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COLLECTIONS
OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ffotmnittee of PnbUcatbm.
CHARLES C. SMITH. MELLEN CHAMBERLAIN. HENRY F. JENKS.
COLLECTIONS
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
SIXTH SERIES VOL. VL
fsbliBlia at tljt Kingi at tl)i Xtutjatll JaSliaifim Smia.
BOSTON: PtTBLISHED BT THE SOCIETY.
x.Dcco.xotn.
Jomi WlLBOH AXD SOH, CAMBRIDGE.
117808
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• *
. • • • •
• •
• • • t *
9 0 m
• • • • •
• •
•- •
• • • ■
• • • •
• •:
,-. ,..••••
• •
'.-:'
• • - •
• •• ■ *•
• -•
• • •
• • •
m
• •
• • • • • ■ • * • ••
« • • • • •
• » •
• •
CONTENTS.
Paok
Officebs of the Society, elected April 13, 1893 . . . vii
Resident Membebs viii
HONORABT AND COBRESPONDINO MEMBERS X
Members Deceased xii
Preface xiii
The Belcheb Papers 3
Appendix 449
Index 523
OFFICERS
OF THB
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
Elected April 13, 1803.
Rev. GEORGE E. ELLIS, D.D., LL.D Boston.
FRANCIS PARKMAN, LL.D Boston.
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, A.B Quincy.
jpiecorbmg Sitattaxn, Rev. EDWARD J. YOUNG, D.D Waltham.
Cont0ponbing SittxtiBX]^, JUSTIN WINSOR, LL.D Cambridge.
Crtantrer. CHARLES C. SMITH, A.M. Boston.
^rioTHriati. Hon. SAMUEL A. GREEN, M.D. Boston.
SAMUEL F. McCLEART, A.M Brooklinr.
CttOttibe Committee of t^e Council.
Rev. HENRY F. JENKS, A.M Canton.
HORACE E. SCUDDER, A.B Cambridge.
SOLOMON LINCOLN, A.M Boston.
Rev. ALEXANDER McKENZIE, D.D Cambridge.
Hon. JOHN D. WASHBURN, LL.B Worcester.
[vii]
RESIDENT MEMBERS,
AT THK DATE OF THB PRINTIKO OF THIS BOOK, IN THE ORDER OF
THEIR ELECTION.
1839.
Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, LL.D.
1841. Rev. George £. EUis, LL.D.
1844. Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D.D.
1852.
Francis Parkman, LL.D.
1867.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, D.C.L.
1858. Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, A.M.
1859.
Henry W. Torrey, LL.D.
I860. Hon. Samuel A. Green, M.D.
Charles Eliot Norton, LL.D.
1861. Rev. Edward E. Hale, D.D.
Hon. Horace Gray, LL.D.
Rev. Edwards A. Park, LL.D.
1863. William H. Whitmore, A.M.
1864. Hon. William O. Endicott, LL.D.
Hon. E. Rockwood Hoar, LL.D.
1865. Josiah P. Quincy, A.M.
Samuel Eliot, LL.D.
[viii]
1866. Henry G. Denny, A.M.
1867. Charles C. Smith, A.M. Hon. Greorge S. Hale, A.M.
1869. William S. Appleton, A.M. Hon. Theodore Lyman, LL.D.
1871. Abner C. Goodell, Jr., A.M. Edward D. Harris, Esq.
1873. Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, LL.D. Winslow Warren, LL.B. Charles W. Eliot, LL.D.
1875. Charles F. Dunbar, LL.D. Charles Francis Adams, A.B. William P. Upham, A.B.
1876. William Everett, Litt.D. George B. Chase, A.IVL Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, Ph.D.
1877. John T. Morse, Jr., A.B.
Justin Winsor, LL.D.
J. EUiot Cabot, LL.D.
BESIDBKT HElfBEBS.
IX
1878. Henry Lee, A.M.
Gamaliel Bradford, A.B.
Bev. Edward J. Young, D.D.
Hon. John Lowell, LL.D.
Abbott Lawrence, A.M.
1879. William W. Greenough, A.B.
Bobert C. Winthrop, Jr., A.M.
Henry W. Haynes, A.M.
1880. Thomas W. Higginson, A.M.
Bey. Edward G. Porter, A.M.
John C. Bopes, LL.B.
1881. Bey. Henry F. Jenks, A.M.
Horace E. Scudder, A.B.
Bey. Edmund F. Shifter, D.D.
Stephen Salisbury, A.M.
John T. Hassam, A.M.
Bey. Alexander McEenzie, D.D.
1882. Arthur Lord, A.B.
Arthur B. Ellis, LL.B.
Clement Hugh Hill, A.M.
Frederick W. Putnam, A.M.
James M. Bugbee, Esq.
Hon. John D. Washburn, LL.B.
Bey. l^bert C. Smyth, D.D.
1883. Francis A. Walker, LL.D.
Bey. Arthur L. Perry, LL.D.
1884. Hon. John E. Sanford, A.M.
Uriel H. Crocker, LL.B.
Hon. Martin Brimmer, A.B.
Boger Wolcott, LL.B.
William G. Bussell, LL.D.
Edward J. Lowell, A.M. Edward Channing, Ph.D.
1885. Hon. Lincoln F. Brigham, LL.D.
Edward Bangs, LL.B.
1886. Samuel F. McCleary, A.M.
William W. Goodwin, D.C.L.
Hon. George F. Hoar, LL.D.
Bey. Alexander V. G. Allen, D.D.
1887. Charles G. Loring, A.M.
Bey. Octayius B. Frothingham, A.M
Solomon Lincoln, A.M.
Edwin P. Seayer, A.M.
1889. Albert B. Hart, Ph.D.
Thornton K. Lothrop, LL.B.
Greorge O. Shattuck, LL.B.
James B. Thayer, LL.B.
Hon. Henry S. Nourse, A.M.
1890. Henry Fits-Gilbert Waters, A.M.
Edwin Lassetter Bynner, LL.B.
Hamilton Andrews Hill, LL.D.
Hon. William S. Shortleff, A.M.
Abbott Lawrence Lowell, LL.B.
1891. Benjamin M. Watson, A.B.
Bey. Samuel E. Herrick, D.D.
Hon. Oliyer W. Holmes, Jr., LL.D.
Henry P. Walcott, M.D.
1892. John Fiske, A.M.
George S. Merriam, A Ji.
1893. Edward L. Pierce, LL.D.
Hon. Charles R. Codman, LL.B.
RESIDENT MEMBERS,
▲T THB DATB OF THB PRIITTIMO OF THIS BOOK, IN THB OROBB OF
THBIB BLECTION.
1839.
Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, LL.D.
1841. Rev. George £. Ellis, LL.D.
1844. Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D.D.
1852. Francis Parkman, LL.D.
1857.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, D.C.L.
1858. Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, A.M.
1859. Henry W. Torrey, LL.D.
1860. Hon. Samuel A. Green, M.D.
Charles Eliot Norton, LL.D.
1861. Rev. Edward E. Hale, D.D.
Hon. Horace Gray, LL.D.
Rev. Edwards A. Park, LL.D.
1863. William H. Whitmore, A.M.
1864. Hon. William O. Endicott, LL.D.
Hon. E. Rockwood Hoar, LL.D.
1865. Josiah P. Quincy, A.M.
Samuel Eliot, LL.D.
[viii]
1866. Henry G. Denny, A.M.
1867. Charles C. Smith, A.M. Hon. Greorge S. Hale, A.M.
1869. William S. Appleton, A.M. Hon. Theodore Lyman, LL.D.
1871. Abner C. Goodell, Jr., A.M. Edward D. Harris, Esq.
1873. Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, LL.D. Winslow Warren, LL.B. Charles W. Eliot, LL.D.
1875. Charles F. Dunbar, LL.D. Charles Francis Adams, A.B. William P. Upham, A.B.
1876. William Everett, Litt.D. George B. Chase, A.M. Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, Ph.D.
1877. John T. Morse, Jr., A.B.
Justin Winsor, LL.D.
J. Elliot Cabot, LL.D.
BE8IDBKT MEMBKKfl.
IX
1878. Henry Lee, A.M.
Gamaliel Bradford, A.B.
Rev. Edward J. Young, D.D.
Hon. John Lowell, LL.D.
Abbott Lawrence, A.M.
1879. William W. Greenough, A.B.
Robert C. Winthrop, Jr., A.M.
Henry W. Haynes, A.M.
1880. Thomas W. Higginson, A.M.
Rev. Edward G. Porter, A.M.
John C. Ropes, LL.B.
1881. Rev. Henry F. Jenks, A.M.
Horace £. Scadder, A.B.
Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, D.D.
Stephen Salisbury, A.M.
John T. Hassam, A.M.
Rey. Alexander McEenzie, D.D.
1882. Arthur Lord, A.B.
Arthur B. Ellis, LL.B.
Clement Hugh Hill, A.M.
Frederick W. Putnam, A.M.
James M. Bugbee, Esq.
Hon. John D. Washburn, LL.B.
Rev. l^bert C. Smyth, D.D.
1883. Francis A. Walker, LL.D.
Rev. Arthur L. Perry, LL.D.
1884. Hon. John E. Sanford, A.M.
Uriel H. Crocker, LL.B.
Hon. Martin Brimmer, A.B.
Roger Wolcott, LL.B.
Ifniliam G. Russell, LL.D.
Edward J. Lowell, A.M. Edward Channing, Ph.D.
1885. Hon. Lincoln F. Brigham, LL.D.
Edward Bangs, LL.B.
1886. Samuel F. McCleary, A.M.
William W. Goodwin, D.C.L.
Hon. George F. Hoar, LL.D.
Rev. Alexander V. G. Allen, D.D.
1887. Charles G. Loring, A.M.
Rev. Octavius B. Frothingham, A.M.
Solomon Lincoln, A.M.
Edwin P. Seaver, A.M.
1889. Albert B. Hart, Ph.D.
Thornton E. Lothrop, LL.B.
George O. Shattuck, LL.B.
James B. Thayer, LL.B.
Hon. Henry S. Nourse, A.M.
1890. Henry Fits-Gilbert Waters, A.M.
Edwin Lassetter Bynner, LL.B.
Hamilton Andrews Hill, LL.D.
Hon. William S. Shurtleff, A.M.
Abbott Lawrence Lowell, LL.B.
1891. Benjamin M. Watson, A.B.
Rev. Samuel E. Herrick, D.D.
Hon. Oliver W. Holmes, Jr., LL.D.
Henry P. Walcott, M.D.
1892. John Fiske, A.M.
George S. Merriam, AM.
1893. Edward L. Pierce, LL.D.
Hon. Charles R. Codman, LL.B.
HONORARY OR CORRESPONDING
MEMBERS,
BLSOTKD UHDBB THB OBIOIHAL ACT OT INCORPORATION, 1794, IH TBB ORDER
OF THBIR ELECTION.
J. Hammond Trumbull, LL.D. | Bev. William S. Soutbgate, A.M.
HONORARY MEMBERS,
BLBCTBB 8INCB THB PASSAGE OP THE ACT OP 1867.
James Anthony Fronde, M.A. Rt. Rev. Lord A. C. Ilervey, D.D. David Masson, LL.D. S.A.R. le Comte de Paris. Rt. Rev. William Stubbs, D.D. Hon. William M. Evarts, LL.D. Tbeodor Mommsen.
M
Marquis de Rochambeau. John Robert Seeley, LL.D. William E. H. Lecky, LL.D. Very Rev. Charles Merivale, D.D. Ernst Curtius. Hon. Carl Schurz, LL.D.
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS,
BLBCTKD 8INCB THB PA8SJLOB OF THE ACT OF 1857.
Hon. William H. Tresoot. William Noel Sainsbury, Esq. Goldwin Smith, D.C.L. George Ticknor Curtis, A.B. Hon. John Meredith Read, A.M. Joseph Jackson Howard, LL.D. Charles J. Stills, LL.D. %Villiam W. Story, D.C.L. M. Jules Marcou. M. Pierre Margry. Charles J. Hoadly, LL.D. John Foster Kirk, Esq. Hon. Charles H. Bell, LL.D. Rev. Edward D. NeiU, D.D. Hon. Manning F. Force, LL.B. Samuel Rawson Gardiner, LL.D. Hon. John Bigelow, LL.D. Henry Charles Lea, LL.D. Hubert H. Bancroft, A.M. Rev. Richard S. Storrs, LL.D. M. Gustave Vapereau. William F. Poole, LL.D. John Austin Stevens, A.B. Joseph F. Loubat, LL.D. Charles H. Hart, LL.B. Rev. Moses Coit Tyler, LL.D.
Hermann von Hoist, Ph.D. Franklin B. Dexter, A.M. John M. Brown, A.M. Hon. Andrew D. White, LL.D. G^rge W. Ranck, Esq. , James M. Le Moine, Esq. Rt Hon. Sir George O. Trevelyan^
Bart, D.C.L. Henry Adams, A.B. Julius Dexter, A.B. Rev. Henry M. Baird, D.D. Hon. WiUiam Wirt Henry. Vicomte d'Haussonville. James Bryce, D.C.L. Rev. Charles R. Weld, B.D. Herbert B. Adams, Ph.D. Signor Comelio Desimoni. Hon. Jabez L. M. Curry, LL.D. Amos Peny, A.M. Horatio Hale, A.M. Hon. William A. Courtenay. Rt Rev. Mandell Creighton, LL.D. John Andrew Doyle, M.A. Abb^ Henry Raymond Casgrain,
Litt.D. Alexander Brown, Esq.
[«]
MEMBERS DECEASED.
Members who have died since the last volume of the Proceedings was issued, Oct, 1, 189B, arranged in the order of their dection, and with date of death.
Resident.
Henry Wheatland, M.D Feb. 27, 1893.
Bey. Bobert Cassie Watenton, A.M Feb. 21, 1893.
Rev. Andrew Preston Peabody, D.D Mar. 10, 1893.
Fitch Edward Oliver, M.D Dec. 8, 1892.
Bt. Bey. Phillipe Brooks, D.D Jan. 23, 1893.
Corresponding, Sir John Bernard Burke, C.B.,LL.D Deo. 18, 1892.
[xii]
PREFACE.
A MONG the manuscripts which came into possession -^^ of the Massachusetts Historical Society at its meeting in October, 1791, from its chief founder, Rev. Dr. Jeremy Belknap, were four of Governor Belcher's Letter-Books, the first three covering the period from Sept. 3, 1731, to April 21, 1735, and the fourth the period from Aug. 24, 1739, to Sept. 23, 1740. Subse- quently Rev. Dr. Joseph McKean gave the volume from Sept. 26, 1740, to July 25, 1743 ; the American Anti- quarian Society, the volume from Sept. 16, 1747, to Oct. 12, 1748 ; Mr. Nathaniel G. Snelling, the volume from Oct. 16, 1750, to Aug. 25, 1752 ; and the Hon. Charles H. Warren, the volume from Aug. 31, 1752, to Sept. 28, 1754. With the exception of one leaf at the beginning of the third volume, twenty leaves at the beginning and some at the end of the sixth volume, one leaf at the beginning of the seventh volume, and three leaves at the beginning of the eighth volume, which are missing or partly torn, these volumes are in good condition. There is also in possession of the Historical Society the latter half of a ninth volume, covering the period from July 9, 1755, to Dec. SO, of the same year. This frag- ment was probably given at the end of the last century or at the beginning of the present century ; but the exact
XIV PREFACE.
date is not known, and it has not been ascertained with certainty from whom it was received.
The four volmnes which were in the possession of Dr. Belknap relate in large part to affairs in New Hampshire, and were carefully studied by him when he was preparing the History of New Hampshire. They contain numerous notes by him, and important identifications of the per- sons referred to by Governor Belcher under opprobrious nicknames. With these missiles Belcher's armory was profusely supplied, and he scattered them about with a free hand. A few of the documents in these four vol- umes have been printed in the New Hampshire Provincial Papers ; and some letters to Governor Talcott have been printed in the fourth volume of the Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society from copies furnished by our Society. The letters and papers which have been thus made accessible in other publications have not been printed again in the present collection, but are mentioned in the Appendix. In April, 1852, permission was given to the New Jersey Historical Society to have copies made of such of the papers of Governor Belcher as might refer to his administration of the government of New Jersey. This permission covered the last three and a half volumes; and the copies then made have since been printed in the seventh and eighth volumes of the New Jersey Archives.
Governor Belcher was very methodical in his habits; and it is believed that he preserved a copy of nearly every letter written by him, of however small import- ance it might be. But his style had little variety of expression ; his thoughts moved in ruts ; and he had a set of stock phrases and quotations which frequently reappeared at short intervals. Consequently many of his letters are mere duplicates of what he had previ*
FBEFACE. XY
ously written to some other correspondent. This is true of a large proportion of the letters enumerated in the Calendar; their substance, and often their identical phraseology, will be found in other letters here printed. It has not been thought desirable to print in full any of his purely business letters, though the subjects of all of them have been indicated, as they have little or no historical value, and the light which they throw on his personal character is merely cumulative. No one who reads his other letters can have any doubt as to what manner of man he was. Another volume will probably comprise everything of a historical and biographical nature, contained in Governor Belcher's Letter-Books, while he was at the head of affairs in Massachusetts, which it will ever be desirable for this Society to print. Such a volume will be a necessary complement to the present collection, and its preparation will be begun at once.
Jonathan Belcher was the grandson of Andrew Belcher, who married a sister of Deputy-Governor Danforth, and kept a house of public entertainment in Cambridge from 1654 to 1673, in which year he is supposed to have died, leaving several daughters and an only son, Andrew. The second Andrew married, in 1670, Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Gilbert, of Hartford, Connecticut, and after the death of his father-in-law acquired Gilbert's large estate in Meriden, which finally became the property of Governor Belcher, and is often referred to by the Gov- ernor. Andrew Belcher, the younger, was of a migratory habit, and lived at different times in Hartford, Cambridge, Charlestown, and Boston, where he became an enterpris- ing and prosperous merchant. He also took an active part in public life, and was a member of the Council from 1702 until his death in 1717. His eldest daughter,
XVI PREFACE.
Elizabeth, married Daniel Oliver, and became the mother of Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Oliver and of Chief Justice Peter Oliver; another daughter, Mary, married George Vaughan, of Portsmouth, N. H., afterward Lieu- tenant-Governor, and died before she had completed her twentieth year ; another, Ann, married Oliver Noyes, of Charlestown, father of the Dr. Belcher Noyes mentioned in Governor Belcher's correspondence ; another, Sarah, married John Foye, who was at one time engaged in business as a distiller; and the youngest daughter, Martha, married the second Anthony Stoddard. Jona- than was the younger of two sons, but not the youngest child.
He was bom in Cambridge, Jan. 8, 1681-2, and gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1699, in a class of twelve. After leaving college he spent several years abroad, trav- elling over England and various countries of central and northern Europe, but nowhere finding any place, he says, which he preferred to New England. On his return he became a partner in business with his father, and acquired an ample fortune. About the time of his appointment as Governor he withdrew from active participation in a mercantile life, though he still carried on copper-mining in Connecticut, but with unsatisfactory results. Over and over again he complained, in very vigorous language, of the dishonesty of the miners, of lack of energy on the part of his agent, and of cheating by the assayers of the ore which he shipped to England. In the mean time he was beginning to take an interest in public aflfaii's. He was never one of the Representatives in the General Court, but he had a seat at the Council board seven years, having been first elected in 1718. He was also elected in 1729, but his election was negatived by Gov- ernor Burnet. Up to this time he had been regarded
PREFACE. XVU
as a prerogative man. He managed, however, in some way to give the impression that his views had changed ; and while the dispute between the Governor and the House of Representatives over the much vexed question of a fixed salary was at its height, he was authorized by the House, in December, 1728, to represent, in London, with Francis Wilks, the Province agent, their side of the case. Two months before this he had been appointed by Connecticut to endeavor to obtain a reversal or modifi- cation of the decision in the famous suit of Winthrop vs. Lechmere, which had unsettled the title to much of the real estate in that Colony. "Our Assembly look upon you to be at least half a Connecticut man," Governor Talcott wrote to Belcher; and the latter was induced to accept the appointment, after securing an appropria- tion large enough to enable him to apply the proper lubricant for official favors. He arrived in England early in 1729, and applied himself to his double task. Fortunately for him Burnet died not long afterward ; and as Belcher was on the spot to take advantage of every favorable circumstance, he secured the appointment as Burnet's successor in the government of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, mainly through the influence of Lord Townshend.
