|
| May 21. |
Jeffrie Jeffries approved as the person to present the Addresses, as also the grant for his expenses. Copies of the Addresses. Proposed amendment to Mr. Blair's instructions. |
| May 22. |
Amendments to Mr. Jeffries's instructions proposed to the burgesses. Bills for public levy and impost on liquors agreed to, also the resolutions for payment of Messrs. Blair and Jeffries. The Assembly was prorogued. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXV., pp. 654–687.] |
| May 18. |
1,512. Minutes of Council of New York. A Committee appointed to examine the accounts of Major Ingoldsby's expenses at and since his arrival. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., p. 261.] |
May 19.
New York. |
1,513. Proclamation of the Governor of New York. For recalling fugitives under an Act of Amnesty for the late troubles. Copy. Large sheet. Endorsed. Recd. 6 Sept. 1692. [Board of Trade. New York, 4. No. 29.] |
| May 21. |
1,514. Order of the Queen in Council. Referring the petition of Mary, Lady Culpeper, to Lords of Trade and Plantations for report. Signed. Cha. Montague. ½ p. Annexed, |
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1,514. I. Petition of Mary, Lady Culpeper, and others to the Queen. For the confirmation of King James II.'s grant of the Northern Neck, between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, in Virginia, to her deceased husband; and for orders to be given to the Virginian Government to uphold her Agents in the said territory. 2 pp. Endorsed. Read 1 July, 1691. Minute of Lords of Trade of 1 July, referring the petition to the Treasury for report. [America and West Indies. 637. Nos. 21, 21 I, and Board of Trade. Virginia, 36. pp. 67–69.] |
| [May 21.] |
1,515. Duplicate of the petition and of the Minute of 1 July, 1691. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 22.] |
| [May 22.] |
1,516. Instructions to James Blair, appointed by the General Assembly of Virginia for soliciting the business of a free School and College in England. (1, 2) You will go straight to England, present your credentials to the Bishop of London, (3) use the best means to deliver our supplication to their Majesties and (4) endeavour to procure from them a charter for a free School and College, perusing existing charters of similar institutions. (5) You will beg that the College be erected on the South side of York River, and near to the appointed port in York County and (6) that it be incorporated by the name of the College of King William and Queen Mary and (7) that it be founded in the names Francis Nicholson, Esq., William Cole, Esq., Ralph Wormeley, Esq., Wm. Byrd, Esq., John Lear, Esq., Mr. James Blair, Mr. John Banister, Mr. John Farnifold, Mr. Stephen Fance, Nathaniel Bacon, Esq., John Page, Esq., Thomas Milner, gent., Christopher Robinson, gent., Charles Scarborough, gent., John Smith, gent., Benjamin Harrison, gent., Miles Cary, gent., Henry Hartwell, gent., whom (8) you will also beg may be Governors, on condition (9) that they take the newly appointed oaths. (10) Ask that they may have a common seal, (11) have a right to make all the appointments within the school, unless (12) they shall leave a vacancy for eighteen months, when the Governor of the Colony may fill it. (13) Ask that the President and Professor of Divinity be ex-officio of the
Governors, (14) that the Governors may have power to frame rules and statutes, (15) to fill up vacancies in their own body, (16) to accept bequests and gifts (17) and to elect a Chancellor, whose term shall be seven years and (18) that the Governors be sole visitors. (19) You will endeavour to have it provided in the Charter that no leases shall be granted to Governors, to prevent fraudulent dealing. (20) Having obtained your Charter, you will procure a good schoolmaster, usher and writing master. (20) You will do your best to procure leave to collect donations to the College, (22) which moneys shall be lodged as seems best to the Bishop of London, Lord Howard of Effingham, Mr. Jeffrie Jeffries and Mr. Micaiah Perry and yourself; and (23) the accounts shall be open to the aforenamed gentlemen and also the Bishops of Salisbury and St. Asaph, Mr. Arthur North, Mr. John Cary and Mr. Francis Leigh. (24) In matters wherein you have no instructions you will use your own judgment. Signed. Francis Nicholson, William Cole, for the Council, Tho. Milner, Speaker. 4 pp. |
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Instructions to Jeffrie Jeffries, appointed to solicit all the Colony's business in England. (1) You will, if you think it necessary, advise with some able lawyer as to your proceedings. (2) You will present our various addresses to the King and Queen. (3) You will procure copies, if you can, of all the Colony's charters and of former instructions for the government thereof. (4) You will take special care that the Charter contain confirmation of all lands granted, of power to grant ungranted lands and of all former privileges. (5) You will procure the help of as many of the nobility and men of note as you can. (6) You will procure also that the Crown shall make no further grants of land in Virginia without information from the Governor, Council and Burgesses that such grant will not be prejudicial to the Colony. (7) You will take, especially, pains that the Northern Neck be reunited to the Crown and put on the same footing with the rest of the Colony in every respect. (8) All further matters are left to you. Signed as the preceding instructions. |
