Officers as shall be well affected to His Majes Government, carefull of his intrest use their uttmost Endeavours to Enforce an Observance of the s acts of navigac'on and zealously prosecute such Vessels & persons as shall be Guilty of the breach of them All which is Humbly offer'd & Submitted. [Dec. 16, 1696.]

From the Lords of Trade to the Proprietors of East and West Jersey.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Proprieties, Vol. 25, p. 45.]

To The Proprietors of his Majesty's Colony of East New Jersey in America.1

GENTLEMEN

His Majesty having been frequently informed of the little regard which severall of the Colonies concerned have had to the Quota appointed by her late Majesty of Blessed Memory in the year 1694 to be observed during this War for the defence of the Frontiers of the Province of New York in the following proportions Viz.:

And any part of the Militia of East & )
and West New Jersey not exceeding S

700

1 The Councill's Letter to West New Jersey was the same only changing the

And his Majesty being at the same time sensible of the necessity of that contribution either in Men or money for the general Security of his Colonies on the continent of America; has commanded us to Signifie unto all those above named, that it is his pleasure they should each of them contribute and pay their respective proportions to the government of New York according to her late Majesty's foresaid Regulation; We therefore particularly recommend it to your care that in relation to the Colony of East New Jersey his Majesties pleasure herein be for the future punctually observed and executed

His Majesty having also been informed by complaints from severall hands of the undue methods practised in some of his Colonies for seduceing the Inhabitants from others, And being sensible how much that practice is contrary to the common Interest of the whole has commanded us to write unto the several Governors or Governments of each Colony, that they take care that Effectual Laws be made in each of their respective Governments against the receiving and harbouring not only of Deserters, but also of such Fugitives as leave any of his Plantations contrary to the Laws provided for that purpose in each plantation respectively. Which therefore We also now accordingly recommend to Your Observation.

And whereas his Majesty has also received complaints that the Entertainment given to Pyrats in some of his Colonies, and more particularly in those under distinct properties had occasioned many ill minded persons, Seamen, and others to desert their habitations, and apply themselves to such wicked and destructive courses to the great weakening and dispeopling of the Colonies so abandoned by them, and to the great dishonour of the English Nation; Whereupon he has also required us to write to the Severall Proprietors and Governours of all his Plantations that

due care be taken for the future that no Pyrats or Sea Robbers be anywhere shelter'd or entertained under the severest penalties; We are obliged thereupon to require your strictest care, as We doe of others that all manner of discouragement be given in that Province of East New Jersey both to the Rise and progresse of such undertakings, And that upon the discovery thereof the Offenders be punished according to the utmost severity of the Law-We are

Your very Affectionate friends

J. BRIDGEWATER

PH: MEADOWS

W

BLATHWAYT

WHITEHALL,

February 9th 1699

JN POLLEXFEN

ABR HILL

Opinion of Sir Cresswell Lewinz, on the liability of East Jersey to New York for Customs.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Vol. I., A 58, No. 2.

KING CHARLES, the 2 by Letters Patent Grants to the Duke of York his Heires & assignes all that Tract of Land in America now Called by the severall Names of New York East Jersey & West Jersey wth all waters Rivers & harbours to the premises belonging And the Goverment thereof according to the Lawes of England And power to admitt p'sons to tread & Traffique unto & wth in ye Same.

The Duke of York Grants those parts Called East Jersey & West Jersey wth ye Rivers Harbours & other Royalties thereunto belonging, and the Goverm of those places and all Other privileges Granted by him to the King A: B: C: D: & their heires & assignes.

These places have Ever Since been Under the Goverment of the Respective Pp'rs. the Dukes Grantees thereof, & have held Gen!! Assemblyes wch are in the Nature of parliaments within themselves & have made use of there own portes & harbours for Lading & unlading the merchandizes Imported into & Exported from thence.

After the Grant of these places made by the Duke of York the General Assembly of New York have Imposed Seaverall Customs Upon Merchandizes Imported & Exported there, in wh Generall Assemblyes the P'vinces of East Jersey & West Jersey had the [?no] representatives being esteemed Distinkt Goverments. & Independent of New York.

The Collectors and Officers of the Customes of New York Under p'tence or color of an order from the Commissioners of the Customes in England Deney the Inhabitants of East & West Jersey the Use of there Own portes & harbours and fforce em up to New York Unless they will pay the Same Customs in their own portes which are payed at New York.

Qu: whether Customes upon merchandises Imported into & Exported from East & West Jersey can be imposed Otherwayes than by Act of Parliament Or the Gen!! Assemblyes of those Collonys.

Answer. These Customes cannot be imposed but by Act of Parliament Or Some Assembly that Actes as a parliament according to the Rules and Goverment of the place.

Qu: whither the Com'issioners of y Customes in England Can Compell the Inhabitants of East & West Jersey to Enter their shipes and unlade their goods at New York or restraine them from Using their own. harb's Unless they will pay the Dutys Imposed by the Assembly of New York where the Inhabitants of East & West Jersey had no representatives nor were Under their Jurisdiction.

Answer. East and West Jersey haveing been devided from New York by the Duke of York Grant also from the Goverment and Ever Sence by Allowances from ye Crown Used & Enjoyed a Goverment of there own distinct from ye Goverment of the p'vince of New Yorke but had Assemblyes of their own wherein the Make Rules & Orders for themselves as a Distinck p'vince as New York Do for themselves. I Do not See how they can be bound by the Rules of New York or be Obliged by them or the Comissioners of the Customes here to Lade or Unlade theire Goods at New York. CRESWELL LEWINZ.

Vera copia-W DOCKWRA,
Secr: & Reg

2: Apr: 97.

East Jersey.

A similar decision, differing but little in language, was given by Sir John Hawles under date of June 4th, 1697.-Ed

From Attorney General Trevor to Secretary Popple, enclosing form of Bond to secure the performance of their Duties by Deputy Governors in the Provinces.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Prop., Vol 1, A 38.]

L're from y Atty Gen! with a Draught of a Bond to be enter'd into by ye Prop's of Several Plants in America.

S

According to their Lords'ps I have sent you inclosed a Draught of a bond to be entred into by the Propriet's of the several Plantac'ons in America for oblig