St Helena Letters to England 1724-1727
Introduction: This is the sixth volume in the series St Helena Letters to England. It includes outgoing official correspondence from the Governor and Council of St Helena to the East India Company in London reporting on the administration of the island, including matters such as government decisions, defence, military preparedness, trade and shipping, supply shortages, personnel issues, and judicial proceedings. They often included explanations of difficulties faced by the island and defences against criticisms from London of past actions or policies. The letters were usually copied or abstracted into the island records.
Source: Images of the original records can be viewed on the British Library’s website: https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP1364-1-2-6.
Text Transcription This transcription was produced by AI from handwritten document images held on the British Library's website, at about thirty pages per hour. Given the limitations described below, the text should be regarded as unreliable and used only as a search-and-find shortcut: once a relevant section has been located, it must always be checked against the source image via the hyperlinked Film Numbers listed in the main transcription table below.
Three specific problems affected the work. First, AI tends to prioritise meaning and readability at the expense of fidelity to the original, with a strong disposition to normalise spellings, expand abbreviations, and adjust grammar. It is particularly weak with unfamiliar surnames, and scrawled signatures often resist accurate transcription entirely. Transcriptions by eye of documents spanning four centuries have also shown that a single surname could be written in a wide variety of ways: the Crowie family name appears under six different spellings, and the Isaacs family name under sixteen. Searches for surnames are therefore hindered both by genuine variations in the originals and by mistranscriptions introduced by AI, and for this reason are best run phonetically. Second, the AI struggled with the late secretary hand, the script commonly used from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, in which the letter S appears in a form closely resembling a trailing L. Third, occasional passages in these volumes are written in a hand so obscure or poorly formed as to be difficult to read even by eye, sometimes compounded by heavy ink bleed-through from the reverse side or by the loss of sections of pages.
To mitigate these difficulties, a strict protocol was applied to each image, requiring the AI to rely solely on clearly visible ink strokes and to flag any uncertain reading, thereby reducing the risk of inferred or invented text. Two conventions are used. [...] marks text that could not be read with confidence; this may represent a single unreadable word, a full sentence, or occasionally an entire paragraph. Square brackets around letters or words indicate a conjectural reading supplied by the transcriber: brackets around a whole word, for example [Bazett], mean the entire word was unclear and a probable reading has been supplied, while brackets around individual letters within an otherwise readable word, for example B[a]z[e]tt, mean only those specific letters were unclear in the source and the unbracketed letters were legibly present.
Modern Summary and Analysis Each section of text was submitted for AI analysis in order to explain the archaic language in clear, modern UK English. These are not direct sentence by sentence replacements, but explanatory interpretations intended to clarify meaning while preserving the substance of the original. Where a specific individual is named within a section of the original text, that person will generally also be identified within the explanatory interpretation. However, where the original consists largely of lists of names, these are not usually repeated in the explanatory text.
Each text modern summary is followed by two forms of AI-generated analysis. The first, an Interpretations section, draws on wider information located on the internet to provide additional commentary on the material. The second, a Speculations section, offers one or more possible reflections on what the document might further suggest. The value of these notes ranges from the profound to the trivial or self-evident; time did not permit deletion of the latter.
Text Loss: Several pages have frayed edges resulting in the loss of text, in some cases quite substantial. In addition, there is extensive ink bleed-through from the reverse side of the pages throughout the volume.
Referencing Text Locations: A dual numbering system has been adopted, combining the British Library film number with the manuscript’s original page number. These are presented in the format: British Library Film No. / Document Page No.
Pagination: Page numbers have been pencilled in the top right-hand corner of each page. The first visible number is page 19 on Film No. 18 (18/19) and continues sequentially to the end of the volume. Working backwards through the unnumbered pages, the first letter imaged on Film No. 6 is therefore presumed to be page 7.
Dates: During the period covered by this volume, England and its colonies followed the Old-Style Julian calendar, under which the legal new year began on 25 March (Lady Day). The earliest date recorded in this volume is a letter sent from St Helena on 23 December 1724 and the latest is a letter sent on 16 February 1726/7 (1727 in the modern calendar).
All these letters were sent to England during the administration of Captain John Smith (1723 to 1727).
AI Generated Summary
Introduction
This account follows the East India Company settlement of St Helena across a little over two years, from the general letter carried home by the London in December 1724 to the despatch by the Princess Amelia in February 1727. The record is almost entirely one voice. It is the correspondence of the Governor and Council, written to the Court of Directors in London, and it survives because the Company demanded a regular and auditable stream of letters, consultations and accounts. Every entry is therefore an official self-report, framed by men whose salaries, reputations and futures turned on the Court reading them favourably. The narrative draws its facts from that correspondence, but it also weighs what the record was designed to achieve, and notices where its interests and silences shape the picture it presents. [Film No. 6-8]
The governing figure throughout is Governor John Smith, who signed almost every letter alongside the same three councillors, Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. Smith had arrived in the Essex in May 1723, taking over from Byfield, who had acted as Governor during the Court's pleasure after the death of the previous Governor, Joshua Johnson. Much of the correspondence is coloured by an implied contrast between the present administration and its predecessors. This contrast must be read with care, since it is drawn by the very men who gained from being seen as the reformers. [Film No. 39, 43]
Governance and Administration
The Council governed by a fixed epistolary method that the correspondence itself repeatedly displays. When a store ship arrived, its packet was carried ashore and opened in consultation, the Court's general letter was read into the record, and the reply was then drafted part by part under the Court's own numbered heads. This is visible when the Grantham reached the island in July 1725, and again when the Carnarvon came in during May 1726. The orderliness was not merely administrative habit. It was a deliberate performance of competence, set against the disorder the Court had condemned in the earlier regime, and the Council made that performance legible on every page. [Film No. 23, 46]
A central plank of the administration was the reform of the island's accounting. In February 1724 the Council proposed to move the annual balancing of the books from 25 March to 25 September, because the March date fell in the height of the shipping season, when officers were drawn to the ships and the storekeeper to his stocktaking. Errors crept in as a result. The change also eased a real burden on the planters, who under the old year paid a full year and three quarters of rent at a single call. The reform answered an earlier audit by the Company's accountant general, which had condemned the backward and undated books of the previous administration. That the Council tied a bookkeeping convenience to relief for indebted tenants shows how it liked to present even clerical decisions as acts of good stewardship. [Film No. 11]
The packets sent home followed an equally deliberate discipline. Each despatch opened by naming the last, carried duplicates of the running consultations, and split each half of a bill of exchange between two different ships, so the loss of one hull at sea could not destroy the whole record. Receipts for earlier packets were enclosed as proof of delivery. This care for a recoverable chain of custody runs through every packet list from the London to the Princess Amelia. On one occasion, however, the Council loaded both originals and duplicates onto a single ship, subordinating the safety of the record to the need to get it away before the season's uncertain shipping closed. The method plainly bent under practical pressure. [Film No. 6, 12, 60]
The correspondence also reveals the limits of the Council's control over its own clerks. In 1725 the Court complained that lists of salaries and of debts sent home did not agree, and the Council laid the fault on the copier, who had certified faulty accounts as correct. Its remedy was to examine all such lists in consultation, or by trusted hands, rather than trust a single clerk. The episode is instructive. It shows that the reformed bookkeeping the Council advertised was not yet secure, and that the gap between two debt lists could turn on nothing more than a copier omitting to note that William Beale had paid part of what he owed. [Film No. 23, 27]
Military Affairs and Defence
St Helena functioned as a watch post over the sea lanes, and the Council kept a standing vigilance against foreign shipping homeward bound from the Cape. Dutch and Ostend fleets were logged ship by ship as they crossed the island's sight, recorded by the quarter of the island they passed. In April 1725 a Dutch fleet of 24 sail was seen bearing to the south-west and was out of sight within a few hours. Further fleets of 17 and then 19 sail were tracked in 1725 and 1726. Most passed without any attempt to call, bearing directly away and seeking no refreshment at the Company's island. This underlines how far the island lay outside the ordinary routes of its commercial rivals, even as it kept anxious count of them. [Film No. 13, 24, 47]
The alarms were frequent and the responses graded by the nationality and standing of the stranger. When three Dutch ships came near the road and saluted the castle in March 1726, they were answered with an equal number of guns as being foreigners in amity. French ships, including two under a Knight of Malta in May 1726 and the Jason from Pondicherry in February 1727, were supplied with fresh provision for their money and sent away contented, their nations being at peace with the English. The courtesy shown to friendly foreigners stood in sharp distinction to the treatment of irregular shipping. [Film No. 42, 45, 59]
The sharpest instance of that distinction came in July 1725, when a small ship, the Sea Nymph, stood in for the road under suspicious circumstances. On examining her boatswain on oath, the Governor found the man to be one of the Company's own indented servants, carried off against his will by a captain named Fleurcus who had refused to let him come in for refreshment, and that the ship was abroad on a Spanish account. Under the Court's standing order against succouring ships in foreign or irregular service, the Governor drove her from the road with two shots from Munden's Point, and she sailed without so much as a drop of water. The episode echoes the earlier expulsion of the Joseph in 1720, and shows the island's guns turned as readily against suspect Company deserters as against open enemies. [Film No. 24]
The fortifications and garrison stores were a recurring preoccupation, though the correspondence records their maintenance more than any action. The Court's buildings, fortifications and a new powder room were reported finished by mid-1725. The Council pressed repeatedly for the gear that kept the guns serviceable, noting that great gun trucks, the small wheels on which a cannon's carriage ran, had been left out of the Grantham's invoice, and later asking for wheels for its field carriages of the sort first sent in Governor Roberts's time. The Court's frugality over the expenditure of powder on salutes and at funerals was accepted as a standing rule, a small but telling sign of how closely London watched even the garrison's use of gunpowder. [Film No. 33, 48]
Settlement, Land and Agriculture
The dominant agricultural fact of these years was the slow recovery from a long and severe drought. Four and five successive dry seasons had failed the yam crop so badly that, by the Council's own earlier reporting, two thirds of the inhabitants had wanted food. In February 1724 a fine rainy season was reported to have put the island once more into a thriving condition, though the poor state of the cattle still showed the drought's mark on the herds. The recovery was real but fragile, and the correspondence returns again and again to the weather as the hinge on which the whole settlement turned. [Film No. 10, 11]
The island's steep terrain made erosion a chronic enemy. The Council described how thin, shallow soil on the hilly plantations washed down to the bare rock in the sudden heavy rains, and how the floods of March 1725 carried away a vast quantity of earth and reduced several plantations in the narrow valleys to a heap of rubbish. This diagnosis, that the felling of wood on the mountains had exposed the soil to wind and rain, was an old one, and it drove two connected responses. One was the enclosure of the Great Wood, the other a shift of worn ground from tillage to pasture. The High Peak plantation, once taken in for yams under Governor Pyke, was turned to grazing because years of cropping had exhausted it. [Film No. 14, 15]
The most hopeful venture was a new plantation enclosed in the Fort Valley, above the old garden. Its value lay in water, which could be drawn from the main run to force growth without rain. The Council understood well that water transformed the land, reckoning one watered acre as good as three of the rest, and it had opened and deepened spring heads across the island wherever there seemed a prospect of conveying water. Most runs sank into the ground in the dry season and served little purpose. About 20,000 yam suckers were planted in the watered valley, and by May 1726 the Governor could report that yams dug at only nine months' growth had answered very well. This experiment promised to end the island's dependence on buying suckers, and the Council's repeated emphasis on it suggests it knew how much rested on the scheme. [Film No. 15, 27, 42, 43]
The enclosure of the Great Wood ran as a continuous thread through the whole period. The strongest sections were fenced first, the section at the Horse Point being completed in May 1725, after which the overseer moved to the upper part of the enclosure. Once the hogs and cattle were kept out, young trees sprang up so thickly that the Council had to thin them. The work was slow because the wall stones had to be of the most durable kind, lay at a great distance, and were hard to dig from the quarries. For want of any carriage they had been carried up the hill on the slaves' shoulders. The Council's request in its indent for oxen to haul the stone ties the woodland scheme directly to the shortage of labour and equipment that constrained everything on the island. [Film No. 15, 20, 39, 59]
Land policy under Smith aimed steadily to increase the Court's rents and shed the charge of poor ground. The Council let out several small parcels of waste land and sold two acres of the Hutts plantation to John Purling, described as a sober and industrious man, for £30, expecting him to buy the whole in time. It confirmed planters' titles rather than disturb them, upholding Richard Girling's deed against a challenge because to void one planter's title would shake the ground on which all the others held. The Court also directed, and the Council accepted, that leases of waste land should not be granted to the prejudice of the orphans of deceased persons, a regulation the Council thought equitable for the good of posterity. [Film No. 16, 38, 47, 52]
Supply and Provisioning
Feeding the establishment and refitting the homeward fleet depended on two streams of supply the island could not control. The first was grain from the eastern presidencies. Through the drought and its aftermath, Bengal, Madras and Bombay supplied rice, sugar, wheat and wax candles by turns as each station's stock allowed. The quantities were often painfully small against the scale of the want. The Prince Frederick brought only 32 bags of wheat from Bombay in December 1724, and the Duke of York brought 20 bags of rice in February 1726, of which her captain had been forced to use 12 for his own crew. These figures tell how thinly the settlements could meet a need on the scale the drought had opened. [Film No. 6, 10, 13, 38, 42, 57]
The second stream was the annual store ship from England, which carried the goods, provisions and naval stores the island could neither raise nor make. The Council's single most persistent campaign was to have this ship despatched earlier in the year. It complained that the store ship seldom reached the island before late May, and sometimes not until July, by which time the Court's returning ships had often gone home wanting cordage, tar, pitch, twine and sail cloth. Their commanders were forced to put to sea uneasy at the risk of heavy weather. The Council pressed for a ship arriving by March, and when the Carnarvon at last came early in 1726 it repeatedly thanked the Court and asked that the next be quickened too. [Film No. 16, 21, 44, 55]
Naval stores stood at the very centre of the island's value as a port. The Council argued, as its predecessors had, that a ready reserve of cordage and stores to refit the Court's ships would turn a greater profit than any other use of the island, because it would draw the homeward fleet to the road rather than the Cape. The tar, pitch and other stores were always in great demand, and the survey of the Prince Augustus in January 1724, whose small rigging could not be made good for want of any stores at the island, gave the argument a concrete instance. The island's usefulness, in the Council's telling, was inseparable from its being properly stocked. [Film No. 9, 33]
The provisioning of the ships themselves was a bound obligation. Under the terms of each ship's charter, the island furnished charter-party beef and other refreshments to every calling vessel, drawing on the Court's herds and the planters' cattle. By January 1726 the Council could report with evident relief that the Court's cattle were extremely good, much the best on the island, and that it was no longer under any difficulty in supplying the shipping with beef and more besides. This ability to victual the fleet was the practical answer to the island's long grievance about ships resorting to the Cape. [Film No. 14, 37]
The Diversion of Shipping to the Cape
A grievance that shaped much of the Council's thinking was the practice of homeward-bound ships watering and provisioning at the Cape of Good Hope rather than in the island road. This diverted trade from the planters' market, discouraged them from raising stock, and exposed shipping to the peril of the Cape anchorage. When the Princess Amelia failed to reach the island as expected in December 1724 and was supposed to have put in at the Cape, the Council read it at once as one more instance of the resort it complained of. The grievance was self-interested, since a busy island road meant a market for the planters and a reason for the Company to value the settlement. It was also grounded in a genuine hazard. [Film No. 6, 25]
The Court's direction forbidding the homeward fleet to touch at the Cape without the utmost real necessity was therefore warmly received, and the Council saw it as the means of encouraging the planters to raise a sufficient quantity of provisions for the returning ships. The early despatch of the store ship and the island's renewed ability to victual the fleet were both bent toward the same end. The whole cluster of supply arguments, on stores, on the store ship's timing, and on the Cape, forms a single coherent case for the island's worth. It is worth recognising that case as an argument rather than as simple description. [Film No. 25, 44]
The Judiciary and the Maintenance of Order
The correspondence gives a vivid picture of a small society whose order the Council policed through its courts and consultations, and it is here that the official record is at its most partial, because the Council was almost always a party to the disputes it reported. Two figures dominate. The first is Thomas Free, described as a sottish punch-house keeper of base and malicious temper, who had a long history of litigious complaint reaching back to a conviction in 1720 and an earlier grievance against Governor Pyke. On Smith's arrival Free pressed to have an old case reheard, and the Governor obliged him, but when three separate sessions were held Free refused each time on frivolous pretences. His chief witness Gabriel Powell had in the meantime declared he remembered less of the matter than before. [Film No. 28, 32, 33]
The Council's handling of Free reveals its method and its self-presentation together. It held repeated sessions specifically to leave him without excuse before the Court, and when Free at last demanded to swear an oath, the Governor refused to let one be tendered, professing that he did so out of pity, to save Free from the certain guilt of perjury. Whether this was charity or a convenient way to deny a determined man his day is left for the reader to judge. The Council plainly wished the Court to see the Governor as forbearing and Free as an incorrigible nuisance whose noisy complaints deserved no credit. [Film No. 32, 33, 37]
The second and more serious figure is Benjamin Hawkes, once the fifth and youngest member of the Council, suspended for misdemeanours late in 1724. In January 1726 the affair burst open. After Hawkes used insolent and threatening expressions to the Governor in open court, the Council seized his papers and found a copy-book of letters, one of which, sent to the Court in May 1725, accused the Governor of employing 50 slaves at the Company's charge, half of them children fitter for nurses than for service, and of continually selling goods out of the stores on his own account. The Council treated this as calumny and forgery, and the seizure turned a private quarrel into a documented case for the Court's judgement. [Film No. 29, 35]
The Council's rebuttal of Hawkes is one of the fullest passages in the whole correspondence, and it must be read as a defence brief rather than a neutral account. It insisted the Governor's slaves never exceeded 37, that they were strong labourers and not children, and that some belonged in truth to the Governor's daughter and family, entered in his name only to save keeping separate accounts. It turned Hawkes's own charge back on him, noting that his seized book showed him to have sold large quantities of arrack, tea, sugar, candles and tobacco on his own account. It answered his complaints about the Governor's table and lodging point by point, and blackened his character further with references to his amour with the widow Facey. The vehemence and completeness of the reply are themselves evidence of how dangerous the Council judged an insider's accusation to be, especially one that had reached London before the Council could answer it. Hawkes was shipped home in February 1726. [Film No. 35, 36, 38]
That the same charges Hawkes had made, on the Governor's slaves and the sale of goods from the stores, were also put to the Council directly by the Court in its own letter suggests the accusation was taken seriously in London, whatever the Council's protestations. The Governor positively denied them and referred the Court to his earlier defence. A modern reading cannot resolve where the truth lay, but it can note that the only account of the matter comes from the accused party, that a governor keeping slaves at the Company's charge had precedent in charges once levelled at Governor Pyke, and that the Council had every reason to close ranks. [Film No. 31, 36]
Other disputes fill out the picture of a litigious community. Sarah Southen, a widow already convicted of a seditious libel against Governor Johnson, pressed a claim to a piece of land that the Council rejected to protect the security of all titles. Joseph Bates, a planter who had pressed Southen's claim, appears repeatedly, submitting and acknowledging faults, his fine eventually left to the Governor's discretion. Joseph Coles settled a land dispute with Jonathan Higham. These quarrels over land and standing were the ordinary business of the courts, and the Council's consistent instinct was to quiet them in ways that preserved the framework of landholding on which the Company's revenue depended. [Film No. 11, 16, 27, 52]
Slavery and Coerced Labour
The settlement rested on slave labour, and the correspondence treats the Company's slaves as a managed asset whose cost and employment were matters of routine accounting. The Court required an annual list of its slaves with their ages and employments, and a separate ledger account was kept for the yearly charge of clothing and bedding them. The plain language of these entries, in which human beings appear as folios in a ledger, is the ordinary register of the record, and it discloses the institution more starkly than any commentary could. The Council defended the number of slaves it kept, arguing against any reduction because the Great Wood and the new plantation demanded so much labour in fencing, clearing and hauling. [Film No. 13, 24, 28]
The clothing of the slaves gives an unusually direct glimpse of their conditions. The Council explained that it was impossible to make one suit of coarse kersey last a slave a whole year, as a gentleman's footman's suit did in England, because their constant hard labour, wet and dry, wore the cloth out apace. It admitted that several still went in rags and patches, framing this partly as economy and partly as a means to shame the rest. That the Council could report men labouring in rags in the same breath as its assurances of frugal stewardship shows how completely the humanity of the slaves was subordinated to the Company's accounts. [Film No. 50]
The Council also pursued a standing aim of training slaves in handicrafts, so skilled slave craftsmen might displace the island's private tradesmen and lessen the Court's dependence on hired skill. The tradesmen resisted, unwilling to teach the Court's slaves without a great reward of £10 or £15 each, saying it would take the bread out of their mouths. The Council considered binding slaves out as apprentices for a term of years but hesitated without the Court's approval. This scheme, pressed since earlier criticism of a hired joiner, treated enslaved people as an instrument of cost-saving, their acquisition of skills valued purely for the Company's advantage. [Film No. 51]
The island also intersected with the wider oceanic slave trade through the ships that touched at it. A Spanish ship arrived from Angola in early 1724 and departed for Buenos Aires with slaves. The story of the old Hartford, once in the Company's service, runs across several letters and ends grimly. Her crew fled the Cape with her after their captain was detained, she went to Madagascar for slaves, and there she was seized by three French merchant ships that made prize of her and sold her slaves at Don Mascarine. Her voyage, framed by the Council as a dishonest and probably piratical venture, shows the island as an observation point on a trade whose human cargoes were counted alongside the ordinary tally of arrivals and departures. [Film No. 24, 37, 59]
The Company also restricted manumission. On the inhabitants' petition, and by the Court's direction, the Council adopted as a standing order that no owner should grant freedom to his slaves, and referred the removal of existing free blacks to the Court. It described this frankly as the most effectual way to be rid of some of them and to keep the rest in tolerable subjection. The policy tied the island's anxiety over its small population and its security directly to the control of the free black community, and the bluntness of the Council's language leaves no doubt about the coercive logic behind it. [Film No. 32]
Trade and Shipping
The island lived by the passage of ships, and the correspondence is in large part a register of them. Every calling vessel was surveyed by the Governor under the Court's standing order, its hull, masts, rigging, anchors, cables, guns, draught and the health of its crew reported so the Court could judge each ship's fitness for the homeward voyage. The recurring detail of ships trimmed heavily by the head, with the bow sitting far deeper than the stern, and of crews recovering from scurvy after long passages, gives a concrete sense of the wear of the Indian Ocean trade on ships and men alike. [Film No. 7, 17]
The goods traded through the island were mostly the ordinary stuff of colonial supply. The Council bought coarse Indian cottons for the inhabitants and for slave clothing, naming Sallampores, Duffields, ginghams and dosooties as the sturdy cloths it could readily sell. It struggled by contrast to dispose of a stock of India piece goods that had reached the island by way of the Cape, thin and slight cloth much damaged and stained by salt water, which its people were unwilling to buy for fear of the damage. The Council forced these spoiled goods on reluctant buyers by pairing them with other sorts, a practice that stirred complaints of oppression and shows the friction between the Company's wish to clear its stock and the inhabitants' resistance. [Film No. 22, 49]
A persistent point of dispute with ships' captains concerned the delivery of goods consigned to the island. Certain commanders, notably Captain Toleson, pressed the Council to send aboard for the Company's goods or forgo them, threatening otherwise to carry them on to England against their own bills of lading. The Council sought a standing clause in the charter parties obliging every commander to deliver such goods ashore, judging a fixed contractual rule enforceable in London preferable to the recurring struggle with an obstinate master. This preference for a general rule over case-by-case contest is characteristic of the administration's whole approach. [Film No. 17, 48]
The island served too as a relay in the Company's wider network. The store ship Grantham was forwarded on to the Deputy Governor and Council at Bencoolen with the cargo meant for that settlement, and the Council regularly sent the charter party ahead in its packet for the guidance of the western coast. Broader currents of Company policy reached the island through the shipping too. The Council noted with approval the Court's withdrawal of the Mocha factory, the great mart for the Red Sea coffee trade, deferring to it as sound retrenchment of a distant and costly station. [Film No. 25, 47]
Foreign competition in the eastern trade was a live concern. The Council recorded with regret the arrival of two Ostend ships at Canton in 1726, the same Ostend venture the Company sought to shut out of its markets and which had earlier reached the island falsely claiming the name of the Company's ship Sunderland. The Council's attention to the Ostenders, tracking them among the passing fleets and noting the Secret Committee's orders to check their unfair trade, shows how the island's local vigilance was tied to the Company's commercial rivalries across two oceans. [Film No. 35, 40, 47]
Finance, Currency and Accounting
St Helena had almost no coin, and its whole financial life turned on a paper mechanism the correspondence describes in detail. When money or credit was received at the island, the Council issued cash notes for it, and these were redeemed by bills of exchange drawn on the Court in London. Almost every letter closes with several such bills, discharging salaries owed to officers or cash notes paid in by planters and captains. The method turned money owed at St Helena into a claim payable at India House, and it was the only way value could move between a cashless island and London. Names such as Edward Byfield, Francis Wrangham and Catherine Newsham recur among the payees in these ordinary remittances. [Film No. 7, 17, 49, 54]
The reliance on cash notes had a cost the Council openly acknowledged. Because much of the goods bought out of returning ships was paid for in cash notes, the bills drawn on the Court swelled well beyond the modest value of the goods themselves, and the Council could by no means refuse the notes. It undertook to be more exact in future, making the recipient of any bill at once debtor for it and giving credit only on payment, so the account was kept tight. This tension, between a paper currency the island could not do without and the ballooning remittances it produced, sits at the centre of the settlement's finances. [Film No. 22, 50]
The bookkeeping reforms already described formed part of the same financial discipline. The annual returns sent home, the account books, the inventory of remaining stores, the abstract of debts owing, the lists of families' land and cattle, and the rents and revenues, together fixed the whole establishment for the Court's inspection. From 1725 the rents were drawn to 25 September under the new accounting year, and the storekeeper Edward Byfield rendered monthly accounts of the hold, live stock and plantation expenses. The regular despatch of these returns marked the island's accounts brought at last to the form the accountant general's audit had demanded. [Film No. 15, 18, 35, 58]
Personalities
Beyond the two great antagonists Free and Hawkes, the correspondence is peopled with individuals whose recurrence gives the settlement its texture. Gabriel Powell stands out as the wealthiest planter and the Court's principal creditor, whose hold over the indebted planters and whose advantage in land and steady runs of water gave him yam crops far beyond the Company's own worn plantations. When captains praised Powell's cattle as the best on the island, the Council pointedly disagreed, ascribing the praise to persuasion and private interest rather than to any superior husbandry. Powell's standing at the centre of the island's contentions, and his appearance as Free's wavering witness, mark him as a figure of real independent weight. [Film No. 31, 37, 51]
Edward Byfield, the senior councillor and storekeeper, is a quieter but constant presence. Having acted as Governor after Johnson's death until Smith arrived, he rendered the monthly plantation accounts and pressed the enclosure of the Great Wood, and it was on his complaint that the Council remedied the carelessness of the overseers. His careful refusal to enter cattle as dead on the overseers' unverified word, holding the account open until he had mustered the beasts himself, shows the kind of diligence the reformed administration wished to embody. [Film No. 25, 30, 39]
The medical provision of the island produced a recurring figure of failure. The surgeon Thomas Wignall led, in the Council's words, a drunken and disorderly course of life that rendered him entirely useless to the Court's servants and the inhabitants alike, and in 1726 the Council pressed the Court for a sober and able replacement. Yet Wignall continued to draw his salary, a bill for £80 appearing in the very correspondence that condemned him. The episode captures a standing weakness of the settlement, its chronic want of skilled men, and the awkwardness of a Council obliged to pay an officer it wished gone. [Film No. 53, 56]
Other individuals surface in single episodes that illuminate the settlement's dealings. William Worrall, once a capable overseer who had ended a siege of armed runaways, appears as an indebted planter awaiting a legacy to clear his debt to the Company. Abraham Prowitch, nephew and administrator of the late Governor Johnson, sought a copy of his uncle's account to settle the estate's outstanding balance. These threads, of debts pursued and estates wound up, show the Company's reach extending well beyond the living into the affairs of the dead and their heirs. [Film No. 37, 57]
Conclusion
Taken together, the correspondence of these two and a half years portrays a small, precarious settlement recovering from famine and governed by an administration acutely conscious of how it appeared to its masters in London. The recurring themes, the enclosure of the Great Wood, the watered plantation in the Fort Valley, the reform of the accounts, the campaign for an earlier store ship, and the long grievance over the Cape, are all connected strands of a single effort to make the island self-supporting and to prove its worth to the Company. The Council pressed each of these with persistence, and by early 1727 could report real progress on most of them. [Film No. 42, 55]
Yet the record must be read for what it does not say as much as for what it does. It is the voice of the governing party alone, and its most detailed passages, the destruction of Hawkes's character, the wearing down of Free, the defence of the Governor's slaveholding, are precisely those where the Council had most at stake in being believed. The plain ledger entries on the Company's slaves, clothed in rags and trained in crafts only to spare the Company expense, and the frank statement that restricting free blacks would keep the rest in subjection, disclose the coercive foundations of the settlement more honestly than the Council perhaps intended. A fair account of St Helena in these years must therefore hold two things together: an administration that governed with method and some success, and a colonial order resting on unfree labour and on an official record shaped throughout by the interests of those who wrote it. [Film No. 32, 36, 50]
Film No. | Page No. | OCR Transcription | Modern Summary with Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | EAP 1364 St Helena Document Name and Date ST HELENA LETTERS TO ENGLAND 1724-1727 Photographer PETER Date photographed 22 DEC 2021 Additional comments | |
2 | 3 | Book cover | |
3 | 4 | Blank page | |
4 | 5 | Blank page | |
5 | 6 | Blank page | |
7 | Hon.ᵉᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡˡ Leˡˡ of Ship London Capᵗⁿ Wootle Comᵈ 23 Decʳ 1724 We last to your Honᵗˢ Ⅎocˢ by the Swallow ſciⁿ Capᵗ George Pitt Comand.ʳ bearing date the 27ᵗ oᵈ Novʳ last who ſailed thence for Great Brittain the day following (whose Copey comes herewith) and hope wille Arrive with your Honours in ſafety Since when there hath Arⁱⁿed here the two following Ships vez.ᵗ The Prince frederick Captⁿ William Stayner Com =ander on the fist Instant from Bombay and Muddrass and brought Us only thirty two Bagg.ˢ of wheat from the former Setlemᵗ but nothing from the Latter there has happ.ⁿed a great Mortality on Board this Ship Dureing Her long voyage and about thirty of Her men at Her Arⁱᵛwall hue was very ill of the Scurvey but are now pritty well recover.ᵈ On the 13ᵗ Instᵗ Arrived the London Capᵗ Bootle Comander from Mocha but last from Comerin where he Informs Us he Arrived on the 27ᵗ of Sepᵗ last and on which day the Prince Augustus ſailes thence for great Brittain who as she is notȳet Arrived here is Suppoſed to put in at the Cape of Good Hope That the Greenwitch Capᵗ Ⅎawnby wonᵗ return home this season by reaſon of Her not getting her Cargo at Mocha they left her at Bombay the 15 oᵈ Septembʳ last and was to ſoe to Surrat in about a week after From thence to Mocha - That Capᵗ Small in the Duke oᵈ Cambridge Dyᵈ at Mocha the Ship was at Bombay Comanded by the ſecoⁿd mate) on his aⁱⁱⁱed at ſᵈ ⅋ᵗ and was to ſail thence for Surratt some time in Octᵗ following the Compton was gone Guard ſhip to Gambroon, and the Duke oᵈ Yorck was likewise gonᵗ to Perſia Captain Stayner informs Us that the Frances Capᵗ Newham Mermouth, Stanham Ablabie Sunderland &Cathcole were all Arrived at Maddrass in August last, and that the two fist was Diſpahᵗd for Bengall before the Prince Fredrik left Madᵈˢ which was on or about the 12ᵗ Iuly 1724. We herewith Tranſmit to your Honᵗ Copys of Ur Consultationˢ Ⅎom the Date of thoſe ſent by the Swallow ſciⁿ oᵈ which comeˢ Ⅎdⁱⁿ Duplicateˢ as well as oᵈ all othⁱ Papers and Accountˢ Contained in the Liſt oᵈ Her ofacket, all which we hope will come safe to Your Honours hand and meet with your approvatte WE | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship London, Captain Bootle commander, dated 23 Dec 1724. The Council last addressed the Court by the Swallow, Captain George Pitt commander, in the letter dated 27 November last. That ship sailed for Great Britain the day after, and a copy of the letter travelled with the present despatch. The Council hoped both would reach the Court safely. The island saw two ships call since then. The Prince Frederick, Captain William Haynes commander, came in on the first of this month from Bombay, and the Middlesex arrived from the same quarter. The Prince Frederick brought only 32 bags of wheat from the former settlement, and nothing came from the latter. A heavy mortality struck the Prince Frederick during her long voyage. About 30 of her men had died at her arrival, and many were still very ill of the scurvy, though most had since recovered. The London, Captain Bootle commander, arrived on 13 December from Mocha but last from Cochin. The master reported that he reached Cochin on 27 September last, and that the Princess Amelia sailed from there for Great Britain the same day. She had not yet reached St Helena, so the Council supposed she had put in at the Cape of Good Hope. The Greenwich, Captain Davenny commander, would probably not call this season. Her cargo had not come down to her in time, and she was left at Bombay on 15 September last, bound for Surat in about a week. She was to proceed from Surat to Mocha. The Duke of Cambridge, Captain Small commander, formerly her second mate, lay at Bombay, and was to sail from there for Surat some time in October following. That ship was to serve as guard ship at Gombroon before proceeding to Persia. Captain Haynes reported that the Francis, Captain Newsham commander, together with the Stretham, the Aislaby, the Sunderland and the Heathcote, had all arrived at Madras a few days earlier in August last. The first of these was despatched for Bengal before the Prince Frederick left Madras, on or about 12 August 1724. The Council forwarded to the Court copies of its consultations from the date of those sent by the Swallow, together with duplicates of them, and all other papers and accounts listed in the packet manifest. The Council hoped all would reach the Court safely and meet with its approval. Interpretations The wheat from Bombay marked the eastern presidencies answering the island's long plea for grain through the drought. Bombay was the former settlement named here, and Madras the latter that sent nothing. The Council had pressed the Court and the eastern stations for wheat, flour and pulse to feed the establishment, the home supply judged the surer relief in the Council general letter by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724. A mere 32 bags underlined how little the eastern settlements could spare against a want on that scale. Gombroon was the Company's factory at Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf, the centre of the Persia trade in raw silk. A guard ship stationed there protected Company shipping and the factory during the disorders on that coast, the same troubles that had earlier diverted Captain Peacock of the Morice in 1719. The posting of the Duke of Cambridge to that duty tied the routine movement of an Indiaman to the defence of a distant and unsettled trade. The supposition that the Princess Amelia had put in at the Cape rather than reach the island touched the Council's standing grievance over the diversion of homeward shipping. The homeward fleet had for several years watered and provisioned at the Cape rather than the island road, to the loss of the planters' market and against the peril of the Cape anchorage, the case pressed repeatedly through the letters of 1719 to 1724. A ship overdue at St Helena read at once as one more instance of the Cape resort the Council complained of. Speculations The Council loaded its consultations and their duplicates together in the one packet by the London, rather than splitting the record across separate hulls as its practice usually required. The standing method divided each despatch and its duplicate between two homeward bottoms, so the loss of one ship on the passage that had taken the Catherine could not destroy the whole record, the technique carried through the letters of 1722 and 1723. Here the quick despatch of the London and the doubt hanging over the following ships left the Council to send both the originals and their copies on a single conveyance, accuracy of the record subordinated to getting it away before the season's uncertain shipping closed. | |
7 | 8 | We likewise ſend Encloſed Capᵗⁿ George Pitts 2 Bill oᵈ Exchange for Sixty- Eight pounds Eight Shillings & two prime Sterˡ Dated the 27 Novʳ 1724 payᵇˡᵉ to your Honours and drawn upon Harry Gough oᵈ London The Governᵗⁿ in obedience to your Honᵗˢ Directions hath been on Board the two following Ships viz.ᵗ The London Capᵗ Bootle Comand.ʳ and found Her Hull Masts Yards Standing and Runing Rigging good, Anchors & Cables good, Halfixes Coulted deson Guns Cleaʳ, Draᵈᵗ oᵈ Water abaᵈᵗ 17 ᵈeet 2 Iⁿches aᵈore 15 ᵈeet 7 Inches and min all in good Health &c. The Prince Fredrick Capᵗ Stayner Comand.ʳ and found Her Hull Masts Yards Standing & Runing Rigging Good Anchors & Cables good Halfixes Caulked deson Guns Cleaʳ Draᵈᵗ oᵈ Water abaᵈᵗ 17 ᵈeet aᵈore 16 ᵈeet 2 Inches and men very much Recovered We have drawan the three following Sets oᵈ Bills oᵈ Exchange on your Honours, and begg your Aceptance Aⁱⁱordingly viz.ᵗ To John Smith Eſqʳ oʳ Order) One Set for the Sume oᵈ £200, Sterˡ being for Sallary due to him in your Honours Books oᵈ Accounts here) To Mʳ Peter Skulley (oʳ Order) One Set for the Sume oᵈ £97, Sterˡ being for So much paid into your Honours Aᵗᶜ oᵈ Caſh here in Caſh Notes Aⁱⁱd To Capᵗⁿ John Goodwin (oʳ Ordʳ) One Set for the Sume oᵈ £30-, Sterˡ being Likewiſe for Caſh Notes paid as aforeſaid and all bearing Dated the 23ᵗ oᵈ Decʳ 1724 and Payable at thirty days ſight We have Nothing further to Redᵈ oᵈ any Moment worth troubling your Honᵗˢ with, only to Aſſure you We are Hon.ᵈ Sʳˢ Iſland Sᵗ Helena Decʳ ᵗᵉ 23 1724 Yoᵗ Honᵗˢ most Humble faithfull & most obedient Servantˢ | The Council also enclosed Captain George Pitt's second bill of exchange for £68 8s 0d sterling, dated 27 November 1724, payable to the Court and drawn on Harry Gough of London. The Governor went aboard the two following ships under the Court's directions. The Governor surveyed the London, Captain Bootle commander, and found her hull, masts and yards, and her standing and running rigging good, her anchors and cables good, and her halliards caulked twice over. Her guns were clear, her draught of water 7 feet 2 inches aft and 15 feet 7 inches forward, and her men all in good health. The Governor surveyed the Prince Frederick, Captain Haynes commander, and found her hull, masts and yards, and her standing and running rigging good, her anchors and cables good, and her halliards caulked twice over. Her guns were clear, her draught of water 7 feet aft and 16 feet 4 inches forward, and her men very much recovered. The Council drew the three following sets of bills of exchange on the Court and asked its acceptance of them. To John Smith Esquire or order, one set for £200 0s 0d sterling, for salary due to him in the Court's books at the island. To Mr Peter Shelly or order, one set for £7 0s 0d sterling, for so much paid into the Court's account of cash at the island in cash notes. To Captain John Goodwin or order, one set for £30 0s 0d sterling, likewise for cash notes paid in as above, all bearing date 23 December 1724 and payable at 30 days after sight. The Council had nothing further of any moment worth troubling the Court, and closed the letter at the island of St Helena on 23 December 1724. Interpretations The survey of each calling ship followed the Court's standing order that the Governor report every homeward vessel by her condition. The inspection ran over the hull, masts, rigging, anchors, cables, guns, draught and the health of the company, giving the Court its own account of each bottom's fitness for the voyage. Governor Smith carried the same duty through every ship of the season, the practice recorded across the Council letters of 1724. The draught figures set the depth of water each ship drew at the stern and at the bow. The wide gap between the two, more than eight feet in each case, showed the vessels trimmed heavily by the head, loaded so the bow sat far deeper than the stern. The report of the draught gave the Court a measure of how each ship lay under her lading before the homeward passage. The bill drawn on Harry Gough of London named the merchant who had financed the outward voyage of the Swallow. A ship's master assigned his bill to the London merchant standing behind his outward investment, so the drawee named the man who had backed the voyage rather than the Court alone. The naming of Gough tied Captain Pitt's remittance to the private credit that had fitted out his ship. The three sets of bills discharged salary and cash notes paid into the Court's account at the island. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received on the spot, redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London against the cashless island economy. The bills turned money owed at St Helena into a claim payable at India House, the standing method of remittance where no coin could be moved. |
