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Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I WHl ^ ?rir REPORT /' PROMTUE SELECT COMMITTEE, TO WHOM IT WAS REFERRED TO CONSIDER AND EXAMINE The Accounts of Extraordinary Services INCURRED AND PAID, ^ AND NOT PROVIDED FOR BY PARLIAMENT, WHICH HAVE BEEN LAID BEFORE THE HduSE OF COMMONS IN THE YEARS £776, I777, AND I778. i > I \ V LONDON: . frim;d for J. At M o N, oppofite Burlinoton-Housb, Piccadilly. '". i :••;;:, MD,cc.LXxviii, .A -• ,t. .^>*'' \ \ Ji,Mj0i*>»*'*»*KM^M' JL £ P O R T, c. The Committte appointed to confider and examine the Accountt of Extraor* dinar y Services Incurred and paid, and not provided for by Parliament^ which have been laid before this Houfe in the Years 1776, 1777, anel - in the prefent Seffion of Parliament^ having conjidered the Extent of the Accounts referred to them^ thought it right to JeleU One Branch of the Public Service as the firji ObjeSl of their Enquiry, and to begin with the Article refpeSflng Rum j and In order to give a clear State of the Evidence that has been laid before them on that Subject, your Committee have arranged their Proceedings under the following Heads : ift. nr^HE requifitions made by the commanders abroad for T rum. adiy. The agreement entered into for rum in 1775. 3dly, The propoCals and contra«Sls made in 1776. 4thly. The reference of the contract made in 1776. 5thly. The payments under thofe heads. 6thly. The contraft entered into with Sir William Howe, and the purchafes made by the commiiTaries abroad. And, Laftly. The correfpondence between his Majefty's fecretary of ftate, and the governors of the Wefl-India iflands, relative to the reftraining them from granting of licences. Purfuant to the above plan, your committee proceeded to examine^ John Robinfon, Efquire, fecretary to the lords of the tfeafury, anii a member of the houfe ; who being afked. What, and from whom, were the firft requifitions for rum for the fervice 6f the army, in the prefent wkr, made i faid. That in order to explain to tiie committee the grounds upon which the rum was fent, he muft beg leave to refer to the letters of General Gage, from May to 06lober 1775, and of General Howe, after he took upon him the command, and to the reprefentations which came to the fecretary of ftate upon the condition of the may j extradls of which letters your committee have annexed to the report, by way of Appendix, N" i> 2> 3» 4» 5» And 6, viz. A 2 Extra'. *'.>i'-'.- i \ . t 4 3 ExtratSb of a letter from General Gage to Grey Cooper, Efq; date^ Bofton, 19 May 1775, requiring fupplies from England. Alfo, Extradl of a letter from General Gage to John Robinfon, Efqj dated 23 May 1775, complaining of the diftrefs he is in for procuring fupplies. Alfo, Extrad: of a letter from General Gage to John Robinfon, Efq; dated 10 0«5tober 1775, advifingto fend claret, &c. for the fcurvy. Alfo, Extraft of a letter from General Howe to John Robinfon, Efq; dated i December 1775* reprefents the wants of the army, and re- commends fix months florage of provifions. Alfo, Extract of a letter from General Howe to John Robinfon, E/q; dated Bofton, 26 November I775, expreffing his approbation at re- ceiving varioui fupplies. And atfo,^ Extraft of ^ letter from General Howe to John Robjnfon, Efqj dated 19 December 1775, acquahiting him of the arrival of moft feafonabJe fupplies. And the witnefs informed your committee, it was upon the repre- fentations contained in thofe letters, and upon the feveral conversa- tions had with the adjutant-general and Mr. Pownall, who was then under fccretary of ftate for the American department, that it "Was judged neceflary to fend out ftores and fupplies of various forts to the army, and among the reft rum, as it was thought it Would be of great ufe to the army upon particular emergencies ; that upon a fubfequent converfation, the adjutant-gmeral thought it better to fend out rum than claret, as being of mere fervice to the arniy. Here your committee read a letter from John Robinfon, Efq; to General Howe, dated 9 September 1775, with the in- clofure C, reprefenting the rum to be new and unwhole- fome ; copy of which letter, with the inclofure, your committee have annexed in the Appendix, N° 7. And being afkcd. From whence did the information come, that the rum which was made at Bofton, was new, and unwholefome ? he faid. It came from the information of various perfons from Bofton, who were acquainted with the quality of that rum ; that he did not recolle(ft that it came from the general officers. Being aflced, Whe- ther, in any fubfequent correfpondence of the commanders in chief, there was any complaint of claret not being fent, or of rum being fent inftead thereof? he faid. He thinks not; but on the contrary, in al- moft every letter from General Howe, he has approved of the fup-i plies that were fent out, gating, that they were of the greateft ufe and fervice to the troops ; and it appears he thought it fo abfolutely neceflary for the army, that he has fince eftablilhed it as a part of the ration; and, according to the lalt advices we received, diftributes a quart of rum to every Tix men per day ; and he further thought it fo neceflary, that he has made feveral other contracts for rum, fome of which are at higher prices than thgfe made by the treafury ; that he does ^ f s J does not recoUefl: that there was ever at any time any dircft rcquifi- tlbn for rum ; but it appears, through the whole of General Howe's correfpondencc, that he thrught it highly neceflary. Being afkcd. Whether he knew of any other method of fupplying the troops with wholefome liquor, befides rum ? he faid, Certainly, fpruce beer; and that it will appear by the treafury correfpondencc, that orders were given General Howe for that purpofe. Being aflced, Whether it was intended they fhould have both rum and fpruce beer? he faid. It was not known oy the treafury that rum was diftributed as a part of the ration, or the exadl quantity diftributed to the foldiers, till the laft letters, which came the latter end of laft year j in one of which Mr. Wier ftates, in anfwer to a letter fent him bv the treafury, that they diftributed a quart or bottle of rum to fix foldiers per day, to which letter he begs leave to refer. fExtradl: of which your commit- tee have annexed in the Appendix, N» 8.] And the witnefs further informed your committee, That in all the treafury orders the com- imanders were diredted to diftribute the rum as they thought proper; and refers to a letter dated 29 March 1776, to General Burgoynt. I [Extract of which letter your committee h^ve alfo annexed in the [Appendix, N° 9.] Your committee alfo read the treafury minutes of the 7th Auguft 1776, recommending a diftribution of fpruce beer; which are alfo [annexed in the Appendix, N° 10.] The witnefs was then afked, Whether there were any other direc- [tions given, at any time, by the lords of the treafury, or fccretary [of ftate, to any commander in chief in North-America, refpectino- [the allowances of rum to the foldiers, except a difcretionary diftri- bution of it ? he anfwered, He believed none by the lords of the trea- [fury, but knows nothing of what was done at other offices : that in confequcnce of the minutes of the treafury, v^'hich have been juft now [read, a letter was wrote to Sir William Howe, dated 10 Auguft 1776, giving him dircdions about fpruce beer. [Extradl of which [letter, and alfo extradl of another letter, dated 22 Odtober 1776, recommending a daily diftribution of fprucJe beer, are alfo annexed |in the Appendix, N"* 11 and 12.] The witnefs informed your committee, That he believed the idea Icf giving fpruce beer originated in converfation with General Har- jvey, whom the treafury generally confulted upon thefc particular hhings. Being afkcd. Whether, hnce the fending rum to America, [there have been any other requifitions made for claret ? he faid, There I were none. Being further afked. When the lords of the treafury [firft came to the knowledge of rum having been made a part of a re- Igular ration, without their diredlions given for that purpofe ? he [anfwered. That the lords of the treafury had no certain account of : quantity of rum diftributed to the foldiers, until a very late letter rrom Mr. Wier, which "was in anfwer to an inquiry made by the Idiredions of the lords of the treafury, as to the mode pradtifed in that , ij^'W/i..., f i \ -I I. -1 t ' [ 6 ] diftiibution j which Inquiry arofe from an obfervation upon the re- turn of the commiflary-general of the fupplies in ftore, by which it appeared that there was a conftant confumption of that article. t Which letter, dated 26 September 1776, from John Robinfon, Tq; to Daniel Wicr, your committee have thought proper to anne;^ in the Appendix, N» 13.] Being afkcd, Whether there was any let- ter of inquiry upon that fubjcOT, addrefled to the commander in chief? he faid. He did not recolle I5> an<^ 16. viz. Extract / - AiV: •;..;■(■ n ] • Extrad of tt lettt^r fr6A Mr. Robinfoii to Generdl HoWt, dated It April 1776, acquainting him, that contrails are preparing fof* Various provifions, rum, &c. to fupply his diftreiTes. Extra^ of a letter from ditto to ditto, dat^d i May 1776, ac- quainting him, that contfads had been entered into for 500,000 gallons of rum. ^ ExtraA of a letter from ditto to Sir Guy Carleton, dated x May 1776, relating to a further fuppljr of rum for the Canada fervice, if iiecef&ry.] And being afked, Whether, in thofe converfations. General Burgoyne ftated rum originally as necelTary for the fervice of tbd army in America, or whether he only received from the witnefs a communication of the intentions of government to fend fuch rum ? he anfwered. To the beft of his recollection, in the beginning of 1776, General Burgoyne ftated it as neceflary and proper to have s fupply of rum, to be ufed as the emergency of the (erviee required: and he thinks, that he complained that the fpirit got in Canada Hvat very bad, unwholefome, and improper for the foldiers : he believes^ th;;: General Burgoyne had not been in Canada then } that he does not recoUe£t the precife time of this converfation, becaufe, after General Burgoyne was nominated to go to Canada, he had feverai converfations with him at jlifFerent times. And being aiked. Whe- ther rum was the only article of that occailonal fupply which oon^ tinued to be fent ? he anfwered, He thinks not; that coals, garden feeds, four crout, and vinegar, which were a part of that fupply, have been fmce fent, which will appear by the trcafury minutes and. correfpondence» Your committee next proceeded to enquire into the tranfatStions relative to the agreement for rum, made in 1775 by I«Qrd North with Mr. Atkinfbn ; and examined ^ 'ij^ John Robinfon, Efquire; who being deftred to relate What he knew concerning that agreement, informed your committee. That it was found neceflary in autmn 1771 to fend out various fuppli«s to the army (which has already appeared before the committee) the mode in which they were to be provided and fent out only remain- ed ; and having ftated to Lord North different modes of making an4 fending out fuch fupplies, his lordihip adopted the mode of pro- viding them by commiffion, as beft and moft advantageous to the public ; that to the beft of his recollection, all thofe fupplies (ex- cept rum ) were dire£led by his lordftiip to be bought at the firft hand, and agreed to allow the merchant the ufual commiffion be- twixt merchant and merchant, which he believes is 2 ^ per cent, and Meffieurs Mu.'e and Atktnfon were employed by Lord North for that purpofe } and they undertook to fend fuqh fl»r fo provided by commiffion, a', the ufual rate of freight fettled by the North Ame- rican merchani^s, or a committee of them : that in regard to tl^ runa* they oiSered at the fame time to fupply that artick ia Jaaiaica by B 2 com- ,u> i ll'^ .:•;'. V \h ; I 1!., iSbmmiHion* ; but Lord North upon confideration of that propo? fitiofi, did not think it advifeable for the public- to execute that fervice at fuch a diflance by cotnmifHon, vrhere the public might fuffer by having the price raifed upon them, and labour under other difadvantages j therefore Meflleurs Mure, Son, and Atkinfon» gave his fordfhip the option of another propolition, which was, to'fupply the rum in Jamaica at the fame price the fleet there were Tupplied, be it what it might, and to carry it to any port ia North America at the ufual freight of 6 pence per gallon : that if the contractors were to ftand at fea-rifque, the infurance would be 4 per cent, on the value ; and if they were to ftand at leakage on the voyagef, it would be lo per cent, which was the conftant allow- ance in all cafes of difputed infurances between merchant and mer- chant } and that the rum was to be paid for upon producing the •eceipt of the officer in America to whom it was made deliverable; this was the pi^rport of the propofal made by Meffieurs Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, and to^ which, to the beft of recoUedion, his lord? fliip acceded. And being afked, What other difadvantages he thinks would arife to the public by providing this rum by com- "miffioh ? he informed your committee, He apprehended the difad* vaEntages were the executing the fervice at luch a diftance, where 5governmeiit could have no certainty of the prices of the rum ac- tually paid at the market, nor could they have any proper controul ( -or check upon the agents employed for that purpofe. And being afked. Whether he apprehended the treafury would meet with any difficulty in getting the fulleft information from the Weft India merchants in the city of London, of the price of rum for 6 months preceding that order ? he anfwered. That he thinks the merchants would be able to give an account of the current price of rum at the tipie of their laft advices from Jamaica j but he apprehends it would be very 'difficult for them to give any information rpfpeding the particular prices paid by perfons to be employed as agents to purchafe by comr miffion, and which they might have charged in that cafe to the public as paid, except in cafes where the rum was bougl^t of them- felves, or "heir agents : that he does not think it would be ppffible to receive any fatisfacftory information from the Weft India mcrr chant of what the price would probably have been upon fuch a commiiiion going over; and he grounds his opinion upon the infor- mation which he received from a gentleman of the ifland of Jamaica ; that he has been informed by Mr. Davifon, who is colleftor of the port of Kingfton in Jamaica, and a man of very confiderable pro- '^perty in the iiland, that the concerns of Meffieurs Mure, Son, and 'Atkinfon, were fo very confiderable in the ifland of Jamaica, that in his opinion they could execute the fervice when others of lefs ex- tenfive trade could not : Mr. Davifon further faid, tha( if he had undertaken the contract, he was apprehenftve the price would have ':]»^n ratfefi upon him. An4 b^ing afked, Why, aftes this informa- f '3 ! ^on from Mu Davifon, the method of fupplying hy commif&on wM not preferred to that of fupplying by contradb ? he anfweied, Thatf to the beft of his recoUetSlion, this conven'ation with Mr. Davifoa pafled after the contract was made in March 1776 : that he think^ there is not fo much difficulty in tranda^ing bufinefs by commiffiori here at home, the diftance i» a material difference, and the cur- rent prices of the articles a^ home, that are generally wanted and pro7 vidcd, are in a great meafure a matter of notoriety : that he thinks the average price of rum might be known at any given period iii England, by giving a fufiicient time. And being afked. Upon thofe two propoutioiis being made by Mr. Atkinfon to the board of treafury, did they make ^ny enquiry about the price of rum in Ja- maica by the lad; accounts r he anfwered, He did not know tha^ they did, the prppofition being to furnifh the rum at the rate the ileet in Jamaica were fupplied } ^nd it being known that the vic- tualling board aly^ays advertifed for their con|:ra£ts, and took fucl| price as was the faireft and the loweft, it was, he believes, appre- hended that the price paid by them was an equitable and fair one^ and upon thofe grounds the treafury adopted tha:t rule : that he cannot take upon him to fay, whether 4s. arid 4d. fterling per gal- lon for rum, was a cheap and equitable price, not being a judge of the price of that article ; all he knows of the matter is, that an enquiry was made of Mr. Pelham, commiiHoner of the victualling l^oard, what was the price con traced for and paid by that office for rum in the difFprent Weft India iflands j and that he received from him a paper (copy of which is before the committee) ftating that the price paid by the commiffioners of the vidlualling office at Jamaica for rum, was 4s. and 4d. [Which paper is hereunto sniiexed ia ;he Appendix, N» 17.J This ei)quiry wa; mac|e to the beft of his recoUed^ion, the be- jginning of the year 17765 that the firft agreement for the ioo,oOQ gallons of rMm before mentioned was to be governed by the price paid by the navy j and this enquiry was after the firft agreement, and before the fecond j that he apprehends the board of treafury made no other enquiry. And being aflced. Whether he apprehended the board of treafury made any other inquiry than concerning the price of rum in the viftualling contra(St ? he anfwered. He appre- Jiended they did not at that time j nor did the treafury, he believes, then know that the artiale of rum fo contraded for by the vidual- iing ofijce, had any relation to, or coniic£lion with, any other ar- ticles of their fupply. Beii>g afked. Whether it is ufual for two contracting parties, the treafury and the merjchant, without either pf them knowing precifely the price for which fuch contraift was to be performed, to agree for the furnifliing any article for the publip iervice ? he anfwered, He believed the parties had fo certain a rule to go by here, by referring to the navy price, that he apprehends ||iey thought they c^uld not go upon a, mofc certain rule; the ,! > ' > boar4 /.. -%. i,:^\- ■ 5;i- 1"^ ', r 11 ■■I If I " Iff it ■'4 ' 1;; ; ,; ; jcontraas. Ana upon oeing aiKea, w netner the treaiury, attei ^.Jnquirv from Mr. Pelham, thought 4s. and 4d. fterling a hh .'j equitatile price for rum ? he <.. Xvftrtd, He apprehends they die ^ Jtnow the contrary } upon the information the treafury receive( board of treafury knew that all the cohtrads made by f;he vtdlualling board were upon public advertifeihent ; but he does not apprehend they were acquainted with the particular mode of their making their tontra£ls. And upon being afked, Whether the treafury, after that did not received by that return, they made their contfa being any objcdtions to the price till a Confiderable time afterwards. Being aflted, When Mr. relham was aHced about the price paid for rum by the «'i£tualling. board, did he fay the price was afFe£ted by the rum beit^g conneiSled with other articles I he anfwered, fie does not believe that any other information at that time was received by the treafury relative to this fubjeil, than the paper which is before the committee, tranfmitted by Mr. Pelham ; the treafury ii^id not then a(k Mr. Pelham any explanation of that paper otr contraft made by the viftualling board, not apprehending it was tieceflaryj that to the beft of his recolleftion, the explanation of the price paid for the rum by the vi<%ualling board was given to the ireafury fome time in May or June 1777. Being afked, Whether the treafury had any official knowledge of naval contracts ? he fnfwered, Never, to his knoyrledge. And being aiked. Whether the navy or victualling board ever returned to the treafury the terms of their contrads, either before they fettle them» or afterwards f he anfwered. Never i he believes it has ncveV happened during the time he has been in office. Being afked. Whether^ when the trea- iury contrail for the fupply of the troops, they fimply attend to the loweft price for the ration in general, or whether they think it their duty that each fp*'-cific article mould be paid for at as low a price as It Can be ojjtained for ? he anfwered. That to the beft of his knowledge, and during the time he has been in office, he appre- hends the treafury always look to the fupply of each article being obtained of the beft kind that can be got j but the treafury contra<£ls AXt chiefly for the ration ; and in contrafting for that ration, they attend to the articles which compofe that ration, and make their calc'ulations upon the current price of each fpecific article, fo as to 'iSet at what the ration will come out; and then they contract for the delivery of the ration, and the payment per ration. And bfi^Tig alked. Whether rum was ever in tnt contemplation of the ^r^alury as an article of the ration^ till an account came fr^tn I*' ' America, t 15 1 ^,S^ ', .'W^:.;, America, the latter end of the year 1777, that it wa$ (o ufed ? be anfwerad. It was apprehended fo by .the returns} but no particular lanfwer came of the mode of diftributions till the latter end of 1777. And being aflced. If the treafury eftimate the value of a ration upon ^ a calculation made upon the current price of each article, why did they I not make the fame calculation upon the current price of rum i he an« fwered. Rum is not a part of the ration for which the treafury contra^ ; I that it is the cuftom of the treafury to get the heft information they can concerning the value of any article before they contra^ for it. And being alked, Whether there was not to be found in the trea-r fury, contraAs for rum made by that board before he was in office, jat a cheaper rate than any of the late contraiSls i he anfwered, [That he really does not know, but believes there nnay} but the [price, he apprehends, muft be governed by the times. And being |aiked. Whether it is ufual for the firft lord of the treafury to make contra^ for the fervice of the army, without communicating the [terms of fuch centrafls to the board, in order to receive their ifancf tion ? he anfwered, In the recefs and adjournment of the board, he ipprehends it is ufual; and has been informed, that it has been the conftant pra<^ife for the firfl lord of the treafury to give his di- re^ions and orders for the difpatch of all bufmefs which arifes luring the recefs, and fuch orders are executed by the fecretaries, and fometimes in their abfence by a chief clerk } that there are no >ther entries made of the bufinefs fo tranfadied than in the letter }ook, which is open to the infpetStion of all the lords of the trea<- fury; that he apprehends it was agreeable to fuch ufage that Lonf North gave orders for fuch fupplies as were fent out in the latter tnd of the year 1775: when the treafury board is not adjourned, i\\ contraSs are made by them, and are entered upon their minutes : this, he is informed, has been the invariable pra(5tice, and otherg vho have been longer in the treafury can give proof of the ifage. And being aiked. When the fiiit 100,000 gallons of rum :ame to be paid for, were the terms upon which they were paid Ifpecifically ftated in the warrant? he anfwered, He believed they i^ere^ but begs leave to refer to the treafury minutes, and the war« which he apprehends was counteriigned by three lords. [The treafury minutes, dated 16 Oclober 1776, directing a warrant to be prepared for the payment of ;^ 27,164. 41. 4d. to MefTrs. Mure and Co. for rum } and the warrant in confequence of the faid order, dated i6 0i6tob^r 1776} are hereunto annexed in the Appendix, N" 18. and 19.} "ing afked. Whether he could mention any letter to or from [he commanders in chief, read to the board, relative to this tranf-^ \6tion i he informed your committee. That the letter of the 9th of September lyj^, to Sir William Howe, ftates this .anfaiSlion very tuUy, and the fcveral other letters wrote after the board met in the }nd of the year 1775, and beginning of 1776, ftate diferent parts of .« ,"V. rant. An 5/. ■•'?•; •"V '■■■ »■ ■''.!.■ I' / •■ "'I- bt this tranfa^lion, as i»t\\ as the letters fr6m General Howfrj aitd General Carleton; which are always read and laid before the boards And being adced. Whether it is not ufuai, after the recefs of the board, for the firft lord of the treafury to communicate to the board ft their firft meeting fuch tranfaflions as have palTed by his direction during the recefs i he anfwered, It never has been the praace$ of it have not either appeared in the letter book, or in , > the King's warrant book. >' Yotjr committee then returned to the tranfa^iions of the agree- ment in 1775) and examined Hichard Atkinfon, Efquire; who inform^ thcni. That he was fent for by Lord North, in the Jiegin- nihff of September^ 1775, to provide ftor^s for the ufe of the troops in America ; and he then made an agreement with his lordfliip for . furiiiihing diofe Iroops with rum. And being defired to relate all that he recdle^^ed of that tr^infadion, he iiiformed your committee. That in order to give them a. clear idea of what paiTed, he muft gO back to a few days before ; that fome time in Auguft it was men* tioned to him by Mr. Robinfoo, that fome fmall quantity of ftores were t^en neceflary to be Cent to America for the ufe of the forces there, which were of fuch a kind, as did not fall within the fcope of any of the ftanding contiaAs ; that a converfation enfued upon the heft and mod advantageous means of fupplyine fuch forts of articles when wanted. The witnefs then ftated, Tnat mofl part of the articles an ariny ilood in need of werp fuch as merchants are very . well acquainted with the nature of, and fuch as he and his partners had very frequently occafiun to purchafe, and . fend out to their coi'* refpondents abroad, in the courfe of their ordinary dealings ; and he told Mr. Robinfon, that when any fuch demands arofe, he and his , partners would very, readily execute the orders of the treafury tlierein, upon commiffion, in the fame manner as they fhould execute the , fame order if it was fent to them by any foreign correfpondent; that this converfation was, as he underftood^ mentioned to Lord, North, and confequently the meafure of executing fuch fervices oh commif--, "' > lion had received fome conilderation previous to the very jtime of re-"' ceiving the advices ,whi!i,'h rendered it neceffary to fend out the ftores < in queftion} that it,wasj to thebeft of his recollcdlion, on the 8th of September 1775, that he was fent for, by Mr. Robinfon, and in- formed by him, that advices had been received, which would render it neceiTary, late as the feafon was, to get out a confiderable quan- tity of ftores to Bofton before winter, and that Lord North defired to fee the witnefs thereupon j that he attended his lordfhip accordingly the fame day, and received ffom his Ipriiffiip a general kind of inform: ' mation what fort of ftores would be.wajnted, and the quantities oF" fume fpecies of them were fpecified, but the quantity of the others , were left for further ^ohfideration : that befides the artijclea to bo bought in England, and fent out, from thence, a fupply of runi Wjis required tp be fent from the WeftTlnidicSy wi^h the intention of it*;,^^ arriving in America about the time of opening the next campaign Jl ■/ . it iiyas alfo require^ ic^iilt th'eriifelves ^fth more diligence; and care, if they wtfe aftihfffbt tf.i v^iHelk and his partners, tKati they would if tfity ^k^ere aCnhg'fo*' Sovtriimcn^ j and for that, is \^ell ii fcrthtr ^eafori^, which hii mi- lip did h«t enter into the riartitulars of, hie thought it Ms no*t fit t6 do that part of the bufinefs by commiffion.— That lie imthcJdia'tety' tdld his Ibtdlhip, that there was at all times ^ landing tohtrdfl for filpplying rutii in Jamdr^ tb the /lefet, but did hot knoW Wfeafthe price of the turn was unde hat cbhtra^t, b^t that he Wbuld uhJeir> take ttvfurnifh the rum in Jamaica at the piricb mehfio'ned in tj^at cdhtradt, nirhatever it Ihould be; and that he wtiuld furiHer under- take to coiivey the rum to the arhijr in America at Sii^jiie'nde ^ei^ gat- Ion freight, at an allowance of 4 per cent, for i^furahce^ and at the common alfowance of 10 per cent, leakage ujxoh tHe voyage ; yirhich ptices, he informed his lordifaip, were as Ibw a^ the feryice could |)c eiFe£tcd for, in times of tranquility, fuppoftng the rum to be b'roujgnt to England ; and that he knew of no reafou to fuppofe it coultT be cbnvetred cheaper to Bofton. — His IbrdfhijJ immediately accepted the pSrbpbfdt — ;ing, it appeared to him tb be fajr and reafonable. That the qU^tity was directed to be about ioo,obo gallons j but it ifiik uhdl^rfrood that the precife quantity' iiras not fo firiflly to be adherei^ tb, as to fend (hips with incomplete carsbed ; but that the (hip to be Appointed to perfbrm the fervice (hould be pfopbrtibned tb the quantity of ioo,oco gallons as nearly as might be. And being afked, If he recollected whether any cbhveirfatibh. pafTed at tliat time with refpedt to the price of the rum here brt bbard bf fliip iftec of exCife dU'ty, or refpedling the current price in Jamaica? he fald. He recoUe^ed there was upon thofe two pbintS} in Which he ftg^ed to his lordfhip, that in his opinion neither bf them had afiy thin ^ to do with the afcertaining a reafbnal^le price for rum. Which was to be purchafed at a ' future peribd in the Wefi-Indies ; for that the current price here depended upbh circnmllahces quite local and tem- porary, and which could have no tffeSt ujion the price of a iTuture crop in the Wift-Indies } and that the price for the' crop to come Had nothing to do with the price of the crop that was pajO^d, but would depend entirely upon the futurd crop being fcarce b)* abun- dant} and that it never could be bbdible to enter iiito'^ cbritrA^ hqre for tu'm, to be fent from the Weft-Indies, of the Jame crop of which' the ^rtce in the Weft-tndies was already known her^ at the ,^ time ot^ enteriiig into fuch cbntraft ; but wkethv this, converratibh ' tbbk p'fade at'^nis interview with his ibr^&lp, or at a lubieduent that 3: ^hat the iHnn which fupplies the navy is not n^ar fo gpod a* that which comes td fupply the ]Lo.ndon market, but that he (poke from information* ai^ not from hrs own knowledge ; that he tf\bugl)t dlfe price of a ftandine cnntrattid' be upon the iriftant give any tmfwer'tb the que<);io^. Ah(l being >'Iked, Whether he did not ag^ee with th% tr^afufy tQ feAd out i^ver^ irtides of pivvifiohs to EUtM^iocs i h'« ;infwei'edj He 4id,* fuch as'' flour, peas, beans, and herrings. AhH ^ingkik^'A', Wti^Ker thkt cbrttract viras done by cbmmiffion ? m jinfwered, Th^'iii confidefation that the fupply was iilf a diaritablb nature, fent but by gov^rnm<^ht to be ful * at pWme coft to t^e pbpred of the inhabitatitjt, who were fuppofed to.be in great di(i;ref!i, hdrequefJ^edbPthe lords of the treafury, thai' the Cok mould not.bb eiicreafed by any' profit ^r commiffion of h;s} and defired that he 'Aitght y peritnfttfea 'to ejtecute the bufinefs gratis ; to which th'cfr Idrdihips* agreed j and, he did fo accordingly. And being afked, .Whctnit he jcould fupply the troops at Jamaica with beef at tw'b^ fence ber pound, pork at twopence halfpenny, and peas at 3$. p^r u|hcl f, in ahfwer to which iqueftion, he begged leave to refer tp ^is foriiiei' anfwer concerning beef, the rcafci of which applies lequatly to all the articles fpecified in the queftion. And being ^^j Whether he had not a contra£b to fupply part of the forcefs jH Ij^^jf^h; A^ with provifiohs, and what were the terms ? he infw^ejM,' y'*'^^^ the terms of whidi were 5|d. per ration, to J^ 4^ere4 at Vori^ie. And being s^d, y^cji^r he thought beef C,l,Z ' ' ■ ^ * ■'■'' ' ■ ■ ^^^ tl li p 1 1 Ml I ■!■ !■ , f. ■■- •■ ■ .■ -. ■'.' r 20 T ■'■'•> '■■^^■■. '.'■'. . that he y^ tqld. there Wfis nijy fu^b Q^s rclatii^g to them ? he anlwered. They did notf, niw dqp^ hcifec^Jlei^^^pyer tp ibavc feen any finch: papers ; that be did not : afl; for /isgh Tnf^rmatipfli^ conceiving th^n, as he does now^ thii,t h^ had nothin| tpd^witb it. And b^ng siflced. Whether he knew the limitations 9I that. coiitra^f He anfwered, ,ThavV,he had already ftated, and begged ;le^yei;(o r^r- peat, that at the time of his entering jntQ the,agrec^^ni^.;^ith Lord North, he knew nothing more about Jtuian that there jwijs a vic- tualling contract of Icng Handing wii;h re(peC^ to i^f.dticatipn ; but , that he afterwards learnt that it had h,eeji Qnterefi intq^in'i^t'^^j^n^ ,Vafi ftill in foice. And bieing aOcedj^ lf,in,th3tC|c^i*v.e)j^i6^ ■Xord North, in^775,;hv- h'Jid been d^firgd to fuppyr. thft illjuid ,i»id, lie apprehended th- priCfpofitiort to he fo clear a oqej that an anfyer can hartijy be neceflarv'; cei'tainly tht fiydur or eqii.ity which he would aflc, he woul4 alfo giv?, upon aity Chfc Wthg riiade but, which, under the whole of the circunmalf(;ies' and <|c^irig£ bejbween the parties, appeared to merit it. An4 beihg 'anted, \Vhether he ever propofed to the bopr^ of treafufy, iTCvifal bf^hat agreement iip '775» ^^^^ refpcft to rum ? ^leanlVered, Cc - Mainly not, 1)ecaufe he was not difTatisfied wjth it^.,iK*r does he know that any of ,the othei: qontrj^dliiig parties ytrcrC. And heing a^ced, ^iitthi^ he made any other contract upon the fame terpns ? He an- ijinf^edj He did not. jjj* >v?s then aflced, /Vy^hether tK* tct«J8 ^<»^e ^(fi^e/ (O'r lower ? ahi he ahfwercd, The he nj^de ;|i1s biyrv ,c^.culatio||^ 'c6'n- ■ if V 3 out i^^ing; Id^akei) he hkd ^i'afjd ehtered ir>to' A? s^ptiiadV 'acfcord)%lyy wjt6^oi 1{ertl*H by the navy icopti^^, yihich in tne offi^f 'caie Ipt a ruld, indepeji4^nv of anv .c|ilcuJat.on or opinio.!, of nis ''.wti i lind ifHe^ reftiit! was,~^that'in'Uie (ecbrid cdntraift', grounded upph'his oW]f\ Viqpfient and opMi.ipn, he undertook the feryice cnea||;>^ tpan ^Mi3^t^^^? )»^P^;depcndcd Upon t^e,|iavv,pric?;. An^^b^mg 'dCflcnu Wh^ther^ 4n makip^ |pis C<;cond <;ohtr5$£t, n?, wei ^ - - W^^nt,' 6r V^^si he 'Jeilred T^y ;tbe'treafMry tQ m^ke otfi -lye Wwjete^; It v^^ ii\tr«mt;i^pt)r frorh Jamnca } and that he made the prki demanded bv him, not having the leaft ac- quaintance Wiih hiih ; but the knowledge of Aich a compethidtt was art inducement for hinV to demand a price fb low. that in his ojiHiioM no prttdent ot well'inforiiied man would, under all the cifctimftalrtces of the cafe, underi(ake the fervice lower. And being afkedj \Vhe- • ther a competition ih 1775 would not have induced htm tb-purfdi^ ftie faihe coridtf6{j by dfFering; to ferve the public at fo l6w a price, that nd prudent mart wbuld attempit to offer lower terms ? he in» iWtlHsd, Had Aich a competition taken place, it would have beert ithfobilible that the agreement fllould have been entered into in thd manner that he has ftatled ; and inffead of fubjefling himfelf, as he dt^, toihe chance of the navy price being favourable or unfavour- able, be fhouM have jbdged for himfelf of the price he (hould hav« eonftdered is fafe, and made his propofal accordingly. And bern^ aiked, Wh^^^ he apfh-ehehded that no prudent man would have of- fered to ierVe the public with rum at a lower fum than 4s. and 4d. if he had beeh actitiatnted ^ith the terms of the traiilaftidh ? he an- IWefed, If It had BeeA put to hirti at the time to jildge fot hlfrtftif df th*i pri'ic realbrtdble to be demanded, he cannot with exafhiefs fay Whkt iudgment he might have formed ; but wheri he tiitAt td thid MndWledge ^f tfte navV price, he certainly thought it a very fahf bhe, arid inkiihe« to tfifnlc that he (hould (had >iii own judgrheMi been the rule of his pi-op6fal) have undertsdcen it chea^r. Attd Beiiig afkbd^ Whait wai the average plaice of merchantable prbof ]k^ maica ru:r>, in thf'* ctif.