USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 22
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
that it will breed such Confusion among them that Our Men will have time to get in Unmolested, it is to be Observed that as the Men March from the above point the low Wall is on the left hand of the Gate and the Pickets on the right hand ; as all the Enemys Troops are in the Citadel except a Small Guard or two it will be a Considerable time before those Men are Drest and got ready to March out and even then it is quite in the other End of the Town.
This is what probably may Succeed but least any Accident should happen to prevent it, it will be Necessary to provide accordingly, And in Case Our People should be discovered and Repulsed, the above Number of Men being Sufficient to Com- mand the Field, it will be Necessary in Order to reduce the place to have what Shipping can be possibly got to Cruize off the Harbours Mouth to Intercept their Provision Vessels which they expect Early being at this time very short of Provisions, as likewise to take any Transports with Men if any should come, and that Our Men may not be Discouraged at being repulsed Once it will be Necessary to Send 12 Nine Pounders and Two Small Mortars with Shells &c. and a Quantity of Provisions so to Bombard them and Endeavour to make Breaches in their Walls and then to Storm them, and should the Shipping be so lucky, to take their Provisions, and the Land forces take all their Cattle and keep them Constantly Employ'd, it will be im- possible for them to hold the place till the last of July for want of Provissions.
In Order the better to Secure the Retreat in Case a Superiour Naval Force to Ours should come from France and drive Ours off the Coast and We not take the place which I do not think there is any danger off, it will be Necessary to leave Two Small Vessels with about Two Hundred Men at Canso and the Day after the Fleet is Sailed for Louisbourg for them to Sail so as to get in by Night and it being but Six Leagues from Canso to S, Peters they can get there before Day and Surprize that place which is an exceeding good Harbour for Small Vessels but has not Water Sufficient for Vessels of that Size which will be able to drive Ours off the Coast, so that the Vessels for the Retreat will lay there Safe and the Troops be Able to go to them by Land, there will be an Advantage besides this in Surprizing this
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Correspondence of the
place as there is always a Number of Indians with their Familys which keep with a French Priest at a Small Distance from the French Inhabitants and the Booty taken there will pay the Ex- pence and more in taking it, it is to be Observed that during the time that Our Troops lay Siege to the Town it will be in their power to Send Partys and Destroy all their Fishery on the Island, as well as the North Side of the Harbour, wch would ruin Their Fishery for Four or Five Years and as it is impossible to fail of taking the Royal Battery at least, that would in a great Measure lay open their Harbour Expos'd unto an Attack by Sea from England, as the New Batteries in the Town in the greatest part of the Ambrozers there are no Guns and there are two Gates that are made in Diamond Fashion facing the Harbour that can be beat down in an Instant, the peices not being but 2 Inches and a half thick.
N B The full Complement of the Troops is 700, out of which Deductions must be made of 50 for each of the two Batterys Vizt. The Royal and Island Batterys and 50 for Death Sickness &c. which Reduce them to 550, and the Other Fighting Men in the Town do not exceed 300. and that the Swiss Troops which are their best Troops are exceeding Discontented and mutinous, also that at St Peters there may be about 200 Men in Scatter'd Houses and in the Suburbs of the Town of Louisburg without the Walls about 200. It is improbable that more than two 30 or 4º Gunships Transports should come with Mr Duvivier who may be expected the first with Recruits and Supplies, and in Case the Naval Force that comes should be Superior to Our Naval Force, that Our 3000 Men would Command the Field and Continue so till they could be protected and reinforced from England.
Exª
N. B. It is a mistake to think that 9 pounders are sufficient to batter the Walls of Louisburg.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
BOSTON January 29. 174%.
S
This goes by Express to inform your Honour that Petitions haveing been prefer'd by a considerable Number of the Inhabitants of this Province to the General Court here representing the present weak State of Louisbourg, and the great Importance of the Reduction of that place to the Obedience of his Majesty; And a general Disposition Appearing in the People to engage in this Service, I recommended the deliberate Consideration of this Affair to the General Assembly, who by their Committee exam- ined a great number of Persons, who have been Traders or Prisoners in that place, and have known it both in Peace and War, some of whom came from thence in the beginning of this Winter; This Ex- amination which was had before a large Committee of both Houses has been so very critical and exact as to take up divers days in the prosecuting of it; The Result of which is a chearful and almost unani- mous Resolution of the Court to undertake this im- portant Business in such Manner as is perticularly Expressed in the Report of the Committee Accepted by the whole Court; which I herewith inclose;1 and wherein you will find this Affair is undertaken by us in full Confidence and Expectation that all his Majesty's Governments in North America who are concerned in Duty and Interest as well as we, will readily join with us in so laudable [a] Design for