8 | 9 | Liſt of the Packet of Ship London Capᵗ Bootle Comandʳ Govʳ and Councells Genˡ Lettʳ Dated the 23 Decʳ 1724 Copy of Govᵗ & Councˡ Lettʳ Dated 27ᵗ Novʳ 1724 ſent apart of Ship Swallow ſciⁿ Dupliceat of Consultacions from the 6ᵗ Iuly 1724 Ended to the 24 Novʳ ſoloⁱⁿ Ended Copy of Conſultations from 24 Novʳ 1724 Ended to the 13ᵗ Decʳ Ended folloⁱⁿ Dupliceat of Ship Swallow ſciⁿˢ Lettʳ Novʳ 27ᵗ 1724 Dupliceat of Mʳ Ruſſells Aⁱⁱᵗ of the Hold & Live ſtock & Expence for the Months of Iune Iuly Aug.ᵗ Sepᵗ Octʳ & Novʳ Copy of Cloſe Aⁱⁱˢ of ſ 23ʳ Novʳ 1724 Copy of Liſt of the Packet of Swallow ſciⁿ Capᵗ Geo Pittsᵈ Bill of Exchᵈ for £68,8,2 Sterˡ Payᵇˡᵉ to yʳ Honᵗˢ Comᵈ dated 27ᵗ Novʳ 1724 drawn upon Harry Gough of London Copy of Ship Londons Aⁱⁱᵗ ſ ⁷at Sᵗ Helena Copy of Ship Prince frederiks ditto Sigilᵗ A Honᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡ Lettʳ of Prince Augustus Capᵗ Willⁱⁿ Jobſon Comandᵈ Ianʳ 4 1724 The last Opportunity We had of Honouring Our ſelves with a Letter to your Honours was of the London Capᵗ Bootle Comandʳ ez dated the 23 of Decʳ last who ſailed thence for great Brittain that day evening with the Prince Fredrick Capᵗ Stayner Comand.ᵈ a Copy of which comes herewith, and nothing of any Moment Ocuring here ſince wee no Material news worth troubling your Honᵗˢ with, We begg leave to Refer you thereto Since when on the first Instᵗ Arrived here the Prince Augustus Capᵗ William Jobſon Comander (who Studeded Capᵗ Reives) from Mocha but last from the Cape of Good Hope By the next Conveyance We ſhall Tranſmitt to your Honᵗˢ Copys & Dupli =cates of Our Consultacions and of every thing Elſe uſually ſent for your Honᵗˢ better Sattiſfaction The Governᵗⁿ in obedience to your Honᵗˢ Instructions hath this day been on board the Prince Augustus and found Her Hull & masts good ſtanding Rigging Indifferent, ſace yⁱed in ſtrey plaes, and is well ſecured both foure & aft and well ſpice till he getts to ſea and finds another, Cables Indifferent ſmall Rigging very Indifferent and cant be ſupplyd here, We haveing none in the ſtores Statſen Caulked down, Men in good Health, Guns all Clear, Draft of Water abaᵈᵗ | List of the packet of the ship London, Captain Bootle commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 23 December 1724 2: Copy of the general letter dated 27 November 1724 sent apart by the ship Swallow 3: Duplicate of consultations from 12 July 1724 ending to the 24 November following 4: Copy of consultations from 24 November 1724 ending to the 13 December following 5: Duplicate of the ship Swallow's letter dated 27 November 1724 6: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of the hold and live stock and expense for the months of June, July, August, September, October and November 1724 7: Copy of the loss account for the year ending November 1724 8: Copy of the list of the packet by the Swallow 9: Captain George Coles's bill of exchange for £68 8s 0d sterling payable to the Court, dated 27 November 1724, drawn on Harry Gough of London 10: Copy of the ship London's account at St Helena 11: Copy of the ship Prince Frederick's account Signed, A Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship Prince Augustus, Captain William Jobern commander, dated 4 January 1724. The Council last addressed the Court by the London, Captain Bootle commander, in the letter dated 23 December last. That ship sailed for Great Britain the same evening, in company with the Prince Frederick, Captain Haynes commander, and a copy of the letter travels with the present despatch. No material news has arisen since, so the Council referred the Court to that letter. The Prince Augustus, Captain William Jobern commander, arrived on the first of this month. She was under Captain Reeves from Mocha but last from the Cape of Good Hope. The Council will send the Court copies and duplicates of its consultations, and of everything else usually sent, by the next conveyance. The Governor went aboard the Prince Augustus under the Court's instructions. He found her hull and masts good, and her standing rigging indifferent, spliced in three places. Her long cloth had served four seasons and would serve well till she reached the sea, and would then need another. Her cables were indifferent and her small rigging very indifferent, and she could not be supplied at the island for want of stores. Her halliards were caulked twice over, her men were in good health, and her guns were all clear. Her draught of water aft was 17 [feet]. Interpretations The packet manifest set out each paper as a numbered item, giving the Court a checklist against which to verify the despatch on arrival. The list ran to letters, duplicate consultations, the storekeeper's monthly accounts, the year's loss account and the master's bill of exchange, each half of a set sent on a separate hull. The signature closing the list marked the officer who had checked the contents, the standing method for a recoverable audit trail at India House. The survey of the Prince Augustus ran further than most, noting where the ship could not be made good at the island. Her small rigging was very indifferent and no stores lay at St Helena to renew it, so the Council recorded a want it could not itself supply. The Council's standing plea for a reserve of cordage and naval stores at the island stood behind the note, the case pressed across the letters of 1716 to 1721. The long cloth reported as serving four seasons was the coarse Indian cotton used for sails and coverings aboard ship. It named the material of the ship's outfit rather than any trade goods, the survey noting how far each part of her gear had worn. The judgement that it would last till she reached the sea and then need renewal gave the Court a measure of the ship's condition for the homeward run. |
9 | 10 | Seventeen foot ſix Inches, aᵈore Sixteen foot This Ship as well as ſeveral others that hath been Alreadyhue And more Epuiles that has and will want faar Pitch, and other ſaviel ſtores We Humbly begg your Honours will be pleaſed to furniſh us wᵗʰ a ſufficient Supply by the next Store Ship for this place from England ſuch ſtores being always in great Demand hue We begg leave to Acquaint your Honᵗˢ that Capᵗ Jobſon has been very Diligent and Expeditious in getting his ſhip in oᵈel Condition to ſail from hence, and has loſt no time hue We have not father to Add at present, only to Aſſure your Honours We are Honoured Sʳˢ Iſland Sᵗ Helena Ianʳ 4ᵗ 1724 Your Honᵗˢ most humble faithfull & most obedient Servants Jnᵗ Smith Edᵈ Byfeld Jnᵗ Alexander Jnᵗ Goodwin We herewith ſend Encloſed Capᵗ Willⁱⁿ Iobſons first Bill oᵈ Exchange for ſ ſume oᵈ £60- ſᵈ Sterˡ Dated 4ᵗ Ianʳ 1724 Payᵇˡᵉ to yʳ Honᵗ drawn on ſᵈ Iobⁿ Pillett Liſt of the Packet of Ship Prince Augustus Capᵗ Willⁱⁿ Iobſon Comᵈ Govʳ & Councils Genneʳ Letter dated the 4ᵗ Ianʳ 1724 Copy of Govᵗ & Counˡ Genʳ Lettʳ of London datᵈ 23 Decʳ 1724 Copy of Liſt of the Packett of Ship London Receipt for the Packet ſent of ditto Capᵗ William Iobſons first Bill of Exchᵈ £60-,- Pay to yʳ Honᵗˢ &ᶜ dated 4 Ianʳ 1724 Copy of Ship Prince Augustus Aⁱⁱᵈ at Sᵗ Helena Sigid A | Her draught of water was 17 feet 6 inches aft and 16 feet forward. The Prince Augustus, along with several other ships that had already called and more expected, wanted and would want tar, pitch and other naval stores. The Council asked the Court to furnish it with a sufficient supply by the next store ship from England, such stores being always in great demand at the island. The Council reported that Captain Jobern had been very diligent and quick in getting his ship in good condition to sail from the island, and had lost no time there. The Council had nothing further to add, and closed the letter at the island of St Helena on 4 January 1724. By a postscript, the Council enclosed Captain William Jobern's first bill of exchange for £60 0s 0d sterling, dated 4 January 1724, payable to the Court and drawn on the Court. The letter was subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. List of the packet of the ship Prince Augustus, Captain William Jobern commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 4 January 1724 2: Copy of the Governor and Council's general letter by the London dated 23 December 1724 3: Copy of the list of the packet of the ship London 4: Receipt for the packet sent by the London 5: Captain William Jobern's first bill of exchange for £60 0s 0d sterling, payable to the Court, dated 4 January 1724 6: Copy of the ship Prince Augustus's account at St Helena Signed Interpretations The renewed plea for tar, pitch and naval stores tied the island's value as a port to a supply it could not itself hold. Ready stores drew the Court's ships to call and let the Council refit them, the case that a reserve would turn a greater profit than any other sale pressed across the letters of 1716 to 1721. The survey of the Prince Augustus, whose small rigging could not be made good for want of stores, gave the argument a fresh worked instance. The packet manifest paired each half of a bill and each copied paper against the originals sent by the London, binding the two despatches into one recoverable chain. Item 4, the receipt for the earlier packet, gave the Court proof that the London's papers had gone aboard, the standing safeguard against a lost conveyance. The practice of opening each letter with the last and enclosing duplicates ran through the correspondence of 1722 to 1724. |
10 | 11 | Hon.ᵉᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡ Lettʳ of Ship Sunderland Capᵗ Willⁱⁿ Hutchinson Comᵈ dated ᵈebʳ 25ᵗ 1724 The foregoing is a Copy of Ours Tranſmitted to your Honᵗˢ By the Prince Augustus Capᵗ William Iobſon Comander who ſᵈ first Bill of Exchange for Sixty nine Pounds Sterling Payable to your Honours came Encloſed therein and now ſend the 2 Bill which We hope with all the rest of the Papers Mentioned in the List will come Safe to yoʳ Honᵗ hands and meet with your Approvatte Since when on the 2ᵈ Instant Arrived here the Sunderland Capᵗ William Hutchinson Comand.ᵈ from Fort Sᵗ George, and brought us a Letter & Jnvoue Adveſing of ſifty Bags of Rice and twenty four of Sugar ſent for the uſe of this Iſland which We have Rᵉᶜ in good Order Aⁱⁱordingly and is Entered in Our Consultation of the 2ᵈ oᵈ ᵈebʳ 1724 We have no father Aeⁱⁱ of your Honᵗˢ Shipping in Judia than what is Adviſed of in Ours by the London whereto beg leave to refer Aſſureing your Honᵗˢ We ſhall with abundance of Pleaſure Peruſe your Directions relateing thereto as often as Ocaſion offers We herewith Tranſmit to your Honours Duplicates of Our Consul tations ſent by the London, and Copys of all others from the date of thoſe to the 6ᵗ oᵈ ᵈebʳ 1724 Incluſive with what other Aⁱⁱ: Uſually ſent at this time of the ſpeak in obedience to your Honᵗ Orders & our Promiſes in the 3ᵈ Parᵗ oᵈ Ours dated 23ᵈ Decʳ 1724 By this Sommers Shipping We ſhall Peruſe your Honᵗ father Orders with which We are favoured oᵈom time to time, in ſending the whole State of this Iſland for your Honᵗ better Satisfaction thereby hopeing to give your Honours the best and most Impearhal Aⁱⁱˢ of Every Branch of your Affairs of which We have the Honoreto be meanagers to the Utmost of Our Endeavours & Judgements, And in the mean time cannot Omitfather Adviſeing your Honours (with which We flatter our ſelves you will be greatly Delighted) of the Continuance of an Exheam fine rainy Season which of his Providencial goodneſs hath put this Iſland once more into ſuch a Thriveing & flouriſhing Condition that the Inhabitants looks now with pleaſing and Chearfull Countenances And We Sincerely Aſſure yoʳ Honᵗᵈ Nothing on Our parts ſhall be wanting, not only to Encourage the most Induſtrious but to Promote your Interest all we can and to Improve your Plantahons and Live ſtock by all Poſſible Care and good meanagemᵗ But it is Our greatest Misfortine at present to have but very few Cattle on the Iſland that is well grown, Occaſioned by the Late Drought, Except | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship Sunderland, Captain William Hutchinson commander, dated 5 Feb 1724. 1: The foregoing letter is a copy of the one the Council sent by the Prince Augustus, Captain William Jobern commander, whose first bill of exchange for £69 0s 0d sterling, payable to the Court, was enclosed within it. The Council now sent the second bill, and hoped it would reach the Court safely with all the other papers named in the list, and meet with its approval. 2: The Sunderland, Captain William Hutchinson commander, arrived on the second of this month from Fort St George. She brought a letter advising the Council of 50 bags of rice and 24 of sugar sent for the use of the island. The Council received them in good order, and entered them in its consultation of 2 Feb 1724. 3: The Council had no further news of the Court's shipping in India than it had already advised in the letter by the London, to which it referred the Court. The Council assured the Court it would read its directions with great pleasure as often as occasion offered. 4: The Council forwarded to the Court duplicates of its consultations sent by the London, and copies of all others from the date of those to the sixth of Feb 1724, together with the other accounts usually sent at this season, under the Court's orders and the Council's own promise in the third part of its letter dated 23 Dec 1724. 5: The Council would attend the Court's further orders by this summer's shipping, sending the whole state of the island for the Court's better satisfaction, and hoping to give the Court the fullest account of every branch of its affairs. The Council had the honour to manage those affairs to the utmost of its endeavour and judgement, and could not for the present add further. A very fine rainy season had by Providence put the island once more into a thriving and flourishing condition, so that the inhabitants now looked cheerful and content. The Council promised to spare no care to encourage the most industrious among them, and to improve the Court's plantations and live stock by every possible means. Its greatest misfortune at present was to have very few cattle on the island that were well grown, owing to the late drought. Interpretations The rice and sugar from Fort St George marked Madras answering the island's plea for grain after the long drought, though the letter by the London had reported Madras sending nothing at all. The eastern presidencies supplied the island by turns as their own stocks allowed, the relief pressed across the famine correspondence of 1723 and 1724. A consignment of 50 bags told how thinly the settlements could meet a want on the scale the drought had opened. The turn of the season stood behind the Council's report of a thriving island. Four and then five years of drought had failed the yam crop so far that two thirds of the inhabitants wanted food, the hardship set out in the letters of 1723 and 1724. The fine rains that at last revived the provisions gave the Council its first hopeful account after the long want, though the poor state of the cattle showed the drought's mark still on the herds. Speculations The Council promised the whole state of the island by the summer's shipping rather than sending it with the current despatch, holding the fuller account back for the later conveyance. The standing practice sent the year's returns and the state of the island by the season's ships, twice held from a sailing vessel for re-examination where error had drawn the Court's notice, the care recorded across the letters of 1722. Here the Council sent duplicates and the running consultations at once by the Sunderland, but reserved the full survey for the summer, weight of the record given to accuracy over speed on a point the Court would judge closely. |
11 | 12 | Except the breeding Kine Yet as We are very ſpareing in Killing for Our Table use as wellas for makeing a Reſerve for the Supply of your Honᵗˢ reharding ſhipping We hope in few years to be much better Recruited by the proſpect of ſo good an Increaſe as We hope to Reap by ſo fine and Glorious a Season as it has pleaſed God to ſend Us as well in Our Winter as Summer times of the year as uſual As it is part of the duty Incumbent on Us to gett in all your Honᵗˢ debts owing on this place as fast and as soon as Poſſible ( Of which We hope we have not been wanting as will in ſome meaſure Appear by the methods we have taken and Tranſfered Intered in Our Consultaʳ tions from time to time We intend ſome time the beginning of Next month to Iſue out an Advertizemᵗ as uſual for the Inhabitants to Delⁱⁱer in an Aeⁱᵈ of their familys Lands &ᶜ and therein to Inſert We Expect all thoſe who ſtands Indebted to your Honᵗᵈ do by a day Certain Appear and make propoſals of Payment and that We will not allow any Perſon to Run on in Arrears for any Revenues or Rent of your Honours Lands, but to pay the ſame as it becomes due every year upon the makeing up Our Books of Aⁱⁱˢ which for the future We think proper to Ballance from the 25ᵗ of ſeptember next to the 25ᵗ of Sepᵗ from thence Inſueing to which end and to prevent miſtakes, Either by the Stockeepers, in the takeing an Inventory of the Remaining ſtores as uſual or in any other Peaſon wheyththe Books are made up yearly to the 25ᵗ of March and which happens very Inconvenient by being in the very hight of Shipping We made a Generall Reckoning from the 25ᵗ of March last to the 25ᵗ of Decʳ (the the Aeⁱᵈ of ſfamlys Land, &ᶜ before mention'd will be given in as uſual for this year to the 25ᵗ of March next and afterwards for the Inſueing Six months which will end on the 25ᵗ of Sepᵗ following otherwiſt the Rents & Revenues would fall very heavy on ſevꝛal of the Inhabitants in paying for one year & three quarters at one Payment) which We humbly Conceiveing to be much the ſurest and best method begg your Honours Concurrence therein as a ſtanding Rule to be obſerv'd in future Jn obedience to your Honours Instructions the Governᵗⁿ hath been on Board the Sunderland Capᵗⁿ William Hutchinson Comander And found Her Hull, Masts Yards ſtanding and runing Rigning good & Anchors and Cables good Hatches Caulked down Guns all Cleaʳ Men in good health Draᵈᵗ of Water abaᵈᵗ Sixteen feet four Iⁿches aᵈore ᵈifteen feet two ſiehes We have Nothing further to Add at present worth troubling Your Honours with, but to heartily wiſh Succeſs to your Honᵗˢ | The Council spared the breeding cattle in its killing, both for its own table and to build a reserve for the Court's shipping. It hoped within two years to be much better stocked, given the increase it looked to reap from so fine a season, which by God's favour had fallen well in the island's winter as in its summer. 6: The Council held it part of its duty to recover all the Court's debts at the island as fast and as fully as it could. It hoped it had not been wanting in this, as would appear in some measure by the methods it had taken and entered in its consultations from time to time. About the beginning of next month it meant to issue an advertisement, as usual, calling on the inhabitants to give in an account of their families' lands, and to insert the same. The Council expected all who were found indebted to the Court to appear by a set day and make proposals of payment. It would allow no person to run on in arrears for any revenue or rent of the Court's lands, but required each to pay as it became due. In making up the books of accounts, the Council thought proper for the future to balance them from 25 September to 25 September following, to prevent the mistakes that arose either from the storekeeper taking an inventory of the remaining stores, as usual, or from any other person keeping the books. Those books were made up yearly to 25 March, which fell very inconvenient by coming in the height of the shipping season. The Council had therefore struck a general reckoning from 25 March last to 25 December. The account of families' lands mentioned earlier would be given in as usual for this year to 25 March next, and afterwards for the six months ending 25 September following. The rents and revenues would otherwise have fallen very heavy on the inhabitants, who paid for one year and three quarters at a single payment. The Council thought this much the surest and best method, and asked the Court's agreement to it as a standing rule to be observed in future. 7: The Governor went aboard the Sunderland, Captain William Hutchinson commander, under the Court's instructions. He found her hull, masts and yards, and her standing and running rigging good, her anchors and cables good, and her halliards caulked twice over. Her guns were all clear, her men in good health, and her draught of water 16 feet 4 inches aft and 15 feet 2 inches forward. 8: The Council had nothing further to add at present, and heartily wished success to the Court's affairs. Interpretations The advertisement calling for an account of families' lands was the Council's yearly instrument for fixing each planter's holding and the rent due on it. A public notice required every inhabitant to declare his land by a set day, so the Court's claim could be registered and the arrears pressed. The account ran alongside the debt recovery the Council carried on under Governor Smith, the recovery pressed with mildness against a people left poor by the drought. The change of the accounting year turned on the clash between bookkeeping and the shipping season. Balancing to 25 March fell in the height of the sailings, when the officers were drawn to the ships and the storekeeper to his inventory, so errors crept in. Shifting the balance to 25 September moved the reckoning clear of the ships, part of the wider reform of the island books answering the accountant general's audit of 1717 to 1719. The single reckoning from 25 March to 25 December, with the land account then split to 25 March and to 25 September, eased a real burden on the planters. The old year forced them to pay a full year and three quarters of rent at one time, a heavy call on a people already poor from the drought. The Council framed the change to spread the payment, tying the reform of the books to relief for the indebted inhabitants. Speculations The Council chose to reset the whole accounting year rather than simply repeat the awkward March balance one more time. The books had been made up to 25 March out of long custom, the date carried forward year on year, and the simpler course was to leave it undisturbed. The Council instead struck a broken reckoning to 25 December and asked the Court to fix 25 September as the standing rule, taking on the labour of a double land account for the year so the balance should fall clear of the shipping and the rent no longer land on the planters in one heavy call. |
12 | 13 | Affairs and to Sincerely Aſſure your Honours We are Union Castle Sᵗ Helena ᵈebʳ yᵉ 21 1724 Honᵈ Sʳˢ Your Honᵗᵈ Most Humble faithfull & most obedient Servants Jnᵗ Smith Edᵈ Byfeld Jnᵗ Alexander Jnᵗ Goodwin Liſt of the Packet of Ship Sunderland Capᵗ Willⁱⁿ Hutchinson Comdeʳ Govʳ and Counˡ Genˡ Lettʳ dated 21 ᵈebʳ 1724 Copy of Govᵗ & Counʳ Genˡ of of Prince Augustus dated 4 Ianʳ 1724 Dupliceat of Consultations from yᵉ 24 Novʳ Ended to yᵉ 15 Decʳ Ended 1724 Copy of Consultacions from ᵈ time Ended to yᵉ 16ᵗ ᵈebʳ 1724 Ended Dupliceat of Mʳ Byfelds Aⁱⁱᵈ of yᵉ Honᵗ & Live ſtock & Expence for the Month of Novʳ 1724 Copy of ditto Aⁱⁱᵈ for Decʳ & Genˡ Aⁱⁱᵈ of ᵈᵈ for 6 Moˢ to Decʳ 25ᵗ 1724 Capᵗ William Iobſons 2 Bill of Exchᵈ £60,- Sterˡ Pay to yʳ Honᵗ Comᵈ Dupliceat of Ship Prince Augustus Aⁱⁱᵈ Ianᵗʳy yᵉ 4 1724 Copy of Mʳ Byfelds Aⁱⁱᵈ of yᵉ Honᵗ & Live ſtock & Expences for yᵉ Moˢ of ᵈebʳ 1724 Reᵗ for the Packet ſent of Prince Augustus Copy of Ship Sunderlands Aⁱⁱᵈ ᵈebʳ 21ᵗ 1724 Liſt of the Packet Sigid A Jnᵗ Alexander | The Council closed the letter at Union Castle, St Helena, on 21 February 1724, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. List of the packet of the ship Sunderland, Captain William Hutchinson commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 21 February 1724, and copy of the Governor and Council's general letter by the Prince Augustus dated 4 January 1724 2: Duplicate of consultations from 24 November 1724 ending to the 13 December following 3: Copy of consultations from the same date ending to the 16 February 1724 4: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of the hold and live stock and expense for the month of November 1724 5: Copy of the same account for December, and general account of the same for 10 months to 25 December 1724 6: Captain William Jobern's second bill of exchange for £69 0s 0d sterling, payable to the Court, drawn on the Court 7: Duplicate of the ship Prince Augustus's account, January 1724 8: Copy of Mr Byfield's account of the hold, live stock and expense for the month of February 1724 9: Receipt for the packet sent by the Prince Augustus 10: Copy of the ship Sunderland's account, February 21 1724 11: List of the packet Signed, John Alexander Interpretations The packet manifest bound the Sunderland's despatch to the two before it, carrying duplicates of the Prince Augustus papers and the second half of Captain Jobern's bill against the first sent earlier. Each half of a set travelled on a separate hull, of no effect until its fellow reached London, and item 9 gave proof that the earlier packet had gone aboard. The practice ran through the Council's correspondence of 1724, guarding a recoverable chain of custody at India House. The storekeeper's monthly accounts of the hold, live stock and expense set out the running state of the Court's provisions and herds. Edward Byfield rendered them month by month, with the ten-month general account drawn to 25 December marking the broken reckoning the Council had lately struck. The regular entries answered the accountant general's audit, which had condemned the backward and undated books of the previous regime. |
13 | 14 | Hon.ᵉᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡ Lettʳ of Ship Heathcote Capᵗ Ioſeph Ioleſon Comandᵈ dated 23 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 The last We did Our ſelves the Honᵗ of Writeing to Your Honours was by the Sunderland Capᵗ Willⁱⁿ Hutchinson Comander under date of the 21 of ᵈebʳy 1724 a Copy whereof comes herewith As alſo of Our Consultations from that time to the 20ᵗ Instant Incluſive with Duplicates of thoſe ſent by this ſhips Likewiſe a Liſt of your Honᵗˢ Blacks with their ſeveral Ages & Employmᵗˢ Liſt of ſfamilys Lands and Neat Cattle for the year 1724 & yᵉ Rents & Revenues due from the Inhabitants for the ſaid year Alſo comes Copys & Duplicates of Mʳ Byfelds Mᵗhly Aⁱⁱᵈ and of the Generall Aⁱⁱᵈ of your Honᵗˢ Live ſtock & Expences of each Plantahon fore for nine months Ending the 31 of Decʳ 1724 with all other Liſts & Most Material Aⁱⁱᵈ Contained in the Packet now ſent, all which We hope will come ſafe to your Honᵗ hands and meet with Your Approval We ſpeediſt Endeavour (as We ſhall Alwaysᵈ Continue) to give your Honours the best Satisfaction We poſſibly can and by this ſhipⁱⁿ ſhall Tranſmit yoᵗ Honᵗ Books of Aⁱᵈ for the year 1723:1724 With the Inventory of remaining ſtores taken the 24ᵗ of Decʳ last and Likewiſe an Abſhact of Debts then oweingto yᵗ Honours on this your Iſland Since our last to Your Honours there hath Arrived here the four following Ships viz.ᵗ On the 7ᵗ of this Instant Arrived the ſ Muſgoe Capᵗ Henry Wilſon Comander from Bengal & Maddras on the 12 following the Stneham Capᵗ George Wethok and the Frances Capᵗ Christ.ˡ Hinton (who Suceded after the death of Capᵗ Neioham) from Bengull, and On the 16ᵗ the Heathcote Capᵗ Ioſeph Ioleſon from Bengall and Maddᵗˢ (but last from the Cape of Good Hope) with the Honᵗ Govʳ Elgick on board next day the 17ᵗ Instᵗ the Dutch fleet of twenty four ſail was ſeen to Paſs by the ſouth West part of the Iſland & was out of Our ſight in few hours We are informed that the Mackleiſeild Capᵗ Hudson was takeing in Bale goods at Maddᵗˢ when the Heathcote came thence and may be very ſpeedily Expected here And that Capᵗ Weterbane in the Deake toucht at the Cape Outhoard bound ſome time in ᵈebʳy last and was gone for Mocha By theſe four ſhips from Judia We have recⁱⁿ'd One Hundred Seventy Seven Bags of Rice and fifty Cags of Sugar, with Ten Cheſts of Wax Candles for the uſe of this your Honours Iſland | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship Heathcote, Captain Joseph Toleson commander, dated 23 April 1725. 1: The Council last addressed the Court by the Sunderland, Captain William Hutchinson commander, in the letter dated 21 February 1724. A copy of it travelled with the present despatch, along with the Council's consultations from that date to the 20th of this month, and duplicates of those sent by that ship. The Council also sent a list of the Court's slaves with their several ages and employments, a list of families' lands and neat cattle for the year 1724, and the rents and revenues due from the inhabitants for that year. Copies and duplicates of Mr Byfield's monthly accounts went with them, and of the general account of the Court's stock and expenses of each plantation for the nine months ending 31 December 1724, together with all other material accounts named in the packet. The Council hoped all would reach the Court safely and meet with its approval. It would always strive to give the Court the best satisfaction it could, and would send the Court's account books for the year 1723 with the inventory of remaining stores taken on 24 December last, and an abstract of the debts then owing to the Court at the island. 2: Four ships had called at the island since the Council's last letter. 3: The Aislaby, Captain Henry Wilson commander, arrived on the 7th of this month from Bengal and Madras. The Stretham, Captain George Wenick commander, and the Francis, Captain Christopher Hinton commander, came in on the 12th, the latter having succeeded to the command after the death of Captain Newsham, from Bengal. The Heathcote, Captain Joseph Toleson commander, arrived on the 16th from Bengal and Madras but last from the Cape of Good Hope, with the Honourable Governor Elwick aboard. She sailed again the next day, the 17th. The Dutch fleet of 24 sail was seen to pass by the island to the south-west the same day, and was out of sight within a few hours. 4: The Council learned that the Macclesfield, Captain Hudson commander, was taking in bale goods at Madras when the Heathcote came away, and might be expected at the island very shortly. Captain Westerbane in the Drake had touched at the Cape outward bound some time in February last, and had gone on for Mocha. 5: The four ships from India brought 177 bags of rice and 50 bags of sugar, with 10 chests of wax candles, for the use of the island. Interpretations The rice, sugar and wax candles marked the eastern presidencies answering the island's plea for relief after the drought. Bengal and Madras supplied the grain the island's own ground had failed to yield through four and five years of want, the relief pressed across the famine correspondence of 1723 and 1724. Wax candles were named as wanted at the island in the shipping accounts of 1723, when Captain Cockburne of the Rook had sold the Council 292. The list of slaves with their ages and employments, and the list of families' lands and neat cattle, were the standing yearly returns the Court required of the island. Each fixed the Court's own establishment and each planter's holding, giving India House a measure of the labour, land and stock under its charge. The returns ran alongside the debt abstract and the rent account, the whole answering the reform of the island books under Governor Smith. The Dutch fleet passing to the south-west, out of sight within hours, belonged to the standing watch the island kept against foreign shipping homeward bound from the Cape. Dutch and Ostend fleets were tracked ship by ship as they crossed the island's sight, the alarms recorded across the letters of 1723 and 1724. The passage without any attempt to call showed the foreign traders bearing directly away, seeking no refreshment at the Court's island. |
14 | 15 | the quantitys by each ſhip being Entred in Our Consultations of the 13ᵗ & 20 April 1725, and beg your Honours will be pleaſed to Order the ſame ſorts & quantitys to be ſent us every Year from Bengal and if We find We ſhall be in want of any Arrack or Peice goods We will make Menhon thereof in Our next Indent which ſhall not Omitt Tranſmitting by this years ſhipⁱⁿ =ing for your Honᵗ Satisfaction & Guidance thoſe breth what ſorts and quantitys of Europe or Judia Goods to ſupply Us with for the next years Consumphon According to Our promiſe in the fore part of the 6ᵗ Parᵗ of Ours by the Sunderland We Iſued out an Advertizemᵗ To let the Inhabitants know We Expected them to pay in all their Rents & Revenues for the year past and to Leſſen their old debts due to your Honours, as ſoon as Poſſible and that we would not Allow any perſons to Run on in Arrears on any Aⁱⁱᵈ whatever as will Appear by the Orders of Councel, of the 3 & 23 of March last Past in Complyance to which all the Inhabitants did pay of all their ſaid Rents and Revenues for the year 1724 and ſeveral did Leſſen their Old debts with a Promiſe to pay all as ſoon and as fast as poſſible they coulᵈ which We ſhall take care to ſee they Comply with and to gett in all your Honours debts here with all the Care and ſpeed Imaginable We have fully ſupplyd theſe Ships with their Charterparty Beef, & with ſuch other Refreſhments as they wanted or this Iſland could produce and doubt not of doing the ſame by all the next years Returning ſhiping the Iſland (We thank God) being in fine flouriſhing Condition, and all ſorts of Proviſions grows Plenty and the Cattle Increaſes very well & are in good Right and We ſhall Endeavour to Aⁱⁱomodate the Comandeʳˢ after the best manner we are Capable which We hope will be a motive Sufficient to prevent their going into the Cape for any freſh Provisions & which is ſo highly Dehimental to this poor Iſland and hath been often Complained of For the reasons Menhond in Our Consultation of the 31 of March last (whereto beg leave to refer your Honours) We have thought it more for your Honours Advantage to throw up the Hutts Plantahon into Paſture Land than to keep it up for Planting of Yams the ground being by the Long Continuance of many years Tillhon in ſome parts become Barren to which being the ſame Caſe of ſeveral other of your Honᵗ Plantah =ons Notwithſtanding the Utmost Care & Induſtry hath been uſed in the Culti= =vateing and manureing thereof, Yet where Land lies Steep (as Moſt of the Plantahons doth in this Hilly Country) it ſoon weares out & the best of the Soil runs, and is Clowsh down into the Lower grounds wᶜʰ is Generally but very ſhallow being near the Suface of the earth and the under part very Rocky, the best and most of the Soil in the time of Our haſty Rains waſhed to the bare Rocks and when any floods happens (as We had in March last) Vast quantitys is carryd away | The quantity brought by each ship was entered in the Council's consultations of 13 and 20 April 1725. The Council asked the Court to order the same sorts and quantities sent every year from Bengal. Should it fall short of any arrack or spice goods, it would note the want in its next indent, which it would send by this year's shipping for the Court's satisfaction. It named there the sorts and quantities of Europe or India goods wanted to supply the island for the coming year's consumption. 6: The Council issued an advertisement, as promised in the first part of its letter by the Sunderland, calling on the inhabitants to pay in all their rents and revenues for the year past and to reduce their old debts to the Court as soon as they could. It would allow no person to run on in arrears on any account, as would appear by the orders of council of 3 September 1723. The inhabitants all paid their rents and revenues for the year 1724, and several reduced their old debts, with a promise to pay the rest as fast as they could. The Council would see the promise kept, and recover all the Court's debts at the island with every possible care. 7: The Council fully supplied these ships with charter-party beef and such other refreshments as they wanted, or as the island could furnish. It did not doubt it would do the same for all the coming year's returning ships. The island stood in a fine flourishing condition, with all sorts of provisions plentiful, and the cattle increasing very well and in good state. The Council would accommodate the returning ships in the best manner it could, hoping this would prove reason enough to stop their putting in at the Cape for fresh provisions, a practice highly harmful to the island and often complained of. 8: For the reasons set out in its consultation of 31 March last, to which it referred the Court, the Council thought it more to the Court's advantage to throw the High Peak plantation into pasture land than to keep it for planting yams. The ground had grown barren in some parts through many years' cropping, the same case as several other of the Court's plantations, despite every care and industry in cultivating and manuring it. Where land lay steep, as most of the plantations did in this hilly country, the soil soon wore out and the best of it washed down into the lower grounds. That soil was generally cut very thin and shallow, lying near the surface, and the ground beneath very rocky. In the season of the island's sudden heavy rains it washed down to the bare rocks, and when any floods came, as in March last, a vast quantity was carried away. Interpretations The indent was the island's yearly order to the Court for the goods it could not raise or make. It named the sorts and quantities of Europe and India goods wanted for the coming year, sent home with the season's shipping so the Court could load the store ship. The Council's request for a standing yearly supply of rice and spice from Bengal tied the indent to the relief pressed through the drought years. Charter-party beef was the fresh provision the island was bound to furnish each Court ship under the terms of her charter. The Council supplied every calling vessel with beef and refreshment, drawing on the Court's herds and the planters' cattle, the practice carried through the letters of 1724. The full supply of the season's ships served the wider aim of drawing the homeward fleet to the island road rather than the Cape. Throwing the High Peak plantation into pasture reversed the ground's earlier taking-in for yams under Governor Pyke. That ground had been enclosed for about 300,000 yams and a house raised for an overseer and fourteen slaves, the improvement recorded in the reply of 3 November 1718. The soil's failure after years of cropping now turned the Council to graze the worn land rather than plant it. The account of thin soil washed to the bare rock set out the island's standing problem of erosion on steep ground. The felling of wood on the mountains had exposed the soil to wind and rain until the naked rocks appeared, the diagnosis given in the long reply of 1716. The flood of March last gave the Council a fresh instance of the loss that drove both the replanting law and the turn to pasture. Speculations The Council chose to graze the High Peak rather than keep pressing it for yams as its predecessor had. The ground had been taken in and planted at some cost under Governor Pyke, and the obvious course was to hold improved land in crop. The Council instead judged the worn and washing soil past yielding a yam harvest, and turned it to pasture, weight given to the cattle recovery the drought had left thin over the sunk labour already spent on the plantation. |
15 | 16 | by the Violence of the Water and ſeverall Plantahons that lies in Narrow Valleys become a heap of Rubbiſh and past all hope of any repair Eſpecially where there are any Gulls that Contains at ſuch times Prodigious quantitys of ſoake which gathers in the Valleys & Carrys all away before it, In Conſideration of which & Inconven =iency and to ſave your Honours the Charge of Buying Proviſions for the future We have Reſolved on and made a beginning to Encloſe a large Peice of Land in the ſfort Valley a bove the old Garden and below Governᵗⁿ Roberts Plantahon for a Yamm Plantahon and to Plant ſome fruit Trees and Garden Trade in it lying very warme and as Convenient to be overflooed with Water Conveyd out of the Main Run which will force the Growth of any ſorts of Proviſions without Rain & Always be at a Certainty for Yams for your Honᵗ ſlaves &ᶜ which We ſhall Endeavour to Encloſe and plant with the utmost Expediti =on, with a due regard at the ſame time to your Honᵗ Interest begging leave to Aſſure Your Honᵗ We ſhall be as frugal in the Charge thereof as poſſible Since the Encloſing the Horſe Point in the Great Wood which is very nue being ſiniſhed abundance of Young wood is come up ſo thick that We ſhall be Obligd to thin it by Cutting, or draweing the Youngest plants that the rest may thrive & fare the better & when that Peice of Needſary work is Compleated We ſhall begin at ſome other part of the Great Wood, with which all Gentlemen that has ſeen it is agreeably Surprized to ſee ſuch a fine place & the great hopes there is of raiſing & preſerveing the Wood and Young trees, that would otherwiſe be Inevitably lost & deſtroyd to the great & apparent Prejudice of the whole Iſland fuel wood in General Ever ſince the Distilling Trade of Arrack from Potatoes become not only Every ſcarce but is Attended with the Inconveniency of Cutting in the Blighting winds that before uſed to Shelter the Iſland and Provisions now found to be very Pernicious & Dehimental to every thing in Generall besides the Impairing Peoples healths by the frequent Cold they gett And Blasts that ſome times has happened & Ip ruided to be the Cauſe of the Loſs of ſome peoples Eye ſight There is one Sarah Southen a Widdow on this Iſland being a woman of a Turbulent Spirit and Vexahous Temper and often Named as ſuch in ſeveral former Pryols & Consultations Preſented her Petihon to Us and is Entered in Our Consultation of the 16ᵗ of Ianʳ 1724 Setting forth therein Her Pretended Claim to One Aeʳ of Land of Land ſome ſmall time before ſold by Richard Girling to | Several plantations lying in narrow valleys had been reduced to a heap of rubbish by the force of the water, past all hope of repair. Wherever gullies ran through the valleys, prodigious quantities of soil gathered in the valleys and washed clean away before the flood. To avoid this loss, and to spare the Court the charge of buying provisions in future, the Council resolved to enclose a large piece of land in the Fort Valley, above the old garden and below former Governor Roberts's plantation, for a yam plantation. It meant to plant fruit trees and garden trade there, the spot lying very warm and easy to flood with water drawn from the main run. That water would force the growth of all sorts of provisions without rain, and give a steady yield of yams for the Court's slaves. The Council would enclose and plant it with all speed, with due regard to the Court's interest, and assured the Court it would be as frugal in the charge as it could. 9: Since the enclosing of the Horse Point in the Great Wood, now very near finished, a great deal of young wood had come up so thick that the Council would have to thin it out by cutting or drawing the youngest plants, so the rest might grow the better. When that piece of necessary work was done, it would begin on some other part of the Great Wood. All the gentlemen who had seen it agreed they were pleasantly surprised at the state of the place, and at the great hope of raising and preserving the wood and young trees that would otherwise be lost and destroyed, to the great and plain harm of the whole island. Wood in general had grown scarce ever since the distilling of arrack from potatoes came in, which not only consumed the trees but brought the further trouble of admitting the blighting winds that the wood had once kept off. That distilling was now found very harmful and injurious to everything on the island, wasting the trees and damaging people's health by the frequent cold blasts and fogs that sometimes followed, and had been the cause of some people losing their eyesight. 10: Sarah Southen, a widow on the island, was a woman of a turbulent spirit and vexatious temper. She had often been complained of in several courts and consultations, and presented her petition to the Council, entered in its consultation of [...] January 1724. She set out there her pretended claim to a piece of land sold some little time before by Richard Girling to Richard [...] Interpretations The distilling of arrack from potatoes stood behind the island's loss of wood and shelter. The stills burned the trees for fuel, and the felling let the blighting winds into the unwatered valleys, the diagnosis given in the long reply of 1716, where the practice was suppressed lest the island turn barren. The Council here tied the same distilling to garrison sickness and the loss of sight, naming Pippin Wells and Mr Gallop as men who each lost an eye. The enclosing of the Horse Point continued the fencing of the Great Wood ordered across more than 20 years. The work had been carried on at the Stone Point and the Horse Point, the strongest sections enclosed first, the young trees come up thick after the fine rains, the progress recorded in the letters by the Hannover of 3 July 1724 and the Swallow of 27 November 1724. The thinning of the young growth marked the first fruit of the long-delayed enclosure. Sarah Southen was already known to the Council as the woman convicted of publishing a seditious libel against Governor Johnson. She had pressed the inhabitants to sign a paper on the church dispute of 29 November, was found guilty at the court of 23 January 1720, and stood one hour in the pillory with sureties for a year, the case set out in the Council letter of 3 March 1720. Her land claim now brought the same troublesome character before the board again. |
16 | 17 | Richard Goodwin both Planters, Upon which Enquiry was made who the ſᵈ Girlings Titleⁱⁿ as Entered at Length in Our Consultation of the 2ᵈ oᵈ ᵈebʳy Parts of the Caſe We for Brevity ſake beg leave to Refer your Honᵗ only to the trouble oᵈ peruſing that Consultation wherein every thing whettwas formerly done in purſuance to your Honous Orders to prevent Diſputes among the Inhabitants here and to Aſcertaine their ſeveral Titles to their Lands ſeems to us very plain and is of the ſame Nahure that all the Planters holds their Lands by to them and their Heirs and if the ſaid Girlings Deed (of which We now Tranſmit a true Copy) ſhould be Inould the Rest of the Planters would have good reaſon to think they ſtand upon a very Precarious & ſlinery foundahon whichaⁱⁿ ſoce and to prevent any further Clamour of this Nahure but more Particularly of this troubleſome woman, We being Confermah tion of your Honours ſixing the ſaid Rᵗᵈ Girling in his Property and Government be alwaysᵗ Deemd good and to be ever voed under the Coovenants therein Inſerted or any others your Honᵗ ſhall think fit to add We herewith Tranſmit to Your Honᵗ a Copy of a Petihon preſented to Us by One Ioſeph Bates a planter and is Ended in Our Counstahon of the 23 of March 1724 wherein he has made his Submiſſion and Aⁱⁱnowledged his folly, Wherefore I humbly refer the Candid Con ſiderahon thereof to your Honours favour and that yoᵈ will be pleaſed to ſignify your pleaſure therein to Us by the next Opportunity, hopeing he will Demean himſelf Better for the future Your Honours Store Ship for this place ſeldome Arriveing here till the Latter end of May or about the Middle of Iune and ſome times Iuly first, your Honours returning Ships are gone home very often withoutNeceſſary Stores for their Voyage home as Cordage Twⁱⁿ, Pitch, Twoine, Sail Cloth, &ᶜ Aⁱⁱticles they would gladly been ſupplyd with here, and the Comanders are at ſome times to put to their ſhifts that they have been Somewhat Apprehenſive of runing the Risque of Ship & Cargoe in Caſe of Meeting with Tempeſtuous weather Wherefore We Humbly beg your Honours would be pleaſed to ſend out the Store Ship (which is but one in a year) with Stores for the uſe of this Iſland & for the ſupply of your homeward bound Ships =ing ſo Early as in all Probability may be here in the beguning of March which will be a vast Satisfaction to the Gentlemen Impⁱⁿ ſo in your ſervice and the only means of their being fully ſupplyd wᵗʰ ſuch Neceſſary Stores as they may realy recⁱⁿt, And to this End We ſhall Preſume to Indent by Our next for a Longer ſupply of Naval Stores than uſual, haveing no room to doubt but your Honours in your great Prudence will Comply therewith WE | The land had been sold by Richard Girling to Richard Goodwin, both planters. The Council made inquiry into Girling's title, set out at length in its consultation. Having there received the most material points of the case, it referred the Court to that record for brevity's sake, as it had done before under the Court's orders to prevent disputes among the inhabitants and to settle their several titles to their lands. The matter seemed very plain to the Council. Girling's title was of the same nature as those by which all the planters held their lands, and if his deed could be set aside, the rest of the planters would have good reason to think they stood on a very precarious foundation. To prevent any further clamour from this troublesome woman, the Council confirmed Girling's deed. It held that his deed, and any deed for land granted to the inhabitants by former governments, ought to be allowed good, and to stand good for ever under the covenants set out in them, or any others the Court thought fit to add. 11: The Council forwarded a copy of a petition presented by Joseph Bates, a planter, entered in its consultation of 23 March 1724. He had there made his submission and acknowledged his fault. The Council referred the matter to the Court's favour, and asked the Court to signify its pleasure by the next opportunity, hoping the man would conduct himself better in future. 12: The Court's store ship seldom reached the island before the latter end of May, and sometimes about the middle of June, and now and then not until July. The Court's returning ships had very often gone home wanting stores for their voyage, such as cordage, tar, pitch, twine and sail cloth, which they would gladly have had at the island. The commanders were at times forced to put to sea, uneasy at running the risk of ship and cargo if they met heavy weather. The Council therefore asked the Court to send the store ship, of which there was but one a year, with stores for the use of the island and for the supply of the homeward-bound ships, so early that it might reach the island in the beginning of March. That would be a great satisfaction to the gentlemen in the Court's service, and the only means of their being fully supplied with the necessary stores as they really needed. To that end the Council would send its indent by the next conveyance for a longer supply of naval stores than usual, having no room to doubt the Court would in its great prudence comply with it. Interpretations The confirming of Girling's deed answered the Council's standing task of settling the inhabitants' titles to prevent disputes. To void one planter's deed would shake the ground on which all the others held, so the Council upheld it rather than open every title to challenge. The work of quieting land claims ran through the correspondence, the same aim behind the refusal of the children's-name lease claims in the King William reply. Naval stores stood at the centre of the island's value as a port and its standing want. Cordage, tar, pitch, twine and sail cloth were the gear that refitted the Court's ships for the homeward passage, the plea for a reserve pressed across the letters of 1716 to 1721. The single yearly store ship, often arriving as late as June or July, left the island unable to supply the homeward fleet in time. Joseph Bates was already known to the Council as the planter who pressed Sarah Southen's land claim and later petitioned over a parcel of ground in Sandy Bay for Joseph Coles. His earlier submission was entered in the Council letter by the Stanhope of 13 January 1724. His fresh acknowledgement of fault marked the same litigious inhabitant appearing again before the board. Speculations The Council asked the Court to send the store ship early enough to reach the island by March, rather than accept the late-May or June arrival that custom had settled into. The obvious course was to take the one yearly ship whenever it came, as the island always had. The Council instead pressed for a fixed early despatch, weight given to refitting the homeward fleet in time over the Court's convenience in loading a single ship at its own season. |
