America and West Indies: August 1727, 16-31

Pages 336-347

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 35, 1726-1727. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1936.

Citation:

August 1727, 16-31



Aug. 18. Ludlow Castle in Placentia Bay.	674. Commodore St. Lo to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Refers to letter of 6th May. By the next oportunity will compleat his answers to the Heads of Enquiry etc. Continues:—In the meantime I can't omitt inclosing the copies of the letters which have passed between Lt. Govr. Gledhill and myself and also a copie of some grants wch. he has presumed to give to fishermen, and as I conceive your Lordships never impower'd him to act in the Fishery, I shall never allow of such pretended authority, for by your Lordps'. commands in the 50th Article of the heads of Enquiry, I am particularly order'd to prevent, and agreeable to the same the Fishing Admiralls of this harbour have this day complyed wth. my order of the 14th instant under their own hands, and as the Fishery in general expects I should transmitt it to your Lordps. in order to be redressed I have here inclosed the same. It would be too tedious to trouble yr. Lordps. (at this juncture) wth. any further acct. of the grievances they labour under (of wch. they have complained to me), but will take a more proper opportunity to represent themselves, etc. Signed, Jon. St. Lo. Endorsed, Recd. 6th Oct., 1727, Read 2nd April, 1728. 1 p. Enclosed,
	674. i. Return by Fishing Admirals to Commodore St. Lo, in response to his order of 14th inst. List of 27 houses with beach belonging thereto at Placentia, with names of occupants and amounts paid by them to Lt. Governor Gledhill therfore, in all, £131 5s. Od, "to the great discouragement and imposition of H.M. subjects" etc. Signed, John Commyns, Adml., William Chappell, Vice-Admiral, Wm. Brooks, Rear Ad. Placentia, 18th Aug. 1727. Addressed. 2¾ pp.
	674. ii. Commodore St. Lo to Lt. Govr. Gledhill of the Fort in Placentia. Ludlow Castle. Aug. 14, 1727. I am informed by my Lieutenant that you have taken upon you to summons the Commanders and inhabitants of the Fishery in this harbour (if any such may be found exclusive of your Garrison), and as this is an encroachment not only into an Act of Parliament, but on the power and authority of the Lord High Admirall's Commission and that of the Lord Commrs. for Trade etc., I hope, for the future, you will forbear, for you must certainly know (that in my absence) the Fishing Admiral has the sole power and authority over all the inhabitants in this harbour as the said Act directs. Signed, John Saint Lo.
	674. iii. Lt. Govr. Gledhill to Commodore St. Lo. Aug. 14, 1727. Reply to preceding. Hopes by a prudent reply to avert a paper war between old friends etc. Continues:—By H.M. sign manual I am Lt. Govr., not only of Placentia, but of all the forts that is or shall be erected in Newfoundland. It is my duty to summon every inhabitant to take the oaths to his present Majesty, and no threats will deter me etc. Your absolute authority, in regard of the Fishery, I never yet questioned, no more than the limitted power of a fishing Admirall whose utmost extent exceeds not the bounds of the disposition of the Fishery etc. Signed, S. Gledhill.
	674. iv. Copy of Lt. Governor's order, requesting "all the officers belonging to Fort Fredric and Commanders of ships in this harbour, with the principal inhabitants thereof, to meet at the Governor's house to take the oaths required," etc.
	674. v. Commodore St. Lo to Lt. Govr. Gledhill. Aug. 15. I have nothing to do but represent facts with justice and truth etc. This will never clash with you, etc., nor distant me from your good company, and the regard I have to good beef and pudding with which your table (at ye sutling house for half a crown ahead) always abounds etc. Continues:—None concerned in the Fishery shall offer to lessen the respect due to your just authority in your Government limitted within the walls and picketts of your fort, and if any dare to make the least encroachment (on your first complaint) I shall use them according to their demeritt, as the exercising all such power is only vested in the Commanders of H.M. shipp of warr and Admiralls in Newfoundland for the time being. Signed, John Saint Lo.
