report at the Board, whereupon directions have been already given in relation to the militia of Connecticut, and their Lordships having this day humbly represented their opinion that a quota, not exceeding forty-eight men may be the measure of the assistance to be given by the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation at all times during the war, to be commanded by the Governor in Chief of New York, for the defence of that Province as occasion may require the same, and having thereupon humbly moved, that suitable directions may be sent to the Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and the Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in relation to the command of the militia of the said Colony; and to the Governor of New York, in relation to the quotas of men or other assistance to be given by that Colony in like manner as the same has been ordered to be given by the Colony of Connecticut, and that the matter of the boundaries of the Colony of Rhode Island, be referred to all the members of the Council of New York, as Commissioners, to examine the same, according to the draught of a commission presented by their Lordships at the Board. It is this day ordered in Council, that suitable directions be sent to the Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, the Province of New York, and the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, as is proposed by the Committee, and that a Commission be passed under the great Seal of England, to all the members of the Council of New York, empowering them to examine the boundaries of the Colony of Rhode Island, according to the draught hereunto annexed; and the Right Honorable Sir John Trenchard, Knight, their Majesties' Principal Secretary of State, is desired to prepare for her Majesty's Royal signature, letters for the signification of her Majesties' pleasure herein, to the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, New York, and Rhode Island, with a warrant for passing the said Commission, accordingly.

Queen Mary to the Governor and Council of Rhode Island relating to the Militia.

M. R.

Trusty and well beloved: we greet you well. It having been represented unto us by your humble address and petition, that our Commission to our trusty and well beloved Sir Wm. Phipps, Knight, Governor in Chief of our Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, whereby he is empowered to command the militia of our Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, being with respect to the statute made in the 13th year of the reign of our Royal uncle, King Charles the Second, of blessed memory; by the Charter to the Governor and Company of our said Colony, bearing date in the 15th year of our said Royal uncle, the sole power of the militia is granted to the said Company, you having therefore humbly prayed our confirmation of the government of our said Colony according to the boundaries of the said Charter; and whereas, out of our great care and tenderness for the preservation of all our loving subjects as well in their rights and priviledges as for the security of their persons and estates.

We having referred the consideration of the said petition and address to the Lords of our Privy Council, appointed a Committee of trade and Foreign Plantations, who have consulted our Attorney and Solicitor General what may be done

by us for the uniting the strength of our said Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, and the adjacent Colonies, for the defence of our subjects in those parts against the French, and our said Committee having presented unto us the opinion of our said Attorney and Solicitor General thereupon, that we may constitute a Chief Commander, with authority to command or order such proportion of the forces of each of our Colonies as we shall think fit. And further in time of invasion and approach of the enemy, with the advice and assistance of the Governors of the Colonies, to conduct and command the rest of the forces for the preservation and defence of such of our said Colonies as shall most stand in need thereof, an authentick copy of which report you will herewith receive.

We have thereupon further signified our pleasure to our said Governor of our Province of the Massachusetts Bay, that in the execution of the powers granted to him by our said Commission, he do not take upon him any more than during war to command such quota or part of the militia of our said Colony, as we shall at any time direct as occasion may require the same, except in case of imminent danger of an actual invasion of the enemy; in which case we have directed him, that with the advice of the Governor of our said Colony, he conduct and command the rest of the forces of our said Colony, for the preservation of our said Colony, or of such other of our adjacent Colonies as shall most stand in need thereof; he taking care that he do not leave our said Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation unprovided of a competent force for the defence and safety thereof.

And it having been further represented unto us, that nowithstanding the signification of our pleasure to our several Colonies and Provinces in the northern parts of America, the 11th day of October, 1692, to be aiding and assisting to our Governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New York, for the defence and security of our said Province against the attempts of our enemies, and to agree upon a quota of men or other assistance to be given by each of our said Colonies or Provinces, for the defence and security of our said Province of New York, some of our said Colonies or Provinces having omitted to send Commissioners to adjust the quotas to be furnished by them respectively, nothing hath been done therein; we have thereupon thought fit to appoint the several quotas of men or other assistance to be furnished by our said Colonies and Provinces respectively, for the defence and security of our said Province of New York. And accordingly we do hereby signify our will and pleasure unto you, that a quota or part of our militia of our Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, not exceeding forty-eight men, be the measure of the assistance to be given by our said Colony for the defence and security of our said Province of New York, which we do hereby require and command at all times upon application of our Governor or Commander in Chief of our said Province, to provide and send to be under his command and direction, for the defence of our said Province of New York accordingly. We having also given especial directions to our said Governor or Commander in Chief of our said Province, not to demand or require at any time a greater part of the said quota of our militia of our said Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, than he shall in proportion demand or require of the quotas of the rest of the adjacent Colonies, respectively. And so not doubting of your ready and cheerful obedience to our Royall pleasure, in a matter wherein the security and preservation as well of our good subjects within our Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, as of all our

loving subjects inhabiting in those parts of America is so much concerned. We bid you farewell.

