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Oct. 1.
Whitehall. |
88. Mr. Popple to Mr. Attorney General. Encloses objections
(Sept. 25) to the form of oath for Nevis and St. Kitts, for his
opinion. [C.O. 153, 12. p. 13.] |
Oct. 2.
Bermuda. |
89. Lt. Governor Bennett to [? the Earl of Dartmouth]. Last
night arrived here H.M.S. Dunwich, Capt. Graves Commander,
who delivered me your Lordship's letter of Aug. 21st ult., relateing
to a cessation of arms, wherein was a proclamation concerning the
same, to which all due observance shall be had. As also when
thought proper to send any prisoners to Great Britan, shall take
care sufficient proofs of their crimes shall goe with them. Repeats
part of Sept. 5th and Sept. 13th. Signed, Ben. Bennett. Holograph. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
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89. i. Duplicate of No. 44 i. [C.O. 37, 28. Nos. 15, 15 i.] |
| Oct. 5. |
90. Mr. Attorney General to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have considered objections made to the form of oath
I prepared for the sufferers of Nevis and St. Christophers. The
Act having expressly declared that none shall be entituled to a
share of the bounty, but such who appear to be sufferers by the
return of the Commission, it will not be sufficient that a man of
the same name, as is mentioned in that return, had resettled, but
an express oath must be made, that the person sworn to have
resettled, is the same person mentioned in that return, for that
there may be several of the same name. As to the objection
against swearing to the property of a plantation, I have no
objection against the altering the form of the oath, as proposed,
so that some oath be made, that the person is the same mentioned
in the return as a sufferer. As to the form of an oath for all
inhabitants resettling, I have no objection against the form
proposed by the objectors, if oath be made, that it is the same
person, who appears to have been a sufferer by the said return.
Signed, Edw. Northey. Endorsed, Recd. 15th, Read 31st Oct.
1712. 1 p. Enclosed, |
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90. i. Duplicate of No. 83. |
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90. ii. Duplicate of form of oath proposed Aug. 8. [C.O. 152,
9. Nos. 136, 136 i., ii.; and (without enclosures) 153,
12. pp. 41, 42.] |
Oct. 6.
Charles Fort in St. Christophers. |
91. Robert Cunynghame to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Complaints against Governor Douglas as Sept.
13th, etc. "I know none of my high crimes and misdemeanours,
for which the Council here as well as he refused to admit me to
bayle. I presume it is no new thing to your Lordships to hear
they always do as the General would have them, witness their
address in favour of General Park, upon complaints being
exhibited against him and their report of Mrs. Bowdon's affair.
I have bin long since told that the least line of submission to the
Generall will set me at liberty," etc. Signed, Ro. Cunynghame.
Endorsed, Recd. Dec. 13, Read Jan. 20, 1712/13;. 1 p. [C.O. 152,
9. No. 150; and 153, 12. pp. 62, 63.] |
Oct. 8.
Jamaica. |
92. Mr. Mackenzie to the Council of Trade and Plantations.
I hope the singularity of the occasion may in some measure
plead my excuse for the presumption of this address: for,
understanding lately by a very intelligent and creditable person,
as well as by several pregnant and concurring circumstances
formerly consistent with my own particular knowledge, that
abundance of art and industry is used in contriving such voluminous and specious advices as (I am told) are now transmitted
to your Lordships and others by H.E. the Governor of this
Island, with an air of mighty zeal for the service of H.M. and the
preservation and interest of this Island in particular; I think
myself in duty bound to give your Lordships an humble
precaution against your giving an intire creditt to these advices,
or coming to any determined resolutions touching the same,
before the arival of H.M.S. the Defyance, which is appointed to
sail on the 14th inst. as convoy to the London merchant ships
which have been detained here, about two months past, by reason
of an embargo, and a subsequent dreadful hurrican which
happen'd here the 28th of August last. I have no servile
mercenary end in view, etc. I undertake under the severest of
penalties, to make it evident, after my arrival at London; I
having at the same time the Government's protection; that
chiefly by the influence of Richard Rigby and John Stewart,
two of the Council, and William Brodrick, Attorney General,
partiality, oppression and manifest injustice have been countenanced and committed in the Council, the Court of Chancery,
the Grand Court and the Court of Admiralty of this Island. That
several resolutions voted in Council have some time thereafter
been quite razed out of the Minutes and Journals of Council.