	674. vi. Lt. Govr. Gledhill to Commodore St. Lo. Placentia. Aug. 16th. You(r) rub upon the plentiness of my table, is no rub at all, for I have none, since the decampment of my family, yet I've often told you that my dary, poaltry, or cattle you command as freely as your own. This petty dispute between the power of a King's Governour and a nicname Lord, let you and I adjourn to the Court of request a month hence etc. As to my authority being limitted within the walls of a fort etc., my Sovereign tells me (abstracted from the Fishery) it extends to every part and corner of this land etc. Sure I am, were I at St. Johns, 'tis my duty to convene all H.M. subjects at this juncture to take the oaths, so sure as the refusers, the Law declares Popish recusants. Because a Governour is not to intermeddle with the Fishery, will it be a plea why a fisherman shall not take the oaths to the only person legally impowered to administer 'em, which as I have done this 7 years, so nothing but a deprivation shall prevent me ye 8 ? etc. I am sensible ye Commanders of H.M. ships has the sole power vested in 'em touching the Fishery, it must be a point strained too far, when I'm forbid intermeddleing with the Fishery, I should not grant a man a pass to carry his fish to market, tho' signed by the Lords of the Admiralty, which according to the late system I cannot do. Signed, S. Gledhill.
	674. vii. Commodore St. Lo to Lt. Govr. Gledhill. Ludlow Castle, Aug. 17. Laying aside compliments and strained sentences, I do acquaint you, that as I have the command from my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty over all the Commanders of the fishing ships as well as over all the inhabitants on the Southern coasts of Newfoundland, in this capacity I shall act, and therefore have tendered the oaths to them as the Law directs, wch. in conjunction with all my officers, we have taken and subscribed, which I shall send home by the first opportunity etc. Argues as to the limitation of the Governor's power etc. Signed, John Saint Lo. Copies. The whole, 5½ pp.
	674. viii. Copy of permit, 1st Oct., 1725, to Elisher Rowlands, to occupy a stage, house and room for four boats at Petty Placentia, at a quit rent to H.M. of 1 quintal per annum, granted by Col. Gledhill, "Governor of Placentia Fort Frederick and Commander in Chief of Newfoundland." Countersigned, John Spencer, with note by St. Lo that in Lt. Governor Gledhill's letter of 14th he only stiles himself "Lt. Governor of all the forts that is or shall be erected in Newfoundland." etc. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 194, 8. ff. 116, 117– 122, 123v.]
Aug. 21. St. James's.	675. Order of King in Council. Referring to a Committee of the Council the representation of 14th Aug. and draft of Instructions for Lord Baltimore. Signed, Ja. Vernon. Endorsed, Recd. 3rd, Read 4th May, 1727. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1266. ff. 251, 252v.]
Aug. 23. Laurance Pountney Lane in Cannon Street.	676. Mr. Chambers to Michael Shaw. In answer to his advertisements in the dayly post about Spanish captures, submits memorial of loss of £524 prime cost of calicoes etc. shipped by him on board the Anne for Boston. Concludes:— She was esteemed to be very rich worth £20,000 sterlg. Signed, Sheldon Chambers. Addressed. 1 p. [C.O. 388, 27. No. 80.]
Aug. 23. Whitehall.	677. Council of Trade and Plantations to Lord Townshend. Enclose following to be laid before H.M. Annexed,
	677. i. Same to the King. Submit following.
	677. ii. H.M. Commission for the Earl of Orkney to be Governor of Virginia etc. In the usual form. [C.O. 5, 1365. pp. 336–366.]
Aug. 23. Whitehall.	678. Council of Trade and Plantations to Lord Townshend. Enclose following to be laid before H.M. Annexed,
	678. i. Same to the King. Lay before H.M. draughts of Commissions for Governor Montgomery, in the usual form.
	678. ii. Draught of Commission for John Montgomery to be Captain-General and Governor in Chief of New York etc. [C.O. 5, 1124. pp. 409–437; and (rough drafts) 5, 1079. Nos. 145, 145 i, ii.]
Aug. 23.	679. Draft of H.M. Commission for Col. Montgomery to be Captain-General and Governor in Chief of Nova Cæsaria or New Jersey, v. N.J. Archives, 1st Ser. V, 167 and N.Y. Col. Doc. V, 824. [C.O. 5, 996. pp. 149–169.]
Aug. 23. Whitehall.	680. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Submit for confirmation Act of Jamaica, 1723, for encouraging white people to come over etc. [C.O. 138, 17. p. 235.]
Aug. 23. Whitehall.	681. Same to Same. It being necessary upon your Majesty's happy accession to the Crown, that new seals be sent to each of your Majesty's Plantations in America etc. Pray H.M. to direct proper seals to be made and sent etc. [C.O. 324, 11. p. 50.]
