Garrisons in the province, and I beg leave to assure Your Grace that I will use my utmost
diligence and care in preventing any ammunition or stores of any kind from being carried to
the Ennemy.
At the same time I had the honor to receive your Graces letter of the 5"' of Jan'^, wherein
you are pleased to acquaint me that His Maj'>' has ordered a large body of Troops under My
Lord Cathcart to go from England to a proper place in the west Indies there to be joined by
such troops as may be raised in His Mnj'>'^ colonies and Islands in America to make an attempt
upon some of the most considerable settlements of the Spaniards in the West Indies.
I immediately called a Councill and communicated to them Your Graces letter; By the
advice of the Council I have issued a proclamation signifying His Majesties pleasure and
inviting all his loyal subjects to go voluntiers in this expedition. I likewise wrote to the
commanding Officers of the militia to draw out their Regiments under arms, and cause the
proclamation to be read to the men, and directing them to order each respective Capt° to draw
out his men under arms the next day, and then again to read the proclamation to them, and to
use their utmost endeavours to incourage as many as the could to list, all which was
forthwith done.
The people at first were very sanguine, and continued so for some time, but then hearing
that Coll: Spotswood lay dangerously ill at Annapolis in Maryland, which put a stop to his
Journey hither, and Coll : Blakeney staying longer than at first it was thought it would, they
began to cool, and to imagine that the designe would be laid aside, I endeavoured to disposess
them of those apprehensions, and I have great hopes that so soon as Coll: Blakeney arrives
they will again grow warm, for Coll : Spotswoods sickness putting an end to his life on the 7""
of this month, I hope Coll. Blakeney will be here before it be possible for Coll; Gooch to reach
this place; and I humbly beg leave to assure your Grace that I have endeavoured to animate
the people to engage in it, by all the ways I could think of, and I have good hopes of success ;
I encouraged several persons to raise companys assuring them they would have the Command
of them, and this I did upon your Graces telling me that Coll. Blakeney would bring blank
Commissions, this put many more upon making application to me for the like liberty, I
Encouraged all and they have been very active in it, and I have good expectations that it will
have a good effect.
I have not brought any provision nor hired any transports, because it is very uncertain what
number of men I shall raise in this province, but I have lately with the advice of the Council
embargoed pork, beef and pease, nor do I hear that the Merchants complain of it, but on the
contrary, think it reasonable; Bread we can always get, and Butter is plenty in the summer,
so that they were not within the imbargo.
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVI. 163
T humbly beg leave to assure Your Grace of my zeal for His Maj'-'' service, aud of my
I'.nwearied endeavours to promote this expedition, and to suhscrihe myself with the most
profound respect and honor
My Lord
Your Graces
most humble, most obedient and
most dutiful servant.
His Grace the Duke of Nevrcastle. (signed). G.Clarke.
Stcretary Clarice to Lord Delaioarr.'
[New-York Papers. ( S. P. O.) No. 9, p. 63.]
My Lord.
My father since his being appointed His Maj'-'^ Lieut : Gov"' of New York, has in all his letters
to M"' Walpole Auditor Gen' and his other friends here, represented that an unruly spirit of
independency, and disaffection had at last got to such a hight in that province, that he found
the weight and Autiiority of a Lieut' Gov"', though managed in the best manner, would not be
able to subdue it: but that if His Majesty should be pleased to invest him with the Commission
of Gov"' in chief, he had the greatest reason to be assured that as he had naturally the affections
of the people, he should be able when tiiey should know what they had to trust to, to carry on
His Maj'y^ affairs with much more success at this important and critical juncture — M"" Walpole
seemed lately, so convinced of the truth of these representations, that he was pleased to say,
he could wish. Your Lord'' would, to facilitate His Maj'>* affairs, move His Grace the Duke of
Newcastle in my fathers favour. Encouraged by this and by Your LordP'* late favours, I most
humbly presume to intreat your Lordship, that your Lord? would in consideration of what is
above set forth be pleased to move His Grace the Duke of Newcastle on my Fathers behalf,
tiiat he may succeed your LordP in that Govern'. This will greatly facilitate his Maj'^' affairs,
and as it will be some advantage to my father, and Your Lord? has been put to great charge
in passing Your Commissions ettc. I shall upon such appointment immediately pay Your
'Joax West, 7th Lord Dclawarr, K. B., was born 4th April, 1693, and on his return fnun I1I3 travels in 1712, was made
standard bearer to the band of gentlemen pensioners, and cl-^rk extraordinary of her Majesty's privy council. Soon after the
accession of Geo. I., he resigned the post of standard bearer, and was made guidon to the first troop of life guards. On 26th
May, 1723, he succeeded to the title, on the death of his father; and in 1725, was appointed lord of the bed chamber, and