That several things have been ordered to be entred in the Council
Books that were not consistent with real point of fact, and other
material matters of fact pass'd in Council, and yet ordered not
to be entered. That in relation to some matters of the greatest
consequence transacted in Council in May 1711, when Richard
Rigby was neither a member nor Clark of the Council, he has
privately in about twelve months time thereafter quite altered
the Minutes, and had them entered in the books so as to
contradict flatly the plain sense and meaning of the Council,
merely to make them subservient to his own private ends. That
he having in his possession the Council Books is now privately
altering and transcribing them many years backward. That in
manifest contempt of H.M. authority the present Governor has
by the advice of the said Rigby, Brodrick and Stewart, or some
or other of them, knowingly and as fully neglected some, and
broken others of H.M. Instructions. That to the manifest
lessening of H.M. Revenue, the Governour took bribes of money
and other presents in breach of the said Instructions. That he
seem'd to slight and conived at several considerable embezlements
of stores and ammunition out of H.M. chief forts in this Island,
after I had apprized him thereof. That the late embargo and
martial law here, was only to serve a turn of state, as being
projected and moved in Council, before any news arrived here of
the French's having been at Mountserrat, tho' the same happen'd
to be opposed by such Councellours as were not upon the secret,
and the generality of the people complained that the unseasonableness of both the embargo and martial law has proved more
injurious to them than the hurrican; all which several articles
I can plainly prove by undeniable vouchers; but am just now
advised that the Governor intends to detain me prisoner in this
Island, by refuseing to sign my tickett, which he has done several
times before; tho' I gave security into the Secretary's Office long
agoe, etc., in relation to which I must rely on your Lordships'
orders to the Governor, such practice being a violent encroachment on the liberty of the subject, etc. Signed, Rod. Mackenzie.
Endorsed, Recd. 16th, Read 19th Dec. 1712. 2¾ pp. [C.O. 137,
9. No. 75; and 138, 13. pp. 413–418.] |
Oct. 9.
Inner Temple. |
93. William Borrett to Mr.Lewis (v.July 10). Samuel
Watkins and Daniel Mackinen (v.Sept.23) are making application
to be bayled. Mr.Attorney General thinks it reasonable, but
cannot consent without the Earl of Dartmouth's warrt. wherein
H.M.may be signified to that purpose. Signed, Wm.Borrett.
Endorsed, R.Oct. 9,1712. ¾ p. [C.O. 152, 42. No. 91.] |
Oct. 10.
Jamaica. |
94. Governor Lord A.Hamilton to the Council of Tradfe and
Plantations. It is now almost ten weeks since we have had any
ship from Great Britain nor have I received any from your Lops.
since my last. The Defyance by which I have now ye honour to
write to your Lops. was first intended to saile the beginning of
August, but ye accidents wch.have detain'd her. have likewise
prevented my writing sooner. The news of Mountserrat's being
taken, and of ye enemy's appearing off of Antegoa some time
afterwards with a more considerable force, the number of their
ships being then augmented from 23 to 36 sayl and wch.seem'd to
favour a report there had been for some time of Mons. Du Guey's
being expected in ye West Indies, was, as I thought sufficiant
alarm for us to be upon our guard: and accordingly by ye
unanimuss adivice of ye Council and of a Council of War, I laid
an embargo and caus'd marchal law to be proclaimed. I
communicated my intelligence with my designs to ye Admiral,
who seconded our endeavours by sending a ship to look into ye
enemys ports to windward, and calling in ye squadron. But
whilst wee were preparing to resist a human force we were
shattered almost to pieces by one irresistable; on ye 28th of
August at night there arose a hurican of wind and rain in so
violent a manner that it has been made a question whether ye
great earthquake did more damage to ye Island. It's fury
lasted from about 1/2 an hour past 9 to almost12, and raged most
from ye windward part of ye Island for about 80 miles to leward
on ye south side; in wch. tract of country many houses and
works were thrown down, few escap-t without being uncovered
or receiving some damage, and ye whole face of nature in ye
morning seem'd chang'd from a beautifull appearance of spring
to ye depths of a winter, there being nothing that was green to be
seen, and ye mountains as it were opened by ye fall of trees.
