|
Nov. 22.
Whitehall. |
200. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. Recommend Francis Phips for the Council of St. Kitts in place of
Col. Crisp, decd.; and Wm. Byam for the Council of Antigua,
in place of Barry Tankard, recommended to be dismissed for
neglecting to attend. [C.O. 153, 10. pp. 219, 220.] |
| [Nov. 22.] |
201. Sir John Bennet to Mr. Popple. Desires copies of
papers, in order to the vindication of Lt. Governor Bennet
from Mr. Jones' complaints, etc. Endorsed, Recd., Read Nov,
22, 1708. 1½ pp. [C.O. 37, 8. No. 72.] |
Nov. 23.
Jamaica. |
202. Governor Handasyd to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The packett boat returning into port after she had
been at sea near a month in her way home, I take this opportunity to give you an account of what has happen'd since
mine by the same boat. I acquainted your Lops. of the seizure
of a brigantine by the Navall Officer, for which there is a
suit now commenced against him at Common Law by one of
the Councill, Col. Thompson: I desire to know what methods
I shall take in this and the like cases, where prizes are brought
in by our vessells without commission or letter of marque,
and where any vessells from another port or place, that have
sold their prizes bring in the hostages, that I may prevent
such practices, which if continued, will be great encouragements to piracy: I am told it is likewise a custom among our
privateers, after they have plunder'd the prizes they take, to
put the prisoners ashore and sink the vessells without bringing
in any of the prisoners to condemn them, by which means the
Lord High Admirall is deprived of his tenths. Two or three
days ago came in a privateer ship and sloop that took off
the Havanna a barco longo, with betwixt £30,000 and 40,000
in coined and uncoined gold and silver, as I am informed:
at the same time they very narrowly missed of a brigantine,
that had on board near two millions of mony, which was occasioned by the brigantine's having our privateer's signall from
a long boat she had taken a little before. All other matters
are the same as in my last. We had an earthquake two nights
ago but has done no damage that I hear of. Signed, Tho.
Handasyd. Endorsed, Recd. Jan. 19, Read Feb. 23, 1708/9. 2 pp.
[C.O. 137, 8. No. 28; and 138, 12. pp. 361, 362.] |
Nov. 23.
Whitehall. |
203. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. Repeat
arguments against the Act of Maryland (1707) empowering the
farmers of Lord Baltimore's rents to recover arrears etc., and
recommend its repeal. [Cf. Feb. 20, 1708.] [C.O. 5, 727.
pp. 96–98.] |
| Nov. 24. |
204. Loque yo tengo que proponer Alxa. Es nego cio de
gran considerazioni mucho utilpa. estereino isin Acergastos.
Es enla America en los dominios de Portugal. Pa. este efecto
yo declarare Lafor ma por escrito con las circustancias necesarias.
Mas es menes terque lxa (?) ia que Ami nome permita la honra
de ablar le sesirua de ablar Ahora. A Mer. Jones puis nosiendoasi
no po dre io Açer los papeles Alxa. cuia pa. g. dsm. a. Endorsed, Mattamoro, etc. Portuguese. ¾ p. [C.O. 318, 3.
No. 36.] |
Nov. 25.
St. James's |
205. Order of Queen in Council. The Board of Ordnance
are to make an estimate of the charge of the ordnance stores
proposed for New Hampshire, Nov. 8. Endorsed, Recd., Read
Dec 20, 1708. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 5, 865. No. 7; and 5, 913.
p. 36.] |
Nov. 25.
St. James's. |
206. Order of Queen in Council. Francis Phips is appointed to the Council of St. Kitts. Of. Nov. 22. Signed,
William Blathwayt. Endorsed, Recd. 15th, Read 17th Jan.,
1708/9. 1½ pp. [C.O. 152, 8. No. 4; and 153, 10. pp.
263, 264.] |
Nov. 25.
St. James's. |
207. Order of Queen in Council. Barry Tankard is removed
from the Council of Antegoa, and William Byam appointed
in his place. Cf. Nov. 22. Signed and endorsed as preceding. 1½ pp. [C.O. 152, 8. No. 4.A.; and 153, 10. pp.
264, 265.] |
Nov. 25.
Whitehall. |
208. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Handasyd.
