|
June 2.
Spanish Towne. |
866. Governor Handasyd to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Refers to letter of May 27. The Assembly has passed
the following Bills; (1) A private Act to enable Commrs. to
dispose of part of the estate of Wm. Burras, of the parish of Vere,
minor (2) a Bill for regulating fees (3) a Bill for fitting out 2
sloops for guarding the coast (4) An Act for declaring what
persons shall be qualify'd to sit in Assemblies (5) An Act for
continuing an Act for raising an additional duty etc. from May 1st.
to Aug 1st, 1711. (6) An Act for providing an additional sub
sistence for H.M. Officers and Soldiers from May 1st to Aug 1st
1711. Which two last it was imposible to gett them to pass them
for a long time, they pretending business of greater moment, and
that they would take care to finish them for 12 months before that
time was expired, but there hapning to be such a dispute between
the House and the Councill this day about tacking a clause to a
money bill to reimburce the Treary. with 2000l., which the Councill
after desireing conferences with the House and was denyed, the
Councill thought fitt-to throw out the bill, and this day with the
advice and consent of the Councill, wee thought it convenient
to prorogue them for 3 days to trye if it's posible to bring them
to a better temper to do the Queen and the country service. As
for my owne part, I must say I am very hardly us'd, since I am
in arrear of my owne sallary a year and a half, which amounts to
£3400 Jamaica money. All these disputes and misunderstandings
in my oppinion is owing to Mr. Totterdall, who has been the same
disturber in Sir W. Beeston's time and some time before that,
and seems resolved still to continue in his wickedness. What
our next meeting will produce a little time will shew; and at the
time I prorogued them, I laid before them the ill consequences of
such annamositys and divisions, with all the little eloquence I
had to perswad them if posible to meet in a calm and sedate
temper. Refers to enclosed Address, which wee request your
Lordships will be pleased to cause to be laid before H.M. with the
reasons annexed. Monsr. Du Case's squadron I am of oppinion
if not already sayled will soon sayle with what money was on
board the galloon, as also with what French Assiento money,
belonging to the French merchants in those parts which is beleived
is very considerable. Our Traders is returned from the costs
and has brought with them 50 or 60,000 peices of eight, being
affraid to stay any longer on that coast, since the enemy was so
strong. I shall send the severall Acts so soon as they can be fare
writt out by the first safe oppertunity of a man of war or otherwise,
etc. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed, Recd. July 28th, Read
Sept. 12th, 1711. 2½ pp. Enclosed, |
|
866. i. Address of the Governor, Council and Assembly of
Jamaica to the Queen, June 2, 1711. Understanding
that your Majesty has at this time under your Royall
consideration the Trade to Affrica upon the establishment of which our estates in this your Majesty's Island
and the wellfare of this your Coloney do intirely depend,
and being assured your Majesty will alwayes have a
tender regard to the prosperity of all your good subjects,
presume to acquaint your Majesty that we have for
many yeares past found very great advantages from
an open and free trade to Affrica, which we are under
apprehensions would not only be lost to us from an
exclusive trade, but that we should thereby be involved
in insuperable difficulties. Besides all other inconveniencyes of monopolyes we humbly conceive it will be plain to
your Majesty what extreame hardships we are like to
suffer if it be in the power of a few men to rate our
comodityes as they think fitt, to furnish our marketts
or suffer us to want as shall best suite their private gaine,
to ingross entirely to themselves and their factors the
Spanish Trade which alone can be carry'd on by a supply
of negroes, and in all other particulars to render our
interest in great measure dependent on their owne.
And whither this will not have an ill consequence upon
the trade of Great Britain in discourageing the exportation of its woollen manufactures and lessning the
importation of bullion as well as of the comodityes of
the growth of your Majesty's plantations, we humbly
submitt to your Majesty's wisdom, etc. etc. Signed,
Tho. Handasyd; Silvester Stuckley, Cl. Con.; Pe.
