USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 6
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Sir,
The General Assembly of this Province presuming upon their Claim to a Reimbursmt of the Charges of the late Expedition against Cape Breton, have been employing their thoughts to find out some Method of improving such Reimbursmt, so as to put an End to the present Paper Currency, And they have projected a Bill (which has had two Readings in the Assembly) for this Purpose, a Copy of which I shall now inclose you: As there are Bills of each of the four Governmts of New England, which have obtained a Currency thro' the whole, it was judged proper before any thing be finally determined here, that a Conference should be had by Commissioners from each Governmt, that so, if possible, one general Method or Scheme might be agreed on; And you will see by the Vote inclos'd that Commissioners have accordingly been chosen by this Government; And I must desire your Honour to recommend it to your Assembly to join in this Affair which is of such vast Importance, and for effecting which it's probable there never may be so happy an Opportunity here- after.1
We have no absolute Certainty that any Grant will be made by the Parliament, but there is great Reason to expect it, and our latest Advices are that it will be done the present Session ; And the Assem- bly here seem'd to be of Opinion that unless some
1 Rhode Island did not act upon this well-timed suggestion.
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speedy Provision should be made on this Side the Water, great Endeavours will be used that these Governm's should be obliged to draw out their Grants by Bills of Exchange,1 the Consequence of which would be the Importation of vast Quantities of Goods, and perhaps the Exchange would be set at such a Rate as would be to the great damage of the Publick much beyond the present Value of the Bills of Credit, and what the Generality of the present Pos- sessors have no equitable Claim to. The Assembly have propos'd this Province to meet in, because it is nearest the Center, and as the Gentlemen can best be accomodated in the Town of Boston, it is propos'd their first Meeting shall be held there. The Memo- rial refer'd to in the Report I have not sent a Copy of, the Proposals contained therein being much the same with what is propos'd by this Bill.
I have sent Letters of the same Tenor with this to the Governours of New Hampshire and Connecti- cut; I shall expect your Answer as soon as may be. I am Sir
Your Honour's most Obedient humble Servant
The honble Governour WANTON
W SHIRLEY.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON 2d mo. the 8th 1748.
To the Gov'. of Rhode Island,
I have received Gov: Wantons Packet dated I Ith Jan'y last with the 2 Bills on the Lords of the Trea-
1 The money was paid in specie.
1
1
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
sury 1 for £6481.16.1. and £3662.13.3 Sterl: together with the Acco! and Vouchers of the Colonys Expence in raising forces for the intended Canada Expedition 2 &c. per Cap: Bruce via Boston and have left the Bills at the Treasury for acceptance and Offered to leave the other papers also but it was not thought fit to receive them at that time, so shall attend with them at the Office again intending to use my best Endea- vours for procuring payment. I hope it is not too late as the Parliam' are not likely to break up their Sessions so soon as was talkt off, neither will the King now go over to Flanders this year as it seems to be generally the Opinion of People.
This now incloses the Votes of the House of Commons wherein thou wilt See they have at length resolved amongst others that a Sum not exceeding £6332.12.10. be granted for Our Colonys Expence in the Cape Breton Expedition (on the Success whereof I congratulate the Colony,) which Sum I think amounts exactly to our demand at the Excha of 570 per C: which is pretty near as the Excha was at that time. and as I am informed, one of the last things to be done and pass'd at the Conclusion of the Sessions will be an Appropriating Bill for the Lds of the Treasury to make payment pursuant to the Resolutions on the Supply, which perhaps may be some considerable time afterwards, in the manner as it shall please them to do it, for which we must wait their leisure, and because of not disgusting them at this Critical Juncture it will not be prudent for me
1 See Wanton's letter to the Lords of the Treasury, Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 286.
2 The troops intended for the relief of Annapolis Royal.
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to teize them too much yet a while about the other money aforesaid ; out of the first money I receive of either I intend to pay the Gov's Bills on me in favour of Jos : Jacob, E Scott, H. Collins, and S. Ayrault.
I am with due respects to thy self and Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives
Thy and their Assured Friend,
RICHP PARTRIDGE
I am preparing my Acco's to be sent over accord- ing to the Vote of the Assembly in Octo! last.1
Commod: Coats with four of our Men of War sent out to join Adm! Hawks Squadron met with a Fleet of 9 Men of War and 27. Sail of Spaniards from Cadiz bound for the Spanish West Indies out of which was taken by our said Men of War 3. Register Ships supposed to be very rich and two other small Prizes
R. P.
To The Governour and Company of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 3 month 20th 1748.