Since our letter of Aug. 25, a duplicate whereof is here enclosed, we have received yours of July 20, 1708. You have
not yet fully answer'd the question we asked you, March 26th
last, relating to 6 ships of war you had proposed for Jamaica.
What we desire to know is whether you mean 6 ships over and
above the squadron which is annually appointed to attend your
Government. This therefore we expect you will clear, before
we can proceed any further thereupon. Your answer to what
we writ you about Counsellors claiming a priviledge of not
being sued for debts is satisfactory. But if any complaint be
made in that matter, we shall then more fully consider what
you have writ thereupon. We expect that by the next packet
we shall receive from you the account of Negroes we had
desired, and which you promised. But in case it be not dispatched by that time, we desire you to get it done as soon
as possible, it being for H.M. service. We are very glad to
perceive the magazine at Port Royal is in such forwardness as
you mention, and that your Regiment is so near being compleated. We shall take notice of the good character you give
Commodore Wager as opportunity offers. But on this occasion
we must take notice that you have neglected to give us an
account of the value of the prizes taken by him. H.M. has
been pleased to appoint Mr. Valentine Mumby a Member of ye
Councill of Jamaica in the room of Mr. John Ascough, and
Mr. Francis Oldfield standing now the first upon our list we
shall be mindfull of him upon the first vacancy. We have only
to add that you have not returned us any answer to the third
paragraph of our letter of Jan. 29 relating to the transmitting
us the Journals of the Assembly, which therefore we do expect.
[C.O. 138, 12. pp. 338, 339.] |
Nov. 25.
Whitehall. |
209. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Parke.
Acknowledge letters of June 21, July 1 and 7th. We have laid
before H.M. what you write concerning the absence of officers;
and we doubt not but effectual care will be taken to prevent
their leaving their posts for the future. When the Minutes of
Antigoa and Mountserrat arrive, we will consider the same.
In the meantime we must take notice that you have done well
in not passing the Bill proposed by the Assembly of Antigoa,
and in pursuing your Instructions in that matter, as well as
in supporting the rights of the Crown. As to what you write
in relation to the augmenting your salary, we do not think it
proper for us to propose any alteration therein. We cannot
doubt but your services will so recommend you to the respective
Assemblys of each Island, that as their circumstances will
admit, they will comply with H.M. directions in relation to
house rent. You may be assured upon all occasions of our
doing you right, and particularly in case any complaints against
you do come. We shall not represent you to H.M. as guilty
till you have had an opportunity of clearing yourself. We
have represented to H.M. what you write in relation to Mr.
Barry Tankard, and have offered that Col. Byam be appointed
of the Council in his stead. But we must take notice that you
have exceeded your Instructions in swearing Col. Byam into
the Councill of Antigoa, and Mr. Phips into the Councill of
St. Christophers, it appearing to us that there were 7 upon each
Island: for tho' some of the Members be sick and not in a
condition to come to the Councill, yet they are to be reputed
Counsellors till H.M. pleasure be known to the contrary. Besides we must further take notice that though you have named
to us persons fit to supply vacancies that may happen in those
Councills, yet you have put in two Gentlemen not mention'd in
those lists, which is not right, and we hope you will avoid
it for the future. Mr. Perry the Provost Marshall has yet
made no complaint of your having put Mr. Ayon into his place,
if he do, we shall then consider what you write thereupon. We
have laid before H.M. what you write in relation to the trade
carryed on between Ireland and the French Islands in America,
and we doubt not but effectual care will be taken therein. We
have also laid before H.M. the Address from yourself, the
Councill, and Assembly of St. Christophers. We expect the
account of negroes we had desired from you, which being for
H.M. service, we doubt not but you will dispatch the same in
the most speedy and best manner you can. The difficulty you
find in obtaining duplicates of publick papers from the respective
offices is such, that we shall be obliged to lay it before H.M.
But it is necessary that you should first send us a better account
of the Patent Offices in the Leeward Islands, that is, a list of
each respective office, held by Patent, with an account of each
respective salary or yearly income, taking notice what deductions
are made either by allowances to their Deputies, or otherwise.