Beckford. Speaker. Endorsed as preceding. 1 large p. |
|
866. ii. Council and Assembly of Jamaica to the Council of
Trade and Plantations. June 2, 1711. Considerations
offered in relation to the Affrican Company's obtaineing
an exclusive trade to the coast of Guinea. (1) That an
exclusive trade to the coast of Affrica will allwayes be
carry'd on by the Company so as to underballance the
trade of this Island, by which meanes the price of slaves
must necessaryly be advanced and the price of the
comodities of the produce of the Island beat downe. (2)
That the Company haveing that trade entirely in their
owne hands, unless the planters will pay the exorbitant
prices demanded by the Company's factors they will
not be furnished with negroes necessary to carry on
their Plantations. (3) That the consequence of an
exclusive trade to the coast of Guinea will in effect be
the establishing in the Company an exclusive trade likewise to the Spanish Coast, nothing being more evident
than that no advantageous trade can be carry'd on
thither by the British and particularly the woollen
manufactures without negroes to putt them off and to
defray the charges of transporting them, the supplyeing
or withholding whereof will depend intirely on the
pleasure of the Company. (4) That thereby we shall
likewise be barr'd of a most beneficiall trade from this
Island to the coast of Affrica, which employes a vast
number of our saylors and takes of severall comodities
of the growth of this Island, which otherwise would be
of little or no use to us, the advantage whereof in the
end centers in Great Britain. (5) That trade being
reduc'd within so narrow a compass as that of an
exclusive Company, the Navigation which is the principall strength of this Island must necessarily suffer, our
Country allready thin of people want encouragement and
be rend'red incapable of defending its self either against
a foreigne or domestic enemy, besides our being deprived
for the future of the many oppertunities we have hitherto
enjoyed of remitting great quantitys of bullion yearely
to Great Britain. Signed, Silvester Stuckley, Cl.
Counl., Jer. Collins, Cl. Assem. Same endorsement.
1 large p. [C.O. 137, 9. Nos. 43, 43 i, ii; and (without
enclosures) 138, 13. pp. 344–347.] |
June 2.
Spanish Towne. |
867. Governor Handasyd to Lord Dartmouth. Duplicate
of preceding letter. [C.O. 137, 51. No. 44.] |
June 2.
Nevis. |
868. Lt. Governor Hamilton to Lord Dartmouth. Herewith your Lordship will receive coppy of my last, [April 26th Ed.]
in which I informed your Lordp. of the bad condition the man
of warr was then in, the Capt. whereof since with his officers assured
me that she was altogether unfitt for service except she was new
rigged and had new sailes which could not be had anywhere but
at Barbados, there being no storehouse of H.M. in any of these
Islands, nor any undertakers for victualling, which proves vastly
prejudiciall to H.M. service, for which reason I was oblidged to
let Capt. Norbury saile for Barbados, he assureing me that otherwise his ship must be haled up, and layd by, where I hope he has
by this time allmost fitted and victualled her, and that I may
dayly expect him downe, for there was never more want of men
of warr on this station, wee having constantly the privateers as
thick as bees about and amongst these islands, of which Mr.
Bermingham mentioned in my former is the chief. But haveing
already wrote you at large about this, I humbly leave it to your
Lordps. consideration. I reced. advice last week from the
Governor of St. Eustatia, a Dutch Island, that his son was then
just arrived in a flagg of truce from Martinique, where he heard
that the French were prepareing vessells and raising of men
in order to attack some of these H.M. Islands, and yesterday
arrived the private man of warr sloop called the Francis and
Mary, Capt. Wm. Coventry, Commr., who took up two dayes agoe
under Domineco a cannoa wth. Brittish prisoners most of them
belonging to St. Christophers, that had broke out of prison in
Martineco, who confirmed the news, and for particulars informed
me that they did see out of prison (which is just at the road) the
provisions amunition and water put on board, and that the
French Generall came himselfe in person from Fort Royall to
Fort St. Pieres, and that they did see the men pass en review and
that it was talked of that they had 1500 men there, besides what
were at Guardalope where they were to make up their fleet and
joine their forces. Upon which I immediately impressed a fine
sayling Bermudas sloop and dispatched her this day, to the
Govr. or Presidt. of the Councill of Barbados, as also a letter to
the Commandore of H.M. ships there desireing them to send
downe with all expedition the ships on that station or at least so
many as can be spared for a time on this so urgent an occasion
and H.M. interest, which the wellfare of the inhabitants so much
depended upon. I have put this Island in alarm and have one
third of all the inhabitants every night upon duty, the rest in a
readiness if anything should happen. I have wrote to the Lt.
