America and West Indies: December 1700, 2-5

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 18, 1700. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1910.

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'America and West Indies: December 1700, 2-5', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 18, 1700, ed. Cecil Headlam( London, 1910), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol18/pp706-716 [accessed 4 December 2024].

'America and West Indies: December 1700, 2-5', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 18, 1700. Edited by Cecil Headlam( London, 1910), British History Online, accessed December 4, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol18/pp706-716.

"America and West Indies: December 1700, 2-5". Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 18, 1700. Ed. Cecil Headlam(London, 1910), , British History Online. Web. 4 December 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol18/pp706-716.

December 1700

Dec. 2.
New
Hampshire
in New
England.
961. Lieutenant-Governor Wm. Partridge to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have omitted to trouble your Lordships with the affairs of this Province, presuming Lord Bellomont has already done it, having been personally present here, settled the Government according to His Majesty's Commission, appointed officers both civil and military, established Courts of Judicature, and with the Assembly pass'd such Laws as might tend to His Majesty's service and the good government of his subjects, by which means wee now enjoy peace and tranquillitie. But having of late been given to understand that some complaints have been exhibited against myself, for an irregular trade with Portugal and contracting with the Portuguez to supply them with Naval Stores, I humbly crave leave to lay before you the whole matter as indeed it is. I never made any contract with any of Portugall, nor ever thought of it, the first rise of any complt. was thus:—Mr. William Crouch and Compa., merchts. in Londo., owners of the Friends' Adventure, Jno. Wentworth, commander (wherein I was a small pt. concerned) orders the ladeing sd. ship with timber, as she and other ships had been wonted to do, for Lisbon, whereupon Mr. Allen, our late Governor, claiming a property in the soyle of this Province, demands of mee some consideration for ye timber, but not complying with him, he complains to my Lord Bellomont that I was driveing an irregular trade to Spain and Portugall with Navall Stores to the prejudice of England, etc. This I presume Lord Bellomont too easily credited, and ordered the ship to be stopped, until I produced a certificate under the hands of Messrs. John Bridger and Ben. Jackson, His Majesty's purveyors for Naval Stores, that the timber was not fit for His Majesty's service. Thereupon the ship was permitted to proceed on her voyage. However Crouch and Company, having another ship, the Mary, in this port, ordered the same voyage. My Lord Bellomont strictly forbids her loading until I gave 3,000l. bond she should go for England, and thither she was forced to goe, contrary to ye owners' orders, and very much to their damage. I'm very sensible, considering my circumstances, of the great obligation I lie under to promote His Majesty's interest in preventing any irregular trade, but when the merchants of England send their ships hither to load with such commodities as are neither forbidden by His Majesty nor prohibited by Act of Parliament, as sundry enumerated commodities are, I can't see my way clear to stop such ships, especially when I can make it evident such a trade tends very much to the interest of England, e.g., the Friends' Adventure loaded hence with lumber for Lixbon, thence proceeds for London with the effects thereof and some other goods on freight, where this only ship one voyage paid the King 4,000l. duty, brings over to New England for the owners 4,000l. value of the manufacture of England for the supply of His Majesty's subjects here. It may also be considered that New England being large, and multiplying in its inhabitants, it will require yearly the clearing of land to provide bread for their sustenance, and since the timber cutt off such land is found not so fit for his Majesty's service as could be wished, if a trade therewith be prohibited elsewhere, so much will be quite lost, and the poor people, instead of improving their labour thereon to procure clothing from England, will be quite necessitated to keep sheep for their own clothing, which now they disregard, for that they have it cheap from England. The two principal comodities, the product of New England. wherewith returns are made for ye manufacture of England, are fish and lumber, and ye London factors find it very difficult to make returns for England equivalent to the goods yearly brought thence. They have already drained the country of most of its money, and if there be a prohibition farther laid on any of the native product of this country, England will loose the vending a great part of its manufacture usually sent hither, and New England must satisfie itself with soe much ye less, which can be beneficial to neither. I humbly pray the favour of your Lordships' directions in this matter. Signed, Wm. Patridge. Endorsed, Recd. Feb. 12, 1700/1. 4 pp. Enclosed,
961. i. Lord Bellomont to William Patridge, Boston, Ap. 22, 1700. (No. 354.vi.) Copy. 1 p.
