America and West Indies: September 1708

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 24, 1708-1709. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1922.

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'America and West Indies: September 1708', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 24, 1708-1709, (London, 1922) pp. 83-104. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol24/pp83-104 [accessed 19 March 2024]

September 1708

Sept 3rd.
Barbados.
126. Messrs. Sharpe, Walker and Beresford to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Upon the arrival of our present Governor, Mr. Crow, we had reason to believe from the foundation we had lay'd dureing the Presidency, the Factions and Partys that had so long and so unhappily divided us were well nigh over. Most men were inclinable to be quiet, and to agree upon a general amnesty for their former heats. But H.E. has from his first entering upon the Government been so far from endeavouring or proposeing an accommodation, that he has only added warmth and violence to our animositys by countenancing and cherishing sometimes one party, sometimes another, by turning in and out most of the chief officers of the Militia according to the humour of the party he happens to be embarqued with, by rejecting the advice and aid of the Council, by determineing causes himself cognizable only in H.M. established Courts, and by imprisoning and oppressing H.M. subjects contrary to Law. This his insufferable behaviour oblig'd us to draw up the inclos'd Representation, containing a few instances of his mismanagement out of a multitude we could produce, which we presented to himself in person, at the same time acquainting him, we were ready to justifie and prove the truth of every fact therein alledged, tho they were too notorious to need any confirmation. It's with the greatest concern, my Lords, we find ourselves under this indispensible necessity of transmitting complaints from a Colony that has already given your Honourable Board so much unnecessary trouble. We humbly assure your Lordships that nothing but the just sense we have of our duty to H.M. and the good of our Cuntrey could ever have engaged us in so unnecessary and troublesome a procedure, and if the free and impartial advice we took the liberty to give H.E., both in and out of Council, could have prevailed with him to alter his measures, or if there were any prospect of his being made sensible of his errors, we should not have disturbed your Lordships on this occasion. We could not but foresee from the arbitraryness of his temper that the presenting him such a free censure of his behaviour, would provoke him to remove us from the Board, and misrepresent us to your Lordships, but our duty constrain'd us to that course. We have done what we thought was incumbent upon us etc. Signed, Wm. Sharpe, Alexander Walker, Saml. Beresford.
P.S. Sept. 6. Since we deliver'd the inclosed Representation to H.E., he has conven'd the Assembly, and very ungenerously given them an imperfect abstract of some parts thereof, on which without the least proof or any farther enquiry, they have come to several very violent and scandalous resolves against us, by which your Lordships will please to observe both the temper of the Gentlemen, and the mutual combination there is betwen them to oppress all those that are inclinable to enter into fairer and more honourable termes than themselves, and tho' several members of the Assembly moved that the whole Representation shou'd be layd before them, before they proceeded to pass scandalous votes and Addresses against the Members of H.M. Council, whose oaths and duty oblige them to advise the Governour, but they were so far from consenting to so reasonable a motion, that they even refus'd to let a minute thereof be entred in their Books, contrary to the constant rules and practice of that House. The Addresses were brought by the Speaker ready drawn into their House, as by the minutes of ye Assembly will appear, put to the vote and carryd by a majority without suffering any previous question to be put, tho often prest by several of the Members; we have not yet been able to get a coppy of the Address, and the Fleet being just now ready to sayl, your Lordships can expect no observations on it by this opportunity. We are, my Lords, very far from opposeing any acknowledgements to those noble persons to whom the presents given by the Assembly are said to be design'd, but what it is, my Lords, that we think we have very great reason to resent, is that they shoud dispose of the publick money without our approbation and privity. Signed, Wm. Sharpe, Alexander Walker, Sam. Beresford. Endorsed, Recd. 17th, Read 19th Nov. 1708. 5 pp. Enclosed,
126. i. Representation by Messrs. Sharpe, Walker and Bereford to Governor Crowe. Barbados, Aug. 27, 1708. H.M. having been pleas'd to appoint us, the underwritten, Members of the Council here, we had reason to hope your Excellency would, in these times of general dissatisfaction have called us together as such, that we might have discharg'd our dutys in that station by giveing your Excellency faithful and wholesome advice; But since your Excellency has adjourn'd the usual monthly meetings of that Board without our knowledge, and yet at the same time suffer'd ye Assembly to meet and act without us, contrary to ye practice and end of Legislatures, we think ourselves oblig'd to make this Representation, least by our unwarrantable silence at this juncture we should be thought to approve your Excellency's unhappy measures. And first we represent to your Excellency, that it is the undoubted right of H.M. Council here, in conjunction with your Excellency, to determine all writts of error, grievances and equitable causes, that they are an essential part of the Legislature, and ought to be advised and consulted with by your Excellency undoubtedly in the disposal of all Civil Offices, and in prudence at a General's first arrival in ye Military, and generally in all things which concern the legal and orderly administration of ye Government; for which ends chiefly H.M. and her Royal Predecessors have thought fit to establish a Council here. (2) That your Excellency, in permitting ye Assembly to meet and act when you adjourned the Council, and to proceed without us to appoint persons in England to sollicit the affairs of this Island, has, as far as in you lay, debarr'd and excluded the Council from that right, and this disuse of Councils, since H.M. gracious restoration of some of us, whom your Excellency had displaced, is ye more remarkable, if compar'd with ye frequent meetings of that Board when ye same mostly consisted of Members appointed by yourself. Your adjourning the Council has been already attended with this dangerous consequence, yt. the traders to this place are allarm'd with the dreadful apprehensions of another Paper Act. (3) Your Excellency has taken upon yourself out of Court to set aside Orders solemnly resolv'd and made in the Court of Chancery; as in ye case of Mr. Mannasses Gillingham, and Butler his wife, formerly Butler Chamberlain, who appealing from a decree of ye Court in a suit for several negro slaves; the Order of ye Court was, that warrants of appraisment should issue to discreet persons to appraise the negroes, and yt. if their value amounted to £500, an appeal should be granted. The said warrants did issue and ye negros were by gentlemen of ye most considerable estates in the parish valued at £500 and upwards, notwithstanding which your Excellency, alone and out of ye Court of Chancery, did set aside ye said appraisment, and deny Gillingham his appeal. This appears more arbitrary and illegall, when we consider yt. in a case of Mr. Bate's which came before your Excellency and Council, a day or two before, you declared your opinion that an appraisment once made could not be set aside; and what makes the proceedings of your Excellency in this case yet more partial and