USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 17
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Your most obedient humble Servant,
J POWNALL
Governor and Company of Rhode Island
J. OSBORNE 2 TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
BOSTON April, 2ª 1757. Sir,
You may remember that the 16th July last, we had your favours, wherein you proposed to Us, that as we had fixed a Currier to Ride, between here and Albany for the carrying and bringing Letters to and from Our Army, that if you might Improve him for that purpose in behalf of Your Government, you would pay your proportion of the Charge. Accord- ingly we now send you an Accot of what is reason-
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1 See letter of February 3, 1757.
2 John Osborne was for many years a member of the Council of Massachusetts.
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able for you to Pay, which is as follows - Paid Ste- phen Gunn for Riding from the 20th July, when you began, to 20th December following 22 Turns at £6 L Money is £132 - 3h part is £22 - which Sum of £22 please to order Payment to your Honours very humble Serv:
In the Name of the Comtee
J. OSBORNE
P. S. Our whole Acco! for Gunn's Riding came to £220.6 L. Money.
The honble STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq!
Gov: of Rhode Island.
CHRISTOPHER KILBY 1 TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Sir
NEW YORK 4% April 1757.
You are hereby desired to furnish three weeks Provision for the Rhode Island Forces for their Pas- sage to Albany 2 viz. Pork 4 lbs a man a week, Bread 7 lbs Beans or Peas 3 pints or half that quantity of Rice in lieu thereof besides half a pound of Rice a week and six ounces of Butter, or one specie of equal value in lieu of another, you will be pleased to make
1 Kilby was a prominent Boston merchant, who was sent by Massachusetts to Eng- land in 1741 to petition for a rehearing of the Rhode Island boundary case, and re- mained until 1756, when he accompanied Loudoun to America in the capacity of "agent-victualler " of the army.
2 Loudoun was collecting the colonial forces at New York, to embark them for Nova Scotia. See note to letter of February 4, 1757. The Assembly had directed that the Rhode Island troops should be ready to march on March 25 (Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 34). On April 12 orders were sent to Governor Hopkins to send the men by water. Ibid., VI. 41.
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Correspondence of the
the Supply exact without depending upon a Short Passage, as a week or ten days over stock may be made use of after their arrival before they have re- course to the Victualing Office at Albany for a fur- ther supply, and 'tis not improbable but they may Land and Tarry a few days either below or above Albany to avoid the Small Pox. For the cost of these you'll be pleased to reimburse yourself by Bills upon M: Leonard Jarvis Merchant in Boston giving him previous notice thereof, which I apprehend will be paid in Dollars or other Specie, the benefit thereof you'll be pleased to be attentive to in the Purchasses made at Rhode Island. I am Sir
Your most humble Servt.
CHRIS. KILBY.
The Honble STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq.
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PETITION OF SAMUEL WARD 1 TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. To the Honorable the General Assembly of his Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island &'c now sitting at Newport
The Petition of Samuel Ward of Westerly in Kings County Merchant humbly sheweth that Stephen Hopkins Esq: late Governor of this Colony did write a certain piece and cause the same to be
1 Ward represented Westerly in the Assembly, and was from this time the leader of the Newport faction in the Rhode Island political battle known as the Ward-Hop- kins controversy. The most concise and lucid account of this passage at arms is that given by Mr. C. S. Brigham in Field's State of Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations, I. 199-204, 206-213. See also Foster's Life of Hopkins (Rider's Historical Tract No. 19).
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printed and published which (in your Petitioner's Opinion) reflected great dishonour upon many Mem- bers of the lower House of Assembly ; that the Pe- titioner being one of that House, and therefore con- cerned to vindicate its Honor, did write and publish an Answer to M: Hopkins, for which that Gentleman hath commenced an Action of Defamation against your Petitioner laying his Damages at twenty thousand Pounds.1 According to the Tenor of the Writ this Action is to be tried at next Providence Court; in which place your Petitioner does not think there is the least Probability of his having any Thing like a fair and impartial Tryal and being informed that his Life is threatened, if the Plaintiff should not obtain Satisfaction in the Law, he humbly prays that the hearing and trying the said Action may be removed from Providence to some other County where your Petitioner may with safety appear and where there is a Probability of such a Tryal as is the Birth right of an English Subject. And your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever Pray
S WARD
NEWPORT May 7th 1757. 1
1 The opponents of Governor Hopkins (candidate and leader of the Providence fac- tion) had made inany charges against his official career. In March, 1757, Hopkins issued a pamphlet defending the questioned acts of his administration, in the hope of eliciting a reply from the rival candidate for governor, William Greene. The cudgels were taken up by Ward, who published an answer in April that was felt to be a determining factor in securing Greene's triumph in May. Thereupon Hopkins brought an action for damages, as above stated, and hence Ward's petition.
