USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 25
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1 See enclosure.
2 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 117, 118.
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said Colony for the said Service, are and will be entitled to his Majesty's pay from the time of their respective Enlistments, and to be discharg'd from the same at the End of the present Expe- dition against the French Settlements on Cape Breton, or the sooner Arrival of his Majesty's said Ship Vigilant at Boston, in the same manner, as Seamen rais'd and to be rais'd within the province of the Massachusetts Bay for the aforesaid Service are and will be, to an equal Share of Prizes with them; and to the same privileges offer'd by the said Commodore Warren to any, who have been Deserters from any of his Majesty's Ships, as they are and will be.
Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Boston the 20th Day of June 1745.
W SHIRLEY.
CAPTAIN FONES TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
SLOOP TARTAR IN THE GUT OF CANSO 1 the 26th June 1745
Hond S?
I suppose you have e're now Recd my letter of the 7th Inst wherein I informed yo! honour of my being Stopt by a Council of war, Sea and Land officers in Concert. the reason of my being Sent to the Bay of Vert was to Intercept a Number of French and Indians that were To joyn the forces at Cape Breton on the 15th Ins! my Self with Two other Sloops Under my Command met with them ; as near as we Could guess Twelve hundª in Number in Famme Goose Bay; Their fleet Consisted of Two Sloops, Two Schooners one Shalloway and about fifty Indian Canoes but we with our Consorts gave
1 In 1746 this name was applied to the strait separating a group of islands opposite Canseau from the southeastern point of the peninsula of Nova Scotia. See map of the Sieur Bellin in Winsor, Narr. and Crit. Hist., V.
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them So warm a Reception killing some and wound- ing others; as Caus'd them To retire with precipi- tancy up Creeks out of our reach; and have been Cruizing for them Ever Since So that we hope we have Stopt them from going To Cape Breton.1
I have this day dispatch'd one of the Sloops To Cape Breton and hope in a few days To hear that the place is Taken. I am mighty Uneasey that I have had no News from y' honour ; wou'd begg of you To write me per the first Oportunity. - Through Gods Goodness I have lost none of my people.
I am honour'd S! y: hon's
Most humble Serv:
DANIEL FONES
GOVERNOR WANTON TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
Friend Partridge
You have herewith a Replication to the Vile Re- monstrance of Christopher Kilby Esq, Agent for the Province of the Mass. Bay,2 which Affair you are desired to get finished as Quick as possibly you can, and get the Decree passd upon the Report of the Right Honble the Lords of the Committee according to their Determination
The two Remittances of £150 and £550 was made in due Time according to the Advices given You, and shipped in Gold Dust and Bills of Exchange in the Eltham Man of War commanded by Cap: Philip
1 For a notice of this engagement and its significance, see note on p. 329.
2 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 121, for instructions of the Assembly to the Governor.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Durel sometime last Fall,1 being reckoned the safest Convayance, which Ship was stopp'd by Commodore Warren in the Service of the Expedition against Cape Breton, and not gone Home as yet, nor don't know when she will be released.
The Plan of the Fort could not be got Ready now to send to the Board of Ordnance,2 Because our Col- ony of late have been exceedingly busied in procuring to be raised 3 Companies of Foot Soldiers and about 80 Seamen to help Man the Ship Vigilant a French Ship of War of 64 Guns taken by Commodore War- ren off Louisbourg on Cape Breton, which are all em- barked for that Place.
You are desired by the General Assembly for the Future always when You write about the publick Affairs of the Government to superscribe Your Let- ters to the Governour and Company, and make no Personal Superscription, to avoid Letters being taken up by former Governours, For upon a new Election its Impossible for You to know Who is chosen, and being Personally directed may be taken up by a late Governour, of which We have had an Instance, and by this Method of Direction, the like will be pre- vented I am with Respects
Thy assured Friend
GIDEON WANTON
NEWPORT ON RHODE ISLAND 4 July 1745.
To M' RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
1 See letters of December 12 and 29, 1744.
2 The Assembly made arrangements for draughting a plan in the May session. Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 117.
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Correspondence of the
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO THE PENOBSCOT INDIANS.1
BOSTON July 12th 1745.
