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HARVARD  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 

This  voluhe  is  fkox 
tbeubraat  of 

GAMALIEL  BRADFORD  VI,    g 

1863-1933,  MOORAPHBR  AHD  EOAYBT, 

GIVEN  BY  HZLSN  P.  BKADTORD 

MAY  34,  1943 


^■rawra«tnt»ira»trararamrmtHffliww' 


TRANSFEKRED 
TO  THE  LIBRARY  OF 


Harvard  Law  School 


jvGooi^lc 


h.  7-.  0Aa.jfir/'l. 


jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


COLLECTIONS 


MASSACHDSETTS   HISTOKICAL  SOCIETY. 


jvGooi^lc 


Commtttte  of  ^ubltcatton. 

CHARLES   C.  SMITH. 
MELLEN  CHAMBERLAIN. 
HENEY  F.  JENKS. 


jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


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jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


COLLECTIONS 

MASSACHUSETTS  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. ' 

SIXTH    SERIES.  — VOL.  VII. 


Vnbliriirt  it  tljc  ff^ngt  of  t|)c  Sit^nli  Jnt^ingfiun  #ttn9. 


BOSTON : 
PUBLISHED    BY    THE    SOCIETY. 

M.DCOO.XCIT. 


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fumrEiiim  » 
•uvuw  uw  inmi 


2^;. 


1^ 


JoHH  Wilson  ato  Sou,  Cahbruhjb. 


oyGoot^lc 


CONTENTS. 


Opficsrb  of  the  Societt,  elected  Apbil  13,  189S    ...  vil 

Brsident  Mevbbbs Tiii 

HONORABT   AKD   CoBBESPONDIMO   MEMBERS X 

Mexbbbs  Deceased zii 

Preface ziii 

The  Belches  Papebs 8 

Appendix 435 

y     Index 565 

5~ 


filODOO 


„Gooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


OFFICERS 


MASSACHUSETTS   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY, 

Blectkd  Afxil  13,  1893. 


Eet.  GEORGE  E.  ELLIS,  D.D.,  LL.D Bostom. 

FRANCIS  PARKMAN,  LL.D.» Bostojt. 

CHAELES  FRANCIS  ADAMS,  A.B Qoincy. 

J^CDibtng  jKttnlBig. 
Eev.  EDWARD  J.  YOUNG,  D.D Waltbam. 

CORttpOlUII^  9tcutBi]> 
JUSTIN  WINSOE,  LL.D Cambridge. 

Citannnr. 
CHARLES  C.  SMITH,  A.M Bobton. 

Jfibnuiiit. 
Hon.  SAMUEL  A.  GREEN,  M.D. Boston. 

Calmul-$tt)m. 
SAMUEL  F.  McCLEAEY,  A.M Bbooklihe. 

ftutslibc  ftontmitiM  of  Igt  Cmtndl. 

Rbv.  HENBT  F.  JENKS,  A.M CAirroK. 

HORACE  E.  SCUDDEB,  A.B Cambridge. 

SOLOMON  LINCOLN,  A.M Bobton. 

Ret.   ALEXANDEE  McKENZIE,  D.D Caubbidqb. 

HoK.  JOHN  D.   WASHBUEN,  LL.B Wobcbbteb. 

•  DM  Not.  8,  WW.  [yii] 


oyGoot^lc 


RESIDENT    MEMBERS, 


isas. 
Hon.  Bobert  C.  Winthrop,  LL.D. 

1811. 
Rot.  George  E.  EUia,  LI..D. 

1844. 
Rev.  Lncius  R.  Paige,  D.D. 

1857. 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmea,  D.C.L. 

136S. 
Hon.  Leverett  Soltonstall,  A.M. 

1830. 
Hon.  Samael  A.  Green,  M.D. 
ChRTles  Eliot  Norton,  LL.D. 

1881. 

Rev.  Edward  E.  Hale,  D.D. 
Hon,  Horace  Gray,  LL.D. 
Rev.  Edwards  A.  Park,  LL.D. 

1SS3. 
William  H.  Whitmore,  A.M. 

IS«. 
Hon.  William  C.  Endicott,  LL.D. 
Hon.  E.  Rockwood  Hota,  LL.D. 

1S6S. 

Josiah  P.  Quincy,  A.M. 
Samuel  Eliot,  LL.D. 
i8se. 
Henry  G.  Denny,  A.M. 


Hon.  G«orge  S.  Hale,  A.M. 


isas. 

William  S.  Appleton,  A.M. 
Hon.  Theodore  Lyman,  LL.D. 

isn. 
Abner  C.  Goodell,  Jr.,  A.M. 
Edward  D.  Harris,  E«q. 

1873. 
Hmi.  Mellen  Chamberlain,  LL.D. 
Winalow  Warren,  LL.B. 
Charles  W.  Eliot,  LL.D. 

1876. 
Charles  F.  Dunbar,  LL.D. 
Charles  Francis  Adams,  A.B. 
William  P.  Vfham,  A.B. 

ISTfl- 
Hon.  William  Everett,  LL.D. 
George  B.  Chase,  A.M. 
Hon.  Henry  Cabot  Lodge,  LL.D. 

1877. 

John  T.  Morse,  Jr.,  A.B. 
Justin  Winsor,  LL.D. 
J.  EUiot  Cabot,  LL.D. 

1878. 
Henry  Lee,  A.M. 
Gamaliel  Bradford,  A.B. 
Rev.  Edward  J.  Young,  D.D. 
Hon.  John  Lowell,  LL.D. 


oyGoot^lc 


BI8ISBNT  MEUBEB8. 


Williun  W.  Gieenoogfa,  A.B. 
Bobert  C.  Winthrop,  Ji.,  A.M. 
Henry  W.  Hajnee,  A.M. 

ISSO. 

Thomaa  W.  Higginson,  A.M. 
Eev.  Edward  G.  Porter,  A.M. 
John  C.  Ropes,  LL.B. 

1681. 
Rev.  Henry  F.  Jenks,  A.M. 
Horace  £.  Scndder,  A.B. 
Rev.  Edmund  P.  Slofter,  D.D. 
Hon.  Stephen  SalUbury,  A.M. 
John  T.  HasBam,  A.M. 
Ber.  Alexander  McEenzie,  D.D. 

Arthur  Lord,  A.B. 
ArthnrB.  EUis,  LL.B. 
Clement  Hugh  Hill,  A.M. 
Frederick  W.  Patnam,  A.M. 
James  M.  Bugbee,  Esq. 
Hon.  John  D.  Washbam,  LL.B. 
S«v.  Egbert  C.  Smyth,  D.D. 

1B83. 
Francis  A.  Walker,  LL.D. 
ReT.  Arthur  L.  Peny,  LL.D. 

ISM. 
Hod.  John  E.  Sanford,  A.M. 
Uriel  H.  Crocker,  LL.B. 
Hon.  Martin  Brimmer,  A.B. 
Hon.  Roger  WotcoH,  LL.B. 
William  G.  Russell,  LL.D. 
Edward  J.  Lowell,  A.M. 
Edward  Cbanning.  Ph.D. 

1S8S. 
Hon.  Lincoln  F.  Brigham,  LL.D. 


Samuel  ^.  McCleary,  A.M. 
William  W.  Goodwin,  D.C.L. 
Hon.  George  F.  Hoar,  LLJ>. 
Rev.  Alexander  T.G.  Allen,  D.D. 

188T. 
Charles  G.  Loring,  A.M. 
Rev.  Octavius  B.  Frothingham,  A,H. 
Solomon  Lincoln,  A.M. 
Edwin  P.  Seaver,  A.M. 

1889. 
Albert  B.  Hart,  Ph.D. 
Thornton  K.  Lotbrop,  LL.B. 
George  0.  Shattnok,  LL.B. 
James  B.  Thayer,  LL.B. 
Hon.  Henry  S.  Nonrse,  A.M. 

IBM. 

Henry  Fitz-Gilbert  Waters,  A.M. 
Hamilton  Andrews  HUl,  LL.D. 
Hon.  William  S.  ShurtleS,  A.M. 
Abbott  Lawrence  Lowell,  LL.B. 

isei. 

Benjamin  M.  Watson,  A.B. 
Rer.  Samuel  E.  Herrick,  D.D. 
Hon.  Oliver  W.  Holmes,  Jr.,  LL.D. 
Henry  P.  Walcott,  M.D. 

1899. 
John  Fiske,  A.M. 
Geoi^  S.  Merriam,  AM. 

1893. 

Edward  L.  Pierce,  LL.D: 
Hon.  Charles  R.  Codman,  LL.B. 
Barrett  Wendell,  A.B. 
James  F.  Rhodes,  LL.D. 

18»4. 
Hon.  Edwaid  F.  Johnson,  LL.B, 


oyGoot^lc 


HONOEABY  OR  COEEESPONDING 
MEMBERS, 


J.  HAmmond  Trombull,  LL.D.         |   Rev.  WilliiuiiS.  Soatiigate,  D.D. 


HONORARY  MEMBEES, 

BLKTBD  BIHCB   THE  FAMAGB  OF  THE   ^CT   OP   1867. 


James  Anthony  Fronde,  M.A. 
Rt.  Rev.  Lord  A.  C.  Herrey,  D.D. 
David  Masaon,  LL.D. 
S.A.R,  le  Comte  de  Paris. 
Rt.  Rev.  William  Stubbs.  D.D. 
Hon.  Wmiam  M.  Evatts,  LL.D. 

W 


Theodor  Mommsen. 
Marquis  de  Rocbambeaa. 
John  Robert  Seeley,  LL.D. 
William  £.  H.  Lecky,  LL.D. 
Emet  Curtins. 
Hon.  Carl  Schurz,  LL.D. 


oyGoot^lc 


OOSBESFONDING   MEMBEfiS, 

ILXOTBD  BIHCB  TBB  tAUAOI   Of  THB  ICT   OV   1857. 


Hon.  William  H.  Tresoot. 
William  Noel  Sainsbury,  Eeq. 
Goldwin  SiulUi,  D.C.L. 
Geoi^  TicknoT  Curtis,  A.B. 
Hon.  John  Meredith  Read,  A.M. 
Joseph  Jackson  Howard,  LL.D. 
Charles  J.  StUl«,  LL.D. 
WiUiam  W.  Story,  D.C.L. 
M.  Jules  Marcon. 
M.  Pierre  Margty. 
Charles  J.  Hoadly,  LL.D. 
JohD  FosUr  Kirk,  LL.D. 
Hon.  Manning  F.  Force,  LL.B. 
Samuel  Eawson  Gardiner,  LL.D. 
Hon.  John  Bigelow,  LL.D. 
Henry  Charles  Lea,  LL.D. 
Hubert  H.  Bancroft,  A.M. 
Rev.  Richard  S.  Storrs,  LL.D. 
M.  GustaTS  Vapereau. 
John  Austin  Stevens,  A-B. 
Joseph  F.  Loubat,  LL.D. 
Charles  H.  Hart,  LL.B; 
Ber.  Mosea  Colt  Tyler,  LL.D. 
Hermann  Ton  Hoist,  Ph.D. 
Franklin  B.  Dexter,  A.M. 


John  M.  BrowD,  A.M. 

Hon.  Andrew  D.  White,  LL.D. 

Geoi^  W.  Ranok,  Esq. 

James  M.  Le  Moine,  Esq. 

Rt  Hon.  Sir  George  0.  Trevelyan, 

BarL,  D.C.L. 
Henry  Adams,  A.B. 
Julius  Dexter,  A.B. 
Rev.  Henry  M.  Baird,  D.D. 
Hon.  William  Wirt  Henry. 
Vicomte  d'Haussonville. 
Rt  Hon.  James  Bryce,  D.C.L. 
Rev.  Charles  R.  Weld,  B.D. 
Herbert  B.  Adams,  Hi.D. 
Signor  Comelio  Desimoni. 
Hon.  Jabez  L.  M.  Curry,  LL.D. 
Amos  Feny,  LL.D. 
Horatio  Hale,  A.M. 
Hon.  William  A.  Conrtenay. 
Rt  Rev.  Uandell  Creighton,  LL.D. 
John  Andrew  Doyle,  M.A. 
Abb^  Henty  Raymond  Casgrain, 

LittD. 
Alexander  Brown,  Esq. 
John  Nicholas  Brown,  Esq. 


jvGooi^lc 


MEMBERS    DECEASED. 


Mtmbtrt  aha  Aace  died  truce  lie  Uul  volante  0/  the  CoUeetlont  wot   iaaed,  June  1, 
1S9S,  arranged  in  the  order  0/  their  election,  tmd  with  datt  of  daaih. 

Raident. 

Francis  Parkiaan,  LL,D Nov,    8,1893. 

Henry  W.  Toirey,  LL.D Dec.  14, 

Abbott  Lawrence,  A-M July    6, 

Edward  Bangs,  LL.B Feb.  17, 1894. 

Edwin  L.  Bynaer,  LL.B Aag.  5, 

ffonorarg. 

Very  Bev.  Chariea  Merivale,  D.D Dec.  37,  1893. 

Corre^umdin^. 

Hon.  CharleB  H.  Bell.  LL.D Nov.  U,  1893. 

Bev.  FJwardD.  Neill,  D.D Sept  96, 1898. 

William  P.  Poole,  LL.D Mar.    1, 1894. 


[xiij 


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PREFACE. 


'T^HIS  volume  compriBee  a  selection  and  calendar  of 
Governor  Belcher'a  official  and  private  letters  from 
Jan.  23, 1733-4,  to  JvAy  25, 1743,  with  the  exception  of 
those  written  between  April  21, 1735,  and  Aug.  24,  1739, 
which  period  is  not  covered  by  his  Letter-Books  in  the 
possession  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
The  original  letters  to  Secretary  Waldron  are,  however, 
among  the  unbound  manuscripts  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Historical  Society,  and  will  in  part  supply  the  unfor< 
innate  loss  of  the  Letter-Books.  They  have  never  been 
printed,  but  were  partially  examined  in  the  preparation 
of  this  volume.  They  do  not  differ  in  character  from  the 
numerous  letters  to  Waldron  now  printed.  With  no  one 
else  was  Belcher  so  open  and  unreserved  as  he  was  with 
Waldron,  in  whose  shrewdness,  ability,  and  personal 
devotion  to  the  Governor  he  had  great  confidence.  Tn 
September,  1753,  after  Waldron's  death  he  wrote :  "  To 
the  last  period  of  my  short  life  I  shall  have  the  highest 
honor  and  respect  for  his  fragrant  memory."  And  in 
another  letter  he  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  whole 
of  New  Hampshire  could  not  make  good  the  loss  of 
Waldron. 


oyGoot^lc 


In  bis  correspondence  Goveraor  Belcher  often  refers 
to  his  "  restless  enemies " ;  and  there  is  abundant  evi- 
dence that  they  were  .alert,  active,  and  pertinacious 
in  prosecuting  their  ends.  But  in  these  qualities 
they  could  scarcely  have  surpassed  the  Governor  him- 
self. Not  only  was  he  one  of  the  most  methodical  of 
men,  carrying  into  domestic  and  public  life  the  habits 
which  he  had  learned  in  his  mercantile  espeiience,  but 
he  was  always  watchful  to  advance  his  own  interests, 
and  to  circumvent  the  plans  of  the  large  number  of 
men  in  various  stations  in  life  whom  he  regarded  as 
personal  enemies  and  described  as  villains.  He  was 
an  unwearied  letter-writer,  and  by  every  ship  to  Eng- 
land he  sent  over  a  large  parcel  of  letters,  often, 
indeed,  in  almost  identical  words  to  several  correspond- 
ents ;  and  his  letters  to  persons  on  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic  were  not  less  numerous.  Not  one  of  them 
deserves  to  be  read  for  its  literary  merit ;  but  they 
throw  important  light  on  the  period  preceding  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution,  and  bring  into  strong  relief  the  causes 
which  led  up  to  the  armed  resistance  by  the  colonies 
to  the  mother  country.  The  characters  of  the  Royal 
Governors  count  for  much  in  any  thorough  study  of 
our  pre-Revolutionary  history. 

Governor  Belcher's  personal  characteristics  were  well 
described  more  than  a  century  ago  by  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son, and  they  come  out  very  clearly  in  his  correspond- 
ence. It  is  easy  to  see  how  such  a  man  weakened  the 
hold  of  Great  Britain  on  her  subjects  here,  while  he  was 
zealously  contending  for  what  he  was  wont  to  call  "  the 
honour  of  the  Crown."    With  a  singular  want  of  tact  he 


oyGoot^lc 


apeedily  aroused  personal  and  political  oppositioD,  in  both 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire ;  and  even  the  men 
who  owed  their  advancement  to  him  became  his  adver- 
saries, and  were  bitterly  denounced  by  him.  He  was 
never  measured  in  his  language,  and  his  estimates  of 
his  contemporaries  must  be  taken  with  great  allowance. 
With  a  few  conspicuous  exceptions  they  all  came  at  one 
or  another  time  under  }iis  severe  displeasure,  and  were 
painted  in  the  blackest  colors.  Any  one  who  should 
accept  Belcher's  descriptions  for  truthful  portraits,  and 
his  abusive  epithets  as  justly  applied,  would  have  but  a 
poor  opinion  of  human  nature. 

Questions  of  considerable  importance  at  the  time  agi- 
tated the  two  Provinces  under  Belcher's  authority  during 
the  years  covered  by  the  present  volume.  Prominent 
among  these  were  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  line 
between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire ;  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  separate  Governor  for  the  smaller 
Province ;  the  establishment  of  the  Land  Bank  and  the 
emission  of  paper  currency ;  and  the  raising  of  men  for 
the  expedition  against  the  Spanish  West  Indies.  On 
these  and  on  other  questions  aflFecting  in  a  greater  or 
lesser  degree  the  relations  of  the  mother  country  and 
the  Provinces,  there  will  he  found  abundant  information. 
In  respect  to  one  of  them,  the  currency  question,  Belcher 
held  views  far  in  advance  of  the  opinions  and  wishes  of 
the  great  mass  of  the  community,  and  his  strenuous 
opposition  to  the  advocates  of  a  paper  currency  was 
among  the  chief  causes  of  his  overthrow,  as  he  was 
well  aware. 

In  his  family  life  he  does  not  appear  to  have  been 


oyGoot^lc 


happy.  His  eldest  son,  Andrew,  was  without  ambitjon, 
and  had  none  of  the  father's  restless  activity.  He  was 
indolent,  dilatory  in  all  his  moveraenta,  and  provokingly 
negligent  in  looking  after  his  own  interests.  His  disin- 
clination to  marry  when  a  young  man  was  also  a  dis- 
appointment to  the  CrOTemor ;  and  his  marriage  in  his 
Ibrty-eighth  year  to  the  daughter  of  Belcher's  second 
wife  by  a  former  husband  was  a  source  of  undis- 
guised satisfaction.*  The  son-in-law,  Byfield  Lyde, 
was  unfortunate  in  business,  and  more  than  once  was 
dependent  with  hia  family  on  the  father-in-law.  Jona- 
than, the  favorite  son,  constantly  tried  the  Governor's 
patience  and  afiection  by  his  extravagance  and  his 
careless  ways.      Finally  he   ceased    for   many  months 

■  In  the  Pre&ce  to  the  Vint  Pkrt  ot  the  Belcher  Papers  it  nu  iusdierteotlj 
icatad  tbkt  Andrei*  Belcher  died  unmarried.  The  fact  of  hii  marriage  wu  well 
known ;  but  the  name  of  his  wife  hai  not,  we  believe,  appeared  in  print.  In  a 
letter  dated  at  EUizabethtown,  April  5, 1754,  OoTeraor  Belcher  write*  to  hie  nephew 
Andrew  OliTer:  "  I  am  now  with  pleasure  to  adrUe  jron  that  my  aon'i  marriage 
with  my  wife's  verf  good  daughter  vroi  contummated  jetterity  in  the  erening, 
aboat  B  o'clock,  and  I  think  to  the  good  satidtolon  of  all  concem'd  therein ;  and  I 
pray  God  that  they  may  be  long  happy,  llTing  togettier  as  heirs  of  the  grace  of  Ufe. 
Amen."  lo  aoticipation  of  the  marriage,  an  indenture  was  entered  into,  March 
27,  1761,  between  Oorernor  Belcher,  hi)  aoo  Andrew,  and  Etiiabeth  Teale,  which 
it  recorded  In  Suffolk  Deeds,  lib.  8e,  fal.  SOO.  Under  this  indenture  the  ladj 
•dranced  to  the  Qovernor  £1,800  sterling,  which  was  applied  to  the  payment  of 
the  old  debt  due  to  Uie  estate  of  John  Lloyd,  repeatedly  mentioned  In  Ihe  Gov- 
ernor's correspondence,  and  of  a  mortgage  to  Sir  Peter  Warren ;  and  on  Uii  part 
the  GoTemor  conreyed  to  Andrew  Belcher  and  Elizabeth  Teala  all  his  estate  in 
Milton,  Dorchester,  and  Braintree.  After  the  GoTemor'a  death,  In  1TS7,  his  widow 
removed  to  Uilton  to  be  with  her  children ;  and  the  mother  and  daughter,  both 
widows,  were  living  there  in  1778  or  1779.  (See  6  Maw.  Hist.  Coll.  vol.  iv.  p.  140.) 
In  a  footnote  to  the  account  of  Governor  Belcher  in  his  Biographical  Dictionary, 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Eliot  «ays,  Andrew  Belcher's  home  "at  Milton  was  consumed, 
1776,  In  the  night,  by  an  accident.  His  widow,  willi  the  old  lady,  Gov.  Belcher's 
widow,  who  resided  with  her,  hardly  escaped  tlie  flames.  They  were  carried  into 
the  barn,  put  into  the  family  coach,  and  forgotten  till  all  was  over.  The  l>am  was 
near  tlie  bouie  but  was  preserved,  there  being  Uttle  or  no  wind  stirring.  The 
writer  of  this  article  recollects  taking  tea  with  the  ladies  in  this  bam,  which  was 
fitted  up  for  a  temporary  reception.  They  converied  with  cbeerfulneM  upon  the 
publick  changes,  and  the  cbangei  in  their  o' 


oyGoot^lc 


together  to  write  to  his  father,  who  had  lavished  large 
suius  on  his  education  and  support  in  England,  in  the 
Tain  hope  that  he  would  there  marry  a  rich  wife  or 
work  into  a  lucrative  practice.  In  spite  of  the  Governor's 
fondness  for  display,  he  clung  closely  to  his  money,  and 
was  exacting,  sometimes  even  harsh  and  unfeeling,  in  hia 
pecuniary  transactions;  but  for  Jonathan  he  incurred 
debt  freely,  though  with  a  good  deal  of  grumbling. 
About  three  years  before  the  father's  death,  this  son 
was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  he  was 
afterward  made  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  Province, 
where  his  memory  is  atill  held  in  honor. 

No  reader  can  f*ul  to  notice  the  strain  of  religious  feel- 
ing which  runs  through  many  of  the  Governor's  letters, 
and  is  indeed  in  some  very  striking  instances  the  whole 
substance  of  them.  How  far  this  was  merely  the  formal 
and  conventional  phraseology  of  the  time  in  the  religious 
communion  to  which  he  belonged,  and  how  far  it  was  the 
natural  expression  of  his  own  deepest  convictions,  are 
questions  which  will  occur  to  every  reader,  and  which  do 
not  seem  to  admit  of  a  very  positive  answer.  But  this 
is  not  the  proper  place  for  any  discussion  of  them.  The 
letters  here  printed  afford  ample  materials  for  a  full  con- 
«deration  of  these,  and  other  questions  connected  with 
his  personal  and  official  character. 

While  in  public  life,  Governor  Belcher  employed  sev- 
eral different  clerks,  one  afler  another,  most  of  whom 
wrote  a  very  legible  hand,  but  in  other  respects  their 
qualifications  were  far  from  being  equal.  Apparently 
the  letters  were  written  either  from  dictation  or  from 
rough  drafts  in  the  Governor's  own  handwriting,  which 


oyGoot^lc 


in  middle  life  was  very  bad ;  and  there  are  ofleu  correc- 
tions or  additions  made  by  him.  In  general,  the  letters 
are  arranged  chronologically,  but  in  some  cases  they  are 
copied  into  the  Letter-Books  without  regard  to  their 
date.  This  is  perhaps  due  to  the  difficulty  of  finding 
opportunities  for'  forwarding  letters  after  they  were  writ- 
ten, especially  such  as  were  intrusted  to  a  private  hand 
or  were  to  be  sent  abroad.  Generally  the  Christian 
names  of  the  persons  to  whom  letters  were  sent  are 
not  given  in  the  Letter-Books ;  and  in  some  instances 
it  has  not  been  possible  to  identify  them. 

The  portrait  which  is  prefixed  to  this  volume  is  a 
heliotype  reproduction,  in  reduced  size,  of  a  mezzotint 
engraving  by  the  younger  John  Faber,  from  a  portrait, 
of  uncertain  date,  painted  by  Richard  Phillips.  It  is  no 
doubt  the  same  engraving  which  M^  Newman  and  the 
younger  Belcher  had  made  in  London  in  1734,  and  for 
which  the  young  man  and  Mr.  Partridge  were  sharply 
rebuked.  Besides  two  copies  of  this  engraving,  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society  owns  an  original  por- 
trait  in  oil  by  F.  Liopoldt,  painted  in,  London  in  1729. 
The  two  portraits  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  each 
other ;  and  without  doubt  they  give  a  faithful  represen- 
tation of  the  Governor's  personal  appearance,  though  he 
thought  the  Phillips  picture  "  not  much  like." 
For  the  Committee, 

Charles  C.  Smith. 

BOBTON,  March  37, 1804. 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


PAET  n. 


jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEB,  JR. 

Mt  dear  Son,  —  My  last  was  a  few  lines  T"  Prince.  I 
am  now  to  own  your  dutifull  letter  of  23  Oct'  last  came  to 
hand  23  ult'  V  Wingfield  (while  I  was  at  N.  Hamp),  and 
I  have  re'd  it  once  &  again  with  much  satisfactioD,  and 
sltho'  it  is  lengthy  (yet  as  it  is  chiefly  in  answer  to  9  of 
mine)  it  does  not  require  me  to  say  a  great  deal.  The 
ceremony  at  Cambridge  must  be  a  pretty  amusement. 

As  to  your  annual  espence,  I  am  content  to  allow  it  to 
be  £200  at'  a  year,  observing  to  you  that  I  expect  it 
sbou'd  alwayes  make  you  appear  pretty  &  handsome.  I 
shall  be  pleas'd  to  find  you  have  a  degree  at  Oxford 
ad  eundem.  Oh,  that  M'  Reynolds  might  obtain  the  N. 
Hamp  Leiutenaocy. 

I  enclose  you  an  old  News  Letter  to  show  you  the 
present  Duke  of  N.  Castle  has  condescended  to  write 
even  to  a  Leiu*  Gov'  of  this  Province.  Yet  if  you  can't 
obtain  such  a  favour  for  me  I  must  be  content. 

1  now  write  yonr  uncle  about  cutting  of  your  hair, 
and  it's  my  positive  order  that  on  rec'  of  this  you  get  on 
a  handsome,  fair  long  wigg.  I  now  perfectly  acquiesce 
in  your  reasons  for  so  doing.  I  take  notice  you  are  to 
have  your  call  to  the  bar  at  Easter  Term.  I  pray  God, 
you  may  go  thither  to  his  honour  &  to  your  own,  &  to 
your  profit.  Your  uncle  is  very  kind  in  the  handsome  fee 
he  intends  you  before  the  King  &  Council.     I  am  told 


oyGoot^lc 


4  THj;  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1788-*. 

that  it  will  be  best  for  you  to  appear  but  in  little  business 
for  the  first  two  years.  And  to  speak  before  the  King  & 
Council  requires  strong  thought  &  good  elocution,  and 
you  must  take  care  not  to  make  any  baulk  at  first 
setting  out. 

I  observe  the  Duke  of  Chandos's  great  condescention  in 
his  letters  to  you,  and  hope  you'll  endeavour  to  deserve 
his  patronage  more  &  more.  Pray,  give  my  duty  to  his 
Grace,  and  let  him  know  I  have  duly  forwarded  his  letter 
to  M'  Harrison ;  and  M'  Shirley  has  his. 

I  am  glad  (as  you  mist  M'  Dickens  at  Cambridge)  that 
you  had  the  good  fortune  of  M'  Sanderson's  instructions 
in  algebra  &  other  parts  of  the  matbematicks ;  consider- 
ing his  loss  of  sight  from  his  infancy  he  is  one  of  the 
wonders  of  bis  age.  As  soon  as  Michaelmass  Term  was 
over  I  see  you  intended  again  to  your  beloved  Cambridge, 
to  get  under  your  Civilian's  tuition.  I  am  told  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Civil  liaw,  as  well  as  the  Common,  is  neces- 
sary to  make  a  good  Chancery  man,  where  I  suppose  you 
intend  to  point  your  practice. 

It  wou'd  please  me  above  all  things  to  have  Colt"  H. 
Sherburne  my  Leiu'  at  New  Hampshire ;  but  any  body 
rather  than  the  creature  that  is  at  present.  Give  my 
bumble  service  to  M'  Fopple,  and  keep  a  good  under- 
standing with  him.  If  100  or  150  g"  properly  plac'd 
wou'd  get  the  commission,  Coll'  Sherburne  wou'd  not 
begrutch  it. 

I  will  take  a  seasonable  opportunity  to  resent  the  prig 
parson's  rudeness  &  ill  nature.  When  M'  Marshal  puts 
his  matters  into  a  proper  situation  your  brother  will  do 
him  any  service  in  his  power. 

I  am  pleas'd  with  your  design  of  an  epithalamium  for 
the  Prince  &  Princess  of  Orange.  Pray,  let  me  have 
a  copy  of  it.  I  thank  you  for  the  three  volumns  of 
Baronettage.  You  are  very  good  in  your  resolutions 
about  the  great  aSair  of  matrimony.     First  get  to  the 


oyGoot^lc 


1738-4.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR.  5 

bar,  and  if  possible  into  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
then  Miss  Reed  of  Hackney  is  a  fine  young  lady.*  I  am 
glad  you  so  well  bestow'd  the  aquirells. 

I  will  endeavour  to  send  Sir  Rob'  Clark  some  New 
England  seeds  &  plants  that  are  strangers  to  Britain. 

luclos'd  is  my  ace**  as  it  will  stand  with  yonr  uncle  in  a 
moneth  or  two,  by  which  you'll  see  I  shall  not  be  much  in 
his  debt,  and  I  will  send  him  more  bills  as  fast  as  I  can 
get  'em. 

By  all  means  pursue  the  matter  of  a  Fellowship  at 
your  University.  It  will  be  an  honour  &  help  support 
you.  And  as  you  are  now  near  24  years  of  age,  it's  time 
to  look  about  you,  and  to  find  out  some  way  of  getting 
money  as  well  as  spending  it. 

I  own  it's  a  vast  condescention  in  the  D.  of  Chandos 
to  write  in  your  favour  to  a  gent"  to  whom  he  is  not 
known. 

The  grand  affair  of  Tamworth  lyes  much  upon  my 
mind.  The  deed  is  drawing  for  the  estate  I  shall  give 
you,  which  I  think  is  worth  £20,000  this  money.  I  will 
get  it  done  in  the  most  substantial  manner  and  send 
you  V  the  first  ship  after  Clark.  It  had  gone  V  Gary, 
but  my  moneth's  absence  at  N.  Hampshire  prevented,  and 
I  am  looking  out  for  a  bill  of  .£500  st'  to  defrey  the 
charge  of  your  election.  So  your  uncle  &  you  &  all  your 
friends  must  omit  nothing  to  accomplish  this  cardinal 
point.  But  I  will  write  more  fully  on  this  V  Clark,  to 
you,  your  uncle,  M'  Crosland,  the  corporation,  to  the 
B'  of  lancoln,  &  to  the  Chancellor,  into  whose  hands 
you'll  put  so  good  a  stake  by  way  of  exchange  as  to  take 
a  very  safe  oath  as  to  the  estate  he  sells  you. 

I  am  much  gratify'd  with  the  particular  ace"  of  the 
treatment  of  every  person  to  whom  I  recommended  you. 

God  preserve  you  &  succeed  all  your  laudable  under- 

*  Sm  S  Uu>.  UiM  Coll.  vol.  Ti.  p.  S13  not*.  —  Edb. 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


takings.      1  remain  with   an    indelible    affection,  dear 
Jonauian, 

Your  carefull  and  fond  lather.  J.  B. 


BoBTOif,  Feb"  2, 17S3/4. 
^  Knox.  Clark. 


TO  THE  BISHOP  OF  LINCOLN. 

Much  hon"  Lord,  —  If  I  had  not  the  pleasing  idea  of 
the  excess  of  your  Lordship's  goodness  &  condescention, 
I  dare  not  address  jour  Lordship  in  this  manner,  after 
not  hearing  whether  mine  of  26  Dec',  1732,  had  the 
honour  of  kissing  your  Lordship's  hands.  However,  as 
M'  Belcher  of  the  Temple  is  constantly  giving  me  the 
agreeable  account  of  the  continuance  of  your  Lordship's 
paternal  smiles  &  favour  towards  him,  I  cannot  be  silent, 
but  from  the  very  bottom  of  my  soul  I  send  your  Lord- 
ship my  gratefull  acknowledgments. 

My  son  tells  me  M'  Reynolds  is  marry'd,*  and  if  to 
your  Lordship's  approbation  I  beg  leave  most  heartily  to 
congratulate  him  &  your  Lordship,  and  this  notwithstand- 
ing M'  Belcher  sayes  he  still  thinks  of  coming  to  New 
England  in  the  spring;  and  if  your  Lordship  ehou'd  so 
determine  with  him,  yet  it  must  not  be  thought  of  unless 
he  comes  with  a  commission  to  be  Leiu'  (Sov*  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  with  the  King's  mandamus  to  be  one  of 
the  Council  there.  These  things  will  give  him  figure  & 
some  profit,  and  wou'd  be  highly  acceptable  to  me,  in 
more  respects  than  one.  It  wou'd  quit  me  of  the  plague 
of  the  present  Leiu'  Gov',  who,  I  think,  is  one  of  the 
most  uneasy  creatures  I  ever  had  to  do  with,  and  tryes  to 
make  every  body  else  so.  I  say,  if  M'  Reynolds  returns 
I  hope  your  Lordship  wDl  not  fail  to  get  him  this  com- 
mission.    It  is  no  service  to  the  King,  nor  to  the  people, 

■  SeaflHus.  Hiat.  CoIItoLtI.  p.  43T.  — Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


1733-4.]  TO  THE   BISHOP  OF   UNCOLN.  7 

nor  to  the  present  Leiu'  Gov*,  to  enjoye  the  place,  for  he 
has  been  absent  21  moneths  together. 

I  am  in  the  next  place,  my  Lord,  to  give  you  10,000 
thanks  for  the  instance  of  your  respect  &  jriendship  to 
my  son  in  promoting  his  election  to  a  Fellowship  in 
Trinity  Hall  (Cambridge),  in  which  if  be  fails,  he  tells 
me  it  will  not  be  for  want  of  your  Lordship's  good 
offices.  1  therefore  need  not  beg  of  your  Lordship  to 
put  him  into  the  most  rational  method  of  success,  which 
if  he  meets  with  will  do  him  honour  &  be  some  profit ; 
and  after  the  heavy  load  of  obligations  your  Lordship  haa 
laid  on  nie  &  on  my  son,  how  is  it  possible  to  express  the 
gratefuU  sentiments  of  my  soul  for  crowning  all  your 
kindness  to  him  with  the  promisses  of  your  favour  &  inter- 
est towards  his  obtaining  a  seat  in  Parliament  ?  and  in 
order  thereto  he  is  determin'd  to  offer  himself  to  the 
borough  of  Tamworth  in  the  counticB  of  Stafford  & 
Warwick,  where  he  finds  considerable  encouragment,  and 
by  this  opportunity  I  write  to  the  corporation  and  to  his 
particular  friends  there.  The  greatest  difficulty  arising 
in  this  affiiir  is  to  qualifye  him  with  an  estate  according 
to  Act  of  Parliament,  in  which  matter  he  tells  me  your 
good  son  D'  Reynolds  (the  Chancellor)  shows  him  a  mpst 
surprizing  mark  of  respect  in  offering  to  convey  an  estate 
to  him  that  be  may  comply  with  the  Act.  This  is  such 
an  unmerited  and  such  an  extraordinary  iavour  as  I  want 
words  to  describe  &  express.  I  am  sure  my  son  will  do 
every  thing  in  his  power  for  the  Doctor's  security,  and  I 
will  venture  to  say,  he  will  have  to  do  in  the  matter  with 
a  man  of  strict  probity  &  justice  ;  and  because  I  cannot 
in  time  make  remittance  to  the  value  of  such  an  estate, 
I  am  now  drawing  writings  to  convey  to  my  son  a  very 
valuable  estate  in  lands  here,  which  I  shall  send  forward 
in  about  a  moneth's  time  that  he  may  make  them  over  to 
the  Doctor  as  a  good  &  real  security.  I  humbly  beg 
your  Lordship  wou'd   let  the  Chancellor  have  the   in- 


oyGoot^lc 


8  THE   BELCHER  PAPEE8.  [1788-4 

cloa'd,*  and  that  you  wou'd  give  my  son  all  your  weight  & 
inSuence  in  this  great  affair,  which  may  be  a  fine  basia 
whereon  to  build  hb  future  fortune,  and  will  give  me, 
and  give  him,  reason  to  pray  for  &  to  blesa  your  Lord- 
ship thro'  the  courses  of  our  lives. 

I  am  with  all  possible  deference  &  esteem  to  your 
Lordship,  and  with  great  respect  for  your  whole  family, 
my  Iiord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  faithfuU  &  most  obedient  serv*. 

J.  B. 

BoBToif,  Feb^  4,  1733/4. 

«>  Clark.  Walker. 


TO  Ma  CROSLAND. 

Sir, — I  believe  you  will  wonder  to  find  a  letter  from 
one  so  perfect  a  stranger  as  I  am  to  M'  Crosland's  person 
(tho'  not  to  his  worthy  character).  However,  I  hope  you 
will  forgive  the  freedom,  since  it  is  to  express  the  great 
sense  of  gratitude  I  owe  you  for  your  particular  respect  & 
friendship  shown  to  my  son  M'  Belcher  of  the  Temple,  of 
which  he  has  given  me  frequent  accounts  in  his  letters 
for  some  moneths  past,  and  has  handed  to  me  the  copies 
of -your  very  obliging  favours  making  him  the  proposal  of 
standing  a  candidate  for  the  borough  of  Tamworth  at  the 
insuing  election  of  a  new  Parliam'.  This  is,  indeed,  an 
uncommon  favour,  and  will  do  him  great  honour,  if  you 
can  carry  him  thro'  it.  For  on  M'  Crossland,  I  find,  is 
his  main  dependence,  &  indeed  the  letters  you  have  wrote 
him  discover  so  much  sincere  friendship  and  good  sense 
for  the  managment  of  the  whole  affair  as  makes  me  con- 
clude him  very  happy  in  your  acquain"". 

In  yours  of  27  Aug"  you  believe  Lord  John  Sackvil 
will  be  one  of  your  rep?,  &  17  Sept'  M'  Compton  stood 
a  majority  of  M'  Belcher  of  34  voices,  and  you  go  on  to 

ih.  Reynold),  of  timilu 


oyGoot^lc 


1733-4.]  TO  MR.    CR08LAND.  9 

say,  —  "But  people  seem  very  inclinable  to  favour  a 
third  person,  and  if  we  can  gain  18  from  M'  Compton  to 
add  to  you  it  will  make  you  a  majority,  which  with 
proper  measures  I  do  not  despair  of." 

I  now  write  to  my  brother  (M'  Partridge)  and  my  son 
constantly  to  advise  with  you,  and  take  such  reasonable 
steps  as  to  give  the  best  hopes  of  success,  which  whether 
he  finds  or  not,  yet  I  &  my  son  shall  be  under  great  obli- 
gations to  M'  Crossland  for  such  an  uncommon  mark  of 
respect  and  favour  to  him,  and  if  it  succeeds  it  will  be  an 
honour  (in  a  manner)  conferr'd  by  you  on  him  &  my 
whole  family. 

This  young  gent",  after  spending  7  years  at  our  little 
Cambridge  University,  chose  the  study  of  the  law  for 
the  business  of  his  life,  to  which  end  1  sent  him  to  the 
Temple,  and  he  expects  his  call  to  the  bar  the  next 
Easter  term.  Because  he  is  my  son  it  will  be  more 
proper  that  you  learn  his  character  from  others  that 
know  him.  However,  I  will  venture  to  say,  he  is  one  of 
passable  nfltural  powers,  of  good  principles  of  vertue  & 
diligence,  &  of  tolerable  learning  for  his  years,  and  I 
hope  will  be  no  dishonour  to  the  countenance  &  respect 
you  are  pleas'd  to  show  him.  He  tells  me  one  of  the 
principal  manufactures  of  Tamworth  is  yard  wide  cloths 
from  6/  to  6/  a  yard  of  good  finess.  I  shall  therefore  make 
it  my  care  &  endeavour  as  much  as  possible  in  me  lyes 
to  promote  this  manufacture  among  our  merchants  & 
traders  here,  and  I  hope  in  a  little  time  to  get  orders  sent 
to  M'  Partridge  for  some  value  in  this  way.  I  say,  I  will 
be  unwearied  to  serve  the  borough  of  Tamworth  in  this 
article,  and  I  wish  it  may  ever  lye  in  my  power  to  make 
some  retaliation  for  so  kind  a  part  as  you  are  now  acting, 
for  I  am,  Sir,  with  great  esteem  &  respect. 

Your  ready  friend  &  moat  obedient  servant. 

BosTpN,  Feb'  4,  1733/4.  J.  B. 

« Clark.  Walker 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1788-4. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB. 

Dear  Jonathan,  —  Altho'  Cap'  Clark  mayn't  sail  for 
some  dayes,  yet  as  I  am  now  warmly  ingag'd  in  the  affair 
of  Tamworth  I  have  prepar'd  what  I  promist  you  in  mine 
of  2*  curr*  V  Knox,  and  I  think  they  are  as  full  &  paiv 
ticular  as  may  be  necessary.  When  you  have  re'd  them, 
you  will  deliver  all  of  them  or  not  as  you  shall  judge 
proper.  After  weighing  this  grand  affair  most  sedately 
I  find  it  attended  with  great  difficulty  &  uncertainty. 
What  i  am  putting  into  your  hands  for  a  qualification  will 
not  be  less  than  ^£5000  st'  &  £500  more  for  the  expence 
of  your  election.  However  I  have  put  my  hand  to  the 
plough  &  will  not  look  back,  but  will  go  on  to  do  every- 
thing in  my  power  to  bring  this  matter  to  bear.  I  ob- 
serve Lord  John  Sackvil'a  election  is  indisputable,  and 
that  M'  Compton  17  Sept'  stood  a  majority  of  you 
of  34  voices,  from  whom  you  must  gain  at  least  18,  as 
well  as  the  favour  of  the  returning  officer,  in  case  you 
make  out  your  choice;  so  that  you  must  take  good 
advice  &  act  wisely. 

The  deed  of  the  estate  I  convey  to  you  shall  be  exe- 
cuted and  put  upon  the  proper  record  as  fast  as  I  possibly 
can,  and  I  am  looking  out  carefully  to  remit  you  £500  st', 
which  is  really  harder  to  be  done  than  to  give  you  an 
estate  of  £5000.  You  must  keep  things  alive  &  lose  no 
opportunity  of  preserving  &  increasing  your  interest  at 
Tamworth ;  and  I  will  be  as  industrious  as  possible  to 
get  orders  to  your  uncle  to  send  a  quantity  of  their  cloths 
to  gent"  hither.  I  hope  the  Chancellor  will  be  steady  as 
to  the  qualifying  part,  or  after  all  the  thing  cannot  be 
done.  And  the  estate  he  sells  you  must  not  be  for  life 
only,  but  an  absolute  estate  in  fee  simple,  and  so  yon 
must  make  the  title  of  what  you  sell  him.  I  am  sensible 
you  must  on  this  occasion  trye  the  friendship  of  all  your 


oyGoot^lc 


17aa-4.]  TO  RICHARD  WALDBON.  11 

friends.  I  therefore  depend  you  will  win  their  good 
oflSces  by  the  most  decent  &  ingaging  manners  you  are 
master  of 

I  can  think  of  nothing  more  at  present  on  this  head, 
but  shall  add  any  thing  I  may  find  needfull  when  I  for- 
ward the  deed.  I  am,  with  the  sincerest  Jove,  my  dear 
Bon, 

Your  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  FeV  6,  1733/4. 

You  will  herewith  have  my  letters  to  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don &  Lincoln,  to  M'  H.  Walpole,  &  &  N.  Loyd  on  the 
head  of  your  Fellowship  at  Trinity  Hall,  which  letters 
you'll  do  with  as  you  judge  best,  and  I  shall  heartily 
rejoyce  to  hear  you  have  gain'd  that  point 

V  Clark.  Walker. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

HoNo""  Sir,  —  T  have  yours  of  1  &  4  psent  V  the  post 
&  carrier,  with  what  you  inclos'd.  The  affairs  of  the 
queries  and  mandamuss  I  return  you  to  have  the  Prov- 
ince seal  affixt  to  'em,  and  to  add  to  the  papers  about 
the  queries  the  particulars  of  the  dispute  between  Gov' 
Shute  &  Leiu'  Gov'  Vaughan,  &  fail  not  to  return  these 
things  to  me  compleat  V  the  carrier. 

What 's  the  reason  there  's  no  hamstringing  ?  Such  an 
adventure  wou'd  turn  out  well.  Husk  said  he  was  going 
to  make  his  residence  at  N.  Castle,  but  the  new  scheme  is 
for  a  club  at  Harvey's.  Sancho  is  sullen  &  moodey.  I 
have  not  a  line  since  I  saw  his  sweet  face,  &  wish  I  might 
never  have  another.  Give  my  service  to  Coll"  Gilman, 
and  tell  him  I  have  his  letter  &  shall  give  order  about 
what  he  writes  when  I  come  into  the  Province  in  April. 
I  am  sensible  Dagon  nmst  fall  or  be  disfigur'd  to  make 


oyGoot^lc 


12  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1733-4. 

things  right.  I  wish  the  comission  had  been  packt  up 
with  the  furniture.  We  muat  make  much  of  old  H.  & 
keep  all  oQr  friends  steady.  I  shall  properly  take  notice 
of  the  carrier.  Sancho's  new  comrade  *  is  playing  bis  old 
game  in  the  House ;  but  I  think  all  will  come  out  right. 
We  are  barren  of  news,  but  are  daily  expecting  to  hear 
(by  the  Edges)  of  war,  and  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  this 
Province  &  yours.    I  am,  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

I  say  there  must  be  a  certificate  with  the  seal  of  the 
Province  affixt  at  the  end  of  the  queries  &  mandamus's 
business  for  me  to  sign,  that  you  are  See'',  &  that  full 
faith  &  credit  is  to  be  given  to  all  your  attestations,  &c\ 

Boston,  FeV  7,  1733/4. 


TO  MR.   GRANTt 

Sir,  —  I  have  reed  by  the  way  of  London  your  letter 
of  the  2  of  Augs'  last  in  the  name  of  the  bono*'''  Society, 
whom  you  may  assure  of  my  steady  inclination  to  do 
every  friendly  office  in  my  power  for  advancing  the  good 
design  they  are  ingag'd  in.  Altho'  their  missionaries 
here  have  all  of  them  been  diligent  in  their  mission  at 
the  several  places  assigned  them,  yet  they  give  us  but 
very  distant  views  of  success,  so  bigotted  are  the  natives 
to  anti-christian  idolatry,  thro'  the  unwearied  application 
of  the  Jesuits  &  those  sent  by  them,  that  were  they  in 
their  first  state  of  gross  heathenism  the  missionaries 
think  they  might  more  reasonably  expect  to  see  of  the 
fruit  of  their  labours. 

Finding  one  condition  of  D'  Williams's  mortification  to 
be  that  the  Coiniss"  must  certifye  from  time  to  time  tliat 

■  Eliatm  Cooke,  the  Wder  of  the  oppoaitlon  to  (he  Governor  in  the  HuHchiiselU 
Bonaeof  Repre>ent«tiTee.    See  6  Has*.  Hitit.  Coll.  vol.  vi.  pp.443,  US.  —  Eihi. 
t  See  S  Hue.  Blst  Coll.  toI  Yi.  p.  3M  note.  —  Edb. 


oyGoot^lc 


1733-4.]  TO  MR.   GRAKT.  13 

this  mission  is  carry'd  on  by  regularly  ordain'd  ministers 
to  intitle  the  Company  to  that  legacy,  and  the  mission- 
aries to  their  salaries,  .we  sometime  since  notify'd  'em 
thereof,  and  after  giving  them  such  time  for  considera- 
tion as  they  desir'd  whether  they  wou'd  still  go  on  with 
the  work  under  that  qualification,  they  came  to  this  town 
from  their  several  stations  &  exprest  their  willingness  to 
the  Comiss"  to  be  ordain'd,  which  they  accordingly  were 
the  12  of  Dec*  past,  the  particular  ace"  whereof  IkP  Sec" 
Stoddard  sends  you  by  this  convey*.  While  the  mission- 
aries were  here  your  Commiss"  gave  them  all  possible 
encouragment  to  press  forward  in  the  excellent  work 
they  are  upon,  which  is  indeed  attended  with  great  diffi- 
culty. They  are  in  a  manner  excluded  from  humane 
Society,  except  it  be  with  those  barbarous  people,  and  will 
bQ  still  more  so,  if  it  pleases  a  holy  &  gracious  God  to 
give  success  to  their  labours,  for  then  they  must  travel 
the  wilderness  &  tabernacle  with  them ;  and  I  am  sure  we 
shou'd  all  rejoyce  to  live  to  see  that  day,  nor  will  I  part 
with  my  trust  in  Him  (for  those  poor  people)  with  whom 
all  things  are  possible,  and  whose  word  is  like  a  hammer 
that  breaks  the  rock  in  pieces,  and  such  are  the  hearts  of 
all  men  by  nature,  and  it 's  the  almighty  power  &  grace 
of  God  that  takes  away  the  heart  of  stone  &  gives  a  heart 
of  flesh.  In  the  use  then  of  the  means  of  His  own  ap- 
pointment we  may  with  humble  confidence  look  up  for 
His  blessing.  As  a  further  encouragment  in  this  difficult 
service  I  have  prevail'd  with  the  government  here  to 
make  an  additional  allowance  of  ^13  a  year  to  each 
missionary. 

By  this  convey"  the  certificates  go  forward  from  your 
Coifiiss"  of  the  service  of  your  missionaries  made  up  to 
the  15  of  Dec'  past,  and  the  missionaries  (conformable  to 
your  directions)  have  taken  their  money  here  &  drawn 
their  bills  on  IVP  Alexander  Drumond  payable  in  London, 
not  doubting  of  a  punctual  complyance. 


oyGoot^lc 


14  THZ  BELCHBR  PAPSBS.  [17SS-1. 

I  take  notice  the  Society  fall  id  with  my  proposal  of 
allowing  the  miasionariea  something  yearly  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  their  several  heathen  families.  All  the 
missionaries  from  their  first  going  forth  have  been  oblig'd 
to  be  at  considerable  charge  in  presents  to  the  Indiaos ; 
one  of  'em  told  me  he  had  been  out  of  pocket  at  least 
thirty  pounds  in  this  way,  and  there  's  no  avoiding  it.  The 
Popish  missionaries  are  very  ready  with  their  bounties,  and 
it  goes  a  great  way  in  wining  such  a  people  as  these  are. 
I  ahou'd  therefore  think,  if  each  of  your  missionaries 
were  allow'd  ten  shillings  st'  a  month,  to  be  laid  out  in 
such  trifles  as  the  Sec''  will  send  you  a  list  of  to  be  given 
to  these  poor  beggarly  people  it  wou'd  be  well  bestow'd  ; 
and  since  the  government  here  are  so  forward  to  encour- 
age this  good  work,  I  depend  the  hono*"  Company  will 
not  be  wanting  on  their  part.  You  will  please  to  assure 
them  that  I  am  much  devoted  to  their  service,  and  be- 
lieve me  to  be  with  great  respect.  Rev*  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Fatf  8,  1733/4. 

The  Sec''  having  seal'd  his  letter  V  Montgomery,  I  in- 
close a  mem**  of  the  things  to  be  sent  your  missionaries. 

V  MontgODWiy. 


TO  ISAAC  WATTS. 

Sib,  —  In  Oct'  last  M'  Prince  deliver'd  me  your  kind 
favour  of  1  June,  with  your  postscript  of  3  July,  by 
which  I  was  sorry  to  find  my  worthy  friend  had  been  so 
long  afflicted  with  the  distemper  that  has  reign'd  so  uni- 
versally in  England  (nay  in  Europe) ;  but  I  desire  to 
praise  the  Father  of  all  our  mercies  who  sav'd  &  deliver'd 
you.    Pray  make  my  best  regards  acceptable  to  excellent 


oyGoot^lc 


1788-4.]  TO  ISAAC  WATTS.  15 

Lady  Abney^  of  whose  great  civility  to  M*  Belcher  of  the 
Temple  be  gives  me  a  very  gratefull  account.  I  am  glad 
M'  Oliver  had  waited  on  you.  I  think  he  will  not  dis- 
honour any  respect  you  are  pleaa'd  to  show  him. 

I  am  greatly  oblig'd  to  D'  Watts  for  his  sympathizing 
concern  towards  me  for  the  trouble  I  meet  witii  in  the 
station  in  which  God  and  the  King  have  plac'd  me.  The 
burden  of  rule  &  government  is  too  weighty  for  the 
shoulders  of  a  mortal  man.  May  then  my  eyes  &  my 
heart  alwayes  be  to  the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh,  to 
that  God  who  is  excellent  &  infinite  in  wisdom  &  in  every 
adorable  perfection.  In  Him  I  desire  to  trust  for  counsel 
&  direction.  In  all  thy  wayes  acknowledge  Him,  and  He 
will  direct  thy  paths.  I  hope  my  dear  country  will  grow 
more  quiet  &  peaceable,  and  learn  truly  to  fear  God  & 
honour  the  King.  I  can  by  no  means  think  duty  &  loy- 
alty incompatible  with  a  safe  enjoyment  of  all  their 
rights  &  liberties. 

It  is  impossible.  Sir,  to  give  me  a  greater  instance  of 
your  respect  &  friendship  than  in  your  kind  notice  of  my* 
son.  Afi  to  the  business  of  his  standing  a  candidate  at  the 
insuing  election  of  a  new  Parliament,  I  am  sensible  it  is 
attended  with  great  difficulties,  all  which  I  have  laid  be- 
fore him  &  his  friends  that  urge  him  to  it.  He  expects 
his  call  to  the  bar  the  next  Easter  term,  and  if  he  lives  to 
July  will  be  24  years  of  age,  and  seems  to  be  desirous  of 
,  getting  forward  into  business.  I  know  not  how  to  advise, 
or  what  to  say  more  on  the  affair  of  his  candidateship,  but 
now  tell  him  to  act  with  all  the  advice,  care,  &  caution 
imaginable.  I  have  letters  from  some  great  people  at 
t'  other  end  of  the  town  that  press  him  to  stand,  and 
altho'  I  was  at  first  intirely  against  it,  yet  I  have  now 
submitted  the  matter  to  him  &  his  friends,  &  will  endeav- 
our to  acquiesce  in  what  may  be  the  result  of  their 
thoughts  &  advice  to  him. 

I  wish  it  may  ever  be  in  my  power  to  give  you  some 


oyGoot^lc 


16  -  THE  BELCHER  PAPEHS.  [1788-4. 

couvincing  proof  with  how  muck  esteem  &  respect  I  am, 
Rev*  &  dear  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  most  obedient  servant.  J.  B. 


TO  MISS  DOLLY  TOWNSHEND.» 

Madau,  —  Nothing  less  than  the  indissoluble  obligations 
I  am  under  to  the  R"  Hono'*'  the  Lord  Viscount  Towna- 
faend  cou'd  excuse  me  in  the  freedom  I  now  take  of 
addressing  the  Hono*^  Miss  Townshend,  an  honour  I  dare 
not  do  myself,  but  to  express  to  a  branch  of  my  Lord's 
noble  family  the  high  sense  of  .gratitude  I  bear  to  his 
Lordship  for  his  unmerited  goodness  &  favour;  and  from 
the  idea  I  have  of  your  candour  &  generosity  I  will 
depend  on  your  pardon  for  an  offence  of  this  nature. 

I  am  sorry  to  find  my  noble  patron  so  much  seques- 
ter'd  to  the  ease  &  pleasures  of  Raynham  as  not  to  be 
.  at  Court  or  Parliament  since  I  had  the  honour  of  paying 
my  last  devoirs  to  him  at  Cleveland  Court,  about  4  years 
ago.  The  care  for  his  King  &  for  his  country,  I  believe, 
will  soon  rouse  him  to  a  life  of  new  business  &  perhaps 
fatigue.  But  as  he  esteems  the  service  of  his  country 
the  pitch  of  honour  &  glory,  he  will  think  no  toil  too 
great.  It  wou'd  give  me  vast  pleasure  to  hear  he  daily 
liv'd  in  his  prince's  presence. 

Your  good  brother,  the  Hono"**  M'  George  Townshend, 
does  me  the  pleasure  &  honour  of  spending  the  winter 
season  at  my  house  while  the  Scarborough  lyes  by  the 
walls ;  and  such  entertainment  as  my  cottage  affords  he 
is  equally  as  welcome  to  as  my  own  son,  and  it  gives 
me  concern.  Madam,  that  I  am  not  able  to  find  a  better 
opportunity  of  convincing  his  Lordship  with  how  great 

■  Dorothy,  or  D0II7.  Tovnfhend,  wu  th«  eldest  daughter  of  Viscount  Townshend  b; 
hi*  »ei:ood  wiie,  the  sister  o(  Sir  Robert  Wilpole.  She  nwrried  in  1T«  tbe  Very  Ebt. 
BpBucer  Covper,  Dean  of  Duih*m.    See  Burke'a  I'eerige  and  Daronelige.  —  En*. 


jvGooi^lc 


1738-4.]  TO  LOED  TOWNSHEND.  17 

respect  I  am  devoted  to  him  &  to  his  family.  W  Towns- 
hend  has  gratify'd  me  lately  with  a  Right  of  one  or  two 
of  your  letters,  full  of  so  much  fiue  sense  and  of  true 
affection  for  a  brother  as  none  can  exceed.  I  tell 
M'  Townshend  as  he  has  chose  the  sea  service  for  the 
business  of  his  life  he  cannot  honour  his  noble  father  nor 
himself  more  than  by  an  unwearied  application  to  his 
learning  (now  in  youth)  every  thing  that  will  make  him 
an  accotnplisht  seaman  &  a  good  officer,  and  if  the  ship 
still  continues  on  the  station  I  shall  be  urging  this  on 
him  (as  much  as  it  will  bear),  and  so  I  hope  will  you  in 
your  ingenious  polite  way  of  writing. 

I  wish  you  cou'd  think  of  any  thing  in  this  country,  as 
birds,  plants,  &c*,  that  might  be  acceptable  at  Raynham. 
I  shou'd  be  proud  of  your  comands,  being  with  all  pos- 
sible esteem.  Madam, 

Y'  most  obed*  &  most  faithful!,  humble  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston.  FeV  18, 1783/4. 

V  Clark.  Cot*  b^  M'  Townsbead. 


TO  LORD  TOWNSHEND. 

My  tert  much  honoured  Lord,  —  I  humbly  ask  ten 
thousand  pardons  for  persecuting  your  Lordship  in  this 
manner  in  your  sweet  retirement  at  Kaynham,  and 
shou'd  I  not  be  so  honest  as  to  confess  it,  yet  your  Lord- 
ship will  soon  see  this  letter  arises  from  self  interest,  and 
where  can  1  hope  to  succeed  better  in  a  request  than  by 
laying  it  before  that  noble  patron  to  whom  I  owe  more 
than  I  can  express  ?  and  as  all  your  Lordship's  goodness 
to  me  was  done  so  freely  &  disinterestedly,  it  makes  me 
humbly  address  myself  to  your  liordship  with  the  greater 
confidence. 

I  wou'd  in  the  first  place  hope  I  have  in  nothing  dia- 


oyGoot^lc 


18  THE   BELCHER.  PAPEKS.  [1738-4. 

hon^  or  forfeited  your  Lordship's  patronage,  but  have  in 
all  things  within  the  compass  of  my  power  supported  his 
Majesty's  honour ;  and  in  the  next  place  then  I  wou'd  beg 
your  Lordship's  leave  to  mention  the  great  plague  & 
trouble  I  have  in  Col'  David  Dunbar,  my  Lieu'  Gov'  at 
N.  Hampshire,  who  has  been  seeking  all  occasions  to 
qiiafel  with  me  ever  since  my  arrival  to  this  govemm*. 
His  being  Lieu'  Gov'  there  is  of  no  service  to  the  King^ 
to  the  people,  or  to  himself,  but  is  a  charge  without 
profit  To  enter  into  the  particular  wayes  &  manners  of 
this  man's  giving  me  trouble  wou'd  be  a  rudeness  to  your 
Lordship  I  cou'd  not  forgive.  But  I  have  order'd  M' 
Belcher  of  the  Temple  to  make  a  jovimey  from  London 
to  Raynbam  on  purpose  to  pay  his  duty  to  your  Lord- 
sbip,  and  to  put  this  letter  into  your  Lordship's  hands; 
and,  if  it  may  be  consistent  with  your  Lordship's  ease  & 
honour,  I  wou'd  humbly  pray  the  great  favour  of  a  letter 
from  your  Lordship  to  my  Lord  Wilmington,  or  to  any 
other  noble  Lord,  mentioning  the  great  difficulty  I  labour 
under  in  my  Lieu'  Gov'  at  New  Hampshire,  and  that  he 
may  be  remov'd  and  another  appointed  in  his  place.  This 
wou'd  be  another  instance  of  your  Lordship's  goodness  & 
favour  to  me,  and  I  own  a  great  act  of  condescention, 
yet  I  must  not  mention  it  twice  unless  your  Lordship  can 
do  it  with  freedom,  which  being  done  I  am  sure  it  wou'd 
greatly  contribute  to  his  Majesty's  service  &  my  ease  in 
that  Province. 

Your  Lordship  will  further  allow  me  to  ask  the  honour 
of  your  smiles  &  countenance  to  my  son ;  and  for  all  the 
expressions  of  your  Lordship's  great  humanity  &  gen- 
erosity to  me  to  assure  you  that  I  am  with  the  sincerest 
duty  and  gratitude,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  devoted,  most  obedient  &  most 
humble  servant.  J.  B. 

BOBTOK,  Feb- 18, 1783/4. 

tf  CiaA.  Walker. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  THE  L0ED8  OP   TRADE. 


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 


My  Lords,  —  I  had  the  honour  of  writing  your  Lord- 
ebips  27  Nov'  last,  since  which  I  have  spent  a  month  at 
N.  Hampshire,  and  held  a  General  Assembly  there,  and 
now  cover  to  your  Lordships  what  past  in  that  Aesembly 
and  in  his  Majesty's  Council.  Tour  Lordships  will  find 
I  have  done  every  thing  in  my  power  to  bring  that 
Assembly  to  a  sense  of  their  duty  to  his  Majesty  in  the 
repair  of  the  only  fort  of  the  Province,  and  to  do  justice 
to  those  to  whom  the  Province  is  indebted,  &  after  my  ex- 
postulatJDg  &  waiting  upon  tbem  the  length  of  an  unusual 
session,  they  wou'd  supply  no  money  to  the  Treasury, 
which  has  been  empty  now  near  3  years.  The  fort  is 
therefore  dropping  down,  and  the  people  naked  &  defence- 
less, and  those  to  whom  the  publick  is  indebted  under 
great  oppression ;  nor  do  I  see  it  can  be  otherwise  while 
Col'  Dunbar  is  Lieu'  Gov'  of  that  Province,  and  sets  him- 
self at  the  head  of  a  party  who  are  constantly  opposing 
every  thing  that's  propos'd  for  the  King's  service,  &  for 
the  good  of  the  Province ;  and  Mess"  Wentworth  & 
Atkinson  assist  all  in  their  power  to  imbroil  the  affairs 
of  the  Province. 

Your  Lordships  will  find  by  what  I  have  order'd 
BT  Partridge  to  lay  before  you  that  I  sent  for  M'  Went- 
worth &  M'  Atkinson  &  ofier'd  to  admit  them  into  his 
Majesty's  Council  at  N.  Hampshire,*  but  they  wou'd  not 
accept,  being  set  upon  doing  all  the  mischief  they  possi- 
bly cou*d  in  the  House  of  Bepf.  Finding,  my  Lords,  the 
Assembly  wou'd  do  nothing  I  dissolved  them,  after  which 
M'  Atkinson  offer'd  to  take  his  oath,  but  I  thdt  it  absolutely 
inconedstent  with  the  Ring's  honour  &  authority  for  him 
to  trifle  &  make  game  with  his  Majesty's  royal  orders, 

•  Vid.  AlkioMD'a  btter  to  TbomlinwHi,  Feb,  18.  nS3,'i  —  Nett  bg  St.  Dr.  BM»ap, 
The  latter  to  ThomlisMQ  !•  prlntad  in  N«w  Huupihlr*  FiovincUl  Fapen,  rol.  ir.  pp.  SM- 
SM.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


20  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1738-4. 

and  therefore  refus'd  to  admit  him,  and  have  no  doubt 
of  your  Lordships'  approbation  in  this  matter.  If  the  inso- 
lence of  such  men  must  be  suffer'd,  it  will  of  course  destroy 
the  King's  authority  &  subvert  all  rule  &  order.  As  to 
Weotworth,  he  never  came  to  me  after  refusing  to  take  his 
oath ;  nor  do  I  suppose  he  is  now  at  all  inclin'd  to  take 
it.  So  the  Council  there  consists  at  present  of  only  ten, 
and  wants  two  to  compleat  it,  and  I  shall  endeavour  to 
find  those  who  will  come  nearest  the  character  given  in 
his  Majesty's  instructions  to  me  for  Councellors,  &  I  shall 
then  recommend  them  to  your  Lordships,  and  in  the  mean 
time  I  hope  your  Lordships  will  not  think  of  recomend- 
ing  any  persons  whereby  to  bring  me  still  under  greater 
difficulties  in  my  administration  in  that  Province ;  and 
since  I  am  sure  it  is  not  for  his  Majesty's  service,  nor  any 
benefit  to  the  people,  or  to  Col'  Dunbar  himself  to  be  in 
the  Lieutenancy  in  New  Hampshire,  and  since  it  is  impos- 
sible for  the  Gov'  &  him  ever  to  coincide,  1  must  pray  your 
Lordships  to  acquiesce  in  his  removal,  and  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  another.  This  wou'd  give  me  ease  &  pleasure 
in  that  governm'.  Has  it  been  possible,  my  Lords,  for 
any  gent"  to  do  more  than  I  have  in  support  of  his 
Majesty's  authority  &  honour?  Why  must  I  then  be 
punisht  by  having  such  a  troublesome  man  tackt  to  me  ? 
I  hope  your  Lordships  will  justly  weigh  this  matter,  and 
give  me  relief  from  him ;  and  I  am  sure  the  Province 
(9  in  10)  will  think  themselves  happy  also.  The  Assem- 
bly of  the  Massachusetts  is  now  sitting,  and  inclos'd  your 
Lordships  have  their  Journals  to  this  time,  and  I  am  in 
hopes  they  are  growing  into  a  better  sense  of  their  duty 
to  the  Crown. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 
Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  most  humble  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Feb'  18,  1733/4. 
V  Cl&rk.  Walkei. 


oyGoot^lc 


17SS-I.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JE. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB. 

Mt  dear  Son,  —  I  wrote  you  the  6  our"  V  this  coo- 
yey*,  and  wish  I  cou'd  have  got  the  writings  of  the  estate 
compleated  to  go  now,  but  as  they  must  go  to  Pomfiret 
to  be  recorded  you  must  wait  for  'em  'till  the  next  ship. 
In  the  mean  time  go  on  to  establish  your  interest  at 
Tamworth. 

If  you  obtain  the  Fellowship  let  M'  Newman  put  a 
proper  paragraph  into  one  of  the  publick  prints,  as  also 
of  your  admission  to  the  bar. 

Have  you  reed  my  picture  of  Mad"  Caswall  &  your 
mother's  gloves? 

Altho'  I  am  loth  to  interrupt  your  studies,  yet  I  have 
such  a  continual  plague  of  Dunbar  at  N.  Hampshire  that 
you  miist  among  you  contrive  to  remove  him  &  get 
Col'  Sherburne  in  his  place.  I  say  he  wou'd  be  best  of 
aU ;  but  if  that  can't  be,  M'  Reynolds  is  next  best,  but 
any  body  rather  than  the  present,  for  it 's  impossible  for 
me  to  injoy  any  peace  while  he  is  there.  Your  uncle  & 
yon  must  therefore  leave  no  stone  unturn'd  to  get  him 
out.  Of  this  I  write  to  D.  Newcastle,  E.  Wilmington, 
Lords  Trade,  &  Lord  Townshend ;  and  altho'  you  must 
make  a  journey  of  100  miles  to  pay  your  duty  to  the 
latter,  yet  if  your  uncle  &  you  think  it  may  contribute 
to  the  obtaining  what  I  desire,  I  shall  not  begrutch 
your  time  &  charge.  I  inclose  you  M'  Townshend's  let- 
ters to  his  father  &  sister  to  help  you  in  this  matter.  But 
if  what  I  have  projected  may  be  thought  too  great  a 
favour  &  condesceution  for  my  Lord  to  grant,  you  must 
after  all  forego  it,  and  destroy  my  letter  &  M'  Towns- 
bend's  relating  to  it.  But  if  you  go  to  Raynbam,  take 
care  to  he  genteely  drest  to  make  a  handsome  appear- 
Rnce  before  my  Lord.  If  you  shou'd  not  think  proper  to 
apply  to  Lord  Townshend,  yet  you  raiwt  to  D.  N.  Castle  & 


oyGoot^lc 


22  THE   BBLCHEB  PAPGBS.  [17S3-4. 

Lord  Wilmington.  I  expect  no  help  at  Board  of  Trade, 
because  of  Bl — d — n;  but  it  must  be  done  privately,  & 
without  their  knowledge  if  possible.  You  will  see  what 
I  write  your  uncle  in  this  affair,  &  act  in  concert  with 
him.    I  remain  with  great  love  &  tenderness, 

Your  aSectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Feb^  18, 1733/4. 

You  will  find  in  my  packet  5  rings  and  the  pattern 
of  a  seal  to  be  out  for  me.  I  think  to  be  octangular  the 
best  shape,  and  I  have  made  it  of  the  size  I  like,  being 
about  the  bigness  of  what  Lord  Harrington  uses  (one  of 
his  seals  you'll  find  with  it).  Let  the  device  round  the 
crest  be  Labor  ipse  Voluptas,  and  beneath  the  device  proper 
to  the  arms  hoyal  Jtisqu'a  la  Mort.  Let  it  be  cut  very 
nicely  by  the  best  hand  in  England,  and  all  in  one  piece 
of  agate  (or  any  hard  stone  you  can  get)  as  big  as  the 
model  I  send,  or  if  that  shou'd  be  too  chargeable  or  dif- 
ficult, let  it  be  cut  in  the  hardest  cheap  stone,  and  fixt 
very  firm  &  well,  with  a  handle  of  ebony,  but  I  choose 
the  first  if  you  can.  Give  me  credit  for  the  rings  & 
charge  me  with  the  seal. 

The  inclos'd  from  Judge  Auchmuty  to  his  brother  you'll 
read  &  make  the  best  use  of  you  can. 

J.B. 

It  Clark.  Walker. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDBON. 

Sib,  —  Altho'  I  have  little  to  say,  yet  I  am  willing  to 
answer  yours  of  22  ult'  &  1  psent.  Old  J — th — m  geta 
to  Portsmouth  (I  believe)  to  be  in  the  way  of  some  office.* 
I  will  send  Co"  H.  Sherburne  Downing's  comission  and 
warrant  with  a  dedimus  to  Gambling  &  Husk  to  give  him 
the  oaths.     "^  the  carrier  shall  go  my  orders  to  the  two 

■  Ths  nfeniiKQ  ia  piolwbl]'  to  Jothun  Odlome,  one  of  the  Council.  —  Edb. 


jvGooi^lc 


1788-4.]  TO  WCHAIID   WALDBON.  23 

Coll*  reapecting  your  frontiers.  You'll  find  by  the 
Gazette,  that  in  Nov'  all  things  lookt  like  war.  I  believe 
Sancho  is  commonly  in  a  feaver ;  why  don't  he  go  to  work 
with  the  mills  &  boards  ? 

All  the  Coll"  *  sayes  to  me  of  their  conversation  is,  "  His 
Honour  is  prodigiously  angry  with  me,  and  thinks  I  do 
not  shew  respect  eno',  and  tells  me  your  Ex''  wrote  him 
that  I  was  alwayes  writing  &  blowing  up  the  coals,  which 
if  so  I  shall  desire  to  be  excus'd  for  the  future."  To 
which  I  have  reply'd,  *'  He  that  is  angry  without  a  cause 
is  commonly  oblig'd  to  be  pleas'd  without  amends,  and 
those  that  hunt  after  respect  are  often  baulkt  of  their 
game.  And  as  to  what  he  sayes  of  my  writing  him,  when- 
ever you  have  opportunity  you  may  teE  him,  the  Gov'  sayes 
it's  a  downright  falshood,  and  that  I  defye  him  to  shew 
you  any  such  expression  in  a  letter  from  me."  Thus  you 
see  how  the  Devil  infatuates  him,  for  lying  will  never  be 
truth,  and  serves  when  discover'd  to  make  a  man  look 
like  a  fool.  For  the  future  it's  certainly  best  for  all  our 
friends  not  to  wear  even  the  thinnest  mask,  and  to  avoid 
him  as  much  as  possible.  If  old  H.  can  remember  the 
particulars  of  what  past  about  the  Gov',  tell  him  to  write 
them  all  to  me. 

The  Assembly  here  has  behav'd  pretty  well.  I  inclose 
you  what  his  mobility  t  has  prepar'd  for  a  Message  to  the 
Gov*,  and  a  leaf  of  their  Journal  when  it  was  rejected,  and 
by  a  great  majority.  Yet  he  carry'd  a  considerable  point 
last  week  against  an  Address  to  the  King  for  stores  for 
Castle  William,  wherein  were  handsome  things  of  the 
Govemour.  However  it 's  th6t  the  matter  will  help  de- 
stroy him,  and  that  the  Address  will  pass  at  another 
session.  You  must  keep  old  H.  steady.  I  am,  Hono"* 
Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant,  J.  B. 


oyGoot^lc 


24  THE  BELCnZR  PAFEES.  [1733-1. 

Perhaps  young  H.*  comunicates  to  Ta£Fy  his  father's 
letters,  or  perhaps  no  such  thing;  but  the  Devil  has  put 
into  his  head  what  he  said  to  old  H.  about  the  Gov'**  writ- 
ing, in  order  to  divide  our  friends.  -  His  brain  is  fertile  of 
flagrant  wickedness. 

Boston,  March  i,  1733/4. 

(Poat.)  


TO  CHRISTOPHER  TOPPAN.f 

Ret°  Sib,  —  The  post  has  brought  me  yours  of  1  cur*, 
for  which  I  am  oblig'd.  My-  publick  speeches  &  more 
private  care  must  alwayes  witness  the  concern  I  have  on 
my  mind  for  the  safety  of  the  people  God  &  the  King 
have  comitted  to  me.  But  if  the  malignancy  of  one  man 
must  be  BO  prevalent  as  to  make  the  whole  country  a 
sacrifice  to  it,  we  must  be  humble  under  such  a  curse. 

I  have  some  time  since  order'd  the  officers  of  the  forts, 
eastward  &  westward,  to  be  well  on  their  guard  against 
any  surprize,  and  Coil'  Saltonstall  has  my  orders  to  detach 
30  or  40  men  (if  it  be  found  necessary)  for  the  better 
protection  of  Pennicook  (now  the  new  town  of  Rumford), 
and  it  will  be  well  for  all  the  inhabitants  on  the  frontiers 
to  be  cautious  &  carefuU.    I  am,  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

BoaxoN,  March  4,  1733/4. 

(PoBt.)  


TO  HENRY  SHERBURNE. 

HoNo"*  Sir,  —  As  the  advices  from  all  parts  talk  much 
of  war,  I  have  order'd  the  cap"  of  all  the  forts  on  the 

•  Heniy  Sharburaa,  the  younger,  at  thii  limo  Clerk  of  the  Soparlgr  Court.  See  Went- 
worth  Geaealogf ,  vol.  I.  p.  32S.  —  Edb. 

t  Chriitophn  ToppaD  was  a  graduate  of  Harracd  College  in  the  clui  of  1691,  itiiI  wu 
for  more  Uian  fifty  years  minitter  of  a  chnrch  in  Kewbury,  where  he  died  Jaly  S3,  IT17,  in 
bis  seTBD^-aiith  year.  He  wu  laqjely  iolercsted  in  emtern  lands;  and  there  are  levenil 
letter!  from  Goreraor  Bekhw  to  him  with  reference  to  the  Qovemor'e  purcliase  of  a  jmnt 
inlereat  in  them.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1788-4.]  TO  WILLIAM  PEPPERRELL.  25 

frontiers  of  this  Province  to  be  well  on  their  guard  against 
any  surprize,  and  to  notifie  all  the  inhabitants  to  be  cau- 
tious &  not  needlessly  to  expose  themselves,  and  as  you 
have  opportunity  let  the  people  on  your  frontiers  know  as 
much. 

And  it  is  my  order  that  you  immediately  make  a  mus- 
ter of  the  several  companies  in  your  regiment,  and  that 
you  strictly  review  them  &  examine  whether  they  are 
furnisht  with  arms  and  ammunition  according  to  law,  and 
also  to  examine  the  selectmen  (within  your  limits)  whether 
they  are  provided  with  town  stocks,  as  the  law  requires ; 
and  if  not,  you  are  to  direct  them  to  make  provision  im- 
mediately, and  in  case  of  failure,  to  put  the  law  in  execu- 
tion,  and  order  the  cap"  of  each  company  to  send  you 
new  lists  of  their  men  to  be  by  you  transmitted  to  me. 

Altho'  your  late  House  of  Kepr'"  seem''  to  make  a  jest 
of  the  danger  of  the  Province,  I  dare  not  do  so,  but  in 
duty  to  the  King  &  in  fidelity  to  the  people  I  now  send 
you  these  orders,  expecting  a  particular  ace*'  of  your  pro- 
ceedings upon  them.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

BosTOif,  March  7, 1733/4.  Same  to  Coll'  J.  Gtlmftn. 

Sir,  —  I  had  answer'd  yours  of  28  Janu'  about  the  new 
coffiissions  for  Londonderry,  but  that  I  intended  to  defer 
tlie  settlem'  of  that  matter  to  my  seeing  you  at  my  next 
coming  into  the  Province,  which  may  be  very  soon. 


TO  WILLIAM  PEPPERRELL.* 

Mt  MITCH  ESTEEMED  Fbibnd,  Sir,  —  I  have  reed  the 
token  of  your  respect  to  M"  Belcher  &  myself,  with  your 

'  William  Peppemtl,  tbe  younger  of  tbe  Dime.  wt»  of  Welsh  descent,  and  wu  bom  at 
Killer^,  Jane  37,  1696.  He  early  engaged  in  basinesB  with  bit  father,  and  acquired  an 
ample  fortune.  He  filled  Dameraiis  important  poblic  office),  bat  ia  beat  rememt)ered  aa  the 
leader  of  the  mcceufiil  expedition  agwnst  Loniaboni^,  for  which  ha  wsi  made  a  Baronet. 
He  died  Jnly  6,  1T59,    See  Panona'a  Ufe  id  Sir  William  Peppemll.  —  £db. 


oyGoot^lc 


26  THE  BELCHBB  PAPBBS.  [1788-4. 

sorrowfull  fiivour  of  the  1  psent,  on  the  melanchoUy  occa- 
sion of  the  death  of  my  late  worthy  old  friend,  your  bono"" 
father.*  I  heartily  condole  your  hon*  mother,  yourself, 
&  all  the  good  family,  who,  I  am  sensible,  have  lost  a  tender 
head  &  father.  God  had  furnisbt  him  with  a  large  share 
of  prudence  and  understanding,  which  had  made  him  not 
only  a  blessing  to  bis  own  family,  but  of  great  service  to 
bis  King  &  country,  and  bis  death  becomes  a  publick  loss, 
but  since  it  is  a  debt  we  must  pay,  being  annext  to  our 
natures,  for  it  is  appointed  for  all  men  once  to  dye,  and 
there  is  no  discbarge  in  that  war.  How  much  then  does 
it  import  us  to  follow  our  departed  friends  wherein  they 
foUow'd  Christ.  So  will  our  present  short  seperation  be 
made  up  by  the  happy  meeting  of  them  in  the  blissfuU 
vision  &  extatic  enjoyment  of  God,  the  Father,  Son,  & 
Holy  Ghost,  to  all  eternity.  God  grant  that  this  may  be 
yours  &  my  portion  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ. 

As  your  father  &  mine  were  intimate  &  dear  friends,  so 
shall  I  rejoyce  that  such  a  friendship  may  continue  with 
us  to  our  latest  periods.  After  the  death  of  Abraham  God 
blessed  Isaac.  May  you,  Sir,  go  forward  &  prosper,  and 
may  the  blessing  of  the  God  of  Jacob  alwayes  rest  upon 
you  &  yours,  and  may  you  greatly  honour  yourself  in  being 
(under  God)  the  stafEe  of  the  age  of  your  pious  &  hon* 
mother.  How  did  the  wisest  of  all  meer  mortals,  the 
magnificent  King  of  Israel  acquit  himself  in  the  article  of 
duty  to  a  mother?  When  Batbsbeba  went  unto  King 
Solomon  to  speak  unto  him,  the  King  rose  up  to  meet  her 
&  bowed  himself  unto  her,  and  sat  down  on  bis  throne,  & 
caused  a  seat  to  be  set  for  the  King's  mother,  &  she  sat 
on  his  right  hand.  And  again,  in  his  proverbial  instruc- 
tions, speaking  of  a  vertuous  woman,  be  sayes,  her  children 
shall  arise  &  call  her  blessed.  You  will  pardon  me.  Sir, 
if  I  have  exceeded  on  this  head,  since  every  one  knows 

■  Tta  elder  WQlum  PeppamU  diad  Feb.  U,  USi-L 


oyGoot^lc 


1733-4.3  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JE.  27 

Mad"  Pepperrell  is  blest  in  a  dutifall  son.  I  wish  much 
agreement,  love  &  peace  among  the  whole  family,  & 
remain,  hono"'  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend  &  very  bumble  servant 

J.  B. 

Boston,  March  11,  1733/4. 
(Port.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

SoM  Jonathan,  —  I  wrote  you  yesterday  V  this  con- 
veyance (Cap'  Cooper)  with  a  lease  &  release  of  my  estate 
at  Mortlake  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticutt,  containing 
(3760)  three  thousand  seven  hundred  &  sixty  acres,  with 
four  houses  &  5  barns.  This  estate,  as  I  have  wrote  you 
once  &  again,  I  look  upon  worth  more  than  (^20,000) 
twenty  thousand  pounds  this  currency,  at  this  day,  and 
grows  in  value  very  fast,  and  as  it  is  a  considerable  part 
of  my  whole  estate,  what  I  have  done  in  this  matter  has 
been  from  the  great  desire  I  have  to  settle  &  advance  you 
in  the  world,  by  facilitating  your  procuring  an  estate  in 
England  to  qualifye  you  for  a  member  of  Parliament  at 
the  next  election,  &  this  upon  Uie  prospect  you  have 
given  me  of  gaining  a  choice  at  the  borough  of  Tamworth^ 
in  which  I  hope  you  may  succeed.  But  shou'd  you,  or 
shou'd  you  not,  I  think  proper  to  lodge  this  in  the  hands 
of  my  worthy  friend,  M'  Newman,  to  be  deliver'd  you 
when  the  event  of  the  matter  shall  be  known.  And  it  is 
to  declare  to  you  that  as  this  is  a  great  part  of  my  estate, 
so  it  is  more  than  will  first  &  last  fall  to  your  share.  Nor 
do  I  propose  to  part  with  it  at  all  during  my  life,  but  expect 
after  the  elections  are  over  &  fully  determin'd  that  you 
reconvey  this  estate  to  me  in  the  same  manner  as  I  have 
done  to  you.  I  say  I  send  this  letter  (in  the  same  ship 
with  the  writings)  to  be  deliver'd  you  in  proper  season 
that  you  may  know  my  original  design  &  intention  in  this 


oyGoot^lc 


28  THE   BELCHEK  PAPERS.  [1738-4. 

matter.    Nor  have  I  the  least  doubt  of  your  dutifull  com- 
plyance  with  what  I  now  mention  to  an  iota.    I  am 

Your  very  affectionate  lather  J.  B. 

Boston,  March  21, 1733/4- 

V  Cooper.  V  Bradford  vi»  Rh-"  M*. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Dear  Jonathan,  —  I  have  wrote  you  20  &  21  cur**  by 
this  conveyance  &  sent  forward  the  writings  relating  to 
the  estate  I  have  given  you,  and  am  now  taking  care 
among  the  merch"  of  my  acquaintance  to  procure  what 
orders  I  can  to  your  uncle  for  Tamworth  cloths,  hoping  to 
accomplish  the  sum  of  £1000  st'  or  more,  and  am  looking 
out  for  bUls  to  the  value  of  £500  to  remit  you  for  defrey- 
ing  the  charge  of  your  election.  Thus  you  see,  my  dear 
son,  my  sollicitude  for  your  promotion  in  the  world,  yet  I 
hope  I  am  (after  all)  prepar'd  for  a  cross  event  I  mean 
your  miscarriage  in  an  affair  we  are  both  so  fond  of. 
God,  who  is  the  fountain  of  infallible  &  infinite  wisdom, 
governs  the  world,  and  we  shall  atwayes  be  happy  in  rest- 
ing absolutely  satisfy'd  in  the  carvings  of  hia  Providence. 
I  am  with  all  paternal  affection,  my  dear  son. 

Your  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Mftrob  22, 1733/4. 

V  Coopet.  V  Bradford  via  Rh^  Isio. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


HoNo"**  Sir,  —  The  post  &  carrier  have  brought  me 
your  favours  of  15  &  18  psent.  As  you  observe,  I  be- 
lieve Mad"''  dangler  *  is  not  much  pleas'd  with  his  new 


•  Theodora  Atkliuou.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1788-4.]  TO  MRS.   MABTHA  GERRISH.  29 

order.  The  taw  is  before  him,  and  he  must  understaDd  & 
act  by  it,  as  well  as  he  can.  However,  hia  neglect  may 
be  of  most  service. 

Fray  ia  something  of  a  cunning  fellow  &  may  be  help- 
full.  It'a  certainly  wise  to  bring  ofE  as  many  as  we  can. 
My  chief  reaaon  for  sending  the  dedimus  as  I  did  was  to 
chaffe  Sancho  &  fix  them  the  better. 

I  am  not  much  displeas'd  that  the  frontier  towna  are 
like  to  be  deaerted,  and  that  there'a  no  powder  to  be  had 
for  love  nor  money.  For  sure  the  people  must  have  their 
eyes  thicker  scal'd  than  were  S*  Paul's,  if  they  don't  see 
that  a  government  &  people  are  to  be  made  a  sacrifice  to 
the  private  malice  of  a  few  wicked  fellows.  The  matter 
of  the  Address  I  think  will  in  due  time  take  a  right 
turn. 

Agreed  as  to  the  Fast  proclamation.  The  duplicates  I 
deaire  may  be  dispatcht.  The  coiSiaaions  with  a  proper 
dedimus  go  V*  the  carrier  to  Coll^  H.  It's  best  to  humour 
Warner. 

I  have  atill  a  aecret  hope  that  King  George  with  the 
States  of  Holland  will  be  able  to  calm  the  present  storm, 
without  a  war,  which  we  may  perhaps  know  in  a  few 
days.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  March  21,  1783/4. 
V  the  carrier. 


TO  MBS.  MARTHA  GERRISH.* 

Mt  dear  Kinswoman,  • —  It  has  given  me  uneasiness 
to  aee  your  kind  &  obliging  letter  brought  me  by  our 
excellent  friend  &  relative  RP  Remington  f  lye  so  long 
unanswer'd.     But  really  the  publick  affairs  of  this  &  the 

*  Daughter  of  Fnnd»  Foxcroft,  of  Ctmbridge,  utd  nldow  of  Benjimin  Qtrrigh.  Set 
Paige'a  Hisloij  of  Cambridge,  p.  648.  —  Eds. 

t  Jodge  JoDaUun  SsmlDgtoi],  of  Cimbiidge.    See  Puge'e  Hittory  of  Cambridge, 


oyGoot^lc 


30  THB  BELCHES  PAPEBS.  [1733-4. 

neighbouring  Province  hardly  allow  me  any  relaxation 
for  paying  you  (and  a  great  many  other  good  friends)  ^e 
respect  &  civility  so  justly  due,  and  which  wou'd  be  a 
great  pleasure  to  me  to  be  often  discharging.  Tet,  as  to 
you,  Mad",  I  am  not  in  much  pain,  since  I  think  you 
know  me  too  well  to  entertain  an  unkind  thought,  and  I 
can  with  the  greatest  sincerity  protest  that  I  live  towards 
you  with  a  constant  benevolence,  &  it  troubles  me  that  I 
can  no  oftner  oblige  myself  in  your  ingenious  &  profit- 
able conversation.  I  can  truly  say,  no  stage  of  life  that 
I  have  ever  trod  has  made  me  forget  a  friend.  That 
wou'd  be  the  highest  ingratitude  to  the  great  authoar  of 
mercy  &  blessing,  who  will  call  us  to  a  strict  account  at 
His  great  audit  for  all  the  talents  He  has  intrusted  to  us, 
of  which  we  are  but  stewards  to  imploy  tbem  to  His 
honour  &  to  the  good  of  His  people.  What  Mordecai 
said  to  Esther  shou'd  be  seriously  ponder'd  by  every  one 
to  whom  God  has  given  power  to  be  serviceable  in  his 
generation.  "  And  who  knoweth  whether  thou  art  come 
to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time  as  this?"  As  for  those 
that  make  a  haughty  use  of  the  distinguishing  favour  of 
God,  if  they  ever  allow  themselves  reflection  they  may 
well  tremble  with  Belshazzar  while  they  think  on  the 
Apostle's  grave  caution.  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  atandeth 
take  heed  lest  be  fall.  How  great  shou'd  be  our  care  to 
render  an  acceptable  account  of  our  stewardship!  lest 
when  the  Son  of  Man  come  in  his  glory,  with  his  holy 
angels,  he  shou'd  say  to  any  of  us,  Take  the  talent  from 
him,  &  cast  the  unprofitable  servant  into  outer  dark- 
ness. How  beautifully  does  the  evangelical  prophet  de- 
scribe the  weight  of  government,  when  speaking  of  our 
almighty  Saviour,  The  government  shall  be  upon  his 
shoulder  I  shewing  that  the  whole  strength  is  necessary 
to  support  it,  and  indeed  it  is  a  load  too  heavy  for  mortal 
man  alone.  But  all  will  be  steady  &  safe  if  in  duty  & 
faith  we  can  rest  it  on  the  shoulder  of  the  wonderfuU 


oyGoot^lc 


1788-4.]  TO  MBS.   UABTHA.   GERRISH.  31 

Counsellor,  the  mighty  God,  the  Prince  of  Peace.  He  that 
bears  up  the  pillars  of  the  earth  can  bear  up  the  pillars  of 
.  humane  government  &  governoura  themselves.  For  by 
him  kings  reign  &  princes  decree  justice.  And  he  that 
trustetb  in  the  IJord  shall  be  as  Mount  Sion,  which  cannot 
be  removed,  but  abideth  forever.  The  eternal  God  is  his 
refuge,  &  underneath  are  everlasting  arms ;  and  He  will 
keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  Him, 
because  he  trusteth  in  Him.  May  I  wisely  apply  these 
things  to  my  own  case,  that  my  eye  &  my  heart  may 
alwayes  be  to  the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh,  to  that  God 
who  is  excellent  and  infinite  in  wisdom  &  in  every  adoi^ 
able  perfection.  In  all  thy  wayes  acknowledge  Him,  & 
He  will  direct  thy  paths.  Offer  up  then,  Madam,  your 
prayers  with  mine  at  the  throne  of  grace  that  God  wou'd 
pour  down  upon  me  a  spirit  of  understanding  &  of  the 
fear  of  the  Lord. 

I  am  often  enquiring  after  the  state  of  your  health,  and 
heartily  sympathizing  with  you  in  your  pains  &  afflic- 
tions. Yet  I,  know  you  remember  with  praise  to  His 
name,  that  mercy  is  God's  darling  attribute,  and  that  you 
are  an  instance  of  it  in  your  easy  &  lucid  intervals,  and 
that  your  day  of  grace  is  still  reserv'd  to  you,  while 
many  of  your  acquaintance  have  this  last  year  been  put 
into  darkness,  tho'  much  more  likely  to  live  than  you. 
Our  late  kinswoman  Foster  was  one  of  those.  I  had  a  con- 
siderable value  for  ber,  and  therefore  take  this  opportunity 
to  condole  you  on  the  melancholly  occasion  of  her  death. 
She  was  a  person  of  good  understanding  &  great  prudence, 
one  of  Lemuel's  vertuous  women  that  open'd  her  mouth 
with  wisdom,  and  in  her  tongue  was  the  law  of  kindness. 
She  lookt  well  to  the  wayes  of  her  household,  &  did  not  eat 
the  bread  of  idleness.  Her  children  arise  up  &  call  her 
blessed.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  bridegroom  at  his 
coming  found  her  one  of  those  virgins  who  had  her  lamp 
trim'd  &  oil  in  her  vessel,  and  that  she  enter'd  in  with 


oyGoot^lc 


32  THE  BELCHER  PAPEES.  [17S4. 

him  to  the  maiidage  supper  of  the  Lamb,  to  be  there 
eternally  happy  in  the  extatic  viaion  &  bliBsfuU  injoyment 
of  God,  the  Father,  Son,  &  Holy  Ghost  And  this  shall 
be  yours  &  my  portion  if  we  follow  our  departed  friends 
wherein  they  followed  Christ,  which  God  grant  thro'  his 
infinite  mercy  in  the  Son  of  bis  Love.  I  am,  Madam, 
Your  sincere  friend  &  affectionate  kinsman. 

Boston,  March  23,  1783/4.  J-   B- 

V  M'  Mason.  

TO  KICHARD  WALDRON. 

HoNO"  &R,  —  I  am  with  yours  of  25  ins'  1"  the  carrier. 
If  the  Loan  Committee  cannot  go  forward  without  a  new 
law,  why  don't  they  publickly  say  so,  &  apply  for  one  in 
form  ?  But  perhaps  a  time  may  come  to  make  a  proper 
use  of  their  neglect.  Altho'  old  H.  is  brittle  and  the 
young  one  plays  the  rogue  &  the  fool  with  Taffe,  Ac*,  yet 
I  think  the  father  is  pleas'd  &  stanch  at  present. 

Sancho's  silence  is  to  hold  'till  he  is  cofoborated  by  the 
first  ship  from  London,  which  is  hourly  expected,  and  he 
sayes  he  is  then  sure  of  great  things,  which  time  must  dis- 
cover. By  bis  fixing  as  he  does,  he  seems  to  have  a  great 
dependance  of  staying  with  you  to  his  own  mind  ;  but  if 
things  don't  so  turn  out  you'll  soon  be  quit  of  him.  I 
think  it  best  considering  his  present  suUeness  to  the  Gov* 
for  all  our  friends  to  behave  towards  him  but  in  bare 
common  forms. 

I  am  still  apt  to  think  the  present  commotions  may  be 
compos'd  without  a  war.  If  not,  your  late  Assembly  have 
spun  a  fine  thread.  I  am  something  thStfull  that  it  may 
be  best  to  have  the  Fast  appointed ;  so  draw  &  send  me 
a  proclamation,  which  I  can  return  when  I  please,  and 
put  the  day  aa  you  think  best     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  March  28, 1731. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  BICHARD  PABTBIDGE.  33 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 


Sir,  —  M'  Paxton  writes  me  he  baa  not  obtain'd  the 
Collector's  place  for  Plymouth,  but  baa  a  fair  prospect  of 
success  in  time*  This  week  dy'd  at  Rhode  Island  M' 
Kaye,  the  late  Collector  there,  and  if  M'  Paxton  cou'd 
succeed  him  it  wou'd  be  much  better  than  to  be  at  Ply- 
mouth. The  salary  at  Rb'  Island  is  .£100  st'  a  year,  and 
the  perquisites  much  greater  than  they  wou'd  be  at  Ply- 
mouth. Therefore  I  pray  you  to  go  immediately  with 
the  inclos'd  to  Sir  Charles  Wager,  and  pray  him  to  go 
with  you  to  Sir  Robert,  &  beg  the  place  for  Paxton. 
Sir  Charles  was  once  a  Quaker,  &  I  know  you  &  all  your 
Friends  have  good  interest  with  him,  and  if  he  sayes  the 
word  to  Sir  Robert  it  will  be  done ;  but  you  must  be  very 
lively,  lest  it  shou'd  be  promist  to  any  body  else,  for 
many  write  by  this  conveyance  for  it.  Whatever  the 
charge  in  this  matter  may  be  place  to  my  ace"  and  I  will 
get  the  money  of  Paxton  here.  I  have,  brother,  no  sort 
of  interest  in  this  matter,  but  to  serve  a  reduced  family, 
and  where  I  pretend  to  serve  a  friend  I  will  spare  no 
pains  to  accomplish  it  Pray  then  trye  all  you  can  to  get 
this  thing  done.     I  am 

Your  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

If  you  succeed  get  out  the  coffiission  as  soon  as  possible 
ft  cover  it  to  me  to  be  deliver'd.  I  say,  go  iffiediately 
on  rec'  of  this. 

Boston,  April  19, 1734. 

Via  Rh'  Island  f  Bradford  tT  Boardiii. 

•  Sm  a  Hui.  Hitt.  0>I1.  Tol.  tL  pp.  «XM(n.  ~  En. 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHSR  PAPERS. 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 


Sir,  —  Since  mine  of  22  ult'  V  Cooper  I  have  your 
favours  of  Dec'  3  &  4,  Febi*  9,  12  &  14  last  past.  The 
first  came  to  hand  (the  10  cur")  via  Lix",  and  duplicates 
of  them  via  Maryland  (the  13),  and  the  next  day  came  the 
others  V  Homans,  Crocker,  &  Bonner ;  and  I  am  very 
thankful!  for  your  steady  advices  &  more  particularly  for 
your  letters  by  Lix"  &  Maryland,  with  copy  of  the  order 
of  the  Com*"  of  Council  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  notwith- 
standing which,  had  not  the  royal  leave  arriv'd,  or  a  letter 
from  you  assuring  me  that  the  King  had  sign'd  it,  1  was 
determin'd  not  to  sign  the  bill ;  but  as  the  leave  is  come 
to  hand  I  have  this  day  given  my  assent  to  the  bill. 

I  see  Jonathan  cut  off  his  h^r  the  4  Dec',  with  which 
I  am  satisfy'd.  I  am  expecting  the  servant  you  mention. 
You  must  go  on  to  press  Foye  &  Comp'  for  the  comiasions 
due  to  you,  or  it  will  never  be  got.  I  note  Jonathan 
was  at  Cambndge  under  the  Civilian  Professor,  and  I'm 
much  pleas'd  with  what  he  writes  you  on  that  head ;  and 
since  he  is  now  arriv'd  at  the  state  of  manhood  (24  years 
old)  a  barister  &  a  candidate  for  Tamworth,  I  believe, 
for  the  future,  brother,  we  must  give  him  his  due  honour, 
and  not  say,  Be  is  a  prdty  yovthy  but  that  M^  Bekher  ^ 
the  Temple  is  a  genT^  of  good  sense,  &d*.  Such  a  way  of 
mentioning  him  in  conversation  will  give  him  respect 
among  mankind. 

If  you  consider  the  great  expence  I  live  at  (&  that 
unavoidably)  and  how  my  salary  sinks  every  year  in  its 
value,  I  hope  you  wou'd  not  desire  to  increase  charge 
upon  me ;  besides,  brother,  methinka,  there  shou'd  be 
something  in  kindred  and  friendship.  Nor  did  I  think 
to  mention  to  you,  but  that  you  put  the  occasion  in  my 
way,  —  The  great  services  I  did  your 
father  in  his  life  time ; 


oyGoot^lc 


173*.]  TO    RICHARD   PARTRIDGE.  35 

To  yonr  mother  ever  since  my  marriage  to  thia  day. 
I  think  she  alwayes  says,  I  have  been  &  am  as 
good  to  her  as  an  own  son ; 
To  your  sister  Caswall,  who  has  at  one  time  &  an- 
other liv'd  more  than  7  years  in  my  house,  free 
of  meat,  drink,  washing,  &  lodging;  and  your- 
self, I  believe  liv'd  with  me  12  moneths  in  same 
manner. 
And  to  these  things  I  don't  know  that  I  had  any  obliga- 
tion, and  I  have  been  alwayes  ready  to  do  you  any  service 
in  my  power,  and  when  at  any  time  I  have  not  succeeded 
I  have  been  sorry.    Yet  Solomon  aayes,  The  desire  of  a 
man  is  his  kindness,  and  I  have  done  all  I  have  mention'd 
without  asking  or  charging  you  with  a  farthing.    You 
will  foi^ve  this  recapitulation,  and  believe  me  still  ready 
to  serve  you  &  all  your  family  in  anything  I  can,  &  with- 
out reward ;  but  if  there  be  no  friendship,  or  service  to 
be  done  without  being  paid,  that  cancels  the  obligation. 
So  much  for  that. 

I  thank  you  for  the  King's  leave  for  taking  my  money, 
which  is  in  very  handsome  terms.  Yet  if  it  was  possi- 
ble ¥  Will.  Sharp,  &c%  to  obtain  a  general  leave  I  wou'd 
be  ingag'd  alwayes  to  allow  him  the  yearly  fees.  Pray, 
sound  him,  for  then  I  shou'd  not  run  the  risq.  of  my 
life,  nor  be  kept  out  of  my  money  a  whole  year,  as  now 
I  am.  I  observe  the  conversation  you  had  with  Lord 
President  &  his  remarks  on  the  King's  leave,  from  time 
to  time,  and  hope  the  next  will  be  still  more  relaxt  & 
extensive,  and  I  will  in  a  little  time  write  his  Lordship, 
with  the  sense  of  my  duty  &  great  gratitude. 

I  shall  examine  the  ace**  you  have  sent  me,  making 
due  to  you  to  1  Feb'  past  £439.0.4,  and  finding  it  right 
fihall  adjust  it  in  conformity.  I  am  procuring  some  more 
bills  to  he  sent  you  in  a  little  time. 

My  son  at  the  Temple  is  a  man  of  vertue,  good  sense 
and  diligence,  but  he  does  not  seem  to  study  the  value  of 


oyGoot^lc 


36  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

money.  Altho'  I  am  content  to  allow  him  what  is  reason- 
able &  handsome,  yet  he  ought  to  confine  himself  to  some 
rules,  and  let  me  know  what  his  yearly  expence  must  be, 
that  I  may  duly  supply  it ;  and  every  good  judge  thinks 
^200  Bf  a  year  a  genteel  &  ample  allowance,  and  I  desire 
you  to  tell  him  not  to  fail  sending  me  hia  yearly  ace"  of 
expence  duely  on  the  29  of  Aug*  every  year.  I  have 
bad  only  one  ace*  from  him  since  he  went  from  hence. 

^  Cap'  Cooper,  who  sail'd  about  a  month  ago,  I  wrote 
you  &  my  son  at  large  as  to  hia  being  a  member  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  sent  him  a  sufficient  qualification,  &  inclos'd  you 
have  duplicates  of  all  those  letters,  and  I  am  now  making 
interest  among  my  friends  here  to  send  orders  for  some 
Tamworth  manufactures  to  the  value  of  12  or  1500  £  st'. 
As  the  estate  I  have  convey'd  to  my  son  is  richly  worth 
£5000  St',  &  you  have  my  bond  for  £2000  at'  more,  I 
hope  you  will  one  way  or  other  be  able  to  procure  £500 
St'  for  the  expence  of  hia  election,  if  it  be  necessary ;  and 
I  will  endeav'  by  all  the  wayes  &  means  I  possibly  can 
to  be  sending  you  bills  of  exchange,  for  I  wou'd  not  for 
£1000  st^  have  M'  Belcher  fail  in  this  great  affair,  in 
which  you  &  I  have  so  far  led  &  encourag'd  him.  Praj 
give  my  service  to  M'  Crossland,  and  let  him  know  what 
I  write,  and  that  I  will  be  constantly  endeavour*  to  pro- 
mote the  manufactures  of  their  borough ;  and  of  this  I 
shall  write  you  more  by  a  ship  sailing  directly  from  hence 
in  about  10  dayes.  I  say,  brother,  stir  up  all  the  Friends  & 
interest  you  have  to  accomplish  this  great  point  for  your 
nephew,  &  with  as  much  expedition  as  you  possibly  can, 
because  I  find  the  candidates  for  the  next  Parliament  are 
pushing  their  interests  in  every  borough  of  the  kingdom. 

I  thank  you  for  the  crabstocka  &  barley,  and  shall  be 
expecting  the  nuta,  &c'  T  White.  The  vines  you  sent 
me  flourish  finely,  and  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  you  for 
them.  I  love  {arming  &  gardning,  and  when  you  or  your 
Friends  please  to  send  me  anything  of  that  kind  it  will 
be  alwayes  gratefull. 

DiqnzeciOyGoOt^lc 


1734.]  TO  BICHABD   PARTRIDGE.  S7 

I  come  now  to  what  you  mention  about  Coll'  Dunbar 
and  M'  Cook.  All  the  plague  &  trouble  I  have  ever  bad 
in  N.  Hamp  is  iutirely  owing  to  the  former,  and  the  same 
to  the  latterin  the  Maaaacbusetts,  and  the  breaches  are  now 
so  wide,  &  their  malice  bo  rancorous  that  it's  not  possible 
to  think  of  a  reconciliation.  No.  I  must  defend  myself  as 
well  as  I  can,  and  while  I  am  a  good  Gov'  for  the  King  & 
to  the  people,  I  hope  the  rage  and  revenge  of  two  such 
persons  won't  hurt  me.  I  suppose  at  this  day  19  in  20 
are  well  satisfy'd  in  the  Gov'.  Let  Craddock  say  what 
he  will  he  is  not  to  be  trusted.*  I  am  sure  he  will  do  me 
all  the  hurt  in  his  power,  but  as  he  ia  very  scant  &  strait 
lac'd  I  believe  his  boms  won't  sprout  much. 

If  there  be  any  complaint  or  affidavits  against  me  for 
maleadministration  in  the  government,  doubtless  I  must 
be  serv'd  with  copies  if  they  are  worthy  so  much  notice. 
As  to  giving  Dunbar  a  third  of  my  salary,  it  is  unreason- 
able for  him  to  expect  it,  since  it  is  settl'd  by  law  upon 
me  in  obedience  to  the  King's  instruction,  which  sayes 
they  shall  settle  £600  a  year  on  the  King's  Gov';  but  if 
there  must  be  an  allowance  of  £200  a -year  out  of  it  to 
the  Lieu'  Gov',  then  it  wou'd  be  but  £400  a  year  to  the 
King's  Gov',  and  not  agreeable  to  the  King's  orders; 
besides,  brother,  I  make  two  journeys  a  year  to  N.  Hamp- 
shire, each  of  which  constantly  costs  me  £100,  so  that  as 
the  matter  now  stands  1  really  have  not  £400  a  year,  say 
about  £100  sf  a  year  for  a  Gov*,  a  poor  business,  which  I 
hope  the  King's  ministers  will  not  begrutch  me.  Nor  can 
I  be  perswaded  to  do  any  such  thing  as  to  give  a  man 
bread  out  of  my  own  mouth  who  is  constantly  trying  to 
destroy  me.  I  now  allow  him  to  be  cap'  of  the  fort,  & 
to  have  the  perquisites  of  marriages,  registers,  certificates, 
&  passes,  all  which  I  suppose  may  be  worth  about  £200 
a  year,  tbo'  I  begrutch  him  every  farthing,  considering 
his  vile,  insolent   treatment,  a  late  instance  whereof  I 

•  Sn  6  H«u.  Hiat.  Coll.  vol.  vi.  p.  «». 


oyGoot^lc 


38  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1734. 

shall  send  from  hence  in  a  little  time,  and  were  I  to  give 
him  my  whole  salary  it  wou'd  signifye  little,  nor  wou'd 
anything  satisfye  him  but  to  ruin  me,  were  it  in  his 
power,  —  out  of  which  I  hope  Almighty  God  will  alwayea 
preserve  me.  I  am  glad  to  find  his  character  is  pretty 
well  known,  nor  do  I  believe  there  is  a  viler,  falser  fellow 
upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  So  you  &  my  son,  with  all 
your  Friends,  must  take  care  to  defend  me  against  his 
wicked  insinuations. 

Inclos'd  you  have  an  attested  copy  of  Coll'  Bladen's 
letter  to  M'  Speaker  Quincy  with  the  answer.  With  my 
love  to  my  son,  I  remain  alwayes,  Sir, 

Your  real  friend  &  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  April  20,  1734. 

Via  Bh'  Island  t?  Bradford.  Jfi  Bonrdin. 


TO  FRANCIS  WILKS. 

Worthy  Sir,  —  The  14  cur**  arriv'd  from  London 
Homans,  Bonner,  &  Crocker,  by  the  last  of  which  I  reed 
your  very  kind  &  obliging  favour  of  15  Feb'  last.  If  you 
will  be  so  good  as  to  remember  M'  Belcher  for  the  next 
vacancy  in  the  Hono'''  Company  for  propagating  the  Gospel, 
I  sha)!  esteem  it  a  fresh  mark  of  your  respect,  and  I  pray 
you  to  lay  in  in  time  with  the  Gov*  &  Treasurer  that  it 
may  not  be  forgot,  and  that  M'  Sec''  Willard  may  suc- 
ceed in  the  next  vacancy  among  the  Comiss"  here,  for  he 
is  a  gent"  of  good  vertue,  sense,  &  learning. 

I  wonder  M'  Poxton  did  not  apply  to  you.  I  fear  his 
success,  and  am  thankfull  for  your  readiness  to  have  serv'd 
him,  had  he  come  to  you. 

I  must  pray  you  to  send  me  my  collateral  security  to 
M"  Bull.  It  is  not  reasonable  it  shou'd  stand  out,  since 
the  matter  is  in  a  manner  finisht. 

I  am  very  sorry  the  last  vote  of  the  Court  was  so  short 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  PRAMCIS  WILES.  39 

of  your  deaert  and  your  just  due,  but  secret  &  sinister 
springs  &  views  too  much  govern  in  Assemblies,  and  the 
affections  &  passions  of  men  are  very  variable  &  fluc- 
tuating. You  may  imagine  what  you  please,  but  I  have 
good  reason  to  believe  that  your  quondam  close  friend  is 
grown  quite  cold.  He  told  M'  Sec''  on  the  rec'  of  your 
public  letter  that  the  Board  of  Trade  had  frighted  you 
out  of  your  wits,  and  you  were  become  an  old  apple- 
woman.  S.  W.*  is  coming  over,  and  the  scheme  is  to 
make  him  Agent  &  then  Gov'.  This  is  no  jest,  but  a  thing 
really  on  the  anvil.  These  matters  you  must  keep  to 
yourself,  and  not  let  your  servants  see  my  letter.  How- 
ever I  shall  watch  their  waters,  &  I  fancy  they'll  hardly 
bring  their  marks  to  bear.  For  as  your  old  friends  fall 
off,  I  find  new  ones  come  on,  and  I  know  you  had 
more  friends  in  the  Court  this  last  session  than  for  a  long 
time  past  Your  old  friends  were  very  angry  (and  many 
of  the  Court  displeas'd)  with  your  giving  way  to  the 
appointment  of  Coffiiss"  at  home.  You  must  therefore 
now  strenuously  pursue  your  instructions,  let  the  event 
be  as  it  will,  or  you  will  lose  your  interest  in  this 
Province,  and  I  believe  the  B — d  of  Tr — de  are 
sensible  they  can't  go  forward  with  the  settlement  of 
the  Line  but  with  your  consent  step  by  step ;  but  if 
the  Comiss"  may  be  chosen  here  by  each  Province, 
according  to  the  King's  80  instruction  to  me,  all  will 
be  well  &  easy. 

I  shall  greatly  rejoyce  to  hear  you  carry  your  election 
for  Great  Marlow,  which  will  more  effectually  fix  you  in 
the  Agency.  M'  Welles,  one  of  the  members  for  this 
town  has  been  your  hearty  friend  this  session,  and  I  wou'd 
not  have  you  fail  writing  him  a  letter  of  compliment 
under  my  cover  as  soon  as  this  gets  to  you.  Among  other 
things  be  cautious  of  advancing  for  the  Province,  and 
send  your  accounts  duly,  which  is  the  way  to  have  more 

•  Sam  W«ldo.  —  Katt  by  See.  Dr.  Btllaap. 


oyGoot^lc 


40  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [17S4- 

remisaea  I  am  very  sure  you  have  serv'd  the  Province 
with  great  fidelity.  Yet  when  selfish  views  govern  that 
is  often  foi^t  I  hope  to  see  you  long  continued  in  the 
Agency  in  spite  of  their  plots  &  cootrivances.  Nothing 
in  my  power  shall  be  wanting  to  serve  you  on  all  occa- 
sioua,  for  I  am  in  great  truth,  dear  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  most  obliged  servant.  J.  B. 

Pray  let  the  inclos'd  letters  be  duly  deliver'd  & 
speedily. 

The  master  of  the  ship  is  order'd  to  send  the  Province's 
packet  ^  express  wherever  he  may  arrive  in  England,  the 
charge  whereof  you  must  pay  &  place  to  ihe  Province 
ace". 

B08TON,  April  20, 1784. 

V  Bradford,  vift  Rh''  Island.  4f  Boardin. 


TO  aiCHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  sent  you  V  the  carrier  copy  of  Sancho's  inso- 
lence, which  perhaps  is  without  parallel.  I  have  now 
yours  of  18  V  post,  with  the  minute  of  Council,  which 
mentions  no  answer  to  his  proposal.  I  hope  you  are 
(among  you)  strong  enough  not  to  suffer  him  to  do 
any  act  of  that  nature.  Pray  what  business  has  your 
Province  with  the  Fasts  or  Feasts  of  the  (?*  of  England  ? 
I  think  you  have  no  assembly  of  that  sort  of  worshipers, 
but  if  you  had,  shall  he  dispute  the  orders  of  his  Gov* 
&  Cap'  General?  No.  I  am  to  answer  all  mistakes 
elsewhere. 

I  had  intirely  forgot  the  passing  of  my  warrant  when  1 
inclos'd  it  to  him.  I  have  Greenleafe's  bond  already  for 
£100  payable  in  6  moneths  with  interest.  Pray,  do  you 
think  it  wou'd  be  good  for  £300  more,  or  perhaps  he 
might  get  somebody  to  be  bound  with  him,  and  so  I  wou'd 


oyGoot^lc 


17U.]  TO   RICHAKD  WALDROIT.  41 

make  an  end  of  this  warrant  As  for  his  protect,  if  he 
shou'd  set  a  f— t  against  a  N.  W.  wind,  how  then  ?  I 
shall  espect  the  rest  of  your  dialogue  v*  the  carrier. 
Inclos'd  is  my  repeated  order  about  the  seal. 

I  believe  his  advices  f  the  post  gave  no  satiefaction  to 
him  or  to  the  clan.  The  difference  may  quickly  be  at  an 
end,  but  I  assure  yoa  there  was  not  a  step  taken  about 
it  when  these  ships  came  away. 

Saturday,  20  cur",  went  an  express  from  this  gov- 
emjn'  to  Rhode  Island  with  new  instructions  to  the  Agent, 
to  go  from  thence  by  a  ship,  I  suppose,  sails  this  day  for 
London.  I  doubt  the  Line  is  -not  so  near  a  settlement  as 
Bome  may  imagine ;  but  the  Ipswich  lad  *  may  have  the 
opportunity  of  losing  £95.  That  the  Gov'  is  blamed  or 
reprimanded  about  it  is  of  a  piece  \Ttth  their  constant 
course ;  so  far  from  that,  that  the  royal  leave  for  my  sal* 
ary  is  in  the  handsomest  manner  I  ever  yet  obtain'd  it, 
and  had  been  made  publick  but  for  some  political  reasons. 
The  letter  is  return' d. 

I  think  the  Fast  ought  not  to  be  delay' d,  but  I  desire 
you  to  draw  &  send  me  a  proclamation  for  a  Fast,  leav- 
ing the  day  blank,  but  say  when  it  may  be  most  con- 
venient (the  sooner  the  better).  The  proclamation  I  will 
return  with  an  order  to  the  President  to  call  a  Council, 
and  ask  it  before  I  sign  it,  and  then  let  it  be  sent  to  me 
to  be  returned  you  to  be  made  publick.  All  this  will 
require  time,  that  the  Fast  cannot  be  'till  latter  end 
of  next  moneth.  Won't  it  be  best  to  have  the  Council  at 
old  H.'s  or  Gambling's?  You  must  let  as  many  of  the 
Council  into  this  matter  as  you  judge  proper.  I  am 
fletennin'd  to  send  no  more  orders  at  present  to  Mone". 
Sir, 

Tour  friend  &  serv'.  J.  B. 

BosTOK.  April  22, 1734. 

(F°«t.) 

*  John  Rindge.  —  Edb. 


jvGooi^lc 


THB   BELCHER   PAPEBS. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


HoNO"*  Sib,  —  The  poet  brings  me  your  favours  of  22 
&  26  paent  I  hear  not  a  word  of  Reynolds  nor  old  H., 
and  am  still  of  opinion  (aa  formerly)  that  Sancbo  mnst 
consent  to  his  dismission,  which  I  think  he  will,  because 
he  can't  expect  any  better  provision,  —  my  last  letters 

saying,   "  I  believe   D r's  character  is  pretty   well 

known  with  some  of  the  Lords  of  the  Council  to  be  too 
far  intrusted."  And  I  am  told  he  is  greatly  in  debt  at 
home,  &  by  the  appearance  of  all  things  the  Irish  wind- 
fall winds  up  to  a  button.  So  you  may  he  long  plagu'd 
with  him.  I  assure  you  I  have  nothing  but  good  news 
from  M'  Belcher.  If  a  new  Gov'  be  appointed,  why  don't 
they  favour  us  with  his  name  ?  I  am  not  able  to  make 
any  opinion  about  the  Line.  The  Lords  of  Trade  will 
favour  N.  Hampshire  all  they  can.  But  when  the  affair 
will  be  settl'd  seems  to  me  very  uncertain.  I  most  sin- 
cerely wish  it  was  well  over,  and  can't  but  think  that  the 
Massachusetts  have  been  very  culpable,  or  it  had  been 
done  three  years  ago. 

I  have  the  same  sense  of  Sancho's  insolence  that  you 
have,  and  the  very  same  opinion  of  the  man  I  alwayes  had. 
Yet  as  it  was  the  time  for  the  Fast,  how  cou'd  I  avoid  the 
steps  I  took?  and  I  am  not  displeas'd  that  he  treated 
the  orders  of  the  King's  Gov'  with  so  much  rudeness  & 
impudence. 

Aa  to  the  pusillanimous  wretches  from  whom  we  want 
assistance,  what  shall  we  say  ?  or  what  shall  we  do  ?  Five 
have  been  lately  admitted  by  your  approbation,  but  ex- 
cept yourself,  you  say,  no  man  open'd  his  jaws.  When 
our  friends  have  all  the  places  of  prQfit  &  honour,  &  yet 
are  useless,  I  again  say,  what  shall  we  do  ?    What  made 

the  old go  out  of  town,  instead  of  being  at  his 

duty  ?    Jfost  certainly  the  mention  of  a  L"  Gov'  in  the 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  BICHARD  WALDRON.  43 

Salary  Act  can  have  no  other  meaning  than  what  you 
say. 

S'  Pat''  constant  course  of  folly  makes  him  contemptible. 
Z  have  had  the  same  thdts  about  the  fort,  passes,  &c*,  but 
am  desirous  to  do  things  in  the  wisest  manner. 

The  P — s — d — t*  is  a  despicable  mortal,  yet  I  now  in- 
close him  the  proclamation  for  a  Fast,  leaving  it  to  the 
Council  to  set  the  particular  day,  and  the  order  to  him  I 
cover  to  you  to  be  deliver'd  or  sent  him,  as  may  be 
thought  most  proper,  when  you  have  re'd  &  seal'd  it ;  and 
after  consulting  Gambling,  old  H.,  and  who  else  you 
please,  I  intirely  submit  it  to  your  prudence  whether  to 
proceed  in  the  matter  or  not.  But  if  upon  your  own 
most  deliberate  consideration  you  think  it  best  not  to  go 
forward  at  present,  then  it  may  be  best  not  to  open  your 
lips  to  any  body  about  it ;  on  the  other  hand,  if  you  think 
the  Council  will  be  strong  enough,  I  shou'd  be  best 
pleas'd  with  appointing  the  Fast  in  this  manner. 

The  merchants  private  bank  here,  and  what  they  are 
bringing  forward  with  you,  bids  fair  to  ruin  this  country. 
It's  too  long  a  story  to  tell  you  how  big  these  things  are 
of  fatal  consequences. 

I  dou't  flatter  you,  but  really,  Sir,  you  behav'd  in  Coun- 
cil like  a  hero  upon  every  particular  that  happen'd  there. 
I  thank  you  for  the  ace"*,  which  I  have  also  at  large  from 
Mons'.     The  answer  I  have  given  him  is  inclos'd. 

I  shall  write  1^  the  carrier  to  Coll'  Oilman  for  copies  of 
his  orders,  without  mentioning  any  reason. 

Old  Slade  is  a  poor  creature ;  yet  if  he  comes  this  way 
I  will  have  some  talk  with  him.  The  affair  of  the  excise- 
man must  rest  for  the  present.  I  remain  with  much 
respect,  Sir, 

Tour  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  April  29, 17S4. 
(Poet.) 


•  Walton.  —  !foU  by  Rn.  Dr.  Btlknap. 


oyGoot^lc 


THZ  BELCHER  PAPBBS. 


TO  DAVID  DUNBAR 


Sir,  —  I  have  now  lying  before  me  your  letters  of 
April  15,  22,  &  26.  The  first  I  take  to  be  in  all  its 
parts  a  matchless  peice  of  insolence  on  the  King's  Gov', 
whom  by  your  comission  yoa  are  strictly  commanded  to 
obey.  I  wou'd  have  you  to  know,  Sir,  that  I  never  made 
any  mistake  here  in  a  proclamation  for  a  Fast,  or  any- 
thing else.  It  really  looks  to  me  like  a  farce  to  hear  a 
man  of  your  very  grave  life  &  conversation  set  up  for  a 
patron  of  the  religion  of  the  C**  of  England.  As  to  the 
platform  you  mention,  I  have  never  in  my  life  obtain'd  a 
sight  of  it,  and  I  assure  you  I  pass  no  acts  of  government 
without  reading  &  knowing  them.  But  hod  what  you 
say  been  as  true  as  it  ia  otherwise,  pray,  Sir,  what  have 
you  to  do  with  my  administration  in  the  Massachusetts  ? 
If  I  make  mistakes  I  am  answerable  to  my  royal  master, 
but  not  to  my  inferiours.  The  warrant  I  sent  you  hap- 
pen'd  thro'  my  forge ttfullness,  yet  that  don't  excuse  your 
disobedience  about  it.  What  you  wrote  me  three  years 
ago  on  that  head  made  me  smile,  and  what  you  say  now 
brought  me  to  a  broad  laugh. 

As  to  the  orders  I  gave  to  my  military  officers,  I  think 
your  not  knowing  or  not  practising  your  duty  in  not 
waiting  upon  your  Gov'  out  of  the  Province,  nor  writing 
him  a  line  of  any  occurrence  in  it  for  near  12  weeks  to- 
gether, and  when  powder  was  wanted  for  the  Province 
to  apply  for  it  to  the  cap*  of  the  man-of-war  here,  &  not 
to  the  Gov',  shou'd  seal  up  your  mouth  as  to  ray  not  giv- 
ing any  orders  to  you  about  the  militia.  Indeed,  it  can 
be  no  justification  to  me  to  follow  your  ill  example  (who 
when  you  wanted  to  write  to  the"  Council  did  not  direct 
your  letter  to  the  President  of  the  King's  Council,  but 
to  the  next  in  commission) ;  yet  argumetdum  ad  hond- 
nem  is  sometimes  thought  a  good  way  of  arguing,     I 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  DATm  DUNBAR.  45 

know  you  are  glad  to  make  handles  right  or  wrong,  or 
take  hold  of  any  against  the  Gov'.  But  if  you  find  your- 
self contemptible,  I  attribute  it  wholly  to  your  own  im- 
prudence. Such  was  your  beating  the  people  last  year 
at  Exeter ;  your  assault  &  abuse  of  the  Marshal  of  the 
Admiralty  in  the  execution  of  his  office ;  swearing  &  curs- 
ing at  some ;  threatning  to  shoot  others  thro'  the  head, 
Ac'.  These  things,  Sir,  don't  become  a  gent"  that  wou'd 
feign  be  call'd  a  Gov'.  His  Majesty  treats  none  of  his 
officers  or  subjects  in  that  manner ;  nor  do  I  believe  you 
ever  find  the  Giov'  of  the  great  city  of  London  treating 
people  thus.  I  don't  know  but  such  sort  of  managment 
may  do  with  the  centinells  of  a  company  of  soldiers,  bnt 
it  will  by  no  means  do  in  civil  government.  No,  the 
people  must  be  govem'd  by  the  laws  of  the  land,  and 
the  King  himself  esteems  it  his  glory  to  make  the  laws 
the  rule  of  his  administration,  and  they  that  do  otherwise 
do  as  much  as  in  them  lyes  [to]  alienate  the  affections  of 
the  King's  subjects  by  rendring  his  mild  &  clement  gov- 
ernment heavy  &  severe. 

It  seems  I  guest  right  in  not  giving  you  any  orders 
about  the  militia,  for  I  will  give  none  but  what  the  King 
has  given  me  power  to  do,  and  those  I  shall  depend  to 
have  obey'd,  but  this  I  must  not  expect  from  you. 

Altho'  your  letters,  one  upon  the  back  of  another,  say, 
July  2,  1733,  —  '^  I  wou'd  vriih  aU  possible  industry  avoid  any 
dispute  teith  ywr  Esf,  and  wou'd  be  far  from  attempting 
any  incroachraent  upon  your  powers,  and  I  am  sure  you 
wou'd  scorn  to  lessen  mine,  I  wou'd  therefore  desire  that 
no  misconstruction  might  be  put  upon  anything  1  do ;  but 
that  I  may  explain  myself,  and  I  hope  there  will  be  very 
little  occasion  to  give  your  Ex^  much  trouble,/(W  I  shall 
coacem  myself  very  cautious^  mih  any  of  airs  hut  the  common 
eoterse  of  such  iusinegs  as  cannot  be  dehy'd."  July  12,  —  "  / 
9haU  make  no  more  mention  of  those  yenP",  nor  coacem  myself 
with  their poUiicii."    And  again,  —  "I  am  so  great  a  lover 


oyGoot^lc 


46  THE  BELCHER  PAPEES.  [1734. 

of  peace  that  I  wou'd  gladly  forego  all  the  perquisites  of 
my  time  here  to  be  a  means  of  reconciling  all  parties.  I 
ever  took  delight  in  euch  offices."  July  20,  — "  I  am 
oblig'd  to  your  Ex°'for  writing  to  your  friends  to  shew 
any  regard  to  me.  If  I  have  any  influence  on  any  who 
are  called  mine,  /  will  use  my  endeavours  that  you  nu^  find 
no  difference  on  your,  next  coming  hUher."  July  27,  —  "  And 
I  hope  this  will  seem  so  very  reasonable  that  you  will 
not  refuse  it.  But  if  your  Ex"'  does,  /  ivill  trouble  jfou  with 
no  further  dkpuie,  hd  wait  the  issue  from  home,  which  I  hope 
will  soon  he  declar'd.  In  the  meantime  I  can't  expect 
to  hold  any  advantages  ray  predecessors  did  here  but 
on  the  same  terms,  and  that  I  do  desire  of  your  Ex^." 
Aug^  2,  — "  Since  your  Ex**  does  not  think  fit  to  let 
others  -who  are  allow'd  interpreters  of  words  that  bear 
any  dispute  judge  of  them,  I  shall  say  no  more  upon  that 
heady  And  again,  —  "  But  I  have  done,  only  to  thank 
your  Ex''  for  the  favour  you  intend  roe."  Aug"  10, — 
"Beit  08  it  win,  I  mil  have  no  new  dispute  with  your  Usf" 
Aug"  lY,  —  "I  am  contented  to  wa^  the  issue  from,  home." 
Pray,  Sir,  look  on  what  I  have  lined  out,  and  confess  that 
you  never  intended  what  you  said,  or  that  you  are  no 
master  of  your  resolutions.  From  these  florid  &  smooth 
expressions  I  did,  indeed,  concieve  some  slender  hopes 
of  yoiu:  behaving  within  the  bounds  of  decency;  but 
yours  of  15  April,  which  I  take  to  be  the  genuine  pic- 
ture of  your  heart,  at  once  shows  all  you  have  said  to  be 
but  meer  pretence ;  and  altho'  this  dispute  was  to  be 
decided  on  the  arrival  of  Wingfield  in  Janu'  last,  and 
now  ^  Homans,  Bonner,  Crocker,  &  Shepherdson,  it  still 
remains,  and  why  are  you  constantly  bickering  &  trying 
'  to  wrest  the  power  &  honour  the  King  has  repos'd  in  me 
out  of  my  hands  ?  You  may  (as  you  please)  make  your- 
self easy  or  uneasy.  But  depend,  no  less  a  person  than 
King  George  shall  divest  me  of  it ;  for  I  am  more  &  more 
satisfy'd  by  my  own  commission,  as  well  as  by  yours,  & 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  DATID   DUNBAR.  47 

by  my  instructiona,  that  I  am  virtually  present  in  N. 
Hampshire  when  I  am  personally  in  the  Massachusetts. 
Nor  will  I  suffer  any  proclamation  to  go  out  in  your 
name,  or  any  other  act  of  government  o£  the  like  kind ; 
and  I  am  glad  his  Majesty's  Council  acted  so  faithfully, 
and  so  well  up  to  their  oaths,  in  refusing  to  consent  to 
any  duch  proposal  of  yours  as  to  a  Fast  or  the  riot. 

You  uow  &  then  mention  in  your  letters  the  word 
htrnie.  As,  that  this  will  be  well  taken  at  home,  and  that 
you  will  hear /rom  home.  I  assure  you,  Sir,  I  give  myself 
no  pain  about  your  favours  &  menaces  with  respect  to 
home.  I  have  the  honour  &  satisfaction  of  having  my 
administration  approvM,  not  only  by  his  Majesty  &  his 
ministers,  but  also  by  the  Parliam'  of  G'  Britain,  and  this 
notwithstanding  your  inveterate  endeavours,  even  from 
before  my  arrival,  to  this  time  to  represent  me  in  the 
worst  light  you  possibly  cou'd,  and  which  indeed  makes 
me  conclude  you  have  not  that  great  faith  &  credit  paid 
you  at  home  as  you  wou'd  feign  make  the  world  fancy  you 
have. 

Had  you  not  assured  me  in  yours  of  7  Sept'  that  the 
trembling  in  your  hand  did  n't  come  by  hard  drinking,  I 
sfaou'd  have  thSt  yours  of  15  April  "had  been  wrote  over 
a  hearty  bottle.  Because  you  are  a  gent"  so  critical  & 
so  infallible,  I  once  more  send  you  a  copy  of  my  Naval 
OflScer's  coinission  to  Cap'  Husk,  to  tell  me  (if  you  can) 
on  what  day  or  year  he  was  sworn  &  before  whom ;  and 
as  to  the  examinations  taken  on  the  affair  of  the  riot,  I 
suppose  they  were  of  your  direction  &  correction,  because 
I  find  a  blunder  in  them,  viz* ;  Robert  Galway  made  oath 
to  what  Benj'  Ktman  swore  ;  so  James  Pitman  k  James 
Pitman  made  oath,  but  no  Benj'  Pitman.  Pray,  how 
many  James  Pitmans  did  you  swear?  You  ought  to 
have  diatinguisht  them  by  Sen'  &  Junior,  or  First  &  Sec- 
ond. That  you  may  he  convinc'd  of  the  absurdity  I  send 
you  an  attested  copy  from  the  SeE". 


oyGoot^lc 


48  THE  BELCHEH  PAPBES.  [17M. 

Since,  Sir,  you  think  the  Gov'  was  forgettfuU  about 
Fasta  &  Feasts,  how  comes  it  that  you  have  all  on  a  sud- 
den forgot  the  address  of  the  King's  Gov'  ?  After  your 
disobeying  my  last  order,  surely  you  cou'd  not  imagine 
to  recieve  another  from  me,  or  a  letter.  Yet  you  see  I 
have  condescended  to  it,  that  you  may  learn  the  differ- 
ence between  my  rank  &  your  station,  and  practice  your 
duty.  You  will  no  doubt  send  korm  this  letter,  to  which 
I  agree;  and  I  only  fear  a  reprimand  from  the  King's 
ministers  for  my  condescention  after  your  ill  manners. 

I  find  you  have  made  a  complaint  of  my  saying  the 
Judge  of  Admiralty  ought  to  make  his  fees  treble  in  the 
vile  bills  of  credit  now  passing  for  money.  You  may  now 
complain  again,  &  say  the  Gov'  sayes,  Admiralty  fees  ought 
to  be  paid  in  nothing  but  silver  at  6/10^  an  oz.,  or  what 
is  equivalent  thereto.  And  another  complaint  you  made 
was  about  the  new  settlements  (as  you  call  'em).  Upon 
your  coming  away  from  Pemaquid,  you  wrote  me,  2  July 
last,  —  "j4a  the  gova-nment  of  it  is  nowyour  E^''*  &c'."  I 
pray  then,  what  have  you  to  do  with  it,  especially  since 
you  have  been  commanded  to  walk  off  the  ground  ? 
Sorry  am  I  you  was  able  to  decoye  so  many  innocent 
people  in  what  you  eou'd  not  maintain.  The  quarrel  you 
had  with  M'  Waldo  (tho'  of  a  minute  nature  to  this  last) 
ended  much  in  the  same  manner  by  your  being  repri- 
manded from  home  to  be  quiet.  Methinks  upon  the  most 
sedate  consideration,  were  I  as  you,  I  wou'd  endeavour  to 
convince  the  world  by  my  practice  what  you  say  to  mti, 
12  July  last,  and  am  so  gretd  a  lover  of  peace,  and  not  to 
spend  your  life  in  perpetual  jarrs  &  contention. 

I  come  now  to  answer  yours  of  26  &  29  ult',  more  par- 
ticularly taking  notice  of  M'  Greeley's  affidavit  and  your 
order  to  Coll'  Gilman,  on  which  I  intend  to  issue  a  procla- 
mation for  his  Majesty's  service,  in  the  better  preservation 
of  the  King's  trees,  and  for  the  protection  of  you,  your 
deputies  &  assistants,  in  the  discharge  of  your  duty  a£ 


oyGoot^lc 


ITM.]  TO  DAVID  DUNBAR.  49 

Surveyor  of  the  King's  Woods.  As  to  the  complaint  you 
made  to  me  at  Portsmouth  about  Maj'  Thing,  you  prov'd 
nothing  against  him ;  and  altbo'  you  complained  home 
against  Judge  Auchmuty,  because  he  requir'd  affidavits 
of  you  to  prove  your  complaints,  you  must  go  on  so  to  do 
against  the  Gov',  for  I  will  not  put  men  in  &  out  just 
upon  your  ipse  dixU.  Englishmen  must  he  govern'd  as 
Englishmen,  according  to  law  &  evidence ;  at  least  that 
shall  alwayes  be  the  standard  of  my  government.  If 
owners  of  mills  &  those  that  supply  lumbermen  must  be 
in  no  civil  post  in  New  Hamp,  there  will  be  very  few  to 
be  found  capable  of  any  part  of  the  governraent.  To  be 
sure  some  of  your  dear  creatures  must  be  disraist. 

I  observe  with  what  spirit  you  alwayes  write  against 
M'  Sec*^  Waldron,  as  well  as  against  every  other  friend  I 
have  in  the  Province.  He  is  an  officer  upon  oath,  a  very 
worthy,  capable,  honest  gent",  and  I  give  full  faith  & 
credit  to  all  his  records  &  attestations,  and  I  wish  I  cou'd 
say  as  much  of  every  body  else.  But  those  you  hug  in 
your  bosom  I  take  to  be  the  greatest  enemies  to  the 
King  &  to  the  Province,  and  I  verily  believe  had  it  not 
been  for  you  &  for  them  the  Treasury  had  been  supply'd 
when  I  was  last  there,  the  fort  repair'd,  &  many  other 
good  things  effected.  But  people  in  whose  nature  or 
power  it  is  not  to  do  good  are  capable  of  doing  mischief. 

In  yours  of  29  you  say,  —  "Laws  &  royal  orders  are 
much  regarded  here.  Witness  1000  instances,  and  among 
them  where  royal  comissions  &  mandamus*  are  disobey'd,  & 
wrested  constructions  put  upon  them  against  the  sense  of 
all  mankind,  except  of  a  fe^  concern'd."  If  what  you 
say  cou'd  be  prov'd  to  be  fact,  yet  you  of  all  men  shou'd 
find  no  fault,  since  you  have  so  flagrantly  disobey'd  the 
King's  commands  in  your  commission. 

When  you  write  me  that  you  have  the  King's  leave  to 
go  for  England,  and  that  you  think  mine  necessary  (for 
the  way  of  your  mentioning  it  is  of  a  piece  with  the  rest 


oyGoot^lc 


60  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1734. 

of  your  behaviotir  to  me)  you  shall  soon  know  whether  I 
will  give  it.  You  say  you  have  given  orders  at  the  Fort 
that  no  vessel  laden  with  lumber  at  mills  where  forfeited 
boards  lye  shall  pass  the  Fort,  and  that  if  you  can't 
justifye  this  you  will  recall  it  upon  my  advice,  which  is,  — 
that  for  the  King's  honour  &  your  own  safety  you  take 
care  that  this  step,  aa  well  as  all  your  other  proceed- 
ings, be  clearly  .warranted  by  law. 

I  well  approve,  as  I  find  the  Council  did,  of  the  exam- 
ination of  the  Exeter  Justices,'  and  I  hope  they  will  not 
be  found  guilty  of  being  concern'd  in  anything  so  vil- 
lanous  as  the  whole  affair  of  the  riot  (or  I  wou'd  rather 
call  it  a  rebellion  against  the  King's  government)  appears 
to  me.  And  let  our  private  differences.  Sir,  be  what  they 
will,  yet  I  will  heartily  join  with  all  my  power  &  author- 
ity to  suppress  such  outragioua  insults  upon  the  King's 
government  &  officers,  and  which  must  have  a  natural 
tendency  to  the  destruction  of  the  royal  woods.  I  wish 
you  had  spar'd  yours  of  15  April,  &  thereby  yourself  & 
me  the  trouble  of  the  reply ;  and  if  we  do  not  for  the 
future  pursue  the  King's  interest  with  a  better  harmony, 
I  will  endeavour  that  it  shall  not  be  the  fault  of,  Sir, 

Your  Honour's  humble  servant.  J.  B. 

BoBTOK,  Hay  2, 1734. 

If  carrier        


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

HoNO™  Sir,  —  Altho'  I  wrote  you  f  the  post,  yet  the 
present  situation  of  affairs  requires  a  frequent  corre- 
spondence ;  therefore  yours  of  29  ult'  f  the  carrier  (with 
what  it  cover'd)  was  very  acceptable,  all  which  I  have 
carefully  perus'd,  &  return  Guy's  letter.  I  wish  the 
Council  had  given  the  reason  he  desires  for  not  consent- 
ing to  his  issuing  a  proclamation,  but  there  was  no  great 
need  of  it,  since  they  gave  that  very  reason  at  large  under 
their  hands  in  Janu*  last. 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  RICHASD  WALDBON.  51 

Read  &  deliver  the  inclos'd  to  the  Presid',  and  take  care 
he  immediately  calls  a  Council  to  pass  the  proclamation 
('t  will  be  beat  at  Gambling's  or  old  H'b),  and  do  you  put 
in  the  date,  and  disperse  it  without  delay,  and  write  to 
Boydell  something  of  the  nature  of  the  inclos'd  to  go 
into  his  Gazette  with  a  copy  of  the  proclamation.  It 
wou'd  not  be  so  well  nor  so  strong  to  issue  it  in  my  own 
name  as  with  the  consent  of  the  Council,  besides  Mons" 
wou'd  make  a  mighty  handle  against  the  Council  (say  our 
friends)  if  they  did  not  fall  roundly  in  with  it.  I  am  also 
fully  in  opinion  to  have  the  Fast  proclamation  gone  thorrd 
without  any  delay.  I  think  this  a  good  juncture  for  it,  and 
do  you  be  very  careful!  to  minute  the  part  M'  Jaflfrey 
&  Pierce  act  at  the  Council  board,  —  it  may  he  a  good 
foundation  for  suspension.  I  am  apt  to  think  they  will 
be  unthotfuU  euO  to  give  me  a  good  occasion, 

I  find  we  have  to  do  with  a  crew  of  weak  brethren.  I 
shall  give  him  no  more  orders  for  Councils,  yet  Councils 
there  must  be  when  it's  absolutely  necessary  for  the  King's 
service,  tho'  I  shall  endeavour  to  call  as  few  as  possible. 
Your  observation  is  just ;  having  nothing  fronl  home,  he 
is  like  a  wild  bull  in  a  net.  He  may  depend  he  shall  dis- 
miss no  officer,  nor  do  anything  Uke  it.  I  beheve  he  is 
vastly  pleas'd  with  the  riot,  and  will  do  as  many  wicked 
things  about  it  as  he  can  invent,  and  he  wou'd  be  par- 
ticularly pleas'd  to  make  a  handle  of  it  to  obtain  more 
power.  I  desire  my  lady's  man  may  be  eail'd  my  lady's 
dangler,  which  is  the  term  at  Court  for  such  sort  of  cattle. 
Don't  let  your  noble  courage  be  cast  down.  I  say  there 
shall  be  no  raore  Councils  but  what  are  absolutely  neces- 
sary. You  must  smooth  old  H. ;  after  you  have  re'd  what 
I  write  him  let  the  carrier  give  it  to  him.  We  muet  have 
some  confidence  in  Fellows. 

Altho'  I  was  in  hopes  never  to  have  wrote  Mons'  again, 
yet  I  have  this  day  wrote  him  a  very  long  letter,  and 
wish  I  had  time  to  send  you  copy  of  it,  as  I  do  to  the 


oyGoot^lc 


52  TEE  BELCHBB  PAPERS.  [1734. 

Lords  of  Trade  by  a  ship  sails  o'  Mundaj,  but  you'll  hear 
of  it  with  both  ears.  He  says  to  me,  April  29,  —  "I  have 
wrote  so  often,  and  being  convinc'd  of  a  villanous  prac- 
tice of  interrupting  my  letters  that  I  think  myself  under 
a  necessity  of  going  to  London  to  lay  my  complaint  be- 
fore his  Majesty,  and  for  that  end  I  desire  your  consent 
as  far  as  it  id  necessary."  Whether  he  has  any  intention 
of  this  nature  time  must  discover. 

I  hope  everybody  will  be  forward  to  make  discovery  & 
to  punish  any  concern'd  in  the  late  detestable  affair  trans- 
acted  at  Exeter,  and  that  every  one  in  the  government 
will  exert  themselves  for  the  preservation  of  the  royal 
woods.*  I  really  think  it  of  consequence  to  bring  both 
the  proclamations  to  perfection. 

I  shou'd  think  the  time  of  this  hurly  burly  a  good 
juncture    for  the   choice  of    an   Assembly.      Certainly 

At n's  deputation  can't  give  him  a   great    interest. 

The  29  of  this  month  I  must  be  with  the  Assembly  here, 
and  if  it  be  practicalsle  between  this  &  that  to  tiold  one 
at  Portsm"  I  wou'd  come.  But  you  must  all  well  con- 
sider whether  it  be  best  to  attempt  a  choice  now  or 
not ;  the  soonest  time  of  sitting  will  be  Munday,  the  20, 
&  Munday,  the  27, 1  must  come  away ;  that  it  seems  to 
me  hardly  practicable.  For  if  the  choice  shou'd  not  come 
out  right,  they'll  make  a  handle  of  so  short  a  session.  If 
you  shou'd  conclude  it  worth  while  to  trye,  inclos'd  is  a 
blank  writ  to  be  61['d  for  convening  Munday,  the  20,  which 
you  may  put  into  the  President's  band  at  the  Council 
Board  to  be  askt,  if  it  was  not  done  when  I  was  there. 
I  am.  Sir, 

Tour  ready  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  2,  1784. 

Return  me  the  blank  writ,  if  you  don't  use  it. 
ifi  carrier. 

•  Seepwf,  p.  61,  nol*.  — Ene 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,   JR. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 


Mt  dear  Son,  —  The  14  of  last  month  arriv'd  Cap' 
Bonner  &  brought  me  ^^our  dutif  ull  letter  of  4  Febi*  last, 
owning  the  rec'  of  6  of  mine  to  that  time,  and  that  I  may 
expect  an  answer  by  the  servant  you  are  sending,  which 
is  well.  While  you  are  in  health  &  diligent  at  your 
studies  I  am  easy  &  take  nothing  amiss ;  and  am  glad  you 
have  confin'd  your  correspondence  to  me  (and  now  & 
then  a  letter  to  your  mother).  Now  is  your  time  of  life 
to  lay  in  a  treasure  of  knowledge.  I  pray  God  speed  the 
plough. 

Inclos'd  ia  mine  to  worthy  M'  Hollis,  with  the  thanks 
of  M'  Byles'e  c"^  to  him  for  his  bountifull  benefaction,  and 
to  your  uncle  for  his  care  about  its  exportation.  It  is  a 
-fine  bell,  generally  th6t  the  best  in  the  country.  I  wish 
the  inscription  had  been  cast  on  it,  but  as  he  declin'd  I 
am  sensible  it  cou'd  n't  be  urg'd.  He  says  not  a  word  to 
tne  lately  of  John  Williams,  and  I  am  glad<  he  don't.  I 
sent  to  him  about  12  months  ago,  &  talkt  freely,  &  it 
had  just  the  same  effect  as  water  on  marble.  I  am  afraid 
hell  soon  come  to  poverty;  he  seems  to  be  made  without 
thought,  and  not  capable  of  being  serv'd.  But  this  to 
yourselt 

I  hope  Cr — d — c  *  will  not  be  able  to  do  much.  He 
went  away  in  very  strait  circumstances. 

I  attempted  what  you  hinted  with  D'  Colman,  who 
with  two  or  three  more  were  very  forward.  But  n  great 
majority  otherwise;  tho'  the  Gov'  stands  well  with  every 
man  of  them,  yet  they  are  afraid  lest  any  of  their  prin- 
cipal parishioners  shou'd  take  disgust.  So  the  fear  of 
man  brings  a  suare. 

I  thank  you  &  your  uncle  for  the  hints  out  of  D — b — r's 
letter  to  P.     He  is  a  restless  wretch,  and  I  have  a  vast 

•  Qaorge  Cndock,  who  vm  tbea  in  England.  —  Sim. 


oyGoot^lc 


54  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1784. 

deal  of  trouble  with  him ;  he  is  malicious  &  perfidious 
beyond  all  bounds;  he  ia  very  poor,  —  that's  a  favour; 
&  I  believe  more  odious  in  this  country  than  ever.  Peo- 
ple are  generally  very  easy  ;  but  a  change  wou'd  give 
the  Ministry  new  and  great  trouble,  and  what  cou'd  be 
more  unjust  &  dishonourable  after  the  battles  &  difficul- 
ties I  have  gone  thorrQ  for  the  Crown  ?  Yet  there  must 
be  a  good  watch  at  the  offices.  When  your  uncle  thinks 
necessary,  you  must  appear  &  bestir  yourself,  but  I  shou'd 
be  glad  to  ward  from  you  every  avocation  I  possibly 
cou'd, 

I  hope  Cooper  ia  arriv'd  by  this  time,  and  that  you  are 
in  possession  of  the  qualification  for  Tamworth  which  I 
sent  T  him.  Of  this  I  write  your  uncle  more  particularly ; 
so  refer  to  him.  Tamworth,  if  it  can  be  accomplisht,  wifl 
be  a  fine  thing.  Therefore  nothing  that  can  be  reasonably 
done  must  be  left  unattempted. 

As  I  suppose  you  are  by  this  time  got  to  the  bar,  I  am 
greatly  concern'd  that  you  may  not  take  any  precipitate 
steps,  but  go  on  gravely  with  your  studies^  attendance  at 
Westminster  Hall,  seeking  out  the  best  conversation,  &c', 
for  the  improvem'  of  your  readings.  Remember  the  great 
Lord  Coke's  golden  rule,  Pntdens  qui paHena  ;  don't  hurry 
into  business.  Altho'  I  have  sometimes  dropt  to  you  that 
you  must  learn  to  get  money  in  order  to  be  able  to  spend 
it ;  yet  if  you  will  study  to  be  a  good  husband,  I  think 
j6200  st'  a  year  will  maintain  you  handsomely,  and  I  am 
content  to  allow  it  you  for  some  years  longer  (if  God 
spares  your  life)  rather  than  you  shou'd  be  baulkt 
of  being  finally  eminent  in  your  profession.  Because 
I  neither  dare  nor  can  be  unthStfull  about  you,  I  have 
apply'd  for  advice  to  two  of  the  most  eminent  of  the 
long  robe  here  &  have  oblig'd  them  to  give  you  their 
thoughts  freely.  Judge  Auchmuty's  is  a  handsome  in- 
genious letter:  M''  Advocatfe  Shirley's  is  still  more  lai^e 
&  particular.    I  think  you'll  be  pleas'd  with  them  both. 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  THOMAS  H0LLI8.  55 

and  that  you'll  think  they  highly  deserve  your  grate- 
full  acknowledgments. 

Do  you  at  all  practice  fencing  &  dancing? 

Pray  tell  me  in  what  dress  a  Judge  of  Admiralty  sits 
on  the  bench  in  judgment,  whether  in  a  gown  &  coif,  or 
bow  ?  and  what  his  habit  compleat  may  cost  1 

I  have  this  day  reed  a  letter  from  our  kinsman  M' 
Belcher  at  Dublin,  with  whose  correspondence  I  am  etill 
more  pleas'd.  He  seems  to  me  an  ingenious  man,  &  of 
some  scholarship.  I  inclose  you  his  thdta  upon  the  motto 
of  our  arms,  of  which  1  think  well,  &  if  you  do,  &  my 
seal  shou'd  not  be  finisht  when  this  gets  to  hand,  I  wou'd 
after  all  assume  for  the  family  device,  Ad  mortem  fideUt. 
Think  of  this,  if  it  be  not  past  doing ;  for  thus  I  think  to 
put  it  on  my  coach. 

If  any  thing  new  occurs  before  this  ship  sails  I  shall 
add  it,  and  alwayes  remain 

Your  very  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Maj  4, 1734. 

Tell  your  bookseller  I  think  he  has  not  treated  you 
well  about  the  Greek  Testaments.  When  you  sent  it 
me  in  two  volumns  you  paid  him  26/,  and  now  he  makes 
you  pay  19/  more,  is  45/,  but  the  binding  of  my  smaller 
Testament  is  to  come  out,  which  can't  be  10/;  so  he 
charges  35/ for  the  Testament  you  had  of  him,  —  very 
unreasonable,  especially  since  he  told  you,  when  you  took 
the  two  volumns,  if  I  likt  better  to  have  it  in  one,  it 
shou'd  cost  nothing  to  exchange  it. 


TO  THOMAS  HOLLIS. 


Worthy  Sir, — I  have  reed  f  Cap'  Homana  your  very 
kind  &  obliging  favour  of  14  Feb',  with  your  handsome 
present  of  a  bell  to  the  southermost  c""""  of  this  town, 


oyGoot^lc 


66  THE  BELCHEK  PAPERS.  [17S4. 

Btiinding  in  Hollis  Street.  My  son  gives  me  an  ace'*  how 
frankly  &  easily  you  came  into  my  request,  which  greatly 
inhances  the  value  of  the  gift,  tho'  in  itself  noble  & 
generous,  &  greatly  exceeding  mine  &  that  good  people's 
wishes,  and  it's  thought  to  be  the  best  bell  in  the  coun- 
try, tho'  there  is  one  something  bigger.  The  Church 
have  desir'd  me  to  cover  to  you  their  humble  &  hearty 
thanks  for  this  great  act  of  goodness  &  kindness  to  them, 
and  for  which,  Sir,  you  will  please  also  to  accept  of  my 
most  gratefull  acknowledgm".  And  with  how  much 
honour,  &  with  how  much  gratitude,  must  the  present 
&  future  generations  of  New  England  mention  the  name 
of  Hollis.  I  say  may  the  scent  of  it  be  alwayes  fragrant 
as  a  field  which  the  Lord  bath  blessed. 

I  very  kindly,  Sir,  take  notice  of  your  respect  to  M' 
Oliver,  and  am  much  oblig'd  for  the  honour  done  biin  by 
the  Houo'"''  Company  for  propagating  the  Gospel  here. 
Had  not  Gov'  Holden  been  so  good  as  to  ingage  in  the 
affair  of  the  land  left  to  the  dissenting  ministry  of  Kings- 
ton in  Rh*  Island  government,  I  observe  your  readiness 
to  have  ingag'd  in  defence  of  that  pious  donation,  and 
heartily  thank  you,  for  Solomon  tells  us,  The  desire  of 
a  man  is  his  kindness. 

I  am  sorry  your  good  father  still  continues  in  a  weak 
low  state.  I  pray  God  to  recover  &  confirm  his  health, 
and  I  desire  you  to  make  my  very  kind  respects  acceptable 
to  him.  M"  Belcher  of  the  Temple  talks  loudly  to  a  fond 
father  of  M'  Hollis's  repeated  civiUty  to  him,  as  often  as 
he  has  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you.  How  shall  I  ?  or  how 
shall  he  acquit  himself?  in  return  for  so  much  goodness. 

I  wish  you  wou'd  coiiland  anything  in  this  part  of  the 
world  in  my  power,  whereby  I  might  demonstrate  with 
how  much  truth  &  respect  I  am,  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  most  faithfuU  humble  servant. 

Boston,  May  i,  1734.  J>  6. 

V  Bourdin.  HomftiiB. 


oyGoot^lc 


17U.]  TO  JONATHAlf  BELCHES,  3R. 


TO  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Grace,  —  I  wish  it  was  in  my 
power  to  find  any  curiosity  in  this  remote  corner  of  tlie 
world  worth  your  Grace's  notice,  &  whereby  I  might  in 
some  little  degree  (at  least)  express  the  great  honour  &  , 
esteem  I  have  for  your  Grace.  But  it's  hard  to  find  any- 
thing here  that  is  rare  in  England.  I  have,  however,  got 
made  out  of  the  knots  of  some  of  our  ash  trees  a  tea  table 
with  its  equipage,  which  being  a  pure  native  &  manufac- 
ture of  New  England,  I  have  order'd  M'  Belcher  of  the 
Temple  humbly  to  beg  leave  of  your  Grace  that  he  may 
(with  it)  wait  on  my  Lady  Dutchess  to  ask  her  aocepf . 
The  table  may  be  of  some  service,  but  I  fear  the  furni- 
ture must  be  only  for  show.  I  am  with  the  profoundest 
regard  &  duty,  may  it  please  your  Grace, 

Your  Grace's  most  obedient  &  most  humble  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  May  S,  1734. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Dear  Jonathan,  —  Altho'  I  have  already  wrote  you 
V  this  ship,  yet  I  must  add,  that  the  matter  of  Tamworth 
18  much  my  care,  &  I  hope  by  means  of  the  estate  I 
have  convey'd  to  you,  and  by  my  bond  lying  in  your 
uncle's  hand  for  £2000  st',  you  may  be  able  to  procure 
of  some  friend  or  other  £500  for  the  expence  of  your 
election.  If  the  bond  can  be  of  no  service,  why  did  your 
uncle  desire  me  to  send  it  ?  It  is  the  hardest  thing  to 
be  done  in  the  New  England  world  to  procure  bills  for 
England,  yet  I  send  your  nncle  a  small  one  V  this  ship 
on  the  Navy,  and  some  ore  goes  next  week  to  Bristol, 
and  I  will  be  constantly  thdtfull  of  getting  remisses  to 


oyGoot^lc 


58  THE  BELCHER  PAPEES.  [1734. 

your  uncle,  who  sayes  your  election  won't  come  on  'till  the 
latter  end  of  the  summer,  but  that  must  not  be  trusted 
to.  I  see  interesta  are  making  all  over  the  kingdom. 
Pray,  give  niy  service  to  M'  Crossland,  &  let  him  know 
I  have  been  very  diligent  with  my  friends  (the  merchants 
here)  for  promoting  the  manufacture  of  the  borough  of 
Tamworth,  and  I  have  a  fair  prospect  of  sending  some 
orders  in  a  little  time }  and  for  the  better  encouragment 
of  your  election,  altho'  I  am  wholly  out  of  trade  (&  never 
intended  to  be  concern'd  a  shilling  again),  yet  if  your 
uncle  cou'd  get  Crossland  to  furnish  £500  worth  of  cloths 
such  as  I  shall  mention  in  my  next,  &  to  be  paid  for  them 
in  12  months  with  interest,  I  wou'd  venture  such  a  parcel 
on  my  own  ace'*,  and  the  security  for  the  payment  might 
one  way  or  other  be  contriv'd  by  my  bond  now  there. 
But  if  I  can  procure  orders  sufficient  without,  I  had 
rather  avoid  this.  In  short,  I  am  wilting  to  do  any  thing 
you  or  your  uncle  can  think  of  (&  may  be  reasonable)  to 
give  you  the  best  probability  of  a  choice.  I  know  it  is 
a  great  trouble  to  your  uncle  &  you  to  open  &  read  all 
my  letters  &  handsomely  reseal  them,  yet  you  must  do  it 
from  time  to  time  to  be  the  better  verst  in  what  I  write 
to  every  body. 

The  D.  of  Newcastle  is  not  over  friendly,  but  we  must 
be  in  his  Grace's  good  graces,  if  we  can.  I  now  send 
your  uncle  f  Bourdin  a  nice  tea  table  with  its  furniture 
made  out  of  the  knots  of  our  black  ash.  The  table  is 
well  veneer'd,  &  done  here  by  the  elder  brother  of  Sir 
Rich''  Broccas,  late  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  and  I  really 
think  it  equal  to  the  finest  marble.  The  cups,  saucers, 
&c*  are  not  so  nice,  and  I  believe  must  serve  only  for 
show,  because  hot  water  may  spoil  'em.  When  you  have 
got  it  to  your  chamber  &  open'd  &  view'd  it,  if  you  & 
your  uncle  think  well,  present  it  to  the  Dutchess  of  New- 
castle, or  to  Lord  Wilmington.  Sometimes  I  have  had 
thfits  of  your  giving  it  to  the  Queen,  Princess  Orange, 


oyGoot^lc 


JTM.]  TO  LORD   WILMINGTON.  59 

Lady  Walpole,  or  aa  you  think  best  "Tie  not  for  the 
value,  but  being  a  New  England  curiosity,  and  I  think 
prettier  of  the  wood  kind  than  any  Tunbridge  ware  ;  and 
I  say  do  with  it  as  you  think  may  answer  the  best  end. 
But  if  it  shou'd  not  find  the  way  to  D.  N.  Castle's,  the 
letter  about  it  must  also  be  kept  back.     I  am 

Yours  in  all  paternal  affection.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Uay  7,  1734. 

This  letter  ia  also  to  your  uncle. 

V  Boordin.  Honuuii. 


TO  LORD  WILMINGTON. 

Mt  very  much  honoured  Lord,  —  In  Febru'  last  I 
did  myself  the  great  honour  of  addressing  your  Lordship, 
since  which  my  brother  &  son  give  me  the  pleasing  ace"  of 
your  Lordship's  great  condescention  &  goodness  to  them 
in  my  affairs,  and  for  which  I  hold  myself  under  the 
strongest  tyes  of  gratitude  to  your  Lordship,  and  more 
particidarly  for  the  royal  leave  of  takipg  my  support. 
And  I  must  humbly  beg  your  Lordship  to  hear  me  once 
more  on  this  head,  while  I  pray  the  next  leave  for  my 
taking  my  daily  bread  may  be  general.  I  think,  my 
Lord,  no  gent"'  cou'd  or  can  do  more  in  support  of  the 
King's  honour  in  the  government  than  I  have  done,  amidst 
the  opposition  of  stubborn  Assemblies ;  tho'  I  must  more 
justly  impute  it  to  the  influence  of  two  or  three  ill  natur'd 
factious  members  of  the  House  o£  Kepf.  The  way  & 
method  of  getting  at  my  support  is  a  great  hardship 
upon  me. 

For  I  am  oblig'd  to  spend  my  salary  12  months  before  I 
receive  it. 

To  be  at  a  great  charge  in  solliciting  for  leave. 

And  the  value  of  the  money  in  which  I  am  paid  sinks 
from  year  to  year  at  least  a  lO*""  part. 


oyGoot^lc 


60  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [17M. 

And  in  case  o£  my  mortality  my  family  always  must 
run  the  risq.  of  losing  a  year's  salary. 
That  what  by  one  thing  &  what  by  another  there  is  every 
year  a  deduction  of  at  least  a  fifth  part  of  my  salary, 
which  I  believe  your  Lordship  will  think  a  great  hard- 
ship on  a  Gov'  approv'd  by  the  King  in  his  whole  admin- 
istration. Were,  my  Lord,  the  delay  &  repeated  charge  & 
application  I  am  put  to  any  punishment  on  the  obstinacy 
of  the  Assembly,  it  might  he  some  support  of  the  King's 
honour,  but  the  hardship  is  wholly  on  the  King's  Gov', 
who,  I  hope,  has  comitted  no  fault  in  the  matter.  And 
with  the  greatest  deference  to  your  Lordship,  I  think  it 
wou'd  redound  more  to  his  Majesty's  honour  that  the  leave 
be  general  for  the  future,  'till  such  time  as  his  Majesty 
in  his  great  wisdom  &  goodness  shall  make  other  better 
support  for  his  Gov' ;  and  really,  my  Lord,  the  salary  is  so 
reduc'd,  —  I  mean  the  money  so  sunk  here  in  the  value, 
—  that  this  last  £3000  I  reed  was  not  worth  £T50  st', 
which,  allowing  the  deduction  I  have  before  mentioned,  is 
not  £600  a  year  for  the  King's  GoV  at  the  head  of  so 
large  &  flourishing  a  Province  as  this;  nor  does  it  defray 
my  annual  expence.  I  therefore  humbly  beg  leave  to 
hope  for  your  Lordship's  favour  &  candour  in  considering 
the  reasonableness  of  my  request  about  the  next  leave, 
that  I  may  not  be  continued  under  so  great  a  difl^culty, 
and  of  which  I  am  the  single  instance  in  all  the  King's 
Provinces,  —  every  other  Gov'  taking  his  support  as  soon 
as  it's  granted.  I  ask  ten  thousand  pardons  for  the  free- 
dom I  have  taken  with  your  Lordship,  and  remain  with 
the  profoundest  regard  &  duty,  may  it  please  your 
Lordship, 

Your  Lordship's  most  obedient,  most  faithfuU  &  most 
humble  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston.  May  7, 1734. 

4C  fiourdlD.  Homans. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  RICBARD  WALDRON. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDBON. 


HoHo"  Sib,  —  I  have  yours  V  the  carrier  of  5  cur" 
with  the  addittam',  which  you  call  6  April.  Why  are  you 
so  fond  of  the  month  of  April  ?  May  is  doubtless  a  more 
pleasant  month.  The  passing  the  two  proclamations  is 
mighty  well.  The  King's  government  must  be  upheld, 
maugre  the  disobedience  of  the  L"  Gov'.  I  send  you  old 
H.  letter  to  me,  &  my  answer  now  V  the  carrier  which 
you'll  read  &  return.  I  can't  see  what  design  he  cou'd 
be  put  upon  about  the  Justices.  I  have  almost  concluded 
that  Mons*  will  (in  his  rage)  at  all  hazards  venture  home, 
if  the  next  ship  brings  him  nothing  pleasing. 

I  acquiesce  in  ordering  a  new  Assembly  when  you  may 
all  think  it  the  best  juncture.  Inclos'd  is  my  order  to  the 
Presid'  to  convene  the  Council  that  they  may  debate  & 
advise  one  with  another  respecting  the  riot,  &  do  every- 
thing becoming  his  Majesty's  Council  to  bring  the  actors 
of  that  violence  to  condign  punishment.*  I  don't  mean 
that  the  Council  must  act  out  of  their  line,  or  take  any 
extrajudicial  steps.  But  I  am  sure  you  will  agree  with 
me  that  it's  best  they  meet  &  do  all  they  can  at  this  extrar 
ordinary  juncture,  &  upon  so  nice  &  critical  an  afiair. 
Tlie  King's  woods  are  precious  &  they  must  be  preserv'd 
by  all  possible  lawful!  wayes  &  means  in  the  power 
of  the  government;  and  it's  certainly  wise  to  pre- 
vent Mons'  from  having  the  least  pretence  of  making  a 
true  &  just  complaint  against  the  Gov'  &  Council.     You 

■  "  Wc  >rc  InfonD'd  tbat  the  Hon.  Col.  Dcnbab,  Barveyor  of  Hit  Hsjesly'i  Woods, 
IwTing  iTiadi  a  Seiiure  of  loina  Loga  or  Boards  at  Extltr,  lent  Penun*  to  bring  airay 
the  same :  bat  the  Hen  In  whoae  Fotscesion  tbe  Loggs  or  Boarda  vere,  [ell  npon  th>>iii,  and 
ID  the  Skinniih  sarernl  wen  Teiy  mucb  beat  and  wounded."  (See  New-England  Weekly 
JnaiDal,  April  99,  1734.)  Subsequently  Governor  Belcber  issued  ■  proelamaiion  (printed 
in  the  "  Boston  Weekly  Newi-Lelter  "  from  Hay  3  la  May  S),  reciting  tbe  eircumstincei, 
■•  related  by  Dnnbar,  raqniring  March  to  be  made  (or  pereoin  concerned  in  the  affair,  and 
commanding  alt  penons  to  aid  and  aasisl  the  Surreyor-Ueneral  and  his  depnlies  and  usist- 
anta  in  ibe  execution  of  ttieir  aRlce.  A  detailed  account  of  tbe  riot  is  given  in  Bell'a 
History  of  Exeter,  pp.  T3-TS.  —  EDS. 


oyGoot^lc 


62  THE   BELCHER   PAPERS.  [17U. 

may  depend  he  will  oflen  sit  in  Pandemonium,  &  summon 
all  his  friends  to  his  assistance,  for  his  resolution  is  Ache- 
rotda  rmvere  to  his  aid.  The  inclos'd  print  has  the  pro- 
clamation, &  Boydell  shall  repeat  it  in  his  Gazette.  How 
comes  poor  unstable  Pierce  *  to  vote  with  you  ?  You'll 
see  I  have  order'd  the  Presid'  to  adjourn  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  &  the  Council  must  think  of  a  proper  time. 
Had  the  Council  advis'd  to  a  new  Assembly,  I  wou'd 
'a'  been  with  you  next  week,  but  I  had  no  thoughts  of 
coming  unless  on  that  occasion.  I  believe  I  shall  give 
Madam's  dangler  a  quietus  at  my  next  coming. 

You  must  take  care  to  watch  the  adversary,  &  keep 
the  Gov*  constantly  advised,  that  no  affair  of  the  govern- 
ment may  suffer.  I  believe  never  was  a  viler  lye  than 
the  whisper  you  mention,!  and  doubtless  comes  from  the 
quarter  you  speak  of.  I  don't  suppose  that  board  cou*d 
or  wou'd  ever  pretend  to  anything  of  so  extraordinary  a 
nature.  M'  Belcher  was  at  Cambridge  by  the  last  ship, 
nor  had  been  at  London  from  beginning  of  Nov'  to  that 
time.  This  must  discover  the  falshood  of  such  a  sugges- 
tion. It  does  not  want  my  testimony,  because  every  one 
that  knows  or  hears  of  AP  Belcher  speak  loudly  of  the 
great  respect  k  honour  with  which  he  is  heard  at  all  the 
publick  offices,  as  well  as  before  the  King's  Privy  Coun- 
cil, and  with  persons  of  the  greatest  distinction  at  their 
own  houses,  but  what  can't  malice  &  %n\y  invent  &  say  ? 

Inclos'd  is  copy  of  the  letter  I  wrote  Sancho  last  week,J 

•  Joihu  Peireo,  om  of  th>  CoddcU.  See  a  Hau.  Hist.  Coll.  vol.  vL  pp.  loa,  MS,  Ut. 
—  Edb. 

t  The  "vhUper"  lareftrred  to  »  follom  in  >  letter  fiom  Govenior  Beldier  to  Mr. 
Pwtridge,  wriilea  on  the  wme  d«j  with  this  letter :  "  A  gent  write*  me  from  Portam*, 
Ha7  D,  —  'I  hare  had  a  whisper  within  three  minutee  that  H'  Belcher*!  coDitancf  &  impor- 
tonily  at  the  Board  of  TVide  hu  occaeion'd  an  order  from  that  Board  to  him  to  appear 
there  do  more.  Tie  probable  the  etory  ia  come  from  Cndock.'  !•  there  the  shadow  of 
Imth  in  this,  or  the  leaet  fanodation  for  it  ?  Pray  give  me  a  parlicnlar  answer.  I  can't 
BDppoH  their  Lordihipe,  who  ant  the  King's  nrvants  to  hear  all  things  relating  to  the  Plan- 
tationacon'dorwon'd  deny  hearing  an  Agentof  a  King's  Govt  as  oReQ  ai  he  had  occasion 
to  wait  on  their  Lordships.  I  am  sure  such  a  prooeedlng  wou'd  bo  most  m 
&  a  juat  complaint  might  be  made  to  the  Sing  npon  it."  —  £db 

1  &eean(e,pp.U-5U.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO   MCHARD   WALDRON.  63 

which  rend  &  keep  to  yourself,  unless  you  hear  it  comes 
abroad  otherwise,  &  return  it  to  me  V  the  carrier.  A 
copy  goes  to  Whitehall  f  Bourdin,  who  sails  tomorrow 
mom.  Perhaps  he  may  read  it  to  the  Coimcil,  tho'  I 
question  it. 

We  have  had  a  hard  struggle  ahout  this  town's  repf.* 
From  the  inclos'd  print  you'll  see  S.  W*  insolence  &  open 
war  with  the  Gov'.  As  to  the  matter  of  the  Toper,f  it's 
all  an  equivocation ;  hut  I  think  it  an  high  af&ont  to 
Mons'  that  hia  new  devotee  is  oblig'd  to  deny  his  master, 
lest  he  shou'd  be  sacrific'd  to  the  resentments  of  the 
people  for  owning  him.  For  had  not  the  matter  been 
clear'd  up  (altho'  in  a  foolish  weak  manner)  he  had  cer- 
tainly been  dropt,  which  must  show  S'  Pat.  &  all  his 
adherents  how  odious  he  is  in  this  country.  I  am, 
Hono'*  Sir, 

Your  steady  friend.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  May  9, 1784. 

tf  carrier.  i 

TO  RICHARD  WALDROK. 

SiK,  —  I  am  favour'd  with  yours  v  the  post  of  10  cur", 
with  Sancho's  to  you  &  the  answer,  by  which  I  find  he 
gains  nothing  of  the  Sec''  by  his  troublesome  epistles. 
Tou  might  also  have  told  him  that  he  call'd  a  Council  at 
Gambling's,  &  that  the  Gov'  had  held  several  at  Wibird's, 
Sherburne's,  &  Gambling's.  I  take  it  to  be  the  Council 
Chamber  wherever  they  meet.  I  am  sure  you  are  fully 
appriz'd  how  wise  it  will  be  for  the  Gov'  &  Council  to 
exert  &  do  every  thing  they  can  agreeable  to  the  pro- 
clamation about  the  riot     Let  him  commit  as  many  irre- 

■  Tha  B»tan  (own  meeting  «u  held  Hay  8.  In  the  fcTenoon  the  Dumtwr  of  voUe  cttt 
*u  604,uid  only  three  RcpreBBnUIiveg  were  choien, —  Etiaha Cooke,  wbo  bad  8M;  Thomas 
Cuhin;;,  Jr.,  674  ;  and  Oxenbridge  Thacher,  317.  At  the  adjourned  tneetiDg  in  tbe  afler- 
■oon  SOS  rolM  vera  cait;  SamacI  Wellea  had  303,  and  na  accordingly  cboaen.  Sac  New- 
England  Weekly  Joarnal,  May  13,  1T34.  — Eds. 

1  ElUu  Cooke.  — Eoa. 


oyGoot^lc 


64  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [173*. 

gularitiea  &  tyrannies  as  he  pleases,  of  which  there  ought 
to  be  a  good  diary  or  journal  kept,  which  may  lay  the 
foundatioji  of  a  good  thing.  You  are  certainly  right 
to  keep  the  Council  well  united,  for  Don  Diego  *  is  like 
the  troubled  aea,  when  it  cannot  rest,  whose  waters  cast 
up  mire  &  dirt.  The  Council  must  be  strong  &  mannerly, 
and  they'll  daily  find  his  bully  airs  to  flag.  I  am  satiafy'd 
in  what  you  say  about  an  Assembly,  &  whenever  it  may 
be  a  good  time  to  hold  one,  I  hold  myself  ready. 

All  those  he  has  prest  to  bis  assistance  shou'd  demand 
their  pay,  making  out  their  accounts  in  a  regular  manner, 
and  the  sooner  the  better.  Such  a  demand  will  produce 
considerable  advantages.  By  the  advices  reed  yester- 
day f  White  I  begin  to  think  he  neither  can  nor  will  go 
home.  Inclos'd  you  have  the  paragraph  of  a  letter  of 
3  March  to  a  gent"  here  in  town,  &  another  of  one  to  me 
of  11  same  month,  which  you  may  in  a  prudent  manner 
comunicate  to  old  H.  &  the  rest  of  our  hearty  friends. 
Yet  it  must  be  done  to  each  of  'em  singly,  &  in  a  very 
prudent  manner,  always  secreeting  my  name. 

I  say  a  good,  solid,  round  complaint  to  be  made  out 
against  him,  well  attented,  wou'd  do  fine  things  to  be  sent 
home  to  the  King.  I  am  sure  we  have  a  good  opportu- 
nity in  our  hands,  &  let  us  wisely  imploy  it. 

I  shou'd  be  glad  of  the  names  of  two  proper  persons 
in  the  lieu  of  W.  &  A.  The  young  gent"  you  mention 
pray'd  me  to  excuse  him  when  I  was  last  with  you. 

Taffs  frolic  at  Amaskeeg  T  believe  will  produce  good 
consequences.  Certainly  Waldo's  declaration  (which  I 
sent  you)  will  be  a  full  discovery  to  the  ministry  at  home 
how  odious  the  wretch  is  here,  and  how  cou'd  Waldo  be 
such  a  disconcerted  fool  as  to  put  himself  into  the  same 
class  of  odium  in  his  native  country  ?  However,  as  I 
wrote  Mons''  sometime  ago,  so  it  comes  out,  that  the  Devil 
makes  'em    but  dupes  in  all  their  silly  attempts.     The 

■  LieuUnant-OoTenior  Dunbir.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1784]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB.  65 

great  King  William's  advice  to  hia  Parliament  is  mine,  to 
the  gent"  of  the  Conncil,  &  to  all  our  friends,  —  Steady, 
steady,  and  all  will  be  well.  So  I  wish  you  all,  &  remain, 
Hono***  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  13, 1734. 

I  think  upon  all  considerations,  it's  host  Sancho  shou'd 
remain  where  he  is.     I  retoirn  the  1"*. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Dear  Jonathan,  —  I  have  your  few  lines  T  HaSierden 
of  1  April,  with  Tullit's  bill  for  Thonias's  livery,  who  I 
suppose  is  aboard  Prince,  daily  expected.  I  see  you  was 
retuming  to  Cambridge,  and  wou'd  leave  a  particular 
answer  to  my  letters  with  your  uncle.  If  M'  Bellamy  be 
living,  give  him  my  humble  service.  What's  come  of 
the  epithalamium  ?  the  Fellowship  ?  the  account  of  your 
Inst  year's  expence  ?  and  do  you  come  to  the  bar  this 
summer  ? 

I  now  send  Y  Cap'  Homans  a  box  cont^  60  ""  of  green 
wax  candles,  well  made;  and  have  put  aboard  Crocker 
the  same  quantity  to  be  deliver'd  your  uncle,  from  whom 
you  will  take  them,  and  present  in  your  own  name  (as 
the  produce  of  your  native  country)  one  box  to  the 
Lord  Chancellor,  the  other  to  ^e  Lord  Chief  Justice,  or 
other  wayes  as  you  shall  judge  may  be  most  to  your 
service.  You  most  let  'em  know  that  the  greatest 
curiosity  of  them  is  the  aromatic  smell,  and  may  be 
handled  without  any  offence.  They  are  made  from  a 
berry  of  a  shrub  which  we  call  bayes.  I  shall  be  con- 
stantly writing  as  occasion  may  require,  and  remain 

Your  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

BusTOX,  Ml.;  20,  1734. 

V  Honuuia.  Shepberdson. 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Sir,  —  I  have  your  favour  y  the  carrier,  of  20  inst*.  I 
assure  you  If  you  &  our  friends  will  assist,  nothing  will 
alter  my  resolution  about  Sancho.  No,  I'll  probe  him.  If 
a  good  rational  complaint  can  be  form'd  &  strongly  sup- 
ported, I  am  satisfy'd  we  can  do  his  business  as  to  both 
offices.  But  if  people  will  not  take  pains  to  deliver 
themselves,  they  must  be  content  to  suffer.  He  has 
rais'd  my  mettle  and  I'll  vent  it  to  the  demolition  of  so 
vile  a  creature  as  much  as  lyes  in  my  power. 

I  think  we  shall  have  a  good  Assembly  at  Boston. 
Waldo's  vulgar  madness  will  do  us  great  service.  Beel- 
zebub's health  wou'd  relish  as  well  here  as  that  of  his 
pictures  to  the  life.  I  thank  your  caution  about 
Sh — r — 1 — ^y,  and  will  take  a  proper  season  to  search 
him.  He  may  write  what  he  pleases;  most  certainly 
Sancho  is  virtually  absent,  and  that  I  insist  on;  as  to 
acts  of  government  he  is  present  only  when  he  has  his 
Gov'''  orders  in  his  hand.  As  to  Holland  &  Windsor 
they-  are  two  distinct  governments  &  forreign  each  to 
other. 

I  shall  be  glad  of  the  copies  as  soon  as  your  health 
will  possibly  allow,  and  am  heartily  sorry  for  your  present 
indisposition. 

I  am  not  much  concerned  about  the  celebration  of  the 
nuptials,  provided  it  don't  fail  on  the  part  of  the  Coun- 
cil.* Altho'  there  can't  be  a  coalition,  yet  we  must  be 
wise  enough  to  do  what  is  decent  &  in  form,  or  govern- 
ment cannot  be  upheld.  I  say,  we  must  govern  our 
spirits  in  publick  business.  I  assure  you  he  is  distrest  at 
home  (as  he  calls  it)  as  well  as  here  for  the  unum  neeeaa- 
rium,  and  he  must  receive  &  answer  more  such  packets 
as  you  mention,  or  he  won't  be  able  to  subsist  long, 

*  Tha  retersnce  i>  to  ■  propoaed  celabrstion  of  the  muTUx<  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  to 


jvGooi^lc 


1734.]  TO  JOSEPH  WILLIAMS.  67 

Is  H — sk  such  a  fool  as  to  be  rally'd  by  a  sinking,  de- 
spairing Teague  t  If  he  had  any  packet,  I  believe  be 
wrote  it,  and  directed  it  to  himself,  as  (I'm  told)  is  his 
practice. 

Can  you  judge  at  all  when  will  be  the  beat  time  for  the 
choice  of  a  new  Assembly  ?  I  want  to  give  my  fiienda 
a  visset,  and  am,  Hono"*  Sir, 

Your  HSBured  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  23,  1731. 
If  carrier. 


TO  JOSEPH  WILLIAMS.* 

Sir,  —  The  15  of  last  month  our  Sec^,  Coll'  Winthrop 
deliver'd  me  your  favour  of  the  9  of  Janu*  past,  which  is 
so  full  of  respect,  and  which  I  don't  deserve,  from  M' 
"Williams,  that  it  perfectly  surprizes  me  &  puts  me  to  a 
full  stand  to  know  how  to  return  it.  Because  the  pub- 
lick  prints  have  given  you  repeated  accounts  of  the  diffi- 
culties I  have  been  imbarrast  with  in  the  government 
here,  I  need  not  repeat  'em ;  but  think  my  countrymen 
are  too  stiffe,  and  for  which  they  have  already  severely 
suffer'd.  The  just  honour  &  rights  of  the  Crown  are 
doubtless  to  be  upheld  very  compatibly  with  the  liberties 
of  the  people,  nor  have  the  Assembly  ever  really  gain'd 
one  single  point  they  have  contended  for ;  80  I  wish  they 
may  be  wiser  for  the  future,  that  the  Gov'  &  they  may 
both  enjoy  more  ease.  However,  these  difficulties  have 
so  ingrost  me  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  pay  the 
respect  I  bear  to  a  great  many  of  my  worthy  friends,  and 
I  again  ask  pardon  of  you  in  particular.  The  appoint- 
ment of  L"  Gov*  Phips  &  of  M'  Oliver  in  the  room  of  their 
predecessors  I  hope  will  strengthen  the  hands  of  the 
Hono***  Company's  Comiss"  here. 


oyGoot^lc 


68  THE  BELCHEB  PAPEBS.  [17M. 

I  am  much  oblig'd  for  your  kind  mention  of  W  Belcher 
at  the  Temple,  and  shall  esteem  your  friendship  in  re- 
minding the  Company  to  answer  my  request  when  there 
may  be  a  vacancy,  and  unless  your  air  &  climate  have 
much  alter'd  him,  I  will  be  bound  that  he  shall  not  dis- 
honour a  respect  from  the  Company  of  that  kind.  I 
agree  with  you.  Sir,  that  great  is  the  decay  of  the  spirit 
of  piety  &  vital  religion,  and  I  am  afraid  more  with  us 
than  with  you.  We  seem  to  have  lost  our  first  love,  and 
the  spirit  that  drew  our  forefathers  into  this  desert. 
Luxury  &  vanity  too  much  swallow  up  the  thoughts  of 
the  present  &  rising  generation ;  and  if  God  thro'  the 
abuse  of  the  riches  of  his  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus  shou'd 
still  withhold  his  Holy  Spirit,  vice  &  prophaness  will  (like 
a  torrent)  soon  carry  all  before  'em.  But  I  will  not  de- 
spair, for  we  have  a  number  of  excellent  souls,  a  remnant, 
I  hope,  according  to  the  election  of  grace,  whose  prayers 
are  daily  going  up  to  the  God  of  all  mercy,  and  being 
perfum'd  by  the  once  sacrific'd  but  now  ascended  Jesus, 
the  meritorious  mediatour  &  intercessor  for  apostate  man. 
I  say,  I  hope  they  will  thus  become  a  sweet  savour  in  the 
nostrils  of  that  God  with  whom  is  the  residue  of  the 
spirit.  Nothing,  sure,  is  too  hard  for  Him  who  rejointed 
the  dry  honea,  cover'd  them  with  sinews,  flesh  &  skin,  & 
breath'd  upon  'em  &  they  liv'd  &  stood  up  upon  their 
feet,  an  exceeding  great  army.  Our  hearts  &  onr  eyes 
must  therefore  be  alwayes  fixed,  trusting  in  Him. 

May  you.  Sir,  constantly  enjoye  a  great  measure  of 
health,  with  every  other  easy  circumstance  in  life,  and 
may  you  &  I  at  the  dissolution  of  soul  &  body,  thro' 
the  mercy  of  God,  in  Jesus  Christ,  mount  with  eagle 
wings  to  the  tree  of  life,  &  eat  &  live  forever.  This  is 
&  shall  be  the  prayer  of,  worthy  Sir, 

Your  hearty  friend  &  most  obedient  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  May  26, 1734- 
V  Shepberdson. 


oyGoot^lc 


1794.]  TO  JAHBB  E.   OOL&TEOEPE. 


TO  JAMES  E.   OGLETHORPE.* 

Sib,  —  I  have  reed  T  M'  Quincy  thie  honour  of  yours 
of  30  March  past,  referring  me  to  anotJier  of  your  iavours 
which  I  have  not  yet  been  so  happy  as  to  recieve.  It 
was  a  great  pleasure  to  me,  Sir,  to  hear  of  your  health 
and  a  misfortune  &  mortification  to  me  &  to  this  Province 
that  yoitr  a£&irs  urg'd  your  speedy  &  direct  return  for 
England,  which  prevents  us  the  pleasure  &  honour  of  pay- 
ing you  here  the  juBt  esteem  &  honour  we  all  have  for 
M'  Oglethorpe,  and  which  I  shou'd  rejoyce  to  do  in  any 
wny  or  manner  you  may  please  to  command.  I  hope  this 
will  find  you  safe  arriv'd  in  England,  reed  by  your  prince 
&  your  country  with  the  respect  due  to  your  superiour 
genius  &  merit. 

