|
Sept. 3.
Windsor. |
86. Order of Queen in Council. Referring following to the
Council of Trade and Plantations for their report thereon. Signed,
Christo. Musgrave. Endorsed, Recd. Jan. 31, Read Feb. 1, 17 11/12.
1¼ pp. Enclosed, |
|
86. i. Petition of Capt. John Walton to the Queen. Refers
to Representation on the Virgin Islands, April 17, 1711.
Petitioner never had notice of the persons who attended
the Board, and consequently no opportunity to confute
their allegations, for want whereof their Lordships have
mistaken several matters in fact, and omitted others
that were necessary. Prays H.M. to hear him by his
Councill, etc. Copy. 2 pp. |
|
86. ii. Copy of Representation of April 17, 1711. [C.O.
152, 9. Nos. 96, 96 i., ii.; and (without enclosure ii.)
153, 11. pp. 418–421.] |
Sept. 3.
Boston. |
87. Governor Dudley to Mr. Secretary St. John. Encloses
copy of letter formerly sent by a merchantman. What has occurred
since is that on the 29th of July, the General and all the Fleet
and Force being ready set saile with a fair wind and thirteen
days after were spoken with near the mouth of the River, and
the winds and weather since have been very good and easey, so
that I account them to have been in sight of Quebeck ten days
at least and hope in God they are well proceeded in their approach
to the town, and twenty days more will I hope give in good news
from them. On the land side Lt. General Nicholson has been
at Albany these 25 days, and as he advises by his letters is gon
10 days since from Albany towards Woodcreek where the battoes,
and provisions must take the water to go down towards Mount
Real, and 10 days will bring them thither. We have no doubt
but by the favour of God the forces, stores and provisions on
both sides are superiour to the enemy and sufficient for the
service. And we take courage from H.M. most just and honourable
declaration in her instructions to these Governments of the
reasons of her proceedings to which every sensible man must
agree. We are in expectation of the Mast Fleet, tho' doubt it
will be late, by which safe conveyance I always send home the
years accounts etc. Capt. Parkington and Capt. Goodall are both
here in H.M. ships which they command to see if any French
Fleet threatned Port Royall, but we suppose ourselves and that
Garrison is in no danger from the French this year, but if the war
hold and the French King at leisure, may see them next summer.
Signed, J. Dudley. 2½ pp. Enclosed, |
|
87 i. Same to Same. Boston. July 11, 1711. Col. Nicholson arrived here June 8 with H.M. commands. Upon
which the several Governours met at New London, the
midway between Boston and York, and soon concluded
the severall quotas of the Governments of New York,
Connecticutt, East and West Jersey, and Pensilvania,
to make 1600. Which being joyned with H.M. regular
troops consisting of 400 at New York makes the 2000
which H.M. has commanded to send on the land side
towards Mount Royall, Troy River and elsewhere. At my
return from the Congress I found the whole Fleet arrived
and General Hill and the forces in good health, who
are now all encamped on the shore to be refresht and
fitted for the remaining part of the Voiage, and I have
obeyed H.M. command for my thousand men for the
Provinces of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire, they
are drawn and at this time putting on their cloths, my
transports and provisions will be ready in five days time
to go to sea. The only want is of good salt provisions
for H.M. Brittish troops, which it is impossible to kill
and provide at this season of the year, and that forces
us to send as far as Virginia and all the remote parts for
such salt victuals and bread as can be gotten, which
will delay some short time. The General and the
Admiral are with utmost diligence pressing forward, and
I hope everything will be ready from the other Provinces,
so as to put to sea before this month be out. And if
God please that they have a good voiage, they will be
yet time eno'., tho' it had been unspeakably better if
the Fleet had arrived a month or six weeks sooner as
was projected. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 898. Nos. 9, 9 i.] |
Sept. 3.
Windsor. |
88. Order of Queen in Council, granting letters of denization
to Moses Israel Henriquez, Jacob Rodrigues Mendiz, Isaac Peixoto
of London and Rodrigo Pacheco of New York. Signed, Christo.
Musgrave. 1½ pp. [C.O. 5, 11. No. 68.] |
| [Sept. 4.] |
89. Petition of John Evans, Captain of H.M.S. Defiance, to
the Queen. Petitioner being Commander of the Richmond man
of war in 1693, was sent to attend the Province of New York,
where he continued almost 6 years, and performed considerable
service for the benefit of that Colony. Col. Benjamin Fletcher,
then Governor, in consideration thereof, and of £500 paid to him
by petitioner in lieu of his established fees upon grants of lands,
by letters patent under the Great Seal of that Province granted
petitioner a large tract of unappropriated land call'd Murderer's
Creek, containing 18 miles in length fronting on Hudson's River,
and 30 miles backward, which had been bought by Col. Dongan
when Governor of New York from the Indian natives for £70.
On which tract petitioner expended great summs of money in
clearing severall places for farms, and planted several familys
of Scots and Irish under annual rents, intending to retire thither
himself when there should be a happy and lasting peace. After
Col. Fletcher and petitioner were commanded from New York
to England, Governor Lord Bellomont, having conceived some
prejudice to them both, and designing to take to his own use
and profit several tracts of land which had been granted by Col.
Fletcher to petitioner and others, in order thereunto procured an
Assembly to be chosen of ignorant, necessitous and profligate
persons, (most of them Dutch) who by his direction passed an
Act for destroying extravagant grants etc., whereby petitioner was
stripped of his lands and improvements, but the said Act being
sent over for the confirmation of the late King, H.M. upon a true
representation of the ill practices used to obtain that Act, refused
to confirm it, but not rejecting it, the same continued in force till
repealed by a subsequent law. Upon the arrival of Governor
Lord Cornbury, the inhabitants of the Province, thinking their
titles precarious whilst such an Act remained in force, apply'd
for redress to the first Assembly conven'd by his Lordship, who
by another Act unanimously repealed it, whereby petitioner was
restored to and enjoyed his lands till your Majesty sent a great
number of Palatines to New York, when your Majesty having not
been truly informed how those Acts were obtained, was prevailed
on to confirm the Act of Assembly made in Lord Bellomont's
time and to reject the Act of repeal, and to grant petitioner's
lands to those Palatines, by which means petitioner who has been
in your Majesty's sea-service during your whole reign etc. is
deprived of his property, and of an estate for wch. he had been
offer'd £10,000 sterl. in England, without being heard in his
defence, or having the least notice thereof, till at his late return
from ye streights, he was inform'd of it to his great surprize.
Prays to be restored, there being other unappropriated lands in
New York sufficient to receive the Palatines, or that he may be
given an equivalent. Subscribed, |
|
89. i. Lord Dartmouth to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Whitehall. Sept. 4, 1710 (sic). Above is referred to the Council of Trade for their report thereon.
Signed, Dartmouth, Endorsed, Recd. Oct. 31, Read
Nov. 1, 1711. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 5, 1050. No. 28; and
5, 1122. pp. 441–444.] |
Sept. 5.
Virginia. |
90. Lt. Governor Spotswood to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Acknowledges letters etc. of March 12 and April 13.
