|
Sept. 6.
Whitehall. |
651. Lord Carteret to the Governor of Carolina. Encloses
copy of letter from Marquis de Pozobueno, Spanish Minister,
30th April, complaining of hostilities committed against the
inhabitants of Florida by the Indians, who are under the protection of H.M. Governmt. in Carolina, that they could not stir
out of their houses to cultivate their lands, nor turn out their
cattle without apparent danger from the sd. Indians, whereupon
they had requested His Catholic Majesty to give them leave
to retire into some other Province etc. It is H.M. pleasure
that you take the most effectual care, that neither H.M. subjects
in Carolina, nor the Indians under the protection of His Government there, be suffered to commit any manner of violence agt.
the inhabitants of Florida, but on the contrary that you use
your best endeavours to preserve a good correspondence with
the sd. subjects of Spain, it being H.M. intention that the
Conventions made between him and His Catholic Majty. be
strictly observed on the part of his subjects. Signed, Carteret.
[C.O. 324, 34. p. 62.] |
Sept. 6.
Whitehall. |
652. Lord Carteret to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
You are to prepare an Instruction for Lt. Governor Hope
agreable to those which you have already prepared for the
present Governors of Barbados and the Leeward Islands (v.
5th July, and 4th Aug.). Signed, Carteret. Endorsed, Recd.
7th, Read 13th Sept. 1721. 1 p. [C.O. 37, 10. No. 20.] |
Sept. 8.
Whitehall. |
653. Mr. Popple to Mr. Lowndes. Encloses Governors'
Instructions as requested 29th Aug. [C.O. 324, 10. pp. 294,
295.] |
Sept. 8.
Whitehall. |
654. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Reply
to Order in Council, Sept. 5th. When Sir Nicholas Laws was
appointed Governor of Jamaica, we did then propose, 11th Oct.,
1717, several alterations in the Instructions for the said Governor,
and gave our reasons for the same, which your Majesty being
pleased to approve, we thought ourselves obliged in all the
Instructions that we have prepared since that time to inset
the said alterations without troubling your Majesty with the
repetition of our reasons for so doing etc. The alterations in
Col. Hart's Instructions are conformable to those of Sir N.
Lawes and of the Lord Belhaven. Whereas by the 13th
Instruction the Governor was restrained from suspending any
of the Council without the consent of the majority, which in
some cases might prove of ill consequence, we have added at
the end of that Article, "Nevertheless if it should happen that
you should have reasons for suspending of any of the said
persons, not fit to be communicated to the respective Council
to which he belonged, you may in such case suspend such person
without the consent of that Council; But you are thereupon
immediately to send to us by one of our Principall Secrys. of
State and to our Commissioners for Trade and Plantations an
account thereof with your reasons for such suspension as also
for not communicating the same to the Council, and duplicates
thereof by the next conveyance." In the 24th Article forbidding
the Governor to pass bills of an extraordinary and unusual
nature etc., we added the words, Or that might anyways affect
the trade or shipping of this Kingdom, pursuant to your Majesty's
directions in that behalf; and after the words, deferring the
execution thereof until our pleasure shall be known concerning
the same, we have also added which you are likewise to observe
in the passing of all Acts that shall repeal any Act or Acts that
have had the Royall Assent. We made some small alterations
in the 21st and 22nd Articles only to inforce them and to
prevent their being liable to be in any manner misunderstood.
By the 56th Article the Governor was required upon the
suspension of any Patent Officer or his Deputy to take care
that the person appointed to execute the place during such
suspension should give sufficient security to the person suspended
to be answerable to him for the profits accruing during his
suspension in case he should be restored; But as this might
in some cases prove a very great hardship to the person appointed
to officiate during the suspension, we added the following
words. It is nevertheless Our will and pleasure that the person
executing the place during such suspension, shall for his encouragement receive the same profits as the person suspended (if a Deputy)
did, or a moiety of the profits in case of suspension of the Patentee.
Whereas in the former Instructions it used to be said that with
other powers of Vice–Admiralty the Governor was to receive
from the Commissioners for executing the Office of High
Admirall of Great Britain, authority to suspend any Captain
or Commander of any ships of war for refusing or neglecting to
obey such written orders as should be given him by the said
Governor for your Majesties service etc. But the Lords of the
Admiralty not having thought fit to add to the Commission of
Vice Admiralty, which they have given Col. Hart, any such
power, we altered the clause in the manner it now stands in
the 73rd Article, However as it may be of great consequence
to the service of the Plantations that such ships of war as shall
be sent to protect the said Plantations and the trade thereof
respectively shou'd be during their stay there, under the
direction of the Governor more particularly with relation to
convoys and sailing orders; we are humbly of opinion that it
will be for the publick service that all the Governors in the
Plantations should be impowered and authorized accordingly.
In the 62nd Article, after the words, You are not to prefer any
Minister to any ecclesiastical benefice without a certificate from
the Lord Bishop of London, we added or some other Bishop, as
believing the certificate of one Bishop in such case (relative
only to the life and conversation of the person) equal to that
of any other Prelate; besides it has been represented that it
would be expensive and inconvenient to Clergymen to be obliged
to travel to London purely to obtain a certificate when a more
convenient place of embarkation might offer for them at some
other port. After the words, said Lord Bishop of London, in
the 66th Article we thought it necessary to add the following
words, but when such persons so qualified as above shall be wanting
for the promotion of learning and good education you may yourself
licence such other persons as you shall think qualified for such
employment. At the end of the 52nd Article which seems
calculated to discourage vexatious appeals to your Majesties
Council in England, we added the following words, In any case
where a judgement first given by an Inferior Court in any of our
said Islands shall have been confirmed by the Governor and Council
there; as being desirous to follow the original design of the
Instructions so far forth as the same may be agreeable to the
practice in the Courts of Judicature in England, where every
appeal to a Superior Court stops the execution from the Inferior,
reserving out of that general rule such cases only as carry in
the very face of them an appearance of being vexatious. [C.O.
153, 14. pp. 75–81.] |
| [Sept. 8] |
655. Governor Shute to the Council of Trade and Plantations. It was with great satisfaction that I received the honour
of your Lordships' letter of the 17th of March, 1720/21, since
you are pleased therein to approve of those parts of my conduct
which have given the greatest umbrage to the people of this
Province. Your Lordships are desirous to know how it comes
to pass that the Paper Bills daily sink in credit. When [I]
first arrived, which is about five years since I could for £16[O]
in Paper Bills have had £100 sterling in London. But now I
can't have the same sum under £230 or £235. Our import is
much greater than our export, and from hence in my humble
opinion this high discount upon the Bills proceeds in a great
measure; and from the low prices of all the commodities of
this Country in the Port of London, as [well] as from the great
quantity of Paper Bills we have been obliged [to] make having
no other medium of trade, which the People were grown so
fond of, that if I had not received an Order from their
Excellency's the Lords Justices to restrain my power, [?and]
theirs in that point it's hard to say where they would have
st[opped]. Another reason of the low credit of the [?bills] is,
that we have many merchants come from London, who [?when]
they have traded here for two or three years are willing to get
ho[me] again and give any price for silver which is now sold
for 12 and 13s. pr. ounce and proportionably for gold, and
indeed these are the best returns that can be made from hence.
Thus our gold and silver is drain'd out of the Country. If
neither of these can be procured they give any rate for Bills
of Exchange. I have desired some of the most eminent
merchants to imploy their thoughts in finding out a remedy
in a matter of so great consequence. When I meet with any
plausible scheme I shall transmit it to your Lordships. For
the present the order from the Lords Justices I have mentioned
before, will keep the Bills from sinking any lower: And as
they are drawn into the Treasury the value of the outstanding
Bills will be raised. I have herewith sent your Lordships the
answer of the House of Representatives now sitting at Boston
to my Speech at the disolution of the last General Court, and
my reply to it annexed, my Speech to the present General
Court, the answer of the House of Representatives to it, and
my reply to it annexed together with a message referred to in
my Speech. By the first of these papers your Lordships will
perceive how little effect anything I have said has upon the
proceedings of the House of Representatives. [ ] I'm
sorry it may be observed from the other, that your Lordships
and Mr. Attorney Generals joynt opinion has been very far
from decideing the controversy with respect to the election on a
Speaker. You may please to take notice that the answer to
my speech to the present General Court is signed Elisha Cooke,
pro tempore. It seems very strange that the Representatives
should take the oppertunity of their Speakers absence (who
left the Chair under some pretext) to put Mr. Cooke into his
place, while the paragraph of your Lordships letter signifying
your approbation of my not accepting that person as Speaker
in 1720 was lying before them on their table. This was apparently done to elude the force of your Lordships' Instruction.
But upon my motion to the Council of this slight put upon
your Lordships and myself, they told me that it was usual with
the House to appoint a temporary Speaker and that the
Governours for the time being had never interpos'd. I hope
the replys I have made to the two several answers before
mentioned may most conduce to H.M. service, as they recommend the matters in dispute to a determination at home.
The General Court this present Session have disputed my
power of adjourning them from place to place. I have sent
your Lordships the opinion of an eminent lawyer in this place
together with the Act which has induced them to dispute this
matter with me. By my 40th Instruction I am required to
appoint and settle an Attorney General for this Province. I
find that the General Court have constantly nominated that
Officer, and they have the opinion of Sr. Edward Northey
whilst Attorney General of England that it is their right so to
do. I should be glad to receive your Lordships positive commands herein, the General Court having deferr'd their annual
choice of this Officer and suffered the Province to be without
one since the May Sessions. The Indians have broken the
Treaty concluded at Arowsick by marching 200 into one of our
towns in a hostile manner under French colours and sending
me a letter in the most haughty and menacing terms. It
appears to me to be penn'd by Monsr. Rallé the Jesuit who
constantly attends them with two other Frenchmen and has
taken this opertunity to divert the Eastern tribe from falling
upon the French [ ] I am informed. I shall indeavour
if possible to bring them to obedience without a war, tho' they
have already refused to see the Commissioners I sent to demand
the reasons of their breach of the late Treaty. There's [a]
sufficient number of men gone down to the Frontiers in order
to cover our harvest, which is the only time they can do us any
great damage. I shall only observe one thing more that the
printing presses are continually imploy'd in the service of
scandalous libelers to the great dishonour of H.M. Government;
and it is not in my power to give a cheque to this practice,
they having no regard in this matter to H.M. Instructions.
Signed, Samuel Shute. Endorsed, Recd. 6th, Read 10th Nov.,
1721. Edges rubbed. 2½ pp. (Without date, but the date is
fixed by letter. Dec. 13). [C.O. 5, 868. ff. 128–129v.] |
Sept. 8.