^ncy of tnc country, per gallon, in thb year 1775 i he anfwtred, Ths^ ^e did not recollect, but that tlib ptkH of rUfh in Janiaita varies according to the quality, in which there is Very gre« difference, and very frequently fells at different prites in d'.ierent parts 6f the iflind ; he does not recolle<5i: what the price broKe at, at Kinp^n, in the year 1775 : that in the year *776, to the beft of fiii it^ty but qot the tr,a4e,td fuch parts of North America as were declared to be -at the King's peace. And being aflced. Whether there was any new dcinand from other quarters, to fupply the lofs of tbat trade which had been carried on between Jamaica and the rebellious colo- nies before that year ? he informed your committee) Th?t the con- fumption of fintifh Weft-India rum by our fleets and armies, and by the NewfoMndlsnd fishery, which had been ufed to be chiefly fupplied with New-England rum, diftilled almoft entirely from fo-r reign melafies, and the confumptipn of fuch Britiih Weft-India rum in Canada, where fcarce any thing but New-England rum was before conAuned, were all of them heads under which the confump-r tion was manifeftly encreafing, and fuch cncreafedi confumptipn tended to balance the lofs of the confumption of Britilh, Weft-India rum ill ^he colonies in rebellion. Being. afked. Whether he knejv of any contra^s made in this country, in the year 1776, for mer-^ chantable proof Jamaica rum, to be delivered in the ifland, at 2S. 6d. per gallon currency, or under ? he faid, He prefumed. that the queftion was not mea;it to relate to any doings of his own in the execution of the contract he entered ipto, and that he knew of no co9ira(!^ made in the terms of the queftion by any other perfon. Be- ing afked, Whether that tr. nfa<5tion with Lord North, in 1775, was the firft buCnefs he had been concerned in with the treafury 2 he anfwered, It was. The witnefs was then afked j Whether in that tranfa£tkon, when he received a general kind of inf*^' .Ration relative to that bufinefs, and fome articles wjere fpecifieds and others left for further confideration, he received dire^tioijs, from time ^9 time, upon vhole different heads, ^r were they left to his own dif", cretion r he anfwered, That he received direi^ions, from time to time, upon all of them, in the courfe of a continual intercourfe with Lord North, and the reft of the gentlemen about the treafury, whiie the fervice was going 011. And being afked, Whether the contra£^ between Lord N orth land wim was not ftated upon paper, and figned i he anfwered. It was not. And being afkedy In what manner the payments were made for this rum ? he faid. Upon pro- ducing certificates of the delivery, figned by General Howe, the accbunt thereof was ftated to the treafury, and after examination, the amor at was paid by the It ing's warrant. And being further afked. Whether he had ever heard that the rupi furoi0ied by the victualling board, for the navy upon the Jamaica ftation, was rather better and older than the merchantable proof rum fdld in the ifland i he anfwered, That he never heard that it was } thj^t he has heard it for the firfl time to-day, by reading of the contra^, that it is con- ditioned to be fix months old. Your committee then tiiought proper to read the following con- tra^ made with Mr. Bij^gen, and the feveral tenders and calculations the(eun(0 annexed, which cgntrad^ was the bafis of the agreement made ■ .:* ■ ■ f f '..I-' i:7\-v-. r ' r 4f i made between Lord North and Mr. Atkinfon for rum ift 1975 ; artdi' ih order to judge of the prices of the feveral articles, ana particu- larly of that of rum, they thought it right to examine into the man- ner and grounds upon which luch contra£^ was made [which con- traft and tenders are annexed in the Appendix, N"' 20 and 2i.] And your committee examined Alexander Chorlcy, Efquire, who informed them. That he had been commiffioner of the viftualling board about ten years. And being afked. What was the cuftom of the viftualling board in making their contracts for provifions for vi£tualling the fleet in the King^s fervice ? he anfwred. That they make publication in the News-papers for fuch fpecies of provifions as they wanted, in order that perfons might give in their tenders \ which, when given in, the commiflioners and fecretary who are at the board at the time take down the particulars from the feveral ten-" ders, and agree with the perfon who gives in t(ie loweft tender 5 which is accordingly accepted, and they take fecurity for the per- , formance. And being aflced, What is the rule for the quantum of the fecurity ? he anfwered, According to the importance of the con- tra(Sl — that- he believes there may have been iecurities as high aa lOjOOol. Being afked, Whether he recollected the amount of the higheft contraft made by the vidualling board ? he anfwered, H© did not. And being alked. Whether he recolle^ed, fince he has been in the Vi6lual ling office, of any contra<5tor's forfeiting his fecu- rity ? he anfwfered, Ih fome degree they have, for they have been very often fued for forfeiture or non-performance j in fome inftances it has been paid ; that he does not recoUedt any on6 inftance in which the feCurity has been wholly forfeited. Ana being defired to inform the committee of the method of making contrafts for the fupply of the navy ftatipned in the Weft-India iflands? he faid. That they publifh it in the News-papers, as they did in other cafes, for perfons to give in their tenders ; and they took the loweft upon the medium in the whole. And being afked, Whether he recol- lected any application from the board of treafury to the vi(^alling office, in the beginning of the year 1776, for information relative to the prices paid liy that board for rum to be delivered to the navy in the Weft-India fti^ions ? he anfwered, He did iTOt recolleCl any fuch thing i no fuch application was made to him ; nor, as he under- ftands, aay to the board. Being afked. Whether the board make contrails for rum f >r the navy, to be delivered here in England ? he faid. They did ; but dioeS not recolieCl the prices agieed for in any of thofe coiUraCb j that there have been various prices, but does not recoll<*(!l the particulars. And he was fi'rther a(k«d, Whether he recolleded any contract made in 1776, foi- rum to be delivered here for th^ r.i«vy, um'er is. 8d. ftcrling per gallon ? he faid. He dii? lot remember the price. And being afked, Suppofuig thaf thtf ctmtra£t{ir and his agent are not ready to fupply the provifions IfaiUcd for the Jamaica, or any other foreign flation, what does the "^^^ D captain ISiOiiB /■/' I :; ! f ... I a6 ] M cuptain in any of the King's (hips in Aich cafe do ? he anfwerecl, H» apprehended he is to give an order to his purfer to purchafe fuch proviflons as are wanted, ard to draw bills upon the viAualling board for the fame ; and in cafe the prices fhould be higher than the contra£^ price, the contractor is liable to pay the difference. Your committee here thought proper to infert an account of rum bought by the commiffioners of the victualling ofHce, to be delivered at London, Portfmouth, and Plymouth, between the 30th of Au- guft 1775 and the 4th of M^rch 1778, with the prices thereof, [which IS hereunto annexed in tlie Appendix, N» 22. J Your committee then examined John Watts, Efquire, fecretary to the vidluallihg office, and Denham Briggs, Efquire, accountant for calh j who being defired to relate the method of making their vi£hialling contracts, they informed your committee. That the commiffioners of the victualling office, before they enter into con- traft for victualling his Majefty'i fhip? at any port either at home or abroad, always make publication thereof, and of the day on v/hich they propofe to receive tenders (in writing, fealed up) for that pur- poie } and copy of the intended contract lies conftantly open at the fecretary*s office for every body's infpeCtion j and at the foot of fuch ,copy, the following notation is always written, viz. / ** In the computation for afcertainiuj^ the loweft oflper upon '.he tenders that may be made for uiis contract, the commif- fioners will caufi^ the articles of beef, pork, peafe, oat- meal, and vinegar (notwithftanding the prices at which they may be offered ) to be rated in the calculation upon every perfon's tender at the following prices, viz. ** Beef at eight-pence per four pound piece. Pork at fix-pence per two pound piece. Peafe at three fhillings per bufhel. Oatmeal at three fhillings per bufhel. Vinegar at fix-pence per gallon. Unlefs the faid fpecies fhall be offered in any tender at higher prices than thofe above mentioned, in which cafe they will be inferted in the calculation for fuch tender, at fuch higher prices as they niay be refpeClively offered at. It is to be obferved, at the fame time, that notwith- ftanding the before-mentioned method of calcu!?.ti:ig the beef, pork, peafe, oatmeal, aiid vinegar, the commif- fioners will pay for thofe articles according to the real prices at which they may be offered in the perfon's tender with whom they niay contract." That the above regulation, with refpeCt to peafe, oatmeal, and vinegar, was in force when the contract was made with Mr. Biggen for Jamaica,, on the 17th of July 1767, and was extended tofhe vticks of hedf and pork in the year ijjo. . . , ... ^ ■%■ tt iii.Hy . « ■Jit (( V^*, 4.1 cc (( cc cc C( cc «c cc cc cc cc (C ■ ^.f< :;v^,* f ./' e. That the Iter into con- I* • - -^ -■■■■■. •,!, ,. L 27 J . ..,--- -^ ■ '.■'>]:': '''^'* And the witnefTes being aflced. Whether the cafting prices (being the prices before-mentioned for beef, pork, peafe, oatmeal, and vinegar, below which thofe feveral articles are not to be rated in calcu- lating the propofals on which the faid coqtradl was made) were the fame at all places ? they anfwered, They were j that the cafting prices of peafe, oatmeal, and vinegar, were fettled at the end of the year 1764, which was for the firft time; and the cafting prices of beef and pork were fettlfd for the fiirft time in 1770, and they have never been altered fince the firft fettlement. And being afked. What was the reafon that there is not a cafting price upon every article? they anfwered. There b. ng a greater quantity of bread, rum, butter, and cheefe, fupplied, in proportion, than of beef, pork, peafe, oatmeal, and vinegar, the contra<^rs tenders on thofe fpecies have been advanced fo high that there has not been any ne- ceffity of adopting cafting prices to thofe articles, as was found ne-' ' ceflary in the articles of beef, pork, peafe, oatmeal, and vinegar. And being afked. Why are the cafting prices the fame at all places?^ they anfwered. For no other reafon but that aiHgned in the foregCK ing anfwer. And being afked. What is the rule that is followed in fettling the cafting prices ? they anfwered. That the cafting prices of beef, pork, and peafe, were fettled at the prices allowed purfers on the balance of their vi£lualling accounts ; the purfers are not allowed any credit on the balance of their victualling accounts for vinegar. Your committee then proceeded to enquire into the proceedings relative to the contracts made in 1776, and began with reading fe- veral propofals for furnifhing a quantity of rum for the fervice of his Majefty's troops in North America j and alfo the contracts entered into by the treafury, as appears by their minutes, dated the 27th of March 1776 ; [all which papers are hereunto annexed in the Appen*; dix, N°» 23, 24, 25, A 27, 28, 29* 30, and 31. J - Your committee alfo beg leave to refer upon this head to the trea«- fury correfpondcnce with the commanders in chief abroad, which have been already annexed, and referred to in the foregt" ^ part of the report. '' John Robinfoii, Efquire, being examined, was deflred to inform the committee. Whether, when the treafury fixed the proportions of rum to be fent from each iAand, for the fervice of the troops in North America, they had any other account of the exportation of rum, from thofe iflands to America, than that of the year 1773? he anfwered. They had fome broken accounts, but none they could fo well depend upon as that of 1773* the other returns being, he believed, incomplete. And being afked. Whether there was any application to the treafury for luch proportions, as a relief to the iflands^ from the planters or the Weft India merchants i he an- wered. That he did not recollect any direct application, but it arofe from general cpnverfations with the Weft Indict planters and mer- o D 2 . - f -, - chants. A:A- EBSm I! i« ' I r »« 1 -5,* chants, thftt it would be neqeflTary tp give thiem fuch relief for the \p(s of the American trade ; that he recollected to have had conver- fations upon that fubjeiSi with Mr. £llis, Mr.Dawkins, Mr. Braith- yraite from Barbadoes, Mr. Long, and fome other gentlemen, who complained of the lofs of their trade to North America ; he believed this converfation was in the beginning of 1776, and it was therefore vpon thofe grounds that the treafury thought it right to make an apportionment of the quantity. And being afked, Whether he ap- prehended that the treafury called for the account of the importation of rum into England, to fee thereby how far the English markets were fupplied with rum from Jamaica ? he anfwered. He did not fecolle^l the time they called for it, nor at prefent the grounds upon which fuch account was called for, but he believed it was upon general grounds, he did not recolle^l the particular grounds^ And being afked, Whether, to the befl of his recolledlion, that account was taken as one of the data upon which the apportionment was made ? he anfwered, To the belt of his recuUe<^ion, it was from ^he account of the exportation from Jamaica and the Weft India iflands to North America. And being afked. If he knew upon what grounds the different prices were given to the contfadors for the rums of the different iilandS;, viz. 5s. 3d. for Jamaica, 4s. for Grenada, 3s 6d. for the other ceded iflands, and 3s. for the Lee> ward Iflands ? he anfwered. To the belt of his recoliedion, upon the return of the vi£tualling board, the treafury apprehending that ^ofe contracts were pi^de upon public advertifement ; and they thought, if they could' make a bargain for a lef3 price than was given by the visual! ing board, adding thereto the necefTary charges and expences of delivering the rum in North America, that they \yere making an advantageous bargain for the public i the treafury had before them the different prices that were given by the viflual- ling office in the feveral iflands, and they guided themfelvcs, he ap- prehended, by that rule, making the beft bargain they could. And being afked, Whethci the treafury thought that 7d. per gallon was a fuffipient allowance for freight, infurance, and all other charges on rum carried from the Leeward Iflands to North America ? he an- fwered, The treafury endeavoured to make the heft bargain they could i the propofals from Mr. ^l^ckburn being at 3s. per gallon, and the treafury feeing that js. 5d. was the price paid by the vic- tualling office upon the delivery in the Leeward Iflands, they thougltt the propofal in America at 3s. a very reafor.iible one, and accepted it without entering into the particulars of the •expences to be incurred in carrying to North America. And being further afked. Whether he apprehended, at the time of clofing with this propofal, that the treafury had any reafon to infer, from the full price "q be paid on delivery in America, that the price in Barbidoes would be then lefs than 2S. 5d. ? he anfwered. The treafury certainly thought that they had niade a better bargain, for the delivery 0/ tko, rum in Ame^ rica rlc* at M. th»n t)w vWa;aalli)ig offce, who wctc to pay «8. sd. ttfioi^ the deltvfury in the ifland i and they 4id not entei into the confidet- ation of tbc priqe which the contr^or was to pay in the Lrewas^ Iflands, And b«ing aflced, When the viaualling office prices wc«f called for by the treafviry, did the treafury enquire whether thol^ prices had any connoftion with any of the other articles of provifion^ coiura^ed for by tfie victualling board ? he anfwered, That thef had no return from the vidlualling office at that time of the pricef paid for rum by them in the iflands having any connection with any other articles of provifions, nor did the treafury (the w'^tr '' ber Jieveid) know any thing of it till May 1777. And being aflced» Whether the treafury underftood the prices, in that victualling oAce account Aril prefented to them, to he in fterling money, or ia the currency of the country ? he anfwered. Certainly in ilerling money, and ever undediood it io till that day it was difcuiTed in thf Koufe of Commons. And being aflced. It it was fo underftood* why was a iiecond application made, in May 1777, to the visual* ling hoard for th? explanation of the firft paper prefented ? he aor (weced, Becaufe it was fo confidently aflferted iii the Houfe of Com* nM>n$» that ther^ muil certainly be fome miflake in the conception tb« treafury entertained of the return made by Mr. Pelham, and t9 fati$fy Lord North that fuch miflake had not happened. And being aikjeo, Whether that aifertion did not come from the board of trear fury \ he anfwered. He apprehended not. And being aflced, Whcr tber there was not a doubt among the members of the treafury^ whether it was fterling or not ? the witnefs anfwered. That he had no doubt of its being fterling y he aflerted \t was fo, and informedi Lord North of it ; but fome of. the members of the Houfe having mentioned to Mr. Cornwall, that there certainly muft be fom« miibke, with which Mr. Cornwall acquainted Lord North, and thereon arofe the doubt } and in order to clear up that doubt, th« witnefs made the fecond enquiry at the vi<^ualling office the next day. And being afked> Whether the treafury, before they con* traded at certain prices for rum to be taken from different iflands, made any enquiry about the relative ftrength and value of thofe different rums i he faid. He believed they were informed, that thef? was a confiderable difference in the ftrength and quality of the ruti^ in different iflands ; and that from fome iflands the rum was double difliilled, and in others not fo, confequently v^ied in their prices. And being defired to name the iflands from whence the double^dif^ tilled rum came from ? he anfwered. He had been informed, from Jamaica, Grenada, and, he believed, fome of the ceded iflands^ And being aflced. Whether he knew that there wa$ t proof eftat bliihed for the flirength of rum in each ifland I he an(weted. He apprehended there was a proof, by which the befl merthavitable rum in each ifland was diftinguiflied and known, and the ^iftrument fent out by the treafury for trying the rUm upon delivery was Ta formed I w 1^1— II lii i \ i ; i 'i 1 J 1 i 1 i ■ t I ■•' ■9^ , ■/ h- r ; ' [jo 1 arts' 'marked as to ^(certain that proof. And being further afked. Whether he recolledled by that inftrument there were difFerent lines of proof for the difFerent rums contraiSled for ? he anfwered. To the beft of his recolle£lion there were, from each of the iflands. And being afked, If he recollefled whether the line of proof of the Gre- nada rum was higher than that of Antigua ? he anfwered, He be- lieved it was. And being afked, Whether there were any directions given by the treafury to tlie commanders in chief in North America, to reduce the Jamaica rum by water to any given flandard ? \n an- fwer to that queftlon. He begged leave to refer to the correfpondence of the treafury with the commanders in chief. And being aiked. Whether the treafury informed General Howe of the difFerent prices ffi'/en for the rum of the difFerent iflands? he anfwered. He appre- hended he had copies of the contrails fent him, upon which the dif- ferent prices paid for the rum appeared. And being afked. Whe- ther the treafury fent him an inflrument by which he could try the ilrength of the rum ? he anfwered, They did, a very accurate one, and explained to him the manner of ufing it. And being aiked. Whether water was mixed with the rum before it was given to the foldiers ? he anfwered. He apprehended it was always the cuftom. And being further afked, U he undedftood it was ctiflomary in the army to mix water with the rum, in proportion to the price and ftrength of that rum fo delivered f he anfwered, That he did not know the proportions ; but he apprehended it was cuflomary in the army to mix water with it before they deliver it to the foldiers. And being afked, Whether General Howe ever received any orders from the treafury to lower by water the flrbnger rums to the ftandard of the lowefl, before delivery ? he anfwered, He knew of no orders given but what appeared in the correfpondence. And being afked. Whether he recolleCled any ofFer to fupply the troops with rum made by Mr. Irving ? he anfwered. He did not recolledi particular- ly, but he had a faint idea, that Mr. Irving did mention to him fomething about the troops being fupplied with New-England T(\^m while they were at Boflon. And being afked. Whether he meant that the ofFer was only for New-England rum ? he anfwered, He did not rccoileft the particulars. And being afked. When the fup- pty of the troops under General Howe with rum was referred entire- ly to the General^ were all the contraftors here for rum apprifed of that reference, fo as to be enabled to have agents on thefpot? he anfwered, He believed they were all told that the treafury would not contract for any further quantities, and that if more was wanted, the contracts were to be made by Sir William Howe. And being further afked^ Whether notice was given to them all at the fame time ; he anfwered. He did not recoiled. And being afked, What the board of treafury did in oonfequence of the reports made by the Wefl- India merchants on Mr. Atkinfon's contrad ? he anfwered. He begged leav^ to refer to the minutes, of th^ treafury, and tho x othcf [ 31 1 - Other papers upon that fubjeft before the committee; that he knew of no other proceedings biit what appeared on thofe papers, cither in' regard to the fecond contract, .r to the contrail made by Sir William Howe. And being afked, Whether tlie board of treaftiry had come to any decifion on the fecond cpnti^zSt ? he anfwcred, jHe did not know that they had'. 1 ; / y, . .:"; ,j«.;;;..V Ana your committee find, upon examfning the extraordinary ac- counts of the army, that Mr. Atkinfon was paid 9,801!. 4s. 6d. for 37,338 gallons of rum, and 2,6191. 9s. od. for 9,979 gallons of rum, and 15,408). 4s. 6d. for 58,698 gallons of rum ; which ap- peared to be the fulj price of the rum fo delivered. Your committee now think proper to lay before the Houfe the proceedings relative to the reference of Mr. Atkinfon's rum contra^, in the' following order : .^^ The treafury minutes, dated 3d June 1777, referring Mr. At- kinfon's contrail to merchanis, to conllder and report upon,^_extr{i£t' of which is as followcth, viz. VuW ii W| ** Prcfent. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Mr. Townfend, Cord j" Beauchamp, Mr. Cornwall. ** My Lords refume the confideration of the contrail entered into with Richard Atkinfon, for fupplying 100,000 gallons of rum for the ufe of his Majefty's forces in America, at 5s. 3d, per gal- lon, agreeable to the minute of the 27th day of March 1776. *' Mr. Atkinfon attends the board, and is heard hereon; and h« requeds, for the fatisfa«Slion of their lordihips, that his faid con^rf£t was not an improper one for the public, the fame may be referred tQ' any number of eminent Weft-India merchants their lordihips roay' think fit, together with all the accounts, eftimates, and ciircuin- ftances that have occurred concerning it; and that their opioiQa may be defired, whether it could reafonably, at the tiihc it was made, or might even now reafonably be made cheaper, aiid at^ what other price; and alfo whether any, and what unforefeen n(ques'o|f expence»'have been ailually incurred in the execution of th); /aid contrail, to diminifh or take away fuch reafonable profit as might otherwife have been expefted by the contradlors — and Mr. Atkm- fon ofFers, that if fuch merchants fhall give it as their opinion, that the faid contrail liiight then have been, or could now be, reafon- ably undertaken cheaper, he will wave the benefit thereof, and ac- cept fuch lower price as they may fo report to be reafonable. ' ,. ?, ** My Lords agree to Mr. Atkinfon's propofal ; and he having declinea to name any of the referees, their ]Lordihips name Be^dooi Long, Elquire, Richard Oliver, Efquire, and Richard Neave^ Efquire, for4that purpofe. ' * j ^* Write to Meffrs. Long, Oliver, and Neave, requeuing tW, favour of them to undertake this examination ; and if they confentt thereto, tranfmit them a copy of the contrail, and all the papers rela'tive thereto, and give notice to Mr, Atkinfon, that he may ^•'.'^' ''* attend I mm '■ ■, ■ m -'.'■' ■ '■■.-"*'- [ 32 ] * attend them with Aich explanation and evidence as he Ihall thinli fit. , . «« Whitehall.'* Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinfon to the merchants, dated the 6th of June 1777, requeuing them to undertake the faid reference 2 which is as followeth, viz. " Sir, •* Some exceptions having been taken to the propriety of a con- tiraA entered into by the lords commiifioners of the treafury with Mr. Atkinfon, for fupplyinc; a quantity of rum to his Majefty's \$. per gallon, and that gentleman being 5s. 3d. their Xc forces in America, at defirous, as well as their Xordfhips, that the faid contrad): ihould undergo a thorough inveftigation ; it has been propofed to fubmit the fame to your judgment, jointly with Beefton Long and Richard Neavc, Efquires : I am therefore dircfled by their Lordfhips to re-^ queft the favour of you to take the trouble of fuch e}^amination i and, if I have your permiflion fo to do, I have their Lordfhips fur- ther direAions to tranfmit you the neceffary papers for that pur- pofe. ** I have the honour to be, with great truth and refpe£t, :..: lj »* Sir, &c. .V/ ,. . „a. " John RoBlNSiON." *£Jitf JWe, 1777. - A like letter to Beefton Long, Efquir"?, jointly with Richard Oliver and Richard Neave, Efquires. Ditto to Richard Neave, Efquire, Ditto with Beefton Long and Itichard Oliver, Efquires. f V Your C0K..nittfee then read a copy of a letter from Mr. Crichton, ohtt of the referees, to Lord North, dated 5th July 17771 defiring ftittie piipers might be laid before them} [which letter is hereunto annfexed in the Appendix, N" 32.J , ' Then an account of rum exported from the Weft-Indies to North America in 1773 vvraS read, [and is annexed in the Appendix, You 'bur committee alfo read the report of the referees on the faid rifcfereflce, dated the i6ih of July 1777 \ which is as followeth, ViaJ. ., ' , "My Lords," ' ' ' '< Itt confequence of a requeft to us from yoiir Lordflups, figni- lied by Mr. Robinfon, that we would undertake the examination of *■ % contract entered into by the lords commifHoners of the trea* •* fury with Mr. Atkinfon, for fupplying a quantity of rum to bis *• Maj^y's forces in America, at 5s, 3d.* per gallon," and, with the concurrence of your lordfhips, to call in any third or fourth perfon, as we fhould think proper ; we have, jointlv with Mr. Glo-» ver and Mr. Crichton, who have obliged us with their cohfbnt attenduice^ and fubfcribsd (heir' names o?r«tQ» examined the whole .^ evidence ■ -• " /A ' . ' ■■■ ' -■ " , ' -;, v'^. ■_■ -: •■' ';. '■,"■' %::.mm^:^^- '% with Richard t 33 I •iriilenee To amply furniihed by your lordfliipc and Mr. Atkin/bQl and hereby fubmit to your confideration the following report : ** Th^'plan purfued in this inveili^ation was to review the feve- Hl ctrcumltances of the time when this contra£fc was made ; vis. on the 27th March, 1776, when your lordfhips, by Che minute of your board, accepted of the tender made by Mr. Atkinlbn. ** We find in the contra|£)t itfelf, that every precaution hath been obferved for fupplying the forces with rum pf that proof which is deemed at the Londoi^ market merchantable Jamaica } to aiicertain whiqh, the inftrument referred to is, in our opinion, more cd juilly to compute the charges and ei!(psnces attending its delivery in North America, due information hath been obtained ; and the following calculation, which we belieye to be as accurate as the nature of the fubje£^ woii^ld admit, is the rcfulc of our enquiries ; <^ 1. s. d^ Parts, ♦* Firft coft, at 2S. gd. Jamaica currency, 2 per K^lon, {piaking fterling * ^ f* Ca& ** Shipping charges, 5s. fterling per puncheon f< Jy«Sfagp in the ifland, 2{ per cenf. — - 3 — ^ — - . — 60^' .. 60 (f Commi^on j per cen^ — J 3 77 ^ - I 45 — ? 5 a* f^ Cofl on board at Jamaica ■ - ^ ^ „^ /* Infurance to the feveral places of delivery, 1 ,^ ^ m --^ average at 1,2 guineas per cent. ^ " * /^^^ average at 12 guii>eas per *j* Freight anq primage — - — — — - f '*' Agency in America^ los. fterling per puncheon — ^ - i .** Landing charges, ^s. 6d, flerling per pvnpheon — - — 30 i; •^3 7 # f* Intereft of money and pharges in England, l . I per cent. '■ ^ " ' eakage till landed, 10 per cent. ■'■ 1 '■ -^-4 43^^ • I II I ' ' . « -^4—75 '* From this qalcul^ion your lordibip^ may judg$; bovir far the ^contra^ in queftion might at the time have tieen f«afonsd>ly made cheaper ', We have therein made a full allQvnnce ht eycry cl;iafge wjtich might probablT occur iii fuch a trao&^tioff, >-.-h i'll ill !fi;r.fe n i ii IH ■? IV *: ■ ■" [ 34 ] ' ** It is very difficult to give an opinion upon another objed re- ferred to US) VIZ. " What unfbrefeen rifqucs or expences have been a£lually incur- *' red in the execution of the faid contra(Sb, to diminifh or take away ** fuch reafonable profit as might have been expefted by the con- " trador ?" as unforefeen accidents may have happened from various caufes, either from unexpefled events, which could not be forefeen or allowed for, or from neglcdls and imprudences in fome part of the management ; all which every undertaking may be liable to, and of which no eftimate can be formed. ** Finally, we fubmit, that private contrails are the mofl liable to exceptions } and whether contracts in future are offered by public notice to the loweft bidder, or the article required is purchafed in Great-Britain or elfewhere, by agents, at a comn^iilion ufual among merchants, or procured by any other mode whatever, the prote ** Your Lordfhips molt obedient and moft humble fervants, " Beeston Long, ** R. Glover, ; " Rich. Nbavh, " W. Crichton.** " The Right Honourable the Lords Commiffioners of the Treafury." Your committee alfo read copy of a letter from Mr. Atkinfon to the referees, dated the iSthof July 1777, requefting them to make fome alteration in their reppu, rcfpecting infurance ; with their minute in anfwer, [which is annexed in the Appendix, N* 34.] And alfo copy of a letter from Mr. Atkinfon to the lords com- miflioners of the Treafury, acquainting them of his application to the referees, d^ted the 2iit of July 1777, and is as foUoweth, viz. ** My Lords, ** The report made to your lordfhips by Becfton Long, Richard Neave, Richard Glover, and Williani Crichton, Efquires, the 16th inflant, upon the reference of my rum contrad);, being filent as to a part of the evidence laid before them, which appears to me to be very material j I deemed it no lefs incumbent upon me, for the accomplishment of that full information due to your lordfhips, than in point of juflice to myfelf, to defire that thofe fads might be authenticated i and I have jiow the honour to inclofc my letter ■■■:^'. -. - of jUy incur- take away ly the con- om various be forefeen me part of : liable to» moft liable d by public lurchafed in ifual among e protciStion ic oeconomy inty of fuch |\e reference reprefent to price to be in i but in a nemfclves all lal, and that of the army. ^ng, Richard Lfquires, the being filent bpears to me jipon me, for )ur lordfliips, fafts might |ofe my letter of [ 35 ] , • • . ■ . • of the 1 8th inflant to the referees on that fubjeiA, with their minute in reply. ** In the report an eilimate i« given of the probable coft, as far as it could be judged of at the time of making the contrail, which leaves an apparent profit of i4id, per gallon, or 22i per cent, fup- pofing no unforcfecn expences to be incurred j and tKc gentlemen then proceed, in fubftance very truly, to (late, that by fundry con- tingencies, incident to the nature and circumflances of the under- ' taking (as well from un«xpe<^ed events, as from neglect or Impru- dence in feme part of the management) the expences were liable to be cncjcafed, although no certam judgment could be formed before- hand to what extent; but that, if the contractors arc obliged to take upon themfclves all contingencies, without the certainty of , prote£lion by convoy, their utmoit efforts may, in Amilar undertak- ings, even prove inefFedual for fuppiying the arniy at all. ^ ** In addition to the cftimate and reprefentation thus made, the minute above-mentioned, by returning me the papers contained in it, (hews evidence to have been given, that neither by ncgle£l nor \\ imprudencj, but from unexpcfted events, the premiums of infurance paid, an'I lofs by capture fuftained, have amounted, on an average, t6 31I. i2s. per cent, infttad of th6 premium that might reafonably [have been thought fufficient at the time the contract was entered into, which is very fairly rated in the cftimate before mentioned at 1 thirteen tfuin-as per cent. It follows, that of the I4|^d. per gallori, or 22 i per cent. ^ [which might probably have been gained if no adverfe incident had, ]in (o diftaht and perilo^s an cnterprize, taken place, 18 per cent. ^ jequal to ii^d. per gallon, has, paft all contradidlion, be^nfwallow- led up by the increafe of cxpence on one fingle article of the eflimate ^"'^ )nly J the knowledge of which matter of fail feems fo efTential to e forming a true judgment of the whole, that I truft your lord- lips will be of opinion, that the confideration of it ought to accom- Ipahy that of the repcJrt. ** I have the honour to be with the greateft refpeft, " My Lords, t ' " Your Lordfhips moft obedient, and moft humble Servant, *^?. ^' London, July 21ft, 1777. Richard Atkinson." Your committee then proceeded to read the treafury minutes of [he 29th and 31ft of July 1777, on the report of the referees on the '^■ lid contra£t ; extrads of which are as follow, viz. '•'^* " Prefent. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Lord Weftcote. *' My Lords refume the confideration of the report of the referees ^n the Contrail with Meffieurs Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, for rum. " Read letter from Mr. Atkinfon, dated the 21ft inftant, ftating, I at the report is filent about fome fails, which he Upprehends to be lery material for forming a true judgment of the whole, and that he jas. therefore called upott the referees to atteft that proof thereof was £ 2 laid r i i 1 ■'I II ; I "!!! 