sistance, with the respective Collonies, against the French and Indian enemies, is that this Collony being small, and the port of Newport being the principal port, but weakly fitted to oppose an enemy, therefore it is concluded upon, that necessity requires, for the preserving of their Majesties' interest here, that we cannot assist by men, but nevertheless we are willing to assist by raising money according to reasonable proportion.

Voted, Ordered by this Assembly, that there be a rate levied and raised in this Collony of three hundred pounds for the support of their Majesties' interest against the French and Indian enemies, and not to be disposed of for any other use, but by a Generall Assembly's order.

The several towns to be taxed as followeth, and to be payd unto the Generall Treasurer of this Collony, by the 20th day of July next; and to be gathered by the Constables of each town according to an Act of a Generall Assembly made in Newport, the 7th day of May, 1684.

The town of Newport, eighty pounds; the town of Providence, forty pounds; the town of Portsmouth, sixty pounds; the town of Warwick, thirty pounds; the town of Westerly, fifteen pounds; Jamestown, eighteen pounds, ten shillings; New Shoreham, seventeen pounds and ten shillings; Kings Town, twenty-seven pounds; Greenwich, twelve pounds.

The pay and prices to be paid in is, wool, at seven and a half pence per pound; butter, at four pence per pound; Indian corn, at two shillings per bushel; rye, at two shillings, three pence per bushel; pork, at one pound, eighteen shillings per barrel.

Voted, Ordered by this Assembly, that the Treasurer, Mr. John Holmes, and Mr. Caleb Carr, are appointed to agree with a carpenter or carpenters, to finish the Town House forthwith, and to provide boards and nails, and to pay for the finishing the said House out of the money and wool now in the Treasurer's hands, taken out of the custody of Mr. John Woodman, late Treasurer.

Voted, Ordered that the Treasurer, John Holmes, his receipt to Robert Little, for two hundred and sixty-nine pounds of

sheep's wool, taken out of the custody of John Woodman, late Treasurer, be put on record.

Voted, Ordered, that eight pounds shall be kept in the Treasurer's hands of that money received of the late Treasurer, John Woodman, to defray the charge of killing of wolves, in Sir Edmund Andros, his time, for the townsmen of Providence, to whom it doth belong.

Voted, Ordered, that whereas the Assembly hath been made sensible of the great charge the Magistrates of this Collony are at in tending the Court, and lying at their own charge, and no allowance from the Collony, the Assembly do order, that the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Assistants of this Collony, shall for the future pay no Collony rates.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Assembly shall have ten shillings from each town for the copies of the Assembly's Acts, with the seal of the Collony.

The Assembly dissolved.

Copy, per WESTON CLARKE, Recorder.

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Portsmouth, the 16th day of September, 1690. Called by the Governor's warrant on special occasion, for their Majesties' service.

Mr. John Easton, Governor.

Major John Greene, Deputy Governor.

Mr. Edward Thurston,

Mr. Caleb Carr,

Mr. Benedict Arnold,

ASSISTANTS.

Mr. Edward Thurston, Jun'r,
Mr. Stephen Arnold,

Mr. Joseph Jencks,
Mr. John Coggeshall,
Mr. Isaac Lawton,
Mr. Benjamin Smith.

For Newport. Mr. James Barker,

Mr. Phillip Smith,

Mr. Jonathan Holmes,
Mr. John Wood.

For Providence.

Mr. Gideon Crofford,

DEPUTIES.

For Portsmouth.
Mr. George Sisson.

For East Greenwich.
Mr. Thomas Nicolls.
Mr. Thomas Fry.

The Governor chosen Moderator of the Assembly.
The Recorder chosen Clerke of the Assembly.

Voted, That Mr. Roger Burlingham being returned to this Assembly as a Deputy for the town of Warwick, there being much debate concerning the legality thereof, the Assembly do order, that he is not accepted in this Assembly as Deputy.

Voted, Whereas by order and Act of the Generall Assembly held in Newport, the 7th day of May, 1690, there was by said Assembly concluded a necessity of raising of moneys in this their Majesties' Collony, for the supply of soldiers and other necessary charges, against their Majesties' enemies; and in order thereunto, by the free vote of the Representatives of this Collony Assembly, as aforesaid, there was a rate assessed on the severall towns, as may appear in said Acts, which said assessment was to be by said order paid into the Generall Treasury, by the 20th day of July last past; but several towns have neglected to assess the said rates on their several inhabitants, which hath been much damage to the Collony for want of performance of the Assembly's Acts, having been at great charge in defence against the French in this Collony by sea, and have been delivered by a great providence of God, out of their hands, and other charges still arising in the defence aforesaid.

