USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 15
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Permit me S! to Assure You that I am with the Utmost deference,
Your most Obed! humb! Serv!
NEWPORT ON RHODE ISP July 24th 1740.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
COLONEL BLAKENEY TO GOVERNOR WARD.
NEW YORK 18 Aug+ 1740
Sir
As I wrote to you and the Company fully on the 2 Ist of last month and had finished my Letter before yours of the 17th of said month came to hand I did not then acknowledge the Receipt of it. At present I give you the trouble of this with regard to a para- graph in your said Letter which says - " 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 " - Least there should be any mistake in so material a point I now acquaint you that the Troops are lookt upon as en- tered into His Majesty's Service immediately on their being duely and regularly enlisted ; that Virginia is named a place of Rendezvous where the Troops from the different Colonies in America are to meet in order to proceed together under Convoy to the gen- eral Rendezvous of the Forces from Great Britain, in Jamaica, or wherever else His Majesty shall think proper to appoint it; and that every Province is to furnish Transports and Provisions for their respec- tive Numbers till such time as they join the Forces at that general Rendezvous in the West Indies. If there is any thing that wants further Explanation, please to let me know. I am with all regard Sir Your most humble Servant
WILL: BLAKENEY.
To The Honble RICHARD WARD Esq' Governor of Rhode Island at Newport
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Correspondence of the
JOHN COURAUD1 TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHITEHALL August 22ª 1740
Gentlemen,
I herewith inclose an Additional Instruction 2 signed by the Lords Justices, for effectually putting in Execution an Act passed in the Sixth year of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, Intituled, An Act for ascertaining the Rates of Foreign Coins in her Ma- jesty's Plantations in America; You will please to take [note] that the said Instructions be duly com- plyed with; I am Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble Servant
JOHN COURAUD
Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
THE LORDS JUSTICES TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.3
Instructions to the Governor and Company of His Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation in New England in America, for the better observation of the Act of the 6th of Queen Anne, for ascertaining the Rates of foreign Coins in America. Given at Whitehall, the Twenty first Day of August 1740. In the Fourteenth Year of His Majesty's Reign.
Whereas An Act of Parliament was passed in the sixth Year of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, Enti- tuled, An Act for ascertaining the Rates of foreign Coins in her Majesty's Plantations in America ; And whereas Complaints have been made, that the said Act has not been observed as it ought to have
1 Secretary to the Lords Justices.
2 See the following document.
8 Enclosed in the preceding letter.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
been in many of His Majesty's Colonies and Plan- tations in America, by means whereof many indirect Practices have grown up, and various and illegal Currencies have been introduced in several of the said Colonies and Plantations, contrary to the true intent and meaning of the said Act, and to the Pre- judice of the Trade of His Majesty's Subjects, in Con- sequence of which Complaints, An humble Address was presented the last Sessions, by the House of Com- mons to his Majesty, " That he would be graciously " pleased to require and command the respective " Governors of his Colonies and Plantations in Amer- " ica, effectually to observe the said Act of the sixth " of Queen Anne"; It is therefore His Majesty's Royal Will and Pleasure, and you are hereby strictly required and commanded to take the most effectual care for the future, That the said Act be punctually and bona fide observed and put in Execution, accord- ing to the true intent and meaning thereof. And to the end that His Majesty's commands herein may be fully made known to all His Subjects within your Government, and that none of them may pretend Ignorance thereof You are hereby further required and commanded to publish this Instruction in such manner as may best answer his Majesty's gracious Intentions herein signified.
WILMINGTON, P. Jo. CART. HERVEY. C. P. S. DORSET GRAFTON RICHMOND, LENNOX AND AUBIGNY. BOLTON.
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Correspondence of the
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON 6 mo. the 25th 1740
Gov. Wanton
I have reccd none of thy favours of late - my last to thee was of the 17th Ult. per Cap! Perkins via Bos- ton to wch I refer.
This Serves now to bring thee a Copy of the Royal Commission1 for fixing the Boundary line between our Colony and the Massach's and hope it will not be long before the Original Passes the Seal and is compleated, when it is I shall forward it to thee
In my last I sent thee my acco! wth the Colony. the Ball. thereon in their favour was £48. 12.4 - but then no part of the charge of this Commission was set down: and I have lately paid my Solicitor part of the money towards it since sending away my accot. And it is very likely next Sessions of Par- liam: the Affair of the State of the Paper Currency in the Plantations will come under consideration there will be necessity of money to be expended in my appearing in behalf of the Colony to vindicate their Priviledges I must intreat their Supplying me accordingly and I shall do the best I can, desiring also in the mean time thou wouldst furnish me with Instructions thereabout : I herewith send thee a Copy of an Instruction prepared to send over to the Kings Governors in generall for their Information.
