America and West Indies: January 1717

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 29, 1716-1717. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1930.

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'America and West Indies: January 1717', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 29, 1716-1717, (London, 1930) pp. 238-251. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol29/pp238-251 [accessed 26 March 2024]

January 1717

1717.
Jan. 3.
Whitehall.
446. Mr. Secretary Methuen to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses following for their report, etc. Signed, P. Methuen. Endorsed, Recd. 8th, Read 9th Jan., 1716/17. 1 p. Enclosed,
446. i. Petition of Francis Melmoth, of London, merchant, to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Guardian of the Realm etc., on behalf of James Knight, Receiver General of Jamaica. Dec. 22, 1716. By an Act of Jamaica, 1712, for raising an Additional Duty, Anthony Major was appointed Commissioner to collect the money arising. By order of the Governor and Council, John Major, his executor, paid £3729 8s. 5d., part of that money, and £4607 8s. 3d. more of outstanding debts to the Receiver General, who gave H.M. account current credit for the said money, and paid it out in pursuance of warrants for that purpose given out by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Council, for the substance of the soldiers and discharging the publick debts. Yet the Assembly lately called by Governor Heywood have inserted a clause in an additional duty bill (which it is apprehended is already pass'd into a law) that he pay the same into the hands of John Chaplin. He will thus be forc'd to pay over again out of his own pocket mony which has been regularly issu'd etc. Prays that immediate directions may be sent to Jamaica to stay all proceedings against him, etc. Signed, Francis Melmoth. 4 pp. [C.O. 137, 12. Nos. 19, 19 i.; and 138, 15. pp. 61–66.]
Jan. 4.
Whitehall.
447. W. Popple to Wm. Lowndes. Encloses following.
447. i. Draught of a bond for Robert Johnson, Depty. Governor of S. Carolina (v. 6th Dec., 1716). Andrew Broughton and William Bonner sureties in £2000. [C.O. 5, 1293. pp. 58–62.]
Jan. 4.
St. James's.
448. Warrant of Prince of Wales, Guardian of the Kingdom, granting leave of absence for two years to Francis Coleman, Clerk of the Crown in Jamaica. Countersigned, P. Methuen. Copy. [C.O. 5, 190. pp. 376, 377.]
Jan. 9.
Whitehall.
449. Council of Trade and Plantations to Peter Heywood, Commander in Chief of Jamaica. We have received and had under our consideration your letters etc. of 11th Aug., 18th Sept. and 10th Oct. last; But find no Minutes of Council between 16th May and 25th July, 1716; This we are the more surpriz'd at, because in your letter of 11th Aug., you refer us to a Minute of the 9th of June, and in your letter of 10th Oct., you say that you send the Minutes of Council to the going away of Lord Archibald Hamilton, Sept. 21st, etc. We desire therefore you will send us by the first opportunity the Minutes that are wanting, and to prevent any such omission for the future, a mark ought to be made in the Council Books of the time to which the Minutes have been transmitted to us, if this or some such method be not already observ'd. [C.O. 138, 15. pp. 175, 176.]
Jan. 11.
Whitehall.
450. Same to Mr. Secretary. Methuen. Reply to Jan. 3rd. We find the allegations of Mr. Melmoth's petition made out; and we humbly conceive it wou'd be a great injustice to the Deputy Receiver of Jamaica, who has regularly issued the money for the service and support of the Government pursuant to H.M. Commission and Instructions to the Governor, if the Additional Duty Bill shou'd pass with the clause mention'd. We are therefore humbly of opinion that H.R.H. be pleas'd to send such orders as may effectually put a stop to any proceedings against the sd. Receiver upon this account. [C.O. 138, 15. pp. 179, 180.]
[Jan. 11.] 451. (a) Account of money issued by James Knight, Deputy Receiver General of Jamaica, 14th Feb.-17th July, 1716. Endorsed, Recd. (from Mr. Melmoth), Read 11th Jan., 1716/17. 1 p.
(b) Copy of letter from James Knight to Lord A. Hamilton. Kingston in Jamaica, Oct. 9, 1716. Complains of the intention of the Assembly to oblige him to pay £3729 8s. 5d, etc. Signed, James Knight. Endorsed, Recd. Read 11th Jan., 1716/17. 2½ pp.
(c) Extract of letter from Mr. Knight to William Broderick, Jamaica, Oct. 9, 1716. As preceding. Same endorsement. 1 p.