Given at our Court, at Whitehall, this 21st day of August, 1694, in the sixth year of our reign.

By her Majesty's command.*

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Newport, the 2d day of July, 1695.

Capt'n Jonathan Holmes, Mr. William Cory, Mr. Jonathan Sprague, Mr. Thomas Greene, Mr. John Heath, Capt'n Joseph Daniel, Mr. Joseph Hull, are by this Assembly appointed a Committee, they or the major part of them, to inspect the former rate of three hundred pounds, what is behind unpaid, and how it shall be gathered and paid, and propose a method by rating each person to the value of his estate two pence per pound, by the best method they can find, and make return to this Assembly.

The return of the Committee for proposing a method for rateing each person, being under their hands was passed by vote of the General Assembly, to stand as an act of said Assembly; and that the said rate by each person rated, shall be paid into the General Treasury by the 20th of August next, in ready money; or wool, at seven pence half penny per pound; butter, at four pence per pound; Indian corn, at two shillings per bushel; rye, at two shillings, three pence; pork, the barrel, one pound, eighteen shillings.

First. We therefore propose this way be for the rateing all lands and meadows and merchants, tradesmen and housings in this Collony that every town shall yearly choose two or three

*J. Carter Brown's Manuscripts, Nos. 278, 201, 206, 208. 209, 300, 301, Vol. IV, an! Nos. 15, 17, Vol. III.

able and honest men, to take the view of each of their inhabitants of their lands and meadows; and so to judge of the yearly profit at their wisdom and discretion; and so also of merchants and tradesmen, and to make this part of the rate according to the yearly profit; or as they, where they shall have had a more narrow inspection into the lands and meadows, shall see cause to set by the acre.

And it is further ordered, That the Magistrates of each town do, with all expedition, warn in the respective towns to meet and elect three men of their town to give forth order to each person in their town, to bring in the proportion of their estates which they are to inspect, and make their assessment accordingly. But in case any persons do refuse or neglect to bring in the value of their estates, then the said elect men, shall according to the best of their understanding, rate them at their discretion; and that the Constables of each town shall give warning and collect the said rate, and bring it in to the General Treasurer, and what charge they are at for transportation, shall be paid by the General Treasurer; and in case the said Constables do fail of gathering and bringing the said rate at the time prefixed, their estates shall be responsible.

And it is further ordered by the said Assembly, That there be a Commissioner chosen in each town, to meet with the men that shall be chosen in each town, to assess the said rate of

pence per pound, and to adjust the proportions, and sign with each Committee, and return the same to the General Treasurer.

Forasmuch as the late levy of three hundred pounds, assessed on this Collony, hath been neglected to be collected and paid; it is determined that that should be first gathered, notwithstanding the present levy of two pence per pound. upon mens' estates.

And it is further ordered, The Governor and Assistants, or the major part of them, dwelling on Rhode Island, do forthwith inspect into the rates on the Island; and to determine who are behind, except what they shall allow of, and thereupon to give order unto the Constable that shall except, or to give order to

a special Constable to seize the same, with full order in case they meet with opposition, to hire men at two shillings and six pence per day, and to distrain for the full charge, as well as for the rate itself.

And it is further ordered, That the Deputy Governor and the Assistants, or major part of them on the main land, have the like power to act and do, to all intents and purposes; always provided, this Act shall not be prejedentional to future

rates.

Whereas several and most of the inhabitants, freemen of this Collony are dissatified that the Collony House is improved to other uses than what it was built for: therefore, upon consid eration thereof by this Assembly, and to settle the House for the use it was built, do hereby order and declare, that the said Collony House, in Newport, shall not be improved for any other use than judicial and military affairs; and not for any ecclesiastical use or uses of that nature.

Mr. Joseph Jencks, Assistant, Capt'n James Barker, Assistant, Mr. Jonathan Sprague, Capt'n Jonathan Holmes, Mr. John Smith, Surveyor, are chosen to run the eastern line of our Collony, and [it is] left to the discretion of the persons above said to run it according to the best of their understanding, according to the boundarys of the Patent. But in case they meet with such hostile opposition from the government of the Massachusetts, that they cannot proceed, then to desist and make return thereof to the government; and the time to be the 16th of July instant, if the weather hinder not, or else the next fair day, at the house of Jno. Read, of Freetown.

Mr. Thomas Olney, Capt'n Arthur Fenner, Mr. Richard Arnold, are chosen to run the northern line of this Collony, according to the best of their understanding, according to the bounds of the Patent; if the gentlemen commissionated from Connecticut and they can agree with the men commissionated from the Province of the Massachusetts Bay: if either of the persons above mentioned, should fail or be sick, then the Governor and Deputy Governor, or either of them, shall appoint men in their room.