Immediatly upon the receipt of H.M. commands concerning the
boundarys, I dispatch'd an express to Mr. Hyde, whom we look
upon here, to be Governor of North Carolina, desiring him to let
me know whether he had received authority from the Lords
Proprietors to appoint new Commissioners, that I might pursuant
to H.M. pleasure appoint the time and place of their meeting,
and shall upon the return of his answer take all possible care for
expediting this affair. I shall according to H.M. commands
publish the repeal of the Law passed in 1666 declaring what is
meant by seating of land. But I hope your Lordps. will be fully
satisfyed by perusing the Act for settling the titles and bounds of
lands passed last Session of Assembly, and what I have formerly
writt on that subject, that there is no occasion for publishing
H.M. Order in Council of April 17, 1707, of which your Lordps.
have now sent me a duplicate. Your Lordps. will observe by
some of my former letters how much the Country disliked the
Instruction for regulating the taking up of land, insomuch that
it was the chief greivance with which they charged their Representatives to the last Assembly. That in pursuance of this
charge the house of Burgesses made early application to me for
granting patents for land upon the former terms, and that by my
answer to their Address and some other means I had the good
fortune to stave off a representation which they intended to make
to H.M. on that subject, by all which your Lordps. will find how
little hopes there is, that the Assembly will pass the 84th Article
of my Instructions into a law as is proposed by H.M. Order in
Council of March 24th. The condition of cultivating and
improving mentioned in that Instruction, has been and is still
thought so hard and impracticable, that your Lordps. may
remember what pressing applications the President and Council
formerly made for obtaining an alteration of it; yet notwithstanding the general prejudice against this Instruction, I thought myself so far obliged to support it, that I would not suffer the last
Assembly in their law concerning land, to mention anything of
the manner of granting or terms of seating otherwise than to
oblige the Patentee to comply with the condition of his patent on
the penalty of forfeiture of his land; and having afterwards
made the patents conformable to H.M. Instructions as to the
conditions of cultivating and improving. I am humbly of opinion
that H.M. Instruction being the rule for the Governor's granting
of land, and the late law making it so penal for the patentee
if he does not comply with the condition of his grant, H.M.
intentions are as fully answered as if that Instruction were
passed into a Law in terminis, which can never be expected
from an Assembly. For tho' the necessity of passing in the last
Assembly a law to settle the titles of land between party and
party, for avoiding that confusion wch. must have been introduced
in all the Courts of Justice upon the repeal of the former, made
them more easily yeild to the clauses I proposed, yet the people
are now so much convinced that all the fraudulent practices
formerly used to avoid the payment of their quitt-rents are by
this means obviated, that they would gladly lay hold of any
handle to new-model that Law, and I very much fear the proposing
the enacting H.M. Instructions into a law, would rather give
them occasion not only to complain against it, but even to endeavour a repeal of that now in force, which is look'd upon as
one that contains a clause or two the most beneficial for the
Crown, that ever passed a Virginia Assembly: and as I may say
it was not without a good deal of Address that I obtain'd them,
so I'm sure I yeilded none either in this law or any other that I
passed, which I imagined would be anyways prejudicial to the
Crown or to Great Britain, as indeed the Virginians do me the
honour to characterize me for a person who will take care that
neither of those interests shal lose ground when I command;
while on the other hand they do not stick to tax their Burgesses
with being either asleep or guilty of too great complaisance when
they passed a law which abridges them of their former priviledges.
So that upon the whole matter, I hope your Lordps. will beleive
I act for H.M. service if I forbear to lay H.M. Order in Council
before the Assembly untill I receive your Lordps. further opinion
upon what I have here represented, tho' I'm afraid it cannot be
so speedily dispatch'd as to reach hither before the next session,
which is to meet Nov. 7th. Notwithstanding H.M. positive
orders notifyed to the Lords proprietors and Government of
South Carolina to permitt the traders of Virginia freely to pass
through that Province to trade with the Western Indians, that
Government have in June last thought fitt to pass an Act in
contradiction to H.M. order, and thereby imposed on the Virginia traders all the hardships H.M. intended graciously to remedy
by her Order in Council, and having obtained from Coll. Quary
now lately returned from Carolina a copy of that Act, I have
here inclosed it not doubting your Lordps. will thereupon make
such a representation to H.M. as may free the inhabitants of this
Colony from the like future impositions. Signed, A. Spotswood.
Endorsed, Recd. April 10, Read Dec. 11, 1712. 3 pp. Enclosed, |
|
90. i. Copy of Act of Carolina, June 28, 1711, to oblige those
traders that come from Virginia and other neighbouring
Colonys to trade with the Indians or white persons living
within this Province and Government to come first to
Charlestown and take out licences to trade, and to be
subject to the like regulations and pay the same dutys of
import and export with the inhabitants of this Province
and Government who trade with the Indians living within
the bounds of the same. Same endorsement. 4 pp.
[C.O. 5, 1316. Nos. 84, 84 i.; and (without enclosure)
5, 1363. pp. 416–421.] |
Sept. 5.
Virginia. |
91. Lt. Governor Spotswood to [? Lord Dartmouth]. Acknowledges letter of April 14, with H.M. Order in Council March 24 q.v.
The measures I have taken already in making all patents for
land conformable to H.M. Instructions, together with the clauses I
got inserted in an Act pass'd last Session of Assembly, (v. March 6),
will I hope fully answer H.M. intentions without putting the
Assembly to the tryal of enacting that into a law against which
the countrey has already show'd a general dislike. I have
writt fully by this conveyance to the Lords Commrs. for Trade,
etc. Signed, A. Spotswood. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 1337. No. 14.] |
Sept. 9.
From on board the Windsor in the Spanish River. |
92. Brigadier General Hill to Lord Dartmouth. Encloses
duplicates of July 31. The 30th of July wee sayled with a fair
wind from Nantasket Bay, in New England, and had a very good
passage to Gaspée Bay, where the wind took us short Aug. 18,
and obliged us to go in there for a day or two, but it coming fair
the 20th, wee continued our voyage to the River of St. Lawrence
wth. various winds, and Aug. 22 the wind came up very fair,
and wee being with all the men of warr and transports in the
mouth of the River, hoped for a very quick passage to Quebeck,
but about half an hour after tenn at night, the Fleet fell in with
the land of the North side of the River, near the Isle of Eggs,
where with great danger to the whole Fleet wee lost the transports
Malbrough, Smirna marcht., Colchester, Saml. and Ann, Isabel
Ann and Catherine, Chattham, Nathl. and Eliza, John and Sarah,
with the officers and numbers of men mentioned in the inclosed
list, with severall flatts of cloathing and a large quantity of
provisions, and one of the three ships with corne etc., which I
was obleiged to buy at Boston, before the arrivall of the provisions
from New York. The next day and the day after the Leopard
and some sloops were employed in bringing off the scatter'd
remains of six and twenty companys of Seamour's, Windress's,
Clayton's and Kane's Regiments, which were so mangled and
bruised on the rocks, and naked withall, that they were not in
any condition of service. After this sudden and unexpected
disaster, it was thought adviseable to know the opinion of the
sea Captains, and to examine the pylotts touching our further
navigation of the river, who were unanimously of opinion, it
was impracticable (v. enclosure ii.). In consequence of which
I and the Colonells under my command thought it for the service,
that since wee could not gett up to Quebeck, wee should without
loss of time come to an anchor in such place as the Admirall
should think most proper, in order to arme what remained of our
shipwrackt troops, and to make a disposition for attaqueing
Placentia, according to the 21st Art. of H.M. Instructions. At
first the Admirall proposed Gaspée Bay, but on second thoughts
judged Spanish River more proper, as being just opposite to
that place; wee sayled Aug. 25th from the River of St. Lawrence,
and arrived not here till the 4th instant. The Kingston by which
wee expected three storeships, wch. Coll. Hunter was to send with
victualls from New York, joyned us a day or two after, but
brought no provisions; upon this disapointment a Councill of
Warr of sea and land officers was held, in which the state of our
provisions was considered, and finding them scarce sufficient
to carry us to England, being but 10 weeks at short allowance,
and there being no probability of being supplyed wth. more at
Placentia, by reason of the winds and slouny [? stormy] weather,
of which seamen have had experience this season of the year, the
Councill of Warr was unanimously of opinion that the attempt
upon Placentia was at this time altogether impracticable. (Refers
to enclosure iii.). Yesterday the Enterprize and Tryton's prize
from Virginia came into this place, and wee were in great expectation when wee saw them in the offin, that the three storeships
with our provisions from New York were come, which would have
most happily changed the scituation of our affairs, in renewing
our hopes of taking Placentia in our return, but the Captains
of those ships told us that Coll. Hunter had sent the Victuallers
by the way of New London. Finding by severall letters which
have been intercepted from Placentia, to some of the French
inhabitants of Nova Scotia, as well as to Monsr. Ponchartraine,
the Secreatary of the Marine in France, that H.M. Garrison of
Annapolis may possibly be attaqued from thence, I thought it
for the service to make a detachment of 350 private men, with a
proportionable number of officers, together with one company
of Mohaques, who will be of use for scouring the woods, and
according to the power given me in my Instructions, I have
appointed Major Cawfield, a gentleman that has served very well,
to be Deputy Governour, which was absolutely necessary for
keeping good order and discipline in the garrison. I have likewise
sent an ingenier and a sufficient quantity of ordnance stores:
and Col. Vetch having represented to me that a man of warr for
attending that garrison is indispensably necessary, and that he
was promissed one from England, I have desired the Admirall
to appoint such ship as he should think proper for that service.