His commission was dated Jan. 8, 1729-30, but he did not sail for New England until some months afterward. He landed in Boston from the man-of-war Blandford, Aug. 10, and was received with every demonstration of welcome and honor. His appointment, however, gave only a short-lived satisfaction. Governor Hutchinson, writing from personal knowledge and observation, says : "By great freedom in conversation and an unreserved censure of persons whose principles or conduct he disap- proved^ he made himself many enemies.'' He has, indeed^
XVIU PREFACE.
passed into history as one of the most unpopular of the Koyal Governors of Massachusetts, and his unpopularity in New Hampshire was also very great. He brought with him instructions in regard to a fixed salary for the Governor, the supply of the public treasury, and the emission of bills of credit, which were irreconcilable with the policy of the popular leaders, and he had an invincible determination to carry out the royal instruc- tions. The dispute about the salary was immediately revived, and for more than a year at a time he was obliged to live on his own means. Finally, a sort of compromise was effected; the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted a grant at the beginning of the year, and the Governor received a general permission from the Crown to take what the House voted. This was a triumph of the Province; but in dealing with another claim of the Representatives, that they should examine accounts against the Province before payment was made, the Governor was more successful. The claim had been often brought forward and had been repeatedly attached as a condition in money bills ; but it was as steadily resisted by the Governor. A protracted struggle followed, during which an appeal was made by the House to the King and to the Parliament, only to call forth an expression of the royal displeasure. The House was forced to yield, and to make the necessary appropriations without the objectionable proviso.
After the storm there was a period of calm, which, from the nature of the issues involved and the character of the contending parties, could only be a truce, not a lasting peace. There had long been a scarcity of coin in the Province, and a constant pressure on the part of the debtor class for the emission of bills of credit. Yielding to this pressure, the General Court endeavored to obtain
PREFACE. XIX
a withdrawal of the instruction to the Governor which forbade him to give his consent to any act for extending the period for the redemption of the outstanding bills to a later date than 1741. Belcher was not less opposed to the increase or extension of a mere paper currency than were the ministers in England, though he was favorably inclined to a new emission of bills of credit on a gold and silver basis, and asked leave to approve a similar act for New Hampshire. Failing to obtain this leave, he strenuously resisted the bill for the crea- tion of what was known as the Land Bank ; and only a few months before his removal he negatived the election of the Speaker of the House and of thirteen members of the Council on account of their connection with it. Later generations have fully recognized the soundness of the policy which Belcher was instructed to carry out ; but it excited the hostility of a large party on this side of the Atlantic, and was one of the principal causes of his downfall.
In dealing with the long-standing dispute about the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire, he failed to satisfy either Province ; and when, in 1737, the Commissioners appointed to settle the question made their extraordinary award, both Provinces appealed to the King. It is not at all surprising that the animosi- ties engendered by these disputes, as well as by his bitter quarrel with the Lieutenant-Governor of New Hampshire, his ungovernable tongue, and his reckless pen, made his life here uncomfortable, and his standing with the Crown uncertain. But his enemies in Massachusetts and New Hampshire did not rest satisfied with real grounds of complaint. They even made use of forged and anony- mous letters, and by the help of these they secured his removal from both governments in May, 1741. A
SX PREFACE.
desirable end was brought about by means which have ever since thrown discredit on Belcher's enemies in the two Provinces, and even raised a suspicion of the truth of their other charges against him.
After Belcher's dismissal he remained for some time in Boston and Milton, and then went to England. There he succeeded in removing the impressions against himself ; and on the death of Governor Morris he was appointed, in July, 1746, Governor of New Jersey. For some unex- plained reason he did not pay the necessary fees until the following February, when his commission was promptly issued. It was maliciously suggested at the time that the money to pay the fees was raised by his brother-in-law, Richard Partridge, among the Quakers of Yorkshire, in recognition of the services he had done to the Quakers in Boston, and " of the further services he was to do to the Quakers of New Jersey " ; and there is nothing improbable in the suggestion. He arrived in his new government, in the Scarborough man-of-war, on Saturday, Aug. 8, and on the following Monday took the pre- scribed oaths, and at once entered on the duties of his office. His administration was on the whole tranquil and satisfactory to the people. He died at Elizabethtown, Aug. 31, 1757, and was buried on the following Sunday, Sept. 4, when a funeral sermon was preached by Aaron Burr, President of the College of New Jersey. His library, containing more than four hundred volumes, was given to the College of New Jersey; and by his own direction his body was brought to Massachusetts and deposited in a tomb in the old burying-ground in Cambridge.
Governor Belcher was married, Jan. 8, 1705-6, to Mary, daughter of Lieutenant-Governor William Par- tridge, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She died Oct. 6,
PREFACE. XXI
1736, and was buried with great pomp. Twelve years later, Sept. 9, 1748, he was married, in Burlington, New Jersey, to Mary Louisa Emilia Teal, who survived him. By his first wife he had five children, of whom the youngest two, William and Thomas, apparently died in early life. The eldest son, Andrew, was bom Nov. 17, 1706, graduated at Harvard College in 1724, and died in Milton, Jan. 24, 1771, unmarried. He had no taste for a professional or political life, to which his father would have gladly introduced him, but engaged in commercial pursuits and acquired an ample property. The daughter, Sarah, was born April 22, 1708, married Aug. 17, 1727, to Byfield Lyde, and died Oct. 5, 1768. The third and favorite child, Jonathan, was born July 23, 1710, gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1728, married April 8, 1756, to Abigail Allen, and died March 29, 1776. By his second wife Governor Belcher had no issue.
The character of Governor Belcher, as shown in his correspondence, is easily read ; but it well deserves study as a strange product from a New England root, and for its influence on the dispute between the Crown and the Massachusetts Province. He stood midway between the New England Revolution of 1689 and the first armed* resistance to the mother country, and his words and his acts alike tended to produce an unfavorable impression on each side of the Atlantic. Had the leaders in Massa- chusetts known just what he wrote home to England, the knowledge would have produced as intense an excite- ment as was aroused by the publication of the letters of Hutchinson and Oliver. As Palfrey remarks, "It is not a pleasant thought that among the Governors of provincial Massachusetts those least entitled to her esteem were bom upon her soil. The fact would have been her shame, as well as her misfortune, had they
XXll PBEFACE.
been of her own choice. But no doctrine of despotism is more familiar than that a community under foreign rule is most easily oppressed through the instrumentality of its own facile, corruptible, and capable citizens.'* Belcher's sers'ile and flattermg tone to those over him, or whose favor he wished to gain ; his arbitrary man- ner to those under him, or whose views were opposed to his own; his fondness for display, and his readiness to take offence at imaginary slights; his duplicity; his love of money, and his harshness toward those who were indebted to him, or who did not deal fairly with him, as he thought ; his low opinion of human nature ; and his ostentatious piety, — were characteristics which his contemporaries did not fail to notice, and the knowl- edge of which is perpetuated in his letters. In them he stands revealed to us as the most perfect example of a New England courtier in a corrupt age.
For the Committee,
CHARLES C. SMITH. Boston, June 1, 1893.
THE BELCHER PAPERS.
PART L
THE BELCHER PAPERS.
TO ELLIS HUSKE.*
S*, — I see by yours of 3 present you had done your duty in seizing two of the vessels that had made a breach of the Acts of Trade ; perhaps the owners may pay for the impudence of the masters, or rather for their own. For I take it all to spring from the orders of their owners. I have no doubt of your fidelity in your office, and hope you will be very carefuU that willfuU transgressors (more es- pecially) suffer the penalty of the law. The Advocate General t has drawn the information (agreeable to what you wrote him) and sets out tomorrow morning with the Register, in order to bring forward the tryal on Wednes- day or Thursday next. I depend you and the Judge of the Admiralty ^ will be thorrS in your duty in this affair. The Grov''* share will be welcome on many accounts. I
* Ellis Hoflke wts at this time Naval Officer at Portsmouth, and from 1733 until his death In 1755 one of the Council of New Hampshire. He was bom in England, and was a younger brother of Gen. John Huske, who greatly distinguished himself at the battle of Culloden. One of Ellis Huske*s sons, Ellis Huske, Jr., was the first proprietor of '* The Boston Weekly Post-Boy,** postmaster at Boston, and deputy-postmaster for the Colonies until the appointment of Benjamin Franklin; and another son, John Huske, went to Eng^ land and became a member of Parliament. In a letter written in 1758 General Huske de- scribes in very uncomplimentary terms the men sent from England to hold office in the Colonies. The ministry, he writes, ** have been so careless for many years past of the charac- ters and abilities of the civil officers appointed for America, that most of the places in the gift
of the Crown have been filled with broken members of Par 1, of bad, if any, principles,
pimps, valet de chambres, electioneering scoundrels, and even liver}* servants. In one word, America has been for many years made the hospital of Great Britain for her decayed cour- tiers and abandoned worn-out dependants.*' And he adds more to the same effect, indi- cating special instances of disgraceful appointments. See Wentworth Genealogy, vol. L p. 387 note ; Phillimore's Life of Lord Lyttelton, vol. ti. p. 604. — Eds.
t Bobert Anchmuty, afterward Judge of the Admiralty. — Eds.
X Nathaniel Byfield. He died June 6, 1733, in his eightieth year. ~ Eds.
4 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
send you herewith 32 passes for Fort Will" and Mary.
Tuesday, the 14 curr*, I intend to be at Portsmouth, and
am
Your ready friend. J. B.
Boston, Sept' 6, 1731. (Post.)
TO RICHARD WALDRON.*
S*, — I wish everybody had as much life & spirit as you and Cap* Husk. If they have no courage while they have all the honours and profits of the government, how will they support themselves if they shou'd live to see their enemies enjoying the success they wish for ? I love to see men behave like men, and do the duty of the present day. I think it best the new Justices shou'd wait my coming for their coinissions. I intend to be at Newbury Munday, the 13 curr", at night, where I desire you to meet me. I think to breakfast at Newbury, and be at Hampton about 12 o'clock, and have wrote ColP Sherburne to order the troop to meet me there, and I expect you'll make out a good cavalcade besides. Give my service to M' Fitch & Mad", and let them know (on Saturday) that I have ac- cepted ColP Sherburne's invitation for this journey. To- morrow morning M' Auchmuty (the Advocate General) and M' Boydel (the Register) set out for Portsmouth to bring on the tryal of the two vessels seiz'd by the Naval Officer. I depend the Judge and everybody else will be very thorrS in their duty. The Judge must take care to
* Richard Waldron, fi^randson of the famous Major Richard Waldron, was bom in Dover, N. H., Feb. 21, 1694, graduated at Hanrard College in 1712, and died Aug. 23, 1753. In December, 1730, he was appointed Secretary of the Province, and also one of the Council, but he did not receive the royal mandamus until more than a year afterward. He was Gov- ernor Belcher's most intimate friend and stanchest adherent in New Hampshire, and was accordingly removed from office when Benning Wentworth succeeded Belcher as Governor. See New Hampshire Provincial Papers, vol. iv. pp. 767, 770 ; Farmer's edition of Belknap's History of New Hampshire, p. 412; Adams's Annals of Portsmouth, pp. 191, 192; and Belcher's letter to Waldron, May 29, 1732. —Eds.
1731.] TO WILLIAM TAILER. 5
mention the Gov''* part in bis Decree, thus, — To his Ex- cellency Jonathan BelcheVy Esq^^ Gcrtf of his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire. My share will be very wel- come for sundry reasons. Seal the inclos'd before you deliver them. I am
Your ready friend. J. B.
Boston, Sept' 6, 1731.
(Post.)
TO WILLIAM TAILER.*
Hon**" S*, — The inclos'd came under M' Popple's cover, and was forwarded to me hither IP* express with my other London letters, all which are very agreeable, as is every- thing, I assure you, in this Province. Altho' my Leiu* Gov' wou'd not stay to return the respect I ordered to be paid him at his first coming into the Province, but, I am told, went off in a fishing boat at 11 o'clock the night before my coming hither, and landed at Isle of Shoals, where a sloop took him aboard next day to carry him
eastward.!
Keep the Assembly sitting 'till you receive mine f" next post, which will bring you a new Act of this Assem- bly about the Line.^ I know you will do everything on
* Col. William Tailer was born in Boston in 1677, and was appointed in 1711 Lieu- tenant-Governor. From November, 1715, to October, 1716, he was Acting Governor; and in April, 1730, he was again appointed Lieutenant-Governor, and held office until his death. If arch 1, 1731-2. He was a nephew of Lieut-Gov. William Stoughton. See Whitmore*s Mass. Civil List ; Memorial History of Boston, vol. ii. p. 538 ; Green's Groton Historical Series, vol. iii. p. 362. — Eds.
t ** Province of Ntw-Hampthirtf September 14, 1731. Thif Day came hither His Ex- cellency Our Governor (whose arrival amongst us has been for some Weeks ver}* much wish'd for). His Entrance was attended with all possible demonstrations of Joy and Satis- faction, being met on the Borders and usher*d into the Province by Seventy Horse, besides the blue Troop (and exclusive of the (yentlemen who waited on him from his other Govern- ment), which was a handsome Appearance for so poor and little a Province, the like where- of has hardly ever been seen here, which loudl}' speaks the affection of the People, and the heartiness of His Excellency's Welcome to this Government. The Evening preceding Hit £axellency*t arrival His Honour our Lieut, Governor departed the Province^ his motion VHu sudden^ he embarked on board a Fishing Schooner^ and ^tis generally believed he it gone to Pemaquid.** (The New-England Weekly Journal, Sept. 20, 1731.) ^ Eds.
I There had been for many years a controversy between Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire in regard to the boundary line between the two Provinces, which has continued down
6 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
your part that may contribute to his Majesty's honour
& service.
Give my kind regards to my brother Byfield & love to
son and daughter Lyde. Make my compliments to Dean
Berkley. I find no uneasiness in my present journey, but
that it prevents my paying the respect & honour due to
his superiour merit. I believe America has hardly known
his fellow for natural powers & great learning. Tell him,
I wish him, his lady & family a prosperous voyage by the
will of God. With my hearty respects to M" Tailer and
all the family at Stoughton House, I am
Y' Honour's most obedient humble servant.
J. B.
PoRTSMO (X. Hampshire), Sept' 20, 1781. ^ Express.
If it be thought proper, give the Dean 7 or 9 guns as he passes the Castle.
TO WILLIAM TAILER.
S*, — Since mine of 20 psent ip* express, I have yours of same date ip* the post. It was very prudent in you to take care Cap* Sam * shou'd have a decent funeral, & your entertaining Dean Berkley at the Castle was a respect due to him, and an honour done the country. I have nothing very material from home, nor do I yet know how the grand controversy will terminate. I have the pleasure (natural to a fond father) of telling you M' Belcher has reed great & condescending marks of respect at White- hall, as well as uncommon friendship from all my ac- quaintance. He is fixt at the Temple. God Almighty spare his life & make him serviceable to his King & country.
to our own time. See a paper on '* The Northern Boundaiy of MasMchusetts/' read before the American Antiquarian Society, Oct. 21, 1890, by our associate, Dr. S. A. Green, in Proceedinf^ of Am. Antiq. Soc., New Series, vol. vii. pp. 11-32. — Eds.
* An Eastern Indian, who was killed Sept. 15, 1731, by being thrown from a runaway horse. — Eoa,
1731.] TO RICHARD WALDRON. 7
M' Sec*^ Waldron sends M' Sec*^ Willard what this Assembly has done further about the Line ; and I wou'd have the committee from the Massachusetts meet the committee from this Province at Newbury at the time set. I say I wou'd by no means have them fail. K they do, the people here will take great advantage of it ; and if they determine to meet, let an express be sent to the President of the Council to notifye the same. Munday next I intend to lodge at Newbury, next day to lodge at Salem, and to be at home on Wednesday between 4 & 5 afternoon. With kind respects to all y* good family at Stoughton House, I am,
Hono**^ S', y' friend & servant. J. B.
Portsmouth (X. Hampshire), SepU 24, 1731. (Post.)
TO RICHARD WALDRON.
S", — I fiiid by yours of 1 inst* and the return of the committee from hence that the meeting has produced as much as I expected ; as to the union of the Provinces, that matter requires much thought, and is attended on the side of the Massachusetts with more difficulties than presently heave in sight. I don't see any as to my personal inter- est. But I can't believe your Irish partisans will ever honestly pursue such a scheme ; they have another game to play, tho' such an union wou'd be the happiest thing in the world for N. Hampshire, and I wish it was possible to bring it about. Fail not to send me the affidavits of Walton and Wibird, copy of the address, and of all things past in the session. Inclos'd is mine to M' President. I hope there will be no errand made out for the Ipswich lad.* Take care to prevent any mischief a' Wednesday,
• Jaffrey. — Marginal Note by Rev. Dr. Belknap. In several other instances Dr. Bel- knap identifies the *' Ipswich lad" with John Rindge, who removed to Portsmouth from Iptwieh in 1700, when quite young, and married a daughter of Jotham Odiome, one of the
8 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1781.
and that the Court be prorogued as I have order'd.
Y' friend & servant. J. B.
Boston, Oct« 4, 1781.
(Post.)
TO THE JUSTICES AND SELECTMEN OF BOSTON.
Gent", — It is not only from duty, but I assure you from inclination, that I wou'd contribute every thing in my power for encouraging & giving countenance to vertue and religion, and I shall not doubt your acting with vigour in your several stations, so as may most of all tend to the suppressing of vice & prophaness. This will be but a reasonable service to the great author of our beings, our constant preserver & bountifull benefactor, and when you convene together to consult upon what I now suggest, if you can think of any thing proper to be done to obtain a better observation of the Lord's day, no authority of mine shall be wanting to support your good endeavours. These things are recommended to your wise & serious considera- tion, by Gent"
Your assured friend & humble servant. J. B.
Boston, Oct' 21, 1731.
To the WorshipfuU the Justice* S^ to the Genf^ the Selectmen of the Town of Boston,
D'd Thos. Palmer, Esq'
TO ELLIS HUSKE.
S*, — I have before me yours of 22 present. You must look into the law for the payment of the powder money, &
Coancil. No doubt Rindge was the person to whom Belcher referred ; for only three dari after the date of this letter, the Hoase of Representatives passed a vote appointing Capt. John Rindge *' as an Agent to Represent this Province at the Court of Great Brittaine/' with full power and authority, including authority to appoint such person as he might think proper to aid and assist him. Apparently the Council did not concur in this vote, and on the same day the Representatives passed a second vote, constituting him *' their Agent" See Wentworth Genealogy, vol. i. p. 320; New Hampshire Provincial Papers, vol. ir. p. 612. ~ Eds.
1731.] TO RICHARD WALDRON. 9
carefully conform yourself thereto. I think it expressly says the ships shall be measured. The registers are com- monly sham-businesses. But neither the King nor his Province must be defrauded thereby. They ought to be measured according to the rule & custom of the builders in the river. Methinks you and the Collector * seem to be got into a district of very fair traders, tho' you have ships every now and then from foreign countries. I hope you will both be vigilant that his Majesty may not be defrauded by any clandestine trade. I remain, with my very humble service to Mad" Husk, S',
Your ready friend J. B.
Boston, Oct» 25, 1731.
(Post)
TO RICHARD WALDRON.
S*, — Yours of 15 & 22 lye before me, & I particularly note their contents. The young profligate brought you nothing new from Pemaquid. I have had a full account of the conversation there by a gent" that made one of the company, and the young fellow you mention is to have a spot of 1000 acres for a garden, paying the homage due to his Teaguish lordship.t But I don't gather any thing material that past. I thmk you have sent me all that's necessary from the last session, and I return you the war- rant for inlisting a troop at Dover, nor do I forget that to be gathered in York county. I am content with the reasons you give against a prosecution of the late Sheriffe. The London ships may in a few days make us easy & other- wise. Whoever has broacht what you mention about the Line has told a most notorious lye ; for there is nothing more or less done in it than what is printed in the journals.
* Capt. Richard Wibird had been for some time Collector at Portsmouth. He was suc- ceeded early in November hj Anthony Reynolds, a son of the Bishop of Lincoln. — Eds.
t Governor Belcher was very lavish in the use of nicknames. Lieutenant-Governor Danbar is the person to whom he refers; and by the Irish party he means Dunbar*s adherents. ~ Eds.
2
10 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1781.
There can't be the least hopes of success of obtaming the union but by a good application from New Hampshire, and I am afraid the Irish party wou'd oppose it manibiLS pedibtisq. I should think it happy for me as well as both Provinces, provided it be done in a proper manner. In the mean time I am uprightly so far from being in favour of the Massachusetts about the Line that I really think they are very culpable and have not treated New Hamp- shire as they ought, but far from it. Why then do not the committee do their duty in transmitting everything to me, according to the act of your whole Legislature, that I may lay the matter before the King, which I am desirous to do with all imaginable justice and impartiality. Read the several inclosed ; then seal & deliver.