Whitehall. |
656. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. In
obedience to your Majesty's commands, we have prepared the
following state of your Majesty's Plantations on the Continent
of America; wherein we have distinguished their respective
situations, Governments, strengths and trade, and have observed
of what importance their commerce is to Great Britain, whereunto having added an account of the French settlements, and
of the encroachments they have made in your Majesty's colonies
in those parts; we have humbly proposed such methods, as
may best prevent the increase of an evil, which, if not timely
prevented, may prove destructive to your Majesty's interest;
and have likewise offered such considerations, as, in our opinion,
may contribute to the improving and enlarging your Majesty's
dominions in America etc. Have not included Newfoundland
and Hudson's Bay, neither of them being a Colony with a civil
Government, though both are parts of H.M. territories in North
America, etc. Continue: Nova Scotia, as appears by the patent
granted etc. by K.James I. to Sir William Alexander, (afterwards
created Earl of Stirling) etc., 1621, contains all the lands and
islands, lying within the promontory, commonly called Cape
Sables, being in forty three degrees of North latitude, or thereabouts, thence westerly to the Bay commonly called St. Mary's
Bay, and from thence northerly in a strait line by the mouth of
that great bay (which runs easterly up the country and divides
the two nations called Suriquois and Etechimenes) to the river
St. Croix, thence westerly to the head of that river, thence
northerly to the next bay, which discharges itself in the river
St. Lawrence; thence easterly along the coast to the Bay of
Gaspe, thence south easterly to the Bacalio Islands, or Cape
Breton, and leaving that island on the right, and the Gulph
of St. Lawrence and Newfundland and the islands thereto
belonging on the left, thence to Cape Breton, in the latitude
of 45 degrees or thereabouts, thence south–west to Cape Sables
again. We have made use of this ancient Charter fixing the
boundaries of Nova Scotia, because the French are daily setting
up new pretensions to a very great part of this Province altho'
the 12th Article of the Treaty concluded at Utrecht, expressly
provides, that Nova Scotia shall be given up with its ancient
boundaries, and nothing is excepted out of this cession but
Cape Breton, and other islands lying in the mouth of the
river of Saint Lawrence and Gulf of the same name. The
government of this province, both civil and military, is entirely
in your Majesty; but as there are hitherto only two or three
English families settled here, besides the garrison of Annapolis,
there is very little room for the exercise of civil government;
neither has your Majesty any revenue in this country, the lands
not being yet peopled, and granted out upon quit rents as in
the other Colonies. There are two towns in this Province,
besides Annapolis; Minas and Scheganektoo, both settled by
french inhabitants, about 2500 persons in number, who have
remained there ever since the cession of this country etc., but
are entirely in the French intrest and by their communication
and intermarriage with the neighbouring Indians, have gained
them to their party, whereby they are enabled upon any
occasion to engage the said Indians in a war against your
Majesty's subjects; and by some late accounts from Nova
Scotia, there is too much reason to believe, that they do at
this present juncture use their endeavours to instigate the said
Indians against the garrison of Annapolis and others your
Majesty's subjects fishing at Canco, and upon the coast of Nova
Scotia. The little trade driven in this country at present is
intirely in the hands of these French inhabitants; it consists
chiefly in fish, which is more plentiful here, than on any other
coast of America; they have likewise some furrs and cattle,
but whatever products or merchandize the French inhabitants
have to dispose of, is transported by them either to Cape Breton,
Quebeck, or directly to France, which is to the prejudice of
Great Britain: For which reason, as well as many others, it
is absolutely necessary for your Majesty's service, that these
French inhabitants should be removed, for it is not to be expected that they will ever become good subjects to your Majesty,
and there is all the reason in the world to apprehend that upon
any rupture between the two Crowns, they may openly declare
in favour of France. It was provided by the Treaty of Utrecht
that the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia should have a year
allowed them to remove from thence with their effects; but
they have long since lapsed that time, and such as remained beyond it, were by the said Treaty to become subjects to Her late
Majesty; but these people being influenced by their priests
have hitherto unanimously refused to take the oaths of allegiance
to your Majesty unless they may be allowed an exception in
favour of France, which would render their engagements to
your Majesty intirely ineffectual. But as we foresaw that
difficulties were likely to arise upon this subject, so in the
Instructions which we prepared for Col. Philipps, your Majesty's
Governor, a provision was made for this case, and he is enjoyned
to prohibit the sd. French inhabitants refusing to take ye oaths,
the liberty of fishing on the coast, and to prevent their removing
their effects till your Majesty's further pleasure shall be known;
and considering their behaviour, we are of opinion it will be for
your Majesty's service that they should be ordered to quit
the Province. But as to their effects, in regard of the friendship
subsisting between the two nations, provided the said French
inhabitants do leave their immoveable effects. such as barnes
and dwelling houses, in good condition; we should humbly
conceive they might by your Majesty's special grace and favour
be allowed to carry off to such place as they shall think most
convenient, all their moveables. Upon their removal this
Province will become almost intirely unpeopled; and as it is
the Northern frontier to your Majesty's Colonies, we think it is
of the highest consequence that the same should be settled as
soon as possible; for which reason we would humbly propose
to your Majesty the sending four regiments thither; and altho'
we are sensible of the expence this would occasion for some time
to Great Britain, yet we believe the same will not be thought
unreasonable, considering the inclination the French have
shewn to incroach upon your Majesty's frontiers in these parts,
the great strength they have at Cape Breton in the neighbourhood of this Province, which will be increased by the removal
of the French inhabitants from Nova Scotia (altho' that will
be a much less evil than suffering them to remain where they
are) and that no other way so speedy as this can be proposed
for peopling of Nova Scotia. We are likewise of opinion that
all due encouragement should be given to such of your Majesty's
subjects as shall be willing to settle in this Province, and that
your Majesty's Governour may be enabled to preserve his
Instructions upon this head, we take the liberty to lay before
your Majesty the necessity there is that your Majesty's Surveyor
General of the Woods should be forthwith ordered to repair
to Nova Scotia there to set apart 200,000 acres in certain tracts
of lands contiguous to the sea–coast or navigable rivers proper
for producing of masts and other timber for the service of your
Majesty's Royal Navy; for after this shall be done and not
before, the said Govr. is empower'd by his Instructions to make
grants of land etc. Continue:—If this country was well settled
it would be capable of a very extensive trade. There are to
be had as good masts as any in all America, in great plenty;
pitch, tar, rozin and turpentine may be made in all parts of
the country, and hemp and flax might be raised there without
great expence: To which in our opinion all due encouragement
should be given that Great Britain may in time become independant of her Northern neighbours for naval stores. But
the branch of trade in this country, which seems most capable
of immediate improvement, is that of the Fishery upon the coast
from Cape Sables to the Gut of Canco; which is perhaps more
valuable than in any other in America: But for want of protection against the Indians inhabiting Nova Scotia, who are
intirely in the French intrest, few British vessels dare venture
to cure their fish there, and the French from Cape Breton
contrary to the Treaty of Utrecht (by which they are expressly
excluded from all kind of fishing on the coasts which lye towards
the East, beginning from the island commonly called Sables
inclusively, and thence stretching along towards the south
west) ingross almost ye intire benefit of this valuable trade, to
wch. they have set up an unreasonable pretence, as appears
by ye daily disputes we have with them concerning ye fishery
at Canço: For which reasons it wou'd be for your Majesty's
service that some small forts might be built without loss of
time in proper places upon the coast and islands from Cape
Sables to ye Gut of Can¸o for the security of this trade, and
particularly on St. George's Island, which is one of those that
form the Cape of Can¸o and has the greatest command of ye
little bay there; which will be the more necessary in regard
that there are no forts or fortifications in this Province but one
at Annapolis Royal etc., with a garrison of 5 companies of
about 40 men each; whereas the French at Cape Breton are
very strong, having built 2 considerable forts there, give all
manner of encouragemt. to such people as are willing to settle
with them, and are directly settling some other islands on ye
coast of Nova Scotia. It will likewise be of great importance
that a small man of war should be constantly employ'd to
attend this Colony, which has at present so many difficulties
to struggle with. |
|
New Hampshire. The soil belongs to a Proprietor but the
Government is in your Majesty etc. Sketch situation, boundaries
and history. Continue: The number of people etc. in 1716,
was computed at about 9000 of which there were 1500 men,
very few white servants, and 150 blacks; the increase during
the last four years was about 500. The Indians that border
upon this Province are those which are called the Eastern
Indians, intirely in ye French intrest. Lumber, fish, masts
for the royal navy, and turpentine are the chief produce;
they build some ships, but not so many since the last war, as
before; they have some mines which produce very good iron,
tho' but little of it hath been hitherto forged; There are likewise great quantities of stone in which 'tis believed there may
be silver. The annual produce of these commodities is very
uncertain, the price falling and rising according to the demand,
seldom exceeding £50,000 per ann. of New England mony.
This Province would produce hemp and flax, if proper incouragemt. were given for it; and the people had good seed for the
first sowing. They export their lumber and some part of their
fish to the neighbouring Governments of the West Indies, and
to the Western Islands (from whence they get their wines);
they likewise have sent some lumber, tar and turpentine, of late,
to this Kingdom in exchange for linnen and woollen manufactures; but they have some supplies of this kind from Ireland
also, either directly or by way of other Plantations; their best
and most merchantable fish is exported to Portugal and Italy
and the produce of it generally remitted to this Kingdom,
except what is returned in salt for the fishery. Their fishery
is much increased since the peace with France, but the lumber
trade decreased by reason of the low price it bears in the West
Indies, and the little encouragement there is to send it to this
kingdom, because of the duties on that commodity here. The
ships trading directly from this Province to foreign parts, are
now very few, not exceeding 20 in number. But they have
about 100 fishing vessels, and the number of seafaring men are
near 400, tho' many of them not settled inhabitants there, and
there are no manufactures carry'd on in this Province. There
is but one fortification, etc., Castle William, etc., and it is in a
tolerable state of repair. The constitution is the same with
all others immediately under your Majesty's Government in
America; they have a Govr. Council and Assembly etc. The
Assembly are elected by the people and consists of fifteen. But
the revenue of this Province is hitherto very insignificant. |
|
The Province of ye Massachusets Bay was by Letters Patents
from King James I etc. granted to the Council established at
Plymouth, and the said Council did etc. in the reign of King
Charles I. grant all the lands mentioned therein to certain
persons etc., which was confirmed by the said King Charles etc.
However in 1684 a judgment being given in the Court of
Chancery upon a Scire facias, the said patent was vacated by
King Charles the Second. But upon a petition of the Agents
of that Colony to their late Majesties King William and Queen
Mary, praying to be re-incorporated as formerly, their said
Majesties were graciously pleased to grant a Charter to the
inhabitants of the Colony etc. Quote boundaries defined in
Charter. Continue:—But we beg leave to observe to your
Majesty that altho' Nova Scotia is expressly included in this
Charter, yet the same being at the time the Charter was granted
in possession of the French by virtue of the Treaty of Breda,
this part of the grant has always been esteemed of no effect,
and the people of New England do not pretend any right thereunto. The Governmt. consists of a Govr. Council and Assembly;
the Govr. is appointed by your Majesty, the Council consists
of 28 persons, who are annually chosen by the Assembly; the
Governor has a negative voice upon the nomination of any of
them, and also upon all elections of officers in that Province.
The Assembly are chosen by the People and consist of 98. There
is a Secretry. appointed by your Majesty and paid by ye
Assembly. Thus altho' the Governmt. of this Province be
nominally in the Crown and the Govr. appointed by your
Majesty, yet the unequal ballance of their Constitution having
lodged too great a power in the Assembly, this Province is,
and is always likely to continue, in great disorder. They do
not pay a due regard to your Majesty's Instructions. They
do not make a suitable provision for the maintenance of their
Govr. and on all occasions they affect too great an independance
on their Mother Kingdom. It has generally been thought,
that an Act of Assembly passed in this Province in the 5th
year of His late Majty. King William (which by virtue of a
clause in their Charter not having been repealed within three
years stands as absolutely confirmed as if the same had received
the Royal Approbation) has not a little contributed to the
present disorders there, in as much as by the said Act it is
provided that no person shall be capable of representing any
town or Borrough where such person is not a Freeholder and
settled inhabitant; from whence it happens that the Assembly
is generally filled with people of small fortunes and mean
capacities, who are easily led into any measures that seem to
enlarge their liberties and privileges, how detrimental soever
the same may be to Great Britain or to your Majesty's Royal
Prerogative. The inhabitants are very numerous and daily
increase, and are computed to be at present about 94,000 souls.
The Militia of this Province consists of sixteen Regiments of
Foot and fifteen Troops of Horse, in which were mustred |
|
Anno. 1702. |
Men, |
9,642 |
besides |
500 |
in Service. |
|
1710. |
" |
10,917 |
" |
300 |
Officers. |
|
1718. |
" |
14,925 |
" |
800 |
Exempts. |
|
1600 |
|
|
By this account it appears that the Militia is encreased above
one third in 16 years, and if the said Militia be supposed to bear
only the proportion of one sixth to all the rest of the inhabitants
including old men, women and children, it will naturally follow
that upon a proportional increase, there must be at present
above 30,000 more inhabits. in New England than there were
there in 1702. There are also in this Province several families
of the Native Indians who have been civilized by degrees;
these make some profession of the Christian Religion, improve
their own lands, and dwell in perfect friendship with your
Majesty's subjects; their number (including women and
children) amounts to about 1200. The products of this
country proper for the consumption of this Kingdom, are timber,
turpentine, tar and pitch, masts, pipe and hogshead staves,
whalefins and oyle and some furs; they supply Spain, Portugal
and the West Indies with considerable quantities of fish and
lumber. We are likewise informed that they have mines of
several kinds which might be wrought upon proper incouragement. Their trade to the Foreign Plantations in America,
consists chiefly in the exportation of horses to Surinam, and
(as we are informed) to Martinico, and the other French Islands,
which is a very great discouragement to the Sugar planters in
the British Islands; for without these supplies neither the
French nor the Dutch could carry on their sugar works to
any great degree; and in return for their horses they receive
sugar, molasses and rum. In this Province there are all
sorts of common manufactures; the inhabitants have always
worked up their own wool into coarse cloths, drugts. and
serges; but these as well as their home spun linnen, which
is generally half cotton, serve only for the use of the meanest
sort of people; a great part of the leather used in the country
is also manufactured among themselves; Some natives have
lately set up their trade in the principal towns, and several
Irish families not long since arrived and settled to the Eastward,
make good linnen and diapers; However ye excessive price
of labour enhances the value of all their manufactures. It
is therefore to be presumed that necessity and not choice, has
put them upon erecting manufactures, not having sufficient
commodities of their own to give in exchange for those they
do receive already from Great Britain: and the most natural
method of curing this evil would be to allow them all proper
encouragement for ye importation of Naval Stores and Minerals
of all kinds. |
|
The branch of trade which is of the greatest importance to
them, and which they are best enabled to carry on, is the building
of ships, sloops, etc.; and according to our advices from thence
they have annually launched from 140 to 160 vessels, of all
sorts, which at 40 tons one with another amount to 6000 tons;
and altho the greatest part are built for account of or sold
to the merchants of this Kingdom, and in the Plantations,
nevertheless there belongs to this Province about 190 sail
which may contain 8000 tons and are navigated with about
1100 men, besides 150 boats, with 600 men, employ'd in the
fisheries on their own coast. Their iron works, which were
erected many years past, furnish them with small quantities
of iron for common use; but the iron imported from this
Kingdom, being esteemed much better, it is generally used in
their shipping etc. Fortifications and cost of garrison described.
Continue:—In the neighbourhood of this Province, there are
but few Indians well affected to us, except the Five Nations
near New York, who are in Alliance and Friendship with that
Government, and maintain for the most part Neutrality with
the French Indians. To the Eastward there are but two
Tribes of note, the Kennebeck and Penobscot Indians, whose
number doth not exceed 500 fighting men; the best are
scattered up and down in small parties; they are generally
inclined to the French, whose missionaries always reside among
them and seduce them to their interest, but the Canada
Indians viz. the Hurons, Illinois, and other nations who are
intirely directed by the French are numerous, and in the late
long wars, being assisted by them, often fell upon our Western
Settlemts. ravaging and destroying all before them, and
barbarously murthering many of the inhabitants, whereby
this Province was involved in the great debt they are still
labouring under, and having no money, nor any Provincial
product, such as tobacco in Virginia, or sugar in the Islands,
they have been constrained ever since to support their credit
by publick bills, which are current in payment, but they have
till very lately raised mony every year for sinking them by
degrees, and according to the Treasurer's accounts, they burnt
as many of their old bills as amounted to £21,792 1s. 8d. in
1718, and £22,244 18s. 5d. in 1719, and issued new Bills to the
amount of £15,000. But amongst many other irregular and
unaccountable proceedings of the last Session of Assembly
there, we find they have passed an Act for emitting new Bills
of Credit to the amount of £50,000, in direct opposition to your
Majesty's Instructions upon that subject. The total expence
of this Province in time of war with France was generally
computed at £35,000, and since the Peace at £17,000 per annum.