(d) Extract of letter from Mr. Knight to Mr. Melmoth. As preceding. Same date and endorsement. 1 p.
(e) Extract of letter from Mr. Bernard, Chief Justice of Jamaica, to Nicholas Lawes. Spanish Town in Jamaica, 6th Oct., 1716. Notwithstanding Mr. Heywood is by a particular Instruction limited to the power of the President of the Council and forbid to pass any laws but what are immediately necessary for the peace and wellfare of the Island without the King's express pleasure for that purpose signify'd; yet he has told the Assembly in his speech that he will pass whatever laws they think proper to send to him, and accordingly they have brought in all the bills that were rejected last Assembly; some of which are directly contrary to his other Instructions, and likewise a bill to prevent one person holding two offices which has been once already rejected by the Crown, etc., as preceding. Same endorsement. 1½ pp.
(f) Extract of letter from Thomas Wood to William Wood. Kingston (Jama.) 15th Oct., 1716. Mr. Knight is to be obliged to repay the money received from Major, etc. The Governor is to have everything crammed down his throat, and rather than he'll disoblige them, he will pass any Act they make. Same endorsement. 1p. [C.O. 137, 12. Nos. 24–29.]
Jan. 16.
Virginia.
452. Lt. Governor Spotswood to Mr. Popple. Abstract. Encloses following in reply to 1st May, 1716. Has suffered much from secret and malicious attacks upon his private and public character. Repeats July 11th, 1716. Has heard that people in London are spreading reports that there are "great dissatisfactions between me and the people of the country." Lest this should be insinuated to the Board, encloses address "from as considerable a Grand Jury as any I have known in this country." Printed, Va. Hist. Soc. Coll., Spotswood Papers, II. 187. Signed, A. Spotswood. Endorsed, Recd. 11th March, Read 23rd Aug., 1717. 2½ pp. Enclosed,
452. i. Answer of Lt. Governor Spotswood to the anonymous queries etc. May 1st, 1716. Abstract. (i) Challenges author to give a single instance of his having authorised officers of the Customs to extort illegal fees. Has, on the contrary, often foregone his undoubted dues, for the encouragement of trade or the relief of unfortunate masters. Instances the reducing of his fee with respect to small vessels, and the remitting to Mr. Byrd, his third part of his vessel condemned for illegal trade, etc. (ii) Does not know of any foreigner even in the inferior Courts who acts by his appointment either as Judge or Ministerial Officer etc. (iii) There is no fort within 60 miles of James River. There is a fortress with 5 bastions built on the Meherin River and a settlement fortifyed with a blockhouse and pallisade on the Rappidanne, both designed as places of rendezvous, the one to oppose incursions of the Northern, the other of the Southern Indians. The expence of building and maintaining these fortifyed places, and of guarding the whole frontiers for the last three years, has been by his frugal contrivance defrayed by little more than the sum which the Assembly had usually given for one year's defence of the Country. While the Colony was guarded by its old method of Rangers, it was continually allarmed on all quarters, and frequent murders and hostilitys were committed, so that in 1713 above 20 persons were killed and carryed off by the Indians; but ever since he was empowered by an Act of Assembly to take such measures as he should judge most effectuall for securing the frontiers, the outward inhabitants have not been disturbed with one single alarm. To attain to a perfect knowledge of the frontiers, he took a range from north to south without all the inhabitants and lay out 40 days together in the woods etc. Refers to appreciative address of the House of Burgesses, 1714, and his endeavours at Christianizing the Indians, an undertaking hitherto too much neglected. For this purpose he engaged the Tributary Indians to send some of their children, in lieu of tribute, to be bred up at the College at Williamsburgh, and prevailed upon several Nations to enter into Treatys, whereby they agree that all their children shall be taught English and educated in the principles of the Christian Religion, whenever we shall establish Ministers and schoolmasters at their towns. " In pursuance of this design I began two years ago to fix a master at Christanna, paying him out of my own pocket £50 per annum, and perceiving that my presence as Governor greatly influences the Indians, towards bringing their children to school, I frequently resort thither. This is the grand interest I have at Christanna," etc. As to the other settlement, Germanna, there are about 40 Germans, who having quitted their native country upon the invitation of the Heer Graffenreidt, and being grievously disappointed by his failing to perform his engagements to them, and they also arriving just at a time when the Tuscaruro Indians departed from the treaty they had made to settle upon the northern frontiers, he, in compassion to those poor strangers, and regard to the security of the country, placed them upon a piece of land several miles without the inhabitants, where he built them habitations and subsisted them until they were able by their own labour to provide for themselves. The allegation