961. ii. Lord Bellomont to William Patridge. N. Yorke, Sept. 16, 1700. Copy. ¾ p. [Board of Trade. New England, 11. Nos. 29, 29.i.,ii.; and (without enclosures) 38. pp. 373–378.]
Dec. 2. 962. Journal of Assembly of Barbados. Only ten members appearing, the House adjourned for a fortnight. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 66. p. 422.]
Dec. 3. 963. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Barbados. Petition of James and Elizabeth Cowse referred till next Council day.
Letter from the Council of Trade enclosing the Lords Justices' Order, July 18, 1700, relating to a return of the method of proceedings in the several Courts read. The five eldest members of this Board were appointed a Committee to draw up a full answer.
Bill to encourage inhabitants to become owners of vessels, returned from Committee with amendments, was read and approved, and ordered to lie upon the table until His Excellency was duly informed and satisfied with the quantity of powder now in store, an account of which was ordered forthwith.
Act for destroying wild monkeys and racoons read the third time and rejected, and a new Bill, containing some material amendments recommended in committee, was ordered to be drawn.
New Bill, for destroying monkeys, racoons, foxes, drills, baboons and other such pernicious and mischievous creatures, read twice and ordered to be engrossed.
Lt. Col. George Peers brought in, as ordered, the wants and defects of the Fortifications of St. Michael's Division.
Petition of Mr. Frizell, setting forth that he being very drunk did drink the late King James' health and was thereupon committed to gaol, and had given security to answer the same at the next General Sessions, and praying for a noli prosequi to be entered, rejected for several reasons and for asserting a falsehood in the case of Mr. Horne.
Publick notice ordered to be given that Writs of Error be heard on Jan. 21 next. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 66. pp. 386–389.]
Dec. 3.
Whitehall.
964. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Nathaniel Blakiston. The letters we have of late received from you, unto which we have as yet returned no answer, are dated March 12 and 24, May 28, July 5 and Aug. 6. We observe the reason you allege in the first for not sending an account of the number of planters and inhabitants and the promise you make to take care that it be exactly done. We desire you to be mindful of His Majesty's instructions for sending yearly accounts of the arms and ammunition and stores remaining in His Majesty's magazines. As to the division line to be run through Maryland and Pensylvania, we have sent to the Lord Baltimore that he may instruct his agents in Maryland to concur therein, and according as we receive answer from him, we shall inform you. We observe that you write in several letters about the difficulty of getting together a quorum of the Council in Maryland when occasion requires it, and have thereupon represented to His Majesty that Mr. Thomas Lawrence may be constituted a member of His Majesty's Council, and we doubt not his father, Sir Thomas Lawrence, will transmit unto him His Majesty's Order in Council for that purpose. We find it necessary to desire you to transmit unto us frequently lists of the Councillors that are residing upon the place, expressing in each list the changes that happen by the death or absence of any of them; and to send us also from time to time repeated lists of the names of such persons as you think fit to supply vacancies in that Council with your observations upon them.
The Acts of the General Assembly that you have lately transmitted to us are now in the hands of Mr. Attorney General; that for Religion being among the rest. When they come back to us, whatsoever has been alledged, either by yourself or by the Council of Maryland in their letter to us, shall be duly considered. It will be for the service of the Province that an Agent be constituted, with authority and instructions to solicite the dispatch of Acts lying either with the Attorney or Solicitor General and all other public business wherein the Province is concerned. The charge need not be great. It is a thing done by most of the Plantations, and proves very useful to them. We shall expect your answer to what we have writ you about a trade with the Western Indians, and whatever else you can suggest on that subject, after you have had the meeting which you intend with the Earl of Bellomont. You have done well in transmitting to us copies of what you sent to Mr. Secretary Vernon relating to Capt. Munday, and we desire you to send the like copies of whatsoever you shall write to other offices upon such publick occasions for the future. Though there may be many things sent to us in this manner upon which it is not proper for us to give directions, yet the whole is very necessary for our information. We acquainted the Lords of the Treasury with the account you give of the pirates' effects in your hands, and doubt not but, if you have not already, you will have due orders for the disposal thereof. We observe what you write about the proposals made by the Assembly for paying the public levies in money, but forbear returning any answer at present, so material a change requiring consideration. We desire you, as we shall the Governors of all His Majesty's Plantations, that a memorandum be entered upon the Council books, to caution the said Council that whenever the Government of Maryland, by the death, absence or removal of a Governor or Lieutenant-Governor immediately commissioned by His Majesty, comes to devolve upon a President and the Council, the said President and Council do forbear to pass any Acts but such as are immediately necessary for the peace and welfare of the Province, without His Majesty's express order for that purpose. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney, Mat. Prior. P.S.—Reflecting upon what your predecessor, Col. Nicholson, has formerly signified to us concerning forts in Maryland, that they are of no use for the defence of that country, we think it so much the more necessary that due care be taken for regulating the militia, and that they be so disciplined and trained as to render them useful, whenever there may be occasion; we therefore particularly recommend that matter to your care. [Board of Trade. Maryland, 10. pp. 5–10.]
