Pages 256-276
Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 44, 1738. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1969.
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Citation:
December 1738
| December 1. Whitehall. |
527 Order of Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs referring eleven Acts passed in Massachusetts in January 1737/8 to Council of Trade and Plantations for examination and report. Seal. Signed, Temple Stanyan. ¾ p. Endorsed, Recd., Read 14 December 1738. Sent to Mr. Fane, 15 December 1738. Recd. back, 11 January 1738/9. No objection. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
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| 527. i. Schedule of titles of said Acts, certified by J. Belcher and J. Willard. 1½ pp. | |||||||||||
| 527. ii. Copies of said Acts. Titles are: for supplying treasury with 6,000l. in bills of credit; for preventing destruction of wild fowl; for relief of poor prisoners for debt; in addition to Acts for measures of timber; for regulating assize of staves; to empower justices to cause warrants to be issued for appointment of jurors; for dividing town of Watertown and erecting new town of Waltham; to prevent spreading of infectious sickness; for encouraging making of linseed oil; in addition to Act for assessment of rates; in addition to Act for erecting new town of Hanover. Printed. 18 pp. Endorsed, Recd. from Mr. Wilks, 26 October 1738. [C.O. 5, 881, fos. 30–41d.]. | |||||||||||
| December 1. Whitehall. |
528 Same, directing Council of Trade and Plantations to consider and lay before the Committee the names of persons resident in provinces adjacent to Rhode Island proper to be commissioners for determining the boundary between that colony and Massachusetts. Seal. Signed, Temple Stanyan. 1 p. Endorsed, Recd. 11 December, Read 13 December 1738. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
| 528. i. Petition of Governor and Company of Rhode Island and Providence to Council of Trade and Plantations that there shall be recommended to the Committee of Council as commissioners for the boundary question the names of the four eldest members of H.M.'s councils in the three neighbouring provinces of New York, New Jersey and Nova Scotia. 9 December 1738. Signed, Richard Partridge, agent for the company. 1 p. Endorsed, as covering order. [C.O. 5, 881, fos. 26–29d.] | |||||||||||
| December 4. Jamaica. |
529 Governor Edward Trelawny to Duke of Newcastle, requesting the command of one of the independent companies. It would be (might I be allowed to suggest a thing which I do not say with a view to my own advantage, though it would prove so) highly conducing to H.M.'s service here and the safety of this island if the companies were regimented and the governor appointed colonel. Sorry I am that my own interest is so much concerned in this matter lest a suspicion of my being influenced by that alone may discredit what I advance. But the necessity of affairs pleads my excuse for proposing it myself as I can think of no other expedient to redress them. If the governor and colonel should be different persons they can hardly avoid perpetual jangling, as it happened in Governor Hunter's time when Newton's and Hay's regiments were here. The colonel will be continually making objections to his men being divided in a manner which is necessary for the service here and to their marching in such places as the unalterable nature of the country does absolutely require, without such helps as are impossible to be had. By these means the service will be unavoidably obstructed as was pretty much the case when the two regiments were here, as I am unquestionably informed. This was one great reason I believe for recalling those regiments and sending afterwards independent companies; but as they do not answer the service in any respect so well as the same number of men would do were they regimented, in which I believe all military men will agree, it seems most evident that the best way to answer all purposes and avoid as much as possible all inconveniences is to make the governor colonel. | ||||||||||
| The service here is not like that in Flanders or any part of Europe. Here the great difficulty is not to beat, but to see, the enemy. The men are forced to march up the currents of rivers or over steep mountains and precipices without a track, through such thick woods that they are obliged to cut their way almost every step (I have been an eye-witness of these difficulties in my passage through places frequented by rebels), the underwoods as being always full of saps and new shoots, exceedingly tough and bushy, twisted and entangled in a strange manner: add to this that they frequently meet with torrents caused by heavy piercing rains that often fall in the woods and against which tents are no shelter, yet the want of them has been alleged against undertaking such expeditions. In short nothing can be done in strict conformity to usual military preparations and according to a regular manner, bush-fighting as they call it being a thing peculiar by itself. The greatest party that goes out against the rebels should not consist of above one hundred soldiers at most considering the beforementioned difficulties which they must encounter in their march and that provisions must be carried upon negroes' backs. A colonel will not think any such party a proper command for him to go upon, so his personal service will be lost, and as recruiting from home is attended with a great expense I doubt he will not be so ready to have his men go out as a governor will be, as his honour is not so much concerned as that of the other is in extirpating the rebels. These rebellious negroes are a great and I am afraid a growing evil; their wants render them audacious and enterprising, and they are daily reinforced by the desertion of slaves. They are spread in parties throughout the island and almost daily fall on one settlement or another, many of which are forced to keep continual guards, many who cannot bear that expense are forced to be thrown up. Upon applications for assistance I have been obliged to send to single plantations from four to ten or twelve soldiers and have disposed them in general in small detachments as well as I can contrive to cover the most exposed settlements, in order to induce those who are ready to quit them to stay and others to return, which has had some good effect but not answerable to the urgency. I should not despair of eradicating this evil if the soldiers did their duty like soldiers and the gentlemen of the country would exert themselves more. If I do not extremely deceive myself what I desire will conduce to both these ends: I think if I was colonel I could make the soldiers do their duty and the gentlemen of the country assured of this assistance would exert themselves more than out of despair they now do. There is no depending entirely on the militia. That body is not as it was formerly, as I am told, when there were greater numbers in the island, all of which almost had some property and few great estates; now quite the contrary. There are several overgrown estates but the number of proprietors of land are extremely few to what they were formerly; a great many of the rich have got an exemption from military service; the inferior officers and private men consist chiefly of servants who behave themselves most wretchedly. And yet it is hardly equitable to punish those creatures according to the rules of war as they never dreamt of such service when they indented themselves at home. Their master's example and supervision alone can animate them into any spirit or infuse into them any obedience; and since the proprietors are supine in their own interest, I know nothing can rouse them into action except a confidence in my word and ability to assist them with the king's troops effectually. But without an absolute and more particularly relative command over the officers and soldiers, I despair of rendering them as obedient and serviceable as the good of the country requires them to be. Signed. 4 pp. [C.O. 137, 56, fos. 158–159d.; duplicate at fos. 179–180d.] | |||||||||||
| December 5. Whitehall. |
530 Thomas Hill to Francis Fane, enclosing for his opinion in point of law 25 Acts passed at New York in December 1737, vizt. Acts for emitting bills of credit; to explain the duty of loan officers; for granting several duties; to defray charges of garrison at Oswego; to prevent importation of copper money; for lowering the interest of money to 7 per cent.; for establishing courts to determine matters of 40s. and under; to restrain innkeepers from selling liquor to servants and apprentices and from giving large credit to others; to continue an Act for the farm of the excise of liquor; to continue an Act for settling the militia; to revive an Act for amending the practice of the law and regulating bail; to revive an Act to provide pilots between Sandy Hook and the port of New York; to revive an Act to preserve oysters; to divide Duchess County into precincts; to enable justices of peace in Orange County to build a courthouse and gaol at Gosham; for defraying charges of the manor of Cortland in county of Westchester; for clearing high roads in Duchess County; to enable justices of peace in Ulster County to build a courthouse and gaol; for the encouragement of a public school in the city of New York; to restrain hawkers and pedlars; to prevent damage by swine in Orange and Ulster Counties; to enable the city of New York to raise 250l.; to encourage the destruction of wolves in Westchester County; to preserve oysters near Richmond County; for extinguishing fires in city of New York. Entry. 5½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1126, fos. 37d-40.] | ||||||||||
| December 5. Whitehall. |
531 Same to same, enclosing an Act passed at New York 10 December 1737 for confirming an agreement and exchange of lands in the township of Oyster Bay, for his opinion thereon in point of law. Entry. ½ p. [C.O. 5, 1126, fo. 40.] | ||||||||||
| December 5. Jamaica. |
