America and West Indies: September 1702, 21-25

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 20, 1702. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1912.

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'America and West Indies: September 1702, 21-25', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 20, 1702, ed. Cecil Headlam( London, 1912), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol20/pp599-611 [accessed 6 December 2024].

'America and West Indies: September 1702, 21-25', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 20, 1702. Edited by Cecil Headlam( London, 1912), British History Online, accessed December 6, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol20/pp599-611.

"America and West Indies: September 1702, 21-25". Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 20, 1702. Ed. Cecil Headlam(London, 1912), , British History Online. Web. 6 December 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol20/pp599-611.

September 1702

Sept. 21.
Crotchett
Fryers.
976. Solomon Merrett to William Popple. I beg of you to lay the enclosed before the Lords [of Trade], by which they may see the damage we have sustained this year at Newfoundland for want of early convoys and of a fortification in Trinity Bay, both which I hope next yeare may be prevented by sending ships early and by fortifying Trinity Harbour, as I have already humbly proposed. It may seem strange that none of London besides myself rarely appear in this matter, unless it be considered that few merchants here besides myselfe are concerned thither this year; for my part I am very much endeavouring to uphold a sinking, altho' most beneficial, trade to the Nation, and I presume my shipps may take of[f] this year 10,000 quintals. Signed, Solomon Merrett. Superscribed,
976. i. Copy of Letter to Solomon Merrett. Poole, Sept. 19, 1702. Yesterday Tho. Wadham in the Hopewell arrived here in 3 weeks and a day from Trinity Harbour in Newfoundland; he brings the bad news that about a week before he left, 40 or 50 armed Frenchmen came over by land from Plascentia to Syllicone, and surprized the inhabitants there, killing three or four, and took Mr. John Masters out of his bed, rifled his house, and carried him and his goods aboard a Jersey ship laden with fish in the harbour, and carried away the ship and fish, about 1,000 quintals, sailing to the northward, but did not take a fish from the Rocks. They much doubt their being gone to Bonavista, where is only Capt. Weston (God grant it may not be so). A French man-of-war of 40 guns hath been seen of St. John's all this summer, and had taken 7 sail of ships in sight of that harbour. The convoys were not arrived when he came away, nor did they hear of their coming, nor any certainty of a war, until the surprize of the French and a flying report from New England. She saw no ships in her passage until she came into Soundings. God send better news; this proves fatal to this poore Towne, who will have a great loss. The whole endorsed. Recd. Read Sept. 24, 1702. 1 p. [C.O. 194, 2. No. 81; and 195, 3. pp. 106–108.]
Sept. 21. 977. Minutes of Council of Bermuda. H.E., the Members of Council, and the Clerk took the Oaths of Allegiance to Queen Anne.
Mr. Larkin appearing, gave rules for regulating the Court of Judicature about piracy. John Davis was sworn Register, and the Court of Admiralty appointed to be on Wednesday next come sevennight. The several Justices of the Peace took the Oath of Allegiance to Queen Anne.
Sept. 22. Upon a motion for considering about transportation of the French prisoners, who came on shore at the West End, Sept. 13, it is the opinion of the Board that a vessel be hired for their transportation to Martinico, and agreed accordingly with Mr. Gibbs for the sloop Olive to transport them at 20s. per head, being 54 persons, on Monday next. [C.O. 40, 2. p. 50.]
Sept. 22.
Jamaica.