Good Friends,
As We have Agreed to give one another Advice of all that happens, I now Acquaint you that Heaven has favour'd our Righteous Cause against the French who have unjustly made War upon us, And Louis- bourg with the Island of Cape Breton was the 17th of June last delivered into our hands, where we have now 4000, Soldiers Masters of the place, and ten large men of War besides many smaller Ships of War there, and We have also taken a large Man of War from the French carrying near Seventy Gunns,2 and between Five and Six hundred Men besides a great Number of Merchant Vessells, and We have now brought to Boston above Seven hundred French Prisoners, and above Two Thousand French Prison- ers at Louisbourg and aboard our Ships of War will Be sent home to France immediately, This Intel- ligence We send you that you may not be deluded by the French or St Johns and Nova Scotia Indians that may Sollicit you to break your Friendship with us to your own Ruin, We have been your faithful Friends and your Traffick with us has been much more for your Advantage than your Trade with the French and you may still live Easy with us and free from the distress and danger of War if you please but if not and you will let the French and
1 A tribe of the eastern Abenaki Indians. Most of them had been converted by French missionaries and persuaded to remove to Canada; those remaining were to a greater or less extent under French influence. Parkman, A Half Century of Con- flict, I. 34, 92.
2 The Vigilant, of 64 guns.
1
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the Indians in their Interest Deceive and Seduce You and you will perfidiously break your Solemn League with us, We doubt not but the Great God Who is the Avenger of all such Wickedness And has So remarkably Punished our Treacherous Enemys the French will stand by us and give us Success for the Punishing your perfidiousness, but if you are willing to Enjoy the benefits of peace with us we shall Expect that you will send two or three of your chief Captains To Confirm the Friendship between us, and if any of your People stand in fear of the French and therefore want protection for themselves and their Familys and will come up to Boston we will take Care of them. I Expect that you send me your Answer without delay.
I Remain your good Friend W SHIRLEY
To the Sachem and others of the Penobscot and Norridgwalk Indians.1
Copy Examª per J WILLARD Secretary.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON 5 month the 18 : 1745
Governour Wanton
I wrote thee on the 2ª Inst the needfull relating to the Affairs of the Colony to which I refer, all wch remain here still in the Same Scituation.
I have lately recd a lett' via Hollª from Jos. Whip-
1 Norridgewocks, also a tribe of the Abenakis. See previous note.
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Correspondence of the
ple Esq: dat 15, May advising of a Remittance made to me of abot £700 Sts per the Eltham Man of War Cap: Durell but that the same was gone to favour the Expedition at Cape Briton, So that it will be some time yet before it comes to hand, in the mean time we must wait with Patience, acknowledging the Col- onys favourable Regards Towards me.
Here is an Express lately arrived to the Lds of the Admiralty from Boston of the Ist June giving Some accot of the progress of the said Expedition, about wch the Ministry and People here are mighty Intent and fond off, looking upon it of very great Conse- quence to this Kingdom as well as to our Plantations, and therefore are very much pleased with the New England People for Undertaking it : but I have had it several times thrown at me as if Rhode Island wou'd contribute very little if any thing at all towards it, And very lately as if they were so far from affording their Assistance that when the Sailors belonging to the Kings Men of War or other Ships of War had deserted and got into Rhode Island Government they were there harboured and protected that the Captains they belonged to cou'd not get them again, and that Commodore Warren had writt over Com- plaints of this Nature;1 if these things shou'd prove true it may make up hill work for me, both at Court and Parliament, but I hope otherwise however I. looked upon it my Duty to advise thee of it.
As to Publick News the King remains still at Hannover; Affairs as to the Land War go on still badly on our Side, unless it be on the Rhine in Ger-
1 See Shirley's letter of June 6 to Wanton, in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 136.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
many where they say the Queen of Hungarys forces have very lately obtained some considerable Advan- tages over the French Army under Prince Conti. I am Thy Assured Friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
To GIDEON WANTON Esq. Governour of Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations New Englª
CAPTAIN FONES TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
SLOOP TARTAR IN LEWISBOURG HARBR July 23 : 1745
I wrote you per Cap: Tyng1 wherein I inform'd you of the Rect of y' letter; as you have orderd me To wait the Commodores pleasure I wonder that you did not Send me provisions.2 I am out of Stores of every kind and my people almost Naked; Since my last Two of my hands are dead and Several others Sick. you Cant but know that provisions here are extravagantly dear and Scarce.
pleas to favour me with a line per first Oportunity. I am Honour'd S!
Y: Humble Serv:
DALL FONES
To the Honourable GIDEON WANTON Esq. Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island
1 Captain Edward Tyng, of the Massachusetts, of 24 guns, and commander of the fleet of that province.
2 The Assembly in August voted that Captain Fones should be directed to purchase necessaries at the best rate possible. Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 124.
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Correspondence of the
CAPTAIN FONES TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LEWISBOURG HARBR [July] 26. 1745
Hond S.