Aug. 23. Whitehall.	682. Same to the Duke of Newcastle. Upon looking into our books we find our predecessors have sometimes found themselves under difficulties for want of being informed of such Commissions, Orders or Instructions as may have passed in the Secretaries Offices for persons and matters relating to the Plantations. And therefore we desire your Grace would be pleased to give directions that for the future proper notice may be given to this Board of all such Commissions, Orders and Instructions, which we apprehend will be for H.M. service. [C.O. 324, 11. pp. 50, 51; and (autograph signatures. 1 p.) 5, 4. No. 32.]
Aug. 24. New York.	683. Governor Burnet to the Duke of Newcastle. Upon receiving by a private hand the printed Proclamation of his present Majesty, I did on the 21st proceed to proclaim H.M. King George the Second with the usual solemnities at New York, and am now going to Perth Amboy etc. I have now finished the strong house at Oswego, but have lately received a summons sent to the Commanding Officer there from the Governour of Canada, to demolish and abandon it in 15 days. He at the same time sent the Governour of trois Rivieres, the third person in rank in Canada, to me with a letter etc. This gentleman (M. de la Chassaigne) proposed that the decision should be left to the two Crowns, to which I agreed, but in the mean time he would have it abandoned, to which I could by no means agree, since our right to it is undisputable etc. Refers to enclosures which contain the whole argument. Hopes that H.M. will protect the Province and the Five Nations against the French attempts, so contrary to Treatys and all rights. "The unwillingness of the French, to name Commissaries, and their constant encroachments upon us, are very notorious and dangerous. In the mean time I have doubled the garrison, and sent stores and provisions sufficient thither, and as I am informed, the French cannot bring great cannon to batter it, I am in hopes to maintain it against them, and that your Grace will obtain H.M. approbation of what I have done etc. P.S. Aug. 26th. Has received Instruction of 23rd March, and yesterday proclaimed H.M. in Perth Amboy. Hopes His Grace will recommend him to be continued in these Governments, since no complaints lie against him, and he has done what lay in his power to strengthen the British interest with the Indians. Set out, N.Y. Col. Docs. V. pp. 824, 825. Signed, W. Burnet. Endorsed, Rd. Dec. 19th. 4 pp. Enclosed,
	683. i–v. Duplicate of Nos. 684, 684 i–v. [C.O. 5, 1092. Nos. 56, 56 i–v.]
Aug. 24. New York.	684. Governor Burnet to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Abstract. Received on 20th confirmation of His late Majesty's death etc. Amplifies preceding covering letter. "This new house at Oswego, will make a stand that will embolden our five Nations, and will not easily be taken without great cannon the wall being four foot thick of large good stone" etc. Continues:—I have had a report from some New England captives lately redeemed from Canada, that the Governour was preparing 400 French and 800 Indians to attack this fort. But there is reason to beleive that this is more given out to intimidate us, than really intended, and when I charged the Governour of trois Rivieres with it, he utterly denyed it etc. However, if they should come, we are provided with a double garrison at Oswego, provisions for six months, and powder and ball sufficient for their defence, and I have sent proper persons among our five Nations, with presents to them, to engage them to stand by us, and not to suffer any Indians to molest us upon their land, etc., so that I am in good hopes to be able to hold this place etc. Asks for the Board's support etc. as preceding. P.S. 26th Aug. Asks for the Board's recommendation etc. as preceding. Set out, N.Y. Col. Docs. V. pp. 825–827. Signed, W. Burnet. Endorsed, Recd., Read 20th Dec, 1727. 6 pp. Enclosed,
	five Nations, with presents to them, to engage them to stand by us, and not to suffer any Indians to molest us upon their land, etc., so that I am in good hopes to be able to hold this place etc. Asks for the Board's support etc. as preceding. P.S. 26th Aug. Asks for the Board's recommendation etc. as preceding. Set out, N.Y. Col. Docs. V. pp. 825–827. Signed, W. Burnet. Endorsed, Recd., Read 20th Dec, 1727. 6 pp. Enclosed,
	684. i. Governor Burnet to the Marquis de Beauharnois, Governor of Canada. New York, 8th Aug., 1727. Reply to following. Complains of his sudden and peremptory summons to the English officer at Oswego. Cites the Treaty of Utrecht as giving to the English and French an equal right of trading through all the Lakes and Continent and to all the Indians a right to trade with the English. What gave him the first thought of fortifying a post at Oswego was the fortified and much larger house built by the French at Niagara, upon the lands of the Five Nations, as M. de Longueil's letter of 16th Aug., 1726, admits, for he claims it was done with their consent. Replies to his version of the treaty of Utrecht and asserts that he will maintain the post at Oswego till he receives new orders from the King. Set out, N.Y. Col. Docs. V. pp. 829–832. Signed, W. Burnet. French. Copy. 10 pp.