unjustifiable is, that your Excellency, who was party complainant in this very suit against Mr. Gillingham and his wife, had yourself decreed for yourself against them, and yet took this way contrary to your own declared opinion to deprive them of an appeal to H.M. from your judgment in your own favour. (6 (sic)) Your Excellency has assum'd to yourself a power of acting in some cases as sole Chancellor, and in others as you, in conjunction with the Council, are a Chancery, and this in one and ye same day, and sitting the same Court, as in ye case of Shetterden against Lyte upon a demurrer. The Court then consisted of your Excellency, and five Members of ye Council; ye Court was equally divided; and yet your Excellency, whose vote made the Division equal, as sole Chancellor gave judgment against the demurrer, and order'd the demurrer to be overul'd. Immediately after, a Cause comeing on, in which one of the said Members, Mr. Colleton was a party, he of course arose from the Board, and then there being only four Members with your Excellency, whereas ye practice of that Court requires five and the Governour, your Excellency put off ye hearing ye same, declareing there was no Court for that Cause; so yt. your Excellency in one and ye same day has declar'd yourself Chancellor, and not Chancellor. What fatal consequences may we not expect from inconsistency and uncertainty in so high a Court? (7) Your Excellency has as a Chancellor kept one Cuthbert Mitford in prison above one year by vertue of a ne exeat insulam, altho' he has fully answer'd and deny'd upon oath the suggestions of ye Bill brought against him, and no proceedings but dilatory motions for renewing Commissions have been on the plaintiff's part in the said cause; and what makes this yet a higher violation of ye subjects' liberty is, that you are yourself party complainant in ye said Cause. Your Excellency has not only innovated in the Chancery; but haveing rented ye office of your private Clerk or Secretary for an excessive annual summe, which the legal ffees could not raise, two methods have been fal'n upon to effect it; exacting ffees from Plaintiff and Defendant, and takeing cognizance, by way of petition, of matters cognizable alone in H.M. Courts of Law or Equity; as in ye case of Mr. Somers, where ye matter in dispute was a promisary note, which your Excellency commanded should be paid on pain of imprisonment; in ye case of Bampfield and Waterman, where you order'd several negro slaves to be surrender'd on ye same pain. Your Excellency cant but be sensible many more instances then these can be given, where you have taken upon you at your own House by way of petition, to give judgment in cases of debt and other cases of meum and tuum, all wch. we protest against as illegal infringments of our right as Englishmen, who as such have not only a right to justice, but also to the establisht legal method of distributeing it. That when your Excellency has by way of petition call'd up H.M. subjects from all parts of ye Island, the very defendants are oblig'd to pay for ye dismissions of ye petitions against them, and this when, on the very face of ye petitions it appears even to yourself that you have no cognizance of them. (8) In order to encrease ye busines of your private office, you have assum'd to yourself ye power of putting a stop to proceedings at Common Law, upon executions after judgment upon the bare suggestions of ye party in his petition, as in ye case of Mr. Walter against Mr Gibbes. Your Excellency, on ye petition of Mr. Gibbes, stopt ye proceedings of the Marshal upon the execution, without any proof of any irregularity, and, which is more grievous, upon hearing the said petition, altho the Marshal produced the Records, whereby it appear'd he had acted according to law; yet your Excellency continued ye stay of proceedings, which Mr. Walter's Attorneys appealing from to ye Court of Grievances holden by your Excellency and Council, your Excellency was so conscious of haveing acted arbitrarily in this matter, yt. without any farther proof on either side then what was before you on your private hearing the same, you took off ye stay of proceedings, alledging it had another face when formerly before you, tho James Cowse Esq., Counsel at Law, to whom you appeal'd, declared to your Excellency it appear'd alike on both hearings. (9) Your Excellency has not only assum'd to yourself this power in ye case of private persons, but also where ye Queen has been party, by which means the casual Revenue may be very much impair'd; as in ye case of Mr. Arnold and Mr. Grey; against whom a considerable recovery was had upon the behalf of H.M. in ye Court of Exchequer, but when ye Marshall went to levy for satisfaction of ye same, he was stopt by yr. Excellency's order, and this too after it had been publickly discourst yt. ye negroes of one of those gentlemen had done your Excellency considerable service in your plantation. (10) Mr. Walters haveing made a recovery which affected the estate late Mr. Farmer's, was proceeding to obtein satisfaction, when he was stopt by your Excellency's order on the bare suggestions of Mrs. Herbert in her petition, yt. she claimed dowre out of ye said estate. This stop lasted some time, and then the party dismist her own petition, which was all ye relief Mr. Walter could obtein for that unjust delay. If any man is aggriev'd by any error in ye Courts below, our Laws give him a writt of error; If any man has equitable matter for his relief, ye Court of Chancery gives him an Injunction; in these cases ye recovery is well secured, and ye party griev'd will have his costs; But in this new way your, Excellency has found out, you take upon you to stop proceedings without secureing the recovery. You harass ye Queen's subjects by calling them before you from all parts on suggestions of facts, which, if true, cannot be determined by you; and when at last after all their attendance and expence they can procure a dismission, they must themselves pay ye fees for it, and yet your Excellency can give them no cost. (11) As ye establishment of this petitioning Court in the manner above is wholly new, so in the establisht Courts of Justice, your Excellency has taken upon you to innovate; when your Excellency was pleas'd to sit as Chief Judg of ye Court of Grand Sessions, immediately after your arrival; a Bill of Indictment haveing been preferr'd to ye Grand Jury at ye Queen's suit against Mr. Sandford, wherein Mr. Cox was prosecutor in behalf of H.M., when the Attorney General desired the prosecutor might be sworn to give evidence to ye Grand Jury; your Excellency, tho ye same be according to law, deny'd it, and at ye same time was pleas'd with a great deal of good nature without any mocion by ye prisoner, to call for his evidences, and order them all to be sworn to give evidence to ye Grand Inquest on ye prisoner's behalf. (12) Your Excellency has in ye Courts of Chancery, Error and Grievances brought the impartiality of your judgment very much in question by accepting considerable presents from persons haveing suits depending in those Courts; as in ye case of Mr. Slingsby and others. (13) Your Excellency has obtein'd the summe of £500 to provide yourself another house; notwithstanding which your Excellency and family have still had your constant residence in the same, under a rent paid by ye publick, over and above ye said summe. (14) Your Excellency in the capacity of Ordinary has taken upon yourself to imprison H.M. subjects for supposed comtempts in not obeying illegal and arbitrary orders made by your Excellency as Ordinary; and that too in cases where such orders have never been served upon the party committed for breach of them; and when the prisoner has with great difficulty obtain'd to be bail'd on such committment, upon entering into security to appear at ye next Court of oyer and Terminer; your Excellency, conscious of the illegality of such your committment, has not only without ye applycation