In the year ending in May 1719, the land Poll Tax was given
for £8250 0s. 0d.; the Excise with some arrears produced
£2858 11s. 7d.; the impost on wine and other goods, £5119 9s.;
the tonnage on shipping, £622 7s. 1d.; the lighthouse account
and fines, £98 11s. 5d.; in all, £16,948 19s. 1d.; but deducting
what is apply'd for discharging their former debts, the certain
annual charge of the Governmt. is about £11,000. |
|
The publick accounts are all annually examined and audited
by the General Assembly, and no payment is made before it is
voted and ordered by the said Assembly; which method as
far as it relates to the Govrs. and some other officers' salaries,
we humbly conceive may be one time or other prejudicial to
your Majesty's service; and it is certain the last Assembly
have retrenched the Governor's salary there very considerably,
probably because he hath done his duty to your Majty. and
refused to comply with their inclination in methods contrary
to your Majesty's Instructions. |
|
Rhode Island has usually been reputed a part of New England—lying in the Narranganset Bay etc. Limits described. Continue:
This is a Charter Government granted by King Charles the
Second in the 15th year of his reign, and consists of a Governor,
Council and Assembly. The King appointed the first Deputy
Governor etc., but they have since been annually chosen among
themselves; by which means they evade the Act of the 7th and
8th of King William whereby it is enacted that all propriety
Governors shall be allowed and approved of by your Majesty
before they enter upon the Government. But by choosing their
Governor annually, tho' 'tis generally the same person, his term
is expired before any such approbation can be had, if they did
apply for it, pursuant to the above-said Act, which hitherto they
never have done. Quote instruction to Lord Bellomont (v. C.S.P.
1697), that the Governors of Connecticut and Rhode Island be
required to give security for observing any instructions sent
to them from H.M., or any acting under his authority, pursuant
to the several acts of Trade etc. Continue:—But the said
Instruction having not been continued to the succeeding
Governors: we conceive it necessary that it should be repeated.
As to the number of inhabitants in this Colony, their trade and
state of their Government, we have but very imperfect accounts;
and indeed the misfeazancies of this and most of the other
Proprietory governments are so numerous that we shall not
trouble your Majesty with them in this place but will take leave
to give our humble opinion concerning them in the concluding
part of this representation. |
|
Connecticut. Describe boundaries. Continue:—This
Government is upon ye same foot as Rhode Island, under the
same regulations of government, and lyable to the same inconveniencies. |
|
The Government of New York. Describe boundaries and form
of Government. Continue: The Governor in this, as in all other
Provinces under your Majesty's immediate government, has
a negative in passing laws. His salary is £1200 per annum,
payable out of the revenue of the Province. Here is no fixt
revenue belonging to the Crown besides the Quit Rents, wh.
have been established only since the year 1702, by an Instruction
from Her late Majesty to the Lord Cornbury, then Govr. of
that Province, at the rate of 2/6 on every 100 acres of land to be
granted from that time, and are to be accounted for here in
this Kingdom. These Quit Rents have not hitherto amounted
to much more than £400 a year; but having been put under
a better regulation by Brigr. Hunter the late Govr. it is expected
they may amount in some time to more than double that sum
every year. The Revenue raised by ye Assembly for the
support of the Government has never been granted for any
term exceeding five years. The last grant of it was to expire
this year. But Mr. Burnet the present Governor has got it
prolonged for five years more. The natural produce of this
country consists in provisions which are sent to the British
Islands in the West Indies, in horses sent to Surinam, Curacoa
and St. Thomas; and in whale oyle and peltry to this
Kingdom; besides some naval stores, which this country is
capable of producing in very great quantities, if proper measures
were taken for this purpose. |
|
Recount history of Palatine settlement for making tar there.
(v. C.S.P. 1709 et seq.), and their claim, which has been referred
to Governor Burnet for his report. Continue:—This province
could likewise furnish iron in great quantities; it has some
copper and lead, but at a great distance from the British and
among the Indian settlements. There are coal mines in Long
Island, which have not yet been wrought. The several commodities exported from this Kingdom to New York have, at
a medium of three years, commonly amounted to about £50,000
a year. The imports from thence, have not, upon the same
medium, risen higher than £16,000 a year, so that the ballance
in favour of this Kingdom, as far as can be judged of it by the
Custom House Accounts, has been upwards of £25,000 a year.
The vessels belonging to this Province are small and not considerable in number, being employ'd only in carrying provisns.
to the Southern Islands, and in ye coasting trade to the neighbouring Colonies on ye Continent. The number of the inhabitants in this Province encreases daily, chiefly from New England
and from the North of Ireland. The Militia consists of 6000
men. Here are four Independant Companies maintained at
the expence of the Crown, and employ'd to garrison several
forts; one whereof is at New York, another at Albany, and a
3d. at Shenectady. There is likewise a small fort in ye country
of the Mohack Indians. The fort at N. York has 4 regular
bastions, faced with stone and mounted with 50 guns, but has
neither ditch or outworks; The other 3 forts have only
palisadoes. This Province, by reason of its situation, being
almost in the middle of ye British Colonies on ye Continent,
and the nearest of any to ye French Settlemts. on the River
Canada, and to their Indians, as well as for the immediate
influence or command it has over the 5 nations of Indians,
might most properly be made ye seat of Governmt. for a Capn.
General if your Majesty shall think fit to appoint one, and a
barrier to ye neighbouring Colonies; for this reason particular
care should be taken to put ye forts already built in ye best
condition they are capable of, and to build others in such places
where they may best serve to secure and enlarge our trade and
interest with ye Indians, and break the designs of ye French
in these parts; for this purpose it would be of great advantage
to build a fort in ye country of ye Seneca Indians near the Lake
Ontario, wch. might perhaps be done with their consent by
ye means of presents, and it shou'd the rather be attempted
without loss of time, to prevent ye French from succeeding
in ye same design wch. they are now actually endeavouring
at. We should here give a particular account of the abovementioned five nations of Indians, if we had not occasion to do
it in another part of this representation, relating to the consequence of the communication between ye French Settlemt.
at Canada and Mississippi, and to wch. we therefore beg leave
to refer. |
|
New Jersey. Boundaries and government described. Continue:—The greatest number of the inhabitants are Quakers,
of which ye Council and Assembly chiefly consist. This
Province raiseth by their Assembly about £1300 p. annum,
for the support of their Government; but they think it a hardship to pay a salary to a Governor who resides in another
Province, and wou'd be willing to raise still a further sum for
the maintenance of a Govr., who could reside amongst them
wch. they conceive wou'd greatly advance the trade and welfare
of this country. This province produces all sorts of grain or
corn; the inhabitants likewise breed all sorts of cattle in great
quantities with which they supply the merchants of New York
and Philadelphia, to carry on their trade to all the American
Islands; but were they a distinct Governmt. (having very
good harbours) merchants would be encouraged to settle
amongst them and they might become a considerable trading
people; whereas at present they have few or no ships but
coasting vessels, and they are supply'd from New York and
Philadelphia with English manufactures, having none of their
own. The inhabitants daily increase in great numbers from
New England and Ireland, and before this increase the Militia
consisted of about 3000 men. There are but few Indians in
this Government and they very innocent and friendly to the
inhabitants, being under the command of the 5 nations of
Iroquois, and this Plantation not lying exposed, as some other
British Colonies do, they have hitherto built no forts. There
is great quantity of iron ore and some copper in this Province.
They have only two Patent Officers vizt. an Attorny General
and a Secretary; and as all Patent Officers appointed in Great
Britain are generally unwelcome to the Plantations, so by
several Acts of Assembly their fees are so reduced (especially
the Secretary's) that they are not sufficient for his subsistance. |
|
Pennsylvania. This Province is a Proprietary Governmt.
granted by Charter of King Cha: the 2nd to Wm. Penn Esqr.
in the year 1680. Its boundaries, agreeable to the sd. Charter,
are new Castle County on ye South the River Delaware on
the East unto 43 degrees of Northern latitude, and from thence
a Meridian line run westward, which is to extend 5 degrees in
longitude. There are likewise certain lands lying upon Delaware
Bay, commonly called the Three Lower Counties which are
reputed part of Pennsylvania, and are now actually under the
same Governmt. These lands were granted to the said Wm.
Penn in the year 1682 by King James the 2d. then Duke of
York. But as ye validity of that grant has been more than
once question'd, particularly in ye year 1717, upon the Petition
of ye Earl of Sutherland praying a Charter from your Majesty
of the sd. lands, ye same was referred to ye then Attorney
and Solr. General, who made a report, dated 21st Octor. 1717.
But there having been no further proceedings on that petition,
we need only mention, that it appears from the said report, that
your Majty. is at least entituled to a moiety of the rents, issues
and proffits which shall arise on the said lands contain'd in
the said grant of the Duke of York made in the year 1681,
altho' the same shou'd be valid in law. And we the rather
take notice of this, because we find that in ye reign of the late
Queen Ann, about the year 1712, an agreement was made by
the then Treasury with Wm. Penn Esqr. for the purchase of
his Government of Pennsylvania and the Three Lower Counties
for the sum of £12,000, one thousand pounds of which was
paid by Warrant of Her late Majesty bearing date 9th Sept.
1712, and as we think it our duty on all occasions to represent
the advantages that wou'd accrue to your Majesty and the
Publick, by taking Proprietary Governmts. into your own
hands where it may be done agreeable to law and justice, we
now beg leave to offer our opinion, that it would be for your
Majesty's service to have the said agreement compleated by
payment of the remaining £11,000, and whether the rents,
issues and proffits before mentioned, ought not to be accounted
for and made part of the said payments is humbly submitted.
This Province being a Proprietary Governmt. as hath been
before mention'd the Proprietor thereof has the appointment
of a Govr., who nevertheless must be first approved of by your
Majesty; he likewise nominates the Council; and the Assembly
are elected by the freeholders. There is one circumstance
very particular in this Charter vizt., that the Proprietor hath
five years allowed him to transmit his Laws for ye Royal
approbation, but the Crown hath but six months for the repealing them, within which time if they are not repealed, they
are to be reputed Laws to all intents and purposes whatsoever;
from whence it frequently happens that several laws unfit for
the Royal Assent continue in force for 5 years, and after having
been disallowed by the Crown are enacted again, and by this
practise become in a manner perpetual; and this in our humble
opinion is a further reason why the aforementioned purchase
and agreement should be made and compleated. The soil of
this country is various, light and sandy near the rivers, but
rich and of a deep black mould further from the water; being
well cultivated by the industry of the inhabitants; it produceth
whatsoever is necessary for life. The River Delaware (the
only one of consequence to trade in this whole country) is
exceeding commodious for navigation, except in the two months
of Decr. and Janry., when it is usually frozen up. The natural
produce of this country is wheat, beef, pork and lumber;
their trade consequently consists chiefly in ye exportation of
these to the several parts of the West Indies and Maderas,
from whence in return they take rum, sugar, cotton, Spanish
mony and wine; they likewise build many brigantines and
sloops for sale: but having few or no manufactures of their
own, they are supply'd therewith from G. Britain to the yearly
value of about £20,000. And as this Province does greatly
abound in iron, so we have good grounds to believe, that if
proper encouragement was given in G. Britain to take off that,
and their timber, the people would thereby be diverted from the
thoughts of setting up any manufactures of their own, and
consequently the consumption of those of Gr. Britain considerably advanced. For it must be observed that this Plantation is in a very flourishing condition, greatly increased in its
inhabitants; and although the informations we have received
touching their numbers differ extreamly, some computing
them at about 60,000 whites and 5,000 blacks, and others not
above half that number. yet they all agree in their opinion
concerning the flourishing state of this Colony, and that the
produce of their commodities may well be reckon'd at £100,000
p. annum. Four fifths of the inhabitants of this Province
being Quakers, there is little care taken of their military affairs;
only one old ruin'd fort at New Castle with six useless guns
belonging to it; nor can we learn there is any establishment
of a Militia for their defence; but it must be allowed that to
supply this defect, they have taken care to cultivate so good an
understanding with their neighbour Indians, by going yearly
to their principal town (Onistogo, Conostogo) to renew their
Peace and by their fair and just dealings with them, that
hitherto they have found no want of any force to protect themselves, and probably may not, for some time to come, if the
Indians are not instigated by the artifices of the French to
insult and disturb them. But the endeavors of the French
to debauch the Indians from ye int'rest of your Majesty's
subjects in America, and likewise the importance of maintaining
and improving ye strictest friendship with those Indians, with
ye proper methods of doing ye same, being particularly treated
on in another part of this Report, we shall mention nothing
further upon these heads at present. |
|
Maryland. Boundaries, Charter and history of Government described. Continue: There is no revenue arising to ye
Crown in this Province, but a very considerable one to the
Proprietor. The ordinary expences of ye Governmt. are
defray'd by a duty of 12d. per hogshead on all tobacco exported,
and 3d. p. ton on all shipping inward; and the extraordinary
charges of the Governmt. are likewise provided for by the
Assembly as occasion requires. The number of inhabitants
was computed in the year 1704 to be 30,537, men, women,
and children and 4475 slaves, young and old, in all 35,012.
In the year 1710 was computed 34,796 whites, and 7,945 negroes,
in all 42,741. And in the year 1719, was computed 55,000
white inhabitants, and 25,000 blacks, in all 80,000. From
whence it appears that the inhabitants of this Province have
increased to above double the number in 15 years; and altho'
some part of this increase may have been occasioned by the
transportation of the rebels from Preston, by the purchase of
slaves, as well as by the arrival of several convict persons, and
of many poor families who have transported themselves from
Ireland; yet it must be allowed that Maryland is one of the most
flourishing Provinces upon the Continent of America. The
Militia is about 8,000 men, well arm'd and excellent marksmen.