In your letter, St. Kitts, July 7, you say that you had endeavoured in vain to get a law passed for holding of Courts, and
you wonder how their law came to be passed at the Leeward
Islands and allowed by the Royall authority here; but you
ought to have given us the title of that law, and to have acquainted us in what year it was made. Having considered the
copy of a Bill you transmitted to us from Nevis, to oblige
the inhabitants who shall refuse to adjust and settle their
accounts with their creditors for debts contracted before the
invasion of 1705/6, and having discoursed with the merchants
trading to that Island, we must observe that there is no destinction in the said bill between such as are able and such as are
not able to pay their debts contracted before the invasion;
whereas those that are not able ought to have time allowed
them, but those that are able and not willing should be proceeded against at law; and we further observe that since the
hurricane in that Island, there may have been severall debts
contracted, which ought not to be upon the same foot with
those contracted before. Besides the said objections, we find
that the Bill does in effect shut up the Courts, and stop the
course of Justice for the space of three years, and in some
cases much longer, which is not to be allowed of, and therefore
you have done well in rejecting the same. But in case it shall
be thought necessary, you may propose to the Assembly the
passing of another Bill, that may not be liable to such objections,
and that may lead to the good as well of the inhabitants and
planters in the said Island, as of the merchants here. P.S.
Refer to Orders in Council July 11th. [C.O. 153, 10. pp.
223–227.] |
Nov. 25.
Whitehall. |
210. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Crowe.
Acknowledge letters of June 27 and July 3. We will not doubt
of your care to prevent for the future such omissions in the
Minutes of Council, concerning which we writ to you. It
was great neglect in the Clerk of the Councill, and rendred
those Minutes of very little use. As to what you write about
the Spaniards coming to fetch negroes from Barbadoes, we
have only this to say, that you will do well to give all the
incouragement possible to the negroe trade with the Spaniards,
having due regard to the Acts of Trade and Navigation, and
to the particular laws of Barbadoes. Enclose correspondence
relating to Mr. Pindar's petition for passes for Spanish ships.
The account you have given us of the Patent Officers does not
come up fully to what we had desired, and therefore wee expect
that you give us a perfect list of all patent places, with an
account of the yearly value, or income, of each place. We
observe what the Grand Jury says in their Address to you
relating to the 4½ p.c., upon which we think you ought to
make application at the proper place in that matter, by the
Agents of the Island, whose business it is, and then upon your
giving us an account of their success, we shall doe what will
be fitting for us therein. You have made us no answer to what
we writ, March 25, in relation to the powder duty. Nor have
you taken notice of the receipt of H.M. Order in Councill
for repealing an Act allowing you £500 for House Rent, which
you ought to have done, and therefore we expect it from you.
H.M. has been pleased to appoint Mr. John Hallet to be a
Member of the Councill of Barbadoes in the room of Mr. Frere
decd., and the Order will have been sent you by Mr. Hallet's
friends accordingly. An affidavit of William Bushel and Roger
Richardson having been laid before us, relating to the said
Bushel's being obliged by you to enter into bond of £500 that
his ship the Laurel in her voyage from Barbadoes to this
Kingdom should touch at some of the Leeward Islands, we
enclose a copy, and expect that you will give us your reasons
for obliging him to touch there, he not having any business
there, nor none recommended to him by you for those Islands,
and why the said bond should not be discharged, if not already
done. Acknowledge letters of Aug. 17 and Sept. 6, touching
complaints against you, which are of so very high a nature
that we wonder you did not think yourself concern'd to give
us an immediate answer to it, since you had notice of the
complaint 5 days before the date of your last letter and the
departure of the fleet, and had time (as we are informed) to
lay several matters contained in that complaint before the Assembly. Tho' we shall not conclude you guilty of what is
laid to your charge till you have had an opportunity of making
good your defence, yet that we might not in the meantime be
wanting to the safety and good government of that Island, we
think it incumbent to lay those articles before H.M. for her
directions therein. The Address you mention to be inclosed,
Sept. 6, we have not received. [C.O. 29, 11. pp. 324–328.] |
Nov. 25.