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Correspondence of the
May 7+ 1757.
To the House of Magrts
Gent
Resolved that this petition be referred to next Sessions of Assembly and that the adverse Party be served with a Copy of this Petition and cited to appear at next Sessions1 to answer the same and that all further Proceedings in the within mentioned Case be stayed till next Sessions of this Assembly
Voted and past per Ord: J. LYNDON Cler
Read the same Day in the Upper House and con- curred
By Ord! THO WARD Secretary
A true Copy duly examd Witness THO WARD Secretary
COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND AND SO FORTH.
To the Sheriff of the County of Providence in said Colony or to his Deputy Greeting
You are hereby required in the King's Name to serve the within named Stephen Hopkins with a Copy of Samuel Ward's Petition agst him with the Votes of the Upper House and the Lower House of the General Assembly thereupon as the same are copied upon the other Side [of the sheet] and above. You are also required to cite the sª Stephen Hopkins
1 The next sessions was in June, and the action of the Assembly upon Ward's petition, together with the agreement to transfer the case to the Massachusetts courts, is in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 68, 69. A verdict was given for the defendant. Hopkins appealed, and the case dragged on to September, 1759, when the suit was withdrawn, Hopkins paying costs.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
to appear at the Gen! Assembly of the Colony afore- said to be holden at Newport on the Second Monday of June next to answer the said Petition if he shall see Cause. Hereof fail not but make Lawful Return of your Doings in the premises.
Given under my Hand at Newport the Eleventh
Day of May 1757 in the thirtieth Year of his Mag'ty's Reign
THO WARD Secretary
PROVIDENCE May 27. 1757
Agreable To The Request above To me made I have Cited The Honte Stephen Hopkins To Appeare at The Time Appointed
ALLIN BROWN Sheriff.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 5 month or May 19th 1757
To the Gov. and Company of the Colony of Rha Island &c
My last to the Gov: of said Colony was of Ist ult via Boston to which I refer, - The Parliam is now almost at the Conclusion of the Sessions which its thought will be about 28th Inst, and I dont remember any very material matter has been done therein re- lating to the Northern Colonies Saveing the Act for importing from our Nº Plantations Bar Iron duty Free into any port of this Kingdom,1 and granting
1 See Parliamentary Register, III. 290, 291.
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Correspondence of the
the King Supplies for the present Exegencies wch are considerable.
The War with France continues, but the Spaniards are Neuter Still :- Adm1 Holbourn wth 14 or 15 Sail of M. of War of the Line sailed the 8th Inst from Cork for Halifax wth 55 Transport Ships, and since that we hear a Fleet of French M : of War Sailed from Brest for Nº America the 3ª Instant, so that its thought the latter have got the Start;1 all which probably ye may be advised of 'ere this reaches thy hands. There came advice yesterday that the King of Prusia had gained a victory in a late Battle with the Austrians, which doubtless will be a great morti- fication to the Empress Queen and to the French.2 for the rest I refer to the Magazine and News Papers now sent to And! Oliver of Boston to be forwarded per a private hand of which I desire thy acceptance from
Thy Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
Wheat holds up its price Still at about 8/ a bush1 and fine Flower 18 to 20/ a bbl they begin now to import wheat from the East Country.
To The Governor and Company
of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation
1 Three French squadrons were sent to America with orders to rendezvous at Louisbourg. The greater part of these reached that harbor in July. Loudoun, with 12,000 provincials, reached Halifax June 30. Holbourne and his fleet appeared by July 10. It was not until August 4 that the English learned that twenty-two French ships of the line were in Louisbourg harbor, and that the fortress was garrisoned by 7000 men. Success was hopeless. Loudoun returned to New York.
2 The battle of Prague, May 6.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GENERAL WEBB TO GOVERNOR GREENE.1
ALBANY June 9th 1757
Sir
Your favor of the roth of last Month I am to ac- knowledge, and should have answer'd sooner but that the hurry of business I have till now been in has prevented me.
Should his Majesties service require a reinforce- ment of Troops from the different Colonies, I shall apply to you for the Quota rais'd by your Province, and doubt not but they will be in readiness to march at the shortest Notice.2
As the Forces belonging to the Rhode Island Gov- ernment now here, are not supplied with a Surgeon or Armourer, I flatter myself I need not urge to you the necessity of their being provided with both by the first opportunity, his Majesties Service, as well as the Interest of the Colony demanding an imme- diate complyance therewith.