of the prisoner, but even contrary to his earnest desires, order'd a nolle prosequi to be enter'd, as in the case of Mr. Buckworth, sole Judg of H.M. Court of Admiralty here. (15) Your Excellency has also imprison'd H.M. subjects for supposed contempts of your extrajudicial orders, and has kept them in prison several weeks without bail or mainprize, till they have been necessitated to lay down offices of considerable yearly value thereby giveing your Excellency an opportunity of conferring them upon your own creatures, as in ye case of Mr. Small. (16) Your Excellency has taken upon you to impose new, arbitrary, and illegal oaths, extrajudicially upon H.M. subjects, threatning them with imprisonment in case of refusal; as in ye case of Mr. Godfrey, whose wife discovering a jealousy of him to your Excellency, you thereupon, without any proof, obliged him to swear never more to speak to ye party suspected; and to Mr. Baron, upon a suspicion you had of your secrets being discover'd, you administer'd a general oath to answere all such questions as you should ask, without limitation to any subject matter. This we cannot but look upon as a sort of Inquisition, and as one of ye greatest infringments of the English Libertys. (17) Your Excellency has greatly discourag'd trade in threatning to seize merchant ships, and sending persons on board for that end without any cause, as you tacitly confest by proceeding no farther on such occasion; as in ye case of the Royal Affrican Company's ship, the Sherborough. (18) You have also oblig'd all masters of ships to have their petitions to you for leave to sail drawn by your own Clerk, even in cases when they have already had them drawn by others, so yt. they have doubly paid for the same, which is a heavy burthen upon trade, of which ye Masters of the several ships now bound out are so many instances, and of which they make just and heavy complaints, as contrary to a solemn Order of Council made on the like occasion. (19) Your Excellency is very much lessen'd in the esteem of H.M. good subjects by several times solemnly and publickly denying you ever design'd Mr. Cleland for Lt. Governour of this place, when he as publickly gives out and shews your Excellency's letter assureing him of the same; wch. if you were not sensible was true, it might be reasonably presumed you would have called him to a legal account for the same. (20) Your Excellency, at a time when the Publick was in great want of money, and the inhabitants unable to pay a tax, did by frequent adjournments and other methods prevent ye passing of the Excise Bill the last Assembly till their time expired; and before ye present Assembly could meet and prepare another Bill for that purpose, great quantitys of exciseable liquors were imported, by which the Publick lost a considerable summe. (21) Your Excellency has made so many suddain and unaccountable alterations in the Militia, yt. many of our best men are unemploy'd, and for no other apparent reason, then their not being of the prevailing party; whereas your Excellency can't but be sensible, yt. ye way to quell our factions, and so put an end to our divisions, would be to prefer all men of merit indifferently, without any regard to a party; that H.M. subjects may find virtue, and not listing themselves under this or that leader, the best way to preferment. (22) Your Excellency has given a Brigadeer's, and a Cheif Judge's Commission to two Gentlemen after you had declared one of them a hot-headed fellow, fit only to breed disturbance; and ye other a beggarly fellow, more in debt then he was worth. If these were not your Excellency's real sentiments of these Gentlemen, you did them ye highest injustice in representing them under such disadvantageous characters, and gave all men too just grounds to believe, you would have but little regard to your Instructions, when any prevailing passion came in competition; and if your Excellency was of opinion they deserv'd ye character you gave them, then we leave your Excellency to consider, whether in disposeing these posts, you have well discharg'd ye trust reposed in you by H.M. But we cannot forbear telling your Excellency, your illegal dispensing with ye Law in Mr. Holder's case had subjected you to ye complaints of the Assembly, who like faithfull patriots were about representing your illegal proceedings to H.M.; to prevent which you were contented to prostitute ye dignity of ye Government, and to sacrifice the publick good to your private safety. Sr., we think it our duty to lay this representation before you; we design farther to send ye same home to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. In ye mean time, your Excellency will please to make such use of it as you see proper. P.S. Sept. 1st. The foregoing representation is what wee had prepared to lay before your Excellency in Council yesterday, being Council day of course, but we were prevented from doing it by your summoning ye Council to meet the day before, and even then adjourning the same for a month, as soon as you had sworn Mr. Pilgrim a Member of that Board, without affording us time to enter on ye consideration of ye publick affairs. We were then very much surprized at this proceedure, but are more so this day, when we find your Excellency has permitted the Assembly to meet and prepare Addresses to H.M. of very great concern to the Publick without giveing us an opportunity of declareing our approbation or dislike of the same. We are sensible this is intended to affront the Council, and represent the same as insignificant and useless in H.M. Government. But our surprize did not end here. We find you have not only put this slight upon us, but have also permitted the Assembly yesterday to dispose of ye publick mony in presents to private persons without our consent or priority. This we can't but look upon as an assuming the Legislature solely to themselves, contrary to H.M. Instructions. Wee are sorry we should be forc'd to lay before your Excellency here and the Council of Trade and Plantations at home, so many miscarriages in the management of the publick affairs. But we are sensible it is what our duty obliges us to, and therefore needs no apology. Signed, Wm. Sharpe, Alexander Walker, Saml. Beresford. Endorsed, Recd. 17th, Read 19th Nov. 1708. 5¾ pp. [C.O. 28, 11. Nos. 22, 22. i.; and 28, 38. Nos. 73, 73. i.; and (without enclosure) 29, 11. pp. 313–318; and (enclosure only) 319, 1. pp. 93–101.]
Sept. 4.
Windsor.
127. The Queen to Governor Parke. Whereas in compassion to the distrest estate of our subjects in Nevis and St. Christophers, whom the depredations of the enemy and a late hurricane have almost reduced to ye utmost extremity, We have been graciously pleased out of our Royal Bounty to order a supply of provisions of beef, pork and flower, as also 50 barrels of nailes of several sorts, together with bolts and hinges for the building their houses to be sent to them, and that the same should be consigned to you. Our further will and pleasure is, and We do hereby strictly charge and command you that, as soon as you shall have received the said provisions, nails and other things abovementioned, you distribute the same, or cause them to be distributed by the Lieutenant Governors of our said Islands to the inhabitants thereof in proportion to their wants. In the doing of which you, or our said Lieut. Governors in your absence, are to take ye advice of our Council and Assembly in each of ye said Islands respectively to the end the said distribution may be performed in the most just and equal manner possible, and no part of our said bounty may be embezeled or misapplyed, but that our charitable purpose and intention in this behalf may be effectually complyed with, which wee earnestly recommend to your care, and shall expect from you a particular account of your proceedings herein. And for so doing, this shall be your warrant, etc. Countersigned, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. p. 115.]