532 Governor Edward Trelawny to Duke of Newcastle. Having received frequent complaints from the commanding officers of the independent companies of the bad condition the soldiers' arms were in, and having likewise been applied to upon that account to represent to you how much they are in want of new ones, I wrote circular letters to the said commanding officers to be informed how many muskets each company had that were in any condition to do service. By the answers I have received and the arms I have inspected there are not muskets fit for service sufficient for one-tenth part of the troops. Another thing the officers desired me to lay before you is that they are of opinion light carbines, such as are given to dragoons, and cutlasses would be greatly preferable to heavy firelocks which are less manageable in the woods where service is usually performed and a great incumbrance to the soldier by their weight in this hot climate. It will be needless for me to recommend to you to entreat H.M. to grant a fresh supply of such arms as I have mentioned: the very bad state of those the soldiers now have being a convincing reason of the necessity there is of doing it as soon as possible. Signed. 2 pp. [C.O. 137, 56, fos. 162–163d.] | ||||||||||
| December 5. Jamaica. |
533 Same to same. I have not yet had time enough to be informed sufficiently of the characters of twelve persons fit to be nominated to supply any vacancies in the council which may hereafter happen. The five following (but subsequently to Sir Simon Clarke, Bart., Samuel Whitehorne and Edward Garthwaite before recommended by me to you to fill up the present vacancies) I recommend as such, vizt. Richard Beckford, Hampson Nedham, Thomas Rodon, Thomas Fearon and Dr. Matthew Gregory. Signed. 1 p. [C.O. 137, 56, fos. 160–161d.] | ||||||||||
| December 5. Antigua. |
534 Governor William Mathew to Council of Trade and Plantations enclosing duplicates of the following papers. [Note in another hand: originals not recd. 8 February 1738/9.] Signed. 1 small p. Endorsed, Recd., Read 8 February 1738/9. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
| 534. i. Abstract of register book of parish of St. Thomas Middle Island, St. Christopher's, 30 October 1738 [sic: should be 1737] –30 October 1738. Marriages: 48 [sic: should perhaps be 4 amended to 8]; baptized: 28; buried: 14. Signed, John Merac, rector. 1 small p. | |||||||||||
| 534. ii. Same for parish of Trinity Palmeto Point, St. Christopher's, 30 October 1737–30 October 1738. Marriages: 4; baptized: 15; buried: 14. Signed, as preceding. 1 small p. | |||||||||||
| 534. iii. State of Councils in Leeward Islands, 27 November 1738. | |||||||||||
| St. Christopher's: Gilbert Fleming, lieut.-general, absent by H.M.'s leave; Joseph Estridge and Sir Charles Payne, Bart., present; John Garnet, in Carolina without leave about four years; William McDowall and Peter Soulegre, absent many years I suppose on H.M.'s leave; Charles Pym, present; Edward Mann, absent several years; John Douglas, Abraham Payne, Joseph Phipps, John Williams, present; Charles Dunbar, resides almost always at Antigua. Names of six persons proper to supply vacancies: Drewry Ottley, senior, Daniel Mathew, Richard Wilson, William Woodley, junior, Ralph Payne, William Ottley. | |||||||||||
| Nevis: Gilbert Fleming, lieut.-general, absent; William Hanmer, lieut.-governor, absent; Michael Smith, James Symonds, James Brown, present; William Pym Burt, resides mostly at St. Christopher's; Carew Broadbelt, present; Thomas Butler, many years in England; Daniel Smith, absent without my leave; Charles Bridgewater, junior, present; Charles Dunbar, constantly at Antigua; Thomas Pym, formerly appointed by Mr. Mathew, now in England without his leave; William Clarke, formerly appointed by Mr. Mathew, now in England with his leave; John Williams, junior, now ordered by Mr. Mathew to be sworn, there being but five councillors present. Names of six persons proper to supply vacancies: Thomas Herbert, Edward Abbott, John Woodley, Roger Pemberton, Josiah Webb, James Earl. | |||||||||||
| Montserrat: Gilbert Fleming, lieut.-general, absent; Thomas Digges, lieut.governor, absent; George Wyke, Richard Cooke, present; Anthony Hodges, many years in England; Nathaniel Webb, in England on Mr. Mathew's leave but expected back; John Roberts, never attended; Charles Dunbar, constantly at Antigua; Simeon Bouveron, George Wyke, junior, John Osborn, John Webb, all present and appointed by Mr. Mathew. Names of six persons proper to supply vacancies: Peter Lee, Nicholas Daniel, [blank] Earl, Charles Daly, George French, Bedingfield Bramley. | |||||||||||
| Antigua: Gilbert Fleming, lieut.-general, absent; Edward Byam, lieut.governor, present; Sir William Codrington, Bart., many years in England; Valentine Morris, Nathaniel Crump, John Frye, present; George Lucas and John Vernon, both in England on Mr. Mathew's leave; Josiah Martin, in New York on Mr. Mathew's leave; Charles Dunbar, Samuel Byam, present; John Gunthorpe, appointed by Mr. Mathew to make up seven of the council. Names of six persons proper to supply vacancies: Thomas Kerbye, Jacob Morgan, Richard Oliver, Henry Lyons, Thomas Watkins, John Lightfoot. Dead since last list sent 5 February 1736/7: Archibald Cockran. Signed, William Mathew. 4 pp. [C.O. 152, 23, fos. 189–196d.] | |||||||||||
| December 6. Whitehall. |
535 Council of Trade and Plantations to Lieut.-Governor George Clarke. We have lately received a letter from the Lieut.-Governor of Virginia concerning attack by the Five Nations on the Catabaw Indians and the murder of eleven English inhabitants. [See No. 451] It seems very extraordinary to us that these Five Nations who are protected by the British government should employ their force to destroy other nations under the same protection, which is effectually doing the work of our common enemy. We therefore recommend it to you in the strongest terms to employ all your credit and authority first to obtain satisfaction for the murders committed upon H.M.'s subjects, and in the next place to facilitate a lasting friendship not only between the Five Nations and the Cherokee and Catabaw Indians but also to recommend to the said Five Nations to live in good intelligence and correspondence with all the rest of the Indian clans in America dependent upon the British government. And as we apprehend nothing can more effectually contribute to this end than the restraining the several Indians within their proper bounds agreeable to former treaties, we send you enclosed a copy of that made between Col. Spotswood and the Five Nations in 1722 to which we apprehend they have paid but very little regard on this occasion. | ||||||||||
| We have received your's of 16 September and communicated an extract of it to the Duke of Newcastle, together with a copy of the letter to you from the Commissioners of Indian Affairs. In your next give us a more particular description of the situation of the Crown Point and of Tierondequat in regard to New York, there being no notice taken upon our maps of either of these places. We hope the assembly will concur with you in settling a proper revenue for the support of the government agreeable to your instructions. Entry. Signatories, M. Bladen, Arthur Croft, R. Plumer. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 1126, fos. 40d-41d.] | |||||||||||
| December 21. Whitehall. |
536 Same to Lieut.-Governor William Gooch. We have received your letter of 20 September last, and as the subject matter thereof seems to be of very great importance we were willing to lay hold of the first opportunity of sending you our sentiments thereupon. Although the Cherokee and Catabaw Indians lying on the back of Georgia and South Carolina are not inhabitants of or immediate dependants on Virginia, yet we apprehend you have entered upon a very laudable undertaking in endeavouring to negotiate a peace between them and the Five Indian nations under the government of New York. It may perhaps be troublesome and expensive to enter into a treaty with those nations at Albany. But as to the place of treaty though it may be inconvenient it is what has been submitted to on former occasions by other governments and particularly by that now under your care in 1722, as you will see by a former transaction between Col. Spotswood and them, copy enclosed. In that transaction you will find several material articles agreeable to your own propositions of restraining the Indians within certain bounds in consequence of Acts of Assembly passed in your own colony which must probably have escaped your observation when you had this matter in your thoughts; and though the transaction or treaty abovementioned has no relation to the Cherokees and Catabaw Indians, yet it may serve as a precedent to go by in their case. And as it seems to us that the Five Nations have been guilty of a breach of their treaty with Virginia by going out of the bounds thereby prescribed them and committing acts of hostility in the colony, it will import Virginia whenever new conferences shall be had upon the subject matter of the present dispute to take care of their own interest also with respect to the forementioned treaty. | ||||||||||
| We are very sensible that the length of the journey to be made by the deputies of the two Indian nations for whom you interest yourself and the manner of treating at Albany must be expensive. But we do not conceive why it should fall upon Virginia only; on the contrary it would seem reasonable that the provinces of South Carolina and Georgia should bear their proportion. However, we would recommend to you if possible not to let so good a work lie unattempted till the formal resolution of those provinces can be had upon the subject. It must certainly be allowed to be a very great grievance that the Indian nations dependent on the crown of Great Britain should do the work of our common enemy by destroying each other. This is a folly not pardonable even to savages, much less so to H.M.'s own subjects if any of them are capable of fomenting so pernicious a proceeding. Little differences and contentions about trade and profit will always subsist between neighbouring colonies. But we hope they will never push them so far as to destroy their common security. And as we are sensible that no one maxim can contribute more to the security of the British interest in America than to persuade the Indians that all the English through that whole continent of America have but one common prince and father, so we hope that all H.M.'s governors will constantly promote that principle amongst them. We are so well persuaded of your prudence even by the present instance that we have no doubt of your being in that way of thinking, and we shall explain ourselves very fully upon this subject to the governor of New York to recommend to him the facilitating this matter as far as may lie in his power. The dispute relating to the boundaries of Lord Fairfax's land is before the Treasury. Entry. Signatories, M. Bladen, Arthur Croft, R. Plumer. P.S. We have received your letter of 6 August last with the accounts enclosed. 4 pp. [C.O. 5, 1366, pp. 293–296.] | |||||||||||