St. James's. |
211. Order of Queen in Council. Repealing Act of Maryland empowering the farmers of Lord Baltemore's quit rents,
etc. (Cf. Nov. 23, 1708, etc.) Signed, William Blathwayt. Endorsed. Recd. 15th, Read 17th Jan., 1708/9. 1½ pp. [C.O. 5,
716. No. 60; and 5, 727. pp. 118, 119; and 5, 720. No. 4.] |
| Nov. 25. |
212. Mr. Armstrong to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Prays, as Solicitor for Mr. Allen, for a perusal of papers
relating to Mr. Mason's title as Proprietor of New Hampshire,
"there being an appeale come over in order to try his title
before H.M. and Council." Signed, Ro. Armstrong. Endorsed,
Recd., Read Nov. 27, 1708. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 865. No. 4.] |
Nov. 26.
Whitehall. |
213. W. Popple to Josiah Burchet Esq. Encloses extract of
letter from Governor Handasyd, Sept. 24, relating to Jamaica
merchant fleet. [C.O. 138, 12. p. 347.] |
Nov. 27.
Admiralty Office. |
214. Josiah Burchett to Mr. Popple. Reply to preceding.
Having had the same account from Rear Admiral Wager I
send it to my Lord Dursley, who is cruizing in the Soundings
and has directions to look out carefully for them. I desire
you will acquaint the Lords of the Councill for Trade etc. that
there is a squadron preparing to releive Rear Admiral Wager,
and that it is hoped they may be ready by Dec. 20. Signed,
J. Burchett. Endorsed, Recd., Read Nov. 29, 1708. 1 p.
[C.O. 137, 8. No. 25; and 138, 12. p. 348.] |
Nov. 27.
Virginia. |
215. Col. Jenings to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
It was the 11th of last moneth and the Fleet then sailed before
I had the honour to receive your Lordships' of April 15 concerning the negro trade. Since which I have endeavoured by
the means of the proper officers and the information of the
ancient inhabitants to answer your Lordships' commands. Refers to enclosures. The seperate traders have had much the
greater share. The medium rates for men and women may be
reckoned from £20 to £30 a head for those sold by the Company,
and from £20 to £35 a head for the like kinds sold by the
seperate traders, who in genll. have sold theirs at a higher
rate than the Company. How the Country was supplyed with
negros before the Trade to Affrica was laid open in 1698, I
have endeavoured to informe myself from some ancient inhabitants conversant in that trade, as well as by recollecting
what hath happened in my own knowledge, and find that before
1680 what negros were brought to Virginia were imported generally from Barbados, for it was very rare to have a negro
ship come to this country directly from Affrica; since that
time, and before 1698 the trade of negros became more frequent,
tho not in any proportion to what it hath been of late, dureing
which the Affrican Company sent several ships, and others
by their licence (as I have been informed) haveing bought
their slaves of the Company brought them in hither for sale,
among which I remember the late Alderman Jeffrys and Sir
Jeffry Jeffrys were principally concerned, but all this time the
price of the negros was currant from £18 to £23 per head
for men and women, and never exceeded that rate. Whether
the opening the trade to Affrica haveing created an emulation
between the Company and the seperate traders which' should
outbid the other in the purchase of their slaves there, or
whether the dexterity of their Factors here in takeing advantage
of the prevailing humour of our inhabitants for some years
past of buying negros even beyond their ability, or the concurrence of both, hath raised the rates of negros so extravagantly,
I shall not pretend to determine, but this I may venture to
say, that it will be much harder to lower the price again now
'tis raised, unless there be the same ffreedome of trade continued as formerly, for tho' the inhabitants of this country in
genll. will not now be so fond of purchaseing negros as of
late, being sensibly convinced of their error, which has in a
manner ruined the credit of the country, yet there will still
be some that must, and others that will at any rate venture
to buy them, and if the Company alone have the management
of the trade, they'l find pretences enough to keep up the price,
if not to impose what higher rate they please, which the
buyer must submitt to, knowing he cannot be supplyed by
any other hand. As for vessells tradeing directly from this
place to the coast of Affrica, I never knew of any, nor is the
same practicable, this country not being provided with commoditys suitable for carrying such a trade, etc. P.S. The
Instructions to our late Governor were sealed up at his death,
and were not opened till I had the honour of being intrusted
with the Government etc., else I should not have failed in
sending the account of negroes required therein. Signed, E.
Jenings. Endorsed, Recd. 16th April, Read 3rd May, 1709.