Sept. 5.
Windsor.
128. The Earl of Sunderland to Governor Lord Lovelace. Having a very good character given me of Mr. John Riggs, a Lieutenant of one of the Independant Companys in New York, I take the liberty to recommend him to your Lordsp's. protection. Your favour to him in any occasion that may offer for his advantage will particularly oblige, my Lord, etc. Signed, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. p. 116]
Sept. 6.
Barbados.
129. Governor Crowe to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Refers to enclosed duplicate of his last letters and papers. Messrs. Sharp, Walker and Beresford has lately deliver'd me one of a very extraordinary nature, wch. I have not had time to answere by reason of the great hurry I have been in on the ffleet's sailing, they tell me they will lay the same before yr. Lordshipps, where I hope it will make no impression till the next oppertunity, when I shall vindicate myselfe, so as I hope will be approv'd off by your Lordshipps. I humbly recommend the Generall Assembly's inclos'd Address to your consideration. Signed, M. Crowe. Endorsed, Recd. 16th, Read 19th Nov., 1708. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 11. No. 21; and 29, 11. pp. 311, 312.]
Sept 7.
Whitehall.
130. The Earl of Sunderland to Governor Parke. I send you enclosed H.M. Letter concerning the disposal of the provisions, nails etc., she is graciously pleased to send as Her Royall Bounty to the poor inhabitants of Nevis and St. Christophers (See Sept. 4), by which you will observe that H.M. is very earnest to have the same equally distributed and duely applyed in which H.M. is the more pressing because of a surmise that the provisions wch. were sent on board two ships that arrived in those parts some time since were not so regularly disposed of as they might have been, but I hope you will take such care of those which are now sent as may prevent any complaints of this kind for the future. Signed, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. p. 119.]
Sept. 7.
Maryland.
131. Governor Seymour to the Council of Trade and Plantations. This serves to accompany the Laws and severall Journalls now transmitted your Honble. Board by Commodore Huntington, and to acquaint you, that on June 14, and not before, I had the honour of your Lordshipps' commands in your letter of May 7, 1707. Wherein your Lordships were pleased to signify, that an Act of Parliament had past in England for the Union of H.M. two Kingdoms of England and Scotland into one by the name of Greate Britain. Whereupon, with the advice of H.M. Councill here, I issued a Proclamation to the severall Countys of this Province for proclayming the same: And at this place, being the seate of Government, on July 18, having ordered severall troops of the Militia to review, and invited the best of H.M. subjects here to the handsomest entertainment the country would admitt me to make them, we proclamed H.M. Queen of Great Brittain, the Act of Union being read on the Courthouse Hill, after which H.M., H.R H. and many other good loyall Healths were dranke, and the gunns on our plattforme, as well as those of the ships in the Severne River here, discharged, to the great joy and pleasure of H.M. subjects. I had likewise presented to me four severall letters under H.M. signett and sign manuall, commanding me to admitt and swear of H.M. Councill here, four Gentlemen, to witt, Col. John Contee, Mr. Seth Biggs, Mr. Samuel Young, and Col. Thomas Greenfeild. Coll. Contee and Mr. Samuel Young had been sworne some little time before, for want of Councellors, being under the number of 9, and on Aug. 16 Col. Greenfeild was admitted and sworne, and at the same time, with the advice of the fullest Board I could procure, I was obliged to sweare Mr. Philip Lynes, whom I have heretofore mentioned to your Lordships, for want of Councellours; Col. Contee and Mr. Biggs being both dead since H.M. appointment, and Col. Francis Jenkins, who is now President at the Boarde, being very ancient, often indisposed, and residing at so vast a distance, to witt, the extream parts of Somersett County, on the other side of the Bay, that I can never gett him on any emergency till the Councill is over; Wherefore to compleate the number of Counsellours, there being only 8 resident; here besides Mr. Lynes, I humbly present to your Lordshipps the names of four Gentlemen of good reputation, integrity and ability, that is to say, the said Mr. Phillip Lynes, Col. Thomas Addison, Mr. John Hall and Col. William Whitington, if you please to recommend them to H.M. for her appointment. Your Lordships' letter of Dec. 30, 1707, with H.M. circular letter, requiring the Counsellours in the Plantations diligently to attend H.M. service in the respective Councills, of which they are Members, were read in Councill, and H.M. said letter recorded in the Journall thereof. As for your Lordships' letter of March 6 you mentioned, I have not had the good fortune to receive it, but am to acknowledge the receipt of H.M. Order in Councill of Aprill 1st, 1708, declaring 2 Acts of the Generall Assembly of this province to be repealed, etc., which were read at the Board and publique notice given of the said Laws being repealed. And Sir Symon Harcourt's report concerning Sir Thomas Larance etc., with H.M. Order thereon, being read to H.M. Councill here, wee have resolved to recommend it to the next Generall Assembly with the most pressing arguments and motives we can use to perswade them to comply with H.M. Royall pleasure. And for your Lordships' truer information of the value of those lycences; in obedience to your commands, I have procured the best account I could, and have inquired into their reall value, on which occasion I had the advice of the greatest traders here, and especially Mr. Amos Garrett, who is one of Sir T. Laurence's Agents, and am informed that Sir Thomas's calculation is soe extravagant, that it is almost two thirds more than what they truely amount to, the said Mr. Garrett and others not valuing them at more than 5 per cent., and their reasons are that the sallary of receiving to the Sherriff is 10 per cent., that the tobacco lyes stragling and dispersed in the severall Countys, not being on execution, and many times slender securitys taken for the payment of those fines, most of such who keep ordinarys very poore persons, who take up the trade, and the Justices are willing to encourage them, to keep them off the County charge. My Lords, observing the Roman Catholicks in this province discourse of the late designed invasion by the pretended Prince of Wales, and were listning after the success, I thought it might not be amiss, with the advice of the Councill, to take the number of them in the severall Countys, that I might compute their ability in case any misfortune should befall us, which God forbid, and have inclosed the said lists for your Lordships' consideration, for I am satisfied those people have an illegall correspondance somewhere, they having reported the raising the seige of Toulon some months, and the invasion of the Pretender severall weeks, before we could have any intimation thereof. My Lords, it might still continue prejudiciall to H.M. service should I omitt to acquaint your Lordps. how ill the trade here have been treated in respect to the incertainty of the sayling of the present convoy, of which I had not the least intimation from Commordore Huntington, untill the latter end of August, and then was forced to dispatch boate and hands to Virginia to obtain that satisfaction. And altho' Capt. Gore in H.M.S. Bristoll, has layne in Patuxent some months within 50 miles of this place; I have neither seen nor heard from him. I hope your Lordships will remember my severall applications concerning the encouragement given in North Carolina to H.M. subjects here to disert this her more profitable province, which is still carryed on to a very high degree. All which I submitt to your Lordships' wise consideration, etc. Signed, Jo Seymour. Endorsed, Recd. 9th, Read 17th Dec., 1708. 6 pp Enclosed,
131. i. Copy of Address from the Lt. Governor and Council of Maryland to the Queen. Congratulate H.M. on failure of the attempted invasion by the Popish Pretender, equipt by the French King. Endorsed as preceding. 1 p.
