Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

The 19^th of March last I gave you an acco^t of the Arrivall
of the Convoys and London fleet now Returning & that I had read
her Maj^ties Commands of the 22^d of Aug^t for [asistence] to New
Yorke not exceeding 240 men when [Q]omanders w^ch I communicated
to the Councill and advised the best way to Effect it and Resolved
to do it by Sea the marching by Land being so long & difficult
if possible to keep new men from deserting

Our Generall Assembly sat the 18^th of Aprill to whome I communicated
her Maj^ties Commands and desired a supply for that Service at
New Yorke w^ch they wholly [excused] upon their Poverty & necessary
defense at home & could not understand would be lessened by
forces there & all could be obtained at last was but 500£ out of
an Imposision now laid on Liquors to be Imported w^ch Sume
(tho small) I was advised not to refuse but hope it an Earnest
of more as it is the first.

The 18^th past I prorogued Said Assembly to the 31^st of
October next when I hope they will be well disposed for publick
matters & better acquainted.

All paym^ts here Except their Maj^ties Revenue & [more] Small
Incomes on Liquors being in Tobacco and difficulties (if obtained)
to be sold here or Exported for paym^ts abroad as has bin Experimented
and is by the Quitt Rents and the knowne charge Risque and
[uncertaine] market of all Tobacco lent out (besides loss of time)
of w^ch Every hand generally makes from 1000 to 2000 pds
a yeare which besides the loss to the Planter [Merch]^t and
shipping is for Every man so Exported a Loss to his Maj^ties
Revenue at least 10^th share and w^ch I have mentioned to
his Grace my Lord Duke of Shrewsbury & pray the favor to
be Enabled out of the Quitt Rents or otherwise as his Maj^ty
shall think fitt for New Yorke or other service [Comanders as]
occasion

Governor Nicholson from Maryland tho [Scurrilous] of
me as am credibly Informed hath bin lately severall times
with one srv^t thro this Government on p^r tence of Service for
the Colledge and when Sent for by me denyed publickly as
^{Mr Blathwayte} before now any Imputations on me but I am Satisfied is
Inveterate and doth me all the ill offices he can Everywhere
Doubt not his writing home ag^t me which I hope will not [produce]
me unheard. I pray your favor in it as occasion Particularly
relateing to the 500£ I had by the advise of the Councill in
Maryland on accot of my Sallary as Commander in Chiefe as
by ord^r of Councill there and Warr^ts and for M^r Preisdent
Greenbury next day signed in Councill M^r Geo: P[la]ter
collector and Attorney Generall always present & adviseing
therein out of money in his hands unappropriated of which an
acco^t at first and againe pray Ord^r for it if not yet determined

M^r Comissery Blayr would not be obliged by me tho used
all Endeavers and Dispatch in any of his the [Charge on] Colledge
Concerns but Estranged himselfe from me of w^ch I took no notice
till not containeing himselfe & p[ar]ticularly before the Councill
it was their unanimous opinion he ought not to Sit at that
Board and then I could not avoyd for his Maj^ties Service to
Suspend him from assisting or attending as one of y^r Councill
till further ord^r and as it is very Extraordinary and the first
Councellor I have heard of so faulted by his whole Councill
and myselfe not wanting in anything to the Charge nor yet
to M^r Blayr himselfe & even since his Suspension in all
Relateing to the Charge on Colledge I hope my Lord of London
[as well as others] Inst fervor in not being Confused or [misap
prhentions] of me therein in any respect till heard of occasion
for which and all Else I pray your Continued Inst favor
& haveing no other Concerne thereon but my Duty in Supporting
his Maj^ties Authority and Service in this Governmt
All which is humbly Submitted by

Virginia the
first of June 1695

Virginia
1 June 1695
From S Edm Andros

R^d 7 Aug: 1695
£500 granted to N York
the Quota I[illegible] to [illegible]
He desires to be further [Enabld]
to out of ye [Q rents]
[M] Nicholson displeased
M Blair suspended