the rest of the Council under his Influence and to go on with this man I owe him no sort of Obligation altho' he is under many to me I therefore wonder how he cou'd possibly take the Word of Gratitude into his mouth I say be cautious be cautious about him for the future. To whom you wrote the private Letter about your Conversation with Charles Townsend Esq I know not but I think you ought to be very Carefull to whom you write as to my Self I sacredly promise you that whatever you please to Commit to my Secrecy it shall remain as lockt up in your own breast for I shall always rejoice to do you all the good Offices I can & according to the best of my Understanding avoid doing any thing that may have a Tendency to your prejudice or disservice. Least I shou'd forget I again caution you again of hav'g any thing to do with the Rioters in any way or manner whatsoever unless you are minded to destroy yourself & me with respect to this Province. They are I assure you a sett of Impudent, Lawless Rascals and there seems remaining among them the same Seditious Spirit as heretofore and to show it when ever they judge it a proper Opportunity nor do I think they will ever be supprest but by some Severe Orders from the Crown & they carryed well into Execution. * * Your lov Bro: J. BELCHER Circular Letter to the Governors of His Majesty's Plan tations in America, recommending them strictly to adhere to their Instructions, and not to pass any laws inconsistent therewith, etc. [From P. R. O. B. T. Plantations General, No. 39, Ent. Book K, p. 318.] To [Jonathan Belcher] Esq His Majesty's Governor of [New Jersey] Sir WHITEHALL June 3rd 1752 Having taken into our Consideration the General Instructions given by His Majesty to his Governors of the several Colonies and Plantations in America, We observed with concern that the Experience of late Years furnishes too frequent Instances in which many of those Instructions have been dispensed with and neglected upon slight and unwarrantable Pretences. As the Instructions are calculated in general for the support of His Majesty's Prerogative and the Protection of His Subjects in their just Rights, for the establishing and preserving good Government in his Colonies and promoting the Welfare, Quiet and Prosperity of them, a due and uniform Observance of those Instructions must greatly contribute to so desirable ends: We therefore think it Our Duty to recommend it to you and to all the Governors of His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations strictly to adhere to your Instructions and not to deviate from them in any point but upon evident necessity justified by the particular circumstances of the case, and whenever that happens you are forthwith to transmit to Us, in the fullest and most explicit manner your Reasons for such Deviations But at the same time We must acquaint you, it is expected that you do apply for previous Directions from hence in all Cases when the occasion will admit of such a Delay. The passing of Laws in a Method inconsistent with His Majesty's Instructions, (which has been too often practised) is manifestly of great Detriment to the publick Service, and the occasion of many Difficulties, in as much as those Laws though they contain the most salutary provisions, cannot receive the Royal Approbation but by His Majesty's dispensing with his Instructions, We must therefore in a particular manner insist that in the passing of all Laws you have a proper regard to the Regulations contained in your Instructions. And whereas some particular Parts of the Instructions given by his Majesty to his Governors may, from the Alteration of Circumstances, have become obsolete useless, or improper, We desire that you will without delay consider and revise, with the strictest attention the Instructions given to you, as well the general ones as those which relate to the Acts of Trade and Navigation, and transmit to Us your Opinion of such parts of them as shall appear to you useless, improper or liable to Objection together with your Reasons for such Opinion, that We may take those Reasons into Consideration and propose to His Majesty such Alterations as shall upon mature Deliberation appear to be proper and expedient. So We bid you heartily farewell and are, Your very loving Friends and Humble Servants DUNK HALIFAX J. GRENVILLE DUPPLIN FRAN: FANE, Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade -transmitting the accounts of various officers. [From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 7, H. 10.] MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIPS With this, goes Duplicate of my last of 34 Currant, since which, I have nothing material to Communicate to Your Lordships, respecting the Affairs of this Province, any more than that, I have after a long time, receiv'd from the several Treasurers of this Province, their Accounts of the Receipts and Payments of money-Viz From Andrew Johnston Esq Treasurer of the Eastern district, his Account from October 1734 to October 1751 And from Samuel Smith Esq Treasurer of the Western district, his Account from 1733, to 1751. As I have formerly Advised Your Lordships, these Accounts cannot be Attested, by His Majesty Surveyor General, as the Customs of this Province, he living at Three hundred Miles distance, and has never been in this Province, since my Arrival, but Your Lordships will find, the Accounts Sworn to by the Treasurer of each district, and are made out, in the best manner, They can be procured here, and yet I am Sensible they are very imperfect which I don't wonder at, since I find the Records, of all the Publick Offices here, are kept in a very loose indifferent way, nor can it indeed be well otherways, while the Publick Officers, are so meanly Supported. for the two Treasurers together, have not an Allowance, of fifty Guineys a year * ** I remain with Great Respect my Lords Your Lordships Most Obedient & Most Humble Servant ELIZABETH TOWN (N J) June 9: 1752 Western Division Treasurer's Accou'ts from 1733, to 1751. 1733 D the Treasurer of the Western Division (John Allen Esq') To Balance due to the Publick upon Ac- lington County £369.15.11 £170.18. 8 1398. 3. 9 222.13. 6 £1385. 1.11 To Interest Money recd from the Several Gloucester Salem Cape May 28. 5.6 68.18.8 7. 9.8 144. 7. 5 |