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  2. Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 18, 1700...
  3. America and West Indies: January 1700, 2-5

America and West Indies: January 1700, 2-5

Pages 1-21

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

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January 1700

Jan. 2 (N.S).
Middleburg.		 1. Samuel Beeckman to the Directors of the Dutch West India Company at the Chamber of Zealand. Worshipful Gentlemen, After closing our principal letter, we are obliged with great emotion to inform you that it has pleased God to visit us with the disease called pressing or bloody flux. It seems that it has increased with the coming of the newly-arrived negroes, and that we may not be entirely deprived of serviceable Europeans we earnestly beg you to increase the number we have asked for and also to take care in selecting them. In case you decide to grant our proposal concerning Capt. Nicolaus Evertse, we think it will be of great advantage for the Company and for their servants in the matter of provisions, since he offers as a present 25 head of cattle yearly in exchange for kiltum, syrup, meraan, etc. We believe in this way our requirements will be diminished in such a way as to please your worships, especially if your Plantations are strengthened each to the number of 100 slaves, in which case each may be expected to yield 3 to 400 hhds. of sugar. The ship, which we sent to Wayne, Nov. 11 (N.S.) to fish and trade for provisions, arrived here Dec. 29 (N.S.) with a particularly bad catch and without having done any trade. Her skipper and crew report her to be in a bad plight.
Gilles Elias, late sergeant in Berbice, is returning by this conveyance at his own request. Signed, Samuel Beeckman. Inscribed, Read March 12 (N.S), 1700. Dutch. The style is very obscure. 2 pp. [Colonial Office Transmissions. 457. No. 1.]
Jan. 2.
Whitehall.		 2. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Dr. Cox presented an Order of Council, Dec. 21, 1699, relating to Carolana Florida, which was read. He said that, upon consideration of the inconveniencies that may attend a settlement of a Colony in that country by entering thereinto through the Bay of Mexico, he was willing at present to lay aside the thought thereof, and only now begged their Lordships' favour in representing to His Majesty that he may have a grant of some land at the head of Morisco River in Virginia, and under that Government, for the conveniency of several persons that had been desirous to settle in Carolana Florida, promising to lay before their Lordships a memorial to that purpose.
The Secretary announced that the late letters from the Board to Col. Fox having been returned from Portsmouth, he had sent one of them to Plymouth in case the Shoreham, in which Col. Fox had embarked, should put in there.
Memorial from Col. Pointz, Dec. 6, about Tobago, laid before the Board.
Memorial from the Agents of Barbados relating to Tobago, Dec. 30, read.
Mr. Ethrington presented his abstract of Laws relating to the poor.
Jan. 3. Representation about Tobago agreed upon.
Mr. George Lapthorn of Plymouth ordered to be requested to send the letter to Col. Fox by the first opportunity.
Jan. 4. Representation upon His Majesty's title to Tobago signed.
Mr. Attorney General's report upon the form of oaths, commissions, etc. used in Virginia read. Letters to the Governor of Virginia, and the Governor of Maryland, signed.
Consideration of Col. Codrington's memorial about Councillors deferred, since he was reported sick.
Letter from the Earl of Jersey with Capt. Bennet's petition, Dec. 19, read.
Letter from Mr. Churchill, Stationer, read. The Secretary was ordered to write to Mr. Lownds not only for the payment of Mr. Churchill's bill but also for that of the Post Officer, sent to the Treasury with Mr. Churchill's, March 31, 1699.
Two letters from the Governor of Barbados with enclosures were laid before the Board. Acts enclosed ordered to be sent to Mr. Attorney General for his opinion.
Jan. 5. Lord Bellomont's letter of July 22 considered. Opinion of Mr. Attorney General upon the New York Laws now in his hands ordered to be asked for.
Report of the Admiralty, Jan. 3, and Order of Council, Jan. 4, about Algier Passes communicated to the Board. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 304–311; and 97. Nos. 1–4.]
Jan. 3.
Bermuda.		 3. Edward Randolph to the Council of Trades and Plantations. Repeats substance of beginning of letter Dec. 29, 1699. Concludes; I was discharged the day of the date hereof from my nigh nine months' severe imprisonment, for which favour I return my very humble thanks to your Lordships. Signed, Ed. Randolph. Endorsed, Recd. Read April 29, 1700. 1 p. Abstract attached. Enclosed,
3. i. Copy of the Order for the release of Ed. Randolph. 1 p. [Board of Trade. Bermuda, 4. Nos. I., I. i., and (without enclosure) 29. p. 270.]
Jan. 3.
Admiralty Office.		 4. Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the King. The Dey positively refuses His Majesty's Consul at Algiers to permit his delivering to the ships of that Government counterparts of the Passes granted by us to merchants and vessels, as has been usual, but instead, he does desire that all ships of His Majesty's subjects may trade without passes for the space of 18 months, hoping by that time some effectual means may be found, as well for supplying therewith those which belong to the Plantations and trade from thence in the way of the Algerines, as those which go directly from hence or Ireland. The Dey insists that ships trading from one Plantation of His Majesty to another or from any of them to other parts, where they may be met with by the ships of his Government, should, as soon as may be, be furnished with passes, the better to secure them and prevent misunderstanding. Vice-Admiral Aylmer informs us that the reason of that Government's desiring our ships may all trade without Passes till such time as those in the Plantations can likewise be furnished therewith is the good inclination they have to keep inviolable this present peace, which they are apprehensive may be infringed in case some of the ships of His Majesty's subjects do trade with Passes and others not. We humbly represent that, as we do not think it safe the ships and vessels, which trade from hence or Ireland, should proceed to the Streights or elsewhere in the way of the Algerines without the usual passes, lest those Rovers under that pretence seize them as prize, so do we think it very advisable that the ships trading from the Plantations should be likewise furnished therewith as soon as 'tis possible. But in regard it is necessary they should pass to the masters of such ships through the hands of some proper person in the Plantations, who should give the oath and take the usual bonds in these cases, and that some rules and instructions be given the persons entrusted with the delivery of the said passes, obliging them as well as the masters to whom they are delivered to make a right use and application thereof, that so the ships of His Majesty's subjects may not suffer prejudice by foreigners trading under the protection of the said passes, which we are apprehensive of, if the strictest care be not taken to prevent it, we therefore humbly propose that the Lords of the Council for Trade may prepare and lay before His Majesty not only what persons in the respective Plantations may most properly be entrusted in this affair, but also what rules and instructions may be necessary to prevent the making any indirect use of them as aforesaid. Signed, J. Bridgewater, Haversham, G. Rooke, D. Mitchell, G. Churchill. [Board of Trade. Trade Papers, 14. pp. 413–416.]