17 | 18 | We are greatly Surprizd to find the Captains who brings Us any Goods from Judia on your Honours Aⁱⁱᵗ do Jnſist upon our ſending on Board for them or Elſe to ſend a perſon to ſurvey the Goods before they ſend them on ſhoare Otherwiſe they tell us they will Carry them to England (which being a nue Charᵈd Custom as well as a diſappointmᵗ to Us in Caſe they ſhould do ſoe and Contrary to their Bills of Loading) We begg your Honours will be pleaſed to prevent ſuch Diſputes in future by Cauſeing an Additional Clauſe to be Inſerted in their Charterparlys to Oblige the Comanders to Deliver all ſuch Goods to Us on ſhoar and We will upon their being Landed, take due Care to gett them up and Houſed Aⁱⁱordingly We have drawn One Sett of Bills of Exchange on your Honours payᵇˡᵉ to Mʳ Edward Byfeld (or Order) for the Sume of five hundred & twenty Pounds Sterˡ two hundred & Nineteen Pounds thirteen ſhillings & Six pence thereof being due to him in your Honᵗ Books of Accoᵗˢ and three hundᵈ Pound Six ſhillings and Six pence, being for Caſh Notes paid in to your Honᵗ Aⁱⁱᵈ of Caſh here whichᵗ Bill bears date the 26 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 and begg your Honours Aceptance thereof Aⁱⁱordingly The Governᵗⁿ in obedience to your Honᵗ Instructions hath been on board the four following Ships on the 22 Instᵗ and found the Heathcotes Ailabie Stneham & Frances Hulls Masts Yards ſtanding & Runing Rigging Good, Anchors & Cables good Hatches all Caulked downe their Guns all Clear Men in good health, the Heathcotes draᵈᵗ of Woᵗⁿ abaᵈᵗ 17 fost 7 Iⁿchesᵗ the Ailabie afore 16- 3 8ᵈᵉ 16- 8 abaᵈᵗ the Stneham 15- 6 aᵈoʳᵈ 16- 6 abaᵈᵗ the Frances 15- 8 aᵈoʳᵈ 16- 6 abaᵈᵗ 16- 3 aᵈoʳᵈ We have drawn two Setts of Bills of Exchange more on your Honours, one Sett payable to John Smith Eſqʳ (or Order) foʳ the Sume of three hundred & ſifty Pounds Sterˡ being ᵈᵗ ſo much due to him in your Honours Books of Accoᵗˢ here The other Sett to Capᵗ Ioſeph Ioleſon (or Order) for the Sume of Seventy ſeven Pounds Eight ſhillings & foure pence being for Caſh Notes paid into your Honours Aⁱⁱᵈ of Caſh here both dated the 23 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 We have not any further to Add worth troubling your Honᵗ Union Castle Sᵗ Helena the 23 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 but to wiſh Succeſs to your Honᵗ Affairs and are Honᵈ Sʳˢ Your Honᵗ Most humble faithfⁱⁿ & most obedᵗ Servantˢ | 13: The Council was greatly surprised to find that the captains who brought any goods from India on the Court's account insisted the Council send aboard for them, or else send a person to survey the goods before they landed them. Otherwise they threatened to carry the goods to England, which would be both a fresh charge and a disappointment to the island, and against their own bills of lading. The Council asked the Court to prevent such disputes in future by inserting an added clause in the charter parties. That clause would oblige the commanders to deliver all such goods to the island on shore, and the Council would then take due care to land them and house them. 14: The Council drew one set of bills of exchange on the Court, payable to Mr Edward Byfield or order, for £520 0s 0d sterling. Of this, £219 13s 6d was due to him in the Court's books, and £300 6s 6d was for cash notes paid into the Court's account at the island. The bill bore date 26 April 1725, and awaited the Court's acceptance. 15: The Governor went aboard the four following ships on the 22nd of this month, under the Court's instructions. He found the Heathcote, Aislaby, Stretham and Francis with their hulls, masts and yards, and their standing and running rigging good, their anchors and cables good, and their halliards all caulked twice over. Their guns were all clear and their men in good health. Draught of water the Heathcote, 7 feet aft, 17 feet forward the Aislaby, 16 feet aft, 3 feet 8 inches forward the Stretham, 8 feet aft, 15 feet forward the Francis, 6 feet aft, 16 feet forward 16: The Council drew two more sets of bills of exchange on the Court. One set, payable to John Smith Esquire or order, was for £350 0s 0d sterling, being so much due to him in the Court's books at the island. 17: The other set, to Captain Joseph Toleson or order, was for £77 8s 4d sterling, for cash notes paid into the Court's account at the island, dated 23 April 1725. 18: The Council had nothing further to add, and heartily wished success to the Court's affairs. It closed the letter at Union Castle, St Helena, on 23 April 1725. Interpretations The dispute over landing goods turned on the gap between a ship's bill of lading and the master's readiness to honour it. A bill of lading bound the commander to deliver the Court's goods ashore at the island, yet the captains pressed the Council to take them off or forgo them. The requested charter-party clause would fix the obligation in the contract, the same enforcement the Council had long sought over short deliveries and unlading terms across the letters of 1718 to 1724. The bills of exchange discharged salary and cash notes paid into the Court's account. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received at the island, redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London against the cashless island economy. The three sets turned money owed at St Helena into claims payable at India House, the standing method of remittance where no coin could be moved. Speculations The Council pressed for a new charter-party clause rather than deal with each obstinate captain as he came, ship by ship. The plainer course was to argue the point with each master and take what could be landed, as the island had done before. The Council instead sought a standing term binding every commander to deliver ashore, weight given to a fixed rule enforceable at London over the recurring struggle with a master whose threat to carry the goods home the island could not answer. |
18 | 19 | Liſt of the Packet ſent of Ship Heathcote Capᵗ Ioſ Ioleſon Comdeʳ Governᵗˡ & Councils Genˡ Lettʳ Dated 23 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 ſent apart Copy of Genˡ Lettʳ of Sunderland dated 21 ᵈebʳy 1724 ſent apart Dupliceat of Consultations from Decʳ 15ᵗ 1724 Ended to yᵉ 16 ᵈebʳy follows Copy of Consultations from ᵈ Iune to yᵉ 20 Aprⁱⁱ Ended 1725 Dupliceat of Mʳ Byfelds Aⁱⁱᵈ of the Honᵗ & Live ſtock & Expences for the Month of Decʳ 1724 Dupliceat of ditto his Aⁱⁱᵗ of ditto for Ianʳy Copy of ditto his Aⁱⁱᵈ of ᵈᵈ for ᵈebʳy Copy of ditto his Aⁱⁱᵈ of ᵈᵈ for March Dupliceat of ditto his Genˡ Aⁱⁱᵈ of ᵈᵈ for 9 Months Ended 31 Decʳ 1724 Liſt of Familys Land & Cattle for the year 1724 Liſt of Rents & Revⁱⁿ due from yᵉ Inhabitˢ for yᵉ year Liſt of the Honᵗ & Blacks with their Ages & Employmᵗˢ Liſt of the Packet of Ship Sunderland Copy of Rich Girlings Deed for his Land to ſhew his Title daᵗ his Land Copy of Ioſeph Bates Petihon Dupliceat of Ship Sunderlands Aⁱⁱᵈ Copy of Ship Heathcotes of Ship Ailabie of Ship Stneham & of Ship Frances Aⁱⁱᵈ at Sᵗ Helena Aprⁱⁱ yᵉ 23 1725 Liſt of the Packet Signed A Jnᵗ Alexander | List of the packet sent by the ship Heathcote, Captain Joseph Toleson commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 23 April 1725 2: Copy of the general letter by the Sunderland dated 21 February 1724, sent apart 3: Duplicate of consultations from 15 December 1724 ending to the 16 February following 4: Copy of consultations from the same date, June, ending to the 20 April 1725 5: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of the hold and live stock and expense for the month of December 1724 6: Duplicate of the same account for January 7: Copy of the same account for February 8: Copy of the same account for March 9: Duplicate of his general account for the 9 months ending 31 December 1724 10: List of families' land and cattle for the year 1724 11: List of rents and revenues due from the inhabitants for that year 12: List of the Court's slaves with their ages and employments 13: List of the packet of the ship Sunderland 14: Copy of Richard Girling's deed for his land, to show his title to his land 15: Copy of Joseph Bates's petition 16: Duplicate of the ship Sunderland's account 17: Copy of the ship Heathcote's account 18: Copy of the ship Aislaby's account 19: Copy of the ship Stretham's account 20: Copy of the ship Francis's account, at St Helena, April 23 1725 21: List of the packet Signed, John Alexander Interpretations The packet manifest bound this despatch to the two before it, carrying duplicates of the Sunderland letter and consultations against the originals sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival, the standing safeguard for a recoverable chain of custody at India House. The practice ran through the Council's correspondence of 1724 and 1725. Girling's deed and Bates's petition travelled home as numbered exhibits supporting the body of the letter. The deed gave the Court the documentary ground on which the Council had confirmed the planter's title against Sarah Southen's claim, entered in its consultation of 23 March 1724. Sending the original papers let the Court verify the Council's account of a contested case for itself. The yearly returns of families' land and cattle, of rents and revenues, and of the Court's slaves fixed the whole establishment for the Court's inspection. Each measured the land, stock and labour under the Company's charge, the returns answering the reform of the island books under Governor Smith. They ran alongside the storekeeper's monthly accounts and the debt abstract sent by the same conveyance. |
19 | 20 | Hon.ᵉᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡ Lettʳ of Ship Maulesfeild Capᵗ Robᵗ Hudson Comᵈ May 31ᵗ 1725 Our last to Your Honᵗ was by the Heathcote Capᵗ Ioſeph Ioleſon Comandᵈ bearing date the 23 of Aprⁱⁱ last who ſailed hence that day Weeing in Company with the Ailabie Stneham and Frances Since when We have had no Alarms or any ſhipⁱⁿ Except the Meulesfeild Capᵗ Robert Hudson from Chine & Maddraſs who Arⁱⁿed here on the 17 Instᵗ and informd Us that he mett with the Eyles Capᵗ Winter the Enſeild Capᵗ Rigby and the Marlborough Capᵗ Mickliſeild beyond the Cape Outward bound By this Ship We Tranſmit to Your Honᵗ your Books of Aⁱⁱᵈ for the Year 1723, Jnventory of remain =ing ſtores taken to the 24ᵗ of Decʳ last with Our Indent of ſuch Goods and ſtores as We realy want and is Most Neceſſary for the Uſe of this Iſland and ſupply of your Honᵗ Homeward bound ſhipⁱⁿ And as We have Computed the ſeveral ſorts & Quantitys therein Menhond to be but ſufficient for only one years Consumphon or a very little more in ſome few Artulis, ſo We beg your Honᵗ will be pleaſed to ſupply Us therewith by your Next Store ſhip aſſureing your Honᵗᵈ We ſhall have a due regard for your Honᵗ Advantage & Interest in the Diſpoſall of Them, Either in part or the whole As to Goods from Judia We dont want any thing for the Next year Except the Uſual Quantitys of Sugᵈ & Rice and beg your Honᵗ will be pleaſed to Order Our being ſupplyd with the full One of Cᵗ by every ſhip from Maddraſs Bengull & Bombay, theſe two Artules being Always Very uſefull here, and of which there is a great Consumphon Yearly, there being None of the Inhabitants but are Deſirous of haveing Always a ſmall Quantity by them in Caſe of Sickneſs, beſides their uſefull Expences in their familys | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship Macclesfield, Captain Robert Hudson commander, dated 31 May 1725. 1: The Council last addressed the Court by the Heathcote, Captain Joseph Toleson commander, in the letter dated 23 April last. That ship sailed the same day in company with the Aislaby, Stretham and Francis. No alarms or ships had come since, except the Macclesfield, Captain Robert Hudson commander, from China and Madras, who arrived on the 17th of this month. He reported meeting the Eagle, Captain Winter commander, the Enfield, Captain Rigby commander, and the Marlborough, Captain Micklefield commander, beyond the Cape, outward bound. 2: The Council forwarded to the Court, by this ship, the Court's books of accounts for the year 1723, the inventory of remaining stores taken to 24 December last, and its indent of such goods and stores as the island really wanted and most needed, both for its own use and for the supply of the Court's homeward-bound ships. It had reckoned the several sorts and quantities named there to be enough for only one year's consumption, or very little more in some few articles. The Council asked the Court to supply it by the next store ship, and assured the Court it would have due regard to the Court's advantage and interest in disposing of the goods, whether in part or the whole. For goods from India, it wanted nothing for the coming year except the usual quantities of sugar and rice. It asked the Court to order the island supplied with the full one per cent by every ship from Madras, Bengal and Bombay. Those two articles were always in great demand at the island, with a large yearly consumption, since none of the inhabitants but wished to keep a small quantity by them against sickness, besides their other needs in their families. Interpretations The one per cent named here was the share of a homeward ship's lading the Court allowed for the island's supply. Each ship from Madras, Bengal or Bombay was to bring up to that proportion in rice and sugar, drawn off for St Helena on the passage home. The Council's plea for the full share by every ship tied the routine of the homeward trade to the relief of the island through the drought years. The indent was the island's yearly order to the Court for the goods it could not raise or make itself. It named the sorts and quantities of Europe and India goods wanted for the coming year, sent home with the season's shipping so the Court could load the store ship. The reckoning of only one year's supply gave the Court a clear measure of the island's want, part of the tighter bookkeeping under Governor Smith. The Court's account books for 1723 and the inventory of remaining stores went home as the standing yearly returns. Each answered the accountant general's audit, which had condemned the backward and undated books of the previous regime, the reform pressed across the letters of 1722 and 1723. The regular despatch of the books and the stocktaking marked the island's accounts brought to the Court's required form. |
20 | 21 | We likewiſe Tranſmit herewith a Copy of Ours by the Heath =cote Duplicat & Copys of Ours & the Consultations with Dupli =ceates & and Copy of Mʳ Byfels Monthly Aⁱⁱᵗ of your Honᵗ Live ſtock and Expences of each Plantahon Duplicates of Liſt of ſfamilys Land & Cattle for the Year 1724, and of Rents & Revenues for the ſaid year Alſo of your Honᵗ Blacks with Ages & Employmᵗˢ An Aⁱⁱᵗ of Debts owing to your Honᵗ here on the 25ᵗ of Decʳ 1724, and of all other Papers and Aⁱⁱᵗ ſent in Our last Packet as will Appear in the Liſt by this Ship Maulesfeild We have recᵈ by the Maulesfeild from Maddᵗˢ 50 Cags of Rice and 15 Cags of Sugᵗ which is the last We Expect this Season the ſhips from Bombay ſeldom bringing Us any ſort of Grain, or if they do it is but a Very Small Quantity The Encloſing of the Horſe Point in the Great Wood Menhond to be near finiſhed in the 9ᵗ Parᵗ of Ours by the Heathcote was Compleated on the 15ᵗ Instᵗ And the Enſueing Week the Overſeer there was Ordred to begin at the Upper Part of this Encloſure in Order to fence all round the other Part of the Wood which We ſhall be as Expeditious and as frugal as Poſſible in getting fenced & well Secured from all ſorts of Cattle Treſpaſſing therein, tho it will take up ſome time before it can be wholly Compleated becauſe the ſtones that the Wall is Built with (which must be of the most Durablest Nature) are at a great Diſtance to bring to the Work and as Difficult to digg out of the Quarries Yet when We are ſupplyd with the Yoaks & Furniture for the Oxen to Draw with Indented for in Our former & the preſent Indent We hope to make a more Quicker & better Riddance of that uſefull and Neceſſary Peice of Work than is Poſſible for Us to do at preſent We haveing Stated and ſent your Honᵗ The Caſe of One Sarah Southen Relatingᵈ to yᵉ Claim ſhe ſaid to a ſmall peice of Land Ially ſett forth in Our 10 Parᵗ & the Latter of the 23 Aprⁱⁱ and Tranſmitted a Copy of a Petihon preſented by Ioſeph Bates Menhond in the 15 Parᵗᵈ of ſaid Letter, We begg Your Honᵗ will be pleaſed to Let us know yoʳ pleaſure | 3: The Council forwarded a copy of its letter by the Heathcote, with duplicates and copies of its consultations. It sent duplicates and copies of Mr Byfield's account of the live stock and expenses of each plantation, duplicates of the list of families' land and cattle for the year 1724, and of the rents and revenues for that year. It also sent a copy of the Court's slaves with their ages and employments, an account of the debts owing to the Court at the island on 25 December 1724, and all the other papers and accounts sent in the last packet, as would appear in the list by the Macclesfield. 4: The Council received 50 bags of rice and 15 bags of sugar from Madras by the Macclesfield, the last it expected this season. The ships from Bombay seldom brought any sort of grain, and when they did it was a very small quantity. 5: The enclosing of the Horse Point in the Great Wood, reported near finished in the letter by the Heathcote, was completed on the 15th of this month. The overseer there was ordered to begin the next week on the upper part of the enclosure, so as to fence all round the other part of the wood. The Council would be as quick and frugal as it could in getting it fenced and well secured from all sorts of cattle. It would take some time to finish wholly, since the stones for the wall, which had to be of the most durable kind, lay at a great distance from the work and were hard to dig out of the quarries. When the oxen for hauling could be properly supplied, for which the Council had entered a request in its indent, it hoped to make a quicker and better job of that necessary piece of work than it could at present. 6: The Council had set out and sent the Court the case of Sarah Southen over her claim to a small piece of land, sold some time before by Richard Girling, and forwarded a copy of a petition presented by Joseph Bates, both named in its letter of 23 April. It asked the Court to signify its pleasure on these matters. Interpretations The enclosing of the Horse Point marked a further stage in the fencing of the Great Wood ordered across more than 20 years. The strongest sections were enclosed first, the stones carried at heavy cost, the progress recorded in the letters by the Hannover of 3 July 1724 and the Swallow of 27 November 1724. The move to the upper part continued the slow work of an establishment short of hands and carriage. The oxen sought in the indent were needed to haul the wall stones the island had no better means to move. The stones for the Great Wood had until then been carried up the hill on the slaves' shoulders for want of any carriage, the burden noted in the letters of 1724. A proper team would turn a slow and costly task into a quicker one, tying the indent directly to the woodland enclosure. Sarah Southen and Joseph Bates were both known to the Council as troublesome inhabitants. Southen had been convicted of publishing a seditious libel against Governor Johnson and set in the pillory at the court of 23 January 1720, and Bates had pressed her land claim and earlier petitioned over ground in Sandy Bay. The renewed reference marked the same litigious pair carried before the Court a second time. |
21 | 22 | on both in the Next Generall Letter We hope to be Honoured with Jn Our 12ᵗ Parᵈ We took leave to Acquaint Your Honᵗ of the Jnconveni ency of the Store Ships Arrival here ſo late in the year and as We Judge it to be a Generall Satisfaction as well as for the Greater ſafety of your Honᵗˢ returning Shipping We beg your Honᵗ prudent Consideration thereon & the renewall of the ſaid Reⁱⁿta for your better Satisfaction & our Reaſons for ſo doing We haveing Nothing more at heart than to Study yoᵈ Honᵗˢ Interest all We can The Governᵗⁿ in obedience to Your Honᵗ Instructions went on board the Maulesfeild Capᵗ Robᵗ Hudson Comander on the 29 Instᵗ and found Her Hull Masts Yards Yandeng and Runing Rigging good Anchors and Cables good Hatches all Caulked down Guns Cleaʳ Men in good health Draᵈᵗ of Water abaᵈᵗ 17 feet two Inches, afore 16 fost 2 Iⁿches We have drawn One Sett of Bills of Exchange on your Honᵗ payᵇˡᵉ to Mʳ Francis Wrangham a planter here for the Sume of One Hundred Pound Sterling, being for Caſh Notes paid by him into yoᵈ Honᵗ Aⁱⁱᵈ of Caſh here Dated the 31 May 1725 and beg your Honᵗ Aceptance thereof Aⁱⁱordingly We haveing wrote Your Honᵗ by every Conveyance from hence and therein Menhond all Material Matters that did from time to time Ocur We have not further to Add worth troubling yoᵈ Honᵗ with at this time, but to ſincerely Aſſure Your Honᵗ You are wᵗʰ all dutyfull Reſpects Honᵈ Sʳˢ Union Castle Sᵗ Helena May the 31ᵗ 1725 Yoᵗ Honᵗ Most Humble faithfⁱⁿ and most Obedient Servants John Smith Edᵈ Byfeld Jnᵗ Alexander Jnᵗ Goodwin | The Council hoped to be favoured with an answer on both matters in the next general letter. 7: In the 12th part of its letter, the Council had noted the trouble caused by the store ship reaching the island so late in the year. It judged an early arrival a general benefit, and a means of getting the Court's returning ships safely away. It asked the Court to consider the point carefully and renew the request, having nothing more at heart than to serve the Court's interest as best it could. 8: The Governor went aboard the Macclesfield, Captain Robert Hudson commander, on the 29th of this month, under the Court's instructions. He found her hull, masts and yards, and her standing and running rigging good, her anchors and cables good, and her halliards all caulked twice over. Her guns were clear, her men in good health, and her draught of water 7 feet 2 inches aft and 16 feet 2 inches forward. 9: The Council drew one set of bills of exchange on the Court, payable to Mr Francis Wrangham, a planter at the island, for £100 0s 0d sterling. This was for cash notes paid by him into the Court's account at the island, dated 31 May 1725, and awaited the Court's acceptance. 10: The Council had written to the Court by every conveyance from the island, and set out in those letters all the material matters that arose from time to time. It had nothing further to add, and sincerely assured the Court of its service. It closed the letter at Union Castle, St Helena, on 31 May 1725, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. Interpretations The renewed plea over the store ship pressed the point made in the letter by the Heathcote of 23 April 1725. A single yearly ship, often arriving as late as May or June, left the island unable to refit the homeward fleet in time. The Council sought an early despatch reaching the island by March, tying the supply of naval stores to the safe departure of the Court's ships. Francis Wrangham was long known to the Council as the writer stabbed and dangerously wounded by the secretary Antipas Tovey. He recovered, and the Court of Judicature awarded him £25 0s 0d in damages on 18 May 1716. His appearance here as a settled planter drawing bills for cash paid in marks his standing at the island many years after the assault. The bill drawn to Wrangham turned coin paid in at the island into a claim payable in London. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for money received on the spot, redeemed by bills on the Court against the cashless island economy. The transaction shows the standing method by which private cash at St Helena reached the holder through the Court's account at India House. |
22 | 23 | Liſt of the Packet of Ship Maulesfeild Capᵗ Robᵗ Hudson Comandᵈ Governᵗˡ & Councils Genˡ Lettʳ dated 31ᵗ May 1725 Copy of Govᵗ Lettʳ ſent of the Heathcote dated 23 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 ſent apart Dupliceat of Consultacions from ᵈ to the 20 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 Copy of Consultacions from ᵈᵈ time to the 25ᵗ of May Ended 1725 Dupliceat of Mʳ Byfels Aⁱⁱᵈ of yᵉ Honᵗ Comᵈ Live ſtock &ᶜ for ᵈebʳy & March Dupliceat of ᵈᵈ his Aⁱⁱᵈ of ᵈᵈ for ᵈᵈ Dupliceat of ſfamilys Land & Cattle for the Year 1724 Dupliceat of Rents & Revⁱⁿ for ſaid year Dupliceat of Liſt of the Honᵗ & Blacks with Ages & Employmᵗˢ Dupliceat of Ship Heathcote Ditto Ailabie Ditto Stneham & Ditto Frances Aⁱⁱᵈ at Sᵗ Helena 23 Aprⁱⁱ 1725 One Sett of Books of Aⁱⁱᵈ for the Year 1723 Jnventory of Remaining ſtores taken to 24ᵗ Decʳ 1724 Indent of Goods & ſtores Wanting on Sᵗ Helena Aⁱⁱᵈ of Liſt of Debts oweing to yᵉ Honᵗ 24ᵗ Decʳ 1724 Copy of Mʳ Byfels Aⁱⁱᵈ of the Honᵗ & Live ſtock &ᶜ for Aprⁱⁱ 1725 Copy of Liſt of the Packet ſent of Heathcote Copy of Ship Maulesfeild Aⁱⁱᵈ May 31ᵗ 1725 Copy of Churgoons Indent of Medicins Wanting on Sᵗ Helena Liſt of the Packet Signed A Jnᵗ Alexander | List of the packet of the ship Macclesfield, Captain Robert Hudson commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 31 May 1725 2: Copy of the Governor's letter sent by the Heathcote dated 23 April 1725, sent apart 3: Duplicate of consultations to the 20 April 1725 4: Copy of consultations from the same date to the 25 May 1725 5: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of the hold and live stock and expense for February and March 6: Duplicate of the same account for the same period 7: Duplicate of families' land and cattle for the year 1724 8: Duplicate of rents and revenues for that year 9: Duplicate of the list of the Court's slaves with their ages and employments 10: Duplicate of the ship Heathcote's account 11: Duplicate of the ship Aislaby's account 12: Duplicate of the ship Stretham's account 13: Duplicate of the ship Francis's account, at St Helena, 23 April 1725 14: One set of books of accounts for the year 1723 15: Inventory of remaining stores taken to 24 December 1724 16: Indent of goods and stores wanting on St Helena 17: Account of the list of debts owing to the Court on 24 December 1724 18: Copy of Mr Byfield's account of the hold and live stock and expense for April 1725 19: Copy of the list of the packet sent by the Heathcote 20: Copy of the ship Macclesfield's account, 31 May 1725 21: Copy of the surgeon's indent of medicines wanting on St Helena 22: List of the packet Signed, John Alexander Interpretations The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying duplicates of the Heathcote letter, consultations and accounts against the originals sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. The practice guarded a recoverable chain of custody at India House, carried through the Council's correspondence of 1725. The account books for 1723, the stores inventory and the debt abstract went home as the standing yearly returns of the island. Each answered the accountant general's audit, which had condemned the backward and undated books of the previous regime. The regular despatch of the books marked the island's accounts brought to the Court's required form under Governor Smith. The surgeon's indent of medicines named the drugs wanted for the garrison and the Court's slaves. Medical supply was a standing want at the island, the plea for a skilful surgeon and a stock of medicines pressed across the letters of 1720 and 1721. Sending the indent home let the Court load the physic the island could not itself procure. |
23 | 24 | Hon.ᵉᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡ Lettʳ of Dⁱⁿ of Cambridge dated the 15ᵗ Iuly 1725 Since Our last We did Our ſelves the Honᵗ of Writeing to Your Honours in Anſwer to Yours by the James & Mary of the 2 Iuly 1724 by the Hanover We have not Omited any Oppoʳ =hunity to Acquaint your Honᵗ of whatever did then Ocur Either relateing to Your Returning Shipping Or Our Tranſactions here Particularly by the Swallow ſeild of the 27 Novʳ 1724 by ᵉ London of the 23 of Decʳ following by the Prince Augustus of the 4ᵗ Ianʳy 1724 Sunderland of the 21 ᵈebʳy by the Heathcote of the 23 Aprⁱⁱ and by the Maulesfeild of the 31ᵗ of May last All which We hope will come ſafe to hand and meet with Your Honᵗ Approval We come Next to Acquaint yoᵈ Honours That on the 3 of this Instant Iuly about ſeven a Clock in the Evening the Ship Grantham Capᵗ Timothy Field Comander after a Sedious Paſage Arrived here from England with a Cargoe of Goods & Provisions Conſignd to Us from your Honours for the ſervice of this Iſland and your Neat as Returning ſhipping which is very Aceptable & for which We returne your Honours Our Most hearty thanks The Packet Directed to Us from your Honᵗ being brought on ſhore, on the Evening aforeſaid We Opend the ſame in Consultahon and read your Honᵗ Genˡ Letter dated the 12ᵗ ᵈebʳy 1724 and found all Papers to Anſwer the Liſt therein We proceed to give your Honᵗ the best and Most Jmpartiall Account of your Affairs in Anſwer thereto, as well as of all other Matters that has Ocured Worthy your Honᵗ Notice or are required of Us thereby hopeing to Give your Honours Jntire Satisfaction Your Honours will perceive by Our aforeſaid ſeverall Letters and Liſts of Our Packett that We have had a due regard to Your former Orders, and haveing therein Wrote in as full & Conſiſe a maner as We poſſibly could We begg leave to flatter Our ſelves You will in ſome meaſure be pleaſed therewith as We find to Our Unexpreſſable Pleaſure in your first Parᵈ of the Genˡ Letter of Grantham your Honours was wᵗʰ Our Anſwer by the Hanover to that by the James & Mary | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship Duke of Cambridge, dated 15 Jul 1725. 1: The Council last addressed the Court by the James and Mary, in answer to the Court's letter of 3 Jul 1724 by the Hanover. It had since sent an account of all its dealings and of the Court's returning ships. These went by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724, the London of 23 December following, the Prince Augustus of 4 Jan 1724, the Sunderland of 21 February, the Heathcote of 23 April and the Macclesfield of 31 May last. The Council hoped all would reach the Court safely and meet with its approval. 2: The Grantham, Captain Timothy Wild commander, arrived on the 3rd of this month, about seven in the evening, after a tedious passage from England. She brought a cargo of goods and provisions consigned to the island for its own use and for the Court's returning ships. The supply was very welcome, and the Council returned the Court its hearty thanks. 3: The packet directed to the Council was brought ashore that evening, and the Council opened it in consultation. It read the Court's general letter dated 12 Feb 1724, and found all the papers named in its list. The Council would give the Court the fullest and fairest account of its affairs in answer, and of all other matters that arose worth the Court's notice. 4: The Court would see by the Council's several letters and packet lists that it had paid due regard to the Court's former orders, and had answered them as fully as it could. The Council took great pleasure in the first part of the general letter by the Grantham, and had already answered by the Hanover the letter brought by the James and Mary. Interpretations The Grantham's cargo brought the yearly supply from England for the island and the homeward fleet. The store ship carried the goods and provisions the island could not raise or make, and the naval stores wanted to refit the Court's returning ships. The tedious passage, delivering only in July, pointed up the late arrival the Council had lately pressed the Court to remedy in the letters by the Heathcote and the Macclesfield. Opening the Court's packet in consultation and reading the general letter into the record was the Council's standing method for answering the Court head by head. Each paper was checked against the enclosed list, and the reply followed paragraph by paragraph under the Court's own heads. The practice had marked the reforms under Governor Smith, the orderly answer set against the disorder of the previous regime. The answer by the Hanover to the letter brought by the James and Mary shows the Council overlapping its despatches so no exchange was lost. Each conveyance opened with the date of the last and carried duplicates of the running record. The method guarded a recoverable chain of correspondence, carried through the letters of 1722 to 1725. |
24 | 25 | alwaⁱⁿing your Honᵗ We ſhall Always Continue to Act the best we can for your Interest and to Complyⁱⁿ with all ſuch further Orders & Instructions as We may from time to time be Honoured with We continue to give your Honours what further Notices Informahons & Accounts uſually Ranged under the ſeverall following Heads in obedience to yᵉ Honᵗ Directions And first Concerning Shipping Returned and by Your Honours ſent or Sending Out We heartily Congratulate your Honours on the ſafe Arrival of your ſeveral Ships last year from Judia Since when the last Menhond by your Honᵗ to be the Hanover) there hath Arrived and Departed hence the following Ships (with an Account of ſuch as Paſſedby) and hope they will Arrive with your Honours in ſafety viz.ᵗ On the 14 Iuly 1724 Arrived the Brigantine Named the Roſemary Salley one L Pʳ Iſlⁱⁿ Comander from the Coast of Guinea Menhond more fully in the 3 Parᵗ of Ours by the Swallow ſeild & Duplicate by the London who We agreed away on the 16 following as Entered in Our Consultahon of that day date On the 9ᵗ of Novʳ Arrived the London ſciⁿ from Bencoolen and ſailed the 27, the Prince Fredrick on the first Decʳ the London on the 13ᵗ and ſaild in Company on the 23 following the Prince Augustus on the first Ianʳy 1724 and Departed the 4ᵗ On the following a freſh Ship Named the Aſſienta Capᵗ Iⁱⁿard Comᵈ Arrived here from Angola and Departed for Buenos Ayres with ſlaves on the 16 following Ended in Our Consultahon of the 19ᵗ of Neat Months On the 2 ᵈebʳy Arⁱⁿed yᵉ Sunderland Capᵗ and Departed the 21 the Ailabie, on the 7ᵗ Aprⁱⁱ the Frances & Stneham on the 12 the Heathcote on the 16ᵗ which your last Menhond ſhips ſaild in Company on the 23 Aprⁱⁱ On the 17ᵗ there Paſſed by the S:W part of the Iſland Seventeen Saile of Dutch Ships On the 15 May Arrived the Mackleſeild Departed the 31 On the 12 Iune five Saile of Ships Paſſed by the N:E part of the Iſland and ſuppoſe them to be all Dutch Ships Homeward bound, On the 3 Iuly the Grantham from England, the 7ᵗ Arrived the Duke of Cambridge Capᵗ Bookey from Bombay but last from the Cape where he burried ſeveral of his Men and more at Sea but ſays he doubts not of Carrying his ſhip ſafe home with thoſe Men he now has that are cold & healthy, he wrote us they ſailed from Bombay the Latter end of Novʳ last and from Tullicherry the 13ᵗ Ianʳy that the Duke of Yorck was Arrived at Bombay before he Left Tullicherry and may be Expected here very ſpeedily when he ſaild thence they Left the Moriee & the Cadogan the Greenwich and Monmouth was gone to Mocha and the Compton not then Arrived from Perſia On the aforeſaid 7ᵗ Instᵗ We made an Alarm at the Ⅎ Caſtle for a ſmall Ship Arriveing in for Our Road oᵈᵈ of the S:W part of the Iſland but Ⅎ Ⅎ ſhe Ⅎ Ⅎ ſoreⁱⁿˢ night iⁱⁿ deed yet like Her Stahons and the Ⅎᵈ becauſe when Ⅎ Ⅎ Honours Ships were then hoy, and therefore the Governᵗⁿ Ordred a Boat to be ſent that ſhe was which going Returnd brought the boatſwain of the Ship on ſhore whom the Governᵗⁿ Examined ſpeedically or Ⅎth a Copy of what Iobſon comᵈ was Encloſed by which it Appears that by an Indexed forgeⁱⁿ the ſurveÿ he Miſſed the Ⅎᵗ he ſ was bound to which was Barbadoes on the Coast of Guinea and brought a merhage and get Refreſhmⁱⁿ, But your Honours Order on this Head being freſh in Our memory We looiſed him to bring to Sander Bankſea, and the Comand of Mundens Point ſtart day Evening he haveing Drone off in the night forced Either the Captain came on ſhoar he produced his Cockett Bill of Loading Junⁱⁿd and medⁱⁿoceⁱⁿian Caſh to reⁱⁿit it Appearing he was ſent a Bread upon an Honest Account Mʳ Gerniſh of London being ⁱⁿ owner We gave him leave to Tarry in Order to ſcry ſ his Sea Nymph till a Saturday Noon and then finſt two Short at Mundens to force him away and did Immediately ſail without being ſupplyd So much as with a Drop of Water, or a Morſell of Provisions tho he Peiſed hard for ſome thing freſh We | The Council would always act for the Court's interest as best it could, and would comply with all its further orders and instructions. 5: The Council continued its account of the notices, information and accounts usually ranged under their several heads, under the Court's orders. The first head concerned shipping returned home and sent out. 6: The Council congratulated the Court on the safe arrival of its several ships from India last year. Since the last of them, the Hanover, the following ships had come and gone, with an account of what each brought. The Council hoped they would reach the Court safely. 7: The brigantine Rosemary, Captain [...] Lisley commander, arrived on 14 Jul 1724 from the coast of Guinea. She was reported more fully in the letter by the Swallow, and a duplicate went by the London, both entered in the Council's consultation of that date. The Rochester arrived from Bencoolen on the 9th of November and sailed on the 27th. The Prince Frederick came in on the first of December. The London arrived on the 13th and sailed in company on the 23rd following. The Prince Augustus came in on the first of Jan 1724. The Sunderland arrived on the 21st of February and sailed on the 7th of April. A Spanish ship, Captain Richard [...] commander, arrived from Angola and departed for Buenos Aires with slaves, entered in the Council's consultation of 10 February. The Aislaby, Captain [...] commander, arrived on the 7th of April. The Stretham and Francis came in on the 12th. The Heathcote arrived on the 16th, and the last-named ships sailed in company on the 23rd of April. On the 17th, 17 sail of Dutch ships passed by the south-west part of the island. The Macclesfield arrived on the 17th of May and departed on the 31st. On the 12th of June, five sail of ships passed by the north-east part of the island, supposed to be Dutch, homeward bound. The Grantham arrived from England on the 3rd of July. The Duke of Cambridge, Captain Bootle commander, arrived from Bombay but last from the Cape, where he buried several of his men, and more at sea. He did not doubt he would carry his ship safely home with those he had left. She left Bombay the latter end of November last, and came from Surat on the 13th of January. The Duke of York had arrived at Bombay before he left Surat, and might be expected there very shortly when he sailed. They left the Morice and the Cadogan. The Greenwich and Monmouth had gone to Mocha, and the Sampson had then arrived from Persia. On the 4th part of the letter, the Council reported an alarm at the castle for a small ship standing in for the island road on the 4th of July. She would not, however, give any answer that night, and no station could be seen. The next morning the Governor found she was one of the Court's ships, and therefore sent off a boat to speak with her, which returned with the boatswain of the ship, whom the Governor examined. He gave a copy on oath of a Bengal letter enclosed, by which it appeared he was one of the indented servants the Court had missed. He was one of the boatswains bound to the west coast of Guinea, and had been brought away against his will by his captain, one Fleurcus, who had refused to let him come in to clean his ship and get refreshments. Under the Court's order on this head, still fresh in the Council's memory, it ordered him to bring the ship to anchor. The command of Munden's Point stood ready, but she came on shore the next evening, having borne off in the night. Her guns were loaded, and she was in such condition it was hard to reach her. It appeared she was sent aboard on a Spanish account. Mr Gemish of London was named, being now master. The Council gave him leave to tarry in the road to scrub the Sea Nymph till a Saturday noon, and then, finding two shots at Munden's ready to force him away, immediately sailed without being supplied with so much as a drop of water, or a morsel of provisions, though he pretended a great want of something fresh. Interpretations The catalogue of arrivals and departures answered the Court's standing head on shipping returned and sent out. Each ship was entered by her date of coming and going, giving the Court a record of every vessel that touched the island through the year. The overlapping of the account with the running consultations bound the whole into a recoverable chain, carried through the correspondence of 1724 and 1725. The passing Dutch fleets, tracked by the quarter of the island they crossed, belonged to the watch the island kept against foreign shipping homeward bound from the Cape. Dutch and Ostend ships were logged ship by ship as they came in sight, the alarms recorded across the letters of 1723 and 1724. The passages without any attempt to call showed the foreign traders bearing directly away. The refusal of relief to the Sea Nymph followed the Court's standing order against succouring ships in foreign or irregular service. The Governor drove her from the road by gunfire from Munden's Point, the same course taken against the Joseph under Captain Hale on 29 Feb 1720, when the Council refused her even wood and water. The foreign account gave no title to the island's stores, least of all while a Court ship lay in the road. Speculations The Governor let the Sea Nymph stay in the road to scrub her hull, then forced her out by gunfire once the boatswain's account exposed her, rather than order her away at first sight. The plain course, given the Court's fresh order against such ships, was to refuse her the road from the start. The Governor instead held her while he examined the sworn boatswain, weight given to fixing the ship's true business and the captain Fleurcus's earlier desertion over the quicker refusal, then drove her off supplied with nothing once the case was clear. |
25 | 26 | We return your Honours thanks for the Notices given Us in your 3, 4, 5, & 6 Parᵈˢ of your Honours Ships ſent out to all Parts of India this Season, and heartily wiſh they may all Return in ſafety The Ships Grantham Charterparty Menhoned in your Honᵗ 7ᵗ Parᵈ We ſhall be ſure to ſend with Her to the Deputy Governᵗⁿ and Council on the West Coast as therein Directed We are Exheam Proud to find Our Anſwer by the Hanover Under this Head Mett with your Honours Approbation & Approval, which We Sincerely Promiſe ſhall be Always as fully Complyd with as as Punctualty offered as Poſſible We being highly Senſible of your Honours favours and the due Regard We ought Already to have for your Interest Particularly in haſtening away your Store Ships, with which your Honours are pleaſed to ſay deſerves your Notice and Approbation in your 8ᵗ Parᵈ and Earneſtly Recommᵈed the the diligence in your 10 for haſtening away the Grantham We have with pleaſure Perſued Your Honᵗ Orders and Uppon Monday aᵈᵗ her Arrival Early in the morning Deliver the Capᵗ an Order to ſend on ſhore all the Goods and Merchandize Conſignd to Us as ſoon as Poſſible & with the Utmost Expedition and have Aſſiſted him with Oul Long Boats and what coeʳ Elſe he deſired, and have Ordred an Account to be kept by a ſteĝge Perſon of the Wind and weather more fully Menhond in Our Consultahon of the 3 Instant and thereto begg leave to refer your Honᵗ for your Peruſal and better Satisfaction and by the Quantity of Goods Already brought on ſhore, and the Sea Continueing ſmooth We think by the Diſpatch Already made all the Cargoe will be Unloaded by or within the ten working days that the Goals of which We have a good Quantity by Us will take up ſomething in Landing them and begg your Honᵗ wont find Us any more this two years Your Honours 11ᵗ Parᵈ relateing to Salutes, and Our frugality in the Expence of Powder upon feſtivals or at ſuneals and on all other Neceſſary Ocaſions We ſhall be ſure to Remember, and obſerve as a ſtanding Rule for Us in future Whenever we have the Honoure to receive any Orders from thoſe Worthy Gentlemen Appointed by your Honᵗ to be a Secret Comittee We ſhall have a due regard thereto, and obſerve them as if ſigned by the whole Court in obedience to your Honours 12ᵗ Parragraph We Aſſure your Honours We ſhall Continue to Adviſe You from time to time of all ſuch News as we can Learn of Shipping in Judia and of their Arrival & Deprⁱⁿres of ſuch of them or any others Cominⁱⁿ here or Paſſing by We obſerve what your Honᵗ Direct in your 14ᵗ Parᵈ Concerning Your Home ward bound ſhips to touch at the Cape without the Utmost Real Neceſſity, which We hope will very much Contribute to the better flouriſhing of this Iſland by Encourageing the Planters to Raiſe ſufficient Quantity of Live ſtock and other Proviſions to diſpoſe of to them at their Returne here and as your Honours in your great Prudence Intends to Continue the ſame Order as a ſtanding Rule to be by the Comanders obſerved till otherwiſe thought fitt to be Contradicted, We ſhall be ſure to Let them know it when ever and as ſhall as we have an Opportunity The Governour Aſſures your Honᵗ he will Continue to ſend his Report of the Surveying yotts of each Returning ſhips in the maner your Honᵗ Directs Approves of or in any other You may think proper to Command him to Obſerve The Complaint against Capᵗ Planter last voyage was ſo just, and his behaviᵗ our ſo Unprecedented and raſh that we thought Our ſelves in duty bound to Repreſent it, not at all Doubting but your Honours in your Prudence will do us Juſtice as well on that as Ⅎny other Ocaſion and if ever any Captain ſhould | The Council returned the Court its thanks for the notices given in the 4th, 5th and 6th parts of the letter about the Court's ships sent to all parts of India this season, and heartily wished they might all reach home safely. 9: The Grantham, named in the charter party in the Court's 7th part, would be sent with her cargo to the Deputy Governor and Council on the west coast, as directed. 10: The Council was very glad to find its answers under this head met with the Court's approval, and promised it would always comply as fully and punctually as it could. 11: The Council was keenly aware of the Court's favour and its due regard, which it ought already to have earned by hastening the store ships away. The Court had been pleased to say that this deserved its notice and approval in the 4th part of the letter. In earnest of that diligence, it had got the Grantham away, and delivered the captain an order the morning after her arrival to send ashore all the goods and merchandise consigned to the island, as soon as he could and with all speed. The Council had given him one long book and whatever else he desired, and had ordered an account kept of every parcel, of the wind, and of receipts, more fully set out in its consultation of the 3rd of this month. The Council referred the Court to that record. Given the quantity of goods already brought ashore, and the sea keeping smooth, it thought the cargo would be unloaded within 10 days by drawing or drowning them. The coals, of which there was a good quantity, would take some time to land, and the Council did not expect to find any more for two years. 12: The Court's 11th part concerned salutes, and the Council's frugality in the expense of powder upon festivals or at funerals and on all other necessary occasions. The Council would be sure to remember it, and would observe it as a standing rule. 13: Whenever the Council received any orders from the worthy gentlemen appointed by the Court to be a Secret Committee, it would have due regard to them, and would observe them as signed by the whole Court, under the Court's 12th part. 14: The Council would continue to advise the Court from time to time of all the news it could learn of shipping in India, and of the arrivals and departures of the Court's ships or any others coming home or sailing by. 15: The Council noted the Court's direction in the 14th part forbidding the homeward-bound ships to touch at the Cape without the utmost real necessity. This would very much help the flourishing of the island, by encouraging the planters to raise a sufficient quantity of live stock and other provisions to be disposed of to the ships at their return. The Council was glad the Court meant to continue the order as a standing rule to be observed by the commanders, unless real necessity forced otherwise. It would be sure to let them know it whenever it had the opportunity. 16: The Governor assured the Court he would continue to send his report of the several returning ships in the manner the Court directed, or in any other it thought proper to order. 17: The complaints against Captain Hunter's last voyage were so just, and his behaviour so unprecedented and rash, that the Council thought itself bound to report it. It did not doubt the Court would in its prudence do justice on that as on any other occasion, and if ever any captain should [...] Interpretations Forwarding the Grantham to the Deputy Governor and Council on the west coast passed the store ship on to Bencoolen with the cargo meant for that settlement. St Helena served as a relay for goods, seed and provisions bound for the eastern stations, the practice recorded across the letters of 1716 and 1717. The onward despatch answered the Court's charter-party direction naming the ship's next destination. The order to unload the Grantham the morning after her arrival, with an account kept of every parcel and of the weather, followed the standing rule against demurrage and short delivery. The Council recorded the boats and the wind so blame for any delay might be fixed on the master, the same care taken over the James and Mary in the letters of 1724. The exact account guarded the Court against a disputed delivery. The order against the homeward fleet touching at the Cape answered the island's long grievance over the diversion of shipping. The ships had for years watered and provisioned at the Cape rather than the island road, to the loss of the planters' market, the case pressed across the letters of 1719 to 1724. The Court's direction promised the market the Council had sought, encouraging the planters to raise stock for the returning ships. Captain Hunter of the Barrington was already known to the Council for sailing against his charter party and treating the Governor with disrespect. His conduct had been sent home for the Court's judgement in the letters by the Barrington and the Stanhope of early 1724. The renewed complaint marked the same defiant master carried before the Court a second time. |