I have only now to add, that I am sencibly afflicted for the loss
of so many of H.M. troops, and the great disappointment wch.
this disaster has occasioned to your hopes of success, and my
endeavours for promoting this service all that was in my power,
referring you to Coll. Clayton's relation of particulars, whom I
have sent to England for that purpose. Signed, J. Hill. 8 pp.
Enclosed, |
|
92. i. List of officers, men and women (35) lost. Total, 740.
1 p. |
|
92. ii. Resolution of Council of War of Sea officers. At a
consultation of sea officers belonging to the squadron
under comand of Sir Hovenden Walker, Kt., Rear
Admirall of the White, on board H.M.S. Windsor,
Aug. 25, 1711, in the River of St. Lawrence. The
respective pilots on board the men of warr having been
severally examined, wee are unanimously of opinion,
that by reason of the ignorance of the said pilots, it is
wholly impracticable to go up the River of St. Lawrence
with the men of warr and transports so farr as Quebeck,
as also the uncertainty and rapidity of the currants
as by fatall experience we have found. Signed, Hovenden Walker, Jos. Soanes, Jno. Mitchell, Robt. Arris,
Geo. Walton, Hen. Gore, Geo. Paddon, Jno. Cockburn,
Augustin Rouse. Copy. 1½ pp. |
|
92. iii. Resolution of Council of War of sea and land officers
held on board H.M.S. Edgar in the Spanish River,
Sept. 8, 1711. The 21st Art. of H.M. Instructions to
the Generall, for attacking Placentia in his return from
Canada, together with the 10th Art. of the Admirall's
Instructions to the same purpose being severally read,
as also a letter from Governour Dudley to ye Admirall
touching the lateness of the preparation of provision
now makeing in that Colony, for supply of the troops,
if they had wintered at Quebeck, the question was putt
as followeth (vizt.), the state of provissions for the ships
of warr and land forces being considered, which provisions not amounting to above 10 weeks at short
allowance computing it from ye 12th of this instant
September, as appears by the Agent Victuallers' signed
account thereof, and allowing it to be all good, and to
hold out to that time, the said 12th Sept. being the
soonest we can saile from hence, and there being no
hopes of any supply from New England before the beginning of November at soonest, as appears from advice
received from the Governour of New England, and the
opinion of two of the members of the-Councill of Warr
who know that country, together with the uncertainty
of any provisions coming to us at Newfoundland by
reason the season of the year is so farr advanced, which
makes the navigation of that coast so dangerous. The
Councill of Warr is unanimously of opinion that the
attempt for reduceing Placentia under the circumstances
and difficultys above-mentioned, is at this time altogether
impracticable, and that it is for H.M. service that the
squadron and transports with the Brittish troops do
forthwith return to great Brittain, and the forces raised
in New England, to that Colony. Signed, Hovenden
Walker, Joseph Soanes, John Mitchell, Robt. Arris,
Geo. Walton, Hen. Gore, Geo. Paddon, Jn. Windor,
Jn. Cockburn, Is. Cooke, (Brigadier) J. Hill; (Colls.
of H.M. troops), Char. Churchill, Wm. Windress, M.
Kempenfelt, Jaspr. Clayton, P. Kirke, Hen. Disney,
Richd. Kane; (Cols. of the forces raised in New England)
Sam. Vetch, Shad. Walton. Copy. 2½ pp. [C.O. 5,
9. Nos. 14, 3, 12, 13.] |
Sept. 10.
Newhaven. |
93. Deputy-Governor Saltonstall to Mr. Secretary St. John.
As soon as I recd. H.M. commands of Feb. 21 last, relating to the
Expedition, I ordered a convention of the Council and Assembly.
They unanimously agreed with me to express our gratitude and
ready obedience to H.M. (Address enclosed by this first opportunity of the Harley packet boat), and afterwards did with all
readiness pass the necessary Acts, for furnishing our quota of
men for that service. With them I march'd to Col. Nicholson at
Albany. I took leave of him there, July 29th, he designing the
next day to follow the troops to Woodcreek (where they take
water to pass the Lake Champlain) the most of which were on
their march thither some days before. There was a very good
appearance, at Albany of the 5 nations of Indians, commonly
call'd ye Iroquois, and everything requisite in the Expedition
was in good readiness by the indefatigable care and diligence of
H.E. Col. Hunter, and Lt. Genll. Nicholson: The Indians shew'd
a good forwardness in the service. Upon my return to this
Colony I mett with the good news of Genl. Hill's and Admiral
Walker's being in the River of St. Laurence, standing up for
Quebeck, with a fair wind, on Aug. 13th. And I am in good hope
that I may in a short time advise your Honr. of the good success
of H.M. arms, etc. Signed, Gurdon Saltonstall. Endorsed, R.
Oct. 22. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
93. i. Address of the Governor and Company of Connecticut
to the Queen. We your Majesties most dutifull and
loyall subjects convened in Generall Assembly, having
received your Majesties commands to be aiding in carrying on the Expedition your Majestie has ordered against
the French inhabiting North America; esteem it our
duty in the most humble and thankfull manner, to
acknowledge the great instance which, in appointing
that expedition your Majestie has given us of your
Royal concern for the safety and weal of your Colonys
against that enemy. Their lying in wait to kill and
scalp single persons on our frontiers, their surprizing
and cutting off families, their stealing of captives,
torturing and making slaves of them, and suchlike
murthers and cruelties, is what they call carrying on
the warr. All which is frequently done by their skulking parties (in conjunction with the Indians in their
interest, whose bloody and barbarous manners they
have imbibed, and long practised). And these are
mischiefs which nothing can give us so good hope of
security from, as that removall of this enemy which
your Majestie designes. We shall with all possible
vigour and diligence apply ourselves to the executing
of that part, which your Majestie has allotted us, etc.
Return thanks for supply of clothing, arms, and ammunition, and pray for success of the expedition and H.M. arms
everywhere. June 19, 1711. Signed, Gurdon Saltonstall, and Caleb Stanley, Secy. By order of the Generall
Assembly. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 898. Nos. 14, 14 i.] |
Sept. 11.
From on board the Windsor in the mouth of Spanish River in the Island of Cape Britton in N. America. |
94. Col. King to Mr. Secretary St. John[s]. Encloses continuation of Journal (v. July 25). I flatter'd myself so much with
the hopes of succeeding on this expedition so truly advantagious
to England and so heartily desir'd and put into that forwardness and good method by you: that I can't express the
greatness of my concern for the dissapointment: nor the uneasiness it gives me to think what a loss it will prove to our poor
American Coloneys, how much it will contribute to depopulate
their frontiers: to diminish their trade, and discourage all people
by the constant wars they must now be oblig'd to maintain,
from settleing among them or improving the lands. And what
is still a more melancholy reflextion, that they dare hardly
expect any releif for the future, when they see this great effort
England made to succour them thus ruffled and defeated, notwithstanding a General conducted it who did all that was humanely possible to make it successfull. This is what was obvious to
all, and a justice that must be done him upon all occasions to his
Queen, his country and friends. Since it's determin'd we are
to return, I hope in a very little time after you receive this, I
shall have the honour of waiting on you in London, etc. Signed,
Rich. King. P.S. I sent you by Capt. Cullyford of the Humber
an account of our proceedings to Aug. 15, etc. Endorsed, Rd.