I wd observe that after this drat of the Commis- sion for Settling the Line, it was considered by the
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 586, 587, for Instructions to the Commissioners, and the Royal Commission.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Lds Committee of Council to prevent doubts and ambiguitys arising from the uncertain date of the first Tuesday of March 1749: they have varied it, And made the first Meeting to be on the first Tues- day in April 1741.
here are also sent thee several Copys I obtained from the Council Office relating to Charter Govern- ments. the Original of Lds Justices Order in Council 1 goes by Cap: Hall, wch was sent only (as I apprehend) in pursuance of the Vote of the House of Com- mons - there is among these a Copy of the Lds Jus- tices Approbation of the Lds Committees Report about the Affair of Mason 2 &c. of Connecticut wch I thought woud not be amiss to send thee that thou might see how that Affair stood here-and I sup- pose in consequence of this a New Commiss" will Issue
LOND. 7ber the 3ª 1740
To Deputy Gov'. Ward
Since my writing the foregoing I understand that Governor Wanton is deceased altho' I have no letter of it yet come to my hand, and it being about the Colonys Affairs I judgd it my duty now to address to thee, who am
Thy assured Friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
To RICHARD WARD Esq Governour of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
1 This document is in the manuscript volume of Orders of the King in Council, at the State House.
2 See note on p. 125.
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Correspondence of the
COLONEL BLAKENEY TO GOVERNOR WARD.
NEW YORK 25 Aug 1740
Sir
I am favoured with yours of the 15th Inst: acknow- ledging the receipt of mine of the 21st and 22ª of July with the Bill for £667. 3 Sterling; likewise mentioning that your Transports would be at New York in a fortnight. I am humbly of opinion that you ought to wait the Motion of the Troops from New England that we may all proceed together. I am Sir
Your most humble Servant
WILL: BLAKENEY
To the Honble RICHP WARD Esq"
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WARD.
LONDON 7ber: the 17th: 1740
Governour Ward
I have been informed that it hath pleased Divine Providence lately to remove out of this life our Wor- thy Friend Governour Wanton, the loss of whom will doubtless Sensibly affect the people of the Colony in a general Manner, alltho' I had not much Per- sonal Acquaintance with him, I took him to be a Gentleman liberally endued with Wisdom and Ca- pacity to Sustain that honourable post with Repu- [ta]tion both to himself and the Government.
And now as the choise of his Successor in the Governm: has fallen on thee I hold it my duty to
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
advise thee from time to time of such Occurances here which may any ways affect the Colony as to the Priviledges and Rights they enjoy by their Charter, and I trust my utmost Endeavours shall not be wanting to prevent if possible any attempts to their Prejudice, which has been my care hitherto, during the time of my being the Colonys Agent, as I hope I have many Witnesses there who wod do me the jus- tice to acknowledge.
We have at length got out the Royal Commission under the Great Seal1 appointing Commiss's to Set- tle the Boundary line between the Colony and the Province of the Massach" which I now send thee in a Box by our Friend Capt Wanton, a passenger with Cap: Hall to Boston, which I wish safe to thy hands. The acco! of the charge of it I shall send hereafter - it has been a pretty while in getting it through and compleated, but I do assure thee there was no time that I know off lost in doing it since I reced the Colonys Order for taking it out: there being the usual form of passing through several Offices wch with Orders and References unavoidably attending the Solicitation that we could no ways help it. there comes also in the Box with the Commission 15 Copys thereof, One to be delivered to each of the Commis- sioners, which thou willt please to take the necessary care about.
Its thought the King will return from Hannover pretty soon and that the Parliament will sit some time in Nov". next, against which time I hope I shall have
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 587.
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Correspondence of the
some Instructions relating to the Affair of Paper Money &c.
As to Publick News the Spanish Fleet of abot 17 Men of War have got out of Ferrol harbour abo! 2 months since and gone as its judgd for the West Indies and the French Brest Squadron gone to joyn them of abo! 14 Ships or upwards, so that they have got the Start of our Fleet, who still lyes wind bound at St Helens.