Since my Last I am Obliged To Land my Sick (which are now on Board) which I'm afraid will hurt them very much. although 4 Sworn Masters of Ships, were Yesterday Sent on Board to View our Sloop and made Return that the Jibb and fore Stay 3 of the Shrouds the Main Sheet and all the Running Rigging is Ineffectual and good for Nothing. Yet Nevertheless I am hurried away To the Island of St Johns wth 70 Men of wars men what the Consequence may be God knows. I am to Convoy a Number of Vessels with Soldiers To demand the Inhabitants of St Johns To Surrender the Island To the King of great Britain.1 I am Honour'd S.
y: most humble Serv.
DALL FONES
To the honourable GIDEON WANTON Esq! Governour and Command! in Chief of the Col- ony of Rhode Island
1 Arnold (History of Rhode Island, II. 150) makes the statement that " four hun- dred men were sent from Louisbourg under convoy of the Tartar, against St. John's, on Prince Edward Island, which immediately surrendered." Haliburton (History of Nova Scotia, I. 123) says that the Island St. John's, since called Prince Edward's Island, was taken by the English in July, which is doubtless correct. Bourinot gives the island the name of St. Jean in his Cape Breton. See map opposite page 61.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON 5 month the 23. 1745
Govern Wanton
I wrote thee of the 18th Inst of the Colonys Affairs &cª to wch I refer, Since that there has been a Cause heard before the Lds Commse of Council (in some measure Similar to the Circumstances of our Bound- ary Cause) at wch my Sol' and I attendd which was decided in such a manner that I think it will serve as a good Precedent for us and therefore I am not sorry the Petition of the Massachts Agent was not pushed on to a Hearing before the sd Cause was over, for that I am in great hopes of our reaping at least some benefit by it. And now I have writt to the Clerk of the Council agreeable to the Copy of my Letter above,1 wch I send thee to demonstrate that we are not negligent in prosecuting the Affair in such a manner as is consistant with prudence to obtain if possible the desired Effect.
I have also as thou willt see wrote to the Said Clerk of the Council in vindication as well as I could of the Colony from the aspertions cast upon them in the matter of the Expedition agst Cape Briton, for it was he that first informed me of the Report, and the Answer therein given he seemd to take well and reckond it necessary.
I wish thou coudst get a few lines from Com! War- ren and send me in Justification of the Colony to take off the edge of those aspertions wch I beleive
1 See the following document. Also Wanton's letter of July 26, and Partridge's of 6 mo. (August) 8, 1745.
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Correspondence of the
has been spread abroad by Agent Kilby here, and perhaps the Boston People too may have falsly pre- possest Com! Warren to make him write home as he did (if he wrote any thing at all about it). this I looked upon as my duty to advertize thee off in time that I may receive thy Answer wth a further Vindi- cation.1
Possibly some designing People may (as I have heard) been traducing me too to the People of the Colony As if I were not true to the Trust they had reposed in me.
If any such Reports shª have been out I almost assure my Self from the Experience the Colony have had of my fidelity so many years that they cannot gain any Credit with the Gentlemen of the Adminis- tration, for it is so rediculous in itself that I hardly thought it hardly worth my while to take notice off. I do assure thee that I have no design to do any thing to the prejudice of the Colony or to endeavour to vacate or alter the Constitution or Privilidges of yo! Charter directly or indirectly or to take any Steps of that kind I never did, nor had I ever any such thoughts harbourd in my breast; but have always endeavourd to vindicate and Support the said Col- onys Rights and Priviledges, and I challenge the greatest of my Enemys to make the Contrary appear. On the 20 Inst Capt Montague arrivd Express from Cape Briton wth an accot of the Surrender of that Place to the English to the great Rejoycing of the
1 The Assembly had already, in June, taken measures to vindicate the somewhat cautious attitude of Rhode Island toward the Cape Breton expedition. See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 123, and letter of Wanton to Partridge, July 26, 1745.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
People here and we have need of it (as they say) for our Affairs go but in differently on as to the Land War. I am wth respects to thy Self and the Gentle- men of the Council and House of Representatives Thy and their ffaithfull ffrd
RP PARTRIDGE
The Governmt are about to send Ships for 1600 Land forces to carry to Cape Briton 1
To GIDEON WANTON Esq"
Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO WILLIAM SHARPE.2
LONDON 5 month the 22. 1745
Friend Wm Sharpe
As the Maidstone Cause 3 lately heard before the Lds Comee of Council was thought to be something of a Similar Case wth ours respecting the Circum- stance of our Bounda Cause, And in as much as the Lords absolutely refused to Suffer their Judgmt to be broke in upon : I think it makes greatly for us as being a good precedent, from whence we may con- clude that they will not permit any Review or rehear- ing to be allowed in ours. I therefore intreat that thou wodst exert thy Self that our Report may be no
1 This rumor did not prove to be well founded.
2 Enclosed with letter of July 23, 1745.
3 In 1740 or 1741 the corporation of Maidstone was dissolved by a judgment of the Court of King's Bench on information of quo warranto. Efforts were made in 1743 to secure a fresh charter, but were at that time ineffectual. Hasted, History of Kent, II. 106 ; Russell, History of Maidstone, 204, 205.