Govr. of St. Christopher's and strictly charged him to take
particular care of the two forts that he may not be surprized.
The President of Mountserratt (att which place Capt. Coventry
first touched) writes me that he has given an account to the Lt.
Governor of Antigua so that all the Islands have notice and I
hope wee shall with the help of God frustrate their designes. I
shall to the uttmost of my power discharge my duty, and as soon
as our owne or one of the Barbados men of warr come to me,
transport myselfe to the place where I hear their designe is, or
the place attacked. In the meantime must content myselfe to
be a kind of a prisoner. Signed, W. Hamilton. 2 pp. [C.O.
137, 51. No. 45; and 152, 42. No. 63.] |
June 2.
Nevis. |
869. Same to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Duplicate of preceding. Signed, W. Hamilton. Endorsed, Recd. 13th,
Read 17th July, 1711. 5 pp. [C.O. 152, 9. No. 73; and 153,
11. pp. 348–350.] |
June 2.
Kensington. |
870. H.M. Warrant appointing Thomas Byerley Member of
Council of New York, upon the first vacancy. Countersigned,
Dartmouth. [C.O. 324, 32. pp. 84, 85.] |
June 6.
Craven House. |
871. Instructions to Charles Craven, Governor of South
Carolina. (a) As to the observation of Acts of Trade and Navigation, etc. (b) To consider with the Council the promotion of
trade, manufactures and the fishery. (3, 4) To send a copy of
all Acts of Assembly that have been confirmed, and accounts of
Revenue. (5) By and with the advice and consent of any four
or more of our Deputies to adjourn, prorogue and dissolve the
General Assembly as often as you shall think requisite. (6) To
appoint successors to officers in the Courts of Judicature, untill
you have our approbation of them or nomination of others. (7)
You are with the assistance of Col. Wm. Rhet, our present
Receiver General, and Commissioners appointed for that purpose,
to inspect the accounts of John Ashby and Nathaniel Sale, our
late Receivers, and transmit the balance due to us. (8) You are
to take great care that the Indians be not abused, and that
justice be duly administred to them in our Courts, and that you
endeavour your utmost to create a firm friendship with them,
and to bring them over to your part for your better protection and
defence against the enemy, the neighbouring French and Spaniards, against whom you are to protect our said province, and we
assure you of our utmost assistance for your security. (9) To
transmit as soon as you can conveniently get it handsomly transcribed a full and exact account of our yearly rents etc. (10)
You are to take care that all persons may be admitted to peruse
the Publick Records of our Province, provided they make such
perusal in the place where the same are constantly kept, and pay
the customary and usual fees. (11) You shall immediatly upon
the receipt of these presents issue out your warrant to four of
the inhabitants of Colleton County and four of Granvill County
to sound the River of Port Royal and to examine which is the
fittest place to fix a town upon, and to return the same into
the Notaries Office, which return you are to transmit to us as
soon as you shall receive the same. (12) Whereas it was agreed
at our Board that the office of Surveyor General of South Carolina
would be better executed by the several Surveyors of the
respective Counties, you are to direct such persons to be the
several Surveyors of each county as to you shall seem most
proper, etc. Signed, Craven, Beaufort. Carteret, M. Ashley.
J. Colleton, J. Danson. [C.O. 5, 290. pp. 17–47.] |
June 7.
