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 51
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This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that in case the silver and gold by His Majesty granted unto this colony, which, by an act of the General Assembly, is to be appropriated towards exchanging the Crown Point bills, so called, shall not be sufficient to answer that pur- pose, all persons who shall bring any of said bills unto the general treasurer, after the silver and gold is exhausted, shall receive notes of them for silver, at £4 per dollar; or gold, in proportion, to be paid on or before the 22d day of De- cember next, with lawful interest, from the day of the date of said notes.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that His Honor the Governor be, and hereby is, request- ed to procure, upon the best terms in his power, a sufficiency of silver and gold to refund what he borrowed for the use of the colony, and draw money out of the general treasury to pay for the same.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Mr. Christopher Hall be, and he hereby is, chosen a committee man, for the town of West Greenwich, in the room of Mr. John Greene, deceased.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Mr. Robert Haszard, of South Kingstown, and Capt. John Reynolds, of Exeter, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed a committee to run the dividing line between the towns of South Kingstown and Exeter ; that they erect proper monuments therein, and make report unto this Assembly, at their next session ; and that the charge of doing the same, be equally paid between the said towns,
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Whereas, the sum of £33,841 14s .5d., in bills of public credit, of the old tenor, was lately burnt in the general treas- ury, through a mistake,-
This Assembly, therefore, do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that a like sum of the same sort of bills, be taken out of the grand committee's office, and placed in the general treasury, in lieu of what was burnt, as aforesaid ; and that the same be deemed burnt in the grand committee's office, as so much paid in for tenths ; which aforesaid sum, together with £1,041 15s. 6d., lawful money, now in the general treasury, and deposited there by the committee that burnt said old tenor bills, shall be appropriated towards paying off the sol- diers returning from the expedition against Crown Point.
Protest.
The subscriber dissents from the above vote, for the follow- ing reasons, viz .:
1. Because I think the burning of that money was no mis- take, and ought to have been done long ago.
2. Because I think the appropriating money paid into the grand committee's office, to the use of the colony, is a viola- tion of the act of Parliament, and a breach of the faith of this government. SAMUEL WARD.
God save the King.
Public Acts passed during the year 1756.
[The following Publie Acts, passed during the year 1756, are not printed in these Records, but will be found in the volume of Publie Laws, printed in the year 1767.]
An Aet in addition to, and in amendment of the several aets regulating the militia. (February.)
An Act to prevent shrieves, deputy shrieves, and jail keepers being chosen mem- bers of the General Assembly. (February.)
An Act for altering the time for choosing town officers in Jamestown: (Feb- ruary.)
An Act for naturalizing Nicholas Battar. (May.)
An Act for naturalizing John Amiel. (June.)
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1756.]
An Act for empowering the Governor to license vessels to go to the neighboring governments for flour. (June)
An Act for the relief of insolvent debtors. (June.)
An Act for the more effcetual obstructing the transportation of provisions and war- like stores out of the colony. (June.)
An Aet empowering the general treasurer to call special courts for the recovery of any sum or sums of money which ought to be gathered and paid into the general treasury. (June.)
An Act for naturalizing Guillaume Albrespy, a subject of the French King. (August.)
An Act increasing the allowance to the keepers of His Majesty's jails in this colo-
ny, for their support of poor prisoners, committed at the King's suit. (August.) An Aet for opening and setting up a public lottery, to raise the sum of £10,000, towards building Fort George, on Goat Island, in the township of Newport. (August.)
An Act regulating the prices of ferriage at the ferries, commonly called Cook's or Fogland Ferry, Howland's, Anthony's, Bristol and Warren Ferries. (September.)
An Act to postpone the drawing of the first class of the lottery opened in this colony, to raise £10,000, old tenor, towards building Fort George, etc. (No- vember.)
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE, CHIEFLY RELATING TO THE FRENCH WAR.
Governor Hopkins to Governor Shirley.
Newport, March 11, 1756.
