|
| Jan.—July. |
248. Permits to six ships to sail for America and the West
Indies without convoy. [C.O. 324, 32. pp. 117, 118, 133, 154,
157.] |
Jan. 1.
New York. |
249. Governor Hunter to the Council of Trade and Plantations. This letter serves to inform your Lordps. of the affairs
in the Jerseys, which will not give your Lordps. much trouble,
all matters being in suspense there till H.M. pleasure be known
concerning those gentlemen of her Councill mentioned in my
former. I'le venture to promise an entire settlement both as to
H.M. interest and the animosities in the country soe she'l be
pleased to remove Daniel Cox, William Pinhorne, Peter Sonmans
and William Hall Esqrs. from that Board. Mr. Pinhorne has not
thought fitt to attend the Councill since ye Assembly at Burlington, and Mr. Hall has been the cheife promoter of an Address
from the County where he lives of a very extraordinary nature,
a copy of which I herewith send; the consequences of which have
been that little or noe taxes have been paid by that county, and
I very much doubt whether any will be paid without some
extraordinary measures to compell them. As to the Supream
Court there, I found it necessary to displace all the Gentlemen
of the Councill of both sides from being Judges Assistants, and
to place others of known integrity and reputation in their room,
their being soe being noe part of the institution of the Court and
holding there places only by special commission from the Governours, this was the only method left to obviate confusion in
that Court, where all matters were in danger of being determined
more by spirit of party than rules of Justice, and also to restore
the people to the benefitt of appeals of which they might be
bereaved by the number of Assistants on the Bench leaveing noe
quorum to determine in the appeale, such by my Instructions
haveing noe vote there. If yr. Lordps. approve of ye method of
opening ye Court of Chancery in New York I shall be under a
necessity of doeing it by a Proclamation in the Jerseys, despaireing of ever obtaining the advice and consent of that majority in
Councill there as they now stand, or any advise for opening such
a Court, there being nothing more dreaded by that sett of men
than a Court of Equity not without reason. Signed, Ro. Hunter.
Endorsed, Recd. April 10th, 1712, Read March 19th, 17 12/13. 2 pp.
Enclosed, |
|
249. i. Address of the inhabitants of the County of Salem,
New Jersey, to Governor Hunter. We are deeply
senceable of our gratious Queen's innewmerated favors,
etc., one of which is in sending your Excellency, whose
mild and gentle conduct we hope will cause us to say
we are happy in congratulating your Excellency's safe
arrival. We humbly desir your Excellency in your
great clemency to grant that those of us that cannot
produce silver money to pay our taxes the Collectors
may be allowed to receive wheat, silver money being
extreamly scarse, the straits must unavoidably come
makes us intrude with this humble request that those
who cannot procure there taxes may be preserved from
distraints and as peace and concord is the strength of
a county we humbly address your Excellency to grant
us a new choise for Representatives for our county
many of us being neglidgent in ye last election that those
of our members who indangers our depopalation by
strife and anymossities may be removed from that
honourabl body that designing men may be disincouredged and we H.M. loyal and obedient subjects for
your Excellency's long life and everlasting felicity your
Addressors shall pray. Signed, John Hollingsworth,
Thomas Wright, Jacob Hendrixson, Benjamin Jones,
Roger Huckings, Isaac Pearson, Saml. Wade, Joseph
Ware, Jeremiah Smith, John Loyd (his mark), Jonathan
Smith, William Short and 250 presons more. Endorsed
as preceding. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 970. Nos. 155, 155 i.;
and (duplicates) 5, 1091. Nos. 63, 65; and (without
enclosure) 5, 995. pp. 166–169.] |
Jan. 1.
New York. |
250. Governor Hunter to Mr. Secretary St. John. I did
myself the honour to write to you by the way of Boston since the
fatal miscarriage of that justly great attempt upon Canada.
That misfortune has occasion'd a joint addresse of the Council
and Assembly here to H.M. begging she would be pleas'd to
renew the expedition, which I have by this conveyance (the
Lowstoffe) transmitted to the Earle of Dartmouth. I have also
sent to his Lordp. a copie of the Council's Representations to
the Lords of Trade of the behaviour of the Assembly here and
the deplorable state of H.M. Government in this Province. All
hopes of a remedy on this side are groundlesse and vain. I am
confident that I have left nothing unattempted in the power of
man to procure a better settlement here, and I beleive all sober
men will do me that justice. But now the mask is thrown off,
they have call'd in question the Council's share in the legislation,
trump't up an inherent right, declar'd the power granted by
H.M. letters patents to be against law, and have but one short
step to make toward what I am unwilling to name. The Connecticut scheme is what they have in their heads and, if I be not
mistaken, they are flatter'd by some at home with the hopes of
oblidging the Crown to that concession by their undutifull practices. The various and dissonant models in the Charter and Propriety Governments is apparently the spring which moves these
pleplexitys in most of the Provinces. Let them be never so well,
each conceives an opinion that their neighbours are better whilst
upon another foot of Govt. In the infancy of the Colonies, the
Crown was lavish of priviledges as necessary for their nurseing,
but a full grown boy makes commonly but indifferent use of
that indulgence requisite toward a child. If it is expected that
the Colonys now they are grown up should be a help and of some
use to their parent countrey, there is an evident necessity of
ane uniformity in their Governments. Upon that alone amongst
other things an uniformity in worship intirely depends a thing
more to be wish'd then hop'd for as they now stand. For although
I cannot accuse our missionarys of want of either zeal or industry,
their progresse is but inconsiderable and their proselytes few,
how indeed can it be otherwise when both legislative and executive
powers are lodg'd in such hands as are likelier to pull it up by the
roots then plant it, and the people they are to work upon are
generally the obstinate, the whimsical and factious who flock
hither for elbow room to exert their talents. This great work
how necessary soever requireing so much time and being lyable
to so many difficulties in the accomplishing can not be depended
upon as a proper remedy for the desperate condition of H.M.
Government in this Province. The officers upon the point of
relinquishing their employments or starving, all the extraordinary
expenses of Govt. defray'd by my poor credit, though I have
never touch'd one farthing of their money, H.M. Council here
vilified and insulted, and the officers of Government look'd
upon as the common enemy's and marks of their malice, and all
this without the least provocation or colour of reason, this I say
is the true present posture of affaires here of which I have amply
inform'd the Lords of Trade, and so cannot be accountable for
the consequences. My own ruinous circumstances nothing
affect me: I serve the best of Soverains who has formerly
releiv'd me out of great distresses, and whilst it is apparent that
I suffer in Her service and for asserting Her rights I boldly lay
claim to your protection and recommendation for reliefe, etc.
Signed, Ro. Hunter. 3½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1085. No. 2; and 5,
1091. No. 60.] |
Jan. 1.
New York. |
251. Governor Hunter to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The Councill's Representation of and remarks upon
the proceedings of ye Assembly will sufficiently inform yr. Lordps.
of the dismal situation of affaires in this Province soe farr as they
relate to H.M. Government themselves and me. I hinted to
your Lordps. some time agoe that I was not willing to incourage
anything of that nature at that time, but now that there is noe
hope of a remedy, when H.M. Councill is insulted without cause;
their share in the legislation called in question, and H.M. Letters
Patents and the powers granted by them set at nought, I cold
noe longer discourage soe just an appeal and measures soe necessary for the vindication of that Board, which hath had nothing in
view in all their actions but H.M. rights and interests, and for
which they suffer at this present time; without being wanting
in my duty to H.M. and that justice I owe to them. To make
appeare to your Lordps. the little regard is paid here to ye powers
granted by H.M. Letters Patents, I must intreat you to cast an
eye on ye last page of ye resolves of ye house of Representatives,
and then your patience whilst I give you a short account of the
matters upon which these resolves are founded. The Country
here in generall groaned under the want of a Court of Chancery,
which had been discontinued for some time before my arrival
in these parts. Petitions came thick for opening such a Court,
and from some of their own members, upon which I consulted
the Councill, they advised the addressing your Lordps. for your
opinion on that head, some faults being found with the former
constitution. Your Lordps. referr'd me to my Letters Patents,
these direct that I shall by and with the advice and consent of
the Councill erect constitute and establish such and soe many
Courts of Judicature for ye heareing, trying and determining of
all causes as well criminall as civill according to law and equity.