Lord Cathcart when he Sails will now have near 30 Men of War with him bound (as they say) to Jamaica. The Touloun Squadron of 14 Sail are not gone out of the Straits yet, but will probably stay there to assist the Spaniards.
The Apparent behaviour of the French in joyn- ing the Spands with their Ships of War, and their preparation of late for fortifying Dunkirk again, is an Infraction of the Treaty of Utrecht, and seems to portend a War with them, but it is not yet proclaimd, nor any hostilitys committed. with due respects to thy self and the Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives I remain
Thy ffaithfull Friend
RICHP. PARTRIDGE
The other News papers I send in a packet for thee by it self
To RICHARD WARD Esq'
Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR WARD TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
[Autumn of 1740.]
May it please Your Grace,
His Majesty's Instructions respecting the raising of Levies to go on an Expedition against the Span- iards with Your Grace's Recommendation came Safe to Our Hands, upon which this Colony determined to shew their Zeal for the Service and as a further Encouragement to what his Majesty was pleased to give was the first of the Plantations that offered a Premium to Soldiers to inlist; by which means we raised two very good Companies and kept them bil- leted out at the Governments Charge from the Month of May to the 13 of September last 1 at which Time they sail'd from hence in two suitable Vessels which we hired to transport them to the Place of Gen! Rendezvous, having first furnish'd them with Provi- sions and all other Necessaries for the Design, the names of the officers over these Companies we now take Liberty to present to Your Grace
Permit Us, S', to assure you that as we esteem it a Singular Happiness to be under your Inspection So none shall more cheerfully receive nor more readily execute whatever Your Grace Shall be pleased to recommend than this Colony hoping that our Con- duct in this and all Other Respects will be accept- able to Our Sovereign and your Graces Approbation which we shall esteem as the greatest Honour that can be done to, May it please Your Grace,
Your Grace's most Obed' and most humble Servt
Endorsed : To His Grace the Duke of Newcastle.
1 September, 1740. See Arnold, History of Rhode Island, II. 126.
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Correspondence of the
ANDREW STONE TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHITEHALL 2ª October 1740.
Gentlemen,
Their Excys the Lords Justices to whom His Ma- jesty has entrusted the Administration of the Gov- ernment, during His Absence, having been informed, that great Quantitys of Provisions have been ex- ported from several of His Majesty's Colonys in North America for the Use of foreign Colonys, which Practise may, in the present Conjuncture, be highly prejudicial to His Majesty's Service; Their Excys have commanded me to signify to You their Direc- tions, that you should prevent, as far as possible, the Exportation of any Provisions from the Colony under your Government to any foreign Colony whatever ; And in order thereto, that you should cause all Ships laden with Provisions, and not in His Majesty's Ser- vice, that shall sail from any of the Ports within your Government, to give sufficient Security to land the said Provisions in some part of His Majesty's Do- minions.
I am Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble Servant
ANDREW STONE.
Gov! and Company of Rhode Island
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
ADMIRAL VERNON TO GOVERNOR WARD.
PORT ROYAL JAMAICA 13th November 1740
Sir
An Opportunity offering by one of our Contrac- tors M' Tickell's Vessels bound to New York, I could not slip the same of informing You, of the Arrival in these Seas not only of the large Squadron of twelve Spanish Men of War from 80 to 60 Guns, but like- wise of two as large Squadrons of French Ships from Brest and Toulon. I have Advice of as large Rein- forcements being under Orders for coming to join me. So that, in all human Probability the Fate of this War is drawing to a Crisis, and Decision in these Seas. And as any Misfortune befalling us might be fatal to our Possessions in these Seas; and as I think these Squadrons will rely on being supply'd with Pro- visions from Your Parts, either immedeately from the French Ports, before we may come to a Rupture with them, or from Statia and Curascoa afterwards, I can't omit recommending it to You, as most material for His Majs Service, to have no One permitted, at this Critical Juncture, to clear out from Your Govern- ment, without sufficient Security given, not to land his Provisions at any French or Dutch Settlement, or any other but His Maj: Collonies, where all they can raise will probably be wanted for the Subsistance of His Maj: Troops.
As the Publick Service sufficiently bespeaks Your Regard in this particular, I can in no sort doubt of
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Correspondence of the
Your exerting Your utmost Zeal in it, for His Majs Service.
