William Penn's Observations on the Proceedings of Governor Fletcher.

From N. Y. Col. Doc'ts., Vol. IV., p 247.]

WHITEHALL, December the 11th 1696

At a Meeting of His Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.

Present-EARL OF BRIDGEWATER

S PHILIP MEADOWS,

[Extract.]

MR BLATHWAYT.

MR POLLEXFEN.

As a Proprietor of East New Jersey, Mr. Penn complained also that the Governour of New Yorke obliged the ships that came thither with goods from England to pay New York Customs. To which he was answered that Colonel Fletcher was ordered by his instructions to do so: And the necessity of that practice was shown, by the neighbourhood of that Propriety to the King's Province of New York, which is such that if goods were received there custom free, they may be clandestinely transported into New Yorke to the defrauding of His Majesty's customs there.

He spoke also of the Quota required from the neighboring Colonies for the defence of New York And said that he conceived the best way of regulating it would be, by stated Deputies from each Province, to meet in one common Assembly: The effecting of which was observed to require one Captain General or Vice Roy to preside But upon these heads he was desired, and he promised to draw up a scheme more fully in writing.

Memorial of the Proprietors of Several Provinces in America relating to Courts of Admiralty there.

[From P. R. O. B. T. Proprietors, Vol. 1. A 11.]

To The R Honble the Lords Commiss of Trade and Plantac'ons.

The Lords Proprietors Agents and others of the Provinces of Carolina Bohama Islands Pensilvania East and West Jersey and Conecticott in America.

Protesting their Loyalty and duty to His MajTM and reserving the benefitt of being heard by themselves in Councill to their Right and Power of Erecting Courts of admiralty in the said Provinces do offer

That there are Severall Clauses in their Respective Grants and Charters which (as they are advised) Import and Imply a Grant of ye admirall Jurisdiction and power of Erecting the said Courts and Constituting Judges and Officers thereof in the said Provinces

That the reason why they have not hitherto Erected Such Courts or Constituted Such Officers is that all Suits or Informac'ons upon and for the breach of the acts of navigac'on may as appears by the sd acts and particulerly by the 15th of K Charls y 2 be brought and prosecuted in the Com'on Law Courts and yt the Erecting Courts of admiralty would have occasioned Sallaryes and other great and Expensive Charges

That they apprehended there was no necessity of Such Courts unless for the Condemnac'on of prises, few or none of which have bin brought into the said Provinces during this Warr in ord' to be there tried and Condemned.

That the s Propriet's are nevertheless willing and ready to Erect Such Courts and constitute such able

Officers as shall be well affected to His Majes Government, carefull of his intrest use their uttmost Endeavours to Enforce an Observance of the sd acts of navigac'on and zealously prosecute such Vessels & persons as shall be Guilty of the breach of them All which is Humbly offer'd & Submitted.

[Dec. 16, 1696.]

From the Lords of Trade to the Proprietors of East and West Jersey.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Proprieties, Vol. 25, p. 45.]

To The Proprietors of his Majesty's Colony of East New Jersey in America.1

GENTLEMEN

His Majesty having been frequently informed of the little regard which severall of the Colonies concerned have had to the Quota appointed by her late Majesty of Blessed Memory in the year 1694 to be observed during this War for the defence of the Frontiers of the Province of New York in the following proportions Viz.:

The Councill's Letter to West New Jersey was the same only changing the

And his Majesty being at the same time sensible of the necessity of that contribution either in Men or money for the general Security of his Colonies on the continent of America; has commanded us to Signifie unto all those above named, that it is his pleasure they should each of them contribute and pay their respective proportions to the government of New York according to her late Majesty's foresaid Regulation; We therefore particularly recommend it to your care that in relation to the Colony of East New Jersey his Majesties pleasure herein be for the future punctually observed and executed

His Majesty having also been informed by complaints from severall hands of the undue methods practised in some of his Colonies for seduceing the Inhabitants from others, And being sensible how much that practice is contrary to the common Interest of the whole has commanded us to write unto the several Governors or Governments of each Colony, that they take care that Effectual Laws be made in each of their respective Governments against the receiving and harbouring not only of Deserters, but also of such Fugitives as leave any of his Plantations contrary to the Laws provided for that purpose in each plantation respectively. Which therefore We also now accordingly recommend to Your Observation.

And whereas his Majesty has also received complaints that the Entertainment given to Pyrats in some of his Colonies, and more particularly in those under distinct properties had occasioned many ill minded persons, Seamen, and others to desert their habitations, and apply themselves to such wicked and destructive courses to the great weakening and dispeopling of the Colonies so abandoned by them, and to the great dishonour of the English Nation; Whereupon he has also required us to write to the Severall Proprietors and Governours of all his Plantations that

due care be taken for the future that no Pyrats or Sea Robbers be anywhere shelter'd or entertained under the severest penalties; We are obliged thereupon to require your strictest care, as We doe of others that all manner of discouragement be given in that Province of East New Jersey both to the Rise and progresse of such undertakings, And that upon the discovery thereof the Offenders be punished according to the utmost severity of the Law-We are

Your very Affectionate friends

WHITEHALL,
February 9th 169

J. BRIDGEWATER

PH: MEADOWS
W BLATHWAYT
JN POLLEXFEN
ABR HILL

Opinion of Sir Cresswell Lewinz, on the liability of East Jersey to New York for Customs.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Vol. I., A 58, No. 2.

KING CHARLES the 2a by Letters Patent Grants to the Duke of York his Heires & assignes all that Tract of Land in America now Called by the severall Names of New York East Jersey & West Jersey wth all waters Rivers & harbours to the premises belonging And the Goverment thereof according to the Lawes of England And power to admitt p'sons to tread & Traffique unto & wth in ye Same.

The Duke of York Grants those parts Called East Jersey & West Jersey wth ye Rivers Harbours & other Royalties thereunto belonging, and the Goverm of those places and all Other privileges Granted by him to the King A: B: C: D: & their heires & assignes.