To the Govern'. of Rhode Island &c.
I wrote thee last of the 8th Instant,? Since which I have been diligently Soliciting for the Payment of the Bills drawn on the Treasury 3 but find it will
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 226.
2 See the preceding letter.
3 Bills drawn to cover the expenses of the troops sent to Annapolis Royal.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
take more time and trouble than I expected but in- tend to leave no Stone unturnd till it be effected. the Duke of NewCastle has not yet made a Return to the Lords of the Treasurys letters which was wrote about the Affair (a Copy whereof comes inclosed) 1 whereupon I have drawn up a Petition to him an- nexing Copys of his Several Letters and of Gov. Shirleys and lodged at his Office, a Copy of which Petition comes also inclosed,2 which I hope will also induce him to do his part and then I must address the Lords of the Treasury in something of the Same Sort. I queried at the Treasury Office what the reason should be of their delay more on our Bills than of those from the Gov' of New York which have been paid and the answer was in Substance that the New York Gov: had not yet sent his acco's and what he drew was only on acco! of their Expence, and that he was Still accountable for what he drew as being the Kings Govern' and then the Relationship that there was between him and the first Comm' of the Treasury might be some Consideration, but yet what was done by Rhode Island Colony was in Obedience to the Kings Orders Signified fully by the Dukes Lett's I am apt to think they cannot hissitate a great while longer about it which would be very dishonour- able, and I shall push it on as fast as is convenient but must have patience. And! Stone the Dukes head Secretary is gone over with the King which is another impediment to us he promised me before he went that an answer should be returnd instantly to the Treasury, but he failed doing it. there is no
1 See the following document.
VOL. II.
2 Not in the archives.
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further talk that I can learn yet when the Cape Breton money will be paid but hope it will in 3. or 4. mos time, but I have been considering it woud be really necessary for Your Gen! Assembly to pass an Act empowering me as their Agent to receive the £6332.12.10. Sterl: voted by Parliam! and give a proper discharge for it, for the Rhode Island Ex- pence for assisting to take and Secure Cape Breton least when the money comes to be paid it should be objected to me that the Gov" Authority only is not Authentick enough. I find the Connect Agent has such an Act transmitted him from that Colony and it will be no hurt if not made use off.
I herewith send thee the Kings Speech at pro- rogruing the Parliamt soon after which he took Shipping to go over to his Germain Dominions.
The Preliminary Articles for a Cessation of Arms with France are now ratified 1 and it is to be hoped a Peace will take effect accordingly and that the Spaniards will also come in to the Treaty which as yet they have not for the rest I refer to the Prints herewith sent, and remain
Thy assured Friend, RICHP PARTRIDGE
To The Governour and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, New England
1 See letter from the Duke of Bedford, of May 7, 1748, Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 247.
1
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
J. WEST1 TO ANDREW STONE.2
Copy of a Letter from the Treasury sent to the Duke of NewCastles Office
Sir
The Gov' of Rhd Island and Providence Planta- tions having by letter data 9 Jan"! 1747 acquainted the Lds Comm's of his Majtys Treasury that pursuant to the Kings Commands transmitted to them from the Duke of NewCastle they had raised three Companys of Soldiers for an Expedition intended agst Canada and incurr'd Several publick expences amounting in the whole to £76083.11.4. Currency according to the Vouchers by him sent to their Agent here and that he had drawn Bills on their Lordships for the value thereof to the amount of £10144.9.6 Sterl wch Bills have been accordingly presented for acceptance : I am thereupon directed by their Ldships to send you the inclosed Copy of the Said letter to be communicated to his Grace with [the] desire that he will let them know whether the said Expences incurred and [the] Bills drawn are agreable in point of time or otherwise to the several Orders sent to the West Indies relating to Service of this kind
I am Sir Your most humble Servant
J. WEST
TREASURY CHAMBER 274% of April 1748
To ANDREW STONE Esq!
1 James West, politician and antiquary. He was treasurer and president of the Royal Society, as well as joint secretary to the treasury. This last-named office he held from 1741 to 1762.