2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
215. i. List of negros imported from Barbados to Virginia,
1699—1708. Total, 236 in 3 ships. Endorsed as preceding. ½ p. |
|
215. ii. List of negroes imported to Virginia direct from
Africa, June 24, 1699—Oct. 12, 1708. 36 ships. Total
negroes imported by the African Company, 679; by
the separate traders, 5692. Same endorsement. 1
large p. [C.O. 5, 1316. Nos. 15, 15.i., ii.; and (without enclosures) 5, 1362. pp. 365–367.] |
Nov. 27.
Virginia. |
216. Same to Same. Reply to May 7, 1707, hoping my
late receipt thereof (wch. was not till the begining of last June)
with what I writt by the Fleet of the sickness of several of
the Council (whose advice I thought necessary) will plead my
excuse for making so late a return. I hope I have already
complyed with your Lordships' direction in sending the Journals
of Council (which contain all the material transactions of the
Government) as often as there has been a safe conveyance,
and shal continue the like care for the future, tho the casualtys
of the war will necessarily make that transmission less frequent
than I could wish. I have by former occasions, and now again
by this, sent the names of Councillors, etc. As to the number
of inhabitants, according to the list of tithables taken this year
(wch. is the best way to judge of their number) I have computed
the labouring tithable persons to be about 30,000, whereof about
12,000 negros, the rest being almost all free men; for the number
of white servants is so inconsiderable that they scarce deserve
notice, so few having been imported since the begining of this
war. So that by comparing list with those of former years,
the number of tithable persons (among which are included all
masters of familys and their male children above the age of
16) have increased within these three years about 3000, partly
by the natives coming of age, but chiefly by the importation
of negros. It is possible that when yr. Lordps. shal compare this
estimate with the list of negros imported of late (supra), yr.
Lordps. may be induced to expect a far greater encrease of
our numbers; but besides the distempers usual among new
negros, wch. carry off not a few of them, many of our poorer
sort of inhabitants daily remove into our neighbouring Colonys,
especially to North Carolina, which is the reason that the
number of our inhabitants doth not increase proportionably to
what might be expected. Refers to enclosures i.–iv. Since the
late Act for setling the Militia, they begin to be better arm'd
than formerly, and I hope the continuing the due execution
of that Law will oblige all to provide themselves, tho I cannot
help observing to your Lordps. that the low price of their
tobacco is a great hindrance to what I believe they are well
enough inclined to do in this particular. The number of ships
etc. belonging to the inhabitants of this Colony, it is so inconsiderable that I think it unnecessary to trouble yr. Lordps.
with a particular list of them, there being only 6 ships (the
largest not exceeding 150 tunns), eight brigantines and two
sloops now belonging to the countrey, besides those open shallops
wch. carry tobacco for the ships and sometimes trade from one
River to another (wch. I believe yr. Lordps. do not mean
should be listed with the others). All which ships, vessells and
coasting shallops imploy about 200 seafaring men, and of those
but few able sailors, such going generally to Pensilvania and
the Northern Proprietary Governments, where they receive
greater encouragement than the small trade of this country will
afford them. Besides the ships and vessells abovementioned there
are not at this time any ship or vessell tradeing hither of this
country built, diverse which have been built here of late haveing
in their first voyages had the misfortune of falling into the
hands of the enemy. Refers to enclosure ii. It contains a
complaint of some new and unusual proceedings of the Governor
of South Carolina in seizing the effects of our Indian traders
and interrupting that trade from which a great part of the
revenue of the College [of William and Mary] doth arise, and
indeed is a very profitable trade to many of the inhabitants of
this country. Tho' the interruption complained of be upon
the matter owned by the Governor of S. Carolina, yet because
I would not trouble yr. Lordps. with any complaints against
our neighbour governments without such authentick proofs as
may make the matter undeniable, I have with the advice of
the Council appointed the affidavits of the traders to be taken,
which I shall send by the first conveyance for your Lordps.'
further satisfaction. Humbly submitting how far (on the reasons laid down in the said Memorial) H.M. service and the
interest of Great Brittain may be concerned to protect the trade
of this H.M. Colony from the new raised pretensions of a
Proprietary Government. Signed, E. Jenings. Endorsed, Recd.
April 16th, Read May 3rd, 1709. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
216 i. Reply of the Council of Virginia to the enquiries of the Council of Trade and Plantations,
May 7, 1707. At the Capitol, Oct. 19, 1708.
