USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 12
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WHITEHALL 29th Oct: 1739
Sir,
I am to acquaint you, that on Friday the 19th In- stant a Great Council was held at Kensington, where His Majesty approved and signed a Declaration of War against Spain, and ordered, that the same should be published on Tuesday the 23ª Instant by the Heralds at Arms, in the usual Places, and with
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the accustomd Formalitys on the like Occasions, which was done accordingly; And I am commanded to send you a printed Copy of the said Declaration, and to signify to you His Majesty's Pleasure, that you cause it to be proclaimed in the Places under your Government, that His Subjects having this Notice may take care to prevent any Mischief, which otherwise they might suffer from the Enemy, and do their Duty in their several Stations to annoy the Sub- jects of Spain; And His Majesty would have you be very rigorous and severe in preventing any Ammu- nition or Stores of any kind from being carried to them; And you are to use all proper Methods that may be most effectual for this Purpose.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
HOLLES NEWCASTLE.
GOVERNOR WANTON TO GOVERNOR BELCHER. NEWPORT 12 November 1739
S.
This waits upon You by Mess's Goulding and Bren- ton Two of our Colony Trustees who are now going to Salem Court to be Evidences against the Persons indicted to that Court for Counterfeiting the Bills in imitation of the true £5 Bills of this Colony, and before their Return design likewise for Portsmouth in New Hampshire upon the same Account if not too great a Distance between the Two Courts And if upon any future Occasion there should be a neces- sity of one or more of the signers of our true Bills
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to attend upon a Trial We shall always be ready to comply therewith. I am desired by our General Assembly to acquaint Your Excelcy That a Vote is pass'd 1 directing our Agent in Conjunction with the others strenuously to oppose at the next Session of Parliament the new additional Act relating to the Sugar Colonies in the W. Indies, which if pass'd will prove extreamly prejudicial and hurtful to the Trade of all the Northern Colonies, and therefore desire That Your Excelcy will please to move it to Your Gen! Court That proper Instructions might be given for that purpose Being with due Respects
Your Excelcy's most assured &c
To his Excelcy JONA BELCHER Esq &c
GOVERNOR WANTON TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
NEWPORT 12th 9 Mo. 1739
Respected Friend Richª Partridge
Sometime since I signed a Letter with others as a Committee, with a Remittance to Thee in Gold and Silver to the Value of £150 Str for the taking out the King's Commission to determine our Eastern Boundaries by Commissioners here and I do now also inform thee that I have recd thy several Letters and Packets particularly that relating to the Bill prepared for an additional Act to be pass'd relating to the Sugar Colonies: Which is conceived will be very prejudicial to our Trade here and other Northern
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 562.
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Colonies and therefore a Vote was passed by the General Assembly at their last Sessions desiring me to direct Thee strenuously to oppose the Same and to use thy utmost Endeavours to prevent it being passed into a Law.1
I received lately a Packet forwarded by thee from the Board of Trade, wherein was inclosed The Votes of the House of Lords and House of Commons to address his Majesty relating our Paper Currency, And accordingly received in the Same Packet an order from the Board of Trade 2 to remit home the State of our several Emissions and what has been called in and sunk thereof and likewise the Rate of Gold and Silver per oz at several Periods. The General Assembly think it very Strange that such Votes should be pass'd and an order sent which so greatly concerns the Colony and not one Word from Thee What was the Occasion of or what induced Them to make such an Enquiry 3 I am &c.
To RICHP PARTRIDGE
GOVERNOR WANTON TO JOSEPH TALCOTT.4
NEWPORT 12 Nov: 1739
S.
I lately recd a Letter from our Agent wherein he informs me that He had received the Packet We sent him with the Copy of the Case &c relating [to]
1 Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 562. 2 See letters on pp. 111, 112.
