most of Said Shiping, So lately built, have been Sold at the Province of Boston, West Indies, and to his Majesty's Subjects of Great Britain, Bristol &c. Our inhabitants take annually all sorts of Woollen Cloth, Silks, Glass, Nails, Sythes, Pewter, Brass, and Fire-Arms, of the British Manufacturers, but we cant ascertain your Lordships the quantity. The trade which the Colony hath with any Foreign Plantations, is only as before mentioned, and with no parts of Europe excepting only a few voyages to Ireland with timber, and some few (one or two), that have been built here of late, made their Voyage to Bristol, there Sold Ship and Cargo, and brought their The taken eturns hither. methods used to prevent illegal Trade, are the measures by the Collectors placed at New London, and his deputy at Fairfield, where are also Naval Officers under the Strictest regulations, which do at present prove effectual; but there being in any other Convenient Harbours along the sound, many of which were allowed to be free Ports, will render it difficult, had we any Considerable trade, and now is a great hardship, and an obstruction to the little trade that we have, all being obliged to put in at New London to enter, and clear, whereby some winds and much time is lost. The Produce of the Country is Timber, Boards, and all sorts of English grain, Indian Corn, Hemp, and Flax, Sheep, Cattle, Swine, Horse Kind & Goats, and Tobacco. Our Manufacturies are inconsiderable, our people being generally employed in tilling the Earth, Some few are employed in Taning & Shoemaking and other handicrafts others in Building Joiner Work, Taylors, Smiths, without which we Could not Subsist. There are Some Copper Mines found among us, which have not yet been very profitable to the undertakers. Iron Oar hath been found in Sundry places and improved to good advant age. The number of our inhabitants of both sexes and all ages are computed to be 38000, and about 700 Indians and Negroes. The inhabitants are much increased within this ten years last past, the reasons are, firstly, the Country is new and large, secondly, the intestate Estates are, or have been divided among all their Children, which encouragesthem while in their Fathers family, to join their united Strength to clear and subdue the Earth, and thereby make room for their own settlement when they Come of age. But the consumate and principal reason is, the blessing of the Almighty on the fruit of our bodies and the fruit of our Land. The number of the Militia, according to list or Muster Rolls 18-VOL XVIII. of the train bands, which consist of all from Sixteen to fifty five years of age, is 8500. In time of War we have always had sundry Forts on our Frontiers, to Cover us from the insults of the French and Indians, which yet have never been of any great service to us, the enemy Coming in Small parties, Surprise our people Suddenly, and then flee into the adjacent woods. We have had a Fort at New London long since, and several pieces of Cannon, but are now building a New Fort where are already mounted four Cannons to Secure that Post, and in a short time intend diverse more shall be there mounted. The number of Indians amongst us are about 1600, of both sexes and all Ages, they are inclined to hunting, idleness, and excessive drinking. Some of their youth are now in a school at Mohegan, set up and maintained by the English for that purpose, and they give good Evidence of their docability. The Five Nations of Indians as they are called live about 250 miles Westward from us, the French Indians that live at Canada and the Eastern Indians which live about 250 Miles North East us, are our only neighbouring Indians and their strength is unknown to us. The Spaniards have not Settled in North America to the Eastward of Cape Florida as we know of, which is very distant from us. The French at Canada about 400 Miles North from us and of Considerable Strength. The Spaniards in South America have of late years, taken some vessels from this, and sundry from neighbouring Governments. The French at Canada, have been very troublesome to this, and to the neighbouring Governments; Always encouraging the Indians against the English, supplying them with arms & ammunition, and joining with them in making inroads in time of War, they are of Considerable strength, and since they are settled on the River St. Lawrence, and on Mississippi to the north of it, boasting in time they will drive us all into the Sea. The annual Revenues arising on Rates & Duties is about £4000 in our paper Currency, of which about £1000 is yearly laid out in maintaining Free schools for the education of our Children, the remainder is for the support of his Majesty's Government here, and to sink a heavy debt we Contracted in the War, and our Expedition against Canada and Annapolis in the reign of Queen Anne. Our Civil establishments are first, a superior Court, consisting of one chief Judge, & four Judges; this Court sits twice in the year in each County, tries all Crimes, and Misdemeanors & Civil actions that come to them by appeals from the inferior Courts; Secondly, an inferior Court in each County, consisting of one chief Judge and three or more Justices of the Quorum: these Courts have their quarter sessions for the trial of delinquents and Civil Actions; thirdly, in most of our Towns is one or more Justice of the Peace, for the Conservation of the Peace, and trial of Small Cases. The Militia is divided into five Regiments, as many as there are Countys, over which the Chief Officer is at present a Major, to each of which Regiments belongs a Troop, the superior Officers are appointed by the general Court, the Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns are chosen by the soldiers, approved by the general Court, and all Commissioned by the Governor in the name of our Lord the King. To the Right Honorable, the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. Signed per Order of his Honor the Governor, and the Assem bly. HEZ. WYLLYS, Secretary. A true Copy from Record in the Secretary's Office of the State Of Connecticut. Examined, by GEO. WYLLYS, Sec'. In full Testmony of the truth of the two Several Copies (by me A₺ tested) which are contained in this Roll, the public Seal of the State of Connecticut is hereunto affixed, this 18th day of November, Anno Domini, 1782. GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary. |