26 | 27 | of ſuch Miſbehaviour & Groſs Inſults to the Governᵗⁿ tho We think there's none beſides himſelf would attempt ſuch an Affront tho ſhall be ſure to ſtate the matter of fact fully in a Protest, and behave your Honours thereof as youʳ due pleaſe to Direct We are Exheam glad to hear that Peice carryd to England for that ſhip ſold ſo well for Your Honours Advantage Secondly Concerning Goods or Stores Sent from England or received from India It is Exheam pleaſing to Us to find Your Honours Approval of the Retailing Price ſett upon the James & Marys Cargo and do beg leave to Aſſure youʳ Honᵗˢ We ſhall be Equally vigilant in the Goods Stores and Provisions now brought Us by the Grantham which to all Outward Appearance (haveing not time yet ſufficient to overhall and Examine their ſulded) ſeems to be very good and each put up the ſame Aſſurance We give your Honᵗˢ of the Care in their Stowage & Houſeing here as well as to have a due & more Particular Regard to the ſale and Diſpoſal of all or any Part of the ſ Cargoe We readily Aⁱⁱnowledge there may be a ſeeming reaſon to give your Honᵗ just Cauſe to blame Uſt of your former Councel Eſpecially before Governᵗⁿ Iobſons Death for not giveing your Honᵗ timely Notice for Supplyes of Provisions upon the time of the then Approaching bad ſeaſons but to Clear Our ſelves of the like fault We who were then of the Council Crave leave to Aⁱⁱ =quaint your Honᵗ that We did by Our ſeveral Letters to your Honᵗ Particularly by ᵗ Grantham in the 6ᵗ Parᵈ make Menhon of the dry time We began to feel, and the diſappointmᵗ We mett with, being for that reaſon the greater by our Count of the Rice ſhipᵗ on board the Mackleſᵗ & Drake for this place, and farther Intimated to your Honᵗ in Ours by the Lyeltᵗ in the ſ Neaᵗᵈ But if it ſhould pleaſe God to Aſſiſt Us with New Ⅎ your hereafter We ſhall be ſure to give your Honᵗ the Earlyest Notice we can, and therein to begg ſuch a ſupply of Provisions with the ſorts & quantitys as we may Judge Sufficient for One years Consumphon We do Sincerely Aſſure your Honᵗ thoſe Stores & ſupplys We bought out of the Returning ſhipping Menhond in your Honᵗ 19ᵗ Parᵈ were no more than what We judged really Ⅎ Neceſſary for the uſe of the Inhabitants & their ſlaves and which upon Examination did not Exceed two hundred Pounds Vallue theʳ the Bills Drawn on your Honᵗ We ocare do ſpeed ſo a large ſume great part thereof being for Caſh and Caſh Notes whichᵗ We Could by no means avoid or refuſe and for Sallarys due there, Yet as your Honᵗ are pleaſed to Order Us to Let you know what neat of the ſaid Goods hath been ſoldᵗ and when the rest is to the Planters the Inventory & Remaining ſtores to Decʳ 24ᵗ 1724 will ſhew what is left of all ſ but out will Tranſmit a more Particular Account thereof by the next proper Conveyance that your Honᵗ may be better Satisfyed As to what your Honᵗ Menhons in your 20 Parᵈ, relateing to Judia Peice Goods We ſhall have a due regard but cannot Omit, nor do We think We ought Acquainting your Honᵗ that thoſe We received from the Cape are ſo much Damaged by the ſalt Water, that We fear will be ſome time before We can Diſpoſe of them the People very rarely Deſireing any becauſe of their being Damaged, and if We would force them by puting them off with other ſorts of Goods they would be daily Clamoureing & Complaining of Oppreſſion, Howeoce We will diſpoſe of them as well and as ſoon as we can and ſhall be ſure to buy no Goods of the like kind for the future till they are all or very near ſold out nor have We bought any Goods Lately Except two hundred Peices of Maddras Sal =hams twenty Peices of Dufulds & two hundred Peices of blue Sallampoes, with a few other Neceſſarys very much wanted for the uſe of the Inhabitants Your Honᵗ 21ᵗ Parᵈ being grounded on Account of the ſeveral ſorts of India Goods before Menhoned We do hereby further Promiſe and Aſſure your Honᵗ We will not buy any of the like ſorts out of the returning ſhips Untill our preſent ſtock is | Should any captain attempt such misbehaviour and gross conduct against the Governor, the Council would state the matter of fact fully and enter a protest. It thought there were none besides Captain Hunter who would offer such an affront. The Council was very glad to hear the tea carried to England sold so well for the Court's advantage. The second head concerned goods or stores sent from England or received from India. 18: The Council was very glad to find the Court approved the retailing price set on the cargo of the James and Mary, and would be equally careful over the goods and stores. The provisions brought by the Grantham seemed to all outward appearance very good, though there had not yet been time to overhaul and examine them, and each was put up with the same assurance. The Council would take every care in their stowage and housing, and would have due regard to the Court's advantage in their sale and disposal, as in all the rest of the ship's cargo. 19: The Council acknowledged there might be some reason to blame several of the former councils, and especially former Governor Johnson, for not giving the Court timely notice of the want of provisions before the last bad seasons came on. To clear the present council of the like fault, it referred the Court to the several letters it had sent, and particularly the 6th part of its letter of this June, where it reported the beginning of the want and the disappointment it met with. For that reason it noted the little rice brought by the Middlesex and the Drake for the island, and set out its need to the Court in its letter by the Lyell. If the Court thought fit to supply the island with rice hereafter, the Council would give it the earliest notice it could, and ask for a supply of provisions in such quantities as it judged enough for one year's consumption. 20: The Council reported, under the Court's 15th part, on the stores and supplies it bought out of the returning ships. Those in the Court's 13th part were no more than it judged really necessary for the inhabitants and their slaves, and on examination did not exceed £200 0s 0d in value. The bills drawn on the Court came to a large sum, since a great part of the goods were paid for in cash notes, which the Council could by no means avoid or refuse. For Sultany's debt of £33 0s 0d, and as the Court ordered, the Council set out what part of the goods had been sold and taken. The rest went to the planters, the inventory and remaining stores drawn to 24 December 1724. It would send a fuller account of what was left of all the goods by the next proper conveyance, so the Court might be better satisfied. 21: The Council noted what the Court said in its 20th part about India piece goods. It would have due regard to it, but could not help pointing out to the Court that the goods received from the Cape had suffered much damage by salt water. The Council feared it would be some time before it could dispose of them, its people being very unwilling to buy any for fear they were damaged, though the Council would force them by putting them off with other sorts of goods, since they were daily clamouring and complaining of oppression. It would sell them as well and as fast as it could, and would be sure to buy no goods of the like kind in future until the present stock was all sold. The Council had lately bought no goods, except 200 pieces of Madras Sallampores, 20 pieces of Duffields, and 200 pieces of blue Sallampores, with other necessaries very much wanted for the inhabitants. 22: The Council's care over the several sorts of India goods rested on that account. It further promised the Court it would not buy any of the like sorts out of the returning ships until the present stock was [...] Interpretations Sallampores and Duffields were coarse Indian cotton cloths bought for the inhabitants' ordinary use. Sallampores came from the Coromandel coast, plain or dyed blue, and served for common wear and slave clothing. Duffields were a coarse woollen cloth. The Council bought only what the inhabitants needed, its people wary of the salt-damaged Cape goods it was trying to clear. The salt-damaged Cape goods sat against the Court's standing complaint over the island's stock of piece goods. Cloth reached the island wetted and spoiled by the passage, hard to sell to unwilling buyers, the same trouble met over damaged consignments across the letters of 1716 to 1718. The Council's pledge to buy no more of the kind until the stock cleared answered the Court's direction on India goods. Cash notes drove up the bills drawn on the Court, since much of the goods was paid for in that paper. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received at the island, redeemed by bills on the Court against the cashless island economy. The Council could not refuse them, so the remittances swelled beyond the small value of the goods themselves. The plea over provisions answered the Court's charge that earlier councils gave no timely warning of the drought. Governor Johnson's administration had been faulted for not reporting the want before the bad seasons came on, the famine set out across the letters of 1723 and 1724. The present Council cleared itself by pointing to its own early notices in the letters by the Lyell and of June. Speculations The Council chose to force the salt-damaged Cape cloth on unwilling buyers by pairing it with other goods, rather than hold it back until the market improved. The plainer course was to keep the spoiled stock off sale and avoid the inhabitants' complaints of oppression. The Council instead pushed it out at once, weight given to clearing the damaged goods and stopping fresh purchases of the kind over the discontent the forced sales stirred among its people. |
27 | 28 | is near Exhauſted and even then without a real Neceſſity, but to begg of your Honᵗˢ to Order Us a ſupply from Judia We Aſſure your Honᵗ had We not had a due regard to former Instances of this Nahure tho we made Menhon only of Refuſeing the Goods offerd Us by Capᵗ Hudson in the Prince Ann and Chooſeing rather to take Bills Paydble to your Honᵗ We might have had Goods of ſeverall others but thoſe much rather to take their Bills which has been Tranſ =mited Capᵗ Bond in the Hanover brought ſeverall Peices for Samples on ſhore but We did not buy any of him Thirdly Touching Your Honours Servants Civill & Military The Accounts of Sᵗ Helena in General & alſo Concerning Your Slaves Cattle Lands & Revenues The uſual Liſts of Sallarys, the pay of the Officers & ſoldiers and the Wages of others in your Honᵗ ſervice here We have Tranſmited with all other Liſts by the Heathcote and Macclesfeild but are very ſorry to hear thoſe ſent last Year by the Hanover did not agree which was the fault of the Copyer who did over to Us they were right, but ſince We find ſuch Errors We ſhall for the future Examine all ſuch Liſts or Aⁱⁱˢ Our ſelves in Consultation at least Cauſe them to be Examind by thoſe who we can better Depend on which we hope will Obviate all future Complaints of this Nahure We ſhall be ſure to Obſerve and Remember Your Honᵗ Orders to Us in your 24ᵗ Parᵈ and never Allow of any more Tranſfers Except where money or Sallarys are due and thereby to pay ſuch debts as have been long owing to Your Honours which by the Liſts Tranſmited by the Maulesfeild will Appear to be very much Leſſend, and We promiſe Our ſelves your Honᵗ will believe We ſhall take all Imaginable Care to gett all your debts in that are now ſtanding out as ſoon as Poſſible The obſervahon made by your Honᵗ of the Accounts We have with the People of the Iſland taken nohie of in your 25ᵗ Parᵈ hath been the Method for ſome years and which the people likes very well and Altho We do not Settle the workinmens or others Accounts Monthly Yet We take that Care none of them do wrong Us or We them, for We always have a due regard to the Examinahon thereof in Consultation, however if your Honᵗ dont Approve of Adjuſting with them Every three months We ſhall be very ready to Obey further Directions herein Your Honours hath Just cauſe to ſay the two Liſts of debts did not agree as Mentioned in your 26 Parᵈ for as you are pleaſed to put a favourable Construction on the reaſon in fact for We gott in ſome money that was oweing in the first Liſt and the Copyer Omitted makeing any Memorandum in the ſecond Particularly in the Account of William Beale who paid in part of his debt and in obedience to your Honᵗ former Orders, and now repeated, We ſhall Peruſe them wᵗʰ Pleaſure & Endeavour by all Poſſible means to gett in all your Honᵗ debts ſtanding out as afore =ſaid as well and as ſoon as We can perſuant to Our former Promiſe and the duty Incumbent on Us We ſhall further obſerve to draw out the Liſts of your Honᵗ ſlaves and how & where Employd for the future as you are pleaſed to Direct in your 27ᵗ Parᵈ preſume =ing to ſay thoſe Miſtakes therein Menhond was Occaſiond through Hurry of Buſineſs but ſhall take Effectual Care thoſe hereafter ſent be first duly Examind and fair wrote to prevent as little trouble to your Honᵗ therein as Poſſible for there's nothing more Aceptable to Us than Commendation when We find Our ſelves So happy as to meet with ſo great a favour | The stock was near exhausted, and even then the Council would not buy without real necessity, but asked the Court to order a supply from India. 23: The Council assured the Court it had paid due regard to former cases of this kind. Though it mentioned only the refusing of the goods offered by Captain Hudson in the Princess Ann, and its choosing rather to take bills payable to the Court, it might have had goods of several others. It much preferred to take their bills, which Captain Bond had brought home in the Hanover. He had landed several pieces ashore as samples, but the Council bought none of him. The third head concerned the Court's servants, civil and military, the accounts of St Helena in general, and the Court's slaves, cattle, lands and revenues. 24: The Council forwarded the usual lists of salaries, the pay of the officers and soldiers, and the wages of others in the Court's service, with all its other lists, by the Heathcote and the Macclesfield. It was very sorry to hear those sent last year by the Hanover did not agree, which was the fault of the copier, who assured the Council they were right. Since it found such errors, it would in future examine all such lists and accounts itself in consultation, or at least have them checked by those it could better depend on. It hoped this would prevent all future complaints of the kind. 25: The Council would observe the Court's orders in its 24th part, and never allow any more transfers except where money or salaries were due, and thereby pay such debts as had long been owing to the Court. By the lists sent by the Macclesfield, these would appear very much reduced. The Council promised the Court it would take every possible care to recover all the Court's debts now standing out as soon as it could. 26: The Court's observation in its 12th part about the accounts kept with the people of the island had been the method for some years, and one the people liked very well. Though the Council did not settle the workmen's or others' accounts monthly, it took care that none of them wronged the Court, nor the Court them, and always examined the accounts in consultation. If the Court did not approve of adjusting with them every three months, the Council would readily obey further directions. 27: The Court had just cause to say the two lists of debts did not agree, as noted in its 26th part. It had been pleased to put a favourable construction on the reason. The Council had recovered some money owing in the first list, and the copier omitted to make any note of it in the second, particularly in the account of William Beale, who paid part of his debt. Under the Court's former orders, now repeated, the Council would follow its pleasure, and would recover all the Court's debts standing out as well and as soon as it could, under its former promise and its duty. 28: The Council would further draw out the lists of the Court's slaves, and where each was employed, as the Court directed in its 27th part. It supposed the errors mentioned there arose through hurry of business, but it would take effectual care that those sent in future were first examined and fairly copied, to give the Court as little trouble as possible. Nothing was more welcome to the Council than commendation, when it found itself so happy as to meet with so great a favour. Interpretations The refusal of Captain Hudson's goods, and the preference for bills payable to the Court, kept the island's remittances in paper rather than commodities. A bill drawn on the Court settled a debt at London without adding to the island's stock of unsold goods. The Council's choice tied its dealings with calling masters to the tight management of the Court's account under Governor Smith. The errors in the lists of salaries and debts answered the Court's charge over the backward and inaccurate island books. The copier had passed faulty accounts as correct, the same looseness the accountant general had condemned in his audit of the years 1717 to 1719. The Council's pledge to examine all lists in consultation marked the reform of the books carried on under Governor Smith. William Beale was already known to the Council as the under-skilled assistant left as the only medical man after Dr Scrimshire took passage home about June 1721. His appearance here as a debtor paying down part of his account marks the same man in his ordinary standing at the island. The omitted note of his payment explained the gap between the two debt lists. Speculations The Council chose to check every list and account in consultation, or by trusted hands, rather than leave the copier to certify his own work as before. The plainer course was to accept the clerk's assurance that the figures were right, as had been done with the lists sent by the Hanover. The Council instead took on the labour of a collective examination, weight given to satisfying the Court's audit over the ease of trusting a single copier whose errors had already drawn complaint. |
28 | 29 | The Anſwer We returnd your Honᵗ in Our 39ᵗ Parᵈ by the Hanover relateing to thee Annual Charge of Cloathing your Blacks and for their Bedding We Aſſure your Honours was the best Account We wroteor can be Capable of giveing for as there is now a diſtinct and ſeperate Account kept for your Honᵗ Blacks as will Appear in the Cᵗ folio of the Ledger ſent by the Maulesfeild We beg leave to refer your Honours to the trouble of the Peruſal thereof not Doubting but that Annual Account will give your Honours Jntire Satisfaction and as to the makeing and mending their Cloaths We always have & ſhall Continue the ſaine Care as uſual Aſſureing your Honours Your Blacks are Cloathed with as little Charge and as well (or better) as any of the Planters Can be and at the most Properest times and Seaſons of the year with which and what is further Mentioned in the aforeſaid 39ᵗ Parᵈ We wrote for Anſwer to your Honᵗˢ 39 & 44ᵗ Parᵈ as by the Iames & Mary and further Explained in Our 47ᵗ Parᵈ why we thought it not for your Honᵗ Advantage to Leſſen the Number of yoᵈ Blacks and thereto Crave further leave to refer your Honᵗ but how it comes to paſs that the Planters do their Buſineſs with ſo few hands as your Honours hath been informd We preſume may be a miſrepreſentahon of that Caſe and may in ſome Tollerable meaſure be Obviated by the few Number of perſons who were found upon the Survey of their Plantations to have any Quantity of Yams and the great Number of them that were Obligd to buy Altho they have but few to feed and have their Plantations all under their owne Eyes, whereas your Honours lye far diſtant one from the other, have abundance of Wall ſfences to make and keep in Repair Paſtures to ſeperate Your Live ſtock to look after beſides a bundance of variety of other Buſineſs and fire Wood to fetch about ſeven & Eight miles twice a week Conſtantly to Boyle their Provisions Yet your Honours Plantations are in a flouriſhing and thriveing Condition What your Honᵗ ſay in your 29ᵗ Parᵈ touching the Careleſſneſs of your Overſeers were to Our great Concerne too Evident and which We did Remedy on Mʳ Byfelds Complaint as ſoon as We Poſſibly could and hope that Evill is now put to an End and do Aſſure your Honᵗ that your ſeveral Plantations where the Land is good thrives Extreamly well and take leave to inform your Honᵗ that there is very few Planta =hons on the Iſland that can Produce Yams fitt to digg at any time under Eighteen Months and were it not thro real Neceſſity they ought to ſtand at least twenty Months & two Years, tho in this warm Valley where We have begun to Encloſe a new Plantation Mentioned in Ours by the Heathcote Parᵈ the 8ᵗ and already planted about twenty thouſand of Yams in Rowes beſides ſeveral Fruit Trees where being Plenty of Water it will produce very large Yams in twelve or fourteen Months with which when Compleated and the best of your Honours other Plantations We ſhall have a ſufficient Quantity of Yams for all your Honours ſlaves, Hoggs, and Poulhy without buying any more of the Planters which could not be avoided heretofore, And We who were then of the Council are heartily ſorry they ſhould be ſo ſeverely Cenſured when they do ſollemnly Aſſure your Honᵗ they acted with the best view for your Interest which with their Reaſon for ſo doing We made Menhon of in Our 48ᵗ Parᵈ by the Hanover If ever the like Careleſſneſs ſhould happen in any of the Overſeers which We Aſſure Your Honours We ſhall Always Endeavour to Prevent We ſhall not fail Either to Puniſh, to ſtop their Wages or fine them as they ſhall be found to Deſerve, as your Honours Directs We have ſome roome to think the ſame reaſons as Capᵗ Aubone gave Us for refuſing to Carry any of your Honᵗ Blacks to Bencoolen would have held Equally good for Capᵗ Feild, becauſe of his long and Tedious Paſage But on Conſideration of the Earneſt deſire your Honᵗ have to gett the Great Wood Compleated as ſoon as Poſſible beſides the Vast Labour that is required to ffence Clear the ground and to finiſh Encloſing the New Plantation We beg leave to ſay We think will be more for your Honᵗ | 29: The Council answered the Court's 39th part by the Hanover, about the yearly charge of clothing and bedding the Court's slaves. It gave the Court the best account it could. A distinct and separate account was now kept for the Court's slaves, as would appear in folio [...] of the ledger sent by the Macclesfield, and the Council referred the Court to it. That yearly account would give the Court full satisfaction. The Council took the same care as ever over the making and mending of the slaves' clothes, and assured the Court its slaves were clothed with as little charge and as well as any of the planters', at the most proper times and seasons of the year. It had written more fully on this in answer to the Court's 39th and 44th parts by the James and Mary, and further explained it in its 47th part, where it thought it not to the Court's advantage to reduce the number of its slaves. As to how the planters managed their business with so few hands, as the Court had been told, the Council supposed this a misrepresentation. It could be met in some tolerable measure by the small number of persons found on the survey of their plantations to have any quantity of yams, and the great number of them obliged to buy. Though the planters had but few to feed, and had their plantations all under their own eyes, the Court's plantations lay far apart from one another. The Court had many walls and fences to make and keep in repair, to divide the pastures for the live stock, and much stock to look after, besides a great variety of other business, and firewood to fetch about seven or eight miles twice a week to boil the provisions. Yet the Court's plantations were in a flourishing and thriving condition. 30: What the Court said in its 29th part about the carelessness of its overseers was of great concern to the Council, and too plain. It had remedied the matter on Mr Byfield's complaint as soon as it could, and hoped the evil was now at an end. The Council assured the Court that its several plantations, where the land was good, throve extremely well. It noted that very few plantations on the island could produce yams fit to dig in under 18 months, and but for real necessity they ought to stand at least 20 months or two years. In the warm valley where the Council had begun to enclose a new plantation, named in the 8th part of the letter by the Heathcote, it had already planted about 20,000 yam suckers, besides several fruit trees. With plenty of water there, the ground would produce very large yams in 12 or 14 months. When that plantation was finished, with the best of the Court's other plantations, the Council would have yams enough for all the Court's slaves, hogs and poultry, without buying any more of the planters, as could not be avoided before. The members of the former council were heartily sorry to be so severely censured, when they solemnly assured the Court they had acted with the best view to its interest. Their reason for doing so was set out in the 48th part of the letter by the Hanover. Should the like carelessness ever happen in any of the overseers, the Council would always try to prevent it, and would not fail to punish, stop their wages, or fine them as they deserved, under the Court's direction. 31: The Council had some reason to think the reasons Captain Aubone gave for refusing to carry any of the Court's slaves to Bencoolen would have held equally good for Captain Field, given his long and tedious passage. But given the Court's earnest wish to have the Great Wood finished as soon as possible, and the vast labour needed to fence it, clear the ground and finish enclosing the new plantation, the Council thought it more to the Court's [...] Interpretations The separate ledger account for the Court's slaves answered the Court's query on the yearly cost of their clothing and bedding. A distinct folio let the Court measure that charge on its own, part of the tighter bookkeeping under Governor Smith. The reform followed the accountant general's audit, which had condemned the mingled and undated books of the former regime. The yam-growing figures set out why the island could not feed its own establishment without buying from the planters. Yams needed 18 months to two years in the ground, so a steady crop turned on holding land under cultivation across long stretches. The new plantation in the warm valley, watered and planted with 20,000 suckers, promised a quicker yield the Council hoped would end its purchases. The censure of the overseers touched the Court's charge of negligence in managing its plantations. The former administration had been faulted for the yam count overstated by 333,872 against the figure standing before Governor Johnson's arrival, the correction recorded in the reply of 21 Dec 1719. The Council's answer defended the wide, scattered nature of the Court's holdings against the planters' small, compact ground. Speculations The Council chose to keep the Court's slaves at St Helena for the Great Wood work, rather than send any to Bencoolen as Captain Field's ship offered. The plain course, given Captain Aubone's earlier refusal and Field's long passage, was to spare the slaves eastward. The Council instead held them for the fencing and clearing at home, weight given to the Court's earnest wish to finish the wood over the standing demand of the eastern settlements for hands. |
29 | 30 | Honᵗ Advantage to Continue all your Blacks at ſuch Neceſſary works one Year longer than to ſend any of them to Bencoolen Aſſureing your Honᵗˢ We ſhall take Effectual care to ſee they are all kept Cloſe to the works by Us Appointed them Upon Compareing the 32ᵈ Parᵈ by the Iames & Mary with the 31 now ſent by the Grantham relateing to your Honᵗˢ Live ſtock & Plantahons deliverd in monthly by Mʳ Byfeld We find your Honᵗ did very well Approve of the first Menhond, and therefore in Obedience to your Honours Orders He continued his Aⁱⁱᵈ in the ſame method thereby hopeing to have given yᵈ Honᵗ the best and Plainest Satisfaction he poſſibly could and doth beg leave to Aſſure your Honᵗˢ that the true reaſon why thoſe of your Honours Cattle which we found out upon the Generall Pounding more than his monthly Aⁱⁱˢ made Appear was Jntirely oweing to the great Neglect & unſufferable Careleſneſs of the then Overſeers when after Governᵗⁿ Iohnsons Death he was obliged to give his Constant Attendance at the ffort in all Shipping time and afterwards in the Great Wood to forward the Encloſure that he had newly begun at which time the Overſeers uſed to ſend him their Accounts and by their Deceits & unfaithfull Practices instead of Obeying his Orders they did wo frequently ſend the Butcher or ſome other of the Blacks to ſee your Honᵗ Cattle and to bring their Aⁱⁱᵈ and becauſe ſome of the Cattle happening to be Wild as mentioned in the 8ᵗ Parᵈ of Ours under date of the 13 Ianʳy 1723 or upon Miſſing any others they were ſoe Indolent & Deceitfull that they would not, nor did they take the Pdⁱⁿs & care as they Ought or Indeed the Overſeers rather to make any diligent ſearch for them but brought word they were dead but Mʳ Byfeld Aſſures your Honᵗ he was then very doubtfull of the truth thereof, and therefore would not ſet the Cattle down Dead, nor charge himſelf with their being alive till he had pounded them as he intended, and as to thoſe that did dye in the dry time he could no way Prevent for he took all the Care & Precaution Jmaginable to ſave them alive by ſhifting them out of One Paſture into another that had been Divided to ſuch Ends and puting the poorer ſorts into the best Paſturage and as by the Constant care and Poſitive Orders given to the Preſent Overſeers not to Treſt any Blacks report hereafter, nor to ſett any Cattle down dead without their Actually being they are ſo beſides their being Conſtantly Pounded every month We but hope will put an End to all Complaints of this grevious Nature for the future Jn your Honours 32ᵈ Parᵈ you are pleaſed to make Menhon of above three thouſand One Hundred Goats which were Computed to be on the Iſland at the time the Dawſonne ſailed hence which is not Near half the Number that has & would have been had not the dry time happened to be of ſo ſevere a Continuance and where Mʳ Alexander & Mʳ Goodwin had one then, they ſay in all Probability they might have had double that Number and ſeverall of the Planters in Proportion Mʳ Goodwin Affirms to Us that out of a flock of One Hundred Goats he bought of Richard Girling he Loſt about ſeventy of them by poverty and Mʳ Alexander ſayes he Loſt above half or near two thirds of his and that they are well Aſſured their Parhers & others of the Planters Suſtained Equall Loſs in theirs tho ranging in different Parts of the Iſland, So that twas Morally Jmpoſſible to preſerve your Honᵗ Goats more than they were and begg youl pleaſe to beleive Us Your Honours Orders to Us in your 33ᵈ Parᵈ We Aſſure your Honᵗ ſhall be fully Complyd with which will be a very good method to prevent any ſuch frauds or Careleſneſs in the Overſeers for the future We are ſorry to hear the two Accounts of Rents and Revenues Menhond in your Honours 34ᵗ Parᵈ did not agree which We Aſſure your Honᵗ We ſhall take Care to Remedy for the future, as well as to Comply with your | The Council thought it more to the Court's advantage to keep all its slaves at these necessary works one year longer than to send any to Bencoolen. It assured the Court it would take effectual care to keep them all close to the works it had set them. 32: The Council compared the Court's 32nd part by the James and Mary with the 31st, now sent by the Grantham, about the Court's live stock and plantations returned monthly by Mr Byfield. It found the Court very well approved the first of these, and so under the Court's orders Mr Byfield continued his account in the same method. He hoped by this to give the Court the fullest and plainest satisfaction he could. The Council assured the Court of the true reason why the Court's cattle, found at the general pounding, came to more than his monthly account showed. This was entirely owing to the great neglect and unsufferable carelessness of the overseers then serving. After Governor Johnson's death, Mr Byfield was obliged to give his constant attendance at the fort in all shipping time, and afterwards in the Great Wood to press the enclosure he had newly begun. At that time the overseers were to send him their accounts. Instead of obeying his orders, by their errors and unfaithful accounts, they very often sent the butcher or some other of the slaves to see the Court's cattle and bring their count. Some of the cattle happening to be wild, as noted in the 8th part of the letter dated 13 Jan 1723, or on missing any others, the overseers were so indolent and deceitful that they would not, nor did they, take the pains they ought, nor make any diligent search for the beasts. They brought word instead that the cattle were dead. Mr Byfield was then very doubtful of the truth of this, and would not set the cattle down as dead, nor charge himself with their being alive, until he had pounded them as he intended. As to those that did die in the dry season, he could in no way prevent it. He took every care and precaution he could to save them alive, by shifting them out of one pasture into another divided for the purpose, and putting the poorer sorts into the best pasturage. By his constant care, and the positive orders given to the present overseers not to trust any slave's report in future, nor to set any cattle down as dead without their actually being so, besides the pounding kept every month, the Council hoped to end all complaints of this grievous kind in future. 33: In its 32nd part the Court mentioned above 3,100 goats reckoned on the island at the time the Dawsonne sailed. This was not near half the number there would have been, had the dry season not been so severe and long. Where Mr Alexander and Mr Goodwin had one goat then, they said they might in all probability have had double that number, and several of the planters in proportion. Mr Goodwin affirmed that out of a flock of 100 goats he bought of Richard Girling, he lost about 70 through poverty. Mr Alexander said he lost above half, or near two thirds, of his. Their partners and other planters were well assured they suffered equal loss in theirs, the goats ranging in different parts of the island. It was thus all but impossible for the Council to preserve the Court's goats in greater number than it did, and it asked the Court to believe it. 34: The Council would fully comply with the Court's orders in its 33rd part. This would be a very good method to prevent any such frauds or carelessness in the overseers in future. 35: The Council was sorry to hear the two accounts of rents and revenues named in the Court's 34th part did not agree. It assured the Court it would take care to remedy this in future, and to comply with the Court's [...] Interpretations The general pounding was the periodic rounding-up of the wild and scattered cattle to number the herd and bring it under control. The Council made such a pounding every three months to keep the beasts tamer and count them, the practice recorded across the letters of 1724. The audit exposed the gap between the true herd and the overseers' reports. The discrepancy over the cattle answered the Court's charge of negligence in managing its stock. The overseers had returned dead beasts that Mr Byfield doubted, the same looseness in the plantation records that had produced the yam count overstated by 333,872 against the figure before Governor Johnson's arrival. The Council laid the fault on the overseers and set positive orders against trusting any slave's unverified report. The heavy loss of goats fixed the depth of the drought on the island's herds. Four and five years of dry seasons had failed the crops and starved the stock, the famine set out across the letters of 1723 and 1724. Mr Goodwin's loss of 70 goats out of 100, and Mr Alexander's of near two thirds, gave the Court a measure of a want no husbandry could have prevented. Speculations Mr Byfield chose to withhold the cattle from the dead roll until he had pounded them himself, rather than enter the overseers' report as it stood. The plain course was to accept the count the overseers sent and close the account. He instead held the entry open and mustered the beasts in person, weight given to a true reckoning of the herd over the convenience of trusting the overseers whose deceitful returns had already inflated the losses. |
30 | 31 | Honᵗ Directions relateing to the Draweing out the Account of Customes Our replys by the Hanover in Anſwer to ſome of your Honᵗ Parᵗˢ by the Iames and Mary under this Head, and taken Notice of in your 3ᵗ Parᵈ by the Grantham We Aſſure your Honours was ſincere and ſhould even blame Our ſelves if We had not repreſented Matters of Fact to the Governᵗ and to give him the best light into your Honᵗ Affairs as he Deſired or was thought by Us for your Honᵗ Interest and Do reſolve to Concur heartily with him in any and every Branch of your Honᵗ ſaid Affairs with a due regard to what your Honᵗ Menhons in relation to the Reduc =ing, Either the Generall or Particular Charges of the Iſland and Endeavour all We can to retrench thoſe Articles, which in Generall are abſolutely Neceſſary, and to Shew as much good Huſſandry, as if the Expence & Charge were Our own and to bring the ſame into as Narrow a Compaſs as Poſſible for frugality is ſo highly Neceſſary and Commendable that We ſhall Endeavour to Merit your Honᵗˢ favours herein as well as in other Instances Fourthly Touching Our Fortifications Buildings & Garriſon Stores Your Honours Buildings ffortifications, and New Powder room being finiſhed We ſhall take Effectual Care to keep them in good Repair, and behave to Obſerve & follow all ſuch Orders & Directions relateing thereto, or any other Matter from time to time as We may be favoured with The Expence of Powder or any other Article belonging to the Gunners ſtores Particularly ſo far as relates to the New Regulahon in Salutes We ſhall Remember as a ſtanding Order for Our Guidance in future We ſhould be Glad to hear the ten faulty great Guns ſent by the Iames and Mary to the West Coast were diſpoſed of to your Honᵗ Advantage of the Iſland Fifthly Touching the Civil Governmᵗ or the Production thereof, and what Concerns any of the Inhabitants That good Law made in Governᵗⁿ Roberts time for ffencing in of Lands and Planting of Wood, is ſo highly Neceſſary that We ſhall never Diſpence with it as your Honours may perceive by Our yearly Reminding the Inhabitants therewith with an Additionall Clauſe for Planting of ſtore and to ſtir up & Excite them to ſo Commendable & Beneficiall a work We Iſſued out an Adveʳ =tizemᵗ to that End Entered in Our Consultahon of the 8ᵗ of Iune last and thereto beg leave to Refer your Honours And if upon View & Inſpection therein We find any Delinquents We ſhall be ſure to put your Honours former and Preſent Orders in due Execution and to uſe Lenity therein as your Honᵗ goodneſs is pleaſed to recommend to Us The conveying of Water into the ſeverall Plantahons here are by ſome years Experience (tho not ſo fully Practiſed as of Late) is found ſo Extream Beneficiall and which Contributes ſo very much to the Generall good of this Place that We have Always and ſhall Continue any Encouragemᵗ to Effect a thing of ſo great Jmportance Either by Advice Directions or Aſſiſtance whenever we find any Deſerveing and Industrious which work when once Effected and Conſtantly attended to will Render the Land much the more Fertile and Conſequently tend greatly to their own Advantage It is very likely when Governᵗⁿ Pyke was here in his return for England he might be talking about Conveying of Water into your Honᵗ great Plantation | The Council would comply with the Court's directions on drawing out the account of customs. 36: The Council's replies by the Hanover, in answer to some of the Court's parts by the James and Mary under this head, and noted in the Court's 3rd part by the Grantham, were sincere. It would blame itself had it not represented the facts to the Governor, and given him the fullest insight into the Court's affairs as he desired, or as the Council thought right for the Court's interest. It resolved to concur heartily with the Governor in every branch of those affairs, with due regard to what the Court said about reducing either the general or particular charges of the island. The Council would try to retrench such articles as were in general absolutely necessary, and to show as much good husbandry as if the expense were its own. It would bring the charge into as narrow a compass as it could, since frugality was so highly necessary and commendable. The Council would try to earn the Court's favour in this as in other matters. The fourth head concerned the fortifications, buildings and garrison stores. 37: The Court's buildings, fortifications and new powder room were finished. The Council would take effectual care to keep them in good repair, and to observe all such orders and directions on that head, or any other, as the Court sent from time to time. 38: The Council would remember the expense of powder, or any other article belonging to the gunner's stores, particularly as it related to the new regulation on salutes, as a standing order for its guidance in future. 39: The Council would be glad to hear the 10 faulty great guns sent by the James and Mary to the west coast were disposed of to the Court's advantage. The fifth head concerned the civil government of the island, its produce, and what concerned the inhabitants. 40: The good law made in Governor Roberts's time for fencing in lands and planting wood was so highly necessary that the Council would never dispense with it. This would appear in its yearly reminding of the inhabitants, with an added clause for planting furze. To stir them up to so commendable and beneficial a work, the Council issued an advertisement to that end, entered in its consultation of the 8th of June last, to which it referred the Court. If it found any offenders on inspection, it would be sure to put the Court's former and present orders in due execution, and to use lenity in the matter. The Court had been pleased to recommend the conveying of water into the several plantations. By some years' experience, though not so fully practised of late, this was found extremely beneficial, and contributed so much to the general good of the island that the Council had always given, and would continue to give, every encouragement to it. It would help effect a matter of such importance, either by advice, direction or assistance, whenever it found any deserving and industrious person. Water, once conveyed and constantly maintained, would render the land much more fertile, and so tend greatly to the inhabitants' own advantage. 41: When Governor Pyke was at the island on his way home to England, he very probably talked of conveying water into the Court's great plantation [...] Interpretations Furze was a spiny evergreen shrub planted as a windbreak against the blasting winds that damaged the island's crops. Its planting was enforced by advertisement and inspection, tied directly to the protection of the planters' provisions, the measure recorded in the letter by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724. The added clause bound the windbreak planting to the older fencing and wood-planting law. The wood-planting law of Governor Roberts stood as the island's answer to erosion and the loss of shelter. The felling of wood had exposed the soil and let the blighting winds into the valleys, the diagnosis given in the long reply of 1716, where the law was judged most necessary but long unenforced. The Council's yearly reminder and inspection marked the law at last put into steady execution. The conveying of water addressed the standing limit on the island's cultivation. The want of water was the fixed check on the dry ground, springs able to breed suckers only where irrigation reached, the point pressed across the letters of 1716 and 1717. The Council's encouragement of watered plantations tied fertility to the supply of water the island's steep and thirsty ground so often lacked. |
31 | 32 | for the raiſeing of Garden Trade but none of Us remember he ever ſhewn any body from whence he intended to take it up Nor can We apprehend where Unleſs it was at the head of a Paſture now your Honᵗ called by the Name of Beſs's Paſture where under a part of the Main ridge from whence there's a proſpect into Sandy Bay there is a ſmall Spring and is about too Miles Diſtance from the Plantahon Garden, which We have been often ſaying might be Conveyed therein if there was a ſufficient Quantity of Water but being well Aſſured to the Contrary twould be but ſo much Labour and Charge all In vain, We aſſure your Honᵗ wherever there has been any Propos of Conveying Water into your other Plantahons We have not been wanting to Effect it, tho there is not one of them in the dry time of the year has any at all runing and where there is the Runs of Water are ſo Small and Conveys it ſelf into the Bowells of the Earth that Notwithſtand =ing our opening the head of the ſprings and ſinking ſeverall foot Deeper Yet the Water Viſſibly fails and is but of very little or no ſervice But where there's a main Run it Contributes Extreamly to the Quik growth of Provisions and One Acre of ſuch Land is Accounted as good as Trible the Quantity which was One of the Chiefest Mobives that Jnduced Us to Encloſe Land for a Plantahon in the ffort Valley where We have Already Conveyed the Water and Planted about twenty thouſand of Yam ſucꝛers as mentioned in a Preceding Parragraph That part of the Great Wood called the Horſe Point We Acquainted your Honᵗ in Our 5ᵗ Parᵈ by the Maulesfeild was Compleated on the 15ᵗ of May last and that the Overſeer had recᵈ Orders to begin at One Corner of the upper end of the Encloſure in order to ffence all round the Wood in which for the Benefitt of the Paſturage as well as for the Preſervahon of the Trees We ſhall be as Expeditious as Poſſible, and the Governᵗ Aſſures your Honᵗ he will Jnſpect the works as often as the weather will permit or he find it Neceſſary in obedience to your Honᵗ Order in your 41ᵗ Parᵈ and when thoſe Ships are Diſpatcht, We intend to have the Yoaks fixed for the Oxen As to what your Honours have been informd By the ſeverall Returning Captains of Mʳ Powells haveing the best Cattle on the Iſland We beg leave to ſay We cant Acquieſce in for we are well Aſſured and ſome of the Comanders if theyl ſpeak the truth knows it Fact that your Honᵗ Cattle are Extream good and they have Commended the Beef many times and if they thought Mʳ Powells to be the best We conceive it Proceeded from here and there one, or perhaps two of his very best Bullocks that were gott from him by Perſuaſion, or ſome Interest he had in ſome of thoſe Captains to oblige them tho upon his being Jntorrogated We do avon his Anſwer ſounds ſeizable becauſe We have and do uſe the ſame Method in your Honours Paſtures which We ſhall take Effectual care to Mannage as We Judge Most Neceſſary to be for your Honours Advantage Ioſeph Coles Mentioned in your Honours 43 Parᵈ who returnd here on the Stanhope from India did ſome time after her departure hence Adjuſt the Matter then in diſpute (Petihond about by his father in law & mother) with Jonathan Higham who had the five Acres of Land in his Poſeſſion to both their Satisfaction Serjeant Wallingtons daughter We have been informd is Married So that now he dos not Expect to ſee Her here We have the Houſe Yet in Our Poſeſſion that was the late Govᵗⁿ Joſhua Johnsons, Employd to the uſe formerly Mentioned to which, if We have any further, Propoſals made on Moderate Terms & a good Title produced thereto We think twill be very Neceſſary to buy it for your Honours ſervice | Governor Pyke may have spoken of raising garden trade there, though none of the Council remembered him showing anyone where he meant to draw the water. As far as the Council could tell, it lay at the head of a pasture the Court now called Bell's Pasture. Under part of the main ridge, where there was a view down into Sandy Bay, there was a small spring, about two miles from the plantation garden. The Council had often said the water might be conveyed there, if there were enough of it. Being well assured to the contrary, and that the labour and charge would all be wasted, the Council did not attempt it. Wherever there had been any prospect of conveying water into the Court's other plantations, the Council had not failed to try, though not one of them had any water running at all in the dry season. Where any runs existed, they were so small, and sank so quickly into the earth, that despite the Council's opening the heads of the springs and sinking them several feet deeper, the water plainly failed and served little or no purpose. Where there was a good run, however, it helped the quick growth of provisions greatly. One acre of such land was reckoned as good as three of the rest. This was one of the chief reasons that led the Council to enclose land for a plantation in the Fort Valley, where it had already conveyed the water and planted about 20,000 yam suckers, as noted in an earlier part. 42: The Council reported in the 5th part of its letter by the Macclesfield that the part of the Great Wood called the Horse Point was finished on 15 May last, and that the overseer had orders to begin at one corner of the upper end of the enclosure, so as to fence all round the wood. The Council would be as quick as it could in this, both for the benefit of the pasturage and for the preservation of the trees. The Governor assured the Court he would inspect the works as often as the weather allowed, or as he found necessary, under the Court's order in its 41st part. When these ships were despatched, the Council meant to have the yokes fitted for the oxen. 43: As to what the several returning captains had told the Court about Mr Powell having the best cattle on the island, the Council could not agree. It was well assured, and some of the commanders, if they spoke the truth, knew for a fact that the Court's cattle were extremely good. They had commended the beef many times. If they thought Mr Powell's the best, the Council supposed it came from one, or perhaps two, of his very best bullocks, got from him by persuasion, or through some interest he had with those captains to oblige them. On being questioned, his answer sounded plausible, since the Council used the same method in the Court's pastures, which it would take effectual care to manage as it judged best for the Court's advantage. 44: Joseph Coles, named in the Court's 43rd part, who returned to the island on the Stanhope from India, some time after her departure settled the matter then in dispute. He had petitioned about it on behalf of his father-in-law and mother, and settled it with Jonathan Higham, who had the five acres of land in his possession, to the satisfaction of both. 45: Serjeant Wallington's daughter, the Council was told, had married, so that he now did not expect to see her at the island. 46: The Council still held the house that was the late Governor Joshua Johnson's, put to the use mentioned before. If any further proposals were made on moderate terms, with a good title, the Council thought it would be very necessary to buy it for the Court's service. Interpretations The account of failing springs set out the standing limit water placed on the island's cultivation. The dry-season runs sank into the ground despite the Council's deepening of the spring heads, leaving the plantations without supply, the check on the dry ground pressed across the letters of 1716 and 1717. Only a good run made land fertile, one watered acre reckoned worth three of the rest. The dispute over Mr Powell's cattle touched the Council's long contest with the wealthiest planter at the island. Powell had been shown to hold his best beasts through the debts most planters owed him rather than any superior husbandry, the point exposed in the reply by the Heathcote of 8 Jun 1722. The Council here laid the captains' praise of his beef to persuasion and private interest, not to the quality of his stock. The late Governor Joshua Johnson's house was already taken for the Court's fort blacks at £6 0s 0d a year, sold through Mr Crane under a letter of attorney and partly pulled down for slave lodging. The transaction was recorded in the Council letter by the Stanhope of 13 Jan 1724. The Council's readiness to buy on good title marked the standing want of housing for the Company's slaves. Joseph Coles was known to the Council as the man who returned from India in the Stanhope and petitioned over a parcel of the Court's land in Sandy Bay. His claim had been carried through several consultations and transmitted home for the Court's directions, set out in the Council letter by the Stanhope of 13 Jan 1724. His settlement with Higham closed one of the inherited land disputes the new administration sought to quiet. |