Dec. 3.
Whitehall.
965. Circular letter from the Council of Trade and Plantations to the Governors of the several Plantations in America. We send you a copy of an agreement lately made by Capt. Munden and Consul Cole with the Government of Algiers, by which all English merchant ships are exempted from being molested by the Algerians, on account of their not having passes, until the end of Sept., 1701, but after that time, if not provided with such passes, will be liable to be carried up to Algiers and have their lading confiscated; and we desire you thereupon to take care that due notice be given thereof in your Government, that all persons concerned may thereby have opportunity to provide themselves with the Admiralty passes for their security in that occasion according to the instructions that have not long since been sent you by the Admiralty, with passes to be distributed accordingly; and in case you find occasion for a greater number of passes than you have yet received, you will do well to apply yourself in time to the Lords of the Admiralty, that you may be accordingly furnished with them. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney, Mat. Prior. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 35. pp. 358, 359.]
Dec. 3.
Whitehall.
966. William Popple to William Dockwra. The Council of Trade and Plantations, being surprized that they do not in all this while receive any answer from yourself or the Proprietors of East New Jersey to my letter etc. of Nov. 16, desire you to acquaint the Proprietors that if their Lordships do not speedily receive an answer to that matter, they shall be obliged to report upon it ex parte, as it now lies before them. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 26. pp. 350, 351.]
[? Dec. 3.]
Whitehall.
967. J. Bass to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The continued advises by every ship of the distractions and anarchy of the Jersies, occasions me in all humility to request your Lordships' speedy care of them. His Majesty has been graciously pleased to refer their case to your consideration, and I entreat you to be speedy in taking measures for their relief and settlement, and in order thereunto that the Proprietors be commanded to bring in a speedy answer to the petition referred to your Lordships. Signed, J. Bass. Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec. 3, 1700. ¾ p. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5. No. 73; and 26. pp. 349, 350.]
Dec. 3. 968. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Letter to Gov. Blakiston signed.
Memorial from Mr. Bass read, and thereupon ordered that Mr. Dockwra be pressed for a speedy answer to what writ him the 16th of the last month.
Draft of a letter to the Governor of Virginia was agreed upon.
Mr. Attorney and Solicitor attending, as they had been desired, in order to the explanation of their opinion upon the validity of Col. Foxe's authority to assume the Government of the Leeward Islands, after the consideration of His Majesty's instructions to Col. Codrington decd., as well as the Lords Justices' letter to the President and Council of Nevis, Sept. 29, 1698, and His Majesty's Commission to Col. Fox to be Lt. General of those islands, Nov. 15, 1699, they did agree that Col. Foxe's authority seemed doubtful, whereupon their Lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a Representation to be laid before His Majesty upon that subject.
Circular letters to the Governors of Plantations, concerning the agreement with Algiers, were signed.
Dec. 4. Letter to Governor Nicholson signed.
A postscript was added to the letter, signed yesterday, to the Governor of Maryland with relation to the militia of that Province.
Representation upon the Acts of the Leeward Islands, passed by Col. Fox, signed. [Board of Trade. Journal, 13. pp. 262–264; and 97. Nos. 212, 213.]
Dec. 4.
