USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 20
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HUSHING Spk!
In Council June 12th 1744
Read and Concur'd
J WILLARD Secretary
Consented to
W SHIRLEY
Copy Examined by J. WILLARD Secretary.
265
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
MAJOR MASCARENE 1 TO GOVERNOR SHIRLEY.2
Sir.
I have receiv'd by Mr Bastide3 the Honour of yours of the 8th Instant and had the pleasure to see soon after Capt" Tyng in the Province Snow; the Countenance she Affords us here is of no small Con- sequence to the Publick Service especially at this Juncture. We had notice a few days ago by a pas- senger that came to some of the Settlements at the upper End of Our Bay from Lewisbourg that they had an Account at that Place of the War being de- clared between Great Britain and France which has Caused no small uneasiness to a number of People who live out of Our Fort and the Day before the Snow came a rumour being spread that a French Officer with a great Number of Indians and People from Cape Breton were up our River at a small Dis- tance from this place, the Panick Seized the Women and Children whom I was Obliged to receive into the Garrison. this report however proved without Foundation. There is another more probable that at Lewisbourg they are fitting out seven Privateers too [two] already out to Cruise on the Eastern Coast of this Government, in Order to draw Provisions from Our Settlements of French Inhabitants at the upper End of Our Bay and Secure them from the Sloop
1 John Paul Mascarene, a native of Languedoc, was made lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia in 1740, and held the office until July, 1749, when he was succeeded by Governor Cornwallis, of whose council Mascarene became a member. He moved to Boston in 1750, and died there ten years later. N. Y. Col. Doc., VI. 482.
2 Enclosed in Shirley's letter of June 16, 1744.
8 John Bastide was the royal engineer stationed at Annapolis.
266
Correspondence of the
the man of war left at Canso, which I am afraid will prove too weak to resist the French.1
The St John River Indians sent four delagates here about a fortnight ago I inclose the purport of their Conference I had with them could I keep them in peace the French of Cape Breton would have much less influence on Our Inhabitants. It is prob- able that if they have any Design on us they will Visit us soon whilst they know Our works are in bad repair and Our Garrison weak. I hope however they will not forgett us at Home and that the Pro- vince of the massachusetts being so much Interested in the preservation of this Countrey, Your Excellency will give us the Countenance and Assistance we may at this time Require. Capt Tyng making but a short Stay I am Obliged to Write in haste which I hope you will Excuse. I am with great Esteem and Re- spect, Sir
Your most humble and most obedient Servant
MASCARENE
ANNAPOLIS ROYALL 21 May 1744.
His Excellency Governour SHIRLEY Copy Examined by J WILLARD Secretary.
1 Early in May, Canso (or Canseau, a fishing-station at the southern end of the Strait of Canseau, which separates Cape Breton Island from Nova Scotia), was taken and burned by some six hundred French under Captain Duvivier. In August, Duvi- vier made an attempt to take Annapolis, but was repulsed. Shirley had sent Masca- rene a reinforcement of two hundred militia. Parkman says they came without arms and were of little service. A Half Century of Conflict, II. 80.
267
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR LAW TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
MILFORD June 19th 1744
S
Yours of the 7th Instant1 I lately recd I am of the same Opinion with your Hon' our Interests are in- separable and shall be ready to give all Assistance for your Defence. I had ordered the Capt of our Sloop to take in his full Complement of men and to Cruise from Montauk to Gayhead in Consort with your Colony Sloop and was very glad to hear it was agreeable to you
I take leave to Subscribe
Your Hon''s most humble and obedient Servant JONTH LAW
P S last Monday was Sennitt Gov' Wolcott &c. Com's for the Congress att Albany sett out on their Journey from Hartford
To W GREEN . Eq
J L
GOVERNOR GREENE TO GOVERNOR LAW.
NEWPORT 23ª of June 1744
S.
Yours of the 19th Instant2 I This Day Recd and Caused the Same to be Read in presence of our Gen !! assembly the Contents of which was well ap- provd of, but since Your Hon! Doth Not Informe us How long Your Sloop is to Cruise I am advised by
1 See above, p. 261.
2 See preceding letter.
-----
268
Correspondence of the
our assembly to Inform Your Hon' that our Sloop is ordered out as soon as may be, and to Cruse from Marthaes Vinniard to Montaug, and as far westward thereof as the west end of Long Island, and so to Cruise untill the first of october Next, provided Your Colony Sloop shall Joine with ours; in sª Cruise ; 1 which I make no Doubt of ; from the Contents of Your Hon's Letter. this act of our Assembly has been past Since I wrote to Your Hon! Last. I pray Your Hon- ours answer as soon as may be; our Sloop will soon be Ready, the Chief She wates for is powder and that we Expect Dayly from York or Philidelphia. I am S!