The particulars of ye loss in ye shipping I have here inclose'd, and
wch. I think has been confin'd to ye harbour; the Monmouth
only met with ye storme at sea wch. carried away her masts
at once; the trading vessels upon ye coast of Portobel and
Carthagena, had at ye same time unusual calmes, nor has ye
hurrican as I can learn reacht any of ye other Isalnds; But ye
great damage with us is computed to be in ye canes and provision
in ye guound; It was but in my last lettesr yt. I gave you an accot,.
of ye prosperous condition of the planting interest of this Island.
The planters now say they are half undone; such is the fluctuating
state of interests here. However, my Lords, it pleas'd God to
send a little dry wether after ye storm, and people had thereby
an opportunity to get ymselves cover'd again, or els in all
probability another misfortune had followed by a general sickness,
whereas ye country is notwithstanding pretty healthy. This
did not hinder neither but such measures were pursued as were
thought necessary to secure us agt. ye enemy we expected (who
in ye condition we were in was still more to be feared) untill wee
recd. certain intelligence of their having left ye Indies, upon
wch. also by ye unanimuss advice of ye Council I immediatly
took off ye embargo and revived ye common law. My Lords,
tho' I can't accuse myself of being short in ye accot. I have now
given yr. Lopps., yet having sent you by this opportunity ye
Minuts of ye Council and of ye Council of War, I take ye liberty
to referr yr. Lopps. thither for a fuller detail of ye motives upon
wch. I have acted, and of what I proposed to be done whilst it
was thought by both Councils absolutely necessary to put ye
country into ye best posture of defence it was capable of. If
your Lops. please to give yourselves the trouble to inspect ye
Minutes of ye Council, you will likewise observe there at length
(and wch. it is impossible for me to abridge in a letter) some
examinations concerning several disorders and crueltys said to
have been comitted by ye privateers of this Island upon ye
Spaniards both on the coast of Carthagena and Cuba wth. what
has been resolved thereupon, but has not yet been brought to
any perfection; and indeed our principal informations in those
cases (tho' I believe ym. too true) being from ye Spaniards themselves and ye facts alleadged against the privateers by ym.
controverted or deny'd, I find there is a good deal of difficulty in
ye prosecutions; But I assure your Lops. nothing shall be wanting
in me to give all the discountenance possible to such practises
and all ye satisfaction I justifiably can to ye Spaniards. This has
been attended with a further inconveniency and wch. your Lops.
will also see more at large upon ye Minutes of ye Council; some
of ye privateers suspected of those facts have been met with at
sea by ye men of war and by them have been taken on board and
there detained wth. some of their effects, and not discharg'd or
proceeded against as seizure, when brought into harbour. The
owners have hereupon comenct suites against ye Capt. of ye
man of war for their goods and detention of their men contrary
to ye American Act of Parliament, at wch. ye Admiral has been
offended, and complaints have been made to me from both sides
for reparation, yr. Lops. will find this matter clearly stated in ye
resolutions of ye Council, to whom I thought it was best to referr
ye examination, because I plainly perceived the Capt. of ye man
of war had gone farther than he could well justifye; tho' ye
privateers might be guilty they were to be tryed according to
law, and this they insisted on, and there haveing been some
instances already of men being taken off ye shoar, the whole
Island took part wth. ym. in this; so that I found myself obliged
to insist yt. ye men should be deliver'd on shoar into ye custody
of ye proper officer till their examination and tryall if sufficient
evidence could be had against ym. and ye goods taken to be put
into ye hands of ye Register of ye Admiralty to wait ye same
issue. I confess ye difficulty I have lain under to give satisfaction
to all sides; the Comanders at sea have likewise complained of
their men being entic't away and entertain'd by ye inhabitants
of ye Island, yr. Lops. will remarke by ye proclamation I publisht
wch. you will see entered in ye Minutes how much I have been
enclined to prevent any prejudice to H.M. service at sea, and
indeed my Lords I have endeavour'd by all other ways to give
those commanders all just and reasonable satisfaction; at ye
same time not to sacrifize ye rights of ye people, of whom H.M.