| [December 8.] | 537 The case of John Hammerton, secretary and register of South Carolina, summarizing the history of the office of register, citing Acts of 1694 and 1698 bearing upon the same, reciting the patent given to Hammerton and Edward Bertie in February 1731/2, and concluding that this is one of the plainest cases ever drawn into question: Mr. Hammerton is well entitled and has an undoubted right to the office of register as well as secretary. 5 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 8 December, Read 14 December 1738. [C.O. 5, 366, fos. 149–151d.] | ||||||||||
| December 8. Castle Semple. |
538 William McDowall to Thomas Hill, resigning from his position as councillor in St. Christopher's. Signed. 1 small p. Endorsed, Recd., Read 11 January 1738/9.[C.O.152, 23, fos. 174, 174d., 179, 179d.] | ||||||||||
| December 12. Savannah. |
539 Rev. William Norris to Harman Verelst. On my enquiry into the state of the church here I have been surprised to find that she had retained but little more than the titles of her most excellent institutions and ordinances pure from many Romish and German corruptions and that she has lost that true, equal and unpassionate frame of spirit which is so agreeable to the genius and temperature of the gospel and to the basis on which all her duties are settled. The presumptive wisdom of man has so improved and added to her sacred mysteries that they seem to be rather of human than divine institution and authority; and numbers have been excluded from the salutary communion of them whom neither the economy of the gospel nor the constitution of our church have ever rejected as unfit members. In the common form of prayer appointed for the day, the exhortation, absolution, psalms and first lesson were totally omitted and the collects and prayers for the royal family etc. were so abridged and contracted that few or no petitions were contained or offered up in them. The hours also of public worship were so unseasonable and disagreeable to most constitutions as prevented the frequency of some and drew many into a gradual neglect and indisposition and at length to an utter dislike to them. A judaising spiritual pride which has hitherto prevailed in the pastors of the church gave great offence also to the consciences and affections of most people, for they disdaining all measures and ordinances gave the sanction of divine influences to the delusions of their heated imaginations and established them for principles and rules of worship. Hence a separate nightly assembly was formed at the minister's house which made up a communion of saints and were distinguished by the name of the faithful, but were indeed such members as neither contributed to the credit of religion nor society. These observed particular forms of worship and duties such as public confession, penance, absolution etc., and many believed that an avenue was herein opening for the introduction of popery. | ||||||||||
| The church in general from an abhorrence to such enthusiasm, will-worship and presumption, and from an undue sense also of the necessary and authorised public ceremonies and duties fell into a destitution and contempt of all worship. I need not observe how equally fatal both these tempers are to religion; the one while it was seemingly concerned for the security and preservation of it, and the other for the improvement and recovery of it from corruption, have been insensibly surprised into those very errors which had otherwise been as assuredly and instantly renounced as proposed. Thus the one quite loses all devotion and the other is quite lost in it. How impiously absurd is that zeal for the worship and honour of God which refuses to show itself in any other medium than that which reflects the highest dishonour both on him and his creatures. Thus is religion split upon the very rock on which it was to be founded. | |||||||||||
| Hence you may conceive the difficult part I have to act to recover the true spirit of the gospel and to reduce these extremes of passion and prejudice to a just sense and temperature in the worship and duties of religion and to reconcile both in the exercise of it. My efforts herein have been successfully employed and well received by most. The church begins to be more numerous and everything is done with decency and order in it. I owe a great deal of the happy success of my ministry to the truly virtuous and pious Col. Stephens who improves every opportunity of recommending and defending it. His tender concern and passion for the church make him ever watchful and zealous for her interests and jealous of her honours. His example recommends what authority prescribes, and piety influences both. | |||||||||||
| One day in every fortnight I visit the people of Highgate and Hampstead and read the full service of the church and a sermon to them. At my first going among them they were so utterly unacquainted with our form of worship that they knew not where to join with the minister nor the decency observed in the several parts of it. This I have been the more surprised at because Mr. Doble the schoolmaster there reads prayers to them every night. I have therefore recommended to him strictly to observe the prescribed form and liturgy of the church that they may become uniform members of the same. These people have been upwards of two years without receiving the sacrament, and though they profess the faith and articles of our church have ever been excluded by Mr. Wesley from communicating in it. They have erected a tabernacle here which serves also for the school; the number of children instructed here rarely exceeds twelve and but seldom makes up that. The public school of Savannah consists now of forty boys; those I catechise twice every week in school and every Sunday even in church. I have introduced Lewis's Explanation of the Church Catechism, which has been received with general approbation; and nothing is wanting to recommend and make it as generally useful but the scarcity of them. I must with these beg some supplies of Bibles and Common Prayerbooks and such other books as you will judge proper for the school etc. | |||||||||||
| I would here subjoin a remonstrance of Mr. Habersham's conduct, who has employed all his authority and credit to the prejudice of my ministry and private character, but that I am truly satisfied of the inefficacy of his efforts and of the blind zeal which pressed him to it. I am now preparing a register book and will give you the model of it in my next. The following is an account of the births, marriages and burials which have happened in my time. Baptisms, 8; marriages, 1; burials, 7 [Names given]. Period: 22 October-3 December 1738. Signed. 4 pp. Annotated, Recd. 16 March 1738/9. [C.O. 5, 640, fos. 239–240d.] | |||||||||||
| December 12. Ebenezer. |
540 John Martin Bolzius to Henry Newman. My last letters to you are sent by Charleston in September and October last by which I acquainted you with the receiving of our salaries by Capt. Thomson and gave you a little account of the condition and intention of our orphan house which I desired you to recommend to the Trustees and Society. By order of Gen. Oglethorpe our plantations are now laid out in such a manner as will be very convenient and advantageous to my congregation. By this generosity and goodness of Mr. Oglethorpe our Salzburghers will be enabled to reap many good fruits of their labour in the ground and are now so well satisfied that the whole congregation has desired me to give the Rev. Mr. Senior Urlsperger an account of the many good things and preferences which they enjoy now here. It will redound to our town's and the colony's advantage if our whole town could be settled with Salzburghers as it was the praiseworthy intention of the Society from the beginning. And seeing that our Salzburghers know of a good many honest and industrious countrymen at Augsburg and Lindau and other places in Germany who are resolved to join with their brethren here in their worship and labour upon the first good account of their being settled, they give now with one accord such an account doubting not at all but they will engage themselves very soon for being sent hither to Ebenezer. | ||||||||||
| But being informed that the Trustees cannot take up Salzburghers upon the former establishment, I beseech the gentlemen of the Society to think on some means of gratifying our Salzburghers' humble petition in paying a new transport's passage and allowing provisions and other necessary things for their support and subsistence in the beginning. Our people's health continues pretty well and they have a mind to do a great deal of work this winter upon their plantations for raising more provisions for their and other comers' subsistence. We shall endeavour ourselves to the utmost of our power to attend on our congregation both in town and upon their farms, ministering to them the gospel and holy sacraments which is the first and chiefest thing they constantly aim at. | |||||||||||
