America and West Indies: January 1720, 20-31

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 31, 1719-1720. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1933.

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'America and West Indies: January 1720, 20-31', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 31, 1719-1720, (London, 1933) pp. 311-323. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol31/pp311-323 [accessed 20 April 2024]

January 1720, 20-31

[Jan. 20.] 524. Money paid to Governor Lowther since his last being Governor. Duplicate of No. 513. iv. Add as much more private presents. Sundry sums paid the Island's Agents wholly imployed by R. L. on his private interest and spleen. (v. 3rd Feb.) Total, £4, 411. Endorsed, Recd. (from Mr. Thos. Tryon), Read 20th Jan., 1719/20. ¾ p. [C.O. 28, 15. No. 60.]
Jan. 21.
Whitehall.
525. Mr. Secretary Craggs to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Having received from a person on whose intelligence I very much rely an account of the present state of the Island of Providence, encloses following for their consideration and report, as also "from the same hand an account of great discontents in South Carolina, and of the steps made in that country for changing the Government there" etc. Signed, J. Craggs. Endorsed, Recd. 23rd, Read 26th Jan. 1719/20. 1 p. Enclosed,
525. i. Account of the present state of Providence. Nassau, 1719. The settlement now consists of those who have lately been a pyrating mixt with strolers and old inhabitants who are but few of them better and all in a poor condition making little use of industry to cultivate the land etc. This discourages all manner of trade, their money which was chiefly got by pyrating or by dealing with them is spent and the place become so very poor, that tho' they want almost everything, vessels begin to carry back their cargoes, so that all manner of trade hither must shortly come to nothing. Since the Governments being resetled in July 1718, the utmost application has been made to keep upon our guard and to preserve the place by fortifying it, the doing of which has prevented the inhabitants from cutting wood, racking salt, and taking the usual methods of getting money by wrecks etc. wch. has contributed very much toward their improvements and having few slaves and themselves generally very idle it is impossible these people should ever make this place considerable. At first of the Governours arrival, July—Sept. 1718, most of the Colony(s) round us gave us great encouragement that people of substance would leave them and come and settle here, but the frequent alarms of the Spaniards arming against us etc., and the pyrats robbing all round us and threatning to re-enter the place, with H.M. ships not coming near us, kept all our neighbours from venturing to settle here, and tho' we have with much charge to ye co-partners got a good fort and above 50 guns mounted, so that we may depend, if we can muster 250 men on withstanding any enemy that may atacque us, yet the poverty of the place and want of trade makes the inhabitants instead of encreasing as we expected, leave in almost every vessel that returns hence to the Colonys arround us, and from 400 men we are already decreased to less then two, and more yet talks of leaving then designes to stay so that all we expected to come hither are discouraged and our garrison being weak are not sufficient to hold this Settlement, and while the war with Spain holds we cannot expect any new comers, unless a considerable guarison be established here for the privateers that are always going and coming are no real strength to the place being so near our enemy they will never want notice when we are weakest to surprize this place, they having always men enough ready to over-power us. These discouragements added to ye present reputation of our Colonie which is at the lowest ebb, ye Governour not being able to subsist the guarison and his bills for subsistance are protested, this confirms the ill opinion all America has of Proprietory Governmt. which is still look'd on though the garrison belong to the King the Government is accounted to be shared with co-partners and all the lands and royalties wholly at their disposall which is in these parts liked much worse, by all men of sence and substance, than if it was again as formerly in the hands of Proprietors. This is a very great discouragement to the increase of inhabitants, but no encouragement will be sufficient during the war till a larger garrison is settled here. Two hundred men may be enough but if there was 250 or 300 men setled here it would be a vast advantage to all the trade of this part of America for the pyrates will when ever it is a peace shelter themselves among these islands, and on the coast of Cuber in the Gulph and Windward passage, and if such a garrison is setled here and the Governour have an order so to do he may at any time fit out sloops or a small cruiser that may lye here to be manned out of the garrison which would do more service then all the men of war in these parts to prevent pyracy. A strong garrison