Oct. 6, per Col. Clayton. 2¼ pp. Enclosed, |
|
94. i. Continuation of Col. King's Journal. Aug. 15, 1711,
the Devonshire and Humber left the Fleet to cruize to
the latter end of this month betwixt the Island of St.
Paul's and Cape Ray, and then to proceed to St. John's
in New-found-land, and from thence to England. This
day the Admiral sent likewise away the Chester to
Boston to convoy the mast fleet from thence. The 16th
we made the Capes Bonaventura and Gaspa, and the
17th the Island of Anticosta. As we were both these
dayes prevented by contrary winds from entring into
the mouth of the River of St. Laurens, the Admiral
thought fitt to sail with all the Fleet to the Bay of
Gaspa the 18th and anchor there, least we should be
despersed or drove back by contrary winds. Aug. 20th.
The wind coming to the East we sail'd out of the Bay of
Gaspa and the Admiral order'd a Basque fishing vessell
we found there to be burnt, not being able to gett her
equipt in time to carry her with us. The 21st the
Mountague, Saphire and Sunderland join'd the fleet.
They were sent to cruise off of Bonaventura and the
Bay of Gaspa while we were there at anchor, etc. The
22nd since yesterday at noon to twelve a clock to-day
our course was N.W. and by W. distance 34 miles.
The 23rd we had rainy and foggy weather with a very
fresh gale at East. At 8 at night we found by our logg
to have run since yesterday at noon 45 miles west.
At this time the Admiral lay'd by for fear of falling
foul on one side or other of the River: for it was then
so excessively dark we could not see from one end to
the other of our vessell. At half an hour after ten we
saw land to leeward of us, and as soon as we were
convinc'd it was so (for we all imagin'd to be several
leagues distant from it) we made with the utmost
expedition all the sail we could to gett clear of it, but
finding we could not we were forc'd to come to an
anchor near 1' Isle aux Œufs in 7 fathom water with a
shoal of rocks on each quarter within a cable's length
of us, which we plainly perceiv'd by the waves breaking
over them in a very violent manner. Till the minuit
we came to an anchor it rain'd very hard and blew a
perfect storm directly on shore, when of a sudden it
fell quite calm. If it had continu'd with the great
violence it did before we came to an anchor; our anchors
could not have held and we should have all been lost.
For the wind and the vast seas which ran would have
broke our ship in moment in ten thousand pieces against
the rocks; and betwixt them and the shore' twas at least
five miles. At two in the morning the wind shifted to
the north. At four we weigh'd our sheet anchor; and
at five a fresh gale coming fortunately off the shore from
the west, we cutt our small and best bore cables and
saill'd off. All the night we heard nothing but ships
fireing and showing lights as in the utmost distress:
so that we could not but conclud that the greatest part
of our Fleet was lost: and indeed there were not 10
ships in the whole that were not in danger of being cast
away. The 24th the Leopard with several sloops were
sent in to bring off the men and provisions that were
sav'd from the wracks. In the afternoon we had an
account that we lost ten sail, viz. eight transports with
soldiers, one loaded with corn, and a sloop belonging to
a suttler. All this day the wind was contrary at Southwest, so we ply'd from one side the river to the other.
The 25th the Admiral call'd a Council of war of all his
captains aboard the General to have their opinion
whether we could proceed with any safety. They all
unanimously agreed that it was not practicable to go
up the River with this Fleet so late in the season without
Pilates: every one of those we had declaring they were
not capable of takeing the charge of any one of the men
of war: so that the General and Admiral resolv'd forthwith to return: quitt the Quebeck expedition and endeavour to reduce Placentia: and having given orders
to the Leopard with three brigantines and sloops to
bring off some of our men who went into the woods and
all the provisions he could: and then to follow us to
Spanish River in the Island of Cape Britton, about
7 in the evening we bore away with all the rest of the
Fleet for the Bay of Gaspa. The 26th the Admiral sent
away the Mountague to stop the Devonshire and Humber,
and the Saphire to Boston with letters to recall Nicholson, and to acquaint the Governours Dudley and
Hunter of our misfortune. Sept. 4th we came to an
anchor in the mouth of Spanish River. The 5th we
were employ'd in takeing an account of our provisions
in order to make an equal distribution of them, and in
makeing an enquiry through all the Fleet for Pilates to
Placentia. The 6th the Leopard join'd the fleet with
the sloops left with him to bring off the wracks: and
eight of the New England transports which did not see
us when we bore away or return'd. There join'd us
likewise with him the Kingston man of war, who being
assur'd by Capt. Cullyford of the Humber, Aug. 20th,
off of Cape Britton that our Fleet was then at Quebeck:
he took our fleet in passing by us in the Lake of St.
Laurens for the French Fleet, therefore stood from us:
and if he had not fortunately mett with the Leopard
at his returning out of the mouth of the river, he would
have made the best of his way to Quebeck. He brought
an account from Boston, from whence he parted Aug.
12th that Capt. Southwyck, Commander of the Province
gally, would be ready to sail from thence in eight
dayes with the brigantine hir'd for the transportation of
the artillery stores from Annapolis: that the provisions
to be provided in New England could not be sent away
before Oct. 1st: and that Col. Hunter would send as soon
as possibly he could the remaining part of the provisions
he was order'd to provide to New London, from whence
the Admiral said he would take care they should be
convoy'd to us. He brought us likewise the copys of
two letters from M. Coste Belle, Governour of Placentia,
to M. Ponchartrin, wherein the receipt of a letter from
him of Feb. 15th was acknowledg'd, giving an account,
that preparations were makeing in England for an
expedition against them and Canada: and that these
preparations consisted of seven men of war and 3000
men: that just before the dates of his letter which are
of July 22 and 23 he had intelligence by several fishing
sloops belonging to New England taken and brought
into Placentia that our Fleet was arriv'd at Boston.
Then having given a tolerable exact account of our
force both by sea and land and what we were to be
join'd by from our American Coloneys: he proceeds to
give much the same account we had at Boston of the
strength of Quebeck: how prepar'd they were there to
receive us. But that their cheif defence and what they
depended most upon was the difficult navigation of the
River, which he hop'd would defeat us; that he had sent
H.E's. letters by a sloop to M. Vaudreul, who had
already invited all his Indian allies to come to Quebeck
to a feast he would there prepare for them of English
flesh; that he (M. Coste Belle) had for some time expected to be attack'd; therefore had made preparations
accordingly: and did not doubt but to give a very
different account of Placentia to what the Governour
of Accadia did of Annapolis: that the regular troups,
the militia and fishermen at Placentia would make above
2000 men; however he begs he would order that the
three companies taken at Annapolis might be sent him:
as also some provisions which he should be in extream
want of; the greatest part of those that were coming to
him from Quebeck being lost in sloops coming down the
River of St. Laurents: that he had sent Monsieur la
Ronde (under the pretence of settling an exchange for
prisoners) to observe what preparations were makeing
there, and disswade the Governmt. from giving us any
supplys of men or provisions. With the copys of
these letters there was one from the Ingeneer of Placentia
directed likewise to Monsieur Pontchartrain wherein he
assures him that the forts and redoutes there were in
a very good condition and capable with the forces they
had to make a long defence: that all the inhabitants of
Accadia by the ill usage and great severity they mett
with had taken up arms and block'd up our fort there:
that he understood they had a great opinion of him:
therefore he beg'd he would order him thither, and he
did not question but he would in a very little time
drive us out of that country. The Kingston man of war
had these letters from the Warwick off of Cape Britton,
who was going with them to the Governour of New
England according to orders he had receiv'd to carry
or send him all news of consequence he should meet
with. They were taken in a merchant vessell going to
France by two of our privateers. The 7th the General
and Admiral call'd a Council of War of the sea and land
officers to lay before them our present state and to have
their opinion how we should proceed further. As soon as
the Council had examin'd the account of our provisions
and found it would only serve for 11 weeks at short
allowance, they all unanimously agreed (I'm inform'd)
that without risquing the loss of both fleet and army,
there was no other course to be taken but returning from
hence directly home to England. Whereupon, the 8th,
the Agent Victuallers were order'd to make an equal
divident of the provisions that in case of separation each
vessell might have wherewithall to carry him home.