	684. ii. M. de Beauharnois to Governor Burnet, Montreal, 20th July (N.S.), 1727. Is astonished that he has given permission to English merchants to carry on a trade at the River of Oswego and has ordered fortifications to be built at the mouth of that river, and placed a garrison there. Such a settlement at the entrance of Lake Ontario is a manifest infraction of the Treaty of Utrecht, it being expressly stipulated, that the subjects of each Crown shall not molest nor encroach upon one another, till the limits have been fixed by Commissaries. He has summoned the Officer commanding at Oswego to demolish the fortifications and other works there and to evacuate that post etc. Set out, N.Y. Col. Docs. V. pp. 827, 828. Signed, Beauharnois. French. Copy. 4 pp.
	684. iii. (a) M. de Beauharnois to the Officer Commanding at Oswego (at the mouth of Cheriequen River) to destroy that settlement and withdraw the garrison within a fortnight. Montreal, 15th July (N.S.), 1727. Signed, Beauharnois.
	(b) Certificate by Chevalier Begon, Major of the Town, Castle, and Government of Quebec, that he presented the above summons to Mr. Banker, 15th July etc. Set out, N.Y. Col. Docs. V. pp. 828, 829. Signed, Begon. French. Copy. 2 pp.
	684. iv. English translation of No. i. 9 pp.
	684. v. English translation of No. ii. 4 pp.
	684. vi. English translation of No. iii. 1½ pp. The whole endorsed, Recd. Read 20th Dec., 1727. [C.O. 5, 1054. ff. 181–183v., 184v.–189v., 191–193v., 195199, 201–203v., 204v.]
Aug. 26— Sept. 2nd. Charles Town.	685. (a) Council and Assembly of S. Carolina to Capt. Massey, Aug. 26, 1727. In view of the extreme danger of the southern settlements from the Indians, who have lately murdered several of H.M. subjects, request him to move H.M. Independent Company from Fort King George to Fort Royal Island.
	(b) President Middleton to Same. Aug. 31. To same effect as preceding.
	(c) Capt. Massey to Kingsmill Eyre at the Horse Guards. Encloses following. Charles Town, Sept. 2, 1727. Signed, Edwd. Massey.
	(d) Capt. Massey to Henry Pelham, Secretary at War. Charles Town, Aug. 31st, 1727. The enemy Indians haveing already appeared among the Southern Settlements and comitted several murthers and the inhabitants of Port Royal expecting daily to be visited by the Spaniards in conjunction with those barbarous people have by humble petition represented to the President Council and Assembly now setting that unless H.M. Independant Company be speedily removed thither for their protection not only that florishing Island but all the settlements in those parts must be abandoned to their utter ruin and destruction, they being in hourly danger of their lives, and in no condition of defending themselves. The inclosed (Nos. a and b supra) will shew the sence of the Governmt. on this melancholy occasion and I doubt not but the preservation of the lives and estates of so many of H.M. subjects will sufficiently justify the abandoning a Fort not tenable and which never did nor can afford the least protection to the Province. Signed, Edwd. Massey. Copies. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 387. No. 77.]
Aug. 26.	686. Capt. Woodes Rogers to the Duke of Newcastle. Encloses copy of following petition "I presented H.M. by favor of Lord Townshend, who was present and promised his good offices, which I also beg from your Grace" etc. Signed, Woodes Rogers. Addressed. 1 p. Enclosed,
	686. i. Petition of Capt. Rogers to the King. Describes his services at the Bahamas, and his losses etc.; He laid his case before his late Majesty (v. following), who referred it to a board of General Officers. Quotes their report and asks for a suitable compensation. 1 p.
	686. ii. (a) Petition of Same to Same. Lays following statement before H.M., and begs to be employed again and granted half-pay as Captain of Foot from the time he was superseded etc.