978. Lt.-Governor Beckford to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Your Lordships have from time to time ere since his late Majesty's death been informed of the precarious state of this Island for want of a power of Government from her most Sacred Majesty, which is now, if possible, under a more uncertain one. On the 20th inst. arrived here the York and Norwich, with the several storeships and merchant men, and by them came a pacquet directed (tho' from a private hand) to Col. Brewer, as Lt.-Gov. of Jamaica. I met the Council the next day, and then laid it before them, Col. Brewer having for some moneths since been dead. Upon opening of the pacquet we found therein a Commission from H.M. to constitute him Lt.-Governor. I had well considered the present state of the Islands, and was of opinion that wee ought to have devolved into a President and Council, wherein I as the eldest should have presided, and could have been more capable, and perhaps with more security, of rendering service then now, but your Lordships will see by the enclosed Minutes that the Council were of another opinion, and all told me unanimously, and I hope heartily, that I must continue till H.M. should bee pleased to send a further power; that Col. Brewer being dead before the arrival of the said Commission, it could not supersede mine. I doe not see that we have at present (if we take things strictly) any power of Government at all, and I have signified the present state of our Island to my Lord Nottingham, but have not declared my sentiments to any person here, for fear of ill consequences. Your Lordships know that the whole form and power of our Government is derived from the Commission to the Capt.-General or Governor. Upon his death or absence, then the Lieut.-Governor has the power vested in him, and if here be no person commissionated to be Lt.-Gov., then the Council is to take upon them the administration of the Government. Now at the time of Mr. Selwyn's death I was, and had been for six years Lieut.-Governor, so that my Commission took away the power of Government from the Council. My Commission had fallen by his late Majesty's death, had it not been for the Act of 7 and 8 Willm., and Her Majesty's Proclamation, by which all persons stood continued till H.M. pleasure signified to the contrary. Now comes a Commission to Col. Brewer, which I should have thought to have been a superceding of mine. Your Lordships now see the present posture of our Island; however, from the small interest I have here, I doe not question (with God's blessing) to maintain things in a quiet and good posture, till H.M. shall be graciously pleased to send over a new Governor, or further powers.
Since the passing of the late Act for the reducing of rebellious negroes, who have been a great body for these ten years past, I have sent out 4 parties in pursuit of them: one of the partys of 20 odd men came up with their main body of 300, whom they engaged for 5 or 6 hours and routed at last: the negroes faced our men so long as they had any ammunition left, and wounded three of the party. We killed and took several. They had posted themselves in the mountains between the North and South-East Point of the Island, had a Town and above 100 acres of land well planted with provisions. This had been their next [? nest] I believe for some years, but we have burnt their settlements, and I have ordered one of the parties to post themselves there, and the other three to pursue, and if I can they shall not rest till they are totally destroyed or reduced. I take this thing to be of as much consequence as any I can think of at present: these rascalls have destroyed some of the out-settlements, and killed several white people, and if not quel'd may prove more dangerous. Our Assembly is under a Prorogation, and I shall not know what to do with them when the time is out, but think of keeping them afoot till further orders are sent to etc. Signed, Pe. Beckford. Endorsed, Recd. 6th, Read Jan. 21, 1702/3. 3 pp. Enclosed,
978. i. Minutes of Council of Jamaica, Sept. 22, 1702. 1 p.
978. ii. Memorandum of Six Acts passed at an Assembly in Jamaica, Aug. 22, 1702. ¼ p. [C.O. 137, 5. Nos. 83, 83.i., ii.; and (without enclosures) 138, 10. pp. 397–401.]
Sept. 22. 979. Abstract of preceding. [C.O. 137, 41. p. 7.]
Sept. 22.
Jamaica.
980. Lt.-Gov. Beckford to the Earl of Nottingham. H.M.S. York and Norwich with the store-ships under their convoy arrived with us the 20th inst., by whom I received yours of May 11, 15th and June 13, directed to our late General, Mr. Selwyn. As to what your Lordship is pleased to recommend in relation to the French Fleet and Spanish Flota, that matter is, I am afraid, now at an end, for yesterday was with me the Master of a sloop from Philadelphia, who reports that a sloop from this Port arrived there, and about eight weeks since, as I have computed it, had met with the French Fleet and Flota in the Latitude of 30°, that the Master of the said sloop was on board the French Admiral, who made some enquiry about the war, whether it was declared between the Crowns of England and France, but the Master had sence enough to know nothing at all, and was thereupon discharged and arrived in Philadelphia, when he declared it to the Government. I also received a pacquet directed to Col. Brewer, Lt.-Governor of Jamaica. I cal'd a Council the 21st, and opened the pacquet, wherein was a Commission from H.M. to constitute him Lt.-Gov., who had for some time since been dead. I thought that this Commission would be a superceding and a signifying of H.M. pleasure to revoak mine, and that wee ought to have been a President and Council, in which I as the eldest of the Council should have presided, and should then have been as capable, nay rather more, of serving of H.M. then now. The Council were of another opinion, and all told me that I must continue Governor till H.M. should be graciously pleased to name another. I do not see now that wee have any power of Govt. at all. I was Lt.-Governor at the time of the death of Genl. Selwyn, and had been so for 6 years before, so that my Commission took away the power of Government from the Councell, and I should have thought, had not the Councell been of another opinion, that Col. Brewer's Commission should vacate mine. Your Lordship sees the present state of our Island; however, I hope I shall be able, notwithstanding the little power I have, to keep things in a good posture and to maintain H.M. authority, whilst I have anything to doe with it. I shall endeavour to quell the rebellious negroes. I have sent out four parties in pursuit of them; one of them came up with their main body, which consisted of about 300. They had a town in the mountains and above 100 acres of open ground planted with provisions; they faced our party as long as they had any ammunition, and wounded three of them, but wee put them at last to the rout, and fired their settlements. Such an inmate enemy might prove of dangerous consequence, but I hope to be able to quell them, tho' they have been a great body for these ten years last past. We shall endeavour to make all the preparations possible for the reception of the troops. Signed, Pe. Beckford. Endorsed, R. Jan. 6, 1702/3. 2 pp. Enclosed,
980. i. Copy of Minutes of Council of Jamaica, Sept. 22, 1702. The Board was unanimously of opinion that Col. Brewer being dead before the arrival of his Commission as Lt.-Governor, it cannot supercede that of the present Lt.-Governor. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 45. Nos. 17, 17.i.]