131. ii. Account of the Ordinary licences granted in Maryland Oct. 1703–1707. Total, 101, 600lb. tobacco,—at 5 p.c. in money for four years, £254. etc. Names given of some 70 keepers of ordinaries during those years. Same endorsement. 2 pp.
131. iii. List of Papists inhabiting the several Counties of Maryland, 1708. Total, 2974. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 716. Nos. 56, 56. i.–iii.; and (without enclosures) 5, 727. pp. 99–106.]
Sept. 9.
Southwark.
132. Mr. Cox to Mr. Popple. Governor Crow having surrendred ye Navall Office to my brother Samuel Cox, I desire leave to withdraw my petition. Signed, Charles Cox. Endorsed, Recd. Sept. 9, Read Oct. 26, 1708. Addressed. Postmark. ½ p. [C.O. 28, 11. No. 27; and 29, 11. p. 306.]
Sept. 11
Windsor.
133. H.M. Warrant granting Richard Rigby, Provost Marshal of Jamaica, 3 years leave of absence, on his appointing a Deputy etc. Addressed to Governor Handasyd. Countersigned, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. pp. 116, 117.]
Sept. 14.
Whitehall.
134. The Earl of Sunderland to the Council of Trade and Plantations. What is proposed in the inclosed petition seems to be so advantagious to our trade, that H.M. thinks it deserves your serious consideration, and desires your opinion what be proper for H.M. to do therein. Signed, Sunderland. Endorsed, Recd. Sept. 15, Read Oct. 25, 1708. 1 p. Enclosed,
134. i. Thomas Pindar, of London, merchant, to the Queen. By incouragement of your Majesties letter of Feb. 20, 1706/7, granted to petitioner in favour of Manasses Gilligan of Barbadoes, for promoting the trade with the Spanish West Indies, petitioner is now advised that, by the interest and influence of Gilligan, a considerable merchant of New Spain hath been at Barbadoes to purchase negroes, etc., and made offers of settling and promoting the Assiento Trade in that Island, and of importing thither for that end sufficient quantities of bullion and peices of eight, and that the same may meet with no interruption, he desires your Majesty will be pleased to grant passes for the ships imployed in that service. Prays for 4 passes accordingly. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 11. Nos. 15, 15. i.; and 29, 11. pp. 301–303.]
Sept. 16.
London.
135. Mr. Dummer to Mr. Popple. Gives sailings of the King William packet. Out and home 112 days. This pacquet boate brings from severall hands an account of the conduct of Admirall Wager and ye ill conduct of those Captns. which made up his verry litle squadron with which he attempted the Spanyards' fleet (14 saile of ships, 2 sloops and one brigantine), for which they have been tryed and found guilty of the breach of the 14 and 30 articles of warr. Signed, E. Dummer. Endorsed, Recd. Sept. 17th, 1708. Addressed. 1¾ pp. [C.O. 323, 6. No. 70.]
Sept. 20.
Windsor.
136. Order of Queen in Council. John Hallet is appointed to the Council of Barbados (cf. Aug. 18). A warrant is to be prepared accordingly. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed, Recd. 23rd, Read 25th Oct. 1708. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 28, 11. No. 14; and 29, 11. pp. 299, 300.]
Sept. 20.
Virginia.
137. Col. Jenings to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Having on June 24 given myself the honour of writing to your Lordships by H.M.S. Garland and at the same time sent a duplicate by a merchant ship of that fleet, I humbly beg leave to be referred to that letter, and the papers therewith sent, without giving your Lordships the trouble of repeating anything I then laid before you. I herewith send your Lordships the Journals of Councill from Oct. 15, 1706 to April 30, 1708, an abstract of which I sent in my last. There have been four meetings of the Councill since, chiefly intended for giving the necessary orders for hastening the merchant ships in their joining Capt. Stewart in June, and Commodore Huntington now, and for taking into consideration your Lordps.' commands signifyed in your severall letters; but the severe and extraordinary fevers and other sicknesses with which almost all parts of the country have been afflicted for near two moneths past, and under which several of the members of the Council at this time labour, hath hindered the answering those inquirys sent by your Lordps., as well as the reading the last proceedings of Council, so as to prepare them for your Lordships' view. After the departure of H.M.S. Garland, Commodore Huntington ordered out one of H.M. ships under his command to cruise: but that ship did not proceed on that service for some days after, having been obliged to go round to York River, to take in bread and provisions, during which time we had daily advices of the appearance of privateers on our coast, and after that man of war was out a cruising, one Capt. Tarleton of Leverpoole was chased from his anchors at the mouth of York River by a privateer sloop. Whereupon, at the Council held July 29, upon consideration of our danger, it was the unanimous opinion of the Council that, for securing this coast and trade against the privateers, it was necessary to have a fourth rate man of war, and a briganteen or sloop of about 8 or 10 guns, and proportionably mann'd; this latter to give chase to the privateer sloops in the shoal water, where by the report of all the Captains of the men of war that had been discoursed on that subject, it appeared very easy for such sloops to pass without coming within gun shott of a large ship. I have by this conveyance laid this matter before H.R.H. the Lord High Admiral, and I humbly beg your Lordships' favourable recommendation thereof, for it is demonstrable from the boldness of those privateers in coming within our Capes, even in sight of H.M. ships of war, that they place their chief confidence in the lightness of their vessells, and the impossibility of a large ship's following them among the shoals. I must on this head beg leave further to observe to your Lordships that the sloops which have been occasionally hyred here for the assistance of the men of war in that service have never answered the end proposed, for besides the almost impossibility of procuring a good sloop here fitt for such a design, the difficultys which the Captains of the men of war have pretended of dividing their men, and of sending out such sloops without their ships going in company, have made all the services intended by those sloops fruitless; so that they have only proved a charge on the Queen's Revenue, without any real advantage; and this consideration obliged the Council to advise the discharging the sloop impressed last summer, after she had been imployed and paid out of the Queen's revenue for six weeks, and yet in all that time not above five days out a cruising. I informed your Lordships in my last, that we were under some