USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 4
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I am with due respects to thy self and Gentlemen of the Council,
Thy assured Friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
To WILLIAM GREEN Esq. Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations New Engla
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO WILLIAM SHARPE.1
8ber 13th 1746.
Clerk of the Council 2 Fr Wm Sharp,
I have now recd from the Governour of Rhode Island a Plan or Pofile of their Fortification for the Lords Committee of Council in persuance of their Order of 5th feb"y 1744. there is one Plan of the Fort as it now is, and an other as thou willt See of the Same again only with some alteration proposed, and here is also our Gov's Letter with it to the said Lords Committee all which please to lay before them at their next Sitting.
And now I woud just take this opportunity to let
1 Enclosed with preceding letter.
2 The letter is a copy, and this phrase is evidently inserted as an explanation of Sharpe's official position.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
1
thee know how Loyal and ready the said Colony have been in pursuing the Orders lately sent them from the Duke of New Castle about the Expedition intended against Canada, the Gov! writes me 1 in the following Words viz!
" I recª his Majestys Instructions from his Grace " the Duke of New Castle Relating [to] the Expedi- " tion against Canada the 28th of May last and imme- " diately Called the General Assembly who Unani- " mously Concluded to raise three hundred Soldiers " as Land Forces and to send our Guard Sloop with "one hundred Seamen; and orderd a Bounty of " fifty Pounds to each Soldier that should enlist in " his Majestys Service for their Encouragement be- " sides Cloathing, beding, Tents &cª by which means " wee Soon had the most part of that Number en- " listed, And they are now ready to Embark as soon " as his Majestys Forces arrives; our Small Govern- "ment have got their Men much Sooner then the " Massachusetts and a greater proportion. I am Thy Friend RP PARTRIDGE
to the Clerk of the Council.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 8ber 31st 1746
Governour Green
In mine of the 14th Inst. I acknowledged the receipt of thy Letter data the Ist of Augt last with the Plan
1 See letter of August 1, 1746.
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of yo! Fortifica" and the Letter with it for the Lords committee,1 wch I had properly exhibited at the Coun- cil Office against their next Meeting which yet has not happened, and I shall take the further necessary Steps therein. I have also thy Writing empowring me to receive the Money on accot of the Exped" agst Cape Breton wch I think is Sufficient for that purpose, but nothing is likely to be done as to paymt till the Parliam meets wch is appointed the 18 of next month, and even then its very probable it will be some con- siderable time before it be brought about, perhaps a Twelve month, tho' in the mean time I intend nothing shall be wanting on my part.
I did on the 22ª Inst send the Colonys accot to the Speaker of yo! House of Representas, the Sum for Ball thereon being £672 : 2: 10 Sterl in my favour, besides the Charges on the Solicita" in the Cape Breton Affair not yet brot to accot ; and in- closed I send thee a Copy of my Sª Acco! And at the same time I drew on your Treasurer for {200 : Sterl payable to Andrew Oliver Esq: and Phillips on the Colonys accot besides the £300- Sterl wch I drew the 23 6 month 2 payable to the same, both wch Bills I doubt not will meet wth due honour for my Encouragement to transact their Affairs wth chearfulness, and for my Credit sake also, for busi- ness cannot be card on here without proper Supplys, it being much more reasonable and convenient that a whole Body of People shod advance Money for car- rying on their Business than that the Burden shoud lay on one Man, and I intend to serve them faith-
1 See Greene's letter of that date.
2 August 23.
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fully to the best of my ability as I have hitherto done.1
As for publick News the Conferences abot a Peace by the Ambassadrs at Breda likely to break up with- out any Effect2-the King of Sardinia together with the Austrian Forces on the side of Italy are penetrating into Provence in France which putts the French Inhab's into great consternation there.
Admiral Lestock and Gen1 S! Clear with our Fleet that were designd for Canada Expedition are re- turnd from the Coast of France after having made some Spoils on the Enemy on the Coast of Bretany but not answerable to what might have been expected, a pretty many of the French Men of War of the Brest Fleet destined agt Cape Breton having Met with a violent Storm about the Isle of Sables, abun- dance of their Men Sickly and diverse dead are re- turnd home to France Two of wch viz the Mars and the Ardent 60. or 64 Gun Ships the first taken by the Nottingham Man of War and brought into Ply- mouth, the other has been drove aShore by some of our Ships of War and burned on the French Coast.3
Our B Bs.4 and Leward Island homeward bound Fleet of about sixty Saile under Convoy of Two 50. Gun Men of War met with 3 French Men of War about 200. leag: W. of the Lands end between which there was an Engagemt whilest the Mercht Men got
1 In the October session of 1747 the governor is directed to ask for a statement of Partridge's accounts during the time he has been in the colony's service. Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 226.