8 See Partridge's answer of 11 mo. (January) 2, 1739,
4 Talcott was governor of Connecticut from 1724 to 174I.
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Masons Affair.1 And I am likewise to acquaint Your Honour That I am desired by Our General Assembly to let you know That at their last Ses- sions They pass'd a Vote directing our Agent (in Conjunction with others) strenuously to oppose at the next Sessions of Parliament the new additional Act relating to the Sugar Colonies in the West Indies which if pass'd will prove extreamly Preju- dicial and Hurtfull to the Trade of all the Northern Colonies, And therefore desire That You will please to move it to Your General Assembly that proper Instructions may be given for that purpose. I have signified the Same to his Excel"y Governour Belcher and am with Respects Honble S: &c
To JOSEPH TALCOTT Esq &c
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON IIth mo. the 2ª 1728
Gov. Wanton
This I write at a venture to the Downs to meet a Ship there for Boston, and is to acknowledge the receipt of thine of 12th 9 mo. last ; 2 The Colony may be assured of my zeal and ffaithfulness in pursueing their orders wth respect [of] geting out the Commis- sion for determining their Eastern Boundaries with
1 The reference is probably to a document concerning the choice of a Sachem by the Mohegan Indians. This paper, which had been in the custody of one Samuel Mason, and was by him transferred to the files of the Court of Enquiry, had mysteriously dis- appeared.
2 See p. 123.
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all the Expedition I can, and advise thee the needfull as we proceed. As to the Bill prepard last Sessions of Parliamt for further enforcing the Sug". Act I dont find it has yet been touch'd on this Sessions, but if it shd be revivd I shall use my endeavours for pre- venting its being passd. whether the other North- ern Colonys will joyn with me in the oppisition I know not, but I shall try to bring some of them in to bear part of the Charge.
I note thou hast recd from the Lords of Trade the Votes of Parliament relating to Paper Currency and also an ord' from the Bod of Trade to remit to them the State of your Several Emissions &cª
And if thou lookst over my letter of the 10. 6 mo.1 last thou willt see there I writ the folls Paragraff (wch I think went much about the time of the aforesd letter of the Bo! of Trade.)
" Thou willt see by the Votes herewith sent that " the Parliam' are for having an acct of the State of " Bills of Credt in the Plantations ready to be laid " before them next Sessions, which its probable they " call for in order to do something by way of Regu- " lation and very likely thou willt receive a letter " from the Lords of Trade (among others) there- " about.
the s! Votes were passd at the Tail or towards the conclusion of the last Sessions of Parliamt, and it was not very long after that I advisd thee of it and sent the Votes. We can give no reason how or for what reason they were stirrd up to do it unless it proceeded originaly from the Lds of Trade who are
1 See letter of August 10, 1739.
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also Members of Parliam! the Matter was general, and their orders Issued in consequence of those Votes doubtless were gen1 to all the Planta Governmts where there are Bills of Credit, and letters writ I beleive accordingly to the Gov !; but hitherto I don't observe any thing has been done in it this Ses- sions of Parliam! If they shd take it in hand I shall be upon the Watch and take Such Measures as are Suitable and give thee due notice thereof
I am with due regards Thy assured Friend RICHP PARTRIDGE
To JOHN WANTON Esq. Governor of the Colony of Rhoad Island and Providence Plantations
THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.'
WHITEHALL. Janry 5th 1788. Gentlemen,
His Majesty having thought fit to declare War against Spain, and being determined, by all possible Means, to distress and annoy the Spaniards, in the most effectual Manner, and particularly by making an Attempt upon some of their most considerable Settlements in the West Indies, The King has been pleased for that Purpose, to order a large Body of Troops, under the Command of My Lord Cath- cart,1 a Major General of His Majesty's Forces, to go from hence, with a sufficient Convoy of Men of
1 Lord Cathcart died in 1740, and was succeeded by Brigadier-General Wentworth.
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War, to a proper Place in the West Indies, to be appointed for that Purpose, there to be joined by the Squadron under the Command of Vice Admiral Vernon,1 now in the West Indies; and by such a Number of Troops, as may be raised in His Majesty's Colonies, and Islands in America.
As It has been represented to the King, That a very considerable Number of Men may be easily had, upon proper Encouragement, in the British Plantations, and particularly in His Majesty's Col- onies on the Continent of America, to serve in Con- junction with the regular Troops to be sent from hence, I am to signify to You His Majesty's Plea- sure, That You should forthwith make the proper Dispositions, for Raising as many Men, as You shall be able to procure within your Government: And, as the King intends, That the Troops, to be raised in America, should be commanded by Col. Spots- wood; The whole to be however, after They shall have joined the regular Troops, under the Command of My Lord Cathcart, General and Commander in Chief of All His Majesty's Troops, sent to, or raised in, America, (with which I have, by this Occasion, acquainted Colonel Spotswood) It is His Majesty's Pleasure, That You should confer, or correspond, with Colonel Spotswood, if You have an Opportunity, upon every Thing, that may relate to the Perform- ance of this Service.