(1). The chief cause of the removal of the inhabitants
of this Colony into the neighbouring Plantations is
the want of land, the most convenient land yet unpatented being on Pamunky Neck and on the south
side Blackwater Swamp, and that shutt up by the
orders of the Government; this has occasioned many
familys of old inhabitants, whose former plantations
are worne out, as well as a great number of young
people and servants just free to seek for settlements
in the Province of North Carolina, where land is to
be had on much easier termes than here, not a few
have obtained grants from that Government of the
very same land which they would have taken up from
this, if liberty had been given for it. For preventing
whereof, it is humbly proposed that the bounds between
Virginia and Carolina be settled as soon as may be,
and that free liberty be given to all persons to take
up lands anywhere within the bounds of Virginia in
the termes mentioned in the Charter granted by H.M.
King Charles II., and according to the constant custome
of granting land in the country from the first settlement
thereof. Another cause is the exemption granted in
most of the Proprietary Governments from being sued
for debts contracted in other places; this encourages a
great many people of uneasy circumstances or dishonest
inclinations to run thither to avoid their creditors and
secure themselves a safe retreat. And even in N.
Carolina, where Virginia debts are pleadable, there
are such difficultys in the prosecution thereof, partly
by the distractions of that country, which has no settled
Government, and partly by the protection those debtors
find among persons of like circumstances and principles,
that it is but lost labour to sue them. (2). The staple
commodity of this country being tobacco is only exported to Great Brittain, and returnes made in the
manufactures thereof and other commoditys brought
directly from thence. This country hath no manner
of supplys of any European manufactures (except a
very little to the plantations) but only from Great
Brittain. There's very little trade carryed on by the
inhabitants of this Colony to any of H.M. Plantations,
what trade they have is to the Island of Barbados, to
which they export Indian corne, pork, pitch, tarr, lumber
and sometimes a little tobacco, in exchange of which
they import rum, sugar, molasses, a little cocoa and
ginger, but a great part of the commoditys of that
Island are purchased by bills of Exchange; from New
England are imported rum, sugar, molasses, Madera and
Fiall wine, fish and wooden ware; exported thither
corne, pork, and some tobacco and money. From New
York and Pensilvania imported rum, sugar, wine, bread,
flower and beer; exported thither European goods,
money and wheat. From S. Carolina and Bermudas,
rum, sugar, Madera wine, salt, cocoa, and rice; exported thither flower, cyder, and European goods. All
the trade with the above Plantations (except some part
of the Barbados trade) is carryed on entirely in vessells
belonging to the said Plantations. (3). There can't
be an exact estimate made how much tobacco is exported
hence, that being best known to the Commissioners
of the Customes, but it is very plain the production
of that manufacture has been encreasing for several
years, as on the other hand the value thereof has
proportionably decreased, which we conceive is occasioned by the great number of negros imported and
the encrease of the inhabitants, who being only employed in that manufacture, there is much more made
than can possibly be vended to any advantage. (4).
Another branch of the trade of the country is the
Indian trade for skins and ffurrs, in which great quantitys of course cloaths from England, powder, shott,
guns, hatchets etc. have been vended annually, but
this trade is now like to be totally wrested out of our
hands by the Government of South Carolina, who under
pretence that the Indian Nations with whom we trade
live within their Government, take upon them to seize
the effects of our traders and to impose high duties
equal to a prohibition on all commoditys carryed
thither from hence, and the like on the skins brought
back; this is a new and strange pretence that Virginia,
who traded with these Indians before the name of
Carolina was known, should be now abridged, especially
since most of the Indians with whom we trade live
some hundreds of miles from any of the inhabitants
of Carolina. (5). We know of no illegal trade carryed
on in this Country, but for the more effectual suppressing of illegal trade, it is humbly proposed that
proper officers be appointed to reside at the ports
established here by Act of Assembly pursuant to H.M.