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The Council and Burgesses of Virginia to Jeffrie Jeffries. We thank you for your good offices in procuring a favourable answer to our petition to the House of Commons respecting the threepence a pound duty on tobacco, and we now beg you to be our solicitor for all our affairs in England. Several addresses are herewith sent to you for presentation to the King; and we beg you also to procure a Charter-for us. We send you also instructions, and doubt not that any inhabitants of the Colony resident in England will help you. We send you £200 for your expenses, and authorise you to spend another £200 if necessary. Pray help Mr. Blair in procuring a grant for erecting a school and college. Signed as the preceding document. |
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The Burgesses of Virginia to Jeffrie Jeffries. Desiring him to present certain addresses from the Burgesses alone. Signed. Tho. Milner, Speaker. 22 May, 1691. |
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Instructions of the House of Burgesses to Jeffrie Jeffries. (1) To procure confirmation of the existing constitution, (2) of the sole right of the General Assembly to raise taxes, (3) of all former liberties and privileges, (4) of the ancient method of allowing appeals from the General Court to the General Assembly, as the only cheap
and effective way of redressing grievances. Signed. Tho. Milner, Speaker. Copies. The whole, 11 pp. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 23.] |
| May 22. |
1,517. Duplicate of the preceding. Endorsed. Recd. 10 Sept., 1691. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 24.] |
| May 22. |
1,518. Address of the Council and Burgesses of Virginia to the King. For leave to present Lieutenant-Governor Nicholson with £300. Signed. William Cole, Tho. Milner. 1 p. Endorsed. Presented 2 Oct. Read 12 Oct. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 25; and Board of Trade. Virginia, 36. p. 83.] |
| May 22. |
1,519. Petition of the Council and Burgesses of Virginia to the King and Queen. We beg for the confirmation of King Charles II.'s Charter of 1676 to us, and all previous Charters of liberties and privileges. We beg also that the inhabitants of the Northern Neck, who through grants to Lord Culpeper and others have lost the privilege of holding their lands from the Crown, may be taken under the royal protection and put on the like footing with other inhabitants, so that they may hold their lands as all others held their lands in this colony. We beg you also to consider our exposed and defenceless state. Until your gracious gift of arms and ammunition last year we could not have repelled an enemy. We beg for your orders that part of the royal revenue may be devoted to the defence of the country. We beg also that Assemblies may be held at least once in two years or oftener if need be. Signed. William Cole, by order of the Council. Thomas Milner, Speaker. Enclosed in letter of June 10. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 36. pp. 84–86.] |
| [May 22.] |
1,520. Address of the Council and Burgesses of Virginia to the King and Queen. At a recent trial of a case in Norfolk County the Court was violently broken up by Captain John Jennings of H.M.S. Experiment, who landed with an armed party, insulted the Sheriff, struck some of the Jury, and carried John Porter, one of the litigating parties, on board his ship, where he was kept for several days in irons. In Captain Jennings' absence his officers refused to deliver up Porter, even when a messenger came with a warrant from the Lieutenant-Governor and Council. We beg that Captain Jennings may be called to account. Signed. Fra. Nicholson, William Cole, for the Council. Thomas Milner, Speaker. Large sheet. Endorsed. Presented 2 Oct., 1691. Read at Committee 11 Dec., 1691. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 26; and Board of Trade. Virginia, 36. pp. 95–97.] |
| May 22. |
1,521. Duplicate copy of Minutes of Council of Virginia, from 15 April to 23 May, 1691. 37 pp. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 27.] |
| May 22. |
1,522. Duplicate copy of the Journal of the House of Burgesses of Virginia from 16 April to 23 May, 1691. 98 pp. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 28.] |
| May 22. |
1,523. Duplicate copy of the Journal of the General Assembly of Virginia, 16 April to 23 May. 35 pp. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 29.] |
| [May 22.] |
