USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 6
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
bly of his Majesties Colony of Rd Island &c by your humble Servant
R WARD
[Endorsed :] Copy of Letter to Massachusetts abt the Line.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR JENCKS.
LONDON 6mo. the 23ª 1731
Col. Jencks
I writt thee of the 29th 4 mo. last to which I referr. this now comes chiefly to accompany my acc" in the late Affair relating to opposing the Sugar Bill1 which besides what the N. Engª Agent paid amounts to £221.12.10. 2/3ds whereof I charge to the Colony of Rh.ª Island being £147.15.3. the rema! 1/3 to New- Jersies. I was indeed surprized at the Sollicit" Bill when it was brought in, it being as much again as I expected, but I dont know how to remedie it now; the Council Fees wch Fra : Wilks2 paid in this Busi- ness was upwds of 100 guinys besides what I paid, none of which fees of his Council I would admitt to be brought into my acc't, so that I savd considerable that way. I shª be glad to know if the colony wd have me oppose it again next Sessions for I am in-
1 The Sugar Bill referred to was enacted in 1733 (6 George II. c. 13), after two years of discussion. A petition against it, from Rhode Island (1733), was refused by the House of Commons on the ground that the Act was a money-bill. (Parl. Hist., VIII. 1261.) It was intended to help the West India colonies, and imposed a duty of 6d. per gallon on molasses, 9d. per gallon on rum, 5s. per hundredweight on sugar imported from foreign colonies into the British plantations. It was imposed for three years, and extended by successive enactments. In 1764, the duties of the old Act were reduced one half, but other commodities were burdened.
2 Agent for the colony of Connecticut, and later for Massachusetts.
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formd the Barbadians will certainly have an other push for it then.
I am with due respects
Thy faithful frd
RICHP PARTRIDGE
I believe the Barbads people would give or expend at lest {2000 sterl: to obtain their end.
To Ball of my last acct due to me Es II 3 0
To 2/3ds of the charg in opposing the Sug: Bill
145 15 3
due to R. P. 156 15 3
To JOSEPH JENCKS Esq!
Govern! of Rhoad Island and Providence Plan- tations
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO DEPUTY-GOVERNOR WANTON.1
LONDON Feb! 4 173}.
John Wanton2
Lo. Friend I recd the Letter from the council of Rhode Island, without Date, relating to a controversy arising in your Colony about the Act for Emitting Sixty Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit. I have also another from Samuel Vernon and other Assist- ants of the 12th of September last and one Since from the Speaker and Secretary in Behalf of the Gen-
1 Copied from the Foster Papers, II. 147, in the Rhode Island Historical Society.
2 John Wanton was deputy-governor of Rhode Island in 1721 and from 1729 to 1734, when, upon the death of his brother, Governor William Wanton, he was elected to the vacant place, and served the colony as governor until his death, in 1742.
2 I
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
eral Court of the Second of Nov! upon the aforesaid Subject.1
I [am] very Sorry that any such Difference should have happened for if prosecuted here I doubt it will be a Means of laying ourselves open and be attended with ill Consequences from such who are no Friends to the Northern Colonies for preventing of which nothing shall be wanting on my part for the Good of the Government.
When the 2 first Letters come I was gone a Jour- ney to my Daughters in the Country and T. Sand- ford 2 delivered the Representation Nº I. which was lodged at the Board of Trade and the other Two at the Duke of Newcastles office of all which I have obtained Copies which comes herewith (the Names excepted)
Those at the Dukes Office an Order of Referrence was made on them to the Board of Trade But I used my Endeavour that they might be stopped from being carried to the Office or prosecuted indeed any further. I acquainting Sandford I was in hopes the Difference might be made up and ended in the Country And that We might expect such Notice I hoped in a Little Time &c. at length came Gov: Jenckes's Letter to him not to deliver his Petition (if it was not done already), But he says as it was delivered and a Referrence thereon to the Board of Trade he must proceed having given his Promise to
1 These documents are not in the archives. For a notice of the controversy referred to, see p. xxiv of the Introduction.
2 Thomas Sandford, a London merchant doing business for the colony, to whom the complaints from Rhode Island were sent. Arnold, History of Rhode Island, II. 105.