	(b) Case of Capt. Woodes Rogers. Describes condition of the Bahama Islands when he was appointed Governor (v. C. S. P. 1718 etc.). Continues:—For rendering the intended settlement on Providence more beneficial to trade etc., he was obliged to join in copartnership with four gentlemen of distinction, and two merchants, for settling a Collony and raising a trade upon the place, in order to which a cargoe and shipping were prepar'd, and there went thither at the charge of the Co-partners, about 250 persons, besides the Independant Company, who together with the goods, made the whole expence to the Co-partnership about £11,000, which was put under the care of two Factors, agreed on to be independant of Capt. Rogers as Governour. Being arrived, the most obstinate pirates made some resistance, but they burnt their ship of 22 guns, retireing in a sloop of 12, with about 100 men, into shoal water, where they could not be follow'd. Soon after the Governr. landed he found himself encompass'd, with about 600 others, who tho' they had submitted to H.M. Act of Grace, and readily sworn allegiance etc. taking certificates of their submission, yet most of them retain'd their piratical principles, and after the ships of war left him, before he had any fortifications finished, he was oblig'd to encourage vessells to goe out for a supply of provisions, and to begin a trade for the support of the Collony. But as new settlements are always difficult to establish, especially here amongst men of the most profligate lives, that were profess'd enemys to all order and Government, the vessells that were sent out turn'd pirates, and ran away with the goods brought for trade, whilst others surrounded the Collony by sea, and took all supplys coming to him, so that what he carried thither, and did not expend in supporting those who stood by him, to raise fortifications and secure the place, was near all of it either taken or lost, in five months after his arrival at Providence, at which time he had with much fatigue rais'd a defensible fortification and mounted 50 guns. Beginning to want all necessarys, he drew bills home for his support, and being without an established fund to carry on the settlement they lay protested, and he had no power to raise money as in other Collonys, neither were the inhabitants well able to supply him with anything considerable etc. Describes his repulse of the Spaniards, "tho' he had not one fourth of their number, nor half of those that could be rely'd on, wch. he was so sensible of etc., that on notice of the Spaniards' approach, he secur'd within his fortifications all the rudders and sails of above 20 vessels then in the harbour, or they would have deserted him, and carried off most of his people on appearance of the enemy." Continues:—He was in danger of intestine commotions and weaken'd by contagious distempers, soon after his landing, that destroy'd above half the best of those people he brought with him, and whom he might have depended on, among the dead were the two Factors for the Co-partnership, who left their affairs in great confusion, and their being none to manage their concerns, the Governour was oblig'd to receive the little goods that were left, into his care, which he delivered afterwards to one of the Co-partners, sent thither from London, only impower'd to manage a trade for the rest, without any new strength or support, for the Governour or Collony worth notice. Whilst he struggled thro' more hardships than can here be expressed at an unexpected great expence and maintained the place at his own credit from the American Plantations, and preserved it from the Spaniards and pirates etc., yet he has alone been left accountable for the expence of this remarkable service, as well as for all the rest of the extraordinary charges he without reserve entered into for the preservation of this Collony. It must have been lost to the Spaniards had not the cessation of arms come just in time etc. Yet the Spaniards kept cruizing vessels still hovering about, taking ours and insulting our settlement etc. Left without support or advice from home and no answer to his application for leave etc. the Governor, whose health was much impaired, was obliged to return home for his own and the place's security, in 1721, when he found to his great surprise another Governour appointed in his stead, at the instance of his co-partners, who likewise had disposed of the whole joint-stock, in copartnership, and received for it £20,000, in such a way as was practis'd the foregoing year, out of which project they also acknowledged to have rais'd a much larger sum, by subscriptions, at 3 p.c. for the first payment, with which they favour'd many of their friends, and then collected money from all sorts of people, that dealt at that time in Exchange Alley, pretending to join with them, in a new Co-partnership, for raising and employing two millions and half of money, and to merit greatly from the publick for their services, in supporting the place, tho' in truth they had contributed, after the first setting out, neither money nor credit towards it, not even to the value of £100, but left all the danger and expence on Capt. Rogers, and have kept to themselves all that they could any ways hold. Capt. Rogers not recovering in his health for some time, and being very much perplexed with the melancholy prospect of his affairs, having sunk more than £3,000 of his own, from the beginning to the end of this affair, and remaining above double that sum in debt, by this employ dejected him to that degree, that it render'd him incapable of seeking any redress, and having no ways to extricate himself from this dilemma, whence he could make no application to the Ministry or Parliament, seperate from his Co-partners, the whole being so much perplex'd, and look'd on as a Bubble (tho' he was no ways concern'd in the same) all was left to the decision of the Courts of Justice, and he not in a condition to struggle at law with them, as he must, before he could obtain relief, had he commenced a suit, and they always refusing to adjust the same with him, by an amicable referrence to arbitrators, he was forc'd to lett all matters therein goe as they would, till at last with the advice and consent of his creditors, he receiv'd what his Copartners were pleas'd to allow him for his share, which was but £1,500, and a bond for £500 more if they gott a new Charter, which being very far short of his due or what he stood engag'd for this service, he was oblig'd to deliver it up, and all he had in the world to his creditors, who being fully convinc'd of the unexampled hardships, he endur'd, left him £400 out of his money, for what he expended to support himself after he came home from his Government etc., and also clear'd him, as soon as they could goe through the forms of a statute of bankrupt which he suffered, there being no other method to free him from a prison etc. His good behaviour in his Government is well known to all that were there, and was then approved both at home and abroad etc. Being now at liberty again, tho' with the loss of all his time and fortune, prays H.M. to employ him again and recompense him for the loss of his half-pay as Capt. of the Independant Company, which has not been paid to him since he was superseded etc.