I referred ye whole a matter again to a Committee of the Councill
who reported their opinion to me that the Governor is Chancellor
by vertue of the custody of the seale of the Province given to him
by a particular clause in his Letters Patents, this report is approved by the Councill, upon which I issued a publick notification
of that Courts being opened, and the house of Representatives
in their angry mood resolved that the erecting such a Court
without their consent is against law, without precedent and of
dangerous consequence to the liberty and property of the subject.
Had I declin'd or delay'd the opening that Court I had beene
justly accused and by themselves too of being deafe to ye cryes
of the people in a matter wherein I was sufficiently impower'd
to releive them, and had I done it in the manner they seem to
prescribe, who cold cleare me from the just imputation of haveing
complimented the Assembly with the powers granted by H.M.
to the Governor and Councill exclusive of them at a time too
when they seemed to be upon the point of disclaimeing all powers
not imediately derived from themselves. The other matter
declared to be against law is the establishing fees without their
consent. Your Lordps. well know that by my generall as well
as an additionall Instruction for that purpose, I am directed to
establish such a table of fees by and with the advice of the Councill
here, which was accordingly done and transmitted to your
Lordps. Your Lordps. find noe fault with the manner of establishing, tho' you seem to be in some suspence as to some fees
contained in the table, for which reason the Councill thoughtfitt to lett a Bill establishing ye ordinance word for word tho'
the title was a bill for establishing fees lye on the table untill
further advice from yr. Lordps. These are my Lords the illegal
proceedings I stand accused of in their Journals, but by the
complements paid me in the joint address of the Councill and
Assembly transmitted to ye Earle of Dartmouth by this conveyance, yr. Lordps. will be convinced that their spight is not personal,
which for the safety and ease of H.M. Government here, I from
my heart wish were soe. Your Lordps. are not ignorant of
the complaints of H.M. officers at sea and land relateing to the
incouragement of desertion from both services in these parts,
and ye notifications of the same which I have received from the
Lords of the Admiralty. You are likewise noe straingers to ye
ruinous state of H.M. quitt-rents here and the frauds in the
concealment and non-payment of the same. The Councill framed
two bills (enclosed) early in this session to remedy these abuses
and sent them to the Assembly for their concurrence where they
were turned into ridicule and lay on their table for that purpose
but were never vouchsafed one reading. In short after they had
spent the greater part of this long session in frameing of bills,
which they well know ye Councill without betraying their trust
could not pass, and the remainder in unjust cavils with the
Councill, not without some oblique stroaks at your Lordps., as
you'l observe in the close of their answer to the Councill's reasons
for insisting on their amendments to money bills, they very
fairly adjourned themselves to the first Thursday in Aprill next
from Nov. 24th last. In ye meantime ye Government is left
without support, the officers of it under a necessity of relinquishing their offices or starveing in them, and all the indispensible
expence thereof thrown upon me who never yet touch'd one
farthing of their moneys. My own private affaires are next to
irretreivable, but the hopes I have entertained all along of
restoreing the declineing interest of the Crown in this province
at last, have supported me under sufferings and discouragements
unspeakable, soe your Lordps. must pardon me if I once more
repeate that there is noe remedy for those evills or hopes of any
on this side, the source of which I think to be apparently a
resolution they have taken to oblige ye Crown to a concession
that they may new garble their Government after ye Connecticut
model. The Acts past this Sessions are, (i.) An Act to authorize
ye surviveing Commissioners for the expedition to reduce Canada
etc., which wants noe remark being only to supply a deficiencey
in ye former Act. (ii.) An Act reviveing an Act for the better
settleing ye militia. (iii.) An Act to prevent the impaireing the
fortifications. (iv.) An Act for raiseing 2855 oz. of plate. This
is for ye payment for the 150 men continued on foot for ye
defence of the frontier this winter. (v.) An Act for ye Treasurers
paying 3750 ounces of plate to ye Governor, this is noe more than
a warrant for the Treasurer's paying to me soe much for ye
repaires of ye fortifications of Albany and Schenectady and the
payment of the 150 men. (vi.) An Act for reviveing an Act to
prevent the selling or giveing of rum or other strong liquors to ye
Indians in the County of Albany. (vii.) An Act to oblige the
mannors in the County of West Chester to pay their arrears of
taxes. The meaning of this Act is to remedy some inconveniencies
that have arrisen from the neglect of some mannors in that
county to elect supervisors and collectors, by which means the
taxes there have not beene regularly paid. All these Acts are
enclosed. The Acts sent up this Session which have not had ye
concurrence and consent of ye Councill are besides those sent
with the Councill's representation, which want noe further
remarks, vizt. (i.) An Act for assigneing of Sheriffs, which needs
noe other remark than that it is an Act circumscribeing the powers
which the Governors have ever beene in possession of, and laying
that office under such restrictions as make it impracticable to
find in some counties persons soe qualifyed. (ii.) An Act for
appointing an agencey for New York at Great Britain. Your
Lordps. will observe that by this Act ye majority of the Assembly
are to nominate such agent and to levy money for his support
and a Committee of them even in the interval of ye Session as
well as ye Assembly when sitting are to give such directions and
informations to ye said Agent as they shall think fitt; by which
means the Governor and Councill are excluded from giveing him
any information or directions. This wants noe further remark,
only I must beg leave to inform your Lordps. that the private
designe of ye promoters of that Act was to put into that office
one Coll. Lodwick mercht. at London, whose letters to John
D'Peyster have beene dropt in the streets, and copys thereof
sent to most of ye countys since my arrival here in order to
obstruct the settleing of a revenue, and I must affirm to your
Lordps. that that gentleman's meddleing in the affairs of this
Province has beene of ill consequence to H.M. interests here at
this time. (iii.) An Act for restraining ye bringing of any personal
action in the Supream Court in this Colony under the value of £20.
The Committee of Councill being informed by ye Cheife Justice
that in England the restriction is only to 40s., and being in some
suspense as to that matter have thought fitt not to make any
report of it this Session. I have received a petition from the
merchts. of this place representing the inconveniencies and dangers
to their trade which must follow upon the new order of the Lords
of ye Admiralty for victualling and cleaneing H.M. ships appointed
for the service of this Province at Boston in New England, by
which means they conceive they will be intirely deprived of that
security to their trade intended by the service of those ships,
and indeed the passage is soe long between these two places and
their returne soe uncertaine that wee can propose but little
use of them to ourselves whilst under these orders, of which I
have also acquainted the Lords of the Admiralty. Col. Quary's
letter will sufficiently inform your Lordps. of very black practices
lately perpetrated in Pensilvania by one Parks master of the
ship St. John Baptist under the patronage of the Government
there. I remember well that last yeare whilst I was there, I was
told by many that that ship was impudently loading provision
for Petit Guave, tho' she entered and cleared for Jamaica, she
performed her voyage to that French port, took in a cargoe there
for Old France, but returned with it to Pensilvania. The Collector of New Castle in Pensilvania made seizure of her for tradeing
with H.M. enemies but was forcibly disseized by the Sherriffe
of that County, Coll. French, to whom the sloop which she brought
with her was consigned by Park in case she should loose company.