of his trading is false, etc. (iv) The treaties with the Sapony, Nottoway and Tuscaruro Indians were partly calculated to answer a design of this Government, of placing them in three settlements upon the frontiers, as a securer and cheaper barrier against the incursions of foreign Indians than eleven troops of Rangers then kept in pay. The Saponys willingly removed to the fort which he had built for their protection 25 miles without all the inhabitants, which he garrisoned with 12 white men and an officer, who were to range two or three at a time with 10 or 12 Indians. Here also was a tract of land six miles square surveyed and set apart from the Indians and garrison. This was what the Government intended at every one of the three proposed settlements. But the Tuscaruros and Nottoways not standing to the treaty, the former returned to Carolina, and the others continue upon their old land. The Querist would be hooted out of their town if he offered to shew his face there to the assertion that force was used to remove the Saponys or that the Governor had made a purchase of their lands. The taking away Englishmen's patented lands is another imaginary grievance. Whoever is acquainted with the Constitution of Virginia and the just protection of the law which the meanest subject there enjoys, will not believe that any man in the Colony will remain silent and patiently suffer a Governor to wrong and dispossess him of his property. As to the selling the lands which the Saponies had quitted, etc., this was done in accordance with the fifth Article of those Indians' Treaty. Nothing was received but what was faithfully expended in carrying on their new settlement etc. (v) The petition of the Nottoway Indians, was penn'd by a very turbulent and seditious person, who turned their humble suit for one thing into a clamorous grievance upon another, as they themselves declared, when they understood what it contained etc. Refers to Minutes of Council 10th Aug., 1715. This petition was brought into the House of Burgesses, without any communication to the Governor and Council, contrary to the rule in dealing with Indian affairs etc. The Indians were committed for their obstinate refusal to deliver hostages for their fidelity as by their Treaty they were obliged to do, and for such an insolent behaviour as was never before seen at the Council Board, and which strangely startled the Governor and Council to behold all of a sudden in those Tributarys etc. The same methods have frequently been taken by the Governors here when the Indians have misbehaved themselves, and have been found the best means of bringing those savages to reason. Besides it was judged of pernicious consequence for the Indians to be possess'd with a notion of the Governor and Council being subordinate to the House of Burgesses, like as two or three little buzie fellows living in their neighbourhood had endeavoured to infuse into their heads, persuading the Nottoways that by the influence they had in that House, the Indian affairs should be otherwise ordered, in spite of the Governor and Council: so that their correction was contriv'd more to root out of their heads a dangerous notion, than to inflict on their bodies any severe punishment; for all that was done to them, was a light iron shackle put upon each of them for two or three days, without confining them, but letting them walk with the same about the town where the Burgesses were then met in Assembly; and tho' the Chief person of the Indian Nations is distinguished among themselves by the title of King, yet every one knows that those Kings are of no great consideration among the English, nor of much authority among their own people; and as to the Nottoway Nation in particular, there is not so great distinction between their King and the people, as there is between a Corporal and the private centinels of a company in regular troops. The Querist would brand him with the murther of the said Nottoway King, who is still alive and in as good health as he was when put in irons, etc. (vi) Does not doubt to stand acquitted when his adversary instances names etc. (vii) "I have been endeavouring for some years past to have all the laws of the Colony to be brought to light, and have lately transmitted home a compleat collection thereof, in order to be printed and published for the better information of all our Justices here, who are too apt to suppose laws that never were in being, and to neglect the execution of others that are actually in force: nor can I wonder to find them frequently guilty of such errors, when I know they have not the opportunity of perusing all the Acts of Assembly, seeing there has not been one entire body of them in the possession of any man, or in any office within the Government. If then, in so material a concern, as that of levying money upon the subject, I gave the Justices to understand there was no law empowering or directing them to lay a poll-tax for payment of the Burgesses, yet I publish'd nothing untill I had the opinion both of H.M. Attorney General and of all the eminent lawyers in this country," etc. Refers to letter of 24th Oct., 1715, etc. (viii) " I readily acknowledge that I countenanced the prosecution of a woman for the whipping her slave to death etc.: for how unpopular soever the