The artillery stores provided at Boston and put aboard
the Brittish transports were order'd to be put aboard
the New England vessells in order to be sent to Annapolis: and to garrison that place and releive the New
England troups and marines there 350 men with officers
in proportion were appointed to be detach't out of our
forces. The 9th the master of a sloop from Quebeck
bound to Placentia with provisions was brought in here.
He said he left Quebeck the 22nd of the last month,
that they had been working at the fortifications of the
town all the summer: that they had perfected the inward rampart which was ruin'd and that they had made
a strong retrenchment from Beauport to the Town, the
only proper place for landing at; that M. Vaudreul was
at Montreal fortifying that place; that there were 1000
regular troups in Canada, and above 10,000 militia:
that hearing nothing of us when he came away, they did
not expect we could visit them this year; and that they
had no account at Montreal the 16th of Aug. that our
troups were advancing by Chambly. The 10th the
Enterprize and Triton men of war join'd us here from
Virginia, they brought no other news than that Governour
Spotswood had sent 900 barrils of pork to New
York to be sent from to us. This day it was resolv'd to
send the Leopard man of war to England to inform the
Governmt. of our misfortune and that we were coming
all home. 8 pp. |
|
94. ii. An account of the men and vessells that were lost
and shipwrack't neare les Isles aux Œufs in the River
of St. Lauren's the night of the 23rd Aug., 1711. Totals:
Officers (including 1 Surgeon and 1 Chaplain) 31,
N.C.O.'s. and privates, 676; women 35, (=742) from
General Seymour's, Col. Windress's, Col. Kane's and
Col. Clayton's regiments. |
|
Transports lost: Colchester (530 tons); Nathaniel
and Elizabeth, 297; Samuell and Ann, 225; Marlborrough,
218; Isabella, 326; Chatham, 150; John and Sarah,—;
Smirna merchant, 364; a provision vessel of 120 tuns.
1 p. [C.O. 5, 898. Nos. 15, 15 i., ii.] |
Sept. 12.
New York. |
95. Governor Hunter to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Acknowledges letters etc. of March 16, April 10, and June 29.
I must begin with humbly begging your Lordps'. pardon for
having omitted acquainting you with what was contain'd in
one of mine to his Grace the Duke of Marlborough relateing to
ye stores, arms and amunition in the forts of this Province, and
indeed, ye Assemblys of ye two Provinces, the care and imploying
of ye Palatines, the Indian affaires, the present expedition, and
ye perplexitys in both Governments, hardly affording me time for
naturall rest, may be allowed to plead for me, if I should unwarilly be guilty of such another omission at this time. That
matter of the stores is now at an end, and sufficientley remedyed
by the quantity brought hither for ye Expedition, but can now
send noe perfect account of what may remaine because I know
not as yet what may be left at Albany after ye troops imployed
upon this Expedition are supplyed. As to Mr. Polhampton's
Memoriall (v. April 10th) I had long ago taken all imaginable
care of ye musters of the four companys, having given strict
charge to those that muster them to pass none upon the rolls but
ye effectives, but there is an evil there which wants a remedy, and
may have occasion'd that Gentleman's mistake in his computation
of ye numbers of ye effectives, since ye first establishmt. of
these four company's there has not beene one invalid belonging
to them taken into ye hospitalls, tho' they have paid all
along for that purpose as ye rest of ye army has done, soe
that at this time wee have about 50 of that kind who are not
able to doe any manner of duty, and are a charge to their Capts.
not being able to subsist upon their pay. I humbly propose that
some homeward bound man of warr may be ordered to transport
them to England in order to their being received in ye hospitalls,
or to save ye trouble and expence of transportation that H.M.
may be moved to give directions to ye Managers to enter upon
outlyer's pay as it is term'd, such numbers of that kind as shall
be found by speciall musters and ye Governor's certificate to be
actually upon ye place. On June 14th I received H.M. Instructions etc. relateing to ye Expedition against Canada, wherein
I had orders to procure 3 months' provisions for 5000 land forces
which went by sea, and in conjunction with ye Governors of
Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pensilvania to raise 2000 men to
march by way of ye Lakes to Montreall under ye command of
Francis Nicholson Esq. The Quota's were ascertain'd in ye
Council of Warr according to ye proportions in H.M. Generall
Instructions etc. Which forces were accordingly raised to a very
few, except those of Pensilvania from whence wee have had none,
and on Aug. 29th I left them all upon their march beyond Albany
toward ye Lakes compleatly armed, clothed, accoutred and
victualled, being to be followed next day by 800 Indians of ye
Five Nations and their allies from Albany. Inclosed your
Lordships have copyes of my transactions with the Indians upon
this occasion and of another interveiw I luckilly had with them
imediatly before I had received H.M. commands relateing to this
Expedition. Refers to other enclosures, Sessional Papers and
Acts. I have not time being but just return'd from Albany and
the packett on her departure to make my observations on these
Acts, neither doe any that are materiall occurr to me at present,
which is also ye reason I doe not at this time give yr. Lordpps.
ye accots. of these Provinces by seperate letters. I informed yr.
Lordpps. how oddly the former Assembly of New York had in a
manner dissolv'd themselves. This Assembly which consists of
all the same members save one, unaccountably ye day after
they had resolved to take ye latter part of my Speech relateing
to ye support of Government into their consideration, addressed
for a prorogation, they are to meet againe on Monday next, but
to as little purpose I beleive as formerly, for soe long as ye Members hold their elections by noe other tenure, but that of saveing
ye publick money or starveing the Government, there is nothing
to be depended upon from them upon that score, tho' their
frequent sessions cost the country more than a reasonable
support of Government would doe. I shall make but one remark
more on ye conduct of this Assembly. When by inadvertency or
designe there happens some mistakes in their Acts, which render'd
their passing ye Council impossible, I had noe remedy left but
after a first reading in Councill to returne them privately to ye
Speaker, as if they had not been read with a request to amend
them in their owne house, for they will not admitt of an amendment from ye Councill tho' but of one word in what they call a
money Bill, tho' ye safety of ye whole depended upon it. This
conduct how unparliamentary soever (for they will be a parliament) I was obliged to follow or baulk ye Expedition. As to
ye Palatines, the tumults raised among them by ye ill arts of
such as had a mind to crash ye designe, have had a quite contrary
effect, for since that time, and a new modell of management,
they have been very buissy and very obedient. I have now
prepared neare 100,000 trees, and in ye fall sett them to work
about ye second preparation. Mr. Sackett, who has ye direction
of that work, and seems perfectly well to understand it, has
prepared some thousands in a manner to produce a quantity
of tarr next spring, but that being little better than an experiment
I doe not much depend upon it. Mr. Bridgier's haveing basely
declined, nay endeavour'd to betraye this service, has promoted
it, soe that I think Providence favours it, for the gentleman now
imployed has been three yeares amongst ye tarr workers in the
Eastern countrys, and his manner is soe different from Mr.