Hono**^ S% Your servant. J. B.
Boston, Oct' 25, 1781. (Post.)
TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE .♦
May it please your Grace, — Since I did myself the honour of addressing you 21 Aug** past, I have made a visit to his Majesty's other Province (of New Hampshire) under my government, and there held a session of the General Assembly for the dispatch of such affairs as might be for his Majesty's service, and the benefit of that Prov- ince. And in conformity to my duty I now inclose to your Grace what past at that session, and I am sorry to acquaint your Grace that the long-depending dispute be- tween the Massachusetts & N. Hampshire respecting the boundaries between them is yet brought to no conclusion. But the inhabitants bordering upon the lines are still ex- pos'd to great inconveniences & hardships; and accord- ing to my best observation New Hampshire is willing to
* Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcaatle (bom in 1693, died in 1768), was at this time Secretary of State. On the death of his brother, Henry Pelharo, he becamOi in 175i, First Lord of the Treasniy. — Eos.
1731.] TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. 11
conform in this matter to the Royal instruction. But I think the Massachusetts are not so frank in the affair as in reason & justice they ought to be. Nor do I believe this long controversy will ever be adjusted but by direc- tions from his Majesty at home, and New Hampshire seems to be determined to make their application to the King to give special orders to some commissioners here to make a settlement of the Line & return it home to his Majesty for his approbation. I have nothing material to say to your Grace respecting this Province, only to in- close the Journals of the House of Representatives from the last time I sent them. I am in daily expectation of his Majesty^s pleasure on what I have so often wrote your Grace respecting my support in his Majesty's gov- ernment, as also upon the matter of the supply of the Treasury of this Province. I am sorry to find myself oblig'd to trouble your Grace upon a dispute that hap- pened in Aug^ last with (ColP Dunbar*) my Leiut. Gov' at New Hampshire about the Fort William & Mary at New Hampshire, on which account I understand he has made a large complaint against me. He is a gent"' of an uncommon temper, that I find I must take it as a constant task to be defending myself against his unjust insinuations. I had lodg'd orders with the President of his Majesty's Council at New Hampshire to receive ColF Dunbar when he came with the King's commission with all proper respect, & for this he thankt me, and not- withstanding his former ill treatment of me I was really desirous of living in a good understanding with him, which I thought wou'd most of all contribute to the honour of the King's government and the peace of his subjects in that Province. But I find more & more that it's a thing not to be practis'd with ColP Dunbar;
* Col. David Dunbar was boro in Ireland, and served for a time in the British army. In 1731 he was made Lieutenant-Governor of New Hampshire and Surveyor-General of the Woods. He remained on this side of the Atlantic about six years; and during the whole period a veiy bitter feeling existed between him and Governor Belcher. See Belknap's Hiatory of New Hampshire, voL ii. pp. 101-117. — Eds.
12 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
he has such a thirst of honour & power beyond his own rank, as no gent" that is his superiour will ever conde- scend to, or at least, I must say for myself, that I never will betray the trust the King has reposed in me by pros- tituting the power & honour he has cloath'd me with to gratifye the pride of an inferiour officer who continually endeavours to insult me. But while the King is pleas'd to honour me w*^ his commission he shall know that I am his Gov'. Yet if he wou'd be easy he shou'd enjoy every thing the late Leiut. Gov' did from former Gov" & from me ; nor shou'd he want any part of the respect due to his commission. But when the Cap* of the Fort Will" & Mary wrote me in these words, — "As to the fort your Excel- lency has been pleas'd to favour me with, the Leiut. Gov' sayes he shall never accept your commission for it, for that, he sayes, he looks upon with contempt, but swears no body shall command there but by a commission from himself." With submission to your Grace, I then thought it high time to assert the King's honour and to let the Leiut. Gov' (and all the world) know such insults were intoler- able, and certainly such a behaviour cannot be consis- tent with the duty of a Leiu* Gov' to his Cap* General & Gov' in Cheif, but must produce anarchy & confusion in a government. At all times when that governm* has been under the same Gov' with this, the Gov' has never been esteemed absent from New Hampshire when in the Massachusetts, & the King has so settled it with respect to me in his 36 Royal instruction, and all Leiu* Gov*" have been under the order & directions which I find in the present Leiu* Gov'' commission, " Ac- cording to such instructions as you shall receive from us and from our said Cap* General & Cheif Gov' of our said Province of New Hampshire now & for the time being." But this gent" can't submit to move in his own line & order. I had no controversy with the late Leiu* Gov', nor did he do one thing in the government with-
1731.] TO THE DUKE OP NEWCASTLE. 13
out my special leave & direction, it being but 66 miles from hence and the post passing every week. I inclose your Grace an affidavit made by Coll" Walton, Cap* of the Fort William & Mary, being the substance of what he wrote me some time before, and upon which I thought it necessary for the King's honour to give orders to the gent" I had commission'd to abide by his commission and not to suffer the Leiu* Gov' to take the command of the fort without my leave, & contrary to my order, and with great duty and deference to your Grace, when this matter is rightly represented I shall hope for his Majesty's justifica- tion in what I have done. The Leiu* Gov* has not been at New Hampshire for 6 or 7 weeks past and the Prov- ince is in profound quiet, & will continue so if he keeps out of it. As it is no service to the Crown nor any benefit to him to be Leiu* Gov' I wou'd beg it of your Grace as a very particular favour that his commission may be super- seded, and ColP Henry Sherburne appointed in his place. I am now to acquaint your Grace that M' Westbrook & M' Frost have both of them lately desir'd to be dismist from being members of his Majesty's Council at New Hampshire ; and to make up the number of seven accord- ing to the King's instructions I have appointed in their places Richard Waldron & Benjamin Gambling, Esq', be- ing gent" I have formerly mentioned to your Grace, that they might have the King's royal mandamus to be mem- bers of his Majesty's Council in New Hampshire, and I now again praj' of your Grace that they may be made out & de- liver'd M' Newman, who will wait on your Grace for them. They are gent" of good capacity, vertue, & substance, & every way qualified as his Majesty directs. I humbly ask pardon for this tedious letter, and have the honour to be, with the highest duty & respect, my Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient & most devoted humble servant. J. B.
Boston, Ocf 29, 1781.
^ Homans. Atkins.
14 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
TO THE LORDS OF TRADE .♦
My Lords, — Since I had the honour of writing you 31 Augs* past, I am favoured with one from your Lordships of 6 July, owning the receipt of mine to 26 April last, with the publick papers I forwarded to your Lordships, from which time I have constantly wrote you of all things relating to his Majesty's Provinces under my care ; and altho' nothing has been wanting in my power to bring the Assembly of this Province to a just sense of their duty to his Majesty in settling my salary agreeable to his Royal instructions, yet the final result has been, as I have repeated to your Lordships several times, the summer past, nor is there the least expectation that the Assembly here will ever do anything more (or otherwise) in the matter ; nor (with great submission to your Lordships) can I see that my returning to Whitehall cou'd be of any ser^ vice, but might have put the Crown to the charge of a 1000 guineas for the expence of such a voyage ; and since I have so fully acquainted your Lordships of my proceedings, I see you had resolved to take an opportunity of laying it before his Majesty yourselves, and that I shou'd then hear from you again. I find your Lordships had reported to the King that the Bill past in Oct' last by the Council & Representatives was not a complyance with his Majesty's instruction. Your Lordships may remember I wrote you to the same purpose, and that therefore I did not give my consent to it ; yet it was a step further than any Gover* has been able to bring the Assembly of this Province, and the bill they past in May last was going on in conformity to what they had done the Oct' before ; and altho* the instruction has not taken its full effect, yet I must observe to your Lordships that I have so industri-
* The Lords of Trade at this time were the Earl of Westmoreland^ Paul Docminiqac^ Thomas Pelham, Martin Bladen, Edward Ashe, Sir Orlando Bridgeman, James Bradenell* and Sir Archer Croft. The Secretary of the Board was Alared Popple. — Eds.
1731.] TO THE LORDS OP TRADE. 15
ously laboured the matter with the Assembly as to bring them to give me £3000 instead of £1000 they gave Gov' Shute^ and by one address on the back of another they have given his Majesty the most publick & solemn assurances of a constant, ample, & honourable support to their Gov', and in their last address they have said, — Such an one as I shou'd judge so, — that I believe they will not for the future receede from the quantum; but I shall be endeavouring that they may make it more. For £3500 of the present currency of this Province is but £1000 St', and all the perquisites of this gov- ernment are not £100 st' f annum, and I do assure your Lordships the annual expence (with the best ceconomy) is more than £3000 ; that it's impossible for a gent" to lay up any fortune for himself or family by this government, which I think of the least profit of any in the King's do- minions. I am hoping by the next ships for his Majesty's royal leave to accept the money the Assembly last voted me ; for I think it cannot be judged just, reasonable, or honourable that I miLst live upon the air or consume my own fortime while I am so faithfully serving the Crown, nor can I see the receiving my support as the Assembly will give it can in the least measure prevent or defeat what his Majesty in his royal wisdom may think proper for the effectual inforcing his present instruction. I ob- serve what your Lordships say about the address from the House of Representatives. The method into which I wou'd have steer'd that matter was with an aim at the better support of the honour & prerogative of the Crown, but if your Lordships judge otherwise, I am perfectly easy. I have wrote so often to the Secretary of State and to your Lordships how opposite this Assembly is to the King's in- struction respecting the supply of the Treasury that I depend your Lordships will transmit me the King's orders thereon by the first ship, or this government will fall into confusion ; for there is now near £20,000 due for the sup-
16 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
port of the King*s garrisons and other services, and there has not been a shijling in the Treasury for many months, nor will the representatives grant any money unless they can have the supervising & passing every account, which I am fully of opinion is reserved in the Charter to his Majesty's Gov' & the Council ; and his Majesty's 30 in- struction to me I think exactly agreeable to the Royal Charter. The Assembly here have been lately under ad- journments waiting for his Majesty's pleasure (by y* ships expected) on their petitions or addresses respecting the salary & the supply of the Treasury, that nothing very material has past in this government since my last ; from which time I send you the Journals of the House of Rep- resentatives to the time of their last sitting.
And now, my Lords, I come to the affairs of the Prov- ince of New Hampshire, where I have lately been to hold the Assembly, and by the next ship I shall send your Lordships what past in the session. I am sorry the long- depending affair of the disputed lines is not yet brought to any conclusion, altho' I have taken indefatigable pains in both Provinces, and the two Assemblies have past several votes & acts, & have met one another by their commit- tees, & according to the best judgment I can make after all their attempts one with another, I think the line never will be settled here by the two governments, but the bor- derers thereon will still lye open to great inconveniences & cruel hardships from both governments ; and upon this article I must say, my Lords, in justice to New Hamp- shire that they have been very willing & ready to submit to the decision of this affair in exact conformity to his Majesty's instruction ; but the Massachusetts have made too many obstacles & difficulties, nor do I think they have been so candid & fair in the matter as N. Hampshire has been. I have with all the care & prudence I was master of kept things & persons from running to the extremity they did in Gov' Burnett's time, yet I am in daily fears
1731.] TO THE LORDS OF TRADE. 17
of difficulties that may still happen among the borderers. It is therefore of absolute necessity for the peace & honour of his Majesty's governments & for the welfare of his sub- jects that this long controversy shou d at last be adjusted, and New Hampshire seems resolv'd to pursue it by an im- mediate application to his Majesty for appointing comiss" here to run the lines, and then to make a representation to the King for his royal sanction, and I believe the Assem- bly of New Hampshire wou'd willingly be at the whole charge to have the matter effected, and I shall gladly contribute everything in my power to bring about a happy issue for both Provinces. I find your Lordships are not of opinion to advise his Majesty to give leave for my signing the bill past by the Council & Representatives of N. Hampshire for emitting £6000 in bills of credit & postponing what of their bills are still out on loan, which I shall therefore direct to be called in, according to the several acts providing therefor, and shall in my next give your Lordships a particular account of the state of the paper currency in New Hampshire. If your Lordships will please to review mine of 25 Janu' last, I think it was very particular respecting his Majesty's Council at New Hampshire, with the names of seven gent" of which only it then consisted, all the others mentioned in my instructions are dead, except M' Westbrook, who desir'd I wou'd dismiss him (being remov'd into this Province) and I appointed M' Waldron in his place ; and when I was last at N. Hampshire M' Frost, who is laid aside from all business (by a numb palsie) desir'd of me that he might resign his place at the Council board, which I cou'd not deny, and appointed Benjamin Gambling, Esq', in his stead. So the members of his Majesty's Council at New Hampshire are at present, — Shadrah Walton, President ; George Jaffrey, Richard Wibird, Jotham Oddiom, Henry Sherburne, Richard Waldron, & Benjamin Gambling, Esq". And M' Wibird (tho' a worthy gent") is often laid up with
8
18 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [173L
the gout for 4 or 5 months at a time. That the Comi- cil is but thin^ and I remember when my instructions were making out your Lordships were very desirous of my giving you a list of twelve gent™ that the Council might be compleat ; but when I told your Lordships I was something of a stranger to gent™ of that Province, then you desir'd I wou'd write you in this matter when I arriv'd to the government. I therefore again pro- pose to your Lordships that Richard Waldron, Benjamin Gambling & Ephraim Dennet, Esq" may have the royal mandamus's for members of his Majesty's Council, the charge whereof they have taken care to defray. They are all of them gent™ of good vertue, capacity, & sub- stance ; and as I can hereafter find gent™ fit for the sta- tion & willing to accept & sustain it I shall mention them to your Lordships. For it must certainly be most for the honour & service of his Majesty's government and the good of the people to keep the Council up to the Constitu- tion. Your Lordships will allow me to mention what M' Newman (who has been soUiciting for these mandamuss) writes me, viz*, that a gent™ of your board told him, as the King had lately appointed a new officer imder me in that Province: the board would be glad to hear from him before they tqpk any resolutions about Counsellors. This passage, my Lords, of that gent™' letter greatly surpriz'd me, that any of your Lordships' board, who are such nice judges of the rules of government, shou'd think it rea- sonable to gratify an inferiour officer by giving him the liberty & priviledge of nominating the Counsellors & of denying it to the King's Capt. General & Gov' in Cheif. I hope your Lordships will pardon me while I say I think this wou'd be to subvert all good order, & fill that gov- ernment with discord & confusion, which wou'd be very happy, & so shou'd I, if we might be quit of that uneasy gent™ Coll" Dunbar ; and as his being Leiu* Gov' is no sort of service to him, nor can I (with submission to yoiur Lord-
1731.] TO THE LORDS OF TRADE. 19
ships) believe it any to his Majesty or that people, I wou'd still pray that Coll" Henry Sherburne might be my Leiu* Gov' there. I very particularly observe what your Lord- ships write in answ' to what I wrote to set Coll" Dun- bar's unjust & false representation against me (respect- ing Frederick's fort or Pemaquid) in a true light. All this part of the world who knew every step I took in that matter are astonisht at the malicious, ridiculous acco* he drest up without foundation, and the sequel of the matter must convince every one that will allow themselves a reflection on that matter, that all I did was conformable to good reason and my duty to the King ; and I have so much charity for him as to believe he really thought so himself in the time of it, but was willing to make a noise where there was no colour for it. Your Lordships are pleas'd to say, you presume this gent" wou'd always pay me the regard due to his superiour officer. But far from that, he has behav'd to me in an insolent, haughty man- ner continually. And I believe your Lordships will in a little time be convinc'd that what he has been so long pothering about in the eastern country will never come to anything under his conduct & managment. Threatning to tye people to trees & whip them, & burning the fruits of their honest labour, I think are odd measures to pursue in an English government and under the most gracious sovereign in the world ; nor do I suppose his Majesty wou'd thank or justify him, or think it any honour to his government, that those under him shou'd so proceed, but such is this gentleman's humour & manner. If I remem- ber right his present Majesty's early declaration from the throne was that he esteemed the affection of his people the strength of his government. And the endearing pa- ternal care he is continually showing to all his people knits them to him as the heart of one man. Surely then it can in no degree contribute to his Majesty's interest for any of his officers, even in his most distant dominions, so
20 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
to behave as to beget prejudices in his subjects against his service & government. But I have good reason to believe ColP Dunbar's managment will never produce anything else.
I humbly beg your Lordships' pardon for this tedious letter which I am put imder a necessity of making so from the continual difficulties I meet with from my Leiu* Gov' of New Hampshire, who has not been there for 6 or 7 weeks past, and I wish might never return thither again in that station. I have the honour to be with all possible defference & respect, my Lords,
Your Lordships' most obedient & most humble servant.
J. B.
Boston, Oct' 29, 1731.
^ Homans. Atkins.
TO ARTHUR ONSLOW.*
Hong"" S*, — Had I not reed the honour of yours of 13 Augs* last ** the hands of M' Shirley,t I shou d have been almost afraid to have given you the trouble of any more of my letters, since I find I wrote you Dec' 10, Janu* 26, May 18 & 20 last past, and I think the ships by which they went all got safe, and I hope my letters in course. But when I consider how much every hour of your life is ingrost in the councils of the best monarch upon earth I don't wonder I have not the honour of one line in answer ; but I am rather afraid I have given you unreasona- ble interruption from the great affairs of Europe (and of G* Britain particularly) which so much ingross you, and if so I ask a 1000 pardons, & that you wou'd again forgive me while I dare not dispense with my duty, in not owning
* Arthur Onslow (bom about 1690, died in 1768) was Speaker of the House of Com- mons from 1727 to 1761. — Eds.
t William Shirley, Belcher's immediate successor as Oovemor of Massachusetts, was bom in England in 1693, and died in Roxbury, March 24, 1771. — Eds.
1731.] TO ARTHUR ONSLOW. 21
the great respect & obligation you have laid me under in recommending M' Shirley to my favour & countenance here. A line from M' Speaker for the service of any friend of his will always command my whole weight & influence. M' Shirley arriv'd here 27 in the even*, and made me a short visit, and din'd with me yesterday. By the little opportunity I have had with him, he seems to be an inge- nious, sober, modest gent", and rather too much of the latter for one of his profession in this country. I shall heartily recommend him (as a pleader) to the Courts of the several counties in this and the neighbouring Province, and to the Superiour Judges in their Circuits. I say, com- ing to me in so strong a light as with your recommenda- tion nothing shall be wanting in me to contribute to his advantage.
I find myself, S', under the strongest tyes of respect & gratitude to M' Speaker for the mention you are pleas'd to make of the youth, my son, and in so kind and conde- scending manner as that you wou'd endeavour to find him out and see him. This is what neither I, nor he, dare ex- pect, but it will be favour & honour enough that you will allow him now and then to make his obeisance to you, and that you wou'd drop your wise advice how he may best proceed in the study of the law. When you see him you must forgive the disadvantages with which he will appear to so nice & polite a judge, and consider that he was bom & bred in the wilds of America. The great hopes I conceive of him are his inclination to vertue & diligence. If God Almighty enable him to hold his in- tegrity in these things, he may perhaps (in the course of time) make some small figure in life, to which I am sure the honour & credit of your umbrage & protection will greatly contribute. You will therefore forgive the re- peated request of a fond father that you wou'd bless him with it (as there may be occasion) and thereby make an intire bankrupt of him who has no other way of dis-
i
22 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
charging the load of obligations he is drawing upon him- self than by the strongest assurances that I am with the greatest deference & gratitude, Hono*"^ S',
Your most obliged & most obedient humble servant.
J. B.
Boston, Ocf 29, 1731.
^ Homans. Atkins.
TO SAMUEL HOLDEN.*
S*, — ^I have reed the pleasure & honour of Gov' Hol- den's of 30 July past V* Homans, and give you my most hearty thanks for your kind expressions & good wishes. I humbly ask of God the guidance & assistance of his Holy Spirit^ that I • may always go in & out aright be- fore his people, and that since I have reed the congrega- tion from the Lord I may have wisdom to judge uprightly. I do assure you, S', my country shall desire no reasonable thing m my power that I will not do to promote their best welfare and prosperity, and I am daily expecting his Majesty's royal leave to take my support in the manner this Assembly is willing to give it, which I hope will make things much easier than they have been for a long time. We are also very much oblig'd for your care & friendship to this Province on account of the bill which past the House of Commons the last session, but stopt in the House of Lords, t I shall communicate this your partic- ular favour to the principal members of this Province at their meeting next month.
