I am informed that ye Laws are fitted for the press.* Mr. Treasurer Penhallow has been at Boston, and tells me he hath discoursed ye Printer, as he can inform you. I am of opinion no time should be lost; yor mony lies dead in ye treasury, so yt we have no advantage in delay.

Gent",-I have another thing to inform you, but whether it concerns you as representatives of yor People I shall not determine; but as you are my neighbors I think it incumbent to let you know yt I have received a letter from ye adms on the estate of Sir Charles Hobby, Deceased,† who, as they relate, did buy half the title of this Province; how farr it respects you, you may consider. They offer you the purchase; but I am of opinion Govermt hath

*A copy of the first printed edition of the Laws of the Province of New Hampshire, -somewhat imperfect-is found in the Library of N. H. Historical Society. The following is the title page.

Was son of William Hobby, of Boston, one of the wardens of King's Chapel in 1693. Savage (Gen. Dic.) says, Charles was "fortunate in being knighted for his brave conduct at the earthquake, 1692, in Jamaica; or else the consideration (1) mentioned in Hutchinson, II, 153. He was a member of the Artillery Co., and its Captain, 1702 and '03, and Colonel, I believe, of the Boston regiment; but most known here, as not one of such life as should have recommended him to the clergy of N. E.'" Yet he was sent over to London with letters from "some of the most pious ministers," to our agent, Sir William Ashurst, a true Puritan, strongly urging "that he might be appointed the governor instead of Dudley." Hutchinson does not say that his connexions, the two Mathers, were writers of those letters, of which there can be no doubt; but he adds, that "Ashurst himself, after his acquaintance with Hobby, reproves and censures them." Luckily for our country, Sir Charles did not prevail, came back, perhaps, and died in 1715, but not in Boston. His estate was insolvent. Of his inventory, 23d April, 1716, "deeds for half the Province of New Hampshire" is one of the latest items; but, as in derision, put down at nothing. Seven slaves are at the head, whose aggregate is £300. It appears also, that in 1711 Sir Charles was appointed deputy governor of Annapolis (Nova Scotia), and that he accompanied Col. Nicholson on his expedition to Canada. His purchase of one half of New Hampshire was made of Thomas Allen, Esq., in 1706.-ED.

(1) The consideration referred to was the payment of £300 sterling.-ED.

nothing to do wth purchase, but especially wthout his Majties royal license had & obtained. Of the two former I doubt not but you will take effectual care, & the sooner you do it you may return to ye management of yo' own private affairs. I know ye season of the year calls you to your respective businesses. If you think of any thing by way of preliminary yt you can advise me in (to give ye Commissioners of ye Prov: appointed to meet ye Commissioners of Mass to run the partition line between the two Goverm) you have now an opportunity. Wt I have further to offer, I shall defer till your session in course, which is a more leisure season of the year. GEO. VAUGHAN.

Feb. 6th, 1715-6.

After reading ye foregoing Speech there were read two letters, (viz.) a letter from ye Govermt of Massa abt the divisional line, &c., & a letter from ye admTM on ye estate of Sir Charles Hobby, as on file, both dated Jan. 30th, 1715-6.

Adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow, A. M.

[P. 5.] Pro: N. Hamp'.

Att a Councill & Gen' Assembly held at Portsmo' by adjournment, Feb. 7th, 1715-6.

The 12th of Novemb' last, a Committee made a return abt ye Prison, upon wch we voted the needfull y'on.

As to the Laws, we expect the Committee appointed to collect & revise them, make a report thereof to the Gen' Assembly, upon which we desire they may be printed so soon as may be, according to our former vote.

As to ye title of the land, We are of the same opinion, that as representatives it does not concern us.

We desire that the Committee appointed to run the line between the Mass & this Province be impowered to act & proceed thereon, when they have notice from the Mass Goverm'.

Pr. order of the House.

7th Feb., 1715-6.

Theo. Atkinson, Cler.

The Clerk was sent down to the house of Representatives to inform them yt ye present session was at an end, & that they stood adjourned as before, viz: March 1st, 1715-6.

[P. 6.] Pro. N. Hamp'.

At a Councill & Gen1 Assembly held at Portsm° by adjournment, March the first, 1715-6.

Of the Honble the Councill,

Richard Waldron, Esqs.

Sam' Penhallow,

The Clerk was sent down to the house of Representatives to inform them of his Hons ye Lt. Govrs indisposition, which prevents he being p'sent in Councill this day, but that he was in hopes of seeing them in Gen' Assembly to-morrow, &c.

Adjourn to to-morrow, 10 o'clock, a. M.

Pro: N. Hamp1.