My repeated advices to the Lieut. Governor of that province
togeather with ye opinions of the best lawyers in these parts cold
not prevaile with him to seize Parks and his associates and send
them to England for their tryal as ye Act of Parliament against
forreign treasons directs, but all was smother'd in a country
Court, which acquitted ye traitors, condemned ye vessells and
goods, and awarded them their wages out of ye produce thereof;
Before this sham tryall at ye repeated instances of Coll. Quarry
I sent H.M.S. the Lowstoffe, Capt. Gordon Commander, with
generall orders to seize on his cruize all such persons, their goods
and effects, as had maintained any traiterous correspondence
or trade with the enemy, who accordingly seized the said ship
and sloop in Delaware River, and brought them to this port,
all the goods being unloaded by Col. French before he came, by
these meanes H.M. is defrauded of a cargoe to ye value of £8000,
and a door opened to all such treasonable trade for the future
in these parts, if noe method be found to bring these malefactors
to condign punishment. As to the Palatins, I acquainted your
Lordps. that I had imployed 300 of them in the land service
under Col. Nicholson's command by H.M. order. Upon their
returne to Albany, I there disarmed them again, as I did also
the country troops before I disbanded them, they have since
used some artifices and made some false allarums in order to
induce me to restore their arms but to noe purpose, they are
planted where they are covered every way, and whilst they are
armed they are ungovernable, 'tis with much concerne that I
must aquaint your Lordps. that what from the instigations of
their ill neighbours, what from the natural turbulencey of their
temper I find it hard to keep the generality of them to their duty
and the terms of their contract without force. The work is
however in as great forwardness as the time would allow, 100,000
trees ready for the manufacture next fall and 10,000 for this
spring, the magazine is up, the bridges and roads made; and in a
word everything ready for making the great essay, but to make
all sure I humbly offer to your Lordps. that H.M. be addressed
to signifye under her royall hand that she expects from them the
performance of the terms of their contract, and further that in
regard there are two forts now actually a building in the Indian
country by her orders, and that the number of regular troops here
is much too small for these five garrisons, she would be pleased
to augment them to the number of a Brittish batalion at least,
and form them into a regiment, the independencey creating
confusion, by these meanes our garrisons dureing ye warr will be
more secure, the Palatins more easily kept to their duty, and ye
work be carryed on dureing a peace if need require without
them by makeing an allowance to the soldiers of 12d. per day
extraordinary for working days only. I acquainted your Lordps.
how basely Mr. Bridger has endeavour'd to betray this service,
he has since wrote to me that it was not by his own will that he
absented himselfe, he best knows whose will determined him to
soe black a purpose; his practices with relation to ye Queen's
woods by the report of all honest and impartiall men acquainted
with that matter, has beene equally vicious, however the Governor
of New England has thought fitt to baulk that inquirey by appointing his confederates as I am informed for his inquisitors. Of
which proceedings some gentlemen of New England have sufficiently informed my Lord High Treasurer. Mr. Richard Sackett
who has the direction of the tarr work and understands it much
better has never left it since he enter'd upon it, but by indefatigable labour and industry has brought matters to bear a better
face than formerly and well deserves a reward to which I humbly
recommend him. I have as yet noe notice of the payment of any
of my bills for the subsistance of that people, notwithstanding
which I proceed to imploy all ye creditt I am master of for that
purpose in the manner that I am directed by H.M. instructions
judging it impossible that this soe universaly beneficiall project
should be dropt when it is carryed on soe farr and in soe fair a
way. Encloses a copy of Transactions with the Indians. All
is quiet at present upon the frontiers, but soon after the returne
of our troops to Albany a party of about 20 French Indians fell
upon two farm houses, murdered two men a boy and a woman
and two soldiers, and two small children, but lost three of their
own number of men in the action, after which they set fire to
the houses and run away. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed,
Recd. April 10, Read June 3, 1712. 12½ pp. Enclosed, |
|
251. i. Address of the Council of New York to Council of
Trade and Plantations. Dec. 13, 1711. Wee have all
along conceived hopes from ye great prudence and
equall administration of our Governor, that ye Assembly
would at last be brought to settle a revenue for ye
support of Government as formerly, wch. is ye reason
we have not presumed to trouble your Lordps. with our
thoughts on the sad state of affairs here, but finding
our expectations frustrated, we should be unfaithfull
to ye trust H.M. has been pleased to honor us with to be
any longer silent in a case which so much requires our
applicacon and at a time when by a too long neglect of
proper remedys ye officers of ye Governmt. are languishing and H.M. interest lyes gasping. We therefore
humbly represent to your Lordps. that ye Revenue
by which H.M. Governmt. here has been supported
ever since it was imediately under ye Crowne expired
the 18th of May, 1709; that H.E. our present Governor
has done all that it was possible for man to do to win ye
Assembly to sittle an honourable support of Governmt.,
but all the faints they have made towards it have been
to pass some bills in a very new and unusuall manner
for levying money, which if they would raise ye summes
it was pretended, or if those summes would come within
any manner of prospect of answering ye exigencies of
Governmt. ye nature of the bills themselves was such as
is very unprecedented and which we could not pass
without departing from our duty, we shall give [y] our
Lordps. instances in some of these bills, and crave leave
to make a few remarks upon them, and they shall be
only those of this session, because we find H.E. has
acquainted yr. Lordps. with their proceedings of the
last yeare. The first is a bill for levying a duty on chimneys and a poll, by which ye money thereby intended
to be raised is given to H.M. towards ye support of the
Government and is directed to be paid to ye Treasurer
of ye Colony, who is not thereby made accountable to
anybody, ye Councill amended it by leaving out ye
word Treasurer throughout ye Bill, and making ye
money payable to ye Receiver General (as has been ye
practice with respect to money given for ye support of
Government) and making him accountable to H.M. to
ye Governor and Councill, and likewise to ye Assembly,
which latter tho' it be a concession never before granted
to the Assembly for money for support of Governmt.,
we yet ventured to give them that we might thereby
remove their objection of ye misapplication of the
Revenue. The next is a Bill for laying a further duty on
ye tonnage of vessells and on slaves, and for repealing ye
Acts heretofore made relating to those dutys. By this
Act the Assembly intended that all vessells not wholly
own'd by ye inhabitants of this Province should pay
ye tonnage, but by mistake they had subjected all
vessells wholly owned by ye inhabitants of this Province
to those dutys, which we amended, ye money intended
to be raised by this bill is given to H.M. towards ye
support of ye Government and directed to be paid to
ye Treasurer of this Colony, and to be collected by an
officer of the Assembly's appointing and named in ye
Bill who is thereby obliged to give security to ye Speaker
a thing never before heard of, this we thought likewise
of such consequence that we amended it by declaring
ye Receiver Generall to be ye proper officer for collecting
it by obliging him to give security to H.M. and by
directing ye money to be issued pursuant to H.M.
Instructions. By this Bill likewise ye officer for collecting ye dutys was made accountable to ye Governor
and Assembly without taking any notice of ye Councill,
this also we amended, making him accountable to ye
Governor, Councill and Assembly. These bills with ye
amendments which we herewith lay before your Lordships, being sent back to ye Assembly, we expected they
would either have agreed to ye amendments, or else
that they would have signifyed their disagreement in
such manner as might have lead us by proper conferences
into ye debate of the reasonableness of them, but
instead of that they returned those, two bills with a
message that their house is well assured ye Councill
cannot but be sufficiently informed of ye undoubted
right and constant resolves of their house not to admit
of any amendmts. to be made by us to money bills;
this message put an end to our first expectations, and
obliged us to think of some measures for asserting our
right which they thus call is question. Accordingly we drew up some reasons for our insisting on that
right which we sent to them and which your Lordships
will receive. To these reasons the Assembly sent us
an answer, enclosed. So that neither of the bills are
past. Your Lordps. we believe will find something
very new and extraordinary in this answer of ye Assembly, first that it calls in question any share we have
in ye legislacon which is given us by ye Queen's commission that gives this Province ye indulgence of an
Assembly, and we believe it is ye first, and hope it will
be ye last instance of this kind. In next place it starts
a notion of the Assembly having an inherent right to
dispose of the freemen's money. We pretend no right
to dispose of their money without ye Assembly, and
that ye freemen can't be divested (as the Assembly call
it) of their property without their consent, all that we
insist on is ye right we have to amend money bills, and
that we have such a right your Lordships have formerly
given your opinion to ye then Lord Cornbury, when he
was our Governor, and there never was so great occasion
as now to exert it, seing we are about to be deprived of
it by a very illegicall conclusion. We shall say nothing
to what ye Assembly mention of yr. Lordships' opinion,
for it wants not our assistance, as to ourselves we beg
leave to assure your Lordps., that in this particular and
in all others it will be ever had in ye greatest esteem by
us, and to your Lordps. we do with great chearfullness
submit these our proceedings. These two are all ye
bills past by ye Assembly this session for giving money
for support of Governmt., and are the first since H.E.'s
arrivall wherein ye money intended to be raised is
declared to be for that use. We therefore beg your
Lordps.' patience whilst we say a few words in generall
concerning our amendments, etc. The practice here
(and we believe in H.M. other plantations) being to
give money generally for ye support of Government,
such money has been made payable by ye Acts that
gave it to ye Receiver Generall who is H.M. officer, the
Assembly notwithstanding have by these bills directed
it to be paid to ye Treasurer of the Colony who is their
officer for money raised for extraordinary uses and not
for ye support of Governmt.; we thought it our duty not
to give way to an innovation so little agreeable as we
conceive to H.M. Instructions and her prerogative of
appointing her own officers for ye receiveing her money
and therefore we made the amendments of this kind.