2 In September, 1746, a congress opened at Breda, where the plenipotentiaries of the Emperor, Great Britain, France, and Holland were assembled.
3 See note on p. II.
4 Bahamas.
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Correspondence of the
off, and they say are mostly arrived safe at Plymouth Portsmº and other Ports.1
They now talk again of some Alterations in the Ministry, wch time must discover but this is certain that Ld Harrington one of the Secretarys of State has resigned and Ld Chesterfield put in his Room.
As to the matter of the Naval Officer of your Col- ony, that remains as it did, the Petition wch I had the precaution to throw in here in time as a Bar before I heard from the Colony about it against Lockmans patent for it has never yet been controverted and I beleive never will, so that Priviledge I apprehend is intirely preserved. I am with due respects
Thy assured Friend
RICH? PARTRIDGE
I send thee a packt with prints per this Ship to be forwarded by my Frds Oliver and Phillips
To WILLIAM GREEN Esq! Govern' of Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations.
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR GREENE.2
BOSTON Nov. 4th 1746
Sir
I have now the Pleasure of informing your Honour, of the French Fleet's quitting the Coast of Nova
1 This encounter took place on December 15, 1745, off Cape Nicolas. There was much criticism of the commodore, but the verdict of a court-martial justified his course of action.
2 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 203.
...
T
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Scotia, and going off to the West Indies and the Canadeans breaking up their Camp before the Garri- son at Annapolis Royal; But notwithstanding this as Service of the greatest Importance remains yet to be done in Nova Scotia viz. taking or destroying all the Enemy's Magazines of Warlike Stores and Pro- visions at Minas and Chicknecto,1 taking all the grain in the Country (except w' is wanted by the Inhabit- ants for their present use), for his Majesty's Service and the same with respect to their Cattle, by wch means all the Inhabitants and Indians might be dis- arm'd, and the latter together with the Canadeans (in Case they should return next Spring) be without Subsistance from the Country ; driving off the Cana- deans design'd to winter in Minas or Chicknecto, and distressing the Indians there, among whom a very bad sickness prevails wch has already swept off hundreds of 'em, visiting Chebucto and seeing what Foot-steps the French have left there, calling the Malecontents, who are the most obnoxious, among the French Inhabitants, to an Acct for their joining an open Correspondence with the Enemy, and de- stroying the Settlements of such of 'em as shall ab- scond; and perhaps recovering some of the Prize Vessells and Goods taken from the English; by all wch means the Canadeans wou'd be discourag'd from renewing their Attempts next Spring, the Friends to
1 Chignecto, or Beaubassin, an Acadian settlement at the head of Chignecto Bay, the western of the two arms formed by the Bay of Fundy, and the narrowest point of the neck of the peninsula of Acadia, or Nova Scotia. On the disappearance of D'Anville's fleet, Ramesay, the Governor of Montreal, who had advanced to support the attack on Annapolis, fell back on Chignecto with about 1600 French and Indians, and built a fort at Baye Verte, on the opposite side of the neck.
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Correspondence of the
his Majesty's Government in that Province confirm'd in their Fidelity, the Abettors of the French Interest diminish'd and deterr'd from open or even secret Acts of Hostility, and the Indians very much har- rass'd and disabled from giveing the Enemy the usual Assistance so that if the Canadeans shou'd repeat their visit in the Spring they wou'd not be able to make any progress in the Country to the disadvan- tage of the Garrison : I say as all these Services, wch have so plain a Tendency to settle the lasting Secu- rity of the Province, remain yet to be done and this fall is the only opportunity for doing it, and I am In- form'd by Persons well acquainted with the Seasons in Nova Scotia, that the winter is not yet too far ad- vanc'd for doing this with a probable prospect of the men's returning afterwards this winter, I have deter- min'd to send the Reinforcement of five Companies,. wch I propos'd before my receiving the last advices, some of wch are already sail'd, and others go to day and the rest in two days at farthest; and I hope your Honour, if your three Companies are not al- ready sail'd, will order 'em to proceed forthwith.1 If our Endeavours are attended with Success at this critical Conjuncture, as I hope they will, it will be a most beneficial Service for his Majesty and the Colonies,
I am in haste the Post waiting
Your Honour's most Obed: Humble Servant.
W SHIRLEY.
