanding
that divers of them had been left out of the Collection of those
revised; but their Lordships having nothing before them
explaining what may have been the reasons for that omission, nor
what proceedings have been further made in Maryland in relation
to the body of the Laws of that Province since the repealing
of the foresaid Act; and further considering that many doubts
may thereby arise whether some of these first above-mentioned
are fit to be confirmed or no; ordered that a state of what relates
to the collection or revision of the Laws of Maryland be laid
before the Board for their further consideration. [C.O. 391, 16.
pp. 162–165; and 391, 97. pp. 461–466.] |
| June 22. |
844. Journal of Assembly of Barbados. Resolved, that the
fees of barristers be in proportion to those of attorneys. |
|
2,000l. voted as a present to H.E., who then acquainted the
House with H.M. Instructions restraining him from receiving
any presents from the public. |
|
Supplemental Bill to an Act concerning the General Sessions
sent down with amendments, which were agreed to. |
|
Resolved, that all lawyers, who cannot think it safe to take
the oath prescribed, shall be at liberty to practise in all causes
wherein they have been already retained, without taking it. |
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Robert Stewart was granted leave to practice. |
|
Ordered that Thomas Reynoldson, vintner, do accommodate
the French prisoners that are under his charge, for a fortnight
longer at the public expense. |
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Ordered, that Capt. Mills continue in command of the Larke.
[C.O. 31, 7. pp. 76–81.] |
June 23.
Whitehall. |
845. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. In
obedience to your Majesty's commands, we have considered
the petition of Coll. Walter Hamilton. Quote the recommendation of Gov. Codrington etc. He appears to us to be well
qualified to serve your Majesty as Lieutenant-Governour of
St. Christophers, in case your Majesty may please to honour him
with that Commission. Signed, Dartmouth, Robt. Cecil, Ph.
Meadows, Jno. Pollexfen, Mat. Prior. [C.O. 153, 8. pp. 199, 200.] |
June 23.
Annapolis. |
846. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. The Governor
acquainted the Board that the occasion of calling them together
was upon the Admiral sending orders on Sunday last to impress
men at Port Royal and Kingston without any application made to
him for leave, or to any civil magistrate. An enquiry was ordered
to be made into the matter. [C.O. 140, 6. p. 145.] |
June 23.
Annapolis. |
847. Minutes of Council of Maryland. H.M. Order in Council
confirming the Act for the establishment of religious worship read,
and ordered to be published in all the churches. |
|
Letter of the Council of Trade and Plantations, Jan. 26, read
relating to the sailing of ships. His Honour, the President,
acquainted the Board that, pursuant thereto he had ordered the
officers of the Customs not to clear any ship until further orders. |
|
Reply to Lord Cornbury's letter (see June 15) agreed upon:— |
|
"This Province having formerly been at great charge on the like
occasion of remitting moneys to your Government, our Assembly
have resolved that the money voted should be paid by the
Treasurer to such person as should be sent from your Government,
who might give a receipt therefore, which by our former letter
we intimated to your Lordship, and assure you that when your
Lordship shall be pleased to send for the same, it will be readily
paid," etc. |
|
The following Representation of the Clergy of the Province
read and referred to the Assembly:—(1) That catalogues of
parochial Libraries be taken and sent to the Council. (2) Whether
the Sheriff can by the Act of Assembly demand sallery for
collecting the 40lb. of tobacco per poll, and from whom. (3) How
necessaries for the communion ought to be provided, and whether
according to the Act of Queen Elizabeth, the Churchwardens
of our respective parishes are not to take for the same, and how
to be raised. (4) That Church Officers be obliged to subscribe
their assent and consent of the Common Prayer and 39 articles.
(5) That no unbaptized person be admitted into any office of
trust in the Government. (6) That the Dissenters, especially
the Quakers, do not conforme to the Act of Tolleration as
confirmed by the Act of Religion, in divers particulars, first in
not subscribing such declaration and profession as is provided
by that law, secondly in not registering their meeting-houses in
the several County Courts. (7) Recommend the passing of an
additional Act concerning religion, wherein some penalty may
be inflicted on such as professing themselves Protestants, never
attend the public worship of God. (8) That the Quakers and
Papists be restrayned from seducing H.M. Protestant subjects.