I  wish  the  new  Colony  of  Georgia  may  thrive  &  flourish 
&  soon  become  a  fine  addition  to  the  British  empire  in 
America.  But  if  you  will  allow  me,  Sir,  I  will  just  men- 
tion what  I  fear  may  discourage  inhabitants  in  the  first 
beginings  of  such  a  setdement,  which  is,  that  I  have 
heard  one  condition  of  the  tenure  of  their  lands  is,  in 
case  there  be  no  male  heir  in  a  family  the  daughters  are 
all  excluded  on  the  death  of  the  father,  and  the  lands  to 
revert  to  the  Trustees  or  to  the  Crown.  If  it  be  so,  the 
condition  is  hard.  We  have  here  a  fine  country,  capable 
of  naval  stores,  grain,  swine  and  black  cattle,  has  lead, 
iron  &  copper  mines,  and  perhaps  the  best  fishery  in  the 
world ;  and  I  think  I  sign'd  grants  the  last  year  for  16 
or  18  towns  of  6  miles  square  a  peice,  which  is  near 
400,000  acres  of  land,  and  the  grant  is  an  absolute  estate 
in  fee  simple  to  the  several  grantees  to  do  with  just  as 
they  will,  except  the  obligation  of  building  a  small  hovel 
for  themselves  &  another  for  their  cattle,  and  bringing 
to  a  few  acres  of  land  to  English  grass  in  some  reason- 

■  S««elIua.Hisl.C(ill.  Tol.  *i.p.  2T8iiote.  — Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


70  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1784. 

able  time.  They  pay  no  quitrent  or  acknowledgment 
whatever  to  the  Crown  or  to  the  government.  But  when 
a  father  (with  his  numerous  sons  &  daughters)  has  spent 
his  (&  their)  lives  in  subduing  &  bringing  to  s  wilderness 
at  Greorgia,  that  the  younger  sons  &  daughters  shou'd  en- 
joy no  part  of  the  fruit  of  their  labourB,  but  upon  the  death 
of  the  father  it  must  appear  they  have  only  been  slaves 
to  the  eldest  beir  male,  and  must  become  vagabonds  & 
beggars,  and  in  case  of  no  heir  male  the  daughters  to  be 
still  so  by  the  estate's  reverting  to  the  Trustees  or  to  the 
Crown;  —  if  this  be  the  case,  (with  deference  to  the  pro- 
jectors) I  think  it  must  greatly  check  the  growth  of 
that  new  colony,  by  the  inhabitants  strolling  to  other 
parts  of  America  to  get  lands  on  the  much  better  terms 
aforemention'd.  It's  true  most  of  the  estates  in  England 
are  held  in  such  a  manner,  but  it  must  be  considered 
they  have  been  in  cultivation  some  thousands  of  years, 
are  become  gardens,  and  capable  of  raising  fortunes  for 
younger  children  ;  but  it  must  be  some  centuries  before 
wildernesses  will  he  in  such  a  capacity  &  situation.  You 
will,  Sir,  pardon  the  freedom  I  have  taken,  which  I  think 
I  have  done  as  a  true  friend  to  the  new  colony. 

I  have  order'd  W  Belcher  of  the  Temple  to  do  himself 
the  honour  of  putting  this  into  your  hands,  and  I  shall 
greatly  esteem  your  favour  &  countenance  to  him.  I 
wish  you  alwayes  much  health  &  honour,  &  am  in  all  your 
commands,  Hono**  Sir, 

Your  most  faithfull  humble  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  25,  1731. 
V  Shepherdaon. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEB,  JR. 

Son  Jonathan,  —  The  detention  of  the  ships  by  bad 
winds  &  weather  gives  me  the  opportunity  of  answering 
your  letters  of  Feb'  4,  V  Tho'  Woods  &  of  March  29  &  30 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  JONATHAN   BEI.CHEB,  JE.  71 

V  your  cousin  Oliver  (in  Prince).  I  hope  Wood  will 
prove  a  good  servant.  I  am  sure  tbe  charge  about  him 
is  great  &  so  are  tiis  wi^s.  The*  Percival  had  no  more 
than  £20  a  year  this  money.  I  am  sorry  you  gave  Wood 
any  encouraginent  of  being  a  butler  (or  gent^  servant), 
when  I  wrote  only  for  a  footman  to  ride  behind  my 
coach  &  such  like  services. 

I  thank  you  for  the  book  of  verses,  and  that  you  per- 
form'd  your  part  of  'em  so  well.  Tbe  letters  to  your  two 
brothers  I  carefully  deliver'd.  Your  cousin  Oliver  speaks 
very  handsomely  of  you,  and  he  is  very  worthy  of  the 
respectfull  mention  you  make  of  him. 

Most  certainly  there's  nothing  that  hellish  malice  & 
envy  can  invent  but  what  Dunbar  wou'd  vent  against  the 
Gov'.  I  therefore  think  all  he  sayes  &  does  must  have 
the  less  vertue  &  credit  since  every  one  knows  the  cursed 
source  from  whence  it  arises. 

I  take  a  particular  notice  of  your  expence  from  Aug^ 
28, 1732  to  Aug*  28, 1733,  being  £277. 5.  5ist^,  and  is  £77 
more  than  you  desir'd  or  I  allow.  You  must  consider, 
Jonathan,  every  st^  shilling  is  4/  here  &  more,  but  let  that 
be  as  it  will,  I  know  you  may  live  very  genteely  for  £200 
st'  a  year,  &  as  the  Gov'  of  N.  England's  son.  There's 
lately  arriv'd  here  one  M'  Baxter,  a  barrister  from  BB*, 
was  six  years  at  the  Temple,  &  then  went  to  BB*  to  seek 
his  fortune,  and  about  12  months  ago  marry'd  a  lady 
there  with  £50,000  stf.  He  has  often  been  to  see  me,  & 
tells  me  he  never  spent  above  £150  a  year  while  a 
Templer,  and  that  £200  sp  a  year  is  a  handsome  &  gen- 
erous allowance,  with  which  I  wou'd  have  you  content. 
You  must  study  to  be  a  good  oeconomist  as  well  as  other 
things,  &  learn  to  esteem  money  as  necessary  to  your 
comfort  &  honour  in  life. 

The  matter  of  a  Fellowship  at  Cambridge  I  suppose  is 
over.  But  what  most  of  all  surprizes  me  is  that  neither 
your  uncle  nor  you  reply  a  syllable  to  what  I  mention'd 


oyGoot^lc 


72  THE  BKLCHEE  PAPEBS.  [17S4. 

about  Tamworth  T  Knox ;  by  which  I  conclude  you  have 
dropt  all  thoughts  of  it.  But  you  had  done  well  to  have 
let  me  known  it  iu  time  &  so  have  sav'd  me  &  my  friends 
a  vast  deal  of  trouble  ;  for  the  future  your  uncle  &  you 
must  make  a  wiser,  riper  judgment  before  you  ingage 
yourselves  &  me  in  such  a  great  afiiair,  because  the  noise 
of  it  (to  no  purpose)  makes  both  me  &  you  contemptible 
among  mankind  &  gives  ooca^on  to  the  ill  natur'd  to 
meer. 

Your  uncle  greatly  am-prizes  me,  Jonathan,  with  your 
love  passion  at  Paul's  Yard.  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  my 
cousin  Belcher  for  his  respect  &  civility  to  you,  and  the 
young  lady  (for  ought  I  know)  may  deserve  a  far  better 
match  than  you  can  pretend  to  be ;  but  shou'd  you  pre- 
sume ever  to  make  court  to  any  person  without  my 
knowledge  &  chearfdl  consent,  I  shall  freely  own  my- 
self more  decieved  in  you  than  in  any  person  I  have 
had  to  do  with,  and  that  you  are  void  of  the  strict  duty 
you  owe  me,  but  this  I  will  never  believe  till  I  see  it. 
I  have  wrote  your  uncle  something  on  this  head 
which  he'll  show  you,*  and  when  you  have  th6jB  of 
marrying,  pray  read  mine  over  gravely  &  seriously  of 
Aug"  14,  1732. 

I  think  it  best  for  you  to  follow  your  studies  diligently 
(but  prudently)  and  in  time  see  what  figure  you  can 
make  at  the  bar,  and  whether  it  will  reach  a  comfortable 
and  honourable  support  for  a  family.  I  inclose  you  a 
paragraph  of  Grov'  Holden's  last  letter  to  me,  where  he 
mentions  you  with  much  respect,  and  so  you  must  atwayes 
treat  him.  Perhaps  in  due  time  one  of  his  young  ladies 
may  be  at  your  service. 

29  of  March  you  say  you  shou'd  answer  my  letters  very 
particularly  T  HaSerden ;  but  1  of  April  you  say  you 
must  defer  it  to  the  next.  I  am,  Jonathan,  Gov'  of  two 
of  the  King's  Provinces  (one  of  'em  not  the  least),  and 

•  ScsiXMf,  p.46a.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  TO  JONATHAN    BELCHER,   JR.  73 

have  alwayes  a  vast  many  publick  affairs  on  hand  (beeides 
all  my  private  buainess),  yet  1  make  it  a  rule  of  my  life 
never  to  let  letters  lye  froin  time  to  time  unanswer'd ; 
how  then  can  you  let  those  from  a  father  to  a  son  lye 
neglected,  especially  when  tbey  are  the  breathings  of 
my  heart  for  your  only  advantage?  You  have  in  a 
manner  dropt  writing  to  every  body,  and  I  approve  it ; 
but  you  must  be  fully  convinc'd  &  possest  that  writing 
constantly  to  me  is  as  necessary  as  any  one  thing  in  your 
life.  Tour  studiee,  your  eating  and  drinking  are  hardly 
more  necessary,  and  X  expect  you  answer  mine  paragraph 
by  paragraph,  for  1  write  you  nothing  that's  triQing  or 
unnecessary.  You  shou'd  not  omit  the  account  of  your 
annual  expence  to  come  6  months  after  the  time.  But 
you  must  not  fail  to  send  it  me  the  first  ship  that 
comes  away  after  28  Aug*  next.  I  am  sorry  you  give 
me  occasion  for  this  complaining  letter,  and  hope  it  will 
be  the  last  of  the  kind. 

I  have  desir'd  Cap*  Tyng  (a  passenger  in  Shepherd- 
son)  to  deliver  this  with  his  own  hand.  He  is  your 
father's  &st  friend ;  so  tell  your  uticle,  that  he  &  you 
may  treat  hitn  with  a  great  deal  of  friendship  &  civility. 
I  am,  my  dear  son. 

Your  most  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

BoBTOK,  Ma;  25,  1734. 
V  Sbepherdson. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Dear  Jonathan,  —  I  refer  you  to  mine  of  25  ult'  "9 
Sbepherdson.  Understanding  you  have  some  .acquaint- 
ance with  the  Hon*"  M'  T.  Townshend,  I  inclose  you  a 
letter  from  his  brother,  who  lives  with  me,  to  corrobo- 
rate &  increase  it,  if  you  think  best. 

I  have  sent  your  uncle  my  speech  made  yesterday  to 


oyGoot^lc 


74  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

the  Assembly,  and  desir'd  him  to  put  it  into  some  of  the 
publtck  prints.  When  you  read  it  perhaps  you'll  think 
it  may  not  dishonour  your  father. 

The  inclos'd  for  Gov'  Holden  &  you  has  in  it  an  address 
from  the  ministers  here  to  tlie  King  made  at  their  anniver- 
sary Convention,  and  in  that  respect  better  than  if  only 
from  the  ministers  of  this  town  ;  but  you'll  find  it  pretty 
lean  about  your  father,  yet  as  good  as  cou'd  be  got  at 
this  time.     Gov'  Holden  &  yon  must  desire  some  of  the 
dissenting  ministers  of  London  &  some   New  England 
merch"  to  go  with  you  &  deliver  it;  &  if  you  are  gra- 
ciously reciev'd  let  a  handsome  paragraph  go  into  the 
prints  about  it,  mentioning  Gov'  Holden's  &  your  name 
in  conjunction,  and  send  me  one  of  the  prints.    Ask  your 
uncle  to  be  one  of  the  train  to  go  with  you  to  the  King. 
I  inclose  a  copy  of  the  address  to  go  into  the  prints  (after 
deUvery),  if  Gov'  Holden  &  you  judge  it  worth  while.     I 
think  it  worth  your  while  to  make  considerable  court  to 
Gov'  Holden.     He  is  a  gent"  of  vertue  &  true  religion, 
has  a  great  interest  with  the  Ministry,  &  may  procure  you 
great  favour  with  thftm,  and  if  you  like  the  young  ladies, 
lo  knows  but  you  may  in  time  be  better  acquainted 
th  one  of  them?    I  shou'd  be  glad  to  have  you  one  of 
3  Corporation  for  propagating  the  Gospel  among  the 
3ian8  here.     They  are  an  Hon"*"*  Society,  and  I  am  at 
;  head  of  their  Coiniss"  here.   Sir  Kob'  Clark,  M'  Wilks, 
illis,  Morton,  &  Williams  can  assist  to  get  you  in. 
Your  old  servant,  Tho'  Woods,  tells  me  you  are  very 
^lar  in  your  life,  for  which  I  thank  God.     I  wou'd  ad- 
le  that  you  be  alwayes  in  bed  before  ten,  and  summer  & 
nter  rise  with  the  sun.     Your  epithalamium*  does  you 
ich  honour  with  better  judges  than  I  am.    Once  more 
iharge  you  to  steal  a  few  seconds  for  a  letter  to  good 
idam  Rand.f     She  alwayes  speaks  of  you  with  tears  of 


oyGoot^lc 


1W4.]  TO   LOBD  WILMINGTON.  75 

respect  &  pleasure ;  and  send  her  some  nice  present  to  the 
value  of  a  gumeu.    I  lo?e  you,  and  so  remain 

Your  lather.  J.  B. 

Herewith  is  your  mother's  1"*,  with  a  small  piece  of 
gold. 

BosTox.  Jaue  1,  1731. 

9  POUBB.  

TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hong"'  Sir, —  I  am  with  yours  of  30  ult',  and  return 
the  comission  for  a  Special  Judge,  with  a  dedimus  which 
you'll  put  into  the  hands  of  the  President  of  your  Court 
Taff  win  never  get  to  his  right  home  'till  Pluto  takes  him 
into  custody. 

I  particularly  remark  alt  you  say  about  the  Indians,  and 
wou'd  have  our  people  well  upon  their  guard,  but  not  to 
be  aggressors.  By  a  ship  this  week  from  Bristol  I  am  in 
greater  expectation  of  a  war  than  ever  before. 

Slade's  an  old  blockhead  if  he  don't  go  home  upon  his 
head.  Get  what  you  can  sign'd  by  the  Council  well 
pointed  at  Sancho.  I  think  the  enemy  will  soon  lick  the 
dust  The  election  came  out  to  my  heart's  content.  At 
the  board  of  25  votes  6he  House  of  David  commonly  have 
18  or  20;  and  in  the  House  the  sot*  &  his  adherents 
look  like  fellows  doom'd  for  destruction.  I  hope  Astrea 
will  once  at  last  fix  her  abode  among  us. 

I  want  Coll'  Oilman's  papers  to  be  dispatcht  to  me  more 
than  a  little.     Sir, 

Tour  servant.  J.  B. 

BosTOiT.  June  3,  1784. 

(P«t-)  

TO  LORD  WILMINGTON. 

Much  honoured  Lord, —  Since  I  had  the  honour  of 
writing  your  Lordship  last  I  have  met  a  new  Assembly  of 

•  ElUhB  Cookt.  -  Edi. 


oyGoot^lc 


76  THE  BELCHER  PAPEE&  [17U. 

the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  am  glad  to 
acquaint  your  Lordship  that  they  seem  at  present  one 
of  the  best  Assemblies  that  this  Province  has  had  since 
my  coming  into  the  government;  and  I  hope  they  will 
fall  into  such  measures  as  may  moit  of  all  tend  to  the 
support  of  his  Majesty's  honour  and  to  the  safety  of  the 
just  liberties  and  properties  of  the  people  that  intrust 
them.  I  shall  on  my  part  go  on  to  do  everything  in  my 
power  to  these  good  purposes. 

I  have  now  the  honour  to  cover  to  your  Lordship  a  bill 
past  by  the  House  of  Bepr.  and  by  his  Majesty's  Council 
the  8  cur"  for  £3000  for  my  support,  and  am  again  to 
pray  the  favour  of  your  Lordship  that  I  may  obtain  the 
royal  leave  for  giving  my  assent  to  this  bill,  and  that  the 
royal  leave  may  be  general,  for  the  reasons  I  humbly 
offer'd  to  your  Lordship  in  my  last,  &  provided  the 
Assembly  do  not  make  the  grant  less  than  they  have 
hitherto  done. 

I  can  never  enough,  my  Lord,  express  the  gratefull 
sentiments  of  my  heart  for  your  Lordship's  continual  un- 
merited goodness  to  me  and  to  ray  son.  That  Almighty 
God  may  bless  your  Lordship  with  great  health,  long  life, 
&  lasting  honour  is  &  shall  be  the  prayer  of,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  moSt  faithfull,  most  devoted  &  most 
humble  servant.  J.  6. 

Boston,  Juue  11,  1731. 

tf  Bannst.  Uamerdea. 


TO  FRANCIS  HARRISON.* 

Sib,  —  I  reed  in  its  course  your  favour  of  15  April,  and 
shou'd  have  answer'd  it  before  now,  but  that  I  thought  I 
might  have  something  to  transmit  you  from  his  Grace  of 

•  A  member  of  lb«  CouDcil  ot  New  Tork.   See  New  York  Col.  Doe*,  rol.  vi.  pp.  81,  M. 


oyGoot^lc 


1TS4.]  TO  PKANCI8  HARRISOS.  77 

Chandoa,  from  whom  I  have  not  the  honour  of  any  com- 
mands thU  spring,  but  am  told  his  Grace  was  preparing 
to  go  to  bis  Lieutenancy  of  Ireland. 

I  am  senfflble  no  gent"  can  appear  in  any  publick  sta- 
tion but  he  will  naturally  have  his  enemies;  yet  I  hope 
your  apprehensions  exceed  every  thing  of  the  nature  you 
mention,  and  that  your  own  innocence  &  honour  will  con* 
found  the  wicked  machinations  of  malicious  persons. 
And  I  shou'd  be  glad  to  hear  your  Assembly  were  as  well 
dispos'd  as  (I  thank  God)  the  present  Assembly  is  here  to 
pay  a  just  regard  to  his  Majesty's  honour  &  authority,  as 
well  as  to  preserve  the  rights  &  properties  of  his  people. 

This  I  intend  to  be  deliver'd  you  by  M'  Thomas  Hutch- 
inson, the  eldest  son  of  the  Hono''''  Tho*  Hutchinson,  Esq.' 
of  this  town.  He  is  a  young  gent"  of  exact  vertue,  of 
good  natural  sense,  and  which  he  has  improv'd  by  the 
best  education  this  country  affords.  He  lately  marry'd  a 
fine  young  lady  of  this  town,  with  whom  he  has  a  fortune 
to  the  value  of  5  or  a£6000  st',  and  is  himself  in  good 
biisiness  as  a  merchant  M'  Silvester  of  Shelter  Island 
being  related  to  hia  lady,  they  are  going  to  make  a  visset 
thither,  and  as  he  intends  to  see  your  city,  I  take  the 
freedom  of  recommending  him  to  your  friendship  & 
civility.  You'll  find  him  a  young  gent"  perhaps  of  too 
much  modesty.  I  assure  you  I  have  a  great  esteem  o! 
liim,  and  so  has  every  one  that  knows  him.  He  has  a 
pretty  large  trade  and  correspondence  in  Maryland,  and 
has  some  thoughts  of  going  thither  before  he  returns, 
and  will  esteem  your  letters  to  Philad',  or  where  you  may 
be  acquainted,  and  I  will  be  bound  that  he  shall  not  dis- 
honour any  respect  you  shew  him.  With  mine  &  M" 
Belcher's  best  regards  to  Mad"  &  Miss  Harrison,  I  am, 
Hono*^  Sir, 

Your  ready  friend  &  very  hnmble  serv'. 

J.B. 

BoflTOK,  June  27, 1734. 
9  H'  HntebinaoD. 


oyGoot^lc 


78  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1781. 

TO  LAURENCE  ARMSTRONG.* 

HONO"*  Sir, —  Tbe  4  cur"  I  reed  the  pleasure  of  yours 
of  14  May.  Notwithstanding  the  arrival  of  many  ships 
from  G'  Britain  in  two  months  past  we  are  still  in  much 
doubt  whether  the  present  peace  may  continue  or  a  new 
war  be  declar'd  ;  nor  can  1  possibly  come  to  think  con- 
clusively, the  advices  are  so  various  f  every  ship. 

I  am  sure  this  Province  is  in  a  wretched  defenceless  con- 
dition, and  in  case  of  a  war  will  want  nothing,  but  every 
thing ;  and  the  Assembly  now  sitting  seems  t«  be  sunk  into 
a  lethargy  on  this  bead,  altho'  in  other  matters  they  show 
the  best  regard  to  his  Majesty's  honour  &  service  of  any 
Assembly  since  my  coming  into  the  government.  I,  Sir, 
doubt  not  of  your  care  to  represent  at  home  the  hazard  o! 
the  loss  of  Nova  Scotia  in  case  of  a  war ;  for  as  to  any  assist- 
ance from  hence,  I  question  whether  it  wou'd  be  possible 
to  bring  an  Assembly  here  to  be  at  any  charge  for  your 
assistance.  I  have  often  wonder'd  to  see  so  little  care 
taken  of  Canso,  which,  I  believe,  is  capable  of  being  the 
finest  fishery  in  the  known  world ;  and  that  your  Prov- 
ince shou'd  be  belonging  to  the  Crown  of  G'  Britain  now 
24  years,  and  be  still  an  unpeopled  wilderness  is  strange, 
while  I  suppose  this  Province  is  increas'd  in  number  30  to 
40  thousand.  I  inclose  you  some  of  our  latest  prints, 
and  am,  with  ranch  respect,  Sir, 

Your  Honour's  most  obed'  humble  serv'. 

J.B. 

BosTOM,  June  27,  1734. 

t?  Dooglass.  

TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Lordships,  —  I  had  the  honour 
of  writing  your  Lordships  the  9  of  last  month,  upon  the 
matter  of  a  riot  committed  at  E^ceter  in  N.  Hampshire, 

■  See  6  Mniia.  Hint.  Coll.  vol.  *1.  p.  im  not*.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  THE  LOfiDS   OP  TRADE.  79 

and  of  Coll'  Dunbar'a  comp?  to  me  of  it,  and  of  the  peo- 
ple's complaint  against  him,  as  alao  of  his  disobedience 
to  my  orders,  and  I  bad  long  before  this  transmitted  to 
your  Lordships  the  particidar  state  of  these  affairs,  bnt 
that  it  has  taken  time  to  get  the  necessary  papers  in  their 
proper  form  &  order,  which  are  now  done,  and  I  have  the 
honour  to  cover  them  to  your  Lordships,  being 

N"  1.  What  past  in  his  Majesty's  Council  on  the  mat- 
ter of  the  riot,  attested  by  the  Secretary. 

2.  My  order  of  H  April  to  L"  Gov'  Dunbar  respecting 

a  proctaraation  for  a  Fast,  &  a  warrant  I  sent  him  ; 
his  letters  to  me  of  April  15,  26  &  29,  with  his 
orders,  &c%  therein  referr'd  to,  and  my  letters  to 
him  of  ApH  29  &  May  2*. 

3.  My  orders  to  M'  Presid'  Walton  of  April  29,  May 

2&9. 

4.  The  complaint  of  a  great  number  of  the  inhabitants 

of  Dxeter  against  Coll'  Dunbar,  of  May  6,  with 
affidavits  to  support  it. 

5.  The  complaints  of  Daniel  Batchelor,  Francis  James, 

and  Benj'Chadwell,  of  May  14,  &  of  Israel  Ober  & 
George  Tuck,  of  June  7,  all  sworn  to. 

6.  My  letter  to  Coll'  Dunbar  of  13  ins',  covering  these 

complaints,  and  his  answer  to  me  of  20  cur**. 
My  Lords,  I  am  sorry  I  am  oblig'd  to  trouble  your  Lord- 
ships with  such  volumns  of  complaints,  letters,  &  repli- 
cations; but  M'  Dunbar's  extraordinary  proceedings  as 
L"  Gov'  of  N.  Hampshire  &  Surveyor  Gen"  of  his  Majes- 
ty's Woods  make  it  necessary.  The  same  I  also  transmit 
to  his  Majesty's  Sec^  of  State. 

As  to  the  affair  of  the  riot,  upon  the  first  ace**  he  gave 
me  of  it,  your  Lordships  will  see  in  mine  of  29  April,  I 
was  at  some  loss  how  he  came  to  write  to  me,  since  I  had 
seen  an  order  he  gave  to  one  Coll'  Gilman  of  Exeter, 
where  he  presum'd  to  call  himself  Commander  in  Chief 
of  the  Frovhice,  and  if  that  were  so  he  cou'd  not  want 


oyGoot^lc 


80  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1784. 

my  assistance ;  but  I  auppone  he  soon  eaw  his  mistake  in 
that  the  people  wou'd  hy  no  means  own  him  to  be  such, 
much  less  wou'd  the  Gov'  allow  him  so  to  be.  However, 
let  the  differences  between  him  &  me  be  what  tbey  wou'd, 
I  was  determin'd  to  do  my  duty  to  his  Majesty,  and  upon 
the  rec'  of  his  letter  of  29  April,  with  some  examinatious 
he  had  taken,  I  gave  orders  to  the  Presid*  to  summon  a 
Council  to  have  a  proclamation  issu'd  immediately,  which 
your  Lordships  have  herewith,  and  the  same  I  directed  to 
be  put  into  the  publlck  prints  incloa'd.  After  this  I  order'd 
bis  Majesty's  Council  at  New  Hampshire  to  do  every  thing 
in  their  station  for  bringing  the  persons  concem'd  in  the 
villanous  riot  to  condign  punishment  This  is  all,  my 
Lords,  I  cou'd  do  about  this  vile  affair. 

Your  Lordships  will  readily  discern  with  how  much  pre- 
judice &  sowerness  M'  Dunbar  writes  of  the  King's  Coun- 
cil, of  the  Sec'',  &  of  gent"  in  the  comission  of  the  peace. 
I  shou'd  have  thought  it  wou'd  have  been  more  for  his 
honour  to  have  avoided  all  those  reflectiona  Whatever 
he  is  pleas'd  to  say  of  my  supporting  people  in  power 
that  are  making  destruction  of  the  King's  woods  I  must 
crave  leave,  my  Lords,  to  say,  That  is  a  representation 
without  the  shadow  of  justice.  I  have  challeng'd  him  to 
make  proper  proof  of  any  thing  of  that  kind,  but  that  I 
wou'd  not  turn  gent"  in  &  out  of  place  upon  his  ipse 
dixHf  &  at  his  pleasure.  I  have  alwayes  been  ready  to  do 
every  thing  in  my  station,  to  the  utmost  of  my  power  for 
preserving  the  royal  woods ;  indeed,  I  can't  dishonour 
his  Majesty's  commission  by  falling  into  his  violent  meas- 
ures of  maiming  &  threatning  to  murder  the  King's  sub- 
jects, and  to  enter  upon  'em  with  fire  &  fagot  I  have 
so  much  honour  for  him  as  to  believe  be  wou'd  not  care 
what  came  of  the  King's  woods  so  he  cou'd  but  fix  any 
neglect  about  them  on  tlie  King's  Gov'.  But  as  I  can 
appeal  to  your  Lordships,  and  to  the  whole  world,  that 
my  administration  has  been  one  continued,  constant  care 


oyGoot^lc 


1734,]  TO  THE  LORDS   OF  TRADE.  81 

of  the  King's  honour,  and  of  his  interest,  &  more  espe- 
cially of  the  royal  woods,  by  the  proclamations  &  orders 
I  have  from  time  to  time  issu'd  about  'em,  T  can  intirely 
depend  on  the  justice  &  honour  of  your  Lordships  that 
his  insinuations  against  me  on  that  head  will  be  as  fruit- 
less ae  every  thing  else  he  has  been  attempting  to  my 
prejudice. 

At  his  meeting  the  Council  upon  the  riot  he  offer'd  to 
put  a  reward  into  the  proclamation,  and  to  pay  it  himself 
if  the  Council  wou'd  consent  to  a  proclamation's  going 
oat  in  his  name,  but  as  they  wou'd  not,  and  there  was  no 
money  in  the  publick  Treasury,  there  cou'd  be  no  reward 
in  the  proclamation  I  issued.  Tet  if  he  had  been  in 
earnest  in  that  matter,  he  might  have  advertis'd  a  reward 
in  the  publick  prints,  which  is  often  done  besides  the  proc- 
lamations issu'd  by  governments.  But  the  Council  con- 
cluded, &  80  did  I,  that  he  only  wanted  to  issue  a 
proclamation  in  his  own  name,  in  order  to  wrench  the 
King's  power  out  of  my  hands.  In  his  letter  of  29  April 
he  values  the  condemned  boards  &  logs  at  £2000,  yet  I 
think  the  complain"  say  he  offer'd  them  to  sale  for  ^250. 
Your  Lordships  will  find  by  the  several  affidavits  in  what 
a  severe  manner  Coll"  Dunbar  has  us'd  the  King's  subjects 
from  time  to  time  upon  his  survey.  With  great  deference 
to  your  Ixjrdships  such  sort  of  managment  wou'd  better 
sute  the  government  of  France  or  Turkey  than  what  is 
markt  ont  by  the  constitution  of  G'  Britain  for  the  gov- 
emm*  of  Englishmen,  who  are  under  the  best  of  sov- 
ereigns, that  delights  &  glories  in  making  the  laws  the 
rule  of  his  administration.  I  say,  unmercifully  beating 
some,  threatning  to  shoot  others,  and  to  lay  the  estates 
of  others  in  ashes,  and  in  a  violent,  unwarrantable  man- 
ner stopping  vessella  at  the  fort,  and  firing  upon  'em  to 
the  great  hazard  of  the  people's  lives  &  estates  can  by  no 
means  be  executing  the  comission  the  King  has  honour'd 
him  with }  and  inasmuch  as  there  are  no  regular  forces 


oyGoot^lc 


82  TEB  BELCHER  PAPBItS.  [ITU. 

to  support  BUch  e:Etraoni'  proceedmgB,  it  has  been  with 
the  greatest  difficulty  that  I  have  been  able  to  sopprees 
the  rising  passions  of  the  people  (who  from  the  first  8et> 
tleraent  of  this  country  have  been  perfect  Btrangera  to 
Buch  arbitrary  government).  Nor  cou'd  I  have  done  it 
but  by  assuring  y"  that  I  wou'd  lay  their  comi^aints  be- 
fore our  most  gracious  sovereign,  from  whom  they  cou'd 
not  fail  of  redress.  If  the  King's  business  was  to  be  done 
in  such  a  manner,  what  need  wou'd  there  be  of  laws  or 
civil  government?  When  he  wrote  to  me  of  stopping 
the  trade  &  navigation  of  the  river,  my  answer  to  him 
was  to  do  nothing  but  what  was  clearly  warranted  by 
law.  Had  I  absolutely  forbid  hiin,  T  imagin'd  he  wou'd 
have  disobey'd  my  order,  as  he  has  done  in  another  case, 
and  his  saying  otherwise  to  me  was  what  I  cou'd  by  no 
means  depend  on  ;  and  that  I  made  a  right  judgment  io 
giving  no  orders  in  this  case  appear'd  by  his  Btopping 
several  vessels  after  his  obtaining  the  opinion  of  his 
Majesty's  Advocate  General  to  the  contrary. 

When  these  complaints  were  brought  me,  I  Berv'd  him 
with  copies,  and  he  sayes  he  will  make  answer  to  them 
at  home.  Upon  reading  them  and  the  affidavits  your 
Lordships  will  be  better  able  to  judge  of  M'  Dunbar's 
managmenta,  and  what  orders  to  give  to  me  &  to  him 
for  the  future  in  these  matters,  or  to  his  successor,  for 
he  writes  me  he  is  going  home.  I  wish  it  be  trne,  for 
his  Majesty's  honour  &  service,  for  I  think  his  behavionr 
in  these  parte  from  Brat  to  last  has  had  no  other  ten- 
dency than  to  prejudice  the  King's  Bubjecta  against  his 
government,  bo  far  as  W  Dunbar  has  had  anything  to 
do  with  it.  What  a  gross  mistake  did  he  make,  my 
Lords,  about  the  lands  at  Pemaquid,  and  did  he  not 
break  his  instructions,  that  only  gave  him  power  to  lot  out 
the  King's  lands  in  Nova  Scotia  ?  but  according  to  his 
despotic  manner  he  was  pleas'd  to  assert  the  lands  in  the 
Massachusetts  to  be  in  Nova  Scotia,  and   there  to  run 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  TO  THE  LORDS  OF   TRADE.  83 

out  charge  on  his  own  head,  and  I  am  told  without  the 
least  order  originally  from  the  Crown,  &  siirely  to  very 
Httle  purpose,  being  only  a  loose  wall  of  dry  stones,  a 
great  part  whereof  is  already  tumbled  down.  Had  I, 
my  Lords,  been  arnv'd  to  the  government,  and  M'  Dun- 
bar had  presum'd  to  have  medled  with  any  of  the  lands 
within  the  grant  of  die  Crown  to  the  Masaachusettfi,  I 
shou'd  in  pursuance  of  his  Majesty's  royal  comission  have 
effectually  prevented  his  doing  what  he  did,  unless  he 
bad  shown  me  his  Majesty's  royal  orders  to  warrant 
him ;  and  had  the  government  here  at  that  day  so  done 
it  had  sav'd  his  Majesty's  ministers  &  your  Lordships  a 
vast  deal  of  trouble,  as  well  as  a  great  charge  to  this 
Prov  in  procuring  her  Majesty's  order  (when  guardian  of 
the  Kingdom),  ''That  the  said  David  Dunbar  do  quit  the 
pcKsession  of  all  the  said  lands,  and  also  to  revoke  such 
parts  of  the  instructions  given  by  hia  Majesty  on  the  27 
of  April,  1730,  to  the  said  David  Dunbar  as  have  any 
relation  to  the  settling  the  lands  lying  between  the  rivers 
Penob»cutt&  S'  Croix,"  and  if  M'  Dunbar  had  inclin'd  to 
look  into  the  Royal  Charter  of  this  Province  he  might 
have  been  convinc'd  that  be  cou'd  as  justly  have  pre- 
tended to  have  put  a  few  loose  stones  together  for  a  fort 
in  the  town  of  Boston,  and  to  have  lotted  out  land  there, 
as  at  Pemaquid.  By  his  desire  I  once  mention 'd  to  the 
Assembly  here  the  paying  him  any  thing  they  might 
think  reasonable  for  his  expence  in  that  part  of  this 
Province,  and  your  Lordships  have  long  since  seen  their 
sense  of  that  matter  in  their  Journal  I  had  the  honour 
to  send  you  in  its  course ;  and  unless  he  has  some  better 
claim  of  reimbursement  from  the  Crown  than  from  this 
Province,  he  will  perhaps  learn  to  be  wiser  for  the  future. 
Your  Lordships  will  be  able  to  judge  how  much  service 
he  did  as  a  Surveyor  of  the  King's  Woods  while  he  was 
from  Septf  13,  1731,  to  July  2,  1733,  constantly  at 
Pemaquid,  and  notwithstanding  what  M'  Surveyor  may 


oyGoot^lc 


84  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

insinuate  to  your  Lordships  of  his  vigilance  &  care  of  his 
Majesty's  woods,  I  am  prone  to  believe  upon  a  strict  en- 
quiiy  your  Lordships  wou'd  find  more  strip  &  waste  made 
of  them  in  the  five  years  of  his  surveyorship  than  in  any 
ten  years  before,  which  must  be  attributed  partly  to  his 
absence,  but  much  more  to  his  imprudence  (to  give  it 
the  softest  term).  I  wish  I  was  able  to  represent  to  your 
Lordships  any  one  service  he  has  done  for  his  Majesty 
from  his  arrival  here  to  this  day,  but  instead  of  that  his 
whole  study  seems  to  have  been  to  render  himself,  &  every 
body  he  has  had  to  do  with,  uneasy  &  restless  ;  and  by 
the  printed  paper  inclosed  your  Lordships  will  see  how 
odious  he  is  in  this  country,  that  for  any  one  even  to 
drink  his  health  is  to  ruin  his  interest  &  reputation  with 
the  people.  Indeed,  my  Lords,  it  wou'd  seem  something 
extraordinary  to  one  that  did  n't  know  M'  Dunbar  that 
one  who  pretends  so  highly  to  assert  the  King's  honour 
shou'd  take  such  a  creature  as  M^  Cook  into  his  bosom, 
after  the  King's  Gov'  has  remov'd  him  (&  his  son)  from 
two  profitable  posts  in  the  government  for  his  constant 
opposition  &  disrespect  to  the  King's  honour  &  service ; 
but  at  this  I  am  not  much  surpriz'd,  for  I  suppose  M' 
Dunbar's  picque  &  ill  nature  at  tbe  Gov'  will  allwayea 
readily  incline  him  (for  the  accomplishment  of  any  point 
against  the  Govern')  to  resolve,  Fledere  si  nequeo  mperoa, 
Aeheronia  moveho. 

Altho  my  letter  of  2*  May  has  nothing  in  it  but  exact 
truth  &  facts,  yet  I  wish  he  had  sav'd  me  the  trouble  of  ex- 
posing his  want  of  proper  thought  &  duty  to  bis  superiour. 
His  late  predecessor  &  I  liv'd  in  good  harmony,  and  so  I 
have  also  with  my  L"  Gov"  here ;  but  with  this  gent"  it's 
not  possible  for  any  man  to  be  easy,  he  has  such  a  thirst 
of  being  bigger  than  he  is.  I  beg  leave  once  more  to 
repeat,  with  submission  to  your  Ixtrdships,  that  I  am 
firmly  in  opinion  that  it  wou'd  tend  much  more  to  the 
safety  of  tbe  King's  government,  as  well  as  to  the  better 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  THE   DUKE   OP   NEWCASTLE.  85 

preservation  of  the  royal  woods,  that  M^  Dunhar  was  re- 
mov'd,  and  a  wiser  man  to  succeed  him.  I  humbly  beg 
your  Lordships'  pardon  for  the  length  of  this  letter,  which 
has  been  unavoidable,  and  have  the  honour  to  be,  with 
great  respect,  my  Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  most  humble  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  July  1,1734. 

V  Hamerdea.  [S&me  to  the  Duke  of  Newoutle.] 


TO  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE. 

Mat  it  please  youk  Grace,  —  It  is  with  great  satis- 
faction that  I  have  the  honour  of  acquainting  your  Grace 
that  the  present  Assembly  of  this  Province  seems  to  have 
a  better  sense  of  their  duty  to  his  Majesty  than  any  other 
I  have  met  since  my  arrival  to  the  government,  having  at 
the  first  of  their  sitting  gone  thorrd  (with  dispatch)  some 
things  affecting  his  Majesty's  honour  &  service  that  have 
formerly  struggled  &  labour'd  with  much  difficulty,  as 
your  Grace  will  find  by  their  Journal  inclosed,  and  I  hope 
they  will  still  go  on  with  the  affairs  of  the  government, 
so  as  to  recommend  them,  &  this  whole  people,  to  his 
Majesty's  grace  &  favour. 

Besides  the  address  of  congratulation  to  his  Majesty 
from  the  whole  Assembly  upon  the  happy  marriage  of  the 
Princess  Boyal  with  the  Prince  of  Orange,  which  will  be 
deliver'd  your  Grace  by  the  Agent  of  this  Province,  there 
is  also  an  address  to  the  King  from  his  Majesty's  Council 
and  from  the  House  of  Represent"  here,  setting  forth  the 
naked  condition  of  this  Province  with  respect  to  guns, 
powder,  &  other  stores  of  war,  and  humbly  imploring  his 
Majesty's  aid  &  assistance.  They  have  also  made  a  vote 
of  request  to  me  that  I  wou'd  make  my  application  to 
his  Maj""'  ministers  for  success  in  this  necessary  affair. 
Here    is,  my  Lord    Duke,    in    this   harbour,   about    3 


oyGoot^lc 


86  THE  BBLOHBR  FAPEB8.  [1731- 

miles  below  thd  town,  a  very  regular  fortlBcation  on  a 
place  called  Castle  Island,  and  to  which  a  new  addition 
i8  now  making  for  the  entertainment  of  twenty  large 
cannon,  and  then  Castle  William  (bo  it  is  called)  will  be 
capable  of  mounting  120  guns,  but  the  greatest  part  of 
what  guns  are  now  there  are  old  &  honeycomb' d.  The 
iron  Work  (as  well  as  the  wood)  of  the  carriages  much 
decay'd ;  and  I  think  at  this  time  there  are  but  ten  TStf  of 
powder  belonging  to  this  fortification,  and  most  other 
gunners'  stores  are  wanting^  with  mortars,  shells,  &  small 
arms.  There  are  also  six  small  forts  or  blockhouses  on 
the  frontiers  that  have  hardly  a  gun  in  them,  or  a  smfdl 
arm  fit  for  service.  And  the  maritime  towns,  as  Boston, 
Salem,  Marblehead,  Gloucester,  &  Flimouth,  are  now  un- 
der Uie  considera°  of  the  Assembly  in  order  to  the  build- 
ing of  batteries  for  entertaining  the  best  part  of  100 
cannon,  which  works  will  create  a  great  charge  to  this 
his  Majesty's  Province,  and  without  them  the  King's  gov- 
ernment &  subjects  here  will  lye  constantly  expos'd  to 
tbe  insults  of  their  enemies.  Let  me  then  be  a  humble 
orator  to  your  Grace  in  the  behalf  of  this  Province  that 
they  may  feet  the  benign  influence  of  tbe  King's  Toyal 
grace  &  bounty  in  this  important  article,  and  in  a  mui- 
uer  worthy  of  so  great  a  monarch,  &  of  so  good  &  kind 
a  father  to  all  his  people.  Then  shall  the  present  & 
future  generations  rise  up  &  bless  the  King  and  his  Royal 
House,  and  they  will  hold  themselves  under  great  obliga- 
tions to  your  Grace,  and  so  will  he,  who  is  with  the  pro- 
foundest  respect  &  deference,  my  Lord  Duke, 

Your   Grace's  most  fai^full,  most  obedient  &  most 
humble  servant.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  July  2, 1734. 

V  Htunerden.  [Same  to  Lords  ot  Trade  and  Lord  WilmingtoD.] 


oyGoot^lc 


178&]  TO  JONATBjLN  bxlch&b,  jb.  87 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB. 

Mt  DEATi  SoK,  —  My  last  waa  a  few  lines  of  10*  ult' 
V  Bennet.  What  I  now  write  your  uncle  he'll  comuni- 
cate,  being  to  you  as  well  as  to  him,  and  you  must  assist 
in  what  you  can,  especially  about  Dunbar,  who  (I  am 
sensible)  has  wrote  home  every  thing  he  can  invent  to 
ray  prejudice.  I  inclose  you  copy  of  the  Assembly's  Ad- 
dress to  the  King,  to  be  printed,  if  your  uncle  &  you 
think  proper,  after  W  Wilks  has  deliver'd  it.  You'll  find 
it  does  your  father  honour,  but  it  will  do  me  vastly  more 
if  M"^  Wilks  with  your  uncle's  &  your  assistance  can  ob- 
tain the  stores,  and  I  have  told  M*^  Wilks  they  must  be 
consign'd  to  the  Gov'. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  (at  Cambridge)  you  chose  for 
your  company  those  that  are  older,  wiser,  &  more  learned 
than  yourself  With  the  aged  is  wisdom,  and  he  that 
walks  with  the  wise  shall  be  wise. 

I  send  you  herewith  copy  of  M'  Jam*  Belcher's  last 
letter  and  of  my  answer;  the  latter  you'll  forward  to 
him. 

I  wou'd  have  you  make  a  present  to  Harvard  Library 
of  the  Collection  of  Poems,  from  Cambridge  University, 
on  the  Marriage,  and.  as  they  were  on  the  conjunction  of 
virginity  let  'em  be  handsomely  bound  in  snow-white 
vellum,  the  leaves  &  binding  adom'd  with  gilding,  and 
the  title  in  red  leather  on  the  outside  of  one  of  the 
covers ;  and  what  if  you  inscrib'd  it  to  your  Alma  Mater 
in  a  short,  handsome  compliment  in  Latin  verse  in  one  of 
the  blank  pages,  in  manuscript,  dated  from  your  cham- 
bers in  the  Middle  Temple  (London).  Don't  forget  it; 
it  will  do  you  honour. 

I  have  now  the  beet  Assembly  of  any  since  my  arrival 
to  the  government,  and  my  enemies  (even  those  of  the 
first  rank)  daily  gnash  their  teeth  &  melt  away.    The 


oyGoot^lc 


88  THE  BELCHEB  PAPBES.  [1734, 

whole  country  (in  a  maDiier)  is  grown  easy  &  seem 
resolv'd  to  practice  the  duty  &  loyalty  they  so  justly 
owe  to  the  best  of  kings.  This  has  cost  me  vast  pains  & 
inexpressible  trouble  &  fatigue  ;  but  prudeas  qtd  patiens  is 
an  excellent  rule.  The  thoughts  of  any  change  here 
wou'd  throw  this  country  into  all  manner  of  uneasiness  & 
confusion,  especially  to  mention  the  name  D — b — r,  he  is 
so  universally  odious  here  and  at  N.  Hampshire.  Dear 
Jonathan,  if  any  thing  has  lately  dropt  from  my  pen  with 
too  much  acrimony,  impute  it  to  my  fondness  and  to  the 
sollicitude  I  have  for  your  best  good,  for  there  is  noth- 
ing I  more  desire,  and  I  am,  with  the  most  patema} 
afEection, 

Yours.  J.  B. 

I  send  you  half  a  doz.  of  M"^  Bernard's  Election  Ser- 
mons, whom  y*  Gov'  appoint''  to  that  service.  They  '11 
bear  to  be  red  at  Court.  What  if  you  shou'd  get  one 
handsomely  cov*  &  gilt  edges,  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of 
the  Queen.  She'd  read  it,  be  pleas",  &  tel  3^  King.  An- 
other you  may  give  to  Coll'  Blad",  Newman,  Bellamy,  or 
as  you  please. 

Boston,  Jul;  3, 1731. 

W  Hamerden.  Wimt^ 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Dear  Jonathan,  —  Just  now  arriv'd  Cap'  Gary  with 
your  letter  of  4  May,  which  I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
answer  by  this  conveyance.  This  being  only  to  recom- 
mend the  bearer  W  D'Reck  to  your  acquaintance,  and 
to  all  the  respect  &  civility  you  can  possibly  show  him. 
He  is  an  Hannoverian  by  birth,  but  on  the  death  of  his 
father  he  went  &  liv'd  with  his  uncle  at  Ratisbon,  from 
whence  he  came  last  winter,  and  conducted  a  number  of 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  JOKATHAN  BELCHER,  JB.  89 

Saltzburg  emigranta  to  Holland,  and  from  thence  (touch- 
ing at  Dover)  he  went  with  them  to  Georgia  to  see  them 
settled,  and  ia  come  from  thence  hither  by  way  of  Caro- 
lina, Philadelphia,  New  York  &  Rh'  Island.  He  comes  to 
me  with  the  character  of  good  birth,  good  sense  &  un- 
common  vertue  &  religion,  and,  by  the  best  judgment  I 
can  make  from  the  short  acquaintance  I  have  had  with 
him,  he  exceeds  every  good  &  kind  thing  has  been  siud  of 
him.  He  is  but  23  years  old;  it  is  therefore  surprizing 
to  behold  his  gravity,  innocence,  sweetness  of  temper,  & 
true  piety.  That  he  ehou'd  leave  his  native  country,  en- 
dure the  fatigues  of  a  long  winter  voyage,  &  expose  him- 
self to  the  hardships  of  a  wilderness,  and  all  for  the  pure 
love  &  respect  of  the  cause  of  God  &  true  religion,  I  say 
t^us  is  what  the  present  age  produces  few  examples  of. 
I  am  sure  you'll  be  pleas'd  with  his  acquaintance,  and 
that  you  will  with  all  alacrity  treat  him  as  kindly  as  you 
wou'd  a  brother,  which  I  shall  esteem  a  repeated  instance 
of  duty  to 

Your  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

BosTOH,  Jul;  8,  1734. 

V  Hunerden  (or  M'  D'Beck). 


TO  JONATHAK  BELCHER,  JR. 

Mr  DEAB  JoNATBAN,  —  Just  as  I  had  clos'd  my  letters 
T  Hammerden  arriv'd  Cap'  Gary  with  yours  of  4  May, 
bringing  the  determination  of  the  election  at  Tam- 
wortb,  by  which  I  find  the  election  at  Tamworth  de- 
tennin'd  in  Lord  Sackvil  &  Maj'  Compton,  the  latter 
being  also  chosen  at  Northampton,  and  will  (doubtless) 
declare  himself  for  the  last.  I  am  therefore  fully  in 
opinion,  you  now  stand  a  much  better  chance  than  be- 
fore ;  Maj'  Compton  being  brother  to  one  Earl  &  nephew 
to  another  made  him  a  potent  competitor.    I  observe  by 


oyGoot^lc 


QO  THE    BELCHER   PAPERS.  [17U. 

M'  Croaeland's  to  you  of  27  April,  he  says,  "  I  am  sure 
we  shou'd  have  been  wanting  some  few  in  number ;  so  I 
think  it  was  best  not  to  push  it  at  this  time."  But  cou'd 
you  have  carry'd  your  point  it  wou'd  have  disoblig'd 
Lord  Wilmington,  which  is  now  wisely  avoided,  and  may 
it  not  be  worth  while  for  your  uncle,  M'  Crossland,  &  yoa 
now  to  wait  on  that  noble  Lord  §ot  his  &  Maj'  Compton's 
interest,  and  to  make  some  merit  of  your  not  going  down 
to  interrupt  the  latter?  but  if  there  be  hazard  of  Lord 
Wilmington's  recomend*  any  other  candidate  it  will  be 
best  to  push  without  saying  any  thing  to  him. 

I  am  glad  the  convey*  is  got  safe ;  and  there  are  ordera 
gone  forward  to  Tamworth  thus,  — 

From  Maj'  Vassal  to  M'  Storke  for  200. 

M'  Joshua  Winslow  to  M^  Partridge     150. 
M'  Wheelwright  to  M'  Newberry         150. 

M'  Hall  lo  M' 100. 

is  St'  ^£600, 
and  I  am  endeavouring  to  get  orders  for  as  much  more, 
and  I  will  constantly  do  all  in  my  power  to  promote  the 
borough. 

I  have  remitted  your  uncle  in  bills  &  copper  ore  £150 
st'  in  tlie  months  of  May  &  June,  and  am  promist  some 
more  bills  so  soon  as  they  can  be  drawn,  and  1  shall  send 
them  to  him.  I  do  all  I  possibly  can  to  get  money  to 
him,  but  nothing  is  so  difficult,  and  since  the  Chancellor* 
fails  you  the  matter  must  drop  without  any  further  strug- 
gle, unless  your  uncle  or  yon  can  find  some  friend  among 
his  friends  (or  otherwise)  to  exchange  with  you  an  estate 
in  lands,  or  the  value  in  the  stocks,  for  a  qualification, 
for  the  estate  I  have  convey'd  to  you.  For  I  am  not  able 
to  do  any  thing  more  or  better  as  to  your  qualification, 
and  that  estate  is  at  this  day  worth  more  than  £20,000 
of  this  currency. 

The  inclos'd  you'll  cover  to  M'  Crossland,  and  send  him 

*  BsT.  G«orge  Beynold*.  —  Eds. 


jvGooi^lc 


1784.1  TO  JONATHAN  BBLCHBR,  JB.  91 

is  my  name  or  your  own,  as  you  think  best,  the  box  of 
green  wax  candles  w'  49'*"  I  aend  T  the  bearer ;  or  present  it 
to  any  body  else,  where  you  think  it  may  serve  you  most. 
I  repeat  that  I  think  you  stand  fairer  than  ever  yet  for 
Tamworth ;  but  then  M'  Crossland,  your  uncle,  &  you  (if 
yott  think  it  safe  to  say  any  thing  about  it)  must  season- 
ably secure  the  interest  by  which  Maj'  Compton  gaiu'd  his 
choice.  I  am  of  the  mind  now  that  M'  Crossland  was  be- 
fore this  choice,  that  you  be  quiet  &  secret  'till  pretty  near 
the  time  of  election,  and  some  few  days  before  it  to  ap- 
pear at  the  borough,  live  handsomely,  and  attract  every 
body  with  the  moat  obliging  behaviour  you  are  master 
of.  Thus  you  have  all  I  can  think  of  on  this  head,  and 
you  must  not  fail  to  write  me  constantly  upon  it  by  every 
oonveyance  before  winter ;  and  if  you  can  suggest  any- 
thing more  to  be  done  in  my  power  I  shall  pursue  it,  and 
am  alwayes,  my  dear  son, 

Your  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Bottom,  July  6, 1731. 

This  letter  is  to  your  uncle  as  well  as  to  you. 
vwimpto. 


TO  JONATHAN  fi£LCHER,  JR. 

Mt  dbar  Son,  —  I  have  already  wrote  you  T  this 
convey*  in  answer  to  the  afiair  of  Tamworth. 

I  observe  the  letter  you  reed  from  the  B.  of  Lincoln  in 
favour  of  M'  E.  Finch,  and  the  two  circular  letters  from 
H'  Tho*  Townshend  &  M'  H.  Finch  on  the  same  head. 
It  is  with  great  pleasure  I  take  notice  of  any  little  oppor- 
tunity you  had  to  express  your  father's  gratitude  to  his 
noble  patron,  the  Lord  Viscount  Townshend,  and  hope  W 
Townshend  &  M'  Finch  will  be  ready  to  serve  you  when 
you  can  properly  ask  it,  —  the  latter,  I  believe,  is  an 
anticourtier.     As  M'  Reynolds  can't  return  hither  to  his 


oyGoot^lc 


92  THE  BELCHEE  PAPEES.  [17M. 

mind,  1  see  you  are  to  expect  no  further  ikvour  from  my 
Lord  or  his  family,  which  is  not  strange  to  me,  but  what 
I  wrote  you  2  or  3  years  ago,  that  the  B'*  respect  cen< 
ter'd  in  what  service  your  father  cou'd  do  for  his  son. 
However,  I  venture  one  more  letter  by  this  convey*  which 
you  may  deliver  or  not. 

I  take  a  particular  notice  of  the  passage  of  D — b — r's 
letters.  How  extraordinary  is  it  that  he  shou'd  be  so  vile 
&  wicked  as  to  do  all  he  cou'd  to  hinder  the  N.  Hamp- 
shire Assembly  from  doing  anything  for  the  King's  honour 
&  service  &  for  the  good  of  the  people,  and  then  say  the 
Gov'  was  unable  to  do  any  thing  &  dissolv'd  the  Assembly, 
Ac*.  This  certainly  can  have  no  influence  on  wise,  rea- 
sonable men.  I  agree  with  him  that  the  fort  is  in  a 
miserable  condition,  which  I  take  to  be  very  much  owing 
to  bim.  A^  to  the  disputes  between  him  &  me,  I  don't 
intend  a  fee  of  £5  to  a  lawyer  who  will  give  his  opinion 
en  passant  shall  determine  it,  nor  shall  any  less  person  than 
his  royal  Majesty  King  George.*  The  queries  he  propos'd 
to  the  Council,  I  think  went  fairly  against  him.  As  to  the 
logs,  mills,  Ac*  I  have  at  all  times  done  every  thing,  con- 
sistent with  the  justice  &  honour  of  the  King's  Gov*,  for 
his  Majesty's-  service.  To  allow  the  Assembly  to  emit 
more  bills  wou'd  be  to  cheat  all  the  merchants  of  Great 
Britain  trading  this  way;  for  every  considerable  new 
emission  sinks  the  valne  of  all  outstanding  debts  at  least 
20  V  c'.  But  why  does  your  uncle  let  you  have  the 
trouble  of  these  things  ?  I  had  rather  he  wou'd  take  'em 
upon  himself,  and  not  divert'  you  from  your  studies. 

As  your  degree  at  Cambridge  {with  its  priviledges)  does 
you  honour  &  service,  if  you  cou'd  easily  obtain  the  same 
ad  euTuiem  at  Oxford  it  wou'd  still  give  you  more  weight 
&  respect  in  the  world ;  so  I  believe  you  will  not  forget 
it  at  a  seasonable  juncture. 

«  Dpiaion  tavonbls  to  Danbar's  clainu,  much  to  Belchei'g  diwat- 


oyGoot^lc 


17U.]  TO  BICHABD  PARTRIDOE.  93 

Jonathan,  I  may  perhaps  have  too  much  fondness  for 
every  thing  that  drops  from  my  own  pen,  yet  I  think 
you  ought  alwayea  to  have  so  much  regard  to  it  as  to  give 
me  an  answer  paragraph  by  paragraph  to  all  I  write,  nor 
will  it  finally  be  pleasing  that  you  tell  me  from  one  6 
months  (&  12  months)  to  another  that  this  or  that  hinders 
you  from  your  duty.    I  remain 

Tour  loving  father.  J.  B. 

BoeiOM,  J11I7  8, 17S4. 

Didn't  you  subscribe  for  me  for  the  2'*  vol.  of  Burnet's 
History?    Why  don't  you  send  it? 
V  Wimple.  

TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  Having  already  wrote  you  v  this  convey'  of  6  & 
8  cur"  I  have  little  to  add.  Inclos'd  is  bill  of  lading  for 
a  box  of  green  wax  candles,  49"*,  and  a  bundle  of  fish 
112""  T  Wimple.  Let  Jonathan  write  a  letter  to  L* 
Town»hend,  to  accompany  the  fish  to  Raynham,  and  pray 
my  Lord  to  accept  it  as  a  small  token  of  gratitude  from 
his  &ther.  The  candles  he  may  present  to  Crossland  in 
his  own  name  (or  to  whom  else  he  pleases).  I  have  de- 
sir'd  Wimple  to  get  'em  past  as  bis  ship's  store,  and  so 
to  save  the  duty,  but  if  he  can't  do  it  without  too  much 
trouble  &  hazard  you  must  pay  it  &  charge  to  me. 

I  having  adjoum'd  this  Assembly  to  11  Sept',  and  the 
affairs  of  the  government  not  being  pressing  here  at 
present,  I  intend  to  imbark  Monday  15  ins*  aboard  the 
ScarborG  man-of-war.  Cap*  Durell,  to  take  a  view  of  such 
places  along  the  eastern  shore  of  this  Province  as  I  have 
not  yet  seen,  down  as  far  as  the  River  S*  Croix,  being  the 
boundary  between  the  Massachusetts  &  Nova  Scotia,  and 
hope  to  return  hither  in  14  or  20  days.  This  will  give 
me  a  more  particular  knowledge  of  that  part  of  my  gov- 
emment,  and  bo  the  opportunity  of  giving  my  orders 


oyGoot^lc 


04  THE  BELCHGB  PAPERS.  [ITU. 

about  it  for  liie  future  more  for  his  Majeetj's  aervice  & 
interest 

As  to  your  nephew's  still  standing  for  Tamworth,  I  add 
to  all  I  have  said,  that  if  you  have  a  love  for  him,  and 
any  interest  among  those  you  call  your  friends,  this  is 
the  time  to  show  it.  It's  not  in  hie  nature  to  decieve 
you.  No,  he  is  a  very  honest  man,  and  if  any  body 
favours  him  with  a  qualification,  they  will  be  very  safe  in 
all  they  transact  with  him.  I  have  done  what  I  cfm,  & 
can  do  no  more  than  to  get  what  further  orders  I  can  for 
the  manufacture,  and  remisses  to  bear  out  the  charge  o| 
the  election,  which  you  may  depend  I  will  do ;  and  Cap' 
Burell  has  promist  me  some  more  bills  on  the  public 
offices  about  two  months  hence,  aud  I  will  do  every  thing 
else  I  can  to  get  money  to  you.  Pray  press  forward  the 
leave  for  my  support  that  I  may  have  it  by  the  fall 
ships.    I  am,  Sir, 

Your  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

B08TOM,  July  12, 1734. 

tf  Wimple.  

TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

My  dear  Sow,  —  At  my  return  from  S'  Croix  and  the 
other  eastern  parts  of  this  Province,  which  I  have  lately 
been  to  view,  I  found  your  letters  of  April  4,  May  27  & 
31,  If  Russell.  As  to  the  nuptials  of  the  Princess  Koyal 
with  the  Prince  of  Orange,  1  think  you'll  find  I  was  eaxly 
in  my  duty  on  that  head,  and  when  the  Assembly  met  I 
brought  them  into  a  handsome  Address. 

I  shou'd  be  glad  to  do  any  service  for  the  new  Colony 
of  Georgia ;  but  considering  how  great  a  part  of  this  Prov- 
ince still  remains  unpeopled  and  unsetl'd,  and  the  low 
ebb  to  which  the  commerce  here  is  reduced,  I  am  sensible 
it  wou'd  be  to  little  purpose  to  move  the  Assembly  to  an 
act  of  charity  in  favour  of  that  new  Colony ;  for  they  are 


oyGoot^lc 


ITSl]  TO  30VATEAS  BELCHBR,  JB.  95 

eonstantd^  ooroplaining  tiiat  tliey  are  not  able  to  support  & 
defend  their  own  Provinoe. 

I  take  a  particular  notice  <^  yoar  oorrespondence  with 
W  Crossland,  of  the  Tsimworth  poll,  and  of  all  things 
relating  to  that  affair,  and  upon  the  whole  I  find  (in  caee 
of  Maj*  Compton's  declaring  for  North  Hampton)  your 
election  is  still  attended  with  considerable  uncertainty 
from  the  Earl  of  North  Hampton's  reoommendation  of 
another  brother  (the  consul  at  lix*)  and  M'  Crossland 
seems  to  point  you  to  a^  the  interest  of  S'  R.  W.,  Earl 
Wilmington,  &  Lord  Weymouth.  So  there  are  great  dif- 
ficulties still  to  be  overcome.  I  believe  you  are  pretty 
much  a  stranger  to  S'  R.  W. ;  and  Lord  Wilmington  will 
naturally  be  in  favour  of  his  own  family,  that  unless  you 
can  be  in  a  manner  sure  of  a  favourable  answer  it  will 
be  dangerous  to  put  the  question  to  him,  lest  he  shou'd 
deny  you,  and  then  be  disgusted  if  you  push  the  matter 
without  his  leave.  Whereas,  if  you  say  nothing  to  him, 
you  may  give  him  less  occasion  of  disgust,  and  when  the 
matter's  over  you  may  make  a  handsome  compliment  of 
jour  not  interfering  with  his  kinsman  (the  Maj')  tho'  you 
Blight  have  done  it  with  great  probability  of  success. 
But  if  Lord  Wilmington  waves  the  matter  as  to  the  Con- 
snl,  then  you  may  perhaps  have  bis  favour  &  interest. 
Sir  Rob'  may  have  some  friend  in  reserve.  Your  uncle, 
M'  Crossland,  &  you  may  consider  of  what  I  say,  and 
form  the  best  judgment  you  can  whether  to  make  an 
effort  upon  these  two  gent",  which  to  me  indeed  seems  a 
nice  &  delicate  point.  As  to  L'  Weymouth,  if  he  be  a 
gent"  easy  of  access  &  you  can  rationally  hope  for  bis 
interest,  I  approve  of  your  attempting  it,  and  to  take 
your  chance  without  saying  any  thing  to  S'  B.  W.  or 
E.  W. 

I  have  already  advised  you  of  the  orders  gone  forward 
to  your  uncle  for  some  of  the  Tamworth  manufactures 
to  value  of  £600  st^.     It  is  now  too  late  in  tiie  year  to 


oyGoot^lc 


96  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1784. 

order  any  goods  to  come  on  this  coast ;  nor  do  I  indeed 
incline  to  be  asking  favours  &  laying  myself  under 
obligations  to  my  friends  here,  unless  you  cou'd  reap 
the  fruit  of  it  by  gaining  your  election.  What  is 
already  ordered  will  show  M'  Crossland  &  the  rest 
of  your  friends  that  the  Gov'  has  it  in  his  power  to 
encourage  their  manufactures,  provided  they'll  make  you 
one  of  their  representatives  in  Parliam',  and  thereby 
their  powerful!  advocate  for  reviving  their  stagnated 
trade,  and  methinka  if  they  are  not  blind  to  their  own 
interest  (especially  all  those  votere,  whose  families  depend 
on  their  own  industry)  they  must  prefer  such  a  man  as 
you  to  those  who  perhaps  have  it  not  in  their  power,  nor 
will  give  themselves  any  concern  to  promote  the  manu- 
factures &  trade  of  the  place.  If  it  wou'd  help  out  your 
election  I  wou'd  be  content  to  lay  out  4  to  £500  at'  on 
my  own  ace",  according  to  my  letters  to  your  imcle  &  you 
in  May  last,  and  to  pay  the  money  in  9  or  12  months,  and 
if  you  shou'd  be  chose  the  borough  may  depend  on  my 
sending  more  orders  from  my  friends  in  the  spring,  and 
that  I  will  not  forget  to  serve  them  as  often  &  as  long 
as  I  can.  If  your  uncle  thinks  proper,  send  this  para- 
graph of  my  letter  to  M'  Crossland,  to  whom  I  hold 
myself  &  you  under  great  obligations  for  bis  steady  friend- 
ship, prudence  &  great  integrity  in  the  whole  managment 
of  this  affair. 

The  Fellowship  of  Trinity  Hall  I  see  dropt  thr6.  How- 
ever it  mayn't  be  amiss  to  keep  up  the  best  interest  you 
can  there  against  a  more  favourable  opportunity ;  and  a 
good  understanding  with  Sir  Rob'  Clark,  Grov'  Holden, 
M'  Wilks,  Williams,  &  Morton  may  give  you  the  knowl- 
edge of  a  vacancy,  and  the  opportunity  of  filling  it,  —  I 
mean  in  the  Society  whereof  Sir  Rob'  Clark  is  Gov'  (or 
Moderator). 

I  see  you  had  reed  my  picture  from  M'  Caawall.  I 
think  it  is  not  much  like,  tho'  a  good  peice  of  paint,  done 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEE,  JR.  97 

by  M'  Philips  of  Great  Queen  Street  out  of  Lincoln's  Inn 
Field&  I  am  surprized  &  much  displeas'd  at  what  your 
uncle  writes  me  of  M'  Newman  &  your  having  my  picture 
done  on  a  copperplate.  How  cou'd  you  presume  to  do 
such  a  thing  without  my  special  leave  and  order  ?  You 
shou'd  be  wise  and  consider  the  consequences  of  things 
before  you  put  'em  in  execution.  Such  a  foolish  affair 
will  pul!  down  much  envy,  and  give  occasion  to  your 
father's  enemies  to  squirt  &  squib  &  what  not.  It  is  there- 
fore my  order,  if  this  comes  to  hand  timely  that  you  de- 
stroy the  plate  &  bum  all  the  impressions  taken  from  it 

Tour  sitting  under  the  instructions  of  D'  Dickens  in 
the  Civil  Law,  I  believe  will  be  much  to  your  advantage 
when  you  come  to  practice  in  Chancery. 

I  am  well  satisfied  with  the  presents  you  made  to  your 
Cambridge  University. 

The  seal  you  have  sent  me  is  neat  &  well  cut,  but  I 
think  the  device  over  the  greyhound's  head  is  not  so  well 
proportioned,  bearing  nearer  on  one  side  than  t'other.  I 
may  perhaps  be  too  curious  in  such  things.  The  man  has 
also  exceeded  in  its  size,  being  bigger  than  L''  Barring- 
ton's  sent  you  for  a  pattern.  It  is  indeed  well  cut  and 
a  fine  seal,  yet  I  now  return  it  v  Cap'  Cary,  and  make  a 
present  of  it  to  you.  Labor  ipse  voluptaa  is  Lord  King's 
motto,  and  I  think  you  have  a  better  right  to  it  than 
your  father,  and  I  wish  you  may  reap  as  much  fruit  from 
the  practice  of  it  as  that  noble  Lord  has.  Between  this 
and  winter  I  shall  give  you  orders  about  another  seal. 
The  glasses  you  sent  are  pretty,  but  may  soon  be  out  of 
fashion,  &  are  too  costly  for  constant  use. 

I  observe  you  was  admitted  to  the  bar  24  May  last 
(cost  ^24),  in  which  matter  you  had  some  extraordinary 
marks  of  favour  from  the  benchers.  I  am  glad  you  are 
got  there  because  I  am  told  it  will  give  you  some  ad- 
vantage in  the  pursuit  of  your  studies,  which  you  are 
resolved  to  attend  with  a  close  application,  and  that  no 


oyGoot^lc 


98  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1784. 

labour  BhaM  be  wantiDg  in  you  to  shiDe  in  your  profes- 
sion, &  to  merit  the  favour  of  mankind,  and  that  the 
present  opportunity  of  young  gent"'*  rising  in  the  law 
shall  be  a  spur  to  your  ambition.  These  are  laudable 
resolutions,  &  render  you  worthy  of  my  best  future  care, 
and  as  a  fresh  instance  of  it  I  refer  you  to  my  letter  of 
4  of  May  last,  with  those  from  Judge  Auchmuty  and 
M'  Advocate  Shirley  respecting  your  coming  into  busi- 
ness. The  latter  I  take  to  be  a  well  digested  letter,  and 
deserves  your  grave  &  sedate  consideration.  Often  re- 
volve in  your  mind  the  great  Lord  Coke's  motto,  Prudent 
quipaiiens,  and  that  of  the  excellent  Judge  Hale's,  FesHna 
lenie.  I  am  therefore  absolutely  against  your  pushing  into 
business,  but  let  me  desire  &  charge  yon  to  be  patient 
for  at  least  two  years  (if  it  pleases  God  so  long  to  spare 
your  life),  before  you  come  into  any  other  business  than 
what  M'  Auchmuty  &  Shirley  have  advis'd.  I  am  satisfy'd 
it  will  give  you  the  advantage  of  amassing  a  better  trea- 
sure of  knowledge  in  your  profession  &  consequently  of 
shining  with  a  greater  lustre  in  all  futurity,  and  since  I 
am  willing  still  to  support  you,  what  can  you  have  against 
it  ?  You  must  be  sure  I  aim  at  your  solid,  substantial, 
lasting  good  in  this  matter ;  and  depending  on  your  fall- 
ing in  with  this  scheme,  I  forbear  the  letters  you  desire 
for  putting  you  forward  in  business.  The  candles  I  hinted 
your  presenting  to  the  two  noble  persons  you  mention 
may  refresh  their  knowledge  of  you;  and  upon  your 
answer  to  what  I  have  once  &  again  wrote  on  this  head, 
you  shall  have  letters  to  all  my  friends  at  such  a  time  as 
you  may  judge  proper. 

You  must  not  fail  to  make  your  handsomest  compli- 
ments to  M'  Auchmuty  &  Shirley  'p  the  first  opportunity. 
While  an  unprofitable  correspondence  is  to  be  neglected, 
one  that  nearly  afiTects  a  man's  real  interest  is  to  be 
nourisht  with  gratitude,  nor  must  you  let  any  thing  ex- 
cuse you  in  such  cases ;  for  who  is  oblig'd  to  show  you 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO    JONATHAN  BELCHEB,  JB.  99 

respect  if  you  don't  think  it  worth  returning?  I  am 
glad  M'  Auchmuty'a  brother  reed  you  bo  kindly,  which 
you  must  also  mention  in  your  letter  hither. 

The  conveyance  of  the  estate  I  have  made  to  you  is 
all  I  am  able  to  do  for  your  qualification,  and  it's  very 
well  that  you'll  observe  whenever  you  make  an  exchange 
of  it  that  it  shall  be  done  on  both  sides  in  fee  simple.  I 
have  and  shall  be  making  remisses  of  all  the  money  I 
possibly  can  to  your  uncle.  You  have  herewith  my  let- 
ters to  M**  Bellamy  &  Marshall,  thanking  their  generous 
friendship  to  you ;  but  you  must  be  very  cautious  of  ru3- 
ing  yourself  in  debt,  or  bringing  yourself  under  heavy 
obligations,  yet  I  confess  a  body  wou'd  strain  a  point 
to  accomplish  the  affair  of  Tamworth. 

'^  the  first  shipping  leaving  London  after  28  of  this 
month  I  shall  expect  your  yearly  account. 

If  you  cou'd  nick  an  opportunity  of  getting  a  Master's 
degree  at  Oxford  at  a  small  expence,  I  sbou'd  be  pleas'd 
with  it.  Methinka  by  proper  recommendations  from 
your  Cambridge  University  it  wou'd  not  be  hard  to  get  a 
degree  at  Oxford  ad  eundem. 

I  have  still  to  add  to  this  letter  (I'm  afraid)  a  long 
paragraph  in  answer  to  what  you  say  of  D — b — r,  C — k, 
W — do,  &  C — d — c.  About  the  three  last  I  give  myself 
little  concern.  C — k  sinks  every  day,  and  has  almost 
lost  his  sting.  W — do  seems  to  have  laid  aside  the  thots 
of  a  London  voyage  at  present,  and  C — d — c  is  return'd 
with  the  Tartar  raan-of-war  to  N.  York  &  expected  here 
some  time  this  week.  So  D — b — r  is  the  great  hydra, 
whose  head  most  be  cut  off,  if  possible,  and  inclosed  you 
have  copy  of  Lord  Townshend's  letter  in  answer  to  what 
I  wrote  him.  May  it  not  be  worth  your  while  to  make 
bis  Lordship  (&  Lady  Dolly)  a  visit,  tho  it  be  a  journey  of 
100  miles.  With  how  much  respect  and  with  how  much 
integnty  and  honour  does  his  Lordship  treat  your  father ! 
It's  impossible  for  me  or  mine  to  return  him  sufficient 


oyGoot^lc 


100  THB  BBLCHER  PAPERS.  [173«. 

gratitude.  I  intend  to  follow  Lord  Townshend's  advice, 
and  apply  myself  directly  to  S'  K.  W.  in  the  case  of 
D — b^r.  Aa  to  the  mandamus'fl  for  W.  &  A.,  there's  no 
great  matter  in  it.  I  offer'd  to  admit  'em  when  I  was 
last  at  N.  Hampshire,  and  so  I  shall  agaiq  when  I  go  the 
next  month.  But  shou'd  they  refuse  as  they  did  before 
(upon  my  offering),  I  wou'd  not  admit  'em  just  when  they 
pleas' d.  Bl — d — n  I  am  sensible  is  a  fast  advocate  to 
D — b — r,  and  I  must  expect  no  favour  while  he  is  at  the 
Board  of  Trade ;  but  were  the  D — v — 1  there  I  shou'd 
expect  justice  under  the  British  Constitution  corrobo- 
rated with  the  Hannover  Succession.  The  answer  you 
had  from  Lord  Wilmington  was  natural  enough,  since  he 
had  not  inclination  to  give  himself  trouble  in  my  faV. 

I  take  notice  of  your  uncle's  opinion  &  M'  W"  Sharp's  as 
to  applying  to  D.  N.  Castle.  There  will  alwayes  be  diffi- 
culties in  business  while  we  live  in  the  world,  but  it  has 
never  been  my  way  &  manner  to  territye  myself  with 
dark  imaginations  &  chimeras.  Had  I  so  govem'd  myself 
I  had  not  been  at  this  day  Gov'  of  my  native  country,  nor 
bad  you  been  a  counsellor  at  law  &  a  Master  of  Arts  of 
Trinity  College,  Cambridge.  Our  Saviour  sayes,  Sufficient 
is  the  day  for  the  evil  thereof;  and  the  Royal  preacher 
sayes,  He  that  observeth  the  wind  shall  not  sow,  and  be 
that  regardeth  the  clouds  shall  not  reap.  That  is,  it's 
best  for  a  man  to  go  forward  in  the  way  of  his  duty,  and 
leave  the  event  to  Almighty  God.  I  remember  when  I 
was  at  Breda  {18  years  ago)  I  saw  over  the  door  of  the 
Stadt  House  a  device  of  the  late  glorious  King  William's, 
Reefi  faciendo  nemnem  timeas. 

I  am,  Sir,  prodigiously  surprized  at  what  your  uncle 
writes  me  upon  the  bearing  (29  May)  before  Lords  Trade 
(Docminique,  Bladen,  &  Pelham)  where  Coll'  Bladen  took 
upon  him  the  managment  of  the  whole  hearing.  Had 
he  been  consulted  upon  my  being  made  Gov',  he  had 
play'd  the  same  game  be  does  now,  and  have  done  every 


oyGoot^lc 


17»4.]         TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR.  101 

thing  in  his  power  to  have  prevented  me.  I  therefore 
apply'd  myself  to  his  superiours  &  obtained  my  point.  1 
really  admire  your  uncle  sfaouM  give  up  things  as  he  did 
to  Coll'  Bladen.  As  1  have  said,  Wentworth  &  Atkinson's 
roandamuss  are  trifles  but  to  give  in  to  Dunbar's  hiiving 
the  half  (or  an  iota)  of  ray  salary  at  N.  Hampshire  is  what 
I  can't  account  for.  Altho'  your  uncle  is  an  honest,  dili- 
gent man,  yet  I  must  say  I  have  not  had  to  do  with  any 
body  closer  &  nearer  for  his  penny,  and  were  my  case  his 
I  can't  believe  he  wou'd  be  so  ready  to  give  away  his 
bread. 

The  affair  of  N.  Hampshire  government  is  thus : 

The  salary  settled  on  me  ^600  a  year 

Out  of  which  my  2  yearly  joiir^ 

neys  is  200 

So  that  govern"*  is  worth  to  me  but  £400  a  year. 
The  perquisites  due  to  me  by  my  comission  &  instruc- 
tions, being  the  command  of  the  fort,  registersj  passes  to 
the  castle,  licenses  for  marriages,  certificates  for  naval 
stores,  &c'  (all  which  I  give  to  the  L"  Gov')  are  about 
j£200  a  year,  and  shou'd  1  give  him  the  half  of  my  salary 
the  matter  wou'd  stand  thus : 

To  the  Gov*  for  the  half  of  £600 

a  year  £300 

My  yearly  journeys  200 

makes  clear  £100  a  year 
And  the  L"  Grov'  wou'd  stand  thus : 
To  have  half  of  what's  setU'd  on 

the  Gov*  £300 

The  perquisites  abovemenf  which  1 
now  allow  him,  200 

is  £500  a  year 

to  the  Gov^'  £100.  Can  Coll'  Bladen  or  any  gent"  look 
ou  this  account  stated  as  it  truly  &  really  is,  and  think  it 


oyGoot^lc 


102  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

consistent  with  justice  &  honour,  that  the  affair  of  the 
government  shou'd  be  put  into  such  a  posture  &  situa- 
tion ?  If  he  or  any  body  else  can  endure  the  thoughts  of 
it,  I  assure  you  I  cannot,  nor  will  I  ever  condescend  to  it, 
let  the  consequence  be  what  it  will.  The  government  of 
N.  Hampshire  is  not  at  this  day  worth  £100  st'  a  year, 
and  a  shame  to  call  it  a  government.  You  say,  "Coll' 
Bladen  is  a  fast  advocate  for  Dunbar,"  and  your  uncle 
sayes,  "  Depend  upon  it,  Coll'  Bladen  is  so  attacht  to  L" 
Gov'  Dunbar  that  he  wou'd  do  thee  all  the  injury  in  his 
power."  How  then  cou'd  your  uncle  submit  any  thing 
to  his  decision  ?  I  take  the  bearing  had  before  the  three 
Lords  of  Trade  to  be  no  more  than  if  it  had  been  person- 
ally before  Dunbar  himself,  and  this  I  make  out  frolia 
your  uncle's  sentiments  abovementioned.  How  cou'd  he 
then  make  any  concessions?  no,  he  shou'd  have  appealed 
to  the  King  in  Council,  let  the  event  have  been  what  it 
wou'd.  I  had  much  rather  be  governed  by  the  King's 
sign  manual  and  royal  signet  than  by  Ounbar,  or  tliose 
that  for  some  reasons  or  other  are  oblig'd  to  espouse  him. 
Sir  Walter  Rawleigh  (the  night  before  he  was  beheaded) 
said : 

Cowards  fear  to  dye,  but  course  Btont 
Bather  than  live  in  snuff  will  be  put  out. 

And  it  was  a  saying  of  one  of  the  Roman  Emperours,  Deed 
iinpercUore  siante  mori.  So  I  say,  if  the  King  will  have  it  so, 
let  me  have  his  sign  manual  and  royal  signet,  and  every 
body  must  obey;  but  I  am  really  for  carrying  things  to 
the  highest  power,  where  perhaps  we  may  find  justice,  if 
not  favour.  But  if  every  thing  must  have  a  final  issue 
before  Coll'  Bladen  (or  Dunbar)  there's  an  end  of  ray 
.  govemm*.  I  say,  I  had  rather  be  at  a  greater  charge,  and 
sue  for  justice  before  their  superiours.  I  am  therefore 
determined  to  apply  myself  directly  to  S'  R.  W.  T  the 
next  ship ;  nor  can  your  uncle,  nor  can  you,  concieve  the 
disgrace  &  dishonour  I  suffer  by  the  ace'"  Dunbar  has 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  TO  BICHAED  PARTRIDGE.  103 

publish'd  from  Thomlinson's  letters  about  the  hearing  be- 
fore Coll'  Bladen.  I  had  indeed  rather  have  spent  100 
gun*  to  have  had  a  hearing  before  the  King  in  CounciL 

I  will  by  the  next  conveyance  furnieh  you  &  your 
uncle  with  matter  suf&cient  against  the  wretche's  having 
any  part  of  my  salary.  In  the  mean  time  you'll  com- 
municate this  whole  letter  to  your  uncle,  to  whom  I  shall 
not  be  so  particniar,  and  I  remain 

Yours,  in  the  most  paternal  affection.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Augi«  7, 1731. 

Let  me  have  an  answer  if  possible  before  the  winter 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  My  laet  was  12  of  July  f  Wimple,  since  which 
I  am  returned  from  a  short  trip  made  in  the  Scarboi-3 
man-of-war  to  view  the  eastern  parts  of  this  Province,  and 
am  now  to  own  your  kind  letters  of  27  &  9  May  V  Russell. 
I  have  this  day  wrote  your  nephew  a  very  long  letter, 
which  he  will  communicate  to  you  &  may  serve  to  shorten 
this. 

I  take  a  particular  notice  of  everything  you  write,  and 
thank  your  care  about  the  stockins  &  seal,  and  for  the 
supply  of  money  you  made  to  Jonathan  to  defrey  the 
chaises  at  Cambridge  &  of  his  coming  to  the  bar.  I  hope 
in  a  little  time  to  be  sending  you  some  bills  of  exch'. 
Altho'  Jonathan  is  got  to  the  bar,  which  may  be  an  ad- 
vantage in  the  pursuit  of  his  studies,  yet  I  still  think  it 
best  that  he  shou'd  enter  into  little  or  no  business  for  two 
years  to  come,  and  when  it  may  be  judg'd  proper  for 
him  to  have  his  head  &  hands  full  of  business  your 
recomending  him  to  such  sollicitors,  attorneys,  and  others 


oyGoot^lc 


104  THE   BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1734. 

as  you  are  acquainted  with  will  be  a  further  instance  of 
your  love  &  affection  to  him.  He  will  tell  you  ail  I  have 
to  say  about  the  Tamworth  affair,  in  which  M''  Crossland 
has  acted  with  great  prudence,  integrity,  and  honour,  and 
I  wish  your  nephew  may  finally  succeed  in  his  election 
there.  I  am  surpriz'd  he  shou'd  be  so  imprudent  as  to 
consent  to  having  my  picture  cut  on  a  copper  plate,  which 
will  give  great  occasion  of  banter  &  ridicule  among  my 
enemies,  and  I  have  given  him  positive  order  to  de- 
stroy the  plate,  and  to  bum  all  the  impressions  from 
it  Cradock  is  arriv'd  at  N.  York  in  the  man-of-war. 
How  do  you  think  I  can  be  in  tolerable  terms  with  such 
a  creature  ?  He  has  already  made  his  complimenta  to 
Dunbar  in  a  letter  from  York. 

As  Coll"  Bladen  made  no  report  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons of  the  letter  from  the  late  House  of  Bepresent** 
here,  I  suppose  that  matter  is  over,  as  not  lying  with  any 
propriety  before  this  new  Parliam'. 

I  observe  you  hod  an  attorney  before  the  Board  of 
Trade  29  of  May  on  two  memorials  from  Cap'  Thomlia- 
8on,  one  in  behalf  of  Wentworth's  &  Atkinson's  man- 
damus", the  other  in  behalf  of  L"  Gov*  Dunbar  that  he 
might  come  in  for  a  share  of  my  salary  at  N.  Hampshire  ; 
and  that  you  had  undertaken  I  shou'd  admit  the  two  per- 
sons abovementioned  into  the  Council.  This  I  offer'd 
ttiem  the  last  time  I  was  at  N.  Hampshire,  and  according 
to  your  engagment  I  shall  make  them  the  offer  again, 
at  my  going  thither  the  next  moneth.  But  if  they 
shou'd  again  refuse,  I  shall  not  admit  them  just  when  they 
please.  I  was  in  hopes  you  wou'd  have  been  able  with 
the  papers  I  sent  to  have  so  justify'd  my  conduct  as  that 
those  persons  might  never  have  been  admitted,  hut  I  find 
I  must  submit  to  it,  and  will,  ob  I  have  said,  make  them 
the  offer  as  soon  as  I  get  into  the  Province. 

I  am  in  the  next  place,  brother,  to  make  answer  to 
what  you  say  on  Thomlinson's  memorial  about  my  de- 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  RICHABD  PARTRIDGE.  106 

taining  one  half  of  the  salary  from  L"  Gov'  Dunbar,  which 
he  claims  as  his  due.  I  am  really  prodigiously  surpriz'd 
that  you  shou'd  give  way  in  the  least  measure  to  my 
parting  with  one  penny  of  ray  support ;  nor  is  it  possible 
for  him  to  make  any  colour  of  claim  to  it.  I  shall  be  ex- 
pecting, according  to  Coll'  Bladen's  proposal,  a  copy  of 
Thomlinson'a  memorial  od  this  head ;  and  I  think  I  shall 
be  able  to  make  so  reasonable  &  satisfactory  an  answer 
to  it  as  will  put  an  end  to  any  further  pretences  of  this 
nature.    The  governm'  of  N.  Hampshire  is  thus,  — 

The  salary  settled  on  me  £600  a  year. 

My  two  yearly  journeys  cost  200 

Leaves    400 

And  if  I  must  allow  Dunbar  the 

half  of  my  salary,  that's  SOO 

So  I  must  have  only  £100  a  y'. 

as  the  King's  Gov'  of  N.  Hampshire ;  and  he  who  is  only 
L"  Gov'  wou'd  have  the  half  of  the 
Gov'^  salary  £300 

The  comand  of  the  fort,  registers, 

marriages  certificates,   passes   to 

the  fort,  and  all  other  perquisites 

wou'd  be  200 

£500  a  year 
Can  any  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  (even  Coll"  Bladen,  his 
patron)  think   this  wou'd  be  consistent  with  justice   & 
honour  ? 

You  are  mistaken  about  Wentworth.  I  never  allowed 
him  one  farthing  of  my  salary,  nor  did  he  desire  it.  I 
allow'd  Wentworth  the  same  perquisites  I  do  Coll"  Dun- 
bar, and  which  are  really  mine  by  my  coffiission  &  instruc- 
tions. 1  observe  there  were  present  at  the  Board  only 
Coll"  Bladen,  M'  Docminique,  &  Pelham,  and  that  the 
former  raanag'd  the  debate  on  the  memorials.  Tou  say, 
"  Depend  upon  it,  Coll"  Bladen  is  so  attacht  to  L"  Gov' 


oyGoot^lc 


106  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734, 

Duubar  that  he  wou'd  do  thee  all  the  injury  in  his 
power."  This  you  seem  to  be  very  positive  in  (and  I 
fully  believe  it).  You  must  then  certainly  agree  with 
me  that  the  hearing  you  had  was  much  the  same  aa  if  it 
had  been  before  Dunbar  himself.  How  then  cou'd  you 
think  of  the  matters  issuing  so?  No,  I  wou'd  alwayes 
appeal  to  the  King  in  Council,  and  recieve  my  orders 
from  the  fountain  of  power ;  and  from  gent"  of  so  superiour 
a  quality,  justice  &  honour  may  be  expected,  and  I  have 
known  many  instances  of  things'  going  quite  contrary  at 
the  Privy  Council  to  what  they  wou'd  have  done  at  the 
Board  of  Trade.  Had  they  known  when  I  soUicited  to 
their  superiours  for  the  govern"'  they  (say  Bl — d — n) 
wou'd  have  done  all  in  his  power  to  have  hindred  it.  I 
say  I  had  rather  on  all  occasions  have  recourse  to  the 
King  in  Council  than  have  any  thing  of  mine  decided 
before  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  when  they  don't  find 
things  go  just  as  they  wou'd  have  'em  they  will  act  with 
more  caution  and  justice.  I  have  stated  the  profits  of  N. 
Hampshire  as  exactly  &  justly  as  I  can  j  and  as  Coll" 
Bladen  wou'd  have  me  do,  I  shou'd  not  reap  from  that 
government  £25  st'  a  year.  I  can  by  no  means  think  of 
coming  into  such  measures,  but  must  pray  you  to  make 
the  best  defence  for  me  before  the  King  in  Council,  let 
the  event  be  what  it  will ;  and  by  the  next  ship  you  shall 
have  every  thing  respecting  the  settlement  of  the  salary 
on  me  to  strengthen  you 'in  this  matter.  I  must  in  the 
next  place  acquaint  you  that  Dunbar  reports  M'  Belcher 
has  been  forbidden  to  appear  before  the  Board  of  Trade, 
and  that  you  had  been  severely  reprimanded  by  Lord 
Westmorland.  This  report,  with  the  concessions  you 
made  at  the  Board  of  Trade,  make  a  great  noise  here  to 
yours  and  my  dishonour,  discourages  my  friends  &  heart- 
ens up  my  enemies.  However,  I  cannot  believe  they  are 
true,  for  as  my  son  is  jointly  my  agent  with  you,  how  is 
it  possible  for  him  to  be  debarr'd  appearing  for  me  at  the 


oyGoot^lc 


17W.]  TO    RICHARD    PARTRIDGE.  107 

publick  offices?  It.wou'd  be  so  cruel  «n  injustice  as  I 
think  cannot  be  pnictis'd,  if  he  shows  the  coiuitujion  I  sent 
faim  ;  and  shou'd  the  Board  of  Trade  browbeat  him,  or  act 
as  I  have  said,  I  wou'd  have  you  both  complain  to  the 
King  in  Council,  where  you  will  be  heard  &  have  justice 
done  you.  I  pray  your  particular  answer  ahout  thi»  mat- 
ter, and  to  tell  me  whether  there  be  any  truth  in  these 
reports,  and  for  the  future  I  desire  you  to  let  me  know 
the  particulars  of  what  passes  when  you  or  your  nephew 
appear  at  the  public  offices  that  I  may  know  the  truth  & 
be  able  to  tell  it. 

Whatever  Jonathan  may  do  about  Tamworth,  it  will 
be  best  to  keep  things  as  close  &  secret  as  possible  'till 
the  matter  ia  fully  over.  I  must  intreat  you  to  leave  no 
stone  untum'd  to  obtain  &  send  me  the  leave  for  my  sup- 
port before  winter ;  and  when  our  fall  ships  are  all  come 
away  I  hope  you  will  write  me  in  the  winter  season  by 
S"  Carohna,  Virginia,  Maryland,  Philad',  York,  &  Lix',  or 
any  other  ways  that  you  may  think  probable  for  letters 
to  get  to  me  before  the  arrival  of  our  spring  ships.  A 
letter  from  London  in  the  winter  may  he  of  great  service. 
Pray,  remember  it,  &  act  with  your  usual  diligence, 

I  forgot  to  mention  to  Jonathan  that  one  M'  Baxter,  an 
Irish  lawyer,  came  hither  the  last  fall  from  BBs,  where 
he  made  his  fortune  by  marrying  a  rich  widow.  He 
c^me  by  way  of  Phil'  &  N.  York  &  contracted  a  strict 
acquaintance  with  Gov'  Cosby,  &  at  N.  Hampshire  with 
Coll'  Dunbar  (his  countrymen).  He  was  several  times  at 
my  house,  and  1  look  on  him  a  gent"  of  sense  &  cunning, 
and  1  believe  is  firmly  in  Dunbar's  interest.  He  sailed 
from  Philad'  to  London  about  six  weeks  ago.  It  will  be 
best  to  enquire  him  out,  and  to  have  an  eye  upon  him  ; 
for  I  have  reason  to  think  be  wou'd  not  scruple  hurting 
of  me  to  serve  Dunbar. 

When  it  may  be  absolutely  necessary  I  wou'd  have 
Jonathan  appear  &  assist;  otherwise  I  wou'd  have  you 


oyGoot^lc 


108  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  {1734- 

spare  him  as  much  as  you  caa,  that  be  may  not  be  inter- 
rupted in  his  studies.  I  am  told  M'  Dumer  writes  Dun- 
bar, if  he  will  come  over  he  may  with  ease  obtain  the 
government  of  Massachusetts  &  N.  Hampshire,  but  if  it 
shou'd  be  war  he  may  have  'em  without  coming.  So  I 
stand  a  hard  chance  after  all  my  just  &  honest  endeavours 
to  serve  my  King  &  my  country,  &  no  complaint  made  of 
my  administration.  If  there  shou'd  be  any  euch  design 
as  Dummer  speaks  of,  I  hope  you  will  stir  up  a  good  num- 
ber of  my  friends  &  of  your  own  to  appear  in  my  behalf, 
and  you  must  be  vigilant  that  nothing  be  done  so  secretly 
aa  to  be  over  before  you  have  the  knowledge  of  it,  as  was 
the  case  of  B.  Pemberton's  getting  from  me  the  Naval 
Office.* 

As  any  thing  new  occurs,  I  shall  be  adding,  &  remain 
with  my  best  respects,  Sir, 

Your  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Augs>  7,  1734. 

Inclos'd  is  bill  of  lading  for  one  large  &  for  one  small 
birch  canno,  &  for  a  email  box  with  a  seal.  The  latter  is 
for  your  nephew.  The  cannos  to  be  presented  as  you  & 
he  may  judge  best.  What  if  you  shou'd  present  it  to 
S'  Robert  for  his  canal  at  Houghton  gardens  ? 

(Gary.  Kamsey.) 


TO  THE  LORDS  OP  TRADE. 

May  it  please  toub  Lordships,  —  Since  I  had  the 
honour  of  writing  you  last  I  am  returned  from  a  small 
trip  I  have  made  in  the  ScarborQ  man-of-war,  to  view  the 
eastern  coaats  &  lands  of  this  Province  as  far  aa  S'  Croix 
or  Passamaquoddy,  where  we  lay  at  anchor  three  days  & 
made  signals  by  firing  &  went  on  shore,  but  discovered  no 

•  Sm  6  Mug.  Hist.  Colt.  vol.  vL  pp.  STfl,  377.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  TO  THE   LORDS  OP  TRADE.  109 

inhabi".  Passainaquoddy  is  a  lai^e  bay,  has  in  it  a  great 
Dumber  of  islands  &  harbours,  with  plenty  of  codfiisb ; 
but  as  the  sea  flows  &  ebbs  there  to  a  great  degree,  it  is 
but  indi£ferent  riding  for  ships  near  the  inlet  or  entrance. 
From  Passamaquoddy  we  proceeded  homewards  &  anchor'd 
48  hours  in  Machias  Bay,  about  10  leagues  to  the  west- 
ward, which  is  also  full  of  islands  &  fine  harbours,  but 
scarce  of  fish.  We  went  ashore,  but  found  no  inhab- 
itants. From  thence  we  went  into  Pemnquid,  about  40 
leagues  still  westward,  where  I  viewed  Frederick's  Fort, 
and  two  smalt  rivers  there,  one  called  Pemaquid,  the 
other  John's  River,  and  then  1  went  into  two  fine  large 
rivers,  one  called  Damarascotty,  the  other  Sbeepscott 
The  wall  of  the  fort  at  Pemaquid  is  nothing  but  dry  stone 
piled  one  upon  another,  and  a  great  part  of  it  already 
tumbled  down.  The  lands  from  Pemaquid  to  Kennebec 
Biver  are  very  good,  and  from  the  east  side  of  Kennebec 
to  S'  Croix  wou'd  make  a  fine  province  -of  itself,  being 
about  180  miles  bordering  on  the  sea. 

AH  the  forts  on  the  frontiers  of  this  Province  are  in  a 
decaying,  defenceless  condition,  and  in  order  to  come  at 
a  proper  knowledge  of  the  nature  &  situation  of  the 
Province  it  is  necessary  to  have  a  good  survey  &  a  map 
made  of  the  whole  Province ;  and  this  1  very  early  rec- 
oiDmended  to  the  Assembly,  as  I  have  very  often  a  good 
repair  (or  rebuilding)  of  the  fortifications.  But  they 
seem  to  be  perfectly  indolent,  and  in  a  fatal  lethargy 
with  respect  to  these  things ;  nor  do  I  expect  they  will 
do  any  thing  for  strengthning  the  frontiers,  unless  we 
shou'd  soon  have  the  unhappy  news  of  war.  This  is  what 
I  think  is  my  duty,  and  for  his  Majesty's  honour  & 
service  to  advise  your  Lordships  with  respect  to  this 
Province. 

My  agents,  M'  Partridge  &  M'  Belcher,  write  me,  they 
had  been  before  your  Lordships  to  make  answer  to  a 
complaint  of  one  M'  Thomlinson    in   behalf  of   Mess" 


oyGoot^lc 


110  THE  BELCHKR  PAPERS.  [1731. 

Wentwortli  &  Atkinson  on  my  not  admitting  them  to  be 
oE  bis  Majesty's  Council  at  N.  Hampshire,  and  that  they 
had  promist  your  Lordships  it  shou'd  be  done  upon  their 
writing.  I  was  in  hopes  the  reasons  1  had  given  yoiir 
Lordshipsof  my  conduct  on  this  head  wou'd  have  been 
80  satisfactory  as  that  I  shou'd  have  never  reed  any 
further  directions  for  admitting  those  gent".  But  since 
your  Lordships  have  otherwise  over-ruled  that  matter,  I 
will  give  your  Lordships  no  further  trouble  upon  it,  but 
shall  offer  to  admit  them  upon  my  going  into  that  Prov- 
ince the  next  month,  as  indeed  I  did  when  I  last  went 
thither.  But  if  they  shou'd  still  refuse  to  accept  when 
1  ofifer  it,  I  hope  your  Lordships  will  think  it  a  peice  of 
insolence  in  them  not  to  be  born,  and  that  it  will  not 
be  expected  I  shou'd  admit  them  when  (&  just  as)  they 
please. 

My  agents  also  write  me  that  the  said  M'  Thomlinson 
had  put  in  a  memorial  in  behalf  of  my  L"  Gov'  at  N. 
Hampshire,  desiring  a  part  of  the  salary  that  Assembly 
have  settled  on  me,  and  that  y  the  next  ship  I  may  ex- 
pect copy  of  that  memorial.  Indeed,  my  Lords,  I  am 
surprized  at  the  confidence  of  a  gent"  to  lay  anything 
before  your  Lordships  of  this  nature;  and  were  he  not 
perfectly  ignorant  of  the  circumstances  of  this  matter 
he  wou'd  never  have  done  it,  and  when  I  am  served 
with  the  aforementioned  copy,  I  have  no  doubt  of 
giving  your  Lordships  intire  satisfaction  in  this  matter^ 
and  that  such  an  attempt  has  been  most  unreasonable, 
and  that  the  thing  in  itself  cannot  claim  the  face  of 
justice. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 
Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  most  humble  servant 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Angs<  S,  1731. 
(Car;.  Ramsejr ) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  JONATBAN  BELCHES,  JB. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Son  Jonathan,  —  With  this  comes  my  long  letter  of 
T  cur"-  The  more  I  think  of  it  the  more  I  am  aurpriz'd 
at  your  uncle's  submitting  in  the  least  degree  at  the 
Board  of  Trade  to  Dunbar's  having  a  part  of  my  N. 
Hampshire  salary.  When  I  recieve  copy  of  Thomhnson's 
memorial  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  set  the  matter  in  so 
strong  a  light  as  that  the  Board  of  Trade  will  not  be  able 
to  say  one  word  in  favour  of  the  memorial.  But  indeed  I 
look  upon  all  at  that  Board  mahag'd  wholly  by  Bl — d — n, 
and  any  thing  that  relates  to  me  had  even  as  good  be  re- 
ferr'd  to  D — b — r  himself;  so  that  neither  your  uncle  nor 
you  must  be  brow-beat  or  cow'd  for  the  future,  but  if  you 
eannot  obtain  justice  there,  you  must  alwayes  have  your 
derneir  resort  to  their  superiours,  for  they  are  but  our 
fellow  subjects,  and  the  King  will  hear  all  his  subjects 
"when  they  supplicate  him.  I  am  told  your  uncle  was 
severely  reprimanded  by  L^  W — stm — i: — 1 — nd,  and  that 
you  had  been  absolutely  forbid  to  appear  at  the  Board  of 
Trade ;  and  these  things  make  a  great  noise  here  to  my 
dishonour,  to  your  uncle's  &  yours.  Pray  let  me  know 
the  truth  of  it,  and  alwayea  for  the  future  the  worst  of 
every  thing,  that  I  may  know  whether  things  reported  are 
true  or  false,  and  conduct  myself  accordingly.  Since  you 
are  my  son,  and  have  a  commission  to  be  my  agent  jointly 
with  your  uncle,  I  think  it  a  gross  absurdity,  and  a 
thing  not  possible,  that  Coll'  Bladen  sliou'd  forbid  your 
appet^ring  for  me.  It  wou'd  be  such  a  peice  of  tyranny 
on  the  rights  of  humane  nature  as  no  gent"  wou'd  be 
guilty  of.  Nor  are  you  ever  to  endure  it,  but  to  maJte 
your  loud  complaint  to  the  King  in  Council.    I  am 

Your  affectionate  father.  J,  B. 

BosTOir,  Angs*  10,  1784. 
(Cary.  RamMy.} 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BBLCBEB  FAPEBS. 


TO  JONATHAN  dELCHEB,  JR. 

Mt  deab  Son,  —  Hapning  to  be  from  home  23  ultf 
(your  birthday)  I  had  not  the  opportunity  of  refreshing 
your  memory  with  what  I  wrote  you  the  last  year  on  that 
head.  So  this  cornea  out  of  course,  and  indeed  I  have 
little  more  to  say  than  that  you  wou'd  now  &  then  read 
over  mine  of  the  date  abovemention'd,  which  I  hope  you 
will  never  think  to  be  out  of  seajion. 

Tou  are  now  got  to  the  bar  and  into  a  way  of  life  fuQ 
of  snares,  difficulties  &  temptations,  and  I  hope  you  are 
able  to  appeal  to  Him  whom  you  adore  &  say,  I  have  Itv'd 
in  all  good  conscience  to  this  day;  and  God  of  his  infinite 
mercy  grant  you  may  so  go  on  to  the  end  of  life.  The 
reflection  whereof  will  give  you  ineflfeble  pleasure  when 
your  departing  soul  is  hovering  about  &  quitting  it«  cor- 
ruptible clay.  Your  late  uncle  Oliver  was  an  uncommon 
instance  of  Christianity  &  exact  piety.*  I  knew  him  in 
very  middling  circumstances,  but  he  dyed  in  opulency, 
and  that  text  was  remarkably  verifyed  in  biin,  Seek 
first  the  kingdom  of  God  &  his  righteousness  &  all  these 
things  shall  be  added  unto  you.  Pray  remember  this  & 
keep  yourself  unspotted  from  the  world. 

What  sayes  the  great  Judge  Hales  in  his  Meditations, 
vol.  i.  p'  214  :  "A  habit  of  religion  towards  God  in  His 
son  Jesus  Christ  is  the  moffnum  oportet,  the  one  thing 
necessary,  and  outweighing  every  thing  else."  And  in 
particular  I  charge  you  never  to  lose  your  reverence  for 
the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath.  The  same  authour  says,  page 
216,  "I  am  not  apt  to  he  superstitious,  but  this  I  have 
certainly  &  infallibly  found  true  that  by  my  deportment 
in  my  duty  towards  God,  in  the  time  devoted  to  His 

•  D«ni«l  Olirar,  who  married  nne  of  Governor  Belchfrt  liaten,  wm  born  F«b,  98,  MS4, 
and  died  Jul;  23, 1733.  Ue  wu  th«  tkthsr  nf  Liant.-GoT.  Andrew  OUrer  and  oT  Cbiet 
JutiM  Peter  Oliver.    Sae  Savage'i  Geaealagiul  Dietionarf  ■  —  Ent. 


jvGooijIc 


17M.]  TO  RICHARD  WALDRON.  113 

service,  especially  on  the  Lord's  days,  I  cou'd  make  a  cer- 
tain conjecture  of  my  success  in  my  eecular.  occasions  the 
rest  of  the  week ;  if  I  was  loose  &  negligent  in  the  former 
the  latter  never  succeeded  well ;  if  strict  &  conscien- 
cioHS  &  watchfull  in  the  former,  I  was  successfuU  &  pros- 
perous in  the  latter."  Vertue  (but  especially  religion  or 
true  piety)  CArriea  ite  own  reward.  That  you  may  be  al- 
wayes  under  the  favourable  direction  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
and  be  so  preserved  by  His  grace  here,  as  that  you  may 
become  eternally  happy  hereafter  thro'  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ  is  &  shall  be  the  prayer  of,  dear  Jonatlian, 

Your  very  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

BosTOtr,  Angi*  14, 1784. 
(Budm;.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  your  favours  of  16  &  19  psent,  and  am 
much  oblig'd  by  the  constant  intelligence  you  hand  me. 
Pray,  was  your  quotation  out  of  a  letter  of  Sancho's,  or 
whose  ?  It's  not  proper  for  me  to  speak  to  B — rl — nd, 
but  if  what  you  say  cou'd  be  convey'd  to  him  he'd  soon 
do  his  duty.  Has  K — nd — ge  paid  his  i£lOO  ah'  the 
Line?  You  grossly  mistake  in  imagining  you  was  too 
free  in  yours  of  12  cur",  for  I  did  &  do  take  it  as  a  re- 
peated instance  of  your  probity  &  sincerity,  and  you  will 
give  me  just  cause  of  disgust  if  you  don't  go  on  to  prao- 
ti[e]e  with  the  same  freedom  &  friendship,  —  I  say,  if  you 
don't  I  wDl  not  forgive  you.  Since  I  have  the  knowledge 
of  you  I  have  the  pleasure,  &  you  the  honour,  of  my 
saying  your  conduct  has  been  of  a  peice,  and  if  I  troubl'd 
you  I  did  it  with  a  design  to  hear  you  say  what  I  knew 
you  wou'd  say.  But  I  am  far  from  consigning  you  over 
to  the  Devil.  The  reason  I  gave  my  order  to  Sancho 
was  as  in  my  last.  I  have  re'd  over  all  you  inclosed, 
and  find  M'  Usher  had  £68  allow'd  him  for  travelling 


oyGoot^lc 


114  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

expence  for  11  years.  Wentworth  had  grants  of  the  As- 
sembly, and  60  they  may  make  to  Sancho,  if  they  please. 
1  do  Qot  altogether  fall  in  with  your  sentiments  of  the 
records.  Altho'  Wentworth  held  Assemblies  it  does  not 
appear  but  that  it  might  be  by  the  Gov''*  special  leave 
and  direction,  and  so  as  to  the  drafts  on  the  Treasury ; 
and  I  return  to  you  what  you  inclos'd  to  add  on  the  two 
blank  leaves  the  act  for  settling  my  salary,  and  let  me 
have  it  again  V  return  of  the  carrier,  and  I  wou'd  have 
your  opinion  once  more  whether  best  to  send  home  the 
whole,  or  only  what  has  been  transacted  with  respect  to 
me.  Perhaps  the  latter  may  be  sufficient  to  my  purpose. 
Think  of  it,  and  if  you  so  conclude  return  me  that  in 
sheets  by  itself,  and  tell  me  the  story  as  particularly  as 
you  can  how  Burnet  acted  with  Wentworth.  I  take  it 
that  he  was  oblig'd  to  bribe  the  Assembly  by  a  prior  promise 
of  what  he  wou'd  do  for  Wentworth  before  he  coii'd  get 
the  thing  done. 

I  thank  your  advice  about  H — sk,  but  give  myself  no 
concern  about  what  buzzes  he  may  have  in  his  ears.  If 
he  says  any  thing  to  me,  I  will  he  just  &  faithfull  to  him. 
His  commission  from  Coll'  Spotswood  is  in  totidem  verbis 
with  M'  Boydell's  (the  name  of  the  person  only  excepted), 
nor  can  the  Postmaster  General  give  a  fuller  commission; 
and  it's  in  his  breast  to  frank  what  letters  &  packets  he 
pleases,  without  asking  the  leave  of  any  of  his  deputies, 
and  Boydill  will  be  upon  oath  that  the  office  was  never 
worth  £100  a  year  to  him.  If  Husk  comes  hither,  and 
the  Naval  Office  will  sute  you,  you  are  welcome  to  it,  and 
hereafter  to  any  other  good  I  can  do  you.*     I  wou'd 

■  From  thia  letter  ■■^d  olhera  in  tha  prerant  Tolume  It  appear*  that  the  (falernenl  In  the 
Weiitwordi  Genealo)^,  thai  Hutke'a  son,  Ellii  Huike,  Jr..  was  the  poslmuter  of  Botton 
and  drat  pubtiiher  of  '■  The  Boston  Weehly  Post-Boy,"  and  vhich  ira  tollowed  in  ■  note  in 
the  ant  patrt  oTths  Belcher  Papers  («  Masn.  Hist.  Coll.  vol.  vi.  p.  3).  ii  Incomct.  Euike, 
th«  father,  wu  *l  the  ume  time  Naval  Officer  at  Portsmouth,  one  ot  the  Coaneil  of  Kew 
Hampshire,  Postmaaler  ot  Boston,  and  publisher  of  the  ■■  Po«t-Boj-."  From  Belcher's  let- 
te™  it  appears  thai  Colonel  Spotswood  at  first  BspBcled  that  HaskoiroBM  live  in  Boeton;  bat 
appartntt}'  this  condition  was  not  enforced  for  an;  considerable  length  ot  time.    In  aeveial  of 


jvGooi^lc 


17S4.]  TO  RICHARD  WALDRON.  115 

write  more,  but  am  this  day  going  with  an  engineer  to 
view  the  new  works  at  Castle  Will",  where  I  shall  lodge, 
&  return  tomorrow.  Witli  my  best  regards  to  good 
Madam  Waldron,  I  remain,  Honob"  Sir, 

Your  a^ured  friend,  J.  B. 

BoBTOx,  Angv  23, 1734. 
(C«rier.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  am  with  yours  of  30  ult',  and  have  had  a 
great  deal  of  talk  with  H — sk,  who  will  finally  fix  here, 
tho  I  am  still  of  my  first  opinion  (and  have  repeated  it  to 
him)  that  he'll'  repent  it.  The  Naval  Office  will  be  at 
your  service,*  and  Oh !  that  you  cou'd  have  the  Collec- 
tor's place,  I  mean  from  home,  with  the  salary.  I  have 
lately  thought  it  not  impracticable.  The  letter  from 
Th — 1 — a — n  about  the  Gov'  must  be  to  R — ndge  by  the 
stile.  Cr — d — c  cou'd  say  nothing  new.  I  inclose  yon 
•  the  four  last  letters  reed  from  MonE^  and  what  I  intend 
for  an  answer.  Read  'em  all  deliberately,  and  make  out 
your  own  thoughts  in  answer,  and  send  me.  Perhaps  I 
may  have  omitted  something  material ;  but  if  I  was  to  b6 
particular  my  letter  wou'd  be  too  long.  The  stile  of 
Sancho's  last  confirms  the  paragraph  they  discovered  out 
of  Rindge's,  for  you  may  plainly  see  all  remains  in  the 
Gov'''  breast.  If  it  was  otherwise  his  Irish  insolence 
wou'd  blaze.  Fail  not  to  return  me  every  thing  I  now 
Bend  V  the  post.     I  am.  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

BosTon,  Sept'  3,  1734. 

Brlchir'alctlmhertftn  to  Huke's  deputy  in  B(H(on,  and  in  >  letter  to  Waldron  dated  JuDS 
30, 1 735.  preserved  in  tbe  librai^of  tfae  New  I]*mp«hit«  Himorieal  3<>cfet?,  he  complains  of 
the  ■'  Irish  pupp7  th«t  tenda  his  [Huske's]  office."  In  September,  1740,  ha  writes  to  Hnske, 
^*  Toar  depulj  hare  is  often  from  home  when  tba  post  gets  in."     Bee  poat^  p.  32fl.  —  Eds. 

*  Notwjihstindlni;  this  poaidve  offer  of  the  Naval  Office  to  Waldron,  Hunke  continaed 
la  hold  it;  and  m  late  aa  September,  1T8S,  we  And  him  making  "a  valuable  mIsui*." 
Sttptd,  p.  303.  — Ens. 


oyGoot^lc 


116  THE  BELCHEB  PAPEES.  [1734. 

I  fancy  he  wants  money  that  rouses  him  afresh  about 
the  boards.  Pray  when  must  I  come  to  N.  Hampshire  ? 
I  wou'd  avoid  a  winter  journey.  I  shou'd  think  Oct'  the 
best  time.     . 

CP«t)  


TO  DAVID  DUNBAR. 

Sir,  —  I  have  now  lying  before  me  yours  of  May  24» 
June  17,  20,  Augs'  29,  &  2  ins'.  The  tenour  of  the  first 
made  me  conclude  it  not  only  writ  but  indited  by  the 
scribe,  being  of  a  peice  with  his  impudence  when  he  was 
Deputy  Collector  (&  constantly  since).*  I  was  asham'd 
you  shou'd  put  your  name  to  such  a  letter,  and  wou'd 
feign  have  iniagin'd  you  knew  more  of  the  world,  and 
had  had  more  manners,  and  this  was  the  reason  I  thought 
it  not  worth  the  notice  I  now  take  of  it ;  and  your  letters 
in  general  are  really  so  rude  &  unmannerly  as  I  really 
think  beneath  even  so  little  a  man  as  you  are.  And  if 
you  wou'd  practice  your  duty  you  must  alwayes  consider 
the  distance  a  Surveyor  of  the  Woods  &  a  L"  Gov'  are  at 
from  the  King's  Gov'  &  Cap'  General,  whom  his  Majesty 
under  his  royal  hand  &  signet  is  pleas'd  to  call  the  repre- 
sent" of  his  royal  person.  Your  denying  any  part  of 
what  is  alledg'd  &  sworn  to  in  the  complaint  gone  home 
against  you  will  doubtless  have  its  consideration.  I  must 
confess  had  I  took  upon  me  the  determination  of  those 
matters,  your  denying,  and  with  the  embellishment  of 
your  usual  rhetoric,  wou'd  have  had  very  little  weight 
with  me;  but  since  I  left  you  to  make  your  defence  at 
home,  I  think  it  to  little  pui'pose  to  enter  into  the  par- 
ticulars of  yours  of  20  June.  I  wou'd  only  upon  it  repeat 
what  I  told  you  2  or  3  years  ago,  that  yon  must  not 

■  The  retennca  is  probablj  to  Theodora  Atklnenn.  who  hai]  beep  Collector  >t  Forte- 
maath,  and  was  removed  lo  meke  wb;  for  Richird  WibJrd,  chortly  sFter  Beloher'B  appoint- 
ment  u  QoTemor.    See  Belknap's  Hislory  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  ii.  p.  9S.  —  Eos. 


jvGooi^lc 


17Si.]  TO  DAVID  DUNBAR.  117 

assume  or  presume  to  dictate  to  me.  Yet  whatever  you 
ask  ia  a  dutifull,  mannerly  way  for  the  King's  service,  I'll 
do  it^  if  I  judge  it  so. 

I  am  a  stranger  to  what  you  mention  29  ult^  as  to  the 
decision  of  any  dispute  you  have  had  with  me>  tbo'  I  have 
letters  to  1  June,  and  in  some  of  them  the  particulars  of 
the  hearing  of  29*^  May  last.  Nor  do  I  know  what  you 
mean  by  any  promise  made  on  my  ace** ;  but  if  you  be- 
have as  you  ought,  it  may  prevent  further  applications 
at  home.  You  are  mistaken  if  you  fancy  I  desire  to  stop 
your  sending  home  any  orders  or  letters  of  mine.  What 
I  wrote  you  2^  May  I  believe  was  gone  homewards  before 
it  reacht  you,  and  you  have  my  ample  indulgence  of 
doing  in  that  point  as  you  please.  If  you  can  read  your 
commission,  surely  you  can't  think  it  wrong  to  obey  my 
orders. 

I  now  return  you  the  affidavits  &  other  papers  you  sent 
me,  which  you  say  are  originals ;  so  I  suppose  you  don't 
mean  they  shou'd  finally  rest  with  me.  If  you  have  any 
thing  to  say  agunst  any  particular  person  or  persons  in 
ofiBce,  &  send  me  a  complaint  drawn  in  form,  with  affi- 
davits to  support  your  allegations,  I  will  deal  with  such 
persons  as  I  did  by  you  on  a  formal  complaint,  that  is, 
order  them  to  be  serv'd  with  copies,  &  to  make  answer, 
which  may  enable  me  to  judge  of  the  merits  of  the  cause, 
and  to  do  therein  as  to  justice  &  reason  may  appertain. 
But  I  will  put  no  person  in  or  out  of  power  purely  to 
gratifye  your  humour,  nor  do  I  allow  you  to  have  any 
such  power.  The  King  in  his  commission  to  me  for  New 
Hampshire  commands  me  to  do  &  execute  all  things 
accord'  to  such  reasonable  laws  &  statutes  as  are  or  may 
be  in  force  in  the  said  Province ;  and  agreeable  thereto,  I 
will  do  every  .thing  for  the  preservation  of  the  King's 
woods,  but  will  by  no  means  fall  into  any  arbitrary,  des- 
potic proceedings.  No,  the  law  shall  be  the  rule  of  my 
government,  as  near  as  I  can  comprehend  it,  and  then 


oyGoot^lc 


118  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [173*. 

my  administration  will  be  iu  exact  conformity  to  the 
King's  commission.  How  cou'd  you  say,  20  June,  And 
as&t  your  advke  which  you  generously  decUiid  giving,  when  I 
gave  it  freely  by  telling  you  to  do  nothing  but  what  you 
cou'd  warrant  by  law  ?  I  have  told  you  more  than  once 
that  I  am  no  lawyer,  and  I  now  tell  you  it's  best  for  every 
man  in  governra'  to  keep  himself  out  of  the  lash  o£  the 
law,  which  is  the  bridle  for  the  outragioua  passions  of 
silly  men. 

I  herewith  send  you  my  warrant  to  the  justices,  sheriffs^ 
&c*,  for  aiding  &  assisting  you  &  your  deputies  about  the 
boards  you  mention,  and  at  all  times  for  preventing  any 
destruction  of  his  Majesty's  woods. 

I  desire.  Sir,  that  your  letters  may  for  the  future  be 
barely  &  concisely  oo  the  publick  affairs,  for  if  you  have 
nothing  else  to  do  than  to  gratify  your  vanity  by  showing 
your  talent  in  a  rude  way  of  writing  I  hope  you  will 
think  such  parts  of  your  letters  well  answer'd  by  the  silent 
neglect  and  contempt  of,  Sir, 

Your  Honour's  humble  servant.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  Septr  9,  1734. 

I  had  wrote  you  sooner,  but  that  I  have  been  for  near 
ten  days  under  the  distemper  conlon  here. 

(Post.)  


TO  CAPTAIN  PBANKLTN. 

Cap'  Frankltn,  —  You  being  bound  up  the  Mediter 
ranean,  if  you  have  a  convenient  opportunity  I  desire 
you  to  buy  me  as  much  three  pile  black  velvet  (such 
as  is  made  for  men's  wear,  and  the  best  can  be  had  for 
money)  as  will  make  me  a  compleat  suit,  the  buttons  & 
holes  to  be  of  the  same  with  the  cloaths,  and  the  lining  of 
best  double  shagrine,  of  a  deep  gold  colour ;  if  that  not 
to  be  had  some  other  good  lining  silk  of  that  colour.     I 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  BICHAHD   WALDBON.  119 

herewith  deliver  3^011  my  measure  tb&t  the  deaths  may  be 
made  up,  and  rather  too  big  than  too  little.  I  desire  you 
also  to  buy  me  a  night  gown  of  the  best  Genoa  damask 
that  is  made  for  men's  wear.  Let  the  gown  be  every 
way  large  enough  for  you,  and  it  wUl  lit  me.  The  colour 
of  the  outside  &  lining  must  be  a  deep  crimson,  and  1 
wou'd  have  to  spare  a  yard  of  the  velvet  &  two  yards  of 
the  damask,  and  leave  it  to  your  prudence  to  carry  these 
things  to  London  &  so  hither,  or  to  send  them  directly 
from  the  Straits,  if  a  good  opportunity  presents ;  and  as 
to  the  cost  of  them  I  shou'd  be  glad  to  pay  it  here,  with 
such  an  advance  as  you  may  please  to  order.  And  if  yon 
coii'd  bring  or  send  me  8  or  10  young  almond  trees  and 
as  many  Pisa  nectrins  it  wou'd  much  oblige  me,  &  any- 
thing else  curious  for  a  garden.  The  trees  must  be  grafts 
(not  natural  stocks)  &  very  young,  not  thicker  than  your 
thumb.  They  must  be  carefully  taken  up  (roots  &  all) 
and  as  carefully  transplanted  into  a  good  box  of  their 
natural  earth,  and  not  suffer'd  to  be  sprinkled  with  salt 
water,  but  duly  serv'd  with  fresh  water,  and  I  say  the 
younger  they  are  the  more  likely  to  hve. 

You  will  forgive  this  trouble,  &  oblige  me  by  letting 
me  know  how  I  may  at  any  time  serve  you.  I  wish  you 
a  pleasant  &  successful!  voyage,  and  am.  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servS  J.  B. 

Boston,  Sept  11, 1784. 
DelM  himself. 


TO    RICHABD  WALDRON. 

HoNo"*  Sir,  —  This  post  brings  me  your  favour  of  13 
pisent  In  your  next  give  your  opinion  of  the  warrant 
sent  to  Sancho,  whether  it  is  n't  cautious  enough,  and 
yet  not  to  be  carpt  at?  I  have  no  answer  from  him 
this  post.  No,  a  council  must  first  be  held  at  Pandoe- 
monium.    The  calling  of  an  Assembly  &  keeping  him  in 


oyGoot^lc 


120  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [ITSL 

profound  ignorance  will  be  in  addition  to  my  letter  as 
warm  water  after  a  dose  to  a  patient  that  makes  him 
puke  heartily.  I  really  believe  old  H.  is  as  honest  as 
G — b] — ng.  How  can  the  last  be  a  wise  man,  &  a  man 
of  courage,  and  yet  be  in  terms  with  a  villain  that  has 
alwayes  been  writing  to  me,  to  the  Judge,  &  home,  against 
him,  and  I  believe  at  this  moment  hates  him  as  he  does 
anything  that's  good,  &  wishes  Mad""*  dangler  *  in  his 
place. 

I  observe  all  you  say  about  J — th — m,t  and  inclose 
you  my  answer  to  him,  which,  if  you  approve,  seal  &  send 
forward-  1  have  ingag'd  Gerrish  (&  so  must  you)  not  to 
lisp  to  any  one  that  you  gave  him  the  letter,  but  if  you 
don't  like  it,  return  it,  &  I'll  write  him  next  post.  Grey 
must  live  at  Portsmouth.  I  really  pitty  poor  H — sk,  who 
I  am  sure  will  heartily  repent  when  too  late. 

I  choose  to  go  by  way  of  Haverhill,  unless  you  have 
any  reason  to  the  contrary.  My  present  thoughts  are  to 
dine  at  Andover  &  lodge  at  Haverhill  Fryday,  the  4  of 
next  month.  As  I  have  not  seen  Kingston,  Exeter,  or 
Streatham,  I  will  make  my  route  that  way,  and  let  Don 
make  the  most  of  it,  and  your  thought  is  well  of  having 
a  grand  appearance.  Who  knows  but  that  &  passing 
thro'  those  towns  may  give  some  turn  to  the  elections? 
I  wou'd,  to  be  sure,  have  a  full  troop  to  meet  me,  and  you 
must  concert  every  thing  with  old  H,  lest  he  be  sower' d. 
Shall  I  see  you  at  Haverhill  ?  or  will  it  be  best  not  ?  Aut 
your  own  judgment,    I  am  alwayes.  Sir,' 

Your  friend.  J.  B. 

BOBTOH,  Sepf  16,  1734. 

I  can't  help  adding  that  old  Toper  is  shrunk  into  a 
mushroom,  and  dyes  over  &  over  every  day,  both  in  the 


'•  AthinBon.  —  Ena. 
t  JoUiun  Odlorne,  one  of  tbs  Council  for  Ifew  Hunpabin 
not  doubt  thst  "  the  conduol  of  j-on  &  your  friendB  in  the  a, . 
will  b«  BDch  u  to  tecure  from  me  any  nrrice  I  cau  do  jon  or  jour  (unilj."  • 


jvGooi^lc 


1734.]  TO  JONATHAN   BELCHER,  JR.  121 

town  &  in   the  Assembly,  and  cou'dn't  carry  the  leaat 
point  in  a  little  4  days  session  1  held  last  week. 
(Poet) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB. 

My  dear  Son,  —  My  last  was  a  few  lines  of  23  ult'  'p 
Green.  I  am  now  with  much  satisfaction  to  own  your 
very  dutiful!  &  informing  letters  of  July  23,  24  &  Aug* 
5  V  Homans  &  Crocker.  Those  to  your  mother  &  M" 
Band  have  been  duly  deliver'd,  and  so  shall  the  buckle 
when  it  comes  to  hand. 

I  am  sorry,  I  say  I  am  sorry,  for  what  is  done  about 
my  picture,  but  there  is  now  no  help  for  it,  and  all  I  can 
say  is  ctwe  inftdurum.  Be  very  delicate  of  doing  any  thing 
relating  to  your  father  that  is  showy  and  can  be  of  no 
service.  However  I  ratber  charge  this  wrong  step  on  my 
very  good  friend  M'  Newman  than  on  you,  and  I  forgive 
him  because  1  know  he  thought  it  might  be  an  honour  to 
the  Gov',  but  you  must  all  set  it  down  as  a  wrong  step. 

I  am  well  content  with  T.  Wood,  th8  he  is  not  without 
his  faults,  having  been  fuddled  more  than  once,  and  I'm 
afraid  that's  his  foible.  If  he  behaves  well  I  will  endea- 
Tonr  to  serve  him,  as  he  grows  out  of  his  time. 

Show  all  proper  respect  to  Cap'  Tyng.  Cr — d — c  is  a 
vile  fellow.  I  thank  your  care  in  returning  my  bond, 
since  it  cou'd  not  be  us'd.  I  admire  your  uncle  cou'd  be 
BO  weak  as  to  lend  that  villain  D — b^r*  20  guineas,  and 
then  to  be  fob'd  off  with  a  reciept  not  worth  six  pence. 
I  have  this  day  sent  at  to  M'  Philips  of  New  York  to  see 
what  he  can  do  with  it.  There's  no  reason  it  shou'd  be 
charg'd  to  me ;  but  this  you  need  not  mention. 

By  M'  Holden,  Wilks,  or  Williams  you'll  learn  when 
there  is  a  vacancy  in  the  Hon''''  Corporation,  where  I  wou'd 

■  Jerrv  Dunb«r,  brotbtr  of  the  Lieutenmt-GoTcnor  of  Xew  Hampshire.  —  Ed«. 


oyGoot^lc 


122  THE   BELCHEB  FAPEBS.  [1734. 

feign  have  you  be.  I  am  well  pleas'd  with  your  lodging 
at  little  Chelsea  for  the  vacation. 

You  must  not  fail  to  make  answer  to  Judge  Auchmuty, 
to  M'  Advocate  Shirley,  and  to  D'  Cotman,  and  in  the 
strongest,  politest  manner. 

I  am  perfectly  quiet  in  your  accounts  of  expence,  and 
shall  be  expecting  the  last  year's  by  the  first  ship  after 
28  of  Aug^. 

I  wna  sure  you'd  be  pleas'd  with  the  acquaintance  of 
M'  Van  Reck. 

Weigh  well  what  your  brother  wrote  about  your  attend- 
ance at  the  publick  worship  on  the  Lord's  day.  I  assure 
you  your  brother  is  constantly  giving  proofs  to  me  and 
to  your  mother  of  his  great  aflFection  for  you ;  and  the 
sweet  singer  of  Israel  says,  It  is  good  for  brethren  to  dwell 
together  in  unity. 

I  see  you  have  reed  from  Chelsea  Hospital  for  John 
Whitfield  £6. 19. 6  st',  for  which  I  shall  account  with  him 
here,  and  note  to  him  what  the  Coniiss"  of  the  College 
expect  for  the  future,  in  order  to  his  having  his  pension. 

I  now  go  on  to  the  more  material  parts  of  your  letter, 
and  have  nothing  against  your  entring  into  the  bono"* 
state  of  marriage  at  the  properest  time  of  life,  but  shall,  if 
I  live  to  the  day,  strongly  urge  you  to  it.  It  is  really  a 
grave  serious  affair ;  look  back  upon  my  several  letters 
on  this  head,  for  I  hardly  know  what  new  to  add.  When 
you  think  of  it,  your  own  honour  shou'd  lead  you,  if  you 
love  a  lady,  not  to  bring  yourself  &  her  into  difficult  cir- 
cumstances ;  and  'till  you  have  [aid  in  a  good  found*  of 
knowledge  in  your  profession,  a  wife  &  family  wou'd  rob 
you  of  the  golden  opportunity  you  now  have  to  do  it,  I 
am  told  Miss  Belcher*  is  an  agreeable  young  lady,  and  I 
am  greatly  oblig'd  to  the  whole  family  for  their  civilities 
to  you  which  I  have  lately  own'd,  and  M'  Belcher  is  that 
letter  in  my  debt.     If  he  wou'd  pay  ^63000  down,  and 

•  Oalydangliterof  Joba  Belcher,  of  Faul'i  Yard,  London.    Set  anta,f.  13.  — Eos. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734]  TO   JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR.  123 

well  secure  the  rest  of  his  estate  to  you  after  bia  demise 
that  wou'd  be  very  handsome,  and  is  she  not  nearly  re- 
lated to  M"  West,  so  as  to  have  some  expectation  from 
her? — then  a  few  years  hence  it  might  be  a  tolerable 
match,  but  yet  with  patience  &  industry  you  might  in 
time  do  better.  When  the  late  Earl  of  Nottingham  was 
M'  Finch  he  made  court  to  a  lady  (with  whom  he  had 
i£40,000}.  The  father  askt  him  what  his  fortune  was,  he 
answer'd  he  valued  his  bar  gown  at  £20,000.  Lord  Bar- 
rington  marry'd  a  lady  that  first  and  last  brought  him 
£50,000,  I  know  Gov'  Holden  has  a  vast  interest  with 
the  present  Ministry,  and  I  have  now  a  kind  letter  from 
him  i»  Crocker,  which  I  shall  answer  in  a  little  time,  and 
shall  put  you  in  a  way  to  be  well  in  his  good  graces,  and 
if  a  match  cou'd  be  brought  about  there  I  shou'd  think 
it  a  fine  step  towards  your  advancement  in  the  world, 
and  if  you  get  into  Parliament,  that  will  still  facilitate 
it.  Yet  after  all  you  must  remember  your  father  has 
alwayes  said,  and  does  now  again,  that  money  (tho'  a 
necessary  ingred'  in  matrimony)  is  the  last  feature  to  be 
lookt  at  in  a  lady's  face ;  nor  wou'd  1  by  any  means  lead 
you  to  sacrifice  the  happiness  of  a  marry'd  life  by  making 
money  your  first  &  principal  thought ;  no,  if  you  become 
eminent  in  the  law,  so  as  to  make  a  handsome  living,  you 
may  in  due  time  go  to  Paul's  Yard,  or  as  you  please.  You 
see  I  mix  my  thdt8,and  skip  forwards  and  backwards,  yet 
I  believe  you'll  be  able  to  pick  ont  my  meaning  as  to 
this  grand  affair;  that  is,  to  allow  yourself  time,  not  to 
be  too  hasty,  or  go  into  the  affair  too  young,  but  at  the 
age  of  a  solid  man.  Thus  1  leave  it,  and  shall  be  glad 
of  your  thoughts  upon  mine. 

Pray,  use  yourself  to  as  much  bodily  exercise  as  your 
studies  will  allow. 

I  observe  the  petition  you  have  lodg'd  for  obtaining 
leave  for  taking  my  support,  and  that  L*  Wilmington 
had  pi-omist  you  his  kind  offices,  in  which  he  is  very 


oyGoot^lc 


124  THE  BELCHEK  PAPERS.  [178*. 

good.  Your  uncle  &  you  must  urge  it  forward  all  you 
poesibly  can.  It's  hard,  very  bard,  to  live  a  whole  year 
about  without  any  support,  of  which  cruelty  I  am  the  only 
instance  of  all  the  King's  Gov",  and  yet  I'll  be  bold  to 
say  his  Majesty  has  not  a  more  faithfuU  &  loyal  one  in 
all  hia  dominions.  I  am  pleaa'd  that  you  fall  in  with  the 
sentiments  of  the  two  councellors  not  to  precipitate  your- 
self into  much  business,  but  to  wait  a  year  or  two.  Be 
afraid  of  avocations  by  the  pleasures  of  the  place  you 
live  in.  Stick  hard  &  fast  to  your  studies,  which  witli 
the  blessing  of  Almighty  iGod  will  make  you  a  man.  I 
will  take  all  possible  care  for  your  support,  nor  wou'd  I 
have  you  refuse  the  business  proper  for  one  of  your 
standing. 

To  stimulate  your  ambition  I  must  tell  you  the  story 
of  M'  Tho'  Dudley,  the  eldest  son  &  the  flower  of  Gov* 
Dudley's  family.  One  day  while  he  was  taking  notes  at 
the  bar  in  Westminster  Hall,  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  call'd 
up  for  his  notes,  and  when  be  had  seen  'em,  he  said.  Go 
on,  young  gen*,  as  you  have  begun,  and  you'll  soon  be  in 
my  place.  Diligence  is  a  wonderfull  thing.  The  diligent 
soul  shall  be  made  fat.  The  diligent  hand  tendeth  to 
plenteousness.  The  diligent  hand  shall  bear  rule,  and  the 
diligent  man  shall  stand  before  kings,  and  yet  there  must 
be  proper  seasons  o£  recreation.  Interpone  ttca  itUerdum 
ffoudia  curis.  < 

Sometime  the  next  month  I  shall  send  you  a  number 
of  recommendatory  letters  to  promote  you  in  such  business 
as  may  be  proper  for  a  young  barrister.  I  have  wrote  such 
volumns  on  the  afffur  of  Tamworth  that  I  can  add  nothing 
but  what  wou'd  be  a  repetition.  The  qualification  must 
come  out  of  the  conveyance  I  have  sent  you,  or  there  can 
be  DO  further  th8t  of  the  matter,  and  I  hope  M*  Bellamy, 
Marshal,  or  some  other  friend  will  assist  something  in  fur- 
nishing you  with  some  money  'till  I  can  get  bills  home, 
which  shall  be  my  constant  care,  and  I  now  send  your 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCBEB,  JR.  125 

iiDcte  two  bonds  of  ^250  a  p',  leaving  the  names  blank 
to  whom  to  be  paid,  and  to  be  ue'd  as  be  may  think  proper, 
and  if  of  no  service  to  be  retijra'd  me. 

Your  uncle  Stoddard  &  cous°  Oliver  will  by  these  shipfl 
remit  your  uncle  Partridge  upwards  £200  st'  to  be  laid 
out  at  Tamwortb,  and  I  shall  be  industrious  in  getting 
more  orders  as  fast  as  I  can.  Let  me  know  the  upshot  of 
this  matter  by  getting  your  uncle  to  write  every  round 
about  way  he  can  think  of  in  the  winter,  for  a  letter  then 
is  as  cold  water  to  a  thirsty  soul.  I  admire  the  Bishop  of 
Lincoln  shou'd  put  you  upon  disgusting  the  Ministry,  con- 
sidering  your  father's  situation,  but  you  judg'd  wisely.  I 
think  you  voted  for  M'  Townshend  &  M'  Finch ;  pray 
who  was  the  Bishop's  friend  he  was  so  fond  of?  Nourish 
every  opportunity  of  acquaintance  with  the  family  of  my 
noble  patron  (Lord  Townshend)  as  an  instance  of  your 
father's  gratitude ;  and  if  Lord  Townshend  don't  come  to 
Court  or  Parliament  this  winter,  I  wish  you  cou'd  make 
an  excursion  to  Kaynham  for  a  week  or  10  days,  to  pay 
part  of  the  great  duty  I  owe. 

The  Ministers'  Address  dropt  from  D'  Colman's  pen, 
and  I  agree  with  you  it's  well  digested,  and  in  an  easy, 
free  stile. 

The  Bishop  of  Lincoln  seems  in  his  letter  to  have  a 
kindness  fot  you.  I  shall  soon  answer  it,  and  send  you  a 
copy  of  his  letter. 

Altho'  D — b — r  is  a  lump  of  malice  &  perfidy  &  every 
thing  else  that's  vile,  yet,  as  you  say,  he  must  be  watcht 

Keep  up  your  correspondence  with  M'  Belcher  of  Dub- 
lin ;  it  may  some  time  or  other  be  to  your  advantage. 

I  am  glad  you  are  entring  upon  your  Common  Place ; 
afler  being  three  years  at  the  Temple,  I  think,  M'  Shir- 
ley sayes,  is  the  time  for  it,  according  to  Lord  Coke  & 
Judge  Hales. 

Inclosed  is  M'  Auchmuty  &  Reed's  answer  to  what 
you  think  a  weakness  in  the  case  I  have  sent  home,  and 


oyGoot^lc 


126  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

wish  this  may  reach  you  before  any  decision  be  made. 
One  of  the  notes  I  gave  Caswall  is  actually  paid  since  his 
death,  and  M'  Waldo  baa  orders  to  recieve  the  other  of 
me  here,  and  I  have  told  him  he  may  have  the  money 
■when  he  pleases  to  call ;  that  it  wou'd  be  very  hard  for 
me  to  lose  a  confirmation  of  the  judgment  on  the  nicety 
you  mention.  I  doubt  not  but  you'll  take  all  possible 
care  of  your  father's  interest,  for  it's  a  large  sum.  Gain 
what  time  you  can  for  my  answer  to  any  difficulty  may 
arise.  Thus  I  have  answer'd  your  letters,  and  even  the 
longest  of  'em  pleases  me  so  well  that  I  still  wish  it  longer. 
I  intend  to  write  you  another  letter  tomorrow,  purely 
respecting  Dunbar's  presuming  to  beg  my  bread  out  of 
my  mouth,  and  you  must  oppose  anything  that  looks  to- 
wards it  manibus  pedibtisg.  Your  uncle  &  perhaps  M'  Wilks 
may  assist. 

I  remain  with  an  indelible,  paternal  affection,  my  dear 
Jonatban, 

Yours.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Oct  1,  1734. 

I  have  wrote  M""  Popple  a  number  of  friendly  letters, 
for  a  year  or  two  past,  but  have  no  answer.  I  know 
D — b — r  writes  him  constantly,  &  perhaps  that's  the 
reason.  Pray,  sound  him  &  learn  how  he  stands  to  your 
father,  and  tell  liim  I'm  afraid  many  of  my  letters  have 
miscarry' d. 

The  two  bonds  mention'd  must  go  V  next  ship. 

You  have  also  M'  Shirley's  opinion,  &  y'  brethr"  all 
think  y*  affair  won't  turn  upon  the  matter  of  a  gida  timet, 
because  the  first  judgm'  was  absolute  &  shut  up  to  all 
intents  &  purposes. 

(Via  Bristol,  RouB.  Crocker  to  Lond».) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  THE  LORDS   OF  TRADE.  127 


TO  THE  LORDS  OP  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  your  Lordships,  —  Since  I  had  the 
honour  of  writing  your  Loi-dships  the  9  of  Aug"  past, 
I  am  honour'd  with  your  Ijordships'  of  12  June,  covering 
two  memorials  from  Cap'  Tomlinson,  one  in  behalf  of 
L"  Gov'  Dunbar,  the  other  in  behalf  of  M'  Atkinson  &  M' 
Wentworth.  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  your  Lordships  for 
the  justice  you  have  done  me  in  serving  me  with  copies 
to  make  answer,  and  I  hope  your  Lordships  will  patiently 
hear  my  vindication  on  the  memoriHls.  I  can  hardly 
suppose  M'  Thomlinson  wou'd  be  so  officious  as  to  appear 
for  those  gent"  without  proper  credentials  produc'd  to 
your  Lordships,  as  lettersof  order,  or  other  proper  powers 
for  his  appearance,  or  any  thing  he  said  cou'd  not  have 
the  weight  he  might  expect.  I  think  1  shall  plainly  show 
to  your  Lordships  that  he  wns  not  well  &  wisely  in- 
structed (if  he  had  any  power  at  all)  by  those  gent",  or 
he  cou'd  never  have  presum'd  to  have  laid  belbre  j'our 
Lordships  such  absurdities  (to  give  them  the  eoflest 
epithets)  as  they  themselves  wou'd  have  been  ashara'd 
to  have  put  their  names  .to.  It  is  very  extraordinary 
for  M'  Thomlinson  to  say,  "  It  was  fully  made  to  appear 
to  your  Lordships  that  the  s'  M'  Atkinson  was  not  only 
a  fit  person  to  be  of  his  Majesty's  Council,  but  the  most 
fit  &  proper  person  in  that  Province."  This  wou'd  have 
been  high  arrogance  for  the  man  himself  to  have  said, 
and  I  think  great  folly  in  the  mau  that  did  say  it ;  nor 
can  I  believe  it  to  be  truth  that  it  was  fully  made  to 
appear  to  your  Lordships  that  he  was  such  an  extraor- 
dinary person.  For  I  am  sure  he  is  one  of  the  greatest 
enemies  to  his  King  &  to  his  country,  —  I  mean  in  imbar- 
assing  &  impeding  the  beat  good  &  interest  of  N.  Hamp 
by  preventing  all  he  possibly  can  the  supply  of  the 
puhlick   Treasury,  and   thereby  keeping    the   Province 


oyGoot^lc 


128  THE  BELCHfiB  PAPEBS.  [  1ST4 

constantly  naked  &  defencelesa,  and  every  person  to 
whom  the  Province  is  indebted  out  of  their  just  due. 
Your  Lordships  had  in  the  time  of  it  from  me  an  e:iact 
ace**  of  every  step  I  took  respecting  the  royal  mandamus 
for  M'  Atkinson  &  M'  Wentworth,  and  that  upon  hearing 
such  ordeiB  were  come  directed  to  me,  &  beiDg  detain'd, 
I  was  oblig'd  to  have  the  matter  inserted  in  the  pubHck 
prints,  and  that  produc'd  M'  Peirce's,  which  came  in  the 
same  ship,  and  upon  his  sending  it  to  me  1  immediately 
retum'd  it,  &  order'd  him  to  be  sworn,  and  so  might  the 
other  gent"  have  done,  without  taking  a  journey  of  70 
miles,  as  M'  Thomlinson  wou'd  insinuate.  As  to  my 
refusing  to  swear  them  when  I  did  go,  I  long  since  told 
your  Lordships  that  I  refus'd  it  because  of  their  rudeness 
and  insolence  in  not  writing  to  me  or  sending  to  me  their 
mandamuss,  nor  coming  to  me  'till  I  had  been  several 
weeks  in  the  Province,  and  they  had  done  all  the  mis- 
chief they  cou'd  in  the  Assembly  as  members  of  the 
House  of  Kep¥,  and  when  I  went  last  winter  to  N.  Hamp- 
shire I  sent  for  Mess"  Atkinson  &  Wentworth  &  ofFer'd 
them  their  oaths,  which  they  refus'd  to  take,  pretending 
they  cou'd  not  serve  in  the  Council  because  they  helong'd 
to  the  Repf  House  &  must  serve  for  that  session,  tho' 
notfiing,  my  Lords,  is  more  common  in  the  Massachusetts 
on  the  day  of  electing  his  Majesty's  Council  than  to 
choose  a  member  out  of  the  House  of  Repf,  who  think  it 
an  honour  to  be  so  advanced,  and  to  compare  little  things 
with  great  what  is  more  frequent  than  to  call  gent"  out 
of  the  House  of  Commons  of  Great  Britain  up  to  the 
House  of  Peers;  and  what  follows?  Writs  must  be  made 
out  for  new  bui^esses  to  611  up  their  places;  and  this 
must  have  been  the  case  here.  Again,  my  Lords,  what 
a  vile  insinuation  is  it,  that  my  treatment  of  those  men 
was  from  a  prejudice  I  had  concieved  at  them  for  their 
being  friends  to  the  late  Gov'  Burnet,  when  it  has  ap- 
pear'd  to  all  the  world  what  pains  I  have  taken  with  tlw 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  THE   LOBDS   OF    TRADE.  129 

Assembly  of  this  Province  to  do  justice  to  the  family 
of  that  deed  gen',  and  finally  obtain'd  for  them  £3000; 
and  this  1  got  thorrd  by  being  indefatigable  with  the 
Assembly,  and  with  many  of  the  members  without  doors. 
As  to  their  being  friends  to  Coll'  Dunbar,  I  think  he 
shoii'd  be  aaham'd  to  own  them,  while  they  are  con- 
stantly opposing  every  thing  that  is  for  the  King's  ser- 
vice, or  for  the  good  of  his  people.  But  the  true  reason 
of  the  difificulty  they  have  met  with  as  to  their  mandamuss 
is  what  I  have  once  &  again  represented  to  your  Lord- 
ships, viz.,  their  constant  ill  manners  and  impudence  to 
the  King's  Gov'  &  their  obstructing  all  the  publick  affairs, 
that  I  cou'd  not  think  it  consistent  with  his  Majesty's 
honour  to  admit  them  'till  I  had  represented  these  mat- 
ters home;  and  since  your  Lordships  upon  reading  & 
considering  these  things  still  insist  they  shou'd  be  ad- 
mitted, I  shall  accordingly  offer  them  their  oaths  upon 
my  going  to  New  Hampshire  next  week,  and  in  case  they 
shou'd  play  the  game  they  did  last  year  &  trifle  with  the 
honour  the  King  has  done  them,  I  hope  yoiu:  Lordships 
will  justify  me  in  refusing  them. 

I  come  now,  my  Lords,  to  the  other  memorial  respecting 
L'*  Gov'  Dunbar,  which  is  really  more  surprizing  to  me 
than  the  former.  I  wish  M'  Thomlinson,  or  those  that 
drew  the  memorial  for  him  (which,  I  am  told,  was  done 
at  N.  Hampshire  &  sent  him),  had  been  so  fair  as  to  have 
recited  the  whole  of  my  36  instruction,  which  being  com- 
pared with  the  clause  of  my  corfiission,  I  think  wou'd 
have  made  it  plain  that  his  Majesty  never  intended  that 
I  was  absent  from  New  Hampshire  when  I  was  in  the 
Massach"*",  and  with  great  deference  to  your  Lordships, 
the  words  I  insist  upon  in  tlie  instruction  are,  —  "  That 
when  it  shall  happen  that  you  shall  be  absent  from  our 
8*  Provinces  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  and  New  Hamp- 
shire." And  again, —  "  During  the  time  of  your  absence 
from  our  $aid  Provinces?'     And  again,  —  "  As  if  you  were 


oyGoot^lc 


130  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [17U. 

then  actually  residing  within  our  Provimes  of  the  Massa- 
ehusetts  and  New  HampaUre  or  either  of  them."  By  those 
words,  my  L6rds,  it  seems  plain,  and  by  the  whole  tenour 
of  that  instruction  (which  lyes  with  your  Lordships),  that 
it  was  only  to  make  provision  for  a  L"  Gov'  to  exercise 
his  powers  &  to  recieve  a  part  of  the  Gov'"'  salary  &  per- 
quisites when  I  shou'd  be  at  any  time  absent  from  botli 
Provinces,  unless  it  was  when  I  shou'd  think  it  necessary 
to  go  into  the  Colony  of  Kh'*  Island,  or  that  I  shou'd  be 
order'd  to  repair  to  any  other  of  the  King's  governments 
for  his  Majesty's  particular  service,  so  that  when  I  am  at 
the  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  Rh'*  Island,  or  any  of 
the  King's  governments  in  America,  the  King  is  pleas'd 
not  to  call  it  an  absence  from  N.  Hampshire ;  nor  is  the 
L"  Gov'  in  such  case  intitled  to  any  part  of  my  salary, 
perquisites,  or  emoluments  arising  due  to  me  at  New 
Hampshire.  I  think,  with  great  submission,  my  Lords, 
this  is  the  plain  &  genuine  sense  of  the  King's  royal 
instruction  to  me,  and  what  I  think  y'  Lordships  will 
agree  with  me,  upon  reading  the  whole  instruction  thorro 
&  deliberating  thereon.  Were  I,  indeed,  to  come  for 
Europe  then  the  L"  Gov'  might  reap  some  advantage 
from  that  instruction.  Whoever  has  been  Gov'  of  the 
Massachusetts  &  N.  Hampshire  liave  alwayes  resided  in 
the  Mas.sachusetts,  as  L''  Bellomont,  M'  Dudley,  Shute, 
&  Burnet.  Nor  have  their  L"  Gov"  presum'd  to  dispute 
power  or  profits  with  them,  except  M'  Vaughan,  L*  Gov' 
to  M'  Shute,  who  was  superseded  for  interfering  with  the 
Gov"*'  powers.  When  I  arriv'd  M'  Wentworth  was  L** 
Gov',  with  whom  I  was  very  easy,  he  alwayes  taking  his 
orders  &  directions  from  me  in  all  matters  of  govern- 
ment. Notwithstanding  my  commission  and  instructions 
give  me  all  the  perquisites  &  emoluments  of  N.  Hamp- 
shire, yet  I  gave  them  to  M'  Wentworth.  and  so  I  do 
now  to  M*  Dunbar.  Yet  he  cannot  be  easy,  but  wou'd 
feign  snatch  the  bread  out  of  my  mouth.      As  to  all 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  THE  LORDS   OF   TRADE.  131 

matters  of  governm',  can  it  be  supposed,  my  Lords,  that 
tbe  King  made  me  Gov'  of  N.  Hampshire  only  for  about 
2  months  in  a  year  of  my  residing  there,  when  I  am  but 
66  miles  from  the  capital  of  N.  Hampshire,  and  a  post 
passing  twice  a  week,  by  which  a  L"  Gov'  may  constantly 
write  &  recieve  orders  from  the  King's  Gov'  &  Cap'  Gen"  ? 
and  he  now  enjoys  as  much  power  as  his  predecessors 
have  done  heretofore  under  mine,  and  the  perquisites  he 
recieves  by  my  favour  are  the  same  M'  Wentworth  en- 
joy'd  under  me,  and  which  he  told  me  amounted  to 
upwards  £200  a  year,  so  that  M'  Thomlinson  (or  the 
drawer  of  the  memorial)  must  have  endeavor'd  to  impose 
upon  your  Lordships  by  inserting  the  following  para- 
graph, which  is  a  gross  mistake,  viz',  "Deprives  him  of 
all  power  &  authority,  salary,  perquisites,  &  emoluments 
whMsoever."  As  to  his  power  as  Surveyor  of  the  Woods, 
he  enjoys  it  fully,  &  as  often  as  he  applys  to  me  has  all 
my  power  to  assist  him  in  tbe  lawfull  execution  of  his 
duty ;  and  really,  my  Lords,  if  he  cou'd  think  right,  he 
wou'd  think  himself  happy  that  he  has  somebody  to 
govern  him  and  prevent  the  wild  steerage  he  wou'd 
make  to  the  great  dishonour  of  the  King's  comission. 

And  I  wou'd  now,  my  Lords,  return  particularly  to  the 
affair  of  my  salary,  and  admire  M'  Dunbar,  or  any  body 
for  him,  shou'd  imagine  he  had  the  least  shadow  of  reason 
to  make  a  claim  to  an  iota  of  it  I  have  desir'd  M' 
Wilks,  M'  Partridge,  &  M'  Belcher  to  wait  on  your  Lord- 
ships with  all  the  papers  respecting  the  settlement  of  it 
upon  me  by  the  Assembly  of  N,  Hampshire  four  years 
agoe,  by  which  your  Lordships  will  see  that  it  is  done 
absolutely  on  me,  in  obedience  to  the  King's  instruc- 
tion, and  that  M'  Wentworth  (the  then  L"  Gov')  be- 
fore the  bill  past  into  a  law,  in  a  solemn  message  to  the 
Assembly  renounc'd  under  his  hand  all  claim  to  any  part 
of  it ;  and  in  a  message  I  made  to  them  at  same  time,  I 
declar'd  I  wou'd  allow  no  part  of  my  support  to  aiiy 


oyGoot^lc 


132  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

other  officer  in  the  govenitnent,  and  nothing  can  be 
plainer  by  the  King's  36  instruction  to  me  than  that  the 
L**  Gov'  was  to  come  in  for  no  share  of  my  salary,  or  of 
the  perquisites  of  the  government  of  N.  Hampshire,  while 
I  was  in  any  of  his  Majesty's  governments  in  America. 
Indeed,  M'  Burnet,  my  late  predecessor,  found  his  L" 
Gov',  M''  Wentworth,  had  so  strong  a  party  in  the  Assem- 
bly, that  he  was  oblig'd  to  promise  them  he  wou'd  give 
him  a  third  part  of  what  they  settled  if  they  wou'd  com- 
ply with  the  King's  instruct",  and  without  this  previous 
promise  he  coii'd  not  bring  the  Assembly  into  the  matter. 
The  same  party  proposed  to  me  the  same  things,  but  I  at 
once  absolutely  refus'd  it,  and  told  them  1  neither  wou'd 
nor  dare  do  it,  for  it  wou'd  be  to  elude  &  trifle  with  the 
King's  instruction,  and  to  get  only  £400  instead  of  £600 
a  year  settled  on  the  King's  Gov'.  Your  Lordships  in 
considering  this  affair  will  plainly  see  the  different  footr 
ing  upon  which  M'  Burnet  got  the  salary  from  my  getting 
it  done,  &  I  think  your  Lordships  will  do  me  the  justice 
to  say  I  acted  with  full  fidelity  &  honour  to  his  Majesty, 
in  that  I  wou'd  accept  of  the  salary  on  no  other  terms 
but  in  exact  conformity  to  the  King's  royal  orders. 

The  affair  of  N.  Hampshire  govemm'  stands  thus, 
my  Lords, 

The  salary  settled  on  me  is  £600  a  year. 

Out  of  which  my  2  yearly  jour- 
nies  is  200 

Leaves  400  a  year. 

The  perquisites  due  to  me  by  my  comission  &  instruc- 
tions, as  cap'  of  the  fort,  ship  registers,  passes  to  the 
castle,  licenses  for  marriages,  certificates  for  naval  stores, 
Ac"  (all  which  I  now  give  to  the  L"  Gov'),  are  about  £200 
a  year,  and  shou'd  I  also  give  him  the  half  of  my  salary, 
the  matter  wou'd  stand  thus : 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  THE  LORDS   OF  TRADE.  lii 

To  the  Gov'  for  y'  half  of  ^6600  a 
year  300. 

Deduct  the  charge  of  my  2  yearly 
journies  200. 

Leaves  100  a  year 

for  the  King's  Gov'  of  New  Hampshire.  But  then  the 
L"  Gov'  wou'd  have 

The  half  of  the  Gov''"  salary  300. 

and  the  perquisites  above  men- 
tioned 200. 

is         ^£500  a  year 

to  the  Gov'^  £100.  Can,  my  Lords,  any  gen*  look  on 
this  ace'  stated  as  it  truly  &  really  is,  think  it  consis*  with 
justice  &  honour  it  shou'd  be'so.  The  govemm'  of  N. 
Hampshire  is  not  at  this  day  worth  to  me  £100  st'  a  year, 
that  it's  almost  a  shame  to  call  it  a  government  The 
provinces  here,  my  Lords,  have  not  been  us'd  to  give 
any  thing  to  a  L"  Gov',  nor  will  they,  because  they  say 
while  they  have  a  Gov'  lie  is  an  officer  of  no  service  to 
them.  When  the  Duke  of  Portland  went  to  Jamnica  he 
carry'd  a  L"  Gov',  but  when  he  came  there  the  people 
wou'd  give  him  no  support,  so  he  return'd  home.  Had 
I,  my  Lords,  £100,000  depending  on  this  affair,  in  the 
true  &  genuine  light  I  have  set  it  to  your  Lordships,  I 
cou'd  submit  it  as  a  point  of  law  to  the  twelve  Judges 
of  England,  or  as  a  point  of  equity  to  the  nicest  Chan- 
cellor in  the  world. 

I  again  thank  your  Lordships  for  the  justice  you  have 
done  me  in  ordering  me  copies  of  the  memorials,  and  I 
rtill  hope  always  to  have  the  same  justice  from  your 
Lordships  whenever  my  name  is  mentioned  in  complaint. 
The  divine  oracles,  my  Lords,  tell  us  that  a  Roman  was 
not  condemned  unheard,  and  S'  Paul  was  allow'd  even 
by  a  Nero  to  answer  for  himself.    How  much  more  happy 


oyGoot^lc 


134  THB   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [ITU- 

then  am  I  under  the  most  gracious  of  sovereigns  (with, 
his  wise  councellors)  whose  delight  and  glory  is  to  do 
justice  to  all  his  subjects. 

I  think,  my  Lords,  I  have  now  made  it  fully  appear 
that  M'  Wilks,  W  Partridge,  &  M'  Belcher  either  had  not 
seen-  or  had  not  well  weighed  the  sense  of  my  commis- 
sion &  instructions  in  these  respects,  or  that  they  (&  not 
the  Gov')  misunderstood  their  meaning ;  and  if  your  Lord- 
ships shall  on  rec'  hereof  think  it  worth  while  to  lay  any 
representation  before  his  Majesty  on  these  heads,  I  have 
no  doubt  but  your  Lordships  (as  well  as  all  other  impar- 
tial judges)  will  make  out  a  very  favourable  opinion  upon 
my  conduct  and  behaviour  herein,  and  I  have  as  little 
doubt  of  his  Majesty's  confirming  such  honourable  opin- 
ion ;  and  thus,  my  Lords,  I  rest  the  matter. 

Were  I,  my  Lords,  to  give  bread  out  of  my  own  mouth, 
I  believe  M'  Dunbar  wou'd  be  the  last  person  1  cou'd  bear 
to  feed,  his  study  being  nothing  else  but  to  do  me  all  the 
ill  offices  in  his  power,  and  if  M'  Thomlinson  had  known 
his  continual  insolent  treatment  of  the  Gov'  he  wou'd 
certainly  have  been  asham'd  to  have  mentioned  anything 
of  my  evil  treatment  of  him,  while  he  is  constantly  giv- 
ing me  all  the  provocations  be  can  invent,  and  it  can't 
be  suppos'd  I  will  hear  any  of  his  insults  &  not  teacli 
him  his  duty. 

Thus,  my  Lords,  I  have  in  obedience  to  your  commands 
made  the  earliest  answer  I  cou'd  to  your  Lordships' 
favour,  and  am  sorry  M'  Dunbar  (with  the  two  other  per- 
sons) has  given  me  occasion  to  give  your  Lordships  the 
trouble  of  so  tedious  a  letter,  which  I  have  been  oblig'd 
to  in  order  to  an  ample  vindication  of  my  conduct  on 
these  heads.  Were  not  strife  &  contention  the  favorite 
element  of  that  gent",  he  might  easily  prevent  your  Lord- 
ships all  this  trouble,  and  bad  he  more  power  I  suppose 
every  ship  that  passes  wou'd  carry  volumns  of  complaints 
to  the  King  &  to  his  ministers. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  FEANCIS  WILKS  AND  OTHERS.  135 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 
Your  Lordships'  most  obedieDt  &  most  humble  servant. 

J.  B. 
BOBTOK,  Oct'  2, 1734. 

(Via  Bristol,  KoDB.)  (To  London,  Crocker.) 


TO  FEANCIS  WILKS,  RICHARD  PAETRIDGE,  AND 
JONATHAN  BELCHEB,  JR. 

Gentlemen,  —  This  is  to  g^ve  you  my  thanks  jointly 
for  your  appearing  in  my  behalf  29  May  last,  before  the 
Lords  of  Trade  &  Plantations,  upon  the  occasion  of  two 
memorials  laid  before  them  by  one  Cap*  Thomlinson,  of 
which  their  Lordships  have  transmitted  copies  for  my  mak- 
ing answer  to  them,  &  I  do  it  by  this  conveyance,  pray- 
ing the  favourofyou  still  to  appear  for  me.  As  to  the  affair 
of  Wentworth's  &  Atkinson's  mandamuE^  you'll  see  I  intend 
to  offer  to  admit  them  when  I  am  at  New  Hampshire  the 
next  week.  So  that  matter  is  over.  But  as  to  Dunbar's 
having  any  part  of  my  salary,  I  can  by  no  means  give 
into  it,  for  the  reasons  I  wrote  in  Augs*  last  to  Mess"  Par- 
tridge  &  Belcher,  and  for  those  I  now  offer  to  the  Lords 
of  Trade,  and  I  must  beg  of  you  to  appear  &;  defend  me 
against  any  proceedings  that  may  take  the  bread  out  of 
my  mouth  to  feed  a  creature  that  is  alwayes  trying  to  cut 
my  throat  Were  I  to  comply  with  Coll'  Bladen's  desire 
in  this  matter  you'll  see  Dunbar  wou'd  have  £500  a  year, 
and  I  shou'd  have  only  £100.  I  therefore  now  inclose 
you  the  following  papers  to  furnish  you  in  malting  my 
defence,  viz' : 

K"  1.  All  things  transacted  at  New  Hampshire  with  the 
Assembly  in  Aug",  1730,  about  the  settling  of 
my  salary. 


oyGoot^lc 


136  THE   BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1734. 

2.  As  also  a  concession  of  M'  Burnet  made  to  M' 

Wentworth  about    bis  salary   before    it  vras 
settled. 

3.  Tbe  King's  36  instruction  to  me. 

4.  The  Lords  of  Trade's  report  to  the  King  of  Nov' 

4, 1731. 
6.  Lords  Trade's  letter  to  me. 

6.  My  letter  at  large  to  the  Lords  of  Trade. 

7.  Arguments  against  his  having  any  part  of  the 

salary. 
These  things,  I  think,  will  make  it  as  clear  as  the  sun  at 
noon  that  be  cannot  have  the  least  claim  to  any  share  of 
my  salary,  and  you'll  see  by  a  paragraph  I  have  mark't 
in  the  report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  that  they  were  of  that 
opinion  in  1731. 

I  desire  you  to  let  one  of  your  servants  copy  my  let- 
ter to  the  Lords  of  Trade  before  you  deliver  it  that  you 
may  have  recourse  to  the'  arguments  I  have  us'd  with 
them ;  and  if  they  will  finally  urge  his  having  any  part 
of  my  salary,  I  can  by  no  means  submit  it  to  them ;  but 
upon  their  represent*  to  the  King  about  the  salary  and 
the  chief  command  in  N.  Hampshire  while  I  am  at  Bos- 
ton, I  must  pray  you  to  petition  his  Majesty  to  be  heard 
before  him  in  Council  in  my  defence,  where  1  pray  you 
to  do  your  utmost  to  prevent  any  such  extraordinary 
orders  coming  to  me  as  Coll"  Bl — d — n  wou'd  be  glad  of, 
and  if  what  he  &  D^b — r  desires  must  take  effect,  I  sin- 
cerely tell  you  I  had  rather  be  quit  of  the  government  of 
N.  Hampshire,  which  wou'd  be  worth  no  more  than  £100 
a  year  this  money,  and  I  wou'd  scorn  to  bear  the  name 
of  a  Gov'  for  it.  Besides  cou'd  he  get  the  command  he 
might  soon  perswade  the  Council  &  Represent"  to  repeal 
the  settlem'  of  my  salary  &  fix  it  on  himself.  I  say,  if 
he  or  Coll"  Bl — d — n  can  carry  these  points,  there's  an 
end  of  my  commission  at  N.  Hampshire.  But  I  must  pray 
you  to  do  all  in  your  power  to  prevent  it.   Were  I  to  give 


oyGoO'^lc 


1734.]  TO  THOMAS  TOWNSHEND.  137 

Dunbar  all  my  salary  it  wou'd  signify  nothing,  and  it's 
impossible  to  live  in  peace  with  him. 
I  am,  with  much  respect,  Sirs, 

Your  assured  friend  &  very  humble  servant. 

J.  B. 

BoBTON,  Ocf  2,  1734. 

(Vift  Briatol.     Boos.)  Crocker,  to  London. 


TO  THOMAS  TOWNSHEND.* 

Sir,  —  I  know  you  will  be  surprized,  as  indeed  I  am 
myself,  at  the  freedom  I  now  take  with  the  Hon"''  M'  . 
Townshend,  to  whom  I  am  so  perfect  a  stranger;  but  by 
tbe  acco*  1  have  rec'd  from  my  son  M'  Belcher  of  the 
Temple,  as  well  as  by  your  letters  to  your  brother  here, 
the  Hon""  M'  George  Townshend,  of  your  civility  and 
goodness  to  my  son,  I  cou'd  not  forbear  giving  you  my 
sincerest  thanks  for  so  great  a  favour  (for  we  fathers 
have  a  strange  fondness  for  children  that  don't  disoblige 
us).  You  will  please,  Sir,  to  give  me  leave  to  say,  this 
young  gent",  atler  spending  7  years  at  our  little  college 
in  our  Cambridge,  had  an  inclination  to  see  our  mother 
country,  and  chose  the  study  of  the  law  for  the  business 
of  his  life,  to  which  end  I  placed  bira  at  the  Temple. 
He  had  his  call  to  the  barr  last  May,  and  should  he  prove 
capable  in  his  studies  &  practice  will  spend  the  rest  of  his 
life  in  the  country  of  his  progenitors ;  and  if,  S',  you  will 
allow  him  now  &  then  to  wait  on  you  and  to  hope  for 
some  small  share  of  your  acquaintance  and  friendship,  it 
may  give  him  too  much  pride,  but  I  am  siure  it  will  do 
him  great  service  and  advantage  as  he  comes  forward  in 
the  world ;  and  I  hold  myself  and  him  under  the  highest 
obligations  that  you  are  pleased  to  let  me  hope  for  this 

■  SecMi'l  aon  o(  Chu-ln,  Mcand  Viiconnt  Townghend.  He  ww  (or  more  (bin  forly 
jean  one  of  lh>  tnemben  of  ParlliiUBnt  for  Ihe  UniTenity  of  Cambridgg,  and  ooe  ol  ilia 
TcUen  ol  the  Escbequcr.    He  died  ia  1780.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


138  THE   BELCHES  PAPEBS.  [17S1 

favour  in  your  letter  to  your  brother,  where  you  say  you 
will  assist  him  by  yourself  and  friends.  Nothing  can  be 
kinder,  and  I  look  upon  it  as  an  omen  of  his  future  good 
fortune.  And  while  I  tell  you,  Sir,  the  vaet  load  of  debt 
I  lye  under  to  your  noble  father,  you  will  still  be  more 
surprized  at  this  letter,  the  answer  whereof  will  be  to 
make  me  a  perpetual  bankrupt  to  your  whole  family. 
My  noble  patron,  the  K'  Hon"*  the  Lord  Viscount  Towns- 
hend  (for  what  reason  I  know  not),  was  pleased  while  I 
was  at  Whitehall,  to  treat  me  on  all  occasions  with  the 
greatest  condescension  and  humanity,  and  sometimes  with 
an  uncommon  freedom,  and  finally  did  me  the  great  honour 
of  mentioning  me  to  the  King  to  be  Gov'  of  my  native 
country.  I  say,  it  is  to  him,  and  him  alone,  that  I  owe 
this  great  respect  and  favour,  and  I  and  my  whole  family 
shall  acknowledge  it  to  the  latest  date  of  time.  Such 
extraordinary  and  such  unmerited  goodness  &  generosity 
is  almost  peculiar  to  my  most  honoured  Lord  Towns- 
hend,  tho*  but  one  of  his  shining  characters.  I  have  lately 
a  very  kind  letter  from  his  Lordship,  to  whom  I  shall  do 
my  duty  in  owning  it  by  the  next  conveyance.  And 
now,  Sir,  let  me  beg  of  you  {if  possible)  to  find  out  some 
way  whereby  I  might  demonstrate  with  how  great  esteem 
and  respect,  I  am,    Hon'"''  Sir, 

Your  most  obed'  and  most  devoted  serv*. 

J.B. 

BosTOK,  Nov  2,  1734. 
(Honuuifl.) 


TO  THE  BISHOP  OF  LINCOLN. 

My  much  honoured  and  good  Lord,  —  Altho'  I  had 
not  been  honoured  with  a  letter  from  your  Lordship  for 
a  long  time,  yet  I  ventured  again  to  trespass  on  your 
Lordship's  goodness  the  8  of  July  past,  and  which  my 
son  writes  me  he  had  done  himself  the  honour  to  forward 


oyGoot^lc 


1731.]  TO   THE   BISHOP  OF   LINCOLN.  139 

to  your  Lordship.  I  am  now,  my  Lord,  to  own  with  all 
possible  respect  and  gratitude  the  honour  of  your  Lord- 
ship's of  20  June,  with  its  most  obliging  contents,  and 
which  is  the  next  in  succession  (that  has  reacht  me) 
since  that  from  your  Lordship  of  October  13,  1732. 

The  entertainment  your  Lordship  gives  me  in  the  pub- 
lick  affairs  is  more  than  1  cou'd  have  possibly  collected 
from  any  other  intelligence,  and  what  I  can  confide  in. 
The  fate  of  a  general  flame  in  Europe  must  depend  partly 
on  a  general  action  upon  the  Rhine,  but  more  on  the 
Westminster  deliberations.  When  the  august  body  get 
to  work  in  S'  Stephen's  Chappel  may  He  by  whom  Kings 
reign  always  direct  and  govern  the  hearte  of  the  King 
and  of  his  ministers  for  the  best  establishment  of  the  Pro- 
testant Succession,  and  in  that  the  lasting  happiness  of 
all  the  King's  dominions.  The  King's  heart  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  Lord.  As  the  rivers  of  water  He  turneth 
it  whithersoever  He  will. 

I  am,  my  Lord,  told  again  this  day  by  a  gent"  late 
from  Loudon  and  who  saw  your  worthy  son  M'  A.  Rey- 
nolds once  and  again  that  he  still  entertains  tho'ts  of 
returning  hither  in  the  spring.  1  shall  sincerely  rejoyce 
to  see  him  if  your  L^ship  approves  his  coming.  But  then 
I  hope  your  Lordship  will  have  so  good  an  understanding 
with  his  superionrs  as  that  he  may  come  clothed  with  his 
Majesty's  commission  for  Lieu'  Gov'  of  N.  Hampshire  and 
his  mandamus  to  be  of  the  King's  Council  there,  which 
with  his  Collection  and  to  be  Naval  OflBcer  will  be  thus : 


Lieu**  Governour's  perquisites  . 

£220.  — .  — 

Councellor'a                ditto    .     . 

20.  — .  — 

Collector's  fees 

260.—.— 

Naval  Officer's  ditto     .... 

70.—.— 

is 

660.  — .  — 

a  year  this  currency,  and  will  still  grow  with  the  country 
and  trade. 


oyGoot^lc 


140  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [17»4, 

There    will    be    also    his    Collector's 

salary £100.—.— 

&  the  Hospital  y'  L''8liip  has  given 
him 100.—.— 


is    £200.  — .  —  Bt' 

a  year  more,  and  his  lady's  fortune  will  lye  in  lavender 
to  grow,  and  so  will  a  great  part  of  y*  £200  ster.  a  year. 
His  lady  must  by  all  means  come  with  him,  by  which  he 
will  live  in  more  honour  and  respect  and  phaps  save 
more  money. 

M'  Husk,  who  was  his  deputy,  being  now  made  post- 
master of  this  Province  is  superseeded  by  the  Surveyor 
General  of  the  Customs  (in  the  deputation  made  by  M' 
Reynolds),  and  I  am  afraid  (but  it  must  not  be  said  so] 
that  the  person  succeeding  wont  give  bo  good  satisfacUon, 
and  if  M'  Reynolds  don't  quickly  return  phaps  some 
grumbling  may  arise  in  his  holding  his  warrant  as  Collec- 
tor. I  am  told  one  great  difficulty  against  his  being 
made  Lieu'  Gov'  was  that  the  King  must  sign  such  a 
comission  with  his  own  hand,  and  for  some  reasons  that 
cou'd  not  be.  The  present  Lieu"  Gov',  my  Lord,  I  am 
told,  has  a  great  desire  to  go  home,  and  not  to  continue 
Lieu'  Gov'  any  longer  xmder  me.  I  am  also  told  he  or 
hiB  lady  has  an  estate  lately  befallen  of  6  or  700  £  ster.  a 
year  by  death  of  Lord  Blessington  in  Ireland,  so  that 
if  he  goes  home  I  fancy  he  won't  desire  to  return 
hither,  and  in  that  case  if  M"'  Reynolds  can  succeed  him 
as  Surveyor  General  of  the  King's  Woods  in  North 
America,  that  commission  comes  from  the  Lords  of  the 
Treasury,  and  is  not  signed  by  the  King.  The  sal- 
ary of  it  is  £200  Bter.  a  year,  and  the  perquisites,  I 
beleive,  £100  more,  and  then  M'  Reynolds  need  not 
trouble  himself  about  the  Leiutenancy.  Your  Lord- 
ship will  consider  all  these  things  and  do  what  will 
be   most  agreeable   to  yourself,  and  to  your  son's  in- 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  THE  BISHOP  OF   LINCOLN.  141 

terest  Pardon,  my  Lord,  the  prodigious  boldness  I 
am  going  to  utter.  But  by  thus  accomplisbing  to  M' 
Reynolds,  what  if  your  Lordship  should  make  some 
concessions  where  these  things  may  be  facilitated  ?  Con- 
descension is  not  great  when  it's  to  our  own  service  and 
advantage. 

As  M'  Husk  is  now  Postmaster  be  mnst  reside  in  Bos- 
ton, and  make  a  vacancy  in  the  King's  Council  at  New 
Hampshire,  which  M'  Reynolds  must  fill,  to  whom  I  should 
now  write,  but  he's  a  letter  in  my  debt  for  13  months 
past. 

lam  now,  may  it  please  your  Lordship,  to  take  a  line 
from  a  song  my  son  of  the  Temple  lately  made  upon  an- 
other occasion,  and  apply  it  to  your  Lordship's  great 
respect  and  friendship  to  me,   and  say 

Dum  memor  ipse  mei,  grato  memtuisse  javabit. 

By  the  last  ship  M'  Belcher  gives  me  the  acco*  of  your 
Lordship's  continued  goodness  to  him,  and  of  a  very  kind 
letter  you  had  wrote  him  upon  his  call  to  the  barr,  and 
particularly  to  your  Lordship's  readiness  to  promote  him 
in  the  business  of  his  profession.  Altho'  he  is  got  to  the 
barr,  yet  I  beleive  your  L'^ship  will  be  in  opinion  with  me 
that  it  will  be  best  for  bim  to  be  patient  and  not  to  en- 
deavour after  much  business  for  a  year  or  two,  but  still 
follow  his  studies  sedulk  et  eonstanier,  and  if  possible  to  lay 
a  substantial  foundation  so  as  to  appear  with  some  credit 
and  honour  to  himself,  and  to  the  advantage  of  those  that 
may  intrust  him,  and  if  your  Lordship  will  let  me,  and 
let  him  hope  for  the  continuance  of  your  smiles,  coun- 
tenance, and  advice  in  bis  studies  and  practice,  and  as  he 
comes  forward  to  promote  him  in  such  business  aa  your 
Lordship  may  judge  him  capable' of,  it  will  be  laying  him 
and  me  under  still  greater  obligations  of  gratitude  and 
respect  to  your  liordship  and  to  your  whole  family,  and 
which  I  shall  demonstrate  with  the  greatest  alacrity  upon 


oyGoot^lc 


142  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [17M. 

every  occasion  I  can  possibly  lay  hold  of,  because  I  am 
with  much  deference  and  high  esteem,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  faithful],  moat  devoted,  &  most 
hum'  serv'.  J.  B. 

I  hope  your  L'ship's  eyes  are  recov'd  &  that  your 
health  is  strong  in  every  vein,  artery,  and  muscle. 

BosToiT,  Nov  2,  1734. 
(HomfuiB.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Mt  dear  Son,  —  You  have  herewith  copy  of  my  long 
letter  of  1  Oct"  via  Bristol  T*  Rous,  which  you  must  care- 
fully observe.  I  return'd  from  my  other  government  of 
N.  Hampshire  26  ult',  and  have  rec'd  your  very  dutifull 
letters  of  Aug.  26  and  Sept'  3  V  Bennet  &  White,  from 
little  Chelsea.  I  much  approve  your  good  judgment  in 
returning  thither  for  the  benefit  of  study  in  the  vacation, 
altho'  I  wou'd  not  have  you  exceed  your  constitution  and 
break  your  health,  yet  diligence  at  your  time  of  life,  that 
you  may  lay  a  foundation  in  substantial  knowledge  and 
learning,  will  be  the  path  to  profit,  honour,  and  ease,  and 
which  is  infinitely  surpassing  all  these,  it  will  be  the  way 
for  you  to  answer  the  end  of  your  creation  in  bringing 
glory  to  God  and  good  to  your  fellow  creatures.  The 
pleasures  and  amusements  that  imploy  the  generality  of 
mankind  are  trifling  &  beneath  a  great  soul.  I  remem- 
ber the  first  head  I  declaimed  on  when  I  entred  the  Col- 
lege was  AqiiUa  non  capiat  muscm. 

I  am  more  and  more  pleased  with  your  dipping  into 
mathematicks  and  particularly  into  algebra  under  yoor 
great  Sanderson  at  Cambridge.  Lord  Chief  Justice  Hales, 
the  late  great  Lord  Somers,  and  Lord  Trevor  highly 
recommended  the  study  of  algebra  in  order  to  be  a  good 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR.  143 

lawyer,  in  that  it  led  a  man  into  a  close,  abstracted  way 
of  thinking  and  reasoning. 

I  am  glad  you  find  so  much  respect  at  your  dear  Cam- 
bridge, and  am  still  very  fond  of  your  liaving  a  degree  at 
Oxford  when  you  can  get  it  with  the  least  charge ;  and 
by  proper  recommendations  from  your  own  University 
(and  otherwise)  I  shou'd  think  you  might  easily  have  it  & 
ad  eundem,  &  what  if  you  shou'd  spend  the  next  long  vaca- 
tion and  another  at  that  University  under  the  Professors 
of  the  Civil  Law  and  of  the  matbematicks  (aa  you  did 
at  Cambridge);  and  so  establish  a  good  acquaintance  at 
Oxford  ? 

Tour  present  to  Harvard  Library  is  in  conformity  to 
my  directions,  and  your  compliment  in  hexameters  is 
th6t  beautifull  by  good  judges,  and  the  whole  will  do  you 
honour. 

For  your  sake  I  received  M'  Punderson  kindly  ;  he  went 
on  his  journey  to  Connecticut  in  an  hour  or  two  after  he 
was  with  me.     I  told  him  he  should  always  be  welcome  - 
to  the  Gov'  when  he  came  to  town. 

The  Election  Sermons  I  sent  you  were  well  composed, 
and  I  thot  wou'd  be  pleasing  at  Court ;  if  you  get  one 
into  the  hands  of  the  Queen  let  me  know  it  I  have  no 
doubt  but  M'  Newman  and  you  might  find  an  opportunity 
of  being  privately  introduced  at  the  Queen's  backstairs 
into  her  apartment  by  one  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Bed- 
chamber, and  present  one  on  your  knees  yourself.  Try 
this. 

When  M'  Wilks  has  deliv*  the  address  I  shall  expect  to 
see  it  in  the  prints.  If  it  be  possible  to  overcome  all 
difficulties  and  succeed  in  a  gift  of  powder,  cannon,  &c., 
it  will  do  great  honour  to  M'  Wilks  and  to  the  Gov'.  All 
things  seem  to  be  easy  and  more  and  more  so  in  the 
Massachusetts,  and  I  believe  1  in  20  wou'd  not  change 
their  Gov'  for  any  other  his  Majesty  wou'd  offer  'em.  A 
change  wou'd  not  only  hi  highly  unjust  and  dishonourable. 


oyGoot^lc 


144  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1784. 

but  it  wou'd  throw  the  whole  Province  into  great  con- 
fusion, and  give  the  Ministry  unspeakable  trouble  & 
vexation. 

As  to  that  wicked  fellow  D — nb — r  and  all  affwrB  of 
N.  Hampshire  I  shall  write  very  particularly  to  your 
good  uncle,  and  a  distinct  letter  also  on  same  head  to 
Meas"  Wilks,  Partridge  &  Belcher,  and  altho'  1  am  will- 
ing to  save  and  spare  you  as  much  as  possible  to  your 
studies,  yet  when  you  can  give  a  good  lift  you  must  fall 
in  with  your  whole  weight.  It's  wise  in  you,  and  my 
order  in  fidurum  to  take  copies  of  all  T  send  Board  of 
Trade  before  delivery.  I  dare  not  trust  Bl — d — n  (with 
all  his  complaisance),  and  good  things  may  be  stifled.  I 
am  sure  I  have  reason,  justice,  and  honesty  on  my  side, 
and  if  I  may  be  treated  by  the  rules  of  such  fine  things,  I 
defie  all  the  Dunbars  in  Christendom.  But  the  King  and 
his  Privy  Council  must  be  our  dernier  resort. 

I  thank  your  care  in  sending  me  Burnet's  second 
volume,  in  which  I  observe  your  name  in  the  subscription 
mentioned  thus,  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jun',  Esq'.  As  there 
is  no  other  Jonathan  Belcher  in  the  kingdom,  I  think  it 
needless  to  add  Jun'.  It  does  not  look  so  honourable, 
but  for  the  future  on  such  occasions  I  think  it  should  be 
Jonathan  Belcher  of  the  Middle  Temple,  Esq',  and  when 
my  name  may  be  mentioned  on  any  such  occasion  it  should 
be  His  Excy  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq',  Gov'  of  N.  Engl'. 
Were  we  both  in  private  life,  and  I  in  Engl*  with  you, 
Jun'  might  be  proper.  But  either  my  station  or  distance 
I  think  always  a  sufficient  distinction,  and  omitting  Jun' 
still  gives  you  manhood  majority  and  more  the  looks  of 
sui  juris. 

I  am  perfectly  easy  in  the  reasons  you  give  of  not 
writing  me  more  fully  and  particularly  in  the  beginning 
of  the  year,  and  when  I  am  otherwise  it's  because  I  love 
you  and  your  exact,  intelligent  way  of  writing,  I  take 
notice  of  what  you  say  about  your  account  of  expences, 


oyGoot^lc 


1T3J.]  TO   JONATHAN    BELCHER,   JR.  145 

and  aee  my  blunder  of  £10  in  the  substraction  of  89. 19. 0 
from  277.  5.  5.  I  say  again  I  am  well  content  in  your 
account  of  expences.  It  is  all  well,  and  I  am  expecting 
the  account  of  the  last  year  V  next  ship. 

Health  is  the  greatest  blessing  to  be  ask'd  for  a  human 
body,  therefore  be  carefuU  of  yours  always.  Go  to  bed 
early  and  rise  as  your  constitution  will  allow.  I  am 
grown  in  years,  and  my  rule  is  to  be  in  bed  sumer  and 
winter  before  ten,  and  to  rise  with  the  sun. 

^haps  you  may  hear  something  on  your  grandmother 
Belcher  side  from  Meriden.  An  account  of  your  corre- 
spondence with  M'  Dickenson  in  the  Indies  will  be  very 
acceptable.  I  much  approve  your  bowling  and  all  bodily 
exercises  your  health  and  strength  will  allow.  1  thank 
you  for  the  publick  prints  which  to  have  V  the  ships  do 
me  honour  as  well  as  give  me  the  knowledge  of  what's 
passing  in  the  world. 

I  observe  your  uncle  and  you  had  been  at  the  Board 
of  Trade,  and  they  were  agreed  to  report  to  the  King.in 
Council  in  fav'  of  your  petition  for  leave  to  take  my 
salary.  The  way  I'm  in  at  ffsent  about  coming  at  my 
money  after  grant*  is  wretched  and  severe,  and  must  be 
mended  in  time,  if  possible. 

I  am  very  well  satisfied  with  the  particular  acco'  you 
give  of  the  affair  of  Taraworth.  It's  wisely  conducted  in 
every  step,  and  I  wish  it  may  after  all  be  crown'd  with 
the  desired  success.  It  seems  to  stand  (as  you  say)  fairer 
than  ever ;  if  the  Chancellor  fails  in  the  qualification  (as 
I  beleive  he  will),  I  doubt  not  but  your  friend  Peters  (or 
some  of  your  friends)  will  help  you  in  a  qualification. 
I  am  told  it  is  often  done  by  the  conveyance  of  an  estate 
to  a  friend,  taking  only  a  promissary  note  (or  bond)  for 
the  value,  &  that  the  person  for  better  security  makes 
his  will  and  bequeaths  the  estate  back  again  ;  but  this 
Deed  not  be  your  case,  because  you  have  a  solid  quantum 
in  your  hands  to  convey  in  lieu  of  any  estate  may  be  sold 


oyGoot^lc 


146  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

to  yon.  I  have  no  great  question  but  by  your  soUicitors 
and  agitators  in  such  affairs  you  will  come  at  a  proper 
qualification,  but  I  am  more  concerned  about  the  money 
you'll  necessarily  want  for  defraying  the  expence;  for 
I  find  your  uncle  is  in  advance  for  me  and  much  pincht 
for  money.  I  shall  be  able  to  send  him  some  in  a  very 
little  time,  and  T  this  conveyance  I  send  the  two  bonds 
mentioned  in  my  laat  for  £250  each  with  interest,  which 
phaps  may  help  him. 

I  see  the  Parliament  was  fo  set  as  this  month  to  do 
business,  so  the  affair  of  Tamworth  will  be  determined 
before  this  can  reach  you,  and  I  shall  be  glad  to  know 
the  fate  of  the  matter  as  soon  as  may  be  by  any  convey- 
ance your  unele  or  you  can  find. 

Dear  Jonathan,  I  now  answer  a  request  you  made  in 
some  of  your  former,  of  giving  my  helping  hand  to  pro- 
mote you  in  business  at  the  barr.  Altho'  I  am  settled  in 
my  opinion  that  it's  best  for  you  to  go  on  patiently  and 
diligently  in  your  studies  for  at  least  2  years  to  come, 
and  to  enter  upon  business  but  very  gradually,  yet  I  now 
cover  to  you  one  and  twenty  letters  wrote  in  your  favour 
for  promoting  you  in  proper  time  and  season  in  your 
profession.  1  also  inclose  you  copies  of  Bi.shop  Lincoln's 
letter  to  me  of  20  June  j  the  Hon""  M'  T.  Townshend's 
of  Aug*  3  to  his  brother  here ;  extract  of  one  from  M' 
Morton  of  Aug.  24 ;  and  extract  of  one  from  D'  Colman 
to  M'  Holden  of  Oct'  25. 

