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Sept. 17.
Canso. |
395. Capt. Caccally to Govr. Philipps. As I have by all oppertunitys hitherto and allways shall doe myself the honour to represent to you the state of affairs here whilst I have the honour to command it, soe must now inform you of the ungenerous dealings of Mr. St. Ovide Govr. of Louisbourg. The 17th of last month four soldiers deserted and took with them a boat and sails. I ordered Ensign Bradstreet to pursue them, he went to St. Esprit on the French shoar where he found the boat wch. they abandoned and betook 'emselves to the woods, he immediately sent by land to acquaint Mr. St. Ovide that there were English deserters in his Government, and even in Louisbourg, and to desire he would order them to be secured till his arrivall, all wch. he took noe notice of, and when Mr. Bradstreet delivered him my letter, he said he knew nothing of the matter, but if Mr. Bradstreet cou'd find out where they were, he wou'd have them secur'd; upon enquiry it was discovered that a preist called father Narciss took two of them who called themselves Papists and conveyed them on board the French man of war at Louisbourg, the other two were at work in Louisbourg the very day Mr. Bradstreet arrived there, but were immediatly sent away etc. I find our men are possessed with an opinion that all who desert to the french shoar are to be protected and encouraged, wch. oblidges us to keep a very strict watch over them, tho' at present wee are extream scarce of officers etc. I am oblidged to complain to your Excellcy. of the New England fishermen who have at severall times both this summer and last taken away severall of our men; I cou'd wish with all my heart to have the honour of a line from yr. Excellcy. to inform me how to act in this affair. I have sent the muster-rolls by this oppertunity, and have reed, five chests of arms from Annapolis royall. Refers to his previous reports as to the "miserable state of our barraks and guard-room, . . it is impossible for our men to hold out, for wee have already lost severall by fluxes and colds, occasioned by their lying wett" etc. Signed, Francis Caccally. Endorsed, Recd. 3rd Dec. from Col. Gardiner. Holograph. 3 pp. [C.O. 217, 38. No. 19.] |
Sept. 18.
Charakees
Noyoowee. |
396. Statement by [? John Savy.] Whereas I have lived and traded in this nation for the space of seven years and have thoroly learn their tongue being upon some business called home to England the King and head wariors would not lett me depart till I gave them my promise to return and to deliver their presents that they would send by me to the King's most excellent Majesty their Master over the great water and likewise to return them his answer by the mulbery moon next which will be in June according to our stile. I had not had the presumption to undertooke their message till after some time of consideration and the advice of our agent and severall of my friends that it would prove to the advantage of my King and country as I shall here mention in the first place when S. Carolina was involved in an Indian warr they were the first people that joined with us to subdue the Indians that was against us this was transacted in the government of Charles Craven Esq. then governour of South Caroline who sent up to the said Nation 400 men white and blacks under the command of Colonel Morrissmore [sic] and at the same time came in a body of Cricks or Southern Indians to them in order to cutt off our army but after a counsell held among themselves as God would have it they concluded to kill the messengers that came from the Indians and accordingly about twelve a clock at night struck the blow and brought upon themselves and families a continual war which I have since been an(d) eye witness too for when their wives and chidrens have been killed or taken away slaves they have told me that if it had not been to save the white people they would have been at peace and quitness but withall did not value it hopeing one time or other they would be rewarded for their trust to us secondly they are the only Indians that Carolina can have any dependance upon been no wayes corrupted by the Crown of France nor Spain nor would they ever suffer it for I have seen ten of the French Indians killed that was sent to them to treat conserning trade or peace their answer being that they would have nothing to say butt to the English, as to all our other Indians which is but three nations they cant not be call'd ours for the Chickasaws have among them the french whom have setled a fort and has to the cricks they have also a french fort amongst them and notwithstanding the Spaniards also trade amongst them and has to the third nation which is the Catawbes they are hardly worth notice been in number but 400 men butt yett they are devided some to the interest of Virginia and others to Carolina so that wee cant properly call any of them ours butt these Charakees who are the only barier or lyne between the French and us and if once the French should gett footing there who are a very encroching neighbour not valuing a vast present of arms and ammunition so as they can enlarge their masters territories and be troublesome to their neigbours for the first thing they do after a peace with any nation of Indians whatsoever is to settle a fortification and debar them from the commerce of any other person whatsoever in trade or otherwise which is what I have ever since told the Charakees that if once they came into friendship with the French they then would be as slaves and no more a free people and they have at a solemn meeting promis me they never would come to a peace with the french without I was their interpreter and if they keep their word which I don't fear if I do butt keep mine which with the grace of God after hearing H.M. will and pleasure I