USA > Rhode Island > Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. Printed by order of the General Assembly, Vol. V > Part 42
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If Crown Point is inaccessible to the army now with you, through the route you have taken to it, it will probably be more so to double the number of troops the next year, and must be come at through another route ; in which case, the fort you design to build at the end of the lake, will be of little or no utility for carrying on another expedition, and but of very little, even for the defence of the country between Lake George, late St. Sacrament, and Hudson's River, whilst two roads lie open for the French to make incursions into it, viz. : through Wood Creek and the South Bay ; the latter of which, they have lately made use of, to come at both your camps.
As to your expectation of a more formidable attack very shortly from the enemy, and that they will then come with artillery ; I suppose that artillery must be brought from Crown Pointor Ticonderoga ; and if the French should imagine that you design
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to attempt nothing further this campaign, than building the stockaded fort, you pro- pose, I think it probable enough that they make you a visit at your camp with cannon ; in which case, I doubt your fort, when built, would not stand long.
But I believe the thoughts of the French are at present taken up in securing themselves against a visit from you at Crown Point ; which I hope may be still made them this year, with success ; and that to enable you the better to do it, the colonies may send you a second reinforcement in time.
I am sorry to hear that you received a wound in the late engagement, and hope that the ball is by this time extracted from your thigh, and your wound is in a fair way of healing ; I congratulate you upon your success, hitherto, and wish it may be increased in the remaining operations of the campaign ; and am,
Sir, your most humble servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To Major General Johnson.
Governor Shirley to Major General Johnson.
Camp at Oswego, September 24th, 1755.
Sir :- Yesterday afternoon, I received your letter, dated 9th instant, being a copy of that to the several governors of the several colonies concerned in the expe- dition under your command ; and the same with what Mr. Stevenson transcribed from your letter to Governor Phips, and sent me seven days ago, as you will per- ceive by mine to you of the 19th instant.
In your last, I received enclosed, a copy of the orders and instructions for the regular troops sent to Cadaraqui, which are a confirmation of the intelligence I sent you in my last, viz. : that five hundred of the regular troops, which came from France, with Mr. Dieshau, are encamped at the fort there. It appears, also, by those instructions, that there were at least one hundred and sixty-six Canadians sent with them on the 1st and 2d of August last ; and that a number of Indians are there, likewise.
By the express, which delivered me your letter, I received one dated the 10th instant, from Capt. Ayrc, your engineer, informing me of the strength of the fort built at the Carrying Place ; * * " that with a garrison of three or four hundred men, would be able to resist an attack of fifteen hundred, if no can- non were brought against it ; and that in his opinion, it is very necessary that a strong and regular work should be erected at Lake George, to keep possession of that country, so far ; that if the French can seize and take the before mentioned work at the Carrying Place, he fears it would be attended with bad consequences ; as it would cut off your retreat and communication with Albany, and totally stop your reinforcements and provisions, from joining you, if another road cannot be found, which he believes is not easy to be met with ; that he thinks what induced the French, or may induce them hereafter to attack you at Lake George, is fearing that you would not attempt to go any further, and so were resolved to call you off, before you returned ; and seems to infer from thence that the enemy must be so formidable, as to make it unadvisable for you to proceed further ; and concludes with extolling the gallantry and resolution of the French troops in their late attack of you."
I agree, sir, in sentiments with your engineer, concerning the bad consequences
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1755.
of the enemy's taking the fort at the Carrying Place, and am much! concerned at the weakness of its works ; especially, as both yourself and he, are [apprehensive of another attack at Lake George, with cannon.
If I was in your situation, my chief apprehensions would be, that the French would make an attempt upon that fort with cannon, which they might transport thither as easily as to Lake George ; and I think you judged extremely right in sending a detachment of one thousand men to its support, upon the first alarm of the enemy's being upon their march towards it ; and for my own part, I must own, I should have thought it a better piece of conduct, in M. Dieshau, if, after defeat- ing the party under Col. Williams's command, he had attacked the fort at the Carrying Place, instead of your camp ; which, according to your engineer's ac- count of it, might have been more easily won, with the force he had with him, than had your camp been stormed.