1 .'^ (;t - ■'ii^l' [ 36 1 laid Wo^e tb^m. and thmfmit to this board his letter to tbe referees on that fubje£l, and a minute, figned by them, in reply, returning him the papers proving the faid fads, and thereby ihewing that fuch proof had been laid before them, and obferving thereon, that u^. per gallbn had incontellibly been fwal lowed up by an increafe of expence, beyond what it flood eilimated at in the faid report, on. thfi fingle article of infurance only, and dcfiring that the confidcration of die faft, then authenticated, may accompany that of the report. " Rekd the above-mentiohed letter to the referees, and the mi- nute, figned bv tbem^ thereon. " Dire6l Mr. Atkinfon to attend here on Thurfdalr next* *• Prefcnt. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Lord Weftcote. ** My Lords refume the conftderation of the report of the referees on the contra^ with Me&etirs Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, for rum« •* Read the fame. ■* Mr. Atkinfon attends^ and is called in and heard } he produces to the board the following polices of infurance, viz. ** For infuring of 8,9601. on the (hip Fame, Captain Thorntont at 15 guineas per cent. 3,500!. on the Loyalty, Captain Atkins, at 15 guineas per cent. 5«oool- on the Ann, Captain Kennedy, at I5 guineas per cent. 4,400!. on the Hero, Captain Harford, at 15 guineas per cent. 2,}ool. on the Hero, at ox euineas per cent, and a certificate from Mr. Colin Makensie, inmrance-Broker, dated toth June 1777^ ^^^' ^''^^ ^^^ utmoft diligence it was impradlica- bfe to get any mbre than 6^600! done on the Hero, Captain Har- ford. And Mrt Atkinfon alledges, that I47d. per gallon was not an unreafohable charge towards anfwering the unfore^n rifque and {;reat hazard in the undertaking ; for that the a£lual premium and ofles have in fa6^ turned out to be after the rate of 31!. las. per cent, as he ftates in his letters to the board, and not at the rate «f 13I. 13s. per cent, as edimated by the referees, and as fuch that this difference of charge and expence alone, allowing all the other arti- cles as eflitaated by the referees, takes aWay Ji^d. pn* gallon of the fuppofed profit eilimated by the referees.^' Your committee alfo read copy of a letter from Mr. Atkinfon to the treafury, dated the 15th Auguft 1777, refpe£ling infurance^ [which is alfo annexed in the Appendix, N" 35.] Your committee alfo read the treafury minutes of the 15th of Auguft X777» referring a ("ccid time to the referees the faid con- %r&&y refpecting infurance j which are as follow, viz. ** Prefent. Lord North, Mri Cornwall, Lord Beauchamp. " Read Letter from Mr. Atkinfon^ dated this day, on the fub- je£t of tbe rum contrail ; which was referred for the confideration and report of four merchants. ** Write to the referees, and thank them for the trouble they have been fo obliging to take in this bufmefs ; and acquaint them, that it is with felu|ftan(e that they trouble them again oa the ful:^e£ti /\ , '-'•''■■'*'::■'',■•■''",'", v'j'' "' . "^ , ■ ■• i ' .-' •■ -'■-■ but [ i1 1 ^ hut that, the hoard wt&ing to receive (ome fuUir information herein, '> ** My Lords defire that they wilt acquaint the board at what period tney eftimated that thirteen guineas per cent, wai the rate of iniurance i on what items of the eftimated charge they have com- puted fuch inAirance i and whether, in their opinion, the accident* that have happened ita this cafe to diminifli the contrat^or's profits, have arifen from negle£l or mifmanagement, or are among thofe accidents and events which could not be forefeen, and which mav happen from various caufes, and of which no eftimate can be formed^ as ftated in their report. ** Acquaint Mr. Atkinfon therewith ; atld defire him to attend the referees thereon with fuch papers as he flull think proper to lay before them for their further confideration." Your committee al(o read cop«of a letter from Mr. Robinfon t* Mcflrs. Long, Neave, Uc. wit$ qiueries relative to the faid contra^ dated i6th Auguft 1777 } whidh letter is as followeth, viz. " Gentlemen, ** The lords commiflioners oJT his Majefty's (reafury are pleafed to dire^ me to thank you fqjKthe trouble you have been to obliging as to take in the bufmefs of examining Mr. Atkinfon's rum contrad { and to acquaint you, that it is with reludbnce their lordihips trouble you again on the fubjedl } but the board wishing to receive feme ftuler information herein, my Lords defire that you will ac- quuiht the board at what period you eftimated that thirteen guineas per cent, was the rate of infurance } on what items of the eftimated charge you have computed fuch infurance ; and whether, in your opinion, the accidents which have happened in this cafe to dimmifli the contra^or's profits, have arifen from negleA or mifmanagement, or are among thofe accidents and events vhich could not be fore* feen, and which may happen from various ; uufes, and of which no eftimate can be formed, as ftated in your report. I am, &c. " 16th Auguft 1777. John Robinson.*' ' «» To Bcefton Lonjg, RicM Neave, Rich* Glover, " and Will" Crichton, Efquires." Then your committee read the further report of the referees on the faid contrad, dated the 21ft Auguft 1777 i and is as ^lloweth, viz. .' > . , " My LordS) v ** We are happy in your Lord(£ips approbation of the trouble we have taken in the bufinefs of examining Mr. Atkinfon's rumcontrad, for which your Lordihips have been pieafed to dired Mr. Robinfon to return us thanks, by his letter of the i6th inftant. Mr. Long having received it on the ic^th, we have taken the ekrlieft opportUf- nity that our refpe£tive affairs would admit, of aftembling in order to reply thereto. ** Your Lordihipi defire u» to acquaint you> « ift V .4 ■ I M r 1 ■ ;i I '>JV 4. ** I ft. At what period we eftimatcd that thirte«hi'*|^intM per cent, was the rate of infurance. mu 26\y. On what items we have computed fuch infurance. •* 3dly. Whether, in cur opinion, the accidents which have happened in this cafe to dimini(h the contradlor's profits, have arifen from negle£): or mifmanagement ; or are among thofe acci- dents which could not be forefeen, and which may happen from va- rious caufes, and of which no eftimate can be formed. ** In anfwer to the firft query, we beg leave to repeat to your lordihips what we have ftated as the ground-work of our report. That we eftimated the rate of infurance, as well as every other item, wpon a reviefw of the circumftances of the time when the contract was made. *' In anfwer to the fecond query, we computed the infurance (as will appear on the face of the elHmatc) on all the items incurred down to the rum being on board fh\hy and likcwife covered the efti- mated premium of the infurance, fo*aS to fave the contrador harmlefs in cafe of lofs j having in the next item, of freight, elHmated that iirticle at 'n extraordinary advllnce, in confidcration that the con- trafi^or might, in this particular cafe, be liable to the payment of freight, notwitbftanding the ftiips mignt be taken, ?nd the rum confcqutntlv not airive. *' In an(«'er to the laft query, we beg leave to repeat to your lordfliips, that we have made the moft ample allowance for every charge which even in thefe perilous times could probably have af- fcf^ed the undcitaking ; and whether the fcveral charges adually incurred have exf.esded or fallen fhort of our eftimate, and in what particular items, and whether the contrador's profit has been thereby Icfs 01 greater thiJn his expeflations, is a fubjedt of inveftigation which we did not jiicige proper to go into then; and we are of the fame opinion nbw. We have the honour to be, • " My Lords, *',.,M Your Lordihips moft obedient, and moft humble fervants, '■*"*' " Rtgh. Neave, - " Bkeston Long, V " R. Glover, « W. Crichton." ** Lbtidon, 21 Auguft 1777. ** The Right Honourable the Lords Commiffioners of the Treafury." Your coramitiee then examined William Crichton, Eftjuire, in relation to the faicl reference ; who informed them. That he was a merchant of the city of London, in the Leeward ifland traije prin- cipally, and had alfo one correfpondcnt in Jamaica. And bei.ng auced. Whether he was not appliei to by MeflieurS Long and Neave, to confider v/ith them a referent •, made frOm the board of treafury of a contract ent'.red into by them with Mr. Atkinfon for furnilhlng the troops in North-America with rum, in. the year 1776 ? he an- fwered. He was. And being fhc.wn the letter, dated 5th July ■ .- -J- ■■.' - jineas per ice. hich have jfits, have thofe acci- 1 from va- it to your )ur report, )ther item, e contract urance (as IS incurred Ed the cfti- or harmlefs mated that at the con- say ment of i the rum )eat to your i for every ly have ai- res actually m what een thereby veftigation are of the ervants, ^ftjuire, in he was a :ra«i|e prin- knd bei.'ig nd Neave, >f treafary furnifhtng i ? he an- 5th July 1777, r 39 ] -- 1777, froiA Mr. Crichton to Lord North, defiring fome papers ro be laid before the referees, and the account of rum exported from the Weft-indies to North- America, in 1773, he was afked. What was his view in calling for thofe papers ? he anfwered. That as, immediately before the making of this contract, an 2^ of parliament had paiTed, prohibiting all trade with the thirteen revolted colonies, the efFeft of which muft be to leffen the exportation of rum from. the Weft-India iflands to North- America, fo much ar. thofe colonies had formerly taken cfF, he v/ifhed to know A^hat that quantity was, and how far it was compenfated by the confumption of rum in the army and navy y that though thofe papers were called for, and the account of the export of 1773 from the Weft-Indies to North- America furniihed by the lords of the treafury to the referees, they did not chufe, in framing their report, to draw any fpeculative con- cluflon therefrom. And being alked. Whether any further applica- tion was made by the trtafury to the referees, after their firft report of the 16th July 1777 ? Se Ctnfwercd, That on the 19th of Auguft, Mr. Long, being in the country, received a letter from Mr. Robin- fon, dated i6th Auguft, ftating queries relating to Mr. Atkittfon's rum contrail: ; which was all that paiTed between the firft and fecond report. And bemg afked, Whether there was any other application made to the referees aftei their fecond report, dated 21ft Auguft 1777? he anfwered. None, that he knew of, uoon this contrad):; but that' he had been informed by Mr. Long, that i.e and Mr. Neave were applied to for theix opinion upon fome fubfequent conttadts made by Sir William Howe w'th the agents of Mr. Atkinfon, and that thofe gentlemen declined giving any further opinion. And being afted. Whether he thought, that in the calculation made by the referees of the charges and expenccs attrnding the delivery of rum in North- America, the price of cafk, as there ftatcd at 3d. per gallon, was a reafonable allowance? he anfwered. He thought i*; was a fair price. And being afked. Whether he thought Shipping charges, as theein ftated, at 5s. fterling per puncheon, was a fair price f he anfweied. That the refere'*s had been very liberal in their eftimate in all the charges, as they wiftied to be fo. And being afked his opinion a , to .he charge of 2^ per cent, ftated in the cal- culation as leakage in the ifland ? he faid. He could only make the fame anfwer as before, as ht did not chufe to hold a feparateopinion fiom the reft of the referees. And being afked, Whether it was a ufual charge ? he faid. He could not anfwer the quettion. And j being afked. Whether it was not the cuftom, in every other ifland except Jamaica, for the feller to fill the cafk ready for .Lipping when delivered to the buyer, he anfwered. He believed it was in the Leeward Iflands, but that he did not know the pradtice in Ja-> jmaica. And being afked. Whether the commii^ion of 5 per cent, las ftated in the calculation, was ufually given in Jamaica i he an- [fwered,. I( was in Jamaica, and in all th^ ^Veft-Iadia iflands ; but that |. - r ^. ....: -. ■/: f ' ' ■■ -■ ^ ^■■' - ■.■■■'■•■■ -. ■ ^ «. ■■ dkat a man might, from his connexions with any particular ifland, make a faving of a part of that charge. And being afted, Whether the premium of infurance at 13 guineas per cent, was the governing premium at the £:uie the contradl was made ? he informed your com" mittee. That the trade between the Weil-India iflanus and North- America being prohibited at that time, there could be no other data for the governing premium, except ihips going from the Weft-In- dies to North-America with rum for the army \ that there was a policy of infurance for a coniiderable fum, made about that time, prciuced to the referees, on which they eftimated the average " 'e- mium as ftated in their report; to the oeft of his recoUe^ion, the policy was in the names of Meffieurs Punlopan'iWilfon of London, from Antigua to Bofton, at ten guineas per cent, which was after- wards, upon receiving accounts of the army's having removed from jBofton, altered for New- York and head (quarters, he thinks, to twelve guineas per cent, that he imagined the policy muft have been dated about the fame time that the contrail; was made ; the alteration of the policy was in May 1776, And being afked, what was the premium of infurance from ths Weft-India fflands to North- Ame- rica in time of peace f he anfwered, From the Leeward IHa.ids, from 2 to 3 per cent, according to the feafon of the year } a. H ^r ^ Jamaica, he fhould imagine, from about 3 to 4 per cemt- >\ oeing a(ked, Suppoflng that fiiigie policy of -nfurance of Mr. i.>un- lop's had not been Jaid before the referees, at what- rate does he thinlc they would have calculated the infurance upon this rum from Ja- maica to North-America \ he anfwered. That he ihould have efti- mated it in his own mind at aboifit 8 or 9 P^ cent, becaidtfe there was no confiderable rife of premiums from we Weil-Indiefr to Great- Britain or Ireland for feveral months after, nottifi the months of July or Au^uft 1776} till which time, there was 9\i order oif coun- cil, prohibiting any merchant fhips from carrying powder and arms, the premiums having only advanced from the peace price of 2 per cent, in the fummer, to three guineas per cent, from the Leeward Illands to Great-Britain, and in the fame proportion from Jamaica ^ but in confideration of the danger that might be upon th? coaft of I America, from privateers crut 'jng to intercept tranfports and other yeflels bound for head (juarters, he fhould not have eftimated the premium from Jamaica to head quarters at lefs than 8 or 9 per cent. that the order of council was altered after feveral captures had taken pl«ce, upon the application of the merchants. And being a(ked, Whether, in the fummer or autumn 1776, there were not a gre^t number of Weft-India (hips taken ? he anfwered. Yes, not lefs than! 100 fail of homeward-bound fhips. And being alked. Whether the underwriters of Weft-India ihips were not in general very srq^tl lefers? he anfwered, They certainly were. He was thenaike^J Whether the event of an infurance pi^oves the original rilque in itM )aK anfwcredy It certaioiy proves the adluai rifaur^ a« to what tiuj \ :^v -f ..^■. tifque might be eftimated at the time of malcing an infurance, th;^^ inuft eyer depend upon opinion; and in 1776, the lownefs of the; premiums from the Weft-Indies to Greal^Britain and Ireland,^ which proved fo inadequate to the loiTes, is a' teftimony of the gene- ral opinion, at the time thofe infurances were made, that there was little or no danger of captures from American privateers. And be- ing aflced. If there were two opinions, the one for a higher infurance^ the other for a lower, did not the event correfponding with the higher juftify fuch opinion ? he anfwered, That it certainly did in one fenfej that he, who eftimated the premium higher than the majority of men of bufinefs, was juftified in his opinion by the con- fequences ; but in malcing infurances the premiums are not regu- lated by the opinion of any one man, but depend on the general opinion of the infurers. And being aflced. Whether the rate of infurance upon a known trade in London does not foon find its le- vel ? he anfwered. In common times it certainly does, but in times '■ of danger and alarm there is frequently great diverfity of opinions, ;^,, and it is fome time before a medium of thofe opinions can be fixed. < "^ And being ufked, Whether the policies of infurance were not gene- #,; rally underwritten by a confiderable number of gentlemen? he an-' , fwered, They were. Being further aflced, Whether the under- ^J writers did not generally go by apparent chances ? he anfwered,. Certainly the premium of infurance is calculated in proportion to the eftimated rifque, fo as to leave a profit to the infurers, but they may be miftalcea. And being a(ked, Whether he thought yid. per gallon, as ftated in the calculation, for freight and prim&ge, was a^ reafonable charge ? he anfwered. He thought it was an ample allow- * ance, upon a view of th&circumftances of the times when the con- • traft was made ; in former times it would have been out of all rule. «i' And being aflced, Whether there was any particular reafon for that ; .^^ charge being fo high? he anfwered. There were feveral reafonsj * : fuch as, There could be no back freight from America. The con- /^ traftor might be under the neceffity of hiring fhips by the month,* and of infuring fuch (hips againft the rifque of the enemy, and o£ p:vvi-.»^: the freight notwithftanding the fhips might not arrive, as is irti 1 the fecond report of the referees. And being aflced,- Whe- V ^ ::? V meant that the contrai^ors were to hire fhips here ? he an« i. V d The contraiStor might be under the neceffity of hiring fhips her^, J}'\ they ellimated the freight accordingly. And being afked. Whether he does not know, that upon paffing the prohibitory a£f, great quantities of provifio is were fent to Jamaica and other iflands,- and that the fhips employed in that bufinefs, not having any chance of a back freight, would gladly engage to carry rum to North- Ame- rica? he anfwered, That the faft did not come within his recollec* ' ' tion i but fuppofing it to be fo, thofe fhips might, have had freights of fugar and rum to Great- Britain. And being afked, Whether he did not know, that after a tranfport fhip had landed her cargo of rum F in ,*,i«*;«- \ \\\ i f |L 1 If ■ 1, *,:; ^ [ 4^ 1 ;■ •_■ jri Amerfca, fhe could^ by a licence from the commander in chief there, get a back freight, by carrying lumber to the iflands \ he anfwrered. He apprehended that the commander in chief could not legally grant fuch a licence by the prohibitory a£l } and if he could, he imagined that there was little or no lumber to be had in thofe places in poireifion of his Majefty's troops. Being aflced. What was the freight of rum from Jamaica td North America in time of peace ? he anfwered. He apprehended about i^d. or 2d. ftcrling per gallon ; and in time of war double. And being aflced. What infor'^atioa was laid before the referees refpefting the 10s. fterling per puncheon allowed for agrncy in North America ? he anfwered, That there was a letter from Mr. Payne to Mr. Long, in anfwer to a query on that head, informing him, that Mr. Blackburn (a contractor for rum from the Leeward Iflands) faid, that the agency he paid at New- York was los. fterling per puncheon, which was the only informa> tion that the referees had upon that head ; they wifhed to be liberal on that as well as every other item. And being afked. Whether ne thougi is. 6d. flerling per puncheon, for landing charges, as stated in i i. ulation, was a reafonable charge \ he &id. He could only g ^he fame anfwer as before. That it was a liberal allowance. An<, being further afked. Upon what grounds was; the article of interell of money and charges in England, taken at 3 peiT cent, allowed \ he anfwered. That Mr. Atkink>n fuggeiled to the referees, that there might be an outlay of money, but he did not recolledt for what time ; and that there were likewife fees of ofEce i which induced the referees to make that allowance on the fame libe- ral principle, without enquiring minutely what that outlay of mo- ney and fees might amount to. And being afked. Upon what grounds was the charge of leakage, as flated in the calculation, at 10 per cent, allowed ? he anfwered. On the general practice in Lon- don, which is to allow of a leakage or \yaflage of 10 per cent, on a. voyage from the Wefl-Indies to Great- Britain} that there appeared, upon feveral papers laid before him<- an average waftage of 8 to 10 per cent, on rum from Jamaica to London, and 10 per cent, is the ftated allowance to the mip. And being afked. Whether the voy- age from Jamaica to North America was as long as from Jamaica to London ? he anfwered. The voyage from Jamaica to Great-Britain was, upon an average, eight weeks, and from Jamaica to New- York four and five weeks ; that they made an allowance for the army being in motion, which might ^make it longer before the deli- very. And being afked. Whether he did not think that the allow- ance for leakage fhould not, in fome degree, be in proportion to the length of the voyage ? he anfwered. It certainly mould. And being afked. Whether the leakage was not greater from Jamaica to London, even than the length of the voyage would naturally make it, by the fliips being but partly loaded with rum, and that rum not flowed in the hold, but placea between decks \ he anfwered. He thinks [ 43 1 ^•-- thinks it fhould not ; that, on the contrary, he apprehended the leakage would be greater on that account, from the weight of the calks lying upon one another j in conflderation of which, and that the rum might remain fome confiderable time onboard of (hip after its arrival in North America, they eftimated the leakage at lO per cent. And being afked. Upon what principle the firft coft of rum, at 2S. ^d. currency, at Jamaica, was grounded f he anfwered. Upon the fame principle of liberality.. And being aflced. Whether he thought it was a fair price between the contrador and the public ? he anfwered, That the report of the referees was a mere eftimate upon the moft liberal principles. And being further afked, Whe- ther there was any reafoh to believe, in May 1776, that rum in Ja- maica would be higher or lower than any given number of years before ? he anfwered. That there was a circumftance which made it probable ru^ would be lowered, the total prohibition of the expor- tation of rum and melafTes to the revolted colonies, and the entire ilop to the trade between t^^e continent and the iflands i but the referees did not choofe, in their eftimate, to fpeculate upon that cir- cvmftance, and therefore allowed the moft liberal price, as if it had not exifted. And being aflced, Whether he knew, or has heard, what average price had been given for mm of the fame quality, in Jamaica, any time before or after this contract was made ? he an- fwered, That thjp referees fixed on the price of 2s. gd. as a liberal price, on a refrofpect of former years, by which it appeared, that in particular times of the year 2S. gd. had been given for rum of the quality and ftrength of that contra<^ed for, and that it appeared to the referees, from the accounts of one plantation in Jamaica, that 23. gd. had been given for rum towards the latter part of the year 1776; and he added. That their report was a mere eftimate, and they did not wifh to enquire at what prices the contraftor had made fub-contra£ls here, or purchafed at in the ifland of Jamaica. And being alked. Whether the price of 2s, gd. alluded to in bis apfwer, was an average price of the year ? he faid. He (hould think it was higher than the average price. And being aflced, Whether he had hea'-d of any large purchafes, made in the courfe of the year 1776, for rum of the fame quality, at 2S» 6d. currency, or under r he faid. That as his knowledge upon that head had arifen from his being one of the referees, he hoped he fhould be excufed anfwerin^ that queftion. And being further aflced. Whether the referees were aware, that the liberality of the price allowed for the fii-ft <:oft of the rum, would fwell the account very confiderab^y, when they came to the end of the eftimate, as all the fubfequent calculations were made upon that, as the firft datum ? he anfwered. That they cer- tainly were aware of that, as, though not all, yet feveral of the fubfequent charges depended on the firft coft being ad valorem, and muft rife or fall accordingly. And being afked. Upon the moll liberal allowance in the firft coft, and every fubfe^uen; charge, does . f « ■ . not *■»'*.•, *•.• ... ■1'/ ■ ■:■ : <,, 'Ji- m r ^.j , iilH In % 1 Ml i ¥t 1 1^ ■ ' , '. i' '■■ Ll^ I !■ ) IH5 ■'!t,,^' .»V. [ 44 1 ' ' not the price of rum, of the fartie quality, ihipped at Jamaica, ap- ''- . pear to be, in the eftimate of the referees, 2S. sd. twenty-two hun- \^^ dredth parts of a penny fterling, which calculation has a profit in ■ the belly of it? he anfwered, ft certainly does — it appears fo by .; their eftimate. And being further afked, If the Clipping charges, .. :.'• in that eftimate, were deduftcd, and the rum to be delivered only ' *; V ^" Jamaica, would not the witnefs, or any other merchant in Lon- i^v don, contrail: with government to deliver the fame fort of rum at / 2S. ad. fterling ? he anfwered, If the fhipping charges merely were ' ' deduded, the price would be as. 4d. fixty-two hundredth parts of a penny, at which rate he apprehended government might contrail, cemmunibus annisy for rum of the fame quality, deliverable in Ja- maica. And being afked, Whether he, or any body elfe, would undertake fuch contradt at 2s. 2d ? he anfwered. He ihould not choofe to undertake it at all, becaufe his connections with the ifland of Jamaica were fo very few j but he conceived that others might undertake it at 2s. 4d. or 2s. 5d. that he rather thought 2S. 2d. would be a hazardous undertaking. v Your committee then examined Beefton Long, Efquire; who ihformed them. That he was a Weft-Inula merchant, and has been very converfant in the Jamaica trade for many years paft. And ^- jng afked. If he recolieAed the average price of merchantable proof Jamaica rum in the year 1775? he anfwered, tie did not j but he guefled, in the month of June and July, it was abput 2S. 6d. cut- rency, Kiid towards the latter end of r ear fomewhat dearer. And being afked. Whether he apprehende mat that price was higher or lower than of preceding years ? he uid. He did not recollect that there was any j^(e ; that he thought 2S. 6d. was a general price. And being afked, Whether he meant that 2s. 6d. currency has been a pretty general price for rum bought in the beft feafon of the ye^r ? he anfwered. That in moft plantations he knew of, being in the ibuth-fide of th^^ ifland, it had been generally the price ; that the ufual time of mdkipg great purchafes of rum in general, in Jamaica, was from April to the failing of the third fleet the end of July. And being afked. Whether ^e knew what was the average price of rum in Jamaica in 1776 ? he informed your committee. That he had looked into the accounts of the plantations under his own direction as executor and truftee, and the price was 2S. 6d. currency for much the greateftpart of the crop j that a very fmall part was fold, at the end of the yeir, for 2s. io|d. that he fuppofed the 2s. 6d. was the average price of the ifland, and is the governing price from April to July. And being afked. What was the general average price for rum, the latter end tf the year, between the months of July and April ? he anfwered. That depended entirely upon the demand and Quantity. And being afked, %Vhat was the average price of rum in amaica, in the year 1777 ? he anfwered. That he did not recolledi ^at it altered i he h^ not got his accounts hQnie of that year, but - h? W\ [ 45 1 • he had no reafon to think that the price was higher. And being a(ked, Whether the prohibitory aft contributed to raife or lower the . price of rum in Jamaica ! he anfwcred. He was not quite certain J whether it did operate on the price of rum in 1776. And being afkedj V Whether the rum contradt made with Mr. Atkinfon by the treafury was not referred to him and other gentlemen to confider and report upon? he anfwered. It was. And being aflced, Upon what prin-,/' ciple thofe referees ftated the firft coft of Jamaica rum at 2s. gd. cur- ' • rency per gallon? he anfwered, They ftated it fo, becaufe they.'> thought it their duty to give n liberal price to the contraftor, for the following reafons : The contraft being made here in March j and, before it got to Jamaica, great part of the crops might be difpofed of; and they thought he might give rather more than as. 6d. upon' fuch a contraft coming out in the ifland ; they likcwife thought the contfi^dlor obliged to deliver the! rum when demanded, at all times of tije year j and that, upon the whole, after a long difcuflion, they ; _ fixed it at 25. qd. currency, as the faireft price on both fides. And ti^' being aflced. Whether Mr, Atkinfon's contrail was read to the re-,\V ferees ? he faid. It was. And being afked. Whether he apprehended .' by that contrail: the con traftor was obliged to furnifh rum at all-' . times of the year? he anfwered. As far as the quantity contrafted J*' for, but no further. Being a(ked. Whether they did not imagine -V' that quantity was to be fent over to the army in America imme- > diStely ? he anfuered, They apprehended he was to fupply the whole ':.'\ <}uantity, and to replace any that might be taken. And he was then aflced. Whether Mr. Atkinfon had not time enough, after the 27th March 1776, io purchafe not only the rum he contracted (ot^ in the ifland of Jamaica, but fuch other quantity as might replace' any part taken by the enemy, before the end of the month of July, at the then average price of the ifland ? he anfwered. Certainly j for he had two months to do it in. And being afked. Whether he ha^,^, heard of any contrafts made for rum in Jamaica, in 1776, at or un-.*;. der the price of 2S. 6d. currency ? he anfwered. He knew of con- > trails at 2s. 6d. Mr. Atkinfon himfelf faid he had bought fome a% . 2s. 6d. and that he heard by fome gentlemen lately, that it had been purchafed under. And being afked. What was the method of payment for rum jrurchafed in jamarca? he anfwered. Sometime^ barter, fometimes bills, and fometimes cafli. And being afked, What was the moil ufual method ? he anfwered. He fl\ould think by bills on England, for a large quantity} the general tenor of thofq bills is 90 days after fight, and the exchange at 40 per cent, cur- rency. And being aflced. Whether it was not pretty ufual for bills to be drawn at fix months after date ? he anfwered. Many bills are drawn at fix months after date ; he never accepts of any but at 90 days : other houfes do even for years ; but they generally bear inte- rell at 6 per cent, after 90 days ; they ufed to bear interefl at 5 per pept. — that,(here may be bi^^s drsfwn of a lon^r d?te ^ but he fpeaks .. of /^ ,'' N \- I t i i ! T 1 ill'. i* r 4« 1 of what is common. And being afked, Upon what principle was it that the referees ftated fhipping charges at ^s. fterling per pun- cheon t he anfwcred, That it included charges for boat hire, and -nippiug charges, cooperage, and all other incidental expences to tnj putting it on board, which came to a little more than one half- V ony per gallon j and that the referees thought, that from the ma- i. rials they had before them, it was a fair allowance. And being afked. Whether he ever recollefted that even 5s. currency was ever charged as fhipping charges upon a puncheon of rum before ? h^ anfv/ered. He did not recolleft. Being afked. Whether he recol-r ledted fcein» any invoices with only 3s. 6d. currency for fhipping charges of all kinds ? he anfwered. He poffibly might ; and did not doubt but he had. And being afked. Whether it was ufual to allow 2i- per cent, for leakage in the ifland of Jamaica ? he anfwered. Not fr.om the plantations, there was no fuch charge j but this allowance was upon a fuppofition that the rum might be brought from one part of the ifland to another, and might lie fbmc time, which make^ 1: liable to wafle and pilferage. And being afked, 'Whether he ever knew that allowance to be made in any other cafe ? he anfwered, He never faw it in any account, nor ever faw a contraftor's eflimate before this. And being afked. What he apprehended the nature of the reference was ? he anfwcred. To make a computation vvhat the gallon of rum might cofl the contraflor, all charges included. And being further afked. Whether the referees imagined that, after fuch an invefligation, they were to be liberal to either fide f he anfwered, That they thought it their duty to put the full it might cofl: the con- traftor, that he fhould not fay they had not made fair allowances j but that they did not mean to favour one fide more than thtf other. And being afked. Upon what grounds was the infurance ftated at 13 guineas ? he anfwcred. Upon fome policies they faw at 10 gui-: neas from the iflands, about the time this contract was made j there- fore they computed, that Mr. Atkinfon might make an infqrance from Jamaica at 2 guineas per cent, more, which is the ufual rate above the other iflands, which brought the rate at 12 guineas to the coafl of America, except to Canada ; and they underftood one fourth was to goto Canada ; therefore they added a guinea upon the whole, Canada being at 4 per cent, more than the other. And being afked. Whether there was any more than one policy laid before the referees r he anfwered. He was not fure whether it was one or two. And being afked. Whether there was any other befides that of Dunlop and Co. ? he faid. He did not recolleftj that they faw one, and he thought Mr. Atkinfon had two in his hand. And being afked. If he had not feen that policy, what would he have rated the infurance at ? he faid. He fhould have made more enquiry ; he fhould have gone to Lloyd's cofFee-houfe, and confulted the underwriters. JBe- ing afked, Whether the referees did in this cafe confult fhe under- writers ? he anfwered. He did iiot Iuiqw (liat they did j having (cen (his [ 47 1 '-".:/: this policy, they fixed the rate upon that fingle policy, not thinlci.