You'll  see  the  Bishop  is  very  loose  and  general  as  to 
doing  you  any  real  service  or  making  any  direct  answer 
to  mine  desiring  him  to  assist  you  in  the  great  alfair  ol 
Tamworth,  and  to  get  his  son  to  qualifie  you.  No,  he  is 
a  compleat  courtier.  No  longer  pipe,  no  longer  dance. 
His  professions,  &c.,  all  centered  in  the  hopes  of  reaping 
10  times  the  advantage  to  hia  son,  and  yet  you'll  find 
my  letter  heaps  coala  of  fire  upon  his  head,  and  it's  best 
for  you   to  have  a  good  understanding  and  a  proper 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB.  147 

acquaintance  with  liim.  M'  Townshend'a  letter  is  full 
of  goodness  to  you.  I  have  wrote  him  accordingly,  and 
you  must  hug  a]l  opportunities  of  getting  into  his  com- 
pany and  acquaintance.  D'  Colinan  has  been  exceeding 
kind  to  you  in  his  letter  to  M'  Holden,  and  M'  Morton 
is  as  much  so  in  his  letter  to  me.  Above  all  things  keep 
up  the  best  understanding  with  Gov'  Holden  ;  who  knows 
what  it  may  produce  in  due  time  ?  and  make  all  dutifuU 
court  to  Madam  Holden.  I  hope  you  have  paid  your 
dutifull  respects  to  M'  Holden  at  hia  fine  Beat  at  Ro 
Hampton,  and  will  do  it  often.  He  can  serve  your  father 
&  you  as  well  as  any  man  in  England.  He  is  finger  next 
tlie  thumb  with  S""  R.  W.  M'  Morton  will  carry  you  also 
to  M'  Snell  and  to  hia  son  Wells.  You  must  love  and 
honour  the  old  gent".  He  is  very  friendly  to  you.  M' 
Sandford  will  go  with  you  to  the  M.  of  the  Rolls,  and 
what  if  you  shou'd  present  him  with  the  box  of  candles 
intended  for  Crossland?  You  must  nick  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  deliver  the  letter  to  Lord  Chancellor  and  Lord 
Chief  Justice.  I  will  hereafter  write  to  the  present 
Attorney  and  Sollicitor  Gen'  and  to  Judge  Reeves,  if  you 
think  it  may  do  you  service  and  you'll  send  me  their 
addresses  (or  directions).  Thus  I  do  but  just  hint  at 
things,  and  yet  phaps  may  tire  yon,  tho'  you  see  I  never 
can  tire  myself  in  endeavouring  after  your  good  and 
welfare.  I  cant  say  whether  M'  Snell's  name  be  W"  or 
John,  but  he  is  an  eminent  attorney  well  known  to 
M'  Morton. 

Judge  Auchmuty  and  M'  Advocate  Shirley  ask  f 
every  ship  whether  no  letter  from  you.  You  must 
really,  Jon',  learn  to  be  the  gent",  to  be  mannerly  and 
gratefull,  or  who  will  serve  you?  and  you  must  let 
D'  Colman  have  a  letter,  for  he  knows  I  send  the  in- 
closed paragraph  to  you,  and  I  also  think  you  are  a  letter 
in  his  debt. 

Ton  must  take  good  care  about  the  appeal  to  the  King 


oyGoot^lc 


148  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1731. 

n  Council.*  It's  too  great  a  sum  to  lose  if  it  can  be  saved. 
)ur  councellora  here  think  it  can  by  no  means  be  called 
I  quia  titnei,  for  the  reasons  they  have  wrote.  Besides 
have  now  actually  paid  the  whole  money.  I  am  most 
mfeignedly,  my  dear  Jonathan, 

Your  affectionate  father.  J.  B.t 

Boston,  Nov  4, 1734. 
(Homana) 


TO  ALURED  POPPLE. 

Sir,  —  This  being  the  first  opportunity  directly  since 
he  rec't  of  yours  of  30  May  last  I  embrace  it  to  answer 
'hat  my  Lords  CoSiiss"  of  Trade  and  Plantations  directed 
o«  to  write  me.  I  am  pretty  much  a  stranger  to  the 
lanufactiires,  trade,  and  circumstances  of  the  neigbbour- 
ig  British  colonies  on  the  continent,  and  shall  think 
I yself  happy  enough  if  I  can  suggest  anything  to  their 
Fordships  of  service  to  the  British  Crown  and  to  the 
ling's  people  respecting  those  provinces  the  government 
'hereof  his  Majesty  has  comitted  to  my  care.  The  Mas- 
ichusetts  is,  I  suppose,  the  largest  and  most  peopled  of 
ny  of  the  King's  dominions  in  America,  yet  the  people 
re  in  no  proportion  to  the  extent  of  their  land,  which  in 
Qusequenee  renders  the  labour  of  handycrafts  and  all 
thers  scarce  and  dear,  and  in  order  to  make  this  country 
^rviceable  to  the  mother  kingdom  it  is  necessary  that 
ley  had  from  her  some  sutable  incouragments,  as  pKe- 

■  Tliii  appeal  was  fmin  a  drcigian  bere  in  a  rnit  growing  out  of  Bekh«r'>  pecDDia[7 
insactions  with  John  Caawall  ot  London,  decfawd.  —  Eds. 

tins  letter  written  the  day  after  the  foregoing  letter,  Governor  Belcher  aeknowledgra 
e  receipt  of  ■  letter  from  tii»  ton,  dated  September  9,  and  writes :  "  I  have  read  what  you 
nt  at  in  the  political  state,  and  it's  very  like  to  be  the  gent»  you  mention,  who,  I  am  told,haJ 
■ole  hither,  that  if  it  be  warr  D— b— r  may  have  a  coSiijsioa  Miit  btm  lor  both  PivTinres 
le  present  Gov'  being  no  eoldier).  But  ahnnld  the  peace  continue,  and  he  wou'd  come 
er.  he  migiit  have  the  commission  for  asking,  I  doubt  not  these  are  D— m— r's  niAm, 
r  he  wo'd  join  with  D— nb— r  or  the  D— v— I  to  hurt  the  Gov.  As  to  the  present  Gov" 
it  being  a  soldier,  neither  was  Guv  Dudley,  who  held  the  co^iaion  for  the  11  jewi  ol 
iieen  Anne's  warr."  —  Edb. 


jvGooi^lc 


173*.]  TO  ALURED  POPPLE.  149 

miuma,  &c.,  to  ingage  the  inhabitanta  in  raising  and  man- 
ufacturing those  things  that  are  natural  to  the  soil 
and  climate,  and  are  not  the  common  product  of  Great 
Britain. 

There  has  been  discover'd  this  last  year  in  this  Province 
at  a  place  called  Houssetunnuc,  about  140  milea  from  this 
place,  a  great  quantity  of  rock  iron  ore,  very  rich,  and  in 
a  few  moDths  since  in  the  town  of  Attleborough,  about 
30  miles  off,  another  discovery  of  same  nature ;  and  some 
copper  and  lead  mines  are  also  found.  Good  hemp  may 
be  raised  in  this  Province,  and  barilla  (or  potash),  —  we 
having  great  plenty  of  oaks  and  fern  bushes  and  brakes, 
and  the  seashores  lin'd  with  kelp ;  and  these  last,  I  am 
told,  are  the  beat  materials  to  produce  good  potash.  If 
tbeir  Lordships  think  proper  to  propose  the  sending  over 
at  the  charge  of  the  Crown  some  few  head  men  well 
skill'd  in  raising  and  manufacturing  hemp  and  potashes, 
aod  to  give  a  bounty  upon  them  and  on  copper,  or  the 
ore,  and  so  on  the  other  ores  or  metalla  I  have  men- 
tioned, I  have  no  doubt  but  the  advantage  wou'd  soon 
center  to  the  mother  kingdom  by  the  good  returns  wou'd 
be  found  for  the  manufactures  that  come  from  thence. 
This  country  ia  also  capable  of  pitch,  tarr,  &  turpentine, 
and  by  the  former  Act  for  encouraging  these  things,  the 
bounty  allow'd  being  much  greater  than  in  the  present 
Act,  the  trade  was  carried  on  here  to  some  little  profit,  but 
since  that  Act  expired  there  has  been  a  constant  loss  in 
that  trade,  more  especially  to  the  merchants  in  Ijondon. 
As  to  tarr,  the  people  here  can't  be  induced  to  make  it 
wholly  of  green  wood,  the  labour  being  so  great  that  it 
cannot  be  done  so  as  that  the  people  can  save  tliemaelves 
in  doing  it,  and  altho'  the  tarr  made  of  pine  knots  is  too 
hot  for  cordage,  yet  it"  is  esteemed  as  good  as  any  for 
other  uses;  so  that  if  the  former  Act  for  iiicournging 
those  products  were  revived  1  conceive  it  might  be  of 
advantage  both  to  the  Crown  and  to  the  merchants  to 


oyGoot^lc 


150  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

make  these  plantations  further  serviceable  to  the  Crown 
of  Great  Britain  by  taking  of  greater  quantities  of  British 
manufactures.  They  must  still  be  nurst  &  nourisht  by 
bounties,  &c.,  and  Great  Britain  will  finally  receive  back 
such  bounties  double  into  her  own  bosom. 

Agreeable  to  a  letter  rec'd  from  you  about  3  years 
agoe  by  order  of  my  Jjorda  Comiss"  for  Trade  and  Planta- 
tions with  respect  to  laws  made,  manufactures  eet  up,  and 
trade  carry 'd  on,  which  may  affect  the  trade,  navigation, 
and  manufactures  of  Q'  Britain,  I  am  to  answer  that  there 
is  little  alteration  since  I  wrote  you  last  with  respect  to 
the  Massachusetts  or  N.  Hampshire,*  excepting  a  paper 
mill  set  up  at  the  town  of  Falmouth  (in  the  Massachu- 
setts) and  another  going  forward ;  &  in  N.  Hampshire 
the  raising  of  flax  and  the  increase  of  the  linnen  manu- 
factures. When  anything  new  occurs  on  these  heads, 
I  shall  faithfully  transmit  the  same  to  their  Lordships,  to 
whom  I  remain,  with  great  respect  and  deference,  and 
am,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  hum'  serv'.  J.  B. 

BOBTOK,  Nov  6, 1734. 

(Homaua.  Benaet.) 


TO  EICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  My  last  was  1  ult'  v  Rous  to  Bristol,  since 
which  I  have  your  fav"  of  June  29,  July  5,  6,  Aug.  28, 
30,  31,  Sept'  2,  5,  &  10,  came  by  way  of  Philadelphia 
and  T  Bennet,  White,  &  Baker.  I  shall  order  inquiry  to 
be  made  about  James  Forbes's  note  pay'  to  James  Bap 
clay  for  £B  eter.,  and  write  you  what  I  learn  about  it, 
and  thank  you  for  what  you  sent  T  Bennet  (amount*  to 
£12.  9. 0  ster.).  The  letters  you  inclosed  have  been  duly 
delivered,  and  the  box  you  sent  is  gone  forward  by  the 
post  to  M'  Brenton. 

•  See  8  Sloaa.  Hiat.  Coll.  rol.  vi.  pp.  68-71,  48B,  iG3.  —  Ens. 


oyGoot^lc 


178*.]  TO   KICHAKD    PARTRIDGE.  151 

It  will  strengthen  me  in  the  government  and  do  me 
great  honour  if  the  stores  of  warr  can  be  obtained  that 
the  Assembly  petitioned  for.  Queen  Anne  granted  a  fine 
parcel  to  this  Province  upon  a  petition  from  the  Assembly 
30  years  agoe,  and  altho'  they  have  not  been  all  along  so 
dutifull  as  they  shou'd,  yet  it's  pity  the  King  sho'd  lose 
a  Province  in  case  of  an  attack  for  want  of  powder  and  can- 
non, when  they  may  be  so  easily  supplied  from  his  royal 
bounty.  There  are  but  few  guns  in  the  Castle  fit  to  fire, 
nor  any  powder  to  put  in  'em.  I  am  much  oblig'd  to 
you  for  your  great  care  and  diligence  in  pushing  forward 
the  leave  for  taking  my  salary.  I  observe  the  report  of 
the  Board  of  Trade  in  fav'  of  my  son's  petition  was  lodg'd 
at  Council  Office  10  of  Sept',  where  it  must  wait  for  a 
Council,  and  then  go  back  to  Board  of  Trade  to  draw  the 
instruction,  and  then  back  to  Council  again,  —  as  you 
say,  a  deal  to  do;  and  it  is  a  great  cruelty  and  severity 
upon  me,  ^nd  of  which  I  am  the  only  instance  in  all  the 
King's  governments,  not  being  suffered  to  take  my  sup- 
port in  less  than  12  months  after  it's  granted.  The  many 
hardships  on  this  head  I  have  mentioned  to  yon,  brother, 
once  and  again,  and  is  there  no  way  with  D.  N.  C.  or 
L''  Wilmington  to  make  it  easy  for  the  future  ?  It  dis- 
tresses me  in  the  course  of  the  whole  year  in  my  expences 
and  from  making  large  remisses  to  you  as  I  ought  to  do. 
However,  I' find  at  present  we  must  be  content,  and  I 
pray  you  wou'd  get  the  leave  signed  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  give  me  notice  of  it  some  way  or  other.  I  am  sorry 
Slade's  bills  for  £45  ster.  must  be  protested,  because  you 
want  the  money  and  I'm  afraid  I  shall  be  a  sufferer  in 
the  end.  Tet  if  they  are  not  to  be  paid,  let  me  have  the 
protest  as  soon  ns  you  can.  He  sent  a  power  of  attorney 
V  Cap*  Noble  (in  one  of  the  mast  ships)  to  M'  Jones  to 
receive  his  money. 

As  to  the  wretch  D — nb — r,  I  have  no  patience  in  men- 
tioning him.    He  seems  to  be  bom  for  a  plague  wherever 


oyGoot^lc 


162  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1731. 

be  comes,  and  is  such  a  lump  of  malice  and  perfidiousneas 
that  it's  impossible  to  enter  into  any  terms  or  acquaint- 
ance with  him.  No,  it's  safer  to  be  at  constant  war.  The 
letter  he  wrote  28  of  J — ne  to  the  Secry  shows  his  ran- 
cour at  the  country,  and  that  he  wou'd  sink  it,  if  it  was 
in  his  power.  A  fine  fellow  for  a  Gov'  of  this  people! 
Yet  B —  suppoi-ts  him.  This  1  don't  wonder  at,  because 
I  am  given  to  understand  he  was  to  have  made  a  vast 
fortune  to  him  and  himself  in  the  Eastern  Country ;  but 
that's  over,  and  a  great  disappointment.  I  mnst  not  be 
injured,  bro%  by  his  false  insinuations.  I  defie  him  to 
make  out  that  the  Gov'  does  not  stick  by  his  instructions, 
and  do  everything  in  his  power  for  the  service  of  the 
Crown ;  and  if  B —  rules  the  rost  at  Board  of  Trade,  and 
will  treat  me  unjustly  to  support  a  fellow  of  no  honour, 
truth,  or  justice,  we  must  have  our  dernier  resort  to  the 
King  and  his  Council.  I  belie-ve  my  letter  to  the  Board 
of  Trade  of  July  1  V  Hainerden  will  prevent  any  expe- 
dient being  found  to  reimburse  the  foolish  charge  he  nm 
out  at  Pemaquid  (and  I  am  told)  upon  his  own  head  with- 
out any  order  from  the  Crown.  He  is  well  served,  and 
must  learn  more  wit  and  prudence  for  the  future.  I  wish 
it  was  possible  for  me  to  get  rid  of  him, 

I  see  there  was  no  appeal  entred  against  me  at  Council 
Office  10  Sept'.  I  hope  you  will  carefully  pursue  that 
affair.  It's  too  great  a  sum  to  lose,  if  it  can  be  saved ; 
and  my  lawyers  here  tell  me  the  judgment  is  good,  and 
cannot  be  revers'd.  I  see  you  had  not  sold  the  12  mar- 
tins, but  wou'd  make  the  most  of  'em,  and  you  will  re- 
member to  receive  John  Whitfield's  order  of  3. 15. 10  sent 

you  T .     Be  a  little  tho'tfull  for  this  poor  man,  who 

wants  his  money,  and  I  can't  pay  him  till  I  hear  it's 
rec'd. 

I  am.  Sir,  under  great  obligations  for  yonr  fatherly 
respect  and  love  to  my  son  at  the  Temple,  and  that  yoti 
will  take  care  to  supply  him  till  my  remittances  get  to 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  BICHABD  PABTBIDGE.  153 

your  banda.  He  is  a  diligent,  sober  young  gent",  and 
must  not  be  discouraged  in  his  studies.  If  be  lives,  I 
doubt  not  but  he  will  make  a  man,  and  he  an  honour  to 
you  and  to  me  and  to  the  whole  family.  I  write  hitn 
that  he  spends  a  great  deal  of  money,  and  that  good 
oeconomy  and  a  prudent  frugality  will  be  a  great  orna- 
ment to  him.  However,  that  he  may  be  perfectly  quiet 
and  pacifick  I  have  approved  all  his  acco"  of  expence  to 
28  of  Aug*  last,  and  am  content  to  support  him  a  year 
or  two  longer  at  the  rate  of  200  £<  ster.  a  year,  that  he 
mayn't  enter  upon  much  business  till  he  has  laid  in  a 
large  stock  of  knowledge  and  learning,  bo  as  some  day 
or  otber  to  shine  in  his  profession,  for  he  must  dream  of 
nothing  less,  bro',  than  being  L*  Chancellor  of  G'  Britain, 
and  I  question  whether  late  \^  King  had  a  better  claim  at 
four  &  twenty.  I  beleive  you  will  think  I  begrutch  no 
pains  to  bring  this  young  man  into  the  world,  for  I  now 
send  him  one  and  twenty  letters  for  promoting  him  in  his 
profession.  Tou  mention  nothing  lately  of  the  great 
affair  of  Tamworth,  in  which  I  have  done  all  I  can,  and 
eho'd  be  sorry  it  fails  at  last  The  Parliament  is  to  set 
this  month,  so  the  matter  will  be  over  before  this  gets 
to  hand. 

I  take  more  than  ordinary  notice,  brother,  of  what  you 
Bay  in  your  letters  of  June  29  &  July  6  that  came  by 
Philadelphia,  that  there  is  a  bill  fil'd  against  you  and 
the  other  exec*  of  Hawkins  in  chancery  for  money  that 
must  be  paid  in  5  months.  I  will  therefore  try  by  all  pos- 
sible ways  to  remit  you  400  £  ster  ;  tho'  it's  one  of  the 
most  difficult  tilings  in  the  world  to  get  bills  to  London, 
yet  I  must  and  will  do  it  some  way  or  other,  and  in  the 
mean  time  I  now  send  you  two  bonds  of  250  £  ster. 
.apiece,  payable  with  interest  to  such  persons  whose  names 
I  have  left  blank  for  you  to  insert.  These  may  do  you 
Bome  service  till  I  can  get  money  to  you,  which  shall  be 
my  immediate  care.    I  thank  you  for  ray  acco'  cur',  which 


oyGoot^lc 


154  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734. 

shall  be  examined,  and  if  I  find  it  right  will  adjust  it  in 
conformity.  I  give  you  many  thanks  for  the  public  prints 
which  are  entertaining  and  serviceable  to  me.  I  pray 
you  to  let  me  hear  from  you  in  the  winter  some  way  or 
other,  being  always,  Sir, 

Your  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Nov'  8,  1734. 

(Homans.)  

TO  JONATHAN  BELCUER,  JR. 

Dear  Jonathan,  —  Altho'  I  have  already  made  up  in 
one  packet  21  letters  v  this  conveyance  in  your  favour, 
yet  in  a  conversation  I  have  had  with  M'  Shirley  he  totd 
me  he  was  well  acquainted  with  M'  Rider,  the  Sollicitor 
General,  with  D'  Pellett  and  M'  Spence,  the  latter  is  Ser- 
geant at  Arms  to  the  House  of  Commons,  and  Pellett  is 
his  uncle.  They  both  have  the  honour  of  a  free  access 
to  the  D.  of  N.  Castle  and  a  good  acquaintance  with  all 
the  Pelham  family,  and  M'  Shirley  has  been  so  kind  as  to 
give  me  the  three  inclosed  letters  for  the  Sollicitor  Gen- 
eral and  for  the  other  two  gent",  to  each  of  which  you'll 
see  I  have  ventur'd  to  add  one  of  my  own,  and  wish  they 
may  together  do  you  some  service.  I  have  thSt  once  and 
again  of  deferring  my  recommendatory  letters  till  about 
a  year  hence,  least  they  should  be  some  snare  in  making 
you  too  much  known  and  of  bringing  you  too  soon  into 
too  much  business  j  but  I  hope  my  first  opinion  of  the  con- 
trary, and  now  my  repeated  charge  to  observe  it,  as  well 
as  your  own  prudence,  will  be  guard  sufficient  upon  you. 
And  when  I  consider  that  God  has  made  my  days  as  a 
hand-breadth  and  that  the  lamp  of  life  may  soon,  very 
soon,  be  extinguisht,  I  am  desirous  to  do  you  all  the  good . 
I  can  while  God  gives  me  opportunity.  You  must  at 
your  earliest  rising  hour  open  all  the  letters  I  send  you 
and  read  them  sedately.     Then  reseal  'em,  and  find  out 


oyGoot^lc 


173i.]  TO  J0NATH4N  BELCHEB,  JB.  155 

the  best  opportunity  of  giving  them  with  your  own  hands. 
This,  I  am  sensible,  must  take  you  up  considerable  time, 
but  you  must  begrutch  no  pains  (your  health  will  bear) 
for  your  advantage.  Solomon  says  the  wise  man's  eyes  are 
in  his  head,  and  you  must  dart  yours  hither  and  thither. 
Be  lively  &  vigoroua  in  all  your  laudable  pursuits.  Vivcre 
eat  aget'e,  and  don't  think  the  greatest  things  too  great. 
What  said  the  fine  Lord  Rochester  when  a  lady's  chariot 
happen'd  to  throw  him  down  while  be  was  endeavouring 
to  salute  her? 

Madam,  Was  it  not  bravely  done 

Thus  to  attempt  the  Chariot  of  y*  Sud 
Altho'  I  fell  like  Fhaeton  ? 

Above  all  things,  Jonathan,  cultivate  the  best  acquaint- 
ance you  possibly  can  with  the  Hon*^  M"  Ilolden  of  Ro 
Hampton.  In  due  time  it  may  produce  what  may  please 
you,  and  I  know  it  will  be  a  service  to  my  interest  at 
Court.  I  say,  let  this  dwell  upon  your  mind,  and  while 
M'  Shirley  is  loading  you  with  friendship  don't  forget  to 
be  a  gent"  of  gratitude.    Iitffraium  st  dixeiis  omnia  dicis. 

I  have  now  been  12  months  sweating  and  vexing 
under  the  thots  of  B.  Pemberton's  getting  from  me  the 
Naval  Office,  which  is  most  justly  and  strictly  the  Gov''', 
both  by  the  Act  of  Parliament  and  by  the  King's  commis- 
sion, and  the  Gov'  alone  is  answerable  for  that  Office. 
These  things  I  intend  to  lay  before  Sir  R.  W.  himself  in 
a  little  time,  to  regain  that  pquisite  to  my  commission. 
Your  brother  Lyde's  family  wants  it,  and  it  is  a  fine  thing ; 
and  Pemberton  is  an  insolent  jackanapes.  I  understand 
some  motion  will  be  made  by  him  on  arrival  of  this  ship 
to  obtain  a  patent  for  it  from  home  ;  and  there  will  also 
be  attempts  made  to  get  him  out  and  to  have  a  patent 
for  somebody  else.  But  your  uncle  and  you  must  oppose 
with  might  and  main  all  attempts  about  it,  for  it  is  as 
rightfully  mine  as  my  salary,  and  you  must  beg  of  M' 
Holden  to  speak  to  Sir  Rob'  &  D.  N.  Castle,  that  nothing 


oyGoot^lc 


156  THE  BBLCHEE  PAPERS.  [1734. 

may  be  done  about  it.  I  intend  in  a  little  time  to  send 
you  a  memorial  from  hence  to  Sir  R.  W.  and  to  D.  N., 
with  all  the  arguments  I  can  think  of,  and  to  desire  I 
may  have  a  patent  for  it  for  my  son  Lyde,  which  may 
secure  it  for  him  in  case  of  my  death.  Besides  it  will 
give  me  great  strength  and  honour  in  the  government  to 
have  it  restored  to  me  ;  but  more  of  this  a  while  hence, 
and  in  mean  time  your  uncle  and  you  must  watch  all  the 
publick  offices  that  nothing  be  done  in  it  at  present 

The  Duke  of  Chandos  mentions  you  often  to  M'  Har- 
rison at  N.  York,  with  great  respect  and  honour.  Take  a 
good  opportunity  of  delivering  him  my  letter,  in  which 
are  two  for  him  from  M'  Harrison.  I  think  of  nothing 
more  material  at  present;  so  remain,  my  dear  son, 

Your  very  loving  father.  J.  B. 

BOBTON,  Nov  11,  1734. 

(HomaDS.)  


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Lordships,  —  I  had  the  honour 
of  writing  y'  L^ships  at  large  the  2"  of  last  month ;  since 
which  I  have,  according  to  my  duty  to  the  King,  and 
from  a  just  regard  to  his  people,  been  to  my  other  gov- 
ernment of  N.  Hampshire,  and  held  an  Assembly  &  gave 
them  the  usual  time  of  a  sitting  of  an  Assembly  of  that 
Province.  Indeed,  the  business  there  is  so  minute  that 
they  may  always  do  in  a  week  what  is  necessary  for  the 
Province  for  a  whole  year.  And  I  now  inclose  to  your 
Lordships  all  that  past  in  the  session,  being  only  a  few 
votes  in  answer  to  some  trifling  petitions;  and  after  I 
found  they  wou'd  make  no  supply  to  the  Treasury  in 
order  to  the  repair  of  the  only  fort  in  the  Province,  and 
of  the  prison,  and  for  the  payment  of  the  publick  debts,  I 
determiti'd  to  dissolve  them,  as  inconsistent  with  the  King's 
honour  or  with  the  safety  of  his  government  and  of  his 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  THE  L0BD8   OF   TRADE.  157 

people  to  fiufiei'  such  an  Assembly  to  subsist,  as  I  have 
mentioned  in  my  speech.  They  came  to  a  vote  the 
18  of  October  upon  the  supply  of  the  Treasury,  and  it 
past  in  the  negative  by  10  in  16.  This  the  House  of 
Representatives  were  so  much-  asham'd  of,  and  so  much 
afraid  of  the  people,  that  they  wou'd  not  suffer  the  Clerk 
to  enter  the  vote  in  their  Journals.  Thus,  my  Lords,  is 
that  poor  Province  naked  and  defenceless,  both  with 
respect  to  an  enemy  and  to  the  support  of  law  and  justice, 
and  it's  now  about  four  years  that  the  Treasury  baa  been 
empty,  and  poor  people  all  this  while  kept  out  of  their 
just  due.  How  mean  and  how  unjust  has  it  been  in  the 
Assemblies,  and  how  dishonourable  to  the  King's  govern- 
ment and  authority.  And  the  source  of  it  all  is,  my  Lords, 
from  the  Lieut  Gov' and  his  few  adherents.  And  I  can't 
but  think  it  a  poor  game  he  plays  in  that  little  Province  to 
do  all  in  his  power  to  prevent  the  Gov''  succeeding  with 
the  Assemblies  for  his  Majesty's  honour  and  service  and 
for  the  good  of  the  people,  and  then  to  write  your  Lord- 
ships the  Gov'  has  not  interest  enough  to  do  anything  in 
the  Province.  Most  certainly,  my  Lords,  it  is  easier  to  do 
mischief  than  to  do  good,  but  I  think  it  a  poor,  mean  way 
of  passing  life.  Were  it  possible  he  wo*i'd  before  now 
have  got  some  complaint  from  the  people  again.st  the 
Gov',  but  I.  de6e  him  and  all  my  enemies  to  blot  my  ad- 
ministration of  the  government,  or  to  say  I  have  not  done 
every  thing  in  my  power  to  support  his  Majesty's  honour 
and  to  promote  the  good  and  prosperity  of  his  people. 
And  were  Coll"  Dunbar  out  of  that  Province,  it  wou'd  be 
in  perfect  peace  and  serenity.  But  I  don't  believe  any 
place  ever  will  be  where  he  has  the  least  power.  Upon  his 
further  application  to  me  about  the  King's  woods,  I  held 
a  Council  at  N.  Hampshire,  and  now  cover  to  your  Lord- 
ships what  past  in  that  affair.  I  have  not  heard  from 
him  what  has  been  done  in  consequence  of  my  last  war- 
rant.    But  when  he  found  the  first  did  not  take  effect  in 


oyGoot^lc 


158  THE    BELCHER   PAPERS.  [17S4. 

the  manner  he  desired  from  the  justices,  he  might  have 
sent  it  to  any  other  of  the  King's  justices,  conformable  to 
my  proclamation  issued  in  May  last.  I  have  now,  my 
Lords,  made  seven  journies  to  N,  Hampshire,  which  have 
cost  me  upwards  of  800  £,  to  bring  that  people  to  a  sense 
of  their  duty  to  the  King  and  of  their  own  happiness. 
And  notwithstanding  the  difficulties  I  have  met  with  1 
intend  to  make  another  journey  thither  this  winter, 
hoping  they  may  come  to  see  the  absolute  necessity  ol 
their  doing  their  duty. 

Agreeable  to  what  I  wrote  your  Lordships,  I  did  upon 
the  application  of  M'  Wentworth  and  M'  Atkinson  order 
the  Secry  to  administer  the  oaths  to  them  to  be  of  his 
Majesty's  Council,  tho'  they  have  been  and  are  the 
greatest  opposers  of  the  piiblick  safety  and  justice.  The 
Assembly  of  the  Massachusetts  is  to  meet  the  ne.xt  week, 
and  I  shall  in  the  whole  of  their  session  do  the  utmost  in 
my  power  for  advancing  the  King's  honour  and  interest 
and  the  welfare  of  his  good  people,  and  shall  duly  trans- 
mit to  your  Lordships  the  acco'  of  their  proceedings.  I 
am,  with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obed'  and  most  hum'  serv*. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Nov'  12,  1734. 
(Hom&na.) 

TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon"*  Sir,  —  I  have  lying  before  me  yours  of  1,  8, 
&  11  inst*.  The  first  letter  to  old  H.  answered  what  I 
intended.  As  to  J — th — m,  he  is  as  we  settled  it.  The 
poor  old  creature  at  the  island  is  still  more  insignificant, 
and  H — sk  is  as  he  is.     So  we  are  in  a  fine  pickle. 

TafF  by  my  letters  to  10  Sept'  at  London  has  nothing 
now  in  his  favour.  Agreed  that  he  is  one  of  the  vilest 
that  cou'd  come  out  of  the  bottomless  pit,  and  yet  I  some- 
times think  it's  better  to  be  plagued  with  him  here  than 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  RICHARD  WALDRON.  159 

elsewhere,  tho'  by  my  last  advices  he  dare  not  go  home, 
and  they  are  eick  of  his  complaints.  The  first  letter  of 
the  Exeter  justices  was  certainly  upon  the  board  with  the 
rest,  but  it's  not  material.  As  to  the  outrage  on  Greely, 
I  think  the  judge  here  wou'd  do  him  justice. 

I  thank  you  for  the  papers  and  their  duplicatea,  which 
went  forward  yesterday  to  London.  I  return  Sancho's 
letter,  and  inclose  you  four  more,  which  you'll  read  and 
return  with  what  I  must  say  to  H.  &  J. ;  and  is  it  worth 
while  to  make  any  answer  to  Don  and  the  Justices? 
To  the  latter  I  think  'twou'd  be  too  much  condesension, 
the'  they  are  impudent  rogues.  And  to  what  purpose 
will  it  be  to  keep  a  correspondence  with  t'other,  tho'  I 
know  I  cou'd  sting  him?  As  to  the  Hemp  Bank,  they 
are  all  wild,  and  it  will  be  a  bank  of  wind. 

I  am  still  more  of  the  mind  to  address  Sir  R.  W.  and  D. 
of  N.  C.  with  respect  to  TafT,  if  you  can  accomplish  two 
such  petition.^  wisely,  and  I  wou'd  back  'em  with  all  my 
strength  and  power ;  but  I  say  it  must  be  done  wisely  and 
secretly,  and  if  it  cannot  be  put  in  practice  I  am  afraid 
points  will  be  carried  against  us.  What  think  you  about 
the  next  Assembly,  will  it  be  good  or  bad  ?  Can  we  get 
Leavit  *  in  the  place  of  Humdrum  ?  t  and  can  we  make 
Millett  speaker,  and  King  Clerk  and  Recorder?  This 
wou'd  be  good.  I  hope  to  see  you  again  in  February,'  if 
can  judge  it  may  be  to  purpose.    I  am,  Hon"  Sir, 

Your  friend  and  serv*.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Nov  14,  1734. 

Tell  Russell  I  hear  nothing  of  my  perry.     He  must  go 
to  Dennet,  and  buy  me  a  bb'  of  Harveys  and  a  bb'  of 
spice  apples,  and  send  all  T  Jo  Jackson,  if  he  can. 
(Carrier.) 

■  Prabiblj  Ho«i  L«Bvitt,  who  vai  elected  lathe  Houa  of  Representalivee  from  Stnt- 
bun  in  ITU,  u  (occeuor  to  Andrew  Wi)^n.  —  Eds. 

1  Andrew  WigKin,  member  for  Strithsm,  and  Speaker  of  the  House  orRepreHnlativei. 
-Ens. 

t  Cipt.  Tbomu  Hillet,  one  of  the  RepteaestaUvet  tor  ttover.  —  Edb. 


jvGooi^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEE,  JR. 

Mt  dear  Son,  —  I  wrote  you  very  largely  v  Homans, 
who  saild  the  14  itist',  and  I  have  since  rec'd  your  dutiful! 
and  pleasing  letters  of  Sept'  20,  24,  Oct'  1  &  5,  r  Eagle- 
stone  and  Maxwell.  Tour  grandmother  and  mother 
thank  your  duty  in  the  presents  of  cheese  and  nutts  and 
for  the  fine  case  of  spoons,  &c.,  for  the  tea  table.  As  to 
the  Tamworth  affair,  I  heartily  wish  it  may  take  effect. 
Read  again  what  I  said^bout  it  7  Aug,  last  V  Gary,  and 
what  I  have  wrote  since.  Inclosed  is  my  answer  to  M' 
Crosaland.  I  think  it  is  easy  for  him  to  see,  and  so  it 
must  be  for  the  whole  borrougli,  how  much  it  will  be  for 
their  interest  to  choose  you  their  represen"",  for  I  shall 
then  make  it  one  of  my  constant  cares  to  incourage  the 
increa-ie  of  their  manufactures  in  this  Province  and  else- 
where, and  if  1  hear  you  are  chosen  I  hope  to  send  a  sett 
of  fresh  orders  in  the  spring.  It's  certainly  best  to  say 
nothing  to  S'  R  W.  or  E.  W.,  but  get  Lord  Weymouth's 
interest  if  you  can,  and  go  down  some  few  days  before  the 
election,  and  live  handsomly  and  obligingly.  The  quali- 
fication must  come  out  of  the  conveyance  I  have  sent 
you ;  and  the  money  for  the  expence  I  hope  you  will  be 
trusted  with  by  Bellamy,  Marshal  or  some  other  friend 
till  I  can  get  a  good  remitt"  to  your  uncle,  which  I  am 
laying  out  for  every  way  in  the  world,  and  hope  soon 
to  accomplish.  If  you  succeed  let  it  be  inserted  in  the 
prints  (as  f  inclosed  slip),  and  let  me  know  it  as  soon 
as  possible.  As  things  are  so  well  prepared  phaps  the 
expence  mayn't  be  much  ;  but  I  say  do  all  things  on  your 
part  handsomly.  Say  to  your  uncle  I  intirely  approve 
your  residing  at  your  University  three  months  at  least 
every  year,  sometimes  in  the  study  of  the  Civil  Law  and 
sometimes  of  algebra,  &c.  Besides  the  advantage  it  may 
give  you  of  familiarizing  and  increasing  your  acquaint- 


oyGoot^lc 


17».3  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHBB,  JB.  161 

ance,  and  some  time  or  other  of  getting  a  Fellowship. 
This  I  now  confirm  to  your  uncle,  nor  do  I  think  the  ex- 
pence  wou'd  be  more  than  to  spend  your  vacations  at  the 
Temple,  where  I  am  sure  it  wou'd  be  much  less  to  y' 
profit. 

You'll  give  Lord  Westmoreland  and  Sir  R.  Clark  my 
letters,  and  divide  the  two  tubs  of  spruce  &  firr  trees  be- 
tween 'em  and  the  "bti'  of  scarlet  acorns  I  now  send  V 
Beanet.  I  doubt  not  but  in  time  you'll  get  to  be  of  our 
Corporation,  which  will  do  you  honour.  Let  the  Lord 
Chancellor  and  the  Chief  Justice  have  their  letters,  and 
present  the  candles  from  me,  in  which  I  see  no  sort  of 
impropriety,  whatever  it  might  be  from  you.  The  affair 
of  my  picture  is  all  over.  It's  well  I  am  satisSed,  and  it's 
rec'd  here  by  people  of  coffion  manners  &  humanity 
with  great  respect.  The  copper  plate  you  may  do  with 
as  you  please.  I  again  agree  your  instructions  under  the 
great  Dickens  (to  whom  make  my  best  regards  and  most 
hum'  service  acceptable)  will  be  of  singular  advantage  in 
your  chancery  practice.  So  soon  as  I  have  leisure  to 
give  you  my  more  nice  (than  wise)  directions  for  a  new 
seal  you  shall  have  them.  I  am  glad  you  are  come  to  ho 
judicious  a  resolution  about  your  appearance  at  the  barr, 
&  have  compared  your  answers  with  the  Judge's  and  the 
Advocate's  ingenious  letters  to  you,  and  I  own  they  do 
you  honour  and  which  those  gent"  acknowledge  with  a 
loud  voice.  And  pray,  Sir,  for  your  own  future  advan- 
tage keep  steady  to  their  advices  and  your  own  present 
wise  resolution.  And  I  wou'd  rouse  and  confirm  you 
therein  by  sounding  in  your  ears  the  charming  musick  of 
the  great  name  Wearg,  Wearg.* 

As  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Oxford  don't  forget  it,  but 
come  at  it  as  soon  as  you  can  and  as  easy  as  you  can.  I 
have  a  letter  to  answer  V  next  ship  to  my  Lord  of  Lon- 
don, when  I'll  mention  it  to  him,  and  at  same  time  to 

•  Sm  <  Hu*.  Hlat.  Coll-  vol.  ti.  p.  168.  —  Era. 


oyGoot^lc 


162  THE  BELCHER  FAPEBS.  [17U. 

M'  Newman.  I  must  also  write  my  good  and  great  Lord 
Townshend  V  next  ship,  and  you  must  make  bim  a  visset 
as  the  least  tribute  of  gratitude  you  can  pay  for  your 
father.  His  fine  qualities  are  to  be  found  in  few  such 
personages.  I  am  glad  to  see  you  have  rec'd  the  little 
book  M'  Fanuill  sent  you  and  the  fine  Rule  of  Life  you 
took  out  of  it.  Read  it  often.  Tbere  are  a  great  many 
good  maxims  in  it.  Firmness  and  fortitude  of  mind  are 
necessary  in  every  difficult  afifeir.  I  am  now  in  an  un- 
coiBon  hurry,  the  Assembly  being  just  met ;  but  1  shall 
write  you  a  particular  letter  Y  the  next  in  answer  to 
yours  of  24  Sept'.  In  the  mean  time  your  uncle  &  you 
must  take  care  to  prevent  any  thing  taking  place  to  my 
prejudice  respecting  D — nb — r.  You  have  a  true  notion 
of  him  out  of  Addison.  That's  all  the  wretch's  merit 
He  has  not  the  least  shadow  of  claim  to  an  iota  of  my 
salary,  or  to  an  increase  of  power,  as  you'll  see  by  the  papers 
I  have  sent  But  I'll  weigh  yours  of  24  Sepf,  and  write 
your  uncle  and  you  upon  it  very  soon.  A  letter  from 
Secy  Popple  to  contradict  the  vile  reports  I  wrote  you 
of  wou'd  do  good  service.  I  knew  it  was  impossible  in 
the  nature  of  the  thing.  Make  my  best  compliments  of 
gratitude  to  your  father  and  mother  Tench  for  their  great 
goodness  to  their  new  son,  whom  I  conjnre  by  all  the 
bonds  I  have  upon  you  to  be  very  dutifull  to  such  kind 
parents,  and  my  sense  of  their  favour  to  you,  I  will  ask 
their  leave  to  express  in  a  letter  very  soon.*  Every  body 
that  loves  you  gives  me  a  pleasure  which  they  cou'd  not 
do  any  other  way. 

Some  pickl'd  pork  and  salt  fish  shall  go  to  you  in 
March  or  April  next,  and  I  will  take  care  they  be  choice 
good.  D'  Colman  thanks  you  and  is  much  pleased 
with  your  letter.  Pray,  of  what  place  is  the  Rev^  M' 
Auchmuty  made  a  Dean  ?    You  are  good  in  sending  the 


oyGoot^lc 


J734.]  TO  FRANCIS  WILKS.  163 

publicfc  prints,  which  (aa  I  formerly  observed)  do  me  ser- 
vice and  honour.  Let  your  uncle  write  me  all  the  round 
about  ways  he  can  this  winter.  I  ^hall  expect  the  King's 
leave  for  taking  my  bread  as  soon  as  you  can  get  it,  I 
have  a  great  deal  more  to  say,  especially  about  the  Naval 
Office  of  this  Province.  The  present  incumbent  was  with 
me  last  week  to  telt  me  he  was  going  home,  I  suppose  tu 
get  a  patent,  if  be  can ;  but  you  must  all  look  out  sharp 
and  prevent  his  being  fixt  in  that  place.  It's  worth  more 
than  1200^  a  year,  this  money,  and  a  fine  thing  for  your 
Brother  Lyde,  and  I  will  very  soon  write  my  letters 
about  getting  bim  a  patent  for  it.  I  have  a  great  deal 
more  to  say,  but  can  only  add  at  present  that  I  am,  aa 
always,  dear  Jon", 

Your  father,  in  the  most  affectionate  manner. 

J.  B. 

BoflTON,  Nor  26, 1734. 
(Beaoet.) 


TO  FRANCIS  WILKS. 

Mt  worthy  Friend,  —  By  the  last  ships  I  have  a 
letter  from  my  good  brother  M'  Partridge  (who  has  been 
a  constant  kind  father  to  my  son  at  the  Temple)  and 
I  inclose  you  a  paragraph  of  it  that  gives  me  much  thot 
and  concern.  Tou  are  well  acquainted  with  this  young 
gent",  and  the  steps  I  have  taken  in  his  education,  and 
that  my  design  is  (if  he  lives  and  proves  capable)  to  have 
him  become  knowing  and  make  some  figure  in  the  pro- 
fession he  has  chosen,  to  which  end  I  hope  he  will  be- 
grutch  no  pains,  nor  wou'd  I  any  reasonable  charge ;  and 
after  all  this  if  he  shou'd  make  a  false  step  in  the  affair 
of  matrimony  it  may  be  irretreivable  and  dash  all  my 
hopes  and  his  care  and  industry.  This,  therefore,  being 
a  thing  of  great  moment  with  respect  to  his  future  com- 
fort in  life,  I  wou'd  pray  you,  Sir,  to  read  with  the  most 


oyGoot^lc 


164  ■  THE  BELCHER  PAPSHS.  |17M. 

sedate  attenUon  what  my  brother  has  wrote  on  this  head 
and  I  now  inclose.  I  must  confess  to  yon  I  cannot  gather 
from  it  whether  the  lady  has  the  qualifications  I  think 
necessary  to  make  a  man  happy  in  a  married  state.  It  is 
said 

She  is  daughter  to  a  genr  that  injoys  a  place  of 
1000£  a  year  under  the  K — g.    He  has  besides  2 
sons  &  another  daughter,  but  may  pay  this  2000£  at 
marriage.     Is  fond  of  her,  and  may  be  willing  to  let 
her  and  her  husband  live  with  him  for  some  lime. 
And  the  young  lady  is  of  a  sutable  age  and  enjoys 
a  pretty  place  of  300£  a  year  under  the  Qu — n. 
So  far  all  is  well,  but  I  want  to  be  resolved  in  the  follow- 
ing questions.    Whether  she  be  one  of  strict  vertue? 
of  good  temper  ?    of  reasonable  good  sense  ?    of  an 
agreeable  person  ?  a  good  oeconomist  ? 
Not  fond  of  the  pleasures  of  a  Court  life,  or  of  the 
play  house,  Bath,  Tunbridge,  &c.  ? 
For  unless  these  queries  can  be  answered  in  her  favour, 
altbo'  her  fortune  were  much  more  than  is  mentioned, 
I  neither  dare  nor  wou'd  sacrifice  my  son  to  her  or  to 
that;  and  I  say  good  nature  is  one  of  the  first  things 
to  be  regarded  in  order  to  make  a  man  happy  in  that 
honourable  state.     As  my  dear  son  has  never  capitally 
offended  me  in  any  thing,  you  will  forgive  my  just  soUi- 
citude  for  his  future  welbeing  in  this  article  and  the  way 
and   manner  which   I    am   oblig'd   (at  tbia   distance)  to 
take  of  informing  myself  in  order  to  judge  rightly  for 
him.     Let  me  then,  Sir,  conjure  you  by  all  the  sacred 
tyes  of  friendship  to  make  the  most  carcfull  and  par- 
ticular inquiry  you  can  of  what  my  brother  has  repre- 
sented and  of  what  I  have  mentioned,  and  which  I  think 
much  more  material  upon  this  extraordinary  occasion, 
and  I  again  conjure  you  to  be  very  frank  and  open  in 
giving  me  the  most  ample  account  you  can  of  all  things 
relating  to  this  young  lady.    You  may  doubtless  some 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO   PRASCIB  W1LK8.  165 

way  or  other  at  the  Court  end  of  the  town  easily  learn 
what  to  write  me.  I  personally  know  the  father,*  and  I 
think  he  is  a  particular  acquaintance  of  Gov^  Shute'e,  of 
whom  you  may  make  some  inquiry.  After  all,  my  son 
is  too  young,  and  I  am  first  and  mostly  inclined  be  shou'd 
reclusely  pursue  his  studies  for  5  or  6  years  to  come  that 
he  may  hope  to  practice  the  law  with  honour.  I  say  this 
wou'd  please  me  rather  than  any  other  thing  he  can 
possibly  turn  bis  tho'ts  to,  and  to  marry  at  30  in  my 
opinion  wou'd  be  better  than  five  and  twenty";  yet  as  he 
behaves  with  the  duty  I  justly  expect  from  him,  if  all 
things  on  a  thorro'  inquiry  be  found  agreeable,  I  wou'd 
go  from  my  more  fixt  opinion  (if  you  so  advise)  to  gratifie 
him.  Tou  will  please.  Sir,  to  be  very  free  with  me,  and 
to  keep  the  matter  as  a  dead  secret,  and  as  much  as 
possible  conceal  from  every  mortal  the  reason  of  your 
inquiry,  and  above  all  things,  save  mine  and  my  son's 
name,  and  favour  me  with  an  answer  as  soon  as  you 
can.  Tour  transacting  this  matter  in  your  wonted  pru- 
dence will  be  such  a  piece  of  friendship  as  will  bind 
me,  and  bind  bim,  to  the  strictest  gratitude,  &  I  am, 
truly,  Sir, 

Tour  assured  friend  &  most  obed*  serv*. 

J.  B. 
Boston,  Nov^  27, 1734. 

Say  nothing  to  my  bro'  or  son  or  to  any  body  else  of 
w'  I  write. 

(Benoet.}    Ssnia  to  BallMaf,  Coram,  Newmaa. 

*  The  fallicr'i  ■ame  vu  piobftblj  Powell.  Uoder  dit*  of  DecemlMT  13,  Governor 
Belcber  wrote  to  "Hr.  Powell"  ;  "I  well  remember  I  hid  the  pleuure  of  dining  with 
H'  Powell  (in  comp'  with  CaU'  Shute)  once  >I  the  Gloeler  uxl  tgtia  it  the  Eiog*!  Heed  in 
Pall  Hall,  ;et  Iihon'd  not  take  the  freedoni,  aorgire  jan  a  tmnble  of  the  nature  I  now  do, 
but  that  I  haTo  lately  rec'd  ■  letter  trom  tny  eon,  U*  Bekher  of  the  Middle  Temple,  giving 
me  an  aecount  of  J<iar  civility  to  him  tome  months  ago  at  Rlchoiand  I*al*<«,  and  Uiat  yov 
had  mentioned  hii  lather  witlinipect."    See^otf,  p.  480.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


166  THE  BELCEEB  FAPEB8. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Sib,  —  I  have  yours  V  the  carrier  and  V  the  post  of  25 

&  9  ult'.     I  wrote  the  old *  last  post.    If  the  family 

are  uneasy  I  can't  help  it,  nor  can  I  be  a  slave  to  such  an 

ignorant,  jealous  old .    If  you  cou'd  tell  me  where 

to  lodge  with  tolerable  reputation,  and  to  pay  for  it,  I  had 
rather  do  it  1000  times,  and  then  I  shall  be  at  perfect 
freedom  to  do  as  I  please  with  myself  and  with  every 
thing  else.  I  dare  by  no  means  trust  any  thing  to  Sir 
B.  W.  to  be  manag'd  in  the  manner  you  mention.  So 
we  must  all  trust  Providence  which  seldom  gives  a  crop 
to  those  that  don't  sow,  and  perhaps  we  may  be  sorry  to 
find  points  carried  which  by  proper  efforts  might  have 
been  prevented.  I  have  a  letter  from  home  of  an  extra- 
ordinary nature  respecting  N.  Hampshire  which  I  wanted 
to  read  to  you  before  I  answered  it  But  since  I  must  not 
see  you  here,  I  must  do  as  well  as  I  can,  and  phaps  may 
do  what  you  mayn't  like  when  I  come  to  talk  with  you. 
My  next  journey  depends  on  the  advice  of  yourself  and 
my  other  friends,  so  you  had  best  consider  and  act  wisely. 
Everything  is  well  at  Whitehall,  but  I  have  nothing  par- 
ticular for  subject  of  discourse.  Guts  f  is  a  fool  if  he 
thinks  he  has  any  promise ;  for  I'll  not  be  oblig'd  to  serve 
those  whose  young  vipers  wou'd  return  it  with  their 
stings.  No,  they  must  be  more  modest  before  that  matr 
ter  is  bro't  to  bear. 

We  have  a  very  loving  Assembly,  and  the  Gov'"*  speech 
(I  beleive)  will  produce  spme  good  things.  The  old 
Toper  is  weaker  than  simple  water  boil'*  and  grown  cool 
again ;  and  his  fiery  mate  Shove  is  at  present  confin'd 
with  illness,  his  wife  &  children  tum'd  Quakers,  and,  tbey 
say,  have  frighten'd  him  into  the  same  madness.     I  Iisve 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO  SIR  HOBEBT    WALPOLE.  167 

sign'd  the  comiBsion  and  dedimus,  and  desire  the  Hon'''' 
Jotham  Odiome,  Esq'*'  name  may  be  put  in  for  the  Special 
Judge.  I  wish  my  head  mayn't  ach  till  At — k — s — n'a 
Collector.  The  P — Htm — t — r  *  and  young  Dick  t  went 
away  last  week.  I  have  treated  'em  distantly  and  coolly 
since  their  being  here,  for  I  will  not  bear  disrespect  in 
word  or  deed  from  those  to  whom  I  give  bread,  and  to 
these  I  have  been  very  kind.  If  B — n — ng  gefa  the 
40,000  dollars,  he'll  eet  up  coach  &  six.  I  am,  Hon*^ 
Sir, 

Your  friend  &  aerv*.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Deoem'  2,  1734. 
(Poat.) 


TO  SIR  ROBERT  WALPOLE. 

Mat  IT  PLEASE  TOUR  Honour, — About  twelve  months 
ago  arrived  here  from  London  M'  Benj'  Pemberton  of  this 
town,  with  his  Majesty's  order  to  me  to  appoint  him 
Naval  Officer  in  this  Province,  which  place  I  had  some 
time  before  given  to  a  gent"  that  married  my  only 
daughter,  by  whom  he  has  a  family  of  children,  and 
really  wants  that  place  for  his  necessary  support.  How- 
ever, according  to  my  duty,  I  immediatly  obey'd  the 
King's  comand,  and  gave  Pemberton  a  coniission  for  the 
place.  But  I  wou'd  now  humbly  beg  of  S'  Robert  Wal- 
pole  that  I  may  expostulate  and  lay  before  him  the  great 
hardship  upon  me  in  this  casej  and  first  of  all,  to  say, 
that  M'  Pemberton  has  not  the  least  colour  of  justice  to 
lay  claim  to  any  such  favour  from  his  Majesty,  for  all  the 
merit  he  pretends  to  was  having  a  vessel  seized  and  taken 
from  him  by  the  French  at  Cape  Breton,  of  which,  may- 
it  please  your  Honour,  I  am  well  inform'd  he  had  not  the 
least  reason  to  complain,  being  ingaged  there  in  a  clan- 
destine trade,  and  it  wou'd  be  well  for  the  fair  trader  that 


:ilu  Hnakc.  —  Eds.  t  Eicbard  Wlbinl-  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


168  THE  BELCHEB  FAFEBS.  [1T84. 

all  men  concern'd  in  Hucb  illegal  practices  might  find  the 
same  discouragment.  But  I  understand  he  was  bo  impe- 
tuous at  the  French  Court  and  then  in  England  that  he 
obtain'd  the  order  he  bro't  me.  This,  Hon"*  Sir,  I  have 
all  the  reason  in  the  world  to  beleive  is  the  real  truth  of 
the  matter  as  to  the  man.  And  then  as  to  myself,  let 
me  beseech  your  Honour  to  hear  me  while  I  say  his 
Majesty's  royal  coffiissiou  for  the  government  of  this 
Province  makes  me  at  the  same  time  the  Naval  OfiBcer, 
in  conformity  to  several  statutes  of  Charles  2*  and  Wil- 
liam 3^  where  the  Gov*,  and  he  only,  is  intrusted  and 
answerable  for  every  thing  transacted  in  that  office,  and 
that  upon  severe  pains  &  penalties  in  case  of  any  failure ; 
and  I  have  besides  a  whole  body  of  instructions  from  his 
Majesty  respecting  the  Acts  of  Trade,  where  the  King 
thro'  the  course  and  tenour  of  'em  looks  on  me  as  Naval 
Officer,  and  indeed.  Sir,  this  is  the  only  place  of  pro6t  in 
the  government  that  is  absolutely  in  the  GoV*  gift,  and 
when  the  vast  trouble  and  difficulty  I  have  undei^ne 
from  my  arrival  to  the  government  is  considered  in  sup- 
port of  bis  Majesty's  honour  and  interest,  I  think  I  may 
hope  for  S'  Robert's  favour  in  being  restored  to  the  power 
of  this  office.  I  am  more  particularly  under  great  hard- 
ships at  this  day  with  respect  to  my  support. 
In  that  the  Assembly  will  not  pay  it  agreeable  to  the 

King's  instruction,  nor  can  I  receive  it  from  year  to 

year  but  by  special  leave. 
But  am  oblig'd  to  spend  my  salary  twelve  mo's  before 

I  may  receive  it. 
So,  from  year  to  year  I  sink  in  my  own  fortune  the 

interest  of  my  salary. 
Besides  being  at  a  constant  considerable  chat^e  in  solli- 

citing  for  leave. 
And  white  a  year  passes  in  asking  and  obtaining  leave, 

I  run  the  risque  of  losing  a  whole  year's  salary  in 

case  of  my  mortality,  for  the  Assemblies  here  are  so 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  TO    SIB  ROBEKT  WALPOLE.  169 

capricious  that  ehou'd  I  dye  between  solliciting  and 
getting  the  leave  I  shou'd  not  expect  they  wo'd  ever 
renew  such  grant  to  my  family. 
And  what  ia  etill,  Sir,  a  greater  hardship  than  all  these  is 
the  constant  falling  of  the  bills  of  credit  in  which 
they  pay  all  their  publick  grants  and  debts,  that  the 
grant  of  3000£  .the  Assembly  made  to  the  King's 
Gov'  seven  years  ago  was  then  worth  near  £1000 
Bf ,  but  is  not  now  worth  £600. 
Thus,  Sir,  I  am  crampt  every  way  while  I  am  strictly 
and  steadily  discharging  my  duty  to  the  King.  How 
bard  then  is  it  to  take  away  from  me  the  only  good  per- 
quisite of  my  whole  government,  and  to  take  bread 
out  of  the  mouths  of  my  own  children,  and  give  it  to 
a  stranger,  and  to  one  who  is  the  most  obnoxious  and 
unaccept^  to  the  country  in  general  and  to  the  trade  in 
particular  that  cou'd  possibly  have  been  put  into  the 
office !  Upon  all  these  considerations,  Hon''''  Sir,  I  again 
beg  of  you  that  I  may  have  this  office  restored  to  me, 
and  that  it  might  be  by  a  patent  to  the  gent"  that  mar- 
ried my  only  daughter,  M*  Byfield  Lyde,  who  is  a  young 
man  with  a  numerous  family  of  children  and  wants  it, 
and  M'  Pemberton  has  neither  chick  nor  child  in  the 
world.  And  as  this  office  has  no  salary  annext  to  it,  and 
so  carries  no  money  from  the  royal  exchequer,  but  the 
only  support  of  it  is  from  the  fees  of  the  trade  here, 
I  would  humbly  hope  my  son  might  have  the  patent  to 
run  durante  vith.  I  have  order'd  M'  Belcher  of  the  Temple 
to  pay  his  duty  to  your  Honour,  and  pray  he  may  be 
admitted  into  your  presence  to  deliver  this  into  your 
hands,  and  to  plead  in  his  father's  behalf  for  the  grant  of 
this  favour  to  my  family,  while  I  can'  also  most  humbly 
assure  you  that  the  yearly  grants  of  the  Assembly  do  not 
make  £600.  Nor  are  all  the  perquisites  of  the  govemm' 
besides  worth  fifty  guineas  a  year,  that  I  can  hardly  bring 
the  year  about  with  the  whole  income  of  the  government 


oyGoot^lc 


170  THE  BELCHER  PAPEKS.  [17M. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  all  possible  duty  and  regard, 
Hon""*  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  moat  faithfull  &  most  devoted 
serv*.  ^  J.  B. 

Boston,  Dec  8,  1734. 

(Baker.  White.)    Same  to  D.  N.  CasUe,  E.  Wilmington,  M'.  H. 

Walpole. 


TO  BICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

S",  —  It  is  now  better  than  a  fortnight  since  I  rec'd 
yours  of  7  Oct'  past  in  which  you  acquaint  me  with  my 
son's  new  inclination  to  marry,  which  hoB  given  me  much 
concern,  and  I  have  been  revolving  the  matter  in  my 
mind  in  order  to  give  you  the  most  reasonable  answer  I 
can,  upon  an  affair  that  once  consummated  must  render 
him  easy  and  happy,  or  marr  and  destroy  all  his  future 
comfort.  I  say  it  is  a  grand  article  in  life  that  ought  to 
be  transacted  with  all  the  caution,  prudence,  and  wisdom 
a  man  is  capable  of,  or  can  learn  from  his  best  friends, 
because  DOthing  less  than  death  can  undo  it  when  done. 
I  am  sorry  he  cannot  be  satisfied  and  patient  for  some 
^^ears  longer  without  ingaging  in  what  must  necessarily 
load  him  with  a  great  variety  of  cares,  and  divert  him 
from  the  main  business  to  which  I  have  devoted  bim. 
However,  I  desire  yoii,  and  I  desire  him,  to  set  down  and 
read  the  many  letters  I  have  wrote  him  on  the  head  of 
matrimony,  more  particularly  that  of  Aug^  14,  1732,  and 
consider  whether  my  tho'ts  are  not  well  digested.  And  I 
had  still  much  rather  he  shou'd  shut  himself  up  in  a  garret 
for  some  years,  and  set  before  his  eyes  the  late  great 
Lord  Somers,  Cowper,  Lechmere,  King,  and  Raymond, 
with  How  and  Wearg  and  the  present  Chancellor  and 
Chief  Justice,  and  try  hard  to  be  worthy  at  least  to  carry 
their  trains.     Considering  the  way  of  life  he  has  chose, 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  TO  RICHAED  PAETEIDGE.  171 

which  requires  such  great  and  constant  study  to  become 
eminent,  I  think  thirty  a  much  better  age  than  five  and 
twenty  for  him  to  marry,  for  altho'  he  might  marry  now 
to  advantage  considering  his  present  circumstances,  yet, 
if  it  pleases  God  to  preserve  his  vertue  and  to  increase 
his  diligence,  he  may  doubtless  marry  hereafter  to  his 
much  greater  advantage. 

And  now  I  will  more  particularly  reply  to  what  you 
have  laid  before  me. 

You  say  the  young  lady  my  son  has  at  present  his  tho'ta 

upon,  —  is   daughter    to    the    Clerk    of    the    King's 

Catery   (a   place  of  1000  £,   a  y').     He  has   the 

K — ng's  ear,  &c. ;  has  four  children ;  is  fond  of  this, 

and  may  pay  her  at  marriage  (or  not)  2000  £>.    She 

is  housekeeper  to  the  Queen  with  300  £  a  year ; 

is  21  years  old.     When  marries,  the  father  may  give 

her  and  the  husband  (as  we  say)  the  run  of  the 

kitchen  for  some  years.     So  far  all  is  well. 

Yet  I  can't  gather  from  what  you  say  whether  she 

bos  the  qualifications  necessary  to  make  a  man  happy 

in  matrimony.    But  to  know  this  I  must  pray  you  (after 

the  most  carefull  inquiry  and  sedate  consideration)  to  give 

me  a  particular  answer  to  the  following  queries : 

Whether  she  be,  of  strict  vertue?  good  temper? 
reasonable  good  sense?  good  oeconomy?  not  a  coquet? 
not  fond  of  a  Court  life  ?  or  of  the  play  house  ? 
Bath,  Tunbridge,  &c.? 
And  unless  you  can  answer  these  in  her   favour,  were 
her  fortune  and  circumstances  vastly  greater,  I  neither 
dare  nor  wou'd  sacrifice  my  son  to  her  or  to  that,  and  I 
say  again  good  nature  is  one  of  the  first  things  to  be  re- 
garded in  order  to  make  a  man  happy  in  the  hon"^'  state 
of  marriage.     Loving  bro',  as  I  have  been  at  great  care 
&  cost  in  the  education  of  my  dear  son,  who  has  never 
offended  mc  in  any  material  point,  the  gent",  the  father, 
the  young  lady,  you  and  my  son  must  all  forgive  me  the 


oyGoot^lc 


172  THE   BELCEEE  PAPEBS.  [17M. 

great  Bollicitude  I  have  for  bis  future  well-being  in  so 
grand  a  cbange  of  life,  and  ray  conjuring  you  by  all  the 
eacred  tyes  of  friendship  to  give  me  the  moat  free  and 
ample  answer  to  what  I  have  suggested,  which  you  may 
doubtless  learn  to  do  at  the  Court  end  of  the  town.  I 
personally  know  the  father,  and  din'd  with  bim  2  or  3 
times  at  the  Court  end  of  the  town,  in  comp'  with  Grov' 
Shute,  of  whom  you  may  get  some  knowledge  in  the 
matter.  Yet  by  all  means  conceal  my  name  and  my 
son's  in  the  inquiry  as  much  as  possible.  But  it  wou'd 
grieve  me,  it  wou'd  grieve  me,  phaps  more  than  I  can 
express,  if  thro'  the  temptation  of  money,  or  of  estab- 
lishing my  interest,  or  thro'  any  other  weak  or  unlawfull 
consideration,  I  should  throw  away  a  son  I  love  so  well. 
No,  I  think  I  can  solemnly  appeal  to  the  Searcher  of  all 
Hearts,  and  say  I  had  much  rather  lose  the  government 
than  be  accessory  to  the  destroy'  the  comfort  of  my  son's 
life. 

Upon  the  whole  my  conclusion  is  thus :  since  my  son 
behaves  with  such  a  duty  as  I  cou'd  wish,  I  am  the  more 
inclin'd  to  gratifie  him  in  every  reasonable  thing  he  can 
ask,  and  am  willing  particularly  in  this  article  to  depart 
from  my  more  fixt  opinion  (if  finally  you  so  advise),  and 
to  consent  to  his  marrying,  and  even  to  this  young  lady, 
if  yon  can  give  me  a  satisfactory  answer  in  the  points  I 
have  mentioned,  tho'  I  must  tell  you  a  Court  wife  for 
him  does  not  so  well  sute  with  my  solid  judgment  fif  I 
may  be  allowed  to  form  such  an  one)  as  a  sober  vertuous 
woman  from  the  city,  and  if  he  shou'd  marry  now,  or  a 
year  or  two  hence,  I  wish  be  cou'd  love  one  of  the  young 
ladies  of  the  gent"  at  Rohampton  (he  knows  who  I  mean),* 
and  that  it  might  be  probable  for  him  to  succeed  there. 
Yet  after  all  I  will  not  confine  or  force  his  inclination ; 
but  let  him  read  this  letter,  and  let  me  know  yours  and 
his  answer  as  soon  as  you  can.     I  know  not  what  more 

*  One  of  the  danghUn  of  Samuel  Holden.  —  Eds. 


jvGooi^lc 


ITM.]  TO  E.   PARTRIDGE  AND  J.   BELCHER,  Jft.  17S 

to  say,  save  that  I  commit  yon,  him,  and  the  whole  affair 
to  the  direction  and  blessing  of  Almighty  God,  and 
remain.  Sir, 

Your  io9  bro.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Dec  5, 1731 
(Bkker.) 


TO  BICHARD  PARTRIDGE  AND  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Gent",  —  I  have  already  wrote  you  y  thia  convey"  at 
large  to  do  all  in  your  power  for  regaining  to  me  and 
my  family  the  only  profitable  perquisite  to  my  commis- 
Bion  in  this  government,  which  is  the  Naval  Office,  for 
which  I  hope  you  will  get  a  patent  for  my  son  Lyde, 
who  injoy'd  it  till  I  was  obliged  to  take  it  from  him  and 
give  it  to  a  stranger.  This  now  comes  as  a  particular 
answer  to  J.  B's  of  24  Sept',  of  which  1  have  thought  a 
great  deal,  and  it  is  very  hard  to  give  bread  out  of  my 
own  mouth  to  feed  a  creature  that  is  constantly  endeav- 
ouring to  cut  my  throat.  However,  upon  a  full  consid- 
eration of  all  that  past  with  M'  Popple,  to  shew  my 
readiness  to  peace,  I  am  willing  to  come  into  the  follow- 
ing terms,  provided  Coll"  Bl — d — n  will  take  upon  him 
to  be  security  for  D— nb — r;  and  I  wou'd  first  promise 
that  considering  the  handsome  manner  in  which  I  got 
the  salary  setled,  and  so  exactly  to  the  King's  instruc- 
tion (and  not  in  the  low  way  M'  Burnet  did  it)  I  say 
there  is  not  the  least  colour  of  claim  to  be  made  on 
me  for  an  iota  of  it ;  yet  I  say  I  am  willing  he  should 
enjoy  a  third  part  of  it  on  these  terms  from  25  Feb' 
next,  viz'. 

That  CoU*  Bl — d — n  will  kindly  assist  me  in  getting  a 
patent  for  my  son  Lyde  to  be  Naval  Officer  of  this 
Province. 
That  there  shall  be  no  sort  of  alteration  in  the  com- 
mand at  N.  Hampshire. 


oyGoot^lc 


174  THE   BELCHER   PAPEBS.  [IIU. 

That  Col"  Dunbar  shall  in  all  things  behave  himself  for 
the  future  peaceably  &  respectfully,  and  sincerely 
imploy  all  his  influence  to  make  things  easy  in 
the  Province,  and  more  particularly  join  with  the 
Gov''  in  indeavouring  to  raise  the  Gov'"'  salary,  and 
let  it  be  more  or  less  he  shall  always  receive  from 
me  a  third  part  of  it,  being  the  same  part  M' 
Burnet  allow'd  M'  Wentworth. 
That  Coll"  Bl — d — n   will  thro'  my   hands  write   Coll" 

Dunbar  binding  him  to  these  things. 
And  1  do  then  upon  my  faith  and  honour  oblige  myself 
to  comply  punctually  on  my  part,  and  to  avoid  all 
dispute  or  difference,  and  will    in  all  things  treat 
Coll"  Dunbar  with  respect  and  honour. 
But  it  must   be  fully  understood  that  I  will  refund  no 
part  of  my  salary  or  what  shall  become  due  to  me 
to  the  25  of  Feb'  next,  but  this  agreement  to  com- 
mence from  that  time  forward. 
I  am  very  sure  upon  reading  and  arguing  the  papers  I 
have  sent  you  on  this  affair  all    his  pretensions  wou'd 
appear  vain  and  frivolous ;  nor  can  I  bear  to  think  of 
making  a  concession  to  give  away  my  bread   upon  any 
other  terms  than   I  have  mentioned,  and   I  know  Coll* 
Bl — d — n  can  greatly  assist  with  S'  R.  W.  and  D.  N.  C. 
to  regain  me  the  Naval  Office,  of  which  I  am  more  fond 
than  of  any  thing  else,  and  I  beleive  he  will  not  think 
it  reasonable  to  take  away  the  profits  of  the  govern- 
ment from  me  in  all  articles. 

Pray  give  my  service  to  M'  Popple,  and  tell  him  I  am 
inclin'd  to  forget  every  thing  that's  past,  and  to  live  in 
a  good  friendship  with  Coll"  Dunbar  for  the  future  if  he 
gives  no  new  provocation.  Thus  you  have  my  fnll  answer 
to  J.  C's  of  24  Sept'.     I  am,  Sirs, 

Yours,  &c.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  Detf  e,  1784. 

(Baker.  White.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  THB  BISHOP  OF  LONDON.  175 


TO  THE  BISHOP  OF  LONDON. 

Mat  it  please  totjb  Loebship,  —  I  have  lately  rec'd 
the  honour  of  yours  of  24  Sept'  past,  respecting  your 
Lordship's  Comissary,  M'  Price,  who  did  indeed  imbark 
here  for  London  in  May  last,  but  the  ship  in  which  he 
was  a  passenger  running  aground  in  the  harbour  pre- 
vent* her  putting  to  sea  the  day  she  came  under  sail,  and 
M'  Price  alter'd  his  mind  and  retum'd  ashore,  and  upon 
some  concessions  he  made  to  the  congregation  they  re- 
ceived him  again  as  minister  of  the  church  here  call'd 
King's  Chappel.  For  the  reasons  I  wrote  your  Lordship 
Bome  years  ago  I  have  no  acquaintance  with  M'  Price, 
nor  do  I  desire  any  till  I  find  he  has  more  manners  and 
comes  and  practices  his  duty  to  the  King's  Gov'.  But 
when  I  attend  the  C""  of  England  it  is  commonlj'  at 
Christ's  C'''',  whereof  D'  Cutler  is  minister.  Upon  the  rec't 
ot  your  L'^ship's  letter  I  made  what  inquiry  I  prudently 
cou'd,  and  can't  find  M'  Price  has  any  intention  at  pre- 
sent of  going  for  England  j  so  your  L''8hip  will  not  have 
the  occasion  of  appointing  another  Comissary.  Yet  since 
jour  L'ship  is  pleased  to  do  me  the  honour  of  asking  my 
tbo'ts  in  the  affair,  I  will  be  free  to  say  that  I  think  the 
Rev*  D'  Cutler,  the  present  incumbent  of  Christ's  CS  is 
the  best  qualified  person  that  I  can  think  of  to  serve 
your  L'^ship  in  that  capacity  when  a  vacancy  may  happen. 
He  is  a  gent"  of  good  learning,  and  of  a  good  life,  and  of 
a  good  age  to  conduct  the  rest  of  the  clergy  here.  Tet 
your  L^ship  will  allow  me  to  say  that  if  the  Doct'  waa 
more  moderate  in  some  hierarchycal  principles  he  wou'd 
be  better  able  to  serve  and  increase  the  Church  in  this 
country,  for  the  people  here  who  have  been  originally 
planted  and  bro't  up.  in  another  way  may  be  drawn  but 
wiD  not  be  driven. 

I  wou'd  humbly  beg  leave  further  to  represent  to  my 


oyGoot^lc 


176  TBB   BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [17S4. 

good  Lord  of  London  that  what  is  coiSonly  call'd  here 
the  King's  Chappel  ie  not  so,  for  the  minister  ia  chose 
by  the  people.  But  were  it  really  the  King's  Chappel  it 
wou'd  fall  under  bis  Majesty's  advowson  and  presentar 
tion;  but  by  the  best  account  I  can  learn,  the  matter,  my 
Lord,  is  thus, —  the  c'^  in  this  town  call'd  the  King's 
Chappel  is  so  call'd  by  a  common  and  vulgar  mistake ; 
it  being  the  first  c*^  set  up  in  the  Province  some  persons 
that  were  the  principal  promoters  of  it  complimented  it 
with  the  name  of  King's  Chappel  as  they  might  have 
done  with  any  other  they  had  judg'd  proper,  that  I  think 
with  deference  to  your  Lordship  there  is  no  necessity  of 
being  confin'd  in  a  Comissary  to  be  a  minister  of  the  c*^ 
call'd  King's  Chappel ;  but  that  he  shou'd  be  a  minister 
of  one  of  the  c"*"  in  Boston  (the  capital  of  this  Prov- 
ince) may  be  most  for  the  service  of  the  Church  and  most 
convenient  to  the  body  of  the  clergy,  and  I  again  say  I 
think  I  may  name  Doct'  Cutler  to  your  Lordship  as  a 
gent"  of  figure  and  good  prudence,  and  one  whom  I  have 
reason  to  beleive  wou'd  be  to  the  good  liking  &  satisfac- 
tion of  the  clergy  over  whom  he  is  to  preside.  But  if 
M'  Price  concludes  to  continue  here,  as  I  observed  to  your 
Lordship,  you  will  not  give  yourself  any  further  trouble 
on  this  head  at  present. 

Whenever  I  have  the  honour  of  addressing  your  L''8hip 
I  must  always  beg  leave  to  own  with  the  highest  sense 
of  gratitude  your  L'^ship's  favour  and  smiles  on  M'  Belcher 
of  the  Temple,  as  often  as  he  has  the  honour  of  paying  his 
duty  to  your  Lordship,  of  which  he  talks  loudly  to  hia 
fond  father.  I  beleive  your  L^ship  is  knowing  of  his  be- 
ing a  Master  of  Arts  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge, 
and  that  some  time  since  he  had  his  call  to  the  barr,  and 
I  am  told  he  behaves  soberly  &  diligently.  He  writes 
me  he  is  desirous  to  see  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  to 
have  a  Master's  degree  there,  if  it  may  be  had  without 
much  charge  or  trouble,  and  asks  me  to  pray  the  Bishop 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  TO  JONATHAK  BELCHER,  JB.  177 

of  London's  favour  in  a  letter  to  the  Dean  of  Chriat's 
C*^,  from  which  he  thinks  he  might  hope  for  success  in 
such  an  apphcation.  Let  me  then  humbly  beg  this  as  a 
further  instance  of  your  L'ship'a  taking  this  young  gent" 
into  your  protection,  and  I  hope  I  may  become  his  secu- 
rity that  he  will  at  no  time  dishonour  any  countenance 
your  L^ship  is  pleased  to  show  him. 

I  pray  your  L'ship  to  find  out  some  way  whereby 
I  may  demonstrate  with  how  great  respect  &  esteem 
I    am,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  futhfull  and  most  obedient  serr*. 

J.B. 

BosTow,  Dec'  0,  I7S4. 
(White.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Deab  Jonathan,  —  Cap'  Baker  being  detain'd  to  this 
day  gives  me  the  opportunity  of  covering  to  you  the  in- 
closed letters,  of  which  you  will  take  the  needfull  care, 
more  especially  of  those  to  D.  of  N.  Castle  &  L'^  of  Trade, 
which  I  think  must  do  your  father  honour  and  strengthen 
him  in  the  government.  For  let  D — nb — r  and  all  his  myr- 
midons say  what  they  please,  it's  not  possible  for  me  to 
do  more  for  the  King's  service  in  this  affdr  of  the  Royal 
Woods  than  I  have  constantly  done,  and  it  may  be  well 
to  put  my  message  to  the  Assembly  &  their  answer  into 
some  of  the  London  prints. 

Get  your  degree  at  Oxford  when  you  best  can.  If  all 
I  have  sent  for  my  defence  ag^  D — nb— r  shou'd  be 
judg'd  insufficient  for  success,  but  that  I  must  fall  into 
the  concession,  take  care  my  prseliminaries  be  comply'd 
with,  and  that  Bl — d — n's  letter  to  him  comes  open  to  me, 
or  that  I  have  a  copy  of  it.  My  first  condition  about  the 
Naval  Office  I  am  most  of  all  fond  to  accomplish,  and  I 
koow  Bl — d — D  can  do  a  great  deal  to  facilitate  it. 


oyGoot^lc 


178  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [ITM. 

Pemberton  intends  to  be  going  hence  for  LondoD  in 
about  a  fortnight ;  bo  your  uncle  and  you  must  be  very 
brisk  about  the  patent  I  have  mentioned.  The  interest 
of  my  family  as  well  as  my  honour  is  greatly  concern'd 
in  that  thing.  Bl — d — n  must  order  D — nb — r  to  write 
me  a  handsome  letter  in  case  things  are  compromised.  I 
6!iy,  he  must  be  first  in  the  condescention ;  for  as  I  am 
the  King's  Gov'  I  must  have  a  great  regard  to  my  honour. 

I  shou'd  be  much  pleas'd  to  hear  you  was  so  inclin'd, 
and  that  there  was  a  tolerable  prospect  of  your  obtain- 
ing one  of  Gov'  Holden's  daughters.  I  cou'd  then  frankly 
consent.  Think  of  it,  Jon',  and  talk  with  M'  Morton 
about  it.  I  understand  you  are  a  favourite  of  the  old 
lady,  which  may  go  a  great  way.  My  love  to  your 
uncle,  to  whom  I  shall  write  by  White  in  a  few  days,  and 
I  am  industriously  endeavouring  after  the  bills  I  have 
promist  him.    I  am 

Your  lov'  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Deo-  9,  1734. 
(White.  Surrey.) 


TO  JONATHAN  LAW." 

HoN"*^  Sir,— Tour  obliging  fav'  of  the  19  of  Nov* 
came  to  hand  the  30  f  the  post,  and  I  shou'd  have  an- 
swer'd  it  before  this  but  that  the  General  Assembly  here 
has  kept  me  in  full  imploy.  I  thank  you  for  the  sample 
of  silk,  which  1  believe  is  the  first  produc'd  in  Eilglish 
America.  If  it  were  possible  to  send  me  a  slip  of  2 
inches  wide  and  3  inches  long  from  some  part  of  your 
wastcoat  out  of  sight,  and  that  might  not  hurt  it,  and  at 
flame  time  to  write  me  the  whole  process  of  your  raising 
it  from  the  worm  to  the  piece  of  silk,  I  wou'd  send  it  for- 
ward to  the  R"  Hon"'*  the  Lords  of  Trade  &  Plantations. 

•  Dcputj-Goremor  of  Connectioiit.  He  w»  born  >t  Mllford,  Conn.,  Aug.  t,  M7<  i 
endiulcd  at  Harvard  College  In  1096 ;  and  died  at  Hiirord,  Nov.  fl,  1T50.  -~  Eds. 


Diqnze'ciOyGoOt^lc 


17M.]  TO  THE  LORDS  OP  TRADE.  179 

We  have  (as  you  observe)  a  country  capable  of  all  the 
necessaries  &  comforts  of  life,  cou'd  the  people  be  stirr'd 
up  to  greater  industry  and  that  to  be  well  pointed.  I 
perfectly  agree  with  you  that  it  is  our  great  misfortune 
to  have  expos'd  ourselves  to  the  King  &  his  Ministry,  as 
well  as  to  his  Parliament,  and  I  have  good  reason  to  be- 
lieve the  imprudent  controversies  carried  on  in  this  Prov- 
ince against  the  Crown  may  have  been  the  foundation  of 
the  difficulties  that  seem  now  to  be  hanging  over  all  the 
English  Colonies.  The  prerogative  of  the  Crown  and 
the  just  rights  &  privileges  of  the  people  may  doubtless 
be  compatibly  maintain'd,  nor  can  it  be  the  wisdom  of  a 
dependent  handfall  of  people  to  strain  things  with  their 
mighty  superioure.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  Hon'"'  most  obed'  hum'  serv'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Dec  23, 1734. 

(Post.)  


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

My  Lords,  —  I  had  the  honour  of  writing  your  Lord- 
ships the  14  curr*,  principally  upon  the  head  of  incourag- 
ing  the  raising  of  hemp  in  this  Province,  for  which  there 
is  now  a  bill  depending  in  the  Assembly  agreeable  to  what 
I  recoiuended  to  them  at  the  opening  of  this  session,  and 
in  which  I  have  great  hopes  of  succeeding.  I  now  inclose 
to  your  Lordships  the  Journals  of  the  House  of  Eep"""  from 
the  time  I  last  sent  them.  I  intend  the  Court  shall  rise  in 
a  day  or  two ;  shall  then  write  your  Lordships  what  may 
be  further  needfull,  and  have  now  only  to  repeat  my  re- 
quest to  your  Lordships,  that  you  wou'd  interpose  your 
kind  offices  with  his  Majesty  for  a  present  to  the  poor 
farmers  of  this  country  of  a  thousand  bushels  of  choice 
Riga  hempseed.  The  people  here  are  well  disposed  to  go 
upon  the  raising  of  hemp,  to  which  this  climate  &  soil  are 
natural  enough.    But  it  cannot  he  done  to  any  great  pur- 


oyGoot^lc 


180  THE  BELCHER  PAPBB8.  [17Mr* 

pose  for  a  great  while  to  come  without  a  good  stock  of 
seed  to  aet  forward,  and  if  I  am  well  inform'd  the  whole 
Province  cannot  furnish  two  hundred  bushels  for  the  next 
season,  and  were  it  to  be  had  the  people  that  must  use  it 
are  BO  poor  as  that  they  are  not  able  to  purchase  it,  and 
methinks  it's  pity  a  design  that  wou'd  so  assist  the  royal 
navy  shou'd  prove  abortive ;  and  altho'  a  thousand  bushels 
of  seed  wou'd  be  no  great  cost,  yet  it  wou'd  be  esteem'd 
a  great  instance  of  his  Majesty's  goodness  and  favour  to 
the  poor  people  here,  and  I  wou'd  take  care  to  distribute 
it  in  such  a  manner  as  I  cou'd  judge  wou'd  do  the  most 
service;  and  I  shou'd  think  it  wou'd  answer  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  Crown  if  half  a  doz.  men  well  skill'd  in 
raising  and  dressing  hemp  were  sent  hither  to  instruct 
our  farmers ;  and  for  the  Parliament  to  add  to  these  thmgs 
a  good  bounty  on  what  might  be  bro't  to  the  market  in 
Great  Britain  I  believe  wou'd  in  a  few  years  draw  good 
quantities  of  hemp  from  this  Province.  Mr.  Belcher 
will  wait  on  your  L^ships,  and  be  glad  to  recieve  your 
coinands-in  this  affair.  I  am,  with  great  respect,  my 
Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obed'  &  most  hum'  serv*. 

J.B. 

BoBTON,  Deo*  31, 1794. 

(Nicholson.  Holmes.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Mt  dear  Son,  —  I  wrote  you  13  ult'  T  White,  &  we 
are  now  in  little  expectation  of  any  thing  from  G'  Britain 
till  the  spring.  I  am  greatly  concem'd  about  the  Naval 
Office,  in  which  your  brother  Lyde  has  been  so  basely 
supplanted  by  B.  P.,  who  sails  the  next  week  for  London 
in  Ducket,  to  get  a  patent  for  it,  if  possible  he  can  ;  but 
I  hope  your  uncle,  M'  Wilks,  and  you  will  have  got  one 
before  his  arrival.     It's  a  fine  place  worth  more  than  I 


oyGoot^lc 


17M-5.J  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JE.  181 

am  willing  to  mention,  and  wou'd  be  a  comfortable  sup- 
port for  your  bro  Lyde's  family.  Leave  no  stone  untum'd 
to  get  it ;  &  before  B.  P.''  arrival  it  will  be  more  easily 
done.  I  don't  know  what  further  to  say  In  the  matter. 
But  it  will  be  a  great  honour  to  me  and  to  you,  aa  well 
as  one  of  the  finest  posts  in  this  government,  if  you  can 
gain  it,  and  1  think  I  have  fill'd  your  mouth  with  argum^ 
on  this  head. 

When  you  have  read  my  letter  to  M'  Wilks  V  this 
conveyance  you  will  see  what  past  in  this  Assembly  at 
their  last  sitting,  which  has  been  one  of  the  most  quiet 
for  18  years  past.  Cook  is  shrunk  into  an  old  In- 
dian squaw.  D — m — r  *  takes  pains  to  get  Wilks  out  of 
his  agency,  but  the  Gov*"'  interest  is  so  good  with  the  Aa-  - 
sembly  that  nothing  of  that  nature  will  be  done.  I  think 
the  getting  of  an  act  for  establishing  so  large  a  bounty  on 
the  raising  of  hemp  must  give  me  considerable  credit  and 
honour  with  the  Ministry,  who  have  recomended  it  hither 
BO  often  as  a  thing  of  vast  advantage  to  the  Crown,  but 
never  cou'd  get  it  done.  Indeed  the  country  is  now  so 
easy  that  the  Assembly  are  ready  to  do  almost  any  thing 
I  propose  to  'em.  I  have  got  M'  Wilks  a  grant  of  £500 
flP  and  of  £800  this  mo.  I  wish  you  cou'd  prevail  with 
the  Lords  of  Trade  to  get  from  the  King  as  a  present 
to  the  Province  a  thousand  bushels  of  choice  East 
Country  hempseed,  &  that  you  might  have  the  honour 
of  consigning  it  by  a  bill  of  lading  in  your  name  to 
the  Gov%  to  be  distributed  to  the  farmers,  according  to 
his  discretion.  I  say,  this  wou'd  give  me,  and  give  yoii, 
great  honour  and  reputation  in  the  country,  and  the  co^t 

*  Jeremiah  Dimmer,  irbo  wis  then  in  EoKlind.  TTnderdateof  jBDuaryS,  Gavemar  Bel- 
cher wroie  to  Mr.  Wilks; "There  were  clubs  &  csbali  held  once  »nd  acain  (o  endeavour  tba 
reTnoving  the  Agent,  or  at  least  )o  send  xiine  body  rnim  hence  1o  be  join'd  with  him.  Coll° 
W.  D—d—l—y  &  s.  W— d— 0  were  mentioned,  and  the  formpr,  I  am  told,  is  put  npon  it 
by  letters  from  your  friend  D — m — r  at  home,  who  is  very  sngiy  with  you  notwilhstami  hie 
complaisant  viiseta,  and  a  gentn  lately  from  your  side  the  water  says  be  can't  brook  the 
tho'i  of  yonr  succeeding  him  in  Connecticut  and  in  this  FroTrnee.  Ton  knowbim,  and  your 
prudence  will  make  yon  Mutiooa."    3e«  *bo  S  Ma&a.  Hist.  Coll.  vol.  vi.  p.  616.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


182  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734-5. 

wou'd  not  be  more  than  the  trifle  of  £250  at',  and  for 
want  of  seed  the  Province  will  be  crampt  for  some  years 
in  raising  hemp.  Industriously  plye  the  Lords  of  Trade, 
and  trye  what  you  can  do  in  this  article,  which  will  be 
vastly  to  the  service  of  the  Crown.  Were  seed  to  be  had 
here  the  poor  farmers  are  not  really  able  to  buy  it. 

I  have  lately  wrote  your  uncle  in  answer  to  what  you 
desired  him  to  mention  to  me  of  your  new  inchnation  to 
marry,  and  really,  Jon*,  y"  more  I  think  of  that  matter 
the  less  I  am  pleas'd  with  it,  and  shall  depend  you  do  not 
make  any  advances  that  you  cannot  honourably  retract, 
without  my  special  leave.  If  the  affair  cou'd  be  bro't 
about  with  one  of  GoV  Holden's  young  ladies  to  content 
on  all  sides,  I  cou'd  readily  say  Amen.  I  shall  write  you 
again  in  a  few  days,  and  am,  dear  Jonathan, 

Your  affect,  father.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  Jaou'  6,  1734/6. 

(Nicholson.  Holmes.) 


TO  LORD  TOWNSHEND. 

My  most  honoured  Lord,  —  I  am  asham'd  and  almoat 
afraid  to  own  the  great  honour  of  your  Lordship's  of  the  15 
May  last,  which  came  to  my  hands  the  31  July  following, 
upon  my  return  from  a  cruise  I  made  with  Cap'  Durel  in 
the  Scarboro'  to  view  the  eastern  coast  &  bounds  of  this 
Province.  As  I  know  any  letters  from  me  must  be  rather 
troublesome  to  your  Lordship  than  otherwise  it  has  made 
me  the  more  easy  in  hoping  for  your  Lordship's  pardon 
that  this  bears  so  late  a  date  ;  and  altho'  it  may  give  some 
pain  to  your  Lordship  to  be  persecuted  with  my  letters, 
yet  I  am  not  inclin'd  nor  dare  I  be  silent  while  I  am  con- 
scious of  the  vast  load  of  obligations  I  lye  under  to  my 
noble  patron,  and  this  last  letter  of  your  Lordship's  ia 


oyGoot^lc 


1784-5.]  TO  LORD   TOWNSHEND.  183 

80  full  of  goodness  &  condescension  as  lays  me  under 
stronger  bonds  of  gratitude  than  ever.  Your  Lordship's 
advice  respecting  the  gent"  I  mentioned  to  you  is  so  can- 
did, frank,  and  sincere  as  is  rare  to  be  met  with,  nor  cou'd 
any  thing  be  kinder.  Yet  as  I  have  mentioned  more 
than  once  to  &  R.  W.  my  hardships  on  that  head,  and 
without  success,  I  must  be  content  to  bear  'em  still,  tho' 
it's  hard,  considering  how  faithfuU  a  servant  I  am  to  the 
King,  and  the  points  I  have  gain'd  of  this  people  for  the 
Crown :  As  the  having  a  fort  at  Pemaquid  that  the  Crown 
might  have  the  better  hold  of  that  part  of  this  Province, 
and  it  has  been  in  comand  from  the  Crown  to  all  Gov"  for 
near  40  years  past;  but  no  one  coii'd  ever  get  an  Assem- 
bly into  the  charge  of  it  till  I  did  the  last  year.  I  also 
bro't  them  into  paying  Gov'  Burnet's  heirs  his  arrears. 
And  finally  to  give  up  a  point  they  have  contested  for  a 
doz.  years  past  as  to  the  way  &  manner  of  supplying  the 
public  Treasury,  which  is  now  done  so  aa  best  of  all  to 
support  the  King's  honour  and  authority  in  the  govern- 
ment. And  I  have  about  ten  days  ago  bro't  the  Assem- 
bly into  a  law  establishing  a  good  bounty  for  incouraging 
the  raising  of  hemp,  which  may  in  time  be  of  vast  service 
to  the  Crown  by  supplying  the  royal  navy  from  hence, 
and  to  be  paid  for  with  British  manufactures,  instead  of 
Bending  English  crowns  into  the  Baltick. 

I  give  your  Lordship  the  trouble  of  the  mention  of 
these  things  that  your  Lordship  may  at  all  times  vin- 
dicate your  honour  in  the  favour  you  did  me  of  his 
Majesty's  appointment  of  me  to  this  govemm*,  where,  I 
thank  God,  by  patience  and  steadiness  in  my  duty  to  the 
King  I  have  at  last  made  all  things  easy,  and  the  country 
in  general  tliink  themselves  happy  in  their  present  Gov', 
and  so  the  Assembly  have  lately  exprest  themselves  in  an 
address  to  his  Majesty. 

I  cannot  but  take  notice,  my  Lord,  with  the  quickest 
sense  of  gratitude  of  your  Lordship's  kind  mention  of  my 


oyGoot^lc 


184  THE  BBLCHSB  PAPERB.  [1734-6. 

son  at  the  Temple,  whom  I  have  commanded  to  paj  his 
duty  to  your  Lordship  at  Raynbam,  as  soon  as  he  possibly 
can  after  he  has  my  letters  by  this  ship,  and  your  Lord- 
ship will  with  your  usual  candour  and  goodness  overlook 
any  oddities  or  peculiarities  in  the  young  gent",  and  con- 
sider he  has  not  bad  the  advantage  of  Hie  education  in 
which  Britons  are  happy,  but  is  one  of  the  raw  produc- 
tions of  the  wilds  of  America ;  and  your  Lordship's  smiles 
on  him  will  rejoice  his  heart  in  his  great  distance  from 
his  father,  and  do  me,  and  do  him,  great  honour.  And 
Oh,  my  Lord,  that  it  was  possible  for  me  to  make  some 
little  return  of  all  your  goodness  to  the  Hon*"  M'  Town- 
shend,  who  is  so  good  as  to  make  my  bouse  his  home,  and 
my  eldest  son  (of  28  years  of  age)  is  his  bedfellow  and 
constant  companion,  and  is  highly  pleas'd  &  honour'd 
therewith.  And  I  am  glad  to  say  to  your  Lordship  that 
M'  Townshend  behav'd  himself  very  well  in  the  cruise  I 
made  in  the  Scarboro',  and  so  he  does  constantly  ashore; 
nor  do  I  know  of  any  one  vice  he  is  addicted  to,  which  is 
to  be  admir'd  at  considering  the  element  he  moves  upon. 
I  assure  your  Lordship  I  will  set  him  no  ill  example  in 
life,  nor  shall  he  want  my  best  advices  at  all  times  to 
diligence  in  his  duty  and  learning,  that  he  may  come  out 
a  genf  to  the  honour  of  your  Lordship,  of  himself,  and 
of  all  your  noble  family.  I  tell  him  I  hope  on  his  arrival 
he  will  pass  his  examination  for  a  Lieu*,  and  in  time  be 
a  Cap*  and  have  a  ship  for  this  station,  where  all  his 
friends  will  be  glad  to  see  him  again.  Altho'  I  have  a 
quarril  with  Lady  Dolly  for  despising  an  old  fellow's  let- 
ter, yet  1  beg  she  wou'd  accept  of  a  small  box  of  green 
wax  candles  I  send  by  this  ship,  being  the  produce  of  a 
sweet  shrub  of  this  country  we  call  Bayes,  and  may  serve 
for  her  own  chamber,  and  phaps  she  may  be  so  good  as 
now  and  then  to  oblige  your  Lordship  with  'em.  When 
your  Lordship  can  find  a  leisure  idle  hour  at  Raynham,  I 
shall  highly  esteem  a  line  from  your  Lordship,  and  have 


oyGoot^lc 


1734-5.]     TO  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE  AND  OTHEBS.  185 

the  honour  to  be  with  the  highest  gratitude,  duty,  and 
regard,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordsbip'a  most  faithfull,  most  devoted  and  most 
obed*  Bcrv'. 

J.  B. 

BosTOS,  JoDu*  7, 1734/5. 

(Nicbolaou.  Holmes.) 


TO  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE,  DUKE  OF  ABGYLE,  AND 
THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  toub  Lordships,  —  The  constant 
acco**  I  have  reed  in  the  course  of  the  year  past  of  the 
warr  entred  into  by  many  of  the  princes  of  Europe, 
and  of  the  great  uncertainty  of  the  part  his  Britannick 
Majesty  might  take  upon  these  commotions,  put  me  upon 
recomending  to  the  Assembly  here  once  and  again  the 
necessary  care  of  his  M^esty's  forts  &  garrisons  in  this 
Province,  more  especially  that  of  Castle  W"  (properly  the 
key  of  this  country),  whereupon  the  Assembly  has  voted 
a  considerable  sum  of  money  in  repair  and  addition  to 
that  fortress,  and  as  the  spring  advances  they  propose  to 
go  forward  with  the  works.  But  as  there  is  no  person  in 
this  Province  skill'd  in  fortific'  it  will  greatly  discourage 
and  phaps  retard  a  work  so  necessary  to  his  Majesty's  honour 
and  service,  as  well  as  to  the  safety  of  this  people,  I  have 
therefore  with  great  deference  to  propose  to  your  L'^ships 
that  Maj'  Paul  Mascarene,  a  Cap'  in  Coll"  Philips's  Regi- 
ment now  in  garrison  at  Anna  Polis  Royal  in  Nova  Scotia, 
wlio  was  imploy'd  by  the  Board  of  Ordnance  as  engineer 
there  for  eight  years  together  while  those  fortifications 
were  repairing  (and  was  tlien  dismist  from  the  service  of 
an  engineer),  might  now  have  his  Majesty's  leave  of  ab- 
aence  for  18  mo',  without  prejudice  to  his  rank  or  pay  in 
the  regiment  to  which  he  belongs,  &  have  directions  from 


oyGoot^lc 


186  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1734-6. 

the  Board  of  Ordnance  to  attend  bis  Majesty's  service  in 
repair  of  his  fortific'  in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetto 
Bay.  I  say  with  great  submission  to  your  L'*shipa,  as  this 
wou'd  tend  to  his  Majesty's  honour  and  to  the  better  de- 
fence and  protection  of  his  people,  I  wou'd  humbly  pray 
your  Lordships'  favour  in  the  matter,  and  am,  with  great 
respect  &  duty,  my  Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obed'  and  most  bum  serv*. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Janu*  6,  1734/5. 

(Ducket.) 


TO  WARHAM  MATHER.* 

Sir,  —  In  its  due  course  I  rec'd  yours  of  2  ult',  with- 
out name,  nor  do  I  remember  to  have  seen  your  hand- 
writing before,  but  upon  showing  the  letter  to  my 
brother-in-law,  the  Hon"*"  A.  Stoddard,  Esq"^,  he  told  me 
it  was  yours,  he  holding  (as  I  understand)  a  correspond- 
ence with  you.  For  this  kind  favour  I  kindly  thank 
you,  and  had  done  it  before,  but  that  the  late  session  of 
the  Assembly  here  wholly  ingrost  me.  I  perfectly  agree 
with  you,  Sir,  that  this  country  seems  to  have  lost  her 
first  love,  nor  does  the  present  generation  seem  to  be  in- 
titled  to  or  inherit  that  promise  made  to  the  Church  of 
God,  that  instead  of  thy  fathers  shall  be  thy  children. 
No,  to  our  humiliation  and  shame  we  may  consider  that 
our  forefathers  were  an  excellent  sett  of  men,  and  that 
we  their  children  have  given  God  just  reason  to  com- 
plain, as  of  his  ancient  covenant  people :  I  had  planted 
thee  a  noble  vine,  wholly  a  right  seed,  how  then  art  thou 
turn'd  into  the  degenerate  plant  of  a  strange  vine  unto  me  ? 
And  again,  he  looked  that  it  shou'd  bring  forth  grapes,  and 

•  Wsrham  Mather  wm  lh«  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Eleawr  Mather  of  Northampton,  when 
he  wai  bam  Sept.  T,  1666:  tcradualed  at  Har>-Brd  CotttRe  in  16S5;  removed  lo  New  Haven, 
Conn.  ;  and  died  Ibere  Aug.  12,  1T45.  —  Eaa. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734-fi.]  TO  WARHAM  MATHEB.  187 

it  bro't  forth  wild  grapes.  Our  fathers  were  famous  and 
eminent  for  purity  of  manners  and  strictness  of  life,  in- 
couragera  of  industry,  lovers  of  frugality,  haters  of  cove- 
teoiisness,as  well  as  enemies  to  profuseness  &  prodigality. 
But  to  the  grief  and  scandall  of  the  wise  and  good  their 
children  seem  to  have  but  little  regard  for  these  excellent 
vertues,  and  even  they  into  whose  hands  God  has  put  the 
power  and  government  of  the  rest  seem  to  be  deaf  to  all 
perswasion,  to  justice  and  righteousness.  Oh,  tempora  '. 
Oh,  mores  !     Dabit  Deus  his  quo^efinem. 

Upon  the  rec't  of  your  letter,  I  ventur'd  to  expose  my- 
self to  the  Assembly  and  to  the  debtors  in  the  world 
(which  are  by  far  the  majority)  in  a  speech  23  ult'.  One 
wou'd  think  they  are  of  David's  band  that  are  continually 
contriving  for  further  emissions  of  this  vile  paper  money, 
which  will  in  a  little  time  he  of  no  other  use  but  for  pye- 
women  (or  some  fouler  service).  I  can  plainly  see  the 
full  design  of  it  is  that  by  constant  emissions  the  debtor 
may  in  time  cheat  the  honest,  kind  creditor  out  and  out. 
Most  certainly  he  that  lent  his  neighbour  100  £  (in  his 
extremity)  20  years  agoe  does  not  (including  lawfuU  inter- 
est) now  recieve  the  principal.  Such  practices,  with  such 
professions  as  this  people  make,  give  occasion  to  the  en- 
emy to  blaspheme.  However,  I  do  not  intend  to  content 
myself,  but  while  God  continues  my  opportunity,  I  will  by 
his  help  still  go  on  to  do  every  thing  in  my  power  that 
righteousness,  faith,  and  justice  may  he  recover'd  to  this 
country  and  take  up  their  abode  here,  and  I  shall  at  all 
times  very  gratefully  esteem  the  prayers  and  assistance 
of  all  good  men.  I  wish  you  the  filicities  of  this  &  a 
better  life,  and  remain,  worthy  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  very  hum'  serv'.  J.  B. 

BoeTON,  Jann*  20, 1734/5. 

(POBt) 


oyGoot^lc 


188  THE  BELCEEB  PAPEBS. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon"*  Sib, — I  am  oblig'd  with  your  fav"  of  17  &  24 
gsent,  and  remark  very  particularly  all  you  say  about  an 
Aasembly,  and  inclose  you  old  H''  ip  this  post  to  read  and 
return,  and  I  think  we  all  seem  to  jump  in  opinion  that 
it's  best  when  we  do  sit  to  be  at  the  usual  place ;  if  it 
may  be  tho't  for  the  good  of  the  Lieu  we  can  adjourn  to 
Exeter  when  we  please.  I  think  by  the  strain  of  old  H"* 
he  seems  to  be  honest  I  am  thankfuU  for  your  advice 
about  the  sitting  of  an  Assembly,  which  (in  the  integrity 
of  your  heart)  you  think  best  to  postpone  at  present. 
1  assure  you  I  have  no  stomach  to  repeated  fatigues  and 
charge  to  no  purpose.  I  take  H — ske  to  be  a  sorry  false 
fellow,  and  young  D — ck*  a  very  mean,  narrow  spirited 
creature.  He  strenuously  insists  on  the  difference  of 
the  exchange.  1  am  therefore  now  determin'd  to  make 
E — ss — 1  whole  sheriffe,  or  put  him  in  a  new  partner; 
and  I  will  appoint  a  new  naval  officer  without  any  more 
delay,  and  if  I  can  serve  you  in  these  affairs  (viis  et  modti) 
pray  let  me  do  it.  But  I  will"  make  no  further  compli- 
ments to  falseness  and  ingratitude.  Yet  these  alterations 
can  never  be  so  well  done  as  when  I  am  on  the  spot,  and 
it's  best  not  to  open  your  lips  about  'em,  1  hear  nothing 
from  Wheelwright,!  but  have  frequent  applications  about 
his  place.  W.  Wentworth,  E.  Vaughan,  and  Lane  have 
been  mentioned,  and  the  first  from  several  quarters;  but 
here  I  wou'd  serve  you  again,  so  you  must  choose.  If 
I  don't  see  you  by  the  last  of  next  m"  you  mustn't  expect 
it  till  next  October.  As  to  the  spring  ships,  or  the  deter- 
mination of  points,  they  must  take  their  course,  and  we 
must  go  right  forward  in  our  duty.    They  that  observe 

•  Richard  Wibird.  — Eds. 

t  Samael  Wbeclwrigbt,  vho  iraa  appointed  SberiS  of  York  In  December,  1T32.  S«s 
6  Masa.  Hiat.  Cotl.  vol.  vi.  p.  333,  note.  —  Eda. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734-6.]  TO  BICHAKD  WALDRON.  189 

the  winds  &  cloxide  will  neither  sow  nor  reap.  When  the 
ships  arrive  doubtless  the  advices  will  be  chequer'd  and 
phaps  nothing  definitive.  But  they'l  go  on  lying,  and 
say  it  must  be  by  the  next,  by  the  next,  and  so  on.  Yet 
if  upon  the  whole  there  is  no  probable  hope  of  a  success- 
ful! session  don't  let  me  come.  I  will  do  just  aa  you 
agree  among  you.  Think  it  &  talk  it  closely,  and  give 
me  the  result  by  return  of  the  post,  because  if  I  don't  see 
an  Assembly  witli  you,  I  wou'd  bend  myself  to  the  dis- 
patch of  some  necessary  affairs  here.  How  come  you  to 
have  the  honour  of  supporting  part  of  the  pall  ?  Pray, 
haa  the  Vice  President's  relict  been  yet  to  make  his  com- 
phm"  to  M"  M — ch  ?  The  BBs  p— st  is  a  jolly  fellow. 
I  hear  he  stood  kick  and  cuff  upon  the  road  with  some 
swampeers.    I  am  always 

Tour  friend  &  serv*.  J.  B. 

BosTOif ,  Janni  27,  1781/5. 

(Foot)  


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  24  &  8  ult?.  The  new  scheme 
will  be  here  the  next  post,  and  I  believe  good  care  will  be 
taken  about  it  without  any  of  the  Gov'"'.  E.  V-^gh — n's 
bro  was  the  only  person  that  ever  mention'd  him.  Those 
that  have  a  mind  to  prevent  Plaisted  now  say  that  he 
tipples,  which  I  don't  believe.  Tell  him  to  get  what 
credentials  he  can  from  persons  of  good  character  and 
lodge  with  you  to  be  transmitted  me.  But  it  must  re- 
main a  dead  secret  that  he  even  makes  you  a  visset, 
which  I  think  he  had  always  better  do  in  an  evening. 
When  I  have  these  things  I  shall  appoint  another  General 
Council,  and  make  the  best  effort  I  can.  You  say  the 
breath  of  the  town  keeps  its  old  stench.  I  have  800£ 
now  due  from  the  Province,  and  I  have  spent  above  400£ 
in  my  four  last  journeys  besides  what  I've  lost  here  in 


oyGoot^lc 


190  THE  BELCHEK  PAPERS.  [1734-5. 

my  absences.  In  conaderation  of  the  sinking  of  the  bilk 
my  salary  ought  to  be  at  least  561000,  and  the  deficiencies 
for  many  years  past  made  good.  1  am  sure  I  have  done 
every  thing  in  my  power  to  serve  the  Province,  and 
wou'd  be  glad  to  live  in  peace  with  all  men,  nor  can  my 
worst  enemies  pretend  to  support  the  contrary.  The 
Spanish  merch'  is  with  his  royal  debtor.  The  Vice  Presi- 
dent is  no  more,  and  yet  the  inchantra*  is  the  same ;  nor 
do  you  seem  to  have  any  prospect  of  its  breaking.  I  live 
easy  here  with  a  mannerly,  dutifull  people.  Look  on 
what  I  say  and  tell  me  whether  all  put  together  wou'd 
not  something  allay  as  warm  a  breast  as  yours.  I  say  to 
think  how  vilely  and  unreasonably  I  am  treated,  and  that 
it's  not  in  the  united  power  of  my  friends  to  help  it  ia 
the  least  measure.  Of  this  petite  number  I  put  you  into 
a  class  by  yourself;  and  when  I  have  mentioned  Dennet 
&  Coll"  Jo,  I  must  apply  to  you  to  find  another  that  is 
truly  staunch  and  steady. 

The  Court  sits  here  9  o£  next  m";  that  if  1  see  an 
Assembly  with  you  before  the  fall  it  must  be  the  first 
week  in  May,  and  you  need  never  ask  me  when  I'll  come, 
because  I  have  always  told  you  I'll  come  when  you  think 
best.  You'll  see  I  have  appointed  a  Fast  to  be  here  27 
ins',  and  wou'd  have  it  at  same  time  w""  you,  so  let  me 
have  a  proclamation  to  sign  by  the  post,  which  I  shall 
send  to  Sancho,  and  so  you  must  have  a  Council,  and 
phaps  he'll  play  his  last  year's  game.  If  so,  I  must 
again  order  the  Presid'  to  call  a  Council  to  pass  it,  and 
you  had  best  consider  whether  the  Board  will  be  strong 
enough  to  do  it,  in  case  Sancho  shou'd  refuse  acting,  or 
whether  it's  best  to  run  the  risq  of  making  an  attempt 
with  him,,  or  otherwise  to  omit  the  matter  for  the  present. 
Think  closely  and  say.    I  am.  Sir, 

Your  ready  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  March  3,  1734/B. 
(Post.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  JONATHAN   SELCHEB,  JB. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEE.  JR. 


Mt  dear  Son,  —  I  wrote  you  13  Janu'  last  f  Ducket, 
since  which  I  think  no  ship  hae  toucht  the  northern  con- 
tinent with  fresher  news  from  England  than  beginn"  of 
Nov' ;  so  stale  then  are  all  our  advices.  But  we  expect 
this  m°  may  give  us  a  ship  direct  from  London.  I  have 
been  looking  over  the  acco'  of  your  last  year's  expences, 
being  253.  14.  9  &  83.  19.  11  is  st'  337.  14.  8. 

It  is  a  great  sum,  yet  I  find  no  fault,  because  I  don't 
see  how  any  of  it  cou'd  have  been  fairly  sav'd.  The 
books  you  have  bo"  (according  to  incloa'd  catalogue)  is 
a  good  expence,  and  you  must  be  getting  into  a  library 
gradually  and  as  you  conveniently  can.  Your  diversion 
at  the  spinnet  is  well,  but  out-door  exercise  is  more  virile 
&  healthy,  never  forgetting  the  best  rules  of  temperance, 
a  specimen  whereof  is  in  the  inclos'd  paper  of  27  Jan'  past. 
I  always  tlio't  it  mean  for  gent"  at  Lond"  to  suffer  their 
serv"  to  take  pay  for  their  dinners,  so  I  think  well  of  the 
genteel  way  you  take  with  your  serv'  to  prevent  it.  I 
now  send  f  Scutt  half  a  bb'  of  pickled  pork,  a  beaver  hat, 
and  a  box  of  green  candles.  They  are  all  good  of  the 
kinds  &  the  pork  I  believe  hardly  to  be  matcht^  When 
it  comes  to  hand  it  must  be  nianag'd  according  to  inclos'd 
paper,  and  if  the  King  loves  pickld  pork,  you  may  ven- 
ture to  have  a  piece  of  it  set  on  his  table.  The  hat  and 
candles  you  must  deliver  with  my  letters  to  your  father 
&  mother  Tench.  If  it  may  do  you  any  service  I  will 
pay  my  compliments  to  D'  Bentley,  M'  Dickens,  and 
Sanderson. 

You  must  send  your  mother  a  p'  of  stayes  y  the  first 
opportunity  after  rec't  of  the  inclos'd  directions. 

If  any  thing  can  be  done  about  the  Naval  Office,  and 
it  be  not  finisht  before  this  comes  to  hand,  I  shou'd  rather 
it  shou'd  be  given  to  your  bro  And'  than  to  your  bro 


oyGoot^lc 


192  THB  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [17M-5. 

Lyde,  because  I  have  lately  well  provided  for  the  latter 
by  making  him  sole  Clerk  of  the  Inferiour  Court,  which 
is  worth  near  £1000  a  year. 

Not  having  rec'd  a  farthing  from  the  Province  for  12 
m"*  past,  nor  from  N.  Hamp  (thro'  Dunbar's  wickedness) 
for  18  m",  1  have  been  (&  am)  prodigiously  straitned, 
and  which  I  am  sensible  has  affected  your  uncle  &  you. 
However,  it  shall  not  be  long  before  I  make  him  a  good 
remittance.  The  copper  mines  are  like  to  be  of  great 
service  to  me  on  that  head.  *^  Cap*  Webster,  who  saila 
in  14  d'  I  shall  write  you  again.  We  are  (1  thank  God) 
all  well,  and  your  mother,  brothers,  &  sister  send  their 
kind  love.     I  am  always 

Your  affect,  father.  J.  B. 

BoBTOM,  March  8, 1734/5. 

(Scutt)  


TO  JONATHAN  LAW. 

Sir,  —  I  duly  rec'd  your  favour  of  25  Janu*  f  the  post 
with  a  piece  of  your  own  silk  and  a  very  pleasing  acco' 
of  the  progress  of  the  matter  from  the  egg  to  the  com- 
pletion .  by  the  weaver,  and  in  the  next  ship  to  London 
1  shall  send  a  copy  of  your  Honour's  letter  with  the 
several  specimens  you  incloa'd  me  to  the  R"  Hon"^  the 
Lords  of  Trade  &  Plantations,  and  say  to  them  there- 
on what  I  think  may  be  of  service  to  these  plantations. 
We  hope  to  see  what  we  call  our  spring  ships  by  the 
last  of  this  month,  and  if  they  bring  us  any  thing 
material  respecting  these  Colonies  1  shall  hand  it  to 
you.  You  will  no  doubt  hear  of  a  late  emission  of  near 
thirty  thousand  pounds  in  bills  of  credit  made  by  private 
persons  in  the  little  Province  of  N.  Hampshire  upon  a 
wretched  (or  rather  upon  no)  foundation.  If  the  Colonies 
are  suffer'd  to  go  on  in  this  manner,  what  they  denomi- 
nate money  will  be  fit  for  bottoms  of  pyea  (or  fouler  uses) 


oyGoot^lc 


1794-5.]  TO   MRS.   MARTHA   GERRISH.  193 

and  nothing  else.  I  perfectly  agree  with  yoii,  Sir,  that 
bilia  emitted  at  short  periods  (not  so  much  as  2  or  three 
years)  redeemable  by  silver  and  gold  at  such  standards  aa 
the  governments  may  think  equitable  at  the  several  times 
of  their  emissions  may  tolerably  maintain  their  value ; 
but  all  others  are  a  shadow,  a  fraud,  a  cheat  and  delusion. 
I  am,  Hon"*'  Sir, 

Your  most  faithful!  hum'  serv*.  J.  B. 

BoBTOH,  Mareh  12,  17M/B. 
#  U'  X.  CushiDg,  Jun'. 


TO  MRS.   MARTHA  GERRISEL 

Dear  Madam,  —  I  have  such  a  confidence  in  your 
goodness  that  I  make  no  apology  for  the  late  date  of 
this,  in  answer  to  your  very  ingenious  &  religious  favour 
of  24  April  last.  Charity  flowing  from  that  religion 
which  is  pure  and  undefiled  before  God  and  the  Father  is 
a  plain  indication  that  such  a  soul  is  stampt  with  the 
divine  image.  We  love  Him  because  He  first  loved  us. 
God's  love  and  charity  to  the  souls  of  men  was  from 
eternity  breathing  out  from  the  bosome  of  His  infinite  & 
unlimited  mercy  and  benignity.  But,  Oh !  madam,  how 
rare  are  the  instances  among  the  apostate  race  of  Adam 
of  such  charity  as  I  have  described.^  No,  the  hearts 
of  the  children  of  men  are  so  polluted  thit  nothing 
less  than  the  sovereign  grace  of  God  can  produce  an 
act  with  a  single  eye  to  His  glory,  and  disinterestedly  for 
the  good  and  comfort  of  a  child  of  His.  I  say  the  god  of 
this  world  stands  ready  with  10,000  wicked  suggestions 
to  serve  as  flies  in  our  ointm'.  I  speak  this  from  wofull 
experience,  and  desire  with  shame  to  lament  it  before  the 
Searcher  of  all  Hearts.  Great  is  the  honour  done  to  such 
of  the  sous  of  men  who  are  made  good  stewards  of  the 


oyGoot^lc 


194  THE  BELCHEK  PAPEBS.  [17S4r^. 

manifold  grace  of  God.  I  never  forget  your  pains  and 
anguish,  and  while  I  am  a  constant,  tender  sympathizer 
with  you,  I  rejoice  to  find  the  furnace  of  affliction  is  the 
refiner's  fire  that  purges  away  your  dross,  and  takes 
away  your  tin,  and  so  you  come  forth  as  pure  gold, 
a  vessel  unto  honour,  sanctified  and  meet  for  the  Master's 
use.  Oh,  happy  soul,  inabl'd  by  these  momentary  afflic- 
tions to  work  out  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory.  As  soon  as  I  had  made  some  little 
provision  for  M'  Mason  in  the  SeCry's  office,  I  was  glad 
to  be  able  to  answer  your  request  in  favour  of  your 
worthy  nephew  M'  Bridge  *  by  oflfering  him  to  succeed 
M''  Mason  as  my  clerk,  and  while  he  has  been  with  me 
he  has  more  than  made  out  the  good  character  you  gave 
him,  and  altho'  he  does  not  write  so  very  well  as  I  cou'd 
wishjt  yet  his  other  qualifications  abundantly  overbalance 
any  little  wantage  that  way,  and  1  cou'd  'a'  been  very 
contented  with  him,  but  that  he  has  told  me  once  and 
again  be  has  devoted  himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
in  which  I  heartily  wish  he  may  become  a  burning  and 
a  shining  light.  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  you,  and  so  is 
M'  Belcher  of  the  Temple,  for  the  handsome  representa- 
tion of  the  parhelia  which  you  drew  and  sent  me  for  him 
in  Dec'  last,  and  I  suppose  he  has  long  since  rec'd  it  with 
your  letters  at  that  time.  By  a  ship  that  sail'd  three 
weeks  agoe  I  answer'd  a  letter  I  had  rec'd  from  your 

brother  D ,t  of  which  I  send  you  a  copy,  and  when 

you  write  him  you  must  apologize  for  my  freedom.  That 
God  from  the  riches  of  bis  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus  may 
ease  and  mitigate  the  pains  of  your  body,  and  that  your 
soul  may  go  on  from  one  degree  of  grace  to  another  until 

■  Hn.  Oenish'i  sJBter  E1Iub«th  ntamfd  Chriitopher  Bridge.  See  Fftige'i  Hiitor/  nt 
Cambridge,  p.  S4S.  ~  Edb. 

t  Ur.  Bridgi'B  handwriting,  Ihongh  niSLcienlly  legible,  ia  moch  woraa  tlun  Uut  of 
hU  predecessor,  who  wrote  a  varj  hindiome,  fiowing  huid.  —  Ei>a. 

X  Daniel  Fozcrofi,  then  reaidenc  in  England.  See  Paige's  Histotj  o[  Cambridge, 
p.  MS.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734-5.]  TO  HICHARD  WALDRON.  195 

grace  shall  be  perfected  in  glory,  is  and  shall  be  the 
prayer  of.  Madam, 

Your  ready  friend  &  affectionate  kinsman. 

J.  B. 

BoBTOM,  Mardi  2i,  1734/S. 
^  M*  Monis. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDEON. 

Hon"  Sib, — I  have  the  pleasure  of  yours  of  17  & 
21  f  y*  post,  and  am  again  scry  on  your  acco'  only  that 
the  business  about  York  County  *  has  taken  such  a  turn  & 
that  a  Gov'  shou'd  be  oblig'd  to  say  to  a  friend  he  loves, 
"The  desire  of  a  man  is  his  kindness."  Yet  be  assured 
you  have  not  only  my  hand  but  my  heart  to  serve  you 
and  your  family  whenever  there  shall  be  an  opportunity, 
which  you  must  watch  for,  and  so  will  I,  nor  do  I  wholly 
give  over  the  affair  above  mention'd,  but  shou'd  be  glad 
of  what  further  credentials  can  be  procured.  Don't  re- 
gret too  much  that  you  a'n't  a  partner  in  the  new  gold 
mine.t  Look  on  the  device  fixt  to  Lord  Coke  over  your 
mantle  piece,  —  Prudens  qui  paiiena,  I  don't  know,  but 
have  reason  to  believe  something  will  be  done  in  a  little 
time  towards  a  catastrophy.  Whatever  may  be  your  sen- 
timents as  to  flouds  from  the  stationer's  shops,  I  assure 
you  I  did  and  do  look  upon  the  instruction  touching  that 
affair  as  good  a  member  as  any  of  the  whole  royal  body. 
Nor  will  this  ever  be  a  happy  people,  or  be  able  to  lay 
any  tolerable  claim  to  honesty  till  gold  and  silver  are  the 
only  money,  or  bills  that  will  demand  it  instanter,  and  if 
nothing  else  can  do  it,  T  hope  before  you  and  I  are  a  great 
deal  older  an  Act  of  Parliament  will  bring  salvation  to  all 
the  King's  colonies  in  this  matter.  Yet  if  finally  any 
thing  be  got  by  this  new  cheat  I  am  sory  (if  you  are) 

■  The  appointmeDt  oF  >  new  ghcriffto  inccecd  Samael  Wheelwright.  —  EiM. 
t  The  Kliema  for  s  joint  ttoek  bknk  la  iane  paper  currenej,  often  referred  to  in 
Belcher's  letten.  —Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


196  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [17S4-5. 

that  you  lia'n't  a  hand  in  it.  I  have  another  good  letter 
from  old  E.,  and  I  am  sure  he's  as  honest  as  he  possibly 

can  be.     Rhodomontado  •  is  as  he  is.     0 ,t  Dennet 

and  Coll"  Jo  (to  whom  the  Gov'"*  hearty  respects)  I  know 
are  steel  to  the  back  bone.  I  am  sory  I  put  you  upon 
the  difficulty  on  answering  that  paragraph  in  my  letter  of 
3  ^ent,  because  I  know  you  cou'd  not  do  it ;  but  I  men- 
tioned it  rather  that  you  might  speculate  on  the  Gov^ 
ratiocination,  and  to  see  if  you  must  not  be  oblig'd  to 
conclude  with  him,  and  I  will  once  more  say  to  you  that 
upon  the  most  severe  scrutiny  I  boldly  challenge  my 
worst  enemy  to  say  wherein  I  have  not  steadily  consulted 
the  best  interest  of  the  Province,  or  to  say  "Whose  ox 
have  I  taken  ?  or  whose  ass  have  I  taken  ?  or  whom  have 
I  defrauded?  whom  have  I  oppressed  ?  or  of  whose  hand 
have  I  recieved  any  bribe  to  blind  my  eyes  therewith  ?  " 
While  the  Devil  has  so  dutifull  and  so  active  a  pimp 
among  you  I  don't  expect  things  to  be  better,  and  yet 
you'll  own  it's  hard  measure  to  a  gent"  that  has  done 
every  thing  to  the  stretch  of  his  little  capacity  to  be  so 
maltreated  and  shou'd  you  get  under  his  absolute  domin- 
ion, as  too  many  wish  &  some  fear,  phaps  the  first  sort 
wou'd  not  find  themselves  (nor  the  Province  in  general) 
happier  than  now. 

Sir  Charles  Wager  is  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  and 
I  have  some  expectation  to  hear  of  his  being  made  noble. 
I  contracted  an  acquaintance  with  him  at  Whitehall,  and 
have  held  a  regular  correspondence  with  him  from  my 
arrival.  He  is  a  man  of  great  probity,  is  every  day  he 
lives  (if  he  pleases)  in  the  K — g's  &  in  &  R'*  closet  that 
what  he  writes  (in  the  inclos'd)  of  peace,  Ac*,  I  depend 
on  as  his  Majesty's  &  S*  R''  sentiments.  I  have  not  an- 
swer'd  his  letter,  so  you'll  carefully  return  it  when  read. 
SI — de  is  a  foolish   old  hound  that  he  don't  go  home 

■ElUsHmke.  — EDi. 

t  By  0 ,  BekherprgbablrmeMit  "oldH.,"  — Henrj-Sherbanie.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734-5.]  TO  EIOHAED  WALDBON.  197 

directlj.  I  really  believe  with  proper  testimonials  from 
hence  he  might  intirely  ruin  Sancho.  Pray  procure  me 
what  light  you  can  to  put  into  my  answer  to  Sir  Charles 
on  that  head.  It's  a  nice  a£fair,  and  nothing  must  be  said 
but  plain  facta  ;  for  you  may  be  sure  all  the  King's  miniB- 
ters  will  see  the  Gov'"'  letter  in  order  to  form  a  judgment 
about  Sancho,  and  I  wou'd  really  hope  there  is  some  incli- 
nation even  in  S'  R.  W.  to  dismiss  him,  for  they  have  a 
great  deal  of  plague  from  my  compMnts,  and  are  forc'd 
to  justifie  me,  and  at  same  time  to  uphold  him  because 
they  don't  know  what  to  do  with  him.  Sir,  I  salute  you 
and  your  fine  second  with  such  a  respect  as  you  wou'd 
both  wish  from  a  cordial  friend.  J.  B. 

BoBTOK,  Much  24, 1784/6. 

(Post)  


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

HoNO"*  Sir,  —  The  carrier  &  post  brought  me  yours  of 
31*  last  m°  &  4*  present  I  see  you  have  got  some  intel- 
ligence, &  perhaps  youll  have  more  this  post  y  Homans, 
but  pray  tell  me  how  it's  possible  to  reconcile  the  two 
par^raphs  inclosed.  I  heartily  wish  the  line  was  well 
settled,  &  I  always  thought  &  do  think  New  Hampshire 
has  hard  measure;  yet  I  fancy  they  won't  incline  to  lay 
any  more  wagers  about  it,  tho'  they'll  go  on  to  lye  about 
that  &  any  thing  else  that  may  please  Sanclio,  &  he'll  do 
the  same  for  them  in  his  turn.  I  don't  understand  there 
was  any  thing  going  forward  in  Parliament  about  these 
Provinces,  &  if  ther6  should  it  may  justly  be  charged  to 
the  villain  of  villains.  How  mean  is  the  wretch  to  show 
hia  letters  to  Swabs.  Rhodomontado  has  been  to  make 
hia  bow,  but  I  rec'  him  with  more  phlegm  &  indifference 
than  ever,  &  indeed  he  seem'd  to  me  not  pleas'd  within 
himself.  I  wish  you'd  study  &  furnish  me  with  some 
more  good  matter  against  Dagon  to  go  into  my  letter  to 


oyGoot^lc 


198  THE  BELCHEK  PAPEBS.  [HM- 

Sir  C,  where  I  intend  to  slash  him.  I  have  signed  the 
writt  &  return  it  you  for  the  30"'  of  April.  In  all  buBineas 
I  am  fond  of  that  Baying  of  King  Will°'^  Steady,  steady; 
&  God  sparing  my  life  &  health,  I  hope  to  see  you  at 
Portsmouth  the  29"".  Consult  with  old  H.  &  the  rest  of 
our  friends,  &  let  the  appearance  be  as  you  think  best. 
If  old  H.  says  any  thing  of  being  at  Exeter,  I  believe 
you'll  be  oblig'd  to  tell  him  what  I  have  wrote,  &  must 
not  I  lodge  there  again,  or  where  ?  Perhaps  you'll  find 
the  Gov'  act  wisely  about  your  new  mint.  I  assure  you 
the  protesters  gather  daily  like  a  snowball,  &  93  such  men 
as  you  saw  in  the  Gazette  will  damn  their  credit  more 
than  9000  others,  let  them  fancy  as  they  please. 

I  have  but  few  letters  t  Homans;  Crocker  leaving  Lon- 
don but  3  days  before  him  has  the  bulk  of  the  letters.  It 
begins  now  to  be  more  fear'd  than  at  the  first  setting 
of  the  Parliament  that  England  &  Holland  will  be  drawn 
into  the  scrape.    I  am,  S', 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

,     BoaiON,  April  T^,  1735. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER.  JB. 

Deak  Jonathan,  —  My  last  was  5  ult'  V  Scutt,  three 
days  after  which  arrived  Capt'  Snelling  with  yours  of  23' 
NoV,  &  I  am  pleas'd  with  your  ingenious  answer  to 
mine  of  14"'  &  23'^  August.  And  altho'  I  know  it  to  be 
the  modish  way  of  writing  to  substitute  the  word  vertue 
for  religion,  yet  (I  tbank  God)  I  can't  relish  it.  A  man 
may  have  a  heathenish  vertue,  but  can  never  have  what 
is  of  the  right  sort  without  true  religion.  And  a  constant 
reading  of  the  New  Testament  will  lead  a  man  (by  the 
help  of  God's  grace)  to  the  saving  knowledge  of  the.  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  &  there,  Jonathan,  we  must  cast  anchor  if  we 
intend  to  ride  out  safe,  when  the  storm  of  God's  wrath  shall 
overwhelm  unbelieving,  impenitent  sinners.     Jesus  said 


oyGoot^lc 


1736.]  TO  JONATHAN   BELCHER,  JB.  199 

unto  tbe  Father,  "  And  this  is  life  eternal  that  they  might 
know  Thee,  the  only  true  God,  &  Jesus  Christ  whom  Thou 
has  sent."  .  My  dear  son,  never' forget  to  keep  up  secret 
prayer  with  God  &  religiously  to  observe  His  Sabbath.  Aa 
to  your  bodily  health,  riding,  walking,  fencing,  dancing, 
bowling,  &c'.,  will  greatly  serve  it,  &  still  keep  your 
stature.  But  let  that  be  as  it  must,  your  resolution  is 
noble  &  glorious  to  make  up  such  a  want  (if  God  pleases) 
in  tbe  perfections  of  your  soul.  This,  I  say,  will  be  act- 
ing up  to  your  rational  &  religious  natures.  Your  dress 
I  am  sensible,  must  conform  to  the  tyranny  of  the  fashion, 
&  as  you  are  now  near  25  year  old,  I  shall  for  the  future 
leave  all  things  relating  to  your  bodily  exercises  &  dress 
to  your  own  discretion. 

I  am  greatly  oblig'd  to  my  Lord  Wilmington  for  his 
repeated  goodness  &  favour,  &  I  shall  soon  acknowledge 
it  very  largely,  &  will  keep  him  acquainted  with  all  the 
affairs  of  the  Province.  I  heartily  wish  it  was  possible 
to  obtain  a  general  leave  for  taking  my  salary.  It's  a 
cruel  hardship  to  be  always  oblig'd  to  spend  it  12  months 
before  I  can  receive  it.  I  would  gladly  pay  tbe  ofhce  fees 
of  obtaining  it  from  year  to  year,  altho'  tbe  leave  might 
be  general.  This  I  say  to  prevent  the  several  clerks 
from  opposing  such  an  order.  I  have  sacredly  observ'd 
all  his  Majesty's  orders,  &  have  done  every  thing  in  my 
power  for  the  good  of  his  people.  It  is  therefore  hard  to 
be  thus  kept.  I  suppose  I  am  the  only  English  Gov'  in 
the  world  in  such  a  situation.  ^  some  of  our  spring  ships 
I  shall  write  M'  Sharp  with  a  grateful  sense  of  his  friend- 
ship. M'  Strange  has  given  his  opinion  against  me  in  the 
case  depending  with  Caswall's  executors ;  *  yet  I  hope 
you'll  be  able  to  give  a  turn  to  that  affair  as  in  justice  it 
ought  to  be. 

When  I  consider  all  the  difficulties  of  Tamwortb,  I  have 
in  a  manner  given  it  over,  &  my  sound,  solid  judgment  is, 

•  See  ante,  p.  14B.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


200  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1735. 

83  I  wrote  you  Oct'  20"-  &  Dec'  11"",  1V32.  I  shall  there- 
fore without  regret  acquiesce  in  your  disappointuient,  as 
believing  it  will  give  you  the  better  opportunity  of  becom- 
ing a  nervous  fine  lawyer;  &  hvjna  ret  curam  gere,  if  God 
spares  your  life  to  the  circulation  of  another  election, 
methinks  that  time  of  life  will  be  well  for  indeavouring 
to  obtain  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Commons.  It  will  be 
certainly  wise  that  you  keep  up  a  good  interest  in  the 
Bishop  of  London. 

Exaudi  I  think  is  a  better  word  for  an  invocation  on 
the  Supreme  Being  than  aitendite,  being  more  grand  & 
solemn  ;  k  numina  sancta  may  stand  for  Deus  &  so  be  taken 
singularly,  &  this  may  be  still  the  better  allow'd  poeiicd 
Ucentid.    I  will  think,  advise,  &  alter  it,  if  thought  best 

A  procuration  is  a  most  unthankful  matter,,  so  shall 
order  your  brother  Lyde  to  return  the  bond  you  mention  ; 
nor  could  he  get  it  paid  if  he  would.  The  D'  continues 
very  poor.  I  like  well  your  being  alive  about  the  Agency 
of  this  Province,  but  I  hope  M'  Wilks  will  be  able  to  hold 
it,  tho'  I  have  had  much  difficulty  to  silence  his  enemies, 
which  are  the  more  numerous  from  their  supposing  him 
to  be  a  friend  to  the  Gov',  that  you  may  depend  the  Gov''' 
son  would  be  the  last  person  the  Assembly  would  think 
of.  The  people  here  lay  it  down  as  a  point  of  safety 
always  to  have  a  jealous  eye  on  the  King's  Gov',  tho'  the 
most  probable  method  to  obtain  such  a  thing,  whenever 
there  may  be  a  change  either  of  the  Gov',  or  of  the  Agent, 
would  be  to  obtain  (if  possible)  a  present  from  the  King 
of  1  or  2000  bushels  of  choice,  good  hempseed.  This 
would  be  sow'd  in  every  town  of  the  Province,  &  perhaps 
in  time  produce  the  author  (under  the  King)  of  such  a 
bounty  to  be  an  Agent. 

I  thank  you  for  the  prints  &  pamphlets,  which  have 
been  very  entertaining. 

M'  Belcher's  is  a  handsome  offer,  yet  I  wish  you  could 
be  quiet  on  that  head ;  for  I  am  much  perswaded  it  would 


oyGoot^lc 


17M-]  TO    RICHARD   WALDRON.  201 

be  greatly  to  your  advantage  to  wait  2  or  3  years  longer. 
Homans  arriv'd  the  5*  currant,  without  a  line  from  your 
uncle  or  you.  Your  letters,  I  suppose,  are  aboard  Crocker, 
daily  expected.  When  he  arrives  I  shall  write  more  par- 
ticularly on  this  last  mentioned  affair.  I  am  continually 
Your  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Altho'  CastaJio  of  the  Bible  is  the  best  translation  I 
have  seen,  yet  I  think  if  you  change  cekrem  on  the  plate 
I  sent  you  into  aedulum  it  would  be  better. 

Boston,  April  7"^,  1785. 
(FosUr.) 

[Tbe  Letter  Books  contuDing  (»piea  of  the  letters  written  by  Governor 
Belcher  between  April  21, 1785,  and  Aug.  2i,  1789,  are  not  in  tbe  poeBessiou 
of  the  Uutoricol  Society,] 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  20  curr".  The  tinker*  came 
today  in  a  more  bumble  manner  (without  my  sending)  for 
the  certificate  which  I  sign'd  &  gave  him.  Since  the  last 
post  Hall  is  arriv'd,  by  whom  my  letters  are  down  to  11 
last  month,  by  which  I  have  little  expectation  of  war 
(even  with  Spain).  In  the  time  of  the  Protector  the 
French  King  presum'd  to  take  an  English  merchant  ship, 
upon  which  the  great  Oliver  equipt  a  squadron  of  men 
of  warr,  took  a  number  of  French  merchantmen,  paid 
the  English  merchant  the  value  of  his  ship  &  cargo,  de- 
fray'd  the  charge  of  his  squadron,  &  sent  the  ballance 
to  the  French  King,  &  all  was  well.  What  American 
can  know  but  that  S'  R.  &  the  Cardinal  are  agreed  it  shall 
be  so  now?  I  am  much  incUn'd  to  believe  it.  Our 
mother  king"  don't  seem  to  make  any  thing  more  of 
these  letters  of  reprisal  than  so  to  fit  out  so  as  to  do  the 
business  in  tbe  most  quick  &  effectual  manner.    If  a  warr 


oyGoot^lc 


202  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739. 

shou'd  come  on,  according  to  the  best  judgement  I  can 
form,  we  Bhall  hear  nothing  deoieive  till  the  next  spring. 
I  am  therefore  determined  upon  all  considerations  to 
meet  an  Assembly  with  you  24  prox',  &  the  writt  ia 
sign'd  &  inclos'd  with  my  order  to  old  f — 1  to  convene  a 
Council  for  their  advice.  I  have  by  Hall  very  consider- 
able openings,  &  the  papers  relating  to  them  are  so 
lengthy  that  my  clerk  cannot  get  copies  ready  to  let  you 
see  'em  by  the  post,  ^.haps  I  may  bring  'em  with  me. 
The  enemy  are  at  work  inanibus  pedibusque  (tho'  Sancho* 
is  yet  in  fast  hold),  &  every  now  &  then  they  spring  a  new 
mine,  &  if  you  knew  as  much  of  the  trouble  &  plague  & 
charge  as  I  do,  you'd  pity  the  Govemour ;  yet  I  am  much 
in  love  with  what  I  so  often  wrote  you.  Deed  imperdorem 
stantem  mori,  &  when  the  late  Duke  of  Savoy  was  warmly 
attackt  by  the  French  King,  he  defended  hia  country  with 
an  obstinate  bravery.  What  he  lost  was  gradually,  & 
with  dry  hard  blows,  that  I  remember  we  drank  his  health 
in  England  by  saying.  Here's  inch  by  inch  to  you.  I  am 
determined  to  make  the  best  &  strongest  defence  I  can, 

■  LieuUnant-OoTernar  DuDbar  went  to  England  in  the  spring  or  etrl;  in  tfae  ■mniiuf 
of  1T3T.  In  ■  letter  to  him  dated  April  2G,  1T3T,  ana  prinled  >a  the  Hew  Buupahire  Pio- 
TJuciil  Papera,  vol.  Iv.  pp.  S79,  SSO,  Governor  Belcher  wrote:  "Too  sav  voa  certainly 
imbark  this  week,  but  I  am  told  the  gout  has  got  hold  of  jonr  toe.  1  hope  yon  won't  M 
it  prevail  to  stop  your  (tilkt  of)  voyage.  I  H7  Ihia,  beiiause  I  touad  in  yountometf 
Dec  last,  you  wen  willing  I  sbould  have  hinilered  it.  And  I  took  the  main  design  of  year 
bumble  complaint  to  the  House  of  Repns"  of  Xew  Hampthire  againat  the  OoT'  to  be,  that 
tbey  might  desire  you  to  stay,  instead  of  which  you  doulitleeg  thought  'em  very  uncom- 
plaisant  upon  the  offers  of  your  service  saving,  If  you  btKevi  I  can  do  anything  to  Mrn 
youi'  inlereil  ia  fn^fand,  f  wiU  bt  pUai'd  le  tell  mt  ickertin,  yon  mil  jTnd  a  gratrfid 
return  fron  me  ,-  that  they  should  think  yon  not  capable  of  doing  anything  to  serve  (bui 
interest,  which  appears  in  their  lean  answer,  To  thank  kit  Bonoarfar  kit  Hnrf  offer.  Me- 
tbinks  Ihey  mifiht  have  wiah'd  you  a  good  voyage,  but  pertaaps  they  didn't  believe  ymiwas 
going;  yet  you  have  carry'd  the  jest  so  far,  that  I  don't  see  bow  you  can  welt  avdd  it. 
YoD  don't  want  the  Province's  nor  my  good  wislies  tor  their  happy  riddance,  but  I  have 
had  so  many  letters  from  yon  in  six  years  past,  saying  you  was  resolv'd  to  gokont,  gokiymt, 
that  I  shall  not  believe  it  till  some  vessel  tells  me,  tbey  bave  tnet  you  to  the  eastward  of 
St.  George's."  A  few  months  later,  Aug.  37,  Thomlinson  wrats  to  Theodore  Atkinran :  "  I 
have  but  just  time  to  tell  you  that  Coll.  Dunbar  has  given  bail  to  Mr.  Wilks  and  the  other 
occation,  and  now  lias  his  enlargement  &  about  among  his  friends.  He  was  very  imimideat 
at  his  dnt  coming,  not  to  take  the  advice  of  his  friends,  and  the  Board  of  Green  Cloth  would 
have  protected  him  from  any  thing  of  that  nature.  I  hope  be  will  be  more  careFutI  for  the 
future,  &  I  hope  he  will  succeed  in  his  aolidtationa."  S«e  Neir  Hampihira  Proriidal 
Papers,  vol.  iv.  p.  894.  —  Eoa. 


oyGoot^lc 


J7J».]  ■  TO  RICHARD   WALDHON.  203 

&  perhaps  may  finally  find  the  success  of  his  wisdom  & 
fortitude,  which  waa  the  salvation  of  his  country.  I  do 
assure  you  things  were  never  wrought  up  bo  near  to  a 
crisis  as  now,  &  you  may  depend  we  can't  live  over  an- 
other year  without  a  very  different  turn  of  affairs  one  way 
or  t'other.  I  wish  you  cou'd  take  a  bed  with  me  one  night 
&  see  all  I  have  come,  because  it  may  be  otherwise  a 
month  before  we  meet  It's  plain  by  the  constant  sequel 
of  things  the  Line  has  been  the  least  thing  in  the  ques- 
tion. A  separate  government  is  now  openly  and  violently 
pusht  for,  &  Benning  to  be  your  man,  &  the  present  face 
of  affairs  meditate  a  greater  probability  of  it  than  any 
thing  heretofore.  You  will  no  doubt  be  full  of  news,  & 
will  hand  me  what  you  hear.  Inclosed  are  the  copies  of 
two  letters  to  S'  C.  Wager.  That  from  Exeter  is  doubtless 
a  forgery  of  Sancho's,  so  it  will  be  necessary  to  summon 
the  parties  before  you  by  Sheriff  Russel,  &  let  'em  make 
a  proper  affidavit  to  set  forth  the  villany  in  its  full  light, 
which  will  do  good  service  at  this  time.  By  this  you  may 
see  there's  nothing  the  rascals  won't  attempt  to  accom- 
plish their  malice.  I  hope  this  Assembly  may  rise  some 
day  this  week,  when  I  shall  be  at  leisure  &  glad  to 
see  you. 

Huske  has  made  a  valuable  seizure,  &  a  good  one, 
worth  4  or  5000  £.  The  Irish  Judge  *  is  a  villain,  &  the 
Advocate  t  a  greater,  so  it  may  be  lost  without  good  ad- 
vice &  assistance.  I  have  therefore  order'd  him  (&  Liver- 
more)  to  come  to  you  &  pray  you  to  assist  him  in  the 
best  manner  you  can.  I  wonder  he  does  not  come  hither 
on  such  an  extraordinary  occasion.  The  Judge  &  Advo- 
cate will  clear  the  ship  &  cargo,  if  they  can,  but  I  think 
in  this  case  it's  hardly  possible.     Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

BOBTOK,  Sep*  24, 1788. 

(Port-) 

*  Bobvrt  Aodunatr.  — Era.  t  William  Bhirlcr.  —  EM. 


oyGoot^lc 


204  THB  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


TO   RICHARD   WALDRON. 


Hon""""  Sir, —  I  am  favour'd  with  yours  of  28  ult?. 
t's  difficult  to  say  what  will  be  best.  I  hardly  expect  if 
'arr,  that  we  shall  have  the  account  of  it  this  fall.  If  the 
aragraph  would  do  so  much  mischief  to  be  known,  you 
Ml  doubtless  keep  a  secret  I  did,  &  do,  think  so,  or  I 
ad  not  ua'd  those  freedoms  with  you  above  all  my  other 
•lends.  Yet  could  you  see  what  I  have  come,  you  might 
ave  different  apprehensions  from  me.  Several  ships  are 
xpected  from  England,  &  as  things  are  growing  to  ii 
risis,  we  shall  be  fill'd  with  fresh  advices  every  day,  and 
3  I  shall  be  constantly  writing  you,  it  will  be  beat  to 
lake  your  trip  to  Casco  as  short  as  possible.  God  sparing 
ly  life  &  health  I  intend  to  be  with  you  24  ins'  to  meet 
.  suppose)  another  wicked  Assembly.  luclos'd  is  iny 
rder  to  old  Id — t  •  to  adjourn  the  Court  of  Appeals.  I 
ave  but  little  expectation  from  Husk's  seizure,  tho'  the 
istice  of  the  forfeiture  is  as  clear  as  the  sun  in  the  firma^ 
lent.  You  may  depend  I  shall  not  lower,  but  rather 
oist  Rhodomontado's  t  topsail  by  a  proper  &  decent 
:>mpliment.     Duke  TrinkaloJ  stays  over  the  winter,  & 

think  we  may  expect  no  decisive  Line  news  till  the 
3ring.  The  father  in  law  to  the  Spanish  chap  §  said  last 
eek  his  son  wrote  him  by  the  last  ship  he  should  em- 
ark  in  ten  days,  &  may  be  here  with  Stanny  (daily  ex- 
ected).  I  thank  your  good  care  about  the  villainous 
»rg'd  letter,  which  I  suppose  to  be  done  by  Sancho,  & 

hear  was  deliver'd  by  Trinkalo  or  the  royal  creditor.|| 
i  will  be  best  for  the  persons  (if  not  guilty)  to  make  a 

•  WaltOD.  —  A^od!  by  Rev.  Dr.  Btlinap, 
t  EttiaHaakc.  —  Edh. 
t  Samiwl  Waldo.  —  Er>a. 

j  The  first   wire  of   Bcnning  Wentworth  was  AhiK«i1,  daughter  of  John  Sack  of 
Atnn.     See  Wenlworth  Genealogy,  vol.  i.  p.  2S8.  —  Eds, 
II  Benning  Wentworth.  — Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


178».]  TO  RICHARD  WALDRON.  205 

formal  declaration  &  abhorrence,  &  swear  to  it  before  two 
justices. 

Ton  will  hear  by  the  post  that  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives here  have  chosen  Death's  Head  Enamelled* 
to  be  their  Agent  in  Great  Britain.    I  am,  S', 

Your  right  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  OctoV  1, 17S9. 

(PMt.)  

TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon""  S',  —  I  have  your  favours  of  1,  2  &  6  currant 
y  Fellows  &  the  post  The  session  here  I  think  will  be 
over  tomorrow.  They  have  chosen  another  Agent  t  since 
last  post.  Whether  both  or  only  one  goes  is  uncertain. 
As  to  all  things  on  the  other  side  the  water  we  must  wait 
the  event.  From  arrival  of  ship  after  ship  (I  believe  a 
pretty  many  yet)  I  think  it  will  not  be  war  suddenly. 
Has  not  Bhodomantado's  strait  affairs  made  him  do  what 
he  should  not  about  the  seizure,  which  is  a  good  one  aa 
ever  was  made?  But  from  the  perfidious  Judge,  his 
deputy,  and  the  Advocate,  who  I  doubt  not  will  perjure 
themselves,  what  must  not  be  expected  ?  I  observe  all 
that  past  as  to  the  time  of  an  Assembly's  meeting.  We 
begin  to  be  in  a  fine  pickle.  Old  Ideot  should  by  a  town 
act  be  confin'd  to  bis  chamber.  Trinkalo  has  sworn 
about  the  Governour  &  his  own  return  as  the  intended 
assassins  did  about  S'  Paul.  Perhaps  he  may  be  disap- 
pointed as  they  were. 

You  may  depend  there  always  was  &  will  be  such  as  have 
been  call'd  crocus  mdalhrum.  The  feign'd  Exeter  letter 
seems  to  be  as  diabolical  an  affair  as  any  they  have  yet 
practis'd.    I  am  therefore  thankfuU  you  will  make  another 


f  Chrbtopber  Eilb^.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


206  THE  BELCHER  FAPEBS.  [1T39. 

trip  tliither  to  search  to  the  very  bottom  of  the  matter,  & 
since  S^  Charles  was  so  kind  as  to  let  me  have  copj'  of  it, 
if  I  can  do  nothing  to  detect  the  villainy  it  may  have  an 
ugly  tendency. 

I  am  not  well,  nor  have  been  for  above  4  months  past, 
but  follow'd  with  a  disorder  in  ray  bowels,  &  which  hith- 
erto seema  to  refuse  listening  to  such  applications  aa  tlie 
physicians  have  thought  proper.  I  am  also  besieg'd  at 
home  &  abroad  as  to  my  administration  &  can  say  with 
the  Apostle,  In  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  by  mine  ovm 
countrymen,  in  perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilde^ 
ness,  in  perils  among  false  brethren.  In  all  these  things, 
S',  I  thank  a  wise  &  good  God  that  I  am  in  all  submis- 
sion devoted  to  His  determinations  concerning  me  as  to 
natural  or  political  death.  Yet  while  He  gives  me  health 
I  hope  chearfuUy  to  persevere  in  all  the  duties  of  life,  & 
perhaps  when  yon  see  how  I  close  the  present  session  you 
may  think  so.  I  am  therefore  surpriz'd  to  see  my  hero  a 
little  out  of  breath.  Courage,  my  friend,  reassume  your 
noble,  natural  spirit  &  temper.  For  my  own  part  I  am 
far  from  not  hoping  guod  Dem  daUt  his  quogue  finem.  With 
kind  respects  I  remain 

Your  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

The  assessors  &  military  lists  carefully  drawn  &  sworn 
to  may  help  about  the  Exeter  letter. 

If  the  Assogue  ships  are  safe  in  Spain,  it  may  be 
warr. 

Boston,  October  8,  1789. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Mt  Friend  (worth  having). 

Sir,  —  T  have  your  favour  of  12  ins'  V  the  post,  &  have 
read  it  over  with  my  best  attention,  for  {without  a  com- 
pliment) so  it  deserves.    As  to  the  new  Agency  (conad- 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.]  TO   RICHARD  WALDBON.  207 

ering  the  declar'd  errand)  had  it  been  in  my  power  I 
would  'a  done  nothing  to  interrupt.  If  those  who  have 
the  consideration  of  the  seizure  make  nothing  of  it,  I  shall 
conclude  'em  all  pei-jur'd.  It's  hardly  worth  while  to 
stain  paper  about  old  F — 1,  Id — t,  &  what  not  ?  *  The 
warr  I  am  ingag'd  in  is  carrying  on  in  much  the  same 
manner  as  for  9  years  past,  that  I  am  become  a  hardy  old 
soldier,  and  as  I  pretty  well  understand  their  tracks, 
haunts  &  subterfuges  it  gives  me  the  less  soUicitude  &  the 
more  fortitude.  Your  affectionate  sympathy  justly  claims 
&  gains  my  sincere  respect  &  readiness  to  serve  you  on  all 
occasions.  The  ships  are  daily  expected,  which  may  en- 
able us  to  form  a  better  judgment  as  to  peace  or  warr, 
abroad  or  at  home.  I  bid  you  again  to  be  of  good  cour- 
age; who  knows?  perhaps,  &c'.  I  have  often  told  you 
my  fondness  of  the  wicked  King  Ahab's  advice,  nor  have 
you  ever  found  me  forw*  of  dreaming  or  talking  on  the 
brightest  side,  but  rather  otherwise.  I  am  glad  you  are 
RO  sensible  of  the  necessity  of  pursuing  the  Exeter  affair 
to  effect.  And  to  have  it  done  as  soon  as  may  be  is  also 
of  great  necessity.  I  inclose  you  some  papers  referr'd  to 
a  post  or  two  agoe.  Tomlinson's  letter  opens  their  scene 
very  plainly  &  by  it  you'l  see  (Trinkalo  is  not,  but) 
B — nn — g  is  your  man.  Sancho  is  not  as  they  talk,  biit, 
11  August  was  peeping  thro'  a  grate.t  I  have  weigh'd  all 
your  good  reasons,  and  inclose  you  my  answer  to  one  re- 
ceiv'd  from  the  Presid',  &  my  order  to  him  to  prorogue  the 
Court  to  7  pros',  Ac*.  The  first  you  may  seal  &  send  him 
immediately.  The  latter  I  think  may  be  best  to  be  deliver'd 
in  a  room  by  himself  at  the  time  the  Court  is  got  together, 
&  swear  him  not  to  open  his  mouth  about  it,  onely  as  he 
comes  to  the  Council  Board  to  say,  I  have  the  Govenf'' 
order  that  M^  Waldron,  tfe  Suske  dk  Coll"  Jo,  or  any  two  of  'em 

•  Shadnch  Wslton,  Preildent  of  the  Coundl.    He  was  at  tfaia  time  «boot  eiglitr-three 
jttn  Did.  —  Eds. 

t  yeutenant.GoTCniOr  Dunlwr,  who  hud  gone  to  Bngland,  hid  been  impriBoaed  then 
for  debt — £ps. 


oyGoot^lc 


208  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739. 

give  the  oaths  to  the  Reps,  &  upon  his  so  saying  you  are  to  go 
down  immediately,  &  do  you  tben  prorogue  'em  immedi- 
ately, for  they  are  a  good  House  without  a  Speaker  or 
Clerk,  especially  since  they  have  no  business  to  do,&  they  ■ 
may  choose  those  officers  at  their  next  meeting,  which 
perhaps  may  not  now  be  till  February  {but  this  sh'  be  a 
secret).  If  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons  should 
dy,  the  House  don't  dy  with  him,  nor  would  it  hinder  the 
King's  proroguing,  adjourning,  or  dissolving  the  Parlisr 
ment  at  bis  pleasure.  Take  care  also  the  Court  of  Appeals 
be  adjourn'd.  Read  old  H'"  letter,  then  seal,  go  &  give  it 
him,  &  swear  him  to  secrecy  till  the  affair  of  the  24  ins**  is 
over.  It  will  please  him  to  make  him  sometimes  of  the 
cabinet;  but  old  F — 1,  I  think,  must  know  nothing  till 
the  very  time.  If  I  have  omitted  any  thing  material  in 
this  matter  (or  any  thing  else),  to  prevent  a  failure  send 
an  express  immediately,  for  you  know  the  next  post 
won't  reach  Portsmouth  the  24  currant  at  10  in  the 
morning.  But  perhaps  I  have  done  all  right,  and  wish 
you  may  think  so.  With  ray  kind  respects  to  your  good 
lady,  I  remain,  dear  Sir, 

Your  very  good  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  October  15, 1738. 

(Post)  


TO   RICHAED  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  My  last  was  12  September  ^  Williamson  (to 
Hull).  I  have  since  receiv'd  your  favours  of  July  6,  7, 
Aug"  9,  10  &  11.  What  I  wrote  of  denying  a  certificate 
under  the  seal  of  the  Province  to  the  N.  Hamp  clan, 
I  afterward  sign'd,  &  so  I  suppose  you  will  hear  no  com- 
plaint about  it.  I  thank  you  for  delivery  of  my  letters 
to  the  several  great  personages  to  whom  I  wrote,  which 
I  hope  may  find  a  just  influence.  I  will,  brother,  spare 
no  pains  to  defend  myself,  &,to  make  my  interest  with 


oyGoot^lc 


1738.]  TO  RICHARD   PARTRIDGE.  209 

such  as  are  capable  of  serving  or  disserving  me,  &  after 
this  &  the  diligent  application  of  you  &  the  rest  of  my 
friends  at  home,  I  must  be  content  with  the  orderings 
of  the  wise  Governor  of  the  world.  I  am  taking  some 
pains  about  the  villainous  forg'd  letter  directed  to  S'  C. 
Wager,  and  shall  give  you  an  account  of  what  I  learn. 
I  am  oblig'd  for  your  early  care  in  sending  me  copies  of 
Gulston  &  Comp'  memorial ;  the  petition  of  the  Irish 
people  in  our  eastern  parts ;  the  references  of  them  from 
the  Privy  Council  to  the  Board  of  Trade ;  old  Woodside's 
letter  to  the  Privy  Council  &  to  M'  Stone ;  &  of  Tom- 
liason's  letter  to  M'  Stone.  The  last  is  a  key  to  the 
whole.  I  observe  Gulston  leaves  out  my  name,  tho'  in- 
tirely  levelled  at  me,  &  it's  done  very  artfully  that  I 
might  not  lay  claim  to  a  copy  &  time  to  answer,  but 
a  report  to  be  made  conclusive  upon  it,  without  doing 
me  that  justice.  This  ia  a  vile  way  for  the  petitioners 
thus  to  attempt  to  treat  a  gentleman's  character. 

I  see  you  &  Counsellour  Belcher  had  put  in  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Lords  of  Trade  for  copies  &  time  for  me  to 
answer.  The  Duke  of  N was  very  kind  on  this  occa- 
sion, and  I  admire  a  gent"  of  Lord  "Wilmington's  candour 
&  justice  should  make  any  reference  of  them  to  the 
Board  of  Trade,  as  they  were  directed  to  the  Privy 
Council.  The  natural  and  just  course  was  that  I  be  serv'd 
with  the  copies,  which  justice  I  hope  you  will  obtain 
for  me,  &  you  may  then  depend  I  shall  be  able  to. 
clear  myself  from  any  imputations,  &  to  make  all  their 
attempts  plainly  appear  to  be  nothing  more  than  the 
effects  of  downright  malice ;  and  till  I  am  serv'd  with 
copies  I  don't  see  how  I  can  properly  make  ans*. 

B.  Wentworth's  arrival  is  daily  expected  by  bis  friends, 
k  with  a  commission  for  the  govemm'  of  N.  Hampshire, 
but  they  may  be  mistaken. 

I  am  yet  behind  a  ^6100  str«  of  M'  Belcher's  bill  for 
300  in  your  favour  payable  to  M'  Gatcomb,  as  also  in 


oyGoot^lc 


210  THB  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1739. 

payment  of  your  last  bill  of  £100  to  M'  Oliver.  The 
Treasury  here  being  unaupply'd  greatly  straitens  me,  yet 

1  hope  soon  to  pay  that  £200  str. ;  &  M'  Oliver  &  Gat- 
comb  will  take  care  to  give  you  notice  when  they  ship 
you  any  silver  or  gold. 

I  am  much  pleaa'd  with  the  rdi^ous  reflections  you 
mEike  on  the  death  of  your  late  excel?  mother.*  Sister 
Caawall  is  at  present  at  Newbury,  &  intends  to  spend  the 
winter  there.  She  seems  to  think  herself  neglected,  and 
would  kindly  esteem  a  letter  from  you. 

I  would  have  you  talk  -plainly  to  M'  Wilks  &  urge  bim 
to  make  up  to  you  at  least  }  of  the  £2000  str.  remitted 
on  the  score  of  the  Line,  to  which  I  press  him  again  by 
thiB  conveyance.  You  have  herewith  my  letters  to  Lord 
Chief  Justice  Wills  and  to  his  son-in-law,  Counsellour 
Hollings.    I  see  you  had  received  of  M'  Drumond  the 

2  bills  for  22. 18. 4,  &  past  to  my  C'.  I  much  want  to  hear 
from  my  good  friend  Cap'  Coram,  so  soon  as  his  aSmn 
will  possibly  allow.  It  will  greatly  mortify  me  &  gratify 
my  enemies  if  the  Board  of  Trade  has  come  to  the  reso- 
lution, &  it  should  succeed  to  make  N.  Hamp  a  separate 
government.  I  am  thankfull  for  your  vigilance  at  that 
Board,  which  I  hope  may  be  a  means  to  prevent  my 
falling  under  so  great  a  misfortune,  which  would  have 
a  more  fatal  tendency  than  you  readily  imagine.  I  have 
issu'd  writts  for  an  Assembly  to  meet  me  at  N.  Hamp  on 
Wensday,  24  ins",  &  intend  to  write  you  again  before 
I  go  that  journey. 

Your  lov  brother.  J.  B. 

BoaTON,  October  IS,  1739. 

Read  M'  Wilks ;  then  seal  and  deliver. 

(Hom&ni.) 

•  Mr>.  Williim  Futridge  died  June  10, 1739.  See  Saraga'i  OenMlagkal  DictioliH7, 
vol.  iii.  p.  S6T.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  CHIEF  JUSTICE  WILLS. 


TO  CHIEF  JUSTICE  WILLS. 


Mat  it  please  toue  Lordship,  —  If  I  am  surpriz'd 
at  the  great  freedom  I  dow  take,  how  much  more  so 
must  your  Lordship  be  upon  receiving  an  address  from 
so  perfect  a  stranger  as  I  am  to  your  nobl'e  person,  tho' 
not  to  the  eminent  character  your  Lordship  has  alwayes 
maintained  in  your  profession.  If  your  Lordship  will 
pardon  this  freedom  &  allow  me,  I  would  first  of  all  con- 
gratulate his  Majesty  &  bis  people,  &  then  your  Lordship, 
in  the  benefit  &  happiness  they  enjoy  from  your  reaping 
the  reward  of  your  own  merit  in  the  high  honour  the 
King  has  done  you,  not  only  by  promoting  you  into  the 
House  of  his  Peers,  but  in  making  you  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice  of  England.  And  as  you  have  alwayes  reflected 
honour  on  the  learned  body  of  the  long  robe,  so  will  you 
still  exceed  in  proportion  to  the  advantages  constantly 
arising  from  your  exalted  station.  I  have  desir'd  my 
brother  M'  Partridge  with  my  son  M'  Belcher  of  the 
Temple  to  beg  the  favour  &  honour  of  being  admitted 
into  your  Lordship's  presence  to  deliver  thb  into  your 
hands.  They  are  my  stated  agents  in  all  things  relating 
to  my  governments ;  and  I  would  humbly  ask  the  favour 
of  your  Lordship  to  allow  them  to  wait  on  you  on  such 
occasions  as  they  shall  think  necessary,  when  any  thing 
may  be  br6t  against  me  as  matter  of  complaint,  for  it's 
almost  impossible  for  a  gent"  to  sustain  the  station  I  do 
free  from  things  of  that  nature.  May  you,  my  Lord,  live 
long  in  great  health  &  in  high  favour  with  his  Majesty 
(the  best  of  sovereigns)  and  may  ev'ry  circumstance  of 
life  keep  pace  with  your  own  wishes ;  &  thus,  I  am,  my 
Lord, 

Tour  Lordship's  most  obedient  &  most  bumble  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  OctoV  16, 17S9. 
(Houmdo-) 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHES  PAPERS. 


TO  JONATHAK  BELCHER,  J». 

Mt  dear  Son,  —  The  23  ult'  I  rec'd  by  Hall  your  duti- 
full  letter  of  10  August,  and  thank  you  for  the  pictures 
&  funeral  sermon,  bound  &  done  in  all  as  I  would  have  it 
I  shall  be  glad  your  tour  to  Oxford  may  come  of  m^ 
the  desir'd  success.  Blenheim  &  Stow  were  worth  your 
seeing  I  am  with  all  possible  care  and  earnestness  in- 
deavouring  to  comply  with  M'  G.  Loyd's  desire  in  my 
a£fair  depending  with  the  late  W  Loyd's  estate.  Young 
Osbom  ia  hardly  worth  your  resentment,  a  good  natur'd 
silly  young  fellow,  left  two  or  three  witnesses  here  of  the 
rage  &  fury  of  his  reins  &  youthful  sallies,  &  if  bis  trip  to 
London  brings  them  under  a  better  regulation  it  will  be 
something  extraordinary.  I  pity  his  father,  who  is  an 
honest  virtuous  man.  The  quadruple  you  mention  has 
malice  unconfin'd.  D'  Colman  has  your  letter  &  you 
.  herewith  his  answer,  with  what  past  on  my  giving  him 
a  sight  of  the  bound  up  funeral  sermon.  Put  his  compli- 
ment to  Pope  into  the  Magazine  &  send  me.  As  to  JP 
Morton,  I  shall  only  repeat,  I  think  him  a  perfectly 
honest  man.  His  powers  &  capacity  are  as  God  has  dealt 
*em  out  You  may  depend  be  would  serve  you  with 
great  integrity  according  to  his  best  knowledge.  I  re- 
member you  formerly  had  but  a  slight  opinion  of  Cap' 
Coram,  whom  you  now  seem  to  think  mighty  well  of. 
On  this  occasion  I  must  repeat  to  you,  Jonathan,  that 
I  am  considerably  wiser  than  you  are,  &  no  wonder,  with 
ray  advantages,  &  you  29  &  I  58.  So  much  for  that.  As 
to  the  grand  Rohampton  affair,  if  Coram  can  serve  you, 
if  you  put  him  upon  it,  I  am  sure  he  will  with  good 
sepse,  vigour,  &  fidelity;  and  the  consideration  I  laid 
before  him  in  my  letter  of  20  December  last  does  not 
make  it  look  to  me  but  that  you  may  succeed.     The 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.J  TO  JONATHAN  BBLCEEB,  JB.  213 

iDquiry,  I  say  again  must  be  made  with  great  care  & 
caution,  &  if  the  answer  be  not  promising  it's  best  intirely 
to  desist.  But  as  you  are  niDoing  on  to  thirty  it  is  really 
time  to  think  of  getting  well  marrj-'d  &  settled  in  the 
world  &  I  should  be  glad  to  know  the  scheme  you  say 
you  have  in  your  eye  about  fixing  that  great  criterion  of 
life.  Carefully  look  over  my  letter  on  this  article  of  14 
Augnst,  1732,  to  which  I  hardly  know  what  to  add. 
Remember,  Jon*,  your  father's  dayes  are  swifter  than 
a  weaver's  shuttle.  My  busy  head  will  soon  be  leud  to 
rest  in  my  silent  dormitory,  where  if  my  children  sh^ 
make  inquiry  'twou'd  be  to  no  purpose.  Therefore 
while  1  live  it  would  comfort  me  in  my  declining 
years  to  know  you  were  happily  marryed.  I  am  glad 
the  additional  proofs  in  support  of  my  answer  to  the 
New  Hamp  complaints  were  got  to  hand.  If  justice 
can  find  a  place,  1  must  come  off  with  honour  in  that 
matter. 

I  wholly  give  up  the  affair  of  the  Naval  OfBce,  &  your 
brother  Lyde  must  do  otherwise  as  well  as  he  can. 

As  to  your  past  undutifulness  in  not  writing  me,  I  for^ 
give  it  &  DOW  tell  you  once  for  all  that  what  follows  are 
sterling  lines.  If  you  have  no  regard  to  your  solemn 
promise  of  obedience  on  that  head  for  the  future,  lahaU 
not  think  (as  heretofore)  thai  you  are  a  man  who  trvly  fears 
God,  but  one  of  no  regard  to  your  word;  nor  will  I  be  irijCd 
wUh,  &  you  must  look  oui  for  some  body  to  support  you,  for 
I  shaU  be  very  cold  da  indi^erenl. 

It  will  please  me  to  hear  you  are  got  into  lower,  more 
commodious  &  reputable  chambers.  If  L*  Ch — 11 — r  will 
not  serve  you,  you  must  take  the  greater  pains  to  serve 
yourself  by  dint  of  merit.  Waldo  is  as  he  is,  &  we 
must  defend  ourselves  as  well  as  we  can.  You  are  cer- 
twnly  right  to  procure  leave  for  my  coming  home,  just 
at  my  own  option.  BoIIam  is  a  saucy  impudent  fellow. 
I  don't  know  whether  Auchmuty  bought  him  15  or  16 


oyGoot^lc 


214  THE  BELCBBR  PAPERS.  [1739. 

years  agoe,  but  I  believe  he  took  him  then  as  Job  (eayes 
he)  came  into  the  world.  You  did  him  too  great  an 
honour,  but  that's  over.  I  have  done  with  your  writing 
to  Connecticut,  &  heartily  wish  you  may  finally  be  an 
adept  in  your  profession,  ei  non  regret,  sedprogredi.  The 
legacy  M'  Bellamy  left  you  has  no  relation  to  the  execu- 
torship ;  if  so,  it  had  been  no  bounty,  and  if  the  co-exe- 
cutors throw  the  burden  on  you  you  ought  to  be  paid  for 
doing  the  business. 

I  shall  expect  your  annual  ace"  by  the  first  good  con- 
veyance after  28  August.  Sh — y  is  a  vile  fellow ;  noth- 
ing but  the  dregs  of  poverty  can  be  an  excuse,  nor  that 
As  you  grow  older  I  hope  you'l  grow  wiser.  The  dis- 
senters are  certainly  men  of  better  lives  in  general  than 
those  of  the  National  Cfih.  I  remember  a  gingle  of  the 
late  D^  Cotton  Mather  which  pleas'd  me  as  I  thought  it 
true,  that  the  reUgion  of  the  CM  of  England  was  a  UfeUsi 
religion  &  an  irreligious  life;  and  I  hope  you  speak  wiUi 
pleasure  of  returning  to  your  first  love.  I  long  for  a 
letter  from  my  worthy  friend  Coram,  &  am  glad  to  hear 
of  his  success  in  the  noble  design  he  has  been  forming 
with  so  much  good  sense  &  humanity  and  Christianity 
for  16  years  past.  The  seal  of  the  company  is  well 
design'd  &  its  motto  well  adapted.  I  am  under  great 
obligations  to  Cap'  Coram  &  Mad",  &  wish  it  lay  in  my 
power  to  return  their  respects. 

With  great  duty  &  good  manners  keep  up  your  ac- 
quaintance with  Lord  Egmont,  to  whom  I  shall  write 
soon. 

All  I  shall  say  of  summoning  up  your  muse  on  the 
death  of  your  late  incomparable  grandmother  is  that  her 
memory  deserves  &  demands  more  respect  &  honour  from 
you  than  you  can  possibly  pay.  K  Christ  be  the  door 
thro'  which  you  are  to  pass  to  Heaven,  remember  she  was 
early  imploy'd  to  lead  you  to  that  door.  If  you  once  at 
last  become  a  man  of  sacred  regard  to  your  word,  I  shall 


oyGoot^lc 


1780,3  TO  FRANCIS  WILKS.  216 

not  have  the  fatigue  of  reading  or  writing  such  long 
letters  for  the  future.     I  am,  Jon', 

Your  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Oc'  16, 1739. 
(Homans.) 


TO  FBANCIS  WILKS. 

S',  —  I  have  duly  receiv'd  your  favour  of  16  August 
V  Hall,  owning  the  receit  of  mine  of  3  &  28  May  v  Hoar 
&  Clap,  to  which  I  shall  much  esteem  your  particular 
answer.  My  letters  from  M'  Partridge  to  11  August  still 
complain  that  you  treat  him  hardly  in  not  letting  him 
have  even  his  shortest  proportion  of  the  ^2000  str*  1 
remitted  on  the  account  of  the  Line,  which  is  £666. 
13.  4  str.  Indeed,  on  the  death  of  Coll"  Quincy*  he  be- 
came equally  concern'd  with  you,  &  ought  to  have  at 
least  a  thousand  pound  of  the  money  lying  in  his  hands. 
I  once  more  beg  of  you  to  do  him  justice  &  make  him 
easy  that  I  may  be  60  in  that  matter.  The  report  of  the 
Lords  of  Trade  on  the  60,000£  is  a  very  wise  one,  which 
I  have  communicated  to  the  Assembly  with  what  you 
have  wrote  on  that  head,  &  from  the  love  I  bear  to  my 
native  couutrey  I  hope  the  King  will  never  suffer  any 
more  paper  to  be  stampt  here  to  pass  for  money  but  such 
as  shall  have  its  value  fixt  unalterably. 

I  wish  your  next  may  finally  set  me  down  as  to  M' 
Lyde's  affair ;  and  if  you  cannot  get  thro'  it,  I  had  rather 
know  the  worst  than  to  have  gaping  expectations,  & 
finally  to  no  purpose.  You  will  doubtless  have  from 
many  of  your  friends  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Assembly  here  in  their  late  session,  particularly  aa  to 
their  choice  of  a  new  Agent  for  the  House  of  Representa- 

*  Edmimd  Qqiocy  wu  lent  to  Eaglmd  ia  173T  u  one  of  the  Agents  of  HusachtueHi 
Idt  tbe  Httlement  at  th«  boundary  line  between  UuucbnMtta  uid  New  Hunpabire,  and 
died  in  London  Feb.  33, 1T38.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


216  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  flTS*. 

Uvea,  who,  I  suppose,  imbarks  hy  this  conveyance.*  Your 
friends  here  look  upon  this  thing  as  a  great  affront  to 
you,  who  are  not  only  Agent  for  all  the  parts  of  the  Legis- 
lature, but  also  for  the  Representatives  separately  who  by 
this  turn  have  declar'd  you  not  capable  or  not  faithful. 
However,  I  believe  their  Agent  will  soon  after  his  arrival 
convince  them  to  how  little  purpose  any  applications  will 
le  on  the  head  for  which  they  send  him. 

All  your  friends  &  the  whole  Province  think  the  affair 
tf  the  Line  moves  in  a  poor  manner ;  &  if  you  send  noth- 
ng  decisive  about  it  this  fall  I  expect  the  Assembly  will 
it  their  nest  sitting  send  over  an  Agent  specially  on  that 
iccount  The  plainesa  with  which  I  now  write  proceeds 
ntirely  from  the  sincere  respect  I  bear  you,  &  so  I  re- 
nain,  S', 

Your  friend  &  most  hum''  servant  J.  B. 

Boston,  Oc'  16,  1739. 
(Homana.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JE. 

Son  Jonathan,  —  I  have  at  leisure  moments  been  look- 
ng  over  your  expence  from  37  to  8,  &  again  this  day,  & 
ind  it  too  excessive.  The  article  of  books,  (a£44. 4. 11) 
8  laudable,  that  of  clothing  (128. 11.  7)  is  more  than  four 
Imes  what  1  spend  on  myself  communn>us  annts,  &  yet 
ilwayes  appear  drest  as  Gov'  of  N.  England.  The  article 
)f  dyet,  £101. 18. 11,  is  a  great  deal.  As  to  the  other 
irticles  it's  not  easy  to  make  a  judgement  on  them. 
The  whole  account  is  more  than  double  the  expence 
)f  any  N.  England  gentleman  in  your  line  &  order, 
6410.  6.  7  str.,  with  the  now  currant  exchange  between 
jond"  &  this  place  is  N.  England  currency  £2152. 13.  0. 
vhich  is  many  £100'  more  than  the  annual  income  of 
ny  whole  estate.  Pray,  Jon*,  weigh  wisely  &  sedately 
vhat  I  say  &  have  often  told  you.     If  you    spend   at 

•  See  anU,  p.  305.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  TO  RICHARD   PARTRIDGE.  217 

such  an  extraordinary  rate,  &  so  swallow  up  more  than 
what  might  be  your  proportion  of  my  estate  at  ray 
decease,  you  must  not  expect  to  receive  any  thing  then, 
&  upon  my  political  mortality,  which  my  enemies  are 
so  furiously  driving  at,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  any 
thing  more  for  youj  for  the  income  of  all  my  estate 
will  hardly  carry  the  year  about  as  I  ought  to  live,  and  it 
IB  now  with  the  great^t  difficulty  &  struggling  that  I 
get  along  with  your  vast  expence,  which  if  you  cannot 
confine  in  more  reasonable  hounds,  you  must  yourself  very 
quickly  find  out  a  way  to  defray  it.  I  would  do,  my  dear 
son,  all  that's  possible  in  my  power  for  you,  but  I  cannot 
do  more.  I  wish  you  were  in  practice  equal  to  your 
expence,  or  that  you  was  well  marry'd,  so  as  to  support 
yourself  in  that  order  of  life  handsomely.  Think  gravely 
of  what  I  have  here  said,  &  that  I  am  advanc'd  in  years 
&  may  soon  drop  into  my  grave,  &  how  would  you  then 
shifl  for  yourself  ?  This  is  all  I  have  to  say  at  present  on 
your  last  account  of  expence.  I  shall  be  expecting  your 
other  account  to  28  August  past  by  the  first  ship  from 
London.  Tour  uncle  mentions  my  writing  to  Lord  Chief 
Justice  Wills  &  Counsellour  Boilings,  which  I  have  done 
by  this  conveyance,  &  you'l  deliver  'em.  And  inclos'd  is 
a  letter  to  M'  Wilks,  which  you'l  read  &  find  an  oppor- 
tunity of  giving  it  to  him  when  you  &  he  may  be  by  your- 
selves, &  I  think  it  best  to  deliver  it  open  as  I  send  it,  but 
in  that  particular  do  as  you  please.  I  am,  with  the  warm- 
est affection,  my  dear  child, 

Your  loving  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Oct  20,  1739. 
(HomaDB.) 

TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

S",  —  I  have  already  wrote  you  at  large  by  this  con- 
veyance, since  which  Stanny  is  arriv'd,  with  your  favours 
of  18  &  22  August,  inclosing  copies  of  the  report  of  the 


oyGoot^lc 


218  tHE  BELCHEB  PAPEES.  [1789. 

Board  of  Trade  to  the  Privy  Council  on  Gulston  and  Com- 
panies' memorial,  &  of  Counaellour  Belcher's  letter  to 
you.  But  I  have  not  yet  receiv'd  the  letter  you  mention 
from  S'  C.  Wager,  nor  the  copy  of  your  memorial  to  the 
Lords  Committee  of  Council,  nor  copy  of  the  affidavits 
tackt  to  the  petition  of  the  Irish  eastern  inhabitants,  yours 
of  18  of  August  being  but  a  copy.  I  suppose  those  things 
may  come  with  the  original  by  one  of  the  other  ships 
daily  expected,  for  T  think  Stanny  sayes  there  sail'd  with 
him  from  the  Downs  4  or  5  more  bound  hither,  but  he 
onely  is  arriv'd  at  present. 

I  take  a  very  kind  notice  of  all  you  write  respecting 
the  strong  efforts  are  making  to  get  me  out  of  the  govern- 
ment of  N.  Hampshirej  and  if  they  could  do  that,  brother, 
they  would  think  it  a  good  leading  card  to  get  me  out  of 
the  Massachusets  also.  I  have  carefully  read  over  the 
report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  Privy  Council. 
Altho'  my  name  is  artfully  left  out  of  Gulston's  me- 
morial, yet  by  this  report  it's  plain  the  whole  of  it  was 
levell'd  at  me.  Certainly  no  gentleman  was  ever  treated 
more  unjustly  &  unfairly  than  I  am  in  the  memorial  k 
report  upon  it.  Whose  fault  is  it  that  the  fort  is  in  such 
a  ruinous  condition  &  the  Province  so  naked  &  defence- 
leas?  You  have  by  you  the  Journals  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  during  the  whole  of  my  administration, 
wheice  you  will  find  how  often  I  have  recommended  the 
repairing  of  the  fort,  &  also  the  Assemblies'  answer. 
Gov"  may  warmly  urge  things,  but  where  money  is  re- 
quir'd  the  Assembly  must  raise  it.  How  would  the  King 
support  the  fleet  at  this  time  if  the  Parliament  would 
supply  no  money  ?  The  forts  in  all  the  plantations  do  at 
this  day  lye  in  a  sad  ruinous  condition,  especially  in  all 
the  West  India  Islands,  &  this  is  no  fault  of  the  several 
GovernourSjbutof  the  Assemblies  who  will  raise  no  money 
to  repair  &  support  'em.  Nay,  those  near  us  under  the 
particular  care  of  the  Crown  are  in  a  poor  state  of  de- 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.]  TO  SICHAItD  PAKTRIDGE.  219 

fence,  as  at  Annapolis  Royal  &  Canso.  In  case  of  a  warr 
they  would  be  an  easy  prey  to  the  French  of  Cape 
Breton.  The  fortifications  of  this  Province  are  in  a  poor 
defenceless  condition,  &  wanting  of  powder  &  all  other 
warlike  stores.  Notwithstanding  my  having  so  often 
recommended  these  things  to  the  Assemblies  how  shall  I 
help  it,  or  what  can  I  do  more  ?  How  vile  then  is  it 
to  lay  any  blame  at  my  door  on  this  head  ! 

As  to  the  state  of  the  militia  of  New  Hampshire,  it  is 
most  ialsely  represented,  for  it  never  was  in  better  order 
than  at  this  day,  being  furnisht  with  arms  &  ammunition, 
&  have  been  constantly  exercis'd  according  to  the  law  of 
the  Province;  &  this  is  all  a  Govemour  can  do  about 
them. 

As  to  my  visiting  N.  Hampshire  but  once  a  year,  the 
Journals  I  have  already  mention'd  will  prove  that  to  be 
a  downright  falshood,  &  that  it  has  been  my  practice  to 
go  to  N.  Hampshire  &  hold  an  Assembly  twice  a  year,  & 
that  they  always  sat  long  enough  to  do  the  business  of  the 
Province,  sometimes  14,  sometimes  20,  sometimes  thirty 
dayes.  The  letter  Tomlinson  produc'd  from  6  of  the  Coun- 
cil &  almost  all  Uie  Representatives,  the  petition  you  have 
from  near  five  hundred  people  to  be  continu'd  as  they  are 
will  well  answer  that,  especially  when  it's  consider'd  those 
six  Counsellours  &  the  Representatives  are  the  Govemour's 
mortal  enemies.  I  am  soon  going  to  N.  Hampshire  & 
shall  again  earnestly  press  them  to  put  their  fort  into  a 
good  &  defensible  condition.  But  really,  brother,  these 
things  are  but  barefac'd  sham  pretences,  for  if  you  look 
over  their  Journals,  you  will  see  how  upon  all  occasions 
they  say  they  are  poor  &  not  able  to  raise  money  to  de- 
fray their  charges,  &  they  are  very  much  so. 

For  the  same  reasons  they  offer  for  my  being  super- 
seded all  the  King's  Gov"  in  America  ought  to  be  dismist, 
&  if  new  ones  were  appointed  how  would  that  help  the 
matter  they  complain  of?  for  it's  not  in  the  power  of  Gov- 


oyGoot^lc 


220  TBB  BBLCHBB  PAPERS.  [1730. 

emoars  to  tax  the  people  in  an  English  government.  Thus 
I  have  fumisht  you  with  some  hints  to  make  answer-  to 
Gulston's  memorial  &  the  report  upon  it,  if  there  may  be 
opportunity.  I  am  very  thankful  for  your  great  vigilance 
at  the  offices  by  which  you  came  at  the  knowledge  of 
these  things  that  have  been  carry'd  on  in  so  vile  &  claa- 
destine  a  manner.  I  am  under  the  greatest  obligations 
to  good  S'  C.  Wager  for  his  sincere  friendship  to  me  at 
such  a  juncture.  His  readiness  to  go  to  town  &  at- 
tend the  Committee  was  a  very  extraordinary  favour,  as 
well  as  his  advice  to  you  to  go  to  S'  K.  whom  I  am  sorry 
you  mist  of.  Please  to  give  my  hearty  thanks  to  your 
Friends  who  are  so  ready  to  appear  in  my  interest.*  Your 
Friends  here  shall  experience  my  gratitude  as  there  may 
he  occasion.  I  shall  not  fail  of  recommending  to  the  As- 
sembly here  &  atN.  Hampshire  to  provide  some  effectual 
law  for  the  protection  of  the  King's  woods,  and  if  I  can 
project  anything  proper  for  the  Parliament  to  come  into, 
I  will  transmit  it  to  S'  C.  Wager.  '  How  comes  it,  brother, 
that  Lord  Wilmington  is  so  tackt  about  ?  If  what  I  wrote 
in  April  and  May  last,  with  what  I  now  send  you  for  him, 
will  not  soften  him,  I  heheve  you  will  advise  me  not  to 
give  him  the  trouble  of  any  more  letters.  I  also  now 
write  S'  R,  D.  N.  C,  L^  Harrington,  Monson,  &  Lords 
Trade,  which  you'l  read  &  deliver,  or  not,  as  you  may 
think  proper.  It  would  be  a  fatal  thing  for  me  to  lose 
my  commission  at  N.  Hampshire.  Gov'  Holden  must 
therefore  be  stirr'd  up,  your  Friends,  Coram  &  Wilks  & 
S'  K.  must  be  closely  apply'd  to,  and  the  D.  N.  C,  where 
things  may  be  stopt  at  last.  And  what  must  be  strongly 
insisted  on  is,  for  time  for  the  Gov'  to  answer  any  memo- 
rial or  complaint  where  he  is  afEected.  I  well  remember 
when  I  was  at  Whitehall  there  was  a  complaint  preferr'd 

■  Richard  P«rtrtdga  va>  >  Quiker,  and  by  bit  inflaence  the  Qusken  in  Englind  nvn 
induced  lo  ea^uBe  the  cauM  of  BeJcher,  in  qppoaition  to  the  effoita  of  hii  aDcmiaa  ta  hare 

bim  supereeded.  — Eds.  . 


oyGoot^lc 


17890  TO  RICHARD   PARTBIDGE.  221 

(T  think  by  Lord  Vere)  against  Govemour  Gledhill  of 
Placentia,  upon  which  S*  K.  went  to  the  King  to  have 
him  dismist.  But  hia  friends  having  notice  found  access 
to  the  King,  &  beg'd  the  Governour  might  have  him  to 
answer  for  himself,  &  the  King  readily  said  be  should. 
When  S'  R.  came  to  repeat  his  request  to  the  King  to  dis- 
miss  him,  the  King  said,  No,  S'  R.,  you  told  me  when  I  put 
him  in  he  was  a  worthy  gentleman,  to  which  S'  R.  an- 
swer'd,  And,  may  it  please  your  Majesty,  he  was  so  then, 
to  which  the  King  reply'd,  &  why  is  he  not  so  now  ?  O ! 
said  S'  R.,  here  are  such  &  such  complaints  against  him, 
to  which  the  King  reply'd.  They  may,  indeed,  have  the 
name  of  complaints,  but  let  the  Governour  be  serv'd  with 
copies,  &  if  he  cannot  clear  himself,  I'll  put  him  out,  but 
if  he  does  you'l  think  he  has  been  unreasonably  treated, 
&  I  shall  still  approve  &  continue  him  as  a  good  servant 
The  Gov'  was  serv'd  with  copies,  had  time  to  answer, 
clear'd  himself,  &  was  coutinu'd.  This  was  a  story 
much  talkt  of  when  I  was  at  Court,  &  the  King's  justice 
&  steadiness  greatly  applauded ;  and  it  mayn't  be  amiss 
for  you  to  mention  this  to  L*  Wilmington,  S'  C.  Wager, 
&c*,  tho'  after  this  I  think  Gledhill  was  dismist  for  male- 
practices.  When  I  am  serv'd  with  copies  &  time  to  an- 
swer, it  greatly  disheartens  the  enemy  by  their  dancing 
attendance  at  a  great  ezpence,  &  conscious  at  the  same 
time  that  their  allegations  are  false  &  nothing  more  than 
the  fruit  of  malice  &  keen  revenge,  from  which  they  also 
know  I  shall  clear  myself.  As  your  other  letters  come 
on,  I  shall  m(^t  punctually  answer  by  all  opportuni- 
ties.   S', 

Tour  loving  brother  &  hearty  friend. 


BosTos,  Octob'  22, 1789. 
(HomaoB.) 


