USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 14
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That should the People there be prohibited from Issuing Paper Money (without which they cannot carry on their Commerce and Trade) it would yet very greatly distress them, be the Ruin of many Familys and a vast hurt to the several Governments, for that if the intended Proclamation and the Royal Order of prohibition take effect the Consequence would be that as all Landed Estates would sink to one fourth part of the value; the Paper Bills now current would be of course equal to Gold and Sil- ver : The said Bills when first issued were lent out on Land Security on the following or like manner Viz To a Man whose Estate was worth £1600 they lent £1200 of those Bills at 5 per C: Int' to be repaid in 7 or 10 years or at a certain period of time, at which time the Bills were to be called in and sunk
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
with the money so repaid to the Government, and more issued on the same foot: but in the mean time out comes the Proclamation and Royal Orders whereby the coin is reduced the Estate sunk in value from £1600 to £400 so that the proprietor looses his whole Estate because he took up £1200 upon it, which the Government has his Land in Mortgage for; the Mortgagor is therefore Ruined, and the Colony looses £800 out of the {1200 they lent, and must yet be obligd to buy up their Bills at the period of time for calling them in, which would greatly distress them, and put them as is before said into the utmost confusion.
That as to the Charter Governments, they have from the encouragement given them by their Charter (particularly Rhode Island for whom I am concern'd) Cultivated and improv'd a Wilderness Country, and defended it at the hazard of their Lives and Estates from the Native Indians without a Shilling Expence to the Crown (tho' its well known other Colonys have caused this Nation many thousand pounds); They have the privilidge of making Laws among them- selves for the good Ordering of their Government so as they are not repugnant to the Laws of Eng- land without being obligd to transmit them home, which privilidge they have now enjoyed for a great Number of Years and I hoped that the Commons of Great Britain allways tender of Liberty and property will not now deprive them thereof, especially seeing they are already Crampt in the Foreign Trade and are of so great advantage to this Kingdom by taking off annually considerable quantitys of its Manufac-
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tures. and then I particularly describd and Set forth the nature and different manner of the making re- turns from the Plantations to pay for those Manufac- tures &cª
And that as to the rise of the Exchange I did not apprehend it was owing to the Emission of Bills of Credit as had been Suggested, for in Pennsilvania, New Jersey and New York they Emitted consider- able quantitys and yet the Exchange there had not advanced 40 per C: this 20 years; tho I believe I might say 20 per cent in 20 years. but that the occa- sion of so great a difference in the Exchange between New England and Great Britain was from quite an other Reason, as that they were so constantly over- loaded with Goods from England and allways largely in debt for want of a Supply of Returns sufficient to pay for them, that the Factors were eager in buying up whatever Commoditys was brought to Market suitable to be sent home, as fast as ever they came; that they bid upon one another and thereby enhanced the prices one upon another which of Course will inevitably raise the price of Silver and Gold and that is certainly what Governs the Ex- change &c
Endorsed: Some hints of R. P.'s Arguments wth 2 membs of the Hº of Commons.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
THE LORDS OF ADMIRALTY TO THE GOVERNOR AND COM- PANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
By the Commiss's for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland &c.
Whereas by an Act passed the last Session of Parliament, (entitled, an Act for the more effectual securing and encouraging the Trade of His Majes- ty's British Subjects to America; and for the Encour- agement of Seamen to enter into His Majesty's Ser- vice) it is, amongst other Things, therein enacted ; " That any Person or Persons in any Part of Amer- " ica or elsewhere, by us empowered and appointed, " shall, from and after the Fourth Day of January, " One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Nine, " at the Request of any British Owner or Owners of " any Ship or Vessel, given such Bail and Security " as have been usually taken upon granting Com- " missions or Letters of Marque, (except only for " the Payments of the Tenth of the Value of Prizes " which shall be taken, to the Lord High Admiral " or Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord " High Admiral for the Time being) cause to be " issued forth in the usual Manner, One or more " Commission or Commissions, to any Person or " Persons, whom such Owner or Owners shall nomi- " nate to be Commander, or in case of Death, suc- " cessively Commander of such Ship or Vessel, for " the attacking, surprizing, seizing, and taking, by " and with such Ship Vessel, or the Crew thereof, " any Place or Fortress upon the Land, or any Ship " or Vessel, Goods, Ammunition, Arms, Stores of " War or Merchandizes, belonging to, or posessed
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" by any of His Majesty's Enemies, in any Sea, Creek, " Haven, or River.