1,524. Duplicate copy of the Acts passed by the General Assembly of Virginia in the Session of 1691. 1. Act to give a reward for killing wolves. 2. Act directing how public claims shall be certified. 3. Act to prevent credit from being given to seamen. 4. Act to prevent the casting of ballast into rivers. 5. Act for regulating the accounts of public dues. 6. An act to revive an act for encouragement of manufactures. 7. Act to regulate tare of tobacco hogsheads. 8. Act for Ports. 9. Act for free trade with Indians. 10. Act to prevent horses running at large and barking fruit-trees. 11. Act to suppress swearing and uncleanness. 12. Act for Tanners, Curriers and Shoemakers. 13. Act for planting flax and hemp. 14. Act for altering the time for processioning of lands. 15. Act for better defence of the country. 16. Act for suppressing outlying slaves. 17. Act for an impost on liquors. 18. Act to appoint a Treasurer. 19. Act for dividing New Kent Country. 20. Act for dividing Lower Norfolk County. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 30.] |
| [May.] |
1,525. Schedule of duties imposed on raw hides and furs by an Act of Virginia of 1691. ½ p. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 31.] |
| [May.] |
1,526. Schedule of commodities proposed for duty in Virginia, with the rates upon each. 1 p. [America and West Indies. 637. No. 32.] |
| May 22. |
1,527. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Petition of Samuel Allen as proprietor of New Hampshire and of part of Maine, referred to the agents of New England. |
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Petition of Mounteney Boncle, and Colonel Rowland Williams's appointment as Naval Officer to the Leeward Islands considered, and decision taken. Governor Codrington's letters of 26 November and 15 February last read (see No. 1319). Petition of Edward Pate and Bastian Bayer read (see No. 1503), and referred to Governor Codrington for report. The Attorney General's report on the laws of the Leeward Islands read. Agreed to recommend their confirmation. |
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Order for an Engineer to be sent with the next convoy to Newfoundland. [Board of Trade. Journal, 7. pp. 16–18; and (so far as relates to New England), Col. Entry Bks., Vol. LXII., pp. 284, 285, and Vol. LXVII., pp. 174, 175.] |
| May 22. |
1,528. Minutes of Lords of Trade and Plantations. That the Lord President be requested to move the Queen to confirm two Acts of the Leeward Islands, to grant the office of Naval Officer in the Leeward Islands to Rowland Williams, and that a letter be written to Governor Codrington on behalf of Mounteney Boncle. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 43. pp. 332, 338, 339.] |
| May 22. |
1,529. Memorial of the Commissioners for the Leeward Islands to Lords of Trade and Plantations. For the appointment of Rowland Williams of Antigua to the clerkship of the Naval office
in the Leeward Islands, he being well qualified and having done good service at the recapture of St. Christophers. Signed. Bastian Bayer, Jos. Martyn, Richard Cary. 1 p. Endorsed. Read at the Committee. 22 May, 1691. [America and West Indies. 551. No. 22.] |
| May 23. |
1,530. Minutes of Council of Virginia. Order for disposal of the remaining stores of H.M.S. Dumbarton. Order for a proclamation to appoint anchorages for ships. Order for the royal collectors to be collectors under the Act for an impost on liquors. Order for payment of £50 to William Edwards annually as Clerk of Council. Warrants for sundry payments, and for reduction of gunner's salaries. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXIV., pp. 547–563.] |
May 26.
Albany. |
1,531. Propositions made by the Praying Indians of the three tribes of the Maquas, Governor Sloughter and ten others having met them. "Brother Corlaer." We are glad to meet the New Governor; and we condole if any of your men died of cold on the voyage, and we congratulate the Governor on his safe arrival. We thank you for restoration of our beloved missionary, and hope you will take care for our instruction in Christianity, for the French priests have attracted many. Our eyes have been opened to see the difference between Christianity and Paganism. We ask leave to settle at Tiononderoge, and we beg the Governor to accept this present of a pouch of porcupine-quills. Copy. Large sheet. Printed in New York Documents III., 771. [America and West Indies. 579. No. 6.] |
| May 26. |
1,532. Answer of Governor Sloughter to the preceding. I was glad to find that your favourite minister had not left Boston, and to return him to you. By obedience to his ministry you will encourage his good work. I consent to your settlement at Tiononderoge. I hope that you are so far advanced in religion as to distinguish not only between Paganism and Christianity, but also between the Roman and reformed religion. |
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There was given to the Indians, 1 dozen stockings, 6 shirts, 3 bags of powder, 16 bars of lead, 30 strings of wampum, 3 runlets of rum; also privately to the chiefs, some coats of duffles. Copy. Large sheet. Endorsed. Recd. 27 Feb. 1691–2. Printed in New York Documents III. [America and West Indies. 579. No. 7.] |
May 27.