Inclos'd I have sent you the particular description of four Deserters from the 3ª Batallion of the Royal Americans, who are suspected to have gone to Rhode Island ; you will I make no doubt should you get any intelligence of such being there do every thing in your power to apprehend them, and acquaint me thereof.
Col. Angel : having inform'd me that the Troops rais'd by the Colony of Rhode Island, were promis'd
1 Printed in part in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 71. Webb was left in command at Fort Edward while Loudoun with the greater part of the troops sailed for Halifax.
2 In May the Assembly had voted to send, upon demand, 150 men to the assistance of the commanding officer. Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 51. This act was repealed in August. Ibid., VI. 81.
3 Colonel Samuel Angell. See note to letter of June 29, 1756.
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Correspondence of the
some indulgencies such as Rum Molasses &c., I can- not help thinking that the neglect of supplying them therewith according to promise may occasion a dis- content amongst them, that may be attended with bad consequence, but shall leave it to your own judgement to determine, I am Sir with great regard your most obedient and most humble servant
DAN. WEBB
WM GREEN Esq.
GENERAL WEBB TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
FORT EDWARD August 12th 1757
Sir
as several of the men of each province are become Prisoners of War by the loss of Fort Will" Henry, and are under articles not to serve for the space of eighteen months, I must beg you will immediately on the receipt of this lay before the assembly of the Province the necessity of furnishing the number of men requisite for filling up the deficiencys in the forces first granted by the said Province as appears by the inclosed return 1 by Drafts from the Militia; as the necessity of this demand will I flatter myself be sufficiently apparent to the gentlemen of the as- sembly, I make no doubt but it will be immediately comply'd with I am Sir
with great regard your most obedient and most humble Servant
DAN. WEBB
Governor GREEN
1 See enclosure.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
[Enclosure.] A Return of the present Strength of the Rhode Island Regiment Com- manded by Colonel Angell
FORT EDWARD Augt 14th 1757.
OFFICERS PRESENT
EFFECTIVE RANK AND FILE
COMMISSIONED
STAFF
NON-COMMISSIONED
I Colonel 5 Captains
I Adjutant
19 Sergeants 9 Drummers
265 fit for duty 27 sick 6 on furlough 4 on command
Total 317
SINCE LAST RETURN
WANTING TO COMPLETE THE ESTABLISHMENT
8 died and missing 6 deserted
77 rank and file
NB, the 6, Rank, and file, returnd upon Furlough, are 6, that are returnd from Fort W" Henry since the Capitulation, and are gone home.
I of the 8 men return'd dead or missing, was at the Siege of Fort W" Henry and has not been heard of since.
DAN. WEBB Major General
GOVERNOR POWNALL - TO SIR WILLIAM PEPPERELL.
BOSTON Augst 13 1757. & after 12 noon
Sir, I have just now reciev'd Your Letter and the Packet You forwarded, I have sent the inclos'd
1 Thomas Pownall, who succeeded Shirley as governor of Massachusetts. VOL. II.
9 Lieutenants 5 Ensigns
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Correspondence of the
orders 1 to all the Regim's that have Troops. I am endeavouring to form a Field Train. I send this by L' Colo Murray whom I must Recommend to Your Honour for his Services. He comes to assist you in the matter of Provisions. I must desire you will form a magazine at Springfield. If the Enemy should approach the Frontiers You will order all Waggons West of Connecticutt River to have their Wheels Knock'd and to Drive the said Country of all Horses, to order all Provisions that can be brought off and what cannot to destroy. and you will recieve this as my order not to Execute but in Such Case of necessity and then not to fail to do it.
[No signature.]