32 | 33 | What your Honours are pleaſed to Direct in your 46ᵗ Parᵈ relateing to Trᵈᵈ Blacks upon the Planters Petihon ſhall be Obſerved for a ſtanding Order here in future and which there's no doubt is the most Effectuall Method for Us to gett rid of ſome of them as well as to keep the rest in a Tollerable ſubjection We return your Honᵗ Our Humble thanks for Informing Us ſo fully as well to the Number of the Deals ſent Us by the Grantham as of their thickneſs length and ſorts, and ſhall take good Care to ſee they are not Changed in obedience to your Honᵗ Precaution in your last & 47ᵗ Perragraph Haveing thus far Endeavourd to Anſwer your Honᵗ General Letter Parᵈ by Parᵈ and as We hope to your Honᵗ Satisfaction tho We fear not ſo fully as it Ought becauſe of Hurry of Buſineſs in receiving the Cargo and ſhort Stay of the Duke of Cambridge We come next to trouble your Honᵗ with what further Relates to Our Proceedings, any of the Inhabitants for other Occurences, Under the following Generall Head By the Macclesfeild whoſe Copy of Ours Under date of the 31 of May 1725 comes herewith We Tranſmitted Duplicates & Copys of Our Consultations Duplicates of Liſt of familys Lands and Cattle for the year 1724 with Rents and Revenues for the ſame year Liſt of your Honᵗ Blacks Jnventory of Remaining ſtores to the 24ᵗ Decʳ 1724 Jndent of Goods & ſtores wanting Liſt of Debts ſtanding out to that time Our Setts of Books for the year 1723 with ſeveral other Accounts ſent in the Packet by that Ship which We hope Came ſafe to hand and mett with your Honᵗ Approval We Tranſmit by this ſhip Copys of Our Consultations Duplicates of Remaining ſtores Jndent of ſtores Wanting And of the Liſt of debts ſtanding out on the 24ᵗ Decʳ 1724 to which time We Ballanced Your Honᵗ Books for the reaſons fully Mentiond in Our 6ᵗ Parᵈ by the Sunderland & Duplicate by the Heathcote with other Copys and Accounts Contained in the Liſt now ſent To Aſſure your Honᵗ further of Our Zeal & Fedelity for your Interest We begg You will pleaſe to reperuſe Our 5ᵗ & 6ᵗ Parᵈ as by the Sunderland Dated the 21ᵗ ᵈebʳy 1724 wherein will appear Our Promiſes (& time Perfoumances) to Promote your Honᵗ Interest all We can by Encourageing the People Improveing your Honours Plantahons & Live ſtock by all Poſſible Care and Mannagemᵗ We are Capable and the due regard We had for the Quick & ſpeedy getting in your Honᵗ debts due from the Inhabitants and which by the Duplicate of the List thereof Compared with the 6ᵗ Parᵈ of Ours by the Heathcote will Appear real Fact, Aſſureing your Honᵗ We have Nothing more at heart than to ſtudy and put in due Execution whatever We Judge proper for your Honᵗ Advantage in every Branch of your Affairs before Mentioned Jn Our 10ᵗ Parᵈ by the Heathcote We have made Menhon of One Sarah Southen to be a woman of a Turbulent Spirit and Vexahous Temper and was a Propos We ſhould have had no cauſe to Complain of the like Instances in any other perſon, But finding Thomas Free a Sottiſh Punchman here to have Committed ſeverall Diſorders, with other Crimes & high Miſdemeanors and to be one of ſuch a baſe malicious and refractory Temper that nither his word or Writeing Ought to be the Least regarded, and We beg leave to refer your Honᵗ for better proof, To Our Consultations of the 17 & 21 of Iune last and the ſeberal Jndictments and Our Proceedings Enterd against him in the Seſſions Held on the 24ᵗ following for we must ſupport and maintaine Our Authority perſuant to the Rules Preſcribed by yoʳ Honours and Laid down for Our Guidance for the Peace & good Government of this your Honours Iſland | 47: The Council would observe the Court's direction in its 46th part about the free blacks, on the planters' petition, as a standing order in future. There was no doubt this was the most effectual way to get rid of some of them, and to keep the rest in tolerable subjection. 48: The Council returned the Court its thanks for informing it so fully of the number of deals sent by the Grantham, and of their thickness, length and sorts. It would take good care to see they were not changed, under the Court's caution in its 47th part. 49: The Council had thus far tried to answer the Court's general letter part by part, and it hoped to the Court's satisfaction, though it feared not so fully as it ought, owing to the hurry of business in receiving the cargo and the short stay of the Duke of Cambridge. It would next report what further concerned its proceedings, the inhabitants, or other matters, under the following general heads. 50: The Council forwarded, by the Macclesfield, a copy of its letter dated 31 May 1725. It sent with it duplicates and copies of its consultations, duplicates of the list of families' lands and cattle for the year 1724, with the rents and revenues for that year, a list of the Court's slaves, the inventory of remaining stores to 24 Dec 1724, the indent of goods and stores wanting, the list of debts standing out to that time, and a set of books for the year 1723, with several other accounts sent in the packet by that ship. It hoped all had reached the Court safely and met with its approval. 51: The Council forwarded, by this ship, copies of its consultations, duplicates of the remaining stores, the indent of stores wanting, and of the list of debts standing out on 24 Dec 1724. It had balanced the Court's books to that date, for the reasons fully set out in the 6th part of its letter by the Sunderland, and sent a duplicate by the Heathcote, with other copies and accounts named in the list now sent. 52: To assure the Court further of its zeal and fidelity for the Court's interest, the Council referred it to the 5th and 6th parts of its letter by the Sunderland dated 21 Feb 1724. There would appear the Council's promises, and their performance, to promote the Court's interest by every means, by encouraging the people and improving the Court's plantations and live stock with all possible care. The due regard it had for the quick recovery of the Court's debts due from the inhabitants would appear as real fact, by comparing the duplicate of the list with the 6th part of its letter by the Heathcote. The Council had nothing more at heart than to study and put in execution whatever it judged for the Court's advantage in every branch of its affairs. 53: In the 10th part of its letter by the Heathcote, the Council had mentioned Sarah Southen, a woman of a turbulent spirit and vexatious temper. It would have had no cause to complain of the like in any other person, but for Thomas Free, a sottish punch-house keeper at the island. He had committed several disorders, with other crimes and high misdemeanours, and was of so base, malicious and refractory a temper that neither his word nor his writing ought to be regarded in the least. For better proof, the Council referred the Court to its consultations of the 7th of June last, and the several indictments and proceedings entered against him at the sessions held on the [...] following. It had to support and maintain its authority, under the rules laid down for its guidance, for the peace and good government of the island. Interpretations The deals sent by the Grantham were sawn softwood boards imported for building and repair. The Court had specified their thickness, length and sorts so the Council could check the consignment against the invoice. The caution against their being changed reflected the standing want of durable timber at the island, where deal used as covering rotted within six years. The restriction on free blacks answered the inhabitants' petition of 3 Sep 1723 against their growing number as a burden. The Council had ordered that no owner grant freedom to his slaves, and referred the removal of existing free persons to the Court, the measure set out in the letter by the Stanhope of 13 Jan 1724. The standing order tied the manumission ban to the island's anxiety over its small population and security. Thomas Free was already known to the Council as a habitual maker of false and litigious reports. He had spread the tale that the Governor would seize any planter's estate without reason, was found guilty at the court of 23 Jan 1720, and had earlier complained to the Court against Governor Pyke over his yams. His fresh disorders marked the same troublesome inhabitant carried before the board again. Sarah Southen was likewise known as the woman convicted of publishing a seditious libel against Governor Johnson and set in the pillory at the court of 23 Jan 1720. Her turbulent temper had brought her before the Council over her land claim in the letter by the Heathcote of 23 Apr 1725. The pairing of her with Free marked the two most litigious inhabitants the administration had to hold in check. |
33 | 34 | Upon Compareing Our former Jndent with the Jnvoice by the Grantham We find the Window Glaſs and Great Gun Trucks to be omitted which We very much want and beg your Honours will be pleaſed to ſupply Us with the ſeveral Sorts and ſizes therein Mentioned (as well as in the preſent Jndent) and Likewiſe with the ſix Cheſts of Mountaine Wine We beg'd of your Honᵗ to ſend Us in Ours by the Walpole dated 13ᵗ Iune 1724 which ſoould have been Very Aceptable We have drawn the two following Setts of Bills of Exchange on your Honours for the ſume of One Hundred and Ten Pounds and beg your Honᵗˢ Aceptance of them Aⁱⁱordingly Viz.ᵗ To John Smith Eſqʳ (or Order) One Sett for the ſume of One Hundred Pounds ſterling being for like Vallue due to him in your Honᵗ Books of Accounts here dated the 15ᵗ of Iuly 1725 And the other Sett to Ioſeph Bates (or Order) for the ſume of Ten Pounds ſterˡ being for Caſh Notes paid into your Honᵗ Aⁱⁱᵗ of Caſh here dated as aforeſaid and Payable at thirty days after ſight Perſuant to your Honᵗ Jnſtructions the Governᵗⁿ went on Board the Duke of Cambridge on the 12ᵗ Instant and found Her Hull Masts Yards ſtanding Rigging as good as Can be Expected for the Length of the Voyage Her Cables very Jndifferent that are Left Guns Clear, Hatches Caulked down Runing Rigging Jndifferent ſeverall Men ſick, draft of Water abaft 17 fost afore 16 fost We haveing nothing of any moment worth troubling your Honᵗˢ with but to wiſh Succeſs to Your Affairs begg leave to Subſcribe Our ſelves with dutifull Reſpects Honᵈ Sʳˢ Union Castle Sᵗ Helena Iuly the 15ᵗ 1725 Your Honᵗˢ Most Humble faithfull & most obedient Servants Jnᵗ Smith Edᵈ Byfeld Jnᵗ Alexander Jnᵗ Goodwin Margin Notes: Pˢ Sᵗ By our ſeveral Consultahons and Genˡ Letters Tranſmitted yoᵈ Honᵗˢ from time to time will ſhow Mʳ Hawkes being Suſpended and the reaſons why who ſtill perſiſting in his Obſtinacy Wee begg your Honᵗ will pleaſe to ſignify your pleaſure therein by the Next We are Honoured with We are Honᵈ & Sʳˢ Your most Humᵈ & most faithfull ſewᵗˢ JᵗSᵗ &ᶜ JᵗGᵗ | 54: On comparing its former indent with the invoice by the Grantham, the Council found the window glass and great gun trucks left out, both of which it very much wanted. It asked the Court to supply it with the several sorts and sizes named there, and in the present indent, and with the six chests of mountain wine it had asked for in its letter by the Walpole dated 13 Jun 1724, which would have been very welcome. 55: The Council drew the two following sets of bills of exchange on the Court for £110 0s 0d, and asked the Court's acceptance of them. 56: To John Smith Esquire or order, one set for £100 0s 0d sterling, for the like value due to him in the Court's books at the island, dated 15 Jul 1725. 57: The other set to Joseph Bates or order, for £10 0s 0d sterling, for cash notes paid into the Court's account at the island, dated as above, payable at 30 days after sight. 58: Under the Court's instructions, the Governor went aboard the Duke of Cambridge on the 12th of this month. He found her hull, masts, yards and standing rigging as good as could be expected for the length of the voyage. Her cables were very indifferent, though the best were left, her guns clear, her hatches caulked twice over, and her running rigging indifferent. Several of her men were sick. Her draught of water was 17 feet aft and 16 feet forward. 59: The Council had nothing further of any moment to trouble the Court with, but wished success to the Court's affairs. It closed the letter at Union Castle, St Helena, on 15 Jul 1725, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. By a postscript, the Council noted that its several consultations and general letters, sent from time to time, would show Mr Hawkes suspended, and the reasons why. As he still persisted in his obstinacy, the Council asked the Court to signify its pleasure on the matter by the next conveyance. Interpretations Great gun trucks were the small wooden wheels on which a cannon's carriage ran, letting the piece be moved and worked at its port or platform. Their omission from the Grantham's invoice left the island short of gear essential to its guns. The want tied the missing stores to the standing need to keep the fortifications in fighting order. Mountain wine was a strong sweet wine from the Málaga hills of southern Spain, valued for keeping well on a long sea voyage. Its supply served the General Table and the refreshment of calling ships. The Council's renewed request marked a want carried over from its earlier letter by the Walpole of 13 Jun 1724. Joseph Bates was known to the Council as the litigious inhabitant who pressed Sarah Southen's land claim and petitioned over ground in Sandy Bay for Joseph Coles. His earlier submissions were entered in the letters by the Stanhope of 13 Jan 1724 and the Heathcote of 23 Apr 1725. His appearance here drawing bills for cash paid in marks the same man in an ordinary dealing with the Court. Benjamin Hawkes had been raised to the Council as its fifth and youngest member on the Court's appointment, then suspended for several misdemeanours late in 1724. The matter was set out in the consultations of 9 Jul, 27 Oct and November 1724 and submitted to the Court, recorded in the letter by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724. His continued obstinacy left the board pressing the Court for a final decision. |
34 | 35 | Liſt of the Packet of Ship Duke of Cambridge Capᵗ Booky Comᵈeʳ Governᵗ & Councils Genˡ Lettʳ dated 15ᵗ Iuly 1725 Copy of Governᵗ & Councils Lettʳ dated 31ᵗ May 1725 of Maulesfeild ſent apart in the ſmall Packet Copy of Consultahons from the 25ᵗ May Exclusive to the 13ᵗ Iuly 1725 Inclusive Duplicate of Jnventory of Remaining ſtores taken 24ᵗ Decʳ 1724 Duplicate of Jndent of Goods & ſtores wanting on Sᵗ Helena Duplicate of Liſt of Debts ſtanding Out Decʳ 24ᵗ 1724 Duplicate of Mʳ Byfelds Aⁱⁱᵗ of the Honᵗ Coᵈ Plantahons Expences for yᵉ month of Aprⁱⁱ 1725 Copy of ditto his Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ & yᵉ Expence for May 1725 Copy of ᵈᵈ to his Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ for Iune Duplicate of Ship Maulesfeild Aⁱⁱᵗ May 31ᵗ 1725 Duplicate of Surgeons Jndent of Medicines wanting on Sᵗ Helena Copy of Ship Duke of Cambridges Aⁱⁱᵗ Receipts for the Packᵗ of Maulesfeild Copy of Mʳ Tompsons Depoſition Liſt of the Packet Sig␣'d of JᵗCᵗ | List of the packet of the ship Duke of Cambridge, Captain Bootle commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 15 Jul 1725 2: Copy of the Governor and Council's letter dated 31 May 1725, sent apart by the Macclesfield in the small packet 3: Copy of consultations from 25 May exclusive to the 13 Jul 1725 inclusive 4: Duplicate of the inventory of remaining stores taken 24 Dec 1724 5: Duplicate of the indent of goods and stores wanting on St Helena 6: Duplicate of the list of debts standing out 24 Dec 1724 7: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of the Court's plantations' expense for the month of April 1725 8: Copy of the same account of expense for May 1725 9: Copy of the same account for June 1725 10: Duplicate of the ship Macclesfield's account, 31 May 1725 11: Duplicate of the surgeon's indent of medicines wanting on St Helena 12: Copy of the ship Duke of Cambridge's account 13: Receipt for the packet by the Macclesfield 14: Copy of Mr Thompson's deposition 15: List of the packet Signed Interpretations The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying duplicates of the Macclesfield papers against the originals sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. Item 13, the receipt for the earlier packet, gave proof that the Macclesfield's papers had gone aboard, the standing safeguard for a recoverable chain of custody at India House. Mr Thompson's deposition travelled home as a numbered exhibit supporting the body of the letter. Sworn evidence sent to the Court let it verify a contested matter for itself, the method the Council used across its correspondence to substantiate the cases it reported. The enclosure gave documentary weight to a proceeding entered in the consultations. The surgeon's indent named the medicines wanted for the garrison and the Court's slaves. Medical supply was a standing want at the island, the plea for a skilful surgeon and a stock of physic pressed across the letters of 1720 and 1721. Sending the indent home let the Court load the drugs the island could not itself procure. |
35 | 36 | Hon.ᵈ Sirs Genˡ Lettʳ of Compton Capᵗ Mawson Comᵈ dated 10ᵗ Ianʳy 1725/6 We have now an Opportunity which We Embrace with great Pleaſure to Congratulate You upon the Paſſe Arrival of Your last years Shiping & We hope the like happy Succeſs will attend all thoſe now abroad We heard this good News by Capᵗ John Gregory Comʳ of the Ship Eaton Galley who Stretching to the Sward for the Coast of Guinea aucidentally made this Iſland on the 26ᵗ Decʳ last His Father & Owner being very well known to the Govᵗⁿ & produceing ample Vouchers that he was abroad upon a fair Aⁱⁱᵗ he had leave to come in and Repair ſome damage he had recᵈ by Streſs of Weather in the Voyage tho his Stay was Short little exeeding Eight & forty hours By this ſhip We tranſmit Your Honᵗ the uſual Duplicates of all Aⁱⁱᵗ & Tranſactions Sent of Duke of Cambridge which ſpiled hence 16ᵗ Iuly last & the uſual Aⁱⁱᵗ & Copies of Consultaⁱⁿ from to the of & humbly hope Our Proceedings in the Managemᵗ of Affairs Committed to Our Care will meet with Your Honᵗ Approbation We now beg leave to trouble Your Honᵗ with a Word or two concerning Mʳ Benjⁿ Hawkes & Mʳ Tho Free who have been both often mentioned in Our Consultations & Genˡ Letters & are Sorry Such worthleſs Perſons Should Occaſion any trouble either to Your Honᵗ or Our Selves, but first We Speak of Mʳ Hawkes We preſume the Reaſon given for Suſpending him from Councel would have juſtified Us if We had proceeded to farther Extremity but We Left room for Amendmᵗ & hould his future Conduct would have Left Roaᵈ Recommended him to favour but quite the Reverſe has happend & We have Lately diſcoverd a Scean of Villany that would be extreamly Shocking & Surpriſing to Us were We not Senſible that the Perſon concerned is capable to Attempt any thing that is baſe & barbarous & who rather than not attack the Govᵗⁿ Fortune & Character went an impotent deſire of Malice & Revenge has taken Recourſe to Calumny & Forgery, We aucidentally got Light into this Affair by Some inſolent Threatning Expreſſions Uſed by the Said Hawkes to the Govᵗⁿ in open Court at Our last Seſſions which make Us conclude it th reaſonable to Siⁱⁿ his Papers among which We find Seveaⁱⁿ Books of Aⁱⁱᵗ & a Copy Book of Letters Sent to Your Honᵗ & other Gentᵗ particularly one dated 30ᵗ May Last & Sent Your Honᵗ by the Maulesfeild in wᶜʰ with Aſſurance Falſity & Ingratitude peculiar to himſelf he has endeavoured to Leſſen & Ruin the Govᵗⁿ Credit & Reputaⁱⁿ with Your Honᵗ by Affirming that he had Fifty Blacks at Work, that the better half of them are Children more fit for Nurſes than ſervice, Eighteen Pence a day, that large Quantities of Goods belonging to the Govᵗⁿ were continually Selling out of the Stores & that to all this he is ready to make Oath if Required This being the most material part of the Information We beg leave to Speak to it before We take Notice of the other groundleſs Complaints about the Houſe & Table And first We do aſſure Your Honᵗ that the Number of the Governᵗⁿ Blacks never did exceed Thirty Seven & thoſe have been gradually encreaſing as the Govᵗⁿ has an Opportunity to buy them & not all employed from the beginning as He Informer would inſinuate nor are they Children as he calls them but Strong Lusty Fellows as able to go thro hard Labour as any other, indeed there are two or three Leſs than the goſt whoſe Buſineſs it is to attend in the Houſe & by this meane the Labour of ſo many Fellows better beſtowed in the Plantaⁱⁿ who otherwiſe would have done their Duty, nor (the Govᵗⁿ deſires to acquaint Your Honᵗ) are theſe all his own Your Honᵗ having been pleaſed to give him Liberty to bring his Daughter & Family with him he was deſireous that they as well as himſelf ſhould make Some Advantage of a Long Voyage to a Remote Part of the World but to Save the trouble of keeping diſtinct Aⁱⁱᵗ the Govᵗⁿ Directed they Should be all enterd in his Name & if it ſtill Sight the Profit Seem conſiderable upon Examinaⁱⁿ it not ſo great its not all Gain the Govᵗⁿ is at great Expence to provide for them & has been a Loſer by Mortalities that have happend among them The Aⁱⁱᵗ he has givin Your Honᵗ of the Pay the Govᵗⁿ receives for them is equally as true as the other Parᵗ of his Informaⁱⁿ about their Number the Govᵗⁿ having no more than an other Viz.ᵗ Avolet Pence of diem the other 3ᵈ Pence being deducted for Proviſion the Govᵗⁿ could provide for them at a much cheaper Rate We believe for Leſs than four Pence a day but the other two Pence has been alwaysUnderſtood as a Conſidoraⁱⁿ for Abſence that might happen by Sickneſs & however Craftily this Story is Introduced by way of Embelliſhment to his Information if true its trifling & if the difference upon this Aⁱⁱᵗ be a Loſs it falls to the Govᵗⁿ & not to Your Honᵗ The Reaſons for Employing them are as Strong now as ever there beeing an abſolute neceſſity for the Speedy Encloſing the great Wood & finiſhing the New Plantaⁱⁿ both which are of the greateſt Conſequence & Importance to Your Honᵗ the Later thrives to Admiraⁱⁿ & in a little time will be a Meane to Leſſen very conſiderably One of the greateſt Branches of Expence but as Your Honᵗ ſlaves could not be Spared without great detriment to Your ſtock & Plantaⁱⁿ in other ſorts help was to be had elſewhere & as Your have been pleaſed to indulge the Govᵗⁿ Peedueⁱⁿ in Caſes of this Nature We humbly hope the Like bimefit & Advantage will be allowed & Continued to him, for the more & harᵈ are employed the ſooner the Work will be finiſhed & conſequently the Expence the ſoonᵗ at an Enᵈ & We are of Opinion its more for Your Honᵗ Interest to Employ the Govᵗⁿ Blacks rather than the Planters his being conſtantly at Work but the Planters are frequently taken off & Employed at home & therefore Buſineſs not ſo certainly diſpatched The next thing We beg leave to Anſwer to is that part of the Charge Relating to Goods Sold out of the Stores upon the Govᵗⁿ Aⁱⁱᵗ which this hardend Creature Says he will Swear to, that he will Swear to it We believe likely enough, but that he can truely & ſafely Swear to it We aver to be falſe & impoſſible the whole Charge as well concerning the Blacks as other Matters being either falſe & Groundleſs or Trifling, founded altogether upon Gueſs or Hearſay nᵗ Welfare Sure Your Honᵗ will never admit as Evidence for the Govᵗⁿ afubⁱⁿ both Your Honᵗ & Our ſelves that Soon after he was recommended to Your Honᵗ for which We are heartily Sorry & as much Surpriſed We ſhould be ſo much deceived in his Principles & Behaviour, he found him out & never placd any Confidence in him no had he any Occaſion what odd things the Govᵗⁿ had to diſpoſe of conſiſting of Eight or Ten Peice of China Taffity preſents from Gentᵗ that paſt this way & thoſe of a Sort of which Your Honᵗ & had not any he committed to the Care of an other Perſon tho if this Part of the Charge was true which is not We Matter our Selves Your Honᵗ would not think it worthy Your Notice or Obſervation But before We conclude the Paragraph | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship Compton, Captain Mawson commander, dated 10 Jan 1726. The Council took great pleasure in congratulating the Court on the safe arrival of last year's shipping, and hoped the same happy success would attend all those now abroad. It had this good news from Captain John Gregory, commander of the Eaton Galley. Stretching to the southward for the coast of Guinea, he chanced to make the island on 26 December last. His father and owners were well known to the Governor, and he produced ample proof that he was abroad on a fair account. He had leave to come in and repair some damage suffered by stress of weather on the voyage, though his stay was short, little exceeding 48 hours. 2: The Council forwarded, by this ship, the usual duplicates of all accounts and transactions sent by the Duke of Cambridge, which sailed on 16 July last, with the usual accounts and copies of consultations. It hoped its conduct in the management of the affairs committed to its care would meet with the Court's approval. 3: The Council next troubled the Court with a word or two about Mr Benjamin Hawkes and Mr Thomas Free, both often mentioned in its consultations and general letters. It was sorry such worthless persons should cause any trouble to the Court or to itself. It spoke first of Mr Hawkes. The reason given for suspending him from the Council would have justified the Council had it proceeded to further extremity. It left room for amendment, however, hoping his future conduct would let it recommend him to the Court's favour. Quite the reverse had happened. The Council had lately discovered a scene of villainy that would be extremely shocking and surprising, were it not aware that the person concerned was capable of attempting anything base and barbarous. Rather than not attack the Governor's fortune and character, he had, out of an impotent desire of malice and revenge, taken to calumny and forgery. The Council chanced on the affair through some insolent, threatening expressions Hawkes used to the Governor in open court at the last sessions. This led it to seize his papers, among which it found several books of accounts and a copy-book of letters sent to the Court and other gentlemen, particularly one dated 30 May last, sent to the Court by the Macclesfield. With a falsity and ingratitude peculiar to himself, he had tried to lessen the Governor's credit and reputation with the Court. He affirmed that the Governor had 50 slaves at work, that the better half of them were children fitter for nurses than for service, at 18d a day, that large quantities of goods belonging to the Governor were continually selling out of the stores, and that he was ready to make oath of all this if required. 4: This being the most material part of the information, the Council spoke to it before noticing the other groundless complaints about the house and table. First, it assured the Court that the number of the Governor's slaves never exceeded 37. These had gradually increased as the Governor had opportunity to buy them, and were not all employed from the beginning, as the informer insinuated. Nor were they children, as he called them, but strong lusty fellows as able to go through hard labour as any others. Indeed, there were two or three less than the rest, whose business it was to attend in the house. By this means the labour of so many fellows was better bestowed in the plantations, where they would otherwise have done their duty. Nor, the Governor wished the Court to know, were these all his own. The Court having been pleased to give him leave to bring his daughter and family with him, he wished that they, as well as himself, should make some advantage of a long voyage to a remote part of the world. To save the trouble of keeping distinct accounts, the Governor directed they should all be entered in his name. Though at first sight the profit seemed considerable, on examination it was not so great. It was not all gain. The Governor was at great expense to provide for them, and had been a loser by the deaths that happened among them. 5: The account Hawkes gave the Court of their pay was equally true with the other part of his information about their number. The Governor had no more than another, 12d a day, the other 6d being deducted for provision the Governor could supply for them at a much cheaper rate. The Council believed for less than 4d a day, though the other 2d had always been understood as a compensation for absence that might happen by sickness. However craftily the story was introduced by way of embellishment, if true it was trifling. The difference on this account, were it a loss, fell to the Governor, and not to the Court. 6: The reasons for employing them were as strong as ever, there being an absolute necessity for the speedy enclosing of the great wood and finishing the new plantation, both of the greatest consequence and importance to the Court. The latter throve to admiration, and would in a little time be a means to lessen very considerably one of the greatest branches of expense. The Governor's slaves could not be spared without great detriment to the Court's stock and plantations, help being had elsewhere. As the Court had been pleased to indulge the Governor's predecessors in cases of this kind, the Council hoped the like benefit and advantage would be allowed and continued to him. The more slaves were employed, the sooner the work would be finished, and so the expense the sooner at an end. The Council was of opinion it was more to the Court's interest to employ the Governor's slaves than the planters', since his were constantly at work, while the planters were frequently taken off and employed at home, and so their work was not so certainly despatched. 7: The Council next answered that part of the charge about goods sold out of the stores on the Governor's account. This hardened creature said he would swear to it. The Council believed him likely enough to swear to it, but that he could freely and safely swear to it, it held to be false and impossible. The whole charge, both about the slaves and other matters, was either false, groundless or trifling, founded altogether on guess or hearsay. The Council was sure the Court would never admit as evidence a fellow both the Governor's and its own. It was heartily sorry, and much surprised, that it should be so deceived in his principles and behaviour. Soon after he was recommended to the Court, it found him out, and never placed any confidence in him. He had no occasion for such odd things as the Governor had to dispose of, consisting of 8 or 10 pieces of China taffeta given him by gentlemen who passed that way, and those of a sort of which the Court had none. What little he committed to another person's care. Though this part of the charge were true, which it was not, the Council thought the Court would not think it worthy of notice. Before it concluded the paragraph [...] Interpretations China taffeta was a fine, crisp Chinese silk brought home as a private venture by ships' officers and gentlemen passing through the island. Small parcels of it were the kind of personal trade goods a governor might hold and dispose of. Its mention served to show how trifling the informer's charge was, the goods few and of a sort the Court did not stock. The seizure of Hawkes's papers turned a personal quarrel into a documented case for the Court's judgement. The Council found his copy-book of letters and his accounts, and set out their contents so the Court could weigh the informer against the Governor. The method matched the standing practice of sending home sworn depositions and exhibits to substantiate a contested matter. Benjamin Hawkes was known to the Council as its fifth and youngest member, raised on the Court's appointment and then suspended for several misdemeanours late in 1724. The suspension was set out in the letter by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724, and the board had pressed the Court for a decision in the letter by the Duke of Cambridge of 15 Jul 1725. His forgery and calumny marked the same disgraced councillor turning to open attack on the Governor. Thomas Free was likewise known as a habitual maker of false and litigious reports. He had spread the tale that the Governor would seize any planter's estate, was found guilty at the court of 23 Jan 1720, and had earlier complained to the Court against Governor Pyke over his yams. His pairing with Hawkes marked the two worthless persons the administration had to answer before the Court. The Governor's holding of slaves at the Court's works touched a charge levelled at his predecessor. Governor Pyke had faced Mr Tovey's accusation of keeping slaves at the Court's charge, cleared on his slave books in the consultation of 12 May 1719. The precedent of indulgence to former governors stood behind the Council's plea that the like allowance continue to Governor Smith. Speculations The Council chose to seize Hawkes's private papers after his outburst in open court, rather than let his threatening words pass as mere insolence. The plain course was to treat the expressions as the bluster of a suspended man and ignore them. The Council instead took them as warning enough to search his effects, weight given to exposing the forgery and calumny against the Governor over leaving a disgraced councillor's papers untouched. |
36 | 37 | We beg leave to acquaint Your Honᵗ that it appears by his Books that he has Sold upon his own Aⁱⁱᵗ large Quantities of Arrack Tea Sugar Candles Tobacco & other Goods Unknown to Us tile the Seizure of his Papers & at the Same time object that to the Govᵗⁿ a ſinne of which he himſelf has been Guilty & from hence Your Honᵗ will be able to Judge of the Spirit & Temper of the Man his Talents & Abilities are Light very much to his diſadvantage his Prudence his Gratitude, his Conduct & Courage are beyond all example or Commiſſion he formerly gave him as youngeſt Enſign As to what he Says about the Houſe We beg leave to acqᵗ Your Honᵗ that the Govᵗⁿ let it for a Time certain to Mʳ Joſhua Johnson long before Mʳ Hawkes was of Enterbil & therefore refuſed to let him have it tile that was expired, he had no occaſioned for its being then in poſeſſion of a decent convenient Appartmᵗ & no Reaſon to be uneaſey for want of proper Ladging The Clamour he makes about the Table is of the Same Stamp with the rest, We remember Commodore Matthews & ther Gentᵗ belonging to the Men of War dined with the Govᵗⁿ & then there was a Seperate Table the like was done when Mʳ Fazakerly was here & the Same when ⅋ Govᵗⁿ Elwick & Mʳ Iennings were here & We think the Govᵗⁿ the only proper Judge when its proper to Dine Seperately & whom to invite when he ſo determined & wonder how its poſſible for a Man to be ſo weak & Silly as to make this a handle for Complaint & are far from thinking theſe aucidentall Entertainmᵗ could Very much encreaſe the Table Expence, & as to what he tells Your Honᵗ about living upon Salt Provisions out of Shiping its alſo falſe the Govᵗⁿ having always Sent to the ſort part of whatever was provided & never Fed below even one State as he does As to Drinking We think Punch Liquer good enᵈ for thoſe at the lower End of the Table & the Govᵗⁿ obſerving Mʳ Hawkes very forward to call for Wine & Beer which he was deſireous to preſerve for the Uſe & Refreſhment by Strangers the Govᵗⁿ Ordered his Steward to give him Intimaⁱⁿ of it & as to any Conſideraⁱⁿ for Diet Expences We hope Your Honᵗ will never allow it him, he not having the least Pretention to any Such Favour the Table having always been as Free for him as others & as to points of Place if his Ignorance & Pride be ſo great that he cant brook the Loſs of Precedency he ought to have keepauld himſelf better he has no body to blame but himſelf The only ſlart of the Charge that is true is that which Relates to the Govᵗⁿ Cheguing him for being too pert & talkative in Consultaⁱⁿ about Matters he Underſtood not or did not concern him, this Impudet ty was alike Offenſive to Us all tho he was always at full Liberty to Aſſent or Diſſent to any thing a Man of his great Genius & Capacity could diſcover falſe or Erroneous We have now gone thro the most material Part of the Complaint, as to the other little Matters as Saying his Petihons were refuſed to be enterd & Sent to England & that Capᵗ Alexander & Capᵗ Goodwin had interceeded in his behalf to be reſtored We preſume it will be Sufficient to tell Your Honᵗ that as to the first all his Petihons have been regularly Enterd, & tranſmitted in Our Consultaⁱⁿ, & as to the Later Capᵗ Alexander & Capᵗ Goodwin decler to Your Honᵗ that he has uſed their Names without their Knowledge Privity a Conſent neither of them having ever propoſed any Such thing to the Govᵗⁿ We aſſure Your Honᵗ that in all Our Proceedings We Acted without Paſſion or Prejudice which will plainly Appear from the early Notice taken of his Miſbehaviour but his Cariage to the Govᵗⁿ has been quite the Reverſe his Complaints falſe or Trifling or groſsly Miſrepreſented the Effect of Malice & Revenge the Last Effort of Infamy & Deſpair & this will appear to Your Honᵗ to Demonſtraⁱⁿ for the Goods which he pretends were Sold upon the Govᵗⁿ Aⁱⁱᵗ were as he himſelf Confeſſes diſpoſed of before he was turned out which is as long Since as Novʳ last was twelve Month tho he gave Your Honᵗ no Aⁱⁱᵗ of the matter tile May last, & therefore if as he Alledges he had given Your Honᵗ this Aⁱⁱᵗ out of Zeale for Your Service he ought to have done it upon the firſts knowledge of the Fact if he hoped Such a Circumſtance would be taken Notice of in his Favour but the contrary appears & tho he would turn Traytor to his Benefactor he cannot, & its notorious to every one that the Govᵗⁿ could upon very eaſay Terme have Abated his Rage and Stifled the Informaⁱⁿ if he had thought it worth while but as the Govᵗⁿ has done nothing but what We hope Your Honᵗ will think juſtifiable nor any thing but what is as well known to every body elſe as to their Informer he is regardleſs of his Malice & aſſures Your Honᵗ he Scorns to live under Apprehenſion of any thing Such an Infamous Wretch can Say to his Prejudice, the only thing that gives Us concern is the Advantage he has taken in tranſmitting his Informaⁱⁿ before We could poſſibly have an Opportunity to Chak the Facts to Your Honᵗ as they really are time enough to receive Your Pleaſure & Commands by the next Storeſhip Jn our Consultaⁱⁿ of the 20ᵗ of Octobʳ last Your Honᵗ will obſerve in what manner We have expreſſed Our Reſentmᵗ & Abhorrence of his Treachery & Ingratitude but out of Reſpect to an other Family the most ignominious part of the Puniſhmᵗ hath been Remitted, We are ſorry We have been obliged to detain Your Honᵗˢ thus Long & will therefore forbear making any Remarks upon his Lewd Life & Converſation We having often taken Notice of his Criminal Amour with the Widow Facey a vile Tranſaction attended with Shame & Diſgrace to himſelf & with Ruin & Diſtruction to the Woman & her Unhappy Children We now humbly beg Permiſſion to acquaint Your Honᵗ with the Several Steps We have taken in Obedⁱⁿ to Your Commands relating to the Caſe of the Free, Upon the Govᵗⁿ first Arrival Mʳ Free frequently importuned him that his Cauſe might be Reheard & the Govᵗⁿ accordingly gave him all the Countenance & Encouragemᵗ he could poſſibly deſire or Expect & at Mʳ Frees own Requeſt it was agreed that the whole Affair ſhould be again Publickly Re Examined at a Genˡ Seſſions, when the Time was neat come the Govᵗⁿ Sent Mʳ Free Notice to prepare but he refuſed it upon frivolous Poetence, At the next Seſſions the Govᵗⁿ Sent to him again to get ready but he then declend it upon Poetence that Mʳ Powell his chief Evedence was gone to England who Since his return has declared that he remembers Leſs of the Affair now than formerly & that ever he knew of the Matter was already upon Award to which if Queſtioned he must wholly Refer himſelf, this plainly Proves that Mʳ Powells Teſtimony was not neceſſary & that Mʳ Free was not in earneſt when he deſired a Rehearing, but that Mʳ Free might be Left without Excuſe We have held an other Seſſions Since Mʳ Powells arrival when the Govᵗⁿ a third Time Warned him to provide for a New Tryal but he Refuſed it & ſaid he had wrote to England about it & Left the Deciſion of it to Your Honᵗ If what he Says be true We | The Council noted that Hawkes's own book showed him to have sold, on his own account, large quantities of arrack, tea, sugar, candles, tobacco and other goods, unknown to the Council until the seizure of his papers. He objected the same charge against the Governor. By the seizure the Court would be able to judge the spirit and temper of the man. His talents and abilities would no doubt recommend him to the Court's notice, but the Council believed his prudence, gratitude, conduct and courage were beyond all example. For want of that last quality the Governor had earlier revoked the commission he had given him as youngest ensign. 8: As to what Hawkes said about the house, the Council assured the Court that the Governor let it for a set term to Mr Joshua Johnson long before Hawkes was of the Council. It therefore refused to let him have it, since he already had a decent, convenient apartment and no reason to be uneasy for want of proper lodging. 9: The clamour Hawkes made about the table was of the same stamp with the rest. The Council recalled that Commodore Matthews and other gentlemen belonging to the men of war dined with the Governor, and then there was a separate table. The like was done when Mr Fazakerly was at the island, and the same when Governor Elwick and Mr Jennings were there. The Council thought the Governor the only proper judge of when it was fit to dine separately, and whom to invite, when he so determined. It wondered how it was possible for a man to be so weak and silly as to make this a handle for complaint. Far from adding to the Governor's table expense, such occasional entertainments greatly increased it. As to what Hawkes told the Court about living on salt provisions out of shipping, that too was false, the Governor having always sent to the fort part of whatever was provided, and eaten his own share, even one course, as he did. 10: As to drinking, the Council thought punch liquor good enough for those at the lower end of the table. The Governor, observing Hawkes very forward to call for wine and beer, which he was desirous to preserve for the use and refreshment of strangers, ordered his steward to give him a hint of it. As to any allowance for diet expenses, the Council hoped the Court would never grant it him, since he had not the least pretension to any such favour. The table had always been free for him as for others. As to points of place, if his ignorance and pride were so great that he could not brook the loss of precedency, he ought to have behaved himself better, and had no one to blame but himself. 11: The only part of the charge that was true concerned the Governor checking Hawkes for being too free and talkative in consultation about matters he did not understand, or that did not concern him. His impertinence was as offensive to the whole board, though he was always at full liberty to assent or dissent to anything a man of his great genius and capacity could discover to be false or erroneous. 12: The Council had now gone through the most material part of the complaint. As to the other little matters, such as saying his petitions were refused entry and being sent to England, and that Captain Alexander and Captain Goodwin had interceded on his behalf to be restored, the Council thought it enough to tell the Court that all his petitions had been regularly entered and sent home in its consultations. As to the latter, Captain Alexander and Captain Goodwin declared to the Court that Hawkes had used their names without their knowledge, privity or consent, neither of them having ever proposed any such thing to the Governor. The Council assured the Court that in all its proceedings it acted without passion or prejudice, as would plainly appear from the early notice it took of his misbehaviour. His carriage to the Governor had been quite the reverse, his complaints false, trifling, or grossly misrepresented, the effect of malice and revenge, the last effort of infamy and despair. This would appear to the Court by demonstration. The goods he pretended were sold on the Governor's account were, as he himself confessed, disposed of before he was turned out, which was as long since as November was 12 months. He gave the Court no account of the matter until May last. Had he really given the Court this account out of zeal for its service, he ought to have done it on the first knowledge of the fact, if he hoped such a circumstance would be noticed in his favour. The contrary appeared. That he could turn traitor to his benefactor he could not, though it was notorious to everyone that the Governor could very easily have abated his rage and stifled the information, had he thought it worth while. As the Governor had done nothing but what the Council hoped the Court would think justifiable, nor anything but what was well known to everybody else about their informer, he scorned to live under apprehension of anything such an infamous wretch could say to his prejudice. The only thing that gave the Council concern was the advantage Hawkes had taken in transmitting his information, before it could possibly have an opportunity to check the facts to the Court, as they really were, in time enough to receive the Court's pleasure and commands by the next store ship. 13: In its consultation of 20 October last, the Court would observe in what manner the Council had expressed its resentment and abhorrence of Hawkes's treachery and ingratitude. Out of respect to another family, the most ignominious part of the punishment had been remitted. The Council was sorry it had been obliged to detain the Court so long, and would forbear making any remarks on his lewd life and conversation, having often noticed his criminal amour with the widow Facey. That vile transaction was attended with shame and disgrace to himself, and with ruin and destruction to the woman and her unhappy children. 14: The Council next reported the several steps it had taken about Thomas Free, under the Court's commands. On the Governor's first arrival, Free frequently importuned him that his case might be reheard. The Governor accordingly gave him all the countenance and encouragement he could desire or expect. At Free's own request, it was agreed the whole affair should be publicly re-examined at the next sessions. When the time was near come, the Governor sent Free notice to prepare, but he refused it on a frivolous pretence. At the next sessions the Governor sent to him again to get ready, but he then declined it on pretence that Mr Powell, his chief evidence, was gone to England, who since his return had declared he remembered less of the affair now than formerly, and that whatever he swore of the matter was already on record. Being questioned, he must wholly refer himself to that. This plainly proved that Mr Powell's testimony was not necessary, and that Free was not in earnest when he desired a rehearing. That Free might be left without excuse, the Council held another sessions when Mr Powell arrived, and the Governor a third time warned him to provide for a new trial. He refused it, and left the decision of it to the Court. If what he said were true, that he had written to England about it, the Council [...] Interpretations Punch was a mixed drink of spirit, water, sugar and citrus, cheaper than imported wine and served to the lower end of the table. Wine and beer were reserved for strangers and men of rank, so the Governor's steward hinted Hawkes to leave them for that use. The distinction marked the ordered hospitality of the General Table, where drink followed each guest's standing. The Governor's separate table for men of war and senior passengers followed the island's custom of entertaining visiting rank apart. Commodore Matthews had been supplied with beef for his warships the Lyon and Shoreham, the entertainment recorded in the letter by the Mary of 29 Apr 1724. The Council held such occasional tables to be a charge on the Governor rather than a gain, answering Hawkes's complaint. Benjamin Hawkes was known to the Council as its suspended fifth member, disgraced for several misdemeanours late in 1724 and now exposed as a forger and calumniator. His suspension was set out in the letter by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724, and his own trade in stores now turned his charge against the Governor back on himself. His amour with the widow Facey deepened the character the Council drew for the Court. Thomas Free was likewise known as a habitual maker of false and litigious reports. He had spread the tale that the Governor would seize any planter's estate, was found guilty at the court of 23 Jan 1720, and had earlier complained to the Court against Governor Pyke over his yams. His repeated refusal of a rehearing marked the same evasive character the Council had long known. Mr Powell was Gabriel Powell, the wealthiest planter at the island and the Court's principal creditor. His hold over the indebted planters and his engrossing of the common grazing had been exposed in the reply by the Heathcote of 8 Jun 1722. His readiness to serve as Free's chief evidence, then his retreat from it, marked his standing at the centre of the island's contentions. Speculations The Council chose to hold three separate sessions and warn Free each time to prepare, rather than let his first refusal close the matter. The plain course, given his frivolous excuses, was to treat his evasion as forfeiting the rehearing he had sought. The Council instead pressed the opportunity on him repeatedly, weight given to leaving him without excuse before the Court over the simpler course of dropping a case its subject would not pursue. |