intend to perform to those poor people tho Heathens which are the honestest and truest to their word of any people I ever knew and depend intirely on the word of a Christian; has to the presents they have sent are of no value to us butt in their way are as much lookt upon as possible in the first place the eagle's tayle which is sent by the King of Tanesche to his most sacred Majesty is an emblem or token of an intire friendship and has to the carpets they are for H.M. to walke upon the pipes are of a great value among them butt red and they have ordered me to doe them over with chaulk as everything that comes from them in peace must be white as to the girdle it is sent from a man of warr whom to my knowledge loves us interily. As to garters and oter skin I shall not make any remarks upon by reason it would be to tedious to tell who send them. Lett it suffise that these presents are sent from the King of the Charakees and eleven head wariors whom have a great desire to see H.M. and the strength of our Nation that they may tell their people if they should obtain that hapiness how dangerous it would be to brake friendship with us, likewise they are very desirous to see all things and how they are made for their young people thinks it impossible such things as wee cary amongst them should be made by the hands of man, as to my own part, what I doe is out of pure zeale to serve my King and country. I was born in London of french parents and protestants so that having the french and English tongue I have had the oportunity by Frenchmen that has been by these people taken slaves to understand all their plotts and if they could once gain the Charakees how they would plague Carolina etc. Endorsed, Charkees and John Savy and Mr. Wyat. 2½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1337. No. 44.] |
Sept. 18.
Antigua. |
397. Governor Lord Londonderry to the Duke of Newcastle. I arrived att my Government the 19th of last month, and am putting in execution the severall commands I have from H.M. by his instructions, of which I shall with all possible speed acquaint your Grace etc. The 12th of this month Capt. Paul George Deputy Governour of Montserrat died. I have appointed Capt. John Osborn the eldest Captain in Collo. Lucas's Regiment Deputy Governour in his room, untill such time as H.M. pleasure shall be known etc. As his character and capacity may very well recommend him to this preferment of the value of £200 sterling per annum, so 'twould be of consequence to me in my Government to have my first recommendation take effect, in which I begg your Grace's good offices etc. Signed, Londonderry. 2 pp. [C.O. 152, 43. ff. 29, 29v.] |
Sept. 23
Portsmo. |
398. Mr. Missing to the Council of Trade and Plantations. In reply to 10th Sept. asks for details as to numbers and provision intended for the said Palatines, in order to preparing a tender on the easiest terms etc. Endorsed, Recd. 27th Sept., 1728, Read 16th July, 1729. ¾ p. [C.O. 5, 360. ff. 161, 162v.] |
Sept. 24.
Windsor. |
399. The King to Lt. Governor Pitt. With this you will receive a Seal for the use of our Government etc. Described. You are to return the former seal in order to its being defaced etc. Countersigned, Holles Newcastle. 1½ pp. [C.O. 38, 8. pp. 144a, 144b; and 324, 36. pp. 81, 82.] |
| Sept. 24 |
400. Similar Instructions to the Governors of New Jersey, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay. Countersigned, Holles Newcastle. [C.O. 324, 36. pp. 82–86.] |
| Sept. 25. |
401. Mr. Lowndes to [? Mr. Popple.] In reply to enquiry, suggests that the best method for settling Palatines in S. Carolina will be to transport 2 or 300 families with provisions for a year at the public expense, and to allot 120 acres of land upon Savannah or Port Royal River to every man and his wife and 40 acres per child. No quit rent to be paid for the first two years, a very small acknowledgment for the next 6, and 2s. sterl. per acre for ever after. Continues:—By this means the value of the Crown's uncultivated land will be raised and the publick be paid good interest for its disbursemts., and the inconveniency of having rich planters take up great tracts of land as they have in other parts of America and so without any culture let it out to new settlers at a very advanced rate will be for the future entirely prevented etc. This practice, as in Virginia, has been a great discouragemt. in peopling the Province etc. A diligent planter very nearly pays the expence of clearing the land by timber furnished to Barbados, Nevis and Antegoa for fuel etc. For many years a considerable lumber-trade has been carried on from hence to Jamaica and Gt. Britain etc. A planter in Carolina requires a greater compass of land than in any other part of America. For the land that produces rice must always have two years rest, and hemp and flax a good deal of fresh land etc. Has a scheme for re-imbursing the public for the cost of transport etc., if he is assured of a competent gratification from the Treasury. Continues:—It is well known I was (by many months) the first person that shewed a great man in the administration of what importance 'twould be to block up the Spanish navigation from Port Royal in S. Carolina: which I did to return the affront the British Nation had just then received in relation to Gibraltar, and what my services have since been my Lord Westmorland I doubt not will certify. I beg the Lords Commrs. to keep the direction of the affair as much as possible in their own hands, by reminding their Lordps. of Mr. Hunter's conduct towards those Palatins who should have been settled in New York etc. P.S. Mr. Nicholson kept me out of my legal right. Signed, Tho. Lowndes. Endorsed, Recd. 27th Sept., 1728, Read 16th July, 1729. Holograph. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 360. ff. 167–168v.] |
Sept. 26.