1 The Rhode Island troops were ordered to Annapolis Royal, in October, Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 193, and sailed immediately upon the receipt of this letter ; see the follow- ing document.
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DEPUTY-GOVERNOR WHIPPLE TO GOVERNOR SHIRLEY.
S.
Your Excelcy's Favour of the 4th instant1 came Safe with the Agreeable News of the French Fleet leav- ing the Coast, and the Canadians raising the Siege of Annapolis, and in the Absence of Governour Greene, It falls to my Province to let Your Excelcy know That agreeable to a Representation made by You and the Honble Admiral Warren for our Men to be sent to Annapolis, the General Assembly imedi- ately ordered the Same to be done, and I can now inform You That on Tuesday last our Three Com- panies sailed in the Three Transports under Convoy of our Colony Sloop for Annapolis with all the Able and healthy Men belonging to said Companies (being Somewhat reduced by Several that have dyed and others that are now Sick) and hope they may be Instrumental by assisting the other Forces to per- form the necessary Operations for distressing the Enemy, and prevent their making any further At- tempts on the aforesaid Place, and for the Preserva- tion of Nova Scotia. Your Excel"y will always find this Government ready and willing to exert Them- selves to the Utmost for his Majesty's Service and Interest. I am with due Respect
Your Excelcy's most obedient humble Serv!
J. W
NEWPORT 6" Nov, 1746.
To his Excel"y WM SHIRLEY Esq
1 See the preceding letter.
VOL. II ..
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Correspondence of the
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR GREENE.1
BOSTON Jan? 5. 1748.
Sir,
This will be delivered you by Lieuten! Wilkinson from whom as well as by a letter from Col Kinne- cutt I am sorry to learn that the Levies of your Gov- ernmt are at length by a Train of Cross Accidents and disasters prevented from going upon his Majy's service to Annapolis Royal, for wch both your Gov- ernmt and the Troops have shown so ready a Dis- position :2 I can't say but that I think after having been so greatly weaken'd and reduc'd by sickness, and deaths as I understand the three Companies are, that your Officers Judged right in not venturing 'em upon a Passage to Annapolis in so extreme, and Wintry a season as the present has prov'd; since in all probability it would have destroy'd many of the Soldiers, and the few, that had survived it, might have been rather a Burthen than of service to the Garrison : I heartily wish those of 'em, wch are sail'd for Newport, a safe Arrival there, and that the sick among them, and those left at Martha's Vineyard may recover.
M: Wilkinson informs me that some deserters from your Levies are suspected to be conceal'd in this Governmt: If there is any possibility of getting at 'em, I will take care they shall be secur'd for you,
1 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 206.
2 Some of the Rhode Island transports were cast away off Mt. Desert, and more than one half the men lost by drowning and exposure. Many of the remainder were useless through sickness. Some were left at Martha's Vineyard, others went to Bos- ton and were sent home by Shirley. Arnold, History of Rhode Island, II. 156.
- -
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
upon my being apprized where any of 'em may be apprehended.
I took the first Opportunity of laying before the Assembly of this Province the Copy of his Majy's Order in Council for settling the Boundary line be- tween the province and Colony together with the Act of your Governmt appointing Commissioners to join with those of this Gov: in running and marking the line accordingly, and of recommending to 'em forthwith to choose Commissioners for this purpose, wch I hope they will readily do. When it is done, I shall transmit you the first notice of it, that I can.1
I am with due regard, Sir,
Your Honour's Obedient, Humble servant W SHIRLEY.
P. S. I hope that 800 of the Massachusetts levies are all long before this safely arriv'd at Annapolis,2 wth a great Quantity of snow shoes; as also the two New Hampshire Companies : and that they may be a force sufficient for the purposes of his Majesty's service there.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 12th month or Feb! 12th 1748.
To the Governor of Rhode Island
My last to thee was of the 13th 8ber last 3 to which I referr, Since which I have recd thine relating to the
1 See note to letter of May 31, 1746.
2 Parkman says that only 470 Massachusetts men, under Colonel Noble, finally reached Annapolis. A Half Century of Conflict, II. 199.