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the Gentle who writ to him about it I told him the Speaker and Secretary of the Colony writ Me as from the General Court. That the Gov! had writ him not only not to deliver the Petition if it was not already dd, but if it was delivered not to prosecute it which he denyed alledging he had no such Order not to prosecute if it was dd. I entreated him all I could to forbear at least till he had heard again from Rhode Island setting forth the Ill Tendency it might be of to the Colony and writ him a Letter Also a Copy whereof comes inclosed.1 And all I could get from him was he would keep it a little longer by him from carrying it to the Board of Trade But am afraid shall not be able to prevail with him to forbear long. If I cannot I shall do the best I can in opposing it and vindicate the Colony in the best Manner I am able. My Endeavour however having had some Effect in keeping it hitherto back will be of Service for the Lords of Trade are drawing up a Representa- tion of the State of the Plantations to lay before the House of Commons which will be I believe presented in 3 or 4 Days at farthest and they will not have the Opportunity of Misrepresenting us to such a Degree as if the Governors Petition and the Referrence was actually before them, I wish the Gentlemen (many of whom are my Friends too) would duly [appreci- ate] the evil Tendency and bad Consequences of this their Undertaking and were thoroughly Sensible of the valuable Privileges they enjoy above many Provinces in our Plantations. I am of opinion they would then not set so light by them which if
1 See the following document.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
by these Means should be lost, I dare engage they would heartily repent of their Rashness when too late.
I am gratefully to acknowledge the due Care the Colony has taken for my Supply. Having receivd the Two Hundred Pounds Sterling remitted Me by Bill of Exchange and the Forty Three Ounces of Gold all from George Goulding and Jos. Whipple 1 which I give the Colony Credit for and shall give a sure Account of
The West India Gentlemen are not quiet yet, but as We expected have began again in the House of Commons who have already ordered a Bill to be brought in for the better securing and encouraging the Trade of the Sugar Colonies 2 &c which was read a first Time and ordered to be read a second Time the 15th Instant against which Time I shall Petition in Behalf of Rhode Island and oppose it what I can. There are three Petitions against the Bill read yes- terday.
The New York People having no Agent here at present have sent over this year to oppose such an Act from passing and committed the Care of it to certain Merchants here who have spoke to Me to assist in the present Case which I agreed to and assisted in drawing up their Case, one whereof I send inclosed. In the present Bill they have left out the Restriction of sending Horses and Lumber to the Foreign Plantations but we think in a Manner this is as bad as the old Bill for to what Purpose will it be to
1 See vote of the Assembly in Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 462.
2 See note to letter of 6 mo. (August) 23, 1731.
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Correspondence of the
have Liberty to send away our Commodities if we cannot have Returns for them? What Success we shall have I know not but I believe it will be a hard Struggle. We have lost our best Evidence this Time Cap" Fair Hall he being won over by the Berbadions to their Side by being appointed Secretary to that Island a confidential Post which is certainly owing to the Opportunity he had in appearing for us last year. I am with due Respects to the General Court Their Faithful Friend
R. PARTRIDGE
[Note appended. - " The Foregoing Letter is copied from the Original, in the Handwriting of M! Partridge. I passed the Day at the House of Moses Brown Esq. in Providence, on Monday, September 12th, 1815. when he lent Me the said Letter, with the Copies mentioned in it, of Gov !. Jenckes's Petition to the King, The Petition from Newport to the King, and M' Partridge's Letters to Thos. Sandford and John Wanton, all which had been left in the Grand Committee's Office kept by those who signed the Bills of Public Credit, from which office M' Brown rescued them."]
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO THOMAS SANDFORD.1
LONDON 12™º 2ª 1731 Thos Sandford,2
I must once more entreat Thee to forbear deliver- ing the Petition of Governor Jenckes to the Lords of Trade though there be a Referrence upon it from the Secretary of States Office For it is like to prove of very ill Consequence to the Colony of Rhode Island if it should be, and I think thou mayst be very very well Justified in keeping it till thou writest to the Governor and hast recd his further Directions
1 Copied from the Foster Papers, II. 146, in the Rhode Island Historical Society. Sent to Deputy-Governor Wanton in Partridge's letter of February 4, 1733.