J.  B. 


jvGooi^lc 


THE  BELCHSB  FAFEBS. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Hon""  S',  —  I  have  youra  of  19  ins',  &  wish  old  H" 
c — vr  (not  heifer  at  this  age)  don't  low  out  the  secret 
Old  Simpleton's  first  letter  you  put  into  Kussel's  care.  I 
assure  you  I  am  more  &  more  pleas'd  with  the  new 
Agency.  But  by  what  I  hear  since  the  Governour's  kind 
'  closure  they  are  much  divided  among  themselves  (I  mean 
the  Boston  chaps  who  rule  the  roast),  &  I  am  In  some  fear 
it  will  not  go  forward.  The  seizure  I  have  given  over, 
tho'  its  robbing  me  of  a  £1000  of  my  just  due,  &  I  should 
have  first  said,  of  the  King  of  as  much.  Such  villains 
think  God  Almighty  passes  perjury  as  a  peccadillo.  But 
they  must  at  same  time  deny  His  omniscience,  His  justjce 
&  holiness,  or  rather  they  don't  trouble  their  heads  about 
Him  or  His  spotless  attributes. 

As  you  observe,  I  am  ingag'd  with  a  triple  confederacy, 
every  one  contradicting  the  other,  the'  they  agree  in  the 
main  point,  Delenda  est  Carthoffo,  the  Governour  must  be 
(if  possible)  unhorst.  I  still  think  B — ng  is  their  man,  & 
as  hush  money  &  pay  for  his  sufferings.  According  to 
your  scheme  I  have  ingag'd  the  post  to  deliver  you  this 
at  Brown's  at  Hampton  by  12  o'clock  Tuesday  night,  and 

I  have  thought  it  best  to  send  a  new  order  to  old , 

dated  this  day,  &  you  may  return  the  other.  You  had 
best  deliver  it  on  the  day  &  manner  as  hinted  in  my  last, 
&  after  proroguing  at  the  House  go  &  do  it  immediately 
in  the  Council  Chamber.  I  long  to  have  the  Exeter 
affair  brought  to  a  point. 

Saturday  last  arriv'd  Stanny  from  London,  with  the 
inclos'd  of  18  &  22  August  from  W  Partridge  &  what  it 
cover' d,  the  report  of  Board  of  Trade  grounded  on  Gulston 
&  Tomlinson  &  other  memorials  &  on  Rhymes's  lyes, 
w°  you  must  wonder  at.  Read  &  deliberate  on  all  the 
particulars  y  Stanny.     Take  your  pen  &  make  the  best 


oyGoO'^lc 


17».]  TO  SIR  ROBERT  WALPOLE.  223 

answer  you  can  to  R.  F*  letter  to  fill  him  with  arguments 
against  the  report;  for  what  he  writes,  it  may  get  time 
enough  before  another  hearing  be  had  on  the  matter. 
Let  us,  my  friend,  be  alive  &  alert.  Perhaps  victory  & 
honour  may  finally  orown  our  industry.  On  receit  of 
these  things,  I  think  it  absolutely  necessary  to  be  with 
you,  according  to  the  prorogation  of  7  prox',  and  have 
still  courage  enough  to  suspend  the  loon  *  &  ape  t  before  we 
go  upon  business,  &  I  think  I  have  reason  sufficient.  You 
see,  S',  things  are  pushing,  pushing  to  a  point.  I  have 
thought  best  to  write  you  herewith  a  few  lines  distinct 
from  all  other  things  to  inclose  the  order  of  prorogation  ; 
and  to  prevent  any  failure,  if  old  Fool  should  be  sick  or 
otherwise  absent,  you  are  to  do  the  business  by  my  order, 
but  doubtless  he  will  attend.  If  not  it's  eqimlly  in  my 
power  to  order  the  Secretary  as  any  body  else.  Nay,  it 
is  my  constant  practice  here  to  adjourn,  prorogue,  &  dis- 
solve by  the  Secretary's  mouth.  Say  particularly  whether 
you  agree  in  my  seeing  you  as  I  say.  As  things  are  cir- 
cumstanc'd  I  think  it  most  prudent.    S', 

Your  friend  &  serv'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Oc'  22,  IT39. 

(P«t.)  


TO  SIR  ROBERT  WALPOLE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Honour,  —  Altho'  I  have  lately 
done  myself  the  honour  of  addressing  you  on  the  affairs 
of  my  government,  yet  by  letters  lately  receiv'd  from  my 
friends  at  Whitehall  I  find  ray  enemies  so  malicious  & 
restless  that  I  am  oblig'd  to  repair  to  your  Honour  as 
an  asylum  under  their  unfair  &  false  representations.  I 
have  receiv'd  the  copy  of  a  memorial  sign'd  &  lodg'd  at 
the  Council  Office  by  M'  Gulston,  Tomlinson,  &  others 
respecting  the   state  of  the  Province  of   New  Hamp- 

*  GanTga  Jafbif.  — Eds.  t  Thsodore  AtkiuoD.  — Edb. 


oyGoot^lc 


224  ■  THE   BELCHES   PAPERS.  [1739. 

shire,  which  has  been  referr'd  to  the  Lorda  of  Trade,  & 
they  have  reported  upon  it.  Altho'  it  nearly  affects  my 
commission  for  the  government  of  that  Province,  yet  my 
Agents,  tho'  they  earnestly  apply'd,  could  not  obtain  a 
copy  &  time  for  me  to  answer.  If  it  be,  may  it  please 
your  Honour,  the  undoubted  right  of  every  Englishman 
to  be  heard  before  he  is  condemn'd,  the  King's  Govemour, 
whom  he  stiles  the  representative  of  his  royal  person,  I 
hope,  may  find  that  justice.  M'  Tomlinson  preferr'd  a 
complaint  against  me  more  than  12  months  agoe  upon 
which  I  was  serv'd  with  a  copy,  &  my  ans'  has  been  at 
home  for  a  long  time,  &  I  suppose  he  is  so  conscious  of 
the  absurdities  &  falsehoods  with  which  he  hiis  stufft 
his  complaint  that  he  is  afraid  to  bring  it  to  a  hearing,  & 
80  takes  the  method  I  have  before  mention'd  to  shoot  me 
in  the  dark.  Let  me  therefore  humbly  beg  from  your 
Honour's  establisht  character  of  justice  &  goodness  to  all 
mankind  that  there  may  be  no  further  proceeding  in  this 
matter  till  I  am  serv'd  with  a  copy  &  time  given  to  an- 
swer. When  I  am  favour'd  with  this  common  justice,  I 
shall  set  down  contented  if  I  cannot  clear  myself  from 
any  thing  may  be  alledg'd  against  me.  But  for  a  gentle- 
man to  be  depriv'd  of  his  bread  &  honour  in  so  extraor- 
dinary a  manner  would  be  very  severe,  I  say,  when  no 
complaint  lyes  against  him  wherein  he  has  had  oppor- 
tunity to  defend  himself.  Let  me  therefore  again 
beseech  your  Honour  so  far  to  interpose  at  this  junc- 
ture that  I  may  obtain  the  favour  I  sue  for,  which 
will  lay  me  under  a  most  sensible  &  lasting  obligation 
to  be,  as  I  really  am,  with  the  most  profound  duty  & 
respect,  S', 

Your  Honour's  most  devoted,  most  faithful,  &  most 
obedient  serv'. 

J.  B. 

BoSTOK,  OctoV  23,  1738. 

(Homans.  Hall.)  The  ume  to  D.  N.  C. 


oyGoot^lc 


n^-J  TO  THE  LOEDS  OP   TRADE. 


TO  THE  LORDS   OF  TRADE. 


May  it  please  tour  Lordships,  —  As  I  have  for  a 
long  time  past  been  writing  your  Lordships  of  all  things 
relating  to  this  Province,  &  that  of  N.  Hampshire,  I  am 
hoping  by  some  of  the  ships  now  expected  from  England 
to  receive  from  your  Lordships  an  answer  to  such  things 
as  you  may  judge  necessary  for  advancing  his  Majesty's 
interest  and  service.  Since  my  last  the  Assembly  of  this 
Province  have  been  conven'd,  &  Bat  from  the  19  of  last 
month  to  the  9  of  this,  &  refus'd  raising  any  money  for 
the  support  of  the  govemm'  or  defence  of  the  Prov- 
ince but  in  such  a  manner  as  I  dare  not  consent  to. 
What  past  in  this  sessions  your  Lordships  will  see  by  the 
Journals  of  the  Representatives  which  I  send  you  here- 
with, as  also  the  bill  that  past  both  Houses  for  a  supply 
of  the  Treasury,  which  your  Lordships  will  find  intirely 
inconsistent  with  his  Majesty's  9  &  16  instructions  to  me. 
On  the  bill  your  Lordships  will  find  my  marginal  notes 
which  will  readily  let  your  Lordships  into  the  nature  of 
this  bill  &  show  you  that  1  could  not  sign  it  but  in  direct 
disobedience  to  his  Majesty's  royal  orders;  and  your  Lord- 
ships will  also  easily  perceive  that  the  drift  &  design  of 
this  bill  was  to  make  an  emission  of  a  large  quantity  of 
paper  currency  without  any  honest  &  solid  foundation. 
The  bills  the  Assemblies  have  issu'd  here  for  many  years 
past  are  not  now  worth  five  shillings  in  the  poimd  of  the 
currant  silver  money  of  the  Province  as  by  lawestablisht; 
and  had  it  not  been  for  his  Majesty's  16  instruction  I 
suppose  there  had  been  emitted  by  this  time  by  the 
Assemblies  of  this  Province  as  much  paper  currency  as 
would  have  been  half  a  million  of  nominal  pounds, 
and  wou'd  have  reduc'd  their  value  to  less  than  half 
a  crown  in  the  pound  of  the  good  &  lawful  money  of 
the  Province,  which  is  seventeen  pennyweight  of  silver 


oyGoot^lc 


226  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1738. 

to  pasa  for  six  shillings.  What  a  fraud  &  deceit  then 
must  emissions  of  such  kinds  of  bills  of  cr.  be?  I  there- 
fore have  alwayes  thought  his  Majesty's  royal  16  instruc- 
tion to  me  to  be  a  wise,  wholesome  &  gracious  care  for  ■ 
the  honour  of  hia  government  &  for  the  true  welfare  of  his 
people  in  this  Province.  It  cannot  easily  be  imagin'd,  my 
Lords,  how  vastly  the  British  trade  hither  has  suffer'd 
from  time  to  time  by  this  vile  sort  of  bills.  While  the 
Assemblies  here  issu'd  bills  onely  for  the  chargeof  the  gov- 
ernment, and  punctually  drew  them  in  within  the  year  of 
their  going  out,  they  maintain 'd  the  value  they  went  out 
at,  but  when  they  went  into  the  practice  of  emitting  great 
sums  on  loan,  &  of  setting  the  calling  in  of  what  they 
emitted  for  the  charge  of  the  government  at  long  periods, 
they  immediately  sunk  in  their  value.  The  flagrant  breach 
they  now  make  of  the  publick  faith,  in  not  calling  in  the 
sum  of  bills  they  are  oblig'd  to  by  their  own  law,  is  a 
good  reason  why  they  should  not  for  the  future  emit  bills 
without  making  the  particular  assessment,  in  the  acts  by 
which  they  are  to  go  out,  on  the  several  towns  of  the  Prov- 
ince, for  calling  them  in  within  the  year,  &  inabling  the 
Treasurer  to  do  his  duty  therein ;  for  it's  plain  to  be  seen 
in  the  practice  of  the  present  Assembly  that  solemn 
promises  &  laws  are  of  little  consideration  with  them. 

And  notwithstanding  these  things,  my  Lords,  I  miich 
question  whether  when  the  Assembly  meets  in  December 
next  they  will  make  any  supply  to  the  Treasury,  &  then 
all  the  officers  of  the  government  &  others  who  have 
just  demands  on  the  Province  must  suffer  in  a  mast  extra- 
ordinary manner.  The  forts  &  garrisons  must  remain  in 
the  ruinous  condition  they  now  are  &  still  run  into  greater 
dispair,  &  if  the  Assembly  should  continue  in  this  way 
they  must  finally  be  all  lost. 

I  do,  my  Lords,  think  myself  bound  in  duty  to  the 
King,  &  in  tenderness  to  his  people,  to  represent  the  state 
of  this  Province  as  it  really  is  at  this  day,  &  shall  be  glad 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.]  TO  SIB  CHAELES  WAGER.  227 

of  aoy  further  orders  his  Majesty  may  think  necessary  for 
his  own  honour  &  for  the  good  of  his  people.  1  believe  I 
have  formerly  hiuted  to  your  Lordships  the  vast  damage 
that  accrues  to  the  British  trade,  &  indeed  to  bis  Maj^'* 
subjects  also  in  these  provinces,  by  some  of  the  Charter 
govemmenta  (who  are  not  directly  as  others  under  the 
power  of  the  Crown)  emitting  large  sums  of  paper  cur- 
rency without  any  foundation  to  support  their  value ; 
and  the  little  neighbouring  Colony  of  Rhode  Island  have 
by  their  large  emissions  of  such  bills  greatly  contributed 
to  the  sinking  the  value  of  all  the  bills  of  c'  issu'd  in  this 
Province.  1  would  therefore  humbly  propose  to  your 
Lordships  that  a  bill  might  be  brought  into  the  Parlia- 
ment oi  Great  Britain,  with  proper  penalties,  forbidding  all 
the  King's  provinces  &  colonies  in  America  from  striking 
any  more  bills  of  credit  than  might  be  sufficient  for  de- 
fraying the  charge  of  each  government  where  they  might 
be  emitted,  k  that  sufficient  provision  be  made  in  the  act 
whereby  they  are  emitted  for  calling  them  in  within  the 
year  in  which  they  go  out.  This  would  naturally  give 
them  a  value  as  they  are  passing.  I  shall  humbly  hope 
for  your  Lordships'  particular  ans'  to  this  letter  as  soon 
RS  you  conveniently  can.  And  have  the  honour  to  be 
with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 

Tour  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  most  humble  serv'. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Octob'  24, 1739. 
(Homans.  Hall.) 


TO  SIR  CHARLES  WAGER. 

Mat  it  please  touk  Honour,  —  I  have  receiv'd 
under  Cap'  Coram's  cover  your  very  kind  &  obliging  letter 
of  13  August.  As  to  the  respectfull  stile  in  which  it  be- 
comes me  to  address  S'  C.  Wnger,  it  is  tree  from  compli- 
ment, but  it  wouldn't  be  from  ill  manners  if  I  allow'd 


oyGoot^lc 


228  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739. 

myself  to  do  otherwise,  considering  your  real  merit  &  the 
superiour  station  in  which  the  King  has  plac'd  yon. 
From  your  justice  &  goodness  so  conspicuous  in  this 
letter,  as  well  as  from  the  constant  accounts  handed  me 
by  M'  Partridge  &  M'  Belcher,  I  hold  myself,  Hon*'"  Sir, 
under  the  greatest  obligations  to  you.  When  I  was  a 
school  boy  (at  writing)  I  remember  my  m'  wrote  me  for 
a  copy  that  trite  saying,  A  friend  in  need  is  afraid  indeed. 
Certainly,  the  value  of  friendship  is  greatly  inhanc'd  by 
its  appearing  at  such  junctures  when  it  will  be  of  the 
greatest  service,  for  this  makes  the  proof  of  its  sincer- 
ity ;  &  this  has  been  the  constant  practice  of  S'  C.  Wager 
to  me,  tho'  so  much  unmerited,  yet  if  being  an  honest  & 
faithful  servant  to  the  Crown  may  challenge  some  respect 
from  the  King's  ministers,  I  would  humbly  hope  for  it. 
As  you  observe,  S',  I  have  felt  a  large  share  of  the  malice 
&  ill  nature  of  enemies,  more  particularly  from  some  pe^ 
sons  at  New  Hampshire,  with  Coll"  Dimbar  at  the  head  of 
them.  It  is  not  easy  to  set  the  wickedness  &  falseness  of 
that  man  in  its  full  colours.  I  don't  believe  he  would 
stick  at  any  thing  to  extricate  himself  out  of  his  poverty 
&  wretched  circumstances,  &  to  keep  his  head  above  water. 
I  have  been  often  asham'd  to  hear  him  tell  how  he  made 
the  late  imprudent,  unhappy  Duke  of  Wharton  drunk  in 
Spain  &  then  betray'd  him  to  the  Ministry  at  home.  Nor 
do  I  suppose  Jie  would  scruple  to  betray  his  own  father  if 
he  might  reap  an  advantage  by  it  1  give  you,  Hon"* 
Sir,  my  hearty  thanks  for  the  copy  of  the  vile  letter  you 
receiv'd,  pretended  to  he  wrote  in  May  last  from  the  town 
of  Exeter  in  N.  Hampshire,  into  which  I  have  made  a 
thorough  inquiry,  &  your  Honour  will  be  convinced  by 
the  inclosed  papers  that  it  is  a  downright  forgery.  And 
how  dinbolical  is  it  for  any  one  in  such  a  manner  to  at- 
tempt to  deprive  a  gentleman  of  his  bread  &  honour;  I 
say,  to  shoot  him  in  the  dark.  Yet  I  as  firmly  beleive  it 
as  I  do  any  article  of  my  creed  that  Dunbar  was  the 


oyGoot^lc 


17».]  TO  SIK  CHABLES  WAGER.  229 

author  of  this  villainous  letter.  But  I  ask  your  Honour's 
pardon  for  troubling  you  so  much  about  so  worthless  a 
creature  as  I  thiak  him  to  be.  As  to  other  persons  that 
have  vented  their  ill  nature  from  N.  Hampshire,  they  have 
been  mostly  such  as  I  put  out  of  office  at  my  first  coming 
into  the  government,  for  which  I  know  no  reason  they 
have  to  be  angry,  for  Governours  &  all  persons  in  power 
will  choose  their  own  officers  under  them  &  will  no  doubt 
serve  their  best  friends  in  preference  to  others,  provided 
they  are  equally  capable.  I  have  had  the  pleasure,  S' 
Charles,  to  observe  that  notwithstanding  the  many  bick- 
erings of  my  enemies  for  nine  years  past,  yet  they  have 
□ever  been  able  to  make  out  any  substantial  matter  of 
complaint  against  my  administration.  Nay,  they  would 
never  yet  bring  one  of  their  complaints  to  a  publick  hear- 
ing after  I  had  had  time  to  answer,  which  must  be  an 
argument  that  their  complaints  have  been  the  natural 
product  of  malice  &  revenge,  &  yet,  S"',  as  you  are  pleas'd 
to  observe,  complaints,  let  'em  be  what  they  will,  may 
make  some  impression.  However,  aa  you  go  on  &  say, 
his  Majesty's  Council  &  the  Committees  of  it  are  so  just 
as  not  to  make  determinations  till  both  sides  are  heard. 
This,  indeed,  is  the  happiness  of  all  the  King's  subjects 
under  his  wise  government ;  &  where  I  may  be  treated  in 
this  just  manner  complaints  give  me  no  great  pain  (tho' 
they  cause  me  trouble  &  charge).  It  is,  Hon'"''  Sir,  a  great 
challenge  ;  but  I  make  it  to  the  worst  of  my  enemies,  — 
to  tax  me  with  maleadministration  in  either  Province,  or 
that  I  have  not  to  the  utmost  of  my  power  been  faithful 
.to  the  King's  honour  &  interest,  &  to  the  welfare  &  hap- 
piness of  his  people.  I  say,  I  defye  any  one  to  tax  me 
in  this  manner  &  to  make  it  good,  &  this  I  do  after 
having  had  the  honour  of  holding  his  Majesty's  royal 
commissions  in  both  Provinces  for  more  than  nine  years 
past. 
I  am  very  sensible,  S',  how  much  your  dayes  &  hours 


oyGoot^lc 


230  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1789. 

are  ingrost  in  attendance  at  tLe  Admiralty,  at  the  Privy 
Council,  &  with  the  King's  miniBters,  &  more  especially 
in  the  present  posture  of  affaire.  How  good  then,  &  how 
humane  is  it  in  you,  to  give  yourself  so  much  trouble  of 
attending  the  Committees  of  Council  when  any  thing 
relating  to  my  government  may  be  coDsider'd  there.  I 
see  you  are  apprehensive  of  a  warr  with  Spain  (if  not 
with  France).  As  things  are  circumstanc'd  it  seetna  un- 
avoidable but  that  we  must  have  a  rupture  with  Sp^n, 
who  have  so  barbarously  insulted  &  robb'd  the  King's 
good  subjects.  God  grant  we  may  finally  make  them  pay 
the  reckoning.  As  I  am  inform'd  by  those  that  traverse  the 
woods  there  are  at  this  day  great  quantities  of  fine  maste  . 
in  this  Province  &  some  in  New  Hampshire  (but  not  many). 
I  shall  in,  each  of  my  governments  earnestly  recommend 
to  the  Assemblies  the  making  some  good  laws  for  their 
better  preservation  ;  and  I  will  do  the  best  I  can  to  pro- 
ject a  bill  to  be  brought  into  ParUament  for  the  same 
purpose,  &  if  I  can  do  something  that  I  think  may  be  of 
service,  I  shall  transmit  it  to  your  Honour  for  your  cor- 
rection. God  Almighty  be  prais'd  for  your  recovery  to  so 
good  health.  May  you,  S'',  long  enjoy  it  with  all  the  ad- 
vantages &  honours  which  you  so  truly  deserve  of  your 
King  &  countrey.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the 
greatest  respect  &  gratitude,  Hon""  Sir, 

Your  most  oblig'd  &  most  obed*  servant. 

J.B. 

BOSTOK,  Octob'  38,  1739. 

S",  —  I  ask  it  of  you  as  a  particular  favour  that  I  may 
have  copies  of  the  affidavits  made  by  M'  Auchrauty  & 
Shirley  &  sent  to  your  Board  respecting  the  King's  woods 
&  about  the  Gov',  &  as  the  forg'd  letter  can  be  of  no 
service  to  your  Honour,  &  may  be  of  good  use  to  me  here, 
1  would  pray  to  have  the  original. 

(Homans.) 


oyGoot^lc 


1730.]  TO   THOMAS   COKAU. 


TO  THOMAS  CORAM. 


Mt  tert  woktht,  good  Fkiend. 

SiK,  —  I  do  with  a  great  deal  of  gratitude  own  your 
good  &  kind  letters  of  August  14,  21,  24  &  Septerab'  4, 
by  way  of  Bristol  &  V  Patterson  &  Gary.  As  the  account 
of  your  ill  state  of  health  in  your  first  letters  gave  me 
great  pain  &  concern,  so  my  joy  was  increas'd  on  find- 
ing by  your  after  letters  you  were  so  much  restor'd  to 
your  health.  God  Almighty  confirm  it,  &  long  continue 
your  usefuU  life.  I  most  heartily  congratulate  you  in 
bringing  your  noble  projection*  to  so  good  a  maturity. 
May  you  go  on  &  prosper  in  it  for  the  benefit  of  this  & 
future  ages.  It  is  really  a  godlike  design,  &  it  must 
render  your  memory  fragrant  to  late  posterity,  who  will 
be  feeling  the  blessing  of  it;  &  what  must  justly  chal- 
lenge their  gratitude  will  be  to  consider  the  fatigue  & 
care  you  have  undergone  in  this  thing  without  the  least 
view  of  service  to  yourself  Rare  are  the  instances  of 
Buch  disinterested  benevolence  to  uiankind ;  &  so  indeed 
you  act  in  your  respect  to  me  &  mine,  which  layes  me 
under  the  most  sensible  obligations.  I  have  S'  Charles 
Wager's  very  good  letter,  which  I  answer  by  this  convey- 
ance, &  Bend  him  some  papers  to  convince  him  how 
villainous  a  forgery  the  letter  was  which  he  receiv'd  pre- 
tended to  be  wrote  firorn  Exeter  in  N.  Hampshire.  All 
these  things  M'  Partridge  will  communicate  to  you  before 
delivery,  &  I  must  pray  you  to  go  with  him  at  a  proper 
juncture  to  give  'em  to  S"  Charles,  &  tell  M'  Belcher  I 
command  him  to  go  with  you.  Surely  youl  all  think 
never  was  a  more  barbarous  attempt  upon  a  gent"''  char^ 
acter;  &  I  am  fully  satisfied  Dunbar,  Trinkalo,  &  the 
Yorkshire  chap  t  were  the  diabolical  authours  of  it.    Use 


oyGoot^lc 


232  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [ITM- 

may  be  made  of  what  I  send  S'  Charles  on  this  head  in 
my  favour  with  S'  Rob'  &  Lord  Wilmington,  that  they 
may  see  my  enemies  don't  stick  even  at  forgeries  to 
wound  me  in  the  dark.  Let  me  pray  you  to  get  the 
original  letter  of  S'  Charles  and  send  me.  Such  a  forg'd 
libell  can  be  of  no  service  to  lye  by  him ;  but  it  may  be 
of  good  use  to  me  here. 

1  take  notice  of  the  talk  you  had  with  M'  Burchett  when 
you  din'd  with  S'  Charles  at  Parsons  Green.  Auchmuty, 
the  present  Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  here  is  a  most 
finisht  Irish  villain.  (To  my  great  regret)  he  owes  his 
present  Judge's  place  to  my  favour,  &  he  is  otherwise 
under  more  obligations  to  me  than  I  have  now  time  to 
tell  yon ;  &  when  I  had  done  him  all  the  services  in  my 
power,  then  he  began  to  return  my  goodness  in  the  vile, 
ungratefuU  manner  in  which  he  now  behaves.  But  more 
of  this  when  I  have  a  little  more  time.  Pray  procure  me 
copies  from  S'  Charles,  or  at  the  Admiralty  Office  of  what 
Auchmuty  &  Shirley  have  sworn  about  the  King's  woods 
and  about  the  Govemour,  &  I  doubt  not  but  I  shall  be 
able  to  detect  them  in  notorious  lyes.  You  say.  At  for 
TomUnson,  I  canmt  say  I  know  Mm,  but  I  heard  he  ta  a  Tori- 
shire  man  whose  fatker  dy'dm  his  shoos.  Pray  explain  this 
last  stroke  about  him  upon  the  best  authority  you  can 
get.  Your  letters  to  your  mother  &  D'  Colman  are 
deliver'd,  &  those  for  Lieu'  Bradstreet  shall  go  by  the 
first  conveyance  to  Canso.  It  is  time  to  leave  of  writing 
to  your  mother  *  any  thing  else  than  to  let  her  know  you 
&  her  daughter  are  well,  for  she  ia  become  very  much  a 
child.  1  shall  speak  to  D'  Colman  about  the  letter  you 
wrote  to  Cato,  &  desire  him  still  to  send  it,  if  he  thinks 
proper.  As  to  Mason,t  he's  a  sorry  fellow,  not  worth 
your  notice  or  acquaintance.     His  father  was  with  me 

•  sire.  Eunice  W»i(,  Conm'*  motber.in.Uw.  —  Eds. 

I  John  Tufton  MosoD,  who  wai  at  thii  time  in  Eogland.  See  Belknip'i  Ilittoij  ot 
New  Uunpihire,  vol.  ii.  pp.  15^-162.  —  Ed^. 


oyGoot^lc 


1789.]  TO  THOMAS   CORAM.  233 

several  times  before  he  went  over,  &  by  all  I  could 
observe,  he  intended  to  cheat  the  Indians  of  their  land, 
&  get  them  for  himself,  &  I  suppose  the  son  now  at 
home  is  upon  the  same  scent,  &  therefore  deserves  no 
countenance  from  gent"  of  probity  &  honour.  I  shall 
let  Gap*  Gyles  know  you  had  indeavoured  to  serve  him 
about  a  gardner. 

I  now  write  M'  Belcher  not  to  fail  for  the  future  in 
paying  bis  duty  as  often  as  may  be  convenient  to  the 
Earl  of  Egmont  &  to  S'  Charles  Wager,  &  I  beleive  the 
only  reason  lie  has  not  so  done  was  from  a  fondness  to  a 
close  pursuit  of  his  studies  at  the  Temple. 

I  thank  you  very  kindly  for  what  you  say  about 
Trinkalo,  that  he  can  do  me  no  harm.  I  wish  an  adver- 
tisement might  be  properly  drest  up,  &  go  into  the  pub- 
lick  prints  with  the  substance  of  what  I  hinted  in  my 
letter  of  20  Dec'  last.  Pray  let  it  be  done  if  you  can 
wisely  contrive  it,  &  it  will  effectually  do  his  business  & 
deliver  me  from  all  his  malice. 

I  have  read  your  well  projected  letter  to  your  kinsman 
at  Saiem,  &  you  may  depend  I  will  get  it  to  him  in  such  a 
manner  as  that  he  may  not  suspect  its  coming  thro'  my 
hands. 

I  shall  write  M'  Newman  a  letter  on  purpose  to  obtain 
from  him  (if  possible)  Paul  the  Preacher's  letter  to  J.  D.* 
&  shall  not  fail  to  give  you  very  soon  the  best  light  1  can 
why  the  Indians  oppos'd  Duke  Trinkalo  in  his  attempt  of 
settling  his  dukedom.  I  will  do  it  very  particularly  &  so 
that  it  may  be  fit  to  show  to  L*  Wilmington,  S'  C.  Wager, 
&  to  any  other  great  persons  you  please.  Thus  I  think  I 
have  answer'd  all  the  paragraphs  of  your  letters,  except 
what  relates  to  my  good  son  Councellor  Belcher  of  the 
Temple  upon  the  grand  article  of  matrimony,  in  which 

•  The  reftrence  ii  to  »  lollor  from  Paul  Dndlpy  to  JercDiUh  Dnmmer,  whiih  is  mea- 
twned  Mvend  timet  by  Governor  Belcher,  and  ii  printed  in  "  The  D«pIonble  SlMe  of  Kav 
EugUnd  "  (London,  1708  ;  Boatoo,  1731).  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


234  THE   BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1739. 

you  &  my  good  coimtreyworaan,  your  lady,  are  so  desir- 
ous to  do  him  good ;  &  on  this  head  I  hardly  know  what 
to  add  to  mine  of  20  Dec'  last,  onely  that  he  is  grown 
older  &  the  sooner  he  iA  well  marry'd  the  better,  &  if  it 
might  be  with  S.  H''  daughter,*  &  M'  Belcher  thought 
he  could  be  happy  with  her,  I  should  be  content,  hut  I 
wouldn't  have  a  vast  mass  of  money  tempt  him  to  lay  a 
foundation  of  uneasiness  in  a  state  which  nothing  but 
death  can  alter.  No,  he  had  better  work  hard  at  the 
Temple,  &  in  Westminster  Hall  all  his  dayes.  Sam. 
Reed's  daughter  I  remember  very  well,  &  she  was  a  pretty 
child  when  I  was  at  home,  and  I  believe  would  make  any 
young  gentleman  happy.t  I  also  know  Lethuillier's 
family.  A  rich  merchant  of  that  name  liv'd  near  M* 
Wilks  in  Fen  Church  Street  when  I  was  at  London.  He 
marry'd  a  daughter  of  Ned  Lascelles  of  Newington.  I 
like  well  the  name  &  family,  &  you  say  M'  Belcher  likes 
the  young  lady.  I  observe  what  you  say  about  an  orphan 
of  one  M'  Bucks.  I  really  think  upon  all  considerations 
M'  Belcher  may  reasonably  expect  to  marry  an  agreeable 
young  lady  with  ten  thousand  pounds,  but  the  thing  must 
be  manag'd  wisely  and  silently  for  fear  of  cross  accidents. 
It  would  greatly  rejoyce  me  to  hear  by  the  first  ship  in 
the  spring  that  he  was  well  &  happily  marry'd.  I  there- 
fore again  commit  him  to  you  &  my  worthy  countrey- 
woman's  good  care  in  this  article  of  life,  &  in  which, 
he  writes  me,  he  thinks  you  very  capable  of  serving 
him.  With  my  best  wishes  for  you  &  your  spouse,  I 
remain,  S', 

Your  much  obliged  friend  &  ready  servant. 

J,  B. 

Boston,  Octob'  28, 1789. 
(Homaos.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO   RICHABD    PABTRIDQE.  235 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 


S",  —  Since  the  delivery  of  my  packet  to  Homane,  I 
have  your  several  kind  letters  of  August  25,  28,  &  30, 
Sep'  8  &  12  V  Patterson,  Cary,  &  Howland.  I  observe 
my  account  dated  the  25  August,  wherein  you  make 
due  to  you,  933.    4.  5 

but  then  there  is  to  come  to  my 

C*,  paid  Gatcomb  in  part  of  J. 

B''  bill  for  £300  200. 

&  receiv'd  of  Cary  13.  15      213.  15.  - 


makes  719.    9.  5 

and  I  shall  soon  pay  Gatcomb  &  Oliver  each  £100  more, 
which  will  lessen  the  ballance ;  &  I  will  discharge  the  rest 
as  fast  as  possible.  Your  letter  to  Greenhill  goes  this 
evening  by  the  post,  as  that  to  Coll"  Allyn  shall  by  first 
good  conveyance.  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  you,  brother, 
for  the  particular  account  you  give  me,  30  August,  of 
what  past  at  the  Committee  of  Council  on  the  Board  of 
Trade's  report  on  Gulston,  Tomlinson,  Wentworth  &  Chap- 
man's memorial.  The  particular  favour  you  receiv'd 
plainly  shows  your  good  interest  with  the  Lords  Com- 
mittee. The  return  of  the  Lords  of  Trade's  report  back 
.  to  them,  as  you  observe,  gains  time,  vexes,  &  puts  the 
enemy  to  charge,  and  gives  us  better  scope  for  defeating 
them  certainly..  Nothing  could  be  offer'd  more  unreason- 
able &  absurd  than  to  desire  the  King  to  dismiss  a  good 
Govemour  without  any  foundation  of  complaint  &  with- 
out knowing  a  word  alleg'd  against  him.  With  what  face 
can  my  adversaries  appear  at  the  publick  offices  to  espouse 
such  falsehoods,  &  to  pretend  to  make  it  a  fault  that  I 
have  not  done  what  no  Gov'  ever  could  or  ought  to  be 
allow'd  to  do,  viz':  the  taxing  of  the  King's  subjects  for 
building  forts,  &c'.      1  thank  you   that  you  will    still 


oyGoot^lc 


36  THE   BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [HM. 

atch  their  waters  till  this  effort  is  over.  Tomlinson  is 
sad  mischievous  fellow.  I  am  amazed  that  young  Green 
:'ter  my'great  civility  to  him  at  going  away  should  link 
imself  with  my  enemies.  You'l  deliberately  read  mine 
)  S'  Charles  Wager  with  what  it  covers.  You,  Coram,  & 
our  nephew  must  go,  together  &  deliver  it  to  S'  Charles. 
Hiat  a  scene  of  wickedness  &  roguery  are  they  detected 
1  in  this  forgery,  &  I  verily  believe  Waldo,  Tomlinson,  & 
unbar  were  the  authors  of  that  letter.  Methinks  S'  C. 
ight  impart  what  I  send  him  at  some  proper  juncture 

I  S'  Robert  &  Lord  Wilmington,  which  might  he  of  great 
srvice;  for  upon  their  seeing  what  villains  I  have  to  do 
ith,  &  that  they  don't  stick  even  at  forgery  to  stab  me 

the  dark,  they  will  have  less  C  for  them  in  every  thing 
se  they  attempt  against  me,  and  perhaps  may  order 
lem  to  be  quiet  &  'a  done  with  their  trifling  complaints. 
3  you  have  receiv'd  every  thing  I  can  send  to  support 
y  answer  to  the  N.  Hampshire  complaint  I  am  heartily 
ad  the  hearing  of  it  is  to  come  on  at  the  first  Com- 
ittee  in  Nov',  when  if  justice  can  take  place  I  have  no 
mbt  of  coming  of  with  honour,  &  to  the  shame  of  those 
at  put  me  to  such  trouble  &  expence.  When  this 
Fair  is  over,  I  hope  you  will  not  lose  a  day  in  bringing 
rward  the  grand  affair  of  the  boundaries  that  the  two 
■ovinces  may  know  their  doom  &  set  down  contented, 

I  think  you  &  your  brother  Wilks  have  so  much 
ason  on  your  side  as  that  you  will  gain  favour  &  honour 
th  your  constituents.  I  long  to  hear  the  decision  of 
ose  things.  I  am  glad  you  will  improve  the  interests  of 
tur  friends,  the  Quakers,  at  hearing  of  the  New  Hainp- 
ire  complaint,  for  it's  said  kissing  goes  by  favour,  &  I 
low  your  Friends  have  a  good  interest  with  some  of  the 
uds  of  the  Committee.  I  am  extreamly  pleas'd  with 
lat  you   say  about   the  Lord  President,  &  I  hope  you 

II  be  able  to  recover  him  to  be  my  friend.     On  wliat 

III  say  I  now  write  him  another  letter,  the  stile  whereof 


oyGoot^lc 


1789.]  TO  RICHABD   PARTRIDGE.  237 

may  perhaps  suit  better  than  what  I  wrote  him  22  ins", 
which  you  may  read  &  return  me  &  deliver  this.*  I  take 
notice  jou  Say  Shirley  ia  out  of  the  question.  However, 
he  is  a  base,  ungratefull  fellow.  The  New  Hampshire 
petitions  were  sign'd  by  the  subscribers  in  the  month  of 
June  past;  it  could  not  be  dated  on  any  particular  da)'. 
because  it  was  sign'd  at  different  times,  &  it  grew  dirty 
&  lookd  old  by  being  handed  about  from  one  honest 
countreyman  to  another.  I  believe  it  is  not  usual  to  put 
a  date  to  a  petition  or  address  to  the  King.  Yours  of  8 
Sept'  is  onely  duplicate.  The  original  is  not  come  to  my 
hand,  altho'  Howland  ia  arriv'd.  I  take  a  particular 
notice  of  all  you  say  as  to  your  proceedings  in  the  affair 
of  the  boundaries,  &  am  aatisfy'd.  Yet  you  may  by  un- 
deserved ill  nature  suffer  with  others.  You  must  consider 
you  have  a  whole  Province  to  deal  with,  &  every  coxcomb 
thinks  he  may  set  in  judgement-  on  a  Governour  or  an 
Agent.  I  really  think  no  man  can  be  more  vigilant  & 
diligent  in  all  things  you  undertake  than  you  are.  Tufton. 
Mason  is  a  very  sorry  rascal  &  is  to  be  dc^pis'd.  What  I 
wrote  you,  brother,  about  the  common  talk  here  was  not 
my  own  thoughts  or  opinion,  but  I  gave  you  those  hints 
in  pure  love  &  kindness,  so  you  must  not  take  it  amisti. 
I  thank  your  care  about  the  complaint  of  Woodside  & 
others  at  the  Eastward,  copy  whereof  you  have  sent  me, 
&  to  which  I  shall  indeavour  to  make  answer  by  the  next 
good  conveyance.  Woodside  ia  a  poor,  beggarly  wretch, 
a  right,  false  Irish  Tike,  &  his  father,  the  priest,  not  a  whit 
better.  But  Waldo  would  take  hold  of  a  straw  if  he 
thought  he  could  use  it  to  hurt  the  Governour.  The 
reasons  you  gave  at  Board  of  Trade  about  the  ruinous 
state  of  the  fort  at  New  Hampshire  were  good  &  can't 
be  contradicted.     I  am  glad  to  see  you  have  such  good 

■  Tbe  Ictler  lo  Lord  Wilmlneton  ditcd  October  33  wia  copied  intn  Ihc  Lrtlcr  Book,  and 
afUnrud  enwiied  out,  witb  a  memornniiluni  m  the  handwriting  of  Goi-ernor  Belcher,  "  Not 
Mnt."  It  WM  wrilten  in  «  very  ihtrp,  not  to  tty  inerj",  tone,  and  would  probibly  hare 
done  more  harm  than  good.    Tba  letter  nbebtuted  for  it  ia  printed  on  pp,  Sf  1-348.  —  £i>b. 


jvGooi^lc 


238  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739. 

courage  about  my  pommission  at  N.  Hamp,  which  I  would 
not  lose,  if  it  be  possible  to  keep  it,  for,  as  I  have  said 
formerly,  it  would  be  attended  with  ugly  cdnsequences. 
I  am  again  greatly  oblig'd  to  you  for  the  account  of  what 
past  at  the  Board  of  Trade  on  the  return  of  their  report 
from  the  Privy  Council  about  Gulston  &  Tomlinsou's 
memorial,  where  Counsellour  Hollings  perform'd  his  part 
so  well  that  things  turn'd  out  to  my  honour  &  reputa- 
tion. I  don't  see  with  what  face  of  justice  the  Lords  of 
Trade  can  support  their  report.  If  you  can  bring  it  to 
my  being  serv'd  with  copy  to  make  answer,  it  will  be  giv- 
ing  the  matter  a  good  turn  by  making  the  adversary 
dance  long  attendance  at  a  great  charge,  &  finally  to  be 
mortify'd  with  so  good  an  answer  as  I  am  sure  I  am  able 
to  make.  For  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  say  I  am  not  con- 
cem'd  because  my  name  is  not  mention'd  is  perfectly 
ridiculous.  By  their  report  the  Gov'  is  to  be  turn'd  out 
of  commission,  &  who  is  the  Gov*  but  M'  Belcher?  Per- 
.haps  the  Lords  of  Trade  would  be  willing  it  should  take 
the  turn  I  mention'd  that  it  may  become  old  &  stale  & 
forgotten,  &  so  they  salve  their  honour.  But  the  matter 
must  be  carefully  watcht  at  all  the  ofiBces  least  it  should 
take  any  sudden  ill  turn. 

I  had  almost  forgot  to  say  that  I  beleive  my  message 
to  the  Representatives  of  this  Province  in  their  last  ses- 
sion, where  I  so  much  asserted  the  King's  honour  &  stuck 
so  close  to  his  instructions,  will  be  of  good  service  to  me 
among  the  King's  ministers.  Altho'  the  Assembly  voted 
me  £1200  new  tenour  for  my  support,  yet  they  have 
not  supply'd  one  shilling  to  the  Treasury  to  pay  it, 
but  are  indeavouring  to  starve  me  this  year,  because  I 
would  not  Qy  in  the  face  of  Majesty,  &  break  the  King's 
royal  orders  by  signing  a  bill  which  he  had  forbidden 
me  to  do. 

I  intend  the  next  week  for  New  Hampshire  to  hold 
an  Assembly  there,  &  shall  write  you   again   before  I 


oyGoot^lc 


'  1739.]  TO  RICHARD  WALDRON.  239 

go,   if  any  opportuDity.     I  am,  in  the  mean   time   & 
alwayes,  S', 

Your  obliged,  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Ootobf  80,  1739. 

I   should  be  glad  of  your  more  particular  answer  to 
mine  of  26  July  about  my  letter  to  H.  Walpole,  ic*. 

(Homana.) 


TO   RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon"*  Sir,  —  I  have  yours  by  the  post  of  26  currant, 
&  am  glad  the  prorogation  was  so  unsuspectedly  &  well 
manag'd.  I  take  notice  of  the  alteration  in  the  choice  & 
am  not  surpriz'd  that  it's  for  the  worse.  My  closing  message 
was  in  two  of  the  prints  &  in  the  Representatives  Jour- 
nals. As  to  the  seizure,  I  am  told  the  unjust  Judge 
Bayes  it's  good,  &  on  Tuesday  the  6  pros'  he  is  to  be 
there  to  give  his  decree,  &  by  w'  I  hear  he  is  much  afraid 
not  to  condemn  ship  &  cargo,  least  the  Gov'  should  make 
a  handle  of  it  to  oust  him.  There  seems  to  be  some 
probability  of  his  doing  right.  Read  to  Huske  what 
I  write  on  this  head.  The  Exeter  affair  you  have  got 
done  (I  thank  you)  in  a  sub-stantial  manner,  tSi  I  have  this 
day  inclos'd  it  to  my  good  S'  C.  Wager.  Pray  give  my 
kind  respects  to  the  worthy  M'  Odiin  when  you  see 
him.  I  am  willing  they  should  have  what  copies  they 
please  of  the  forg'd  letter.  Nay,  I  have  had  thoughts  of 
printing  it  &  its  antidote  in  our  publick  papers.  I  thank 
your  hints  in  answer  to  Gulston  &  Tomlinson's  memorial, 
all  which  I  had  wrote  last  week  f  Romans.  Part  of  the 
papers  are  return'd ;  tlie  others  you'l  send  t  this  post. 
Since  my  Inst  several  ships  are  got  in  from  London,  & 
I  inclose  you  some  of  the  letters  receiv'd  by  them,  as  S' 
C.  W  &  M'  Partridge's  of  August  28,  30  &  Sep*  8  &  12, 
which  you'l  read  &  thoroughly  weigh  &  sny  whether  it 


oyGoot^lc 


240  THE   BELCHEB   PAPERS.  [na». 

mayn't  really  be  best  to  be  with  you  7  prox'.  I  think 
these  last  advices  are  pleasant  &  you  should  comfort  our 
friends  with  them.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  Spanish  chap 
don't  return  till  the  spring.  M'  Keene  is  recall'd  from 
Madrid,  by  whom,  perhaps,  he  thinks  to  be  able  to  do 
great  things.  My  friend,  you  never  yet  saw  me  (as  the 
boys  say)  down  daggerd.  But  every  now  &  tlien  I  find 
you  crest  fallen.  The  Lords  of  Trade  are  not  very  mighty 
Lords,  nor  are  they  able  to  administer  life  or  death.  If 
God  spares  my  life,  I  still  hope  &  beleive  I  shall  visit 
New  Hampshire  till  age  or  want  of  health  forbids  m& 
Depend  I'll  cling  like  birdlime  &  part  with  nothing  but 
according  to  the  great  Savoyard.*  Why  then  are  your 
thoughts  clouded  ?  &  why  can't  you  command  them  into 
such  martial  array  as  may  best  serve  to  defend  the  Gov* 
&  all  his  friends  ?  I  doubt  not  but  my  upright  endeavours 
in  both  Provinces  to  support  the  King's  honour  &  interest, 
with  the  true  welfare  of  his  people,  will  go  a  great  way 
in  the  sight  of  God,  who  turns  the  hearts  of  kings  as 
the  rivers  of  water,  and  I  have  strong  faith  that  I  shall 
soon  see  all  my  enemies  gnash  their  teeth  and  melt 
away.  By  my  last  advices  warr  with  Spain  seems  to 
be  just  at  hand,  that  is,  it  \A  expected  to  be  proclaira'd 
when  the  Parliament  meets  the  next  month,  &  perhaps 
France  may  then  strike  in  with  Spain.  These  apprehen- 
sions have  put  the  King  upon  equipping  almost  every 
ship  he  has,  which  has  put  a  stop  to  all  trade  or  merchant 
ships  coming  from  England  at  present,  that  it's  very  un- 
certain whether  we  may  have  another  ship  from  London 
till  April,  &  would  n't  it  be  giving  them  a  greater  handle 
than  any  they  have  yet  had,  to  be  absent  from  the  Pro- 
vince for  18  months  together,  &  at  the  same  time  a  warr 
daily  expected  ?  I  say,  consider,  consider,  &  give  me  your 
thoughts,  I  have  sign'd  &  return  the  proroguing  procla- 
mation to  be  us'd  or  not,  as  you  shall  finally  determine, 


oyGoot^lc 


1788.]  TO  LORD  WILMINGTON.  241 

which  I  must  not  fail  to  know  by  the  post,  because  if  you 
advise  to  my  coming  I  would  perhaps  set  out  on  Monday 
next  Talk  with  old  H.  on  the  head.  It  will  please 
him.  Read  his  letter  &  give  it  him.  I  can  say  no  more. 
I  alwayes  am 

Your  friend  &  serv'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Octob'  30,  1739. 

I  had  forgot  to  say  phaps  the  afGiir  of  the  seizure  might 
come  out  better  if  I  were  on  the  spot. 

(Post.) 


TO  LORD  WILMINGTON- 
MOST  NOBLE  &  MOST  HONOURED  LoRD,  —  In  March  & 
April  last  I  had  the  honour  of  addressing  your  Lordship 
in  a  very  particular  manner  respecting  some  complaints 
I  heard  had  been  presented  to  your  Lordship  at  a  Com- 
mittee of  his  Majesty's  most  hon*''*  Privy  Council  against 
my  administration  in  the  government  here  &  at  N.  Hamp- 
shire, &  these  letters  M'  Partridge  &  M'  Belcher  write  me 
they  had  the  honour  to  deliver  to  your  Lordship,  which  I 
hope  gave  your  Lordship  some  satisfaction  to  those  com- 
plaints. By  these  last  ships  I  have  an  account  from  my 
agents  at  Whitehall  that  there  bad  been  presented  at  the 
Privy  Council  Office  a  memorial  from  one  M'  Gulston, 
Tomlinson  &  two  others  respecting  the  Province  of  New 
Hampshire,  which  had  been  referr'd  to  the  Plantation 
Board,  who  had  return'd  their  report  upon  it  without 
serving  me  with  a  copy  &  time  to  ans' ;  but  that  when 
it  came  to  your  Lordship's  Board  your  Lordship  sent 
it  back  again  that  I  might  have  the  justice  I  insisted 
upon  by  my  agents,  hut  was  deny'd  by  them,  viz',  a  copy 
&  time  to  answer,  &  this  has  indeed  been  the  steady 
course  of  your  Lordship's  justice  and  candour  in  any  thing 


oyGoot^lc 


242  THE  BELCHKR  PAPEBS.  [1730. 

that  has  come  before  your  Lordship  in  the  affitira  of  my 
government,  for  which  I  give  your  Lordship  my  most  hum- 
ble &  hearty  thanks,  &  shall  ever  hold  myself  under  the 
strictest  obligations  of  gratitude.  I  find  the  complainante 
bad,  in  their  low  art,  lefl  out  my  name  that  they  might 
say  it  was  not  a  complaint  against  me,  altho'  the  whole 
drift  &  design  of  it  was  to  get  my  commission  for  New 
Hampshire  superseded ;  &  the  report  of  the  Lords  of 
Trade  tally'd  with  their  design,  &  had  not  your  Ix>rd8hip 
interpos'd  &  put  a  etop  to  the  manner  of  proceeding  how 
severe  &  extraordinary  would  it  have  been  to  have  de- 
priv'd  a  gent™  of  his  bread  &  honour,  &  never  to  have 
given  him  liberty  of  vindicating  himself,  —  I  say  to  have 
taken  his  comission  from  him  upon  the  ipse  dixit  of  his 
enemies,  which  upon  a  fair  hearing  might  appear  to  be 
nothing  more  than  a  heap  of  absurdities  &  falsehoods  & 
the  pure  product  of  malice ;  &  when  I  am  serv'd  with 
copy  I  have  no  doubt  to  make  this  memorial  deserve 
those  epithets ;  &  I  do  most  humbly  beg  of  your  Lordship 
that  before  any  thing  be  past  on  this  memorial  I  may  be 
serv'd  with  copy  to  answer.  For  it  cannot  be  expected 
my  agents  at  a  1000  leagues  distance  can. so  fully  answer 
what  may  nearly  affect  my  interest  &  honour  as  I  can. 
There  has,  my  Lord,  a  complaint  of  this  M'  Tomlinson 
against  me,  &  my  answer  to  it,  lain  above  twelve  months 
at  the  Privy  Council  Office,  which  he  seems  afraid  to 
bring  to  a  hearing  &  therefore  stirs  up  M'  Gulston  with 
the  other  two  to  bring  on  a  complaint  in  this  man- 
ner, &  as  it  were  to  shoot  me  in  the  dark-.  But  God 
be  prais'd  that  your  Lordship  presides  at  the  Council 
Board  with  so  much  justice  &  honour.  I  humbly  beg 
your  Lordship's  patience  while  I  mention  an  instance 
of  his  present  Majesty's  great  justice  with  respect 
to  one  M'  Gledhill,  Gov'  of  Placentia  about  ten  years 
agoe,  upon  a  complaint  that  was  exhibited  i^ainst  him  (I 
think  by  Lord  Vere).     A  very  great  person  went  to  the 


DiqnzecibyGoOt^lc 


1739.]  TO  LORD   EGMONT.  243 

King  to  desire  he  might  be  dismist.  But  the  Gov^ 
friends  found  access  to  his  Majesty,  &  humbly  beg*  the 
Gov'  might  have  liberty  to  answer  for  himself,  which  the 
King  readily  granted.  Upon  the  gentlem''  going  again 
to  hia  Majesty  to  have  him  put  out,  the  King  said,  No,  S', 
you  told  me  he  was  a  very  good  man  when  I  put  him 
in.  Yes,  may  it  please  your  Majesty,  so  he  was ;  but  now 
such  &  Biich  complaints  lye  against  him.  To  which  the 
King  answer' d,  They  may  indeed  bear  the  name  of  com- 
plaints, but  I  shall  not  dismiss  him.  Let  him  be  serv'd 
with  copies,  &  if  he  cannot  clear  himself,  then  let  him  be 
dismist ;  but  if  he  can,  I  shall  still  continue  him  aa  a  good 
servant.  He  made  ans',  clear'd  himself,  &  was  continued. 
I  remember  when  I  was  at  Court  the  King's  justice  & 
hpnour  on  this  head  were  greatly  applauded.  I  know  my- 
self, my  Lord,  to  have  alwayes  made  the  King's  honour 
&  interest,  with  the  prosperity  of  his  people,  so  much 
the  rule  of  my  administration  at  all  times  that  I  am  under 
no  pain  or  solUcitude  about  complaints,  if  I  may  have 
time  to  answer ;  &  yet,  may  it  please  your  Lordship,  there 
will  alwayes  be  Grumble  ton  ians  in  every  government. 

I   have   the   honour  to  be,  with   the  most   profound 
respect  &  duty,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  devoted,  most  faithfiU,  &  moat 
obedient  serv*.  J.  B. 

BosTOM,  OctoV  80,  1739. 
(HomanB.  Hall.) 


TO  LORD  EGMONT.' 

Mat  it  please  tour  Lordship,  —  By  a  ship  lately 
arriv'd  from  London  I  had  the  honour  of  your  Lordship's 
letter  of  8  June,  &  am  to  congratulate  your  Lordship, 

*  loho  Perdval,  flnt  Earl  of  Egrnont,  tru  Urj^el]'  tntcraated  tn  the  uttlemeiit  of  Geor- 
KU,  for  which  ha  obtainad  a  cluuter  In  IT32.  H<  died  Haf  1,  ITM.  See  Burke's  Feeraga 
and  Baronetage.  —  F.ne. 


oyGoot^lc 


fi44  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739. 

with  the  rest  of  the  Trustees  o£  Georgia,  &  still  more  the 
■  people  there  who  are  spending  their  lives  &  little  sub- 
stances to  bring  forward  the  settlement  of  that  new  colony, 
that  the  Trustees  are  at  last  resolv'd  to  alter  the  tenure 
of  their  grants  of  lands  in  favour  of  female  succession. 
Aa  to  their  being  restrain'd  from  selling  outright,  I  have 
the  honour  to  be  in  opinion  with  your  Lordship,  that 
it's  a  wise  caution,  &  is  liberty  enough  that  they  may 
dispose  by  will.  I  read  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 
the  particular  account  your  Lordship  gives  me  of  the 
good  reasoning  &  wise  resolutions  of  your  Trustees,  & 
of  the  generality  of  the  aetlers  of  Georgia,  against  the 
introduction  of  negro  (or  other)  slaves.  Indeed,  I  was 
alwayes  in  that  way  of  thinking,  that  no  part  of  man- 
kind  was  made  to  be  slaves  to  their  fellow  creatures. 
We  have  but  few  in  these  parts,  and  I  wish  there  were 
less.  From  every  white  we  may  hope  for  a  good  man  to 
add  to  the  common  wealth.  But  there  is  such  a  natural 
&  general  aversion  in  whites  to  blacks,  that  they  will 
never  mix  or  sodder.  Nor  do  even  Christians  treat  them 
much  better  than  they  do  their  horses  &  other  cattle. 
I  doubt  not,  my  Lord,  but  these  resolutions  will  prove 
happy  articles  for  promoting  your  new  plantation,  which 
I  heartily  wish  may  flourish  to  answer  all  the  generous 
&  noble  views  your  Lordship  mentions. 

About  three  months  agoe  I  receiv'd  the  King's  com- 
mands for  granting  commissions  of  mart  and  reprizal  to 
bis  Majesty's  subjects  against  those  of  the  King  of  Spain, 
which  seems  leading  to  a  warr  (at  least  with  Spain), 
&  may  greatly  affect  Georgia,  Augustine  being  in  their 
near  neighbourhood.  I  take  the  liberty  of  inclosing  to 
your  Txirdship  the  copy  of  a  letter  1  lately  receiv'd  from 
Cap'  Warren  of  his  Majesty's  ship,  the  Squirrel,  the 
station  ship  for  this  place,  who  by  special  orders  from  the 
Lords  of  the  Admiralty  is  gone  in  quest  of  Spaniards, 
By  this  letter  your  Lordship  will  see  in  what  a  poor 


oyGoot^lc 


1789.]  TO  THOMAS   CORAM.  245 

deplorable  condition  Carolina  was,  that  a  small  armament 
from  the  Havanna  might  make  an  easy  conquest  of  that 
colony  &  Georgia.  And  if  a  warr  comes  on  it  seems 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  those  two 
valuable  colonies  that  the  Crown  should  speedily  send 
a  sufficient  strength  not  onely  for  their  protection,  but 
also  for  bringing  S'  Augustine  into  subjection  to  his  Brit- 
tannick  Majesty.  It  was  a  maxim  with  old  Borne,  Delenda 
est  Carthago.  Carolina  &  Georgia  can  never  be  safe  & 
easy  while  they  have  such  a  nest  of  vermin  as  Augustine 
so  nigh  them. 

I  am,  my  Lord,  under  a  very  sensible  obligation  for 
the  honour  you  did  M'  Belcher  at  bis  chambers,  &  am 
sorry  he  was  so  unfortunate  as  not  to  be  at  home.  Tour 
Lordship  will  readily  conceive  what  a  pleasure  it  is  to  a 
fond  father  to  hear  it  said  that  his  son  follows  his  studies 
with  reputation,  &  this  satisfaction  I  have  from  several 
of  his  acquaintance.  May  God  Almighty  preserve  his 
health,  establish  his  vertue  &  increase  his  diligence,  that 
he  may  in  time  be  capable  of  the  service  of  his  King  & 
countrey.  If  it  may  at  any  time  fall  in  your  Lordship's 
way  to  promote  hitn  in  the  business  of  his  profession, 
I  shall  take  it  as  a  singular  mark  of  respect  & 
honour. 

I  humbly  pray  your  Lordship  to  command  me  to  any 
services  here  within  the  power  of,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  obliged,  most  faithful  &  most 
humble  servant.  J.  B. 

BosTOK,  Not'  13, 1739. 

(aui.) 


TO  THOMAS  CORAM. 


S",  —  I  wrote  you  at  large  29  last  month  ^  Homans, 
&  am  now  to  repeat  my  request  that  you  would  not  fail 
to  procure  &  senc^  me  the  original  forg'd  letter  wrote  to 


oyGoot^lc 


246  THE   BELCHER  PA.PBBS.  [1730. 

S'  Charles  &  copies  of  the  affidavits  made  out  against  me 
by  Auchmuty  &  Shirley.  Explain  to  me  in  the  most 
particular  manner  you  can  the  affair  of  the  Yorkshire- 
man's  father  dying  in  his  shoos.*  Sometime  since  I 
receivd  a  letter  from  you  about  money  that  was  due 
to  M"  Belagb  from  her  brother  Peacock  at  Piscataqiia. 
I  have  made  all  the  inquiry  &  done  all  the  service  I  can 
in  it.  The  man  is  poor,  &  I  believe  not  very  honest. 
Please  to  deliver  M"  Belagh  the  inclosed.  I  am  sorry 
I  am  not  able  to  serve  her.  I  wish  you  would  in  the 
wisest  manner  you  can  get  an  advertisem'  into  your 
publick  prints  respecting  Duke  Trinkalo's  world  in  the 
ntoon.  Look  into  my  letter  of  20  Decembr.  last  on  that 
head.  It  may  be  by  way  of  a  letter  from  a  Friend  in 
New  England  to  his  Friend  at  London,  Such  a  thing 
would  iutirely  overset  Trinkalo,  make  him  ctap  his  tail 
between  his  legs,  &  teer  home  like  a  dog,  as  he  is.  Put 
this  in  practice,  'twill  do  your  friend  good  service.  I  ant 
DOW  making  out  an  answer  to  the  Irish  complaint  set 
afoot  by  him,  which  will  set  forth  why  the  Indians  op- 
pos'd  his  settling.  Let  me,  S',  again  most  earnestly 
recommend  to  your  respect  &  care  my  dear  M'  Belcher 
of  the  Temple,  &  also  to  good  M"  Coram  in  the  article  of 
matrimony.  Thirty  years  old  I  think  a  good  age  to- enter 
into  that  state,  &  it  would  be  pleasing  to  me  to  hear  by 
the  first  ship  in  the  spring  that  he  was  niarry'd  to  his 
own  content  &  to  the  good  approbation  of  his  friends, 
By  this  ship  I  pcess  M'  Newman,  under  M'  Belcher's 
covert  for  the  preacher's  original  letter  to  the  dece'd 
J.  D.     I  am  alwaycs,  worthy  S', 

Your  friend  &  ready  serv'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Not»  20, 1739. 

(Hall.) 

•  5MriMe,p.  S33.  — Epa.  t  SMaitl<,p.a33.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  BICHABD  PARTBIDQB.  217 


TO  HENRY  NEWMAN. 


Mt  tbet  good  Friend,  —  I  find  by  my  Copy  Book 
I  wrote  you  at  large  in  January  last,  &  am  sorry  you  give 
me  just  reason  to  complain  that  the  year  is  almost  roU'd 
about  without  a  line  from  dear  M'  Newman,  which  I  hope 
the  ships  daily  expected  will  bring  me.  This  comes  to  ask 
after  your  health  &  is  under  M'  Belcher's  cover,  &  he  is 
order'd  to  deliver  it  into  your  own  hands,  to  pray  you  to  let 
liim  have  the  tetter  dropt  in  your  lodgings,  being  from 
M'  Dudley  to  M'  Dummer,  now  deceas'd.  It  can  be  of 
no  service  to  you,  but  may  be  considerably  so  to  me,  and 
as  it  shall  alwayes  remain  a  secret  how  it  carae  to  my 
hands,  I  fully  depend  you  will  show  me  a  new  instance 
of  your  sincere  respect  by  letting  me  be  possest  of  it, 
I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  hearty  friend  &  servant  J.  B. 

Boston,  Not'  20, 1739. 

(Hall.  Corliiig.) 


TO  BICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  Yesterday  I  receiv'd  V  Macdonald  your  kind 
letters  of  Sept'  27,  Octob'  2  &  6  (the  first  being  a  dupli- 
cate). I  must  thankfully  own  my  great  obligations  to  you 
for  your  indefatigable  care  in  all  things  relating  to  me  & 
to  my  government.  I  am  much  pleas'd  with  the  steps 
you  have  taken  to  soften  Coll.  Bl — d — n,  &  I  beleive  it 
has  had  some  success,  because  I  have  a  long  letter  from 
the  Board  of  Trade  in  a  handsomer  stile  than  formerly. 
You  must  therefore  in  all  proper  ways  &  means  go  on  to 
soften  him,  as  I  am  sensible  it  must  greatly  contribute  to 
my  ease  in  the  government,  &  will  also  strike  away  a  prin- 
cipal prop  to  my  wicked,  unjust,  unreasonable  enemies. 


oyGoot^lc 


248  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1739. 

I  am  determined  to  set  down  &  write  him  the  handsomest 
letter  I  can,  leaving  it  to  the  perusal  of  yourself  &  Coun- 
sellour  Belcher  to  be  deliver'd  or  not  as  you  shall  think 
best.  By  gaining  him  we  may  perhaps  have  the  whole 
Board,  &  the  more  easily  recover  L'  Presid*.  As  to  the 
report  of  the  Board,  unless  they  are  willing  to  let  it  dye 
where  it  is,  it  will  be  the  next  best  thing  strenuously  to 
insist  that  I  be  serv'd  with  a  copy,  or  if  they  should  con- 
firm &  return  it  to  the  Privy  Council,  then  to  urge  it  with 
L^  President  that  I  be  serv'd  with  copy  to  make  answ'.  I 
take  a  particular  notice,  brother,  of  the  scheme  you  have 
form'd  to  serve  the  Massachusetts.  The  Assembly  is  to 
sit  here  the  next  week,  when  I  shall  communicate  it  to 
such  members  as  I  have  interest  with,  &  do  all  in  my 
power  to  promote  it.  But  I  must  observe  to  you  that  the 
Assemblies  of  this  Province  have  always  been  obstinately 
averse  to  pass  any  bill  with  a  saving  clause  for  the  King'*8 
pleasure,  saying  to  pass  bills  in  such  a  manner  would  be 
to  take  away  one  of  the  greatest  priviledges  in  the  Charter. 
As  God  in  his  providence  seems  to  be  laying  honest  M' 
Wilks  aside  from  business,  I  should  be  glad  (if  it  were 
possible)  to  get  you  in  as  standing  Agent,  but  almost 
despair  of  it,  there  are  so  many  parties  &  factions  in  the 
present  Assembly.  Christ"  Kilby  goes  with  Hall  as  Agent 
to  the  Repg,  &  it  mayn't  be  amiss  for  you  to  have  a 
proper  acquaintance  with  him.  I  beleive  he  &  his  party 
are  fully  sensible  he  is  going  on  a  fruitless  errand,  yet  I 
am  not  all  displeas'd  they  send.  I  don't  suppose  it  would 
be  a  difficult  thing  for  the  Assembly  here  to  get  leave  to 
emit  a  good  sum  of  bills  of  c',  provided  they  would  take 
effectual  care  in  the  act  by  which  they  should  go  out  to 
fix  their  value  unalterably  j  &  bills  that  are  not  so  are  but 
a  publick  fraud  &  cheat  to  all  those  that  take  'em.  But 
more  of  this  after  the  Assembly  here  get  together.  I  shall 
by  the  first  opportunity  send  your  letter  to  the  Speaker  • 

*  Han.  John  Qnlocy,  of  Braintrae.  —  Eoa. 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.]  TO  RICHABD  FARTRtDGE.  249 

(who  lives  10  miles  from  hence).  As  you  are  Agent  to 
the  whole  legislature  your  letters  ought  alwayes  to  be 
directed  to  the  Secretary,  &  not  to  any  single  branch  of 
the  government,  as  the  House  of  Representatives  is.  You 
say  you  are  as  fully  instructed  as  you  possibly  can  be  in 
the  affair  of  the  boundaries,  &  that  you  with  M'  Sollicitor 
Sharp  will  exert  yourselves  to  the  utmost ;  and  as  you 
write  the  New  Hamp  complaint  against  me  is  to  come  on 
the  first  Committee  of  Council  in  this  month,  I  hope  as 
soon  as  that  is  over  you  will  not  fail  to  push  the  afiair  of 
the  boundaries  to  a  final  issue.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
hopes  the  clan  at  New  Hampshire  entertain'd  of  gaining 
some  advantage  against  the  Gov**  in  the  controversy,  I  am 
sensible  they  had  never  given  themselves  any  trouble 
about  it,  so  that  I  suppose  they  don't  at  all  care  whether 
anything  more  be  done,  &  especially  since  I  beleive  they 
have  no  hopes  of  things  going  as  they  would  have  them. 
But  as  it  is  a  vast  damage  to  this  Province  to  have  the 
matter  lye  as  it  does,  I  would  once  more  (even  for  your 
own  interest)  beg  you  to  give  it  all  the  dispatch  in  your 
power.  Upon  a  Coramittee  from  hence  some  months  agoe 
meeting  a  Committee  from  Bhode  Island  about  the  pend- 
ing controversy,  they  found  no  real  inclination  in  Rhode 
Island  to  have  Commias"  chosen  here  to  adjust  the  dis- 
pute, yet  if  I  am  able  to  judge  it  would  be  on  all  heads 
best  &  wisest  so  to  do.  Inclosed  is  Secretary  Willard's 
certificate  about  my  15  instruction,  to  be  made  use  of 
in  case  the  new  Agent  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
should  make  any  complaint  against  the  Gov'  about  it  I 
am  exceedingly  oblig'd  to  you  for  the  warmth  with  which 
you  express  yourself  about  my  New  Hampshire  commis- 
sion, which  1  would  not  lose  for  a  great  consideration, 
especially  to  have  it  rent  from  me  by  my  enemies.  I 
thank  you  for  what  you  say  about  Sh — r — ly,  &  after- 
wards in  general  as  to  my  two  commissions;  yet  it's  best 
to  be  vigilant  at  all  the  publick  offices.     I  am  getting 


oyGoot^lc 


250  TH£  BELCHEB  FAFBBS.  [1739. 

forward  as  fast  as  possible  with  my  ans'  to  the  oomplaint  of 
the  Irish  people  in  our  eastern  parts.  This  is  a  piece  of 
Waldo's  malice,  but  you  may  depend  it  will  finally  do  me 
as  much  honour  as  the  other  Dunbar  &  Waldo  cookt  up, 
&  got  Gulston  &  company  to  subscribe  to.  I  will  give 
this  thing  all  the  dispatch  I  possibly  can,  but  shall  not 
be  able  to  send  it  away  in  less  than  three  weeks  or  a 
month,  because  a  man  is  gone  this  day  to  S'  George's 
itiver,  about  60  lea.  from  hence,  to  bring  me  up  some 
things  necessary  to  the  compleating  my  answer.  You 
must  therefore  take  care  the  matter  be  not  hurry'd  on  to 
a  hearing  till  you  receive  my  answer.  I  see  there  is  yet 
no  war  with  Spain,  &  since  a  peace  is  concluded  on  between 
the  Turks,  Kussians,  &  Germans,  perhaps  France  won't  be 
very  ready  to  join  with  Spain.  This  therefore  seems  to 
be  the  opportunity  for  G'  Britain's  obtaining  justice  from 
the  Court  of  Spain.  I  am  sorry  the  cyder  was  mostly  lost 
in  the  passage.  I  thought  it  would  be  best  preserv'd  in 
bottles ;  but  I  '11  send  some  more  in  the  season  in  cask. 
I  like  well  M'  Belcher's  presenting  the  pickles  to  Lady 
Wager,  &  I  shall  send  what  birds  I  can  next  summer. 
You  say  nothing,  brother,  of  the  rocquelo  •  I  wrote  for, 
which  I  very  much  want,  because  I  have  none  fit  to 
wear  this  winter.  I  hope  you  will  not  fail  to  send  it 
by  next  ship.  It's  hardly  worth  while  to  disappoint 
me  in  such  trifles,  becauae  I  must  have  such  things  as 
are  necessary,  &  am  loth  to  make  any  little  remittances 
for  them  to  any  body  else.  I  would  repeat  to  you  I 
have  a  great  dependence  on  the  seeds  I  have  desir'd 
you   to   send  by  first  in   the   spring   for  my  farm.    I 

'       '  Your  loving  broth'.  J.  R 

Boston,  Nov  26,  1739. 
(Hall.  Curling.) 

*  An  OTercoat,  man  prop«rl7  called  roquelaara,  tnnn  tha  Dnc  de  Roqncliiin,  who 
lnlrodac«d  its  uh  in  Ibe  time  of  Lonia  XIV.  GoTCTnor  B«1chsr  nol  only  Imported  wtuiag 
■ppiKl  from  the  mother  cnnnti?  for  himsetr,  bi>  wife,  and  MrraDts,  but  be  lUo  mdend 
hoQsehald  fiunubinsa-  —  El>». 


jvGooi^lc 


TO  HABTIK  BLADEN.  251 


TO  MARTIN  BLADEN. 


SiE, — Altbo'  I  had  wrote  you  4  or  5  years  agoe,  to 
which  I  bad  not  receiv'd  the  favour  of  an  answer,  yet'  I 
find  by  my  Copy  Book  that  I  wrote  you  again  the  19 
June,  1736,  by  the  hands  of  Cap'  Durell,  &  which,  he 
wrote  me,  he  deliver'd ;  &  upon  a  review  of  it  I  cannot 
but  confirm  every  thing  I  then  6aid,  &  by  your  continued 
silence  you  might  well  expect  not  to  be  persecuted  with 
any  more  unwelcome  letters  from  me,  &  if  this  proves  so, 
I  will  ask  1000  pardons  &  'a'  done.  Will  you  allow  me, 
S%  to  be  free  &  expostulate  with  you  as  one  gent"  might 
with  another.  After  1  had  kist  the  king's  hand  for  my 
governments  &  resided  at  Whitehall,  1  have  said  on  all 
occasions  that  nobody  treated  me  with  more  civility  & 
more  gentlemanly  than  did  Coll"  Bladen.  I  should  there- 
fore be  glad  to  know  what  1  have  done  as  a  Gov'  or  as 
M'  Belcher  to  give  you  disgust  I  am,  indeed,  perfectly 
ignorant  in  the  matter,  if  any  there  be,  &  if  I  might  be 
acquainted  with  it  I  would  readily  do  what  you  might 
judge  proper,  or  might  be  expected  from  a  gent".  My 
friends  tell  me,  from  a  coldness  they  find  in  Coll" 
Bladen  to  my  interest  my  affairs  labour  at  your  Board. 
I  freely  ask  pardon  if  I  have  unwittingly  given  you 
offence,  &  desire  you  to  let  me  hope  for  your  future 
favour  &  kind  offices,  &  I  will  promise  you  never  to 
dishonour  your  friendship. 

In  the  execution  of  the  commissions  with  which  the 
King  has  honoured  me  I  am  not  afraid  of  the  worst  of 
my  enemies  taxing  my  administration,  nor  have  they 
been  able  with  their  most  poignant  malice  hitherto  to 
fix  a  blot  upon  me,  when  I  have  had  copies  &  time  to 
answer,  &  which  is  doubtleas  the  right  of  the  King's 
Govemour,  &  indeed  of  the  meanest  subject  the  King 
has. 


oyGoot^lc 


252  THE  BELCEBB  PAPERS.  [173&. 

I  thank  you,  S',  for  the  copy  of  the  complaint  of  John 
North,  Esq',*  &  others  against  me,  to  which  I  am  now  pre- 
paring my  particular  answer,  and  hope  to  have  it  ready  to 
go  in  three  weeks  from  this  time,  &  which,  I  doubt  not, 
■will  make  it  clear  to  you,  &  the  rest  of  the  Lords  Com- 
miss"  for  Trade  &  Plantations  how  grossly  I  am  abus'd  & 
vilely  treated  in  that  petition.  My  enemies  stick  neither 
at  lying  nor  forgeries  to  hurt  me  if  they  could ;  but  God 
Almighty  detects  them  &  protects  the  innocent.  I  ask 
pardon  for  this  trouble,  &  if  you  would  put  it  in  my 
power  to  render  you  any  acceptable  service  in  this  part 
of  the  world,  I  should  take  it  as  an  obligation  laid  on, 
Hon""  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  &  most  hum.  serv*. 

J.  B. 

B08TOK,  Dec  3A,  1739. 
(Curling.  Hoar.) 


TO  BICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  I  must  pray  you  to  take  our  good  friend  Coram 
with  you  to  B'  Charles  immediately  on  receipt  of  this,  that 
I  may  not  fail  of  what  I  have  once  &  again  wrote  you 
about  your  nephew  here.  I  am  sensible  many  others 
have  wrote,  but  as  my  letters,  I  beleive,  were  the  earliest, 
I  hope  your  good  care  will  prevent  any  baulk  in  the 
matter.    S',. 

Your  very  good  friend  &  brother.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Decemb'  13,  1738. 
(Hoar.  Richaidaon.) 

■  John  North  wu  sppolDled  >  Jnitice  or  tha  Peace  for  the  Coaaty  of  York,  In  ITU,  b^ 
QovaniDr  Belcher  on  the  recommendalioa  of  LiBoleD»Bt-GoyBraor  Donbu'.  See  i  MM* 
Hist.  CoU.  Tol.  vi.  pp.  3a0,  31S.  — Edb. 


oyGoot^lc 


1788.]  TO  THE  LORDS   OF   TRADE. 


TO  SIB  CHARLES  WAGER. 

Hon""  Sib,  —  The  29  last  month  I  asfet  your  favour 
for  my  son  M'  Andrew  Belcher  to  be  Register  of  the 
Court  of  Admiralty  here  in  case  of  a  vacancy,  since  which 
M'  John  Boydill,  the  late  Register,  dy'd  (the  10*  ins',  in 
the  morning),  &  I  have  this  day  appointed  my  son  to  be 
Register  of  the  said  Court,  &  pray  he  may  have  a  com- 
mission from  your  board  for  that  place  in  the  usual  form, 
which  I  shall  esteem  as  a  fresh  obligation  laid  on,  S', 

Your  Honour's  most  faithfull  &  most  obedient  servant. 

J.  B. 

BOB-roN,  Dec  13,  1789. 

(Hoar.  Ricbardson.) 


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Lordships,  —  Agreeable  to  mine 
of  the  12"'  of  last  month  I  have  now  the  honour  to  cover 
to  your  Lordships  the  account  you  wrote  for  respecting 
the  paper  currency  of  this  Province.  I  think  they  are 
done  in  conformity  to  the  addresses  of  both  Houses  of 
Parliament  to  his  Majeaty,  &  I  hope  with  good  exactness, 
BO  as  to  be  easily  lookt  into  &  understoorl. 

Those  of  New  Hampshire  are  not  yet  finisht,  &  I  am 
afraid  will  not  come  out  very  compleat.  The  publick 
papers  and  records  of  that  Province  not  having  been  kept 
in  so  good  order  as  they  have  been  here,  and  the  misfoi> 
tune  the  Secretary  met  with  a  few  years  agoe  of  having 
his  house  burnt,  wherein  were  most  of  the  publick  papers, 
may  occasion  the  account  from  thence  to  be  still  more 
imperfect.  However,  as  that  Province  is  but  small  the 
emissions  of  paper  currency  have  been  in  proportion,  and 
I  heleive  the  accounts  from  this  Province  may  serve  for  a 


oyGoot^lc 


264  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739. 

rule  for  that ;  yet  I  shall  get  the  accounts  from  thence 
made  out  as  Boon  as  possible  &  transmit  them  to  your 
Lordships. 

I  humbly  hope,  my  Lords,  when  the  accounts  of  this 
kind  from  the  several  plantations  are  thoroughly  exam- 
in'd  &  consider'd,  they  will  produce  an  Act  of  Parliament 
to  forbid  all  paper  currency  in  the  plantations  for  the 
future,  or  if  it  must  be  sufEer'd  so  to  regulate  it  as  that 
when  bills  are  emitted  the  several  govemmei^ts  shall  be 
oblig'd  to  maintain  the  value  of  them  unalterably,  for  the 
way  which  most  of  the  provinces  have  been  in  for  many 
years  past  of  emitting  their  bills  is  but  one  continual  fraud 
upon  all  mankind  that  give  any  credit  to  them.  I  have 
the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  most  h.  servant 

J.  B. 

Boston,  DecemV  34,  1739. 
Via  Bristol  fi  Fodre. 


TO  PETER  WARREN.* 

S',  —  I  have  duly  receiv'd  your  favour  of  Sept'  14  & 
Octob'  21,  by  way  of  Ehd.  Island,  &  was  glad  to  find  you 
well  arriv'd  at  Carolina,  &  sorry  for  the  melancholy  ac- 
count you  gave  me  of  the  distress  of  that  colony  from 
the  sickness  &  from  the  rising  of  the  negroes.  By  some 
later  accounts  those  things,  I  see,  were  pretty  well  over. 
I  am  heartily  sorry  you  hadn't  the  good  fortune  to  make 
your  compliments  to  the  Gov'  of  Carthagene,  &  to  have 
drank  the  King  of  Spain's  health  with  such  a  handsome 
token.     Gen"  Oglethorpe  may  have  diiferent  orders  from 

•  Capt,  PaWr  Warren  «a>  at  thiB  tima  in  rommand  of  the  ahip  Sqnirrel,  the  ahip  tor 
the  Boston  station,  and  had  sailed  a  few  monthi  before  on  a  craiH  to  Ihe  southward.  H< 
was  bom  in  1703,  and  eatered  the  British  navy  at  Che  age  of  twenly-foar,  grsdnally  niing 
to  (he  raak  at  Admiral.  Be  had  command  of  the  naval  force  in  the  incceMfal  sxpedilioD 
■giinit  Louisboarg,  and  wu  made  a  Vice-Admlral  for  his  lervEcee  at  that  time,  and  aflep- 
ward  knighted.  He  died  July  S9. 1753.  See  Drahe'ti  Dictionary  of  American  Bi<^raphf, 
p.  U5S,  and  Panona's  Life  of  !>ir  Wiltlam  Pepperrell,  potrini.  —  Ili>s. 


oyGoot^lc 


1738-40.]        TO  THE  LORDS  OP  TRADE.  255 

the  rest  of  the  Gov"  in  the  PlaDtatiODS ;  but  I  have  seen 
none  that  allow  of  any  thing  more  than  reprizala  at  sea. 
Tet  I  could  heartily  wish  there  might  be  an  opportunity 
of  reducing  Augustine,  or  (as  yon  justly  observe)  it  will 
alwayes  be  a  thorn  in  the  sides  of  Carolina  k  Georgia.  I 
rejoyce  in  your  good  health  in  that  sickly  countrey. 
God  Almighty  continue  it,  &  send  you  well  hither  some- 
time in  February,  which  I  look  upon  a  better  month  for 
the  coast  than  March,  &  if  the  rupture  holds  we  shall 
he  very  naked,  &  the  trade,  I  expect,  will  be  insulted  by 
pickeroons  from  Cape  Breton  with  Spanish  commissions; 
therefore  your  own  station  will  want  you.  M'  Peagrum, 
Frankland,  Belcher,  &  M"  Fitch  return  you  their  re- 
spectful compliments.  Poor  Boydill,  after  a  strong 
struggle  with  a  fever,  jaundice,  Sc",  dyd  the  11  currant, 
belov'd  as  much  as  any  man  in  his  life  &  so  lamented 
in  his  death.  I  hear  M"  Warren  &  all  the  good  family 
are  well  at  New  York.  I  shall  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 
receive  any  commands  you  may  have  in  this  government, 
because  I  am,  with  the  most  sincere  respect,  S', 

Your  friend  &  most  obedient  serv*.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Dec-  24, 1789. 
(Smith.) 


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  tottr  Lordships, — The  24  of  last 
month  I  transmitted  to  your  Lordships  the  particular  ac- 
count of  the  paper  currency  of  this  Province,  from  the 
year  1702  to  1738,  the  duplicate  whereof  I  now  inclose 
to  your  Lordships,  whereby  you  will  presently  see  what 
difference  arose  in  the,  value  of  the  paper  currency  be- 
tween the  years  above  mention'd,  viz',  above  300  V  cent 
in  the  exch"  between  Great  Britain  &  this  Province.  For 
in  1702,  £136  in  paper  currency  would  purchase  £100 ; 
but  in  1738,  £500  paper  currency  would  not  purchase 


oyGoot^lc 


256  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739-40. 

a£100  st'.  This  alone  must  feelingly  demonstrate  to  all 
that  have  given  C'  to  these  bills  that  tbey  have  been  issu'd 
upon  a  false  foundation,  &  so  they  have  been  &  are  one 
constant  fraud  &  cheat  upon  all  persons  that  have  given 
them  a  C'.  If  a  like  instruction  with  that  of  his  Majesty 
to  his  Gov'  of  this  Province  could  have  been  extended  to 
all  the  other  plantations  happy  had  it  been  for  all  the 
British  traders  to  these  colonies,  as  well  as  to  the  inhab- 
itants ;  &  this  Province  particularly,  which  carry's  on  so 
large  a  trade  to  Great  Britain,  have  greatly  sunk  their 
own  interest,  &  still  more  that  of  the  traders  from  G' 
Britain  hither  by  large  emissions  of  this  sort  of  bills  of 
credit,  &  by  putting  the  calling  of  thera  in  at  long  & 
distant  periods;  &  another  misfortune  that  has  done  & 
does  attend  the  trade  here  is  the  giving  O  to  the  bills 
emitted  by  the  Govemm'  of  Rhode  Island,  of  which 
they  have  made  great  quantities.  The  last  year  they 
emitted  j£100,000,  &  gave  20  years  for  the  calling 
it  in,  &  altho'  this  government  made  a  law  against  its 
passing,  yet  the  people  of  this  Province  constantly  take 
them. 

I  inclose  to  your  Lordships  a  short  sketch  of  the  rise, 
nature,  &  progress  of  what  they  call  bills  of  c'  here,  which 
may  serve  as  some  further  light  to  your  Lordships  in  this 
matter. 

I  confirm  all  I  wrote  your  Lordships  on  this  subject 
20*  of  October  last  &  humbly  referr  thereto.  And  for 
preventing  the  ruin  of  the  King's  Provinces  in  America 
I  heartily  wish  an  act  of  Parliament  may  sufficiently  pro- 
hibit their  ever  striking  and  emitting  any  bills  of  c'  for 
the  future,  unless  they  will  do  it  in  such  a  manner  as  may 
maintain  their  value  invariable. 

The  Assembly  of  this  Province,  my  Lords,  have  lately 
sat  from  the  S""  of  December  to  the  ll*"  currant,  &  not- 
withstanding I  have  in  this  &  two  preceeding  sessions  laid 
before  them  the  naked,  defenceless  state  of  the  Province 


oyGoot^lc 


1739-40.]        TO  THE  LOBDS  OF  TRADE.  257 

&  the  just  &  necessary  support  of  the  government,  yet 
they  have  &  do  still  keep  the  Treasury  empty  to  the  in- 
dangering  of  the  King's  Province  &  the  lives  &  estates  of 
his  people,  and  at  same  time  do  violent  injustice  to  all 
the  officers  of  the  government  in  keeping  them  out  of 
their  just  due.  They  also  refuse  to  draw  in  to  the  value 
of  ^25,000  of  their  hills,  which  they  are  oblig'd  by  law 
to  do  at  this  time,  which  is  a  manifest  wrong  to  all  that 
have  given  C  to  their  bills,  for  when  they  are  not  punc- 
tually drawn  in  it  naturally  sinks  their  value.  I  cannot, 
my  Lords,  but  admire  at  the  presumption  of  the  House  of 
Reps  here  in  their  sending  home  an  Agent  once  more  to 
indeavour  to  get  of  his  Majesty's  16""  instruction  to  me, 
when  his  Majesty  bafl  declar'd  his  high  displeasure  at  an 
attempt  of  this  kind.  Besides  what  occasion  have  they 
to  ask  bis  Majesty's  favour  in  easing  the  burden  of  their 
taxes,  or  to  desire  to  lay  their  funds  for  the  future  beyond 
the  year  1741,  when  the  language  of  their  present  prac- 
tice is,  —  If  his  Majesty  will  not  listen  to  their  unreason- 
able request  they  will  answer  it  without  bim,  in  resolving 
to  break  their  own  laws  by  not  drawing  in  their  bills,  nor 
will  they  grant  any  supply  for  the  support  &  defence  of 
the  government  ?  But  if  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
this  Province  are  so  lost  to  all  reason,  justice,  &  a  sense 
of  their  duty  to  the  King  &  to  his  people,  I  neither  dare 
nor  will  suppose  that  the  King  will  hear  &  see  these 
things,  &  give  up  so  Bne  a  countrey  as  this  and  the  great 
number  of  people  in  it.  Tet,  my  Lords,  I  really  fear  this 
may  be  the  case  if  the  Assembly  go  on  to  persist  in  the 
obstinate  way  they  are  now  in ;  for  Castle  William,  the 
key  of  this  countrey,  &  all  the  forts  on  the  frontiers  have 
hardly  men  sufficient  to  sweep  out  their  platforms,  nor 
have  they  any  tolerable  stock  of  powder  or  other  warlike 
stores,  and  most  of  the  garrisons  in  the  frontiers  are 
dropping  down  ;  &  in  as  wretched  a  condition  is  the 
Province  as  to  any  defence  by  sea,  having  no  ship  to 


oyGoot^lc 


258  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1739-40. 

.  protect  the  trade.  2  or  3  Spanish  privateers  of  20  to  30 
guns  may  lye  in  the  Bay  &  take  every  ship  coming  from 
Great  Britain  or  elsewhere.  This  is  the  naked,  forlorn 
condition  of  this  Province,  which  in  duty  to  his  Majesty  & 
in  tenderness  to  his  people,  I  am  oblig'd  thus  to  lay  be- 
fore you,  &  now  repeat  my  request  of  20  October  last  that 
I  may  receive  his  Majesty's  further  orders  as  he  shall 
think  necessary  for  his  own  honour  &  for  the  safety  of  his 
people  in  this  difBcult  conjuncture  of  a£&irs ;  and  I  pray  I 
may  have  them  as  soon  as  possible  to  lay  before  the  As- 
sembly which  may  have  some  tendency  to  bring  them  to 
a  sense  of  their  danger  &  duty.  The  Assembly  have 
almost  forgot  how  near  their  behaviour  was  of  being  laid 
before  the  British  Parliament  ten  years  agoe,  and  are 
now  indeavouring  to  starve  the  King's  Governour  be- 
cause he  will  not  fly  in  the  face  of  Majesty  &  break  over 
the  royal  orders  he  has  received  for  his  conduct  in  the 
administration  of  the  government,  for  altho'  they  granted 
me  £1200  in  the  last  May  session  for  my  support,  yet 
they  have  not  to  this  day  made  provision  for  the  pay- 
ment of  one  farthing  of  it.  Indeed,  I  got  £700  of  it 
much  against  their  wills  from  a  surplusage  remaining  on 
an  old  fund  in  the  Treasury.  I  had  almost  forgot  to  say 
to  your  Lordships  that  upon  a  narrow  scrutiny  of  the 
Charter  of  this  Province  I  don't  think  there  can  be  found 
the  least  power  or  liberty  for  the  Assembly  to  strike  & 
issue  bills  of  credit  to  paa*  in  lieu  of  money,  especially 
such  as  have  not  a  Rxt  unalterable  value,  &  perhaps  on  an 
examination  of  the  charters  of  all  the  other  colonies,  it 
may  be  found  they  have  been  mistaken  in  the  exercise  of 
such  a  power. 

I  have,  my  Lords,  got  from  New  Hamp  the  best 
account  I  can  of  the  paper  currency  there  from  its  begin- 
ning,  &  have  now  the  honour  to  inclose  it  to  your  Lord- 
ships. That  Province,  not  half  so  big  or  numerous  as 
some  countys  of  this,  and  always  groaning  under  their 


oyGoot^lc 


1789-40.]  TO  EICHAED  WALDRON.  259 

poverty,  have  not  thought  themselves  able  to  support 
proper  officers  for  keeping  the  affairs  &  records  of  the 
Province  in  a  good  &  regular  manner,  &  this  is  one  rea- 
son the  inclosed  account  ia  not  so  particular  &  compleat 
as  I  could  wish.  This  ship  not  proceeding  to  London,  I 
must  omit  sending  your  Lordships  the  Journals  of  this  last 
sitting  of  the  House  of  Reps  here,  which  I  shall  do  by  the 
next  conveyance  to  London. 

I  have  prorogued  this  Assembly  to  the  12  of  March 
next,  when  I  have  no  expectation  of  meeting  them  in  a 
more  dutiful  temper,  &  must  therefore  pray  a  particular 
answer  from  your  Lordships  to  this  &  mine  of  20  of 
October  last 

The  31  of  this  month  I  am  to  be  at  New  Hampshire  to 
meet  the  Assembly  there  &  on  my  return  shall  give  your 
Lordships  the  account  of  their  proceedings. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 
Your  Lordships'  most  obed'  &  most  h.  serv'. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Janaary  11,  1739/40. 

(Crag;.)  Laggit,  &  ngiua  ¥  Snelliog. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

D'  Sir,  —  I  have  yonr  favour  of  11  instant  with  the 
certificate,  &  2  more,  you  say,  are  to  come  by  the  carrier. 
My  letters  V  Forbes  were  but  to  11  of  October,  but  by 
Orrock  to  26,  covering  a  second  report  of  the  Lords  of 
Trade,  copy  of  which  I  inclose  you.  You'll  read  it,  & 
make  &  send  me  such  remarks  as  you  think  proper.  I 
don't  yet  intend  to  part  with  New  Hampshire,  but  will 
stick  to  it  like  bird-lime.  You'l  now  see  an  absolute 
necessity  of  my  being  with  you  according  to  the  proroga- 
tion, &  you  may  depend  on  it,  God  sparing  my  life  & 
health.     I  expect  nothing  but  wickedness,  &  to  bold  an 


oyGoot^lc 


260  THE  BELCHEE  PAPEES.  [1789-40- 

Assembly  purely  to  strengthen  my  enemies ;  yet  I'll  in- 
deavour  to  be  patient,  &  we  must  make  ourselves  strong 
against  the  report,  which  I  look  upon  to  be  exprest  in 
faint,  languid  tenns,  and  I  have  no  doubt  of  oversetting  it 
when  it  comes  to  be  heard  before  the  Privy  Council. 
What  if  the  report  should  go  into  the  publick  prints, 
would  it  not  do  service  by  exasperating  the  people  of 
your  Province?  One  good  thing  would  be  to  form  an 
address  from  it  to  the  King,  to  be  sign'd  by  every  Coun- 
sellour  on  our  side,  the  Judges  of  the  Courts,  Sherriffe, 
Justices,  &  all  the  persons  of  figure  &  note  we  can  get,  to 
pray  the  King  to  ward  of  such  a  punishment  from  the 
Province  as  those  vile  people  are  aiming  at.  Courage, 
my  friend,  and  bestir  yourself  for  this  critical  occasion. 
An  overthrow  of  this  will  tire  the  enemy,  &  I  doubt  not 
make  'em  despair. 

Depend  Sh — r — ^ly  is  to  be  the  separate  Govemour,  if 
any.  I  shall  talk  about  our  Sarah  •  when  I  see  yon.  I 
intend  to  manage  the  baggage  according  to  my  own 
humour,  and  let  her  go  on  scolding  &  fretting. 

The  address  I  mention  should  be  sent  me  as  soon  as 
possible,  to  go  away  before  your  Assembly  meets ;  for  I 
expect  they  are  preparing  something  to  be  past  in  the 
House  to  forward  the  report,  and  that  they'll  go  upon  it 
the  first  hour  they  meet,  that  it  may  get  home  before 
I  can  send  anything  to  spoil  the  success  of  the  report. 
Think  closely  on  this  matter,  &  do  the  best  you  can. 

Your  very  good  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jonnai?  14, 1739/40. 

<POBt.) 

*  Pan)  Dudlsj.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  RICHAKD  PARTRIDGE. 


TO  BICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 


S",  —  My  last  was  24  Detf  (V  Padre  to  Bristol)  with 
my  answer  to  the  complaint  of  John  North,  Esq',  and 
others,  in  which,  because  1  would  loae  no  time  I  was  will- 
ing to  be  at  the  charge  of  postage  of  that  large  packet 
from  Bristol  to  London,  and  I  have  the  duplicate  ready 
for  the  first  ship  going  direct  to  London.  My  answer  is 
BO  full  &  particular  as  I  think  will  be  sufficient  to  dismiss 
the  complaint  and  vindicate  my  honour. 

I  am  now  to  own  your  kind  favours  of  the  11,  17,  & 
26  October,  which  came  to  hand  the  8*  currant  V  Forbes, 
&  10  V  Orrock.  I  own  your  vi^ance  &  constant  advices 
to  me  with  a  great  deal'  of  gratitude,  and  find  after  all 
that  the  Lords  of  Trade  in  justification  of  their  first 
unreasonable  report  have  thought  themselves  oblig'd  (un- 
der a  false  notion  of  honour)  to  go  on  in  the  same  manner 
with  their  second  report.  However,  they  seem  to  have 
some  regret  at  what  they  had  done  by  expressing  them- 
selves in  faint,  languid  terms ;  and  it  seems  to  me  that 
they  have  been  persecuted  by  the  petiUoners  &  drag'd  as 
a  bear  to  the  stake  to  make  report.  I  really  wonder  how 
gent"  of  their  good  sense,  and  who  would  lay  claim  to 
so  much  honour,  could  possibly  treat  me  so  unjustly  in 
indeavounng  to  rend  New  Hampshire  from  me.  As  the 
sitting  of  the  Assembly  here  was  finisht  the  11  currant, 
God  sparing  my  life  &  health,  I  shall  meet  on  Assembly 
at  New  Hampshire  the  31  of  this  month,  when  I  expect 
there  will  be  mighty  efforts  made  by  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives to  be  sent  to  Tomlihson  to  facilitate  the  Board 
of  Trade's  report  pasang  the  Privy  Council ;  &  when  I 
am  there  I  shall  indeavour  to  get  an  address  to  the  King 
from  as  many  men  of  figure  as  I  can  to  prevent  it  And 
in  the  mean  time  you  must  narrowly  wateh  the  matter, 
for  you  may  depend  Tomlinson  will  hurry  it  on,  if  pos* 


oyGoot^lc 


262  TUB  BELCHEB  FAFEBS.         [1739-40. 

slble ;  for  Bindge  and  be  are  j£l200  Btr.  in  advance  about 
the  line,  of  which  they  never  expect  to  get  a  farthing 
unless  they  can  get  the  Govemour  out.  If  they  could 
obtain  their  point  and  the  people  have  the  charge  of  a 
separate  Govemour  put  upon  them  it  would  be  an  in- 
supportable burden  to  that  poor,  etarvlng,  miserable 
Province ;  indeed  it's  a  shame  it  should  be  called  a  gov- 
ernment. I  beleive  we  have  several  single  counties  in 
this  Province  more  than  as  big  again  as  that  Province  in 
land  &  other  estate  &  people,  &  in  time  of  warr  it's  not 
possible  for  that  Province  to  subsist  without  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Massachusetts ;  &  to  set  them  on  their  own 
legs  would  not  be  a  likely  way  to  obtain  help  &  favour 
from  hence.  Altbo',  brother,  that  government  is  so  mean 
as  it  is,  yet  I  would  not  lose  it  if  it  be  possible  to  bold 
it;  &  as  you  have  been  so  very  serviceable  to  me  in  this 
matter  already,  I  beg  of  you  still  to  go  on  to  use  all  the 
interest  you  can  make  to  prevent  it,  for  if  my  enemies 
could  obtain  that  point  it  would  be  attended  with  more 
mischiefs  than  you  can  easily  imagine.  Among  other 
things  it  would  be  a  leading  card  to  get  me  out  of  this 
government  also,  if  all  other  measures  fail.  Your  Friends 
at  London,  with  a  letter  from  M'  Gumey  of  Norwich  to 
S'  R.  &  to  the  Duke,  would  stop  it  at  last.  But  I  hope 
you  will  urge  to  have  a  hearing  at  the  Privy  Council,  not- 
withstanding that  at  the  Board  of  Trade,  &  that  upon  it 
my  Lord  Wilmington,  according  to  his  usual  justice,  will 
dismiss  the  petition  and  report;  for  it  would  be  very 
extraordinary  to  take  away  a  gentleman's  commission 
without  being  able  to  fix  on  him  the  least  fault ;  and  if 
they  are  defeated  at  the  Privy  Council  I  beleive  they 
will  despair  &  let  us  be  quiet.  By  the  first  conveyance 
to  London  I  intend  to  write  S'  E.,  the  Duke,  &  L"* 
Presid*  on  this  head,  for  I  will  stick  like  bird-lime  to 
what  aflFects  my  interest  or  honour.  The  Assembly  here 
have  lately  sat  above  five  weeks,  &  have  made  no  supply 


oyGoot^lc 


173ft-40.]  TO  KICHAKD   PABTRIDOE.  263 

to  tbe  Treasury,  but  left  the  Province  naked  &  defence- 
lesa,  and  all  the  ofiicerB  of  the  governtnent  are  kept  out 
of  their  just  due. 

By  this  conveyance  I  write  the  Loi-ds  of  Trade  particu- 
larly on  this  head,  &  have  pray'd  them  to  represent  to 
his  Majesty  the  miserable  condition  of  the  Province  in 
this  time  of  war,  and  all  thro'  the  obstinacy  &  perverae- 
ness  of  the  present  House  of  Representa"*.  A  gent"  who 
told  Sh — r — ly  of  what  you  write  sayea  he  absolutely 
deny'd  it  &  scom'd  the  thoughts  of  it ;  and  I  was  told  that 
his  wife  had  her  lodgings  at  the  D.  N.  C',  &  that  he  ex- 
pected a  commission  for  this  government.  I  am  also  told 
that  Yeamans  has  been  makbig  interest  for  a  year  or  two 
past  for  this  government.  These  reports  may  put  you 
upon  making  a  more  curious  inquiry  at  the  offices. 

I  hear  nothing  of  the  letter  you  mention  procur'd  by 
that  sorry  rascal  Woodside  from  the  Board  of  Trade,  in 
which  he  needed  not  to  have  given  himself  the  trouble,  for 
I  never  yet  deny'd  the  seal  in  either  Province  to  any  one 
that  properly  apply'd  for  it.  I  shall  pay  Coll"  Sherburne 
the  2. 14.  0  str.,  with  the  exch*.  I  thank  your  care  in 
sending  the  stock  buckle,  cost  £S.  15. 6 ;  it  is  a  neat  peice 
of  work  and  pleases  me. 

The  papers  of  yonr  friend  Kinsey  are  really  ingeniously 
writ,  &  do  you  a  great  deal  of  C'  &  honour. 

If  you  will  write  a  proper  letter  to  the  Gov'  of  Connec- 
ticut to  be  communicated  to  their  Assembly  next  May,  I 
will  use  my  utmost  interest  for  your  service.  I  thank 
you  for  the  proclam*  of  warr  with  Spain,  and  am  full  in 
opinion  that  it  will  soon  be  declar'd  with  France  also. 
Give  my  hearty  respects  to  Cap'  Coram,  &  tell  him  I  shall 
answer  what  he  has  wrote  V*  Orrock  &  Forbes  by  the  first 
direct  conveyance  to  London.  I  find  M'  Belcher  was  gone 
to  Bath.  I  hope  it  was  not  for  want  of  health  j  give  him 
my  dear  &  kind  love.  I  wish  he  was  well  marry'd  & 
setl'd.     He  is  at  full  age.     I  am  asham'd  that  I  have  not 


oyGoot^lc 


264  TOE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [178JMO. 

been  able  to  pay  IiT  Gatcomb  the  remaining  £100  on  M'' 
Belcher's  bill  of  100  £  to  M'  Oliver.  But  the  Assembly 
here  serve  me  basely,  aa  they  do  all  those  who  have  money- 
due  from  the  government.  However,  I  am  about  selling 
something  to  pay  of  those  two  bills. 
With  my  best  respects,  I  remain,  S', 

Your  loving  broth'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jw  15,  1739/40. 

(Cr&g;.)        Lkggit        It  agaia  f  SoelliDg. 


TO  HORACE  WALPOLE. 

Sib,  —  The  23  July  last  I  did  myself  the  honour  of 
owning  the  receit  of  your  Excellency's  letter  of  the  9"" 
of  April,  &  made  answer  to  that  part  of  it  which  re- 
spected M'  Dudley's  complaint  of  my  obstructing  him  ia 
his  office  as  Deputy  Auditor  here  to  your  Excellency.*  I 
am  now  to  reply  to  what  relates  to  my  negativing  M' 
Dudley  when  chosen  into  the  Council,  and  in  this  matter 
I  must  beg  your  Excellency's  candour  &  to  hear  me  with 
patience.  As  to  M'  Dudley's  family  which  your  Excel- 
lency mentions,  I  choose  to  be  silent ;  but  your  Excellency 
will  please  to  allow  me  to  know  his  character  in  general 
and  in  particular  perfectly  well  for  thirty  years  past,  and 
wish  it  had  been  (or  was)  now  very  good.  But  waving 
that,  I  will  enter  into  his  behaviour  to  me  for  a  long 
time  past  When  I  was  at  Whitehall  in  the  year  1715, 
I  hapn'd  into  an  acquaintance  with  Co11°  Shute,  and  put 
him  upon  asking  the  King  for  this  government,  &  I  solli- 
cited  it  for  him  at  same  time,  and  we  had  the  desired 
success;  &  I  then  had  a  very  good  understanding  with 
this  W  Dudley,  &  by  his  request  got  a  promise  from 
ColP  Shute  to  make  his  brother  a  SherrifEe  of  the  princi- 


oyGoot^lc 


173»-«).]  TO  HORACE  WALPOLE.  265 

pal  county  of  this  Province,  &  on  the  Governour's  arrival  - 
here  he  accordingly  put  him  into  that  office  (and  was  one 
of  the  best  in  the  Governour's  gift).  On  my  return  to 
New  England  M'  Dudley  put  me  upon  asking  the  Gov- 
emour  to  make  him  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Superioiir 
Court  of  this  Province  (another  of  the  best  places  in  his 
gift).  This  also  was  done.  In  short,  Sir,  all  the  interest 
I  had  in  the  Gov'  (which  was  not  a  little)  was  alwayes  at 
M'  Dudley's  service.  I  aho  imploy'd  all  my  skill  &  influ- 
ence with  the  Assembly  to  get  him  chosen  one  of  the 
CouDcU  at  that  time,  &  it  was  done.  After  Gov'  Shute 
had  been  here  a  few  years,  he  grew  uneasy  by  the  oppo- 
sition he  met  with  from  the  Assemblies,  and  from  the  ill 
offices  of  some  private  gentlemen,  of  which  he  alwayes 
suspected  this  M'  Dudley  to  be  one  (as  he  often  said  to 
me),  but  I  told  him  he  made  such  solemn  protestations  to 
me  to  the  contrary  that  I  could  not  think  it  Be  that  as 
it  will,  in  a  little  time  after  these  things  Coll"  Shute  left 
the  government  &  went  for  England,  &  M'  Dudley's 
brother-in-law  (the  then  lieu'  Gov')  of  course  took  the 
chair,  &  was  commander-in-chief  for  some  years,  when  M' 
Dudley  took  the  opportunity  of  quarrelling  with  me  to 
pay  me  for  all  my  civilities. 

I  had  the  honour  for  several  years  to  be  of  his  Majesty's 
Council,  but  was  then  often  told  M'  Dudley  took  great 
pains  to  have  me  left  out  in  the  choice,  &  sometimes  did 
effect  it,  intirely  forgetting  how  kindly  &  free  from  the 
least  private  view  I  had  got  him  &  his  brother  into  places 
of  profit  &  honour.  When  I  arriv'd  here  with  his  Majes- 
ty's commission  for  the  government  I  found  him  in  the 
station  to  which  I  had  formerly  recommended  him  (one 
of  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  but  had  lost  his 
choice  for  a  Connsellour).  When  I  was  about  to  make  a 
settlement  in  the  civil  offices  of  the  government,  I  sup- 
pose his  own  guilt  of  monstrous  ingratitude  to  me  put 
him  into  a  panick  least  I  should  drop  him  out  of  the 


oyGoot^lc 


266  THE  BELCBBB  PAPEB8.         [1739-40. 

Superiour  Court;  he  therefore  sent  to  me  (as  T  was  told) 
to  intreat  my  favour  in  that  matter.  I  anawer'd  that  he 
not  only  knew  the  way  to  the  Gov^'  house,  but  ought  to 
know  that  it  was  his  duty  to  come  himself,  after  which  he 
came  &  made  me  so  many  professions  of  friendship  &  of  his 
sincere  wishes  for  my  prosperity  in  the  government  &  of 
his  great  attachment  to  my  interest  &  honour  that  altho' 
I  so  well  knew  the  man  (&  had  no  reason  to  beleive  him 
a  man  of  truth,  but  of  the  vilest  ingratitude),  yet  I  was 
prevail'd  on  (contrary  to  the  resolution  I  had  taken)  to 
confirm  him  in  the  place  before  mention' d.  This  being 
done,  he  paid  me  for  my  favour  in  the  old  way,  taking 
occasions  at  the  Council  Board  to  treat  me  with  insuffer- 
able insolence,  no  wayes  consistent  with  the  King's  honour 
or  my  own,  &  not  content  with  bearing  upon  me  in  a  rude 
unmannerly  way  there,  he  took  occasions  to  strike  at  the 
profits  I  might  make  of  the  governments  as  to  grants  the 
Assembly  made  me.  These  things  notwithstanding,  I  put 
on  unusual  patience,  one  year  after  another,  with  this 
ungrateful  man,  hoping  he  would  come  to  his  senses  & 
see  his  folly  &  ingratitude.  But  I  found  waiting  for  his 
more  mannerly  behaviour  was  to  no  purpose,  and  that  I 
must  either  quit  the  chief  chair  of  government  or  set 
there  to  be  insulted  by  him.  I  must  also  observe  to  your 
Excellency,  while  he  was  at  the  Council  Board  he  would 
be  often  bearing  upon  the  King's  interest  and  honour  in 
his  part  of  debates  &  in  his  votings.  Considering  these 
things  many  gentlemen  at  the  Council  Board  have  said 
to  me  that  they  wonder'd  I  would  suffer  him  to  set  there ; 
nay,  I  have  been  told  that  a  very  near  relation  of  his  who 
sat  with  him  there  should  say,  had  he  been  Govemour  he 
should  not  have  allow'd  him  to  have  sat  there  half  so 
long  as  he  did. 

I  doubt  not  but  he  has  taken  care  to  acquaint  your 
Excellency  that  his  father  was  once  Govemour  of  this 
Province  (for  this  I  look  upon  the  greatest  merit  he  can 


oyGoot^lc 


1789^0.]  TO   HORACE  WALPOLE.  267 

lay  claim  to),  and  while  he  whs  Governour  it  was  no 
strange  thing  for  him  to  disallow  in  the  choice  of  Coun- 
sellours  such  aa  he  thought  not  proper  to  sit  with  him  at 
that  Board,  for  which  I  referr  your  Excellency  to  the 
incloBed  records,  where  you  will  find  he  expung'd  the 
names  of  five  at  one  time,  and  with  some  marks  of  igno- 
miny, and  for  two  years  together  he  dieallow'd  of  Nathaniel 
Byfield,  Esq',  to  whom  he  had  heen  under  great  obliga- 
tions, which  some  wonder'd  at.  Indeed,  as  to  myself, 
I  alwayes  justlfy'd  Gov'  Dudley's  not  allowing  M'  Byfield 
to  sit  with  him  at  the  Council  Board,  because  I  had  ol^n 
heard  M'  Byfield  treated  Gov'  Dudley  much  in  the  man- 
ner his  son,  the  present  M'  Paul  Dudley,  has  me. 

As  the  royal  charter  for  this  Province  has  reserv'd  to 
the  King's  Governour  a  negative  voice  on  all  elections, 
I  think  it  should  alwayes  be  exercis'd  when  necessary 
for  the  support  of  the  King's  honour  &  authority  or  of 
that  of  his  Gov',  which  is  the  same  thing,  for  his  Majesty 
is  pleased  in  his  royal  orders  to  his  Governour  for  his 
conduct  in  his  administration  to  stile  him  the  representa- 
tive of  his  royal  person  here.  I  would  beg  leave  further 
to  let  your  Excellency  into  this  gentleman's  late  conduct 
in  this  government.  After  I  had  excluded  him  a  seat  at 
the  Council  Board,  he  got  himself  chosen  a  representative 
for  the  town  where  he  lives,*  and  in  this  last  session  of 
the  Assembly,  in  his  debates  &  votes  in  that  House,  has 
been  full  of  opposition  to  his  Majesty's  royal  orders  to 
his  Governour  respecting  the  drawing  in  of  what  monies 
were  necessary  for  the  support  of  the  King's  government 
&  for  the  defence  of  his  people.  But  I  must  forbear  or 
wear  out  your  Excellency's  patience  to  hear  all  I  could 
say  of  this  unworthy  man. 

And  I  would  humbly  hope  when  your  leisure  will 
allow  you  to  read  and  deliberate  on  this  letter  that  I  shall 

jibnry  in  M»y,  1789.    He  was  not 


oyGoot^lc 


268  THE  BELCHEE  PAPEBS.  [1739-tO. 

stand  exactly  right  with  your  ExcelleDcy  in  my  manage- 
ment of  him,  and  I  most  humbly  pray  your  Excellency 
would  not  command  me  to  allow  an  inveterate  enemy 
to  ait  with  me  in  Council  to  confront  me  and  betray  tlie 
King's  honour  &  interest  on  all  occasions.  To  compare 
great  things  with  small,  his  Majesty  allows  none  that  are 
disaffected  to  his  person  or  government  to  sit  in  Council 
with  him. 

I  am  sorry  &  ask  pardon  for  him  that  he  should  give 
your  Excellency  so  much  trouble  in  thfs  matter,  and 
beleive  your  Excellency  will  readily  think  he  had  acted 
more  like  a  gent"  to  have  humbled  himself  to  the  King's 
Govemour  in  promises  of  more  dutifuU  behaviour  for  the 
future  in  order  to  his  being  admitted  again  a  member  of 
the  Council.  It  would,  indeed,  be  in  a  manner  to  super- 
sede my  comission  if  all  those  who  affront  the  King's 
Governour  can  resort  to  a  superiour  person,  &  flatter 
themselves  of  being  upheld  in  it.  This,  S',  you  will 
easily  imagine  must,  bring  the  King's  authority  here  into 
great  contempt. 

I  ask  a  thousand  pardons  for  this  tedious  letter,  which 
I  have  thought  necessary  since  your  Excellency  was 
pleased  to  demand  reasons  of  ma  for  what  I  did  respect- 
ing this  gent",  and  I  cannot  beleive  had  your  Excellency 
known  all  I  now  write  that  you  would  have  given  your- 
self the  trouble  of  patronizing  M'  Dudley  in  contradiction 
to  the  King's  honour  and  interest,  and  in  rudeness  &  ill 
manners  to  tlie  King's  Govemour. 

I  now  humbly  ask  it  of  your  Excellency  as  a  favour  to 
put  it  in  my  power  of  rendring  you  some  acceptable 
service  here,  &  thereby  to  give  me  an  opportunity  of 
demonstrating  with  how  great  esteem  &  respect  I  am,  S', 

Yoxir  Excellency's  most  obedient  &  most  devoted  hum. 
servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jaaoary  21,  1759/40. 
If  L&ggit.  Soelling. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  BICHAHD  WALDBON. 


TO  EICHAED  WALDRON. 


HoNOUAABLE  SiR,  —  I  have  yours  of  18  instant.  Be- 
fore it  came  to  hand  I  had  detennin'd  to  do  as  in  the 
Gazette ;  that  is,  to  set  forward  next  Monday,  &  lodge 
that  night  at  Newbury,  and  Tuesday  about  noon  to  meet 
our  friends  at  the  line ;  &  thus  I  write  my  good  landlord. 
He  sayes  something  to  me  about  a  troop,  which  I  have 
referr'd  to  him  &  you.  I  am  not  fond  of  it,  unless  you 
think  it  may  on  any  account  be  better  at  this  juncture  to 
have  it  than  not  If  I  get  to  Poptsmouth  Tuesday  even, 
we  shall  have  all  Wednesday  to  con  over  matters,  and 
perhaps  prevent  some  mischief. 

And  now  for  the  report,  of  which  I  seem  to  have 
a  better  opinion  than  you  have.  For  with  great  defer- 
ence to  th^ir  Hogan  Moganesaes,  it  is  not  onely  stufft 
with  absurdities,  but  full  of  partiality,  which  gives  great 
scope  for  making  a  good  answer  to  it  before  the  Privy 
Council,  where  you  may  depend  I  will  watch  it  &  fol- 
low it  closely.  I  am  sorry  these  wicked  children 
don't  love  &  honour  their  good  father  for  all  the  care 
he  has  taken,  and  is  still  willing  to  take,  of  them. 
However,  their  disobedience  sha'n't  abate  my  fond- 
ness of  still  continuing  their  good  father.  What  you 
wrote  of  the  Loon's  mathematical  demonstration  about 
£1200  is  an  argument  that  they  have  got  copy  of  the  re- 
port, &  for  some  reasons  don't  care  at  present  to  make  it 
publick.  Perhaps  they  think  it  would  be  discouraging  to 
their  dupes  to  know  the  matter  is  still  to  undergoe  a  fiery 
tryal,  &  that  not  to  be  gone  upon  till  a  repeated  request 
from  the  House  for  a  separate  Govemour,  &  the  strongest 
assurances  of  a  large  salary  of  12  or  1600£  a  year,  be 
sent  from  hence,  and  after  that  I  say  the  Govemour  to 
have  the  opportunity  of  a  hearing  before  a  set  of  great 
js,  of  wisdom,  honour,  &  impartiality,  who  will 


oyGoot^lc 


270  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1749-40. 

not  be  manag'd  by  an  Irish  Bl — d — n,  &  you  for  yourself 
may  depend  I  will  call  together  all  the  frienda  I  have  in 
the  kingdom  to  prevent  (if  possible)  what  they  desire. 

I  wonder  you  can  ask  whether  matters  can  hang  in 
suspense  till  fresh  advice  shall  reach  from  hence.  Surely 
you  han't  read  or  don't  consider  the  last  clause  of  the 
report.  I  think  a  most  rational  strong  address  may  be 
made  to  the  King  which  may  pull  the  report  all  to 
pieces.     I  will  just  give  you  a  few  hints,  as 

The  Govemour's  great  concern  in  all  his  speeches 

for  the  defence  of  the  Province. 
His  enemies'  laying  no  imputation  to  him  on  this  or 

any  other  account. 
That  the  Province  is  rather  more  a  frontier  to  the 
French  &  Indians  than  ever,  by  reason  of  their 
new  plantations,  which  alwayes  weaken  a  countrey 
for  a  number  of  years.  ' 

That  the  Province  is  miserable  poor,  &  in  no  con- 
dition of  proper  helps  to  support  &  defend  itself. 
That  the  present  Gov'  has  been  alwayes  rather  par- 
tial in  favour  of  New  Hamp  than  Massachusetts  ; 
a  great  instance  of  this  was  his  letter  to  Lords  of 
Trade  which  produc'd  a  Commission  for  setling 
the  Line. 
That  the  Govemour's  enemies  are  by  no  means  to 
be  allow'd  as  testimonies  respecting  the  characters 
of  the  petitioners  who  are  desirous  to  remain  as 
they  are,  and  Wentworth   especially,  who  was 
a  petitioner  on  the  other  side,  was  by  no  means 
a  proper  evidence. 
That  if  Massachusetts  will  give  \^p  their  lands  from 
Kennebec  to  S'  Croix,  250  miles  on  the  sea,  and 
take  the  petit  Prov  of  N.  Hamp  as  an  equivalent, 
that  will  make  a  decrease  rather  than  an  increase 
of  territory  to  a  Charter  government. 
That  the  separation  of  the  Jerseys  from  N.  York  was 


oyGoot^lc 


17S9-40.]  TO   HICHABD   WALDBON.  271 

not  done,  nor  could  be  got  done,  while  any  gent" 
held  the  King's  commission  for  thera  both,  and 
without  complaint,  but  upon  a  demize  the  oppor- 
tunity was  taken. 
That  New  Hamp  being  annext  to  Massachusetts,  & 
made  a  county  of  it,  makes  it  but  a  meer  fiction 
or  chimera  to  talk  of  a  larger  or  lesser  govern- 
ment ;  for  both  will  be  merg'd  in  one  Province. 
That  these  being  imder  a  separate  Governour  wouldn't 
at  all  render  it  more  probable  that  they  would 
exert  more  chearfully  in  the  care  of  their  for- 
tifications, and  this  may  be  argued   from  long 
experience. 
Why  did  the  Province  alwayes  lye  so  naked  in  the 
times  of  Cranfield,  Allen,  &  Usher,  &  very  lately, 
in  the  time  of  Wentworth,  a  native  of  the  Pro- 
vince &  Commander  in  Chief  near  7  years? 
These  things  &  what  more  you  can  think  of  may  be 
brought  into  an  address  or  memorial  to  the  King,  if  the 
Assembly  makes  do  new  essay  (depending  the  thing  is 
done)  towards  a  separate  Gov'  &  setling  a  lai^e  salary. 
That  will  be  another  great  advantage  to  us,  and  if  we 
fairly  beat  'em  now  I  beleive  this  will  be  their  uUimvs 
eonatvx.     As  to  printing  the'  report  we  may  talk  of  it 
when  1  see  you ;  perhaps  it  might  do  service.    Read  this 
letter  with  attention,  &  let  me  have  your  thoughts  by 
return  of  the  post.     I  say  again,  Courage,  mon  ami.     I  as- 
sure you  I  have  considerable  expectation  of  victory,  if 
reason  &  justice  may  have  but  even  a  small  weight. 

It's  really  best  that  it  should  be  generally  taken  for 
granted  that  the  thing  is  done,  &  then,  as  you  say,  they'll 
betray  themselves  by  making  any  new  essay.  The  me- 
morial we  send  should  be  sign'd  by  —  all  our  friends  of 
the  Council;  the  Judges  of  the  Courts;  the  Justices, 
Clerks,  Sherriffe,  &  all  the  military  officers ;  &  what  other 
persons  of  figure  &  note  we  can  get    And  in  this  thing 


oyGoot^lc 


272  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1739-40. 

we  must  be  alive  &  expeditious.     Perhaps  I  have  tir'd 
you,  and  will  onely  add  that  I  am,  as  alwayes,  &, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  January  21,  1739/40, 

P.  S.  I  had  forgot  to  say  that  in  all  the  past  warrs  had 
it  not  been  for  Massachusetts,  New  Hamp  bad  been  swal- 
low'd  up,  &  if  now  put  under  a  separate  Govemour,  it 
will  not  be  a  likely  method  to  induce  the  Gov'  of  Mass", 
from  whom  they  rend  themselves,  to  be  very  cordial  at 
any  time  for  their  defence  &  protection.  This  also  may 
be  urg'd  in  the  memorial.  J.  B. 

(Port.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Mr  DBAB  Son,  —  Being  now  at  some  leisure,  as  the 
needle  to  its  beloved  North,  so  ray  thoughts  point  towards 
you,  and  I  doubt  not  your  receiving  all  I  am  going  to  say 
with  that  duty  &  gratitude  which  I  am  sure  it  may  justly 
challenge  from  you.    And  so  I'll  go  on. 

Through  the  undeserved  sparing  mercy  of  God  I  have 
liv'd  to  see  you  pass  upwards  of  eight  years  in  the  study 
of  the  law,  and  it's  about  live  years  since  your  call  to 
the  barr. 

I  am  very  thankfull  that  I  have  so  good  reason  to  be- 
leive  you  have  persever'd  in  the  paths  of  vertue  &  in  a 
course  of  diligence  in  your  studies ;  and  if  I  am  not  abus'd 
by  flattery  you  have  not  labour'd  in  vain.  You  are  now 
by  the  favour  of  God  got  near  to  the  age  of  thirty  (a 
state  of  manhood).  I  have  this  day  been  inspecting  the 
annuall  accounts  of  expence  you  have  sent  me  for  eight 
years  past,  which'  make  in  the  whole  £2673. 16. 3  etr., 
and  the  exchange  in  that  time  betwixt  Boston  &  London 
has  been  eomnaimbus  anrds  at  least  400  p  ct.  10,695.  5.  0  ; 
is  this  currency,  £13,369, 1.  3,  accounted  here  a  very 


oyGoot^lc 


1739-40.]       TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEB,  JE.  273 

good  estate,  and  is  (I  assure  you)  a  large  proportion  of 
mine,  &  after  allowing  a  proper  fortune  for  your  sister 
and  a  double  portion  for  your  elder  brother  (according  to 
my  pres'  view  of  things),  the  above  sum  will  be  too  large 
a  share  of  my  estate  for  you.  I  have  hitherto  struggl'd 
with  great  difficulties  to  support  you  in  the  expensive 
manner  you  have  liv'd,  yet  I  have  done  it  with  gratitude 
to  God  who  has  inabl'd  me,  &  with  much  affection  to  you ; 
and  I  now  think  it  high  time  that  you  push  hard  for  a 
maintenance  in  the  way  of  your  own  profession.  /  am 
every  daif  subject  to  a  Supersedeas  t6  to  mortality.  If  the  first 
should  first  happen  my  own  estate  will  but  very  barely 
support  me  as  I  ought  to  live;  and  when  the  other  awfull 
hour  shall  come,  if  any  small  pittance  of  my  estate  be  left 
for  you  pray  consider  how  little  it  will  contribute  towards 
your  living  in  the  manner  you  have  for  8  years  past.  As 
I  have  often  repeated  to  you,  I  must  and  will  be  just  to  all 
my  children,  and  if  you  spend  your  fortune  in  your  edu- 
cation, that  education  mi\st  serve  to  get  you  another 
fortune,  and  I  juatifye  my  conduct  in  suffering  you  so  to 
do,  looking  on  it  a  wise  way  of  portioning  out  a  child.  I 
say,  wiser  to  put  children  into  a  way  of  getting  their  own 
living  than  to  indeavour  to  leave  them  wherewith  to 
spend  their  dayes  in  idleness  &  luxury.  It  would  contribute 
greatly  to  my  comfort  if  you  could  quickly  find  an  oppor- 
tunity of  marrying  well.  I  should  think  your  education 
&  other  advantages  might  fairly  intitle  you  to  a  desirable 
person  with  a  handsome  fortune,  and  if  ever  you  intend 
to  marry  it's  high  time  to  be  in  earnest  about  it.  If  after 
all  my  care  &  expence  for  you  in  a  Temple  education  you 
should  be  oblig'd  to  return  hither  it  would  be  but  a  dull 
story  ;  for  I  could  have  made  a  good  New  England  lawyer 
of  yen  for  a  tenth  part  of  the  money  you  have  spent. 
Think  &  think  again,  Jon',  of  what  I  say.  Get  yourself 
setl'd,  if  you  can,  &  push  into  business. 
For  6  or  7  months  past  I  have  been  follow'd  with  a 


oyGoot^lc 


2V4  THE  BELCHBR  PAPERS.         [1739-W. 

disorder  in  my  bowels,  which  I  take  as  a  premonition  of 
my  mortality.  I  say  my  once  firm  constitution  begins  to 
give  way.  There's  no  resisting  of  age,  nor  can  I  go  out 
&  shake  myself  as  at  other  times.  I  love  you  very  well,  & 
so  I  do  your  brother  &  sister,  &  have  done  greatly  for  you 
all,  and  it's  very  much  for  your  eakea  that  I  lead  so  soli- 
tary a  life,  the  little  remainder  whereof  which  it  may 
please  God  to  indulge  me  with  I  am  inclin'd  to  spend  in 
as  much  quietness  as  He  will  please  to  allow  me.  You 
will  therefore  think  solidly  &  sedately  on  this  letter  & 
easily  find  its  moral,  viz' :  To  he  iahmg  care  {teUh  ike  com- 
mon favour  of  Providence)  to  gUmd  on  your  own  legs,  and  so 
prevent  any  surprize  when  your  father  must  forsake  you. 
In  one  of  the  wayes  I  have  lin'd  out,  Solomon  sayes,  "  A 
prudent  man  foreseeth  the  evil,  and  hideth  himself."  I 
shall  to  the  day  of"  my  death  remain,  my  dear  son. 

Your  most  tenderly  affectionate  father.         J.  B. 

Boston,  January  24, 1739/40. 

To  Jon'  Belcher,  Et<f,  at  hU  chmAer  in  Iht  Middle  Tempk. 

London. 
V  loigpt,  Snelling. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  The  post  brings  me  yours  of  29  ult ,  and  I  thank 
your  care  of  what  it  inclos'd,  &  considering  what  I  now 
inclose  you  (that  came  by  Egglestone)  I  omit  sending  the 
Exeter  news,  &c',  to  the  press.  I  wish  the  address  *  had 
come  with  the  protest,  —  phaps  old  Fool  will  now  boggle 
at  signing.  You  may  be  soon  freed  from  any  more  tedious 
journeys  in  dischai^e  of  your  duty  to  me,  I  think.  The 
report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  Lords  of  the  Privy 

•  7id.  Thomlinson's  Ulter,  39  Tune,  1740.  -  y-Jtt  6v  JJ™  Dr.  Brlhutp.  The  ad- 
dnw  referred  to  Ii  printed  in  the  New  Hampihin  Provind*!  P»[m>™,  rol.  t.  pp.  SIS-SIS. 
■nd  ia  eigned  b^  six  meDiben  of  Ibe  Council  nf  Nev  Hamiwliin.  It  u  i  Unmg  deftnce  of 
Uw  QoTernor,  and  wu  probiblT  writteD  by  Waldron.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1739-40.]  TO  RICHAKD  PARTRIDGE.  275 

Council  &  the  report  of  the  Lords  of  the  Privy  Council 
to  the  King  seem  to  me  to  be  done  by  previoua  concert 
in  a  private  cabinet,  &  faye  well  one  into  another  to 
answer  the  deaignj  &  phaps  you  may  see  the  Spanish  chap 
by  the  first  mast  ship  in  all  hie  glory,  when  our  friends 
will  have  their  quietus'  from  the  fatigue  of  publick  affairs. 
By  what  I  send  you'I  see  &  know  as  much  as  I  do  of  the 
matter,  &  I  doubt  not  but  that  you'll  conclude  with  me 
that  the  troublesome  game  we  have  been  playing  for  9 
years  is  now  over ;  yet  if  it  should  take  a  turn  contrary 
to  all  reasonable  expectation,  it's  pity  but  that  I  should 
have  the  address  to  send  away  as  soon  aa  possible,  so  youl 
do  it  in  the  best  manner  you  can.  Livermore,  Hall,  & 
Newmarsh  should  have  their  commissions.  I  had  a  tedious 
journey  home,  the  roads  being  bad  &  worse.*  However, 
I  hugg'd  myself  when  I  got  hither,  &  thankt  God,  that  it 
was  in  health  &  free  from  evil  accidents.  My  kind  re- 
spects to  my  good  landlord,  to  whom  I  shall  write  next 
post.  I  wish  you,  your  lady,  &  family  long  life,  with 
health  k  ease,  &  am,  Hon*'"  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend.  J.  B. 

BoeTOK,  March  8, 1739/40.  - 

(Foot)  


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

S",  —  By  Eaglestone  (who  arriv'd  29  ult')  1  receiv'd  your 
favours  of  Dec'  17  &  19.  You  will  please  to  give  my  duty 
to  Lord  Wilmington,  &  let  hira  know  I  shall  with  all 
•possible  care  &  dispatch  execute  his  orders  in  the  affair 
relating  to  the  will  of  Thom'  Fletcher,  dec'd,  &  shall  duly 
return  what  I  may  be  able  to  do  in  it.  I  am  glad  to  hear 
JT  Wilks  is  better.  Inclos'd  is  what  T  now  write  him  as  to 
your  third  part  of  the  £2000  remitted  him  for  the  service  of 

•  Governor  Bekbcr  ipcnt  ncaiif  th«  whole  of  th«  month  ot  Frbrury  In  New  Himp- 


oyGoot^lc 


276  THE  BELCHEB  PAPEBS.  [173IMO. 

the  Line,  and  I  hope  on  your  next  application  after  receit 
of  this  heli  make  up  to  you  ^666. 13.  4  str.  If  he  should 
not  be  so  reasonable,  I  know  not  what  more  to  do  in  it. 

Cap'  Howland  brought  me  your  original  letter  of  8 
Sept'  some  time  after  the  delivery  of  the  other  letters,  it 
having  slid  out  of  sight  into  the  bottom  of  his  chest  I 
shall  pay  Coll"  Sherburne  seven  poimds,  six  shillings,  str. 
on  your  account  &  send  his  recett. 

You  will  soon  hear  something  more  of  the  affair  of 
Leighton.  I  can't  say  what  steps  that  restless  creature 
W — ^Id — o  may  take  about  it,  but  think  I  have  done  in  it 
all  that  was  my  duty  to  do.  My  love  to  M'  Belcher,  & 
tell  him  I  wonder  after  the  many  cautions  he  has  bad  from 
me,  how  he  dare  let  Eaglestone  come  away  &  not  write 
to  his  father.  You  must,  broth',  be  a  little  easy.  I  am 
indeavouring  to  discharge  Gatconib's  &  Oliver's  bills  as 
soon  as  possible.  I  now  send  duplicate  of  mine  of  21 
January  to  M'  Walpole.  The  original  went  V  Laggit — 
ds  ago,  and  contain'd  my  reasons  at  large  (or  my  conduct 
respecting  P.  D. ;  and  1  hope  they  will  be  to  his  Excel- 
lencys  pfect  satisfaction.  It  is  now  near  three  years  agoe 
that  I  first  negativ'd  M'  Dudley,  since  which  he  has  never 
had  the  manners  to  expostulate  with  me  or  mention  a 
word  about  it,  but  in  a  superiour  haughty  way  has  apply'd 
himself  home  to  indeavour  to  bring  the  King's  Gov*  to.  his 
beck.  Pray,  give  my  duty  to  his  Excell',  &  let  him  know 
it's  impossible  for  me  to  support  the  King's  honour,  or  my 
own,  if  such  men  as  M'  Dudley  are  to  be  indulg'd  in 
insulting  me  in  the  manner  he  is  now  trying  to  do ;  &  yet, 
if  after  all  he  would  behave  like  a  gent"  &  give  me  sucl; 
satisfaction  as  I  might  judge  reasonable,  I  would  foi^et,  & 
treat  him  as  I  have  done  heretofore.  I  thank  you  for  so 
particular  an  information  of  all  things  relating  to  the 
hearing  on  the  complaint  laid  ag'  me  by  New  Hamp 
Assembly,  and  yet  aHer  all  my  friends  &  my  counsel  could 
do  or  say,  I  see  the  Lords  have  made  report  to  the  King 


oyGoot^lc 


1738^0.]  TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE.  277 

against  me,  &  (as  you  observe)  in  smart  terms,  &  I  con- 
clude the  upshot  will  be  (as  Lord  Wilmington  said  to  you) 
a  separate  Gov'  for  New  Hamp,  tho'  that  will  be  very 
severe  upon  a  first  fault  &  so  minute  an  one,  the  affair 
having  been  of  no  prejudice  to  the  Province;  for  the 
Commissioners,  notwithstanding  the  prorogations,  admitted 
an  appeal,  &  if  the  Assembly  had  sat  a  month  longer  the 
appeal  could  have  been  in  no  other  way,  since  the  Coun- 
cil would  not  concurr  with  the  House  in  appealing.  How- 
ever, the  thing  must  now  take  the  turn  it  will,  &  I  must 
be  content.  I  own  with  a  great  deal  of  gratitude  the 
indefatigable  pains  you  had  taken,  and  were  yet  taking, 
for  my  interest  &  service ;  but  by  what  you  write  S'  R. 
gave  you  but  a  cool  reception,  &  according  to  my  view  if 
the  matter  can  be  stopt  anywhere  there  must  be  the  last 
hope  &  refuge.  I  was  near  five  weeks  on  my  journey  to 
N.  Hamp  out  &  home,  and  the  Assembly  would  come  into 
no  supply  of  the  Treasury  for  the  paying  the  debts,  for 
the  further  support  of  the  government,  or  for  the  defence 
of  the  Province.  I  therefore  dissolv'd  them,  &  so  I  write 
the  Lords  of  Trade,  and  shall  transmit  them  all  things  that 
past  in  the  session  as  soon  as  tliey  can  be  got  ready.  I 
inclose  you  copy  o£  a  most  extr*  vote  past  by  the  Repre- 
sentatives &  of  a  protest  made  ag*  it  by  some  of  the  mem- 
bers, of  which  protest  you  may  make  good  use,  if  it  be  not 
too  late  to  concern  yourself  any  furtlier  about  that  Prov.* 
Yon  say  there  is  no  day  appointed  for  hearing  the  affair 
of  the  boundaries.  As  I  suppose  the  report  on  the  com- 
plaint against  me  has  been  long  since  laid  before  the  King, 
so  I  hope  you  have  brought  the  affair  of  the  Line  to  a 
hearing  &  to  a  decision ;  for  the  situation  of  that  matter 

•  Thia  VM  prabablr  (ba  vots  of  the  Hoou  of  Itepre>ent*Iire>,  Feb.  5, 173»-4(1,  tfaknk- 
ing  John  ThomlinMin  for  ht>  pul  tervkei.  md  e&rneatlj' desiring  him  ''to  cootinaa  fa» 
(cnod  ofllcea  in  prowculin^c  all  affain  on  b«ba1f  of  tbia  Hodn  that  loaj  f  at  lia  before  hli 
Kajettj  in  Coancil,  or  may  come  before  bis  Hajesty  in  Conncit  relating  to  thia  ProT- 
iDce."  Capt.  Peter  Oilman,  Capt.  Edward  Hail,  and  Hr.  Nathaniel  Oilman  entered  their 
diuent.    S«e  Neir  Htmpabin  ProTiDcial  Fapefa,  vol.  v.  pp,  13, 14.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


278  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1739-40. 

for  two  years  past  baa  been  an  unspeakable  damage  to 
this  Province.  I  remain,  witli  great  respect  &  thankfuU- 
ness,  S', 

Your  friend  &  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Much  1»>,  1739/40. 

(SneUing.)  


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon"  Sir, — I  am  favour'd  with  yours  of  7""  instant 
by  the  post.  The  bills  of  cost  are  sign'd  &  returned.  I 
say  again,  isn't  it  best  that  Livermore,  Newmarch  &  Hall 
be  dubb'd,  the'  it  may  be  but  for  a  few  weeks  ?  I  won- 
der M'  Partridge  should  please  himself,  or  try  so  to  do  me, 
with  any  glimmerings,  for  which  I  really  think  there  is 
no  room.  His  cool  reception  at  S'  R — t's  set  me  down  at 
once.  I  am  glad  you  are  pretty  well  recovered  from 
your  surprize  &  was  preparing  for  the  worse,  which  may 
be  ugly  enough.  By  a  letter  Agent  Wilks  wrote  y 
Eaglestone  to  the  Speaker  the  Mass*  may  grow  more 
pacifick,  &  in  that  case  with  a  good  effort  made  by  New 
Hampshire  &  this  Province  it's  possible  an  union  might 
still  be  brought  about,  if  a  good  sura  of  money  could  be 
rais'd  &  a  proper  pson  sent  borne ;  but  this  is  at  a  dis* 
tance  and  attended  with  the  difficulties  I  mention.  The 
Spanish  invasion,  you  may  depend,  will  make  a  com* 
pleat  demolition  of  all  our  friends  in  alt  things  civil  & 
military. 

CoU"  Jo.  has  sign'd  the  address.  I  have  talkt  freely  with 
him,  &  he  is  prepar'd  for  his  expected  fate.  I  approve 
Mad"  Waldron's  thought,  unless  it  could  be  brought 
about  for  you  to  be  envoy  for  the  future  Union.  It  is 
hardly  worth  while  at  this  time  o'  day  to  repeat  how  fiill 
I  am  of  wishes  &  inclinations  to  do  you  &  yours  on  &11 
occasions  every  good  thing  in  my  power. 

Altho'  the  report  of  the  Privy  Council  had  been  agreed 
on  above  six  weeks  before  this  ship  came  out,  yet  it  had 


oyGoot^lc 


173>-40.]  TO  BICHARD  WALDBON.  279 

not  been  presented,  the  onely  reason  of  which  I  take  to  be 
that  the  a&ir  of  the  Line  had  not  been  heard,  the  de- 
cision whereof  I  think  we  shall  have  by  the  first  ship 
&  the  account  of  the  new  appointment.  Let  Bussel  for- 
'ward '  the  two  inclosed,  '^haps  it  may  be  one  of  the 
last  pieces  of  duty  to  bis  old  master.  I  am  truly  sorry 
for  him.  With  my  very  kind  regards  to  your  good  lady, 
I  remain,  S% 

Your  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

BoBTOK,  MatcIi  10, 1739/40. 

For  y*  reason  you  mention'd,  it  may  be  best  to  deferr 
Hall  at  psent. 

By  CoU"  Jo.  Sherburne. 

TO  RICHARD  WALDROK. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  14*  curr*,  &  am  best  pleas'd 
our  friends  should  know  the  plain  truth  &  the  worst,  that 
they  may  act  their  own  prudence  now  &  hereafter.  I 
love  to  be  as  good  as  my  word  &  therefore  think  it  best 
that  Livermore  and  Newmarch  have  their  commissions. 
A  good  manly  behaviour  in  the  (expected)  overturn  will 
be  most  to  every  one's  reputation  &  honour.  I  have 
heard  Trinkalo  had  petition'd  for  a  govemm',  as  you 
mention'd,  &  that  the  petition  had  been  dismist;  but  I 
look  upon  this  report  uncertain.  I  am  a  stranger  to  any 
other  of  his  proceedings  than  that  of  his  constant  indeav- 
ours  &  applications  to  get  the  Gov'  out,  &  I  am  told  he 
has  in  this  "case  sworn  to  the  Prince  ot  Darkness  about 
his  return,  as  S'  Paul's  design'd  murderers  did  about  his 
life ;  &  if  the  Spanish  chap  is  to  bless  New  Hampshire, 

perhaps  Trinkalo's  learned  in  the  is  reserv'd  as  the 

greater  blessing  for  the  greater  Province.  The  Line 
affair  being  undecided  I  take  to  be  the  onely  reason  the 
report  sleeps,  because  they  would  not  make  out  a  new 


oyGoot^lc 


280  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1740- 

coinmission  till  they  can  ascertain  the  bounda  in  it,  &  per- 
haps the  same  junto  that  prepar'd  so  severe  a  ceoaure  for 
the  Gov'''  trifling  fault  may  per  fas  aut  nefas  order  a  west 
line  to  be  reported.  I  think  it  pity  after  all  that  any  of 
our  friends  should  act  bo  dastardly  a  part  as  to  sneak  out 
of  the  Province ;  that  would  be  to  imitate  the  old  Komana 
in  the  mean  feshion  of  the  feh-de-s^  when  prest  with 
difficulties.  No !  the  motto  for  a  hero  at  such  a  time  is 
Smtine.  I  don't  trouble  my  head  about  the  reception. 
No  doubt,  you  must  among  you  order  it  d  &  mode  du  grand 
grandeur.  The  allusion  from  D'  Watts  is  very  natural 
for  your  present  case.  This  Assembly  may  rise  as  usual. 
I  alwayes  told  you  the  clan  had  a  great  advantage  by  find- 
ing a  cock  of  the  game  to  supply  guineas  as  often  as 
wanted,  &  we  may  set  ourselves  at  rest  as  to  the  often 
mention'd  Union,  unless  such  cocks  will  show  themselves. 
Altho'  I  have  been  tender  of  yoii  in  your  affliction,  yet 
you  must  no  longer  delay  the  papers  of  the  session,  but 
let  me  have  'em  as  soon  as  possible.     I  am,  Hon"'  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend,  J.  B. 

Boston,  March  17,  1739/40. 

The  address  is  well  done,  both  in  matter  &  form,  &  you 
shall  have  a  copy. 

(Post.)  

TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  I  have  lately  wrote  you  so  often  that  I  should 
have  said  nothing  by  this  conveyance  but  that  M'  Hall 
has  desired  me  to  write  yon  in  his  favour  respecting  the 
obtaining  a  commission  for  him  to  be  Judge  of  the  Vice 
Admiralty  here.*  I  now  inclose  you  a  complaint,  to  the 
Ijords  of  the  Admiralty  ag'  the  gsent  Judge,  with  sundry 

■  Sevenl  months  before  Ihe  Aatt  of  1hi«  Iciler  Governor  Bricher  wrote  to  Sir  ChmriM 
Wager  eoliciting  ibe  appuiotment  of  Hueli  Hall  in  (be  runia  of  Mr.  Aucbmut;.  See  poM, 
p.  i87,  — Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


17».]  TO  RICHARD  WALDBON.  281 

papers  to  support  it,  and  which  I  think  sufficient  to  re- 
niove  him.  They  may  also  be  made  use  of  to  the  Corn- 
miss"  of  the  Citatome,  &  phaps  they  would  join  in  the 
compltiint  to  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  who  will  see 
what  au  abuse  has  been  committed  about  the  Mediterra- 
nean Pass,  which  by  the  bond  slioiild  be  retum'd  in  12 
ui",  but  baa  been  kept  8  years.  As  you  &  Cap*  Coram 
have  agreed  that  it's  best  1  should  uot  appear  or  be  men- 
tion'd  in  the  afFair  of  the  Judge,  M'  Hall  now  writes  Cap* 
Coram  to  assist  in  prosecuting  the  matter  in  his  behalf, 
&  tells  me  he  has  given  orders  to  M'  Wilks  to  supply 
what  money  may  be  necessary  to  go  thrS  the  affair, 
which  I  warmly  recommend  to  you  &  to  Cap*  Coram,  aud 
am,  S', 

Your  friend  &  broth'.  J.  B. 

BoflTOK,  April  7,  1740. 

(HallM.)  


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon"  Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  11  &  18  instant.  My 
landlord*  is  trnly  honest.  I  wish  he  was  mmtt's  sanw  in 
eorpore  sano.  I  am  glad  the  military  &  civil  commissions 
are  given  out.  The  copy  of  the  address  &  the  parson's 
letter  go  with  this.  Sancho  would  be  finely  off  if  he 
could  get  the  Lieutenancy  of  Nova  Scotia  (worth  £1000 
8t'  a  year).  Having  so  long  previous  notice  I  am  pretty 
well  reconcil'd  to  a  successour.  The  Lond°  ships  don't 
appear,  so  we  must  be. patient.  I  think  upon  the  whole 
it's  best  to  delay  your  journey  to  Casco  till  they  do.  In- 
closed you  have  the  King's  Declaration  of  Warr  with  Spain, 
&  my  order  to  the  Presid'  about  that.  &  my  proclam'  for 
inlisting  men  for  the  expedition  to  New  Spain.  I  have 
ngn'd  a  blank  for  you  to  fill  up  a  proclamation  of  the  same 
tenour  with  that  publisht  here.     Communicate  the  two 


oyGoot^lc 


282  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1740. 

letters  I  send  you  herewith  from  the  Duke  of  N.  C. 
Record  &  return  'em  to  me,  &  for  your  more  particular 
inform'  I  send  you  Coll"  Spotswood's  letter  to  read  to  our 
friends  &  to  be  return'd.  Admiral  Vernon  sail'd  the  3* 
ult'  from  Jamaica  {suppos'd  to  Carthagene),  &  the  next 
grand  attempt  will  (doubtless)  be  the  Havanna.  Great 
affairs  are  on  the  carpet.  May  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the 
God  of  armies,  fight  our  battles  &  give  the  desir'd  success. 
The  Lond°  ships  I  depend  are  just  at  the  door.  As  any 
new  occurrences  come  to  hand  you  shall  have  them  by  tlie 
earliest  opportunities. 

Your  affec  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  April  21, 1740. 
(Post.) 


TO  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Grace,  —  The  17  ourr*  I  had  the 
honour  to  receive  your  Grace's  letters  of  29  October  & 
5  Jan"  last,  which  were  exprest  to  me  by  Coll"  Spotswood 
from  Virginia,  —  the  first  covering  his  Majesty's  decla- 
ration of  warr  against  Spain ;  &  in  obedience  to  his 
Majesty's  orders  I  caiis'd  the  same  to  be  proclaim'd  here 
the  21  ins",  &  at  the  same  time  in  pursuance  of  bis 
Majesty's  further  orders  I  isau'd  a  proclam'  to  ineourage 
the  inlistment  of  men  for  the  intended  expedition  ag*  tlie 
Spanish  settlements  in  the  West  Indies  j  &  the  same  I 
have  directed  to  be  done  at  New  Hampshire;  and  I  shall 
use  all  the  methods  in  my  power  for  preventing  any 
ammunition  or  stores  of  any  kind  from  being  carried  to 
the  enemy. 

I  see  by  your  Grace's  letter  that  my  Lord  Cathcart  is 
to  command  a  large  body  of  troops  going  from  Great 
Britain,  with  a  sufficient  convoy  of  men  of  war,  to  a  propeV 
place  in  the  West  Indies,  there  to  be  join'd  by  the  squad- 
ron under  the  command  of  Vice  Admiral  Vernon  &  by 


oyGoot^lc 


17«.]  TO  THE  DUKB  OF  NEWCASTLE.  283 

such  troops  as  may  be  raiH'd  by  h'm  Majesty's  colonies  & 
islands  in  America,  which  last  are  to  be  commanded  by 
Coll"  Spotswood  till  they  have  join'd  the  regular  troops 
under  the  command  of  my  L'  Cathcart,  General  &  Com- 
.mander  in  Chief  of  all  his  Majesty's  troops  sent  to  or  rais'd 
in  America,  &  that  I  am  to  confer  or  correspond  with 
Coll"  Spotswood  upon  every  thing  y'  may  relate  to  the 
pformance  of  this  service.  I  have  already  receiv'd  a 
letter  from  him  of  the  3''  instant,  &  in  ans'  thereto  have 
acquainted  him  with  what  steps  I  have  already  taken. 
He  writes  me  he  hopes  soon  to  be  here,  &  will  in  the 
mean  time  let  me  know  bow  I  may  direct  to  him  from 
time  to  time  as  this  service  may  require.  Your  Grace 
sayes  Coll"  Blakeney,  appointed  Adjutant  General  in  this 
expedition,  would  set  out  as  soon  as  possible  with  his 
Majesty's  letters  &  authorities  to  the  Gov"  of  his  Majesty's 
colonies  on  the  continent  of  America  for  making  the  levies, 
&  with  the  King's  more  particular  instructions  &  direc- 
tions relating  to  this  matter.  I  am  therefore  impatiently 
expecting  Coll"  Blakeney's  arrival  that  the  levies  may  be 
making,  for  I  fear  little  will  be  done  till  he  comes  with 
what  your  Grace  is  pleas'd  to  mention.  But  his  arri- 
val I  doubt  not  will  put  great  life  &  vigour  into  the 
affair,  and  I  think  there  will  be  no  great  difficulty  in 
procuring  provisions  &  transports  for  what  men  may 
be  rais'd  in  this  Province  &  New  Hampshire.  I  am 
very  sensible  how  much  the  time  presses  to  be  ready 
in  this  glorious  undertaking,  and  I  earnestly  wish  Coll" 
Blakeney  may  soon  be  here.  I  hope  his  Majesty's  sub- 
jects in  North  America  will  on  this  occasion  univer- 
sally show  their  resentments  of  the  many  injuries  & 
cruelties,  violences  &  depredations  they  &  their  fellow 
subjects  have  suffer'd  from  the  unjust  &  barbarous 
Spaniards,  and  thnt  they  will  exert  themselves  witli 
an  uncommon  zeal  for  bis  Majesty's  service  &  for  the 
honour  of  his  Crown,  &  more  especially  in  an  enterprize 


oyGoot^lc 


284  THE   BELCHEK  PAPERS.  [1740. 

tlie  success  whereof  will  so  essentially  advance  their  own 
interests.  In  this  Province  are  23  regiments  of  foot  &  4 
of  horse,  &  I  have  given  out  my  orders  to  the  Coll"  of 
each  regiment  for  publishing  my  proclamation  for  incour- 
agement  of  the  inlistment  of  the  new  levies,  and  I  shall- 
f  o-morrow  take  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Council  whether 
any  further  step  can  be  taken  at  psent  in  this  great 
afiFair. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  the  most  profound  duty  & 
regard,  ray  Lord  Duke, 

Your  Grace's  most  faithful  &  most  obed'  hum.  serv'. 

J.B. 

Boston,  April  30,  1740. 

(Fletcher,  to  Hambp5.)  (Brown.) 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sib,  —  The  29  of  last  month  came  to  my  hands  your 
favours  of  24  Jan^  &  12  Feb'  (way  of  Lisf),  and  I  am  to 
own  with  the  greatest  gratitude  your  vigilance  &  constant 
advices  in  my  affairs,  as  well  as  the  indefatigable  pwns 
you  take  for  my  interest,  by  yourself  &  by  a  great  num- 
ber of  your  friends  the  Quakers,  &  yet  after  all  I  find  you 
absolutely  give  up  N.  Hamp,  &  expect  the  appointment 
of  a  new  Gov'  for  that  Province  every  day,  &  that  you 
had  also  great  reason  to  beleive  there  would  soon  be 
another  appointed  also  for  the  Massachusetts,  after  mine  & 
my  friends'  utmost  indeavour  to  ward  of  such  a  mischief. 
I  hope  I  shall  be  inabl'd  to  submit  with  patience  to  the 
orderings  of  God's  providence  in  this  great  affair.  I  am 
surpriz'd  at  what  you  say  about  Gov''  Holden,  to  whom  I 
have  never  given  tlie  least  occasion  of  disgust,  but  have 
alwayes  treated  him  &  his  character  with  the  higheat 
respect.  I  will  not  fail  of  owning  by  the  next  good  con- 
vey* the  Hon"'  M'  Doddington's  generous  and  unmerited 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  PAUL  MASCAHEIfE.  285 

respect  &  kindneas.  We  are  impatiently  expecting  the 
Ix>nd''  ship.  Give  my  love  to  M'  Belcher,  &  believe  me, 
Sir, 

Your  loving  broth'  &  friend.  J.  B. 

osTON,  May  1, 1740. 

(Fletcher  to  Hambio)  (Brown.) 


TO  PAUL  MASCARENE. 

SiH,  —  Sometime  the  last  month  I  receiv'd  your  favour 
of  the  27  March,  by  frhich  I  was  glad  to  find  you  safely 
arriv'd  at  Annapolis  Royal,  and  that  you  had  been  well 
receiv'd  as  the  head  of  his  Majesty's  Province  of  Nova 
Scotia,*  on  which  honour  I  heartily  congratulate  you  & 
wish  you  much  peace  &  satisfaction  in  a  long  exercise  of 
the  powers  with  which  bis  Mnjesty  has  invested  you.  1 
see  you  had  issu'd  a  proclamation  for  the  settlement  of 
the  civil  government  until  your  further  orders,  &  I  am 
glad  to  bear  that  all  things  were  quiet  and  easy  among 
you,  notwithstanding  the  rumours  of  warr.  I  have  lately 
receiv'd  letters  from  Lond"  as  far  as  the  12  Feb'',  when 
there  was  an  imbargo  tbrdout  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land, &  all  the  King's  ships  were  fitting  &  manning, 
&  a  French  warr  expected,  which  may  God  Almighty 
avert.  I  am  sure  these  northern  colonies  are  in  a 
miserable  defenceless  condition.  If  I  can  render  you 
any  accepts  service  here  yon  may  with  freedom  com- 
mand, Hon'''*  Sir, 

Your  most  obed*  humble  servant  J.  B. 

BoBTOM,  May  2, 1740. 

To  Ihe  care  of  the  jottag  ladj,  hia  danghf,  Mira  Betty. 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHER   PAPERS. 


TO   RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Hon"*  Sib,  —  The  post  brings  me  your  favour  of  2 
instant.  Coll"  Westbrook  writes  me  he  cannot  furnish 
the  oak,  so  I  must  look  out  elsewhere.  I  am  glad  you 
perform'd  the  solemnity  at  publishing  the  declar"  of  warr 
with  Spain  in  so  handsome  a  manner,  especially  when  you 
iiad  to  do  with  two  such  simpletonies ;  the  whole  affair  is 
in  the  prints.  The  last  week  I  issu'd  orders  to  the  Coll" 
of  the  several  regiments  of  this  Province  to  beat  up  for 
vohmtiers  for  the  expedition,  &  now  send  my  order  of 
same  purport  to  Coll"  H.  Sherburne,  &  inclosed  is  one  you 
must  forward  to  Coll"  Oilman,  &  I  have  told  Huske  to 
send  you  some  of  his  papers  in  which  is  the  New  Hamp 
proclamation,  &  the  two  Coll"  must  be  furnisht  witJi  a 
number  of  them.  I  shall  be  glad  of  your  suggestions 
from  time  to  time  of  any  thing  more  you  think  may  be 
done  to  show  my  zeal  for  the  King's  service  od  this  occa- 
sion. You  must  record  &  then  return  the  inclosed.  A 
ship  in  S  weeks  from  Ireland  to  Rhode  Island  sayes  'twas 
generally  thought  a  speedy  French  warr  was  unavoidable, 
which  no  doubt  may  be  the  reason  we  see  no  ship  from 
London.  He  sayes  vast  preparations  were  making  by 
sea  &  land.  What  will  come  of  the  poor  little  Province  in 
such  an  event?  I  fully  depend  to  hear  the  name  of 
your  new  Governour  by  the  6rst  ship  from  London,  &  I 
think  you  may  order  all  your  affairs  with  such  a  view. 
Cou'd  you  sell  your  estate  in  New  Hampshire,  a  retreat 
to  Stroud  Water  &"  might  finally  be  the  best  thing  for 
your  family.  Huske  is  looking  out  for  a  house  &  intends 
to  move  hither.  Doubtless  it  will  be  pleasing  to  Mad". 
You  cannot  easily  perceive  what  the  fiends  at  home  have 
been  practising;  lying,  perjury,  forgery,  &  what  not? 
Gov'  Holden  was  serv'd  with  a  2*  edition  of  S'  C.  W*  let 
ter,  but  rather  worse,  &  which  the  good  gent"  beleiv'd, 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE.  287 

and  is  grown  not  only  cool  but  sower.  Doubtless  S' 
Rob',  the  Duke,  &  L*  Wilmington  have  been  instructed 
in  the' same  manner.  Their  reaolution  is  y/o*  out  nefas, 
&  AcAeronta  movebo,  that  it  must  not  be  wonder'd  at  if 
tfaey  succeed  about  Massachusetts.  God  governs  the 
world  in  infinite  wisdo;n  &  goodness,  &  does  all  things 
that  are  best  for  us,  if  it  be  not  our  owq  faults.  I  humbly 
ask  his  gracious  assistance  to  inable  me  to  submit  to  all 
the  carvings  of  His  providence.  With  my  kind  respects 
to  M°  Waldron,  I  remain,  Sir, 

Your  very  good  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  6,  1740. 

(Post.)  _^ 

TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  I  yesterday  receiv'd  your  favours  of  March  1, 
11,  19,  &  21,  V  Remick,  with  the  several  papers  they  in- 
closed, which  1  have  inspected  with  my  best  attention. 
By  the  next  week's  post  1  shall  trnnsmiC  to  the  Gov"'  of 
Pensilvania  copy  of  yours  of  21  March  with  what  else 
relates  to  Rob'  Jenkins's  counterfeiting  the  bills  of  c'  of 
that  Province. 

And  now,  brother,  1  am  in  the  most  sincere  &  affection- 
ate manner  to  thank  you  for  your  vigilance  &  most  un- 
wearied care  to  prevent  the  success  of  the  malice  of  my 
enemies  in  indeavouring  to  oust  me  of  my  commissions 
I  hold  for  the  governments  of  this  Province  &  that  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  uprightness  &  warmth  with  which 
your  friends  (the  Quakers)  have  acted  at  this  critical  junc- 
ture for  my  service  1  shall  ever  bear  the  most  gratefull 
remembrance  of,  &  be  ready  to  retaliate  to  their  Priendu 
here  in  every  reasonable  way  they  may  desire  of  me.  1 
see  you  had  receiv'd  my  ans'  to  the  complaint  of  John 
North  &  others  &  given  it  to  M'  Belcher,  &  that  a  copy  of 
it  was  making  out  that  the  original  might  be  presented  to 


oyGoot^lc 


288  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1740. 

the  Board  of  Trade.  Waldo's  malice  is  80  inveterate  that 
I  liave  no  expectation  of  his  dropping  that  affair.  What 
could  be  80  villainous  as  the  letter  (I  have  no  doubt)  he 
forg'd  and  deliver'd  to  S'  C.  W.?  A  man  that  could  be 
guilty  of  that,  where  will  his  wickedness  stop  ?  1  thank 
you  for  the  copies  yon  gave  of  it  to  L"  Presid*  &.  to  M' 
Stone.  The  ans'  I  have  sent  to  North's  complaint  may 
be  sufficient  for  that,  but  mayn't  take  of  what  impres- 
sions may  be  made  by  the  many  affidavits  made  out  here 
by  Waldo's  order,  and  sent  away  in  Feb'  last  while  I  was 
at  New  Hampshire,  to  which  I  am  with  all  diligence  mak- 
ing out  contradictory  evidence,  but  as  I  am  oWig'd  to  send 
to  George's  Eiver  (near  200  miles  from  hence),  it  takes 
time  to  get  it  done,  but  I  shall  dispatch  what  further 
evidence  I  have  to  send  as  soon  as  possible,  &  must  pray 
you  to  gain  time  till  I  can  send  it  away.  I  hope  before 
this  time  you  have  receiv'd  my  letter  to  M'  H.  Walpole 
respecting  M'  P.  Dudley.  It  was  dated  21  Jan'  &  went 
away  in  Feb',  original  v  Laggit  &  duplicate  t*  Snelling, 
which  letter,  I  think,  will  give  full  satisfaction.  If  I 
must  be  insulted  by  private  persons  even  in  the  very 
chair  of  government  I  had  as  good  resign  my  commis- 
sion. It  was  a  villainous  insinuation  (no  doubt  of  Waldo's 
invention)  that  I  should  say  any  thing  disrespectful!  of 
M'  Walpole,  which  I  never  did,  but  would  do  any  thing 
he  would  desire  of  me  consistent  with  the  King's  honour 
&  my  own,  &  I  am  sure  he  would  not  put  me  to  do  any 
thing  in  contradiction  to  either.  I  say  again  I  am  sen- 
sible of  your  great  industry  to  keep  me  in  both  my  com- 
missions &  observe  what  you  heard  drop  from  Shirley's 
wife,  which  lookt  as  if  she  had  had  a  foot  o'  the  tail  from 

the  D ,  &  that  my  enemies  seem'd  something  quiet  6 

March  ;  yet  I  am  again  thankful!  that  you  will  be  watch- 
full,  for  I  am  still  very  apprehensive  of  danger  as  to  both 
governments,  but  more  especially  New  Hampshire  since 
the  decision  of  the  line,  &  thereby  the  inlargement  of 


oyGoot^lc 


17W.]  TO  RICHARD  PABTRIDGE.  289 

that  Province.  Pray  give  my  thanks  to  my  worthy  friendfl 
M'  RuMell  &  W  Storke  for  not  signing  the  petition.  As 
you  say,  my  enemies  stick  at  nothing  &  I  think  lying, 
perjury,  &  forgeiy  seem  easy  to  'em.  When  I  reflect  on 
the  many  ^ent  difficulties  attending  my  case,  it  will  be  a 
great  atchievement  if  you  are  able  with  all  your  interest 
and  that  of  your  Friends  to  keep  me  in.  I  know  M' 
Wilks  &  Newman  are  my  steady  friends  &  would  do 
any  service  in  tlieir  power  for  me.  I  must  pray  you 
to  procure  from  Sir  Charles  a  warrant  for  your  cousin 
And'  to  be  Register  of  the  Court  of  Admiralty.  It 
would  be  a  great  dishonour  to  me  &  to  him  to  have 
him  put  out  after  my  putting  him  in,  &  I  can't  beleive 
S'  C.  would  make  any  stick  about  it,  if  you  went  to 
him  at  a  proper  juncture.  I  am  greatly  surpriz'd  at 
the  decision  of  the  Line,  but  shall  forbear  any  thing 
about  it,  the'  should  say  a  great  deal  were  you  &  I  in 
a  proper  place  together. 

I  am  glad  you  follow  M'  Doddington's  advice  to  give 
up  nothing.  Paris  *  speaks  the  truth,  if  they  don't  get  me 
out  at  New  Hampshire  all  they  have  done  about  the  Line 
will  not  content  'em.  They  will  therefore  (as  you  sny) 
push  hard  for  that,  &  it  will  be  a  glorious  victory  if  you 
should  at  last  baffle  'em  in  that  article.  I  take  notice  of 
the  2  accounts  of  M'  J"  Sharp's  for  New  Hamp,  18. 13.  0, 
&  in  Leighton's  aflFsir,  16. 14.  4.  The  latter  ought  to  be 
charg'd  to  this  Prov,  &  not  to  me.  As  to  3"  account  of 
195. 18.  4,  M'  Sharp  &  you  are  perfectly  right  that  this 
Province  ought  to  pay  every  farthing  of  it,  for  it  was  to 
defend  the  Assembly  from  the  gross  imputation  of  bribery 
&  many  other  things,  &  to  which  they  made  out  an 
ans*  &  sent  their  Agent,  &  M'  Wilks  cannot  make  the 
least  objection  to  the  payment.  I  am  eure  I  will  pay 
none  of  it ;  it  would  be  cruel  &  ruinous  for  any  body  to 

*  Fvrdinwid  John  Piru,  a  Uwyer  Id  London,  who  wu  emplojed  b?  TbomliDion. — 


jvGooi^lc 


290  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1740. 

imagine  I  should.  I  am  indeavouring  every  day  to  turn 
any  of  my  estate  in  this  town  into  money  to  some  value 
to  discharge  your  bills,  &  I  will  not  rest  till  it 's  done,  for 
I  am  most  earnestly  desirous  to  make  you  easy.  I  remain, 
with  an  unfeigned  respect,  Sir, 

Your  broth'  &  friend.  _  J.  B. 

So  soon  as  it's  the  proper  season  I  will  send  you  a  bbr. 
of  good  cranberries. 

Herewith  comes  mine  to  Doddington  w'  you  &  M' 
Belcher  will  do  with  as  you  shall  judge  proper. 

Boston,  May  7, 1710. 

(Brown.  pMce.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHES,  ja. 

Mr  DEAR  Son,  —  Yesterday  arriv'd  Cap'  Renwick  from 
Lond°,  &  brought  me  your  letter  of  24  Dec'  in  ans'  to 
several  of  mine,  as  far  as  30  October.  I  find  V  my  copy 
book  that  I  have  since  wrote  you  V  Hall,  Curling,  4 
Hoar,  of  Nov.  20,  26,  Detf  3  &  11,  which  were  got  to 
your  hands  (besides  several  since),  &  as  this  ship  did  not 
leave  London  till  25  March  it  is  matter  of  great  surprize, 
&  what  I  can't  accovuit  for,  that  after  my  solemn  threat- 
nings  &  earnest  intreaties  to  the  contrary  you  should 
dare  to  let  my  letters  be  unanswer'd.  If  you  can  find  a 
better  friend  or  a  better  father,  you  may  cleave  to  him, 
but  I  will  not  be  so  treated.  I  am  in  earnest,  &  pray  you 
to  beleive  me. 

As  to  the  matter  depending  with  M'  Lloyd's  Execu", 
I  have  a  good  prospect  of  compleating  a  bargain  for  my 
estate  at  Mortlake  in  a  few  weeks,  and  to  get  discharg'd 
from  that  debt,  which  hangs  on  my  head  &  heart  more 
than  any  other  particular  affair  of  my  life,  and  I  am  de- 
termin'd  to  get  thro'  it  as  soon  as  possible.    I  have  a 


oyGoot^lc 


1710.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR.  291 

handsome  letter  from  the  Execu"  &  another  from  M'  G. 
Lloyd  to  which  I  shall  make  ans"  by  the  next  ahip.  I 
say  I  think  I  have  now  a  fairer  prospect  to  get  thro'  the 
business  than  at  any  time  heretofore.  It  is  an  odd  un- 
grateful! way  you  practice  of  saying  one  time  after  an- 
other you'll  write  D'  Colman,  and  commonly  make  it  so 
long  as  you  had  as  good  not  do  it  at  all.  Such  fidling, 
trifling,  unmanly  practices  make  me  asham'd  &  sick. 
Do  you  see  me  do  bo  with  any  body?  No.  I  ralher 
abound  in  a  strict  faithfuU  correspondence  with  every 
friend  I  have,  &  it  is  something  owing  to  my  aversion  & 
hatred  to  any  thing  that  carryes  the  face  of  indolence  or 
laziness.  The  letter  D'  Colman  wrote  Governour  Holden 
was  not  (aa  I  thought)  upon  your  account,  but  mine,  as  I 
have  since  been  told,  &  was  for  an  antidote  to  a  poison 
that  had  been  administred  to  prejudice  the  Gov'  against 
me,  being  an  anonymous  letter  sent  him  of  the  most 
scurrilous,  villainous  kind  that  ever  was  penn'd,  &  it  has 
had  its  effect,  for  your  uncle  writes  in  Jan'  that  the  Gov' 
was  sower,  out  of  humour,  &  blara'd  me.  What  shall  we 
say,  Jon",  to  the  practice  of  such  secret,  hellish  wicked- 
ness? Why,  God  suffers  it  for  the  punishment  of  my 
sins,  therefore  I  will  not  murmur  or  complain,  but  pray 
for  his  grace  that  I  may  forsake  &  abhorr  every  thing  that 
may  offend  His  holiness  &  purity.  D'  Colman  is  very 
good  &  has  been  indeavouring  &  still  is  to  undeceive  tlie 
Gov'.  Time  must  discover  whether  he  succeeds.  I  shall 
be  glad  to  receive  your  letter  to  him  with  the  Magazine. 
Cap'  Coram  justly  deserves  the  respect  of  the  nation,  and 
to  be  handsomely  taken  care  of  for  his  life.  I  am  well 
pleas'd  with  the  handsome  speech  you  made  for  him  to 
the  D.  of  Bedford.  I  am  glad  you  see  your  folly  in  the 
letter  to  B — II — m.  Remember  therefore  to  be  very 
cautious  in  taking  steps  with  any  body  here  but  under 
my  cover,  alwayes  beleivlng  a  man  near  60  must  generally 
be  of  service  in  his  thoughts  to  the  rawness  of  a  man  at 


oyGoot^lc 


292  TUE   BELCHEB  FAPGHS.  [1740 

30 ;  &  here  I  can't  help  mentioning  with  the  greatest  con- 
cern &  affection  to  you  your  conformity  to  the  C*"  of  Eng- 
land ;  &  with*  a  previous  lisp  to  me  in  bo  considerable  an 
alteration,  it  was  the  greatest  folly  you  could  be  guilty  of, 
&  could  I  have  imagin'd  it  you  had  never  sat  your  feet 
off  your  native  countrey.  It  has  vastly  hurt  you  in  your 
temporal  interest  (I  wish  it  ha'n't  otherwise) ;  it  has  made 
all  the  Dissenting  interest  cool  towards  you  in  Engl"  & 
here,  &;  in  that  way  it  has  also  greatly  disserv'd  me,  and 
your  hugging  Checkley  *  in  the  manner  you  did  was  a 
piece  of  most  imprud'  conduct,  —  a  man  that  had  been  a 
non-juror  here  for  a  long  time  &  odious  to  this  whole  coun- 
trey. Oh,  Jon*,  learn  to  be  thoughtfuU,  cautious,  &  wise ; 
but  these  things  grieve  me  &  I  must  not  dwell  upon  them. 
I  rejoyce  that  you  begin  to  see  your  folly,  &  that  you 
think  as  formerly  that  the  Dissenters  are  the  best  livers. 
What  will  it  avail  a  man  in  the  great  day  of  accounts  to 
have  had  the  form  of  godliness  without  the  power  ?  and 
as  to  doctrine,  I  know  not  wherein  the  Dissenters  &  Chh 
differ,  if  the  latter  will  stick  to  their  39  Articles.  I  shall 
say  no  more  on  this  head,  hut  commend  you  to  y*  guid- 
ance &  teaching  of  God.  No  doubt  &  Rob'  &  L"  Presid' 
&  perhaps  the  Duke  have  been  serv'd  with  letters  of  the 
same  kind  as  those  to  S'  C.  W.  &  to  the  Gov'.  However, 
T  think  to  venture  to  write  them  again.  T  highly  approve 
your  showing  me  the  darkest  side  of  things,  for  I  hate  to  ■ 
be  flatter'd.  Nothing  can  he  of  a  more  pernicious  &  ruin- 
ous nature  for  a  man's  conduct  in  life.  I  find  the  boun- 
daries between  the  Provinces  are  setl'd  intirely  in  favour 
of  New  Hamp ;  so  I  daily  expect  to  hear  the  appointra*  of 
a  new  Gov'  there  ;  nor  should  I  be  surpriz'd,  when  I  view 
the  infernal  arts  that  have  been   practis'd  &  the  psent 

•  Rev.  John  CheckUy,  >  nativf  nf  Boston,  when  he  wis  bnrn  in  IflSO.  In  1T!1  be  ra 
ftncdb.Vlbe  Supreme  Court  for  i  libel  on  the  miniiten  tnd  people  of  Kew  Englind.  In 
ITSI  he  went  to  Enclind  ro  obtain  Episcopal  ordinatinii,  bat  wu  refused  by  the  Biibop  o( 
London.  Snbsequenily  be  wm  ordaired  bj  the  Bishop  of  Exeter,  who  >ent  bim  to  Nai^ 
niguintt.    He  died  in  Providence  in  ITM.    See  Allen's  Biognphictl  lyvAuratxj.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEB,  JE.  293 

situation  of  affairs,  that  the  same  is  done  for  this  Province. 
I  pray  God  to  inab]e  me  by  Hia  grace  to  possess  my  soul 
in  patience.  One  gp*eat  concern  to  me  Is  how  you  will  be 
able  to  steer  under  such  a  difficulty,  for  it  will  not  be 
possible  for  me  to  support  you  any  longer.  You  must 
come  home,  unless  you  can  get  your  living  in  Westminster 
Hall,  &  it  seems  hard  to  me  that  after  nine  years  study 
you  should  not.  However,  either  in  that  way  or  by  mar- 
rying to  advantage  you  must  be  able  to  stay  o'  that  side 
the  water  or  come  hither.  And  I  shall  now  proceed  on 
the  grave  affair  of  marrying.  Your  tho'ta  are  just,  that 
it  is  a  transaction  of  the  last  importance  &  w'  you  men- 
tion for  the  spring  &  motive  of  your  proceedings  is  truly 
right.  I  intirely  give  over  Rhohampton  *  &  approve  the 
matter  with  Miss  Hatfield.  The  character  you  give  of  the 
way  &  manner  of  her  education,  her  good  sense,  tem- 
per, &*" — are  unfading  things,  and  ^6000  (tho'  not  a 
great)  is  a  handsome  fortune  &  with  industry  in  your 
business  might  support  you.  I  have  therefore  wrote  the 
inclosed,  which  you  may  use  as  you  please.  I  am  oblig'd 
to  M"  Carter  for  her  kind  regards  to  me.  Her  nephew 
that  liv'd  with  me  about  30  years  agoe  &  dy'd  afterwards 
at  BB*  was  a  promising  young  gent".  Thus  I  have  an- 
8w*  every  thing  necess'  in  yours.  I  wiH  onely  say  that  I 
am  plain  &  open,  while  I  confirm  what  I  have  said  must 
certainly  be  your  lot  in  case  of  a  supersedeas.  I  wish 
you  all  the  blessings  of  this  &  a  better  life,  &  am  alwayes, 
my  dear  son. 

Your  very  afEectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  8,  1740. 

You  will,  my  son,  consider  the  charge  of  a  marry'd 
state  &  be  well  satisfy'd  in  y'  part  which  is  necess"  to 


oyGoot^lc 


294  THE  BELCHER  PAPEES.  [1740. 

support  it.  How  old  is  the  yoiing  lady  ?  and  how  old  lier 
Aunt  Carter,  &  is  she  a  widow  ?  &  what  is  her  husband's 
Christian  name  ? 

(Brown.  Paice,) 


TO  MISS  HATFIELD. 

Mad",  —  You  may  be  surpriz'd  at  the  receit  of  a  letter 
from  one  so  pfect  a  stranger  to  you  as  I  am  j  nor  should  I 
give  you  this  trouble  hut  at  the  request  of  my  son,  Coun- 
cellour  Belcher  of  the  Middle  Temple,  who  writes  me  by 
the  last  ship  from  Lond"  of  his  intention  to  make  his  ad- 
dresses to  Miss  Hatfield,  of  whom  he  gives  me  such  an 
ingaging  character,  &  prayes  for  my  consent  in  his  pro- 
ceedings, that  I  have  freely  given  it.  And  that  you  may 
be  no  stranger  to  my  son,  I  think  myself  bound  in  justice 
to  say  he  has  been  strictly  sober  &  vertuous  from  his 
youth;  of  good  capacity  &  diligence  in  his  studies;  lias 
been  now  9  years  at  the  Temple,  and  I  am  told  is  an  able 
lawyer  for  his  standing.  I  know  him  to  be  of  a  fine  good 
temper;  is  in  the  SO""  year  of  his  age.  His  person  &  be- 
haviour I  leave  to  your  own  observation.  He  is  very 
dear  to  me,  &  I  shall  alwayes  do  every  thing  in  my  power 
to  promote  his  welfare  &  prosperity.  You  will  please 
Mad"  to  make  my  complim"  acceptable  to  Mad"  Carter 
your  worthy  aunt,  whose  nephew  M'  Benj'  Carter  was  my 
apprentice  about  30  years  agoe  &  soon  after  dy'd  at  BB". 
He  was  a  promising  young  gent".  You  will  please  to 
pardon  a  freedom  of  this  kind,  &  when  you  may  think 
proper  I  shall  esteem  the  favour  of  a  line  from  yoii- 
That  every  circumstance  in  life  may  keep  pace  with  your 
own  wishes  is  the  desire  of,  Mad", 

Your  very  hum.  serv'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  8,  1740. 
(Brown.  Paioe.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  BUBB  DODINGTON. 


TO  BUBB  DODINGTON.* 


Sir,  —  I  am  in  the  first  place  to  ask  pardon  for  pre- 
suming to  give  you  a  trouble  of  the  nature  I  am  now 
doing,  &  which  may  justly  surprize  you  from  so  perfect  a 
stranger  as  I  am  to  the  Hon'*' M' Doddington ;  yet  the 
large  account  I  have  receiv'd  from  my  broth'  M'  Partridge 
of  your  unmerited  goodness  in  a  readiness  to  do  me  kind 
offices  at  a  juncture  when  I  really  need  'era,  I  say  such 
humanity  &  such  candour  from  a  gent"  to  whom  I  am  not 
capable  of  making  a  return,  will  not  suffer  me  to  be  silent. 
I  y'fore  pray  you,  Sir,  to  accept  from  me  the  sentiments 
of  a  heart  fir'd  with  gratitude;  and  as  I  know  you  have  a 
great  interest  in  his  Majesty  let  me  humbly  beg  of  you 
to  soften  as  much  as  may  be  the  censure  the  Lords  of  the 
Privy  Council  drew  up  ag'  me,  &  has  since  been  approv'd 
by  the  King,  &  that  this  first  fault  (not  of  the  most  hei- 
nous nature)  may  be  forgiven  or  receive  a  leas  punishm* 
than  my  being  depriv'd  of  his  Majesty's  commisa"  which  I 
have  the  honour  to  sustain  here  &  in  New  Hampshire. 

Before  his  Majesty  honour'd  me  w""  his  commiss"  I  was 
one  of  the  principal  merch"  of  this  countrey,  but  upon 
my  appointment  I  quitted  every  other  way  of  life  that  I 
might  be  the  more  capable  of  his  Majesty's  service  in  the 
Provinces  under  my  care,  and  it  has  hapn'd  the  accepting 
of  the  government  has  been  a  vast  damage  to  my  family, 
for  altho'  T  have  been  in  it  near  10  years,  yet  such  has 
been  the  straitness  of  the  Assemblies  in  their  grants  for 
my  support  y'  I  have  hitherto  been  oblig'd  to  spend  some 
thous**  of  my  private  fortune  to  support  myself  in  the 
govemm'  in  some  manner  equal  to  the  dignity  of  his 

■  Geo^e  Bubb  DodJn^nn,  Lord  Melcontbe,  wm  bom  in  1691,  and  ednoted  U  Oxfonl. 
In  ITIS  bs  viscboaeTi  >  mnnber  of  Parliament;  and  fmm  tbat  time  until  his  death,  in  IT6B, 
he  look  »n  actire  Bnd  nnt  alwayi  credilable  part  in  public  affairs.  See  Koie'a  Biogmphical 
Dictionary,  toI.  rii.  p.  97,  and  Horace  Wslpole's  I*Hct8,  pamn.  —  Edb. 


oyGoot^lc 


296  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1740. 

Majesty's  commission  ;  &  I  can  call  this  whole  country  to 
witness  that  no  Gov'  has  ever  more  strictly  asserted  the 
honour  of  the  Crown  &  his  Majesty's  prerogative  than  I 
have  done,  even  to  the  frequent  disgust  of  the  Gen"  As- 
semblies of  the  Province  &  who  for  y'  reason  have  been 
alwayes  very  stingy  &  strait  in  their  supporting  me,  and 
after  all  these  hardships  to  be  at  once  depriv'd  of  my 
bread  &  honour  in  consequence  of  the  censure  past  on  me 
is  very  shocking.  I  therefore  humbly  pray  you,  Sir,  to 
take  my  case  into  your  kind  consideration,  &  so  represent 
it  to  S'  Kob'  Walpole.  I  have  u  large  family  of  child" 
and  grandchild"  who  wou'd  be  great  sufferers  on  my  be- 
ing superseded.  I  again  would  beg  leave,  Sir,  to  say  that 
it's  impossible  fully  to  suggest  to  you  the  malicious  arts 
that  have  been  praetis'd  by  my  enemies  to  render  me  ob- 
noxious to  the  King's  ministers.  Lying  &  forgeries  have 
been  some  of  them,  to  which  S'  Charles  Wager  w"  you 
see  him  will  be  able  to  speak.  I  am  told  one  reason 
given  why  I  should  be  superseded  was  that  I  had  held  the 
King's  comiss"  near  10  years,  which  with  much  submis- 
sion I  think  can't  be  ollow'd  a  reason  unle%  it  were  a 
government  where  a  gent™  might  make  a  fortune,  which 
is  impossible  to  do  in  the  Provinces  where  I  have  the 
honour  to  command ;  for  the  allowances  of  the  Assemblies 
from  both,  &  the  perquisites  of  the  governm"  besides, 
have  not  made  out  eommumbus  amns  a  thous'  pounds  str.  a 
year,  which  is  but  a  small  pittance  to  live  with  in  the  figure 
of  a  Gov'.  Again,  I  would  with  modesty  say  Gov*  Belcher 
is  not  without  his  friends  in  the  countrey  &  the  King's  min- 
isters have  had  a  vast  deal  of  trouble  for  many  years  past 
with  this  countrey,  &  a  change  will  undoubtedly  create 
new  ones  from  the  discontents  which  may  arise  from  the 
changes  made  here  by  a  new  Gov',  which  may  hurt  his 
Majesty's  service,  &  the  more  at  so  critical  a  juncture  as 
this  is ;  &  if  after  all  I  must  be  so  severe  a  sufferer  as  to 
be  dismiss'd,  I  must  be  oblig'd  to  repair  to  Court  there  to 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  BICHAHD   WALDBON.  297 

lay  my  hard  case  before  bis  Majesty.  But  I  beg  I  may 
still  hope  in  your  goodnesa  to  represent  my  case  to  the 
King,  &  also  to  S'  Rob',  as  you  shall  judge  proper.  May 
you,  Sir,  live  long  in  great  health  &  in  high  favour  with 
hi»  Majesty  (the  best  of  sovereigns),  and  while  your 
countrey  is  gaining  the  advantage  of  your  good  services 
may  you  be  reaping  the  honours  due  to  your  superiour 
merit,  and  thus  I  am,  much  honoured  Sir, 

Your  most  obed'  &  most  hum.  serv*.  J.  B. 

BosTOM,  Ma;  8, 1710. 
(Brown.  Paice.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon"  Sir, — Yours  of  9  curr'  lyes  before  me.  Whether 
continued  peace  or  warr  with  France  remains  very  un- 
certain, &  so  is  the  affair  o£  a  new  Gov'  for  Mass*.  The 
Line  no  doubt  takes  the  course  it  does  that  you  may  have 
that  blessing.  Let  me  advise  you  as  much  as  possible  to 
possess  your  soul  in  patience.  I  am  well  pleas'd  with 
your  ratiocination  on  the  matter  of  Falm",  &  wish  you 
may  finally  conclude  on  what  shall  have  the  best  ten- 
dency to  your  comfort  &  honour.  1  think  Huske  told  me 
last  night  he  is  to  have  a  house  of  M'  Boreland's.  It's 
alwayes  in  the  power  of  &  Councellour  to  resign ;  so  you 
may  as  such  give  yourself  a  ^eius  when  you  please. 
1  think  Parker  wilt  make  the  best  Secry  if  you  resolve 
to  quit,  &  unless  you  have  any  thing  material  to  the  con- 
trary let  the  commission  I  have  sign'd  be  fiU'd  up  for 
him.  I  have  also  sign'd  a  commission  for  Special  Justices 
for  the  Superiour  Court,  which  phaps  may  be  needless. 
Is  there  not  one  subsisting  in  which  Huske  stands  ?  The 
Cap**"  visset  is  mysterious.  I  am  sorry  for  the  death  of 
the  Collector,*  who,  I  think,  was  inoffensive.    As  to  the 


oyGoot^lc 


298  THE   BELCHEE   PAPERS.  [I'W. 

forgery  sent  Gov'  Holden  I  desire  you  would  be  very 
muth  about  it  at  present,  because  I  am  oblig'd  to  keep  it 
secret,  the  better  to  ans"  some  good  end.  It's  a  bad  wind 
blows  no  body  good.  I  am  glad  you  are  like  to  be  an 
accidental  gainer  by  a  strait  line,  but  pray  what  will  the 
poor  inhabitants  gain  by  a  tract  of  distant,  howling  wilder- 
ness ?  How  will  they  settle  &  defend  it?  Your  grand 
Province  must  now  be  a  barrier  to  the  poor  little  Province 
of  Mass',  so  you'l  have  an  opportunity  to  return  our 
antient  tenderness  of  that  kind.  As  the  dance  is  over, 
the  next  thing  is  to  pay  the  fidler  15  or  £20,000.  As 
any  thing  new  occurs  you  shall  know  it  from,  Sir, 

Your  ready  friend.  J.  B. 

BoSTO.v,  May  12,  1740. 

(Post.)  

TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  V  the  northern  post  of  12  ins", 
k  have  little  now  to  say,  no  ship  being  since  arriv'd  from 
Lond",  tho'  Fones  &  Rhymes  are  daily  expected.  As 
I  said  a  post  or  two  since,  were  I  with  you  I  could  say 
a  great  deal  on  the  svrpizivg  event  —  but  —  The  Mas- 
sachusetts most  certainly  have  been  infatuated  for  20 
odd  years  past,  &  have  seem'd  to  study  how  they  could 
provoke  the  King  &  his  Ministers.  Altho'  Justice  seems 
to  have  leaden  heels,  yet  it  moves  steady,  &  its  offenders 
finally  feel  the  grasp  of  its  iron  hands.  Most  certainly 
at  my  arrival  this  affair  might  have  been  setl'd  in  the 
most  easy,  amicable  manner.  I  think  you  are  mistaken 
about  landloi;ds  &  lords  proprietors,  for  it  was  one  of  the 
foundations  on  which  the  matter  proceeded  that  the  Line, 
fall  as  it  would,  was  not  to  affect  property  hut  jurisdic- 
tion onely,  that  all  prior  grants  must  doubtless  be  good, 
for  I  at  ^sent  think  it  impossible  that  such  a  flagrant 
injustice  can   possibly   be   impos'd   on  mankind   in  an 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB.  299 

Eoglisb  government  as  to  ftlter  men's  rights  &  propertys. 
I  am  not,  I  assure  you,  with'  any  fears  that  the  obstinacy 
of  the  late  House  of  Reps.,  thro'  the  whole  of  the  last 
year,  in  not  supplying  the  Treasury  may  be  call'd  a  down- 
right forfeiture  of  the  Chai-ter.  What  can  be  a  greater 
afiront  to  the  King  ?  &  what  a  greater  breach  upon  his 
people  ?  than  not  to  pay  those  who  have  just  demands 
on  the  government  &  to  have  an  entire  neglect  of  the 
defence  of  the  whole  Province,  tlie  people  thereby  left 
naked  &  the  enemy  invited  to  make  depredations  & 
ravages  as  they  please.  What  the  coming  Assembly  may 
be,  or  their  temper,  is  very  uncertain.  To  touch  once 
more  on  the  late  event.  The  deceas'd  hero,*  say  monster, 
destroy'd  the  whole  afTair  at  Newbury,t  &  generations  to 
come  may  rise  up  &  call  him  cursed.  I  salute  you  very 
kindly  as,  Hon""  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  serv'.  J,  B. 