Bridgier's that I have good reason to conclude that he knew little
of ye matter and would have served only to have thwarted ye
other and obstructed ye designe. I beleive if he were strictly
examined he would discover upon what inducements hee has
acted soe treacherously. I yeilded to his importunity and let
him goe to Boston in ye winter, hee promissing a speedy returne,
hearing nothing from him in ye spring when I expected him to
attend that work, I wrote to him to meet me at ye Palatine settlements, which by a letter he refused pretending want of sufficient
encouragement. I wrote to him againe with possitive orders to
repaire thither, as hee was directed by H.M. speciall letters, told
him that I had apply'd to your Lordpps. for and additionall
sallary for him and putt him in mind that hee had never beene
refused money when he called for it, but all to ye same purpose.
I protest to yr. Lordpps. whilst hee attended that work hee lived
as I did, and to my knowledge hee did not expend ye value of a
crowne, and had severall summes of money to ye value of about
£30 from me dureing that time. I have had by this pacquett a
letter from Mr. Lownds directing me to enquire into some abuses
of his with relation to ye Queen's woods. I have not had time to
make a perticular enquirey and have only heard in generall that
instead of preserveing hee has waisted them by giveing deputations to such as have saw mills, for certain yearly summes of
money paid him by them, by which meanes all ye valluable
timber in these parts is destroyed. That your Lordpps. may
informe yrselfes. whether wee be in ye right in ye pursuite of this
manufacture, I'll give you an account of Mr. Sackett's method
of prepareing ye trees; in the spring when the sapp is up, hee
barkes ye north quarter of ye circumference about two foot in
length where ye sun has least force to draw out the turpentine.
In the fall, before ye sap falls downe, hee barks ye south quarter
about 2ft. 4in.; next spring the east quarter for ye former reason,
about 2ft. 8in., and in that fall the remaineing quarter near 3ft.
After which the part above what is barked being full of turpentine
is cutt downe splitt and putt into kills for tarre. That no hands
may be idle we employed the boys and girls in gathering knotts
whilst their fathers were a barking, out of which hee has made
about threescore barrells of good tarr, and hath kills ready to sett
on fire for about as much more soe soone as hee getts casks ready
to receive it. Now my Lords tho' I have mett with discouragements unspeakable, yet concludeing it impossible that ye wisdome
of H.M. Councills should lett drop so beneficiall a project, and so
considerable a branch of trade, when it is in soe hopefull a way,
I have launch't out all ye money and creditt I could raise in ye
pursuite of it, tho' I have as yet noe returnes to my first bills
I have drawne on my Lord Treasurer for about halfe a years
subsistance for that people ending June 24th last according to ye
inclosed scheme, which I beg your Lordpps. to second with your
recommendations. I have made the best bridge in all North
America over the river betweene the pine woods and their settlements, have laid in timber and all other matterialls for building
the store-house upon the place, and am about the purchase of a
convenient house without ye gates of New York on ye harbour
for a generall storehouse. Least I should tire your Lordpps. I
shall referr you to my next for more perticular accounts of this
and all other matters. I shall only beg leave to acquaint your
Lordpps. a little with the deportment of one Mr. Birchfeild who
came over here Surveyor Generall of ye Customes much abt. the
time I did. I acquainted ye Commissioners of H.M. Customes,
how hee had without cause turned out ye most sufficient gentleman in ye province of Jersey's of ye Collector's place of Amboy
there; and putt in his roome ye most insufficient and infamous
person in either province, hee has since that time so persecuted ye
Collector here Mr. Byerley, without any aparent cause, and at last
suspended him without acquainting me with his reasons, tho' I
had told him before hee was a patent officer, and that as such I
considered hee had noe power of suspending him, that I verilly
beleive hee has some secret reasons for his conduct which hee will
not owne. When I urg'd H.M. patent to him, hee replyed she
had noe power to grant such a patent, which indeed stop't my
mouth, thinking after that all replyes were needless. Since that
time I have received H.M. letter commanding me to allow to
Mr. Byerley his sallary dureing-ye time of his illegall suspention
(as it is there) called by the then Lord Cornbury, and to dissallow
to Mr. Faukonier who executed that office for that time by his
Lordpp's. commission, the sallary hee has in his accounts made
good to himselfe for that service; which I think will sufficiently
justifie Mr. Byerley in refuseing his suspention as to his patent.
I can guess noe other reason for his conduct, but that hee had a
mind to pack a sett of officers for a purpose very frequent in his
mouth that hee was sent hither to make his fortune; hee is now
gone for England, and Mr. Byerley has acquainted the Lord
Treasurer and Commissioners of ye Customes very perticularly
with everything relateing to this affaire. P.S. I have not had
time to gett a copie of my Interview wt. the Indians before I
recd. Mr. Sec. St. John's letters, but I have inclos'd to him that
I had, to which I beg leave to referr you. Your Lordps. will also
receive herewith the body of Laws of New York from 1691, as
you are pleased to order. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed,
Recd. 22nd, Read 31st Oct., 1711. 11 pp. Enclosed, |
|
95. i. Account of subsistance of Palatines at New York,
Nov. 2, 1710—June 24, 1711, at 6d. per diem adults,
4d. per diem young. Total, £10,243 19s. 8d. Endorsed,
Recd. Oct. 22, 1711. 2 pp. |
|
95. ii. Propositions of the Five Nations and River Indians
to Governor Hunter in Albany, Aug. 17–18, 1711,
relating to the Expedition against Quebec. Indians
bring between 7 and 800 warriors for the Expedition,
and receive presents etc. Set out, N.Y. Docs. V. pp.
265–277. Endorsed, Recd. Nov. 3, 1711. 23 pp.
[C.O. 5, 1050. Nos. 27, 27 i., ii.; and (without enclosures)
5, 1122. pp. 428–440.] |
Sept. 12.
New York. |
96. Governor Hunter to [? Mr. Secretary St. John]. On
June 14th last I had ye honour not without a great deale of
pleasure of yours of Feb. 6th and 21st with H.M. Instructions
and commands relateing to ye Expedition agt. H.M. enemys in
these parts, by an express from ye Lt. Genll. Nicholson who was
but just then arrived at Boston with ye two men of warr and
transports destin'd for this place. The express reacht me 100
miles up in Hudson's River upon my return from an interveiw
with the Five Indian Cantons (v. No. 95 ii.). I hope it will not
be tedious to you to read ye occasion of this interview, for I have
ever since look't upon it as a favourable presage of success. It
was briefly thus; Being inform'd that Joncoeur and Longeuil,
two French officers and agents, were then in the Seneca's country,
the most remote and powerfull of all our savage allies, that they
had already built a block-house in their cheife place of residence,
and had projected a fort there, I sent Col. Schuyler with some
other men of interest with the Indians to require ye performance
of their former promisses and engagements, that the blockhouse
should be forthwith pulled downe, the French dismist, and their
promise that for ye future they would receive noe more such upon
such errands, all which they performed tho' with some difficulty,
and desired in company with the cheife of the other four cantons
to meet me at Albany, where accordingly I met them. They
renewed their covenant, promiss'd punctuall obedience to all
H.M. commands, and at my desire broke off the designe of a
warr they had meditated agt. some of the farr Indian Nations,
promising not to stir from home without leave. Upon receipt
of ye express, I dispatch't another back to Albany with orders
to detaine 10 Sachims of each Canton till further orders. At
New York I gave all necessary orders for bread and other provisions, ordered the Feversham to Virginia and Maryland for
pork, this country affording none, and then went to New London
in Connecticut to concert matters with the Councill of Warr
constituted by H.M. for that purpose. Refers to enclosure. I dispatcht Col. Schuyler from New London with orders to ye Sachims
above-mentioned to bring downe imediatley all their fighting men with their arms and canoes to Albany. Being return'd
to New York, I had ye Assembly of ye two provinces to manage,
provisions to secure for the forces by sea and land, and Indians,
and batteaus to build for their transportation. Time begun to
press, for at New London wee had news of ye arrivall of ye whole
fleet. What past in ye two Assemblys, which met ye one at
New York ye 2nd of July, the other at Perth Amboy the sixth,
the Journals of Councills and Assembly of both provinces will
amply informe you. The Assembly of New York raised £10,000
for that use, and their quota of men being 600: tho' they grumbled
much at ye proportion, which however is warranted by H.M.