	This petition was referred by H.M. to a Board of General Officers, who recommended (July 15, 1726) that he Capt. Rogers be placed on half-pay as Captain of Foot from the time of his being superseded which was done. Report quoted. 8 signatures. The whole, 9 pp. [C.O. 23, 12. Nos. 90, 90 i, ii.]
Aug. 28. New York.	687. Governor Burnet to Mr. Popple. This goes by the ship Samuel etc. I have sent the duplicates to the Lords separate, to avoid mistakes, as I intend to do for the future. Encloses Naval Officer's accounts for Perth Amboy. Concludes:— I have proclaimed H.M. in both Provinces, upon certain news of the late King's death, and upon seeing the printed Proclamations which came from London. This I doubt not was sufficient without waiting for orders. Signed, W. Burnet. Endorsed, Recd., Read 20th Dec, 1727. ¾ p. On back,
	687. i. Duplicate of 30th June. [C.O. 5, 972. ff. 141, 142, 142v.]
Aug. 31. Whitehall.	688. Duke of Newcastle to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Directs that an Instruction be prepared for Governor Montgomery relating to his appointments, agreeable to that of Governor Hunter, v. 20th July. Signed, Holles Newcastle. Endorsed, Recd. 1st, Read 7th Sept., 1727. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1054. ff. 161, 162v.]
Aug. 31. Whitehall.	689. Circular letter from the Council of Trade and Plantations to Governors of Plantations (Barbados, Leeward Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, N. York, N. Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts Bay, N. Hampshire, Bermuda, S. Carolina). Having observed that the Minutes of Council and Assembly and Acts therewith transmitted from several Governors have not been abstracted in the margins, in the manner prescribed by H.M. Instructions we desire that for the future you will give directions to the proper Officers, that all Acts and Minutes both of Council and Assembly may be fairly abstracted in the margin. [C.O. 324, 11. p. 51.]
[?Aug.]	690. President Carter to the Council of Trade and Plantations. According to what I had the honour to write you in my last, I here inclose the proceedings of the Council on the 14th and 15th June last, which in all probability would have compleated the account of my administration, had not some new incidents occasioned my calling another Council on the 17th instant, the Minutes whereof I hope in a short time to forward to yor. Lordships. One thing which gave occasion to this Council, is a threaten'd invasion from the Western Indians. Their pretences at first was to revenge themselves of some of our Tributarys and the Tuscaruros; but having met with some success in that enterprize, they begin to talk more insolently, and to threaten our frontier inhabitants but I hope the measures projected will not only disapoint their designs, but remove them further of from our frontiers. Another thing which hath lately happened here, is the hasty forming and as speedy suppression of a gang of pirates in North Carolina. One Vedell a man of desperate fortune having got with him three or four others of the same stamp fitted out a perriague, and took and plundered several trading vessells on that coast, but before he had encreased his gang, he was sett upon by some of the country people and taken with two more of his first gang and one press't man; they were sent in hither for tryall, and on 17th inst. Vedell and two of his people received sentence of death, and will be speedily executed etc. Upon the uncertainty of the Lt. Governor's arrival, I have prorogued the General Assembly to 16th Nov., judging that tho' his arrival should happen as soon as may be, the General Court and other affairs of the Government will not permitt him to hold an Assembly sooner, nor indeed is there any imediate necessity for it's meeting. Signed, Robert Carter. Endorsed, Recd. 9th Oct., Read 6th Dec, 1727. Without date. 2 pp. Enclosed,
	690. i. Minutes of Council of Virginia, 14th and 15th June, 1727. Endorsed, Recd. 9th Oct., 1727. 6⅓ pp. [C.O. 5, 1320. ff. 205, 205v., 206v., 207, 208–211.]