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| Dec. 22. |
799. Mr. West to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Report upon 6 Acts of New Jersey passed in 1722. Offers objections to two, viz. for preventing multiplicity of law suits, and recovering the debts of Isaac Emanuell, late absconded. Signed, Richd. West. Endorsed, Recd. 31st Dec., 1723, Read 29th May, 1729. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 972. ff. 179–180v.] |
| Dec. 24. |
800. Same to Same. Report upon 10 Acts of New Jersey, passed in 1719. Offers objections to two, viz., to restrain extravagant interest, and for preserving of oysters. Signed, Richd. West. Endorsed, Recd. 31st Dec., 1723, Read 28th Nov., 1728. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 972. ff. 173–174v.] |
Dec. 24
New
Providence. |
801. Governor Phenney to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses reply to Queries sent to him 26th June. Continues:—The 9th Article of H.M. Instructions to Governor Phillips is the same with the 5th in my own Instructions, but the 14th and 15th Article of her late Majesty's Instructions to the Lord Cornbury are what I never saw before but shall observe as near as the circumstance of the place will admitt. I thank your Lordships for your good opinion of me, and shall continue my endeavours to encourage this Settlement, and finish the fortifications etc. The motive that first induc'd me to request an Assembly was from the custom of H.M. other Colonys, and believing it would encourage others who had liv'd under that form of Government to settle here, as several have promis'd me speedily to do. I apprehend the greatest objection that may have been offer'd to your Lordships was in regard that a great number of the people that have of late inhabited amongst us, are those who had the benefit of H.M. most gracious pardon for pyracy: possibly your Lordships may think proper to make some restrictions against that sort of people in particular. But as they are rambling people and very few have taken up any lands, I humbly propose that every person that shall be capable of being elected shall hold by patent at least 200 acres, and none to be electors in the Town but house-holders, and none for the country but such who hold by patent at least 50 acres. This may be augmented as the Settlement encreases. We having but one town call'd Nassau the seat of Government and Trade I humbly propose there may be eight Assembly men for that place, four for the Eastern District, four for the Western, four for the Island of Islathera, and four for Harbour Island. As your Lordships have been pleas'd to take notice of my representation of the Spaniards ill treatment of H.M. subjects here, so I shall continue my advices when any future occasion offers. I beg your Lordships' good offices for a sett of small arms and accoutrements having found very few fit for service at my arrival being lost and spoil'd in the late Governor's time, as like wise such stores of war as your Lordships will see we want by the enclos'd papers etc. P.S.—I have just now receiv'd an account by a vessel that spoke with some Spaniards on the coast of Cuba, that the Havana is demolish'd by a hurricane, the Churches and all the houses of any eminence being thrown down, and many people kill'd, and the survivors in great want of provisions. Signed, G. Phenney. Endorsed, Recd. 16th May, Read 16th Aug., 1724. 1¾ pp. Enclosed, |
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801. i. Account of stores of war of the Bahama Islands, Nov. 21, 1721—Jan. 1st, 1724. Signed, John Tate, Gunner, William Shott, Stewd. Endorsed, Read 16th May, 1724. 3 pp. |
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801. ii. Account of Revenue of the Bahama Islands, 30th April, 1722—24th Dec., 1724. Total, cash received, ps. 8/8 946 10. Deficit, 265 4¾ ps. 8/8. Same endorsement. 2 pp. |
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801. iii. Replies by Governor Phenney to Queries by the Board of Trade (v. 26th June, 1723) (i) Trade. Repeats March 2nd. No. vii. Adds:—Here begins to be a demand of palmeto tops for platts from Bermuda, they becoming very scarce there. List of vessels belonging to this Government. 14 sail, totalling 139 tons. About 100 seafaring men, rather encreasing. (ii) List of goods, chiefly wearing apparel, hardware and provision annually taken from England. Total, £2320. (iii) The greatest trade is to S. Carolina, bartering our fruit for provisions. Some of our vessels go to Jamaica to be there employ'd during the gathering of their crop of rum, and sugar carrying salt and braziletto, and bring back the produce of that Island. There has been but one vessel this last year fraught with beef for the garrison from Ireland and wine from Madera. The traders from N. England, N. York, Rhode Island, and Bermuda return laded hence with braziletto, madera plank, lignum vitae, turtle shell etc. (iv) All necessary methods are us'd in this port by the Collector to prevent illegal trade, but there being several out islands where ill dispos'd persons may find conveniency for running goods, and there being no proper vessel allowed for the Collector to visit such places, tho' both the Governor and he have represented the want thereof to the Board of Customs, their care it may be presumd is not wholly effectual. (v) The natural produce of the Islands is large sugar canes, the finest cotton in the world, fine Madera, mahogany, cedar and pine fit for building of vessels, manchineel, prince wood, lignum vitae, brown ebony of a strong rhodium scent with great quantitys of braziletto, fustick, and other dying woods, senna, gumelmi, guiacum, mastick, and several other gums and medicinal drugs. The palmeto trees afford as good platt as on Bermuda, with which view I have invited and expect some of those people to make essay thereon. The land produces most sorts of provisions for families, various sorts of fine fruits, the pine apples here being of the best kind in America. On Exuma, and several other Islands large quantitys of salt are naturally made every year sufficiently to supply all H.M. plantations. (vi) No mines yet discovered, the major part of the Island inwards not being opened. (vii) Repeats part of No. v. (viii) Number of inhabitants: about 500 whites and 250 negroes on Providence; 200 whites and 40 negroes