* Samuel Holden, a merchant in London and Governor of the Bank of England. Holden Chapel at Cambridge and the town of Holden, Mass., were named for him ; and after hin death in 1740, a funeral sermon was preached before the Governor, Council, and Representatives of Massachusetts by Rev. Dr. Colman of the Brattle Street Church. In the Dedication to Mrs. Holden* Dr. Golman says he had known her husband for forty-five years; and in a foot-note he says he had received ''from this excellent person*' for charitable or religious purposes " in books and bills of exchange an amount to no less than £4,847 New England currency." See Golman*8 Funeral Sermon; Quincy*8 History of Harvard University, vol. ii. pp. 37, 38; Proceedings of Mass. Hist. Soc., vol. xii. p. 414. — Eds.
t The Sugar Bill. It had been brought forward in the interest of the West India Colo- nies, but was strongly opposed by Massachusetts and the other Northern Colonies. — Eds.
1731.] TO BRIAN FAIRFAX, 23
I am in the next place to own, S', with the greatest gratitude the honour & respect you did my son at your fine seat at Theobalds, and for the kind & favourable mention you make of him. He does, indeed, talk loudly & largely to me of Gov' Holden's respect & friendship. How gratefuU must this feel to a fond father, that a gent" of your figure, honour, & estate shou'd condescend to re- gard a youth in a manner a perfect stranger to you. It is impossible for me, S% to express the deep obligation you have laid me under on this head. The hopes I wou'd con- ceive of my son are from the good principles & resolutions of vertue & diligence with which he went hence. I pray God he may hold fast his integrity, & that by divine grace he may be kept from the lures & snares of a wicked world, and from the peculiar temptation3 of the place where he is now fixt for the study of the law, & that God wou'd succeed him in his studies & make him usefull in his day & generation. As this youth is at a great distance from his father, let me still beg your smiles & countenance towards him as often as he has opportunity to pay his duty to you, and put me in a way (if possible) how to return such your respect. I remain with the greatest esteem & regard for yourself, your good lady & fine family, Hono^** S', Your most faithfull & most obedient servant. J. B.
Boston, Oct' 29, 1731.
^ Homans. Atkins.
TO BRIAN FAIRFAX*
S", — Your very obliging favour of 15 June last came to my hands the 27 curr". I assure you it is a great pleasure to me that I have been able to do any little service to your kinsman, not only from your recommenda-
• Brian Fairfax wa« bom April 11, 1676, and died Jan. 9, 174S-9. From 1723 until his death he was one of the Commissioners of Customs. See Dictionaiy of National Biography, Tol. xTili. p. 130. — Eds.
24 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731
tions, but on the score of his own merit, for the more I know him the better I am pleased with him, and so are all that have the pleasure of his acquaintance. I hope his great modesty & the little trouble he gives you & the rest of his friends will be no reason for your forgetting him when any place may fall whereby you may serve him, for really the collection at Salem (of £40 a year) is but a poor business for the support of a family.* The present collector at Boston (the nephew of S' Joseph Jekyll) is a most worthy acceptable gent". But if he shou'd drop (for we are all mortal) before Mr. Fairfax, what if you & ColP Bladen shou'd get a promise of your kinsman's be- ing translated hither. I believe it's the best collection in North America. In the mean time if it falls in my way to do him any further services, both he and you will be sure of 'em.
I must, S', ask your pardon while I take the freedom to recommend to Commiss' Fairfax's favour & countenance the bearer my youngest son, who after spending his last seven years at our little College inclined to bend himself to the study of the law, and has now taken chambers in the Temple. You must not expect to see in him a Briton. But I hope your candour will allow for such deficiencies as your nice eye will discern in a youth just come from the wilds of New England. I wish his modest & mannerly behaviour may merit some part of your esteem, and that you would allow him now & then to pay you his dutifuU regards. You will please to forgive this fondness in a father, and with the greatest freedom command any ser- vices in the power of Honob'* S',
Your most obedi^ & most humble serv*. J. B.
Boston, Oct' 30, 1731.
^ Homans. Atkins.
• William Fairfax was Collector at Salero until June, 1734, when he removed to Vir- ginia. He died Sept. 3, 1757. See Felt's Annals of Salem, vol. ii. p. 380; Sparks's Writ- ings of George Washington, vol. ii. p. 52 note. — Eds.
1731.] TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. 25
TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
May it please your Grace, — I have already done my- self the honour of writing you at large on the affairs of both Provinces under ray care, and am now to own the great honour of your letter of 14 Augs* past brought me V M' Shirley. As I shall always with great pleasure pay a strict regard & obedience to the least of your Grace's com- mands, so they are still more acceptable when they bring to my knowledge & acquaintance so worthy & ingenious a gentleman as M' Shirley, whom you are pleas'd to honout with the title of your friend, and to recommend him in the strongest manner, as I shall (for a pleader) to the several setts of Judges of the Courts in both my govern- ments ; and as they are under my appointment I hope the weight & influence I may have with them may be of ser- vice to this gent™, nor will anything else that can possibly fall in my power be wanting that may turn to his benefit & advantage.
I am not able, my Lord Duke, to express the honour you have done me, and the obligation you have laid me under by thus commanding me to serve a gent™ for whom you have a value ; and since your Grace is pleas'd to invite me to suggest anything by which you might further contribute to M*" Shirley's incouragment, if any thing of that nature shou'd happen here, I shall be watchfuU to hand it to your Grace.
I think it my duty to inform your Grace, that I am in- form'd by a master of a vessel lately from Jamaica that the Spanish galeons attempting to come thr6 the Wind- ward Passage met with a violent storm which forced several of them on shore, and the ship this master was aboard of was a galeon of 24 guns which had lost her rudder & one of her masts, and the cap^ said his ship had great wealth aboard, and that it was generally supposed that this fleet was the richest that ever went from the
4
26 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
Spanish tndies. What turn this great disaster may give to the affairs of Europe can't easily be seen. The master is at present gone into the country, but I expect him here in a few days, when I shall take his affidavit & transmit it to your Grace.
I am in the next place, may it please your Grace, to mention with the profoundest gratitude & respect the great honour & respect you have done my son Jonathan in your smiles & countenance towards him, of which he gives me a most gratefull & large account, as also of your Grace's great goodness & favour to me in the affairs of my government. As I believe this part of the world is convinc'd, so I do assure your Grace there is no gent" to whom the King cou'd have committed the care of his Provinces that can have a greater zeal to support the honour & dignity of the Crown than myself ; nor shall anything be wanting to the utmost of my power for his Majesty's service and the interest of his British dominions, all which I think very consistent with the wellfare of these plantations. My brother M' Partridge gives me a very particular account of your Grace's favour & kindness to me in the matter of my support from this government, and that you have been very ready in obtaining his Majesty's royal leave for my taking the money last granted me by this Assembly, for which I give your Grace my most humble thanks, and pray of your Grace for the future that when any matters relating to me come before your Grace or any other of his Majesty's ministers my brother M' Partridge & my son Jonathan may be notified and admitted to appear as my agents & in my behalf. My son, after spending the last seven years at our little University in Cambridge, chose to attempt the study of the law for his future business in life, to which end I have Bent him to the Temple. I think he is a youth of vertue & diligence, whereon I ground my hopes of his making a man in time ; and if your Grace will according to your
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR. 27
wonted condescention & humanity let this bring him into your presence, and allow him (as occasion may require) to pay his duty and obeisance to your Grace, I shall esteem it a great favour done me, him, and my whole family, and a good basis whereon to build his future interest & repu- tation in the world ; and I hope your great candour will pass by any peculiarities your nice & polite eye will too readily discern in this youth, while you will please to con- sider he is but the raw production of the wilds of America. I ask a million pardons for this long interruption of your Grace, which you see has proceeded from the soUicitude of a fond father who has the honour to be, with the highest deference, duty, & esteem, my Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most faithfull, most devoted & most obe- dient servant. J. B.
Boston, Nov 1, 1731.
^ Romans. Atkins.
TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR.*
Dear Jonathan, — My last was 26 July y Gary, since which I have reed yours of 1, 14, & 31 of same month, & Augs* 16 V* Foster, N. York, Homans & Shepherdson, and have read them with a great deal of pleasure & satis- faction. I heartily ascribe blessing & praise to God, your preserver & redeemer, the great author of all our mercies, for your safe & happy arrival in London, and can't be thankfuU enough for the signal preservations you met with in your passage, nor for the great civility, respect, &
• Jonathan Belcher, Jr., waa the second son of Governor Belcher, and was horn in Boston July 28, 1710. He graduated at Harvard CoUefire in 1728, and then went to England, where he studied law and attained distinction at the English bar. In the famous case of Phillips vt. Savage, argued before the King in Council, in 1738, he was junior counsel for the appellant. Subsequently he went to Nova Scotia, and was one of the first ■eftlers of Chebucto (now called Halifax). In 1760 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor, and in 1761 Chief-Justice of the Province. He married in Boston, April 8, 1766, Abigail, danghter of Jeremiah Allen, and died in Halifax, March 29 or 30, 1776. See Allen's Bio- graphical Dictioiiary, p. 78; N. E. Hist and Gen. Register, vol. xxvii. p. 242 ^ Murdoch a History of Nom Scotia, jnumm. — Em.
28 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
honour you find from all orders & ranks of men. I was sorry to hear of the death of my old friends, M' Caswall & M' Bull, and that the former had left his family in such melanchqlly circumstances. The small things you desire are V* Homans, as in Postscript. I take notice with a great deal of gratitude of M' Newman's affectionate re- gards & civilities to you, and that he had allow'd you to be under his roof 'till your chambers were ready. This is uncommonly kind. But I am above all oblig'd to your good uncle that he seems to have adopted you for a son. My dear son, you will see by the several letters now under your cover, unseal'd (which you will read, seal, & deliver) that my soul is unwearied in its care for your wellfare & happiness, and I can appeal to Him whom I adore that my first & chief concern is that you may be happy in a better world ; and I must now reprove you for so great a neglect of your pious & honoured grandmother.* I am as well satisfyed that she will have an exalted seat in Heaven as if she was already arriv'd to the Greneral Assembly & Church of the First Born, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, and upon a thorrS search of your own heart, if you can have hope that you are born anew in Christ Jesus, you must first give glory to God, and then own your ex- cellent grandmother as the instrument, who in the tender years of your cradle, and so along to your youth up, de- voted you to God upon the bended knees of her soul, and was continually inculcating upon you her pious counsels, and which I have been often ready to believe have dropt as the rain & distill'd as the dew, as the rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass. Oh, that God wou'd continue the influences thereof upon you for- ever & ever. How can you then forget the endearing love of such a parent & never write her a line ? But I will not grieve you, and am willing to believe that your time
* His maternal g^ndmother, the widow of Lieat.-Gov. William Partridge, who was then living at Newbury, Mass. She died June 10, 1739, at an advanced age. — Eds.
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR. 29
has been much ingrost on many accounts, yet I wou'd have this be a standing admonition that you mayn't fail to write her now and then, and your good Aunt Caswall (who, I know, loves you dearly).
The instructions I gave you at parting with what I left you upon my last voyage to G' Britain (and which I think you took to London) were so full that I hardly know what to add, but desire you often to peruse & pursue them. Remember you was devoted to God in your infancy, and that those vows have been renew'd & ratify'd by you at adult years ; that whenever you wander from God & his ways into the path of those that forget God your hope must be that of the hypocrite which shall perish. But of you, my dear son, I hope better things, even those that accompany salvation. I say, hold fast your integrity, and let no man take your crown, and with all your gettings get understanding. That is pure & undefiled religion before God and the Father. Have always courage to as- sert this before the most wicked & prophane, and if they deride Gt>d & goodness shun such company as you wou*d your destruction. By the help of God make such a stand (betimes) as becomes a soldier under the great Captain of your Salvation, and the assaults of the Devil & his emissaries will grow weaker thereafter ; devoting yourself morning & evening to the God of your life & the length of your days, & a constant reading of the holy Scriptures, will be an excellent preservative against the snares of a wicked world. I humbly & heartily commend you to God and to the word of his grace. Amen, amen.
I come now, my son, to the business in which you are intending to fix for life, and your first thoughts, with ad- vice of several of your friends fell in with what I wrote a little after your sailing (viz*, to be some time with an at- torney). Mr. Wilks, Morton, Jeffries, Gov' Shute, Counsel- lor Horsman were in this opinion ; but afterwards I find M' Sharp, Newman, Thompson, & several counsellors thought
30 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
it not necessary at your years, & considering to what part of the law you intended to bend your studies for practice hereafter. You say it wou'd cost you £150 ; I hope the charge has been no consideration, or put into either scale, if it might (or may still be thought) for your best advan- tage ; for if God enables you to be vertuous & diligent I shall begrutch no expense for your best accomplishment, and much depends on the sitting out right in the method of your studies. Therefore endeavour after the best ac- quaintance for advice in your so doing. Counsellor Hors- man, I see, has shown you great respect ; so has D' Watts, Calamy, M' Morton, Belamy, Neal, Jeffries, Chandler, Belcher ; and I am greatly oblig'd to them, and desire you to give them my hearty thanks & humble service, and at their leisure shall esteem their favours. Tell D' Cal- amy I am not unmindfuU of serving his son ; but will endeavour to do it, if I can properly find it in my power. I am also under great obligations to the Hono^^' M' H. Walpole, S' Joseph Jekyll, M' Cartaret, M' Bendish & Sand- ford for the notice they have taken of you, and intend to write them in a little time, and to S' R. Walpole & others under your cover. I take a particular notice of what you say about Gov' Hoi den and his fine family, and how much M' Morton urges you upon an affair to be done but once for life. It therefore requires much & sedate considera- tion. It will be pleasing to me that you keep up a good acquaintance in so good a family. But upon my first view of this matter (considering your youth, &c*) I think it will be most to your advantage to endeavour to be content in a state of celibacy. What saith the Apostle ? he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. I take this to be a hint that matrimony is a state attended with cares & difficulties, into which I shou'd not chuse you shou'd enter yourself at present, but rather devote yourself singly & wholly to the study you have chosen.
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER^ JR. 31
Keep Lord Chancellor Eang & Lord Chief Justice Hales always in view, and struggle hard to be eminent in the law. I say you must be content to lead the life of a recluse for some years^ that you may lay a good foundation for making a figure some time or other ; yet as you go along temper your studies with proper relaxings & recreations that you may not bear too hard on your constitution. If you should one day become an accomplisht lawyer^ & at same time merit the character of a vertuous & truly religious gent", you need not fear finding a wife to your wishes. I am glad you talkt the matter over with your uncle about the agency of this Province. I am sure there was nothing wanting in me to have brought it to bear, and I really depended, agreeable to what I talkt with M' Wilks at London, that he wou'd 'a' been freely willing to have shar'd the matter with your uncle. I hear the New York Assembly have desired M' Baker to assist in Parliament to prevent the West India's bill's passing. Your uncle will see I have not been wanting to get him chose Agent for New York, and still hope to accomplish it, I am perfectly convinc'd of his friendship & attachment to my interest, and he shall always find me heartily ready to return it in every way & manner that shall fall in my power. But when I cant succeed in any affair according to his wishes he must not be angry, or jealous that I am cool to his service. I shall take care to send a letter from the Quakers in my favour. I don't hear the least lisp of M' Wilks's quitting his agency, nor do I believe he ever will, because all persons from London seem to think he is very much pleas'd with it.
The bushes you have mentioned for M' Thompson's brother Weakley shall be sent in the spring. I am sorry M' Rector Williams's letter to him miscarried, which I told the Rector of at my house about a fortnight since, and I shall in a little time have another to send him. I am very well pleased with the memorial you presented the
32 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
Duke of Newcastle in my behalf, and which has gained you here very considerable credit & reputation, and so has your appearance at Court in my affairs, and which I es- teem as good instances of your duty & obedience.
The Royal leave for my support is long in coming ; yet I hope will not be much longer if aboard Crocker, who is daily expected. I hear nothing more of a letter you men- tion to be sent me from Duke of Newcastle, & to justify my proceedings about Coll" Dunbar ; if it shou'd cost more than six guineas I shou'd think it money well ex- pended, for it wou'd be of vast service to me in the gov- ernment. Therefore tell your uncle he must endeavour to send me such a letter by the spring ships ; and M' New- man (with your uncle's help) must still follow the Board of Trade for the Royal mandamuss for Richard Waldron, Benjamin Gambling, & Ephraim Dennet, Esq" to be of the Council of New Hampshire, for it's a matter of great concern to me to have the Council fill'd with such as are my friends. I hate to stain my paper with the name of Jerry Dunbar, while I wonder he can have the impudence to think of being of the Council.* We are ex- pecting M' Waldo, and to hear V* him all particulars relat- ing to the lands at Pemquid, &* I shall take a proper time & measures to fill John Foye with shame & confusion for his baseness & ingratitude. I am glad you can give so good a character of M' Barker, and as I was highly pleas'd with his kindness & civility to you, I took all occasions to show him particular respect on his return hither, and he is lately gone to his post in the Jerseys, where I wish him all prosperity. You did well to recom- mend M' Shirley to me in the manner you have. I charge you always to let me know from whom you receive respect, that I may return it (if in my power) as I shall to this modest, ingenious gent" on all occasions. The day after he came on shore he din'd with me, when I paid him £30
* Jerry Danbar was a brother of Lieatenant-Govemor Duubar. — Eds.
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR. 33
for his pocket; he had not your bill about him, but I told him he might call for the remainder when he pleased, and I am glad you took it, and I shall secure his bills as far as he may draw yearly, & send them to your uncle.
I am well satisfied with the chambers you have taken at the Temple, and with the furniture you have put into 'em. I understand they are in the third story, and M' Shirley says never the worse for one that resolves to be a hard student. I am sensible this first year must be more chargeable to you than hereafter, and if it does not exceed £220 st', I shall not think amiss, & hope £150 st' communibus annis will give you a handsome & honourable support. You must take no advantages of a fond father while he says he loves you so well and so earnestly desires your welfare that he will begrutch you nothing in reason, & that you take care to spend his money to your own advantage & credit & to his honour, & I will endeavour that you be always season- ably supplyed.
You carried with you £65 .0.0
reed of M' Hodson 50 . 0 . 0
M' Shirley 21 . 0 . 0
136 . 0 . 0 About 2 months since I sent to M' Hart at Bristol
11 tuns of ore, which may remit to y' uncle 165 . 0 . 0
In a few weeks I shall ship 9 tuns more 135 . 0 . 0
is £436 .0.0
Out of which your uncle must be paid 104 . 0 . 0
remains £332 .0.0
and I shall be remitting your uncle money otherways, that I hope he won't let you want for any thing. I come now to the affair you mention about M' Wilks,*
* Francis Wilks, a merchant in London, who was Agent of Massachosetts in England from 1728 untU his death, Julj 5, 1742. — Eds.
5
34 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
& altho' it did not suit his conveniency to answer the credit I gave you on him for £50, yet I charge you to affect no sort of strangeness to him, of which he writes me with some concern. Consider his years, his figure, & fortune in the world, & consider your distance from him ; consider also that he is my intire friend. Of this he has given me such unfeigned proofs as leave me out of all doubt, and I know he is very capable & full of inclination to serve me. I therefore say on receipt of this bury in eternal oblivion any little childish sowerness or prejudice you might have conceived & banish from your thoughts every thing of that nature ; and upon this command of your father, without any hesitations or debate in your own mind, put in prac- tice the Christian & the gent™. Wait on him with the condescention & courteousness that becomes your youth, and ask his pardon for any thing he may have thought amiss in you. I am sure he will receive you with sincere friendship & kindness, and I doubt not but you will always be welcome at his house. It is not for a youth to presume to take umbrage at gent" so much their superiours. But you will find it to your advantage to conduct yourself thro' the stages of life with humanity, humility, and affa- bility to all mankind. I expect to have an account in the spring from M' Wilks & you that every thing is easy & placid, and that you enjoy as much of his company & ac- quaintance as his favour & leisure from your studies will allow. I don't remember ever to have mentioned anything of a pad, but upon your hint I am looking to get a fine one against the spring (a winter passage is too hazardous) to send to your uncle to be disposed as he shall judge to be most for my interest & service. Altho' I am well pleas'd with your appearing in publick now and then, yet I wou'd be tender of your hurting your studies on any account, but choose rather your uncle shou'd go thro' my affairs without giving you too much interruption. As any thing new occurs to my thoughts, I shall be
1731.]