Instructions, or at such of them as Commissioners of
the Customes shall think fitt, and that the shiping
may be directed to ride, lade and unlade there; this
with a strict charge to the officers to be diligent in the
execution of their duty would effectually put an end
to all endeavours for illegal tradeing. (6). The manufactures of linnen, woolen and cotton have of late
been sett up for supplying the pressing necessitys of
the people, the price of tobacco being so low that for
some years it hath not been sufficient to purchase
cloaths for the makers thereof. Pitch and tar are
also made in this Country enough to supply the occasions thereof and to export a little to the West Indies
and much greater quantitys might be produced, if there
were an encouraging market for it. (7). The Council
offer their opinion that it is for H.M. service that the
present restraint and prohibition on the takeing up
of land be removed, and that H.M. would supersede the
Instruction to Governor Nott concerning a new method
of takeing up land, because the tenures of land in this
country being founded on the Charters to the Virginia
Company, and afterwards confirmed by the Charter
of Charles II., are now so interwoven with our laws
that it is not possible without the greatest confusion
to make the alteration proposed in that Instruction.
All the valuable and convenient land in the country
is already taken up and patented according to the
ancient constitutions of the country, and what remains
now being remote from the conveniencys of trade is
of little value, and only desirable because there is
none else to be had. According to the method proposed in the said Instruction, there can be no such
thing as a succession of inheritance in any lands, for
supposeing by death or any other casualty a man
should come to lose his servants or slaves for which
his land was granted him, he must at the same time
lose his land too, since such a casualty would disable
him to pay the quitt-rent proposed, and so one misfortune
would so unavoidably introduce another till
at last perhaps after all his toil his land will be taken
away by a stranger, etc. It is very apparent no land
will ever be taken up here on the termes proposed, so
long as there is any land to be had in our neighbouring
Colonys on easier termes, for since the Propriety Governments, so long as their Charters are in being,
cannot be abridged in granting their lands as they
please, the introduceing of this kind of tenure in the
Colonys under H.M. Government will only tend to the
depopulateing of them, at least it can never be expected they should encrease in inhabitants for the
future, since people will always go to those places
where they may have land cheapest, and have a certainty of preserving it to their posterity. The restraining
the takeing up land only to small tracts will be very
prejudicial to H.M. interest, for if only small parcels,
such as 100, 200 or 500 acres in a tract to be taken
up, it will follow that the good land only will be
patented, and the bad (which may be reckoned ¾th.
of all that is yet to be taken up) will forever remain
wast. Another thing of great concernment to H.M.
service and the advantage of this Colony would be to
confine the trade of this country (especially dureing
the war) to regulate Fleets once a year, which may
proceed from England in the moneth of September and
return from hence in April, that no ship be permitted
to sail to or from Virginia but in those Fleets, and
that a sufficient convoy be appointed for them. By
this means the market for tobacco would become certain
and regular, and would not be damped by the reputation
of interveneing ships, the planters would be supplyed
with goods and cloathing before winter, and their industry encouraged by haveing something for their
labour, and the sickness of the seamen, and the danger
of the worme so frequent and fatal to the ships and
seamen in the summer prevented. Lastly, that there
be a sufficient guard appointed for our coast, which
we humbly conceive cant be less than one ship of good
force and another small vessell of 10 or 12 guns fitt
to pursue the enemy's small privateers among the fflatts
and shoal water; the want of such a guard has been
an extraordinary loss to the trade of this country for
these two years past, the enemy's privateers intercepting almost all the small vessells both outward and
inward bound, and sometimes even within our Capes
and in sight of H.M. ships of war, who were too bulky
to follow such small light vessells, and without such
a guard we have reason to beleive not only our trade
will be destroyed, but even the country plundered. Endorsed as preceding. 4¾ pp. |
|
216. (ii.) (a). The Visitors and Governors of the College
of William and Mary to Edmund Jennings, President,
and the Council of State. Whereas the General Assembly thought fitt to grant to the sd. College an
imposition on all skins and furrs exported, which is
one of the most considerable branches of the Revenue
of the College, and arises by a trade for many years
carryed on with the Southern and Western Indians
etc. Complain of the action of the Government of
Carolina as supra. The Indians concerned are not
under that Government. The laying dutys on European
commoditys exported through any plantation to another hath never been encouraged. The goods vended
being imported by this Colony directly from England,
whereas Carolina has constant clandestine trade with
St. Thomas' and Currasoa, and import European goods
from thence, if Carolina is allowed to engross this
trade, English trade will suffer. Besides they have
not such conveniencys of shiping from England as
the inhabitants of this Colony have to furnish them
with supplys, so that they neither export from England
such quantitys, nor can afford to sell them so cheap.