Whitehall.
969. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Some doubt having arisen about the validity of certain Acts of the General Assembly of the Leeward Islands, passed there by Col. Edward Fox, upon pretence of authority derived from your Majesty's Commission constituting him Lieutenant-General of the said Island[s], we humbly crave leave to lay before your Majesty the following state of that matter. Upon the death of the late Col. Codrington the powers and authorities of the Governor in Chief of those Islands did by your Majesty's instructions to the said Col. Codrington devolve on the President and Council of the Island of Nevis, who were also confirmed in the exercise of those powers by a letter from their Excellencies, the Lords Justices, of Sept. 29, 1698. Your Majesty was afterwards pleased by Commission, dated May 13, 1699, to constitute Col. Codrington, son of Col. Codrington, deceased, Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the said Islands, but he did not set out from hence till about August last. Meanwhile, upon the death of Col. Collingwood, who commanded your Majesty's forces in the said Islands, your Majesty was pleased to appoint Col. Edward Fox to succeed him, and thereupon also to grant the said Fox a commission, Nov. 15, 1699, to be Lieutenant General of the Islands, and in case of the death or absence of the Governor-in-Chief, to execute and perform all and singular the powers and directions contained in your Majesty's Commission or Instructions to him. Upon Col. Foxe's departure from hence for the Leeward Islands, we understanding that he had desired a copy of your Majesty's Instructions to Col. Codrington, and thereupon doubting, least upon some mistake of the meaning and intention of your Majesty's Commission to himself, he might have thoughts of assuming that Government, we forthwith wrote to advise him that the Government of those Islands being upon the death of the late Governor devolved upon the President and Council of Nevis, and they being then in possession and exercise of the same, we were of opinion that they could not be dispossessed until the publication of your Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal to a new Governor, which letter was dated Dec. 21, 1699, and we have reason to believe it was delivered to him soon after his arrival in the said Islands. However, he has proceeded to take upon himself the powers of Commander in Chief of the Islands, dispossessing the President and Council of Nevis, who were settled in the exercise thereof, so that there was no vacancy nor want of an authority duly constituted, and he has passed several Acts in the General Assemblies of the Islands, some of which have been transmitted to us. The validity of the authority by which those Acts were passed being a point necessary to be determined, we have advised with your Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General, and thereupon humbly represent our opinion that: Col. Fox has exceeded his commission by taking upon him to be Chief Governor and passing Acts in the General Assemblies; that the validity of those Acts may hereafter be called in question as passed by an insufficient authority; that your Majesty would therefore be pleased to declare all Acts so passed to be null and void; that whatever is necessary for the good of the Islands in the Acts passed by Col. Fox may be executed in Assemblies legally summoned by the present Governor; that all such persons as have acted pursuant to the Acts past by Col. Fox may be indemnified by an Act to be past for that purpose. Signed, Stamford, Ph. Meadows, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney, Mat. Prior. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 46. pp. 125–128.]
Dec. 4.
Whitehall.
970. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Nicholson. Since ours of Aug. 21, we have received letters from you of the 1st and 27th of the same month, which containing for the most part only matter of information, do not require much answer. You will have seen by our last that we have proposed Mr. Lewis Burwell to be a member of his Majesty's Council in Virginia, and their Excellencies, the Lords Justices, having approved thereof, we doubt not but Mr. Perry, to whom we gave notice of it, will have taken out the Order of Council for that purpose, and sent it to him. We do not at present proceed to the nomination of any other, but whensoever you find the number of Counsellors residing upon the place comes by death or removal to be under twelve, you will always do well to give us notice thereof, and therefore we desire you to send us frequent lists, as well of the Council in being, as of persons fit to supply vacancies, with such observations upon each of their names, as you understand to be requisite. We observe the orders concerning returns of accounts, to which you refer us in the Council proceedings of the 9th and 10th of July, concerning which we have only to remind you of our desire, signified Aug. 21, for reforming the method of your naval officers' accounts, and that you take care to transmit unto us regularly all accounts whatsoever, in good form, according to your instructions. More particularly we desire you to be mindful of sending home yearly accounts of the arms, ammunition and stores remaining in His Majesty's magazines in your Government, and to see that it be done accordingly. And having some while since observed that the Council of Virginia have been of opinion that forts are of no use for the defence of that country, we desire you so much the rather to take care that the militia be duly regulated and frequently exercised. Whatever scruple you may have about entirely concerting affairs, as you express it, with Mr. Penn, or any other Propriety Governors, there can be no objection against your corresponding and conferring with any of them, as occasion offers, for his Majesty's service, which, whatever they aim at we are well assured will be the end of all your proceedings, and the advices and informations you may thereby be enabled to give us will be always very acceptable. Your care in placing the French refugees that went over with the Marquis de la Muce and M. de Sailly was very well, and we hope will be an encouragement to other refugees to follow, in order whereunto we have, according to your desire, intimated to some of them, that they will do well to apply themselves to Mr. Perry for his assistance in their passage. As to the case of the Mary Ann, which brought the first refugees to Virginia, that being properly a business under the direction of the Commissioners of the Customs, you have done well to send it to them, and we must refer you unto them for answer. We have nothing more to add unto what we writ you, Jan. 4, concerning the boundaries between Virginia and Maryland. We desire you, as we shall do the other Governors, that a memorandum be entered upon the Council books to caution the Council, that whensoever the Government of Virginia, by the death, absence or removal of a Governor, or Lieut.-Governor, immediately commissioned by His Majesty, comes to devolve upon a President and the Council of the Province, they do forbear to pass any Acts but such as are immediately necessary for the peace and welfare of the Province, without His Majesty's express order for that purpose. Signed, Stamford, Ph. Meadows, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney, Mat. Prior. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 38. pp. 59–62.]
Dec. 5. 971. Invoice of goods to be shipped on H.M.S. Advice as part of His Majesty's present to the Five Nations of Indians. Endorsed, Recd. from Mr. Champante, Dec. 5, 1700. 1¼ pp. [Board of Trade. New York, 10. No. 33; and 55. pp. 15, 16.]
Dec. 5.
Kensington.
972. Order of King in Council. For preventing any doubts that may hereafter arise concerning the validity of certain Acts of the Leeward Islands, the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations are directed to write to the present Governor that he cause all the Acts of Assembly past by Col. Fox in those Islands to be laid before the respective Assemblies there, in order to their confirming or repeating such of them as he and they shall think fit. Signed, Edward Southwell. Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec. 9, 1700. ¾ p. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 7. No. 9; and 46. p. 129.]
Dec. 5. 973. Wm. Dockwra to [Wm. Popple?]. I have communicated your letter [Dec. 3] to some of the Proprietors. Their answer to the remonstrance of those seditious complainants from E. Jersey has been ready these six or seven days, but there being another paper to be also laid before the Council of Trade and Plantations, which is to be signed by certain members of the Province of West Jersy as well as East Jersy, the difficulty of getting them together is such as takes up so much time, several of them living in the country, that I could not have them closed fitt for delivery till another meeting, appointed to be to-morrow evening. I hope on Monday we shall be able to dispatch them to attend their Lordships. Signed, Wm. Dockwra. Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec. 6, 1700. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5. No. 74.]
Dec. 5.
Kensington.
974. Order of King in Council. Referring enclosed petition to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Signed, Edward Southwell. Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec. 17, 1700. ¾ p. Enclosed,
974. i. Petition of John Hallam and Nicholas Hallam, inhabitants of New London, Conn., to the King. Refers to Order of Council, March 9, 1699, etc. (A. and W. I. Calendar, 1699, Nos. 160, 161, etc.) This Order having been read in Assembly, petitioners did lately bring their suit in the Prerogative Court of New London. (See Cal. 1699. No. 120.i.), and tho' they did plainly prove insanity, the Court gave judgment against them. Whereupon petitioners appealed to the Court of Assistants at Hartford, in May last, where the said judgment was affirmed. Petitioners then prayed the benefit of your Majesty's Order, and demanded of the said Court an Appeal to your Majesty in Council, which they did absolutely deny and refuse, and John Winthrop, who is not only Governor of the Colony but one of the Judges of the said Court, did then publicly declare no appeals from thence should be allowed to your Majesty in Council, and before any should be allowed, they would dispute that point with your Majesty. Nicholas Hallam has, by their contempt of your Majesty's order, been obliged to take upon him the fatigue and expense of a voyage to England to make further application to your Majesty for relief. Copy. 2¾ pp. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5. Nos. 75, 75.i.; and 26. pp. 391–396.]