Signed, Ro. Keith, Robt. Owen, John Sharpe, Jno. Edwards,
Gabri. Demmilliane, Wm. Tibbs, Jos. Colbatch, Jno. White,
Benja. Nobbs. Tho. Cockshutt, Henry Hall, Thomas Howell. |
|
The President acquainted the Board of his being informed of
several considerable quantities of rumme clandestinely brought
from Pennsilvania over the head of the Bay into this Province,
for prevention whereof he proposes that the Naval Officer be
instructed to depute some person in Elk and Bohemiah River. |
|
Upon petition of George Muschamp and George Plater, praying
the application of the Board to the Council of Trade and
Plantations that their respective salaries may be paid them
out of the 3d. per hhd. allotted for the purchasing arms, this
Board do not think fit to make any such application, the said duty
being given to the country for so good an use. |
|
Upon application of Sir Thomas Laurence, Secretary, ordered
that Col. Henry Darnall, Lord Baltemore's Agent, do bring into
the Secretary's Office what pattents are made out and remayning
in his custody, to be recorded in the Secretary's Office, according
to His late Majesty's Order in Council. [C.O. 5, 745. pp. 31–34.] |
June 24.
Whitehall. |
848. William Popple to Governor Sir B. Granville.
The Council of Trade and Plantations having not yet received
any letter from you since your departure from hence, nor having
at present any new matter to communicate to you relating to
the Government of Barbados, they have ordered me in sending
forwards the inclosed duplicate of their last, which was of the
27th May, to recommend the conveyance of this further letter
for the Lieut. Governor of Bermuda to your care, in like manner
as they did their former. [C.O. 29, 8. pp. 315, 316.] |
June 25.
Nevis. |
849. Extract of a letter from William Burt to Mr. Dummer.
As for the time of stay at each place, I perceive all people are
agreed it's sufficient, except this place, which if it was made
equal with Antigoa, it would be an advantage to the inhabitants;
here's as much trade as they have there and will require as much
time to corrispond, tho' in a little time if our coast is not better
guarded with some ships, we shall have little occasion of corrispondence, for since the Fleet went to Jamaica, the French from
Martinico and Guardaloupe have fitted out 18 sail of privateers
chiefly man'd by their mean planters that would otherwise
starve. They are so thick amongst these Islands, that we can't
sail from Island to Island but with more hazard than between
England and this place; hardly a vessel in 3 escapes. About
3 weeks past a ship called the Rubey from London and Ireland
bound to this place with 1,200 barrels of beef and other goods
was taken; about 14 days past one Bennett from Bristol, bound
here, was also taken; eight days past two ships and a brigantine
loaden with provision and lumber from New England bound to
Antegoa taken by a sloop in an hour's time, and several other
vessels that we have not yet a particular account of, so that
everything is risen to extravagant prices, staves and boards at
14l. a thousand, no cask to put sugar in or vessels to carry it
away, which makes it of no value amongst us, freight at 14s. a
hundred. Here are some vessels laden with sugar and durst
not stir for fear of the privateers. About 14 days past a privateer
cut a brigantine out of the Road at St. Christopher's laden with
sugar ready to sail belonging to one Richard Clayton, done at
seaven of the clock in the morning, you may guess how sawcey
they are grown. One 4th rate, one 5th, two sixth would secure
our trade and starve them. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 184, 1. No. 1.] |
| June 25. |
850. William Popple to Sir Simon Harcourt, Solicitor General.
The Council of Trade and Plantations desire you to return the
Book of Laws of Maryland past in July, 1699, and to give them
your opinion in point of Law upon four parcels of Acts of the
Bermuda Islands here enclosed, enumerated etc. [C.O. 38, 5.
pp. 397–400.] |
June 25.
Whitehall. |
851. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Upon
consideration of the state of the Maryland Laws, ordered that
the Secretary do send to Mr. Sollicitor General for the volume
entituled Laws made in July. 1699, now in his hands, in order to
their Lordships considering more particularly the Act ascertaining
the Laws of that Province, together with the proceedings made
thereupon. |
|
Ordered that the Acts of the Bermuda Islands, lately read
at the Board, be sent to Mr. Sollicitor General for his opinion
thereupon in point of Law. |
|
Upon consideration of the draft of a Report concerning the
rates of foreign coin in the Plantations, their Lordships gave
directions for some alterations to be made therein. |
|
Ordered that a draught of Instructions be prepared for
Lt. Gov. Handasyd to the [same] effect as those prepared some
time since for the Earl of Peterborough, when his Lordship
was intended to have been Governor in Chief of that Island.