apprehensions from the Tuscoruro Indians, who had not complyed in delivering up some of their nation suspected of a murther committed last year in this Colony. In order to make them more yeilding in that particular it hath been thought fitt to prohibite all trade and commerce with them: this hath had some effect on them already, by obliging them to make overtures for an accommodation, and I am inform'd their coming in to complete it hath been only obstructed by the raging of a violent distemper amongst them for several weeks past. I thought it necessary to advise with the Councill, concerning the calling an Assembly, the chief occasion for which at this time is the raising an additional fund for finishing the Governor's house, the whole sum appropriated by Act of Assembly for that use being already expended, and yet the rooff not rais'd, nor any inside work done: I should have been glad to have had an Assembly for this purpose, but the majority of the Council thought it too great a charge to the Country to have an Assembly now, and another on the arrival of the Governor (he being daily expected and), by whom they thought it very probable H.M. would send such directions as might make the calling of an Assembly then of absolute necessity. Nor were they of opinion that either the danger of the Country from the privateers, or the apprehensions we were under from the Tuscoruro Indians, were sufficient grounds for calling an Assembly, the preventing of the first being a task too great for this Country to undertake, and the danger of the latter not so apparent, since there was hopes of an accommodation with those Indians. A nation of Indians called the Saponies, who were formerly tributarys to this Government, and removed Westward about 20 or 25 years agoe, have lately return'd and prayed to be received again into protection, and to have land assign'd them for a settlement, which by the advice of the Council I have granted them, in consideration of their being one of the Nations included in the Articles of Peace made with the Indians in 1677. Their number is not considerable, being only about 30 bowmen, but the character they have of being stout fellows, and withall very friendly to our inhabitants, makes me hope their Settlement (which is on the Maherine River) will be some kind of barrier against the Tuscoruros, or any other Indians that might be suspected to annoy us on that side, since they'l be able to advise us of their designs, soon enough to prevent both their and our danger. I have lately received H.M. warrant for paying unto Col. Hunter £1418 5 0 out of the Quitt-rents as a compensation for the loss of his equippage, and £500 per annum out of the same fund from July 1, 1707, till his arrival in this Colony; and pursuant to H.M. commands I have passed a warrant for the first, and another for one year's allowance ending July 1, 1708, both which sums will be remitted him by this conveyance: but that fund is so much drained by this and the former remittances into the Exchequer that I'm afraid the subsequent allowance (which is ordered to be paid quarterly) must be superseded till the next year, if he stays out so long. I hop'd to have sent your Lordps. the copys of the accounts of H.M. Revenues of quitt-rents, and 2/- per hogshead, but the unfortunate absence of the Council has hindered their being audited; so that I must beg your Lordps.' patience till after our Genll. Court, when I hope to have an opportunity of sending by some of the latter ships. I'm sorry to acquaint your Lordps. that there's but an indifferent prospect of a market for the quitt-rents this year, the want of shipping in the country in the winter time, casts a damp on the tobacco trade, and discourages purchasers when they are uncertain of the conveniency of sending it home; I'm perswaded that among the many advantages the trade might gain by the fleets coming in hither in the fall, and returning in the spring, H.M. quitt-rents would be considerably advanced by it. I am informed from North Carolina that there are very great commotions in that Governmt., occasioned principally by the Quakers, who after they had prevail'd with the Lords Proprietors to turn out the Deputy Governor, and give the Council (who were most of their perswasion) a power of chuseing their own President, made choice of one Mr. Glover, and because they did not find him for their turn, voted him out again. They have had the cunning to sett all that Country in a flame, and all but themselvs in arms against one another. It would be tedious to trouble your Lordships with an account of the proceedings of the several partys, which look liker the freaks of madmen than the actions of men of reason, there has already been one man unfortunately killed in the fray, and tho' 'tis said they are coming to an accomodation, yet by the best information I have, it is not like to end so. I thought it my duty to acquaint your Lordships of this, as it happens so nigh this H.M. Colony; tho' I hope it will have no ill consequences as to us. Signed, E. Jenings. Endorsed, Recd. 6th, Read 17th Dec., 1708. 3½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1316. No. 9; and 5, 1362. pp. 318–325.]
Sept 20.
Windsor.
138. Order of Queen in Council. Appointing Valentine Mumby a Member of Council of Jamaica. Warrant to be prepared accordingly. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed, Recd. 23rd, Read 25th Oct. 1708. 1½ pp. [C.O. 137, 8. No. 21; and 138, 12. pp. 329, 330.]
Sept. 20.
Windsor.
139. The Earl of Sunderland to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses following, "which you'll please to take into your consideration and to let me have your opinion what is fitting for H.M. to do therein." Signed, Sunderland. Endorsed, Recd. Sept. 24, Read Oct. 25, 1708. 1 p. Enclosed,
139. i. Francis Oldfield to the Council of Trade and Plantations. A native and constant inhabitant of Jamaica, having a considerable estate there, and for several years a member of Assembly, petitioner desires to be one of the Council, for which he is recommended by Governor Handasyd. Copy. ¾ p. [C.O. 137, 8. Nos. 22, 22. i.; and 138, 12. p. 331.]
Sept. 20.
Windsor.
140. Order of Queen in Council. Referring following to the Council of Trade and Plantations, who are to hear the Petitioner's Agent and make further report upon this matter to H.M in Council. In the meantime the Order in Council of Aug. 18 is to be suspended. Signed, Edward Southwell. Endorsed. Recd. Dec. 23, 1708, Read Jan. 3, 1709. 1¼ pp. Enclosed,
140. i. Alexander Skene to the Queen. Prays that the recent proceedings against him (July 8, Aug. 10, 1708) may be reviewed. Petitioner's Agent was not heard by the Council of Trade, etc. Copy. 1¾ pp. [C.O. 28, 11. Nos. 43, 43. i.; and 29, 11. pp. 363–366.]
Sept. 23.
Barbados.