BOBTOM,  May  16,  1740. 

V  Capt  Huake.  


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEH,  JR. 

Mr  DEAR  Son,  —  The  17  currant  I  receiv'd  IP  Fonea 
your  several  letters  of  March  20,  21  &  22.  That  respect- 
ing M'  Lloyd's  affiiir  I  shall  ans'  by  itself,  &  now  go  on 
to  the  others.     I  am  sorry  M''  Newman  should  retain  any 

regard  for  M'  D y,X  who  has  made  himself  such  a 

prostitute  to  every  thing  that's  mean  &  vile.  I  should 
'a'  been  glad  of  a  letter  from  Cap'  Coram,  but  must  wait 
the  next  ship.  I  am  amaz'd  at  the  repeated  reports  of 
the  lids,  of  Tr — de  on  Gulston  &  Companies  memorial, 
but  still  more  at  the  decision  of  the  grand  affair  between 

•  Cook.  —  NMe  bij  Rtv.  Dr.  Btlknap. 

f  1731.  —  .Vote  ij  Rev.  Dr.  Btlkanp.  — Tho  reference  is  to  the  meeling,  «N«wbur-  in 
tfa«  ■ulitmn  of  1T31.  of  Cnmmitlees  of  (lie  Lrfiii'iaturea  of  New  Hiinpshire  Bad  UBBsachu- 
utls  la  order  to  try  lo  eBect  a  letllement  of  the  Iraundaiy  ditputea.  —  Edb. 

t  PtnlDDdler.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


300  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1740. 

the  Provinces,  &  this  is  alt  I  shall  say  on  either  at  pre- 
sent. How  could  M'  J.  Sharp  act  so  ungenerous  a  part 
to  you  (after  you  was  retain 'd  as  council)  as  not  to  let 
you  into  a  share  of  the  pleadings?  I  am  sure  this  don't 
tally  with  his  repeated  professions  of  friendship  to  me 
&  to  you.  However,  as  you  observe,  since  it  took  the 
turn  it  did,  it's  best  for  you.  I  hope  my  letter  to  M' 
Horatio  Walpole  of  21  Janua  f  Laggit  and  its  duplicate 
V  Snelling  are  got  to  hand,  which  I  think  will  give  full 
satisfaction  to  his  Exc'  for  my  negative  on  that  unworthy 
man.  1  might  have  also  raention'd  what  Secry  Willard 
told  me  some  years  agoe,  when  comiss"  were  made  out  to 
the  severalJustices  of  the  Province,  &  the  Secry  offer'd 
him  his,  he  refua'd  it,  &  with  great  disdain.  Sure  it  is 
impossible  that  his  Excellency  will  insist  that  I  should 
suffer  such  a  man  to  sit  with  me  at  the  Council  hoard 
when  he  calmly  considers  these  things,  —  at  least  till  he 
humbles  himself  to  me  in  a  handsome  letter. 

I  am  sensible  the  matter  of  Auchuiuty  must  be  wav'd 
at  present.  I  shall  expect  my  cane  as  soon  as  you  can 
get  it  ready.  I  desire  to  praise  God  with  my  whole  heart 
that  my  health  is  almost  as  formerly.  Why  will  you, 
Jon",  go  on  trifling  with  so  valuable  a  friend  as  D'  Col- 
man  ?  &  M'  Hugh  Hall  (who  is  my  very  good  friend)  this 
day  asking  whether  1  had  no  letter  for  him  from  you 
seem'd  much  troubled  w°  I  was  forc'd  to  tell  him  I  had 
not.  Really,  Jon',  you  bring  shame  &  dishonour  on  me 
&  on  yourself  by  treating  gent"  that  are  my  friends, 
&  would  fain  be  yours,  with  so  much  neglect  &  ill  man- 
nei-s.  Why  will  you  so  often  stirr  up  my  anger  on  this 
head  ?  It  has  been  the  rule  of  my  life  from  one  25  March 
to  another  to  look  over  the  file  of  the  past  year's  letters 
&  not  to  leave  one  unanswer'd,  &  I  have  found  my  ac- 
count in  so  doing.  Nay,  tho'  I  have  had  vastly  more  on 
my  head  &  hands  than  you  could  ever  pretend  to.  The 
Register  of  Admiralty  being  but  a  trifling  place  it  will 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEE,  JR.  301 

the  more  dishonour  me  to  have  your  brother  put  out 
after  I  have  put  him  in.  You  must  therefore  with  Coram 
plye  S'  Charles  close  for  a  warrant.  Sh — r— ly  is  in  the 
dregs  of  poverty,  with  a  large  family,  &  is  as  mean,  false, 
ungratefull  &  perfidious  as  any  instance  I  have  met  with, 
but  in  short  this  world  is  full  of  such  creatures.  I  am 
making  my  utmost  efforts  to  remit  your  uncle  a  consider- 
able sum  very  soon,  &  I  will  do  it  if  all  the  interest 
&  estate  I  have  in  the  world  will  accomplish  it.  I  can't 
enough  express  my  gratitude  for  his  great  &  unwearied 
care,  vigilance  &  fidelity  to  my  interest  &  service.  Such 
a  friend  is  worth  the  name  of  one  &  my  heart  is  fir'd  with 
gratitude  to  the  whole  body  of  Quakers  who  have  at  this 
juncture  given  such  signal  proofs  of  their  sincerity  to 
serve  me  at  a  time  when  I  so  much  wanted  their  interest 
&  friendship ;  &  yet  after  all  my  enemies  with  you  do  by 
Fones  assure  their  confederates  here  that  New  Hampshire 
is  already  gone,  &  that  Sh — r — ly  will  soon  have  his 
comiss"  for  Mas^,  but  your  uncle  seems  to  think  other- 
wise. I  wish  he  mayn't  be  deceiv'd,  &  much  I  wish  so 
for  your  sake.  Surely  the  infernal  dungeon  can  hardly 
produce  an  equal  to  W — I — do  for  pride  &  rancorous 
malice.  Metbtnks  the  forg'd  letter  he  gave  S'  C.  Wager 
should  destroy  hie  C'  with  the  King's  ministers  &  with 
every  other  honest  &  good  man.  The  Collector  of  Pis- 
cataqua  dy'd  a  few  days  since.  I  sh'd  think  that  big 
enough  for  a  broken  barrister;  if  not,  &  New  Hamp- 
shire must  finally  be  rent  from  me,  why  mayn't  he 
have  that? 

I  now  come  to  the  great  affair  of  matrimony,  which  for 
reasons  I  have  mention'd  seems  to  be  absolutely  neces- 
sary for  you  to  come  into  with  as  much  sooness  as  wisdom 
will  allow.  I  remember  talking  with  W  Shirley  some 
years  agoe  upon  that  article  with  respect  to  you.  He 
said  it  would  be  some  thousands  in  the  scale  that  you 
raarry'd  while  I  was  Gov',  for  that  the  name  of  a  Gov*"' 


oyGoot^lc 


302  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1740. 

son  of  SO  considerable  a  coiintrey  would  go  a  great  way 
with  a  young  lady.  The  present  SoUicitor  Gen",  I  think, 
married  a  shoemaker's  daughter  in  Fleet  Street,  &  had 
with  her  6000  gs.,  when  I  suppose  he  had  nothing  but 
his  gown  to  weigh  against  it  I  may  be  right,  or  per- 
haps wrong ;  so  it  may  be  best  to  keep  this  to  you^ 
self,  the'  by  a  prud*  inquiry  you  may  know  how  the 
matter  was.  You  say  you  have  been  lately  in  close 
treaty  with  the  lady  you  mention'd  to  me,  &  that  the 
prospect  was  favourable.  If  you  can  get  the  lady's 
heart  her  friends  (which  are  but  distant  k  collateral) 
will  not  be  able  to  keep  you  out  of  possession  of 
her  person  &  fortune.  You  say  you  soon  expected  her 
ultimate  resolution,  which  I  shall  be  glad  to  know.* 
Can't  our  choice  friend  Coram  &  his  good  spouse  assist? 
Whatever  you  do  in  the  matter  must  be  with  great 
closeness  &  privacy.  To  marry  a  qualification  will  be 
a  fine  thing,  but  much  6ner  to  obtain  your  election  at 
Tamworth  or  somewhere.  That,  as  you  observe  would 
soon  give  you  a  figure  in  the  Hall.  My  dear  son,  I 
am  in  this  difficult  situation  of  affairs  more  eoncern'd 
about  your  settlement  in  life  than  about  any  other  sin- 
gle article  of  my  family,  for  I  can  do  for  you  no  more 
than  I  can  do.     1  remain,  with  great  affection, 

Your  carefull  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  19,  1740. 

Jones  (to  Bristol).  Pace. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Hon""  Sir,  —  I  have  your  favour  of  the  26  currant 
As  to  this  Assembly,  they  cnrry  on  the  phrensy  as  you'll 
find  by  yesterday's  work,  &  I  beleive  before  the  year 


*  Appar«ntlr  Ihe  ■ 
until  after  his  return  (o 
—  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO   RICHARD   WALDRON.  303 

expires  will  hardly  leave  Jupiter  a  hair  iipou  his  face,  but 
will  bid  defyance  to  his  imperial  resentment  &  then  the 
ah — psk — n  may  serve  to  cover  a  cartouch  box  for  some 
cavalier.  Altho'  there  was  no  alteration  7""  of  last  month 
yet  I  really  think  you'll  hear  there  is  by  Rhymes,  yet 
I  can't  guess  at  the  name,  tho'  Bl — d — n's  rake  is  as  likely 
aa  any  body.  What  you  heard  was  said  about  the  Duke 
was  ft  mistake ;  nor  dai'e  I  have  spoke  so,  nor  could  it 
have  been  wise  if  I  had  dar'd.  You  may  depend  on  my 
earliest  advices,  &  that  they  will  be  such  as  you  may 
entirely  relye  on.  To  print  the  inclosed  I  think  would 
gratifye  the  clan,  do  no  good  here,  &  hurt  our  friends 
with  you,  so  I  return  it.  Nobody  wishes  you  better 
tlian  docs.  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Ms;  29, 1740. 
(Post.) 


TO   RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  Yours  of  30  ulti.  is  before  me.  "^liapa  the 
advices  T"  Rhymes,  who  came  hither  yesterday  in  6 
weeks  from  London,  may  flatten  the  clan  more  than  any 
ship  that  has  yet  arriv'd.  Rymes  &  Sam.  Wentworth 
came  yesterday  to  wait  on  me  in  a  dutiful!  manner,  with 
a  packet  from  the  Earl  of  Egmont,  a  great  favourite  of 
the  King's  &  an  annuall  correspondent  of  mine.  I  have 
letters  to  17  April.  The  storm  has  spent  itself  without 
any  execution  in  either  Province,  &  I  beleive  I  must  be 
oblig'd  to  come  &  see  you  when  this  Assembly  rises.  I 
fancy  the  4  millions  of  acres  will  be  lotted  into  gardens 
&ca.  if  Mass'  should  not  be  able  to  get  a  reconsideration, 
which  they'll  struggle  hard  for  in  20  ways  before  they'll 
despair.    ^Ihaps  the  poor  little  Province  may  finally  be 

coopt  np  in  itself.     Bl — d — n  has  been  the that  has 

done  all  the .    There  may  be  a  way  found  to  bring 


oyGoot^lc 


304  THE   BELCHER  PAPEKS.  [1740. 

the  matter  into  Westminster  Hall,  &  not  by  appeal  or 
complaint.  I  am  perswaded  Ipswich,*  who  is  so  ple- 
thorick,  must  suffer  a  new  k  large  phlebotomy  before 
things  get  to  a  conclusion.  You  laay  depend  I  will  con- 
sult liis  health  on  that  head  in  all  the  ways  I  can.  I  have 
not  heard  a  syllable  relating  to  Kingswood.  You'll  find 
Pam  t  did  his  duty  to  our  Sarah.J  I  am  sorry  for  the  new 
affliction  of  our  worthy  Coll"  H.  The  afiair  of  the  store 
ship  is  adjusted  &  the  masts  are  to  come  to  Nantasket 
with  all  dispatch ;  but  fall  back  fall  edge,  I  have  nothing 
to  do  in  that  matter,  yet  the  Devil  will  be  busy.  I  can't 
say  what  will  be  the  upshot  of  the  session  here,  but  doubt- 
less bad  enough,  tho'  the  bounty  for  inlisting  is  a  fine 
thing  in  the  Gov'''  favour.  The  detection  of  the  accursed 
forgery  to  S'  Charles  Wager  has  been  of  eminent  service 
to  your  friend,  &  as  much  as  possible  the  reverse  to  Trin- 
kalo,§  who  I  beleive  is  in  the  dreadfull  situation  such  vil- 
lains deserve  to  feel.  They  say  he  dam't  stay  there,  nor 
come  here.  You'll  learn  more  particulars  from  the  son 
of  the  hang'd  Yorkshire  ||  y"  may  be  come  at  otherwayes. 
This  is  a  red  letter  day,  &  I  can't  inlarge,  bat  am  alwayes, 
as  you  know,  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jane  2,  1740. 
(Post) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  2  &  6  instant  by  the  posts.  As 
to  the  D —  and  the  Qu^k — rs,  let  it  remain  a  secret,  tho' 
fact.  '  P — 1  is  but  as  he  is,  tho'  I  could  not  have  thought 
him  so  silly.  What  may  be  your  new  acquisition  is 
uncertain.    I  pretty  much  agree  about  the  negroes*  holi- 

■  John  RInd|ie.—  Ens. 

f  Governor  BclcbcHB  clerk  wrota  "Sun,"  and  the  GoTernor  changed  H  hi  "PkiD." 
The  meaning  i»  obscim.  —  Ed». 

t  Pinl  Dudley.— Eds.  }  Samael  Waldo.  — Ens. 


oyGoot^lc 


naO.}  TO  RICHAED  WALDEON.  305 

day.  Lord  Egmont  is  a  great  favoarite  tho'  not  a  minis- 
ter, noT  was  his  long  letter  at  all  upon  New  England 
politicks.  I  had  many  packets  V  Rhymes  &  bis  passen- 
gers, &  I  believe  no  roguery  attempted  on  them.  I  am 
fully  easy  &  think  Sarah's  oblig'd  to  me  for  turning  quack 
to  vomit  &  purge  her  once  a  year,  which  may  be  a  service 
to  her  broken  constitution.  You  know  the  filthy  slut 
loves  money,  &  she  finds  few  such  physicians  as  I  am,  for 
I  administer  all  gratis.  Sancho  and  Trinkalo  were  (un- 
doubtedly) the  authours  of  the  villainous  forgery.  The 
latter  (they  write)  deliver'd  it  with  his  own  diabolicall 
hands.  I  have  nothing  particular  of  that  to  the  worthy 
Gov.*  What  you  hint  will  not  hasten  me  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, for  (as  a  secret  between  us)  I  am  afraid  the  glo- 
rious grand  affair  is  laid  aside,  if  'twas  ever  intended.! 
I  could  say  more ;  but  Morris  may  tell  us  of  Sancho,  the 
Don,  &  the  boundaries.  Tlie  wind  is  fair,  &  he's  daily 
expected.    I  am  very  kindly, 

Yours.  J.  B. 

BO8TON,  June  9, 1740. 

(Twt-)  

TO  RICHARD  WALDROK. 

Sib,  —  I  am  fevour'd  with  yours  of  the  16  &  20  currant. 

I  beleive  the  wicked  young  H has  a  hard  time  of  it 

to  clear  himself  of  the  quondam  companions  of  his  wanton 
amours.  I  think  all  things  relating  to  the  Line  will  rest 
as  at  p'sent,  till  something  new  comes  from  home,  which 
may  be  hourly  expected  by  Morris.  I  agree  with  you 
that  the  Prince  of  Darkness  could  not  dispatch  an  imp 
from  his  infernal  pit  better  qualify'd  to  scatter  plagues 
and  vexations  than  Sancho.  As  things  stand  I  can't  form 
a  reasonable  hope  as  to  New  Hampshire.    We  must  have 

•  Simael  Holder).    Sespotf.p.JSe.— Eds. 

t  A  proposed  expedition  Bgunat  the  Spuilab  W«H  Tndlee,  which  iru  carried  out  id  Ibe 
foUowiiig  r*ar.  —  Ed*. 


oyGoot^lc 


306  TEE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1740. 

patience,  &  a  tittle  time  may  determine  us.  Your  csp- 
'tain  is  without  his  fellow  for  his  sort  of  serious  religion 
&  vital  piety.  You  seem  impatient  for  the  blessednesses 
that  are  hastning  to  you.  I  see  Sarah  continues  meftn 
&  sordid,  and  doubtless  curses  inwardly.  I  am  in  great 
fears  that  the  golden  expedition  is  laid  aside.  I  wish  you 
much  health  &  every  other  blessing.     Hon"^  Sir, 

Your  ready  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  June  23, 1740. 

S",  — I  leave  the  inclosed  open  for  you  to  read,  seal,  & 
deliver.  You  must  immediately  send  for  Husk,  as  the 
affair  is  to  be  beard  o'  Thursday.  I  think  Reed  has  done 
the  ana'  well,  yet  you  may  add  or  leave  out,  as  you  think 
proper.  Don't  fail  to  assist  all  you  can  at  this  juncture, 
"^haps  it  may  give  a  lucky  turn  to  the  matter. 

(Poit) 


TO  ELLIS  HUSKE. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  by  the  post  of  the  20,  with  copy 
of  Roach's  petition  to  the  Judge  of  the  Admiralty,  which 
is  an  extraordinary  one,  and  I  beleive  the  allegations  not 
true.  I  don't  at  all  scruple  but  that  those  whose  duty  it 
is  to  pursue  the  Acts  of  Trade  in  punishing  illicit  traders 
are  stoutly  fee'd  the  other  way,  nor  have  I  the  least  ex- 
pectation of  justice  to  the  Crown,  yet  it's  best  you  should 
urge  a  final  decree.  This  post  will  tell  you  Coll"  Spots- 
wood  *  dy'd  at  Maryland  the  7""  instant.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  ready  friend.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  June  23,  1740. 

Sir,  —  Inclosed  is  the  rough  of  a  petition  I  have  got 
M'   Reed   to  draw,  which   must   be    fairly  transcrib'd. 

•  The  P(«tnitstcM3«ner*]  for  the  English  Colonie*  in  North  AraericB.  —  Em- 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JE.  307 

sign'd,  &  put  into  the  Court  of  Admiralty  in  ana'  to 
Roacb'a  petition,  and  you  must  strenuously  insist  that 
there  be  no  further  delay  of  a  final  decree.  This  goes 
under  Secry  Waldron's  cover,  whom  I  have  desir'd  to 
assist  all  he  can  in  the  affair.  J.  B. 

(PMt) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Mt  dear  Son,  — I  wrote  you  yesterday,  &  have  little 
to  add.  You  must  send  me  the  produce  of  the  eight 
rings  herewith  in  3  or  4*  of  good  sealing  wax  &  good 
gilt  paper  (quarto)  &  send  it  by  the  very  first,  for  I  am 
just  out  In  this  bundle  is  a  leathern  wastcoat  &  breeches, 
which  get  lac'd  with  gold  in  the  handsomest  manner,  not 
open  or  bone  lace,  but  close  lace,  something  open  near 
the  head  of  the  lace.  Let  it  be  substantial,  strong  lace. 
The  buttons  to  be  mettal  buttons,  with  eyes  of  the  same, 
not  buttons  with  wooden  molda  &  catgut  loops,  which 
are  good  for  nothing.  They  must  be  gilt  with  gold  & 
wrought  in  imitation  of  buttons  made  with  thread  or 
wire.  You  must  also  send  me  a  fine  cloth  jockey  coat  of 
same  colour  with  the  wastecoat  &  breeches,  lin'd  with  a 
fine  shalloon  of  same  colour  &  trim'd  plain,  onely  a  button 
with  same  sort  of  that  with  the  wastecoat,  but  propor- 
tionably  bigger.  The  coat  may  be  made  to  fit  me  by  the 
wastecoat.  I  must  also  have  two  pair  of  fine  worsted 
hose  to  match  this  suit,  a  very  good  hat,  lac'd  or  not,  as 
may  be  the  fashion,  &  a  sett  of  silver  buckles  for  shoes  & 
knees,  &  another  sett  of  pinch-beck.  I  say,  let  all  be 
good  of  the  sorts,  &  be  sent  by  first  good  opportunity. 
These  things  may  cost  £1Q  or  £.1B,  &  I  will  in  a  few  dayes 
send  you  a  hill  for  the  payment.  You  have  by  Fones 
Cap'  Larrabee's  present  of  half  a  barrell  of  pickled  pork 
&  a  barrell  with  half  a  doz"  hams  of  our  own  making: 


oyGoot^lc 


308  THE   BELCHER   PAPERS.  [17i0. 

With  these  do  as  your  UDcle  &  you  think  best  I  much 
want  Morris's  arrivall,  when  shall  write  you  again,  & 
am  alwayes 

Your  loving  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  July  l*,  1740. 

(Fooes.  Snow.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hon*"  Sir,  —  I  am  favour'd  with  y"  of  30  ulti.  &  4 
present.  You'll  find  by  the  prints  the  Gov'  has  sign'd 
the  act  for  his  own  support,  &  this  day  the  bill  for 
supply  of  the  Treasury,  out  of  which  the  Gov'  is  to  re- 
ceive for  what  he  wanted  last  year  &  for  his  this  year's 
grant,  —  upwards  £4800.  The  Gov'''  friends  in  the 
House  gain  ground.  Patience  will  do  great  things.  The 
present  posture  of  affairs  seems  to  disconcert  the  enemies' 
measures.  The  grand  expedition,  fear  of  an  Indian  warr, 
&  the  great  uncertainty  of  a  change  keep  their  auxilia- 
ries (at  least)  very  loose.  I  don't  at  all  relish  the  thought 
of  a  supersedeas  with  you.  I  prefer  my  reputation  & 
honour  to  profit  or  ease.  When  it  is  as  you  fear,  it 
will  be  time  enough  to  make  the  best  of  a  bad  market. 
I  thank  your  hint  of  inviting  the  Indians  hither,  & 
have  BO  manag'd  as  to  bring  the  Court  into  a  request  to 
me  to  send  an  express  to  'em,  which  went  away  Saturday 
last  (Cap'  Storer,  member  for  Wells)  to  Saco,  Kichmond, 
&  George's.  If  they  come,  they  don't  intend  mischief. 
If  they  do  not  come,  we  may  presume  they  do.  As  to 
the  voyage  to  G'  Britain  we  must  well  consider  that, 
whither  they  may  not  be  kept  drunk  there  &  talk  other- 
wise y"  they  have  alwayes  done  here.  I  take  very  kindly 
your  constant  hint  to  me  for  making  the  best  use  of  the 
various  scenes  that  now  open.  This  town,  as  you  observe, 
will  feel  the  smart  of  the  war  (I  mean  in  their  purses)  I 
beleive  Rhymes's  ship  is  after  all  bound  to  London,  &  I  hear 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  RICHAED  WALD80N.  309 

loading  with  masts  for  the  India  Company.  I  am  not 
fully  in  fear  of  an  Indian  warr,  so  I  &  my  friends  miist 
pursue  the  expedition  in  every  way  &  method  possi- 
ble till  it's  sail'd,  for  phapa  the  part  I  may  act  may  be 
us'd  as  a  test  (this  to  yourself).  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  ward 
of  an  Indian  warr. 

•  I  can't  help  saying  I  am  pleas'd  that  Sarah  had  a  sail' 
'  vation  in  the  House  a  few  days  agoe.  Had  the  filthy  slut 
had  one  of  another  sort  30  years  agoe  her  bowsprit  per- 
haps might  'a'  been  now  of  the  common  size.  My  instruc- 
tions for  Masaachusetta  are  the  same  with  New  Hamp,  & 
I  understand  they  are  the  same  to  all  these  governments. 
We  must  get  what  men  we  can  with  you,  &  if  we  get 
none  how  shall  we  help  it?  If  the  Assembly  will  do 
nothing,  &  the  expedition  drop  thro'  on  their  part,  yy 
must  answer  it.  God  willing  I  intend  to  be  with  you 
22  instant,  &  at  present  think  to  come  on  horseback 
as  most  for  my  health.  I  return  the  copy  of  the 
brief.  As  the  event  b  known,  I  shall  make  no  remarks 
on  it  till  I  see  you.  Inclosed  are  orders  for  the  Coll"  to 
get  lists  ready  of  their  regiments,  which  I  will  see  or 
not  as  may  be  judg'd  best  when  I  come.  I  am  uncer- 
tain as  to  Coll"  Blakeney's  coming  hither.  The  Gov"  of 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  I  suppose  receiv'd  their 
instructions  V  Coll"  Blakeney  at  same  time  I  did  mine.  I 
write  my  landlord  of  being  with  you  the  22,  &  to  have  his 
warrants  ready  at  a  minute.  Give  M'  President  the  in- 
closed that  he  may  call  a  Council  to  pass  proclamations  of 
the  inclosed  tenours,  &  that  no  time  may  be  lost  I  send 
blanks  sign'd  for  you  to  fill  up.  "This  will  be  a  busy 
summer.    We  must  be  alive  &  wise.     Sir, 

Your  servant  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jnlj  T,  1710. 


oyGoot^lc 


310  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


TO  WILLIAM  SHIRLET. 

Sir,  —  You  have  shown  y  desire  of  contrihuting  what 
assistance  you  can  for  his  Majesty's  service  in  the  pre- 
sent expedition  by  recommending  to  me  sonie  persons  for 
officers. 

You  must  be  sensible  if  every  gentleman  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  your  order  should  take  the  same  freedom  you 
have  done,  such  applications  must  give  me  a  great  deal 
of  trouble.  You'll  therefore  avoid  any  thing  of  the  like 
nature  for  the  future.    Sir, 

Your  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  July  12,  1740. 
V  8.  Greenwood. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  6  instant  t*  Grely,  &  of  11  T 
post,  &  see  you  had  past  the  proclamation  for  incouraging 
the  expedition.  The  other  may  be  done  as  you  propose. 
■  I  have  prorogu'd  this  Assembly  to  the  20  of  next  month, 
after  my  enemies  had  the  mortification  to  see  the  Gov* 
carry  his  grand  points,  as — all  possible  incouragement 
to  the  expedition;  supply  of  the  Treasury;  building  a 
guard  ship  for  the  coast ;  a  new  inlistment  for  the  Castle, 
with  an  addition  of  20  men,  &  all  the  wages  rais'd;  the 
Gov""'  last  year's  salary  &  this  got  into  his  pocket.  These 
were  pills  or  large  bolus's,  at  which  the  enemy  gftg'd,  but 
were  forc'd  to  swallow. 

My  (or  our)  friends  were  especially  generous  to  Sarab  in 
another  smart  salivation  last  week.  If  the  filthy  baggage 
isn't  thorowly  cleans'd  from  her  imsoundness,  I  can  do 
no  more  than  by  taking  care  that  proper  application 
should  be  made  towards  it.  By  the  advices  I  have  re- 
ceiv'd  in  a  few  days  past  I  think  there's  no  great  danger 


oyGoot^lc 


174D.]  TO  EICHABD  WALDRON.  311 

of  a  rupture  with  the  Indians,  &  soon  after  Storer's  return* 
I  expect  a  number  of  the  chiefs  villi  be  here.  However 
this  bluster  will  be  a  hard  stroke  upon  Trinkalo  several 
nays.  I  shall,  as  the  fellow  did  with  his  class,  make  the 
most  of  this  event.  And  I  have  great  reason  to  believe 
the  grand  test  will  turn  out  to  your  friend's  great  advan- 
tage. I  am  awake  &  alive.  No  grass  grows  to  my  heels ; 
nor  is  any  stone  untum'd.  Last  night  came  to  town 
some  of  the  English  officers  with  my  packets  from  CoU° 
Gooch,  coraraand'  of  all  the  American  forces,  &  from  Coll" 
Blakeney,  Adjutant  General!  of  all  the  forces  to  be 
und'  Lord  Cathcart.  "Whereas  the  King  depended  on  my 
raising  but  400  men,  I  shall  raise  1000.  Trinkalo  &  his 
hounds  represented  I  would  not  be  able  to  get  a  man. 
The  painter  t  is  a  worthless  rascal,  &  perhaps  his  brother 
of  the  quill  will  be  meaner  than  he  in  a  little  course  of 
.time.  The  address  of  the  Council  was  got  to  London  by 
Snelling,  who  sail'd  hence  about  12  March,  and  we  must 
still  indeavour  to  counterwork  the  party  by  anti-petitions. 
My  sole  business  with  the  Assembly  is  to  recoinend  the 
expedition  to  them  in  the  warmest  manner,  and  I  wish  we 
may  be  able  to  raise  a  couple  of  hundred  men  (Teagues 
&  all).  Think  well  about  some  tawnies  J  going  to  White- 
hall. It  may  be  safest  &  best.  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to 
manage  it.  As  I  have  such  great  affairs  on  the  tapis  here, 
I  mustn't  stay  with  you  more  than  14  dayes.     Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jaly  14, 1740. 

I  now  return  the  brief  forgot  last  post. 

(Poit.) 

•  S»«  antt,  p.  308.  —  Eds. 
I  Judge  Aachmn^.  —  Ens. 

1  Indiana.    GoTemoi  Belcher  wu  conDldering  the  tzpedicncj  of  ssoding  *  dspuUtioa 
Id  England  to  Ihwirt  Waldo.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


TUB  B£LCH££  FAPEBS. 


TO  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Grace,  —  This  carryes  dupli- 
cate of  mine  of  30  of  June,  to  which  your  Grace  will 
please  to  be  referr'd.  I  ara  now  to  acquaint  your  Grace 
that  upon  laying  his  Majesty's  instructions  respecting  the 
expedition  before  the  Assembly  of  this  Province  they  have 
fallen  into  every  thing  his  Majesty  expected  from  them> 
as  y'  Grace  will  find  by  the  inclosed  acts  or  orders  of  the 
Court.  I  have  with  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Council 
appointed  ten  cap"  for  the  troops  to  be  rais'd  in  this  Prov- 
ince, which  I  hope  may  be  a  thousand  men ;  &  the  23 
instant  I  am  to  meet  an  Assembly  at  New  Hampshire  to 
lay  before  them  this  important  affair,  when  I  wish  they 
may  show  a  proportionable  zeal  for  hia  Majesty's  service 
with  this  Province,  but  as  their  numbers  are  small  they 
will  not  be  able  to  do  much.  Coll"  Gooch  &  Coll"  Blake- 
ney  h^ve  sent  the  commissions,  pay,  &  arms  for  only  four 
companies  J  but  I  shall  be  expecting  sufficient  for  the 
other  six,  upon  their  receiving  what  I  have  since  wrote 
them.  I  am  now  providing  transports  for  a  thousand 
men,  &  hope  to  have  them  at  the  place  of  rendezvous 
(within  the  Capes  of  Virginia)  some  time  in  September, 
which  are  the  place  &  time  Coll"  Gooch  mentions  to  me. 
As  his  Majesty  seems  to  have  had  a  dependance  on  onely 
three  thous*  men  from  this  continent  (from  Virginia  to 
Nova  Scotia),  I  hope  my  raising  a  third  part  of  that  num- 
ber in  this  Province  will  find  a  gracious  acceptance  with 
his  Majesty,  which  will  be  a  sufficient  reward  for  all  the 
zeal  I  can  possibly  exert  myself  with  for  giving  the 
greatest  dispatch  in  raising  &  sending  away  the  troops  I 
am  charg'd  with. 

May  it  please  your  Grace,  —  The  Assembly  of  this 
Province  have  lately  sat  about  six  weeks,  &  have  supply'd 
the  publick  Treasury,  agreeable  to  his  Majesty's  orders, 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  EICHABD  PARTRIDGE.  313 

&  have  laid  a  tax  for  drawing  in  what  hills  they  were 
ohlig'd  to  draw  in  to  this  time,  hut  I  shall  not  trouble  your 
Grace  with  any  other  of  their  proceedings,  hecause  I  have 
duly  transmitted  their  Journals  to  your  Grace.  I  have 
the  honour  to  be  with  all  imaginable  respect,  my  Lord 
Duke, 

Tour  Grace's  most  devoted  &  most  obed'  seiy. 

J.  B. 

BosTOH,  Jolf  IS,  1710. 

Inclosed  are  the  acta  of  this  Assembly  for  incouraglng 
y*  expedition. 

(Sdov.  BalL) 

TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  My  last  was  30  ulti.  V  Tones,  duplicate  whereof 
you  have  herewith ;  since  that  I  have  none  of  your  favours. 
We  think  Morris  &  Shepherdson  stay  long.  The  Assem- 
bly of  this  Province  are  risen  after  sitting  about  six  weeks, 
&  the  session  is  come  out  as  well  as  any  since  I  have  been 
in  the  government.  They  have  supply'd  the  Treasury 
according  to  the  King's  instructions.  Drawn  in  all  the 
money  they  are  oblig'd  to  do  to  this  time.  Order'd  the 
forts  on  the  frontiers  to  be  repair'd ;  a  ship  to  he  bought 
for  the  defence  of  the  coasts.  Have  done  all  the  King 
has  requir'd  respecting  y"  exped".  Eais'd  the  wages  of 
Castle  W"  &  added  20  men.  I  am  much  pleas'd  with  the 
influence  I  have  had  on  this  Assembly  for  promoting 
his  Majesty's  honour  &  service  &  the  welfare  of  the 
Province. 

I  am  told  M'  Waldo  &  Kilby  gave  out  at  London  that 
if  Gov'  Belcher  was  continu'd  he  would  not  be  able  to 
get  any  men  for  the  expedition,  but  that  Waldo's  quon- 
dam lawyer  *  (if  put  in)  would  raise  men  easily.    I  was 

•  WillUm  Shirley. —Edb. 


oyGoot^lc 


314  THE  BELCHER  PAFEBS.  [1740. 

surprised  to  hear  any  thing  so  ahsurd.  The  poor  man  has 
neither  knowledge  nor  interest  to  do  any  thing  of  this 
kind,  yet  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  has  wrote  him  to  asust 
what  he  could  in  the  affair,  which  letter  he  let  a  gent"  in 
town  read,  &  inclosed  are  copies  of  four  letters  he  wrote 
me  on  this  occasion  &  my  short  ans'.  By  this  you  may 
see  the  Duke  -intends  to  make  my  conducting  the  expe- 
dition a  handle  againist  me,  if  he  can  make  out  any  mis- 
take. I  therefore  proceed  in  it  with  all  my  zeal  &  with 
all  my  caution ;  &  altho'  the  King  seems  to  espect  but 
400  men  from  this  Province,  yet  I  hope  to  raise  a  thous* 
good  troops  to  join  my  Lord  Cathcart ;  &  the  23  instant 
I  meet  an  Assembly.at  New  Hampshire  on  this  important 
design,  &  wish  I  may  be  able  to  raise  some  men  there, 
tho'  I  have  but  little  expectation,  that  Province  being 
very  thin  in  men  &  estate. 

If  after  all  my  honest  and  zealous  indeavours  &  per- 
forming this  service  well  I  must  be  superseded  it  would 
be  cruel  treatment,  &  is  what  I  cannot  beleive.  Most  of 
the  principall  gent"  of  this  town  have  wrote  to  their 
friends  at  London  in  my  favour,  &  you  roust  be  constantly 
on  your  watch  &  guard,  for  Waldo,  Dunbar,  Wentworth 
&  she  Sh — r — ly*  will  still  be  indefatigable.  Read  my 
letters  to  Duke  of  Newcastle  &  to  Lords  Trade;  then  seal 
&  deliver.  You'll  also  communicate  to  M'  Belcher.  I 
saw  a  letter  of  5  April  last  from  Kilby  to  a  gent"  here  to 
desire  him  to  discourage  the  expedition  all  he  possibly 
could,  by  which  you  may  see  Kilby  is  not  in  the  Gov^ 
interest.     I  am  most  sincerely, 

Your  friend  &  brother.  J.  R 

BosTOS,  July  15,  1740. 
(Snow.  Ball.) 

■  Mr*.  Shlrlej'  n*  Uien  in  London.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  BICHARD  WALDRON. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Sir,  —  I  have  both  yours  of  18  instant  by  the  posU 
The  late  session  ended  finely,  and  the  members  went  nway 
in  good  temper.  The  distant  fears  of  a  French,  the  pres' 
fears  of  an  Indian,  that  already  of  a  Spanish,  war,  the 
expedition  forming,  the  poor  efforts  of  Agent  K — by, 
cmn  muUis  aliia,  gave  the  Gov'  considerable  influence  & 
advantage,  &  yesterday's  advices  T  Sbepherdaon  add 
weight  in  the  right  scale.  Adieu,  paper  currency  from 
all  the  plantations  by  addresses  from  the  Commons  to  the 
King,  &■*.  As  to  traversing  the  frontiers,  that  may  be 
easily  obtain'd,  and  by  Agent  Wilks'  letter  I  am  apt  to 
think  Mass*  must  still  keep  Fort  Dummer,  &  perhaps  all 
the  lands  granted  before  the  late  determination,  &  no 
separate  Gov'  or  any  alteration  to  22  May,  or  distant 
prospect  of  it.  The  King  gone  to  Hanover,  &  all  things, 
as  it  were,  dormant  at  Court.  Some  say  Trinkalo  (being 
exhausted)  is  returning  in  the  mast  ship,  but  I  some- 
thing question  it.  I  will  make  the  beet  of  the  Ind"  visit 
when  it  comes,  &  will  think  further  about  sending  them  fur- 
ther afield.  When  I  come  shall  remember  Casco  &  North- 
field  treaties,  tbo'  I  don't  know  for  what,  &  the  acts  about 
the  expedition.  What  monsters  are  they  in  lying  !  I  have  , 
not  orders  to  press  a  man,  nor  is  there  occasion.  Volun- 
tiers  appear  more  than  enough.  I  thank  you  &  am  much 
pleas'd  with  the  suggestions  for  the  Assembly.  At  pres' 
I  think  to  confine  myself  intirely  to  the  exped",  &  which 
may  make  out  the  greater  merit*  But  I  am  at  last  xm- 
certain  of  coming  to  you  at  the  adjournment.  Next 
Saturday  I  expect  ans"  to  my  letters  wrote  Coll"  Gooch  & 

*  Oovemnr  Belcher  met  the  Aaaembly  ot  Hew  Hunpahire  Aug.  1, 1T40.  Hia  epeech, 
which  ia  of  nnuiual  lengtb,  retatM  whollv  to  the  expedition,  «nd  wm  protwblj  meant  for 
uw  ia  England.  The  editor  of  tbe  Provincial  Puptn  of  New  Hampshin;  (vol.  v.  p.  69, 
note)  saya  it  "cannot  now  be  Iband."  It  ia,  howeror,  copied  In  fall  in  Belcher'a  Letter 
Book.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


316  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1740. 

Coll"  Blakeney,  &  till  then  I  don't  know  but  my  quota 

may  be  confin'd  to  400  men,  altho'  we,  have  appointed 

ten  cap",  who  hope  to  raise  1000  men.     Of  this  more  in 

my  next.     Sir,  -v  t  t    u 

•^  *  Your  serv'.  ■    J.  U. 

BoBTOK,  July  21, 17«. 

(P»t.)  

TO  EICHAED  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  I  have  receiv'd  yours  V  Shepherdson  of  28 
April,  7,  13,  16  &  21  May.  That  rascal  Woodside  is  re- 
turned hither  to  be  a  lieu'  in  the  pres'  expedition.  I  see 
my  answer  to  the  complaint  of  North  &  others  (carry'd 
on  by  Waldo)  was  lodg'd  at  the  Plantation  Office,  I 
hope  you  have  receiv'd  what  more  I  sent  relating  to  that 
complaint  V  Jones  to  Bristol.  As  Waldo's  malice  is  with- 
out bounds,  you  may  depend  be  will  .not  let  the  matter 
rest,  but  will  bring  it  on  when  he  thinks  it  most  to  his 
advantage.  I  am  therefore  very  thankfuU  that  you  will 
watch  bim  narrowly  &  continually  till  he  comes  away.  I 
expect  be  will  be  every  day  making  new  attempts  to 
hurt  me.  I  take  notice,  brother,  with  the  greatest  grati- 
tude, of  your  indefatigable  care  &  pains  to  defeat  my 
enemies  in  all  their  malicious,  wicked  attempts  &  in  their 
new  one  with  my  Lord  Cathcart.  I  have  good  reason  to 
beleive  I  shall  do  myself  as  much  honour  with  the  King 
&  his  ministers  in  the  affair  of  the  expedition  as  in  any 
one  thing  that  has  been  under  my  management  since  I 
receiv'd  the  honour  of  his  Majesty'scommission,  and  when 
the  affair  is  compleated  I  shall  transmit  to  the  Secry  of 
State  a  full  &  particular  account  of  my  whole  conduct 
therein. 

I  am  sensible  the  woman  at  borne  *  is  perpetually  teaz- 
ing  the  Duke  in  favour  of  her  husband.  It  was  very 
kind  in  Baron  Scroop  that  be  would  let  you  know  if  there 

•  Mrs.  Shirley.  —  Eds. 


jvGooi^lc 


1740.]  TO  RICHARD   PARTRIDGE.  317 

was  any  danger,  &  5P  Whitworth  was  very  good  also  in 
all  he  said  to  you  &  I  will  soon  write  a  letter  of  thanks 
to  both  these  gentlemen.  I  am  under  great  &  repeated 
oblig*  to  S'  Charles  Wager  for  what  he  said  in  my  favour 
at  the  Duke's,  &  freely  &  gratefully  own  to  you,  brother, 
that  M'  Whitworth  made  you  a  compliment  when  he  said 
that  I  was  under  a  great  deal  of  oblig*  to  you  for  your 
consbint  soUicitations,  nor  do  I  think  any  man  in  England 
cou'd  do  or  would  do  more.  I  will  not  foi^et  half  a  brr. 
cranberries  for  M'  Whitworth.  I  wish  M'  H.  Walpole 
may  be  made  sweet.  All  I  have  said  to  him  respecting 
H'  Dudley  is  true  to  a  tittle ;  but  how  is  it  possible  for 
me  to  bring  legal  testimonies  of  the  private  kindnesses  I 
did  him  from  time  to  time  ?  This  cannot  be  suppos'd,  or 
to  bring  persons  to  swear  about  his  insolent  carriage  to 
Uie  Gov' ;  yet  after  all  these  things,  brother,  if  M'  Wal- 
pole would  coSland  him  to  write  me  a  handsome  letter  & 
ask  my  pardon  &  promise  a  mannerly  behaviour  for  the 
future,  I  should  be  content  to  forget  all  that's  past,  &  to 
receive  him  at  the  Council.  But  without  something  of 
this  nature  I  must  be  content  to  run  all  risks  rather  than 
suffer  myself  to  be  insulted,  more  especially  since  the 
thing  is  now  become  so  publick.  As  to  the  resolutions 
of  the  House  of  Commons  about  paper  currency  in  the 
plantations,  I  am  well  pleas'd  with  them ;  for  emissions 
of  paper,  unless  fix'd  at  an  invariable  standard  are  but  a 
constant  fraud  &  cheat  upon  mankind,  &  the  sooner  a 
peremptory  stop  be  put  to  so  vile  a  practice,  the  happier 
will  the  plantations  be  &  all  that  have  any  trade  or  com- 
merce with  them ;  &  I  am  glad  you  hadn't  opportunity  to 
make  opposition  to  the  resolutions.  I  never  had  any  ex- 
pectation that  Kilby  would  be  able  to  do  any  service  in 
what  he  went  about,  &  was  alwayes  apprehensive  that  he 
was  an  enemy  to  the  Gov',  &  by  what  you  say  I  am  now 
fully  convinc'd  of  it.  I  am  told  he  has  no  tho'ts  of  re- 
turning to  this  countrey,  but  intends  to  get  into  partner- 


oyGoot^lc 


318  THE  BELCHEB  PAPBBS.  11740. 

ship  with  M*  Wilks.  He  was  a  lying  villain  to  aay  what 
he  did  at  the  other  end  of  the  town,  &  I  think  I  may 
truly  say  if  a  Gov'  might  he  choeen  at  this  day  by  the 
people,  I  should  have  16  voices  in  16  thro'  the  Province. 
You  may  depend  I  shall  have  no  difference  with  the  As- 
sembly when  it  can  be  possibly  avoided,  &  you  will  find 
all  things  went  smooth  &  well  at  the  last  sitting  of  the 
Court,  &  that  the  GoV  carry'd  all  the  points  he  desired, 
except  that  of  obliging  the  Assembly  to  ascertain  the 
vaiue  of  the  bills  emitted.  I  wonder  M'  Sandys  or  any 
member  of  the  Hon""  the  House  of  Commons  should  think 
it  a  fault  in  me  to  give  my  assent  to  a  bill  for  more  than 
£30,000,  notwithstanding  my  instructions.  Whoever 
reads  that  instruction  will  find  the  sense  of  it  to  be  that 
I  am  not  to  consent  to  emitting  more  in  one  year  than 
may  be  necessary  for  the  support  of  the  government  that 
year,  &  this  I  have  wrote  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  as  the 
sense  of  that  instruction,  &  don't  remember  ever  to  have 
receiv'd  any  new  instruction  about  it  It  must  also  be 
remember'd  that  £30,000  of  hills  at  that  day  is  near 
£60,000  of  such  bills  at  this  time,  &  this  happens  from 
the  bills  being  is3u'd  on  so  false  &  vile  a  foundation,  & 
sometimes  it  happens  that  the  Assembly  won't  supply  the 
Treasury  for  a  whole  year,  &  then  they  must  supply  the 
next  year  for  the  year  past  &  the  year  to  come,  so  the  case 
has  hapn'd  this  last  year,  &  I  have  consented  to  an  emis- 
sion of  £80,000  of  what  they  call  old  tenour  hills,  or 
£26,633. 13.  4  new  tenour,  &  without  this  emission  the 
government  could  not  have  subsisted.  I  thank  you  very 
kindly  for  the  list  of  names  of  such  as  did  not  sign  the  peti- 
tion to  the  Duke.  Can't  you  by  M'  Stone  or  some  of  the 
under  clerks  in  the  Duke's  office  procure  me  a  true  copy 
of  that  petition  ?  For  this  I  should  he  very  thankfuU.  I 
can  hardly  beleive  you  are  rightly  informed  as  to  many 
of  the  psons,  because  they  profess  great  friendship  to  me, 
especially  M'  John  Merit.     You  may  y'fore  be  impos'd 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE.  319 

upon  as  to  names,  purely  to  do  mischief  by  making  a 
strangeness  between  you  &  some  of  my  friends ;  y'fore 
get  a  copy  if  you  possibly  can,  &  I  should  be  very  thank- 
full  if  S'  C.  Wager  wou'd  let  you  have  that  original  foi^'d 
letter  deliver'd  him  by  Waldo.  As  to  the  boundary  be- 
tween this  Proviuce  &  Rhode  Island  I  wish  it  had  been 
agreed  between  'em  ;  &  I  really  think  the  fault  was  not 
in  the  Massachusetts  that  it  was  not.  I  am  glad  the  ad- 
dress from  the  Council  of  New  Hampshire  got  to  hand  in 
season  &  was  deliver'd  to  my  Lord  Presid'. '  I  hope  it 
will  do  good  service.  Pray  give  my  most  humble  duty 
to  my  liord  Wilmington,  &  let  him  know  I  have  not  been 
unmindfull  of  what  he  commanded  me  in  the  affair  of 
Thetcher,  whose  heirs  have  been  with  me  &  are  pre- 
paring proper  powers  to  receive  the  money  &  to  give 
the  neeesa'  discharges.  They  live  about  100  miles  from 
hence  &  I  am  daily  expecting  to  hear  further  from  them, 
nor  will  I  be  negligent  in  the  matter.  When  the  instruc- 
tion comes  respecting  the  settlement  of  the  boundary 
between  this  Province  &  New  Hampshire  I  shall  take 
care  it  be  duly  put  in  execution.  Wilks  writes  me  by 
this  last  ship  in  the  most  kind  and  friendly  manner. 
I  therefore  cannot  think  he  is  any  other  than  the 
Gov'''  hearty  friend.  I  observe  S.  Waldo  was  the  offi- 
cious, malicious  fellow  that  went  about  for  signers  to 
the  petition. 

Young  Osborn  ia  hardly  worth  my  notice.  His  father 
is  my  very  good  friend.  I  must  pray  you,  bro,  to  get 
out  &  send  me  a  warr*  from  the  Admiralty  for  Andrew's 
being  Register'.  I  know  severall  people  have  wrote  for 
it,  &  I  am  afraid  by  the  delay  he  may  lose  it,  which  would 
be  a  great  trouble  to  him  &  a  dishonour  to  me.  As  to 
Jon',  I  wish  he  may  for  the  future  be  more  observant  of 
my  commands  &  behave  with  stricter  duty  than  of  late, 
—  I  mean  in  writing  to  me,  D'  Colman,  &  such  other 
persons  as  I  mention   to  him.     This  he   may  fancy  a 


oyGoot^lc 


320  THi!  BELCHEB  FA.PEBS.  [1740. 

trifling,  indifferent  thing,  but  you  may  tell  faim  I  will  not 
be  trifled  with  about  it,  or  allow  him  to  judge  of  the  wis- 
dom of  my  directions ;  but  if  he  will  not  punctually  ob- 
Berve  &  obey  me  for  the  future,  he  may  support  himself 
&  expect  none  from  me.  I  leave  you  to  judge  whetiier 
I  have  not  been  too  good  a  father  to  be  neglected  & 
slighted  ;  nor  will  I  accept  any  of  bis  plausible  excuses. 
I  am  too  old  to  be  turn'd  of  with  shams.  Give  him  this 
paragraph  to  lye  by  him  aa  a  constant  monitor.  I  admire 
how  he  can  be  so  forgetful  &  ungrateful  to  D'  Colman. 
A  man  that  acts  so  deserves  no  friendship.  I  love  him, 
but  am  aaham'd  of  his  conduct.  1  intend  to  write  yon 
again  before  this  ship  goes,  &  am,  d'  Sir, 

Your  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

BoBTOK,  July  2S,  1740. 

I  am  heartily  sorry  to  hear  of  Gov*  Holden's  indi* 
position. 

(Knox.  Coffin.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir, —  I  have  yours  of  25  instant  The  chagrin  about 
Agent  Kilby  is  not  a  little.  I  think  we  are  coming  to  an 
end  of  this  vile  paper  stuiT.  How  merciful!  is  it  in  the 
King  &  his  Commons  to  take  such  care  of  these  planta- 
tions, perishing  not  'for  lack  of  vision,  but  from  love  to 
fraud  &  dishonesty. 

They  say  your  Spanish  bankrupt  certainly  comes  away 
sometime  this  month  in  Hills,  but  I  wont  beleive  Trinkalo 
comes  hither  till  I  see  him.  If  the  Indians  should  incline 
to  come  up,  I  don't  see  bow  they  can  put  into  your  river, 
my  stay  with  you  will  be  so  short  &  uncertain.  I  shall 
bring  the  treaties  you  mention ;  the  expence  in  both  was 
from  8  to  ^£10,000.    I  thank  youf  advice  about  coming 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  HENRY   SHEKBUKNE.  321 

at  the  adjournment.    If  I  had  not,  you  might  'a'  been 
sure  it  had  been  for  good  reasons. 

I  beleive  another  eiection  may  bring  your  House 
of  Represen*"  to  be  unanimous.  I  will  introduce  my 
.  speech  as  you  hint.  I  intend  to-morrow  to  put  all  things 
here  into  the  best  order  I  can  about  the  troops,  &  to  be 
o'  horseback  at  CharlestownWensday  morning  at  4  o'clock, 
&  to  be  the  next  morning  at  Hampton  by  7  o'clock.  This 
you'll  let  Coll"  Sherburne  &  all  our  friends  know.  M' 
Fresid*  may  have  the  inclosed  if  occasion.  I  have  sign'd 
a  blank  for  a  dedimus  to  swear  the  Assembly.  If  my 
order  to  him  should  not  be  sufficient,  you  know  the 
method,  &  must  practice  it.  If  you  have  any  thing 
necessary  to  say  before  you  see  me,  give  it  to  this 
express.     Sir, 

Tour  serv'.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  JdIj  28, 1740. 

TO  HENBT  SHERBURNE. 

Sir,  —  Ihaveyour  favour  V  the  post  of  15  curr*,  &  thank 
you  &  Madam  Sherburne  for  all  your  respect  &  kind- 
nesses. I  found  it  hot  on  the  road,  but  I  thank  God  I  got 
well  home.  I  heartily  wish  you  a  better  state  of  health. 
Considering  your  years  &  that  you  are  often  aihng,  I  don't 
at  all  take  it  amiss  that  you  desire  to  resign  the  places  you 
mention,  and  I  shall  indeavour  to  fill  them  in  the  best 
manner  I  can,  when  I  am  clear  of  my  present  hurry.  As 
to  the  party,  we  must  be  patient  &  still  hope  &  endeavour 
to  defeat  their  violent,  malicious  attempts.  We  have 
ten  companies  compleated  here  for  the  expedition,  six  o£ 
which  proceed  with'  commissions  or  arms,  &  I  shall  be 
sorry  if  Cap*  Eyre  should  fail  of  success.  It  would  be  a 
dishonour  to  the  Province  &  to  the  Governour  &  Council 
who  were  so  unanimous  in  his  appointment.  His  friends 
must  therefore  exert  and  assist  him  all  they  possibly  can. 


oyGoot^lc 


322  THE  BELCEEB  FAPEB6.  [1710. 

The  thouB*  men  rais'd  in  this  Province  are  all  to  be  in 
this  town  to  be  nmster'd  &  review'd  next  Monday  (25 
instant),  &  after  that  will  soon  imbark.  I  am  alwayes, 
Hon"^  Sir,      . 

Tour  hearty  fiiend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Aagart  18,  1740. 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Brother  Partridge,  —  Yesterday  I  receiv'd  your  kind 
letters  of  27  June  k  1  July  V  Paterson  (being  duplicates 
of  those  V  Snelling  not  arriv'd).  I  am  glad  the  memorial 
of  a  majority  of  the  Councill  to  the  King  had  been  re'd 
before  the  Lords  Justices  wherein  (as  you  observe)  were 
many  good  arguments  against  that  Province  having  a 
separate  Gov'.  I  can't  but  admire  that  the  whole  should 
be  rejected,  because  of  the  clause  mentioning  their  being 
annext  to  this  Province.  The  ans"  M?"  Belcher  made  to 
Tomlinson's  objections  are  well  done.  I  see  you  will 
make  the  proper  use  of  the  protest  of  the  three  New 
Hampshire  representatives.  I  wish  the  orders  were  sent 
forward  for  marking  out  the  line.  I  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve Tomlinson  delayes  it,  still  to  make  a  handle  against 
the  Govemour.  I  am  lately  retum'd  from  New  Hamp- 
shire where  the  Representatives  past  a  most  malicious 
vote  against  the  Gov',*  which  vote  &  my  answer  shall  be 
sent  you  by  the'next 

I  thank  your  care  of  my  letters  to  the  Quakers,  M' 
Doddington,  M'  Gurney,  &  M'  Hyara,  all  which  I  hope, 
will  do  service.  I  thank  you  for  duplicate  of  M'  Hyam's 
to  me,  which  I  shall  answer  in  a  little  time,  &  won't  fot^et 
the  cranberries  for  him  in  season.  I  am  heartily  sorry 
for  the  death  of  the  late  excellent  Govemour  Holden.    I 

■  Tb«  Joumtl  of  the  Hansc  of  Repmentativea  of  New  HRmpahire  for  Uiii  period  bi* 
motbeeD  fbimd.    See  Sew  Himpshini  FraTincU  Papen,  tsLt.  p.  38,  aoU. — Ecb. 


jvGooi^lc 


1740.]  TO  BICHAED  PAETEIDGE.  323 

am  afraid  your  nephew  will  hardly  find  any  success  there ; 
it  would  be  a  fine  thing  if  he  could.  ItT  Hall  was  very 
desirous  you  should  undertake  the  affair  you  mention,  & 
I  thought  you  would  rather  be  pleas'd  with  it,  since  you 
must  be  paid  for  your  soUicitation,  &  it  might  naturally 
lead  you  into  a  larger  correspondence  with  him.  He  is 
a  gentleman  in  good  circumstances  &  a  large  trade.  I 
should  be  glad  you  would  serve  him  in  the  afiair.  I  ask 
your  pardon  in  this  matter,  &  for  the  future  will  be  cau- 
tious (as  you  desire).  I  am  glad  you  are  mistaken  as  to 
the  names  of  some  of  the  signers  of  the  petition  to  Duke 
of  Newcastle.  Joshua  Fleetham  is  good  &  patient  over- 
much. I  am  asham'd  I  have  not  lately  wrote  him,  &  ask 
his  pardon,  will  do  it  quickly,  &  find  a  way  to  pay  him 
all,  or  the  greatest  part,  of  what  I  owe  him.  I  am  very 
thankfull  for  your  care  in  senditig  my  son  Andrew's 
patent  for  being  Register  of  Admiralty,  which  I  am  ex- 
pecting to  receive  V  Snelling,  the  charge  whereof,  being 
£10.  1.  8,  you  have  plac'd  to  my  account  Your  bill 
to  M'  Oliver  for  another  £100  sterlg.  shall  be  accepted 
&  paid.  I  am  glad  my  coz"  Wells  and  her  children 
were  all  well.  I  see  you  had  deliver'd  mine  by  the  way 
of  Bristol  to  S'  Charles  Wager,  and  would  consult  my 
son  about  the  delivery  of  the  rest.  You  will  take  proper 
care  of  my  answer  to  the  complaint  of  North  &  others, 
since  you  have  receiv'd  what  I  sent  on  that  head  by  way 
of  Bristol,  &  you  have  all  I  can  do  about  it,  &  which  I 
hope  may  be  sufficient.  You  may  depend,  Waldo  will 
not  drop  it,  but  will  take  the  opportunity  he  may  think 
best  to  bring  it  forward.  As  to  the  hints  you  gave  to  two 
members  of  Parliament  about  the  paper  currency  in  the 
plantations,  I  will  only  say  that  it  is  my  opinion  that  it 
will  be  the  ruin  of  all  the  British  trade  hither,  &  of  the 
people  of  the  colonies,  if  they  may  still  be  suffered  to  go 
on  making  paper  currency,  unless  it  be  issu'd  on  an  inva- 
riable value.     I  say,  without  this  care,  it  must  still  load 


oyGoot^lc 


324  THE   BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1740. 

all  estates  &  trade  with  certain  loss  aod  destruction.  I 
am  sorry  you  have  not  made  a  particular  answer  to  what 
I  wrote  you  20  May  respecting  my  dear  son,  your 
nephew,  at  the  Temple.  I  can't  express  how  much  I  wish 
it  was  in  my  power  to  do  more  &  better  for  him,  but  he 
must  be  content,  &  so  must  I.  It  would  rejoyce  me  much 
that  he  was  well  marry' d,  or  in  good  business  in  the  Hall. 
Tell  him  he  must  learn  to  be  a  better  husband  of  money, 
that  he  mayn't  learn  it  too  late  by  necessitous  want  of  it. 
However,  I  will  still  be  his  father,  &  now  again  say,  let 
him  want  for  nothing,  but  comfort  &  incourage  him  for- 
ward in  his  studies.  I  shall  soon  write  the  Lords  of  Trade 
with  the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire 
in  their  late  session.  I  am  so  hurry'd  in  dispatching  the 
troops  for  the  expedition,  that  I  know  not  whether  I  shall 
be  able  to  write  my  son  by  this  conveyance.  Give  him 
my  kind  love,  &  heleive  me.  Sir, 

Your  loving  brother  and  assured  friend. 

J.  B. 

BoBTOM,  August  '25, 1740. 

I  have  p*  towards  the  bills  drawn  by  you  &  y*  nephew 
to  Mr.  Gatcomb  300,  Oliver  100,— sP  £400,  &  will  soon 
do  the  rest. 

(West.        Coffin.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

My  dear  Son, — Yesterday  arriv'd  Patterson  &  brought 
me  yours  of  2  ult'.  I  am  sorry  you  gave  me  so  much 
reason  of  complaint  by  your  repeated  unanswerable  neg- 
lect of  me.  You  must  remember  repentance  and  promises 
are  but  aggravations,  without  reformation.  You  may  de- 
pend fine  expressions  &  fine  turns  of  rhetorick  will  not 
avail  with  me  without  carrying  things  into  execution. 
I  therefore  now  charge  k  beseech  you  never  to  carry 
things  to  the  length  you  have,  least  you  disburden  your- 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.)         TO  JONATHAN  BELCHES,  JB.  325 

self  of  the  fond  affection  of  the  best  of  fathers,  who  now 
freely  forgives  &  blots  out  all  that's  past.  1  am  expect- 
ing your  letter  in  answer  to  what  I  have  again  &  again 
said  to  you  of  your  great  &  unreasonable  expence ;  but 
let  the  answer  be  what  it  will  I  now  confirm  to  you  all 
I  have  wrote  on  that  head  from  20  October  last  to  this 
time,  &  when  you  look  over  mine  of  24  Janu"  &  reflect 
on  the  fine  estate  slipt  thro'  your  fingers  in  9  years  past, 
surely  you'll  think  it  was  high  time  for  me  to  recover  you 
to  your  senses,  and  indeavour  to  make  you  think  &  see 
&  feel  the  value  of  money,  for  it  will  be  a  raelancholly 
way  of  learning  it  by  the  wofull  want  of  it,  and  why 
should  you  be  discomposed  or  bewildered  by  ray  affec- 
tion &  fidelity  to  you  when  I  told  you  in  all  my  letters 
how  desirous  I  was  still  to  do  every  thing  in  my  power 
to  support  you  ?  But  I  cannot  do  what  I  cannot.  I  wish 
you  were  happily  &  well  marry'd  or  that  you  had  good 
business  in  Westminster  Hall,  and  you  must  indeed  strug- 
gle &  trye  all  probable  ways  (without  too  much  mincing 
&  modesty)  to  get  forward  in  the  way  of  your  profession, 
or  your  lot  must  certainly  be  as  I  have  said.  It's  my 
duty,  &  best  for  me  &  for  you,  that  I  be  plain,  and  that 
you  may  be  grave,  wise,  &  solid,  &  not  deceive  yourself. 
You  mention  the  situations  of  your  brother  And'  &  your 
brother  Lyde.  Andrew  lives  with  me.  I  give  him  his 
dyet  &  lodging,  &  he  has  not  besides  for  many  years  past, 
say  commumbm  annis,  spent  sixty  pounds  sterling  a  year, 
so  good  a  husband  is  he,  &  so  much  he  knows  the  value 
of  money.  Your  brother  Lyde  has  a  wife,  six  children, 
&  4  or  5  servants  {which  is  a  large  family),  and  does  not 
spend  two  hundred  pounds  sterling  a  year.  Pray  com- 
pare these  things  with  your  expence.  Your  brothers 
have  at  present  the  ofBces  I  have  given  them,  but  in  case 
of  my  supersedeas,  my  successour  will  have  favourites  {as 
well  as  other  governours),  &  your  brothers  then  perhaps 
fltript  of  all.     Think  of  the  vast  expence  I  have  been  at 


oyGoot^lc 


326  THE  BBLCHBR  PAFBBS.  (ITM. 

for  your  establishment  in  life,  &  how  little  for  theirs. 
However,  Jon*,  I  will  go  on  to  support  you  as  far  aa  I  am 
able,  &  so  I  now  write  your  uncle,  &  would  have  you  go  on 
with  comfort  &  steadiness  in  your  studies  and  practice. 
Your  brother  is  greatly  oblig'd  to  you  for  the  kind  Bolli- 
citation  of  hia  Admiralty  patent,  but  he  is  an  indolent 
creature,  &  I  know  not  whether  he'll  ever  write  you 
a  letter.  I  am  heartily  sorry  for  the  death  of  that  pious 
&  excellent  man,  the  late  Gov'  Holden,  who,  I  doubt  not, 
is  happy  in  a  glorious  world.  The  hellish  acts  practis'd 
with  him  ^^nat  me  are  beyond  expression  or  concep- 
tion, and  perhaps  the  same  has  been  done  with  the  great 
personages  I  mention'd.  I  have  spoken  so  fully  about 
your  foolish  conformity  that  I  add  no  more  upon  it,  but 
that  I  think  you  will  be  wise  to  come  of  from  it  gradually 
with  as  much  honour  as  you  can. 

As  to  Ch — ck — ly  &  B — U— m,  you  must  learn  wit  for 
the  future  or  bear  to  let  the  wise  world  call  you  Fool.  At 
present  I  see  there  is  no  alteration  of  the  Gov'  in  either 
Province.  Your  uncle  &  you  must  be  constantly  on  the 
sharp  look  out,  for  my  enemies  will  be  so,  &  are  alwayes 
double  charg'd  with  infernal  malice,  Waldo  more  espe- 
cially. Wentworth,  I  hear,  is  come  with  Paterson.  He 
was  very  poor  &  insignificant.  I  am  told  Waldo  swears 
he  will  (if  nothing  else  will  do)  ruin  himself  to  ruin  me. 
I  had  forgot  to  say  that  all  the  places  held  by  your  two 
brothers  here  are  not  worth  two  hundred  &  sixty  pounds 
sterling  a  year.  Such  are  their  poor  settlements  and 
mean  subsistences.  Pray  give  my  kindest  respects  to 
my  wortliy  friend,  Cap'  Coram,  to  whom  I  shall  soon 
write.  I  have  not  answer'd  the  kind  letters  I  receiv'd 
from  M'  Lloyd's  executors,  &  from  M'  G.  Lloyd,  because 
I  have  been  ever  since  making  a  bargain  with  Cap'  Mal- 
bone  of  Rhode  Island  (whom  your  uncle  knows)  for  my 
estate  at  Mortlake,  &  am  this  day  to  sign  the  writings 
with  him,  &  the  whole  purchase  money  as  soon  as  the 


oyGoot^lc 


174a]  TO   XLLia   HUSEE.  327 

thing  is  compleated  aball  be  paid  to  M'  Allen.  Fray  give 
my  service  to  tbem,  &  let  'em  know  this,  &  that  I  have 
not  been  able  to  do  more  or  sooner  than  I  have ;  &  of 
this  I  shall  soon  write  them  very  particularly.  Waldo  is 
full  of  the  Devil,  &  would  do  any  mischief  or  wickedness  in 
his  power  against  the  Gov%  &  so  would  the  little  insigni- 
ficant, who,  I  am  satisfied,  went  over  on  purpose.  I  know 
not  whether  you  have  wrote  your  best  of  friends  (the 
excellent  D''  Colman) ;  if  not  I  leave  your  unwortbiness 
&  ingratitude  to  your  own  reproaching  reflections,  which 
I  think  will  be  punishment  sufficient  to  an  ingenuous 
mind.  The  answers  you  drew  up  to  the  objections  made 
against  the  memorial  of  the  New  Hampshire  Counsellours 
is  well  done,  &  I  thank  you.  My  service  to  M'  Barnar- 
dision  and  tell  him  I'll  inquire  about  the  lost  Sam'  Brooks, 
&  write  you.  I  have  this  day  paid  of  all  your  bills  in 
favour  of  your  imcle,  altho'  you  never  thought  it  worth 
while  to  mention  to  me  the  last  of  £250  stei'.  I  am  so 
hurry'd  in  dispatch  of  the  troops  for  the  expedition  that 
I  must  leave  a  great  deal  to  be  said  to  my  next,  &  con- 
tinue, my  dear  son, 

Your  very  affec  father.  J.  B. 

BosTOir,  Aagost  26,  1740. 
(West.)  (Coffin.) 

TO   BLLI8  HUSKE. 

Sir, — I  duly  receiv'd  yours  of  22  ult?.  I  have  a  bill  iin- 
dispos'd  of  of  £157. 1. —  sterling,  which  you  &  Cap' Moffat 
may  have  between  you,  if  you  send  before  it's  gone. 
1  suppose  yon  both  understand  they  are  publick  bills, 
&  that  I  have  no  otiier  concern  with  them  than  to  in- 
dorse &  receive  the  money  for  'em. 

Str«.  157. 1.  — 

Esch'  a  400  628.  4.  — 

is  £785.5.— 


oyGoot^lc 


328  THE  BELCHEB  PAPSBS.  [1710. 

The  afiair  of  the  expedition  with  you  I  find  will  end  as 
I  alwayies  auppos'd.  I  am  sorry  to  complain  that  your 
deputy  here  is  often  from  home  when  the  post  gets  in, 
&  that  my  York  letters  don't  come  without  my  sending. 
If  be  don't  leam  more  manners,  somebody  must  be  found 
that  will.  With  my  compliments  to  M"  Huske,  I  am, 
Hon""  Sir, 

Your  ready  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  September  1, 1710. 

(Port.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDKON. 

HoNO""  Sib,  —  I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  29"^  ult?. 
M'  Treasurer  haa  sent  me  £179.  — .  — ,  being  what  I 
made  the  ballance,  &  will  pay  Pepperell  &  send  me  my 
note  left  with  him,  &  you'll  please  to  give  him  the  war- 
rant. I  am  glad  my  landlady  was  pleas'd  with  what 
I  sent.*  I  thank  you  for  the  first  Journals,  &  that  I  may 
soon  expect  the  duplicates.  I  can't  bear  to  mark  the 
sordid,  mean  rascal's  name  upon  paper.  However,  we 
are  none  of  us  disappointed,  and  perhaps  the  aSair  ia  in 
the  best  situation.  You  know  it  was  not  possible  to  avoid 
the  session.  I  am  glad  you  intend  to  send  me  by  return 
of  this  post  an  antidote  to  the  vote.  As  I  said  before 
I  take  it  for  their  uSimus  conaius,  and  if  we  baffle  it  I  think 
they'll  despair.  Let's  then  renew  our  pristine  courage, 
&  behave  like  ourselves.  And  you'll  gravely  &  wisely 
consult  the  affair  of  the  militia,  &  have  it  settled  with 
all  prudent  dispatch. 

Don  Granada  I  think  will  hardly  be  here  'till  the  spring. 
Inclosed  is  what  I  have  about  the  memorial  &  the  line  ; 
the  latter  I  am  perswaded  is  delay'd  for  the  arrivall  of  the 
vote,  &  I  expect  a  smart  attack  this  winter  from  the  joint 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO   RICHABD  WALDRON.  329 

artillery  of  Sancho,  Trinkalo,  Granada,  &  M"  Gypsy  *  upon 
both  my  stroDgholda,  which  I  will  defend  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity with  all  the  arts,  skill  &  bravery  I  am  maBter  of, 
&  as  anything  good  or  bad  comes  to  hand  I  shall  send 
it  you,  for  I  don't  now  expect  to  see  you  'till  the  time 
I  mention'd  at  parting.  I  am  ignorant  of  the  rumours 
you  mention  of  perplexities,  &c*.  I  have  sign'd  &  return 
the  commission  for  a  Special  Justice. 

I  am  much  oblig'd  to  M"  Waldron  &  thank  her  for  her 
favourable  acceptance  of  the  trifle  by  Homey.t  I  hope 
she'll  keep  you  in  good  behaviour  as  long  as  the  ale  lasts, 
&  she  favours  you  now  &  then  with  a  glass.  My  good 
wishes  always  await  you  both.    Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

B08TOK,  SepV  I",  1710. 

(Port.)  


TO  KICHARD   WALDROK. 

HoNo"*  Sir,  —  I  have  youra  of  12*  psent.  Odlin 
should  have  been  wiser,  &  not  have  given  the  Ifeast  colour 
to  the  enemy.  The  affair  of  the  expedition  ends  without 
any  disappointment  to  me. 

I  think  you  have  gain'd  considerable  intelligence  out 
of  Yorkshire's  letter  to  the  ape,t  &  it's  plain  that  our 
counterwork  ings  clog  their  proceedings,  but  by  the  strain 
of  Yorkshire's  letter  I  fancy  the  unum  is  wanting  thro' 
Ipswich's  straitnesses.  Since  our  friends  are  so  intimi- 
dated that  they  dare  not  pursue  the  honest  sentiments  of 
their  hearts  for  the  happinew  of  their  country,  I  must 
fight  upon  my  own  stumps  &  make  the  best  defence  I 

•  1.  Dunbmr,!.  Wkldo,  3.  Wentwortb,  4.  Shirley's  wife.  —  Kolt  if  Stt.  Dr.  Bilhug). 

1  Under  dale  of  Aufraat  25,  GovBraor  Belcbar  wrotB  to  Mrs.  Wsldron  :  "  1  have  put 
iboud  Ilnmey  ■  box  directed  lo  Mr  Sccry,  where  are  12  bottles  of  Yorkshire  ale  &  the 
iliadair  of  one  who  hat  an  honourable  esteem  for  Mr»  Waldron,  L  you'll  forgive  roe  while 
1 1^  joar  acceptance  of  these  trifles,  since  the?  cannot  cballenRe  your  fsTour.  You'll  let 
Ut  Sfcry.  taste  the  ale  while  he  withes  yonr  beat  health.  The  other  thing  nay  serve  to  fill 
tonestnall  blank  in  your  walls."  — Eiw. 

t  Theodore  Atkinson.  — Esa. 

42 


i.sanyGoOt^lc 


330  THB  BXLCflBS  PATEBS.  [1740. 

can  for  myself  &  for  your  poor  deluded  people,  &  I  will 
go  on  to  the  last  to  be  faithf  uU  in  my  own  cause  &  theirs, 
&  therefore  now  desire  you  to  take  the  vile  Vote  in 
hand  &  draw  a  memorial  (by  way  of  antidote)  for  me  to 
sign  directed  to  the  King.  Do  it  in  the  best  &  most  par- 
ticular manner  you  can,  &  with  all  dispatch,  that  I  may 
have  it  to  send  forward.  Depend  on  it  this  Vote  is  their 
tiUimits  conaius,  and  what  they  intend  as  a  basis  for  all 
their  batteries. 

I  am  glad  Sir  Charles  has  put  in  a  Collector,  who,  you 
may  depend,  will  soon  be  of  the  clan  when  be  comes. 

I  think  the  expedition  here  will  finally  end  pretty 
well.  We  have  five  companies  to  siul  this  week,  &  is 
one  more  than  Col'  Gooch  expected  of  me  for  both 
provinces. 

I  thank  you  for  the  duplicate  Journal.  I  heartily 
grieve  &  condole  with  you  in  the  death  of  our  late  faith- 
full  &  best  friend,  the  worthy  Dennett*  His  loss  is  too 
great  for  us  to  repair.  He  has  left  but  few  equals  in  the 
Province.  As  you  say,  our  cause  is  greatly  weaken'd,  & 
80  is  the  whole  Province.  I  shall  again  heartily  recom- 
mend  the  Col'"'  son  t  for  a  Councellour.  Inclosed  is  the 
CoF'  letter  &  my  answers,  that  we  may  serve  some  friend 
more  active  &  more  capable  of  serving  us.  Perswade  Sara, 
to  stand  in  his  father's  place  in  the  Superiour  Court,  & 
think  of  the  best  man  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  your  bench, 
for  I  shall  be  pelted  with  letters  from  Col'  Jo,  dangler  & 
others,  so  the  sooner  it's  done  the  better.  I  am  afraid 
old  simpleton  won't  stay  long.  They  can  now  tye  us, 
&  then  they'll  outdo  us.  Don't  we  live  in  a  strange, 
changeable,  checquer'd  state?    Sir, 

Yours  in  much  truth.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Sepp  15*.  1740. 
(Post.) 

■  Ephnim  Dennet,  ana  of  the  CoDndl  of  N«w  H«Bip»hira,  died  iDddcntjr  at  tts  ige  of 
fif^-Mven,  a  few  days  twfore  the  dite  af  Ihia  Utt«r.  —  Em. 
t  Samuel  Sherburne. — Eoa. 


jvGooi^lc 


TO  LOKD  CATHCABT. 


TO  LORD  CATHCART.* 


Mat  it  please  tour  Lordship,  — As  his  Majesty  has 
done  me  the  honour  to  commit  to  ray  care  his  provinces 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  &  New  Hampshire,  &  that  I 
sometime  since  rec'd  the  King's  orders  relating  to  an  ex- 
pedition then  forming  against  some  of  the  King  of  Spain's 
settlements  in  the  West  Indies,  aud  being  inform'd  that 
his  Majesty's  forces  on  this  occasion  are  to  be  commanded 
by  your  Lordship,  I  am  now  to  acquaint  your  Lordship 
that  I  have  been  prosecuting  the  affair  with  all  possible 
diligence,  &  was  in  hopes  to  have  sent  your  Lordship  ten 
companies  from  hence,  by  the  proclamations  I  issu'd  from 
his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Newcastle's  letters  to  me,  wherein 
I  promist  the  King's  commissions  to  the  officers  &  the 
King's  arms  to  the  men.  But  so  it  has  happen'd  that  to 
the  great  disappointment  of  both  no  more  commissions  & 
arms  than  for  four  companies  have  been  sent  me.  This 
so  chagrin'd  the  men  of  six  companies,  whose  officers  had 
no  commiMions,  nor  they  any  arms,  that  they  insisted  the 
terms  of  their  inlistment  were  not  comply'd  with,  &  re- 
fus'd  to  proceed.  However,  I  have  perswaded  one  com- 
pany, under  the  command  of  CaptT  John  Winslow,  to  go 
forward  without  commissions  &  arms,  which  makes  up 
five  companies,  instead  of  ten  which  would  have  gone 
had  the  commissions  &  arms  came  forward.  Four  of  the 
companies  are  imbarkt,  &  sail  with  the  first  wind,  & 
the  other  in  two  or  three  days.  The  five  companies 
from  hence  are  under  command  of  the  following  captains, 
—  Daniel  Goffe,  John  Prescott,  Thomas  Phillips,  George 
Stuart,  &  John  Winslow.    I  wish  them  well  to  your  Lord- 

"  Ouu-Im,  •l^th  B»n3n  CjUlw«rt  bad  distinguished  hinnelf  during  the  rebellion  of 
ITIB,  and  tield  aeveral  important  poits  it  the  Court  of  George  I.  In  1740  he  vu  appointed 
to  the  cemniand  of  the  British  torcea  In  NoTth  America,  and  died  at  sea  not  long  after  the 
date  of  ttiia  letter.    See  Buike'i  Peenge  and  BMN«*tage.  —  Ena. 


oyGoot^lc 


332  THE  BELCHES  PAPEBS.  [1710. 

ship,  &  that  your  Lordship  may  gain  the  glory  of  wresting 
from  his  Catholick  Majesty  the  key  of  New  Spain,  &  of 
putting  it  into  the  hands  of  your  royal  master.  I  am 
with  great  respect,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  obedient  &  most  humble  servant 

J.B. 

Boston,  Sepf  23'',  1740. 
To  the  oftre  of  CoIl>  filakeney  ¥  Express. 


TO  THOMAS  COBAM. 

Sir,  —  In  July  last  I  receiv'd  your  favour  of  19  May, 
wherein  I  find  you  had  been  much  imploy'd  in  solliciring 
an  act  of  Parliament  for  Enlarging  &  establishing  the 
powers  granted  to  your  Foundling  Hospital.  I  con- 
gratulate you  on  the  good  success  that  has  attended  that 
noble,  disinterested  &  generous  design  for  the  good  of 
mankind. 

I  was  heartily  sorry  to  hear  in  yours  how  much  you  was 
indispos'd ;  but  by  some  passengers  that  left  Lond"  the 
last  month  I  am  told  you  was  pretty  well  recover'd,  of 
which  I  am  very  glad.  1  hope  the  King  is  well  retum'd 
from  Hanover  before  this  time.  Duke  Trinkalo,  yon  say, 
despairs  of  hurting  the  Govemour,  yet  I  hear  he  &  his 
accomplices  intend  to  make  one  generall  attack  more  at 
the  King's  return  in  favour  of  a  broken  lawyer  here,* 
who  is  Triukalo's  attorney  in  all  law  affairs.  I  shall 
therefore  much  esteem  your  good  offices  to  be  imploy'd 
for  my  service  with  such  great  men  as  you  have  interest 
with,  and  if  they  are  defeated  at  this  onsett,  I  beleive 
they'll  hardly  make  another.so  I  must  pray  you  to  bestirr 
yourself  among  your  friends.  I  kindly  thank  you  for 
delivering  my  letter  of  21  January  past  to  his  Excellency 

•  Willi*m  Shirley.  —  Eoa. 


oyGoot^lc 


I74a]  TO  THOMAS   CORAM.  333 

M'  Horace  Walpole,  who  you  say  had  not  then  time  to 
read  it.  If  he  had  so  done,  I  think  he  would  not  have 
talfct  to  you  in  the  manner  he  did.  If  M'  Dudley  wrote 
to  him  that  I  said,  Horatio  Widpole  had  writ  me  a  letta-y  but 
I  should  not  regard  it,  he  wrote  him  a  downright  lye.  M' 
Dudley  had  the  rudeness  to  bring  with  him  for  witnesses 
of  the  delivery  of  the  letter  Edward  Hutchinson  &  William 
Dudley,  Esq",  and  if  it  might  be  worth  while  I  could 
send  their  affidavits  that  I  eaid  not  a  word,  good  or  bad, 
after  receiving  &  reading  the  letter,  nor  did  I  ever  lisp 
one  disrespectful!  word  of  M'  Walpole  in  my  Ufe ;  and  yet 
I  don't  at  all  wonder  at  this  man's  writing  so,  for  I  don't 
suppose  he  would  stick  at  any  thing,  true  or  false,  right 
or  wrong,  to  gratifye  his  pride  &  ill  nature,  or  to  obtain 
filthy  lucre ;  &  this  is  the  generall  opinion  of  mankind 
about  this  unworthy  man.  He  is  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Repres™,  and  has  in  the  sittings  of  the  General!  Assem- 
bly made  the  most  violent  opposition  he  possibly  cou'd  to 
his  Majesty's  royal  instructions  to  me  for  taking  effectuall 
care  that  the  bills  of  c'  of  this  Province  should  be  punc- 
tually sunk  according  to  law ;  &  he  did  in  the  most  stren- 
uous manner  oppose  the  sending  of  more  than  four 
companies  from  hence  into  the  expedition  under  Lord 
Cathcart,  altho'  I  had  raisd  ten,  &  he  does  generally 
appear  against  the  Crown  in  what  comes  at  any  time 
before  the  Assembly.  Surely  then  such  a  man  cannot  be 
thought  worthy  to  be  a  Speaker  or  a  member  of  the  King's 
Councill,  &  his  continued  haughty  behaviour  to  the  King's 
Govemour  ia  unpardonable,  for  since  I  first  negativ'd  him 
{above  three  years  agoe)  he  has  never  said  a  word  to  me 
by  way  of  submission,  for  which  reason  (with  others  men- 
tion'd)  I  negativ'd  him  again  last  May,  &  wrote  his  Excel- 
lency M'  Walpole  I  had  so  done,  copy  whereof  I  inclose 
you,  the  better  to  furnish  you  with  arguments  if  his  Excel- 
lency should  think  it  worth  while  to  give  himself  any 
further  trouble  about  this  worthless,  ungrateful!  man.    I 


oyGoot^lc 


S34  TES  BELCHEB  PAPEItS.  [1740. 

suppose  you  have  long  since  heard  the  turn  your  letters 
took  that  were  sent  to  Secry  Willard  k  the  Speaker.  Tou 
have  herewith  autbeotick  copies  of  the  votes  about  them,* 
&  they  are  very  extraordinary,  obtain'd  by  DuiUey  &  his 
creatures,  for  be  can  make  the  meanest  condescensions  to 
get  devotees.  I  think  you  are  bound  in  honour  to  find  out 
some  way  of  making  an  answer  and.  to  expose  him  pub- 
Hckly,  which  you  may  be  able  to  do  by  advising  among 
your  friends  and  mine,  and  the  better  to  inable  you,  I  pat 
in  this  packet  a  book  call'd  Tke  DephrahU  State  of  New 
England,  where  you'll  find  a  vile  letter  wrote  by  this  man 
to  his  cousin  in  England  to  put  him  upon  indeavouring 
to  take  away  the  charter  of  this  countrey.  This  letter 
might  go  into  one  of  the  publick  prints  with  proper  ani- 
madversions upon  it,  &  you  might  send  a  number  of  'em 
that  each  member  of  the  Assembly  might  have  one.  This 
wicked  attempt  of  his  is  almost  lost  and  forgot  by  the 
present  generation,  but  the  revival  of  it  I  beleive  wou'd 
do  his  business,  &  I  have  no  reason  to  think  but  that  he 
is  the  same  man  still  in  heart  &  principle.  M'  Thorn' 
Hutchinson,  who  is  a  passenger  in  Faterson,  is  a  brother 
member  with  M'  P.  Dudley  of  the  House  of  Represen™, 
and  has  been  an  ear  &  eye  witness  of  the  treatment  of 
your  letter  in  that  House,  as  also  of  M'  Dudley's  debat- 
ings  &  votings,  &  I  beleive  will  be  very  free  in  his  talking 
with  you  about  it,  for  he  resents  the  abuses  oSer'd  you, 
&  looks  upon  you  a  friend  to  hia  countrey.  I  shall  give 
this  gentleman  a  particular  letter  of  recommendation  to 
your  favour  &  friendship. 

■  At  the  Buaion  of  (he  HouM  of  BepresentativM,  M»y  89,  ITIO,  the  Dtpnty  Samtur 
bronght  down  m  letter  to  the  Speaker,  under  cover  to  the  SecrelBiy,  ilgncd  ThoniM  Coi»Bi, 
and  dated  London,  April  5lh,  1T«,  which  wu  fe«L  The  Boom  thereupon  pused  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  resolution,  —  "  /■  «  muth  (u  tkt  Litter  containi  lundry  injuriott, 
and  Kandalma  rtftetioiu  upon  tie  iommrablt  Paul  Dudley,  Eiq.,  Member  of  thU  Bout 
and  Iht  Suggmioni  thertin  eoatained  ere  »i(*™t  lupport:  Therefore,  VoUd,  That  it  ii 
unworthj  the  Notice  of  this  Hobm,  iwTe  their  Displeaiuro,  and  thai  therefontbe  aforeiaid 
Letter  be  dellrered  bj  the  Speaker  to  the  latd  Paul  Dvdlt^,  Esq,  ;  that  m  he  majliie 
better  have  hia  Remed}'  against  the  Author  of  the  lame."  See  Journal  of  the  Home  of 
Bepr«s«nt«llTeB,  1T4D,  p.  8.  —  Ed8. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  EICHABD  WALDBON.  335 

I  must  now  again,  in  the  warmest  manner,  ask  your 
repeated  respect  to  my  dear  son  M'  Belcher  of  the  Tem- 
ple, to  promote  him  in  his  profession,  whenever  you  have 
opportunity  by  any  of  your  friends.  I  grow  old  &  must 
Boon  leave  the  world  &  don't  find  any  inclination  in  my 
eldest  son  to  marry.  I  should  therefore  rejoyce  my  dear 
M'  Belcher  of  the  Temple  might  be  happily  &  well 
marry'd,  and  as  he  is  tum'd  of  thirty  I  think  it  high 
time  if  he  ever  intends  it.  I  must  therefore  again  pray 
yours  &  my  good  countreywoman's  assistance  in  this 
important  affair.  I  am  with  the  most  sincere  respect  to 
you  both.  Sir, 

Tour  fiiend  &  ready  servant.  J.  B. 

BoflTOK,  Oct"  26,  1740. 

(PAterson.  Grant.) 


TO   RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  24"'  currant,  &  take  notice  of 
what  you  say  as  to  the  young  stallion.  I  don't  want  any 
further  particulars  of  souring,  but  you  may  be  assur'd  I 
will  never  inable  him  to  contribute  a  single  mite  to  a 
bowl ;  no,  not  to  oblige  you,  my  best  friend.  Therefore 
if  one  condition  roust  be  some  provision  for  that  meanest 
of  rascals,  I  have  done  with  the  affair,  as  I  find  you  have ; 
but  if  it  could  be  done  in  any  other  proper  way,  I  should 
rejoyce  in  it  for  your  sake,  &  for  your  families,  and  per- 
haps it  may  a  while  hence. 

Inclosed  is  my  order  to  the  President  to  convene  a 
Councill  to  consent  to  a  Thanksgiving  proclamation  (but 
for  no  other  business),  a  form  whereof  is  herewith.  I 
should  really  be  best  pleas'd  it  should  take  the  turn  you 
have  mention'd,  &  that  they  should  do  what  they  do  in 
pretty  bold,  rampant  terms,  to  give  the  better  colour  for 
a  suspension  of  two  or  three,  which  seems  {rebus  sic  stan- 
tibus) to  be  necessary.     Can't  you  therefore  be  wise  & 


oyGoot^lc 


336  THE  BBLCHEB  PAPERS.  [17«. 

guilefull  enough  to  draw  'em  forth  to  be  pretty  warm  in 
their  expressions  &  to  let  their  reasons  be  enf  in  Coud- 
cill  for  their  negative,  but  don't  let  'em  dream  of  what  is 
to  follow.  I  am  fond  of  what  I  now  project  Pray  think 
well  of  it,  and  agree  with  me  if  you  can.  It's  a  good 
time,  for  I  think  the  Governour  is  out  of  all  danger  (for 
a  year  or  two  at  least).  The  thought  of  hanging  two  or 
three  in  terrorem  seems  to  be  wise,  just  &  mild.  I  assure 
you  if  1  have  taste  &  any  judgement,  the  divine,  the  ad- 
mirable Whitfield  *  may  fairly  claim  a  lieutenancy,  tho' 
your  captain  can  never  pretend  to  be  a  private  centinel 
in  the  company.     Poor  dead,  false,  lifeless  wretch. 

I  am  eo  ingrost  with  writing  by  M'  Hutchinson  (who 
sails  to-morrow  or  next  day)  that  I  ha'n't  time  to  give 
you  the  particulars  of  the  good  tydiugs,  but  can  assure 
you  they  are  good  &  better  than  so.  More  ships  are 
daily  expected,  when  I  may  have  more  time  to  write 
you,  &  still  more  pleasing  things.  The  instruct"  directed 
to  Governour  Belcher,  both  of  MasB*  &  New  Hampshire, 
as  to  running  the  line  and  paper  currency  are  aboard 
Hall,  who  may  be  here  to-morrow.  The  Governour  alone 
is  instructed  to  do  the  affair  of' the  line,  &  what  comes 
now  of  their  last  Vote  ?  My  present  thofcs  are  that  the 
Assemblies  will  set  jig  by  jole,  at  Salisbury  &  Hampton. 
As  to  the  money,  that  Assembly  that  won't  furnish  their 
share  will  wish  they  had,  because  the  matter  must  then 
go  forward  ex  parte.  The  Assemblies  must  certainly  flit 
at  the  time.  The  clan  may  now  damn  the  Governour, 
but  they  must  trust  him,  pod  nuhUa  Phcebus.  The  matter 
of  the  masts  is  a  trifle.  The  grand  affair  of  a  new  Gover- 
nour is  almost  out  of  sight  with  them.  Your  uncle  was 
really  witty  and  humourous.  Trinkalo  will  return  a  sort 
of  a  beheaded  puppy,  &  if  he  should  yelp,  he'll  not  be 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  THE  DUKB  OP  KEWCA8TLE.  337 

able  to  bite,  if  be  comes.  We  bave  a  squadron  of  deatba, 
writts,  arrests,  &  judgements  waiting  to  oligbt  bim.  I 
tbink  in  tbe  end,  poor  dog,  be'U  find  no  Trinkalo  or 
Sancho  ever  made  sucb  an  expedition. 

I  am  commanded  by  the  Secry  of  State  to  send  him 
without  delay  every  step  taken  by  tbe  Gov'  &  govern- 
ment in  tbe  present  expedition,  in  w]iich  you  must  not 
lose  a  moment,  &  so  tell  the  clerk  of  tbe  late  House  that 
it  is  the  Govern'''  order  that  he  gives  you  authentick  copies 
of  all  done  there,  and  let  me  have  everything  in  tbe  oom- 
pleatest  manner,  as  soon  as  possible ;  and  so  must  you 
comply  with  tbe  inclosed  orders  about  tbe  bills  of  c'  & 
laws  of  the  Province,  &  as  to  the  latter  a  law  book  may 
serve  as  far  as  it  goes,  hut  these  things  must  all  be  done 
out  of  hand.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

BosTOK,  Cote  27, 1740. 

(Port)  


TO  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Grace,  —  Upon  looking  back, 
I  find  I  have  done  myself  tbe  honour  of  addressing  your 
Grace  on  tbe  important  affair  of  the  expedition  against 
the  Spanish  settlements  in  tbe  West  Indies  by  my  letters 
of  April  30,  June  4,  SO,  and  July  15  last  past,  all  which 
I  understand  have  been  deliver'd  at  your  Grace's  office,  & 
have  given  your  Grace  tbe  particular  state  of  the  matter 
at  those  times.  By  mine  of  15  July  your  Grace  will  see 
I  was  in  hopes  to  have  sent  away  ten  companies,  the 
greatest  part  whereof  I  bad  then  rais'd,  but  in  a  little 
time  after,  when  they  bad  got  to  this  town  (tbe  place  of 
imbarkation),  where  the  Assembly  was  sitting,  the  Assem- 
bly did  everything  they  could  to  discourage  all  the  men 
from  proceeding  who  could  not  he  fumisbt  with  tbe  King's 
arms,  nor  their  officers  with  tbe  King's  commissions,  which 


oyGoot^lc 


330  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1740. 

I  bad  promist  in  my  proclamations  issu'd  agreeable  to 
your  Grace's  letters  to  me.  The  extraorilinary  steps  the 
Assembly  took  in  this  matter,  I  doubt  not,  your  Grace 
has  observ'd  in  the  journals  of  the  House  of  Represent™ 
sent  you  some  time  since,  upon  which  I  had  do  expecta- 
tion of  sending  away  any  raore  than  four  companies,  for 
which  onely  I  receiv'd  commissions  &  arms.  Five  of  the 
companies  that  had  not  commissions  and  arras  dwindled  & 
broke  to  pieces  presently,  saying  they  were  not  oblig'd  to 
proceed,  since  the  terms  of  their  inlistment  were  not  cora- 
ply'd  with,  viz',  to  be  commanded  &  conducted  by  offi- 
cers with  the  King's  commissions,  &  the  men  themselves 
to  be  furniah'd  with  the  King's  arms.  •  However,  I  did  at 
last  perswade  one  coihpany  to  proceed  without  commis- 
sions or  arms,  &  I  have  sent  away  to  join  Coll"  Gooch  at 
Virginia  five  companies  of  100  men  each,  under  command 
of  the  following  captains,  —  Daniel  Goffe,  John  Prescot, 
Thom'  Philips,  George  Steuart,  &  John  Winslow,  Esq"*, 
aod  they  sail'd  from  hence  in  five  transports  about  five 
weeks  agoe.  I  wrote  early  &  earnestly  to  Coll"  Gooch  & 
to  Coll"  Blakeney  for  six  setts  of  commissions  &  arms 
more  than  had  been  sent  me,  but  I  could  not  obtain  them. 
Had  they  come  there  had  been  no  difficulty  in  sending 
away  a  thousand  men  from  hence,  agreeable  to  what  I 
wrote  your  Grace  in  mine  of  15  July;  but  your  Grace 
will  find  in  my  letters  the  great  expectation  I  had  of 
receiving  what  I  had  promist  the  men  by  proclamation. 
It  was  impossible  for  me  to  have  exerted  with  greater 
diligence  &  zeal  than  I  did  to  advance  his  Majesty's  honour 
&  service  on  this  occasion  ;  &  in  obedience  to  his  Majes- 
ty's royal  instructions  I  took  not  one  step  in  this  affair 
but  with  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Councill.  Altho'  I 
made  a  journey  to  New  Hampshire,  &  conven'd  an  Assem- 
bly there,  &  made  provision  for  transporting  one  company, 
&  I  appointed  a  captain  *  by  the  unanimous  recommen- 

•  Cspl.  John  Ej-re.  —  Edb, 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  THE  DTTEE   OP  NEWCASTLE.  339 

dation  of  his  Majesty's  Councill,  yet  the  same  discourage- 
ment prevail'd  there  as  did  here,  &  men  would  not  list 
when  they  knew  their  officers  could  not  be  under  the 
King's  commissions,  nor  they  have  the  King's  arms ;  & 
there  was  no  perswading  the  men,  neither  there  nor  here, 
to  wait  for  commissions  &  arms  till  they  should  join  Lord 
Cathcart  at  the  generall  rendezvous.  I  understand  this 
important  affair  suffer'd  for  the  same  reason  at  Connecti- 
cutt,  where  the  Governour  was  oblig'd  to  dismiss  five 
hundred,  &  the  Governour  of  Rhode  Island  two  hundred 
men.  I  have  no  doubt,  may  it  please  your  Grace,  when- 
ever there  may  be  a  further  occasion  of  this  nature,  upon 
the  sending  commissions,  arms,  &  clothing  sufiBcient,  that 
the  men  might  depend  to  receive  before  their  imbarkation, 
I  say,  I  have  no  doubt  but  six  or  eight  thousand  men 
might  be  rais'd  in  N°  America;  &  this  Province  alone 
would  easily  furnish  fifteen  hundred  men,  and  1  would 
humbly  propose,  my  Lord  Duke,  that  for  the  future  all 
Acts  of  Parliament  for  the  better  government  of  his 
Majesty's  regular  forces  might  comprehend  his  Majesty's 
plantations,  as  acts  against  mutiny,  desertion,  &",  for  the 
Assemblies  here  will  not  be  perswaded  to  make  any  such 
acts  upon  their  people,  being  wholly  disus'd  to  armies  or 
regular  troops,  and  without  such  laws  there  is  no  govern- 
ing officers  or  men  when  rais'd. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  most  profound  duty 
&  respect,  my  Lord  Duke, 

Your  Grace's  most  devoted,  most  obedient  &  most 
humble  servant.  J.  B. 

BosTOx,  October  29*,  1740. 
(PatetsoD .  Grant ) 


oyGoot^lc 


3^0  THE  BELCHEB  PAPEBS. 


TO  THE  DUKE  OP  NEWCASTLE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Grace, —  I  find  by  tte  votes  of 
the  House  of  CommoDS  the  laat  session  of  Farliament  that 
the  matter  of  the  paper  currency  Is  to  be  laid  before  the 
Parliament  in  their  next  session,  &  in  obedience  to  his 
Majesty's  commands  I  am  preparing  the  state  of  the  bills 
of  c'  now  outstanding  in  this  Province  &  that  of  New 
Hampshire,  which  I  shall  transmit  to  the  Kigbt  Hon'*''  the 
Lords  of  Trade  &  Plantations  to  be  laid  before  the  Parlia- 
ment. May  it  please  your  Grace ;  to  put  a  stop  to  the  great 
fraud  &  iniquity  of  paper  currency  in  the  plantations  will 
not  onelj  show  a  tender  regard  to  the  people  here,  but 
will  be  a  great  support  &  security  to  the  British  trade  to 
the  plantations,  which  has  labour'd  under  continuall  loss 
&  misfortune  by  the  emissions  that  have  been  made  of 
bills  of  c'.  This  I  am  sure  of  as  to  the  two  govern- 
ments where  I  have  the  honour  to  preside,  their  bills 
having  been  issu'd  without  any  solid  foundation  or  fix'd 
value. 

As  your  Grace  has  the  plantations  in  a  mor^  particular 
manner  under  your  care  &  conduct,  I  know  your  Grace 
will  be  glad  to  contribute  every  thing  in  your  power  to 
their  welfare  &  prosperity,  for  which  there  now  seems  to 
be  a  happy  juncture  by  this  affair's  being  brought  into 
Parliament.  In  duty  &  fidelity  to  his  Majesty,  &  to  his 
people  in  this  Province  &  that  of  New  Hampshire,  I  am 
oblig'd  to  declare  to  your  Grace  that  unless  some  speedy 
&  efiectuall  prohibition  be  made  on  these  (&  the  neigh- 
bouring colonies)  from  issuing  any  more  bills  of  c'  in  lieu 
of  money,  as  also  on  all  private  companies  or  combina- 
tions, the  plantations  &  all  the  British  commerce  to'them 
must  be  attended  with  constant  loss  &  ruin.  Two  private 
companies  are  now  issuing  in  this  Province  their  bills  in 
lieu  of  money  to  the  value  of  about  one  hundred  &  forty 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  KBWCASTLB.  S41 

thousand  pounds  ster<,  or  near  eight  hundred  thousand 
pounds  of  what  is  call'd  the  currency  of  this  Province,  of 
which  £120,000  is  to  go  out  from  one  of  the  companies 
without  any  ascertaining  of  the  value,  or  making  any  hon- 
est provision  for  calling  in  &  paying  of  the  said  bills,  &  yet 
this  Legislature  cannot  be  perswaded  to  make  any  law 
against  such  unjust  &  unwarrant*  proceedings.  I  therefore 
would  humbly  hope  your  Grace  will  interpose  your  great 
power  &  influence  in  Parliament  for  the  safety  &  happi- 
ness of  the  plantations  &  of  the  British  commerce  to  them. 
And  may  it  please  your  Grace ;  I  gladly  embrace  the 
opportunity  of  writing  on  this  great  affair  by  the  bearer, 
Thoni'  Hutchinson,  Esq',  who  has  been  for  several  years 
(&  is  now)  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  this  Province  & 
a  gentleman  well  understanding  in  the  affairs  of  his  coun- 
trey,  &  particularly  so  in  the  business  of  the  paper  cur- 
rency. I  therefore  humbly  pray  he  may  have  the  great 
honour  of  paying  his  duty  to  your  Grace,  and  of  putting 
this  into  your  Grace's  hands,  and  whenever  you  will 
please  to  command  him  to  wait  on  your  Grace  in  the 
matter  of  the  paper  currency,  or  any  thing  else  relat- 
ing to  this  Province,  I  think  your  Grace  will  get  as 
good  information  and  satisfaction  from  him  as  from  any 
gentleman  whatsoever;  and  as  I  think  M'  Hutchinson 
capable  of  suggesting  such  things  as  may  tend  to  his 
Majesty's  honour  &  interest,  &  to  the  welfare  of  bis 
people  here,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  recommend  him  to 
your  Grace's  countenance  &  favour,  I  have  the  honour 
to  be  with  the  most  profound  respect  and  duty,  my 
Lord  Duke, 

Your  Grace's  most  faithfull,  most  obed',  &  most  hum- 
ble serv'.  J.  B. 

B<»Tow,  Ootob'  30U>,  1740. 
(Patenon.) 


oyGoot^lc 


THB  BELCHER  PAPERS,  [17i0. 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  I  have  already  wrote  you  at  large  by  this  con- 
veyance, &  am  no\r  to  ask  your  favour  &  best  respect  to 
the  bearer,  Thomas  Hutchinson  Esq',  as  one  for  whom  I 
have  a  great  esteem.  He  has  bad  the  best  education  his 
countrey  affords,  is  an  iogenioua  young  gentleman,  has 
been  for  Beverall  years  past  &  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Generall  Assembly  of  this  Province  &  well  understands 
the  publick  affiiirs  of  his  countrey,  &  very  particularly  the 
nature  of  the  wicked  paper  currency  that  has  almost 
ruin'd  all  the  plantations,  &  in  this  matter  (if  required)  he 
can  give  the  ministers  &  Parliament  good  information,  & 
they  may  depend  he  will  do  it  very  justly  &  honestly. 
He  goes  an  agent  to  the  owners  of  several!  tracts  of  laad 
that  by  the  settlement  of  the  line  between  this  Province 
&  New  Hampshire  will  fall  out  of  the  jurisdicf  of  this 
Province,  &  is  therefore  to  petition  his  Majesty  &  to  in- 
deavour  to  regain  those  lands  to  this  Province  as  to  gov- 
ernment, the  property  not  being  affected  by  the  settlement 
of  the  line,  &  whatever  assistance  you  give  him  in  this 
affair  will  be  very  acceptable  to  this  Province  in  general, 
&  in  a  particular  manner  to  all  the  proprietors  &  grantees 
of  the  said  lands.  I  wish  M'  Hutchinson  a  good  voyage 
&  a  safe  arrivall  at  London,  &  I  think  you  will  be  pleas'd 
with  his  vertue,  his  good  sense  &  conversation.  I  am. 
Sir, 

Your  friend  &  loving  brother. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Octo  30, 1740. 
(Pateison.  Grant.) 


oyGoot^lc 


174a]  TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Sir,  —  This  post  brings  me  yours  of  31  nit'.  I  wish 
we  may  both  be  wise  enough  to  bring  the  matter  to  bear 
for  Richard.  I  can't  mentiuu  the  scoundrel  under  any 
name. 

It  would  please  me  much  if  you  could  wiredraw  some 
oE  Gutts's*  actuators  into  a  proper  provocation  for  my 
doing  what  I  have  propoa'd.  1  have  now  advices  to  18 
September  still  stronger  &  stronger,  &  I  have  a  letter  of 
staler  date  16  Aug*  sayes,  The  New  Hampshire  Lieu'  Gov^ 
Duiihar  is  now  become  a  bankrupt  &  so  publisht  in  the  Gazette 
of  yesterday.  Perhaps  Granada  may  put  in  for  the  Lieu- 
tenancy, &  Triukalo  (if  he  can  find  cash  or  C')  for  the 
Surveyorship.  The  dear  Whitefield  has  approv'd  himself 
a  wise  eharmer-t  Solomon  sayes,  and  with  all  thy  getting 
get  understanding.  That  is,  be  wise  for  eternity.  I  verily 
believe  he  has  been  highly  honour'd  of  God  with  being 
made  the  instrument  of  begetting  many  a  poor  creature 
anew  in  Christ  Jesus.  How  vile,  how  wicked  then  is  the 
hellish  scheme  you  mention !  I  answer,  I  don't  suppose 
to  rake  the  infernal  pit  would  produce  such  dregs  for 
wickedness  as  the  authors  of  these  things,  &  without  a 
bitter  repentance  their  dreadfull  reward  awaits  them. 
W  Hutchinson  sail'd  last  Saturday.  God  send  him  a 
good  voyage  &  a  safe  arrivall.  When  I  see  you  I  may 
have  much  to  say  about  him  &  his  errand.  As  he  went 
off  the  wharfe  some  of  the  despairing,  disappointed  said, 
Damn  it,  he  has  no  need  to  send  Ms  a^ent  now,  he  knows  all 
is  weU.  If  you  knew  the  pains  that  have  been  taken  & 
the  general!  interest  rals'd  thereby  for  your  friend  in 
almost  every  county  in  England,  you  would  not  think  it 
strange  that  he  stands,  &  still  more  firmly.     You  may 


•  Jothun  Odlonn.  —  Edb.  t  Sea  note  mUt,  p.  gS6. 


oyGoot^lc 


344  THB  BELCHBB  FAPEB3.  [l?ia 

depend  I  have  not  been  idle  one  moment  for  a  twelve 
month  past,  nor  my  frienda  at  home.  I  have  made  out 
something  of  an  answer  by  M'  H.  to  their  last  Vote, 
which  perhaps  there  mayn't  be  occasion  for,  the  marrow 
of  it  being  extracted  by  the  order  aboard  Hall,  which  you 
shall  soon  see  when  it  comes,  &  also  that  about  paper 
currency.  At  present,  I  think  it  will  be  best  to  sit  as  we 
did  before  (Salisbury  &  Hampton),  and  I  am  much  pleas'd 
with  your  new  suggestions  about  the  grand  affair  of  the 
boundaries.  Perhaps  something  may  be  produe'd  agree- 
able to  all  parties,  but  then  the  Gov'  must  be  constder'd 
for  his  arrearages. 

Pray  do  not  fail  to  let  me  have  w'  I  have  demanded, 
because  I  have  another  letter  from  Whitehall  urging  the 
sending  all  those  things  with  the  utmost  dispatch.  Let 
no  gi-asa  then  grow  to  your  heels. 

What  you  heard  of  Counsellour  Belcher  &  Toralinson 
was  true,  onely  the  former  was  not  so  long  at  the  Duke's 
palace  in  Sussex  (three  or  four  dayes),  but  was  receiv'd 
by  his  Grace  in  a  kind  &  friendly  manner.  I  own  with 
gratitude  to  God  &  my  friends  that  I  have  an  uncommon 
interest,  &  I  believe  the  ministers  are  generally  sensible 
that  they  have  been  impos'd  upon  &  deceiv'd  with  lies, 
forgeries  &  perjuries.  You  may  depend  neither  TVinkalo, 
Granada,  nor  Gypsy*  return  this  year,  but  are  to  make 
one  more  onsett  at  the  King's  return.  It's  now  whisper'd 
that  Trinkalo  is  like  to  get  into  the  bilbows,  &  perhaps 
before  he  comes  away  may  make  a  figure  in  a  Gazette, 
as  Sanchof  has  done.  I  am  alwayes,  as  I  know  you 
beleive. 

Yours.  J.  B. 

BosToiT,  Nov'  8*,  1740. 
(Post.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO   RICHARD  WALDBON. 


TO  EICHARD  WALDKON. 


Sir,  —  I  have  before  me  yours  of  8"*  instant  The  in- 
closed Gazette  you'll  read,  communicate  and  return.  My 
last  doae  to  Sancbo  set  him  into  a  fatal  phrenzy,  Granada 
will  certainly  attempt  to  be  his  successour  in  the  Lieu- 
tenancy, but  Trinkalo,  poor  wretch,  is  in  no  capacity'  to 
attempt  the  other.  The  unum  is  exhausted,  even  beyond 
the  lowest,  lowest  farthing.  Patience,  &  things  will  be 
right.  The  order  for  running  the  Line  I  have  receiv'd 
by  Hall,  &  that  about  future  emissions  of  paper  currency. 
You  shall  see  them  as  soon  as  you  have  sent  me  what 
now  lyes  before  you,  and  of  absolute  necessity  to  be  dis- 
patcht,  and  I  thank  you  that  there  shall  be  no  delay  till 
they  are  accomplisht.  We  must  soon  see  an  Assembly. 
If  you  think  it  probable  that  concessions  may  still  be  come 
into  about  the  Line,  it  will  be  best  for  the  Assembly  to 
Bit  as  in  1737. 

Cap*  Rindge,  I  see,  dy'd  very  suddenly ;  poor  man,  he 
has  had  many  premonitions  of  that  awfull  hour.  I  wish 
it  may  be  well  with  him.  The  loon  and  ape  were  too 
cunning  for  him ;  &  this,  I  beleive,  his  IKmily  will  see 
more  &  more  to  their  loss  &  damage.  The  clan  won't 
presently  find  such  another  able  gamecock.  As  you 
observe,  the  stroke  is  a  fatal  one  to  them. 

You  must  not  lose  a  moment  in  sending  to  or  for  Nath. 
Gilraan,  who  I  think  the  best  man  to  fill  liis  place.  It  is 
of  great  consequence  to  keep  a  majority  at  the  board. 
So  soon  as  I  know  his  mind,  I  will  write  away ;  &  you 
must  let  him  know  the  charge,  that  he  may  provide  for 
it.  He  is  a  man  of  substance,  &  it's  no  great  matter  to 
him.  My  letters  are  now  to  lO""  Sept',  and  better  still. 
Hon"!*  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  serv*.  J.  B. 

BoBTOir,  Nov  10.  1740. 
(Port.) 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHES  PAPEBS. 


TO  ARTHUR  ONSLOW.* 


Sir,  —  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  did  myself  the  honour 
of  addressing  the  Hon'*''  M'  Onslow.  I  hope  you  will 
forgive  the  freedom  I  now  take,  which  springs  from  the 
desire  I  have  to  own  with  gratitude  the  readiness  my 
brother  and  agent,  M'  Partridge,  writes  you  have  exprest 
to  espouse  my  interest  at  a  time  when  I  am  so  violently 
attackt  by  my  enemies.  If,  Sir,  you  will  let  M'  Partridge 
&  my  son  M'  Belcher  of  the  Middle  Temple  do  themselves 
the  honour  of  waiting  on  you,  at  such  leisure  times  as 
you  may  please  to  tell  them,  I  have  no  doubt  but  they 
will  soon  satisfye  you  that  the  contiDuall  bickerings  of 
my  enemies  proceed  from  nothing  but  their  own  spleen 
&  unreasonable  malice.  While  I  have  had  the  honour 
of  the  King's  commissions  for  this  Province  and  New 
Hampshire,  those  that  have  been  watching  sedulously 
for  my  halting  have  never  been  able  to  fix  any  one  arti- 
cle out  of  their  many  complaints  against  me,  except  the 
adjournment  of  the  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire  three 
dayes  beyond  the  time  set  in  the  King's  order,  and  this 
was  of  no  prejudice  to  the  King's  service  or  to  his  peo- 
ple. I  beg,  Sir,  you  wou'd  let  me  confide  in  your  good- 
ness to  bear  my  agents  when  they  applye  to  you,  &  to 
allow  me  some  small  share  in  your  great  weight  and  in- 
fluence with  his  Majesty,  and  with  his  ministers;  so  shall 
T,  &  so  will  my  family,  pray  for  your  lasting  health 
&  honour.  I  am  with  great  respect  &  esteem,  Hon'* 
Sir, 

Your  most  faithfull  and  moat  obedient  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Novem*  15,  1740. 
(GraDt.) 


oyGoot^lc 


1T40.]  TO  THE  LOBDS  OP  TRADE. 


TO  THE  LORDS  OP  TRADE. 


Mat  IT  PLEASE  t'  Lordships,  —  Herewith  comes 
duplicate  of  mine  of  25  of  last  month.  I  am  now  to  own 
the  honour  of  your  Lordships'  of  9""  July,  which  came  to 
my  hands  the  2*  of  this  m°  by  one  Cap'  Perkins,  men- 
tioning the  receit  of  eight  of  mine  to  that  time,  wherein 
your  Lordships  observe  (as  in  a  former)  that  the  generall 
state  of  paper  currency  is  now  before  the  Parliament,  and 
altho'  taken  up  too  late  the  last  session,  yet  you  hope 
it  will  be  early  resum'd  at  this  next  session.  I  have  tlie 
honour  to  be  in  opinion  with  your  Lordships  that  this  is 
an  affair  of  great  importance  to  the  trade  of  the  British 
nation,  &  unless  it  can  be  put  upon  a  solid  foundation  in 
every  colony  of  the  British  empire  in  America,  the  prop- 
erty of  his  Majesty's  subjects  trading  to  the  plantations, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  inhabitants,  must  remain  under  the 
most  precarious  circumstances,  to  the  detriment  of  com- 
merce &  to  the  dishonour  of  all  government.  Your 
Lordships  will  allow  me  to  say  that  the  concern  your  Lord- 
ships express  of  bringing  this  matter  into  a  proper  regu- 
lation is  a  great  instance  of  your  Lordships'  regard  to  his 
Majesty's  honour  &  service,  as  well  as  of  your  great  care 
of  his  people  in  these  provinces  &  colonies.  In  Dec'  last 
I  sent  your  Lordships  the  state  of  the  paper  currency  of 
this  Province  &  that  of  New  Hampshire,  &  now  I  cover  to 
your  Lordships  the  state  of  it  in  the  Massachusetts  from 
tbat  time  to  this,  by  which  your  Lordships  will  see 
there  is  outstanding  in  bills  of  credit  on  this  Province 
£162,002.19.5  this  currency,  or  £32,400.11.10  str., 
all  which  is  to  be  brott  in  or  sxmk  by  the  end  of  the  yenr 
1741,  according  to  the  acts  &  laws  by  which  they  were 
emitted.  This  notwithstanding,  my  Lords,  I  have  hut 
little  expectation  of  the  Assemblies  complying  with  the 
iagagements  of  the  gov""^,  it  lying  with  them  to  appor- 


oyGoot^lc 


348  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1740. 

tion  the  tax  for  bringing  in  or  sinking  the  outstanding 
bills.  It  seems  therefore  absolutely  necessary  that  it  be 
done  by  the  British  Parliament  in  all  the  plantations,  and 
as  your  Lordships  are  pleas'd  to  require  my  sentiments 
which  may  be  the  most  easy  &  effectuall  manner  of 
sinking  &  discharging  all  the  bills  of  c'  now  outstand- 
ing ill  this  Province  &  in  New  Hampshire,  I  shall  in 
obedience  to  your  Lordships'  commands  consider  this  affair 
&  give  you  my  most  mature  thoughts  upon  it.  And  it  is 
another  instance  of  your  Lordships'  good  regard  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  British  trade,  &  to  the  ease  of  the  peo- 
ple here,  that  you  are  desirous  so  to  conduct  the  sinking 
of  the  outstanding  bills  as  that  it  may  be  done  with  the 
least  prejudice  to  the  inhabitants,  or  interruption  to  the 
commerce  of  Great  Britain. 

In  mine  of  4  April  last,  I  acquainted  your  Lordships 
of  some  schemes  (or  bubbles)  that  were  going  forward 
here  for  the  circulation  of  paper  currency,  &  in  mine  of 
25  Oct"  I  wrote  more  largely  on  this  head.  One  of  these 
schemes  is  for  emitting  about  twenty-two  thousand 
(^22,000)  sterling,  redeemable  by  silver  or  gold  in  fif- 
teen years ;  the  other  is  for  emitting  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  pounds,  £120,000,  sterling,  redeem- 
able by  manufactures  of  the  countrey  in  twenty  years,  but 
the  price  of  those  manufactures  are  unstated,  &  left  eui 
UbUum  to  the  directors  of  this  last  scheme.  The  Gov'  and 
Councill  were  very  desirous  in  the  late  sessions  of  the 
Assembly  here  to  make  strict  inquiry  into  both  these 
schemes,  but  the  projectors  of  what  is  call'd  the  land  or 
manulacture  scheme  had  so  much  interest  in  the  House 
of  Rep"  (a  majority  of  which  House  it's  suppos'd  are  un- 
dertakers in  it)  that  they  would  not  join  in  any  inquiry 
into  either  scheme.  Notwithstanding  this  the  Gov'  & 
Councill  thot  themselves  oblig'd  in  duty  to  his  Majesty, 
and  from  a  just  care  of  his  people,  to  do  what  lay  with 
them  to  prohibit  both  companies  from  proceeding  in  their 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO  THE  LOBDS  07  TBADE.  349 

projections ;  but  the  first  company,  viz',  that  of  iesuing 
bills  redeemable  in  fifteen  years  by  eilver,  offering  to  cor- 
rect tbeir  Bcheme  by  the  addition  of  an  unalterable  article 
to  it  obliging  themselves  to  give  silver  or  gold  for  the  bills 
on  demand,  or  to  pay  any  diflerenoe  of  price  for  the  silver 
purchast  elsewhere,  this  so  satisfy'd  the  Gov'  and  Coun- 
cill  that  they  think  these  bills  not  onely  an  honour  to  the 
governm*,  but  of  service  to  the  people  as  a  medium  in 
commerce,  for  they  are  truly  &  really  equal  to  gold  & 
silver  to  the  possessors,  according  to  the  value  exprest  in 
the  bills,  and  so  no  further  proceeding  has  been  had  about 
it ;  but  as  to  the  other  scheme,  the  Gov'  &  Councill  look 
on  it  so  iniquitous  and  so  big  with  dangerous  conse- 
quences to  the  King's  government  and  to  his  people,  that 
I  have  issu'd  the  two  inclosed  proclamations*  for  the 
better  safety  &  welfare  of  bis  Majesty's  government  & 
people,  &  yet  I  question  whether  any  thing  less  than  an 
act  of  Parliament  will  be  sufficient  to  stop  the  progress  of 
it.  I  therefore  hope  your  Lordships  will  take  effectuall 
care  in  the  projecting  the  bill  respecting  paper  currency 
in  the  plantations  that  all  piivate  companies  &  combi- 
nations may  be  included. 

I  now  send  your  Ijordsliips  the  book  of  laws  of  this 
Province,  which  contains  all  that  are  now  in  force  in  the 
Province,  and  your  Lordships  will  find  in  the  book  tem- 
porary laws,  of  which  some  are  expired,  and  some  not. 

As  to  the  fortifications  of  this  Province,  your  Lordships 
will  find  by  my  letter  of  16  July  last,  that  the  Assembly 
have  at  last  made  provision  (such  as  it  is)  for  repair  of 
the  forts  on  the  frontiers  (both  east  and  west),  but  Castle 
William,  the  main  fortress  of  the  Province,  is  still  want- 
ing of  considerable  repairs  and  addition,  for  which  the 
Assembly  voted  a  sum  of  money  the  last  session,  but  I 
could  not  consent  to  it,  because  they  had  in  the  same 
vote  taken  the  effecting  of  the  work  into  the  hands  of  a 

■  3m  tlu  BwtoD  Wecktj  lTew»-L«ttcr,  Nor.  6  to  Mot.  li,  1T40.  —Ed*. 


oyGoot^lc 


350  THE  BELCHEE  PAPEES.  [ITW. 

committee  of  their  own,  altho'  that  matter  is  absolutely 
reserv'd  to  the  King's  Gov'  in  the  royal  Charter.  I  shall 
still  urge  them  to  what  I  judge  may  be  necessary  to  hia 
Majesty's  honour  &  service,  &  to  their  own  security,  and 
shall  take  care,  as  your  Lordships  are  pleas'd  to  suggest, 
to  adhere  strictly  on  all  occasions  to  my  instructions  as 
the  rule  of  my  conduct  &  the  justification  of  my  pro- 
ceedings. The  S"'  instant  I  received  by  one  Cap"  Hall 
from  their  Excellencies,  the  Lords  Justices,  an  additional 
instruc"  for  marking  out  the  boundaries  between  this  Prov- 
ince and  that  of  New  Hampshire,  and  I  am  therein  directed 
to  communicate  the  said  instruc"  to  the  eeverall  Councills 
and  Assemblies  of  his  Majesty's  said  Provinces.  I  shall 
carefully  do  every  thing  in  my  power  that  his  Majesty's 
commands  in  this  behalf  be  executed  in  the  most  eflectuall 
and  expeditious  manner,  and  as  the  Assembly  of  this 
Province  meets  to-morrow  I  shall  lay  this  instruction  be- 
fore them,  as  I  have  already  done  before  his  Majesty's 
Councill.  By  the  said  Cap'  Hall  I  also  receiv'd  addi- 
tional instructions  from  their  Excellencies,  the  Lords 
Justices,  respecting  the  future  emissions  of  paper  cur- 
rency in  this  Province  and  that  of  New  Hampshire,  to 
which  I  shall  conform  myself,  &  also  lay  the  said  in- 
structions before  the  severall  Assemblies  for  their  better 
conduct  in  that  matter. 

As  anything  material  occurs  &  that  may  affect  hia 
Majesty's  honour  &  service,  or  the  interest  of  his  people  in 
either  of  my  governments,  I  shall  do  myself  the  honour 
to  keep  your  Lordships  duly  acquainted  therewith,  and 
am  in  the  meantime,  with  great  respect,  ray  Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  and  most  humble  serv'. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Nov  17, 1740. 

This  packet  I  have  been  oblig'd  to  open  to  rectify  a 
mistake  in  the  sum  of  the  outstanding  bills. 

(Grant.  Skinner.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  SIR  ROBEBT  WALPOLE. 


TO  SIR  ROBERT   WALPOLE. 


Mat  it  please  t'  Honour, —  By  some  of  the  last 
ships  from  England  my  frienda  acquaint  me  that  my 
unreasonable  enemies  are  implacable,  and  their  malice 
not  to  be  satiated  unless  they  can  accomplish  ray  ruin. 
While  I  am,  Sir,  pursuing  my  duty  to  his  Majesty,  in  the 
strictest  observance  of  his  royal  orders,  &  doing  every 
thing  here  in  my  power  for  the  King's  honour  &  interest, 
and  for  the  welfare  of  his  people,  and  they  at  same 
time  not  giving  me  as  much  as  defrayes  my  annual  ex- 
pence,  altho'  my  whole  time  is  ingrost  in  the  affairs  of 
the  government,  hard,  I  think,  is  my  fate  to  be  thus 
pursu'd  by  groundless  complaints  from  my  restless  ene- 
mies. And  1  cannot  but  think  it  unmannerly  &  rude  to 
a  degree  that  they  should  continue  so  to  teaze  and  inter- 
rupt his  Majesty's  ministers.  Let  me  then  beg  of  your 
Honour,  as  a  singular  favour,  that  I  may  be  deliver'd 
from  such  a  malicious  persecution  by  your  frowning 
upon  my  enemies,  and  that  my  hands  may  be  strength- 
ned  in  the  government,  and  my  heart  incourag'd,  by 
your  Honour's  assurance  to  my  friends  of  your  favour 
&  protection.  T  have  a  large  family,  and  laid  aside  all 
other  wayes  of  life  at  the  time  I  receiv'd  the  honour 
of  his  Majesty's  commissions  for  the  two  provinces  now 
under  my  care ;  and  it  would  be  a  great  severity  on  me 
and  on  my  children  to  be  remov'd  onely  to  gratifye  my 
enemies  and  such  as  may  be  trying  to  supplant  me,  and 
gaping  to  feed  their  needy,  hungry  circumstances  in 
my  destruction.  As  I  am  sure  your  Honour  can  make 
this  thing  perfectly  easy  with  a  word,  let  me,  Sir,  hum- 
bly hope  it  from  you.  I  have  desir'd  my  brother,  M' 
Partridge,  &  my  son,  M'  Belcher  (my  agents),  to  pray 
for  the  honour  of  delivering  this  into  your  hands,      T 


oyGoot^lc 


352  THE  BELCHEB  FAFEBS.  [1740, 

am,    with    tbe    most    profound    regard  and    deference, 
Sir, 

Your  Honour's  moet  devoted,  most  faithful!  and  moat 
obedient  servant.  '    J.  B. 

BosTOM,  Nov  18,  1740. 
(Grant  Skinner.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEB,  JR. 

Mr  DBAE  Son,  —  Altho'  I  have  already  eeal'd  up  thirty 
letters  by  this  ship  (and  many  of  them  long  ones),  yet  to 
teach  you  your  duty  I  make  no  excuse  or  delay  in  answer- 
ing yours  of  18*  October,  which  I  received  V  Foiies  29 
ult'.  It  would  much  rejoyce  me  to  hear  Lord  Cathcart 
was  sail'd  with  Admiral  Ogle.  I  thank  you  for  inserting 
the  paragraph  from  the  Philad'  Gazette  in  your  daily 
Gazetteer.  I  am  sorry  my  honest  zeal  in  the  affair  of 
the  troops  did  not  so  fully  succeed  to  the  end  as  I  wisht, 
but  the  failure  was  intirely  owing  to  the  baulk  made  in 
not  sending  commissions  and  arms,  and  this  wrong  step 
might  in  a  great  measure  happen  from  what  Kii&ff  and 
others  gave  out,  thai  no  troops  could  be  rais'd  here.  However, 
I  did  my  best,  and  sent  one  company  more  than  was  ex- 
pected from  me.  Shirley  did  all  in  his  little  power  to 
clog  that  affair.  Poor  wretch  !  had  he  been  to  have  con- 
ducted that  difficult  business,  he  would  not  have  been 
able  to  have  rais'd  fifty  men.  As  to  Kilby,  I  find  he  is 
like  the  rest  of  the  N.  E.  chaps;  he  has  but  little  reputa- 
tion here,  &  I  think  will  soon  be  recall'd.  You  did  well 
to  counterwork  him  by  Coram  with  M'  H.  W.  What  he 
wrote  in  discouragement  of  the  expedition  was  to  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  of  Representatives ;  his  letter  was  dated 
5  April  last.  I  re'd  it,  and  as  near  as  I  can  remember,  he 
said  he  hop'd  not  one  man  in  ten  teouM  be  fw  rarnng  an^  men, 
or  to  that  purpose. 

I  have  wrote  his  Excellency  M'  Walpole  at  lai^e,  and 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  TO    JONATHAN   BELCHEB,   JR.  353 

hope  he  will  now  drop  the  matter  about  that  haughty, 
unmannerly  man,  D ,*  for  I  would  really  lay  my  com- 
mission at  the  King's  feet  rather  than  not  let  him  know 
his  proper  station  and  distance. 

As  to  M'  Jer.  Allen,  I  am  well  pleas'd  that  you  are  in 
so  good  terms  together,  and  that  he  appears  to  be  really 
the  Govemour's  friend.  I  have  upon  this  aesur'd  his 
brother  of  my  influence  in  bis  favour,  if  we  live  to  the 
time.  But  this  must  be  a  secret,  or  he  may  lose  his 
choice  by  its  being  known  tlie  Gov'  is  friendly  in  the  mat- 
ter. I  must  say  M'  James  Allen  has  acted  the  gentleman 
at  all  times  in  the  affair  of  Lloyd's  Exe".  You  may  com- 
municate this  paragraph  to  his  brother.  I  will  say  no 
more  as  to  what  baa  been  mention'd  to  me  of  dutance  d 
reservedness.'f  You  are  tum'd  of  thirty,  and  I  hope  able 
to  conduct  yourself  in  the  choice  of  your  acquaintance  and 
companions,  in  which  by  God  Almighty's  aid  may  you 
alwayes  manifest  your  wisdom  &  good  judgement.  I  say  I 
am  quite  easy  in  this  matter,  i  I  thank  you  for  the  Annals 
of  Europe  of  1739,  and  for  Le  Strange  on  Religion.  The 
cane  strings  are  very  good. 

I  wish  M'  Hyam  may  be  a  true  prophet,  but  I  have 
reason  to  fear  otherwise,  by  what  your  uncle  writes  me 
two  days  after  your  date,  especially  as  to  N.  Hampshire. 
I  will  indeavour  not  to  be  wanting  to  myself  by  indolence 
or  anything  else,  and  when  I  have  done  all  I  can,  &  my 
friends  have  kindly  and  industriously  done  their  part,  I 
hope  I  shall  be  quiet  and  content  in  the  event  that  Provi- 
dence may  order.  I  am  of  all  other  things  respecting  my 
family  most  of  all,  Jon",  concem'd  for  you  &  as  my  letters 
for  about  18  m"  past  have  been  pretty  large  and  particular 
on  this  head,  I  need  not  repeat  to  you  onely  that  I  have 
been  a  faithfull  father  in  being  honest  and  open  to  let 
you  know  what  you  are  to  trust  to.  I  am  loth  to  be 
angry,  but  where  is  the  affair  of  Miss  H — tf — M  ?   and 

*  Fid]  Dudley.  —  Em.  t  S«e  poti,  p.  608.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


354  THE   BELCHEE  PAPERS.  [1740. 

where  is  your  annual  account  ?  Don't  think  I  am  to  be 
turn'd  of  with  the  flap  of  a  fox  tail.  I  don't  at  all  forget 
your  breach  of  promise  by  your  delayes.  Tliey  onely 
aggravate  your  fault.  When  you  have  things  to  write 
and  send  that  you  don't  love  to  do,  yet  you  had  better 
let  them  be  done,  for  I  must  and  will  have  what  I  order 
you  to  do.    I  am 

Your  aflectionate  father.  J.  B. 

BosTOM,  Dec  1,  1740. 

(Grant.  Skinner.) 


TO  LORD  WILMINGTON. 

Most  honoured  &  noble  Lord,  —  Altho'  I  have 
already  done  myself  the  honour  of  addressing  your  Lord- 
ship by  this  conveyance  in  answer  to  your  Lordship's 
commands  respecting  the  heirs  of  one  Tbetcher,  yet  upon 
the  arrivall  of  some  ships  in  a  few  dayes  past  from  Eng- 
land, I  am  inform'd  by  my  friends  that  new  efforts  were 
making  by  my  restless  enemies  to  get  me  superseded  in 
his  Majesty's  commission  for  the  government  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  that  the  matter  did  principally  rest  with 
your  Lordship.  I  would  therefore  humbly  beg  your  Lord- 
ship's patience  and  candour  to  hear  me  in  an  affair  that  so 
nearly  affects  my  honour  &  interest,  as  well  as  the  wel- 
fare of  my  family.  And  I  would  in  the  first  place  ask  his 
Majestys  forgiveness  for  any  unwitting  and  unwilling 
mistake  I  made  when  the  affair  of  the  boundaries  between 
this  Province  and  New  Hamp  was  transacting,  and  I  do 
most  solemnly  avow  to  your  Lordship  that  I  had  not  the 
least  thought  or  design  to  do  any  thing  in  prejudice  to 
his  Majesty's  honour  or  interest,  or  to  the  hurt  of  the 
Province  of  New  Hampshire,  nor  did  any  such  thing  hap- 
.pen  in  any  measure  from  any  part  of  my  conduct*    Let 

•  Sre  Tiomlinaan's  Memorial  to  the  King  in  Council,  printed  in  the  New  Hmnpthin 
ProTtnciBl  Pepere,  vol.  v.  pp.  9ai-9aii.  In  thi«  p»por  Belcher  ia  charged  willi  endeavnriiw. 
by  incceaBive  promgationg  of  the  Assemblr  of  New  Hanip>hirc,  to  prercnt  that  Proriiic* 


oyGoot^lc 


1740]  to   LOHD  WILMINGTON.  355 

me  then  hope  in  your  Lordship's  goodness  for  overlooking 
what  I  so  inadvertently  fell  into.  It  is  the  honour  of 
Kings  to  forgive  their  subjects  when  they  confess  their 
faults  and  humbly  ask  it,  and  I  know  it  is  not  in  your 
Lordahip's  nature  to  be  severe.  Let  me  then  intreat 
your  Lordship  also  to  pardon  me,  and  to  pass  by  the  mis- 
take I  made  &  which  prov'd  of  no  ill  consequence  in  any 
respect.  I  am  given  to  understand  that  the  rest  of  his 
Majesty's  ministers  are  ready  and  willing  to  pass  by  this 
first  &  onely  fault,  &  that  1  may  yet  stand  well  with  his 
Majesty.  Indeed,  my  Lord,  I  must  pray  you  to  allow  me 
to  think  hard,  very  hard  would  the  case  be  to  take  away 
my  bread  and  to  strip  me  of  the  honour  of  the  King's 
commission  on  this  occasion.  Moreover,  may  it  please 
^•our  Lordship,  to  have  a  separate  Governour  for  New 
Hampshire  (in  case  ofwarrwith  the  Indians  or  French), 
I  will  take  upon  me  to  say,  may  prove  ruinous  to  that 
Province,  &  greatly  to  the  dishonour  of  his  Majesty's  gov- 
ernment, as  they  would  be  so  much  expos'd  to  the  ravages 
of  the  Indian  enemy,  for  by  the  settlement  of  the  boun- 
daries Mass*  have  so  large  a  frontier  taken  of  from  them, 
and  which  must  now  be  protected  &  defended  by  New 
Hampshire,  as  will  in  a  manner  undo  &  depopulate  that 
Province  wherein  is  but  a  handfull  of  people ;  nor  would 
they  if  continued  in  profound  peace  be  capable  in  a  great 
while  to  come  to  snbdue  &  settle  the  large  tract  of  land 
fallen  to  them  {if  his  Majesty  finally  determines  it  shall 
be  theirs),  no,  not  for  an  age  to  come.  Let  my  enemies, 
my  Lord,  who  have  been  so  long  indeavouring  to  do  me 
all  the  ill  offices  in  their  power,  represent  things  as  they 
please,  I  honestly  tell  your  Lordship  the  true  state  of  that 
Province  &  of  that  poor  little  handfull  of  people.     Why, 

from  ippoinling  igEnlB,  within  the  sp«ciRed  time,  to  appear  before  the  Coinmiiiionere  to 
Kttle  the  boundarj'  line,  ind,  in  a  timilar  manner,  to  preTent  an  appeal  from  their  dedsion. 
Apparenlt?  he  exceeded  hii  aathority,  and  prorogued  the  Asiemblv  for  ■  longer  time  than 
he  vu  inlhorized  to  do.  Hia  contenlion  vru  that  It  was  his  Rr-t  fault,  and  no  harm  re- 
aolted  to  Kev  Hampehire.  —  Eds. 


MoyGooi^lc 


356  THE  BELCHER  PAFEES.  [17W. 

my  Lord,  must  I  be  made  a  trophy  to  the  malice  of  my 
unreasonable  enemies  ?  for  a  mistake  that  did  in  no  point 
affect  the  King's  service  ?  As  for  the  Repres*"  of  New 
Hampshire,  they  consist  of  nineteen  persons,  a  majority 
whereof  are  chosen  by  the  restless  indeavoura  of  my 
enemies,  and  have  therefore  the  opportunity  of  carrying 
what  they  please  in  that  little  petty  Airaembly,  and  this 
notwithstanding,  may  it  please  your  Lordship,  if  the  peo- 
ple were  to  be  poU'd  three  in  four  would  pray  for  the 
continuance  of  their  present  Govemour.  I  ask  your  Lord- 
ship's pardon  for  the  trouble  of  this,  and  pray  you  to  let 
my  bro,  M'  Partridge,  &  my  son,  M'  Belcher,  have  the 
honour  of  putting  this  into  your  Lordship's  hands,  &  fur- 
ther to  plead  for  your  Lordship's  compassion  on  me,  & 
on  my  family,  as  to  the  subject  of  this  letter;  so  will  I 
and  so  shall  my  children  constantly  wish  your  Lordship's 
long  life,  with  good  health  &  lasting  honour.  I  am, 
my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  faithfull,  most  obed*  and  most 
hum.  se^v^  J.  B. 

Boston,  Decern'  2,  1740. 
(Grant.  Skuuer.) 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  I  have  wrote  so  much  by  liiis  conveyance  that 
I'me  almost  tir'd,  aa  I'me  afraid  you'll  be  with  reading, 
yet  I  must  pray  you  &  your  nephew  to  read  mine  of  this 
day's  date  to  L*  Wilmington  very  sedately,  &,  if  New 
Hamp  be  not  rent  from  me  before  it  comes  to  hand,  learn 
the  most  leisure  time  to  be  introduc'd  to  his  Lordship  that 
you  may  deliver  my  letter  and  further  expostulate  with 
him,  which  M'  Belcher  can  properly  and  handsomely  do 
in  behalf  of  a  father,  and  after  he  has  so  done  let  him 
still  follow  my  Lord  with  a  pungent  expostulatory  letter 


oyGoot^lc 


:710-1.]         TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE.  357 

on  my  accouot  and  on  his  own.  I  am,  I  am,  brother, 
very  loth  to  lose  New  Hampshire,  &  thus  I  leave  the 
matter. 

Toil  wUl  also  deliver  my  letters  of  this  day's  date  to 
Duke  of  Newcastle  &  Lords  of  Trade,  &  do  the  best  in 
your  power  to  get  M'  Oilman  appointed  a  Counsellour  in 
the  place  of  Cap*  Rindge  lately  deceas'd.*  Gilman  is  a 
man  of  good  vertue,  sense,  &  estate.  He  is  buying  a  bill 
of  exch*  to  send  you  for  the  charge  of  his  mandamus. 
He  is  a  very  substantial  thriving  man  &  in  considerable 
trade.  I  intend  to  recommend  him  to  you  for  a  corre- 
spondent. Till  his  money  geta  to  your  hands  I  will  be 
iiigag'd  for  the  charge,  &  pray  you  to  get  him  appointed 
if  possible,  as  he  is  my  friend.  I  know  there  will  be  op- 
position made,  so  pray  be  early  and  earnest  in  the  matter. 
This  is  my  34*  V  Grant,  &  must  pin  up  the  basket  I 
am,  dear  brother. 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Deer  2,  1710. 

I  am  now  trying  to  get  a  township  of  land  of  the  As- 
sembly for  your  friends,  the  Quakers. 

(Grant.  SkiniMr.) 


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  tour  rx)BDSHiPS,  —  The  Assembly  of 
this  Province  have  had  a  session  from  21  Novem.  to  9* 
instant,  in  which  time  they  might  easily  do  more  than  all 
the  generall  business  of  the  Province  for  a  whole  year, 
but  they  began,  went  on,  &  ended  the  session  (according 
to  my  observation)  without  any  regard  to  the  defence  & 
support  of  his  Majesty's  government,  or  to  the  welfare 
of  his  people. 

*  John  Bindge  died  Not.  6,  ITW.    See  Weotwotth  Qenealogj-,  vol.  i.  p.  330.  —  Em. 


oyGoot^lc 


358  THE  BELCHEE  PAPEBS.  [17«»-1. 

They  would  prepare  no  bill  for  supply  to  the  Treasury 
but  in  such  way  as  was  in  direct  opposition  to  severall  of 
hia  Majesty's  royal  instructions.  Nor  would  they  raise 
any  money  to  carry  his  Majesty's  instruction  respecting 
the  line  betwixt  this  Province  &  New  Hampshire  into  exe- 
cution, altho'  I  urg'd  it  upon  them  once  &  again,  as  your 
Lordships  will  see  by  what  I  now  inclose.  I  am  soon 
going  to  New  Hampshire,  where  I  shall  lay  before  that 
Assembly  his  Majesty's  orders  in  this  behalf,  and  upon 
their  making  provision  to  defray  the  charge  nothing  shall 
be  wanting  on  my  part  of  a  punctuall  obedience  to  his 
Majesty's  orders. 

Altbo'  Castle  Will",  at  the  entnince  of  this  harbour,  the 
main  fortress  of  the  Province,  wants  additions  and  repairs, 
which  I  have  been  often  pressing  the  Assemblies  to  make 
provision  for,  and  altho'  it  is  so  much  for  the  safety  of 
the  whole  countrey,  yet  this  Assembly  would  do  nothing 
in  the  matter  unless  I  would  consent  to  their  doing  it  in 
such  a  way  as  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  right  & 
authority  reserv'd  to  the  Crown  in  the  Royal  Charter. 
The  17*  November  last  I  just  hinted  to  your  Lordships 
what  this  Assembly  had  done  in  a  former  session  on  this 
head,  and  I  now  cover  to  your  Lordships  what  has  past 
since  in  the  same  affair.  I  beleive  it  is  fact  that  all  Gov- 
ernours  from  the  first  exercise  of  this  present  Charter 
have  suffer'd  the  Assemblies  to  appoint  Committees  to 
build  and  repair  the  King's  forts  &  fortifications,  and  so 
I  have  done  myself,  till  I  more  thorrSIy  re'd  &  weigh'd 
that  clause  in  the  Charter  which  so  particularly  respects 
this  matter,  as  in  page  11,  copy  whereof  goes  herewith. 
What  the  House  of  Representatives  aim  at  is  to  put  the 
King's  Governour  &  Captain  Generall  under  the  power 
and  direction  of  a  committee  of  their  own  appointing,  for 
they  are  to  buy  materials  and  to  see  the  additions  &  re- 
pairs effected.  If  this  be  the  right  sense  of  the  Charter 
the  King's  Governour  seems  to  have  nothing  to  do  in  the 


oyGoO'^lc 


1740-1.]        TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE.  359 

matter  but  by  leave  of  their  committee,  for  he  cannot  com- 
mand a  shilling  of  the  money.  To  compare  great  things 
with  small,  when  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  has 
rais'd  and  appropriated  money  for  the  land  or  sea  service, 
surely  no  comm""  is  ever  appointed  by  Parliament  for 
buying  materials  for  building  forts  or  ships  of  warr,  but 
the  effecting  these  things  is  entirely  under  his  Majesty's 
orders  &  directions. 

When,  my  I^rds,  a  constitution  under  the  Crown  grants 
to  the  King's  people  such  &  such  liberties  &  priviledges  & 
reserves  certain  rights  &  authorities  still  to  the  Crown, 
such  constitution  must  he  most  safe,  and  the  people  ought 
to  be  most  quiet  when  each  party  injoyes  their  own  free 
from  incroacliment,  but  tbe  people  are  not  alwayes  wise 
enough  to  understand  &  practice  their  duty  and  thereby 
to  promote  their  own  happiness.  I  would  pray  y'  Lord- 
ships to  read  with  attention  all  I  send  on  this  affair,  & 
then  to  give  me  your  thoughts  whether  I  am  not  right  in 
my  construction  of  this  part  of  the  Charter,  the  practice 
heretofore  notwithstanding.  As  to  the  opinion  of  his 
Majesty's  Councill,  there  were  17  at  the  board  &  it  past 
by  9,  and  this  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,^  since  they  are 
very  cautious  of  disobliging  the  Representatives.  I  have 
once  and  again  wrote  your  Lordships  of  several  schemes 
or  projections  going  forward  here  for  emitting  large  quan- 
tities of  paper  currency,  and  there  has  been  no  perswad- 
ing  the  Assemblies  to  put  a  stop  to  them.  If  some  speedy 
care  therefore  be  not  taken  by  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain  in  this  article  the  British  trade  to  these  plantations 
must  be  lost,  or,  which  will  be  worse,  be  a  continual  scene 
of  fraud  &  loss.  I  now  inclose  to  your  Lordships  the 
scheme  projected  for  emitting  bills  call'd  Manufactiiry 
Bills;  the  deficiencies  of  it, how  big  it  is  with  deceit, your 
Tjordshipa  wilt  readily  discern,  &  if  such  things  are  suf- 
fer'd  the  King's  orders  to  his  severall  plantation  govern- 
ments will  be  but  of  little  significancy,  for  in  the  way 


oyGoot^lc 


360  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1710-1. 

that  this  combination  are  going  forward  what  shall  hinder 
them  &  twenty  more  such  companies  from  issuing  millions 
of  pounds  in  paper  currency  ? 

I  doubt  not  but  upon  mature  deliberation  on  this  mat- 
ter your  Lordships  will  do  every  thing  on  your  part  to 
procure  an  act  of  Parliament  forbidding  on  the  severest 
penalties  all  such  dangerous  attempts,  and  that  the  act 
may  look  back  to  the  destruction  of  this  present  daring 
enterprize.  As  I  am  sensible  your  Lordships  will  be  ap- 
ply'd  to  upon  it  from  hence  by  a  great  number  of  gen- 
tlemen of  the  best  substance,  integrity,  and  honour,  I 
shall  not  give  your  Lordships  any  further  trouble  about  it, 
onely  to  say  if  some  speedy  stop  be  not  put  to  these 
things  they  will  be  of  more  fatal  consequence  to  the 
plantations  than  the  South  Sea  bubble  was  in  the  year 
1720  to  Great  Britain. 

Tour  Lordships  have  commanded  my  thoughts  as  to  the 
drawing  in  or  sinking  what  bills  of  credit  are  out  in  this 
Province  and  in  New  Hampshire  &  to  come  in  by  taxes, 
which  according  to  the  accounts  I  lately  sent  your  Lord- 
ships is  about  £162,000  this  currency,  or  £32,400  ster., 
in  Massachusetts,  &  in  New  Hampshire  £12,976.  16.  8,  or 
£2585. 7.  2  ster*.  The  whole  of  what  is  out  in  Massa- 
chusetts must  be  drawn  in  by  the  end  of  the  year  1741, 
and  that  out  in  New  Hampshire  in  1742,  and  in  this 
latter  I  think  there  will  be  no  difficulty.  The  several  acts 
by  which  the  bills  of  New  Hampshire  have  been  issu'd  hav- 
ing made  sufficient  provision  for  calling  them  in.  As  to 
what  are  outstanding  in  Massachusetts,  altho'  they  ought 
all  to  be  drawn  in  the  next  year  in  conformity  to  the  acta 
by  which  they  were  emitted,  yet  as  the  acts  have  left 
the  apportiomng  of  the  tax  for  drawing  them  in  to  a  future 
Assembly  I  don't  expect  such  Assembly  will  comply  with 
the  acts  in  the  apporiiomng. 

Massachusetts  is  a  populous  &  rich  province,  and  paid 
a  tax  of  above  twenty  thousand  pounds  sterling  in  one 


oyGoot^lc 


174ft-l.]  TO  BICH4BD  PARTRIDGE.  361 

year  near  fifty  years  agoe,  when  I  suppose  they  were  not 
one  third  part  so  large  as  at  this  time  in  people  or  estate, 
that  I  should  not  think  it  too  heavy  a  thing  at  this  time 
of  day  for  the  Massachusetts  to  pay  a  tax  of  £32,000  ster- 
ling the  next  year,  and  sink  their  hills  in  a  juBt  compli- 
ance with  their  own  laws.  And  bow  sacredly,  my  Lords, 
should  publick  faith  he  kept !  As  to  any  emissions  of 
hills  for  the  future  support  &  defence  of  the  government, 
I  hope  none  will  be  allow'd  but  such  as  shall  have  a  fixt 
unalterable  value,  and  yet  such  emissions,  my  Lords,  will 
not  answer  the  end,  viz',  to  keep  the  commerce  of  G'  Bri- 
tain hither  &  to  the  neighbouring  plantations  in  an  honest 
channel.  With  deference  to  y*  Lordships,  I  think  nothing 
will  effectually  cure  the  disease  the  plantations  labour 
under  in  this  regard  but  an  act  of  Parliament  either 
■wholly  to  forbid  paper  currency  or  to  fix  it  in  all  the 
plantations  at  one  standard,  and  why  should  not  that  be 
st-erling,  or  are  not  the  children  worthy  of  the  same  care 
&  benefits  with  the  mother? 

I  should  sooner  have  wrote  your  Lordships  on  all  these 
heads  but  that  the  severe  season  for  some  weeks  pR.8t  has 
made  a  land  of  ice  from  this  town  into  the  ocean  &  blockt 
up  all  the  shipping. 

Your  Lordships  will  forgive  the  length  of  this  letter, 
and  believe  me  to  be,  with  great  respect,  my  Lords, 
Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  moat  hum.  serv'. 

J.  B. 

BoaTOK,  Jan"  14, 174I>/1. 

(Skiuner.  Fooes.) 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRtDGE. 


Sir,  —  The  23*  currant  arriv'd  Adams  from  London, 
by  whom  I  have  your  favours  of  Nov'  6,  22*,  &  of  1  &  6"" 
nit',  with  what  they  incloa'd,  &  owning  the  receit  of  mine 
to  30""  October  last,  excepting  one   I  wrote  you  6  of 


oyGoot^lc 


362  THE  BELCHER  PAPEKS.  [HW-l. 

October  T  Coffin,  &  its  duplicate  went  V  Paterson,  &  two 
more  of  29  &  ,31  October  in  co.  witb  J.  B.  V  Paterson, 
both  wbich  I  hope  you  had,  tho'  you  don't  make  par- 
ticular mention  of  them.  I  thank  your  care  of  the  seeds 
from  Switzer  (cost  6,  8.  3),  I  am  sorry  we  have  lost  our 
friend  Doddingtoo,  which  shows  the  uncertainty  of  human 
affairs.  As  to  the  business  you  sent  me  in  comand  from 
Lord  Wilmington,  it  waa  done  &  sent  you  10  weeks  agoe, 
V  Grant,  &  duplicate  of  it  goes  now  f  Skinner.  I  am 
sure  his  Lord;ship  could  find  no  fault  in  that  matter.  It 
was  not  with  me  to  force  the  heirs  to  do  but  when  & 
how  they  pleas'd. 

Since  M'  Hall  first  apply'd  to  you,  I  wish  you  could 
serve  him.  A  strong  remonstrance  against  the  present 
Judge  goes  by  this  conveyance  to  the  Lords  of  the  Ad- 
miralty, which  may  make  a  good  opportunity  for  obtain- 
ing M'  Hall's  request  And  as  the  present  incumbent  is 
a  man  of  so  vile  a  character,  it  will  be  greatly  for  the 
King's  service  to  remove  him,  but  more  of  this  in  another. 
Sh — r — ly,  you  say,  is  appointed  Postmaster  in  the  room 
of  the  late  Coll"  Spotawood.  He  seems  at  present  not  to 
own  it,  tho'  severall  letters  besides  yours  mention  it.  I 
take  notice  of  what  M'  Hyam  said  to  M'  Allen.  These 
things  notwithstanding,  brother,  my  enemies  must  be 
watcht,  for  I  know  there  are  still  great  plottings  &  con- 
trivances to  remove  me,  if  possible,  &  even  by  Sh — r — ly 
himself.  "Waldo  &  all  his  adherents,  and  this  latter  is  nn 
inveterately  malicious  creature,  will  be  restless  and  inde- 
fatigable till  he  comes  away.  It  is  strange  'the  ministry 
will  be  so  teaz'd  and  plagu'd  with  every  ill-natur'd  fellow 
that  conceives  a  prejudice  at  a  Governour.  Why  won't 
they  see  thro'  then"  spight  &  malice,  &  bid  'em  be  quiet  ? 

I  heartily  wish  M'  Sam'  Sherburne  may  fill  up  the 
vacancy  in  the  Councill  of  New  Hampshire  made  by  the 
death  of  M'  Dennett.  For  what  reason  does  the  Kiug 
give  his  Governour  the  instructions  I  sent  you  as  to  the 


oyGoot^lc 


1740-1.]  TO  EICHAKD  PARTRIDGE.  363 

appointment  of  Counsellours  at  New  Hampshire,  if  no 
regard  is  to  be  had  to  thera  ?  I  am  sure  Eymes  is  by  no 
means  qualify'd  according  to  the  King's  8""  instruction. 

I  observe  the  Quakers  had  made  another  very  strong 
application  in  my  favour  to  Duke  of  Newcastle.  They 
are  certainly  a  most  grateful!  sett  of  men,  &  IVf  Allen,  I 
see,  had  made  a  strong  interest  with  the  Dissenting  min- 
isters for  the  Gov''*  better  establishment.  Please  to  give 
him  my  kind  thanks,  and  tell  him  I  shall  be  ready  to 
Ber\'e,him  when  it  may  fall  in  my  power,  and  should 
write  him  by  this  conveyance,  but  that  I  understand  he 
comes  away  with  the  first  spring  ship.  I  can't  help  say- 
ing again  that  Waldo  is  a  most  violent,  malicious  fellow  ; 
but  carst  cows,  brother,  they  say,  have  short  horns;  and 
this  it's  said  is  his  case.  By  being  greatly  in  debt  at 
London,  as  well  as  here,  which  must  make  him  very  strait 
of  money,  he  is,  indeed,  in  a  fair  way  to  be  wholly  ruined. 
Several  executions  were  taken  out  of  our  Court  the  la-st 
week  and  serv'd  upon  his  estate  in  town,  and  on  a  piece 
of  land  he  has  at  Dorchester.  Read  the  inclosed,  seal, 
&  deliver  it  to  Cap'  Coram. 

As  to  Leheup  I  mov'd  the  thing  to  some  of  my  friends 
in  the  late  session  of  Assembly  here,  but  nothing  wtis 
done,  so  I  shall  say  no  more  about  it  till  I  hear  further 
from  you.  Your  letter  to  M'  Kinsey  of  Philadelphia  will 
go  by  the  first  post.  I  congratulate  you  upon  your  being 
appointed  Agent  for  the  opulent  colony  of  Pensilvania. 
I  take  a  particular  notice  of  all  you  say  about  what  is 
call'd  here  the  iMnd  Bank,  &  am  heartily  sorry  you  ap- 
pear'd  so  much  in  favour  of  a  thing  so  full  of  fraud  &  of 
all  other  mischiefs  that  the  nature  of  it  will  admit  of. 
Surely  you  never  enter'd  into  the  merits  of  this  vile  com- 
bination, or  it  had  been  impossible  for  you  to  have  done 
the  least  thing  that  should  look  like  favouring  it.  No, 
you  are  too  honest  a  man.  As  to  what  you  mention  of 
the  Province's  being  distrest  for  want  of  a  medium  of 


oyGoot^lc 


364  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1740-1. 

trade,  better  far  to  have  nothing  than  a  bad  thing,  espe- 
cially so  deceitful!  &  wicked  an  one  as  this  is.  Unless  a 
paper  currency  can  be  fixt  to  an  unalterable  standard,  to 
be  the  same  to-day,  to-morrow,  &  so  on,  all  men  that  are 
creditors  with  the  world  must  be  continually  defrauded  & 
cheated  out  of  their  estates ;  &  such  has  been  the  prac- 
tice of  most  of  the  governments  on  the  continent  for 
above  twenty  years  past,  and  the  Massachusetts  (I  am 
sure)  has  been  guilty  on  this  head  in  a  moat  flagrant  de- 
gree. I  heartily  wish  for  an  eflfectual  act  of  Parliament 
to  regulate  the  paper  currency  in  all  the  King's  colonies 
&  provinces  in  America,  &  to  make  an  absolute  prohibi- 
tion of  any  to  be  emitted  for  the  future  in  a  publick  or 
private  manner  but  such  aa  are  ascertain'd  at  an  invari- 
able value ;  and  you  will  allow  me  to  desire  you  to  be 
very  cautious  in  appearing  in  these  things,  because  a  man 
can't  readily  see  what  unkind  things  may  be  the  conse- 
quence of  such  his  appearing.  I  am  very  sure  you  have 
not  serv'd  yourself  in  this  Province  on  this  account  All 
that  are  concerned  in  this  fraudulent  scheme,  I  beleive, 
will  bring  ruin  on  themselves,  &  bitterly  repent  when  too 
late ;  but  so  many  better  heads  &  hands  than  mine  so 
fully  represent  this  matter  to  his  Majesty  &  to  the  gov- 
ernment at  home  that  I  rest  it  with  them. 

I  was  in  hopes  by  your  last  letters  (before  these  by 
Adams)  to  have  heard  no  more  of  M'  Sharp's  bill  in  de- 
fending the  Massachusetts'  when  taxt  with  bribery ;  but 
now  you  say  M'  Wilka  has  not  paid  it,  for  want  of  money 
of  theirs  to  do  it.  That  can  be  no  manner  of  reason  why 
any  one  should  think  I  ought  to  pay  it ;  and  it  would  be 
the  cruellest  thing  in  the  world  to  expect  it  from  me. 
If  M'  Wilka  ia  not  in  cash  M'  Sharpe  must  wait  patiently 
till  he  has  a  remittance.  I  am  sure  it  would  be  an  un- 
reasonable thing  for  him  to  deaire  me  to  pay  it,  and 
would  be  more  than  I  ever  made  in  two  yeara  of  the 
government  of  New  Hampshire. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740-10  TO  BICHARD  PARTRIDGE.  365 

I  thaok  you  for  copy  of  the  new  complaint  preferr'd  by 
Tomlinson  in  behalf  of  Gulstoa  &  others  to  the  Lords 
Committee  of  Council),  which  has  been  heard  by  their 
Lord*",  artd  referr'd  back  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  who  I 
beleive  will  readily  say  it's  conformable  to  the  terms  of 
their  former  reports,  so  that  I  don't  take  it,  as  you  do, 
thromnff  cold  water  on  the  iUng.  No,  I  am  really  afraid  the 
Lords  of  the  Privy  Councill  will  upon  the  return  report 
to  the  King  in  favour  of  a  separate  Governour  for  New 
Hampshire ;  &  yet  perhaps  the  great  interest  of  the 
Quakers,  together  with  the  Dissenting  clergy,  may  be 
too  hard  for  my  stubborn  enemies  at  last.  If  things 
should  not  be  given  over  before  this  gets  to  you,  I  think 
you  should  insist  that  I  be  serv'd  with  copy  of  this  new 
complaint,  and  the  Assembly's  vote,  to  make  answer; 
for  let  'em  cover  &  cloak  the  matter  as  they  please,  it's 
plain  if  they  succeed  I  must  be  stript  of  my  commission. 

I  fear  the  Assembly  of  this  Province  will  think  your 
cbargiog  a  salary  of  ^100  sterling  a  year  for  your  share 
onely  of  attending  on  the  affair  of  the  Line  vastly  too 
much,  since  they  know  you  have  not  so  much  for  your 
whole  agency  of  Jersey  &  Bhode  Island,  &  Wilks  has  not 
£30  ster^  a  year  for  the  whole  agency  of  Connecticut, 
but  when  they  have  seen  your  account  you  will  doubt- 
less hear  from  them. 

I  have  brother  in  many  of  my  late  letters  wrote  you 
largely  &  with  much  concern  about  M'  Belcher  at  the 
Temple,  and  have  once  &  again  desir'd  your  particular 
answer  to  such  paragraphs  of  my  letters,  &  I  am  sorry 
you  have  not  comply'd  with  my  request.  I  pray  you  to 
oblige  me  with  your  opinion  on  all  I  have  wrote  about 
him.  I  neither  must  nor  will  flatter  him.  He  must  find 
a  way,  at  one  &  thirty,  to  stand  on  his  own  legs,  or  will 
fall  down,  for  I  am  not  able  (nor  should  I  be  just  if  I  was 
able)  to  go  on  doing  as  for  ten  years  past;  but  I  repeat 
that  I  really  am  not  able  to  do  it  with  any  tolerable 


oyGoot^lc 


dbb  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1710-1. 

comfort  to  myself  or  to  my  family.  Keep  nothing  of  this 
kind  from  him,  but  let  him  read  what  I  write.  As  to  the 
£64.  17.  0  sterling  due  on  Coll"  Blakeney's  last  bill,  the 
whole  bill  must  be  paid  as  well  as  the  others,  or  at  least 
80  much  as  I  have  mention'd,  and  I  doubt  not  but  what 
it  will ;  if  not,  Coll"  Blakeney  will  be  oblig'd  to  pay  it. 
I  remain  with  very  kind  respects,  Sir, 

Your  loving  brother,  J,  B. 

Boston,  Janu*  26,  1740/1. 

I    leave  M'  Belcher's  without  a  seal   for  you  bo  to 
deliver  him  after  you  have  re'd  it. 

(Skinner.  Fones.) 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHEE,  JR. 

Mt  dear  Son,  —  I  have  already  wrote  you  of  three 
several  dates  by  this  conveyance  &  pretty  largely.  The 
23'  currant  Adams  arriv'd  &  brought  me  yours  of  4"  of 
last  month,  by  which  I  see  Thomlinson  &  Wentworth  have 
renew'd  their  application  for  a  separate  Govemour  for 
New  Hampshire,  of  which  your  good  uncle  also  writes 
me,  &  sends  copy  of  their  petition,  &  tells  me  it  has  had 
a  hearing  before  the  Lords  Committee  of  Council.  The 
vote  of  the  Assembly  which  you  mention  of  1  Aug*  I  sent 
to  your  uncle  and  you  about  10  weeks  agoe,  with  my  re- 
marks upon  it,  which  will  the  better  inable  you  to  pre- 
pare what  you  intended  for  Sir  Charles  Wager  for  him  to 
communicate  to  the  ministry.  I  like  your  thought  well 
&  hope  you  have  pursu'd  it,  and  that  yon  have  desir'd 
a.regulnr  copy  for  me  to  make  answer,  which  is  my  un- 
doubted right,  as  there  are  fresh  charges  in  this  complaint, 
and  which  I  can  easily  answer  if  I  may  have  the  opportu- 
nity j  &  such  opportunities  (or  delaying  the  enemy)  are 
gaining  time  &  good  for  me.  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  the 
whole  body  of  Quakers  for  their  steadiness  and  for  the 


oyGoot^lc 


17*0-1.]  TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB.  367 

instance  of  it  in  the  late  address  of  those  from  Sussex  to 
Duke  of  Newcastle.  I  take  notice  you  mention  his  Grace 
once  &  again ;  pray  is  he  becoming  my  friend  ? 

I  very  particularly  observe  M'  Jer.  Allen's  turn  of 
thought  for  my  service  &  interest,  &  you  seem  to  think  I 
may  depend  upon  his  friendship  as  real  &  sincere.  Yon 
will  therefore  give  him  my  thanks  &  kind  respecto,  &  I 
shall  be  very  ready  to  return  his  good  offices  when  it  may 
fall  in  my  way.  The  body  of  Dissenters  must  be  a  very 
powerfull  interest,  and  I  find  D'  Avery  at  the  head  of  the 
deputation  of  Dissenters  has  been  prevaild  on  to  apply  to 
the  ministry  for  my  continuance,  and  that  he  had  been 
with  Duke  of  Newcastle,  and  would  see  Sir  Robert  on 
this  account.  D'  Colman  has  M'  Allen's  letter,  and  will 
make  the  best  use  of  it  he  can,  tho'  there  will  be  difBculty, 
the  ministers  here  not  being  all  so  friendly  as  I  am  sure 
I  deserve  from  them,  &  they  often  mention  among  them- 
selves your  silly  mad  conformity,  and  think  I  had  a  hand 
in  it,  &  indeed  how  can  they  think  you  would  have  dar'd 
to  do  such  a  thing  without  my  knowledge  &  leave?  Oh, 
Jon',  repent  &  come  off,  and  as  soon  as  may  be.  You 
may  plainly  see  how  much  you  have  hurt  yourself,  and 
what  a  tendency  it  has  had  to  ruin  my  interest.  This  folly 
of  yours  has  put  the  clock  back  with  me  &  with  you  more 
than  your  young  head  can  imagine ;  but  to  return,  I  again 
thank  M'  Allen  for  his  zealous  &  indefatigable  pains  in 
bringing  D^  Avery  &  M'  Chandler  with  several  other  emi- 
nent Dissenters  into  my  interest,  and  you  must  make  a 
visit  on  purpose  to  those  gentlemen,  &  give  them  my 
hearty  thanks  &  most  humble  service  for  their  kind  ap- 
pearance at  this  juncture.  I  would  write  M'  Allen  in 
answer  to  his  to  me,  but  that  I  am  told  he  comes  home 
in  the  first  spring  ship. 

I  am  surpriz'd,  Jon',  that  I  have  not  receiv'd  your  last 
year's  account  to  28*"  August  past.  If  you  keep  it  daily 
&  honestly  (as  you  ought)  it  will  be  alwayea  ready  for 


oyGoot^lc 


368  THE  BBLCHEK  PAPERS.  [1740-1. 

transcnbing,  ^hich  may  be  clone  by  a  good  clerk  in  two 
dayes  time.  Why  then  is  it  not  alwayes  seal'd  up  within 
a  week  after  the  year  expires  &  it  ia  due  to  me?  You 
may  depend,  ^Aere  is  no  dodging  or  evading  with  me.  No,  you 
must  be  puDctuall  in  your  obedience  to  what  I  require ;  & 
yourdelayes  in  such  things  justlyprovokeme,  and  really. 
Sir,  beleive  it,  if  I  cannot  have  the  account  of  the  expence 
of  my  money,  I  will  stop  my  hand  from  letting  it  go. 

I  shall  soon  make  answer  to  Cap'  Coram's  kind  letter 
to  you  about  Turner,  and  let  him  see  that  the  gentleman 
whom  he  met  with  had  been  greatly  impos'd  upon.  When 
I  was  at  New  Hampshire  in  Aug'  last  I  was  told  that  at  a 
convention  of  the  cWi  clergy  there  in  June  or  July  they 
had  made  out  a  strong  complaint  against  the  Goveniour 
for  not  going  to  c%b  nor  favouring  it,  and  had  addrest 
it  to  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury.  This  you  may  find  out  by 
M'  Newman,  who  has  access  to  all  the  Bishops.  Surely 
the  Dissenters  ought  to  know  this,  and  had  it  not  been 
for  what  is  now  in  motion  I  should  not  have  mention'd  it. 

Why  have  you  not,  Jon",  sent  me  the  acco*  of  my  cloath- 
ing  that  I  might  send  you  a  bill  for  its  payment?    You 
are  grown  quite  neglig*  in  things  I  commit  to  your  care. 
Yoiu*  loving  father.  J.  B. 

BoaTOif,  Jm)    27,  1740/1. 
(SkinDer.  Fonee.) 


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  THE  ADMIRALTY. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Lordships,  —  As  I  am  his 
Majesty's  Governour  of  this  Province,  and  whom  he  is 
pleas'd  to  stile  the  representative  of  his  royal  person 
here,  a  great  number  of  the  merchants  &  gentlemen  of 
the  best  substance  have  been  applying  to  me  on  a  very 
extraordinary  occasion,  viz',  on  that  which  is  call'd  here 
the  Land  Bank,  or  a  scheme  for  emitting  bills  to  the  value 
of  «x  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  the  common  paper 


oyGoot^lc 


1710-1.]  TO   THE  L0BD8  OF  THE  ADMIRALTY.  369 

currency  of  this  Province,  but  as  they  have  fully  instructed 
their  friends  at  home  in  the  nature  of  this  thing,  I  shall 
not  trouble  your  Lordships  with  descending  into  it  any 
more  than  to  aay  I  heartily  join  with  them  in  earnestly 
desiring  a  speedy  stop  may  be  put  to  it  by  an  act  of 
Parliament,  for  I  don't  beleive  any  leas  authority  will  do 
it;  and  if  it  be  not  done  I  think  it  will  end  in  the  total 
subversion  of  this  government  and  the  ruin  of  the  coun- 
trey.  The  body  of  merchants  have  deair'd  me  to  cover 
the  inclosed  to  your  Lordships,  by  which  you  will  see  the 
Deputy  Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  here  is  one  of  the 
principal  actors  &  promoters  of  this  wicked  projection.  I 
doubt  not  but  your  Lordships  will  be  appriz'd  of  the 
steps  taken  by  the  government  here  with  respect  to  offi- 
cers, civil  &  military,  that  nre  concerned  in  this  matter, 
all  of  whom  that  have  been  inquir'd  into  and  persist  to 
be  still  incouragers  of  it  have  been  dismlst  from  their  sev- 
eral offices  &  posts;  and  the  government  are  determin'd 
to  go  on  steadily  in  doing  all  in  their  power  for  suppress- 
ing- this  mischievous  undertaking.  I  therefore  think  my- 
self bound  in  duty  to  his  Majesty,  and  from  a  just  care  & 
regard  to  his  good  subjects  of  this  Province,  to  represent 
Rob'  Auchmuty,  Esq',  as  one  that  has  forfeited  your 
Lordships'  favour  in  persisting  to  encourage  to  his  ut- 
most an  affair  so  destructive  to  all  good  order  &  to  the 
liberties  &  properties  of  the  King's  subjects,  &  I  therefore 
hope  your  Lordships  will  judge  it  for  his  Majesty's  honour 
&  service  that  he  be  immediately  remov'd  from  his  post  of 
Deputy  Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  here,  &  that  some 
other  person  be  appointed  in  his  room. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  all  possible  respect,  my 
Lords, 

Y'  Lordships'  most  faithful!  &  most  obedient  humble 
aerv'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  January  27,  1710/1. 

(Skinner.  Fones.)     Again  Oof   20,  1711    V  Frinoe.   & 

again  to  care  of  M'  H.  FranUand. 


oyGoot^lc 


370  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS. 


TO  THE  LORDS  OP  THE  ADMIEtALTT. 

Mat  it  please  tour  Lordships,  —  I  have  by  this 
conveyance  forwarded  to  your  Lordships  a  complaint 
against  M'  Auchmuty,  Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  Id 
this  &  two  other  of  the  neighbouring  provinces,  on  con- 
Bideration  whereof  I  beleive  your  Lordships  will  judge 
him  unworthy  of  sustaining  the  said  post  any  longer; 
and  I  beleive  there  will  be  a  further  complaint  exhibited 
to  your  Lordships  by  Ellis  Huske,  Esq',  the  Naval  Officer 
of  New  Hampshire  ag'  the  said  Auchmuty,  for  his  un- 
faithfulness in  not  discharging  his  trust  upon  the  seizure 
of  a  ship,  and  information  thereof,  brott  before  him  about 
sixteen  months  agoe.  Hiese  things,  I  doubt  not,  will 
have  their  just  weight  with  your  Lordships.  I  would  also 
acquaint  your  Lordships  that  this  gentleman  is  a  constant 
practising  attorney  in  all  the  King's  Courts  here,  so  that 
when  any  thing  comes  before  him  in  judgement  in  the 
Court  of  Admiralty  where  his  clients  are  concerned,  he 
is  under  strong  temptations  to  be  in  their  favour,  to  his 
Majesty's  dishonour  &  damage,  &  to  the  great  discourage- 
ment of  his  Majesty's  officers  of  the  Customs,  &  should  he 
not  so  act  he  must  lose  a  great  number  of  fat  clients,  who 
are  of  much  more  value  to  him  than  his  post  of  Judge  of 
the  Vice  Admiralty. 

In  case  your  Lordships  should  determine  to  dismiss  M' 
Auchmuty,  I  would  ask  leave  to  nominate  to  your  Lord- 
ships Hugh  Hall,  Esq'',  of  this  town,  to  succeed  him.  He 
is  a  gentleman  of  good  integrity  &  capacity,  of  a  liberal 
education,  &  of  a  plentifull  fortune,  &  I  think  well 
qualify'd  to  sustain  the  post.  His  father  was  formerly 
Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  in  BBs  for  several  years,  & 
this  gent"  was  his  deputy,  &  I  should  esteem  it  a  mark 
of  your  Lordships'  respect  that  M'  Hall  might  receive  the 


oyGoot^lc 


1740-1.]  TO  EICDABD  WALDBON.  371 

honour  of  your  Lordships'  favour  in  this  matter.    I  am 
with  great  regard,  my  Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  most  humble  serv'. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Jannarj  31, 1740/1. 

(Skinner,  Fones.)     Again  Oof  28, 1741,  f?  Prince. 


TO  SHADRACH  WALTON. 

Hon""  Sib,  —  I  duly  receiv'd  yours  of  22'  January  with 
the  account  of  your  convening  the  Councill  according  to 
my  order  &  of  their  advising  to  call  an  Assembly  the  12"' 
instant,  when  I  intended  to  meet  them,  but  the  post  tells 
me  the  roads  are  so  drifted  with  the  late  uncommon 
snows  that  horses  cannot  pass.  The  post  mist  his  turn 
the  week  before  last,  and  tells  me  he  was  now  forc'd  to 
come  the  greatest  part  of  the  way  with  snow-shoes.  The 
case  being  thus,  when  the  Assembly  are  met  let  the  Secry 
&  Cap*  Huske  swear  them,  and  before  they  enter  on  any 
business  adjourn  them  to  Friday,  20*  instant  at  4  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  You  are  also  to  lay  before  the  Coun- 
cill a  proclamation  I  have  sent  the  Secry  for  their  advice 
upon  it.     T  am,  Sir, 

Your  ready  friend.  J.  B. 

BoBTOK,  Febra*  0*,  1740/1. 

(Port.)  

TO  RICHAED  WALDRON. 

Sir,  — ■  The  7""  instant  (late  in  the  evening)  the  post 
got  hither  and  brought  me  yours  of  SO"*  January,  &  tells 
me  the  roads  are  so  drifted  with  the  late  great  snows  that 
no  horse  can  pass,  but  that  he  was  oblig'd  to  come  the 
greatest  part  of  the  way  with  snow-shoes,  and  must  so 
return.  You  have  therefore  my  order  to  the  Presid'  for 
adjourning   the  Assembly  to  Friday,  20*  instant,  at  4 


oyGoot^lc 


S72  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.         [1740-1. 

o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  It  is  not  likely  the  roads  will 
be  passable  before  that  time,  if  then,  but  perhaps  .there 
must  be  another  adjournment.  Least  the  Fresid^'  age 
and  infirmities  should  prevent  his  coming  to  Portsm",  in- 
closed is  an  order  to  yourself  to  do  the  business,  &  I  have 
as  much  power  to  order  you,  or  any  other  gent"  of  the 
Councill  to  adjourn  the  Assembly  as  to  order  the  Presid' 
to  do  it,  &  when  I  have  been  indispos'd,  or  any  thing  ex- 
traordinary has  hapn'd  at  the  day  of  an  Assembly's  meetr 
ing  here,  I  have  order'd  the  Secry  to  adjourn  them ;  & 
when  you  go  down  to  the  House  &  read  the  order  {after 
they  are  sworn)  &  do  the  business  it  will  be  over,  &  then 
you  may  go  to  Councill  &  do  the  same. 

As  to  Yorkshire's  petition,  I  pretty  much  agree  with 
you  that  the  subject  is  in  a  manner  exhausted.  My 
friends  have  before  them  the  memoriall  of  the  6  Counsel- 
lours  &  what  you  drew  by  way  of  answer  to  the  bill  of 
exclusion,  and  they  will  do  the  best  they  can,  with  which 
I  must  be  content.  The  petitioner  has  so  workt  himself 
into  the  good  graces  of  L*  W — Im — ng — n  and  Bl — d — n 
that  I  can  hardly  hope  for  the  colour  of  justice.  Other- 
wise  what  I  did  in  the  tinker's  affair  was  exactly  right,  & 
he  has  pretty  honestly  declar'd  the  matter. 

What  the  solemn  instrument  of  10*''  July,  1740,  may 
be  I  can't  say,  but  am  apt  to  think  th6  clan  have  oblig'd 
themselves  in  the  strongest  manner  they  can  to  make 
good  a  certain  large  salary  to  a  successour.  I  don't 
well  understand  what  you  mean  of  mt/  not  conimg  to  New 
Hampshire  for  so  long  a  time,  which  is  not  yet  six  months. 
I  am  pretty  easy  that  you  have  not  thQt  it  worth  while  to 
remark  more  than  you  have  on  the  things  1  sent  you, 
because  I  agree  with  you  that  the  odds  is  ten  to  one  in 
favour  of  the  clan.  The  matter  has  been  so  long  pending 
as  I  think  haa  prepar'd  me  to  submit  to  the  event,  and 
don't  you  think  I  have  held  it  a  long  time  on  hard 
terms? 


oyGoot^lc 


I7iO-l.]  TO  RICHARD  WALPRON.  373 

Trinkalo's  learned  is  (by  my  letters  and  his  own)  suc- 
cessour  to  Coll"  Spotswood  as  Postmaster  General  of  N" 
America,  a  great  thing  for  a  quondam  insolvent  attorney. 

I  hear  Sancbo,  Triukalo  &  Granada  are  all  at  odds. 
The  6rst*  is  sadly  in  the  suds  here,  a  mortgage  on  his 
estate  in  town,  on  which  is  due  near  jG7000,  being  lately 
put  on  record,  &  executions  extended,  about  a  month 
agoe,  on  other  parts  of  his  estate  for  upwards  £2000 
more,  &  the  expences  o'  t'other  side  made  up  into  this 
currency  will'  cut  deep.  Perhaps  these  things  may  give 
him  a  solitary  time  of  repentance  when  too  late. 

As  to  your  Assembly,  if  you  can  think  of  any  thing 
more  to  be  said  than  what  relates  to  the  two  instructions 
to  be  laid  before  them  hint  to  me.  For  my  part,  rebus  sie 
staniibus,  I  think  least  said  is  soonest  mended.  Rampant, 
no  doubt,  they  will  be.  The  malfadure  seems  to  have  be- 
come such  courae  stuffe  that  beggars  will  hardly  wear  it, 
and  yet  the  painter  t  talks  of  going  home  in  the  first 
ship  to  trye  if  he  can  procure  colours  to  give  it  a  better 
gloss;  but  according  to  the  present  view  it  must  be  ruin, 
double  ruin,  to  all  concem'd  in  it ;  and,  as  you  observe, 
what  a  wretched  exch'  have  the  poor  obstinate  men 
made  of  places  of  proffit  &  honour  to  be  stigmatiz'd  to 
posterity  as  the  projectors  of  such  a  scene  of  fraud  & 
wickedness. 

What  reason  had  you  to  say.  Where  does  your  ExceW 
propose  to  hdge?     I  have  no  tho'ts  of  changing. 

I  thank  you  for  the  account  you  gave  me  of  the  fruit 
of  the  journeys  your  way  of  those  two  eminent  servants 
of  Christ,  Whitfield  &Tennent.  Few  such  men  have  ap- 
pear'd  since  the  days  of  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles. 

•  Thhiiprobabljamutahaof  GoTeranr  Belcber'a  clerk.  Ths  nferenre  is  lo  the  flnan- 
ciaJ  nnbamHnients  of  Samuel  Wildo  (Trinkalo),  See  an  execution  in  favor  of  Samuel 
Rhodap,  recorded  in  SaSalk  Deeds,  lib.  81,  fol.  17,  and  a  mortgage  to  Comelini  Waldo,  io 
aame,  fol.SS.  — Eds. 

t  Bobert  AoehnintT.  The  reference  u  to  [he  Land  Bank,  of  which  Anchmuty  waa  ■ 
priucip*!  promoter,  — Eds. 


jvGooi^lc 


374  THB  BBLCHEB  PAPEBS.  [1740-1. 

God  is  giving  tliem  seals  of  their  ministry  from  day  to 
day.  I  suppose  this  town  with  many  others  can  hardly 
tell  the  time  of  such  a  generall  rousing  from  dreadfull 
lethargy.  The  dry  bones  are  making  a  continual  rat- 
ling. God  is  clothing  them  with  flesh,  sinews,  and  skin, 
and  is  breathing  upon  the  slain  that  they  may  live,  and 
it  looks  as  if  they  would  soon  form  a  large  army.  God 
grant  it  may  be  so,  for  his  son  Christ  Jesus's  sake. 

It  is  not  at  all  unlikely  but  that  the  storm  may  break 
out  in  the  West  Indies.  France,  I  heleive,  will  hardly 
declare  warr  at  home;  but  how  is  it  possible  for  our  fleet 
&  forces  to  avoid  doing  it  from  the  mouths  of  their  can- 
non, when  they  get  to  Carthagene,  and  whea  a  French 
warr  shall  be  no  more  doubtfull  ?  To  be  grave,  what  will 
become  of  your  Province  and  the  poor  people  under  a 
separate  Govemonr  ?  I  think  the  tax  for  the  next  year 
must  be  upwards  5  &  the  year  after  £7000.  This  with 
paying  the  charge  of  the  Line,  a  great  salary  to  my  sue- 
cessour,  &  other  large  unavoidables  must  be  a  gloomy 
scene  for  the  prospect  of  all  wise,  thinking  persons ;  nor 
will  the  game  pay  for  the  candle,  if  the  great  slice  from 
Massachusetts  should  be  finally  adjudg'd  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, for  where  are  the  people  &  money  to  defend  & 
settle  such  avast  wilderness?  What  a  dreadfull  condi- 
tion are  you  then  like  to  be  brought  into  from  the  malice 
of  unreasonable  men !  As  to  myself,  I  do  upon  the  most 
mature  deliberation  think  it  must  be  most  for  my  com- 
fort &  proffit  to  be  quit. 

Inclosed  is  the  proclamation  issu'd  here  for  a  Fast, 
which  I  would  have  on  the  same  day  in  New  Hampshire. 
I  have  sign'da  blank  for  you  to  fill  up,  &  you'll  doubtleaa 
draw  it  much  in  the  same  terms,  mutatis  mutandis.  This 
stormy  day  gives  me  a  little  leisure,  &  has  led  me  into 
this  tedious  letter,  which  you'll  forgive,  from,  hon'*  & 
d'  Sir, 

Tour  friend  &  servant.  J-  B. 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  EICHABD  WALDEON.  375 

My  best  regards  wait  on  M"  Waldroa.  How  does  poor 
Tommy's  foot  do  ? 

Boston,  Febru*  S*,  1740/1. 

TO  EICHAED  WALDRON. 

Hon"  Sir,  —  I  have  yours  of  17""  currant,  with  Bry- 
ant's journal,  plan,  &  account,  to  which  I  cannot  answer 
till  you  send  me  copy  of  his  agreement.*  I  am  sensible 
he  had  a  difficult  task,  &  so  we  suppos'd  at  the  beginning, 
yet  I  am  not  convinc'd  he  could  not  proceed ;  but  ovei^ 
taking  the  White  Hills  so  quick,  &  the  fear  of  getting 
into  an  Indian  countrey,  I  beleive  was  discouraging.  We 
had  better  have  agreed  at  so  much  certain  &  made  it,  Ko 
purchase  no  pay  (as  with  Hazzen).t  It  will  show  a  poor 
face  at  home  to  send  an  account  of  the  work  not  half 
done,  nor  will  it  be  satisfactory  to  say,  no  English  eye  will 
ever  behold  the  monuments.  Inclosed  is  Mitchel's  to  me 
and  my  answer.^  A  Councill  must  be  call'd  to  pass  & 
pay  his  account,  &  let  him  finish  the  bends  of  the  river  as 
be  proposes.     Our  Line  cash,  1  think,  stands  thus: 


Hazzen 

300.  0.  0 

Bryant 
Mitchel    24. 

5.0) 

116.  8.  0 

15. 
20. 

16.0  V 
4.0J 

60.  4.  0 

Ktman 

is 

4.5.0 

£480. 17.  0 

If  I  am  wrong  correct  me 

;  if  not,  there  will  be  left 

£19.  3.  0   to   compleat  the 

remaining 

53   miles  of  the 

•  Walter  Brj-snt  wm  employeil  to  Borvj 

t  Rtvhard  Huzzen  >raa  the  surre.ror  Id  r 
miles  north  of  Pawlucket  F«lb..  — Ei>s. 
J  Geortce  Mitchell  «u  the  surveror  to  to 

!v  and  muk  tha  boundmy  line  between  New 
un  uid  mvk  the  weat  line  rrom  ■  point  IbiM 
n  «d  muA  lh<  corre  line,  to  called.  -  Edb. 

jvGooi^lc 


376  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741- 

northern  boundary  and  the  curve  line  from  Black  Rocks 
to  Pawtucket,  which  may  coat  3  to  £400.  Thus,  I  think, 
stands  the  njatter,  which  is  a  touchy  waspish  business,  & 
to  prevent  another  cruel,  unjust  censure  things  must  be 
made  to  appear  very  plain.  Send  me  therefore  in  a 
small  volumn,  authenticated  with  certificate  under  the 
seal  annext,  every  step  taken  in  the  affair  of  the  Line 
when  I  was  last  with  you,  as  all  things  in  my  speeches, 
messages.  House's  answers,  &  the  several  transactions  in 
Councill.  In  these  things  be  particular  &  critical.  Let 
me  have  an  original  by  return  of  the  post,  because  a 
good  conveyance  offers  from  hence  to  London,  in  8  or  10 
days  at  furthest;  the  duplicate  may  follow  as  soon  as 
you  can.  I  suppose  the  northern  continent  of  America 
was  never  before  in  such  silence,  considering  the  great 
affairs  now  passing  in  the  world.  I  look  back  on  my  last 
journey  to  New  Hampshire  with  great  gratitude  to  God. 
I  often  thOt  of  poor  Ovid, 

Jam  jam  tacturos  sjdera  antnma  cceli 
Jam  jam  tactunu  Tartara  uigra  putes, 

and  of  S'  Paul,  In  perils  of  watejs,  in  perils  of  dread- 
full  roads,  in  weariness  &  painfulness,  in  cold,  &~,  I 
do  assure  you,  the  commission  at  three  score  years 
would  be  no  inducement  to  me  to  perform  such  an- 
other exploit.  No,  I  long  to  be  at  ease,  but  for  the 
little  time  that  it  must  be  otherwise  I  shall  indeavour 
to  discharge  my  duty  to  my  royal  master  with  fidelity 
&  honour,  altho'  the  vulgar,  ignorant  people  of  New 
Hampshire  (which  may  in  every  place  alwayes  be  com- 
puted at  19-20"")  have  been  deluded  &  misled.  Yet  I 
really  pity  'em.  Could  the  innocent  be  separated  from 
the  nocent,  some  smart,  severe  things  might  prove  a 
profitable  instruc"  to  the  rising  generation  among  you. 
I  am  sure  I  am  not  arrogant  while  I  say  the  eyes  of  the 
people  have  been  bemisted  &  veil'd  against  the  day  of 
their  peace.     God  forgive  the  wicked  instruments,  who 


oyGoot^lc 


nil.}  TO  THE  LORDS  OP  TRADE.  377 

have  been  diligent  for  10  years  paat  in  doing  all  the  mis- 
chief and  confusion  in  their  power.  As  to  their  ill  nature 
pracUced  at  me  I  do  aincerely  &  heartily  forgive  them. 
Amen.  Being  at  a  little  leisure  has  produc'd  this  letter, 
which  perhaps  you  mayn't  approve.  I  am,  in  great 
truth,  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant  J,  B. 

