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June 22.
Jamaica,
Spanish Town, |
605. President Ayscough to the Council of Trade and Plantations. My Lords, I have taken the first opportunity to transmit to your Lordships the titles of the several Acts of the Assembly that have been pass'd during this Session, amongst which that for the better setling and securing the Island and vesting several parcells of Land in the Crown and for building of barracks &c. justly claims a precedency and my particular notice from the great benefit and advantage the country will receive by it; as it will not only effectually contribute to the securing the Island, but also to the reducing of the rebellious negros. The substance of which law is, that there shall be twelve defenceable barracks built through the midle parts of the Island in the most convenient places, where there are no settlements yet made; which barracks will be garrison'd and guarded by 800 men and a communication will be preserved between them, by the cutting of roads throughout the Island. Your Lordships herewith receive one act only that is at present ready, intituled, an Act for the more effectual directing the marshal's proceedings, and regulating thereof, the rest will be sent by the next ship. The parties since martial Law has been in force, are already fitted out, and are march'd to attack the rebells, who have lately been very quiet, but about four days ago, I received advice of their having surprized a Serjeant, and a guard of fifteen men in one of the out settlements to Leeward, and killed four of the men, belonging to Captain Pope's Company, a copy of which account, sworn to by the Serjeant, I here enclose; and I just now received an express that the rebells, before our parties could come up to them, have since abandon'd the place, and are run away with great precipitation, leaving their ammunition, cutlasses, lances, provisions and other necessaries behind them. Captain John Campbell is dead. Signed, J. Ayscough. Endorsed, Recd. 18th, Read 20th Aug., 1735. 1½ pp.Enclosed, |
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605. i. Deposition of William Portis, serjeant. 14th June, 1735. 200 rebellious negroes attacked him this morning in his quarters at the Island Plantation, shooting and wounding the sentries, and rushing into the piazza. The soldiers being all in bed, got ready as fast as possible and fought the rebels for three hours, but the rebels setting fire to all the houses, Portis and his soldiers retired. Five of the soldiers are missing etc., four wounded. He had but 13 effective men, etc. Same endorsement. 1 p. |
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605. ii. List of (10) bills passed during session of Assembly, 7th April-21st June, 1735. Same endorsement. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 137, 21. ff. 226, 227–229 v., 232v.] |
June 24.
Whitehall. |
606. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Duke of Newcastle. My Lords, Having just now received a letter from Thomas Broughton Esqr. Lieut. Governor and at present Commander-in-Chief of South Carolina signifying the death of Col. Robert Johnson, the late Governor of that province; we take this opportunity of giving your Grace this early notice that you may receive Her Majesty's commands thereupon etc. Auto-graph signatures. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 383. f 23.] |
| June 24. |
607. Petty Expenses of the Board of Trade, Lady Day to Midsummer, 1735.v. Journal. 6 pp. [C.O. 388, 80. ff. 132,133, 134–135, 137.] |
June 25.
Council
Chamber,
Whitehall. |
608. Minutes of Committee of Privy Council for Plantation Affairs. The Earl Fitz Walter this day laid before the Committee a particular state of the Island of Jamaica from the first settlement thereof etc., and a list of all the representations and letters from the Lords Commissioners for Trade relating to the sd. island since1715, together with a list of all the laws in force in Jamaica upon 31st March, 1731, and of such as have been past since that time for raising money in that island; part of the said papers were read and considered and the farther consideration thereof was adjourned to this day sennight at 11 o'clock, against which time the Lords Commrs. for Trade and Plantations were desired to cause abstracts to be made of the sd. state of Jamaica, and also to prepare a state of the island of Barbadoes. The Lords of the Committee took into their consideration a draught of an Instruction prepared by the Lords Comms. for Trade for Govr. Mathew to empower him to pass a new act for the continuance of a powder duty upon all vessels trading to St. Christophers; and the Lords of the Committee agreed to lay the sd. draught of Instruction before the Queen as proper for Her approbation. The report of the Board of Trade upon the petition of Robert Wright, Chief Justice of S. Carolina, was referred to the Lords Commrs. of the Treasury for their opinion thereon etc. The Lords of the Committee likewise took into consideration another report of the Lords Commrs. for Trade and Plantations upon the petition of Sr. William Chapman Bart., John Bristow Esq. and others praying for a grant of lands in the Brasils in order to make a settlement thereon; Their Ldps. agreed to report to the Queen as their opinion that it was not adviseable for H.M. to comply with the Petrs', request. 2¼ pp. [C.O. 5, 36. ff. 35v.–36v.] |
June 25.
Whitehall. |
609. Council of Trade and Plantations to Lt. Governor Broughton. Acknowledge letter announcing death of Governor Johnson etc. Conclude:—We make no doubt but that you will use your utmost endeavour to promote the peace and prosperity of that Province, and conform to the Instructions given to Col. Johnson etc. [C.O. 5, 401. p. 140.] |
June 26.