Some time after these two bills were sent up to us by
the Assembly, they sent us two others, one for ye Treasurer to pay to H.E. 8025 ounces of plate, by which bill they
direct the money to be paid to H.E. the Governor or his
order for firewood and candles for the garrisons at New
York and Albany, an Indian interpreter and for a smith
to reside among the Indians and other support of
Government until June 13, 1712, by which the summe
is appropriated to those particular uses. The other,
for sundry summes to be paid by ye Treasurer, whereby
there is soe much appropriated to severall officers of
the Government and soe much to ye Governor for
extraordinary uses. These likewise being bills of a very
unusual and extraordinary nature wee could not
consent to them in the termes wee received them,
apprehending the ill consequences that would flow from
thence, some of which wee conceive are that ye Assembly
intending H.E. should have noe more then £1000 a
yeare this country money for his sallary, wee should by
our concurrence with ye Assembly as much as in us lay,
question H.M. undoubted right to appoint such sallaries
as she thinks convenient for her officers. In ye next
place (if this concession be drawne into practice) the
officers will become subservient to ye pleasure of those
who pay them, and by the same rule they are retrenched
this year; the same method may be pursued from yeare
to yeare till at last they have nothing left but the name
of an office to subsist them. However the Assembly
pretending they had money in their Treasurer's hands,
which they were willing to apply to the support of
Government, wee were willing to goe with them what
lengths wee could, and therefore consented to those
bills with the amendments which your Lordships will
receive in them hopeing by this meanes they might be
brought to provide for the deficiences, but this gave
noe satisfaction, the Assembly called them money bills,
and resolved not to admitt of any amendment, soe
that they remaine unpast and ye Government without
a shilling to support it. It is with great greife that wee
are constrained to represent ye miserable state of H.M.
Government here to your Lordps. Yet ye duty wee
owe H.M. and ye obligation of our oaths oblige us to
speak at this time, etc. This Government has beene
without any support ever since H.E. Col. Hunter's
arrival, whose justice and prudent administration, if
there were noe other consideration have deserved a
quite different treatment. Wee have done all that has
layne in our power to procure a support of Government,
but wee have noe hopes that by any arguments of ours
wee shall obtaine what wee soe much desire. Your
Lordps. will easily beleive it is very greivous to us to
see ye Government in this deplorable condition, and
we tremble to think of what worse consequences may
ensue if some proper remedys may be not speedilly
applyed. To your Lordps. therefore wee address ourselves to make known to H.M. the state of her Government here. Wee shall give your Lordps. one instance
more of ye Assembly's preemptoriness not to admitt
of any amendment to money bills. And it is in the
Bill for paying the arreares due to ye forces late raised in
the County of Suffolk for ye expedition against Canada
in 1709, whereby ye money is not given to H.M. her
heires etc., the Councill amended that, but the Assembly
had recourse to their former resolve not to admitt of
any amended to money bills, tho' they know H.M. lately
rejected one of their Acts for raiseing £600 for ye City
of New York because it was not given to H.M., her
heires and successors. Soe that bill is not past. Wee
shall not take up so much of your Lordps.' time as to
enter into any argument for this our right to make
amendments to money bills. Your Lordps. who best
know them have already given your opinion therein,
and you will by these papers see what the practice
has been which ye Assembly doe not nor can denye.
Wee desire therefore that ye determination of this
dispute betweene us may be signifyed in such a manner
as may put an end to it. Thus much for the bills.
Wee begg your Lordps.' patience a little longer whilst
wee take some notice of two resolves of the Assembly
of Nov. 24th last, the very day they were pleased to
adjourn themselves on till the first Thursday in Aprill
next. H.E. did some time since with the advice of ye
Councill, and the great necessity the Province was in, of
such a Court, open the Court of Chancery, himselfe
being Chancellor by ye delivery of ye seales as ye
majority of ye Councill were of opinion. The Assembly
ye last day of their sitting resolved that ye erecting a
Court of Equity without consent in Generall Assembly
is contrary to law without precedent, and of daingerous
consequence to ye liberty and property of ye subject.
Whereupon it may be observed that H.M. has given to
ye Governour by her Commission full power and
authority with the advice and consent of ye Councill
to erect, constitute and establish such and soe many
courts of Judicature and publick justice within this
province as ye Governor and Councill shall think fitt
and necessary for the heareing and determining of all
causes as well criminall as civill according to law and
equity, which your Lordps. were pleased to observe to
H.E. June 29th. If therefore the first part of this
resolve be true, H.M. has given to ye Governor and
Councill power by her said Commission to doe that
which by law she cold not; but if H.M. can lawfully
give such a power, then wee shall be proud to forget
that ever a resolve of this kind was past by a people
soe graciously distinguished in many instances of H.M.
princely favour. It is not without precedent that a
Court of Chancery has beene erected in this province
without consent in Generall Assembly, and if the
erecting of it without their consent be lawfull, wee
are very well assured that it will not be attended with
any daingerous consequences. The other resolve is,
that the establishing fees without consent of ye Generall
Assembly is contrary to law. The power of establishing
of fees is likewise given to ye Governor with ye advice
and consent of the Councill, not only by an article in
H.M. Generall Instructions, but likewise by a perticular
and additionall Instruction grounded upon H.M. rejecting an Act of Assembly past here in 1709 for regulating and establishing fees. If then H.M. can lawfully
give such a power, what must these resolves meane ?
Signed, Sam. Staats, Robt. Walter, G. Beekman, Rip
Van Dam, Caleb Heathcote, John Barbarie. Tho.
Byerley. Endorsed as preceding. Copy. 10½ pp. |
|
251. ii., iii. Copy of proceedings of the Council and Assembly
of New York relating to money bills, Nov. 1711. Endorsed, Recd. April 10, 1712. 2 pp. |
|
251. iv.–xv. Copy of 5 Bills of New York with the Council's
amendments. Endorsed as preceding. 24 pp. |
|
251. xvi.–xviii. Copy of three bills of New York with Col.
Hunter's remarks. Endorsed as preceding. 6 pp. [C.O.
5, 1050. Nos. 45, 45 i.–xviii.; and (without enclosures)
5, 1123. pp. 1–18; and (covering letter and enclosure
i. only) 5, 1091. Nos. 58, 61; and (duplicates) 59, 64.] |
Jan. 1.
New York. |
252. Governor Hunter to the Earl of Dartmouth. I know
I am troublesom but know noe remedy, were my private interests
only at stake, though I have done nothing to forfeit my claime
to a share in that protection yr. Lordps. has ever afforded the
distressed, I would suffer in silence, but now that H.M. interests
in this province seem to be at ye last gasp, and all efforts on this
side fruitless, my silence would be criminall, and an unexcusable
breach of the trust repos'd in me. Refers to preceding letter and
enclosure. The unhappy miscarriage of ye intended expedition
agst. Canada has occasioned also the inclosed address to H.M.
from ye Councill and Assembly of this Province, to which I
humbly intreat your Lordp. will be pleased to procure access.