37 | 38 | most heartily wiſh that this will be the last Time We ſhall ever have Occaſion to trouble Your Honᵗˢ about him tho We beleive he had Recourſe to this Shift on purpoſe to Evade bringing his Cauſe to a Sentiney of which he himſelf is diffident & We beleive wont hold Water And We are firmly perſwaded that if Your Honᵗ were as well acquainted with the Man & his Character as We are Your Honᵗ would not Suffer him to deceive and Amuſe You with falſe Aⁱⁱᵗ of pretended Hardſhips, We with humble Submiſſion Aſſure Your Honᵗ can give no Credit to his noiſey Complaints for Right or Wrong to gain his Point he will Say or Swear any thing Wᵗ of this We had a Late Instance at Our Last Seſſions but the Govᵗⁿ for Pity & Charities ſake would not Suffer an Oath to be ten do it him had he taken it which he much deſired he would have been Perjured but We were willing to Save him from the Guilt of a Cryme of ſo black a Die In Our Letter to yᵉ Honᵗ by the Duke of Cambridge Duplicated by this We gave You ſo full an Aⁱⁱᵗ of the State & Condition of this Place that We think it needleſs to trouble Your Honᵗ with any thing more upon this Head except obſerving with much Satisfaction that Our Provision particularly Your Honᵗ Cattle are extreamly good much the best of any upon the Iſland & We are no longer under Apprehenſion of meeting with Difficulty to Supply Your Honᵗ Shiping not only with their Charter Party Beef but as much more as they may have Occaſion for & We heartily wiſh the Iſland may long continue in this floriſhing Condition We are Honᵈ Sirs, yᵉ Most Dutyfⁱⁿ Most Obliged Most Obedᵗ & Most faithfull Servᵗˢ JᵗSᵗ EᵗBᵗ JᵗAᵗ JᵗGᵗ Pᵈ Sᵗ In our Packet We have tranſmitted a Copy of the Genˡ Survey which We Ordred to be Lately taken the better to diſcover the Condition of the Iſland as to Wood, ſuage, & ffencing & will take Care by a moderate fine to Bunſh thoſe who have been negligent & Careleſs We are Sorry We cant give Your Honᵗ any perfect Aⁱⁱᵗ of the Old Hertford formerly in Your Service but Since called the Great Alexander & Commanded by one Capᵗ Dun now a Paſſenger on board the James & Mary who Informs Us that he was bound to Africa but went a little out of his way & in August last Anchored in Falſe Bay at the Back of the Cape where he & his Purſer went on ſhoar but not giving a Satisfactory Aⁱⁱᵗ of themſelves were detained by the Govᵗⁿ of which as ſoon as the Ship Company had Warting they either Cut or Weighed & Anchor leaving the Captain & Purſer behind them & have not been heard of Since We are informed the carces One Hundred Men & Thirty Guns We cant learn upon what Deſign ſhe is abroad but beleive upon no good Aⁱⁱᵗ William Worrall a Planter being Jndebted to Your Honᵗ in a Large Sum is called upon to Pay the Same Alledges he is unable to do it tile Such time he receives the Legacy given him by Mʳˢ Thomlinſon & now as he Says in the Hands of Mʳ Feake & has deſired Us to tranſmit Copies of Mʳ Feakes Letter & her Will & humbly Prays if there be any thing due to him & yet Unpaid that Your Honᵗ will be pleaſed to receive the Same towards Satisfaction of the ſaid Debt Amounting to £95, 13, 5 The Govᵗⁿ being ill appointed Capᵗ Goodwin to Survey the Compton & James & Mary who Reports that the Hull Masts Yards Standing & Runing Riging of the Compton are good for the Length of the Voyage Anchor & Cables good Hatches Caulked down Guns Clear Men in good Health Draught of Water Abaft 16 ffᵗ 4 Inches, Afore 15 ffᵗ 4 Inches & that the Hull Masts Yards Standing & Runing Riging of the James & Mary are all good for the Length of the Voyage Anchors good Cables Since ſhe has had one here in ᵈᵈ good Hatches Caulked down Guns clear, Men in good Health Draught of Water Abaft 15 ffᵗ 3 Inch afore 12 ffᵗ 7 Inch We have drawn three Setts of Bills upon Your Honᵗˢ for the Suⁱⁿ Idmᵈ payable to the Sevaⁱⁿ Perſons following viz.ᵗ One Sett dated 4ᵗ instant Payable to Capᵗ Jnᵗ Roberts or Order for £59, 3 Sterˡ One Sett dated 10ᵗ inſt payable to Capᵗ Wᵐ Mawson or Order for £184, 6, 6 Sterˡ One other Sett dated 10ᵗ inſt payable to Capᵗ John Balchen or Order for £704, 6, Sterˡ of which We beg Your Honᵗ Aceptance We have received of Capᵗ Balchen Comᵈ of the James & Mary Seven Bags of Pepper of yᵉ Aⁱⁱᵗ yᵗ ſ 5, 1, 10 for the Uſe of this Place there being little in Your Honᵗ Stores We are Honᵈ Sirs yᵗ Most Dutyfull & Most faithfull Servᵗˢ Sᵗ Helena 10ᵗ Ianʳy 1725 EᵗBᵗ JᵗAᵗ JᵗGᵗ | The Council heartily wished this would be the last time it need trouble the Court about Free. It believed he had taken to this shift on purpose to avoid bringing his cause to a hearing, of which he himself was doubtful, and which the Council thought would not hold water. It was firmly persuaded that if the Court knew the man and his character as the Council did, it would not let him deceive it, nor amuse it with false accounts of pretended hardships. The Council assured the Court, with all submission, that it could give no credit to his noisy complaints. To gain his point, right or wrong, he would say or swear anything. The Council had a late instance of this at the last sessions, but the Governor, out of pity and charity, would not let an oath be tendered him, which he much desired. Had he taken it, he would have been perjured, but the Council was willing to save him from the guilt of an oath of so black a die. 15: In its letter by the Duke of Cambridge, duplicated by this ship, the Council gave the Court so full an account of the state of the island that it thought it needless to trouble the Court further on that head. It observed with much satisfaction that the provisions, and particularly the Court's cattle, were extremely good, much the best of any on the island. The Council was no longer under any difficulty in supplying the Court's shipping, not only with their charter-party beef but with as much more as they might have occasion for. It heartily wished the island might long continue in this flourishing condition. The letter closed on 10 Jan 1726, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. By a postscript, the Council forwarded in its packet a copy of the general survey it had lately ordered taken, the better to show the state of the island as to wood, furze and fencing. It would take care, by a moderate fine, to correct those who had been negligent and careless. The Council was sorry it could give the Court no perfect account of the Hartford, formerly in the Court's service. Captain Alexander, who commanded her, was now a passenger aboard the James and Mary. He told the Council she was bound for Africa, but going a little out of her way in August last, anchored in False Bay at the back of the Cape, where he and his purser went ashore. Not giving a satisfactory account of themselves, they were detained by the Governor there. As soon as the ship's company found this, they either cut or weighed the anchor, and left the captain and purser behind. She had not been heard of since. The Council was told she carried 100 men and 30 guns. It could not learn on what design she was abroad, but believed, on no good account. William Worrall, a planter, being indebted to the Court in a large sum, was called on to pay it. He alleged he was unable to do so until he received the legacy left him by Mrs Thomlinson, now, as he said, in the hands of Mr Feake. He asked the Council to forward a copy of Mr Feake's letter and his will, and asked that if anything were due to him and yet unpaid, the Court would be pleased to receive it toward satisfaction of the debt, amounting to £95 13s 5d. The Governor, being appointed to survey the Compton and the James and Mary, reported that the hull, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging of the Compton were good for the length of the voyage. Her anchors and cables were good, her hatches caulked twice over, her guns clear, and her men in good health. Her draught of water was 16 feet aft and 15 feet 4 inches forward. The hull, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging of the James and Mary were all good for the length of the voyage. Her anchors were good, her cables good since she had one at the island, her hatches caulked twice over, her guns clear, and her men in good health. Her draught of water was 15 feet 3 inches aft and 12 feet 7 inches forward. The Council drew three sets of bills of exchange on the Court for the value, payable to the several persons following. One set dated 4 January, payable to Captain John Roberts or order, £59 3s 0d sterling One set dated 10 January, payable to Captain William Mawson or order, £184 6s 6d sterling One other set dated 10 January, payable to Captain John Balchen or order, £704 6s 0d sterling The Council asked the Court's acceptance of them. The Council received from Captain Balchen, commander of the James and Mary, seven bags of pepper, weighing [...] hundredweight, [...] quarters, 10 pounds, for the use of the island, there being little in the Court's stores. The letter closed at St Helena on 10 Jan 1726, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. Interpretations The general survey of the island's wood, furze and fencing gave the Court a written record of the state of the plantations and enclosures. The Council used it to identify those who had neglected the planting law, and to enforce compliance by a moderate fine. The measure tied the survey to the standing effort to preserve the woodland and the planters' provisions against the blasting winds. The loss of the Hartford under Captain Alexander marked an ugly turn for a ship once in the Court's service. His detention at the Cape and his crew's flight with the vessel, carrying 100 men and 30 guns, pointed to a design the Council believed dishonest. The report answered the Court's standing concern over deserters and ships turned to piracy. William Worrall was long known to the Council as a capable and industrious overseer, appointed to the Court's plantations on the death of Captain Mashborne. He had ended the siege of the armed runaways in the cave under Lot, the exploit recorded in the reply of 3 Nov 1718. His appearance here as an indebted planter awaiting a legacy marks the same man in his later standing at the island. Captain Mawson was known to the Council as the master of the Cardonnel, whose quarrel with his passengers had been heard and settled in the despatch of 6 Jul 1715, and who later carried the Council letter of 7 Mar 1719. His fresh bill of exchange marks the same commander in an ordinary dealing with the Court many years after the Cardonnel dispute. Speculations The Governor chose not to let an oath be tendered to Free at the last sessions, though Free himself pressed for it. The plain course was to allow the man the oath he demanded and let him swear. The Governor instead withheld it, weight given to sparing Free the certain guilt of perjury over the simpler course of letting a determined liar swear himself into worse trouble. |
38 | 39 | Letter to England of Greenwich Capᵗ Lasinby - 26 ᵈebʳy 1725/6 Honᵈ Sʳˢ We are very glad to hear that the Duke of Cambridge is Safely arrived is Safely arrived in England, We learnt this from Capᵗ Lasinby Comᵈ of the Greenwich & Capᵗ Uphonhill Comander of the Duke of Yorke who haveing touched at the Cape, there mett the Barrington, By the Duke of Cambridge We wrote ſo particularly in Anſwer to Your Honours Genˡ Letter by the Neat ſhips that We have no occaſion at Preſent to trouble You with any thing relating to the Affairs of Sᵗ Helena nothing material haveing Since happend expt to acquaint Your Honᵗ that for the Reaſons Mentioned in Consultahon of the third of Novʳ 1724 & in many other & for his impute juſt Wied barbarous behaviour to the Governer We have Sent Mʳ Benjamin Hawkes home again, All the Circumſtances concerning this matter We have already tranſmitted to Your Honours by the Compton (Duplicated by this by which We alſo ſent Copies of Consultations from 4 Ianʳy Exclusive to the 22ᵈ ᵈebruary inclusive & alſo Our Sett Books of Accompts for the year 1724) & therefore forbear to ſay any thing more about it The Greenwich & Duke of Yorke arrived here the 19ᵗ instant & by the last We had 20 Bags Rice qᵗy too Small Mayⁱⁿd but the Capᵗ has been obliged to uſe 12 of the Bags for the uſe of the Ships Company, the Wheat qᵗy 20 Bags Waight 120 Small Mayⁱⁿd has been Delivered as of Jndentwrit upon the Bill of Loading We have nothing more of any Conſequence to acquaint You with but to aſſure Your Honᵗ the Iſland is in a floriſhing Condition the Rainy Seaſon haveing happend at the uſual times & hitherto Proved extreamly good, & every thing Plenty but We are apprehenſive of being Diſtreſſed for want of Garden Seeds The Governᵗ according to Your Honᵗ Orders has Surveyd the Greenwich & Duke of Yorke & finds their Hull Masts yards Standing & Runing Riging Good for the Length of the Voyage, Anchors & Cables of the Greenwich good, the Cables of the Duke of Yorke indifferent Guns Clear Hatches Caulked down & the men in good Health Draught of Water viz.ᵗ ᵈeet Inᶜʰˢ Greenwich 17- - Afore 17- 8 Abaft Duke Yorke 16- 4 Abaft 15- - Afore We have drawn One Sett Bills upon Your Honᵗ for £200 Sterling dated the 26ᵗ instant Payable to the Governour or Order of which We beg Your Honᵗ Aceptance, We wiſh Your Honᵗ all Manner of Succeſs & Proſperity & are Honᵈ Sʳˢ yᵉ Most Dutyfull & Obedᵗ Servᵗˢ Jnᵗ Smith Edward Byfeld Jnᵗ Alexander Jnᵗ Goodwin | Letter to England by the Greenwich, Captain Lacinby commander, 26 Feb 1726. Honoured Sirs, The Council was very glad to hear the Duke of Cambridge had safely reached England. It had this news from Captain Lacinby, commander of the Greenwich, and from Captain Uphill, commander of the Duke of York, who touched at the Cape and there met the Barrington. The Council had written so fully by the Duke of Cambridge, in answer to the Court's general letter by the Grantham, that it had no occasion now to trouble the Court with anything about the affairs of St Helena. Nothing material had happened since, except to report that, for the reasons set out in its consultation of 3 Nov 1725, and in many others, and for his vile and barbarous behaviour to the Governor, the Council had sent Mr Benjamin Hawkes home again. It had already sent the Court all the circumstances of the matter by the Compton, duplicated by this ship, with copies of its consultations from 4 January exclusive to 22 February inclusive, and a set of account books for the year 1724. It therefore forbore to say anything more about it. The Greenwich and the Duke of York arrived on the 19th of this month. By the Duke of York the Council had 20 bags of rice from Mount, but the captain had been obliged to use 12 of the bags for his ship's company. The wheat, 20 bags weighing 120 [...], from Mount had been delivered as the Council noted on the bill of lading. The Council had nothing further of any consequence to report, but assured the Court the island was in a flourishing condition. The rainy season had come at its usual time, and so far the cattle were extremely good and everything plentiful. The Council was, however, anxious for want of garden seeds. Under the Court's orders, the Governor surveyed the Greenwich and the Duke of York. He found their hulls, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging good for the length of the voyage. The anchors and cables of the Greenwich were good, though the cables of the Duke of York were indifferent. Their guns were clear, their hatches caulked twice over, and their men in good health. Draught of water Greenwich, 17 feet forward, 14 feet 8 inches aft Duke of York, 16 feet 4 inches aft, 15 feet forward The Council drew one set of bills of exchange on the Court for £200 0s 0d sterling, dated the 26th of this month, payable to the Governor or order, and asked the Court's acceptance of it. It wished the Court all manner of success and prosperity. The letter was subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. Interpretations The rice and wheat from Mount continued the eastern presidencies' relief of the island after the drought. Grain was supplied by turns as each station's stock allowed, the famine relief pressed across the letters of 1723 and 1724. The captain's need to take 12 of the 20 bags for his own crew showed how thin the margins ran even on a single consignment. The want of garden seeds touched the island's standing reliance on outside supply for its crops. Cape and European seed did not breed true in the island's ground, so fresh stock was sought by every ship, the need pressed across the letters of 1716 and 1717. The anxiety marked a recurring dependence even as the drought at last relented. Benjamin Hawkes was known to the Council as its suspended fifth member, disgraced late in 1724 and then exposed as a forger and calumniator against the Governor. His conduct was set out at length in the letter by the Compton of 10 Jan 1726, and his suspension first reported by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724. His shipping home marked the close of a case the Council had long pressed before the Court. |
39 | 40 | Liſt of the Packet of Greenwich Capᵗ Richard Lasinby Comᵈ Govʳ & Councills Genˡ Letter dated 26ᵗ ᵈebruary 1725 Copy of Genˡ Letter of Compton Copy of Consultations from 18ᵗ Ianuary 1725 to the 22ᵈ ᵈebʳy ffoloⁱⁿ both inclusive Jnventory of Remaining ſtores taken 25ᵗ Sepᵈ 1725 One Book of Aⁱⁱᵗ containing Iournal & Ledger for the year 1724 Dupliceat of Mʳ Byfelds Aⁱⁱᵗ of each Plantation for the Months of Iuly Aug.ᵗ 7ᵇʳ 8ᵇʳ 9ᵇʳ & Decʳ 1725 Dupliceat of ᵈᵈ Genˡ Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ from 25ᵗ Decʳ 1724 to yᵈ ſhip following Copy of ᵈᵈ Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ for the Month Ianʳy 1725 Copy of Rents & Revenues for the year Ending Sepᵈ 25ᵗ 1725 Copy of ſhip Greenwich Aⁱⁱᵗ Copy of Duke of Yorkes ᵈᵈ | List of the packet by the Greenwich, Captain Richard Lacinby commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 26 Feb 1725 2: Copy of the general letter by the Compton 3: Copy of consultations from 18 Jan 1725 to the 22 February following, both inclusive 4: Inventory of remaining stores taken 25 Sep 1725 5: One book of accounts containing journal and ledger for the year 1724 6, 7, 8: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of each plantation for the months of July, August, September, October, November and December 1725 9, 10, 11: (continued) 12: Duplicate of the same general account of the same from 25 Dec 1724 to 25 December following 13: Copy of the same account of the same for the month of January 1725 14: Copy of rents and revenues for the year ending 25 Sep 1725 15: Copy of the ship Greenwich's account 16: Copy of the Duke of York's account Interpretations The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying a copy of the Compton letter against the original sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. The practice guarded a recoverable chain of custody at India House, carried through the correspondence of 1725 and 1726. The account book for 1724, the stores inventory and the rents return went home as the standing yearly returns of the island. Each answered the accountant general's audit, which had condemned the backward and undated books of the previous regime. The rents drawn to 25 September marked the new accounting year the Council had fixed to clear the balance of the shipping season. |
40 | 41 | Letter to the Honᵇˡᵉ Compy of Cæsar Capᵗⁿ Mabbott 17ᵗʰ March 1725/6 Honᵈ Sirs By the Greenwich who in Company with the Duke of York Sailed hence for England 26ᵗʰ of ᵈebʳy last We Paid Our Duty to Your Honᵗ & had the Pleaſure to acquaint You that the Seaſon was Sett in & has Since continued to the great Benⁱⁿffit of this Place & Satisfaction both to Our Selves & the Inhabitant We have taken all Imaginable Care to improve it to the best Advantage, We alſo forward with the greateſt Expedition the Work at the Wood & the New Plantaⁱⁿ & in a Short time hope to give Your Honᵗ every good account of them We have been informed by the Capᵗ & Gentlemen Supra Cargoes that about a Month hence, We may expect the Houghton, but that the Prince Amelia would be first Diſpatcht for Mocha, We have Likewiſe heard by them what We heartily wiſh had been prevented, that about three Weeks after their Arrivce in China, two Sail of Oſtenders came in, whom they Left there at their Departure The Duke of Cambridge being Safely Arrived in England by whom We Sent Your Honᵗ a particular Account of the State of Affairs of Sᵗ Helena & haveing by every Opportunity given Your Honᵗ an Exact Aⁱⁱᵗ of all remarkable Occurrences that have Since happend We forbear to trouble Your Honᵗ with any thing but the uſual Aⁱⁱᵗ & Copie of Consultations, from 1ᵗ March to 15ᵗʰ ᵈᵈ both inclusive, & the rather Becauſe We are in hopes of the Speedy Arrival of yᵈ Neat ſhip The Govᵗⁿ in Obedience to your Honᵗ Command has Surveyed the Cæsar, & finds her Hull Masts yards Standing & Runing Riging Good, Anchors & Cables Good, Hatches Caulked down, Men in good Health, Draught of Water Abaft 17 ffeet 6 Inches Afore 15- 6 We have drawn two Setts Bills of Exchange One for £74, 19, 6 Sterling Payable to Capᵗ William Mabbott or Order dated the 17ᵗʰ instant & One other for £184, 5, 6 Sterling dated 30ᵗʰ instant Payable by Mʳ John Bazett or Order both for Caſh & Notes Paid into Your Honᵗ Caſh, of which We beg yᵗ Honᵗ acceptance We are Honᵈ Sir Union Castle 17ᵗʰ March 1725/6 yᵗ Most Obedient & most faithfull Servᵗˢ John Smith Edward Byfeld Jnᵗ Alexander Jnᵗ Goodwin | Letter to the Honourable Company by the Caesar, Captain Mabbott commander, 17 Mar 1726. Honoured Sirs, By the Greenwich, which sailed for England on 26 February last in company with the Duke of York, the Council paid its duty to the Court. It had the pleasure of reporting that the season had set in, and so far continued, to the great benefit of the island and the satisfaction of the Council and the inhabitants alike. The Council had taken every care to improve it to the best advantage. It also pressed forward, with the greatest speed, the work at the wood and the new plantation, and hoped in a short time to give the Court a good account of them. The captains, gentlemen and supercargoes told the Council that the Houghton might be expected in about a month, but that the Princess Amelia would be first despatched for Mocha. They also reported what the Council heartily wished had been prevented. About three weeks after their arrival in China, two Ostend ships came in, which they left there at their departure. The Duke of Cambridge had safely reached England, and by her the Council had sent the Court a full account of the state of affairs at St Helena. Having given the Court a fair account of every remarkable occurrence by each opportunity, the Council forbore to trouble it with anything but the usual accounts and copies of consultations from 1 March to 15 March, both inclusive. It did so partly because it was in hopes of the speedy arrival of the Court's shipping. Under the Court's orders, the Governor surveyed the Caesar. He found her hull, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging good, her anchors and cables good, her hatches caulked twice over, and her men in good health. Her draught of water was 17 feet 6 inches aft and 15 feet 6 inches forward. The Council drew two sets of bills of exchange on the Court. One was for £74 19s 6d sterling, payable to Captain William Mabbott or order, dated the 17th of this month. The other was for £184 5s 6d sterling, dated the 17th of this month, payable to Mr John Bazett or order. Both were for cash notes paid into the Court's cash, and the Council asked the Court's acceptance of them. The letter closed at Union Castle on 17 Mar 1726, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. Interpretations The arrival of two Ostend ships at Canton touched the Court's standing concern over foreign competition in the East India trade. The Ostend venture had earlier reached the island in the House of Austria, driven off for falsely claiming the name of the Court's ship Sunderland on 4 Mar 1720. The Council's regret at the fresh Ostend presence marked the same rivalry the Company sought to shut out of its markets. The work at the wood and the new plantation carried forward the two great tasks the Council had pressed through the season. The Great Wood enclosure and the watered plantation in the Fort Valley were both meant to lessen the Court's charge, the schemes set out across the letters of 1725. Their steady progress answered the Court's wish to see the island made self-supporting. John Bazett was known to the Council through his kinship with the late storekeeper Captain Bazett, long an officer of the island establishment. His appearance here drawing bills for cash paid in marks an ordinary dealing with the Court. The transaction turned coin lodged at the island into a claim payable in London. |
41 | 42 | Liſt of the Packet of Cæsar Capᵗ Willⁱⁿ Mabbott Comᵈ Govʳ & Councills Genˡ dated 17ᵗ March 1725/6 Copy of Govʳ & Councills Letter of Greenwich dated 26ᵗ ᵈebʳy 1725/6 Copy of Consultations from 1ᵗ March to 15ᵗ ᵈᵈ both inclusive Duplicate of Jnventory of Remaining ſtores taken 25ᵗ Sepᵈ 1725 Duplicate of Mʳ Byfields Aⁱⁱᵗ of yᵉ Honᵇˡᵉ Comᵖ Live ſtock &ᶜ for Month Ianuary 1725/6 Copy of ditto Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ for ᵈebʳy ffollowing Duplicate of Rents & Revenues for ½ year to 24ᵗ Sepᵗ 1725 Copy of ſhip Cæsar Acompt Receipt for Packet of Greenwich | List of the packet by the Caesar, Captain William Mabbott commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 17 Mar 1726 2: Copy of the Governor and Council's letter by the Greenwich dated 26 Feb 1726 3: Copy of consultations from 1 March to 15 March, both inclusive 4: Duplicate of the inventory of remaining stores taken 25 Sep 1725 5: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of the Court's live stock and expense for the month of January 1726 6: Copy of the same account of the same for February following 7: Duplicate of rents and revenues for the half year to 24 Sep 1725 8: Copy of the ship Caesar's account 9: Receipt for the packet by the Greenwich Interpretations The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying a copy of the Greenwich letter against the original sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. Item 9, the receipt for the earlier packet, gave proof that the Greenwich's papers had gone aboard, the standing safeguard for a recoverable chain of custody at India House. The rents drawn to 24 September for the half year marked the new accounting period the Council had fixed. Balancing to late September moved the reckoning clear of the shipping season, part of the reform set out in the letter by the Sunderland of 21 Feb 1724. The storekeeper's monthly accounts of the live stock ran alongside it, answering the audit of the island books. |
42 | 43 | Hon.ᵉᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡ Lettʳ of Monmoth Capᵗ Kemys 12ᵗʰ May 1726 The last Opportunity We had of Honouring Our ſelves with a Letter to your Honᵗ was by the Cæsar Capᵗⁿ William Mabbott bearing date the 17ᵗʰ of March 1725/6 whoſe Copy comes herewith As alſo of Our Consultations from the 2ᵗʰ of that month Exclusive to the 5ᵗʰ of this Instant On which day in the morning very Early We had an Alarm for One ſhip about ſeven Leagues diſtance and in the afternoon Arrived the Carnarvon Capᵗ Josiah Thwaites from England with a Cargoe of Goods & Merchandize for the uſe of this Iſland and your Honᵗˢ returning ſhips, and which upon reading your Honᵗˢ Generall Letter of the 24ᵗ Decᵘᵐᵇʳ 1725 and Jnvoice (with all other Papers in the Packet) We find to be the ſorts & Quantitys last years Jndented for which is very Aceptable and Returns your Honᵗ Our most Humble & hearty thanks Aſſureing your Honᵗ We ſhall take Effectuall Care to fix the ſeverall Prices by which they are to be Retailed at Aⁱⁱording to your Directions and to uſe Our Utmost Zeal & Fidelity for your Honours Interest in the Diſpoſeing of them, or any other Goods We have or ſhall receive from India We haveing Wroſe your Honᵗˢ (as twas Our dutys ſo to do) by all Opportunitys and Acquainted your Honᵗˢ in Our aforeſaid Lettʳ by the Cæsar of the Continuance of the kindly ſeaſons Sett in to the great Benⁱⁿffit of this Iſland & Generall Satisfaction We beg your Honᵗˢ will be pleaſed to Excuſe Our not Anſwering your Genˡ Letter by the Carnarvon, which We could not Poſſibly do (tho twas Our greateſt Humbleⁱⁿ inſue deſire to Effect it) becauſe of Our Preſent Hurry in diſpatching theſe too ſhips the Monmouth & Enfeild and receiveing the Cargo by the Carnarvon and giveing Her all the Aſiſtance We can for the quick & ſoo Diſpatch and preventing any Blame on Our part, and if the Sea Continues ſmooth We doubt not but all the Goods will be on ſhore within or by the time Limmitted in Charterparty By the before Named too ſhips Monmouth & Enfeild who Arrived here on the 21ᵗ Aprⁱⁱ last from Bengall and Fort Sᵗ George We have receiod from the former Settlement One Hundred & five Bags of Rice, twenty Bays of Sugar & four Cheſts of Wax Candles more Particularly Enterd in Our Consultaⁱⁿ of the 26ᵗ of that month with Advice of a further ſupply by the Eyles, Fordwich, Marlborᵗ & Lynn (which We judge to be Sufficient for this years Consumphon) and is Expected ſome time in this month and Alſo the China ſhip is not yet Arrived Us We doubt not of Her being ſafe and hope to ſee Her very ſpeedily On the 30ᵗʰ March last We had a double Alarm and in the afternoon there Paſed by the N:Eᵗ Part of the Iſland Nineteen ſaile of Dutch ſhips, three of them came Neare Enᵈ to Look into Our Road and ſalluted the Castle from whence they were Anſwerd with the ſame Number of Guns as being fforreigners We being deſireous of Augmenting your Honᵗˢ Rents & Revenues as far as Poſſible by Letting out your Wast Lands as well as to Leſſen your Honᵗ Charge at any of your Plantahons We have granted out Lately ſeverall ſmall Parcells, and ſold too Acres of the Hutts Plantation to One John Purling for the ſume of thirty Pounds, as more fully Menhond in Our Consultahons of the 8 & 15ᵗʰ ᵈebʳy last whereto begg leave to reſer your Honours for better Satisfaction and which We have good reaſon to think will induce him to buy the whole He haveing Deſired the Refuſall as in thoſe Consultations will Appear The Governour hath made an Experiment by beguining to digg Yams in the New Plantahon in the ffort Valley, and tho they did not Exceed Nine Months growth | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the Monmouth, Captain Kemys commander, 12 May 1726. 1: The Council last addressed the Court by the Caesar, Captain William Mabbott commander, in the letter dated 17 Mar 1726. A copy of it travels with the present despatch, along with the Council's consultations from 2 March exclusive to the 5th of this month. Early on that morning the Council had an alarm for a ship about seven leagues off, and in the afternoon the Carnarvon, Captain Josiah Thwaites commander, arrived from England. She brought a cargo of goods and merchandise for the use of the island and the Court's returning ships. On reading the Court's general letter of 24 Dec 1725, its invoice, and all the other papers in the packet, the Council found the goods to be the sorts and quantities indented for last year. The supply was very welcome, and the Council returned the Court its hearty thanks. It would take effectual care to fix the several prices at which the goods were to be retailed, under the Court's directions, and would use every effort in the Court's interest in disposing of them, or any other goods it had or might receive from India. 2: The Council had written to the Court by every opportunity, as was its duty, and had reported in its letter by the Caesar the continuance of the kindly season, to the great benefit of the island and the general satisfaction. It asked the Court to excuse its not answering the general letter by the Carnarvon, which it could not possibly do, though it earnestly wished to. This was owing to the present hurry of despatching the two ships, the Monmouth and the Enfield, and of receiving the cargo by the Carnarvon and giving her all the help it could for a quick despatch. If the sea kept smooth, the Council did not doubt all the goods would be ashore within, or by, the time set in the charter party. 3: By the Monmouth and the Enfield, which arrived on 21 April last from Bengal and Fort St George, the Council received from the former settlement 105 bags of rice, 20 bags of sugar, and four chests of wax candles. These were entered more particularly in its consultation of the 26th of that month, with advice of a further supply by the Eyles, the Fordwich, the Marlborough and the Lyne. The Council judged this enough for the year's consumption, and expected it some time this month. Though the China ship had not yet arrived, the Council did not doubt her safety, and hoped to see her very shortly. 4: On 30 March last the Council had a double alarm. In the afternoon 19 sail of Dutch ships passed by the north-east part of the island. Three of them came near the island road and saluted the castle, and were answered with the same number of guns, as being foreigners. 5: The Council wished to increase the Court's rents and revenues as far as it could, by letting out the waste lands, and to lessen the Court's charge on any of its plantations. It had lately granted out several small parcels, and sold two acres of the Hutts plantation to one John Purling for £30 0s 0d, as set out more fully in its consultations of 8 and 15 Feb 1726. The Council referred the Court to those consultations, and had good reason to think Purling would be induced to buy the whole, he having asked for the refusal, as would appear there. 6: The Governor made an experiment by beginning to dig yams in the new plantation in the Fort Valley. Though they did not exceed nine months' growth, yet [...] Interpretations The rice, sugar and wax candles from Bengal continued the eastern presidencies' relief of the island after the drought. Grain was supplied by turns as each station's stock allowed, the famine relief pressed across the letters of 1723 and 1724. The further supply promised by the Eyles, Fordwich, Marlborough and Lyne marked the settlements answering the island's plea for a full year's stock. The Dutch fleet passing to the north-east, with three ships saluting the castle, belonged to the watch the island kept against foreign shipping homeward bound from the Cape. Dutch and Ostend fleets were tracked ship by ship as they came in sight, the alarms recorded across the letters of 1724 and 1725. The return salute of equal guns marked the courtesy shown to foreigners in amity. The sale of two acres of the Hutts plantation answered the Council's aim to raise the Court's revenue and shed the charge of poor ground. Letting out waste land turned unproductive holdings into rents, part of the wider land policy under Governor Smith. Purling's request for the refusal of the whole marked the Council's hope of clearing the plantation entirely. The early yam dig in the Fort Valley tested the watered plantation the Council had lately enclosed. Yams normally needed 18 months to two years in the ground, so a crop at nine months would prove the value of the water conveyed there. The experiment followed the enclosure set out in the letters by the Heathcote and Macclesfield of 1725. |
43 | 44 | yet they Anſwerd very well and were Tollerable good that the ſuckers off of three thouſand weight Did replant the ſame Ground and another Peice Great Wood as large So that when the whole comes to be Dug there will be a very great Jncreaſe to Plant the Rest of the ground that is now Cleaning and will be the only means in all Probability of preventing the buying any more ſuckers for the future The worke in the Great Wood is pritty well advancd and ſhall Endeavoure to Compleat the whole as ſoon as Poſſible and ſince Our keeping out the Hoggs and Cattle the Young Trees ſprings up So thick that We are Obliged to thin it, and in few years (in that part firſtt Encloſed) be fine thriveing and uſefull Trees Your Honᵗ Live ſtock in Generall is in a thriveing Condition and Jncreaſes very well the ſame We ſay in Relahon to the ſeverall Plantations, Aſſureing your Honours We ſhall not be wanting to Jmprove the ſame at all Proper times and ſeaſons of the year We are heartily ſorry to find Mention made in ſome Parᵈ of the Carnarvons Letter (tho with abundance of pleaſure We ſay it there's but few Jnſtances) of ſome past Neglect or not giveing Your Honᵗˢ ſo an Exact Auount of the Annual Charge of your Honᵗˢ Blacks as was Expected and for not ſending the List of your Military ſervants with their pay & wages which We Aſſure your Honours We ſhall Yeild due Obedience to in Our Next, and Endeavure to give your Honᵗˢ the best Sattisfaction We are Capable of and not only to thoſe too Articles but all others that are required of Us or as they Occue from time to time under Our Mannagemᵗ begging your Honᵗ will pleaſe to Excuſe what hitherto hath not been So fully Complyed with as We ought Jn Obedience to your Honᵗ Commands the Governᵗ hath been on Board theſe too ſhips the Monmouth & Enfeild on the 4ᵗʰ Instᵗ and found their Hulls Masts Yards ſtanding and Runing Rigging Good, Anchors & Cables good, Hatches Caulked downe Guns Clear, Men in good Health, draft of Water viz.ᵗ Monmouth 17 foot abaft 16 ditto afore Enfeild 16 ditto 10 Inches abaft 16 ditto - afore We have drawn the too following Setts of Bills on your Honours and begg your Aceptance Aⁱⁱordingly viz.ᵗ To Mʳ Edward Byfeld or Orderᵈ One ſett for the ſume of too hundred and three Pounds ſterling dated the 3ᵈ of May 1726 being for ſo much due him in your Honᵗˢ Books of Accounts here And To Mʳ John Goodwin (or Order) One other ſett for the ſume of ſixty Pounds ſterling dated the 6ᵗʰ May 1726 being for Caſh Notes paid into your Honours Aⁱⁱᵗ of Caſh here, and are both Payable at thirty days after ſight On the 10ᵗʰ Instᵗ We had a double Alarm about ſix in the morning and about ſix in the Evening Arrived two ffrench ſhips from | The yams answered very well, and were tolerably good. The suckers of 3,000 weight were replanted in the same ground, and another great piece as large. When the whole came to be dug, there would be a very great increase to plant the rest of the ground now clearing. This would, in all probability, be the only means of preventing the buying of any more suckers in future. 7: The work in the Great Wood was pretty well advanced, and the Council would try to finish the whole as soon as it could. Since the hogs and cattle were kept out, the young trees sprang up so thick that the Council had to thin them. In a few years, in that part first enclosed, they would be fine, thriving and useful trees. 8: The Court's live stock in general was in a thriving condition, and increased very well. The same held for the several plantations. The Council assured the Court it would not fail to improve them at all proper times and seasons of the year. 9: The Council was heartily sorry to find mention made, in some parts of the Carnarvon's letter, of past neglect. It was glad, however, to say there were but few such instances. These concerned not giving the Court an exact account of the yearly charge of its slaves, as expected, and not sending the list of the military servants with their pay and wages. The Council assured the Court it would attend to both in its next, and would try to give the Court the best satisfaction it could. It would answer not only those two articles but all others required of it, or as they arose from time to time under its management. It asked the Court to excuse what had not yet been so fully complied with as it ought. 10: Under the Court's orders, the Governor went aboard the Monmouth and the Enfield on the 8th of this month. He found their hulls, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging good, their anchors and cables good, their hatches caulked twice over, their guns clear, and their men in good health. Draught of water Monmouth, 17 feet aft, 16 feet forward Enfield, 16 feet 10 inches aft, 16 feet forward 11: The Council drew the two following sets of bills on the Court, and asked the Court's acceptance of them. 12: To Mr Edward Byfield or order, one set for £203 0s 0d sterling, dated 3 May 1726, for so much due to him in the Court's books at the island. 13: To Mr John Goodwin or order, one other set for £60 0s 0d sterling, dated 6 May 1726, for cash notes paid into the Court's account at the island. Both were payable at 30 days after sight. 14: On the 10th of this month the Council had a double alarm about six in the morning, and about six in the evening two French ships arrived from Pondicherry [...] Interpretations The early yam crop proved the value of the watered plantation the Council had lately enclosed in the Fort Valley. Yams normally needed 18 months to two years in the ground, so a tolerable harvest at nine months showed what irrigation could do. The self-supply of suckers from the crop promised an end to buying from the planters. The thick young growth in the Great Wood marked the first fruit of the long-delayed enclosure. Keeping out the hogs and cattle let the trees spring up, the strongest sections enclosed first, the progress carried through the letters of 1725. The thinning of the young wood answered the fencing ordered across more than 20 years. The charge of past neglect answered the Court's standing complaints over the island's accounts. The failure to render an exact account of the slaves' yearly cost, and to send the military pay list, echoed the looseness the accountant general had condemned in his audit of 1717 to 1719. The Council's pledge to supply both marked the continuing reform of the books under Governor Smith. Edward Byfield was known to the Council as its senior member, who had served as acting Governor during the Court's pleasure after Governor Johnson's death, and gave place to Governor Smith on his arrival in the Essex on 23 May 1723. His fresh bill of exchange marks the same officer drawing salary due in the ordinary way. The transaction turned money owed at the island into a claim payable in London. |
44 | 45 | Pontecherry and Bengall who haveing had a Long Paſſage and ſeverall ſick men on Board calld here for Refreſhment We ſhall Treat them Civilly, and grant a ſufficient Quantity of freſh Proviſion for their Voyage Beſides the before Menhoned two ſetts of Bills We have been Obliged to draw two ſetts more on your Honᵗˢ and begg their Aceptance viz.ᵗ To Capᵗ Charles Rigby (Or Order) One ſett for the ſume of One hundred Ninety three Pounds Eleven Shillings and ſeven Pence half Penny Sterˡ being for Caſh Notes paid into your Honᵗˢ Aⁱⁱᵗ of Caſh here and dated the 12ᵗʰ May 1726 And To Capᵗ Rigonall Kemys (or Order) One other ſett for the ſume of Fifty three Pounds fourteen Shillings & ſeven Pence ſterˡ being for ſo much Due to him As by his Account herewith ſent will Appear and Dated the 12ᵗʰ May 1726 We have not further to Add at this time worth troubling your Honours with but heartily to wiſh Succeſs to your Honours Affairs, begging leave to Subſcribe with Most Dutifull Reſpects Honᵈ Sʳˢ Sᵗ Helena Union Castle the 12ᵗʰ May 1726 Your Honᵗ Most Humble faithfull & Most obedient Servants Jnᵗ Smith Edᵈ Byfeld Jnᵗ Alexander Jnᵗ Goodwin Liſt of the Packet ſent of Ship Monmouth Capᵗ Kemys Comandeʳ Governᵗ & Councils Genˡ Lettʳ Dated the 12ᵗʰ May 1726 Copy of Governᵗ & Councils Lettʳ dated 17ᵗʰ March 1725/6 of Ship Cæsare Copy of Consultacions from the 15ᵗʰ Marᵈ Exⁱⁿd to the 5ᵗʰ May 1726 Jnclusive Dupliceat of Mʳ Byfeldes Monthly Aⁱⁱᵗ of ſ Hᵇˡᵉ Coᵈ Live ſtock &ᶜ for yᵉ Moˢ of ᵈebʳy 1725/6 Copy of ditto his Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ for the Moˢ of March 1726 Duplicate of Ship Cæsars Aⁱⁱᵗ at Sᵗ Helena Marᵈ 17ᵗʰ 1725/6 Copy of Ship Monmouths Aⁱⁱᵗ Copy of Ship Enfeilds Aⁱⁱᵗ at Sᵗ Helena May 12ᵗʰ 1726 Liſt of the Packet Margin Notes: ſent apart | The two French ships from Pondicherry and Bengal had a long passage, with several sick men aboard, and called for refreshment. The Council would treat them civilly, and grant a sufficient quantity of fresh provision for their voyage. 15: Besides the two sets of bills already mentioned, the Council had to draw two more sets on the Court, and asked its acceptance of them. 16: To Captain Charles Rigby or order, one set for £193 11s 7½d sterling, for cash notes paid into the Court's account at the island, dated 12 May 1726. 17: To Captain Rigonall Kemys or order, one other set for £53 14s 7d sterling, for so much due to him, as would appear by his account sent herewith, dated 12 May 1726. 18: The Council had nothing further to add worth troubling the Court, but heartily wished success to its affairs. It closed the letter at St Helena, Union Castle, on 12 May 1726, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. List of the packet sent by the ship Monmouth, Captain Kemys commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 12 May 1726 2: Copy of the Governor and Council's letter dated 17 Mar 1726 by the ship Caesar, sent apart 3: Copy of consultations from the 15 March exclusive to the 5 May 1726 inclusive 4: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's monthly account of the Court's live stock and expense for the month of February 1726 5: Copy of the same account of the same for the month of March 1726 6: Duplicate of the ship Caesar's account at St Helena, 17 Mar 1726 7: Copy of the ship Monmouth's account at St Helena, 12 May 1726 8: Copy of the ship Enfield's account 9: List of the packet Interpretations The refreshment granted the two French ships followed the island's custom of supplying vessels in amity for their money. Ships of nations at peace with the English were allowed fresh victuals and refit, unlike the interlopers driven off, the distinction drawn across the letters of 1716 and 1720. The sick crews and long passage made the relief a matter of common humanity as well as courtesy. The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying a copy of the Caesar letter against the original sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. The practice guarded a recoverable chain of custody at India House, carried through the correspondence of 1725 and 1726. Captain Rigby was known to the Council as the master reported meeting the Eagle, Enfield and Marlborough beyond the Cape in the letter by the Macclesfield of 31 May 1725. His fresh bill for cash paid in marks an ordinary dealing with the Court. The transaction turned coin lodged at the island into a claim payable in London. |