Sept. 22. 981. Duplicate of preceding letter. [C.O. 137, 45. No. 18.]
Sept. 22.
London.
982. William Vaughan to the Council of Trade and Plantations. In reply to the Memorial of John Usher. The disorders in the Government of New Hampshire were chiefly occasioned by himself. John Hinckes, Richd. Waldron and myself were so farr from seizing the Government, that we never acted anything but by the desire, consent or order of the Council. William Partridge was by Lord Bellomont established Lt.-Gov. to the general satisfaction of the people there, and Mr. Usher next to him in the Council, but the latter did not see meet to accept of the office, left the Province and went to Boston; since that we have lived very peaceable and quiet, and hoped so to continue. I cannot make further answer till I write to New England and hear from Hinckes and Waldron etc. His complaints of Mr. Partridge's exercise of the Government I dare assure your Lordships will on enquiry appear very frivolous. Signed, Wm. Vaughan. Endorsed, Recd. Read Sept. 22, 1702. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 862. No. 131; and 5, 910. pp. 256–259.]
Sept. 22. 983. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Letter from Governor Blakiston, Sept. 17, read.
Letter from Mr. Jennings, July 18, read and enclosures laid before the Board.
Memorial from Mr. Vaughan, read.
Letters from Lt.-Gov. Povey, July 20 and Aug. 4, read. Upon enquiry at the Admiralty, answer was brought that they had recd. the papers relating to that matter, which Capt. Povey had sent.
Letter from Governor Dudley, with a copy of his Conference with the Eastern Indians, read. Ordered that the said letter be considered at a full Board [Sir Ph. Meadows, Mr. Pollexfen and Mr. Prior only present]. [C.O. 391, 15. pp. 208–210; and 391, 96. No. 153.]
Sept. 24.
Whitehall.
984. William Popple, junr., to Solomon Merret. The Council of Trade and Plantations return you their thanks for your letter of Sept. 21. As soon as they are a full Board, they will take the same into consideration. [C.O. 195, 3. p. 109.]
Sept. 24. 985. Memorandum of Council in Assembly of Maryland, March 16–25, 1702. Endorsed, Presented to the Board by Col. Blakiston, Sept. 24. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 56.]
Sept. 24. 986. Memorandum of Journal of House of Delegates of Maryland, March 16–25, 1702. Endorsed as preceding. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 57.]
Sept. 24. 987. Memorandum of Journal of the Committee of Accounts, Maryland, March 18–25, 1702. Endorsed as preceding. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 58.]
Sept. 24. 988. Memorandum of Minutes of Council of Maryland, May 8, 1702. Endorsed as preceding. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 59.]
Sept. 24. 989. Memorandum of Journal of Council in Assembly of Maryland, June 25, 1702. Endorsed as preceding. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 60.]
Sept. 24. 990. Memorandum of Journal of House of Delegates of Maryland, June 25, 26, 1702. Endorsed as preceding. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 61.]
Sept. 24. 991. Memorandum of Journal of Committee of Accounts, Maryland, June 26, 1702. Endorsed as preceding. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 62.]
Sept. 24. 992. Memorandum of nine Acts passed in Maryland, March 25 and June 25, 1702. Endorsed as preceding. ¼ p. [C.O. 5, 715. No. 63.]
