placed it upon higher ground than any of the other prov inces. I confefs, that I wish it to ftand there. And for that reafon, in all my feveral applications, I have carefully avoided the mentioning the particular fum of this de mand; choosing that the province fhould preferve entire the honour of having fpent this war, in the public fervice, four hundred thousand pounds more than it has received, rather than bring it down below all the reft, by being the first to petition for four or five thousand pounds, in compenfation for a fervice, which other provinces are con tent themselves to bear the expenfe of. After this, I be lieve, it is unneceffary for me to add, that if we were to petition parliament, there would not be the leaft hope of fuccefs. I have, in my former letter, obferved, that a pe tition for money cannot be received in the house without the king's confent fignified by one of the lords of the treafury, which in this cafe could not be had. But if it could, yet, from what has already appeared fince the opening of the feffions, the gentlemen of the houfe of Com mons feem fully fenfible, that, of all his majefty's fubjects, none are fo much benefited by the peace as thofe of the northern colonies. And, though all acknowledge the loy alty and zeal with which they affifted in the conqueft of Canada, yet, with all the expenfes they have been at, that they have not bought their peace and fecurity too dear.

Upon the whole, I muft fubmit to the judgment of the general court, whether I have not beft confulted for their honour, in not profecuting this matter any farther. They, I know, do not defire to hear flattering things, but true ones and it is my duty to ftate to them the real nature of every fervice; and to offer my reafons for defifting from things, which appear not to be feafible, as well as it is to purfue fuch as are fo

I am, with the higheft regard for the
Great and General Court,

Sir, your moft obedient, humble fervant,

JASPER MAUDUIT.

P. S. The diftribution of the £10,000 is ftill delayed,

but we are promifed the warrant next week.

LETTER

C2

TTER FROM JASPER MAUDUIT, ESQ. TO THE SPEAKER

A

OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

PROVINCE

MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, RELATIVE TO THE DUTY AID BY PARLIAMENT ON FOREIGN MOLASSES.

SIR,

London, 30th December, 1763.

N my letter of the 23d of March laft, I acquainted the general court, that a motion had been made, by the lord of trade, for the lowering of the duty upon forgn molaffes, from 6d. to 2d. per gallon, in order the ore effectually to fecure the payment of it. And in a bfequent letter, of the 8th of April, I mentioned, that is bill was deferred till the next feffion. I am now to form the general court, that this fcheme is refumed, and e quantum of the duty is to be one of the firft things onfidered immediately after the meeting of the parliadent. All agree, that a practicable duty fhould be laid, nd the payment of it enforced. To attempt to controert either of thefe, would be to no manner of purpofe. As the general court have not been pleased to inftruct me n their fentiments upon this fubject, I was left to purfue my own, in conjunction with the other agents. And their filence inclined me to think, that fuch a scheme, if duly moderated, might not be difagreeable, though they might not choofe to appear openly to oppofe it. The fum. at firft thought of, by the treafury, was 4d. but Mr. Grenville feems to be now fatisfied with two pence.eas inad We are endeavouring at a penny; it will not be more than two pence. All that the duty can be brought to, under that, muft be reckoned as gain. There are many other regulations intended, about which I find that the gentlemen in parliament have very different ideas. I hope, however, there will be found a general difpofition to ferve the colonies, and not to diftrefs them. But it will be of little ufe to write of conjectures. All that I can promise is, as far as my health and abilities permit, to be attentive and watchful for your intereft.

I here fend you a copy of his majefty's warrant for the Bb [Vol. vi.] diftribution

diftribution of the £10,000, which is in my hands b the treafury letter not having come in time, it will be paid till after the beginning of next month. I mig have fent you the minute of the treafury; but as it ma be collected from the warrant, I did not think it wort the giving the clerk a guinea for it.

I am, with the higheft refpect for the great and gener court, your moft obedient, humble fervant,

JASPER MAUDUIT

LETTER FROM JASPER MAUDUIT, ESQ TO THE SPEAKER

I

OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PROVINC

OF MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, RELATIVE TO THE DUTY ON FOREIGN MOLASSES, THE KEEPING UP TEN THOUSANI TROOPS IN AMERICA, &c.

SIR,

London, 11th February, 1764.