Albany. |
1,533. Minutes of Council of New York. The Council sat at Albany. Pieter Schuyler, Dirck Wessells, Evert Baucker, Jan Janse Blycker, Gerrit Ryersen, K. van Rensselaer, Martin Gerritse and five others sworn justices of the peace. Order to proclaim prohibition of export of provisions. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., p. 261.] |
| [May 27.] |
1,534. Extract of a letter from New England. I hope our addresses to the King arrived. The subscribers to the third of them are rendered enemies to their country by the charter-mongers; and indeed loyalty and adherence to law are sufficient to expose a man to reproach. Most wise men agree that the old Charter Government was unfit for the people and dangerous to both King and subject; to the King as he had no voice in the choice of officers
nor the making of laws, and to the people by putting unlimited power in the hands of a few to oppress all others. For the corporation have by charter power to admit such as they will to their body, in which is vested absolute power, all others being debarred from the privileges of Englishmen. Again, this territory is broken up into too many petty Governments. To unite it under a just Governor and a good soldier, with a wise Council and a duly limited and qualified Assembly, would be the best thing for the King's interest. Copy. 1 p. Endorsed. Recd. 27 May, 1691, from Mr. Darnell. [Board of Trade. New England, 5. No. 165.] |
| May 27. |
1,535. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to the Governor, Deputies and Officers of South Carolina. We have seen an Act pretended to be passed in Carolina, signed and sealed by Seth Sothell as Governor, and by George Muschamp, John Beresford and John Harris as deputies, intitled an Act to disable James Colleton from exercising any authority in the province. This not being passed in the appointed form, not ratified by three legal deputies, and being in itself illegal and repugnant, we have disallowed. Before we had notice of this pretended Act we had appointed a commission to enquire as to the setting up of martial law, intending to proceed legally to the punishment of James Colleton if he had been found guilty, and had appointed a new Governor to succeed Mr. Sothell on his departure from the Province. You will yield no obedience whatever to this pretended law. Signed. Craven, P. Colleton, Tho. Amy, Ashley. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXII., p. 182.] |
| May 27. |
1,536. The Lords Proprietors of Carolina to the Governor or Deputies of South Carolina. Removing George Muschamp, John Beresford and John Harris from being Deputies. Signed as the preceding. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXII., p. 182.] |
| May 27. |
1,537. The same to the same. Having found that the Governor's appointment of Deputies in the room of such as have died or left the province, is dangerous to the inhabitants, we revoke their powers to do so, and leave it to the Deputies to fill the vacant places by majority of votes given by ballot; the person so chosen to be deputy until the Proprietor, whose deputy he was, shall appoint another. And any two deputies may convene the rest for the holding of such election. Signed as the preceding. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXII., p. 183.] |
| May 27. |
1,538. Commission of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina, appointing Richard Conant Clerk of the Crown and Peace for South Carolina. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXII., p. 183.] |
| May 27. |
1,539. Formal disallowance by the Lords Proprietors of Carolina of the Act for disabling James Colleton to exercise authority (the Act is quoted in full). [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXII., pp. 189–191.] |
| May 28. |
1,540. Warrant for Samuel Crisp to be appointed to the Council of Barbados. Signed. Nottingham. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. VIII., p. 239.] |
| May 28. |
1,541. Journals of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Draft instructions to Colonel Copley read. The state of next year's trade presented, and several questions as to convoys referred to the Admiralty. |
May 28.
Whitehall. |
Petition of the owners of the ship Society, of Bristol, referred to the Governor and Council of Virginia for report. [Board of Trade. Journal, 7. pp. 19, 20; and (as regards the last paragraph) Board of Trade. Virginia, 36. p. 60.] |
| May 28. |
1,542. Order of the Queen in Council. Confirming the Acts of the Leeward Islands, to appoint agents, and for supplying the Fleet with provisions. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 43. pp. 333–334.] |
| May 28. |
1,543. Order of the Queen in Council. Confirming the Act of Montserrat to prevent making and receiving bad indigo. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 43. pp. 335–336.] |
| May 28. |
1,544. Order of the Queen in Council. Confirming the Acts of Nevis, against engrossing provisions, to confirm former wills and testaments, and to reinforce an Act against trading with negroes. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 43. pp. 336–337.] |
| May 28. |
1,545. Order of the Queen in Council. Referring the petition of Edward Pate on behalf of Joseph Crisp to Governor Codrington [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 43. pp. 341, 342.] |
May 28.
