USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 26
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1 Enclosed with letter of April 25, 1768.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
may be sent to the several Governors on the Conti- nent of America to take such Measures as may be most effectual for the apprehending of the said Mel- chisedeck Kinsman, for which purpose have annexed a Description of his Person and in case he should in Consequence thereof be apprehended that he may be sent to England by the first safe and proper Oppor- tunity that may offer, in order to his being tried for the said Offence.
I am &c.
EP STANLEY.
CUSTOMHOUSE LONDON 14 April 1768.
Melchisedec Kinsman is a well set Man about five Feet eight Inches high, and about thirty Years of Age, florid Complexion, his Hair light brown but wears a Wig.
THO BRADSHAW Esq.
THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES TO THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES OF VIRGINIA.
NEWPORT June the 20th 1768.
Siv
I have the Honor of your Letter of the 9th of May 1 last, directed to the Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives of this Colony; which I laid before the House, at the opening of the Session, last Week,
The early Resolves of the Honorable House of Burgesses in Virginia, upon the ever memorable Stamp Act; and the decent, firm, and constitutional,
1 Not in the archives.
.
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Correspondence of the
Measures they have now taken, for restoring and preserving the just Rights and Privileges of his Ma- jestys loyal Subjects in America, have gain'd them the Applause of every Friend of Liberty; and, will be transmitted with Honor to the latest Ages ; while the Names of the venal Sycophants of Power, and their corrupt Defendants will be buried in Oblivion, or handed down to Posterity with Detestation and Infamy.
I have the Pleasure, Sir, to inform you, that the Lower House of Assembly, in this Colony, entertain exactly the same Sentiments of the late Acts of Par- liament for raising a Revenue in the Colonies,1 with the Honble House of Burgesses in Virginia; and, animated with the same Zeal, will chearfully join the Sister Colonies, in every prudent, and legal Measure for asserting those Rights and Privileges, which they derive from Nature, and from the British Constitu- tion.
The General Assembly of this Colony have ap- pointed a Committee to prepare a humble, dutiful, and loyal Address to his Majesty; setting forth the Grievances his Subjects in America have just Rea- son to complain of, and praying his Royal Interposi- tion for Redress; and, also, a Letter to the Secretary of State for the American Department, upon the same Subject; 2 which are to be laid before them, at their meeting on the Second Monday in September next: At which Session the General Assembly will complete them, and forward them in such Season,
1 The Townshend Acts of May, 1767.
2 See Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 556.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
that they will arrive before the Opening of the new Parliament; and will have taken every proper Step for co-operating with the other Colonies in this most important Concern.
His Majesty hath no Subjects more faithful than those in America, none who would more chearfully offer up their Lives and Fortunes for His Glory, and the Interest of the whole Empire. They have a high Idea of the Excellence of the British Consti- tution, and a proper Sense of the Obedience that Constitution requires they should pay to the British Parliament; and are universaly persuaded that their Connection with, and Dependence, upon Great Britian, is essential to their Happiness. This the Lower House are convinced, is the Character the Inhabitants of the British Colonies in America de- serve. And, notwithstanding the false and malicious Representations which have been made by the Ene- mies of this Country, and, it may be added, of the Mother Country also, they entertain the strongest Hopes, that Truth will prevail; that the united Peti- tions of so many loyal Subjects to his Majesty (who is truly esteemed the Father of all his People) will engage his Royal Attention and Interposition in their Favour; that the Constitution will be again established on its original Basis, that all Jealousy and Fear will subside; and that Harmony and Affection between the Parent State and the Colonies will be restored and flourish, to the mutual Benefit and Felicity of all his Majesty's Subjects.
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Correspondence of the
In the Name, and by order of the Lower House of Assembly,
I am with great Respect, Sir Your most obed! humble Serv
METCALFE BOWLER Speaker.
Sep: 13+ 1768
The foregoing Letter was approbated by the unani- mous Vote of the House
WM ELLERY Clerk
To the Honble PEYTON RANDOLPH Esq' Speaker of the Honble House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia
THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- TIVES OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NEWPORT Aug: 5th 1768.
S
The Letter from the Honorable House of Repre- sentatives of the Massachusetts Bay of the 16th Feb- ruary last,1 I had the Honor to receive and to lay before the Lower House of Assembly of this Colony at the Session held on the last Monday of the same Month.