TO SAMUEL SHUTE. 35
constantly writing you ; for I am with an indelible affec- tion, my dear son,
Your thoughtfull, loving father. J. B.
Boston, Nov* 1, 1731.
Give my humble service to Coll* Bladen, & deliver him Duke of Chandois's I"' from M' Harrison of N. York.
Piatt & deed of land to be deliv* S' Bob* Clark. Tour diploma. 4 CQtts of the Colleges. 3 (last) Catalogues.
2 Masters & 2 Batchelors theses (of the last) . 8 Gazettes, out of which you may reprint, if your unde thinks best, what I have markt
2 b** Cramberries for your uncle & self.
2 V' wild geese to be presented (in my name) to Duke of Newcastle
& W Horace Walpole. ^ Homans. Atkins.
TO SAMUEL SHUTE.*
S*, — A few days since I had v Cap* Shepherdson your kind favour of 10 Ang^ past, which brings me under fresh obligations for the countenance & respect you have been pleas'd to show my son, of which (I assure you) he talks loudly & largely to his father, and of good M' Bendish's great civility to him, which is also owing to your good- ness in bringing my son to his knowledge. I am infinitely obliged to you that you will as you have opportunity drop your wise & grave exhortations to him to steady him in his vertue & religion. This I inculcate upon hira continually, and after all I know nothing less than the constant sup-
* Col. Samuel Shate was bom in England in 1653, and died there April 15, 1732. From 1716 to 1723 he was Governor of Massachusetts, and being of an unyielding temper and resolute to uphold the royal prerogativet, he was engaged in a constant struggle with the General Court. — Eds.
36 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
plies of God's grace can save him amidst the innumerable lures & temptations with which he will be continually attackt. I therefore heartily commit him to the Al- mighty power and free mercy of God in Christ, and there I desire quietly to leave him. He went hence with good principles & resolutions of vertue & diligence, and if he holds his integrity, 'tis on these things that I ground my hopes of his making some figure in the world in time. I thank you very kindly that you will now and then take him under your wing to Court, and where I know you will be so candid as to excuse any disadvantages or pecu- liarities in his mein & behaviour which will be too readily observ'd by those nice & polite judges of manners at Court. You and they must consider him as one just escapt from the wilds of New England. I shall take the freedom of giving ray son a lett' to M' Bendish f next convey*. I thank you for talking over the matter of my support where you thought it might be of service. I have really a hard, cruel time of it, no leave being yet come from the King for my accepting what the Assembly have offer'd. But several of my friends write, I may expect it by next ship. And if the King allows me to take £3000 a year (if they vote it), I find it will not defrey the charge (with all the oeconomy I can be master of), so vile are the bills, — £350 being now currently given for £100 st' ; and when they will be better I can't see. I heartily rejoyce that by the King's wisdom & steadiness all things seem to have a pacifick view. Leiu* Gov' Tailer sends you his most humble service, and my whole famUy join their best regards to those of, S',
Your sincere friend & most faithfuU humble servant.
J. B.
Boston, Nov' 1, 1731. ^ Homanfi. Atkins.
1731.J TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE. 37
TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE.*
Loving Brother, — My last was a few lines V Curling of 20 Sept' from N. Hampshire. I am now to own with a great deal of gratitude your many kind letters of June 3, July 2, 5, 8, & 12, Augs* 2, 3, 4, 12, 20, & 24 V Foster, N. York, Romans, Phil', & Shepherdson. I was sorry to hear of the death of my old friend M' J. Caswall, and that he left his affairs under such difficult circumstances. I am very thankfull to you for your diligence & care in ad- vising me in this matter, but I had fully secur'd myself on the arrival of Cap' Clark who brought us the first news about a fortnight before your letter came ; your kindness is nevertheless to be own'd & remembered, for I had past my notes for him (for his daughter's marriage) for £800 st', for which I have got into my hands upwards £3000 this money ; but this you must keep to yourself. I take a very particular notice of every clause of all your letters, and am fully convinc'd how much and how sincerely you are attacht to my interest & service, nor have I ever had the experience of any one more vigilant & more diligent. I observe also that you say M' Wilks has been very hearty & ready to serve me, and that he was oblig'd (agreeable to the orders of the House of Representatives) to make use of the bill they past in Oct' 1730 ; nor do I think they can with any face of honesty or honour ever go from it. I see you have interest with Lord Islay t & Harring- ton,| and had us'd it in my favour, and that you had en- gag'd S' Joseph Jekyll (thro' M' Sandford) and that you carry'd Jonathan with you to Mr. H. Walpole,§ and were kindly reed & talkt over the affair of the salary to my
* Richard Ptrtridge was the eldest son of William Partridge, sometime Lieutenaut- Governor of New Hampshire. He went to England, and was the personal agent of Gov- ernor Belcher, who had married his sister Mary. — Eds.
t Brother of the Dnke of Argyle. — Eds.
I William Stanhope, Lord Harrington, was at this time Secretary of State, and after- ward Lord President of the Council. — Eds.
§ *« Old Horace," brother of Sir Robert Walpole. — Eds.
38 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [173L
advantage, and that you wou'd procure your friend M' John Gumey of Norfolk's letter to M' Walpole for my service, as occasion might at any time require. You well observe that a Gov' can't have too many friends at Court. I will take care that Andrew pays his grandmother the Vs commissions (as you have order'd). The Assembly sits here again this week, and you may depend on every thing in my power for the relief of the Quakers, and I think I shall be able to get a bill past that will be pleas- ing. The Quakers are very sensible of my readiness & sincerity to serve 'em. You need make no excuse to me about opening my letters from the publick offices, because you'll see I have wrote the Sec"^ of State you and my son are to appear for me on all occasions. I am glad you have brought Jonathan acquainted with M' Will™ (as well as M' John) Sharp. As you observe I must walk very circumspectly lest the King's ministers shou'd imagine I am not zealous enough for the honour of the Crown, and lest the House of Commons shou'd think I bear too hard upon the priviledges of the people. I'll endeavour to steer as nicely as lean between both. Altho' my son was not deputed in form, yet I think there need be no nicety about that. He liv'd with me during the whole dispute with the Assembly about the 27 instruction, wrote over all my speeches, and is as perfectly acquainted with the whole affair as any person in New England. I thank your advice not to come over. I have the same from all my other friends. I take notice you have great freedom with the Duke of Newcastle, and that his Grace is very friendly to me. We must all take care to pay him great duty & respect & not offend him. Lord Harrington also treated you very kindly, and I am under great obligations to his Lordship for his favourable promise in my behalf. I see the Lords of Trade have not been very friendly in these matters ; and yet ColP Bladen writes me every now and then very civily & curteously. We must treat them
1731.] TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE. 39
with good manners, and if they will be unreasonable we must endeavour to do our business with the King & his immediate ministers. When you have duplicates of my letters come to hand, and the originals have been deliver'd, its best not to keep the former by you. I hope the cheeses I sent V Shepherdson were distributed as I directed tho' you say nothing ab* 'em. 2 Augs" you say M' Sharp open'd the case before a Committee of Council much to advan- tage, and that the Duke of Newcastle and Lord President were so good as to order that you & Jonathan shou'd be there upon the adjournment. I shall always very thank- fully pay what you spend (according to your own pru- dence) in my affairs, and I desire you to write me what you think reasonable for your own time & trouble besides ; for altho' I will serve you here in every thing in my power (and your friends the Quakers) for nothing, nor will I at any time begrutch my time & pains, yet I don't desire you shou'd do any thing for me without a reward. Long before you wrote to me about the agency of New York I had wrote to M' Phillips, the Speaker, in your favour, with whom I have been intimately acquainted more than 20 years. I also wrote to M' Van Dam, the present Commander in Cheif, and have got M' Jacob Wendell (who has a great interest at York & Albany) to write to several of the Assembly to assist, and I hope you will be chose some time the next month. Nothing in me shall be wanting ; yet you must not be angry if I can't always do what you desire. I find the Board of Trade begin now to complain that I write too much ; it's hard pleasing them. I note what you say about P. D.* I have not had a word of difference with him since my arrival. He canys it to me with great duty & respect ; yet I know he don't love me, & perhaps I mayn't continue him a Judge. Yet I will consider once & again of what you
* Paol Dudley. He was one of the Judges of the Superior Court, and remained on the bench through the whole of Belcher's administration. — Eds.
40 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
write. Tour diligence V way of Phil' of 12 Aug^ brought me the first news of the King's leave to take the money the Assembly have voted. You are remarkable for your steady application & industry throughout this whole Province. Crocker who, they say, brings the new in- struction is not arriv'd, but daily expected. I am sur- priz'd to see the fringe cost £23.4.0. If I had thought it wou'd have cost half the money I wou'd not have sent for it. I see yon are in the whole £104. in advance for me, which I suppose the ore I shipt for Bristol in Aug^ last will reimburse you before this gets to hand, being 11 tuns, I believe may remit to you £170, and 9 tuns more I shall ship in about a month £140, may be £310.* I desire you to correspond with W° Hart, Esq', who has my orders to remit you the money, according to my promise to M' Lockwood at London. I have order'd M' Hart to give his agent the offer of all my ore. Sometime in the spring I shall send a third parcel, and as we go deeper it grows finer & better. I hope to send some in the spring will yield £30 st' a tun. The works are now in a good way. I am glad Jonathan got 20 guineas of M' Shirley, which I shall pay on sight of his bill with the exchange, & get the promise of his bills for the future. What shall I say to you, brother, and how shall I express the gratefuU senti- ments of my heart for your tender care & fatherly affec- tion to my son ? No other respect in the world cou'd 'a been equal. I hope God will give him grace to behave to you always with great duty, respect, & gratitude, and that he will at no time be a dishonour to his uncle, or make you asham'd to own him for your nephew.
I am well satisfied with his expence of £220 st' for this first year, and that £150 will do hereafter. I see he had waited on the Speaker under D' Calamy's umbrage, & was
* Governor Belcher was one of a company of capitalista to whom the copper-mines at Simsburj in Connecticut had been leased; and he was also a large land-owner in that Province. See Phelps's Historj of Simsbury, Granby, and Canton, p. 115; Phelps's History of Newgate of Connecticut, p. 10. — Eds.
1731.] TO FRANCIS WILES. 41
kindly entertain'd. You must never let Jonathan spend any money in my affairs, but always repay him. I shall think it a great honour to have a present of beer from M' Speaker. I am glad Jonathan has carry'd it so as to be of service to his father, but you must be cautious he be not taken off too much from his studies ; tho' it may be to his future advantage, as well as mine, that he be well acquainted with the King's ministers & at the publick offices. Altho' I have seal'd Jonathan's letter, & those under his cover that they may be reed in the neater manner, yet it's my order that you open & read his as well as all the rest ; then let them be handsomely reseal'd, & assist him in delivering them, and so you must M' New- man in getting the mandamuss for Richard Waldron, Benjamin Gambling, & Ephraim Dennet, Esq", to be of the Council at New Hampshire ; and what wou'd I give that you was able to get ColP Henry Sherburne my Leiu* Gov' in the room of Dunbar. Try, all of you, what you can do with Duke of Newcastle, Lord Wilmington, M' Speaker, M' H. Walpole, &c'. I shou'd be mighty easy in the gov- emm* there if this cou'd be done. What you find want- ing in my advices to dear Jonathan, you must tell me that I may add it hereafter ; as I shall to you anything of moment that comes to my mind. Its near two o'clock in the morning, so I bid you farewell for the present, and assure you that I remain, with an unfeigned respect, S',
Your affectionate brother. J. B.
Boston, Nov 1, 1731. ^ HomaoB. Atkins.
TO FRANCIS WILKS.*
S*, — I wrote you 12 Aug"* last V Gary, with duplicate V Delap, & 27 ulf* to introduce to your acquaintance Maj' Paul Masquarene.t I am now to own with a great deal of
* See note, ante, p. 33. — Eds.
t Jean Paul Mascarene. He was a native of France, but at a very early age went to
6
42 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
pleasure and gratitude your kind letters of July 7, Augs* 3, 6, & 23 V Foster, Homans, Mulberry, & Shepherdson, and I take a particular notice of all you write. I am ex- tremely sorry for your very great loss by the Woodwards, yet hope it will not be so bad as was fear'd. It gives me a great concern & uneasiness that I have not been able to make you remisses for what I owe you. However, I know you are a reasonable man, and must be sensible of the cruel hardship I have been under ever since my arrival, to be at the expence & figure of a Gov', and all out of my own estate. I hope things will soon be easy, and my first care shall be to discharge what I owe you. It is with great satisfaction that I observe the good interest you have establisht with the King's ministers. Lord Wilming- ton & Harrington particularly, with whom I find you had been regal'd at dinner ; and by your last I find the Lords of the Privy Council had advis'd his Majesty to allow my taking the £5400 voted by the Council & House of Repre- sentatives, and that the King had sign'd an instruction accordingly, which you intended to send ^ Crocker, and I hope you have ; we are hourly expecting his arrival. But, as you observed to my Lord President,* this is but skinning over the wound, which must break out again in May next, and the Gov' & Assembly must still be in dis- putes & difficulties. I see you have made use of the bill past in Oct' last, conformable to the orders you reed from the House of Representatives, and that in case they will revive such a bill my Lord Wilmington will assist you in getting the King's leave for my passing it. I therefore expect you have wrote in the strongest terms to the Court for their so doing, that this long dispute may be shut up. As I understand you have pawn'd your faith & honour to the ministry on this head, it will be scanda-
Switzerlflnd and afterward to England, where he was naturalized. He then entered the British army, and came to America and was employed in Nova Scotia. For many years he was a member of the Council, and from 1740 to 1749 Acting Governor of the Province. He died in Boston, Jan. 22, 1760. See Drake's Dictionary of American Biography. — Eds. * The Earl of Wilmington was at this time President of the Council. — Eds.
1731.] TO FRANCIS WILKS. 43
lous in the House to draw back & leave you in the lurch ; yet I am afraid of 'em. I have talkt with M' Cook * about it, and he seems doubtfully not of himself, but of the House. But you must press them continually till its done. And the supply of the Treasury is another article that will lead into great confusions if some order don't soon come from the King about it. 6 Augs* you say my Malmsey was landing from Madeira. I order'd the consul to send you three hh*** to be disposed thus, — to S' Rob* Walpole, Lord Townshend, ColP Bladen ; and three hh*' to M' Caswall — for Duke Newcastle, Lord Wilmington, M' Speaker. I hope they are all fallen into your hands, because you mention the Speaker. Since Coll" Bladen don't incline to accept of his, please to present it with my humble service to M' H. Walpole. I pray you still to assist me in conjunction with my brother Partridge in the affairs of my New Hamp- shire government, that ColP Henry Sherburne may be my Leiu* in the room of Dunbar. It is no service to the man, and a great hurt to the King's province & people, & how is it possible to be otherwise while he and I are at such variance ? I believe it was given him to keep him from a jayl, but it don't answer that end, for he is afraid to show his head in the Province, which is a great scandal & dishonour to the King's commission. I wish you wou'd also help me in getting out the royal mandamuss for Richard Waldron, Benjamin Gambling, & Ephraim Dennet, Esq", to be of the King's Council in New Hampshire. I fancy you might get these things done by Lord Wilmington, Harrington, &c'. I think it highly reasonable that the Gov' shou'd be made easy in his Council.
I come now, S', to the affair of my son Jonathan, who (I am asham'd to say) is much my darling ; but I observe fathers as they grow old are apt to be silly. I humbly ask your pardon for that part of my letter T him wherein I
* The younger Elisha Cooke. He was for mora than twenty years a member of the HouM of Representatiyes, and the most prominent leader of the popular party. Governor Belcher afterward refers to him in very abuiive terms. — Eds.
44 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731,
desir'd you to supply him with 40 or 50£ st', of which 1 have since taken the needfull care that he will not now have occasion to trouble you for any money. My recom- mendation otherwise I pray you to look back upon, to which I have nothing to add. I ask a 1000 pardons on his behalf that he shou'd affect the least strangeness or show any ill manners to a gent™, for whom I tell you (from the bottom of my soul) I have such an in tire respect & value, & who has loaded me with so many & so great obligations, as I shall never be able to discharge. I want no proof of your real friendship, nor is anybody able to shock mine towards you. Inclos'd is the paragraph of my letter to my son relating to this matter. I pray you to consider his youth & forgive him. I heartily condole with you on the death of our good old friend M' Bull. May such awfuU mementos keep us always mindf uU of our great & last change. Your recommendation of the ingenious & vertuous M' Shirley will have weight & influence sufficient for all the services & benefits I can possibly do him, and so I have told him, tho' I'm afraid he is come to the wrong country for getting of money, ours is of such a triffling value and the people in general too expensive & extravagant in all articles of life. Altho' I have once and again excus'd your not writing to the General Court & given the reasons for it, yet for the future, I wou'd pray you for your own interest to write them oftner, especially to the House of Representatives ; for some people are watchfuU to prejudice them against you. Nothing in my power shall ever be wanting to advance your honour & interest, and I have been preparing the House to order the Treasurer to remit you £300 st' for your last year's salary, which I hope will be done in a little time. I am with great esteem and an indelible respect, dear S',
Your most faithfull friend & obedient servant,
J. B.
Boston, Nor 1, 1731.
^ Homans. Atkins.
1731.] TO RIP VAN DAM. 45
TO RIP VAN DAM.*
HoNO^" Sir, — I have now lying before me your favours of 9 & 23 of last month, with the papers j^ou in- clos'd from the Commissioners for the Indian Affairs at Albany, and the Journals of your House of Representa- tives in their last session. By these I see the French are making incroachments on your frontiers, which will be a vast prejudice to the trade of his Majesty's subjects with the Indians, and in time may aliene them from us & grad- ually bring on a war, to the vast expence & damage of these northern Colonies. The Assembly of this Province meet the 3 curr", soon after which I shall lay these things before them, & doubt not but they will represent them to his Majesty by their Agent at the Court of G* Britain. I have letters from Whitehall to 24 Augs*, and there was then no Gov' appointed for your Province, tho' S' Robert Walpole and the Sec'^of State had some time before that reed my letters with an account of the death of M' Mont- gomerie. We expect ships to be coming hither from Lon- don 'till Christmas, and you may depend on my handing to you the first advice I may have of the appointment of a new Gov', or any thing else that relates to your Province. It was with considerable difficulty that I brought this As- sembly into the act for settling the Line with New York. I therefore hope the fault will not now lye on the part of your Assembly, and must pray (at their next meeting) you wou'd forward the affair.
I thank you, S', very kindly for your readiness to serve my brother Partridge in getting him chose for your Agent. If I did not know him to be of good capacity & integrity,
• Rip Van Dam belonged to a Dutch family which had come over to New Nether- land before ita conquest by the English; but the date of his birth is not known. He was bred to the sea, and in 1686 made a voyage to the West Indies. Subsequently he became a merchant and ship-builder in New York. In 1702 he was made a member of the Coun- cil; and after the death of Governor Montgomerie in July, 1731, he was at the head of the government until the arrival of Governor Cosby in August, 1732. He died, June 10, 1749, at an advanced age. See New York Colonial Documents, vol. vi. p. 153, note. — Eds.
46 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
•
as well as to have great interest in the King's ministers, & indeed every way qualified for your service, I wou'd not have presumed to mention him to you. He has been many years Agent for the Jerseys and Rhoad Island to great satisfaction. I therefore once more pray the interest of yourself & friends for him when your Assembly meets the next month, or if they do not immediately choose him their Agent, that he may be added by a vote of your As- sembly to the gent™ who are to address his Majesty against the pretensions of the Sugar Colonies; and when once they have employed him I am sure to have no further occasion of recommending him. I will only add that no man in London took that mdefatigable pains against the Sugar Bill as M' Partridge did, nor with that success. I desire you on all occasions to command me with a great deal of freedom as, Hono^** Sir,
Tour most faithfuU humble servant. J. B.
Boston, Nov. 1, 1731.
TO RICHARD WALDRON.
S*, — I am glad you seem to be in some heart that there may be ere long a time for making out a new Assembly. Pray, let us not fail to nick it, and then we may heartily set to work about the union, and a great many other good things. I have T Shepherdson letters from Sec"^ of State, Speaker of House of Commons, & from many other per- sons of great distinction from Whitehall, & every thing is good & kind. I hear not a lisp more or less about his Peraaquidship,* which makes his little gang here crest- fallen ; they think he is dying a lingering death. You may depend I shall be well provided at Whitehall by a squadron of great friends against the contemptible sim- pleton bound to Cadiz. t You must make duplicates of
* Lieutenant-Governor Danbar. — Eds.
t Benning Wentworth. — Note bjf Bev, Dr, Belknap.