Your Hon's Most Humble and obediant Servant W. GREENE
To the Honble JONATHAN LAW Esq"
Gov' and Command !- in-Chief in and over his Majesties Colony of Connecticut
GOVERNOR LAW TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
MILFORD June 29 1744
S'
I just now recd per the Post yours of the 23ª in- stant 2 and M! Coggeshall intending to sail for New- port this Night or to morrow morning thot it most likely to give you the quickest Intelligence, thot best to improve it and shall give Orders according to your proposal, tho I am not so fully sensible of the Ad- vantage in going any further Westward than was
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 90, 91.
2 See preceding letter.
269
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
at first projected, and had rather that were abated, but if you insist upon it shall make no Difficulty. I also this day recd Acct from New London that our Sloop is near fully manned and will be delayd only on Acct of the same Article wch yours is, a Supply of wch I hourly expect from N. York to be landed att New haven, even all that I can any where procure. when and where yours and ours may joyn give Notice to our Capt Prentis att N. London. I am informd from Boston this day That Capt Tyng on Saturday night last took a french Privateer off the back of Cape Codd, but doubt not but you have fuller Acct
Our Com's from Albany are returned1 and the In- dians propose a Neutrality wch is accepted and the french Indians are allowd 40 dayes to come to Albany by their Sachems and come into the same Agree- ment, otherways to be lookd upon as Enemies and two Sachems are gone to the Eastward to oblige the Indians there to come into the same, doubtless you have or will soon have a full Acct thereof. I take leave to assure Your Hon' That I am
Your assured Friend and humble Servant
JONTH LAW
To Gov' GREEN
JOSIAH WILLARD 2 TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
BOSTON Septm! It 1744
Sir, I am directed by his Excellency Gov: Shirley (who is now absent at Castle William) to acquaint your
1 See letters of June 5 and 8, 1744.
2 Secretary for the colony of Massachusetts Bay.
--
270
Correspondence of the
Honour that a Discovery has been made of a Pack of Villains in this Province, who have counterfeited the Bills of your Governmt and utter'd such counter- feit Bills within this Province, viz: in Imitation of your twenty shilling and half Crown Bills of the new Tenor issued in the Year 1741, and have begun a Plate in Imitation of your Ten shilling Bills of the same Year, For wch they will be tried at our Court of Assize upon Wednesday or Thursday next. It is apprehended necessary to their Conviction that we should be furnished with an authentick Copy of the Act for establishing those Bills within your Colony certified under the Publick Seal of your Colony, and likewise that two of the Persons whose names are counterfeited upon these Bills should attend as Witnesses, otherwise there is danger that the Trial will be ineffectual; The Signers Names to the half Crown Bill are Edwd Scott, John Gardner and Joseph Whipple, To the Twenty Shilling Bill Jnº Gardner, John Dexter and Edwa Scott. Please to send the Copy of the Act by the Express. The Persons prin- cipally concerned are Joseph Boyce and John Scias, who were each convicted before at Salem when the Signers last attended, for uttering counterfeit Bills. I am
Your Honours most obedient humble Servant
The Honble WILLIAM GREEN Esq" J WILLARD
27I
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
BOSTON Septem! 19. 1744.
Sir,
There are just arrived in this place three Flags of Truce from Louisburg with a great Number of English Prisoners, Officers and others; By whom I have certain Intelligence that two Privateers (a Brig- antine and a small Ship) were already come out from thence to cruize upon these Coasts, and that another Brigantine Privateer was ready to sail from thence upon the same Design :1 I have thereupon ordered the two Guard Vessels belonging to this Province now in Port to sail forthwith in quest of these Vessels. This Advice I send to your Honour, presuming that you will order out your Guard Ves- sel for the Protection of the Navigation belonging to his Majesty's Subjects.
I must pray your Honour to send by Express the inclosed Letters to the Governour of Connecti- cut, and to desire him immediately to forward that directed to the Governour of New York, that so his Majesty's Service in this important Article may not suffer by Delay.
I am Your Honours most obedient humble Servant W SHIRLEY.
The Honble WILLIAM GREEN Esq!