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Correspondence of the
longer postponed but confirmed by the Lords Jus- tices in Council wch I shall esteem as the greatest of favours from thee.
as to the Report lately advanced against the Rhode Isld Colony that [they] no ways Contributed their assistance in the Expedition agt Cape Briton : depend upon it it is absolutely false, for that altho' they had no Orders about it from Great Britain and con- sequently it cod be no disobedience or disrespect in them to the Crown, yet in the first place it is notori- ous and apparent from the Publick acco's lately come over that there was an Armed Sloop of War belong- ing to Rhd Island at Cape Briton with our Ships when the Place was taken, and I am credibly in- formed that the Colony Actually raised 150. Men for that Service besides, and that the Merch's of Rhode Island advanced {8000. amongst themselves for the said Expedition and that a 20 gun Ship was hired by them wch they employd in that Service
And as to the other Story of their harbouring and protecting the Men of Wars Men and not suffering them to be taken and restored to their proper Ships,1 I doubt not but it will prove to be equally false and at this time propagated by our Enemys to serve some Sinister view. I desire therefore the favour of thee to contradict those malicious Reports wheresoever thou mayst meet with them, wch will be doing Jus- tice to the Injured and oblige
Thy Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
1 See note to letter of July 18, 1745.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
CAPTAIN MUMFORD AND OTHERS TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
May it Please Your Honour
These waits on you per Cap: Griffith and Serves to Acquaint you that we are Save arrived here And are Received as part of the army by a Counsel of war And as we ware not here at the beginning of the Seage it is thought that we must be Obliged to Stay here all Winter. Therefore the General Ad- vised us to Inform Your Hon! it is absolutely Neces- sary to have Twelf Months provisions Sent to us as soon as possible For it is Expected That we Shall have a Vigeros Atack Early in the Spring so that we must Earnestly Desire That these things men- tioned in the InClosed Invoice May be Sent to us : We also Desire to know in what Manner our Sol- diers must be paid for their will soon be a months pay due to them. as for News we must Refer your Hon! to the Publick prints by Reason they have it from more Capable hands. Saving that Yesterday here was a french East Indeaman appeard of this harbour and the Commodore Sent out Two Sixty Guns Shipps affter her. The princes Mary Came up With her first and gave her a Broad Side and She Struck without firing a Gun She is a forty Gun Shipp and is thought to be worth Three Hundred
1 Captain of the first of the three companies noted in May, 1745. See Arnold, History of Rhode Island, II. 147, and Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 121, 123, 125.
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Correspondence of the
Thousand pound Sterling.1 We are your Hon's Most obedient and Humle Servis
RP MUMFORD WILLIAM SMITH JOSHUA CHAMPLIN
LEWISBOURG July 24 1745
To The Honourable GIDEON WANTON Esq. Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island
COMMODORE WARREN TO GOVERNOR WANTON.2
Sir
LOUISBOURG July 25. 1745
I have the pleasure to tell you, that two of my Squadron, have taken a Rich East India Ship, and that we propose to sell her Cargo here, if the Mer- chants will come from the Collony to purchase it.
Herewith I Inclose you an advertisement,3 which I desire you will get Printed, and distributed about your Government, in order to the peoples being here in time as the Season is now far advanc'd.
I am in daily expectation of the Provisions and men, that I wrote to you for, for the protection of this Important Garrison.
I am with great Regard S. Y! Most Obedient humble Servant
P WARREN
Honble GIDEON WANTON Esq.
1 See Warren's letter of July 25, 1745.
2 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 139.
3 See enclosure.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
[Enclosure.]