here will also be of vast service should we ever again have a war with France, the French growing very great in the Bay of Mexico and have taken Pensecola near the River Misicipi where the Spaniards but few months past put 500 men in garrison which plainly shews their design to keep a communication with Canada and trade with the Indians on the back of all our American settlements which if not curbed they will soon be capable to curb us and also the mines of Mexico unless we can obstruct their trade to and from the Bay of Mexico. Likewise at Hispaniola the French grow also very great, and a strong settlement here will be a very great obstruction to their trade, etc. Whilst these Islands are leased by the Co-partners in England the whole trade hither will be by them engrossed for their shipping, this bringing effects directly from England, they will afford them at lower rates then the merchts. can sell theirs which comes from other Plantations, consequently this will be a discouragement to other merchants in America who would otherwise come and settle or trade among us. Qy. if the Co-partners continue their rights here whether the Crown will be obliged to have any regard towards a further protection of this settlement etc. The alterations made by the Co-partners in the original Charter will occasion disputes, particularly the demands of the quit-rents to be paid in sterling money, and the obligation the people shall fall two third parts of their wood, within a limited time, appears a hardship. The accustomed provision for a Chief Justice a Minister and other Officers heretofore made by the Lords Proprietors out of the royalties but now not intended will be a very great burthen to the inhabitants etc. If the Crown, this Sessions of Parliamt., gives the Proprietors an allowance for their lands and royalties, and reimburse the Co-partners their expence, so that the whole may be at H.M. disposal as in other Colonies where H.M. has a garrison, and could there but be some advantages in trade, as usual to new Colonies allowed this, or could it be made a free port for 3 or 4 years people would soon flock here and make it very wealthy and strong, or the bear encouragement of importing the commodities of Hispaniola at a moderate duty for 3 or 4 years till sugar and indigo works can be brought to perfection here would also encourage people's coming hither, but all this depends on its being free from Co-partners whose agents here claim all the benefit of the lands and royalties and may ingross what they please or discourage who they please etc. If they pretend to hold the country on the foot they now have it it is almost impossible they can ever repay themselves, and the place will be deserted save for a few beggars and H.M. garrison etc. Same endorsement. Copy. 5½ pp.
525. ii. Extract of a letter from [?Gale. v. 29th Jan.] Charles Town, S. Carolina, to Mr. Secretary Craggs. 26th Oct. 1719. I came hither lately from Providence which is realy very pleasant and healthfull and in my opinion may flourish in time, but at present it is in so decaying a way that the few people in it are ill provided with the necessaries of life. I send you an account of it etc. (v. preceding). I believe that unless the garrison is reinforced to 2 or 300 men before they hear a peace is made with Spain, the inhabitants will sieze the fort and turn to their old trade of pyrating, for 10 in 12 have been pyrates and they are all in very mean condition. There came from Havanna to Providence about a fortnight ago a flag of truce, with some exchanged prisoners, who report that in June last there sail'd from the Havanna 4 men of war and 10 sloops, that had 1400 men on board, with which they intended to have taken South Carolina, but hearing that the French had taken Pensicola, that turned that expedition for the retaking of Pensicola, which they effected, but the French have taken it since, so that the apprehensions of the people here are over for the present. The prisoners that arrived at Providence reported for certain, that in the later end of Sept. last there arrived at Havanna an express to the Governor for ye Viceroy of Mexico to acquaint him, that he had orders from the King of Spain to raise 20,000 men in order to attempt the taking those English Plantations that formerly belonged to the Kings of Spain, and to direct the Governor of ye Havanna to raise what men he could in Cuba for that end. Same endorsement. Copy. 1 p.
525. iii. Extract of letter from [? Gale], Charles Town in South Carolina, 26th Oct., 1719 [? to Mr. Secretary Craggs]. This harbour of Charles Town is by nature capable of being made very strong, and they have outposts and fortifications here, that if these guns were mounted would make it very difficult for the Spaniards with 5000 men to take the place, but the Government here is so indolent that notwithstanding the apprehensions they have been under, they are in a most miserable condition to defend themselves, insomuch that the people are very uneasy at the indolence, nay they call it the negligence of the Government. Endorsed, Recd. 23rd, Read 26th Jan. 1719/20. ¼ p.