doctrine may be in this country, I still dare to stand to my charge given to a Grand Jury here, vizt., that in this Dominion no master has such a sovereign power over his slave, as not to be lyable to be called to account whenever he kills him; that at the same time the slave is the master's property, he is likewise the King's subject; and that the King may lawfully bring to tryal all persons here, who shall be suspected to have destroyed the life of his subject etc. By the 116th Article of my Instructions, H.M. commands me to endeavour to get a law passed, whereby the wilfull killing of Indians and negroes may be punished with death" etc. Refers to enclosure iv. etc. (ix) A heap of mistakes. The Assembly of 1715 was called together on account of the Indian war in Carolina etc. None of the Rangers were employed to keep guard in Christanna etc. (x) "The experience I had in the Tuscaruro war how much the Indians may be overaw'd by the very show of a considerable body of forces, gave me all imaginable reason to hope that my appearing on the frontiers at the head of a body of armed men, would have the like effect on those then in war with South Carolina, and who had intimated to me their desire of re-establishing a peace. This I proposed, (refers to speech to the Assembly), but named no sum of money for defraying the expences. Had the Assembly yielded then to my measures, the peace between the Indians and South Carolina had been sooner concluded, and the Colony of Virginia might, with a far less expence than £2000, have acquired so great a reputation among the savages, as would have secured its frontiers for many years against their incursions." Refers to Minutes of Council, to show that the negotiations began with the Indians. Continues: As to my being the head, and having stock in the Indian Company, that Society made me the compliment of choosing me their Governor, and I in return adventured £100 in their stock: and this I presumed could be no crime, since I coppyed after so great a pattern as H.R.H., who (if our publick prints be true) acted the same with the South Sea Company. But as to my having the greatest stock in the name of Katherine Russell, I deny the assertion to be true. (xi) The scheme I laid before the Assembly (see No. vi.) for regulating the militia was in reply to their address desiring me to propose a method by which the Militia might be rendred more usefull etc. I hope your Lordps. will approve the same, and not judge that I have endeavoured to destroy a profitable people, by desiring them to imitate the justice and policy of their Mother Country; where no such unequal burden is laid upon the poor, as that of defending the estates of the rich, while these contribute nothing themselves. For according to the present constitution of the Militia here, no man of an estate is under any obligation to muster, and even the servants and overseers of the rich are likewise exempted: the whole burthen lyes upon the poorer sort of people who are to subsist by their labour; these are finable if they don't provide themselves with arms, ammunition and accountrements, and appear at musters five times in a year; but an officer may appear without arms, or he may absent himself from duty as often as he pleases, without being lyable to any fine at all; nay, and if it be his interest to ingratiate himself with his men, he will not command them out; and then the soldier not being summoned to march, is not lyable to be fined etc. There is not one officer that knows how to exercise his men when he calls them together. I could not imagine that my endeavouring a reformation thereof, would be imputed to me as a crime, etc., etc. By my scheme persons of estate must have contributed to the arming and paying of the men who were to be train'd up for the defence of their estates; and I cannot but pity the simplicity of the vulgar here, who at every offer of a Governor to make their Militia usefull, are set on to cry against him, as if he was aiming to introduce a standing army, arbitrary power, burthensome taxes etc. And as for their abettors, who choose rather to risque their whole country, than to be brought to clubb for its defence, I wish they or their posterity may not have cause to repent of their present folly, when an enemy shall happen to be at their doors: for tho I will allow the Virginians to be capable of being made as good a Militia as any in the world, yet I do take 'em to be at this time the worst in the King's Dominions, and do think it's not in the power of a Governor to make them serviceable under the present constitution of their law etc. It is evident from my message to the House of Burgesses, that I left it to them to adapt my scheme to the circumstances of the country. (xii) No J.P. has been removed, but in Council and with the entire concurrence of the Board. And as to Military officers, I never granted a Commission to superseed another, but upon death or resignation; except once in Col. Byrd's Lieutenancy, who writing me word that the old Militia officers under his command desired their quietus, sent me a list of new ones, and I then being a stranger to the principles of that gentleman, trusted to his information, and accordingly signed Commissions: which I confess caused great dissatisfaction in that part of