Antigua. |
1,546. Governor Codrington to Colonel Bayer. Yours of 14th and 23rd February found me at Guadeloupe, where I burned the chief towns, destroyed the best part of the Island, had made a breach in the fort and was ready for an assault; when a French fleet of eleven ships, two or three of them men-of-war, appeared, on which alarm Captain Wright immediately ordered the whole of the Marine regiment aboard, without consulting me or the Council of War, and apprised me of his resolution to sail at once with the whole squadron. I was therefore obliged to draw off the army and embark or be left on the Island without stores of any kind, and with the small craft liable to be destroyed as soon as the men of war were gone. I chose the former alternative and embarked the army without loss of a man. I sent the Islanders all home in the small craft, and sailed myself with Captain Wright, taking the Blue regiment with me. The French fleet had their General on board with 500 soldiers from Martinique, which were all safely landed to windward; but finding our army gone, next day embarked with all haste to get safe back to Martinique. But early next morning our whole fleet happened to be mixed with the French fleet, so that in all probability not one could escape us; for, not having colours out, they could not distinguish our ships from their own. Our ships were near boarding several of the French, when Captain Wright put out all his colours and three flags, made signal for line of battle, and fired six guns at the Antelope, which was just about seizing a French frigate. He also called off the Bristol, which drove another on shore at the Saints, and made the whole fleet come to him, giving de Casse time to escape with every ship. I was on board him and urged his duty to him, but be told
me he knew his own business, and when the French had got sufficiently to windward began to chase, but abandoned it at three in the afternoon, so that they all escaped. This happened on Monday, the 18th inst. Next day he put me on board the Antelope, which with the Jersey brought myself and the Blue regiment to Antigua on the 20th, Captain Wright telling me that he could not and would not stay here longer with the squadron. He went straight along with them to Barbados, telling me that he intended to order them speedily to New England, despite the Admiralty's commands to stop here till further orders, which commands he received on the 3rd inst. I was an eye-witness of the whole action, and never saw such cowardice and treachery in any man as in Captain Wright. No service can be expected from this squadron while he commands it. A ship from Martinique, that came since to exchange prisoners, tells us that the French fleet gave itself up for lost when Captain Wright made signal for line of battle, there being no French ships in a body to encounter it, for their design was only to draw us off from the chase. De Casse, who carried the French general, sprung his topmast and anchored under Dominica, but reached Martinique next day with another frigate. As no more ships arrived there, the French concluded that all were fallen into our hands, but they dropped in one by one quite safe, on which there were bonfires and much drinking of our Admiral's health. Thus the opportunity for capturing their fleet, general and soldiers, all together, has been lost through the treachery and cowardice of Captain Wright. Hundreds besides myself, including his own Captain, can bear witness to this. He has left but one frigate to protect these Islands, though the French have two large and three small frigates at Martinique, which will certainly attack us unless Govenor Kendall prevent the fleet from sailing to New England. I write this in short, so that if possible Captain Wright may be removed and another commander appointed, and that the new commander may be under the orders of the General commanding the land-forces. The service suffers extremely from the division of command. Another squadron should be sent, as these ships are unfit to stay here any longer. I shall write at large to the Lords of Plantations, but by this conveyance can send no more than this, which you will doubtless communicate to them. Signed. Chr. Codrington. Copy. 2 pp. Endorsed. Recd. 23 July 1691, from Colonel Bayer. [America and West Indies. 551. No. 23, and Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 43. pp. 356–359.] |
| May 28. |
1,547. Duplicate copy of the foregoing. [America and West Indies. 551. No. 24.] |
| May 29. |
1,548. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. Order for the accounts of the present and late Receiver General to be put ready for the Assembly. Order for provisions to be brought to the King's ships of war; and for sloops to be hired to transport two hundred French women and children, whom the French refused to take ashore at Santa Cruz, to the nearest French quarters at St. Domingo. On petition of Anna Vassall for compensation for damage done by the French, four persons were appointed to assess the damage. Petition of Edward Broughton for restoration of the administration
of wills to his office of Secretary, which matters have been taken over, together with the profits, by Mr. George Reeve. The Governor replied that he had referred the matter home. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 77. pp. 79–80.] |
May 29.
Barbados. |
1,549. Information of John Rees. As to a design of Ralph Lane to break out of the prison at Barbados and escape to Martinique, giving information to the French of the state of Barbados. Copy. 1½ pp. Endorsed. Recd. 6 Nov. 1691, from Colonel Kendall. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 4. No. 64.] |
| May 30. |
1,550. Minutes of Council of Barbados. The Council met on the arrival of Admiral Wright's squadron from Guadeloupe. Agreed that Colonel Salter's regiment be landed and disbanded, receiving a crown apiece. Order for the Commissioners to dispose of the provisions collected for the regiment, and to discharge the vessels hired for their transport. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XII., pp. 192–194.] |