- , ing the premium at lo ptr cent, exorbitant. And being aiked^- , What he apprehended was the average premium of infurance from Jamaica to North America in time of peace ? he anfwered. It might '' be done at 3 per cent, in war time it was very high. And being aflced, Whether he recolleded what it was in the laft war ? he an- • fwered, He did not, but it was very high now. And being aflced, [i- What it was now with convoy ? he anfwered, That they ought not ' to give more than 6 or 7 per cent, with a good convoy failing di- rectly from Jamaica to North America. And being further afkcd. Whether double that fum would not be a reafonable price for in- furance without convoy ? he anfwered. He was not, fure that he could get it done without convoy, but that he thought it ought to' be done at 14 per cent, infurances beyond that he looked upon as wagers. And being aflced. What he apprehended was the price of freight and primage from Jamaica to North America, per gallon, iii ^, time of peace? he anfwered. Not above four-pence : that in time of '; war, he fuppofed they muft hire veflfels on purpofe, and muft pro- '; • ,, bably come back empty. And being afked, Upon what grounds , 1 they rated it in their report at y^d. per gallon ? he anfwered, Be-»- ; caufe many circumftances confpired to make it greatly above the' rate of freight in time of peace; fuch as the contrador being obliged to hire veftels on purpofe, and thofe veffels to attend the commander . in chief till he orders the rum to be landed, which will occafion great demurrage ; and all expences of fliipping charges were then - ♦ encreafing, and are now much encreafed. Upon which your com- *• mittce read an invoice of 849.puncheons of Jamaica rum, in which they found an article of demurrage admitted, and afterwards paid by warrant, dated 16th Oftober 1776, [which invoice is hereunto annexed in the Appendix, N» 36. J And being aflced. Upon what ground was the agency in America at los. fterling per puncheoii v . • allowed ? he anfwered, T|^ey made enquiry, and found that it wa»i? . * either id. per gallon, or los. per puncheon: he believed that Mr. ., Blackburn, who had imported, ftated it fo ; that they enquired of half a dozen people. And being aflced, Whether any information was given upon that head, except by Mr. Blackburn ? he anfwered. That he did not recollect. And being aflced. Upon what grounds was the intereil of money and charges in England, as ilated at 3 per cent, allowed ? he anfwered. They enquired of Mr. Atkinfo,n, and he ftated that he waited fome time between the payment' of the bilK. for the coft of the rum and the receipt of the money at the treafuiy ' upon certificates ; and he faid, there were fome other charges, which upon the whole made it amount to about 3 per cent, the referees took it only from Mr. Atkinfon's reprefentations. And your comr mittee read the King's warrant, dated i6th 0<5lober 1776, [which is already annexed in the Appendix, N" 19.] And being aflred. Upon wnat ground leakage, as Aated at IQ per cent, was allowed i he :^' .>^^ i f- :1 P ' AV ■jW' ^^ t 48 i ' he anfwered. That in that leakage was included all the leakage hy detention, following the army, by the length of the voyage, going up with part of it to Canada; which they mppofed to be equal upon the whole to a fliip coming from Jamaica to London, when their common allowance is 10 per cent. And being afked. What was the average length of a voyage from Jamaica to London i he an- fwered, two months, and from Jamaica to any one port in North America, one month ; and he further faid, That thofe fhips were obliged to follow the army, and to deliver at fuch ports as the com- mander in chief fhould order. And being aiked. Upon what au- thority he underftood that the fhips were under thoiV orders ? he anfwered. By the authority of Mr. Atkinfon, who likewife com- plained that they did not land them fo foon as they might have done. And being afked. What he would ftate the leakage at from Jamaica to North America, if the (hips were not ordered to follow the army, and were liable to no particular demurrage i he anfwered. He fhould think 6 per cent, would be a fair allowance in the ufual time of the year, to be delivered immediately on their arrival on the coafl. And being afked. Whether the whole of this eflimate was not liberal to the contractor, and whether it did not carry fome pro- fit in its bejly ? he anfwered , Upon the whole it certainly was, as they included every probable expence, and fome which might pof- fiblly have been faved, and fo they have reported. And being afked, What he imagined, upon the whole, would be a fair ancT reafonable price for a large quantity of merchantable rum, deliverable in cafk at Jamaica, any time within thefe two years ? he anfwered. He fhould think it might be bought by a contraflor, who had fix months notice, at 2S. 2d. fterling, caflcs and commiffion included ; and he thinks he would then fave 2d. per gallon by having fo much notice. And being afked. If he meant he would make 2d. profit per gallon ? he anfwered. He meant that this was the firfl cofl upon the illand, without any profit to the contractor i alH this agrees with the for- mer part of*^ his evidence refpeiting the 2s. 6d. currency per gallon. And being alked, If he was to agree in March to make the like pnrchafe of rum, inftead of making the agreement in October, what would the price then be, cafk and commiffion included f' he an- fwered, It might coil fomething more, perhaps 2d. per gallon. And being afked. Whether he had been applied to to be a referee, fince that firft reference on Mr. Atkinfon's contract ? he anfwered. He had : that Mr. Fuller had a reference upon a contract for rum, who faid, He could not enter upon it, and defired the affiftance of Mr» Neave and the witnefsj but they both declined it, aligning the reafon that they were not proper judges what allowances fhould be made to contractors. And being afked, Whether he had ever been confulted (as a private merchant) by the treafury about the prices of Jamaica rum ? he anfwered. He had, by a letter wrote to him by Mr, Robinfon laft winter, to enquire into the prices of rum and other articles t 49 1 articles in the year 1767 ; that he found a Mr. Cuthbert, who had his books in England of that year, and who faid he would inform the lords of the treafury refpe£iing the faid articles, ij not failing within the knowledge of the witneft ; and that he has never beea confulted at any other time. Your committee here think proper to refer to the depofition of Captain Cornell, oU the Snow Peggy, re- lating to Mr. Burfoot^ and alfo the dated account of the rum (hipt on board the faid (hip, [which are hereunto annexed in the Appen- dix, N° 37 and 38] and alfo to the extraordinary account of the army, of 1778, for the payment of Mr. Burfoot's demand for rum, [which is alfo annexed in the Appendix, N" 39. J Then Thomas Gowland, Efquire. being examined, informed your committee, That he was a Weft-India merchant, and has been converfant in the Jamaica trade ever fince the year 1764, and that he was captain of a fhip trading to Jamaica, (rom the year 1756. And being aflced. What he apprehended to have been the average price of merchantable rum in Jamaica, in the currency of the coun- try, in the year 1775 ? he anfwered, 2S. 6d. per gallon; that he had feveral invoices, out none higher, that was the general price j in 1776 and 1777, he apprehended it was the fame. And being aflced, Whethcy he did not apprehend that* the prohibitory aft in 1776 contributed to lower the price of rum? he faid. He thought not. And being afked. What was the loweft price given in Jamaica for rum of proper proof, in 1776 and 1777 ? he (aid. He did not recolleft that there was any for lefs than 2s. 6d. he faw no invoices for lefs. And being a(kcd. What was the method of payment fot rum bought by contraft in Jamaica ? he anfwered, Some with ca(h, iome with bills of exchange, fome to fet off debts, and others for barter. And being afked, What was the ufual tenor of thofe bills > he anfwered. Bills of exchange upon London are ninety days fight, with three days grace ; he nevvr faw any of longer date for the put- chafe of rum, that he rerngjii. ".ted. And being a(ked. Whether he had not heard of rum being bought at Jamaica, payable in bills de- liverable fix months after the purchaie, and then drawn at ninety days fight ? he anfwered. He never knew or heard of it. And be- ing afked. Whether he thought 2s. 6d. Jamaica currency per gal- ion, for rum delivered in the ifland, was a fair and equitable price ?' he anfwered, He did, and thought it fo in 1775, 1776, and 1777. And being afked. What he thought ought to be the charge of cafk per gallon in thofe years ? he anfwered. That his invoices were 35s. currency, equal to 25s. (lerling per puncheon. And being afked. What he imagined the (hipping charges at Jamaica ought to be charged per puncheon ? he anfwered, That would partly depend upon whether the (hips were ready to receive them on board i that if the (hips were not ready, there would be an expence of ftore hire, there would be alfo a wane of the rum ; if the rum was brought on the. wharf, and ready to be (hipped, he apprehended that ^. 3d. or, currency ■■rl ■# ■# \ ' *i:". ■ f fit: ,■ • n £50 1 currency per puncheon, would pay the expence ofioWlng to the crane .ind (hipping off. And being aflccd,- Whether it was not ciiftomary in Jamai^i for the feller to deliver his caflc full, and alfo to make no charge to the buyer for the fra6lion of a gallon ? he an- fwered. They arc generally nlled full } that they gauge them by the center of ihe bung to the lower cl ..iie each way ; they add the two together, and take the niedium } and then they ftrike ofF two gal- lons from that, by way of allowance to the purchafer. And being afkcd. Whether he ever remembered to have feen a report figned by four Weft-India merchants, upon a contrail made by Mr. Atkin- fon in 1776 ? bf? anfwered, He faw it in a Morning Paper. And being aflced. Whether ^e ever remembered to have feen in any other account a charge of leskage in the ifland at 2; per cent, f he an- fwerrilt'%i\cent. &«t ademiaCf? u^rge. YoujT (CO*ujiitk'r tpfci examined TKo»t)^ fe^A, Efofjire; whp informed tlu£i}f I'hat ne had ferved^iis^' ^P^ ^ vir-lTork, and Jj,^ while there, connetSlions with the iW^*1\ai9& ; that he re- jiideJjtg^iv-York from the beginning pt 4i^jfa^j7';8 to the lat- ter entTM the year 1766- i^nd being aflced, ilT^ aportedrum from Jamaica, or anv other of the Weft-India ifl^Sr i he anfwci- ed, He did from molt of the Weft-India iflands. i^iJbeing aHcod, . Whether he recollected the prjme coft •!. rum imfk^ted from J)m> maica in thofe^ears ? he anfweobd, To the beft.of his r^collcdtion^ from 2S. ad. to 2s. 6d. Jfamaica currency, per gallon. And being aflced» Whether he recolle£ked the price of freight during the war? ^e anfwered, 40s. a puncheon at New- York, and that in time of peace jios. New-York currency. J|tid being afked, What was the^' n«* fotill June, when it rofe to i«. gd. and in December to 29. ic^d; in 1774 it began the 17th of May at :is. 6d. and continued fo the whole feaior , which was till the 22d July, when the whole wap fold } in 1775 it began the loth of May at 2s. 6d. and continued fo till December, when it rofe to 2S. gd. and that was only 4 puncheons out of 59, the firft part of the month was fold at 2s. 6d, in 1776 it began the i6th of May at 2s. gd. in June it fell to 2s. 6d. in July it rofe to Z5. gd, and fo continued till 0(f?:oler, and in Novefnber and December it Itefe to 3s. He further informed your committee, that his accounts for 1777 weie not yet ccme home, and that he had other confiderable plantations, but the accounts of which did not contain the particular prices of the rum. And being aflced, \Vhet)ifcr he thought he could fup^ly government \yith a large quan- ■. ' , tity I S3 1 lity of mc' rbantable proof Jamaica rum, delivered in cafks at a pbit , in the iftand at 2S. id. fterling per gallon ? he anfwered. That he ihould be very glad to undertake to deliver any quantity at tha^ price, and he thouelit it would be a very piofitablc cohtraiSl ; the*; larger the quantitjl^he morl he T'ould like the contract. And bcr* ing asked. Whether he thought he could have executed {^h a con- traft with advantage to Mmfelf in 4776 and 1777 ? he faid, He moft certainly could ; although his accounts for 1777 are not come home, he is informed by his attornies, and many othefs, that the price was? not higher than it was in the other years. And being asked, Whc- iucr he had heard of any rum bought for the fervicj of goveri-meat i| in 1776, at z' ;d. Jamaicar currency, per gallon? he anfwered. That he had been told by fev^ral gentlemen, that they fold rum to a Mr. Scott, the agent of MeflrE ^ Mure and Atkinfon, for 2S. ^d. and that it was a oart of the rum intended to complete the contract which they had for North Ameiica , and he further added, that this information was given him by Mr^ William White in particular, whofe attorney fold it to Mr. Scott from Mr. White's own eitate, and he has hear'i it from feme other perfons ; that the witnefs has been likewife informed, that the faid contra<5tors bought fome for the fame purpofc at 2s. per gallon currency, but he cannot fpeak with fuch" certainty to that fa<£l as he did of the former, fpeaking only from information j that he has heard ic was bought between 2S. and 2S. 9d. but never exceeded 2S. ^d. And being afked. What quantity might they buy at2S..? he faid, He never heard } but he heard they bought a great quantity at 2S. 4d. And being afked, Wliether any part of that rum which he fold from his eftates was over proof ? he anfwered. He believed moft part of it. And being further aflced> Whether he had any reafon to fuppoft that the rum which he lold from his eftates was weaker than the rum fen'„ over to him in England f he anfwered, ||b thought it muft have been entire-"^ iy of the fame quality and goodnefs. And being aflced, Whether Kc has been charged by the excife, for the rum fent over to him h<:re, for its beijig over proof? he faid, Be apprehended he had no rum that came over but what a great part of it was charged as be- . in^ over proof. Then your committee examined Mr. John Peatt ; who informed them. That he was a Weft-India merchant, and had been in that bufmefs about fixteen or feventeen years ; that h^ WaS in Jamaica in 1776, and purchafed feveral puncheons of rum, and knew of a great many other purcjiafss of rum at that time. And being afked. Whether he knew that Meflieurs Mure and Company purchafed rum at tha: time r he anfwered, Yes ; he heard that their agents purchafed for them. And beirg afked, What price he gave for rum at thj.«^ time? he anfwered. That he allowed 2S. 6d. Jamaica cur- rency, 'ii payment j that the price of the greateft part of what he jjoughv it that tiioe wa; at ^s. 6d. And bsing afked, What he mean(; H ■ [ Hill I Jj Zi^ t 54 1 foiezat^y *' la payment T' he anfwered, In payment of goods fold the year before^ And b^ing aft:ed. If he could have bought any quantity of rum at 2S. 4^4. upon bills in London i he anfwered, He ^lievep ISt^ppttld have bought 200 or 300 puncheons on bills in Xondon at 60 dayis fight } that he thought hejttnight have bought all the iun in. the ifland at 2s. 6d. And being alked, Whether he Iknew ofany quantity of run^ m^^g bought in the ifland at that time Itt 2S. 4d. ? he anfwered. Not any very great quantity ; for the gen- tlemen ftuck out for the Kingfton price, which was 2s. 6d. the north /Ide price being (generally fpeaking) from about 2d. to 3d. a gallon Kfpheaper than the Kingfton price^ which is owing to drogueridze, %nd the hazard of bringing it found the ifland j that he purchased jfrom 35 to 40 puncheons for money at 2s. ^d. And being zfked, . ,|yhetner he recolle(Eled the tenor of the bills for the payment of rum ■ --^hich he bought in the iflands? he anfwered. They were chiefly at 9P days fight } ' that . he had taken bills at 120 days, where :, he thought them extremely good. And being aflced. Whether ;,!be had not heard of many bills being taken at 120 days, or ,,cvcn a longer date? he anfwered. Not for payment of rum. ^ I And l>eing aflced. Whether the rum he bought at 2S. 4d. was mer- , Vchantable and proof rum? he anfwered. Yes; jt would fink oil} and that there was no objection made to it h^re^ And being aflced^ What he apprehended to be the ufual fhipping charges of rum it\ ,. ^Jamaica ? he anfwered, That tlie planter always fends the goods oown to the fhipping place (Whieh is calle4 the ^arcqdeer^ and four bits, which is 2s. 6d. currency, is the wharfage charge i that hp knew of no other charge, as the ihips receive them on board ii> their own boats : that he paid, for the puncheons which he bought . in 1776, 35S,'i6urrency per puncheon; that he underftands they are now at 50s. And being aflced. Whether the feller of the rum in Jamaica always delivers the caflUfuU ? he anfwered, Not always } that th^method of proceeding was, the caflt \yas gauged, and the buyer bad always an allowance of 2 per cent. And being aflced, What he apprehended he could now deliver in Jamaica good mer- chantable proof rum for, par gallon flierling, the catkonly included ? he faid. He could deliver it very well at 2S, 2d. or 2s. 3d.' flierling y that if he was a planter he could very well afford it at that pcicci And being aflced, At what price did he apprehend fuch rum tould have been delivered at in 1776 ? he anfwered, That he believed \i might have been delivered at that price in 1776 better than now, becaufe caflcs were then cheaper by id. per gallon. And being aflced. Whether he could have delivered it at that price in 1777 ? he anf ^•'■ed. Yes. . And being asked. When he apprehended the rife on ks took place ? he anfwered, In 1777. ^^^ being asked, \^nat he apprehended would have been the amount of the charges on rum carried from Jamaica to North America, in the year 17^6 ? he ikfli'wered, That he thought the height from Jamaica could not have f ,■;■-- 1 \ have been above 4ci. per gallon fterling, the charge being thiy per galk>n to England j all the rum that was /hipped to hitn in that year flood him in no more tor freight. And being asked, with re^s fpe£l to the {hipping charges and the prices of rum ftated by him/ Whether he fpoke from general information, or from his own in- voices ? he anfWered, From his own invoices and bills of loading. And being asked. Whether he thought there was more danger itk carrying rum to North America than to England during that tir -jW? heanfwprcd. Certainly not; the voyage to New- York requires but;' half the time ; and in coming through the gulph for England, thtti traverfe a great part along the coaft of America^ And being askecC What he apprehended to be a reafonable allowance for leakage of- * " rum going from Jamaica to North America? he anfwered, 8 per : cent, which is the greateft allowance; but that depended upon the^. '« length of the voyage. And being asked. When he fpoke of tho; /^\ 2S. ^d. per gallon, at which he mentioned he might have purchafeiv ' the wholfr rum in the ifland, whether he fpoke of any particular-* ' time ? he anfwered. He fpoke of the heighth of the crop in May or June. And being aflced. Whether the price of rum after that fea- j fon encreafcd ? he anfwered. That it generally grew dearer about * ' t Chriftmas, from 3d. to 4d. per gallon ; that fometimes it got up to^f; I 6d. And being aiked. Whether he knew, in the courfe of hit/ ' ,| trade, what the price of merchantable proof Jamaica rum bought at' • I the maft, in 1777, was in London ? he anfwered. That he was in, ' ',..', ' England in 1777, and fold a vaft quantity at the maft, in Septcm- ^ ' i ber or Oiftober, at 2s. jd. per galion fterling ; and a very littl© , while ago, in 1778, he fold it at 3s, 6d. And being aflced. What * \M he could {ell it for now at the maft? he anfwered, 7 he beft rum was now worth 3s. 8d. he meant fine overproof rum ; the common proof rum was from 3s. ^d. to 3s. 6d. fterling, 'h ing afked, l(^ good merchantable Jamaica ruill%:ould be fol 5s. 6d fler^^ ling, whether he thoud^^ could be fold at tht laoK priet at th«i maft in North America'F-nianfwered, Yes, certainly. A a being, afked, When rum was {fold, in September and Odober laft, f< lovr as 2s. 7d. was it not owing to a very large importation ? he an- fwered, It was owing to l;M*i^ival of a large fleet, but he hSd oftea. known it lower. And l^^i^'lifked, If rum could be fold here at the maft at 2S. 7d. could it not have been fold at the fame price in North America ? he aofwered. It could, under the fame circum- ftanccs, upon the arrival of a l>'rge fleet. And being afked. Whe- ther the charges were greater in carrying rum from Jamaica to Northo America, than from Jamaica to E^jgland ? he anlwered. Certainly!:' ' not J that he would rather undertaitJe the voyage to America than to • > 4* England, it being {horter, even if he paid 3 or 4 per cent, higher i' infurance. iThen Mr. William Vaughan, who is in the Weft- India trade^ being ^Bnamined, was afked, Whether he knew what price rum wa» ■- \ w li ■^ ,"'! i' '■-I' o ^ j .1 i i s6 i; iras bought at in Jamaica in 1776 ? he anfwered, That the general price was 2S. 6d. currency, but that he had heard of fome boughi at 2S. 4d. And being aflced. Whether he had any reafon to believe that the rum bought at as. 4d. was purchafed for the fervice of go- Vet-flment ? he anfwered, That it was very currently faid fo by many people who were converfant in it, anH> who had been in Jamaica ; it was the common courfe of converfation* And he was further alked, Whether he knew in what manner payments were made for the rum to purchafed ? he anfwered. Bills were remitted to England 5 and their correfpondents have. fold rum there at 2S. 4^. currency^ And being afked. What was the tenor of thofe bills ? he anfwered. That tliey had a good many bills remitted to them laft year at three, fix, and eight months j it is expreiTcd on the bills, " Rum, &c." — The bills were drawn by Mure and Scott, upon the houfe here ,of Meflrsr Mure and Company, And being afked. Whether he was in pofleflion of thofe bills now ? he anfwered. That the bills were paid, and believed that he might have duplicates of them, but he has none about him. And being afked. Whether he fpokc from memory, or had he feen the duplicates of thofe bills lately i he an- fwerod. He thought he could fpeak with certainty, that he had feen fome of them lately. And being afked. Whether he apprehended "f that MefTrs. Mure and Scott were agents in Jamaica for the houfe i of MefTrs. Mure and Atkinfon in London ? he anfwered, Yes. i: Mr. William Knowlys being examined, faid, He was a cooper and broker, acquainted with the Weft-India trade, and with the different prices of rum imported from thence. And beine aflced, : What price the Barbadoes rum generally bore at the mail m £ng- '!; land ? he anfwered, From is. 6d. to 2s. 3d. fteding; it muft b^ very good to be worth 2s. 3d. it being worfe than from the other iflands, lower in proof : that there is a very fmall importation of it j the quality is fo low, that in if^S ^^^'^^ was none in London. / '- .. «W-Vji«>*«_'"C>t.lH ■:'t,wi«C.„;'.^|';!^Sj ;t .(*■ t .57 I .,,,.-, What price the rum from Nevis generally bore at th^ maft in Eng* land ? he anjwered. There was very little im rted } the price was from IS. 6d. to 2S. 2d. it being of a very inferior quality. And being aikedi Wshether there was much rum imported from St. Chrif- tophcr's? he anrwered, A very fmall, quantity} the price was from IS. 9d. to 2^ And being afked. What quantity was imported from Grenada into England^ he anfwered, A .ery large quantity* next to Jamaica^ And being: afked, What price it bore at the mafl^f he faid, Th^ average pnce was fromis. 3d. to as. gd. and 3s. that .. he did not recoiled what price it bore in gutumn 1775 ; but in the autumn 1776, it bore from 2s. 3d. to 3s. in fpring 1777, it bore from 5s. to 6s. it was the rum of the year before, and that price lafted only a month. And being afked. What price did it bear lafl a:'tumn ? he anfwered. From as. 3d. to 33. And being afked« Whether he looked upon the rum from Grenada better than that from Antigua i he anfwered. The flavQiir is not fo good, but fo much nronger, that It makes it bear a higher price ; when the An- > tigua and Grenada are of an equal flrength, then the Antigua bear& , a higher price on account of its flavour. And being afked. Whe- ther there was any confiderable importation of rum from Tobago I he anfwered. No;. very fmall, not more than 2 or aoo puncheons a year. And being afked, What price did it generally bear at the mafl in England ; he anfwered. From is. 6d. to 2s. 3d. And being afked. Whether there was any confiderable importation of ruin from Dominique ? he anfwered. Very little, and bore the fame price as the lafl. And being afked. Whether there was any con- fiderable importation from the Ifland of St. Vincent ? he anfwered^ Very fmall. And being afked. What price did it generally bear at the mafl here ! he faid. From is. 6d. to 2S. 3d. feldom 2s. Cd. it mufl be veiy good for that. And beine afked. What was the ge-, neral price of Jamaica rum at the maft in England ? he anfwered^^^; From 2S. 6d. to 4s. He does not recollect what price itfbore ii^' autumn 1775; in autumn 1776, the average price was 3s. in au- ; tumn 1777, from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. And being a(ked. What price did it bear in fpring 1776? lie faid, He did not A.now : in fpring ;' 1777, it bore from 5s. to 6s. that he meant by that, rum of the pre- ceding year ; it lafled at that price a month or fix weeks only, and. ' that was owmg to a very large quantity wanted by the viflualling . office. And being afked. Whether there was a greater quantity ot^y the higher price rum fold than the lower ? he anfwered. The quan- tity of the inferior was the largefl. And being alked. If he could) ; inform the copimittee of the diffim:nt methods of afcertaining the. different degrees of proofs of the dvcral rums ? he aafwered. It waSt - • done by the hydrometer. And being afked, Whether Jamaica runar was the flrongeft of all ? he faid. In general it was, but that there was ''■ fotne Grenada rum as flrong, particularly in two or three efliates in [ Jamaica, of Meflieurs Mure and Atkinfon's, which made it fo ' j^ ftronj^ A I S8 1 4 I'li xftrong as to bear thirty-three gallons 6f water to one hundred gal- Ions of rum, to bHng it to the hydrometer proof ; and the wit- nefs addedf that its great ftrength arofe from the method of diftiil' ine it. And b^ing further afked, Whether there was any conftder- able quantity of the Grenada rum as ftrong as the Jamaica proof? he anfwered. That he thought two thirds of the importation was as ftrong as the Jamaica proof. And being aflced. What were the next rums in point of ftrength i he anfwered, He thought Mont- fdlrat and Antigua, which were much of the fame quality } the next St. Kitt'sj the hext Tobago^ the next St. Vincent's and Dominique, much of the fame quality } and the niext were Nevis and Barbadoes, which were the lowelt of all} but that Barbadoes was lower than Nevis. ^r« James Bradfliaw was next examined } who informed your committee. That he was a fugar broker, in London, and acquaint- ed with the trade, particularly from Jamaica, and alfo a fmall quantity from the Gren9|||[es. A/id being afked. What price the • rum from the Grenades generally bore at the maft here ? he an- fwered. From 2s. 4d. to 2S. 6d. he did not recollect what price it bore in autumn 1775) nor fpriilg 1776, having fold fo fmall a quan- .tity of thi^ fpecies of rum; And being afked, What was the gen- eral average price of Jamaica rum here at the maft ? he anfwerfed, About 3s. iterling ; he did not recollect what it was in autumn 1775} in fpring 1776 it was from as. 6d. to 3s. 6d. in autumn 1776, he believt d there was no material alteration. And being anted. What was the price of it at the maft, in fpring 1777? *** anfwered. That if that was the time of making the vidlualling con- tract, it advanced to 6s. per Gallon, but on the arrival of the fleet, about the beginning, of June, it fell to the ufual price : that the Witnefs hiqifelf fold ten puncheons of Grenada rum, in February 1776, at 5s. 3d. per gallon. And being afked. Whether he was much acquainted with the ftrength of Grenada rum ? he anfwered, ' He had %n very ftrong Grenada rum ? but not fo ftrong as that of Jamaica. - Then Mr. James Tyers being examined, informed your com- mittee he was a broker, and fold a good deal of rum by commif- ^on } chiefly fold that from Jamaica, very little eir*?. And being afked what was the average price of Jamaica rum in general, at the maft, in England ? he anfwered, It differed much as to the qua- lity, with refped to the ftrength and cleannefs of the flavour. And being asked, Whether he recollc£ted the average price of mer- chantable Jamaica rum in general, at the maft, in England, from the month of May 1774, to tl^ month of May 1778, in fterling ■ money ; he ftated to your comnc^ee the following average prices, -which he had taken from his own accounts : In >M In May 1774 June — July - Auguft — September -^ Oaober 1 2 2 2 2 2 5 per gall. 9 4 Sh I S9 1 November 1774 December — January 1775 February — March — — April 8. 2 it a 2 2 2 d. 3} per gall, 9 9i K May 1775 June — July - Auguft — September — r Oaober Average price trom Mfiy 1774 to May 1775, 2S. 7d, s. di s. d. 2 loj November 1775 2 3^ 2 8i December None, 2 8^ January 1776 3 5! 2 7i February — 40. 2 7i , ivlarch — 43 2 oi April — None. ■'■%■■ "■ »j . .■■■•*• ■-3 ■ Average price from May 1775 tif^ay 1776, 3s. In May 1776 June -^ July ^ W' Auguft — «!• September w paober ^ s. 2 2 2 2 2 d. 4i 9 9 4i 2i 4l November 1776 December — January 1777 February -^ March — April s. 2 3 2 2 2 3 Average from May 1776 to May 1777, 2S. lod. d. 9 o 6 "I 10 2i S. d. None. None. 2 oi None. 3 . ?i 1 May 1777 None, November 1777 June — N*e. #^' December -^ July -- 2 6 January 1778 Auguft ^26 February — September a 7 March -— Oftober ;*^^^*3 3J '^C*^ April — Average, from May 1777^0 May 1778, 2S. loid Your cotpmittee then examined I^ewis Cuthbert, Efquire ; v/hid informed them, that he had refided in Jamaica ever fince the y£ar 11760, to the 24th of July laft i that he had'been feveral times iri England and North-America during that time ; but his chief refi<. dence was in Jamaica. And being afked, in what capacity he reft- ded in Jamaica ? he anfwered, he Was concerned as attorney or agent ^o fever^J plantations, from 1760 to 1772; and from 1774 to the time of his leaving Jamaica, he was chiefly as ajplanter for himfelf|^: ?nd Y^^as agent for feveral gentlemern refiding in England. And be- ing ^Iked, Whether he was acquainted with the price of freight of rum t^om Jamaica to North-America in time of peace, before theiq difputes arofe with America ? he anfwered. He was, having fhipped large quai^titiea of ftores from Jamaica to diflf^rent parts of the conti- nent i that the freight of rum from Jamaica to North-America va- ried, according to circvmftances ; fo( the freight from Jamaica to ' , W a North- -■>.: ' '/ North-Ainerica was not an objeA to the ihips employed in that trade, as the freight they made in that voyage was confidered to be made on the cargo, and that the fhips generally returned in ballaH; to America. And being aflced. Whether he did not apprehend they were glad to carry any thing back to America with very low freight ? He anfwer- cd, in general they were j that he thought the freight from Jamaica to America was about 25s. Jamaica currency per puncheon. And being afked, Whether, in the beginning of 1776, there were hot particular circumftances, with regard to the fltuation of the North- America and Weft-Tndia trade, which muft naturally be fuppofed to make that freight higher i he anfwercd, certainly j for the ufual re- gular trade was entirely at an end. And being afked, How thin was the carriage of rum obliged to be managed ? he anfwercd, by hiring (hips for the purpofe. And being afked. Whether thefefliips generally went in ballaft to Jamaica ? he faid, The ufual trading Slips from London carriedvery little freight out in their trade to Ja- maica. And being furthw afked. Whether thofe fljips, after hav- ing delivered their cargo in America in 1776, could have returned any other way than in ballaft ? he anfwered, He apprehended not, cither to England or Jamaica;* the only lumber which came to Ja- maica was from the MiflifHppi, except fome very trifling parcels from Halifax. And being afked. Whether thofe circumftances, of the fhips going and com mg in ballaft, muft not confiderablyenr hance th-; price of freight? he anfwered, Yes. And being; afked, Whether he had Jeen the jeport of the Weft-India merchants on Mr, Atkinfon's rum contra6t ? he faid. He had, in the news-papers. And being then afked, Wivthtr, confidering the circumftances of the intercourfe between tjiv Wolt-Indies and N;th-America, and the trade from the Wcit-lndies to London, in 1776, he ^hpught t|ie freight and primage of lum from Jamaica to America could be rea-- fonably fet lower than 7 Id. per gallon ? he anfwered, He thought it was not too much, all circumftances confidered. And being afked, Whether he knew the prices of rum in Janraica, in the years 1759^ 1760, 1761, and 1762, which was a period when there was a de- mand for the fupply of the army and navy ? he anfwered, That the end of the year 1759, from Odobcr to December,-thc' agent vic- tuallers for the navy purchafed a large quantity of rum as high as 5s. Jamaica currency per gallon j in 1760, the witnefs himfelf fold, for thC' plantations in which he was cortcenipd as an agent, a large quantity ; that he remembered the price broke in March at 3s. and rofe in May to 3s, gd. and aifterwards I'ofe to 4s. 4-ld. before the ifl of Auguft, and in the end of the year the Witnefs fold foitie to the agent victuallers as high as 5s ;, in 1 761, the prices were pretty near- ly the fame, as to the feveral times of the years before mentioned i in the latter end of 1761, and beginning of 1762, the expedition to the Havannah occafioned a confiderable rife in the price of rum j at that early feafon of the year, when rums were always cheapeft, it "'"'■' r -was >^ •>>>/ ^(I !'i.'*,!;r^^;1: ■■vf ;;'ni»-r %» in that trade, be made on I: to America, were glad to ? He anfwer- From Jamaica cheon. And ere were not jf the North- 36 fuppofed to the ufual re- :d, How thin anfwered, by ler thefe fliips ufual trading ir trade to Ja- ps, after hav- iiave returned irehendcd not, h came to Ja- rifling parcels umftances, of mfiderably enr i being aflced, chants on Mr. news- papers, cumftances of ■America, and le thought the could be rea-r He thought it being afked, le years 1759^ icre was a de- red, That the the agent vic- m as high as s himfelf (old, agent, a larg6 ch at 3s. and jefore the ift d foitie to the re pretty near- re mentioned i expedition to ce ot rum ; at rs cheapeft, it -•• ' ' was wtras then worth 4s. and 4s. 4i.A. but Ke fpoke this from memory ;, that he' thought the average price in the early feafon of the year,, 7*1 time of peace, to be 2s. 6d. and in time o/war, 3s. at Kingfton^ that it was fometimes pui^chafed at the out- ports cheaper, but very feldom. And being afked. Whether he concei>ted that any order*;, fent out in confequence of a contraA made the 27th of March 1777, could have been executed in Jamaica by purchafes from the chief pore of the iiland i he anfv^red, it could notj becaufe rum rofe in May 1776 to 2iS. gd. and he apprehended, that the order of the 27th ^arch could not have reached Jamaica, to have taken cfFed:,< before the 22d May ; that he examined yefterday fome dupli'" .»