1 Edward Vernon, promoted vice-admiral, July 9, 1739, and sent to capture the Spanish colonies in the West Indies. The expedition resulted, on November 22, 1739, in the accomplishment, verbatim, of Vernon's boast, that he could capture Porto Bello with six ships.
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Colonel Blakeney,1 who is appointed Adjutant General in this Expedition, will set out from hence, as soon as possible, with His Majesty's Letters, and Authorities to You, and the other Governors of His Majesty's Colonies on the Continent of America, for making the said Levies; and with the King's more particular Instructions, and Directions, relating to this Matter. In the mean Time, The King has thought proper, That I should give You this previ- ous Notice, that You may be making the necessary Dispositions, in order to facilitate, as soon as pos- sible, the Raising the Troops. Colonel Blakeney will carry with Him a considerable Number of Arms, Some Samples of Cloathing for the Soldiers, and what Money, or Credit shall be judged requisite for the Performance of this Service.
It is His Majesty's Intention, to give all proper Encouragement to the new Levies, by Ordering Them to be Supplyed with Arms, and a proper Cloathing, and to be paid by His Majesty ; with an Assurance of their coming in for their Share of any Booty, that may be taken from the Enemy, and of their being sent back to their respective Habitations, when the Service shall be over, unless any of Them shall de- sire to settle Themselves elsewhere.
His Majesty will order, to be sent by Colonel Blakeney, a Number of blank Commissions to be given by the Governors, to the Officers, that are to command the Troops under Colonel Spotswood.
1 William, Lord Blakeney, made colonel in 1737, and sent to Cartagena, with rank of brigadier-general, in 1741. He was lieutenant-governor of Minorca in 1756 at the time when, after an heroic and hopeless defence of seventy days, that island was taken by the French.
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The King has not thought proper to confine You to any particular Number of Men to be raised within your Government, His Majesty depending upon your Care and Zeal for His Service, That You will pro- cure as many, as You possibly can.
You will consider, how much the Time presses, and will therefore use the utmost Expedition in mak- ing your Preparations. It is hoped, That My Lord Cathcart may be able to sail from hence, in April, or May next; And consequently You will take care, That the Troops, to be raised within your Govern- ment, may be ready to be transported, in Time, to the Place, that shall be appointed for the general Rendez-vous ; with which Colº Blakeney will acquaint You, as well as with every Thing else, that may be ne- cessary for your further Information and Instruction.
You will be considering, in what manner to pro- vide Transports, and Provisions; And even, if it be necessary, You will secure Them out of hand, for such a Number of Men, as, You shall judge, You may be able to get within your Government; Or; You will correspond with any of the Governors of the neigh- bouring Colonies, relating to this Matter, in such Manner, as You shall think proper.
I am persuaded, I need not say any Thing to in- duce You to use your utmost Care and Diligence in an Affair of this Importance; And for the Promot- ing the Success of a Service, in which the Honor of His Majesty's Crown, and the Interest of His Sub- jects (especially Those residing in America) are so essentially concerned. The many Injuries, and Cruel- ties, which the Inhabitants of the British Plantations
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have suffered from the Violence, and Depredations of the Spaniards, will, I doubt not, be an additional Motive to engage all His Majesty's faithfull Subjects there, to exert Themselves with an uncommon Zeal, on this Occasion.
I am, Gentlemen
Your most obedient humble Servant
HOLLES NEWCASTLE
P. S. Tho' Colonel Blakeney will be dispatched, as soon as possible, with His Majesty's more particu- lar Instructions, and Directions to You, Yet, That no Time may be lost, It is His Majesty's Pleasure, That immediately upon the Receipt of this Letter, You should Issue a Proclamation, in the proper form, Inviting His Majesty's Subjects, within your Govern- ment, chearfully to inlist in this Service, and assuring Them of a proper Encouragement for that Purpose.
HOLLES NEWCASTLE
Governor, and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island. e
THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND TO THE LORDS COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL.1
To the Rt Honble the Lords of the Comtee of His Ma- jesty's most Honble Privy Councill. For Plantation Affairs.
The humble Petition of the Governor and Com- pany of His Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
1 See letter of Partridge's, dated Ist mo. (March) 20, 1739. This document is not dated, but from an allusion in a letter of Partridge, written 12 mo. (February) 6, 1745, it is thought that January 19, 1740, may be the date at which it was written.
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Sheweth That a former humble Petition was pre- sented by your Petits to His Majesty in Councill in the Year 1734 praying a Settlem! of a very old Controversy, about the Eastern Bounds of the Said Colony, towards his Majestys Province of the Mas- sachusets Bay, which Said Petition is by his Majtys most Gracious Referrence now depending before Your Lordships.