Signed, Ro. Hunter. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1091. Nos. 62; and (duplicate) 66.] |
Jan. 3.
Boston. |
253. Lt. Gov. Vetch to the Earl of Dartmouth. Refers
to former letters. This comes more particularly with relation to
a company of Indians which I proposed to General Hill to compose
a part of the garison of Annapolis Royall: who would be of
greater use and service then double their number of Brittish
troops. I gave your Lordship the trouble of the coppy of my
letter to General Hill togither with his to me approving the same,
and ordring me to detain one of the New England companys of
Indians att Annapolis untill another company should be raised
by Major Livingston, but the ship in which both companys of
Indians were lost the convoy and runn away to Boston (as did
severalls of the transeports who had part of our garison aboard)
and before Generall Hill's letters or mine to Colonel Dudley to
acquaint him of the same could reach him they were all disbanded
and dispersed: as Generall Nicholson cann more fully inform your
Lordship: however finding Major Livingston here att my arrivall
and by severall accounts from prisoners that came from Canada of
the Frenchs and Indians from thence designing to disturb the
garison of Annapolis Royall, I immediately dispatched him with
a commission to raise a company of Indians, to be upon the
establishment of said garison as Generall Hill had directed, and
wrote to the severall Governours to assist him etc., the which
being now allmost compleated will be ready to embarke here:
as soon as the season of the year will allow them, which is now
very seveer. The company consists of 58 officers and men.
The officers have been in pay since the beginning of November
etc. Prays that the company may be upon a setled establishment, and if the garison be formed into a regiment, that it may
be incorporated into it, and that meantime the bills drawn for
their pay may be punctually payed, etc., etc. Signed, Sam.
Vetch. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 9. No. 104; and (duplicate) 104 (i).] |
Jan. 3.
Boston. |
254. Col. Tailer to [? the Earl of Dartmouth.] Col. Dudley
treats me with all respect, and has given me the post my predecessor had. Since my arrivall I recd. H.E.'s commands for
the reviewing our frontiers, and to put them in a poster of defence,
wch. I have don'. I must begg leave to remind your Lordship
of Mr. Secretary Granvill's report referring to my pay, for I
have never recd. one farthing, etc. Signed, William Tailer.
2 pp. [C.O. 5, 898. No. 23.] |
Jan. 3/14.
Riga. |
255. Mr. Whitworth to Mr. Popple. Reply to Nov. 13. In
this country little or no tar is made, nor in Prussia, but as soon
as ever I get to Petersburgh, I shall send the most particular
accounts I can procure, etc. Signed, C. Whitworth. Endorsed,
Recd. 13th, Read 25th Feb., 17 11/12. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1050. No.
36; and 5, 1122. pp. 488, 489.] |
Jan. 4.
St. James's. |
256. Memorandum of Warrant for Thomas Maxwell to be
of the Council of Barbados. [C.O. 324, 32. pp. 116.] |
Jan. 4.
Whitehall. |
257. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Earl of Dartmouth. Edward Hyde having given the usual security as
Governor of Carolina, etc., we enclose draught of Instructions for
H.M. signature, being to the like effect as those given to all
Proprietors on similar occasions. Autograph Signatures. ½ p.
Annexed, |
|
257. i. Instructions to the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.
[C.O. 5, 1292. pp. 335—371; and (without enclosure)
5, 306. No. 5.] |
Jan. 9.
Whitehal. |
258. Mr. Blathwayt to Mr. Popple. "The Commissioners
for taking the public accounts having by their precept directed
me to lay before them from time to time the accounts of H.M.
Plantation Revenues under my audit," requests delivery of
accounts brought home by Major General Handasyd. Signed,
Wm. Blathwayt. Endorsed, Recd. Read Jan. 11, 17 11/12. 1 p.
[C.O. 137, 9. No. 59; and 138, 13. p. 378.] |
Jan. 9.
St. James's. |
259. H. M. Warrant to the Attorney or Solicitor General to
prepare a bill appointing William Cock Secretary of Virginia,
and revoking that of Edmond Jennings. Countersigned, Dartmouth. [C.O. 324, 32. pp. 116, 117.] |
Jan. 10.
St. James's |
260. Order of Queen in Council. The Council of Trade and
Plantations are to examine and report how far Major Douglas
hath complyed with his Instructions relating to the murther of
Governor Parke, etc. Signed, Edward Southwell. Endorsed,
Recd. Read Jan. 15, 17 11/12. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 9. No. 93; and
153, 11. p. 414.] |
Jan. 11.
Whitehal. |
261. Mr. Popple to Wm. Blathwayt. In reply to Jan. 9th,
encloses copies of accounts of H.M. Revenue of Jamaica 1709–1711. [C.O. 138, 13. pp. 379, 380.] |
Jan. 12.
Whitehall. |
262. The Earl of Dartmouth to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Refers following for their report. Signed, Dartmouth. ¼ p. Enclosed, |
|
262. i. Petition of John Frere to the Queen. Prays to be
restored to his precedency in the Council of Barbados,
the name of Timothy Salter, though appointed subsequently having been by mistake inserted before his
in the list of Councillors. 1 p. |
|
262. ii. Certificate from Ld. Dartmouth's office that John
Frere was appointed some months before Timothy
Salter in 1709. Signed, C. Delafaye. ¾ p. The whole
endorsed, Recd. 15th, Read 17th Jan., 17 11/12. [C.O.
28, 13. Nos. 79, 80, 80a.; and 29, 12. pp. 398–400.] |
Jan. 14.
Whitehall. |
263. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. Recommend John Wentworth to be of the Council of New Hampshire in the place of Winthrop Hilton, etc. [C.O. 5, 913. p.
369.] |
| Jan. 15. |
264. Mr. Attorney General to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. I have no objection in point of law or otherwise
to the Act of Barbadoes to dock the entail of certain lands, etc. in
the parish of St. Philip and to vest the same in Benjamin Chapman,
planter, in fee simple (v. Nov. 2, 1711.) Signed, Ed. Northey.
Endorsed, Recd. 10th (sic) Read 29th Jan., 17 11/12. ½ p. [C.O.
28, 13. No. 82; and 29, 12. p. 404.] |
Jan. 15.
Whitehall. |
265. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Earl of Dartmouth. Enclose addresses from the Council and Assembly of
Jamaica (v. Oct. 18, 1711) to be laid before H.M. Autograph
signatures. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 46. No. 2; and 138, 13. p. 383.] |
| Jan. 18. |
266. Mr. Attorney General to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. I have perused the Act of Barbadoes, to render
more effectual certain legacies bequeathed by Capt. Williams to
the parish of Christ Church (v. Nov. 2, 1711), and am humbly of
opinion that the same is not fit to be confirmed, for that the
occasion of passing the bill being to capacitate the Churchwardens
of the said parish to take an assignment of lands, which they
could not take without the help of an Act, not being a Corporation,
and for which purpose the Act was reasonable, this Act does
enact that all purchasers under the Churchwardens of the land
so to be conveyed to them by the Serjeant-at-arms, who had
seized the lands pursuant to a decree of the Court of Chancery
there, shall hold and enjoy the same against the heirs, exors.
admors. and assignes of Capt. John Williams, who by the act is
stated to have devised a charity of £600 to that parish, and the
Churchwardens whereof had obtained a decree against Richard
Williams, his admor. with his will annexed for payment of the
same. On which decree lands of inheritance of the said John
Williams had been seized, which I take to be unjust, for that it
does not appear that the testator had charged his real estate
with that legacy, and for that the heir of the testator was not
made a party in that suit, and has a right to controvert that
matter. And also for that the purchaser under the Churchwardens are enacted to hold and enjoy against the assignes of
John Williams, which will make void the mortgages, conveyances
and settlements made by the testator in his life time. Signed,
Ed. Northey. Endorsed, Recd. 22nd, Read 29th Jan., 17 11/12.