- accounts he had for gentlemen proprietors here, for 1776, nd he found rum to have fold in that year, in March and April, at 2s. 6d. in May at 25. gd. that early in June it ro(e to 3s. arid in the beginning of July it fell to 2S. lo^d. at which price it continued till Oftober, when the Witnefs fold fome zi high as 3s. i^d^and that in any rum that he fold, he found none beyond that price In that year. And being aflced. Whether there was any difference in the times of the crops being {hipped off? he anfwered. That in the weftein part of the if- land the crops were early, and that very little rum was Jeft vtnCzld or unfliipped after the 26th July; that in the north fide, in the pa- rities of Saint Anh's, Saint Mary j Saint George, and Portland, the crops were much later. And being afked, Whether any confi(- derabte part of the crops in the Weftem par^of the ifl^nd was ihipped off blefore the 22d May, he anfwered. That in peaceable times there was a very great proportion ; 'jieihould fappofe near one half : In 1776 it certainly was the cafe. And bbing afked. Whether he knew the current price of merchantable rutnfor fale in Jamaica, and what difference there might be between that and the rum intended for thei London market i he anfwered,- That he did not know arijr difference in the quality of the rtim br^ ght to market in Jamaica; but that the gentlemen planters, who (hip rum 6n their own parti- cular account for England, commorily give it a much better quality than* to the common fale rum ? which, to encreafe the quantity, they make as bare as they can. And being afked. Whether it Was this lafl kind of rum that hei has been giving the prices qfi he an- fwered, It was ; arid that he meant by bare, '* bare proof." And being aflced. What was the current price of puncheons in time of peace ? he anfwered, 30s. currency, at Kinguon i and he believed in the out-ports 35s. And being further afked. What it might have rifcn to per puncheon fince the interruption of the American trade? he anfwered. That in 1776 they fold from 40 to 45s. and in 1777, rofe to ^us. And beinc alked. Whether he thought 3d. fterling per gallon for ca(k was a nigh or low charge ? he anfwered. It was certainly not a high allowance. And being afked. What Was the conMion wharfage allowance when a fliip was loaded in the ifland, the rum being ihipped by fihe il^m'si own bqats f J^e f^ifwer- ■'tlii^tnsiq ■•}!') AS- ' ,■ '■ ■■. -^ .. ^Vif ;» t, I sn? If ^?ta^^:. .cd, AcKingfton, is. 3d. currency per puncheon} in the out-porti, in Tome places, is. loid. and in others, as high as as. 6d. but he added, that the rate of wharf^.ge «yas fettled by a law in Jamaica at v'.is, 3d. all over the ifland, and when they were allowed more than f^at, it was by agreement among the merchants, without which, vJthere would be a penalty; that the purchafer generally paid the '^harfage: The planters puncheons were feldom fit for {hipping, ..ftherefoire they lyere generally darted into other puncheons. And , -being adced. If there was a large quantity of rum to be {hipped, could it be done by the {hip's boats i he anfwered. If the {hips were properly fupplied with craft it might. And being adced. Whether ; the {hips wece fo provided as to anfwer the quick mipping of a large ! quantity ? he anfwered. That in peaceable times the freight of rum ■■was a very de{ireable freight to the {hips employed in the trade gene- jjjrally} and therefore, if they ha^not craft enough of their own, they generally hired craft at their own expence to bring the rum from the feveral barcadeers on board the {hips. And being g{ked, ; Whether he thought the rum in 1776 could have been {hipped fo (cheap, taking all the circum{lances together, as in peaceable times i t-he anfwered. That till Augu{l 1776 there were very few American ^|)rivateers in our feas, fo as to endanger the bringing the rum in fmall craft any di{lance ; and he did not think any extraordinary ^«xpence could have been incuvicd before that time ; but that now jt was very different, as there were a number of fmall armed Ame-. o<^irican veiTels that had greatly annoyed the trade. And being aiked, >^Whethcr he thought 5s. fterlin^ {hipping charges per puncheon was 'it reafonable allowance ? he faid. That in order' to anfwer that quefr <%ion, he {hould know the bargain made. by the contractors with the ^^ips employed in this trade ; if thofe fhips were not fufiiciently fupr 'hplied with craft, and that the contradiois were obliged to be at the whole expence of bringing the rum from the different barcadeers , on board thofe vefTels, he {hould think 5s. ftcrling an ample allowance. .(And being afked. Whether he did not thitik, if the contractor was 1^0 be at the expence of {hipping the rum hinifelf, that in that cafe [ 'hii agreement for freight would have been lower than if the {hips flmafters themfelvcs were to have loaden the rum with their own 'iboats ? he anfwered. That as the craft made ufe of "by ftvips in the vfWeft-India trade for {hipping the cargoes was an article of cpnfide- l^able expence, he {hould think regard would be had to that cir- iifcumftance in any bargain made. And being afKcd, Whether he fthought that the lowering of freight from that circumftance would .be enough to counterbalance the natural encreafe of it, from the 'Tfihip making two voyages in ball aft, inftead of the freight of rum ^Jbeing only a back carriage,, as in times of peace ? he anfwered, Cer- 'ftainly it would not'} that the j^^d. per gallon, as allowed for freight •-from Jamaica to America, by the report of the referees, would he infinitely too much, if regard was not to be had to the particular circumftances out-portt, Sd. but he Jamaica at more than )Ut which, y paid the • Chipping* ons. And be (hipped, B fliip* were 1, Whether g of a large ight of rum trade gene- their own, ng the rum jeing ?(ked, n (hipped fo cable times ? !W American ; the rum in extraordinary lut that now armed Ame- being a(ked, luncheon was ret that quefr iors with the iciently fupr to be at the jarcadeers on [le allowance. Dntra6*or was ^t in that cafe if the (hips h their own > (hips in the [le of opnfide- to that cir- Whetber he (iance would it, from the jight of rum ifwercd, Cer- ed for freight tes, would he [the particular ircumftances circumi^anccs of the cafe. Thdn the Witnefs was afked, having faid that the ufual courfe of trade from Jamaica was for the (hips td ; go out two-thirds in ballaft, whether he had any reafon to con- clude, that fuch courfe of trade was altered in 1776^ and that the (hips went out full laden from England ? he anfwered. He had not. '.. And being afked, Whether, in 17764 various commodities were not fent from England, which ufcd to be had from' America ? he faid, In 1776 very little; but in 1777 a great deal j confifting of a good deal of provifions, fome lumber, and lamp oil. And being further a(ked, when he faid that rum was at 2S. gd. in May ; 38. in Junej 2S. lo^d. 1 July; and 3s. ijd. in Oftober, did the Wit- nefs fpeak only of rum which he ^Id himfelf ? he anfwered. He did. And being alked, where it was fold P he anfwered, at Kingfton, Old Harbour, and Morant-Bay, but moftly at Kingfton. Being further afked, Whether he fold his rum at either of thofe places better than other people ? he faid. He apprehended not; that it fold higher at Kingfton than at the other places, by id. 2d. and fome- , times 3d. per p;allon. And being afked. Whether he recoUeiSled at which of the places he fold the greateft quantities ? he anfwered, at one plantation, out of 120 puncheons, he fold 18 at 2s. 6d. 32 at 2s. <)d. 14 at 3s. and all the reft at 2S. lo^d. and he added, that the whole of this rum was fold by the ift of Auguft. And he was aflced. Whether one of the reafons for felling it higher at Kingfton was not on accbunt of the expence of drogueridge f he anfwered. It was. And being afked. Whether he heard of any rum being fold that year in the ifland at 2s. 6d. currency ? he anfwered, yes ; he fold ^: fome fo himft J ; that in the month of March and April it was all ' fold at 2s. 6d.' And being afked. Whether there was any rum to be had from the out-ports, in and after the month of June in that year ? he anfwered, There was a good deal left unfiiipped at chat time. And being afked. Whether it did not rife in proportion to the Kingfton market ? he anfwered, yes. And being afked. What price it fold for at the ports a- that time ? he anfwered, from as. gd. to 3s. but rather more at 2s. gd. than 3s, And ^'c;,ng afked, Whe- ther he ever heard of any rum in 1776 being fold under 2s. 6d. f he anfwered. He did not recoliedl:. And being afked, Whether he ap- prehended the ailcwance of 24 per cent leakage, before (hipping, to be a high or low one ? he anfwered. That he was not of his own knowledge fufficiently acquainted with every circumflance attending „ the purchafe and fale of rum in Jamaica, by the contradiors, to de- f termine that queftion. And being afked. What was the eflablifhed rate of commiffion in the ifland for the purchafe of rum f he anfwer- ed,, 5 per cent, currency ; that he had purchafed vaft quantities him- felf, and never charged lefs, nor ever heard of any charged lefs, by perfons of eftablifhed buflnefs. And being afked. Whether he had ever known lefs taken than 5 per cent, and in what cafes ? he an- fwerc^j That he had heard th^ fupercargoes from Briftol and Liver- ! . ,:rff> ''m ' ; ■ " pool ■>r i. *'■ '■ >-,:^:-^: ;'(■ wu '.';» TT . ! Mil \V pool had charged no :nore than 2t per cent, upon their fales^ and 2s per cent, on their purchafes j but thefe fupercargoes were in ge- neral the mafters of the ihips. And being further a(ked. Whether thefe captains of (hips made purchafes in any degree of comparifon for quantity to the purchafes made by the eftabliihcd agents refide'nt in, the ifland ? he faid. He apprehended they did not. And being asked. Whether, when the rum was exported from Jamaica on the planter's own account, and configned to him or his correfpondent in England, were the prices marked in the invoice a good rule whereby to judge of the price of rum, and of other charges attend- ing thereon, at the time of fuch exportation? he anfwercd. That it had been an, invariable cuftom with -him, in the management of the efiates entrufled to his care in Jamaica, to invoice the fugar and rum exported ftotq thofe eftates for the owners accounts, at a certain ftated price, always lower than what was deemed to be the market price of thofe articles at Jamaica, becaufe the commiffion paid to the agents in Jamaica, for conducting plantations, was by law 6 per cerit. on the grofs produce of fuch eilate, and the price of tnat produce was always according to the invoices ; that it had often happened that he had invoiced rum at 28. 6d. for the proprietor, when the fale price at ICingfton had been 3s. And being afked. Whether the like method Was followed by other agents i he anfwered. He knew many that did. And being afked, Whether, fuppofmg the rum to be (hipped at different places, and at different times, he thought 2I per cent, would be a common allowance for leakage i he anfwered. If the rum remained one month upon the iiland after purchafe, and if it was ftartea r.:?"i the planters ca(k into a caik to be provided by the pur- chafer, and was iv^ h- conveyed from feveral barcadeers at any dif- tance from the (hip, he thou^l/. 2' per cent, allowance was not too much. And being afked. Whether, upon the purchafe of fo large a quantity as 2 or 300,000 gallons, muft not that be the cafe i he anfwered. Probably it would. George Ogilvie, Efquire, being then examined, faid. That he had reAded in Jamaica upwards of 20 years, and left it the- latter end of 1777 > that he had fome e dates there, and redded on his eftate in 1776. And being afked. Whether he fold any rum in that year 'i he anfwered. That he fold moft of his crop, the greateft part of which was fold after the month of July ; and he added, that his eftate was at St. Mary's, in the north part of the ifland, where the crops were late. And being afked, At what price he fold thv-; rum I he anfwercd. That the beginning of the crops, about the months of May and June, he fold a few puncheons at 2S. 7|d. currency; after that, about the latter end of June;, it began to fell at 2S. gd. and the puncheons fold at 40s. the whole year, in that part of the 1 country, and he did not hear they were cheaper any where elfe. And being asked. Whether that was a general price, or did he fell it particularly well ? he anfwered. That the gentlemen in his neigh- bourhood| y I t _.- I ther 'A V', . jm^^)tii^^...-M,i^- '\ --ei mmoB mmm wmm *, V ./.. m^. 1.66 1 ther the price of rum af Jamaica rofe in time of war, or in expecta- tion of a war ? he anfwered, No doubt of it. Then John Cruikflianks, Efquire, being examined, infornied your committee. That he had refidcd in Jamaica upwards of twenty years, and had a plantation in Saint Mary's parilh, on the north fide of the ifland ; that he left Jamaica in 1773. And being asked, In what capacity he refided there ? he anfwsreo. He was foine time deputy provoft martial. And being asked, Whether he had any rum fold there in 1776 ? he anfwered, He had, and that they began to fell about May. And being asked. At what price he fold it from the month of May to Dccembej, in 1776 ? he anfwered, He fold the moil part of it at 2S. 9d. at the north fide, and he underftood by his agents that it was moftly fold fo in that year. And being asked. Whether he had any account from his agents with him ? he anfwered. He had. And being further asked. When his agents fhipped rum ortnfigned to him in Engl^^nd, at what price was it ufual to charge it in the invoice ? he anfwered, At the lowefl price it fold for in th«t year : the witnefs then ftated, from his account of fales of .rum^ thdl^rices he fold his rum at, as follows ; nine pun- cheons in May, at 2s. 6d. and one at 2s. (^d. two puncheons in July, at 2s. gd. one puncheon in Auguft, at zs. gd. and 31 pun- cheons at 2s. 7|d. II puncheons in September, at 2S. gd. 32 pun- cheons in 0£lober, at 2^: cjd. and one at 2s. 6d. And the witnefs further faid. That all this rum he has mentioned was of the ifland proof, and fuch as would fink oil, and not of the proof of the Lon- don market ; what they fend to the London marlcet is 5 ner cent, above the fink-cU proof. And Mr. Atklnfon llnnfing propofed to your committee, a paper figned by the members of Lloyd's cofFee-houfe, and dated 9 May, 1778, with their opinion upon a reference made to them by Mr. Atkinfon; and alfo tv/o other papers, viz. an invoice and proteft relating to ihc fhip Sally being lof^, which papers your comm^ittee have thought proper to receive as additional evidence upon this head, [which being read, are hej:eup;o annexed in the Appendix, ■N°40, 41, 42.] And your committee then examined Beeflnn Long, Efquire j who being aHced, Whether a man o^ charafter in buiinefs could ha.e had his gords infured from Jamaica to London in 1776, without fpeci- fying the particular fliips ? he anfwered. He fhould think he might, at prober f':,ifons ; he had done it this year. And beino alked, WH* iCr he imagined fuch infurance could have been moue on fhip or (hips ? he anlwered, He was not qaite fu-e of that ; but if you were toconfider all fiiips at the highel'c prcir mm, he (houid think it Alight be done. And being afked, If they would do it for ten gui- neas, upon naming a good Ihip, what would they a(k upon the body of (hipor fhips? he anfwered, He fliould think twelve guineas, fail- ing on or before the iH Auguft with convoy, and a running ihip without ccnvoy, from 15 to 20 guingas» And being alked, Whe- . ' ther Mr.. ' « r <7 1 ^' or m expect:^ ither he ever knew, of his own knowIedge«i of fuch a policy evef I being executed upon the body of ihip or ihips ? he aniwered. He Icould not recollect, but he could, he believed, infure all his own ifliips without naming thtoj, becaufe they were all (hips of reputa- l^ion, and known to be good fliips. 4 Then Mr. William Bell, who has been an infurance broker about I25 years, being examined* was afked, Whether a man of character 'tj the city of London could get his goods infured from port to port, without fpecifying the (hip or (hips in which fueh goods were load- B(l ? he anfwered, Moft undoubtedly. And being further afked. Whether a man of that defcjfiption could have got it done in 1776, Ifrom Janfaica to North-America ? he anfwered. He had no doubt jf it. And being aficed. Whether he recolledied any inftance of its liaving been done in that year ? he anfwered, He did not recolledl: my particular circumftance of its beinj done from the Weft- India iflands to America, becaufe he was no way concerned in any of the contrafts; but he had no doubt it could be done; Ihat there was a fmall difference in the premium when it'^^ iras fhip or fhips ; it might be one or two guineas pei&*cent. iad being afked. Whether there was any imaginable rifk in trade, late! intelligibly by a merchant of character, that could not meet . , , i^itn infurance in London ? he anfwered. That he did not imagine J was, ev—y rifk having its price j that even ftiips out of time irere objedts of infurance, in proportion to the time fhe might bav9 j)een expelled to arrive. Then William Crichton, Efquire, being afked. Whether he jinew of any goods, in 1776, being infured by any fliip or (hips, without fpecifying the name of the (hip,L,^e anfwered. That he nade feveral infurances of that fort himfelf, from the Wefl-Indies London, or any other part of Great-Britain ; and that he could [ot define whether the goods were to go to London or Glafgow ; lathe had within thefe few days aKo made infurancevof the fame 3rt, to a very confiderable amount, from the Leeward -Iflands to rreat- Britain, And being asked. Whether he knew of any body % [aving infured from the Wefl-Indies to North-America, without i pacifying the fhip or port of delivery? he anfwered, He did not pcolledt at prefent any fuchjnfumncc having been made; but that h^d not the fame accefs to know of fuch infurances, as he was 3t an underwriter. And being further asked, Whether he ima- ,r Ined, jn 1776, that there was any dl^iculty in getting an infurance ; bon goods from the Weft-India iflands to America, under the ex- t relfion of Hiip or (hips, without fpecifying the particular fhip or . ... lips ? he anfwered. It was always more difficult to infure goods ' v fhip or f(iips, without fpecifying them, than goods by fpecifying jipsj but he did not apprehend the difficulty was greater in 1776 Ian either b|eforc or fince j he (hould rather think lefs j becaufe [ere could not be that objection, on the part of the infurers, to Vder-^nting goodsi fey fhip or Clips from the Weft- Indies to North I I 2i America, i. j.# ''^1 I • '!) i ■■!'] ! J M' ■/(•'■ « .,* /' :■■<.'': • ■*■■■ '^ i^y %6n ] " Amtrita, tvhich thef make to policies of this kind in general, viJ that they tannot determine how much they have under-written uponf one bottom ; whereas, in the infurances of rum from the Weft-Inl dies to North America, there could be But one proprietor of thJ «argo, .ihd' therefore the quantum of the infurer's fubfcription migha from the nature of the cafe be abfolutely defined. And being aikei] Whether the infurers, without knowing the particular tonnage d the ^ips that were to carry the goods infured, can judge how muci| they rilk upon one bottom ? he anfwered, Certainly not ; but al infurances on goods by (hip or (hips beingfor a liimted fum total the infurer knows th^t he cannot W more upon pnc bottom thai the amount of his whole fubfcription; but infurances by ihipo fliips, generally, if not always, refer to a jiumbt.r of (hips; if i were meant to make an infurance upon one fliip, it would be fo exj preffed, " Name unknown :" that the witnefs made an infuranoL on a fhip from the Weft-Indies to London yefterday, without knowl ing her name, her tonnage, or condition. And being alkcd, fvhat^ rate was the premium ? he anfwered, At eight guineas wii consby, being the fame that he paid upon the goods he has fpeq fied } this infurance was for ten hogflbeads of fugar, and was tak by one fingle underwriter. And being asked. If he knew whethij the other freighters fpecified their particular quantities or not ? jinfwered. He did not, but he could have infured her if (he had' be filled with fugars, at that rate j that he had done above 6,oco| \vithin this fortnight on goods by (hip or (hips, owing to theirni iaving thofe regular advices from the Leeward Iflands, with whia his trade laid, that they had from Jamaica ; as the packet retuir dij-eilly from Jamaici-to Great- Britain, which afforded an oppq tunity to the gentlemen of the Jamaica trade of receiving advicel the intended fliipments by their correfpondents. And being aftej Whether there was any reafon to think that advices were more uf certain froifn Jamaica to I^ondon than from any other ifland >. I anfwered. That they were more recent and more expeditious. Ai being afked, Whether he apprehended that Mr, Atkinfon, haviJ wade a contract, on the 27th of March 1776, to deliver a quantij of rum from Jamaica to North America, could have on that (confequently before they could reclive advices from Jamaica,! even acquainting their correfpondents with their orders) havcl fured that adventure under the expreflion of fhip or (hips, wi hi fpecifying either names of (hips or tonnage ; he anfwered, Thai there had been few or no captures, none, he befieved, exccpJ tranfports, that they had heard of at that time, the witnefs thouf there would have been no di^culty in making fuch infurance, ua ,a communication, as ufual in fueh cafes, to the infurers, of all ( circumftances of the cafe j fuch as the quantity of the goods^ 1 extent of the fum to be infured j the two periods between wbl ^be f ifque was to cpmn^ence ^ and the expe^ation the afT^ired hal procurf ■^ without knovfl I 69 j procuring fuch and fuch vefTels, and at a premium lower than that gllowed by the referees. And the Witnefs being afked, when h9 mentioned ** £xpe could not be procured upon.^ he anfwered. He knew of. none, at fome premium or other ; but the "premium depended up©n the cir- pumftances of the time when the infurance was tendered, and would be higher or lower, in proportion to the greater or lefler number of captures that had happened at or abosst the time ; that upon ^he firft ■ ' alarm of a war with France, about two months ago, it was very dif. ficult to to get an infurance on fhip or fhips, and the premium was much higher than it is now } that the panic has in a great degree fubfided. Then Jacob Wiljcinfon, Efquire, a member of the houfe, being examined, informed your committee, That he was acquainted with the infurance bufmefs. And being alked, Whether he knew of any difficulty in procuring infurance upon adventures by ftiip or fhips from the Weft-Indies and Jamaica to North- America, when the par- i ticular (hip or fhips was not fpecified ? he anfwered. He perceived v po difficulty. And being afleing (hewn the cafe ftated to the genfiemeii un- derwriters ?t Lloyd's cofFee-houie^ he was aflced, Whether he thbught the coijtpdor could immediately, or at fome fhort time, have infured h: . risk of rum from Jamaica to America, under the term of ft; ^r ftips, tranfportable within the period of twelve months? he i , fwered. He was clear in opinion that he might have inade the infurance on ftip or fhips, exprefTed on rum, either before he made the contraft, or at any time after he pleafed. Apd being asked. Whether there were not many underwriters whofe names were not fubfcribed to the paper ? lie an fwered. There were fome. And being asked, Whether the infurance brokers wexe nop iti general the beft perfons from whom information wasy to be had upon this fubr jeft ? he anfwered. Yes, he {hould think To j if he wanted an infu- rance, he would go to a broker, and not to an underwriter. And being asked. Whether this method of infuring upon ftip or ftips was pradifed in former wars? he anfwered, Yes, it was. And be- ing further examined, he wad asked. Whether, in his opinion, Mef- ficurs'Long and Neave, in their report, made a fufficicnt allowance for infurance ? he anfwered. That he thqught they allQ\yed a great; deal too much. Your committee then proceeded to enquire into the methods of payments for rum fent to North-America. And Milward Rowe, ^iquire, being aflced. Whether he knew the method adopted by the Treafury in paying the rum contractors, for rum fent to North- America, from the beginning of the year 1776 to the prefent time ? he informed your committee, That he believed it was done upon the certificate from the commander in chief of its having been re- ceived in America. And being afked. If there Was any other paper neceflary to be prefented, in order to procure the warrant ? he an- fwered. That the contra6tor always writes his letter to the board of treafury, deflring to be paid fuch a fum, founded upon fuch cer- tificate, which was all that was neceffary ; the certincate muft be produced, in order to procure the warrant : And he further faid. That no other paper was -neceflary to be produced ;, none at all. And being a(i' ',■■ thods of d Rowe, ;d by the ) North- nt time ? ne upon been re- John t 7t ] John kobittfon, Sfquire, being examined, was afked, Whether the contraflors for rum received any payments from the Treafury be- fore they produced a certificate or certificates, figned by the officer commanding his Majefty's troops at the port of importation, or com- miflary, or deputy, or affiftant commiflary of ftores there, or by fuch other perfon or perfons as wrre authorized to receive the faid rum, ahd to fign fuch certificate or certificates ; which certificate or cer- tificates are to fpecify the quantity of rum delivered, and to have an- nexed thereto the certificate or clearance of the officers of the cuf- toms of the iflands from whence fuch rum was exported, or an at- tefted copy thereof, as is particularly fpecified in the terms of the contrad ? he anfwered. That the payments to the contractors for rum were, to the heft of his recolleftion, made upon the report off the comptroller of the army accounts, upon a reference to him of the certificate of the commander in chief, or commiflary, or deputy commiflary, or other perfons authorized to receive the fame'; what thofe certificates were, the witnefs begged leave to refer to the cer- tificates themfelves j that he could not exadlly fpeak to what thofe certificates or reports contained, nor could he fay whether any cer- tificate of the cuilom-houfe officer was annexed thereto, as that part of the treafurv bufinefs did not happen to fall within his department. And being auced, Whofe duty it was to tranfa£t this bufinefs in the treafury ? he anfwered. That the warrants were generally prepared by the clerk in whofe department this bufinefs fell j that they were gi- ven to one of the chief clerks to infpe£t, and, he believed, generally delivered over by him to Sir Grey Cooper, before they were offered to his Majefty to be figned. And being a(ked. What officer in the trea- fury was It whofe particular duty it was to examine the certificates from Nbrth Anjerica of the delivery of rum there, and of the clear- ances Annexed, from the Weil-Inuia iflands^ from whence fuch rum was exported, before fuch?" certificates and clearances were referred to the comptroller of the army accounts ? he anfwered, That the oflce of the comptroller of the army accounts was, he apprehended, conftituted for the purpofe of examining all fuch accounts, upon a reference made to them by the lords of trie treafury, and for them to report thereon for their Icrdfhips information ; that he apprehended the bufinefs of the fecretary, or any other officer of the treafury, previous to fuch reference, was to lay the certificates or papers be- fore the board, and to receive and execute their orders for referring them. And being afked, Who received fuch certificates or clear- ances ? he anfwered. That it was the dutv of the fecretaries to re- ceive them, and all other papers, when offered ; and the fenior fe- cretary generally offered them to the board And being aflied. Whether it was the board that ordered the reference to be made to the comptroller of the army accounts ? he anfwered, Almoft' gene- rally. And being afked. Whether all the contrails made by the treafury were entered in the office of the comptroller of the army accounts f ,*■■ .•^ it. ^mam ,'i •A ' h im l; ■■ !.'!i s , r 7* 1 iccoiuits ? he anfwerecl, Ht believed fo, or elfe he did not appre-j hend the comptroller |K>uld report, as he generally did, that it was agreeable to contract } which he apprehended was always a part of the report. And being further afked. Did not the board of treafury, when they made fuch reference to the comptroller, fend him all the documents- neceflary, as chey are fpecified in the contra£^, to entitle the contractor to payment \ he anfwered. That hd apprehended the board of treafury fent the certificates or papers of application, what- ever they were, to the comptroller, and apprehended he was to judge whether they were proper vouchers, according to the terms of the contrail, fo a« to entitle the contradtor, or perfon applying, to payment. And being asked, whether the original contract was preferved in the treasury ? he anfwered. He believed it was. And being asked. Whether it was not ufual for that board to examine the certificates before they referred them to the comptroller ? he an- fwered. He believed not ; the office of the comptroller of the army accounts was^ he apprehended, conftituted exprefly for that pur- pofe } the treafury refer the papers to that office, for the purpofe of examining whether they are agreeable to contract. Your committee then read the following certificates, and comp- trollers report, viz. Mr. Atkinfon's certificate, dated New York, l6 March 1777 j ^^^^ certificate, dated Pencader, 6 September i777i.alfo Sir James Cockburn's certificate, dated 12 December 1776} alfo Mr. French's certificate, dated ift June 1777 ; and alfo the comptroller of the army accounts report on Sir James Cock- burn's certificate, dated 3 March 1777 [which are hereunto annex* edinthe appendix, N<>* 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47.] And the witnefs being further examined, was asked. When the comptroller of the army accounts reports any deficiency in the cer- tificates, what is the mode of proceeding adopted by the treafury f he anfwered, T^e treadiry, in fome cafes^ refer the report back to the comptioUer, with further. dire<^ions } in other cafes the comp'-< troUer is directed to attend -y when the board take the report ii]|p confideration, and upon hearing him, make fuch order as to theln feembef^. And being asked. Whether he recol levied that the board of treafury ever ftopt or fufpended the payment of any contra£lor, till he produced all the certificates required, by the contract itfelf ? he anfwered. He could not fpeak particularly from his memory to that, but, as far' as he recolle vantage of the public ? he anfwered, He thought the power at prefent was fufficient for that office ; but if that bufinefs was ex- tended, then greater powers would be neccfTary, and it would cer- tainly prove advantageous to the public. And being further asked. Whether the comptrollers of the army accounts haca power to re- jefl or to check any contrafl that appeared to him to be improvi- dent^ he anfwered. He fhould think they had no fuch power over the contra^, only of the exccuiow of it. And your committee think proper, upon this head, to refer to the following papers } viz. Invoice, dated 14 October 1776, of 849 puncheons of Jamaica rum, and 95 hogfheads of melafles, by the agents of MefTrs. Mure , and Company, according to their tender of 8th September 1775, amounting to 27,1641. 4s. 4d. [Copy of which is before annexed in the appendix. No. 36.] The treafury minutes of the i6h of Augufl 1776, directing payment of the above fum. [Copy of which is alfo before annexed in the appendix. No. 18.] King's warrant, dated 16 October 1776, for payment of the faid t fum [alfo before annexed in the appendix, No. 19.] Certificate, dated Quebec, 7 November 1776, of Sir James Cockburn's delivei-y of 40,296 gallons of Wefl India rum [Copy of which is before annexed in the Appendix, No. 45.] r Comptroller's report on Sir James Cockburn's certificate, dated ; the 3d. of March 1777, 16,050 gallons, 3,2iol. [Copy of which , is alio annexed in the Appendix, No. 47.] Comptroller's report on two certificates of Sir James Cockbum, ;;;-;:.;,^\-:": . ' • ■ 40,296 ■W''l f. ■-,P: ■ .^•,:r ;.>!-/ ent of the faid 40,290 gallons, 8*059!. 48. which ftates an oraiffion in not cer« tifyiog from whence the rum came f Copy of which is alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 48.] Extract of the extraordinary account, December 18, 1776, to Sir Jamri Cockburn, for 40,296 gallons, 8,050!. 4s. [Copy of which is before annexed in the Appendix, No. 39J Treafury minutes, 13 November 1777, relating to the comp^ troUer's report upon the omiffion in Sir James Coclcburn's certificate [Copy of which is alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 49.] Copy of a letter from Mr. Burfoot to the Treafury, dated 21 Ja- nuary 1777* referring proof relative to the rum (hipped on board the (now Peggy, at Barbadoes [which is before annexed in the Ap- pendix, No. 37. J Stated account of rum (hipped on board the faid (hip [Copy of \vhich is alfo before annexed in the Appendix, No. 38.] Extraft of the extraordinary account, January 16, 1777* to Mr. Burfoot, for rum» 3jOOo1. January 23, to Mr. 3urfoot, for rum, 980I. 2St 9d, [Copy of which is alfo before ahne^ted in the Appendix, No. 39.] Certificate, dat$d New- York, 16 March 1777, with a reference, of Mr. Atkinfon's having delivered 37,338 gallons, certifying nont* payment, Agned General Howe [Copy qi which is alfo before an- nexed in the Appendix, N«. 43.] Certificate, dated jPeqcader, head-qyarters, 6 September, 17779 with a refei'ence, of Mr, French's. having delivered 46,482 gallons, certifying non-payment [Copy of which is alfo before annexed in ^he Appendix, No. 44.] Certificate, dated the ift of June 1777, ^''^ reference, of Mr, J'^nch's having delivered 39,780 gallons [Copy of which is alfo before annexed in the Appendix, No, 46.] Comptroller's report, dated 22d Odlober, 1777, on the reference of Mr. French's certificate, dated the 4th Auguft, 1777, ftating it to be informal, by not certifying the (Ircngth of the rum [Copy of \vhich is alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 50.] Comptroller's report, dated 11 December, 1777, on the reference of Mr. French's certificate^ dated 6th September, 1777 [Copy of which is alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 51 J Extract of the extraordinary account, November 7, 1777, to Mr, French in part payment, 7,5001. December 24th j in full, i,796U Ss. [Copy of which is alio before annexed in the Appendix, No. 39.] Treafury Minutes, 13 November, 1777, relating to the com p- (roller*5 firfl report, ftating Mr. French's certificate to be informal [Copy of which is alfo before annexed in the Appendix, No. 49.} Treafury minutes, 19 December, 1777, relating to the comj)- troller's fecond r^ort on Mr. French's certificate f yo^y of which is ^\fQ annexed in the Appendix, No. 52.] , -, :r li I : ! ■■"■',1 ^Hi ■ 1: S 1 1 1 t i ■■;;.; z ■ f ■• f 76 J ji<:.^ ; Extraft of a letter from John Rpbinfon, Efquire, to Sir William Howe, dated 14 January 1777, faying, that the rum certificates from him were very corre chants had heW rum higher thm the contra<5l price. ^■'"■'"J* Copy of Treafury minutes of the 13th, 22d, and 24th January, and the loth of February, 1778, relative to Sir William Howe's letter of the 30th November 1777, declining to fix the price on the (aid contra^, and refers it to Mr. Fuller. ^ Copv of a letter from Meflrs. Mure and Co. to the Lords df the Treafury, dated 12 January ly^S, preiUng the fettlement of the faid contra^. ..iv '.