chosen Knight of the Bath ; in 1731, trensurer of the household and member of the privy council. He was sent, in 1736, to
SaxeGolha, to conclude a treaty of marriage between Princess Augusta and Frederick, Prince of Wales, and attended her
into England ; was appointed'CJovernor of New-York in 1737, but resigned the same in September following, on being made
Colonel of the first troop of life guards; was appointed forester of the bailiwick of tVithan, Hauts, in 1742; Brigadier
General in 1713, in which year he accompanied his Majesty in his campaign in Germany, and was present at the battle of
Dettingen. On April 5, 1745, he was promoted to the rank of Major General; and on the 10th October, 1757, received the
commission of Lieutenant General and Governor of Tilbury Fort In June, 1752. he was appointed Governor of the island of
Guernsey; in 1761, created Viscount Cantalupe and Earl of Delawarr, and died 16th of March, 1766. Collhis' Peerage, V.,
40. OeiU. Mag. The last mentioned work, for 1747, p. 617, says he was, also. Governor of Virginia. Ilia Lordship married,
first, Charlotte MacCarlliy, daughter of the Earl of Clancarty, who dying, in 1735, his Lordship married, in 1744, secondly,
Anne, Dowager Lady Aborgaveny, who died in 1748. — Ed.
164 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
LorJp one thousand Guineas to indemnify Your Lordi" from any loss, or expence occasioned
thereby, which is all that the Govern' there under its present circumstances allows me to
offer — I am
My Lord.
Your Lordships
most obedient and most humble servant
London June 20"' 1740. (signed.) George Clarke Jun'
To the Right Hon^K
John Lord Delawar.
Lieutenant-Governor Clarice to the Duke of Newcastle.
[ New-York Papers. ( S. P. 0.) No. 9, p. 67. ]
New York July S"- 1740.
My Lord
On the si.Kth of May I received from Coll Spotswood a letter of which the inclosed is a
copy, the contents whereof I made known that his intentions might take effect, supposing that
he had sufficient authority to ascertain the pay of the voluntiers, and to advance the sums he
mentions, hoping it would answer the end ; Coll : Blakoney thinks it proper that I should lay
it before your Grace; Coll Gooch is now here who tells me that after he had taken another
method, and declared it by proclamation, viz': that of giving a bounty instead of advance money,
Col! : Spotswood insisted on iiis proposal to advance money, and that the pay of the men
should be a pistole a calendar month, which is more than the pay of the King's other Troops:
Tiie men who inlisted in this province on my proclam'" issued on His Maj'"'^ first orders expect
to be in pay from the respective days of their inlisting, and Coll: Biakeney, the Council and I
are of opinion that they ought to have it, and that it will obstruct the levies if it be not given
them, and Coll: Gooch is likewise of opinion they ought to have it; as to a bounty I have
recommended it to the Assembly as I have likewise on his Majesties commands told them
what His Maj'y expects from them on this occasion, a short time will resolve me what they will
do, and I hope they will do both ; several colonies having given a Bounty, T believe they
will not refuse to do the like, and the demand of provisions and Transports is so reasonable
that I hope they will raise money somehow or other for tiiat expence, as the pay which Coll :
Biakeney informs me the men are to have will fall short of what Coll : Spotswood proposed, I
wish witii all my heart, it may not have a bad effect, for tho' the expectation of growing rich
by the Booty, and by gifts of lands and houses first and chieftiy inspired the people to engage
in the expedition, yet having made to believe they should have the pay he ascertained, and the
advance money, I fear they will expect it ; If Coll : Spotswood had no authority to ascertain
the pay of the men, he made a wrong step, which may prove prejudicial to the service, and
subject me to many difficulties, if he had no authority to ascertain the pay I humbly think
they should have the pistole a month, and the advance money but this I suppose Co 11 :
Biakeney and Coll: Gooch will consider, I for my part made no doubt of Coll: Spotswoods
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVI. 165
having such authority, and heing zealous for the service presently made his intentions known,
hoping thereby to encourage the people readily to inlist —
I have endevoured to procure for Coll: Blakeney the best information I could, of such places
and things as he thought proper to enquire about, and have got one Hinman a master of a
vessell to quit the Merch''^ service, on my promise to serve him all I can, he has given me his
word to go with Coll : Blakeney, with which the Coll : is pleased, as he has given him the best
information of any one, and it is agreed by all with whom we have talked, that Hinman knows
more of the Havana, Castle Moro, and the other fortifications and Garrisons than any one that
we can hear of, but of this I presume. Coll: Blakeney will give Your Grace a more particular
account — I humbly recommend myself to Your Graces protection and am with the most
profound submission — My Lord — Your Graces — most humble, most obedient and most dutiful
servant (signed) G Clarke.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle.