3 Not in the archives.
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Correspondence of the
Stores of IIth 8ber 1 with a Smal Plan for the Colony, the other Plan and letter to the Lords Committee of Council has layn at the Council Office Sometime and have prest the Matter there very urgently that it might come under their Considerat" and have also been personally with the Duke of Dorset the Lord President but cannot as Yet get it forward so fast as I would, but shall still pursue it and do what I can in the Matter till it be accomplished which I hope for and am very desirous of Accomplishing. As for the Cape Breton affair at length the Report of the Lords Committee to the King in Council (which I heretofore writ off) has been Confirmed and who hath by an Order referred the Accounts to the Lords of Trade and the Secretary of War where it is likely to meet with Some Difficultys as well as Expence for them to examine and liquidate in Order that it may be brought into Parliam! (as thou may'st See by a Copy of the said Order herewith sent2) but whether we shall be able to get it through time enough this Sessions is uncertain; I shall use my best Endea- vours with the others concern'd and get the Matter accommodated as soon as Possible; In Justice to Wm Bollan Esq' Gov. Shirleys Son in Law3 I must Say that I think he has been indefatigable in his Attendance and Solicitations therein to bring it thus forward as it is, for without the Massach's had Pre- ceded I find we should have made little of it.
As for News theres no Prospect of Peace yet, tho'
1 See above, p. 23. 2 See the following document.
3 Bollan was sent out by Massachusetts to urge the claims of the colony to be reim- bursed for the expenses of the Cape Breton expedition.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the Congress at Breda is not quite Over; A Fleet of Men of War they say is fitting out at Brest again, but whether bound is a Secret and doubtless our Ministry will early have a Fleet also ready and be on the Watch. I am &c
R P
The fees &cª at the Council Office of this Order of Referrence comes to £40.
AT THE COURT AT ST JAMES'S 1 the 15th day of January 1746. Present
THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL
Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Report made by the Lords Committee of the Coun- cil upon considering the Petition of Richard Par- tridge Agent for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England praying to be reimbursed the Expences they have been at in assisting to take and Secure the Island of Cape Bre- ton and its Dependences, By which Report it is pro- posed in Consideration of the good Services per- formed by the said Colony in the Reduction of that Place to his Majesty's Obedience That a Reasonable Satisfaction should be made to them for their Ex- pences therein, - And the said Lords of the Com- mittee therefore submitted it to his Majesty whether
1 Enclosed with preceding letter.
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Correspondence of the
it might not be advisable to recommend it to Parlia- ment to make Provision for the same, And in the mean time to refer the said Demand to such Persons as his Majesty shoud think proper in order to adjust and Liquidate the same.
His Majesty taking the said Report into Consider". is hereby pleased with the advice of his Privy Coun- cil to approve of what is above proposed, and to order that the said Petition and Papers annexed be referrd to the Lords Com's for Trade and Planta" and his Majestys Secry of War who are to meet and examine into the Demand made by the said Colony upon this Affair and to adjust and liquidate the Same.
WM SHARPE
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND. LONDON 12 month or feb"? 24h 1749
To the Governor of Rhode Island &cª.
I have already wrote thee per Capt Kilby and Capt Brown via Boston to which I refer; And now I apprehend it further my Duty to acquaint thee respecting the Expence your Colony have been at in raising and Subsisting 300 Men pursuant to the Duke of New Castles Letter of the 9th Apr! 1746.1 If a just Accot was made out thereof properly sworn to and Authenticated by thyself under the Seal of the Colony with Copy of the Dukes said Letter an- nexed Authorizing me as yo! Agent to receive the money it might be effected, and together with 2
1 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 162.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Bills of Excha drawn in equal halves by thyself on the Lords Comiss's of the Treasury for the amount of the whole in Sterl money reduced according to Exchª it would be very proper and Material for me to present in order for Payment, agreeable to what Gov! Clinton of N : York has lately done; a form of a Copy of one of his Bills of Excha drawn on them have obtained and Send thee herewith,1 but its prob- able that Some variation in those for Rhode Island must be made especially towards the latter end as thou willt observe. I hear there are about £19000. Sterl. of his Bills lately come over hither wch tho' the meet wth some hesitation yet its thought in time they will certainly be paid, but then I dont know but they will expect vouchers annexed also to the Acco as Gov: Clinton has mentioned them in his Bills, there must also be a letter of advice writ to the Lords of the Treasury properly Directed and Sent me to deliver. If there shoud be any demur wth the Sec'y of War and Board of Trade about our Accots for the Cape Breton Expedition to whom they are referr'd by the King to be examined I expect it will be for want of the necessary Vouchers of the sev- eral Articles in the accot notwithstanding Jnº Gard- ner has attested them, Wherefore if the Bills of Parcells wth the Rec's thereon for Such of the Arti- cles in the Accot as are material and other Receipts were duely Attested and Authenticated under the Seal and sent me it woª I beleive make it much more likely and easy to pass through, and duplicates and Authentick Copys shoud also be sent for fear of
1 See the following document.
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Correspondence of the
miscarriage, - this I write in time least they should be wanted : It certainly is worth while to take pains about it1 I am Thy Assured Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
26th
Since the above I have been informed the Lords of Trade are likely to Spin out the time before the accots relating to Cape Breton are passed do all we can ; that there will not be time to get into Parliament with them this Sessions, yet I dont much Doubt but it will be done agst the Parliam' meets again
To The Govern" and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
[Enclosure.]