| My utmost necessity obliges me to build a house, my hut being almost rotten and very inconvenient for preserving my health and doing my business well and successfully. I design to beseech Gen. Oglethorpe to lend me 40l. sterling, being in hopes God will incline our benefactors' hearts to contribute some to this very necessary and useful building, by which I shall be enabled to return this money to the general in time. And as the Society are always very strongly inclined to do everything to our and the Salzburghers' welfare I beg their intercession with the Trustees to allow besides the 10l. which they have allowed for one house something more. May the Lord Jesus bless you and all the worthy gentlemen of the Society with good health and happiness, which is the sincere wish and prayer of the congregation, of Mr. Gronau, and mine. Copy. 3½ small pp. Endorsed, Recd, from Mr. Vernon, 3 May 1739. [C.O. 5, 640, fos. 241–242d.] | |||||||||||
| December 13. Palace Court. |
541 Minutes of meeting of Trustees for Georgia. Received receipt from Bank for 8l. by Sir John Lade, Bt., 12 October last, being so much advanced by the Trustees in charge of a servant to the widow of Nathaniel Polhill in Georgia. Received by Rev. Dr. Hales, 21l., anonymous benefaction for religious uses of the colony. ¾ p. [C.O. 5, 687, p. 94.] | ||||||||||
| December 14. Whitehall. |
542 Council of Trade and Plantations to the King recommending for royal confirmation three Acts passed at Bermuda in August last. [See No. 473.] Entry. Signatories. Monson, M. Bladen, R. Plumer, Arthur Croft, 1½ pp. [C.O. 38, 8, pp. 302–3.] | ||||||||||
| December 15. Whitehall. |
543 Thomas Hill to Francis Fane enclosing eleven Acts passed in Massachusetts in January last for his opinion in point of law, vizt. Acts for supplying the treasury with 6,000l. in bills of credit; for preventing destruction of wild fowl; for relief of poor prisoners for debt; for admeasurement of timber; for regulating assize of staves; to empower justices for the appointment of petty jurors; for dividing the town of Watertown and erecting a new town of Waltham; to prevent the spreading of infection on the island of Martha's Vineyard; for encouraging the making of linseed oil in the county of Hampshire; additional to an Act for directing how rates and taxes and local rates be assessed and collected; additional to an Act for erecting a new town called Hanover in the county of Plymouth. Entry. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 917, fo. 116d.] | ||||||||||
| December 18. Boston. |
544 Josiah Willard to Thomas Hill. By the New Cambridge, Capt. Morris, I have sent the public papers out of my office for the half year ending August last, vizt. copies of minutes of council and minutes of assembly for the session held 31 May 1738, with the Acts passed; as also treasurer's account made up last year but not signed by the governor till lately. Signed. ½ p. Endorsed, Recd. 2 February, Read 15 February 1738/9. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
| 544. i. Account of William Foye, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts. Accountant is charged as follows: (1) outstanding from several towns as per account received from late treasurer Allen, 26 May 1736, 69,306l. 4s. 8d.; (2) four per cent, interest of remainder of 60,000l. granted November 1727, 946l. 3s.; (3) various taxes, 33,228l. 12s. 6d.; (4) excise, 3,230l. 11s. 3d.; (5) other charges, 7,618l. 5s. 8d. (6) received of treasurer Allen, 30,241l. 18s. 2d.; (7) received of the committee and to be received, bills of new tenour, 9,000l. Total: 153,571l. 13s. 9d. | |||||||||||
| The discharges are miscellaneous, including 4,133l. 4s. 11d. for military expenditure. Remaining outstanding in several towns for taxes etc., 79,424l. 9s. 11d. Remaining in hands of treasurer, 43,932l. 13s. 5d. province bills of credit. Signed. Examined by House of Representatives, 15 December 1737, J. Quincy, speaker. Examined in Council, 3 January 1737/8, Simon Frost, deputy secretary. Consented to, J. Belcher. Copy, certified by J. Willard, secretary. 19 pp. Endorsed, as covering letter. [C.O. 5, 881, fos. 58–71d.] | |||||||||||
| December 19. | 545 Francis Fane to Council of Trade and Plantations. I have considered an Act passed at New York in 1737 confirming an exchange of lands in Oysterbay between Samson Hauxhurst and John Prat, deceased, etc., and am of opinion that you may advise confirmation thereof. Signed. 1 p. Endorsed, Recd. 19 December 1738, Read 7 February 1738/9. [C.O. 5, 1059, fos. 81, 81d, 88, 88d.] | ||||||||||
| December 20. Palace Court |
546 Minutes of meeting of Trustees for Georgia. Received receipt from Bank for 21l. paid in at last meeting. Received parcel of vine cuttings mostly of the Burgundy kind, benefaction of Samuel Forster, shipped on the America, Capt. Gerald, for Charleston. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 687, p. 95.] | ||||||||||
| December 20. Pall Mall. |
547 John Yeamans to Thomas Hill. An account of each specie of money passing current in the Leeward Islands, requested by Council of Trade Plantations; | ||||||||||
| Denomination | Weight | Real value | Value not to exceed by proclamation | Current value in the island | Difference between the value by proclamation and current value | ||||||
| dwt. | grs. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | ||
| Seville piece-of-eight, old Plate ... ... ... | 17 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | ||
| ditto, new plate ... ... | 14 | 3 | 7¼ | 4 | 92/3 | — | — | ||||
| Mexico piece-of-eight ... | 17 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | ||
| Pillar ditto ... ... | 17 | 12 | 4 | 6¾ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | ||
| Peru ditto, old plate ... | 17 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 102/3 | 6 | 0 | 1 1/3 | ||
| Cross dollars ... ... | 18 | 4 | 4¾ | 5 | 10½ | — | — | ||||
| Ducatoons of Flanders ... … | 20 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | — | — | |||
| Louis of France ... ... | 17 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Cruzados of Portugal … | 11 | 4 | 2 | 10¼ | 3 | 9¾ | — | — | |||
| 3-guilder pieces of Holland | 20 | 7 | 5 | 2¼ | 6 | 10¾ | — | — | |||
| Old rixdollars of the Empire | 18 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | — | — | |||
| Double rials ... ... | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1½ | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | — | ||
| Single rials ... ... | 2 | 4½ | 0 | 6¾ | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | — | ||
| Quarter rials in proportion; half French louis in proportion with whole one. | |||||||||||
| English crowns ... ... | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | not mentioned | 7 | 6 | — | |||
| Half-crowns in proportion. Shillings … … … | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | not mentioned | 1 | 6 | — | |||
| Sixpences in proportion. | |||||||||||
| These are the several pieces of silver money that pass in general in all the Leeward Islands, but there are two pieces more that pass in St. Christopher's and never or very rarely in any other of the Leeward Islands. The one is called isles de vent and goes for ninepence: it is a base coin sent over from Old France to pay their regular troops in Martinique and from thence is brought to St. Christopher's by means of a clandestine trade carried on with the French by some of the inhabitants of that island. The other is a Danish piece called a pistorine and passes also for ninepence, but of these there are very few. There is also another small French piece of case alloy called a sous marque which passes in all the Leeward Islands for 1½d.: it is the least piece of money they have and is very frequently counterfeited by a bit of copper from hence, but the piece being of small value and of absolute necessity people are not very solicitous to diminish the number of them by distinguishing the false from the true. | |||||||||||
| With regard to the authority by which the several species before enumerated receive their currency in the Leeward Islands, their lordships will remember that there is a general law of the Leeward Islands dated 31 August 1694 and confirmed by the late King William for ascertaining the value of foreign silver coins in the said islands, and their lordships are well apprized of the Act of 6 Ann. This Act does not alter the value of any of the pieces mentioned in the Leeward Island law of 1694 so far as that law goes. Besides these laws there was an order of council issued in St. Christopher's dated 23 August 1715 for raising French crowns to 7s. and the half-crowns and quarter-crowns in proportion; but this order regards St. Christopher's only and does not extend to nor was it ever issued in any of the other islands. Except these I never heard of any authority in settling the value of silver money in the Leeward Islands, but some of the oldest settlers there have assured me that the silver money of those islands has not varied in its currency (except at St. Christopher's) for 40 years last past, nor has been there any express agreement either public or private relating to it in any of the islands. Give me leave to mention one or two matters of fact which relate to this point. The first is that of all the species of silver money before enumerated there are scarce any to be seen in the Leeward Islands but French crowns, half-crowns and quarter-crowns - double, single and quarter rials of Spain. The latter species though it goes by tale at the value prescribed by the proclamation is all clipped: the former indeed is milled and cannot be clipped but it passes current at more than the said value which comes to the same thing in the end. | |||||||||||
| From hence their lordships will conceive how difficult it will be to fix and establish the value of money in the colonies by proclamation or Acts of Parliament, since it is next to impossible either to prevent clipping the Spanish money or to oblige people to carry a pair of scales in their pockets and to weigh each small piece that goes current for every trifle that is bought and in general all money whether liable to be clipped or otherwise that circulates in the Leeward Islands must pass above the value fixed by her majesty's proclamation. For those islands having no trade with any foreign nation that brings in a quantity of cash in any sort equal to their common necessities, consequently they must purchase it as they chiefly do in Great Britain; so that beside the prime cost or the real value of the money there is an advanced value to be paid if I may so express myself for commission, freight and insurance, and over and above all this there must be a profit besides to induce persons to follow this kind of traffic. | |||||||||||