This Assembly taking the premises into their serious consideration, for want of moneys, as aforesaid, and finding that the town of Providence, the town of Portsmouth, the town of Warwick, the town of Westerly, Jamestown, Kings Town, and

Greenwich, have not proportioned their rates according to or der; and still neglect and refuse to perform the Acts as aforesaid, it is ordered by this Assembly, that three men in each town, to wit: Mr. Pardon Tillinghast, Mr. Edward Smith, Mr. Gideon Crofford, for the town of Providence; Mr. Christopher Almy, Mr. Geo. Sisson, Mr. Geo. Lawton, Jun'r, for the town of Portsmouth; Mr. Esreall Arnold, Mr. Peter Greene, Mr. Samuel Stafford, for the town of Warwick; Capt'n Clement Weaver, Mr. John Heth, Mr. Thomas Fry, Jun'r, for Greenwich; Capt'n Jeffrey Champlin, Mr. Samuel Albrow, Mr. Jeremiah Brown, for Kings Town; Mr. Joseph Clarke, Capt'n William Champlin, Mr. John Maxson, for Westerly; Capt'n Nicholas Carr, Capt'n Thomas Paine, Mr. Caleb Carr, for Jamestown, or the major part of any three in each town, are ordered and empowered by this Assembly, to proportion the said sums levied on each town by the Assembly's Acts, as aforesaid.

But the Assembly being concerned for the ancient privileges of every town in this Collony, that if they will proceed according to former custom forthwith, it will be accepted; otherwise, it is required to be performed by the persons appointed as aforesaid, for each town to be proportioned; and return thereof made to the Generall Treasurer of this Collony, by the 20th day of October next. And each person that is appointed to proportion the said assessments, to have three shillings per day for their pains, to be paid by the towns defective. And the neglect of the persons performing this Act, it is the resolve of this Assembly, that they and every of them so appointed as aforesaid, to proportion the said levy, neglecting the due performance thereof, shall pay out of their own estates the levy on each town to be proportioned by them, by warrant of distraint from authority.

Voted, Whereas the Governor and Council jointly and severally have commissioned Capt'n Thos. Paine, Capt'n Godfrey, and others, in the expedition for Block Island against the enemy; as also have been at charge to supply the men of war that came from Boston, in pursuit of the enemies, and from New York, and for relief of captives, healing the wounded men, and

all other necessary charges concerning Capt'n Andrew Edmonds, that have been disbursed or engaged by any of the Magistrates repairing of vessel, and any other necessary charge concerning the war, it is ordered, being approved of by this Assembly, that all and every the said charges be paid out of the Generall Treasury, with all expedition, out of the levy made by this Assembly in May last past, upon the several towns in this Collony.

Voted, In answer to the petition of the town of Warwick, complaining that they are over-rated, but are willing to pay their equal proportions, the Court having seriously considered the matter, do find that the manner of rating of towns by guess is no suitable nor certain rule, but may prove very prejudicial; and therefore do determine that for the future, all rates that shall be made in this Collony, shall be made according to so much on the pound as the estates of persons are valued at.

And for the better offecting of the premises, it is desired, that betwixt this and the next Court in October next, to be held at Providence, that any of the members of this Court would draw up some rule for appraising of lands or cattle, to be valued, to know mens' estates by, and in order for the Court to give their determination, and in case upon examination of the matter, it doth appear that any town in this Collony hath been by guess over-rated, at the meeting of the Commissioners then it shall be abated out of the next proportionally.

Voted and ordered by this Assembly, Upon the petition of several free inhabitants of this Collony, that any one Magistrate of the Collony is authorized to send his warrant to a Constable to bring before him and another Magistrate, any debtor to the value of forty shillings, to answer the complaint of any person for debt or trespass as aforesaid, and it shall be in the power of two Magistrates to hear, issue and determine the same; only it shall be in the liberty of the party defective, to have his appeal to the Court of Tryall, paying the charge, and the Magistrate's charge in hearing and determining the cause

or causes.

Voted, Ordered by this Assembly, and by the authority