Exchª for £ stelg
NEW YORK I" Novemb: 1746
My Lords
Pursuant to his Grace Duke of New Castles Letter to me of the 9th Apr! last to make use of proper Measures to engage the five Nations of Indians to take part in an Expedition orderd by his Majesty for the Reduction of Canada to make them Such Presents as I think may be of Use for that Purpose, His Grace has also among other things recomended it to me to raise a large Body of Men within my Governmt as the Shortness of Time will permitt and as Clothing, Arms, Amunition, Tents, Camp neces- sarys and Battoes will be wanting on the part of this Province when the troops raised therein are to be transported into the Southen part of Canada likewise Battoes for the Use of some of the Neighbouring Provinces orderd upon this Service ; Youll be Pleased on thirty days sight of this my Second of Exchª
1 An order of the Assembly to send the required vouchers is in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 218.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
my first third and fourth of the same tenor and date not paid, to pay to on Order Pounds Sterl.
Value rec.ª of upon Acco! of providing the above- mentioned Materials and also other Materials which will be abso- lutely wanting in the Course of the said Service, and for which the Gener! Assembly of this Province refused to advance any Sums on the Credit of the Crown for which Sum proper Vouchers shall be produced. I am with very great Respects My Lords
Your LordsShips most Obedient Humble Serv! G CLINTON
To The Right Honourable the Lords Commiss": of the Treasury or to whom the Payment of this Bill may Concern.
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
BOSTON March 4th 1749.
Sir,
Not long since I represented to your Honour the State of Affairs in Nova Scotia,1 and the great Im- portance of preserving that Province from falling into the Hands of the Enemy, and earnestly re- quested you to send some of the King's Troops in your Colony to act in Conjunction with those I sent from hence for that Service; And I am now to inform you of the Disaster 2 which has befallen
1 See letters from Shirley, of February 7 and 9, urging that the Rhode Island troops be sent to Crown Point, and then that they be sent to Annapolis Royal. Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 209, 210. Also Greene's answer, dated February 20, stating that the Assembly do not approve either suggestion. Ibid., V. 211.
2 The New England troops under Colonel Noble had, after an arduous journey by sea and by land, established themselves (December, 1746) in Grand Pré, the principal village of the Minas Basin. The French commander, Ramesay, fell back to Chignecto, on the neck of the peninsula. From this post he sent out a surprise party who attacked the troops at Grand Pré, killed the commanding officer, and besieged three hundred and fifty men in the village stone house. After a day or two the garrison surrendered on parole. Mascarene wrote Shirley that seventy English were killed and over sixty captured. The French claimed one hundred and thirty killed and sixty-five wounded and prisoners.
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the Forces sent from this Province for driving the Enemy out of Nova Scotia, which tho I would attrib- ute in part to some Neglect of Duty in the Officers in not keeping a good Watch to prevent a Surprize yet I must be of Opinion that the principal Cause of this Misfortune is, that the neighbouring Gov- ernm's have not afforded us due Assistance against the Enemy in this important Enterprize. The par- ticular Circumstances of this Misfortune you will understand by the inclosed Papers 1 and Print, which contains authentick Accounts, that I shall not take up in repeating here; Our Business being now to look forward and do every thing in our Power to strengthen our Forces in Nova Scotia, by making them an Overmatch for the Enemy; And as M: Mas- carene apprehends it necessary to make up the Num- ber twelve or fifteen hundred, I am fully of Opinion with him that less than twelve hundred will not be sufficient, but that it will be more convenient to make up the Number to fifteen hundred; which, with the arm'd Vessels belonging to the several Colonies in New England, would I hope (by the Blessing of God) make the Conquest easy and expeditious, and dis- courage the Enemy from any future Attempts : The absolute Necessity of making such a vigorous At- tempt for driving the Enemy out of that Province,2 and the vast Interest which all the Colonies in New England, as well as the Crown of Great Britain have in this Event, must I think be obvious to every thinking Man that has the least Affection and Zeal for the common Cause of his Country; And it is no
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