These are therefore to empower you the Gov- ernor, and Company of His Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation in New England, and by these Presents, We do empower and appoint you the said Governor and Company, to cause to be issued forth pursuant to the said Act, by Warrant under your Hand, and the Seal of the said Island and Plantation, directed to the Judge of the Admiralty of the said Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation, Commissions, or Letters of Marque, at the Request of any British Owner or Owners of any Ship or Vessel, to any Person or Per- sons, whom such Owner or Owners shall nominate to be Commander or incase of Death successively Commanders of such Ship or Vessel, and to cause such Bail and Security to be taken as is directed by the said Act, and moreover to cause, that in grant- ing such Commissions or Letters of Marque, all other Things be had and done conformable to, and as the said Act requires ; For which This shall be your Warrant. Given under Our Hands, and the Seal of the Office of Admiralty, this 20th Day of May 1740.
D. LYNDON. THO CLUTTERBUCK. VERE
To The Governor and Company of His Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence Plan- tation in New England
By Command of their Lordships.
BERREKE
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON 4 mo. the 19th 1740
Governor Wanton
Since the foregoing Several of the Agents for our Plantation Governments have been again sent for by the Lords of Trade to attend them on the Subject of the Bills of Credit who intimated to us that when we shª receive answers to the respective letters they had writ, We would bring the same to their Board and that if we had any thing to offer on that head we might lay it before them in writing, upon which I acquainted that Board that I had duely attended the House of Commons whilst that Matter was debated there and I intended to have Petition'd that I might have been heard at the Bar of the House against their Resolutions which were so hastily carried thro' that I was precluded: That afterwards I waited on 2 of the principal Members concern'd in conducting that Affair in the House viz Esq's Sandys and Alex! Hume Cambell with whom I had a pretty deal of discourse setting forth the great Inconveniencys that would be the consequence of their Resolutions, and that I had committed to writing1 some of my argu- ments used wth those Gentlemen which having with me I presented it to that Board for their purusal : - at the same time I also signified that it was my opinion as well as some others this Affair had been carried on principally with a view to distress the Ministry and the Plantations more than any thing else : but that I did not look upon it practicable to
1 See p. 155.
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be carried into Execution, - an other Copy of my said Papers is here inclosed.
And now also brings thee Copy of the Lords of Trades Report1 to the Lds Committee of Council upon a reference for drawing up a proper draught of Heads and Clauses of a Commission to be Issued for setling our Boundarys Line. after we had waited on the Board a considerable time and carefully settled all the Articles and now we shall go on pursuing the Affair till the Comission be compleated.
The War continues with Spain, France holds Neuter still and when there will be any alteration therein is alltogether uncertain for the rest I refer to the prints herewith sent and remain with due re- spects.
Thy assured Friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
thy nephew Cap: Benj. Wanton is safe arrived here from Carrolina and is for going back directly thither in the Same Ship.
Thy Packett for thee of prints I send to Benj. Bagnall (per Capt Snelling) at Boston to forwarded to thee.
5 mo. 5th 1740
I have writt thee allready of 19th ult as above to which I refer : a War with France is lately talkt off afresh as if they were now in earnest, but whether it will blow over or not time must discover. I send thee per this Conveyance the abstract of the Laws past the last Sessions of Parliament and a Book of
1 This report is not in the archives.
WANTON
JOHN
1734-1740
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Trade and Sundry news papers per Peter Harrison a Passenger with Cap: Patterson
R PARTRIDGE
To JOHN WANTON Esq: Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
GOVERNOR BELCHER TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
Sir
I Receiv'd the Inclosed by the last Post from New York to be forwarded to your Honour I am now to inform Your Honour that the last Week arrivd to one of our Out Harbours a Ship of upwards One hundred Tuns from the Canaries one William M. who pretends to be last from Madera. I am told the M., tho an Englishman, is a Roman, a Subject of Spain, and marry'd at the Canaries. I have good reason to beleive he has run his Cargoe a Shore in Some of our Out Ports, and the Officers are making Search after it. The Ship Came full hither, and was met empty going, as the M' said (when he was hal'd) to Rhode Island -others say She was bound to New York, and its generally Suppos'd She is come for a load of Provisions for the Havanna or some other parts of the Spanish West Indies for which (by all advices) the Spaniards are greatly distrest. This I have thought proper to Communicate to you that there may be a good look out for Seizing this Ship if She comes your way - I am in all your
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Commands for His Majesty's Service, and for your own, Sir,
Your Honours Most Obedient and Most Humble Serv!
