Pursuant to his Excellency's Letter of the 19th of July, last past, Additional Instructions from her Majesty, dated the May, 1707, was read at this Board, in hæc verba sequen. ANNE R. An Additional Instruction to our trusty and well beloved Joseph Dudley, Esq. our Captain General, and Commander in Chief of our Province of New Hampshire, in New England in America, and in his absence to our Lieutenant Governour, or Commander in Chief of our said Province for the time being. Given at our Court at Kensington, the third day of May, in the sixth year of our Reign, 1707. Whereas by a clause in our Commission and Instructions, to you our Captain General and Commander in Chief of our Province of New Hampshire, it is directed that upon your death or absence (in case there be no Lieutenant Governour appointed by us upon the place), the then Council doe take upon them the Administration of the Government, and that the eldest Councellor doe preside as by the said Commission and Instructions is more particularly set forth: And wee, having observed that this Instruction has given occasion of many Controversies and disputes between the Presidents and the Councellors, and the Councellors themselves, and otherwise in several of our Plantations, to the great hindrance of the publick business and to the prejudice and disturbance of [P. 222.] our service there:Our will and pleasure therefore is, that if upon your death or absence there be noe person upon the place commissionated by us to be our Lieutenant Governour or Commander in Chief, the eldest Councellor, whose name is first placed in our said Instructions to you, and who shall be at the time of your death or absence residing within our Province of New Hampshire, shall take upon him the Administration of Government, and execute our said Commission and Instructions, and the several powers and authorities therein contained, in the same manner and to all intents and purposes as other our Governours or Commander in Chief should or ought to doe, in case of your absence, until your return, or in all cases until our pleasure be further known therein. So wee bid you farewell. By her Majesty's Command, SUNDERLAND. Ordered that the Act of Parliament relating to the union between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, be proclaimed, publiquely, on Wednesday the 11th day of August, instant;-the Gentlemen of the Council and the Justices and Sheriffe attending the same; and that the two Companies of the Militia of Portsmouth, be in arms; and that eleven great Gunns be fired at her Majesty's Fort Wm. and Mary, at New Castle. Ordered that the Secretary write to Lieut. Colonel Hilton, that he for the future send but sixteen men out of Portsmouth and Hampton, in proportion, to her Majesty's Fort Win. and Mary, to make up the standing souldjers there twenty persons and noe more. [P. 223.] Whereas Portsmouth and Hampton send sixteen men to her Majestys Fort in turn; Ordered that Colonel Hilton draw out sixteen men out of the Companies of the Militia in Exeter and Dover in proportion, to take their turns, from time to time, to Scout where the said Lieut. Colonel shall see meet to appoint them, and that the Secretary issue forth this warrant accordingly. Province of New Hampshire. At a Council held at Portsmouth, the 11th August, 1708. Upon advice from his Excellency of a considerable number of the Enemy being upon their march towards our Frontiers : Ordered that Capt. Robert Coffin, with the Troop under his Command, march from Exeter to Kingstown and thence to Oyster River, and there take up their quarters the first night, and from thence to Cochecho and soe up towards Whitehall, and so to return to Cochecho the next night, and there Quarter; and thence to return the third day to Exeter again and there lodge, and to continue this march from day to day till further order, unless diverted by the appearance of the Enemy; where upon the first advice he is to repair immediately to give present relief to any part that may be assaulted; and that the Treasurer supply the said Troop with provision for their constant subsistance, unless such as will subsist themselves, who shall be allowed the same that the Massachusetts Troopers have. [P. 221.] Ordered, that a Scout be kept out upon the heads of Exeter, Oyster River and Cochecho, not exceeding six in a Company, and that Capt. Tuttle take care to send upon the head of Cochecho, Capt. Davis and Capt. Hill on the head of Oyster River, and Capt. Gilman on the head of Exeter, and upon any discovery of the Enemy forthwith to give information thereof to the Council. And whereas the aforesaid Troop and Scout of eighteen men being appointed to march and Scout as before expressed: Ordered that the Secretary write to Lt. Col. Hilton that all other Scouts formerly appointed be discharged for the present until further order, and that strict care be taken for the immediate march of the said Troop, and for sending out the eighteen men as above expressed. The two following letters from Whitehall, was read at this Board, in hæc verba Sequen: Trusty and Well Beloved: Wee greet you well. Whereas, wee are sensible that effectual Care ought to be taken to oblige the members of our Council to a due attendance therein, in order to prevent the inconveniences that may happen for want of a Quorum of the Council to transact business, as occasion may require; It is our will and pleasure, that if any of the members of our said Council shall hereafter willfully absent themselves, when duly summoned, without a just and lawful cause, and shall persist therein after admonition, you suspend the said Councellor soe absenting themselves, till our further pleasure be known;-giving us timely notice thereof. And wee hereby will and require you that this our Royal pleasure be signified to the several members of our Council in the Province of New Hampshire, and that it be entered in the Council Books of our said Province of New Hampshire, as a standing Rule. Soe wee bid you farewell. Given at our Court at Kensington, the 20th day of November, 1707, in the sixth year of our Reign. Privy By her Majesty's Command, SUNDERLAND. To our trusty and well beloved Joseph Dudley, Esq. Our Capt. Gen' and Commander in Chief of our Province of New Hampshire in New England in America, or to the Commander in Chief of our said Province for the time being. Whitehall December the 30th 1707. Sr: Her Majesty having been pleased to write Circular letters to all her Governours in America, requiring the Councellors in the Plantations diligently to attend her Majesty's service in the respective Councils of which they are members;-We send you here inclosed one of the said Letters, directed to yourself which you are to cause to be entered in the Council Books of the Province of New Hampshire, and to take care that her Majesty's pleasure herein be punctually observed. Soe wee bid you heartily farewell. To our trusty and well beloved Joseph Dudley, Esq. our Capt. General and Commander in Chief of our Province of New Hampshire in New England in America, or to the Commander in Chief of our said Province for the time being. Received 26th July. R. MONCKTON. Whereas her Majesty, by her letter under the Privy Seal at Kensington, the 2a May 1707, hath been pleased to appointe the eldest Councellor whose name is first placed in her said Majestys Instructions to the Governour to take upon him the Administration of the Government, in the absence of the Governour and Lieut. Governour, and to execute her Majestys Commission and Instructions and the several powers and authorities therein contained, in the same manner to all intents and purposes as other her Majestys Governours or Commander-in-Chief should or ought to doe, in case of their absence, as by the said letter reference being had will appear: And whereas Peter Coffin, Esq. as wee suppose is the first nominated in her Majestys' Instructions, and living and residing in her Majestys' Province of New Hampshire, his place of abode being at Exeter about fourteen miles distance from the Town of Portsmouth, where the Council generally sits; Ordered, that upon the motion of any two of her Majes tys' Council, the Secretary Imediately send forth his orders to summon the Council together at the usual place accustomed in the Town of Portsmouth. [P. 226.] Province of New Hampshire. At a Council held at Portsmouth, on His Excellencys Letter, dated Roxbury, 12th instant, was read at this Board, in hæc verba sequen. Gentlemen "Roxbury, 12th Aug. 1708. I am extremely suspicious that soe great a force as is expected from Canada, most French, doe not intend a small matter; and I often think they intend for Portsmouth; especially if they can come undiscovered. I am therefore desirous that there be a good Scout of twenty men sent to Winnepisioca, who may lye there secretly a few days at their usual landing place, to discover them and their number, and return secretly with intelligence, and if they point that way, and you will send Express, there are of Haverill, a Troop of and Foot, 40 80 all whom if you send for will march to your assistance: let every body be employed forthwith to mend your lines and keep out good Watches where they can approach; give over other business; it will be determined in a weeks time. I pray God preserve you. Y humble servant, J. DUDLEY. The Gentlemen of the Council having considered well about the Scout to Winnepissaocoe, |