BosTOK,  April  20,  1741. 

(PMt) 


TO  THE  LORDS  OF  TRADE. 

Mat  it  please  touh  Lordships, —  I  wrote  you  yes- 
terday, to  which  I  humbly  ask  your  reference,  and  that 
you  would  give  me  leave  to  lay  before  you  a  diflficulty 
arisen  upon  the  construction  of  his  Majesty's  judgement 
respecting  the  boundaries  betwixt  this  Province  and  that 
of  N.  Hampshire,  viz',  on  the  following  words,  '*  Thai  the 
northern  boundaries  of  the  said  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  are,  and  be,  a  similar  curve  line  pursuing  the  course 
of  Merrimack  River,  at  three  miles  distance,  on  the  north 
side  thereof,  beginning  at  the  Atlantick  Ocean,  and  end- 
ing at  a  point  due  north  of  a  place  in  the  plan  retum'd 
by  the  said  Commiss"  call'd  Pautucket  Falls,  &  a  strait 
Une  dravm  from  thence  due  wed  cross  the  said  river  till  ii  meets 
tffith  his  Majesty's  other  govemmerds."  Your  Lordships  will 
please  to  observe  that  it  is  call'd  the  northern  boundaries  of 
the  Massachusetts,  but  not  the  southern  of  New  Hampshire, 
nor  the  divisional  line  between  the  two  provinces.  From 
this  the  people  of  both  Provinces  say,  the  lands  from  the 
northern  boundary  of  Massachusetts  till  th'ey  meet  the 
southern  bounds  of  New  Hampshire,  and  so  further  west- 
ward, are  not  under  any  jurisdiction  or  government,  nor 
can  the  lands  already  granted  between  those  lines  be 
granted  for  the  incouragement  of  new  setlers.  If  the 
matter  therefore  remains  thus  it  may  soon  produce  dis- 


oyGoot^lc 


378  THE    BELCHEB   PAPERS.  [1711. 

orders  &  confusions  among  the  King's  subjects  now  setled 
upon  some  parts  of  those  lands  who  look  upon  themselves 
in  a  state  of  anarchy.  As  his  Majesty's  order,  which  was 
the  foundation  for  the  commission  of  making  the  late  setr 
tlement  of  the  boundaries,  declar'd  the  matter  was  not  to 
affect  property  but  jurisdiction  onely,  I  should  be  glad  to 
know  his  Majesty's  pleasure  as  to  the  jurisdiction  of  all 
those  lands,  and  as  to  the  grant  of  such  of  them  as  have 
not  already  been  granted  either  by  the  government  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  or  that  of  New  Hampshire ;  I 
mean  whether  they  are  to  be  annext  to  either  province, 
or  still  to  remain  by  themselves  for  his  Majesty's  further 
pleasure. 

This  difficulty,  my  Lords,  seems  to  spring  with  the 
more  force  from  the  very  different  wording  of  the  judg- 
ment from  that  of  the  other  boundary,  where  it  is  said, 
"And  as  to  the  northern  houniary  heiwem  ihe  said  prot>- 
inces,  the  Court  resolve  and  determine  that  the  dividing  line 
shall  pass,"  &",  and  again  that "  the  dinding  line  shall  part 
the  Isles  of  Shoals,"  &■*,  and  that  "  the  tf  wester^  part 
of  said  islands  shall  lye  <&  be  accounted  pari  of  the  Province 
ofNeio  Hampshire  and  that  the  n°  easterly  part  thereof  shall  lye 
&  he  accounted  pari  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay" 
&".  I  humbly  pray  of  your  Lordships  that  I  may  be  set 
right  in  this  matter  by  his  Majesty's  royal  explanation, 
to  which  I  shall  dutifully  conform  myself,  so  far  as  it  may 
concern  me. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  much  respect,  my 
Lords, 

Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  &  most  humble  serv*. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Ma;  7, 1741. 
(Vaughao.  Hall.) 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  BICHARD   PABTBIDQE.  379 


TO  KICHAHD  PARTRIDGR 

SlE,  —  I  have  now  lying  before  me  your  kind  letters  of 
January  14,  Febni'  3,  21,  26,  &  March  3*  came  to  hand 
V  Smith  vi&  Leverpool,  New  York,  &  V  Darby.  I  see 
you  could  not  get  S-  Sherburne  appointed  for  the  Council 
of  New  Hampshire,  but  that  C.  Rhymes  (brother  in  law 
to  Sherburne)  was  appointed  (who  is  lately  dead};*  and 
R.  Wibird,  I  see,  was  like  to  be  appointed  another  Coun- 
sellour,  not  N.  Gilman.  I  thank  all  your  labour  &  care 
in  the  matter,  and  think  it  cruel  &  unjust  that  I  should 
have  the  King's  commands  for  recommending  gentlemen 
to  fill  vacancies,  and  be  intrusted  with  the  King's  com- 
mission for  the  King's  government,  and  at  same  time  so 
much  confidence  to  be  repos'd  in  my  enemies  as  that  their 
recommendations  should  take  place  in  preference  to  that 
of  bis  Majesty's  Govemour,  &  the  Council  of  course  to  be 
filled  up  with  the  Governour's  enemies.  How  much  con- 
fusion this  must  make  &  dishonour  to  the  King's  govern- 
ment, I  would  be  glad  you  could  perswade  Duke  of 
Newcastle  and  Lord  Wilmington  to  consider,  that  I  may 
be  made  easy  by  a  just  regard  to  ray  nominations  as 
vacancies  happen  for  the  future. 

I  thank  you  for  copy  of  the  last  report  of  Lords  of 
Trade  about  a  separate  Gov'  for  New  Harap.,  which,  I 
see,  was  sent  you  by  your  desire..  That  matter  has  been 
so  often  canvast,  and  so  particularly  ans*,  that  I  know  not 
what  more  can  be  said  upon  it.  Isn't  it  strange  they 
should  listen  to  Wentworth  as  one  of  the  petitioners,  who 
they  know  has  been  trying  a  long  time  to  succeed  me  in 
the  govemm'  of  that  province  ?  M'  Belcher  talkt  very 
well  upon  it  at  the  Board  of  Trade,  &  since  you  are  serv'd 

*  Chriatopher  Bvitim  muricd  Dorolbj  Sherburne,  and  died  April  3, 1T41.  See  Weat- 
ironh  Oenemlngy,  vol.  i.  p.  18i.  —  Ed6, 


oyGoot^lc 


380  THE  BELCHEB  PAP£HS.  [1741. 

with  copy  he  must  appear,  and  make  the  best  opposition 
he  can  at  the  Privy  Council.  Altho'  the  Board  of  Trade 
seem  to  shut  their  eyes  &  pin  themselves  down  by  the 
sudden  report  they  originally  made  on  this  head,  the 
Lords  of  the  Privy  Council  have  never  yet  given  any 
such  judgment,  and  perhaps  may  be  prevail'd  with  not  to 
do  it,  and  to  prevent  it  S'  R.,  the  Duke  &  L*  President 
must  he  closely  follow'd,  the  first  especially,  who  said  he 
would  finally  save  me  as  to  New  Hampshire.  He  can 
stop  the  matter  when,  where,  and  how  he  pleases. 
Methinks  they  might  easily  see  the  complainers  have 
nothing  so  much  in  view  as  to  gratifye  their  own  malice. 
I  therefore  wonder  the  King's  ministers  don't  frown  upon 
'em,  and  bid  'em,  begone  about  their  business  &  not  teaze 
them  any  more. 

I  am  thankful!  that  you  will  still  be  vigilant,  and  since 
you  write  so  strongly,  I  shall  not  regard  the  iyes  of  my 
adversaries.  I  take  a  very  particular  notice  of  all  that 
past  when  you  waited  upon  the  great  man.  If  he  holds 
steady  and  firm,  we  ha'n't  much  to  fear.  I  am  daily 
expecting  the  King's  orders  about  what  is  call'd  here  the 
Land  Bank.  I  don't  well  understand  the  bill  that  has 
been  re'd  in  Parliament  about  it ;  but  if  something  be  not 
speedily  done  effectually  to  destroye  it,  it  will  bring  on 
vast  confusion  in  this  province.  If  you  would  open  your 
eyes,  and  see  the  fraud  &  wickedness  of  it,  you  couldn't 
have  a  favourable  thought  about  it  I  see  yon  had  intro- 
duced M'  Hutchin.son  to  Lord  Chief  Justice  Wills,  as  M' 
Wilks  had  to  Lord  President,  and  that  there  was  a  pros- 
pect of  success  in  what  he  went  about  He  is  a  fine 
young  gentleman,  and  a  great  honour  to  his  country. 
Pray  give  him  my  kind  respects,  and  tell  him  I  can't 
possibly  answer  his  letters  'till  Hall  goes.  I  am  glad  Coll" 
Blakeney's  last  bill,  of  64. 17.  0,  was  paid,  and  I  hope  his 
agent,  Capt"  Wilson,  will  make  good  to  you  the  £10  mis- 
take, of  which  I  advis'd  in  one  of  my  last.    I  have  very 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  KICHARD  PARTRIDGE.  381 

handsome  letters  from  M'  Allen  if  Smith,  which  I  expect 
to  ana'  ore  tenus  in  a  few  days. 

In  yours  of  26  Febru'  you  make  very  particular  men- 
tion of  my  letters  to  2''  December,  as  their  dates  &  by 
whom  receiv'd ;  this  metbod  I  much  approve  of  I 
rejoyce  to  hear  Lord  President  was  gi-owing  better, 
and  that  he  was  pleas'd  with  what  I  did  for  him  in  the 
af&ir  of  Thecber's  heirs.  I  am  afraid  it  will  be  difficult 
to  get  the  guardians  to  be  bound  for  the  minors  when 
they  come  of  age,  but  according  to  the  law  of  this  prov- 
ince I  think  a  discharge  from  the  guardians  will  be  safe 
for  his  Lordship.  Let  this  be  as  it  will,  I  shall  strictly 
pursue  his  Lordship's  further  commands  in  this  matter, 
when  he  pleases  to  honour  me  with  them.  I  take  notice 
of  the  free  conversation  he  enter'd  into  with  you  on  my 
affairs,  and  am  glad  he  excus'd  himself  and  seems  now  to 
be  my  friend. 

As  to  the  expedition,  when  I  had  issu'd  my  proclama- 
tions in  exact  conformity  to  the  King's  instructions,  and 
the  Secry  of  State's  \eti6m  promising  the  Ein^^6  eomtmssiom 
to  be  sent  me  for  oR  the  officers,  d;  anmfor  all  the  men;  when 
these  fail'd  faow  could  it  be  expected  in  honour  &  justice, 
or  in  any  way,  that  more  companies  should  have  pro- 
ceeded than  commissions  and  arms  came  for,  which  was 
onely  four,  th5  I  did  with  much  perswasion  get  one  com- 
pany to  go  without? 

You  say  now,  the  promise  they  seem  to  relye  upon 
about  New  Hampshire  was  from  the  Duke.  This  I  ques- 
tion, however ;  if  it  was,  you  think  you  have  made  intei> 
est  sufficient  with  the  Duke  to  divert  it.  Sir  John 
Gonson,  who  is  greatly  in  the  good  graces  of  the  Duke 
and  of  his  brother,  the  Hon'"'*  Henry  Pelbam,  writes  me 
he'll  imploye  all  his  good  offices  with  them,  whenever  you 
deare  it  in  my  favour;  aud  by  other  wayes  you  may 
come  at  them ;  so  I  hope  in  a  little  time  all  will  be  safe 
in  both  provinces.    I'le  trye  what  answer  can  be  made 


oyGoot^lc 


382  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741. 

to  the  report  of  Board  o£  Trade,  but  at  present  I  don't 
know  what  more  can  be  said  than  has  been.  I  am  very 
sensible,  brother,  it  has  been  the  interest  of  your  Friends 
that  has  given  the  late  fine  turn  to  my  affairs,  and  you 
may  assure  them  that  I  will  serve  their  Friends  here  on 
all  occasions,  in  anything  they  can  justly  or  reasonably 
desire  of  me. 

Kilby  is  an  illnatur'd,  malicious,  ignorant  fellow,  to 
whom  I  have  never  given  the  least  reason  for  acting  as 
he  does.  Waldo  still  exceeds  him  in  pride  and  malice, 
and  must  be  watcht.  His  living  in  the  consumption  of 
sterling  money,  I  beleive,  will  be  ruinous  to  him  in  the 
end.  I  am  told  he  is  greatly  indebted  at  London,  and  I 
know  he  is  here,  and  I  beleive  he  will  in  a  little  time  be 
out  of  breath  and  sneak  away,  if  those  he  is  ingag'd  to 
will  let  him.  I  thank  your  hint  about  Sir  R,,  who  I  find 
obtain'd  a  compleat  victory.  The  Parliament's  rising 
without  doing  anything  about  the  paper  currency  of  the 
plantations  will  make  great  distress  among  the  people 
here.  I  thank  you  for  my  account,  the  ball'  whereof  you 
make  £1216. 15.  7,  in  which  you  give  Cr.  £50,  receiv'd 
of  M'.  Hodson  on  account  of  Coll"  Wendell,  which  I  have 
told  him,  and  will  answer  it  to  him  here.  I  have  accepted 
your  bill  in  favour  of  M'  Oliver  for  £300  ster.,  which,  with 
the  other  of  £100, 1  shall  be  discharging  as  soon  as  I 
pcssibly  can,  and  am  trying  all  the  ways  in  my  power  to 
make  you  a  large  remittance.  I  am  greatly  oblig'd  to 
you,  and  will  do  all  I  possibly  can  to  make  you  easy.  I 
am  at  present  greatly  hurry'd,  but  will  the  first  leisure 
examine  your  account  that  I  may  sign  what  you  desire. 
I  am  very  uneasy  you  should  be  so  largely  in  advance  for 
me,  &  I  say  I  will  be  lessening  it  as  soon  as  possible. 
Pray  tell  me  what  the  £84  was  paid  for  to  T.  Odell,  Esq'. 
M'  Belcher  don't  think  it  worth  while  to  write  me  a  tittle 
about  it,  but  I  think  it  a  vast  deal  of  money,  and  if  I  must 
be  at  such  dreadfull  charge,  1  had  better  quit  the  govern- 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO   BICHAKD   PARTRIDGE.  383 

ment  than  ruin  myself.  Notwithstanding  all  I  have  wrote 
to  my  son  about  so  profusely  expending  my  money,  I  find 
he  has  no  regard  to  it.  I  am  astonisht  to  think  how  he 
could  spend  219. 4.  4  from  September  26  to  February  20 
(not  5  m"),  is  after  the  rate  of  £530  sterling  a  year,  or 
upwards  £2900  this  money.  I  am  really  amaz'd  to  look 
on  the  sum,  and  should  be  asham'd  &  afraid  any  body 
should  know  it.  His  brother  is  at  lodgings  in  town,  keeps 
his  horse  and  footman,  and  does  not  spend  £70  sterl*  a 
year.  He.  must,  as  you  say,  return  to  N.  England  if  he 
can't  fall  into  business  in  Westminster  Hall  to  maintain 
himself,  for  I  neither  can  nor  will  (in  my  advancing 
years)  go  on  to  rack  myself  to  death  to  support  his  lavish) 
unthinking  way  of  living.  Nor  has  he  sent  me  his 
account  of  expence  to  28  August  last,  which  justly  makes 
me  angry.  Read  him  what  I  write,  for  I  am  not  in  tem- 
per to  write  him  at  present.  I  am  lieartily  sorry  for  the 
death  of  M^  Gurney,  I  take  notice  of  a  paragraph  drawn 
into  one  of  Auchmnty's  decrees,  which  is  a  villanous 
thing.  Is  n't  the  Gov'  the  King's  representative,  and  the 
immediate  servant  of  the  Crown  ?  and  whrf  then  should 
recommend  persons  to  places  of  trust  but  he  ? 

I  am  very  thankful!  for  M'  Lee  Dicker's  letter  to  Sir 
W"  Young,  and  that  you'll  use  it  in  the  properesfc  manner 
for  my  service.  I  also  thank  you  for  the  copies  of  many 
other  thihga,  which  are  of  good  service  to  me  in  my 
admin".  1  ha'n't  time  to  write  you  of  the  fate  of  your 
account  in  the  House  of  Rep™,  but  you'll  find  it  in  the 
votes.  Read  my  two  letters  to  Lords  of  Trade,  &  deliver 
that  of  the  6""  with  the  proceedings  of  New  Hampshire 
Assembly;  that  of  T"'  instant  read  to  M'  Hutchinson. 
Perhaps  it  may  serve  him  in  his  affair,  &  if  you  &  he 
think  it  hest  to  be  deliver'd  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  deliver 
it ;  otherwise,  not.  I  am  with  great  gratitude  for  all  your 
friendship,  Sir,  y„„r  loving  bro.  J.  B. 

BosTOPt,  May  7,  1741. 

(Vaughan.  H«ll.) 


i 


jvGooi^lc 


THE  BELCHEB  PAPSBS. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 

Dbar  Jonathan,  —  I  have  receiv'd  t  Smith  &  Coffin 
your  letters  of  28  February,  2  &  5  March.  The  affair  of 
Miss  H — tf — Id  is  over,  and  I  think  prudently  manag'd  on 
your  part,  aod  on  hers  aa  a  downright  jilt;  and  I  thick 
you  well  off,  even  if  her  fortune  had  been  much  larger. 
You  acted  with  that  frankness  and  probity  which  became 
a  gent",  and  I  hope  you'll  alwayes  practice  on  a  like  occa- 
sion. Your  education  &  profession,  I  think,  may  alwayes 
be  weigh'd  against  a  handsome  fortune.  I  see  M'^  Morton 
and  Hutchinson  seem  to  think  you  may  succeed  at  Rho- 
hampton,  and  where,  you  say,  you  are  kindly  and  oblig- 
ingly receiv'd,  &  will  vigourously  pursue  the  matter.  It 
would  be  a  fine  thing  if  you  could  bring  it  to  bear.  1 
beleive  they  will  expect  you  to  return  to  your  first  love, 
&  you  must  allow  the  old  &  young  lady  to  make  their 
own  terms  of  settlement.  As  to  her  fortune,  be  wise, 
Jon',  and  make  no  false  step  whereby  to  miss  the  prize, 
if  it  can  be- gain'd.  The  eldest,  I  am  told,  is  a  young 
lady  of  good  sense  and  of  great  vertue  &  piety.  Pray 
make  my  compliments  to  Madam  Holden,  &  let  her  have 
the  inclo!?ed,  which,  I  suppose,  is  an  ans*  to  what  I  de- 
liver'd  from  .her  to  Doctor  Colman.  If  I  hear  further 
from  you  in  the  Rhohampton  affair  T  Shepherdson,  and 
that  I  can  judge  it  looks  with  a  good  face,  I'le  venture 
a  letter  to  the  old  lady. 

I  thank  you  for  the  care  of  S'  John  Gonson's  handsome 
letter,  which  I  will  soon  answer.  The  Hon"'  M'  Pelham  I 
know  to  be  a  gentleman  of  great  truth  and  honour  and  of 
steadiness,  and  can  be  of  more  consequence  to  my  affairs 
than  the  Duke.  You  must  therefore  plye  Sir  John  &  all 
others  of  your  acquaintance  that  have  interest  in  M'  Pel- 
ham  ;  nor  is  the  Duke  at  all  to  be  neglected.  I  find 
great  things  have  been  done  this  winter,  and  that  S'  B.  is 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  JONATHAN   BBLCHER,  JR.  386 

Rtanch,  &  L"  Pres'  made  soft  &  easy.  I  hope  my  enemies 
will  become  tir'd,  gnash  their  teeth,  and  melt  away.  I 
believe  W — 1 — do  and  W — n — w'"'  must  make  a  running 
fight  in  a  little  time,  for  stock  must  run  low.  However, 
_j-our  uncle  and  you  must  still  be  vigilant.  Your  argu- 
ments at  the  hearing  before  the  Lords  of  Trade  were 
good  &  nervous.  I  say,  my  son,  you  handled  the  matter 
finely ;  altho'  you  could  not  perswade  those  great  men  to 
piss  backward,  or  depart  from  their  former  sudden,  unrea- 
sonable, unjust,  prejudiced  report,  I  still  hope  you'll  get 
it  thrown  out  by  your  skill  &  rhetorick  when  it  comes  to 
be  heard  at  the  Privy  Council.  If  not,  we  must  have  our 
dernier  resort  to  S'  R.  and  also  to  the  Duke  ;  on  the  last 
I  am  told  W — nt — th  has  his  principal  dependance.  The 
case  you  drew  up  and  put  into  hands  of  Sir  C.  \Y.  relat- 
ing to  my  conduct  in  the  expedition  is  very  well  done. 
Sh — r — y  is  a  mean,  false,  ungratefull  beggar.  I  thank 
you  for  the  Parliamentary  Debates,  into  which  I  have 
dipt  here  and  there,  and  I  think  they  must  be  of  great 
service  to  an  Englishman.  As  to  what  I  did  in  the  affair 
recommended  to  me  by  M'  H.  Walpole,  it  was  with  integ- 
rity and  zeal  for  his  service,  and  when  he  calmly  considers 
it,  I  hope  he  will  think  I  deser\'e  his  friendship.  The 
matter  was  no  secret,  his  Deputy  having  pusht  it  in  the 
House  of  Rep™  12  m"  before,  and  his  motion  was  printed 
in  the  Journals.  Give  my  service  to  your  friend  M' 
Jekyll,  and  tell  him  the  seeds  he  desires  cannot  be  had 
till  the  fall  of  the  year,  when  I  will  get  what  of  them  I 
can,  &  send  him  so  as  to  be  with  him  seasonably  for  the 
ground  the  next  spring.  I  thank  your  care  about  the  2 
bushels  of  yew  berries,  which  I  am  fond  of. 

The  inclosed  for  Sir  Thomas  Prendergast  read,  seal,  & 
deliver.  You'll  see  I  am  very  plain,  and  I  cannot  dis- 
charge a  good  conscience  with  saying  less. 

I  wrote  ft  large  paragraph  in  my  letter  of  7  instant  to 
your  uncle  respecting  your  lavish,  profuse  expence  which 


oyGoot^lc 


i 


386  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741. 

I  am  no  wayes  able  to  go  on  to  aupport,  or  if  I  could  T 
could  not  ans*  it  to  God  with  respect  to  myself  &  my 
family,  and  you  must  soon  come  home  if  at  31  you  can't 
maintain  yourself.  You  must  expect,  Jon',  to  meet  with 
disappointments  in  the  world,  &  you  and  I  deserve  them 
nil  at  the  hands  of  God,  th6  we  may  not  from  our  fellow 
creatures ;  nor  do  I  blame  you  in  any  thing  but  the  arti- 
cles of  your  frantick,  nonsensical  conformity  &  your  pro- 
fuse, lavish  expence.  It  would  be  much  more  to  the 
purpose  in  answer  to  my  complaints  and  honest  letters  on 
this  head  to  have  retrencht  at  least  one  half  of  your 
annual  expence  than  to  tell  me  of  your  spirits  being  sunk 
&  of  your  behaviour  being  affected.  I  am  astonisht  when  I 
think  of  your  spending  =62500  this  money.  Home  you 
must  come  &  be  glad  of  a  fifth  part  of  the  money  if  my 
letters  by  Skinner,  and  what  I  now  say,  don't  bring  you 
to  your  considering  cap ;  for  I  cannot,  nor  will  not,  go  on, 
BO  distressing  myself  in  my  advancing  years  j  from 

Your  loving  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  9,  1711. 

(Hall )  

TO  THOMAS  HUTCHINSON." 

Sir,  —  I  have  now  lying  before  me  your  several  letters 
of  December  15,  Janu'  14,  Febru'  21  &  27  last  past,  which 
came  to  hand  viS  New  York,  y  Coffin,  &  -^  Darby.  The 
letter  for  M"  Hutchinson  inclos'd  in  yours  of  15  Decem- 
ber, and  came  to  hand  but  last  night,  was  then  deliver'd. 
You  had  a  fine  passage,  &  got  safe,  God  be  praised. 

I  don't  wonder  you  find  such  prejudices  among  the 
King's  rain"  against  this  Prov  when  I  consider  what  pains 
have  been  taken  here  for  25  years  past  to  treat  the  Crown 

•  Afterward  Lieatenant-OoTernor  of  MunBchnsella  (born  in  Boslon,  Sept.  9, 1711 :  iii»d 
at  Bromptoii,  Eagland,  June  3, 1780).  He  had  gona  to  England  (o  endearor  (a  bait  tb« 
tawna  irlucfa  hw)  been  taken  from  Ha>Mcbu>etU  by  the  detenninalian  of  Iha  bcmodarj  dis- 
pute with  New  Hampshire,  "  restor^  to  the  juriidiction  by  which  Ihey  were  grauted.'' " 
Sm  Diary  and  Lett«n  of  Thomas  HutcbiDsan,  vol.  i.  p.  51.  — Eds. 


jvGooi^lc 


17«.]  TO  THOMAS  HUTCHINSON.  387 

with  all  possible  rudeness  and  ill  manners,  and  altbo  the 
first  beginner  and  principal  agitator  is  dead,  yet  yoii 
know  he  dropt  his  mantle  (forgive  the  prophanation  of 
the  words)  on  a  creature  who  still  carryes  it  to  higher 
lengths.  Many  people  take  great  pains  in  natural  life  to 
destroy  their  constitutions  by  whoring,  drinking,  &*",  & 
finally  do  the  business;  and  in  political  life  communities, 
with  other  sorts  of  vices,  as  pride,  obstinacy,  wanton  use 
of  liberty,  and  of  more  than  belongs  to  them,  often  break 
up  their  conatitutions.  God  grant  this  mayn't  be  too  soon 
the  unhappy  case  of  the  Massachusetts. 

I  don't  find  the  bill  restraining  the  exportation  of  pro- 
visions is  yet  come  hither,  so  I  am  not  able  to  judge  how 
much  it  may  affect  the  plantations  among  themselves, 
where  there  is  at  present  a  great  scarcity  of  all  kiads  of 
grain,  beyond  what  I  can  remember  for  forty  years  past 
I  thank  your  hint  respecting  D'  Avery.  M'' Belcher  gives 
me  the  same  accounts,  and  I  intend  myself  the  pleasure 
of  writing  him  very  soon. 

In  yours  of  14  January  you  mention  writing  me  6"'  of 
same  month,  which  is  not  come  to  hand.  I  duly  sent  youre 
to  Cap'  Blanchard,  who  is  quite  another  man  than  when 
you  concerted  your  voyage  with  him,  being  deep  in  the 
I^nd  Bank.  He  was  of  course  dismist  from  his  imploym", 
civil  and  military,  and  Old  Grubstreet  says, 

Tbey  that  are  out 

will  pout. 

I  see  you  had  waited  on  Lord  Presid',  and  was  kindly 
receiv'd.  I  am  glad  to  hear  by  the  latest  letters  he  was 
in  a  fair  way  of  recovery,  which  may  give  the  better  oppor- 
tunity of  success  in  your  errand,  and  be  also  of  service 
to  my  affairs,  in  which  you  say  he  appear'd  friendly,  and 
that  they  were  in  a  good  situation.  For  this  advice  I 
thank  you,  &  shall  not  doubt  your  justice  to  the  Governour 
on  all  occasions. 

The  affairs  of  Europe  I  find  by  your  letters  and  many 
others  are  in  a  most  unsetl'd  posture,  and  we  must  still 


oyGoot^lc 


388  THE  BELCHER  PAPEES.  [1741. 

wait  for  the  result,  a  warr  with  France  would  be  the  most 
fatal  thing  could  happen  to  this  miserable  province,  even 
beyond  the  present  curse  of  the  Land  Bank,  on  which 
you  say  it  would  be  much  better  if  some  other  way  than 
by  application  to  Parliament  could  be  found  out  to  sup- 
press it  I  assure  you  the  concerned  openly  declare  they 
defye  any  act  of  Parliament  to  be  able  to  do  it.  They 
ai-e  grown  so  brassy  &  hardy  as  to  be  now  combining  in  a 
body  to  i-aise  a  rebellion,  and  the  day  set  for  their  com- 
ing to  this  town  is  at  the  Election  (27""  instant),  and 
their  Treasurer,  I  am  told,  is  in  the  bottom  of  the  design, 
and  I  doubt  it  not  I  have  this  day  sent  the  SherrifFe 
and  his  officers  to  apprehend  some  of  the  heads  of  the 
conspirators,  so  you  see  we  are  becoming  ripe  for  a  smarter 
fiort  of  government.  What  the  act  of  Parliament  will 
be  respecting  this  vile,  wicked  projection,  I  can't  tell, 
but  if  it  be  no  better  than  the  bill  I  have  seen,  it 
will  by  no  means  answer  the  end.  The  common  people 
here  are  taught  by  their  advisers  to  beleive  they  are.  pretty 
much  out  of  the  reach  of  the  government  at  home ;  nay, 
our  Assembly  are  sometimes  made  to  think  by  their 
leaders  that  they  are  as  big  as  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain,  but  surely  as  occasions  require,  I  can't  help  think- 
ing we  shall  alwayes  to  our  loss  &  cost  find  otherwise. 
The  Parliament's  rising  without  doing  anything  in  the 
paper  currencies  of  the  plantations  will  keep  'era  all  in 
great  confusion,  and  this  more  especially. 

I  expect  no  supply  of  the  Treasury  this  year,  no  debts 
to  be  paid,  no  government  to  be  supported  or  defended ; 
in  short  your  father's  quondam  book  keeper  will  make 
mad  work  before  he  has  done.  You  will  doubtless  hear 
how  far  they  proceeded  in  the  House  the  last  session  to 
dismiss  M'  Wilks,  in  which  I  believe  the  Boston  bench 
were  innocent,  but  not  so  in  the  ungratefuU  treatment  of 
M'  Partridge,  In  short,  Sir,  the  Land  Bank  does  so  far 
affect  every  affair  in  the  Assembly,  and  throughout  the 
Province,  that  it  will  be  the  ruin  of  government  and  people, 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  THOMAS   HUTCHINSON.  389 

if  it  be  not  speedily  and  effectually  cruslit.  I  am  at  first 
reading  well  pleas'd  with  what  you  put  into  the  hands 
of  Alderman  Baker  and  others,  but  I  can  by  no  means 
advise  to  your  plunging  yourself  or  estate  into  anything 
in  expectation  of  security  from  this  government,  whose 
honour  (in  its  present  way  of  thinking  and  acting)  I 
wouldn't  trust  for  a  pair  of  old  shoes.  And  from  this  I 
would  go  upon  the  special  affair  which  carried  you  hence. 
You  don't  say  in  any  of  your  letters  to  me  or  to  any 
other  of  your  friends  whether  you  had  receiv'd  the  £300 
ster*,  for  which  you  had  a  letter  to  M'  Wilks.  By  his 
account  he  had  no  money  of  the  Province's  in  hand  ;  yet 
I  suppose  he  paid  you,  or  you  would  have  said  he  had 
not.  I  say  upon  this,  by  no  means  advance  a  shilling  of 
your  own  money.  If  it  fails  on  that  head,  those  who 
should  supply  you  must  blame  themselves.  As  to  my 
small  affair  (among  the  rest),  I  am  glad  you  did  not  make 
any  special  use  of  my  power  of  attourney,  whereby  my 
enemies  might  have  taken  advantage.  As  property  can- 
not be  affected,  I  am  indifferent  in  which  Province  my 
interest  lyes. 

I  have  desir'd  M'  Partridge  to  read  you  a  letter  I  wrote 
T"*  instant  to  Lords  of  Trade,  which  may  perhaps  some 
way  or  other  affect  j'our  affair,  and  between  you  you'll 
judge  whether  it  may  any  way  hurt  the  Governour  to 
dehver  it;  if  it  may,  I  have  order'd  him  not  to  do  it, 
but  if  it  will  not,  I  think  it  proper  the}'  should  know  what 
I  have  there  wrote, 

1  will  at  the  first  leisure  moment  set  down  &  gravely 
consider  your  scheme  for  issuing  bills  of  credit,  tho'  I  tell 
you  beforehand  if  it  does  not  secure  an  invariable  value 
to  the  bills,  that  is,  to  be  worth  as  much  to-morrow,  next 
day,  and  all  the  time  they  are  extant,  as  at  the  moment 
they  are  issu'd,  or,  I  might  have  said,  to  be  at  the  first 
of  their  coming  out,  &  alwayes,  what  they  are  cill'd  in 
the  face,  —  I  say,  imless  effectual  care  be  taken  for  so 


oyGoot^lc 


390  THE   BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1741. 

ascei'taining  of  them,  I  can  never  be  io  opinion  of  any 
scheme  for  a  paper  currency.  Every  other  thing  must 
be  a  cheat  &  delusion. 

I  thank  you  in  behalf  of  M'  Secry  Willard,  whose  inte^ 
est,  I  hope  my  friends  will  (to  a  man)  warmly  espouse  on 
all  occasions.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  great  vertue,  of 
unspotted  integrity,  of  good  knowledge,  natural  and 
acquir'd,  and  perfectly  well  knowing  in  all  the  business 
of  his  office,  and  I  can't  beleive  any  successour  would  equal 
him  for  a  great  number  of  years  to  come.  You  are  wel- 
come, M'  Hutchinson,  to  use  any  freedom  with  me  in  the 
publick  or  in  your  own  afiaira,  and  you  may  depend  on 
my  honest  and  best  thoughts  as  much  as  if  you  were  my 
own  son,  for  I  heartily  wish  your  prosperity. 

I  had  almost  forgot  to  say  there  was  no  name  men- 
tion'd  of  another  agent  when  they  voted  in  the  House  to 
dismiss  M'  Wilks,  but  I  have  good  reason  to  beleive  the 
design  was  at  the  coming  session  to  make  your  neighbour 
Clark's  son-in-law  his  successour.  0  tempora,  0  mores !  I 
once  more  say  as  to  the  affair  of  the  Line,  risque  none  of 
your  own  money-  While  you  stay  let  me  hear  from  you, 
&  tell  me  in  time  your  conclusion  whether  to  return 
hither  before  winter.  I  am  glad  you  &  JP  Belcher  have 
so  well  renew'd  your  old  acquaintance,  from  which  I  am 
sure  he  will  reap  the  greatest  advantage.    I  am.  Sir, 

Tour  assured  fHend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  11,  1741- 

(Hall.)  


TO  LORD  EGMONT. 

Mat  it  please  t'  Lordship, — I  am  quite  aaham'd  to 
own  that  I  had  the  honour  of  a  letter  from  my  Lord 
Egmont  in  June  last,  dated  the  8*^  of  April,  with  M'  Ogle- 
thorpe's state  of  the  new  colony  of  Georgia.  I  ask  1000 
pardons,  and  beg  this  may  recover  me  to  your  Lordship's 
favour  &  good  opinion. 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  LORD  EGMONT.  391 

I  have  re'd  the  account  of  Georgia  once  and  again, 
and  by  its  harbours,  rivers,  soil,  and  productions  it  must 
in  time  make  a  fine  addition  to  the  British  Empire  (in 
America),  and  I  still  insist  upon  it  that  the  prohibition  of 
negroes  and  of  rum  will  finally  divert  1000  ill  conse- 
quences attending  other  colonies  that  abound  in  those 
pernicious  articles;  and  the  alteration  of  the  constitution 
to  the  advantage  of  females  must  give  great  incourage- 
ment  to  first  undertakers  or  setlers,  as  your  Lordi^hip 
observes.  TantcB  molts  erat  Romanam  condere  gerdem.  In- 
fant plantations  labour  with  great  difBcultiea,  must  first 
creep  before  they  go.  I  see  great  numbers  of  people 
would  be  welcome  in  that  new  settlement,  and  have 
therefore  the  honour  to  think  with  M'  Oglethorpe  that 
the  soldiers  sent  thither  should  all  be  married  men, 
or  that  a  number  of  women  should  be  sent  over,  that  ac- 
cording to  the  order  of  the  creation  of  man  there  should 
be  male  and  female,  and  they  become  one  flesh,  which 
would  be  one  good  and  laudable  way  of  increasing  their 
numbers. 

I  was  heartily  sorry  for  the  miscarriage  of  General 
Oglethorpe's  attempt  on  Augustine,  in  w'''  I  could  never 
yet  leani  where  the  mistake  was,  or  to  whom  that  misfor- 
tune is  owing,  unless  to  a  wrong  judgement  of  the  strength 
of  the  place,  to  which  the  force  that  attackt  it,  they  say, 
was  by  no  means  equal.  I  wish  a  part  of  Admiral  Ver- 
non's fleet  &  Gen'  Wentworth's  forces  may  give  it  a 
visit  before  the  Spaniards  sue  for  peace.  It  seems  to  me 
absolutely  necessary  for  quieting  the  English  possession 
of  Carolina  and  Geoi^a  that  we  should  reduce  Augustine 
to  the  obedience  of  the  British  Crown,  and  keep  it  as 
Gibraltar  and  Port  Mahone, 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  pfectly  in  opinion  with  your 
Lordship  as  to  the  brave,  humane  Vernon.  We  have 
lately  receiv'd  accounts  from  so  many  different  wayes  of 
his  taking  Carthagene  that  I  think  it  must  be  so,  but  sup- 


oyGoot^lc 


392  THE   BBLCHBB  PAPERS.  [ITll. 

pose  it  has  cost  dear  in  lives  and  ships,  and  if  he  process 
to  the  Havanna,  that  will  still  be  a  more  obstinate  aSair. 
Had  he  carry'd  less  than  half  the  force  he  now  has  with 
him  his  success  (doubtless)  wou'd  'a'  been  easy  &  ready. 
We  hear  Marquiss  D'Antin  with  about  30'^  French  ships  of 
the  line  sail'd  from  Hispaniola  in  Febru*  last  with  the 
Spanish  money  and  other  treasure  that  us'd  to  be  the 
loading  of  the  galleons. 

I  give  your  Lordship  10,000  thanks  for  the  kind  mea- 

tioD  you  make  of  my  son,  and  pray  your  Lordship  to 

beleive   me  to  be  with  the  greatest  respect  &   esteem, 

my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  faithfull,  most  obed'  humble  serv*. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  May  14,  1741. 

(H«1L)  

TO  ISAAC   WATTS. 

Rev'd  &  DEAR  Sir,  —  I  am  asbara'd  to  look  over  the 
date  of- your  kind  letter  of  4*  of  May  last,  which  came  to 
my  hands  the  1  November  following,  yet  I  can  relye  on 
your  goodness  for  pardon  in  owning  it  so  late,  while  you 
consider  how  much  I  am  ingrost  in  the  care  of  two  of 
the  King's  provinces,  sometimes  I  fear  too  much  to  tbe 
neglect  of  the  great  business  of  the  King  of  Kings;  and 
yet  I  would  humbly  hope  I  have  an  eye  to  HI?  glory  in  the 
whole  of  my  administration.  Man  is  bom  to  trouble  as 
the  sparks  flye  upwards;  and  even  this  determination  of 
the  great  Govemour  of  the  world  is  design'd  in  mercy  to 
mankind.  What  sayes  the  wise  Preacher  ?  "  In  the  day 
of  adversity  consider."  And  his  pious  father,  "Before  I 
was  afflicted  I  went  astray."  If  tlie  fruit  of  our  troubles 
be  that  our  wayes  please  the  Lord,  He'll  make  even  our 
enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  us.  May  the  Holy  and  Eter- 
nal Spirit  of  God  take  the  full  possession  of  my  heart, 
and  that  this  may  become  my  care  thro'  riches  of  mercy 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  ISAAC  WATTS.  393 

in  Jesiis  Christ.  He  that  said  to  the  foaming  billows, 
Peace,  be  still,  and  it  was  so,  can  disconcert  all  faction  & 
opposition,  can  scatter  every  cloud  and  bid  the  shades  of 
night  flye  before  the  springing  day  and  rising  sun.  A 
Governour  must  indeavour  to  mail  himself  with  patience. 
ScBvis  es$e  iranquiUtim  in  undis.  I  desire  to  be  in  subjection 
to  the  Father  of  Spirits,  to  have  faith  in  Him,  and  this 
coustant  conclusion  in  myself  that  all  the  carvings  of  His 
providence  towards  me  are  best  for  me.  I  again  greatly 
rejoyce  in  the  favour  of  God  in  so  well  restoring  you 
after  such  a  threatuing  stroke,  but  I  rejoyce  still  more 
in  your  humble  &  pious  submission  while  you  can  aay, 
"  You  are  waiting  His  will  to  be  imploy'd  here,  or  to  be 
call'd  away  hence,  at  what  hour  He  pleases."  Oh,  Sir,  how 
tbankfull  must  the  Chnstian  be  that  has  thus  got  npou 
the  last  round  of  the  ladder.  My  greatest  gratitude  flyes 
into  your  bosom  in  return  for  all  your  prayers  &  good 
wishes  to  me  &  to  my  family.  As  to  myself,  I  am  just 
at  the  heels  of  sixty,  my  few  remaining  moments  are 
crowded  into  a  narrow  compass.  "  My  dayes  are  swifter 
than  a  post,  or  a  weaver's  shuttle.  They  will  soon  be  ex- 
tinct, &  the  grave  be  ready  for  me."  Oh,  then,  may  I 
by  the  powerful,  sovereign  grace  of  God  double  my  dili- 
gence that  I  may  be  ready  when  my  Lord  shall  call.  I 
intreat  (and  as  the  duty  of  your  function  requires),  I 
charge  you  when  you  kneel  before  the  throne  of  God  & 
the  Lamb  (in  secret)  not  to  forget  me ;  for  an  alluring 
world  &  a  tempting  Devil  are  never  weary  of  their 
Attacks.  I  am  greatly  oblig'd  to  the  excellent  Lady 
Abney,  to  whom  you'll  present  my  humble  respects. 
Happy  she !  who  has  turn'd  her  widow'd  state  into  an 
everlasting  match  with  the  glorious  Bridegroom  of  the 
Church  of  God.  By  the  last  ship  I  cover'd  to  my  son  a 
letter  for  you  from  our  dear  friend  D'  Colman,  wherein  I 
doubt  not  but  he  has  given  you  an  account  of  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  a  wonderfull  manner  of 


oyGoot^lc 


394  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741. 

late  in  thie  &  the  neighbouring  provinces.  To  His  name 
alone  be  the  glory.  I  am,  Sir,  with  the  most  perfect 
esteem  &  friendship, 

YoiirB.  J.  B. 

Boston,  May  20,  1711. 

When  you  favour  the  world  with  any  new  production 
let  me  partake. 

(Smith.)  

TO  HENRY  NEWMAN. 

Sir,  —  I  duly  receiv'd  your  kind  letters  of  September 
29'^  Oct"  8,  14,  &  20"-  November,  V  Keller,  Fones  & 
Adams.  I  still  think  it  not  in  your  power  legally  or  hon- 
estly to  withold  any  papers  belonging  to  the  late  M' 
Dummer  from  the  demand  of  his  Execu",  nor  could  any 
friend  justly  find  fault  with  you  in  delivering  them  up. 
The  wretch  that  went  into  the  measures  of  that  letter  for 
breaking  up  the  constitution  of  his  countrey,  to  compass 
his  revenge,  ought  to  be  the  abhorrence  of  all  honest  men 
&  lovers  of  English  liberties;  for  my  part  I  shouldn't 
scruple  his  being  the  authour  of  any  wickedness  to  obtain 
such  points  as  he  might  at  any  time  have  in  view.  I 
beleive  M'  Walpole  was  fully  satisfy'd  with  what  I  wrote 
him,  because  in  his  answer  to  me  he  seems  to  drop  the 
matter,  or  rather  to  fault  his  Deputy,  &  I  am  told  has 
wrote  him  to  make  his  submission.  He  did  indeed  behave 
at  the  Council  Board  with  great  indecency  &  rudeness, 
and  with  no  regard  to  the  King's  authority,  that  I  tho't 
it  inconsistent  with  bis  Majesty's  honour,  as  well  as  my 
own,  to  allow  him  a  seat  at  the  Council  table.  Notwith- 
standing my  enemies  had  so  herniated  the  eyes  of  the 
P — r — y  C — ncil  as  to  force  such  a  cruel  censure  aa  they 
made,  yet  I  can  fully  appeal  to  Him  whom  I  adore,  for 
the  integrity  and  strict  impartiality  of  ray  conduct  in  the 
affair  of  the  boundaries,  &  all  the  clamour  my  adversa- 


oyGoot^lc 


1711.]  TO  RICHAED  PARTRIDGE.  395 

lies  made  sprung  from  pure  malice.  I  shall  indeavour 
by  the  help  of  God  so  to  conduct  my  administration  in 
both  provinces  as  I  shall  judge  may  in  the  best  manner 
advance  the  King's  service  &  honour  &  the  welfare  of  his 
people,  &  shall  then  hope,  my  innocence  &  my  justice  to 
all  mankind  will  finally  protect  me  from  the  mean,  base 
attempts  of  my  unreasonable  enemies.  That  villain 
D — nb — r,  I  see,  has  defrauded  all  his  creditors  by  a  stat- 
ute. Why  are  lesser  villains  strangled  at  Tyburn  ?  I  thank 
you  for  the  publick  prints,  ■which  are  alwayes  welcome 
to  me.  Your  friends  kindly  return  your  compliments.  I 
beg  you  will  be  my  advocate  with  M''  Urlsperger  of  Augs- 
burh,  to  whom  I  shall  soon  write  in  answer  to  his  kind 
letters  lying  by  me.  ColI°  Hutchinson  had  the  letter 
you  inclos'd.  The  junction  of  Sir  Challoner  Ogle  with 
Admiral  Vernon  put  all  the  English  America  into  a 
frolick,  &  their  success  at  Carthagene  you'll  have  an 
"account  of  by  the  express  dispatcht  from  thence  to  his 
Majesty.  M'  Partridge  &  M'  Belcher  both  give  me  the 
same  account  that  you  do  of  M'  Allen's  late  conduct,  of 
which  I  shall  take  the  proper  notice  when  he  returns 
hither.  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  you  for  all  your  good 
wishes,  &  hope  my  friends  have  made  so  good  an  interest 
with  the  Kings  min"  as  that  I  am  in  no  present  danger 
of  a  supersedeas.  Yet  affairs  at  Court  often  take  sudden 
&  different  turns.  I  wish  you  much  health  &  every  easy 
circumstance  you  desire,  &  remain  with  upright  respect, 
worthy  &  dear  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant  J.  B. 

BOSTOR,  Ma;  21, 1741. 

(Smith.)  


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 


Deab  Brother, — I  have  before  me  yours  of  March 
25*,  30^,  and  April  11,  y  Shepherdson  &  Tracey.  My 
L*  Pr — fl — d — nt,  I  find  by  M'  Belcher,  was  very  warm  at 


oyGoot^lc 


396  THE  BELCHBB  P^>ERS.  [1741. 

the  Committee  of  Council  upon  the  report  of  the  Lords 
of  Trade  for  a  separate  Gov'  for  New  Hampshire,  &  con 
firm'd  it,  and  I  fully  expect  to  hear  by  next  ship  that 
B.  W.  is  appointed,  tbo'  according  to  the  words  of  your 
letter  of  3*  Febru',  viz',  "  That  when  it  came  before  the 
King  and  Council  he  (that  is  S'  R.)  would  plead  tinke  and 
20  other  things  to  put  it  by,  and  would  save  the  meaning 
08  to  New  Hampshire,  if  even  the  Lords'  Committee  should 
agree  to  the  Board  of  Trade's  report,  and  that  you  kept 
M'  Speaker  Onslow  and  Sir  William  Young  in  reserve  as 
to  further  application."  I  wish  the  great  man  may  be 
sincere  and  just  in  what  he  said ;  otherwise  it  seems 
highly  probable  that  New  Hampshire  will  be  taken  from 
me,  &  I  am  waiting  the  final  result,  and  wish  it  mayn't 
be  to  the  mortification  of  me  and  of  my  friends.  Brother, 
how  could  L*  Pr — s — d — nt  pretend  to  you  he  was  not  my 
enemy  ?  he  is  so  violent  it  looks  to  me  as  if  he  was  to 
have  some  gratuity  for  acting  the  hot  part  he  does.  Tou 
will  by  this  conveyance  hear  in  what  confusion  the  affairs 
of  this  Province  are  by  reason  of  the  vile,  wicked  Land 
Bank,  near  one  half  of  the  Council  lefl  out,  and  I  oblig'd 
to  dissolve  the  Assembly,  tho'  this  is  the  session  when 
they  are  most  wanted  for  the  service  of  the  King  and  of 
the  Province.  I  hope  the  King's  instruction  &  the  act  of 
Parliament  will  be  here  in  the  next  ship,  for  we  sliall  be 
in  great  confusion  till  that  fraudulent  scheme  is  intirely 
supprcBt. 

What  I  inserted  in  my  speech  last  winter  was  intended 
for  the  real  service  of  M'  H.  W.,  &  altho'  it  did  not  suc- 
ceed, I  can't  see  where  any  blame  could  be  imputed  to 
me.  As  to  my  son,  your  nephew  at  the  Temple,  I 
gravel^'  think  on  all  you  write.  I  see  you  had  been  with 
the  Widow  H — Id — n,*  and  broke  the  matter,  and  did 
not  find  much  incouragem',  "  and  that  you  doubted  it 

I  reference  [o  >  marriage  beLireen  JooiUuii 


jvGooi^lc 


1741]  TO  HICHAHD  PARTKIDGE.  397 

would  hardly  do."  I  have  been  all  along  pretty  much  of 
that  mind,  &  shall  not  be  disappointed,  altho'  it  would 
please  me  so  to  be,  and  you  may  read,  seal  &  deliver  the 
inclosed  to  John  Morton  about  it,  if  you  think  it  may  do 
any  good.  Tell  my  son  I  cannot  write  him  by  this  con- 
vey", I  am  so  prest  in  time,  but  I  would  have  him  take 
couri^e  and  attempt  the  matter,  come  what  will  of  it, 
and  if  it  would  accomplLsh  the  thing  I  would  settle  £200 
sterg,  a  year  on  him  during  my  being  Gov'.  I  carefully 
observe  what  you  say  &  shall  not  mention  a  word  to  him 
of  what  you  write.  I  re'd  your  letter  to  M''  Kinsey  of 
Philadelphia,  and  can't  see  how  it's  possible  for  the  Board 
of  Trade  to  forbid  an  agent  (or  indeed  any  of  the  King's 
subjects'  application  to  them)  in  behalf  of  a  province  or 
of  particular  persons,  when  properly  made,  in  redress  of 
any  grievance ;  and  should  the  case  ever  be  so  I  would 
make  loud  complaint  to  the  King  in  Privy  (or  Cabinet) 
Council  to  forbid  any  such  despotick,  arbitrary  invading 
the  rights  of  an  Englishman,  and  to  let  them  know  they 
are  but  publick  servants  to  their  fellow  subjects. 

I  am,  brother,  greatly  concerned  at  the  present  situa- 
tion of  my  dear  son  at  the  Temple,  and  at  the  thfit  of  his 
returning  hither  to  starve  in  New  England  practice  after 
such  a  long,  expen.sive  education  ;  but  I  will  in  a  few  days 
turn  it  on  every  side  and  weigh  it  as  sedately  as  I  possibly 
can,  &  give  you  and  give  him  my  maturest  thoughts.  I 
am  thorrowly  sensible  how  severe  it  is  upon  you  to  be 
advancing  for  his  support,  and  for  my  other  affairs.  I 
am  griev'd  and  troubled,  but  have  the  view  of  remitting 
to  you  something  hand.sorae  for  your  ease  in  a  little  time, 
and  pray  my  son  may  not  be  put  under  discouragement. 
Be  patient  a  little  longer,  &  I  hope  all  will  be  to  your 
content.  If  he  will  not  mind  my  angry  admonitions  & 
retrench  his  profuse,  extravagant  way  of  living,  or  find  a 
fund  of  his  own  to  defray  the  charge,  he  must  come  home, 
&  so  let  him  know. 


oyGoot^lc 


398  THE  BELCHER  PAPEHS.  [1711. 

M'  Allen  very  carefully  deliver'd  your  letters,  and  I 
have  assur'd  him  no  gratitude  shall  be  wanting  on  my 
part  in  return  for  the  good  services  done  me,  according 
to  your  representation.  Your  packet  to  Gov'  Ward  went 
forward  by  the  post.  You  may  depend  I  have  laid  a 
scheme  for  Kilby's  dismission  very  soon,  which  I  think 
can't  fail  of  taking  effect  I  thank  you  for  the  yew  seed 
y  Shepherdson,  &  am 

Your  affectionate  brother.  J.  B. 

BoBTOH,  May  29, 1741. 
(Smith.  Coffin.) 


TO  JOHN  MORTON. 

Good  Sib, — In  Oct"  last  I  receiv'd  your  kind  letter  of 
14""  June  V  Snelling,  and  thank  you  for  it,  and  for  all 
your  good  wi.shes  to  me  &  to  my  family.  I  do  assure  you 
there  is  nothing  in  my  power  that  I  would  not  willingly 
do  for  promoting  the  best  welfare  of  my  countrey.  Tour 
observation  is  right  as  to  the  money  remitted  hither  for 
propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  poor  Indians.  The 
Commissioners  here  are  very  industrious  to  answer  the 
good  ends  of  that  foundation.  I  am  very  sorry  for  the 
decaying  state  of  good  M'  Wilks's  health.  He  is  a  wor- 
thy, honest  gentleman,  and  I  know  him  to  be  a  faithfuU 
friend.  I  pray  God  to  recover  &  restore  him  to  perfect 
health.  The  death  of  the  excellent  M'  Holden  was  a  loss 
to  the  Christian  world,  to  Great  Britain,  and  a  very  great 
one  to  this  countrey,  to  which  he  bad  been  a  most  gener- 
ous benefactor.  I  have  more  than  once  mention'd  to  my 
son  ]VI'  Belcher  of  the  Temple  the  making  his  address  to 
one  of  the  young  ladies,  and  his  uncle  seems  to  like  it,  but 
he  is  too  backward,  fearing  it  may  not  be  acceptable  to 
the  family.  I  write  his  uncle  by  this  ship  about  it,  and 
would  take  it  as  a  singular  favour  if  you  would  learn  the 
disposition  &  inclination  of  the  family  in  this  matter,  and 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  WILLIAM   BULL.  S99 

whether  there  may  be  a  rational  probability  of  his  Buccess. 
If  not,  he  shall  by  no  means  attempt  It,  for  I  would  not 
baulk  him  in  such  a  nice  affair. 

M'  Belcher  is  the  Gov'  of  New  England's  son, 

In  the  31"  year  of  his  age. 

Comely  and  genteel. 

Of  a  healthy  constitution. 

Diligent  and  capable  in  his  business. 

Fine  temper;  &  his  education,  first  and  last,  has  cost 
3  to  four  thousand  guineys.  And  I  should  think  all  these 
things  put  together  may  give  him  a  claim  to  an  agreeable 
young  lady,  with  a  very  handsome  fortune.  And,  my 
friend,  how  many  young  ladies  with  large  fortunes  are 
sacrificed  to  monsters,  who  ruin  'em  the  first  night  they 
go  to  bed,  and  how  much  more  preferable  is  such  a  young 
gentleman  as  M'  Belcher  to  such  brutes,  altho'  they  may 
have  overgrown  fortunes.  I  wish  you.  Sir,  much  health 
and  ease  in  your  advancing  years,  &  am 

Your  hearty  friend  &  most  hum.  servant. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  May  29, 1741. 
(Smith.) 

TO  WILLIAM  BULL.* 

Hon""  Sir,  —  Your  favour  of  the  29""  November  last 
did  not  reach  me  till  the  22*  of  April,  or  I  had  sooner  own 'd 
the  receit  of  it.  I  heartily  commiserate  the  poor  suffer- 
ers in  the  late  dreadful!  fire  of  the  town  of  Charlestown, 
such  an  one,  I  suppose,  as  no  town  in  the  English 
America  has  ever  known.  I  immediately  communicated 
your  letter  to  his  Majesty's  Council  here,  who  were  sen- 

*  Lieatcnant-OovemoT  of  Soulh  Carolina.  A  >erioii9  f1r«  bmke  out  in  Chirlettan  at 
two  o'clock  In  (he  aftemDon  of  Nov.  IB,  1T40,  and  burned  until  eight  o'clnck  at  night. 
"  The  Kamber  of  Houhb  burnt  are  compated  to  b«  above  300  beiidea  Store  Houses,  &c. 
and  aeveral  Wharfla,  and  had  it  not  bean  high  Water  all  or  most  of  the  ShippinK  vould 
have  been  burnt.  The  Damage  only  in  Herchindixe  is  computed  to  be  above  the  Value  ot 
.£300,000  SlerllDg."    Sm  New  England  Weekly  Journal,  Jan.  Xi,  IT 41.—  Eoa, 


oyGoot^lc 


400  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741. 

sibly  moved  at  the  terrible  account  you  give  of  the  fiery 
destruction  of  that  day,  and  advis'd  to  tlie  issuing  of  the 
inclosed  brief  which  has  been  re'd  in  most  of  the  churches 
of  this  Province ;  nor  have  1  been  wanting  otherwise  to 
move  well  dispos'd  persons  in  this  &  some  of  the  neigh- 
bouring towns  to  put  on  bowels  of  compassion  &  kindness 
to  the  many  poorsuiferers  by  this  melancholy  providence. 
Some  collections  have  been  made  already,  and  others  are 
making,  &  when  the  gentlemen  appointed  to  remit  the 
money  send  it  forwards  you  shall  hear  further  from  me. 
In  the  mean  time  I  do  assure  you,  Sir,  I  have  a  very  feel- 
ing sympathy  with  the  sufferers  of  all  degrees  among 
you,  and  if  what  shall  be  given  here  arises  from  a  true 
Christian  temper  of  mind,  I  hope  it  will  be  accepted 
of  Almighty  God  as  the  mite  the  widow  cast  into  the 
Treaury.      I  am  with  much  respect,  Sir, 

Your  Honour's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  serv'. 

J.B. 

Boston,  June  5,  1741. 


TO   HENRY  SHERBURNE. 

Sib,  —  I  duly  receiv'd  your  favour  of  5""  instant  By 
a  ship  arriv'd  last  week  from  Bristol  I  have  letters  of 
30  April,  advising  me  that  M'  Shirley  was  appointed 
Governour  of  the  Massachusetts,  and  M''  Wentworth  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  it  comes  from  so  good  hands  that  I 
have  no  reason  to  doubt  it.  As  in  all  other  things,  so  in 
this  great  event,  I  desire  patiently  to  submit  to  the  will 
of  the  Alwise  God,  &  from  it  to  observe  the  uncertainty  of 
all  humane  affairs,  and  that  there  is  no  safety  or  immuta- 
bility but  in  God,  in  whom  it  is  our  duty  to  trust  at  all 
times.  I  am  truly  afraid  the  people  of  your  Province 
will  soon  be  under  great  difficulties  and  distresses,  loaded 
with  taxes,  &",  &  all  my  friends  must  prepare  for  tbeir 
quietus.     As  to  M'  Newman's  money,  you  know  I  have 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  RICHARD  WALDBON.  401 

nothing  more  to  do  with  it  than  aa  a  friend  to  justice 
and  to  my  friend,  and  it  will  be  no  better  than  robbery 
for  the  Assembly  to  hinder  the  payment.  I  v^ry  kindly 
salute  you  and  Madam  Sherburne  &  all  your  good  family, 
and  remain,  Hon'*'*  Sir, 

Your  hearty  friend  &  8erv'.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jqdq  29,  1741. 

(Post)  

TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  have  duly  receiv'd  your  favour  of  23*  currant 
by  your  son,  as  also  of  26  by  the  post.  I  find  Coll"  West- 
brook  is  in  a  decaying,  dying  way.  When  bo  great  a 
change  as  his  death  may  happen  I  am  sensible  it  must 
require  your  being  much  at  Stroud-Water,  for  which  you 
are  like  to  have  leisure,  as  well  as  I  for  mj'  private  affairs. 
I  had  not  wrote  to  the  old  Simpleton  uncover'd  but  that 
it  requir'd  haste,  and  I  suppos'd  you  were  not  return'd. 
The  Rockway  storm  is  blown  over,  yet  it  may  serve  to 
shew  this  Province  &  yours  the  sad  situation  they  are  in 
upon  the  appearance  of  even  weakness  itself  I  desire 
you  to  send  me  a  journal  and  plan  from  each  of  the  sur- 
Teyours,  &  the  duplicates  to  lye  for  my  order.  What  you 
beard  as  to  the  Learned  in  the  Law  <&  Granada  came  last 
Tuesday  by  one  Helyer  from  Bristol,  by  whom  I  had  let- 
ters from  M'  Wilks  &  from  M'  Partridge  of  30"*  April, 
confirming  it  in  very  explicit  terms,  so  you  will  now  (as 
I  have  said  before)  become  a  freeman  after  eleven  years 
servitude.  If  you  have  anything  to  suggest  upon  this 
extraordinary  event,  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  it.  Wish- 
ing you,  your  lady,  and  family  much  happiness,  I  remain, 
Hon*"  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jane  29, 1741. 
(Post.) 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCBEB  PAPEBS. 


TO  RICHARD  PARTEIDGE. 


Deab  Brotheb,  —  The  23*-  of  last  month  arriv'd 
Helyer  from  Bristol,  with  your  kind  letter  o£  30""  April, 
bringing  me  the  melanchoUy  tydinge  of  the  King's  dia- 
niissing  me  from  both  my  governroente,  Maflsachusetts 
being  given  to  M'  Shirley  and  New  Hamp  to  M'  Went 
worth.  And  yours  of  14*  May  by  Evers  came  to  my 
hands  the  1  curr',  confirming  these  things.  Most  cer- 
tainly, as  you  say,  there  is  no  confidence  in  man,  whose 
"  heart  is  deceitful!  above  all  things  &  desperately  wicked : 
who  can  know  it  ?  "  The  great,  great  man,*  with  other 
great  men  that  you  and  my  other  friends  have  bo  long 
attended,  and  from  whom  you  receiv'd  from  time  to  time 
such  solemn  &  sacred  assurances  of  friendship  and  of  my 
continuance,  is  a  new  and  flagrant  instance  of  the  false- 
hood, hypocrisy,  and  treachery  of  mankind. 

I  must  needs  own,  it  gives  me  a  terrible  shock,  and  the 
more  so,  when  I  consider  how  faithfull  I  have  been  to  the 
King ;  and  after  all  to  be  tum'd  out  without  fault  or  com- 
plaint I  think  must  be  a  great  discouragement  to  all 
faithfull  servants;  but  I  plainly  see  truth  and  justice 
must  never  stand  in  the  way  of  the  ease  &  conveniency 
of  great  men.  As  to  what  you  mention  about  the  Land 
Bank,  I  lay  no  stress  at  all  upon  it.  That's  but  a  sham 
pretence.  No!  they  were  resolv'd  to  do  the  thing, per 
fas  aid  mfat.  It  must  be  plain  to  the  whole  world  what 
an  honest  &  steady  part  I  have  acted  for  destroying  that 
wicked -projection,  and  my  letters  to  you  on  that  head  must 
convince  all  mankind  that  I  never  concerted  any  thing 
with  you  in  fav*  of  it,  but  I  did  &  shall  alwayes  think  you 
acted  a  very  imprudent  part  about  it 

Upon  the  whole  I  desire  not  too  much  to  look  at  the 
wicked  instruments  that  have  been  us'd  to  bring  about 

■  Sir  Bobert  Wilpole.  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  HICHAHD  PARTRIDGE.  403 

this  extraordinary  event  of  Divine  Providence,  but  I 
would  carry  my  thot'a  higher,  and  eye  the  hand  of  God, 
fall  down  &  adore  &  say,  "  I  have  sinned,  what  shall  I  do 
unto  Thee,  0  Tbou  Preserver  of  men  ? "  I  would  be 
dumb  and  not  open  my  mouth.  God  is  just,  and  He  is 
bUU  reserving  to  me  many  mercies  by  which  and  by  afflic- 
tions may  I  be  led  into  a  stricter  obedience  to  all  His  holy 
and  righteous  laws,  and  be  made  happy  in  a  closer  com- 
munion with  Him.     Amen. 

As  to  my  dear  son  at  the  Temple,  unless  some  one  of 
the  things  I  hinted  to  him  in  my  last,  and  now  repeat, 
should  take  effect  he  must  immediately  return  hither.  I 
am  under  great  obligations  for  your  paternal  regard  to  him 
for  ten  years  past,  and  so  is  he ;  and  as  it  is  now  impossi- 
ble for  me  to  go  on  and  support  him  where  he  is,  it  would 
be  unreasonable  for  me  still  to  desire  you  should  straiten 
yourself  on  his  account,  but  onely  to  assist  him,  if  he  re- 
turns hither,  in  a  passage  &  getting  him  clear  of  the 
city,  &*.  I  am,  brother,  nnder  the  utmost  concern  to 
reimburse  the  large  sum  you  are  in  advance  for  me.  The 
Assembly  are  to  sit  the  next  week,  &  what  this  extraor- 
dinary turn  may  produce  among  them  is  impossible  to 
guess.  If  they  do  not  pay  any  part  of  my  arrears  (which 
is  upwards  fourteen  thousand  pounds)  yet  I  hope  they  will 
make  me  the  usual  grant ;  &  yet  sometimes  I  doubt  it 
Let  that  be  as  it  will,  I  am  determin'd  by  all  the  ways  pos- 
sible in  my  power  to  be  soon  making  you  a  large  remit- 
tance, and  first  of  all  to  pay  your  bills  in  favour  of  M' 
Oliver.  I  hope  you  will  find  friends  to  assist  you  till  I 
am  able  to  do  what  I  am  earnestly  indeavouring  to  do 
for  you.  I  can  say  no  more  at  present,  but  that  I  am 
with  the  most  sincere  regard. 

Your  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Joly  8, 1711. 

Via  Sootlsad  9  Trail  &  if  Craigy  (to  Lontt*). 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPERS. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JE. 


Mt  dear  Son,' — This  covers  duplicate  of  mine  of  18 
ult'  Y  CoflRn,  to  which  I  referr,  and  more  particularly  as  to 
three  things  (or  four)  that  I  pointed  out  for  your  future 
prospect.  I  am  now  to  own  your  dutifuU  letter  of  16  May, 
which  came  to  hand  the  1  currant,  if  Evera,  and  is  a  con- 
firmation of  what  I  rec'd  before,  of  my  being  dismiat  from 
both  my  governments,  M'  Shirley  being  my  successor  in 
this,  and  M'  Wentworth  in  that  of  New  Hampshire.  The 
news  of  this  extraordinary  event  was  a  most  uncoinon 
surprize  to  me  and  to  all  my  friends,  after  such  repeated 
solemn  &  sacred  assurances  from  the  p — me  m — n — st — r,* 
whose  hypocrisy,  falseness,  and  perfidy  is  but  in  com- 
mon with  such  sort  of  cattle.'  I  therefore  thank  God, 
who  inables  me  amidst  all  my  present  diflBciilties  &  pe^ 
plexities  to  look  above  so  great  or  so  little  a  creature  and 
the  other  wicked  instruments  who  have  been  concern'd 
in  bringing  about  this  event,  —  even  to  eye  the  hand 
of  God  in  it,  to  bow  down  and  adore  before  Him,  and  to 
confess  with  the  deepest  humility,  "  I  have  sinned  against 
Thee,  what  shall  I  do  unto  Thee,  0  Thou  Preserver  of 
men?"  God  is  holy,  just,  &  righteous,  &  I  am  wicked 
and  sinfull,  yet  in  the  height  of  this  melancholly  provi- 
dence He  incompasses  me  with  many  mercies.  To  His 
name  be  the  praise  &  glory.  I  desire  to  be  in  a  perfect 
submission  &  conformity  to  God's  holy  will. 

You  seem  to  have  some  spirit  left  in  the  depth  of  this 
sharp  tryal,  for  which  I  desire  to  thank  God.  I  don't 
know,  nor  can  I  see,  what  views  you  have,  but  you  say, 
tfou  hope  hjf  the  blesdng  of  God  soon  to  provide  for  yourself  in 
some  quarter  of  the  world  or  other.  I  have  mention'd  Dublin, 
Jamaica  &  Boston.  Perhaps  the  first  might  be  the  best, 
if  M'  Belcher  would  adopt    you.     If  you   come  hither 

•  Sir  Bobert  Walpolc.  —  Eni. 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO  EICHABD  WALDRON.  405 

Pemberton'3  place  would  be  a  fine  sinecure,  and  worth 
all  the  interest  &  pains  you  and  your  friends  can  make. 
I  mean,  to  bring  a  patent  for  it,  and  not  to  depend  that 
another  Governour  would  give  it  here  upon  the  King's 
aign  manual,  as  I  did.  Be  wise,  consider  well.  I  say,  may 
God  give  you  understanding  to  do  something  for  yourself 
at  last.    More  by  the  next.    I  am,  dear  Jon', 

Your  very  afEec  father.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Jaly  3, 1741. 

Via  ScoUaad  V  Trail  &  V  Crug;  (to  Loaa-). 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB. 

Mr  DEAR  Son,  —  I  know  not  how  to  let  this  ship  pass 
without  giving  you  a  line,  altho'  I  have  very  little  to  say. 
The  melanchoUy  scene  I  have  before  me  you  must  be 
sensible  leads  my  tho'ts  into  great  variety.  I  humbly 
pray  for  the  aids  of  Divine  Grace  to  support  me  at  this 
time  of  God's  afBictive  dispensation  upon  me.  As  to 
yourself,  may  God  in  His  goodness  &  mercy  find  out  a 
way  for  your  imployment  and  support  in  life.  What 
views  you  may  have  I  am  not  able  to  judge,  but  my  tho'ts 
are  that  you  will  not  be  able  to  do  better  than  to  return 
hither  immediately,  where,  I  hope,  you  will  be  able  to 
get  a  livelyhood.  I  commit  you  to  the  counselling  of 
God,  and  am,  dear  Jon*. 

Your  a£Ee6  father.  J.  B. 

B08T011,  Jaly  15, 1741. 
B7  Cap'  Philips. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


HoNO*"  Sir,  —  I  have  your  favour  of  the  17""  currant 
May  this  find  young  M'  Waldron  in  a  good  way  of  recov- 
ery, &  long  to  live,  an  honour  to  his  countrey  and  a  great 


oyGoot^lc 


406  THE  BELCHER  PAPKEa  [17*1. 

comfort  to  his  parents.  I  sincerely  wish  all  fends,  ani* 
mosities,  and  parties  may  vanish  and  dye  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  my  expected  successour ;  but  this  I  shonid  not 
wish  were  we  not  assured  from  the  sacred  pages  that 
with  God  all  things  are  possible,  and  don't  you  think  it 
would  be  a  fresh  instance  of  almighty,  sovereign  grace 
shower'd  upon  the  people  of  yoiu*  Province  in  plentifull 
measures,  and  that  very  generally,  if  it  should  be  as  all 
good  men  would  desire  to  wish  ? 

Were  my  opportunity  lengthned  out  I  would  with 
pleasure  do  the  good  you  mention  for  Haverhill,  &",  but 

I  loath  &  abhorr  the  thot  of .    No,  doing  my  duty 

in  serving  ray  generation  according  to  the  will  of  God 
has  been  alwayes  to  me  the  sweetest  reward,  and  had  I 
one  corrupted  finger  I  would  sever  it  from  the  rest  I 
thank  God,  who  thr6  the  whole  of  my  administration  has 
never  left  me  to  be  inslav'd  or  in  the  least  subjected  to 
filthy  lucre.  No,  I  can  now  in  the  end  appeal  with  bold- 
ness and  comfort  to  the  Omniscient  God,  as  the  Prophet 
of  old,  "  Behold,  here  I  am ;  witness  against  me  before 
the  Lord  &  before  His  anointed.  Whose  ox  have  I  taken, 
or  whose  aaa  have  I  taken  ?  or  whom  have  I  defrauded  ? 
whom  have  I  oppressed  ?  or  of  whose  hand  have  I  re- 
ceived any  bribe  to  blind  mine  eyes  therewith?  and 
I  will  restore  it." 

Inclosed  is  my  order  to  the  Presid*  for  the  management 
of  the  approaching  ceremony,  which  I  have  thought  much 
better  to  be  general  than  particular.  I  thank  your  dis- 
patch of  D'  Band,  and  to  so  good  content.*  Did  Mitchell 
come  to  you  for  Hazzen's  &  Bryant's  platts  in  order  to 
make  out  a  compleat  one  ?  I  think  I  met  him  one  day 
last  week,  but  he  didn't  care  to  know  me.  I  therefore 
suppose  the  clan   have  directed    he  shou'd    dedicate  & 

*  Goremor  Belcher  had  wnt  b  letter  to  Wa]dron  bj  Dr.  Kami.  "  vbom  I  bit  bonnd  ii 
honour  to  aerve  uid  protect,"  dniring  Waldmn  to  gire  Thomu  Rand  of  HampOHi,  !>' 
Buid'i  [iephev,AeoDiniiMion  as  lientaoaatin  aomg  companr,  "or  that]-oii  pntms  in  kim 
better  waj  to  (erre  bim."  —  Edb, 


oyGoot^lc 


17*1.]  TO  RICHAKD  WALDEON.  407 

deliver  the  plan  to  Granada,  that  he  may  make  out  some 
merit  from  it.  Content.  As  before  I  shall  give  myself 
very  little  trouble  in  that  or  in  any  thing  else.  I  still 
look  upon  the  afiair  of  the  Line  attended  with  endless 
snarls  and  difficulties  &  perhaps  with  extremities  not 
mnch  tho't  of. 

If  I  can  yet  do  you  any  good,  put  me  in  the  way  of 
it,  &  so  oblige,  Sir, 

Your  affec  friend  &  hum.  serv'.  J.  B. 

BoeTON,  Jul;  20,  llil. 

(Pwrt.)  


TO  RICHAED  WALDRON. 

Hon"  Sir, — I  am  favour'd  with  yours  of  14  instant. 
You  know  we  have  often  setl'd  the  point  of  the  madness 
&  infatuation  of  this  great  Province.  The  12  currant  I 
laid  before  the  Assembly  Hazzen's  &  Bryant's  platte,  & 
in  my  message  niention'd  the  non-return  upon  the  curve 
line,  &  to  some  without  doors  hinted  what  you  have 
wrote.  When  they  will  proceed  upon  it  I  know  not,  nor 
have  I  any  thing  more  to  do  in  that  or  any  thing  else. 

Gov'  Shirley's  comission  for  this  Pr^v  having  been 
publisbt  here  the  14  curr*,  he  tells  me  be  has  no  Yiee- 
Adntiral's  commission,  nor  any  instruc'".  He  meets  the 
Assembly  this  morning.  I  believe  the  news  about  the 
painter  *  is  a  mistake.  He  expects  to  be  chosen  into 
the  Council  here,  &  then  to  be  made  agent  for  the  Prov- 
ince in  the  Rh'  Island  affair.     Oh,  glorious,  happy  dai/es ! 

I  inclose  you  a  blank  sign'd  &  indorst,  which  I  desire 
you  to  fill  up,  &  in  case  Granada's  coinission  don't  arrive 
before  the  25  cnrr",  go  to  the  Treasurer  with  the  warrant 
&  the  inclosed  letter  at  the  time  (not  lapsing  an  hour). 
Seal  the  letter  &  enter  upon  the  warr'  what  you  receive,  to 
remain  with  you  for  my  further  order.    If  the  arrival  of 

•  Bobert  Aucbmnt;.  —  Ed* 


oyGoot^lc 


408  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [W4l. 

the  commission  prevents,  then  return  the  warrant  &  the 
letter  for  Coll'  H. 

Honest  D'  Oilman  waa  to  see  me  last  week  &  said  the 
clan  would  carry  the  choice  of  an  Assembly  just  as  they 
pleas'd ;  so  you  are  like  to  keep  pace  with  this  Province 
in  glorious,  happi/  daf/es.     I  am  ^wayes,  aa  you  know. 

J.B, 

Boston,  Aug"  17, 1741. 

Send  me  a  sett  of  Hazzen's  &  Bryant's  platts  &  journals 
by  return  of  the  post,  which  I  am  now  determined  to 
transmit. 
(Post.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Hox""  Sir,  —  I  am  favour'd  with  yours  of  21  instant, 
and  thankfully  observe  the  care  jou  will  take  about  my 
warrant  which  falls  due  to-morrow.  The  plana  k  iou^ 
nals  I  shall  send  forward  by  the  first  conveyance ;  and 
as  to  me,  here's  an  end  of  that  vexations  affair.  I  own 
myself  much  oblig'd  to  one  of  my  faMhfuUest  friends  and 
heartiest  welwishers  for  your  many  kind  suggestions  aa  to 
the  way  &  manner  of  passing  my  few  remaining  moments, 
and  what  shall  I  say  for  the  last  eleven. years?  I  have 
liv'd  in  perpetual  care  and  hurry,  and  I  think  the  whole 
world  will  own  have  discharg'd  my  duty  to  my  master 
with  the  greatest  fidelity,  and  what  has  been  the  upshot 
of  the  whole  ? 

I  am  now  close  at  the  heels  of  sixty  &  much  inclin'd 
to  retirement  and  solitude,  yet  1  have  hints  by  this  last 
ship  that  give  distant  hopes  of  the  ministry's  making 
some  provision  for  me,  but  if  they  should  not,  perhaps 
by  a  trip  to  Great  Britain  I  might  in  one  shape  or  other 
do  something  for  myself  As  you  have  the  pen  of  a  ready 
writer  I  desire  the  continuance  of  your  good  offices  to 
your  friend  in  framing  for  ilie  a  pungent  expostulation 


in>Goo^^lc 


1741.]  TO  RICHARD  WALDRON.  409 

to  his  Majesty.    The  toptcks  (with  such  better  as  you 
■will  easily  think  of)  may  be 

Dismist  without  fault  or  complaint,  after  the  etrictest 
fidelity  to  my  master's  orders. 

Laid  aside  the  advantageous  business  I  was  in  in  life 
to  apply  myself  wholly  to  my  master's  service. 

Too  late  in  the  day  to  return  to  any  other  way  of  life, 
&  would  be  dishonourable  to  the  King's  service. 

Vastly  sunk  my  own  fortune  by  the  governments ;  & 
the  Provinces  never  gave  me  sufficient  to  defray 
my  annual  expence. 
Think  closely  on  this  matter.  Desire  madam's  leave  to 
rise  some  morning  at  5,  take  your  pen,  &  do  it  as  you  do 
all  things,  &  quicken  it  to  me.  When  we  consider  the  great 
&  sudden  vicissitudes  lately  past  before  ua  who  should 
despair?  Something  may  happen  in  much  less  time  than 
the  course  of  eleven  years.  I  am  told  that  the  Learned 
has  advice  by  this  last  ship  that  after  indeavouring  to  have 
a  mollification  of  the  instructions,  they  were  concluded  to 
be  rather  smarter,  especially  in  the  point  of  waste  paper. 
I  have  no  intelligence  to  be  depended  on  as  to  Sancho  or 
Trinkalo,  nor  have  I  any  thing  particular  about  my  great 
Province  of  New  Hampshire.  It's  siud  Granada's  delay 
is  occasion'd  by  the  want  of  the  return  of  the  surveys  on 
the  Line.  Honest  Hutchinson  is  coming  home,  re  infecid, 
the  Board  of  Trade  having  reported  against  his  petition, 
and  they  say  it  hapn'd  from  the  folly  of  this  Province 
in  not  agreeing  to  pay  tlie  half  of  the  charge  of  marking 
out  the  Lines,  &."*. 

The  letter  you  mention  to  the  Learned  is  a  fresh  instance 
of  your  prudence.  Where  there  is  the  word  of  a  King, 
there  is  power,  &  no  contending. 

Read  the  inclosed  &  return  them,  saying  whether  you 
like  my  answer,  for  you  know  it  must  be  laid  before  the 
clan,  or  whether  it  may  not  be  best  to  take  no  notice  tit 
all  of  the  old   soldier's  letter.    The  journals  herewith, 


oyGoot^lc 


410  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741. 

you'll  see,  pin  np  the  basket  with  your  old  fnend,  who, 
you  may  be  sure,  will  alwayea  continue  so. 

J.  B. 

Boston,  Augiut  21,  1741. 

(Poflt)  

TO  CUTHBERT  CAMPBELL.* 

Sir,  —  I  find  an  advertisement  of  yours  this  day  about 
the  sale  of  a  negroe,  of  whom  you  say,  He  is  a  good  cook ; 
can  do  any  sort  of  work ;  has  had  the  small  pox ;  under- 
stands  chaise  &  horses  very  toeU;  is  honest  &  good  uatur'd. 
These  are  all  good  things.  How  old  is  he  ?  Is  he  sound 
wind  &  limb  ?  Is  he  a  single  man  ?  What  I  most  of  all 
want  him  for  is  to  drive  my  coach,  &  to  take  care  of  the 
horses.  I  am  no  stranger  to  your  integrity  &  can  relye 
upon  it.  Let  me  then  have  your  particular  answer  as  to 
his  goodness  &  his  faults,  and  if  you  can  put  him  into  my 
hands  as  a  real  good  servant,  I  would  buy  him,  provided  I 
can  have  him  at  a  reasonable  price  for  ready  money ;  so 
you  will  give  me  an  answer  by  return  of  the  post,  because 
I  am  ofFer'd  a  negroe  of  this  sort  in  town  &  would  take 
that  I  may  like  best.     Sir, 

Your  friend  &  servant 

BoBTON,  Aug*  24,  1741. 

(Post )  

TO  CUTHBERT  CAMPBELL. 

Sir,  —  The  post  brings  me  yours  of  28  currant,  and  I 
thank  you  for  the  inquiry  made  about  the  negroe.  If  he 
he  sold  this  way,  what  will  become  of  his  wife  ?  I  will 
consider  &  write  you  my  determination,  &  if  in  the  mean 
time  he  should  be  sold  I  must  be  content.     Sir, 

Your,  ready  friend  k  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  August  31, 1741. 
(Post.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO   HBNRT  NEWUAK. 


TO  THOMAS  CORAM. 


Worthy  Sir,  —  I  find  you  are  debtor  to  mine  of  Octo- 
ber 25,  Nov'  12,  Dec'  29,  Janu'  23,  28  &  29  last  past,  and 
I  easily  account  for  it,  so  much  of  your  time  being  ingrost 
by  your  favourite  Foundling  Hospital.  You  have  also  told 
me  writing  was  becoming  difficult  &  burthensome  to  you. 
These  things  notwithstanding,  I  cannot  omit  owning  the 
receit  of  yours  of  24  Oct"  last  y  Snow.  The  proclamation 
you  mention'd  to  be  issued  in  Ireland  was  doubtless  of 
good  service  for  distressing  the  Spaniards,  &  I  did  some- 
thing here  in  a  stronger  manner  to  prevent  ihe  exporta- 
tion of  provisions,  and  for  eleven  years  past  have  very 
faithfully  serv'd  the  Crown,  &  have  strictly  observ'd  all 
the  King's  orders,  &  yet  how  cruelly  &  barbarously  am 
I  now  treated !  by  a  supersedeas  of  both  my  coramiss"  & 
without  fault  or  complaint  Is  there,  Sir,  no  remedy  for 
BO  severe  a  proceeding  ?  When  Gov'  Shute  was  tum'd 
out  to  make  way  for  Gov'  Burnet  the  ministry  gave  him 
an  equivalent  in  a  pension  of  £400  ster*  a  year,  and  I  am 
sure  I  have  a  much  stronger  claim.  I  wish  you  would 
talk  with  Sir  Charles  and  such  others  as  you  are  ac- 
quainted with  at  Court,  and  write  me  whether  it  may  not 
be  worth  my  while  to  appear  at  home  &  sollicit  for  justice 
upon  so  extraordinary  an  aflair.  I  am  alwayes,  with 
much  respect,  dear  Sir, 

Tour  hearty  friend  &  servant  J.  B. 

BoBTOw,  August  31,  1741. 

¥  the  Squirrel  maa  a'  warr. 


TO  HENRY  NEWMAH. 


Sir,  — I  duly  receiv'd  your  favours  of  March  20,  23,  & 
April  21,  by  Shepherdson  &  Evers.  As  things  are  cir- 
cumstanc'd  I  shall  wave  saying  anything  more  at  present 


oyGoot^lc 


412  THE   BELCHER   PAPERS.  [1741. 

upon  the  subject  of  the  vile  letter  wrote  by  P.  D.  to  the 
late  J.  D.  As  there  is  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  examine  into  the  sufferings  of  the  Quakers 
&  of  others  on  the  delusion  about  witchcraft,  I  hope  justice 
will  be  done  to  their  descendants. 

Pray  salute  M''  Urisperger  of  Augsburgh  with  my  best 
respects,  and  tell  him  I  am  asham'd  his  kind  letters  should 
lye  so  long  unanswer'd,  for  which  I  will  soon  apologize  to 
him  myself.  You  will  please  to  make  my  gratefull  com- 
pliments to  M'  Auditor  Benson  for  the  fine  present  ti'ans- 
initted  thrS  your  hands  of  Johnston's  version  of  the 
Psalms  in  metre.  Those  to  M'  President  Holyoak  for 
himself  and  for  Harvard  College  I  suppose  he  acknowl- 
edges the  receit  of  by  the  inclosed.  He  also  took  the 
care  of  those  for  Yale  College,  the  receit  whereof  you  will 
doubtless  hear  of  from  M'  Rector  Clap. 

Notwithstanding  you  &  all  my  friends  imagln'd  my 
interest  was  so  well  establisht  at  Court,  yet  you  soon  was 
convinc'd  that  there's  no  faith  in  man.  The  new  Gov'' 
coffiiss"  was  publisht  here  the  14  of  last  month.  I  beleive 
mankind  who  are  acquainted  with  how  much  honour  & 
fidelity  I  discharg'd  my  duty  to  his  Majesty  must  think 
my  case  cruel  &  severe,  to  be  dismist  without  fault  or 
complaint.  Such  treatment  must  be  a  great  discourage- 
ment to  faithfulness  in  the  King's  service.  However,  I 
must  look  above  the  wicked  instrum"  that  have  been  per- 
secuting me,  &  eye  the  conduct  of  Divine  Providence  in 
this  great  change.  I  have  sinned.  God  is  just  and 
righteous  in  all  his  wayes.  His  will  is  done,  &  my  duty 
is  intire  submission  &  resignation  thereunto. 

Some  of  my  friends  by  the  last  ship  think  the  min- 
istry oblig'd  in  justice  and  honour  to  make  some  provi- 
sion for  me.  When  Gov'  Shute  was  susperseded  by  Gov" 
Burnet,  they  gave  the  former  a  pension  of  £400  sterling 
a  year,  and  I  think  I  have  a  much  stronger  claim.  If  j'ou 
can  assist  in  a  sollicitation  of  this  kind  by  your  friends  at 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  TO   RICHARD  WALDBON.  413 

Court,  I  shall  accept  it  with  much  gratitude.  I  wish  your 
health  &;  every  easy  circumstance  in  life  and  remain, 
dear  Sir, 

Your  affec  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Septem'  1,  1741. 

t  the  Squirrel,  man  o'  wair. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Dear  Sir, —  lamduly  favour'd  with  yours  of  11  instant, 
and  since  you  were  not  angry  nor  condemn'd  me  for  coii- 
doling  you  on  the  Lord's  day,  in  the  expectation  of  the 
melancholly  scene  a  holy  &  righteous  God  was  preparing 
for  your  view,  I  now  venture  to  do  it  again  on  the  same 
day,  and  in  a  more  affectionate  manner,  God's  will  being 
accompHsht  in  the  death  of  your  onely  daughter  much 
(perhaps  too  much)  the  darling  of  yours  and  your  ladie's 
hopes  and  desires.  I  most  sincerely  compassionate  you 
both,  and  humbly  pray  that  your  wills  may  be  signally 
bow'd  to  the  will  of  God  in  this  heavy  stroke.  I  say  may 
your  patience,  submission,  and  resignation  break  forth 
before  men  to  the  honour  k  glory  of  God.  What  wns  the 
behaviour  of  the  holy  High  Priest,  when  God  in  blazing 
wrath  from  heaven  burnt  up  his  two  consecrated  sons  ? 
"And  Aaron  held  hie  peace."  And  what  said  the  great 
eastern  prince  of  old  when  stript  of  all  his  vast  estate  & 
the  numerous  hopes  of  hie  family,  with  one  crush  bury'd 
under  the  ruins  of  their  banquetting  house,  which  the 
divine  vengeance  levell'd  in  the  midgt  of  their  carousing? 
"  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  has  taken  away,  blessed  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord."  But  above  all.  Sir,  consider  how 
the  great  Redeemer  resign'd  himself  tn  the  sharpest  & 
severest  suffering  it  was  possible  for  humane  nature  to 
undei^o,  "Nevertheless  not  as  I  will,  but  as  Thou  wilt." 
And  these  things  are  recorded  in  the  sacred  pages  for  our 
instruction   &   imitation.     I   hope  God   has  taken  your 


oyGoot^lc 


414  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741. 

child  from  the  evil  to  come  &  that  the  great  God-inan, 
the  lovely  Jesua,  our  Almighty  Saviour,  has  washed  her 
■  in  his  blood,  and  presented  her  spotless  before  the  throne 
of  God  and  the  Lamb,  and  then  with  what  transports  of 
joye,  with  what  transcendent  extasies  must  her  soul  be 
dilated  when  she  embraces  herself  in  the  happy  and 
glorious  change,  a  happiness  permanent  as  the  duration 
of  God  himself.  In  a  close  and  religious  view  of  this 
methinksyou  and  M"  Waldron  must  partake  with  her,  and 
taste  a  part  of  the  joye.  I  will  now  conclude  this  mourn- 
full  ditty  in  an  exhortation  to  you  both  to  think  with 
attention  on  those  words  of  pious  David  on  a  like  occa- 
sion. "  But  now  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I  fast  ? 
can  I  bring  him  back  again  ?  I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he 
shall  not  return  to  me."  Ob,  Sir,  the  great  lesson  at 
such  times  is  that  we  bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repent- 
ance, then  these  afflictions  will  prove  the  cbastenings  of 
a  friend  and  father,  "whom  the  Lord  loveth  He  chas- 
teneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  He  receiveth." 

I  acknowledge  with  all  thankfulness  yours  and  good 
M"  Waldron's  kind  wishes  for  me  while  the  shadows  of 
the  evening  are  stretch'd  out  upon  me.  Oh !  •  may  I 
thro'  riches  of  grace  in  Christ  Jesus  be  doubling  my 
diligence  to  make  my  calling  and  election  sure,  and  may 
God  with  His  all-conquering,  victorious  grace  break 
asunder  the  barrs  of  brass  and  iron  that  the  everlasting 
doors  of  my  heart  may  be  lifted  up,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
the  King  of  Glory,  enter  in  &  reign  and  rule  there  for- 
ever.    Amen  k  amen.     Worthy  Sir, 

Your  affec.  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Sepf  18, 1741. 

(POBt) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  RICHARD   WALDRON. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Sib,  —  I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  9  currant.  Tour 
child  continuing  still  alive  gives  some  hope  of  recovery. 
God  grant  it  may  be  BO.  The  news  of  the  death  of  the 
poor  old  President  is  not  so  strange  as  bis  living  so  long.* 
If  Fresid'  Jeffries  t  has  done  as  you  hear,  I  think  I  ought 
to  suspend  him  &  comissionate  a  captain  for  the  fort,  and 
what  think  you  of  Collonel  Jo,  Huske,  or  perhaps  young 
Harry?  Yet  as  the  new  Govemour  is  expected  every 
hour,  it  mayn't  be  worth  my  while  to  concern  myaelf  any 
further,  altbo'  it  is  great  presumption  in  Jeffries  so  to  act, 
&  not  so  much  as  to  give  me  a  line.  I  should -be  glad  to 
serve  old  Captain  Weeks  (&  bo  would  you),  &  his  son's 
being  a  minor  is  no  objection,  but  the  putting  another  out 
to  make  room  (unless  he  be  of  the  wrong  sort)  I  don't 
incline  to,  &  yet  wish  we  could  gratifye  an  old  friend. 
Couldn't  Russel  go  to  Hanson,  for  I  hear  nothing  from 
him,  &  conclude  he  can't  complye ;  if  so,  send  me  the 
£110  by  the  post.  Monday  the  6  instant  I  lodg'd  at  my 
SOD  Lyde's,  and  Tuesday  6  deliver'd  up  the  Province 
House  to  the  Committee  of  the  General  Court ;  since  that 
I  have  lodg'd  three  nights  at  Milton ;  am  now  at  my  son 
Lyde's,  where  I  shall  take  a  bed  when  at  Boston.  Letters, 
&"  will  find  the  way,  left  at  M'  Lyde'a  I  hope  in  10  or 
14  dayes  to  be  wholly  fixt  at  Milton,  where  may  my  life 
be  hid  with  Christ  in  God !     Amen.     Hon""  Sir. 

Your  affec  friend.  J.  B. 

Boston,  Octo>  12,  1741. 
(Post.) 

•  Sbtdnub  W>1lan  di«d  Oct.  S,  1T41.  — Euft. 

t  B7  tiM  deMb  of  Walton,  George  JeSraj  bad  beeome  Miiior  number  ud  Pieaident  of 


oyGoot^lc 


THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Sir, —  The  4*  instant  I  went  hence  to  my  home  at 
Milton,  &  came  hither  again  this  day  to  visit  ray  frieuds, 
&  found  your  kind  letter  of  13.  The  sincere  wishea  of 
your  heart  for  my  ease  &  happiness  in  every  situation  of 
life  is  too  great  a  reward  for  every  good  thing  I  ever  did 
or  could  wish  to  you  &  yours.  May  you  and  yours  enjoy 
every  blessing  this  world  can  a£ford,  but  above  all  may 
the  Heavenly  Dove  descend  and  alight  upon  your  soul. 
May  the  glorious  Jesus,  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  arise 
upon  you  with  eternal  salvation  under  his  wings.  Amen 
&  araen. 

A  positive  answer  about  Hanson  will  oblige  me.*  Since 
the  new  commission  is  not  publisht,  nay  not  arriv'd,  the 
difficulty  about  the  warrant  f  must  be  over.  As  to  any 
future  enterprizes,  or  intimations  thereof,  you  may  depend 
no  such  will  ever  get  to  maturity  without  your  knowl- 
edge. And  how  reviving  is  the  mention  you  make  of  a 
December  or  January  tour  to  my  Milton  cave.  Such  a 
trip  will  be  an  instance  of  real  respect.  We  may  be 
alone  when  you  get  there,  but  will  it  be  best  to  come 
alone  such  a  winter  excursion?  Perhaps  Rhodomantado 
(or  some  body)  would  be  diverting  upon  the  road,  &  you 
may  steer  them  to  Boston,  or  bring  'em  with  you  just  as 
you  please.  My  wigwam  is  all  at  your  service,  &  you 
will  be  sure  of  finding  from  me  the  most  cordial  welcome. 
For  "  as  iron  aharpeneth  iron,  so  does  the  countenance  of  a 
man  his  friend."  Such  an  interview  may  give  us  an  oppor- 
tunity of  opening  to  one  another.  At  present  {just  at 
the  heels  of  60*')  I  have  no  great  stomach  to  float  over 
the  ocean.    I  am,  as  alwayea,  Hono"*  &  d'  Sir, 

Yours.  J.  B. 

Boston,  November  16,  1741. 
(Poet.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JB. 


TO  JONATHAN  BELCHER,  JR. 


My  dear  Son,  —  My  last  was  by  Capt"  Prince  (dupli- 
cate whereof  I  have  not  time  to  send  by  this  conveyance). 
I  am  now  to  own  the  receit  of  yours  of  9  Sept',  came  to 
my  hands  yesterday  by  M'  Hutchinson,  full  of  melanchoUy 
scenes  for  the  entertainment  of  my  advanced  years,  & 
what  you  write  me  gives  me  a  vast  deal  of  grief  and 
concern.  Why  could  you  not,  Jon',  come  to  be  wise, 
Bolid,  &  considerate  before  this  time  of  day  ?  Afler  a  suc- 
cession of  my  loiid  warning  letters  for  many  years  past, 
how  is  it  possible  you  should  bring  yourself  into  such 
straits,  with  such  large  supplies  as  you  have  had  from 
me  ?  To  indulge  yourself  in  your  va'^t,  extravagant 
expence  you  had  need  have  a  silver  mine.  But  I  have 
done,  &  leave  you  to  such  reflections  as  I  hope  will  make 
you  wiser  in  your  future  life,  or  you  must  yourself  alone 
bear  the  smart  of  your  folly  and  inconsideration.  You 
are  now  by  the  favour  and  mercy  of  God  advancing  to 
the  32'*  year  of  your  age,  and  high  time  you  should  write 
man  &  maintain  yourself;  and  if  you  can't  you  must 
fall,  for  I  am  not  able  to  do  any  more  for  you,  having 
already  distrest  myself  to  such  a  degree  as  1  can  hardly 
bear  in  the  vast  unreason'  expence  you  have  made  upon 
me ;  nor  dare  I  go  on  to  the  ruin  of  mj'self  and  family 
on  your  account  1  will  as  soon  as  I  can  pay  your  draft 
in  favour  of  M'  Palmer  for  £50  ster*,  and  you  must  take 
care  to  pay  M'  Wilks  &  the  other  large  debt  you  mention 
to  your  servant,  for  j'ou  may  beleive  me  (or  not)  it  is 
impossible  for  me  to  do  these  things.  Nor  must  you  on 
any  account  draw  another  bill  on  me,  unless  to  be  retum'd 
to  you.  Take  the  sense  of  all  I  write  and  realize  it.  If 
it  were  in  my  power  to  do  more  for  you,  I  dare  not.  It 
would  be  so  cruelly  unjust  to  myself  and  to  the  rest  of 
my  family. 


oyGoot^lc 


418  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741. 

I  shall  thank  M'  Hutchinson  in  the  warmest  manner 
for  his  great  respect  to  you  at  a  time  when  you  so  much 
needed  it.  I  am  greatly  oblig'd  to  our  kinsman  M'  Belcher 
of  Dublin  for  his  kind  invitation  of  you  thither,  and  so  I 
am  to  S'  Cha.  Wager,  M'  Clutterbiick,  and  M'  Mounteney, 
for  their  espousing  you  to  take  the  chance  in  the  law  in 
Ireland  j  in  which  God  grant  you  may  succeed  better  than 
you  have  been  able  to  do  in  Engl".  To  hear  of  your  pros- 
perity will  give  me  pleasure  in  my  decUning  years ;  and 
perliaps  you  may  marry  there  to  a  tolerable  fortune.  But 
if  you  cannot  finally  support  j'oursel^  I  know  no  other 
way  than  to  return  to  your  own  countrey,  and  get  your 
bread  as  well  as  you  can,  for  I  neither  can  nor  will  dis- 
tress myself  any  more  on  your  account  1  am  in  the 
evening  of  life,  and  can  no  longer  sustain  under  the  dif- 
ficulties I  have  so  long  suffer'd,  on  your  account  vastly 
more  than  for  all  the  rest  of  my  family,  to  this  day. 

It's  a  long  time  since  I  have  heard  from  M'  Belcher,  tho' 
I  think  he  has  some  of  mine  lying  by  him  unanswer'd. 
You  are  so  negligent  &  undutifull  in  your  answers  to  my 
letters  that  you  must  not  expect  to  hear  from  me  again 
till  I  have  an  answer  to  this,  and  your  being  now  got  into 
Ireland  will  make  the  correspondence  more  difficult. 

I  cannot  conclude  without  once  more  warning  and 
charging  you  not  to  flatter  yourself  or  to  be  any  longer 
th5tles3,  but  rouse  out  of  your  lethargy  &  know  you  are 
intirely  upon  your  own  legs.  You  know,  so  I  need  not 
say,  nay  I  am  frighted  to  think  of,  the  large  sums  you 
have  had  of  me. 

I  am  got  to  my  little  cottage  at  Milton,  where  I  desire 
my  life  may  be  hid  with  Christ  in  God,  and  there  I  shall 
indeavour  to  spend  the  little  remainder  of  my  dayes  as 
silently  as  I  can. 

I  commend  you  to  the  arms  of  the  mercy  of  God  in 
Christ,  and  remain,  my  d'  eon. 

Your  affec.  father.  J.  B. 

Bo3TO!»,  Decern'  1, 1741. 


oyGoot^lc 


nH-S.'i  TO  SIB  CHARLES  WAGER.  419 

Since  writing  the  foregoing  I  have  your  letter  of  7  Sept', 
with  your  bill  for  302. 10  this  currency  in  fav'  of  M' 
Palmer,  for  which  you  tell  me  he  paid  you  £50  sf,  bo 
you  give  him  above  500  T"  c',  when  the  exch'  is  now  at 
425,  &  oblige  me  to  pay  in  the  sum  of  £50  st%  40. 10  this 
currency  more  than  the  currant,  just  exch*.  Why  will 
you  go  on  thus  to  ruin  yourself  &  me  ?  Depend,  I  will 
pay  no  more  of  your  drafts.  So  you  must  come  hither 
unless  you  can  support  yourself.  J.  B. 

(FoQBS,  to  Lend".) 

TO  STE  CHARLES  WAGER. 

Much  honoured  Sir,  —  I  have  troubled  you  with  so 
many  of  my  letters  in  12  m"  past,  that  1  am  almost 
asham'd  to  let  this  add  to  the  number,  but  as  1  write  it  on 
an  affair  that  much  concerns  the  honour  of  j'our  board,  as 
well  as  the  welfare  of  his  Majesty's  subjects  in  this  Prov- 
ince, your  Honour  will  forgive  me  while  I  repeat  what  I 
have  wrote  to  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  viz*,  that  Rob- 
ert Auchmuty,  Esq',  Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  here  I 
think  unworthy  of  sustaining  that  post,  being  one  of  the 
principals  of  the  vile  scheme  call'd  the  Land  Bank,  & 
altho'  he  baa  been  lately  chosen  an  agent  for  this  Province 
on  ft  particular  occasion,  yet  it  has  been  brcitt  about  pui-ely 
from  the  interests  of  those  call'd  Land  Bankers,  who  make 
a  majority  of  the  present  Assemblj'  of  this  Province,  and  I 
must  also  acquaint  your  Honour  that  those  schematists  bid 
open  defiance  to  the  act  of  Parliament  made  for  putting 
an  end  to  that  mischievous  project,  of  which  M'  Auchmuty 
is  President  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  which  I  think  must 
make  him  sufficiently  guilty  for  forfeiting  any  favour  he 
holds  under  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty.  I  would  there- 
fore ask  leave  to  mention  M"  James  Allen  to  succeed  him 
as  Jndge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  in  these  parts,  who  is  a 
gent"  of  figure  in  his  countrey,  of  a  liberal  education,  of  a 


oyGoot^lc 


420  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1741-2. 

consider*  fortune,  for  some  years  past  a  member  of  this 
Legislature,  and  of  good  integrity.  The  last  is  a  quali- 
fication which  every  Judge  can't  lay  claim  to.  I  should 
oil' all  these  considerations  highly  esteem  your  Honour's 
interest  in  favour  of  M'  Allen,  &  am  with  much  esteem 
&  deference,  Sir, 

Your  Honour's  most  obed'  &  most  hum.  eerr^ 

J.  B. 

UiLTOif,  JanJ  18,  1741/2. 

¥  Templu,  to  the  care  of  Mr  Allen. 


TO  ANDREW  BELCHER. 

Mr.  Belcher,  —  I  think  I  can  appeal  to  Him  whom  I 
adore  while  I  say  I  have  as  a  good  parent  done  my  duty 
to  you,  your  brother  &  sister  for  establishing  you  in  the 
world.  The  shadows  of  the  evening  are  now  stretcht  out 
upon  me,  my  hitherto  good  constitution  begins  to  fail, 
that  I  cannot  rise  &  shake  myself  as  in  dayes  past,  so 
you  must  stand  upon  your  own  legs,  be  up,  &  doing. 
When  I  saw  you  last,  you  may  remember,  I  told  you  to 
write  a  handsome  letter  to  Sir  Cha.  Wager,  another  to 
M'  Wilks,  &  another  to  your  uncle,  &  then  to  bring  them 
to  me,  &  I  would  write  in  conformity,  &  send  all  forward, 
but  that  if  you  would  not  rouse  from  your  hug'd  indo- 
lence &  deadly  lethargy,  nor  take  one  step  towards  your 
own  security  in  the  office  of  Register  of  Admiralty,  I 
would  give  myself  no  further  concern  about  it.  This  is 
now  six  weeks  ago,  &  altho'  I  live  within  an  hour  &  halfs 
ride  of  you  yet  I  have  not  heard  a  syllable  from  you 
since,  so  am  wholly  ignorant  whether  you  have  acted  in 
any  shape  or  manner  on  this  head,  in  which  &  all  others, 
I  wish  you  well,  &  am 

Tour  affec.  father.  J.  B. 

MiLTOS,  March  18, 1741/2. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  KICHARD   WALDBOK. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


SiE,  —  I  am  oblig'd  to  you  for  your  fevoure  of  19  &  20 
curr*,  the  first  briuging  me  your  quietus  fi-om  the  Council 
board  &  fi-om  the  Secretary's  office  (done  with  wrath  & 
vengeance).  As  to  particular  reasons,  for  this,  or  for  dia- 
missing  you  from  your  other  offices  (when  he  pleases) 
there  needs  no  searching.  You  may  remember  I  told  you 
some  time  since  that  the  civil  offices  were  long  ago  fill'd 
up  in  black  &  white.  For  my  part  I  wonder  that  you,  the 
Treasurer,  the  Sherriffs  &  Clerks  of  the  Courts  have  stood 
so  long.  The  wicked  (finally  penitent)  Lord  Rochester 
said,  revenge  was  a  sweet  morsel,  —  the  rest  was  bo  blas- 
phemous I  can't  repeat  it.  No  doubt  Granada  breaths 
with  the  same  spirit. 

I  admire  you  were  able  to  bring  a  majority  into  your 
way  of  thinking  about  the  excise,  but  don't  wonder  the 
trembling  band  afterwards  repty'd  Yea  &  amen.  Rhodo- 
mantado  Is  a  heroe. 

Alass,  Sir,  Coll"  Dudley  or  Pepperil  could  not  be  courted 
(if  it  might  come  as  the  freest  bounty  from  the  King)  to 
accept  of  what  '  you  mention,  and  indeed  who  would  ? 
While  the  clan  have  such  a  sovereign  sway  &  influence 
thr6out  the  whole  Province  I  am  sure  I  would  not,  &  yet  I 
think  I  can  tell  who  will  (as  the  vulgar  say)  down  with 
his  dust,  &  he  has  enough  of  it  In  case  the  late  clamours 
from  several  parts  should  be  confirm'd  by  the  ships  daily 

expected  that  the  great ■  is  absconded  upon  a  violent 

attack  made  in  the  House'  of  Commons Inclosed  is 

^e  instruction  you  desire  &  another  about  the  appointm* 
of  civil  officers.  I  applaud  your  prudence  in  singing  low 
till  you  have  got  your  dues  from  the  Province.  I  am 
sensible  nothing  can  be  too  mean,  base,  or  diabolical  for 
them  to  practice. 


oyGoot^lc 


422  THE  BELCHEE  PAPEES.  [1742. 

The  method  you  suggest  for  Massachus'*  proprietors  of 
new  towns  to  go  mto  is  wise  &  good. 

Let  us  a  little  compare  the  two  administratious,  if  it 
mayn't  be  too  great  a  condescension  in  his   immediate 
predecessor    to  mention   himself  the  same  day  with  M' 
Ignoramus,  M'  Blunderbuss  &  what  not,  yet  aa  M'  Stough- 
ton  observed,  Gutts  can  sometimes  do  more  than  brains. 
Lately  the  whole  annual  charge  of  the  Frov  not 
£1200  a  year ;  if  paid  must  send  all  the  inhabi- 
tants into  goal. 
A  salary  to  the  Gov'  of  £600  a  year  it  was  impos- 
sible to  pay  without  impoverishing  the  Province. 
The   opposite   party   was  treated  with   easiness  & 

lenity. 
The  affairs  of  the  General  Court  &  all  things  in  the 
session  (as  one  of  your  quondam  Got"  us'd  to 
say)  were  manag'd  fairly  &  above  board,   &ca., 
&ca.,  &ca. 

But  now 
12,000,  for  the  Line  onely. 
6,000,  the  present  year's  tax  for  old  debts. 
1,000,  present  to  the  Governour. 
3,000,  debts  due  from  the  Province  (old  arrears). 
1,000,  certain  salary. 
&    1,000  more,  conditional. 

2,000,  other  yearly  charges.    All  oppoaera  treated 
with  the  utmost  malice  &  contempt. 
Votes  of  Assembly  pocketed  to  be  lickt  into  proper 
shape,  &ca.,  &ca.,  &ca. 
Isn't  it  worth  while  to  keep  a  critical  exact  journal  of 
proceedinga  ?     The  tables  may  turn. 

But  I  am  here  much  out  of  the  way  of  the  world,  & 
seem  pleas'd  every  day  more  than  other  &  hug  myself  in 
solitude  &  retirement.  It  was  nobly  thought  &  practis'd  by 
Charles  the  5"",  that  there  ought  to  be  a  space  between  a 
crown  &  a  grave.     I  was  pleasantly  entertain'd  t'other 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  TO    RICHARD   PARTRIDGE.  423 

day  while  dipping  into  a  discourse  of  the  late  excellent 
Bishop  of  Cambray's  on  Christian  Perfection,  where  he 
thus  reflects  on  the  vanity  &  uncertainty  of  all  human 
affairs,  "  There  has  as  it  were  a  new  world  risen  up  out 
of  the  grave  of  that  which  was  in  being  since  we  first 
saw  the  light.  As  short  as  our  life  is  we  must  look  out 
for  new  friends,  having  lost  all  our  old  ones.  Here's  no 
longer  the  same  family ;  some  other  unknown  relations 
have  come  up  in  its  place  ;  we  see  even  a  whole  court  dis- 
appear at  once.  Others  are  now  in  the  room  of  those 
we  formerly  admir'd,  &  come  to  dazzle  us  awhile  in  their 
turn.  What  is  become  of  all  those  mighty  actors  who 
crowded  the  stage  30*'  years  agoe?"  He  concludes,  "O, 
fleeting,  foolish  world ! "  But  how  elegantly  does  the 
Royal  Preacher  in  his  book  of  repentance  describe  the 
vanity  of  all  humane  courses.  "I  looked  on  all  the 
works  my  hands  had  wrought  &  on  the  labour  that  I  had 
laboured  to  do,  &  behold  all  was  vanity  &  vexation  of 
spirit,  &  there  was  no  proEBt  under  the  sun." 

I  salute  good  Mad"  Waldron  in  the  most  respectful 
manner,  k  remain  with  my  best  wishes  for  your  whole 
family,  Hono""  Sir, 

Your  hearty  friend  &  servant.  J.  B. 

From  mj  Cottage  at  Milton,  April  S,  1742. 
(Post) 


TO   RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,— I  am  favour'd  with  yours  of  the  10  &  22  Fehru* 
T*  Prince,  where  I  see  you  had  rec'd  mine  to  1  Decem' 
last.  I  am  in  treaty  time  after  time  for  sale  of  any  parts 
of  my  estate  in  Boston  or  in  the  countrey,  &  I  will  not 
rest  till  I  do  to  such  effect  as  to  discharge  what  I  may 
justly  owe  you.  I  have  your  accounts  lying  before  me, 
from  the  time  I  left  England,  &  so  soon  as  I  have  thSr- 
rowly  examin'd   them  I   shall    immediately  advise  you 


oyGoot^lc 


424  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1T12. 

bow  I  suppose  the  ballance  to  stand.  Airs  not  being  ar- 
riv'd  I  have  not  the  account  mention'd  in  yours  of  the 
10  February.  Depend,  brother,  I  will  do  every  possible 
tbing  in  my  power  to  make  you  easy.  As  to  the  bondd 
you  have  forc'd  from  your  nephew,  I  canuot  be  reconcil'd 
to  it  as  a  matter  just  &  reasonable,  while  you  had  my 
orders  to  supply  him  &  his  reeeits  for  what  you  supply "d. 
Accordingly  those  reeeits  were  a  sufficient  warrant  for 
your  making  a  charge  of  what  j'ou  paid  him  to  my  acco", 
&  your  taking  of  bonds  of  hira  for  monies  charg'd  to  my 
account  by  my  order  can  have  no  other  sense  or  meaning 
than  demanding  of  him  to  become  bound  for  his  father's 
debts,  which  is  unkind  &  dishonourable,  besides  laying 
him  open  to  yourself  &  to  your  exec"  for  tbe  very  money 
charg'd  to  my  account  I  say  this  is  an  exti'aordinary  man- 
agement, &■  if  you  had  been  diffident  of  supplying  him 
on  my  credit,  you  should  have  plainly  &  honestly  told  him 
so,  &  told  me  so,  &  I  must  have  found  some  other  way 
to  have  supply'd  him,  or  he  must  have  gone  unsupply'd. 
If  he  behaves  with  ingratitude  to  j/ou,  ii  is  inomfroug  <£  unpar- 
donabk;  for  you  have  been  a  great  friend  <&  a  kind  affeetiemit 
uncle  to  him,  &  this  I  shall  alwayes  say  with  the  fiio^ 
thankful  regard  to  you  on  his  account.  You  say,  "  I  stood 
his  friend  when  he  went  there,  or  I  beleive  he  could  have  scarce 
got  awmj ;  he  was  so  in  debt."  At  this  lam  amaz'd,  when  I 
consider  the  large  supplies  he  has  had  from  me.  You  say  he 
has  drawn  a  bill  on  you,  for  £,\Q  from  Ireland.  Doubtless 
you  think  he  toill  take  care  to  pay  you,  for  U  must  mi  he 
charg'd  to  me,  nor  will  I  pay  a  farthing  more  for  Imn ;  & 
so  I  have  wrote  him  many  months  ago,  <&  that  if  he  shmtld 
draw  a  bill  on  me  I  will  actually  suffer  ii  to  go  bach  protested. 
The  date  of  his  last  letter  to  me  was  above  seven  m™  agoe.  He  is 
undidifuU  &  ungrateful  beyond  all  bearing.  However,  he  mai/ 
depend  he  vnll  never  have  another  letter  from  me  till  I  receire 
frmn  him  a  very  particular  answer  to  all  mine  lying  by  him, 
with  a  humble  acknowledgement  of  his  gross  fauUiness.    Pray, 


oyGoot^lc 


17«.]  TO  RICHARD   WALDEON.  425 

ndad,  brother,  this  paragraph  about  m^  son  &    thai  pou  do 
ttot  supply  him  with  one  farthing  on  mg  account. 

I  find  there  is  a  great  change  iu  the  ministry,  &  which 
you  think  may  give  a  fairer  opportunity  for  obtaining  an 
equivalent  for  my  being  so  abruptly  &  unreasonably 
dismist  from  both  my  governments.  I  wish  it  may ;  & 
shall  be  oblig'd  to  you  &  any  other  of  my  friends  that 
may  indeavour  to  have  justice  done  me.  But  of  this 
matter  I  conceive  but  slender  hopes.     I  am  alvrayes 

Your  hearty  friend  &  loving  bro.  J.  B. 

MiLTOit,  April  22, 1742. 

Let  what  I  have  lin*  in  yr  1'"  be  copy*  &  sent  to  my  son. 

Debuke.  Philips. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

HoNo"'  Sib, — I  have  yours  of  23  ins'.  Bl— d— n  & 
K — n  are  both  gone  to  the  dogs.*  The  next  ship  may 
bring  the  same  account  of  N — c — 'tie,  &  my  friends  tell 
me  this  great  change  will  give  a  turn  in  favour  of  your 
old  friend  in  some  way  or  manner ;  but  how  I  am  not 
able  to  guess.  It  is  too  soon  to  make  a  third  attempt 
about  the  Line,  yet  I  am  full  of  faith  that  such  a  thing 
will  be  practis'd  ere  long,  so  grossly  ignorant  or  unjust 
a  settlement  cannot  hold  long.  Can't  you  sell  all  you 
have  in  N.  H.  for  good  bonds  at  interest,  pluck  up  stakes, 
come  to  Stroud  Water  &  be  a  Massachusetts  man,  &  so 
escape  the  tyranny  &  bondage  you  are  like  to  live  under  ? 
And  a  while  hence  go  home,  Massachusett  agent  for  a 
new  settlement  What  Granada  &  his  senators  have 
agreed  to  on  the  west  side  of  Merrimake  will  make  fine 
work.    Now  &  then  some  of  the  grantees  of  the  new 

■  The  mennlng  here  Is  obscure.  Belcher  prabsbly  Ihoutcht  thut  BUden  vu  involved 
in  the  downfBll  of  Sir  Robert  Wmlpole,  but  he  eonlinued  to  hold  hit  leac  >t  the  Board  of 

Trade  until  bis  deilh  in  1748.    K n  may  atand  for  Benjamin  KeeDi,  a  recentlf  ap- 

pointed  Lord  of  Trade.  —  Ed«. 


oyGoot^lc 


426  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  (1742. 

townships  come  to  talk  with  me,  &  I  tell  thein  they  are 
mad  to  ask  fur  grants  or  confirm",  but  onely  for  the  bene- 
fits of  jurisdiction,  &  I  find  the  notion  is  got  among  moat 
of  them.  I  expect  soon  to  hear  of  the  fixing  of  your 
civil  officers.  Pray  is  Yorkshire  made  agent  by  the  whole 
Court  ?  tSc  is  he  paid  for  his  past  services  ?  Would  you  cry 
if  he  should  finally  reap  his  father's  reward?  I  find  a  back- 
wardness in  my  Dustman.*  He  is  to  be  with  me  o'  Mun- 
day,  &  my  next  will  tell  you  his  conclusion ;  so  you  must 
till  then  wave  the  matter  with  Ehodomantado.  But  it 
will  be  a  difficult  thing  to  get  any  body  to  furnish  the 
dust  {thai  precious  blood),  &  there's  no  stirring  an  inch 
without  it.  Nothing  is  so  giddy  as  a  multitude.  Tommy 
Hutchinson  was  wretchedly  treated  when  he  went,  & 
had  not  gain'd  half  hia  passage  before  bis  Hotspur  im- 
ployers  grew  cold  &  did  all  they  could  to  clog  him ;  &  I 
suppose  he  is  now  5  or  600  £,  out  of  pocket  &  may  never 
get  a  farthing  of  it ;  that  I  would  advise  no  friend  to  go 
off  the  spot  without  a  very  handsome  sum  in  hand,  be- 
cause all  publick  affaira  are  attended  with  so  much  fickle- 
ness &  uncertainty.  \i  we  hope  to  succeed  in  any  one 
thing  money,  money  must  be  secur'd.  I  am  well  inform'd  the 
late  alterations  in  the  two  provinces  have  cost  large  money, 
which  must  in  a  little  time  be  paid,  &  some  folks  will 
squeak.  It's  generally  thSt  Trinkalo's  not  worth  a  louse 
&  will  soon  be  a  squeaker.  /  have  some  tlmis,  I  say,  I  have 
some  thSis,  and  therefore  recurr  you  to  my  letter  of  24 
Aug"  for  your  framing  an  expostulation  from  the  topicks 
there  mention'd,  &  as  a  stimulus  to  your  dispatch  of  it 
I  would  mention  that  you  are  now  set  at  leisure  as  well 
as  myself,  &  mine  shall  alwayes  be  readily  imploy'd  to 
your  advantage.    Sir, 

Your  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

Milton,  April  30,  1742. 

(Post) 

•  Jobo  VuMll.  — Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


17«.l  TO  RICHARD   WALDRON. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Sib,  —  I  am  favour'd  with  yours  of  30'"  ult'  &  7*  gaent. 
You  may  depend  the  late  Sir  R.  (now  Earl  of  0.)  will 
hug  himself  in  an  entire  exile  from  the  King's  presence, 
if  his  head  may  stand  where  it  does.  An  enrag'd  nation 
must  not  he  buhhl'd  with  mock  changes  or  farces.  When 
I  have  any  thing  worthy  your  knowing,  you  may  depend 
on  communications  till  you  say  you  are  tir'd  with  it.  By 
the  same  partial,  arbitrary  proceeding  no  doubt  they 
might  at  the  time  have  got  down  to  Charles  River.  I 
remember  my  grave  tlioughts  &  advice  to  you  about 
plucking  up  stakes.  However  (rebus  sic  stantibvs),  if  you 
could  gain  a  price  &  payment  (or  security  of  it)  to  your 
mind  I  solidly  believe  you  might  in  time  do  much  better 
for  yourself  &  family  in  this  Province  than  you  ever  can 
where  you  are,  even  tho'  a  turn  should  come  exactly  to 
your  inclination.  I  have  no  doubt  from  Falmouth  you 
might  soon  come  Representative,  then  to  the  Council, 
then  an  Agent.  As  Lord  Wilmington  lately  said  to  my 
friends,  TMt^s  muit  cool  a  lUile,  <6  /  skaU  be  read^  to  serve  M' 
Belcher.  So  must  tilings  do  as  to  the  late  settlement  of 
the  Line. 

I  will  take  care  somebody  shall  demand  two  or  three 
copies  of  the  Vote  you  mention,  of  which  a  good  use  may 
be  made.  I  shall  be  glad  the  Massachusetts  proprietors 
may  have  secur'd  Livermore  &  Parker. 

My  teams,  my  ploughs,  my  axes,  my  hoes,  my  milk 
pails,  Ac'  are  daily  on  duty  with  a  quondam  Gov'  for  their 
Capt"  General,  yet  you  find  I  steal  from  'em  all  to  attend 
your  motions.  I  shall  therefore  take  it  unkindly  to  write 
rae  another  excuse  in  delay  of  what  I  have  deslr'd  of  your 
assistance  in  an  expostulation  with  M — ^j — sty,  nor  must 
you  trifle  or  banter  me  with  saying  the  thing  ig  out  of 


IJ.gnzoaHyGoOt^lC 


428  THE  BELCHEB  P4PEBS.  [1742, 

your  sphere,  for  I  know  you  to  be  capable,  &  therefore 
again  insist  upon  it 

/  have  more  thoughts  than  I  can  communicate  in  a  sliort 
letter.  My  Dustman  *  din'd  with  me  twice  last  week,  I 
think  I  have  fixt  him ;  he  eeema  pleas'd  &  holds  himself 
highly  oblig'd  for  being  let  into  the  scheme ;  tells  me  his 
estate  left  him  the  last  year  £1700  st'  neat  at  London,  & 
he  expects  It  may  this  year  remit  £2000  more,  so  the 
duatwill  not  be  wanting.  I  have  promis'd  him  my  letters 
&  every  other  assistance  in  my  power.  He  is  something 
fickle  in  his  temper,  hut  I'll  endeavour  to  keep  him 
steady;  he  has  promis'd  me  to  sail  by  the  last  of  next 
month.  And  now  what  can  you  do  on  your  part  to  help 
to  speed  the  plough  ?  The  opportunity  seems  to  be 
promising. 

As  to  the  Painter,  I  don't  think  he'll  be  able  to  do  any 
great  matters  or  to  hurt  his  brother  of  the  quiU,  not  but  that 
he  would  attempt  any  thing. 

The  matter  of  D — stm — n  is  a  dead  secret,  &  must  be 
so ;  you  must  bestir  yourself  in  every  way  you  can,  to  be 
ready  for  his  departure  in  6  or  7  weeks  at  furthest  If 
my  advices  may  be  depended  on,  things  will  not  long 
stand  here  or  with  you  in  their  present  situation.  As 
matters  will  require  dispatch,  I  order'd  yours  of  7*  in- 
stant to  he  exprest  to  me  this  morning.  Have  you  & 
every  body  else  got  your  arrears  from  the  Province  ?  1 
am  Hono"*  Sir, 

Yours,  &c*.  J.  B. 

MiLTOW,  May  10'»,  1742. 
(Post) 

•  Llaui  Col'  John  VaualL  —  NoU  in  tkt  Kuac  hjind  at  At  bodg  <if  tie  litUr. 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 


Dear  Sir, —  I  have  yours  of  21"*  instant,  &  suppose 
this  post  carries  a  demand  for  copies  of  the  Vote  formerly 
mention'd.  It  would  be  very  prudent  for  the  Maasachu- 
eetts  proprietors  to  have  an  agent  or  attorney  on  the 
watch  to  give  them  advice  &  copies  of  all  that  passes,  & 
Livermore  or  Parker  might  do  well  for  the  service,  hut 
these  things  I  cannot  undertake,  being  at  present  so  far 
&  BO  much  withdrawn  from  all  business.  A  hint  from 
yon  to  M'  T.  Hutchinson  on  this  head  would  he  proper. 
T  know  nothing  hut  that  my  Duatraan  will  proceed  ac- 
cording to  time,  BO  your  bill  of  parcels  ought  to  be  here 
even  now.  The  latest  advices  from  England  say  there 
was  then  no  settlement  in  any  of  the  publick  offices  since 
the  change,  but  at  the  Treasury  &  Admiralty  Boards ; 
that  there  were  great  commotions  at  Court ;  things  much 
unfixt  and  fluctuating,  m  no  judgment  can  be  made  as 
to  Bl — d — n,  K — n,  or  any  other  particular  persona.  A 
committee  of  21  of  the  Commons  was  appointed  to  ex- 
amine into  the  conduct  of  the  late  Prime  Minister  &  others, 
which  't  was  thought  would  soon  produce  improvements. 
When  I  see  Huske,  I  shall  ask  about  the  secret.  I  am 
told  things  stand  very  tottering  at  home  as  to  the  Learned, 
that  Madam  is  dull,  &  it's  suppos'd  rubb'd  off"  as  not  being 
able  to  stand  the  expence  any  longer.  I  am  impatient 
for  your  hints  in  way  of  complaint  or  expostulation  on 
the  topicks  I  gave  you  many  months  ago,  and  (as  I  have 
said)  shall  take  it  very  unldnd^  if  you  will  not  oblige  me 
in  the  matter.     Hone*"  Sir, 

Your  friend  and  servant.  J.  B. 

BoBTON,  M^  24«,  1742. 
(Post.) 


oyGoot^lc 


430  THE   BELCHER  PAPEBS. 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGK 


Good  Brother,  —  My  last  was  22*  ult'  v  Debuke,  & 
its  duplicate  went  V  Phillips,  the  contents  whereof  you 
will  carefully  observe.  I  have  since  that  rec*  T  Avis 
duplicate  of  yours  v  Prince,  covering  my  acco",  where 

you  make  the  ballance  in  your  favour  £ as  advis'd. 

I  have  paid  M'  Oliver  the  bill  you  drew  formerly  for 
^6400  st',  &  have  accepted  the  other  which  came  V  Avis 
fur  £400  more,  &  it  shall  be  paid  as  fast  as  I  possibly  can. 
I  am  also  favour'd  with  yours  of  26""  March  T*  Fuller. 
And  thank  you  for  the  very  particular  acco"*  of  publick 
affairs,  — I  mean  as  to  the  great  revolution  at  the  British 
Court.  I  observe  there  are  no  new  establishments  but  at 
the  Treasury  &  Admiralty  Boards ;  that  things  were  much 
unfix'd  &  fluctuating,  which  stops  you  &  your  friends 
from  any  soUicitation  at  present  on  my  acco".  Surely 
never  was  any  gentleman  treated  more  cruelly  &  barbar- 
ously ;  &  as  you  think  the  late  change  gives  a  hopefull 
prospect  of  doing  something  to  my  advantage,  I  pray  yon 
to  watch  the  best  opportunity  of  applying.  If  H.  Pelham 
be  remov'd  the  gent"  here  who  so  basely  supplanted  me 
will  have  very  little  interest  left.  Why  then  should  I 
not  be  restor'd  ?  which  I  am  sure  would  be  a  general  joy 
to  this  Province.  And  if  you  think  my  coming  over 
might  reinstate  me,  or  procure  me  some  other  handsome 
provision,  God  sparing  my  life,  I  would  spend  the  next 
winter  at  Court  Therefore  gravely  &  wisely  consider  of 
this,  and  give  me  your  opinion  in  the  soonest  season  yoii 
conveniently  can.  The  young  gentleman  at  Dublin's  be- 
haviour to  me  is  of  late  so  ungratefidl  &  extravagantly 
wild  that  I  can't  bear  to  mention  his  name,  but  say  again 
I  will  not  pay  to  any  person  one  farthing  more  on  bis 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  TO   EICHAED  WALDRON.  431 

acco";  so  that  anything  you  supply  him  with  is  at  your 
own  risque.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  friend  and  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

MiLTOM,  May  27*,  1742. 

Jf  C&p<  Beat.  Cov«  by  A.  O. 


TO   RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Oear  Sir,  —  Yours  of  28  ult'  &  11  ina"  came  in  tlieir 
course.  I  suppose  you  have  heard  something  from  M' 
Hutchinson,  respecting  the  Vote  you  formerly  mention'd. 
I  don't  understand  your  meaning  in  those  words,  where  is 
the  aafettf  in  a  multitude  of  Mass"  coumeUourSy  &".  The  hints 
you  give  me  about  the  grants  of  townships,  &",  would  be 
good  matter  to  work  upon,  &  as  1  suppose  M'  H.  has 
began  a  correspondence  with  you,  he  will  be  the  properest 
person  to  carry  an  end  tho«e  things  (as  in  my  last).  I 
am  too  much  &  too  fur  withdrawn  from  all  business  to 
undertake  them.  As  to  your  bill  of  parcels,  I  agree  your 
arrears  should  be  first  receiv'd  &  then  I  would  draw  my 
sword  &  burn  the  scabbard;  for  my  Dustman  will  have 
a  dependance  on  all  your  assistance.  1  suppose  your 
new  emission  is  (by  this  time)  ready  for  discharge  of  all 
the  old  arrears  of  the  Province.  I  am  exactly  with  you 
as  to  the  way  and  manner  of  making  a  bold  push  on 
Granada;  yet  a  well  cookt  bill  of  parcels  may  be  of 
great  service  in  private  conversation  with  those  near  the 
candle;  and  his  illicit  trade  with  Spain  in  naval  stores, 
inabling  that  crown  to  build  their  powerful  fleet,  &  now 
therewith  to  carry  on  a  warr  with  Great  Britain,  I  say,  this 
should  be  one  grand  article,  &  that  the  late  great  v — 11 — n 
as  a  reward  for  Granada's  villany  (I  had  almost  said 
treason)  gave  him  a  government.  I  take  notice  of  the 
new  establishment  of  the  civil  officers,  &  am  sincerely 


oyGoot^lc 


432  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1742. 

sorry  for  poor  Rus&el.  Pray,  who  is  Treasurer  t  &  who 
Judge  of  Probate  ?  The  Coll"  you  mention  baa  a  Bort 
of  mercury,  but  with  it  too  much  good  nature ;  be  resents 
quick,  but  can't  persevere.  Mayn't  the  Capt'  be  declar'd 
to  be  as  you  say,  without  the  special  assistance  of  a  pro- 
phetical spirit?  I  thank  you  for  the  well  perform'd  ex- 
postulation, for  it  is  BO,  without  flattery  or  complim'.  I 
am  apt  to  think  I  shall  make  out  an  opportunity  to  use 
it  As  to  news,  the  last  ship,  Adams,  bro't  none  but  that 
affairs  at  Whitehall  were  unsettled,  uniixt,  &  very  Sao- 
tuating.  Perhaps  we  may  hear  that  the  Earl  of  O— f— d 
is  restor'd,  &  what  will  you  say  then?  My  Dustman,  I 
repeat,  is  a  fickle  creature.  I  have  not  seen  him  for  a 
long  time,  &  am  very  doubtful  about  him  ;  yet  am  easy, 
because  I  am  sure  no  time  is  lost,  while  all  things  are  in 
flutter  &  confusion  at  Court.  We  must  be  patient,  &  in 
a  little  time  may  know  whether  the  Dustman  proceeds  or 
not.  Till  then  you  must  not  lisp  a  word  to  Kittry*  or 
the  painter,  for  it  would  be  much  to  my  dishonour  if  he 
finally  goes.     I  am  with  real  respect,  Hono*''*  Sir, 

Your  friend  &  serv'.  J,  B. 

Milton,  June  14,  1742. 

(Port.)  


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  Yours  of  the  18  currant  lyes  before  me.  The 
correspondence  M'  H.  has  begun  with  you  is  worth  culti- 
vating. He  is  a  young  gent"  of  good  powers  &  substance, 
&  of  good  acquaintance  t'other  side,  &  may  be  very  ser- 
viceable in  affairs  we  are  now  enterprizing,  which  (in 
conjunction  with  you,  &")  I  will  heartily  pursue.  I  wish 
you  had  your  arrears  to  act  more  freely.  The  loonf  is  to 
be  in  the  Treasury  &  Probate.     The  Capt"  was  alwayes  a 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  TO  RICHAED  WALDRON.  433 

fool  (if  not  a  rogue),  &  as  bis  age  advances  his  folly  in- 
creases. Granada  certainly  wants  m'  at  home.  I  am 
glad  some  people  have  found  eye  salve.  My  quondam,* 
I  suppose,  is  a  greater  fool  than  ever.  Tell  me  something 
more  about  Coll"  W — nd — I'st  ship  in  your  next  &  I'le 
set  fire  to  a  train  that  shall  put  him  into  a  blaze.  I 
think  I  may  now  tell  you  my  Dustman  grows  steady,  & 
last  week  resolv'd  to  take  passage  in  one  of  the  mast 
ships.  By  what  he  tells  me,  he  will  have  at  home  5  to 
six  thousand  guineys,  and  what  knots  may  be  difficult  to 
untye  he'l!  cut,  which  is  easily  done  at  Court  with  the 
edges  of  yellow  boyes.  I  am  much  pleas'd  with  your 
new  th6t,  that  the  propr"  of  the  new  towns  should  raise 
j£1000  strg.  &  toss  you  aboard  one  of  the  mast  ships.  I 
know  our  candidate-would  hug  you  as  close  as  bis  skin ; 
nor  could  any  person  so  serve  the  cause  of  the  new 
towns,  or  that  of  the  Dustman.  I  think  we  must  be  very 
cautious  of  talking  with  Kittry  t  since  I  now  say  as  I  do, 
— ^  I  mean  as  to  Excellency.  Many  a  less  v — 1 — n  than 
the  late§  has  been  broke  upon  the  wheel,  &  as  great 
have  escapt  with  impunity.     I  am,  &ca. 

Yrs.  J.  B. 

Mn.Ton,  Jane  21, 1742. 
(P«t) 


TO  EICHARD  WALDEtON. 

Hon"*  Sir, — I  am  favour'd  with  yours  of  25  currant, 
&  carefully  remark  its  contents.  Besides  the  affair  of  the 
Dustman,  I  mean  the  clever  thing  you  have  propos'd 
about  the  proprietors  of  the  sixty  new  towns.  I  am  much 
pleas'd  with  the  prospect,  but  yet  you  must  be  sensible 

"  Prolwbly  "  my  qQond«m  landlord  "  (Henry  Sherburne)  is  mwnl.  — Eds. 
t  Jkcob  Wendell.  —  Eds. 
t  Sea  note  aaU,  p.  4S9.  —  Eds. 

i  'niBre(erenceiiprob«bly toSirRob«rtWalpole(nowE«rlof Oiford).   AfWrBalcher 
iraa  remOTed,  he  wvanl  Qmea  relBn  to  Walpola  with  great  bitUni«H.  —  Ei>».     - 
55 


oyGoot^lc 


434  TH£  BELCHES  PAPEBS.  [IT12. 

it's  very  difficult  to  put  in  practice ;  the  persons  coneem'd 
are  so  great  a  number.  Altho'  the  sum  you  mention  is 
but  a  trifle,  yet  I  suppose  many  a  man  of  'em  can't 
command  20/  to  support  his  interest,  &  how  tedious  k 
dilatory  a  business  would  it  be  to  get  each  set  of  propr^ 
together,  or  who  will  undertake  to  ride  the  circuit  to  col- 
lect from  each  single  proprietor?  These  considerations 
make  me  doubt  whether  so  fine  a  scheme  can  be  br6t  to 
bear.  However,  I  am  determin'd  to  go  to  Boston  this 
week  &  trye  what  can  be  done.  As  I  have  once  &  again 
said,  no  time  is  or  can  be  lost  for  these  six  m"  to  come, 
every  ship  still  confirming  the  very  unsettled  state  of 
matters  at  Court ;  besides  so  sudden  applications  for  alter- 
ing things  so  recently  done  are  not  so  hkely  to  find  the 
desir'd  success,  a  still  patiently  waiting.  For  it  cannot 
be  consistent  with  the  King's  honour,  nor  with  the  honour 
of  the  Court,  to  chop  &  change  so  quick ;  yet  I  would  be 
full  of  attention  to  the  things  we  intend,  &  he  gaining 
friends  &  adherents  as  many  as  possible,  &  the  account 
you  give  of  my  quondam  *  has  a  good  aspect.  Pray  will 
Sam  &  young  H.  handle  their  purse  strings?  If  we 
could  get  you  to  Whitehall,  fine  things  might  be  put 
forward.  Let  me  know  when  you  are  like  to  receive 
your  arrears.  I  suppose  Pierson  is  master  of  W — d — 's  t 
ship,  &  capable  of  telling  fine  stories  about  Granada's 
treasonable  trade,  but  you  say  the  matter  of  his  loading 
masts  is  husht  at  present.  If  the  Don,  loon,  ape,  &",  ^ 
are  carefully  watcht,  &  a  journal  kept  of  their  proceedings, 
I  beleive  they  may  be  easily  insnar'd.  I  don't  know 
what  to  make  of  the  Dustman,  who  still  persists  to  go  in 
one  of  the  mast  ships,  but  as  I  know  him  to  be  very 
fickle,  &  see  no  sort  of  preparation  towards  a  voyage, 
these  things  make  me  very  diffident ;  yet  I  see  no  way 

•  Sm  ante,  p.  433  ,  not*.  — Eds, 

f  The  n«nia  ms  first  wrilten  "Wendell,"  nod  then  lUiembomlled.  —  Em. 

t  Benning  Wautworth,  Cr«arge  Jattrej,  uid  Theodore  AlkioaoD.  —  EiM. 


jvGooi^lc 


1742.]  TO  EICHABD  WALDRON.  435 

but  waiting  till  the  mast  ships  are  sail'd.  Rhodomantado 
was  twice  to  see  me.  The  letter  you  have  from  Maj' 
Jenners  &  Co.  is  a  good  thing.  They  are  men  of  spirit 
&  have  a  rich  town  to  support  the  cause.  Livermore  & 
Parker  must  hoth  be  liberally  fee'd,  &  so  from  time  to 
time  (as  opportunities  present)  in  favour  of  Massachus™. 
As  any  tiling  new  ofFers  you  shall  constantly  hear  from 
nie.     Sir, 

Tour  assured  friend.  J.  B. 

MtLTOM,  Jane  29,  1742. 

I  wish  the  inclosed  might  get  along  by  Coll"  West- 
brook,  or  any  other  way  you  can  find.    Perhaps  Cell' 
Pepperil  cou'd  forward  it. 
(Foat) 


TO  KICHARD  WALDRON. 

HoN'o'"  Sib,  —  I  have  been  duly  favour**!  with  yours  of 
the  2  &  9  instant.  Take  it  from  a  sincere  friend,  no  cloud 
hovers  over  you  without  contracting  my  anxious  brow.  In 
short,  I  grieve  with  you  in  every  grief,  &  your  every  joy 
exhilirates  &  sets  my  spirits  upon  the  gallop.  Grant  O 
God !  thro'  riches  of  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus  that  these 
afHictions  which  for  the  present  are  not  joyous,  but  grie- 
vous, may  work  out  for  you  a  far  more  exceeding  &  eternal 
weight  of  glory  ;  so  will  the  withering  of  the  late  blossom 
adorn  the  tree  from  whence  it  sprung.     Amen. 

Your  ingenious  thOts  for  a  proper  prosecution  of  some 
aflfairs,  that  might  retrieve  the  difficulties  of  many  of  my 
friends  &  raise  their  drooping  heads,  interrupted  my 
darling  solitude,  &  makes  me  wish  at  turns  that  I  was 
not  so  far  &  so  much  remov'd  from  all  business ;  yet  I 
must  upon  the  whole  repeat,  I  cannot  undertake  the  busi- 
ness of  the  new  townships,  &  thi.')  I  say  on  such  reasons 
as  would  perfectly  satisfye  you.    Could  we  but  be  half  an 


oyGoot^lc 


436  THE   BELCHER  FAPEB8.  [1742. 

hour  face  to  face,  &  this  you  talkt  of  6  or  8  m"  agoe,  & 
what  if  you  should  make  an  incog  excursion  to  Milton 
for  a  day  or  two  ?  to  ride  mostly  in  a  late  evening  &  an 
early  morning.  I  have  not,  however,  been  intirely  un- 
thotful  of  your  suggestions,  but  since  my  last  have  made 
two  trips  from  my  cottage  to  the  great  city  of  Boston, 
Sc  communicated  all  your  tho'ts  (&  my  own)  to  the 
gent"  who  went  to  London  in  favour  of  these  grants,* 
upon  which  he  said  he  despair'd  of  getting  the  propri" 
together,  &  still  more  (if  it  could  be  done)  of  obtaining 
the  umim  from  them,  even  to  a  small  sum,  and  that  he 
was  at  this  day  £700  out  of  pocket  for  them,  which  he 
expected  to  lose.  I  also  talkt  on  the  same  head  with  a 
very  leading  member  of  the  House  of  the  present  Kepre- 
sentatives,  &  altho  be  was  heartily  with  us,  as  one  gready 
interested  (I  mean  in  many  of  the  towns)  yet  he  was  far 
from  being  sanguine  as  to  any  success  about  the  neces- 
sary. I  am  as  sensible  as  you  can  be  pf  what  importance 
it  was  &  is  to  retain  the  two  harpies,t  but  the  thing  is 
just  as  I  tell  you,  k  what  can  be  said  more  ?  PwW 
d'arffetii.  I  thank  you  for  copy  of  the  Vote.  You  may 
be  sure  I  shall  not  put  you  upon  the  difficulty  of  getting 
it  into  the  publick  prints  with  remarks,  nor  myself,  but 
once  more  must  excuse  myself  from  this  whole  affdr.  \ 
have  but  faint  hopes  about  the  Dustman,  tho'  he  still 
persists  in  going  with  the  mast  convoy.  I  should  be  pleas'd 
he  would  n't,  &  that  Kittry  would  a  while  hence;  but  aa 
things  are  still  in  the  greatest  burly  burly  &  confusion,  I 
could  advise  no  friend  to  stride  the  Atlantick  at  present. 
The  restoration  or  advancement  of  my  cozen  Butler  does 
truly  surprize  me.  Pray  what's  to  be  done  for  the  R«- 
tender's  tanner?  What  a  clean  thing  would  it  be  for 
Granada  to  obtain  the  order  he  speaks  of !  Sam  More's 
farce  must  make  good  diversion.    The  Cap*  will  he  a  fool 

■  Thomu  HntchinaoD.  —  Ens. 

t  The  tTo  lairycn,  Mittbew  Lirsrmore  and  WiUiim  Puku.  —  Edb, 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  TO  RICHAED  WALDRON.  437 

to  the  end  of  life.  You  must  not  (I  think)  give  C'  to  the 
report  of  an  agent  for  the  new  towns,  &*.  I  should  joye 
to  see  you  iu  my  lonesome,  chearfull  retirement.  I  am 
often  pleas'd  with  applying  to  myself  that  of  one  of  the 
Cynicks,  Nu.nquam  minus  solus,  guam  cum  solus.     Sir, 

Your  friend  &  most  obed'.  J.  B. 

UiLTOK,  July  IS,  1742. 

(Post.)  


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  Your  favour  of  23  present  is  before  me,  &  I 
particularly  remark  its  contents.  Since  my  last  things 
have  taken  a  turn  contrary  to  my  fears.  You'l  find  a 
large  advertisem'  in  one  of  the  publick  prints  for  a  meet- 
ing of  the  propriet"  of  the  new  townships  2*  Septem'  next 
at  Boston.  I  now  beleive  they  are  pretty  well  alarm'd, 
&  are  in  earnest  preparing  for  warr.  The  Dustman  din'd 
witli  me  twice  the  last  week,  &  is  come  to  a  peremp- 
tory, steady  resolution  of  imbarking  in  one  of  the  most 
ships,  w*  he  supposes  may  sail  in  about  a  month ;  & 
to  convince  you  that  he  is  thorrowly  in  earnest,  this  is  a 
forerunner  to  tell  you  he  intends  to  be  at  Portsm"  on 
Friday  or  Saturday  next  to  take  his  passage  in  which  of 
the  ships  he  likes  best,  &  with  him  goes  to  Fortsm"  my 
kinsman  M'  Foye,  one  of  the  agents  for  the  town  of 
Charlestown,  &  also  M'  Jer.  Allen  (my  good  friend  as  well 
as  his  brother).  He  &  his  brother  are  considerably  inter- 
ested in  the  new  towns,  &  will  do  their  share  in  defence 
of  the  title,  k  will  throw  their  full  weight  into  the  scheme 
you  have  projected  &  had  began  to  plan  out  for  new 
modelling,  &".  It  will  be  wisest  for  the  three  gent"  I 
have  mention'd  to  make  their  6rst  complim"  to  Granada, 
altho'  they  go  purely  to  hold  a  consiilta"  with  you.  I 
need  not  say  with  how  much  respect  &  kindness  vou  will 
treat  them,  they  are  stanch  &  hearty  in  our  interest,  & 


oyGoot^lc 


438  THE   BELCHEE  PAFBR6.  [1712. 

the  Dustman  much  pleas'd  with  my  mentioniDg  that  you 
should  go  with  him,  &  to  be  continually  at  his  elbow, 
thd  he  exprest  some  tears  least  you  should  put  up  for 
yourself,  but  I  have  assur'd  him  he  might  most  sacredly 
depend  on  your  friendship  and  probity  to  assist  him  night 
&  day  for  bringing  his  marks  to  bear ;  &  in  order  to  it  he 
assur'd  me  he  would  not  begrutch  to  scatter  his  dust 
freely.  I  think  he'll  be  ready  to  do  something  handsome 
to  promote  your  going,  and  many  of  the  proprietors  begin 
to  mention  you  pretty  freely  to  go  as  their  agent  A  fine 
thing  it  will  be  if  it  can  be  accomplisht,  &  you  must 
exert  &  do  what  you  conveniently  can  for  your  own 
better  support,  th6,  consideiing  a  wife  &  children  &  you 
near  50'^,  I  must  honestly  advise  not  to  be  too  free  with 
your  own  money,  even  whether  things  can  be  done  or  not. 
]f  you  go,  &  upon  the  best  judgment  you  can  make  when 
you  get  there  should  encourage  me  to  come  to  you 
(God  sparing  my  life)  I  might  imbark  in  the  spring.  Your 
intended  visiters  are  to  dine  with  me  again  to-morrow,  & 
to  take  my  particular  letter  to  you  in  their  favour.  Oa 
their  return  you'll  be  better  able  to  say  when  I  shall  em- 
brace you  at  my  cottage,  where  you'l  find  a  plain,  rustick 
but  hearty  welcome.  Could  the  clan  think  the  D'  such 
a  simpleton  as  to  be  pleas'd  with  being  kickt  up  stain? 
No,  he  loves  money  beyond  all  other  things,  &  I  am 
'well  pleas'd  they  have  piqu'd  him.  Without  any  sort  of 
compliment,  I  remain,  Hono*"  Sir, 

Yours,  &-.  J.  B. 

Milton,  Jul;  26,  1742. 

(Poat)  

TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  I  did  not  think  of  answering  yours  of  IS**  ult', 
which  did  but  own  the  receit  of  mine  of  IG*""  same  month, 
but  that  I  am  urg'd  to  it  from  the  result  of  two  meetings 
of  the  propr"  of  the  new  townships,  at  which  you.  Coll. 


oyGoot^lc 


1743.]  TO  BICHAKD  PARTBIDGB.  439 

Vassall,  &  M'  Palmer  were  chosen  to  be  agents  for  the 
propr"  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain.  Upon  this  event 
I  think  it  absolutely  necessary  to  have  an  interview  with 
you  at  my  cottage.  I  say,  all  your  affairs  must  subside 
&  give  way  for  48  hours,  or  perhaps  three  days.  There's 
a  fine  moon,  &  better  travelling  than  by  sun,  &  your 
brother  agent  expresses  this  to  you  by  M'  Pierpoint,  who 
will  wait  upon  you  hither.  Pray  make  no  excuses  on  so 
favourable  a  conjuncture  for  prosecuting  your  own  darling 
projection.     I  am  always 

Yours.  J.  B. 

Milton,  Sepb  8',  1742. 
Bjr  Jobn  Pierpoiot. 


TO   RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sir,  —  My  last  was  SI"  ult'  f  Hall,  in  which  I  advis'd 
of  Coll.  John  Vassall's  intending  to  Great  Britain.  Since 
that  he  has  been  chosen  an  agent  (in  company  with 
Richard  Waldron  &  Eliakim  Palmer,  Esq")  to  defend  the 
rights  of  the  propr*  of  thirty  odd  townships  that  fall  to 
the  northward  of  the  line  betwixt  Massachusetts  &  New 
Hampshire  {as  lately  determin'd  by  his  Majesty  in  Coun- 
cil). Coll.  Vassall  is  a  gentf  of  a  fine  fortune,  with  the 
advantage  of  the  best  education  this  part  of  the  world 
affords.  He  is  descended  from  very  worthy  ancestors, 
some  of  the  first  patentees  of  this  country.  As  the 
propr"  have  done  him  the  honour  of  choosing  him  to  re- 
present them  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain,  he  is  deter- 
min'd to  prosecute  that  affair  in  their  favour  to  the  utmost 
of  his  power.  His  estate  lyes  in  sugar  plantations  in  the 
island  of  Jamaica,  where  he  has  put  it  under  the  best 
regulation,  &  on  his  return  intends  to  settle  in  New 
England,  if  he  can  obtain  some  post  of  honour  at  Court 
worthy  his  acceptance ;  and  what  he  aims  at  he  will  com- 
municate to  you  on  his  arrivall.     And  I  now  recommend 


oyGoot^lc 


440  THE  BELCHER  PAPEBS.  [1712. 

bim  to  you  in  the  warmest  manner,  to  assist  him  by  your- 
self &  friends,  both  in  his  agency  and  what  else  he  will  men- 
tion to  you,  to  the  utmost  of  your  power.  As  the  propr" 
of  the  towns  have  not  got  the  necessary  papers  to  go  by 
hira,  they  must  follow  by  M'  Waldron,  with  such  things 
also  as  may  be  usefull  to  him  in  the  prosecution  of  his  other 
design  j  so  that  I  don't  expect  he  can  make  any  great 
progress  'till  the  proper  papers  get  to  his  bands.  I  again 
desire  you  to  treat  him  with  all  possible  respect  as  one  of 
my  particular  friends,  and  I  shall  take  it  as  an  instance 
of  your  esteem  and  friendship  for.  Sir, 

Your  loving  brother  &  real  friend.  J.  B. 

Milton,  Sepf  6*  1742. 
By  Col'  J.  VasMJl. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

SiE,  —  I  find  myself  debtor  to  your  several  favours 
of  Aug'  25*,  3*,  5*  &  10*^  instant,  the  first  being  from 
Falmouth,  where  you  met  Trinkalo.  Dear  Sir,  I  wish 
for  your  sake  &  your  family's  that  things  were  brought 
to  a  head  between  Col'  Westbrook  et  tUud  momtrum^I>ud>oh, 
&  I  wish  it  also  on  acco"  of  what  I  may  say  presently  on 
the  grand  affair  you  have  drawn  me  into. 

The  sailing  of  the  Dustman  is  an  answer  to  your  query 
of  what  is  his  real  design.  As  he,  M''  Foye,  Allen,  & 
Belcher  have  had  a  full  conversation  with  you,  it  anti- 
cipates any  particular  answer  of  mine  to  your  letters. 
However,  I  can't  help  animadverting  on  yours  of  5* 
curr*  V  Pierpoint,  &  if  you  think  it  worth  while  I  would 
have  you  re-inspect  my  letters  for  some  months  past, 
wherein  I  told  you  how  much  I  was  pleas'd  &  hug'd  ray- 
self  in  my  retirement  and  solitude.  Tiiey  then  were  &  con- 
tinue to  be  the  genuine  sentiments  of  my  soul,  &  I  think 
you  might  discover  in  my  letters  a  full  coldness,  if  not  an 
aversion,  to  lift  my  head  into  the  publick  world  again. 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  TO  RlCHAitD  WALDROK.  441 

However,  yoa  dragg'd  me  into  the  present  scheme,  of 
which  you  seeiii'd  to  me  fond  enough,  &  once  &  again 
express'd  your  forwardness  to  imbark  with  our  Dustman, 
could  you  command  &  spare  £1000  st'.  Your  warm  let- 
ters following  me,  one  on  the  back  of  another,  made  me 
resolve  to  rouse  from  my  ease  &  quiet,  k  once  more  vex 
myself  with  affairs  to  which  I  thought  I  bad  bid  a  final 
adieu.  I  say  therefore  when  I  consider'd  these  things,  & 
compar'd  your  former  letters  with  that  by  Pierpoint  I  was 
truly  Burpriz'd  to  see  you  put  on  so  many  grave  airs  & 
lay  so  many  blocks  in  the  way,  tho'  not  one  new  reason 
for  altering  the  resolutions  in  your  former  letters.  Did 
you  not  all  along  know  ? 

That  it  was  nothing  to  you  who  settled  the  new 
towns. 

That  if  you  engag'd  in  the  scheme  you  had  laid  you 
must  deny  yourself  the  ease  &  advantage  of  an 
attention  to  your  own  affairs. 

That  Col'  Westbrook's  matters  with  Trinkalo  were  & 
are  as  they  are. 

That  you  had  not  had  the  small  pox,  &". 
I  say,  if  you  knew  all  this,  to  repeat  the  vulgar  ex- 
pression in  yours,  how  came  it  to  pass,  after  the  matter 
is  got  so  well  forward,  that  you  incline  to  piss  backward  t 
But  I'll  wave  these  things,  &  be  sorry  if  I  have  toucht 
you  too  near,  by  imagining  you  fickle  or  inconstant  in  so 
grand  an  affair  as  attempting  to  turn  your  microcosm  topsy 
turvy.  And  now,  Sir,  I  am  steady  to  my  point,  that  I  will 
by  no  means  consent  to  your  stirring  one  step  without  a 
thoufiand  pounds  sterling  actually  in  hand,  not  subjected 
to  quid  nuncs,  ifs  or  ands,  &" ;  &  the  certainty  of  this  grand 
article  cannot  be  known  'till  the  next  proprietary  meeting 
(3'*  Nov').  And  now,  Sir,  you  must  be  so  free  &  honest 
with  me  as  to  tell  me  whetlier  you  intend  to  proceed  if 
the  money  be  put  into  your  hands  {as  propos'd)  ?  Upon 
your  answer  to  this,  &  that  you  do  not  intend  to  go,  I 


oyGoot^lc 


442  THE  BELCHEB  PAPEHS.  [1742. 

will  grub  my  pen,  &  use  it  no  more  on  what  I  may  furly 
call  a  trifling  subject,  if  so  it  ends.  But  if  you  resolve  to 
go,  let  me  beg  of  you  for  your  family's  sake  to  endeavour 
night  &  day  to  bring  CoP  Westbrook's  mattera  to  a  final 
settlement.  If  you  go,  I  suppose  you'll  be  supported 
with  recommendations  equal  to  what  any  gent"  ever 
carry'd  from  this  country.  Whatever  you  may  say  to 
me  of  your  fixt  resolution  I  would  not  have  known  to 
any  mortal  else. 

May  I  expect  to  see  you  at  my  lowly  cottage  &  when  ? 
I  return  the  letter  you  calculated  some  time  ago  for  M' 
H — n.  With  my  high  regards  to  Mad"  Waldron,  I  am, 
Hono"^  Sir, 

Yours  as  you  know.  J.  B. 

Milton,  Sepf  20*,  1742. 

(Poet.)  

TO  KICHARD  WALDRON. 

Sir,  —  The  post  brings  me  your  favour  of  26*^  instant, 
for  which  I  thank  you,  &  for  the  intelligences  of  various 
kinds.  I  can  hardly  think  the  King  will  go  to  Flanders; 
if  he  does,  then  a  French  war.  ^100  st'  is  a  poor  petit 
business  indeed  for  12  years  service.  Your  Assembly,  I 
see,  is  carrying  on  a  session  in  the  old  way.  How  will 
your  people  struggle  through  the  weight  of  their  taxes ! 
Why  is  Granada  so  spitefull  at  his  uncle?  You  say  it's 
thought  old  Joshua  *  is  going  the  way  of  all  the  earth.  I 
generally  lookt  upon  him  as  honest  as  such  a  simpleton 
could  be.  I  am  glad  to  hear  your  ministers  hold  their  in- 
tegrity. As  to  the  <mterie8,  I  am  at  someloss  what  to  say, 
but  don't  lose  my  charity.  You  have  oblig'd  me  in  a  very 
sensible  manner  with  the  sight  of  dear  M'  Sherburne's 
letter,  for  so  he  really  is  to  me.  I  think  hira  a  lovely  crea- 
ture, and  an  astonishing  instance  of  sovereign,  rich,  free 

■  Joahna  Peirca.    He  died  in  tbe  folloiriiig  Fabmu;.  — Ed«. 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  TO  LOED  WILMINGTON.  443 

grace.*  When  you  see  him,  give  him  my  sincere  respecta. 
1  return  his  letter,  &  you  will  not  be  angry  at  my  taking 
a  copy.  The  inclosed  should  have  gone  the  last  post. 
Coming  hither  on  a  visit  a  few  days  ago,  the  storm  has 
detain'd  me  to  this  time,  &  gives  me  the  pleasure  of 
answering  youre  by  this  post  in  the  better  time.  I  salute 
you,  your  lady,  &  femily  with  much  respect,  being  always, 
Hono"'*  &  Dear  Sir, 

Your  friend  and  servant.  J.  B. 

Boston,  No?'  26",  1742. 


TO  LOKD  WILMINGTON. 

Most  honoured  and  noble  Lobd,  —  It  is  a  long 
time  since  I  did  myself  the  great  honour  of  addressing 
your  Lordtihip.  Indeed,  the  different  situation  I  am  now 
in  from  that  I  enjoy'd  by  his  Majesty's  grace  and  favour 
when  I  last  had  the  honour  of  writing  to  your  Lordship 
brought  such  a  damp  upon  my  spirits  that  'till  now  I  have 
not  recover'd  courage  to  approach  your  Lordship  in  this 
manner.  But  when  I  consider  my  severe  hard  case  in 
being  remov'd  from  the  government  of  two  of  his 
Majesty's  provinces,  after  I  had  so  faithfully  supported 
the  honour  of  the  Crown  in  exact  conformity  to  his 
Miyesty's  royal  orders  to  me,  I  say,  I  hope  your  Lordship 
in  your  great  goodness  and  humanity  will  pardon  me 
while  I  can  no  longer  forbear  laying  before  your  Lord- 
ship the  sufferings  of  myself  &  family  upon  this  extraor- 
dinary change. 

It  is  well  known,  my  Lord,  in  how  great  business  I 
was  in  the  mercantile  way  when  his  Majesty  distinguisht 
me  by  the  great  honour  &  respect  of  giving  me  his  com- 
missions for  the  governmt  of  two  of  his  provinces,  & 

*  Although  GoYFrnor  Belcher  eipnnHed  the  moat  tnconsistrnt  opinions  vilh  rrmrd  to 
the  ch«r«<'t«r  nf  individiwbi,  it  seems  scarce!)-  pwsibie  (hst  (hin  de«<:ripIion  coold  h«ve  been 
meant  (or  Henry  Sherburne,  "  old  Brittle."    It  inaj  bare  been  intended  (ur  Henry't  Mn, 


jvGooi^lc 


444  THE  BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1712. 

which  necessarily  laid  me  aside  from  all  other  ways  of 
life  or  opportunities  of  making  provision  for  my  family. 
Nor  can  your  Lordship  (or  any  of  the  King's  ministers) 
be  a  stranger  to  the  strict  integrity  and  fidelity  with 
which  I  pursu'd  his  Majesty's  royal  orders,  and  for  so 
doing  the  Assemblies  here  were  always  contending  with 
me,  &  kept  my  support  so  low  &  mean  that  I  was  oblig'd 
from  year  to  year  to  sink  considerable  of  my  private  for- 
tune. But  as  to  this  article  things  were  grown  &  grow- 
ing better,  and  I  had  a  fair  prospect  of  being  handsomely 
supported  for  the  future.  These  things  being  consider'd, 
the  sudden,  unexpected  supersedeas  of  my  commissions 
renders  the  case  of  myself  &  family  melancholy  &  distress- 
ing &  makes  me  a  humble  suitor  for  your  Lordship's  com- 
passion on  me  &  on  my  children,  &  that  I  may  have  some 
suitable  provision  or  equivalent  made  me  for  the  loss 
of  my  two  commissions.  When  Coll.  Shute,  one  of  my 
predecessors,  was  remov'd  from  the  same  goverrnn"  he 
had  a  pension  of  £400  a  year  out  of  the  Exchequer. 

I  have  desir'd  my  friends  to  wait  upon  your  Lordship, 
and  to  beg  the  honour  of  putting  this  into  your  Lord- 
ship's hands,  and  to  pray  your  Lordship's  leave  of  laying 
the  state  of  my  very  hard  case  before  hia  Majesty.  And 
I  again  humbly  beg  your  Lordship  to  allow  me  to  hope 
for  your  Lordship's  favour  &  countenance  in  such  way 
and  manner  as  your  Lordship  shall  think  proper  &  suitable 
for  a  gentleman  that  has  had  the  honour  to  represent  his 
Majesty  as  Gov'  of  two  of  his  provinces.  So  shall  I,  &  so 
shall  my  children,  always  pray  for  your  Lordship's  long 
life  and  health,  and  that  you  may  stand  before  his 
Majesty  in  still  more  exalted  honour,  as  the  reward  of  so 
great  &  superiour  merit.  I  am  with  the  most  profound 
respect  &  duty,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  faithful!,  most  obedient  &  most 
devoted  serv'.  J,  B. 

MiLTOx  (in  New  England),  Dec'  20-^,  1742. 

(Telladge  to  Briatol.  Pbilipa  to  London.) 


oyGoot^lc 


TO  RICHARD  WALDBON. 


TO  JOHN  VASSALI,* 


Sir,' — I  duly  rec'  your  favour  of  10""  Septf  last  from 
Falmouth,  and  which  I  should  have  own'd  before  this,  but 
that  I  was  willing  to  see  the  upshot  of  the  several  meet- 
ings of  the  propri"  of  the  townships  which  by  the  late 
settlement  fall  without  the  bounds  of  this  Province,  and 
those  meetings  were  not  over 'till  the  16"'  instant;  their 
proceedings  &  final  result  I  suppose  will  be  sent  you  by 
such  of  your  friends  as  attended  them.  Tlie  issue  is  so 
mean  &  scandalous  that  I  leave  the  particulars  to  be 
handed  you  by  their  care,  and  they  will  doubtless  tell  you 
who  has  secretly  sapt  the  foundation  of  this  fine  scheme 
&  Entirely  destroy'd  it.  So  there's  an  end  of  your  agency 
with  Waldron's  &  Palmer's,  I  am  sorry  on  yours  &  their 
acco*",  but  more  so  for  the  proprietors.  I  hope  this  will 
find  you  well  at  London  (after  a  pleasant  passage)  where 
I  heartily  wish  you  success  in  all  your  laudable  enter- 
prizes.  Capt'  Pearson  is  going  from  Portsmouth  to 
Jamaica  &  London,  where  I  believe  he  &  M'  Jaques 
may  be  made  very  serviceable. 

With  my  repeated  wishes  for  your  prosperity,  I  am.  Sir, 
Your  friend  and  most  humble  servant 

J.  B. 

MiLTOw,  Deor  20*1',  1743. 

(Telladge  to  Bristol  PhiUips  to  London.) 


TO  RICHARD  WALDRON. 

HoNo""  Sir,  —  I  have  now  the  pleasure  of  owning  the 
receit  of  yours  of  7""  instant.     In  my  last  I  was  deter- 

•  Ueat-Col.  John  Vvn]]  ir«s  born  in  the  We»t  Indi«>  3«pt.  T,  ITIS,  (frsdnated  >C  Har- 
nri  ColleKe  in  1T33,  ind  died  in  C»inbridf[B,  Nov.  3T,  1T«.  He  wu  a  weallhy  and  loflu- 
(ntial  man,  and  twict  reprnenlcd  Camhridfce  in  the  Hoime  of  Repre«entBtive>.  See  New 
England  Hisl-  and  Genetl.  B«giit«r,  vol  zvii.  pp.  Ill,  IIS ;  Paige's  Hiitory  of  Cambridgv, 
PP.6T1,  OTG.  — Ei>a. 


oyGoot^lc 


446  THE  BBLCHEB  FAPEBS.  1742^. 

min'd  to  have  done  wondring  at  any  thing ;  yet  I  cannot 
hold  my  resolution  upon  auch  elucidations  aa  you  present 
me  with.  How  strnngely  is  the  scene  chang'd  from  the 
time  of  paying  £600  a  year  (half  yearly  tho'  by  law)  was 
call'd  a  grievance.  If  the  loan  succeeds  the  whole  people 
&  their  posterity  for  a  ceptury  may  be  set  down  for 
slaves  to  their  present  lords  &  to  their  offspring.  I  have 
often  wisht  it  were  any  way  feaaable  for  you  to  get  into 
thia  Province. 

I  believe  Granada  has  do  reason  to  fear  from  the  spring 
advices.  The  wild  cat  I  am  afraid  will  be  bought  &  aold 
by  Sancho,  the  Painter  &  Yorkshire  just  as  may  suit  their 
achemes. 

You  judg'd  worthy  yourself  to  have  no  conversation  or 
communication  with  a  footman,  tho'  you  know  Sancho 
was  so  mean  as  to  treat  my  coachman  &  footman  aa  his 
companions.  I  like  well  the  attempt  about  York  County 
(Province  of  Main  to  be  sav'd)  &  to  stipulate  in  lieu  thereof 
that  all  grants  on  the  Line  be  con6rm'd  to  Massachusetts. 
This,  you  remember,  is  something  like  what  N.  H.  Coun- 
cil address'd  for  4  or  5  years  ago,  but  that  was  so  much 
more  in  favour  of  New  Hampshire  as  that  the  County  of 
York  should  be  annext  to  New  Hampshire,  and  now  it's 
propoa'd  to  be  a  Province  by  itself  j  &  happy  would  it  be 
for  this  Province  if  it  could  be  accomplisht.  What  has  it 
been  but  one  constant  plague  &  immense  charge  to  this 
people  ?  &  must  be  so  for  a  century  to  come,  and  most  of 
the  lands  are  under  private  claims,  and  what  are  not  can 
only  be  granted  by  this  Assembly,  to  be  confirm 'd  (or  not) 
by  the  Crown.  Such  an  event,  I  say,  would  be  just  cause 
for  a  Te  Deum  to  this  Province,  &  you  must  know  Trin- 
kalo  is  quite  frantick  &  agonizing  for  fear  of  it.  Wou'dn't 
it  be  clever  to  have  him  &  his  paradise  under  the  tyranny 
of  one  fit  only  to  govern  in  Pandaemonium  ?  As  to  the 
manner  of  support  for  it,  that's  another  afiair,  and  in 
which  the  Painter  has  so  daub'd  himself  as  that  his  best 


oyGoot^lc 


1743.]  TO  ANDREW  BELCHEB.  447 

friends  are  not  able  to  lick  bim  clean,  bo  that  attempt 
yields  its  good  fruit  You  may  depend  Trinkalo  is  in- 
Telopt  &  harrast  with  all  tbe  perplexities  &  distresses 
bis  worst  enemies  can  wisb  bim ;  nor  is  the  Learned 
able  to  extricate  him,  tho'  he  does  all  (&  strange  things) 
to  keep  his  head  above  water.  As  to  tbe  delegates  you 
know  more  of  that  matter  than  I  do.  It's  generally 
thought  the  Learned  quasht  the  whole  affair  for  fear  of 
your  going.  However,  I  never  had  any  faith  in  their 
raising  the  money.  I  have  thought  on  your  suspension 
and  dismission.  Of  the  former,  no  doubt  the  Don  has 
power  by  bis  instructions;  but  he  is  not  to  dismiss  any 
from  civil  office,  but  with  advice  &  consent  of  Council, 
according  to  the  inclosed  instruction.  What  has  been 
done  heretofore  can't  avail.  A  blot's  no  blot  'till  it's 
hit. 

I  thank  you  for  wishing  me  the  blessings  of  a  new  year, 
and  return  U  into  your  bosom  for  yourself  &  family.  From 
the  S"*"  of  this  month  I  am  posting  to  62.  0,  Eternal 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  breath  in  Thy  divine  energy 
upon  my  soul  that  the  few  remaining  moments  of  my  life 
may  be  diligently  employ'd  to  bring  honour  &  glory  to 
the  great  name  of  my  Creatour,  Preserver,  &  mighty 
Redeemer. 

I  am  with  great  respect  to  you  &  to  your  lady.  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend.  J.  B. 

From  my  lowly  cottage  at  Miltom,  Jana*  22iJ,  1742/3. 
(Port.) 


TO  ANDREW  BELCHER. 


Mt  dear  Son,  —  Billy  brought  me  yours  with  the  acco" 
of  M"  Remington's  death,  which  his  letter  also  told  me, 
&  that  her  funeral  is  intended  to-morrow,  which  I  shall 
endeavour  to  attend. 


oyGoot^lc 


448  THE   BELCHER  PAPERS.  [1743. 

I  am  much  concern'd  for  the  loss  of  your  place  in  the 
Admiralty  Court.  I  think  I  can  truly  say,  more  than  I 
wEis  upon  hearing  of  my  own  supersedeas.  I  pray  God  to 
support  you  under  it,  &  by  this  dark  providence  teach 
you  the  uncertainty  &  mutability  of  all  human  affairs;  & 
may  God  carry  up  your  thoughts  on  this  occaeion  to 
Himself,  and  show  you  that  there  can  be  no  true  happi- 
ness or  satisfaction  short  of  a  fixed,  saving  interest  in  the 
favour  &  mercy  of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  His  blessed 
Son,  the  only  Saviour  of  poor  lost  man.  If  this  melan- 
choly scene  lead  you  into  a  realizing  sense  of  these  things, 
it  will  prove  the  happiest  article  of  your  life.  God,  of 
His  infinite  mercy  in  Jesus  Christ,  so  make  it  Amen. 
Your  other  small  place  will  be  some  help,  and  we  must 
be  thinking  how  to  improve  the  little  stock  you  have  in 
the  best  manner.  I  shall  always  stand  ready  to  do  every 
thing  in  my  power  to  assist  &  comfort  you,  for  I  am, 
dear  Andrew, 

Your  very  affectionate  father.  J.  B. 

Milton,  April  20*,  1748. 


TO  RICHARD  WALDROKT. 

HoNo""  Sir,  —  Your  favours  of  7*  &  15""  ins*  came  to 
hand  in  their  course.  Doubtless  what  the  Teagues  have 
been  doing  in  the  wilderness  must  alarm  the  clan.  I  find 
so  many  instances  of  rusticity  &  ingratitude  among  the 
general  herd  of  mankind  that  I  am  not  at  all  surpriz'd  at 
what  you  repeat  to  me  of  Madam's  dangler.  The  Captain, 
I  see,  keeps  on  in  his  old  way.  "  Can  the  Ethiopian 
change  his  skin  or  the  leopard  his  spots?  Then  may 
those  that  are  accustom'd  to  do  evil  learn  to  do  well."  I 
pity  the  poor  Lieut,  chain 'd  to  a  dreadfuU  vixen  &  doom'd 
to  perpetual  slavery. 


oyGoot^lc 


17«.]  TO  RICHAED  WALDBON.  449 

My  quondam  landlord,*  you  say,  seems  to  be  draggiog 
a  crazy  carcase  to  the  grave,  &  that  soon.  I  think  him 
an  honest  man,  &  he  has  my  very  good  wishes.  Not- 
withstanding all  count  lost  efforts,  it  is  the  general  opin- 
ion that  nothing  can  retrieve  his  imbarrast,  invelopt 
affairs,  and  that  his  Eastern  Paradise  must  compleat 
him.t  I  thank  you  for  what  intelligence  you  gather'd 
&  sent  me,  out  of  Adams,  since  which  Hall  is  arriv'd, 
&  confirms  Yorkshire's  going  into  the  country  for  bis 
health;  that  there's  no  present  prospect  of  a  French 
war  or  of  a  Spanish  peace;  that  ihe  Parliament  has 
g^ven  an  ample,  generous  supply ;  that  Lord  Wilming- 
ton {prime  favourite  &  minister)  was  gone  to  Bath  in 
a  poor  state  of  health.  And  now  for  matters  of  this  & 
your  Province. 

I  have  no  interest  &  but  a  very  dender  acqnwntance 
with  the  present  Surveyour.t  I  never  had  an  instruction 
for  impressing  men  for  the  King's  ships,  nor  do  I  suppose 
there  ever  was  such  an  instruction  given  to  any  Gov'.  It 
would,  indeed,  be  the  moat  extraordinary  thing  that  ever 
happen'd  within  the  name  or  sound  of  English  govemm*. 
So  &r  from  that,  all  impressing  is  by  connivance,  &  is  an 
odious  thing  to  an  Englishman.  There  have  been  attempts 
often  to  get  an  act  of  Parliament  in  favour  of  impressing, 
but  it  could  never  be  obtain'd,  &  at  this  day  in  England 
if  a  press-gang  kills  a  man  they  are  try'd  as  murderers; 
but  ii  the  people  they  are  after  happen  to  kill  any  of 
them,  they  pass  no  tryal. 

I  am  told  the  Painter  &  Dustman  are  in  close  acquaint- 
ance, and  that  the  latter  scatters  his  dust  to  the  former; 
that  the  wild-cat  was  preparing  for  inoculation,  &  was 
in  treaty  for  Sancho's  surveyourship.    O,  dreadfuU  that 

•  Henrr  Sberbime.  —  En*. 

1  Thn  reference  is  probably  to  Waldo,  and  not  to  Sberbania.  — Edb. 

t  Jobn  Pesgrum,  wbo  bad  long  held  tfae  office  of  Surrejar-Qeneral  of  CDitomi,  bad 
been  aapeneded.  >oine  moDtba  befcn  Ibe  date  of  thie  tetter,  bj  Tbomaa  Lecbmen,  tba  kd- 
bhUirof  Wait  Wlntlmp.  — Edb. 

67 


oyGoot^lc 


450  THE  BELCHEB  PAPERS.  [1748. 

that  poor,  empty  songster  should   be  of  his  Majesty's 
Council. 

As  I  know  you  to  be  my  close  friend  &  close  mouth'd, 
I  will  answer  what  you  askt  of  me  in  one  of  your  late 
letters.  For  six  or  eight  months  past  many  of  my  friends 
have  been  urging  me  once  more  to  look  into  publick  life, 
to  which  my  constant  answer  has  been  that  I  am  posting 
to  the  set  period  of  human  life,  and,  that  if  I  know  my 
own  heart,  I  had  rather  spin  out  what  few  days  God  in 
the  secret  of  His  providence  may  have  allotted  me  in  my 
present  rural  retir'd  way  than  undergo  the  hazards  & 
fatigues  of  passing  the  Atlantick,  and  after  that  the  kill- 
ing fatigues  of  a  Court  sollicitation.  Yet  they  are  still 
importunate  with  me,  &  upon  the  receit  of  my  letters 
by  these  ships  I  seem  to  give  way ;  and  for  my  encour^ 
agement  they  have  all  along  told  me  the  voyage 
should  cost  me  nothing,  but  that  they  would  among  them 
raise  a  thousand  pounds  sterling  (which  is  indeed  but  a 
modicum).  I  am  not  yet  come  to  any  certain  resolution 
or  answer.  As  I  rank  you  with  my  dear  oracle  (Cam- 
bridge), I  much  want  to  talk  an  hour  or  two  with  you  on 
so  important  an  article  of  my  life.  About  sixteen  months 
ago,  you  spoke  of  an  excursion  this  way.  As  a  farmer 
I  know  you  can't  well  leave  your  husbandry  this  week  or 
next,  but  perhaps  you  might  some  time  the  next  month 
come  &  mortify  yourself  for  a  short  time  at  my  cottage, 
tho'  I  must  tell  you,  if  the  thing  should  be  concluded  to 
be  feasible,  yet  I  have  the  same  thoughts  as  I  had 
on  your  acco"  that  the  matter  will  issue  in  an  abortion 
for  want  of  the  unvm,  for  it's  common  for  people  to  talk 
big  &  shrink  into  mushrooms.  I  am  with  an  indelible 
respect.  Sir, 

Yours.  J.  B. 

UiLTon,  April  26^,  1748. 
(Post.) 


oyGoot^lc 


1748.]  TO  BICHARD  PARTRIDOB. 


TO  RICHARD  PARTRIDGE. 

Sib,  —  I  wrote  you  the  S*  ult'  v  Ellis,  and  since  that  I 
have  v  Hall  &  Cunningham  your  letters  of  23^  Nov"  & 
IS"*  Febru'  last,  with  a  list  of  the  hoods  my  son  (J.  B.) 
has  given  you  at  one  time  &  at  another ;  the  last  of  S"" 
Sepf,  1741,  for  £181. 11  st',  you  say,  is  condition'd  to 
be  paid  by  himself,  without  the  mention  of  my  name. 
Pray,  doea  he  mae  you  this  sum  on  Ms  ovm  aceo".  exclusive  of 
all  the  mome&  ymi  have  paid  dc  mppty'd  Um  vMh,  &  charg'd  to 
me?  If  he  does,  it  still  accumulates  his  uncommon  pro- 
digality &  lavishuess  of  money.  I  am  afraid  he  is  but  in 
a  poor  starving  way  in  Ireland.  And  how  can  he  then 
under  his  difficulties  &  distresses  keep  up  such  a  wicked 
spirit  of  disobedience  &  ingratitude  to  a  father  that  has 
been  kind  and  fond  beyond  all  reasonable  bounds?  It 
is  now  20  months  since  I  have  had  a  line  from  him.  0, 
monster  of  ingratitude !  I  cannot  bear  to  own  him  for  my 
son ;  nor  is  he  worthy  to  be  call'd  your  nephew. 

I  am  greatly  troubled,  brother,  that  it  has  not  been 
in  my  power  to  this  day  to  discharge  your  bill  of  £400  st' 
in  favour  of  M'  A.  Oliver,  but  so  it  is,  that  neither  my 
friends,  nor  I,  have  been  able  to  sell  off  any  parts  of  my 
estate,  either  in  Boston  or  in  the  country,  to  enable  me 
to  pay  that  bill  &  the  remainder  of  your  ballance,  altho' 
we  are  all  of  us  every  day  endeavouring  to  make  sales. 
This  is  the  plain  truth,  &  all  I  can  say  to  the  matter  at 
present. 

I  am  sorry  Col'  Vassal!  had  not  fallen  in  with  you  for  a 
part  of  his  business  from  Jamaica,  but  1  perceive  he  has 
put  all  into  the  hands  of  M'  R  Palmer.  I  thank  your 
respect  to  M'  0.  Noyes,  who  I  hope  will  do  well.  I  am 
much  concem'd  for  my  son  A.  B.'s  loss  of  his  place  in  the 
Admiralty  Court,  it  being  his  main  support,  and  this,  I 
am  told,  was  done  a  month  before  you  knew  any  thing  of 


oyGoot^lc 


452  THE  BEXCHEB  PAPEBS.  [1748. 

the  matter.  I  shall  be  glad  you  &  hia  other  friends  may 
be  able  to  get  him  restor'd,  tho'  I  tell  him  he  must 
hardly  maintain  a  hope  of  it,  for  I  can't  see  it  consistent 
with  the  honour  of  the  Crown,  or  with  that  of  its  officers, 
to  thrust  persons  out  &  sitddenly  to  restore  them.  Yet  I 
shall  take  it  very  kindly  if  you'll  endeavour  to  serve  him 
in  this  or  in  any  other  way. 

I  shall  write  a  distinct  letter  in  answer  to  what  in  yours 
relates  to  my  appearing  once  more  at  Court,*  and  am  in 
the  mean  time,  Sir, 

Tour  loving  brother.  J.  B. 

Milton,  May  8',  1748. 
t?  Bonner.  Ellis. 

■  fi«lcber  wrote  bat  t>ne  latler  to  hb  brotbar4n-Uw  by  this  amreTBiice;  snd  in  the  two 
letters  to  Partridge  copied  into  tha  Letter  Book,  iSij  IS  aail  June  14,  there  Is  no  refeitnct 
to  his  propoied  Toj'age  to  BngUnd.  He  amturked  for  London  March  10,  IT4B-1,  In  Ac 
*hip  P0II7,  Captun  Goad.  (Sea  The  Boston  Wmkly  Nem-Letter,  March  IS,  ITU.)  The 
voyage  had  baen  phmned  for  a  long  time;  and  in  AuKoet,  IT43,  it  woa  reported  that  be 
wu  aboot  to  embaA  in  the  matt  ilitp*.  Sea  tetter  of  B«t.  Dr.  Colmao,  in  S  Hms.  Eiat 
Coll.  vol,  ii.  p.  186,  —  Eds. 


oyGoot^lc 


APPENDIX. 


jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


APPENBIX. 


CALENDAR  OF  LETfERS  AND  PAPERS 

FROM  JAN.  33,  17»3-«,  TO  APRtt  il.  173S.'aND  FROM  AUG.  84,  1739, 
TO  JULT  35,  1743,  WmCH  ABE  NOT  PRINTED  IN  THIS  VOLUME. 

1733-4. 

Jan.  28.  Speech  to  Nbv  Hahpsbire  House  of  Repbesentatites. 
—  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire  Provincial  Papers,  vol.  ir. 
pp.  666,  667.] 

Jan.  28.  To  Francis  Habbison.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Jan.  28.  To  Henrt  Sberbdbne.  —  Thanks  for  civilities  received 
at  Portsmouth. 

Jan.  29.  Speech  to  the  Massachusetts  Assbmblt.  —  [Printed  in 
the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  Feb.  4.] 

Jan.  SI.  To  RicRABD  Waldbon.  —  A  few  lines  on  New  Hamp- 
shire affairs. 

Jan.  31.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  Aboat  the  collection  of  debts  due 
to  him  in  Connecticut  and  the  management  of  the  Simsburj 

Jan.  31.  To  Eleazeb  Aspinwall.  —  About  the  payment  of  hia 
debt. 

Feb.  2.  ToBiCHABD  Partbidqb.— Bemits  bills  of  exchauge  to 
him. 

Feb.  2.  To  Rev.  Ebbnezeb  Wiluahs.  —  Complaints  about  the 
people  of  Fomfret.  Has  no  inclination  to  sell  his  estate  at 
Uortlake. 

Feb.  2.  To  Col.  John  Chandler.  —  Wishes  to  hare  an  appraise- 
ment of  his  *'  estate  at  Mortlake,  being  in  all  S760  acres." 

Feb.  4.  To  the  Bishop  of  London.  —  A  note  of  thanks  for  (a- 
Tors  to  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 


oyGoot^lc 


456  APPENDIX.  [vm-i. 

Feb.  4.  To  HoBACB  Walpole.  — To  the  Bame  purport 

Feb.  4.  To  Sir  Nathahiel  Llotd.  —  WiaheB  hb  influence  in  ta- 
Tor  of  the  election  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  to  a  Fellowship 
ia  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge. 

Feb.  4.  To  Rev.  Geoegb  Rbtnoldb.  —  RelatiTe  to  obtaining  a 
qualification  for  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  as  a  candidate  for 
FarliameDt  from  the  borough  of  Tamworth. 

Feb.  4.  To  the  Baiufps  and  Capital  Bubggsses  op  Tamwobth. 
—  Relative  to  the  candidacy  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  "  He 
tells  me  that  &  great  part  of  the  manufacture  of  TunworUi 
is  in  yard  wide  cloths,  of  4/,  5/,  £  6/  a  yard,  of  consider- 
able &Dene88.  I  shall  therefore  make  it  my  care  to  incour- 
ago  the  consumption  of  that  manufacture  among  our  British 
merchants  &  traders,  and  hope  e'er  long  to  procure  orders  to 
M'  Partridge  of  London  for  some  value  in  those  goods  to  be 
sent  hitlier." 

Feb.  6.  To  Ricbabd  Pabtridob.  —  On  the  same  subject 

Feb.  €.  To  Fisheb  Jackson.  —  About  plants  sent  to  him,  and 
plants  and  seeds  received  from  him. 

Feb.  6.  To  JoHTt  Jackson.—- On  personal  matters. 

Feb.  11.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  a  proposed  sale  of  his 
Mertden  farm. 

Feb.  11.  To  Rtchabd  Waldbon.  —  A  short  letter,  mostly  on 
affairs  in  New  Hampshire. 

Feb.  11.  To  Rev.  Stephen  Paregb.  —  About  the  delivery  of  a 
letter  to  Lieutenant  Bradbury. 

Feb.  11.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  — About  the  sale  of  rum  to  the 
Indians,  etc. 

Feb.  11.  To  Capt.  Benjamin  Labrabee.  —  Of  similar  purport 

Feb.  II.  To  Capt  Jamis  Woodbidk.  —  About  the  defenceless 
condition  of  Fort  Frederick,  and  the  importance  of  guarding 
against  a  surprise. 

Feb.  11.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  indemnity  from  the 
Indians  for  damage  done  to  Hr.  Vaughan,  and  guarding 
against  a  surprise. 

Feb.  12.  To  Messrs.  Waters.  —  Regrets  that  he  has  not  been 
able  to  pay  what  he  owes  them. 

Feb.  14.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  his  enemies  and  New 
Hampshire  a£fairs. 

Feb.  16.  To  Col.  Thomas  Westbbook,  —  Cautions  him  to  be  on 


oyGoot^lc 


1T88-4.]  APPENDIX.  467 

hia  guard  against  any  surprise, "  for  there  can  be  no  trust 
to  our  tawny  neighbours." 

