Henry Newman's Letter to Committee of both Houses. To Mr. Penhallow and ye Gent. of the Comittee of both Houses in Gentlemen Middle Temple, 29th Sept. 1724. I received your Instructions dated the 10th of March last, signed by Mr. Penhallow in behalf of the committee of both Houses, and immediately applyed myself to execute your Orders. I went to the board of Trade with the Triennial Bill and acquainted Mr. Secr'y Popple with the Directions I had received thereon; he told me they could receive no Bill there without the Province Seal to it: I told him I would leave the Copy I had received as an Authentick Copy signed by the Secr'y of the Province, till a Copy with the Seal of the Province could come; he said, I might do so if I would, but the Board would consider it only as a l'iece of Waste Paper, and give no opinion of it till it came in Form. I then suspended farther application in Hope the next Ship might bring a Copy in Form; but to this day none is come. In the mean time I have acquainted the Governor with the contents of the Bill, knowing the Board of Trade would consult him thereon, before they would recommend it to the King. The Govern' said he thought it an improper juncture to offer a Bill for limiting the Prerogative, when the neighboring Province had incurred the Jealousie of the Court by several invasions of it; but if the Province of New Hampshire thought their Interest much concerned in it, he would not oppose it; if the Governm here should think fit to approve of it. I have since asked some Gentlemen belonging to the office of Trade and Plantations what they thought would be the sentiments of the Board on such a Bill, when it came regularly before them: and they told me it is dubious what might be the success of it for these Reasons: 1st Because of the Incroachments of a neighboring Province. 2dly That as the Province was at this time Petitioning the Crown for a considerable Favour of stores, the offering such a Bill as should limit the Crown was not so well tim'd as might be wish'd. 3dly That the Commons of Great Brittain did at an important Juncture obtain such a Limitation on the Crown as that a New Parliament should be called once in 3 years, but Experience had shown that such a Limitation was prejudicial to ye subject by the Tumults and Expence it occasioned to the Candidates for Election, and therefore they had since obtained an Enlargement of that Limitation from 3 to 7 years. I mention these Things that you may, if you think proper, submit them to the Consideration of the assembly.. The Board of Trade have very kindly espoused and recommended to the Government the memorial for stores for Fort William and Mary, but the office of Ordnance have not done so, because the Stores sent by an order of Council in the late Queen's time are not paid for to this day, and they seem content it should remain as a desperate Debt, provided they may never have such orders again, without a Provision in Parliament. I have seen at the office of ordnance their memorial to my Lord Cadogain, but have not yet been able, after frequent solicitations to get an Authentic Copy of it. They also lately refus'd giving any copy and told me I must go to the Secretary of State's office for it; Mr. Delafaye, who then acted as Secretary of State, assures me he never received it, and having since desired a copy of it, they sent him a copy, or rather an Extract of it without any name to it, and when Mr. Delafaye shew'd it to me, he told me he could only let me read it, because it did not come regularly to him. I told him that would do me no service without the liberty of copying it, and having ye names of those who signed it. He then desired I would write to him such a letter, as I had sent a a copy of, dated the -? of July last, and that he would try to get a copy on such a Letter. I have since been to wait on him at Windsor to know what effect this method of application had; my` journey was in vain, for he plainly told me, unless I would give him his own time, he could not serve me. I have again wrote to him the 17th currt in the terms herewith sent, but have no answer. Nor can I take more steps in this affair with the ministry without a Copy of this memorial to prevent any further Reference to the Ordnance. As to the affair of the Lines, I am attentive to any step the Agent of Massachusetts may take therein, and shall make the best use I can of the Instructions you have given to Defend your Interest when occasion offers. The Board of Trade will not meddle with it, till it comes referr'd to 'em by the Governm', and to Petition the king, at this juncture to urge a Hearing before the Council, I am sure of a great Expence, but not so sure of serving the Province therein with success, as I desire to be when I make application about it. Please to assure the Lieutenant Gov and both Houses of the Assembly of my humble service, and