I can by no means adopt your engineer's opinion of the urgent necessity of im- mediately erecting a strong regular fort at Lake George, for maintaining possession of the country so far. In my opinion, the most material place for erecting the strongest works, is at the other end of the Carrying Place (at or near where the fort lately built, stands), which is about seventeen miles distant from it. It seems to me that a regular strong fort there, would be a much more essential one for cover- ing the country against the attacks of the French, from the river Champlain, through the three several routes that lead from thence to it, than one at Lake George, which would leave it uncovered in two of those routes ; besides, how could a fort at Lake George, be supported, when its communication with Albany was cut off, which, as your engineer rightly observes, would most probably be the case, if the French should take our fort at the Carrying Place.
I would therefore recommend it to you in the strongest manner, as an object which deserves your attention, to have the * * fort at the Carrying Place strengthened as much as the circumstances of your army will ad- mit, consistent with your proceeding directly to Ticonderoga.
As to the formidable strength of the enemy, you will have to encounter in your march thither, I have told you my sentiments at large in my last letter ; and with regard to the gallant behaviour of their troops in the late actions, I must own, I dif- fer widely in opinion from your engineer ; their retreat was a very bad one, with- out conduct or resolution ; they could not otherwise have suffered so great a slaughter as you say they did, in the short pursuit made of them by your troops and Indians, which jumped over the barricade of your camp after them.
The more I think of your situation, the more advisable I think it will be for you to proceed to Ticonderoga; as the honor of His Majesty's arms and the interest of the colonics seem to require it. The consequences, I fear, will be bad, if you do not ; and I can't but hope that you will see these matters in the same light which I view them in.
The weak condition which I found this place in, and our want of dry provisions, have hitherto inevitably hindered me from proceeding in the expedition under my command ; but both these obstacles will, I hope, be so far surmounted in three days, as to permit me to do it.
I wish you a speedy recovery of your wound, and much success ; and am,
Sir, your most humble servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To Major General Johnson.
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P. S. Be pleased to communicate this to Capt. Ayre ; I have not time to write to him before I sail.
Governor Shirley to Governor Hopkins.
Camp at Oswego, September 25th, 1755.
Sir :- Your Honor hath already had an account from Major General Johnson, of the late actions at and near his camp, at Lake George, late Lake Sacrament ; and you have my sentiments upon the situation of the service under his command, con- tained in the two enclosed copies of letters to him from me, dated the 19th and 24th instant.
As I was the first proposer of the expedition against Crown Point to the several col- onies concerned in raising forces for it, and have been a principal promoter of its being carried into execution, I have it the more at heart, that the issue of it should be for His Majesty's service, the honor of his arms, and welfare of his colonies; all which are deeply interested in the succeeding operations of this campaign against the French in this expedition, and make it my indispensable duty to contribute my ut- most endeavors for having those operations conducted in the best manner, to answer those important ends.
The weak condition in which I found this place, and want of dry provisions, have hitherto put it out of my power to proceed from hence upon the expedition under my own immediate command ; but as those obstacles are now in some measure re- moved, make it advisable for me to move, which I purpose to do in three days, not- withstanding the lateness of the season, and hope to return to this place in thirty days from that time.
The settlement of every thing here before I go, and my preparations to embark, will not permit me to enlarge now upon the service of the other expedition, so must beg leave to refer Your Honor * * to the enclosed copies, and to re- commend it to the care of the several governments concerned, from whom I flatter myself General Johnson hath or will soon receive such further reinforcements as may absolutely secure the success of his attempt against the French encroachments at Crown Point this year. I am, sir, with great regard, &c.,
To Governor Hopkins.
