THE BELCHER CORRESPONDENCE. 1731-1737. Correspondence of Gov. Jonathan Belcher with Secretary Richard Waldron and others, of the New Hampshire Province. NOTE. The Letters which follow are specimens of a Correspondence between Gov. Belcher when in Massachusetts, and Secretary Waldron, relative to affairs in New Hampshire. Letters were frequently passed between them. The Governor, on his part, indulges in a freedom and style of remark which can hardly be considered creditable to him. Should any person hereafter undertake to write the life of Gov. Belcher, he might, to advantage, consult the Waldron Papers now in the archives of the New-Hampshire Historical Society. For the sake of reference the letters are numbered. The Letters of Secy Waldron appear to be copies, or rather first draughts of those written by him to Gov. Belcher, and the Governor's letters all bear his signature in his own hand, tho' probably copied by his clerk. ED. Letter No. 1. From Richard Wibird and Henry Sherburne. May it Please your Excellency A Saturday toward Eve being in Company wth sundry Gentlemen in Town a paper was produced in presented to us for our signing It had one or two cursory readings but our memorys are too frail for us to pretend to give a particular account of ye contents but to ye best of our remembrance It was in the nature of a memorial or Petition to ye Lds of Trade and Plantations. It was then subscribed in our Presence by Mr. Geo. Jaffry, Mr. David Jaffrey Mr. Beng Wentworth Mr. Atkinson & Mr. Wiggin & by whom since we know not but tis very probable the party will endeavour to get what additions they can. It mention'd the sudden proroga of the Assem by yor Excelly order which hindred an Address for y redress of Public grievances. It treated of the affair of ye line at large, showing ye readyness of this Governm & ye backwardness of ye Mass" to settle it & proposed y matters being laid before his Majesty forthwith. It mentioned great disadvantages yt this Province was under by reasons of the Gov's residing in another Province (viz.) That It prevents passing acts that might be beneficial &c. with Earnest prayers for a seperate Goverment. Morover it mentioned something of a Disgust taken by your Excellency agst them & that therefore Constables were forced to ride 30 odd miles to be sworn, & to ye best of our remembrance it said something agst advance payments of yr Excellencys salary. These are but broken hints, but are such as we can recollect. We utterly refused signing, & tho't proper to consult Messrs Gambling & Waldron upon this head & accordingly we did this morn who intirely agreed & joyn'd wth us in sending a dispatch to your Excellency with an account of these things. There is a ship bound for England ready to sail & goes tomorrow if ye weather favours-on board of which we suppose is to go this Petition. If an out wind or storm should stop her (wch we earnestly pray for) 'til Wednesday night, We hope your Excelley will have an opportunity of counter writing by ye same conveyance, for we shall hardly Expect to see our messenger till that We are time. Yor Excellys Very humble Servts 3 o'olock P. M. R. Wibird July 12th 1731, [The above is in the hand-writing of Mr. Sec Waldron, as is also the following on the same sheet. ED.] May it please your Excelly Capt Wibird & Capt Sherburne communicating to us some passages of last Saturday agreeable to the contents of the foregoing letter, We tho't it our Duty most readyly to joyne wth them in a message to your Excelly & accordingly have done so, that your Excelly might not be ignorant of the scheames & designs of the discontented, but might if possible have an opportunity of writing home in the same ship, in wch goes the mighty memorial, tho' really we fear the vessel will sail tomorrow for y master is so resolved, wind & weather permitting. We are Yor Excelly Sir From Gov'r Belcher to Sec'y Waldron. Capt. Hopson bro't me yours Dated this month, and the Post yours of 9: current, with what past in the Assembly, By which I find the mal contents are Restless and uneasy, and very Ready to do Mischief, but Hate to do good. The part you acted was Exactly well(Presuming it was all with good manners to his Honour). What shall we say, and how shall we help it! We are Miserably of it, att the Council Board. I never tho't one of my Treasury Commis to be any match att argument. The Lieutenant Govern' tells me he has had complaints, and that the People suffer for want of a Justice att Kingston, Chester, and