Deposition of Messrs. Richards, Nealson, and Joncourt.2
John Richards and John Nelson of New York, Mariners, and Peter D Joncourt of Dublin Merchant, declare and Say that on
1 See following document.
2 Enclosed in letter of September 19, 1744.
-
272
Correspondence of the
the Seventh Day of June last, they were taken in the Brigantine Madera Packet and carried into Louisburgh about a Month after, and upon the Seventh Instant Embarked for Boston in a French Flag of Truce and that three Days before they Sailed from Louis- burgh two French Privateers Sailed from thence designing for the Coast of New England and New York as was generally reported there, One of the said Privateers a Ship with about Six- teen Guns and about One hundred and fifty Men, and the other a Brigantine with ten Carriage Guns and One hundred and twenty men. That there were three Men of war at Louisburg, One of Sixty Six, One of Fifty Six, and the other of thirty Guns, and Six Merchant Ships arrived from East Indies, which the Declarants understood the Men of War above mentioned were designed to Convoy home to France
JOHN RICHARDS JOHN NEALSON PETER DEJONCOURT
BOSTON September 19th, 1744
Cap: John Richards John Nelson and Mr Peter DeJoncourt made Oath to the Truth of the Above Declaration by them Signed
Before me JACOB WENDELL Just. Pea.
GOVERNOR GREENE TO GOVERNOR LAW.
S.
Last Night I recd a Pacquet from his Excelcy Wil- liam Shirley Esq Gov: of the Massachusets Bay &c.1 wherein am informed that 3 Flags of Truce arrived from Louisbourg with a great Number of English Prisoners, of Officers and others, who have given certain Intelligence that two Privateers (a Brigantine and a small Ship) were already sailed from thence to come upon these Coasts. And that another Brigan- tine Privateer was ready to sail from thence upon
1 See preceding document.
273
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the same Design, and that his Excel"y had ordered the two Guard Vessels belonging to the Province out imediately in Quest of them; And I am further to acquaint your Honour, That our General Assem- bly is now Sitting, and have this Morning pass'd a Vote to continue the Cruise of our Colony Sloop till the last Day of next Month 1 and I am now going to dispatch a Boat after said Sloop (which sailed out from here but Yesterday) to inform Cap: Fones of the Resolution of the General Assembly, and to give Him further Directions how to act on this special Oc- casion, and I am also desired in said Vote to request That Your Honour will give Capt Prentice the neces- sary Orders in this Affair, and order Him to cruise with our Sloop during the Time before mentioned
I have inclosed to your Honor a Copy of the Evi- dences of John Richards, John Nealson and Peter De Joncourt, that gave their Affidavits to the Facts in the above Relation, for Fear there should not be one inclosd in your Pacquet, and his Excelcy Gov. Shirley desired Me to acquaint Your Honour that He requested your Sending the Packets for his Ex- cell! Governour Clinton and Cap: Peter Warren, imediately by Express as soon as they come to your Hands. I am with due Respects
Your Honour &c W. G
NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND 211 September 1744.
To the Honble JONATHAN LAW Esq Governour and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's Colony of Connecticut
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 96, for vote of the Assembly.
274
Correspondence of the
GOVERNOR LAW TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
MILFORD Septb: 23ª 1744
S'
I just now recd yours of the 21st Instant.1 shall forth forward the Acct to N York with all possible Expedition, shall take Care as you desire with respect to our Sloop, which I understand by the Bearor is out on a Cruise (as I hope with yours) and will be acquainted by the Inteligence you have sent out after yours
I remain with all due Regards
Your Hon''s humble Servant
JONTH LAW
To the Honble WILLIAM GREEN Esq! Gov. of Rhode island etc.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 8ber the 12th 1744
Gover“ Green
I wrote Thee my last of 9th 5 month, since which I have not been favd with any from Thee.
As to our Cause depending at the Council Office relating the Boundary we have not been able to bring it to a hearing yet notwithstanding we have often Endeavoured it.
And now this serves to bring my Acct with the Colony, the Ballance whereof is in my fav! £257. 16. 10. and the Council Office Fees and our Council
1 See preceding letter.
275
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
fees not yet brought in, and as the Parliament is to sitt the 27th of next Month for Dispatch of Business I hope the Colony will furnish me with money suf- ficiently to enable me to carry on their Affairs, for without it little can be done here, its pitty the Causes sho'd be starved, - there will be a Call for Consider- able Sums as I have already heretofore advised the Committee of Correspondence: Our Solicitor has sent me his Bills of Costs to the 30th Ult. wch comes also here inclosed and are included as thou wilt see in my Acct We have 2 Causes depending of the Colonies, besides that which is likely to engage us in Parliamt, I hope therefore at least £500 Sterls will be remitted me, over and above the Ballance of my Acct of which I shall endeavour to render Acct to Satisfaction, and do my utmost together with the Assistance of our Lawy"s for the Interest and Service of the Colony.