W. SHIRLEY.
Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at South Kings- town, the last Wednesday in October, 1755.
The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor. The Hon. Jonathan Nichols, Deputy Governor.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authori- ty thereof it is enacted, that two commissioners be appointed
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1755.
on the part of this colony, to meet commissioners of the other governments at New York, in order to consider the state and circumstances of said governments, with regard to the encroach- ments of the French, &c., and that an act be drawn up ac- cordingly.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that His Honor, the Governor, and the attorney general be, and they are hereby constituted a committee to prepare a bill for appointing commissioners on the part of this colony to meet commissioners of the other gov- ernments, to consider the state of said governments, in respect to the encroachments of the French, and present the same to this Assembly as soon as possible.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Nicholas Cook, Philip Greene and George Brown, Esqs., be, and they are hereby appointed a committee, to audit Daniel Jenckes Esq. and Mr. Elisha Brown, their accounts of the charges of finishing the new jail in Providence ; and that the said committee give an order upon the general treasurer, for such part of the money that shall appear to be due to the said Jenckes and Brown, as said committee shall think proper, and make report to this Assembly at their next session.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Obadiah Brown, James Sheffield and Josiah Rus- sel, Esqs., together with Mr. Joseph Lippitt, who were appoint- ed a committee to audit the accounts of the committee of war, be, and they are hereby further continued a committee for that purpose ; and that any two of them, be, and are hereby au- thorized and fully empowered to audit the accounts of His Honor, the Governor and Daniel Jenckes, Esq., and make re- port unto this Assembly at their next session.
Whereas, Major Ebenezer Brenton, and many others, inhab- itants of South Kingstown and parts adjacent, preferred a pe- tition and represented unto this Assembly, that the fishery in Point Judith Pond, so called, which is of vast importance, not only to the inhabitants of the town aforesaid, and others in the vicinity thereof, but also to the town of Newport, and all
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1755.] AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
the western part of this colony, is like to be utterly destroyed, without a suitable provision to prevent people from fishing with seines in the breach and channel of said pond, at all sea- sons ; by which the course of the fish is daily obstructed, and if not speedily prevented will be totally turned some other way, to the great damage not only of said town, but of the greater part of this colony ; that although there is a law in that case made and provided, well adapted to remedy the in- conveniences aforesaid, save that the fine is not proportionate to the damage that is daily sustained by the breach thereof; for that forty shillings, the fine now stated, will never prevent the drawing a seine, where the drawers are morally assured to gain a sufficient profit over and above said fine, even if it should be levied upon them ; and thereupon the petitioners prayed that the fine, in the act above mentioned, be augmented to £50; on consideration, whereof,-
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the fine in the act made and passed by the General Assembly, at their session in Newport, on the sec- ond Monday in June, 1736, be, and is hereby augmented to £50; that is to say, where it relates to the fishery of the pond, aforesaid.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the committee of war be, and hereby is further continued, and vested with all and singular the power and authority that hath at any time heretofore been granted them.
An Act appointing and empowering commissioners in behalf of this colony, to meet with His Excellency, Major General Shirley, commander in chief of all His Majesty's forces in North America, and the commissioners that may be appoint- ed by the other northern colonies.
Whereas, the numerous encroachments made by the French on the undoubted dominions of His Britannic Majesty, our most gracious sovereign, in North America, hath necessitated the colonies to rise in their own defence, and endeavor to re-
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1755.