LOUISBOURG July 25th 1745
Whereas a very valuable French East India Ship from Bengal called the Charmont, was lately taken by Two of his Majesty's Ships of Commodore War- rens Squadron, and is brought into this Port, having on board a large Quantity of Muslins of various Sorts, plain and embroidered, and all other Sorts of Cottons, a large Quantity of Handkerchiefs of vari- ous Sorts for men and Women, plain and embroid- ered, Seersuccers, a large Quantity of raw Silk and Kirman Wool, Table Linnen, a large Quantity of pepper, and a variety of other valuable Merchandise yet unknown - This is to notifie all persons inclin- ing to purchase any of said Goods, that the above mentioned Ship and Cargo will be condemned in this port, and the Sale of said Cargo will begin in about a Month from this Date
P WARREN
GOVERNOR WANTON TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
NEWPORT July 26th 1745
S",
As the Agent for the Province of the Massachu- sett's Bay has been very liberal in his Aspersions against this Colony and as we suspect that he will misrepresent our Conduct in Regard to the Cape Breton Expedition the General Assembly have di- rected that a true Account of what We have done be given You and that You be inform'd of those Cir-
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Correspondence of the
cumstances that will justify our Conduct and which You are to make Use of to vindicate Us if there be Occasion.1
It is well known this Colony has always distin- guis'd it self by it's Zeal and Readiness in all Expe- ditions directed by the Crown, and has ever sent more than it's equal Proportion of men, as in the Expeditions against Canada and Port Royal formerly, and now lately in the Expedition to Carthagena we just sent as many Companies as Connecticut tho' so much larger than this Colony, and afterwards sent fifty Recruits and were raising more when ordered to disband them.
The Reduction of Louisbourgh We always Under- stood to be of very great Importance to the british Plantations and Commerce, and therefore expected and hoped it would be undertaken in the Course of this War; but we thought it too difficult and expen- sive for New-England alone, the Scheme You sent Us over in the Fall, We understood to be under the Consideration of the Ministry,2 but as we had receiv'd no Intimation that it was approved of, and no Orders about it, We were surpris'd with the news that the Province had voted to undertake the Conquest of Cape Breton, without previously consulting their Neighbours. At first while it was supposed the Governor of Boston had secret Instructions to raise Men and an Assurance of a sufficient Addition of Sea and land Forces from England, People were
1 See letter of July 23, 1745, and Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 123.
2 Auchmuty's Importance of Cape Breton to the British Nation, and a Plan for taking the Place.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
very sanguine and zealous in the Affair, but when it appeared that he had no Orders at all, nor so much as a discretionary Power to stop some of his Majesty's Ships then at Boston ; and which seem'd of the last Importance to the blocking up the Har- bour, when it did not appear he was assured the Ministry approv'd of the Undertaking at present or had made Provision to carry it on, or whether the State of Affairs would permit the sending such a Force as seem'd necessary to render it succesfull, Who can Wonder if we were afraid to precipitate the affair, which must needs have been of the most fatal Con- sequence if it had fail'd, and discourage and disable Us from assisting again if the Crown should think fit to direct such an Expedition. And we are well assured that the Expedition was carry'd but by one single Vote in the House of Representatives at Boston.1
The Scheme laid before the Assembly supposed the Concurrence of many Accidents, the Conse- quences of any one of which failing would be fatal, the Pretence to surprise such a Town at such a Dis- tance with such a Fleet and army appear'd to Us as it has since prov'd a most vain Expectation and the keeping out Supplies from the Enemy was as impos- sible with any Force could be rais'd in New-England without the Assistance of some Men of War, two french Men of War of fifty four and sixty Guns were expected early in the Spring against which we
1 Such was the fact, and Parkman relates that a tie was only avoided by a member of the opposition falling and breaking a leg as he was hastening to the House to record his vote. A Half Century of Conflict, II. 88.
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Correspondence of the
had nothing to oppose but small Vessels from ten to twenty Guns; And it is now universally own'd that had one sixty Gun Ship got into the Harbour of Louisbourgh, the whole Scheme would have fail'd, if our Fleet had not been destroyed and perhaps our whole Land-Army made Prisoners at Cape-Breton Island It is also acknowledg'd that if Commodore Warren had not been ordered to protect Anapolis from the french Invasion, all the Men of War that were or could be ordered on this Expedition would have come too late, so that the success is now by every Body allow'd to be merely providential. Be- sides as there was not to be one experienc'd Officer or Soldier that had been used to military operations nor one Engineer in the whole Army, We could not avoid reflecting on the fatal miscarriages at Augus- tine and Carthagena and also on the Failing of the first Expeditions against Port-Royal and Canada. We had no Scruple of the natural Courage good Sense, Zeal, Activity and Integrity of the General and Army, but we had heard of the Difference be- tween raw and inexperienc'd Men and regular Forces; And we knew our People were ignorant of the Art of incamping and besieging Towns. Louisbourgh was known to be very strong and to have a Garrison of regular Troops besides the Inhabitants, Who on such an Occasion must be reckon'd for Soldiers as well as our own People.
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