Dec. 5.
Kensington.
975. Order of King in Council referring enclosed petition to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations to examine, and thereupon to write to the Governor of the said Island to direct the Court of Chancery there to sit according to antient usage for the despatch of business and preventing the mischiefs arising to suitors by unnecessary delays. Signed, Edward Southwell. Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec. 30, 1700. 1 p. Enclosed,
975. i. Petition of John Loder of Hinton, Berks, Mary Crofts and Martha Fredrick, widows, to the King. Petitioners are interested to a considerable extent in Barbados, and interested in a suit sometime since commenced in the Court of Chancery there, but are much discouraged from the further prosecution thereof by reason the said Court does very seldom sit to do business, being frequently adjourned, and sometimes for five or six months together, tho' many hundreds of causes remain there undecided; whereas formerly the said Court did use to meet once in a month and sit as many successive days as were found necessary to dispatch the several causes there depending. Petitioners pray your Majesty to give such order that they and other suitors in the said Court may receive more speedy justice. Copy. 1 p. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 8. Nos. 65, 65.i.; and 45. pp. 190, 191.]
Dec. 5.
New Hampshire
in New
England.
976. Lieut.-Governor Wm. Partridge to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have lately received from Lord Bellomont an order from your Lordships for transmitting an acct. of the methods of proceedings in the several Courts, in obedience whereto I enclose a copy of the law of this Province for establishing Courts of Judicature for tryal of all causes, wherein all methods of proceeding therein are particularly mentioned, and a special regard had to the direction of His Majesty's commission in matters of appeal. Signed, Wm. Partridge. Endorsed, Recd. Read Feb. 12, 1700/1. ¾ p. Enclosed,
976. i. Copy of Act for establishing Courts, passed at a General Assembly, New Hampshire, Aug. 17, 1699, referred to above. 3¾ pp. Seal. Endorsed, Recd. Feb. 12, 1700/1. [Board of Trade. New England, 11. Nos. 30, 30.i,; and (without enclosure) 38. pp. 380, 381.]
Dec. 5. 977. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Sir Henry Ashurst laid before the Board his commission as Agent of Connecticut, Oct. 15, 1699, which was read and a copy ordered to be kept. He delivered also a letter from the Governor of Connecticut to the Board, dated Oct. 15, 1699, and another from the Governor and Company of Connecticut concerning appeals from thence to His Majesty in Council, concerning which matters he promised to bring memorials in writing. The said letters being read, ordered that Mr. Brenton have notice that there is now an Agent for Connecticut, and that he give his answer to the claim of that Colony to the Government of Narragansett Country, which they delivered to Lord Bellomont, and of which he was given a copy on Nov. 1.
Dec. 6. Letter from Mr. Dockwra, Dec. 5, read.
Agents of Barbados presented a memorial, which was read. The agents were informed that the business of His Majesty's revenue therein referred to was peculiarly under the cognizance of the Lords of the Treasury, so that this Board could not properly meddle in it without particular direction. Their Lordships then proposed to the Agents some doubts that had occurred upon reading an Act of that Island relating to the pressing of seamen, whereupon they promised to inform themselves and to return an answer on Wedn. next.
Act of Barbadoes for the better securing the liberty of His Majesty's subjects, etc., 1697, read, together with a memorial brought hither by Mr. Bridges, setting forth the reasons of the Legislative Authority there for passing it. Secretary ordered to desire the agents to give instances of grievances, etc. therein mentioned. (No. 960). [Board of Trade. Journal, 13. pp. 265–269; and 97. Nos. 214, 215.]
Dec. 5.
City of
Williamsburg.
978. Minutes of Council of Virginia. Commission appointed to administer the oaths and test to the Burgesses and to the Clerk of the Assembly. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 55. p. 45.]
Dec. 5.
College of
William and
Mary.
979. Journal of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 28 Burgesses took the oaths, etc. appointed, and met in the College Hall. William Randolph, Clerk of the House, took the oaths appointed.