move such dangerous neighbors to a greater distance ; and as the disunited state of the English colonies, is such as renders it impracticable for them to exert their natural strength against the common enemy in any other manner than that of a gen- eral meeting by representatives, to consult and provide means for their common defence and safety ; therefore, and to con- tribute towards so salutary a measure, as far the abilities of this colony will admit,-
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that His Honor, the Governor, and Daniel Updike, Esq., be, and they are hereby chosen and ap- pointed commissioners for, and in behalf of this colony, with full power and authority to appear and represent the same at any meeting of the commissioners of the other British northern colonies, with His Excellency, above named ; and with them to concert proper measures for quartering, subsisting, furlough- ing, or discharging the provincial troops now in the field ; to concert proper measures that the campaign may be rendered successful this year, or in the next spring ; to contrive and es- tablish proper ways and means for supplying the present or any future provincial armies with provisions and other neces- saries ; to agree upon, and settle the proportion and quota of this and the other colonies, concerned in the present expedition against Crown Point, for and towards the said expedition ; and to agree upon a joint application unto His Majesty, for the ob- taining such assistance to his colonies as may enable them to repel their common enemy, and put in execution such measures as will effectually establish the peace and tranquility of His Maj- esty's good subjects in North America; and in case no such general convention of the representatives of the governments in North America shall be had, that the commissioners above named, shall have, and hereby is granted them equal authority to meet and act at any convention of the governments immedi- ately concerned in the expedition against Crown Point, that shall be agreed upon, and that as fully and effectually, to all intents and purposes as are herein before expressed ; and His Honor, the Governor, is requested to cause the needful
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commissions to be made out, and to transmit a copy of this act to all the governments in North America.
An Act for laying a tax of £70,000 upon the inhabitants of this colony.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that £70,000, old tenor, be raised by a tax, to be forthwith assessed and levied, agreeably to law, on the estates and poles of the inhabitants of this colony, in the following proportion, to wit:
£ s.
£ d.
Newport 14,000 00
Westerly
4,730 00
Portsmouth
3,216 00
North Kingstown. . 3,105 00
New Shoreham .1,600 00
South Kingstown . . 5,200 00
Charlestown
1,700 00
Jamestown
1,600 00
Middletown 2,150 00
Exeter
1,475 00
Tiverton . 2,200 00
Richmond
1,003 00
Little Compton
2,051 00
£17,213 00
Bristol .
1,827 00
Warren .
1,610 00
£3,437 00
Warwick
.3,213 00
East Greenwich .. . . 1,800 00
West Greenwich .. . 1,069 10
Coventry
.907 00
£6,989 10
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that £40,000 of said sum be appropriated towards sinking the col- ony's outstanding bills of credit, made and emitted to supply VOL. V. 59
£26,817 00
Providence 4,900 00
Smithfield 3,750 00
Scituate
1,633 00
Glocester
1,680 10
Cumberland.
1,080 00
Cranston
.2,500 00
£15,543 10
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1755.
the general treasury, for defraying the charge of the present expedition ; and the remaining £30,000 towards sinking the outstanding bills of credit, made and emitted to supply the treasury, for defraying the charge of former expeditions.
And it is further enacted, that the assessors or rate-makers, upon their assessing or apportioning the aforesaid tax, return a true bill or list thereof, to the town clerk of the town to which they respectively belong, within fifty days after this Assembly rises ; and that said town clerk send a copy thereof to the gen- eral treasurer, in ten days ; who, upon receipt thereof, shall issue forth his warrant in ten days, to the several collectors of rates of the respective towns, commanding them, in His Majes- ty's name, to collect the several sums to them respectively com- mitted, in bills of public credit of this colony, within five months after the rising of this Assembly ; and to pay the same to him, or his successor in said office, to be burnt, and discharge part of the colony's debts as above mentioned.
And it is further enacted, that each respective town shall pay all the charges and fees that shall arise in assessing and col- lecting its part of the aforesaid tax ; and that the secretary send a copy of this act in print, to every town clerk in the colony, within twenty days after the rising of this Assembly, to be by them immediately delivered to the assessors of each respective town.
God save the King.
Lieut. Governor Phips. of Massachusetts, to Governor Hopkins, of Rhode Island.
Boston, October 29th, 1755.
