Test JNO RUSSELL, Clerk.

In ye Lower House

Read and approved.

[Indorsed] Thanksgiving, October, 1732.

JOHN EDWARDS,* OF BOSTON, TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT. BOSTON, November the 6th, 1732.

S': This comes P Capt. Hubbard, with a particular acet of the Gold and Silver money, I have shipt on board the Union, John Homans, Master, and goes consigned to Francis Wilks, Esq', according to your order, it being on the acct and risque of the Colony of Connecticut. I wish it may go safe. I have made diligent enquiry for your letters from England, of every ship that has arrived here, but can't yet hear of any. I shall still continue so to do, and if any comes to my hands will carefully send them forward. I am, S', with due Respects,

Your Hon's humble Servt,

JOHN EDWARDS.

The Colony of Connecticut to JOHN EDWARDS is Dr 1732.

Nov. 21 To 7 Moidores at £5

To 3 French and Spanish

Pistoles at £3

35:

12:

*This was probably John Edwards, goldsmith, of Boston, who died in

1746.- Suffolk County Probate Records.

June 15th By Bills of Credit reed from

the Honble Joseph Talcott,

Esq', by the hands of Tim°

[Superscribed] To the Hone JOSEPH TALCOTT, Esq'. Governour of Connecticutt, at Hartford.

GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO THE SHERIFF OF HARTFORD COUNTY.

To the Sherif of the County of Hartford or his deputy GREETING.

Whereas sundry Complaints have been Laid before me in Councill, Informing that the New London Society for Trade and Commerce have struck and signed bills, on the Creditt of s Society, to the sum of many thousand pounds, and have sold such their bills to his Majesties subjects, as a Medium of Trade, Currant and Equall in value to Currant money, or bills

*An association formed in New London, in 1730, for commercial operations. It had about eighty members, scattered over the whole colony, among them many of the leading men, and was able to command a large political influence. For a couple of years its enterprises were successful, thus giving a great impetus to business in the colony. To facilitate its operations, the society began to issue bills of credit in the likeness of the colony bills. Miss Caulkins states that the bills were dated in October, 1732, to run twelve years to October, 1744; but bills are in existence dated August, 1732. This emission of paper money was at first popular, but finally caused a great commotion. The authorities became alarmed, the Governor and Council issued an order denouncing the "new money," and the General Assembly was convened in special session in February, 1732-3. After an inquiry into the affairs of the society, the charter was repealed, the mortgages were assumed by the Governor and Company, and the bills allowed to run until they could be called in and the affairs of the society settled. An emission of £30,000 in bills of credit was ordered, chiefly to provide for the withdrawal of the society's bills, by loans from the treasury, to enable mortgagers to that society to satisfy their indebtedness. At first the society resisted the orders of the government, and threatened an appeal to England. Finally, at a meeting held June 5, 1735, they unanimously dissolved the organization; but the evil effects produced by their measures troubled the Colony for a much longer period. See Appendix.-Bronson's Historical Account of Connecticut Currency, 42-4. Miss Caulkins' History of New London, 242–4. Conn. Archives; Trade and Maritime Affairs, I. 101, 163. Colonial Records, VII. 421-3, 449-54.

of the publick Creditt of this Colony, or the Neighboring Governments, and have accordingly received for s bills at the value asesed, provisions, and other valuable Comoditys of the Country, in Great Quantitys, of Sundry of his Majesties Good Subjects. All which is Contrary to the peace of our Soveraigne Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, to the Great wrong and defrauding of the purchasers of s bills, and a Great abuse of the powers Given to s Society by

the Assembly.

These are therefore in his Majesties Name to Comand you to sumons the sd New London Society for Trade and Commerce to appear before the Generall Assembly, to be holden at Hartford, on the fifteenth day of February Instant, to answer to the Matters afores", and to show by what Lawful Authority (if any they have) emitted and sold their bills as aforesaid, and also to show Cause if any they have why the Assembly should not order and enact agt them that they should refund, and pay back to the possessors of such bills, the sums for which they have sold them to his Majesties Subjects, and further order them they shall hereafter Cease to Strike or Emitt any bills on their Creditt, or to be a Society, here of you may not faill and make due return of this writt, with your doings thereon, to my self, before the Session of the Assembly. Dated in Hartford, February Ninth, Anno Dom. 1733, in the Sixth year of his Majestics reigne, George the 2d King, &c.