I understand it is difficult now this War time to remit money over here which makes it still harder for me, I wod therefore recommend the making the Remittances per James Allen Esq' of Boston who I am informed will have Occasion to draw for very considerable Sums on the Office of Ordinance which I believe will be well paid, I having a pretty good Acquaintance wth the Principle person that transacts Affairs in that Office, and that there will be no Risque of the Sea; I wish he cod be apply'd to in time. It is now a Year and a half since I have had any Money sent me from Rhode Isle Colony.
This may also acquaint thee that I have apply'd again to the Lds Committee of Council for a Grant of some Stores for yo! Fortification agreeable to the
276
Correspondence of the
Colonys Request some Years since in their Address to the King,1 on wch I had formerly obtained a favour- able Report from the Lords of Trade, but since that time had layn dormant 'till now; and upon my re- newing the Solicitation to the sd Lds of the Council, have obtain'd an Order of Reference (a Copy whereof is inclosed) to the Board of Ordinance for their Re- port and Estimate, and that I hope I shall have in 2 or 3 Weeks time. when that is done I have an Expectation given me of its beeing with the other usual Estimates layd before the Parliam! the begin- ning of the next Sessions; but thou must Suppose it will be attended with some Expence, more of this in my next.
As to publick News, the War carry'd on with Vig- our still almost on all sides especially in Germany, Bohemª and Italy.2 Our Army indeed in Flanders are broke up to go into Winter Quart's without ef- fecting much this Campain. the King of Prussia as Auxilliary to the Emperor against the Qu: of Hungary pushes on his Conquests in Bohemª having in a very little time taken Prague the Capital of that Kingdom, but Prince Charles has got together a Numerous Army and expects dayly to be joyn'd by a good Number of the King of Polands Forces; is now within a few Leagues of the King of Prussia so that a Vigorous general Battle between 'em is soon expected. its thought that the King of Naples whose Queen is Daughter to the King of Poland has agreed to a Nutrality wth the Qu : of Hungary or at least to
1 See the address to the King on p. 15, and letter of December 1, 1735.
2 See note to Partridge's letter of February 23, 1744.
277
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
a Suspention of Arms, and that our Fleet in the Meditera, will forbear Committing any hostilitys by bombarding of Naples as once was doubtless intend'd; and this is supposed to be principaly owing to the King of Polands Interposition in fav' of his Daugh- ter; He himself having lately come into an Alliance with the King of Engld and the Qu : of Hungary.
As to the Naval War we hear but of few of our Ships taken by the Spaniards but more by the French; yet as we have abundance of privateers out, besides our Men of War I am apt to think our Losses are scarce one fifth part in comparison of w! are taken from the French, for the rest I refer to the Prints which I send by the Conveyª and remain with due Respects to thyself and the Gentlemen of the Council
Thy Assured Friend
RICH? PARTRIDGE
31 ditto
Since writing the foregoing a Motion has been made before the Lords Committee of Council for a day to be fixed of hearing of our Affair of the Bound- ary and they have Appointed the 6: of next Month for it, upon which I have paid £42, for the Attory and Soll! Gen !! fees with their Briefs, so that the Balla of the Colonys Acco's is already £299. 16. 10 Sterls in my favour and its tho it will take up 3 Sittings of the Lords Committee before it is over, and then the Bllª will still be considerably more besides Council office ffees &cª
As for further Publick News the Emp! has retaken Bavaria his hereditary dominions, or g" part of it
278
Correspondence of the
from the Queen of Hungary wch I take to be the Consequence of the King of Prussias late Conduct in invading her Domin: in Bohemia, but upon Prince Charles's entring that Kingdom wth a powerfull Army the sd King retreated back towards Prague where- upon sev1 places he had taken are now retaken for the Queen together wth a great many Prussians Offi- cers and Soldiers, and Prince Charles has followd him pretty close being now joyned wth abo: 24000 Saxons from the King of Poland, and its expected a decissive Battle will soon happen.
Frieburg a Strong Fortified Town of the Queen of Hungarys has been beseiged for some time by the ffrench King where in he has lost abundance of Men and it's tho! he will be at last obliged to turn the Seige into a Blockade, the Season being so far advanced.
Coni (a place of great Consideration in Ittaly be- longing to the King of Sardinia our ally) and wch is an inlett into the whole Country of Piedmont has been for some time beseigd by the Spaniards and ffrench, holds out resolutely, and its confirmd now that the Seige is Actually raised and their fforces withdrawn to their great Damage and Mortification.
