USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 20
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Number of Men; in the Disposition of which Com- missions, I am persuaded You will have nothing in View, but the Good of the King's Service, and a due Subordination of the whole, when joined, to His Ma- jesty's Commander in Chief; And all Officers of the Provincial Forces, as high as Colonels, inclusive, are to have Rank, according to their several respective Commissions, agreable to the Regulations contained in His Majesty's Warrant of the 30th of Dec! 1757.
The King is further pleased to furnish all the Men, so raised as above, with Arms, Ammunition and Tents, as well as to order Provisions to be issued to the same, by His Majesty's Commisaries, in the same Proportion and Manner as is done to the rest of the King's Forces. A sufficient Train of Artillery will also be provided, at His Majesty's Expence, for the Operations of the Campaign ; And the Ship, that conveys this, carries Orders for Timely providing, at the King's Charge, with the utmost Dil- igence, and in an Ample Manner, Boats and Ves- sels, necessary for the Transportation of the Army, on this Expedition.
The whole therefore, that His Majesty expects and requires from the several Provinces, is, the Levy- ing, Cloathing and Pay of the Men: and on these Heads also, that no Encouragement may be want- ing to this great and salutary Attempt, The King is further most graciously pleased to permit me to acquaint You, that strong Recommendations will be made to Parliament, at their Session next Year, to grant a proper Compensation for such Expences as
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above, according to the Active Vigour, and stren- uous Efforts of the respective Provinces shall justly appear to merit.
It is His Majesty's Pleasure, that You do, with particular Diligence, immediately collect, and put into the best Condition, all the Arms issued last Campaign, which can be any ways rendered Service- able, or that can be found within Your Gouvernment, in order that the same may be employed, as far as they will go, in this Exigency. I am at the same Time to acquaint You, that a reasonable Supply of Arms will be sent from England, to replace such, as may have been lost, or have become unfit for future Service.
I am further to inform You, that similar Orders are sent by this Conveyance, to New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey : The Southern Gouvernments are also directed to raise Men in the same Manner, to be employed in such Offensive Operations, as the Cir- cumstances and Situation of the Enemy's Posts in those Parts may point out, which, it is hoped, will oblige them so to divide their Attention and Forces, as may render the several Attempts more easy and successfull.
It is unnecessary to add any Thing to animate Your Zeal in the Execution of His Majesty's Orders on this great Occasion, where the future Safety and Welfare of America are so nearly concerned ; And the King doubts not, from Your known Fidelity and Attachmant, that You will employ Yourself, with
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the utmost Application and Dispatch, in this promis- ing and decisive Crisis.1
I am, with great Truth and Regard, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servant
W. PITT
Gov. and Company of Rhode Island.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Gent.
My last was to Gov. Hopkins dated the 3ª Ult 2 per the Friendship Crane and Dup : per the New York Pacquett.
From that time till now I have been very Assidu- ous in pushing forward the Payment of your money as ment! therein but we were about a Month ago plainly told by the Secretarys of the Treasury that they have not money wherewith to pay us but Pro- posed to open a Loan at the Exchequer to which the several Agents might if they thought proper Sub- scribe the several sums Allotted to their respective Colonies, and by that means Draw an Interest on the Principal Sum which they told us wod be undoubtedly paid about the Beginning of April next Interest and all and unless we Embraced this Proposal We must Wait that Time before We could Receive our money and then without Interest.
1 The Assembly again voted to raise one thousand men. See Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 239.
2 See p. 296.
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Correspondence of the
The Agent for Connecticut readily accepted this and several of the other Agents Endeavoured to pay in theirs but were prevented by the Want of Suffi- cient Authorities from their Respective Colonies.
I declined accepting this Proposal untill I had with Diligence and Application made myself fullye Master of the Affair and taken the best advice thereon when thinking it most beneficial to the Colony to Accept it and Especially as there was no other way of coming at the money, I Entred your money also. We are to be paid out of the first money arising from the Sinking Fund with Interest at four Per Cent and have Strong Assurances of Re- ceiving it the beginning of April.
New-York and New-Hampshire have not received any Compensation for their Expences in 1756 but I shall make the proper Use of the Accounts sent me in the next Solicitation on the behalf of the Colony which I am now about to Commence.1
The Application for a Register and Marshall of your Court of Vice Admiralty 2 I have persued with Industry and Zeal but have not obtained a final Answer.