had intrusted me wth. ye Goverment. There is my Lords ye
greater occasion at this time to give ye Island all just supports,
because of ye present misfortunes they labour under, and ye entire
decay of trade wch. ye merchants live in hopes will revive again
because of ye present misfortunes they labore under, and ye entire
decay of trade wch. ye merchats live in hopes will revive again
upon ye establishment of a peace so honble. and so advantagious
as that wee daily expect to hear off. The disorders wee have
been in from ye hurrican and ye apprehension of an enemy have
made it impracticable for ye Assembly to meet at ye time they
were appointed. They stand now prorogued to ye 14th inst.,
at wch. time I design ym. to meet and do bussiness. In my letter
to your Lops. of ye 8th of March, I took ye liberty to recommend
to you Mr. Brodrick's being restored to his place in ye Council
here. I find myself obliged in order to have ye assistance of a
full Council, whereas now I have often difficulty to get a quorum
together, to add two gentlemen, Coll. James Archbould and
Lt. Coll. John Sadler to that recommandation, in ye room of
Coll. Long, Edlyn and Mumbee, the first haveing been off ye
Island near 6 ye others above two years without any of them
having signify'd to me their intentions to returne. The characters
of ye gentlemen now propos'd to that trust are as agreeable to
H.M. Instructions upon yt. head, and in my humble opinion in all
respects more proper for ye good of H.M. service then any others
yt. I can at this time name. I herewith send ye Receiver Genll.'s
accts. made up to March last. Mr. Chaplin is now makeing up
ye last half year to Sept. 29th before ye Auditor, and Mr. Knights
is then to take possession of that office by virtue of a deputation
from Mr. Compere ye patentee. I likewise send ye lists of ye
regiments I promis't you in my last, and haveing viewed some of
them on this occasion, I am sorry to tell yr. Lops. wee musterd
in ye field much short of what appears upon ye lists, sickness I
am afraid will generally require allowances of a sixth part of our
numbers. But yr. Lops. will undoubtedly observe how very
smal a force at best (Coll. Handasyd's Regiment apart concerning
wch. I have in my former given yr. Lops. some accot.) and how
scatter'd a body of men wee are for ye defence of so large and
plentifull an Island, nay without a forreign enemy ye planters
could not conceal their apprehentions from their negroes when
I ordered but a regiment at a time together to view them, and it
was thought expedient to send a body of horse into those parishes
from whence ye foot were drawn; indeed ye insolence of ye
negroes has been very great, insomuch that two white persons
have lately been cutt in pieces by ym. in ye Plantations in open
day; and I cannot but from this consideration propose to yr.
Lops. thoughts ye necessity of continuing some regular forces
here at least for some time after a peace or untill wee can reap
ye benefit of it by an addition of white people amongst us, or
otherwise this Island may be lyable to some very unlucky disaster
by an insurrection; and I mention this matter thus early to
yr. Lops. yt. it may be considered of before a resolution be taken
to recall this regiment. Besides my Lords were all ye circumstances of this Island clearly before yr. Lops. 'view, I am almost
perswaded you would be of opinion so many inconveniencys
are apt to arise from ye heat of this climate yt. we were not fit
to be trusted altogether wth. ourselves, and yt. at lest 300
men wch. might be independent companys and in that manner of
much less charge to H. M., would be necessary in time of Peace
to guarrison ye forts and keep other guards to wch. I attribute
much of ye quiet this Island has hitherto enjoyed, etc. P.S.
Oct. 18. Since I ended my letter, there are aryved here four
ships from Bristoll. I have had sent me by private hands
ye Queen's proclamation for a cessation of arms wth. France
for 4 months. but have not had ye honour of any commands
from yr. Lops., nor ye Secretary of State upon that occasion.
However I have countermanded some commissions to privateers
wch. I had before granted, and shall call in those that are
out as soon as possible. Ye Assembly met ye 14th inst. and
ye Council having prepared ye inclosed address wth. my
approbation, ye Assembly have concurred wth. ym., and
both have desired me to have it presented in ye properest
manner, wch. I conceive to be by ye hands of ye Earl of Dartmouth, to whom I have recommended it to whom yr. Lops. will
please to transmitt it, etc. Signed, A. Hamilton. Endorsed,
Recd. March 28th, Read July 17th, 1713. 9¾ pp. Enclosed, |
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94. i. Accounts of H.M. fortifications in Jamaica, March 25,—Sept. 29, 1711. Signed, Char. Chaplin, Rec. Gen.