2 Enclosed with letter of May 20, 1748.
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Correspondence of the
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 4th mo the It 1748
To the Gov'. of Rhode Island &c.
My last to thee was of the 20th Ult1 to which I refer, As to the Bills of Exche on the Treasury there is little further to be done therein at present that Board being adjourned over this time of Whitsuntide till next Week and then I shall pursue the Matter again in order to get the Bills accepted, but by what I can learn they miss'd it in Sending to the Duke of NewCastle for information, which should have been to the Duke of Bedford he being lately put into his Place as Secretary of State 2 for the Plantations and all the Copys of Letters and Papers removed from D: of NewCastles Office to that of the Duke of Bedfords, and I doubt the Treasury must Send to him for the Information they want about the Orders given per the Canada Expedition. the Massachusts Connecticut nor New Jersey acco's on that head I dont find are yet delivered in, but those of New Jer- sey I am advised are coming over to me, amounting to about £5000. Sterling.
As for Publick News I refer thee to the Print here inclosed and to others sent thee per this Conveyance to my Friend And: Oliver and Co: to forward and remain
Thy assured Friend
R. P.
The King is safe arrived in Holland going to Hannover.
1 See letter on p. 64.
2 Appointed Secretary of State, to succeed Lord Chesterfield in 1747.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
17th Ditto.
Since the foregoing they finding at the Treasury on my information their mistake in sending to the Duke of NewCastle as aforesaid wrote a Letter (of which inclosed is a Copy1) to the same effect to the Duke of Bedfords Office and Recd a Return thereto, and I delivered a Petition to the Treasury 2 setting forth the State of our Case relating to the 2 Bills of Exchange drawn on them by Gov: Wanton for Your Expence in the late Canada Expedition &cª, and now I have the Pleasure after diverse Solicitations and attendances to acquaint thee that on my being again yesterday at the Treasury which was their Board day and the Lords Sitting, at length obtained their grant of an Order to the Paymaster of the Forces to accept both the Bills amounting together to £10144.9.6. Sterl and to pay them accordingly, with which Order (of which I likewise send thee a Copy 3), I went Imedi- atly to the Paymasters Office and got them accepted from the 16th Inst. to be paid agreeable to the time mentioned therein, and Since that I have accepted Gov! Wantons four Bills which he redrew on me for the Colonys Acco! But it must be observed that in the Secretarys Order to the Paymaster of the Forces it is mentioned that Gov! Wanton should be set Insu- per, for the same, that is as I take it he is looked upon as answerable for the making good the Arti- cles of Charges in the Acco! when hereafter they shou'd come to be narrowly inspected and examined, for at present they left all the accounts with me for
1 Not in the archives.
8 Not in the archives.
2 See the following document.
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the Gov's Justification and did not care to take the trouble to examine into them, only queried in what nature they were verified. So that probably hereafter they may be Scrutinized into in a Strict manner with Respect to the Vouchers by direction of Parliament, and the Gov! to Acco! for what Articles may be disapproved or the Vouchers not to Satisfaction and therefore I humbly Submit it to consideration whether an Act of the General Assembly Should not be first passed to endemnify Gov! Wanton before any more Bills be drawn on me on acco! of the above- said Money. I could not propose to have obtained the payment in any other manner and which I doubt not is Customary in Such Cases and beleive is the same circumstance attending Govern! Clinton and Gov: Shirleys Bills -for such of them as have been paid.
I have a Demand on the same footing for about £5000 in behalf of New Jersey but as no Bills are drawn I find by what I can learn at present I must wait another Sessions of Parliament before I shall be able to get any part of it, neither do I suppose either the Connecticutt or New Hampshire Agents will get any thing at all till then of the Canada Ex- pedition money. This Affair has been attended as well the former with some Expence and my Acco! shall be sent hereafter.