on Islathera; and about 130 whites and 20 negroes on Harbour Island. (ix) The inhabitants have encreased, and more are dayly expected from Bermuda to build vessels and make platt and secure what lands severall have claim for here. (x) The Militia consists of 3 companies on Providence, two on Islathera, and one on Harbour Island. (xi) Fort Nassau is the only fortification on Providence. Describes new building as in previous letters. Continues:—There is a small thing called a Fort at Harbour Island but out of repair, and an entire new one necessary. We proceed on these works as fast as our small revenue and number of hands will enable us, but I humbly hope your Lordships' representations to H.M. will procure us such assistance as these fortifications so necessary for the security of these his Islands, may be finished with the utmost expedition. (xii) Having little correspondence with the French or Spaniards, am not able to answer. (xiii) The French Islands lying far to windward, am not sencible of any ill effects from them. (xiv) The Revenue arising from tonnage of shipping and importation of wine and rum, and fines of the Courts, and appropriated towards answering the contingencies of the garrison and fortifications amounted these two last years only to p. 8/8 910.7 rials. The lessees of the Lords Proprietors claiming and receiving the tenths of wood cut, salt raked and other adventures. (xv) What grant s have been hitherto made were by virtue of the Lords Proprietors lease, and in the lessees' names, and the quit rent reserv'd to themselves. Mr. Gohier, (v. C.S.P. May, 1722), one of the lessees having carried home the books prevents my giving a better account of the lands granted or ungranted, but hope shall be more particular next year, having summon'd the people to give me account for that purpose. This Island is about the bigness of Barbadoes. (xvi) The charge of the Independent Company to the Crown is £1821 19s. 2d. being on the lowest establishment. There are no salarys settled for the Civil Officers. The extraordinarys for contingencys for the Garrison and fortifications amounted to 1153 1¾ p. 8/8 at 4s. pr. 8/8. (xvii) The Governor, Council (names given v. C.S.P. Aug. 10. No. iii). Thomas Granger, Ch. Justice; Willm. Fairfax, Judge of Vice Admiralty, Secretary and Collector; John Howell, Attorney General; Saml. Lawford, Provost Marshal; John Warner, Naval Officer and Register of the Court of Admiralty; Willm. Davis, Marshal, Admty.; Peter Goudet, Clerk of the Crown; Robt. Hawkes, Clerk of the Market. The Chief Justice, Judge and Register of the Admiralty Court, hold by patent; the Collector by warrant from the Board of Customs. Patent applied for for Secretary. An Independant Company. Same endorsement. 7 pp. [C.O. 23, 1. Nos. 54, 54. i–iii.] |
Dec. 24.
New
Providence. |
802. Governor Phenney to Charles Delafaye. Acknowledges letter of 17th July and refers to public papers and copies of trials of pirates already sent etc. Signed, G. Phenney. Endorsed, R. 14th May.¾ p. [C.O. 23, 13. ff. 137, 138v.] |
Dec. 24.
New
Providence. |
803. Same to Lord Carteret. I hope the letters I sent by Mrs. Phenney came safe to your Lordship, tho' she to my misfortune had not the honor of seeing you. One motive of my sending her was that I might here some papers were certainly deliver'd having been very ill us'd by the person thro' whose hands I generally convey'd them, which has occasion'd my being blamed for neglects of which I was not guilty. Refers to enclosures. Continues:—We have had a very hot summer and a great deal of sickness thro' the Island, that one third of the Garrison has been down at a time which has been a great obstruction to our works. The vast consumption of lime and stone, and want of carriage put me to incredible difficulties, but I am now going on again. King George's and my Lord Carteret's Bastions are finish'd, and we are beginning another to the S. Wt. which will in a manner compleat the outworks. I have enclos'd a draft of the Fort the only one I have yet done, fearing lest Mr. Barker who promised me to lay one before your Lordship has not been so good as his word. That person was brought hither and recommended as one of H.M. Engineers and a man of probity by Governor Rogers in their way as they first pretended to Sta. Lucia, and he had address enough to impose upon me so far that I believed it when I mention'd him to your Lordship, but having heard since by good hands from Bermuda and home a character quite the reverse, I am oblig'd in duty to let your Lordship know it, tho' I blush whilst I am doing it, lest he should have an opportunity thro' my means to tell your Lordship any untruths in relation to this place. Begs his Lordship to give orders for the small arms, accoutrements and ammunition needed, according to enclosed account. Continues:—The remaining Palatines are now by my assistance in a very flourishing condition and get mony by supplying the markets here with several necessarys. They are a very industrious people and I could wish for a great many more of them, the land here being capable of cultivation, and as your Lordship will observe by the papers enclos'd what this country produces, so the situation is certainly most proper for carrying on a profitable trade if people will be on the spot to intend their own affairs, but trusting to Agents who were men of little knowledge and less consideration has been the chief reason of some miscarriages here etc. P.S. Repeats P.S. to preceding covering letter. Signed, G. Phenney. Endorsed, Rd. 14th May, 1724. 2 pp. Enclosed, |
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803. i. Duplicate of No. 801 iii. |
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803. ii. Draft of Fort Nassau. Endorsed, Rd. 14th May, 1723. 1 large p. |
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803. iii. Account of Stores of war wanting for Nassau. Same endorsement. 2½ pp. |
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803. iv, v. Duplicates of Nos. 801. i, ii. |
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803. vi, vii. Duplicates of Nos. I and iii. [C.O. 23, 13. ff. 139, 139v., 140v.–144v., 147–150, 151v., 152, 153–154, 155, 155v.] |
| Dec. 25. |
804. Petty Expenses of the Board of Trade, Sept. 29—Dec. 25, 1723. v. Journal of Council. 5pp. [C.O. 388, 78. ff. 75, 76, 79, 80, 83, 84.] |