AM now to acquaint the general court that the Amer ican bills are not yet brought into parliament. But as the Weft-India gentlemen have been at the treasury board and the thought of laying three pence a gallon on the for eign molaffes has been again refumed, I have ventured to deliver in to the lords the inclofed memorial. How far I have hit upon the fenfe of the general court, I cannot fay, having been left without any inftructions upon thefe fubjects. In my letter of the 12th of March, I acquainted the general court with the intention of keeping up ten thou fand men in the feveral parts of America, and the Weft-Indies and that the colonies were to contribute to the maintenance of them. I have not, fince the writing that létter, received any objections to this fcheme; and therefore did not think myfelf at liberty to make any; but judged it beft, as we could not oppofe, to make a merit of our fubmiffion. Nor indeed would any oppofition at all avail, in the present state of our finances. Mr. Grenville, after the kindest expreffions of regard to the colonies, affured my brother, that whatever were the diftreffes brought upon the revenue by the extravagant expenfes of the war, they did not mean to draw any thing from America for the relief of them. All that was defired was, that it fhould bear the

charge

arge of its own government and defence, and nothing pre. In this the parliament will most certainly concur th him. Nor do I find the leaft difpofition in the other ents to oppofe it. All that we can defire, therefore, is have the duties laid in fuch a manner, as to be the most ual, and the leaft prejudicial to our trade.

I fhould do injuftice to my brother, not to acknowledge at the memorial to the treafury is entirely of his drawg. He thought it might be of fervice to lay the arguent in one view before their lordships, and, confidering e very formidable number of votes, which the Weft-Inans have in the houfe of commons, that it is our bufifs to avoid, as much as poffible, the committing ourselves any difpute with them. Many of the merchants, he has lked with, are convinced that it is a common concern ith both colonies, to difcourage, as much as poffible, the rench, Dutch, and Danish diftilleries, and for that fe to allow the foreign ads to fell us their molaffes. ut many of the mere planters do not choofe to look fo One thing their own intereft has fuggefted, which ay be of fervice; they have defired the lords of the reafury that no fhips may be permitted to fail from the Veft-Indies without a certificate, upon oath, that the gars, rum, and molaffes, on board, are the produce of he illand it clears from.

ir.

pur

There is another affair, which my brother has undertakn, and hopes he may fucceed in. As the renewing the ounty given to the Greenland fishery is now under conideration, he thought that this was the time to the proper apply for taking off a difcouragement, which lies upon yours. And are And after talking firft with the fecretary of the reafury, and then with Mr. Grenville, upon the fubject, e drew up the petition inclofed, which has been figned by the merchants here, and prefented to, and approved of, by the treafury, and by the board of trade. Lord Hillf borough was pleafed to fay, that the petition carried with tits own evidence. He hopes to get it into parliament next week, and if it be carried, it may be a faving of ten or twelve hundred pounds a year to the province.

I am, with the higheft refpect to the great and general court, your moft obedient, humble fervant, JASPER MAUDUIT.

LETTER FROM THON

THOMAS MAYHEW TO Gov. PRINCE

Upon the Vineyard, 19. 6. 167

Worshipful, and defervedly bonoured,

the 5th of this inftant, I received had re wherein I perceive it is that you had gre trouble with the

and kind dealing ans, notwithstanding your gent

with them, of which I

efpecially refpecting yourfelf: and I cannot but wonde and that very much, that thofe of Seconnett ftand out, th chief fachem, and alfo the fachem of that place, havin fubmitted. I conceive they are not without a back. It probable to reafon, that there is a dormant ftrength, awake in its feafon. However, I do not queftion but Go will direct yourfelf, and thofe with you in authority, to order things, that they fhall fall fhort in bringin against you any wicked defigns to pafs.

Honoured Sir, as to our Indians, in my beft unde standing, there is no manner of plot known to any of t heads of this ifland; for before I went to York, confide ing the troubles in your colony, I went to all the town fome English with me, and they did give in their nam for to fubject themselves to his majefty, and to fig againft his enemies and the enemies of his fubjects, if ca ed thereunto. This was upon the matter univerfal, on at Metack's place were not many prefent; but himfe and those prefent, did freely give in their names. fince I came home, bringing with me a commiffion govern all the Indians of this ifland and Elizabeth ifles fent for all the fachems and chief men, acquainting the with what was done, All the fachems, with many othe as well non-praying as praying men, did, with mu thankfulness, fubmit unto his honour's act in fetting over them; and every perfon prefent, by holding up hand, did promife to advance the worship of God. T like was never of them heretofore attained.

B

Sir, it is fo, that my favour unto Indians hath be thought to be overmuch; but I fay, my error hath bee in all cafes, that I am too favourable to Englifh; and

ha