RP PARTRIDGE
ber 13 :
Y Since the foregoing I have obtained a Copy of the Office of Ordinance of Report and Estimate of the Cannon and Stores for Rhª Island1 before men- tioned a Copy whereof comes herewith so that I
1 See the following document.
İ
:
:
279
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
think we are in a fair way of procuring them: the late Address from the Colony I recd per Dep: Gov- ernour but the 7th Inst, whereby it will appear that I was mindfull of this Affair in due time before it came to hand. we have had one hearing about the Bound- arys and I am going up this Evening to a Second hearing when perhaps it may be ended and will defer an accot of this Issue to my next
R P.
To WILLM GREEN Esq"
Governour and Commander in Chief of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations
REPORT OF THE OFFICE OF ORDNANCE TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF MONTAGU.1
My Lord,
Your Grace having been pleased to referr to us and to require our opinion upon an Order made by the Right Honble the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, datª the 20th ultimo in the following words -
" Whereas there was this day read to their Lord- ships the Petition of Richard Partridge agent for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, humbly praying for the reasons therein contained that a supply of Twenty Cannon compleat from 18 to 24 pounders with fifty rounds of shott for each Gun and other Stores proper for them may be sent to that Colony to compleat the Number requisite to
1 Enclosed in preceding letter.
280
Correspondence of the
furnish the fort they have built at their own Expence, The Lords of the Committee this day took the said petition into Consideration together with a report of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations upon a former Application of the like Nature made by the present Petitioner and are hereby pleased to referr the said Petition and report (Copys whereof are hereunto annexed) to His Grace the Duke of Mon- tagu master General of the ordnance to Consider thereof, and in Case he has no objection thereto, that then he do cause an Estimate to be prepared of the Expence thereof and report the same to this Com- mittee. W. SHARPE."
We have accordingly my Lord taken the same into Consideration, and beg leave to report to your Grace that as we have no Plan or Profil of their Fort we are not competent Judges whether the Number and Nature of Guns demanded are either proper sufficient or necessary for the same.
That it does not appear from the Books of this Office that Rhode Island has ever been supplyed with ordnance or Military Stores of any kind what- soever, and as their Fort can be of no Use, and the Expence they are said to have put themselves to will be to no purpose unless they are furnished with a supply of Guns and Stores We have therefore drawn out the inclosed proportion necessary for Twenty pieces of ordnance of the Natures demanded the Charge of which will amount to one Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve Pounds fourteen Shil- lings but we have no money allotted for this Service, nor any Fund out of which the Expence can be
28I
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
defrayed if it should be thought proper to grant this Supply We are My Lord
Your Graces most obedient and most hble Servant
W. R. EARLE THO. LASCELLES GEO. GREGORY
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE 23ª October 1744.
His Grace the Duke of Montagu master General of his Majestys Ordnance
Estimate of Military Stores for Rhode Island.1
A Proportion of Stores Necessary for the Following Iron Ord- nance demanded for the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations prepared in Consequence of an Order of reference from the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs dated 20th Sep. 1744.
4
S
Iron Ordnance .
§ 24 Pounders 8 12
18
Oak standing Carriages with 2 p! .
24 POT8 18
8
12
hadlass and Spunges
18
8
8
24 Pors
400 600
100-3-6
18 24 Pors
16
2-2-
18 24 PoTB
24 I
Hormers
18 24 Por8
I
Cured Paper Cartridges
18
600
5 -
Copper powder measures
24 POT8
I
18-6
Wadhooks with Rammers .
18
I
·
1-5-
258 -
Iron Trucks I Bed I Corner .
24 POTS 6ta
6sp
10 - 6-
Round Shott.
Tampeons
400
920 -
1 Enclosed in letter of October 12, 1744.
282
Correspondence of the
Wadhooks with Rammers for
$ 24 Pors 2 18
4
6
Apron of Lead
20
Corn powder .
Nil
Match
IO
Powder Horns
IO
Priming Irons
20
Handspikes
40
Linstocks without Cocks .
IO
Budge Barrels Copper Hooped
2
7-17-
Handscrews large
2
I
20 -
Sheep skins
doz - odd
I :
6
Spunge tacks .
800
-II -8
Copper Nails .
80
Tryangle Gun
I
Treble I
13 -
White Rope of 5 Int
faths$ . II
fath
22
Tarr'd marlin
Scains . 4
Lanthorns
Ordinary
6
Dark .
4
Freight and Incidents on 99 Tons at £4 : IOS per Ton .
445 - 10-
£1312-14-
THE DUKE OF MONTAGU TO THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.1
My Lord -
In obedience to the order of Council of the 20th Sep! last I send your Lordship inclosed the Report of the principal officers of the ordnance to me upon the Petition of Richard Partridge agent for the Col- ony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations with an Estimate of the Charge of the Guns and Stores demanded for the defence of that Colony, in
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