There are no forts or places of defence in this Province, but there
has been lately built at the publick charge a large magazine
at Annapolis which is well provided with spare arms for 1200
foot and 600 horse, with a great quantity of Ammunition, to
maintain wch. and to make a further provision of arms and
ammunition there is a duty of 3d. p. hogshd. laid by Act of
Assembly on all tobacco exported. The Indians who dwell
within this Province do not exceed 500, and they live peaceably
with the inhabitants. The neighbouring Indians are reported
to be many formidable nations, with whom the people have
but little commerce, this country being a peninsula; but they
have been careful to make those on the frontiers their friends,
by which means they have for sometime enjoy'd a perfect
tranquility. The soil of this country is of different kinds, but
most of it sandy; when cultivated, with little labour, it gives
a vast increase and produces all things necessary for life, that
G. Britain affords, with wch. the inhabitants plentifully provide
for their subsistance: Tobacco is the staple commodity of
this Province of which about 30 or 35,000 hogshds. are yearly
exported to G. Britain; the inhabitants export some tobacco
to the others plantations, as also grain, beef, pork and lumber,
for which they have in return rum and sugar. They likewise
send some corn to the Maderas for wine, but the most part of
the wine they have from thence is purchased by Bills of Exchange. Whilst tobacco answers, in its price, the planters'
labour, all manufactures and all other trade, that might arise
from ye product of the country are laid aside. The inhabitants
wear ye like clothing and have the same furniture within their
houses with those in this Kingdom; the slaves are cloathed
with cottons, kerseys, flannel and coarse linnens, all imported,
and it is computed that this Province consumes of British
manufactures to the value of £20,000 p. annum. No mines are
yet discover'd here; except iron, which are very common but
not wrought for want of a sufficient stock and persons of skill
to engage in such an undertaking. The number of ships belonging to this Province are only four small brigantines, and not
more than 20 sloops for the sea. The inhabitants not being
inclined to navigation, but depending upon British bottoms
for the exportation and importation of the bulk of their trade;
and there has been employ'd of late years above 100 sail of
ships from Great Britain. |
|
Virginia. Describe boundaries etc. Continue:—The
strength and security of this Colony, in a great measure, depend
upon their Militia; their plantations being usually at too great
a distance from one another to be cover'd by forts or towns.
James Town or Williamsburgh are the only towns in ye whole
country, and there is no fort of any consequence for the security
of their great navigation and trade but at James Town. However for their protection against the Indians who inhabit among
them, and that line to ye westward, they have erected Christiana
and some other forts; and the Council and Assembly have
lately proposed to your Majesty a scheme for securing ye
passes over the great ridge of mountains which lye on the back
of this Province, dividing them from the French and Indian
nations in the French intrest. Whereupon we have some
time since reported our humble opinion to your Majesty, and
beg leave upon this occasion to repeat, that we conceive their
proposal to be deserving of all reasonable encouragement.
Their militia in the year 1690 consisted of 6570 horse and foot.
In the year 1703 there were mustered 1403 officers 2161 horse,
1794 dragoons, 5198 foot=10,556. And in the year 1715,
they were increased to about 14,000 in all. From whence we
compute, supposing the militia to be a sixth part of ye whole,
that the total number of the inhabitants (exclusive of negroes)
amounts to about 84,000 souls. The Province is divided into
25 counties, and the proprietors of all lands that have been
taken up in 20 of the said counties, pay an annual Quit Rent
to your Majesty of two shillings in mony or 24 hwt. of tobacco
for every hundred acres. But the propriety of the Northern
Neck (containing the other five counties) was granted by King
Charles the 2d and King James the 2d to the late Thomas
Lord Colepepper upon a Quit Rent of £6 13s. 4d. p. annum.
The land in the aforesaid twenty counties, on which the said
quit rent to your Majesty is paid, contained in 1704, 2,238,143
acres, in 1714, 2,619,773½ acres. However the produce of this
Revenue is very much governed by the price of tobacco in the
country. For example; on a medium of 10 years ending in
1713 (during which time the tobacco was low) the proceed
amounted to £1411 7s. 7¼d. p. ann. And on a medium of the
four following years (when the price of tobacco was high)—£2,270 11s. 8d. per annm. There is another revenue in this
province that is settled and appropriated by the Assembly
for the constant support and charge of your Majesty's Governt.
This consists of several duties vizt. on every hogshd. of tobacco
exported 2s., on every ton of shipping 1s. 3d., and on every
poll imported, 6d. besides the rights for taking up of lands and
fines and forfeitures. On a medium of six years, ending the
25th of Octor. 1710, the whole produced clear of charges
£2,845 15s. 11d. p. annm. And upon the same medium the
established salaries etc., amounted to £2,821 12s. 3d.; the ordinary
charges, £176 12s. 5d.; and the contingent expences, £97 3d. 2d.
The total annual charge as aforesaid, £3,095 7s. 10d., which
exceeds the amount of the revenue £249 11s. 11d. And this
excess hath been generally allowed by your Majesty as well as
by your Royal Predecessors out of ye produce of the Quit Rents.
But besides the said standing and certain charge, for which
provision is made as aforesaid, this Province has been always
obliged, for maintaining their guards and a garrisons on ye
Indians frontiers, for erecting several publick magazines and
buildings and discharging other necessary expences, to levy
certain quantities of tobacco, at so many hwt. p. head on every
tythable, which comprehends all persons exceeding sixteen
years of age, except white women. The number of the said
tythables according to their respective lists. In 1698 amounted
to 20,523. In 1705 to 27,053. In 1714 to 31,540. The principal
product of Virginia is tobacco, and in general its of a better
quality than that of Maryland. Before the conclusion of the
last Peace with France, the Virginia planters, exported to this
Kingdom at least 30,000 hogsheads p. annm. but about that
time the trade declining for want of foreign consumption, an
act was passed in the 12th of Her late Majesty's reign, for
encouraging the tobacco trade; and your Majesty hath been
since graciously pleased to give your Royal Assent to an act
for continuing the same. But as this commodity is of such
consequence to the trade of Great Britain, not only with respect
to our home consumption, but likewise to our foreign exportation;
all further occasions should be laid hold of for giving some ease
and encouragement to the same, by a further reduction of the
duty so soon as it may be done consistant with the present
appropriations thereof. The other branches of the trade
between this Kingdom and Virginia consist in pitch and tar,
pipe and hogshd. staves; skins and furrs; and a few druggs;
they also export to the other plantations some small quantities
of tobacco, provisions and lumber but their dependance is
almost wholly on the produce of tobacco. |
|
Carolina. Describes Charter, boundaries and Government;
Continues:— |
|
North Carolina was formerly part of Virginia till granted
to the Lords Proprietors by their second Charter. And it was
at a certain place in this province called Roanoke, that Sir
Walter Raleigh's servants made their first settlement. The
boundary that separates this Province from Virginia being
conceived in very disputable terms hath never yet been finally
settled tho' commissaries have been formerly deputed by the
two colonies for that purpose, who could never agree either upon
the latitude or upon the true position of Wyanoke Creek; for
ye Indians from whom this place derives its appelation, having
often wander'd as their usual custom is, over that part of the
Continent, and fix'd for certain times at different places there,
they have left their name to many creeks. The South limits
of this Colony have likewise admitted of some disputes the
commissionrs. of the Lords Proprietors having frequently named
Cape Fear instead of the river of that name for their boundary.
The Government of North Carolina is something different from
that of the Southern Province, resembling more nearly that for
Virginia, of which as hath been observed it was formerly a
part, being divided into two counties and seven precincts
with petty courts for each, from whence in all matters exceeding
a certain value, appeals lye to the Supream Court held by the
Govr. and Council, which liberty of appeal as we are informed
your Majesty's subjects in South Carolina do not at present
enjoy. There are great tracts of good land in this province,
and it is a very healthy country, but the situation renders it
for ever incapable of being a place of considerable trade, by
reason of a great Sound near sixty miles over, that lyes between
this coast and the Sea, barred by a vast chain of sandbanks so
very shallow and shifting that sloops drawing only five foot
water run great riske in crossing them. The little commerce
therefore driven to this colony is carry'd on by very small
sloops chiefly from New England; who bring them clothing
and iron ware in exchange for their pork and corn, but of late
they have made small quantities of pitch and tar, which are
first exported to New England, and thence to Great Britain.
We are not throughly informed of the number of inhabitants;
but according to the best accounts we cou'd get, the number
of persons in their tythables or Poll Tax, were not long since
above 1600, of which about one third were blacks. The
Government. of this Province having for many years been a very
disorderly one, this becomes a place of refuge for all the vagabonds whom either debt or breach of the Laws have driven
from the other Colonies on the Continent, and pirates have too
frequently found entertainment amongst them. There is no
great prospect that these mischiefs should be redressed
unless your Majesty shall be pleased to resume this as well
as the Southern Province into your immediate Government;
in which case North Carolina might in our opinion be
restored again to Virginia and put under the care of your
Majesty's Governor of that Colony. South Carolina extends
from Cape Fear to the River of St. Mathias. The inhabitants
of this Province conceiving themselves to be ill-used, or
greatly neglected by the Lords Proprietors, have lately deposed
their Governor and Council, and chosen a new Governor and
Council of their own, which great disorder induced your
Majesty to reassume the Government. thereof. This colony is
the Southern frontier to your Majesty's plantations on the
Continent, and will, no doubt, under ye happy influence of
your Majesty's immediate protection become a flourishing
colony. The trade of this province with respect to their own
shipping is not hitherto very considerable, the inhabitants not
having above 20 sail of their own amounting to about 1,500 tons;
and as they chiefly apply themselves to the plantation work,
they have not many sea-faring men; but their trade is carried
on by the merchts. of Great Britain who reap a considerable
advantage thereby. The commodities the people of Carolina
take from Great Britain, are all manner of cloathing, woollen
linnen, iron ware; brass and pewter; and all sorts of houshold
goods, having no manufactures of their own, and their southerly
situation will make them always dependant on G. Britain for
a supply of those commodities, whose consumption may be
computed at about £23,000 p. annum; besides ye cost of a
considerable number of negroes with which the British merchants have for some time yearly furnished them, taking their
returns in rice and naval stores. There is a small trade carried
on between Carolina and the Maderas for wine, and the commissioners of the Customs have a Surveyor General, a Collector,
a Comptroller, a searcher, a Waiter, and a Naval Officer to
put the Laws of Trade and Navigation in execution here;
But daily experience shews that illegal trade is not to be prevented in a Proprietary Government. The natural produce of
this country is rice, pitch, tar, turpentine, buck-skins, furs,
corn, beef, pork, soap, mirtle-wax-candles; various sorts of
lumber, as masts, cedar boards, staves, shingles, and hoop poles:
But the soil is thought capable of producing wine, oyle, silk,
indico, pot-ashes, iron, hemp and flax. The number of white
inhabitants in this province have some time since been computed at 9000, and the blacks at 12,000: But the frequent
massacres committed of late years by the neighbouring Indians
at the instigation of the French and Spaniards, has diminished
the white men, whilst the manufacture of pitch and tar has given
occasions to increase ye number of black slaves who have lately
attempted and were very near succeeding in a new revolution,
which wou'd probably have been attended by ye utter extirpation of all your Majesty's subjects in this province. And therefore it may be necessary for your Majesty's service that the
Govr. should be instructed to propose some law to the Assembly
there for encouraging the entertainment. of more white servants
for the future. The Militia of this Province does not consist
of above 2000 men, and therefore considering the circumstances
and situation these people are in, exposed in case of a rupture
on the one side to the Spaniards, on the other to the French,
and surrounded by savages, who are for the most part in an
interest opposite to that of Great Britain, unless your Majesty
shall be graciously pleased to send a military force to this
country sufficient to protect your subjects, this valuable
province in all probability will be lost. For this reason we
took the liberty of representing to the late Lords Justices the
necessity of sending four regiments thither to prevent the
further incroachments of the French in those parts. We likewise propose, that as well to ascertain the bounds of this
province which have not hitherto been fix'd any other way but
by the Charters to ye Lords Proprietors, as to extend and
protect the trade of your Majesty's subjects there; several
small forts should be erected in proper places, and that particular
care should be taken to secure the navigation of the several
rivers emptying themselves in those parts to the northwd. of
Fort St. Augustine into the Westward ocean, but more especially
that of the River Alamatahama, which ye French have some
time ago new christned by the name of the River May. We
were humbly of opinion that no time should be lost in a matter
of this consequence, because the great difficulties the French
have found in the navigation of the River Mississippi; made it
necessary for them to secure a better part, and they did some
time ago take Pensicola from the Spaniards, which being
since as we are informed restored, it is very probable the French
may think of opening another communication from their great
settlement at Mobile down the River Alamatahama to ye
western ocean, wch. wou'd be a more fatal blow, than any
that has hitherto been given to your Majesty's intrest in
America. The fortifications of this country at present are
but very few, and their situation not the most advantagious.
Charles Town, for instance, is regularly fortify'd and hath
about 100 guns mounted on the walls, the largest not exceeding
12 pound ball. There is likewise a small fort of about 10 guns
at Port Royal and a pallizado fort at the late Savana Town, of
5 or 6 small guns, which lyes about 140 miles west from Charles
Town towards the head of Santee River. 120 miles from Charles
Town is also another small fort; in all which places there are
about 100 men in garrison. But Port Royal seems to have been
a good deal neglected, considering it is at present the frontier
town, lyes ready for the supply of the Indian trade and the
protection of the out garrisons, and has an excellent harbour;
for which reason we should think that place ought to be better
secured. It would likewise be for your Majesty's service that
other forts should be built in this Province in proper places,
for the reasons which shall be mentioned in that part of this
Representation relating to the means proposed for preventing
the encroachmts. of our European nei'bours. The Indian
nations lying between Carolina and the French settlemts. on
the Mississippi, are about 9200 fighting men, of which number
3400 whom we formerly traded with, are intirely debauched to
the French intrest by their new settlement and fort at the
Albamas. About 2000 more that lye between your Majesty's
subjects, and those of the French King, trade at present indifferently
with both; but it is to be feared that these likewise
will be debauched by the French unless proper means be used
to keep them in your Majesty's intrest. The remaining 3800
Indians are the Cherekees, a warlike nation inhabiting the
Apalatché mountains; these being still at enmity with the
French, might with less difficulty be secured; and it certainly
is of ye highest consequence, that they should be engaged in
your Majesty's intrest, for should they once take another
party, not only Carolina, but Virginia likewise would be exposed
to their excursions. Besides the Indians above mentioned
there are about 1000 savages dispersed in several parts between
Carolina and Virginia, from whom we have not much to apprehend,
provided your Majesty's governors of these provinces
live in that perfect harmony and good understanding which
they ought to maintain with each other, and do justice to these
poor people, who seldom give ye first offence. It were to be
wished we had not so much reason to complain of our European
nei'bours in these parts, but besides the encroachmts. made
by ye French, your Majesty's subjects meet with ill treatment
from the Spaniards, more particularly at Fort St. Augustine
where they have a garrison of 3 or 400 white men, and about
200 Indians, who give shelter to all our runaway slaves, and
without regard to Peace or Treaties, commit frequent acts of
hostility upon your Majesty's subjects. We are not as yet
informed whither the Spaniards have resettled Pensecola, or
what force they have there; but they have a fort at the mouth
of the Calahooche River with about 400 or 500 men in garrison,
and we shall give your Majesty an account of the French force
in the nei'bourhood, in that part of our Report which relates
particularly to their settlements on the Continent. This
province having hitherto but few inhabitants; the quit rents
of the Lords Proprietors amount only to about £500 p. annum;
but there is a duty of 3d. p. skin for the benefit of the clergy;
and the contingencies of the Government, which vary every
year, are raised by the Assembly. There are no officers in
Carolina that have patents from ye Crown, and none appointed
at present by Yor. Majty's. authority but those of ye Govrs.