525. iv. Extract of letter from [? Gale] Charles Town in South Carolina, 14th Nov., 1719 [? to Mr. Secretary Craggs]. Though this is not the King's Government yet from the acquaintance I know you have with Lord Carteret who is chief of the Proprietors, I think it my duty to lay before you the present state of this Colony. The inhabitants of this country are generally planters, merchants and shopkeepers and most of them in very good circumstances, and the Proprietors in England by some late directions they have sent here, for repealing a law that had passed here, have made all or most of the landed men very uneasy, insomuch that I apprehend from the general uneasiness among them, that they will endeavour to make themselves independent of the Proprietors and to get themselves under the King's Governmt. as the other Colonies in America are, and realy I do not know but they will attempt this very soon, for on the 26th inst. here is to be the election for Assembly men, and on Monday next there is to be a private meeting of the Country Gentlemen, from which great speculations are made, and I must tell you, Sir, if the much greater part of the most substantial people had their choice, they would not choose King George's Government. Same endorsement. ¾ p.
525. v. Extract of a letter dated from [? Gale] South Carolina, 18th Nov. 1719. [? to Mr. Secretary Craggs]. What I hinted in mine of the 14th inst. is come to pass, and last night the Chief of the Country subscribed to repair the fortifications of this place, and to an Association to the effect following. That the Proprietors having pretended to repeal Laws contrary to the Charter and offered other hardships to the Inhabitants of this Country they do resolve to choose an Assembly pursuant to the writs issued out and to support their Representatives with their lives and fortunes, and to stand by such resolutions as they shall make at the next Assemblys. The first that signed it was the Speaker of the last Assembly, and almost every body are uneasy untill their hands are to this Association, so uneasy are the people here with the Proprietors, but I forgot to tell you that in this Association they reserve their allegiance to King George. The Governor at present seems dissatisfied with the Association, but the consequence of it will at least terminate as they think in bringing them under the King's Government, which is I really believe their only aim. I shall conclude in assuring you that if the Government and Council was never so willing to oppose this scheme, it is not in their power, so general are the People against the administration of the Proprietors. Upon the meeting of the Assembly, there will be a Representation made to the King and sent over by a Deputation to England, it will as I am told enumerate the difficulties put upon the People by the Proprietors and pray the King to take them under his care. There are in this Colony about 1000 Housekeepers, 2000 white men and about 7000 slaves. Same endorsement. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 23, 1. Nos. 20, 21.i., ii. (covering letter and enclosures, i., ii. only); and (enclosures iii.–v. only) 5, 1265. Nos. 135–137.]
Jan. 21.
Whitehall.
526. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. Enclose office accounts from Christmas 1718 to Christmas 1719. There was at Christmas last six months salary due to the Secretary and other officers etc. Accounts annexed. [C.O. 389, 37. pp. 166–169.]
[Jan. 22.] 527. Agents of Barbados to the Council of Trade and Plantations. They are not fully instructed to answer the complaints against Governor Lowther, but ask for copies thereof. By a short inquiry of some persons lately arriv'd from Barbados they will be enabled to give satisfaction therein etc. Signed, George Bampfeild, Alexr. Stevensone. Endorsed, Recd. Read 22nd Jan., 1719/20. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 15. No. 61.]
Jan. 23./Feb. 3rd.
Paris.
528. Mr. Pulteney to Mr. Popple. Reply to 14 Jan. Mr. Hudson and Mr. Saunders know what papers I have on Sta. Lucia, so I take for granted these will not be copy'd again. I doubt whether there be any papers in the office that answer my questions (v. 15th Jan.) fully; but I fancy'd you might be able to get some informations from some persons who have lived at Barbados and the Leward Islands, etc. Signed, D. Pulteney. Endorsed, Recd. Read 27th Jan. 1719/20. 1½ pp. [C.O. 28, 15. No. 63.]
Jan. 28.
Whitehall.
529. [? Mr. Secretary Craggs] to the Governor of the Leeward Islands. H.M. not being yet come to a resolution in what manner to dispose of his lands in St. Christophers, Mr. Douglas is to remain in the quiet enjoyment of the lands granted to him, under the like conditions as he has hitherto held them, till H.M. shall resolve how to dispose of the late French settlement; And in case you have already given any grants to dispossess him thereof, H.M. further pleasure is, that you do recall the same. No signature. 1 p. Enclosed,
529. i. Petition of James George Douglass to the Lords Justices. Petitioner's father while Captain General of the Leeward Islands granted him in Dec. 1712 certain lands formerly belonging to the French in Basseterre, with an equitable title to her then Majesty's bounty for the same in case the whole Island should remain unto H.M. upon the Treaty of Peace. Lt.-General Mathew renewed the said grant for 2½ years etc. Petitioner's poor parents have erected store-houses etc. thereupon. Petitioner's brother, John, being threatened to be dispossessed of his plantation by Governor Walter Hamilton, obtained H.M. order for quiet enjoyment thereof till H.M. should think fitt how to dispose of that part of St. Christophers. Petitioner, being similarly threatened, prays for a similar order. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 152, 39. Nos. 132, 132. i.]