I should immediately after the Rising of the As- sembly have acknowledged the receipt of that Letter, but the General Assembly having taken it into con- sideration and appointed a Committee to prepare an humble dutiful and loyal Address to his Majesty
1 There is such a letter printed under date of February 11, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 535-
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
representing the Grievances of His faithful Subjects in America and imploring his Royal Interposition in their Behalf; and also a Letter to One of the prin- cipal Secretaries of State upon the Subject of the late Acts of Parliament for raising a Revenue in America,1 I concluded to postpone it until the Gen- eral Assembly should have taken every prudent and necessary Measure for co-operating with the other Colonies in asserting their just Rights and Priv- ileges, purposing then to do my self the Honor if I still remained in the Chair of giving you a particular Account of the Steps pursued by this Colony.
It was expected that the Committee would have reported to the Session held in June last; but they not having fully compleated the Draughts, and it being considered that the Assembly would meet again early in September next when they might be finished and transmitted Home before the Meet- ing of Parliament the Matter was referred to that Time.
As the Silence of this Colony at this critical Junc- ture when all His Majestys Subjects in America are so justly alarmed may be liable to Misconstruction I have thought proper to give you this Information ; and to assure you as I do with great Sincerity that the Lower House of Assembly of this Colony highly approve the Conduct of your Honorable House of Representatives. They think the Measures are worthy of the Representatives of a free People and perfectly consistent with that Loyalty to His Majesty
1 There is such a letter, printed under date of February 11, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 535
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Correspondence of the
and that Regard for the British Constitution which have always distinguished the Province of the Massa- chusetts Bay.
I am with great Respect S. Your most obed! humble Serv: METCALFE BOWLER Speaker
Sep: 13 1768
To the Honble THOMAS CUSHING Esq.
The foregoing Letter was approbated by the unan- imous Vote of the Lower House of Assembly
W. ELLERY Cler
.
GOVERNOR BOTETOURT 1 TO GOVERNOR WARD.
S.
I have the honour to acquaint Your Excellence that His Majesty has been Graciously pleased to appoint me Governor of Virginia, that I am arrived at Williamsburg, shall always be happy to concur with You in any Measures which may tend to the Advantage of this Great Continent and that I am with respect
Your Excellencys very Obedient Humble Servant
WILLIAMSBURG Dec: 24 1768.
BOTETOURT.
His Excellency Governor WARD
1 Botetourt was the last colonial governor of Virginia. He succeeded Fauquier in 1768. His efforts to bring about a reconciliation between the colonists and the mother country were sincere, and he keenly felt their failure.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR LYNDON.1
Esteemed Frd
Thy favour of 3ª Oct.2 with sundry Papers re- specting the Crown Point money I received and Im- mediately waited on the present Chancellor of the Exchequer and stated the Case to him, he received me Courteously and I had hopes of Success from my Interview with him, and I Accordingly Exhibitted my Memorial afresh to the Lords of the Treasury and Attended the Board sev! times thereon But after the same was read and Considered they came to a Resolution to postpone giving an Answer thereto for the present which is all that I can obtain at this Time.
Thy Letter of 14th Nov! 1768 came also to hand and Inclosed is a Copy of the King's free Pardon Attested by one of Lord Hillsbrough's Clerks the Original is left with the Recorder of London this is a Sufficient Authority for thee to Issue thy War- rant to discharge her.3
Inclosed is my Account with the Colony. I hope the Assembly will Agree to allow me what I have taken the Liberty of charging (tho' with submission to the Assembly) for the stated Yearly allowance
1 The compromise candidate referred to in note to letter of May 20, 1767. Josias Lyndon was an amiable man, who had for many years served the colony as clerk of the court of common pleas. He was nominated by the Hopkins party from among Ward's friends, as previously agreed. The deputy-governor was nominated in the same way by the Ward party. Lyndon served but one year, and then returned to his former office.
2 Not in the archives. The Parliamentary grant for 1756 is meant.
8 The reference is to the pardon of a negro woman, convicted of the murder of her bastard child.
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Correspondence of the
upon the Old Establishment is very inadequate to the Trouble and Attendance required in Transact- ing the Business of the Colony. More especially of late Years they have required great Solicitation and Application, the Consideration of which I shall sub- mit to the Generosity of the Assembly, and if the Assembly should Resolve not to let my Account stand as it now does I must request I may Receive a Remittance for so much as is allowed to be justly due to me I am with great regard to thyself and the Gent of the Gen! Assembly, their and thy respectfull Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
WARNFORD COURT THROGMORTON STREET 4 Feb : 1769.