1731.] TO RICHARD WALDRON- 47
all that past the last session & send T return of the post (or the next). I am
Your assured friend. J. B.
Boston, Nov 1, 1731. (PoBt)
TO RICHARD WALDRON.
S*, — I am content with what you say about the Treasurer (or Receiver's) measuring the ships, & not the Naval Officer, & desire you to send me by return of the post the act relating thereto made in 13 of G. 1. I am sensible Cap* Husk is a very good officer & well at- tacht to the Gov', and am therefore sorry (on his ace**) that I am oblig'd to do according to the inclosed (which you'll deliver). You may depend I have good hold of the new officer I intend to make on more accounts than one, and I believe he will be a great devotee to the Gov' for his own sake, as well as mine ; for notwithstanding the recom- mendations I will suffer no man to enjoy an office in my gift that will presume to oppose me. This gent" is in- tirely out of the measures of your Eastern monsieur, and who I think by all my letters & conversations with gent" last arriv'd cant hold it long in this part of America. You will quickly see something in print confirming what I say, — that he must soon take his flight from his chi- merical paradise & empire. I don't forget what I said to you at Portsmouth ; but I am leaving no stone unturn'd that he may be too late convinc'd that he caught a Tartar when he attempted so unjustly to attack the Gov'. You and my friends may depend on all I say. Therefore take heart & despise the lies with which the sinking crew are trying to support themselves. They are loath to dye, but I know they must. There is no such thing as a manda- mus come. M' Waldo being now return'd, I wish you wou'd take other care about the charge of yours, of which I have wrote afresh by last ships, as well as for Gam-
48 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
bling's & Dennett's. It is of great importance to have the Council well fill'd. Poor wretches, two years is a long day. God knows who may live to see it. I have good reason to believe your friend, the Gov', stands in a bright light & strong at home. His conduct in this Province is perfectly approv'd by the King & his ministers. I wish you may among you so discern the times as to hit the juncture for a dissolution & new choice. The Line wou d be settled & all things else. M' Belcher was in good health, and has been of great service at White- hall to his father & this Province. The boy has great honour done him by persons of the highest rank & dis- tinction. I shall give M' Reynolds letters to you, Wal- ton, Sherburne, & Wibird, and you must all treat him kindly & make much of him as occasion may offer. I present my very humble service to Mad" Waldron, and
am, Hono^^ S',
Your assured friend, J. B.
Boston, Not' 8, 1731. (Post.)
TO THOMAS PALMER AND OTHERS.
Gent", — M' Middlecott Cook, son of the Hono^^ Elisha Cooke, Esq', being a young gent" of good vertue & capacity I take the freedom to recommend him to you to be joint Clerk of the Court of Sessions & of the Pleas with John Ballantine, Esq', the present Clerk, to whom I wou'd by no means do the least disservice ; but as I understand some other gent" shares the half of that office, I am desirous to serve the young gent" who brings you this, & your ap- pointing him accordingly will be taken kindly by, gent".
Your friend & servant. J. B.
Boston, Nov' 9, 1731.
To the Hono^ Thomcu Palmer, Es<fy and the rest of the Justices of the Sessions, and to the Justices of the Pleas for the County of Suffolk. ^ M' Cook.
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR. 49
TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR.
My dear Son, — Altho I wrote you at large the 1 of thi^ mo"* V Homans, yet I can't let this Bristol ship pass without telling you that I have reed yours of 16 Augs* (but shou'd be 26) V Crocker, & 14 Sept' V Savage, where I see you had the great honour of dining with the greatest Commoner in G* Britain (the R' Hono^** M' Speaker Onslow) who reed you with his wonted con- descention & civility & wou'd recommend you to a good acquaintance for your better proficiency in the law. I can't help inclosing to you a clause from a lett' I lately reed from my very good friend Cap' Coram. As it shows the sincerity of the Speaker's regard to you, it must stimulate you to take all possible occasions of paying your duty that you may keep yourself in his knowledge & memory, which may prove to your great future ad- vantage. I am glad the Malmsey was kindly reed ; and as it wou'd do me honour & service here to drink the Speaker's health from his own bounty, I wish your uncle wou'd wisely manage it by some of the Speaker's servants that the beer might come forward. It is from no con- sideration of the value of it, but purely for what I men- tion. I shou'd also be very proud of a letter from the Speaker. I have thankt M' Waldo in the most hearty & particular manner for his great civility to you, & for the respect & honour he did me on all occasions, and as I look on ingratitude a foul, black vice I will endeavour to conduct my life as clear of it as possible, and M' Waldo will be sure on his applications from time to time of every kind thing in my power. M' Reynolds brings me a kind letter from his father, L** Bishop of Lincoln, and another from the Hono^^ ColP Bladen, and he carrys it to me with much duty & respect, and I intend to add to his collection of New Hampshire the Naval Office worth 80 or 90 £ a year this money (and may serve for pocket
7
50 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
money). Dear M' Newman must excuse tne 'till the next ship to London. I observe you have wrote me V M' Lyn (in Cap* Gill), I suppose M' Newman's clerk ; he is not arriv'd, but daily expected.
I see you make, reed since y' arrival £155. But my last will show you how I have projected a full supply for you. I have 9 tuns of copper ore in your brother's ware- house which will go to Bristol by a ship bound thither the next month & the proceeds to be remitted your uncle. You may depend on my constant care of a seasonable sup- ply that your mind may be easy in its devotion to study. I am hitherto well pleas'd with all you write & all you have done. I had almost forgot to say that I wou'd have you render me a yearly account of your expence pretty particularly, putting your pocket expence in one gross sum (for I don't want to know those particulars). I never made a voy* to London, but at night one of the last things I did I put down the expence of the day in the most iotical manner (if you'll let me coin a word). Such a method tends to many good purposes, as a thrifty expence, to remind you of what places you have been at, what company you have been in, &c*. I don't want the acco* I now direct to from any fear or jealousy about your expence, but for my own better information & satisfaction what may be the reasonable annual expence of a Templer. I am glad you have paid your duty to my Lord of London, and had reed the advantage of his pious counsels.* You must remember you always stand in need of such excellent inculcations, & never forget that wise & solemn caution of S* Paul, — Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I am glad the Bishop reed my letter kindly respecting his Commissary.! I wish
* Edmund Gibson, a distingnished scholar and antiquanr, was at this time Bishop of London, having been trannlated from Lincoln in 1723. He was a zealous Churchman, and strongly opposed the efforts of the Dissenters to obtain relief from their disabilities. He died in 1748. See Rose's Biographical Dictionaiy, toI. viii. pp. 21-23 ; Lippincott*s Bio- graphical Dictionarr, vol. i. p. 1030. — Eds.
t Roger Price. — Note by Bev. Dr. Belknap,
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR. 51
I cou'd say he was any thing better than an empty su- peristious coxcomb. I have safely deliver'd the gardner's letter. I am pleas'd you begin to find satisfaction in your new studies, and I have no doubt but it will grow with your diligence & industry in them. Altho' our first great progenitor was lord of the universe (even after his fall) yet he was to get his bread by the sweat of his face ; that is, he was to be diligent in his particular calling, and what said one of the best of the heathen emperours, nulla dies sine linect. He wou'd not let a day pass him without some profitable remark, and doing something to advantage. I am sensible your French tongue will be of good service to you in the study of the law, and so will be your short hand at Westminster Hall, where you must constantly attend the several courts. When M' Thomas Dudley, the eldest son of the late Gov' Dudley, was at the Inns of Court a candidate for the practice of the law, and at a certain time attending a court in Westminster Hall, the chief judge observ'd this young student as he was taking his notes with uncommon care & diligence, and after calling for the notes of several seargents and bar- risters, he askt this young gent" for his, and in open court did him the great honour of saying his was the best account of all the pleadings in the causes. This I tell you to prick up your emulation. But still to do greater honour to this young gent", he returned to his country a much better (& most excellent) Christian from the Temple than when he went to it ; and this of all things is most worthy of your imitation. If you are minded to have a degree of Master of Arts, I believe Oxford is esteem'd the most ancient & famous University, and will conse- quently reflect the most honour. Among other things you must endeavour to make & keep up a good city ac- quaintance, of which you'll reap the advantage when you come to be a practiser. I think you are well advis'd & judge rightly to bend your studies for a good accomplish-
52 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
ment in the chancery business. I believe its generally allow'd to be the readiest course to riches & honour; yet I am told you must be also a good scholar in the com- mon law. Besides being a good lawyer, I am fond of your being a fine gent". Delight then in the study of humanity, that humility, condescention & affability may become perfectly easy & natural to you.
In my several voyages to London I have many times observ'd a gent" starting out of a court with a coach & six, fine liveries, &c', & upon enquiry, Who's that ? Why 'tis such an one who has with great industry acquir'd a fine estate & hitherto liv'd obscurely, but now is able to make the figure you see. Thus you must content your- self with living pretty much a recluse, for the advantage of study, and having laid a good foundation great will be the advantage to the superstructure, which you will be the better able to embelish & adorn from time to time 'till the best judges shall say the building is compleat. Yet I again charge you to intersperse your tasks & labours with proper recreations; walking, riding, bowl- ing, and billiards are wholesome exercises. Therefore use them for your better health ; and to these I wou d add fencing, which will extend all the parts & members of your body, open your breast, & make you more erect and give a greater advantage to your growth. I shall be pleas'd to hear you have put yourself under a good master of this gentlemanly science, and that you en- deavour to be a fine dancer. I am glad to hear you so much confine yourself (as in your early days) to that best of liquors which the God of Nature has so plentifully furnisht for the common benefit of all his creatures. I will by no means have you think of cutting off your hair without my special leave, altho' it shou'd cost you as much the yearly dressing as to furnish yourself with good wigs. I think nothing a finer ornament to a young gent" than a good head of hair well order'd & set forth. You say
1731.] TO THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN. 53
nothing to me of M' De la Faye, Pople, Evans, M' West & Deering. Don't forget writing to your Uncle Oliver, Doct' Colman & Sewall, th8 I wou'd not have you run into a numerous correspondence here, lest it shou'd rob you of too much time from your studies & recreations. You see I copulate 'em that you may use 'em alternately. I inclose you my letter of admonition to J. Foye, on whom I am afraid it will have but little effect ; he seems to be so much lost to good manners & gratitude. Read often what I write. Aliquid hcerehit. I do in all things humbly & heartily comitt you to the love & favour of God, & remain, my dear child,
Your very affectionate father. J. B.
Boston, Nov 11, 1781.
Endeavour after an opportunity of delivering the in- clos'd to Cap* Coram with your own hand, & treat him with good manners & respect. He is my hearty friend.
Via Bristol ^ Philips. Atkins to London.
TO THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN.*
My Lord, — About ten days since I reed v M' Rey- nolds your obliging favour of 20 Aug^ past from Bugden, and give your Lordship joy in your son's safe return to us ; and your Lordship may rest assured that nothing will be wanting in my power for his service & inter- est, agreeable whereto I have promist him the Naval Office of New Hampshire (worth about £70 a year this m**) and will help out his pocket money. I assure you, my Lord, I shall with great pleasure advise and assist this young gent" as he may apply to me from time to time. It is with an uncommon delight & pleasure that I observe that serious strain of good religion which runs
* Richard Rernoldi was Bishop of Lincoln from 1723 until his death, Jan. 15, 1743-4. — Eds.
54 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
thro' your ingenious letter. Your Lordship, I doubt not, has read the history of this country, and is well knowing with what principles, in what manner, & with what sort of people it was first settled, not with the necessitous refuse & gleanings of mankind (as most of the other plantations), but with men of religion, good knowledge, and substance, and they took care (as well as they cou'd) to hand them down to their posterity. Yet to the shame of my country I must complain, as God of his covenant people of old, I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed, how then art thou turn'd into the degenerate plant of a strange vine ? New England, my Lord, is be- come among the King's provinces a mart of nations. The traffique & commerce is great, and I am afraid vice and wickedness grow with it. This is too common as coim- tries become populous & plentifuU; but what a vile & ungratefull return is this, my Lord, to the great author of our beings & our most bountif ull benefactor.
I have, my Lord, at one time & another spent about six years in Europe, — twice in Hannover before the happy Protestant succession took place ; once at Berlin, Hambr8, in Denmark, in several principalities of Ger- many, three times in Holland, and once I made a progress thr3 the kingdom of Great Britain (500 miles in length), and I have, my Lord, the satisfaction to think that no country (I have seen) maintains a greater awe & sense of God & religion than New England does even at this day. And as it has pleas'd the King in his royal grace & favour to appoint me his vicegerent here, it shall be my care (by the help of God) that my example may give life and energy to my commands for the support & encour- agment of good religion & vertue & for bearing down all sorts of vice & impiety. This I am sure will be accept- able to God and the King, & a most reasonable service, to which I shall subjoyn my constant endeavours for ad- vancing his Majesty's honour & interest, as well as that
1731.] TO THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN.* 55
of his British dominions and the prosperity of his Prov- inces under my government.
I am now,^ my Lord, going to plunge myself over head & ears in obligation & debt to your Lordship by intro- ducing the bearer, my youngest son, to your presence & knowledge. This youth, after spending seven years at our collegiate school in Cambridge, deter mi n'd to attempt the study of the law in order to make it the future busi- ness of his life, to which end he is got to the Temple. And as he is at a great distance from a father, let me beg of your Lordship to suffer him now and then to pay his duty & obeisance to you, & to hope for your smiles & coun- tenance, as well as for your wholesome & pious advices to the advantage of his studies and to such a conduct in this life as may make him always ready & willing to change it for a better. This I say will be such an honour to me & to him, as well as so great a benediction to the youth in particular, as will bring us both within the Statute of Bankrupcy to your Lordship. I know it is no small part of your Lordship's shining character to be in the first class of the British civilians. I therefore humbly beg your Lordship wou'd drop your thots to my son, more particularly as to that part of his study of the law. As he went hence with good principles & resolu- tions of vertue & diligence, I sometimes hope, if (by the grace of God) he holds fast his integrity, he may one day or other make some little figure in life ; but I do assure your Lordship I am from the bottom of my soul much more desirous of his being a good man than a great man. God forbid that this short & uncertain life shou'd be his or my principal care. We have an immortal part that must survive the grave — must, did I say I whose privi- ledge, whose glory & happiness it will be so to do, if thr3 faith & repentance we can lay claim to the dying love of the great Redeemer of mankind. Then, I say, at the reunion of soul & body we shall set out in a life
56 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
of a blessed eternity, to be always in the presence of God where is fullness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures forevermore. That thus it may be, I humbly beg your Lordship's prayers. And that you wou'd let me depend on your candour and goodness to pardon the trouble & interruption of this tedious letter, while your Lordship will see it proceeds from the fond- ness of a father to a distant son.
May you, my Lord, live long, with a great share of health, to be still a bright ornament to the c"" & state, and always to stand high in the favour of your prince (the best of sovereigns) ; may you reap the honours & your country the advantage of your superiour merit, and may you in God's time, in an extended, comfortable old age, be translated from an earthly see to the general assembly & c^^ of the First Born & to the spirits of the just made perfect. This is & shall be the prayer of, my Lord,
Your Lordship's most faithfull & most ob* humble serv*,
J.B.
Boston, Nov 18, 1731.
^ Atkins. Shepherdson.
TO SIR ROBERT WALPOLE.*
HoNO"" S*, — In July last I did myself the honour of addressing you on the affairs of his Majesty's Provinces under my care ; and this I think my duty from time to time as anything material occurs.
I am now to give you my humble & hearty thanks on the receipt of the King's royal leave for my accepting the support this Assembly have voted me. My brother, M' Partridge, and my son write me that you was present at Council when this order was past, and your readiness in
* Sir Robert Walpole was First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer from April, 1721, to Februarr, 1742. — Eds.
1731.] TO HENRY NEWMAN. 57
the matter is a fresh instance of your goodness^ justice & honour. It wou'd indeed be a cruel hardship upon me if I must be oblig'd to live on the air or on my private fortune, while I am asserting the honour of the Crown, which I have done & shall constantly do with the greatest fidelity & equal to what any gent" cou'd have done with whom his Majesty shou'd have intrusted his royal comission for these governments. I think the prerogatives of the Crown, the interest of Great Britain, and the liberties & prosperity of the British plantations very compatible and to be pursued as one common interest; to these, therefore, I shall always have a tender regard in my whole administration.
I hope your Honour will pardon my presuming by this to bring into your presence & knowledge the bearer, my son, who spent his last seven years at our little University, and is now at the Temple in the study of the law, and as he is joint agent with my brother Partridge for my affairs in G* Britain, I hope you will allow him to pay his duty to you as any of his Majesty's affairs under my goverm' may require it.
I have the honour to be with the profoundest regard & deference, S',
Your most devoted, most faithfull & most humble servant, J. B.
Boston, Nov 20, 1731.
^ Atkins. Shepherdson.
TO HENRY NEWMAN.*
S", — I do now with a great deal of pleasure and grati- tude own your obliging favours of May 27, June 12, 25,
* Heniy Newman, sometime Librarian of Harvard College, was born in Reboboth, Mass., Nov. 10, 1670, and died in England. The date of his death, however, has not been ascertained. He was for a time Agent of New Hampshire in London. See Sibley's Harvard Graduates, vol. iii. pp. 889-394; New Hampshire Provincial Papers, vol. iv pamm. — Eds.
8
58 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
V
26, & Augs* 20, & 20 May to my son, with M' Burman's fine satyr upon the ignorant & lazy herd of mankind. The answer you reed from Coll" Bladen was a much greater surprize to me than it cou'd be to you, and (as you observe) my fidelity in the service of the Crown certainly merited a more gratefuU return. As to the bill which I sent over & desir'd leave to sign, since the Board of Trade cou'd not see into it, I am perfectly easy, tho' I am sure the consequence of it wou'd 'a' been to the honour of the Crown and the good of the King's people. As to the mandamuss it is very extraordinary that any gent" can possibly imagine it agreeable to the rules of government that an inferiour officer shou'd be set up above his superiour in having the liberty of naming his Gov'*' Council. This I am sure can tend to nothing but anarchy & confusion, and thus I have wrote to Duke of N. Castle & Lords of Trade, and therefore still pray you to be diligent & zealous in solliciting the mandamuss for Richard Waldron, Benj* Gambling, & Ephraim Dennet, Esq", in which my brother & son will assist, & so will M' Wilks, who will pay the charge of them all. It much concerns my ease & honour in that government to have the Council fill'd with my own friends. M' Wentworth deserves no respect from me, having ever since his arrival behav'd with a great deal of insolence & ill manners, without the least reason, tho' you know I had a great hand in making his father Leiu' Gov' 14 years ago. I wish it was possible among you to get Dunbar remov'd & M' Sherburne to be his suc- cessor. I cant be easy in that government while I have a Leiu* Gov' that is maliciously watching all opportunities to hurt & misrepresent me. This I have also wrote to Duke of Newcastle & Lords of Trade.
I had the honour to be known to M' Oglethorp at London, for whom I have a very great honour & esteem, and this Province is much oblig'd to him upon what you write, and I believe the agent is fully instructed relating to the
1731.] TO HENRY NEWMAN. 59
Sugar Colony bill, as he will be respecting the scheme pro- jecting to regulate our courts of justice. I ask M' Ogle- thorp's pardon if he thinks I was too warm in some of my speeches to this Assembly, for which he must make allowance {consideratis consider andis). I thank your grave advice to patience, & notwithstanding I have so many special good & great friends in Great Britain, and whom I love & honour, yet I assure you I am of Gov' Dud- ley's mind & never desire to leave my native country again, but to make myself as easy as possible in the government ; and for my security therein I hope my friends will at all times exert themselves to the utmost. My brother, M' Partridge, my son, & M' Wilks will always join with you very heartily for my service, & I believe they will tell you I have a good interest in Duke of Newcastle, Lord Townshend, Lord Wilmington, Bishop of Lincoln, M' Speaker Onslow, & M' H. Walpole.
I am very thankf uU for your care to procure the King's bounty for Christ's Church, & observe what my good Lord of London wrote you in the matter, which I hope he has before this time confirmed to my Lord Chamberlain.* Ore temiSy you must not despair, but sollicit diligently till you obtain.
I thank your kind congratulations upon having the royal leave for taking my support in the manner the As- sembly voted it, which I am told by others, as well as yourself, was in a good measure owing to my son's me- morial. I wish with you it may be allowed precedential & a presage of ease to the Assembly & me for the future ; but of this I am doubtfull.