-*■.'■■♦ 'ii'< miu^-j !-;••:,/.• -^jt ■••;«; «l4;'f5J ibu; Copy (if a lettiw from Meflrs. Mar* aiid Co. i&ttA ii jahXiarf, 1778, deliring that the price might be fettled by arbitrators. Copy of a letter from Meflrs. Mure and Co. dated 24th January, 1778, on the fettlement of the faid contraft. Copy of a letter from Meflfrs. Mure and Co. datdd 12 Februaryv 1.778, acquiefcing in the reference to Mr. Fuller. Obfervations of the Treafury on the faidcontratft. .vtesiynccj Extra i ■7 [ 7» ] ExtnA of a letter from Sir William How« to Mr. Robinfbn,- ^ated i^ January 1778, acquainting him of his approval of the laft mentioned contra^. £xtra£t of a letter from Mr. Chamier to Mr. Robinfon, dated 24 September, 1776, acquainting him of his having; purchafrd S or Qoo hogflieads of Windward Ifland rum, at 31. (l^rling per gallon. Extradl of a letter from Mr. Chamier to Mr. Robinfcn, dated 15 February 1777, acquainting him of his having purchafed 140 iiogiheads of rum at 38. for fear of falling (hort before the n :w Cfop. Extradl of a letter from Mr. Robinfon to Mr. Chamier, dated ^5 Npycmber, 1776, acquainting him of the approval of the lords of the treafury of his purchafe } and alfo that the price had varied here, apd come lower, from many circumftanccs. . £xtra£t of a Inter from Mr. Chamier to Mn Robinfon, dated 31(1: March 1777, expreffing his happinefs at their lordihips appro- val of his purchafe, Your committee then proceeded to examine into the manner adopted of granting licences for the exportation of rum ; and John Robinfon, Efquire, was defired to inform the committee what li- cences were granted for the exportation of this rum, and by whofe {authority ; he anfwered, That in the firft inftance, tp the beft of his recolle£tion, the contractor applied to the treafury, fignifylng the ihip they had taken up, and defiring dire£kions might be given to the admiralty, or commanders in America, for the permitting fuch ihip to carry fuch rum } the letter from the treafury was a figr n^fication of the rum to be fent to the army by the contractor } but the licences were, he believed, in eeneral granted by the admiralty. And being afked. Whether that lignification from the tr-eafury to the admiralty fpecifled the quantity of rum that the licence yiras to permit the contractor to export from the faid ifland ? he anfwered. As far as he recollected, the letter from the treafury ftated, that the contractor had agreed with them for a quantity of rum to be deli- vered for the ufe of the army in America, and defcribed the Ihip, and the quantity of rum to be put on board for the ufe of tl\e faid army. And being afked. Whether the fame figniftcation was given by the board of treafury, with refpeCt to the quantity, to the feveral cuftom-houfcs in the iflands ? he anfwered. That wherever fignifi- cations were given by the treafury, he believed the fame mode was followed i but whether any general directions were given he could not with certainty fpeak to. George Jackfon, Efquire, fecretary to the admiralty, bei^ ex>' amined, was afked, Whether the board granted any licences; for ex- porting of rum from the Weft-India iflands i he anfwered. He be- lieved there were three fpecial licences granted, the beginning of the year 1776} but that they, did not defcribe the exaCt quantities of puncheons, only the cargoes. And being afked. To whom were (hole licences granted ? he anfwered, He believed, one to Mr. Ha^ •-^"^A,*nj< ''•••♦ *-. # . i: ^9 1 kIc French, and two to Sii James Cockburn i that there was and-< thei in July 1776, to Mr. Burfoot, Cpecifying the quantity, which was 550 puncheons, but that was upon application from the trea- fury. And being; afked. Whether there was any application from the beard of treauiry to the board of admiialty, for licences to export rum from the Weil-India iflands to Nortn America, flnce thofe mentioned in 1776 ? he anfwered. He did not rccolleft any. And being further aflced. Whether he knew of any licences having been granted by the commanders of his Majefty's fleet, for the exporta- tion of rum from the Wcfl-India iflands to North America^ h«, an- fwered. He had neither heard of or feen any. Then, ■ii,'-:' /^' _ William Knox, Efquire, under fecretary of (late for the Ameri- can department, being a(ked, Whether any application was made from the fecretary offtate's office to the board of admiralty, for li- cences to export rum from the Weft-India iflands^ to North Ame- rica ? he anfwered. None, to his knowledge. And being further afked. Whether he knew of any licences granted by any of the com- manders in chief of the ar'ny in America, for that purpofe? he an- fwered. There were no returns made by the commanders in chief, to that office, of their having granted any fuch licences; that the whole of their knowledge, upon that head, had been communicated to the committee in the lad papers prefented to them. And being aflced. Whether he knew of "the governors 01 the iflands having granted any licences for the above purpofe ? he faid. That in anfwer to Lord George Germain's flrft circular letter to the governors of the iflands, the governors had taken occafion to fay, that they had granted licences, but that in future they would onferve the direc- tions of that letter ; that the witnefs had no other knowledge of the governors having granted fuch licences. And being afked, Whe- ther there were any orders fent from the fecretary of flate's office to the commanders in chief in America, to fend returns of the licences granted by them ? he anfwered. There were not. And being fur- ther afked. Whether there were any orders of fuch fort fent to the governors of the iflands ? he anfwered. None. And your committee beg leave to refer to the feyeral papers upon this head to the Appendix, viz. n •; ",;£,>,: ' lk..s', ... ... -^y--- in 5=3 !■■ :'•( y !'i': I ;! f,' T 80 ] Copy o^ a letter from Sir William Howe and Lord Howe to Lieu- tenant Governor Arbuthnot, of the 20th April 1777, ftating the prejudice ai ifing to the army by granting of licences ; that the rebels were fupplied ; and defiring that no more licences might be granted for rum and melafles [alio annexed in the Appendix, No. 61.] Copy of a letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to Lord George Germain, dated 12 September 1777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 62.] Copy of a letter from Lord Vifcount Howe to Philip Stephens, Efquire, dated 18 June 1777, mentioning the licences from the iflands, that the rebels were furniflied with rum, and the circular letters which he had fcnt to recommend the retraining of that prac- tice [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 63.] Copy of a circular letter from Lord Vifcount Howe and Sir Wil- liam howe to the Governors of the Welt-india ifland;;, dated 2(1 April 1777, recommending them not to grant licences for rum or melafles, excepting to vhc contra<5tors of the army [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 64 J Copy of a circular letter f om Lord George Germain to Lieute- nant Governor Arbuthnot, and the Governors of the Weft-India iflands, dated 3d Otflober J 777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 65.] Copy of a note from Bcefton Long, Efquire, to William Knox, Efquire, dated 25 Februarv 1778 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 66.J Extract of a letter from Meflieurs Campbell and Company to Mr. Rice, dated Grenada, 9 December 1777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 67.] Copy of a note from the committee of the Weft-India merchants to Lord George Germain, dated 4 March 1778 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 68.] Extradl of the minutes of a genera! meeting of the Weft-India merchants, dated 3 iVIarch 1778 [alio annexed in the Appendix, No. 69.] Copy of a not^ from the Weft-India merchants to William Knox, Efquire, dated 9 March 1778 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, -No. 70.] Copy of a circular letter from Lord George Germain to the Governors of the Weft-India idands, dated 10 March 1778 [aifo annexed in the Appendix, No 71.] Copy of a letter from Sir William Howe to Lord George Ger- main, dated 18 January 1778 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 72.] Extradt of a letter from Governor Dalling to Lord George Ger- main, dated 13 January 1778 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No, 73.] Copy ii Lieu- ng the : rebels rranted Seorge .)entlix, ephens, 3m the circular ,t prac- irWi!- lated 2a rum or icxed in Lieutc- ;ft-India jpendix, fi Knox, ppendix, npany to ed in the r 81 ] Copy of a letter from Governor Dalling to Lord and Sir William Howe, dated 18 Ofltober 1777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 74.] Lift of veffels with 1-tters of marque, by Governor Dalling [alfo i,. nexed in the Appendix, No. 75.] Copy of a letter from Governor Dalling to Lord and Sir William Howe, dated 14 November 1777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 76.J Copy of a letter from Lord Macartney to Lord George Germain, dated ift December 1777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 77.] £xtra£l of a letter from Governor Moiris to Lord George Ger- main, dated 4 December 1777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 78.] £xtra61: of a letter from Governor Burt to Lord George Germain, dated 16 December 1777 [alfo annexed in the Appendix, No. 79.] Extract cf a letter from Governor Bruere to Lord George Ger- main, dated 19 March 1778 [alfo annexf^c' in the Appendix, No. 8©.] Your committee having executed the commands of the houfe,. in ftating the fads relating to this branch of the expenditure of the public money, and having completed their enquiry upon that head^ (hink it proper, in purfu?nce of the permiifion of the houfe to report from time to time, to lay before the houfe the whole ftate of the fa^s aiid evidence, as it appeared to them. icrchants xed in t-India )pendix, n Knox, vpcndix, to the 78 [ailb rgc Gcr- ppendix. r^e Ger- ppendix, APPENDIX. Copy mf h APPENDIX. Si; : . : -i !. i . itki Hil ' No. I. Copy of a Letter from General Gage, tj Grey Cooper, Efquire. - SIR, Bojion, igth May, 1775. I AM to defire you pleafe to acquaint the lords commiflioners of his Majefty's treafury, that in the prefent ftate of things on this continent, I perceive that the contractors for fupplying his Majefty's troops in North-America with provirion!5, particularly the troops in this province, will not be able to perform their contra£tj unlefs pro- vifion is fent from Europe. All the ports from whence our fupplies ufually came, have refufed fufFering any provifion or neceflary what- ever to be fhipped for the king's ufe. The only refource we have for flour is Quebec ; I have fent thither to know what quantity can be ^urnifhed, but have yet no anfwcr ; and as for flefti meat there is no place in this country from whence we^ian expeft it, therefore it is abfolutely neccffary that a fupply fliould be immediately fent to thi? place, as the troops are increafmg, and all the avenues for procuring provifion in this country fhut up ; thofe in itore here at this time being not more than will ferve the troops now prefent five months, exclufive of thofe expedteJ, none having yet arrived but the ma- rines. You will pleafe likewife to acquaint their lordfliips, that it is now impoflible to raife money here for the ufe of the armv, therefore it is neceflary fuch fupplies mould be feni out, from time to time, as mav be fufBcitnt both for the pay of u^e army and the contingent ex- pences. I am, &c. (Signed) THO. GAGE. Grey Cooper, Efquire. No. 2. .Extrarl of a Letter frofn General Gage to "John Robinfon, Efquire. SIR, Bojlon, 2'^d May, 177^. I am obliged to take this method, to try if any money can be raifed at Quebec for the ufe of the army under my command, being refufed e, as may APPENDIX, No. 3, 4, 5. refufed every affiance, whether in money, provifions, forage, &C. from every other province to fend fuch fupplies. "' /: I have the honor, &c, (Signed) T HO. GAGE. John Robinfon, Efquirc. No. 3. Extras of a Letter from General Gage to John Robinfon^ Efquire. SIR, Boflon^ loth OSfober^ 1 775* I am to beg of you to reprefent to their lordfhips, that I think it would be highly ufeful the troops fhould be fupplied, as foon as pof- fible, with fmall cheap claret, in order to keep them from the fcurvy, which is to be much dreaded ; and likewife large quantities of vine- gar for the fame purpofe. I have the honor to be, &c. (Signed) THO. GAGE. John Robinfon, Efquire. No. 4. Extraf^t of a Letter from General Howe to John Robinfon y Efquire, SIR, Bojloriy ift Dec. 1775. Tho inclofed returns and eftimates I beg you will lay before the lords commiffioncrs of his Mnjefty's treafury, for their lordfhips in- formation, refpeding the prci'ent ftate and future wants of this army j and I beg leave to add, that I am in great pain from the fmall quan- tity of provifions now in llorc, as their lordihips may obferve by re- turn No. I. upon which fome few observations are made, efpecially in this advanced feafon of the year, when the navigation upon the coaft is fo uncertain, and the arrival of a frefh fupply is ftili render- ed more precarious by other dangers mentioned in my letter of 26th ult. If victualling fliips fhould not arrive before the latter end of this month, nor the navy be able to afford affiftance, I fhall be oblig- ed to put the troops upon fliort allowance. To avoid this incon- venience in future, £ humbly recommend that not lefs than fix months provifions of all ipecies be duly kept in ftore, and that the ar- ticle of flour be more carefully attended to, great quantities of which, lately itnt out, have been rcje<51:ed, as appears by the returns. No 5. Extract of u Letter fro?n General Hoiue to Afr. Robinfon. SIR, Bo/ioNf 26th Nov. 1775. I had the honour to receive yourdifpatch of the 9th of September, by his Majefty's fhip Phoenix, arriving here the 9th inftant, inclo- fing invoices of many articles (hipped and to be (hipped for the fup- ply of the irmy, which will be more gratefully received, as moft ex- preffive of his Majelty's notice, and their lordihips attention to the wants of his troops. Their arrival is much to be wiflied, not only for the ufe they may be of, but on account of the advanced feafon of the year, and the dangers veffels muft run by coming on this coaft, in the prefcnt fituation jf things, without convoy or force, and hav- L 2 ins 11 r«.:'-' ' f:! II n i: \{i .1'; m\ .1 Hi ;'i^: '/■' ?f A P P E N D I X, No. 6, 7: ing no friendly port but this to receive them, while the rebels crui*- zers are ever watchful to tfike the advantage of their weaknefs or ne- ceflities, wherein they have already been too fuccefsful, and will, probably <}o much more mifchief, unlefs the king's fliips can con- tinue to cut them off. No. 6. Extrad of a Letter from General Howe to Mr. Robinfon. SIR, Bojion^ igth Dec> 1775. I am to requeft you will inform their lordihips that the ftore ihips, as per margin, have arrived with moft feafona- ible fupplies j although the live flock met with }ff ork fate than could have been fufpected from the great care that has been taken. As their cargoes have not yet been landed, I cannot ren- der a more particular account ; but from all reports received, the merchants employed have been moft attentive to their engagements. Thames, Laid 5 Friend- fiiip, Millar ; Britannia, White; GenerousPlan- ter, Calfe. No. 7. Copy of a Letter from John Robinfon, Efquire, Secretary to the Lords ConmiJJioners of the Treafury, to Major General Howe. iVhitchall Treafury Chambers, gth Sept. 1775. SIR, As it is apprehended that General Gage may have left Bofton, on a leave of abfence to return to England, before this can arrive in Amenca, I am direiited by the lords commifHoners of his Majefty's treafury to acquaint you, it having been reprefented to them, that Colonel James Robinfon, barrack mafter general, had applied to McAieurs John and George Irving, mp«"':hants at Eofton, for the providing and importing into Bofton fundry articles in the fchedulo herein inclofed, marked letter A, for the fervice and ufe of the army) and that M^'ffieurs Irvings had directed their correfpondents here to execute fuch commiffion, which they had endeavoured to do, but could not j their lordihips, although no information hereon had been fent to them, thought it right to dircdl due enquiry to be made into this bufinefs ; and upon fuch enquiry their lordihips have judged it expedient to order fuch ftores to be provided : I am therefore directed to acquaint you, that feveral of the !^res men- tioned in the fchedule A, are now fhipped, according to an invoice marked letter B, on board 7'he Friendihip, James Holmes mafter, under failing orders to go to S pithead, and from thence to come under convoy of one of his Majefty's fhips of war, configned to xhx. order of the officer commanding his Majefty's forces at Bofion, or elfewher?, as he ftiall diredf her to proceed, and a^ will appear bxr the charter party, a copy of which (hall be fent by the fliip. You will obCerve, by my former difpatches to General Gage, of the 30th of June, and 26th of July laft, and by the remarks on the fchedule. h els crui* fs or ne- and will can con- m. >ec. 1775. ore ihips, id ; Friend- i Britannin, jerousPlan- jived, the ements. the Lords e. 1775- tofton, on n arrive in Majefty's ihem, that applied to for the fchedulo of the )ondents oured to )n hereon iry to be ordfhips I am lie res men- n invoice s madrer, to come ped to the. jfton, or ppear bt rage, of LS on the Schedule, APPENDIX, No. 5f. fchedHle A, that the articles of coals and oats had been beforri provided by the boird. Their iordihips having fince taken into confideration what may be further wanted for the army, have ordered thirty watch coats to be fent out for the ufe of each battalion, and for twenty ba» talions, which will come by the fame fhip ; and have alfo ordered the feveral articles in the paper marked letter C, to be provided with all poffi- ble expedition. This laft order is not fo forward as to enable me to inform you more particularly than I have endeavoured to do, by the remarks on the paper C, but I hope foon to do it. In General Gage's difpatch of the 8th July, he tranfmits his account of warrants for the quarter, commencing the ift of April, and ending the 30th of June, amounting to ?i,i2il. os. z\A, and in his letter of the 22d, advices of his requiution to the agent for the contradlors for remitting money, for the pay, &c. of the troops, in America, for 20,oool. for the extraordinary expences of the army in the enfuing quarter, but mentions nothing elfe. That their Iordihips hope, however, that by the fteps they have taken, the wants of the army would be in Tome meafure fupplied, -uid that many conveniences and comforts will be provided for the troops ; and they dirccl me to repeat to you what has been before faid in my feveral difpatches, to which I beg leave to refer you. That you will give the earlieft notice to this board of the requifitions you may find it proper to make of any fupplies, whether of money, provi- ftons, forage, or any other neceflary whatever, it being their lord- fhips earneft wifh to give every aid in their power towards carrying on the fervice. It was yefterday renrefented to their Lordlhips bv Lord Barring- ton, inclofing to me a letter from General Gage of the 26th of July^ that the ofliccrs fujit'er an inconveniency ariiing from the prefcnt difficulties .1 obtaining cafh for their bills on the refpedlive agents of the reg":nents here. This mode was citablifhed for the conveni- ency as uxll as the advantage of the officers ; but on the reprefen- tation rftade by General Gage, by his letter of the 19th of May laft, of f\ difficulty he met with in raifing cafli for his bills, it was fore- '.'■•( here that the inconveniency now complained of muft arife to ■"jc oiicers feiving in America; their lordfhips therefore ordered me tiKn to endeavour to obviate it. I tried to do fo, but the officers fubliltence having a little time before been iflued to the agents here, it could not be remedied at that time. Directions were, however, given, tha^ :his inconvenience fhould be provided againft in future \ and I have the pleafure to acquaint you, that in the laft ifliie of the 25th of Auguft, care has been taken at the pay-office, to iflue to the contraurticulars in refpedt to the qua itity of rum, &c. can be obtained, ail the par- ticulars will be communicated. In the mean time,their lordfhipS dire»ft me to acquaint you, that this fupply of rum is fent to be en- tirely at the dilpofal of the commander in chief, to be applied by him on fuch occafions as (hall require, for the ufe of the troops, in fuch manner as fhall^be thought mod proper. My lords are in hopes that this fupply may be fufficient during the campaign j but if a further fupply fhould be abfolutciy necefl'ary, my lords in that cafe wifli that the commander in chief would take proper meafures to procure it, only defire that the fame mode of Joing it may be adopted, in taking the quantities proportionably, as they have aonc, from the different iflands of Jamaica, Barbadocs, the Leeward Iflands, and the Ceded Iflands, viz. Grenada, St. Vincents, Do- minic^, and Tobago. Thefe proportions have been taken fn^tn a review and comparative flate of their exports from the iflands, and imports into North America, taking the quantity to be furnifhed agreeably irpr imib '^^^i 1^ % Hi APPENDIX, No. 10, ii; agreeably to the ftate of that trade, in confideration of the lofs thefe iflands may fuftain from the flop of the North American trade, viz. Jamaica one-fourth, the Ceded Iflands one-fourth, Barbadoes one- fourth, and the Leeward Iflands pne-foi^rth j whiclf is as juft a proportion as can be drawn. .... >fo. lo. Copy of Treafury Minutes, dated IVhitthallj Treafury Chambfrs, 'jth Jugft/i, 1776. Prefent, Lord North, Lord Crar)!ey, Mr. Townfend. Read memorial of James Chambers, praying to be employed in furnifhing government with the articles of Madeira wine, tooacco, and coals. My lords refume the confideration of the fupplies to be fcnt out to the armies in America. General Harvey attends, and acquaints my lords that fon^e fouf crout fhould be fent to General Howe's army, at a quarter of a pound for each man per day for fix months ; and to General Carle H;- .1,,' A P P £ N D I X, No. 14, 15. It was not propofed to fend out any more four krout, after the garden feeds were fent, and the fituation of the army hecame more extended. Hay you muft provide yourfclves; and you fee the fame is much wifhed in regard to oats, for the tonnage they require, and the freight of them, is a grievous burthen. The icOjOoo gallons of rum you mention to have purchafed, will, it is hoped, with the contradt entered into by his Excellency, be an ample fupply for the troops ; but you do not mention the price you gave for the rum, nor has it been ever returned to their lordmips what allowance of rum is made to the men, and how it is ferved. No. 14. Extrn^ of a letter from John Robin f on ^ EfquirCy to General Howe, Treafury Chambers y 12th Aprils 1 776. Copies of the contracts are preparing — They are not yet, indeed, all executed ; but I hope, by the next opportunity, to tranfmit copies of all that have been entered into, both for provifions and for a fupply of rum, to be fent to you as a ftore for you in cafes of need and exigencies ; and to be entirely at your difpofal, as you fhall fee moft necelTary for the ufe and fervice of the troops. No. 15. ExtraSi of a Letter from Mr. Rolinfon to General Howe. Treafwy Chambers, \Ji May, 1776. Upon confideration of the fituation you may be in, in cafe of your penetrating into the interior parts of America, and the difficulties you may meet with in obtaining fupplies of any liquor but the mere element of water, their lordlhips have judged it proper to make con- trafts for 375,000 gallons of rtim, to Be fent to you, and 125,000 to be fent to Canada (a copy of which i$ incloled, No. 10) in addi- tion to the ioo,oco gallons before ordered to you. Their lordlhips leave the diftribution of this fupply, entirely for the ufe of the army, to your diredtion. "^I'hey apprehended fuch precaution neceflarv, that you might have a certain ftore to depend upon in emergencie but they have not carried the contracts further than for 500,000 gal- lons, fubmitting to your judgment, to ftop there, or to proceed fur- ther in continuing the contracts with the undertakers, fhould you find the exigency of the fervice requires it. If a further fupply (hould be neccflary, tht-ir lorufh'ips delire to recommend to you, to adopt the-fame mode of doing It, with the different contradlors, and in the like proportionable quantities as they have done, from the dif- ferent iflands of Jamaica, Barb.does, the Lceward-Iflands, and the Ceded-Iflands, viz. Grenua, Saint Vincents, Dominica, and To- bago. The proportions were fixed from a comparative ftate of the export of rum from each of thofe iflands, and their imports into North-America, in confideration of the lofs thefe iflands may fuftain * from the ftoppage of the North- American trade, viz. one fourth from Jamaica, ,m..'ti... 5- after the inae more the fame [uire, and ifed, will, icy, be an price you lord mips ferved. al Howe, brily 1776. et, indeed, :o tranfmit ons and for ifes of need ou {hall fee APPENDIX, No. 16, 17. Jamaica, one fourth from Barbadoes, one fourth from the Leeward Iflands, and one fourth from the Ccdcd-Iflands; which is the due proportion ; but another 100,000 gallons being thought proper to be added, to make the whole quantity 500,00'' , the Ceded- Iflands,. from whence that was taken, have got two fifths, inftead of one fourth, and cnnfequently one fliare more than their due proportion j which may be remedied in future. Orders have been given to the different Cuftoir.-houfcs, to permit the export and import of the rum duty free ; and it is hoped, fome fhips, with a part of this fupply, will be with you e irly, lince fome (hips have fome time fuice failed to the Weft-Indies to take in the rum. In order to afcertain the ftrength of the rum, and whether it 's of due proof, according to the medium proof of each of the refpedlive iflands from which the contraiSlors are bound to furnifli it, an hydrometer with proper weights has been pre- pared. You will receive herewith duplicates of this inftrumcnt, for fear of accidents, and an explanation of it, which is inclofed No. 11, the ufc of which has been fully ftiewn to f'>me of your commiflTaries. No. 16. Exira^ of a Letter from Mr, Rohlnfon to Sir 'juy Carleton^ dated iji May-, 1776. You have likewife herewith CNo. 3.) 3 uefcription of the hydro- meter for trying the flrength of rum, left any accident to Mr, Drum- mond •■o-jid '"^ave you in want of fuch explanation, and No. 4, is a copy '' if the rum contradls, which will ferve to explain the \vhoIe, lo ■ -c reft difFe. only in the n^me of the parties, iflands, &c, in caio yo'j {^ould find it abfolutely nccelTary to order a further fup- p'y of raai, their lordfhips will approve thereof, but it is their defire, that \.\ orjjerir -' fuch > V] /,> '/ ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST WAIN STREBT WEBSTER, KVY. 14580 (716! 872-4503 d^ 1 i f\ r^ '^^> "% - •^z ; ir* 1773. I March Barbadoes and Leeward-Iflands.'^ ' ",^ ^.^'' '^''.^^'^ s. d. ' '" '^-"'^' 4 4 Jamaica f ]"|^ Rum Ditto Ditto 5 per gaiioi^f ^^i;;;; 4 Jamaica ' 1767- : 17 July 10 February Ditto 4 o Grenada. ' " " I January Ditto . ;^ ' ^t « 5 Tobago. Received from Mr. Pelham^ of the ViiSualling-Officc, IH^ the 31ft January, 1776. W' N. B. Barbadoes coptradtor has given notice to quit. Y''^ No. 18. Extras of Treafury Minutes, dated Great Lodge, Bujhy Bark^ idtk ' O£iober I77&. - Prefent. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Mr. Townfliend. Meifieurs Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, deliver in the following ac- counts for rum and fundry ftores fent to America, alfo for freight iknd armament of traniports : "■'' ' '" ' ■^^■^■■^•' ''-■■i^.h^^:^!;'^ -■■^■v _ ■. I . *.• ]For rum lent to America ——J*' 2;^, 104 .4 4 For freight of fliips on the expedition under General ■ •'?'t^ Earl Cornwallis — -— — Ij44i 3 ^ For freight of fliips to carry provffiops tiPCiuebec 936 19 — • For freight of provifion traniports to NeW-York 14,667 2 8 e,^^8 14 4 3,544 9 .4 For advanced freight to tranfports hired to carry tfores to America For freight of fliips hired to carry oats to America ^,^ , . ^ ^ Mr. Rowe reports to my lords, thai he has examineff the a tides of the faid accounts with the refpedtive vouchers, and that he find^ Ifhe fame agree therewith. '''|%H -^ *^|j'' ,, , No. 19. . . '/- ■ -^^nr'-o ii,;i'.;, (COPY.) _ ''■*-^' ; ^a.-.'-'X.'i, ■ -.•; .*.- King's Warrant to Richard Atkinfon, Efquire for £^.2-] ,ib\, 4s. 4d. fsr '"., '*'^^' . rum fent to America. "^ V ' j<. Dated 16 0^^'M vi£# Our will and pleafure Is, that ou^ of any monies in your hands that may be applied to this fervice, or that hiay be hnprefted to you for the fame, you do pay unto Richard Atkinfon, Ef^iuire, or to hit * ** • aingnsj 3:. ■ .'- : "*---\ -.A.^' . ^i*^-»>«i!th -. -(«<****««■_. u.: A P P ]Sr l?r t t X. Naaqr ^ v affigns^ the fura of/. 2^,164. 4£; 4id. without dedu^lum, amf withv put account, in full fetisfaAipn an^ difoharge of the like fum dus ^nto him fbr rum delivered in America for the ufe of our forces there, according to the account of particulars thereof Kereunto annexed^ And this ihali be as well to ypu for making fuch payment, as to ':;> .iw' \ Vinegar, at fix-pence per galroi. Including new cafks o^ all kinds that may be wanted for the pack-; age of the faid provifions, fetting up and trimming of cafics, cartage, labour, freight, boat-hire, and all other charges whatfoever, rela- ting to the victualling, except necefTary money, and extra necefTary money to the purfers : and it is hereby agreed, that I am to furnim * rice in lieu of half the qukntity of oatmeal that fhall be demanded, after the rate of half a pound of rice in lieu of a pint of oatmeal ; and aUp to fupply good fweet olive oil in lieu of half the quantity of butter that fhall be denianded, after the rate of one pint of oil in ... lieu f % ^■^ If fl :*•) I ) ■ ^.f m.' r- ma #^. • * A ,#■ '* # ^1 - APPENDIX, No. 20, lieu of a pound of butter j and tl|e quantities of rice and oil that fhall appear by the vouchers |o be fupplied to his Majefly's fhips^ Ihall be paid for in the following manner, that ii to fay, thirty-two pounds of rice ihail be allowed to be equal, and {hall be paid for at the fame price as ope bufliel of oatmeal, and one pint of oil (hall be allowed to be equal, and fhalf%k paid for at the fame price as One pound of butter j and in cafe *hf any unforefcer. or extraordinary demand, which may occai^on an abfolute neceifity to iifue flour in lieu of bread, to expend while (hips are in port, I am then to fur- nifli the fame, but this is never to be done except in cafe of abfo- lute neceffiiy, when bread is not to be had|> which is to be certified by the commanding o^cer, and his certificate is to be tranfmitted to the faid commiffioners with the other vouchers hereafter pientioned, before any bill be made out for payment of the fame. And it is hereby agreed, that all the flour that fhall be fupplied as before- iientioned, fhall be paid for at the follo\ying rate j that is to fay, wie fame price fljall be paid for three pounds of flpur as for two pounds of bread. And in cafe there fhall be a neceffity of furnifhing any n2w bifket bags, or new tight iron-bound butts or puncheons for water, to any of his Majefty's fhips, I do oblige myielf to furnifh the fame at the rate of one ftiilling and fix-pence per bag, and four pounds eight _, V fhillings and four-pence per tun for the faid cafks, recjconing two iifelj^utts, with ten iron hoops on each, or three puncheons, with eight i iron hoops on each, to a tun. And I dp alfo agree and oblige my- W- felf, that all the faid caflcs fhall be made of good, found, feafpqed * >^ves, free from fap, and of the following dimenfions and gauge, viz. Each butt to gauge one hundred and eight gallons, Winchclter tneafure, to be twenty-fix inches broad «t the head, and the ftaves fifty-two inches long, and one inch and one-tenth of an inch thick at the chime, and feven-tenths of an inch thick at the bulge j and that each puncheon be forty-one inches long, twenty-five inches broad at the head, and to gauge feventy-two gallons, Winchefter : tneafure, and that the ftaves be one inch thick at the chime, and feven-tenths of an inch thick at the bulge ; and that each calk fhall be marked with my name at length, with a burnt mark on the head, and on the bulge itave next the biuik that in cafe the faid calk fhall appear not to be anfwerable to thellid conditions, a dcduftion may be made from my bills on difcovery, on proof thereof, on the judg- ment of two able and experienced coopers, of two-thirds of the price I am allowed by this contraft for the fame, which abatement I do hereby confent may be made by the faid commiffioners for victual- ling, or any three of them for the time being ; or do otherwife agree to pay the amount thereof to the treaftirer of his Majefly's navy, if the faid commiffioners fhall think proper fo to diredi. And I do alfp^agreeand oblige myfelf to fubmit to the fame abatement, or pay rijlo .-: ' : .. the ^.f r* ■ ■ • - ..-■'.- i ' - ' .^ '! )' ^^,m{i& '^:.f.:',.' ■- .■■v*-.* *. *>.. 1 oil that [ly's fhips, thirty-two paid for at sil fhall be rice as one :raor(Jinary je flour in hen to fur- ,fe of abfo- be pertified nfmitted to jnentioned. And it is as beforc- it is to fay, • as for two ' nsw bifket ater, to any fame at the )ounds eight :}coning two , with eight 1 oblige my- nd, feafoned J and gauge, Winchelter nd the ftaves [1 inch thick bulge i and y-five inches Winchefter chime, and h caik fhall on the head, lid ca(k ftiall dudtion may on the judg- s of the price tement 1 do s for victual- erwife agree ijefty's navy, And I do lent, or pay ; -« the c A P P E N t) 1 X, N6. 