and Custom: house: officers. All other officers both civil and
military hold their employments immediately under the Lords
Proprietors, their Governors or ye Assembly. Rice being
the principal and staple commodity of this Province, and the
merchants trading to Carolina having often complained that the
advantage they formerly reaped by supplying Portugal with rice,
hath been almost entirely lost since the Act of the 3rd and 4th
years of Queen Ann, whereby rice is made one of the enumerated
commoditys. and the importation thereof restrained to Great
Britain; we think it necessary before we conclude what we
have to offer concerning this Province, to lay before your
Majesty a particular state of this trade. Before the production
of rice in Carolina the Kingdom of Portugal was supply'd with
very great quantities every year from Italy. And the great
consumption thereof in Portugal, with the liberty of transporting
it directly thither from the Plantations, as freely as any other
grain, first induced the people of Carolina to plant and propagate
it. Their labour and industry being by degrees rewarded by
an abundant increase of this useful and valuable product,
they had a very fair prospect of wholly supplying the Portugal
markets therewith. But being deprived by ye foresaid Act,
of the liberty of transporting their rice directly to Portugal,
and the additional freight (from this to that Kingdom) with all
other charges thereon, amounting to about one third part of
its value; no rice could be carried from England to Portugal
but when the price has happen'd to be very high there. But
the true state of this affair will best appear by the following
account of the quantities of rice imported and re-exported
communibus annis, on a medium of five years from Christmas
1712 to Christmas 1717 vizt.: Imported from Carolina and
the other plantations, 28,073 cwt.; from East India, Turkey
and Italy about 250 cwt.; the Total Import, 28,323 cwt. per ann. |
|
Re-exported to Portugal, Spain and other parts to the Southward of Cape Finisterre, 2,478 cwt.; to Holland, Germany, and
other countries to northward of Cape Finisterre, 20,458 cwt.;
the Total Export, 22,936 cwt. per ann. |
|
Remained for Consurripton, 5,387 cwt.; total 28,323 cwt. |
|
It is evident from this account that the exportation of Rice
from Great Britain to the northward is very considerable;
and that the exportation of this commodity to the Southward
is very small, which can arise from no other cause but the great
expence that attends the same in double freight; the rice of
Carolina being esteemed the best in the world; but by that
means it happens that the Italians being near at hand have
almost entirely beaten your Majty.'s subjects out of this trade;
which proves very detrimental to the navigation of Great
Britain: for if the Italians had not a vent for their rice in
Portugal, they would hardly be able to carry on a trade to that
Kingdom and Spain in their own shipping, they having no other
gross goods but rice and paper, sufficient to furnish a lading
for great ships; and they dare not adventure in any others for
fear of the Algerines. We would therefore humbly submit to
your Majesty whether it might not be for the advantage of
the Plantations and of Great Britain likewise, to allow that rice
might be carry'd from Carolina directly to Portugal or any
other part of Europe to the Southward of Cape Finisterre;
upon giving security that every vessel so freighted shall touch
in Great Britain before she returns to the West Indies. The
consequence of ye Plantatn. trade. Thus having gone through
the several Colonies on the Continent in order to demonstrate
ye consequence their trade is to Great Britain; we have drawn
out from the Custom House books an Account No. 1 containing
the total amount or value of all goods imported from and exported to the said Colonies, communibus annis, on a medium
of 3 years from Christmas 1714 to Christmas 1717. And
forasmuch as the trades to Africa and Madera may be accounted
branches of the Plantation trade, the returns of the goods
exported to those countries being generally sent from thence in
negroes and wine to the Plantations; we have included the
amount thereof in this account. But having enquired upon
this occasion into the valuations of the aforesaid goods, we are
inform'd that tobacco, sugar and some other of the Plantation
products are over-rated; the prices of those commodities
having been considerably reduced since the valuations were
adjusted in the books of the Inspector-General of the Customs,
from whence this is drawn; however as we have not ye same
objection to the valuations of our own manufactures and
products, we shall lay the same before your Majesty upon ye
foot it now stands. From this account it will appear that the
Plantations in America take from hence yearly to the value
of one million sterling, in British products and manufactures
and foreign goods. And altho' the exports charged in this
account to the several Colonies on the Continent, amount to
no more than £431,027 16s. 5d., yet as the Continent has undoubtedly a great share in the general article of Entry to the
West Indies as well as in the Articles of Entry to Africa and the
Maderas, the exports to ye Contint. may well be computed at
£500,000 0s. 0d. But before we enter into the particular
circumstances of ye Plantation trade on the Continent, it will
be necessary to ascertain the principal commodities wherein
their trade consists; and how much they respectively amt. to,
which will appear Account No. 2. It may be observed from
this account that the exports to the Continent of America
exceed the imports from thence about £200,000 per ann. which
debt falls upon ye Provinces to the northward of Maryland
who probably are inabled to discharge the same by the trade
they are permitted to carry on in America and to Europe in
commodities not enumerated in the Acts of Trade, as may be
gathered from a state of their shipping and tonnage hereunto
annexed, number 3, 4 and 5; altho' the same is not so perfect
as it might otherwise have been for want of returns from the
Proprietary Governmts. Besides the advantages accruing to
Great Britain from so large an exportation to the Colonies on
the Continent of America, from whence as hath been already
shewn, there doth arise a ballance of £200,000 sterling; it is
to be observed that your Majesty's revenue of the Customs
is very considerably increased by this trade; that great part
of ye commodities which we receive from thence are such as
we should otherways be obliged to take from foreign markets;
and that there is a very great profit arising from the re-exportation
of such of the said Plantation commodities to foreign
markets as are not expended at home. Our home consumption
of tobacco only may be computed at lb wt. 8,175, 226, per ann.:
and the tobacco re-exported lb. wt. 17,142,755 p. ann.: as may
appear by the account number 6, wherein the sugars as well as
the tobacco imported and exported for five years from Christmas
1712 to Christmas 1717, are distinctly stated. And we have the
rather chose to joyn them, because they are the two staple
commodities of the islands and of the Continent, whose intrests
are inseparable, nor would it be possible to support the sugar
Islands without the assistance of the Continent. There still
remains to be considered another great advantage that arises
to this Kingdom from the Plantation trade, which is, the
constant employment it gives to our British shipping. The
number and tonnage of the ships cleared from England for
His Majesty's Dominions in America, and for Africa and
Medera in three years, from Christms. 1714 to Christmas 1717,
is as follows:— |
|
Cleared in the said years, |
| For |
Ships. |
Tonns. |
Medium of the tonnage p. ann |
|
New England |
240 |
20,276 |
6,7582/3
|
|
New York |
64 |
4,330 |
1,443⅓ |
|
Pennsylvania |
55 |
5,429 |
1,8092/3
|
|
Maryland |
108 |
17,651 |
5,8832/3
|
|
Virginia |
340 |
47,009 |
15,6692/3
|
|
Carolina |
92 |
8,033 |
2,6772/3
|
|
For the Continent |
899 |
102, 728 |
34,2422/3
|
|
Barbados |
347 |
37,849 |
12,616⅓ |
|
Antegao |
111 |
11,092 |
3,697⅓ |
|
Montserrat |
25 |
1,770 |
590 |
|
Nevis |
33 |
2,963 |
9872/3
|
|
St. Christophs |
30 |
3,170 |
1,0562/3
|
|
Jamaica |
162 |
22,913 |
7,6372/3
|
|
Bermuda |
4 |
160 |
53⅓ |
|
For the Islands |
712 |
79,917 |
26,639 |
|
West Indies |
123 |
16,687 |
5,562½ |
|
Hudson's Bay |
7 |
732 |
244 |
|
Total for the Plantatn. |
1,741 |
200,064 |
66,688½ |
|
For Africa |
92 |
10,823 |
8,899 |
|
Madera |
181 |
15,875 |
|
In all |
2,014 |
226,762 |
75,587 |
|
that is communibus annis |
671 |
75,587 |
|
|
And whereas there was clear'd from this Kingdom, on a
medium of the said three years ending at Chistmas 1717, for
all foreign parts. |
|
Ships. |
Tons. |
|
|
British |
5,663 |
419,681 |
p.annum. |
|
Foriegn |
330 |
17,446 |
|
In all |
5,993 |
437,127 |
|
|
It is evident that the shipping employ'd annually in the
Plantation trade only, was more than a sixth part of the whole
tonnage for that time from the several ports of England to all
foreign countries. But computing that the other five sixths
parts of the said shipping may be employ'd (a little more or less)
as follows:— |
|
1/6 in the Trade to spain, Portugal, the Streights, Canaries,
East India, Newfounland and Archangel. |
|
1/6 to Denmark, Norway and the Baltick; 9/6 to Germany,
Holland, Flanders and France, and 1/6 to Ireland, and the other
British Islands. |
|
And it being obvious that the ships employ'd in the trades
near home make two or three voyages whilst the ships bound
to the Plantations are performing one, it is very probable that
the trade which is carried on between England and the American
Plantations, imploys at least one fourth part of the shipping
annually clear'd from this kingdom. And upon casting up
the tunnage of the Plantation products re‐exported in the year
1717, it appears there was imploy'd near half as much shipping
in transporting these goods from hence to Germany, Holland
and other foreign countries, as was employ'd in the trade
therefore it may be concluded that about one third part of the
shipping imploy'd in the foriegn trade of this Kingdom is maintained
by the Plantation trade. But notwithstanding the
advantages at present arising from the Plantation trade are
so very considerable; it is not to be doubted but that they might
still be render'd much more useful if sufficient encouragement
were given to induce them, to turn their industry to the production
of the naval stores of all kinds, and of such other commodities
as our necessties require, and which are purchased by us with
great disadvantage from foreign countries; from whence this
convenience amongst many others would naturally result,
that the more northern Colonies would be thereby enabled to
pay their ballance to England, without laying under the necessity
of carrying on a trade to foreign parts, in some respects
detrimental to their Mother Kingdom. |
| Number 1. |
|---|
| The total value of the Imports from |
|
The total value of the Exports to |
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
187,059 |
0 |
0 |
Antegoa |
30,855 |
19 |
9 |
|
364,557 |
6 |
10 |
Barbados |
140,697 |
14 |
5 |
|
332,266 |
0 |
10 |
Jamaica |
147,931 |
5 |
6 |
|
34,485 |
5 |
9 |
Montserrat |
4,921 |
11 |
6 |
|
85,078 |
15 |
6 |
Nevis |
12,729 |
10 |
0 |
|
98,772 |
18 |
5 |
St. Christophers |
11,182 |
7 |
1 |
|
1,102,219 |
7 |
4 |
|
348,318 |
8 |
3 |
|
65,016 |
7 |
2 |
New England |
139,269 |
14 |
6 |
|
22,607 |
16 |
4 |
New York |
50,314 |
6 |
6 |
|
5,051 |
7 |
0 |
Pensylvania |
20,176 |
14 |
2 |
|
92,675 |
10 |
6 |
|
209,760 |
15 |
2 |
|
250,994 |
10 |
6 |
Virginia and Maryland |
198,276 |
4 |
9 |
|
38,906 |
16 |
1 |
Carolina |
22,987 |
16 |
6 |
|
|
|
Plantations. |
|
|
|
|
382,576 |
17 |
1 |
On the Continent |
431,027 |
16 |
5 |
|
1,102,219 |
7 |
4 |
On the Sugar Islands |
348,318 |
8 |
3 |
|
3,391 |
17 |
0 |
West Indies in General |
96,986 |
6 |
2 |
|
412 |
19 |
6 |
Bermudas |
1,396 |
3 |
3 |
|
6,898 |
6 |
10 |
Hudson's Bay |
1,951 |
6 |
2 |
|
1,495,499 |
7 |
9 |
|
879,680 |
0 |
3 |
|
27,236 |
12 |
9 |
Africa |
87,415 |
16 |
11 |
|
4,960 |
14 |
8 |
Madera |
81,427 |
7 |
1 |
|
1,527,696 |
15 |
2 |
Total |
1,048,523 |
4 |
3 |
| Number 2. |
|---|
|
The Principal Imports from New England, New York,
Pensylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Carolina are as follows:— |
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
In skin and furrs |
17,340 |
14 |
10 |
Products of the Indian trade. |
|
Turpentine |
12,082 |
19 |
5 |
Of the said Plantations. |
|
Pitch and Tar |
34,990 |
0 |
0 |
|
Train Oyle |
7,680 |
18 |
7 |
|
Whale–fins |
3,679 |
14 |
3 |
|
Tobacco |
236,588 |
18 |
1 |
|
Rice |
19,206 |
18 |
4 |
|
Sugar brown |
9,834 |
7 |
3 |
Of foreign Plantations. |
|
Logwood |
21,060 |
6 |
4 |
Of Campeche. |
|
362,464 |
17 |
1 |
|
|
In all other goods |
20,112 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
The total Import according to the aforesaid General Account |
382,576 |
17 |
1 |
p. annum. |
|
But the tobacco being overvalued about |
80,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
The said Import cannot amount to more than |
302,576 |
17 |
1 |
p. annum. |
|
And the principal exports to the said Provinces, are as follows,
In British Manufactures and Products. |
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Woollen Manufactures |
147,438 |
11 |
7 |
|
|
Silk wrought and thrown |
18,468 |
7 |
1 |
|
|
Linnens and Sail Cloth |
11,464 |
9 |
0 |
|
|
Cordage |
11,284 |
5 |
9 |
|
|
Gunpowder |
2,392 |
15 |
5 |
|
|
Leather wrought and saddles |
15,161 |
12 |
6 |
|
|
Brass and copper wrought |
2,565 |
6 |
7 |
|
|
Iron wrought and nails |
35,631 |
13 |
6 |
|
|
Lead and shott |
2,850 |
9 |
3 |
|
|
Pewter |
3,687 |
6 |
11 |
|
|
In many other goods |
43,941 |
5 |
6 |
|
|
294,886 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
In Foreign Goods |
|
|
|
|
|
Linnens |
86,413 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Calicoes |
10,102 |
4 |
0 |
|
|
Prohibited East India Goods |
10,523 |
12 |
9 |
|
|
Wrought Silks |
1,189 |
11 |
1 |
|
|
Iron and Hemp |
6,152 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
In other foreign goods |
21,760 |
19 |
9 |
|
|
136,141 |
13 |
6 |
Foreign Goods |
|
294,886 |
3 |
1 |
British Goods |
|
The said export amounts to according to the aforesaid General Account. |
431,027 |
16 |
7 |
p.annum. |