Generall Instructions, yet they resolved to raise them in this
manner, 350 Christians, 150 Long Island Indians and 100 Palatines,
which they desired of me, on ye Province's account. All which
were raised except the Indians, of which number I cold find but
50, all ye rest by ye artifices of those who call themselves their
masters being retir'd to their lurking holes in ye woods. I
found meanes howe'r to find about 40 more from Connecticut.
These sea-coast Indians being of great use for managing batteaus
and canoes and all other hard labour. The Assembly of ye
Jerseys raised 5000 for this service to be disposed on by me; as
the Minutes will inform you. I imployed all hands and arts for
levy's there; and with some difficulty found at last neare upon
200 volunteers. In short before ye end of ye month, I had ye
troops levy'd, clothed, accoutred and victualled and upon their
march for Albany, had ready made 330 batteaus, capable of
carrying each 6 men with their provisions, and had sent round to
Boston a sufficient quantity of bread, and a very considerable
stock of other provisions, the pork from Virginia not being then
arrived, and on ye 9th of August went in company with Lt.
Generall Nicholson to Albany. I have imployed 300 Palatines
in this service, 100 upon the account of this province, about
100 more to compleat the regular troops to their establishment
being much weakened by a number of invalids in pay, none of
that kind haveing ever beene taken off their hands or disposed
of into hospitalls since their first establishment. The rest if the
Jersey money does not hold out, must fall to H.M. share. I was
troubled to find noe news of our Indians at Albany. Wee made
however our other troops ffyle off as they came upp. They
arrived at last, on Aug. 24th, a jolly crew, about 800 men in
number, very likely men, with all marks of a hearty disposition
for the service, as you will better understand by ye Minutes of
my proceedings with them, and on Aug. 30th they followed ye
troops. These forces consist of Col. Ingoldesby's Regiment
form'd out of ye regular troops compleated by ye Palatines and
joined by the Jersey forces=600; Col. Schuyler's Regiment
consisting of ye troops raised in this province, Long Island,
Indians and Palatines=550; Col. Whiteing's Regiment composed
of ye Connecticut levys=360; and ye Five Nations with their
allies=800. Upon my arrivall at New York on Sept. 1st, I
received advice by a letter of Admirall Walker's that ye Fleet
which had sailed July 28th was upon Aug. 14th in the mouth of
St. Laurence River in good condition and with a faire wind.
The Admirall presses much the sending after him more provisions
for feare of being obliged to winter there. I have now in this
port the Feversham with transports haveing on board a
thousand and odd barrills of pork, and as much bread, flower,
butter, pease, rum and tobacco as they can carry, which are to
saile for Quebeck the first wind that offerrs, which I hope will
make all easey. This, Sir, is ye present state of this glorious
enterprize, which God prosper, hitherto it has a good aspect, and
if there is any creditt to be given to ye report of three French
officers whom I have detained prisoners, they comeing under ye
mask of Flaggs of Truce (a pernicious custome in these parts)
but really to spye, they are not there well provided for such an
attempt. I beleive the Queene has not a subject with a heart
warmer for her glory and interest than mine. Pardon me this
vanity since it is all I have to boast of, but you doe me but bare
justice to beleive that the concerne you have in this affaire with
that of a freind whom I have esteemed with more than a common
affection ever since I have known him, and who is now at ye
head of it, wou'd have beene sufficient to determine me to vote
all ye endeavours of my life to it's success. I must begg your
patience whilst I give you an account of an accident which fell
out here, and noe doubt but will be improved to my prejudice,
by those who have all along struck at H.M. interest thro' my
sides. The Feversham being almost unmann'd by the death,
desertion and sickness of her crew, and the only ship of warr
then with us, when I had resolved to send her to Virginia for ye
provision for ye forces, I consulted some of the Councill about an
expedient for manning her, being pinioned by the Act against
pressing. They advised to send for all ye masters of ships and
sloops embargo'd here, and to borrow some men of each in proportion to ye numbers of their respective crews upon promise to
restore them upon the returne of ye Feversham, which would be
an aparent advantage to them in saveing their provisions, dureing
the embargoe, which accordingly I did, and all of them readily
complyed, except one Foy the supercargoe of a brigantine just
come in from Bristoll, who used me with that insolence, that the
gentlemen present were ashamed of my patience, the other
masters gave in the names of such money (sic—? men) as they
cold spare. I sent my owne boat on board of them with an
officer to receive the men accordingly, hee returned and told me
that all that Bristoll ship's crew were desireous to goe; I sent
him back with his former orders for one halfe only as it was agreed
on, by the time he gott to ye shipps side, this supercagoe was
got on board, and ye whole crew fell upon ye officer and soldiers
with handspikes, tho' ye officer called to them frequently to take
care what they did, that hee came by order of the Government
and to doe harme to noe man, but one of ye soldiers being knock't
downe, shott one of ye crew who dyed next day. I sent for the
crew on shoare and examined them, they declared all that ye
man who was shott had beene soe drunck and troublesome, that
they had beene obliged to bind him till the boatswain who
they blamed most untyed him on purpose for that tumult.
Which boatswain imediatley after run away. The Coroner's
inquest found that John Moore a soldier had killed that man.
Upon which I made him prisoner. Some time after the Grand
Jury of this City presented and found guilty of murder the said
John Moore and Capt. Riggs upon the evidence of that supercargoe
and some others of his crew, not haveing thought fitt to call for
any other. The Capt. was gone upon ye Expedition, the soldier
I delivered over into ye hands of ye Civill magistrate in order for
his tryall. This Sir is a true account of that affaire. The whole
Expedition depended upon the saileing of that ship. She was
unmann'd partly by the evill practices of ye Country who have
not only encouraged such desertion, but protected nay rescued
the deserters when legalley secured and in custody of ye constables,
and when I had ordered a prosecution of such riotts noe Jury
would find for ye Queene tho' upon unquestionable evidence,
and ye Queen's evidence were abused and ill treated by ye people
upon this occasion. I have wearyed my Lord Dartmouth and
ye Lords of Trade with the greivances of this Government. My
sufferings are of small account, but I'll venture once more to
affirme that without speedy and effectuall remedy H.M. can make
noe State of any Government in this place, and in a little time,
the desease may prove too strong for ye cure. You are pleas'd
to lay your commands upon me to take into my thoughts the
whole state of the Brittish interest in these parts. I am highly
sensible of ye honour you doe me, and at the same time of my
want of capacity to think much to the purpose on soe great a
subject, which indeed deserves and requires the thoughts of ye
greatest Councill in the Realme. That it is in a bad state, the
frequent tumults in all parts, and ye generall aversion to the
support of Government in most, are sufficient indications. What
you are pleas'd to hint of putting all North America under one
uniforme plan of Government, would most certainely be a sure
remedy, but I am afraid it is too lingering a one for the present
exigencey. The purchaseing proprietyes and takeing away of
usurpations being a work of time and trouble. The propriety
Governments which were moddelled according to the humours
of their respective proprietors, consist of ye Governor and ye
Representatives, the Councill in most being a meer cypher,
haveing noe share of the Legislature. By which meanes the
Governours depending upon the good will of the people for their
daily bread have beene obliged to make such concessions and
past them into Laws, that if these Governments be purchased and
continued upon ye foot they now stand H.M. pays deare for much
trouble and noe dominion. This is ye plan of Government however they all aime at and make noe scruple to owne it. The
Legislature of ye Governments imediatly under H.M., is in the
Governor, Councill and Assembly by H.M. gracious concession,
for the time was when in this very province, the Governor and
Councill were the sole Legislature, but the Assembly's claimeing
all ye previledges of a house of Commons and stretching them
even beyond what they were ever imagined to be there, should
the Councill by ye same rule lay claime to ye rights and priviledges
of a house of Peers here is a body politick coeordinate with
(claimeing equall powers) and consequently independant of the
Great Councill of the Realme. A greater assertor of Liberty,
one at least that understood it better than any of them, has
said, that as Nationall or Independant Empire is to be exercised
by them that have ye proper ballance of Dominion in the Nation,
soe Provinciall or Dependant Empire is not to be exercised by
them that have the ballance of dominion in the province, because
that would bring the Government from provinciall and dependant
to Nationall and Independant. Which is a reflection that
deserves some consideration for the sake of another from ye same
person to wit, That ye Colonies were infants, sucking their
mother's breasts, but such as if he was not mistaken, would
weane themselves when they came of age. Upon the whole
I humbly submitt it, if it may not be adviseable at this time,
untill a proper remedy be applyed, that H.M. by her royall
letters (for what a Governor says passes for nothing) put them
in mind that all such priviledges as they claime as bodys politick,
they hold of her especiall grace and noe longer then they shall use
them for her interest and the support of her Government. This
which most assuredly will be of noe force toward the settling of
a revenue here, yet may be of use to keep them within bounds
in other matters. I wish it were in my power to doe for Mr.