To JOSIAS LYNDON Esq. Gov. of the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations in New England America.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO MOSES BROWN.I
Respected Fra
I received thy favour of 14th March and gladly Em- brace a Correspondence, which I wish may be con- tinued; I have sent my Acco! I believe in time for the last May assembly but what has been done thereon I know not, having received no Advices from the Assembly for a considerable time, I shod Esteem it
1 Copied from the Moses Brown Papers, in the Rhode Island Historical Society. Moses Brown, the well-known merchant and philanthropist, was a deputy for Provi- dence in 1769 and in 1770.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
a particular favour to receive from thee by the first Conveyance after the closing of a Sessions, an Acco! of so much of their Business as relates to myself, and also whatever is proper and necessary for me to know.
I observe thy Advice in respect to keeping up a regular Correspondence with the Colony and shall pay proper regard to it. I never did according to the best of my Recollection and Belief receive any Vote of Assembly or Order for Mediterranean passes, If I had I shod have complied with it.
I am Thy respectful Fr!
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
WARNFORD COURT THROGMORTON STREET 21% July 1769
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR WANTON.1
Esteemed Frd
Pursuant to the requisition in thy favour of 21st June I have sent Ten Mediterranean passes,
In respect to the money due to the Colony, I have Used my Utmost Endeavours to Obtain the payment, but as it has never yet been Voted by the House of Commons, it cannot be procured but by a Compli- ance with the Parliamentary requisition respecting the sufferers by the Riots.2
There has been but little Business done since the
1 For an account of Governor Wanton see p. xxxii of the Introduction. He was elected in May, 1769.
2 See Wanton's letter to Lord Hillsborough of June 17, 1769, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 590 ..
416
Correspondence of the
sitting of the present Parliament, Occasioned by the death of the Speakers; Sir Fletcher Norton is Ap- pointed Speaker of the House of Commons in the stead of S: John Cust deceased.
The Commons have Ordered the Papers relating to America to be laid before them, and they are to enter upon the Consideration of the General State of America, some Day next Week, I shall Advise you so soon as any Resolutions are formed, I am with all due regard to thyself and the Gent of the Gen! Assembly
Their and thy respectfull Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
WARNFORD COURT THROGMORTON STREET 26 Jan =70
To JOSEPH WANTON Esq! Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England America
THE ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND TO THE ASSEMBLY OF RHODE ISLAND.
MARYLAND Feb"! 26h 1770
Sir,
A Copy of the resolutions of the House of Bur- gesses of the Colony of Virginia entered into the 16th of May last1 being sent to me by the Honble Speaker was laid before the House of Delegates of this Province at their Session in November last who
1 The Virginia resolutions are printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 603.
JOSEPH WANTON 1769-1775
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
upon full consideration thereof were of opinion they could not more clearly evince their approbation of the conduct of the very respectable House of Bur- gesses of His Majesty's Antient colony of Virginia on so alarming an occasion than by readily and unani- mously entering into resolutions of a similar nature. A Copy of which in obedience to their order I now transmit to you,1 as I do to the Speakers of all the Other Houses of Assembly on the Continent and am with the greatest respect S'
Your most Obedt Serv
ROBT LLOYD Speaker
Rhode Island.
Resolutions of the House of Delegates of Maryland.2
By the Lower House of Assembly of the Province of Maryland Novem- ber Session 1769.
Resolved unanimously, That the Representatives of the Free- men of this Province in their legislative Capacity, with the Assent of the other Part of the Legislature, have the sole Right to lay Taxes and impositions on the Inhabitants of this Province, on their Property and Effects ; and that the laying, imposing, levy- ing, or collecting, any Tax, on, or from the Inhabitants of Mary- land under Colour of any other Authority, is unconstitutional, and a direct Violation of the Rights of the Freemen of this Province.
Resolved unanimously, That it is the undoubted Privilege of the inhabitants of this Province to Petition their Sovereign for Redress of Grievances, and that it is Lawful and expedient to procure the concurrence of His Majesty's other Colonies, in duti- ful Addresses, praying the royal Interposition, in Favour of the Violated Rights of America.
Resolved unanimously, That all Trials for Treason Misprison of Treason, or of any Felony or Crime whatsoever committed or
1 See the following documents.
2 Enclosed with letter of February 26, 1770.
VOL. II.
.