<' « » i»
Major-General Spotswood to Lieutenant-Governor (Jlarhe.
[ New-Tork Papers. ( S. P. 0.) No. 9. p. 63. ]
Annapolis 26"' April 1740.
Sir.
I expected to have been by this time forwarder in my way to confer with the Northern
Gov" about the grand e.xpedition now on foot, but the diiRculties and delays that I met with
in the Govern' of Virginia has retarded my journey wherefore I send this express to inform
you the sooner of the measures I have concerted with the Govern' of North Carolina, Virginia
and Maryland and more especially of that one necessary step which requires to be first settled.
I mean the pay of the troops which ought all to be upon one uniform footing, otherwise when
the new levies of every province come to serve together, disatisfactions, and consequently
mutinies might arise from some receiving higher pay than others ; There are scarce any two
provinces on this continent that agree in the value of their currency and in every one of them
the exchange between their currency and sterling is continually varying, so that to avoid all
confusion in accounts and clearly to satisfie the common soldiers that they are all serving upon
the same pay, I have taken upon me to advise that the pay promised them should be one pistole
for every Kalendar month : and to encourage several sorts of Men to enlist, I have advised a
publication, narrating that whereas many men might be desirious of leaving some subsistance
money with their families, several Debtors might be able to clear off or compound with their
creditors, and many servants, might obtain their masters leave to inlist, if three or four months
pay were promised to be advanced and paid to their respective assigns after their embarkation:
I have had the experience of these kind of proposals having had very good effects, when in
the year 1716. 1 being Gover"' of Virginia raised immediately men, and sent them away to the
succour of S. Carolina, and 'twill be carrying on the Kings service with greater frugality than
by giving every man bounty money.
166 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
So soon as the Adjutant General arrives with the King's full instructions you may expect to
hear from me more at large on this subject: In the mean while I desire you'll take all
opportunities to let me know what success you are likely to have in raising men for the intended
expedition, tliat I may by the first occasion transmit such accounts to the Secretary of State (as I
am commanded) to be forthwith laid before His Maj'*' for his information and satisfaction. —
I am
Sir
ettc.
A. Spotswood.
The afore written is a true copy of Coll : Spotswood's letter to me which I received the 6"'
May 1740.
(signed). Geo Ckarke.
Lieutenant -Govei'nor Clarice to the Diike of Newcastle.
[New-Tork Papers. (S. P.O.) No. 9. p. 69.]
New York July 25. 1740.
My Lord.
I do myself the honor to send your Grace a duplicate of my letter t)f the S"" inst: and to
acquaint your Grace that I have got the Assembly to give five and twenty hundred pounds
sterling for transports and provisions for the Troops raised, and to be raised in this province to
serve in the expedition against the Spaniards in the West Indies (a Bounty the would not
give) this is the most I could bring them to, I perceived that the difficulty of raising money
would be strongly insisted on, some of them seemed unwilling to break in upon the appropriated
funds, and others were as averse to any new taxes, the council were apprehensive that the
difficulty of finding ways and means to raise the money would occasion warm debates, and
perhaps defeat ray intentions, they foresaw that they would not be brought presently to give
any new Taxes, or if they should that the money could not be raised in time, wherefore to
remove those stumbling blocks, I told the Council that I had nigh two years salary and
contingences, in the Treasurers hands, and that to promote the service I would lend the Country
that money without interest for any reasonable time, with which I desired them to take
opportunities to acquaint the members of the Assembly, and I believe it had a good effect, as
all pretences of not knowing how to raise money, and the scruple of borrowing from
appropriated funds (my money being due to me on an appropriated fund) were removed.