141. Governor Crowe to the Council of Trade and Plantations This packet honours me with none of your Lordships' commands. Our Fleet sayled on the 7th. I have been since soe indisposed with a cold and feavour that I have not been able to finish the answer I am a making to Messrs. Sharp, Walker and Berresford's Paper (Sept. 3); your Lordships may depend thereon by next etc. Signed, M. Crowe. Endorsed, Recd. 20th, Read 24th Jan. 1708/9. 1 p. Enclosed,
141. i. Governor Crowe's Speech to the Assembly of Barbados, Sept. 4, 1708. Refers to following. I desire the Assembly will let me know whether there be any such general dissatisfaction in the country as these Gentlemen pretend, etc. ¾ p.
141. ii. Abstract of Messrs. Sharpe, Walker and Berresford's complaints. (see Sept. 3.) 1½ pp.
141. iii. Address of the Assembly to Governor Crowe. Reply to preceding. (1). The Assembly hath satt very often at times when the Council did not sit, to prepare laws. This Assembly hath never done otherwise, or pretended to pass any Act, to which they did not expect the concurrence of the Councill, as by their Minutes appears. (2) The Councill has satt as frequently in the time of your Excellency's Government as it usually did formerly, except since the arrivall of the London Fleet, etc. As to ye dredfull alarm, another Paper Bill, we know of no such alarm. It never was in our thoughts, etc. (3) In the time mentioned the Assembly passed two Excise Bills; the first after some conferences and delays made by the Councill was rejected by them because Agents for this Island were appointed in the sd. Bill, wch. the Councill refused to pass, alledging that the Agency was a matter forreign to the title of the Bill, upon wch. the Assembly passed a second Bill, wherein the Agency was named in the title, and sent it to the Councill, who after severall debates and delays did likewise reject that Bill, because the Assembly according to their former custom had named the Agents for this Island, so that these Gentlemen charge the delays and inconveniencies brought on this Island by others on your Excellency. (4) The Militia has not been so well setled these last four years as it is at present. (5) It is justifiable by the example of Parliaments and conventions of Representatives in other places, to petition H.M. separately or joyntly with others as they think fit. The Councill sat on Aug. 30. The Assembly sat the next day and resolved upon the sd. Address to H.M., of wch. we do not know that your Excellency had any foreknowledg. etc. (6) It is true that Assembly, according to the example of former Assemblies, did agree that the Treasurer should buy 15 doz. citron water, to be sent for presents to England, the Members declareing that if it should be refused to be allow'd to the Treasurer on his accompting, wch. is done by consent of the Council, they would reimburse it out of their own pockets. How this can be called a disposall of the public money etc., we do not understand, and it is most unjust to charge your Excellency for permitting us to vote it, since it was impossible for you to know what our votes would be etc. (7) Their appreciation of the general dissatisfaction of the Island arose in these Gentlemen only as soon as the Assembly had offered in an address to your Excellency, Tuesday last, to prove the corruption and bribery of Alexander Walker in promoting the late Paper Bills. There has not been so general a satisfaction and quiet in these Islands for four years. The principal grounds for dissatisfaction that remain are (1) The poverty and want of trade occasioned by the late paper bills, and the arbitrary governmt. of Sir B. Granville which has made several hundred of the inhabitants leave the Island. (2) That a full enquiry has not yet been made into the villanous design against Major Lillington and Col. Downs in laying treason to their charge and imprisoning them thereupon wth. other great hardships, and that the ministers and instruments of that villany are not yet punished, without wch. the inhabitants cannot hope to live in safety for the future. (3) That a full enquiry has not been made into the bribery and corruption by wch. the paper mony was forced upon us. (4) The deposit mony and other greivous extortions in the Register's Office of the Court of Chancery are not yet reformed. (5) That the simonaicall disposall of Church liveings in the time of Sir B. Granville, of wch. there is violent cause of suspicion, are not yet enquired into. etc. Sept. 4, 1708. Same endorsement. 3 pp.
141. iv. Minutes of Council of Barbados, Aug. 30, 1708. The Governor adjourned the Council to next day in course, owing to the sailing of the fleet, etc. Same endorsement. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 12. Nos. 1, 1. i.–iv.; and (without enclosures) 29, 11. pp. 383, 384.]
Sept 24.
Jamaica.
142. Governor Handasyd to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I am to own the receipt of your Lordships of May 14, June 25, and enclosures, etc. As to Mr. Whitchurch's allegagations sett forth in his petition, I do aver that the most part of them, (if not all) is false, and that in Sir W. Beeston's Government the land was escheated and the Negroes belonging to Worth Delamaine and this Negro woman, particularly named in the writ of enquiry, were by Mr. Whitchurch or some others kept out of the way, and were not be found, it being the common custom of people here to deprive the Queen of all they can: As to his setting forth that Mr. Puckle, his Attorney here, spoke to me in his behalfe, he never said one word to me of the matter, as his letter I have here enclosed will affirm, and as to the Chief Justice's opinion or the proceedings then of the Grand Court, I never do concern myselfe with them, but do always let the Law have its due course. It has been my constant study since I came into the Government to assist H.M. Treasury by all lawfull means, as ffines, fforfeitures and escheats, and there has been an account given by the Receiver Generall's Deputy here in the publick accompts he has sent to my Lord Godolphin of all escheats found for H.M., and the bonds given in by the persons to whom they were granted, made payable at the expiration of 3 years, if no heir appeared in that time. I writ to your Lops. about 4 or 5 years ago concerning escheats, and particularly of an escheat granted to one Parker, to which I had your Lops.' answer, and took it to be a very satisfactory one. I must confess I believe the Country is not very well satisfied at my diligence to see that they pay Quitt-rents to H.M. for the land they have in their possession, and obliging them to patent what they hold without title, which I am sure is above half a million of acres added to the Revenue, since I came into the Government. And notwithstanding this, H.M. Revenue here, if well paid, does not amount to within £2,000 per annum of the contingent charges, and the Assembly have never assisted the Treasury with one royall, altho severall times desired it, to help to discharge the debts of it. I have been under a necessity myselfe to give £200 per annum, Jamaica mony, out of my own pockett for private intelligence, that we may not be surprized by the French and Spaniards that surround us on every side, which I hope I shall be considered for, for in case I should bring any such charge here, I should be obliged to