2 See note on p. 22.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
therein, for his Writing thee to keep it if not yet deliverd because [of] these Words being in it (Viz!) " That of his Majestys Determining whether the Gov- ernor of this Colony has a Negative Vote in the Gen- eral Assembly or not" shews his Inadvertancy as to that Particular, and that he had rather it should be left out and indeed should that now come in Dispute here it might have a very ill Effect as it may happen in Respect to former Acts as well as what relates to a late Act pass'd there and put the Colony in Con- fusion, which no doubt the Governor was sensible of made him change his Mind and inasmuch as thou hast the Petition still by thee I entreat thee to keep it till thou hast his Answer otherwise it will not only affect and prejudice the Colony in General but even those particular Persons themselves who joined with the Governor in it. thy Favour herein will be a great Service to the Colony and an Obligation on Thy Friend RICHP PARTRIDGE.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO DEPUTY-GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON 3ª mo. the 3. 1732. My ffrd John Wanton
In my last to thee of the 6 ult I gave thee some acct relating to the passing the Sugar Bill1 in the House of Commons and that it was card up to the Lords where we followd it and petitiond against it, where also after many appointmts and some Hearings we appeard with Council for the last time, which was
1 See note on p. 19.
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Correspondence of the
the 25th past. I think the Council had attended for the other several northern Colonies and were paid 5 pounds at least, who were Sergeant Darnel,1 Coun- cil' Strange 2 and Rider,3 and myself for the Colonies I represent, the 2 first Council were heard at the Bar of the House of Lords some time since, and the last day Rider and myself only, and after that 3 of our witnesses only out of 10 or 12 were examind, and then we were ordd to withdraw, upon wch the Lords adjournd the further Consideration of the affair for 8 days and before the time came about put it off again for a month without so much as hearing one of the Council plead on the other side in favour of the Bill, so that there is an end of it for this year.
I am in hopes the West India Gentlemen now have enough of it that they will scarce give us any further trouble an other Sessions. I will not say my appearing as Council was the occasion of our Suc- cess, but this I beleive none will deny but the Lords gave as due attention to it as to any of the Council that went before and that after that day would hear no more of it, concluding that it was a Bill not fitt to pass. but I am told that it is intended next Sessions of Parliamt to lay a duty on Foreign Rum and Molas- ses imported into our North" Colonies to prevent wch, Esq Oglethorpe 4 a member of the house of
1 Probably Sir John Darnall, a successful lawyer, who was made sergeant-at-law in 1714, and knighted in 1724. He died in 1735.
2 Sir John Strange (1696-1754), called to the bar in 1718, King's counsel in 1736, solicitor-general from 1737-1742, and master of the rolls and member of the privy council in 1750. Strange's Reports were published after his death by his son. Five editions were printed.
8 Sir Dudley Ryder (1691-1756), made solicitor-general in 1733, attorney-general in 1737, and lord chief justice of the King's Bench in 1754.
4 James Oglethorpe, member for Haslemere, and founder of the colony of Georgia.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Commons (with whom I have lately had a pretty deal of discourse and who is our hearty Friend) thinks it most advisable for the Northern Colonies to do it first themselves, but this must be left to your consideration whether you will do it or try our Suc- cess again in the opposition of Such a Bill if it Should be brought into the House; Our opposition in the Course of the Affair this Sessions was attended with the more difficulty in that the Ministry wth S! R- W- _1 appeard on the divission in the House of Commons against us, and Capt Hall who was a good Witness for us last Year deserted us and was drawn over to the side of the West India Gentlem" against us and indeed we were once very apprehensive and had heard the Lords intended to pass the Bill for 3 Years and that the West Indians had some assurances given them it shod, but these difficulties great as they appeard we have at length surmounted and I think I may venture to say fairly beat them out of it. the Expense has been pretty large a great deale more than last year but is now born among Six Agents of us on our side so that my part will be less than last year. I must pay part of Council fees at the House of Comons, but I save all that at the Lords -for I employd none, yet hope our Colony will not think it amiss if I charge some thing of that article for myself.
As for the affair of the Complaints agst Rhª Island, the Lds of Trade have referrd the papers wch relate to them to the Attourney and Sollicit" General for
1 Sir Robert Walpole, First Lord of the Treasury and leader of the House of Com- mons.
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Correspondence of the
their opinion 1 and I have directed my Soll: to draw up a Case and attend them upon it and who must each have a suitable fee, there are some Queries of Govern' Jencks wch I have not yet got a Coppy of, but before any thing be done the attourny General is of opinion we ought to have them, and I dont think it will be speedily Issued, tho' it may be attended with Expenses and trouble, but my diligence shall not be wanting to serve the Colony to my utmost, hopeing after all nothing will come of it in prejudice of our Charter.