| To make this clearer by an example, I will suppose a merchant in the Leeward Islands to give an order to purchase pieces-of-eight in Great Britain. A piece-of-eight of 17dwt. 12grs. will cost 4s. 6d.; exchange between the Leeward Islands and Great Britain at 35l. 6s. 8d. per cent, or one-third advance, 16s 6d. [Sic, should presumably be 1s. 6d.]. The first cost of a piece-of-eight in money of Antigua is 6s., to which must be added for commission 1½ per cent., for freight 2 per cent,, and for insurance 2½ per cent., in all 6 per cent., 4¼d.: the first cost and charges of a piece-of-eight 6s. 4¼d. So that the first cost and charge of a piece-of-eight will be 6s. 4¼d. besides the profit the merchant expects to make by sending for it. From this state of the case their lordships will plainly see that no man in his senses will send for a piece-of-eight from Great Britain of full weight which must cost him 6s. 4¼d. to place it in the Leeward Islands and pass it away afterwards for 6s. only, the value it is not to exceed by her late majesty's proclamation. On the contrary, the heavy silver which sometimes chances to pass by tale is constantly secured and made use of by way of returns for Great Britain. | |||||||||||
| I will add one matter of fact more with regard to the silver coin current in the Leeward Islands, namely that the necessity that the people there are under through want of a circulation of money for the small occasions of life is so great that though they know the double, single and half-rials are clipped to about two-thirds or three-fourths of their weight, they take them by tale for the full proclamation value and at the same time give 3s. for the change of a pistole into this clipped species of silver. | |||||||||||
| With regard to gold, the several species current in the Leeward Islands are hereunder expressed together with the value they pass at generally in those islands: double doubloon of Spain, 5l. 12s.; pistole of ditto, 1l. 8s., single doubloon and half-pistole in proportion; Johannes of Portugal, 6l. 6s.; moidores of ditto, 2l. 2s., the half and quarter piece of each in proportion; moidores of France, 2l. 2s.; guineas of ditto, 1l. 13s.; pistoles of ditto, 1l. 8s.; English guinea, 1l. 13s., half-guineas in proportion. There is no Act of Parliament in Great Britain or of assembly in the Leeward Islands or any order of council that settles or regulates the value of gold in the said islands, and the several species beforementioned pass within the same by tale and not by weight except at the island of Antigua where several of the principal inhabitants in order to prevent the farther clipping of the gold coin have agreed to pay and receive it by weight after the rate of 3½d. per grain money of Antigua, the real value of which is but 2d. per grain sterling, 1/43d. less supposing it to be standard. From what has been said before with regard to the silver species it must be supposed that that species of gold coin which is either most liable to be clipped or of the greatest alloy and the least weight in proportion is such as is unlikely to circulate chiefly in those islands and in fact a Spanish pistole and a French moidore are the most common: the first should weigh 4dwt. 8grs. but has been clipped to bare 4dwt. for many years and yet constantly passes at 28s. which is the exact amount of gold at 3½d. per grain according to the Antigua agreement; and as to the French moidore it is of less value by near 3s. money of the Leeward Islands than the Portuguese, though they pass by tale at the same value. Consequently there are many of the former current, but few or none of the latter. Signed. 3 pp. Endorsed, Recd., Read 19 December 1738. [C.O. 152, 23, fos. 166–167d.] | |||||||||||
| December 20. Palace Court. |
548 Minutes of Common Council of Georgia. Read report from committee of accounts that, having examined the annual account from 9 June 1737 to 9 June 1738, the balance remaining unapplied they find 4,226l. 0s. 6d., which the Bank has certified to be there on 9 June 1738. The account was read and agreed to. Resolved that any three of the council wait on the Lord Chancellor and Master of the Rolls with the said account. Ordered that when it is presented 100 copies of it be printed. | ||||||||||
| Read report from committee of accounts that they had examined the account current sent the Trustees by the executors of Isaac Chardon together with a letter from the executors dated 27 August 1737 desiring the Trustees to settle the account with Messrs. Peter and I. C. Simond; that they had been attended by Mr. Simond who acquainted the Trustees that Mr. Chardon's estate paid him interest at 5 per cent, per annum for money due and therefore hoped the Trustees would allow interest at same rate for what should appear due from them to said Mr. Chardon's estate, and that this balance due to the estate was found to be 2,693l. 12s. 5½d. South Carolina currency and in sterling at three different rates of exchange 380l. 17s. The committee were of opinion that 300l. of this sum should carry interest at 5 per cent, from 16 January 1735/6, 38l. 17s. 2d. from 21 April 1736, and the residue should carry no interest. Resolved that the council agree to this report. The accountant acquainted the council that he had computed the interest on these two sums at 49l. 1s. 10d., which added to the balance made the sum payable 429l. 18s. 10d. Resolved that said sum be paid; signed draft on Bank for the same. | |||||||||||
| Read extract of letter from Rev. Urlsperger to Rev. Ziegenhagen dated 15 September 1738 desiring that a smith, shoemaker and other Salzburgh tradesmen with some of the same country unmarried women which are wanted at Ebenezer be sent to Georgia on the Trustees' account, Mr. Bolzius having certified how necessary such people would be. Resolved that a sum not exceeding 100l. be applied for sending over the said people, Mr. Ziegenhagen to communicate the same to Mr. Urlsperger and the persons to be sent to be at London by middle of February next. | |||||||||||
| Committee of any five of the council empowered 17 July last to draw on the Bank for payment of 4,209l. 13s. 9d., the remaining certified accounts, reported: that on 23 August a draft was made on the Bank for 3,967l. to Ald. Heathcote for payment of all the accounts (except one for 241l. 19s. 9d. for which a security was necessary for the Trustees to be indemnified against double payment); that on 6 September the draft of a proper bond of indemnity being approved of, the other was ordered to be paid on Lawrence Williams's signing such bond and that a draft was made on the Bank accordingly. Committee who attended the cancelling of the Trustees' sola bills returned to England and paid in the year ending 9 June 1738 reported that on 30 October and 4 November last 1846 of the said bills were cancelled amounting in value to 4,532l. | |||||||||||
| Received certified account for provisions and necessaries dated 7 March 1737/8 amounting to 57l. 17s. due to recompense Stanberry, which was brought to payment soon after the order of 17 July for paying the certified accounts. The accountant acquainting the council that this account was certified before Mr. Causton had acknowledged the Trustees' orders for certifying no more accounts; ordered that it be paid. An application from John Francis Fressin by letter of attorney from the heirs of Samuel Wagner, deceased, late of Hampstead, Georgia, for leave for Adrian Loyer of Savannah and Peter Morelle of Highgate, Georgia, executors, to dispose of the testator's lot at Hampstead was read; ordered that it be referred to a committee of any three of the council. Read petition from Samuel Hurst and John Pye, clerks in the store in Georgia, for increasing their salaries or being discharged from their contracts; ordered that it be referred to a committee of any three of the council. The accountant acquainted the council that a certified account for provisions and necessaries dated 20 August 1738 for 587l. 13s. due to Robert and John Williams was brought for payment on 2nd of this month and another dated 5 August 1738 for 426l. 0s. 2d. due to Samuel Montaigut & Co. on 7th of this month; resolved that an answer be given to the proprietors of the said accounts that the Trustees will not pay them but they must send them to Georgia for payment. | |||||||||||
| Read the several proposals of Rev. George Whitefield returned from Georgia for priest's orders relating to his going back and being settled by the Trustees a missionary in Georgia, enclosed in his letter to the accountant dated 16th of last month; read also his letters of 16th of this month and of this day. Resolved that he be appointed missionary at Savannah with allowance of 50l. a year and that this resolution be certified to the Bishop of London that he may admit Mr. Whitefield into the order of priesthood. Resolved that Rev. William Norris, appointed 12 July last to perform all religious and ecclesiastical offices in Georgia, be appointed missionary at Frederica with an allowance of 50l. a year and that he be directed to go to Frederica on Mr. Whitefield's arrival at Savannah. Resolved that directions be given for building a house at Frederica for said Mr. Norris and that a proper place be made fit for the inhabitants to assemble in for divine service until a church can be built there. Resolved that the benefactions to be collected by Mr. Whitefield under the commission he desires shall be applied for erecting an orphan house in Georgia and a place of worship for the Salzburghers at Ebenezer. Resolved that supplies to Mr. Whitefield shall be in money and that a 5-acre lot at or near Savannah be granted to him, to be fenced and cleared by the Trustees' servants; same to Mr. Norris at Frederica. Resolved that 6l. be paid to Mr. Whitefield to buy necessaries for Mr. Habersham, the schoolmaster; that the churchyard at Savannah be new fenced and christening basins, burying cloths and handsome brass candlesticks be bought as desired by Mr. Whitefield; that the offer of a young gentleman from Bristol proposed by Mr. Whitefield to be an universal apothecary at Savannah to serve the poor gratis and those that can pay at prime cost be accepted, he to send particulars of drugs, food and raiment required; and that 15l. be paid to Mr. Whitefield which he furnished Mr. De la Motte with, who was late schoolmaster at Savannah in his return to England. 9½ pp. [C.O. 5, 690, pp. 180–189.] | |||||||||||