[C.O. 391, 16. pp. 166, 167; and 391, 97. pp. 469, 470.] |
| June 28. |
852. Journal of Assembly of Jamaica. Thomas Bryan,
attending in custody of the Messenger, his excuses were admitted.
and he was discharged on paying his fees. |
|
See Minutes of Council in Assembly June 17 and 29. |
|
Upon the Governor's reply to the answer of the House (June 17),
Resolved, that the House have done their duty in relation to the
quartering the soldiers and providing for the recruits, and being
willing to go forward with the business that lies before the House,
are content to pass by that matter without any further debate. |
|
Ordered that the Commissioners at Kingston attend the House
to-morrow. |
|
Committees appointed to bring in Bills, for the better collecting
H.M. Quit-rents, for encouraging privateers and preventing
damages in the Plantations. |
|
Voted, that the fund for encouraging the importation of white
servants be laid on the additional duty. [C.O. 140, 7. pp. 42, 43.] |
June 29.
Whitehall. |
853. William Popple to Mr. Attorney General. Upon
receipt of a letter from Governor Nicholson, signifying that an
Attorney General is much wanted for H.M. service in that
Province, the Council of Trade and Plantations desire you to
nominate to them some fit person whom they may recommend
to H.M. for that employment. [C.O. 5, 1360. p. 396.] |
June 29.
Whitehall. |
854. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. The
Book of Maryland Acts past in 1699 being received back from
Mr. Sollicitor General, the Act for ascertaining the Laws of that
Province, together with the proceedings made thereupon by this
Board, were read. Ordered that Col. Blakiston and Col. Seymour
have notice to attend the Board on Friday. |
|
Upon consideration of Col. Nicholson's letter, March 13, ordered
that the Secretary write to Mr. Attorney General as preceding. |
|
The Collection of the Laws of New Hampshire, received from
Col. Dudley (July 23, 1702) were laid before the Board, and
some entrance made into the consideration thereof. |
| June 30. |
Laws of New Hampshire further considered. [C.O. 391, 16.
pp. 167–169; and 391, 97. pp. 473–477.] |
| June 29. |
855. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. A letter was written
to Admiral Graydon upon occasion of his impressing men without
leave (see June 23), inclosing a list of them, with depositions,
and praying for their immediate discharge. "You may alledge
that several of them are seafaring men, but how can an Island
of so great extent as this exist subsist, hold correspondence with
the several parts or the planters' goods be carried to market
without such men, and besides they are the most necessary and
useful men for the safety and defence of an Island," etc., etc. |
|
A letter from King William, April 14, 1701, relating to the
Commission for trying pirates was entered in the Council Book.
[C.O. 140, 6. pp. 146–148.] |
| June 29. |
856. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Jamaica. Message
from the House desiring to know what is become of the Bill
appointing Commissioners to enquire into the raising of money
in Port Royal. |
|
Bills, for dividing the parish of St. Elizabeth; to prevent
the incursions of the enemy on the sea-coast; to make valid the
will of Antho. Wood: and to confirm an agreement between
Olivia Reid, Widow, and Nathaniel Browne and Anna Petronella,
his wife; were read the first time. [C.O. 140, 6. p. 496.] |
June 30.
Newport on Rhoad Island. |
857. Governor and Company of Rhoad Island and Providence
Plantations to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Acknowledge
letters of Sept. 15, and Nov. 11, 1702. |
|
Refer to Address to H.M. transmitted to the Earl of Nottingham,
desiring a remission of their Quota for New York. In obedience
to H.M. directions we did appoint a day for public Thanksgiving,
wch. was religiously kept and observed with the greatest
solemnity as wee was capable of, and at the evening of said day,
rejoysing with eluminations and fireing of guns. Wee are not
ignorant of the many complaints and informations that are made
against us, in order to render us obnoctious and contemtible to
your Lordships thereby to incence your Lordships against us to
eclips us of those gratious previledges wch. through the Blessing
of God and the goodness and clemency of H.M. and her Royal
predecessors we have and do injoy. Our humble request is
therefore unto your Lordships that your Charity may be so far
extended towards us as not to harbour or give credit to such
informations and complaints so as to pass any determination
against us till we can be heard to make our lawfull defence.