New York. |
872. George Clarke, Secretary of New York, to the Council
of Trade and Plantations. The winds which has hindred the
packet from sailing this week has however been favourable in
giving me the opportunity of doing myself the honor to acquaint
your Lordps. that the Palatins are now demonstrating their
sincere repentance of their past transgressions in a manner which
will be very pleasing to you. They are and have been for several
days past at work on the trees of which by computation they
prepare 15000 a day; the children are all likewise busy in gathering up the knots which will be burnt this year, and I doubt not
a considerable quantity of tarr made of them. This is only on
one side of the River, on the other they are likewise at work, but
I have no particular account of their labours. By this your
Lordps. may well believe the woods are full of this sort of trees,
and easily gather from the number that is daily prepared that
in due time this people will make such a quantity of tarr yearly
as will not fall short of the expectation that was conceived; nor
indeed is it hardly possible it should, when there are trees sufficient
for many years on the spot they are imployed, and other tracts
when this is done of very great extent commodiously scituated
for transportation, and the people work with all the cheerfulness
imaginable. It is almost the only satisfaction H.E. has in this
Province, to see this great work go on with that promising success
it does, for in other things he has met with all the opposition and
discouragement which a people devoid of duty and ripe with
defection could give him, nor is there any prospect of surmounting
those difficulties by any measures on this side; he has however
the pleasure of serving the best of Queens, etc. H.E. is not yet
returned, so that your Lordps. are troubled with this imperfect
relation from me, etc. Signed, Geo. Clarke. Endorsed, Recd.
11th, Read 12th July, 1711. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 1050. No. 23;
and 5, 1122. pp. 396–398.] |
June 7.
New York. |
873. Same to [? Lord Dartmouth.] Encloses copy of preceding.
Signed, Geo. Clarke. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 1091. Nos. 39, 39 i.] |
| June 13. |
874. Commission and Instructions to Nevill Low to be
Secretary of North Carolina. [C.O. 5, 290. p. 45.] |
| June 13. |
875. Commission and Instructions to Arthur Middleton to
be Naval Officer of South Carolina. [C.O. 5, 290. p. 45.] |
June 13.
Craven House. |
876. Warrant to the Governor of South Carolina to grant
600 acres of land to Edward Crisp, at a quit rent of 6 shillings.
Signed, Craven, Beaufort, Carteret, M. Ashley, J. Colleton,
J. Danson. [C.O. 5, 290. p. 48.] |
June 13.
Barbados. |
877. Mr. Lillington to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
I am now to enclose for yr. Ldps'. perusall the several papers
relateing to the settlement of an exchange of prisoners, or cartell,
wth. Martineque, for perceiving under what difficulties the trade
of this Island lay for want theirof, I advis'd with H.M. Councill,
who were of opinion that the settlement of one would be very
beneficiall to this place, and thereupon the Councill of April 10th
did unanimously appoint my eldest son and Jonathan Siston for
persons to manage that treatie, who were furnish'd wth. such
instructions as yr. Ldps. will find inclos'd, and the success as in
Monsr. Philipeaux's in answere to me, so that I shall leave those
papers to speak for themselves, and trouble yr. Ldps. no further
hereon than my duty oblidges me to lay before you the reasons
induceing me to treat for a cartell. We have from this Isld. a
vast trade with the Northern Engl. Colonies, who take from us
the produce of our country of all sorts, especially rum and melasses,
for wch. they supply us with all kind of provisions, with cask
horses and many other commodities, this trade is so beneficiall
that without the constant supplys from thence of flower, bisket,
beef, pork, salt fish of all sorts etc. we could not subsist but must
starve, the vessells bringing these goods are many, and mostly
plantation built, and sail'd by the natives or inhabitants of these
parts, who when they are taken into Martineque or any ye French
Islands, are there kept in close and unwholesom prisons, very often
for 6 months or a year endureing the many hardships allways attending such confinemts., and (it maybe) the more impos'd on
them by the enimie to force them to a change of their religion or
allegiance (too often effected) wch. if they have the constancy
and resolution to retain they are at last (almost starv'd and
naked) sent in some of their own vessels for old France, where
they have the same melancholly sceen acted over again for 6 or
more months, and then are sent from St. Mallows in exchange
boat for Plymo. or Portshmouth, where H.M. ships press them,
and from thence are not to be releiv'd, but at the conclusion of
the warr, and their familys in the meantime left starveing. This
is my Lds. one amongst the many reasons wch. may be urg'd for
the settlement of a cartell, and wch. is particularly adapted to the
circumstances of the inhabitants of H.M. Colonies, and in a great
measure may be urg'd for those, who are bound hither from
Europe have the misfortune to fall into the enimies' hands.