|
But as it been already mentioned, the total export might
probably amount to at least £500,000 p.annum. |
| Number 3. |
|---|
| Ships, sloops and other Vessels. |
In three years from 24th June, 1714, to the 24th June, 1717, there was cleared from boston:— |
Tons |
Men. |
|
495 |
For the British Islands in the West Indies |
27,831 |
3,830 |
|
58 |
Foreign Plantations |
2,597 |
393 |
|
23 |
West Indies |
1,335 |
175 |
|
45 |
Newfoundland |
1,835 |
274 |
|
23 |
Europe |
1,865 |
210 |
|
34 |
Madera, Azores, ect |
1,690 |
236 |
|
678 |
|
37,153 |
5,118 |
|
143 |
Great Britain |
11,956 |
1,412 |
|
390 |
British Plantations on the Continent |
11,589 |
1,883 |
|
25 |
Bay of Campeche for Logwood |
1,675 |
221 |
|
11 |
To ports unknown |
415 |
63 |
|
1,247 |
The total in three yeres that is |
62,788 |
8,697 |
|
415 |
Communibus Annis |
20,929 |
2,899 |
|
N.B. 1,199 of the aforesaid |
|
|
|
1,247 ships and vessels |
|
|
|
Containing 58, 152 tons were Plantation built. |
| Number 4. |
|---|
|
In the said there years there was also cleared from the Port
of Salem (Mass.) |
| Ships, and Sloops, Etc. |
|
Tons. |
Men. |
|
59 |
For the British Islands in ye West Indies |
2,296 |
328 |
|
2 |
Surinam |
75 |
10 |
|
10 |
West Indies |
304 |
46 |
|
117 |
Europe |
9,122 |
1,152 |
|
9 |
Madera, Azores, etc. |
421 |
59 |
|
197 |
12,218 |
1,595 |
|
4 |
Great Britain |
208 |
29 |
|
31 |
British Plantations on the Continent |
1,005 |
158 |
|
232 |
The Total in three years that is |
13,431 |
1,782 |
|
77 |
Communibus Annis |
4,477 |
594 |
| Number 5. |
|---|
|
And from New York there was clear'd in 3 years from 24th
June 1715 to 24 June 1718. |
| Ships, Sloops, Etc. |
|
Tons. |
Men. |
|
63 |
To Great Britain |
4,382 |
638 |
|
205 |
British Plantations on ye Continent |
4,234 |
897 |
|
250 |
British Plantations on the Islands |
8,776 |
1,904 |
|
9 |
Newfoundland |
395 |
67 |
|
85 |
Foreign Plantations |
2,595 |
603 |
|
24 |
Maderas, Africa, etc. |
1,395 |
282 |
|
9 |
Europe |
615 |
122 |
|
645 |
Total in three years that is |
22,392 |
4,513 |
|
215 |
Communibus Annis |
7,464 |
1,504 |
| Number 6. |
|---|
|
Sugar, Brown. |
|
Imported cwt. |
Re-exported cwt. |
|
In 1713 |
503,528 |
183,201 |
|
1714 |
512,235 |
157,036 |
|
1715 |
617,414 |
142,701 |
|
1716 |
684,378 |
161,519 |
|
1717 |
762,735 |
289,994 |
|
In the sd. 5 years |
3,080,290 |
934,451 |
|
Or Communs. Annis |
616,058 |
186,890 |
|
Remained for Consumption |
|
429,168 |
|
Tobacco. |
|
Imported lb. wt. |
Re-exported lb. wt. |
|
In 1713 |
21,598,807 |
16,597,796 |
|
1714 |
29,264,094 |
19,650,246 |
|
1715 |
17,810,864 |
13,479,110 |
|
1716 |
28,316,088 |
16,601,441 |
|
1717 |
29,600,053 |
19,385,186 |
|
In the sd. 5 years |
126,589,906 |
85,713,779 |
|
Or Coms. Annis |
25,317,981 |
17,142,755 |
|
Remained for Consumption |
|
8,175,226 p.ann. |
Mississippy.
The French Nation having always been desirous to extend
their Dominions in America, have lost no opportunity of encroaching upon their neighbours there; and altho' your
Majesty, and your Royal Ancestors have an uncontestable
right, as well by discovery as possession, to the several British
Colonies in America; yet the French Kings have at sundry
times made grants thereof to their subjects; such were the
Letters Patents of Lewis the 13th in favour of the French
West India Company bearing date the 29th of April 1627, and
those of Lewis the 14th to Mons. Croisat some time since
surrendered to the United India Company of France, upon
which they build their title to ye Mississippy; many other instances of ye like nature might be given, were they necessary
to the present purpose. But these two which comprehended
almost all your Majesty's Dominions in America may be
sufficient to show the unlimitted inclination the French have
to encroach upon your Majesty's territories in those parts.
However as the French are convinced that a Charter without
possession can never be allowed by the law of Nations to change
ye property of the soil, they have imploy'd another artifice and
without embarrassing themselves about former discoveries
made by the subjects of other Princes, have built small forts
at the heads of lakes and rivers along that vast tract of land
from the entry of the River of St. Lawrence, to ye embouchure
of the Mississippy into the Bay of Mexico, not so much with
intention probably to bound their own territories as to secure
what they have already got till a more favourable juncture shall
give them occasion to make further intrusions upon their neighbours. And if the late war in Europe when the Allies made
so successful efforts against the exorbitant power of France;
had not found Lewis the 14th imployment at home, it is very
likely the French would have been much more formidable
than they are now in America; notwithstanding ye Treaty
of Neutrality for those parts made at London in 1686 ought
to have secured to Gt. Britain the several Colonies whereof
your Majesty's Royal Predecessors stood possessed at the time
of making the said treaty. But the little regard the French
have to that Treaty, will evidently appear by ye invasions and
frivolous pretences set on foot by their Ministers during the
debates in ye year 1687 at London when the Lords Sunderland,
Middleton and Godolphin were appointed by King James to
confer with ye then French Ambassadors Monsr. de Barillon
and the Sieur Dusson de Bonrepeaux concerning the boundaries
of the Hudson's Bay Compy. And altho' that Conference
terminated in a confirmation of the aforesd. Treaty of Neutrality,
together with a resolution of settling the boundaries between
the English and French Colonies in America by proper Commissaries, which resolutn. has since been enforced by the 10th
Article of the Treaty of Utrecht; yet the French could never
be induced to enter sincerely upon so necessary a work notwithstanding Commissioners were lately appointed for that
purpose, and met with others deputed by the French Court
at Paris. It is therefore very apparent from these transactions,
that there remains no way to settle our boundaries, but by making
ourselves considerable at the two heads of your Majesty's
Colonies north and south; and by building of forts, as the
French have done, in proper places on the inland frontiers.
The French territories in America extend from the mouth of
the River St. Lawrence to the embouchure of the Mississippy,
forming one continued line from north to south on the back
of your Majesty's Plantations; and altho' their garrisons in
many parts are hitherto but very inconsiderable, yet as they
have by the means of their missionaries debauched several of
the Indian Nations to their intrest, your Majesty's subjects
along the Continent have the utmost danger to apprehend from
this new settlement, unless timely care be taken to prevent its
increase. But this will be the proper subject of another part
of this report, and therefore we shall at present proceed to give
your Majesty an account of the forts ye French have built,
and the settlements they have made to secure their communication of the several routs they have practised from Quebeck to
the Mississippy, of the Indian nations in those parts whom
they have gain'd over to their intrest, and of those who still
remain friends to your Majesty's subjects. And as the most
perfect account we have of these particulars was transmitted
to us some time since by Mr. Keith the present Govr. of Pensylvania, we hold ourselves obliged upon this occasion to acknowledge how much we are indebted to his exactness and application therein. It is evidently from Father Hennipen and La
Salles Travels, that ye communicatn. between Canada and
Mississippy is a very late discovery, and perhaps such an one
as no nation less industrious than the French would have
attempted. But it must be allowed that they have a great
advantage over us in this particular, to wch. even the nature
of their religion and Government do greatly contribute. For
their missionaries, in blind obedience to their superiours, spend
whole years in exploring new countries. And the encouragement
the late French King gave to the discoverers and planters
of new tracts of lands, doth far exceed any advantages your
Majesty's Royal Predecessors have hitherto given to their
subjects in America. And as your Majesty's European
Dominions have long been burthen'd with the expence of two
successive wars, the Parliament of Great Britain have hitherto
only been able to assist the Plantations with a very sparing
hand; altho' considering the great revenue they bring your
Majesty in your Customs, and the vast importance they are
of to the trade and navigation of these Kingdoms, it is now to
be hoped they may be thought worthy of greater attention.
And indeed had this matter been sooner considered, the French
Dominions had never been extended from north to south thro'
the whole Continent of America. For your Majesty's subjects
who had much greater convenience of discovering and making
treaties with the Indian nations on the Lakes which lye so
contiguous to the back of the British settlements, might
effectually have prevented this communication which may
prove highly inconvenient to the trade and welfare of your
Majesty's Colonies. However it is not even yet too late to
think of applying a remedy, nor will it be at all impossible to
interrupt a rout which your Majesty may perceive by the
following detale hath many natural obstructions, and could
never have been rendered practicable without ye greatest
industry. From Mount Real on the river St. Laurence the
French generally sail in canoes about three leagues to the falls
of St. Lewis, where they are obliged to land and travel about
half a league before they embark again in order to row up the
stream about 60 leagues farther to Fort Frontenac, situate on
the north side of the river at the entrance of the Lake Ontario,
where they have a garrison consisting of one or two companies.
From thence they proceed on the said lake, reputed about
80 leagues in length, to the Great Fall of Niagara, which lies
between the Lakes Ontario and Erie, where they are obliged
to travel overland again about three leagues before they enter
the Lake Erie which is about 130 leagues in length. From this
lake to ye Mississippy they have three different routs, the
shortest by water is up the River Miamis or Ouamis, on the
south-west of Lake Erie, on which river they sail about 150
leagues, without interruption, when they find themselves
stopp'd by another landing of about 3 leagues, which they call
a carrying place, because they are generally obliged to carry
their canoes over land in those places to the next river, and
that where they next embark is a very shallow one called la
riviere de Portage; hence they row about 40 leagues to the
River Oubach, and from thence about 120 leagues to the River
Hohio into which the Oubach falls, as the River Hohio does
about 80 leagues lower into ye Mississippy, which continues
its course for about 350 leagues directly to the Bay of Mexico.
There are likewise two other passages, much longer than this,
which are particularly prickt down in Hennipen's map, and
may be described in the following manner. From the north
east of Lake Erie to a fort on the Lake St. Clair called Pont
Chartrin, is about 8 leagues sail; here the French have a
settlement, and often 400 traders meet there; along this lake
they proceed about 7 leagues further and thence to the great
Lake Huron about 10 leagues; hence they proceed to the
Straits of Missillimackinack 120 leagues; here is a garrison of
about 30 French and a vast concourse of traders, sometimes
not less than 1000 besides Indians, being a common place of
rendezvous; at and near this place the Outarvas an Indian
Nation are settled. From the Lake Huron they pass by the
Strait Missillimackinack four leagues, being two in breadth and
of a great depth, to the Lake Illinois; thence 150 leagues on
the lake to Fort Miamis situated on the mouth of the river
Chigagoe; from hence came those Indians of the same name;
vizt. Miamis who are settled on the forementioned river that
runs into Erie. Up the River Chigagoe they sail but 3 leagues
to a portage of a ¼ of a league, then enter a small lake of about
a mile and have another very small portage, and again another
of two miles to the River Illinois, thence down the stream 130
leagues to Mississippy. The next rout is from Missillimackinack
on the Lake Illinois to ye Lake de Puans 90 leagues; thence to
the River Puans 80 leagues, thence up the same to a portage
of about 4 miles before they come to the River Ovisconsing,
thence 40 leagues to Mississippy. These distances are as the
traders reckon them, but they appear generally to be much
overdone, which may be owing to those peoples coasting along
the shores of the lakes, and taking in all the windings of the
rivers. They have another much shorter passage from Mount
Real to Lake Huron by the French river on the north of St.
Lawrence which communicates with the two latter routs, but
it abounds with falls and therefore it is not so much used. They
have also by this river a much shorter passage to the upper
lake or Lake Superieur. The French have at all times used
their utmost endeavours to bring over the Indians to their
intrest; and the missionaries have been so successful in this
point, that they have even seduced some part of the Iroquois
commonly called by the name of the Five Nations, from their
ancient friendship and dependance on your Majesty's Colony
of New York; and altho' provision was made by the 15th
Article of the Treaty of Utrecht to prevent the like inconveniencies for the future, yet experience hath shewn that such
treaties made with the French as cannot be afterwards executed
without their assistance, are likely to prove ineffectual. We
would therefore follow their example in this particular; and
lose no time, at least in securing such of the Indian nations as
are not already in league with them. Of this sort are the
Miamis—settled upon the river of the same name; which runs
into the Lake Erie, and are about 2000 in number. The
gaining of this Nation to the British intrest would be of very
great importance, and as we are informed might be done by
settling a trade with them, and building a small fort upon the
Lake Erie, where ye French in 1718, had no settlement. What
they have now is not as yet come to our knowledge, tho' in all
probability they have or will soon begin to build one there.