Same endorsement. 1¼ pp. |
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94. ii. Accounts of H.M. fortifications in Jamaica, Sept. 29,
1711— March 25, 1712. Same signature and endorsement.
2 pp. |
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94. iii. Account of H.M. Revenue in Jamaica, March 25—Sept. 29, 1711. Receipts and balance, £8370 11s. 10¼d.
Expenditure, £5453 12s. 7½d. Same signature and
endorsement. 2 pp. |
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94. iv. List of outstanding debts on H.M. account, Sept. 29,
1711. £4725 15s. 6½d. 1¾ pp. |
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94. v. Account of H.M. Revenue, Sept. 29, 1711—March 25,
1712. Receipts and balance, £5423 1s. 9d. Expenditure,
£2401 18s. Signed, Char. Chaplin. Same endorsement.
4 pp. |
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94. vi. List of outstanding debts on H.M. account, March 25,
1712. £3786 3s. 11¼d. Same endorsement. 1 p. |
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94. vii. Account of H.M. Imposts, Jamaica, 1711, £3152 19s.
3¾d. Signed, Char. Chaplin. Sept. 29, 1711. 2 pp. |
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94. viii. Account of H.M. imposts, Sept. 29, 1711—March 25,
1712. £361 3s. 1¾d. Signed, Char. Chaplin. Endorsed,
Recd. March 28, Read July 17, 1713. 2 pp. |
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94. ix. Account of H.M. quit-rents, fines, forfeitures and
escheats in Jamaica, March 25—Sept. 29, 1711. Quitrents, £177 2s. 11½d. Fines etc., £265. Same signature
and endorsement. 2 pp. |
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94. x. Account of H.M. fines, forfeitures and excheats, Sept. 29,
1711—March 25, 1712. £336. Same signature and
endorsement. 2 pp. |
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94. xi. Account of H.M. quit-rents, £46 18s. 6d., and wine
licences, 63 at £5, Sept. 29, 1711—March 25, 1712.
Same signature and endorsement. 2 pp. |
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94. xii. Address of the Governor, Council and Assembly of
Jamaica to the Queen, Oct. 18, 1712. Congratulate
H.M. on terms of peace, and return thanks for H.M.
protection during the war. Signed, A. Hamilton,
William Brodrick, Speaker. Same endorsement. 2½ pp. |
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94. xiii. Copy of Minutes of a Council of Warr held at St.
Jago Dela Vega, Sept. 1, 2, 1712. Measures of defence
against invasion resolved upon. Same endorsement.
9½ pp. |
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94. xiv. List of the 7 Militia Regiments (Colonels Henry Lowe,
Odoardo Lewis, James Archbould, Francis Rose, John
Wyllys, John Clarke, William Brodrick) in Jamaica
Oct. 11, 1712. Total, 2451, and 7 troops of horse
(Captains John Peeke, Lewis Archbould, Richd. Aldeburgh, Antony Swymer, James Guthrys, Thomas Rose,
John Cossly)=271. Same endorsement. 1 p. |
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94. xv. (a) List of ships lost and damaged by the hurricane
(attended with an earthquake) in Port Royal Harbour,
Aug. 8, 1712. Driven ashore or sunk but afterwards
weighed up, with loss of masts etc:—Weymouth man of
war; Salisbury prize; Tryal sloop of war; Jamaica
sloop of war; Medway's prize; the Galleoon hulk,
Baltimore gally; Foy frigate; King William; Tryal's
prize, August's prize; Elizabeth's Good Luck; Bennet
of Bermudas; Tryall sloop; Rose-tree sloop; Anne sloop;
Elizabeth and Sarah sloop of Jamaica; Eunice sloop of
Jamaica; Supply sloop of Jamaica; Ann sloop of
Jamaica; Isabella sloop of Jamaica; Elizabeth brigantine;
Leopard brigantine; Hawk-gally snow. Lost:—Tyger
gally, beat in pieces; Diamond gally sank in mud; August's
prize lost; Union of Jamaica, sloop; Society of Jamaica,
sloop; Diamond of Jamaica, sloop; Endeavour sloop of
Jamaica; Content sloop of Jamaica; Beginning sloop
of Jamaica; Mesopotamia sloop of Jamaica; Kingston
sloop of Jamaica; Francis and Sarah sloop of Jamaica;
Charles sloop of Jamaica; Black Moll sloop of Jamaica;
Adventure brigantine; Mary Rose. |
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(b) List of ships lost and damaged at Kingston. Amygally and Joseph-gally, ships of London, lost with all
hands, except their Captains ashoar. Mary and
Catherine, Unity, Nicholson frigate, ships of London,
run ashore; Aleppo Factor, of London, lost masts;
Beaufort gally of Bristol, Lancaster pink of London,
Jamaica gally of Boston, sunk and lost. Most of the
wherrys and canoas lost. All the wharfs at Kingston
destroyed. Same endorsement. 3 pp. [C.O. 137, 10.