Jan. 3. 5. Wm. Churchill to William Popple. I have lately seen Mr. Lownds and desired his favour in speaking to the Lords of the Treasury for payment of my Bills for the service of the Commissioners for Trade. He told me if you'd please to write him a note to mind him of it, he would move their Lordships in my behalf. Signed, Wm. Churchill. Endorsed, Recd. Read Jan. 4, 1699. [Board of Trade. Miscellanies, 1. No. 41; and 11. p. 80.]
Jan. 4. 6. William Popple to Mr. Lowndes. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations desire you would move the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury that directions be given for the payment of Mr. Churchill's their Stationer's bill, £203 2s. 7d., and the Post Officer's Bill, £24 16s. 5d. [Board of Trade. Miscellanies, 11. p. 81.]
Jan. 4.
Kensington.		 7. Order of King in Council. My Lord Jersey to write to the Consul of Algiers, that the Algerines do further explain themselves, whether they insist to have passes throughout, or no passes at all, and in case they would have no passes, how they intend to proceed in examining our ships when they meet them, and the reason why they would change the former methods. [Board of Trade. Trade Papers, 14. p. 416.]
Jan. 4.
Whitehall.		 8. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Nicholson. We received your letter of July 1. We hope you will be at no great loss for want of your Predecessor's papers. We do not know of anything sent him by us that need be copied and sent again to you. We are very glad to observe your good management of the public money, and doubt not but from the continuance of the like care you will not only preserve the Province from running back again into debt, but be able to effect many things for the advantage thereof. We approve of your not admitting Mr. Dudley Diggs to be of the Council because it would have been contrary to your Commission and Instructions, which must be your standing guide. But we have been surprised to observe by your Minutes of Council of Dec. 10, 1698, that you have appointed one to be Clarke of the Council, [Mr. Harrison] who owned to us at our Board that he had carried a ship's lading of tobacco from Virginia directly to Scotland. We much rejoice at the good correspondence which you say there is between the Earl of Bellomont, yourself, and Col. Blakiston, and we heartily wish it may so happen that you be able to meet together, as we perceive from Col. Blakiston was intended at Philadelphia, especially whilst Mr. Penn is there, because we cannot but hope that, at a meeting of so many Governors of such important Provinces, some advices will be thought on and proposals made that may be of general use and influence for the good of the whole.
There are many things in your letter of Feb. 4 which belong more properly to the direction of other offices than ours, unto which we can give little answer, though the whole be very necessary for our information. For instance, your desire that the revenue of 2s. per hhd. may not be charged by any order from hence we thought necessary to be laid before the Lords of the Treasury. You tell us you intend to send to the Commissioners of the Customs the copies of several things that you have sent us: we think it will be some ease to yourself, if, when you write to them or others about anything that it may concern us to know, you send us the copies of what you so write, referring thereunto and adding whatever further remarks you think fit. And that method will also be of advantage to us, because we shall thereby best understand what remains to be done by us. What you write about the Receiver's being a distinct officer from the Auditor is also matter proper for the Lords of the Treasury. We cannot doubt you have writ to them, and if you want directions you will do well to continue to address yourself to them. As to what you write that all public papers should be lodged in the Public Building and that the officers should be obliged to live at the seat of Government, we think it all very fit, and that the Governor-in-Chief, etc. should live there too. And for that reason we again exhort you to use your utmost endeavours that a convenient house be built for the Governor-in-Chief. Your proposal about a Lieutenant Governor for Virginia and Maryland shall be considered in due time. But we have not thought fit at present to offer unto His Majesty that any change be made from the directions already given about the devolution of those Governments upon the death of a Governor by His Majesty's Commission and Instructions to yourself and Col. Blakiston. What care you say has been taken about getting an exact rent-roll of His Majesty's Quit-rents, in order to the improving of that Revenue, is very well. We desire you to continue your care to see that it be accordingly done. And in like manner we are very well pleased with all you wrote about the rectifying of former abuses in selling rights and taking up lands etc. We observe what you write about the fitness of trying pirates and illegal traders in the Court of Admiralty settled in Virginia rather than in the other ordinary Courts, and are perfectly of the same opinion; but as to the Commissions of the officers of the Admiralty Court and their petition and your proposal about their salaries, all we can say is, we suppose their commissions to be the same as have been sent to His Majesty's other Plantations, and sufficient for them to act upon, and as soon as any salaries are settled upon those officers in other places, we shall be ready to propose that the like may be done there also. As to the qualification of a Scotchman to trade in the Plantations, we suppose you have communicated to His Majesty's Commissioners of Customs to whom the matter properly belongs. However, having had occasion to enquire into their opinion upon a case of that kind, happened in Maryland, we enclose an extract of their Secretary's letter thereupon. We do believe it is not without reason that you complain of the many irregularities in the government of Pennsylvania, but very full orders having been sent to Mr. Penn for the redressing of them, we hope he will heartily endeavour to do it, and that his endeavours may have a good effect. We do not conceive how you came to appoint the same persons to execute both the Naval Office and that of Collector of the 2s. per hhd., that being directly contrary to your Instructions and also to your own opinion, which you writ us from Maryland, July 13, 1697. You ought therefore on this occasion, as all others, to have kept to the rule of your Instructions, and only offered the reasons upon which you thought it necessary they should be altered, that so those reasons might be further considered. Concerning the Secretary's office, you say that we best know whether the Secretary send us transcripts of all Acts, public orders and journals of Council, or no. But as it may perhaps be difficult for us to be immediately aware of every omission of that kind, we desire you to be careful therein, and as you are by your Instructions to require him and others to do their duty, so it will be well that by taking a list of what papers are sent, you examine whether anything material be omitted, and acquaint us therewith. We may instance in a thing that has lately happened. Col. Ludwell did not long since present to His Majesty an address from the General Assembly of Virginia, whereof we have had no copy, nor previous notice of it from him, which should have been taken care of. All that you write about the Public Building and the allotting distinct rooms in it for all the different kinds of public business is very well intended, and we hope you will accordingly accomplish it. Upon consideration of what you write of the want of Counsellors and the difficulty of getting five of them together, we have represented to His Majesty that Mr. Robt. Carter and Mr. John Custis may be constituted Members of the Council, and His Majesty has been pleased to order it accordingly. What concerns forts, fortifications, arms etc. we have now under consideration with reference to all His Majesty's Plantations and therefore defer answering you.