This will appear to be the more necessary when we shall consider how many Indian nations on the back of the British
settlements the French have already gain'd to their intrest.
The Illinois are about 3000 men on or near the river of that
name. The Ottoways or Missillimackinacks were formerly
3000, but now scarce 500. The Nokes 100 the Fellesavoins 200,
the Sakes 200, the Puans 600. All these joyn'd the French
against the Five Nations in the late war, and all of them except
the Miamis are seated about or near to ye Lake Illinois, which
is now commonly called by them Michegan and on the rivers
that run into it, and on the Lake Puans and the River Illinois.
On the Mississippy and the branches of it there are many great
nations especially to the west, as the Missouris, Ozages,
Acansias (different from those of Acansa on the east) with many
more, not less, as is affirmed, than 60,000 men, with all whom
it is said the French have peace or some alliance. On the other
hand all the English to ye northward of Carolina, have not
1500 fighting men in their intrest to be depended on, except
ye Five Nations. In New England and Connecticut they have
very few: in New York only ye River Indians besides
the 5 nations. In Jersey and Pensylvania their
own or home nations called Delawares are exceedingly
decreased, and being in subjection to the 5 nations take their
rules from them. In Maryland and Virginia there are very few
except those towards the south-west, whom Col. Spotswood
with great industry has lately gain'd by treaties and hostages.
Those of Carolina and the nations lately in friendship with them,
have been very numerous, but are not so at present: the
French having made great encroachmts. in those parts and
gain'd many of the Indians there, over to their intrest. Thus
by one view of the Map of North America, your Majesty will
see the danger your subjects are in, surrounded by the French
who have robbed them of great part of the trade they formerly
drove with the Indians, have in great measure cut off their
prospect of further improvements that way; and in case of a
rupture may greatly incommode if not absolutely destroy them
by their Indian allies; and altho' the British Plantations are
naturally fortify'd by a chain of mountains, that run from the
back of South Carolina as far as New York, passable but in
few places; yet should we not possess those passes, in time this
would rather prove destructive than beneficial to us. |
|
Considerations for securing, improving and enlarging your
Majesty's Dominions in America. |
|
Having laid before your Majesty the state of your Plantations
on the Continent, etc., what further remains is, that we should
humbly offer to your Majesty's consideration such methods as
have occurred to us, for securing improving and enlarging so
valuable a possession as that of your Majesty's Dominions in
America; which we conceive might most effectually be done:
1st. By taking the necessary precautions to prevent the incroachments of the French, or of any other European nation. 2nd.
By cultivating a good understanding with the native Indians.
And lastly by putting the Government of the Plantations upon
a better foot. In order therefore to secure your Majesty's
Colonies from the encroachments of their European neighbours
in America; whereof we receive daily complaints from the
several governors on the Continent; it will be highly necessary
to begin by fortifying ye two extremities to the north and south.
This will appear ye more necessary when it shall be considered
how much the French have strengthen'd their settlemts. In
the neighbourhood of Nova Scotia and Carolina, whilst your
Majesty's subjects either thro' neglect or misfortune, are much
weaker in these two provinces, than any other part of America.
It has been already observed that there are not above two
British families in all Nova Scotia besides the garrison of Annapolis consisting of at present only six companies of 34 men
each, but there are still near 3000 French inhabitants remaining
in this Province, who contrary to the Treaty of Utrecht refuse
to take the Oaths of Allegiance to your Majesty, and in combination with their countrimen at Cape Breton, are daily
instigating ye native Indians not only to commit insults upon
your Majesty's subjects fishing upon the coast of Nova Scotia,
but even to set up a title to the whole Province in opposition
to your Majesty's right. The French likewise pretend that only
the Peninsula of Accadie (hardly one third part of Nova Scotia)
was yielded to the Crown of Great Britain by the Treaty of
Utrecht, and notwithstanding this pretence is sufficiently
refuted in the former part of this report, by comparing the
Charter to Sir William Alexander the first proprietor of Nova
Scotia, with the Article of Cession in the Treaty of Utrecht,
yet from these unreasonable cavils in time of profound peace
and friendship between the two nations may be collected how
desirous the French are to make themselves masters of this
Province, which they may easily over-run on the first rupture,
the same being in a manner already surrounded by their settlements at Cape Breton, Long Island and Quebeek. In our
humble opinion therefore no time should be lost in putting of
this Province into a better posture of defence; and we humbly
beg leave to repeat our proposal for sending of four regiments
of foot to Nova Scotia. Without some assistance of this nature
it will be in vain to think of settling Nova Scotia; for planters
will never fix where they can have no security for their persons
or effects; but whenever this main point shall be sufficiently
provided for, it is to be hoped so fertile a country will not want
inhabitants, all reasonable encouragemt. however should be
given to adventurers to settle there, and in some former reports
to Yr. Majesty, we have humbly offer'd it as our opinion that
it would be greatly for Your Service that the present inhabitants
of Newfoundland should be engaged to quit that place where
they drive a trade prejudicial to ye fishery of Great Britain,
and settle in Nova Scotia where they may be useful to this
kingdom. We shall not trouble your Majesty with the repetition
of the particulars mentioned in former parts of this representation concerning the fortifications proposed to be erected on
the Coast of Nova Scotia, but shall beg leave in general to observe
that bays and harbours shou'd be secured and some forts built
in proper places for the protection of your Majesty's subjects
fishing upon this coast. In that part of this report relating to
the French Settlements we have taken notice that nature has
furnished the British Colonies with a barrier which may easily
be defended, having cast up a long ridge of mountains between
your Majesty's Plantations and the French settlements extending from South Carolina to New York; but there are doubtless
several passes over these mountains which ought to be secured
as soon as they shall be discovered, and we had the honour
not long ago to recommend to your Majesty's approbatn. a
proposal for fortifying the passes on the back of Virginia.
In our opinion all possible encouragement should be given to
discoveries and undertakings of this nature; for if all the
passes over this ridge of mountains are not secured, your
Majesty's subjects will be lyable to the insults of the French and
of the Indians under their influence, who are very numerous.
But altho' these mountains may serve at present for a very
good frontier, we should not propose them for the boundary of
your Majesty's Empire in America. On the contrary it were
to be wished that the British settlements might be extended
beyond them and some small forts erected on ye great lakes
in proper places by permission of the Indian proprietors; and
we would particularly recommend ye building of a fort on
the Lake Erie, as hath been proposed by Col. Spotswood your
Majesty's Lieut. Governor of Virginia, wherby the French communication from Quebeck to the River Mississippy might be
interrupted, a new trade open'd with some of the Indian nations,
and more of the natives engaged in your Majesty's intrest. |
|
There will be the same reason for erecting another fort at
the falls of Niagara, near the Lake Ontario. Mr. Burnet your
Majesty's Govr. of New York hath already form'd a scheme for
this purpose which we hope he may be able to execute by the
consent and assistance of the Seneccees, one of the Five Indian
nations dependant on your Majesty, to whom the soil belongs.
But because these lakes lye at a very great distance from the
settlements already made by your Majesty's subjects, to secure
intermediate stages a third fort might be built at the head of
the Potomack River which divides Virginia from Maryland,
and a fourth at the head of Sasquehana River, wch. runs thro'
Pensylvania into the Bay of Cheasapeake. Carolina likewise
being the southern frontier of your Majesty's Plantations, and
lying much exposed to the incursions both of the French and
Spaniards, as well as to ye insults of the Indians; demands
your Majty's. immediate assistance and protection. It
would be for your Majesty's service, that the heads and
emboucheurs of all rivers running thro' this Province should
be secured; in our humble opinion, a less force than four
regimts. of foot will not be sufficient for the protection of your
Majesty's subjects there, especially considering how many places
will require garrisons; for besides those already mentioned
under the head of Carolina, it will be highly necessary that three
others should be erected on the Savanah, Catahooche and
Hagaloge rivers; for at Palachakolas on the Savanah river
the French had formerly a Settlement in the time of Charles
the Ninth, and intend to settle there again if not prevented.
A fort on Catahooche River would secure a communication
with the Bay of Apalatche, and another on Hagaloge River
might not only interrupt the communication of ye French
settlements, but likewise give your Majty.'s subjects an opportunity of gaining the Charokees, a war-like nation and the
only Indians of consequence in those parts that have not
already made peace with the French. We are very sensible
that this proposal will be attended with expence; but we hope
it may be fully justify'd by the necessity thereof, for the
preservation of the British Colonies in America. |
|
In relation to the Indians. The second particular wherein
your Majesty's intrest is highly concerned wth. respect to the
trade and the security of the British Plantations, is that of
cultivating a good understanding with the native Indians, as
well those inhabiting amongst your Majesty's subjects, as those
that border upon your Majesty's Dominions in America; and
herein at all times hath consisted the main support of our
French neibours who are so truly sensible of what consequence
it is to any European nation settling in America to gain the
natives to their intrest, that they have spared no pains, no cost
nor artifice to attain this desirable end; wherein it must be
allowed, that they have succeeded, to ye great prejudice of
your Majesty's subjects in those parts, having debauched as
hath already been observed, some part of the Five Nations
bordering upon New York from their ancient league and dependance on the Crown of Great Britain. For this purpose their
missionaries are constantly imploy'd, frequent presents are
made to the Sachems or Kings of ye several nations, and incouragement given for intermarriages between the French and
natives, whereby their new empire may in time be peopled
without draining France of its inhabitants. It was for this
reason that in the draught of instructions for the Governor of
Nova Scotia, we took the liberty of proposing to your Majesty
that proper incouragement should be given to such of your
Majesty's subjects as should intermarry with the native Indians;
and we conceive it might be for your Majesty's service, that the
said instructions should be extended to all the other British
Colonies. Your Majesty and your Royal Predecessors have
frequently made presents to the Indian chiefs, more particularly
to those of the Five Nations; but as the same have always
hitherto been a charge upon the civil list, which is generally
overburthened, so those presents have not been very regularly
or seasonably sent to America, and consequently many opportunities of improving the British intrest in those parts, must
have been lost for want of them; for which reason it is to be
hoped that more exactness will be had in this particular for the
future. It is likewise much to be lamented that our zeal for
propagating of the Christian faith in parts beyond the seas,
hath not hitherto much enlarged the pale of the British Church
amongst those poor infidels, or in any sort contributed to
promote the intrest of the State in America. But as it is not
so immediately our province to propose anything particular
upon this head; we can only wish that the same may be hereafter put upon a better foot. There is however one other
method left for gaining the good will of these Indians, which
Providence hath put into our hands, and wherein ye French
could not possibly rival us if we made a right use of our advantage, and that is the furnishing of them at honest and reasonable
prices with the several European commodities they may have
occasion for; but even this particular from the unreasonable
avarice of our Indian traders, and the want of proper regulations,
has turn'd to our detriment, and instead of gaining us friends,
has very probably created us many enemies. But as we are
intirely of opinion that the Indian trade, if fairly carried on,
would greatly contribute to the increase of your Majesty's
power and intrest in America; we should humbly propose,
that the same may be put under as good regulations as ye nature
of the thing will admit; for on the succesful progress of this
trade, the inlargement of your Majesty's Dominions in those
parts doth almost intirely depend; in as much as all the
settlemts. that may at any time hereafter be made beyond the
mountains, or on ye lakes, must necessarily build their hopes
of support much more upon ye advantage to be made by the
Indian trade, than upon any profits to arise from planting at
so great a distance from the sea. This trade then ought by
all possible means to be encouraged, it ought to be equally
free in all parts to all your Majesty's subjects in America; and
all monopolies thereof discouraged, that no one colony or sett of
people whatsoever may engross the same to the prejudice of
their nei'bours. All your Majesty's Governors in their
respective governments should use their utmost endeavours to
prevent the traders from imposing upon the Indians, upon
complaint of any injustice done them cause satisfaction to be
made, and upon all occasions shew the utmost resentments
against the offenders. And that your Majesty's subjects may be
the more easily induced to extend this trade as far westward,
upon the lakes and rivers behind the mountains as the situation
and ability of the respective colonies will permit; forts should
be built and garrisons settled in proper places, to protect them.
It would likewise be for your Majesty's service that the sevl.
Governmts. of your Majesty's Plantations should endeavor
to make treaties and alliances of friendship with as many
Indian nations as they can, in which treaties all your Majesty's
subjects should be expressly included; all the Indian nations
in amity with your Majesty's subjects should, if possible, be
reconciled, to each other; and all traders should be instructed
to use their endeavors to convince the said Indians, that the
English have but one King and one interest. And if any Indian
nation in league or friendship with any of your Majesty's
Colonies, should make war, plunder or any way molest any other
Indian nation in friendship with the same colony, your Majesty's
Govr. should use all possible endeavrs. to oblige the sd.