418
Correspondence of the
done in this Province, ought of Right to be had and conducted in and before the Courts of Law held within this Province, accord- ing to the fixed and known course of Proceeding ; And that the Seizing any Person, or Persons, suspected of any Crime what- soever committed in this Province, and Sending Such Person, or Persons to Places beyond the Sea to be tried is highly derogatory of the Rights of British Subjects as thereby the Inestimable Privi- lege of being tried by a Jury from the Vicinage as well as the Lib- erty of Summoning and procuring Witnesses on such Trial will be taken away from the Party accused.
JOSEPH WANTON, JR.,1 TO MOSES BROWN.2
NEWPORT April the 5th 1770
D. Sir
I Wrote Yesterday to Gov: Hopkins in great Haste and in a very Uncompos'd state of mind, having just Discover'd Fresh Instances of the Rancour and Malice of the Wards and their adherents, I am now Convinced that they are Determin'd to Displace the Gov! if in their power, Ward has been in Town this Week past and by his Incessant Application has Rekindled I suspect the Flame in some that before were still, and by his Servile Behaviour has I doubt not Accomplish'd his Ends in the Money Way, how much know not yet. will our Friends your way Tamely Submit to this common Disturber of the Peace of the Colony? I mention'd to M: Hopkins raising what could be done your Way and the
1 Joseph Wanton, Jr., was deputy-governor from 1764 to 1767, and a supporter of the Hopkins interest. He joined the loyalists in New York during the British occu- pation, and died there in 1780.
2 Copied from the Moses Brown Papers, in the Rhode Island Historical Society.
419
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Double of it should be rais'd here be it more or less, let me Intreat of you to Instantly attend to this. I dont Believe our Enemies Subscriptions runs very high yet - a Letter sign'd by a Number of Gentle- men at Providence to the Gov: expressing their Sur- prise that his Friends in Newport want that Spirit that Wards shows, may have a good Effect and Pre- pare them for the Application which has not yet been made.
H. Ward is out, looking for a D: Gov., tis said here that M! Tho: Green is the Man. J. G. Wanton is abroad also, I suppose at Providence or Warwick, fixing the Deputies for those County's as will best Answer his own Ends. I Beg very earnestly the Favour of you to Write our Friends in particular at Warwick respecting the Deputies, and throughout that and your County, the D: Governor I expect will take the sole care of those County's, but pray you and M: Hopkins to do it also. dont yet know who is the Warwick Magistrate, must have it by Saturday Night tell the D. Gov.
The Committee have been setting several days here, and Finisht their Business, unanimously agree- ing in the Affair of the Gov. the Inclos'd is an Answer to a Letter from the Gov! to thine, which have their Permission to Publish, this with the Letter shall be done on my Return from the Court at Little Rest where I'm this moment going. have sent you the Inclos'd that the Contents may be Circulated in the County, but as Copy's given out.
My best Regards to D. Bowen, he will readily ex- cuse my not Writing him when he knows the Infin-
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Correspondence of the
ite Perplexity and trouble I am Surrounded with, Apologize to all our Friends for these omissions. I am y: Affectn'y Frd &c.
J. WANTON J.
MOSES BROWN Esq'
MOSES BROWN TO JOSEPH SHERWOOD.1
PROVIDENCE June 1770
Your favor of 24th Feb! is come to hand contents of which I duly note, have nothing to advise you only the Resolution of the Colonies to Continue their non Importation Agreements Untill the duty on Tea be Repeald, which they Consider as a Design of the Ministry to Continue as a Test of their Right of Taxing the Colonies We are Sinsable that Article Comes Cheaper now than before but are not thereby to be Induced to Receive the Bate, many people here Apprehend a prohibition or nonimportation of Tea only would have been as well and Renew'd the Other Trade in General but this So far from pleas- ing the people that they have Taken the Matter Up and Seem Resolutely Determin'd to have as Little From Brittain as they Can do with untill the Duty be Taken of I wish to hear of the Matter's being Some way Setled with the India Compy as hinted, and that there may be that harmony as heretofore Subsistd Take place between Brittain and the Col- onys who are now very Jealous even to the Lowest Peasants
1 Copied from the Moses Brown Papers, in the Rhode Island Historical Society.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
MOSES BROWN TO JOSEPH SHERWOOD.1
PROVIDENCE July 3ª 1770.