1¼ pp. [C.O. 28, 13. No. 81; and 29, 12. pp. 402, 403.] |
Jan. 19.
St. Jago de la Vega. |
267. Governor Lord A. Hamilton to the Council of Trade
and Plantations. By this opportunity of the Anglesea man of
war, (the first that has offer'd since my last, a duplicate whereof
goes herewith inclosed) I transmit to your Lordps. the rest of
the Acts past the last Assembly, together with the Votes of the
Assembly, Minutes of Council, etc. Your Lordships will observe
the usual supplies given, and the sum of £5000 appropriated to
the Revenue, which has not been obtain'd without some difficulty,
tho' it be calculated but to answer the occasions of the ensuing
year. This being an extraordinary demand, makes me think
it necessary to acquaint your Lordships from what circumstances
I apprehend it to have proceeded; and in order to that I have
already informed you, that at my arrival here, I found a Treasury
(if £3000 per annum deserves that name) not only exhausted but
in debt, the Queen's House and all publick buildings in a ruinous
condition, to that degree that less than £2000 has been computed,
would not suffice for repair of the Queen's House alone. But,
my Lords, not to mention these extraordinary occasions, I
confess it has been some surprize to me to find that by the computation of the annual debursements out of the Revenue, they
very near amount to double its incomes; as your Lops. may
observe under particular heads in the Journal of the Council:
and this will lay me under a necessity of expecting continual
assistances from the Assembly: nor can I well conceive how the
Revenue here is to be improved. The Quit-rents (I am affraid)
are ill collected; but am told there is no way of ascertaining them
better, without a general survey, which would be of more charge
than profit. The escheats, which were a considerable branch
formerly, are by the Act for quieting possessions pretty much
abated in number; and these that are found, since H.M. positive
Instructions to the late Governor not to grant them untill application had been first made to your Lops. remain in the possession
of such persons as have prosecuted them to judgement in the
Queen's name, without any application at all for grants for them,
contenting themselves with the possession, not so much as paying
the quit-rent for them, where they are of land, and the value
found by the jury, as well as the quit-rent, is by this means
lost to the Revenue. Your Lops. may easily conceive, I looke
upon this to be an abuse, and expect that I'll endeavour to
remedie it, which I have not hitherto been able to do, tho' I
have given assurances I would recommend no person to your
Lops. for the favour of such grants, but those who had discover'd
them, and been at the charge of the prosecutions: and indeed
unless that be a rule, I must take the liberty to acquaint your
Lops. no such discoveries will be made. As to the other Acts
past, I humbly recommend them to your Lops. as fit for H.M.
approbation: that for excluding Members of the Council or
Assembly being Commissioners on publick funds, I hope may
have the desired effect: and indeed I find we are too apt in this
warm climate to fall into heats and animosities on the most
triffling occasions, not to think it expedient to remove all that's
possible. That with respect to orphans and executors I am
perswaded will sufficiently recommend itself to your Lops.
patronage, as an Act that will give as much satisfaction to the
merchants in Great Britain, as to the generality of this Island.
The other concerning fowling and fishing, your Lops. won't
think of consequence enough to be refused; as carrying with it
no great prejudice, if little good. The close of this session, I
first gave them a short prorogation, and a little time after,
prorogued them further, till Aug. 1st, when I intend they shall
meet to do business. I have made it my business since to inform
myself more particularly of the state of the Island, and to visite
the most considerable parts of it; and am very [? sorry] to be
obliged to tell you that I have found it in a much worse condition
than I could possibly have expected. The fortifications that
are, are slight, ill contrived and out of repair: to these I have
already given orders both for repairs and some new additions,
of which I will give your Lordps. at another occasion, a particular
accot., with the plans thereof. The want of inhabitants is not
so easily remedied, and this misfortune has received a considerable
addition by the late mortality that has been here; But at present
the Island is again become more healthy. The Regiment here is
very much reduced, not having for a considerable time past any
supply of recruits come to it; and one half of the officers are
absent from their duty. All this is attended with a great dearth
and scarcity of provisions, having had no supplies thereof from
Europe for several months past. Some negroes said to have been
provided, have committed the greatest of villainies in murdering
their mistress and attempting further mischief; some have been
brought to condign punishment, several have escaped, and I
have ordered a party after them: I wish these necessities may
not occasion others to follow their example; if the cause, which
is to be fear'd should remain: so that in all respects this Island
is at present weak and in a bad condition. I think it my duty
to acquaint your Lops. that a privateer of this Island having
some time ago taken a vessel bound for the Havanah, wherein
the Governor, President and Captain General of the Spanish
coast of St. Domingo happen'd to be passenger; designing from
thence to Old Spain; I detain'd him upon account of H.M.
subjects that are kept prisoners at Lima, concerning whom I had
the Secretary of State's directions before I left England. I take
this to be a favourable occasion for reclaiming them, and in order
thereto, I have caus'd him write to the Vice-Roy of Peru and
President of Panama (to whom I have also written on the same
occasion) that he is detained by way of reprizal, for these prisoners,
till I am assured that they are set at liberty: and concluding the
effect of these letters will be the same as if he were longer kept
here, I have with the unanimous advice of the Council, sent him
on board a man of war bound home with this Fleet. I likewise
send another prisoner which I must particularly mention to
your Lops., that is, one Nicholas Gualtier, concerning whom I
must referr your Lordps. to the opinion and advice I have received
of the Council, as you will see the same at large towards the
latter end of the Minutes of Council herewith sent. It is by the
unanimous advice of the Council that I dispose of him thus; and
not suffer him to go to Curacao, under the pretence of being a
naturalized subject of Holland, according to the prayer of his
petition. As this might possibly be a national dispute, it deserved
all the deliberation it was capable of; and I hope your Lops. will
be of opinion it has had it. I am perswaded I need not trouble
your Lordps. with a repetition of what I wrote formerly, touching
the relief of those aggrieved by the bonds given for the duties on
prize goods. As for news from these parts, what follows is all
I can acquaint your Lops. of at present. There is advice from
the Havanah of the latter end of November last, that the quicksilver ships were arrived there from La Vera Cruze, and that the
late Vice-Roy of New-Spain (the Duke of Albekirk) is on board
them; and that the Duke of Linaxis now governs that Kingdom
in his stead. The Barlovento Fleet was likewise arrived at
Puerto Rico or St. Domingo by this time, to pay the guarrisons
of those places. From Carthagena we hear that a packet boat
arrived there from old Spain, above two months since, with orders
to recall Don Carlos D' Suere, Lieutenant-Governor of that city,
upon some suspitions of his keeping a correspondence with the
enemies of his master; and soon after sail'd in the said packetboat. The Marquis de Villa Rocha late President of Panama is
gone to Spain; and Don Joseph de Armesago has succeeded him
in that Government. The Marquis de Castell dos Rios Vice-Roy
of Peru, died some time since, and that kingdom is govern'd now
by the Bishop of Quito, etc. P.S. Refers to enclosures. I have
not received any of your Lordships commands since I left Eng
land. Signed, A. Hamilton. Endorsed, Recd. May 3rd, 1712.