I have now four Companies full, and in a few days expect another which will be short of
the number that might have been raised if I had had commissions with the first orders for
raising men when their spirits were warm, and their expectations high, but they have cooled
by degrees, some through an apprehension that the expedition would not proceed, others that a
peace will be concluded before they have struck the stroke, and others that what they take will
be restored to the Enemy. I have done all I could to encourage them and to remove their
doubts, and considering the low number of people in this province to what there are in others,
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVI. 167
and that this is a frontier province against the French witii wliom tiie people are very
apprehensive of a rupture, and that tiie wages of tradesmen and hibourers is liigher tiian in
most of the Colonies, I hope I shall acquit myself to your Graces satisfaction
Tiiat there are in the Colonies on the Continent a considerable number of men that may be
spared for any present service, is certain, but wages being very high, it is the expectation of
growing rich by the success of the expedition that has chiefly prevailed on them to enter into
this service. The assurance of having commissions when they join my Lord Cathcart will I
hope makeup more than the Thirty companies for which only Commissions were sent by Coll :
Blakeney, I encourage it all I can : They who have raised Companies in this province have
done it at a considerable expence to themselves, in prospect of having a provision for life, and
without that expence it would have been difficult to raise companies of an hundred men, tho'
not companies of sixty men, and I do not think any other method than that of promising
commissions to those who should raise companies would have been effectual, for by the
accounts I have from the Colonels of the Militia Regiments, there are very few men in the
whole province who offered to go upon the general encouragement and invitation given them by
my proclamation, but almost all who declared their willingness to go, did it personally if such
and such were to command them, for they were unwilling to inlist with any one whom they did
not know; how it has been in other provices, I do not certainly know, but this is the temper
of the men in this. Wherefore I found it necessary to promise Commiss"^ to those who should
first produce companies, by which method I am in a pretty good forwardness: From this first
essay of raising troops in these Colonies to be employed abroad, I presume it will be evident
that a good body of men may at any time be got together on other occasions upon proper
encouragement — I beg leave to assure Your Grace that I have used my utmost application in
this business, and humbly hope for the honor of your Graces protection — I am with the most
profound respect and honor
My Lord
Your Grace's
most humble, most obedient and
most dutiful servant
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle. (signed) Geo. Clarke.
Lords of Trade to Lieutenant-Governor Clarice.
[New- York Entries, M., p. 07.]
To George Clarke Esq"" Lieutenant Governor of New York.
His Majesty's Attorney and SoUicitor General haveing received Directions to prepare and lay
before the Lords Justices a Commission to be passed under the great Seal of this Kingdom
(the charges of which and the execution thereof the Agents for the Massachusetts Bay and
Rhode Island have agreed are reasonable equally to be borne by both Provinces) appointing
Cadwallader Colden, Abraham Vanhorn, Philip Livingston, Archibald Kennedy and James
1G8 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
De Lancey Esq"^' of the Province of New York; John Hamilton, John Wells, John Reading,
Cornelius Vanhorn, and William Provost Esq" of the Province of New Jersey and William
Skeene, William Shirreft, Henry Cope, Erasmus James Philips, and Otho Haymilton Esq" of
the Province of Nova Scotia Commissioners for marking out and settleing the Boundaries
between the Province of the Massachussetts Bay and the Colony of Rhode Island Eastward
care being taken that private property should not be affected thereby.
We are to acquaint you that you are required to inform tiie Commissioners resident in Your
Province of the time and place intended to be appointed by the said Commission for the first
Meeting of the said Commissioners and to recommend it strongly, to such of the said
Commissioners as are able to go and attend this Duty.
For Your further Information in this Affair we send you a Copy of an Order in Council
dated 10"" of July last and expect that you do take particular care without delay to carry every
particular thereof, so far as the same may be in Your power, into Execution. So we bid you
heartily farewell, and are. Your very loving Friends
and humble Servants
MONSON
Whitehall ^ M. Bladen
Aug' 1" 1740 Ja. Brudenell.
Lieutenant -Govei'nor Clarice to the Lords of Trade.