Nos. 9, 9 i.-xv.; and (without enclosures) 138, 13.
pp. 468–483.] |
Oct. 10.
Antegoa. |
95. Governor, Lt. Governor, Council and Speaker of Antigua
to the Council of Trade and Plantations, We have this day
wrote to the Lords of the Admiralty to give them an accot. of
Capt. Hamilton's and Capt. Constable's behaviour at a time
when Mr. Cassar with a squadron of 6 men of warr and severall
merchants shipps and sloopes under his command landed at and
plundered Mountseratt and afterwards threatned the reduction
of the rest of the Leeward Islands, the coppy of which wee have
sent herewith, that in case the Lords of the Admiralty do not take
due notice thereof your Lordps. may make such a representation
to H.M. as you shall think proper. Our coast is very much
infested with the enemyes privateers and our merchants vessells
dayly taken in our sight for want of a man of warr constantly
cruiseing to windward which is not to be expected while there is
but one ordered to attend this government for while she is cleaning
or goeing with our Generall on the visitation of the other Islands
our windward parts are naked and the trade bound in exposed.
We therefore pray your Lordps. will make such application in
our favour as may procure two men of warr more to attend this
government dureing the warr. Signed, Walter Douglas, John
Yeamans, Jno. Hamilton. Edw. Byam, W. Codrington, Richard
Oliver, Geo. Lucas, Speaker. Endorsed, Recd. 11th Feb.
Read 14th July, 1713. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
|
95. i. Governor Douglas, Lt.-Governor, Council, and Speaker
of the Assembly of Antigua to the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty. It is with regret we trouble your
Lordships with a complaint, but when we see the
Commanders of the Queen's ships neglect their duty,
and by their ill conduct expose H.M. Collonys to ruine,
we think ourselves obliged to lay the same before you,
etc. On July 5th appeared off this Island a French
Fleet consisting of 32 sayle of shipps and sloopes
commanded by Monsr. Cassart, who attempted to land
July 6th about 2 of the clock in the morning, but were
happly prevented by the violence of the weather,
which occasioned the loss of several of their boats,
and some of their men, whereupon they weighed and
stood away for the leewardmost part of this island, but
made no more attempts to land; the same evening they
bore away to Mountserat, and next morning before
day landed on that island; which they plundered and
destroyed, but did not intirely subdue it. As soon as
the enemy left us, our General dispatched an expresse
to Barbadoes to give the General of that Island an
accot. of our danger and to ask such assistance as he
was capable of affording us, who wee are informed
immediately issued his orders to the Commanders of
H.M. shipps forthwith to come down to our releife, but
some scruples and debates ariseing amongst them,
delayed their sayleing some days after the arrival
of our expresse, in the interim we used our utmost
endeavours to draw the enemy from Mountserat; our
General imbarked with about 600 land men on board
the 4 men of warr then here, and several sloops; but the
weather proveing stormy, H.E. did not think it practicable to land; however their appearance off the harbour
alarmed the French Fleet, and caused them to withdraw
their forces from Mountserat. A few days after the
return of our shipps, they were joyned by the six men of
warr from Barbadoes, and after their staying here two
days went out to releive Mountserat, but in their
passage met a boat from that Island which acquainted
them that the enemy had left it two days before and
were gone with their plunder to Guardaloope which
occasioned the returne of our men of war and sloops.