Endorsed : Gov! Pownall's Letter to Sir W Pep- perell L: General of the Province.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON Octo! 7th 1757
Gov. Greene
The last Letter I wrote directed to the Gov! and Compa of your Colony was of 7th month or July the I Ith Since which I dont remember to have had any from Gov Hopkins. This may acquaint thee that notwithstanding all the Endeavours used to obtain the Stores for your Fortifications it has not produced the desired Effect; inclosed is Copy of my Petition
] The orders are printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 85.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
to the King in Council 1 lodg'd about 2 months since at the Office of Wm Pitt Esq: lately appointed Secry of State to be laid before the King wherein I have had the assistance of Capt Joseph Harrison, and be- sides he was so kind as to use his Interest with some eminent Persons about it, and I had him up with me to Rob! Wood Esq: head Secry under the sª Wm Pitt at his Office to Speak to the Matters of my Petition which he did from his own knowledge, But Lord Halifax resigning his Office at the Board of Trade and the unsettled State of the Ministry for Some Time with other publick occurrances of great Im- portance were such Obstacles, that it seemd impos- sible to get forward in our Solicitation, and indeed I have been told as much or to that effect at the Secry of States Office, but yet I intend to follow it still while there is any the least Prospect of Success. Lord Halifax who resigned his Place as first Com- miss! of the Board of Trade as aforesd is now rein- stated again so that its likely Business at the Planta- tion Office will be revived as heretofore wch for some time has been at a Stand and the Ministry seems to be fixed as per my aforesd Letter of 7 month the I Ith
Respecting other publick News the French con- tinue in Possession of the Electorate of Hannover still, and the Duke of Cumberland shortly expected home since the Neutrality or Convention has been agreed on between him and the French through the Mediation of the King of Denmark, but the Dukes whole Army consisting of 30. or 40000, Men are obliged not to Act in a Warlike Capacity (as it is
1 See the following document.
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Correspondence of the
reported) till April next.1 The King of Prussia has been hardly beset and embarrassed, but now we hear that the Russians Army 2 under Prince Apraxin (who are Allies with the Austrians and French) are precipitantly retired and gone back again to their own Country leaving a large Number of their Sick and Wounded and 80 Cannon behind them, their Army its suppos'd are near 100,000, Men so that its likely the Prussians will now gain Ground again, there is an Express come last Night from the Eng- lish grand Fleet wch sailed from Spithead about a Month past &c.
II Ditto
The foregoing is Copy of the substance of my last to thee per Capt Partridge via Boston except that part of it relating to our Fleet of M. of War that went to make a Descent on the French Coast, the first accot of it relating to their Success proved afterwards to be quite a Mistake, for that they are since all come back again and arrived mostly at Portsmouth having done no great Matters in that Expedition because of the insuperable difficulties that would have attended their Landing
I am Thy assured Friend
RICHP. PARTRIDGE
Since writing the foregoing I have drawn out my Accot with your Colony being here inclosed to the
1 This was the notorious Convention of Closterseven, which was concluded on Sep- tember 8. Cumberland agreed to send home his somewhat motley collection of subsi- dized troops, and to leave Hanover in possession of the French. The old king never forgave him.
2 A severe battle, on August 30, with the Prussian army led the Russian commander to retreat nearer to his bases of supplies.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
17 of 8th month or Aug: 1758. Balance thereon being £129: 8 :6 Sterl in my Favour, which although it is extended longer than the Time of my Salarys being due, yet considering it is War Time and so precari- ous that no part of the last £100 I drew on Gov. Hopkins for, is yet come into my hands and besides there will be still wanting Money for my Solicitations and not unlikely (for ought I know) but there will be occasion of Expence during next Sessions of Parlia- ment, tho' I charge nothing of that kind for last year - I have therefore presumed of this date to draw a Bill on thee of One Hundred Pounds Sterls at 40 days Sight in favour of And! Oliver Esq' not doubting but the same will meet with due honour and be a fur- ther Encouragemt to your Agent in the transaction of the Colonys Affairs. So with due Respects to thy Self, the Council and House of Representatives I rest
Thy and their assured Friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
we have just now had advice from New York by the Packet Boat that Fort Wm and Henry is in pos- session of the French,1 and the Articles of Capitula- tion is also come over
To WILLIAM GREENE Esq!
Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
1 Montcalm took advantage of Loudoun's voyage to Halifax to plan an attack on the posts near Lake George. Fort William Henry was garrisoned by 2000 men under Colonel Monro, when Montcalm invested it with 11,000 French and Indians. After a six days' defence, hopeless from the outset, Monro surrendered, and was allowed to withdraw to Fort Edward under an escort of French troops. An account of the situa- tion at Fort Edward and of the so-called massacre of Fort William Henry is given in Captain Christie's letters to Governor Greene, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 82-84, 86.
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Correspondence of the
PETITION OF RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GEORGE II.1 To George the 2ª King of Great Britain &c in Coun- cil
The Petition of Rd Partridge Agent for and by direction of the Colony of Rhode Island, and Provi- dence Plantations in England. Humbly Sheweth
That the Inhab's of the Said Colony have at their own very great Expence considerably enlarged and added Several new and extensive Works to the For- tifications on Goat Island wch defends the Town, and Commands the Enterance into the Harbour of New- port, Yet notwithstanding all their Cost and Labour they find themselves quite exposed to any Attempts of the Enemy for want of Artillary to mount the new Works they have erected, all the serviceable Can- non they have at present being no more than Six 4 Pounders and Eighteen 18 pounders wch with all the necessary Utensils were purchased at the Expence of the Colony.
