Public Acts passed during the year 1755. An Act in addition to the several acts, regulating the militia in this colony (February.) An Act exempting a mill proposed to be built on the land of Toleration Harris, in Warwick, from the operation of the laws now in force in this colony concerning mills. (February.) An Act in addition to an act made and passed February, 1728, entitled “ An act relating to the freeing of mulatto and negro slaves." (February.) An Act in addition to an act in amendment of an act, passed October, 1752, entitled "An act to empower the town councils of the respective towns in the colony, to exchange highways. (February.) An Act enabling the collector of rates to follow a person rated in one, to any other town in the colony he shall remove to, without paying his tax in the town where he was rated. (February.) An Act to prevent fishing with seines in Kickamuit. (February.) An Act to restrain the sending of provisions and warlike stores to Cape Breton, or any other French port or settlement in North America. (March.) An Act for laying a further duty upon shipping, for and towards a better support of the light house. (May.) An Act to prevent any person purchasing and detaining any of the apparel and arms belonging to any soldier enlisted in this colony. (May.) An Act for naturalizing Christian Mayer, a native of Luxembourg, in Germany. (May.) An Act altering the times of holding the superior court in the county of Kent, and of the inferior court in King's county. (June.) An Act for relieving indigent persons at the expense of his, her, or their children. (August.) An Act in addition to, and in amendment of an act passed at the June session of the General Assembly, 1743, entitled "An act for the preventing of counterfeiting the bills of public credit." (October.) B. Gleasier to Governor Hopkins. Fort Wm. Henry, January 12, 1756. Sir-I herewith send you a further statement of this garrison; as also the examination of two French deserters, and the reports of our scouts. You will see by these returns, how healthy your people are; and that they are nearly one-third the effective men in the garrison. Capt. Whiting I have appointed to act at Fort George, and adjutant to the garrison. He behaves extremely well in all his offices, and I think it is the least I can do to inform you of it. Our garrison is in as good order as can be expected, and the men do their duty with great spirit. I do not doubt if the monsieurs should think proper to attack us, we should be able to give them a good flogging, though we have not half our number of men. I shall continue to inform you of the state of the garrison monthly, as also of every thing extraordinary that may happen. I am, &c. &c., To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor of Rhode Island. B. GLEASIER. Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York, to Governor Hopkins. Fort George, New York, 30th January, 1756. Sir:-Having lately recommended to the Assembly of this province, to provide for the raising and subsisting one thousand men to act in conjunction with the other colonies, in the proposed attempt upon the French fort at Crown Point, this spring ensuing, agreeably to the opinion of the council of war, lately held in this city, by His Excellency, General Shirley, I have the pleasure to inform you, that they very readily came into the measure; and I enclose you a copy of their resolution upon it, not doubting but the Assembly of your government will cheerfully raise their quota of men for this necessary service, whose resolutions I shall be glad to be informed of, as early as possible. I am Your Honor's most obedient and humble servant, To Governor Hopkins. CHAS. HARDY. Governor Shirley to Governor Hopkins. Boston, February 2d, 1756. Sir:-I am favored with Your Honor's letter of the 16th of January, informing me that you had laid before the Assembly within your government, the scheme I had communicated to you, when I had the pleasure of seeing Your Honor, at Albany, for making an attempt, this winter, for the reduction of Crown Point, and their great readiness to join in it upon the terms proposed to them by you. In answer to this, I am to acquaint Your Honor, that since I left Albany, Sir Charles Hardy and Governor Fitch have laid the scheme for prosecuting the above mentioned expedition upon the terms I last proposed before their respective Assemblies; and that though neither of those governments objected to their part of the expense, as proposed in the last mentioned terms, I expressed great readiness to join in it; yet such difficulties in other respects have arisen from both, as renders the prosecution of it impracticable, so that I have been obliged to drop the thoughts of it. I now enclose Your Honor a copy of some intelligence sent me by express from Albany, which I received