| December 20. Whitehall. |
549 Council of Trade and Plantations to Committee of Privy Council. Pursuant to your order of 1st inst. we have considered of proper persons to be appointed commissioners for settling the boundary dividing Massachusetts and Rhode Island and name the five eldest councillors of the three neighbouring provinces: Cadwallader Colden, Abraham Vanhorn, Philip Livingston, Archibald Kennedy and James De Lancey for New York; John Hamilton, John Wells, John Reading, Cornelius Vanhorn and William Provost for New Jersey; William Skene, William Sheriff, Henry Cope, Erasmus James Philipps and Otho Hamilton for Nova Scotia, which last gentleman we have substituted for Major Paul Mascarene who was formerly left out by your order on the like occasion because he had an estate in Massachusetts. The agents of Massachusetts and Rhode Island have no objections to the said nomination. Entry. Signatories, Monson, M. Bladen, R. Plumer. 2½ pp. [C.O. 5, 917, fos. 117–118; draft in C.O. 5, 897, fos. 151–152d.] | ||||||||||
| December 20. Boston. |
550 Governor Jonathan Belcher to Council of Trade and Plantations. I have lately received your letter of 10 August past in answer to thirteen of mine from December 1736 to January last. You say that you have had the several matters under your consideration but are not come to a resolution; many of them greatly affect H.M.'s honour and interest here as well as the welfare of his subjects. I shall therefore hope for such particular answers as you shall think necessary. | ||||||||||
| I enclose a short account of the state of the credit bills now extant and passing in this and the neighbouring provinces which is as full and concise as I am able to make it. And I will ask your leave to repeat what I have formerly mentioned on the score of bills of credit now standing out in this province and according to the several Acts by which they were issued must come in by the end of 1741 if the government have a just regard to the public faith. And as to the part I am to act in it I shall dutifully observe the king's royal 16th instruction to me so wisely calculated for the honour of H.M.'s government and for the real welfare of his people. But if that instruction be relaxed and the assembly might once again break in upon their public faith by postponing their taxes even to a year beyond the period in which they have promised to bring in their bills or might be suffered to issue new bills that should not be punctually brought in at the end of each year in which they should be issued, such bills would soon be more vile than what they have issued for some years past. But while the province issued bills only for defraying their public charge and they were punctually brought into the treasury by the end of the year in which they were issued they fully maintained their primitive value; but latterly they have been one constant public fraud on all persons of substance and probity, and the people of Great Britain trading hither have felt the bitter effects of such bills passing here in lieu of money. Notwithstanding all this, since the people here have for thirty odd years past been used to a paper currency and are drained of silver and gold and have so large and various a commerce, I think it might be much for the ease and consistent with the interest of H.M.'s subjects here to have a bank established for circulating bills of credit provided such an one can be projected as will punctually maintain the value from time to time of the bills that go from it; and many gentlemen of the present assembly are now endeavouring to bring in such a projection for H.M.'s approbation, and if it can be brought to a rational maturity I shall transmit it to you with my remarks. Journals of House of Representatives herewith transmitted. Signed. 7 small pp. Endorsed, Recd. 8 February, Read 15 February 1738/9. Enclosed, | |||||||||||
| 550. i. Boston, 20 December 1738. A brief account of the paper currency in New England. Massachusetts having in 1690 been unsuccessful in an expedition to Canada and the forces at their return pressing for their pay when there was no money in the treasury, the government caused to be imprinted 40,000l. in bills of credit of 20s. With these bills they paid off the soldiers and promised to receive them into the treasury for all public dues at an advance of 5 per cent. They quickly passed current at par with silver and gold and in a few years were all sunk by taxes and the paper currency ceased until about 1702 the government again emitted 10,000l. in bills of the same tenour with the first and therewith paid off the public debts of that year and laid a tax on the next year equal to the emission of bills and still received the bills at an advance of 5 per cent, beyond silver and gold. They continued in this practice for several years and the quantity of bills being small compared with the silver and gold then current, they kept up their credit until about 1711 a large sum was emitted and that not to come in again till some distant years, and Connecticut and Rhode Island about the same time putting forth their bills they then began to depreciate and silver and gold no longer remained current but became a commodity and has ever since been bought and sold with bills as all other merchandise has. | |||||||||||
| In 1714 the government made 5 0,000l. in bills which they let out on interest at 5 per cent. The whole of the principal to come in at the end of five years. In 1716 was made another loan of 100,000l. at the same interest with the former; and in 1720 another of 50,000l.; and in 1727 another of 60,000l. Of these loans there is about 60,000l. still outstanding though the time for payment of the last is expired and the first ought to have been paid more than twenty years ago. As the bills have been thus multiplied so they have gradually sunk in value till in 1733 silver had risen to about 20s. the ounce, at which time Rhode Island emitted by a loan to be paid in twenty years 104,000l., Connecticut 40,000l.; a number of merchants of Massachusetts by their private notes which passed current with the public bills of credit 100,000l.; and the Massachusetts treasury was likewise supplied at that time with upwards of 70,000l.; all which amounted to above 300,000l. This presently sunk the currency in its value and silver rose from 20 to 27s., the present rate of it. The Massachusetts bills have been lessening in number ever since. They have now about 180,000l. current that must come in by 1741. [Tabular account of emissions 1728–1736 shows 63,025l. to come in in 1739, 64,525l. in 1740 and 52,525l. in 1741]. The bills on the several loans being about 60,000l. makes the Massachusetts about 240,000l., Rhode Island has as great a quantity though they are not larger either in inhabitants or extent than some of the Massachusetts counties and they are now imprinting 100,000l. more. Connecticut has about 50,000l. out, New Hampshire about 10,000l. all which have as free a currency in this government as in those where they were emitted. | |||||||||||
| Massachusetts in 1736 finding the paper currency had been a long time declining resolved upon a reform of their bills for although the taxes to be made would be a sufficient security to the public for bringing into the treasury those bills that had been emitted to pay the charges of the government as the estates mortgaged were those that were out on loan yet this was no manner of security to the possessor of the bills that they should purchase as much silver or any commodity this year as they did the last, nor could any possible reason be given why silver might not as well fetch 47 as 27s. the ounce. In order therefore to put a stop to this great evil they resolved on an emission of bills that year of a new tenour, one of which should be equal to three of the old bills of the same denomination and to silver at 6s. 8d. per 0z. and gold in proportion. They promised that whoever brought any of these bills that should be extant in 1742 they should be exchanged by silver at 6s. 8d. per 0z. as all the old bills at 20s. and they proposed thus to enable themselves to do it. All the bills that were extant they had promised at the time of their emission should be brought in by taxes by 1741 except what were out on loans which ought to come in immediately. If the bills come in according to the taxes there will be none extant in 1742 and so no demand on the treasury; but if the person taxed could not procure bills and discharge it, then in lieu thereof he must pay an ounce of silver or gold proportionate for every 20s. of the old bills and every 6s. 8d. of the new or hemp or flax with which the treasurer shall purchase silver and gold and therewith redeem the bills that are left in other persons' hands. All the bills thus coming in by 1741 and likewise those emitted for the charges of each intervening year will occasion a heavy tax on the province but the greater difficulty is that in 1742 a full stop will be put to the currency of all bills and we are altogether drained of silver and gold so that unless some expedient can be found we shall be wholly destitute of a medium to the ruin of trade and the disenabling the inhabitants from paying their taxes to the support of H.M.'s government. This put the general court on the scheme for emitting 60,000l. in bills by loan to such persons as could give security to pay annually for two years one-tenth part in silver and gold. This will enable the province to exchange the bills from the possessors at convenient periods. No bills have ever been proposed so likely to answer the ends of a medium and keep up their value as these. If we have any bills they must be bills of credit; had we silver and gold to pay them on demand there would be no occasion for bills of any sort. Besides, there will be this great advantage by the proposed scheme that whenever the bills are exchanged and their currency ceases, there will be the like quantity of silver and gold left as a medium in their room, which can in no other way be so easily introduced into the province. Signed. 10 small pp. Endorsed, as covering letter. [C.O. 5, 881, fos. 42–49d.] | |||||||||||