45 | 46 | Honᵈ Sʳˢ Genˡ Letter of Houghton Capᵗ Gibson Comᵈⁿ May 21ᵗ 1726 We are very ſorry We coud'nt Anſwer ſo fully as We intended yᵉ Honᵗˢ last Genˡ Letter of Carnarvon but her arrival happening at a time when the Monmouth & Enfeild were preparing to ſaile & the Governᵗ being then Out of Order & other Gentlemen as uſual in a hurry of buſineſs upon the arrival of the Store ſhip it was impoſſible for Us to Pay Our Duty to Your Honᵗ in ſo exact a Manner as We ought, & the Governᵗ Jndeſpoſition together with the Like hurry of buſineſs haveing Since Attⁱⁿneuſed to the Reaſon why We are again obliged to deferit till the Next Opportunity & at preſent only ſend a Copy of Our Last of Monmouth dated 12ᵗ May 1726 Copy of Consultation to 17ᵗ May & the Monthly Aⁱⁱᵗ for Aprⁱⁱ last We have nothing New to acquaint You with relating to Shiping except that We give all imaginable diſpatch to the Carnarvon, that the two ffrench Ships of which Monſʳ D'albert a Knight of Maltha is Commander in Chiefe inⁱⁿnd to ſaile in three or four Days & that the Prince Amelia was diſpatcht from Canton for Mocha the 26 Decʳ last to whom We wiſh a Good voyage & yᵉ Honᵗ all imaginable Succeſs & Proſperity & do aſſure You We are & always will be Honᵈ Sir 21ᵗ May 1726 yᵉ Most Dutyfull & &ᶜ JᵗSᵗ EᵗBᵗ JᵗAᵗ JᵗGᵗ The Governᵗ Aⁱⁱording to Order has Surveyed the Houghton & finds her Hull Masts Yards Standing & Runing Riging good, Cables & Anchors good Hatches Caulked down &ᶜ Men in good Health & Guns Clear Draught of Water abaft 16 ffeet 6 Inchˢ Afore 15, 6 We have drawn one ſett Bill Payable to Capᵗ Gibſon or order for £148, 8, 5½ dated 21ᵗ instant for Caſh Notes paid into yᵉ Honᵗˢ Aⁱⁱᵗ of Caſh of which We beg yᵉ Aceptance Liſt of the Packet of Houghton Govʳ & Councˡ Genˡ Lettʳ dated 21ᵗ May 1726 Copy of Genˡ Letter of Monmouth dated 12ᵗ May 1726 Copy of Consultation of 17ᵗ May 1726 Dupliceat of Mʳ Byfelds Aⁱⁱᵗ of the Honᵇˡᵉ Comᵖ Live ſtock &ᶜ for the Month March 1726 Copy of ᵈᵈ Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ for the Month Aprⁱⁱ Liſt of the Packet | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the Houghton, Captain Gibson commander, 21 May 1726. The Council was very sorry it could not answer the Court's last general letter by the Carnarvon as fully as it intended. Her arrival came at a time when the Monmouth and the Enfield were preparing to sail, and the Governor was then unwell. The Council and the other gentlemen were, as usual, in a hurry of business on the arrival of the store ship. It was therefore impossible for the Council to pay its duty to the Court so exactly as it ought. The Governor's illness, with the like press of business since, was the reason the Council was again obliged to defer its answer until the next opportunity. For the present it sent only a copy of its last letter by the Monmouth, dated 12 May 1726, a copy of its consultation to 17 May, and the monthly account for April last. The Council had nothing new to report about shipping, except that it gave every despatch to the Carnarvon. The two French ships, of which Monsieur D'Albert, a Knight of Malta, was commander in chief, meant to sail in three or four days. The Princess Amelia had been despatched from Canton for Mocha on 26 December last. The Council wished her a good voyage, and the Court all manner of success and prosperity. The letter closed on 21 May 1726. By a postscript, the Governor surveyed the Houghton under the Court's order. He found her hull, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging good, her cables and anchors good, her hatches caulked twice over, her men in good health, and her guns clear. Her draught of water was 16 feet 6 inches aft and 15 feet 6 inches forward. The Council drew one set of bills, payable to Captain Gibson or order, for £148 8s 5½d, dated the 21st of this month, for cash notes paid into the Court's account of cash at the island. It asked the Court's acceptance of it. List of the packet by the Houghton 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 21 May 1726 2: Copy of the general letter by the Monmouth dated 12 May 1726 3: Copy of the consultation of 17 May 1726 4: Duplicate of Mr Byfield's account of the Company's live stock and expense for the month of March 1726 5: Copy of the same account of the same for the month of April 6: List of the packet Interpretations The Governor's illness, coming with the store ship and two homeward vessels at once, explained the deferred answer to the Court's letter. The arrival of a supply ship threw the whole establishment into a press of receiving cargo and despatching ships, the burden noted across the letters of 1725 and 1726. The Council reserved its full reply for a quieter conveyance, sending only duplicates for the present. The French ships under a Knight of Malta followed the island's custom of supplying vessels in amity for their money. Ships of nations at peace were allowed refreshment and refit, unlike the interlopers driven off, the distinction drawn across the letters of 1716 and 1720. The Knight's rank marked the standing of the French command touching at the island. The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying a copy of the Monmouth letter against the original sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. The practice guarded a recoverable chain of custody at India House, carried through the correspondence of 1726. |
46 | 47 | Hon.ᵈ Sirs Genˡ Lettʳ of Ship Morrice Capᵗ Eustace Peacock Comᵈ dated 1ᵗ June 1726 Since the last We did our ſelves the Honour of Writing to your Honours in Anſwer to yours by the Grantham, of the 15ᵗʰ July 1725, by the Duke of Cambridge We have not Omitted any Opportunity to Acquaint your Honours of whatever did Ocur Either relating to your rehurning ſhipping or of Our Tranſachons here the first being by the Compton of the 13ᵗʰ Ianʳy 1725/6 (with Duplicate of Our aforeſaid Letter by the Duke of Cambridge) by the Greenwich of the 15ᵗ ᵈebʳy by the Cæsar of the 17ᵗʰ March following by the Monmouth of the 12 May 1726 and by the Houghton of the 21ᵗ of that Month, which We hope will come ſafe to hand, and Meet with your Honours Approval, We come Next to Acquaint your Honours That on the 5ᵗʰ of this Instᵗ May Arrived the Carnarvon Capᵗ Josiah Thwaites, with a Cargoe of Goods & ſtores Conſignd to Us from your Honours for the uſe of this Iſland and your Honᵗˢ returning ſhipping which is Extream Aceptable, and think Our ſelves in duty bound to rehurne yʳ Honours Our Most hearty thanks as well for theſe Neceſſary ſupplys as for Deſpatching the Store ſhip ſo Early to Us The Packet by ſaid ſhip and Directed to Us being brought on ſhore in the Evening aforeſaid We opend the ſame in Consultahon and read thro the General Letter dated the 24ᵗʰ Decʳ 1725 to which we now Proceed to give your Honours the best and most Jmpartiall Auount of Your Affairs in Anſwer thereto, as well as of all other Materiall Matters as they Ocuird Worthy your Honᵗ Notice or are required of Us hopeing thereby to give your Honours as full a reply to Each Parᵗ as may | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the ship Morice, Captain Eustace Peacock commander, dated 1 Jun 1726. 1: The Council last addressed the Court in answer to its letter by the Grantham, in the letter of 15 Jul 1725 by the Duke of Cambridge. It had missed no opportunity to report whatever occurred, whether about the Court's returning ships or its own dealings. The first was by the Compton of 13 Jan 1726, with a duplicate of the letter by the Duke of Cambridge. The next were by the Greenwich of 15 February, by the Caesar of 17 March following, by the Monmouth of 12 May 1726, and by the Houghton of 21 May. The Council hoped all would reach the Court safely and meet with its approval, and now proceeded to its report. 2: On 5 May last the Carnarvon, Captain Josiah Thwaites commander, arrived with a cargo of goods and stores consigned to the island for its own use and the Court's returning ships. The supply was very welcome. The Council returned the Court its hearty thanks, both for these necessary supplies and for despatching the store ship so early. 3: The packet directed to the Council was brought ashore that evening, and the Council opened it in consultation. It read the Court's general letter dated 24 Dec 1725, and would now give the Court the fullest and fairest account of its affairs in answer, and of all other material matters that arose worth the Court's notice, or were required of it. The Council hoped to give the Court as full a reply to each part as [...] Interpretations The Carnarvon's cargo brought the yearly supply from England for the island and the homeward fleet. The store ship carried the goods and provisions the island could not raise or make, and the naval stores wanted to refit the Court's returning ships. The Council's thanks for the early despatch answered its own long plea for a ship arriving in good time, pressed across the letters of 1725. Opening the Court's packet in consultation and reading the general letter into the record was the Council's standing method for answering the Court head by head. Each paper was checked against the enclosed list, and the reply followed part by part under the Court's own heads. The practice marked the ordered bookkeeping under Governor Smith, set against the disorder of the previous regime. |
47 | 48 | the James & Mary on the first Ianʳy 1725/6 and ſaild in Company on the 14ᵗʰ On the 2 ᵈebʳy Paſſed by three Large ſhips and ſuppoſe them to be Dutch men the Greenwich & Duke of Yorke on the 19 ᵈebʳy and ſailed in Company the 28ᵗ On the 8ᵗʰ March Six ſhips more Paſſed by which ſuppoſe to be Dutch men On the ſame day We had an Alarme for One ſhip ſtanding in and on the 9ᵗʰ Arrived the Cæsar & Departed the 17ᵗʰ On the 23 two ſhips Paſſed by and ſuppoſed them Oſtenders from China And on the 27ᵗʰ of March We had a double Alarm for Ninteen ſaile of Dutch ſhips that Paſſed by but three of them with flags at their foretop Mast Heads came ſo Near as to Look into Our road and ſalluted the Castle and was Anſwerd with the ſame Number of Guns as being fforreignors On the 21ᵗ Aprⁱⁱ Arrived the Monmouth and Enfeild and ſaild in Company the 12ᵗʰ of May On the 5ᵗʰ May the Carnarvon from England and on the 10ᵗʰ Arrived too french ſhips from Pontecherry, & ſaild hence the 21ᵗʰ On the 15ᵗʰ May Arrived the Houghton from China and intended to have ſaild hence on the 21ᵗ We haveing deliverd the Captain Our Packet the night before, on which day very Early in the morning We had a double Alarm and in the Evening Arrived the Morrice Eyles Fordwich & Marlborᵗ upon which We Wrote Captain Gibson a letter perſuant to your Honᵗ Jnſtructions to ſtay in the road till they were ready to ſaile for all their greater Security, We are informd by a letter from Bombay dated the 25ᵗʰ Ianʳy 1725/6 that they ſhoryly after Expected the Cadogan from Byporah and would Winter at Maddᵗˢ that Devonshire would be Detained a ſeaſon in the Country and the Wyndham would be Diſpatcht home in ten days after the Morrice who with the Lynn from Maddras may be Expected here very ſpeedily We rehurne your Honours thanks for the Notices given Us in your 3 & 4ᵗʰ Parᵈ of your Honours ſhipping ſent out to all Parts of Judia this Season, & heartily wiſh they may all ſafe returne We doubt not but your Honours in your great Prudence haveing withdrawn Mocha Factory it will Contribute much more to your Advantage than Continueing it Whenever We ſhall be Honoured with any Orders from thoſe Worthy Gentᵗⁿ appointed a ſecret Comittee, as well for giveing Neceſſary Orders relating to your Honours ſhipping as to Check that unfair Trade of the Oſtenders We ſhall be ſure to Comply therewith as if ſigid by the whole Court in Obedience to your Honours 6ᵗʰ Parragraph By the Carnarvons Jnvoice and Bill of Ladeing Containing the Goods & ſtores by Her ſent Us We find to be thoſe formerly Jndented for and ſeims to be very good & Carefully put up We ſhall be ſure to ſend the Charterparty by the Captain in Our Packet We ſend to the Deputy Govᵗⁿ & Council at Benco len for their better Guidance on the ſhips Arrival there, as Directed in yᵉ Honours 7ᵗʰ Parragraph The regard We have for your Honours Jnterest in haſtening away yᵉ Honours Store ſhips from hence as ſoon as Poſſible and to prevent any Blame on Our Part hath been very Evident in Our diſpatching the Grantham and this ſhip Carnarvon We haveing aſiſted Her with Our Long Boats, and whatever Elſe the Capᵗ deſired or we found Neceſſary the ſooner to Expediate that work, and ſhall Continue the like diligence in future | The James and Mary arrived on the first of January 1726, and sailed in company on the 14th. On 2 February three large ships passed by, supposed to be Dutchmen. The Greenwich and the Duke of York came in on the 19th of February, and sailed in company on the 28th. On 8 March six more ships passed by, supposed to be Dutchmen. The same day the Council had an alarm for one ship standing in, and on the 9th the Caesar arrived, departing on the 17th. On the 23rd two ships passed by, supposed to be Ostenders from China. On 27 March the Council had a double alarm for 19 sail of Dutch ships that passed by. Three of them, with flags at their foretop mast heads, came so near as to look into the island road. They saluted the castle, and were answered with the same number of guns, as being foreigners. On 21 April the Monmouth and the Enfield arrived, and sailed in company on 12 May. On 5 May the Carnarvon arrived from England, and on the 10th two French ships came in from Pondicherry, sailing on the 21st. On 15 May the Houghton arrived from China, and meant to sail on the 21st. The Council delivered the captain its packet the night before. Very early that morning it had a double alarm, and in the evening the Morice, the Eyles, the Fordwich and the Marlborough arrived. The Council wrote Captain Gibson a letter, under the Court's orders, to stay in the road until they were ready to sail, for their greater security. It learned by a letter from Bombay dated 25 Jan 1726 that they shortly after expected the Cadogan from Bussorah, and would winter at Madras. The Devonshire would be detained a season in the country, and the Wyndham would be despatched home 10 days after the Morice, which, with the Lyne from Madras, might be expected at the island very shortly. 8: The Council returned the Court its thanks for the notices in its 3rd and 4th parts, about the Court's shipping sent to all parts of India this season, and heartily wished they might all reach home safely. 9: The Council did not doubt that the Court, in its great prudence, having withdrawn the Mocha factory, would find it much more to its advantage than continuing it. 10: Whenever the Council received any orders from the worthy gentlemen appointed a Secret Committee, both for giving necessary orders about the Court's shipping and to check the unfair trade of the Ostenders, it would be sure to comply, as if signed by the whole Court, under the Court's 6th part. 11: By the Carnarvon's invoice and bill of lading, listing the goods and stores she brought, the Council found them to be those it had indented for, seemingly very good and carefully packed. It would be sure to send the charter party by the captain in its packet to the Deputy Governor and Council at Bencoolen, for their guidance on the ship's arrival, under the Court's 7th part. 12: The Council's regard for the Court's interest, in hastening away the store ships as soon as it could and preventing any claims, had been very plain in its despatch of the Grantham and the Carnarvon. It helped the latter with its longboats, and whatever else the captain wished or the Council found necessary, the sooner to speed that work. It would keep up the like diligence in future. Interpretations The withdrawal of the Mocha factory touched the Company's trade in coffee from the Red Sea. Mocha in the Yemen was the great mart for that trade, and many of the island's calling ships came from there. The Council's approval marked the Court retrenching a distant and costly station, a judgement it deferred to as sound policy. Bussorah was the port of Basra at the head of the Persian Gulf, a centre of the Company's trade in that quarter. The Cadogan was expected from there to winter at Madras, tying the routine of the eastern shipping to the Gulf traffic. The report gave the Court its account of where each of its ships lay. The passing Dutch and Ostend fleets belonged to the watch the island kept against foreign shipping homeward bound from the Cape. Fleets were tracked ship by ship as they came in sight, the alarms recorded across the letters of 1724 and 1725. The return salute of equal guns marked the courtesy shown to foreigners in amity. The order to hold the homeward ships together for their greater security followed the Court's direction to convoy the fleet against pirates and the war. The Council kept the vessels in company under that order, the practice carried through the letters of 1724. The letter to Captain Gibson bound a single ship into the protected passage home. |
48 | 49 | The Governour Aſſures your Honours with abundance of Pleaſure he will Continue to Survey your Rehurning ſhips with the ſame care and in the ſame Manner as hitherto he hath, and is Glad to find your Honours Approval therein Captain Huntas Jndiscretion and Miſbehaviour last Voyage to the Governᵗ haveing given your Honours a great deal of trouble the Governour returns your Honours his Most hearty thanks for the Justice you have been pleaſd to do him therein If any Captains ſhould hereafter Jnſist upon the Like unreaſonable Terms as Capᵗᵈ Ioleſon did, in relahon to the Goods & ſtores Conſignd to Us from Judia being ſent for from on board, or Elſe to ſend a perſon to Survey them before brought on ſhore We ſhall be ſure to give your Honours an Auount thereof as Directed in your 11ᵗʰ Parᵈ But with Submiſſion to your Honours We think that if a Clauſe was Jnſerted in their Charterpartys to Oblige the Captains to deliver all ſuch Conſignd Goods at their Arrivalt here, it would be the only means to prevent any Diſputes Of this Nature The two Yauls ſent on this ſhip by your Honours We Judge to be of a good Size but have recᵈ only One of them the other the Captain tells Us was ſtavd before he Left the Downs, with which, what We have and Can gett out of the rehurning ſhipping We ſhall make a Tollerable Shift for the fiſhery Trade Yet could wiſh for a Couple of Noraway Yauls which being built without Jron work (that ſoon Decays & Rusts) will Last with good Care ſeverall Years, and is the best ſort for the uſe we most want them but if We had any ready ferind we could gett them ſett up by workmen out of ſhiping We have receivd the Trucks for Our Great Guns Mentiond in your Honours 13ᵗʰ Parᵈ but thoſe We are in greatest want of are Wheels for Our Field Carriages and ſuch as was ſent Us by the Fleet Frigot when Governᵗ Roberts came Over the Number of which with their Dimenſions We ſhall inform your Honours bettᵗ in Our Jndent by this ſummer ſhipping We haveing Occaſion for Now Uſe, and were thoſe formerly Deſird, or Elſe be pleaſed to ſend ſome very good four Inch Plank to make wheels for the ſame uſe Your Honours Prudence and Method of haſtening away your Store ſhips for this Place ſome Months ſooner than Uſual hath given a Generall Satisfaction and is the only means by which your Honours ſhipping can be fully ſupplyd with ſuch ſea ſtores as they Generally have great Occaſion for homeward bound and will be the only Mobive in Our Opinion to prevent their going ſo frequently in at the Cape, which is highly Dehimental to this Iſland and & a very great Diſencouragement to the Planters in raiſeing Proviſions, in hopes of a vent &ᶜ towards the better Maintenance of themſelves and familys Secondly Concerning Goods or Stores ſent from England or received from India As We have hitherto Endeavourd to give your Honours the best Satisfaction We were Capable, and Aſſureing You of Our Zeal for your Advantage in the diſpoſall of all or any part of ſuch Cargoes of Goods and ſtores as hath been yearly ſent us, So We Continue to Aſſure your Honours We ſhall be Equally Vigilant in fixing the Retailing Prices on thoſe now receivd by the Carnarvon in Obedience to your Honours 15ᵗʰ Parragraph We rehurne your Honours Our most hearty thanks for ſupplying Us with all ſuch Goods and ſtores as We did Jndent for last year Except the Mountaine Wine, which is not to be Procured on this Iſland | The Governor assured the Court he would continue to survey the returning ships with the same care and in the same manner as before. He was glad to find the Court approved. Captain Hunter's indiscretion and misbehaviour last voyage gave the Governor a great deal of trouble. The Governor returned the Court his hearty thanks for the justice it had done him in the matter. Should any captains hereafter insist on the like unreasonable terms as Captain Toleson did, about the goods and stores consigned to the island from India being sent aboard for, or a person sent to survey them before they landed, the Council would be sure to give the Court an account, under its 11th part. With submission to the Court, however, it thought that if a clause were inserted in their charter parties, obliging the captains to deliver all such consigned goods on their arrival at the island, it would be the only means of preventing any disputes of this kind. The Council judged the two yawls sent on this ship to be of a good size, but had received only one. The captain said the other was stove before he left the Downs. With that one, and what the Council had or could get out of the returning ships, it would make a tolerable shift for the fishery trade. It could wish, however, for a couple of Norway yawls. Being built without ironwork, which soon decays and rusts, they would last several years with good care, and were the best sort for the use the Council most wanted them. Had it any ready framed, it could get them set up by workmen out of the shipping. The Council received the trucks for its great guns, mentioned in the Court's 13th part. What it wanted most, however, were wheels for its field carriages, of the sort sent by the Fleet Frigate when Governor Roberts came over. The Council would tell the Court their number and dimensions in its indent by this summer's shipping, having occasion for them now. Should the Court send those formerly asked for, or else some very good four-inch plank to make wheels for the same use, it would serve. The Court's prudence and method of hastening away the store ship some months earlier than usual had given general satisfaction. It was the only means by which the Court's shipping could be fully supplied with the sea stores they generally had great need of, homeward bound. In the Council's opinion, it would be the only way to stop their going so often into the Cape, which was highly harmful to the island and a great discouragement to the planters in raising provisions, in hopes of a market toward the better maintenance of themselves and their families. The second head concerned goods or stores sent from England or received from India. The Council had tried to give the Court the best satisfaction it could, and assured the Court of its zeal for the Court's advantage in disposing of all or any part of the cargoes of goods and stores sent yearly. It would be equally careful in fixing the retail prices on those now received by the Carnarvon, under the Court's 15th part. The Council returned the Court its hearty thanks for supplying it with all such goods and stores as it had indented for last year, except the mountain wine, which was not to be procured at the island. Interpretations Norway yawls were small open boats built in Scandinavia without iron fastenings, held together by wooden pegs and lashings. Their lack of ironwork spared them the rust and rot that decayed nailed boats in a damp climate. The Council preferred them for the fishery trade as durable and easily assembled from ready-framed parts. Field carriages were the wheeled mounts on which the island's mobile guns were moved and fought, distinct from the fixed platform guns. The wheels wanted for them had first come by the Fleet Frigate in Governor Roberts's time, tying the present need to an old supply. The Council's request marked the standing effort to keep the fortifications in fighting order. Captain Hunter was known to the Council as the master of the Barrington who sailed against his charter party and treated the Governor with disrespect. His conduct had been sent home for the Court's judgement in the letters by the Barrington and the Stanhope of 1724. The Court's justice on the matter closed a case the Council had long pressed. The early despatch of the store ship answered the island's standing grievance over the diversion of homeward shipping. The Cape resort had for years drawn the fleet from the island road, to the loss of the planters' market, the case pressed across the letters of 1719 to 1725. A ship arriving in good time let the island refit the fleet and keep it from the Cape. |
49 | 50 | Your Honours 17ᵗʰ Parᵈ relateing to the Settling of Prices on all Goods We receive from India ſhall for the future be Punctually Obſervd as your Honours will find in Our Consultations We have ſett on the China Cargoes, and 24ᵗʰ of May on thoſe goods recᵈ by this ſhipping from Bombay & Bengall, if youl pleaſe to give your ſelves the treuble to peruſe them What Goods We most want from India is only Arrack Sugar, & Rice and begg your Honours will be pleaſd to Order the full One of Cᵗ But to be ſent Us Yearly in thoſe three Articles, And as we have a pritty good ſtock of India Peice Goods by Us We ſhall not buy any more without a real Neceſſity, and even then None but ſuch as We know are of most ſervice among the Inhabitants and will ſooneſt ſell and Aſſure your Honours We ſhall take Effectuall Care to ſell all or very neaʳ all before We do buy any, which wont happen by this years ſhipping for the reaſons aforeſaid As to the Goods We receivd from the Cape, being ſo very much Damaged and no Jnvoice ſent with them We could not well tell how to Vallue them but have about three Years ſince Pricd the whole Peices at Nine Shillings of peice, and the broken Peices, of which there's ſome that dont hold out One Yard that is uſefull at Nine Pence the Yard Yet as they are ſo very much Damaged and Stained with the ſalt Water & of a thin ſlight Cloth We ſell but little in a year and was not Poſſible to ſerve for the ſame Purpoſes as the Ginghams Dooſoties & blue Sallempores did which were for Mens Wair and to make Blacks ſhirting of however We ſhall Endeavour to ſell them off as ſoon as Poſſible Aſſureing your Honours that Nothing is more Pleaſeing to Us than to find your Honours are pleaſed with Our Mannagement and the more when We Act to the best of Our Judgements for your Honours Jnterest The New Crane Your Honours ſent last year We take Care to Preſerve under a ſhed, where the ſun or weather can no way Damage it, and the Old One We take Equall Care to keep in repair Thirdly Touching Your Honours ſervants Civill & Military The Accounts of Sᵗ Helena in Generall and alſo Concerning Your Slaves Cattle, Lands & Revenues We are very ſorry and aſhamd to find that the List of your Honours Civill and Military ſervants were not ſent among the other Lists Menhond in your Honours 24ᵗʰ Parᵈ and as the time is ſo near Approaching for Our Generall Reckoning makeing up Your Honours Books of Accounts, and drawing out all Lists (as was formerly done to the 25ᵗʰ of March yearly) We Aſſure your Honours We ſhall take Particular Care to ſend all ſuch Lists Annually from the 25ᵗʰ Sepᵗ next As alſo of the Perſons that Conſtantly Eat at your Honours Charge by ſeverall Conveyances as your Honᵗˢ are Pleaſd to Direct in ſaid Bᵒᵒᵏ with the further Aſſurance of being as frugall in the Expences thereof as Poſſible Your Honours former Orders for all Generall Letters and ſtanding Orders to be Enterd in a Book for that Purpoſe hath been and ſhall be duly Complyd with and when Abſhacted and put into an Eaſſier Method to turns the readier to We ſhall in Obedience to Your Honours Orders ſend a Copy thereof for your Peruſal & Approvatte We are Extream proud to find your Honours kind Expreſſions in your 23ᵈ Parᵈ relateing to the Leſſening your debts due from the Jnhabitants here in which We Aſſure Your Honours We Continue the ſame Care to gett all paid in as ſoon as Poſſible, and ſhall be Sure to Quicken thoſe of them as We know to be the most able Especially if We find them but the Least Unwilling and have taken in Part of Payment ſuch Provisions as We had any Occaſion for & will | 21: The Court's direction in its 17th part, about settling the prices on all goods received from India, would in future be punctually observed. The Council had fixed the prices of the China cargoes on 24 May, and of the goods brought by this shipping from Bombay and Bengal, as the Court would find in its consultations, if it took the trouble to read them. 22: The only goods the island most wanted from India were arrack, sugar and rice. The Council asked the Court to order the full one per cent sent yearly in those three articles. It had a pretty good stock of India piece goods on hand, so it would buy no more without real necessity, and even then only such as it knew were of most use to the inhabitants and would sell soonest. It assured the Court it would take effectual care to sell all, or very near all, before it bought any. That would not happen by this year's shipping, for the reasons already given. 23: As to the goods received from the Cape, so much damaged and with no invoice sent, the Council could hardly tell how to value them. It had, however, about three years since, priced the whole pieces at 9s each, and the broken pieces, some of which did not hold out one yard, at 9d the yard where they were of use. Being so much damaged and stained with the salt water, and of a thin, slight cloth, the Council sold but little in a year. They could not serve the same purposes as the ginghams, dosooties and blue Sallampores did, which were for men's wear and for making slaves' clothing. The Council would try to sell them off as soon as it could. It assured the Court that nothing pleased it more than to find the Court satisfied with its management, and the more so when it acted to the best of its judgement in the Court's interest. 24: The new crane the Court sent last year the Council took care to keep under a shed, where the sun and weather could not damage it, and it took equal care to keep the old one in repair. The third head concerned the Court's servants, civil and military, the accounts of St Helena in general, and the Court's slaves, cattle, lands and revenues. 25: The Council was very sorry and ashamed to find that the list of the Court's civil and military servants was not sent among the other lists named in the Court's 21st part. As the time was so near for making up the general reckoning and drawing out all the lists, as formerly done to 25 March yearly, the Council assured the Court it would take particular care to send all such lists yearly from 25 September next. It would do the same for the persons constantly maintained at the Court's charge, by the several conveyances the Court directed, with the further assurance of being as frugal in the expense as it could. 26: The Court's former orders, for all general letters and standing orders to be entered in a book for that purpose, had been and would be duly complied with. When they were abstracted and put into an easier method to turn to, the Council would, under the Court's orders, send a copy for the Court's perusal and approval. 27: The Council was very glad to find the Court's kind expressions in its 23rd part, about lessening the debts due from the inhabitants. It assured the Court it would keep up the same care to recover all it could, as soon as it could, and would be sure to press those it knew to be the most able, especially if it found them the least unwilling. It had taken in, as part payment, such provisions as it had occasion for, as would appear [...] Interpretations Ginghams and dosooties were coarse Indian cotton cloths bought for the inhabitants' ordinary wear and for slave clothing. Ginghams were checked or striped cottons, dosooties a plain weave from Bengal. Set against the thin, salt-stained Cape goods, they marked the sturdy cloth the island most needed and could readily sell. The one per cent named here was the share of a homeward ship's lading the Court allowed for the island's supply. Each ship from Bombay or Bengal was to bring up to that proportion in arrack, sugar and rice. The Council's plea for the full share by every ship tied the routine of the homeward trade to the island's own consumption. The new accounting year answered the clash between bookkeeping and the shipping season. Balancing to 25 March fell in the height of the sailings, when the officers were drawn to the ships, so the Council had shifted the reckoning to 25 September. The reform was set out in the letter by the Sunderland of 21 Feb 1724, answering the audit of the island books. The pressing of the inhabitants' debts continued the recovery Governor Smith had carried on with mildness against a people left poor by the drought. The Council graded its recovery, taking provisions in part payment where money could not be had. The method ran through the letters of 1723 and 1724, turning unrecoverable money debts into stock and produce. |
50 | 51 | appear ſo, in their Reſpective Auounts in your Honours Books Notwithſtanding our former Cuſtome of Reckoning Quarterly with the Workmen We Employ but more Particularly in regard to Your Honours ſaying it would be more Pleaſeing to You for Us to Clear ſuch Auounts Once a month We ſhall be Sure to Comply therewith and Obſerve the ſame as a ſtanding Rule in future tho perhaps in the time of ſhipping it may chance to be for a Longer Continuance, and ſhall take Care your Honours Suſtains no wrong thereby Whenever We draw any more Bills on your Honᵗ either for Caſh Notes, or for ſallarys due here We ſhall be Sure to make Proper Entrys thereof in Our Consultations and to give Advice of the ſame in Our Generall Letters as your Honours are pleaſd to Direct in your 25ᵗʰ Parragraph The Method We Generally take in relahon to Caſh Notes is to pay them out at the times of Reckoning as We do other money and Paſſes in all Payments in Like Manner and upon any ſume in ſuch Notes being brought in and Bills Deſired the Perſon to whom the ſaid Bills are deliverd (which is Alwaysto the Governᵗ or ſtorekeeper) is Jmmediatly made Debtor for them, and upon paying the ſame out has Credit but ſhall be more Particular & Exact in Our Proceedings herein at times hereafter and hope thereby to give your Honours better Satisfaction, and alſo what Relates to the Annual Charge of this Iſland after Our Next Generall makeing up Auounts, and ſending the ſeverall Lists before mentiond and by all Poſſible means to retrench the ſame Even in what is Abſolutely Neceſſary As We hope the Monthly Auounts Enterd in Our Consultations will in ſome meaſure make more Plainly Appear We rehurne your Honours thanks for Approveing of the time We Propoſed to Ballance Your Honours Books of Auounts thereby hopeing to Continue them Yearly, that they may be Tranſmited Your Honours by Every Proper Conveyance as We have done thoſe Ballances from the 25ᵗʰ March 1724 to the 25ᵗʰ of Decʳ following by the Greenwich, and by this Summer ſhipping ſhall Tranſmitt the Books made up to the 24ᵗʰ of Sepᵗ last which are already finiſhed & Copying Out The Anſwer We rehurnd your Honours in Our 39ᵗʰ Parᵈ by the Hanover & 29ᵗʰ by the Duke of Cambridge relating to the Annual Charge of the Cloathing your Honours Blacks We did greatly flatter Our ſelves would have given full Satisfaction, and for this reaſon and the greater Concernd it is not in Our Power to give any better at Leaſt not after the Manner ſo Exactly Mentiond in your Honours 28ᵗʰ Parᵈ without Adding the Monthly Colle =tions to the Aⁱⁱᵈ in the Leger (wherein doth Appear every Article of Blacks Cloathing) and which gives the Cleareſt light into that Charge, in which We ſincerely Affirm, & do begg leave to Aſſure your Honours We are as frugall as tho they were our own, and that its Morally Jmpoſſible to make One Suit last them a whole Year as Gentlemen dos their foot men in England for as they have but One Suit at a time, and their work of Variety and Employd Conſtantly at hard Labour, well & dry, weirs out their Kerſsy Cloths a pace Notwithſtanding the Care that is daily taken to mend them, and yet ſeverall goes in Rags and Patches to Leſſen their Charge as well as to ſhame the Rest, tho after Our makeing up the Books to the 25ᵗʰ of Sepᵗ next, We can from thence be able to keep a more Exact and Particular Account of their Cloathing which will be the only Method to hereby to Effect Our deſire in Obedience to your Honours Orders by ſo Cloathing them but at a time Certaine once a year, and thoſe We find ill Huſbands to Puniſh as they ſhall be found to Deſerve Jn our next List of your Honours Blacks We ſhall remember to draw it out Purſu =ant to the 27ᵗʰ Parᵈ of your Generall Letter by the Grantham and take Care to Cast them up at Each Plantahon and how many there is in all, which being Omitted in Our last We begg Your Honours will Pleaſe to Excuſe | This would appear in their respective accounts in the Court's books. 28: Despite its former custom of reckoning quarterly with the workmen it employed, the Council would clear such accounts once a month, in regard to the Court's saying this would be more agreeable. It would be sure to comply, and would observe the same as a standing rule in future, though in shipping time the reckoning might perhaps run for a longer stretch. It would take care the Court sustained no wrong by this. 29: Whenever the Council drew any more bills on the Court, whether for cash notes or for salaries due at the island, it would be sure to make proper entries in its consultations, and to give advice of the same in its general letters, as the Court directed in its 24th part. 30: The method the Council generally took with cash notes was to pay them out at the times of reckoning, as it did other money, and to pass them in all payments in the like way. When any sum in such notes was brought in, and bills desired, the person to whom the bills were delivered was at once made debtor for them, and had credit on paying them out. The Council would be more particular and exact in its dealings here in future, and hoped to give the Court better satisfaction. The same held for what concerned the yearly charge of the island, after its next general making-up of accounts and the sending of the several lists already mentioned. It would use every means to retrench the charge, even in what was absolutely necessary, and hoped the monthly accounts entered in its consultations would in some measure make this plainer. 31: The Council returned the Court its thanks for approving the time it had proposed to balance the Court's books of accounts, and hoped to keep them yearly, so they might be sent home by every proper conveyance. It had already balanced them from 25 March 1725 to 25 December following, sent by the Greenwich. By this summer's shipping it would send the books made up to 24 September last, already finished and being copied out. 32: The Council had greatly flattered itself that its answer in the 39th part of its letter by the Hanover, and the 29th by the Duke of Cambridge, about the yearly charge of clothing the Court's slaves, would have given full satisfaction. For this reason it was the more concerned that it was not in its power to give any better, at least not in the way so exactly set out in the Court's 28th part, without adding the monthly entries to the ledger account. There, every article of the slaves' clothing appeared, which gave the clearest light into the charge. The Council sincerely affirmed, and assured the Court, that it was as frugal as if the charge were its own. It was all but impossible to make one suit last the slaves a whole year, as gentlemen's footmen did in England. The slaves had but one suit at a time, and their constant hard labour, wet and dry, wore out their kersey clothes apace, despite the daily care taken to mend them. Several still went in rags and patches, to lessen the charge and to shame the rest. After making up the books to 25 September next, the Council would be able to keep a more exact and particular account of their clothing. That would be the only way to carry out the Court's orders by clothing them at one certain time a year. Those the Council found ill husbands it would punish as they deserved. 33: In its next list of the Court's slaves, the Council would remember to draw it out under the Court's 27th part, and to set out how many there were at each plantation, and how many in all. This had been left out of its last, and the Council asked the Court to excuse it. Interpretations Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received at the island, redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London. Making the recipient at once debtor for the bills, and giving credit only on their payment, kept the account tight against the cashless island economy. The reform answered the Court's call for exact bookkeeping under Governor Smith. Kersey was a coarse, hard-wearing woollen cloth used to clothe the Court's slaves. Its steady wear under wet and heavy labour drove the yearly charge the Court queried. The Council's account of one suit a slave, mended till it fell to rags, set the plain limit of economy against the Court's wish to cut the cost. The new accounting year answered the clash between bookkeeping and the shipping season. Balancing to 25 March fell in the height of the sailings, so the Council shifted the reckoning to late September. The reform was set out in the letter by the Sunderland of 21 Feb 1724, answering the accountant general's audit of the island books. |
51 | 52 | By the List of your Honours Blacks ſent from time to time if youl Pleaſe to give your ſelves the trouble of reperuſeing them Your Honours will find Perceive ſeverall to be brought up to Handycraft Perſuant to your Repeated Orders, & ſhall Continue the Like Care in future, But thoſe Now Trades men We have here, are very unwilling to teach any of your Honours Blacks without a great reward, as ten & fifteen Pounds for Each and ſay it will be of ill Conſequence by takeing the bread out of their Mouths but if any was bound out as Apprentices for ſome Terme of Years We apprehend more might be taught than at preſent are but haveing no Preſident of this Nature, We are unwilling to do any ſuch thing without Your Honours Approbation The information given your Honours from Sᵗ Helena of the Governᵗ haveing a great Number of Blacks for which he recieves Eighteen Pence a day ſick or well as being Employd in your Honours Affairs and haveing Large Quantitys of India Goods which are Continually ſelling out of the ſtorehouſe Mentioned in your Honᵗˢ 31 & 32ᵈ Parᵈ as He poſitively Denys and refers himſelf to the Letter ſent your Honᵗˢ by the Compton, and Duplicate by the Greenwich beeing your Honᵗˢ reperuſal as well for your better Satisfaction as for Clearing himſelf from all ſuch falſe and Malicious Jmputations as he may ſo Unjuſtly ſtand Chargd with before Your Honours for whoſe ſervice & Jnterest he hopes to Demonſtrate how far he is Devouted It is Extream pleaſeing to Us to find Your Honours ſo well Approves of the Letting your Wast Lands, ſelling that formerly William Charles, and of Our throwing up the Hutts Plantahon by which We perſwade Our ſelves your Honours will ſee how deſireous We are to Leſſen Your Charge at the ſeverall Plantations, as well as to Augment Your Rents and Revenues and have Lately ſold two Acres of Hutts Planta =hon to One John Purling, a very ſober Jnduſtrious man for the Sume of thirty Pounds more fully Menhond in Our Consultations of the 8ᵗʰ & 15ᵗʰ ᵈebʳy last and thereto begg leave to Refer Your Honours for better Satisfaction, and as We Judge this not to be Altogether ſo Convenient for him as if he had more of it its Our Opinion he will ſoon deſire a further Purchaſe, which We ſhall be willing to Jndulge him in for Leſſen the reaſons aforeſaid, and to Lett but as much more of your Honours Wast Land as We have Petitioners for that are Jnduſtrious & Deſerveing As to the Caſe of the Planters doing their Buſineſs with ſo few Blacks which We Preſumd to ſay might Proceed from a miſrepreſentation and Endeavourd in ſome meaſure to Strengthen it in Our 39ᵗʰ Parᵈ by the Duke of Cambridge in hopes of giveing Your Honours the best Auount in that Point as Poſſible But your Honours haveing Jntimated to Us how We could think, ſo and Nameing Mʳ Powell who with ſome others had Yams ſufficient for themſelves and to ſell off Large Quantitys We think it Proper to Let your Honours know they were Produced by the Large Quantity of Good Lands they have Especially Mʳ Powell the Advantage to Water and that Conſtantly from ſeverall Runs out of the Valleys which contributes Extreamly to their Quick Growth and Jncreaſes their ſuckers to tribble the Number to make further Jmprovements Whereas your Honours have no ſuch good Land, most of your Plantations being near worn but Nor no Runs of Water more fully Mentiond in Our 4ᵗʰ Parᵈ by the Duke of Cambridge Compair =able to Mʳ Powells Wranghams, Francis Orphans, and ſome others Except the new Plantahon in the Valley, which Produces and thrives well, more fully ſpoke of in Our 6ᵗʰ Parᵈ by the Monmouth As to the Account of Cuſtoms there being no Private ſtore houſes now, nor but little of any ſorts of Goods brought on ſhore here, their amount is but Trifling but when any dos happen tis brought to a Proper Auount, as alſo the ffines his | 34: By the list of the Court's slaves sent from time to time, the Court would see that several had been brought up to handicrafts, under its repeated orders. The Council would keep up the like care in future. The tradesmen it had were very unwilling to teach any of the Court's slaves without a great reward, as £10 or £15 for each. They said it would be an ill consequence, taking the bread out of their mouths. If any were bound out as apprentices for a term of years, the Council thought more might be taught than at present. Having no precedent of this kind, however, it was unwilling to do any such thing without the Court's approval. 35: The information given to the Court from St Helena, that the Governor had a great number of slaves, for which he received 18d a day, sick or well, being employed in the Court's affairs, and had large quantities of India goods continually selling out of the storehouse, mentioned in the Court's 31st and 32nd parts, the Governor positively denied. He referred the Court to the letter sent by the Compton, and its duplicate by the Greenwich, for its perusal. He did so both for the Court's better satisfaction, and to clear himself of all such false and malicious charges as he might so unjustly stand accused of. He hoped to show the Court, for whose service and interest he was so devoted, how far these charges were untrue. 36: The Council was very glad to find the Court so well approved of the letting of the waste lands, formerly William Charles's, and of the Council's throwing up the Hutts plantation. By this the Court would see how anxious the Council was to lessen the Court's charge at the several plantations, and to increase the Court's rents and revenues. It had lately sold 2 acres of the Hutts plantation to one John Purling, a very sober, industrious man, for £30 0s 0d, as set out more fully in its consultations of 8 and 15 Feb 1726. The Council referred the Court to those for better satisfaction. It judged the ground not altogether so convenient for Purling as if he had more of it, and thought he would soon want a further purchase, which the Council would be willing to grant him, for the reasons already given. It would let out as much more of the Court's waste land as it had industrious and deserving petitioners for. 37: As to the planters doing their business with so few slaves, which the Council supposed a misrepresentation, it had tried in some measure to answer it in the 39th part of its letter by the Duke of Cambridge, in hopes of giving the Court the best account it could on that point. The Court having now hinted how it could think so, and named Mr Powell, who with some others had yams enough for themselves and to sell off in large quantities, the Council thought it proper to let the Court know they were produced by the large quantity of good land they held. Mr Powell especially had the advantage of water, and that steadily, from several runs out of the valleys, which helped their quick growth greatly, and increased their suckers to treble the number for further improvements. The Court had no such good land, most of its plantations lying near worn out, nor any runs of water comparable to Mr Powell's, Wrangham's, Francis's, the orphans' and some others, as set out more fully in the 4th part of its letter by the Duke of Cambridge. The exception was the new plantation in the valley, which produced and throve well, spoken of more fully in the 6th part of its letter by the Monmouth. 38: As to the account of customs, there being no private storehouse now, nor much of any sort of goods brought ashore, the amount was but trifling. When any did come, however, it was brought to a proper account, as also the fines [...] Interpretations The unwillingness of the island tradesmen to teach the Court's slaves touched a standing aim of the administration. Trained slave craftsmen would displace the private tradesmen and lessen the Court's dependence on hired skill, the design pressed since the criticism of the joiner Cleeve in the despatch of 12 Nov 1714. The apprenticing of slaves for a term of years offered a route past the tradesmen's resistance. Gabriel Powell was known to the Council as the wealthiest planter at the island and the Court's principal creditor. His hold over the indebted planters and his engrossing of the common grazing had been exposed in the reply by the Heathcote of 8 Jun 1722. His large watered holdings, named here to explain his heavy yam crop, marked the advantage of land and water the Court's own plantations lacked. Francis Wrangham was known to the Council as the writer stabbed and dangerously wounded by the secretary Antipas Tovey, who recovered and was awarded £25 0s 0d in damages on 18 May 1716. His appearance here as a settled planter with watered ground marks his standing at the island many years after the assault. The naming of his run of water set his holding among the island's best. The sale of the Hutts plantation and the letting of waste land answered the Council's aim to raise revenue and shed the charge of poor ground. Letting out unproductive holdings turned them into rents, part of the land policy under Governor Smith. Purling's likely wish for a further purchase marked the Council's hope of clearing the plantation entirely. |