yesterday, and seems to demand the attention of all the colonies concerned in the expedition against Crown Point, and to show the necessity of their preparing with the utmost despatch and unanimity for prosecuting it in the most effectual manner, the ensuing spring; which I can't but hope they will. I can't determine upon the raising of the two American regiments I talked of at Albany, till I hear from England, which I hourly expect. I am, with a most real esteem and regard, sir, Your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant, Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at South Kingstown, the last Monday in February, 1756. The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor. The Hon. Jonathan Nichols, Deputy Governor. Whereas, the gentlemen that were appointed to audit the accounts of His Honor, the Governor, as one of the committee of war, presented this Assembly with the following report: The colony of Rhode Island to Stephen Hopkins, To sundry articles as contained and charged in the paper marked To sundry articles as contained and charged in the paper marked To sundry articles as contained and charged in the paper marked ..... To sundry articles as contained and charged in the paper marked 15,033 17 8 2,051 09 7 2,040 10 2 11,279 17 2 £42,005 13 2 Creditor. By cash received from the general treasurer, for which I gave my own receipts..... By cash received from the general treasurer, by the hands of Daniel 2,000 00 0 42,209 00 0 £44.209 00 0 We, the subscribers, being appointed by the General Assembly, to examine and adjust the accounts of Stephen Hopkins, Esq., as he is one of the committee of war for the colony of Rhode Island, have accordingly done the same; he having produced proper vouchers for the above sum of £42,005 13s. 2d, having charged nothing for commissions. We therefore find he ought to be credited for that sum, in his accounts with the colony; and as to what sums he hath received of the colony's treasurer, we have no knowledge. Witness our hands, at Providence, the 20th day of February, 1756. O. BROWN, JOS. LIPPITT. N. B. I have now lying by me, of the money last received from the treasury.. £1,743 68. And this Assembly, having duly considered the said report, Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the same be, and it is hereby accepted. Whereas, the gentlemen that were appointed to audit the accounts of Daniel Jenckes, Esq., one of the committee of war, presented this Assembly with the following report: The colony of Rhode Island, to Daniel Jenckes, 1766. To the foot of my account, from August 15th, 1755, to February 20th, 1756, examined... Creditor. 1756. By cash received of the general treasurer, as per my receipts at sundry times the 11th August, 1755 £26,910 16 8 £ We, the subscribers, being appointed by the General Assembly, to examine and adjust the account of Daniel Jenckes, Esq., as he is one of the committee of war, for the colony of Rhode Island, have accordingly done the same, he having produced proper vouchers for the above sum of £26,910 16s. 8d., since the 11th of August, 1755, having charged nothing for commissions. We therefore find he ought to be credited for that sum in his accounts with the colony; and as to what sums he hath received of the colony's treasurer, we have no knowledge. Witness our hands, at Providence, the 20th day of February, 1756. O. BROWN, JOS. LIPPITT. And this Assembly having taken the said report into consideration, and duly examined it,— Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the same be, and is hereby accepted. Report of the Tax Assessment Committee. Newport, Feb. 13th, 1756. We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee by the General Assembly to receive of Benjamin Nichols, Esq., the colony's rate that was ordered by act of government, October 1754, do report: That we have received of Benjamin Nichols, £25,000, old tenor; of which we have burnt £13,792; and the other £11, 208, we have put into the colony's chest, which hath three locks and keys, which keys we have in possession, said money being new, made in the year 1750. And this Assembly, having duly examined and considered the aforesaid report, Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that said report be, and the same is hereby accepted; and that the committee, aforesaid, burn the remaining £11,208, above mentioned. Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the towns of the colony pay the officers the charges of numbering the inhabitants, &c., of each respective town; and that the several accounts be laid before the next town meeting. Whereas, Messrs. Benjamin Randall and Benjamin Barber, John Weight, Benoni Hall and Thos. Clarke, were appointed by the towns of Westerly and Exeter, to run their dividing line, and having performed that service, made report as followeth : |