Derry; and you mention Streatham. The King's qualifications for officers in my Instructions, are to be men of good Lives, well affected to the Goverment, of good Estates and abilities. Let me therefore as soon as you can have the names of persons for each of those Towns & such as are best qualify'd, and make out Commissions and send me to sign. This matter for some Reasons requires Dispatch, and you must be sure the Persons will accept, before the Commissions are made out. I know no Foundation for the Faith you say three in four have taken up, and if People are so silly as not to hold up their heads and keep up their courage, there's no forcing them. I Return you the Military Commissions (sign'd) to be given Coll. Sherburn, and Deliver'd att such a juncture as he shall judge seasonable. Send me allso Commissions for the two special Justices on the occasion you mention. Let them be the best men you can find. You must advise and assist Capt. Wibird about his Enclosed Collector's Commission. I send you also the King's Instruction in this matter, which you must Lodge with the other Instruction in the Councill Files. I find the Gentleman very restless and uneasy. I don't altogether differ from you about his starting over the Atlantick. I believe Mr. Gambling may have given a hint of a complaint made against you by the Lieutenant Governour, which was in these words, viz. "I intended "to have sent your Excellency an account of what past Both att the "Council Board and in the Assembly, but have not been able to get 66 one for myself, the Secretary and the Journals being in the countrey; "I do not say this by way of complaints of him, because if I was in"clined to it, I could say something more material, but 'Tis not worth "my notice &c " The King having Done Coll. Dunbar the honour of a Commission for Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire it is my order, that you never show him the Least slight or Disregard, but allways Treat him with all Possible Respect and Homage. This Letter goes as you Desire. And so I shall do for the future. If the Lieutenant Governor is not att Portsmouth, I have ordered the Post to give you my Letter for him-To be Delivered as soon as he may come. I am Sr Your Friend and Servt, Boston, July 12, 1731, Mr. Secy Waldron. J. BELCHER. No. 3. Sir From Sec'y Waldron to Gov'r Belcher. I have Inclosed a copy of ye Lt. Gov's Commission (1) & two copys of ye votes past last sessions, wch is all ye Court then did. I sent your Excellency a copy of ye vote before, & likewise sent ye Lt. Gov last week a copy of ye same, & ye minutes of ye sessions wch he required of me for your Excell. I mention'd nothing in the minutes of his Question whether he might not sign ye vote or prorogue to another time bec: It came not to a vote. I have sent a copy of my answ to his letter & pray yor Excelly to return me ye original I sent pr Sherburne. I hope yor Excelly will give orders next week for swearing Capt. Wibird yt ye people may see who is Command' in Chief, I have tho't if yo' Excelly sh'd not order ye President & Council to do it it might not be amiss to order ye Presi'd' & Mr. Jaffrey ye two oldest Councill's to see whether ye latter wd follow ye Example of his patron & deserve a suspension. [Indorsed] "Copy to ye Govt July 16, 1731." (1) Lt. Gov. David Dunbar. R. W. I am &c. July 16, 1731. Sir No. 4. From Gov'r Belcher to Sec'y Waldron. I have now lying before me yours of 12: present pr Ct Sherburne, & 16: Ditto pr Post-and particularly observe the Lieut. Gov's Letter to you and your answer-and am pleased the latter is so full of good manners. Its best to be patient & steady and to be very exact in every point of Duty. I am glad my Letter per Sherburne got seasonably to go by the Ship from your River-(Pray who's the Capt.) as to the Justices for Kingston-Streatham-Chester & Derry, they must be men as near the King's Instructions as you can find 'Em, and so the Special Judges, and I desire their Commissions may be sent me, as soon as you conveniently can. I now return you the Commission for Collo Sherburne's Regiment, which shou'd be distributed at such a Time as may be most seasonable on all accounts. Inclosed is Mr. Atkinson's Letter to me and my answer-return the original, seal and deliver mine & give me your Tho'ts. Let Wibird be easy, and I think all will be right. If Atkinson has not recorded his several Commissions (or Powers) with you, you may say the Gov by his Letter depends they are so done, however let there be no Delay but authentick copies pr the Post. I take Notice of every Particular relating to his Honour &c. Some People seem to be like a wild Bull in a Net, and perhaps may be by and by caught in their own snares. Its best carefully to watch all their steps, and counterwork their wickedness for the Good of the poor People they would deceive. 