Sept. 24. 993. Memorandum of Lords Proprietors of Carolina. A Deputation from Sir John Colleton, Bart., constituting James Moore to be his Deputy in Carolina. [C.O. 5, 289. p. 105.]
Sept. 24.
Chear Hall,
Orange
County,
New York.
994. Governor Lord Cornbury to the Council of Trade and Plantations. A full and true account of the condition of the souldiers, forts and fortifications. My own Company, consisting of 80 effective men, besides officers; Captain Nanfan's Company, 76; Major Ingoldsby's, 84; Captain Weeme's, 92. The two first in garrison at New York, the two last are at Albany. Those at New York are naked; I cannot describe their cloathes bad enough; and their arms were in such a condition that we could pick out but seaven and twenty muskets fit to fire in both Companys; there is but twelve swords in each Company, and as many bayonetts; they were paid their subsistence weekly. The fort at New York I found in a miserable condition, the parapet, which is of sod-work, being fallen down in many places; not one platform good, but most of them quite rotten; many of the guns dismounted, most of the carriages rotten, and some of the guns so honeycombed that they are not fit to be fired. The stores are in an ill condition too, there being very few fit for service. By the [enclosed] inventory, you will see in how ill a condition we are to carry on the war, and indeed how ill provided we are for our defence in case we should be attacked. You will please to consider that the frontiers must be suplyed out of this Inventory, which now have noe manner of thing, and how we shall be able to arm those men which we shall be forced to raise for our common defence. I am sure I do not know. The magazeen of the fort at New York is a building of bricks made by my Lord Bellomont over the gate going into the fort; it cost 800l., and was built under Col. Romer's directions, but I am well satisfied that a better building might have been made for 200l., besides that it is the most improper place in the world for a Magazeen for powder, because of the great storms of thunder and lightning, which are very frequent in this country; besides many people, that live near the fort, have been very earnest with me to remove the powder from thence, it being very certain that if the magaseen should by any accident blow up, it would destroy many houses as well as the fort. As for cloaths, the companies at Albany are in as bad a condition as those at New York, that is, they are naked, many of them not having where-withal to cover their nakedness. They were, when I arrived, eight weeks in arrears of subsistence. The fort is in a miserable condition. It is a stockado'd fort, about 120ft. long and 70ft. wide. The stockados are almost all rotten to that degree that I can with ease push them down. There is but 23 guns in the fort, most of them unserviceable, the carriadges broken and several of them so honeycombed that they cannot be fired without danger. By the [enclosed] inventory you will see what a miserable condition that frontier is in :—Schenectady is 20 miles from Albany, upon another river, by which the French must come if they attempt anything upon Albany; this is now an open village, it was formerly stockado'd, but indeed it is more like a pound then a fort; there is 8 guns in it, not above three fit for service, noe garrison in it when I came, but a sergeant and 12 men, noe powder nor shot, neither great nor small, nor no place to put it into. The Half-Moon is a place 14 miles above Albany, upon Hudson's River. This was formerly a stockado'd fort, made in Col. Fletcher's time. Nustugione is another place 14 miles from Albany, in the woods, where there was a pretty large stockado'd fort, but these two last, for want of looking after, are quite gone to ruin, by which Albany is left naked upon those two sides. As for the Militia, that is in as bad a condition as the rest, for they have never been once mustered since Col. Fletcher went from hence; my Lord Bellomont never saw any of them in arms but the regiment of foot at New York; indeed, by Col. Schuyler's care, the Regiment of Militia of the County of Albany are in pretty good condition, but that is perfectly owing to his care; throughout the whole Province besides there is noe thing like Militia; it is a thing forgot among them.