Jan. 28.
Boston.
530. Capt. Southack to Mr. Popple. Encloses following and asks to be appointed one of the Commissioners to settle the boundaries of Nova Scotia etc. Signed, Cyprian Southack. Endorsed, Recd. 14th April, 1720, Read 5th July, 1722, Annexed,
530. i. Capt. Southack to M. St. Ovide de Brouillan, Governor of Cape Breton, relating to the boundaries of Nova Scotia. Sept. 11th, 1718.
530. ii. Governor Subercase's undertaking to procure passes for Major Richard Mullins and Capt. Charles Brown etc. 23rd Oct. (N.S.) 1710.
530. iii. Memorandum of fish caught by the French in Nova Scotia, 1715–1718.
530. iv. Memorandum of the boundaries of Nova Scotia (v. C.S.P., 1710).
530. v. Queries by the Board of Trade relating to Cape Breton. The whole, 4½ pp.
530. vi. Capt. Southack to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Prays for their recommendation of him to H.M. for a pension and a patent for his works if ingraven and printed, he having been cruising in the service of the Crown from 1690 to 1712 from Cape Canso to Sandy Point and drawn maps and charts of the coast harbours and rivers, etc. Describes his services. Signed, Cyprian Southack. Endorsed, Recd. 14th April, 1720. Read 5th July, 1722. 4 pp.
530. vii. Order in Council, 1st Feb. 1694, for a reward to Capt. Southack for his services in New England. Same endorsement. Copy. 1 p.
530. viii. Certificate from Capt. George Martin, H.M.S. Dragon, Annapolis Royal, 19th Oct., 1710, as to Capt. Southack's services in N.E. Same endorsement. Copy. 1 p.
530. ix. Certificate from Governor Dudley, Boston, 27th March, 1716, as to Capt. Southack's services in the Province galley. Same endorsement. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 868. ff. 213–217v, 218v–221v.; and (Memorandum of covering letter) f. 246.]
Jan. 29.
South Carolina.
531. The Council and Assembly of South Carolina to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Refer to letter of 24th Dec. 1719. Enclose answers to the Board's queries (cf. Jan.) "wherein your Lordships' great and tender regard to H.M. subjects of this Settlement are made manifest. We are deeply concerned that the answering queries of such and so great importance have been so long neglected, tho' it is no surprize to us when we consider that it fell into the hands of the Proprietors Governour, who no doubt thought your Lordships had in [mind] to gett this settlement under H.M. imediate care and protection etc., so for fear of disobliging his Masters and loosing the Government, they have been locked up by him ever since" etc. We left no stone unturn'd in endeavouring to pro[cure a] sight of them, and have at last tho' without the knowledge of Collo. Johnson o[btained] it etc. We have returned a just and true answer to every question; the affairs relating to the Indians, being reported by a gent. who has been imployed by the Publick and has lived many years amongst them. The account of the garrison at St. Augustine being taken from credible persons that ha[ve been] there etc. We hope and doubt not but your Lordships will be pleased to put a right construction upon our actions" etc. Assurances of loyalty and obedience to H.M. and their Lordships' commands etc. Signed, By Order of the Commons of Assembly, T. Hepworth, Speaker, Hovenden Walker, Alexander Parris, B. Schenckingh, George Chicken, Samuel Proleau. Ja. Moore, Richard Mein, Richd. Beresford, Jos. Morton, Tho. Waring, Thos. Smith, Sam Eveleigh. Endorsed, "Letter from persons who have taken upon them the Government of South Carolina," Recd. 28th March, Read 7th July, 1720. 1¾ pp. Torn. Enclosed,
531. i. Answers to Queries by the Board of Trade. Cf. Jan. 12. (i) Carolina is scituated in a most pleasant and agreeable climate and productive of whatsoever is necessary for the life of man, yet it is but thinly inhabited in proportion to the rest of H.M. Colonys on the mainland of America, by reason it is the frontier of the British Empire on the said Main to the South and West, and exposed to the incursions of the French and Spaniards and barbarous Indian savages, but more especially because of the ill polity of its Government under Proprietors who by reason of their supine negligence and their disorderly and confused administration of the publick affairs, and their inability to protect the inhabitants from the insults of their enemies have put the same in the utmost confusion, soe that H.M. subjects are neither safe in their lives, libertys or estates which not only prevents an increase of people to come in to reinforce this frontier, but obleidges many daily to quit and desert the same, and there is noe means left to prevent this Colony from sinking into utter ruin but H.M. takeing the same forthwith into his imediate protection. (ii) The number of white