J. BELCHER
BOSTON June 30. 1740.
Gov. WANTON
COLONEL WILLIAM BLAKENEY TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
NEW YORK 7 July 1740.
Sirs
As the several Companies of the Regiment of Foot now raising in America commanded by the Honble Colol. William Gooch 1 are to remain till com- pleated in the respective Provinces in which they are raised, it will be necessary to pay the Officers commissioned in America their Subsistence from the Dates of their Commissions and the private men from the days of their being regularly attested before a Magistrate and as it is thought most for the Inter- est of his Majesty's Service that the Governours in their respective Provinces be entrusted with this Payment I have sent you here enclosed an Estimate of the Subsistence of one Company for three Months amounting [to] £333.11.6 Sterling which for the two Companies to be raised in your Province is £667.3. - which Sum, or as much thereof as there may be occasion for, I desire you will advance and
1 William Gooch was governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1747, and accompanied the Virginia forces to Cartagena in 1741.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
pay to said Companies, according to said Estimate, taking of each Captain one Receipt for the Subsist- ence of himself and Company, one Receipt of the first and second Lieutenants their Pay per Day being the same and one Receipt of the Ensigns, mention- ing in each Receipt the Exchange you pay them at for the Sterling in your Currency. Of these Re- ceipts (a Form whereof is also inclosed) the Officers are to sign four Duplicates of the same Tenor and Date, one whereof please to keep for your own Voucher and transmit the other three to me; and for your Reimbursement of what you shall thus ad- vance and pay please to draw on me here for the same in Sterling at such Exchange as is most for the Interest of the Service and your Bills shall meet with due Honour.
I am Sirs
Your most obedient humble Servant
WILL BLAKENEY.
The Officers from Europe are paid Subsistence to the 24 Instant.
The Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
=
COLONEL WILLIAM GOOCH TO GOVERNOR WANTON. Sir
As You are already apprized of the Method of Levying the Forces for the intended Expedition ; I have only to desire the Favour of a particular Ac- count from You of the Number of Men You have
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or are likely to Raise directed to the Lieut Gov' of Virginia at New York.
I have inclosed You Commissions for Two Com- panies, (the Number of Men at present expected from Your Government,) and sent You the like Num- ber of Lieutenants and Serjeants, with Arms, Cloath- ing for Officers and Powder; so must desire You to form the Men you have Inlisted accordingly ; I have likewise desired Coll! Blakeney, who has the Man- agement of the Cash, to Remit You Money, or Credit to raise it in order to pay the Men from the time of their Inlisting ; and to avoid any disappointment that may hereafter attend this Service, I must earnestly entreat You to provide Transports, and put the Troops on board at such a Convenient Season, that I may depend on their being at the place of Rendez- vous within the Capes of Virginia before the Midle of September.
I am perswaded Nothing will be wanting on Your part, in an Affair of this importance, in which I heartily wish You Success; and have the Honour to be, Sir
Your most Obed! Humle Servant
WILL: GOOCH
NEW YORK the 8th of July 1740.
P.S. please to date the Commissions the 9th of June and Endorse on the back the date of delivery
The Governour of Rhode Island
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR RICHARD WARD 1 TO COLONEL GOOCH. St.
I Recd your favour by L' Howard; with the Com- missions for the two Companies; and now inform you of our proceeding in Levying Troops for the expedi- tion agst the Spaniards. On receiving his Majtys Or- ders and Instructions Our assembly forthwith gave a Bounty to every efective Person that should enlist in his Majys Service but not knowing what number of Troops his Majesty Required of this Colony did with- out any regard of any proportion wth the other Gov- ernments: and with the Utmost Zeal and Vigour with pleasure and chearfulness Enlisted ab: 270 Men (tho wee are the least Government on the Continent that are ordered to Enlist any) and have out of them com- pleated two full companies of a hundred men each.