Five or six days after we were informed by our spie
boats yt. six shipps and several sloops of the French
Fleet were rideing in an open road at Guardaloope called
Bastar, and some English prisoners that were landed at
Mountserat from the French Fleet informed us yt. ye
enemy's designes were to take on board more forces
to attack us, whereupon the General, Council and
Assembly of this Island made application to Capt.
Hamilton and Capt. Constable setting forth the apprehensions we were under, and praying they would stay
with the ships under their command a fortnight amongst
us, in which time we might reasonably expect to have a
certain accot. of the enemy's designes; and our General
told them if they thought fit to attack the enemy as
they lay at anchor at Guardaloope [? he] together with
Col. John Hamilton with what forces they could rayse,
would go on board the sd. Capt. Hamilton as volunteers,
and Col. Hamilton acquainted Capt. Hamilton yt. he
would secure his quarter deck wth. small shot under
his command, but all the reasons they could use could
not prevaile. Whereupon we sent a second letter to
Capt. Constable to tell him our opinions were that
when your Lordps. were acquainted with the cause of
his trespassing your orders you would pardon the same
in consideration of the smal proportion the detayneing
the trade at Barbados 15 days would bear to the loss of
the Leeward Islands, and withall told him if all we could
say had no influence upon him, and that the Islands
miscarryed by his not granting this request, wee should
lay his conduct before the Queen and parliament, to
which we had no other answer than a verbal one by the
bearer of our letter telling us, that if he had resolved to
stay such a letter as wee sent, would hasten him away,
and tho' he did intend to use his utmost endeavours
to perswade Capt. Hamilton to stay (with the shipps
under his command) amongst us after his departure,
yet since wee had writ him such a letter, he would prevaile with him to leave us. Wee have taken a deposition
hereof, and send it herewith, as also coppies of our
letters and Capt. Constable's answers etc. (Aug. 25),
whereby your Lordps. will perceive how little regard he
has to the Queen's honour, or the preservation of her
Collonys. Some time after the returne of the men of
war to Barbadoes, the French Fleet consisting of 9
shipps and about 15 sloops appeared a second time off
this Island; and remained in sight four days to windward. On their first appeareance our General dispatched
another expresse to the Governor of Barbadoes to
acquaint him that the enemy was off, and in all
probability would attempt to land in few hours, and
desired he would send downe the men of warr to our
assistance. But no application had any effect upon
Capt. Constable until some gent. of Barbadoes presented
him with £400 and gave him assureance he should have
£2000 in case your Lordps. disapproved of his comeing
down and broke him for the same. We shall desire
Governor Lowther to have the gentlemen who transacted
that affair interrogated upon oath and shall send the
same home to be laid before your Lps. After ye men
of war left Barbadoes and were on their passage hither
Capt. Hamilton by his Lieut. commanded our expresse
boat on board and tooke from the master thereof all
such letters as he found directed to anyone of this Island,
and made particular enquiry for the General's packet,
the cause of wch. we conceive was that he apprehended
the Governor and other gent. of Barbadoes had given
us full accot. of their conduct, wch. he might beleive
we should remit to you. After they came in sight of
this Island, they sent our expresse boat in to know
whether ye enemy were landed and at the same time
continued about 5 leagues off the shoar until the sloop
returned and gave them an accot. there was no danger.
Upon which they came in, from which we may reasonably
infer that if we had been actually attacked they never
intended to do us any service or would have afforded us
any releife and consequently their stay at Barbadoes
would have caused a greater apprehension in the
enemy then their comeing downe. We must acknowledge our inadvertency in telling Capt. Constable we
should trouble ye Queen and parliament with a
complaint of his conduct, when your Ldps. are ye proper
judges on such occasions, and we have no roome to
doubt but you wil passe such a due censure on the
aforesd. Capts. as your Ldps. shall think they deserve.
We shan't presume to tell your Ldps. how much the
Leeward Islands were like to suffer and how exposed
we were to the insults of the enemy by the Captns.
of H.M. ships gratifyeing their private resentments
and interests and preferring the same to the honour of
H.M. and ye preservation of her Islands, when in all
probability our ten men of war might have destroyed
the enemy, who had but six men of war in their Fleet
and had 130 odd peeces of cannon less than ours, etc.
Signed and endorsed as preceding. 2 pp. [C.O. 152,
10. Nos. 2, 2 i.; and (without enclosure) 153, 12.
pp. 94–96.] |
Oct. 13.