[New-York Papere, Gg., No. 51.]
New York Aug : 4. 1740
My Lords
Four days ago I had the honor to receive your Lordships letters of the 20 and 21 of May,
in obedience whereto I do myself the honor to send to your Lordships a compleat collection
of the laws made in this Province among them are many temporary Acts which are expired
but being printed with the others I cannot seperate them, your Lordships will likewise perceive
the titles of Acts which being expired before the publishing of this edition are not printed :
these books I got from the Secretaries office, the printer having none left
I do myself the honor also to send your Lordships a duplicate of the account sent last Winter
of the paper money issued in this Province, as to the sinking it there are funds for it, as your
Lordships will see by the account and by the Acts of Assembly, but if it should be necessary
to sink them in a shorter time I humbly conceive the method that will least affect the Merchant,
either here or in England will be by a Tax on Estates Real and personal which has been often
laid on the people here in immitation of a land tax as your Lordships may see page 213 of the
first book herewith sent; but it will be in vain to expect it from an Assembly which is chiefly
composed of farmers, Trade as the province is situated will not bear it, for it lies between
provinces which lay no dutys on Merchandize, In truth my Lords it will be very difficult to
bring the Assembly into any measures for shortning the time of sinking their paper money
I heartily wish there was none subsisting and that the money in all the Plantations was reduced
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVI. 169
to sterling the trade of the Merchants of England as well as the Colonies would be upon
a surer foot.
Exchange which was last year at 70 p'' Cent is now at 65, and silver which was tiien at 9|3
per ounce is now at S 10 or 9|. at the most I am with the greatest respect and honor
My Lords
Your Lordships
most humble and
most obedient Servant
The R' Hon'''' the Lords of Trade. Geo : Clarke
Lords of Trade to Lieutenant-Governor Clarice.
[ \ew-Tork Entries, M., p. 100. ]
To George Clarke Esq'' Lieutenant Governor of New York.
S'
Since our last letter to You of September the 7"" 1739 (a Duplicate whereof has been sent
you ) We have received Yours of the following Dates, viz' August SO"" November SO'"" December
3d 7th 15th 1739 and January 28"" y^\% together with several papers mentioned therein.
As to what you mention in Your letter of August the 30"" 1739 and that of November 30
following in regard to the presents for the Indian Nations in the Neighbourhood of New York,
we must acquaint you that soon after the receipt of Yours that affair was referred to us by the
Lords of the Committee of Council, to which Reference we made Our report and gave it as
our opinion that it would be for his Majesty's service that Presents should be sent the said
Indians agreable to your proposal.
la your Letter of November 30"" before mentioned you sent us amongst other Papers the
copy of one to you from the Commissioners of Indian Affairs with the Governor of Canada's
answer to the Mohawks, relating to the French settling at Crown Point, a Copy whereof with
an Extract of Vour letter so far as related to that affair we transmitted to His Grace the Duke
of Newcastle, who we doubt not will receive His Majesty's pleasure thereupon.
We congratulate you upon the tranquility and universal harmony which in Your letter of
the 25"' of January last you inform us is at present subsisting in the Province. We heartily
wish it may be lasting, and are Your very loving friends,
and humble Servants.
Ja. Brudenell
Whitehall Monson
August S'" 1740 M. Bladen.
Vol. VL g2
170 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
Lieutenant-Governor Clarke to the Duke of Newcastle.
[ Ncw-Tork Papers, (S. P. O.,) No. 9, p. 73.]
New York SepU 22. 1740.
My Lord.
I do myself the honor to acquaint Your Grace that I have raised and embarked five compleat
companies for the expedition one of them sailed hence the 19"" inst : on board His Maj"'' ships
Squirrel and Astraa for Jamaica, the latter was sent by Admiral Vernon to New England for
Masts, and came hither to be reinforced by the Squirrel but both being by desertions weakly
manned, it was thought proper by Coll: Blakeney and Lieut: Coll : Cope that they should be
strengthened by puling one of tliese companies on board them, as the Astraa is a ship whose
safe arrival at Jamaica is of vast consequence. The other four companies are on board
Transports ready to sail with Coll: Blakeney' for the capes of Virginia (there to join Coll:
Gooch ) which they will do in a very few days, waiting now only for the Connecticut troops,