This Government have also hired two Transports Sufficient for the Troops raised ; which will be at the Rendezvous in Virginia by the time prefixed and nothing S: in our power shall be wanting on the part of the Government for the carrying on an Armament wch is of such a vast advantage to his Majestie's Do- minions in General and to his Subjects in America in particular ; If any thing be omitted by us I desire youl acquaint us with it and your Instruction shall be carefully observed
I beg leave S! to Assure you
That I am with the utmost Deference Your most obedient and humble Servt Endorsed : Copy to Colº GOOCH.
1 Richard Ward was, on July 1, chosen Governor by the Assembly in place of John Wanton, deceased. Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 576.
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Correspondence of the
GOVERNOR WARD TO COLONEL BLAKENEY.
S!
I was honoured with Yours of 7th July by M: How- ard One of Our Lieutenants and communicated the Same to the Gen! Assembly of this Colony who have desired me to Acquaint You, that this Government on the Rect of his Majs Instructions immediately determined to Shew their Zeal on this Occasion and for the more speedy enlisting as large a Number of Men as We possibly could was the first of the Brit- ish Plantations that gave a Premium for that Pur- pose.
As We did not know what Number of Men would be wanted or expected from Us and being apprised of the Importance of the Expedition we have raised about 270 which we beg Leave to Observe is vastly more in Proportion than what any of Our Neighbours have or propose to raise and in a few days shall Select out of them the best and most effective Men to con- stitute the two Companies.
We are also hiring Transports and Purchasing Provisions to carry them to Virginia the Place of Rendezvous; where we Suppose they will enter into his Majesty's Service and be further provided for.
As we shall strictly adhere to these your In- structions So hope you will from Time to Time be pleased to communicate to Us what further may be done on Our Parts, whereby we may distinguish Our Selves to his Majesty on this Occasion and merit your approbation which this Colony will be very proud of.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Permit me, S: to Assure You that I am with the Utmost Regard
Your most Obedient and most humble Servant
RICHP WARD
NEWPORT ON RHODE ISLAND July 17:2 1740
Endorsed : Copy Gov's WARD's Letter to Col. BLAKENEY
JOSIAH WILLARD 1 TO GOVERNOR WARD.
Sir
I am commanded by the Governour and Council of this Province to acquaint your Hon' that a Num- ber of Persons in this Province (and very few of them in Trade) have entered into an Agreement for making and emitting a large Quantity of Bills or Notes of Hand to pass in Commerce in Lieu of Money; and have now proceeded so far as to order the making their Plates ; That these Notes have but a Slender Foundation, and no provision made to Secure any certain Value to the Possessor of them; So that if these Bills Should get abroad, and obtain a Credit among Some People for a little time (for it can't be long) there is great Danger that they will be im- posed upon to their great Loss and Damage; and therefore the Governour and Council have issued a Proclamation to inform all Persons concerned of their Hazzard in taking these Bills; and as the Corre- spondence between the Inhabitants of your Govern- ment and this may Occasion these Notes getting
1 Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts.
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among your People, The Governour and Council have directed me to advise you of this Affair, that So you may take those Measures you may think proper for Securing your People against being im- posed upon by these Notes
I am Yo! Hon's most Obedient humble Servant
J. WILLARD
BOSTON, July 17, 1740 Gov. WARD
ANDREW STONE- TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHITEHALL 20th July 1740
Gentlemen,
The Lords Justices, appointed for the Adminis- tration of the Government during His Majesty's Absence, having thought fit to issue a Proclamation, appointing the Distribution of Prizes taken, and the Bounty for taking Ships of War from the Enemy, agreeable to a late Act of Parliament in that behalf, I send you herewith several printed Copys of the said Proclamation, that you may cause the same to be made publick in His Majesty's Colony under your Government. I am Gentlemen,
Your most Obedient humble Servant ANDREW STONE
Gov: and Company of Rhode Island.
1 A prominent politician, who was at this time under-secretary of state to the Duke of Newcastle, secretary to the Lords Justices, and joint collector of papers in the office of the secretary of state.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR CLARKE TO GOVERNOR WARD. N : YORK July 21 1740.