We should be forever obliged, if you would favor us with the
knowledge of such things as hath been suggested and represented
against us, that wee might make preparation for our just defence
etc. By order of the Governor and Company of Rhoad Island etc.,
West Clarke, Secretary. Endorsed, Recd. Dec. 9, 1703, Read
March 28, 1704. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
857. i. Abstract of preceding. 1 p. |
|
857. ii. Copy of Proclamation for a Day of Thanksgivingg
"for the great Mercys and Blessings of God in protecting
H.M. and good subjects against the publick Enemy." etc.
[C.O. 5, 1262. Nos. 34, 34.i., ii.; and (without enclosures)
5, 1290. pp. 481–484.] |
June 30.
Philadelphia. |
858. Col. Quary and others to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Wee thought it our duty to acquaint your Lordships
that, on the death of Col. Hamilton, the Government of the
Province of Pennsylvania did devolve in the Councill (consisting
of eight Quakers and two others) or any five of them, by vertue of a
Commission left by Mr. Penn, a copy of which wee have here
inclosed, they did immediately take on them to execute the
power of Government without taking notice of the Commissioners
appointed under the Great Seale of England to qualify all such
as shall take on them the Government of the Province, at last they
were pleased to summon us, and accordingly wee appeared at
their Councill Board yesterday, the Dedimus lay on the table,
which they had by force kept from us ever since it came into
the country, and found ways to answer their own turne without
making use of the Commissioners; of which injustice we have
formerly complained to your Lordship[s]. We desired to have
the Dedimus put into our hands, that wee might pay all obedience
to it, some of us never having seen it before, which they refused
to do; after much time spent on this debate, they were pleased
at last to let us have it, about halfe an hour's time to peruse it,
which accordingly wee did, and then told them that in obedience
to those Letters Patent under the Great Seale of England,
requiring and empowering us to administer the oath therein
contained for the due observation of the several Acts of Parliament
therein mentioned, that wee were ready to doe our duty, and
did hope that they would doe theirs by quallifying themselvs
as the Law directed; they told us that they could not or would
not take the oath, to which wee replyed that it was not in our
power to make any alterations since nothing was left to discretion,
the very words of the oath being sett down at the foot of the
Dedimus, that wee were required to administer. After much time
spent, not worth entertaining your Lordships with, wee took
our leave of them, what they will doe know not, they have
adjourned all their Courts for a considerable time, so that there
is a full stop to the course of justice and very much ruins trade,
there being severall vessells to be registred which for want of
being quallifyed they can not doe, and yet notwithstanding all
this, that they can no ways answer the end of Government,
they are resolv'd with ye Dogg in the manger. Nor do they in
the least doubt but that Mr. Penn's interest will find means to
dispense with all obligations of Law in their favour. Your
Lordships will find that Mr. Penn hath worded his Commission
according to his usual talent of cunning, he gives them all the
power of Government for the three Lower Counties that is
granted to him by his Letters Patent, which hee very well knows
is nothing, they being not so much as mentioned, so that those
Countys are without the least couler of Government, which
obliges us to mind your Lordships, that some speedy care
ought to be taken for the government and protection of that
country, especially now in time of warr, that being ye frontier
to the sea and very much exposed; besides the incouragement
and preservation of this place, is of much greater advantage
to the Crown than the Province of Pennsylvania. All the tobacco
that is shipp'd off from this Bay is all produced out of the three
Lower Counties, and with encouragement in a little time it will
be of great value to H.M. revenue. Signed, Robert Quary,
J. Moore, Richd. Halliwell, Jasper Yeates. Endorsed, Recd. 5th,
Read 8th Oct., 1703. Addressed. Sealed. Penny-Post Mark.
2 pp. [C.O. 5, 1262. No. 32; and 5, 1290. pp. 367–371.] |
| June 30. |
859. Duplicate of preceding. [C.O. 5, 1262. No. 32.i.] |
June 30.