Indians to make satisfaction for their breach of faith to ye party
aggrieved. And that all the Governors of your Majesty's
Plantations may be informed of the State of every other
Government, with respect to the Indians; it will be necessary
that every Governor upon his making any treaty with any
Indian nation, should immediately communicate the same to
all other your Majesty's governors upon the Continent. We
are likewise of opinion that it might be convenient to imitate
the French in sending home some chiefs of the most considerable
clans or nations to whom they take care to shew the glory and
splendor of the French nation in Europe; that the sd. Indians
may upon their return instill the greater respect for them
amongst their countrymen. All which particulars would in
our humble opinion much conduce to the securing of the natives
in your Majesty's intrest, and to the enlargement of your
frontiers in America. |
|
In relation to the Government of the Plantations. The laws
and constitutions of your Majesty's Colonies are copy'd from
those of Great Britain, but fall short of them in many particulars;
some of which have however from time to time been
corrected and amended by your Majesty's instructions to the
respective Governors of the different colonies under your
Majesty's immediate Government; and they might be rendered
still more perfect if your Majesty's commands met with due
obedience in the Proprietary and Charter Governments. This
is the great obstacle which has hitherto made it impracticable
to put the Plantations in general upon a better foot; and therefore we shall beg leave to mention some of those inconveniencies
that have arisen from the large powers and privileges subsisting
by virtue of several Charters granted by your Majesty's Royal
Predecessors, whereby not only the soil but likewise the dominion
or government of several colonies is absolutely alienated from
the Crown, to certain Proprietors, who far from imploying the
said powers and privileges to the use for which they were
designed, as we find by former reports from this Board, have
frequently refused obedience to such orders as have been given
by your Majesty's Royal Predecessors, have broken thro' the
laws of Trade and Navigation, made laws of their own
contrary to those of Great Britain, given shelter to pirates and
outlaws, and refuse to contribute to the defence of the nei'bouring Colonies under your Majesty's immediate government, even
in cases of the greatest emergency, altho' they would not have
been able to subsist themselves without the assistance of their
nei'bours. And altho' in justice to some of the Proprietary
Governments, it must be allowed, that they are not all equally
involved in this charge, yet certain it is that great inconveniencies
do arise from so many different forms of governments, and so
many different intrests on the Continent of America; nor is
it to be expected that either our Indians or European nei'bours,
should pay that respect to your Majesty's subjects, which all
those who have the happiness to be under your Majesty's
protection might otherwise reasonably hope for; until it
shall appear, that all the British Colonies in America hold
immediately of one Lord, and have but one joint intrest to
pursue; for which reason, and many others, we shall first
humbly propose that all the Proprietary Governments should
be re-assumed to the Crown, either by purchase, agreement or
otherwise, as conceiving this to be one of those essential
points without which your Majesty's Colonies can never be
put upon a right footing, it might likewise be further observed
upon this head, that some of the Proprietary and Charter
Governments have shewn too great an inclination to be independant of their mother Kingdom, and have carried on a
trade destructive to that of Great Britain, wherein they might
undoubtedly be more effectually restrained if they were all of
them under your Majesty's immediate government, and were by
proper laws compelled to follow the commands sent them by
your Majesty; and it hath ever been the wisdom, not only of
Great Britain but likewise of all other States, to secure by all
possible means the intire absolute and immediate dependancy
of their Colonies. On the other hand, it were but just to consider the planters, whatever governments they may live under,
as your Majesty's subjects; and that in all reasonable things
not prejudicial to the intrest of Great Britain, they should be
favour'd and incouraged, more particularly in the raising of
naval stores of all kinds, whereby they may greatly advantage
themselves and contribute to render their mother Kingdom
absolutely independant of all the Northern Powers, and that
their religion, liberties and properties should be inviolably
preserved to them. We have already had a very successful
proof of what due incouragements produce in the particulars
of pitch and tar, which at present are made in as great perfection
in your Majesty's Plantations, as in any other part of the
world, and in such plenty as will enable us to supply foreign
parts, since it hath reduced the common price of those commodities one third of their former cost within the space of a
very few years, whereby the importation of pitch and tar from
the Baltick is greatly decreased, and much mony saved in the
ballance of our trade; nor is it to be doubted but iron, flax,
hemp and all sorts of timber, might likewise be had from your
Majesty's plantations, with the same success upon sufficient
encouragement, whereby the trade and navigation of these
Realms would be highly advanced, and the Plantations diverted
from the thoughts of setting up manufactures of their own
interfering with those of Great Britain, and from carrying on
an illegal trade with foreigners; but we shall have an opportunity of explaining ourselves more particularly upon this
head, in a separate representation to your Majty. relating to
such further premiums as we conceive necessary for promoting
so useful a design. Your Majesty's revenues arising from the
Quit Rents reserved upon grants of land made by your Majesty
and your Royal Predecessors, bear no proportion to the extent
of your Majesty's territories in America; for such has been the
improvident management in this particular that whole provinces
have been granted without any, or upon very small reservations
to the Crown, and the Governrs. of your Majesty's Colonies,
who are by their commissions and instructions usually impowered to make grants of lands, have frequently abused
their authority herein, by making exorbitant grants to private
persons, and the small quit rents that have been reserv'd, have
not been so punctually collected and accounted for, as they
ought to have been; the registers of such grants being very
imperfectly kept, and no due obedience paid to your Majesty's
Auditor of the Plantations. There are likewise other abuses
practised in the manner of taking up of lands, whereby ye
grantees preserve their claim whilst Yr. Majesty is defrauded
of your quit rents, ye lands remain uncultivated, and the
industry of the fair planter is discouraged. |
|
To prevent these abuses it may be necessary for your Majesty's
service, that the Governors of your Majesty's colonies on the
Continent, should, for the future, be restrained from making
grants without reservation of the usual quit rents to your
Majesty, and from making any grants exceeding 1000 acres
to any person in his own, or any other name in trust for him,
and that all grants hereafter to be made should be void, unless
the land granted, or at least two thirds thereof, be cultivated
within a certain term of years to be fixt for that purpose. |
|
That no person should be allow'd to hold any lands for which
a patent hath not been actually pass'd, either under the seal
of the respective Plantation, or the great Seal of this kingdom,
and that all persons petitioning, for the future, to take up
lands, should be obliged, upon allowance of such petition, to
pass a patent for the same within the space of six years, and
pay the usual duties due thereon to Yor. Majesty; in default
whereof the said allowance to be void and the lands to be
grantable to any other person. That an exact register be kept
of all grants already made or to be made, that the quit rents
arising therefrom be duly accounted for to your Majesty's
Auditor of the Plantations; and that likewise all mony whatsoever levy'd in your Majesty's name; in any of your Majesty's
Colonies be accounted for to the said Auditor; which we the
rather mention because some of the northern provinces (particularly that of New York) have of late refused to account with
your Majesty's Auditor, for monies raised by their Assemblies;
which is a practise detrimental to your Majesty's authority,
and tends to ye shaking of that dependency which they owe to
your Majesty and to their Mother Kingdom. The preservation
of the woods in America, which hath hitherto been much
neglected, is another particular of very great consequence to
your Majesty's service; in as much as the same might prove
an inexhaustible store for the Royal Navy of Great Britain.
And altho' several Parliaments have been so sensible of the
importance of this article, that laws have been made in England
for this purpose; yet the daily complaints from America are
a proof how ill these laws are executed, and how little regard
is paid to your Majesty's Commission and Instructions to Your
Surveyor General of the Woods; which is not so much to be
wondered at, considering the present Surveyor only acts by
Depty. no ways qualify'd for that employment, altho' so extensive a trust would require the constant attendance of a
capable and well experienced officer, and ought not to be left
to the management of a deputy. |
|
But the many inconveniencies that arise from the granting
of offices in the Plantations to persons acting by Deputy there,
may deserve your Majesty's animadversion; and we would
humbly propose that no offices in the Plantations may be
granted for the future without an express clause in each Patent
obliging the grantee to attend and discharge the duty of his
office in person. We beg leave further to observe that the
laws at present in force for the preservation of your Majesty's
woods, are very defective; for the exception therein made
whereby liberty is given for the cutting of timber growing
upon the lands of sevl. persons, hath given rise to many pretentions for destroying timber fit for the service of the Royal
Navy; wherefore we wou'd humbly propose that further
provision should be made, by act of Parliament in Great Britain
for ascertaining your Majtys. right to the woods and the
boundaries thereof. But the most effectual way to put in
execution what we have already offered upon this subject to
your Majesty's consideration, and to render the several provinces
on the Continent of America, from Nova Scotia to South
Carolina, mutually subservient to each other's support, will
be to put the whole under the Government of one Lord Lieut.
or Captain General, from whom all other Governors of particular
provinces should receive their orders in all cases for your
Majesty's service, and cease to have any command respectively
in such province where the said Captain General shall at any
time reside; as is at present practised in the Leewd. Islands,
where each island has a particular Govr., but one General over
the whole. The said Captain General should constantly be
attended by two or more Councillors deputed from each plantation, he should have a fixed salary sufficient to support the
dignity of so important an employment, independent of the
pleasure of the inhabitants; and in our humble opinion, ought
to be a person of good fortune, distinction and experience.
By this means a general contribution of men or mony may be
raised, upon the several colonies in proportion to their respective
abilities; and the utility of this proposal is so evident, that
we shall not trouble your Majesty with any further reasons to
inforce the same; but in case your Majesty should be graciously
pleased to approve thereof, we shall take a further opportunity
of explaining in what manner it may best be executed. But
we humbly crave leave to inform your Majesty, that it will be
further necessary for your service that whoever presides at
this Board, may be particularly and distinctly charged with
your Majesty's immediate orders in the dispatch of all matters
relating to the Plantations, in such manner as the first Commissioner of the Treasury and Admiralty do now receive and
execute your Majesty's Commands, with whom the said Captain
General, and all other Governors of your Majesty's Plantations,
may correspond. We the rather mention this, because ye
present method of despatching business relating to the Plantations, is lyable to much delay and confusion; in as much as
there are at present no less than three different ways of proceeding
herein, that is to say, by immediate application to
your Majesty, by one of your Secretaries of State; by petition
to your Majesty in Council, and by representation to your
Majesty from this Board; from whence it happens that no
one office is thro'ly informed of all matters relating to the
Plantations, and sometimes orders are obtained, by surprize,
disadvantagious to your Majesty's service; whereas if the
business of the Plantations were wholly confined to one office,
those inconveniencies would be thereby avoided. |
|
Printed, N.Y. Col. Doc. V. 591–630; and Mich. Pioneer
Soc. Coll. xix 1–13; and, in part relating to Carolina, N.C. Col.
Rec. II. 418–425; and, in part relating to New Jersey, N.J.
Archives, 1st Ser. V. 20. Signed, M. Bladen, E. Ashe, J.
Chetwynd, P. Docminique. [C.O. 324, 10. pp. 296–431;
and (draft of above report upon Pennsylvania, 3¾ pp.), 5, 1266.
ff. 15, 16.] |
Sept. 8.
Whitehall. |
657. Council of Trade and Plantations to Lord Townshend.
In reply to Aug. 21st, enclose following. Annexed, |
|
657. i. Same to the King. This Board has always been of
opinion, that nothing can be of greater importance
to your Majesty's service than ye matter which your
Majesty is now pleased to refer to them etc. Refer
to reports on importation of Naval Stores from the
Plantations. Continue: The latter end of 1718, the
Board did apply themselves particularly to this subject,
when being assisted therein by some of your Majesty's
servants from the Treasury, the Admiralty, the Customs
and Navy Board, as well as by the advice of the most
eminent traders in the several sorts of Naval Stores,
it was thought expedient that a Bill should be brought
into Parliament for taking off the duty on iron and
wood of all kinds imported from the Plantations, and
for continuing ye premium upon hemp for 16 years
beyond the time already fix'd by Act of Parliament;
and a bill for that purpose was brought into Parliamt.
accordingly, but some difference in opinion arising
about the importation of iron from the Plantations
in barrs the bill was dropt. But as we humbly
conceive that the said bill only of pigs and sows
instead of barrs in the particular of iron might greatly
contribute to encrease the importation of Naval Stores
of all kinds from your Majesty's Plantations, we would
humbly propose that a bill to the same effect may be
brought into Parliament the next Sessions. We are
also of opinion, that a clause should be added to the
said bill giving leave to import all kinds of mineral
oars unwrought from the Plantations to Great Britain
duty free. But whenever premiums or encouragements
are given for the importation of any commodity
from the Plantations, the same should be placed amongst
the enumerated species. |
|
657. ii. Copy of bill entituled an Act for giving further encouragement for importing Naval Stores, as passed ye House
of Commons and sent up to the Lords in 1713/19. [C.O.
324, 10. pp. 432–435.] |
Sept. 9.
Whitehall. |
658. Lord Carteret to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
H.M. having been pleased to appoint his Grace the Duke
of Portland to be Governor of Jamaica, you are to prepare
draughts of his Commission and Instructions for H.M. approbation etc. Signed, Carteret. Endorsed, Recd. 9th, Read 13th
Sept., 1721. ½ p. [C.O. 137, 14. ff. 32, 33v.] |
Sept. 9.
Whitehall. |
659. Same to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses following for their report. Signed, Carteret. Endorsed,
Recd. 9th, Read 13th Sept., 1721. ¾ p. Enclosed, |
|
659. i. Governor John Lord Belhaven to the King. By a
clause in his Commission Memorialist is impowered
to dispose of H.M. lands, not yet granted, at a moderate
quit-rent etc. But by the 88th article of his Instructions he is not to encourage any planting nor grant
any lands in any of H.M. Islands under his Government, untill he shall receive further orders from H.M.
Great improvements may be made in planting spices,
indigo etc. "and setling such other Islands within your
Memorialist's Government as are yet unplanted
particularly in the Island of Tobago to the increase
of the trade of yr. Maty.'s Plantations and for the
benefit of this Kingdom." Prays further orders for
encouraging the planting and granting lands and
tenements now in H.M. power to dispose of within
Memorialist's Government particularly in the Island
of Tobago etc. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 17. ff. 179, 180, 182v.] |
Sept. 10.
Boston, N. England. |
660. Governor Shute to Mr. Popple. Encloses Journal of
Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay begun May 31,
1721, etc. Concludes:—I shall take care that the fees for the
last Councellors for New Hampshire shall be paid into the Office
so soon as you let me know what they amount to. Signed,
Samll. Shute. Endorsed, Recd. 6th, Read 10th Nov. 1721. ¾ p.
Enclosed, |
|
660. i. Address of the House of Representatives to Governor
Shute, 30th Aug. 1721. Signed, John Clark, Speaker.
9¼ pp. |
|
660. ii. Reply of Governor Shute to preceding. 1st Sept.,
1721. ½ small p. |
|
660. iii. Speech of Governor Shute to the House of Representatives.(? Sept. 1721). 2 pp. |
|
660. iv. Reply of the Representatives to preceding. Sept.
1st, 1721. Signed, Elisha Cooke, Speaker pro tempore.
2¾ pp. |
|
660. v. Reply of Governor Shute to preceding. Sept. 5th,
1721. 1 small p. |
|
660. vi. Copy of Vote of Representatives, and message from
the Governor, Aug. 23, 1721. 1 small p. |
|
660. vii. Opinion as to the Governor's power of adjourning
the Assembly according to the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay. Signed, Robt. Auchmuty. 1¼ pp. |
|
660. viii. Act of the Massachusetts Bay for establishing the
form of the writ for calling a General Court etc. Copy.
1¾ pp. [C.O. 5, 868. ff. 130, 131v.–137, 139–142,
143, 145–146v., 148v.] |