| December 21. Boston. |
551 Governor Jonathan Belcher to Council of Trade and Plantations. In reply to enquiry concerning any members of the council of New Hampshire dead or absent, nothing has happened since I last wrote you of Mr. Benning Wentworth's absence which has been now four years without any licence of leave from me. And as H.M. says in his royal order to me in such case "Their place or places in our said council shall immediately thereupon become void and that we will forthwith appoint others in their stead", I thought it my duty to acquaint you, as I did in September last [Marginal note: No letter of that date received, 12 February 1738/9] of Mr. Wentworth's long absence and then recommended Mr. Samuel Sherburne to be appointed in his stead; and I am accordingly expecting the King's mandamus appointing the said Mr. Sherburne to be one of H.M.'s council for New Hampshire that the number may be complete. Proceedings of the recent assembly of New Hampshire enclosed. (fn. n1) Signed. 3 small pp. Endorsed, Recd. 8 February, Read 15 February 1738/9. [C.O. 5, 881, fos. 50–51d.] | ||||||||||
| December 21. Whitehall. |
552 Thomas Hill to Francis Fane transmitting the case of Mr. Hammerton and other papers for his opinion thereon in point of law. Entry. ½ p. [C.O. 5,401, p.328.] | ||||||||||
| December 21. St. Simon's Fort. |
553 John Mackintosh Moore to Harman Verelst. When I had yours of 11 August I was in company with Gen. Oglethorpe, in which you desire an account of 40 menservants, 10 womenservants, one girl and a boy. Of the menservants, 25 were issued to the freeholders of the Darien at 8l. per servant and 15 remaining to the Trustees of which four died and eleven remain. All of them for a long time not agreeing with the climate were sickly; and at our several alarms before the troops' arrival were obliged to attend at the southern parts of the province and were a long time before I could get them to the knowledge of the art of sawing; but at last they attained to it and are now in a fair way to make a return to the Trustees for the expenses they have been at. You likewise direct that seven of the menservants should go to cultivate 300 acres of land in the southern parts of the province and the remainder (being four) to be given to the freeholders of Frederica. I have advised with Gen. Oglethorpe, and he finding that they now go on with sawing and having several thousands of feet of sawn boards ready to be employed as the Trustees please, therefore he did not think proper to take them off. And as to the womenservants you desire an account of, several of the soldiers petitioned the general to have them for wives and he seeing that they were for no manner of service to the Trustees and they also being very burdensome to the stores, he gave them leave to marry. | ||||||||||
| You also write that the Trustees expect that the freeholders of Darien should make immediate payment for their servants, but please give me leave to acquaint you that notwithstanding the people being very industrious they have received no manner of coin for their labour since they came to this place nor any other return whatsoever, by which means they are quite unable to answer any demands at present; and likewise they being so often alarmed and fatigued with doing duty at the Darien and other places of the province they had little or no time to raise provisions the last year though each freeholder of Darien fenced, cleared and planted five acres of land. But the season proved so very dry that the greatest part of the corn was quite demolished and by that means we might all have starved had not Gen. Oglethorpe considered our case and allowed us for each head for one year the following allowance: 12 bushels of Indian corn, 100 lbs. of meat, 52 pints of molasses, as also a certain quantity of clothes and shoes. When I go to the Darien I shall by first opportunity give you a more particular account of the above servants and likewise of what credit Gen. Oglethorpe gave us. | |||||||||||
| I cannot conclude this letter without beseeching the Trustees seriously to consider our present circumstances in regard to sawing timber, the only way that we have to subsist in Darien. If they give us due encouragement by buying the same at a reasonable rate or by encouraging strangers to export it from us or by such other ways as they think proper, we shall not only be enabled to pay for their servants but also subsist our families. But if this our only branch of trade be not encouraged, it is morally impossible that we can be able to subsist ourselves and families at the Darien. Signed. 2 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 28 August 1739. [C.O. 5, 640, fos. 245–246d.] | |||||||||||
| December 21. | 554 James Oglethorpe to Harman Verelst. Mr. Mackintosh spoke to me and showed me your letter to him of 11 August. I found that he had disposed pursuant to the Trustees' orders a part of the servants to the freeholders of Darien upon credit, which encouragement had enabled that settlement to continue under all the difficulties arising from the Spanish alarms etc., they being the frontier settlement on the continent. The remaining servants he had reserved in the Trustees' hands. The women were a dead charge to the Trust excepting a few who mended the clothes, dressed the victuals and washed the linen of the Trustees' menservants. Some of the soldiers who were Highlanders desiring to marry them women, I gave them leave upon their discharging the Trustees from all future charges arising from them. The menservants are now taught to saw and they make good work and indeed are the only hands in the province that bring any advantage to the Trust. I therefore thought it improper to take them from the saw till the Trustees knew the circumstances and gave their farther orders. They are now sawing timber for the church or rather chapel at Frederica, which I have agreed to have built. The whole building will be 60 foot long by 20 foot wide, three storeys, the two lowermost cellars and rooms for provisions, books etc. and the uppermost a chapel. The assistance of the timber, the work of the Trustees' servants, and the flints I brought over, will make such a saving that I think I shall get the whole finished for less than 150l. exclusive of the timber and labour of the Trustees' servants; and if this building was to be performed without their assistance it would have cost above double that sum. It is impossible at present for the freeholders at Darien to pay in money for their servants but they are very willing and able to pay in sawed stuff both for that and the provisions which they owe. They have wanted provisions for three-quarters of this year, having raised but just enough corn to supply themselves three months. I am forced therefore to let them have one bushel of corn and 8 lbs. of meat per head per month upon credit. Signed. 2 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 28 August 1739. [C.O. 5, 640, fos. 243–244d.] | ||||||||||
| December 22. Georgia Office. |
555 Harman Verelst to General James Oglethorpe by the America, Capt. John Gerald. The Trustees thank you for your letter of 13 September last and long to hear of your welfare by the next letters. They have heard of your safe landing by way of Charleston and New York and hope soon to have particulars from yourself. Mr. Whitefield on 13th inst. brought them letters from Mr. Stephens and Mr. Causton in July and August last and two more certified accounts have been presented to the Trustees which were certified by Mr. Causton, the one 5th August last for 426l. 0s. 2d. to Messrs. Samuel Montaigut & Co. and the other the 20th of the same month to Messrs. Robert and John Williams for 587l. 13s., which are both sent back to Georgia for payment. These were certified long after Mr. Causton promised to obey the Trustees' orders and certify no more accounts. The Trustees have received the South Carolina Gazette wherein a stop is put to further debts by the notice published therein on 7 September last. The parliament meets 18th of next month and the Trustees hope to have a further supply, they having nothing left. And if the effects in Georgia don't answer the accounts sent back for payment they will be much in debt, the accounts sent back amounting to upwards of 3,000l. The Trustees have paid Mr. Simond everything due to Mr. Chardon's executors. Entry. ¾ p. [C.O. 5, 667, fo. 104, 104d.] | ||||||||||
| December 22. Georgia Office. |
556 Same to William Stephens by America, Capt. John Gerald. Mr. Whitefield being so long in his passage, the Trustees did not receive your letters of 25 July and 26 August until 13th inst., which made them so uneasy at your silence as in my last letter to you I mentioned. And to prevent the like for the future the Trustees desire you may write to them by way of New York when sloops give you an opportunity as well as by way of South Carolina. The Trustees have received your journals from 27 May to 26 August which accompanied your letters and a committee meet next Wednesday to consider them and the other papers and letters before them. You give them an entire satisfaction in your particular and honest account of things, their ears desire to be open to truth only and your adherence to the principles you have hitherto continued to show in their service will, as well as has, convinced them that they were not mistaken in the expectations they had from your engaging in their service. I acknowledge receipt of your letters to me; those you forwarded were carefully sent as directed. Joseph Wragg's account of the charges when Thomas Stephens arrived at Charleston in December last has never been sent to the Trustees but I have by this ship written to him to charge the 50l. currency he supplied your son with to the Trustees' account. P.S. Capt. Shubrick who is to sail next month will bring very full letters from the Trust and Mr. Whitefield intends to return to Georgia soon after that ship. Enclosed is copy of things sent by this ship which Mr. Abercromby is to forward from Charleston to you: please take care they are delivered as directed with the several letters herewith sent. You are desired to enquire if one Mr. Webster Taylor, formerly an attorney in New Inn, be in Georgia or not, he being a witness to a will and his being alive to be examined a matter of great service to the person who desired this enquiry The vine cuttings in the enclosed bill of lading are sent to be planted in the colony. Entry, 1 p. [C.O. 5, 667, fos. 104d 105.] | ||||||||||