As to the Cape Breton money altho' it be allowed us by Act of Parliament being £6332.12.10 yet there is no certainty what time it will be paid, they talk as if it is left pretty much with the Lords of the Treasury in what manner to make the Payments
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
and which I find is under their Considera", and that it is intended to be paid in Such a manner as to oblige the several Colonys to call in and Cansel so much of their Paper Bills of Credit as the money or good part of it amounts to, but as yet they are come to no certainty about it. I have understood from the Secry that the delay is not occasioned for want of money in the Treasury but about the manner of pay- ing it as aforesaid and that all the four Colonys are to fare alike in proportion to their respective Sums :-
I think your Gen" Assembly woud do well to pass an Act impowring me to receive the Cape Breton Money and give a discharge therefor, as heretofore advised, least the Gov"s Authority should not be suf- ficient, and it may come for ought I know in time for it
As for Publick News the Preliminarys for a Peace Stand as they did for a Cessation of Arms but the Spaniards are not yet committed unto to agree to them but what they may do is yet uncertain
I am Thy assured Friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
I am apt to think the Connecticutt and New Hampshire Agents will Scarce receive a Shilling of the Canada Expedition money this Twelve month and I understand there is a Stand now put to the Payment of Gov. Clinton and Gov: Shirleys Bills on that head the reason of it I take to be their draw- ing on the Paymaster of the Forces instead of the Lords of the Treasury.
To The Governour and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
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Correspondence of the
PETITION OF RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO THE LORDS OF THE TREASURY.1
To the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury of Great Britaain &c
The Humble Petition of Richard Partridge Agent for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations in New England
Sheweth That the Governour and Company of the said Colony received the Duke of NewCastles Let- ter dated the 9th of April 1746. Signifying the Kings requiring that the Necessary dispositions should be Speedily made in the said Colony amongst his other Governments in North America for raising Forces for joyning his Regular Troops to be employ'd in the Reduction of Canada under the Command of Lieu: Gen! St Clair and that the said Colony should appoint proper Officers to Command the Men they should be able to raise, and were directed to assure all that should engage in the Service as well Officers as Soldiers that they were immediatly to enter into his Majestys Pay. And as to the Article of Arms and Cloathing for the Men to be raised, his Majesty had Commanded that it should be recommended to the said Governour and Company and other Gov- ernours to take Care that the Soldiers be provided therewith, and that his Majesty had Authorised and empowred Lieu: Gen! S: Clair to make reasonable Allowance for defraying that Expence, and the said Governour and Company were orderd by the said
1 Enclosed with letter of June 1, 1748.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Letter to recommend to the Council and Assembly to provide a Sufficient number of Transports to carry the Troops to be raised in Rhode Island to Louis- bourg the Place of Rendezvouz, and from thence up the River St Lawrence with Provisions for the Men.
That pursuant to the said Orders the Governour and Company being willing to give all possible Evi- dence of their Loyalty and Gratitude to the King and Zeal for his Service in so important an Expedi- tion did appoint Officers, and Issued a Proclamation dated the 4th of June 1746. for encouraging Men to en- list in the said Service, and 3. Companies of one hun- dred Men each were accordingly raised fitted with Arms Cloathing and Ammunition and Supported by the said Colony for the said intended Expedition.
That in Octo! 1746. the said Colony received a Letter from Gov: Shirley of New England and Com- modore Warren signifying the Great danger that the Fortress of Annapolis Royal and the whole Province of Nova Scotia was in of falling into the Enemies hands unless Succours were immediatly sent, and that as the preservation of the Province is of the Utmost Consequence for his Majestys Interest &cª he would expect that at least the Troops in his own pay should be employed for the Defence of that Country, and therefore earnestly urged that without loss of time the Gov' of the said Colony of Rhode Island wou'd send in proper Vessells the 300 Men raised in the said Colony (for the Expedition against Canada) for the defence of Annapolis Royal and Nova Scotia, and further signifyed that the loss of Annapolis Royal woud make an Addition of 5. or
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6000. fighting Men to the Strength of the Enemy and thereby enable them to make further attempts even upon Louisbourg.
That the said Governour of Rhode Island received from Gov: Shirley of New England an Extract of a Letter wrote from the Duke of NewCastle to the said Gov: Shirley dated May the 30th 1747 Signifying amongst other Matters that he was directed to Con- fer with. Commodore Knowles about the Present State of Nova Scotia &cª and touching the Expence in- curr'd on Account of the American Troops from the time of their being levyed to the time of their dis- charge &cª the acco's being adjusted and Liquidated and to be transmitted from the Several Governours in ord! that they might be laid before the Parliament that Provision may be made for payment, and in the mean time in order to prevent any Complaint amongst the Men that have been enlisted for want of imedi- ate pay, the said Governour Shirley and Commodore Knowles were directed to recommend it to the Gov- ern's of the Provinces where these levies should have been made to procure Credit from their respective Assemblys for that purpose which his Majesty hoped may be done without difficulty &cª
That the said Gov! of Rhode Island recd from Admiral Warren in a Letter from Louisbourg of the 12th July 1745 : a Letter or Copy of a Letter from the Duke of NewCastle dated Jan'y 3ª 174% for the several Govrs of the Northern Colonies, Signifying that if M! Warren should apply to them for Assist- ance either of Men Provisions or Shipping to enable him to proceed either to the Releif and Succour of
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Annapolis Royal or making any attempts on the Enemy, they were in all Such Cases to be aiding and assisting to him in the most effectual Manner &c. of which Letters Copys are hereunto annexed extracted from Authenticated Copys transmitted to Your Peti- tioner under the said Gov! of Rhode Islands hand and the Seal of the Colony.