52 | 53 | as your Honours will Perceive by your Books of Accounts For the reaſons ſett forth in a Petition to Us ſigned by ſeverall of the Inhabitants and Letters to and from Captain Thwaites, Enterd in Our Consultahon of the 24ᵗʰ May 1726 relating to the ſaid Petitioners takeing Paſſage for Judia, being about twenty Perſons is the reaſon why We could not ſend any of your Honours Blacks to Bencoolen this year by thee Carnarvon Fourthly Touching Our Fortifications Buildings & Garriſon Stores We have Nothing Under this Head worth troubling your Honours with, but to Aſſure you We ſhall take Care to keep all your Buildings in good Repair, when and as often as Need ſhall require Fifthly Touching the Civill Governmᵗ of the Iſland or the Productions thereof, & what Concerns any of the Inhabitants The good Order for Planting of Young Wood, and Fencing in of Lands, We made fully Menhon of in Our 40ᵗʰ Parᵗ by the Duke of Cambridge by which We hope your Honᵗˢ Perceivd Our Care therein as well as of Our Jnenhons to Enforce a due & Exact Complyance with Our Order Jſſued out on the 8ᵗʰ June 1725, Jn purſuance to which We did ſince Ordre a ſurvey to be made of all Lands and a ſtrict Jnſpection of all thoſe perſons who had and who had not planted their full Proportion of Wood, a report of which was deliverd into Consultahon of the 9ᵗʰ of Novʳ following & Copy of which hath ſince been Tranſmitted your Honours and as Our Generall Reckoning will be at the 25ᵗʰ of Sepᵗ Next We ſhall then ſett Moderate fines on all ſuch Perſons as We find to be Defaultors which We hope will be a good means of haveing the Deſired Effect We ſhall Likewiſe in June Next Jſſue out another Advertizemᵗ to remind the Jnhabitants of keeping up and Maintaining their full Proportion of Wood as well as to Plant furz, and ſhall uſe the ſame Method therein as We have Already begun, which We hope will meet with your Honours Approvall What relates to the granting of Leaſes of your Honours Wast Land to the Prejudice of Orphans of Deceaſed Perſons and by your Honours thought very Equitable We ſhall in obedience thereto obſerve the ſame as a ſtanding Rule of this Iſland for the future, and ſhall alſo Communicate the whole of this Affair to the General meeting at Our next Quarter Seſions in Complyance to your Honours 39ᵗʰ Parᵈ and doubt not but theyl readily Confirm it, with thanks to your Honours for ſo good a Regulation in a matter of ſo great Jmportance as land is for Poſterity We have given a Copy of your Honours 40ᵗʰ Parᵈ to the ſeverall Partys Concernd in the Acre of Land therein Menhond, which We Judge ſufficient to Put an End to any further Diſpute on that mattere The fine of Joſeph Bates being Left to the Governours Diſcrehon He aſſures yoᵈ Honours he will Act with ſuch Caution and regard to your Honours 44ᵗʰ Parᵈ as he hopes will be Satisfac tory and Just and to give your Honours an Auount thereof by the first Opportunity after the Deciſion Jn our letter by the Greenwich We Acquainted your Honours of Our ſending home Mʳ Hawkes and haveing therein made Menhon of the reaſon and Tranſmitted all the Circumſtances of that Matter by the Compton, We begg leave to refer your Honours thereto and think Our ſelves well ridᵈ of him Jn obedience to your Honours 43ᵈ Parᵈ We ſhall Remember (to prevent the Like blanks in future) to Leave a blank in every line as therein Directed, which is a very good Method | As the Court would see by its books of accounts. 39: A petition to the Council, signed by several of the inhabitants, and letters to and from Captain Thwaites, set out the reasons. These were entered in its consultation of 24 May 1726, about the said petitioners taking passage for India, being about 20 persons. That was why the Council could not send any of the Court's slaves to Bencoolen this year by the Carnarvon. The fourth head concerned the fortifications, buildings and garrison stores. 40: The Council had nothing under this head worth troubling the Court with, except to assure the Court it would take care to keep all its buildings in good repair, when and as often as need required. The fifth head concerned the civil government of the island, its produce, and what concerned the inhabitants. 41: The Council had set out fully, in the 40th part of its letter by the Duke of Cambridge, the good order for planting young wood and fencing in lands. It hoped the Court saw its care in that, and its intention to enforce full and exact compliance with its order issued on 8 Jun 1725. Under that order it had since directed a survey of all lands, and a strict inspection of all persons who had not planted their full proportion of wood. A report of this was entered in its consultation of 9 November following, a copy of which had since been sent home. As its general reckoning would fall on 25 September next, the Council would then set moderate fines on all such persons as it found defaulters. It hoped this would be a good means of having the desired effect. In June next it would likewise issue another advertisement, reminding the inhabitants to keep up and maintain their full proportion of wood, and to plant furze. It would use the same method it had already begun, which it hoped would meet with the Court's approval. 42: The Council would, under the Court's orders, observe the granting of leases of the Court's waste land, to the prejudice of the orphans of deceased persons, which the Court thought very equitable, as a standing rule of the island in future. It would also lay the whole of this affair before the general meeting at its next quarter sessions, in compliance with the Court's 39th part. It did not doubt they would readily confirm it, with thanks to the Court for so good a regulation in a matter of such importance to posterity as land was. 43: The Council had given a copy of the Court's 40th part to the several parties concerned in the acre of land mentioned there, which it judged enough to end any further dispute on the matter. 44: The fine of Joseph Bates was left to the Governor's discretion, under the Court's 44th part. The Governor hoped this would be satisfactory. He assured the Court he would act with such caution and regard to the Court's interest as would be just, and would give the Court an account by the first opportunity after the decision. 45: In its letter by the Greenwich, the Council had reported the sending home of Mr Hawkes, and the reason for it. It had set out all the circumstances of the matter by the Compton, and referred the Court to those. It thought itself well rid of him. 46: Under the Court's 43rd part, the Council would remember, to prevent the like blanks in future, to leave a blank in every line, as directed. It judged this a very good method. Interpretations Furze was a spiny evergreen shrub planted as a windbreak against the blasting winds that damaged the island's crops. Its planting was enforced by advertisement and inspection, tied directly to the protection of the planters' provisions. The measure was recorded in the letter by the Swallow of 27 Nov 1724, bound to the older fencing and wood-planting law. The wood-planting law of Governor Roberts stood as the island's answer to erosion and the loss of shelter. The felling of wood had exposed the soil and let the blighting winds into the valleys, the diagnosis given in the long reply of 1716. The survey and moderate fines marked the law at last put into steady execution under Governor Smith. The granting of leases to the prejudice of orphans touched the island's care over inherited land. Securing a family estate in the children's names was the usual method, upheld against self-interested claims in the King William reply. The Court's regulation confirmed the practice as a standing rule for the good of posterity. Benjamin Hawkes was known to the Council as its suspended fifth member, disgraced late in 1724 and then exposed as a forger and calumniator against the Governor. His conduct was set out at length in the letter by the Compton of 10 Jan 1726. His shipping home closed a case the Council had long pressed before the Court. |
53 | 54 | Haveing thus far Endeavoured to Anſwer your Honours General Letter Parᵈ by Parᵈ tho We fear not ſo fully as We ought We come next to trouble your Honours with what further relates to Our Proceedings, any of the Jnhabitants, or other Ocurences Under the following Generall Heads We haveing given your Honours an Account by every ſhipping ſince Ours by the Duke of Cambridge of all Material Occurences that happened from time to time and ſent the uſual Lists and Accounts with your Honours Books made up to the 24ᵗʰ of Sepᵗ last, and ſo Lately made up Our Packet now on board the Houghton, in which is Duplicate of Ours per Monmouth dated the 12ᵗʰ May 1726 We have only to Add That by this ſhip Morrice We Tranſmit Duplicate of Ours dated the 21ᵗ May following, Copy of Consultahons, and uſual Auounts, Aⁱⁱording to the List of the Packet herewith ſent For the ſeverall remarkable reaſons Particularly Mentioned in Our Consultahons of the 19ᵗʰ May 1725, and 5ᵗʰ of Aprⁱⁱ last whereto begg leave to refere your Honours We humbly Pray your Honours will be pleaſed to Provide Us by the Next Store ſhip with a ſober and able Surgeon Mʳ Wignall Still Continu =ing to Lead the ſame Drunken diſorderly Courſe of Life which Renders him Jntirely uſeleſs both to your Honours ſervants, and Jnhabitants and has of late aroſe to ſuch a Pitch of Extravegancy, that We think it not Longer Durable The Governour in obedience to your Honours Commands has Surveyd the Morrice Capᵗ Peacock Comander, and finds Her Hull, Masts, Yards, ſtanding and Runing Rigging Good Guns Clear, Hatches Caulked down, Anchors & Cables good, Conſidering the Length of the Voyage, and Men in good Health, Draft of Water abaft 16 foot 9 Inches, afore 16 foot 4 Inches He has alſo Surveyed the Eyles, Marlbrough, and Fordwich, and finds all things well and their Draft of water as follows viz.ᵗ The Eyles 17 feet - abaft 17 ditto - afore Marlbroᵈ 17 ditto 2 Inches afore 17 ditto 8 ditto abaft Fordwich 18 ditto - abaft 18 ditto - afore We have been Obligd to draw the following Setts of Bills of Exchange on Your Honours, and Humbly beg your Aceptance Aⁱⁱordingly viz.ᵗ To Capᵗ Edward Gibſon (or Order) One Sett for the ſume of One Hundred & two Pounds being for Caſh Notes Paid in to the Governour To Capᵗ Oliver Steward (or Order) One Sett for the Sume of Thirty One Pounds ten ſhillings, being Likewiſe for Caſh Notes To Francis Wrangham (or Order) One ſett for the Sume of Eighty Pounds, being for Caſh Notes Paid as aforeſaid To Simon Crane (or Order) One Sett for the ſume of forty five Pounds, Eight ſhillings, being for Caſh Notes paid to the Governᵗ in Like manner To Capᵗ Richard Gosfright (or Order) One Sett for the ſume of One Hundred Ninety two Pounds Six ſhillings, being for Caſh Notes, Likewiſe paid to the Governᵗ To Capᵗ Richard Mecklesfeild (or Order) One Sett for the Sume of Three Hundred forty Nine Pounds Eleven ſhillings and four Pence, being for ſundrys | 47: The Council had thus far tried to answer the Court's general letter part by part, and it hoped to the Court's satisfaction, though it feared not so fully as it ought. It would next report what further concerned its proceedings, the inhabitants, or other matters, under the following general heads. 48: The Council had reported by every ship, since its letter by the Duke of Cambridge, all the material matters that arose from time to time. It had sent the usual lists and accounts with the Court's books made up to 24 September last, and had lately made up its packet now aboard the Houghton, in which was a duplicate of its letter by the Monmouth dated 12 May 1726. It had only to add the following. 49: By this ship, the Morice, the Council forwarded a duplicate of its letter of 21 May, a copy of its consultations, and the usual accounts, as set out in the list of the packet sent herewith. 50: For the several remarkable reasons set out in its consultations of 19 May 1725 and 5 April last, to which it referred the Court, the Council asked the Court to provide it, by the next store ship, with a sober and able surgeon. Mr Wignall still led the same drunken, disorderly course of life, which rendered him entirely useless both to the Court's servants and the inhabitants. He had lately risen to such a pitch of extravagance that the Council thought it could not last. 51: Under the Court's orders, the Governor surveyed the Morice, Captain Peacock commander. He found her hull, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging good, her guns clear, her hatches caulked twice over, and her anchors and cables good for the length of the voyage. Her men were in good health, and her draught of water 16 feet 8 inches aft and 16 feet 4 inches forward. 52: The Governor also surveyed the Eyles, the Marlborough and the Fordwich, and found all things well. Draught of water The Eyles, 17 feet aft, 17 feet forward Marlborough, 17 feet 2 inches forward, 17 feet 8 inches aft Fordwich, 18 feet aft, 18 feet forward 53: The Council had to draw the following sets of bills of exchange on the Court, and asked its acceptance of them. 54: To Captain Edward Gibson or order, one set for £102 0s 0d, for cash notes paid to the Governor. 55: To Captain Oliver Steward or order, one set for £31 10s 0d, likewise for cash notes. 56: To Francis Wrangham or order, one set for £80 0s 0d, for cash notes paid as above. 57: To Simon Crane or order, one set for £45 8s 0d, for cash notes paid to the Governor in the like manner. 58: To Captain Richard Gosfright or order, one set for £192 6s 0d, for cash notes likewise paid to the Governor. 59: To Captain Richard Micklesfield or order, one set for £349 11s 4d, for sundry [...] Interpretations The renewed plea for a surgeon continued the island's long medical crisis. It had suffered for years for want of a sober and skilful man, served only by whatever it could get from passing ships, the case pressed across the letters of 1720 and 1721. Mr Wignall's drunken uselessness marked the same failing the Council had met in Dr Scrimshire and others before him. The bills of exchange discharged cash notes paid into the Court's account. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received at the island, redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London. The several sets turned money lodged at St Helena into claims payable at India House, the standing method of remittance on a cashless island. Francis Wrangham was known to the Council as the writer stabbed and dangerously wounded by the secretary Antipas Tovey, who recovered and was awarded £25 0s 0d in damages on 18 May 1716. His appearance here drawing bills for cash paid in marks his settled standing at the island many years after the assault. The transaction turned his coin into a claim payable in London. |
54 | 55 | ſundry Goods bought of him for your Honours uſe, as per Account herewith ſent will Appeare And To Mʳˢ Catherine Newsham (or Order) One Sett for the ſume of Eighty five Pound three ſhillings and Six Pence Sterˡ being for Like Vallue due in your Honours Books of Accounts here, all bearing date the 31ᵗ of May 1726 and Payable at thirty days after ſight On the 30ᵗʰ May last Arriv'd the Lynn Capᵗ Elliston Comander from Bengall (but last from Maddᵗˢ) and brought Us ſundry Goods Menhond in Our Consultation of the 31ᵗ The Capᵗ Informd Us he parted with the Wyndham about Eighty Leagues to the East ward of the Cape, and may be Expected daily and for Her greater Security heartily wiſh ſhe had Arriv'd to have ſaild with theſe Six Ships, Morrice, Eyles, Fordwich Marlborough, Houghton, & Lynn, who Departs in Company We have Nothing further to Add worth troubling your Honours with but heartily to wiſh Succeſs to Your Honours Affairs, begging leave to Aſſure You We are with Most Dutifull Reſpects Honᵈ Sirs Union Castle Sᵗ Helena June the first 1726 Your Honours Most Humble faithfⁱⁿ and Most obedient Servants JᵗSᵗ EᵗBᵗ JᵗAᵗ JᵗGᵗ Liſt of the Packet of Morrice Capᵗ Peacock Comandore Governᵗ & Councils Genˡ Lettʳ dated the 1ᵗ June 1726 Copy of Govᵗ & Counˡ Lettʳ dated 21ᵗ May 1726 of Houghton ſent apart Copy of Consultacions of the 24ᵗʰ & 31ᵗ May 1726 Ships Morrice, Eyles, Fordwich, Marlbrough, Houghton, & Lynns Aⁱⁱᵗˢ Book of Aⁱⁱᵗ omitted in this Liſt tho ſent in the Packᵗ | This was for sundry goods bought of him for the Court's use, as would appear by the account sent herewith. 60: To Mrs Catherine Newsham or order, one set for £85 3s 6d sterling, for the like value due in the Court's books at the island. All bore date 13 May 1726, and were payable at 30 days after sight. 61: On 30 May last the Lyne, Captain Elston commander, arrived from Bengal but last from Madras. She brought sundry goods, set out in the Council's consultation of the 31st. The captain reported he parted with the Wyndham about 80 leagues to the eastward of the Cape, and that she might be expected daily. The Council heartily wished she had arrived, to sail for her greater security with these six ships, the Morice, the Eyles, the Fordwich, the Marlborough, the Houghton and the Lyne, which departed in company. 62: The Council had nothing further to add worth troubling the Court with, but heartily wished success to its affairs. It closed the letter at Union Castle, St Helena, on 1 Jun 1726, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. List of the packet by the Morice, Captain Peacock commander 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 1 Jun 1726 2: Copy of the Governor and Council's letter dated 21 May 1726 by the Houghton, sent apart 3: Copy of consultations of the 24 and 31 May 1726 4: Ships Morice, Eyles, Fordwich, Marlborough, Houghton and Lyne's accounts Book of accounts omitted in this list, though sent in the packet Interpretations The holding of the homeward ships in company followed the Court's order to convoy the fleet for its greater security. The Council kept the vessels together against pirates and the war, the practice carried through the letters of 1724. The wish that the Wyndham had come in time to join the six marked the same concern for a protected passage home. Catherine Newsham may have been connected with Stephen Newcomb, one of the Court's factors who married Carolina Carne and sailed to Bencoolen, named in the despatch of 6 Jul 1715. Her bill for value due in the Court's books marks an ordinary remittance. The transaction turned credit at the island into a claim payable in London. The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying a copy of the Houghton letter against the original sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. The note of the omitted account book shows the Council correcting its own list against what the packet actually held. |
55 | 56 | Honᵈ Sirs Genˡ of Wyndham 21ᵗ June 1726 We think We cant too often Repeat Our humble thanks & Aⁱⁱnowledgemᵗ to Your Honᵗˢ for the early Diſpatch you were pleaſed to give the Carnarvon, Her Arrival was not only particularly beneficial to Us & the Jnhabitants but Likewiſe of very great Advantage to Your Honᵗˢ Returning ſhipping who had thereby an Opportunity to Supply themſelves plentifully with ſuch things as they generally want after Long voyages & avoid the ſad Calamity which not very long ſince had like to have attended the Kettanhope, & We therefore humbly hope Your Honours will again be pleaſed to Quicken the Departure of the next Store ſhip, the ſooner ſhe is here the better both for yᵉ Honᵗˢ Jnterest & Service of your homeward bound fleet Since the Departure of the Morrice Eyles Fordwich Marlborᵗ Houghton & Lynn who ſaild hence together the 1ᵗ Instant the Wyndham Capᵗ Syles arrived here from Bombay ſo the 3ᵈ, but bring nothing more, concerning your ſhipping abroad than what We have already mentiond to You in Ours by the Morrice, And on the instant arrived a ffrench Ship called the Sᵗ Lewis Mons Garnier Commander from China but last from the Cape who Reports that the Governour of the Cape told him that there was an Alliance between England ffrance & Pruſſia to Oppoſe the deſigns of the Emperour & Spain that the three former Powers were in hopes to Engage the Dutch to their Party or the two Late Portugale & ſome of the Swiſſ Cantons, that a Dutch Ship that arrived at the Cape the Later End of May Aſſurd that War against the Empᵗ & Spain was Proclaimed at Plymouth the begining of March at which Place ſhe was oblige to touch before ſhe could gett out of the Channeſs & that a Veſſell was preparing to ſaile from thence to give Notice of this to Us & to the ſeverall Governours of your Honᵗˢ ſettlements in Judia, but yet We are unwilling to give Credit to his Relation & hope ſtill for Peace Our Anſwer to your Honᵗˢ last Genˡ Letter of which We now ſend a Duplicate We hope will give entire Satisfaction, We have been as full & Exact as We poſſibly could & as nothing of Conſequence has ſince happend We crave the mention of matters of ſmall moment, But beg leave to acquaint You that the Governour deſire your Honᵗˢ ſhould be informed that when he ſigned to the Proceedings at the last Genˡ Seſſions of the 14ᵗʰ Aprⁱⁱ he did not know that Capᵗ Alexanders Anſwer to Cotgroves Declaration was inſerted therein, it not being at all read in Court no read or approved in Consultation no delⁱⁿerd tile ſometime afterwards & much provoked he ſhould be lead by ſurprize to ſign any thing to which he thinks his Name may give a Sanction eſpecially to a matter wᵗʰ upon Peruſal he objects to as not truely ſtated & to him appears drawn up with Artifice to Colour the Cauſe rather than Supported with Reaſon & Argumᵗˢ but by the help of the ſaid Cotgroves Declaration & Her Originale Wᵗ herewith tranſmitted your Honᵗˢ will Get a Clear light into this affair & deſire your Honᵗˢ Opinion whether Her Will be good or not We have drawn the following Bills of Exchange upon yᵉ Honᵗˢ Payable to the ſeverall Perſons following of wᵗʰ We beg yᵉ Honᵗˢ Aceptance To Jnᵗ Alexander or Order One beſt for the Sum of £38, 15, - Sterˡ dated 15ᵗ June 1726, being for Caſh Notes pd in to the Govᵗⁿ To Jnᵗ Goodwin or Order One Sett for the Sum of Sixty Pounds dated as aforeᵈ being for Like Caſh Notes paid in alſo to the Governᵗⁿ | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the Wyndham, 21 Jun 1726. The Council could not too often repeat its hearty thanks to the Court for the early despatch of the Carnarvon. Her arrival was not only useful to the Council and the inhabitants, but of very great advantage to the Court's returning ships. Those ships thereby had a chance to supply themselves plentifully with the things they generally wanted after long voyages, and to avoid the sad disaster that had lately almost befallen the Katanhoze. The Council therefore hoped the Court would again quicken the departure of the next store ship. The sooner it came, the better, both for the Court's interest and the service of the homeward-bound fleet. Since the departure of the Morice, the Eyles, the Fordwich, the Marlborough, the Houghton and the Lyne, which sailed home together on the first of this month, the Wyndham, Captain Sylee commander, arrived from Bombay on the [...]. She brought nothing more about the Court's shipping abroad than the Council had already reported by the Morice. On the [...] of this month a French ship, the St Lewis, Monsieur Garnier commander, arrived from China but last from the Cape. He reported that the Governor of the Cape told him there was an alliance between England, France and Prussia, to oppose the designs of the Emperor and Spain. The three former powers were in hopes of engaging the Dutch on their side, as well as the two latter, Portugal, and some of the Swiss cantons. A Dutch ship that arrived at the Cape the latter end of May reported that war against the Emperor and Spain was proclaimed at Plymouth the beginning of March. She was obliged to touch there before she could get out of the Channel. A vessel was preparing to sail from there to give notice of this to the several governors of the Court's settlements in India. The Council was unwilling, however, to give credit to his report, and hoped it was untrue. The Council's answer to the Court's last general letter, of which it now sent a duplicate, it hoped would give entire satisfaction. It had been as full and exact as it could, and nothing of consequence had since happened. It therefore forbore to mention matters of small moment, but reported that the Governor wished the Court to know one thing. When he signed the proceedings at the last general sessions of 14 April, he did not know that Captain Alexander's answer to Cotgrove's declaration was inserted there. It was not read at all in court, nor read or approved in consultation, nor delivered till some time afterwards. The Governor was much provoked that he should be led by surprise to sign anything to which his name might give a sanction, especially a matter that on perusal he objected to as not truly stated. To him it appeared drawn up with artifice, to colour the cause rather than support it with reason and argument. By the help of Cotgrove's declaration, and its original, both sent home, the Court would have a clear light into the affair. The Governor wished the Court's opinion on whether it would be good or not. The Council drew the following bills of exchange on the Court, payable to the several persons following, and asked the Court's acceptance of them. To John Alexander or order, one set for £38 15s 0d sterling, dated 15 Jun 1726, for cash notes paid to the Governor. To John Goodwin or order, one set for £60 0s 0d, dated as above, likewise for cash notes paid to the Governor. Interpretations The reported alliance and the war against the Emperor and Spain touched the wider European conflict that shaped the island's shipping. Word of war reached St Helena only through calling ships and the Cape, so the Council could not verify the French captain's account. Its caution marked the standing difficulty of getting reliable news at a remote station. The despatch of a vessel to warn the Court's governors in India shows how war news travelled to the eastern settlements. A single ship carried the alarm out to the presidencies, tying the island's own intelligence to the movements of the fleet. The report gave the Court its account of a danger the settlements would need to guard against. The dispute over the inserted paper touched the Governor's authority over the record of the sessions. Cotgrove's declaration and Captain Alexander's answer had entered the proceedings without the Governor's knowledge, so he protested at signing what he had not approved. The matter went home for the Court's judgement, the standing method for a contested point of the island's government. The bills of exchange discharged cash notes paid to the Governor. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received at the island, redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London. The sets turned money lodged at St Helena into claims payable at India House, the standing method of remittance on a cashless island. |
56 | 57 | To Thoˢ Wignall or Order One Sett for the Sum of £80, - dated the 20ᵗʰ June 1726 for Salary due to him in Your Honᵗˢ Books of Aⁱⁱᵗ here To Joſhua Johnson or Order One ſett for the ſume of £50, Sterˡ being for Caſh Notes paid into the Governᵗ as aforeſaid And to Charles Steward or Order One other ſett for the ſum of £100, - Sterˡ being for Caſh Notes paid in as aforementiond & both dated yᵉ 20ᵗ June 1726 The Governᵗ as uſual Surveyd the Lynn & found all things well Draught of Water Abaft 17 ffeet Afore 16, 9 Inchˢ He hath alſo Surveyd the Wyndham & found all things well except the Men who at her first Arrival were very ſickly but are now Recoverd Draught of Water Abaft 17 ffeet Afore 15, 6 Inchˢ Wee are Honᵈ Sir Sᵗ Helena 21 June 1726 yᵉ Most Obedᵗ Servᵗˢ EᵗBᵗ JᵗAᵗ JᵗGᵗ | To Thomas Wignall or order, one set for £80 0s 0d, dated 20 Jun 1726, for salary due to him in the Court's books at the island. To Joshua Johnson or order, one set for £50 0s 0d sterling, for cash notes paid to the Governor as above. To Charles Steward or order, one other set for £100 0s 0d sterling, for cash notes paid in as above. Both were dated 20 Jun 1726. The Governor, as usual, surveyed the Lyne, and found all things well. Her draught of water was 17 feet aft and 16 feet 9 inches forward. He also surveyed the Wyndham, and found all things well, except the men, who were very sickly at her first arrival but had since recovered. Her draught of water was 17 feet aft and 15 feet 6 inches forward. The letter closed at St Helena on 21 Jun 1726, subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. Interpretations The bills of exchange discharged salary and cash notes lodged at the island. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received on the spot, redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London. The sets turned money owed at St Helena into claims payable at India House, the standing method of remittance on a cashless island. Thomas Wignall was known to the Council as the island surgeon whose drunken and disorderly life rendered him useless to the Court's servants and the inhabitants alike. His conduct had led the Council to press the Court for a sober and able replacement in the letter by the Morice of 1 Jun 1726. His salary bill marks the same man drawing his due despite the standing complaint against him. |
57 | 58 | General Letter of Drake 3ᵈ Decʳ 1726 Honᵈ Sirs Our last to Your Honᵗˢ was by the Wyndham Capᵗ Henry Syles Comᵈ dated 21ᵗ June last, & haveing adviſed therein (as well as by Ours of the 1ᵗ of that Month by the Morris) of all Material Ocurrences We have only to add now that on the 28ᵗʰ Novʳ last arrived the Drake Capᵗ Meachum Comᵈ who Suceded Capᵗ Weterbane Since the Middle of Sepᵗ last & on the 30ᵗʰ folleⁱⁿ arrived the Cadogan Capᵗ Sanders both from Bombay but last from the Cape by the Cadogan We recᵈ 40 Bags Rice & 40 Bags Wheat amounting to We herewith tranſmit to your Honᵗˢ Duplicate of Our last Lettʳ Copies of Our Consultations, Liſt of ffamilies Land & Cattle for last Year alſo the Aⁱⁱᵗ of Rents & Revenues due from the Jnhabitants Ending 25ᵗʰ Sepᵗ 1726 with Mʳ Byfelds Monthly Aⁱⁱᵗˢ of your Honᵗˢ Live ſtock & Plantahon Expences & by this Summer ſhipping ſhall tranſmit Your Honᵗˢ Books of Aⁱⁱᵗˢ & all Uſual Liſts ſent yearly after the Genˡ Reckoning thereby hoping to give your Honᵗˢ the best ſatiſfaction We poſſibly can Altho Our last Winter Seaſon did not prove ſo kind as deſired, yet the Iſland is in a thriveing Condition & the People daily buſeyed in Cultivating their Plantations & ffencing their Lands against the next Seaſon & don't doubt but We ſhall have Plenty of Beef & other proper Refreſhments for your Honᵗˢ homeward bound ſhiping Jn Our Letter by the Townſhend Capᵗ Philip Worth Comᵈ bearing date the 16ᵗʰ March 1725 We acquainted your Honᵗˢ the Neceſſary in for as Related to the Affairs of Govᵗⁿ Johnson deceaſed & therein ſtated yᵉ Ballance of his Aⁱⁱᵗ as it then ſtood in your Books & Amounted to £87, 15, 11½ which Sum Mʳ Abraham Poictitⁱⁿ his Nephew now Purſer on board the Drake he tells Us hath not been Paid & prays he may have a Copy of his Uncles ſaid Aⁱⁱᵗ & that We would write to Your Honᵗˢ in his behalfe not Doubting but at his Return to England he ſhall receive the Money he being Admitted Adminiſtrator to his the ſaid Govᵗⁿ Johnsons Eſtate The Govᵗⁿ Surveyed the Cadogan & found her Hull, Masts Yards, ſtanding & Runing Riging good conſidering the Length of yᵉ Voyage, Anchors & Cables good Guns Clear, & Hatches Caulked down Men in good Health Draught of Water abaft 17 ffeet Afore 17 ffeet He alſo Surveyed the Drake & found her Hull Masts Yards good, for the Length of the Voyage, Standing & Runing Riging good indifferent, Cables indifferent Guns Clear, Hatches Caulked down, Men in good Health & Draught of Water abaft 17 ffeet, Afore 16 ffeet 9 Inchˢ We have drawn two Setts of Bills of Exchange upon yᵉ Honᵗˢ One Payable to Mʳ Jnᵗ English or order for £155, 8, - Sterˡ for Caſh Notes pd into yᵉ Honᵗˢ Aⁱⁱᵗ Caſh & one other Sett payable to the Govᵗⁿ or order for £68, 3, 11ᵈ due to him in your Honᵗˢ Books of Aⁱⁱᵗˢ of which We pray your Aceptance they are both dated 3ᵈ Decʳ instant, We are &ᶜ JᵗSmith Edᵈ Byfeld JᵗAlexander JᵗGoodwin | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the Drake, 3 Dec 1726. 1: The Council last addressed the Court by the Wyndham, Captain Henry Sylee commander, in the letter dated 21 Jun last. It had reported all material matters both there and in its letter of the first of that month by the Morice. It had only to add now that the Drake, Captain Meachum commander, arrived on 28 November last. He succeeded Captain Westerbane since the middle of September last. On the 30th following, the Cadogan, Captain Sanders commander, arrived. Both came from Bombay but last from the Cape. By the Cadogan the Council received 40 bags of rice and 40 bags of wheat. 2: The Council forwarded to the Court a duplicate of its last letter, copies of its consultations, the list of families' land and cattle for last year, and the account of rents and revenues due from the inhabitants, ending 25 Sep 1726. It sent with these Mr Byfield's monthly accounts of the Court's live stock and plantation expenses. By this summer's shipping it would send the Court's books of accounts, and all the usual lists sent yearly after the general reckoning, hoping to give the Court the best satisfaction it could. 3: Though the last winter season did not prove as kind as the Council wished, the island was in a thriving condition. The people were daily busy cultivating their plantations and fencing their lands against the next season. The Council did not doubt it would have plenty of beef and other proper refreshments for the Court's homeward-bound ships. 4: In its letter by the Townsend, Captain Philip Worth commander, dated 16 Mar 1725, the Council reported what was necessary about the affairs of Governor Johnson, deceased. It set out the balance of his account as it then stood in the Court's books, amounting to £87 15s 11½d. Mr Abraham Prowitch, his nephew, now purser aboard the Drake, told the Council he had not been bad. He asked for a copy of his uncle's account, which he would present to the Court on his behalf. He did not doubt that on his return to England he would receive the money, being admitted administrator to the estate of the late Governor Johnson. 5: The Governor surveyed the Cadogan, and found her hull, masts, yards, and standing and running rigging good for the length of the voyage. Her anchors and cables were good, her guns clear, her hatches caulked twice over, and her men in good health. Her draught of water was 17 feet aft and 17 feet forward. 6: The Governor also surveyed the Drake, and found her hull, masts and yards good for the length of the voyage. Her standing and running rigging was indifferent, her cables indifferent, her guns clear, her hatches caulked twice over, and her men in good health. Her draught of water was 17 feet aft and 16 feet 9 inches forward. 7: The Council drew two sets of bills of exchange on the Court. One was payable to John English or order, for £165 8s 0d sterling, for cash notes paid into the Court's account at the island. The other was payable to the Governor or order, for £68 3s 11d, due to him in the Court's books. It asked the Court's acceptance of them. Both were dated the 3rd of this month. The letter was subscribed by Governor John Smith with Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin. Interpretations The rice and wheat from Bombay continued the eastern presidencies' relief of the island after the drought. Grain was supplied by turns as each station's stock allowed, the famine relief pressed across the letters of 1723 and 1724. A consignment of 40 bags of each marked the settlements answering the island's want. The account of the late Governor Johnson's estate carried forward a matter long before the Council. His cash balance had been made up after his death on 16 Jul 1722, the sum owed his representative set out in the reply by the Desbouverie of 17 Mar 1723. His nephew's role as administrator marked the settlement of the estate reaching the family at last. The new accounting year answered the clash between bookkeeping and the shipping season. Balancing to 25 March fell in the height of the sailings, so the Council shifted the reckoning to 25 September. The reform was set out in the letter by the Sunderland of 21 Feb 1724, answering the accountant general's audit of the island books. The bills of exchange discharged cash notes and salary due at the island. Cash notes were the paper the Council issued for coin or credit received on the spot, redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London. The two sets turned money owed at St Helena into claims payable at India House, the standing method of remittance on a cashless island. |
58 | 59 | Liſt of the Packet of Alexander Cadogan 3ᵈ Decʳ 1726 Viz.ᵗ Governᵗⁿ & Councills Genˡ Letter dated 3ᵈ Decʳ 1726 Dupliceat of Dittos Genˡ of Wyndham dated 1ᵗ June 1726 Copy of Consultations from June 1726 to the of Novʳ folleⁱⁿ inclusive Liſt of ffamilies Lands & Cattle An Aⁱⁱᵗ of Rents & Revenues due from 25ᵗ Sepᵗ 1725 to 25ᵗʰ Sepᵗ 1726 Mʳ Byfelds Monthly Aⁱⁱᵗ of the Honᵇˡᵉ Comᵖ Live ſtock & Expence of eᵈ Plantahon for Iune Iuly August Sepᵗ & Octʳ 1726 Dupliceat of ᵈᵈ Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ for the Month of May 1726 Copy of Mʳ Byfelds Genˡ Aⁱⁱᵗ from 25ᵗʰ Sepᵗ 1725 to 25ᵗʰ Sepᵗ 1726 Jnventory of Remᵍ ſtores on the Iſland Sᵗ Helena taken 24ᵗʰ Sepᵗ 1726 Dupliceat of Ship Camarrons Aⁱⁱᵗˢ Dᵒ of Ship Wyndham Copy of Ship Cadogans Aⁱⁱᵗ Dᵒ of Ship Drakes Aⁱⁱᵗ Liſt of the Packet | List of the packet by the Cadogan, 3 Dec 1726 1: Governor and Council's general letter dated 3 Dec 1726 2: Duplicate of the same general letter by the Wyndham dated 1 Jun 1726 3: Copy of consultations from June 1726 to the November following, inclusive 4: List of families' land and cattle 5: An account of rents and revenues due from 25 Sep 1725 to 25 Sep 1726 6, 7, 8, 9, 10: Mr Byfield's monthly account of the Company's live stock and expense of each plantation for June, July, August, September and October 1726 11: Duplicate of the same account of the same for the month of May 1726 12: Copy of Mr Byfield's general account from 25 Sep 1725 to 25 Sep 1726 13: Inventory of remaining stores on the island of St Helena taken 24 Sep 1726 14: Duplicate of the ship Carnarvon's account 15: Duplicate of the ship Wyndham's account 16: Copy of the ship Cadogan's account 17: Duplicate of the ship Drake's account 18: List of the packet Interpretations The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying a duplicate of the Wyndham letter against the original sent earlier. Each paper was numbered so the Court could check the contents on arrival. The practice guarded a recoverable chain of custody at India House, carried through the correspondence of 1726. The account books, stores inventory and rents return went home as the standing yearly returns of the island. Each answered the accountant general's audit, which had condemned the backward and undated books of the previous regime. The rents drawn to 25 September marked the new accounting year the Council had fixed to clear the balance of the shipping season. |
59 | 60 | Genˡ Letter of Princeſs Amelia 16ᵗʰ ᵈebʳy 1726/7 Viz.ᵗ Honᵈ Sirs Our last to Your Honᵗˢ was by the Cadogan Capᵗ Sanders Commander under date of the 3ᵈ Decʳ 1726 Since when on the 1ᵗ February about ten in the Morning Wee had an Alarm for One Ship to the Windward of the Iſland about five Leagues Diſtance, & about two o'Clock an other Alarm for One Ship more ſeven Leagues Diſtance being thick & hazey Weather the next Day arrived a ffrench Ship Named the ſaven from Pontecherry, the other Ship paſed by the So West part of the Iſland which they ſaid ſeemed to them to be a Dane, Wee ſupplyed this Ship with all Such freſh Provisions as they deſired & ſailed for ffrance very well contented on the 5ᵗʰ following Jn Ours by the Compton Wee gave Your Honᵗˢ a Short Aⁱⁱᵗ of the Old Hertford, by the ffrench Ship abovementioned Wee got Jntelligence that She went to Madagaſcar for ſlaves of which She had an Hundred & Fifty & as She was there lying at Anchor Three ffrench Merchⁱⁿ Ships Seized & made Prize of her & Sold the ſlaves at Don Maſcarine at the time of her being Seized She Caried Thirty Guns & forty Men of five different Nations which is Seaty Short of the Number formerly mentioned, her Crew they diſperſed on board their own Ships, & the Capᵗ Named Haies is Priſoner on board the Triton whom Wee alſo expect will touch here On the 6ᵗʰ instant in the Morning Wee had an Alarm for One Ship & in the Evening arrived the Princeſs Amelia Capᵗ John Miſnor Comᵈ from Mocho last from the Cape the Chiſf Supra= Cargo Mʳ Everest on board very well but Mʳ Martin died at Mocho; Wee hear by this Ship that Capᵗ Small in the Syles may be expected here Speedily Wee herewith tranſmit Your Honᵗˢ Duplicates of Our last Letter by the Cadogan, Copies of Our Consultations Duplicates of Store Goods Remaining 24ᵗʰ Sepᵗ 1726, Liſt of Families Lands & Cattle for the Year past & of Rent & Revinues due from the Jnhabitants for the ſaid Year with Duplicates & Copies of Mʳ Byfelds Monthly Aⁱⁱᵗˢ of yᵉ Honᵗˢ Live Stock & Plantahon Expences purſuant to Your Honᵗˢ Orders, Wee Likewiſe tranſmit yᵉ Honᵗˢ Books of Aⁱⁱᵗˢ Ballanced to the 25ᵗʰ Sepᵗ last all which Wee hope will be pleaſing to Your Honours & meet with Your Approvals Jn the 3ᵈ Parᵗ of Ours of the 3ᵈ of Decʳ last Wee made Mention of Our Winter Seaſon not proving ſo kindly as deſired which hath proved a great diſappointment to the Jncreaſe & Planting of Wood & furze, yet to Shew the Planters Wee would not diſpenſe with ſo neceſſary an Order as was Jſſued out in June last Wee made an Order of Councels as will Appear in Consultahon of 17ᵗʰ Ianʳy 1726/7 for a Generall Survey to See what Lands were Encloſed & Quantity of Wood on each Perſone Severall Parcells as well Freehold Lands as what they Leaſe & becauſe of the diſappointment of the Rains at the time aforeſaid & Our Summer Seaſon now Seeming to Set well in Wee have made an Experiment in Planting young Wood & furze that uſed to be Planted only in the Winter Seaſons & if Wee meet with Succeſs Wee Shall take all Opportunities to improve it eſpecially as its of ſo much Conſequence & Jmportance to the Iſland The Great Wood & New Plantation in the ffort Valley are both forwarding with the utmost Expedition & when finiſhed will be a very good Peice of Work We have drawn two Setts of Bills of Exchange upon yᵉ Honᵗˢ One Payable to the Govᵗⁿ for three hundred Pounds Sterˡ for ſo much due to him in Your Books of Aⁱⁱᵗ here & One | Honoured Sirs, General letter by the Princess Amelia, 16 February 1727. 1: The Council last addressed the Court by the Cadogan, Captain Sanders commander, in the letter dated 3 December 1726. Since then, on the first of February about ten in the morning, it had an alarm for one ship to windward of the island, about five leagues off. About two o'clock it had another alarm for one ship more, seven leagues off, the weather being thick and hazy. The next day a French ship, the Jason, arrived from Pondicherry. The other ship passed by the south-west part of the island, and seemed to them to be a Dane. The Council supplied the Jason with all such fresh provision as she desired, and she sailed for France very well contented on the 5th following. 2: In its letter by the Compton, the Council gave the Court a short account of the old Hartford. By the French ship just mentioned it learned she went to Madagascar for slaves, of which she had 150. As she lay there at anchor, three French merchant ships seized her and made prize of her, and sold the slaves at Don Mascarine. At the time of her seizure she carried 30 guns and 40 men of five different nations, which was 60 short of the number formerly reported. Her crew they dispersed aboard their own ships, and the captain, named Hayes, was prisoner aboard the Triton, which the Council also expected would touch at the island. 3: On the 6th of this month in the morning the Council had an alarm for one ship, and in the evening the Princess Amelia, Captain John Misener commander, arrived from Mocha but last from the Cape, with the chief supercargo Mr Everest aboard, very well. Mr Martin, however, died at Mocha. The Council heard by this ship that Captain Small in the Sylee might be expected at the island shortly. 4: The Council forwarded to the Court duplicates of its last letter by the Cadogan, copies of its consultations, duplicates of the store goods remaining on 24 September 1726, and the list of families' land and cattle for the year past. It sent with these the account of rents and revenues due from the inhabitants for that year, with duplicates and copies of Mr Byfield's monthly accounts of the Court's live stock and plantation expenses, under the Court's orders. It likewise sent the Court's books of accounts balanced to 25 September last, hoping all would please the Court and meet with its approval. 5: In the 3rd part of its letter of 3 December last, the Council reported the winter season not proving as kind as it wished. This had proved a great disappointment to the increase and planting of wood and furze. To show the planters it would not dispense with so necessary an order, as set out in June last, the Council made an order of council, as would appear in its consultation of 17 January 1727, for a general survey to see what lands were enclosed, and the quantity of wood on each person's several parcels, both freehold lands and what they leased. Because of the disappointment of the rains at that time, and its summer season now seeming to set in well, the Council made an experiment in planting young wood and furze that had been planted only in the winter seasons before. If it met with success, it would take every opportunity to improve it, especially as it was of such consequence and importance to the island. 6: The Great Wood and the new plantation in the Fort Valley were both going forward with the utmost speed, and when finished would be a very good piece of work. 7: The Council drew two sets of bills of exchange on the Court. One was payable to the Governor for £300 0s 0d sterling, for so much due to him in the Court's books at the island. One other [...] Interpretations The French seizure of the old Hartford closed the ugly turn reported earlier. She had been detained at the Cape and her crew had fled with her, carrying 30 guns and 40 men, the loss set out in the letter by the Compton of 10 January 1726. Her capture by French ships off Madagascar and the sale of her slaves confirmed the dishonest course the Council had suspected. The Jason was known to the Council as the French ship that had called at the island many years before. She had arrived under Captain Du Demain on 29 January 1715 for refreshment, named in the despatch by the St George of 1715. Her return from Pondicherry marked the continuing traffic of French shipping the island supplied for its money. The planting experiment answered the island's long struggle against erosion and the loss of shelter. Wood and furze had been planted only in the winter seasons before, but the failed rains pushed the Council to try summer planting. The measure followed the wood-planting law of Governor Roberts, enforced by survey and the moderate fines set out in the letter by the Morice of 1 June 1726. The bills of exchange discharged salary due at the island. Cash notes and credit were redeemed by bills drawn on the Court in London, against the cashless island economy. The set turned money owed at St Helena into a claim payable at India House, the standing method of remittance. |
60 | 61 | other Sett Payable to Mʳˢ Catherine Newsham or Order for One Hundred twenty four Pounds Sterˡ of both which We humbly Pray Your Honᵗ Aceptance We are Honᵈ Sirs The Two Setts Bills are both Dated 16ᵗʰ ᵈebʳy 1726/7 yᵉ Most Dutyfull Sᵗ Helena 16ᵗ ᵈebʳy 1726/7 Most Obliged Obedᵗ Servᵗˢ Liſt of the Packet of Princeſs Amelia Viz.ᵗ Govʳ & Councills Genˡ Letter dated 16ᵗ ᵈebʳy 1726/7 Copy of Govʳ & Councills Genˡ Letter dated 3ᵈ Decʳ 1726 of Cadogan Copy Consultⁱⁿ from 10ᵗ Decʳ to 7ᵗ ᵈebʳy 1726/7 One Sett of Books of Aⁱⁱᵗ for One Year Ballanced 25ᵗ Sepᵗ 1726 Duplicate of Jnventory of Remᵍ ſtores on Sᵗ Helena taken 24ᵗ Sepᵗ 1726 Dᵒ of Liſt of Families Lands & Cattle 25ᵗʰ Sepᵗ 1726 Dᵒ of Rents & Revenues due from the Jnhabⁱⁿ for the yʳ Ending 25ᵗ Sepᵗ 1726 Dᵒ of Mʳ Byfelds Monthly Aⁱⁱᵗ of the Hᵇˡᵉ Cᵒ Live ſtock & Expences for June July Augᵗ Sepᵗ & October 1726 Copy of dittos Aⁱⁱᵗ of ᵈᵈ for the Month of Novʳ Decʳ & January folleⁱⁿ Duplicate of Mʳ Byfelds Genˡ Aⁱⁱᵗ for a whole Year Ending 24ᵗ Sepᵗ 1726 Copy of Ship Princeſs Amelias Aⁱⁱᵗ Receipt for the Packet of Cadogan Liſt of the Packet | One other set was payable to Mrs Catherine Newsham or order, for £124 0s 0d sterling. The Council asked the Court's acceptance of both. Both bills were dated 16 February 1727. The letter closed at St Helena on 16 February 1727, subscribed by the Governor and Council. List of the packet by the Princess Amelia Governor and Council's general letter dated 16 February 1727 Copy of the Governor and Council's general letter dated 3 December 1726 by the Cadogan Copy of consultations from 10 December to 7 February 1727 One set of books of accounts for one year, balanced 25 September 1726 Duplicate of the inventory of remaining stores on St Helena, taken 24 September 1726 Duplicate of the list of families' land and cattle, 25 September 1726 Duplicate of rents and revenues due from the inhabitants for the year ending 25 September 1726 Duplicate of Mr Byfield's monthly account of the Court's live stock and expenses for June, July, August, September and October 1726 Copy of the same account of the same for the months of November, December and January following Duplicate of Mr Byfield's general account for a whole year ending 24 September 1726 Copy of the ship Princess Amelia's account Receipt for the packet by the Cadogan List of the packet Interpretations The packet manifest bound this despatch to the one before it, carrying a copy of the Cadogan letter against the original sent earlier. Each paper was named so the Court could check the contents on arrival. The receipt for the earlier packet gave proof that the Cadogan's papers had gone aboard, the standing safeguard for a recoverable chain of custody at India House. The account books, stores inventory and rents return went home as the standing yearly returns of the island. Each answered the accountant general's audit, which had condemned the backward and undated books of the previous regime. The balance drawn to 25 September marked the new accounting year the Council had fixed to clear the reckoning of the shipping season. |
61 | 62 | Blank page | |
62 | 63 | Blank page | |
63 | 64 | Blank page | |
64 | 65 | Blank page | |
65 | 66 | Book cover | |
66 | 67 | EAP 1364 St Helena Document Name and Date ST HELENA LETTERS TO ENGLAND 1724-1727 Dimensions (height x width x depth) (cm) 46 x 32 x 2.5 No. written pages: 56 No. blank pages: 2 Spine and cover: GOOD CONDITION Inside pages: GOOD CONDITION Additional comments: Time taken to photograph (hours) 1 hour |