| December 22. Georgia Office. |
557 Same to Thomas Causton by America, Capt. John Gerald. On 13th inst. the Trustees received your letters of 25 July and 26 August last with the continuation of your journal to 24 September 1737, the issues of stores for November 1737 and the duplicate of receipts for money paid from Christmas 1737 to Midsummer 1738; and those receipts as far as they are intelligible for what service the monies were so paid shall be posted off to your credit, but those which are not must remain a charge on you until they are explained as the former queries on your payments have been made for want thereof. Those letters, journals and papers you have transmitted will be taken into consideration next week by the committees of correspondence and accounts. But the Trustees are much surprised at your breaking your promise to them which you made in your letter of 26 May last to obey their orders and not certify any more accounts; and instead thereof dared to venture to certify an account 5th August last to Messrs. Samuel Montaigut & Co. for 426l. 0s. 2d. and another 20th of the same month to Messrs. Robert & John Williams for 5 87l. 13s., both of which are returned to Georgia for payment whereby the accounts sent back amount to upwards of 3,000l. to be paid out of the Trustees' effects in Georgia. What those effects are the Trustees are ignorant of, but by the sums they have paid and the orders they have given they know what they ought to be. In your letter to me of 26 July last you mention that you had taken an inventory of stores to midsummer 1738; and, if taken, sure a copy might have been made which was so necessary a work to have been done and sent that no multiplicity of business could have prevented it. And the not sending it, theTrustees blame you much for. Entry. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 667, fo. 105, 105d.] | ||||||||||
| December 22. Georgia Office. |
558 Same to James Abercromby, H.M.'s attorney-general at Charleston. I received yours of 8 September last on 13th inst. by Mr. Whitefield South Carolina Gazette enclosed. The Trustees are glad to hear of your arrival and are obliged to you for your care in having their notice published, the expense whereof you will be duly satisfied. Enclosed bill of lading of parcels consigned to you to be forwarded with the packet for Georgia to William Stephens. Entry. ½ p. [C.O. s, 667, fo. 106.] | ||||||||||
| December 22. Georgia Office. |
559 Same to Lieut. William Horton. The Trustees received your letter of 28 August last on 13th inst. And they are obliged to you for the account you gave them of the situation of the southern part of the province of Georgia and for the pains you have taken with the people at Frederica. Your conduct relating to the Spanish launch the Trustees very much approve of and they are glad to congratulate you on your promotion to lieutenancy in Gen. Oglethorpe's regiment which they think you very deserving of. Entry. ½ p [C.O. 5, 667, fo. 106.] | ||||||||||
| December 22. Georgia Office. |
560 Same to Joseph Wragg at Charleston. Having never received account of expense in sending passengers and goods consigned to you by Minerva, Capt. Nickleson, which by your letter of 21 December 1737 you informed me you had forwarded to Savannah; and Thomas Stephens having acquainted me that you supplied him with 50l. South Carolina currency when he landed at Charleston; you are desired to place that 50l. currency to the Trustees' account and when your account of the said expense is forwarded to England for examination it will be duly paid. Entry. ½ p. [C.O. 5, 667, fo. 105d.] | ||||||||||
| December 27. Palace Court. |
561 Minutes of meeting of Trustees for Georgia. Sealed commission to Rev. George Whitefield to collect benefactions in general but which when collected are particularly to be applied for erecting an orphan house in Georgia and building a place of worship for the Salzburghers at Ebenezer. ½ p.[C.O. 5,687, p.96.] | ||||||||||
| December 27. | 562 Certificate to Bishop of London that the Trustees for Georgia will appoint Rev. George Whitefield to be missionary at Savannah, if he is admitted to the order of priesthood. Entry. Signatory, Harman Verelst. ½ p. [C.O. 5, 670, p. 391.] | ||||||||||
| December 28. New York. |
563 Lieut.-Governor George Clarke to Duke of Newcastle. I spoke to the advocate-general to give me an account of the present situation of the prosecution commenced in the court of Admiralty against Burrows, that I might lay it before you; which he has done in the enclosed letter, whereby you may observe that he yet wants evidences to prove the facts wherewith Burrows is charged, which he supposes are only to be got at Gibraltar and Sallee, to which places he must send commissions. I therefore hope that you will give directions that I may be instructed therein. Burrows, it seems, is retired to Curaçao, an island in the West Indies subject to the States General, and will hardly venture again into any part of the king's dominions. Signed. 1½ pp. Endorsed, Duplicate, Recd. June. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
| 563. i. Richard Bradley to Lieut.-Governor Clarke, New York, 23 December 1738, giving account of the proceedings against Burrows. He has done all in his power to bring this vile fellow to justice. None of the papers yet received can be admitted as evidence: examinations must be taken at Gibraltar and Sallee, and a commission has been granted to take Burrows's answer at Curaçao. Copy. 3½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1094, fos. 81–84d.] | |||||||||||
| December 30. | 564 Certificate by Governor Jonathan Belcher that the following are copies of Acts passed in the last session of the general assembly of New Hampshire, vizt. Acts to prevent counterfeiting bills of credit; for assessing rates and taxes; for prosecuting writs of ejectment and trespass; for amending errors and defects in reasons of appeal; for making a new parish in town of Kingston; to excuse persons in the northerly part of Hampton from paying to support the ministry in the old town of Hampton. Signed. Seal. 1½ pp. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
| 564. i. The Acts referred to in the above certificate. 15 pp. [C.O. 5, 932, fos. 4–13d.] | |||||||||||
| December 30. | 565 Certificate by governor Jonathan Belcher that the following are copies of proceedings of the general assembly of New Hampshire at Portsmouth 1–17 November 1738. Signed. Seal. 1½ pp. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
| 565. i. The papers referred to in the above certificate. 19 pp. [C.O. 5, 932, fos. 14–25d.] | |||||||||||
| December 30. Jamaica. |
566 Governor Edward Trelawny to Duke of Newcastle, transmitting copy and translation of governor of Havana's reply to letter of 27 October last. I sent in my letter of 6 November a list of Spanish ships of war in these parts. Since that I am informed that on 13 November the Spanish squadron sailed from Havana and divided, four 50- and 60-gun ships going to Vera Cruz and six to Carthagena. Of these last, two are of 20 guns each, the rest 50 and 60. Signed. P.S. I shall trouble you with no observations on the governor's letter only to mention that Bedlow, the supercargo of the sloop Union, is come hither in Capt. Master's ship and acquaints me that he confessed his first orders were to trade on the South Keys on the coast of Cuba but that afterwards he had fresh ones to go to Hispaniola; but that he had not broken bulk or traded and was no nearer the Spanish coast than where the pilots of the country owned he might have been driven to. This was the confession he acquaints me that he made, which he was induced to out of fear of bad treatment, to make his condemnation easier to the Spaniards. Duplicate. 2¼ pp. Endorsed, Recd. 2 April; copy sent to Mr. Keene and Mr. Castries 8 May 1739. Enclosed, | ||||||||||
| 566. i. Governor of Havana to Governor Trelawny, 29 November 1738. In reply to your letter of 27 October last, I cannot give you the satisfaction you seek in the restitution of the Sarah and the Union. The Sarah was taken by the packet-boat commanded by Don Joseph Campuzano belonging to the Barlovento fleet: it is out of my jurisdiction. The Union was taken by the guardacostas of this island very near Cape de Cruz, and is deemed lawful prize, the master and merchant confessing they came to trade on the coast and the vessel being laden with dry goods and only very few slaves. The captain told me he had been 20 or 25 times at Bajama, Manzanillo and Puerto del Principe. I hope you will restrain such illicit trade. What most surprises me is the advices I have received that a British frigate of 40 guns convoyed these illicit traders from Jamaica. You refer also to the detention of the Loyal Isabel packet-boat, George Wane master, and the James sloop employed by the Asiento. The packet-boat was detained in the belief that war had been declared at Jamaica, and will now be set free. The treatment you gave to the register-ship from the Canaries, carried into Jamaica by an English man-of-war, did not cause me to hasten the release of the Loyal Isabel, for this case was of a different nature. The detention of the James has been entirely owing to the standing rules of the Spanish American ports, and she now sails with the bearer of these letters. Spanish. Copy. Endorsed, as covering letter. 7 pp. | |||||||||||
| 566. ii. English translation of the preceding. 7½ pp. [C.O. 137, 56, fos. 164–174d.] | |||||||||||