The Parliament is now sitting nothing Occurs therein relating to the Colonies. We have no Ex- pectations of a Peace this Year very large Sums being voted for Prosecuting the Warr with the Utmost Vigour.
Please to Transmitt me with all possible Expedi- tion an Account of the Number of Men you sent into the Field last Year and the Expence of their Levy-
1 See note to letter of December 3, 1759. 2 Seep. 291.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
ing Cloathing and Pay,1 I don't mean so Exact and Minute as your last but General Information to my- self that I may be Enabled to Answer any Questions put to me in that respect I am Gent with all due respect
Y! Assd and Obliged Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
AUSTIN-FRYERS 31 Jan"! 1760.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Gent.
By my Letters to you of 31st Ist Mo. or Jan"! last 2 per the FrdShip Crane and the New-York Pacquett I Informed that I had Invested your share of the Money in such manner that it wod carry Interest from the time therein ment! an Advantage which several of the other Colonies wod gladly Embrace but are Deprived of for want of Sufficient Authorities to their Agents for receiving the same. I have got the Exchequer Tallys and Orders and as soon as the money is received it shall be Disposed according to the Directions sent me.
And now these may Inform you That I have lately Lodged with the Secretary of State a Petition to his Majesty on behalf of your Colony for Reinburse- ment of the £4211.19.7d Expended in the year 1756 in Provisions Artillery Stores Transportation &c. on the Crown Point Expedition and this Sollicitation
1 See vote of Assembly of June, 1760, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 254.
2 See preceding letter.
VOL. II.
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shall be persued with all possible Assiduity and Diligence.1
I shod have been pleased to have received from you an Account of your Last Year's operations as mentd in my Last.2 The Agents (some of them) are in Expectation or rather hopes of obtaining a Grant this Year had I received any Acco's from you or been furnished with any materials whatsoever, I shod have moved therein tho' I dont find any of the other Agents have. shall keep a Diligent and carefull ob- servation respecting the same.
I have taken much Pains in the Application for a Register and Marshall of your Court of Vice-Ad- miralty,3 but the Lords of the Admiralty here seem to think them unnecessary being already Established in a Neighbouring Colony I have not yet received a final Answer but when I do Expect it will be a Denial shall nevertheless Continue my Endeavours till brought to a Period.
Richard Onslow Esq! Brother to the Speaker of the House of Commons is deceased. That House has been much Engaged during this Sessions about the Corn Distillery. Nothing arises in either House that seems materially to relate to the Colonys.
Lord Geo. Sackville is now on his Trial by a Court Martial for his Conduct on the Plains of Min- den.4
1 See note to letter of December 3; 1759.
2 See preceding letter.
8 See p. 291.
4 The battle of Minden took place on August 1, 1759. Lord George Sackville, who commanded the English cavalry, disobeyed at a critical moment the order to charge. A court-martial pronounced him guilty of disobedience and unfit to serve the Crown in any capacity whatever.
T
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Doubtless you have heard of the Discent of Thurot on the Irish Coast and the Attack and Capture of his Squadron off the Isle of Man in which Engagement he Lost his Life.1 I am with great respect Gent Y: Assd and obliged Fra
JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
17+! 3ª Mo. March 1760. AUSTIN-FRYERS.
To The Gov! and Company of the Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations in New-England in America
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Gent.
My last to You was of the 17th Ult per the New York Pacquett and Duplicate per the Peggy Capt" Evers.
The 26th of last Month the Chancellour of the Ex- chequer presented to the House of Commons a Mes- sage from his Majesty in the following words.
GEORGE R.
" His Majesty being Sensible of the Zeal and " Vigour with which his Faithfull Subjects in North " America have Exerted themselves in Defence of " his Majesty's just Rights and Possessions Recom- " mends it to this House to take the same into Con- " sideration and to Enable his Majesty to give them a
1 The reference is to Thurot's descent upon the Irish coast in February of 1760. Upon his return voyage he was overhauled by an English fleet, and lost his life in the combat which followed.
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"proper Compensation, for the Expences incurred by " the Respective Provinces in the Levying Cloathing " and Pay of the Troops raised by the same accord- "ing as the Active Vigour and strenuous Efforts of " the respective Provinces shall justly Appear to Merit. G. R.
Ordered Nem. Con.