make known from whence I had my intelligence, which must infalliby be the ruine of the spys, they being under the subjection of the French. This I have formerly given an account of to your Lops. As to Mr. Peeke, whom your Lops. acquaint me H.M. has been pleased to appoint one of the Councill of this Island, I have no objections to him, but I am sorry my behaviour has been so indifferent, as that my recommendations should not be taken notice of, since it has always been thought that the Governors were the fittest judges, who were men most capable to serve the Queen and Country in the Councill, and not that the Jamaica merchants and ffactors should have the recommending them. Mr. Brodrick, whom your Lops. mention in yours, I have known here these 5 or 6 years to have behaved himself very justly to his Queen and Country; I likewise recommended Mr. Oldfield who is a very honest man, and a man of as good an estate as any in the country, but am mightily concerned that I have had no return. I writt to this purpose to my Lord Sunderland. I have lately had the misfortune to meet with many unexpected alterations, as the Privy Seal for restoring Mr. Barrow, who so basely affronted the Queen's authority, altho I had H.M. approbation as well as your Board's for what I had done in that case: this Privy Seal in relation to Mr. Rigby's escheat, without being heard what reasons I had to offer one way or the other: and severall other matters which I shall not here trouble your Lops. with. Mr. Totterdale, who has been a constant desturber in Assemblys and Grand Courts, did in fface of the last Grand Court, upon the triall of a criminall who was to be burnt in the hand, tell the Queen's Attorney Genll., when arguing law for the punishment of the criminall, that he did not know how soon it might be his turn to be whip'd at that place: As soon as I heard of it, I sent to the Court to have Mr. Totterdale suspended pleading, or bound over till there should be satisfaction made for the affront given to H.M. Officer, but have yet obtained neither, so that without some other method is taken to support the Queen's authority, I know not what will be the issue, for no man is in ffashion here, but he that will oppose it. Enclosed your Lops. will have a list of the ships that have arrived here from Guinea since June 25, 1698, with the number of Negroes imported by each vessell, as well permission ships and others as the Affrican Company's. I likewise send a list of all prizes brought in here, and condemn'd since July last till Sept. 20. And since that a French ship has been sent in by one of our privateers, which is not yet condemn'd, the same privateer took 3 or 4 more vessells, but burnt them, not being able to send them into Port. I have caused a brigantine to be seized for the Queen that was taken without a legal Commission, she will be tried in a few days, of which I shall give you an account in my next. I have received 40 recruits by this packett boat, and hope to have the remainder by the next. The Privy Seal for the return of Mr. Whitchurch's Negroes shall be duly comply'd with, notwithstanding Mr. Rigby has been at between £30 and 40 expence in the passing through the Courts and the severall Offices, wch. I shall reimburse him, and place to the back of my own acct. The Act of Parliament in relation to the coin and that of the Trade to America shall likewise be observed. By a ship lately arrived from Bristoll have received a Gazette that gives an account of our glorious victory in Flanders, which I shall cause to be put into Spanish, and send among the Spaniards. Our merchant ships consisting of 7 sail under convoy of 5 men of war will sail for Great Britain in two or three days, on board which will be in boullion better than £200,000 sterl., and therefore I hope a squadron will be ordered to meet them in the Soundings. The Island has been sickly this month past, but not attended with great mortality. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed, Recd. 25th, Read 26th Nov., Dec. 6th, 1708. 5 pp. Enclosed,
142. i. William Puckle to Governor Handasyd. I never applied to your Excellency in relation to Mr. Whitchurch's affairs, etc. Signed, Wm. Puckle. Endorsed, Recd. 25th Nov. 1708. Addressed. 1 p.
142. ii. List of prizes condemned in the Admiralty Court, Jamaica July-Sept., 1708. 5 Spanish, 2 French. Endorsed as preceding. 1 p.
142. iii. List of vessels arrived in Jamaica with negroes June 25, 1698–June 14, 1708. Totals: Negroes imported by the African Company—6854; by separate traders, 35718; importers not indicated, 1804. Grand total, 44,376. Same endorsement. 6 large pp. [C.O. 137, 8. Nos. 24, 24. i.–iii.; and (without enclosures) 138, 12. pp. 340–345.]
Sept. 24.
Jamaica.
143. Governor Handasyd to the Earl of Sunderland. Repeats preceding letter, and adds:—I received 40 recruits by this packett-boat, and hope to have the remainder by the next. I am favoured with your Lop.'s letter of Jan. 31 in behalfe of Capt. Virnon. I think he is very deserving, and I shall be proud of an opportunity of doing him all the service that lies in my power or any Gentleman your Lop. is pleased to recommend. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed, R. Nov. 25, 1708. 4¾ pp. [C.O. 137, 45. No. 90.]
Sept. 25.
Plantation Office, Whitehall.
144. W. Popple jr., to the Commissioners for stating the arrears due from King William. Salaries due to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, Michaelmas, 1700—March 8, 1702—£11, 574. 8. 4. Salaries due to the Secretary, Clerks, Doorkeepers etc. £1,022. 0. 3¼ . [C.O. 389, 36. pp. 368. a, b.]
Sept. 28.
Kensington.
145. H.M. Warrants, addressed to Governor Parke, appointing Wm. Thomas and Richard Oliver to the Council of Antego. Countersigned, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. p. 118.]
Sept 28.
Kensington.
146. H.M. Warrant, addressed to Governor Handasyd, appointing Valentine Mumby to the Council of Jamaica. Countersigned, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. p. 118.]
Sept 28.
Kensington.
147. H.M. Warrant, addressed to Governor Crowe, appointing John Hallet to the Council of Barbados. Countersigned, Sunderland. [C.O. 5, 210. p. 119.]
Sept. 29.
Antigua.
148. Governor Parke to Mr. Secretary Boyle. I did myselfe the honour to write soon after I heard you were principall Secretary of State to congratulate you; I write now to begg a favour which is onely common Justice. I hear there is one Mr. Nivine gone home to endeavour to gett me out of my government. He has, as I am informed, carryed home articles against me, but the Councill as well as myselfe are ignorant what they are. The favour I begg is, that I may have liberty to answer whatever is lay'd to my charge, before I am condemned. I am very sure they can alledge nothing against me will doe me an injury; it is noe wonder people of these Islands sends home Articles against theyr governours. I have been the longest without a complaint of any that ever was before me, nor doe I know any just cause they have now, except preventing theyr clandestine trade with the French and Dutch. If upon a full hearing, you thinke I deserve to be turned out, then lett me be used as I deserve, but if I have discharged my trust like an honest man, I hope I shall have your protection, etc. Signed, Daniel Parke. Endorsed, Recd. Jan. 19. 2 pp. [C.O. 152, 42. No. 9.]