26. ^ the amount thereof to the treafurer of the navy, in like rfiannef fo¥ anycalk furniftied for water calk, that may appear to have been fil- led, or fent ofF to his Majefty's fhips with rum, fupplied by virtue of this contraft, by mine or my agent's privity or confent. And whereas no new bags or wacar caflcs are to be furnifhed, but on the moft urgent occafions, I am therefore, before I fupply any, to receive a warrant from the commander of the ftiip for that pur- pofe, and a certificate from the figning officers, that all his Majefty's old cafks belonging to that fhip have been firft trimmed and filled up ; which order and certificate, together with the purfer's receipt, and certificate from the figning officers, that the bags and cafks were aiStually delivered on board the faid fhip in kind, and that the cafks were not filkd on coming on board, or defigned to be afterwards filled or made ufe of as rum cafks, 1 am to produce to the faid commiffioners, and alfo my own of agent's affidavit, that the faid bags and water cafks, fo fupplied, were actually fent on board iti kind, and that the cafks were not filled with rum when fent ofF, nor intended or defigned to be made ufe of for rum cafks afterwards, ' to the befl of my or his knowledge and belief; and that no money or other confideration was paid or given, pr is to bfe paid or given, to the purfers, or any perfon or perfons on his behalf, or any other perfon whatever, in lieu of all or any part thereof. And I do alfo oblige myfelf, that the cafks in which the runtl fhall be fent oa board his Majefty's fhips and vefTels, fhall be equal in goodnefs to the cafks made ufe of in exporting rum for merchandize from Ja- maica to England. And I do further oblige myfelf, that no rum fhall be fupplied on this contradl, in any father cafk than what fhall be numbered, and have the contents or the gallons in each cafk marked on the head thereof; and that the beef fhall not be delivered in pieces of any other weight than four pounds, nor the pork than of iwo pounds ; and that the faid beef and pork fhall always hold of fuch weight, as that every twenty-eight pieces of beef cut for four pound pieces, taken out of the cafks as they rife, and the fait fhaken ofF, fhall weigh one hundred pounds neat, Avoirdupoize weight; and that every fifty-fix pieces of porkj cut for two pound pieces, and taken out of the'cafk as they rift/ and fhaken as in the beef, fhall weigh one hundred and four pounds neat, Avoirdupoize weio'ht ; and that there fliall not at any time be put up with the flefh any un- ufual pieces, fuch as leg bones, fhins of oxen, or the cheeks of hogs, or ox hearts, &c. And 1 do alfo oblige piyfelf, that the cafks containing the fame fhall be full bound, and full of pickle. And I do further oblige«iyfelf and engage, that all the provifions that fhall be ifl'ued on this contraft,' fhall be fent on board his Ma- jefty's fhips in kind, and no money or other confideration paid or given in lieu thereof; and that they fhall all be good, found, fweet, and in all rcfpeils fit for his Majefty's fervice ; and that the rum Ihail A ^.i * S ■* ■f % ^. % w ■ r ,... ?''^''^ .*?;»• vti*g into port there ; and they will alio give directions to their officers in England to acquaint me, as loon as any provifions condemned upon this contraCt fhall be returned into their cuftody from any of his Majefty's fhips, lb that by means thereof I may have the earlieft notice of the provifions being caft, , and hav; an opportunity thereby of demanding them, in order to the making the moft of them that can be got. And it is further agreed with the faid commiffioners, that before I furnifh any provifions to any fhips, I am to receive a warrant from the commander thereof for fo doing, and alfo a certificate from the * ligning officers of the fhip (which are the captain, or, in his neccf- fary abfence, the next commiffioned of^cer, mafter, and boatfwain) fetting forth the particular occafion for fuch provifions being want- ing, and the quantity thereof; and upon my producing tp the faid commiffioners the faid warrant and certificate, together with the ? purfer's receipt, and a certificate alfo Jrom the figning officers, of the quantities and fpecies of provifions (exprefl'ed in words at length) received, and that the fame were delivered on board in kind, and good, and fit for his Majefty's fervice, together with my own or agent's affidavit, which is to be at the foot, or on the back of the receipt, .a at times of rovifions them on irovifions els, fhall ne of the e that it ;,- or any mifiioners , or make the faid doners for I allowed :bere fhall b remain- is Majefty , or admi- i cafe any ip or (hips r, the iaid II think, fit faid com- imander in II pleafe to , when any condemned liate notice :y will alio ne, as foon oe returned it by means being cart, in order to lat before I •arrant from ite from the n his neccf- boatfwain) being want- g to the faid er with the officers, of ds at length) n kind, and my own or back of the receipt, M P P E N D t X, fo. 19: k receipt, figned by the purfer, that me fai4 proviiions (mentioning the lame, and qjuantities, ia words at l^iiiffth) wert actually deli-, vercd on board in ki.. the admiral or com-, mander in chief of his Majefty's fhips at -^maioa, or when thQ commanding officer for the time being (hall require it, diiUing thd continuance of this contradt, an abrtra<^ of all the provifions re-, inaining in my ftores, and likewife an abflra£t of the feveral fpecieSH and quantities of provifions ifTued to ea^h of his j^lajef^ys's (hijpjSJi ^, every Week at Jamaica. , - -'j - , , •../,.>/.:.-. •'; ■ And I do further oblige myfelf, that on application being naad^ to me or my agent, by the purfers of his Majefly's fhips.and yeflels,^ to fupply them with neceflary money for their bills, in fterling, ojc^ the faid commiflioners, at thirty days after fight j and it is alfa ' agreed with the faid commiffioners, that they will difcharge and pay. v" the faid bills when due, upon the following certificate from the cap- tain or commanding officer being tranfmitted at the foot of each bill i viz. 4 ** This is to certify the commiffioners for vi(5tualling his Ma- ** jefly's navv. That months neceflary money ** is due to Mr. purferof hisMajeuy'sfhip The under my command, fince his lafl in- denting) or being otherwife fupplied with necefTary money i ** and that the fum of 1. drawn for in this bill does *' not exceed a proportion of two-thirds for the faid time." * And it is hereby underflood and agreed by and with the faid commiffioners, that the aforefaid bills for neceffary money are to be for the proportion of two-thiids of what was adiually due at the time of drawing the faid bills, and not for any necefTary money that sg: may become due after the rpfpedlive dates of the bills. A ad 1 dp alfo engage tliat my agent for the time being fhall com- municate a copy cf this .contrail' to the captains or commanding officers, and to the purfers of fuch of his Majefly's fhips and vefTels ^ As fhall froni tinie tp time^pply to.h>m« in order -tp pe;^ufe the lame. :; ,■•»; j-..^'.'^r. .1'; -^ ...fl t;-.]:. ■:■ 'i-^ru^ vf^-hi^/: ,>^ri' And I do alfo covenant and agree with the faid commiffioners, and oblige nckyfeU to hire of them., 4ynng the cpntinuai^ie <^ this contrad, the dwelling-houfe and office, together with the twenty . . N flore-." 'X' cc ^ % -.. * .% 1 ■- .'^ ■ ^^i ■n t'l i , '# u*' ,.^ ■t ^!I0'^^ ^2: •Vll^ m . ''~^; % A P 1> E N D I X, No: ftore-houfes, and the wharf, sihd all other the viflualling buildiilgi belonging to his Majefty, and the eroUnd thereunto appertainin|, at New Greenwich in Jamaica, ana to pay three hundred pounds fterling per annum for the fame, while this contract ihall laft. And it is alfo hereby agreed, that the faid commi&oners (hall caufc the faid dwelling^houfe and office, ftorehoufeSj wharf, and all other the vidualliM buildings at the faid place, together with the fences to the pr«.mires, to b^ kept, during the continuance of this con- trad, in g«od and fufficient tenantable repair, at the expence of his Majef^ unlefs any of the faid ftorehoufes (hall, during the term of this contrail, be found in fo bad a cundition as that the faid com" iniffioners (hall not thi^k it advifeable to repair and keep up th6 fame, in which cafe it is hei^y agreed, that for every ftore-houfe which the faid ccmmiflioneJPuial! not think proper to keep up in tenant* able repair, an abatement of ten pounds fterling.per annum is to bo made from the aforefatd rent of three hundred pounds } or unlefs the dwelling-houfe and office (hall happen, during the continuance of this contrail, to be deftroyed by fife, hurricane, or other accident, or (b much damaged, as. that the faid commiffioners (hall not think proper to rebuild or repair the fame, in which cafe it is hereby agreed, that an abatement of one hundred pounds fterling per an-* Bum (hall be made from the faid rent of three hundred pounds, on account of the faid houfe and office. And I do alfo oblige myfelf to pay the aforefaid rent of three hundred pounds fterling (or fuch part thereof as (hall appear due under the condition aforefaid) yearly to the treafurer of his Majefty's navy for the time being, upon notice being given me by the faid commiffioners for victualling his Ma* lefty's navy for the time being, or any three or more of them, for that purpofe. It is hereby further agreed, that when any repairs ihall happen to be wanting to the faid buildings and premifTes, a reprefentation thereof is to be made by me, or my agent, to the commander in chief of his Majefty's (nips at Jamaica for the time being ; and the faid commiffioners do hereby engage to take fuch meaiures, as that, if the faid repairs (hall appear, upon a furvey to be taken by order of fuch commander in chief for the time being, to be wanted as reprefented, they (hall be done to the premifes, agreeable to the conditions of this contra£b, with all convenient (peed. '^^.-IW'^'i- '!tS'*^' - •■J^:-^!^H^^:*'^'''f^':f'^]:i'*'^:-£*^^v-: And for the JOHN BIGGEN. •- , William Card. ' ' (Copy) , , .. Johi» Watti. ]M E M O I^ A N D U M, > . * • ^ '^ - ^ ' ' Whereas, by the aforegoing cqntraA, no beef or pork is to be iiTued in pieces of any other weight than four or Vifo pounds. It is nevcrthelefs agreed, in regard the fliips at Jamaica am often vidualkd \jvitn Irifli fleih, which does not always happen to be cut into pieces of thofe weights, that the aforefaid claufe. ^ith regard to four and two pound pieces, is to bs dif,ienfea with, in cafe tf( neceffit^, provided the feamen have their du« ajlowanrt. (Copy) I-.: 4 I John W^ttfiT I ♦it Am ;*f •- n>- s: Iff TENDER 8 ?? "■ ■? V " ;f.«- ■■iJ''9 ..,4; {;; 1 ^, 4: ♦^ ^- ■ . -^^ If .». »'■.■ ■.f, "■ t k ■ T"V-,\" o, ,>r. * 25 t? rs •I 3 o (A it \ o 1^ N A ? P E N D I X^ No. ti; eo iS »>. r-- u ♦^ •a •t o > *^ o je •^ • ^ S « fl •2 S -K.*,' 3 >, rt 1— » r. ^^ :'»^ ^ ^ <-* «v ,, • >4 D ,» - ^ ?. > ■■ c4 •c«^Q ■ i •'g ^ * l.s ^ < * ■l-^s X* '. bD .2 u s &« ■ ft* o ••1 "^ ) J > a, VJ , • .» '■ = * ^C/3 y P4 (zj Q :z; w H J! I ^ 8 H « 0\>0 O ■+ * J^ to »» I m m m *« ' S?» OSf^ff I 1 ^ I M j Mill o >• I '4-oe ^ovo I «vO .•^t| I ^^^ I I *1 a a o B < "ill « •>i I NO 00 I i I s oT5" ON :a ■^. — ,,A..Ow>|wtr»tO| I I S» 1 i • !« i S I I *{ «^vo lo o 0> '^ to m •-■ vo vo 3 S^NO On «n N I I <4- I .* i I . . 1 1 1 1 1 . JBJS •^* I NO *^^ I I *^^ 'l-A' * I- 'S I ■V ■.-:. I I I i I I It i i i I ^ ,v %:■■.; \iiiaLfe^L''m- 4,. , ite,- 4 P P P N D I X, N- %iy Ko. 2a. ''•,» Viftualling Office, I An ACCOUNT of the Quontitiei of "uin y 2th Mayt 1778* J bought by the Commifnoncrs of the Victuitl- „ ling, to be delivered at London, Port/mouthy' afid Plymi^thf with the prices thereof ; Dates. fel ! Quanti- tiei bought. Oalloni. «775- 30th Jugufi S> Seftemler iqNovtmier l^Dicembtr i776. 1 1 January Ditto .' Ditto Ditto •nTilhmary 16 Ditto a6 Ditto s8 Ditto w Ditto II Ditto 15 Ditto is Ditto no Ditto 31 Ditto 25 Ditto 5 ^/'•*^ 20 Ditto »o Ditto ao Ditto to Ditto ^ Ditto yg Ditio a8 Ditto g Decembir ^ Ditto ^ Ditto 10,000 20,000 ^,000 40,000 74.09' 43.909 45,000 45,000 28,000 Of whom bought. 15,000 1,500 5,000 7»50o 5,000 2,000 5,000 2,000 2»POO 10,000 5,000 91,000 7,000 2,000 30,000 12,000 37,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 31,000 io,odo 2,000 I2«00Q JAMAICA, Meflrs. Timfqn an^ Jones — Ditto ■ — ■ — ^ — — Ditto — — — Mr. Richard Shaw ■ " . Ditto «- . ■ ■ " Ditto — — Meflrs. Tinifon and Jones ~r Ditto • — Mr. Richard Shaw — — WEST INDIA. MeiTrs. Pitches and Wilfon r— Meflrs. Cope and Smith — — Mcflr*. P^es and Wilfon — ^effl-^. Steele, Gray, and Son Meflrs. Pitches and Wilfon — Meflrs. Cope and Smith Mefllrs. Pitches and Wilfon — Meflrs. Cope and Smith — — Mr. Timothy Yates — — Meflrs. Pitches ai]|d Wilfon — Ditto — ^— ' — — Mr. Richard Shaw — Meflrs, Pitches and Wilfon r-^ Mr. John Cowcll — Meflrs. Pitches and Wilfon — - Mefllrs. Timfon and Jones .— MeflTrs. Mills andvSon — ^ — Meflrs. Ste^, Gray, and Son Fabrot Geefrin^ — — Meflrs. Arboiun and Mills — Mefllrs Timfon and Jones •^ John Cowell Mr. Matthew Arbouin At what Port delivered^ London Ditto Dittq Ditto Ditto Port/mouth. LofUlen Pljfmoutb LonJon Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Dittq Ditto! Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Dittq Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Meflh. Steele| Gra^» ai^d Son i|Dittq 'it APPENDIX, N* dj; '♦,' of "uin B Victual- *ortfmouth^ reof ; Price GaK J. t z 2 2 « S4 3 3i 3 3i 3 3i 3 3\ $ 31 3 « 3 • 3 H 3 8 3 8 3 8 3 8 + ^ 4 — 3 3 2 II Z II 2 II 2 II 2 II « 7S ' 71 2 I 2 I * I Dates. tin bou(tit OalloDS. 6 Dtctmher 23 Ditto 23 Ditto 23 Ditto 30 Ditto 1777. 12 Mario 19 Ditto 19 Ditto 12 May 12 Ditto 12 Ditto 1 Oaober I Ditto 7 November 7 Ditto 7 Ditto 13 December 19 Ditto 19 Ditto 19 Ditto 22 Ditto 1778. 23 February 23 Ditto 4 March 10,000 40,000 10,000 10,000 6,000 6,o«io 40,000 $4,000 35,000 35,000 80,300 5,000 3,000 40,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 6,000 10,000 4,000 92,000 5,000 10,000 15,000 of whdm bought. At what Port delivered. Mr. Fabrot Gcering — — MeHrs. Timfon and Jones — Mr. John Coweli — — . — Mr. Matthewf* Arbouin — — Mef&s. Steele, Gray, and Sod Mr. John Evans ■■■ ' ■ — MefTrs. Pitches and Wilfon — MeflVs. Timfon and Jones — Mr. Richard Shaw — ■ Ditto ■ — Mr. Samuel Hallydey — — Mr Richard Shaw ■■ ' ■ — Ditto -■ — MefTrs. MiHs and Son ■ Ditto — — . - — — Ditto Meflrs. Steele, Gray, and Son Mr. John Evans ■- — Mefii-s. Steele, Gray, and Son Mr. Timothy Yaies Mr. John Clerk ■ - Mr. William Dormor — — Mr. Elias Hibbs Mr. Jofeph Siarliiy — — LouJon Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Port/mouth Plymeutb London Port/moHth Plymouth Portfmouth Plymouth London Port/movtb London Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto IDitto Pried 2 I 2 3j * 3\ 2 3l 2 3i * si si 2* * 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 8i 2 to * 3 1 2 2 2 i 8i 5 2 8J 2 84 2 loi No. 23. Copy of Mr. Blackburn's Propo/als h furnijh Rum for the Ufi of tbt Forces in North America. SIR, In purfuance of your kind intiriltation to me on yeflerday, that there vvrould be a demand of Weft India Rum for the ufe of his Ma- jefty's Fprces in America, I beg you will do me the favour of lay- ing my propofals before their L'^'-dfhips, for fupplying the whole or any part of fuch rum, at the rate of three (hillings per gallon, de- livered in proper cafks, to ^ch perfons in North America as th^ commander in chief of his Mf^efty's forces ihall think proper to ap- point to receive the fame. I have^he lionor to be, fn^^^^ih. ,776.' Vbur faithful and obliged humble Seirant, . . ' JOHN BLACKBURNE^ John Robinfon, Efquire. ,.?■• -.li m j?a-i^, j^-.3--a:^-,t ^ ^[\ \< * ffmm ■:.t>l •1 ;h \. ;; ■.: i.|;^ A P P E N P i X, No. 24, 25, 26. No. 24. (COPY) Swithin-Lane, 21 February, 1776, PiropofaU from jfamet Bogle French, Efqutre, to fupply 100,000 Gal- lons ofKum for the Ufe of the Forces in North-America, SIR, I Vave now procured a fliip, and can contrail to dcHver the army in America 100,000 gallons or 1000 puncheons of the fineft Grenada rum, at 4s. 6d. flerling per galloi^ This rum is 25 per cent, bet- ter tnan the common Weft-India rum, for flavour and ftrength, be- ing London proof. J afk but fixpence a gallon more than the pre- fent navy contra^ ; and when the great expence of iliipping, infu- rance, factorage, and cafks, are taken into confideration^ itwillnotj I truft, appear too high to their lordfhips } if it ihould^ I am ready to execute it upon any commiffion their lordfhips pleafe. I remain very refpedfuUy, Sir, your moft obedient fervantj JAMES BOGLE FRENCH. John Robinfon, Efquire. * No. 25^ Copy of the Propofals of Richard JtimTony Efquire, for furnijhing Ja- maica Rum for the ufe of the Forces in North-America. — London, ph March) 1776. I SIR, ^ I requcft the favour of you to lay before the right honourable the lords commiffioners of his Ma)»fty's treafury, the tender I now beg leave to make, of fupplying lin addition to what was ordered lalt September) icc,oco gallons, or fuch further quantity as (hall be re- quired, of full- proof Jamaica rum, to be delivered in good cafks, free of all charges, at any port or ports in Norih-America, at 5s. 3d< fterling per gallon, payable hi|rv upon producing the receipts or other certifitifttes of delivery from the proper officer appointed to receive the rum in America j underflanding that I am to be at liberty to re- duce in America, before deliver]^ fuch very ftrc^ng rum as may be fent, to the ftandard proof. I am, &c. &:c. RICHARD ATKINSON. John Robinfon, Efquire. No. 26. ' (COPY.) Letter from Mr. Bogle French, relative to his prcpofals for ferving the Ar-Jiy in North- America -with rum, dated I'^ih February, 1776. James Bogle French prefents refpedtful compliments to Mr. Ro* binfon, and begs leave to fay he will ifasliver the rum to the army un as good conditions as any man can dW, none having it more in their power than his friends at GrenaAi< And if my Lord North will fa* vour Mr. French with the contraft, he will produce an accurate ac- count of the expences, truly authenticated^, on which Mr. F.finch does not wifli to get oneihilling.-- If Mr. Robinfon will allow Mr. French :JN^^^%Mi. . . ., .,».M,»*^"j APPENDIX, No. 27,28. French to wait upon him, and will point out any other mode more precife or defirable, he wilt readily adopt it< Swithin-Lane, ' \ . >«'- I2fh Februaryy 1776. - • " : '. '' '.No. 27. ■ ". '■'■ "'/ ., ■ •■•' (COPY.) t Letter from Mr. Blackburriy relative to his PropofaU for fupplying Rum for the Ufe of the Forces in North-Amertca. Mr. Blackburn prefents his refpeflful compliments to Mr. Ro- binfpn, and begs to know, if the lords of the treafury have accepted of his propofals for fupplying rum from Antigua, ana the other Lee- ward-Iflahds, to his Majefty's forces in North-America. Mr. Blackburn having a fhip bound to Antigua, which will fail this evening, is the reafon why he caufes this interruption to Mr. Robinfon, as he is defirous of writing by this conveyance, to pre- pare the rum for fhipping, fo foon as he knows their lordfhips plea-' fure, and the quantity which will be wanted ; which, he flatters' himfelf, will be fufficient to load a (hip. He is fearful of giving trouble to Mr. Robinfon, otherwife he would have waited on him in perfon, to know if their lordfliips have agreed upon the number of men to be vidlualled in Weft-Florida ; though Mr. Blackburn had provided for looo men for 9 months, in confequence of the con- verfatibn which he was honoured with by their lordihips upon the Scots-Tard, ■ 'V - ■■ - ■ w- ^ ■ . ■ - ,■ . ■•-■■^^-' Thurfday, 22d February, 1776. . ' * . ^'. v. No. 18. ; , • . - Copy of a Letter from Mr. Davifon tjjt Mr. Robinfon, dated 2^d February, ifyb. ., .^^ SIR, -^ . »- I now take the liberty of fending you my fentiments refpe«Siing the fubjeft matter of oufinefs we converfed upon, fomc time (ince, rela- tive to the furniftiing of Jamaica rum for the ufe of our forces defti- ned this year for Canada and the ports of America. I cannot, 1 think, with fafety to myfelf, count upon a lefs price (for rum to be delivered in Jamaica) than ^s. 8d. or 3s. od. per gal- lon, fterling. At a lower price, I (apprehend, it would be a difa- agreeable rifque : And my propofals fhould be, to fhip on board any fhip or veffels government may provide, either from Kingfton, or the north part of the ifland, as we may be able to procure it, in the month of May, June, and July, or better if June, July, and Au- gu|l, the quantity wanted, by equal proportions, to be approved of* by any offi..:er appointed by government there ; und upon fuch ap- proval, to receive bills on the treafury, at 60 days fight. Contracts are feldom furnifhed at lefs than the current; price ; at prefent, there- fore, they could not be fupplied with this art'.cle, at lefs than 4s« per _ . O gallon. m fe. pWf } . i^.|:;Mi r ,| A P P E N . D I X, No. 29. gallon. The many advantages that would arife to government, by agreeing to the before-mentioned propofals, are thefe : Firft, a faving of 3d. per gallon ; and this upon 3s. od. is near 7 per cent, which, on a large quantity, may prove a confiderable fum. Secondly, They would be lupplied in America two or three months fooner than on the prefent plan. And again, they would not pay for it fo foon, from 4 to 6 months. Here it is a ready-money article, and muft be paid for on delivery : On this plan, fuppofmg a (hip was failing from Jamaica with the(e rums for Canada, or other parts of America, and by conveyances that might fail about the fame time, the bills were to be fent homej allowing, at the fiiorteft, two months paflfage, and two for them to run when accepted, it would be four months before the contraflor would be in caj(h } which is equal to near two per cent, more. Should government choofe to fend the whole quantity by Qi>e tonveyancfs or two, it would not be obje<5):ed to, only that the time aUowed would be fufficient. Should government expedl and determine that thefe rums (hould be carried and landed in Canada, and other ports of America, at the QXpence and rifque of the contrador, in fuch cafe an additional price mufi be given. 1 ihouTd be happy iii the honor of waiting on Mr. Robinfon at any hour or time he may be pleafed to appoint, (hould that gentle- man be of opinion, that what I have now tranfmitted him may be worthy future attention.— -The honor of a line, in anfwer, will very much oblige, SIR, , .'^ - . ,, tVtmpole-Jireet^ Your moft obedient and " - 7.yl February t 17769 moll humble fervanl,' THOMAS DAVISON. John Robinfon, Efquire. ^' No. 2g. ' Ctpy of a Letter from Mr. Thomas Davifort, fo Mr. Robinfon^ with Propofals for fupplying Rum tpthe Troops in America. Lon49n, zph March, 1776. Original price fuppofed in Jamaica — Freight from thence to America — 1 akage, &c. — — — Infurance, at /. 1 1 per cent — Ditto on the imp, &c. — —. — The calculation of three pence per gallon, on account of the in- furance on the ihip, is thus produced : In time of peace, from the 12tb of January to the 23th of July, 4 per cent, is given for infu- xance. On this rifque, 11 muft be given, as it cannot be expedited that the owners of the (hips will' pay that advance premium for lefs than that fum. / ' . WimpoUf t i' ^' d. — 3 9 per gallon. 6 Ditto — — 5 Ditto — 5 Ditto . — 3 Ditto — 5 4 Ditto ^-*».. ..^-w *> ^ » A .P S I R, P E N D I X. No. 3Qi . , ^ Wtmpolf'Jireett 2ph March, 1776, tn compliance to the requefl you was pkafed to make yefterday. refpefbing the terms offered or propofed on my part, of landing in America full-proof Jamaica rums for the ufe of his Majefty's troops^ Mr. Davifon begs leave to lay before Mr. Rohinfon the above ftate, which, he apprehends, cannot be undertaken upon lefs or more reftf- fonable terms. I am, Sir, very refpi dfully. Your moft obedient Servant, John Robinfon, Efq. THOMAS DAVISON. No. 30. If IjUehaU Treafury Chambers^ in th March, 177^. Prefent. Lord North, Mr. rownfljend, Mr. Cornwall. My Lords take into confideration an offer from Sir James Cocko burne, Bart, to furnifli ard deliver to the army in America ioo,oop gallons pf Grenada rum, on the fame terms with Mr. French. My lords agree with Sir James Cockburne for fupplying 100,000 gallons of rum from Grenada, St. Vincent's, Dominica, and To- bago, to be delivered to the troops in America at the following prices, viz. . ' l • - ^^ Grenada, 4s, per gallon. St. Vincent's, Dominica, and ITo- bago, 3s. 6d. per gallon. My lords take into confideration an offer from Thomas Biirfoot, merchant, to furnifh and deliver to the army in America 100,000 fallons of Barbadoes rqm, on the fame terms as Sir James Cock- urn. My lords asree with Mr. Burfoot for fupplying 100,000 gallons of rum from carbadoes, at 3s. per gallon, to be delivered to the troops in America. • Read letters from M**, Davifon of the 23d February, and of this day. ^ 'm\ Read letters from Richard Atkinfon, merchant, dated the 7th of ^arch, 1776, offering to fupply (in addition to what was ordered in September) 100,000 gallons, or fuch further quantity as fh^U be required, cf full-proof Jamaica rum, to be delivered in good calks, at any ports in North America, at 5s. 3d. per gallon, pay- able here upon certificate of delivery. My lords agree with Mr. AtHnfon for fupplying iOQ,ooo gal- lons of rum from Jamaica, at 5s. 3d. per gulloHf to oe delivered to the troops in America. My lords refume the confideration of their minute of the 23d of February lafl, wherein they agree with Mr. French for ioo,ooo gallons of rum from the iflands of Grenada, St. Vincent's, Domi- nica, and Tobago, and with Mr. Bbxkburn, for joo,ooq gallons of rum from the other Leeward Iflands. . \ Write to Sir James Cockburne and Mr. French, that their re- fpeAive quantities of 100,000 gallons each, are to be purchafed at the iflands of Qrenad», St. Vincent's, Dominica, and Tobago, as O 2 nearly .'I 1 1 •■*.,v.... msssmm 'f h. i i.' 1,' h''» mi lip M I.I I !fi."^'i A P P £ N D I X, i^o. 3»' liearlv as mzj be in proportion tq the refpe^live ||>roduce of thofe iflanas. ^ ' Write to Mr. BUckburn, that the (juantity of ioo,QOO gallons to be fupplied by him, is to be purchafed in the idands of Antigua, St. Kttts, Montferratt, i^d Nevis, as near as may be in proportion to the refpei^ive produce of thofe iflands. Write to all the contrai^ors for rum, that one fourth part of the m^hole is tQ be delivered to the order of General Carleton, or the commander in chief for the time being at Qiiebec, and the remain- der to the order of General Ho^kre, or the commander in chief for the time being £t fiofton. Write to all the contractors for rum^ that their lordfliips have had inftruments prepared, to be fent to Geqeral Carleton aind (jc- neral Howe, whereby the proof for (trength of the rum delivered from each ifland re(pe£bive)y, according to fhe ufual and proper propf and ilreneth of each ifland, will be tried j and acquaint them that no fum will be received, but what is proof according to fuch inftrumcnts ; and that they may, if they think fit, have duplicates of the faid inilruments for their government in fupplying the rum, and may alfo, if they think fit^ attend and compare uich duplicates with the originals, . • J . " ■' _ Whitehall, ■ '- ^ '■ '• No. 31. '"■'' ■ (Copy) London^ zd May, 1776. Contrast with Richard Atkinjon, Efq. for fumijhing loo^ooo Gallons of Rum for the life of the Forces in jimrica. Articles of Agreement indented, made, and concluded this 2d Day of May, 1776, in the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God King of Great-Britain. France, and Ireland, Defen- der of the Faith, &c. by and between the Right Honour- ■ able the Lords Commiflioners of His Majefty's Treafury, on the Part and Behalf of His Majefty, ai the one Part j anji Richard Atkinfdn, Efquire, of the other Part. , Whereas it is thought neccflary that a contrail: ftiould be entered into with fonae fit and relponhble perfon, for furniftiing a quantity of rum for the ufe of his Majelly's forces on fervice in Americ^, • fuch rum to be delivered at I'uch places, and to fuch perfons in America, as the faid lords commiflioners fhall appoint : ancj whereas Richard Atkinfon has propofed to furnifh and deliver to the army in • America joo,ooo gallons of rum, the produce of the ifland of Ja- maica, at the rate of 5s. 3d. ftcrling per gallon, under proper and - due certificates from the officers of his Majefty'i cuftoms of the faid ifland, which faid propofals the lords commiflioners of his Majelty's • treafury, have, on the part and behalf of his Majefty, thought fit - to accept : Now this indenture witnefTeth, That the laid Richard ' Atkinfon doth for himfelf, his executors, adminiftrators, and af- figns, of thofc } gallons Antigua, oportion rt of the 1, or the I remain- chief for lips have and Ge-r delivered id proper i\ni them g to fuch dup'icates the rum, duplicates Whitehall, . 1776. 100 Gallons uded this the Reign Grace of d, Defen- Honour- :afury, on Part ; anfl je entered quantity Americ^, lerfons in d whereas le army in and of Ja- roper and f the faid Majeity's hought fit d Richard ■rs, and af- figns. • A P P E N D I X, No. 31/ Hgns, agree with the faid lords commiflioners, that he the (ai4 Richard Atkinfon, purfuant to the faid recited propofal, and ac- cording to the terms and reftri£lions above mentioned, (hall and will ddiver, clear of all charges and expences, at fuch places and to fuch perfons in America, as the faid lords commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury fliall pleafe to appoint to receive the fame, fop the fervice of the faid troops there, 100,000 gallons of rum, of the ufual and proper proof and ftrength of the faid ifland, according to an inftrument fent to the commander in chief, for afcertaining the proof and flrength thereof, a duplicate of which inftrument the faid Richard Atkinfon doth hereby acknowledge to have received for his ufe ; and the faid lords commiflioners, on the part and behalf of his Majefty, do covenant, promife, and agree, that upon the faid Richard Atkinfon, his executors, adminiftrators, or aiHgns, pro- ducing a certificate or certificates figned by the officer commanding his Majefty's troops at the port of importation, or commiiTary of llores, or deputy or afliftant commiflary of ftores there, or by fuch other perfon or perfons as fhall be authorized to receive the faid rum, and to fign fuch certificate or certificates (which certificate or certificates are to fpecify the quantity of rum delivered, and to have annexed thereto the certificate or clearance of the officers of the cuftoms of the faid ifiand of Jamaica from whence exported, or an attefled copy thereof, and fhall alfo fpecify that the fame was of the ufual and proper proof and flrength of the faid ifland, according to the faid inflrument) they the faid commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury fhall and will direft and caufe to be paid unto the faid Richard Atkinfon, his executors, adminiftrators, or affigns, all fuch fums of money as fliall appear to be juftly and truly due untd the faid Richard Atkinfon, according to fuch prices, and to the rates aforefaid, agreeably to the faid recited propofal, for the feveral quantities of rum fo delivered and certified for as aforefaid. And the faid lords commiflioners do likewife covenant and agree,- that they will tear harmlefs and indemnify the faid Richard Atkinfon, his executors, adminiftrators, and affigns, from the payment of any cuftom-houfe duties for or upon any of the faid quantities of rum to be delivered purfuant to this contraft. Laftly, it is covenanted and agreed between the parties to thefe prefents, that the faid lords commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury, or any of them, fliall not be liable in their perfons or eltates to any action w^atfoever, by reafon or means of their being, on his Ma- j .-L^ 's behalf, made parties to this contradh In witnefs whereof, NORTH, C. TOWNSHEND, C. v'. CORNWALL. N. jB. The like contract, in the terms of the above, was en- tered into with James Bogle French, Efquire, for 100,000 gallons of rum, the produce of the iflands of Grenada, St. Vincent';j, Do- ipinica, and Tobago, at i^s. fterling per gallon for the rum exported from k V ilF^ >■':.»« !?.( % s ¥l>' 14 i1 A P P E N D r X, No. 32. from Gret^adsii and at 3s. (^d« fierling per g^Ucm for the other iflands. The like contrail, in the faid terms, was entered into with Sir James Cocl^burne, Baronet, for 100,000 gallons of rum, the pro^ duce of Grenada, St. Vincent's, Dominica, and Tobago, ^t 4&. fljcrling per gallon for the Grenada rum, and 3s. 6d. for ine other iflands, The like contra^):, in the faid terms, was entered into with John Blaclcburn, £)fquire, for 100,000 gallons of rum, the. produce of the iilands of Antigua, St- Kitt's, Montferrat, and Nevis, at 3s. ^rling per gallon. The like contrail;, in the faid terms, was entered into with Tho- mas Burfoot, Efauire, for 100,000 gallons of Barbadocs rum, at 3S« fterling per ga'lon. . No. 32. (COPY) 5 7"/;, 1777- Jl^etiff from Mr. Crichtm to Lord Norttiy defiringjme Papers may bi laid before the Referees on Mr. AtkinforCs Rum dontra(f j with Mr. Rebinfon's Jnfwer to the fame. Mr, Cnchton prefents his refpetS^ful compliments to Lord North, ;md begs the favour of his lordfhip to order the following accounts ^ bfl .'.;; ;* ^:>vi?rfo'i' ,-,* THe lie other with Sir the pro^ JO, 9rt 4*' ine other irith John roduce of iris, at 3s. v\t\i Tho- ts rumi at ^ 1777- ipers may h with Mr. ord North, ig accounts jn touching uantities of ^e Weft-In- rica, for the and 1775> year, each ed, and each nported. of rum e3{r '^eft-lndics ts) the faid three t of rum eX' Aeft-Indies to three years. ym APPENDIX, No. j4. The navy were not fupplied f with rum till 1776. The mode which is now followed, of taking it out of the bonded warehoufe. Account of the ()uantities of rum contraiSled for by the com- miffioners of vi£lualltng, to be was firfl begun in that year, and j delivered out of the bonded ware- the quantity fince then fo taken out, as far as appears to the trea fury, has been. In 1776—648,066 gallons. In 1777 — 139,638 ditto. houfes in London, for the year 1773, 1774, 1775, and 1776, dininguifhing each year. « ,. This appears by the papers al- f Account of the quantltieis of ready fent. However, to anfwer this inquiry, it was In 1775—100,000 gallons. In 1776 — 500,000 ditto. rum contrac^d for, br Commif- fioned, by the lords of the trea- fury, for the ufe of the army in North America, for the years 1775 and 1776. It is impofilble to make out f thefe accounts, without the exa- mination of every one of the books of the King's fhips, who have | been on the North American I ftation in thefc years ; or for the J army, without an infpe^lion of * all the commiflaries accounts } which cannot be had% Nor can this account be madef out, without the cuftom-houfe \ books of the feveral ports of the \ Weil-India iflands, and of Nova Scotia and Canada, which can- not be had. , *. I Account of the quantities of rum (if any) purchaled by Lord and General Howe, for the ufe of the navy and army in North America ; and alfo by their pre<^ decefTors in the command, for the years 1775 and 1776. Account of the quantities of rum delivered at Halifhx, for the ufe of the navy, ((tr lite year* '773^ i774f i775» «"<* ^77^* diftinguiming each year. Account of the quantities of rum exported from the Weft-In- dies to Nova-Scotia and Canada, for the ye^r 1776, exdufive of the quantities contradted for and delivered for the ufe of the navy and army in thofe two provinces. The above accounts, or fuch of them ascan.be furniihed,. and any otfeerv ctf a iimilar nature, that may appear neceflary to Lord North, Mr. Crichton fhould be glad to receive as foon as they can conveniently be made out, the referees being to meet on Thurfday next, in order to finiAi the bufinefs. BrakfiiuQmrtt Miip0t Laney Saturday^ Sthjuly^ 1777. •, .- ,,..,.., ^ X; THe v\ .1 u, . \ •-• I I t i-l^ .•,' *. ' No. 'V.'r'f' '-I is , V,. ,*" It"" * A P P E N t) I X, N0.33, 34. '* • No. ^3;; .i,;. .:>n ,1^;. .