tate after Capt Wyllys in England, and hath a Liberal Education, a young Gen'man of good abilitys and accomplishments; you can't but have heard something of the estate befallen him in England,* and if you can do him any service in that affair I shall look upon it as a favor done to myself, and am, S', yours,

J. TALCOTT.

COMMISSION TO FRANCIS WILKS AS AGENT.

This Publick Instrument of procuration or Letter of Attorney Witnesseth that we the Gov and Company of his Majesties Coloney of Connecticut in New England in America have Nominated Constituted and fully impowerd & do by these presents Nominate Constitute and fully Impower our trusty and well beloved friend Francis Wilks Esq' of London to be our trusty and Lawfull attorney in our name place behalf and stead before the Kings Majestie, or before any of the Courts in Westminster, or before any other Court or Judge in great Brittain to appeare plead Implead manage act transact prosecute or defend as the Case shall Require in all and every matter Suit Cause or thing, wherein this Colony shall or may be Concerned, giving

his father's successor by the General Assembly in May, 1734. He held the office for the long period of sixty-six years; was also Lieut.-Colonel of the First Regiment, and town clerk of Hartford for many years. He was born Oct. 6, 1710, and died April 24, 1796, in the old Wyllys mansion, on Charter Oak Hill. — Colonial Records, VII. 294, 513. Memorial History of Hartford County, I. 271-2.

*The General Assembly loaned from the public treasury the sum of £1,000, in bills of public credit, to Capt. Wyllys, taking from him good security in real estate, in order to assist him in prosecuting his suit to obtain an estate in England. He promised to repay the loan, with interest, on June 10, 1735; but in May, 1734, he memorialized the General Assembly, stating that his suit had failed, and his cause was lost, and asked to have the interest of the £1000 remitted. — Colonial Records, VII. 340, 401. State Archives; Finance and Currency, II. 440-1.

and hereby granting to our said Agent full power and authority in and about the premises. Sealed with our Seale.

Dated at Hartford this

J. TALCOTT, Gov'.

Capt Wyllys. Sir: please to draw the foregoing over on as good paper as can be got in the town. Draw allso the two acts of Assembly (viz.) one appointing Mr Wilks- the other discharging Mr Dum pray dont delay them. I shall allso send a letter to each of them. I expect on munday next to have opportunity to send them to boston.

J. TALCOTT.

[Oct. 1730.]

GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO GOVERNOR BELCHER OF

MASSACHUSETTS.

you in England the Act reasons of our fears and Parliament) which reasons yourself and Mr Dumer by the first opportunity,

Sir: By the bearer I have sent a letter to Francis Wilks, Esq', with a power of attorney and Acts of Assembly impowering him and discharging M' Dumm'. And, Sir, when I sent to of our Assembly, and the of our hopes (of going into I earnestly intreated both might be sent back to me lest lying there they might fall into the hands of our adversaries, and be a damage to us, these reasons I have never received since, and if in Mr Dumer's hands may be improved to our disadvantage (if he be so inclined). And, Sir, if they are in his hands, if you can think of any device to have them thence, I should be glad, and if not, we must do as well as we can.

We have rec'd the print with your Excellency's Speech that was made to your Assembly after your

Gen'll Conference; and indeed are

even astonished that they stand out in the manner, when willing to come to the thing it self (viz.) £1000. as if they so little regarded the good of all New England as to throw it away or at least set it at so great a hazard. I can't but think it's now come to such a crisis in their own opinions that they believe they must yield or die, yet loath to go back, or that it should be said they give out.*

They'll rather hazard all their and our valuable privileges than do it. And whatever they might think at first setting out, I doubt pride, stoutness, or greatness, if it may so be called, is now the bias that holds them on in the same way, thô without hope of relief (in Parliament or elsewhere,) and it's likely this haughty look is before a fall, and they with all New England may repent when 'tis too late, and it's more likely they that now stand highest in the contention will fall deepest in the mire and misery that they'll bring themselves, &c. And how can they expect any other, when the legislature by their means provokt strip the people of their privileges, and compel them to subjection and to harder terms under strangers to rule over them with rigor; and then they that led them into these miseries, not able in the least measure nither to relieve nor comfort them. But it's possible I may be bid to meddle with my own business, and shall not add, but with leave subscribe,

Your Excellency's Most humble and Most obed' greatly concerned

HARTFORD, Octobr. 27th, 1730.

Servant,

J. TALCOTT.

*Hutchinson, II. 369 et seq.

LIEUT.-GOVERNOR DUMMER OF MASSACHUSETTS TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT.

S': I have the favour of yours of the 24th instant, in answer to which if you'l please to order the £100. for my Brother to my house in Boston I shall (God willing) be there ready to receive it and give you the receipt accordingly. I am told that in one of our newspapers of this week there is a paragraph from your Government that you have chosen Mr Wilks for your Agent. You'l favour me to let me know the truth on it, and I am, S',

Y most Obdt humble Ser,

WM. DUMMER.

NEWBURY FALLS,

29th Octob 1730.

Gov TALCOT.

[Indorsed] From D. Gov DUMMER, about his Brother's Salary, £100. &c.

COMMITTEE FOR BUILDING BATTERY AT NEW LONDON, TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT.

NEW LONDON, Decemb' 28th, 1730.

Honoured Sir: This may acquaint your Honour that the £100 sent us from the last Assembly* we have applyed in the building the Battery here, and we are still in debt for labour and service on the sd Battery fifty or sixty pounds, thereabouts, and are continually cald upon for the money, and most of it due to poor men that much want it. Therefore we pray your Honour in Council to send us some money down by the bearer, Mr Truman. If we now had money by us, might procure a good quantity of stones now while teams are strong to work. We suppose the wall is half high enough, and may be raised as high *Colonial Records, VII. 298.

as it need to be pretty early in the next summer. This is all, from

Your Honour's very humble Servants,

J. PLUMBE,*

JNo. PICKETT,†

RICHP. CHRISTOPHERS,

Committee.

Sir: We have of late begun to slack our care relating to the Small Pox, supposing the danger is almost over, but have had no advice from your Honour therein which would be acceptable.

CAPT. HEZ. WYLLYS, Esq.

Sir: Please to draw out the Act passed the last Gen Assembly, relating to drawing money out of the treasury for the building the Battery at N: London, and send it me tomorrow morn, together with this letter, pr the bearer, Mr Truman. I am, Sr,

Your humb Servt,

J. TALCOTT.

FRANCIS WILKS TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT.

(Copy Pr Homans.)

LONDON, 13th February, 1731

S': I esteem myself Highly Honour'd by the Colony of Connecticut, over which you preside as Head and Governour, in appointing me their Agent, which I enter upon with a great deal of Pleasure and shall be glad if I can recommend myself by

*John Plumbe was Justice of the Peace for New London County, and Judge of Probate, 1729-1733. He died about 1734.1 - Colonial Records, VII.

323, 505.

+ John Pickett was born in New London July 28, 1685; graduated from Yale College 1705; he was the first graduate of the College who was trained as a lawyer, but he was also engaged in trade with the West Indies; he was clerk of the county court for eighteen years, 1720-1738, and deputy to the General Assembly in May, 1727; he died in New London Dec. 9, 1738. -Yale Biographies and Annals, 38.