New York. |
860. Governor Lord Cornbury to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Refers to a letter, not received, dispatched by a small
sloop bound for Bristol, June 1st. I did then acquaint your
Lordshipp that Col. Nicholson had been here, at his going from
hence I perceived that one of his chief reasons of his coming
at that time was the refusal that the Assembly of Virginia had
given him of raising the Quota of money. So Col. Nicholson
came to this place, and finding the condition of this Province
much worse than he would have believed it, he gave me three
Bills of Exchange of 900l. each upon Mr. Perry and Lane, and
told me he would advise them of it. I received the Bills, but
withall told him that I would send them over to my Agent,
Mr. Thrale, with directions to lay them before your Lordshipps,
and that I would make it my request to you that the Queen
might be moved to allow the said summe out of her quit-rents
of Virginia, of which Col. Nicholson hath a great summe now
in bank in his hands. If H.M. is not pleased to allow of what
is proposed, I have ordered Mr. Thrale to cancel the Bills in
presence of Mr. Perry and Lane. I have writ to all the neighbouring Colonys who were appointed by his late Majesty to
furnish their Quota. The Assembly of Maryland have
consented to raise 300l., whereas their quota is 650l.; the Province
of Pensylvania have absolutely refused to raise anything; the
Province of Connecticott have acknowledged the receipt of my
letter, and say that an Assembly has been called upon the
subject thereof, but are come to a resolution not to raise any
money till they have applyed to the Queen and received H.M.
answer; the Governor of Rhode Island has likewise sent me an
answer to mine, his letter is full of protestations of loyalty and
fidelity to the Crowne, but no money, their pretence is, that
they shall be at very great charges in fortfying their Island,
tho' at the same time everybody that knows that place is sencible
that [it] is not possible to fortify it, without laying out ten times
more than the Island is worth, because it is easy for any body to
land in every part of it. Thus your Lordshipps may see how
little help we are like to have from our neighbours upon this
Continent with respect to money. I am afraid if we should be
obliged to call upon them for their Quota of men, we should have
as unwelcome answers as we had about the money. I am well
satisfyed that this vast Continent, which might be made very
usefull to England, if right measures were taken, will never be
so till all the Proprietary and Charter Governments are brought
under the Crowne. |
|
The General Assembly did last fall give the summe of 1,800l.
for the maintaining of 150 fuzaliers and 30 men as scouts with
their proper officers for a certain time limited in the Act, this
service hath been performed, which hath kept us so quiet that
no attempts has been made by the French or their Indians on
our side all the last winter. I have kept spies abroad ever since
the beginning of May and shall continue to do so all this summer,
by which means I hope to be informed of any designe the French
may have against these parts. Two of these spies came in about
a month agoe and acquainted me, that a party of French and
some Indians were preparing to go upon an expedition against
the Eastern parts of New England. I immediately wrote to
Colonel Dudley to acquaint him with it, upon which he went
to the Eastward, to put things in the best posture of defence
he can; I have two more of those spies come in some few days
agoe, who inform me that there has been a very great mortality
against the people of Canada occasioned by the small-pox, which
has carryed off some hundreds of people; and that the French of
Canada were in great apprehentions about five weeks agoe,
having heard that a squadron of English men of warr was to
come into the River of St. Lawrence, upon which they drew all
their strength downe to Quebeck, so that if we had had force
sufficient, it would have been very easy to have destroyed
Montreall, they have since been informed that the squadron they
had heard of was gone to the West Indies, so their people are
returned to their habitations about Montreall, and other places
thereabouts. I am still of opinion that it is no difficult matter
to drive the French out of Canada, and that by the methods
I proposed Sept. 29 last. I am more than ever of opinion
that ye charge of yt. expedition would soon be reimbursed not
only by the customes of the peltry trade, but likewise by saving
considerable summes of money that are yearley layd out in
presents for the Indians to keep them firme to us, without which
it is not to be done. In October last I received a letter from
my Lord Nottingham directing me to order the Jersey to convoy
some vessells of provisions to the West Indies, which were to
be provided by Col. Quary; it is true (some ice having appeared