We are afraid by what you write about a Committee of the House of Burgesses appointed to revise the Laws, that you have mistaken the sense of your Instructions, though the words appear unto us as plain as can well be. For it is not the House of Burgesses, but you that are required to do it with the advice of the Council; and the end is not that the laws, so revised, should be immediately re-enacted, but that you should propose to us your observations thereupon in order to His Majesty's further directions. And above all things we add our advice in case the House of Burgesses have made any considerable progress towards the revisal of the laws, that you take care not to pass or authorise any collection of laws by one single Act, but that each Act be passed severally, and that nothing be put into any Act of a different nature from what is expressed in the title of it, that so any particular Act may be approved or disallowed of by His Majesty without involving others that have no relation thereunto in the same determination. What you write about the stile of commissions, etc. is under consideration, and if anything material be observed thereupon, you shall be advised of it in due time. We are satisfied with your proceedings relating to the fixing of the boundaries between Virginia and North Carolina. What remains to be done by you in the meanwhile, until Commissioners from Carolina duly qualified be appointed to treat about that matter, is, that you take care that those who have settled any lands in those confines upon Virginia Patents, be protected against the people of Carolina, and that you assert His Majesty's right against their encroachments, and suffer no innovation therein until those boundaries come to be finally settled and determined. The Laws transmitted to us have not the Public Seal of the Province affixed and are therefore not fit to be taken into consideration, in order to His Majesty's pleasure upon the whole or any part of them. If you did expect the Secretary should have sent us another copy of those Laws under the Public Seal, you may blame him for that omission, for he has not done it. But however it is very fit that two copies of laws be always sent us under seal, and a third without seal.
What you propose about ascertaining the value of coins in all His Majesty's Plantations, and that the value thereof in all places may be equal, is a matter of great moment, and will be duly considered. What you write relating to a new discovery of Western Indians, and the promoting of a trade with them by subscription there, does not sufficiently enable us to judge of the expediency thereof. You should have sent us a scheme of the design with such proposals as may shew that it will not interfere with or discourage the planting of Tobacco, which is the main thing to be pursued in that Colony, and we should thereby better have known whether it be proper for us to intermeddle in the promoting of it here or no. The Earl of Bellomont gives us also notice that he has writ to you about opening a new trade with some Western Indians, but whether that be the same trade which you say was endeavoured to be carried on by subscriptions we cannot tell. Your own sense upon all such matters is very necessary for our information, besides the papers that you may send and refer to about them.
As to the papers you refer to, relating to lands in Pamunkey Neck and Blackwater Swamp, we have reduced our thoughts into several heads, which we judge proper to be observed by you, viz. (1) That the Articles made with the Indians at Middle Plantation, May 29, 1677, be exactly observed, as likewise all other Treaties whatsoever; (2) that no grants be made to Englishmen of any lands within the territories reserved to the Indians by the aforesaid Articles; (3) that a patent be granted to the Indians for the lands reserved to them by the said Articles in the same manner as patents are usually granted for lands to other His Majesty's subjects; (4) that the said Indians be not allowed to grant or lease lands to any but their own posterity; (5) that all lands in Virginia be held from the King; more especially that no countenance be given to any colour of title got from the Indians by gaming; (6) that those who have bona fide planted lands in those parts and enjoyed a long continued possession of them upon defective titles, without legal patents for the same, may have the said lands confirmed to them by patents so far as they have actually planted them; (7) that those who have in the same manner taken up any great tracts of land, which they do not actually cultivate, may have patents granted them for more or less of the said lands as near as possible, according to the intent of His Majesty's late Instruction to you about a new method of granting lands in Virginia; (8) that if any cases relating to the grant of lands have particular difficulties in them, the same be reported specially to His Majesty, and not determined there without His Majesty's particular directions; (9) that no posterior grant of lands to the College be extended to the outing of those who have bona fide planted upon any prior defective title, so far as they have actually planted the same.
The new method that you have proposed for taking the number of tithables more exactly than formerly, we very well approve of. We have considered your desire of particular seals for the Council Office, Secretary's Office and Notary Public. But, as you acknowledge there have been no such particular seals formerly, and we do not find that any such seals have been appointed from hence for any other of His Majesty's Plantations, we have not thought fit to propose it, but have put the old seals that you sent us into Mr. Secretary Vernon's hands, and must leave it to yourself or any other officer concerned to make use of what seal you and His Majesty's Council shall think fit for the public service in each particular business.
You have an Instruction relating to the pressing of seamen, which has been given in the same manner to the Governors of His Majesty's other Plantations. But nevertheless complaints having been made from some places of the irregular conduct of the Captains of His Majesty's ships of war in that matter, His Majesty has thereupon made a further Order in Council, Nov. 23 last, whereof we send you enclosed a copy.
Concerning the forms of Commissions, Mr. Attorney General has signified to us that he finds no objection in law against any of them. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, Wm. Blathwayt, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 37. pp. 368–380.]
Jan. 4.
