Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

By the Hope one of the mast Ships Aaron Everdon Comander, I was honoured
with the Receipt of four several Letters from your selfe of the 27th of August 7th of
September 26th of January and 9th of March last, which came to hand in May
following, I render you my hearty Thanks for your favour therein and acknowledge
my selfe your debter: I am glad to understand that the Minutes of Council, Journal
Laws and other publick papers sent by Sir William Phips came safe. The accompt
of the publick Revenue, with the papers sent by the Faulkland and Nonsuch you
intimate are wanting. I sent Mr Treasurer Phillips's accompt by two several
Ships the last year both which I hear miscarried. to supply which defect I have
by the Ship Swann Cap^t Thomas Gilburt Comander transmitted an other of the same
accompt being the first Conveyance for England from this place since y^e Governo^rs
departure. I have likewise by the s^d Capt Gilburt sent the journal of y^e General
assembly at their several settings in September, October and February 1694, the first
being a Duplicate, and the Minutes of Council beginning at the 4th of September
1694 and ending the 6th of March following. Together with Duplicates of the
Laws made in February 1693, May, September and October 1694, and the first
of those made at the session in February following. All which I hope will arrive
safe. I have also sent the further accompt of the publick Revenue in the
year 1693 by the Friendship Cap^t Benjamin Emes Comander now also ready to sail

Here are various Reports of divers persons solliciting his
Ma^tys favour for this Government. But have no certainty that his Ma^ty has
declared his pleasure therein. The opportunity for serving his Ma^ty in so
hon^ble a station must be the greatest motive and Encouragement that I know to
any Gentⁿ of Estate and publick spirit, to covet or earnestly persue y^e obtaining
of the place at such a time when the Country is so greatly impoverished and
pressed with the War and care and charge of Government is become so great
a Fatigue, the Indians having made a fresh eruption upon some of the outskirts
of this Province this summer: and kil'd and captivated two or three of his
Ma^tys good subjects, notwithstanding their pretensions of renewing their former
Engagements to cease all acts of hostility, and to bring in the Captives before taken
Such is their base perfidiousness and treachery, the advantages they have of a
large wilderness and their ubiquitary manner of living renders the access to
them very difficult to chastise their Rebellions, whilst in the mean time they
do in their way of sculking greatly annoy and disturb the quiet of his Ma^tys
good subjects keeping them constantly upon duty for their own safety & defence
and takes them off from their Imployment: there are three or four of their
principal Warriors, some of great Esteem with them, and no less infamous for
their bloody and barborous Villanies, that Providence has delivered up alive
into the hands of the Government and now in hold. 'Tis hoped the Indians
concern for the preservation of their lives may somewhat awe and restrain their
murderous intentions. But so long as they entertain the French Fryars and take
their measures from them, their's little hopes of holding them steady to the
English Interest, the French making their Presents unto, and supplying of
them, having a Ship from France unto St. Johns River yearly for y^t purpose.
The Sorlings was ordered to arise in the Bay of Fundy to have intercepted her
and it hapn'd that they met But the Frenchman proving to be a great Ship
beyond what had been accustomed, mounted with Fifty guns, they maintained
a Sharp dispute for seven or eight hours and y^e Sorlings being disabled
in her Masts, Rigging and Sailes, the French man of War got from her.

Capt. Emes comander of the Sorlings and his Company behaved themselves
very worthily and in all probability had made prize of her, (thô overmatched)
if that unhappy disaster had befal'n them; She is now refitted and going
forth again with the Newport Frigat to her assistance in quest of y^e Frenchman

Captain James Weems comander of one of the Foot Companys
for New Yorke presented an Order from the R^t Hon^ble the Lords of his Ma^tys
most Hon^ble Privy Council to make payment of what should appear due unto
him upon his acco^tt for his service as comander of the Fort at Pemaquid
according to the order of the Convention here in the year 1689, which has been
accordingly ordered unto him

S^r , I write not to Mr Blathwayt [by] this Conveyance, expecting that he is abroad w^th
the King, but pray you on behalfe to give him the tenders of my hearty and best
Services, and the acknowledgm^ts of my obligations, which also please to accept unto
yourselfe from him who is

Boston July 23^d 1695

M^r Povey

23 July 1695

From M^r Addington

He has transmitted the publick
proceedings and [Treas] Philips
acco^t by the Swan

The Indians have made a
fresh Irruption
The Sorlings has a Dispute
with a french Man of War
of 50 guns [in] the Bay of Fundy
& is disabled