25 or 30 make up but a small Number of Complainants, Especially if we consider how many Scrub, Paltry Fellows are among 'Em-I have wrote Collo Walton particularly about the Fort which I desire he would show you, If he be steady, he shall be Capt" of the Fort, Maugre the Lieut Govr and all his scycophantick adherents. I wish it may be so that he has sent my last letter to Eng land. I shall write pr Cary, for Mr. Dennet's Mandamus, & wish Coll. Gillman & Gerrish would order money for theirs. I fancy he will not return suddenly from his Dear Joyes.-Its best to give the Oaths to all the military officers-There's a clause in the Lieut. Gov's Commission that Tedders him,-" According to such Instructions as you shall receive from us, and from our said Capt. General and Chief Governour of our Province of New Hampshire, Now," &c: The Letter I have from Walton, Wibird & Sherburne have good spirit in 'Em you must often consult one another, & read to each other the Letters I write, you must not suffer yourselves to be bullied or frighted on any account but be steady and strong. I beleive they they heartily repent their not coming into the affair of the Line. The Massachusetts will by no means abate the Course of the Law, since your Representatives were so stubborn & humersomeIts best the common People should know it, and let the blame lye on those busy wicked Instruments who have prevented an agreement between the Provinces. Consult all our Friends to make a good Judgment whether there may be a proper Juncture for a New Assembly, I would then dissolve this, and be at Portsmouth a few Days be fore the choice, But you must be able to make a shrewd guess before this matter be attempted. Think and consult well, and tell me if any thing can be done to purpose. I say let your spirits rise with your Difficulties. I have done in the County of York as I told you-perhaps it may do good 'o your side of the River-I am, Boston July 18: 1731. Sir-your Friend For some Reasons I chuse to send all my Letters under cover & you must deliver 'Em. Mr. Secry Waldron. and servant J. BELCHER. Sr No. 5. From Gov'r Belcher to Sec'y Waldron. Let me have the Commissions for Justices at Derry-KingstonChester and Stratham and for the two Special Justices. I have sent a Dedimus to Walton and Sherburne to administer the Oaths to Wibird, and have so wrote the Lieut. Gov' and my Letter to Atkinson is open in Wibird's-I say be you all strong and steady, and get a Petition from all the officers in the Government to counterwork their secret Complaint. You must be indefatigable where the Enemy are so vigilent. I am really afraid great Inconveniences will arise on the Line, and who must be thankt but those who had wickedness and Influence enough to prevent the Committee's meeting. I wish the Lieut. Gov' may be a true Prophet & that the Line may be fixt before Christmas, nor am I very sollicitous how. I know he has long talkt of this Province being put under another Form of Government, but this may'nt happen in his day. He wrote early for my leave to go out of the Province and he has it. If we could get a good new Assembly it would be a fine thing. When Coll Westbrook comes hither I shall consult him about the Troop you mention. I now return you the Lieut. Govs Letter. He complains to me of the great Disorder in your office, that the Records are only on Scraps of Paper and that you have made a gross mistake in omitting in the Commissions to say George the Second, you must be carefull and Thoughtfull in every thing of your office, he says he should suspend you 'till my Pleasure should be known-To which I have wrote pr this Post, I shall not allow him to do any such thing, But that I shall examine into all the matters, when I come to New Hampshire in September. It is my order that you do not deliver the seal to the Lieut. Gov' or any Body else without my special order, and as soon as you can conveniently, I would have you come to me hither upon some particular Business. Be all of you steady, strong and mannerly. Deliver my several Letters, and see by Wibird what I write I am Boston, July 26, 1731, Your assured Friend J. BELCHER. |