Sir
Coll Gooch on his leaving this place which he did last Wednesday, desired me to acquaint you that he would have the Men who go from your province on the Expedition come to New York, from whence they will go to Virginia under the Convoy of His Majes- ties Ship the Ludlow Castle, where Coll Gooch will join them, and proceed with them to the place of Rendezvous, he propose's that all the Troops be within the Capes of Virginia before the Midle of September, and he hope's you will take such order therein that the Ships you hire to transport yours may be got ready in time I am Sir
your most obedt humble Servt
GEO [CLARKE]
Gov' of Rhode Island
COLONEL BLAKENEY TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
NEW YORK 21 July 1740.
Sirs
As the Circumstances possibly may be the same with you, as in the other Provinces, in relation to
1 The signature is nearly illegible. George Clarke belonged to a Somersetshire family. He was appointed Secretary of the Province of New York in 1703, made a member of the Council in 1715, and Lieutenant-Governor in 1736. In 1743 he was superseded by Clinton, and, two years later, sailed for England with a fortune esti- mated at £100,000, which he accumulated in America.
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the Troops now raising in America, I give you the trouble of this, to communicate to you what I have wrote to them.
You will be pleased to follow his Majestys Instruc- tions to you with regard to the Levies in your Pro- vince, and to give the Commissions you receive, as far as they will go, to the first of the Gentlemen, warranted by you to levy, who first shall have com- pleated their Companies ; and if there are any for whom you have not Commissions, to them you are to give Certificates of their having raised their sev- eral Companies, and that pursuant to his Majesty's private Instructions to you, you had promised them Commissions, which Certificates they are to show to Lord Cathcart or to the Commander in Chief for the time being, who will have blank Commissions to fill up, and in the meantime you will furnish them with money for their Subsistence Viz to every commissioned or certified Officer from the date of his Commission or Certificate, the Captains at Seven Shillings and Six pence Sterling per day each; the first and Second Lieutenants at three Shillings and Six pence per day each, the Ensigns and Adjutants at three Shillings per day each ; the Surgeons Mate at two Shillings per day; and the private men, under Commission or Certificate, according to the inclosed Estimate, for a Captain and his Company, which I now send you in Case of any Mistake in what was formerly sent you.
Of two Companies, compleated here; the Musters have been made up from the 25 day of June last to
-
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the 24 August next both days included; and their Subsistence, for that time, has been issued to their respective Captains accordingly ; the Twenty fourth day of the Month being the general Pay-Day of the Army, to which day the Musters are made up every two Months, and to which the Accounts are to be made up and Receipts taken, paying each Months Subsistence per Advance; that is, the Month from the 25th Instant to the 24th of August next inclusive, on the 25th Instant; and so on.
And in order to furnish you with money for such Subsistence, in the most convenient method I can think of, for your Ease and the Advantage of the Service, I have, herewith inclosed, remitted you the four following first Bills of Exchange (the 2ª's and 3ªs whereof shall be transmitted to you next Post) dated 19th Instant at 30 days sight to your Order on Henry Pelham Esq: Paymaster General &c amount- ing to the Sum of £667.3 Sterling Viz
Nº 37 I for £250 38 I for " 150
39
I for
" 167.3.
I for
40 100 In all 4 Bills for £667.3, which Sum please to negotiate at the best Exchange you can and apply towards paying the Levies at that Exchange ; and what you may further have occasion for as the Companies are compleated, please to advise me and it shall be remitted you. If there is any thing to be rectified, or if any thing occurs wherein my Concur-
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rence is needful I beg you will let me know it. I am Sirs
Your most humble Servant
WILL: BLAKENEY.
To The Honble the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
GOVERNOR WARD TO COLONEL GOOCH.
S.
Your Favour of the 8th instt with the Inclosed Commissions I have recd and am now to inform You that this Colony on the Arrival of his Majesty8 In- structions zealously pursu'd the most probable meth- ods to encourage Persons to inlist in this Expedi- tion and have rais'd about 270 Men out of which we shall select a Sufficient Number to constitute two good Companies.
We are hiring Transports to carry them to Virginia and hope to be there by the Time you appoint and shall draw on Col! Blakeney agreably to your Orders.
As we have hitherto been so forward (even beyond any of Our Neighbours) in promoting this Grand Design; So you may depend we shall continue 'till we have discharg'd the whole of Our Duty, for which Purpose we shall expect your Instructions in what you may think further necessary to be done on Our Parts.
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