Letter from the Lords of Trade to Sir Thomas Robinson, Secretary of State - recommending the establishing of packet-boats between England and the Colonies. [From P. R. O. B. T. Plantations General, No. 39, Ent. Book K, p. 426.] To the Rt Hon ble S Thomas Robinson, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. Sir, WHITEHALL Sept 18, 1755 Having thought it our Duty humbly to represent to His Majesty the Expediency, arising from the present Situation of Affairs, of establishing Paquet Boats between this Kingdom & His Majesty's Colonies and Islands in America, in order to prevent the Prejudice which must necessarily arise to His Majesty's Service from the precarious and uncertain Method, in which the Correspondence to and from the Plantations is carried on by Merchant-Ships, We beg leave to inclose to you Our Representation to His Majesty upon that Subject, and We desire you will be pleased to lay it before His Majesty. We are, &c. DUNK HALIFAX. J. GRENVILLE. ANDREW STONE. Exd TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. May it please Your Majesty, The great Delays, Miscarriages and other Accidents, which have always, but more especially of late, attended the Correspondence between this Kingdom and Your Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America from the very precarious and uncertain Method, in which it is usually carried on by Merchant Ships, have been attended with great Inconvenience and Prejudice to Your Majesty's Service and to the Trade and Commerce of Your Majesty's Subjects; And as it appears to Us to be of the highest importance, that Your Majesty should, in the present Situation of Affairs in America, have early, certain and frequent Intelligence of what is in agitation there, and of the true State of your Colonies, We think it our Duty humbly to propose, that Paquet-Boats should be forthwith established between this Kingdom and the American Colonies and Islands, in like manner as was done in the last War for the Islands: and that there should be two or more, as shall be thought most advisable, established for the Colonies on the Continent, to be employed in going and returning between Falmouth or some other of the Western Ports and New York, which is nearest Centre of Your Majesty's Colonies in North America. Which is most humbly submitted. DUNK HALIFAX. WHITEHALL Sept: 18. 1755. J. GRENVILLE Ex Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Pownall-congratulating him on being appointed LieutenantGovernor of New Jersey. Sir, MR POWNALL ELIZ: TOWN Sept 19 1755 Yesterday I recd yours of that date which gives ine the Notice that His Majesty has been graciously pleased to do you the honour of appointing you to the Lieu tenancy of this Province on which I hereby send you my Congratulatory Complim1 and agreeable to your Desire I have directed the D: Secry to send Expresses for summoning his Majesty's Council to meet me here as soon as they can on Monday the 22: Ins' in Order to your Qualification in the said Post before the Gov' in Council. My Compliments to Mr. Alexander who I hope will come with you. I am with Esteem and Respect Honoble Sir Your Friend & Most Humble Serv! J BELCHER. Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Yard, one of the Commissioners for procuring supplies for the troops. Sir [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] ELIZT TOWN Sept 27 1755 Mr. Johnston of Amboy is now with me & has brought St John St Clair with him who brings me a Letter from Col' Dunbar from Phil3 telling me he intends to be at Trenton on Wednesday the first of the next Month with the Troops under his Command being near seventeen hund" men (officers included) and for which Sir John St Clair tells me will be wanting-Thirty seven Wagons for their Baggage Twenty one horses for drawing the Cannon & Amunition-Waggons-and Ninety Saddle Horses, & for each man a day, a Pound of meat and a pound of Biscuit (or Flower) So that you and Mr. Johnston must with all dispatch possible make this necessary Provision-I say there must be no delay least the King's Service shou'd greatly suffer. I am Sir your ready Friend & Serv1 J BELCHER I doubt not but your Exc': duly recd mine of the 5: of Sept as I since did yours of 5: & 14th of the same month and your Exc' may depend I shall in duty to His Majesty as well as with Pleasure to my self keep an Exact Correspondence with you in all things relative to His Majesty's Service & Interest and to the Welfare & Prosperity of this and the neighbouring Colonies more especially in this critical Conjuncture of Affairs. I thank your Excell' for the Acco' you inclosed me of the Action between General Johnston and the French & I return your Compliments of Congratulation on the Success of His Majesty's Troops in that Occasion & as Major General Johnston (when the Recruits get to him) will make up near seven thousand men I hope we shall in due time receive good News from Crown Point. I was heartily glad to find your Excell imbarking for Albany where I am sensible your Presence and best Advice must greatly contribute to His Majesty's Service, If you can at any time point out to me the doing your Excelly any Personal acceptable Service I shall imbrace it with Pleasure being Sir Your Excelly most obed' &c. Letter from Governor Belcher to Governor Hardy, of New York, about the Boundary Line. [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] Governor Hardy. Sir Oct 2 1755 I wrote your Excelly yesterday in Answer to your last Favours and I now again write you at the especial Request of His Majesty's Council respecting the long Dispute about the Line between this and His Majestys Province of N. York in which Affair I understand your Excell' may soon receive his Majesty' Royal Orders and which I doubt not you will execute on your Part with the strictest Justice & Impartiality & you may most assuredly depend on my doing the same that this Controversy may soon be brought to a just and happy Conclusion. I put this under Mr. Alexander's Cover to be forwarded to you and who will at same time furnish your Excell' with all the Papers relating to this Affair. I am with much Esteem & Respect Sir Your Excellys Most Obed' &c. * * I shall not forget to write the Lords of Trade in the affair depending between N. Jersey and N. York p the first Vessel from your Place to London. |