" That his Majesty's most Gracious Message be " referred to the Consideration of the Committee of "the Whole House to whom it is referred to Con- " sider further of the Supply Granted to his Majesty.
31 March.
M: West according to Order, reported from the Committee of the whole House to whom it was re- ferred to Consider farther of the Supply Granted to his Majesty, this Resolution which the Committee Directed him to Report to the House, which he read in his place and afterwards delivered at the Table where the same was read and Agreed to by the House and is as follows.
" Resolved that a Sum not Exceeding Two Hun- "dred Thousand Pounds be Granted to his Majesty " upon Acco! to Enable his Majesty to Give a proper " Compensation to the Respective Provinces in " North America for the Expences incurred by them " in the Levying Cloathing and pay of the Troops " raised by the same according as the Active Vigour " and strenuous Efforts of the respective Provinces " shall be thought by his Majesty to Meritt.
You observe the Resolution Expressly Mentions
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the Levying Cloathing and Pay So that you will with all Expedition furnish me with an Account of the Number of Men raised, and the Expences Sus- tained in those Articles agreeable to my request in former Letters.1
This being Easter week the Parliament and most of the Publick Offices are shut therefore can send you no further Account of your money till the Ex- chequer is opened which will be next week but the Pacquett being Expected to be made up to day I thought it necessary to take this Opportunity of Ac- quainting you with the above and am with great Respect Gent
Y! Assd and Obliged Frd JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
AUSTIN-FRYERS.
12+h 4th Mo. April 1760.
To The Gov. and Co. of the Colony of Rhode- Island and Providence Plantations in America.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Respd Frd
My last was 24th Oct.2 per New York Pacquett, some time after the Meeting of the Lords of the Treasury I obtained a Referrence of my Petition 3 to the Pay-Master Generals Secretary at Warr and now it lays at the Warr Office before the proper Officer
1 See note on p. 297.
2 Not in the archives.
8 For reimbursement for the campaign of 1756.
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whose duty it is to Examine such Accounts, several Objections are made to some of the Items contained therein particularly the Want of Rufus Hopkin's 1 Account which is therein ment! to be annexed but no such Account sent also there is no Receipt or Voucher for any overplus Stores or Provisions which were delivered to the King's Comm's nor any Credit given for any Sum received by the Colony on that Account if any such were Received Also the Charge for the Subsistence of the Men Amounting to about £1000. Sterling ought not to be Allowed according to the Words of the Secretary of States Letter to the Colony.
I shall Endeavour to Obviate as many of these Ob- jections as I possibly can but some of them are Insur- mountable however I hope we shall obtain payment deducting for some of these exceptionable Articles.
As to Publick Affairs our present Sovereign King George the third, has been Proclaimed in all the Considerable Places in England. The Parliament is sitting nothing Occurs respecting the Colonies. Yes- terday his Majesty went to the House of Lords and gave his Royal Assent to sev! Bills. No Measures taken by the Treasury Board respecting the Distri- bution of the last Grant.
A very formidable Armament is just fitted out on a Secret Expedition. No signs of Peace. The King of Prussia has obtained a Compleat Victory over the Austrians under Marshall Daun.
The Earl of Leicester Pacquett is lately Arrived from New York but no Letters from thee which is a
1 Hopkins was commissary for Rhode Island.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
great Disappointment to me as I hoped to Receive by it the Accounts I have so often mentioned. I am with great regard to thy self and the Gent of the General Assembly their and thy
Assª Fra
JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
AUSTIN-FRYERS. 10 Dec: 1760.
SAMUEL WARD TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PROVIDENCE 2ª January 1761
Gentlemen
As Governor Hopkins has made a Proposal for terminating the party Disputes in the Colony1 by resigning his Pretensions to the Government in Con- dition that I will do the same It may expected that I should make some Reply to a Proposal so uncom- mon and extraordinary I must therefore beg Leave to say that I never opposed that Gentleman from any ambitious or interested Views but as under his Administration the public Good in my Opinion has been much neglected and some extraordinary Mea- sures repugnant to the Wellbeing of the Kingdom in General and of this Colony in particular have been pursued I thought it my Duty to oppose him ; This I at first did in Favor of our late worthy Gov- ernor M: Greene And upon his Decease being
1 Since the death of Governor Greene, in February, 1758, Hopkins had been annually elected to that office, but each election was the signal for such an outburst of virulence and ill-feeling that, shortly before the election of 1761, Hopkins offered to withdraw his candidature provided that Ward would do the same. In the document printed above, we have Ward's answer to the proposal. In May Hopkins was again elected. See Field, State of Rhode Island, I. 207, 208.