Sir :- The General Assembly of this colony met the 23d of February past, and I laid before them the determinations of the general council of war, held at New York, by Your Excellency ; I also then laid before them your letter of the 20th of February, accompanied with the act of the Great and General Court of the Prov- ince of the Massachusetts Bay, for raising three thousand men for the Crown Point expedition, the ensuing campaign ; a letter from Sir Charles Hardy, and the re- solve of the General Assembly of the colony of New York, for raising one thousand men for the same service, was then also laid before them.
After full consideration of these matters, the Assembly here came to a resolution to raise and furnish five hundred men for the aforementioned expedition, and have made the necessary provisions for raising, subsisting and paying that number of men ; being of opinion that five hundred is as large a proportion for this colony, considering their ability, and number of inhabitants, as three thousand is for the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, or one thousand for the colony of New York ; and do not think themselves obliged by any means to follow the unequal propor- tions raised by the several colonies the last year, at the beginning of this enterprise ; however, they seem to be willing, and I dare venture to pass my word for them, that they shall cheerfully undertake to bear an equal share of the expense of reduc-
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ing Fort St. Frederic, and the whole Lake Champlain, with its appendages, to the obedience of His Majesty, in proportion to their abilities, when truly compared with the other colonies concerned in that enterprise ; but what methods may be come into for settling such proportions among the colonies concerned, seems yet to be very uncertain ; and the less to be depended on, as the Massachusetts absolutely refused, when earnestly pressed thereunto, by Your Excellency, to nominate and authorize any commissioners for such a purpose, the preceding year.
As to the conditional acts of Assembly, in the Province of the Massachusetts, and in the colony of Connecticut, for raising men, I am persuaded they can be of very little service to the common cause.
The instructions framed by your General Court, to be given to their committee, placed at and near at Albany, for carrying their resolutions into execution, and a copy of which Your Excellency has been kind enough to communicate to me, I have shown to the committee of war, for the colony, with whom powers are lodged for the like purposes, and are fully approved of by them ; and full powers immediately will be given to some proper person or persons, in behalf of this colony, to repair di- rectly to Albany, and to act there in concert with the gentlemen appointed by your Province, for carrying all the matters mentioned in those instructions into execu- tion ; and I shall be glad to be informed what number of troops will be sent by the Province of the Massachusetts, for transporting and guarding the provisions and stores in their passage from Albany, to Fort William Henry, and at what time they will be sent away, that I may order a proportionable number to join them in season, for that purpose, which I shall not fail to do.
The list of ordnance stores prepared by the commanding officer of the detach- ment of the royal regiment of artillery, and communicated to me by Your Excel- lency, as needful to be provided by the colonies, for the ensuing expedition, I have also laid before our committee of war, who agree that this colony ought to pay their proportion toward the expense of it ; and will do it in such manner as may be pro- posed by Your Excellency, or others principally concerned in that matter ; or otherwise, if their proportion can be set off to them, it shall be forthwith pro- vided, and sent forward, as shall be ordered,-this colony and all employed by them for this expedition, being fully determined that whatever part this colony under- takes in it, shall be executed without any kind of delay.
The committee of war here have given me a list of sundry articles they would willingly furnish towards the train, if it be agreeable, with such others as might make up their full proportion, if those should fall short of it.
With the greatest respect,
I am Your Excellency's most humble and most obedient servant,
To Ilis Excellency William Shirley, Esq.
STEPHI. HOPKINS.
Governor Hopkins to the Committee of War, of Massachusetts.
Providence, July 16, 1756.
Gentlemen :- As I had given orders to my son, who is commissary for this colo- ny, at Albany, to concert measures with those gentlemen who might represent the Province of the Massachusetts, and the colony of Connecticut there, for the con- veyance of letters, and keeping up a weekly correspondence between the colonies
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and the camp ; but he now writes me, that persons are employed for that purpose, by the committee of war, in each of the said colonies ; and that it was not in his power to enter into any agreement for that end, at Albany, for affecting a matter so necessary for the public service ; I now apply to you to permit us to receive the benefit of your carrier, upon our paying a proportionable part of the charge which I am freely willing to do, at such times, and in such manner as you shall direct.