I am Sir
Your most obedient humble Servant
E. VERNON
The Honoble RICHARD WARD Esq?
GOVERNOR WARD TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
S.
Your favour of the 17th September last by Capt Hall with yours of the 19th with the News Letters accompanying it, are come safe to Hand but the Commission with the Copys, being in Cap: Wantons Chest ; are not come to Hand; his dyin on Ship board with the small Pox has caused a Stoppage of every Thing aboard the Ship for the Present. If any thing further be laid before the Parliament this Sessions about our paper Currency You will acquaint this Government immediately of it, and endeavour to get Leave that the Government may be heard on it. In the present Circumstances of the New England Colonys It is impossible this Government separate from the rest can come up to the Act of the 6th of Queen Ann 1 ascertaining the Rates of foreign Coins, our European trade is almost wholly thro the Hands of the Boston Merchs and unless that Government will emit their Bills at that Value it will [be] im- practicable for this Colony to do it. Connecticut has emitted a Bank of £30000 in paper at 8s. per
1 See letter of August 22, 1740.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
oz which is as good as ever Silver passed amongst us upwards of thirty Years past. A Committee 1 appointed by this Colony are preparing a Repre- sentation of our several Emissions of paper Cur- rency and a Draught of the Laws now in force ; pursuant to his Majestys Order which will be com- pleated in a few Months Time; acquaint the Lords Commissioners with it. The Government has Honrd me with the Part of Gov! for this Year. as for your Acc's how they stand I know not I shall during my Administration take such Care of the publick affairs that nothing shall be wanting on the Governments Part to enable You to carry them on with Satisfac- tion Your favour of the Duplicate with your News- Paper come to Hand as I was concluding this Letter I acknowledge your favour and remain Sr
Your humble Servt
RICHP WARD
NEWPORT Nov. 20th 1740
To M: RICHP PARTRIDGE Mercht in London
THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHITEHALL Dec: 4th 1740
Gentlemen,
His Majesty having received an Account of what has been done in the several Provinces of North America, with regard to the raising a Body of Men
1 A letter from the Board of Trade of August 19, 1740, on the subject, may be found in the Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 7, and the committee above referred to was appointed by the Assembly in October, 1740. Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 584.
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Correspondence of the
to Serve under the Command of the Lord Cath- cart, and transporting them to Jamaica, by which it appears, that there is such a Spirit among His Majesty's Subjects in those Provinces, that even a greater Number of Men might have been raised for this Service than has yet been done; And as it is probable, that Recruits will be wanted for the Forces under Lord Cathcart's Command, or even that Lord Cathcart may write to have a greater Number of Troops from North America, than are at present sent to him; His Majesty has commanded me to acquaint You, that if My Lord Cathcart should think proper to send to You for any Number of Men for Recruits, or for any other Service, you should endeavour to raise them accordingly, and take Care, that they be transported to such Place, and at such Time as Lord Cathcart shall appoint ; And that all such Persons as shall enlist, in His Majesty's Service, on any such Occasion, should have the same allow- ance of Pay and Subsistance, Cloaths and Arms, as was given to the Men, that were first raised ; And it is His Majesty's Pleasure, that you should transmit an exact Account of the Number of effective Men, that have been already raised within your Govern- ment, as also of Those, that shall be farther raised in consequence of any Application to You for that purpose by My Lord Cathcart, as is abovementioned. I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble Servant HOLLES NEWCASTLE
Gov: and Company of Rhode Island.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR WARD TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
S.
Yours of the 21st of November last came to hand the 16th Current with your sollicitors Bill, and your Acct stated with the Colony. Ballance in your favour £159.11.4 which I shall lay before the Assembly at their next sessions, and doubt not of their remitting you the Ballance of your Acct and a further supply to enable you to prosecute the Affairs of the Gov- ernment with Vigor.1
You'l herewith receive inclosed a representation of our several Emissions of paper Currency to be laid before the board of Trade for the plantations which You are to lay before them as soon as They come to hand.2 A Copy whereof You'l herewith re- ceive open, which will throly furnish You with the reasons that induced the Colony to make those Emis- sions ; and enable you to reply to all that shall be said against Them
Your publick prints came safe to hand for which I thank You I am S!
Your hearty friend
NEWPORT Feb : 26th 1742. To M' RICH? PARTRIDGE Merch: in London
1 No notice of any such remittance appears in the Assembly records for 1741.
2 For Governor Ward's Report upon the paper money of Rhode Island, see Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 8.