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Correspondence of the
strongly sollicited by some Gentlemen of Rank and Character I became Candidate for the Office of chief Magistrate And if I had been placed in that high Station I should have endeavoured to heal all our Divisions and reconcile all Parties by an equal and just Administration With these Views Gentlemen I have acted But as I am thoroughly sensible of the Inconveniencies attending our unhappy Disputes I shall chearfully concur in any just and reasonable Measures for restoring Peace and good Order to the Colony But as the Right of electing General Officers now is and I hope for ever will remain in the Free- men of the Colony I cant conceive that M: Hopkins or I have any Authority to say who they shall or shall not give their Votes for without a manifest In- vasion of their Privileges. But at the same Time if the Gentlemen of the Colony are of Opinion that my declining a public Office will promote the Peace and Welfare of the Government I will readily and chear- fully resign all my Pretensions to any public Post whatever contenting myself with rendering in a pri- vate Capacity what Service I can to the Community of which I am a Member But if the Freemen of the Colony think it most for their Interest to place me in a public Station I shall think it my indispensable Duty to submit to their Appointment and do them all the Service in my Power I am Gentlemen
Your most obedient Servant
SAM WARD
To the honble the Members of both Houses not in their public Capacity but as some of the prin- cipal Gentleman of the Colony
r
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Esteemed Frª
The foregoing is Triplicate of my last the Dupli- cate I Apprehend Miscarryed. My Petition is Re- ported upon by the Paymaster General and Secretary at Warr and sent back to the Treasury, a Copy of which together with the Observations which I have Exhibited by way of Reply comes herewith.1 I have also Presented a Memorial for our Share of the Grant of last Sessions. The House of Commons have Voted another £200.000 for the American Colonies.
I have had nothing from you for a long time, not so much as an Acknowledgement of the Receipt of the money, I am ready to Conclude some Letters to me have Miscarried, be that as it may Interim I am much at loss for want of Advices. I am with Great Regard to the Gentlemen of the General Assembly and thyself
Their and Thy Assª Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
31 Jan"! 1761.
Report of the Secretary at War upon the Petition of Joseph Sher- wood.2
Secretary at War and Paymaster Generals Report to the Treasury, on the Petition of Joseph Sherwood, Agent for Rhode-Island.
May it please your Lordships.
In Obedience to your Lordships desire (Signified to us by M. Martin, Your Lordships Secretary) that We should Examine into the Particulars of the Petition of M. Joseph Sherwood Agent to
1 See the following document.
2 Enclosed with letter of January 31, 1761.
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the Colony of Rhode Island, and Report to your Lordships Our Opinion thereupon, We lay before your Lordships the following Observations, Viz:
That, as no Original Bills, Receipts or Papers, have been Pro- duced to Support the Several Articles of the Account, annexed to the Petition, We have therefore had no Opportunity of Ascer- taining the Correctness and Truth of the Matters Contained therein, but the Validity of the whole, Rests Solely on the Faith of the Seal of the Colony.
That, not any Notice is taken of Stores, either of Provisions or Artillery Remaining after the Troops returned home, tho' We Apprehend it likely, there were some of both kinds, For the Value of which, the Public should have had Credit; and have had in former Demands of this Nature.
That there are Several unusual, unmilitary Species of Provi- sions and Stores in the Account, unknown to Regular Armies, as, Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Sugar, Hams, Knives, Forks, Spoons, Plates, Soap &cª which, as they cou'd not be intended for the Soldier, if the Officer choose such Indulgencies. they shou'd have been borne from his Pay.
Lastly, the Petition Sets forth that by a Circular Letter from the Secretary of State to the Northern Colonies, dated the 13th of March 17561 it was Signifyed to them, That the Raising the Men, their Pay, Arms, and Cloathing wou'd be all that wou'd be Required of the Colonies, The Account Contains a Considerable Charge for Subsistence 'till the Men arrived at Albany, and from the time they left the Camp, till they were discharged at home, Which Charge is Contrary to the Tenor of the said Letter, And Amounts to the sum of £1209.14
To these Several Observations and Objections, the Petitioner has replied, That the Several Species of Provisions taken Notice of, were for the Use of the Hospital, and that others as Unusual, as Ginger, Cyder, Vinegar, Onyons were Charged by, and allow'd to the Colony of Connecticut, and also a Considerable sum for Pay of Commissioners Appointed to Manage and direct the Affairs of their Troops; for which the Colony of Rhode Island, makes no Demand.