Refers to enclosures (ii.) which I recd. on the 9th inst. about 2 a
clock in the afternoon, and so order'd matters that the next day
noon the Newcastle Capt. Sampson Bourn recd. my orders for sailing to their releif, wth. a complemt. upwards of 400 men, but did
not sail till 7 the next morning. On Sunday 10th, about 4 p.m.
I recd. enclosed from Lt. General Hamilton, by wch. 'tis confirm'd
that the storm threttens Antegua the more suspicious from the
late disturbances there. H.M. other two ships, the Guarnsey and
Sweepstakes attending this Governmt. have been on a cruize
these three weeks, but the two express sloops are gon in search
of them in order to their joyning the N. Castle, who if he alone
meets the enimie has no greater force to engage than a shipp of
30 gunns and a parcell sloops and briganteens, so that the same
time I acquaint yr. Ldps. of our fellow-subjects' danger, I may
assure yr. Ldps. they are rescu'd from it. This Expedition of
the enimies has once already recd. a check, for being about 10
days ago come out from Martineque in their way to Guardaloop
to joyn their forces they were met by Capt. Bourn, who engag'd
for two hours and a halfe the ship of 30 guns who shot his foremast in two places and in small winds got clere and put back
into Martineque, and two days after was again met by one of the
express sloops in their way to Guardaloop. My Lords, I have
since my administracon of the affairs of this Government recd.
H.M. pleasure in relation to a suspected illegall trade carried on
from this Island to Martineque. I have as much in me lay
endeavour'd to prevent and discover such a traitorous commerce
and have been so happy as within this fortnight to apprehend
one Mr. Thomas Lynch, against whome the evidence of two
sailers is very strong. He should have been try'd at ye Grand
Sessions wch. was to have been held at this time, but that in two
of the parishes none of the persons nominated in the Commission
have taken the o'ths of a J.P., so that the writs for returning 6
freeholders in each parish, could not be legally executed by any
persons of those parishes, for that and by reason of little or no
business at that time the Legislature adjourned that Court till
Xtmass next. The Lucitania, Capt. Holland, came in on the
11th inst. and tells us she left our London Fleet in lattitude of
38 stearing for Madera. I could have wisht for their arrivall at
this juncture, for we might then justly expect the entire destruction
of the enimies forces on their expedition to Leward, wch. would
vastly weaken their power in these parts and destroy their
privateering trade, those forces consisting of the inhabitants of
Martineque or Guardaloop. By reason of a violent fit of sickness,
wch. has confin'd me to my house, and often to my bed, within
these 4 months past, I have not been able to hold ye Councill and
Chancery Courts so often as agreed with my inclinations and
practize when I was in a better state of helth, however when
I have been able to crawl downstairs, I have held them at my
own house, and if I was not able at those times to go through the
business of those days, I entirely confide in yr. Ldps.' goodness to
impute it to my weak condition, under wch. I then and still do
labour, etc. Signed, George Lillington. Recd. 28th July, Read
Aug 1st, 1711. 4 pp. Enclosed, |
|
877. i. Copy of correspondence between M. Phelypeaux,
Governor of Martinique, and George Lillington, President
of the Council of Barbados, relating to a cartel for the
exchange of prisoners, arranged by Geo. Lillington junr.
and Jonathan Sissons, May 15, 1711. Endorsed, Recd.
July 28, 1711. 3½ pp. |
|
877. ii. (a) Lt. Governor Yeamans to the President of Barbados.