Windsor. |
402. Order of King in Council. Referring following to the Council of Trade and Plantations, who are to reconsider the act and hear the merchants thereupon etc. Signed, Ja. Vernon. Endorsed, Recd. 4th, Read 8th Oct., 1728. 1¼ pp. Enclosed, |
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402. i. Petition of Merchants of London trading to coast of Africa to the King. Pray to be heard against Act of Virginia laying a duty of 40s. pr. head on slaves imported etc., as contrary to H.M. Instructions and former orders in Council, since it lays a duty on the British merchants to support the expenses of the Government of the Plantations, and is prejudicial to the trade of Gt. Britain. The duty "is unreasonable in itself, greatly prejudicial to petitioners and the negro trade in general, highly injurious to the true interest of the Plantations, and in the consequence of it destructive not only to the whole Plantation trade, but to the trade and navigation of these Kingdoms" etc. Signed, Rd. Harris and 12 others. l½ pp. |
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402. ii. Petition of Incorporated Society of Merchants in the City of Bristoll to the King. Praying for repeal of above act, and prevention of such a duty imposed in the future etc. as being of "very great prejudice to the trade of the whole Nation, particularly to us of this city who are so greatly concerned in the African trade" etc. 1 p. |
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402. iii. Petition of merchants of Liverpool trading to the coast of Africa and the Plantations to the King. As No. i. [C.O. 5, 1321. ff. 62–63v., 65v., 66, 67, 69v., 70, 71, 71v., 73v.] |
| Sept. 29. |
403. Petty expenses of the Board of Trade, Midsummer to Michaelmas, (v. Journal). 6 pp. [C.O. 388, 79. Nos. 30–33.] |
Sept. 30.
Boston. |
404. Governor Burnet to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I send your Lordships the rest of the Votes of the Assembly to the present time, marked as I did before that your Lordships may see the whole dispute between us in them. I have now reduced them to silence and they seem to have no expedient left but to meet and adjourn from day to day and do nothing in which way they seem determined to go on; and I think myself obliged to give them no recess, which by the explanatory charter they dare not take of themselves. How this will end I cannot guess. Your Lordships will see in pag. 81 of their Votes that they have offered me a second present to make up the sum of £3000 for this year, but as this is not settling a salary I chuse to be wholly destitute of all support rather than accept of it in their usual way, by which they may at any time bring the same difficultys on me that they have on former Governours, and therefore I am so far from desiring to have leave to depart from my instruction, that I think H.M. authority in danger of being lost in this country, if it be given up in this point. In the meantime I have no subsistance at all but from my perquisites from the shipping, which amount to about £200 sterling a year now that I have raised them to a par with those of New York etc. Signed, W. Burnet. Endorsed, Recd. 12th Nov., 1728, Read 4th Feb., 1729. Holograph. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 870. ff. 162–163v.] |
Sept. 30.
Boston. |
405. Governor Burnet to Mr. Popple. I have sent the Lords all that has passed since my former, and I hope they will think I have said and done all that was possible. I shall wait the issue which does not seem very near, but I will depend on my being supported at home. Signed and endorsed as preceding. Holograph. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 870. ff. 161v.] |
Sept. 30.