people are about 9000 souls, and as all males from 16 to 60 are obliged to appear in the Militia that number does not exceed 2000 men, who are generally expert in the use of armes, excellent marksmen, and by their often engageing with Indians, Spaniards and French are become bold, active, good woodsmen and enured to toil and labour, but the settlement lying scattered along the sea coast for 150 mile, makes it difficult and expensive to gett a number into a body upon any sudden invasion or incursion. For the reasons given in the first answer this number began to decrease till some stop was put thereto by the present measures. Charles Town is the only town and port in the Province whose fortifications being much damaged by storms, and the great guns dismounted, and everything relateing to the preservation of the Government wholly abandoned to negligence and confusion, and the inhabitants finding themselves disappointed (by the evil ministry of the Proprietors) of the several methods they had taken to restore those fortifications, were quite heartless and were ready sooner to quit the Province than be at any more expence about the defence of it, had they not been elevated and spirited by the late efforts made to have the Government in H.M. hands. Upon which they with heart and hand are repairing the fortifications of Charles Town, and will have 65 guns mounted upon the same, and all without the contribution of one penny by the Proprietors. They are now also repairing a small fort built to command the entrance of the harbour of Charles Town mounted with 22 guns, and by the royal bounty of H.M. our magazine of arms and amunition is in good condition. Besides these fortifications the inhabitants have built a small fort at Port Royal which has about 12 guns mounted thereon to restrain the incursions of the Spanish garrison of St. Augustine and their Indians, having about 30 men in constant pay to guard the same etc. Repeat part of No. 516. and complaints against the Lords Proprietors supra. (iii) The Indians may be divided into three parts, first the Indians to the northward between this Colony and Virginia are about 2,800 souls; these are intirely in the English interests, and by their scituation will be soe as long as Carolina is a barrier between them and the incroachments of the French. The second division may be reckoned the mountain Indians called Charokees, about 11,500 souls, including about 3,800 men, these at present are intirely in the English interest, but God only knows how long they will continue soe, for the incroaching French (with whom they now are at warr) leaves no stone unturn'd to gett them over to them; which puts us to vast charges in makeing presents to their Chiefs, but if the French should at last prevail with them, this Colony will be reduced to the last extremity. Thirdly, the Indians that the French have intirely brought over to their party and trade, who were subject to this Province untill 1715, who were accounted at that time to be near 10,000 souls; they are now at peace with this Settlement, but as the French have secured their interest among them by building forts and placeing garrisons, and carry on their trade by water carriage to their towns it is past dispute that upon a warr with France they will joyn with them to make an entire conquest of this Province, and the chiefest reason that they are now at peace with this Settlement proceeds from the warr that is between them and the Charokees. To these may be added about 3 or 400 Indians of the most desperate murderers in the late Indian warr, that are harboured at St. Augustine and incited and armed by these Spaniards to commit depredations and murders on the frontiers of our settlement. (iv) St. Augustine is the only Spanish town in Florida and about 150 miles from the frontiers of Port Royal, all the land between being deserted and intirely uninhabited, it is a garrison containing 300 sory soldiers etc. as No. 516. It is a pleasant country and capable if in English hands of very great improvements. Refer to Expedition against St. Augustine in 1702. Continue: So it is certain that two fifth rates with a bomb ketch and ingeniers and 200 regular troops with the assistance that this Province wou'd readily lend, wou'd easily take that Castle etc. It would be of great advantage not only to this Province but to the rest of the English Empire in America, for it would make a notable barrier to H.M. Dominions upon the Main, it would be a place of refuge and relief to H.M. subjects that are in distress or cast away coming thro' the Gulf of Florida and are now always murdered and eaten by the savages living on the coasts of that country. It would put an end to the distresses this Settlement lies under by the depredations of the Indians etc. as No. 