This Province is liable to be attacked two ways; one by land, that is by Schenectady and Albany, and if those two places are once taken by the French, they will have a free passage open, not only to York but to all the Colonies upon the Continent without interruption, espetially those to the Southwards of this Province; the other way is by sea, at New York itself; there lies just over against that towne a small island of about fourscore acres of land, called Nutten Island, which lies on the South-East side of the town; a bomb vessel may lie behind that Island and bombard the City as they please, and all the guns we have cannot hurt them; the way to prevent this will be to erect two stone batterys at a place called the Narrows, one upon Long Island, and the other upon Staten Island; the sea is but a little mile over in this place, and batterys being placed there, of 20 guns each, it will be impossible for anybody to hurt us by sea. I would have these made of stone, because stone is cheaper here than brick, and there is no turf to be cut in this country; besides that would be a continual charge, always repairing, and if an enemy should land, would be easily taken, whereas if they are of stone, they will not be so liable to want repairs, nor to be taken, and will effectually secure the City and Port. I look upon this to be the more necessary to be done, because in summer 1701 Monsieur D'Iberville came into the port of New York, to a place called the watering-place, within the narrows and within sight of the City; he was in a French man-of-war of 50 guns; he found an old man upon the Jerseys that piloted his ship in, and at York they never heard anything of him, till they saw him come to an anchor. He was suffered to stay there upwards of a month, during which time he sounded all the Harbour, from the City of New York to Sandy Hook, so that for the future he will want noe pilot to conduct him in; and this is all the charge I would have bestowed at New York yet awhile; for the securing the frontiers, it is most absolutely necessary there should be a stone fort at Albany and another at Schenectady; there should be a stone redout at Nustugione and another at the Half-Moon, as I propose there should be a stockado'd fort at Saractoga, a place 26 miles above the Half-Moon, upon Hudson's River, and is the farthest settlement we have. If a large stockado'd fort is made there, it will not only secure our settlements there, but it will be a retreat for our River Indians upon all occasions, and the charge will be very little above 200l. The number of men that in my opinion will be necessary for the defence of these places, now in time of war, will be 600 foot, thus to be disposed of, 400 at Albany, a Captain and 100 men at Schenectady, 40 men at Nustugione, under the command of a Lieutenant, a Lieutenant and 30 men at the Half-Moon, and a Lieutenant and 30 men at Saractoga. This number will so well secure our frontiers, that the farmers will not desert their farms as they did the last warr, for fear of being scalped, as many of them were at their own doors, and which will most certainly happen now again if not prevented by the method above-mentioned. Our Indians will be more easily prevailed with to continue firm to us (who are many of them wavering) if they see us soe well provided for our defence. This is what I think is necessary to be done, and if it is done, I doe not question but it will in a great measure secure this whole Continent, which does most certainly chiefly depend upon the security of our frontiers. As to what we are doing with relation to our defence:—Col. Romer having been a year and a half (as he himself told me) providing materials for the building of a stone fort at Albany, was the week before I landed gone to that place. I wrote to him to come to me to York, that I might be acquainted with his design before he went any farther, being informed that he had only marked out the ground; in answer to my first letter, he wrote me word that he was upon the King's businesse, and could not come. I wrote a second letter, and told him that if he did not come immediately upon the receipt of that, I would find a way to fetch him; upon that he thought fit to come, and indeed he gave me but a very indifferent account of his businesse, for by his own account I find he has been here above four years and a half, and during all that time he has done noe manner of thing but the building of the magaseen before-mentioned, which was done in June, 1698, and since that time he has not done anything towards the fortifications of this place, only he had provided about 400 load of stone and 100 tonn of lime for the fort at Albany; it seems he has been very intent upon some fortifications at Boston, for when he came to me to York, he was very desirous to goe to Boston, saying he had given the necessary orders for all things to be prepared at Albany against next spring, and that then he would begin to build, but that nothing could be done there till then. I asked him the reason of it; he told me he could get noe masons to work till next spring, but I found this was only an excuse that he might be at liberty to go to Boston. I told him (May 5) he should not goe to Boston till he had been with me at Albany, to which place I did intend to goe on June 20th. He then said that if I would give him leave to goe to Boston, he would meet me at Albany any day I would appoint; that the people of Boston had laid out a great deal of money upon their fortifications, and that if he did not goe, to give the necessary orders, they must lose all the summer, and solemnly protested that he would be punctuall to any day I would name. This being said in presence of several of the Council, and several officers, I