Windsor Castle. |
96. H.M. Warrant to Mr. Attorney or Solicitor General to
prepare a bill for H.M. signature granting the place of Provost
Marshall Generall of Barbados to Erasmus Lewis (etc. as Sept.
25th), in place of George Gordon, decd. Countersigned, Dartmouth. [C.O. 324, 32. pp. 176, 177.] |
Oct. 14.
Westminster. |
97. Copy of H.M. Commission to Col. Francis Nicholson
"for enquire what monies, provisions, arms, ammunition, stores,
or other things did come to the hands or power of any our present
or late Governors, Lt. Govrs., Commanders in chief, officers,
ecclesiastical civil or military or other persons whatsoever in
North America upon account of the late expedition to Canada,
presents to the Indians, fitting of ships, propagation of the
established religion, or any other services since March 8, 1701,"
etc. To examine into the rates of exchange of bills, to state
accounts of what remains, to dispose of such stores as will not be
necessary to serve the uses for which they were at first provided;
to enquire into the state of H.M. Revenue and Woods and the
state and accounts of the College of Wm. and Mary in Virginia;
the numbers and qualities and accounts of H.M. forces in
New York, Annapolis Royal, etc., and of the Palatines; to enquire
into clandestine trade and all frauds and abuses relating to the
premises; and to treat with any H.M. subjects or Indians relating
to settlements, fisheries, trade or otherwise tending to H.M.
general advantage etc., with power to administer oaths to persons
able to give account of the premises. Governors etc. to give Col.
Nicholson access to and copies of papers required for these
purposes, and to assist him in the execution of his trust, etc.
Countersigned, Wrighte. Endorsed, Recd. 22nd, Read 31st Oct.
1712. 5 pp. [C.O. 323, 7. No. 19; and 324, 10. pp. 4–9.] |
Oct. 15.
Windsor Castle. |
98. The Earl of Dartmouth to Governor Lowther. H.M.
having been pleased to constitute Mr. Lewis (Oct. 13) Provost
Marshall of Barbados, it is my request to you that you will
countenance and protect his deputys in the due execution of the
office and that you will assist him as much as lies in your power to
make all the just advantages belonging to it. Signed, Dartmouth.
[C.O. 324, 32. p. 177.] |
Oct. 15.
Virginia. |
99. Lt. Governor Spotswood to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. The arrival of the Dunwich frigat with H.M.
Proclamation for a cessation of arms, gives me the opportunity of
a few minutes to informe your Lordps. of the present scituation
of affairs in these parts. The Indians continue their incursions
in North Carolina, and the death of Coll. Hyde the Governor,
wch. happened the begining of last moneth, encreases the misery
of that Province, so much weakened already by their own divisions,
that no measures projected by those in the Government for
curbing the heathen can be prosecuted. This unhappy state of
H.M. subjects in my neighbourhood, is the more afflicting to me,
because I have very little hopes of being enabled to relieve them
by our Assembly, which I have called to meet next week; for
the mobb of this countrey having tryed their strength in the late
election, and finding themselves able to carry whom they please,
have generally chosen representatives of their own class; who
as their principal recommendation have declared their resolution
to raise no tax on the people let the occasion be what it will. This
is owing to a defect in the Constitution, which allows to everyone
tho but just out of the condition of a servant that can but purchase
half an acre of land, an equal vote with the men of the best
estates in the countrey. The Militia of this Colony is perfectly
useless, without arms or ammunition, and by an unaccountable
infatuation no arguments I have used can prevail on these people
to make their Militia more serviceable. The fear of enemys
by sea (except pirates) are now happily removed by the Peace,
which if on no other account than that alone, ought to be received
here as the greatest and most valuable blessing; but the insurrections of our own negros, and the invasions of the Indians, are
no less to be dreaded, while the people are so stupidly averse
to the only means they have left to protect themselves against
either of these events. I shal for my own part take all the care
I am capable of (under these disadvantages) for the safety of
H.M. subjects, etc. Signed, A. Spotswood. Endorsed, Recd.
Dec. 29, 1712. Read Feb. 26, 1712/13. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 1316. No.
91; and 5, 1363. pp. 475–477.] |