Whitehall.		 9. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. In obedience to your order of Nov. 12, we have considered of your Majesty's right and title to the Island of Tobago, so as to hinder it from being settled by any others than your Majesty's subjects, with a particular regard to the late memorial of the French Ambassador, and humbly represent that, 1626, Sir Thomas Warner took actual possession of all the Caribbee Islands, whereof Tobago is one, in the name of Charles I, who by Letters Patent, June 2 1627, confirmed the year following, granted them to James Lord Haye, Earl of Carlisle, and his heirs, who held them in propriety under the Crown of England till the Patentees made a surrender of their interest to the Crown. Some time after Barbados had been settled under the grant of the Earl of Carlisle a considerable number of English were sent from thence to Tobago, who took possession under command of one Ayris and stayed there till by reason of the unhealthiness of the country they thought fit to return to Barbados, where Ayris is now living and well-known by the name of Governor of Tobago. Some time before the Restoration of Charles II, the Duke of Courland, intending to settle a colony in the West Indies, took advantage of the disorders in England by reason of the Civil Wars and possessed himself of Tobago, giving permission to one Lampson, a rich Zealander, to associate himself with the undertakers in that design, he paying a yearly acknowledgement to the Duke for the same. In 1658, the Duke being imprisoned by the Swedes, Lampson's Party made use of that conjuncture to raise a mutiny in the garrison of Tobago against the Governor, whom they forced to capitulate with them and their adherents and by this violent act the Lampsons became masters of the fort and island, which usurpation they continued for some years. The Duke of Courland, upon being set at liberty, applied to Charles II for his protection and leave to repossess himself of Tobago, and obtained a grant, Nov. 17, 1664, on certain conditions which show an acknowledgement of his tenure from the Crown of England. Notwithstanding which grant, the Dutch kept their footing in that island till 1665, when they were driven out by the English, and upon their retaking possession without leave from England, were again expelled 1672, by Sir Tobias Bridge and Sir William Pool, who destroyed the fort and buildings without making any new settlement, it being judged sufficient that the Government of Barbados should retain Tobago under their jurisdiction, and make use of it on all necessary occasions as depending on that Government, thereby preserving His Majesty's title and hindering any other nation from making a settlement there. Nevertheless, after the peace was concluded, the Dutch West India Company took upon them to resettle Tobago and were possessed of it until their war with the French 1676, when Count D'Estrees with a squadron of ships attacked the island and blowing up the Fort carried off all the Dutch inhabitants except a serjeant, John Hessen of Amsterdam, and two other Hollanders who continued there some days after the French had entirely abandoned the Island, as appears by the depositions of Hessen, produced by the Sieur van Benningen then Ambassador from the States in England, who redemanding some negroes that were come into the hands of a Governor of one of His Majesty's Caribbee Islands did allege that the Admiralty of Amsterdam remained masters of the Island notwithstanding the depredation of the French, who had made but a transient invasion without stay or settlement there. In this desolate state the island remained till toward 1680, when the Duke of Courland had once more thoughts of resettling it under the grant from the Crown of England, and with the assistance of Dutch Merchants fitted out some ships in Holland to that end, but with little or no success, which obliged the Duke to have again recourse to the Crown of England and to make his request by his agent, Baron Blomberg, to the late King in 1686 to encourage the settlement of the island and allow some of his English subjects to join in the design with others that should be employed by the Duke. But upon an hearing in Council it was then declared by His Majesty's Attorney General, that the Duke not having duly fulfilled the conditions of his contract from Charles II, had forfeited the advantages of his grant and consequently any right he could pretend to through it. Nevertheless, fresh encouragement has been lately given by the Agents of the Duke of Courland to several persons in England to resettle the island, but upon our Representation of May 18, 1699, your Majesty by an Order of Council was pleased not to allow thereof. Hence we infer, that the possession taken of Tobago by Sir Thomas Warner gave Charles I a just right to the island, which has ever since continued in the Crown of England, and is now inherent in your Majesty, because (1) the Duke of Courland had never any direct dominion over the island, but possessed it only by a grant and tenure from King Charles, which he forfeited: (2) the encroachment made by the Lampsons on the Duke of Courland was a mere usurpation which could in no wise prejudice the original claim of the English, which however was twice asserted by two entire conquests made by them on the Dutch, 1665, and 1673, since which time the Dutch have not acquired any title. So that the French cannot be said to be well founded in their claim to this island, either by what they call a conquest in 1676, which has been proved to be no more than a transitory invasion, without any settlement, barely affecting the Dutch Colony and Garrison; or by treaty with the Dutch in 1678, who having no just right of their own could neither lose nor transfer any right to the French towards invalidating the superior and original title of the Crown of England.
And whereas it is alleged by the French Ambassador that, for maintaining their property in that island, they send ships twice a year to Tobago to hinder any other nation from taking possession thereof, the coming of French ships to Tobago cannot be understood to be otherwise than by your Majesty's allowance for the maintaining a friendly correspondence between the two Crowns. The continuance of possession by your Majesty is much more easily proved by the constant frequenting of that island by your Majesty's men-of-war and other ships of your Majesty's subjects, which resort thither daily from Barbados and stay there two or three months at a time or more, to furnish themselves with wood, water and other necessaries in the said island, which depends absolutely on your Majesty's Government of Barbados, as other islands lying to windward of Guardaloupe. And in order to the further asserting your Majesty's right to Tobago, exclusive of all others and to hinder the settlement of any Colony there pursuant to your Majesty's intentions signified in that behalf, we are most humbly of opinion that the Governor of Barbados for the time being do take care by your Majesty's frigates and otherwise to hinder any settlement to be made upon that island by any foreign nation whatsoever, or even by your Majesty's subjects otherwise than such Governor with the advice of your Majesty's Council there shall judge necessary for maintaining your Majesty's sole right to the said island, and in such manner as may be for the use and benefit to your subjects inhabiting your Majesty's Island of Barbados. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, Wm. Blathwayt, Jo. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 45. pp. 15–20.]
Jan. 4.
Kensington.		 10. Order of King in Council, approving preceding representation, and instructing the Earl of Jersey, His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, to reply to the French Ambassador insisting on His Majesty's sole right to Tobago. The Lords Commissioners of Trade ordered to instruct the Governor of Barbados according to the representation. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed, Recd. Read Jan. 9, 1669/1700. ½p. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 8. No. 33; and 45. p. 21.]
Jan. 4. 11. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Blakiston. We were sorry to find from the two volumes of Revised Laws, that you sent us with your letter of Aug. 16th last, that you have mistaken the sense of His Majesty's Instructions. It is not the General Assembly of Maryland that are thereby required to revise the laws, but you were to do it with the advice of the Council, and the end is not that the Laws so revised should be immediately re-enacted, but that you should send a collection of them with your observations and opinion as to what may be fit to be repealed, added or otherwise altered therein in order to His Majesty's further directions. What has been done by the General Assembly is not agreeable to His Majesty's intentions, and especially it is most irregular that so many laws of different kinds should all be enacted together by one single Act—the Act ascertaining the Laws of this Province- by which means it was made impossible for His Majesty to disallow of any of those Acts without making void the whole, and this did oblige us, because of some things that we found not fit to be allowed; to represent that the foresaid Act should be disallowed, which His Majesty has been pleased to do accordingly. We are further to observe to you that an Act for the service of Almighty God and the establishment of the Protestant Religion, having been enacted there formerly and disallowed in 1695, was nevertheless re-enacted in 1696 and now again in 1699, without any material alteration in the thing for which it had been disallowed. This obliged us further to offer that it might be disallowed also, which His Majesty in like manner has been pleased to agree to (Nov. 30). By this means the Laws of Maryland, excepting this one, are just in the same state they were before the Assembly met, which revised the two aforesaid volumes. And you may further observe by the enclosed copy of a paper presented to us by some considerable merchants here, that there are other strong objections against the foresaid Act of 1696, beside what we offered to His Majesty thereupon. For the future we advise you to be mindful of His Majesty's Instructions about making all Laws as much as possible indefinite and without limitation of time, and against the re-enacting of laws without His Majesty's express consent. The consideration of that instruction and the reason of it might have helped to prevent your mistake upon the other; and to this we add that as you see now the inconvenience of passing so many laws of different kinds by one single Act, the same reason does hold against joining together any matters of different kinds in the same Act. Wherefore your care hereafter must be not only that each Act be past severally, but also that different matters be not mixed in the same Act, and that nothing be put into any Act (as it is notoriously in that about the Service of God) of another nature than what is agreeable to the title of it, that so any particular matter or particular Act may be approved or disallowed of by His Majesty without involving others that have no relation thereunto in the same determination.