Antigua. |
406. Governor the Earl of Londonderry to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I beg leave to acquaint you I arrived in this Island the 19th of August last, and that I caused that day my Commission to be read and publish'd, and the Councillors as appointed by H.M. Instructions to be sworn. I have given the necessary directions to the proper Officers here to return me an account of everything under their management, in order that I may form a state of the present condition of the Island in every respect, agreeable to my Instructions, to be transmitted to your Lordships, which I shall do, with all the expedition immaginable. Encloses Minutes of Council and Assembly for Antigua, and has given strict orders to the Secretaries and Clerks of the respective Councils and Assemblies to prepare for the future copies of their Journals to be transmitted etc. Continues:—I now send your Lordps. an Act pass'd unanimously by the Legislature of this Island the 22d instant, granting unto H.M. a tax, in order for a settlement on me dureing my Government here, and for paying to me one thousand pounds current money, on the consideration I can receive no benefit from the tax, the crop being over and the shipping gone from hence. As some difference of opinion has happen'd about the interpretation of the words in my 33d Instruction vizt. (dureing the whole time of your Government there) whether by the word there is meant that I am only permitted to accept of a settlement dureing my personal residence in any part of my Government, or dureing my continuance of my Commission, supposeing I should be absent from it, I think it convenient to mention this to your Lordships, that for the future the sense of this Instruction may be so explain'd as to leave no manner of room to doubt thereof; but as at present the settlement to me is made dureing my Government here, and even to continue one year after my leaving, provided, I return again Chief Governor, I apprehend it to be agreeable to H.M. instruction, and am well satisfied with it. Your Lordsps. will please to observe, that the scheme of the tax is 3s. 6d. pr. ton on every ship or vessel, that shall load partly or chiefly with the produce of this Island, but at the same time, that not one farthing is raised upon any ship or vessel whatsoever, the tonnage being only the measure of my income, for tho' the tax to pay me, is in proportion to the tonnage, yet it is laid on sugar, rum, molasses, cotton, indigo etc. all of them the productions of this island and not of Great Brittain, or elsewhere, so that in good crops when many ships come, my income will be larger, and in bad ones, smaller, and may be deem'd by a computation I have made of the tonnage for seven years last past to amount, communibus annis, to about £1500 per annum. This tax (my Lords) is thought more elligible then any yet raised, because the Governor thereby shares in the good or bad fortune of the people, and it is paid only by the rich who are the shippers of sugar etc., for the middleing people and poor will pay nothing, and therefore, I make no doubt, but it will meet with your Lordships approbation, and I intreat your Lorsps. to give it a quick dispatch, that it may have H.M. royal assent, as soon as possible, Which will lay a great obligation on me. I should be very much obliged to your Lorsps. if I could soon know your opinion of the Act for ascertaining the number of Assemblymen for that part of St. Christophers formerly belonging to the French, for tho' tis highly necessary that that part of the island should be represented, yet I cannot but conceive the methods prescribed by the bill for that purpose, must be liable to many objections, as they clash with H.M. Instructions, for 'tis evident to me by compareing the bill with them, that there are contain'd therein, sundry things of a very new and extraordinary nature, such as ascertaining the number of members to be elected, how many each town or district shall return, excludeing the King's Officers, even those that have patents for life, and laying them under severe penaltys, if they meddle in elections, the makeing the Assembly annual, and prescribeing the manner of issuing writts contrary to their usual practice, and contrary to that of the other islands of the Government, with a great many such like things, wherein the King's perogatives may be greatly concernd. Wherefore I apprehend that bill ought not to have taken place, till confirm'd by H.M., and as I shall be very unwilling to call an Assembly there, under that law, till I know your Lordships' opinion about it, I question not, but I shall have the honour of your answer, as soon as possible, etc. Encloses names for vacancies in Council. Concludes:—As soon as I go to the other islands, which will be in few days, I shall not faile to do the same. Signed, Londonderry. Endorsed, Recd. 13th, Read 17th Dec. 1728. 2¾ large pp. Enclosed, |
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406. i. List of Members of Council of Antigua (four in England). Persons to fill up vacancies:—Samuel Martin, John King, Charles Dunbar, Richard Ash, Joshua Jones, James Wetherill. Endorsed, Recd. 13th Dec, 1728. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 16. ff. 363–365, 366v.] |
| Sept. 30. |
407. C. Jackson to the Honble. Coll. Bladen. Encloses, as requested, an account of the Bahama Islands. Signed, Cuthbert Jackson. Endorsed, Recd., Read 1st Oct., 1728. ½ p. Enclosed,
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407. i. Mr. Jackson's report upon the Bahama Islands. Sketches history. The principal causes which have obstructed the settling of the place and rendered the attempts of the Society abortive are, (i) Want of a Civil Government, (ii) the Lessees' dues and tenths, (iii) Want of a proper authentick power to grant patents for lands. Braziletto wood and salt are bulky, and of small value, and oil hazardous and expensive to get. Though the present Lessees have been very indulgent and not exacted their dues with rigour, yet the very being subject to such a large demand must be a great discouragement etc. 3½ large pp. [C. O. 23, 2. ff. 172, 173–174v., 175v.] |