gave him leave to goe, provided he should meet me at Albany, June 25. He promised he would, and went that day towards Boston. On July 5 I got to Albany, but Mr. Romer was not come, nor noe news to be heard of him. I went the next day to view the ground he had marked out, but I found that for the sake of having his gate answer the broadest street in the towne, he had carried the point of his south-west bastion into a bottom that runs near the old fort, where he must have raised his foundation of stone five or six and thirty foot high before it would have been even with the surface of the ground where the foot must stand; by computation, that corner would have cost 500l. However, I was unwilling to alter anything of his projection till he came, expecting every day he would come, till at last on Aug. 8 a letter came, to a man he had entrusted to provide materialls for the fort, dated June 29 from Boston, telling him that he shall not be at Albany till 7ber, which is a time which everybody here knows to be too late for building, because of the cold weather. Having seen this letter and being informed by some of the Indians that the French were making great preparation at Montreal, which can be designed against noe place but Albany, or Schenectady, and seeing I was not like to have Mr. Romer's assistance this fall, I thought that was too much time to loose. I therefore made another draught of my own for a fort, of which I herewith send your Lordships a copy. By this draught I have removed the Fort 40ft. from the bottom before-mentioned, by which I shall save that vast expense which the point of his bastion would have cost, and I have extended the fort 60ft. more northwards, by which means I shall intirely cover the west side of the towne, which is that which lies most exposed to danger. As soon as I had made my draught, I enquired for masons, and found eight, which I set to work on Aug. 15, that I laid the first stone of Fort Anne, and in 11 days they worked up all the materials that Mr. Romer had been a year and a half preparing, besides 300 load of stone that I had prepared while I was waiting for Col. Romer's coming. Thus we were busied when Mr. Romer arrived at Albany, Aug. 19, by which time I had laid the foundation of two-thirds of the Fort, and I doe well hope that before the frost it will be 5ft. high, which will be a good breast-work till next spring, that we shall fall to work again. I desired Mr. Romer to let me have an account of the 200l. he had received from Capt. Nanfan; at first he was very unwilling to doe it, saying that he had received the money from Col. D'Peyster, and that he would account to nobody but him for it. I appointed two persons to audit his account, and told him he must attend them and make up his account with them, if he expected to be at liberty to return to Boston according to Col. Dudley's desire; upon this he did attend them, and produced an account, in which, among other things, he charges the wages of 40 men, when he actually employed but 38, he charges 2s. a day for his son as overseer of the works, a lad of about 16 years old, besides a shoemaker in Albany, whom he had made his Agent, is allowed in his account 2s. a day more, he charges 5 per cent. for receiving the 200l. from Col. D'Peyster, and in his sum total charges 5l. 10s. more than the particulars amount to, and when the Gentlemen, whom I had appointed to audit his accounts, showed him those mistakes, he was very angry with them, and came to me in a great heat, and told me it was a very hard thing a man of his quality and station should be called to an account, espetially before persons who, as he said, did not understand accounts. I told him that the custom in England was for all persons that receive any of the Queen's money to account for the same, let their quality or station be what it would, unless it were money paid them for their proper salaries; he told me that was not the custom in Germany; in short, I find that he thought to have money paid him from time to time, and he to render noe account of it; how well that would have done, I submit to your Lordships' better judgments. I have been more particular in this matter, because I would have you informed of the whole truth, not doubting but he will complain of some hardshippe done to him, but I can assure your Lordships he has received none, unless it is a hardshippe to hinder a man from defrauding the Queen; as for Schenectady, we shall not be able to doe anything there till Spring, because there is no materials provided, and the chief time for providing those things is the winter, because then they can carry more upon one sledge then they carry in summer upon ten carts. The other places beforementioned will not be meddled with till I receive your Lordships' commands. I intreat you again to represent our condition to the Queen, and likewise that we may have some great guns, small arms and stores sent us over, of which I send you a list of such as I think necessary. Signed, Cornbury. Endorsed, Recd. Nov. 30, Read Dec. 3, 1702. Holograph. 7 pp. Enclosed,
994. i. Abstract of preceding. 2¼ pp.
994. ii. Account of the Stores of War in H.M. Fort at Albany, May 16, 1702. Chief items:—5 barrels muskett powder, 227 granado shells, 45 locks out of repair, 108 matchlocks broken and out of repair, 60 carbines, 6 runletts of small shot, 23 great guns, 680 great shot etc. 1 p.
994. iii. Condition of the great guns in H.M. Fort at Albany, viewed Aug. 24, 1702. Total: 13 bad, 10 serviceable. Signed, P. Schuÿler, Robt. Livingston, jr., Storekeeper. Endorsed as letter. ¾ p.
994. iv. Inventory of Stores in Fort William Henry, New York, June 2, 1702. Signed, A. D'Peyster, Rip Van Dam, Peter Mathews. Endorsed as preceding. 5½ pp.