The address to His Majesty, which you sent us enclosed, we transmitted to the Secretary of State, which is the proper method for things of that kind, and it has accordingly been presented. But whatsoever such-like papers you may hereafter send that way, or what you may write to the Treasury, Admiralty or others relating to the public affairs of the Province, it will be always requisite that you send us copies thereof.
You have amongst the rest of your Instructions one relating to the pressing of seamen, which has been given in the same manner to the Governors of His Majesty's other Plantations, but nevertheless complaints having been made from some places of the irregular conduct of the Captains of H.M. ships of war in that matter, His Majesty has thereupon made further Order in Council (Nov. 23 last) whereof we send you a copy. The Earl of Bellomont has writ us that he had proposed to you opening a new trade with some Western Indians, upon which we desire you to give us your thoughts; what appearance of advantage there is in that design and whether it may not interfere with and divert people from the planting of tobacco, which is the main thing that ought to be pursued in the Province under your Government. So we bid you heartily farewell. Your very loving friends, Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, Wm. Blathwayt, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill. [Board of Trade. Maryland, 9. pp. 468–474.]
Jan. 4.
Whitehall.		 12. William Popple to Sir Thomas Trevor, Attorney General. The Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations send you the Acts passed by the General Assembly of Barbados, Aug. 2–Oct. 17, 1699, and desire your opinion upon these and also upon those sent you May 16, 1698, and Aug. 15, 1699. List of Acts subjoined. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 45. pp. 14, 15.]
Jan. 4.
Fort William Henry.		 13. Minutes of Council of New York. Petition of Samuel Wood against the J.P.s of the County of Suffolk for not putting into execution the Statute of Riots reported by them as vexatious and dismissed. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. p. 293.]
Jan. 5.
Boston.		 14. Governor the Earl of Bellomont to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have not received your Lordships' orders upon any of my letters, which is a misfortune for me, for I am never so well pleased as when I am directed by you. A fit of the gout hinders me from writing with my own hand and also from giving you an account of several things that require your orders to me how to behave myself for His Majesty's service. I send the Collector of N. York's account of the Revenue from Michaelmas 1698 to Michaelmas last, duly audited by the L.G. and Council. Col. Cortland, the present Collector, writes me word this has been the worst year ever known at N. York for the Revenue by reason of the great scarcity of sugar, rum and molasses at Barbados and the other islands, and of wines at the Maderas, for from those articles the Customs at N. York do chiefly arise. I send the Minutes of Council of New York for July, August and September last. You will find by a Minute of Sep. 21 that the L.G. is instructed by me to grant a letter of denization to Peter Basset, a French surgeon and Protestant, to make him free in the Province of New York only, wherein I do not apprehend I have transgressed your Lordships' orders, for that which I understood by your Lordships to be against the law was granting of general letters of denization. My instruction to the L.G. is not so plainly expressed in the Minute as I could have wished, and therefore I send you an extract of my letter to him about Basset, and his answer, whereby you will see what caution I gave him therein, but he takes not the pains to read over all the Minutes of Council as I do. I intended to have sent the Muster Rolls of the Four Companies at New York and Albany, but the L.G. has not sent them, though I writ to him very pressingly three times in the last 3 moneths. I also intended your Lordships an exact state of the Militia within the three Provinces, but I am disappointed in that of New York. Col. Romer promised I should have his draughts of the Eastern Coast, but he has failed me too. I send duplicates of my letters of Nov. 18, 22, 27 and 29. I recd. not the Laws of Rhode Island till Dec. 23, which I now transmit. It seems that Government have taken all this time to prune and polish 'em, and yet after all I believe the world never saw such a parcel of fustian. I have got Mr. Addington to read 'em over and now send you his remarks. I desire your Lordships will observe the Governor of Rhode Island's letter to me of Dec. 22, wherein he calls it an imposition upon their Government that you should require a transcript of their Laws and that I have done the same by the King's Command. I did, as the King's Commission and Instructions empowered me, appoint four or five Gentlemen of that island to call for their Laws and Journals and to enquire into the irregularities of that Government, which thing Governor Cranston resents, though I am confident without any just reason, for I cannot find they have in the least abused the power I conferred on them, but have acted with all the moderation and prudence that could be expected from them. You will see by letters of Dec. 23, 26, 31, from the Gentlemen I left in Commission at Rhode Island, what unaccountable things that Government continues to practice, and there is a strange sort of Act of their Assembly, which they and Mr. Addington reflect upon particularly. I send you two letters of Oct. 5 and Nov. 17, which I recd. from the Governor of Rhode Island and from Mr. Walter Clark, late Governor, wherein they compliment me upon my behaviour among them in the execution of His Majesty's Commission.
There have come many complaints to me from the Narraganset Country of great violence done the people there by the Governor of Rhode Island since my being there, in levying taxes on them out of all measure and proportion and without the people's having any prospect of a due application of the money. But I tell the people 'tis not in my power to relieve 'em, and that they must wait with patience till His Majesty is pleased to interpose his royal authority for their protection. That people is much to be pitied, for I look upon them to live in a state of war, while the rest of the King's subjects live in peace and quietness. I send an Act of Assembly passed by the L.G. and Assembly of N. Hampshire for raising a certain sum of money to discharge the debts of that Government, and also seven Minutes of Council.