1 See the following document.
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Correspondence of the
the Honour of his Majesty, and the Safety of the Trade and Navigation of all those Colonies and Pro- vinces; And our Expectation herein will Appear the more reasonable, if it be considered what Pains and Charge this Government hath been at alone for save- ing his Majesty's Interest at Annapolis Royal and in the Province of Nova Scotia;1 I must therefore ear- nestly desire that all may be done that is possible to engage your Colony to do their full part in Concert with us for Carrying on this Expedition and that you either join us or soon follow us with a sufficient force both for the land and Sea Service; And as the Success of this Affair depends much upon Dispatch, I doubt not but you will use it: I have proposed to the Ministry in Great Brittain the Undertakeing of this Design and earnestly urg'd it as of great impor- tance to the Crown and the Safety of his Majestys Subjects in all these parts before I had any thoughts of the Thing's being Attempted in this way; And I shall now write Pressingly by the first Conveyances both to the Ministry at home and to the Command- ers of the Squadrons in the West Indies to send a Naval force to meet us and support us in our Design : I have ordered an Imbargo of all Vessells whatsoever And have Seized all the Frenchmen among us, and have endeavoured to have them kept under such Safe Custody as to prevent them from sending any Intel-
1 Upon Major Mascarene's representation of the danger threatening Annapolis, Shirley had induced the Assembly of Massachusetts to raise a company of two hun- dred men, who were sent to his relief. Hutchinson, History of Massachusetts Bay, II. 405. See Mascarene's letter, p. 265.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
ligence: The same Measures will be Necessary (as I apprehend) in your Government.1
I am sir Your Honour's most Obedient, Humble servant W SHIRLEY.
To The Honble Governour GREEN
Report of the Committee of the Massachusetts House of Representa- tives.2
PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY
The Committee of both Houses upon the Subject of his Ex- cellency's Messages of the 19th and 22ª Instant make the follow- ing Report.
That they have been Attended by two Gentlemen who have lately been Prisoners at Louisburg and by others who have been Traders there and who are well acquainted with the Place, from whom the Committee have received Information that the Garri- son there does not consist of more than five or Six Hundred Regular Troops and that there are not above three or four hun- dred fighting Men of the Inhabitants, That they have but a small Stock of Provisions, that they have no Vessels of Force in their Harbour, and that the Place is at this Time less capable of being defended against an Attack than its Probable, it will ever be hereafter.
The Committee therefore are of Opinion that it is incumbent upon this Government to embrace this Favourable Opportunity to Attempt the Reduction thereof : And they humbly Propose that His Excellency the Capt General be desired to give forth his Proclamation to Encourage the Enlistment of Three thou- sand Voluntiers under such Proper Officers as he shall appoint. That each Person so enlisting be allowed Twenty five Shillings per Month and that there be delivered to Each man a Blanket :
1 See Governor Greene's letter to the House of Deputies, February 5, 1745.
2 Enclosed in Shirley's second letter of January 29, 1745.
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Correspondence of the
That one Month's Pay be advanced and that they be entitul'd to the Plunder. That Provision be made for the furnishing of necessary Warlike Stores for the Expedition. That four Month's Provisions be laid in. That a Committee be appointed to pro- cure and fit vessels to serve as Transports to be ready to depart by the beginning of March, and that a suitable Naval Force be provided for their Convoy as this Court shall hereafter Order. That Application be forthwith made to the Governments of New York, Pensilvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island to furnish their respective Quotas of Men and Vessels to Accompany or follow the Forces of this Province.
In the Name and by Order of the Committee
WM PEPPERELL
Resolution of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts.1
PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY
In the House of Representes Jan! 29. 1743.
Voted that Thomas Hutchinson Esq. be desired forthwith to repair to the Government of Rhode Island, and in the Name and behalf of this Government to do all in his Power to prevail on that Government or the Governour there to furnish and assist the intended Expedition against Cape Breton with as large a Land and Sea Force as possible, and that all imaginable Dispatch be given in this Affair.