Harison as he deserves and I cold wish. There is one imployment
which is imediatley in your owne that is ye Secretaries place of
the Jersies. Mr. Bass ye present Secretary being soe obnoxious
a man, and indeed infamous, that I cannot beleive H.M. will be
induced to continue him there after the representations I have
made against him. There is another, since Mr. Kiel has given
over thoughts of returneing hither, which is Surveyor Generall
of the Customes in these parts. Mr. Birchfeild who is possessed
of that place being gone for England, and haveing demeaned
himselfe in such a manner whilest here that I can hardly be
perswaded the Commissioners of ye Customes will send him back
hither againe. Hee is very capable of executeing either of these
imployments to ye satisfaction of all concerned, and it will be
noe small pleasure to me to have him soe provided. I humbly
ask pardon for this long tedious epistle, and am afraid I shall be
under an obligation to trouble you with more. In the meantime
I begg your recommendation to my Lord Treasurer for my bills,
and your assistance towards a remedy for my pressures here,
etc. Signed, Ro. Hunter. 11 pp. [C.O. 5, 1084. No. 48.] |
Sept. 12.
New York. |
97. Governor Hunter to Lord Dartmouth. Refers to and
repeats parts of preceding. Signed, Ro. Hunter. 1½ pp.
Enclosed, |
|
97. i. Duplicate of No. 96. |
|
97. ii. Extract from same. |
|
97. iii. Copy of the proceedings of the Congress at New London, June 21, 22, 1711. 8 pp. |
|
97. iv. Copy of Col. Schuyler's Journal of his journey to
Onondage, May 2, 1711, etc. |
|
97. v. Copy No. 95 ii. |
|
97. vi. Copy of Minutes of a Council of War held at Albany,
Aug. 23–28th, 1711. 7 pp. |
|
97. vii. Copy of Journal of the General Assembly of New
Jersey, July 6–16th, 1711. Printed. 5 pp. |
|
97. viii. Copy of Journal of General Assembly of New York,
July 2–Aug. 4, 1711. 12 pp. |
|
97. ix. Copy of Minutes of Council of New Jersey, July 6–16,
1711. 8 pp. |
|
97. x. Copy of Minutes of Council of New York, June 16–Sept. 3, 1711. 38 pp. |
|
97. xi. Duplicate of, No. 95, without postscript. |
|
97. xii. Duplicate of covering letter supra. [C.O. 5, 1091.
Nos. 43–57.] |
Sept. 12.
On board the Leopard man of war in the Spanish River. |
98. George Lee to [? Mr. Fox]. Since my last letters to
your Honour by the Humber and Devonshire from Cape Brittoon,
our fleet in going up the River of Canada has met with a most
fatall accident: whether it be ignorance or carelessness in our
Admiral, or by what meanes I know not: the fleet in a fresh
gale the 21st Aug. about 12 at night run ashoar on the North
side of the River at a place called Egg Iseland: by God's great
providence but 9 ships are lost of the whole 75 ships, but no man
of war is lost; the forces on board the ships cast away are computed to be about 1500 men officers and soldiers, of which number
about 200 were found alive on shoar; the regiments that suffer'd
most were Col. Seymour's and Col. Windreil's. The ship I
was in with the Rhoad Island men under my command was in the
midst of the breaches among the Red: but Providence has say'd
us. The next day the Admiral order'd a man of war to find a
harbor and to bring off if possible all that were alive on the shoar,
which has been effected: 8 or 10 vessells besides ours lost the
Fleet. The next night not seeing any signal made by the Admiral
who bore away for this River, we turn'd up believing he was
sayl'd for Canada notwithstanding the loss: but the winds being
against us, forced us to the same place where the ships suffer'd and
the Leopard lay to take up the men: we came to anchor and went
ashoar, where to our surprize we heard the Fleet was come this
way and the Expedition broke, such a dismall spectacle was
never seen, nine ships tore to pieces, and the bodies of 12 or 13
hundred brave men with women and children lying in heapes on
the shoar: we stay'd with the Leopard three days and then sayl'd
hither about 150 leagues; we met with two violent stormes in
our passage hither, and sprung a leake, but I bless God we came
in safe: here we find the Admiral sending home the New England
vessells, and going home with the fleet: this Leopard carries the
express with this ill news: our expedition is over, a garrison is
going to relieve the men at Port Royall, and the officers that are
upon that establishment are order'd thither, of which number
I am: I have commanded as Lieut. Colonel the Rhoad Island
forces, and notwithstanding the many vacancies I have not
interest enough to get a Capt's commission, being wholly a
stranger to General Hill, who has an extraordinary good charracter; he thinks it so unreasonable that I should go to Port
Royall a Lieut, and be commanded there by those whom I have
these two years commanded as Major and Lieut. Colonell, that
he has granted me a furlow for 9 months to go home, and if possible
to get a captain's Commission; he has order'd me to sayle to
Rhoad Island with my 200 men and deliver them to the Government I have serv'd: I designe God willing to do so, and hope to
see my good friend Genll. Nicholson, whose advice I shall allwayes
begg and take; we are in very great paine for that good man,
who is marcht to attack Canada by land, and fear that upon this
miscarriage of ours he will be overpower'd and cut off by the
French and Indians: I designe to stay six months at Boston to
receive your Honour's commands, etc. My humble duty to Lady
Fox and all your family. Signed, George Lee. Copy. 2 pp.
[C.O. 5, 9. No. 15.] |
| Sept. 13. |
99. Wm. Popple to the Secretaries of the Treasury. In
reply to Aug. 31st. The Council of Trade command me to acquaint you, that notwithstanding all the Governors in America
have Instructions to take care that fair books of accounts of all
receipts and payments of publick mony be duly kept, and the
truth thereof tested upon oath, and that authentick copies of
the same be transmitted half yearly to the Lord High Treasurer
and to the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, and notwithstanding their Lordships have frequently writ to remind the
Governors of the said Instructions, and to demand such accounts,
they have not received any from the Governments on the Continent (and only some few from Jamaica) and therefore their
Lordships are not able to inform my Lord High Treasurer
whether there be any mony of H.M. Revenues in that Country,
that may be applyed in ease of the expence of the garrison of
Annopolis. But they presume that Mr. Blathwayt, who is
auditor and surveyor of the Revenue arrising in the Plantations
may be able to lay a state of this matter before my Lord High
Treasurer. [C.O. 218, 1. pp. 18–20; and 5, 913. pp. 346,
347.] |