MY Sherwood Sr,
Yours of the 24th Feb! and 13th March is before Me in which you Acknoledge the Rect of mine of the 30th Dec' but that of the 3ª Nov! wherein I acquainted you of what had been Done in the Gen- eral Assembly respecting your Acct make no men- tion of I have now to Acquaint you that at June Sessions of Assembly I applyd to the Upper House to Consider of the Recommendation of 2 of the Committee that Audited your Accts in hopes as Gov" Hopkins with some other of your friends are now in the Lower House Something might be done, the Upper House Accordingly Sent down the following Message " In the Upper house June 12th 1770. this House have taken into Consideration the Vote of the Lower House passd at October Sessions last upon the Agents Accts and are of Opinion that the Allowance Made him by that Vote is not adequate to his Services and therefore recommend to the Lower House to Reconsider the Said Vote, and make him a further Allowance." Upon which a debate arising from the old Quarter a Vote wass had wether a further Allowance Should be Made or not which pass'd in the Negative 2 And the Trea- surer Directed to pay you the Balance of £43.7.10 Stg.
1 Copied from the Moses Brown Papers, in the Rhode Island Historical Society.
2 This vote may be found in the manuscript Journal of the House for the June ses- sion, 1770, and on the next page it is recorded that the Upper House concurred in adopting the report of the committee appointed to audit the agent's accounts. The vote on the accounts is in the manuscript Records for 1770, p. 683.
422
Correspondence of the
At this time it wass moved by Several Members that John Madsley Esq' Should be Sent for before the House to Acquaint them Respecting the Colonys money Detain'd in Engª he having before Told Sev- eral Members that it wass his Opinion that the Money might be got if propperly Applyd for and Signifying to them you had not Done what might have been, he Accordingly Attended and Informd that he had Some Conversation with you about it and that he Told you he tho't you Ought to have Applyd to parliament &c. and that he Desired a friend of his (a person of the Law his Name Dont now Recollect) to make Enquiry at the offices about it who Could not find that any Endeavors had lately been Used by you to Recover it and that it wass his friends Opinion as well as his own that it might be Easily Recovered by propper Aplication, Upon this the Matter wass Rested for Consideration and the Sessions pasd without anything further being done, by this you will think with Me there is a Design of Shiffting the Agency by Some, indeed Thos Free- bodye a Member of Newport with one or Two Others there Moved it Others propos'd this Gent or Some Other Should be Joind with you and I apprehend from the Temper of the House after M' Madsleys Acct there probably may.1 we Shall Endeavor to Continue You alone tho' if I could entertain a doubt
1 In the sessions of May, 1771, the attorney-general for Rhode Island, Henry Mar- chant, was empowered to act for the colony in conjunction with Sherwood "in all matters and things, which are now pending, or that may hereafter arise, in which this colony is, or may be interested, during his residence in Great Britain." Col. Rec. of R. I., VII. 29. Arnold says that he returned in the fall of 1772 with " encouraging reports of the prospect of speedy payment," which were never realized. History of Rhode Island, II. 323. .
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
of your Endeavors for the Colonys Interest I might Say in Justice to my Constituents I could no Longer Support you at present. I conclude the Gent men- tiond to be a Sollicitor of M' Mawdsley in his Case in Chancery and who he wanted to favor with that Office perhaps to Save his Own Cause as I have before Taken him to be your friend. Tho' upon his being Ask'd if he could Recommend that Gent as an Agent he Said it was a Matter of Too Much Con- sequence for him the Only person that Knew any- thing of him but at the same time gave as favorable an Acct of his Character Ability &c as Necessary. I have thus been free to Communicate what pass'd which you will Consider as from One as fully Attachd to your Interest as before I had any of this Acct of M' Madsley as I consider it arising from some Dis- affection to you or Attachment to the other tho' his Answers to the House were modest and he then Shewd no UnEasiness with you.
I have now to Represent to you and Desire your Attention to a Matter that is highly Interesting to this Colony and which I have with your friends in General a particular desire that you Examin after. I am
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO MOSES BROWN.1
Estª Frd
Upon looking over my Plantation Letter Book, I do not find I ever acknowledged the Receipt of thy favor of 3ª November last, for which I am much
1 Copied from the Moses Brown Papers, in the Rhode Island Historical Society.
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Correspondence of the
obliged to thee; I think the Assembly have treated me hardly. I have had no remittance at all even of the Sum they think fit to allow me, nor have I lately received any Advices from the Colony.
As to the Money due to Rhode Island it never has been Voted by Parliament, so that it is not in the Treasury, nor will it ever be till the Parliamen- tary Requisition for making Compensation to the sufferers is Complied with.1
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