That His Majesty has been pleased, by your Lord- ships advice, to make Several Royal Orders in Coun- cill, during the Course of this Affair, particularly, One of the 30th of Nov! last, whereby His Majesty ordered, that Commiss's Should be chosen, out of the Neighbouring Provinces for that Service, and that the Inhabitants of the Said Province and Colony Should in the mean time, Continue in the Peaceable Possession of their Property, without Molestation on Either Side, And another Order in Co" of the 17th Janry last, whereby his Majesty has been pleased to approve and order that 15 Gentlemen, therein named, Shall be the Commiss's for marking out and Settling the Boundarys, Between the Said Province of the Massachusets Bay and the Colony of Rhode Island Eastward,
But no Comm". hath Yet Issued under the Great Seal for authorising Such Comiss's to mark out and Settle the Said Boundarys, nor hath the particular Clauses to be Conteined in Such Comm? been hith- erto Settled.
Wherefore, Your Petitioners (with the most humble duty and deferrence have hereunto Annexed a Pro- posal of the Several Clauses Similar (So far as re-
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late to the Present Case) to those which were con- teined in the last Comm". issued in a like Instance, which are most humbly Submitted to your Lordships Consideration
And most humbly pray your Lordships That the Agent for the Massª Bay may be required to attend Your Lordships at Some Short day to declare his Objections (if any he hath) to all or any the Clauses to be Conteined in Such Comm". And that the whole Charge of the Comm" and the Execution of it and of the Comm's and of their Clarks and Officers, may be ordered to be borne in Equal Moietys between the Said Colony and Province, Or to afford Your Petitioners Such other Relief, and in Such other manner, as to Your Lordships great Wisdom Shall Seem meet
And Your Petitioners Shall ever pray &c
I. Whereas a dispute hath been long Subsisting between his Majestys Province of the Massª Bay and his Colony of Rhode Island in America, relating to the Eastern Boundarys of the Said Colony towards the Said Province.
2 His Majesty therefore doth nominate author- ise and appoint Cadwallader Colden, Abra. Vanhorn, Philip Livingston, Archbald Kennedy, and James de Lancey Esqrs, of the Province of New York, John Hamilton, John Wells, John Reading, Cornelius Vanhorn, and Wm Provost Esqrs, of the Province of New Jersey, and Wm Skene, Wm Shirreff, Henry Cope, Erasmus James Philips and Otho Hamilton Esq's of the Province of Nova Scotia, Or any five or more of them, to be his Majestys Commiss's for Set-
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tling adjusting and determining the Boundarys of the Said Colony, Eastwards in dispute as aforesaid.
3 His Majestys Will and Pleasure therefore is that the Said Comm's do repair by the first Con- venient Opportunity, to the Town of Providence within the Said Colony, being most Conveniently Scituated for that Purpose and there hold their first Meeting on the 20th day of Septem! which Shall be in the Year of Our Lord 1739 From which day and any future days of Adjournment, they may adjourn to Such Time and times as may be most Convenient for them.
4 That in Case 5 of the Comm"s Shall not be pre- sent on the Said 20th day of Septem' or on any other day of Adjournment, Then Such, or a Majority of Such of them as Shall be present, Shall and may adjourn the further Execution of this Commission in manner aforesaid.
5 That at their first meeting they do make Choice of One or more Clark or Clarks to enter their min- utes and proceedings, as also of One or more Skilful persons to prepare dr's or Plans of the Country or Boundarys, as there Shall be from time to time Occasion
6 That they do administer to Such Clarks, or other persons as they Shall employ on Oath (Or if they shall be of the People Called Quakers an Af- firma) for the due and faithful Execution of their Trusts.
7 That of the Comm's present at any Meeting, he who is first named in the List of Comm's Shall preside at Such Meeting, and Shall issue out the necessary
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Sumons, for Such Witnesses as Either Party Shall require.