Our letters for Albany I can send to Boston, by the post (postage paid here) un- der cover to you, to send along by your messenger ; and such as may come from thence, for any persons in this colony, you will be kind enough to put under one cover, directed to me, and deliver them to the post rider, whom I will order to call for them. I shall esteem it as a favor if you will give yourselves the trouble to write me on this affair, by the return of the post ; and much more so, if you will send along the letters to Albany, which accompany this, some of them being of great importance.
My son, and other of our officers, by the letters I last received, inform me they had sent divers letters by your carrier, to Boston, for me, but I have never received any of them ; should be glad you would inquire of him, concerning them.
With great esteem and respect,
I am, gentleman, your most humble and most obedient servant,
STEPH. HOPKINS.
To the Hon. the Committee of War, at Boston.
Rufus Hopkins to the Earl of Loudoun.
Albany, 12th September, 1756.
My Lord :- I am appointed by the government of Rhode Island, to supply the forces raised in conjunction with the other northern colonies, with provisions and transportation.
I have sent to Fort William Henry the greatest part of the provisions, and the most of the Rhode Island regiment are posted at Fort Edward.
Your Lordship's proposal of yesterday, to take on yourself the victualling the provincials, and making yourself accountable for the value of the remaining provi- sions, is a measure I not only am satisfied with, but think absolutely necessary ; and had you not made the proposal, I should have thought myself obliged to make application to Your Lordship for that purpose. I will immediately give orders for the delivery of the provision belonging to Rhode Island, to your order, and supply the extraordinary above the King's allowance, until I receive orders from home, for my conduct.
I am, with the greatest respect, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
To the Right Hon. the Earl of Loudoun.
RUFUS HOPKINS.
Governor Shirley to Governor Hopkins.
Boston, September 20, 1756.
Sir :- I have but a few moments' time before the post will go out for the last time before I embark for England, to desire Your Honor to let me know by a
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[1756.
letter to be transmitted to me, in England, under cover, to Messrs. Thomlinson & Trecothick, merchants, in London, how your Assembly and people would stand affected towards an expedition against Cape Breton, early in the spring, in case that should be proposed from England, with an assurance of the places being kept, and with proper arrangement.
I am, with great regard, &c., &c., W. SHIRLEY.
To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq.
Lord Loudoun to Governor Hopkins.
Albany, September 30, 1756.
Sir :- As I have received no answer from you, about the aid I demanded, and, as by the information I received from Mr. Winslow, the enemy are moving towards us, with not only all their regular forces, but all the men they can collect in Cana- da, capable of bearing arms ; I must repeat my demand, and acquaint you that the utmost despatch and expedition is necessary, in whatever you intend to do.
Yours, &c., LOUDOUN.
To Governor Hopkins.
Lieut. Isaac Parker to Col. Israel Williams
Charlestown, N. Hampshire, October 3d, 1756.
Col. Williams. Sir :- This day arrived here, a little before sunset, one Enos Bishop, an English captive, from Canada, who was taken from Contoocook, up- wards of two years agone. Ile left Canada six and twenty days ago, in company with two other English captives, viz. : one William Hair, who of late, belonged to Brookfield, but had listed himself in Gen. Shirley's regiment, and was taken at Oswego. The other was taken from Pennsylvania.
They left Canada without any gun, or hatchet, or fireworks, and no more than three loaves of bread, and four pounds of pork ; so that they suffered much for want of victuals, so that through hunger and fatigue, the two men, his companions, were not able to travel, and he was obliged to leave them the last Sabbath day, a little on this side of Conwass, without any sustenance, except a few berries ; so that he fears they are perished in the wilderness. I immediately this evening sent out six of our men to look for the men, and to help them to come in, if they are living.
l interrogated the man concerning the affairs at Canada ; he tells me he was at Montreal when the French army returned from Oswego ; that the French gen- eral made his return to the governor that he had taken eighteen hundred prisoners (but others say there were not so many) ; and that he killed six men, and wound- ed eight in the capture of the fort.