I am with due respects to the Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives
Thy faithfull friend RICHP PARTRIDGE
As my trouble in attending and serving the Colony Interest is considerable I will referr mySelf to them whether they will judge me deserving of their advan- cing [my] Salary or not, and thy good offices herein shall be gratefully acknowledged. R P.
To JOHN WANTON Esq Deputy Govern! of Rhoad Island and Provi- dence Plantations
1 See note to letter of July 10, 1732.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
JOSEPH JENCKS1 TO THE GOVERNOR, COUNCIL, AND HOUSE OF DEPUTIES.
To the Honble the Gov. Council and house of Deputys Gentmen
I being Now just upon removing to my own habi- tation, and not Expecting ever to meet with any of you in this place again 2 do acct it my duty with the greatest regard to Take my Leve of you, and I can truely Say it is my hearty desire that not only your- Selves but also Such others as may Succeed you in the Same Station you are Now in, May concert Such mesures as may (with the blesing of him that rules and governs all things) prove an Expedient to pre- serve and maintaine the Honour Interest and in Esti- mable privilidges this Colony now Injoys.
And, Gentmen, I further desire that you will be pleased to appoint Some Sutable persons to Receive the Charter and Such other writings as are now in my keeping and do properly belong to the Colony.
And also that your Honours will please now to order what you See cause to allow me for my Last years Service.3 All which will greatly oblige him who is Gentmen
y" Hon's very humble Servt J JENCKS
NEWP" may 4th 1732
. 1 After five years of service as governor, Joseph Jencks incurred the displeasure of the Assembly by his veto of a paper money bill, and lost the next election.
2 Jencks was required to reside in Newport while governor of the colony.
8 The Assembly voted him £300. See Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 470.
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Correspondence of the
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WILLIAM WANTON.1
LOND. 5th mo. or July 10. 1732
Col. Wanton
Thine and the Speakers letts dated the 17. May together with the Inclosures I have recd. wch with what we had before will furnish us with answers to the Complaints 2 that are made against the Colony as much as is necessary. that affair lyes yet with the Attourny and Soll! General for their Opinion, and there I am apt to think it is like to lay for some time, tho' the Board of Trade recomended Expedition to them, and before ever they make any Report I ex- pect we shall have due notice to attend (I mean the Attourny and Solicitor General,) thou mayst depend that I, with my Soliciter will do our utmost in vin- dicating the Colony and asserting their Rights and Privileges and hope we shall be able to maintain them, tho' it will be attended with considerable Ex- pence, the Lords of Trade I doubt not are glad of any opportunity to lay hold off an advantage against the Charter Governments that if possible they may be resumd to the Crown. for I dont take them to be Friends to our Northern Colonies at all.
Inclosed I now send thee Copys of the Complain- ants' Address to the King and their Representations
1 For an account of the Wanton family, see p. xxv of the Introduction.
2 A Memorial against the issue of bills of credit, in 1731, was forwarded to the Lords of Trade, and petitions were sent from Governor Jencks and from the inhabit- ants of Rhode Island to the King. The matter was referred to Attorney-General Yorke and Solicitor-General Talbot, who gave (as is well known) the opinion that neither the governor of Rhode Island nor the King had power to annul or repeal an act of the General Assembly. Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 457-461, and Arnold's History of the State of Rhode Island, II. 108.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
to the Board of Trade, wch as I remember are the very individual I had from the Offices here and of wch I sent Copys before to the Deputy Gov: except only the names were then not added; 1 wch I omitted hoping the matter might have been accomodated among yo'Selves I am glad the late Gov' Jencks has ordª all prosecution in his name to cease I hope it will weaken their Cause and I shall not faile to make the proper use of it. T : Sanford has got the sd Jencks letter and I doubt not but he will duely observe it.
Inclosed is my acct with the Colony the Ballance where of being {II I IO. in their favour, so that there will be a further necessity of making me remittance wch I doubt not off : and in the mean time no mony shall be wanting necessary in our Cause -: I could not charge New Jersie with their proportion of Ex- pence this year against the Sugar Bill having never yet their perticular orders about that Affair neither have they yet paid me what I was out of Pocket for their Part last year, the Ballce of their last acct being upwds of Two hund pounds Sterl due to me so I hope yo! Colony will not think much of my not bringing in the Jersies this Year as last: I believe it cost N. York People this Sessions in the very same Affair upwards of {200 St! and New Engld near £ 300.