That when the said 3 Companys were raised in the said Colony they Equipped Manned and Vict- ualled the Colonys Sloop of War for the same Ser- vice tho' She was the only armed Vessell they had to guard their Coast and protect their Trade, and in Order the more effectually to answer the Kings Intention in raising the Forces they granted a very large Bounty to Such as should enlist, and provide Transports, Provisions, Arms, Tents, Cloathing and other necessarys Seasonably, so that the Men were ready to embark at a very short warning with Provi- sions for their Subsistance near 12 Months, and in this State they continued till October, when at the pressing Instance of Govern! Shirley and Admiral Warren they were imbarked to go to the Relief of Annapolis Royal which was then in the utmost dan- ger of falling into the hands of the Enemy and departed from Rhode Island the beginning of Nov! under Convoy of the Colonys said Sloop of War with all the Provisions &cª that were provided for the Canada Expedition, but had the Misfortune in Pursuance of the said Voyage to meet with Contrary Winds and exceeding bad Weather whereby two of the Transports were Stranded and lost, and at last after sending them another Transport and Several
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Fruitless Attempts to proceed on their Voyage and Suffering greatly by Sickness and severity of the Weather they were obliged to return in a Sickly Condition without being able to get to Annapolis.
And after their Return as the Colony had no Orders from the King to disband them they were some of them furlough'd, and others Billited out till the Kings pleasure should be known and they con- tinued till Governour Shirley and Comodore Knowles had orders to discharge them.
That the Gov! of the Said Colony hath transmitted to Your Petitioner the Muster Rolls together with the Acco's of all the Particulars of the Expence in raising Supporting &cª of the said Forces and of the Charge of the Convoy and Transports aforesaid veri- fied on Oath and certified under the said Gov's hand and the Seal of the Colony ready to be produced amounting in the whole to £10144.9.6 Sterling for which Sum those Bills were drawn which have been presented you.
That the said Colony took up several Sums of Money of Merchants there on Credit to Supply part of the aforesaid Expence for which the said Govern- our hath already redrawn Bills on Your Petitioner which he cannot comply with until he is enabled by the Government here.
That your Petitioner is informed the said Colony (which is of but a Small extent) is involved in a great deal of Debt on accot of the aforesaid Expences and are unable to discharge the same in due time with- out being repaid.
Wherefore Your Petitioner Humbly prays in be-
------
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
half of the said Colony that You would be pleased to take the Premises into Consideration and to grant an Order for the Payment of the said Gov' of Rhode Islands Bills of Exchª amounting together to the said Sum of £10144.9.6. Sters to Your Petitioner agreable to the Tenour thereof.
All which is humbly Submitted
RP PARTRIDGE
LONDON 4 mo; the 8th 1748
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 6 mo. the 4th 1748.
Gov'. Green,
Altho' I have had no intimation by writing from the Colony of the Election there this Year yet have been informed that the Choice of their Governour has again fallen on thee and therefore I look on it my duty to address thee in my writing
My last to the Gov! and Company of Rhode Is- land was of the 17th 4 month last per 3 Conveyances concerning the Colonys Affairs whereto please to be refer'd.
Since that I have recd Cash for one of Gov! Wan- tons Bills on acco! of the Canada Expedition as it became due viz. that of £3662.13.5. and out of it I have paid the four Bills he drew on me on the Col- onys acco: viz. those of £166.0. £549.1.0. £514.6.0. £312.15.0. Sterl with some Interest due thereon : and the other Bill which the said Gov! sent me, I expect will be also paid when due.
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