Read July 17th, 1713. 6¼ pp. Enclosed, |
|
267. i. Exports from Jamaica, March 25, 1709—Sept. 29,
1711. Number of ships, to England, 157, Plantations,
111. Sugar, to England, hhds. 24,985, tierces 41,
barrils 156, casks 47, chests 22; to Plantations, 1081
hhds., 73 tierces, 341 barrils, 4 casks, 25 chests, 1 box,
6200 lb. Sugar, clay'd and white, to Plantations,
1 tierce, 4 loaves. Molosses, to England, 89 hhds.;
to Plantations 13 pipes, 315 hhds., 62 tierces, 17 barrils,
4 jars. Rum, to England, 16 buts, pipes and puncheons,
12 hhds., 2 tierces, 4 barrels, 2 casks, 1000 gallons; to
Plantations, 105 buts, pipes and puncheons, 65 hhds.,
105 tierces, 31 barrels, 39 casks, 12,890 gallons, 4 gross
bottles. Lime juice. To England, 2 puncheons, 43
hhds., 10 tierces, 22 barrels, 63 casks; to Plantations,
2 puncheons, 8 hhds., 15 tierces, 6 barrels, 23 casks,
150 gallons. Piemento, to England, 32 pipes, 207 hhds.,
54 tierces; to Plantations, 7 tierces. Cocoa, to England,
41 pipes, 189 hhds., 42 tierces, 100 barrels, 557 casks,
1804 seroons, 440 bags, 8000 lb.; to Plantations, 12
pipes, 6 hhds., 26 tierces, 33 barrels, 50 casks, 121
seroons, 84 bags, 50 lb. Indico, to England, 5 tierces,
858 barrels, 548 casks, 1 box; to Plantations, 12 barrels,
5 casks, 2 boxes, 6 bags, 290 lb. Madera, to Plantations,
354 pipes, Canary, 32. Sarsaparilla, to England, 1
hhd., 1 cask, 212 bales, 800 bags, 16 bundles, 18 boxes,
16000 lb. Cinamon, to England, 7½ tuns, 1 fat, 2 hhds.,
1 barril, 10 bales, 342 bags, 3 chests, 2200 lb. Piemento,
to England, 329½ barrels, 364 casks, 70 bags, 5000 lb.;
to Plantations, 25½ barrels, 16 casks, 4 bags, 180 lb.
Caskarilla, to England, 3 casks, 4 seroons, 4 cases.
Chana Root, to England, 15 bags. Tortois-shell, to
England, 1 hhd., 7 barrels, 8 casks, 1 box. Vigonia
wool, to England, 2 hhds., 1 tierce, 72 bags. Spanish
wool, to England, 99 bags. Logwood, to England,
898½ tuns, 3075 lb.; to Plantations, 6 tuns. Fustic,
to England, 1188 tuns, 580 sticks, 2400 lb.; to Plantations, 281 tuns, 2300 lb. Logwood and fustick mixed,
to England, 38 tuns. Lignum-vitæ, to England, 1880
lb.; to Plantations, 6 tuns, 2300 lb. Camwood, to
England, 25 tuns, 1505 sticks. Mohogony wood, to
England, 2200 feet, Nicorogo wood, 52 tuns, Stockfish
wood, 14 tuns. Manchaneel, to Plantations, 212 feet.
Hyppocuana, to England, 1 barrel, 2 casks, 19 seroons.
Cortex Winterania, to England, 20 cases, 104 bags,
1400 lb. Cortex citerania, to England, 1 bag. Jesuits
bark, to England, 8 chests, 6 boxes. Snuff, to England,
65 barrels, 35 casks. Furs, to England, 5 hhds., 7
cases. Aneta, to England, 2 casks, 1 seroon. Spanish
tobacco, to England, 10 hhds., 52 packs; to Plantations,
3785 lb. Malagete, to England, 49 buts, 1800 lb,
Balsom, to England, 1 barrel. Ebony, 13 tuns. Chocolate, to Plantations, 1 barrel. Cotton, to England,
2210 bags; to Plantations, 200 bags. Ginger, to England, 7552 bags; to Plantations, 153 bags. Elephants
teeth, to England, 6517. Cassia fistula, 3 tierces. Hides,
to England, 4452; to Plantations, 130. Sides of
Leather, to Plantations, 40. Pitch, to England, 10
barrils; to Plantations, 1 barril. Negroes, to Plantations, 947, Indian slaves, 4. Salt, to Plantations,
1500 bushels. Brandy, 10 quarter casks, Hungary
water, 33 bottles, flour, 361 barrils, and a few other small
items. Endorsed as preceding. 2 pp. |
|
267. ii. Imports to Jamaica, March 25, 1709—Sept. 29,
1711. Number of ships, from Great Britain, 104;
from Plantations, 207. The imports consist chiefly of
provisions (beef, flour, beer, wine, butter, cheese, fish,
pork, etc), timber, elephants' teeth, sarsaparilla, pitch, tar
and 11,137 negroes, by separate traders. Same endorsement. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 10. Nos. 6, 6 i., ii.; and
(without enclosures) 138, 13. pp. 440—450.] |
Jan. 19.
St. Jago de la Vega. |
268. Governor Lord A. Hamilton to the Earl of Dartmouth.
I need not trouble your Lop. with a repetition of what I wrote
(Oct. 18) in relation to the Governor of the Spanish coast of St.
Domingo; etc., etc. In the minutes of the Council, now transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of Trade, the following
character is given of the said Governor, vizt., that he is a person
intirely in the interest of France, and a creature of the French
Court; that, by a letter of his formerly intercepted, it appear'd
he had endeavour'd to inveigle several Irish Papists settled in
H.M. Colonies; alleadging it was for their interest to desert the
tyranny these Heretick Dogs exercis'd over them; with some other
indecent expressions. Your Lop. will see among his papers, a
particular printed accot. of his name, family, titles and pretensions at the Court of Spain, by a full enumeration of his services,
etc. He was designing from the Havannah for old Spain, to
answer to some complaint exhibited there against him. Repeats
concluding part of preceding. Signed, A. Hamilton. 3½ pp. [C.O.
137, 51. No. 58.] |
Jan. 20.
St. James's. |
269. H.M. Licence to Thomas Hodges, Attorney General of
Barbados, to stay 6 months longer in England, for the recovery
of his health, he appointing a deputy approved by the Governor,
etc. [C.O. 324, 32. pp. 117, 118.] |
Jan. 21.
[1711=12?]. |
270. Petition of John Collins, Governor of Newfoundland,
to the Queen. In Dec. 1708, St. John's Fort having been surprized by the French, petitioner, being commander of the Militia,
raised the best force he could and attempted its relief, with
great hazard of his life. He was carried away prisoner to Placentia. Commodore Taylor, Oct. 1709, appointed him Governor
and Commander in Chief of the Fort and Harbour of St. Johns,
and all the sea-coast between Ferryland and Carbonere Island,
Captain Lloyd being carried into France, and since kill'd there.
This post he has held to the general satisfaction, at his own great
charge hitherto. Prays to be allowed the Governor's pay and
to be continued in the Government. 1 p. [C.O. 194, 24. No.
12.] |
| [Jan. 21]. |
271. (a) Address of Inhabitants of Newfoundland to the
Queen. Recommend John Collins (v. preceding) to H.M. favour.
His extraordinary vigilance in guarding and repairing the Fort
and regulating the Militia have been manifested to our entire
satisfaction etc. Signed, "by all the best inhabitants that are
masters of families." 79 signatures. 1 p. Joined to, |
|
(b) Address of Merchants and Masters of ships trading to
Newfoundland to the Queen. Recommend John Collins to
H.M. to be confirmed in the Government of Newfoundland and
rewarded for his great expence in repairing the Fort etc. 65
signatures. Parchment. 1 p. [C.O. 194, 24. No. 7.] |
| Jan. 21. |
272. Two Copies of above petition and addresses, with copy
of Commodore Taylor's Commission to John Collins, St. John's,
Oct. 6th, 1709. Printed. 1 p. [C.O. 194, 24. Nos. 5, and 6;
and 194, 23. No. 1.] |
Jan. 21.
Treasury Chambers. |
273. Mr. Harley to Mr. Popple. Encloses following. The
Lord High Treasurer desires a report from the Council of Trade
and Plantations, as to the directions that were given for building
for the said house, and why they have not been complyed with,
as also their opinion whether it may be reasonable, that the said
allowance in lieu of house rent should be continued any longer,
and if so out of what the same may be satisfyed, with such other
observacons as their Lordps. shall think proper. Signed, T.