I am with due respects to thy Self and the Gentle- men of the Council and House of Representatives Their Faithfull friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
1 See letter of February 4, 1732.
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Correspondence of the
THE COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS TO GOVERNOR WANTON. S.
The Bearer hereof John Peagrum 1 Esq. being De- puted by Us pursuant to a Warrant from the Lords Commiss's of the Treasury to be Surveyor General of the Northern part of the Continent of America in the room of Devereux Bacon deceased. And he having received Instructions from Us for the more effectual putting in Execution the Laws relating to Trade and Navigation, We desire you will please to be assisting with your Authority to the sd Peagrum and the other Officers of the Customs under his In- spection as they shall have occasion to apply to you, and also that you will strictly command all Officers and Ministers imployed under you to be assisting to them in putting in Execution the Laws against ille- gal Trade that the Service under our Managem! may be effectually carryed on. We are S.
Your most humble Servts
ROBT BAYLIS J STANLEY CHARLES PEERS J. EVELYN
CUSTOM Hº. LONDON 12 Augst 1732.
To His Excellency the Governour and Com- mander in chief of His Majesty' Colony of Rhoad Island.
1 Pegram held the office of Surveyor-General of Customs until the latter part of 1742. Several letters addressed by him to the governor and collector of Rhode Island respecting the cargo of a French ship driven into Newport by bad weather are printed in the Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 6 ser. IX. 210.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR WANTON TO THE SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE LOWER HOUSE.
Its my oppinion that there be a Committy of both Houses consisting of two members each wth myself to inspect into and project something that may be for the relief of the Government as to these debts 1 which it is now unhappy under. also to put a stop that no further incouragement be given to the New London Society2 as to therre Bills passing with us. also its my Oppinion that You finish all affairs that now comes before you and not to refer to May and June. those times being in the height of business in the Country and not possible then to dispatch any affairs. the business now before You is of Moment and must be dispatched. let no trifling excuse pre- vail wth You and its my Oppinion that you adjurn till Munday.
WM WANTON Govr
27 Janu! 1733.
1 There seems to have been in circulation at the time over £120,000 of depreciated paper currency. See Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 457-461, for documents relating to the issue of bills of credit.
2 The New London Society united for Trade and Commerce was incorporated in May, 1732, by the General Assembly of Connecticut (Col. Rec. of Conn., VII. 390), as a joint-stock company for trading purposes. The charter of incorporation was repealed by the Connecticut Assembly in a special session of February 15, 1733, on the ground of "their presuming to strike and emit a certain number of bills of credit on their own society, whereby many honest people are in danger of being defrauded, and the peace of this government subverted." Ibid., VII. 419. Over £9500 of these bills were called in and burned by order of the Assembly, and the issues to the amount of £15,000 were redeemed by the colony. Ibid., VII. 453, 454.
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Correspondence of the
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDº. 12mo. or Feby the 28th 1733.
Col. Wanton
I writt thee my last per Capt. Scutt of the 23. ult via Boston, since which I have none of thy favours. this now comes to acquaint thee that thro the rest- lessness of the West India Gentlemen (who have the ministry on their side), the House of Commons have lately come into Resolutions to impose a duty1 upon Foreign Sug' molases and Rum that shall be Imported into our Plantations, agreeable to the Votes here inclosed, and it is generaly thought the Bill will pass; but I intend if I can be admitted, vigorously to oppose it at the Bar of the House first: for I am of opinion if such a Law take place, (besides the present Injury it will do), it will be rather worse in the consequence of it than the Bill of prohibition last year, because of the levying a Subsidy upon a Free People without their Knowledg agt their con- sent, who have the libertys and Immunitys granted them [of] Natural born Subjects, and when they have enough to do to raise Taxes for their own Support; besides it may be drawn into a President for the future, for by the same Rule that a Brit- ish Parliam! imposes a duty on the Kings Subjects abroad, who have no Representatives in the State here, they may from 4/ advance to 20/-to £100, on different things, and so ad infinitem, which is an Infringmt on Liberty and Property and as I appre- hend a violation of the Right of the Subject. how
1 See note on p. 19.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the Bill will succeed I cannot yet say, perhaps I may differ in my Sentiments from most other People here : but I shall not faile to advise thee further about it hereafter.
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