And since it is the interest of England to encourage
that trade which exports most of the British manufactures, the Trustees humbly hope that by your Honours'
favourable representation of this case to the Council
of Trade the unwarrantable encroachments of the Government of Carolina will receive a check etc. (b).
Minute of Council of Virginia, Oct. 28, 1708. Resolulution ut supra. Endorsed as preceding. 2½ pp. |
|
216. iii. (a). List of the Council of Virginia. |
|
(b). List of persons fit to supply vacancies in the
Council:—Wm. Byrd, Wm. Randolph, John Page, Miles
Cary, Wm. Wilson, Gawen Corbin, Wm. Armistead,
of Gloucester, Arthur Allen, Wm. Taylor, Wm. Fitzhugh, Edwd. Hill, David Bray. Same endorsement.
2 pp. |
|
216. iv. List of Militia of Virginia, 1708. Totals:—Captains
and subalterns, 1060; horse, 2211, dragoons, 1221,
foot, 6140. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1316. Nos. 16, 16.i.–iv.;
and (letter and enclosure 1 only) 5, 1362. pp. 369–382.] |
| Nov. 29. |
217. Capt. Vetch to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
As to what your Lops. seem desierous to be further informed
of, with relation to the numbers of the inhabitants of Canada;
As to the French, I am almost moraly sure their number does
not exceed 5000, for, besides the accounts I have had from
their Missonarys, their merchants, their Indian traders, non
of which ever aledged them to be above that number, the
present Intendant of that place, M. Rodot, when talking with
me of them, and who, I found, designed rather to magnify
than lessen their numbers, sayd that by the accounts he had
gott from the Curates of the severall parishes, he found them
to be full 5,000, of which we may allow near one half to be
men, there being but few French women there, the men having
a reward of 60 crowns each for marying ane Indian women.
As to the number of the Indians who joyn with them in warr,
I cannott be so particular, for they have a great many nations
who trade with them, who doe not att all joyn in warr, may,
that never come within 3 or 400 miles of Quibeck or Montreal,
such as the Ottouauas, the Onagongoes, the Ilianoes, nay, quite
to Missasippi, but for such as are constantly along with them
in warr, I know only of five litle forts (as they call them),
which is only a piece of ground palisadoed round, in which
are perhaps 40 or 50 Indian familys, living in wigwams, or
litle hutts, and with them generaly about 20 French and ane
Officer, as well to keep them firme to their intrest, as to manage
their furr trade, and prevent the Indians carrying them to
Albany, as they used offten formerly to doe. The names of
those five forts I find (in the lists, where our prisoners were,
whom I got exchanged), to be (1) Fort Covetto, within 12
miles of Quibeck; St. Francis fort, near Trois Riviers, Chnacknawago, betwixt that and Montreal; Conosadago, about 12 miles
above Montreal, and Fort Louis, att the fals above that, about
20 miles. All the judgement I can make of their numbers is
only according to the opinion of the people of Albany, and
our Five Nations, who judge the French fighting Indians to
be near double ours, yet not able to encounter them, because
not so warlike; from whence I believe they may be 800 or 900,
but so dispersed, that it would take them above a month's time
to bring them all in a body to one place. Endorsed, Recd.
Read Nov. 29, 1708. 1 p. [C.O. 323, 6. No. 72; and 324, 9.
pp. 266–268.] |
Nov. 30.
St. James's. |
218. The Queen to the Attorney or Solicitor General. Instructions to prepare a warrant for the appointment of William
Norris to be Naval Officer in Jamaica in place of Barnaby
Jenkins, decd., with a clause for obliging him to reside there,
etc. Countersigned, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. pp. 174, 175.] |
| [Nov. 30.] |
219. Addresses, Minutes, and Papers relating to Barbados,
presented to the Council of Trade and Plantations by Messrs.
William Heysham and Mr. Royle, as described Journal of Council, Nov. 30, 1708. Endorsed, Recd. Nov. 30, Read Dec. 1,
1708. 28 pp. [C.O. 28, 11. Nos. 30–39.] |
Nov. 30.
Whitehall. |
220. Wm. Popple to the Merchants trading to Jamaica.
Gives notice of correspondence concerning the Jamaica merchant fleet, Sept. 4, Nov. 26, 27. q.v. [C.O. 138, 12. p. 349.] |