the country, untill I repaired thither in person, and pacifyed the gentlemen there by producing their Colonel's letter; and shewing thereby how I had been deceived and they misrepresented. (xiii) One Justice was turn'd out for acting contrary to law and to his oath, by being of council in causes wherein he sat as a judge etc. (xiv) I formed the plan of that part of the Act for preventing frauds in tobacco payments, and it is with much satisfaction that I have found it has succeeded according to my intentions, in advancing the price of tobacco, raising the value of the quit-rents and of all publick payments, and establishing such a standard of justice, that no man has yet had the face to condemn any part of it which I projected: but it is true some other clauses were added to it by those who now clamour most against the whole. Extraordinary pains were taken to procure grievances against it, but not ten men of any figure in the country would join in them. What all considering men desired, was not the repeal but amendment of the law; and this I was so far from opposing that I assisted the Council in framing a bill wherein all the hardships, which had been complained of either by the merchants in England or the planters here, were removed; but the House of Burgesses threw it out upon the first reading, which shews that there was not so much ground for the great clamour made against that law, since the Representatives of the people did not think fitt to amend any part of it when they had it in their power, etc. The law is not a loss to H.M. revenue in generall, for it restrains the exportation of no other tobacco than what would in all likelyhood be burnt at the Custome House. (xv) Except the lands in dispute between this Government and North Carolina, (on which no person is allow'd to seat untill the determination of that controversy), I know of no restraint upon any of H.M. subjects from taking up land in any part, but it is true that some time after my arrival here, observing many undue practices in relation to the unpatented lands (among which was one great abuses of some persons entring for vast tracts, containing much more land than they were able to cultivate according to the Royal Instructions. and holding them by the connivance of the Surveyors for many years, without either offering to sue out patents or sometimes even so much as to survey the same; so that for want of patents I found the Crown must loose its quitt-rents, and for want of bounds the people must a long time be debarr'd from the adjacent lands) I therefore judg'd it best, and had the Council's concurrence, that the Surveyors should no longer have liberty to admit, solely of themselves, these excessive large entrys; but that for all tracts exceeding 400 acres, leave should be first obtained from the Governor in Council to enter for the same etc. No man has been denyed the liberty of taking up as much land as he could reasonably be suppos'd of ability to cultivate etc. Instead of 12,000 acres which the Querist says were taken up, to my own use, in the name of William Robertson, and leased to the Germans, the whole quantity surveyed at the time of composing his queries, amounted to no more than 1287 acres. And tho by the Patent for that tract, whereon the Germans are seated it will appear to contain 3429 acres, yet what is added to the first survey is part of a tract taken up by one Mr. Beverley, and voluntarily yielded by him for the conveniency of that settlement. And as I don't know that H.M. has in any of his Instructions restrained a Governor from taking up land to his own use, as well as any other of his subjects, so I hope it will not be accounted any breach of my duty if for the security of that part of the frontiers, and for the settlement of a number of indigent people, I have been at the expence of surveying and purchasing rights and patenting a tract of land to which no other person had any pretensions. But because the entring for this 1287 acres in a borrowed name, may carry with it some colour of fraud, I beg leave to inform your Lordps. that patents for land being sign'd by the Governor, it would be improper for him to grant a patent for himself; and therefore it is necessary to make use of another person's name in the original grant, and such has been the constant practice of former Governors, whenever they had a mind to take up land for themselves. When the Germans arrived, they had not wherewithal to subsist. Besides the expence of £150 for their transportation, they are still indebted for near two years charge of subsisting them. I cannot therefore imagine myself guilty of any oppression, by placing them as tennants upon my own land, when if I had pursued the common methods of the country, and taken the advantage of the law here, instead of being tenants, they might have been my servants for five years. Nor are the Germans unsensible of the favour I have done them etc. The terms, upon which the Germans are settled, will not appear very like oppression, seeing they have lived for two years upon this land without paying any rent at all, and that all which is demanded of them for the future, is no more than 12 days work a year for each household; which is not so much as the rent of their houses, without any land, would have cost in any