Whitehall. |
610. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Committee of Privy Council. Report upon petition of Thomas Rutherford, referred 24th June. Continue:—We find the allegations of his petition to be true; and considering that it may tend to the better people of the Province of S. Carolina if the large tracts of land granted by the late Lords Proprietors be divided into lesser parcels or lots, which may be capable of being cultivated by persons of small substance, we are humbly of opinion that His Majesty should be graciously pleased to order the 12000 acres to be survey'd and set out to the petitioner, his heirs and assigns in plots not less than 500 acres each, subject to the established regulations of survey and the several instructions given to H.M. Governor upon that head. [C.O. 5, 401. pp. 141–143.] |
June 26.
Whitehall. |
611. Mr. Popple to Mr. Oxenford. My Lords Commissioners etc. desire you will forward as much as possible the sevl. leidgers not yet sent to this Office; I am likewise to acquaint you that their Lordships are a good deal surpriz'd that the leidgers for this Office should not be compleated further than the year 1728.(cf. C.S.P. Aug. 27, 1734). [C.O. 389, 29. p. 197.] |
June 27.
Charles Town,
South Carolina. |
612. Mr. Fox to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Transmits lists of vessels entered and cleared, Charles Town, in the quarter ended Midsummer, 1735; als for the Port of Winyaw, Lady Day 1734–1735. No vessels from Port Royal. Signed, Jos. Fox, Naval Officer. Endorsed, Recd. 5th, Read 18th Sept., 1735. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 364. ff. 247, 248v.] |
June 28.
Boston. |
613. Governor Belcher to the Duke of Newcatle. Refers to letter of June 9, and encloses what passed in the Assembly of New Hampshire, "with whom I prevail'd to lay a bounty to encourage the raising of hemp, which I hope will in time be of good service in helping to supply the Royal Navy: but as the Province is small, and thin of people, which makes labour dear, and the farmers poor, I must be a suitor to your Grace for the King's Royal bounty to New Hampshire in a present of five hundred bushels of best Riga hemp-seed; and if it could be here some time in Oct. next, it would put a greater number of people upon preparing their grounds against the next summer. I am heartily glad the Assembly are come into such an act, for I don't know, wherein these Plantations can be in any other way so serviceable to H.M., and to the Mother Kingdom, as they will be in raising good quantities of hemp, flax and other Naval Stores," etc. Hopes that "this good design will not be nipt in the bud, for want of H.M. smiles upon the poor people, that are not able to purchase the seed". Continues:—If two or three skilful operators in hemp were sent over to New Hampshire for two or three years at H.M. charge it would be a great addition to the Royal favour etc. argues that the Navy would thus have a supply from within H.M. Dominions, and the people be diverted from woollen manufactures etc. Continues: The Assembly would not be persuaded to do anything in support of H.M. honour, nor in justice and safety to the Province and people, by making provision for the publick debts, and for repairing the fort and the prison; and this neglect is purely owing to the Representatives, who indeed made a pretence of doing these things, by a bill they pass'd in the House, (enclosed), but was rejected in H.M. Council as deficient in some parts of it for answering the ends they propos'd, and for being also inconsistent with H.M. royal Instructions. And thus, my Lord Duke, that poor Province lyes naked and expos'd by the injustice and neglect of the Representatives, who, being so few in number, are easily led by two or three designing men among them, and these are under the influence of Col. Dunbar, who seems pleas'd with every obstruction he can give in the proceedings of the Assemblys, and I expect nothing but quarrelling and contention, while he is there; for that seems to be his element. But were the Province once clear of him, I have no doubt but everything would soon be in peace, and the King's service go on easily; and I don't believe he is able to make out his doing one single for H.M. interest or honour, since his coming into these parts. Signed, J. Belcher. 7 pp. Enclosed, |
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613. i. Minutes of Council and Assembly of New Hampshire, May 8, 14, 16, 1735. |
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613. ii. Copy of bill for supplying £3381 14s. 8d. in bills of credit for discharging the public debts, passed in the Assembly, May 14. |
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613. iii. The Council's objections to preceding, including lack of provision for a sinking fund etc. May 16. |
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613. iv. Reply of Assembly to preceding, May 17. Nos. i–iv. Copies certified by Richd. Waldron, Secry. and J. Belcher. 19½ pp. |
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613. v. Minutes of Council and Assembly of New Hampshire, May 2–17, with Governor Belcher's speeches. Copy. 22½ pp. |
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613. vi. Act of New Hampshire to encourage the sowing and well manufacturing of hemp. Copy, certified by J. Belcher, 4pp. |
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613. vii. Act to enable the Governor and Council to take cognizance of the case of John Goffe, junr., of London Derry, N.H. Copy. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 899. ff. 140–143,144–153, 154–166, 168, 169–171.] |