GOVERNOR GREENE TO THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES.
February 5th A D. 1743.
Gentlemen of the House of Deputies
The only Reson of my calling you together at this Juncture was an Express I Recd on the first of this
1 Enclosed in Shirley's second letter of January 29, 1745.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Instant from his Excellency Gov' Shirley,1 concern- ing an Intended Expedition ; against Louisburg ; by which I am informed that province has already or- dered a proclamation to be issued forth, with proper Incoragement for the Inlistment of three thousand Volunteirs to be ready to proceed upon the Intended Expedition, by the first of March next and his Ex- cellency is pleased further to inform me that their General Court have ordered that Application shall be forthwith made to New York Pensylvania, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, as well as to this Col- ony for their assistance therein, and Earnestly desires that this Colony will do their full part or proportion both with men and Naval force, in Concert with them for Carrying on said Expedition, Either by joining their Forces, or soon following them, as You will see by the papers herewith presented.
Gentlemen.
I Recommend the whole affair to your wise Con- sideration, and doubt not but you will do every thing in this important affair that you in your wisdom shall judge most for the Honor and Interest of this Colony 2
I am Gentlemen
Your Most Obedient Humble Servant W. GREENE Gov"
1 See Shirley's two letters of January 29, 1745, with accompanying documents.
2 For the proceedings of the Assembly in answer to Shirley's appeal, see Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 100, 102 ; and also Greene's letter of February 8, 1745.
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Correspondence of the
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 12th month 6th day 174%.
Govern'. Green
I advised Thee some time since that a renewed Application had been made to the King in Council here pursuant to the Colonys former Address for Cannon and Stores for your Fortification and since that I reced from the Deputy Govern' a Fresh Ad- dress on that Subject; I sent over a Copy of the Report of the Boª of Ordinance and Estimate some time since1 which I hope has been received, and tho' I have not wrote much since if any thing at all about it, yet I have not been negligent in prosecut- ing the Application. I was sent for to attend the Lords Committee yesterday upon it who were desir- ous to inform themselves pretty fully about the State and Nature of the Case which I had a fair Oppor- tunity to do and which I hope was in some measure Satisfactory; But in as much as the Board of Ordi- nance took Notice in their Report that they had no Plan nor Profile of the Fort, they were not compe- tent Judges about it &cª so the Lords of the Com- mittee were not willing to do anything in it 'till such a Plan came over with a Certificate along with it (and as I apprehended) It shou'd be under the hands of the Govern' and Surveyor, somewhat agree- able to the inclosed Paper sent herewith to thee as a Form to write by, let it also be inserted what N.º of Cannon you have already, which I have intimated to them was about 12 Old Ones almost unfitt for
1 Enclosed in letter of 8ber (October) 12, 1744.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Service (as I was Informed) and 24 New Cannon which I sent over at the Cost of the Colony and also whereabouts it is intended to place these 20 Cannon now proposed to be sent You and how Accommo- dated. These things I find are requisite and when that is Done and sent me which shod be speedily, there seems to be Encouragem: from the Lords Com- mittee for the Colony to have their Request Granted. In the Course of the Application there was a neces- sity of Specifying the quantity of Cannon; as that was not mentioned in either of the Addresses - which was the reason of asking for 20 only, least the Demand shou'd have run too high in the Estimate.
12 month the 8th
Since the foregoing I have been surprised very much by being Inform'd by the Clerk of the Council that the Massachusetts Agent had presented a Peti- tion to the Lords President against the Lords Com- mittees Judgement 1 and Report upon our Hearings in the Cause of the Boundarys, desiring that before it was Confirmed by the King in Council something further might be considered upon it and praying for a Review that is in short for a New Commission to be Issued for a Rehearing beyond Sea, for they knew it was impossible to have it Reheard here and have got One of the Lords of the Committee to Counti- nance them as I am Informed - which is a thing hardly ever heard of before after such a Solemn hearing as has been in this Cause - and this they
