rize them to act in their respective stations, yet this Collony of Rhode Island, have not presented their Governors to your Majesty to be so approved and authorized; in which also the greatest part of the other Proprieties and Charter governments have been in like manner faulty. And notwithstanding that in pursuance of your Majesty's directions, upon the address of the Right Honorable the Lords spiritual and temporal in Parliament, of the 18th of March, 1696–7, we required the Governor and Company of that Collony to give security to the Earl of Bellomont for their Governor's obedience to the Instructions that should be sent him from your Majesty, or any acting under your Majesty's authority, pursuant to the severall acts of trade relating to the Plantations, according to the said address; yet we do not find that they have done it: which also all the other Proprieties and Charter governments have in like manner declined; as we have in severall occasions reported to your Majesty, with our humble opinion that the obliging them to give such security, would be of great efficacy towards the redressing of many irregularities in the Plantations. This being the state of your Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island (as it now appears to us), we humbly offer unto your Majesty, in order to the prosecution of these and other high misdemeanors of that government, and for the redress of the same, that a Commission of Inquiry be despatched to the Right Honorable the Earl of Bellomont, empowering him to examine upon the place or otherwise, persons or witnesses, in order to the procuring of legal evidences, and requiring him to report to your Majesty the severall informations and proofs that he shall receive thereupon, in order to a Quo Warranto, or such other proceedings for the remedy of those evills, as to your Majesty shall seem meet. All which nevertheless, we most humbly submit.* Whitehall, December 21, 1698. J. BRIDGEWATER, WM. BLATHWAYT, [Upon the reading of the above "Representation," before the King in Council, January 5, 1698-9, it was ordered, that a Commission of Inquiry be despatched to the Earl of Bellomont, to procure legal evidence in relation to the charges set forth in said Representation. The government was furnished with a series of questions to be given the Commission of Inquiry, with a view to the "discovery of irregularities in Rhode Island," accompanying a memorial from Jahleel Brenton; who availed himself of this opportunity to make certain charges against men high in office in the Colony. The queries suggested, were incorporated in the letter of instructions to the Earl of Bellomont. At the same time, the Board of Trade wrote to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island, under date of February 3, 1698-9, informing them that the Commission of Inquiry had been created, accompanied by a copy of the "Instructions." The satisfactory result of this Commission, adds the Board, will be the "most effectual means of wiping off the ill report which has lain upon Rhode Island, for irregularities."]-J. R. B. VOL. III. * J. Carter Brown's Manuscripts, Vol. III, No. 36. 33 Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, February the 14th, 1698-9. Samuel Cranston, Governor. Mr. Benjamin Newbery, Speaker. Whereas, severall credible informations hath been given to this Assembly of the illegall proceedings of the Commissioners of the Collony of Connecticut (appointed to treat about the bounds between this Collony and the Collony of Connecticut), in giving forth severall copies and other writings, and declaring severall reports to the inhabitants of Westerly and Kingstown, wherein they did declare that the Commissioners of this Collony had consented with them, that the inhabitants of said Westerly and Kingstown should pay no rates or taxes, nor any other imposition, till his Majesty had made a decision to which government they did belong, the which report or declaration of said Commissioners, if true, is wholly out of order, and contrary to their commissions from their Honored Governor (as doth appear by a copy thereof, lying before us), and did tend wholly to the disturbance and disquieting the inhabitants of the government; and to prevent and deterr the levying and gath ering of the late levy, to uphold the privilege and interest of this Collony, and hath given great advantage to those that are ill-affected to this government to make commotions and disturbance in the same; this Assembly taking the above matter into their serious consideration, and considering the ill conse quence that may follow if there be not some speedy care taken, said Assembly do declare against the same. And it is hereby enacted by the Governor, Councill and Representatives in this present sessions assembled, and by the authority of the same be it enacted, and we do hereby strictly in his Majesty's name require all his Majesty's loving subjects inhabiting within this government, and more particularly the inhabitants of Westerly and Kingstown, from yielding any obedience or making any submission to the Collony of Connecticut or the government thereof, till his Majesty's pleasure be further known, or that there be a decision made concerning the created difference between this his Majesty's Collony of Connecticut aforesaid, upon the penalty of being proceeded against according to law, and the laws of this Collony, in such cases provided. And this Assembly taking into their further consideration the many intruders into or on the lands and propriety of the lands in the Narragansett country, they having no power or authority from the true owners and proprietors thereof, as we are informed: Be it therefore further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this be a prohibition against all intruders into the lands and propriety of the Narragansett country; and all persons whatsoever, having no just claim or property in said country, are hereby prohibited from making any settlement in said Narragansett without the leave and approbation of this his Majesty's authority, or the true and rightfull proprietors thereof. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Magistrates and Justices of Kingstown and Westerly shall make strict inquiry what persons there are already settled in said Narragansett country, without the approbation of this his Majesty's authority, or the true proprietors thereof. And also such persons having so settled themselves, without approbation as aforesaid, the said Magistrates or Justices shall warn the said persons forthwith to depart off from said lands, or agree with the owners or proprietors thereof; the which if they refuse or neglect to do, to make return of such person or persons to the Generall Assembly, that they may be dealt with according to their demerits. And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Recorder shall forthwith send forth a copy of the Generall Assembly's Act, made at Providence, in October last, concern ing the late levy, to those towns that have neglected to assess the late levy according to said Act; and that the said towns have longer time, till the last Tuesday in March next to assess, gather and deliver their said rates into the Generall Treasury. The which, if they refuse or neglect to do, then the Generall Councill shall proceed according to the said Generall Assembly's Act, at Providence, aforesaid. At a Generall Assembly of this his Majesty's Collony, sitting at Newport, January the 11th, 1697-8, there were Commissioners appointed to treat with the Commissioners of his Majesty's Collony of Connecticut, in order to an amicable agreement and final determination of the created difference between said Collonys, in respect to bounds. And the Commissioners appointed by this government having made a return unto this Assembly of their proceeds therein, wherein we perceive the unreasonable demands of the Commissioner of Connecticut of and to the whole tract of the Narragansett country; and the greatest part of the ancient towns of Warwick and Providence, as will appear by their memorial under their hands, the which propositions and demand being not accepted of, nor consented to by the Commissioners of this Collony (as we are informed), by our said Commissioners, was the reason that the said difference was not issued and composed, although the Commissioners of this Collony did for peace and quietness, and to prevent future trouble, consent to the parting with a considerable tract of land within the just claim and government of this his Majesty's Collony, granted by his Majesty's most gracious Charter. But this, his Majesty's Assembly, to show how unwilling they are to have any difference with their neighbors, and how willing they are to make an issue and composure of the aforesaid created difference, are contented to suffer rather than contend. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Councill and Representatives, in this present sessions assembled, and by the authority of the same it is enacted, That the same Commissioners, viz.: Maj. John Greene, Deputy Governor, Capt. Nathaniell Coddington, Mr. Thos. Olney, and Mr. Weston Clarke, Esq., to whom we add Col. Peleg Sanford, Esq., are still empowered as Commi: sioners to treat with the Commissioners of Connecticut, and are continued in the like power and authority they had from the abovesaid Assembly, and to act by the commission or commissions already granted by our honored Governor, for that end and purpose. Always provided, that the said Commissioners do follow such orders and instructions as shall be given forth by this or any other of his Majesty's Assemblys of this Collony. And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners shall, when thereunto called, make return of their proceeds to the Generall Councill, or to the next Generall Assembly, if the Generall Councill shall think needfull. And whereas, it is remonstrated to this Assembly, that one thing insisted on as a means of obstructing the agreement between the Commissioners upon their former treaties, was the hindering and obstructing some of the people of Connecticut and other Collonies from settling their properties in the Narragansett country (as they do pretend to), this Assembly do therefore declare, that it is their resolution to maintain the liberty and property of all his Majesty's subjects claiming any right within this Collony, according to law and equity. And the law is, and has been open for any person to recover his just right and interest within the same. And for further confirmation, be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That if there be any of the inhabitants of Connecticut or any other Collony or government, whatsoever, claiming any right or property within the jurisdiction of this government, they shall not be obstructed or any ways molested in the asserting, settling and improving of their just right and property, according to their claims;-provided, it be done in an orderly and legall way, according to law. Whereas, divers transient persons and trading strangers are continually coming into all parts of this Collony with a quantity of sundry sorts of goods and commodities, retailing the same from house to house, in chambers, warehouses, and other places, for some time, and then going away to another place, |