Feb.  17.  Speech  to  the  MASSACHuaETTS  Assehblt.  —  [Printed  in 
the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  Feb.  18.] 

Feb.  14.  To  Henry  Newman.  —  Friendly  greetings,  etc, 

Feb.  18.  To  Lord  Wilminotoh.  —  Wiahes  to  have  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Dunbar  removed. 

Feb.  18.  To  the  Duke  op  Newcastle.  — To  the  same  purport 

Feb.  18.  To  Richard  Partridge. — Complains  of  the  New  Hamp- 
Bhire  Assembly,  and  wishes  to  have  Dunbar  removed.  "  Col' 
H.  Sherburne  to  be  appointed  in  his  room  wou'd  be  beat  of 
all,  .  .  .  but  if  that  can't  be,  then  M'  Reynolds,  or  any  body 
rather  than  the  preaeut."  "  You  have  also  inclos'd  an 
address  to  the  King  of  8  out  of  10  of  the  Council  in  my 
favour,  of  which  you'll  make  what  use  you  may  think 
proper." 

Feb.  21.  To  Rev.  Ebehezee  Wiluams.  — Haa  let  his  farm  at 
South  Eingswood. 

Feb.  22.  To  Richard  Waldbom. — A  short  note  about  Dun- 
bar, etc. 

Feb.  22.  To  Elli3  Hdske  —  A  few  lines  on  personal  matters. 

Feb.  22.  To  Hbnbt  Shebburng.  —  Wishes  to  receive  his  salary. 

Feb.  23.  Speech  to  the  Mabsachosetts  Assembly.  — Urges  them 
to  "  act  up  to  the  spirit  of  our  ancestors  in  a  proper  care  for 
the  general  defence  of  their  country." 

Feb.  25.  To  Adolph  Phillips.— Wishes  to  ft8certain"thevaJue 
of  the  oblong,"  Introduces  Mr.  James  Crawford,  "  son  of  an 
old  aeqaaintance  of  mine  in  Glasgow." 

Feb.  25.  To  Francis  Harrison.  —  Introduces  Mr,  Crawford. 

Feb.  25.  To  the  Bishop  op  London.  —  Solicits  his  Lordship's 
favour  for  "  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  M'  Granger,  the  only 
schoolmaster  in  this  town  that  was  of  the  O^  of  England 
perswaaion," 

March  1.  To  Col.  John  Chandler.  —  Is  unwilling  to  accept  his 
resignation  of  the  places  he  holds  under  the  government. 
Thanks  liim  for  his  appraisal  of  Mortlalte. 

March  4.  To  Henbt  Sherburne.  —  About  his  enemies  in  New 
Hampshire.    Has  received  a  part  of  his  salary. 

March  4.  To  Richard  Partridge. — "  Have  nothing  new.  Dun- 
bar is  full  of  malice  &  all  wickedness.'* 


oyGoot^lc 


458  APPENDIX.  [173S-1. 

March  4.  To  Col. Kent.  —  About  fe&rs  of  a  war. 

March  6.  To  Capt. Gbat.  —  To  tiie  aame  purport 

March  5.  To  Joseph  Talcott.  —  Desires  an  official  certification 
of  some  writings  to  be  seat  to  London. 

March  5.  To  Geoege  WYLLTa  —  To  the  same  purport. 

March  6.  To  Josefs  Pitkin.  —  About  the  sale  of  his  farm  at 
Merideu. 

March  7.  To  Rev.  Ebbnezeb  Williams.  ~~  Has  let  his  Sontb 
Wiltshire  farm.     About  other  business  transactions. 

March  7.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  Dunbar's  attempt  to 
borrow  powder  of  Captain  Durell. 

March  14,  To  Richard  Waldron. — About  Dunbar  and  his  other 
enemies.  "They  are  at  their  wit's  end  (tho' the  devU  iB 
alwayes  at  their  elbows)  and  seem  to  hare  no  other  game  to 
play  but  Divide  et  impera." 

March  15.  To  Rev.  Ebenezer  Williams.  —  About  oue  of  his  leases 
in  Connecticut. 

March  15.  To  Laurence  Abustronq.  —  Friendly  greetings. 

March  15.  To  Paul  Mascarene.  —  Major  Mascarene's  children 
are  all  well. 

March  20.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Has  conveyed  to  him 
the  estate  at  Mortlake.  Gives  directions  about  obtainii^  a 
qualification  to  sit  in  Parliament. 

March  20.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Ou  the  same  subject. 

March  21.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  On  the  same  subject, 

March  21.  To  Henet  Newman.  —  Ou  the  same  subject 

March  22.  To  Richard  Partridge. — Is  trying  to  procure  or- 
ders for  "  a  good  parcel  of  Tamworth  cloths,"  and  to  remit 
money  "  to  defray  the  charge  of  my  son's  attempt  of  an 
election." 

March  22.  To  Francis  Wilks.  —  Encloses  the  package  for  Mr. 
Newman. 

March  22.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. — A  few  lines  only.  Re- 
minds him  of  the  example  of  Sir  Clement  Wearg. 

March  22.  To  Richard  Partridge. — A  few  lines  only.  "In  this 
packett  you  vrill  find  the  legs  of  two  pair  of  silk  hose  wliich 
I  desire  you  to  get  footed,  dj'd  black  &  send  me." 

March  21.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  About  military  matters  and 
the  supply  of  powder  in  New  Hampshire. 


oyGoot^lc 


ITSi.]  AFPENDIX.  469 


1734. 

March  2S.  To  HEnmT  Shebbubne.  —  On  the  same  subjects. 
Uarcb  2d.  To  BiRiggR  Aspinwall.  —  About  the  balance  of  rent 

due,  and  the  sale  of  his  farm. 
March  29.  To  JoaBPH  Pitkin.  —  About  the  sale  of  the  farm  at 

Meriden,  and  the  receipt  of  copper  ore. 
March  29.  To  Capt  Giles  Hall. — About  the  sale  of  the  farm  at 

Meriden. 
April  1.  To  FBANas  Habbibon.  —  About  the  attacks  on  Mr. 

Harrison. 
April  1.  ToMra.  William  Pabtbidgb. — About  the  disposition  of 

her  property,  if  Mrs.  Caswall  should  outlive  her. 
April  8.  ToRiCHABD  WiLDBON. — About  New  Hampshire  aflfairs. 
April  8.  To  Hbnbt  Shbbbubne.  —  About  military  commissions. 
April  8.  To  Rev.  Ebenezeb  Wiluams.  —  About  the  care  of  his 

interests  in  Connecticut. 
April  10.  To  Col.  John  Stoddabd.  —  About  the  division  of  Wait 

Winthrop's  estate. 
April  10.  To  Capt  Benjamin  Larbabee.  —  Has  received  the  me- 
morials to  be  laid  before  the  General  Assembly. 
April  10.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  —.To  the  same  purport,  and 

about  the  sale  of  rum  to  the  Indians. 
April  10.  To  Capt.  James  Woodside.  —  Haa  received  the  memo- 
rials. 
April  10.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  his  conference  with  the 

Indians  and  the  use  of  rum  by  them. 
April  10.  To  Capt  Thomas  Sandebs. — Desires  his  care  of  the 

above  mentioned  letters. 
April  11.  To  David  Dunbar.  —  Directs  him  to  convene  the 

Council  of  New  Hampshire. 
April  10.  To  Capt.  Timothy  Dwight. — About  his  troubles  with 

the  people  of  Northiield. 
April  11.  To  Righabd  Waldbon.  —  About  the  proclamation  for 

a  Fast,  etc. 
April  11.  To  Hbnrt  Sherbubne.  — ■  Encloses  the  commissions. 
April  11.  To  Col.  Richard  Saltonstall.  — Does  not  want  any 

soldiers  sent  out,  because  it  may  alarm  the  people,  and  make 

the  Indians  jealous. 


oyGoot^lc 


AM 


tl7«. 


April  16.  To  Col.  John  Stoddard.  —  *'  Go3  Bparing  your  life  i 
health,  I  desire  you  wou'd  not  fail  to  be  here  with  all  yonr 
friends  on  the  Election  day." 

April  18.  To  Henbt  SHEaauRKB.  —  About  New  Hampshire  mat- 
ters- Heara  that  the  price  of  powder,  of  which  "  there  ia 
a  good  stock  now  come  in,"  is  il6.10  a  barrel. 

April  18.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  Dunbar,  etc, 

April  19.  To  Sir  Charles  Waoeb.—  Solicits  the  appointment  of 
Charles  Faston  as  Collector  at  Rhode  Island. 

April  22.  To  Richard  Waldron. — "  You  are  hereby  order'd  not 
to  suffer  the  se^  of  the  Proyince  to  go  out  of  your  custody, 
or  to  affix  it  to  any  writing  without  my  special  leave  &' 
directioQ." 

April  24.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  his  business  affairs  in 
Connecticut. 

April  24.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall.  — About  a  sale  of  the  fann  at 
Meriden. 

April  29.  To  Datid  Donhar. — Has  received  a  narrative  of  what 
bappened  at  Exeter. 

April  29.  To  Shadbach  Walton.  —  Orders  him  to  convene  the 
CouncO  of  New  Hampshire  to  act  on  the  proclamation  for  a 
Fast. 

May  2.  To  Col.  John  Oilman.  —  About  the  riot  at  Exeter. 

May  2.  To  Shadbach  Walton.  —  Ordei's  him  to  convene  the 
Council  of  New  Hampshire  to  act  on  a  proclamation  about 
the  riot  at  Exeter. 

May  8.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  price  he  will  allow  for 
ore  from  the  Simsbury  mine.  ' 

May  6.  To  the  Duee  of  Newcastle.  —  Wishes  to  have  Colonel 
Dunbar  removed.    Complains  of  Atkinson  and  Wentworth. 

Uay  4.  To  Richard  Fabtridob.  —  About  his  enemies  and  secur- 
ing the  election  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  to  Parliament. 

Hay  6.  To  Richard  Waldbon. — About  Dunbar,  etc.  "Sladeis, 
indeed,  a  miserable  wretch ;  yet  if  he  goes  home  lie  may  do 
some  good ;  he  has  friends  &  the  sooner  he  goes  the  better." 

May  8.  To  the  Lords  op  Trade.  —  Transmits  the  Journal  of  the 
Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives,  and  thanks  their 
Lordships  for  the  part  they  took  in  procuring  the  royal  leave 
to  receive  the  grant  for  hia  support. 

May  8.  To  Capt  John  Minot.  — About  personal  matters. 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  APPENDIX.  461 

Uay  8.  To  Gapt.  Jakbs  Woodside.  —  Desirea  him  to  send  some 
wood. 

May  8.  To  Capt.  Thomas  Sandebs.  —  Wants  some  flat  stone. 

May  9.  To  the  Lords  of  Trade.  —  About  the  riot  at  Exeter,  and 
complaints  of  Dunbar, 

May  9.  To  Richard  Partridge.  — About  the  election  for  Tarn- 
worth,  and  the  Governor's  troubles  with  Dunbar. 

May  9.  To  Col-  John  Gilhan.  —  Wishes  him  to  come  to  Boston 
as  soon  as  possible. 

May  9.  To  Shadsach  Walton.  —  Orders  him  to  convene  ttie 
Council  of  New  Hampshire  and  to  adjourn  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Hay  9.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  On  New  Hampshire  matters. 

May  16.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  the  Governor's  ene- 
mies in  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  and  celebrating 
the  marriage  of  the  Prince  of  Orange. 

May  16.  To  David  Dunbar.  —  Orders  him  to  consult  with  the 
Council  of  New  Hampshire  about  celebrating  the  marriage 
of  the  Prince  of  Orange. 

Hay  20.  To  Col.  John  Stoddard. — Desires  him  to  be  present  at 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly. 

May  20.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  Wishes  him  to  answer  letters 
promptly  and  to  send  a  barrel  of  copper  ore. 

May  20.  To  Richard  Partridqe. — About  personal  and  family 
matters.  "  I  send  ¥*  Cap'  Homans  a  box  with  60""  of  green 
wax  candles,  and  such  another  V  Crocker,  and  they  have  both 
promist  to  get  'em  ashore  to  you  without  paying  the  duty,  if 
they  can," 

May  20.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Complaints  about  Dnnbar. 
"  ril  watch  him  as  a  starv'd  cat  watches  a  mouse."  Cra- 
dock  has  written  "  my  son  Lyde  (his  brother-in-law)  a 
penitential  letter  &,  vows  to  God  he  wou'd  n't  hurt  the  Gov* 
if  he  cou'd.  Thank  him  for  nothing;  it  was  after  he 
had  made  his  last  effort." 

May  20.  To  Col. Church.  —  Wishes  him  to  hasten  the 

Indians  down. 

Hay  20.  To  Col. Turner. — Wishes  aa  answer  to  some  oral 

queries. 

Uay  21.  To  Richard  Partridge. — About  a  law-suit  growing  out 
of  transactions  with  John  Caswall  deceased. 


oyGoot^lc 


462  APPENDIX,  [17M. 

May  21.  To Stohke.  —  About  ordering  goods  at  Tamworth 

to  promote  the  election  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

May  21.   To  Walter  Newbeert.  — To  the  same  purport. 

May  21.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  "  Chiefly  respecting  M'  Bel- 
cher's caodidateship  at  Tamworth."  "  As  you  are  able  to 
assure  all  your  Friends  that  the  GoV  has  shown  those  called 
Quakers  here  all  the  respect  &.  favour  in  his  power,  so  I  hope 
they  will  now  show  themselres  friendly  in  serving  my  son  in 
his  election." 

May  21.  To  George  Llotd.  —  About  the  payment  of  a  bond. 

May  23.  To  Shadrach  Walton.  —  A  few  lines  on  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  Ac. 

May  23.  To  Henbt  Shehbdrre. — About  Dunbar,  the  supply  of 
powder,  etc. 

May  25.  To Crawford. — About  his  son  James  Crawford. 

May  26.  To  Josiah  Burchett,  — A  few  lines  on  personal  matters. 

May  26.  To  Thomas  Coram.  —  Friendly  messages.  Wishes  to 
get  rid  of  Dunbar. 

May  25.  To  Samuel  Holden.  —  A  letter  of  pious  reflections. 

May  25.  To  Richard  Partridge. — About  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 
"  I  am  much  oblig'd  to  my  Cousin  Belcher  of  Paul's  Yard  for 
his  respect  to  my  son ;  and  the  young  lady  his  daughter  may 
be  far  beyond  his  deserts.  But  what  shou'd  he  do  with  a 
wife  who  never  yet  got  a  shilling  in  his  life,  &  can't  maintain 
himself?  What  distresses  then  wou'd  a  wife  &  children, 
nurses  Sc,  servants,  house  furniture  &  house  rent,  £c*  bring 
upon  him  ?  Too  much  for  his  narrow  shoulders  to  bear. 
If  God  spares  his  life  let  him  first  prove  himself  eminent  at 
the  bar  and  see  what  may  be  his  yearly  earnings,  to  know 
whether  he  shall  he  able  to  support  a  wife  &  family  hand- 
Bomely.  The  matrimonial  state  is  a  grave,  serious  thing,  and 
never  to  be  dissolv'd  but  by  death.  There  is  therefore  occa- 
sion of  much  wisdom  in  the  consideration  of  it.  Whenever 
Jonathan  ttilnks  anything  of  marrying  bid  him  read  to  you 
my  letter  on  that  bead  of  Augs*  14,  1732.  I  am  much 
oblig'd  to  you  Si  M'  Newman  for  advising  &  opposing 
it.  I  strn^le  hard,  brother,  to  give  him  the  best  education 
I  possibly  can,  and  shou'd  he  presume  to  carry  on  any  court- 
ship without  my  knowledge  &  free  consent  he  will  be  very 
short  of  his  duty  to  so  good  a  father,  and  shou'd  he  marry 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  APPENDIX.  463 

Tithout  my  approbation,  he  wou'd  at  once  deetroy  all  my 
designs  for  bis  good  &  advancement  in  the  world  ;  and  if 
nothing  will  content  him  but  marrying  he  must  return  to 
his  own  country  where  he  might  now  (if  here)  have  a  pretty 
young  lady,  with  a  fortuue  of  X4000  sf .  But  I  wou'd  have 
him  wait  with  hopeB  of  doing  better.  So  much  for  the  love  . 
Bally  of  the  youth." 

May  28.  To  Joseph-  Pitkin.  —  About  the  Simsbury  copper 
ore. 

May  80.  To  Richaed  Waldbon. — Chiefly  about  Dunbar.  "We 
have  the  best  Assembly  [in  Massachusetts]  of  seven  yearB 
past." 

May  30.  To  Heney  Sheeburne.  — On  New  Hampshire  affairs. 

May  31.  Speech  to  the  Massachusetis  Assembly.  —  [Printed  In 
the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  June  3.] 

May  31.  To  Richabd  Partridge.  —  About  buying  some  silk  for 
Mrs.  Belcher. 

June  1.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Sends  a  copy  of  his  speech 
to  the  Assembly,  which  he  wishes  to  be  put  in  the  London 
papers. 

Jone  fj.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  Dunbar,  etc.  "  What 
a  mockery  was  the  sham  consecration.*  I  suppose  Sancho 
was  there,  wishing  on  his  bended  knees  prosperity  to  Beel- 
zebub &  all  his  undertakings." 

June  7.  To  Elbazeb  Aspinwall.  —  About  the  sale  of  the  farm 
hired  by  Aspinwall. 

June  7.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall. — On  the  same  subject. 

June  7.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  management  of  his 
affairs  in  Connecticut. 

June  10.  To  Alexander  Spotswood.  —  About  the  resignation  of 
Mr.  Boydell  as  postmaster  at  Boston,  the  appointment  of  his 
successor,  and  postage  on  the  Governor's  letters.  "  Who- 
ever may  be  appointed,  I  suppose  you'll  oblige  him  to  reside 
at  this  town,  which  may  be  truly  call'd  the  metropolis  of 
North  America,  and  if  I  may  offer  my  opinion,  I  think  this 
injunction  will  turn  out  most  to  the  advantage  of  the  office 
and  of  the  trade ;  nor  do  I  remember  of  any  instance  of  a 
postmaster  for  this  Province  residing  anywhere  but  in 
Boston." 

*  1  iDppMe  Qaeen't  Ch^el  at  Forttmonth. — Nott  by  Etv.  Dr.  Bdkm^. 


oyGoot^lc 


464  APPENDIX.  ivm. 

Jane  10.  To  Jonathan  Belcheb,Jr. — A  few  lines  advising  him 
not  to  attend  the  serviceB  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Jnne  10.  To  Jambs  Mundat.  —  Tlianks  for  cirilities  to  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Jr.,  and  advice  alwut  the  affairs  of  Mrs.  Hart. 

June  10.  To  Chables  Paxton.  —  About  obtaining  an  appoint- 
ment at  Plymouth  or  Newport.  .    • 

June  10.  To  John  Morton.  —  On  various  personal  matters. 

June  10.  To  the  Lords  op  Trade  ;  same  to  the  Duke  op  New- 
castle:. —  About  having  a  general  leave  to  take  the  sums 
granted  by  the  Province  for  his  support.  "  This,  my  Lords, 
is  the  biggest,  the  richest,  &  yet  the  poorest  government  in 
all  the  King's  Provinces.  The  perquisites  of  this  government 
are  not  communihut  annis  worth  four  score  guineas  a  year." 

June  11.  To  Wiluah  Shakp.  — On  the  same  subject. 

Jutoe  11.  To  Alueed  Popple.  — On  the  same  subject. 

June  11.  To  RiCHAitD  Pabteidge.  —  About  obtaining  a  general 
leave  to  take  the  grants  voted  by  the  Massaehusetta  Assembly. 

June  13.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  his  enemies  in  the 
two  provinces. 

June  13.  To  David  Ddnbar.  —  Sends  him  copies  of  the  com- 
plaints made  against  him,  and  desires  his  answer. 

June  14.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  Sends  back  the  complaints 
against  Dunbar  to  be  signed  again  and  certified. 

June  14.  To  Col.  John  Giluan.  — -'On  the  same  subject,  and  to 
similar  purport. 

June  17.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  — Aboub  the  state  of  his  garri- 
son and  relations  with  the  Indians. 

June  18.  To  Capt  John  Minot.  — About  procuring  lumber  and 
wood. 

June  18.  To  Capt.  John  GiLsa  —  Injunctions  to  be  watchful  on 
account  of  the  fears  of  a  war  with  France. 

June  18.  Message  to  the  Massachusetts  Assemblt.  —  Recom- 
mends giving  military  commissions  to  some  of  the  Indian 
chiefs. 

June  20.  To  Henrt  Shbrburne.  — About  the  appointment  of  a 
Justice  for  the  Isles  of  Shoals,  the  supply  of  powder,  etc 

June  20.  To  Matthew  Liverhorb.  —  Desires  him  to  serve  an 
execution  to  recover  money  of  Timothy  Davis. 

June  20.  To  Ellis  Huskg.  —  Desires  to  receive  a  particular  ac- 
count of  the  LieutenantrGovemor's  arbitrary  proceedings,  etc. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  APPENDIX.  465 

June  20.  To  Richard  Waldron.  — On  New  EampBliire  and 
Masaachusetts  polttica,  and  perBonal  matters.  "Husk  mdy 
be  postmaster  if  he  pleases.  But  if  he  knew  the  little  profit 
as  I  do  he  wou'd  know  it  wou'd  ruin  his  family  to  accept  it ; 
and  since  Reynolds  is  finally  marry'd,  witli  a  coach  &  four, 
never  to  return  hither,  if  Husk  has  friends  saflicient  let  him 
jump  into  Reynolds's  ilOO  at*  a  year,  &*•." 

June  20.  To  Major  Leonard  Vassall.  —  About  J.  Vasaall  and 
other  family  matters. 

June  24.  To  the  Governor  op  Cura^oa.  —  About  the  stealing 
of  a  vessel  by  her  captain. 

June  24.  To  James  Belcher.  —  About  the  spelling  of  the  name 
Belcher,  the  family  arms,  etc.  Sends  a  present  of  pickled 
pork  and  wax  candles. 

June  27.  To  Adolph  Phillips,  — To  introduce  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son. "  He  is  a  young  gent"  of  exact  vertue,  of  good  natural 
sense,  &  which  he  has  improv'd  by  the  best  education  tbis 
country  affords.  He  lately  marry'd  a  fine  young  lady  of 
this  town,  with  whom  be  has  a  fortune  to  the  value  of 
5  or  £6000  stf,  and  is  ^imsclf  in  good  business  as  a 
merchant." 

June  27.  To  Paul  Mascarene.  —  A.  few  lines  about  the  Major's 
"  pretty  family,"  etc. 

July  2.  To  John  Jacksok.  —  About  the  rebuilding  and  caulking 
a  vessel. 

July  2.  To  Messrs.  Goizins.  — About  shipments  of  copper  ore. 

July  2.  To  the  Duke  op  Arqyle.  —  To  further  an  application 
from  the  Massachusetts  Assembly  to  the  King  for  a  gift  of 
"  cannon,  powder,  small  arms  and  other  warlike  stores  for 
his  Majesty's  fortifications  in  this  Province." 

July  2.  To  Thomas  Palmer.  —  Recommending  Henry  Vernon 
for  admission  to  practice  in  Court. 

July  2.  To  Francis  Wilks.  —  About  the  application  for  military 
stores,  etc.  "  If  this  matter  shou'd  fail  it  may  raise  up  a  new 
Agent,  which  has  been  a  matter  much  talkt  of  this  session. 
But  a  good  quantity  of  powder,  cannon,  <&c*  will  fix  you  & 
bring  out  a  good  grant  in  the  fall  of  the  year." 

July  2.  To  Richard  Partridge. — About  Dunbar,  the  new  Assem- 
bly in  Massachusetts,  the  application  for  military  stores,  etc 
**  It's  impossible  for  you,  brother,  to  imagine  the  plague  I 


oyGoot^lc 


466  APPENDIX.  [ITM. 

hare  vith  that  man.  His  heart  is  decietfull  above  all  things 
&  desperately  wicked.  I  know  he  has  wrote  home  every 
thing  he  cou'd  think  of  (whether  true  or  false)  to  hurt  me. 
You  will  therefore  see  I  have  wrote  my  mind  frankly  &  at 
large  [to  fhe  Lords  of  Trade^.  In  short  there  is  no  quarter 
to  be  expected  from  him,  and  he  must  ruin  my  interest,  or  I 
his.  You  must  therefore  trye  hard  to  get  Coll'  Henry  Sher- 
burne appointed  Lieu*  Gor'  in  his  stead.  This  wou'd  make 
me  easy  in  N.  Hampshire,  and  it's  impossible  for  a  creature 
to  be  more  odious  in  this  country  than  he  is.  T  say,  trye  the 
utmost  of  your  strength  to  |i;et  him  ont.  I  fancy  100  or  150 
guineas  to  Popple,  Sharp,  &c*  wou'd  get  a  commission  to 
Coll'  H.  Sherhume,  without  any  consideration  to  Dunbar  to 
resign." 

July  8.  To  Thohas  Cobabi.  —  Praiaes  of  Ur.  De  Beck,  who  had 
brought  out  a  colony  of  Salzburgers  for  Georgia. 

July  3.  To  Henry  Newman.  — Of  tlie  same  purport. 

July  8.   To  RiCHAED  Paetridgs.  —  To  introduce  Mr.  Be  Reck. 

July  8.  To  Samdel  Uelspergeb. — A  letter  of  pious  reflectiona 

and  praiae  of  Mr.  De  Beck- 
July  4.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  matters  in  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Massachusetts. 

July  4.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  management  of  the 
Simsbury  mine. 

July  4.  To  Capt.  TtHOTHT  Dwioht.  —  About  making  a  plan  of 
the  Northfield  land. 

July  6.  To  Richard  Pabtbidoe.  —  A  few  lines  on  the  Tamworth 
election, 

July  6.  To Crobland.  —  About  the  Tamworth  election. 

July  8.  To  the  BtSHOP  of  Lincoln. — "I  have  been  sometime 
since  inform'd  he  [Anthony  Reynolds]  was  marry'd  to  the 
lady  of  the  late  Sir  Tho*  Jones,  with  whom  he  lives  veir 
handsomely  in  S*  James's  Place,  and  that  another  of  yonr 
Lordship's  sons  has  marry'd  Lady  Jones's  sister,  I  doubt 
not  but  these  thinp;s  are  to  your  Lordship's  satisfaction,  and 
if  so  I  humbly  beg  leave  to  put  in  for  a  share  of  the  family 
joy.  By  the  last  ship  from  London  I  am  told  M'  Reynolds 
has  lately  had  some  thoughts  of  coming  this  way.  Might 
be  come  hither  as  L"  Gov',  Collector,  a  Councollor,  &  Naval 
Officer  for  New  Hampshire,  they  wou'd  all  be  worth  £200  st' 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  AFPSNDIX.  467 

a  year,  vhich  vou'd  support  him  there  prettily  enough,  A 
save  his  other  fortune,  &  I  sliou'd  rejoyce  to  see  faim." 

July  8.  To  Richard  Pabteidge. — About  their  businesa  relations, 
and  complaints  i^inst  Dunbar. 

July  9.    To  Jonathan  Bblcheb,  Jb.  —  About  bis  accounts  of 


July  12.  To  Fbancis  Wiles.  — Desires  him  to  procure  a  hand- 
some present  of  cannon,  etc.  Intends  to  make  a  trip  to  the 
eastward. 

July  12.  To  the  Loans  op  Tbahe  ;  same  to  the  Dckb  of  New- 
castle. —  Intends  to  make  a  trip  to  the  eastward.  "  I  beg 
the  favour  of  your  Lordsliips  to  expedite  the  royal  leave  for 
my  support,  that  while  my  whole  life  is  spent  in  his  Majesty's 
serrice  I  may  not  suffer  in  my  private  fortune." 

July  12.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. — A  letter  of  parental  ad- 
vice, etc 

July  16.  To  Richard  Waldbok. — Is  going  to  the  eastward. 
Sends  blank  commissions  for  Special  Jostices  of  the  Superior 
Coart 

July  15.  To  S Chambeblain.  —  About    collecting    money 

"  advanc'd  for  your  de5d  father-in-law,  M'  Ungle,"  of  Mary- 
land. 

July  15.  To  Richard  Behsht.  —  On  the  aame  suhjecfc. 

July  15.  To  Mrs.  Robebt  Unolb.  —  On  the  same  snhject. 

July  15.  To  Joseph  Pboct.  — On  the  same  subject. 

Jnly  15.  To  John  Glabk.  —  Desires  him  to  pay  the  balance  due 
on  his  bond. 

Aug.  1.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  « I  returtied  last  night  from 
my  trip  to  the  eaatward."  "  SI — de  is  a  worthless  fool." 
"  If  Sancho  was  gone  to  his  own  place  we  shou'd  be  perfectly 
quiet." 

Aug.  6.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  Desires  prompt  answers  to  his 
letters. 

Aug.  7.  To  Richard  Mabbhall.  —  About  the  settlement  of 
Henry  Marshall's  estate.  Thanks  for  "uncommon  civility 
to  M'  Belcher  of  the  Temple." 

Aug.  7.  To  Georob  Bellamt.  —  Thanks  for  friendship  and 
civility  to  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Aag.  7.  To  Hbnrt  Nswhan.  —  About  the  election  at  Tam- 
wortb,  etc 


oyGoot^lc 


468  APPENDIX.  [1734. 

Aug.  7.  To  Messrs.  Waters.  —  Will  buy  and  ship  Borae  goods 
to  them  to  discharge  his  debt. 

Aug.  7.  To  Joshua  Flebthah.  —  Will  pay  his  debt  as  soon  as 
possible. 

Aug.  7.  To  JosiAH  Bdrchbtt. — Has  received  the  patent  for 
Mr.  Shirley  to  be  advocate  of  the  Vice-Admiralty  Court. 
"  I  have  no  doubt  but  he  will  act  in  hie  capacity  with  great 
integrity  &  honour  to  his  Majesty's  service." 

Aug.  8.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  New  Hampshire  affairs 
and  his  quarrels  with  Dunbar.  "Pray  who  will  be  Coun- 
sellor in  H — sk's  place  when  he  comes  hither  ?" 

Aug.  8.  To  Henry  Sherburne.  —  A  "  general  answer"  on  New 


Aug.  8.  To  Matthew  Litermore.  —  About  a  settlement  with  T. 
Davis. 

Aug.  8.  To  Ellis  Huske.  —  A  few  lines  of  thanks  for  lumber. 

Aug.  9.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  copper  ore  at  Simsbury. 

Aug.  9.  To . — About  lily  roots,  etc. 

Aug.  9.  To  Capt.  • Dautergne.  —  On  the  same  subject 

Aug.  12.  To  Ellis  Huskb.  —  Has  received  "  a  deputation  for 
your  executing  the  office  of  Deputy  Postmaster  of  Boston." 

Aug.  12.  To  Col. Heath.  —  About  tlie  claims  of  the  militia 

of  Dorchester  and  Roxbury  for  precedence. 

Aug.  13.  To  Col.  Samuel  Partridge.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Aug.  13.  To  William  Wanton. — To  introduce  Mr.  Shirley  and 
Mr.  Boydell. 

Aug.  15.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Complaints  about  his  ene- 
mies. "As  to  Husk,  the  Postmaster  General  expects  him  to 
lire  In  town,  if  he  accepts  of  the  commission." 

Aug.  15.  To  David  Ddnbar.  — Orders  him  to  adjourn  the  Court 
of  Appeals. 

Aug.  19.  To  Rev.  Elisha  Williams.  — About  the  imprisonment 
of  Mr.  Mansfield's  sons  in  Sallee,  and  an  exchange  of  farms 
in  Meriden. 

Aug.  28.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  — A  short  letter  of  parental 
advice  about  his  wigs,  etc. 

Aug.  23.  To  Messrs.  Parminteb  and  Barrow.  —  Wishes  them 
to  send  him  some  Spanish  acorns  and  some  grape-vines. 

Aug.  2S.  To  Messrs.  Edward  and  John  Matne. — "I  am  be- 
come something  of  a  planter  at  a  small  place  I  have  in  the 


oyGoot^lc 


1731.]  APPENDIX .  469 

coontr;,  and  if  you  cou'd  send  me  hj  a  carefull  hand  a  few 

jouug  trees  not  bigger  thau  a  maa's  thumb,  of  almonds, 

cork,  &  oliyea,  and  some  of  your  richest  viues,  it  wou'd 

much  oblige  me." 
Aug.  26.  To  RiCHABD   Waldbon.  —  About  Dunbar  and  Cra- 

dock,  etc. 
Aug.  26.  To  Col. Batlet.  —  Wishes  some  herd-grass  seed 

to  BOW  four  acres  of  meadow. 
Aug.  27.  To LoRtNO.  —  About  a  French  veasel  which  was 

"  burnt  a  few  days  since  in  your  harbour." 
Aug.  29.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  A  letter  of  vituperation  of 

Dunbar,  etc. 
Sept.  3.  To  Gapt.  Giles  Hall.  — ■  About  his  land  in  Connecticut. 
Sept  3.  To  Col.  Matthew  Au-yn.  —  Will  forward  his  letter  to 

Mr.  Partridge. 
Sept.  8.  To  JosEPE  Talcott, — Will  inform  him  of  the  action  of 

the  Massachusetts  Assembly  with  regard  to  a  bill  proposed 

in  Parliament. 
Sept.  3.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  mine  at  Simsbury. 
Sept.  3.  To  Laurence  Armstrono.  —  About  the  prospects  of  & 

war. 
Sept  3.  To  Major Osgood.  —  Wishes  to  haye  some  pork 

and  cider. 
Sept.  5.  To  William  Vadqhan.  —  Wishes  to  have  some  white- 
oak  lumber. 
Sept.  5.  To  Capt.  Jahes  Woodside.  —  Hopes  he  has  got  some 

flat  stones  ready. 
Sept  5.  To  Capt.  John    Giles.  —  About    relations  with    the 

Indians. 

Sept.  5.  To  Col. Baylet.  — About  sowing  his  meadow. 

Sept.  5.  To  Matthew  Livebmobb.  —  Approves  of  his  agreement 

about  Davis's  debt. 
Sept.  5.  To  Henby  Sherburne.  —  A  few  lines  about  going  to 

New  Hampshire,  etc. 
Sept.  9.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  affairs  in  New  Hampshire 

and  to  encourage  Waldron.    "  H — sk  is  already  superceded 

as  Collect'  by  Peagrum's  war"  to  Cap*  Gray,  which  takes 

place  (without  exception)  29"'  inst' ;  so  that  you  may  depend 

H — sk  does  &  must  finally  fix  here.    This  is  an  unlucky 

turn,  and  how  shall  we  supply  his  placo?" 


oyGoot^lc 


470  APPENDIS.  [1734. 

Sept.  11.  Speech  to  the  Massachcbettb  Asseublt- —  [Prigted 
in  the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  Sept.  16.] 

Sept.  12.  To  EicHABD  Waldron,  —  "  Depend  on  it,  H — skntust 
(as  the  Indians  say)  Bet  down  here.  If  the  Collaotor'a  place 
shou'd  not  be  gone  at  home  before  wiqter,  I  don't  know  but 
wayea  might  be  found  to  get  into  it." 

Sept.  12.  To  Bem^ahin  Gaubunq.  —  Desires  to  aee  the  copy  of 
an  execution  under  a.  decree  relating  to  some  boards  wbicb 
had  been  condemned. 

Sept  14.  To  Capt.  Timothy  Dwight.  —  About  the  title  to  the 
Governor's  farm  near  Nortbfield. 

Sept.  16.  To  Rev.  Cbristopheb  Toppan.  — About  hie  visit  to  the 
eastward,  and  the  title  to  Mr.  Toppan's  land. 

Sept  16.  To  JoTHAM  Odioene.  —  "I  don't  understand  Cap'  Husk 
will  quit  the  place  you  mention  till  some  time  the  next 
mouth,  when  I  hope  to  be  at  Portsmouth,  and  shall  discourae 
you  fully  upon  the  matter,  not  doubting  but  the  conduct  of 
you  &  your  friends  in  the  approacliing  election  &  session  will 
be  auch  as  to  secure  from  me  any  service  I  can  do  you  or 
your  family.^' 

Bept  16.  To  Mrs.  William  Partkidge.  —  On  family  matters, 
"  Pray  give  my  kind  love  to  Sister  Caswall.  I  think  her 
very  happy  here,  but  she  will  be  much  more  so  hereafter. 
Neither  you  nor  she  need  be  in  any  trouble  about  her. 
While  I  live  she  shall  alwayes  be  as  welcome  to  be  one  of  my 
family  as  if  she  was  my  own  sister." 

Sept.  16.  To  Rev.  Elisha  Williams.  —  Wishes  an  answer  to  bis 
letter  of  Awg-  19. 

Sept  17.  To  Capt  Timotht  Dwight.  —  About  the  Nortbfield 
farm, 

Sept.  19.  To  Rtcsabd  Waldeon,  —  About  ^u8ke  and  the  offices 
in  New  Hampshire,  etc. 

Sept  19.  To  Henbt  Sherporne;  —  About  hia  proposed  journey 
to  New  Hampshire.  "I  am  told  there  is  8  or  10  miles  of 
hilly,  rooky  road  between  Haverhill  and  Exeter  that  neither 
Gov'  Shute  nor  Burnett  oou'd  pass  with  their  chaises." 

Sept.  19.  To  Benjamin  Mabston,  Sheriff  of  Essex  County.— 
Deairea  him  to  stay  an  execution  against  Samuel  Graves  of 
Kingston,  growing  ont  of  the  disputes  about  the  boundary 
line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire. 


oyGoot^lc 


1T84.J  APPENDIX.  471 

Sept.  22.  To  the  Couh&ndino  Officer  at  Cabtle  Williau.  — 
Orders  him  to  aaaiat  a  ".Tide  Surveyor  "  in  boarding  a  veSBel 
supposed  to  have  violated  the  "  Acts  of  Trade." 

Sept.  23.  To  RiCHAHD  Waldhon.  —  On  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
*'  I  agree  that  the  House  will  be  after  the  old  rate,  and  so 
will  everything  else,  while  the  Devil  is  allowed  bo  many  links 
to  his  chain." 

Sept.  26.  To  Major  —  Osgood.  — Wishes  some  "  choicest  late 
made  butter." 

Sept.  26.  To  Col.  John  Gilhak.  —  About  his  visit  to  New 
Hampshire. 

Sept.  26.  To  Henst  Sbbkbdrne.  —  On  the  same  subject 

Sept.  26.  To  RiCEAKD  Waldbon.  —  On  the  same  subject.  "  If 
some  correct  hand  wou'd  make  a  sketch  of  a  wild  bull  In  a 
net  and  infold  it  to  Sancho,  he  wou'd  presently  see  whose 
picture  it  was." 

Sept.  26,  To Davis.  —  Wishes  to  have  some  young  almond 

trees,  etc. 

Sept.  80.  To  RiCBABD  Waldbon.  —  Gives  ap  Huske  as  "  a  gone 
man." 

Sept.  30.  To Elliot.  —  About  an  exchange  of  farms  in 

Connecticut 

Sept.  30.  To  AooLpH  Phillips.  —  Friendly  greetii^.  Wishes 
him  to  collect  some  money  from  Jerry  Dunbar,  without 
"  mentioning  my  name." 

Sept.  30.  To  Alexandes  Spotswood.  —  About  the  postniflice  in 
Boston  and  postage  on  the  Governor's  letters.  Would  have 
answered  his  letter  before,  "but  have  been  waiting  for  M' 
Husk's  conclusion,  which  he  is  now  come  to,  having  br6t  his 
wife  to  town  and  taken  a  house,  and  sayes  be  shall  fix  here 
and  attend  the  office  himself,  according  to  your  deputation, . 
which  gives  no  power  of  further  deputation." 

Sept  30.  To  Gapt  James  Woodside. — On  personal  and  busi- 
ness matters. 

Sept.  30.  To  Capt.  John  Minot, —  Wishes  him  to  send  forward 
some  wood.  Lieutenant  Bradbury  desires  to  relinquish  the 
place  of  truckmaster. 

Sept.  30.  To  Capt  John  Giles.  —  On  personal  mattere. 

Sept  80.  To  Capt  John  Clare.  —  Desires  him  to  deliver  to  Mr. 
Yining  all  books  and  papers  held  by  him  belonging  to  the 
Collector's  office  of  the  Port  of  Salem. 


oyGoot^lc 


472  APPENDIX.  [173*. 

Oct.  1.   To  KiCHAED  Partbidge.  —  On  perBonal  mattet-B. 

Oct.  1.  To  Feancis  WiLss. — About  the  MassachuBetts  Assem- 
bly, Dunbar,  etc. 

Oct.  1.  To  Alured  Popple.  —  About  the  meaning  of  certain 
expressions  in  bis  instructions  in  regard  to  taking  off 
entails,  etc. 

Oct.  2.  To  the  Earl  op  Westmoreland. — DeeircB  liia  Lordship's 
favorable  cousideratioD  of  the  ausver  to  the  "complaiuts 
preferr'd  against  me." 

Oct.  2.  To  Martin  Blades, — About  the  complaints  before  the 
Lords  of  Trade.  Begs  Bladen  "  not  to  overbear  me  by  your 
superior  power."  "  Altho'  Coll'  Dunbar  is  not  able  to  make 
out  one  single  service  he  has  doae  the  Grown  for  5  years  he 
has  been  in  these  parts,  but  has  drawn  upon  himself  the 
odium  of  mankind  by  hiB  imprudence,  yet.  Sir,  if  you  will 
command  him  to  behave  with  the  duty  &,  good  manners  due 
to  my  character,  I  will  forgive  every  thing  past,  and  be  pleas'd 
to  live  with  him  as  gent"  ought  to  live  one  with  anotlwr." 

Oct.  2.  To  Thomab  Pelham.  —  Does  "  not  doubt  your  justice  in 
doing  every  tiling  on  your  part  that  I  may  have  a  sedate  & 
impartial  hearing  "  before  the  Board  of  Trade. 

Oct.  2.  To  JAMB8  Brodenell.  —  To  similar  purport. 

Oct.  3.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  About  the  delivery  of  his 
letters  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Colonel  Bladen. 

Oct.  S.  To  Messrs.  GoiziKS.  —  Has  sent  them  some  copper  ore. 

Oct.  4.  To  Benjamin  Ltndb  and  the  other  Justices  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court.  —  Wishes  their  advice  about  the  reprieval  of  John 
Ormsbey  and  Mathew  Gushing,  prisoners  under  sentence  of 
death. 

Oct.  11.  Speech  to  the  New  Hampshire  Assembly.  —  [Printed  in 
New  Hampshire  Provincial  Papers,  vol.  ir.  pp.  673,  674.] 

Oct.  12.  Address  to  Messrs.  Wentworth  and  Atkinson  iu  the 
Council  Chamber.  —  Has  directed  the  Secretary  to  adiuiuister 
the  oaths  to  them. 

Oct.  14.  To  Andrew  Belchee,  from  Portsmouth.  —  Directions 
about  the  management  of  his  personal  affairs,  etc. 

Oct.  21.  To  Spencer  Phipps,  from  Portsmouth.— Thanks  for 
his  condolence  on  "  the  sudden  death  of  pretty  Miss  Lyde  " 
and  congratulations  on  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Vassall  and  Miss 
Phipps. 


oyGoot^lc 


1734.]  APPENDIX.  473 

Oct.  21.  To  Col  Adah  Winthbop,  from  Portsmouth. — About 
the  Simsbury  mine,  etc. 

Oct.  21.  To  Amdrew  Belcher,  from  Portsmouth.  — About  "  the 
sudden  death  of  my  dear  little  Molly  Lyde,"  etc. 

Oct.  22.  Speech  to  the  New  Hampshire  Hodsb  op  Repbesenta- 
TiTES.  —  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire  Provincial  Papers,  vol. 
iv.  pp.  679,680.] 

Oct.  28.  To  Henrt  Shebburne.  —  Thanks  for  repeated  respect 
and  civility. 

Oct.  28.  To  Nathaniel  Blaobote. — About  the  care  and  educa- 
tion  of  some  orphans. 

Oct  28.  To  Joseph  Pit£IM.  —  About  pushing  work  at  the  Sims- 
bury  mine. 

Oct.  SO.  To  Capt.  Thouas  Suith. — Sends  military  commissions 
for  two  Indians. 

Oct.  31.  To  Col.  Richard  Saltonstall.  — Thanks  for  civilities. 
Wants  some  wood. 

Oct.  31.  To  Dattd  Ddnbar.  —  Encloses  a  warrant  to  the  Justices 
at  Exeter. 

Oct.  31.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  his  visit  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, etc 

Nov.  1.  To  Lord  Chancellor  Talbot.  —  Congratulates  him  on 
being  made  Chancellor.  Solicits  his  Lordship's  countenance 
and  advice  to  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  1.  To  Lord  Chief  Justice  Habdwicke.  —  Congratulates  him 
on  being  made  a  peer,  etc  Solicits  his  Lordship's  countenance 
and  advice  to  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  1.  To Snell. — To  introduce  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  1,  To  Weus.  —  Solicits  his  respect  aud  favor  to 

Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  1.  To  Richard  Partridge. — "I  now  inclose  him  [Jonathan 
Belcher,  Jr.]  20  odd  letters  to  my  acquaintance  to  promote 
him  in  business  as  he  comes  forward  in  his  stAidies  and  prac- 
tice, and  I  doubt  not  but  you  with  all  your  friends  will  be 
ready  to  incourage"  the  young  geut"  in  such  business  as  he 
may  be  capable  of  from  time  to  time." 

Nov.  1.  To  PRANCI3  WiLKS.  —  "  If  you  can  procure  a  fresh  order 
to  me  for  settling  the  lines  between  N.  Hampshire  and  this 
Province  according  to  my  80  instruction  (copy  whereof  I  in- 
close) it  will  be  the  best  issue ;  and  I  really  can't  see  (after 


cio'yGoOt^lc 


474  APPENDIX.  [im 

all)  bow  it  'a  possible  to  adjust  the  dispute  but  by  a  mutual 
consent  of  botb  Provinces."  Wants  a  gift  of  powder,  etc  for 
the  Frorince.  Desires  bis  favour,  respect,  aud  friendsbip  to 
JoQatban  Belcber,  Jr. 

Nov.  1.  To  Samuel  Holden. — Thanks  for  "your  great  and  good 
services  iu  the  affair  of  Mr.  Torrey,"  and  solicitations  is  be- 
half of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  etc. 

Not.  1.  To  John  Shahp — Bequests  "advice,  respect,  uid 
friendship"  to  Jonathan  Belcber,  Jr. 

Nov.  1.   To  William  Sharp.  —  To  the  same  purport 

Nov.  2.  To  Thomas  Coram. — "I  have  deliberately  read  over 
once  and  again  all  the  papers  respecting  the  new  Colony 
of  Geoi^a.  The  conditions  of  the  grant  are  the  most  ex- 
traordinary I  bave  ever  seen,  and  cou'd  the  poor  people 
by  any  means  get  but  just  enough  to  pay  their  pasBage 
hither,  not  a  soul  wou'd  ever  go  to  Geoi^a."  "If  some 
difficulties  in  the  grant  be  not  removed  I  'm  afraid  that 
settlement  will  dwindle."  Praises  Baron  Van  Reck,  and 
wishes  be  might  bring  some  Salzburgers  to  Massachusetts. 
Will  take  it  as  a  mark  of  respect  if  he  will  recommend 
Jonatlian  Belcher,  Jr.,  in  the  way  of  his  profession. 

Nov.  2.  To  Sir  Joseph  Jekyll,  —  "  Let  me  beg  of  your  Honour, 
as  a  tender  father  ought  to  do  for  a  son,  that  you  would 
honour  him  [Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.]  with  your  wise  adnces 
for  the  better  conduct  of  liis  studies  and  practice ;  and  vlien 
at  any  time  he  may  hare  the  honour  to  stand  pleading  at  the 
Rolls  in  your  judicious  ear  that  you  will  please  to  consider 
bis  youth,  forgive  his  mistakes,  and  let  the  great  honour  of 
your  smiles  beget  in  him  a  modest  courage." 

Nov.  2.  To  Thomas  Sandford.  —  Solicitations  in  behalf  of 
Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  2.  To  Nicholas  Paxton.  —  To  the  same  purport 

Nov.  2.  To  Thomas  Hollis,  —  Refers  to  the  gift  to  Mr.  Byles's 
church,  the  decision  in  the  Rhode  Island  affair,  and  the 
death  of  "  your  kinsman  Mr.  Williams,  who  died  about  9 
weeks  agoe,  after  a  short  illness."  Requests  "  friendship  aud 
kindness  to  my  son." 

Nov.  2.  To  Walter  Newbebht;  same  to  Mr.  Storke. —  Solicita- 
tions in  behalf  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Not.  2.  ToHeneiNewmah. — "You  have  gratified  me  extreamly 


oyGoot^lc 


1781.]  APPENDIX.  475 

ID  yoar  handsome  present  of  Mons'  Voltaire's  History  of 
Chftrles  the  12  of  Sweeden,  of  which  I  have  had  a  good  char- 
acter, and  shall  read  it  these  winter  evenings."  Desires  him 
to  promote  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  in  business. 

Nov.  2.  To  GEOOGEi  Bellahx. — Solicitations  in  behalf  of  Jona- 
than Belcber,  Jr. 

Nov.  2.  To  John  Moetoh.  —  Will  give  Mr.  Solley  letters  to  South 
Carolina.  Sends  messages  to  Mr.  Fenwick.  Reports  favor- 
ably as  to  the  conversion  of  the  Indiana,  "  which  good  design 
seems  of  late  to  be  follow'd  with  the  signal  blessing  of 
Beaven;  the  heathen  appearing  from  many  parts  of  our 
wilderness  borders  with  uncommon  desires  of  coming  to  the 
true  knowledge  of  the  God  and  Saviour  of  mankind.  I  say 
there  never  was  a  more  incouraging  prospect  of  that  affair 
than  at  this  day."  Solicits  his  good  offices  in  favour  of 
Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  4.  To  Nathaniel.  Blaorove. — Inquiries  connected  with 
the  appointment  of  guardians  to  some  young  ladies. 

Nov.  4,  To  Adolph  Phillips.  — Sends  copy  of  a  previous  letter. 

Nov.  5.  To  Jonathan  Bblchbr,  Jb.  —  Personal  matters. 

Nov.  6.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  — Ou  various  matters  connected  with 
the  Simsbury  copper  mines. 

Nov.  6.  To  Joseph  Talcott. — To  introduce  Andrew  Belcher, 
Hon.  George  Townsbend,  and  Thomas  Palmer,  who  are  going 
to  visit  Connecticut. 

Nov.  6.  To  Andrew  Belches.  —  Instructions  about  his  visit  to 
the  copper  mines. 

Not.  8.  To  the  Commissiohebs  op  Customs.  —  Has  administered 
the  oath  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Tining,  appointed  Collector  of 
Salem,  as  successor  to  Mr.  Fairfax. 

Nov.  8.  To  Samuel  Shotb.  —  Personal  matters.  "  Unless  the 
Assembly  will  be  honest  and  keep  up  the  value  of  their  bills 
it's  impossible  for  a  Gov'  to  subsist  here,  nor  wou'd  any 
thing  be  more  just,  or  so  much  for  bis  Majesty's  real  interest 
and  honour,  as  to  pay  his  Gov'  out  of  his  Exchequer,  and  to 
find  a  way  to  raise  it  upon  the  people.  The  government  here 
will  never  be  supported,  or  the  King  served  as  he  ought  to  be, 
till  things  come  into  such  a  channel." 

Nov.  8.  To  Rev.  Isaac  Watts.  —  Friendly  greetings  and  compli- 
ments. 


oyGoot^lc 


476  APPENDIX.  [ITH. 

Nov.  8.  To  Lord  Babbington.  —  About  the  diBabilities  of  the 
Disseutera  iu  England,  the  diemisBal  of  Mr.  Bo^dell  from 
the  post-office  in  Boston,  and  solicitations  in  belialf  of 
Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  9.  To  Dr. Pellbtt.  —  Solicitations  in  behalf  of  Jona- 
than Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  9.  To Spencb. — To  the  same  purport. 

Nov.  9.   To  Sir  Dudley  Rideb.  —  To  tlie  same  purport 

Nov.  11.  To  the  Duke  of  Ghandob.  — Apologizes  for  the  length 
of  his  last  letter,  and  has  ordered  Iiis  son  to  deliver  in  persou 
two  letters  from  Ur.  Harrison. 

Nov.  11.  To  Richard  Partbidge.  —  Enclose  duplicates  of  letters, 
etc.,  previously  sent. 

Nov.  12.  To  George  Lloyd. —  Is  resolved  to  do  everything 
"  that  is  just  and  honourable,  and  as  fast  as  I  possibly  can" 
for  the  payment  of  his  bond. 

Not.  13.  To  Messrs.  Partridge  and  Belches. — Encloses  rarious 
documents  connected  with  the  troubles  in  New  Hampshire. 

Nov.  18.  To  Jahleel  Brekton.  — Friendly  messages. 

Nov.  18.  To  Adolph  Phillips.  —  About  collecting  a  debt  from 
Jerry  Dunbar. 

Nov.  18.  To  Feancis  Harrison.  —  "  I  am  obliged  for  your  good 
wishes,  and  thank  God  things  are  all  easy  A;  well  in  tliis 
Province,  and  grow  more  and  more  so,  and  they  had  always 
been  so,  but  for  the  restless  temper  of  a  very  few  that  have 
ever  lov'd  contention  and  confusion  in  preference  to  peace 
and  good  order.  But  tiiey  seem  to  have  blown  their  blast, 
and  are  daily  sinking  into  contempt."  Congratulates  him 
on  the  pleasing  account  he  has  from  London,  and  hopes 
"your  provincial  feuds  and  jarrs  will  in  time  be  swallowed 
up  by  a  good  harmony  in  the  whole  Legislature  and  among 
the  people  in  general." 

Nov.  18.  To  Richard  Waldron. — About  Waldron'a  thoughts  of 
removing  into  Massachusetts.  "  But  what  shall  I  do  without 
you  in  your  ^sent  paultry  P — nee  ? " 

Nov.  18.  To  Rev.  Elisba  Williams. — About  the  proposed  ei- 
change  of  farms  in  Connecticut. 

Nov,  19.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  Sends  fifteen  commiasiona  for 
the  Indians. 

Nov.  19.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  —  About  sending  some  cedar 
posts  and  rails. 


oyGoot^lc 


1784.]  APPENDIX.  477 

Not.  21.  To  Richabd  Waldron. — Wishes  him  tocome  to  Boston 
for  a  consultation.  "  Tou  shou'd  under  pretence  of  making 
a  visaet  to  Sister  Saltonstall  steal  hither.  .  .  .  Tou  may  come 
about  dusk,  and  keep  house,  and  go  away  the  next  evening." 

Nov.  22.  Speech  to  the  Massachosbtts  Absemblt.  —  [Printed  in 
the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  Nov.  26.]  - 

Nov.  28.  To  DiHWiDDiE. — Has  received  2  hogsheads  of 

wine. 

Nov.  25.  To  Richard  Waldron, — A  long  and  very  abusive  letter 
about  his  enemies  and  lukewarm  friends  in  New  Hampshire. 

Nov.  26.  To  Henry  Sherburne.  — "  As  to  tlie  Naval  Office,  I 
don't  find  Cap'  Husk  intends  to  quit  it  till  the  spring,  before 
which  I  hope  to  see  you,  and  shall  discourse  you  fully  upon 
that  affair." 

Nov.  26.  To  Mrs.  Wiluam  Partridge.  —  '*  God  of  His  infinito 
mercy  grant  that  the  many  warnings  we  have  of  the  certain 
destruction  of  this  vain,  perishing  world  may  rouse  us  to  a 
true  repentance  and  to  a  holy  life  and  conversation.  The 
earthquake  you  mention  was  heard  and  felt  at  same  time  as 
it  was  with  you  in  some  of  our  neighbouring  towns.  I  sent 
you  four  bags  of  choice  wheat  the  last  week  ¥*  a  master  of  a 
sloop  nam'd,  Maclouir,  of  which  I  crave  your  acceptance.  It 
is  scarce  in  town,  and  it's  generally  said  there's  not  enough 
to  last  the  inhabitants  here  a  month,  so  you  had  need  be 
carefull  of  it." 

Nov.  26.  To  the  Ddke  op  Newcastle.  —  Complains  of  tlie  New 
Hampshire  House  of  Representatives  and  Dunbar.  "  Were 
Coll'  Dunbar  out  of  that  Province  it  wou'd  be  in  perfect 
peace  and  security  ;  but  I  don't  suppose  any  place  will  ever 
be  whore  he  has  the  least  power." 

Nov.  26.  To  Lord  Westhokeland. —  Sends  his  Lordship  a  pre- 
sent  of  young  spruce  and  fir  trees.  "  The  former  make 
excellent,  wholsome  beer,  good  against  the  gout ;  the  latter 
has  blisters  on  the  body  of  the  tree  fill'd  with  what  we  call 
firr-balsom,  something  like  what  is  call'd  in  England  balm  of 
Gilead,  is  a  fine  thing  for  inward  bruises."  Sends  also  some 
acorns  from  red  oaks. 

Nov.  26.  To  Sir  Robert  Clark.  —  Sends  him-  a  present  of  young 
spmee  and  fir  trees  and  acorns. 

Nov.  26.  To  the  Lord  Chancellor  ;  and  same  to  the  Lord  Chief 


oyGoot^lc 


478  APPENDIX.  [17SI 

J[79TtCE.  —  Begs  bis  "Lordship's  scceptence  of  a  box  of 
caadles  call'd  here  bay  vax,  made  from  a  berry  tbat  grows 
on  a  sweet  shrub  which  is  a  natire  of  this  conntry.  The 
greatest  curiosity  of  'em  is  the  fragrance  of  the  wax  that  the 
snuff  of  the  candle  is  inofFenaiTe." 

Xov.  26.  To  RiCHiBD  Partridqe.  — On  personal  matters. 

Nov.  26.  To Cbosland.  —  About  the  candidacy  of  Jona- 
than Belcher,  Jr.,  and  inquiries  as  to  the  price  of  Tantworth 
cloths,  "  for  if  M'  Belcher  succeeds  in  his  election  your  free- 
men shall  know  they  have  to  do  with  a  gent"  of  gratitude, 
wlio  will  take  it  for  one  of  my  constant  cares  to  iucourage 
the  consumption  of  your  manufactures  in  this  part  of  the 
world." 

Not.  26.  To  Geoegb  Bellamy. — Apologizes  for  some  discour- 
tesy on  the  part  of  his  brother-in-law  and  son.  Gomplaine  of 
Bladen  and  Dunbar,  and  acknowledges  Mr.  Bellamy's  kind- 
ness about  the  Tamwortb  election. 

Nov.  26.   To  Thomas  Corah.  —  Comments  on  current  events. 

Nov,  26.  To  Messrs.  Fabtridoe  and  Belcher.  — Burets  that 
they  have  given  Mf.  Bellamy  occasion  of  offence. 

Nov.  26.  To  Messrs.  Wateeu.  —  Relates  to  the  payment  of  his 
debt  to  them. 

Nov.  28.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  About  the  money  lent  to 
Jeremiah  Dunbar. 

Nov.  28.  To  Laubbnce  Arustrono.  —  About  the  relations  with 
the  Indians,  etc. 

Nov.  SO.  To  the  Duke  op  Newcastle. — Praises  Mr.  Shirley  and 
oi^s  the  settlement  of  a  fixed  salary  for  him.  "  I  wou'd 
become  a  humble  oratour  to  your  Grace  for  a  furtiier  instance 
of  your  Grace's  friendship  to  this  worthy  genl^  in  procuring 
him  some  reasonable  support  from  the  Crown  in  his  station 
as  the  King's  Advocate  General." 

Nov.  30.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Wishes  him  to  pursue 
the  matter  of  Mr.  Shirley's  salary  "  in  the  most  assidnouB 
and  skilfull  manner  you  arc  master  of." 

Dec.  8.  To  Messrs.  Pabtridob  and  Belcher.  —  About  the  ap- 
pointment of  Benjamin  Pemberton  to  the  Naval  Office  at 
Boston,  and  trying  to  get  the  office  back  again  to  Byfield 
Lyde. 

Dec.  3.    To  Samuel  Holden;  game  to  Francis  Wilks,  William 


oyGoot^lc 


1754.]  APPENDIX.  470 

Sharp,  John  Sharp,  and  Alcrbd  Popple.  —  On  the  Banie 
subject. 

Dec.  6.  ToRrcHARD  Pabtbidoe;  sent  again  June,  1735. — Wishes 
Jonathan  to  "  make  a  journey  to  Rayiiham  and  pay  his  duty 
to  my  good  Lord  Townshend,  to  whom  you  know  I  am  under 
the  highest  oblig*."  Wishes  Mr.  Partridge  to  write  a  letter 
to  Jerry  Dunbar  demanding  the  immediate  payment  of  the 
money  lent  to  him.  "  You  see,  I>r8,  what  a  vile  rascul  he  is. 
I  treated  him  upon  your  letter  much  better  than  he  deserved, 
and  what  he  meaus  by  any  guilt  of  miue  I  know  not,  &  I  defye 
such  a  villain  to  make  out  any  thing  of  that  kind.  It's  really 
impossible  to  keep  in  any  t«rma  with  him  or  his  bixS,  they  are 
both  so  false  and  perfidious." 

Dec.  9.  To  Henrt  Nejwhan.  —  Wishes  his  favor  and  assistance 
in  procuring  a  Master's  degree  for  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  at 
Oxford. 

Dec.  9.  To  Jakes  Belches.  — Thanks  for  a  present  of  lineu  and 
usquebaugh,  and  praise  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Dec.  9.  To  WiluaH  Grant.  —  About  the  efforts  of  the  Society 
in  Scotland  to  promote  the  conversion  of  the  Indians. 

Dec.  9.  To  the  Duke  of  Newcastle.  —  Relative  to  a  complaint 
of  Ralph  Gulston, "  the  contractor  for  supplying  his  Majesty's 
navy  with  masts  from  this  country ." 

Dec.  9.  To  Alured  Popple.  —  On  the  same  subject.  Details  the 
steps  which  he  has  taken  in  the  matter.  "  The  affair  of  my 
message  and  the  report  upon  it  met  with  considerable  oppo- 
sition in  the  House  of  Rep"™  from  the  famous  M'  Cook  & 
bis  adherents.  That  man  seems  to  me  to  have  a  fixt  enmity 
to  all  kingly  government." 

Dec.  4.  Message  to  the  MASBAceusETTS  Assembly. — On  the  same 
subject.  "  I  hope  you  will  tliink  of  some  methods  proper  to 
be  taken  by  this  government  for  preventing  any  unreason- 
able obstruction  that  may  be  offer'd  to  those  that  are  engaged 
to  supply  his  Majesty's  navy  with  masts,  and  for  preserving 
the  Royal  Woods  from  spoil  &  waste." 

Dec.  1 2.  To  Sir  Charles  Waoeb.  —  Thanks  for  his  goodness  to 
Mr.  Paxton. 

Dec.  12.  To  Jonathan  Belcreb,  Jr.  —  To  introduce  Mr.  Hibert 
NewtoD,  Collector  of  Nova  Scotia. 

Dec  12.  To  Richard  Partbidoe.  — For  the  same  purpose. 


oyGoot^lc 


480  APPENDIX.  [ITSt 

Dec.  12.  To  Gov.  Robeet  Johnson.  —  To  introduce  Mr.  SoUey. 

Dec.  13,  To Powell.  — Sends  him  some  quails  and  heath- 
hens.  *'  Should  they  get  veil  to  hand  I  cou'd  commend  *em 
to  the  King's  table." 

Dec.  13.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr  —  About  the  birds  sent  to 
Mr.  Powell,  and  trying  to  get  back  the  place  of  Naval  Officer 
at  Boston. 

Deo.  14.  To  the  Loeds  op  Trade.  —"I  think  it  wou'd  greatly 
advance  hia  Majesty's  service  and  the  trade  of  G*  Britain 
that  there  might  be  sent  hither  at  the  charge  of  the  Crown 
(as  soon  as  may  be)  three  or  four  good,  solid,  sober  hnsband- 
meu  veil  skill'd  in  rising  and  dressing  of  hemp,  and  as 
many  more  that  veil  understand  the  making  of  potash." 
Becom mends  other  steps  to  promote  the  raising  of  hemp. 

Dec  14.  To  Richard  PAitTSiDQE.  —  Will  make  a  good  remittance 
as  soon  as  he  can. 

Dec.  16.  To  Messrs.  Cabe,  Westoteb,  and  Hdmphbt.  —  About 
the  lease  of  the  Simsbury  mines. 

Dec.  16.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  A  long  letter  about  pushing  the 
work  at  the  Simsbury  mines. 

Dec.  17.  To  Messrs.  GoiziNS.  —  About  their  sales  of  copper  ore. 

Dec.  19.  To  Richard  Waldeon. — About  Dunbar,  Cook,  Waldo, 
etc. 

Dec.  28.  Speech  to  the  Massacbusetts  Assemblt.  —  [Printed  in 
the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  Deo.  80.} 

Dec.  27.  To  Ellis  Eusee.  —  About  some  financial  transactions 
between  them. 

Dec.  27.  To  Henry  Sherburne. — A  few  lines  on  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Massachusetts  affairs. 

Dec.  27.  Message  to  the  Massachdsetts  Assembly. —  [Printed 
in  the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  Jan.  6,  1785.] 

Dec.  28,  Message  to  the  MASSACFnaETTS  Assembly.  —  Wishes 
they  would  choose  the  ComraiBSioners  for  settling  the  boun- 
dary on  the  aide  of  New  York  by  ballot  "  as  has  been  coffion 
on  such  occasions,"  and  thanks  them  for  the  provision  they 
have  made  for  his  meeting  the  Cagnawagas. 

Dec.  30.  To  Nathaniel  Blaorovb.  —  About  the  selection  of  a 
guardian  of  some  young  ladies  now  at  Bristol. 

Dec.  30.  To  Capt.  Joaeph  Kellooo.  —  About  the  proposed  meet- 
ing with  the  Indians. 


oyGoot^lc 


173t-5.]  APPENDIX.  481 

Dec.  31.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kellogg.  —  Abont  laying  out  *'  for 
me  a  grant  of  laud  made  by  the  General  Court." 

Dec.  31.  Addreaa  to  the  Council  op  Massachusetts.  —  Desires 
their  opinion  as  to  his  right  to  assent  to  "  an  Act  for  the 
more  easy  and  effectual  draving  in  and  paying  off  the  out- 
itanding  bills  of  credit  on  this  Province." 

173i-5. 

Jmi.  2.  To  Col.  Richard  Saltonbtall.  —  "I  wish  you  wou'd  be 

thinking  till  jou  can  find  out  something  that  I  can  do  for 

you  in  the  goTernme&t  that  might  be  of  profit  to  you  and 

your  family." 
Jan.  2.   To  CoL  Wiluam  Peppeerell.  —  About  the  payment  of  a 

protested  bill  of  exchange  drawn  by  Arthur  Slade. 
Jan.  3.  To  Josiah  QuiNCT,  and  to  sundry  others.  —  Desires  hia 

vote,  interest,  and  influence  tliat  Byfield  Lyde  may  succeed 

John  Ballantine,  late  Register  for  Suffolk  County. 
Jan.  6.  To  Sir  Robert  Clabk.  —  About  tlie  proposed  grant  of 

a  township  to  aid  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel 

among  the  Indians. 
Jan.  6.  To  Francis  Wilks.  —  About  the  proposed  grant  to  the 

Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel,  the  intrigues  to  supersede 

Mr.  Wilks  as  agent  for  the  Province,  etc. 
Jan.  7.  To  Richard  Partridge, —  About  "recovering  the  Naval 

Office  for  my  son  Lyde,"  etc. 
Jan.  8.   To  Francis  Wilks.  —  Desires  his  aesistance  in  procuring 

a  leave  of  absence  for  Major  Mascarene  without  loss  of  pay 

or  rank. 
Jan.  9.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  About  getting  the  gift  of 

hemp  seed,  visiting  Loi-d  Townshend,  procuring  the  place  of 

Naval  OHicer  for  Byfield  Lyde,  etc. 
Jan.  9.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  On  the  same  subjects. 
Jan.  9.  To  the  Ddke  op  Newcastle.  —  Has  prevailed  with  the 

Assembly  of  Massachusetts  to  establish  a  bounty  on  hemp 

and  flax.     Desires  a  gift  of  hemp  seed  for  the  poor  farmers. 
Jan.  9.  To  the  Lords  of  Trade.  —  To  the  same  purport 
Jan.  10.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Abont  the  encoura^ng  pros- 

pecto  at  tlie  Simsbury  mines. 
Jan.  10.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  — About  his  seaL 
SI 


oyGoot^lc 


482  APPEKDIX.  [)734-5. 

Jan.  IS.  To  William  Sharp;  same  to  GEOfiae  Bellaht. — Sends 
him  a  present  of  candleB. 

Jan.  13.  To  Jonathan  Belchee,  Jr.  —  About  the  Naval  Office, 
the  preBenta  to  Mr.  Sharp  and  Mr.  Sellamj,  the  Simsbnr; 
mines,  etc 

Jan.  13.  To  Richard  Fartsidoe.  —  About  making  him  remit- 
tances, the  Naval  Office,  etc. 

Jan.  14.  To  George  Llotd.  —  About  remitting  on  account  of  hia 
bond. 

Jan.  14.  To  Eleazeh  Aspinwall.  —  Wishes  him  to  pay  Joseph 
Pitkin  "  without  any  further  delay." 

Jan.  14.  To  Col.  Sasi0el  Partridge.  —  Has  tried  to  procure  an 
additional  grant  of  land  for  him,  etc. 

Jan.  13.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kelloqq.  —  About  getting  some  small 
apple-treea,  etc. 

Jan.  14.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall.  —  About  selling  his  farm  at 
Meriden,  Conn. 

Jan.  14,  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  their  accounts,  the  Siras- 
bury  mines,  etc. 

Jan.  15.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  Has  asked  Major  Holman  to  be 
hts  overseer  at  the  Simsbury  mines. 

Jan.  15.  I'o  Major  John  Holman.  —  Instructions  as  to  the  OTe^ 
sight  of  tlie  Simsbury  mines. 

Jan.  15.  To  Rev.  Ebenezer  Williams.  —  About  James  Walling's 
rent,  the  sale  of  Mortlake  farm,  etc. 

Jan.  16.  To  Jotham  Odiorne.  —  About  the  Naval  Office  in  New 
Hampshire. 

Jan.  16,  To  Henrt  Sherborne.  —  About  the  payment  for  Gam- 
bling's mandamus,  etc. 

Jan.  16.  To  Elus  Hdsee.  —  About  the  account  with  Captain 
Wibird. 

Jan.  16,  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  matters  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. "G — mb — ng  is  shrunk  into  an  old  woman,  and  1 
look  upon  him  very  useless.  I  give  you  joy  of  your  nevr 
oncle,  who  has  doubtless  disqualify'd  himself.  The  pedlar's 
wife  is  dead;  did  she  dye  in  charity  with  the  Gov'?  and  to 
whom  pray  has  she  bequeath'd  Mad"  J — ff — ys'  house?" 

Jan.  16.  To  Capt. Pecker,  —  About  getting  some  timber. 

Jan.  16.  To  Rev,  Ebenezer  Hinsdell  —  Sends  him  bills  of  ex- 
change for  his  salary.    Wishes  him  to  keep  a  journal  of  all 


oyGoot^lc 


1784-5.]  APPENDIX.  483 

things  relating  to  his  mission,  and  send  it  forward  ever;  six 
months, 

Jan.  27.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  Simsbuiy  copper 
mines. 

Jan.  27.  To  Major  John  Holhan.  —  About  the  Simsbury 
mines. 

Jan.  27.  To  Gapt.  Giles  Hall.  —  About  tJie  sale  of  his  Meriden 
farm. 

Jan.  27.  To  Eleazeb  Aspinwall.  —  About  the  rent  o£  his 
farm,  etc, 

Jan.  29.  To  Major  John  Holhan.  —  Wishes  him  to  shov  the 
mines  to  Capt.  D.  Goffe,  etc. 

Jan.  80.  To  Col.  Richahd  Saltonstall.  —  Ou  military  arrange- 
ments. 

Feb.  5.   To  Richabd  Waldron.  —  On  New  Hampshire  matters. 

Feb.  6.  To  CoL  William  Pepperhell.  —  Wants  new  bills  or 
money  for  some  protested  bills  of  exchange. 

Feb.  8.  To  Major  John  Holman.  —  About  the  management  of 
the  Simsbury  mines. 

Feb.  8.  To  Joseph  Piteik,  —  About  the  Simsbury  mines,  the 
Meriden  farm,  etc, 

Feb.  10.  To  Major  JoHs  Holman.  —  Is  pleased  with  the  ac- 
counts from  the  mines. 

Feb.  10.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  Wishes  him  to  mark  off  the  lota 
at  Simsbury,  so  that  the  other  company  "  may  not  knowingly 
or  ignorantly  raise  an  ounce  of  ore  in  our  works." 

Feb.  11.  To  Rev.  Ebenezer  Williams.  — About  James  Walling'a 
debt,  the  valuation  of  the  Mortlake  farm,  etc. 

Feb.  11.   To  James  Wallino.  — About  their  accounts. 

Feb.  13.   To  Henht  Sherburne.  —  Wants  to  receive  hia  salary. 

Feb.  IS.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
"  The  Bhodomontade  sailor  [Huske]  has  only  paid  the 
necessary  compliment  of  coming  to  tell  the  Gov'  he  was 
como  to  town,  and  indeed  he  found  no  incouragm'  for 
further  ceremony." 

Feb.  17.  To  Nathaniel  Blaorove.  —  About  the  guardiansliip. 

Feb.  19.  To  Capt. Pool  ;  same  to  Capt. Blodget.  — 

About  their  enlisting  men  from  another  militia  company. 

Feb.  22,  To  Rev.  Ebenezbb  Williams.  —  About  his  affairs  in 
Connecticut. 


oyGoot^lc 


484  APPBKDIX.  tlTSWi 

Feb.  24.  To  Henrt  Sbbrbubnb.  — On  Nev  Hampshire  matters. 

Feb.  24.  To  Col.  William  Pefperrell.  —  About  the  protested 
bills  of  ezchange. 

Feb.  24.  To  B.icha.kd  Waldbon.  —  About  the  nomination  of 
Joseph  Plaisted  as  the  succesBor  of  Sheriff  Wbeelwri^t,  etc 

Feb.  24.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  Simsbury  mines,  etc. 

Feb.  24.  To  Major  Johh  Holhan.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Feb.  24.  To  Nathaniel  Blagbote. — About  the  appointment  of 
guardian  of  the  two  young  ladies  at  Bristol. 

Feb.  25.  To  Col.  John  Stoddaed.  —  About  varions  appointments 
for  hia  county.  "  I  am  aorry  for  the  aeco**  you  give  from 
Housatonnoc,  which  looka  discouraging  as  to  spreadii^  the 
Oospet  among  those  Indians." 

Feb.  27.  To  Col.  Richard  Salton8Tall. — On  military  matters. 

Feb.  28.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  —  About  sending  poats  and  rails 
and  curious  skins. 

Feb.  28.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indians. 

March  1.  To  Rev. .  Woodside.  —  His  son  James  has  been 

transferred  to  Pemaquid,  and  his  garrison  has  been  in- 
creased. "  If  you  have  any  proper  opportunities  I  shall  not 
doubt  your  saying  (with  truth  and  justice)  that  Gov'  Belcher 
does  in  all  things  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  support  his 
Majesty's  interest  &  honour  in  the  goTernm**  the  King  has 
.    comitted  to  his  care-" 

March  1.  To  Daniel  Foxcbopt.  —  Is  sorry  he  is  not  inclined  to 
return  to  New  England ;  hopes  he  will  not  forget  his  sister 
Gerrish. 

March  1.  To  Josiah  Bcechett.  —  About  his  grandaon.  Captain 
Durell,  etc. 

March  1.  To  Oapt.  Tench.  —  Thanks  him  for  civility  to 

Jonatlian  Belcher,  Jr.,  at  Little  Chelsea,  and  sends  him  a  hat, 
"  the  proper  produce  &  manufacture  of  this  country." 

March  1.  To  Mrs. Tench.  — Thanks  her  for  attentions  to 

Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  and  sends  her  a  small  box  of  green 
wax  candles. 

March  1.  To  Mrs. West.  —  Thanks  her  for  attentions  to 

Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

March  3.  To  Nathaniel  BLAaiiOTB. — About  the  appointment  of 
guardian  of  the  young  ladies  at  Bristol. 


oyGoot^lc 


178*-«.]  APPENDIX.  485 

Marcb  8.  To  Francis  HABfiiaon.  —  Friendly  greetings,  etc. 

Match  3.  To  Mrs.  William  PASTBiDas.  —  Friendly  greetings,  etc. 

March  8.  To  Henry  Sheebuenb.  —  About  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
"  I  really  tho't  when  I  made  you  Treasurer  and  M'  Sherburne 
Clerk  of  tlie  Inferiour  Court  that  I  had  done  as  much  for 
your  family  as  for  any  friend  in  the  Province.  I  have  been 
told  the  Clerk's  place  is  worth  near  200>G  a  year,  and  the 
Treasurer's  wou'd  be  worth  above  lOO^f  more  if  the  Assembly 
won'd  be  lionest,  and  I  wish  it  was  in  your  power  or  mine  to 
make  'em  so." 

March  3.  To  Col.  William  Peppeerbll.  —  About  the  protested 
bills  and  the  appointment  of  a  Sheriff  for  York  County. 

March  8.  To  Col.  Timothy  Qehbish.  —  About  the  appointment 
of  a  Sheiiff  for  York. 

March  8.  To  Richard  Partridoe.  —  About  his  financial  condi- 
tion, etc.  "  I  have  not  reed,  a  farthing  from  this  Province 
for  12  mo*  past,  nor  frO  N.  Hampshire  for  18.  It  has  not 
been  in  my  power  to  avoid  it.  The  two  Provinces  owe  me 
at  this  day  ;£4700,  all  which  I  hope  to  recieve  in  about  a 
mo"  time." 

March  3.  To  Peter  TeACBER.  — -  Abont  delay  in  laying  oat  a 
way  to  a  ferry. 

March  4.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Keixooo. — About  the  proposed  con- 
ference with  the  Indians,  etc. 

Marcb  4.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Wishes  to  have  a  dozen 
more  copies  of  his  portrait  struck  off  and  to  have  the  copper 
plate  sent  to  him. 

March  5.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Sends  him  a  present. 

March  8.  To  Patrick  Gordon.  —  About  Mr.  Van  Reck,  Mr. 
Oglethorpe,  Mr.  Vining,  etc. 

March  10.  To  Richard  Waldron,  —  "  There  seems  to  be  an  op- 
portunity of  making  a  stroke  at  him"  [Dunbar]. 

March  10.  To  Col.  William  Peppereell.  —  About  Slade's  bills 
of  exchange. 

March  10.  To  Rev.  Elisha  Williams. — Abont  selling  the  Meii- 
den  farm. 

March  12.  To  Major  John  Holman.  —  About  the  Simsbury 
mines,  etc. 

March  12.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall.  —  About  selling  the  Meriden 
farm. 


oyGoot^lc 


486  APFBHDIZ.  [1786. 

March  12.  To  Ik^EAZEB  Aspikwau*  —  Aboat  the  rent  of  the 

Meriden  farm. 
March  12.  To  Joseph  Pitein.  —  About  the  Simsbury  mines  and 

the  Meriden  farm. 
March  13.  To  Johathan  Lav. — To  introduce  Thomas  Cush- 

ing,  Jr.,  agent  and  attorney  for  Joseph  Thompson  of  London. 
March  IS.  To  Rev.  Ebenezeb  Wiluams.  — About  the  rent  of  his 

farms  in  Connecticut. 
March  14,  To  Capt.  James  Hooghton.  —  "Wishes  him  to  lay  ont 

five  hundred  acres  granted  to  the  Governor  by  the  General 

Court 

March  14.   To  Capt. Aldridqe.  —  Friendly  greetings. 

March  17.  To  Eenrt  Shebbdbne.  —  About  the  payment  of  public 

debts  in  New  Hampshire. 
March  17.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  ~~  On  New  Hampshire  matters, 

and  coming  to  see  the  Governor. 

March  17.   To Tisdall  —  About  the  price  of  a  horse. 

March  18.  To  Nathaniel  Blaorove.  —  About  the  guardianship 

affair. 
March  24.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  About  collecting  his  salary, 

etc.     '*  I  expect  no  good  from  an  Assembly  in  your  Proviuce 

while  the  Devil  has  so  dutifull  and  active  a  servant  among 

you." 
March  24.  To  Joseph 'Pitkim.  —  About  the  Simahnry  copper 

mines. 

173fi. 

March  29.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  management  and 
oversight  of  the  mines. 

March  81.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  New  Hampshire 
affairs.  Suggests  the  holding  of  the  Assembly  at  Ports- 
mouth, and  adjoumiog  the  next  day  to  Exeter. 

March  31.  To  Mrs.  Williah  Pabtbidoe.  —  On  personal  matters, 

March  81.  To  Bev.  Benjamin  Golhan.  —  A  long  letter  on  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Turell. 

April  7.  To  Henrt  Shebburne. — About  receiving  his  salary,  etc 

April  7.  To  Rev.  Ebenezeb  Wiluabis. — About  the  rent  of  his 
farms. 

Apnl  7.  To  Alexander  Spotswood — About  the  posti^  on  his 
letters,  etc. 


oyGoot^lc 


1738.]  APPENDIX.  487 

April  7.  To  Richard  Partbidqe.  —  Od  perHonal  matterB. 
Aprils.  To  Col.  Zaccheos  Mayhew. — About  making  a  pilot 

pay  a  fine  for  not  serving  as  a  constable. 
April  14.  To  Richard    Waldeon.  —  A  short   letter  on  New 

Hampshire  matters. 
April  14.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  relations  with  the  In- 
dians at  St.  George's,  etc. 
April  14.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  — On  the  same  subject. 
April  14.  To  Capt.  Benjamin  Labbabeb;  same  to  Capt.  Thokas 

Smith.  —  On  the  same  subject. 
April  14.  To  Rev.  Joseph  Seccomb.  —  About  his  salary  and  the 

small  results  of  bis  missionary  labors. 
April  14.  To  Rev.  Stephen  Paekee.  —  Thinks  he  bad  better 

come  to  town,  etc. 
April  17.   To  Peter  Thacher.  —  About  laying  out  the  way  to 

Mr,  Barker's  ferry. 
April  19.    Message  to  tlie  Massachdsbtts  AsseiBLT.  —  [Printed 

in  the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  April  21.] 
April  21.   To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  personal  matters,  etc. 
April  21.  To  Henrt  Sherborne.  —  About  his  salary,  etc. 
April  21.  To  Joseph  Pitkin. — About  the  mines  and  the  Meriden 

farm. 
April  21.  To  Francis  Harrison.  —  About  forwarding  letters. 
April  21.  To  Mrs.  William  Partridge.  —  A  few  lines  on  personal 

matters. 
April  21.  To  James  Belcber.  — To  introduce  Nathaniel  Bethune. 


1738. 

Aug.  24.  To  RiCHABD  Waldbon.  —  Encloses  a  comfJaint  of 
some  person  not  mentioned. 

Aug.  25.  To  Sir  Charles  Waoeb.  —  Informs  him  of  the  fitting 
out  of  two  vessels  at  Boston  and  three  at  Rhode  Island,  to 
act  against  the  Spaniards  in  case  of  a  war.  *'  I  beg  S'',  you 
would  allow  me  to  renew  my  request  in  favour  of  Hugh 
Hall,  Esq'  for  a  coffiission  for  Judge  of  Vice  Admiralty  in 
the  room  of  M'  Auchmuty." 

Aug.  27.  To  Lieut-Gov.  George  Clarke. — Ahont  the  settle- 


oyGoot^lc 


488  APPENDIX.  [1739. 

ment  of  the  botrndarj  line  betveen  Nev  York  and  Massa- 

chnsetts. 
Aug.  27.  To  Joseph  Bbown,  Collector  at  Salem. — Has  receired 

bis  "  share  of  the  molassea." 
Aug.  27.  To  Shadeach  Walton. — About  demandiDg  the  Ptot- 

ince  seal  from  the  Secretary.    "  The  affront  you  have  offer'd 

the  King  in  the  person  of  his  Governour  in  such  an  extraordi- 
nary proceeding  is  what  I  cannot  at  present  get  over." 
Aug.  27.  To  Henbt  Seekbubne. — About  counterfeit  bills  and 

receiving  his  salary. 
Aug.  27.  To  EiCHABD  Waldbon. — About  sending  the  JonrnaU 

of  the  New  Hampshire  House  of  Representatives  to  England, 

a  frolic  on  the  boundary  line,  affixing  the  Province  seal  to 

documents,  etc. 
Aug.  27.  To  BiCHABD  Pabtbidoe.  —  About  some  codfish  sent  to 

England  for  presents. 
Aug.  SI.  To  Capt. Tabeb.  —  Desires  the  release  of  some 

Quakers  who  had  been  imprisoned  for  "  non-appearance  on 

muster  dayes." 

[ ]   To  ■ — ' —  Baonal.  —  Desires  him  to  procure  a  cow. 

Sept.  3.  To  Col.  Wiluah  Peppebbell. — Wishes  him  to  attend 

the  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  etc. 
Sept.  8.  To  Henbt  Shebbubnb.  —  About  the  prospect  <^  war, 

the  Rhode  Island  bills  of  credit,  etc. 
Sept.  8.  To  Ellis  Hcskb.  —  Wants  some  lumber, 
Sept.  3.  To  Richabd  Waldron.  —  On  New  Hampshire  matters. 

"  At  your  leisure  let  me  have  something,  from  an  onknown 

hand,  for  the  press  that  may  probably  have  some  influence  on 

the  next  choices." 
Sept.  10.  To  Henry  Shebburnb. — About   the   declaration  of 

war,  etc. 
Sept.  10.  To  Capt.  Johm  Minot.  —  About  regulating  the  trade 

with  the  Indians,  war  in  Europe,  and  relations  with  the 

Indians. 
Sept.  10.  To  Richabd  Waldron.  —  About  the  war  in  Europe 

and  meeting  an  Assembly. 
Sept.  10.  To  Ellis  HuftKB.  —  About  the  seizure  of  the  ship 

Robert,  James  Roach  mast«r. 
Sept.  12.  To  Richard  Pabtridgb,  —  About  hia  refnsal  to  affix 

the  Province  seal  to  some  papers  to  be  sent  to  Engl&nd. 


oyGoot^lc 


17B0.]  APPENDIX.  480 

Sept.  12.  To Allbn. — Wishes  him  to  send  from  Cape  Fear 

some  nuts,  flower  seeds,  etc, 
Sept.  14.  To  Col.  John  Chandleb.  —  Wishes  he  would  come  to 

Boston. 
Sept.  17.  To  Col.  Thohab  WESTBaooK.  —  About  some  lumber, 
Sept.  17.  To  Elub  Hubke. — About  the  trial  of  the  seizure  of  the 

ship  Cssar.    "  1  have  no  opinion  of  the  Kiiig'B  obt^ing  jus- 
tice from  the  Admiralty  in  its  present  situation." 
Sept  17.  To  Lahbenob  Abhstbono.  —  Does  not  think  that  Uas- 

Bschusetts  is  in  a  condition  to  assist  her  neighbours  in  case 

of  a  war. 
Sept.  17.  To  Capt.  Otho  Hakiltos.  —  Writes  in  complimentary 

terms  of  Mr,  and  Miss  Hamilton,  who  are  returning  home 

from  Boston. 
Sept  17.  To  RiCHABD  Waldbon. — About  convening  an  Assembly 

in  New  Hampshire,  and  the  prospects  of  a  war  in  Europe. 

"  I  would  venture  upon  December,  but  I  thint  it  would  give 

too  plausible  a  pretence  to  the  clan  to  clamour  that  the  Gov- 

emour  had  not  been  in  the  Province  for  more  than  12 

months." 
Sept  17.  To  Henby  Shebboene. — Thinks  there  will  be  no  war 

in  Europe  before'  the  spring,  if  then.    Is  inclined  to  go  to 

New  Hampshire  the  17tb  of  next  month. 
Sept  17.  To  Geobge  Cuabkb,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York. 

—  About  the  appointment  of  conunissioners  to  settle  the 

boundary  between  New  York  and  Massachusetts. 
Sept  17.  To  Daniel  Horsm anden.  —  Condoles  with    him  on 

the  lack  of  "  a  proper  consideration  of  your  good  services." 
Sept  17.   ToRlCHABD  Waldbon.  —  About  his  refusal  to  sign  the 

certificate  appended  to  the  documents  to  be  sent  to  England. 
Sept  17.   To  Col.  Woods.  —  Andrew  Belcher  intends  to 

pass  the  night  at  his  house. 
[Sept  17.]   To  Mrs.  Petbb  Wabben.  —  An  invita^on  to  dinner. 
Sept.  19.  Speech  to  the  MAaBACHusin-is  Council  and  House  of 

Representatives.     [Printed  in  the  Boston  Weekly  News- 

Letter,  Sept.  13-20.] 
Sept.  24.  To  Elu3  Hcbke.  —  About  the  seizure  of  a  vessel.    "  I 

have  yours    of    21    curr     by    the   post  with    the   inclos'd 

papers,  which  I  now  retnni,  &  you  may  get  M'  SeSry  Wal- 

dron  to  draw  a  deputation  for  me  to  sign  appointing  you 


oyGoot^lc 


490  APPENDIX.  [17S9. 

N'aval  Officer  &  date  it  at  the  time  70U  mentioD,  &  send  me 
the  usual  securitj'  in  that  behalf." 

Sept.  24.  ToShadrach  Walton. — "  No  pettyfoggiag  lawyer  nor 
any  one  else  should  hare  perswaded  you  to  so  notorious  a 
breach  of  your  duty.  1  am  told  you  lodge  blank  registers  at 
the  Collector's.  I  now  caution  you  against  any  such  practice 
for  the  future  &,  that  you  never  deliver  a  register  out  of  your 
hand  but  what  the  person  swears  to  before  you." 

Sept.  25.  To  Joseph  Talcott. — Communicates  the  news  from 
England. 

Sept.  25.  To  Edward  Trelawnet,  Governor  of  Jamaica. — Com- 
municates the  news  from  England. 

Sept.  25.  To  RcT. Johnsok, — "  Surely  a  greater  villain  baa 

never  mounted  the  Triangle  at  Tyburn  than  the  audacious 
rascal  with  you  that  prophanes  the  name  of  Burnett  I  am 
sorry  he  has  so  impos'd  on  you  &  on  so  many  other  worthy 
gent"  at  SS".  I  never  saw  this  rogue  in  my  life,  bnt  ac< 
cording  to  all  the  accounts  I  have  lately  had  of  him  he  is  the 
most  compleat  &,  finisht  of  any  the  present  age  has  known." 

Sept.  28.  To  Capt.  Charles  Choech.  —  Wants  a  cow  to  be  sent 
to  Milton. 

Sept.  28.  To  G0I.  John  Chandler.  —  Wishes  to  see  him  about 
Mortlake. 

Sept.  28.  To  William  ■Vauohan.  —  About  forming  a  regiment. 

Oct.  1.  To  Henbt  Sherburne.  —  About  precautions  in  case  of  a 
war.  "The  Aflsemblys  have  been  deluded  &  prevented  by 
wicked  men  from  serving  their  country  in  the  best  maimer." 

Oct.  1.  To  Shadhach  Walton. — "I  hope  you  will  for  the  future 
be  very  cantious  how  you  act  in  the  afFairs  of  the  government 
without  my  particular  directions."  Orders  him  to  adjourn 
the  Court  of  Appeals. 

Oct.  5.  Hess^e  to  the  Council  and  House  of  Refrb&entatites 
OF  Massachusetts.  —  Communicates  a  letter  from  Mr.  Wilks. 

Oct.  9.  To  Capt.  PrrzQEEALD.  —  Thanks  for  services  ren- 
dered in  England. 

Oct.  9.  Message  to  the  House  op  Represgntatites  of  Massa- 
chusetts. —  [Printed  in  the  Boston  Weekly  News-Letter, 
Oct.  4-11.] 

Oct.  10.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kellogg.  — Thanks  for  communicating 
information  from  the  Indians,  etc. 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.]  APPENDIX.  491 

Oct.  15.  To  Col.  John  Chandleb. — Wishes  him  to  come  to 
Boston  for  one  night  to  talk  about  Kortlake. 

Oct  15.  To  Benjamin  Ltnde,  Je.  —  Personal  compliments. 

Oct.  15.  To  Capt  John  Minot.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indians,  the  defenceless  state  of  the  garrisons,  etc. 

Oct.  15.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  Wishes  a  memorial  drawn  and 
sent  to  him,  "directed  to  the  Cap*  General  onely,  for  the 
Assembly  have  nothing  to  do  in  the  matter." 

Oct.  15.  To  Elus  Hosee.  —  "If  they  don't  muke  a  forfeiture  of 
ship  &  cargoe  I  sha'n't  scruple  to  beleive  they  are  all 
perjur'd." 

Oct.  15.  To  Henry  Shebbubne.  —  Has  been  unwell  for  some 
time,  and  his  physicians  do  not  tliink  he  ought  to  make  a 
journey,  so  he  has  ordered  the  President  to  prorogue  tiie 
General  Court  when  they  meet. 

Oct,  15.  To  Shadeach  Walton.  —  "  Your  exact  regard  to  the 
assurances  you  now  give  me  may  prevent  what  I  must  other- 
wise be  oblig'd  to  do  for  his  Majesty's  houour  &  for  the 
welfare  of  his  people." 
'  Oct.  16.  To  Col.  John  Cbandlbb,  —Regrets  to  accept  the  "resig- 
nation of  the  posts  you  austain'd  in  this  goverDment  so  much 
to  the  honour  of  the  King,  to  the  Bcrvice  &  iuterest  of  your 
countrey  &  to  your  own  honour." 

Oct.  16.  To HoLLiNoa  —  Has  been  informed  by  Mr.  Par- 
tridge and  Mr.  Belcher  *'  that  they  have  retained  you  in 
my  favour."  "I  have  this  day  done  myself  the  honour  of 
addressing  your  noble  father-in-law,  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
Wills,  &  have  pray'd  his  favourable  ear  to  M'  Partridge  & 
to  M'  Belcher  as  my  agents." 

Oct  19.  To  Horace  Walpole.  —  About  an  allowance  in  1694 
from  the  Province  to  the  Auditor  General. 

Oct.  20.  To  Francis  Wilks. —  Wishes  him  to  throw  business  in 
the  way  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Oct  20.  To  Capt  Thomas  DuBELL.  —  Friendly  greetings. 

Oct.  20.  To  Chables  Gbat.  —  Friendly  meaeagea,  etc.  Desires 
him  to  promote  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  in  business. 

Oct  20.  To  Capt  John  Dean.  —  Friendly  greetings,  etc. 

Oct.  20.  To  Rev.  Isaac  Watts.  —  Pious  reflections  on  the  un- 
certainty of  life,  his  troubles  in  the  government,  etc. 

Oct  20.  To  Rev.  John  Gdtse, — Has  received  Dr.  Guyse's  para- 


oyGoot^lc 


402  AFPEin)IX.  [1789. 

phfufie  of  the  four  Evangeliats.  Pious  reflectioDB  oq  his 
troubles  in  the  government. 

Oct.  22.  To  RiCHABD  Waldbon. —  Enclosea  an  order  for  sweai^ 
ing  the  memberB  of  the  House  of  Representatives  and  then 
proroguing   them. 

Oct.  22.  To  Shadb&ch  Walton.  —  Orders  him  to  harg  the 
members  sworn,  and  then  to  prorogue  the  House  of  Bepre- 
sentatives  and  Court  of  Appeal. 

Oct  23.  To  Lord  Haeeinqton.  —  "  M^  Joseph  Gulston,  M'  John 
Tomlinson  &  two  others  lodg'd  a  memorial  at  the  Privy 
Council  office  setting  forth  the  naked  &  defenceless  state  of 
that  Province  [New  Hampshire]  &  other  things  that  nearly 
affect  my  honour  &  interest  there.  This  memorial  was 
referred  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  who  reported  upon  it  with* 
allowing  me  a  copy  &  time  to  answer  tho'  my  agents  pray'd 
therefor.  The  aforesaid  M'  Tomlinson  more  than  twelve 
months  agoe  exhibited  a  complaint  against  me,  my  answer 
whereto  has  lain  at  home  for  a  long  time,  but  I  suppose  be  is 
so  conscious  of  the  absurdities  &  falsehoods  with  which  he 
fill'd  his  complaint  that  he  is  afraid  to  bring  it  to  a  hearing, 
&  therefore  now  stirs  up  H'  Gulston  &  others  to  join  with 
bim  in  the  unfair,  ungenerous  manner  in  which  they  are  now 
proceeding  &  is  no  better  than  attempting  to  shoot  me  in  the 
dark."  Desires  his  Lordship's  "  interpositiou  that  no  further 
proceeding  may  be  had  upon  the  memorial  I  have  meution'd 
till  I  am  serv'd  with  a  copy  &  time  to  answer." 

Oct.  28.  To  Lord  Monson.  —  About  the  memorial  of  Gulston, 
Thomlinson,  and  two  others.  Defends  his  own  course,  and 
blames  the  Assembly. 

Oct.  24.  To  Richard  Parteidoe.  —  About  his  troubles  in  New 
Hampshire  ;  wishes  to  recover  the  favor  of  Lord  Wilmington. 

Oct.  29.  To  Jonathan  Belchbb,  Jb.  —  About  the  memorial  of 
Giilaton,  Thomlinson,  Wentworth  and  Chapman,  his  own 
fidelity  as  Governor,  and  his  sou's  marrying. 

Oct.  30.  To  Heney  Sberbubnb.  —  About  going  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, etc. 

Oct.  80.  To  Jonathan  Belcbkb,  Jb.  —  Encloses  a  letter  from 
Dr.  Col  man. 

Oct.  81.  To  Capt.  William  Tacqhan.  —  About  enlisting  a  com- 
pany of  volunteers  at  their  own  charge  "  to  go  from  the  head 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.]  APPBSDIX.  493 

of  DamarasGotty  Pond  eastward  to  the  Ind"  fort  at  Penobscnt 
&  vestward  to  Norridgawalk,  &  to  make  the  beat  observa- 
tions they  can  where  roads  may  be  made  to  those  places  at 
the  least  charge." 

[ .  To  Rev, .] — Fiona  observations. 

Kov.  3.  To  Messrs.  QoizlNS.  —  About  shipments  of  copper 
ore. 

Nov.  5.  To  Hbhrt  Shebbdkmb. — Abont  going  to  New  Hampshire. 
Thinks  a  war  with  Spain  is  probable. 

Nov.  5.  To  Rev. Adams.  — About  the  state  of  his  health. 

Nov.  5.  To  Ellts  Hd3ke,  —  About  some  lumber.  "  I  expect 
nothing  to  come  of  the  seizure,  bat  suppose  all  parties  con- 
oern'd  are  agreed  to  perjure  themselves  to  cheat  the  King, 
the  Governour,  &  the  informer." 

Nov.  5,  To  Richard  Waldros.  —  *'  The  forfeiture  of  the  ship  & 
cargoe  seiz'd  by  Huske  must  be  indisputable  with  all  honest 
men,  but  sorely  no  prince  ever  had  such  a  crew  of  villains 
to  betray  his  interest,  to  break  the  Acts  of  Trade,  &  what 
not  ?"     Writes  on  various  matters  in  New  Hampshire. 

Nov.  6.  To  Benjamin  Pembebtijn.  —  Has  received  from  the 
Commissioners  of  Customs  a  complaint  that  he  neglects  his 
duty  in  not  forwarding  to  them  lists  of  all  vessels  entering 
and  clearing  at  the  several  ports  in  Mb  district ;  orders  him 
to  do  so. 

Nov.  5  [6].  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  having  Huske's 
seizure  tried  in  Boston. 

Nov.  12.  To  RicHAED  Waldron.  —About  the  failure  of  Huske's 
seizure.  "  I  don't  thank  him  [Judge  Auchmuty],  nor  forgive 
bim,  nor  can  I  ever  t^ain  allow  myself  any  acquaintance 
with  80  uncommon  a  rascal.  No.  *  0,  my  soul  come  not 
thou  into  his  secret ;  unto  their  assembly,  mine  honour,  be 
not  thou  united.' " 

Nov.  12.  To  Ellis  Hubke. — Wishes  copies  of  all  the  documents 
in  the  case  of  the  seizure. 

Nov.  12.  To  Messrs.  Chandleb  and  FoTE.  —  Instructions  about 
selling  his  estate  at  Mortlake. 

Nov.  12.  To  Rev.  Ebenezbs  Williams.  — Desires  him  to  advise 
and  assist  in  the  sale  of  the  Mortlake  estate. 

Nov.  12.  To  Col.  John  Chandler.  —  la  "glad  that  your  (desir'd) 
successors  are  acceptable  to  you,  as  they  are  to  the  whole 


oyGoot^lc 


494  APPENDIX.  [1730. 

countrey."  CoraplaioB  of  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Bep- 
resentatives.  Wishes  him  to  adrise  and  assist  in  the  s^e 
of  the  Mortlake  estate. 

Nov.  12.  To  the  Commissioners  op  Cubtoms  at  London.  — Mr, 
Pemberton  and  "  M'  Ellis  Huske,  the  Naval  OflScer  for  Ne» 
Hampshire,"  will.comply  with  their  directions. 

Nov.  12.  To  the  Lords  op  Trade.  —  Will  transmit  by  the  first 
good  conveyance  the  accounts  asked  for  by  them. 

Nov.  12.  To DiNWiDDiB.  —  Aboot  an  order  for  some  "  hang- 
ings." 

Not.  13.   To  John  Morton.  —  About  his  son's  marrying. 

Nov.  14.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Wislies  him  to  come  to  Bostoo 
for  a  consultation.  "  I  am  order'd  to  make  answer  to  the 
complaint  of  215  Teagues  in  those  parts  [at  George's]  stirr'd 
np  by  Trinkalo.  I  look  on  other  complaints  trifling  Aiat 
manner  dying,  &  if  we  can  cut  oS  this  hydra's  head,  perhaps 
it  may  be  of  a  good,  as  well  as  of  a  fatal  consequence,  may 
serve  the  Gov',  &  you    particularly,  in  an    extraordinary 


Nov.  17.  To  Sir  Charles  Wager.  —  Transmits  copies  of  letters 
from  Captain  Warren  of  the  Squirrel. 

Nov.  19.  To  Sir  Charles  Wager.  —  Desires  that  Andrew  Belcher 
should  be  appointed  "  Register  of  the  Court  of  Vice  Admi- 
ralty in  New  England  in  case  of  the  death  of  M'  John  Boydill, 
who  is  now  dangerously  ill." 

Nov.  19.  To  Richard  Partbidge.  —  To  the  same  purport. 

Nov.  19.  To  Messrs.  Green  and  Thoblet.  —  Desires  them  to 
forward  the  enclosure  to  London  by  the  first  post 

Nov.  19.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  Complains  of  Waldron's  in- 
activity. 

Nov.  19.  To  Ellis  Huske.  —  Writes  for  documents  about  the 
seizure,  etc. 

Nov.  20.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jb. — "For  your  own  particular 
advantage  I  charge  you  to  make  all  proper  court  to  L"" 
Egmont  &  S^  C.  Wager.  See  'em  as  often  as  may  be  consis- 
tent with  good  manners  &  with  your  studies.  When  you  can 
marry  to  your  own  content,  &  to  the  good  approbation  of 
your  friends,  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  you  are  so."  Desires 
him  to  procure  the  original  letter  from  Mr.  Dudley  to  Mr. 
Dummer. 


oyGoot^lc 


1738.]  APPENDIX.  495 

Nov.  20.  To  Mrs, Bertaqh.  —  About  her  securing  a  de- 
mand against  her  brother  in  America. 

Not.  21.  To  James  Belcher.  —  Thanks  him  for  a  present  of 
claret,  etc. 

Not.  22.  To  the  Ddke  op  Newoabtle.  —  About  the  emiBsion  of 
paper  currency,  the  ruinous  condition  of  the  forte,  etc. 

Not.  22.  To  Richard  PARTHiDaa  —  Is  preparing  an  answer  to 
the  petition  of  the  people  at  the  Eastward ;  complains  of  the 
New  Hampehire  Assemblies  ;  wishes  Jonathan  was  married ; 
sends  petitions  in  faTour  of  the  GoTernor ;  describes  what  he 
has  done  in  New  Hampshire ;  will  exert  himself  to  pay  the 
balance  of  Mr.  Partridge's  account.  "  I  must  desire  you  to 
stir  up  every  friend  you  have,  &  every  one  I  have,  to  pre- 
vent my  losing  the  government  of  New  Hampshire.  I  be- 
leive  B.  Wentworth  has  w  great  dependance  upon  it,  or  he 
would  not  stay ;  but  to  lose  that  commission  would  be  of 
more  fatal  consequence  than  you  readily  imagine."  "M' 
Christopher  Kilby  goes  with  Cap^  Hall  as  an  agent  to  the 
House  of  Representatives.  I  am  a  stranger  to  his  business 
or  instructions  ;  but  you  may  depend  if  it  falls  in  4iis  power 
to  do  me  any  hurt,  he  is  very  heartily  dispos'd  to  it ;  he  must 
therefore  be  carefully  watcht." 

Nov.  23.  To  Thomas  Coram.  — "  S'  0.  Wager  is  uncommonly 
good  &  kind,  &  I  must  pray  you  to  get  &  send  me  the  original 
forg'd  letter  &  copies  of  the  affidavits  made  against  me  by 
Auchmuty  &  Shirley.  I  suppose  there's  not  a  more  finisht 
villain  than  the  former  in  Christendom."  "  I  once  more 
desire  you  to  put  in  practice  an  advertisement  about  Duke 
Trinkalo's  moonshine  estate,  according  to  mine  20  Dec  last ; 
it  W*  finish  him." 

Nov.  23.  To  Richard  Partridge.— Wants  some  nuts  and  seeds. 

Nov.  26.  To  Jonathan  Beicher,  Jr. — About  his  enemies,  Jona- 
than's marrying,  etc.  "  I  acquiesce  in  your  postponing  the 
delivery  of  the  letter  to  S'  C.  W.  about  A — h — y'a  [Auchmu- 
ty's]  remoTal  till  a  more  convenient  season,  but  remov'd  he 
must  be,  &  in  a  little  time.  I  lost  jCIOOO  this  currency  by  an 
unjust  decree  in  his  Court  a  few  dayes  agoe.  He  hardly  ever 
finds  in  favour  of  the  King,  being  doubtless  hrib'd  to  the 
contrary." 

Nov.  26.  To  Ellis  Hdsee.  —  About  the  failure  of  the  case  in 


oyGoot^lc 


496  APPENDIX.  [1788. 

the  Admiralty  Conrt,  etc.  "  I  don't  beleive  there  has  bees 
more  villainy  transacted  for  a  long  time  than  haa  been  in 
this  case." 

Nov.  26.  To  Mrs. Caswall.  —  Brotherly  greetings. 

Nov.  26.  To  the  LoBoa  op  Tbade.  —  About  the  defenceless  con- 
dition of  the  Province,  the  danger  of  an  Indian  war,  the 
paper  currency,  the  complaint  of  "  John  North,  Esq',  &  others 
residing  in  the  eastern  parts  of  this  Province,"  etc. 

Nov.  28.  To  Jonathan  Belcbek,  Jb.  —  Abont  James  and  Jere- 
miah Allen  and  his  debt  to  the  estate  of  John  Lloyd, 
deceased. 

Dec.  8.  To  Messrs.  Godfrbt  and  Lloyd. —  On  the  same  subject 

Dec.  S.  To  George  Lloyd.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Dec.  8.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jb.  —  About  the  debt  to  Mr. 
Lloyd,  etc. 

Dec.  3.  To  Lieut.-Gov.  Geobge  Clarke.  —  About  the  settiement 
of  the  boundary  Hue  between  New  York  and  Massachusetts. 

Dec.  S.  To  Henbt  Shebbubne.  —  About  the  defenceless  state  of 
New  Hampshire. 

Dec.  8.  To  Elus  Hpskb.  —  About  the  papers  relating  to  the 
seizure  of  the  ship  Cfesar,  James  Roach  master. 

Dec.  S.  To  Richaed  Waldbon,  —  About  coming  to  see  the  Gov- 
ernor, the  appointment  of  Special  Justices,  etc. 

Dec.  5.  Message  to  the  Council  and  Hodse  op  Repeebentativbs 
OF  Massachdsetts.  —  Recommends  the  passage  of  an  act  for 
the  preservation  of  mast  trees  for  the  royal  navy,  and  that 
provision  should  be  made  for  calling  in  the  outstanding  bills 
of  credit. 

Dec.  5.  To  Col.  John  Holhan.  —  About  some  shingles  to  be 
carted  to  Milton. 

Dec.  8.  To  Joseph  Pitein.  —  Complains  of  the  management  of 
affairs  at  the  mines. 

Deo.  8.  To  Mrs.  — • —  Berwick.  —  About  some  pickles  from 
Barbadoes. 

Dec.  10.  To  Ellis  Huskb.  —  About  the  papers  relating  to  the 
seizure,  and  sending  forward  his  accounts. 

Dec.  10.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  his  enemies  in  New 
Hampshire,  etc, 

Deo.  11.  To  JosiTHAN  Belcheb,  Jb.  —  About  the  debt  to  Mr. 
Lloyd,  Jonathan's  extravagance,  etc. 


oyGoot^lc 


1739.]  APPENDIX.  497 

Dec.  11.  To  RiCEABD  Partbidoe.  —  About  getting  Andrew- 
Belcher  appointed  Bolster  of  the  Court  of  Admiralty. 

Dec.  14.  To  Col.  Jahes  Wabren. — About  the  appointment  of 
Benjamin  Johnson  of  Bridgewater  as  a  Deputy  Sheriff. 

Dec.  17.  To  Ellis  Hdske.  —  About  Bending  documents. 

Dec.  17.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  To  similar  purport. 

Dec.  18.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  la  preparing  to  send  docu- 
ments to  England. 

Dec.  24.  To  Messrs.  Partridob  and  Belchbb.  — Transmite  docu- 
ments in  answer  to  the  compiaitit  of  John  \orth  and  others. 
"  I  take  the  complaint  to  spring  from  Waldo's  inveterate 
malice,  who  I  beleive  has  almost  exhausted  himself  in  trying 
to  settle  a  dukedom  in  the  moon,  but  the  strenuous  opposi- 
tion he  finds  from  the  natives  asserting  their  claim  &  right 
to  those  lands  (and  which  this  government  are  obliged  by 
one  treaty  after  another  not  to  abuse  them  in)  has  vastly 
disappointed  the  man's  wild  and  touring  dreams.  Upon  the 
whole  I  hope  to  be  approv'd  by  the  King  in  this  part  of  my 
conduct  &  that  Waldo  with  his  Irish  herd  will  hang  their 
heads  &  be  ashamed  of  this  malicious  attempt." 

Dec.  24.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  Hopes  to  go  to  Portsmouth 
at  the  end  of  next  month. 

Dec.  24.  To  Ellis  Huskb.  —  Will  transmit  documents  to  Eng- 
land, "  that  justice  may  be  finally  obtained." 

Dec.  24.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  A  few  lines  on  personal 
matters,  etc. 

Dec.  24.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kellooo.  —  About  the  conference 
with  the  Indiana,  etc. 

Dec.  24.   To  Capt.  Gborqe  Townshend.  —  Friendly  greetings. 

Dec.  24.   To  Messrs,  GoiziNS.  —  Wishes  them  to  forward  letters. 

Dec.  26.   To  Col.  John  Stoddard.  —  On  personal  matters,  etc. 

Dec.  26.  To  Messrs.  Goizins.  —  Wishes  them  to  forward  more 
letters. 

Dec.  31.  To  Capt.  John  Minqt.  —  Advises  him  "  to  be  prudent 
(t  cautious  at  all  times  with  respect  to  the  Indians,"  etc. 

Dec.  31.  To  Col.  John  Holman.  —  Forbids  him  to  cut  "  a  twig 
more  of  any  sort  on  my  farm  [at  Abington]  without  my 
special  leave  &  order." 

Dec.  31,  To  John  Dennis.  —  Has  written  to  Captain  Giles  to 
treat  him  "  with  better  respect  &  kindness,"  but  if  he  still 


oyGoot^lc 


498  APPENDIX.  [1789-40. 

fiods  himself  "too  aneaej,"  will  find  another  chaplain  "to 

go  dowD  &  supply  your  place." 
Dec.  31.  To  Gapt.  Sahdel  Dennt.  —  About  military  matt«rs  at 

the  Eastward. 
Dec.  81.   To  Capt  Jobn  Giles.  —  Mainly  on  personal  matters. 

Hopes  he  will  be  "  wise  &  cautious  "  in  his  treatment  of  his 

minister  and  armorer  who  hare  complained  of  him. 
Dec.  81.  To  RiCHAED  Waldeon.  —  Wishes  him  to  be  expeditiouB 

in  sending  the  papers  to  be  laid  before  Parliament. 

1739-4a 

Jan.  8.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  a  farther  prorogation 
of  the  New  Hampshire  Assembly,  etc. 

Jan.  10.  To  Rev.  Ebenezes  WiLLUHa  — About  selling  the  estate 
at  Mortlake. 

Jan.  11.  To  Rev.  Ebenezeb  Williahs.  —  On  the  same  subject 

Jan.  14.  To  Henry  Sherburne.  —  Will  meet  the  Assembly  in 
New  Hampshire  according  to  the  prorogation. 

Jan.  18.  To  Richard  Waldron. — "Sancho  [Dunbar]  still  re- 
gales himself  iu  the  Fleet  prison.  What  Trinltalo  [Waldo] 
ia  doing  I  don't  hear.  According  to  my  advices  Sh — r — ly 
is  to  be  the  man  if  the  clan  prevails.  The  report  I  sent  yon 
is  a  flat  contradiction  of  most  of  the  lyes  they  are  bruiting  in 
favour  of  the  Spanish  chap  [Benning  Wentvorth],  &  from 
it  you  are  as  capable  of  forming  a  judgement  on  the  present 
situation  of  affairs  as  I  am." 

Jan.  21.  To  Henkt  Sberbdrne.  —  Is  going  to  New  Hampshire. 
"  Cou'd  the  wicked  wretches  gain  their  ends  your  Province 
would  produce  a  dreadful!  scene  of  tyranny  &  oppression  in 
taxes  &  every  thing  else.  But  God  governs  the  world,  &  I 
hope  will  yet  prevent  such  misery  to  the  poor  people." 

Jan.  21.  To  Messrs.  Partridge  and  Belcher. — Encloses  the 
letter  to  Horace  Walpole,  and  desires  them  to  go  with  Captain 
Coram  to  deliver  it. 

Jan.  21.  ToRichardPartbidgb;  sameto  Jonathan Belcheb,Jb. 
—  Desires  them  to  espouse  the  cause  of  Connecticut  in  a  suit 
pending  in  England. 

Jan.  21.  To  Henrt  Newman.  —  Repeats  a  request  for  the  origi- 
nal letter  to  Mr.  Dummer. 


oyGoot^lc 


1730-4a}  APPENDIX.  499 

Jaa.  21.  To  Thomas  Cobam.  —  Will  do  what  he  can  to  serve 

Coram's  nephews,  Gamaliel  Wallia  and Brown.    Has 

sent  papers  to  Mr.  Partridge  relative  to  Waldo's  claims  to 
lands  on  George's  River.  Wishes  to  obtain  from  Mr.  New* 
man  "the  preacher's  letter,"  and  from  Sir  Charles  Wager 
"the  villainous  letter  I  have  disprov'd.  By  the  original  I 
may  find  out  the  authour."  Wishes  Captain  Coram  and  his 
wife  to  further  Jonathan's  marrying. 

Jan.  21.  To  Rev.  Ebembzbb  Williams. — About  selling  the  farms 
at  Mortlake. 

Jan.  21.  To  WiLLiAH  Williams.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Jan.  24.  To  Richard  Partbidge. — Encloses  the  letter  to  Jona- 
than, which  be  wishes  Mr.  Partridge  to  "  read  gravely,  then 
seal  &  send  it  him  by  the  penny  post,  not  letting  him  know 
yon  have  read  it."  Wishes  Mr.  Partridge  to  advise  him  and 
help  him  in  getting  into  business,  and  in  marrying. 

J&Q.  25.  To  Richard  Waldron.  • — Is  going  to  New  Hampshire. 
"  God  grant  I  &  my  friends  may  be  possest  of  wise  courage 
at  this  critical  juncture  to  save  your  poor  people  f]'om  becom- 
ing a  sacrifice  to  the  malice  of  wicked  men." 

Jan.  25.  To  Joseph  Pitkik.  —  About  the  management  of  the 
Simsbury  mines. 

Jan.  25.  To  William  Chandler. — About  tlie  sale  of  the  Mort- 
lake estate. 

Jan.  25.  To  Rev.  Ebbnezer  Williams.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Jan.  25.  To  John  Fotb.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Jan.  25.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. — About  his  differences 
with  James  and  Jeremiah  Allen.  They  have  no  intention 
to  injure  the  Governor. 

Jan.  26.  To  Ephraim  Hide.  —  ^^ishes  him  to  pay  the  balance 
of  his  account  to  John  Foye. 

Jan.  26.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Encloses  a  copy  of  yes- 
terday's letter.  Would  be  pleased  that  he  "  may  be  in  a  good 
understanding  with"  Jeremiah  Allen,  if  what  Jamea  Allen 
said  was  true,  but  if  it  was  not,  "you  know  then  how  to 
behave  accordmg  to  my  former  letters."  Thinks  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Mr.  Joseph  Fowler  of  Connecticut  "may  be  of 
service  to  you,"  as  he  is  a  gentleman  "  of  considerable  figure 
in  the  lav  in  that  Colony,  &  has  besides  a  good  share  of 
interest  and  influence  in  &  over  the  government  &  people." 


oyGoot^lc 


600  APPENDIX.  [17SW0. 

JsD.  28.  To  Richard  Pabtridob.  — Wishes  htm  to  do  all  he  can' 
for  CoDoecticut,  "  &  it  may  be  a  favourable  article  for  bring- 
ing you  into  the  Agency  of  that  Province." 

Feb.  1.  Message  to  the  Council  and  House  of  Repeesentatites 
OP  New  IIampshtbe.—  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire  Provincial 
Papers,  vol.  v.  pp.  11,  12.] 

Feb.  4.  To  Jonathan  Remington,  from  Portsmouth.  —  "WisheB 
the  cause  of  Denny  and  Turrell  might  be  postponed. 

Feb.  8.  To  Mrs.  Mabtha  Fitch,  from  Portsmouth.  —  On  family 
and  personal  matters. 

Feb.  8.  To  Andrew  Belcher,  from  Portsmouth.  —  On  personal 
matters,  with  pious  exhortations. 

Feb.  15.  To Wallet,  from  Portsmouth.  —  A  letter  of  per- 
sonal friendship.  "  While  you  was  of  my  family  your  be- 
haviour was  alwayes  acceptable  &  your  diligence  &  fidelity  in 
my  service,  with  your  capacity  for  what  might  in  time  be  more 
to  your  advantage  readily  resolv'd  me  to  contribute  thereto, 
when  it  might  fall  in  my  power." 

Feb.  15.  To'  Benjamin  Ltnde,  Jr.,  from  Portsmouth.  —  Abont 
stopping  at  Salem  on  his  return  from  New  Hampshire, 

Feb.  16.  To  Rev.  JoaEPH  Sewall,  from  Portsmouth. — About 
the  visit  of  Dr.  Sewall's  son  to  Portsmouth  and  Kittery,  and 
the  overfondneas  of  parents  for  their  children. 

Feb.  15.  To  Mrs.  Martha  Fitch,  from  Portsmouth.  —  On  family 
matters. 

Feb.  15.  To  S.  Greenwood,  from  Portsmouth.  —  Ob  personal 
matters. 

Feb.  15.  Message  to  the  Council  and  Hodse  of  REPHESENTATn^ 
OP  New  Hampshire.  —  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire  Provincial 
Papers,  vol.  v.  p.  20.] 

Feb.  15.  To  Andrew  Belcher,  from  Portsmouth.  —  On  personal 
matters. 

Feb.  22.  To  Benjamin  Ltnde,  Jr.,  from  Portsmouth.  -» Will 
dine  with  him  in  Salem. 

Feb.  22.  To  Major  Stephen  Greenleaf,  from  Portsmouth.  — 
Will  lodge  at  his  house  on  his  way  home. 

Feb.  22.  To  Mrs. Caswall,  from  Portsmouth. —Will  be 

"  welcome  to  go  on  with  me,"  on  his  return  to  Boston. 

Feb.  22.  To  Andrew  Belcher,  from  Portsmouth.  —  Abont  his 
return  home. 


oyGoot^lc 


1739-40.]  APPENDIX,  601 

Feb.  22.  To  Mrs.  Mabtha  Fitch,  from  Portsmouth.  —  Oa  the 

same  Bubject. 
Feb.  23.   Measage  to  the  House  or  Rbpresentatitbs  op  Nev 

Hampshire.  —  [Printed  m  New  Hampshire  Provincial  Papers, 

vol.  y.  p.  26.] 
Feb.   26.   Message  to  the  House  of  Reprbbentatiteb  of  New 

Hampshibe.  —  [Printed  id  New  HampBhire  Provincial  Papers, 

vol.  V.  p.  67.] 
March  3.  To  Lieut.-Gov.  George  Clarke.  — About  the  settlement 

of  the  boundary  line  between  New  York  and  Massachusetts. 
March  8.  To  Mrs. Berwick.  —  About  paying  for  pickles 

from  Barbadoes. 
March  4.  To  the  Lords  op  Teadb. — Will  strictly  conform  to  the 

instructions  he  has  received ;  has  dissolved  the  Assembly  in 

New  Hampshire. 
March  4.  To  Francis  Wilks. — WisheB  him  to  employ  Jonathan 

Belcher,  Jr.    Must  submit  to  the  report  of  the  Privy  Council 

to  the  King.    Thinks  Mr.  Partridge  has  a  claim  to  one  third 

of  the  money  remitted  to  England  on  account  of  proceedings 

with  regard  to  the  Line. 
March  5.  To  Thomas  Hill.  —  Complains  that  Benjamin  Pollard 

detained  a  letter  about  affixing  a  seal  to  documents. 
March  5.  To  Kichard  Partridge.  —  About  North's  complaint, 

Waldo,  and  Pollard. 
March  6.    To  Josiah  Burchett.  —  Has  caused  the  instructions 

relating  to  ships  with  letters  of  marque  or  reprisal  to  be 

recorded. 
March  7.    To  Col.  Thomas  Wbstbbook.  —  Wants  some  more 

lumber. 
March  7.  To  John  Frost.  —  On  the  same  subject 
March  7.  To  Kichard  Partridge. — Wants  copies  of  the  affidavits 

obtained  while  he  was  in  New  Hampshire.    Is  surprised  he 

was  not  notified  of  Jonathan's  draft  for  £250  sterling. 
March  7.    To  Henry  Sherburne.  —  Col.  J.  Sherburne  will  tell 

how  affairs  looked  In  England.    "  Perhaps  B.  W.  may  soon 

be  with  you  &  bring  all  tbe  party  expect." 
March  10.  To  Rev.  William  Shdrtlepp. — Thanks  him  for  some 

writings  "  you  gave  me  at  Portsm","  etc. 
March  10.  To  Richard  Partridge. — Has  sent  to  Geoi^e's  to  get 
"contradictory  evidence  to  the  aflUdavita  Waldo  has  taken," 
and  wishes  a  hearing  on  them  postponed. 


oyGoot^lc 


502  APPENDIX.  [1740. 

March  10.  To  Urs.  Wiluak  Tailee.  —  Wishes  an  old  account 
paid. 

March  14.  Uesaage  to  the  Massachusettis  Councii.  and  HonSE  of 
RefresbntatiT'es.  —  [Printed  in  the  Boston  Weekly  Neve- 
Letter,  March  13-20.] 

March  14.  To  Capt.  Johh  Giles.  —  May  dismiss  his  chaplain 
and  ensign.  Wants  him  to  make  an  affidavit  to  the  faleitj 
of  what  Waldo  sajs,  and  then  come  to  Boston  as  soon  aa 
possible. 

March  17.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  their  accounts. 

March  IT.  To  Capt  Wiluam  VAOflHAN. —About  the  organi- 
zation of  hia  company  of  volunteers  to  explore  the  woods. 

March  20.  To  Bev.  Ebenezbr  Williahs. — About  the  sale  of  the 
estate  at  Mortlake. 

March  20.  To  Capt  Wiluau  Chandler,  Messrs.  Williau  Wil- 
LiAHB,  and  Joseph  Holland.  — On  the  same  subject. 

March  21.  To  Ephsaim  Hide.  —  Demands  payment  of  an 
account. 

March  20.  To  Bev.  Ebgnezer  Williams.  —  About  Hide's  debt. 

March  24.  To  Mrs. Caswall.  —  Brotherly  greetings  on  ber 

return  home. 

March  24.  To  Richabd  Waldron.  ■»  About  the  probable  change 
as  to  Kew  Hampshire,  and  the  settlement  of  the  Line. 

March  24.  To  the  Lords  of  Trade.  —  Transmits  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  New  Hampshire  Assembly. 

March  24.  To  Richard  Pabtbidgb.  —  Hopes  the  complwnt  of 
Samuel  Waldo  or  John  North  and  others  will  not  he  heard 
before  the  receipt  of  the  evidence  which  he  is  preparing  to 


1740. 

March  81.    To  Mrs.  Beewick.  —  Encloses  payment  in 

accordance  with  her  receipt. 

March  31.  To  Henbt  Seebbubne. — A  few  lines;  is  expecting 
the  arrival  of  the  London  ships,  etc. 

March  31.  To  Richard  Walobon.  —  About  the  expected  arrival 
of  the  London  ships,  etc.  "  In  case  what  we  may  most 
rationally  expect  should  be,  I  shall  with  a  compassionate  e;e 
weep  over  your  people,  not,  I  assare  you,  for  my  being  sepa- 
rated from  them  ;  but  if  wretches  to  obtain  their  points  will 


oyGoot^lc 


1T40.]  APPENDIX.  603 

place  the  Devil  at  bottom,  lyes,  falBehood  &  forgeries  o'  top 
&  on  all  sides,  what  must  be  expected,  or  rather  what  not, 
when  they  are  crown'd  with  power?" 

March  SI.  To  Capt  Benjamih  Larrabee. — About  wood,  etc. 

March  81.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  — About  posts  and  rails,  etc. 

March  31.  To  Capt. Savaob.  —  About  the  probability  of 

war,  etc. 

March  31.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  the  frieadly  feeliug 
of  the  Indians  aud  his  coming  to  Boston  '*  to  defend  yourself 
against  M'  Waldo's  attempts  to  hurt  you." 

March  81.  To  Capt.  Otho  Hamilton.  —  "It  was  very  surprizing 
to  hear  of  the  tragedy  Coll°  Armstrong  acted  on  himself  in 
his  last  momenta  &  with  so  much  sedateness  &  composure. 
God  Almighty  preserve  us  from  all  such  horrid  attempts." 

March  31.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kellogo.  "  I  am  glad  to  hear  the 
Indians  behave  friendly ;  at  present  it  don't  look  much  like  a 
war  with  France.  Yet  it's  best  for  you  to  be  cautious  &  on 
your  guard.  I  observe  what  you  say  about  the  preparations 
at  Crown  Point.  If  a  French  war  should  happen  I  beleive 
they'd  soon  get  the  Indians  upon  our  frontiers." 

March  31.  To  Ellis  Edskb. — Is  determined  to  pursue  the 
matter  of  the  seizure  of  Roach's  vessel  before  the  Lords  of 
the  Admiralty. 

March  31.  To  Capt  Thomas  Smith. — About  the  probability  of 
a  war,  etc. 

April  2.  To  Rev. Ruggles.  —  Wishes  him  to  assist  John 

WhitSeld  in  obtaining  a  deed  of  land. 

April  4.  To  the  Lords  of  Trade,  —  Complains  of  the  Maasa- 
chusetts  Assembly,  and  wishes  an  answer  to  his  letters. 
"  There  are,  my  Lords,  at  this  time  two  or  three  schemes  (or 
bubbles)  going  forward  by  private  combinations  for  circulat- 
ing 3  or  ^400,000  in  paper  currency,  &  should  they  obtain, 
those  British  merchants  who  have  effects  here  would  be 
defrauded  phaps  ten  shillings  in  the  pound  of  their  juat  dues, 
and  these  things  would  also  bring  innumerable  evils  upon 
this  government  &  people,  &  I  can't  see  any  remedy  to  be 
apply'd  hot  by  an  Act  of  Parliament  forbidding  on  severe 
penalties  the  government  &  all  private  companies  from  pre- 
suming to  make  any  such  extraordinary  experiments." 

April  4.    To  Capt.  John  Minot.  —  About  relations  with  the 


oyGoot^lc 


504  APPENDIX.  [17«. 

Indians,  etc.,  and  preparing  a  narrative  of  Waldo's  manage- 
ment with  the  Jesuit  and  the  Indians,  and  coining  to  Boston 
with  it, 

April  7.  To  the  Ddee  of  Newcastle.  —  Transmits  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  New  Hampshire  Assembly,  and  complains  of 
them.  "  They  are  indeed  a  very  poor  Province,  yet  not  so 
much  so  as  to  be  unable  to  support  the  government.  But 
they  have  other  lurking  reasons  why  they  will  not  do  their 
duty," 

April  7.  To  Bichabd  Waldron.  — "  I  have  no  expectation  of  the 
new  appointm"  being  delay'd." 

April  7.  To  Col.  Thomas  Westbrook.  —  About  "  a  parcel  of  oak 
stuffe  for  wainscoating." 

April  9.  To  Ber.  Ebenezer  Willtahs.  —  About  the  sale  of  hia 
laud  in  Connecticut,  etc. 

April  21.  To  Ellis  Huske.  —  About  the  complaints  to  be  laid 
before  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  and  tlie  CommisEioners 
of  Customs.  Thinks  he  had  better  come  to  Boston  to  meet 
Colonel  Spotswood. 

April  21.  To  Henbt  Sherburne.  —  A  few  lines  about  publishing 
the  declaration  of  war  with  Spain,  etc. 

April  21.   To  Shadrach  Walton. — To  similar  purport, 

April  21.  To  Alexander  Spotswood.  —  Congratulates  him  on 
his  appointment  to  the  command  of  the  troops  proposed  to 
be  raised  in  America.  Is  glad  he  ia  coming  to  Boston. 
"  This  government  have  taken  care  for  your  Honour's  enter- 
tainment &  desire  you  to  lodge  at  Maj'  Sewall's  who  had 
the  honour  of  your  acquaint*  at  Lond"  ab'  11  years  ago." 

April  28.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Wants  him  to  prepare  a 
paragraph  to  be  printed  in  tlie  paper  about  the  publishing 
of  the  declaration  of  war. 

May  1.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  the  proclamations,  etc. 
"  I  am  now  to  acquaint  you  that  I  receiv'd  two  days  since  two 
letters  from  Lond"  (way  of  Lis'),  dated  Jan»  24  &  Feb'  12, 
both  confirming  that  a  new  appointment  would  be  very  soon 
for  New  Hampshire,  and  that  there  was  a  great  prospect  of 
the  same  for  Massachus"*,  and  strong  efforts  making  in 

behalf  of  S for  the  latter.     Not  a  word  mention'd  of  the 

Line,  which  may  now  sleep  for  twenty  years  longer." 

May  5.  To  Shadrach  Walton.  —  "  It 's  an  unlucky  juncture  to 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  605 

be  vithout  powder  in  tiie  fort,  aince  the  latest  letters  from 
England  talk  much  of  a  French  warr,  which  I  pray  God  to 
avert." 

May  5.  To  Hbnrt  Sherbubne.  —  About  publishing  the  declara- 
tion of  war,  beating  up  for  volunteers,  etc. 

May  6.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kellogo.  —  Will  i-ecommend  to  the 
Assembly  to  put  Fort  Dummer  into  a  better  posture  of 
defenoe. 

May  8.  To  Kichabd  Waldron.  —  Has  news  from  England  that 
the  Line  has  been  "  setl'd  intirely  as  the  clan  wou'd  have  it" 

May  8.  To  Francis  Wilks.  —  Is  sorry  to  hear  of  his  ill  health, 
thanks  Mm  for  his  kind  services  and  intentions.  "  I  am 
sensible  I  never  stood  more  in  need  of  the  good  offices  of 
my  friends  than  at  this  juncture." 

May  9.  "  To  my  good  &  wortbt  friends,  the  people  call'd  Qda- 
KEBS,  in  G'  Britain.  —  Thanks  them  for  **  the  great  respect  & 
friendship  you  have  manifested  to  me  upon  the  many  efforts 
my  enemies  have  been  making  to  have  tlic  comiss"*  I  have 
the  honour  to  hold  superseded,"  and  assures  them  that  "  I 
shall  take  all  occasions  to  return  the  late  kind  offices  you 
have  acted  tow'*  me  in  evry  reason*  way  &  manner  y  can  be 
desired  or  expected." 

May  9.  To Htam  ;  same  to  John  Gurnet.  —  Sends  his 

grateful  acknowledgments  for  their  kind  offices  to  the  King's 
ministers,  and  will  regard  any  service  which  he  can  render 
them  or  their  Friends  as  an  obligation  laid  on  him. 

May  12.  To  Kichard  Waldron.  —  A  few  lines  on  New  Eamp< 
shire  affairs. 

May  12.  To  Col.  John  Stoddard.  —  About  the  new  boundary 
line,  and  securing  volunteers  for  the  ''  great  affair." 

May  11.  To  the,  Commandino  Oppiceb  at  Castle  William.  — 
Orders  him  to  receive  some  recruits  for  the  garrison  at 
Annapolis  Royal. 

Hay  12.  To  Georqe  Thomas,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  —  About 
the  arrest  of  one  Robert  Jenkins  for  forging  the  bills  of  your 
province. 

May  12.  To  Georoe  Clarke,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York. 
— About  an  amicable  settlement  of  the  boundary  line  between 
Massachusetts  and  New  York. 

May  12.  To  Capt  Petee  Warren.  —  Desires  that  the  men  he- 
64 


oyGoot^lc 


506  APPENDIX.  [1740. 

loD^ng  to  Major   Sewall's  vesBel  may  Dot  be  taken  from  I 

her. 

May  12.   To  Capt.  Geokog  Townshend.  —  To  the  same  purport.  i 

May  12.  To  Sir  Robert  Walpole;  Ddse  of  Newcastle;  Earl 
OF  WiLHiNGTON.  —  Complaios  of  his  enemies;  "tliey  bave  not 
stuck  at  lying  &  forgeries  to  obtain  an  opportunity  of  wreak* 
ing  their  boundless  malice  upon  me."    The  Assemblies  liave  I 

been  "  so  strait  &  stingy  in  their  grants  for  my  support  that  I 

I  have  been  oblig'd  to  spend  every  year  considerably  of  my 
own  fortune  to  live  in  some  measure  equal  to  the  dignity  d  i 

his  Majesty's  commissions." 

May  14.  To  Capt.  John  Clakk.  —  About  repairing  the  fort  at  ! 

Salem. 

May  15.  To  Sir  Charles  Waoeb. — About  the  persecutions  of  I 

his  implacable  enemies.    "  Hard  is  my  case  to  be  follow'd  | 

with  lyes,  forgeries  &  every  vile  thing  my  enemies  can  invent 
&  practice.    How  base,  how  mean  &  false  was  the  attempt  , 

made  on  your  Honour  in  the  forg'd  letter  deliver'd  yoa,  as 
I  am  told,  by  M'  Sam'  Waldo,  of  which  he  must  be  the  anthour,  ! 

unless  he  can  tell  where  he  had  it,  but  I  have  no  doubt  it 
was  contriv'd  &  wrote  between  him  &  Dunbar.    How  is  it  I 

possible,  S'  Charles,  for  a  gent™  to  defend  himaelf  ag  such 
dark,  cursed  practices  ?  but  when  they  are  discorer'd  me- 
thinks  it  shou'd  open  the  eyes  of  the  King's  ministere,  k 
such  men  should  lose  all  c'  &  reputation  with  them.  No 
Gov^  in  the  Plantations  has  ho  faithfully  asserted  &,  main- 
tain'd  the  honour  and  the  prerogative  of  the  Crown  as  I 
have,  &  to  the  continual  disgust  of  the  AsBemblieB,  who  have 
therefore  in  a  manner  starv'd  me  ever  since  I  have  been  in 
the  government,  for  they  have  never  granted  me  sufficient 
for  my  annual  support." 

May  15.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jb.  —Advises  him  to  cultivate 
the  best  acquaintance  he  can  with  the  Solicitor  General. 
Has  no  objections  to  his  marrying  Miss  Hatfield,  "onely  I 
wish  the  fortune  was  bigger."  Wishes  Jonathan  could  get 
into  Parliament.  Wants  his  annual  account,  and  more  fre- 
quent letters,  "  for  I  will  no  longer  suffer  your  mal-treatment 
of  me  in  that  article." 

May  15.  To  Richard  Paetridgk.  —  "The  Collector  of  New 
Hampshire  being  dead,  why  may  n't  Sh — r — ly  succeed  him  I 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  607 

or  if  he  must  be  made  bi^^r,  vhy  may  n't  he  have  the  gov- 
emment  of  New  Hampshire  if  I  must  lose  it  ?  " 

May  15.  To  Samuel  Holden.  —  Has  not  heard  from  him  for  a 
long  time. 

Maj  15.  To  Charles  Gray.  —  Thanks  him  for  "  the  kind  men- 
tion you  make  of  me  iu  yours  "  to  Hi.  Peagrum. 

May  16.  To  Sir  Jacob  Ackwoeth.  —  To  introduce  Mr.  James 
Griffin. 

May  19.  To  Edwabd  Wihslow,  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  Coouty.— 
Orders  him  to  assist  the  Surveyor-General  of  Cuatoms,  in  the 
search  for  contraband  goods. 

Hay  19.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  Waldron's  resigaation 
of  his  offices,  putting  something  into  the  papers  to  affect  the 
elections,  etc. 

Hay  19.  To  George  Thomas,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania.  — 
About  arresting  Robert  Jenkins,  an  alleged  forger. 

May  19.  To  Col.  Albzandeb  Spotswood. — About  the  pay  of  the 
troops  to  be  raised  to  serve  in  the  expedition  under  Lord 
Gathcart. 

May  20.  To  James  Gbipfih.  -^  Wishes  him  a  good  voyage,  etc.  ' 

Hay  20.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jb.  —  Thinks  he  has  sold  the 
estate  at  Mortlake. 

May  20.  To  Messra.  Pabtridoe  and  Bblcheb.  —  Sends  affidavits 
about  Waldo  and  the  Eastern  settlements. 

Hay  20.  To  Richard  Partbidoe.  — About  the  settlement  of  their 
aocotuits,  his  enemies,  raising  troops  for  the  Spanish  expedi- 
tion, and  Jonathan's  expenses.  **  If  you  can  finally  keep  me 
in  at  New  Hampshire,  as  well  as  Massachusetts,  it  will  be  a 
noble  victory  &  a  fine  issue  &  deliverance  from  all  the  trouble 
Jt  danger  I  have  been  in,  but  this  I  hardly  hope ;  nay,  I  am 
told  that  my  enemies  write  7  days  after  the  date  of  your  letter 
that  a  new  commiss"  would  be  made  out  for  Mass'  in  5  or  6 
days.  No  doubt  the  woman  at  home  [Mrs.  Shirley],  with 
Waldo,  Dunbar,  Tomlinson  &  the  rest  of  my  enemies  perse- 
cute the  Duke  perpetually  to  gain  their  end,  yet  I  really  bc- 
leive  an  earnest  letter  sigu'd  by  M'  Gumey,  Hyam  &  some 
other  of  your  principal  Friends  &  directed  to  S'  Rob  would 
still  secure  me  in  both  provinces." 

May  22.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Surprised  at  the  decision 
tbout  ihe  boundary  line. 


oyGoot^lc 


508  APPENDIX.  [1740. 

Ma;  22.  To  Richard  Pabtbij>gg.  —  About  Sharp's  bill,  which 
should  be  charged  to  the  Proviuce,  and  not  to  Belcher's 
personal  account. 

May  26.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  Elisha  Cooke,  Paul 
Dudley,  and  the  settlemeut  of  the  boundary  line. 

May  26.  To  Gabriel  Johnson,  Governor  of  North  Carolina.  — 
About  his  failure  to  obtiun  some  hemp-seed. 

May  26.  To  Mrs. Allen.  —  Thanks  for  a  letter;  would  be 

glad  to  have  some  nuts  and  seed  potatoes. 

May  27.  To  Epheaim  Hide.  —  Wants  to  have  his  account 

May  28.  To  Rev.  Ebenbzeb  Williaus.  —  About  the  sale  of  the 
Mortlake  estate. 

May  27.  To  Capt.  Godpeet  Malboke.  —  About  the  Mortlake 
estate. 

May  27.  To  John  Fotb.  —  Instructions  for  his  journey  to  Mort- 
lake. 

May  29.  Speech  to  the  Codncil  and  House  of  Representatives 
OP  Massachdsettb.  —  [Printed  in  the  Boston  Weekly  News- 
.  Letter,  May  29  to  June  5] 

June  2.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  About  hia  expenses, 
marrying,  and  getting  into  Parliament,  etc.  *'  I  have  for 
some  time  had  repeated  accounts,  &  some  of  'em  from  your 
very  good  friends  of  the  strangeness  &  distance  you  practice 
to  your  countrymen,  ivhich  makes  them  mark  you  as  haughty 
&  supercilious.  I  am  sure  you  never  learn'd  any  part  of  that 
temper  of  me ;  ijp  the  care  of  my  life  has  been  to  converse 
-with  all  mankind  in  all  the  courtesy,  affability  &  condescention 
I  possibly  could ;  and  if  you  go  on  in  the  manner  represented 
to  me,  instead  of  gaining  love  &,  esteem  you  will  become  the 
object  of  hatred  &  contempt." 

June  3.  To  Horace  Walpole.  —  About  the  Governor's  refusal 
to  admit  Paul  Dudley  to  be  a  member  of  the  Council. 

June  4.  To  the  Dckg  op  Newcastle. — About  raising  volunteers 
for  the  expedition  against  the  Spanish  West  Indies. 

June  5.  To  Richard  Partrtdgb.  —  About  the  emission  of  paper 
currency  in  the  plantations,  the  boundary  line,  the  efforts 
of  his  enemies  to  have  him  removed,  his  quarrel  with  Paul 
Dudley,  raising  volunteers  for  the  expedition,  etc,  "  I  should 
think  such  vast  affairs  as  are  now  on  the  tapiB  should  so  fill 
the  heads  &  hands  of  the  King's  ministers  as  that  they 


oyGoot^lc 


174a]  APPENDIX.  509 

should  not  think  it  worth  while  to  create  themselves  new 
tronbles  of  patting  out  Got"  onely  to  provide  for  other  men 
that  are  starving,  as  in  the  case  of  the  poor,  ungratcfuU 
Sh — 1 — y.  In  short,  it  was  matter  of  wonder  even  to  my 
enemies  that  a  broken  lawyer  of  so  mean  figure  here  should 
be  in  nomination  to  be  Gov'  of  this  countrey,  of  which  he  is 
80  ignorant  &  of  the  affairs  of  goveniment."  As  for  Dudley, 
"  to  accept  him  till  he  writes  me  a  handsome  letter  of  sub- 
mission would  render  me  the  most  mean,  abject,  contemptible 
creature  in  the  sight  of  tlie  whole  people." 

June  6.  To  Capt.  Pbteb  Waeren.  —  About  his  captures  at  St, 
Augustine. 

June  5.  To  Admiral  Edward  Vbbnon.  —  Recommends  Colonel 
Wendell  to  his  favour. 

June  11.  To  Rev.  Ebenezer  Williams.  —  The  proposed  sale  to 
Captain  Malbone  has  fallen  through  ;  wishes  Mr.  Williams  to 
sell  the  land. 

June  11.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall.  —  To  introduce  Mr.  Brenton, 
who  is  desirous  of  buying  the  farm  at  Middletown,  Conn. 

June  12.  To  Rev.  Ebenezer  Williahs.  —  Wishes  him  to  come 
to  Boston  to  consult  about  the  sale  of  the  four  farms. 

June  14.  To  Col.  Zacch?us  Mathew.  —  Desires  that  two  pilots, 
John  Cozens  and  Tliomas  Claghoru,  should  be  excused  from 
serving  as  constables. 

June  13.  To  Col.  Thomas  Berry;  Richard  Saltonstall;  Icha- 
BOD  Plaisted  ;  Joseph  Gerbish.  — Desires  that  Colonel  Epps 
should  be  allowed  to  enlist  raen  for  a  regiment  of  horse. 

June  14.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kellogq. — Is  trying  to  find  proper 
officers  to  fill  the  posts  which  Captain  Kellogg  desires  to  resign. 

June  16.  To  Henbt  Sbebbuhne. — About  enlisting  men  for  the 
expedition,  the  settlement  of  the  Line,  and  the  emission  of 
paper  currency. 

June  16.  To  Richard  Waldeon. — Despondent  view  of  the  state 
of  affairs  in  Massachusetts. 

June  16.  To  Gov.  Georqe  Thomas.  — About  searching  Jenkins's 
b^^i^f^  on  the  arrival  of  any  ship  from  London. 

June  16.  To  Capt.  Godfrey  Malbone. — About  the  value  of  the 
buildings  and  farms  in  Connecticut. 

June  28.  To  Capt.  Godfrey  Malbone. — About  concluding  a 
bat^n  for  the  fariuB. 


oyGoot^lc 


510  APPENDIX,  [1740. 

June  23.  Speech  to  the  CoimciL  and  House  op  REPRESENTAuyEs 
OP  Massachusetts.  —  [Printed  in  the  Boston  Weekly  News- 
Letter,  June  19-26.] 

June  30.  To  Lieut.-Qov.  George  Clabse. — Desires  him  b> 
keep  a  good  look-out  for  a  supposed  smu^ler  and  illicit 
trader. 

June  80.  To  John  Wantow,  Governor  of  Rhode  Island. —To 
the  same  purport. 

June  SO.  To  Henry  Sherburne.  —  About  enlisting  men  for  the 
proposed  expedition  and  holding  aa  Assembly  at  Exet«r, 

June  SO.  To  Richabd  Waldron.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indians,  Paul  Dudley,  and  convening  an  Assembly  at  Exeter. 

June  30.  Speech  to  the  Council  and  House  of  Refbesentatives 
OP  Massachusetts.  —  [Printed  in  the  Boston  Evening  Post, 
July  7.] 

June  30.  To  Col.  Wiluah  Blaeenet. — Congratulates  him  on 
his  arrival  in  America,  will  be  "  proud  of  every  opportunity 
of  demonstrating  my  duty  &  zeal  to  his  Majesty's  service  in 
the  great  affair  now  upon  the  tapig,"  and  would  rejoice  to 
see  him  in  these  parts. 

June  30.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jb.  —  About  the  expedition 
against  the  Spanish  West  Indies.  §hould  the  "  mcasuree  so 
wisely  concerted  sncceed  &  the  Island  of  Cuba  be  reduced  to 
the  obedience  of  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain  it  would  reflect 
such  a  lustre  &  glory  on  his  Majesty's  reign  as  is  not  to  be 
seen  in  the  annals  of  any  of  his  royal  predecessors." 

June  30.  To  Richard  Pabtridoe.  —  "  The  Assembly  have  voted 
me  jE3,600  this  currency."  Will  try  to  make  a  remittance 
to  Mr.  Partridge  ;  is  exerting  himself  to  promote  the  success 
of  the  intended  expedition. 

June  SO.  To  the  Duke  op  Newcastle.  —  About  the  "glorious 
undertaking"  against  the  Spanish  West  Indies. 

June  30.  To DiNWTDDiE.  —  About  paying  for  his  hangings. 

July  7.  To  Col.  William  Blakbnet.  —  About  the  intended 
expedition. 

July  7.  To  Henrt  Shekbuenb.  —  Is  going  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, etc. 

July  7.  To  Col.  John  Oilman.  —  To  the  same  purport 

July  7.  To  Shadrach  Walton. — Desires  him  to  summon  a 
Council  to  advise  about  issuing  proclamations. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  611 

Jul;  7.  To  Elus  Hubee.  —  "  I  liave  had  iio  expectation  of  ob- 
tainiDg  justice  for  the  King  &  hia  officers  from  such  a  pack 
of  Tillaina,  &  with  such  an  uncommon  one  at  their  head." 

July  9.  Speech  to  the  CoDNcn.  and  HooaE  of  REPRESENTATivra 
OF  Massachdbetts.  —  [Printed  in  the  Boston  Evening  Post, 
July  14.] 

July  11.  To  Capt.  Charles  Chobch.  —  Has  received  and  paid  for 
some  oxen. 

July  11.  To DiNwroDiE.  —  About  paying  for  his  hanpnga. 

July  11.  Address  to  the  Council  op  Mabsachubbtts. -.- Desires 
their  advice  whether  he  is  authorized  to  consent  to  an  act 
for  repairing  the  wharf,  etc.,  at  Castle  Island,  and  purcliasing 
military  stores. 

July  14.,To  Henrt  Sherborne.  — Is  going  to  New  Hampshire. 
"  We  must  counter-work  the  party,  &  perhaps  all  tlieir  malice 
may  at  last  be  defeated." 

July  14.  To  Col.  William  Peppebrell.  —  About  taking  pre- 
cautions in  case  of  an  Indian  war. 

July  14.  To  Col.  William  Blakenet.  — Has  received  directions 
for  paying  the  tnen  raised  for  the  Spanish  expedition.  De- 
sires particular  directions  as  to  the  manner  of  paying.  "  In 
obedience  to  his  Majesty's  orders  of  5  of  April  last  I  expect 
-to  raise  a  tliousand  men  in  this  Province  besides  what  I  raise 
in  my  other  government  of  New  Hampshire,  whether  I  am 
going  the  21  of  this  montli  to  put  life  into  this  affair  there, 
&  if  I  succeed,  as  I  have  reason  to  beleive  I  shall,  I  hope  to 
send  Coll"  Gooch  from  both  my  governments  twelve  hundred 
men,  for  which  the  subsistence  according  to  your  estimate 
will  l>e  upwards  £4,000  st'.  In  duty  to  his  Majesty  I  think 
it  proper  to  let  you  know  this  in  time  that  there  be  no  dis- 
appointm'  in  any  respect  to  tlie  King's  service." 

July  14.  To  Lieut.-GoT.  Geoboe  Clarke. — Encloses  letters  for 
Colonel  Gooch  and  Colonel  Blakeney.  "  The  ship  mention'' 
in  my  last  has  been  since  seiz^  by  the  people  of  Rh"  Isl'*  & 
carry'd  into  Newport  with  her  loading." 

July  14.  To  Col.  William  Gooce.  —  About  raising  men  for 
the  expedition  ^fainst  the  Spanish  West  Indies.  "You'll 
please  to  dispatch  to  me  commissions  to  compleat  the  t«n 
companies  I  am  raising  &  some  spare  commissions  for  wliat 
I  may  be  able  to  raise  in  my  government  of  New  Ham^, 


oyGoot^lc 


512  APPENDIX.  [n«. 

whither  I  am  going  the  21  instant  to  push  forward  this  im- 
portant affair  in  that  Province,  tho'  it  is  so  thin  of  people  & 
estate  that  I  have  but  little  expectation  from  them,  jret  I  will 
do  the  beat  I  can  for  the  service.  Perhaps  I  may  get  a  com. 
pany  of  a  hundred  men." 

Jul)- 15.  To  the  Lords  op  Trade.  —  Informs  them  of  the  acts 
passed  by  tlie  last  General  Assembly.  Desires  to  receive 
peremptory  orders  from  the  King  about  emissions  of  paper 
money.  Expects  to  raise  a  thousand  men  in  Massachusetls 
for  the  Spanish  expedition. 

July  16.  To  Capt.  FRiNcis  Percital.  —  About  joining  Admiral 
Vernon  and  procuring  men  for  his  vessel. 

July  17.  To  Capt.  Francis  Percival.  —  About  the  military  and 
naval  preparations. 

July  17.  To  SHAnBACH  Walton.  —  As  he  will  be  detmed 
longer  than  he  expected,  orders  the  New  Hampshire  Assem- 
bly to  be  adJQurued.  , 

July  17.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Encloses  the  foregoing  letter. 

July  21.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  About  hia  expenses  aud 
being  settled  in  life.  "  Had  I  imagin'd  you  would  not  hare 
been  handsomely  and  honourably  setl'd  in  the  world  after 
9  years  atudy,  &  at  so  great  an  expence,  you  liad  stay'd  o' 
this  side  the  water  or  retum'd  some  years  agoe,  &  yet  in  all 
this  1  don't  tax  you  witli  any  breach  of  duty,  or  witli  any 
fault  except  that  money  slips  thro'  your  fingers  too  glibly,  & 
perhaps  you  will  think  so  if  you  live  to  wade  thrd  as  many 
difficulties  in  life  as  I  have." 

July  21.  To  Col.  William  Blakenet. — About  raising  men  for 
the  Spanish  expedition.  "  If  after  all  the  quota  for  my  two 
governments  must  be  confin'd  to  400  men,  it  will  be  a  great 
baulk  to  the  government,  y*  officers  &  men  ;  yet  I  should  be 
glad  to  know  the  determination  as  soon  as  possible,  & 
whether  I  am  to  expect  the  further  commissions  &  subsists 
ence  money  to  make  up  ten  companies." 

July  21.  To SwiTZEH.  —  An  order  for  nuts  and  seeds. 

July  22.  To  Col.  John  Stoddard.  —  About  raising  men  for  the 
expedition  and  the  appointment  of  a  new  sheriff. 

July  28.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Wants  things  sent  which 
he  has  ordered. 

July  28.  To  Ellis  Hiiske.  ~  Wishes  to  have  "  an  authentick 


oyGoot^lc 


17M.]  APPENDIX.  513 

copy  of  the  transactions  about  Roach  in  the  Court  of  Ad- 
miralty" when  he  goes  to  Portsmouth. 

July  28.  To  Shadrach  Walton.  —  Expects  to  be  in  New  Hamp- 
shire at  the  appointed  time ;  if  not,  desires  to  have  the  As- 
sembly adjourned  to  the  next  day. 

July  28.  To  Lieut.-Gov.  George  Clarke. — Forwards  letters, 
etc. 

July  28.  To  John  Scrope.  ~  Thanks  him  for  civilities  to  Mr. 
Partridge.    Desires  his  good  offices  with  Sir  Robert  Walpole. 

July  28.  To Whjtworth. — Thanks  him  for  civilities  to 

Mr.  Partridge  and  for  his  good  offices  with  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle. 

July  28.  To  Sir  Charles  Waobr.  —  Thanks  him  for  his  inter- 
cessions with  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  and  desires  a  warrant 
for  Andrew  Belcher  to  be  Register  of  the  Court  of  Admiralty. 
"  I  would  humbly  beg  of  you  to  favour  me  so  far  as  to  let 
my  brother,  M'  Partridge  have  the  forg'd  letter  which  was 
deliver'd  you  by  M'  Sam'  Waldo.  I  think  it  can  be  of  no 
service  to  your  Honour,  but  with  it  I  may  find  out  the  vile 
authour." 

July  28.  To  Oapt.  Godfhet  Malbone.  —  Is  goin^  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, but  on  his  return  will  "  be  ready  to  finish  our  affair," 

July  28.  To  Admiral  Edward  Vernon.  —  Informs  him  that  the 
Astrea,  Capt.  Percival,  is  now  well  equipped,  but  wishes  that 
a  man  of  war  might  go  with  her  to  Jamaica. 

July  28.  To  Capt.  Francis  Pebcival.  —  Wishes  him  "  a  quick 
&  safe  passage  to  the  Admiral." 

July  28.  To  Col.  William  Blakbnet.  —  Has  raised  for  the 
expedition  five  full  companies  in  Boston  and  expects  to 
raise  five  more  from  other  places. 

July  29.  To  Gov.  Joseph  Talcotf.  — About  the  method  of  pay- 
ing the  men  raised  for  the  expedition.  "  Yesterday  the 
Gov'  &  Council  appointed  a  committee  to  make  the  best 
inquiry  they  could  into  the  course  of  exch'  betwixt  this  & 
Lond",  who  reported  the  best  bills  of  private  persons  to  be  at 
435  V  c*  exch'  &  publiok  bills  at  400." 

July  29.  To  Capt. Pearsb.  —  Wishes  one  of  his  Majesty's 

ships  may  convoy  Captain  Percival. 
July  29.  To  Capt.  Francis  Percival.  —  Sends  him  a  copy  of 
the  foregoing  letter. 

es 


oyGoot^lc 


514  APPENDIX.  [17«L 

July  29.  To  Gapt.  Thomas  Smith.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indians. 

July  29.  To  Capt  Benjahin  Labbabeb.  —  To  the  same  purport. 

July  29.  To  Capt. Savage.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

July  29.  To  Capt.  John  Mimot.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

July  29.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  Od  the  same  subject. 

July  29.  To  KiCHABO  Pabtbidge.  —  Will  pay  him  some  money. 
"  Let  the  King's  ministers  know  I  .ve  already  compleated 
six  companies  of  100  men  each,  &  hope  to  make  out  4 
more,  &  perhaps  one  at  New  Ham^,  &  the  transports  an 
all  getting  ready." 

Aug.  1.  Message  to  the  New  Hahpshibe  Hodse  of  Bbpbesenta- 
T17E3.  —  Has  been  so  fully  employed  that  he  has  ordered  the 
Court  to  be  adjourned  to  the  afternoon. 

Aug.  1.  Speech  t«  the  Cocncil  and  House  of  Bepbesentatttes 
OP  New  Hakpshiee  [see  ante,  p.  815  note].  —  Rehearses  what 
he  has  done  about  raising  men  for  the  espedition  against  the 
Spanish  West  Indies,  and  urges  a  prompt  compliance  with 
the  King's  expectatioua. 

Aag.  7.  Message  to  the  House  op  Reprebentatives  op  New 
Hampshibe.  —  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire  Provincial  Pa- 
pers, vol.  V.  pp.  72,  73.] 

Aug.  14.   To   Col. WiLLAED.  —  About    making  repairs  at 

Fort  Dummer. 

Aug.  18.  To  Col.  Chaeles  Chubch.  —  Wants  a  "  choice  good  " 
red  cow  sent  to  Milton. 

Aug.  18.  To  Richabd  Waldeon.  —  About  matters  iii  New 
Hampshire  and  plans  for  thwarting  his  enemies. 

Ang.  18.  To  Ool.  William  Blakenet.  —  About  raising  and 
paying  men  for  the  expedition.  I  "  have  now  in  this  town 
eight  companies  compleat,  &  am  daily  expecting  two  more 
which  will  make  a  thousand  men  from  the  Prov  of  the 
Mass*  Bay." 

Aug.  18.  To  Major  Samuel  Denny.  —  About  military  jealousies, 
etc. 

Aug.  18.  To  Bev.  Nathaxiel  Stone.  —  Pious  reflections  in  an- 
swer to  a  letter  from  Mr.  Stone,  and  expressions  of  good 
wishes. 

Aug.  18.  To  Col.  John  Stoddard.  —About  the  proposed  resig- 
nation of  Col.  Timothy  Dwight,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  51 5 

Common  Pleas  for  Hampshire  Coanty.  "  If  he  is  fully 
determm'd  to  resign,  he  must  bo  write  me  himself,  and  then 
I  would  be  glad  of  the  beat  advice  in  filling  up  the  vacancy, 
which  must  be  done  aa  soon  as  I  have  his  quitting  letter, 
and  I  should  be  glad  a  auitable  person  might  be  found  that 
has  had  a  liberal  education,  for  such  I  choose  for  all  offices, 
when  they  are  in  other  respecta  equally  qualify'd  with  their 
neighbours." 

Aag.  20.  Message  to  the  Council  and  HonsB  op  Kepresbnta- 
TIVE8  OF  MA38ACHU3BTT8.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  1740,  p.  96.] 

Aug,  21.  Message  to  the  House  op  Represektatites  of  Massa- 
cenSBTTS.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, 1740,  p.  98,  —  wrongly  numbered  80.] 

Aug.  22.  Message  to  the  Hodse  op  Representatives  of  Massa- 
CHDSETTS. —[Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, 1740,  p.  98.] 

Aug.  28.  To  Major  John  Winslow.  —  About  a  review  of  the 
troops  before  embarkation. 

Aug.  23.  Message  to  the  Codncil  and  HoiraE  of  Repbesenta- 
TITE8  OP  Massacbusetts.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  1740,  p.  101.] 

Ang.  25.  To  Mrs.  Richard  Waldron.  —  Has  sent  her  a  present. 
[See  note  ante  p.  821.] 

Ang.  25.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  About  the  embarkation  of 
the  troops,  the  payment  of  his  salary,  and  a "  picture "  for 
Mrs.  Sherburne. 

Ang.  26.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  New  Hampshire 
aSairs  and  personal  matters.  "I  remember  the  Spanish 
creditor  told  a  long  story  of  his  passing  the  difficult  moun- 
tains of  Granada  in  his  way  to  Madrid.  For  the  future  then 
let  him  have  the  honourable  title  of  Don  Grauada,  wlio,  I 
suppose  will  be  with  you  aa  soon  as  tliis,  &  by  him  you'll 
doubtless  hear  so  much  that  will  make  out  so  little  as  that 
you'll  sing  with  the  poet  of  old,  Pariuriunt  monteg,  Aca." 
"  It  was  ft  false  fire  about  Don  Granada.  It's  his  cousin 
that's  come," 

Ang.  29.  To  Col.  John  Chandler. — Wishes  him  to  attend  the 
General  Court  on  the  prospect  of  doing  something  about 
the  Line. 


oyGoot^lc 


516  APPENDIX.  [1740. 

Sept.  1.  To  Hbnbt  Shebbdrne.  —  Was  always  afraid  Capt^n 
Eyre  vould  not  be  able  to  raiae  a  company.  Thauka  Sher- 
burne for  paying  his  salary. 

Sept.  1.  To  Capt.  John  Minot. — Directs  him  to  be  vatchful 
about  the  Indians,  etc. 

Sept.  1.  To  Capt.  Benjamin  Labrabee.  —  To  the  same  purport  ' 

Sept.  1.  To  Capt. Savage.  —  To  the  same  purport     Will 

consider  about  establishing  a  truck  house  at  Fort  Frederick 

Sept.  1.  To  .  Capt. Hawkk  —  Requests  him  to  arrest  the 

captain  of  a  privateer  at  Marblebead,  aod  bring  him  to  Bos- 
ton for  trial,  and  also  to  bring  any  deserters  from  the  troops. 

Sept  1.  To  Shadbach  Walton.  —  Desires  him  to  summons 
Council  about  providing  money  in  aid  of  the  expedition. 

Sept  1.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Encloses  letters. 

Sept  1.  To  Capt.  John  Etre.  —  About  enlistments  and  paying 
the  men  for  the  expedition. 

Sept  1.  To  Col.  William  Blakenet.  —  About  paying  the  men 
for  the  expedition,  etc.  "  M'  Pitcher  [Commissary  of  tlie 
Mustei-s]  tells  me  iie  has  objected  at  New  York  &  Connecticut 
against  Indians  mixt  with  English,  hut  where  there  is  a  whole 
Indian  company  he  is  ready  to  pass  them.  I  tell  him  ha 
must  pass  what  Indians  we  have  among  the  English,  or  it 
may  greatly  break  in  upon  such  companies  as  hare  perhaps 
16  or  20  Indians  to  a  company,  Jk  if  they  were  not  to  be  so 
allow'd  there  should  a'  been  timely  notice ;  for  as  their 
imbarkation  draws  so  near  it's  not  practicable  to  dismiss 
them,  &  have  others  seasonably  in  their  room.  In  former 
expeditions  from  hence  against  Nova  Scotia  &  Canada  they 
were  always  allow'd  to  be  very  good  men." 

Sept  2.  To  Capt.  Thohas  Shith.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indians,  etc. 

Sept.  2.  To  Messrs.  Cooper  and  Gerald.  —  Has  seen  Colonel 
Finkney,  who  had  brought  a  letter  of  introduction  from  them, 
and  enjoyed  his  visit;  had  also  seen  Mr.  Whitaker. 

Sept.  2.  Message  to  the  Ma83acbu3btts  House  op  Repbesenta- 
TIVES.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, 1740,  p.  115.] 

Sept.  8.  Message  to  the  MAssACHUSETrs  House  op  Repbesekta- 
xivES.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, 1740,  p.  115.] 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  517 

Sept.  5.  To  the  Lords  op  Tbade. — Does  not  think  any  troops 
can  be  raised  in  Hevr  Hampahire  for  the  expedition,  etc. 

Sept.  5.  To  Richard  Pabtridgb.  —  Will  write  by  the  next  ship. 

Sept.  6.  To  Col. Mabston.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Sept.  8.  To  Col. Cope. —  Congratulates  him  on  his  appoint- 
ment as  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  Colonel  Gooch's  regiment,  etc. 

Sept.  8.  To  Hbnby  Shbbbubne. — "I  have  yours  of  S""  cur", 
with  the  paragraph  of  a  letter  I  am  told  was  wrote  M'  Atltiu- 
aoD  by  Tomlinson,  Surely  never  was  there  so  vile  &  wiclced 
a  letter.  With  what  face  could  they  so  misrepresent  the 
wise  &  honest  memorial  of  the  majority  of  tlie  Council  to  the 
King  ?  There  was  not  a  single  suggestion  in  it  of  removing 
one  person  from  New  Hampsh' ;  but  that  the  Province  might 
be  annext  &  made  part  of  this  Province  as  to  the  jurisdic- 
tion, &  which  it  had  been  formerly.  But,  as  you  observe, 
they  must  go  on  in  their  master's  service,  &  vent  lies  'till 
they  are  tir'd." 

Sept.  8.   To  Ellis  Hoske.  —  About  buying  a  bill  of  exchange. 

Sept.  8.  To  RiCHAKD  Waldron.  —  Of  similar  purport  with  the 
letter  of  same  date  to  Henry  Sherburne. 

Sept.  8.  To  Capt.  John  Etre.  —  About  raising  men  for  the 
expedition,  etc. 
■  Sept.  8.  To  Col.  William  Blakenet.  —  About  the  refusal  of 
some  of  the  men  to  go  on  the  expedition,  etc.  "  As  I  have 
been  often  inform'd  many  members  of  the  Assembly  of 
the  Province  (now  sitting  here)  have  taken  great  pains  to 
discourage  them  from  going."  Thinks  that  only  four  com- 
panies will  go. 

Sept.  10.  To  Major  Samdel  Denny.  —  Wishes  a  list  of  suitable 
names  for  officers. 

Sept.  10.  Message  to  the  Massachusetts  Hodsb  op  Repbesen- 
TATiTBg.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, 1740,  p.  125.] 

Sept.  12.  Message  to  tlie  Massachusetts  House  op  Represen- 
tatives. —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
tatives,  p.  127.] 

Sept.  12.  To  Col. Epps.  —  About  a  regiment  of  horse  which 

he  intended  to  raise. 
Sept.  13.   To  the  Commanding  Oppiceb  at  Castle  Wiluam.  — 
About  an  exchange  of  guns. 


oyGoot^lc 


518  APPENDIX.  [17«. 

Sept.  15.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  la  heartily  sorry  for  the 
death  of  Mr.  Dennet.  Will  recommead  Samuel  Sherburne 
to  be  of  the  Council. 

Sept.  15.  To  Major  Stephen  Greekleaf.  —  Thanks  him  for  a 
keg  of  sturgeon ;  wishes  for  some  cider. 

Sept.  15.  To  Elus  Husee.  —  About  buying  a  bill  of  exchange, 
raising  troops  ia  New  Hampshire,  and  the  death  of  Mr. 
Dennet. 

Sept.  15.  To  Capt.  Peteb  Waeren.  —  Has  received  a  letter 
from  him.  Will  "  represent  the  nakedness  of  this  coast  to 
the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty." 

Sept.  15.  To  Col.  WiLUAM  Blakenbt.  —  "  Since  my  last  I  think 
I  have  perswaded  a  fifth  company  to  proceed  without  commiB- 
sions  or  arms.  30  odd  of  the  company  are  Indians  &  very 
likely  men,  but  I  could  not  perswade  the  Commissary  of  the 
Musters  to  muster  this  company  &  to  pass  the  Indiaas ;  he 
telling  me  you  had  order'd  them  all  to  be  struck  out  of  the 
files  at  New  York.  However,  as  I  hinted  before  they  were 
accounted  &  rec'  as  good  men  in  the  expedition  from  hence 
in  the  year  1710  under  the  conduct  of  Col'  Nicholson  against 
Port  Royal,  &  again  in  the  year  1711  in  the  expedition  against 
Canada  under  the  conduct  of  Brigadier  Hill,  nor  can  I  see 
the  least  reason  why  they  should  not.  They  are  the  King's 
natural  born  subjects,  bred  up  after  the  English  manner,  are 
good  shotsmen,  &  their  having  black  hair  &  tawny  faces  don't 
at  all  disable  them  from  being  good  souldiera,  And  I  have 
the  honour  to  agree  in  your  sentiments  that  it  will  contribute 
better  to  the  service  to  have  them  mixt  with  English  than 
to  be  in  a  body  by  themselves.  I  shall  give  Capf  Winslo? 
(who  has  SO  of  them)  the  kind  caution  you  mention,  that  his 
white  men  should  not  insult  or  use  them  ill."  "  Care  must 
be  taken  that  for  the  future  all  acts  respecting  the  King's 
regular  troops  at  home,  as  those  agaiust  mutiny,  freeing 
Bouldiers  from  debt,  &c*,  should  extend  to  the  Plantations; 
for  there  is  no  dependance  on  the  Assemblies  here  passing 
laws  for  the  incouragement  of  such  service.  I  must  especially 
think  BO  as  to  this  Province." 

Sept.  15.  To  Capt.  John  Minot. — Thinks  "that  the  Indians 
stand  ready  for  a  rupture  at  the  first  call  of  the  French." 
Directs  him  to  keep  a  good  watch  and  guard. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  619 

Sept  15.  To  Oapt.  John  Giles.  —  Of  Bimilar  purport. 

Sept  16.  To  BiCHABD  Pabtridgs.  —  Desires  him  to  try  to 
Becure  the  appointment  of  Samuel  Sherburne  as  one  of  the 
Council  of  New  Hampshire.  '*  The  Assembly  are  always  a 
dead  weight  against  me,  &  uuless  I  can  keep  a  majority  in 
tbfi  Council  it's  impossible  I  should  bold  that  government 
long,  the  Council  at  present  (consisting  of  ten)  are  five  with 
the  Oot'  &  five  against  him.  It  is  therefore  of  absolute 
necessity  tiiat  you  get  Sherburne  appointed,  if  you  possibly 
can," 

Sept.  18.  To  the  Loeds  op  Trade  ;  same  to  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle. —  Becommends  the  appointment  of  Samuel  Shei^ 
burae  as  succesaor  to  the  late  Ephraim  Dennet  in  the  Council 
of  New  Hampshire. 

Sept.  22.  To  EU.IB  Huskb.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Sept,  22.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  a  reconstruction  of 
the  Superior  Court  and  other  matters  in  New  Hampshire. 

Sept.  22.  To  Col.  Wiluam  Blakenet.  —  Complimentary  to 
Lieutenant  Ereskine  and  other  officers. 

Sept.  22.  To  Col.  William  Blakenet  ;  same  to  Col.  Wiluah 
GoocH.  —  Kecommends  Mr.  Phillips  for  appointment  as  a 
lieutenant  in  Capt.  John  Winslow's  company. 

Sept  22.  To  Col.  William  Blakenet  ;  same  to  Col.  Williah 
GoocH.  —  Recommends  Mr.  McQueen  to  their  favourable 
notice. 

Sept.  22.  To  Col.  Wiluah  Blakenet.  —  About  the  refusal  of 
the  companies  which  were  without  arms  to  go  on  the  expe- 
dition, the  payment  of  the  men,  etc. 

Sept.  23.  To  Col.  William  Gooch.  —About  the  embarkation  of 
the  five  companies. 

Sept.  23.  To  Col.  Wiluah  Blakenet.  —  About  the  payment  of 
the  troops. 

Sept  26.  To  Lord  Cathcaht. — To  recommend  Capt  John 
Winslow  and  his  officers  for  commissiona  in  the  King's 
name,  etc. 

Sept.  26.  To  Col.  William  Gooch.  — To  the  same  purport. 

Sept.  29.  To  Capt.  John  Etre.  —  About  his  raising  men  for  the 
expedition. 

Sept  29.  To  Henrt  Shebburke.  —  About  appointments  in  New 
Hampshire. 


oyGoot^lc 


520  APPENDIX.  []7ifl. 

Sept  27.  To  Abijah  Savage  and  Abiel  Wallet,  Justices  of 
the  Peace.  —  Desires  them  to  issue  a  warrant  for  apprehend- 
ing .i^neas  Mackay. 

Sept.  29.  To  Richard  Waldeon.  —  About  appointments  in  New 
Hampshire,  etc. 

Sept  29.  To  Lieut.-GoT.  GEOitGB  Clabke.  —  About  relations 
with  the  Indians. 

Oct.  6.  To  Col.  Charles  Church.  —  About  sending  him  a 
cow. 

Oct.  6.  To  Col.  Mabston.  —  Wishes  some  fish  "of  the 

middling  size." 

Oct.  6.  To Lawton.  —  Wants  a  pair  of  horses. 

Oct.  6,  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  A  few  lines  about  New  Hamp- 
shire matters. 

Oct.  G.  To  UENRf  Sherbitrnb.  —  About  the  wish  of  Sherburne's 
son  to  be  appointed  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court. 

Oct.  6.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  About  his  enemies,  etc.  "I 
am  under  great  obligations  to  my  stanch  friend,  S'  Charles 
Wager,  but  he  is  not  sensible  of  the  unwearied  malice  and 
wickedness  of  my  enemies,  as  Dunbar,  Waldo,  Tomlinson, 
Wentworth,  Shirley's  wife,  &  little  whipper  snapper  Allen; 
&  Shirley  o'  this  side  the  water  is  indefatigable;  &  there  is 
a  late  letter  from  Tomlinson  wherein  he  assures  his  clan  at 
New  Hampshire  that  Weutworth  will  certainly  be  their  Gov', 
&  that  the  Duke  will  as  certainly  get  Mass'  for  Shirley,  &  I 
really  expect,  brother,  that  my  enemies  will  upon  the  King's 
return  make  the  strongest  efforts  against  me  of  any  yet." 

Oct.  6.  To  the  DnKE  op  Newcastle.  —  Relates  what  he  did  in 
New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  about  raising  men  for 
the  expedition. 

Oct.  6.  To  Capt  {JODFBEY  M ALBONE.  —  About  the  sale  of  the 
estate  in  Connecticut 

Oct.  10.  To  Major  Samuel  Dennt.  —  About  the  killing  of  catUe 
by  the  Indians,  etc. 

Oct.  10.  To  Capt,  Benjamin  Larbabee.  —  About  private  traders 
with  the  Indians,  etc. 

Oct.  10.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  — About  indemnification  by  the 
Indiana  for  killing  cattle,  etc. 

Oct  10.  To  the  Chiefs  of  the  Norridgewalk  Indians. — Re- 
monstrates with  them  for  killing  the  cattle  of  the  settlers. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  621 

Oct.  10.  To  Capt.  John  Gilbb.  -^  About  the  relations  with  the 
Indians. 

Oct.  11.  To  RiCHABD  Fartridog.  t-  About  paying  for  the  man- 
damus for  Sajnnel  Sherburne. 

Oct.  13.  To  Capt  GoDFBET  Malbonb.  —  Ib  going  to  Connecticut 
to  complete  the  sale  of  the  estate. 

Oct  14.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Has  paid  drafts  by  his  order. 

Oct  20.   To  Henrt  Sherborne.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Oct.  20.  To  Richard  Waldron,  —  About  New  Hampshire  mat- 
ters, etc.  "  As  to  the  Thanksgiving  proclam*,  if  you  think 
with  me,  I  could  almoet  be  willing  it  should  pass  in  the 
manner  you  mention,  if  but  two  or  three  of  the  clan  would 
Tote  &  give  for  reason  what  you  say,  &  for  which  reason  I 
would  immediately  suspend  them  &  be  glad  of  the  occasion ; 
but  if  on  weighing  the  thing  you  think  there  be  too  many  for 
a  suspension,  then  I'll  put  in  practice  what  you  desire." 
Has  been  on  a  journey  to  Connecticut, "  &  by  it  (thro'  the 
favour  of  God)  I  have  gain'd  three  points,  —  better  health, 
the  doing  some  necessary  business,  &  what  crown'd  the 
pleasure  of  the  journey  was  my  unexpectedly  meeting  on  the 
road  the  excellent,  lovely,  heavenly  Whitefield,  whom  I  had 
often  heard  at  Boston  wltliout  weariness,  and  therefore 
eagerly  heard  him  again  at  Malborougli  &  Worcester;  & 
altho'  I  greatly  approve  &,  admire  his  matter  &  manner  of 
preaching,  yet  having  an  opportunity  in  this  journey  of  con- 
siderable private  conversation  with  him,  by  his  piety,  meek- 
ness, humility,  innocence,  and  great  simplicity  he  has  most 
of  all  enamour'd  me." 

Oct.  22.  To  Paul  Mascarene.  —  About  raising  troops  in  Mas- 
sachusetta  for  the  Spanish  expedition,  relations  with  the 
Indians,  etc 

Oct.  25.  To  Col. Barwick.  — Personal  compliments,  etc. 

Oct  25.  To  Mrs.  Barwick.  —  Thanks  her  for  a  present, 

and  sends  a  present  to  her. 

Oct.  25.  To  the  Lords  op  Tradk,  —  Has  received  various  letters 
from  them,  and  will  carry  out  their  instructions  as  far  as 
may  be  iu  his  power. 

Get  25.  To  Richard  Partridge.  — A  very  long  letter  about 
Kilby,  Paul  Dudley,  Dunbar,  Jonathan's  extravagance,  pre- 
sents to  be  given  where  "  they'll  do  the  most  service,"  etc. 


oyGoot^lc 


522  APPESDII.  [1T». 

Oct  25.  To  FBANaa  Wiles.  —  Hopes  "  an  act  of  Parliament 
of  this  session  will  forbid  all  the  goverDmeots  and  private 
companies  in  the  plantations  from  issuing  paper  in  lieu  (A 
money,  unless  it  be  issu'd  at  a  certain,  unfailing  standard." 
Thanks  him  for  employing  his  good  offices  in  favour  of  the 
Governor. 

Oct  25.  To Holme.  —  About  "  what  is  true  <fe  real  reli- 
gion," and  his  intention  to  trj  to  do  something  for  the 
Quakers. 

Oct.  25.  To  - — ■  Htah.  —  Wishes  he  and  his  Friends  would 
appear  "  in  a  body  in  my  favour  with  the  great  Sir  B.  and 
with  the  Dulie  of  Newcastle."  Uentions  his  intention  to  try 
to  do  something  for  the  Quakers  in  Massachusetts. 

Oct.  27.  To  SHAoaACB  Walton.  —  Orders  him  to  convene  a 
Council  about  issuing  a  proclamation  for  a  Thanksgiving,  etc. 

Oct.  28.  To  Jonathan  Belcheb,  Ja  —  Upbreuds  him  for  leaving 
seven  letters  unanswered.  "  I  am  tir'd,  heavy  &  sick  with 
sighing  out  these  complaints  to  one  whom  I  desire  to  con- 
tinue to  love ;  but  unless  yon  do  for  the  future  act  up  with 
stricter  duty  and  obedience,  you  may  assuredly  depend  on  it 
that  my  letters  &  actions  will  too  soon  for  your  comfort  be 
of  a  different  stile  &  nature." 

Oct.  29,  To  Uessrs.  FABTaiDOE  and  Belcher.  —  Sends  docu- 
ments to  Tindicat«,  if  necessary,  his  course  about  raising 
troops  for  the  expedition  against  the  West  Indies. 

Oct  SO.  To  the  Lords  of  Tbade.  —  Refers  them  to  Thomas 
Hutchinson  for  information  about  the  paper  currency,  etc. 
Ui^^  that  measures  be  taken  to  prevent  any  further  issues. 

Oct  80.  To  FEAKaa  Wiles.  —  To  recommend  Thomas  Huteh- 
inson  to  his  respect  and  friendship.  "  The  more  especiall 
reason  of  bis  taking  this  voyage  is  to  appear  in  favour  of  hie 
countrey  to  soUicit  at  Court  the  having  sundry  lands  that  fall 
out  of  this  Province  by  the  new  settlements  restor'd  to  it  as 
to  jurisdic"  or  government"    ' 

Oct  30.  To  Thouas  Gobah.  —  To  recommend  Thomas  Hutch- 
inson to  his  favour. 

Oct.  30.  To  Sir  Chakles  Waqbr.  —  To  the  same  purport 

Oct  80.  To  Jonathan  Belcheb,  Jb.  —  To  similar  purport 
"  He  is  now  going  home  an  agent  in  an  affair  tJiat  relates 
to  the  settlement  of  the  line  betwixt  Uiis  Province  &  New 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.J  APPENDIX.  523 

Hampshire,  £  in  which  your  father  ie  coQcern'd  to  a  con- 
siderable yaloe,  &  he  has  a  special  power  of  attoraey  to  act 
for  me." 

Oct.  30.  To  TaoHAS  Hutchinson.  —  Delivers  him  a  special 
power  of  attoroey ,  and  wishes  him  a  prosperous  voyage. 
"  I  happen  to  have  a  thousand  acres  of  land  "  which  fall 
out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  by  the  settlement  of 
the  liue.  They  were  granted  by  the  General  Assembly,  Jan. 
6, 1735. 

Uct.  31.  To  Richard  Partridob.—Ou  personal  matters.  Sends 
fish  and  cranberries  for  presents,  *'  of  wliich  our  good  S'  C. 
Wager  must  have  some ;  what  if  Lord  Wilmington  should 
have  a  share,  with  my  duty,  if  he  has  any  liking  to  fish  or 
cranberries  ?  " 

Oct.  31.  To  Messrs.  Pabtridoe  and  Belcher.  — Sends  an  answer 
to  a  resolve  of  the  New  Hampshire  House  of  Bepreeentatives 
passed  Aug.  1, 1740. 

Nov.  3.  To  Col.  Charles  Chprch.  —  About  buying  a  cow  and 
heifer. 

Nov.  3.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Nov.  6.  To  Col.  Uaithew  Alltm.  —  Sends  him  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Partridge. 

Nov.  10.  To  Jonathan  Bemikqton.  ~  Personal  compliments.  *'  I 
am  sorry  to  differ  with  so  good  a  judge  as  you  are  in  politicks, 
but  upon  the  most  grave  reflection  I  think  what  is  done  is 
right,  and  as  necessary  as  it  would  be  to  extinguish  the  fiames 
of  a  burning  city." 

Nov.  10.  To  Elbas!ER  RoasELL.  —  Desires  him  to  pay  Mrs. 
Uerrett  the  amount  of  an  execution  against  Daniel  Went- 
worth  of  Portsmouth. 

Nov.  12.  To  Jonathan  Belohbe,  Jr.  —  A  very  long  letter. 
Complains  of  his  "  indiETerence,  neglect,  and  disobedience." 
Has  neglected  to  give  any  account  of  his  visit  to  the  Duke 
of  Newcastle.  Expects  an  account  of  his  affair  with  Miss 
HatEeld,  as  also  his  annual  account.  "A — m — ty  is  a 
finisht  villain,  &  must  be  remov'd."  "  Tour  uncle,  I  speak 
it  with  the  greatest  gratitude  &  on  repeated  experience, 
is  the  most  zealous,  vigilant  friend  I  have  ever  known,  and 
his  fidelity  to  my  interest  &  service  is  what  I  can't  express, 
and  join  with  yon  in  the  just  opinion  you  have  of  the  Quakers 


oyGoot^lc 


524  APPENDIX.  [1740. 

in  their  true  notions  of  friendship,  that  is,  in  acting  confor* 
mably  to  eucli  professions  as  they  make,  in  which  I  really 
think  no  other  aett  of  people  come  up  to  them ;  and  their 
exerting  in  my  favour  at  this  critical  juncture  is  what  I  shall 
not  forget  to  return  to  their  Friends  here  on  every  good  occa- 
sion tliat  falls  in  my  power."  Writes  that  Waldo's  pecuniary 
affairs  are  in  a  wretched  situation,  and  that  he  denies  having 
delivered  the  forged  letter  to  Sir  Charles  Wager.  Discusses 
"  the  grave  affair  of  yonr  marrying  "  at  length,  with  many 
pious  and  moral  reflections,  and  professions  of  affection. 

Nov.  13.  To  RiCHAED  Partridge.  — About  Dunhar,  Dudley,  the 
paper  currency,  Kilhy,  Waldo,  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  and 
the'  efforts  to  have  him  superseded. 

Nov.  14.  To  Thomas  Corak.  —  Condoles  with  him  on  the  death 
of  his  wife.  Thinks  Gorum's  "  reputation  so  much  concerned 
in  making  answer  to  what  he  [Paul  Dudley]  cookt  up  in  his 
House  of  Repres™  that  you  must  spare  no  pains  to  vindicate 
your  honour  "  in  respect  to  the  vote  of  the  House  on  Coram's 
letter  to  the  Secretary  aud  the  Speaker.  Wislies  to  obtain 
the  original  of  Dudley's  letter  to  Dummer.  Believes  Waldo 
*'  hag  run  out  the  fine  estate  the  oobler  left  him,  &  is  in  sad  cir- 
cumstances both  on  your  side  the  water  &  bore."  Desires  him 
to  help  Jonathan  in  his  profession  and  to  fmd  "  a  good  wife." 

Nov.  14.  To  James  Belcher.  —  Thanks  him  for  a  present  of 
claret  and  for  friendly  services;  recommends  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Jr.,  to  his  favor. 

Nov.  15.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Wishes  him  to  get  a  letter 
from  Sir  Charles  Wager  asserting  that  the  "  forged  letter  " 
was  delivered  to  Sir  Charles  by  Samuel  Waldo. 

Nov.  15.  To  Henet  Newman.  —  Charges  him  with  injustice  in 
withholding  the  original  of  Paul  Dudley's  letter. 

Nov.  15.  To  Sir  Charles  Wager.  —  Desires  him  to  write  a 
letter  about  the  person  who  delivered  the  forged  letter. 

Nov.  15.  To HoLDSWORTH.  —  Thanks  him  for  his"readi- 

ness  to  contribute  to  my  service  &  interest  at  a  time  when  I 
need  your  friendship." 

Nov.  15.  To  Capt.  Godfret  Malbone.  —  Delivers  to  him  sundry 
papers  on  tlie  completion  of  the  s&le  of  Mortlake. 