I was sorry to hear the death of our old friend, M' Cas- wall, in so sudden & awfull a manner. I pray God such mementos may prepare us for that unchangeable change. I am glad M" Sukee was well married before it happen'd, especially since his afEairs are in so unhappy a situation.
* See letter to the Dake of Grafton, pott, p. 65. —Eds.
60 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
I find honest M' Bull dyed in Aug"* with a smart short fever. These warnings I say must rouse & awaken us to double diligence in an evil world.
I come now, S', to the arrival of my son Jonathan, who talks loudly to his father of my dear M' Newman's great condescention, goodness & affection to him, and that you had even allow'd him the honour & pleasure of being under your own roof till his Temple chambers cou'd be fitted. How good is this in you to be his father, and in such a manner to adopt him as a son ; nor was it possible for you in any other article to give such an instance of your real respect to your good old friend his father. He went hence with good principles & resolutions of vertue & diligence, which if God gives him grace to hold, I hope he may some time or other make a little figure in life. Let me still beg the blessing of your smiles & good advices to him for his better conduct in his studies, &c*« I am well pleas'd with his chambers ; and M' Shirley says it will be an advantage for his studies that they are 3 pair of stairs. I pray God to bless him, and in his time render him serviceable to his King & country.
M' Shirley is got safe to us with his good lady & fam- ily, & altho' he comes under the umbrage & favour of persons of the highest rank & distinction, yet I assure you your recommendations with the reasons, and among the rest his great civilities to my son, will make me sollicitous of doing him every good & kind office in my power, and still the more so in that according to my observation his personal merit will justly challenge it. I have already strongly recommended him to the Justices of our Superiour Court (or the Judges of the Circuit) and shall (as they meet) do the same to the Courts in the several counties in the Province, and the Judges being all of my appointm* I hope what I shall say to them will have its weight to his advantage.
I thank you for the prints, and pray the continuance
1731.] TO MARTIN BLADEN. 61
as you can spare 'em. I remain with an unfeigned respect & esteem, my dear M' Newman,
Your affectionate friend & most obedient servant.
J. B.
Boston, Nov 20, 1731.
^ Atkins. Shepherdson.
TO MARTIN BLADEN.*
HoNO^"" Sir, — Since I wrote you 19 Aug"* past I have reed your favour of the same date ^ M' Reynolds, the Collector of N. Hampshire, to whom (upon your recom- mendation) I have given the Naval Ofl&ce at New Hamp- shire, altho' I displaced a particular friend at the same time; yet I shall always be glad to serve any gent" coming to me under the character of your friend. Nor do I know I was wanting while I was at Whitehall, or since my arrival to these governments to treat Coll" Bladen with the respect due to his rank. Will you allow me then, S', to expostulate as becomes one gent™ with another, and say I am sorry that several of my friends write me, they admire ColF Bladen treats us very coldly when we apply to him on your account, nor does he seem to be friendly to you, more especially when ColP Dunbar comes in competition. It is a misfortune to me, and I believe no service to any of the King's Provinces, that that gent" ever came hither, and whatever you may have imagined or conceived about him I shall never believe he will finally honour your patronage. Since the breach is so wide betwixt us I must pray you, S', to think calmly &
* Lieat.-Col. Martin Bladen was born in 1680, and died Feb. 15, 1746. At an early age lie entered the annr, and served with distinction in several campaigns. In 1715 he was elected to the House of Commons, of which he continued a member until his death. He was also from 1716 one of the Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. He was an ardent aupporter of Sir Robert Walpole; and Belcher distrusted him on account of his friendship for Dunbar. He published a translation of Caesar's Commentaries and some original pro- ductions of slMider llterarj merit. See Dictionary of National Biography, vol. v. pp. 154, 155. — Eds.
62 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
cooly on every thing he writes respecting me, and hear what I have to say before you form a judgment. I am and always will be an honest man, which I believe is more than he can pretend to. How barbarous was his false accusation of me about Frederick's Fort while I was pur- suing my duty to the King in great conformity to his royal instructions. Since it is of no service to him, nor to the Province of N. Hampshire, it wou'd be happy for me to have some other gent" in his place there ; nor can he be any honour to the King's service while he is afraid to appear in this Province or that for fear of being taken by the ofl&cers of justice for debt. This I shou'd not mention, but that it's no secret throughout these governments.
I must, S', in justice to myself let you know how early this gent" took up a resolution to quarrel with me, even from the first news he had of his Majesty's grace & favour to me ; for I am informed he wrote the Duke of New- castle, Bishop of London, & some other persons of rank & distinction all he cou'd to my prejudice. This, I say. he did six months before my arrival, and when he had no acquaintance with me. But the spitting of his envy and detraction, I thank God, did me no hurt. Truth & in- tegrity, justice & honour will always be the same, maugre the malice of those who attempt to prop their shatter'd, sinking fortunes by bitter invectives against better men than themselves. I am sorry to have given you so much trouble on this head, & wish this may be the last occasion I may have for it.
I am very thankfull while I tell you I have reed the royal leave for accepting what this Assembly voted for my support in June last. This is a great instance of the goodness, justice, & honour of his Majesty & his ministers, not to suffer a faithfull servant to starve while in the strictest execution of the King's coinands. As I have wrote once and again, so I must again say, that I have no
1731.] TO MARTIN BLADEN. 63
expectation of this Assembly's supporting me in any other manner than they have now done, nor do I suppose the instruction will ever take place but by a special act of Parliament.
Your kinsman, M' Fairfax, is lately remarried to one of the daughters of the land.* I don't remember ever to have seen her. I am told she is a young lady of 23 or 4 years of age, of a reputable family, of good vertue & a goodly person. He is really a gent°* of good sobriety, & well beloved in the country. If his head was not so much turn'd to matrimony I shou'd think it might be as well ; but I suppose he falls in with that part of the Apostle's advice, Better to marry than burn, and that marriage is honourable & the bed undefil'd. I wish him well with all my heart, and shall always be glad to do him any service in ray power. We are all mortal, and it's not improper for people to be forecasting what they judge may be to their advantage. The present Collector for this port is one M' Jekyl (nephew to S' Joseph), a most worthy officer (I suppose turn'd of 60), and if he shou'd drop before M' Fairfax, and M' Fairfax cou'd be translated hither, I believe it's the best Collection in North America. This I have hinted to Commiss' Fairfax, and perhaps a promise of such a thing might be obtained. This I don't at all mention in prejudice to the present Collector, who is my particular friend, and for whom I have a great value.
I pray you, S', to let this introduce my son once more to ColP Bladen, and that he may have the pleasure of your smiles. I remain, with much esteem & respect, S', Your most obedient & most humble servant.
J. B.
Boston, Nov 23. 1731.
^ Atkins. Shepherdson.
* William Fairfax, Collector at Salem, married for his second wife, Deborah Clarke, of that place. See Sparks^s Writings of Washington, vol. ii. p. 52 note. — Eds.
64 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR,
Dear Jonathan, — I wrote you at large the 1 & 11 cur" f Homans to London & Phillips to Bristol, dupli- cates whereof come now f Atkins, to which I have not much to add. Webster arriv'd 23 curr" & brought me yours of 11 ult**. Gary, Gill, & Watson are daily ex- pected. I observe there had been no Board of Trade ; that you cou d not send me copy of ColP Dunbar's memorial. But your uncle has sent me the heads of it. I am under no great concern about it, but shall make answer when I have a copy in form from the Lords of Trade. He is an unreasonable, restless creature, & gives me a great deal of trouble. I observe you attended at opening the seals at my Lord Chancellor's, as you wou'd the next week at the. commencement of the term at West- minster Hall. So far is well, for you to see the way & manner of things. But considering your infancy in the study, advise with your most capable acquaintance whether it mayn't be best for you to be intirely a recluse student for the first 2 years, except such a conversation (or club) as the Speaker told you he'd bring you into. Thus did the great & fine S' Clement Wearg (late Sollicitor General), who at once started into the world one of the most accom- plisht of the long robe.
Open all the letters I now send you ; do it carefully ; & reseal them handsomely, & find lucky junctures to deliver them with your own hands. M' Fane or Gov' Holden will be proper persons to get you a sight of S' Robert, which must not be on his levee day. M' Bendish will go with you to Lord Chancellor ; M' Sandf ord, to S' Joseph Jekyl & S' Phillip York ; Gov' Shute or M' Bendish to Lord Bar- rington, when he comes up to London. If he don't come to London this winter, cover it to him at Becket. M' Newman will go with you to Bishop of Lincoln. Converse much with M' Newman. He is an upright, religious man.
1731.] TO THE DUKE OP GRAFTON. 65
Let him see what you think proper of my advices, that he may correct 'em. I don't know who'll go with you to S' Charles Talbot,* but get a proper introductor, as also to the rest of the gent°*. You see, my dear, I am endeavour- ing to give you a fine acquaintance. Imitate S' C. Talbot's softness & fineness all you can. I say let M' Belcher be admir'd for his real humility, condescention, courteous- ness, affability, & great good manners to all the world. This will make you the object of love & esteem. But pride, supercilliousness, affectation & stiffness, the object of hatred & contempt. Who knows what may happen in the course of your life. Think how Lord Barrington came by his estate. Write ColP Byfield & M' Shirley. If I address any of my letters wrong do you new direct them. When you appear before persons of rank & distinction be always handsomely drest (your hair especially). Read my letters often, and extract from them what you judge will be most to your advantage. God be praised we are all well, and I remain
Your sincerely affectionate father, J. B.
Boston, Nov 25, 1731.
^ Atkins. Shepherdson.
TO THE DUKE OF GRAFTGN.f
May it please your Grace, — I had the great honour of addressing your Grace in Dec' last, and (among other things) to mention to y' Grace the request of the Minister & Vestry of Christ's C*"*" in this town for his Majesty's bounty of plate & furniture to that infant c"*, and for which they now presume to make their humble petition to your Grace, and I so fully represented to your Grace in my last
* He was at this time Solicitor-General. — Eds.
t Charles Fitzroj, Duke of Grafton, was at this time Lord Chamberlain. He was a grandson of Charles U. by the Duchess of Cleveland. — Eds.
0
66 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
the strait circumstances of that c"* that I am afraid to give your Grace a new trouble on that head. But as the King's Chappel in this town twice reed the royal bounty, I beg leave to assure your Grace that your kind regards to this c^ in a favourable representation of their poor condition to his Majesty, and that they might enjoy the royal smiles in this respect wou'd be an instance of your Grace's great goodness & favour to the C"* of England in gen" in this country, & oblige them always to pray for the best of blessings to be poured down upon your Grace and every branch of your noble family. I am with all the honour & respect in the world, my Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient & most humble servant.
J. B.
Boston, Dec 1, 1731.
^ Shepherdson. Crocker.
TO MR. EVANS.*
S", — Sometime in Decemb' last I wrote to his Grace the Lord High Chamberlain in favour of the Minister & Vestry of Christ's C*"*" in this town to pray his Grace's kind regards to their obtaining the King's bounty to that c^^ in the like manner as has been twice extended to the King's Chappel in this town, and I now presume to re- mind his Grace of this their request. The people of this c"* have done great service & honour to the C*"** of England in gen" in this country by exerting themselves in building so good & handsome a house, and it will be a great discouragment to those who are well affected to the c^** if they do not finally obtain the royal favour in this respect. M' Newman who sollicits this matter in
* The Letter Books of Governor Belcher seldom give the Christian names of the persons to whom the letters were written; and in a few instances we have not been able to iden*ifv the person addressed. There are two letters to Mr. Evans, who was probably Secretary to the Lord Chamberlain. — Eds.
1731.] TO THS LORDS OF TRADE. 67
their behalf tells me some difficulty arises lest the doing it for this c"" shou'd make it a president for other c**^ in this town hereafter. But of this I think there can be no great danger, because the two c"" in this town will be sufficient for those that attend divine service in the C**^ of England for a long time to come. Besides if presidents might always have their force you will find on the books a sett of plate & other furniture sent in the reign of the late Queen Anne for a c"" among the Mohawks (or Five Na- tions), and as before mentioned the church here called the King's Chappel has twice reed the royal bounty. From the little acquaintance I had with M' Evans at Whitehall, I now take the freedom to ask your friendship to this c"" in facilitating the matter with my Lord Duke that they may obtain a favourable answer to this their reason- able request. M' Newman will take care to discharge all the office fees, and I shall be glad to return your respect on this head in such a way & manner as you may please to command. S',
Tour very humble servant. J. B.
Boston, Dec 1, 1731.
^ Shepherdflon. Crocker.
TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
May it please your Lordships, — Altho* I receive the honour of very few from your Lordships, yet in obedi- ence to his Majesty's commands I am constantly doing my duty in laying before his Majesty's Secry of State and before your Lordships what relates to the Provinces under my government ; and to this I am the more obliged by his Majesty's condescending grace & favour to me, in his royal leave for the taking my support in the manner this Assembly voted it, and at the same time doing me the honour that I believe the world will allow me of strictly adhering to the King's royal instructions. This is not
68 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
only an instance of his Majesty's goodness, but of his jus- tice & honour. For why shou'd the King's servant, acting up with all possible fidelity to his orders, have no support but from the consuming his own private fortune ?
I now cover to your Lordships the Journals of the House of Representatives to the end of their last session, and as far as they are gone in this, by which your Lordships will see I have communicated to them his Majesty's additional instruction to me respecting the support of his Gov', and I am sorry to confirm what I have been oblig'd to acquaint your Lordships with so often already, that I have no ex- pectation of their granting my support in any other man- ner than as they have now done ; and with great deference & submission to your Lordships, since they seem to be come to a full point & stand in the matter, is it exactly agreeable to the great honour & dignity of the Crown to be urging upon an Assembly what they have so often & so publickly deny'd ? Thus much, my Lords, I have thought necessary to say in justice & faithfullness to his Majesty. I am much concern'd that I have no answer from your Lordships respecting the affairs of the Treasury of this Province, the want whereof I am afraid will tend to great confusion in this government. All the ships expected from London this season being arriv'd I can't hope to hear any thing from your Lordships on this head 'till March next, and your Lordships must be sensible how difficult it will be for this government to subsist to that time with- out one shilling in the Treasury.
My Lords, in Sept' last I reed two letters from M' Secry Popple of 10 of June, both of one tenour, respecting an Address from the Hono*"** the House of Commons to his Majesty, praying he wou'd give directions to the Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations to prepare a repre- sentation to be laid before the House as to the state of his Majesty's Colonies in America, with respect to laws made, manufactures set up, & trade carry'd on, which
1731.] TO THE LORDS OF TRADE. 69
may affect the trade, navigation & manufactures of G* Britain ; and that I wou'd give your Lordships the best & most particular ace" I cou'd in these matters. In obedi- il ence to this order, my Lords, I have been informing my- self as fully as I cou'd, and must begin & say; as to the Massachusetts Province, I find no laws in force for encouraging the produce or manufactures of the coun- try, excepting two, — one to encourage the raising of hemp (made the 12 of G. 1), which gives a bounty of 29/ for every 112*** brought to the market, and 7/ ^ cent more in case the quantity of 224*** be rais'd by one person at one time ; * the other (made 1 & 2 G. 2) to encourage the raising of flax, and gives a bounty of 8/8 for every 112*** brought to the market & 4/8 %** cent in case the quantity of 224*** be rais'd by one person at one time.t Besides the above mention'd acts, there are also two resolves for allow- ing a bounty of 20/ to all persons (and 10/ more to John
* Several lawi were paeeed by MuMcbusetto to encourage the raising of hemp. By an act paaeed Dec 20, 1715, a bounty was to be paid oat of the Treasury of *' nine shillingii and four pence for every handred and twelve pounds of water-rotted, well cured, and clean- dressed hempi the growth of this province that is brought to market/* This act was to continue ** in force for the space of ten yean, and no longer.*' (See Mass. Province Laws, vol. ii. p. 28.) An act in addition to this act was passed June 21, 1718, directing the payment of " the sum of nine shillings and four pence, over and above the proemium already given by said act for every hundred and twelve pounds of good, merchantable, water- rotted hemp of the growth of this province, that is brought to market.** This act was *'to continue in force during the continuance of the aforerecited act, which is ten years from the commencing thereof, and no longer.** (See Mass. Province Laws, vol. ii. p. 102.) These acts expired by limitation in December, 1725 ; and in that month a new act was passed, authorizing the payment out of the Treasury of '* the sum of eighteen shillings and eight pence, for every hundred-and-twelve pounds of water-rotted well cured and clean dress*d hemp of the growth of this province ** ; and it was further provided " that if any one person shall bring to the market the quantity of two hundred twenty-four pounds weight of hemp," etc., he should be *' allowed four shillings and eight pence per hundred, over and above what b before allowed by this act.** This law was to continue ** in force for the space of five years from the publication thereof, and no longer.** The law was pub- lished Jan. 23, 1725-6. (See Mass. Province Laws, vol. ii. p. 862.) This was the state of the law when Governor Belcher landed in Boston in August, 1730; and it was not until April 2, 1731, that the law described by him, which increased the bounties, was passed. His statements that the law in force when he wrote was made in 12th of Oeorge I., and that "none of the laws mention*d have been made in either Province since my arrival to the governments,** are, to say the least, either disingenuous or grossly careless. — Eds.
t See the law, which was passed June 15, 1728, in Mass. Province Laws, vol. ii. p. 498. The statement that the bounty was "8/8 for every 112>1m*' was probably an unintentional mistake by Governor Belcher's clerk. The bounty was ** eighteen shillings and eight panca," tha same at the bounty for hemp. — Eds.
70 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
Powell, the first undertaker) for every peice of duck or canvas by them made under such qualifications as in the said resolve is particularly exprest (which were past the 12 of G. 1 & 1 of G. 2). There are some other manufac- tures carry'd on here, as the making brown holland for women's ware, and makes the importation of callicoes and some other India goods so much the less. There are also small quantities of cloth made of linnen & cotton for ordinary shirting & sheeting. About three years ago a paper mill was set up, which makes about £200 st' a year of that commodity. There are several forges for making of barr iron, and some furnaces for cast iron (or hollow ware), and one slitting mill, the undertaker of which carrys on the manufacture of nails. As to the woolen manufacture, there is no law here to encourage it, and the country people who us'd formerly to make most of their cloathing out of their own wool don't now make a third part of what they wear, but are mostly cloath'd with British manufactures.
As to the Province of N. Hampshire, the only laws that I find affecting the trade, navigation, or manufac- tures of G* Britain are an act (past many years ago) im- posing a duty, for the supply of his Majesty's Fort William & Mary at the entrance of Piscataqua River with powder, on all shipping trading to and from the said Province, and not own'd within the same, which duty is one pound of good gunpowder (or two shillings) a tun. Another act intitled An Act for encouraging Iron Works in the Prov- ince, & which prohibits the exportation of iron ore. This act was also past many years since, in favour of some works set up by the late Leiu* Gov' Wentworth, M' Greorge Jeffries (one of his Majesty's Council) & others ; but I think those works are at present imder discouragment for want of a sufficiency of ore & proper workmen. The woolen manufacture in the Province is much less than formerly, the common lands on which the sheep us'd to feed being
1731.J TO THE BISHOP OF LONDON. 71
now divided into particular proprieties. The number of them is much reduc'd, and the people almost wholly cloath'd with woolen from Great Britain. The manufacturing of flax into linnen (some coarser, some finer) daily increases, by the great resort of people from Ireland into this Prov- ince who are well skill'd in that business. The chief trade of the Province continues (as for many years past) in the exportation of masts, yards, bowsprits, boards, stjaves, & rafters for England, but principally to Spain & Portugal, & some to the Charrible Islands, with lumber & refuse fish, and the better sort of fish to Spain. Portugal, Italy, fee*. Some sloops & small vessells go in the winter (with English & West India goods) to Virginia, Maryland & Carolina, & return with corn & flesh. These are the best informa- tions I can give in these articles at present, and your Lordships will be the best judges how far these things do or may affect the trade, navigation, or manufactures of G* Britain, and as I learn anything new worth your Lord- ships' notice I shall faithfully transmit it; and in the mean time wou'd observe that none of the laws mention'd have been made in either Province since my arrival to the governments, and I shall take care not to give my assent to any law that may interfere with his Majesty's royal instructions. My Lords,
Your Lordships' most faithfuU & most humble servant.
J. B.
I now cover to your Lordships what past in the last session of the Assembly at N. Hampshire.
Boston, Dec 4, 1731.
^ Shepherdflon. Crocker.