About 3 weeks ago James Gillam the Pirate had like to broke prison and escap'd, somebody having conveyed to him an iron crow of two foot and a half long with a claw at the end of it and two files: he had filed the irons from off his legs, and with the crow had wrenched out some of the iron bars of the window, but happened to be overheard by the Gaoler, and I have since had him chained to another pirate, which is the only way to prevent his escape. I believe the pirates that are in this gaol, at Connecticut, N. York and Philadelphia are at least forty in number, and I would give £100 they were all in Newgate. 'Tis reported here that the Rochester frigate is sent from England to carry them away to be tried there, and to be sure they will be alarmed and meditating how to escape. I wish I had received some orders about them, and I could have sent the frigate that is here with them to England. Capt. Crow, who commands her, seems to be a right honest man. Everybody here believes the Rochester is blown off the coast and forced to bear away for some of the islands. The winter storms on this coast are more violent than in any part of the world. Therefore there ought to be no dependence on the sending orders directly hither: duplicates should be sent by way of Virginia and Barbados. Sir Wm. Ashhurst writes that the arrear of pay and subsistence of the Four Companies was cut off to Lady Day last, which is 27 moneths. I am forced to keep this to myself, not daring to communicate it to the officers or victuallers who have subsisted them all this while, and who I believe are by this time £9000 out of pocket. It would set them a madding and we should not have a soldier left in a day's time. I take the King to be much dishonoured in this treatment of the officers and soldiers, and for my own part, it is so great a blemish upon my reputation that I must never think of showing my face more at New York. The victuallers will be broke, and had I not encouraged them to victual the Companies they would not have undertaken it. I desire your Lordships to take such a course as that the arrear may be paid, that the honour of the Government may be supported and that I may not be disgraced.
Capt. Kidd sent the Gaoler to me a fortnight ago to acquaint me that if I would let him go to the place where he left the Quidah Merchant and to St. Thomas' and Curaçao, he would undertake to bring off 50 or three score thousand pounds which would otherwise be lost: that he would be satisfied to go a prisoner to remove from me any jealousy of his designing to escape. But I sent him word he was the King's Prisoner and I could hearken to no such proposition, but I bad the gaoler to try if he could prevail with Capt. Kidd to discover where his Treasure was hid by him. But he said nobody could find it but himself, and would not tell any further. Signed, Bellomont. Endorsed, Recd. March 4. Read March 26. 1699/1700. 4 pp. Enclosed,
14. i. Abstract of above. 1¼ pp.
14. ii. Extract of letter from Lord Bellomont to the L.G. of New York, Sep. 9, '99. I am applied to by some French here to grant a letter of denization to Peter Basset. I desire it may be done, but pray take especial care that he be not entitled to any privileges thereby out of the Province of New York, for that is a wrong step I was led into by good Mr. Graham, for which I have been severely reproved by the Lords of the Council of Trade. I forgive my fee to Basset, and pray do you with the Council settle the Secretary's fees for all letters of denization 30s. and no more, and the Attorney General 20s. and no more, which if they at any time exceed I will turn 'em out infallibly on the first notice thereof.
Extract of letter from L.G. of New York to Lord Bellomont Sept. 18, '99. I shall forthwith grant the letter and settle the fees as your Lordship directs. 1 p.
14. iii. Duplicate of preceding.
14. iv. Copy of Gov. Cranston's letter to the Earl of Bellomont, Newport, Oct. 5, 1699. Acknowledging "Your Lordship's moderation and favour." ¾p.
14. v. Copy of complimentary letter of Walter Clark to the Earl of Bellomont, Newport, Nov. 17, 1699. "It was an honour to be visited by a person of such Christian qualifications," etc. 1 p.
14. vi. Copy of Gov. Cranston's letter to the Earl of Bellomont, Newport, Dec. 22, 1699. I have sent you by Capt. Joseph Sheffield a copy of the Laws and Acts of Rhode Island. Delay was occasioned by the General Assembly, who was not willing your Lordship should have an imperfect copy, it being a work which was never imposed upon this Government before we was required by the Lords Commissioners of Trade about two years past. We have done our endeavours to comply with His Majesty's and your Lordship's commands in all things, insomuch that we have even consented to your setting Commissioners over us, whose power we concluded would not have extended further than to have made inquiry into things past, which your Lordship had not time to do, and not to be continual thorns in our sides, taking all advantage for the overthrow of this Government. 1 p.
14. vii. Copy of letter from Francis Brinley, Nath. Coddington, and Peleg Sandford to Lord Bellomont, Newport, Dec. 23, 1699. The Acts which Governor Cranston has sent you are not transcribed as they stand on record; they have sent that for an Act of Assembly which the Assembly never passed and there are perhaps one third or more that they send not, having thrown them aside and passed an Act that those sent are our body of Laws, to the deception of His Majesty and the grievance of the subjects who have suffered under laws they are ashamed should be seen. They have put a wrong date to those Acts they have sent. They begin them 1665, after they had a charter, but most of them were made before they had any authority and were condemned by Act of Parliament. 1 p.
14. viii. Mr. Secretary Addington's Remarks upon the transcript of the Laws of Rhode Island. They are full of incoherence and nonsense jumbled together and confused. The Government themselves cannot tell when they have the whole: how then can the people be supposed to know what is Law amongst them? Other irregularities in the Acts pointed out, some involving a deviation from the powers granted by their Charter. 3 pp.
14. ix. Copy of letter from Francis Brinley to the Earl of Bellomont, Newport, Dec. 26, 1699. I have seen some of their additional Acts repealed, altered or made new: amongst them, an Act, April 1672, against the Quakers, so ill resented by the people in general that they turned out of place those that were the cause of that Act, choosing a Quaker to be their Governor. They repealed that severe Act of Whipping, etc. for speaking a word or two: it is now inserted among the Laws. They have also inserted some Acts about the settling of Nanhiganset Country and thereupon forced a possession upon other men's land without any trial at law. 1 p.
14. x. Copy of letter from same to same, Dec. 31, 1699, criticising the transcript of Laws in the same vein. 1 p.
14. xi. Memorandum of Minutes of Council of New York, July 5–Sept. 27, 1699.
14. xii. Memorandum of Account of Revenue of New York, Michaelmas Quarter, 1698.
14. xiii. Memorandum of similar Account, Sept. 29–Dec. 25, 1698.
14. xiv. Memorandum of similar Account, Dec. 25, 1698–March 25, 1699.
