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| Sept. 9. |
Sir Laurence Smith to Lord Arlington. I hear from the Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland that before leaving Court he recommended
my petition in some measure, and should have already attended
but that I have had a tedious quartan ague. I had to get Mr.
Seimour to appear for me and am very grateful to your lordship
for taking my petition into your own care. Mr. Windham can
tell you how long this matter has depended, owing to the Lord
Lieutenant's being occupied with the Irish affair. My uncle
interested his Grace in getting the reversion for me, and on
the day when the King left Hampton Court he was pleased to
adjourn me hither in order to it. This morning I have received
a letter from my brother at Chester of a dangerous accident
that has befallen my uncle there; so that it is doubtful whether
it is for reversion or possession that I now ask. My worthy
friend, Mr. Windham, will communicate the letter to your lordship. I am grateful for your kindness, etc. Endorsed, "About
the reversion of an estate." [Ibid. No. 104.] |
Sunday, Sept. 10.
Salisbury. |
Sir George Carteret to Samuel Pepys. I find by yours of the
7th what I always feared, that the victualler would excuse
himself on the supernumeraries and produce the pursers' indents
and victualling's warrant to justify himself. If we had called
on him from time to time for a true account of the victualling
as also on the muster-master of the fleet for his muster books,
we might have seen clearer in this business and have prevented much of what is befallen the service by the victualler's
failings. |
|
800 tuns of beer a week is a small proportion to supply the
fleet and I am much mistaken if the victualler has not told me
several times that he was able to furnish double that quantity,
but the sickness in London hinders him from making use of that
port as he would otherwise do. |
|
It seems you have received order to send some beer off for
the fleet. I hope there will be no great danger of their meeting
and it will be an encouragement for the men to stay longer
abroad seeing supplies of those provisions they want most
attending on them. This is a good course for those victualling
ships which are already gone but those that are to go will run
hazard of missing the fleet. Therefore it is worth the considera
tion of the Lord General and the Board whether they shall go
further than Harwich. |
|
Before I came away from Deptford I took the best course
I could to provide a quarter's pay for Deptford and Woolwich
yards to make them equal to Chatham and Mr. Stephens writes
to Mr. Fenn this post that he will be able to accomplish it very
shortly, which, I hope, will satisfy them for the present. The
example of Portsmouth, where that disorder began first without
cause (having their money ready to be paid), without punishing
the offenders will prove, I fear, a great disadvantage to the
service. |
|
As to Col. Reymes' business, Mr. Fenn tells me that before he
came from London he had made payment of 4,000l, which they
had charged by bills of exchange from Portsmouth allowed by
the Office, and 2,000l. more, which he gave them order for on
several outports according to their desire, which 6,000l., I suppose,
is part of the 15,000l. mentioned in your letter. I hope you will
be able to assist him with some weekly payments. |
|
Considering what condition the City is at present, whence we
must have all our supplies, I cannot promise myself to take up
any considerable sum there, having drained all the best purses
already and being master of no assignments that can be paid
within 1½ year, and you know yourself how hard it is to get credit
on such at this time, and having paid so vast a sum as 200,000l.
in July and August last I had thought that credit, which I had
with much ado procured for the supply of the money weekly,
would have carried on the work so that we might have expected
so (sic) respite. |
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According to this great expense of the office, how can we expect
to make provision for the payment of any part of the fleet at
their return, notwithstanding all which I shall endeavour to
make what provision can be reasonably expected from me at this
time. |
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I am exceeding glad of Lord Hinchinbrooke's recovery but
would fain know what hurt the smallpox has done to his
face. |
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I long very much to hear some good news of our fleet. Letters
here tell us the Dutch fleet was much dispersed in a storm and
that Tromp was met last Monday off the Texel with only six ships
in his company. We hope some of them will fall to our share.
[2 pages. S.P. Supplementary 136, No. 372.] |
| Sept. 13. |
Affidavit of William Blackborne concerning hemp and other
goods, the property of his Majesty, stolen out of the Coppersmith,
a Dutch prize. [Ibid. No. 373.] |
| [Sept ?] |
Memorandum that the boatswain of the Prudent Mary did not
receive of what he was warranted eight oars. [Ibid. No. 374.] |
| [Sept ?] |
Sir William Killigrew to Mr. Godolphin. I have desired Lord
Arlington that my warrant may be for 500l. per annum for 31
years to be paid by the Farmers of the Excise on a privy seal,
for if it be only for my life I may die before I touch a penny of it.
(See Cal. S.P. Dom., 1664–65, p. 581.) [S.P. Dom., Car II. 440,
No. 105.] |