4
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Correspondence of the
THE LORDS OF TRADE TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHITEHALL, April 17th 1741.
Gentlemen,
Two Acts having been pass'd this Sessions of Parliament, wherein the British Plantations are con- cerned, Viz.
An Act to prohibit for a time therein limited the Exportation of Corn, Grain (Rice excepted) Meal, Malt, Flour, Bread, Biscuit Starch, Beef, Pork and Bacon.
An Act for licensing the Importation of Victual from Ireland, and other Parts beyond the Seas into Scotland, in Time of Dearth and Scarcity.
We have thought fit to send you printed Copies of them for your Information and Government in the several Matters therein contained. So we bid you heartily farewell, and are
Your very loving Friends and humble Servants,
JA. BRUDENELL EDW. ASHE
M. BLADEN
R. PLUMER
A CROFT
Honble Gov: and Company of Rhode Island.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
E. WARNER, R. GIBBS, AND J. BOWEN TO GOVERNOR WARD. May 15th A D 1741
May it please Your Honour after Due Regards presented, These lines may Inform Your Honour That Pursuant to The Act of Assembly1 we have waited upon Mr Richard Thornton in order to Receive the Books Papers and Seal, that were in his Cus- tody as late Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace in order to Deliver the Same to Stephen Hopkins Esq the Pre- sent Clerk of the Sª Courts, but the Sd Thornton absolutely Refused to Deliver Either Books Papers or Seal unless we or some other Person or Persons would pay or Engage to pay to him the sum of fifty pounds, we therefore Entreat your Honour to Con- sider the bad Consequence of this Extraordinary proceeding of M' Thornton and to Take proper Method to Redress this great Injury be Speedily Recovering the Sª Books Papers and Seal out of his hands in order to Deliver the Same to the present Clerk, This is what offers with great Respect from your Honours very
humble Servts
EZEKIEL WARNER ROBERT GIBBS JABEZ BOWEN
1 Two committees were appointed in May, 1741. One was to ascertain if the secu- rity given by Thornton for the funds of the colony in his hands was sufficient. The other was to receive from him the county records, seal, and papers, as stated above. The votes of Assembly are upon the manuscript records, but are among the many omissions in Mr. Bartlett's edition.
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Correspondence of the
DANIEL JENCKS, STEPHEN HOPKINS, AND OTHERS TO GOVERNOR WARD.
PROVIDENCE May 16th 1741
Honod Sir
This waits on you with a Relation of the pro- ceedings of M: Richard Thornton late Clerk of this County Your Hon! will be informed by the Com- mittees Letter that pursuant to the Order of the Assembly they waited on M: Thornton in order to Receive the Seal Books Papers &cª in his hands and deliver them to the present Clerk. And of his Refusal.1 And we being informed thereof by the said Commtee met Together to Endeavour to Recover our Records out of his Hands but after all the per- suasions we were able to use, to our surprise were answered that he would not deliver them and that he would not be flattered nor Threatened into a Com- pliance, whereupon this Court made an order that he should immediately deliver up to the sª Records &cª to the sd Commtee and if he Refused they would send a Officer to take them, which order was served upon him but he still continued obstinate in his Refusal. upon which this Court granted forth a Warrant to the Sheriff to go to the sª Thorntons and take the Records &c and deliver them to the sd Comtee by virtue of which the Sheriff went to the s' Thorntons House Attended by the Comtee for that purpose and Demanded the sd Records of the sª Thorntons Wife but she refused to deliver them the sheriff informed that he must search for them and desired
1 See the preceding letter.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
her to Open the doors which she did and he searched the Rooms where the Records Used to be Kept but could not find any of the Books of Records or the County Seal but only some files and loose papers which not being the Things that were principally wanted, the sheriff left them as he found them. and thuse finding ourselves disappointed in all our En- deavours to Recover our Records which at this Time there is absolute necessity should be in the Clerks Hands: or private persons as well as the Goverm! will be put to the utmost dificulty, and Loss. And we Know of no way left but to apply our selves to Your Honour for Remedy in this Very Extraordinary Case, hopeing that the most Effectual Methods may be taken to prevent so Irreparable a Loss as that of all our County Records which we take the freedom to say we are in fear may soon be if the[y] are not already Destroyed. We beg to be excused for give- ing your Honour this Trouble and Remain with due Respects
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