other part of the country etc. I hope your Lordships will be of opinion, that my taking up land, and building houses for people who were not able to take it up or build for themselves; my advancing money for their transportation and subsistance, when they must have been sold (according to the custom of this country) into servitude or have famish'd; and my allowing them to live at such easy rents, is far from what the Querist would here charge me with. I shall very readily yield him up the profit I have made by those people, provided he reimburses me what I have expended on their account etc. In reply to paper signed W.R. refers to the Council's Message to the Burgesses 1715. I have voluntarily gone through more labours and hazards for the publick, than any man in the Government; and particularly at once when the frontiers were most infested by the Indians, I went into severall countys, drew out the Militia and offered to march out myself at the head of but 200 men; yet could not engage such a small number of voluntiers, even upon great pay, to follow me, notwithstanding their wives, their children and all they had lay then at stake; and even tho' I called to some whose father's blood had been newly spilt by those savages, etc. With respect to one heavy charge and very unjust calumny, vizt. that my whole study is to enrich myself at the publick charge, I bid defiance to all mankind to produce a single instance of my accepting any sort of gratification for any place or office in my disposal, though privately pressed to do so etc., or of taking any fee, but what has been look'd upon as the undoubted right of my predecessors. Refers to the lavish style in which he has kept up the honour and dignity of the Government and celebrated H.M. birthday, and to the Assembly's confidence in him as shewn by their entrusting the publick moneys to his management etc. Signed, A. Spotswood. Endorsed as preceding. 18½ pp. Enclosed,
452. ii. Deposition of Charles Griffin. Jan. 4, 1716 (17). In Jan., 1714, he was engaged by the Governor to educate the Indian children at Christanna. The Saponie Indians express much satisfaction with their present habitation and thankfulness to the Governor for placing them so conveniently etc. The Governor presented each of their Great Men with a cow and a calf, but deponent never heard that this was other than a bounty, or that it was in consideration for quitting their land. Signed, Cha. Griffin. Same endorsement. 1p.
452. iii. Copy of Lt. Governor Spotswood's Circular letter to the Council of Virginia. Williamsburgh, Sept. 27th, 1715. Warns them that he proposes to consult them as to the powers of the Justices to lay a levy for the Burgesses, in order that the Justices may be saved from exceeding their duty, "the extraordinary proceedings of the late House of Burgesses against Justices, for their refuseing to certify certain grievances, having awakened these gentlemen to a more than ordinary circumspection as to the sphere they are to move in. They justly hesitate at assuming of themselves, a legislative power in imposing taxes, after seeing an House so violent to punish them for acting above the degree of Ministerial officers," etc. Same endorsement. Copy. I p.
452. iv. Report by the Attorney General of Virginia upon the trial of Frances Wilson for whipping her slave to death. Mrs. Wilson was brought to trial by the Governor's command, upon information laid by me. At the trial it was urged on her behalf that by the law of Virginia she ought not to be molested for the killing of the sd. slave. The Court gave judgment that she ought to be tried. The jury brought in a verdict of Not Guilty. Since Col. Spotswood had the Government, no person lawfully accused of any capital crime has not undergone a legal trial etc. Williamsburgh, Dec. 20th, 1716. Signed, John Clayton. Same endorsement. 3pp.
452. v. Inquisition upon the body of Rose, a negro woman. Nov. 26, 1713. We find that by hard useage she is come to her deth, we finding no mortall wounds but only stripes, etc. Signed, Andr. Woodley, Coroner; Fran. Lee, John Bidgood, junr., John Harrison, Nicholas Miller, Edward Miller, John Miller, John Fineash (his mark), Richard Bell (mark), John Harris (mark), John Bedgood (mark), Thomas Wren (mark), Richd. Wren (mark). Copy. 1p.
452. vi. True bill presented by the Grand Jury against Frances Wilson for the murder of her negro woman, Rose, by giving her 40 mortal strokes upon the back part of her body, according to the evidence of Mary Lupo. Copy. 1p.
452. vii. Account of payments to Rangers, 1715, 1716, = 245, 279½ lb. tobacco. Same endorsement. 2½ pp.
452. viii. Lt. Governor Spotswood's proposals to the Assembly for a new regulation of the Militia. Aug. 12, 1715. Same endorsement. 2pp.
452. ix. Address of the Grand Jury of Virginia to Lt. Governor Spotswood, praising his just and prudent administration and praying him to take his place on the General Court Bench. Oct., 1716. Signed, Thos. Nelson, foreman, J. Pratt, Jer. Clowder, W. Dandridge, John Story, Richard Sayer, Franc.Lightfoot, Augn. Moor, Wil. Robinson, David Bray, Reubn. Welch, Cha. Chiswell, Miles Cary, Tho. Jones, John Armistead, Wm. Mcclenahan. Same endorsement. Copy. 1p. [C.O. 5, 1318. Nos. 21, 21 i.–ix.; and(without enclosures), 5, 1364. pp. 500–505.]