Harley. Endorsed, Recd. Jan. 21st, Read Feb. 25th, 17 11/12. Addressed. 1 p. Enclosed, |
|
273. i. The Earl of Orkney to the Lord High Treasurer.
Whereas the Govnt. of Virginia ever since the settlement of that Colony in the Crown have allowed £150
per annum towards the renting of a house for the
Govr., but about 4 years past the said £150 was taken
away by the late Lord Treasurer, upon the supposition
that as H.M. had recommended to the General Assembly
that a house shou'd be built by them, for the honor
of H.M. and the Govt. there, which they with great
alacrity and cheerfulness imbarked in, and have made
such advances therein that the said house is built and
cover'd, but the great disaster of the war, and the low
ebb the prices of tobacco have been at, and still continue,
and the publick Treasury of Virginia being exhausted,
the country is not in a capacity to compleat the same,
and Col. Spotswood has by his repeated letters to me
desired I wou'd lay this hardship before your Lordship.
Besides the emoluments of that Govnt. are much
impaired, he is in a house which he pays rent for and
humbly prays your Lordship will permit him to reassume
the payment of the £150 out of the Govnt. there, untill
the said house be fully compleated, etc. Copy. 1½ pp.
[C.O. 5, 1316. Nos. 78, 78 i.; and 5, 1363. pp. 392—394.] |
Jan. 25.
Maryland. |
274. Edward Lloyd, President of the Council of Maryland,
to the Earl of Dartmouth. The occasion of this is to acquaint
you that on Oct. 3 last, at the provinciall Court, one Susannah
Puckham spinster, a poor unfortunate person, was try'd for the
murder of her bastard child, which she alleadged was borne dead,
and upon the character given her by her neighbours, it was the
opinion of most people at the tryall that the child was borne
dead, yet the jury pursuant to the express direction of the Stat.
21st James could not but bring her in guilty, she living at a
remote plantation, and the rest of the small family being all
absent from home at the time of her delivery, whereupon H.M.
Justices of that Court represented her to me as an object of the
Queen's mercy etc., which I humbly desire your Lordship will
represente to H.M. etc. Signed, Edwd. Lloyd. Addressed. 1 p.
[C.O. 5, 720. No. 13.] |
Jan. 25.
Maryland. |
275. Same to same. Upon receipt of your Lordship's of June
28, 1711, with H.M. Instructions relating to the guage of hogsheads, I convened the Generall Assembly upon Oct. 23rd, and
recommended to them readily to obey H.M. direction in confirming the guage of their tobacco hogsheads to that now practiced
in Virginia. In complyance wherewith they have agreed to an
Act herewith transmitted, which I hope will be well approv'd of,
and prevent any further clamour on that score. They have at
the same time, and in the same Act having relation to the same
thing, endeavour'd to prevent the abuse of cropping the hogsheads
and defacing tobacco by masters of ships in their stowage, by
lying a moderate penalty upon them, when convict thereof, not
exceeding that impos'd on the planters who shall not confine
themselves within the guage now ascertayn'd. I also used all
possible endeavours to perswade them to impower some fitt
person, or persons, to act as their Agent in Great Brittain, and to
make them sencible of the necessity thereof, but without any
success, they having referr'd the consideration thereof to the
next Session of Assembly. As to the other Laws enacted in
November, 1709, and disallowed by her most sacred Majestie,
those for regulating the Militia and lymitting officers' fees being
of the greatest consequence, pursuant to the intimation from
the Lords of Trade that they might be re-enacted by the President
(as Commander in Chief), the Councill and Assembly, they are
so re-enacted with the others of less consequence, and severall
private Acts which together with the Journalls of the Councill
and Assembly herewith transmitted. Signed, Edwd. Lloyd.
1¾ pp. [C.O. 5, 720. No. 14.] |
Jan. 25.
Maryland. |
276. Edwd. Lloyd to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Repeats gist of preceding. Concludes: The Assembly offer'd at
some other laws, at this Session, which I could not believe H.M.
would approve of, and therefore thought it but prudence now in
the absence of a Governour in chiefe, not to agree thereto, att
which they seemed somewhat dissatisfyed, etc. Signed, Edwd.
Lloyd. Endorsed, Recd. July 22, 1712, Read July 13, 1713.
Addressed. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
276. i. Copy of Journal of Committee of Accounts of Maryland. Oct 23—31st, 1711. Endorsed as preceding. 24
pp. [C.O. 5, 717. Nos. 50, 50 i.; and (without enclosure) 5, 727. pp. 320—322.] |
Jan. 25.
Whitehall. |
277. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Earl of Dartmouth. We think it reasonable that H.M. should grant the
petition of John Frere (v. Jan. 12). [C.O. 29, 12. p. 401.] |
Jan. 27.
St. James's. |
278. H.M. Warrant to Governor Douglas. Lt. General
Walter Hamilton is to be admitted to the Councill in each and
every of the Leeward Islands where such Councils are establish't,
with authority to preside in those respective Councils in the
absence of you, or other the Captain General and Governor in
Chief of our said Islands for the time being. Countersigned,
Dartmouth. [C.O. 324, 32. pp. 128, 129.] |
Jan. 28.
London. |
279. James du Pré to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
Prays for a speedy conclusion of the Board's report upon the
settlement of the Palatines at New York, etc. Signed, James du
Pre. Endorsed, Recd. Read Jan. 29, 17 11/12. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1050.
No. 35; and 5, 1122. pp. 479, 480.] |
| Jan. 29. |
280. Duke of Leeds to the Earl of Dartmouth. Recommends
to his consideration Rev. Mr. Collins and his brother's case
(v. Jan. 21). Signed, Leeds. 2 pp. [C.O. 194, 24. No. 8.] |
Jan. 31.
Westminster. |
281. Copy of Privy Seal for the establishment of the Commission of Trade and Plantations (Charles, Earl of Winchelsea,
Sir Philip Meadows, Robert Monckton, Sir Charles Turner,
George Baillie, Arthur Moore and Francis Gwyn.) Salaries of
£1000 a year payable quarterly. £400 to the Clerks of the
Privy Council for their despatch of orders and business relating
to Trade and Plantations. £500 salary to William Popple, £100
to Adrian Drift, Deputy Secretary, £390 for seven Clerks, and
£160 for doorkeepers, messengers and necessary woman. Incident
charges of the office, attested by 4 or more Commissioners, to be
paid by the Treasury (v. Dec. 17, 1711), etc. Countersigned,
Hen. Ludlow. 6½ pp. [C.O. 388, 76. No. 128; and 389, 37.
pp. 32—38.] |
Jan. 31.
Whitehall. |
282. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. Recommend for confirmation the Act of Barbados to dock the entail
of certain lands in St. Philip's parish etc. (v. Jan. 15). [C.O.
29, 12. p. 405.] |
Jan. 31.
St. James's. |
283. Order of Queen in Council. Approving preceding and
confirming Act of Barbados accordingly. Signed, Ja. Vernon.
Endorsed, Recd. Read June 24, 1715. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 14. No. 40;
and 29, 13. pp. 307, 308.] |
Jan. 31.
St. James's. |
284. Order of Queen in Council. Appointing John Wentworth
to the Council of New Hampshire, in the room of Winthrop
Hilton, decd. etc. Signed, Edward Southwell. 1½ pp. [C.O.
5, 11. No. 73.] |
Jan. 31.
St. James's. |
285. Duplicate of preceding. Signed, Ja. Vernon. Endorsed, Recd. Read June 24, 1715. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 5, 866. No.
45; and 5, 914. pp. 51, 52.] |
| [Jan. 31]. |
286. William Mathew to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Son of the late Governor Sir William Mathew, petitioner
has settled in Antego, and having suffered in some sort for opposing
the late disorders there, prays to be appointed to one of the
vacancies in the Council there, etc. Signed, Recd. Jan. 31, Read
Feb. 5, 17 11/12. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 9. No. 99; and 153, 11. p.
426.] |