14. xv. Memorandum of similar Account, March 25–June 24, 1699.
14. xvi. Extract of a letter from Sir Wm. Ashhurst to the Earl of Bellomont, London, Aug. 13, 1699. There is no expectation of receiving any of your arrears, there being no manner of fund or provision made for them, but there will be some care taken for payment of the subsistence from Lady Day last. I have this week received £965 2s. for 18 weeks' subsistence from Lady Day last, and I believe now it will be constantly paid. ¼ p. Endorsed, Recd. March 4, 1699/1700.
14. xvii. Duplicate of preceding.
14. xviii. Governor the Earl of Bellomont to the Commissioners of Customs, Boston, Jan. 5, 1697 (1700). This has been the worst year of the Revenue ever known, but I do not despair of doubling the Revenue of New York when I have rectified the disorders in that Government. Mr. Hungerford, joint Collector with Col. Cortland, has of late so strangely misbehaved himself that I am very much ashamed for him and the rather because he was of my putting in. There was a great intimacy between Mr. Hungerford and Mr. Parmiter, the Naval Officer, and I am told that Parmiter advised Hungerford that by a clause in the Act of the 14th of Charles II. he, as a Collector, had power to compound for seizures of unlawful ships and goods without taking notice of the King's share of the forfeiture or the Governor's. So that Mr. Hungerford has made away with a parcel of elephants' teeth and a great quantity of unlawful goods that were lodged in the Custom house, without the privity or consent of Col. Cortland, and several seizures I hear he made and brought them to his own lodging and has compounded for them upon his own terms without taking notice of the Government or anything else. If I be rightly informed the goods he has made away with were worth £1,000. He and Mr. Parmyter have lately quarelled in a tavern and threw candlesticks and bottles at one another's heads, and Parmyter has arrested Hungerford upon pretence of fees due to him for his advice as a lawyer, so that they two are at present irreconcileable enemies. Please to comply with the request I made in my last letter of sending an honest intelligent man to be Comptroller of Customs at New York, and I will make him Naval Officer and give him what encouragement I can besides, and I desire he may bring over the King's letter to be sworn of the Council. I have discovered several tricks in Parmiter that puts me quite out of conceit with him. Signed, Bellomont. Endorsed, Recd. March 4, 1699/1700. Copy. 1¼ pp. [Board of Trade. New York, 9. Nos. 6, 6. i. – xviii.; and 54. pp. 107–120; and (Abstract) 45. pp. 74, 75; and (duplicates of letter, memoranda, and xviii.), New England, 10. Nos. 7. 7. i. –iv.; and 37, pp. 416–420; and (duplicates and memoranda of iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x), Proprieties, 5. Nos. 4–12; and (the part of Letter referring to Rhode Island), 26. pp. 179–182].
Jan. 5
Jamaica.		 15. Governor Sir William Beeston to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have received your letters of June 26 with the particulars of the Adventure. Those rogues that seized her carried her straight to Rhode Island, there took out the money and maliciously sunk the ship in deep water. I hear the Earl of Bellomont has caused some of the men and money to be seized. Herewith I transmit the best account I can of the Patent Officers, but we know little of them, nor ever see their Patents here, so that we know not on what terms they hold, but are imposed upon by any deputation they send by or to John Nokes or Thom. Styles, and alter them as they please, and being wholly independent from the Government and holding by Patent under the Broad Seal of England believe they have as good authority for their places as the Governor has for his, and pay little regard to the Government. I know not how extensive His Majesty's Order is in this case, but here is none comes hither to act for themselves but all by deputies, therefore it seems to me that it does not oblige them to residence, or, if it does, they give little regard to it. I transmit the Act fairly written that was defaced in going home, and the Public Accounts to our Lady Day last, those to Michaelmas being not yet perfected; also a duplicate of the Council's exceptions to Mr. Allan Brodrick's sufficiency to be Attorney General, and would have sent the Muster-rolls, but the grevious mortality which we have had throughout the Island and still continues makes me both afraid and ashamed, for I doubt our numbers are much lessened. The Assembly were prorogued to the 5th Oct, but before that day came I consulted the Council, who, finding when they were together that they would do nothing was proposed to them about settling the Revenue, and establishing a body of Laws with it perpetual, they were unanimously of the opinion that if they met now they would come with the same temper and therefore advised rather to dissolve them than to bring them together at trouble and charge to no purpose. Accordingly I dissolved them by Proclamation.
As for the ships of war directed for the service of this island, they are of no use, for at the same time they gave directions from the Admiralty to attend the island and be at the Governor's disposal, they gave an order to Rear-Admiral Bembow to command all H.M. ships in these parts, by virtue whereof (though I cannot believe such contradictory orders could be intended by the Lords of the Admiralty), as soon as he arrived he took the ships from me and told me I had nothing to do with them when he was here, and so would have done by the Southsea Castle and Biddiford had they arrived, but they unfortunately ran ashore with a merchant ship of London in their company worth £20,000 on the coast of Hispaniola, and in a short time were all broken to pieces and thirty men drowned. The Rear Admiral also told me that whilst he was here I had nothing to do with anything that moved on the water, not even in the harbour, nor could send out any vessel nor grant any commissions, and that if I did he would take away their colours and hinder them, and when about 6 months since upon some private advice given me that it was known where Kidd was, and that, if I would grant a commission they hoped to take him, about 90 of our men manned out a sloop and I made a Commander, but as soon as she was gone out he laid his ships to meet her if she took the pirate and ordered them to take her from them and me by force, but the sloop missed her and returned, and when she came into the harbour his Captain threatened to take her colours away, and I believe had done it, had not the Commander to avoid dispute took them down himself. So that if there were 100 pirates about the island I could do nothing to them, nor will our men stir for fear of him. We had since the peace collected a good number of seamen, and the trade began to be brisk, but he pressed some and the rest ran away to the Northern Plantations, and when I writ him about it and that it was contrary to His Majesty's Order and a great injury to the country and oppression to the northern people that came here with provisions, he writ me that he wanted men, and, come from the North or South he would have them; so that myself and the Government are perfectly insulted upon, and whilst such contradictory orders are given, and men take the liberty to make such arbitrary use of them, it is impossible His Majesty's service can be carried on. The merchants told me some months since that they have all written to their principals in London to appear in a body and complain of the usage, but I have heard no more of it. And indeed there are so