in the River) the shipp was layd up for all winter in a plaice
called Kipps Bay, which is the usual place for any of the Queen's
shipps to lay up in, in winter for fear of the ice, which drives
down here in winter with great fury; however, in obedience to
his Lordshipp's commands, I sent for Mr. Rogers, who by being
first Lieutenant came to the command of the ship upon the death
of Capt. Stapleton. I told what orders I had received, and
directed him to make all the hast he could to fit the ship for
sailing, as soon as I should hear from Col. Quary that his vessels
were ready; two days after that, Col. Quary came to town,
Mr. Rogers waited upon him and told him how inconvenient
it would be to fitt out the ship at that time of the year, so
Col. Quary desired me that the ship might be ready by March 28,
that being the time that Mr. Rogers had promised to be ready,
I promised Col. Quary I would take all the care I could, and
accordingly I told Mr. Rogers he must take care to have the
Jersey ready to sail by March 28 at farthest, wind and weather
permitting, he promised me he would, and on Jan. 12 I gave
him a press warrant to press seamen at ye east end of Long
Island and in other parts of this Province, being willing to spare
this City as much as possible, because it had suffered so much
by the sickness last summer; he complained at that time that
he want 40 men of his complement, and indeed I doe not wonder
at it, for he used his men so ill, that none would stay with him,
but those that could not help it, he sent a Lieutenant out with the
warrant I gave him, having hired a sloop for that purpose for a
month, but instead of returning in a month, he stayed out near
two and brought but sixteen men with him, during which time,
by the negligence of the said Mr. Rogers several men deserted
from the ship, so that he has had from this place upwards of
fourescore men. I prest him every day to saile, but he still
pretended he wanted men, till at last I was informed by one of
the officers of the ship, that they had had their complement
above three weeks, then I commanded him to saile immediately,
but he was detained by contrary winds at Sandy-hook about
eight days, that gentleman has not behaved himself well here,
and really if there is not some care taken to put the Captain's of
the Queen's ships under some regulations, and that the Governors
of these Provinces may be informed how to proceed with them,
they will often create great inconveniencys in these parts, for
they look upon themselves to be under no command and so do
what they please. The General Assembly of this Province have
met according to the adjournment, and have past several Acts,
and attempted several others, which I did not think proper to
consent to, the Acts are transcribed to send to your Lordshipps,
I shall send them by the next ship, and shall then give you an
account of those I rejected, and of some other proceedings. I
herewith send two Addresses to H.M., which I intreat your
Lordshipps will please to lay before the Queen; I likewise send
two Quarterly Accounts. I take the liberty to send your
Lordshipps the Laws of Connecticot and with them a Booke
writ by one Mr. Buckley, who is an inhabitant of Connecticott,
by that you will be informed of the methods of proceeding in
that Colony, I did intend likewise to have sent you the Laws of
Pensylvania and Rhode Island, but I have not yet received
them, I hope I may get them by the time the next ship sailes.
Signed, Cornbury. Endorsed, Recd. Dec. 9, 1703. Read Feb. 21,
170¾. 5 pp. Enclosed, |
|
860. i. Abstract of preceding. 1½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1048.
Nos. 60, 60.i.; and (without abstract) 5, 1120.
pp. 55–64.] |
June 30.
New York. |
861. Governor Lord Cornbury to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. I think myself obliged always to give your Lordships
an account of this Province, both with respect to its owne circumstances and with respect to the neighbouring Provinces, by
some of which we suffer very much; and first as to the
Fortifications of this Province. Since my letter of Sept. 24,
I have begun a stone Fort at Albany, upon wch. I have laid out
the remainder of the 200l. wch. Mr. Romer had received from
Capt. Nanfan, and have provided materials to the value of 500l.
more currant money of this Province, for which summe I had
drawn a Bill upon the Treasury according to the directions
formerly sent to my Lord Bellomont (wch. Bill is since come
back protested), and I am now going this summer to lay out the
500l. sterling, wch. I received of my Lady Bellomont just before
her departure from hence, and wch. had been sent to my
Lord Bellomont by the late King to be applied towards the
building a Fort at Onondage, and that is all the money I have
yet received towards the carrying on that necessary worck,
and without which this Province can never be safe, as long as
the French are possest of Canada; I have by the advice of H.M.
