The following papers were also presented to the House, pursuant to addrefs:

Copy of Sir James Cockburn's contract for rum.

ARTICLES of agreement indented, made, and concluded this 2d of May, 1776, in the 16th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and fo forth, by and between the Right Honourable the Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treasury on the part and behalf of his Majefty of the one part, and Sir James Cockburn, Bart. of the other part.

Whereas it is thought neceffary that a contract fhould be entered into with fome fit and refponfible perfon for furnishing a quantity of rum, for the ufe of his Majefty's troops

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on fervice in America; fuch rum to be delivered at fuch places, and to fuch perfons in America, as the faid Lords Commiffioners fhall appoint. And whereas Sir James Cockburn, Bart. has proposed to furnish and deliver to the army in America 100,000 gallons of rum, the produce of the iflands of Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica, and Tobago, at the rate of four fhillings, fterling, per gallon, for all rum the produce of, and exported from, the ifland of Grenada, and at the rate of three fhillings and fixpence per gallon for all rum, the produce of, and exported from, the islands of St. Vincent, Dominica, and Tobago, under proper and due certificates from the officers of his Majefty's cuftoms of the feveral iflands refpectively, and to be taken and furnished from the faid refpective islands in proportion to the produce of fuch ifland; which faid propofal the Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treafury have, on the part and behalf of his Majefty, thought fit to accept. Now this indenture witneffeth, that the faid Sir James Cockburn doth for himself, his executors, and adminiftrators and affigns, agree with the faid Lords Commiffioners, that he the faid Sir James Cockburn, pursuant to the faid recited propofal, and according to the terms and reftrictions abovementioned, fhall and will deliver, clear of all charges and expences, at fuch places, and to fuch perfons in America, as the faid Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treasury fhall please to appoint to receive the fame, for the fervice of the faid troops there, 100,000 gallons of rum, of the ufual and proper proof and ftrength of each of the faid islands respectively, from which the fame fhall be shipped, according to an inftrument fent to the commander in chief for afcertaining the proof and ftrength thereof, a duplicate of which inftrument the faid Sir James Cockburn doth hereby acknowledge to have received for his use. And the faid Lords Commiffioners, on the part and behalf of his Majefty, do covenant, promife, and agree, that upon the faid Sir James Cockburn, his executors, adminiftrators, and affigns, producing a certificate, or certificates, figned by the officer commanding his Majesty's troops at the port of importation, or commiffary of ftores, or deputy or affiftant commiffary of ftores there, or by fuch other perfon or perfons as fhall be authorized to receive the faid rum, and to fign fuch certificate, or certificates; which certificate, or certificates, are to specify the quantity of rum delivered,

the ifland and place from whence exported, and to have annexed thereto the certificate or clearance of the officers of the cuftoms of the refpective iflands from whence fuch rum fhall be exported, or an attefted copy thereof; and fhall alfo fpecify, that the fame was of the ufual and proper proof and ftrength of each of the faid iflands, refpectively, from whence the fame was exported, according to the faid inftrument; they the faid Commiffioners of his Majesty's Treasury fhall and will direct, and caufe to be paid unto the faid Sir James Cockburn, his executors, administrators, and affigns, all fuch fums of money as fhall appear to be justly and truly due to the faid Sir James Cockburn, according to the prices, and to the rates aforefaid, agreeably to the faid recited propofal, for the feveral quantities of rum so delivered and certified for as aforefaid.

And the faid Lords Commiffioners do likewife covenant and agree, that they will bear harmless, and indemnify the faid Sir James Cockburn, his executors, administrators, and affigns, from the payment of any cuftom-houfe duties for or upon any of the faid quantities of rum to be delivered pursuant to this contract.

Laftly, it is covenanted and agreed between the parties to these presents, that the faid Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treasury, or any of them, shall not be liable in their perfons or eftates to any action whatever, by reafon or means of their being, on his Majefty's behalf, made parties to this contract: In witnefs whereof, the faid Lords Commiffioners of his Majesty's Treasury, and the faid Sir James Cockburn, have hereunto interchangeably put their hands and feals, the day and year above written.

NORTH. C. TOWNSHEND. E. W. CORNWALL.

Copy of Mr. Bogle French's contract for rum.

ARTICLES of agreement, indented, made, and concluded this 2d day of May, 1776, in the 16th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George_the Third, by the grace of God King of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and fo forth, by and between the Right Honourable the Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treafury, on the part and behalf of his Majefty of the one part, and James Bogle French, Efq. of the other part.

Whereas,

Whereas it is thought neceffary that a contract fhould be entered into with fome fit and refponfible perfon for furnishing a quantity of rum for the use of his Majefty's troops on service in America, fuch rum to be delivered at fuch places, and to fuch perfons in America, as the faid Lords Commiffioners fhall appoint. And whereas James Bogle French has propofed to furnifh and deliver to the army in America 100,000 gallons of rum, the produce of the iflands of Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica, and Tobago, at the rate of four fhillings fterling, per gallon, for all rum, the produce of, and exported from, the island of Grenada; and at the rate of three fhillings and fixpence fterling, per gallon, for all rum, the produce of, and exported from, the islands of St. Vincent, Dominica, and Tobago, under proper and due certificates from the officers of his Majefty's cuftoms of the faid feveral iflands refpectively, and to be taken and furnifhed from the faid refpective iflands in proportion to the produce of fuch ifland; which faid propofal the Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treafury have, on the part and behalf of his Majefty, thought fit to accept. Now this indenture witneffeth, that the faid James Bogle French doth, for himself, his executors, adminiftrators, and affigns, agree with the faid Lords Commiffioners, that he the faid James Bogle French, purfuant to the faid recited propofal, and according to the terms and reftrictions abovementioned, fhall and will deliver, clear of all charges and expences, at fuch places, and to fuch perfons in America, as the faid Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treasury fhall please to appoint to receive the fame, for the fervice of the faid troops there, 100,000 gallons of rum, of the ufual and proper proof and ftrength, of each of the faid iflands, refpectively, from which the fame fhall be fhipped, according to an inftrument fent to the cominander in chief for afcertaining the proof and ftrength thereof, a duplicate of which inftrument the faid James Bogle French doth hereby acknowledge to have received for his use. And the faid Lords Commiffioners, on the part and behalf of his Majefty, do covenant, promife, and agree, that upon the faid James Bogle French, his executors, adminiftrators, or affigns, producing a certi ficate, or certificates, figned by the officer commanding his Majefty's troops at the port of importation, or commiffary af ftores, or deputy or affiftant commiffary of ftores there, or by fuch other perfon or perfons as fhall be authorized to VOL. IV. receive

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