Ward, giving such a bond for his faithful discharge of the trust committed to him, as is required of the other directors. Whereas, Thursday next hath been appointed for the assembling of all the companies, or trained bands in the colony, in order to the enlistment of soldiers, for the regiment now ordered to be raised, and no provision hath been made in case of foul weather, Be it therefore enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that if said day shall happen to be a rainy day, that the companies meet on the next day, being Friday; and if Friday prove a rainy day, also, that then the same be deferred until the Monday following. Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the assistant and deputies in the county of Kent, be, and they are hereby authorized and fully empowered, to choose and appoint a captain; and also the first and second lieutenants, for the eighth company of the regiment to be raised in this colony, as a reinforcement to the army gone against Crown Point. This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the secretary, on the 18th day of this instant October, publish, in the town of Newport, by beat of drum, all the acts and orders made and passed at this session; and send a copy of the same to each town clerk in the colony, within three days after the rising of this Assembly, which is hereby adjourned, without day. God save the King. Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, the last Wednesday in October, 1756. The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor. The Hon. John Gardner, Deputy Governor. This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that Joseph Nichols, Esq., Col. Benoni Waterman, Peter Bours, Latham Clarke, Job Randall and Thomas Greene, Esqs., be, and they are hereby appointed a committee, to draw a bill to prevent the further depreciation of the currency of this colony, and present the same unto this Assembly at their present session. This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that Benjamin Wickham, George Brown, Othniel Gorton, Jeremiah Niles and Nathaniel Fales, Esqs., be, and they are hereby appointed a committee, to proportion unto the several counties in this colony, the rate ordered to be assessed and levied on the inhabitants by the General Assembly, at their session holden in Newport, the fourth Monday in August last, and make report unto this Assembly, before their rising. Whereas, John Hull, of Jamestown, in the county of Newport, merchant, preferred a petition, and represented unto this Assembly, that there is a ferry set up at the Long Wharf, in the town of Newport, which hath no mate boat; and thereupon prayed the liberty of setting up a ferry on the east side of Jamestown, aforesaid, for the transportation of men, women, creatures and every thing else, from his wharf, in said Jamestown, to Newport; on consideration whereof, Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the prayer of the said John Hull, in his aforesaid petition made, be, and the same is hereby granted; provided, he will set up said ferry upon the same terms as are granted to Thomas Haszard, for setting up a ferry from the Long Wharf, aforesaid. This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that all the soldiers enlisted at Fort George, excepting four, be discharged by the captain of the fort, as soon as he can do the same conveniently; and the said captain is hereby directed to remove all the powder he has in said fort, save four barrels, and place the same in the magazine of the town of Newport. This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the regiment of four hundred men, lately raised by this colony, in order to reinforce the army, gone against Crown Point, do not march until His Honor the Governor, by advice of the committee of war, shall give further orders; and His Honor the Governor is hereby requested to send an express with the utmost despatch, unto His Excellency the Earl of Loudoun, informing him what this government hath done with regard to raising men; and that this Assembly being informed that the small pox is rife at Albany, it is apprehended that the marching said regiment at this juncture, will be attended with the utmost danger; and therefore desire to know what His Excellency thinks best to be done respecting the same; and that said letter be laid before this Assembly. Whereas, a majority of the committee that was appointed in the former part of this session of Assembly to proportion unto the several counties the rate or tax, ordered in August last, to be assessed and levied on the inhabitants of this colony, having performed that service, presented this Assembly with the following report, endorsed on a copy of the vote, whereby they were appointed to that service: "We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee, by the General Assembly, as appears by the within vote, to proportion the rate now to be assessed on the inhabitants of this colony, have agreed on the following proportions, viz.: And now, this Assembly having taken the said report into consideration, Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the same be, and is hereby accepted in every respect, save that the sum taken off from the county of Kings county, shall be divided between the counties of Providence and Kent, in proportion to the rates to be assessed on the two counties last mentioned. God save the King. Lord Loudoun to Governor Hopkins. Fort Edward, October 30th, 1756. Sir:-I this moment had the favor of yours of October 23d, with an account of the quotas your government had voted, for the assistance of the troops at Lake George. As the different governments, who had voted men, on the 20th August, delayed so long in coming to a resolution, and then appointed them to be raised in a shape that it was impossible for them to arrive in time here, to be of use, I immediately wrote to them, to prevent their marching, as that could have no effect, but putting the colonies to expense, I must likewise beg, that you will stop your people likewise from marching. I find the express is just setting out, which obliges me to cut this short; but cannot end, before I beg you will return my hearty thanks to your Assembly, as I do sincerely to you. I am, with great regard, sir, Your most obedient humble servant, To Governor Hopkins. LOUDOUN. VOL. V. 69 Order from the King, to Governor of Rhode Island. Whitehall, October 9th 1756. Gentlemen:-It having been represented to His Majesty, that the several islands and colonies, belonging to the French, in America, have, in times of war, been frequently supplied with provisions of various kinds, by means of the trade carried on from His Majesty's islands and colonies, to the colonies and settlements belonging to the Dutch, and other neutral powers; it is His Majesty's pleasure, that you do, forthwith, upon the receipt of this order, give immediate directions that an embargo be laid, during His Majesty's pleasure, upon all ships and vessels clearing out with provisions, from any port or place within your government, except those which shall be employed in carrying provisions to any other of His Majesty's colonies and plantations; which ships or vessels are to be allowed to sail from time to time, provided, that the masters or owners do, before they are permitted to take any provisions on board, enter into bonds (with two sureties, of known residence there, and ability to answer the penalty,) with the chief officers of the customs of the ports or places from whence such ships or vessels shall set sail, to the value of £1,000, if the ship be of less burthen than one hundred tons, and ofthe sum of £2,000, if above that burthen, that the cargoof such ships or vessels, the particulars of which are to be expressed in the bond, shall not be landed in any other ports or places than such as belong to His Majesty, or are in possession of His Majesty's subjects; and that they will, within twelve months after the date thereof, the danger of the seas excepted, produce certificates, under the hands and seals of the principal officers of the customs, at such ports or places for which such ships or vessels cleared out, that the said cargoes, (expressing the particulars thereof,) have actually been landed there. And when there shall be cause to suspect that such certificates are false and counterfeit, you shall take especial care that such security be not cancelled or vacated, until you shall have been informed from the said principal officers of the customs, that the matter and contents thereof, are just and true; and in case the masters or owners of such ships or vessels shall not produce the said certificates, within the time limited, you are to attest the copies of such bonds, under your hands and seals, and to cause prosecution thereof; and you are also to give directions, that no person be admitted to be security for another, who has bonds standing out undischarged, unless he be esteemed responsible for more than the value of such bonds. And, in order the more fully to answer His Majesty's intention of distressing the enemy, and to render his orders herein, the more effectual, you are to take care, in case the masters or owners of any ships or vessels, having cleared out from that colony under your govenment, laden with provisions for any of His Majesty's other colonies or islands, shall be detected in causing collusive captures to be made of the cargoes, that the severest penalties be inflicted upon the offenders, which the laws will, in such case, allow of. We are, gentlemen, Your most obedient and most humble servant, To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island. DUNK HALIFAX, |