1 Against the judgment given in December, 1744, by which the decision of the Com- mission of 1741 was confirmed.
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Correspondence of the
have Clandestinely and Artfully contrived to evade Justice, but we are preparing to be even with them if possible and hope we shall Render their Contriv- ances ineffectual. More of this in my next from Thy Assured Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
But this Opposition of theirs will run us to more Charge and no Remittance come yet
I wrote to thee also of the 14th and 16th ditto via New Castle
Ist month or March 25th 1745
There has been no general Council held lately so that the Affair of the Lords Comittees Judgm! and Report concerning the Boundary Cause lyes as it did, but the Measures we have taken may probably end it in Soliciting most of the Lords of the Com- mittee Seperately, particularly the Lord S- whom I may call the Massach's advocate with whom I had a fair opportunity and a pretty deal of discourse wherein I endeavourd to take off the edge of the prejudice he had imbibed agst our Colony and set forth the unreasonableness and inconveniencys wch woud attend such a president as was Petitiond for by our Adversarys in Postponing their Lordships Report after Such a Solemn Hearing &cª, and laid before the Lords Committee afterwards when they were sitting my Petition to them touching this Mat- ter (a Copy whereof I have already Sent thee) and that I hope upon the whole we shall be able to baffle our Atagonists, however I intend to leave no stone unturned to do it.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
As for the Paper Currency Bill depending in the House of Commons it lays dormant yet and nothing at all proceeded on hitherto.1 the House have at present their hands full of business before them of more Moment, particularly that of the Miscarriage of the Sea Engagemt with the French and Spaniards last years which they are very intent upon enquiring into the Cause of it by examining of Admiral Lestock and the Sea Officers.2
All the Powers at War are making great prepara- tions this Spring for prosecuting the War, and its expected there will be actually War proclaimed be- tween the French and the Dutch very Shortly. for the rest I refer to the Prints inclosed and those wch I send to And! Oliver of Boston for thee and remain with Respects to thy Self and the Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives
Thine and their assured faithfull ffriend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
the matter of Lockman lyes intirely dormant still. I shall be expecting from the Colony a Plan of their Fortifica &c. for me the better to obtain the Cannon &c. I deld Lord S-s when I was with him a Copy of that very good Letter which the Colony wrote to the Lords of Trade and Plantations of the 19. Jan'y 1740.3 for his Information of the State of Colonys Case as they are Circumstanced in general, wch I hope had a good effect, having heard nothing Since
1 See letter of November 3, 1744.
2 See note to letter of February 23, 1744.
3 See the document printed as of that date, on p. 131. Lord Sandys was the man whose interest it was desired to secure.
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Correspondence of the
of his Stirring against us, but to be Sure he argued agst us before as if he had been retained as Counsel for the Massach's by what I was informed.
27th ditto
Since the foregoing I have obtained a Copy of the late long Petition of the Massach's Agent to the Lords Committee against their Judgmt and Report of which I herewith send the a Copy where by thou willt see their Artfull Contrivance; which Petition we Shall obviate if Possible in order to get it set aside but it may be some time yet do what we can for it has not yet been read before the Lords.
R P.
To WILLIAM GREEN Esq. Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
GOVERNOR GREENE TO GOVERNOR SHIRLEY.
WARWICK Feb! 8 174% S.
upon Receiving your Excellencies Letter1 Con- cerning the Expedition against Louisburg I emedi- ately Called our Gen" Assembly and Communicated the whole affare to them in the best Manner I and his Majesties Counsell Could, and M: Hutchinson who Represented your province very presingly Urged the affare in our Lower house and after a long and Tedious Debate thereon they have ordered, 130
1 Of January 29, 1745.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
men to be Raised as Vollunteirs and our Country Sloop to be equiped1 in ord! to be ready to Join Your fources by the Sixth Day of march next, but have not ordered any land fources, notwithstanding the upper house Sundery times earnestly Insisted upon it
I am S: Your Humble Servant
WM GREENE
To his Exelency Gov: SHIRLEY
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 12 month gth 174.
Gov. Green
Since I sent away my packt for thee of yesterday I found I had left out this paper on the other Side, wch I then intended to inclose, as something of a Form to be certified properly and tackd to the Plan of the Fort to be sent me. and inclosed is like- wise a Copy of the order of the Lords Comittee 2 from
Thy assured Frd RD PARTRIDGE
To WILLM GREEN Esq. Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 100.
2 See Partridge's letter of February 6, 1745, and the two documents next following.
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Correspondence of the
FORM OF A PETITION TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.1
To the Right Honble the Lords Committee of his Majesty8 most Honble Privy Council for Plantation Affairs.