1 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 485.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Upon the Whole, We Humbly Report to Your Lordships, that the Account Circumstanced and Authenticated, as aforesaid is ffairly and Exactly Stated, and according to the Rates of the Several Currencies therein, Amounts to £4,211.19.7; From which the Charge of Subsistence being Subtracted there will remain £3002.5.7 which will be due and Payable to the Colony of Rhode Island, if your Lordships are Pleased to Admitt and Accept of the Reply made by the Petitioner to the other Particulars.
Which is Humbly Submitted to Your Lordships.
(Signed) H. Fox BARRINGTON.
Janry 19: 1761.
Observations of the Agent for Rhode Island on the Report of the Paymaster General and Secretary at War to Remove the Objec- tions contained in said Report.
Original Bills, or Receipts, were not Expected to be called for, nor were they Produced by the other Colonies, nor could they, as the Several Matters were bought in small Quantities of a Great Number of People, But the Account is Verifyed by the Oath of the Gov! who was Chairman of the Committee of War who Swears that the Provisions &c contained in the Account were Supplyed and paid for by the said Colony.
It is probable there was no Remains of Provisions after the Troops returned home and as for Artillery Stores great part of them Appear on the face of the Account to be bona peritura or Goods that would soon be Used and Consumed and such of them as do not come under that Description were without doubt added to the Kings Magazines as the Rest of the Colonies were and the not sending any Receipt or Voucher must be an Accidental Omission which it is hoped will not Operate to the Disadvanage of the Colony more Especially as the whole Account is verifyed upon Oath as aforesaid.
The Species of Provisions and Stores Objected to were In- tended for the Sick and Wounded, and the same kinds of Provi- sions were Supplied by the other Colonies for the same Purpose, and Reimbursed by the Crown.
The Charge for Subsistance of the Men (which is Objected to by the said Report) is not in Lieu of Pay but their Provisions
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Correspondence of the
from the time of Raising the Men in each Township to the time they reached the Rendesvouz at Albany the Place where (it is Apprehended) the Stores of each kind charged in the Account were sent now, as it was Impracticable to Provide each Man Raised in the Different parts of the Colony with these Identical Provisions on their Immediate Inlistment, the money charged in the Account was paid them in Lieu of Provision and is very properly called Subsistance (that is) to Support them till they reached the Magazines and is an Expence wch his Majesty was pleased to Engage to Reimburse And what Elucidates this mat- ter is the Agreement Entred into between the sev! Colonies and the King's Comm's in the Ensuing Campaigns for after Provi- sions &c. were Provided at Albany pursuant to the Royal Plea- sure at the Expence of the Crown the Men raised by the sev! Colonies could not partake of these Provisions till they reached the Magazines and therefore were Allowed Subsistance in pay in Lieu of Provisions untill they Arrived there and such Allow- ances were in the Subsequent Campaigns Reimbursed by the King's Commissioners to the several Colonies.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Esteemed Fyd
Notwithstanding the most Assiduous and Con- stant Application and having Obtained the Report on my Petition as Inclosed the Lords of the Trea- sury1 seem greatly Disposed to make Use of the Difficulty's raised therein and to give us the go by. They Say this Account is a matter not Proper to be Recommended to his Majesty for Reimbursement, I have drawn up an Additional Memorial and pre-
1 See the preceding document.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
sented, being Determined nothing shall be wanting on my part tho' I very much doubt the Success of it as the Government have such Immence and Innu- merable calls for money and have so lately Granted other sums to the Northern Colonies.
Nevertheless if I am Furnished with Sufficient materials from you to Remove the Objections con- tained in this Report I will (if it is Practicable) revive the Sollicitation again altho' it should be Absolutely Quashed at this time.
It is matter of Astonishment to me that I have received no Answers to any of my Letters.
A Distribution of the {200,000 Granted for 1759 is Expected soon.
Both Houses of Parliament are now sitting in which Nothing has ben done materially to Affect the Colonies save what I have advised of, the Sessions are expected to be over in about a Month when a New Parliament is to be Elected and the People begin to be very Busy about Electioneering. No Signs of Peace.
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