Antigua, June 3, 1711. I am concerned to be under
this present necessity of troubling yr. Honour in my
owne name, ye Lt. Generall being att Nevis. Last night
I recd. an express from ye President of Mountserratt
(enclosed), wherein you will find ye reasonableness of
this my request wch. followes, the Councill and Assembly
joynes wth. me therein, wch. is that you'll be pleased to
order a couple of men of warr or one wth. ours yt. are
there immediately to be sent downe, wch. will undoubtedly frustrate all ye enemies designes. This Sr. is
absolutely for H.M. service and in all probability may
save these H.M. Islands. But expedition is wt. is
most requisite, and delay will morally draw after it a
great deal of evill, etc. Col. Thomas Morris, one of ye
Councill, waits on yr. Honr. with this, who will further
inform you of our present danger, wch. we conceive soe
near yt. he this instant goes from ye Councill Board
without seeing his famely or takeing any conveniencys
wth. him, etc. Signed, John Yeamans. |
|
(b) Thomas Lee, President of the Council of Montserrat, to Lt. Governor Yeamans. Mountserratt, May
30, 1711. This morning arrived Capt. Coventry from
cruizeing under Martinique who about 14 days past
sent his canow on shoar att Martinique wth. about 10
men, who were all surprized and put in prison, where
they had oppurtunity of discourseing with ye Gent. who
went as hostages from Nevis, who told them yt. ye
French were designed with one ship called ye Rowland
and severall sloops to take on board 1500 men att
Martinique, and from thence to goe to Guardaloope
where they were to meet severall other sloops and take
on board more men in order to attack Mountserratt or
Antegua or both and shewed ye prisoners who were to
command in cheife and severall other officers, and yt.
if they attacked Antegua they would land at Falmouth,
and yt. they were to part Martinique on Satturday or
Sunday next; these men made their escape out of
prison on Munday last att night and tooke a canow in
order to come to some of ye Islands, but in ye morning
saw Capt. Coventry made to him and gott on board, who
proceeded directly to this Island etc. He is gon downe
this day wth. ye newes to ye Lt. Generall. P.S.—The
prisoners say ye Rowland hath about 36 gunns. Signed,
Thomas Lee. Copies. 1 p. |
|
877. iii. Lt. Governor Hamilton to the President of the Council
of Barbados. Nevis, June 2, 1711. I having certain
information by way of St. Eustatias from a Dutch flagg
of truce yt. arrived there some time last week from
Martinique as also by severall Englishmen (v. supra), yt.
ye French have a design for attacking some of these
H.M. Islands (etc. as supra), I therefore desire and
recommend to you as very much for H.M. service yt.
you will order ye men of warr attending on yr. station
or soe many of them as can be spared, forthwith to
come downe in company with Capt. Norbury, H.M.S.
Larke. (who I hope is now at your Island, whither he
went for sayles etc.) to these Islands, and yt. they touch
first att Antigua for intelligence, soe proceed to ye place
where they hear ye enemy is, wch. I hope will not only
prove or releife or protection to these Islands, for ye
present, but deterr ye enemy for ye time to come from
makeing any ye like attempts when they shall see ye
readiness yt. each Government is in to assist ye other.
All these things I recommend to your consideration, and
begg yt. you will give it all dispatch etc., haveing no man
of warr here att all, or other vessells of force, not soe
much as one yt. I dare trust myself in to be transported
from one Island to ye other as you see ye present service
soe much requires, etc. Signed, W. Hamilton. Copy.
1 p. |
|
877. iv. Mr. Lillington to a Relation in London, June 12, 1711.
Refers to preceding. According to their desire, I sent
them down immediatly, the Newcastle, Capt. Bourn of
50 odd guns, the only man of warr then in our Road,
crowded with upwards of 400 men, who must destroy
them if they have no other ship of force but that of
30 guns; who Capt. Bourn in his cruize, about 10 dayes
agoe, engaged within pistol shot for 2½ hours; which
put the Expedition backward for two dayes, as we have
advice. But how shee came not to bring her in, or sink
her, the Lord knows. Endorsed, Recd. July 8, 1711.
Copy. ¾ p. [C.O. 28, 13. Nos. 61, 61 i.–iv.; and
(without enclosures) 29, 12. pp. 355–363.] |
June 13.
Barbados. |
878. Mr. Lillington to [? Lord Dartmouth.] Repeats preceding.
Signed, G. Lillington. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
878. i., ii. Duplicates of enclosures Nos. i.–iii. preceding. [C.O.
28, 43. Nos. 56, 57, 61.] |
June 14.