516. Continue: The French in 1719 imported above 4000 men into these parts, and are building their Capital City near the mouth of the River Missassipi nameing the same New Orleans which is 480 miles from our frontiers, they are now preparing to repossess themselves of Chatahoochee River (called by the Spaniards the Apalachicola River) and make a strong settlement, and as their emissarys have been viewing the coast between this Settlement and St. Augustine, it putts us into a terrible consternation, and they are so sensible of our weakness, being left abandoned void of Royal Protection that they are not ashamed to give out among the Indians that they will take a time to drive us into the sea, and not an Englishman upon the Main, their prodigious and swift proceedings and powering such numbers of indigent needy soldiers into those lands and who haveing no plantations nor anything of their own, are greedily expecting a conjuncture to have the plundering of our flourishing Settlement wherein is about 12,000 negro slaves and the inhabitants finding noe remedy from the many representations made to the Lords Proprietors to take some measure to put a stop to these incroachments who never thought it worth their while soe much as to give an answer to the same, that all those that are able were makeing preparations to remove to places of safety, untill to prevent the ruin of the Province and preserve soe good a country to the British Dominions they resolved to throw off the yoak of the Proprietors and assume the Government in H.M. name, that being more imediatly under the influence of his Royal Government we may become sharers of the safety and protection enjoyed by the rest of his happy subjects. And as there is no other remedy left to prevent the impending ruin of this Settlement from the French whenever they please to put their designs in execution but H.M. powerful protection and assistance, soe it is most undoutly true, that if this Settlement be by any interest of the Proprietors longer deprived of the same, that the inhabitants under such circumstances, will sooner draw off their estates and families to places of safety, then any longer contribute to preserve them, seeing after all that they can doe, it will not be in their power. (vi) As for the trade, the trade is in a very florishing condition in all its branches etc. as No. 516. Bullion we receive in return for the provisions we transport to the West India Islands goes all to Great Britain to about the value of 80,000l. sterl. per ann. and near 200 sail of all sorts are freighted here in a year. We receive cloathing, furniture, ironware and every other thing that is necessary for the conveniency of the life of man from Great Britain, whose merchants are the only traders with us, and by yearly supplying us with near 1000 negroes encreases our export by the many more hands sett at work etc. (vii) v. No. 516. (viii) We know of none certain except iron mines, which the Proprietors haveing the royalty of, discourages any attempts of opening, and if they were compounded with for their royalties in the same, yet nobody wou'd be at the charge of such work in a place of no real security etc., but we have been frequently told that in the mountainous part of the Colony there are mines of gold. silver, coper and several other oars etc. Subscribed,
531. ii. Exports of South Carolina, taken from the Collector's books. Jan. 1718–19. To Great Britain: 6773 barrels of rice, 18,414 pitch, 27,660 tar. 43 chests of deerskins. Besides logwood, braziletta, hogsheads, pipe staves, cedar plank, pine planks, boards etc. To the several Plantations:—2,333 barrels of rice, 4,187 pitch, 5,677 tar. Besides masts, booms, bowsprits, barrels of beefe, porke, butter, candles, soap, tallow, tanned leather etc. corn, pease and provisions. Jan. 1719–20. To Great Britain: 9,115 barrels of rice, 12,475 pitch, 15,052 tar, and 80 chests of deer skins etc. as in 1718. To the Plantations:—3,953 barrels of rice, 4,406 pitch, 6,273 tar etc. as in 1718. The whole endorsed as covering letter. 5 large pp. [C.O. 5, 1265. Nos. 149, 149. i.,ii.]
Jan. 29. 532. Mr. West to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have no objections to the Acts of Mountserratt for raising a levy upon trading men, and for prohibiting levying of executions from the last of August to the first of March. Signed, Rd. West. Endorsed, Recd. 1st Feb., 1719/20. Read 28th July, 1721. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 13. ff. 286, 287 v.]
Jan. 29. 533. Same to Same. Reply to question stated 2nd Feb. I am of opinion that such Spanish ships are so prohibited. Signed, Richd. West. Endorsed, Recd. 1st, Read 5th Feb. 1719/20. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 28, 15. No. 69; and 29, 14. pp. 56, 57.]