Sir :- The present state of the army, designed against Crown Point, has been under the consideration of the General Assembly several days past, and the report of a committee has been accepted by the court, a copy of which I herewith transmit to Your Honor; and in consequence of said vote, three gentlemen, viz. : James Minot, John Choate and Samuel Livermore, Esqs., have been chosen and approved of, and will set out for Albany in two or three days; and I must earnestly urge Your Honor that some gentlemen may likewise repair thither from your govern- ment: for the great remora to the proceeding of the army seems to have been
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the failure of transportation, which may prove as fatal to the service, if any one government fails in their peculiar part, as if there should be a failure in all.
I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
S. PHIPS.
To the Hon. Governor Hopkins.
Secretary Pownall to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, November 4th, 1755.
Gentlemen :- The postmaster general having, in obedience to His Majesty's commands, provided vessels for the carrying on a regular monthly correspondence with His Majesty's American colonies, I am directed by the lords commissioners for trade and plantations, to acquaint you therewith ; and that the first of these vessels will be despatched for the continent on the 15th of this month, to go and return between Falmouth and New York where the first vessel is to remain twenty days ; and as it is of great importance to His Majesty's service, that their lordships should have frequent and certain intelligence of the true state of all His Majesty's colonies and plantations in America, their lordships desire that you will not fail of acquainting them, by the return of every packet, with all public occurrences which may happen in the colony under your government ; and likewise transmit to their lordships all such public papers as are required to be transmitted.
I am, gentleman, your most obedient humble servant, JOHN POWNALL, Sec'ry.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Secretary Robinson to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, 11th November, 1755.
Gentlemen :- The accounts which have been transmitted to me of the success of His Majesty's arms, in the action near Lake George, on the 8th of September, and of the considerable reinforcements sent by the New England governments, to Gen- eral Johnson, which there is great reason to hope will effectually enable him to pursue the advantage he has gained, and to recover and support His Majesty's just rights, have been laid before His Majesty; and I have recieved the King's com- mands to express to you His Majesty's sense of the great zeal and spirit, which the colony under your government has so strongly manitested, in so cheerfully and ef- fectually promoting this necessary and important service.
His Majesty, at all times desirous of showing marks of his royal favor and regard to those who eminently distinguish themselves in the defence of his rights, and in their country's service, is pleased to order that this letter be communicated to the Council and Assembly of your government ; and that they be acquainted that His Majesty will take an early opportunity of laying the particulars of their meritorious conduct, upon this great occasion, before his Parliament ; and as His Majesty is sen- sible that the expenses which the New England colonies have incurred, though cheer- fully borne, cannot but have been burthensome to his brave and good subjects, His
.
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1755.
Majesty will at the same time recommend to his Parliament to grant them such as- sistance, in consideration of the charges they have borne, as their circumstances shall require, and as will enable them vigorously to pursue the great and necessary work, which has been so cheerfully undertaken, and hitherto conducted with so much spirit, zeal and resolution.
I am, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
T. ROBINSON.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
P. S. I have received Mr. Hopkins's letter of April 17th.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at South Ringstown, the 22d day of December, 1755.
The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor. The Hon. Jonathan Nichols, Deputy Governor.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that His Honor, the Governor, Capt. Benjamin Wick- ham and Daniel Jenckes, Esq., Col. Benoni Waterman and the attorney general, be, and they are hereby appointed a commit- tee to take into consideration the matters and things contained in the letter sent this colony, by the lords commissioners for trade and plantations, and prepare an answer unto the same, and present it unto this Assembly as soon as they can.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that one hundred of the best men be selected, with suit- able officers, out of the troops of this colony, returned and re- turning from the expedition against Crown Point ; that the re- mainder be forthwith discharged ; and that His Honor, the Governor, Capt. Benjamin Wickham, Daniel Jenckes, Esq., and Col. Benoni Waterman and the attorney general be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to prepare a bill for that pur- pose, and present the same unto this Assembly as soon as may be.
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