Councill for this Province repaired as well as possible ye stockaded
Fort at Schennectady and built three new stockaded Forts,
one att the half moone, an other att Nestagione, and another at
Schachook, wch. is the chief habitation of the River Indians,
these three last have cost almost 80l. this country money; there
is an other to be built at a place called Saractoga, wch. is the
northermost settlement we have, there are but few families
there yett, and those will desert their habitations, if they are
not protected, and the charge will be but small, and will give
great satisfaction to the Indians. There is lately come to this
place one Laurence Hidding, a Dutch man, an Inhabitant of this
city, who last year was taken by the French before the warr
was declared, on board a sloop belonging to this port, and going
to the West Indies this man makes oath that being carried a
prisoner into the Havana, he heard M. d'Hiberville say that in
his return home from Meschasippi he had been at New York,
and had sounded all the parts of the port, and was able to carry
any ship in without the help of a Pilot, that he had acquainted
the King his Master with it, and had undertaken to destroy this
place, if he might have four fourth-rate Frigatts and two Bomb
ketches. I had proposed to the Assembly to consider of raising
a summe sufficient for the erecting two stone batteries at a place
called ye Narrows, where the sea is not quite a mile Broad, no
ship can come to this city without coming to that place,
consequently that well deffended, this port is safe. The Assembly
were so sensible of this truth, that they have passed an Act for
granting to H.M. 1,500l. towards that purpose. I had laid before
them an estimate which amounted to 2,025l., current money;
I doe believe yt they would have been prevailed wth. to have
given ye whole summe desired at once, had ye Province been in
a condition to raise it, but realy they are not. The money that
is granted shall be laid out forthwith to ye uses for wch. it was
given. I hope to gett one of the Batteries up this summer. |
|
I send you an inventory of such stores as we have remaining
in the Fort here, by wch. you will see in how ill a condition we
are to undertake anything against an enemy. I hope by your
representations we shall be supplied from England, for really
if any occasion should happen that might require the speedy
arming two or three hundred men, it is impossible for us to do it.
I have sent directions for Mr. Thrale to send us swords, for we have
none, the Militia is brought into some method. I have seen the
Regiment of Foot of this City, and the troop of horse, and have
ordered the severall Captains to draw out the severall companys
to exercise, wch. they have done, the Militia of the County of
Albany are in very good order, that of Ulster begins to come into
order again, that of King's County and that of Queen's County
are beginning likewise to handle their arms again. Suffolk
County, Richmond County and West Chester County, I have not
yett seen, but intend, God willing, to see them all this summer,
and then shall be able to give your Lopps. a full account of this
Province with relation to the Militia. I did intend to have sent
you by this conveyance an account of the number of the
inhabitants of this Province, butt the Sheriffs have been so backward in their duty, that I have yett but five countys, so I still
want five countys, but am promised I shall have them in four
days time, so I shall send them to your Lordps. by an other ship,
wch. will saile in ten days. In the meantime I herewith send
you a list of all the officers of the Civill Government, and of the
militia of this Province. |
|
Now, my Lords, that I may rightly inform you of the misfortunes we labour under, with relation to the neighbouring
Provinces, I must begin with Connecticutt, and first I must
observe the coast of Connecticut is opposite to two third of
Long Island, by wch. mean they fill all yt part of ye Island
wth. European goods, cheaper then our Merchants can, because
ours pay dutys and those of Connecticut payes none, nor will they
be subject to ye laws of trade, nor to ye Acts of Navigation,
by wch. mean there has for some time been no trade between
ye City of New York and ye East End of Long Island, from
whence the greatest quantity of whale oyle comes, and indeed ye
people of ye East end of Long Island are not very willing to be
persuaded to believe that they belong to this Province, they are
full of ye New England principles, they choose rather to trade
with ye People of Boston, Connecticut and Rhode Island, than
with ye People of New York. I hope in a short time I shall bring
them to a better temper, but in the meantime the trade of this
city suffers very much, and other very great inconveniency we
labour under is with respect to our soldiers, seamen and servants,
both white and black. If a soldier of the Garrison or a seaman
from any of the Queen's ships of warr has a mind to desert, it is
but going into Connecticut and he is safe, and if an officer is sent
after ye deserter and finds him there, ye first is protected and
the officer affronted and abused, and of this there are severall
instances to be given, and particularly when Capt. Mathews
was sent after two deserters wch. he found att Stamford in a house,
and sending to Major Solich for his assistance to secure them, he
being a J.P. in that country, the Major came to the house and
kept Mathews in a roome while the souldiers made their escapes,
and thus it is on all occasions, att Rhode Island it is ye same.