Ile tells me that the prisoners who were taken from thence, informed him that it was only the Canadians that attacked the first fort they came at, viz. : Fort Pep- perell-who fought three days with their small arms. Col. Mercer, who was in an- other fort, waved the colors three times to the officer, who was in said fort, as a sig- ual for them to leave the fort ; but the officer would not obey the signal ; then Col. Mercer sent an order to the officer of said fort, that when he should throw a bomb
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AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS. 567
over the fort, that then he should plug up the cannon that were in said fort, and destroy the ammunition that was in the fort, and leave it; accordingly they left that fort, and retired to the next fort.
Then the enemy, in the evening, began to intrench in sight of our men, who would have fired upon them, but were not allowed, till they had planted six can- non ; then our gunner fired and dismounted four of their cannon. Col. Mercer sent for all his captains, and had a paper in his hand, supposed to be some articles of capitulation ; while he held the paper in his hand, there came a cannon shot and tore ont his bowels. This was in the evening.
The next morning, after the French had fired two cannon, the English hoisted their flag for a capitulation.
He further informs, that there is a great army gone to Crown Point, consisting of (as the French tell him) thirteen thousand regular troops, besides Indians ; the Canadians are to join them, at a minutes's warning, if wanted ; the general set out from Canada, last Thursday ; was a month for Crown Point. They tell him they have undermined Crown Point fort, in order to blow it up, in case the English should get into it.
The French tell him their general has orders to take the forts at or near Lake George ; then to proceed to Albany, and when they have taken that, to advance further into the country, even to Boston, if time and the season will allow.
Thus, sir, I thought it necessary to send you this intelligence, desiring if Your Honor shall think it needful, to communicate to such persons and places as you shall think proper to be informed thereof.
I am, sir, with all due regards, Your Honor's most obedient and humble servant,
ISAAC PARKER.
To Col. Israel Williams.
Governor Phips to Governor Hopkins.
Boston, October 8th, 1756.
Sir :- Having received intelligence of a very large armament of French regulars and others, coming from Canada, to attack our forts, upon Lake George, and the English army encamped there; and upon their success in this attempt, to fall upon some of the frontiers in this part of the English colonies, I have thought it neces- sary to communicate it to Your Honor, as you will find it contained in the enclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Isaac Parker, of Charlestown, in the Province of New Hampshire, to Col. Israel Williams, of Hatfield, which I received yesterday.
I am, with great respect, sir, Your Honor's most obedient, humble servant,
S. PHIPS.
To the Hon. Governor Hopkins.
Lord Loudoun to Governor Hopkins.
Albany, November 5th, 1756.
Sir :- Last night I was favored with yours of Oct. 31st. As my letter from Fort Edward, would in the main answer this letter, as to the marching of the men, the province has now raised, for the support of their brethren at the lake, I shall only
·
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add, that as the season is now so far advanced, I am now drawing off the troops from the frontier, and sending home the provincials ; so that I desire your people may now be dismissed, as being of no use to us.
I am extremely sorry to learn from you, that the colony has been at so great ex- pense, in the raising of those men ; but that is no fault of mine; for had any of your people, during your illness, given me any information of what was going on, I would have immediately written to you, to put a stop to that expense ; but from the time you informed me of your having sent to Boston, to consult how to proceed as I very well knew what the nature of any advice you would get there at that time, would be, I laid aside all expectation of any assistance from your province that could be of any use this campaign ; and you see I have not been mistaken ; for in consequence of what you learned there, your first aid you voted, was so small, and both your resolutions so late, that they could not arrive in time to be of any use, except it was to be in readiness to defend your frontiers, in case we had been beaten at the fort, for want of a timely assistance.
As to the small pox in this town, I do not find it has been in more than seven families, in one of the outskirts of the town ; nor do I find that any person has been seized with it for near a month ; and I hope the cold weather will put a total stop to it.
As to the report of its having got into the troops at the fort, it was raised by some ill-designing people, to make both the New England troops and the Indians leave us and go home ; but it had not the effect intended, and I now hear no more of the small pox, than if there were no such thing in the country.
I am, with sincere regard and esteem, sir,
Your most obedient humble servant, LOUDOUN.
To Governor Hopkins.