Nov.  17.  To  William  Shirlet.  —  About  some  business  of  Sir 
Thomas  Prendergaat 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  625 

Nov.  17.  To  RiCHAED  Waldron.  —  About  Dunbar,  Thomlioson, 
Waldo,  and  matters  in  New  Hampshire. 

Nov.  17.  To  Lord  Wilmington,  —  About  some  legacies  "  left 
by  Thomas  Thetcher  to  some  of  his  family  here." 

Nov.  17.  To Storke.  —  Desires  the  continuance  of  his  good 

offices,  and  desires  him  to  employ  or  recommend  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Jr.,  whenever  it  is  in  his  power  to  do  so. 

Nov.  17.  To How  J     same    to Arnold To     same 

purport. 

Nov.  17.   To MoLlNEPX.  —  To  similar  purport. 

Nov.  IS.  To  Sir  John  Strange.  —  Solicits  his  favour  and 
patronage  for  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

Nov.  18.  To  Dr.  Michael  Lee  Dicker.  —  Thanks  him  for  his 
great  friendship.  *'  You  will  please.  Sir,  to  let  me  inform  you 
that  some  of  the  attacks  made  upon  me  lately  have  been  by 
one  M'  Samuel  Waldo,  a  N.  E.  man  now  at  London  (whose 
haughtiness  and  malice  is  hardly  to  be  equall'd),  &  to  facili- 
tate his  design  he  has  recommended  to  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle one  M'  Shirley,  a  lawyer  in  this  town,  to  be  my 
successour.  He  came  hither  from  England  some  years  agoe, 
after  being  drown'd  in  the  South  Sea  (as  I  have  been  told). 
He  has  a  large  family,  and  I  beleive  in  lean  circumstances, 
is  personally  known  to  the  Duke,  was  once  his  neighbour  in 
Sussex,  and  he  has  a  kindness  for  the  man,  &  would  be 
ready  to  serve  him.  I  should  therefore  take  it  as  a  fresh 
obligation  from  D'  Lee  Dicker,  if  you  or  any  of  your  par- 
ticular friends  have  easy  access  to  the  Duke,  that  their  good 
offices  might  be  imploy'd  with  him  to  ward  of  anything 
he  might  otherwayes  be  perswaded  to  do  to  my  prejudice. 
This  would  be  a  singular  service  to  me  at  this  juncture." 

Nov,  18,  To  John  Woods.  —  Desires  his  influence  with  Speaker 
Onslow  "  and  with  such  others  at  Court  as  you  have  weight 
and  influence  upon." 

Nov.  18.  To  Sir  John  Gonson. —  Thanks  him  for  the  present  of 
his  Charges  to  the  Grand  Juries  of  Westminster  and  London, 
and  desires  "  that  you  would  imploye  your  good  offices  in  my 
favour  with  his  Grace,  the  Duke  of  Newcastle." 

Nov.  19.  To  Richard  Partridge. — About  Thomlinson,  Kilby, 
young  Clark,  "the  forged  letter,"  Jeremiah  Allen's  friend- 
ship for  the  Governor,  the  efforts  to  secure  his  removal, 
Jonathan's  extravagance,  etc. 


oyGoot^lc 


526  APPENDIX.  [1740. 

Nov.  19.  To  JonATBAM  Bblcher,  Jr.  — «  Kilby  is  bat  a  blnnder- 
ing,  ignorant  fellow,  and,  T  tliink,  will  soon  overset  bimself. 
He  has  very  little  interest  in  the  countrey  or  in  the  present 
House  of  Rep™.  Colman't  land  scheme  is  a  rile  fraud  and 
mnst  be  crusht.  Sending  the  affair  to  Tomlinson  was  a  grosO 
mistake.  I  don't  suppose  this  Province  has  another  enemv 
equal  to  him."  Denounces  paper  currency.  Wishes  to  know 
the  result  of  Jonathan's  affair  with  Misa  Hatfield,  "*  and  what 
is  come  of  my  letter  to  her  ?  I  hope  it  was  not  deliver'd, 
to  serve  as  a  subject  of  ridicule  A  banter  among  her  & 
her  friends."  Rebukes  him  for  negligence  and  want  of 
punctuality,  etc. 

Nov.  19.  To  Sir  Thomas  Pbenderoast.  —  About  the  pecuniary 
relatitme  of  Sir  Thomas  and  Mr.  ^uchmnty.  Doubts  Mr. 
Shirley's  fidelity  to  his  client.  ".It  has  been  generally  sup- 
pos'd  M'  Auchmuty  has  12  or  14  hundred  ounces  of  wro* 
plate,  which  I  had  a  mind  M'  Shirley  should  have  in  pawn, 
in  case  he  did  not  complye  with  the  first  payment,  and  I 
Qi^d  M'  Shirley  to  coax  him  into  the  lodging  it  with  him  on 
H'  Shirley's  passing  his  note,  making  it  redeemable,  upon 
his  dischai^ng  the  first  payment  with  interest  in  twelve 
months  after  it  became  due." 

Nov.  19.  To  JoHF  GouBAND.  —  Hss  received  his  letter  covering 
additional  instructions  from  the  Lords  Justices,  to  which  "  I 
shall  pay  the  most  exact  obedience  in  my  power." 

Nov.  21.  Message  to  the  Codncil  and  Hodse  op  REPBGSEFn'ATiTES 
OF  MASBACHOSEira.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  1740,  pp.  131-134.] 

Nov.  21.  To  Henbt  Sherburne. — "I  am  truly  sorry  for  the 
death  of  Cap'  Rindge.  He  was  in  the  prime  of  life,  carry'd 
on  a  large  trade,  which  was  a  considerable  advantage  to  the 
Province  and  town.  Perhaps,  in  the  end  his  family  may  Uiink 
it  had  been  better  for  tbem  if  he  had  steer'd  clear  of  publick 
affairs."  Writes  also  on  personal  matters,  a  purchase  of  oak 
lumber,  etc. 

Nov.  24.  To  Thoma9  Hale.  —  Thanks  him  for  good  wishes ; 
hopes  an  end  will  be  put  to  all  paper  currency. 

Nov.  24.  To  RicHABD  Waldboh. — About  obtaining  the  advice 
of  the  Council  for  issuing  two  proclamations,  and  sending 
forward  documents  asked  for  by  the  Board  of  Trade. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740.]  APPENDIX.  527 

Nov.  25.  To  HOBACE  Walpole.  —  About  the  difficulty  between 
the  Qoyemor  and  Paul  Dudley. 

Nov.  25.  To  Col.  MoBDA DOT.  —  Compliments,  etc    "Let 

me.  Sir,  hope  for  your  weight  and  interest  with  Sir  Rob' 
Walpole  that  I  may  be  made  easy  in  my  governments  by  his 
Honour's  assurance  of  my  continuance,  and  that  he  would 
frown  away  such  petulant  people  as  are  continually  tfiazing 
him  &  the  rest  of  the  King's  ministers." 

Nov.  29.  To  Messrs.  Godpeey  and  Llotd. — Has  paid  James  Allen 
money  on  account  of  the  bond  due  them  as  Executors,  and 
will  make  a  further  payment  in  the  next  May. 

Nov.  30.  To  George  Llotd.  —  On  the  same  subject  and  about 
the  Governor's  enemies. 

Nov.  29,  To  Jonathan  Bblchsr,  Jr. — Shirley  expects  to  receive 
his  commission  by  one  of  the  next  ships. 

Nov.  29.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  About  ttie  Land  Bank  and 
Shirley's  expectations. 

Dec.  1,  To  Richard  PARiBtDGB. — About  the  efforts  to  have  him 
removed  from  the  government  of  New  Hampshire,  etc. 

Dec.  1.  To  Richard  Waldron. — About  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
Thinks  "Granada  or  Sancho  is  at  last  like  to  be  your  man." 

Dec.  1.  To  the  Lords  op  Trade. — Transmits  an  account  of  the 
outstanding  bills  of  credit  in  New  Hampshire,  and  will  send 
as  soon  as  possible  a  copy  of  the  laws  -now  in  force,  etc. 

Dec.  2.  To  the  Lords  of  Trade.  —  Announces  the  death  of  John 
Btndge,  one  of  the  Council  of  New  Hampshire,  and  reoom- 
mends  the  appointment  of  Nathaniel  Gilman  to  fill  the 
vacancy, 

Deo.  8.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Desires  him  to  send  as  com- 
plete a  copy  of  the  laws  as  he  can  and  as  soon  as  he  can ; 
thinks  February  the  beat  month  for  the  Line. 

Dec.  16.  To  Jonathan  Belchbb,  Jr.  —  A  long  letter,  "purely 
on  the  great  affair  of  matrimony."  "Upon  looking  into  a 
lett«r  of  your  uncle's  of  27  June  last,  I  find  you  had  talkt 
together  of  the  affair  of  Rbohampton,  and  he  sayes  you  were 
in  the  good  graces  of  the  old  lady  (the  sole  Exec"),  and  I  have 
another  letter  from  my  old  friend  M'  Morton,  of  14  of  June, 
that  speaks  favourably  of  this  affair ;  and  upon  these  hints  I 
have  askt  the  favour  of  a  letter  from  mine  and  your  sincere 
friend,  the  worthy  D'  Colroan  to  the  good  old  lady,  &  which 


oyGoot^lc 


528  APPENDIX.  [ITtO. 

I  nov  inclose  to  be  re'd,  Beal'd  and  wisely  convej'd  to  her 
hands,  if  your  uncle  and  you  should  judge  it  prudent.  This, 
my  son,  is  a  very  nice  &,  delicate  affair.  If  you  have  no 
tiioughts  of  such  an  attempt,  or  have  made  the  motion  with- 
out hopes  of  success,  then  the  letter  is  to  be  sacredly  re- 
turn'd  to  me,  &  to  remain  a  dead  secret  as  if  there  had  been 
no  such  thing ;  but  if  you  have  broke  .the  ice,  and  find  & 
rational  incouragment,  then  the  D''*  letter  must  fall  into 
the  lady's  hands  by  some  safe  canal,  and  not  to  be  known 
that  you  have  ever  seen  it,  or  know  anything  about  it." 

Dec.  22.  To  Henby  Sherbubne.  —  Intends  to  go  to  New  Hamp- 
shire in  February,  and  thinks  they  are  likely  to  have  a  separate 
Governor. 

Dec.  22.  To  Richabd  Waldbon. — About  New  Hampshire  affairs 
and  the  attempts  to  have  him  removed.  "  Having  by  myself 
&  friends  done  all  in  their  and  my  power,  if  finally  we  cannot 
stand  the  torrent  of  lyes,  forgeries,  and  perjuries,  I  hope  1 
shall  be  able  to  play  the  philosopher,  &  the  Christian." 

Dec.  22.  To  Capt.  George  TowuaHENo.  —  On  personal  matters 
and  the  impressment  of  sailors. 

Dec.  22.  To  Capt.  Gerald. — Thanks    for    services  in 

England. 

Dec.  22.  To  Capt.  John  Stoseb.  —  About  making  Richmond 
Fort  defensible. 

Dec.  22.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indians  and  tlie  repairs  of  his  fort. 

Dec.  22.  To  Capt. Savage.  — About  increasing  the  number 

of  his  men  and  paying  them  higher  wages. 

Dec.  22.  To  Col.  John  Holman. — Forbids  him  to  have  any 
more  trees  cut  on  tlie  Governor's  farm. 

Dec.  22.  To  Capt  John  Minot.  —  Has  learned  that  the  Indians 
will  make  restitution  for  the  cattle  killed  by  them.  Direc- 
tions about  the  treatment  of  the  Indians,  etc. 

Dec.  23.  To  Major  Samuel  Dennt.  —  About  military  appoint- 
ments, relations  with  the  Indians,  etc. 

Dec.  24.  To .  —  About  relations  with  the  Indians, 

eto. 

Dec.  26.  To  Capt.  Joseph  Kellogo. — Encloses  a  warrant  for 
him  to  be  "  an  establisht  interpreter  for  this  Province." 

Dec.  29.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jb.  —  A  few  lines  about  tlie 


oyGoot^lc 


1740-1.]  APPENDIX.  529 

Rhobampton  affair,  in  which  the  Governor  does  not  think  he 

■will  be  succesBful. 
Dec.  29.  To  Richikd  Parthidob.  —  On  the  same  subject. 
Dec.  29.  To  Thomas  Corah.  —  About  Paul  Dudley,  Kilby,  and 

Waldo,  and  Jonathan's  marrying. 
Dec.  SI.  Speech  to  the  Council  and  House  op  Represent ativeb 

OF  Massachusetts.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  House 

of  BepresentatiTea,  1740,  p.  180.] 

1740-1. 

Jan.  5.  To  Henrt  Sbebbubne.  —  About  purchasing  some  lum- 
ber, etc. 

Jan.  5,  To  Richabd  Waldbon.  —  About  affairs  in  Maaaachusetts 
and  New  Hampafaire. 

Jan.  5.  To  Bev.  Matthias  Plant.  —  About  pilferera  of  wood 
and  timber  from  hia  laud  and  "  what  ia  call'd  Uie  manufac- 
tury  acheme." 

Jan.  8.  Message  to  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Repbesenta- 
TivES.  —  [Printed  in  tlie  Journal  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, 1740,  pp.  198,  194.] 

Jan.  8.  Meaaage  to  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representa- 
tives. ~-  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  Houae  of  Represen- 
tatives, 1740,  p.  194.] 

Jan.  8.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Pioua  reflections  on  his 
own  birthday  and  injunctions  to  hia  son.  "  Give  all  I  have 
wrote  you  a  wise  consideration,  &  know  if  you  caunot  by 
marrying,  or  by  the  business  of  Weatmineter  Hall,  provide 
for  your  own  maintenance,  you  must,  after  a  vast  expence  of 
ten  years  &  living  in  the  most  genteel  &  handaome  manner, 
return  hither  &  drudge  along  as  other  Mew  England  lawyers 
do.  and  which  I  can  assure  you  is  but  poor  doing." 

Jan.  9.  Speech  to  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives 
OP  MASSACHUaBTTS.  —  [Prmted  in  the  Journal  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  1740,  pp.  195, 196.] 

Jan.  12.  To  Richard  WALDRotf.  —  Reflections  on  his  own  birth- 
day, and  remarks  on  affairs  in  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire.  "  In  the  course  of  the  Journals  and  by  this 
day's  prints  you'll  And  the  wretched,  mad  proceedings  of  the 
late  Assembly  here.  It  really  looks  to  me  as  if  the  present 
constitution  must  soon  expire,  or  the  King's  government,  the 
67 


oyGoot^lc 


530  APPENDIX.  [1740-L 

countrey  &  people  be  lost.  I  summoD'd  up  all  mj  philosophy, 
&  went  along  very  calmly." 

Jan.  12,  To  Col.  John  Chandler.  —  Is  determined  to  do  all  in 
his  power  "  to  put  a  atop  to  the  vile  projection  now  on 
foot." 

Jan.  13,  To  Joseph  Pitkik.  —  Does  not  intend  to  continue  the 
works  at  Simsbury,  and  wishes  to  sell  some  of  his  land 

Jan.  13.  To  the  Duke  op  Newcastle.  —  Ahout  the  case  of 
Eneas  Mackay,  who  claims  to  be  a  subject  of  tlie  States  of 
Holland. 

Jan.  13.  To  the  Loans  op  Trade.  —Tranemita  the  Laws  of  New 
Hampshire. 

Jan.  19.  To  Henbt  Shebbdrne.  —  Intends  to  meet  an  AsBembly 
in  New  Hampshire  on  the  12tli  of  next  month. 

Jan.  19.  To  Shadrach  Walton. — Directs  him  to  convene  a 
Council  about  summoning  an  Assembly. 

Jan.  19,  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Jan.  19.  To  Richard  PARTRrDOB.  —  Encloses  the  copy  of  an  affi- 
davit of  Benjamin  Pollai-d  to  be  used  against  the  Governor, 
and  explains  his  action  in  the  matter  to  which  it  relates. 

Jan.  19.  To  the  Lords  of  the  Adhibaltt.  —  There  has  been 
no  man-of-war  on  this  station  since  the  departure  of  the 
Squirrel  near  eighteen  months  ago.  Desires  that  a  aisty- 
gun  ship  and  two  twenty-gun  ships  should  be  stationed  here, 
for  the  protection  of  the  trade. 

Jan.  19,  To  Nathaniel  Blagrote.  —  Isaac  Royal  complains 
that  his  wife's  guardian  does  not  file  his  accounts;  wishes 
justice  done  in  the  matter. 

Jan.  20.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Hears  that  Capt.  John  Eyre 
"  has  made  out  some  affidavits  against  me,"  relating  to  the 
failure  to  raise  a  company  in  New  Hampshire  for  the  expedi- 
tion ;  sends  various  documents  in  answer. 

Jan.  23.   To  Francis  Wilks.  —  Wishes  a  skilled  gunner  to  be 

sent  over,  to  be  stationed  at  Castle  William- 
Jan.  23.  To  Capt.  Thomas  Dubell  ;  same  to  Thomas  Coram.— 
On  the  same  subject. 

Jan.  28.  To  the  Lords  op  Trade.  —  Wishes  their  "  opinion  on 
the  clause  of  the  Charter  respecting  forts  and  fortifications." 
Thinks  the  Assembly  wish  "  to  wrest  the  King's  power  & 
authority  out  of  his  royal  hands." 


oyGoot^lc 


1740-1.]  APPENDIX.     ,  631 

Jan.  23.  To  Bichabd  Fabtridge.  —  Desires  bis  "  parttcnlar  Si 
expeditious  care  in  the  delivery  of  this"  letter. 

Jan.  26.  To  Bichabd  Waldhon.  —  About  going  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, etc. 

Jan.  26.  To  Henrt  Sherburne.  —  On  the  same  subject.  Mr. 
Newman  is  uneasy  at  not  receiving  bis  money. 

Jan.  26.  To  Col.  Ichabod  Flaisted.  — About  dismissing  officers 
who  are  concerned  in  the  Land  Bank  and  appointing  others 
in  their  place. 

Jan.  26.  To  Capt Sataob.  —  Wanta  a  barrel  of  potatoes. 

Jan.  26.  To  Capt.  John  Giles. —  Wishes  carrot  seed  and 
potatoes. 

Jan.  26.  To  Rev.  Ebenezeb  Williams.  —  About  delinquent 
tenants. 

Jan.  27.  To  Francis  Wilks.  —  About  his  account  against  the 
Province,  "the  vile  Land  Bank,"  and  the  issuing  of  paper 
currency.  Hopes  "this  Parliament  will  not  rise  without 
taking  a  kind  care  of  all  the  plantations  in  thia  necessary 
article,  as  well  as  of  the  British  trade  to  tliem,  which  has 
been  so  abus'd  &  ruin'd  by  suffering  the  plantations  to  make 
kites  to  pass  for  money." 

Jan.  28.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Informs  him  that  strong 
efforts  will  be  made  to  have  Auchmuty  removed  from  the 
Court  of  Admiralty,  and  desires  him  to  secure  the  influence 
of  Sir  Charles  Wager  in  favor  of  Hugh  Hall  to  be  Auch- 
muty's  successor.  Hall  will  pay  twenty-five  guineas  "for 
your  care  &  sollicitation,  besides  paying  for  the  commission 
Sl  all  other  incidental  charges." 

Jan.  28.  To  Sir  Charles  Waoer.  —  Desires  that  Hugh  Hall 
should  be  appointed  Deputy  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Vice  Ad- 
miralty, in  case  Auchmuty  is  removed. 

Jan.  28.  To  Col. Coshinq  and  Col. Qdincy.  —  About 

the  enlistment  of  men  in  Colonel  Hatch's  regiment  of  horse. 

Jan.  28.  To  Ricbabd  Partridge.  —  "  Auchmuty  talks  of  going 
to  London  in  a  ship  that  may  sail  next  week,  so  you  must 
not  lose  a  moment  in  the  application  I  have  directed  to." 

Jan.  28.  To Stobb.  —  Wishes  the  letter  for  Mr.  Partridge 

to  be  forwarded  by  the  first  post. 

Jan.  28.  To  Thomas  Coram.  —  Explains  his  business  transac- 
tions with  the  late  John  Turner. 


oyGoot^lc 


632  APPENDIX.  [17404. 

Jan.  29,  To  Thohas  Cosam.  —  Sends  an  aoeonnt  of  Waldo's 
pecuniary  embarrassments. 

Jan.  81.  To  Jonathan  Belches,  Jb.  -~  About  the  efforts  for 
the  removal  of  Auchmuty,  who  '*  is  reallj  a  man  of  a  most 
scandalous,  abandon'd  character,"  and  for  the  appointment  of 
Hugh  Hall.  "  I  vould  Dot  hare  M'  Storke  or  jour  uncle 
know  what  11'  Hall  is  to  pay  you,  till  the  thiug  is  compleated, 
and  you  go  with  your  letter  for  the  money,  least  either  of 
them  should  think  you  have  too  much,  &  so  they  become 
somtbing  cold  in  tho  sollicitation.  You  will  take  care  to 
call  on  11'  Storke  from  time  to  time  to  defray  every  farthing 
of  the  charge  about  the  business." 

Jan.  81.  To Storke.  —  About  the  application  in  behalf  of 

Mr.  Hail. 

Feb.  8.  To Hall.  —  Recommends  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr., 

to  bis  favour. 

Feb.  8.  To  Jonathan  Belgheb,  Jr.  —  Encloses  letters. 

Feb.  9.  To  Henby  Sherbuhne.  —  "  Yours  of  30"'  January  came 
to  my  hands  but  T*  instant,  late  in  the  evening.  The  ex- 
cessive snows  have  fiU'd  the  roads  that  the  post  could  aot 
get  hither  before,  and  came  most  of  the  way  with  snow- 
shoes,  there  being  no  possibility  of  passing  with  a  horse." 
He  has  therefore  ordered  the  Assembly  to  be  adjourned. 

Feb.  9.  To  Richard  Waldrob.  —  Directs  him  to  adjourn  the 
General  Assembly. 

Feb.  12.  To  Col.  John  Stoddard.  —  About  a  double  tax  on  non- 
residents, the  probability  of  a  French  war,  and  the  supply  of 
the  Treasury. 

Feb.  14.  To  Major  —  Osgood.  —  Would  like  half  a  dozen 
pigs  "  Bucli  as  you  ua'd  to  send  me." 

Feb.  14.  To  Admiral  Edward  Veenoh. — Will  use  his  utmost 
efforts  "for  preventing  so  fatal  a  mischief  as  exporting  from 
hence  any  such  supplies  or  Buccoure,  so  as  that  the  enemy 
may  by  any  way  or  means  come  at  them."  Provisions  are 
scarce  in  most  of  the  English  plantations.  Will  send  copies 
of  the  Admiral's  letter  to  the  Gorernors  of  Rhode  Island  and 
Connecticut.  Wishes  a  40-gun  ship  and  two  20-gun  ships 
might  be  sent  here  for  the  summer, 

Feb.  14.  To  Joseph  Taloott,  Governor  of  Connecticut ;  same 
to  Richard  Ward,  Governor  of  Rhode  Island.  —  Sends  a 
copy  of  Admiral  Vernon's  letter. 


oyGoot^lc 


1740-1.]  APPENDIX.  533 

Feb.  17,  To  Shadbach  Walton.  —  DirectB  him  to  adjourn  the 
ABaembly  on  account  of  the  impaasable  state  of  the  roads. 

Feb.  17.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  "  The  roads  are  hardly  pas- 
sable but  at  the  great  hazard  of  life." 

Feb.  19.  To  Richard  Waldron.  — On  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
"  The  wayes  have  been  unpassable,  —  such  as  have  never 
been  known  in  the  memory  of  man." 

Feb.  21.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  having  his  fort  re- 
paired. 

Feb.  21.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  "  The  weather  has  been  so 
severe  for  8  or  9  weeks  past  as  has  hardly  been  known  in 
the  memory  of  man,  and  a  land  of  ice  for  near  10  miles  from 
this  town  into  the  ocean  has  in  a  manner  etopt  all  vessels 
from  coming  in  or  going  out,  and  the  excessive  anows  have 
render'd  the  roads  unpassable  for  horses  for  about  a  mouth 
past."  Sends  letters, "  mostly  of  an  old  date,  the  vessel 
having  been  folly  loaden  and  ready  to  sail  for  near  two 
months  past." 

Feb.  23.  To  Admiral  Edward  Vernon.  —  Desires  his  favour 
and  protection  for  Capt.  Robert  Spring,  of  the  snow 
Triton. 

Feb.  24.  To  Capt.  Alexandbb  Wilsok.  —  About  a  mistake  of 
£10,  in  making  out  the  army  accounts. 

Feb.  24.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Feb.  27.  Mess^e  to  the  Council  and  House  op  Repres^ta- 
TTVES  OF  New  Haupshire.  —  Wilt  communicate  to  (hem  two 
additional  instructions  from  the  King, "  one  respecting  the 
future  emissions  of  bills  of  credit  in  this  Province,"  the 
other  for  carrying  into  execution  his  Majesty's  decision  in 
Council  respecting  the  boundary  line  between  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Massachusetts.  Will  also  communicate  Admiral 
Vernon's  letter  about  the  export  of  provisions.  Urges  their 
attention  to  these  matters  and  to  repairing  the  fort.  Hopes 
they  will  do  what  is  necessary  about  the  "  Manufactory 
notes "  issued  in  Massachusetts  "  to  forbid  all  persons  in 
this  government,  on  severe  penalties,  from  encouraging  or 
countenancing  the  said  notes  directly  or  indirectly."  • 

*  Thii  metMg*  U  not  priDt«d  In  the  New  Hftmpehire  ProTincial  Pap«n,  nnd 
the  editor  mj-i  it  "cannot  now  be  found."  Itii  copied  at  length  into  tbe  Letier 
Book.— Edi. 


oyGoot^lc 


634  APPENDIX.  [1741 

Uarch  4.   Measage  to  the  Hodbe  op  REPBfBBNTATiTES  op  New 

Hahpsuire.  —  [Printed  in  New  Hampfihire  Provincial  Papers, 

vol.  T.  pp.  77,  78.] 
March  4.  Message  to  the  Council  and  House  op  Repbesenta- 

TiVES  op  New  Hahpshibe.  —  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire 

Provincial  Papers,  vol.  v.  p.  78.] 
March  6.  Message  to  the  House  op  Repbesentatives  of  New 

Hampsbibe.  —  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire  Provincial  Papers, 

vol.  V.  p.  80.] 
March  7.  To  Bobebt  Botes,  from  Portsmoutli.  —  "  Jane  Stuart 

has  finisbt  the  spinning  of  my  flax  at  Milton."     Wishes  to 

have  a  good  weaver  sent  to  him.    "  I  would  have  huckabuck, 

Holland  diaper,  &  damask,  if  I  could,  but  if  that  cannot  be,  I 

must  be  content  in  the  man's  doing  the  best  he  can." 
March  9,   To     Sir     Robert     Walpoij:,    from    Portsmouth.  — 

Solicits  the  appointment  of  Andrew  Belcher  as  Collector  of 

Boston,  to  succeed  Mr.  Jekyll,  who  died  March  1. 
March  9.  To  Sir  CflAEtLES  Wagee,  from  Portsmouth.  —  To  the 

same  purport 
March  9.  To  Richaed  Pabteidgb,  from  Portsmouth.  —  On  the 

same  subject.    "  The  place  is  worth  £500  sterl'g  a  year." 
March  10.  To    Capt.  Thomas    Millet,  from    Portsmouth. — 

About  some  oak  stuff  to  be  furnished  by  Nathaniel  Hanson 

and  William  Kate. 
March  10.  To    Richard    Hazzen,  from  Portemonth.  —  About 

agreeing  with  him  to  run  the  boundary  line  between  Mas- 

sachusette'  and  New  Hampshire. 
March  13.  To    Jonathan    Rehington,     from     Portemoutb.  — 

About  sending  surveyors  to  run  the  boundary  lines. 
March  17.  Message  to  the  Council  and  House  op  Reprebenta* 

TITE8  op  New  Hampshire.  —  [Printed  in  New  Hampshire 

Provincial  Papers,  vol.  v.  p.  85.] 
March  23.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  Gives  an  account  of  his 

journey    home ;    is  preparing  to  meet  the    Massachusetts 

Assembly. 

1711. 
March  26.  Message  to  the  Council  and  House  op  Representa- 
tives op  MASSACHcaBTTa.  —  [Printed  in  the  Journal  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  p.  198.] 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  APPENDIX.  535 

9f arch  27.  To  Joseph  Pitkin.  —  About  the  sale  of  liia  laud  at 

Middletown. 
March  80.  To  Heney  Shebbdbke.  —  Had  "  a  difficult  &  danger- 
ous journey  "  home. 
March  SO.  To  Shadbacb  Walton.  —  Deairea  him  to  couvene  a 
Council  about  isauing  a  proclamation  for  a  Fast. 

March  30.  To  Richard  Waldbos. — On  personal  matters  and 
New  Hampshire  affairs. 

March  80.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Wiehea  him  to  convene  the 
Council,  if  the  President  ia  not  in  town.. 

March  80.  To  Mrs. CASWALL.~About  her  pecuniary  affairs 

and  coming  to  Boston  for  a  visit. 

March  30.  To  Gol.  John  Stoddard. — "Am  glad  to  find  your 
officers  &  the  whole  county  so  clear  of  those  vile  notes  issu'd 
on  the  fraudulent  Land  Bank  scheme.  Coll"  Dwight  has  re- 
sign'd,  &  I  think  to  fill  np  your  Court  with  Cap'  Williams  of 
Stockbridge  &,  M'  Joseph  Pynchon  of  Springfield." 

March  80.  To  John  Mebrbtt.  —  Congratulates  him  on  his  safe 
arrival  from  Great  Britain.  < 

April  8.  To  Capt.  Ephraih  Williams.  —  About  establisfaing  a 
line  of  block -houses,  and  ordering  some  *'  strong,  well  drest 
skins  to  make  breeches  for  my  servanta,"  and  some  wooden 
trays  and  bowls. 

April  3.  To  Rev.  John  Sergeant.  —  About  Indian  neutrality 
and  loHses  on  his  salary. 

April  4.  To  Capt  Savage.  —  About  the  repairs  on  Fort 

Frederick,  etc. 

April  4.  To  Capt.  John  Mikot.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indians,  etc. 

April  4.  To  Capt.  John  Giles.  —  About  relations  with  the  In- 
dians, repairs  on  Fort  George,  etc. 

April  4.  To  Major  Sasiubl  Dennt.  —  About  relations  with  the 
Indiana,  selling  mm  to  them,  and  expectations  of  a  French 
war. 

April  6.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Encloses  a  letter,  etc. 

April  6.  To  Geobge  Mitchell. — About  the  progress  of  the  snr- 
Tey  for  the  boundary  line. 

April  6.  To  Israel  Pdtnaic.  —  Expects  him  to  pay  the  bond 
signed  by  him  and  his  father  Pope,  when  it  becomes  due- 
April  6.  Message  to  the  Hoijse  of  Refbesentatites  of  Massa- 


oyGoot^lc 


6B6  APPENDIX,  [1741. 

CHT^ETTS.  —  [Printed  in  the  Joamal  of  the  Hoose  of  Repre- 

seotatives,  p.  220,] 
April  6.  To  Rev.  Ebbnezer  Williams.  —  Sends  a  duplicate  letter, 

aDd  encloses  one  for  Mr.  Putnam. 
April  13.  ToBiCHARD  Waldron. — Aboat  the  sorveya,  etc. 
April  18.  To  Gborgb  Thohas,  Ooveraor  of  Pennsylvauia.  — 

About  Thomaa  Mellony,  now  in  jail  on  suspicion  of  forgerj. 
April  14.  To  Mra.  JosiAH  Marshfigld. — A  letter  to  an  aunt,  vitb 

pious  reflectiouB  on  the  difference  between  their  pecuniar;  at- 

cumstances,  and  promising  to  send  an  instrument  securing  to 

her  a  life  interest  in  a  house  in  Hartford. 
April  20.   To  Ellis  Hdbke.  —  About  the  repairs  of  Fort  Williim 

and  Mary. 
April  20.   To  Geobqe  Mitchell.  —  Wishes  him  to  file  an  account 

and  lodge  his  survey  in  the  Secretary's  office. 
April  20.   To  Col.  Marston.  — Authorizes  him  to  dismiss 

Captain  Stacey. 
April  20.  To  John  Popb.  —  Expects  payment  of  the  bond  ugned 

by  him  and  his  son  Putnam,  when  it  becomes  due. 
April  20.  To  Col.  Bstbs  Hatch.  —  Dismisses  him  "  from  the 

command  of  the  regiment  of  horse  &  of  the  troop  of  guard." 
April  28.  To  Capt.  Edward  Ttho.  —  About  pursuing  and  captur 

ing  smugglers. 
April  25.  To  Richard  Waldson;  same  to  Henrt  Sherbobnb.— 

To  introduce  Major  Sewall. 
April  27.  To  Richard  Waldbon. — Communicates  news  from 

England.     "R.  Wibird  will  be  appointed,  not  N.  Gilman. 

Rymes's  mandamus  I  suppose  is  come.     Is  it  possible  to  find 

any  body  to  supply   his   place  &  perhaps   old   simpleton's 

quickly  ?"* 
April  27,   To  Henbt  Shhbb0bne.  —  On  personal  matters. 
April  27.  To  Major  Samuel  Denny,  —  In  faToor  of  a  poor  man 

*'  whom  I  formerly  imploy'd." 
April  27.  To  Samuel  Inoersol.  —  Sends  him  the  letter  in  his 

favour  written  to  Major  Denny. 
April  29.  To  the  Commanding  Oppiceb  at  Castle  Wiluam.— 

Authorizes  him  to  receive  powder  from  the  ship  Aatrea. 
April  80.  To  Rev.  Ebgnezeb  Williams.  —  About  his  affairs  in 

Connecticut. 

■  ChriBtophei  RjniM  died  April  3, 1741.  — Eot. 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  APPENDIX.  637 

April  30.  To  Jaheb  Holland.  —  Demands  payment  of  r^ot 

April  80.  To  Capt.  Hebon.  —  Sends  bim  a  letter  from 

Thomas  Coram. 

May  4.  To  Richard  Waldeon.  —A  long  letter  on  the  boundary 
surveys,  etc.  "  Let  Bryant  make  out  a  fair  journal,  with  all 
the  obaervations  he  made  &.  a  plan  from  the  mouth  of  the 
harbour  as  far  up  as  be  proceeded,  and  render  hie  account  of 
the  chaise  of  these  tilings,  which  he  must  sign  &  make  oath 
to  before  two  justices,  quorum  utnu^  &  lodge  them  with  you 
for  my  order ;  he  having  thus  done,  I  am  content  he  be  paid 
20/  a  day  for  himself,  and  for  his  men  each  10/  a  day,  for  I 
suppose  they  were  as  backward  to  proceed  as  he  himself. 
The  £b  for  the  plan,  &  the  8/  to  be  left  to  the  Assembly 
hereafter.  Call  a  Council  &.  have  their  advice  for  a  warrant, 
which  send  me  to  sign ;  or  if  the  Council  are  minded  to  do 
any  thing  better  (or  worse)  I  shall  acquiesce.  By  liis  agree- 
ment be  cannot  claim  a  farthing  till  the  work  is  finisht ;  &, 
I  am  still  of  opinion  the  Bight  of  the  tawneya  was  the  onely 
obstacle,  or  why  could  n't  he  compleat  his  work  as  well  as 
Hazzen  who  had  twice  as  far  to  go  ?  However,  I  am  not  for 
distressing  poor  men.  Do  therefore  as  yon  judge  may  be 
best.  I  inclose  the  warrant  for  M'  Mitchell,  who  must  do 
the  same  as  to  his  plan  &  account  as  Bryant.  Inclosed  is 
Hazzen's  letter  which  you'll  return.  He's  a  cleaver  fellow. 
I  love  men  of  business,  your  thorrow  stitches."  "  I  am 
sorry  for  poor  Nat.  Oilman.  I  have  letters  from  Tommy 
Hutchinson,  which  are  modest  as  to  his  succesB,  ^  I  am 
doubtfull  whether  his  errand  will  prove  to  much  purpose." 

May  4.  To  Col.  William  Pbpperbell.  —  A  few  lines  on  the 
death  of  Pepperrell's  mother. 

May  4.  To  Ellis  Hoskb,  —  About  the  export  of  provisions,  etc. 
"The  clan  may  go  on  to  lye,  but  you  may  depend,  all  is  safe." 

May  6.  To  the  Lords  op  Teadb  ;  same  to  the  Dckb  op  New- 
castle. —  States  what  he  has  done  in  carrying  out  the  addi- 
tional instructions  sent  him,  etc. 

May  8.  To  the  Commissioners  op  Customs.  —  Mr.  Samuel  Solley 
has  been  admitted  into  office  as  Collector  of  New  Hampshire, 
in  place  of  Benjamin  Plummer  deceased. 

May  8.  To  the  Dcke  op  Newcastle.  —  About  fitting  out  private 
ships  against  the  Spaniards. 


oyGoot^lc 


538  APPENDIX.  [1741. 

May  9.  To  Sir  Thomas  Pbendebgabt.  —  Reiterates  his  iiniavoar- 
able  opinion  of  Shirley's  management  in  collecting  a  debt 
due  from  Auchmuty  to  Prendergaet.  "  What  yonr  attorney's 
reasons  were  for  conducting  your  affair  with  M  Auchmuty 
in  the  manner  he  did  are  unknown  to  me,  but  this  I  know, 
that  it  waa  unsafe  to  you,  and  what,  I  beleive,  no  geuUeman 
of  his  profession  would  have  advis'd  to." 

May  11.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  the  boundary  surveys, 
etc.  "  That  Hazzeu  lookt  like  a  ghost  on  his  return  makes 
me  like  him  the  better  ;  for  I  love  a  man  that  will  do  more 
than  he  can  do."  "  Who  will  bo  instead  of  Rhymes  and  old 
simpleton  (just  upon  the  go)  I  know  not,  but  if  we  are  over- 
balanc'd  in  Council  things  will  grow  more  difficult  tlian 

May  11.  To Djnwiddie,  —  About  hia  hangings. 

May  11.  To  Sir  Thohab  Pbendbbgast.  —  Shirley  has  not  had 
an  acknowledgment  that  he  is  trustee  for  Prendergast  re- 
corded. "  Tliis  is,  in  my  opinion,  another  instance  of  want 
of  fidelity  in  the  execution  of  the  trust  you  have  repos'd  in 
him." 

May  11.  To  FRANas  Wilkb. — About  the  payment  to  Mr. 
Partridge  for  his  services,  etc. 

May  13.  Joif atean  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Encloses  a  letter  for  Rev. 
Mr.  Whitfield.  "I  highly  esteem  this  gentlemau  for  his  un- 
common piety  and  flaming  zeal  in  the  cause  of  his  great 
Lord  and  Master,  and  therefore  command  yon  to  do  him 
every  kind  office  in  your  power." 

May  13.  To  Andrew  Stone.  —  About  granting  letters  of  marque, 
investigating  the  circumstances  attending  two  captures  by 
the  privateer  Young  Eagle,  and  the  export  of  provisions. 

May  13.  To  Sir  John  Gonbon. — Thanks  him  for  the  employ- 
ment of  his  interest  with  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  and  "  his 
brother  the  Hon*'"  M'  Harry  Pelham,"  and  solicits  his  favour 
for  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 

May  14.  To  Dr.  B.  Avert.  —  Thanks  him  for  interest  with  the 
Duke  of  Newcastle  and  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  and  desires  its 
continuance.  "  I  am  sensible,  S ,  my  petulant  enemies  are 
still  bickering  and  pecking  at  me,  and  can't  be  easy  without 
glutting  their  malice." 

May  14.   To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Sends  an  account  of  what 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  APPEHDIX.  639 

he  had  done  about  the  boundarj  lioe ;  complaina  of  JoDa- 
than's  eztraTagaoce. 

May  14.  To Buchanan.  —  Has  received  a  protested  bill  of 

exchange. 

May  16.  To  Isaac  Lothrop  and  all  the  other  officers  of  his 
Majesty  in  Plymouth  County.  —  Desires  assistance  for  an 
officer  who  is  to  examine  into  the  case  of  a  supposed 
smu^Ier. 

May  18.  To  Elus  Huskb.  —  Desires  him  to  prepare  a  complaint 
against  Auchmuty  to  be  sent  to  England. 

May  18.  To  George  Mitchell. — About  continuing  the  survey 
for  the  line. 

May  18.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
"  I  am  pretty  apt  to  beleive  S'  K.  spoke  as  he  thought  and 
intended  at  the  time,  but  at  court  the  wind  chops  about  from 
east  to  west  in  a  moment,  so  I  lay  no  great  stress  upon  it. 
However,  if  I  can  make  a  judgment  of  the  face  of  my  affairs 
in  general  as  to  M.  Hampshire,  I  think  Granada  must  (if 
he  can  find  wherewith)  dance  another  year's  attendance,  and 
yet  perhaps  his  appointment  may  come  by  next  ship.  All  is 
uncertain."  "  I  thought  I  had  often  told  you  you  can't  look 
upon  a  footman  at  Whitehall  without  tipping  him  with  half 
a  guiney.  It 's  certainly  a  point  of  wisdom  to  stroke  down 
our  stomachs  and  please  Old  Brittle.    He  is  truly  honest." 

May  18.  To  Gov.  George  Thomas.  — Thanks  for  apprehending  a 
person  suspected  of  forgery  and  for  other  friendly  acts. 

May  19.  To  Capt.  John  Minot.  —  About  trade  and  other  rela- 
tions with  the  Indians. 

May  19.  To  Capt.  John  Giles. — About  Captain  Robinson's 
complaints  as  to  unnecessary  obstacles  in  repairing  the  fort 
and  wharf. 

May  19.  To  Capt Robinson.  —  On  the  same  subject 

May  19.  To  Capt. Savage.  —  About  repairs  on  the  fort, 

increasing  the  garrison,  and  providing  a  minister,  to  be  sup- 
ported in  part  by  the  inhabitants. 

May  19.  To  Paul  Mabcarbne.  — About  the  expedition  against 
the  Spanish  West  Indies  and  the  prospects  of  a  French  war. 
"  I  am  sorry  you  are  in  so  poor  a  state  of  defence  &  have  so 
much  reason  to  fear  the  defection  of  the  king's  French 
subjects  upon  the  first  occasion  they  may  think  likely  for 


oyGoot^lc 


540  APPENDIX.  [1741. 

BucceBS.  And  no  doubt  tbe  Freacb  from  Gape  Breton  will 
stand  readj  to  join  your  people  of  Menis  and  Sheckanecda." 
"  I  congratulate  yon,  Sir,  upon  the  marriage  of  your  pretty 
and  worthy  daughter  to  as  good  a  husband  as  tiiis  part  of 
the  world  could  oblige  ber  with." 

May  20.  To  Rev.  John  Gdtse.  —  Friendly  salutations  and  ptous 
reflections  on  the  success  of  the  British  arms  and  on  the 
uncertainty  of  liuman  affairs,  etc.  "  I  am,  Sir,  much  oblig'd 
to  you  for  the  share  you  are  pleas'd  to  take  in  tbe  troubles 
&  difSculties  of  the  station  wherein  God  &  tbe  King  have 
plac'd  me.  I  give  praise  &  glory  to  God  who  has  bitlierto 
80  much  supported  &  streugthned  me.  I  desire  to  make 
Him  my  trust  &  refuge,  who  is  able  to  deliver  me  out  of  all 
trouble,  to  scatter  every  cloud,  to  ohase  away  the  shades  of 
night,  &  to  advance  the  sprin^ng  day.  I  hope  I  can  with 
humble  boldness  appeal  to  the  Searcher  of  Hearts  for  my 
integrity  in  the  whole  of  my  administration  and  that  1  alwayes 
wish  to  promote  His  honour  &  the  welfare  of  His  people  ; 
but  above  all  tilings  I  desire  the  constant  indwelling  of  His 
Holy  &  Eternal  Spirit,  that  my  whole  life  may  be  a  pattern 
of  true,  vital  piety  to  the  great  congregation  committed  to 
my  charge.  Rulers  may  make  &  execute  good  laws,  bat  to 
live  up  to  them  &  to  tbe  laws  of  God  &  of  the  Gospel  of  our 
Lord  &  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  is  what  alone  will  finally  gain 
them  the  blessed  eugtE  of  '  Well  done,  good  and  faithfall  ser- 
vant,' &  how  vain  is  it,  8ir,  for  rulers  to  command  without 
living." 

May  21.  To  Gapt  John  Dean.  —  On  personal  matters,  the  death 
of  Lord  Townsbend,  the  effects  and  successes  of  the  war,  etc. 

May  22.  To  Charles  Gbat.  — '  Desires  countenance  for  Jona- 
than Belcher,  Jr. ;  thinks  that  his  adversaries  "  must  gnash 
their  teeth  and  melt  away";  communicates  his  views  on 
English  politics ;  describes  tbe  condition  of  the  Indians,  etc. 

May  22.  To  Andbew  Stone.  —  About  two  captures  made  by 
Capt.  Pliilip  Dumaresque  of  the  privateer  Young  Eagle. 

May  28.  To  the  Dokb  op  Kewcastij!.  —  Aboot  raising  troops 
for  the  Spanish  expedition. 

May  25.  To  Bichabd  Waldbok.  —  On  I^ew  Hampshire  affairs. 
Thinks  the  new  Assembly  in  Massachusetts  will  be  favorable 
to  the  Land  Bank. 


oyGoot^-lc 


1741.]  APPENDIX.  541 

May  25.  To  Major .  —  Has  received  iBome  cidar ;    wants 

some  shoats. 

May  25.  To  Henbt  Sbebbusne.  —  Compliments,  etc. 

May  25.  To  Ricbakd  Hazzen.  —  About  the  payment  for  hia 
aerrices. 

May  28.  Message  to  the  HonsE  op  Repbesentatives  op  Massa- 
chusetts.—  Dissolves  tliem  because  "the  management  of 
the  elections  made  yesterday  diBcorer  to  me  so  much  of 
ihe  inclination  of  your  House  to  support  that  fraudulent, 
pemicioiffi  scheme  commonly  call'd  the  Land  Bonk, condemned 
at  home  by  his  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain,  that  I  judge  it  derogatory  to  the  King's  honour 
and  service,  and  inconsistent  with  the  peace  &  welfare  of  this 
people,  that  you  sit  any  longer  in  General  Assembly." 

May  80.  To  Sir  Chables  Waq^.  —  Desires  that  Captain  Lloyd 
of  the  Winchester  may  be  stationed  on  this  coast. 

May  SO.  To  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  ;  same  to  the  Lords  op 
Trade.  —  Has  disapproved  of  thirteen  of  the  persons  chosen 
to  the  Council,  and  has  dissolved  the  Assembly. 

June  1.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  New  Hampshire  matters, 
etc.  "  As  to  the  Ctesar,  it  is  a  piece  of  villany  manag'd  with 
perjury,  and  I  doubt  not  with  bribery,  by  the  Judge,  the 
Advocate  &  the  S — rv — r." 

June  1.  To  Hemry  Sherbdbne. — Thinks  "the  next  ship  may 
bring  news  of  B.  W."  appointment,  tho'  there  is  a  ohance 
it  may  not  be  so.     Thus  inconstant  are  all  human  affairs." 

June  1.  To  Robert  Botes, — About  sending  a  weaver. 

June  1.  To  Ellis  Huske.  —  About  "  the  seizure  of  the  Irish 
papist's  ship,"  etc,  "  I  agree  with  yon  that  your  people 
would  sell  themselves,  wives,  &  children  for  lucre,  without 
the  least  regard  to  their  King  or  countrey." 

June  5.  To  Oapt. Gerald.  —  Thanks  him  for  "  the  good 

services  you  did  mo  in  England." 

June  5.  To  John  Popb.  —  Desires  payment  of  the  bond  signed 
by  him  and  his  son  Putnam. 

June  6.  To  Capt  Geoeoe  Townshesd. — On  personal  matters. 
Is  displeased  at  something  Captain  Townshend  had  said 
about  "  that  truly  religious  &  eminently  pious  gentleman, 
M'  Whitfield." 

Jane  5.  To Moodey.—  About  the  fire  in  Charleston,  South 

I 


oyGoot^lc 


542  APPENDIX.  [1741. 

Carolina,  the  failure  of  the  ez|>edition  against  St  Augus- 
tine, etc. 

June  9.  To  Col.  John  Holman.  —  Wants  a  final  settlement  of 
his  lumber  account. 

June  13.  To  Richard  Waldron. —  Thinks  Ur.  Hazzen,  the 
surveyor,  "has  pei'form'd  the  service  witli  skill  &  nuder- 
standing,  and  with  good  fidelity." 

June  15.  To  Ricbabd  Waldbok.  —  About  New  Hampshire 
affairs,  the  prospect  of  a  French  war,  fears  for  the  success 
of  Admiral  Vernon's  expedition,  etc.  "  I  am  sorry  for  the 
death  of  worthy  Nat  Gilman.  The  event  of  M^  Hutchinson's 
application  ia  very  precarious.  I  still  conclude  Granada  will 
be  your  new  sub-sovereign,  and  we  must  all  prepare  to  go 
thro'  the  nine  days  wonder,  tbo'  according  to  the  teuour  of 
his  letter  to  the  ape  (for  copy  of  which  I  thank  you)  the 
exults  (or  insults)  will  be  almost  beyond  fiesb  &  blood." 

June  15.  To  Capt. Scott.  —  About  auditing  his  accounts 

and  procuring  men  for  the  Astraea. 

June  16.  To  Joseph  Pitein. — About  the  sale  of  the  land  at 
Middletown,  Connecticut. 

June  17.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  A  very  long  letter  about 
Jonathan's  writing  shorter  letters  and  more  frequently;  Jere- 
miah Allen's  good  offices  and  the  Governor's  wish  to  serve 
him  ;  the  friendship  of  Dr.  Avery,  Mr.  Chandler,  and  Fran- 
cis Wilks;  Paul  Dudley,  Auchmuty,  and  Shirley,  "two 
ungratefull,  perfidious  monsters  "  ;  "  the  steady  friendship 
of  the  whole  body  of  Quakers  " ;  "  that  haughty  blockhead,'* 
Waldo;  the  anonymous  letter  to  Samuel  Holden,  which 
"  was  a  composition  of  as  much  falsehood  <&  malice  as  hell 
itself  could  invent " ;  Thomas  Hutchinson,  who  "  is  a  gentle- 
man adorn'd  with  a  great  number  of  amiable  qualities,  fine 
natural  sense,  good  reading,  a  well  regulated  temper,  strict 
vertue  &  honour,  <&  of  a  graceful!  behaviour";  the  annual 
income  of  Andrew  Belcher  and  Byfield  Lyde ;  Shirley's 
management  of  the  business  intrusted  to  him  by  Sir  Thomas 
Prendergaet ;  John  Sharp ;  Sir  Robert  Walpole's  promise  to 
save  him  as  to  the  government  of  Kew  Hampshire;  pious 
refiectiouB  on  the  prospect  of  being  superseded,  etc. 

June  18.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jb.  —  About  his  future  estab- 
lishment in  life,  his  conformity  to  the  Church  of  England^ 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  APPENDIX.  643 

-which  "  has  been  the  most  fatal  thing  you  could  possibly  ■ 
have  done,  and  broke  alt  my  schemes  about  you,"  his  extra- 
vagance, obtaining  a  patent  for  the  Naval  OHiee  at  Boston, 
or  some  other  appointment,  his  future  prospects,  etc. 

June  18.  To  Rev.  Chandler.  —  Thanks  for  his  friendly 

interest  and  services  in  Ehigland, 

June  18.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Aboat  the  Governor's  ex- 
pectations from  a  uew  Assembly  in  Massachusetts,  Jonathan's 
prospects,  etc. 

June  21.  To  Sbadrach  Walton.  —  Communicates  a  letter  from 
Governor  Ward  of  Rhode  Island,  and  directs  him  to  summon 
a  Council  to  take  measures  for  the  defence  of  the  Province. 

June  21.  To  Capt.  Scott.  —  Sends  him  account  of  "the 

enemy's  burning  the  town  of  Rockvay  on  Long  Island." 

June  2*2.  To  Richard  Ward,  Governor  of  Rhode  Island.  — 
Acknowledges  the  receipt  of  his  letter,  has  communicated 
the  news  along  the  sea-coast  of  Massachusetts,  etc. 

June  22.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  personal  matters. 

June  23.   To  Walcott.  —  About   procuring  men   for  the 

Astreea  and  meddling  with  men  who  live  three  miles  north 
of  the  Merrimack  River. 

June  23.  To  Joseph  Talcott,  —  About  paper  currency,  etc. 
"  I  am  oblig'd  to  you  for  the  candid  opinion  you  pass  on 
that  part  of  my  conduct  in  the  administration  of  the  King's 
government  here  which  respects  what  is  commonly  call'd 
the  Land  Bank." 

June  26.  To  Baker. — About  Mr.  John  Jones.     Would 

like  some  vines,  mulberry  trees,  and  almond  trees. 

June  29.  To  Ellis  Husee.  —  Believes  there  has  been  bribery 
and  perjury  in  many  quarters  in  the  case  of  the  Csesar, 
and  that  the  news  of  the  sudden  change  made  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  Hampshire  is  true. 

June  29.  To  George  Mitchell.  —  About  the  survey  of  the 
curve  line,  and  having  all  the  surveys  shown  on  one  plan. 

June  29.  To  Capt.  Peter  Warren.  —  Regrets  that  he  is  going 
to  return  to  Great  Britain ;  thinks  the  French  will  avoid  a 
war  if  possible.  "  Before  this  can  reach  you  you'll  have 
heard  of  my  hard  fate  in  being  dismist  from  both  my  govern- 
ments. Such  18  the  King's  pleature,  &  to  which  I  must 
submit  as  patiently  as  I  can." 


oyGoot^lc 


644  APPENDIX.  [1741. 

■  June  30.  To  Nathaniel  Blaorotb.  —  About  Mr.  Royal's  wife's 

estate. 
July  3.   To  RiCBABD  Waldbon. — About  publishiog  by  beat  of 

drum  two  acts  of  Parliament,  and  administering  the  oaths  to 

Richard  Wibird  as  a  member  of  the  Council. 
July  6.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  tbe  plans  of  the  survey, 

and  being  Buperseded  in  the  government.     "  I  thank  you  for 

your  remarks  on  the  late  great  event.    All  I  shall  say  is 

that  it  is  my  duty  to  be  in  a  perfect  submi^ion  to  the  will 

of  God,  who,  I  hope,  will  grant  me  His  grace,  and  so  best  of 

all  inable  me  thereunto." 
July  6.  To  Elus  Husse.  —  Thanks  him  and  Mrs.  Huske  for 

tlieir  good  wishes ;  thinks  the  two  Provinces  were  "  never 

under  more  difficult  circnmBtances." 
July  8.  Message  to  the  Codncil  and  HotrsE  of  Repbesenta- 

TiVBS  OP  Massachusetts.  —  [Printed  in  the  New  England 

Weekly  Journal,  July  14.] 

July  9.   To  Col, Willabd,  —  On  his  serious  illness. 

July  11.   ToRlCHABD  Pabtbidge.  —  On  personal  matters. 
July  13.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  On  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
July  13.  To  Elus  Huske.  —  About  the  disposition  of  the  papers 

in  his  office. 

July  13.  To  Capt. Clabe.  —  About  enlisting  men,  etc. 

Jnly  13.  To  Col.  Ichabod  Plaibted.  —  Encloses  the  letter  to 

Captain  Clark. 
July  13.  To    Joseph   Pitkin.  —  Encloses  copy  of  a  previous 

letter. 
July  15.   To  Rtchabd  Waldrok.  —  To  introduce  Ur.  Rand. 
July  15.  To  Col.  John   Holman.  —  About  the  settlement  of 

their  accounts. 
July  !!>.   To  Col.  Ichabod  Plaibtei).  —  "As  something  extra- 
ordinary has  hapn'd  in  the  affair  of  Capt^  Clark,  you  must 

by  no  means  deliver  his  letter,  but  I  would  be  glad  to  nee  you 

here  for  half  an  hour." 
July  20.   To  Ellis  Hdske.  —  About  the  acooonts  for  the  repairs 

of  the  fort. 
July  20.   To    Henrt    Shebbobne.  —  Pious   reflections    on    his 

removal  from  the  government  of  the  two  Provinces. 
July  20.  To  Shadbacb  Walton.  —  About  his  removal  from  Uie 

two  governments. 


oyGoot^lc 


1741. 1  APPENDIX.  64  S 

July  20.  To  Shadbach  Walton.  —  Directiftns  about  publish- 
ing the  commisBioD  of  the  new  Governor  and  receiving  him 
on  hia  arrival. 

July  21.  Message  to  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. —  Wishes  for  an  allowance  on  account  of  the 
diminutiDD  of  his  salary  by  the  depreciation  of  the  currency 
and  the  "  scarcity  and  dearness  of  all  the  necessaries  of  life." 

July  23.  To  Col.  Charles  Cburch. — Pays  him  for  a  cow,  and 
sends  him  some  military  commissions. 

July  27.  To  Hbnrt  Sherburne.  —  Has  directed  the  Secretary 
to  make  out  some  commissions.  Pious  reflections  on  his 
removal  from  ofiBce. 

July  27.  To  RiCHABD  WaldbO}T.  — About  affairs  in  \ew  Hamp- 
shire. 

Aug.  3.  To  OEipt  Peter  Warrem.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Aug.  3.  To  Shadrach  Walton.  —  About  the  reception  of  the 
new  Governor,  eto. 

Aug.  3.  To  Henry  Shebbornb.  — To  the  same  purport. 

Aug.  8.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
"  Whatever  Yorkshire  writes,  I  don't  suppose  any  instruc- 
tions will  b«  obtain'd  to  go  aside  the  addresses  of  both 
Houses  of  Parliament  to  the  King,  and  his  Majesty's  orders 
in  consequence  thereof.  I  mean,  as  to  the  strong  restriction 
about  emitting  bills  of  credit,  and  that  has  been  the  main 
stru^le  here  &  with  you." 

Aug.  5.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall.  —  About  buying  the  land  at 
Middletown. 

Aug.  8.  Message  to  the  Council  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives OF  MASSACHOSErrTs.  —  [Printed  in  the  New  England 
Weekly  Journal,  Aug.  11,] 

Aug.  10.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  affairs  in  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Massachusetts  and  personal  matters.  "  This  day 
makes  just  eleven  years  from  the  publication  of  my  comiss" 
in  this  Province." 

Aug.  11.  To Ldtwtche.  —  About    a    protested     bill     of 

exchange. 

Aug.  11.  To  Mrs.  William  Tailer.  —  About  the  payment  of  a 
claim  against  her  husband's  estate. 

Aug.  12.  To  the  Council  and  Hodsb  of  Reprbsentatites  op 
Massachdsbtts.  —  Has  directed  plans  of  the  survey  for  the 


oyGoot^lc 


546  APPENDri.  inn. 

bonndary  line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire 
to  be  laid  before  them. 

Aug.  17.  To  Hewbt  Shbbbdbsb.  —  Governor  Shirley's  comrais- 
Bion  was  published  on  the  14th.  If  Wentworth'a  "  don't 
arrive  before  the  25  curr"  my  half  year's  salary  of  X300 
will  then  be  due,  for  wltich  I  now  send  a  warrant  to  M'  Secry. 
Waldron,  to  whom  I  desire  you  to  pay  it" 

Aug,  17.   To  Elus  HnSKE.  —  On  pergonal  matters. 

Aug,  20.  To  RicHABD  Pabtbidge,  from  Milton.  —  "I  am  here 
getting  my  house  in  order  that  I  may  clear  the  Fro\'ince 
House  for  my  successour."  Is  trying  to  raise  money  to  pay 
Mr.  Partridge.     Wishes  Jonathan  may  be  on  his  way  hither. 

Aug.  24.  To  Robert  Botes.  —  Wishes  a  weaver  may  be  has- 
tened to  him. 

Aug.  31.  To  BiCHABD  Waldron.  —  About  the  eickness  of 
Waldron's  little  daughter,  etc. 

Aug.  81.   To  Ellis  Hdske.  —  A  few  lines  on  personal  matters. 

Aug.  31.  To  the  Lords  op  Trade.  —  Has  published  two  acts  of 
Parliament,  "  one  prohibiting  the  exportation  of  sundry  sorts 
of  provision  till  X"",  the  other  licensing  the  importation  of 
victuals  from  Ireland  &"  in  time  of  scarcity."  Transmits 
various  documents. 

Aug.  SI.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Regrets  that  he  cannot 
make  a  remittance.  Wishes  that  something  might  be  done 
for  him  or  Jonathan.  "  I  have  really  tho'ts  of  seeing  White- 
hall, provided  you  could  write  that  I  might  obtain  justice 
from  the  Ministry."  Is  under  great  obligations  *'to  that 
worthy  set  of  men  call'd  Quakers." 

Sept.  1.  To  Francis  Wilks.  —  About  being  superseded  in  the 
two  governments,  obtaining  an  equivalent  tor  them,  Mr, 
Partridge's  claim  for  a  part  of  the  money  sent  over  by 
Massachusetts  for  "  the  defence  of  this  Province  against 
M^  Tomlinson's  insinuations  of  bribery,  £™,"  his  frieudship 
for  Mr.  Wilks,  etc. 

Sept.  1.  To  James  Holland.  —  Demands  payment  of  rent 

Sept.  1.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall,  —  Sends  duplicate  of  letter  dated 
Aug.  5. 

Sept.  1.  To  — -  Storke.  —  Thanks  for  Mr.  Storke's  intention 
to  serve  Jonathan ;  refers  to  his  own  removal  from  the  two 
governments. 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.]  APPENDIX.  547 

Sept.  1.  To  Measra.  Godphet  and  Llotd.  —  Will  pay  the  balance 
due  them  as  executors  as  eooa  as  possible. 

Sept.  8.  To  Robert  Botes.  —  About  a  piece  of  linen,  etc. 

Sept.  6.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  About  the  illness  and  anti- 
cipated death  of  Mr.  Waldron's  daughter. 

Sept.  7.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  Is  very  anxious  to  receive 
hie  half-year's  salary,  or  as  much  of  it  as  can  be  obtained. 

Sept.  7.  To WoLCon.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Sept.  7.  To  Henbt  SHEBBtrBN£. — About  his  hesitation  in  paying 
the  half-year's  salary.  "  You  know  I  gave  you  &  your  son 
the  two  most  profitable  places  in  the  government,  &  besides 
to  yourself  the  two  most  honourable,  and  by  so  doing  created 
to  myself  a  great  number  of  enemies  here  as  well  as  at  New 
Hampshire ;  and  when  I  think  of  these  things,  it  cannot  enter 
into  me  that  you  will  be  either  so  unjust  or  so  ungratefull  not 
to  pay  due  respect  &  honour  to  my  warrant," 

Sept  14.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  — About  Sherburne's  hesitation 
in  paying  the  salary.  "  I  exactly  agree  with  you  in  the  dread- 
fuly  dreadful  weakness,  jealousy,  ignorance,  and  obstinacy, 
and  how  thankful  ought  we  to  be  if  we  are  at  some  distance 
from  such  wretched  stupidity." 

Sept.  21.  To  RiCHAED  Waldbon.  —  On  personal  matters.  "I 
write  Coll"  H.  by  this  post  in  answer  to  a  long  epistle  from 
him,  and  I  beleive  have  steer'd  clear  of  pricking  up  his 
inhrmities,  bat  shall  properly  insist  on  his  making  full 
payment." 

Sept.  21.  To  Hbney  Shebbdbnb.  —  Explains  his  letter  of  Sept.  7. 

Sept.  21.  To  Capt.  Godpret  Malbone.  —  About  procuring  a 
negro  coachman, 

Sept.  21.  To    Capt.  Savage,  —  About    procuring    some 

potatoes. 

Sept.  22.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall,  —  About  buying  the  land  at 
Middletown. 

Sept  22.  To  Joseph  Fitein.  —  About  his  affairs  in  Connecticut. 

Sept.  26.  To  Richard  Waldbon. — About  a  commission  for  Cap- 
tain Weeks's  son. 

Sept.  26.  To Ldtwtche.  —  About  executing  a  bond. 

Sept.  28.  To  Richard  Waldbon. — About  an  agreement  for  oak 

lumber  and  the  death  of  one  of  Waldron's  sons. 
Oct5.  ToRichaed  Waldbon. — On  Waldron's  family  afBictions. 


oyGoot^lc 


548  A.FPEHDIX.  [17U. 

Oct.  5.  To  Henbt  Shebbuhne. — "You  was  alvayes  most  sincerelj 
welcome  to  any  good  I  could  ever  do  for  you  or  your  family, 
and  I  was  alwajes  sorry  it  was  not  in  my  power  to  do  more. 
If  God  spares  my  life  I  seem  to  hope  to  make  a  Tiait,  one 
time  or  another,  to  my  friends  at  Portsm".  In  the  mean 
time  I  pray  the  candle  of  tlie  Lord  may  alwayes  shine  upon 
your  tahemacle,  and  that  you  and  good  Madam  Sherburne 
with  all  yours,  thro'  riches  of  grace  in  Christ  Jesus,  may  be 
made  meet  for  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light,  and  as 
you  pass  from  the  stage  of  this  dying  world  may  you  be  re- 
.  ceiv'd  into  the  blissful  mansions  of  eternal  glory.     Amen." 

Oct.  12.  To  Ellis  Huske. —  On  personal  matters. 

Oct.  12.   To  DiNWiDDrE.  —  About   his   hangings.     If  they 

cannot  be  done  in  Holland, "  then  get  them  done  with  you, 
either  in  the  history  of  Solomon's  judgment  between  the 
two  women  (in  the  living  &  dead  child)  or  in  that  of  Paul's 
conversion  while  on  the  road  to  Damascus,  —  these  being  hot 
so  difficult  as  the  history  of  the  meeting  of  Joseph  &  hia 
brethren,  &  of  which  I  am  very  fond,  if  you  can  get  it  done 
as  I  have  desir'd. 

Oct.  12.  To  Col. Marston.  —  About  some  fish. 

Oct.  12.  To  Capt.  GoDFBEr  MaLBONe.  —  About  finding  a  negro 
coachman. 

Oct.  13.  To  Chables  Fbost.  — About  sending  some  pease. 

Oct.  19.  To  Hekrt  Sherburne.  —  On  personal  matters  and  the 
payment  of  the  balance  of  his  salary. 

Oct.  19.  To  RiCHAED  Waldeon.  —  On  personal  matters,  with 
many  pious  reflections. 

Oct.  19.  To  Major  Stephen  Geeenleaf. — About  receiving  some 
cider. 

Oct  21.  To IjUTWtche.  — About  the  protested  bill. 

Oct.  21.  To  Major Alletne. — On  personal  matters. 

Oct.  21.   To  Madam Babwick.  —  Thanks  for  a  present  of 

pickles. 

Oct  23.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  On  personal  matters  and  a 
religious  revival  at  Portsmouth. 

Oct.  26.  To CoRBETT.  —  About  the  Land  Bank  and  his  letter 

to  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  recommending  the  removal  of 
Auchmnty. 

Oct  26.  To  Jonathan  Belches,  Jb,  from  Milton.  —  Upbraids 


oyGoot^lc 


1741.J  APPENDIX.  549 

him  for  not  answering  his  father^e  letters,  and  warns  him 
that  he  must  not  expect  fnrther  help.  "  I  now  confirm  to  yon 
that  after  doing  tor  you,  your  brother  &  BiBter  very  largely, 
the  small  pittance  I  have  left  will  hardly  support  me  In  any 
tolerable  figure,  so  I  am  in  no  measure  able  to  do  further  for 
you." 

Nov.  2.  To  Ejchakd  Waldbon.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Nov.  8.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Is  anxious  to  hear  wh£^t 
Jonathan  is  doing.  Will  not  be  easy  nntil  he  gets  out  of 
debt  to  Mr.  Pai-tridge. 

Nov.  3.  To  Francis  Wiles. — Abont  the  settlement  of  their  ac- 
counts, and  the  money  remitted  to  England  by  the  Province, 

Nov.  9.  To  Richard  Waldbon,  "  from  my  lowly  cottage  at 
Milton." — On  personal  matters.  "The  spring  of  your  de- 
sire still  to  hold  a  correspondence  with  an  old  friend  is  the 
greatest  honour  you  ever  did  me.  0  blessed  Jesus !  come 
down  upon  me  with  thy  Holy  Spirit  &  render  me  in  some 
measure  worthy  of  such  respect." 

Nov.  9.  To  Henbt  S&ekbubne,  from  Milton.  —  About  the  pay- 
ment of  his  salary. 

Nov.  30.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  On  personal  matters.  "  His 
'  new  Excellency,  I  suppose,  will  be  o'head  of  this.  He  went 
by  my  house  at  Milton  with  M'  Hutchinson  this  morning  at 
two  o'clock,  having  landed  at  Cape  Cod." 

Nov.  30.  To  Hbnrt  Shkebdbnb.  —  Informs  him  of  the  arrival  of 
the  new  Governor. 

Nov.  30.  To  Ellis  Hubkb.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Dec  1.  To  Richard  Pabtridqe. — About  the  payment  of  his 
debts  to  Mr.  Partridge.  "I  have  for  some  months  past 
offer'd  to  sale  of  my  estate  in  town  above  ^20,000  value  & 
12  or  14,000  more  of  good  farms  in  the  countrey,  but  I  have 
not  yet  been  able  to  sncceed,  tho'  am  daily  treating  with  one 
&  another."  Sees  that  Jonathan  is  going  to  Ireland, "  recom- 
mended by  M'  Glutterbuck  and  S'  Gha.  Wager,  and  to  be 
there  under  the  countenance  &  protection  of  a  new  Chief 
Baron  that  was  going  over."  Complains  of  Mr.  Partridge  for 
taking  bonds  from  Jonathan  for  money  charged  to  the  father's 
account. 

Dec.  1.  To  Capt. Gerald. — About  some  scheme  for  pro- 
caring  an  appointment  for  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr. 


oyGoot^lc 


550  APPESDIX  [1741. 

Dec.  1.  To  Fbancis  Wiles. — About  an  advunce  of  money  to 
Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.,  the  probability  that  Mr,  Wilks  will  be 
diamissed  from  his  agency,  and  obtaining  an  equivalent  for 
the  loB8  of  tlie  two  governmentfl.  "  Give  me  your  cordial 
advice  whether  it  may  be  worth  my  while  to  appear  once 
more  at  Court,  or  if  I  should  make  you  a  visit,  would  a  proper 
person  for  me,  with  a  suitable  fortune,  be  willing  to  spend  her 
life  in  N.  England." 

Dec.  I.  To  Chahbebs. — Sends  him  a  small  trunk,  con- 
taining "  two  suits  of  clothes  which  cost  when  new  .£50  st' 
each.  I  pray  you  to  dispose  of  them  for  the  most  you  can, 
&  send  me  the  produce  in  good  wine  by  the  first  convenient 
opportunity." 

Dec.  9.  To  Ellis  Hdske;,  from  Milton.  —  On  personal  matters 
and  the  revival  in  Portsmouth. 

Dec.  9.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  Of  similar  purport. 

Dec.  10.  To  Francis  Wiles.  —  CcrtiUcate  that  James  Allen 
was  always  friendly  to  Mr.  Wilks. 

Dec.  14.  To  Major  Samuel  Sew  all,  from  Milton.*  —  About  pay- 
ing his  debt  to  Mr.  Fleetham. 

Dec.  17.  To  Major  Samuel  Sewaii^  —  Wants  much  to  see 
him. 

Dec.  18.  To  Capt.  Osboenb.  —  About  the  sale  of  a  ware- 
house. 

Dec.  18.  To  Major  Sahcel  Sewau..  —  About  the  settlement  of 
accounts. 

Dec.  21.  To  Major  Sauuel  Sewall.  —  About  accounts  and  sales 
of  property. 

Dec.  23.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  pergonal  matters  and  the 
revival. 

Dec.  23.  To  Ellis  Huske.  —  Thanks  him  for  money  sent.  "  I 
heartily  praise  God  for  the  outpourings  of  his  Holy  Spirit 
among  you.  May  you  &  I  be  made  partakers  of  his  grace  & 
mercy  in  that  respect.    Amen." 

Deo.  23.  To  Major  Samuel  Sewall.  —  About  paying  debts, 
etc. 

Dec.  29.  To  Major  Samuel  Sewall.  —  About  « a  further 
sale." 

*  The  MDuiuiiig  letten  enomerated  In  thti  cdendtv  «n  dftted  kt  Milton.  —  Ed*. 


oyGoot^lc 


551 


1741-a. 


Jan.  5.  To  Major  Samuel  Sew  all.  —  Has  sold  a  Tarehoose  to 
Mr.  Stui^s. 

Jan.  11.  To  Major  Samuel  Sbwall.  —  To  inquire  about  the 
Major's  health. 

Jan.  IS.  To  Nathaniel  Hanbon.  —  Has  no  occasion  for  the 
"  Btuffe "  which  Hanson  was  to  furnish. 

Jan.  13.  To  Richaed  WALDaoN.  —  About  New  Hampshire 
affairs.    Wishes  to  be  free  from  the  agreement  with  Hanson. 

Jan.  15.  To  Dr.  E.  Avert.  —  About  Belcher's  removal  from 
his  governments  and  Dr.  Avery's  ofifer  of  services.  "  As  I 
know  you  are  often  with  the  King's  ministers,  I  should 
esteem  it  a  favour  if  you  could  at  a  proper  juncture  say, '  I 
am  told  Gov'  Belcher  thinks  himself  hardly  treated,  &  has 
tlidts  of  coming  to  Court  &  to  lay  his  severe  case  before  bis 
Majesty.'  By  such  a  hint  you  might  be  able  to  give  me 
your  honest,  kind  opinion  what  success  might  be  hop'd  for 
from  such  an  attempt." 

Jan.  15.  To  Rev.  Isaac  Watts.  —  Thanks  him  for  "  the  hand- 
some present  of  your  Improvement  of  the  Mivd,  into  which 
I  have  dipt  here  &  there  with  much  pleasure,  &  hope  still 
more  to  embellish  my  own  mind  from  the  labours  and  in 
answer  to  the  good  wishes  of  the  learned  &,  ingenious 
authour.  Your  sermoua  &  other  things  in  divinity  I  often 
read  (Lord's  dayes'  evenings)  in  my  family,  I  hope  to  theirs 
&,  my  own  edification."  Refiections  on  his  removal  from 
office. 

Jan.  16.  To  Henrt  Newman.  — Reflections  on  his  removal  from 
office  ;  wishes  Mr,  Newman  would  inform  him  when  he  hears 
anything  from  Jonathan,  who  is  now  in  Ireland,  and  advise 
him  whether  he  had  better  go  to  England  to  solicit  for  an 
equivalent  for  the  loss  of  tiis  governments. 

Jan.  16.  To  Joshua  Flebthah.  — Has  paid  his  account  in  full. 

Jan.  16.  To  Richard  Partridge.  —  Will  reduce  the  balance  due 
him  as  fast  aa  possible ;  complains  of  his  taking  bonds  from 
Jonathan,  which  "  surely  cannot  be  right  in  the  sight  of  God 
or  man" ;  desires  him  to  sound  Lord  Wilmington  and  others 
about  the  expediency  of  going  to  England  to  solicit  for  an 
equivalent,  eto. 


oyGoot^lc 


552  APPENDIX  [1711-3- 

Jan.  19.  Td  Major  Samuel  Sewall.  —  On  personal  matters. 

Jan.  21.  To  Major  Sahdel  Sewall. — About  tbe  payment  of 
accounts. 

Jan.  25.  To  Major  Sahuel  Sewall.  — On  bueiness  matters. 

Jan.  26.  To  Charles  Frost.  —  Wants  some  potatoes  for  seed. 

Jan.  26.  To  Bichard  Waldron.  —  On  personal  matters  and 
affairs  in  Nev  Hampshire. 

Jan.  26.  To  Bichard  Waldron.  — About  Hazzen's  and  Bryant's 
plans. 

Feb.  5.  To  Josiah  BDRceBrr.  — Thinks  Mr.  Burcbetfs  letter 
was  "  basely  secreted  from  me  for  8  or  9  m","  so  that  Aach- 
mnty  might  not  be  dismissed. 

Feb.  6.  To  Paul  Mascarenb.  —  Eeflectiona  on  his  removal  from 
office. 

Feb.  6,  To  Capt. Mitpobd.  —  On  the  same  subjeet. 

Feb.  11.  To  Major  Samuel  Sewall.  —  To  inquire  abont  his 
health,  etc 

Feb.  11.  To  Col.  Jacob  Wendell.  —  Wishes  to  make  "further 
progress  "  in  settling  his  affairs. 

Feb.  19.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  matters  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

Feb.  2S.  To  Col.  Jacob  Wendixj^  —  Has  not  heard  from  him 
since  the  letter  of  Feb.  11. 

Feb.  27.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  New  Hampshire  affairs. 
"  The  roads  have  been  impassable  for  wheels,  that  I  hare 
not  seen  Boston  for  near  a  month  past."  "  I  think  your 
dismission  is  done  in  the  genteel  manner  you  mention ;  but 
if  he  practices  further  upon  you,  it  must  be  in  a  more  ex- 
plicit way.  Speaking  your  mind  as  becomes  an  honest  man 
will  finally  give  you  the  most  satisfaction ;  nor  do  I  think 
it  will  alter  one  thing  in  the  whole  scheme  projected  by  the 
clan." 

Feb.  26.  To  CoL  Jacob  Wendell. —  About  selling  more  of  his 

estate,  etc. 
'eb.  26.  To  Major  Samuel  Sewall.  —  Reli^ons  consolations. 

tiarch  10.  To  Capt.  John  Dean.  —  Will  do  any  service  he  can 
to  Mr.  Miles  Whitworth.  Thanks  his  correspondent  for 
sympathy  in  his  loss  of  office.  "  As  it  pleas'd  God  to  favour 
me  with  a  liberal  education  in  my  early  dayes,  &  that  I  have 
at  one  time  and  another  fumisht  myself  with  a  tolerable 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  APPENDIX.  563 

library,  I  now  pass  a  great  part  of  mj  time  in  reading." 
Has  latelj'  dipt  into  a  discourse  by  tlie  Bishop  of  Cambray  on 
Christian  Perfection,  from  which  he  quotes  a  passage  already 
copied  into  tlie  letter  to  Major  Sewall. 

March  13,  To  CoL  Jacob  Wendell.  —  About  a  purchase  of  gold 
for  a  payment  on  account  of  an  outstanding  bond. 

March  18.  To  Col.  Jacob  Wendell.  —  Wishes  to  sell  all  his 
farms  in  the  country,  his  warehouses,  coffee  house,  shares  in 
the  Long  Wharf,  etc.  Writes  about  other  business  trans- 
actions. 

March  20.  To  Righabd  Waldron.  —  About  Benning  Wentworth 
and  affairs  in  New  Hampshire. 

1748. 

March  26.  To  Col.  Jacob  Wran)ELL.  —  On  business  mattera 
**  I  should  be  heartily  glad  to  make  a  sale  of  10  or  ^12,000, 
&  especially  to  dispose  of  all  my  lands  in  the  countrey." 

March  80.  To  Col.  Jacob  Wendell.  — Desires  him  to  represent 
the  writer  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  owners  of  the  wharf. 

March  29.  To  Major  Samdbl  Sewaix.  —  Pions  rejections  on 
Major  Scwall's  financial  losses. 

April  1.  To  Andbbw  Stoddabd.  —  About  some  family  troubles. 

Aprils.  To  Francis  Wilks. — About  paying  part  of  a  debt, 
the  probability  of  Mr.  Wilke's  dismissal  from  the  agency  for 
Massachusetts,  etc. 

April  3.  To  Richabd  Pabtbidob.  —  "Will  be  constantly  doing 
every  thing  in  my  power  toward  the  dischsu^  of  your 
account." 

April  8.  To  Col.  Jacob  WENDEa:,L.  — On  business  matters. 

April  3.  To  Tbomas  Hobbabd.  —  On  business  matters. 

April  16.  To  Bobhrt  Botes.  —  Once  more  desires  him  to  send 
a  good  weaver. 

April  17.  To  Bichasd  Waldbon.  —  On  matters  in  Kew  Hamp- 
shire. 

April  22.  To  Francis  Wiles.  —  Acknowledges  receipt  of 
letters,  etc. 

April  24.  To  Rev.  Eben^eb  Williams.  —  About  his  affairs  in 
Connecticut. 

April  24.  To  James  Holland.  —  About  paying  his  rent. 
70 


oyGoot^lc 


554  APPENDIX.  D7C 

ApHl  24.  To  Ephkaim  Hidb.  —  Demaods  a  Bettlement  of  his 

account. 
April  30.   To   Col.   John  Holbiah.  —  A   long  and   very   angry 

letter  about  their  busineBS  relationa. 
Hay  17.  To    Richabd    Waldron.  —  About    New    Hampshire 

affairs.  Colonel  Vassall's  going  to  England,  etc. 
May  27.  To  Capt.  James  Wadsworth.  —  About  his  removal 

from   office,   without  "  any    fault  or   complaint    made   out 

against  me."    Quotes  again  the  passage  from  the   Bishop 

of  Cam  bray. 

May  27.  To Dinwiddib.  —  About  his  "  hangings." 

June  2.  To  Joseph  Pitkin. — Encloses  the  letter  for  Captain 

Wadaworth. 
June  17.  To  Capt.    Epheaim    Wiluams.  —  Wants    a  pair  of 

horses. 
June  28.  To  Charles  Frost.  —  Wants  some  more  pease. 
July  16,  To  Richard  Partbidgb.  —  To  recommend  Oliver  Noycs, 

who  is  going  to  England. 
July  22.  To  Col. Mabston.  —  Wants    some    "  victoalling 

fish." 
July  22.  To  Major  Stephen  Greenleaf. — Wants  thirty  barrels 

of  cider. 
July  27.  To  Richard  Walobon.  —  To  introduce  Colonel  Tassall, 

Mr.  Foye,  and  Mr.  Allen. 
Aug.  3.  To  Col.    Jacob    Wendell.  —  Wishes    to    sell   some 

more  property. 
Aug.  2.  To  Andrew  Belcher.  —  Wants  some  wine  at  once. 
Aug.  6.  To  Benjamin  Obcdtt.  —  Desires  him  "  to  take  the  care 

&  inspection  "  of  the  farm  at  Abington.     "  I  won't  have  a 

tree  or  the  twig  of  a  tree  cut  without  my  particular  leave 

&  order." 
Aug.  6.  To  John  Peaorum.  —  Expresses  his  regret  at  hearing 

that  Mr.  Peagrum  had  been  superseded  in  office. 
Aug.  9.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  Colonel  Vassall  and 

Mr.  Waldron's  going  to  England. 
Aug.  16.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  A  long  letter  on  the  same 

subject.     "  Thus  I   have   troubled  yon   with   a  long  letter, 

which  might  all  have  been  compriz'd  in  the  few  following 

lines,  viz*.    I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  affair  unless 

you  go  with  the  Dustman.    I  would  not  have  you  stir  an 


oyGoot^lc 


inch  withoat  the  unum.  If  that  can  be  had,  I  shall  per- 
swade  the  Doetman  to  stay  your  time,  &  then  insist  (as 
far   as   may   be    proper   &   reasoDable    for   me)    on     jour 


Ang.  20.  To Waghoen.  —  Wants  a  book-case  finished. 

Aug.  26.  To  Capt.  Ephbaih  Williams.  — About  buying  horses. 

Aug.  27.  To  Col. Maebton.  —  Wants  the  fisli  he  wrote 

for.  ■ 

Aug.  27.  To  Joseph  Fitein.  —  About  satisfying  a  decree  of  the 
court  for  ore  taken  out  of  the  lot  of  Adam  Wintlirop  and 
others. 

Aug.  30.  To  Charlib  Orat.  —  About  his  removal  from  office. 
"The  first  account  of  it  was  surprizing,  because  but  a  very 
few  weeks  before  it  was  done,  I  had  large  and  repeated 
assurances  from  the  late  Prime  Minister  of  his  respect  and 
friendship,  and  that  nothing  should  be  done  to  my  prejudice, 
and  I  hope  he  didn't  know  it,  but  one  of  his  miscreants  had 
near  100  guineas  of  me  for  passing  2  or  3  messages  in  this 
afTair."  "As  it  has  been  his  Majesty's  royal  pleasure  to 
supersede  my  commissiouB,  I  desire  to  possess  my  soul  in 
patience,  first  of  all  to  the  will  of  God  and  then  to  the  King ; 
and  I  do  it  with  the  more  ease  &  quiet  since  I  was  dismist 
without  complaint  or  fault  made  out  against  me,  but  the 
alteration  of  my  situation  was  done  more  to  be  free  of  the 
impetuosities  of  my' malicious  enemies  than  for  any  other 
reason,  &  it  was  prosecuted  by  them  with  lyes,  forgeries  & 
what  not." 

Aug.  30.  To  Capt.  William  Vaoghan. — About  a  petition  to 
be  sent  to  England.  "  I  must  plainly  tell  you  the  small 
modicum  you  are  sending  to  defray  the  charge  may  be  the 
occasion  of  the  affair's  miscarrying.  Ten  guineas  will  hardly 
get  your  petition  deliver'd,  and  the  hearing  upon  it  will 
require  a  much  greater  sum." 

Aug.  30.  To  Francis  Wilks.  —  About  the  case  depending  be- 
tween Eliot  Yaughan  and  his  sisters  of  Portsmouth.,  N.  H., 
and  George  Walker  of  the  same  place. 

Aug.  30.  To  Col.  Jacob  Wendell. — To  recommend  S.  Green- 
wood for  employment. 

Aug.  SO.  To  Thomas  Hdbbard.  —  To  the  same  purport. 

Aug.  31.  To  Ricbard    Fabtbidob.  —  About  Jonathan's  bonds 


oyGoot^lc 


656  APPENDIX.  t''**- 

and  getting  out  of  debt  to  Mr.  Partridge,  etc.  "  When 
things  are  settled  I  hope  you  will  not  forget  to  sollicit  some 
reparation  for  the  extraordinary  treabnent  I  have  had ;  &  if 
you  &  your  Friends  will  assist  me,  &  you  think  it  may  be 
worth  my  while,  I  will  once  more  come  to  Court"  "  1  ani 
now,  brother,  to  tell  yon  that  one  Col'  John  Vassall  designs 
to  London  in  one  of  the  mast  ships.  He  is  a  young  gent" 
brought  up  at  our  Colledge,  bom  at  Jam^ca,  where  he  has 
two  plantations,  from  where  he  ships  communtbua  annts  two 
hundred  H^ds  of  sugar,  which  is  a  pretty  income,  &  is  now- 
minded  to  see  something  of  the  world,  &  to  push  for  some 
post  of  honour  in  these  parts." 

Aug.  81.  To  Dr.  B.  Atebt,  —  About  going  to  England  "  to  8ol> 
licit  some  redress  from  the  great  hardship  I  lye  under  by  the 
cruel  U8(^  of  the  late  Ministry." 

Aug.  81.  To  Thoh&b  Corah.  —  About  the  Foundling  Hospi- 
tal, the  Colony  of  Georpa,  "  the  cruel,  barbarous  usage " 
the  writer  had  received  from  the  late  Ministry,  etc.  "  Upon 
this  change  of  the  Ministry  I  might  perhaps  obtain  a  restora^ 
tion,  which  would  please  me  better  than  any  equivalent;  and 
altho'  I  have  not  had  many  tlioughts  of  marrying  again,  yet 
if  yon  could  find  oat  a  vertuous  gentlewoman,  agreeable  in 
years,  person,  temper,  &  fortune,  without  children,  I  say  I 
might  commit  matrimony  again." 

Aug.  81.  To  Sir  Charles  Waqbb.  —  An  acknowledgment  of 
"  many  &  great  obligations." 

Sept  4.  To  Sahuel  Wentworth. — About  a  disputed  boundary 
line  between  their  estates. 

Sept  6.  To  Francis  Wiles. — To  introduce  Colonel  Vassall. 
"  He  has  been  lately  chosen  an  agent  by  the  propr"  of  thirty 
odd  townships  falling  to  the  northward  of  the  Massachusetts 
boundary  (as  the  line  was  lately  determin'd  by  his  Majesty 
in  Council  betwixt  Massachusetts  &  New  Hampshire),  &  tliis 
affair  he  is  determin'd  to  prosecute  in  all  the  proper  methods 
he  can  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain  to  obtain  justice  for  the 
rightfull  propr"," 

Sept  6.  To  Thomas  Coram.  —  To  introduce  Colonel  Vassall. 

Sept.  8.  To  Ldtwtche.  —  About  payment  for  a  protested 

bill  of  exchange. 

Sept  18.  To  Col. Mabstok.  — Thanks  for  fish,  etc. 


oyGoot^lc 


1742.]  APPENDIX.  657 

Sept.  18.  To  Tbohab  Hdbbard.  —  About  selling  some  of  his 
estates. 

Sept.  20.  To  Major  Stephen  Gbeehleaf.  —  Has  bought  cider 
from  some  of  his  aeighbours. 

Sept.  20.  To  Paul  Mascaseme.  —  Thanks  for  a  present  of  tur- 
nip seed. 

Sept.  20.  To  RiCHABD  Waldron.  —  About  Andrew  Belcher,  and 
Waldron's  going  to  England  with  Colonel  Vassall.  "  A 
father,  I  own,  is  easily  blinded  in  favour  of  a  aaa,  but  if  I 
I  am  not,  I  think  he  [Andrew  Belcher]  is  a  cautious,  sedate, 
prudent  joung  gent",  &  his  conversation  agreeable ;  I  wish 
his  sire  had  bad  the  power  of  begetting  in  him  more  vivacity 
&  fire." 

Sept.  23.  To  Col. Mabston.  —  Sends  money  to  pay  for  iish. 

Sept.  27.  To  JosiAH  Willabd.  — About  a  conversation  at  Colonel 
Wendell's,  apparently  on  "eternal  salvation." 

Sept.  27.  To  Col.  Wiluam  Peppebbell.  —  Colonel  Marston  has 
procured  the  fish  he  wanted. 

Oct.  4.  To  Col.  William  Peppebbell.  —  Wishes  him  to  write 
to  Charles  Frost  to  send  some  more  pease. 

Oct.  18.  To  RiCBABD  Waldron.  —  About  Waldron's  going  to 
England,  and  the  emission  of  paper  money. 

Oct.  23.  To  Richard  Partbidge. —  Hears  that  Anchmuty  is 
endeavoring  to  secure  for  his  own  son  the  of&ce  of  Register 
of  the  Court  of  Admiralty  now  held  by  Andrew  Belcher,  and 
desires  Mr.  Partridge  "  to  do  all  in  your  power  to  prevent  so 
great  a  misfortune." 

Oct.  28.  To  Thomas  Coram., —  To  the  same  purport. 

Oct.  25.  To  James  Holland. — Demands  the  paymentof  arrears 
of  rent. 

Oct.  25.  To  Ephraim  Hide.  —  About  rendering  an  account  of 
receipts,  etc.  at  Mortlake. 

Oct.  25.  To  Rev.  Ebenezeb  Williams.  —  About  Holland's  aod 
Hide's  accounts. 

Oct.  25.  To  Capt.  Jeffrey  Bedqood.  —  Wishes  him  to  sell  a 
sedau  chair  in  Jamaica,  and  remit  the  proceeds  in  molasses. 

Oct.  30.  To  Capt.  Ephraim  Williams.  —  Abont  some  Indian 
trays  and  bowls,  and  buying  some  horses. 

Oct.  30.  To  Col.  Jacob  Wendell.  —  About  supplying  Captain 
Williams  with  money. 


oyGoot^lc 


658  APPENDIX.  [1742. 

Kov.  2.  To  Benjamin  Orcdtt.  —  About  **  the  tregpasaera  on  my 

farm  at  Abingdon,  whom  I  am  uov  determin'd  to  prosecute 

at  the  next  Plymouth  Court." 
Not.  4.  To  Jahss  Pehberton. — About  selling  parts  of  his  estate. 
Not.  8.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  A  letter  of  warm  personal 

friendship. 
Nov.  22.  To  Richard  PABTRmoB.  — About  Jonathan's  bonds, 

etc. 
Not.  28,  To  Richard  Waldeon.  —  About  their  friendship  and 

New  Hampshire  affairs.     "  Tlie  paint«r,  Bl — d — ^n,  &  8ancho 

(an  Irish  triumrirate)  are  doubtless  practising  some  Tillanj 

on  this  poor  country." 
Nov.  23.  To  Joseph  Piteim. — Desires  to  sell  the  seTcral  parcels 

of  land  he  faae  in  Connecticut. 
Nor.  23.  To  Michael  Lamsfobd.  —  Wishes  to  know  the  names 

of  any  persons  who  trespass  on  his  farm  at  Abington. 
Dec.  8.  To  Benjamin  Obcdit.  —  Wishes  to  see  him  and  Mr. 

Lansford. 
Dec.  4.  To    Benjamin  Orcdtt.  —  Gives  directions  about  tres- 
passers on  the  farm  at  Abington. 
Dec.  6.  To  Andrew  Belcher.  —  About  an  "affair  now  pending 

in  the  Geneial  Court." 
Dec.  13.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  About  the  meeting  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  border  townships,  etc. 
Dec.  16.  To  James  Pemberton.  —  About  selling  "  any  parts  of 

my  estate." 
Dec  20.  To  Richard  Partridge. — About  paying  the  debt  to 

Mr.  Partridge,  and  solicitations  to  Lord  Wilmington  in  his 

behalf. 
Dec,  20.  To  Dr.  B.  Ateby.  —  About  appearing,  at  Court  "in 

order  to  obtain  some  redress  or  reparation  of  my  great 

suffering." 
Dec.  20.  To  Thomas  Coram.  —  On  the  same  subject. 

Dec.  20.  To  Capt. Mitfoed.  —  On  tlie  same  subject 

Dec.  20.  To Dinwiddib.  —  About  the  hangings. 

Dec.  80.  To  Mrs.  Daniel  Goizin.  —  About  the  account  with  her 

late  husband. 
Deo.  SO.  To  Rev.  Ebenezbb  Williams.  —  About  his  affairs  in 

Connecticut. 
Dec.  30.  To  Capt, Jones.  — About  Lutwyohe's  dehL 


oyGoot^lc 


569 


17«}-3. 


Jan  8.  To  Jakes  Otis,  —  About  tlie  treapassea  on  the  farm  at 
AbingtoQ  and  proaecuting  Mr.  Bradford. 

Jan.  14.  To  John  Fote.  —  About  liquidating  a  bond. 

Jan.  14.  To  Thomas  Gbeim.  —  About  buying  some  gold. 

Feb.  4.  To  Capt.  Ephbaim  Wiluams. — About  buying  the 
horses  and  Indian  bowls. 

Feb  16.  To  Capt.  Giles  Hall.  —  Wants  to  buy  a  cow  and  calt 

Feb.  15.  To  Col.  Chables  Cbubch.  —  About  the  action  for  tres- 
passes at  Abington. 

Feb.  15.  To  Capt.  Ephbaim  Williams.  —  Has  received  the 
horses,   etc. 

Feb.  15.  To  Charles  Fbost.  —  Thanks  for  a  present  of  pease; 
wishes  to  buy  some  more. 

Feb.  28.  To  Rev.  John  Sergeant. — About  the  salaries  allowed 
to  missionaries  to  the  Indians  by  the  Society  in  Scotland. 

Feb.  28.  To  Capt.  Ephbaim  Wiluams.  —  About  buying  another 
horse.  Encloses  a  letter  for  "your  worthy  son,  the  Rev* 
M'  Sergeant." 

Feb.  28.  To  Joseph  Prrera.  —  About  selling  the  farm  at  Middle- 
town. 

March  1.  To  Henrt  Newman.  — A  letter  of  personal  friendship. 

March  1.  To  Thomas  Coram.  —  On  personal  matters. 

March  2.  To  Rev.  John  Gotse.  —  Pious  reflections  on  the 
change  in  his  circumstances. 

March  2.  To  Rev.  Isaac  Watts. — Pious  reflections  on  "ad- 
vanced age"  and  "this  mutable  world." 

March  8.  To  Richabd  Partridge.  —  Is  greatly  concerned  that 
he  lias  not  been  able  "  to  discharge  your  bill  in  favour  of  M' 
Oliver." 

March  10.  To  Paul  Mascabene.  —  "Sometime since  I  rec*  yonp 
obliging  religious  letter,  and  without  compliment  have  once 
&  again  regai'd  myself  with  it,  &  do  assure  you  I  Rnd  it 
difficult  to  add  any  reflections  to  it  on  the  pursuits  after  the 
bubbles  of  this  vain,  empty  world,  or  on  the  truly  glorious 
ambition  of  aspiring  after  the  ineffable,  substantial  happiness 
of  the  world  to  come."  Adds  pious  reflections  on  the  dis- 
parities of  human  life,  and  quotes  again  the  passage  from 
the  Bishop  of  Cambray. 


oyGoot^lc 


560  APPENDIX.  D74I. 

Uarch  15.  To  James  Pbhbixton.  —  About  selling  some  of  liis 

estateB,  etc. 
March  19.  To  Jambb  Ons.  —  About  bis  suit  ^;aiiist  EbeDezer 

Josseljn. 

1T13. 

April  2.  To  Capt  Efhbath  Wiujahs.  —  Sends  a  copj  of  the 
letter  of  Feb.  28,  and  will  be  much  obliged  b;  his  baying 
a  horse. 

April  2.  To  Capt.  Edward  Ttnq.  —  Wishes  him  to  buy  a  pipe  of 
choice  Madeira  wine  the  first  time  he  puts  into  Vii^iuia. 

April  2.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  "Yesterday  I  had  some  talk 
with  a  gentleman  that  lives  near  the  tine  of  new  towns,  and 
has  ft  considerable  interest  in  them,  and  he  told  me  plainly 
that  it  was  impracticable  to  raise  the  necessary  money  for 
an  agent  to  go  home,  which  he  was  sensible  mast  be  at  least 
jCIOOO  st',  and  that  he  knew  many  of  the  propr"  could  not 
pay  10/  a  man,  and  this  indeed  I  was  always  afraid  of,  ao 
tJiat's  a  lost  gdme ;  I  mean  as  to  jurisdictiop,  not  to  be  re- 
cover'd  but  upon  a  demise,  &  then  the  Massachusetts  may 
as  fairly  demand  a  new  settlement  as  New  Hampshire  now, 
(witness,  1677)."  Thinks  the  appointment  of  a  Register 
should  not  be  in  the  absolute  power  of  a  Ooremor. 

April  2.  To  Mrs. Caswall.  —  Is  glad  to  hear  she  is  well, 

and  will  be  glad  to  see  her  at  his  house. 

April  26.  To  Jonathan  Rehikotok.  — A  letter  of  sympathy  on 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Remington. 

May  2.  To  Gol.  Chableb  CHnaCH.  —  About  the  suit  for  tres- 
passes on  the  farm  at  Abington. 

Hay  3.  To  Thomas  Coram.  —  About  the  colony  of  Georgia  and 
the  Foundling  Hospital. 

May  8.  To  Col.  John  Vassall.  —  About  the  fwlure  to  raise 
money  for  the  expenses  of  the  agents  in  England,  etc. 

May  10.  To  Col.  John  Vassall.  —  Desires  him  to  try  to  get 
Andrew  Belcher  restored  to  the  office  of  Register  of  the  Court 
of  Admiralty,  from  which  he  had  been  removed. 

May  10.  To  Andrew  Belcher.  — On  personal  matters. 

May  16.  To  Dr.  B.  Atert.  —  Has  not  heard  from  him.  Gives 
directions  how  to  send  letters. 

May  16.  To  Thomas  Corah.  — -  To  the  same  purport. 


oyGoot^lc 


1748.]  APPENDIX.  661 

May  16.  To  Richard  Partridge.  — About  Bending  letters,  as  lie 
fears  letters  are  iatercepted. 

May  16.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  New  Hampshire  affairs, 
etc.  "  I  have  often  said  that  there  ought  to  be  an  act  of  Par- 
liament to  make  it  (not  loss  of  ears,  but)  death  to  .intercept 
&  open  letters." 

May  16.  To  Andrew  Belcher.  —  Doubts  whether  the  "necetaa- 
rium"  will  be  provided  for  his  going  to  England,  "  altho'  as 

W observes  it  would  be  but  a  modicum  for  one  of  my 

character.  It  it  has  requir'd  5  or  600jE  st'  for  the  painter 
to  put  himself  in  a  tolerable  figure  to  appear  at  Court,  pray 
what  must  it  reasonably  demand 'to  equip  a  late  Gfov'  of  two 
-  of  the  King's  provinces,  and  then  to  carry  on  a  Whitehall 
Bollicitation  ?  " 

May  16.   To Dinwiddib.  —  About  his  hangings. 

May  16.  To  Albert  Schapfer.  —  Desires  him  to  deliver  the 
enclosed  to  Mr.  Partridge. 

May  18.  To  Col.  Charles  CHtlRCH.  —  Desires  an  answer  to  his 
letters  of  Feb.  15  and  May  2. 

May  SI.  To  Richaed  Waldbon.  —  On  personal  matters. 

June  8.  To  Trecothice.  —  About  the  sale  of  the  sedan 

chair  sent  by  Captain'  Bedgood. 

June  8.  To  James  Otis.  — About  the  suit  against  JosBelyn. 

June  9.  To  Ephbaih  Hide. — Demands  payment  of  his  accouut. 

June  9.  To  Rev.  EsENEZER  Williams.  —  About  his  affairs  in 
Connecticut. 

June  13.  To  Sah UBL  Wentworth.  —  About  agreeing  on  referees 
in  their  affair. 

June  13.  To  Capt.  Ephraih  Williams.  —  About  buying  the 
borso  he  had  written  for. 

June  13.  To  Jonathan  Belcher,  Jr.  —  Has  not  heard  from  him 
since  Sept.  9,  1741.  Sends  a  list  of  fifteeu  unanswered 
letters  to  Dec.  1, 1741.  Rebukes  him  for  ingratitude,  and 
charges  him  to  write  "  immediately  on  receit  of  this,  and  to 
tell  me,  where  you  are ;  what  you  are  doing ;  and  what  pros- 
pect you  liave  of  a  future  support  in  the  world.  And  you 
may  depend  on  my  speedy  answer  &  my  advice,  and  that  I 
will  still  do  you  all  the  good  in  my  power." 

June  14.  To  Richard  Paetridoe.  —  Has  not  yet  been  able  to 
sell  any  part  of  his  estete.  "  The  inclosed  is  to  enquire  what 
71 


oyGoot^lc 


662  APPEBTOU.  [1743. 

my  loat  son  is  doing  in  Ireland.     I  praj  ;od  to  cover  it  to 

him,  and  perhaps  after  about  two  years  be  ma;  Touchsaie  to 

write  me  a  letter," 
June  16.  To  Jahbs  Fbmbektom.  —  Abont  selling  some  part  of  his 

estate,  etc. 
June  20.  To  Andrew  Belcheb.  —  About   looking    again  into 

public  life. 
June  20.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  personal  matters. 
June  20.  To  Samuel  Wimtwobth.  — About  agreeing  on  "  a  third 

man." 

June  20.  To Teecothick.  —  About  selling  the  sedan  chair. 

June  20.  To  Andrew  Belcher.  —  Rebukes  him  for  indolence 

July  4.  To  Richard  Waldron.  —  On  personal  matters. 

July  12.  To  Oapt. Cheevee,  of  Charlestown  and  to  Capt. 

John  Johes  of  Eopkinton.  —  About  running  the  line  at 

Rehoboth. 
July  13.  To  Col.  Williah  Brai'tle.  —  Has  been  agreed  on  as 

referee  in  the  dispute  with  Wentworth. 
July  25,  To Allen.  —  Sends  the  draft  of  a  letter  "  in  the 

affair  at  present  on  the  tapis."    "  If  my  friends  are  in  eai^ 

nest,  I  assure  you  I  am  heartily  so;  &  the  good  opportunity 

of  a  passage  in  a  little  time,  with  the  other-lucky  accident  of 

the  K — ng's  being  abroad,  should  stimulate  us  to  push  the 

affair  with  vigour." 
July  26.  To  Richard  Waldbon.  —  On  personal  matters. 
July  25.  To Wallet.  —  Wishes  him  to  consult  with  Mr. 

Allen,  and  "  agree  upon  what  may  be  best," 


oyGoot^lc 


INDEX. 


jvGooi^lc 


jvGooi^lc 


INDEX. 


Abington,  Mwu.,  497, 628,  664,  56S-660. 

Abney,  Ladv  Hary,  15. 

Ackirorth,  Sir  J&cob,  letter  to,  507. 

Adann,  Stu, ,  letter  to,  493. 

Aldrldae,  Capt. ,  letter  to.  486. 

Allen,  Junes,  S27,  863,  419,420,490,  499, 
627. 

Allen,  Jeremish.  302  n.,  S6S,  362, 363,  S67, 
395,  399,  437.  440,  496,  499,  525. 

Allen,  Rev.  William,  D.D.,  hii  "Bio- 
graphical Dictionary  "  cited,  293  n. 

Allen, ,  letter  to,  488. 

Alien, ,  letter  to,  662. 

Allen,  Mm. ,  letter  to,  608. 

Alleyne,  Major ,  letter  to,  648. 

Allyn,  Cat.  Matthew,  letlere  to,  409, 623. 

ArKjIe,  John  Campbell,  Duke  of,  letter! 
to,  186,  466. 

Armttrong,  LitM.-Gra:.  Laarence,  letter* 
.  to,  78,  468,  460,  478, 489.      MenUoned, 


>,  466,  469, 

VS6,  *w.  Via,  vxt. 
Aatnes,  lAi'o,  513,  586. 
Alkinton,  Theodore,   l!l,  51,  62,  62,  64, 

100,  101,  110,  118,  120.  127,  128,  136, 

168,223,484,448,460,517. 
Anchmnty,  Robert,  49,  54,  Q8,  122,  126, 

147,  161,  203,  205,  213,  230,  232,  239, 

300,  311,  389,  378,  383,  407,  419,  423, 

446,  449,  ,487,  493,  496,  628,  528,  531, 

638,  M2,  648. 
ATery,  Dr.  B.,  867.  887.    Lettere  to,  588, 

66^  66d,  568,  600. 


Bagnal, ,  letter  to,  48a 


Baker, 


1,613. 


Rallanline,  John,  481. 

Barnard,  Rev.  John,  hi*  election  lermon, 

88,  143. 
Barrington,  John  Shnte,   T'ltcDunf,  123, 

Letter  to,  476. 
Batchelor,  Daniel,  79. 
Butcr, ,  71, 107.     ■ 


BajJey,  Crf.  — ,  letter  to,  469. 

Uedgood,  Capt.  Jeffrey,  letter  to,  667. 
Mentioned,  561. 

Belcher,  Andrew,  184,  191,  268,  265,  2S9, 
319,  828,  32s,  883,  440,  451,  494,  613, 
634,  560.  Letters  to,  420, 447, 472,  473, 
476,  500,  654,  568,  660-6a2. 

Belcher,  James,  66,  87,  126, 401, 418,  M2. 
Letters  to,  486,  479, 187,  496,  621. 

Beldier,  Jolin,  72, 122  n.,  200,  462. 

Belcher,  Gov.  Joaathan.    Letters  to  Sir 

Jacob    Aekwortli,    607;    ReT.    

Adams,    493;    Capt.    Aldddge, 

486;  Alien,  4b9; 'Allen, 682; 

Mrs.   AUen,    508;    Major  

Alleyne,  648;  Col.  Matthew  Allyn, 
469,  623;  Duke  of  Argyle,  186,466; 
Laurence   Armalrong,    78.    458,    469, 

478,  489;  Arnold,  525;   Kleazer 

Agpinwall,  455,  459,  403,  482,  483, 480 ; 
Dr.  B.  Arery,  538,  660,  666,  568,  580  ; 

Bafinal,  188;  Baker,  643; 

Lord  Barrington,  176;  Col. Bay- 
ley,  469  :  Capt.  Jeffrey  Bedgood,  667  ; 
Andrew  Belcher,  420,  447,  472,  473, 
475,  500,  654.  568.  560-662;  Jame* 
Belcher,  465, 179,  487,  496,  524 ;  Jona- 
than Belcher,  Jr.,  8,  10,  21,  27.  28,  58, 
57,  66,  70,  73,  87-89,  01,  M,  111,  112, 
121,  142,  154,  160,  177,  180,  191,  198, 
212,  216.  272,  290,  209,  307,  824,  352, 
366,  384,  401,  406,  417,  468,  464,  407, 
4SB,  472,  475,  4T8-482,  485,  402,  494- 
496,  498,  409,  606-608,  510,  512,  522, 
523,  526-529,  S-ll,  682,  638,  542,  648, 
581 ;  George  Bellamy,  167,  175,  478, 
482  ;  Richard  Bennet,46T ;  Col.  Thomas 

Berry,  509;   Mrs.  Berlagh,  496; 

Col.  Berwick.    521;    Mrs.  

Berwick,  496,  601,  602.  621,  548; 
Martin  Bladen,  251,  472;  Nmlianiel 
BlagTDTe,  473,  476,  480.  483,  484,  488, 
530.544;  Col.  William  Blakeney,  610- 

6!4,  517-619  ;  Capt. Blodget,  483; 

Robert  Boyes,  6.34,  541,  546.  647,  553; 
Col.  William  Brattle.  662;  Jahleel 
Brenton,   176;    Joseph    Brown,  188; 

James     Brudenell,     472;    Ba- 

chanan,6S9;  William  Bull, 399;  Joeiah 
Barchett,    462,    468,    181,    501,  552; 


oyGoot^lc 


566  -  nra 

Cutlibert  Campbell,  410 ;  Henn.  Cue, 
Westorer,  snil  Humplirey,  480;  Mta. 

Cuwall,  496,  6iM,  502,  6S6,  5eO ; 

I^rd  Cathuirt,  831,  519  ;  S.  Chamber- 
lain, 46T  ;  Chamben,  650  ;  Col. 

John  ChBDdler,  466,  467,  489-491,  483, 

616,  630 1  John  Chandler.  Jr.,  and 
John  Foye,  493;  William  Cliandler, 
490;  William  Chandler,  William  Wil- 
liamB,  and  Joseph  Holland,  602  ;  Rer. 

Chandler,  543  ;  Duke  o(  Chaadoi, 

478 ;  Capt. Cheever.  662 ;  Charle* 

Chuich,  460,  511,  614,  520,  646,  669- 

661 ;    Col.   Church,  461 ;    Capt. 

John  Clark,  471, 606  ;  Capt Clark, 

644;  Sir  Robert  Clark.  477.  481; 
Lieut.-GoT.  GeorRB  Chirke,  487,  489, 
49ti.  601,606,610,  511,  613,  520;  Rct. 
BeojamiQ  CuLnaii,  48ia;  ComniandinK 
Officer   at  Castle  WilUam,  471,   606, 

617,  686;  Commiasionert  of  CuKoms, 
476.  494,  687;    Meairg.    Cooper   and 

Gerald.    616 ;    Col.    Cope,  617  ; 

Ttiomai  Coram,  281.  245,  ^,  411,. 
462,  466,  4T4.  478,  496,  499,  622,  524, 

529-632,668-660;  Corbett,  648; 

John   Courand,   626;  Crawford. 

462  ;    CrtnUnd,    8.    468.   478 ; 

Governor  of  Carapia.  466 ;  Col.  

Cntfaing  and  Col.  Qnincy,  681 ; 

Capt.    DaUTergne,    468;    

IhiTis,  471 ;  John  Dean,  491,  640,  562 ; 
John  Dennig,  497 ;  Samuel  Denny, 
498,514,617,  620,  628,  636,  636;  Dr. 

Michael  Ue  Dicker,  626;   Din- 

widdie,  47T,  494,  510,  611,  688,  648, 
664,  558,  561;  George  Bnbb  Doding-' 
ton,  296  ;  David  Dunbar,  44,  116,  46^ . 
461,  464,  468,  478;  Capt.  Thomat 
Durell,  491,  530 ;  Col.  Timothy  DwEglit, 
469,  406.  470 ;  Earl  of  Egmont,  243. 

390;  Elliot,  471 ;  Col. Epp>, 

617  ;  Capt.  John  Kyre,  616.  617,  619; 
Mrs.  Martha  Fitch,  600,  601;   CapL 

FitEgerald,  490;  Joshua  Fleet- 
ham,  168,  550  ;  Daniel  Foxcroft,  484  ; 

Jotin  Foye,  491),  608,  559;  Capt.  

Franklyn.  118;  Charlea  ProiC.  64^ 
661,  554,  559 ;  John  Fro«t,  601 ;  Benja- 
min Gambling,  470;  Capt.  Ge- 
rald, 628,  641,  660;  Col.  Joseph  Ger- 
rish,  609;  Mrs.  Martha  Gerrinh,  29, 
193;  Col.  Timothy  Gerriih,  486;  Rt. 
RCT.  Edmund  Gibeon,  175,  456,457; 
Capt.  John  Giles,  456,  469,  464,  469, 
471,  478,  484,  487,  491,  496,  502,  503, 
614,619,521,528,  581,  633,  686.  5!I9; 
Col.  John  Gilman,  460,  461,  4M,  471, 
610;  Meiire.  Godfrey  and  Lloyd,  496, 
527, 647  ;  Mesira.  Goiiina,  465, 472, 480, 
493,  497;  Mn.  Daniel  Goizins,  658; 
Sir  John  Gonson,  625,  638 ;  Col.  Wil- 
liam Qooch,  611,619;  Patrick  Gordon, 

486; Grant.  12;  William  Grant, 

479;  Capt.  Gray,  468;   Charlea 

Gray.    401,    60T,   640,   666;    Meun. 


600,  618.  546,  664,  657  ;  S.  Greenirood. 
600 ;  Jamea  Griffin.  607 ;  John  Gumey, 
606  ;  Rer.  John  Gnyae,  491.  540;  669; 

Thomai   Bale,  626;  Hall,  632; 

Capt.  Gilea  Hall,  459,  460,  463,  469, 
482,  488,  486.  609,  646-647,  669 ;  Capt 
Otho  Elamilion,  489.  508;  Nathaniel 
HantoD,  661 ;  Lord  Chief  Jnatice  Hard- 
wicke,  473,  477  ;  Earl  of  Uarridgtan. 
492 ;  Francis  Harrison.  78,  465,  467, 
450,  476,  486,  487  ;  Col.  Eslea  Hatch. 
636;   Mias  Hatfield,  294;   CapL 

Hawlie,   516;   Richard   Hazzea, 

684,  541 1  Col. Heath,  468 ;  Capt 

Heron,  537;  Ephraim  Hide,  499. 

602.  508,  564,  657,  661 ;  Thomaa  Hill, 
601 :  Ebenezar  HiMd^,  482;  Sunset 
Holden.  462,  474,  478.  6(17;  ~ 
Hol4iwoTth,  624 ;  Jamea  HallaBd,  637, 

646,   568,  667;    HoUlagi,    491; 

Thooias  Hollis,  66,  474 ;  John  HolmaD, 
482^86,  4W,  497,  628,  642,644.666; 

Holme,     622;   Daniel  Horiman- 

den,  480;  CapL  Jamea  Bougfaton, 
486;  How,  626;  Thomas  Hub- 
bard, 663,  666,  667;  Etlii  Huskc.  B06. 
327, 167,  464,  468,  460,  482,  486,  489, 
491,493-497,  603,  604,  611,  51:^  617, 
519,  536,  637,  680,  641,  648,  640,  648- 
550;   Thomas   Hutcbtmon,   886,  628; 

Hyan,  606,  622 ;  fiamuej  Inger- 

sol.  636;  Fishar  Jackson,  466;  J<rfin 
JackKin,  466.  485  ;  Sir  Jowph  Jekytl. 
474 ;  Gov.  Gabriel  Johnson,  60S ;  Got. 

Robert  Johoton,  480 ;  Rev. Jofait- 

son,  490 ;  Cai^. Jonea,  656  ;  Capt 

Joaepli    Kellogg,    480-482,    4BG.  490, 

497,    603,    605,  609,  628;    Col.  . 

Kent,  468;  Michael  Lansford,  668; 
Capt.  Benjamin  Larrabee.  466.  460, 
487,  503,  614,  518,  620  ;  Jonathan  Iat. 

176,    192,    486;   l«wtoo,   flW; 

Matthew  Livermore,  484,  468,  469; 
George  Lloyd,  462.  476,  488,  496,  627 ; 
Sir  Kadianiel  Lloyd,  468  ;  Lords  of  Ae 
Admiralty,  368,  870,  630;  Locdi  of 
Trade,  19,  78,  108,  127,156,179,186, 
226,  S63.  266,  847,  367,  377,  480,  461, 
484. 467,  480,  481,  408,  501-603,  612, 
617,610,  621,  £22,  527,  6.-J0.  637,  &», 

646  ;  Loring,  489  ;  laaac  Ixitttrop 

and  others,  539;  Lutwycbe,  546, 

547,  556 ;  Benjamin  Ljnde  and  other*, 
472;  Benjamin  Lynde,  Jr.,  491,  600; 
Godfrey  Mathone,  608,  509,  613,  620, 
621,  524,  547,  548;  Richard  Manhall. 
467 ;    Mn.    Josiah    Marahfleld,    6S6 

Benjamin    Marston,    470;    Col.   

Manton.  617.  620,  K/6.  646, 664-667 
Paul  Masoirene,  286.  458,  465,  62i; 
639. 662,  667,  669 ;   Warham  Hatber. 


Merrett,  638;  Capt  Thoma*  Millet, 


oyGoot^lc 


634;  C*pt.  John  Minot,  456,  469,  460, 
4M,  471,  476,  484,  487,  488,  491,  497, 
60S,  614,  616,  518,  620,  628,  636,  539; 
Oeorg*  Miccliell,  686,  53fl,  699,  543; 

Capt.  Mitford,  552;   Moli- 

neoi,  626;   Lord  Monson,  492;  

Moodej,  541 ;  Col.  Chrnrie*  MordaunC, 
627;  John  Morton,  898,  494.  476,  494; 
Jsmea  Miind«v,i64 ;  Walter  Newberry, 
462,  474;  Duke  of  Newiiaslle,  57,  85, 
185,  282,  313,  337,  340,  467,  400,  464, 
487,  477-479,  481,  496,  604,  608,  608, 
610,  519,  620,  580,  637, 540,  641 ;  Henry 
Mewmao,  247,  394,  411,  467,  458.  406. 
407.  474,  479,  498,  524,  651, 560  ;  Cbiefa 
of  the  Norridgewalk  Indiana,  620; 
Jotham  Odiorne,  470,  482;  Jamea  £. 
Og!ethorp«,  69;  Arthur  Onalow,  S40; 
Benjamin    Ort-alt,    554,    658;    Cspt. 

Oabonie,  560;    M^or  0»- 

KOod,  409,  471,  632  ;  James  Olia,  659- 
661 ;  Thomaa  Palmer,  466 ;  Bev. 
Stephen  Parker,  466,  4S7;  Meuri. 
Farminter  and  Brown,  470;  Bichard 
Partridge,  S3,  34,  93,  106,  150,  170, 
208,  217,  236,  247,  262,  201,  2T5,  280, 
284,  287,  313.  816,  322,  842,  866,  361, 
879,  895,  483,  430,  43y,  461,  456-468, 
460-467,  472,  473,  476,  478-482,  485, 
487,  492,  494,  496,  497-602,  606-608, 
610,  611,  517,  519-621,  623-525,  627, 
529-531,  63S,  63),  6%,  6t8,  544,  546, 
649,  551,  558-565,  557-669,  601  ;  Rich- 
ard Partridiie  and  Jonathan  Belcher, 
Jr.,  173,  478,  473,  497,  498,  507,  622; 
Col.  Samuel  Partridfce,  408,  482  ;  Mrs. 
William  PartriJRe,  469,  410,  477,  486- 
487  ;  Charies  Paxton,  461 ;  NichoUi 
Pftxton,  474;    John    Peagram,    664; 

;    Oapt    Fearse,   613 ;    Capt.  

Pecker,  482  ;  Thomas  Pelham,  472 ;  Dr. 

Pellet,  478 ;  Benjamin  Pemberton, 

493  ;  James  Femberton,  558,  600,  562  ; 
Col.  William  Fopperrell,  Jr.,  25,  481, 
483-485,  488,  511,  537,  667;  CapL 
Francis  I'ercival,  612,  513;  Adotph 
PliUltps,  467,  465.  471,  476,  476 ;  Spen- 
cer Fhippa,  472;  Joseph  Pitkin,  465, 
460.  456-fBl,  4(33,  466-^69,  473.  475, 
480,  482-484  ISO,  487,  498.  490,  602, 
680,  636,  542,  544,  647,  654.  556,  558, 
559;  Col.  Ichabod  naiated.  509,531, 
544  ;  Rev.  MHtlhiaa  Plant,  529  ;  Capt. 

Pool,  483;  John  Pope,  636,  541 ; 

Alnred    Popple,    148,  404,  472,  479; 

Powell,  480;  Sir  Thomas  Fren- 

dergnat,  526,  538  ;  Joseph  Prout.  467  ; 
Israel  Putnam.  635;  Qunkeri  in  Great 
BriUin,  605 ;  Joeiah  Quiney,  481 ; 
Jonathan  Beminglnn,  600,  623,  534, 
660;  Rev.  George  Reyndds.  456; 
Riirht  Her.  Richard  Reynolile,  0,  138, 

r  Dudley   Rider,  476;    Capt. 


X.  567 

4S4,  609 ;  Capt.  Thomas  Sanders,  459, 
461 ;  ThomM  Sandford.  474 ;  AbijaU 
Savage  and  Ablel  Wallev,  620;  CapL 

Savage,  603,  614,  616,  628,  531, 

586,  539,  647;   Albert  Sehafler,  661; 

Capt.    Scott,   542,    648 ;    John 

Scrope,  513 ;  Rev,  Joseph  Seccomb, 
487;  Rev.  John  Sergeant.  636,  559; 
Rev.  Joseph  Sewall,  600;  Major 
Samuel  Sewall,  550-663  ;  John  Sharp, 
474,  479;  William  Sharp,  464,  474, 
479;  Henry  Sherburne,  24,  821,  400, 
465,  467-464,  468-471,  473,  477,  480, 
482-198,  496-498,  501,  502,  604,  606, 
609-fiU,  516-621,  528.  626,  629-532, 
536,  541,  544-519;  WUIiam  Shirley, 
310,  524;  Rot.  William  Shurtteff, 
501  ;  Samuel  Bbute.  476 ;  Capt 
Thomas   Smith,   473,   608,   614,  616; 

Snell,  478;   Bpenoe,  47B; 

Alexander  Spot«irood,  463,  471,  486, 
504,  607;  Ant)H>ny  Stoddard,  56S; 
Col.  John  Stoddard.  459-461,  484,  497, 
606,  512,  514,  682,  635 ;  Andrew  Stone, 
688,  640  ;  Rev.  Nathaniel  Stone,  514  ; 

Capt.  John  Storer,  628;  Storke, 

462,  625,  632,  610;  Storr,  631; 

Sir  John  Strange,  625; Swiizer, 

612:    Capt.    Taber,    488;    Mr*. 

William  Tailer,  502,  645;  I^d  Chan- 
cellor Talbot,  473,  177  ;  Jow^  Tal- 
coll,  158,  409,  476,  400,  618,  f»2.  548  ; 
Builiffa  and  Capital  Burgesses  of  Tarn- 
worth,  466;   Capt.  Tench,  484; 

Mrs. Tench,  484  ;  Peter  Thaclier, 

486,  487;  George  Thomas,  606,  607, 
609.  636,  539  ;  Tiadall,  486 ;  Rer. 


Iicnd,497,  506, 626, 641 ;  Tlioi 
Townshend,    187;    Visoonnt    Towns- 

hend,  17,   182;    Trecothick,  661, 

662  ;    Edward   Trelawney,  490 ;   Col. 

Turner,     461 ;     Cnpt.     Edward 

TynR,  6.36,  560;  Mrs.  Robert  Ungle, 
467;  Samuel  Urlaperger,  406;  Lieut.- 
Col.  John  Vasaali,  445,  660;  Major 
Leonard  Vassall,  466;  William 
Vanghan,  469,  490.  492,  662,  666; 
Admiml  Edward  Vernon,  609,  613, 
6.32,  633;  Cnpt.  .Tamea  Wadsworth, 
664)  SirChariea  WaEer,227,253,419,  . 
460,  479.  487,  494,  606,  513,  522,  624| 

681,  634,  641,  666;    Waahorn, 

66B; Waloolt,  643;  Richard  Wat- 

dron.  II,  22,  28,  32, 10,  42.  50.  61,  63, 
66,  75.  118,  115,  119,  168.  166,  188, 189, 
196.  197.  201,  204-206,  222,  239,  269, 
269,  274,  278,  281,  286,  297,  2H8,  302- 
806,  308,  310,  315,  320,  828,  329,  336, 
S43,  846,  371,  875,  401,  405,  407,  408, 
413,  416,  416,  421.  426,  427,  429,  431- 
433,  486,  437,  438,  440,  442,  446,  448, 
455-401,  463-471,  473,  470,  477.  480, 
482-489,  493-494,  496-499,  602.  604, 
606,  607-610,  612,  514-517,   519-521, 


oyGoot^lc 


568  INE 

e26-6M,    657.    668,    660-662 :     Mrs. 

Kichard  Waldron,  615;  WRlley, 

500;     Wslley,     662;     Jnmes 

WaUing,  i83  ;  Horate  Walpole, 
204,  456,  4SI,  608.  636;  Sir  Robert 
Walpole,  167,  223,  Zhi,  606,  &S4; 
Shftdrach  Wallnn.  371,  460-462, 
488,  490-432,  604,  610,  512,  613,  622, 
630,  633,  543-AI6;  John  Wanton,  610^ 
William  Wanton,  46S;  Ricliard  Wiird, 
632,  543;  Col.  James  Warren,  497; 
Sir  Peter  Warren,  254,  606.  509,  518, 
543,  545;  Mn.  Peler  Warren,  489; 
Memn.  Wacen,  460,  468,  478;  Ker. 
leaac    Watts,    14,   392,  4T5.  401,  660, 

B69 ;  Wells,  473  ;  Jacob  Wendell, 

552-556,    657;    Samuel    Wentworth, 

666,  661,  582;   Mrs.  West,  484; 

Col.  Thooiaa  Weitbrook,  466,  48U,  601, 
604 ;  Earl  uf  Westmoreland,  472.  477  ; 

Whitworth,  618;  Francis  Wilks, 

38,  168,  216,  468,  465.  467,  472,  478, 
481,  491,  50L,  605,  522,  630,  631,  688, 
646,  549,  660,  653,  555;  Francis  Wilts, 
Richard  Fariridge,  and  Jonathan  Bel' 

Cher,  Jr.,  136;  Col.  Wmard,614; 

Josiah  Willard,  557 ;  Rev.  Ebenezer 
WillUtni,  466,  467^69,  482,  483,  486, 
493,498,499,602,  fM.  508,  681,  536, 
553,  667,  668,  501 ;  Rev.  Eliaha  Wil- 
liaoiB,  468,  470,  476,  485;  Capt. 
Ephraim  Williams.  586,  664,  656,  557, 
669-Ml ;  Joseph  Williams,  67  ;  Wilham 
Wtlliama,  499;  Sir  John  Wills,  211; 
Earl  of  Wilmington,  69,  76,  241,  354, 
443,  467,  606,  525;  Capt.  Alexander 
Wilson,  633;  Edward  Winslon,  6UT; 
M^oT  John  Winslow,  616;  Col.  Adam 

Winthrop,  473;    Wolcolt,   647; 

Col. Woods,  489;  John   Woods, 

626  ;  Capt.  James  Woodside,  460,  459, 
461,  469,  471,  484;  George  Wyllj's, 
458.  MeaBages  to  Assembly  of  Maaaa- 
chatetts,  464,  479,  480,  487  ;  Speeches 
to  Aasemhly  of  Massachuaett*,  455, 
467,  488,  470,  477,  480.  Addressea  to 
Council  of  Maasactiusetts,  481,  611. 
Meaaages  Co  Council  and  Houae  of 
Representativea  ot  Maasachusetts, 
490,  496,  602,  516,  62S,  5.«,  644,  646  ; 
Speeches  to  Council  and  Houae  of 
RepresentatiTe*  of  Maaaachusetls.  489, 
■  608,  610,611,  529.  Measaftes  to  Houae 
of  Representatives  of  Massachosetlg, 
460  616-617,629,536,641,545.  Speech 
to  Assembly  of  Ne*  Hampshire,  472. 
Messages  to  Council  anil  House  of 
Representatives    of    New    Hampshire. 

600,  533,  534  ;  Speech  to  Council  and 
Houae  of  Repre»enl stives  of  New 
Bampshire.  614,  Messanes  Co  House 
of  RepreientaCives  of  New  Hampshire. 

601,  514,  534;  Speeches  Co  House  of 
Representatives  ot  New  Hampshire. 
456,  473.  Address  to  Benning  Went- 
worth  and  Theodore  Atkinson,  472. 


Ii  willing  that  Jonathan  ibonld  wear 
a  wig,  3,  34.  Desires  him  to  obtain  a 
Fellowship  at  Cambridge,  6,  7,  11,  96. 
Will  do  all  he  can  to  promote  his 
eaodidaoy  at  Tam worth,  6,  7,  27, 
28,  90.  Estimated  value  of  his  prop- 
erty, 6,  10,  27,  86,  90,  549.  Wishes 
to  have  Dunbar  removed,  18,  20,  21, 
467,  460.  WanU  a  seal  engraved, 
22,  S7.  Wants  a  general  leave  to 
take  his  saiarj,  36,  59,  161.  Cao- 
tions  Jonathan  about  bis  expenses,  51, 
71,  217,  272,  273,  20.1,  .186,  S87,  529. 
Sends  presents  Co  England,  67-69.  66, 

93,  108,  481,  623.  Complains  of  Jona- 
than's remissness  in  writing.  73,  SOI, 
824,  522.  Complains  of  Lieut-Gov. 
Dunbar,  79-84, 157.  Refers  to  his  por- 
trait by  Phillips,  96.  Is  displeased  ilial 
tlieportrait  haabeen  engraved,  97,  121. 
Visits  the  eastern  part  of  the  Province, 

106,  109.  On  hia  son's  mHrrjing,  72, 
122,  I'i:!,  164,  170-172,  182,  200,  213, 
234,  246,  293,  802,  3.%,  308,  399,  462, 
494,  499,  606,  627.  Asserts  that  he  is 
not  absent  from  New  Hampshire  when 
he  is  in  Massachusetts,  120-131.  Will 
not  consent  that  Dunhnr  ahail  have 
part  of  the  Governor's  aalary,  37, 
101, 108, 135.  Solicits  a  gifcof  military 
stores,  etc.,  for  the  Province,  151.  His 
hardships  in  the  government,  166, 169, 
295,  296,  861.  Is  willing  to  allow  - 
Dunbar  a  part  of  his  salary  on  certain 
conditions,  178,  174,  178.  Solicits  a 
presentof  hemp  seed  for  the  Province, 

179,  181,  481.  His  fidelity  to  the 
Crown,  18S,  409,  412.  His  petwutl 
expenses,  216.  Describes  hia  qnarrel 
wiih  Paul  Dudley, 284-268.  Sends"* 
picture "  to  Mrs.  Hentr  Sherburne, 
328,  and  one  to  Mrs.  Richard  Wal- 
dron, 829.  Desires  to  have  Auchmuty 
removed,  869,  419,  648.  Embarks  for 
England,  462  n. 

Belcher.  Jonathan,  Jr.,  letten  tn,  8,  10, 
21,  27,  28,  53,  67,  66,  70,  73,  87-89,  91, 

94,  111,  112,    121,   142.  154,  IBO,  177, 

180,  191,  1»8:2I2.  216,  272,  290,  299, 
307,  324.  862,  806,  884,  404,  406,  417, 
458,  464,  467.  468,  472,  476,  478-482, 
485,  492,  494-466,  498,  409,  606-60B, 
610,  612,  522,  623,  526-629,  631,  632, 
588,  642.  646,  561.  Mentioned.  6, 
8.  S.  16,  84-36,  66,  67,  62,   103.  106, 

107.  131,  137,  141,  162,  153,  163.  169, 
170,  176,  194,234,246,263,  319,  822, 
S44,  846,  354,  365,  382,  383,  403,  424, 
4.')0,  466,  456,  460,  473-476,  479,  491, 
499. 

Heleher,  Miss ,  72,  122, 462. 

Belknap,   liev.  Jeremy.  D.D.,  Identiflea 
some  of    Gov.    Belcher's    references, 
89n.,48ri.,  166n.,  204  (,  299  it.,  32ftn.     ■ 
His    "History  of   New  Hampshire," 
cited,  116  n.,232n. 


oyGoot^lc 


569 


Bell.  Charlea  H.,  hia  "  Biitorr  of  Exeter, 
N.  U.,"  cited,  61  n. 

Bellamy,  GeoTge.  05,  124, 160,214.  Let- 
ter* to,  467.  476,  478,  482. 

Belloraont,  Kicliard  Coote,  Eari  of,  180. 

Bennet.  Richsrd,  letter  to,  467. 

Berrj,  Col.  Thomaa,  letter  to,  609. 

BeriBKh.  Mn. ,  246.    Letter  to,  406. 

Berwick,  Col. ,  letter  to,  621. 

Bernrick,  Sfn. ,  lelleri  K>,  406,  601, 

602,  521,  648. 

Bill*  ot  credit,  eschkngeiible  Tstue  of, 
60,  92,  IBB,  102,  216,  225-227,  266,272, 
S83,  419,  613;  emiwlon  of,  248,  263, 
254,  256,  317,  318,  840,  847-810,  360, 
361,  364.  SSO,  631,  633. 

Bladen,  Martin,  100-100,  ID,  144,  162, 
173, 174,  177,  178,  247,  270,  302,  372, 
425,  429.    Letten  to,  251,  472. 

BUsrove,  Nathaniel,  letten  to,  473,  476, 
480,  483, 484,  486, 630,  644. 

Blakeoey;  Col.  Willium,  283,  300,  SU, 
312,  316,  338,  366,  S8a  Letter*  to, 
510-514,  617-610. 

Bleasingtoa,  Lord,  140. 

BlodgBl,  Capl. ,  letter  to,  488. 

BollBtn, ,213,291,320. 

Borland, ,113,207. 

"Boston    Evening    Foit"    cited,    510, 


511. 


cited. 


"  Rob  ton  Weekly  Foit-Boy  "  cited,  1 H  n 


between   Maiaachnaetta 
" "    I,   249,   277,  279, 

0,  858,  875-S78, 

1,  534,  537.  646 ; 
tti    and    Rhode 

MawacliuaetU 


410  n. 
Boundary 

and   New   nampiji 

202,  819,  .'(22,  315, 

478,  602,  605,  622,  I 

be  tween    Maiiach  i 

iBland,  249;    betw 

and  New  Tork,  480,  487,  406,  606. 
Boydell,  John,  51, 114, 263, 266,  463, 476, 

494. 
Boyeg,  Robert,  letter*  te,  634,  641,  546, 

647,65a 
Bradbury,  Lieal.  Jabez,  466,  471. 

Bradford, ,  5B9, 

Bnitlle,  Col.  William,  letter  to.  562. 
Brenlon,  Jahleel,  letter  to,  476.     Men- 
tioned, 609. 

Bridge, ,  194. 

BnKcas,  Sir  Richard,  68. 

Broucaa, ,  68. 

Brown,  Josepli,  letter  to,  488. 
Brudenell,  James,  letter  to,  472. 
Brjnnt,  Walter,  878,  406,  407,  408,  587. 

Buchanan, ,  letter  to,  530. 

Bucka,  Miu ,  234. 

Bull,  ifrt.  Hannah,  38. 

Bull,  Liaa.-GoB.  William,  letter  to,  390. 

Burchett,  Jotiah,  letters  to,  462, 468, 4S4, 

501.  552. 
Burke,  Sir  Bernard,  hia  "Peerage  and 

Baronetage "    cited,     16  n.,     243  n.. 


Burnet,    R.    Rev.    Gilbert,    D.D.,   hi* 

"  History  of  hia  Own  Timea,"  88,  144. 

Boraet,  Gov.  William,  114,  128, 180,  182, 

186,  173,  174,  183,  411,  412. 

Burnett, ,  400. 

BySeld,  Nathaniel,  267. 
Bylea,  Bai.  Matber,  D.D.,  68. 


Cnaar,  Mp.  leiiure  of,  480,  406,  541,  and 


456. 

Campbell,  Cuthbert,  letters  to,  410. 
Caroline,  Queen,  83. 
Carter,  Benjamin,  294. 

Carter.  Mri. ,  293,  204. 

Case,  WesIOTer.and  Humphrey,  3/e(lr«., 

letter  to.  480. 
Castle   William,  in   Boston   harbor,  86, 

185,  21S,  267,  313,  349,  358,  611,  530. 

Letter!  to  commanding  officer  at,  471, 

60S,  517,  536. 
Caswall,  John,  126,  14B  n.,  461. 
Caawatl,   jUn. .  3d,   210,   460,    47a 

Letters  to,  496,  600,  502,  636,  660. 
Calhcart,  Charles,  Baron.  283,  811,  S14, 

"■"    """    ""■    607.     Letters  to,  331, 

Chadwell,  Benjamin,  79. 
Chamberlain,  6.,  letter  Co,  467. 

ibers, ,  letter  to,  660. 

Chandler,  Col.  John,  letters  to,  465,  467, 

480-491,  4U3,  616,  630. 
Chandler,   John,  Jr.,  and  Foye,  John, 

letter  to,  403. 
Chandler,  William,  letter  to.  499. 
Chandler,  Capl.  William.  Williaraa  (Wil- 

liara),  and  Hoi!      '   " 


Chandler,  Rn. 
643. 


Holland  (Joseph),  letter  to, 
,  867.      Letter    to. 


ChandoB,  James  Brydges,  Dute  of,  4,  166. 

Letter  to,  476. 

Chapman, ,  235,  492. 

Charleston.  ,S.  C.  Are  in,  309.  541. 
Checkley,  Rer.  John,  292,  827. 

ChecTcr,  Copt. ,  letter  to,  562. 

Christ  Church,  Boiton,  175. 

Church,   Capt.   Charles,  letters  to,  480, 

511,  614,  520,  545,  669-561. 

Ciiurch,  Col. ,  letter  In,  461. 

Church  of  England,  44,  292, 467,  464, 542. 

Claghorn,  Thomas,  609. 

Clark,    Capt.  John,  letter*  to,  471,   606. 

Mentioned,  540. 
ClarlF.  £'>  Bobert,  6,  161.     Letter*  to, 

477,  481. 

Clark, ,  390. 

Clark,  Capt. ,  letter  to,  644. 

Clarke,  Lieui.-Goe.   George,    lettera   to, 

487,  480,  406,  601,  505,  610,  511,  613, 


oyGoot^lc 


C1uttert>uck,  Thomu,  418.  64a 
Coke,  Sir  Edward,  64,  98,  126. 
Colmui,  Reo.  Benjamin.  B.D.,  63,  1S2, 

126,  146.  147,  162.  '212,  232,  291,  300, 

SIS,  S20, 32T.  367.  3S4,  3V3,  462<l,  627. 

Letter  to,  486, 
Commjisioneri  of  Ciutomi,  latUn   to, 

476,  494,  637. 
CompCon,  Major  George,  8-10,  89-91,  B6, 
Cooke,  Eliaha,  12,  23,  117,  63,  76,  S4,  99, 

120,  166,  ItJl,  299.  479,  4HU.^8. 
Cooper  and  Qerald,  Uritri.,  letter  to.  616. 

Cope,  Col. ,  letter  to,  617. 

Copper  Mines.     See  Simjbury,  Caan. 
Coram,  ThoniM,  210,  212,  214,  281,  291. 

290,  802,  326.  3^2.  .168.  524.  Letlen 
to,  231,  246,  B82.  411,  402,  466,  474, 
4T8,  405,  499,  622.  624,  629-6S2,  666- 
560. 

Corbett, .  letter  to,  648. 

Coiby.  Gob.  William,  107. 

Courand,  Jolin,  letter  to,  62S. 

Cozen),  JohD.  609. 

Cradock,  Geoi^,  S7,  63,  e2n.,  9»,  116, 

121,  461. 

Crawford,  James,  467,  463. 

Crawford, ,  letter  to,  462. 

Cromwell,  OliTer.  201. 

Croaland, ,  6,  86.  68,  9V,  91,  93,  104, 

147,  160.     Letters  to,  8.  466.  478. 
Curacoa,  letter  to  the  GoTernor  of.  466. 
CuBhJDK,  Thomas,  Jr.,  205,  486. 
Cuihing,  Cai. ,  and  Quincf,  CU. — -, 

letter  to,  631, 
Cutler,  Rtv.Tmathf,  D.D^  176,  170. 


Dnmareaqna.  Capt.  Philip.  640. 

Uummer,  Jeremiah.  108,  181,  3S3,  247, 
394.  412,  494,  408,  624. 

Dummer,  LUoLGob.  Witliam,  366. 

UunUr.  DaTid,  11,  18,  82,  ST,  88,  61,  63, 
63-66,  76.  79-84,  82,  99-102.  109,  111, 
113.  126-127,  129-131,  134-136,  144, 
148,  151.  152.  167,  168,  162,  173,  174. 
177,  178,  190,  103,  197,  202,  208.  204. 
228.  236,  S60,  281,  314,  829,  337,  343- 
346.  878.  409,  446,  449,  467,  468,  460, 
461,  4e6,  468,  469.  471.  47S,  477.  478, 
606,507,680,621,626.  Letlew  to,  44, 
116,  469-461,  464,  408,  473. 

Dunbar,  Jeremiah,  121,  471.  478. 

Durell.  Capl.  Thomw,  468.  Letten  to, 
4itl.  530, 

"DoiUaan."  Ste  Vauall,  Limt-Ctl. 
John. 

Dwight,  Col.  Tinothr.  lettera  to,  4i9, 
466.470,    Heotioned,  G14,  536. 


Eastern  lands,  description  of.  109. 

Egmont,  John  PennTnl,  EaH  a/.  214,233, 
302,494,  Notice  of,  248  R.  Letten  to, 
243,  800. 

Elliot, ,  letter  to,  471. 

Epps,  Co/. ,  609,    Letter  to,  617. 

ExL'hange  on  EnglaBd,  difflcnlty  of  ob- 
taining. 57, 

Exeter,  N.  //.,  46,  60,  63,  81,  78,  289,  460, 
461,  486,  510, 

Ejre,  Capt.  John,  SSI,  838,  610,  68a 
Letten  to,  616, 617,  619. 


Danrtnne,  Capt. .  letter  to,  468. 

DaTis,  Timothy,  494, 468,  469. 

Da»is, ,  letter  to,  471, 

Dean,  Capt.  John,  letters  to,  401,   640, 

662. 
Decline   of   religion  In   Massachuietts, 

88,186. 
Dennet,  Epbraim,  190, 196,  330, 862, 618, 

519, 
Dennis,  John,  letter  to,  497. 
Dennr,   Major  Samoet,  letters  to,  498, 

614.  617,  620,  528,  535,  686, 
Dicker,  Dr.  Midiael  Lee,  letter  to.  625. 
DinwMdle, ,  letters  to,  477.  494,  510, 

511,638.648,564,568,561, 
DodiriRton,  Hon.  George  Biibb.  284,  289. 

Notice  of,  296  n.  Letter  to,  296, 
"  Don  Diego,"  See  Dunbar,  David, 
Drake,  F,  S.,  his  "Dictionary  ot  Ameri- 


!ited,2l 


Dudley,  (hr.  Joseph,  130,  148,  287. 
Dudley.  Paul.  B33, 247, 260, 264-268, 299. 

304,  806,  809.  310.  317,  833,  834,  412, 

494.  60S,  621,  524. 
Dudley.  Tliomas.  124. 
Dudley,  Col.  William,  181  n.,  338, 421. 


Faneuil,  Andrew,  162. 

Fellows,  John,  61. 

F^neloD,    Francois    de   Saligtiac   de   la 

Mothe,ATclibiBhop'of  Canibniy,quoted, 

42S,  663. 
Fenwick,  Edward,  476, 
Finch,  E..  91, 
Findi,  H.,  91. 
Filch,  A/rs.  Martha,  266.    Letters  to,  600, 


601. 


660. 


D.490. 


Forged  letter,"  the,  203,  231.  236.246. 

286,  288,  301,  606,  613,  524. 
Fort  Dummer,  316,  605. 
Fort  Frederick,  109,  466,  518.  685. 
Fort  William  and  Mary,  at  Portsmouth, 

N.  H.  60,  237,  639. 
Foster,  .Vr»,  ~,  31. 
Foundling  Hospital  in  London,  881,  332. 
Fowler,  Joseph,  499, 
Foxcrofl,  Daniel,  1»4.    Letter  to.  484. 
Foye.  John,  437.  440,    Letters  to.  Vy>, 

608,  669. 


oyGoot^lc 


571 


Frott,  JohD,  UMer  to,  60L 


->,  4T0. 
GnEcomb,  F.,  SM. 
G«»«e  IL,  Kag.  68,  SS,  SSI,  M2,  Ete, 

Geor^ta,  Colonjo/,  TO,  70,  M,  at*.  246, 

Wl,  400,  474. 
Gemld,   Capl. ,  Mten  to,  ft28,  641, 

&50. 
Gernili,  Cirf.  Jtweph.  letter  to,  G09. 
G«Tri(h,  Mn.   Martba,  notica  of,  SSn. 

Letters  to,  29,  IBS. 
Gerriih,  Col.  Timothy,  letter  to,  «&. 
GilMOD,  Bi.  Bav.  Edmuiid,  letlen  W,  175, 

4&e,  467. 
OUet,  Capl.  John,  238.    LMten  to,  4C6, 

46»,  4M,  469.  471,  470,  484.  487,  491, 

4SB,  602,  60S,  6L4.  619,  621,  628,  631, 

633.  636,  639. 
Gilman,  Col.  John.  U,  26,  48,  48.  76,  70, 

286.    Lett«nto,4eO,4ei,4a4,471,  610. 
Gilman.  Nathiniti,  277  n.,  846,  391,  870, 

636,  637,  542. 
Gil™»n,  Capt.  Peter,  277  n. 

Gledhill,  Gob. ,  221,  242. 

Godfrey  and  Lloyd,  Mtmn.,  letten  to, 

406,  627,  647. 
Ooffe,  Capt.  Daniel,  131,  33a 
Ooizin,  Mr:  Duiiel,  iMter  to,  668. 
Goizini,  MoTi.,  letten  to,  466,  472, 480, 

408,  407. 
Gomon,  Sir  John,  381,  384.    Letten  to, 

626.538. 
Goocb,  CoJ.  WiUkn.  811,  S12,  SI5,  ZSO, 

338.    L«ttento,6Il,610. 
Gonjon,  Patrick,   GorerDQi  at  Feontyl- 

Tsnia,  letter  to,  4H6. 
"Oninada."    Ste  WentwoMji,  Bcanlnf. 
Granger.  Samuel,  46T. 
Grant,  William,  letter  to,  479. 

Gmnt,  Ur. .  letter  to,  12. 

Onivea.  Samuel.  470. 

Gray,  Cbarle*.  letlen  to,  491,  607,  HO, 

566. 

Gray,  Capl. ,  letter  to,  468. 

Gny, .  460. 

Greely,  I'eier,  48. 

Green,  TIiotom,  letter  to.  669. 

Green  and  Thorley,  Matri.,  letter  to, 

494. 
Greenlear,  Major  Stephen,  letten  to,  500, 

518,  548,  664,  567. 
Greenwood,  S  ,  letter  to,  600. 
Giiffln,  Jame*.  607.    Letter  to,  507. 
Guliton,  Jngeph,  223,  285,  238,  241,  243, 


"  Giit«>"    Sts  Odioroe,  Jotham. 
Goy*e.  iUe.  John,  DM-,  letten  to,  491, 
640,660, 


Hate,  Sk  Kiltiiew,  08, 118,  126.  14S. 

Hale,  Thomaa,  letter  to,  526. 

Hall,  Capt.  Edward,  276,  277  n. 

Hall,  Capt.  Gile*.  Utten  to.  460, 460, 488, 

460,  482,  483,  485,  600,  646-647.  669. 
Hall.  Hugli,  260,  281,  SCO,  323,  S62,  370, 

487,  681,  632. 

Hall, ,  letter  to,  682. 

HamiltoB,   Capt.  Ottio,  letten  to,  4SS, 

Hanson,  Nathaniel,  416, 410. 684.    Latter 

to,  661. 
Hardwiok*,   PUlip   Vor^,  Lord  Chilf- 

Juitice,  letters  to,  478,  4T7. 
Harrington,  William  Stanhope,  Earl  a/, 

letter  to.  492. 
Harriion,  Francii,  letlen  to,  76,46^  467. 

460.  47e,  486.  487.  Meotioned,  156. 
Haii:h,  Col.  EbIm,  681.  Letter  to,  680. 
Hatfield,  MiM~ — ,293,  mi,  384,  600, 

623,  626.    Letter  to.  294. 
Harvard  College,  87,  187,  143,  412,  4S0. 

Hawte,  Capl. ,  loiter  lo,  616. 

Hazzen.  Richard,  375,  M6-408,  £87,  ft88. 

Lectera  to,  584,  641. 

Heath,  Col. ,  letter  to,  468. 

Heron,  Cap*. ,  lelMr  to,  687. 

Hide,  Kphraim,  letlon  to,  490,  SOS,  108, 

664.  667,  661. 
Hill,  Thomai,  letter  to,  601. 
Hinidell,  Stv.  Ebenezer,  letter  to,  482. 
Holden,  Samuel.  68,  72,  74.  121,  128, 146. 

147,  166,  284,  286,  291,  208,  320.  823, 

326.  398,   542.    Letten  to,   462,  474, 

478,  607. 
Holden,  Mr:  Samuel,  147, 884,  896.  627. 
Holden,  Mia ,   172,   178,   182,  284, 


HoUinBi, ,  210,  217,  288.    Letter  to, 

491. 
EdIU,  Tbonvu,  63.    Letten  to,  66, 474. 
Hollia  St.  Chnrch,  Bailon,  63,  66. 
Holman.    Col.  Jolin,   letten  to,  482-186, 

496,  4BT,  62B,  642,  644.  666. 

Holme, ,  letter  to,  622. 

Horsmanden,  Daniel,  letter  to,  480. 
Houghton,  Capt.  Jnmet.  letter  to,  486. 

How, ,  letter  to,  625. 

Hubbard,  Thomaa,  letten  to,  658,  656, 

667. 
Hiuke,  Kllia,  11,  47.  67,  114,  116.  140, 

141.  168,  187,  188,  106.  197,  208-206, 

207,  286,  297,  306,  870,  371,  416,  416, 


oyGoot^lc 


572  ■      INI 

426,  420,  468-471,  477,  48S,  493,  494. 
NoUce  of,  114  n.    Letters  to,  S06,  SZJ, 

467,  461,  468,  480,  482,  186,  489, 491, 
498-197,  e03,  504,  611,  612,  617,  519, 
686,  637,  639,  641,  513.  516,  518-560. 

Hutchinsoi],  Edward,  3SS. 

Uutchinsoa,  Tborons,  77,  331,  836.  341- 
S4S,  379,  409,  417,  118,  426,  129,  431, 
486,622,687,512,619.  Notice  of ,  386  n. 
Letters  to,  386,  523. 

Hy«m, ,  322,  368,  362,  607.    Letten 


Ice  in  Boston  harbor  Id  tbo  winter  of 

1740-41,  361,  583. 
Indians,  relations  nitb  the,  loO,  469, 169, 

476,  478, 1B7,  188,  491,  497,  503,  516, 

518,  520,  52S,  535. 
Ingenol.  Samuel,  letter  to,  686. 
"  hiawich  Lad."    See  Bindoe,  John. 
Iron  ore,  119. 


Jackson,  Fisher,  letter  to,  166. 
Jackson,  John,  letters  to,  156, 16G. 
Jaffrey,  George,  61,  228,  269,  415,  482, 

134. 
James,  Frandi,  79. 
Jekyll,  John.  681. 
Jekyll,  Sir  Joseph,  letter  to,  474. 
Jenkins,  Robert,  287,  606,  607,  509. 
Johnson,    Gabriel,   Governor    of  North 

Carolina,  letter  to,  608. 
Johnson,  Robert,    OoTemor    of    South 

Carolina,  letter  to,  180. 

Johnson,  Rfo. ,  letter  to,  490. 

Jones,  Sir  Thomas,  466. 
Jones,  Capi. ,  letter  to,  568. 

K. 

K>t«,  William,  634. 

Kar,  Nathaniel,  .'^3. 

Keene,  Benjamin,  240,  426, 129. 

EeUo^,  Capt.  Joseph,  letters  to,  480- 

482,  486,  490.  497,  503,  505,  609,  62S. 

Kent,  Col. ,  letter  to,  468. 

Kilby,   Christopher,  206,   247,   S13-315, 

317,  852,  882,  898,  496,  521,  624-526. 
King,  Peter,  Lard  Chaneeilor,  158. 

King, ,  169. 

King's  Chapel,  BoiKm,  17£,  176. 
Kinsey,  John,  263,  863, 397. 


Land  Bank,  363,  368,  378,  880,  I 

640,643. 
Lansford,  Michael,  letter  to,  668. 


Larrabee,  Capl.  Beojamin,  807.  Letter* 
to,  460,  469,  487,  503,  514,  616,  520. 

Lascelles,  Edward,  234. 

Law,  Goo.  Jonathan,  letters  lo,  178, 192, 
186. 


Sre   Bhiriey, 


Lawton, ,  letter  t 

"  Learned  in  the  La 

William. 
LeaTJtt,  Moses,  159. 
I«chaiere,  Thomas,  449. 

LethuLUier,  Mitt ,  234. 

Lincoln,  Bishop  of.      St«  Beynalia,'- RL 

See.  Riehaiti. 
"  Linen  Draper."     See  Deering,  HeniT. 
Ltvermore,  Matthew,  203.  427,  485,  438. 

Letters  to,  404,  468,  469. 
Llojd,  Oeorite.  212, 291,  326.    Letter*  to, 

462,  476,  482.  496,  627. 
Ltoyd,  .Sir  Nathaniel,  letter  to,  166. 
London,  Bishop  of.   See  Gibson,  Bt.  Bev. 

Edmund. 
Lords  of  the  Admiraltr,  letters  to,  368, 

3S0,  680. 
Lords  of  Tnde,  letters  to,  19,  78,  108, 

127,  156,  179,  185,  225,  258, 256,  347, 

867,  377,  460,  461,  464,  467,  480,  481, 

196.  601-603,  612.  517.  619,  521,  622, 

627,  530,  537.  641,  516.      Mentioned, 

89, 12.  Ill,  116.  215,  210,  247,  261. 

Loring, ,  letter  to.  169. 

Lothrop,  Isaac,  and  others,  letter  to,  636. 

Lutwyche, ,  letters  to,  645,  517,  656. 

Lyde,  Bvfleid,   165,   150,  168,  169,  ITS, 

180,  181,  192,  200,  213,  215,  326,  416, 

461,  478,  481,  542. 
Lyde,  Mill  Mar?,  death  of,  472,  473. 
Lynde,JWfe  Benjamin,  and  others,  letter 

to,  472.   ■ 
Lynde,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  letters  to,  491, 600. 


M. 

Mackay,  .Sneas.  520,  580. 

Malbone,  Cop(.  Godfrey,  826.    Letterato, 

508,  509.  513,  520,  621,  524,  647, 518. 

Mans&eld, ,  468. 

Marshall,  Richard,  4,  124,  160.    LettM 

to,  167. 
Marshfleld,  Mrt.  Josiah,  letter  to,  63A. 
Marston,  Benjamin,  letter  to,  470. 
Marston,  Cut. ,  lettere  to,  617,  520, 

536,  548,  664-557. 
Mascarene,   Major  Jean  Paol,  186,  46S. 

Letters  to,  2S6,  458,  466,  621,  639, 662, 

657,  669. 
Mason,  John  TutCon,  2^  287. 

Mason, ,  194. 

Massachusetts,  manufkcturei   and   pro- 
ducts of,  146-160. 
Massachnsetts   Assembly,   speeches  to, 

455.  467, 403,  470, 477,  ua     Message* 

to,  464,  479,  480,  487. 
Maisnchutetts,  Conncit  of.  addresses  to, 

481,611. 
Massachusetts,   Council   and    Eonse   of 


oyGoot^lc 


406,  502,  616,  626,  681.  644,  646. 

I,  Home  ol  Repreient&tiTM 
to,  460,  616-617,  6.tB,  636, 

641,  546.  ' 
"  Huiscbuiettt  HuloricAl  CoIIectiona  " 

cited,  6  ».,  a  n.,  12  fi.,  33  n.,  37  ».,  62  n., 

69  R.,  78  n,  106  iL,  114  n.,  160  n.,  161  n., 

1B1  n.,  188  n.,  231 H.,  262  n..  462  n. 
MBu&chuiecti,   "Journal  of   House   of 

RepreienCatiTei "  of,  cited,  SM  n.,  616- 

tir.  626,  529,  534,  6S6. 
Hkther,  Rev.  Cotton,  D.D.,  214. 
Mfttber,     Warhaii),    notice   of,     186  n. 

Letter  to,  1B6. 
Harliew,  Col.  ZMchflot,  letter*  t«,  487, 

609. 
Mayne,  Mettrt.  Edward  and  John,  468. 
Hellon;,  Thomu,  536. 
Merideo,  Com.,  462,  483,  486. 
Herrett,  Jobu,  318.    Letter  to,  636. 
Millet,  Caoi.  ThomM,  160.     Letter  to, 

6B4. 
Hilton,  Matt.,  416, 416, 418, 490, 684, 640, 

660. 
Uinot,  Capl.  John,  letten  to,  456,  469, 

460,  464,  471.  476,  484,  487,  486.  401, 

497,  603,  514,  616,  618,  520.  628,  636, 

639. 
Mitchell,  George,  S7G.  406,  687.     Letlan 

to,  636,  538,  639,  543. 

Mitford,  Capt. ,  letter  to,  662. 

Holineui, ,  letter  to,  626. 

MonioD,  John,  LorJ,  letter  to,  402. 

Moodej, ,  letter  to,  641. 

UordauDt,  Col.  Cbarles.  letter  to,  627. 
Monlake.  Conn.,  27,  290,  626,  466,  467, 

466.  482, 483,  490,  493,  494,  602,  607, 

606,^4. 
Morton,  John,  147,  384,397,627.  Letten 

to,  898,  464,  476,  494. 
Moanleney,  Kichaid,  418. 
"Mrs.     G^psy."       Ste     Shirley,    Mti. 

WilliBm. 
Hunday,  Jamei,  letter  to,  464. 
"My  Lady'i  Dangler."    Sti  Atkinioo, 

Theodore. 


N. 

NeKro  ilaTery,  244. 

Newberry,  Wnller,  letten  to,  462.  474. 

NewcaBtle,  Thomai  Pelham,  Dvkt  of, 
letten  to.  67,  86,  186,  262,  312,  38'7. 
MO,  467,  480,  464,  467,  477-479,  481, 
496,  504,  606,  608,  610,  619,  620,  630, 
637,  640,  641.  Meationed,  a,  56, 151, 
154-156,  209,  282,  263,  314,  360,  381, 
620. 

"New  England  Historical  and  Genea- 
logical ReKister  "  cited,  446  n. 

"New-Eneland  Weekly  Joamal"  cited, 
ei  n.,  63  n.,  455, 467, 463, 477,480, 487, 
644,645. 


New  Hampshire  Aseemblj,  speech  to. 

472. 
I4ew  Hampshire,  Council  and  House  of 

Represents tive*  of,  messages  to,  600, 

633,  634.    Speech  to,  614. 
New     Hampshire     Historical     Society, 

115  n. 
New  Hampshire   House  of  Representa- 

tives,  ipeecfaes  to,  456,  473.     Mussagei 

->,  601. 614.  634. 
!«  Hampshire 

cited,  10  R,,  202  '■.,274)1.,  277  n. 

322  n.,  364  R.,  466,  472,  473,  500,  601, 

614,  6S3  n.,  634. 
Newman,  Henry,  97,  121,  148,  233,  246, 

289.  209,  4(W,  462,  631.    Letters  to. 

247,394,411,  467,  456,  466,  407,  474, 

470,498,524,551,600. 
"  New  York  Colonial  Documents  "  cited, 

76  n. 
Norridgewalk  Indiani,  letter  to  Chle& 

of,  620. 
North,  John,  262,  287,  288,  323,  496,  407, 

501,602. 
NorthQeld,  Matt.,  469.  466,  470. 
Nottinghain,  Heneage  Finuh,  Ewt   of. 

123. 
Noyet,  OliTer,  461. 


0. 

Ober,  Iirael,  TO. 

Odiome,  Jotham,  120.  168.  160, 160, 167, 

843.     Utten  to,  470,  482. 
Odlin.  Etisha.  280. 
Ogle,  Admiral  Chaloner,  362,  396. 
Oglethorpe,  Gm.  James  E.,  letter  to,  60, 

Mencioaed.  264,  890,  S91. 
"  Old  Brittle."    Set  Sherburne,  Heoijr. 
"  Old  Idiot."     See  Walton,  glmdrach. 
OliTCT,  Andrew,  60,  67,  71,  125,  451. 
Olirer,  Daniel,  death  and  character  of, 

112. 
Onatow,  Arthur,  letter  to,  846.  Mendoned, 

890, 526. 
Ornnge,  Prince  of,  his  mniriiige  with  the 

Prince**  Royal  of  England,  6. 66, 74, 86. 

87,94. 
Orciitt,  Benjamin  ,  letten  to,  664, 

558. 

Osborn, ,  810. 

Osborne,  Capt. ,  letter  to.  560. 

Osgood,  Major ,  letters  to,  460,  471, 

.  James,  letten  to,  669-561. 
Oxford.  England,  UniTer»ily  at,  92,  99, 
148, 161, 176, 177. 


Paige,  Rev.  Loein*  R..  D.D.,  hi*  "  Hi*- 
-  lo'ot  Cambridge  "dted,  29)1.,  IHr., 

Pahner,  Eliakim,  417, 430,  446,  461. 


oyGoot^lc 


574  nn 

Palmer,  Tbomtj,  letter  to,  461$. 

Paper  currencj  io  Mawachusetts,  OO,  92, 

187,  226-227,  2M,  256,  267,  328,  3«, 

817-349,  S69-361,  364,  608. 
Farii,  Ferdinmnil  John,  289. 
Parker,  fleo.  Stepben,  Uttefl 

487. 


to,  ITO. 
Paraoni,  0>her,  hi*  "  Life  of  Sir  WIOiliiD 

Pepperrell  "  cited,  26  n.,  254  n. 
Futrldge,    RlL-liud,    6,   131,   S4fl,    &32. 

LeUiir«  to,  33,  84,  93,  103,  16Q,  170, 

208,  217,  235.  247,  252,  281,  275.  280, 

264,  287,  313,  Slfl.  322,  S42,  356,  301, 

379,  396,  423,  430,  439,  461,  456-458, 

4(50-467,  472,  473.  478,  478-482,  486, 

487,  492,  494,  495,  497^602,  600-508, 

610.  614,  517,  61tf-621,  623-626,  627, 

629-631,  533.  634,  638,  543,  544,  648, 

M9,  651,  663-665,  657-559,  661. 
FartHdge,  Richard,  and  Belvhef,  Jooft- 

tkan,  Jr.,  letter*  to,  173,  47S,  478,  497, 

496.  GU7,  622. 
I^rtridge,   Ctt.  StmueL  letten  to,  4tIS, 

482. 
Putridse,  Mrs.  William,  dMth  of,  310. 

Letters  to,  469,  470.  477,  485-487. 
P«wtucketF»lle,  876,  377. 
P&xtoQ,  C]iarlea,-33,  88.  460.    Letter  to, 

464. 
Paiton,  Hichotu,  letter  Io,  474. 
.    Peacock, —,  248. 

PeagTDQi,  JohB,  aea,  440  r.,  4W.    Letter 

to,  564. 

Peane,  Capl. ,  letter  to,  618. 

Pecker,  Capl. ,  letter  to,  482. 

Peirce,  Joshua,  Gl,  62.  442. 

Fetrce,  an.  Joshnft,  482. 

Pelhkm,  m.  Hm.  Henr^,  381,  864,  430, 

638. 
Pelfaam,  Hm.  ThoBiM,  letter  Io,  472. 

Pellett,  Dr. ,  154.    Letter  to,  478. 

Pemaqaid,  48,  82,  88.    . 

Pemberton.  Benianiin,  108, 166, 167, 169, 

180,  181,  406,  478.    Letter  to,  403. 
PembettoQ,  JamM,  letten  to,  £58,  G60, 

662. 
Pepperrell,  Coi.  WtlHam.  dMth  of.  2«. 
Pepperrell,  (M.  William,  Jr.,  notice  of 

25  n.     Letters  to,  26,  481,  46)(-486. 

486,  GU,  637,  667.     Mentioiwd,  421, 

432,  4S3,  436. 
Perciral,  Capt.  FraDcii,  letters  to,  612, 

513. 
PhiHlpi,  Addph,  121.    Letten  to,  4G7, 

466,  471,  476,  478. 
Phillips,  Richard,  points  the  portrait  of 

dot.  Belcher,  97. 
Phillips,  Cat.  Richard,  IBS. 
Phillips,  dipt.  Thomns,  331, 838. 
Phipps,  Mi>t  EHwibelh,  472. 
Phipps.  Lina.-Gov.  Spencer,  87.    Letter 


0,472. 
Pitcher,  — 


-,  616. 


Pitkin.  Joseph,  letten  to,  466.  «8,  4£ft- 
461,  46«,  466-469,  473,  475,  480.  48!^. 
484,  480,  487,  496,  499,  502,  680,  68S. 
642,  644.  647,  564,  656,  666,  560. 

Pitman,  BenjaiiHtt,  47- 

Pitman,  Junei,  47. 

Pitman, ,  S76. 

Flaisled,  Cd.  lebabod,  letter*  to,  OW, 
631,644. 

Plaisted.  Joeepb,  IBS,  464. 

Flaut,  Rex.  Matthlu,  letter  to,  G2». 

Plammer,  BeiijamiQ,  297. 301, 687. 

Pollard,  Beujunin,  601,  590. 

Pomfret,  Coim.,  466. 

Poot,  Capt. ,  lettef  to,  488. 

Pope,  John,  5.35.     Letten  to,  586,  611. 

Poppie,  Alnr^d,  t2S.  162,  178,  466.  let- 
ters to.  148.  464,  472,  47Q. 

Portland,  Henrr  Bentinck,  D^u  tf, 
138. 

Powell. ,  164,  16^  171,  17E.    Lellet 

to,  480. 

Powell.  J*.*H  - 

PrendergMt, ,; 
ten  to,  628..IUO. 

Prescott,  Capl.  John,  881,  388. 

Price,  Rtb.  Roger,  176,  176. 

Proof,  Joseph,  letter  to,  467. 

Panderwn. ,  14a 

Putnam,  Gtn.  Israel,  letter  to,  6! 
tloned,  636,  541. 

FyDchoQ,  Joseph,  68S. 


Quakers,  S8,  236,  281,  2»T,  801, 301,  867. 

S85,  S66,  482.  622,  642,  646. 
Quakers  in  Great  Britaia,  letm  to,  COGl 
Quincj,  Edmund.  215. 
Quincy,  John,  248, 334. 
Quincf,  Josiah,  tetter  to,  481. 
"  Quondam  Landlord."    Set  SbtflmmB, 

Henr>. 


Rand,  Thomas,  406. 

K«Dd,  William,  406. 

Rand,  Mrt.  William,  74. 

Read,  John,  126,  306. 

Reck,  P.  a.  F.  Ton,  88,  81^   1S%  460, 


474. 


RemingtoD,  Mn.  Jonathan,  447. 
RevnoldB,  Anthony,  t,  6,  21, 42,  lSO-141. 

46B,  465.  46«. 
Reynolds.  Bn.  George,  6,  7, 10,  91, 145. 

Letter  Io,  456. 
Reynolds,  Rt.Rm.  Richard,  6,  91,12^ 

148.    Letter*  to,  8. 138.  468. 
Rhodomantado."  .  Srt  Huske,  Ellis. 
Rider,  Sir  Dudley,  164.    Lett«r  to,  476. 


oyGoot^lc 


S[ndn,  John.  41,  113, 115, 262,  3M,  829, 

345.  357^  626. 
Rokch,  Capt.  Jamet.  48S,  406,  603. 
Roads,  badneis  of,  276,  470,  632, 

552. 
Robert,  ihip,  wizare  of,  4SS. 

Bobinion,  Cant. ,  letMr  to,  639. 

Rom,    Rev.    titipi    J&iiki,    bi*    "  Bio- 

graptiical  Dictionary  "  ci[«d,  295  p 
Royall,  luac,  630. 
Ruck,  Jolin,  204. 
RuMolI,    Eleazer,    169,    188,    203,    416. 

Lettar  to,  623. 

Ru^es,  Heo. ,  r«tter  to,  60S. 

Ryme*.  Chrliiopher,  303,  S79,  630,  B 


Sackville,  Lord  John,  8,  9,  SO. 

St.  AugUBtiDe,  Florida.  244,  246,  801. 

Saltonatall,  Col.  Richard,  24.  Lettento, 
45S,  4T3.  481,  483,  484,  609. 

Salzburghetv,  460,  474. 

"  Sancho."    5(8  Dunbar,  David. 

Sanden,  Capl.  Thomai,  latlers  t«,  469, 
4til. 

Sandford,  Thomaa,  U7.    L«tter  to,  474. 

Sandji,  Samuel,  318. 

"  Sarah."    See  Dudley,  PauL 

Saunderton,  Vicholaa,  4, 142,  191. 

Barage,  Abijah,  and  WaUejr,  Abi«I,  let- 
ter to.  620. 

Sarage,  Jamea,  hia  "  Genealogical  Dic- 
tionary "  cited,  112N..  2IDn. 

Savage.  CapL ,  lellers  to,  608,  614, 

610,  62B,  681,  636.  539,  647. 

8earborough,»Ai>.  18, 93, 108, 108, 183.181 

Scliafler,  Albert,  letter  to,  6fll. 

Scott,  Capl. ,  letters  to,  642,  648. 

Scrope,  John,  816.    Letter  to,  513. 

Seecomb,  fUn.  Joieph.  letter  to,  487. 

Sergeant,  Reii.  John,  letter*  to,  535.  669, 

Sewall,  Bee.  Joseph,  D.D..  letter  to,  600. 

Sewal],  iV[ajor  Samuel,  mentioned,  604. 
Letter*  to,  660-56.3. 

Sharp,  John.  240,  28B,  300,  3M.  642. 
r-ettera  to,  474,  479. 

Sharp,  William,  86,  100,  199,  466,  Let- 
ten  to,  464,  474,  479. 

Sherburne,  Henry,  4,  23,  82,  42,  43  61 
61,  01,  120. 158,  ISO,  168.  196,  197,208 
241.  286,  304.  820.  330,  433,  449,  468, 
466.  Letter!  to,  24,  821,  400, 466  457- 
464.  468-171,  473,  477,  480,  482-198, 
4n6-4!l8,  601,  502,  504,  606.  609-611 
616-621.  623,  626.  628-632,  585,  641, 
544-649. 

Sherburne,  Mn.  Henry,  321, 328, 616, 648. 

Sherbame,   Henry,    the   younger,   416, 

Sberbnme.  Liml.-CeL  Joseph,  106,  207 

278,  -330. 416.  v  ,        .        . 

Sherbnrne,  Samuel,  830,  802,  484,  448, 


EX.  575 

SbiTlay,  Wimam,  64, 66.  02,  98, 122, 126, 

147.  154.  166,  101.  208.  205,  230,  2il2. 

237.  24U.  260,  2fJ3,  :i79,  800,  301,  818, 

382,  852,  302,  373,  385,  400,  402,  404, 

407,  409.  412.  429,  408.  478.  490,  495, 

4Ue,  504.  506,  509,  520,  526,  626,  642. 

Letters  to,  310,  524. 
Shirley,  H"-  William,  263,  288,  814,316, 

82»,  344,  846,  429.  607,  620, 
Shove,  Edward,  166. 
ShurtleO,  Ro).  William,  letter  to.  501. 
Shuts,  Gov.  Samuel,  11,  130,  165,  172, 

264,  265,  411.  412,  411.    Letter  to,  476. 
Silk  made  in  Connecticut,  178,  192. 

Silvester. .  77. 

Simibury  copper  miocB,   192,  460,  463, 

466,  469,  478,  4S0,  481,  468,  486-487, 

530. 
Slade,  Arthur  43,  76,  106,  460,  467. 
Smith,  Oiiat.  Thomas,  letten  to,  473, 608, 

614,  610. 

Snell. ,  147.    Letter  to.  473. 

Society    for    propagating    the    Qotpel 

among  tbe  Indian*.  56,  67. 
Society    in     Scotland    for    pAtpagating 

ChnitUn  Knowledge.  12-14,  479. 
Salley,  Samuel,  475, 537. 
Spanish  We*t  Indies,  expedition  aoainst, 

:!H1-28S,  309,  311,  312,  314,  331,  837- 

839,381,  391.  392,  396,  606,  608-614, 

517,519,621,  689. 

Spence, >,  154.    Letter  to.  476. 

Spotawood,  CU.  Alexander,  114,  282, 806, 

362.  878,   504.    Letten  to,  468,  471, 

486,  504,  607. 
Spring,  Capt.  Robert,  633. 
Squirrel,  ihip,  530. 
Stoddard,  Anthony,  126, 186.    Letter  to, 

653. 
Stoddard,  Col.  John,  letters  to.  450-461, 

484,  497,  606.  612,  614,  682,  635. 
Stone,  AndrFw,  letten  to,  538,  640. 
Stone,  Rea.  Nathaniel,  letter  Co,  614. 

Stone. ,  209,  818. 

Storer,  Capl.  John,  808,  811.    Letter  to, 

628. 
Storke, ,  289,  632.    Letten  to,  462, 

626.  632, 646. 

Storr, ,  letter  to,  631, 

Strange.  Sir  John,  302.    Letter  to,  625. 

Strange, .  199. 

Stuart,  Capl.  George.  831.  8Sa 

Stuart,  Jane,  534. 

Switzer, ,362.    Letter  to,  612. 


Taber.  Capt. .  letter  to,  488, 

"Tafff-."    ^'iM  Dunbar,  David. 

Taiter,   Mrt.   William,   letters    to,  602. 

545. 
Talbot.  Chnrles.  Lord  Chanc^ar,  letter* 

to.  473, 477, 
Talcott,  Goi:  Joseph,  lettel*  to,  46^  46B, 

476.  490.  613;  682,  543. 


oyGoot^lc 


T«rawortb.  En^and.  6.  7-10,  27,  86,  72. 
89.  91.  94-tfe.  107,  124.  146,  146,  153, 
160.  199.  302,  456,  468,  461.  462.  466, 
467.  Letter  to  (be  BailLSa  and  CnpiuU 
Burgesiet  of,  466. 

Tench,  Capt. ,  162,  191.    Letter  to, 


484. 
Tencli,  Mrt.  - 


484. 


,  191.    Letter  t 


TeDoent,  Rev.  Gilbert,  373. 
Thacber.  Peter,  letterj  ^o,  486, 487. 
"  The  Ape,"    See  Tbeodore  Atkinion. 
"Tlie  Deplorable  Sute   of   New   Eng- 

land."  233  n.,  884. 
"  The    Irisli   Judge."     See    Anchmutj-, 

Robert. 
"  Tbe  Loon."    Ste  JsHrey,  George. 
"  The  Fainter."    See  Auchmut;,  Robert. 
"  The  Pedlar'a  Wife."     Set  Peirce,  Mrt. 

"  Tbe  PreMher."    See  Dudley.  Paul 
"Tbe  Toper."    See  Cooke,  Eliaha. 
Theicher.  Thomai.  274,  319,  864, 381. 
Thing.  Major  Banhalomew,  49. 
Thomas,  George.  GoTernor  of  Peumyt- 

Tania,   letters   to,   6U6,  607,  509,  5S6, 

639. 
TbomliDBon,  John,  104, 109-111, 116,  127- 

129.  ISl,  131,  136.  202  It.,  207,  209,  228, 

221. 2S1,  282,  -i^.  236,  238,  241,  242, 

246,  261,  277  n..  304,  322,  329,  844,  364, 

866.  872,  4-26.  446,  449,  492,  507,  517, 

520,  526,  626,  546. 

Tiadall, ,  letter  to,  486. 

Toppan,  Htv.  Chriitopher,  notice  of,  24  n. 

Lettera  to,  24. 470. 
Torrey,  Reo.  Joeepb.  56,  474. 
TowDiheDd,  Charles,  Vitcmita,  16, 21,  91, 

93.  99,  126,  138,  540.    LeUera  to,  17, 

182. 
Townahend,  Mia  Dolly,  notice  of,  16  n. 

Letter  to,  16.     Mentioned,  99,  184. 
IVlirnihend.    Capt.    Geor((e.    16.    17,    78, 

164,    Letters  to,  497,  606,  628,  541. 
Townshend.  Hon.  Thomas.  73,  91,  146. 

147.    Notice  of.  187  n.    letter  to,  137. 
Trecnhick, ,  letters  to,  661,  562, 

,  fetter  to,  490. 
"  Trinkalo."    See  Waldo,  Samuel. 
THton,  mow,  638. 
Tuck,  George.  70. 
Turell,  Mr>.  Jane,  486. 
Turner,  John,  581. 

Turner,  Co/. ,  letter  to,  461. 

Tyng,  Capt.  Bdnard,  73,  121.    Letlen 
to,  536, 660. 


Ungle,  Mn.  Robert,  letter  to,  467. 
Urlsperser,   Samuel,  896,  412,     Letter 

to.  466. 
Usber,  LitvL-Gov.  John,  118, 271. 


V. 

Vauall.  lAaa-Cd.  John,  426,  428,  429. 

432-434,  437-440,  449,  461,  664,  556, 

657.     Notice   of,  446  n.      Letten  to, 

446,560. 
Vasaall,  John,  466,  472. 
Vauall,  Major  Leonard,  00.    Letter  to, 

466. 
Vaughan,  E„  18B,  180. 
Vaughan,  Eliot,  566. 
Vaughan,  Lieul.-Gav.  George,  11,  130. 
Vaughan,  WillUm,  letten  to,  469,  490. 

492.  502,  666. 

Vaughan, ,  456. 

Vernon,  Admiral  Edward,  282,  891,  S9& 

Letten  to,  609,  513. 532, 638. 
Vernon,  Henry,  465, 
VlDing,  Benjamin,  471, 476. 


W. 

Wadsvoith,  Capt.  Jama,  letter  to,  664. 

"r'ager.  Sir  Cbarles.  38.  196.  203.  206. 
2®.  220.  231-233.  286.  286.  288,  280. 
Km,  301,  304.  317,  S19,  323,  330.  366. 
418.  420,  494,  499,  624.  Utteni  to, 
227,  263,  419,  460,  479,  487,  494,  506, 
613,  522,  524,  631,  634,  641,  666. 

Waghorn, ,  letter  to,  666. 

Wait,'^/r«.  Eunice.  232. 

Walcott. ,  letter  to.  643. 

Waldo,  Samuel.  39,  63. 64,99, 12S.  181  n., 
204,  207,  213,  231,  233,  246,  260,  276, 
288.  301,  304,  311,  313-316,  319.  320^ 
823,  326,  827.  329,  332,  336.  337,  343- 
845,  363,  373.  S85,  409,  426,  440,  441, 
496,  497-499,  501,  502,  506,  507,  513, 
620,  524,  525,  542. 

Waldron,  Ricliard,  letters  to,  11,22,  28, 
82,  40,  42,  60.  01.  63,  66,  76,  113,  115, 
119,  158,  166,  188,  189,  196,  197,  201, 
204-206,  222.  289,  269.  269,  274,  278, 
281,  286,  297.  298,  802-805,  308-810, 
815,  320,  828.  329,  a36,  SW,  846,  871. 
875.  401.  405,  407,  408,  41.3,  416,  416. 
421,  426,  427,  429,  4.^1-433,  436,  437, 
438,  440,  442.  446,  448.  465-461,  463- 
471,  473,  476.  477,  480,  482-489,  492- 
494.  496-499,  602,  504.  606,  607-610, 
512,  614-617,  519-521,  625-554.  667, 
558,  560-662.  Mentioned,  49,  274  a., 
446. 

Waldron.  Mrt.  Richard,  278,  82B,  876, 
414,423.    Letter  to,  615. 

Walley, ,  letter  to,  600, 

Walley. ,  letter  to,  66Z 

Walling,  Jamei,  482.  483. 


488. 


Letter  to. 


Wallis,  Gamaliel,  499. 

Walpole.  Horace  (tjord  Walpole).  letters 
to.  264, 466.  491. 508, 636.  Mentioned, 
288. 300.  317,  333,  852.  885.  896.  396. 

Walpole.  Sir  Robert,  156, 166,  221,  242. 
262,  277, 278,  296,  297.  880,  402,  404, 


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427,  429, 431. 433,  639,  642.  665,  Let- 
ten  to,  167,  223,  361,  606.  684. 

Waltou,  Shadrnch,  42,  43, 204,  205,  207, 
20B,  222,  274,  372,  400,  406.  416.  638. 
Letter*  to,  371. 400-402,  488,  490-492, 
604,  610,  612,  613,  622,  680,  633,  643- 
646, 

Wantan,  John,  Governor  of  Khode  Ii- 
land,  letter  to.  610. 

Wftnton,  Gov.  WiUiuD,  letter  to,  408. 

Ward,  Rictiard,  Gorernor  ot  Bbode 
bland,  lelten  Co,  632,  643. 

Wuren,  Col.  James,  letter  to,  497. 

Warren,  Capt.  Peter,  notice  of,  264  n. 
Letters  to,  264,  606^  60U,  618,  643, 
646. 

Warren,  Mrs.  Peter,  266.  Letter  to, 
489. 

Watera,  Mutrt.,  letters  to,  466,  468, 4T8. 

Watts,  Ren.  Isaac,  D.D.,  letters  to,  14, 
392,  476,  491,  660,  560.     Mentioned, 

Wears,  Sir  Clement,  131,  458. 

Weeks,  Capt. ,  415,  647. 

Welle*,  Samuel,  39,  68  n. 

Wells, ,  147.     Letter  to,  473. 

Wendell.  Jacob.  433,  434.  Letters  to, 
662-666,667. 

Wentworth,  Benning,  19, 20, 84, 100, 101, 
104, 105, 110,  127.  lis,  135,  168.  16T, 
lUO,  204,  207,  209,  222,  2S5,  279,  314, 
820,  82G,  829,  343-846,  8«d,  S73,  379, 
385,  396,  400,  402,  404,  407,  409.  426, 
431,  433,  434,  487,  446.  460.  492,  496, 
498,  601,  516,  620,  542,  646,  649. 

Wentworth,  Benning,  and  Atkinson. 
Theodore,  addreas  to,  472. 

Wentworth,  Lieui.-Goa.  John,  114,  130- 
132, 136,  174, 271. 

Wentworth,  Samuel,  803.  Letter*  to, 
666,  561,  662. 

Wentworth,  Gm.  Thomas,  891. 

Wentworth,  W„  18a 

"  Wentworth  Geoealog;  "  cited,  24  n., 
204  n.,  367  n.,  3T9  n. 

West,  yfn. ,  letter  to,  484. 

Weslbrook,  Col.  Thomas.  286, 441.  Let- 
ters to,  466,  489,  601,  604. 

Weatmoreland,  Thomas  Fane,  Earl  of, 
111,161.     Letters  to,  472,  477. 

Weymouth,  Thomas  Thjoae,  Vitcouat, 
160. 

Wharton,  Thoma«,  Duhi  of,  228. 

Wheelwright,  Samuel,  188,  1B5  n.,  484. 

Whiiefleld,  Reii.  George,  386,  843,  373, 
521,  638,  541. 

Whitfield,  John,  122,  152,  508. 

Whitwortli,  Miles,  662. 

Whitworth, ,  817.    Letter  to,  513. 

Wibird.  Richard,  116,  432. 

Wibird,  Richard,  tiit  uoungtr,  167,  IBS, 
379,  630, 644. 


73 


EX.  677 

Wlggin,  Andrew,  169. 

Wllks,  brands,  letters  to,  38,  168,  216, 
466,  466,  487,  472,  478.  481,  491.  HDl, 
605,  622,  530,  531,  688.  546,  519,  660, 
558,  555.  Mentioned,  87.  121,  181, 
143,  181,  200,  210,  238,  275,  278,  289. 
316,  364,  866,  388-390,  896,  417,  420, 
642.640. 

Wilka,  Francis.  Fartridge  (Richard), and 
Belcher  (Jonathan,  Jr.),  letter  to,  185. 

Willard,  Josith,  88,  334.  Letter  to, 
657. 

WilUrd,  CU.  .  letter  to,  614. 

Willard,  Col. ,  letter  to,  544. 

Williams,  Rev.  Ebenezer.  letters  to,  466, 
457-469,  482,  468,  486.  493,  498,  499, 
602,  604,  606,  681,  636,  668,  667,  668, 
561. 

WiUiams,  Rev.  Elisba,  letters  to,  468, 470, 
476,  485. 

Williams,  Capt.  Ephraim,  536.  Letter* 
to,  585,  664,  566,  667,  559-501. 

Williams,  John,  63,  474. 

Williams,  Joseph,  letter  to,  67.  Men- 
tioned, 121. 

Williams,  William,  letter  to,  499. 

Wills,  Sir  John,  letter  to,  211.  Men- 
tioned.  492. 

Wilmington,  Spencer  Compton,  Earl  of, 
68,  96.  128, 151,  199.  209, 236,  237, 248, 
262,  276,  819,  37%  3B0,  361,  387,  895, 
426.  661.  Letters  to,  69,  76, 241,  364, 
443. 457.  606,  526. 

Wilson,  Capt.  Alexander,  letter  to,  633. 

Winchester,  ship.  541. 

Winslow,  Edward,  letter  to.  607. 

WiDslow,  Major  John,  331,  888.  618, 
619.    Letter  to,  515. 

Winslow,  Jothaa,  00. 

Winthrop,  Col.  Adam,  letter  to,  473. 

Winthrop,  Wait,  449n.,  469. 

Woleott, ,  letter  to,  547. 

Woods,  John,  letter  to,  626. 

Woods,  Thomas.  74,12L 

Woods,  Col. ,  letter  to,  48a 

Woodside.  Capt.  James,  letter*  to,  466, 
469,  461,  4^9,  471,  464.  Mentioned, 
484. 


Yale  College,  412. 

TeamaDs, ,  26a 

York  County,  Maine,  196,  446. 

"  Yorkshire    Chap."     Het  Thomllnion, 

Young  Gagle,  priealeer,  540. 
Young,  S<r  WillUm,  883, 890. 


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