Jan. 17.
Whitehall.
453. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary Methuen. Enclosecopies of letter and affidavits received from Carolina (? from Thomas Walker, v. Aug., 1716) relating to the settlement some pirates are making upon the Island of Providence. Continue:— We think the matters therein of such importance to the welfare of our trade and Colonies in those parts yt. we must remind you of our several letters and reports upon this subject and particularly of those of 13th Sept. and 8th Dec. last that you may receive H.R.H. pleasure thereupon. Autograph signatures. 1p. Enclosed,
453. i.–iii. Copies of affidavits referred to above. [C.O. 5, 382. Nos. 18, 18 i.–iii.; and (without enclosures) 5, 1293. pp. 68, 69.]
Jan. 24.
Whitehall.
454. Circular letter from Mr. Secretary Methuen to the several Governors of Plantations, to William Keith, Depty. Governor of Pensilvania, and to the Governor and Company of Connecticut, and of Rhode Island. The King arrived here on Saturday the 19th inst. in perfect health to the great joy and satisfaction of his subjects, and H.M. having been pleased to command me to continue in my present employmt. has at the same time thought fit to order that the Foreign Affairs in the Northern Province should be under the direction of Mr. Secry. Stanhope, and that those of the Southern Province should be under my care. This I thought proper to give you notice of, that you may for the future address to me what you shall from time to time have to offer for H.M. service, and I doubt not of your diligence to inform me of all occurrences that may be usefull, and fit to be laid before H.M., and on my part I shall be ready on all occasions to show you how truly I am, Sr., yor. most humble and obedient servt. Signed, P. Methuen. [C.O. 324, 33. pp. 66–68.]
Jan. 24.
Whitehall.
455. Mr. Secretary Methuen to the Lords Proprietors of Carolina. Same as preceding, with the omission in the last paragraph of the words and I doubt not … laid before H.M. [C.O. 324, 33. p. 69.]
Jan. 26.
Carolina.
456. Governor and Council of Carolina to the Lords Proprietors. We take the liberty once more to address your Lordships upon a very melancholy occasion, which is the deplorable state of your Province etc. To be silent at such a time wou'd not only argue remissness but the greatest stupidity etc. We are defending ourselves, with a handful of men, against numerous and potent Nations, and we have no allies of any importance but the Cherikees, whose Kings and head warriors are now with us. The charge we are at to maintain them, and the demands they make are so unreasonable, that we may properly say, we are become their tributaries. We buy their friendship at too dear a rate, if the wellfare of the Colony did not depend on the same. But my Lords to defend ourselves, and pay this annual tribute is a tax this country cannot long bear; £50,000 a year is a burthen we must sink under; and thô the pressure be born some little time, yet without speedy succours of men, many of our inhabitants will rather chose to leave their houses and land (as several of them have already done notwithstanding the most severe laws made to prevent it) and carry off their slaves, and such other convenient moveables than endure a lingring war and an insupportable tax. These are plain but necessary truths, such as your Lordships ought to know. The Province is now at its crisis, and upon your Lordps. sending of us relief, or soliciting H.M. on our behalf, depends the fate of this once flourishing Colony, which otherwise will be deserted and forsaken. Signed, Thomas Smith, Nich. Trott, Fran. Yonge, Robt. Daniell, Saml. Eveleigh, Ch. Hart. Endorsed, Recd. (from Mr. Boon and Mr. Beresford), Read 10th May, 1717. 2pp. [C.O. 5,1265. No. 63.]
Jan. 29.
Whitehall.
457. Mr. Secretary Methuen to the Council of Trade and Plantations. You are to transmit to me in order to be laid before H.M. an account of the quantitys of Naval Stores which are furnished by H.M. Plantations in America, together with your Lops.' opinion, what encouragements may be proper to be given in order to procure greater quantitys of such Naval Stores from those Colonys. Signed, P. Methuen. Endorsed, Recd. 30th, Read 31st Jan., 1716/17 ¾ p. [C.O. 323, 7. No. 70; and 324, 10. p. 97.]
Jan.31. 458. Certificate from the Deputy Remembrancer that Robert Johnson has given security etc. Signed, J. Hardenge. Endorsed, Recd. 2nd, Read 4th Feb., 1716/17. ½ p. [C.O. 5, 1265. No. 53.]