At a Councill & Gen' Assembly held at Portsm
by adjornm', March ye second, 1715-6.
[Present as before.]

The Clerk was sent down to the house of Representatives to acquaint ym wth the continuance of his Hon' the Lt. Gov' indisposition & to adjourn them to Tuesday, the 3a day of April next ensuing, &c.

Adjourned to yo 3a April, 1716.

[P. 7.] Pro: N. Hamp❜.

At a Councill & Gen' Assembly held at Portsm° by adjournm', April the third, 1716.

At a Councill & Gen1 Assembly held at Portsm by adjournm', April 4th, 1716.

Sam' Penhallow, Esq., presented a Petition to this board in behalf of Sam' Cutts for a grant of powr for selling some of his ye gd Cutts' land to pay his debts, he being as yet in his nonage; wch Petition being read was sent down to ye house of Representatives & is on file, bearing date March 4th, 1715-6, &c.

Mr. Treasurer Penhallow presented a memorial or estimate of the present state of ye Prov: to this board, wch being read was sent down to ye house of Representatives.

The Clerk was sent down to ye house of Representatives wth & vote of Councill for ye selling Sam' Cutts' interest or estate in land at Oyster river, according to his petition aforementioned; also wth a vote for building a Court House at Portsm°.

Theo: Atkinson & James Davis, Esqs., appeared at this board in behalf of the House of Representatives, to confer ab' a proper place for ye situation of the Goal, &c.

[P. 8.] James Jaffrey p'ferred a Petition to this board, & is on file, dated April 4th, 1716, to be admitted to swear before the Lt. Gov and Councill yt his estate is insolvent, &c., according to an Act made & past by the Gen' Assembly of this Prov: entituled an Act abt Bankrupts, &c., wch sd Petition being read, he, the sa Jaffrey, was admitted to swear, who made oath as follows (viz.): That some short time since he was arrested for debt by the sheriff & that at the time of such arrest his estate was insolvent & not capable of paying the debts due to ye creditors of sa estate; Whereupon it was ordered that John Frost, Esq., Messrs. Rich Wibird & Clement Hues be commissionated & appointed to receive the claims of all such as are creditors to sd estate, & to proportion the same according to the claims, yt each creditor may have his proportion of sa estate.

R. Waldron, Cler. Con.

Adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow, A. M.

Pro: N. Hamp'.

At a Councill & Gen1 Assembly held at Portsm by adjourm', April 5th, 1716.

Present,

The Hon. George Vaughan, Esq., Lt. Gov',

Robt Eliot,

John Plaisted,

Sam' Penhallow, Esqs. Mark Hunking, S

John Wentworth, Esq.

Esqs.

The Clerk was sent down to the House of Representatives wh a vote for a Committee, viz., Col. Jno. Plaisted & Col. Mark

Hunking, to view his Majestie's Fort at N. Castle, & to make report of ye state & condition of sd Fort, together wth wt stores are belonging thereto, & wt repairs are necessary for the same.

The Clerk was sent down to the House of Representatives wth a vote for Mr. Treasurer Penhallow either to buy or hire a boat for his Majties Castle, Wm. & Mary.

The Committee appointed to supervise & collect a body of Laws for the Press have this [P. 9.] day made their return, wch being read at this board was sent down to the house of Representatives.*

Adjourned to to-morrow, 10 o'clock, A. M.

Pro. N. Hamp❜.

At a Councill & Gen' Assembly held at Portsm°, by adjournm, April 6th, 1716.

5th April, 1716, In ye House of Representatives.

Voted Capts. Davis & Wibert a Committee to joyn Jn° Plaisted and Mark Hunking, Esqs., as a committee to view his Majties Fort at N. Castle, & make report thereof according to the vote from the Councill, as on file. By order.

Theo. Atkinson, Cler.

The Clerk was sent down to the House of Representatives wth , y following resolve:

In Councill.

Resolved, that the Publick be exempt from any charge in procuring land to sett the prison on, & that the town of Portsmouth pay the necessary charge of y' Place where the same is to stand, viz., by the Alms-house in the town field.

April 6th, 1716.

R. Waldron, Cler. Con.

The Gent of the Parish of Oyster river, of both p'ties, appeared at this board according to ye order of Councill in Jan' last; & Mr. Stephen Jones p'sented a Petition and remonstrance of their proceedings since ye aforesd Jany, in order to a friendly agreemt, &c. the Petition, &c., is on file, dated April 6th, 1716.

Adjourned to to-morrow, 10 o'clock.

The Comitte for revising and Printing the Laws made their Returne, as on file,forty-nine in number-ordered, that they be printed forthwith.-Journ. of House.