thankfull acceptance of their last Remittance, and to believe that I am, Gentlemen, Yor most obedient Humble servant HENRY NEWMAN. My former went by Capt Steel. [P. 345.] Pro: N. Hamp'. At a Gen' assem held at Portsm" by Prorogation ye 19th October 1724. Present In Council His Honour John Wentworth, Esqre Lieut GovTM A Message to the house by Geo: Jaffrey Esqre and Arch Macpheadris Esqre & the Clerk to Prorogue the Gen1 assembly & they were accordingly Prorogued til ye 16th of Novemb' Next. Pro: N. Hampre At a Gen' assembly held at Portsm° by Proroga 9r 16th 1724. Present In Council at ye Lieut Gov house His Honour John Wentworth Esq Lieut Gov Mark Hunking Esq Shada Walton Rich Wibird Jn° Frost Jotham Odiorne Esqre } EsqTM A Message to the house by Jotham Odiorne Esq and ye Clerk to require their attend" at the board the Speaker and house came up accordingly to whom His Hon' addressd himself in ye following speech. Gentlemen, I have at all times manifested my concern for the welfare of this Province & people and I now give you fresh Instances of my readyness to do anything that is in my power that may add to Its Peace and prosperity. It will be very pleasing to me to See the business of this Sessions meet wth dispatch yet not in a hurry but to give every thing Its due consideration. [P. 346.] I was in great expectation that our forces Eastward would have met with better success, but the Season of the year being so far advanced, and our men much fatigued by its long march wth other concurring circumstances put an End to that Expedition. The present expensive warr we are Engaged in dayly increases ye Charge of ye Province so I find there will be a necessity of Striking or emitting more bills of Credit in order to discharge ye extraordinary demands of the warr. I would put you in mind yt due care be taken that what bills of Credit are annually brought in by tax on ye Inhabitants be burnt to ashes according to act of Gen assembly and not Issued out of the Treasury again on any pretence whatsoever. It would be an honour to this Government to make suitable provision for changing such bills of Credit of this Province as are so defaced that they will not pass from man to man, and appoint a Person or Persons for the Same. The expence of the Province for the year I have managed with all possible frugality, and what mony you raised the last Session has been apply'd to ye Uses it was designed for. I have ordered Mr Treasurer Penhallow to lay before you the Publick accounts, and the Muster Rolls to be brought in, that so they may be Examin'd & Adjusted. I doubt not but you will allow such Supplys of Money to the Treasury as may be wanting to discharge the Just debts of the Province, and also make Honourable Provision for the Support of this His Majesty's Government. By The last Ships I Recd letters from His Excellency Gov Shute, who Intends here ye next Spring haveing a prospect of Composing his affairs by that time. His Excellency Thinks himself neglected (Since he is there serveing ye Province at his own Expence) That the assembly dont make him Some hansome allowance. I am very well assured that he has and will do us any Service in his Power. This Gentlemen you may remember I have frequently recommended to your Consideration. Mr Agent Newman has also wrote me by some of the last Ships from Great [P.347.] Brittain That he Is Still Soliciting about the line and Stores for Fort Wm & Mary but as yet not the desired Success but yet in expectation of bringing it to a good Issue J. WENTWORTH. A Copy of The foregoing Speech being desired by the Speaker in behalf of the house ye same was delivered him. by ye Clerk, & then the house wth drew to their own Chamber. Adjornd Til tomorrow 9 a Clock A. M. A Message to the board by Capt Gillman wth the following vote. In the house of Represent. Voted That Maj' John Gillman Andrew Wiggin Esq & Mr Theo: Atkinson be of ye Committe of this house to joyn with a Committe of the upper house to audit the accounts and Muster Rolls brought in this Session 9br 17th 1724, James Jeffry Cler Assem In Coun' Eode die Read and Concurred and Mark Hunking Rich Wibird and John Frost Esq' appointed for ye Service above. [P. 348.] The Committe appointed to New Proportion the Towns reported To the board that they were of opinion that matter might be as well deferr'd for about Six months. &c (as pr ye report at large on file) Whereupon It was Voted as follows In Coun' Nov 18th 1724. The above report was read and accepted Rich Waldron Cler Con In the house of represent Eod die. Read and Concurr'd (wth this amendm') that It be de ferr'd dureing ye Ind" warr. James Jeffry Cler Assem In Coun' Eod die Concurr'd wth the amendment Rich Waldron Cler Con Thomas Alden presented a Petition to ye board praying for an allowance of 7. 3. 6 out of ye Treasury for administering (as Doct') To one Pummery a Souldier now dec. |