J. TALCOTT, Gov'.

GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO THE SHERIFF OF NEW

LONDON COUNTY.

To the Sheriff of the County of New London or his Deputy GREETING

Whereas I being in Councill Informed of the Eregular proceedings of the New London Society united for

Trade and Commerce, and the misuse and abuse of the Liberties and Priviledges Granted to them by the Generall Assembly of this Coloney, to the Great Damage of the Publick, and to the hurt of many particular persons.

These are therefore In His Majesties Name to Require and Comand you to Sumon Daniel Coit,* of New London, Clerk of sd Society, that he appear before the Generall Assembly to be Convena at Hartford, on Thursday the 15th day of Instant ffebarey, and that he bring with him, the Records and doeings of the sd Society, that so the Assembly may be Acquainted with the proceedings of sd Society, here of faill not and make Return of this writ, with your doings thereon, to the s" General Assembly. Dated in Hartford, ffebarey the 9th day, In the Sixth year of His Majesties Reign Anno Dom. 1733. J. TALCOTT, Gov'.

TIMOTHY GREEN TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT.

NEW LONDON, Feb. 12th, 173.

May it please your Honour.

to my

Your Honours of the 9th Instant came hands last night, wherein I am ordered to Send a True and full account of all Bills that have been Stamped for the New London Society, and by whose order, and what time they were Stamped, that so it may be laid before the Gen. Assembly, at their Sessions at Hartford, on the 14th of Feb: Instant. In answer to which I would inform your Honour that the vote for printing

*Daniel Coit, born in New London, Oct. 25, 1698; chosen Town Clerk in 1736, and re-elected annually until his death, July 19, 1773, with the exception of one year, 1757. He was also Clerk of the County Court, and Justice of the Peace. Coit Genealogy, 27.

+ Timothy Green belonged to a family of printers, being the son of Samuel Green, Jr., of Boston, and grandson of Samuel Green of Cambridge, one of the earliest printers in this country. He conducted a press in Boston thirteen years. The earliest books known to be printed by him bear date 1700. Receiving an invitation from the Council and Assembly of Connecticut, after

Thirty thousand pounds for said Society was passed by them in August last, when I was at Boston, on a visit to my (then Sick but now Dead) Brother. A Letter bearing Date Aug. past came to my hands while I was at Boston, Signed Thomas Seymour, John Bissel, and Solomon Coit, Committee, desiring me to assist in procuring paper, and an Engraver to cut plates for sa Society. How much of the 30000 are emitted is best known to the Committee, Clerk, and Treasurer of said Society: what is printed, I conclude is about fifteen thousand pounds. The Committee and Clerk are under Oath, and will give a plain and full account. It would take up a great Deal of time and paper to give a particular account of all the parcels and quantities of Bills, which the Committee received, for it was most in little Sums, or Sheets, I delivered them.

I am with all Duty
Your Honours

humble Servant

TIMOTHY GREEN.

GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.

HARTFORD, Feb 12th, 1733.

May it please your Lordships:

This comes to acknowledge the receipt of his Majesty's instructions to me, that I should 'not consent to any Act for laying a duty on any of the

the death of Thomas Short, in New London, the first government printer of the Colony, he removed to New London, and was appointed printer to the Governor and Company, on a salary of fifty pounds per annum. It was stipulated that for this sum he should print the election sermons, proclamations, and the laws, which should be enacted at the several sessions of the Assembly. He printed a revised edition of the laws, entitled, Acts and Laws of his Majestie's Colony of Connecticut in New England, 1715, and another edition including the laws from 1715 to 1750. He died May 5, 1757, having resigned his printing-house and business to his son Timothy, some years before. - History of Printing in America, Isaiah Thomas, I. 95, 185. Colonial Records, V. 477, 540, 541. Connecticut Archives; Finance and Currency, III. 1, 2, 282.