The Representation of the Gov! and Compa : of His Majestys Colony of Rhª Isld and Providence Plantations in America hum- bly Sheweth
That M !. Richard Partridge our Agent at. the Court of Great Britain hath informed us that he hath again lately made Applica- tion to his Majesty in Council upon our humble Address to his Majesty for the Grant of a Number of Cannon towards compleat- ing our Fortification which we have built at the Entrance of our Harbour of Newport in this Colony - and that your Lordships had been pleased to refer that matter to the Office of Ordinance for their Report and that a Report together with an Estimate had been thereupon made of 8 Cannon of 24 pounders, and 12 Can- non of 18 pounders with 50 Round of Shot and other Necessarys belonging thereto. But that in as much as a plan of our sd For- tification was wanting and found Necessary to have been taken and sent over to your Lordships before any thing could be done in that behalf,
We do therefore represent to your Lordships that we have caused an Accurate plan of our said Fortification to be taken by a proper Surveyor certified by the Govern" of our said Colony and the sª Surveyor under our common Seal, which is hereunto an- nexed
The Cannon proposed for us by the said Estimate of which we have received a Copy from our said Agent are of a due Size and Justly proportion'd as well as the other things necessary belong- ing thereto.
We begg leave on this Occasion to lay before your Lordships our Dangerous Situation during this war time, laying open and Exposed to the Invasion of the Enemy more than almost any other Colony on the Continent and being a Frontier to the pro- vince of the Massachusetts Bay.
That we have laid out £10,000 of our Currency which makes
1 Enclosed in Partridge's letter of 12 mo. (February) 9, 1745.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
in Sterling between 3 and £4000 in erecting our Fort besides about Seven hundred pounds in the purchase of some great Gunns, which considering the smallness of our Colony has been a very great Burthen upon the Inhabitants
That the sd Fort requiring at least 20 more Cannon with Stores proper for them, the Expence of which being more than this pro- vince can afford to lay out,
And as his Majesty has been pleased to Extend his Bounty to the Neighbouring Colonys perticularly to that large One of the Massachusetts Bay by granting 'em a Quantity of Cannon and Mortars amounting to about £4877,
It is therefore humbly prayed that your Lordships will be pleased to recommend the Distrest Case of this Colony to the King that we may not be Distinguised as the only Colony to which his Majesty's Royal Bounty has not been extended.
AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER WHITEHALL 1 the 5th Day of February 174 ;.
By a Committee of the Lords of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council for Plantation Affairs -
The Lords of the Committee this Day took into Consideration a Report made by the Board of Ordnance on the Petition of Rich- ard Partridge Agent for the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations praying for a Supply of Canon consisting of eight 24 Pounders and twelve 18 Pounders with Shot and Stores Proportionable for the Protection and Defence of the said Col- ony. And their Lordships observing that the said Board have reported that as they have no Plan or Profit of their Fort they are not competent Judges whether the Number and Nature of Guns demanded are either proper, sufficient or necessary for the same, The Lords of the Comtee do therefore hereby order that the s.ª Agent write over for an exact Plan of the said Fort and that he do lay the said Plan before this Committee when he shall have received the same
W. SHARPE
1 Enclosed in Partridge's letter of 12 mo. (February) 9, 1745.
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Correspondence of the
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 12 month the 14. 1743.
Gov'. Green
My last to thee was of the 8th Inst1 wherein I advised thee that the Massachts Agent had lodgd a Petition to the Lord Presid' in order to Stop the Judgmm: and Report of the Lords Committee for fixing the Boundary wch according to the Constant practice of Proceedings here I did not in the least doubt wod have soon been confirmed by the King in Council, but so it is and the said Pet" must now be read before the said L's Committee before any thing be further done upon it. wch Petition I hope will be rejected and that we may be even with our Opponts and Counter plot them if we can; I have been at the Duke of Dorsets the new Presid and delivered a Petition and an other also to Lord Ch. Justice Willes, with whom I had a fair opportunity of informing him of the Artful and Clandestine Endeav" used by the Massachts in the Case, wch am in hopes we may Suc- ceed in, however no stone shall be left unturnd in behalf of the Colony therein but it will be attended still with more Expence and no Remittances yet come to my hand. a Copy of my sª Petition comes inclosed. from
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