Annapolis Royall. |
879. Col. Vetch to Lord Dartmouth. Refers to previous
letters and enclosures, and prays for punctual payment of bills,
since H.M. Agent att Boston hath already advanced the money;
the ruinous and neglected condition I found this Fort in having
had no supplys from France for 3 years before, which facilitated its reduction, proves the reason why it will be so expensive
in its reparation, though all possible (nay more then reasonable)
frugality is used. As to the civill state of affairs, the inhabitants
in generall as well French as Indians continue still in a great
ferment and uneassiness, those within the Banliue (who are but
few) that have taken the oath of alledgance are threatned by all
the others who call them traytors and make them belive the
French will soon recover the place and then they will all be
ruined; the Priests likewise who are numerous among them, and
whom I cannott catch (save one sent to Boston) threaten them
with their Ecclesiasticall vengeance for their subjection to Hereticks, so that untill H.M. shall be pleased both to give me orders
and afford me a sufficient force to reduce the whole country to such
terms as shee shall see meet to give them, wee cant expect any
peaceable possession of this place. Wee have been much
alarm'd all winter with designs of the Indians and French from
Canada makeing ane attempt upon us, while the fortifications
were so ruinous, which oblidged us to verry servere duty, which
with the cold weather and new climate made the Garison verry
sickly these last two months, so that wee have lost since the
Garison was modeld by death mostly and desertion about 116
men, severall of the marines who are Irish Papists having been
prevailed upon by the French to desert, and are by theirs and the
Indians' assistance conveyed to Canada and Placentia, the nighbourhood of which two places will prove verry dangerous to this
Government unless the Garison be allways keept att least 500
good effective men and besides the brigantine that now attends
there. Likwise a man of warr of 40 or 50 gunns constantly to
guard this coast, which is now much infested with privateers,
while I am under a necessity to keep the brigantine constantly
employed to keep the communication open betwixt us and
Boston: and for whom I am in fear every day least shee should
meet with something too strong for her, and then wee are in a
manner blockt up. So that I must entreat your Lordship and
the Ministry (if there be not one allready ordred) to direct the
Lords of the Admiralty to send a friggatt of good force of 40
gunns att least to attend this station, togither with the small
brigantine wee have to be continued as a convoy for our victuallers
betwixt this and Boston, thiss is what in my humble opinion will
be absolutely necessary for the security of thiss Government
untill the reduction of Canada and Placentia. I waite with
impatience H.M. orders with relation to the inhabitants as well
as the modouling of the Garison, the uncertainty of both which
creates me a great deall of trouble, for the former uncertain of
their fate are verry uneasy, and the latter being composed of so
many different detachments uncertain of their stay fall verry
often into disputes about command precedency and other nicietys,
which creates a great many heats amongst both officers and
souldiers, which their being form'd into a Regiment (as was
proposed most humbly to H.M. by the Councell of Warr) would
intirely remedy, which I begg your Lordshipp to second, togither
with the rest of the inclosed establishment, which are all absolutly
necessary in so frontier and exposed a garison. I would have by
the former opportunitys transmitted this proposeall of ane
establishment, had not the hopes of the Expedition against
Canada as being revived hindred me, etc. Prays for speedy and
particular directions, etc. Signed, Sam. Vetch. Postscript. Since
writting the above wee find ourselves every day more and more
infested with the sckulking Indians, who have pilaged and robb'd
severall of the French inhabitants within the Banliu because they
were employed in cutting of trees and other necessarys for the
fortifications, which none but the French are capable of doeing
(not dairing to venture [?ou]r men in the woods but in a considerable body) but their being so frighted by the Indians who
told them they were ordred by their Preists to plunder the French
that helped the English to repair the fortifications doth verry much
retard our work; and as it is impossible for us to prevent these
sckulking partys which so plague us but by a party of Indians who
are equal to them in the woods, so I cann forsee no way to procure us any safety without the Fort but if possible by obtaining ane
hundred of the Indians of the Five Nations under the Government
of New York, and as wee want above that number of what was
and allways must be the compliment of the Garison untill Canada
is reduced, so have wrote to the Governour of New York to countinance and permitt Major Livingston to raise such a number in
the said Indians' country, who will cost H.M. litle more then what
the other souldiers who are now dead or deserted would have done,
unless it be some present to the Sachems, who shall bring them
here along with Major Livingston, who hath a great intrest
among them. But as I fear the aversness of that Government
to allow or countinance the same without a positive order from
H.M., so I would earnestly intreat your Lordship's for obtaining
and transemitting the same as soon as possible, and in case that
does not prove effectuall, I begg your Lordship will obtain H.M.
