The above evidence was sworn to the truth of the foregoing, at the time and place before mentioned. And the Secretary is ordered to affix the Seal of said Colony thereto. Before me, JOSEPH TALCOTT, Gov. The foregoing is a true copy of the original, as it was made and done on Dom. 1729/30. Attest, March the 4th, Anno J. TALCOTT, Gov'. [Indorsed] Evidence of Samuell and Jeremiah Cheesbrook, about the Sloop taken by the Spaniards. JONATHAN BELCHER TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT. Honoble S: My last was 10: Febr, which gave you the state of your affairs to that time. Soon after, the Petition, I inclos you was deliv: and I am sorry now to advise you that the affairs of Europe were so many and pressing before the Parliam' that the King's Ministers would by no means suffer yours to be brought into Parliam' this Sessions. Had it not been for your Lur of 15: Sept last, (which didn't come to hand till 30 Janu".) forbidding the going to Parliam till further direction, the matter might have been more easily brought forward. But when it coud not go in that channel, we gave in a Petition to the King in Council for some relief under your present difficulties, which was rêd, and a reference of it made to the Lords of Trade, where it now lyes, and the Sollicitor John Sharp, Esqr (whom we have imployd in the affair) is following the matter to have a report as soon as possible to the King's Privy Council, and which I hope will be to advise His Majesty that it be laid before Parliamt the next Session; and in the mean time all things to remain quiet. This we hope will be obtain". I wish any thing more coud be done at present for the service of the Colony. But as I have your leave to come home, and the King's Comands to be gone to my Governmt, I shall leave this Town in a few days, His Majesty's ship the Blanford now waiting for me at Portsmouth. Mr Sharp is one of the ablest Sollicitors in Engl", and imployd by almost all the Plantations. I have had a great many meetings with him, and long talk about your business, and I am sure he will be very hearty in your service; yet it will be necess. for you to have an Agent here, that will take pains to serve you: and because Mr Sharp has absolutely deny having any thing further to do in it, if Mr Dumer be imployd, I shall leave all the necessary papers, you delivd me, with Francis Wilks, Esq who does the business of your neighbouring Province, and is a Gent of great worth, integrity and honour, and stands in a very good light at Court with the King's Ministers, and I am sure will be faithfull and diligent in your service. But in this matter your Assembly will order as they think best for the future. Wishing you health, and a great deal of happiness to the whole Colony, I am, Your Honour's most Obed' and most Humb. Servit WHITE HALL, April 23: 1730. J. BELCHER. As we touch at Madeira, I have desird Mr Wilks to cover this to you by a ship going directly from London to Boston. Gov TALCOTT. FRANCIS WILKS TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT. Honble Sir: I have the honour of inclosing you Governour Belcher's letter. His Excellency improves this Opportunity, thinking it may reach your hands some time before he arrives to his Government. He proposes to embark in about 10 days, and makes a short stop at Madeira in his way. He has put into my hands several pages relating to the affairs of your Colony now depending at this Court. His reason for it I believe is mention'd in the inclosed. He tells me your affairs are so circumstanced at present that no Considerable Attendance will be required for some time, and that you'l have Opportunity of sending what directions you may think proper before anything material can be done. Whatever Orders you are pleased to give me I shall duly observe, and if I can be any ways serviceable you may freely Command me, who am Your Honour's Most Obedient and Most Hum. Servt. LONDON, 25th April, 1730. To the Honble JOSEPH TALCOTT, Esq FRA. WILKS. Govr of his Majesty's Colony of Connecticut, Pr Capt PICKMAN Hartford. Q. D. C. * Francis Wilks of Austin Friars, London, merchant, a member of the East India Company. Hutchinson (II. 353) says:—“Francis Wilks, a New England merchant in London, who had been friendly to Mr. Cooke in his agency, and who was universally esteemed for his great probity as well as his humane obliging disposition, was pitched upon for their agent [for Massachusetts, 1728]. His name is first mentioned in this correspondence in Lieut.-Gov. Dummer's letter to Gov. Talcott, Jan. 31, 1727-8. (See page 103.) He was appointed agent for Connecticut in October, 1730, and held the position until his death, July 5, 1742, at the age of 47. He also continued agent for Massachusetts until his death, although their House of JONATHAN BELCHER TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT. S': You have herewith duplicate of what I wrote you 23 April pr Pickman. Since that I have made my stay here as long as I possibly coud for your service, in hopes to have got a report from the Lords of Trade and the King's Order in your affair. But the affairs of Parliam are so many and important that no other business can be done. So I must leave the matter to the care of Mr. Wilks and Mr. Sharp (the Sollicitor) to do their best for the service of your Colony, and now inclose you copy of the Ordr of the King in Council on our petition, as also that of the Comittee of Council to the Lords of Trade. I am afraid this will prove a troublesome affair to the Colony, and nothing but the probity and great diligence of the Agent you may imploye here will bring it to a good issue. I hope to leave this Town in 8 or 10 days, and am, with much truth and respect, Honoble Sr, Your Most Humb. Serv'tt. WHITE HALL, J. BELCHER. May 12: 1730. Gov TALCOTT. ORDER OF REFERENCE ON THE PETITION OF AGENTS BELCHER AND DUMMER. AT THE COURT OF ST. JAMES'S, the 10th day of Aprill, 1730. Present, The King's most Excellent Majesty, in Councill. Upon reading this Day, at the Board, the Humble Petition of Jonathan Belcher and Jeremiah Dummer, Representatives twice passed votes dismissing him, which did not receive the concurrence of the Council. The last of these votes was passed in September, 1742, before the news of his death was received.— Berry's Surrey Genealogies, 27. Colonial Records, VII. 308; VIII. 506, 517. Gentleman's Magazine, VI. 108. Mass. Archives, XX. 333. Esq, for and on behalf of His Majesty's Colony of Connecticut in New England, Setting forth the great inconveniencys brought upon the said Colony by the Repeal of an Act which had been past there for Settling Intestates Estates, And humbly praying that notwithstanding the said Act is Repealed, that His Majesty will be pleased to Confirm to the Inhabitants of the said Colony the Estates they now hold and are in possession of under the said Act, and to Quiet them therein, And to Enable them to Divide the Lands of Intestates in the same manner for the future, with a Saving Clause as to the Estates of John Winthrop, Esq', upon whose Application the said Act was Repealed. It is Ordered by His Majesty in Councill, That the said Petition (a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed) be and it is hereby Referred to the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee for hearing Appeales, Complaints &c from the Plantations, to Consider the same, and Report their Opinion thereupon to His Majesty at this Board. [Indorsed] His Majestys Reference of the Case of Connecticut to the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee for hearing appeals complaints &c. REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON THE PETITION OF AGENTS BELCHER AND DUMMER. AT THE COUNCILL CHAMBER, WHITEHALL, the 15th day of Aprill, 1730. By the Right Honoble the Lords of the Committee for hearing Appeales, Complaints, &e from the Plantations. Whereas His Majesty hath been pleased to referr unto this Committee the humble Petition of Jonathan |