many difficulties and hardships and afflictions about these Plantations that unless they be remedied I cannot see how they can long subsist, but must dwindle to nothing. (1) The Acts of Navigation are so severe that discourages all people: we must have nothing but from England and they do not supply us, whereas were there liberty we could have it from our neighbours the French and Dutch at easy rates. The late Act about certificates is a perfect dilemma, is extremely severe without any latitude or limitation, and the Governor and Officers are as strictly sworn to observe it under great penalty, and yet the Commissioners of the Customs now write me and blame me for seizing and condemning a vessel of New England for breach of that Act, tho' Capt. Clarke, one of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, were concerned in her lading and was so well satisfied that she was forfeited by the Act that he would not sit at her condemnation because he would not be thought to be partial. Had the officers not seized and brought her to trial, there would not have wanted informers that would have alleged that myself and the officers had broken the oaths and forfeited the penalties of the Act. Now we are blamed for following the letter of the Law and our oaths, so that no man knows how to act, and makes it very uneasy to anyone that designs to be honest. (2) Another fatal thing to the settling and increasing these Plantations is the merchants of London have never left soliciting against the Royal Company under pretence they would supply negroes more plentiful and cheap, till they have gotten them out and themselves in, and whereas the Royal Company usually supplied negroes at £22 and £24 per head and gave 6, 8 and 12 months' credit, now the Merchants sell for £34 per head and give no credit at all. So that those who have been long at it and by time, care, credit and industry have good Plantations and are aforehand can buy to supply their numbers that die, but it is impossible for anyone to settle a new Plantation, and I know for truth that since I came hither above fifty sugar works have been destroyed and deserted and but two raised in the whole island, and it's observable the year 1698 made about 23,000 hhds, of sugar, but 1699 has made but about 9000, and though much of this declension may be from the difference of the weather, yet a great deal is from the decay of the people and discouragement. (3) The ships of war, when they get so far from England, believe themselves lawless, and that nobody has any authority but themselves, impress and frighten away our seamen, which was a great part of the strength of the Island, and thereby also spoil all trade, and not only the seamen but even those who have wives and families ashore and are inhabitants; others they have taken aboard because they pretend they do not pay that respect is due, and there keep 'em prisoners and some they punish and so insult the place that makes it uneasy to all people, and I think it very hard that I who have His Majesty's authority should be so insulted and snubbed by those who I am sure have no authority so to do. I have often observed in all their language that they value an order from the Admiralty beyond any from the King. (4) This island from a pleasant and healthy place till my Lord Insequin's arrival, is grown very sickly, and every year in July, August and September many died, but they were seamen and new-comers, but this year has been more fatal than any before and a great mortality has fallen, and still continues not only on the seamen and new-comers but is gone quite through the island and many of the inhabitants, old Standers, men, women and children, are dead, and unless it pleases God to remedy it, the place must come to nothing but the residence of a few Merchants on Port Royal to sell negroes to the Spaniards. All these discouragements have perfectly disheartened me, so that last year I writ and begged that I might have liberty to return for England, since which I have been past all expectation of living with this distemper and am very weak with it still, therefore I now more earnestly beg the liberty to return, for if I could live 40 years under these great difficulties the country suffers unless redressed, I nor any one else can bring it to anything. Several of the gents. of the best ability and interest talk of removing, tho' we are so reduced that there are not in any of the precincts fitting men left to make officers, civil or military, and if those that are of ability remove, the management of the Government must fall into hands of the ordinary people, and that will be but indifferent. We have credible advice that the Scotch are gone again to Darien with a new recruit of five ships and 1200 men, and expect 7 ships more to follow in a short time. The Spaniards continue to insult our small vessels they can master, and lately took two coming from New England, one they only took out the money, the other they were carrying to St. Domingo to be condemned, but in the way met a vessel that scared them, so they took their boats and came ashore, but the boat being too small to convey them all, they left 3 of their company aboard the New Englandman, who brought them hither, where I have caused them to be tried for pirates and are condemned and shall be hanged, for I know no other way to make them leave off their insults. There is also an Englishman tried and condemned with them, who slunk privately into this island in hopes to hide himself amongst the crowd. Signed, Wm. Beeston. Endorsed, Recd. April 1. Read April 8, 1700. Holograph. 3¾ pp. Enclosed,
15. i. Abstract of above, with comments. 2 pp.
15. ii. Exceptions offered by the Council to Alan Brodrick's being sworn Attorney General.
15. iii. List of Patent Officers. (1) Receiver General, Mr. Campere (Compier) of London. The office is managed by Mr. Charles Chaplin, one of the Council, whom I put in because Mr. Campere sent over a young man to execute it whom I could not by any means think fitting. (2) The Clerk of the Grand Court is in the hands of the son of Sir Robert Cotton in right of his wife during one Mr. Clour's (Clowes) life. It is managed by Mr. William Nedham. There has been no Provost Marshal by Patent from England since the death of M. Blancart. Meantime I have put in Mr. Thomas Atcheson. The Secretary's office is in Mr. Baber, executed by Thomas Nicholls for half the profits. The Attorney General is Mr. Thomas Barrow, whom on Mr. Brodrick's leaving the island I put in to act. The Clerk of Chancery is Sir Richard Deerham; the office is executed by Mr. John Holbrooke at half profits. The Naval officer is Capt. Thomas Povey: the office is executed by Mr. Barnaby Jenkins whom I put in at half profits. The Clerk of the Crown has been vacant some years; I have put in Mr. Geo. Simpson. Signed, Wm. Beeston. 1 p.
15. iv. Memorandum of Duplicate of an Act appropriating additional duty to the Revenue. ¼p.
15. v. Memorandum of H.M. account of additional duty and impost on negroes, Sep. 29, 1698–March 25, 1699. ¼p.
15. vi. Memorandum of H.M. account of impost, Sep. 29, 1698–March 25, 1699. ¼p.
15. vii. Memorandum of H.M. account of wine licenses, etc, for same period. ¼p.
15. viii. Memorandum of H.M. account of quit-rents, same period. ¼p.
15. ix. Memorandum of H.M. account of £300 appropriated, Oct. 21, 1698–March 25, 1699. ¼p.
15. x. Memorandum of H.M. accounts current, Oct. 8, 1698–March 25, 1699. ¼p.
15. xi. Memorandum of H.M. account of fortifications, Oct. 13, 1698–March 25, 1699. ¼p. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 9. Nos. 13, 13.i. –xi.; and, (without enclosures) 57, pp. 28–39.]