order for 100 of the best men out of four companys in Garison
there to reinforce thiss place, they being in perfect peace there
and in a well peopled country who cann reinforce them upon any
occasion; whereas wee have not one person to befrind us save
what are within the garison and those including the sick near
200 men short of what allways should be, as well as a friggatt to
attend here etc. Signed, Sam. Vetch. Endorsed, R. Sept. 20,
1711. 3½ pp. Enclosed, |
|
879. i. State of H.M. Garrison of Annapolis Royal, June 1,
1711. Total, 449, (including 194 marines, and 87
officers, gunners etc., upon the British establishment
and 168 country troops that remained voluntarily.)
Signed, Sam. Vetch. 1 large p. [C.O. 5, 9. Nos.
97, 98.] |
June 14.
Kensington. |
880. Order of Queen in Council. An Instruction is to be
prepared for the Governor of Maryland in accordance with the
report of the Council of Trade relating to the Tobacco trade,
May 8. q.v. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed, Recd. 20th, Read
22nd June, 1711. ¾ p. [C.O. 5, 717. No. 37; and 5, 727. pp.
260, 261; and 5, 721. No. 11.] |
June 14.
Kensington. |
881. Order of Queen in Council. Repealing two Acts of
Maryland, for appeals etc., as proposed May 8. q.v. Signed and
endorsed as preceding. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 717. No. 38; and 5,
727. pp. 262–264.] |
June 14.
Kensington. |
882. Order of Queen in Council. A warrant is to be prepared
for constituting Richard Lightfoot (v. April 13) a Member of
Council of Antegoa. Signed, John Povey. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 5,
11. No. 48.] |
June 14.
Kensington. |
883. Order of Queen in Council. Referring the following to
the Council of Trade and Plantations for their opinion. Signed,
John Povey. Endorsed, Recd. 9th, Read 11th July, 1711.
1p. Enclosed, |
|
883. i. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to the Queen. We have
always given Instructions to our Governour of Carolina
to appoint a Deputy Governor of that part of the
Province that lies N. and W. of Cape Feare by reason
that the great extent of that country and the necessity
of corresponding and trafficking with the severall
nations of the Indians there, does require such a distinct
Government. The inhabitants of that part of the
Province have lately apply'd themselves to us on that
behalf. We therefore desire your Majesty's approbation
for Edward Hyde to be Depty. Governor of North
Carolina. Signed, Craven, Beaufort, Carteret, M. Ashley,
J. Colleton, J. Danson. 1¾ pp. [C.O. 5, 1264. Nos.
117, 117 i; and 5, 1292. pp. 311–313.] |
June 15.
Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia. |
884. Col. Vetch to Mr. Popple. Returns thanks for letter of
Nov. 18th etc. I caused to cutt 20 masts [for a] tryall from 18
to 25 inches, which now ly reddy here, but when an oppertunity
will present to send them home, to be made tryall of, I cannot
tell, there are some of much larger sise, but they being more
remote from the water would occasion a greater expense then I
am willing to venture without positive orders and directions
wh[ere to] be reimbursed: there are here likewise in severall
places copper mines of which I shall send home to their Lordships
a specimen by the first vessell to great Brittan from hence.
Marable wee have here in verry great plenty verry fine and of
all colours, wee make all our lime of the white which is extreamly
fine, in short thiss country wants nothing but people and cultivation to make it a verry great place: wee are verry much infested
by sculking partys of Indians, who are sent against us by the
French of Canada and Placentia, who being elevated mightily
with the pretended successes att home threaten the reduction
of thiss place agains befor winter; but these are French bravadoes.
Indeed their privateers are verry troublesome and numerous
upon our coast: and wee extreamly want a friggatt, which I
dayly expect etc. Signed, Sam. Vetch. Endorsed, Recd. Sept.
21, Read Nov. 1, 1711. 1p. [C.O. 5, 865. No. 70; and 5, 913.
pp. 354–356; and 218, 1. pp. 20–22.] |