That all the other Harbours in North America where any considerable Town is scituated (as the Petitioner is informed) are either effectually secured from the approaches of large Ships by shallow Barrs, or the Navigation rendered extremely dangerous by Sands, Rocks, and intricate Channels so narrow as to be rendered impassible by Sinking Two or Three old Ships, in which Case a few Cannon properly dis- posed would be an effectual Defence: But the Har- bour of Newport (perhaps the finest in all America) has none of those Means of security; The Entrance
1 Enclosed in letter of October 7, 1757.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
into it being deep enough from Side to Side, and almost everywhere within is so Steep and bold, that the largest Ships may anchor within 200 yards of the Shoar as will more fully appear by the annexed Sur- vey, consequently can have no other Security from the Attacks by Sea than strong substantial Fortifi- cations well provided wth heavy Artillery, for want of which the Town of Newport containing near 7000 Inhabitants wth a large Quantity of Shipping is at present liable to be destroyed by the Enemy even with so small a Force as 2 or 3 Forty Gun Ships, and as there is no doubt but the French are well ac- quainted with the present defenceless State, there is great Reason to fear Some Attempt will be made against it if permitted much longer to remain so.
That in Case Rhode Island should happen to fall into the Hands of the French by being left thus de- fenceless they may easily fortify it in such a Manner as would render the Reduction of it extreme difficult if not impracticable, And the Scituation of it is sich that if possessed by an Enemy all Communication between the Eastern and Western Colonies would be intirely cut off; for as the River or Sound which divides it from the Continent is in many Places not quite half a mile over, Ruin and Desolation might from thence be carried into the very Heart of New Engld, and whoever will consult a Map of the British Colonies will readily perceive that there is no Place in all respects more convenient for such a Purpose.
That its well known that the Colony afores! is extreamly obnoxious to the French, and much an Object of their Resentm! on accot of the great Mis-
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Correspondence of the
chief done to their Trade during the last War by the Rhª Island Privateers of which they fitted out more than any other of the Northern Colonys.
That it is of the utmost Importance to all the British Colonys in America that the Harbour aforesd be effectually secured by a substantial and well pro- vided Fortification, a Plan and Profil whereof is here- unto annexed.
That the Inhab's of the sd Colony besides the great Expence they have been at in erecting the Fortifi- cations aforesd have likewise contributed their full Quota in all the Expeditions and Levies that have lately been made, or are now making in New Engª for his Majtys Service which has involved the Colony in a very large Debt (as the Pet: has been informed, So that they are utterly unable of themselves to do any thing more towards completing the sª Fortifica- tions and providing them with suitable Cannon.
That the Pet' is informed that a Representation of the State and Condition of the said Fortifications at Rhd Island has been made by the Lords of Trade to the King in Council and wch now lays at the Counsil Office.1
Wherefore the Petitioner humbly prays that the said Representation of the Lords of Trade may be taken into consideration by the King in Council respecting the State and Condition of the afores' Fortifications and a Grant made to the sd Colony of Such a Quan- tity of heavy Artillary as may enable them to defend themselves agst any Invasions or Assaults of his Majtys Enemies : And if they are favourd with a Suf-
1 See letter of May 7, 1756.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
ficient Number of heavy Cannon and Shot only, the Pet is of Opinion that the said Colony would pay the Freight and provide Carriages, Powder and other necessarys at their own Expence
all which is humbly submitted
R P
LONDON 8 month or Aug: 1757
WILLIAM PITT TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.1
WHITEHALL, Dec: 30th 1757.
Gentlemen,
His Majesty having nothing more at Heart, than to repair the Losses and Disappointments, of the last inactive, and unhappy Campaign; and by the most vigorous and extensive Efforts, to avert, by the Bless- ing of God on His Arms, the Dangers impending on North America; And not doubting, but all His Faithfull and Brave Subjects there will chearfully co-operate with, and second, to the utmost, the large Expence and extraordinary Succours, supplied by this Kingdom, for their Preservation and Defence; And His Majesty considering, that the several Provinces, in particular, from Proximity and accessibility of Sit- uation, more immediately obnoxious to the main Irruptions of the Enemy from Canada, are, of Them- selves, well able to furnish at least Twenty Thousand Men, to join a Body of The King's Forces for Invad- ing Canada, by the Way of Crown Point, and carry-
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