TO THE BISHOP OF LONDON.
My much HON** Lord, — By one of the last ships from London I am honour'd with your Lordship's letter of 16 Sept' last, which brings me under debt & obligation to
72 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1781.
•
your Lordship in many respects ; and I am first of all to thank your Lordship for the great honour you have done my son in allowing him to pay his duty to your Lordship, and the favour was greatly inhanc'd by your dropping on him the blessings of your pious counsels, and of this, my Lord, he gives me a large account, with the pro- foundest sense of gratitude. And as he is like to be (for some time) abroad your Lordship will pardon the fondness of a father while I am a suitor for the continuance of your kind regards to this young gent" at such times as you shall allow him to pay his duty to your Lordship. He went hence with good principles of vertue & dili- gence, and I think with the deepest awe & sense of the three glorious persons (one only God) in the adorable Trinity. I pray God of his mfinite mercy in his blessed Son, and thro' the sanctification of his Holy Spirit, to save him from the lures & temptations of a wicked age, and in an especial manner of the place where he is oblig'd to compleat his education. For I am from the bottom of my soul more concern'd for his being a good man than a great man.
Your Lordship very justly observes M' Price's fault with respect to the Fast I wrote to your Lordship I had appointed. He is a young man, & I hope may grow wiser as he grows older, & when he does his duty & asks my par- don he shall find me the gent"" & the Christian. I well remember, my Lord, when I had the honour to wait on your Lordship once and again at Whitehall, you mention'd to me something of the same nature of what your Lordship now writes, with respect to persons that attend the C**** of England being oblig'd to pay to the maintenance of an Independent minister, or, as your Lordship is pleas'd to put the question, Whether Independency be the Estab- lishm* of this Country ? I answer I don't apprehend it is, but that the C*"** of England is as much establisht by the laws of this Province as that of the Independents,
1731.] TO THE BISHOP OP LONDON. 73
Presbyterians, or Baptists, and shou'd any town or parish in the Province elect a clergyman of the C"" of England to be their minister, and he be qualify 'd as the law directs, altho' Vao**" oi such parish shou'd be Dissenters, yet by the laws of the Province they wou'd be oblig'd to pay to the maintenance of such a minister. Your Lordship I am sure will readily allow there must be laws & orders for the proper & decent support of the worship of God, as well as for the well governing the civil polity; and I can see nothing more in the laws respecting the mainte- nance of ministers here than what is necessary to oblige every parish to support an able orthodox minister, and that there shou'd not be ten different sects or perswasions in every parish, and thereby the Christian religion be brought into an entire neglect & contempt. But for your Lordship's better satisfaction in this matter I order'd the Sec'' of the Province to make extracts from all the laws relating to the maintenance of ministers, which I now cover to your Lordship, by which your Lordship will be able to form a better judgra* than I can, and wherein I may mistake I shall be glad to stand corrected by your Lordship, and in the mean time (& always) your Lord- ship may rest assured, not only of justice, but of all the favour & friendship in my power to the C"" of England. And as an instance of it I am now again humbly to thank your Lordship, in behalf of the ministry, wardens, & vestry of Christ's C*"^ in this town, for the good offices your Lordship has employ'd for obtaining the King's bounty for this c^\ They now again write to my Lord Chamberlain and to your Lordship with their most humble & gratefull acknowledgments, and pray the con- tinuance of your Lordship s kind regards to them, which I also do, and that you woii'd please to recollect what I wrote your Lordships on this head in Dec' last, and was so full as will hardly allow of any addition, unless to obviate the difficulty my Lord Chamberlain suggests of
10
74 THE BELCHEB PAPERS. [1731.
the matter's being made precedential, of which I appre- hend there is no danger from any prospect of another c^ being built in this town for a long time to come, be- sides there was plate, books, & furniture sent %>» the late Queen Anne for a c"" intended to be among the Mohawks (or Five Nations) ; and with great submission why may not this be pleaded, that all other c*"*" shou'd have the same favour from the Crown; and in the reign of the late glorious K. W. the c"" in this town reed plate & all other furniture, and a duplicate of all the last year, that methinks it seems hard that this infant c**^ shou'd not enjoy the royal smile, which I will still hope for from your Lordship's benign & powerfuU interposition. But let the success be now what it will, I promise not to give your Lordship (or myself) any further trouble in an affair in which I have no other interest than as I think it wou'd be a service to the C*"** of England (in this country) in general, and to this new c**^ in particular. I ask a thousand pardons for the interruptions of this long letter from the vast & important affairs of the C"" & State with which your valuable life is so much ingrost, and I say to the best services of your King & country, & to your own true & lasting honour ; and thus may your precious life, my Lord, be extended to an advanc'd age, with a great share of health, and in God's best time (tho' late) may you be translated from the c*"*" below to that of the First Bom and of the spirits of just men made perfect. This, my Lord, is the hearty prayer of, my Lord,
Your Lordship's most faithfull & most obed* servant.
Boston, Dec 4, 1731. J* B.
^ Shepherdson. Crocker.
TO HENRY NEWMAN.
Dear S*, — Since mine of 20 ult^ Y Atkins, I have V Gary your kind letters of 18 Sept' & 9 Oct' last, with one
1731.] TO HENRY NEWMAN. 75
from my Lord of London; and those you inclos'd from his Lordship for the several clergymen I delivered to the Rev* M' Harward to forward. I am glad the affairs of New Hampshire are like to take a turn in my favour, which my brother writes me. I pray your advice & as- sistance to him & M' Wilks at all times in my affairs, & don't fail to press constantly for the mandamuss for M' Waldron, Gambling, & Dennett to be of his Majesty's Council at New Hampshire. M' Wilks & my brother will act heartily in the affair with you, and M' Wilks will pay the whole charge.
How great is your goodness & friendship to me in the expressions of it to my son. How shall I pay so pleasing a debt? Every time you find a folio law book before him, give him your blessing, and strongly advise him to a recluse studious life for a year or two, & not give himself to too much conversation or company 'till he has laid a foundation in the law. I think this must be most to his future advantage.
The minister & vestry of Christ's C**^ send you their humble service & most hearty thanks for your kind & diligent soUicitations in the affair of the King's bounty, and I have put them upon writing to my Lord Chamber- lain & the Bishop of London, which you have herewith, with mine & one I have wrote to M' Evans (whom I knew Sif, Whitehall). All these letters you are to open, read, & handsomely reseal & deliver. You have M' Harris's order for money to defrey the charge, and I wish you success; & if otherwise I shall not give you or myself any further trouble in an affair in which I have no other interest than the welfare & prosperity of the C"* of England. I am truly, S',
Your most faithf ull humble servant, J. B.
K you obtain let all come under my care to be deliver'd.
Boston, Dec' 4, 1731.
1^ Shepherdson. Crocker.
76 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
TO MRS. WILLIAM PARTRIDGE*
HoNO* & DEAR Madam, — I wrote you 22 last m% & altho' I am so busy with the Assembly and the ships now going to London that I write no letter by the post but this, yet I can't omit covering the inclosed, which came to my hands this last week ^ Cap* Gill from your little son at London, & I have been very impatient for a letter to you, and am glad he has done his duty. We all stand in need of your fervent prayers at the Throne of Grace, but more especially this poor youth at such a distance m a wild, wicked world, expos'd to innumerable temptations. I am sure he is wrote upon the table of your heart, & you'll never forget him. But I beg you to wrestle with God for the constant supplies of his Holy Spirit to him, & when you write him, let him know the great danger that he is in, that he may be jealous of himself & often think of that solemn, wise caution of the Apostle, Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I heartily pray for your health, ease, & comfort in your advanc'd years, and in God's due time (tho' late) may you be called from this world of trouble & changes to the glorified spirits above, where shall be no sin or sorrow, but you shall drink full draughts of joye & pleasure from the river which flows at the right hand of God, forever & ever. Amen. Mad"",
Your very dutifuU son. J. B.
My hearty love to good sister CaswalL
Boston, Dec 6, 1731. (Post.)
TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR.
My dear Jonathan, — Shepherdson (to whom I de- liver this) has duplicates of mine to you of 25 ult® (& of
* See note, ante^ p. 28. — Eds.
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR. 77
all my others) 'V* Atkins, and I have now lying before me your several dutiful! letters of Augs* 30, Sept' 7, 29, & Oct' 7 V Gill (M' Lyn), Gary, & Watson. I am well pleas'd you take care to hint to me the respect M' Horace Walpole did me at Hampton Court. I wrote him 20 ult** under your cover. You'll deliver him a pair of the wild geese sent V Homans, and give him my duty afresh the next time you see him after rece* of this. I have already wrote your uncle of what he mentioned for an allowance as my agent, and shall again 'V* the next ships. Tho I really think it a little hard (consideratis considerandis)^ yet I won't differ with him. He has charg'd me after the rate of £30 a year, which I think too much, but you need give yourself no trouble in this matter, unless he urges you to know what I write ; for I'll settle it with him soon, th8 I can't T this ship, I am so prest to make answer to so many letters.
I am glad you have remembred to write your excellent grandmother, which goes forward (v the post) this day. I am sure she has graven you on the palms of her hands & on the table of her heart ; sure then you must never forget her. As to your being the first year or two with an attorney, I think I am satisfyed, with the reasons you offer, to wave it.
I have read over & over what you write of D' Calamy's* great & condescending respect to you, and it is with much pleasure that T see you so full of the gent" & the Christian to struggle to pay part of the debt he has brought upon you by such an uncommon respect. Gratitude is an adorning vertue, and pray give my most hearty thanks to the D' (he owes me for two letters, but that I don't mind), and tell him I won't be easy 'till I have paid your debt (which is mine) in the manner he desires. I will heartily endeavour to give his son some place or other for a sub-
* Bay. Edmund CaUmy, D.D., a distinguUhed DiMenting minister, born in 1671, died In 1782. •— Eda.
78 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731,
sistance ; and because I wou*d not write him a base com- pliment I must defer that part 'till I have found some way to serve the young gent"". He is at present at Salem. I shall send for him, & deliver his father's letter. Read the good D' what I write. M' Lyn has din'd with me, and I have ofiEer'd him my advice & assistance in any thing may fall in my power. As to M' Price I am glad the Bishop of London is rightly inform'd. He is such a trifling, insignificant spark that I don't intend to give myself any further trouble about him. I 'shall be glad to have the mandamuss for the three New Hampshire Councellors, — Richard Waldron, Benjamin Gambling, & Ephraim Dennet, Esq", and I have mentioned them often to D. N. Castle & Lords of Trade, your uncle, M' Wilks, & Newman ; but it will continue my uneasiness to have any of Dunbar's creatures.
I say again I am content to allow you £220 st' for this first year's expence, which is £770 this money, as ex- change runs. As I think I have a good son, depend you have a fond father ; therefore make yourself easy & com- fortable. I am willing to allow you any thing within the approbation of your uncle's good judgment & reason. AlthQ it will be my great joy & comfort to hear you are solid & diligent at your studies, yet I think 4 in the morn- ing too early to rise, th8 10 at night not at all too soon to be i' bed, diluculo surgere saluberimum. Yet there may be an exceeding. Mind that part of my advice to relax and take a proper proportion of recreation. I take the law to be a crabbed, knotty study, not to be obtain 'd by fits & starts, jerks & violence, but by a sedate, steady applica- tion, & with length of time ; you must therefore put on the armour of patience, and I still think it best that you get pretty much into a recluse, monastick life, without using yourself much to Westminster Hall or conversation. I think this must be the best way for laying a strong, solid basis whereon to build a great man. I am content
1731.] TO JONATHAN BELCHER, JR. 79
that you have taken a servant, which may still give you the opportunity of being closer to your studies, and is certainly more creditable than doing those things any other way. I am much oblig'd to my cousen John Belcher (at Paul's yard) for his great civility to you. Pray give him my sincerest thanks, and tell him I shall always be glad to return it in the way & manner he shall please to command. I wonder I don't hear from the ingenious M" West. I am afraid you forgot to deliver her my letter. If the Speaker's 2 hh*" of beer can be handsomely come at, I shall be glad of it in the spring, f* this conveyance I send your uncle a commission jointly appointing him & you to be my agents. I have put in your name that you may appear whenever he thinks it proper, th8 I would have him wholly engage in the business, for I am afraid of your being too much busyed in politicks or any thing else that may be an avocation from your studies, and thereby not only lose the great charge I shall be at, but miss of being what I desire you shou'd be, a compleat lawyer & a fine gent°*. Remember what I have said to you about matrimony, & entertain no such thoughts till 7 or 10 years hence (if God spares your life). If you shou'd, that wou'd effectually destroy all my schemes about you. If you see people cut a figure by dint of money, you must endeavour to be able to do it in time by dint of merit. I wou'd not have you multiply correspondents here, which can be no benefit, but a great interruption to your studies, and in the spring let your letters to most people be a sort of farewell for the present. Don't forget to write honest D' Rand (he loves you much).* Some people have flurted as if you spent too much of your time at the N. England Coffe House. The Temple Coffe House, Dick's, or the Rainbow wou'd be much more to your advan- tage. I wou'd n't see the Change or city no oftener
• Perhaps William Rand, an apothecary, who was admitted to the Old South Chnrch in 1722. See Historical Catalogue of the Old South Church, p. 31; Wyman's Genealogies of Charlettown, p. 784. — £d8.
80 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
than needs must. Sam. Belcher has wrote a silly let- ter to your brother about your declining to go with him 'a' Lord's day. He 's a loose, idle fellow, not worth your notice or acquaintance, yet I wou'd n't affront him.
I again charge you always to retain the most awfull & rev^ regard to the sanctification of the Christian Sabbath (or Lord's day). Read Lord Chief Justice Hales often on this subject. When once you forget the holiness of the Lord's day, you will lose all religion, and then that which the gain of the whole world cannot make up. Remember how affectionately our blessed Saviour contends & ex- postulates, — And what can a man give in exchange for his soul ?
I have talkt with M' Shirley about furnishing you with books. He says £200 st' will make you out a good library of choice authors, and this, he says, will be best to be come into gradually in sums of 15 or 20£ st' a year at present, & more hereafter. For he says there are many costly books that you need not have till you are near ready for the barr. M' Marshall gave you several letters ; what if you shou'd thank him in the spring with some prints ? I inclose you a letter from Coll" Byfield and another from your mother, and M' Rector Williams, with one for him to M' Thompson and another to D' Watts. The little ingot of silver is in a little box f* Shepherdson to your uncle, with two little Indian cannoos & a wolver- ing skin, of which he may make presents in my name where he thinks it may be most acceptable. Your uncle y his account makes me £163 st' in his debt, with £40 paid you, & £19 for Vs"*" oi a year's salary. I now send him bills for £160 st'. The ore at Bristol may make £150, and 9 tuns I shall send f* a ship to Bristol, sails this month, may remit him £100. So you'll see he'll have in a few months about £250 in hand. If I compute right your allowance is thus
1731.] TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE. 81
Carry^d with you 65.
Paid V M' HodsoQ 50.
Your uncle 40.
M' Shirley 21. Still to receive to carry you to 1 July next,
which will be a year from your arrival 44.
is St' £220.
And I say again I will always take a seasonable care that you shall not want money. I commit you to the grace & holy keeping of an all powerful & merciful God, and remain, my dear child,
Your very affectionate father. J. B.
Boston, Dec 6, 1731.
After I had finisht the foregoing M' Shirley cover'd his letters with one to me, which I send for your better direc. tion where to deliver his, in all which he has mention'd your name ; and I hope may be of service to you. J. B.
How do M' Dumer & Alford carry to you ? How did M' Winslow manage as to me at Lond" ? Y' classmate Mason is a worthy young man. Write him a 1"' in the spring with some prints. Call on M' H. Caswall for 23 pr. of kidd gloves of y' mother's I deliv"* him when he went away to be exchang*, being too big. J. B.
If Shepherdson. Crocker.
TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE.
Loving Brother, — I deliver this to Shepherdson, who
brings you duplicates of all my letters V* Atkins ; and I am
now to own your favours of Aug** 28, Sept' 7, 10, Oct' 1,
4, 7, & 9 V" Gary & Gill ; and Watson arriv'd yesterday with
the originals & copies of some of these. I am thankfull
for all your care and diligence in my affairs. I take
notice of Jonathan's memorial to the Lords of Trade
for leave to take the Assembly's money, but I hear they
11
82 THE BELCHER PAPERS. [1731.
opposed it to the last (especially ColP Bladen), which seems to me unjust & unreasonable. I take in the kindest manner your hint about the expensiveness of the government, and will retrench as much of it as I possibly can. I know of nothing extraordinary, but that I keep four horses, and a private gent" keeps but two. It wou'd make a great murmuring in the Province if I liv'd out of town.
As to your friends, the Quakers, I believe they never had a Gov' so much their friend as the present, for I have no opinion of those stingy, narrow notions of Chris- tianity which reigned too much in the first beginnings of this country, and you'll see by my speech inclosed that I am leading the Assembly to the ease of your Friends, and I have reason to believe by the influence I have on many of the members that a good bill will be past before the Court rises, and perhaps you may by the next ships have an address from your Friends here in general to the King in my favour. I see you had delivered all my letters at the Publick Offices. I am sensible when there is a com- plaint (tho' without foundation) there must be a little money promptly apply'd now & then ; and before I con- clude this letter you'll find I have taken care for your supply. I now inclose you a commission (jointly with my son) to be my agent in all affairs at Court & the Publick Offices. As to your bills of £500 on Mess" Foye & Co. in favour of M' Bagnal, I suppose they now send your account, on which they say is due but about £70 this money, which they'll pay M' Bagnal, whom I told wou'd be hardly worth while to put you to the charge of protesting your bills, and that I wou'd supply him on your account with what money he might want. I have paid him your bill on me for £200, which at the exch' of 250 is st' 57. 2. 10, and I have paid him £360 more, for which you have his bill in my favour, & indorst by me for st' 102. 17. 2 is st' £160, which you'll place to my
1731.] TO RICHARD PARTRIDGE. 83
C', & the produce of the 11 tuns of ore arriv'd in Bris- tol may be 150, and the other 9 tuns I shall ship in a little time may remit you 100, is £250. I take notice you make your account £163. 1. 7 st'.
I am much pleas'd with your letter to my son after he had got into his chambers at the Temple, and that he made you such a dutifull answer. For the future I shall put up my duplicates by themselves to prevent their being delivered when you find the originals are got to hand. I see I may have a good dependence on M' Sec^ Popple's friendship, for which you find I thank him by this con* vey*. I admire Coll" Bladen shou'd be so attacht to ColP . Dunbar. I'm sure he'll never be any honour to him. You must by no means suffer him to have an order to act at Piscataqua but under my directions, it being what all other Leiu* Gov" have been restrain'd to. He will otherwise bring that government into all confusion & dis- traction. But the best thing wou'd be to get quit of him, if possible, and so you'll see I have wrote D. of Newcastle, Lords Trade, & Coll" Bladen. I shou'd think with Jona- than's making such a petition to the King or the Duke of Newcastle in behalf of his father, and Wilks & you to go to S' Robert, Lord Wilmington, &c', it might be done, & ColP Henry Sherburne put in. This wou'd be vastly to my ease. I take a particular notice of your kind repre- sentation to M' Secry Popple respecting the differences arisen between ColP Dunbar & me. His malice & pride are such that its not probable there ever will be a true reconciliation; but if he shou'd be superseded you may depend I will strictly do my duty & support him with all my power in his Surveyor's office. It has been impossible for any gent" to have been more inclin'd to live well with him than I have been ; yet you may depend I will suffer no insult upon the King's Gov'. But while I have the honour of the King's commission, he shall always know I am his master. I never lispt one word in my life to
84 THE BELCHER PAPEES. [1731.
hinder Gary or anybody else from carrying his letters, and the insinuations he made on that head I take to be of a peice with his other vile and false treatment of me once & again.
I shall be very glad to have the mandamuss for Mess" Waldron, Gambling & Dennett to be of the Council at Piscataqua ; but by all means prevent Peirce, Atkinson, & Wentworth and the other tools he has nominated for Counsellors. To have a sett of his creatures at the Board wou'd be a sad plague to me. I thank you for obliging our friend Wilks to pay the £9. 16. 0 to Prevereau ; he must make a charge of it to the Province, whose just due it is to pay. M' Sharp's bill must be paid & charg'd to me. If the Lords of Trade think Dunbar's false & frivolous complaints worth the trouble of my making answer to, I shall expect to have copies before any other proceedings are made upon them, and I believe my an- swers will set their Lordships down easy. To show you