994. v. List of Stores wanting in H.M. Garrison of New York, Oct. 2, 1702, vizt. Ordinance for the several forts in the Province and the batteries at the Narrows, in all 60 pieces, 30 whole and 30 demi-culverins; 1,000 new firelocks, 200 barrels of powder, 200 spades, 200 shovels, 100 pickaxes, 50lb. salt peter, 10,000 flints, 1 tun tallow, 2 tuns of musket shot, 2 tuns of sheet lead, and smaller items. Endorsed as preceding. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1047. Nos. 67, 67.i.–v.; and (without enclosures) 5, 1119. pp. 215–230.]
Sept. 24.
Whitehall.
995. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Lord Cornbury. Since ours of July 16, we have received but one from you, June 23. Those letters which you therein mention to have writ, relating to Mr. Atwood and Mr. Weaver, are not yet come to our hands, so that we are in dayly expectation of hearing very particularly from your Lordship how affairs stand at New York, and what your Lordship has done, as well towards reconciling the differences there, as towards puting the Province in a posture of defence, till when we have nothing now to write to your Lordship relating to that Province.
H.M. has been pleased to appoint you her Governour of New Jersey, upon the surrender of the Proprietors of their right to the Government of that Province, and your Commission and Instructions have been dispatched accordingly. We must recommend to you upon this occasion that you use your best endeavours to compose those animosities which have so unhappily divided the people there, and to settle that Province as may be most for H.M. service. Your having proclaimed H.M. at New York and New Jersey has been inserted in the Gazette here. The Court is at present at the Bath, and at their return we shall write to you at large, expecting before that time to receive letters from you. Signed, Ph. Meadows, Jno. Pollexfen, Mat. Prior. [C.O. 5, 1119. pp. 209–211.]
Sept. 24. 996. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. A letter from Mr. Lodwick signifying that there is a ship now ready to sail for New York being read, a letter was immediately writ to the Lord Cornbury and sent to Mr. Lodwick for conveyance.
Letter from Mr. Merret, read. Reply ordered.
Letter from Mr. Attwood, with a view of the Articles presented by the Merchants of New York to the Lord Cornbury against him, read.
Act of the Leeward Islands for naturalising Col. Walter Hamilton, read and approved.
Governor Blakiston attending, was asked when he designed to return to Maryland. He said that the state of his health was such that he had no thoughts of returning any more to that Province. He laid several Public Papers before the Board. Letter from Sir Tho. Lawrence, July 10, 1702, relating to them was read. [C.O. 391, 15. pp. 210–214; and 391, 96. No. 154.]
Sept. 25.
Jamaica.
997. Lt.-Col. Handasyde to the Earl of Nottingham. My Regiment wants about 120 to compleat me. The men are now perfectly seasoned to this hot climate, and are very healthy. I hope H.M. will be pleased to recruit us. I find by Sir Henry Bellasye's letter that the Earl of Rochester had obtained for me not only the command of the late Governor Selwyn's regiment, but likewise to be Deputy Governor in case of Col. Brewer's death; now Col. Brewer being dead, and no mention of me in his Commission, I humbly beg your Lordship's patronage, having nothing further to recommend me to H.M. then a long and faithful service. Signed, Tho. Handasyd. Endorsed, R. Jan. 12, 1702/3. Addressed. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 45. No. 19.]
Sept. 25. 998. The Queen to Governor Codrington. Whereas that part of the Island of St. Christopher's, which was lately possessed by the French, has been brought under our obedience, which is in a great measure owing to your courage and conduct, we do hereby signify to you our gracious acceptance of that service; and whereas in order to the better settlement of that Island, it is necessary that an account be rendered unto us of the number and quality of acres within that part of the Island so reduced by you, that we may give our directions concerning the same, we do hereby will and require you to cause a survey to be made thereof accordingly, and to be returned to our High Treasurer or Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being with all convenient speed; and in the meanwhile you are not to grant or dispose of any part of the said lands for a longer term then three years, but you are to send us an account from time to time of all persons that shall be desirous to take up or settle any part of the said lands for a further term than as aforesaid, or in freehold, that they may receive our grant or confirmation of the same. Given at our Court at Bath, Sept. 25, 1702. Countersigned, Godolphin. Endorsed, Recd. Read Sept. 29, 1702. Copy. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 152, 5. No. 9; and 153, 8. pp. 86, 87.]