8 That the Said Comm's do use all Convenient dispatch in this Affair
9 That all determinations be made by a Majority of the Comm's who Shall be present at the respective Meetings, provided there Shall be then present 5 or more of the Said Commiss's
IO That in Case either the Said Province of the Massa Bay, or the Said Colony of Rhode Island, Shall neglect to send to the Comm's at the first day of Meeting of the Comm's, the Names and Places of abode of Two of their Publick Officers residing in the respective Province and Colony, On Either of whom or at whose Place of Abode, any Notices Sumons or Final Judgemt of the Said Comm's may be Served or left, And in Case Either the Said Province, or the Said Colony, Shall neglect to send to the Said Comm's at the first day of meeting of the Comm's a plain and full State in Writing of the demands or Pretensions of the Said Province and Colony, respectively, whene and in what Places the Boundarys of the Said Colony, Eastwards ought to begin, and what Courses, and with what Variation, and in what manner, and how farr the Same ought to Run (to the End that Copys thereof may be mutu- ally Exchanged in order to prevent any unnecessary delay, and that Each party may Come fully prepared), Then in Either of those Cases the Said Comm's or any 5 or more of them, do proceed Exparte.
II That no Witness or Witnesses be allow'd of by the Comm's to give Evidence, but Such as Shall
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be Sworn (or being of the People Called Quakers, Shall take a Solemn Affirma) before the Comm" in open Court, wch Oath or Affirma the Comm's or any 5 or more of them are hereby impowered to Admin- ister.
12 That all Interrogatorys and Questions which Shall be put to Such Witnesses before the Comm's Shall be Sett down in Writing and that the whole of what Such Witnesses Shall offer to the Comm's Shall also be Sett down in Writing by the Said Clark or Clarks, in the presence of the Comm's and of the Respective Witnesses, and that the Same be read over to and Signed by the Respective Wit- nesses.
13 That either party may cross Examine any of the other partys Witnesses And that all Such Ex- aminations and cross Examinations be taken pri- vately before the Comm's and their Clarks, but that neither of the partys or any of their Agents, Shall be present at the Same.
. 14 That the Comm's Shall appoint Such time as they Shall find reasonable within which all the Witnesses on Each Side, Shall be produced to be Examined and that when the Witnesses Shall be examined, the Comm's Shall direct Publica of the Examinations, and Either party Shall be at Liberty to take out Copys of the whole Examinations and Cross Examinations on both Sides.
15 That after the Copys of Such Examinations and Cross Examinations Shall be ready for Each party the Comm's Shall then appoint a day for giv- ing Judgment which day Shall not be less then 10
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days, nor more then 30 days after the time that Each party may have out the Copys of the depositions unless the partys Shall jointly agree on any further or other time, as more Convenient for the Comm's and Themselves
16 That after Publica no new or further Evidence Shall be Received from Either Side.
17 That Entrys be made of all Charters, Grants, deeds, Evidences, Proofs, and Plans Received by the Comm's in this affaire and also of all the Comm's pro- ceedings and Resolutions throughout the Same, and that Such Plans Maps or dr's of the Boundary lines as Shall be agreed upon by the Comm's be annexed to and made part of the Comm's determination
18 That when the Comm's Shall have made their final determinaª and Signed the Same, A Copy thereof Shall be forthwith Sent to Such publick Offi- cer or Officers in the said Province and Colony respectively together with Notice of another Meet- ing, to be held by the Comm's att the distance of Six Weeks or at Such further reasonable time, not Exceeding 3 Calendar Months, as the Comm's Shall appoint.
19 That at Such future Meeting, the Said Pro- vince and the Said Colony respectively or Either of them, who Shall find themselves aggrieved, may Enter their Appeal to his Majesty in his Privy Coun- cill with a declaration what Part of the determina of the Comm's they respectively abide by or appeal from.
20 That if the Said Province, or the Said Colony, Shall not Enter their respective Appeal or Excep- tion against Such determina at Such last meeting
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Then no Appeal or Exception Shall be afterwards Received or admitted from Such of the partys who Shall omit to Enter their respective Appeals or Exceptions at Such last meeting of the Comm's; And in Case neither the Said Province nor the Said Colony Shall then Enter any Appeal or Exceptions, the determina of the Comm's (Being Confirmed by his Majesty in Councill) Shall be final and Conclu- sive to both the Said Province and Colony.
21 That the Said Province and the Said Colony be permitted to take out at their own respective Expence Copys of the whole proceedings, Proofs, Exhibits, Plans, and all other Papers and Writings in this Affair, to be attested by 3 or more of the Comm's
22 That the Comm's do Return a fair Copy of the whole Record, attested by 3 or more of them to His Majesty in Councill
23 That the Charge of the Commission and of the Carrying it into Execution and of the Comm's their Clarks Surveyors and Officers be borne and paid in Equal Moietys by the Said Province and the Said Colony
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