Several men belonging to the Jersey deserted and went to Rhode
Island, and some to the East end of Long Island. One of the
lieutenants was sent in a small sloop to try if he could gett any
of them. I gave him a warrant to press those he should find att
ye East end of Long Island, and I gave him a letter to ye Governor
of Rhode Island to intreat him to assist the lieutenant in getting
any of the men yt had deserted from any of ye Queen's ships,
and particularly from the Jersey. The Lieut. went and did gett
some men att ye East end of Long Island, but when he came to
Rhode Island, he went to the Governor and delivered him my
letter, who att first told him yt. he would do anything to serve
ye Queen yt. lay in his power, but yt. he knew of no such men
there. Ye Lieutenant told him yt. att his landing he had seen
severall yt. he knew to be deserters, and had entered themselves
on Board a Privateer that was then fitting out from yt. Port,
ye Governor told he was very sorry it was so, but since they
had entred themselves he would not disoblige his neighbours,
and in short dismist him without letting him have one man tho'
att ye sametime there was then above thirty deserters from ye
Queen's ships there, these are ye only two Provinces we suffer
by to the Eastward of us, in New England Coll. Dudley and
Coll. Povey have been very carefull in stoping all deserters yt.
goe yt. waye, and within this fortnight they have seized six
soldiers who had deserted from Albany this spring, on ye other
side to ye Westward of us, we had ye same ill accidents attended us
till ye Government of New Jersey was surrendered to ye Queen,
for it was but crossing Hudsons river and they were in jersey as
safe as could be, but that is now att an end, so yt. if our deserters
will go yt. waye, they must either go into Pensilvania or Carolina,
for if they go into Maryland or Virginia, we are sure of having
them. |
|
These Provinces will never be so usefull to England as they
may be till they are brought under the Queen's immediate
Government, then ye rule will be the same, and the severall
governments upon this vast Continent will be able to assist each
other as ye Queen shall please to command. I thinck likewise
it would be of great use if ye coin that is current in this part of ye
world was put upon ye same foot in all these colonys, many
inconveniencies happen for want of such a regulation, and
particularly to this Province, for example a piece of eight
weighing seventeen penywheight goes for 6s. 9d. in this place,
but at Philadelphia for 7s. 6d.; so that no heavy money is to
[be] found here. I am persuaded ye neighbouring colonies wch.
by H.M. command ought to contribute towards ye fortifying
ye northern frontieres of this Colony will never be brought to do
it, unless some effectual way may be found to compell them to
it, whether your Lordships will thinck a short Act of Parliament
to be passed in England may be a proper way, I shall submit
to your better judgements, but I cannot help to accquaint your
Lopps. yt. all these colonys are possessed wth. an opinion that
their Genll. Assembleys ought to have all ye same powers yt. a
House of Commons of England has, nay in this Province, where
I must do them the justice to say there are very many good men
among the English Inhabitants of this place, many among ye
French and some among ye Dutch, yett there were some people
who did endeavour to prevaile wth. ye Assembly to offer at some
things wch. would have been great encroachments upon ye
Prerogative of the Crown, but they soon desisted, and proceeded
upon ye matters before them. Signed, Cornbury. Endorsed, Recd.
Dec. 9, 1703. Read Feb. 21, 170¾. 2½ pp. Enclosed, |
|
861. i. Abstract of preceding. 1½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1048.
Nos. 59, 59.i.; and (without abstract) 5, 1120.
pp. 44–54.] |
| June 30. |
862. Journal of Assembly of Jamaica. Bill for regulating
Elections, read the first time, and recommitted, and read again.
[C.O. 140, 7. p. 43.] |
| June 30. |
863. Minutes of Council in Assembly of the Massachusetts
Bay. The Lieut.-Governor (Thomas Povey) received an express
from H.E., dated at Casco Bay, June 27, intimating that he is
necessarily detained there, the Indians not coming in so soon
as he expected, and that he wanted the assistance of the Gentlemen of the Council and the Speaker of the Representatives, and
could not dismiss them at present; directing his Honour to send
for the Representatives and to intimate to them to proceed to
the settlement of the apportioning of the tax granted October
last, and that he hoped to see them in 10 days. H.E. communicated
the above message to the House. [C.O. 5, 789. pp. 834, 835.] |