Richard Partridge, Agent for Rhode Island, in London, to Gov- ernor Hopkins.
London, November 5, 1756.
Governor Hopkins :- I lately wrote to the Deputy Governor, per Capt. Wan- ton, for Rhode Island, who sailed through the Downs the 23d ult.
As to public news, the war continues without any present prospect of aeeonimo- (lation. Several of our merchant ships have of late been taken by the enemy. Admiral Hawks continues with his squadron in the Mediteranean, and Boscowen is yet blocking up the French fleet at Brest.
The Parliament which was to meet the 18th inst., is now prorogued to the 2d of next month ; against which time, there are likely to be some considerable altera- tions in the ministry ; the Duke of Newcastle, the first lord of the treasury, having (as is said) already resigned. People here are greatly alarmed and shocked at the loss of Oswego, by the enemy ; dreading the consequence.
Our King, at this time, is much distressed on the present posture of affairs, and the ministry greatly embarrassed ; for the rest, I refer to the magazine and the prints, now sent thee, to be forwarded by Andrew Oliver, of Boston, per a private hand ; and I remain,
Thy assured friend,
RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
To the Governor of Rhode Island.
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Governor Hopkins to Lord Loudoun.
Providence, November 13, 1756.
My Lord :- I have received your letters of the 30th of October, and the 5th of November ; and agreeably to your directions, have dismissed the four hundred men last raised by this colony.
As you are pleased to inform me that you are withdrawing the troops from the field, for this season, and I suppose those from this colony, who have been in the service, will return home, I beg you to give me directions whether they shall be discharged from or retained in the service, to be used again another summer ; as I make no doubt this colony will cheerfully conform to Your Lordship's directions in that, and all other things that concern His Majesty's service, and will not again of- fend, in consulting their neighbors, to know if they also will obey.
Permit me, sir, to inquire whether you intend to have any meeting with commis- sioners of the several colonies, this winter ? and if not, where, and at what time those appointed some time past by this colony, may have leave to wait upon you.
I wish for an opportunity, when, with more than words, I may assure you of be- ing sincerely, Your Lordship's most obedient and most humble servant, STEPHEN HOPKINS.
To the Right Honorable the Earl of Loudoun.
Lord Loudoun to Governor Hopkins.
Albany, November 21st, 1756.
Sir :- Last night I had the favor of yours, of the 13th, by the Boston post, ac- quainting me that you had dismissed the four hundred men, you had been so good as to assemble, to reinforce the troops : and at the same time, desiring my opinion as to keeping in pay, or dismissing during the winter, the troops you had at the lake.
This part of the letter, I am a little difficulted how to answer, for fear of giving offence to your people ; the case of the other provinces, so far as I know, is this :
New York has reduced the regiment they furnished, to eight hundred men, whom they propose keeping up during the winter; New Jerseys propose keeping up the remains of their regiment ; those two I have assigned posts to, for the se- curity of the provinces.
All the New England governments, so far as has appeared to me, mean to dis- charge their men so soon as they arrive at home ; and I do not see, till I have the pleasure of meeting with you, and concert the measures for the next campaign, how I can enter into that negotiation ; so in this I must leave it to your own opin- ion, which will be most for the colony's interest, to keep them up from this time, or dismiss them now, and fix the method of raising them next year ; which I should hope might be done, so as to make a saving for the province, and at the same time more serviceable to the public.
I'erhaps I go too far in saying raise them against next year ; all I mean by that, is, that I hope the province will agree to send out a force next year, to aid in set- tling the future quiet of this country.
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I propose having a meeting, with the Governors of the different New England governments, this winter, at Boston, and such other people, as the governments shall think proper to send ; it is not yet in my power to tell the time I shall be there, as that depends on letters gone to the south. If I can by those, settle the business there, I shall come first to you ; if not, I must go south first, as the business there will not permit of any delay. The minute I can fix a time, I shall acquaint you, and hope I shall have the pleasure of meeting you at Boston ; where I hope we shall be able to settle all matters for carrying on the next campaign, in a unani- mous, and I hope, successful manner.
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