■,.,;-.; ,< . . (COPY.) * 7 Account of Rum exported from the WeJl^Indies to North- America^ n-i-^iKiVi; From Jamaica - Barbadoes Antigua St. Kitt's Nevis — Montferrat Tortola Grenada Dominica Tobago - St. Vincent's ttt J773. Puncheons 1,458 2,468 2,021 1,201 1,100 5,604 862 420 i»436 Puncheons. «'..i\t';5. ^ '-i-i .i U:*ii:^s:; ' '■.-,;; . That I have proved to you by the certificate of Mr. Ci;iv^.v- 1 ;u...j^^' ii;i'< i' '' w* r,j APPENDIX, No. 36. talcing, by which (o heavy a lofs has been actually fuftaine^, tKe danger of uninfurable rifques. 1 have the honor to be, &c. RICHARD ATKINSON. No. 36. London f 14/A October ^ 1776 Invoice of 849 puncheons of Jamaica rum, and 95 hogiheads of me. kfles, delivered by order of the right honourable the lords com- miflioners of his Majefty's treafury, by the aeents of Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, according to their tender of the 8th September, 1775, to his excellency General Howe, for the ufe of his Mi. jefty's forces in America. , gallons Per Fame, 342 puncheons, containing 37,529 as per certificate Per Price frigate, 507 ditto, — — 54>937 ditto i . ' gallons 92,466 } which with the| > allowance flipulated of 10 per cent, for leakage, > %' \ as cuflomary, are equal to 102,740 gallons in ? - I Jamaica, at the navy price of 4s. 4d. per gallon ^^.22,260 6 Freight of 92,466 gallons, at 6d. 2,311 13 Infurance oi £, 25,600, at 4 per cent. ->— .- i»024 gallons ' «. , Melafies, 14 hogiheads, containing 1,404, per certi-'^ iicate 8x ditto — — 8 v,:t. }, 147 ditto 1 9,551 at 28. per y 9^ a •j;';^ . gallons 9, gallon, including ,cafks, freight, infurance, and I all other charges ■ ■ J Demorage of the (hips, per certificates ; viz. Fame, *! 189 tons, 2 months, and 8 days, at lis. per ton l ^: .^ per month, being the rate of hire at that time f '^ paid J Pfice frigate, 312 tons, 2 months and 6 days, at ditto 377 10 ^.27,164 4 APPE -f^f<- •'*^**»!?'^*w'f^'^tX &'v'''i*i'**':ii»*'--'''^ ' A P ^^ N D I X. No. 37; ;6- . iiftaincil, tlfel - * ■ ■ I FKINSON. O£fober^ 1776] {heads of me<| le lords com- f Mure, Son,! th September,! fe of his Ma.| )er certificate | fh'ich with thd t I ft 1 .22,260 6 1 2,311 1 1,024 [3 i 1 1"% v*'.:r; 1 ■■;.:'■: > 9SS 2 * • - • 12 tto 377 10 No. 37. Ci/>y of Ditofition of Captain Daniel Cornell^ ofth* Snow Peggy ^ rela- ting to the Rum pipped on board the fat d Ship at Barbadoes, for ^e- beCf %\fi January^ ^111' The Right Honoi:rable the Lords Commijfuners of his Majefiy's Treafury, MY I^ORDS, Having already taken the liberty tc rcprefent to your lordfhips the particulars of the {late of a cargo of rum, (hipped by me at Barba- does, ori board the Peggy, Captain Daniel Cornell, for Quebec, by I which a leakage appears to have happened from the delay occafloned by ordering the veflel to proceed with the greatefl part of her cargo to Sorell, inftead of unloading it at Quebec, as ftipulated by the con- dition of a contra^ entered into with your lord{hipsi and that after- wards, for want of ofljccrs properly qualified refiding at Sorell, where it was thought expedient for the accommpdation of the army jto direft thp laid rum to be difcharged, it was found impradticablc to lobtain fuch certificates of the real aeficiency as are required by the Icontraft, I now h^g leave to acquaint your lordfhips, tfiat Captain Cornell lining flnce arrived here, I have, for your lordfhips further fatisfac- Ition, procured from him fuch proofs on o^th, as I flatter myfelf will Verve to corroborate the fails alledged before, as above alluded to ; and, in pr^et that the leakage might be afcertaitied with the greatefl pxac^nef^ po01ble;^ the dry inches taken by Captain Cornell at Sorell bave been reduced into gallons by an experienced ganger hejre, whofe ^eciaration alfo I beg leave to add. With thefp vouchers, I prefume again to follicit your Iprdfhips; [equeiling thsft you will be pleafed to take into your conflderatibii [he impoffibility (under the circumftances of this cafe) of ever being lurnifhed wifh ipore autheqtip documents; and that you will be lileafed to order an impreft for the ballance of the annexed accpunt, making fuch allowance as to your lordfiiips may feem reafohable for Ihe extraordinary leakage that happened between Quebec, where the lum ought by contraiSl to have been qnloaded, and Sorell, where, by Tire£lioi>s of the commander in chief for the time being, it aflually m unloaded. I am, My Lords, , [ondoHy zifl Your lordfhips mofl, obedient, humble fervant, \muary, {777, : , i . . .: !- : : - THOMAS BURfOOT'. C.27,164 4 » ■■• i 1 1* P 2v - {iondon. rv» fO /O *t' '* • i \ i \ t i 1 APPE IV I f A P P E N D I X, Nt. 37. A ]' ■ .. ■i 1 ,ufi 1 dallons 1 deficient. | 00 MM* 8.i v.. Dry Inches. 1 I Quantity fent. -1,) nltl«{rt~>rt -|t<-'l« -M-W ^o Q\^ N 00 r^ yj o\oo t^ •'Noo •* 0* '^ ^ ^ 5?* "?000-00000-000-"0»"""""0 00 >■« N o N M m No. of Caflc". 00 >n\Q QN^ - «^ On "■ r^OQ ■^00 »0 O O^VQ N I. Barbado d 184 at Gallons deficient. -It-H-M-lrt-MHKWtHrt -IH-j^t ■fix-''*"!? "!?"i? ^ "ii t«^ « -^ -^ -^f ^ N ^ t^ >+ « !>.'>♦' -^ -^ "*• N t^ ^ 00 Dry Inches, 1 0*0 u -00 from the Ifland of ;red at Quebec, an Quantity fent. -W 'm\n MM Mirt "|rt •"!»< 0OONN.»NOONU^M(«%NVOONOr^Osi^*4O oor>M>«Moo>"MMO»*">*ooi:i«">:* ^ a M i^ Ml vtoo a No. of Caflc. •» ti^vo 0» N to r^ — vo ■+ w^vo ■<*• 1-^ O ■" O w^OO ♦« N |v, ■• N en «*%VO VOVO"" m m mt H MOO SI 1 - — — (Jallons deficient. O ♦ -<■•* Dry Inches. | - ft f^ ^ It Quantity fent. N On tn t<% N ^00 rx Qvop no n oo o n f*»QO n tv K. P^Om^mt'^O O0O*"O"*"''^O'"OO N M M M mum incheons of which were No. of Caflc. t^vO l>»oo NO t^»ON N — t<^t«^0 -^00 O N On « M^ Gallons defi- cient. -jrt-WHl*-!-* »wHH-lrt.Jrt -M-l*H«-i* ^mM^^ «!♦ "• On Pn*. ^ Dry Inches, MH-in>|rt -|rt-|rt -W Hrt -Irt t i ::? - "« -« N «»)Q0 0\N N _-• p* ~Hrt »|rt 1 *'TH-lrt ^!rt" » «nvo -Mm " Quantity fent. --n--?- ^I No. of Cafk. NO I^N t^"-" •*•'< 0\»rNO»«fNf^ OnOO »») N M t". H •« 1 O 1 ' On Ov 00 NO — C\ -^oo f« 00 •^00 On u^ -^ On O l^oo 1 N | If -'5 Gallons defi- ci'jnt. -Irt »|rt-|rt"h* «|rt »lrt»;rtM|rt-|rt-irt"|rt »Jrt -Irt Hfct "irt »l« »lrt -J* o Dry Inches. m(h -M-lrtHrt -M -Irt-lrt-K -|rt -K-^ "!♦ 1 Quantify fent. -|rt -jrt .Hlrt -|rt-;i< ." ►- O N ■^^f» rr)^«<^t4 |v.1^-4«mmmmmOmOO-<00>«OmO Mirt l>N i n ' I " M No. of Caflc. 00 ♦'^oo O O ■*NO «o^ r>.'»t-iJi-«l-w^f*^««0'ow> o ■ •* C^ N t--00 000ONN<^'«f-r<^»000ror«Lrt'^- N ■ otTf November 9, the Peggy, D » -1 - N N -Irt - -. «, 1 Deficiency. t«^Tftr»Thr*4Tn«<^ro^tn'+->t-t<^ t<^\0 •>*-t«^rr>.^N t«)tnrorr^ "*'0B Qgantity fent *■ M ■< IH i M 1*4 MM f^ m»'t4 ^H 00 tA «<%00 O »^ N ON On •■*• »X tTNOO tN.t^i-1 - M «r)trtN lr\«(-N xol O'-'wO"""*""OO""""OO0"""<'"""«""-i0«-«"«'-"B 1 No. of Caflc. 1 00 »<^ -• triOO OnOO no 00 On lo OnnO -"hOOO 0\N -« O t^'^-K— N'oB 1 «^ t<^ OnOO n t^>0 t^-^0N«*»»^-*'4-O\"« N u^u^o^ON»*N— n •*• ..•• Wl* 1 -.»" S 1 1 M I -1- 1 1 -l«« N r^ IM N *-* .^ ON < 1 1 »» _. -.H H* "<• M ON "> 1 m|H 1 ^ »4 H 1 (4 mt 1 8 1 .00 pi« — r «-|t« -1* ' - ■<»• -1* 1 1 ■, -0 o m __ N 1 1 N • • N r> b»NO NO t>. "i^-OO fN ts.v<) i<,\0 00 i*> ■<»• trv t>. N -l = ! fi if> t^ t^ f^ *0 t^ «n n »*> '<7 0\ - 000- 1 1 1 ?<^00 - .* «• M «w 00 — 10 00 In »r>oo O >/N On N "^O ■^ •" 00 Onsc 0\N N t^ N N N OnW OnOO 0N>0 r<. UMv» M N N M (4 Ml aJH >.|l< Hrt b|M w|t4 >.|rl >4t< - t^X hIh m) • >^4->r< mIX - •f-l^ I I • IrtxIrlalH l+''lt*»«'lt^»*|«^|N.O t^.TOt'^N ft tr, t^ ti • Irl •• IH X M > M «^NQ «*> On O O On rr >->0»Qh»Oi-* fO t^ ^<^06 00 0»Q»- tn tr» t<^ 'J^'O »r4 N lA "<1- w O •* "* PK P ^ IM Wl O fl ■^ t^ 1 On ON «^ "• M f4 r* NmH ONOtJ-I^. NNO03 t*N\0 ■* rs. -t- O v-> r> •*.<-» _ /% "IS* «>W~W «|r«-lrt «|rt ^^TB'-,'8'So-«oo2^2ir2522rr2!i**-*'°S'^NNNooo m M « -if " N N N "" N -• I 00 1 I I I -I ^Ht .3 >N a & S.- ss§ c.a >< > .§ oig Q •-3 9 fi o ^*»^ 00 o V •^ o tf B u B ^ 1 W Q »> « > ii « s-isJS? M-i *•» ••1 nt •"• * M M .2 ^ s Ji'S^* P rt u S C O P e 5.85 (I4 t3 4* I I I I I '^ •-» j= ■>i<« • 00 } %"?s-i^ iii?E>i s H ?s?rf!iifrfititifff 00 o r I I he received orders to lighten his veffel, which h(8 did by ^njo^ing fixty-fix puncheons, and then, by the fame authority, proceeded with the remainder to SoreU : That tne lixty-fi^ puncheons difc^arged at Quebec were proved, coopered, and gauged, byone of his |k^ajefl;y's gaugers appointed by Mr. Drummond, deputy commiiTary general, and were found perfectly fatisfa£lory, and in point of proof declareq hy the faid gauger to exceed the limited ftandard : That on jiis arr rival at Sorell, upwards of forty leagues above Quebec, he could not, during the abfence of Mr. Day, the commifTary general, pro- cure an or-^er for difcharging his cargo, for want of ftores ; that when he received orders to unload, he repeatedly applied for a gauger to afcertain the leakage, but on being informedf, both by Mr, Day, and his deputy Mr. Drewry, that there was not any in the place, or a poffibility of procuring one, be the faid Daniel Cornell, as the only expedient he could devife, took, with the affiftance of his mate, the deficient or dry inches of each cafk, the foregoing acpount of which, as well as of the gaugers of the f"xty-fix puncheons, taken at Quebec^ this deponent, to the beft of his knowledge, verily believes i be juft and true : That he made application to Mr. Drummond, at Qyebec, for an attefted certificate of the gauges and proof of the lixty-fix "un- cheons difcharged there, by whom he was told, that Mr. pay s re- ceipt was fuiHcient : That this deponent arrived with his faid veflie| at Quebec, on the 29th September, 1776, and failed from thence for borcll, the 9th of O£lober, 1776; that he arrived at Sorell the 26th of the faid month, and returned again to Quebec the 14th of November, 1776, by which deviation and detention the freight be- comes liable for twenty-two days demurrage, making, at /. 3 per day, £' 66. This deponent alfo fail ., That the leakage ofthe faid rum was confiderably augmented by that delay j that he very beljeves, if it all had been difcharged at C^ebec, the deficiency would have been lefs in proportion than the fixty-fix puncheons unloaded there, the ground tier, ccnfifting of eighty puncheons, having been fecu- red with ir n hoops. A.nd this deponent further faith, That none of the cafks dif- charged at Sorell were re- coopcitd on their delivery, fo as to preven| a further leakage. . ; '.,,.-. Sivorn before me ^ atGuUdhally London^l t^am rrw^yj^t 1 the 20th January, 1777. I ^^^^' tORNELL. Robert Ptckham. ~" . ..:' .;' ■ J ■ '% ^ ii •-* C ^*- */' A?PE^r- \n ('• 5: ■^m^i pro- that or :ueves. [ELL. A I^ > ]^ Jf D 1 X/ f^o. 38. o» . o| M "^1. , - 9 6 00 So 00 1 I I m 13 ^.§ O pqpq ^;--'^ > . ■■ ' ■ r^ ' , - r> ■• , ON N / E 5 ON N O 00 O »0 CK N bo NO -a *J <*^-d a, § 0,0 y -If* ' s S?o .4 ^ pm ' 'S H I iy I ►«4 i r ■J , 1 :"■ k 1 i ik h. 'i j ^ ,i! 'i . ■ , ' ii ,.ii ■ :/ i / w ' ' ' A P P E N D>I X, No. 59, No. 39. Extras of Account of Exirdordinary Service s^ Incurred and paid hetweeti the yji of January 1776, and the. ijl of February ijyjf relating to Payments for Rum, ^776. £, Oaober 19. To Richard Atkirtfoii, Efquire, for rum delivered ih America^ for the life of the forces there • s. d. 1777. January 22. To ditto, for ditto fervice — 1776. December 18. To Sir James Cockburne, Baronet, for 40,296 gallons of Grenada rum, delivered for the ufe of the 27,^64 6^616 4 + 6 4 forces on fervice i — 3,000 - 980 2 9 Extras of Account of Extraordinary Services incurred and paid between the 31/? of January 1777, and the iji of February 1778. >777- March 3. To Thomas Burfoot-. Efquire, for 77,144 : , gallons of Barbauoes rum, deliver- V- : ed for the ufe of the forces ferving in America, according to contran : To Sir James Cockburne, Baronet, " . for 1 6,0:50 gallons of Grenada ,' - rum, delivered for the ufe of ditto, ' according to ditto November 14. To ditto, for 34,829 gallons of ditto according to ditto ■ April 12. To John Blackburn, Efquire, for 8,209 gallons of Grenada rum, delivered for the ufe of the forces in ditto, ac- cording to ditto ■' ' July 24. To ditto, for 19,943 ^ gallons of ditto, for ditto, according to ditto — I' s. d. "»a73 1+ S 3,210 - — 6,965 x6 — 1,231 7 — 2,991 zo 6 December '1777. APPENDIX, No. 40; ■ll' •!> ,1 tl. December 24. To ditto, for 32,267 gallons of ditto, ^. 4.840 1778. January 21. 1777. May 20. Auguft 27. November 7 for ditto, according to ditto — To^itto, for io,o6i gallons of An- tigua rum, for ditto, according to ditto To'Richard Atkinfon, E'fquire, for 37,338 gallons of Jaitiaica rum, delivered for he ufe of the forces in ditto — — To ditto, for 9,979 gallons of ditto, for ditto — - " ■ ■- ■ s. a, I — 3,009 3 — 9 6 9,801 4 6 ^ ^ ^»^'9 9 To ditto, for 58,698 gallons of uitto, fdr ditto, according to contract - 15,408 4 To James Bogle French, ' Efquire, in part of payment for 39,780 gal- lons of rum furniflied by him for the ufe of the fbt'ces in America, according to contract r — -^ 7>5CO — *^ December 24. To ditto, in full for 39,780 gallons _ ^ of rum, for ditto, according to ditto ?«•«• 1,790 8 — No. 40. Reference to the Members of Lloyd's Coffee-houfe^ relating to Infurance^ with their Opinion thereupon. A contract was made in London, on the 27th March, 1776, to deliver a large quantity of rum from Jamaica, at fuch port or ports in North America as the commander in chief ihould dire«St. The ftiips to be employed in carrying it, were partly to be fent from Europe, partly fuch is were already employed in carrying other iupplies to the army, and fuppofed to be within reac, of the con- tradtor's agents, and tne reft were to be hired in Jamaica, to makfe up what might be further wanted ; confequently, neither the fhips, nor the time of their failing, nor the circumftances under which tiiey wc-e to fail, could be known in En{>;land till the return of ad- vices from Jamaica j neither could it be known at what port or ports the cargoes would be deliverable. The' opinion of the gentlemen of Lloyd's cofFee-houfe is defired, ' Whether it would have been pra£ticable to have made an infurance on ihip or ihips, fo as to cover this adventure, either at the time of making the contradt, or at any time before the return of advices from Jamaica. ,.- ; ;"* ' '"!! (^ Londeiif ¥ I Wf V,i .,.11- . i: n APPENDIX, No. 41. London^ Lloyd's Cojfee-houfe, gth May, lyyS. We are clearly of opinion, that no fuch infurance as is within defcribed could have been made. !• Woodbridge Fred'' Pigou, jun. Jof. Nutt Chrir Croft Henry Seward John Frafer Will"" Innes Tho« Parry James Laird Alexand' Grant W" Offley Minz"" Baillie Tho» Cairns Tho» Sword Ja' Dunlop Ja. Gibfon Simon Frazer Jn" Thomas Jdhn Wilfon Geo. Gun Munro James Boydell Ifaac Thompfon William Cazalet Thomas Walker Rob' StecU Arthur Caie John Stevens H. Modigliani A. Kirnan D. Giles John Shorer John Ferguflbn Rob' Stupart Ja' Thwaite • John Staples James Phyn John Wilfon . John Ewer Geo. Curling Jolhua Readmaw Jn° Fletcher Gregy Olive John Whitmore Sam' Gift John Walter Thomas Croft Ja» Bradley W™ Davis W" Ward Peter Bcrthon Capel Cune E-* Woodfnaf Janies Mather Rob' Hunter Sam' Beachcroft Chrift. Hake W"" Greenwood Nath. Modigliani. No. 41. Affidavit and ProUji relating to the Lofs of the Ship Sally. Jamaica Jf. Be it known to all men, That on the fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Seventy- feven, John Pullen Nutty, mate of the brigantine The Sally, of Pool, in Dorfetfhire, in the kingdom of Grv,'*^^-Britain, and Tho- mas More, boatfwain cf the fame brigantine, appeared before me Charles Hamilton, Efquire, one of his Majerty's Juftices of the peace for the, paiilh and precinft of Saint James, in the county of Cornwall, 'v. the faid ifland of Jamaica, and feverally made oath, That being under charter purty with Meffrs. Mure, Son, and At- kinfon, of the city of London, in Great-Britain aforefaid, mer- chants, they, thcfe deponents, in purfuance of the faid charter party, failed, on the twenty eighth day of February laft, in the faid brigantine The Sally, under t.ie command of Thomas Thompfon, mailer thereof, from Yarmouth, in the Ifle of Wight, in company with a fleet bound for the Welt-Indies, under the convoy of his Majefty's frigate the iEolus. — That thefe deponents, in the faid brigantine The Sally, arrived at Green Ifland Ha»^our, in the faid ifland of Jamaica, on Tuefday, the twenty-third day of April lift paft, configned to Scott and Mure, of that place, Efquires. — That I ^1 •■/' mer- le harter [the faid [impfon, jtnpany of his |he faid the April lires. — That in » \ 1 APPENDIX, No. 41. That there the faid Scott and Mure loaded, or caufed to load, the faid brigantine The Sally with twenty hogflieads of fu^ar, and- three hundred and forty -one puncheons of rum; with which cargo they, thefe deponents, with thirteen more mariners, under the command of the faid Thomas Thompfon, and by the orders of the. faid Scott and Mure, upon Sunday, the twenty-fifth day of May laft, failed from Green Ifland Harbour aforefaid, bound for New- York, in North America: That on Saturday, the thirty-firft day of May, about three o'clock in the afternoon (latitude 21. ' north } longitude 84, by the reckonings on board) they, thefe deponents, faw land, low and woody, bearing from north to weft-north- weft, diftance about five leagues : that they were then fleering weft-fouth- weft : that about eight o'clock at njght, it being dark, they heard the fea break, as if upon a flioal, diftant, as they judged, about half a mile upon their ftarboard beam : that they immediately bore away, and kept the veftel fouth ; fhe then failing about fix knots in the hour : that about nine o'clock in the fame evening, the faid veffel, or brigantine, ftruck ground, and went along about one glafs or half an hour ; fometimes rubbing the ground very hard, at other times quite free : that at length, ihe broached to, and lay with a heel to ftarboard all that night, ftriking very hard, but made po water : that at day-light next morning, the firft day of June, all their leeward guns were hove overboard, in order to eafe thevefle], and an anchor and cable carried out, and hove tort, en- deavouring to bring her ipto deeper water, but could not, the tide having left or freed her about two feet : that having obferved the ftieathing to come oiF her bottom, they began to pump her about eight of the clock in the njorning of the faid firft day of June, and found fhe had made very little water ; but that ihe quite filled with water in about two hours thereafter : that the wind blew very hard from the time they firft ftruck, at eaft and eaft-fouth-eaft, and made a heavy fea : that after the veflel filled with water, they loft all hopes of getting her off; but taking out fome provifions, refolved to make to the fliore, which lay diftant about fcven miles : that they found the ifland uninhabited, and fo could get no alliftance to take out and fave any part of the cargo : that in the evening of the fecond day of June aforefaid, the faid Thomas Thompfon, the mafter, with the deponent John Pulkn Nutty, and fix of the crew, went in the longboat to loolc for fome other hind, and for afliftance : that on Wednelday following, ihey fell in with a floop named The B^tfey, James Woodhoufe, n.after, fiom the Bay of fiojiduras for Kinglloii in Jamaica aforefaid : that pa Friday nieht thereafter, the faid floop came to an anchor within a mile of the wreck of the faid brigantine, and upon vjewing it jn their longboat, thf/ found the caflcs and puncheons between decks, all llaved or empty : that on Sujiday morning, the eighth of June aforefaid, the faid Thomas Thompfon, with nine of his crew, went on board the faid floop, 0,2 an4 h ,1 / I ■ MA r f-' fh' ■ i I llJ A P P E N D I X, No. 41.' tna that the deponents, with three more of the 'fame crew, went on board the longboat- of the faid brigantine Sally,, all bound fpr Ja- maica afdrefaidt that the deponents, and their companions, in the longboat, arrived at Montego Bay, in the parifh of Saint James, in the faid ifland of Jamaica, on the twenty-ninth day of the faid month of June: and as foon thereafter as they conveniently could, made known the particulars here fworn to, to Meffrs. Scott and lylufe aforefaid : and laftly, That the lofs or ftranding of the faid brigantine Sally, was not owing to any mifmanagement of the maf- tfr or mariners thereof, or any infufficiency of the veflel, but en- tirely owing to the accident of their getting upon the banks, rocks, 4ioal, or reef aforefaid (which, from any charts, they could not know of, nor from any obfervation fufpeft to lie fo far from the land) and to the ftrong windward currents, which carried them out of their regular courfe in among the Jardin iflands or keys, froni one of which the faid ihoal extends as aforefaid, to a great diflanc^ in the fea. ' Taken and fworn before ' JOHN PULLEN NUTTY. >me, the day and year his ,• * firft above written. THOMAS + MORE. - Cha' Hamilton. Mark. ' > '\ Jamaica jf. I Ralph Montague, Deputy Secretary and Notary Public fo^ the port of Montego Bay, in the parifh of Saint James, county of Cornwall, and ifland aforefaid, duly admitted, allowed, and fworn, dwelling at Montego Bay, do hereby certify and make known to all to whom thefe prefents (hall corne or may concern, That Charles' Hamilton, Efquire (before whom the annexed affidavit of Jiohh Pullen Nutty and Thomas More was taken, to the truth therein mentioned, relating to the brigantine Sally) is one of his Majefty's jufliices of the peace for the parifh and precin£t of Saint James, duly authorized and impowered : and whereas John Pullen Nutty, late mate of the faid brigantine Sally, hath applied to me to enter his protefl; I the faid notary, at the requeft aforefaid, and in con- fequence of the faid annexed affidavit, have protefted, and by thefe prefents in mofl; folemn manner do protefl;, againfl Ihe fhoal, wind, and fea, in the faid annexed affidavit menrioned, for all lofTes and damages fuilained or to be fuftained by the faid brigantine Sally and her cargo, in behalf of the malier, owner, fhippers, and all other perfons concerned in the faid brigantine Sally and her cargo. Thus done and protefted, at Montego Bay aforefaid, this J5th day of July, 1777. ' ■ ■!..; •'. • ^odattejior manu ac figtllo rogatus. RALPH MONTAGUE, "■'■■' Dep'"' Sec'"* et Not'^"VPub"". * " ■ No. APPENDIX, ^9' i 2» 43- ^o. 42. f I^oice of Goods Jhifped on J^oaitd The Sally. -''' 'Shipped in good order and well-conditioned) by George Scott^hd WiUiani A^urej in and upon the good mip called The Sally, whereof is" riiafter, for this prtftnt voyage, Thomas Thompfon, and now riding at ancnoi* in th6 harbour of Green Ifland, ' apd bound for New- York j to fay, twenty hogfi N*. I, aiphhdsof heads of IVIufCavado fugar, and three hundred and Mufcavado iugar, forty-Orte puncheons of ^-um, on account and rifle chVoi's Vf'^rJmT ofMeffrs. Mur<;,-^on,"artdAtkInfon, being marked I punch, old rum, and numbered as in" the rriargih ; and are to be de- ()ainted at both livered in the like^ g6od Order, and well-conditioned, at the afordfaid port' of New- Votk, (the danger o^ the feas Only e^cfpted') unto Jof" ton rig, ^fquire, or to his ifli^ris,! Freight" for the faiif goods to l^e paid by MfeTTrS. Miit'e^ ' Sonj and Atkinfon. In witnefs wHferCof the rriafter or p'urfc'r of the faia ihip hathaffirmedib folir bills of lading, aUofthis ' tenor anil difte ; the' one of whTch fouf bills beihe accOA)^lifti6d','th6othel- three toftand void. D.atejl in Jamaica, May . 1777- ' ' •" •' " i;Hp' THOMPSON;. No. 43_. Co^y of Mr. jUklnfon's Certtjjcaie\ with Reference ; dt^ted^ Nfw-Tork^ ' ■■ '^ ■■■■■'■■ ' ihtb^Mayih,i)'jj."^' Thefe are to certify the VlgHfc' honourable the lords commifHoners of his Majefty'fr tFeafury, That Meffri. Mure," Son, and Atkihlbn, of LondoB,-h4th fupplied from onboard the fljip Fame, William' Thornton, mafter, for the uie of iiis Majefty's land forces under my command) ♦and delivered to his Majefty's commiffary general of floreS and prcwifjons at this place, 358' hogflieadff, contiiriing' 37,338 gallons of rum from the ifland of Jamaica. I do further Certify the right honourable the lords cothmiflioncrs of his Majefty's treafury, that thie above-mentioned rum is of the prdper pi^f an4 ftrength ufual for rum from- the faid- ifland of Jamaica, according td proof made thereof by an inftrumcntfent for that purpofe. And I alfo certify their lordfliips, that no payment hath been made here, to the faid Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, for the fame j fof Which I have figned four certificates of this^ tenor and date. New-Torky 16 MarchyijTj. ' W. MOWE. p. Chamier, CommiflTary General. IVhitehall Treafury Chambers , loth May, 1777. The right honourable tlie lords commifl?oners of his Majefty's treafuiy are plea&d to refer this certificate to the comptrollers of ' ^ ■••• ■••<■.■-•. - ■ ' • the )' \/ I'i [. ■■ $. ■ ,1 .51; ' v^ i 1 :n 1 1 \ A P f> E N D I X, No. 44, 45. the accounts of the army; who are to confider tl^e /f)|;ne, and re- port to their lordfhips fuch obferv?tions as may occur to the faid comptrollers, together with what is due, f^nd to pe paid to Richard Atkinfon, purfuant to contraft. ^ JOHN ROBINSON. Rich"*. Atkinfon referred to Comptrollers Army Accounts, Copy of Certificate of Mr. Bogle Frenches delivering 46,482 gallons of Rum, with Reference i dated the 6th September, '777' Thefe are to certify the right honourable the lords commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury, That James Bogle French, of {yondon, merchant, has fupplied for the ufe of his Majefty's land forces under my command, and delivered tp his Majefty's commiflary general of ftqres and provifions from on board the (hip Lord North, Anthony Moll, mafter, 434 puncheons, containing 46,482 gal- lons of rum from the ifland of Grenada. And I do further certify. That the afore-mentjoned rum is of the proper proof and ftrength ufual for rum from the faid ifland of Grenada, according to proof made thereof by an inftr ument for tha( purpofe. I do alfo further certify their lordfhips, That no payment h.nth been made to the faid James Bogle French for the fame j for which I have figned four certificates of this tenor and date. Headquarters, Pencader, 6th Sept. ijjj. W. HOWE. Daniel Wier, Commiflary General, :. „. ., ,, ., v The lor's commifHoners of his Majefty's treafury are pleafed to lefer the aforegoing certificate to the comptrollers of the accounts of the army ; who are defired to confider and return the fame, with their report, and fuch obfervations as may occur to them, together with a computation of what is due, and to be paid the cbntradtor, purfuant to contraft. PFhltehall, Treafury Chambers, ' ^ GREY COOPER, Dec. 4/^, 1777. * ^•'■ ' James Bogle French, Efq. Rum Certificate, referred - .' ■ to Comptroller of A'^count of the Army. ' "■ .. ' ' . No. 45. '■ ■'■'* Copy of Sir James Cockhurne* s Ctrtlflcate., dated nth December, jyyb. Received from Captain Normand lyl'Leod, of the iliip Naricy and Betfey, 375 puncheons, containing 40,296 gallons of Weft- India rum, agreeable to contract, for the ufe of the army in Ca- nada. Quebec, ph November, i7y6,'l' . ,- JOHN DRUMMOND, 375 puncheons, 40,296 gallons, j . Deputy Commiflary GQneral. I hereby certify. That John Drummond, Efq. who fiened the above, is deputy commiflary general of provifions for his Majefty's forces and re- the faid R.ichard rsoN. I gallons niflioners J^ondon^ id forces- mmiflary i North, 482 gal- um is of ifland of it for that nent h<^th for which HOWE. pleafed to counts of me, with together [bntradtor, )OPER, l^r, 1776. In NarJcy jf Weft- in C'a- [OND, [General. rned the Lajefty's force? APPENDIX, No,: 46. forces in this province, and ftationed at this place for the rec^ . , whatever is delivered here for their ufe. '" °^ Given under my hand at Quebec, this 7th Day of Nov. 1776. To all whom thefe may concern. H. T. CRAMAHE. ^Duplicate.) Thefe are to certify. That Normand M'Leod, mafter of the {hip Nancy and Betfey, reported at my office at Quebec, 375 pun- cheons, containing 40,296 gallons of Grenada rum, as appears by certificates produced to me, under the hands arid feals of the col- lector and comptroller of Grenada, and filed in my office } which rum I gave a fufFerance to be landed, free of all duties whatfoever, agreeable to an order of the lords commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury, for the ufe of the army. Given under my hand at London, this 12th Day of Dec. 1776. THO' AINSLIE, Colleaor. No. 46. Copy of Mr, James Bogle Frtmch's Certificate for Rum, with Refe- rence ; dated iji June, ^777' Grenadoes. Thefe are to certify all whom it doth concern. That Anthony Moll, mafter or commander of the {hip Lord Howe, burthen ^ 190 tons, or thereabouts, mounted with no guns, navigated with twelve men, Briti{h built, and bound for New- York, hath here loaden and taken on board John Menzies, Coll'. Four hundred and forty-two puncheons rum, 39,780 gallons. And hath alfo here given bond, with one fufficient furety, in the fum of two thoufand pounds fterling, with condition that the faid rum, or any part thereof, {hall not be carried to or landed in the IfleofMan. Given under our hands and feals of office, at St. George's, the 3d day of June, in the 17th year Rowley Lafcclly, of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, I ^,* ^.* ^' King of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, and fo ' ' forth, and in the jrear of our Lord, 1777. JOHN IRELAND, Comptroller. New-York, ^th Auguji, 1777. Thefe are to certify. That Captain Anthony Moll hath here jlanded out of the {hip Lord Howe, agreeable to the within certifi- [cate, 442 puncheons of rum, containing 39,780 gallons j which rutn is received, into his Majefty's ftores at this place. .,,;P£T£R PAUMIER, Deputy Commiflary General. '5<;. ,ff; New-York, \<^th Auguji, iTTJ. v-Tiu-;-i^:«?^i'^ ' . , W. BUTLER, D. Commiflary. The lords commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury are pleafed to hfH* the above- written certificate to the comptrollers of the accounts of ■v:. i V \ •' f t t f 1:1 i I i' li APPENDIX, No. 47, 48. of the army j who are to confidcr and return tbe,fame)i with their report^ and fuch^bfcrvations as may occur ^o them, and a computa- tion of what is due and to be paid the contradlor, pursuant to con- trail. » • ♦! i( ; il Whitehall Treafury Chambers^ JOHN ROBINSON. October ofth^ 1777« :' Quantity delivered, 46,482 gallons Grenada rum; ., ' at 4Si. — — — «; . jr. 9,296 8 Mr. Bogle French's Rum Certificate referred to Comptrollers of the Accounts of the Army. , . ' No. 47. Copy of the Comptroller's Report on Sir James Cockburne's Certificate of Rum delivered ; dated ^d March, 1 7 77. . May it please your Lordfhips, In obedience to your lordfhips order of reference of the 28th ult. &c. on a certificate for rum delivered from the ifland of Grenada, by Sir J^mes CoQkburne, Bart. contra6lqr for furnifhing too,ooo gal- lons of rum from the iAands of Grenada, St. Vincent's, Dominica, and Tobago, for the ufe of his Majeftv's forces in America ; I have, confidered the famej and humbly report to your lorclfhips, Tbat.I.hav£ exammed the certificate (herewith returned) dated from New- York, 7th January, 1777, figned by General William Howe, and D. Chamier, commiflary general, for rum delivered ther." to his Majefty's commiflary general of ftores and provifions, from on board the Snow Campbell, James Southerland., mafter, 150 h©gf- heads, cotjitainipg 16,050 gallon^ of ram from the ifland of Grenada ; which faid rum is certified to have been of the proper ftrength and proof ufua! for the rum from the faid ifland of Grenada, according to. proof made thereof by an inftrument for that purpofe ; and that no payment hath been made to the faid contractor for the fame. The whole amount of the aforefaid 150 hogfheads, conti.ining 16,050 gallons of rum, at 4s, per gallon, which is according to con- trail, will be /. 3,2 10 J which is, &c. THOMAS BOWLBY. Comptroller's- Office, '^d March y 1777. . ,. , No. 48. Copy of Comptroller's Report «« Two drtificates for Rum delivered at ^ebec, by Sir fames Cockbwnt^t Baronet, dated i\th December 1776. May it plea,fe your Lordihips, «..*... y .0. , -. -i *•« - ^ ]|!n obedience to your Iprdfhips order of reference of the? 12th in- {lant, on two certificates of rum delivered from the ifland of Grenada, by Sir Janies Cockburne, Baronet, contractor for delivering 100,000 gallonsqf I um from the iflands of Grenada, Saint Vincent's, Domi- nica, and Tobago, for the ufe of his Majefty's troops in feirvice in America i .it I haw it ill ' ni'.-".-»T!"^ f .■ / *t fn >Tr ' irith their computa> nt to con- JINSON. 9,296 8 "ert'tjicate of e 28th ult. irenada, by )o,ooo gal- Dominica, ca; ir lordihips, ) dated from liam Howe, sd thcji" to ns, from on . 1 50 hcgf- of Grenada ; Irength .and according ; and that fame, containing rding to oon- BOWLBY. n delivered at :etnber 111^* > ■ ' ' ' the? 1 2th in- 1 of Grenada, ring 100,000 :nt's, Domi- in fervice in < > i IhaK •3.'. • ^^^, ,^ A P P' E N D I X, No. 49, 50: . I have confidcred the fame ; and humbly report to your lordfhips, . That I have examined the receipt and certificate (herevirith returned) for rum that has been received at Quebec } which are as fol- lows, viz. The receipt is finned by John Drummond, deputy commiflary general, dated from Quebec, the 7th November 1776, for 375 pun- cheons of rum, containing 40,296 gallons, from Captain Norman M'Leod, of the fliip Nancy and Betfy, for the ufe of the army in Canada ; and certificate at Quebec, figned by H. T. Cramahe, the commanding officer, that the faid John Drummond is there ftationed for the receipt of whatever is delivered for their ufe ; and alfo a cer- tificate, dated from London, 12th December 1776, figned by Thomas Ainflie, colk^or of Qiiebec, for the faid 375 puncheons, containing 40,296 gauons of Grenada rum, as appears by certificate produced to him, under the hands and feals of the colledlor and comptroller of Grenada, and filed in his office j and which rum he gave a fufFerance to be landed free of all duties. The whole amount of the aforefaid 375 puncheons, containing 40,296 gallons of Grenada rum, at 4s. od. per gallon, which is accord.ng to contraft, will be £. 8,059. 4s. I beg leave to obferve that '.nere is a very great omiflion, in not certifying that the faid rum, waf exported from Grenada j under which circumftance the pay- ment is moft humblyj &c. . . Comptroller' s-Office, ^ ^. THOMAS BOWLBY. 14//) Dec. ijt6. * - No. 49. ExtraSi ofTreafury Minutes^ daifd Whitehall Treafury Chambers, l%th . November 1777. iPrefent. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Mr. Cornwall. Read eport of the comptrollers of the accounts of the army, dated 22d Odtober, 1777, on a certificate of rum delivered by James Bogle French, Efquire, at New- York, under his contract j in which the comptrollers ftate that the value of the rum delivered, according to contra(5l price, is £. 7,956 ; but as the certificate is informal, by reafon that it does not certify that the rum is of the proper flrength, they recommend, that if any payment be made on account thereof, it be by way of imprefl. Prepare a warrant for £, 7,500, in part of payment, and on ac-i count of the rum fo delivfied. Read a like report on a certificate of rum delivered at New- York by Sir James Cockburne, amounting, according to the contrad price, at ;^. 6,965. i6s. od. No. 50. Copy of Comptroller's Report on a Certificate^ dated New-Tor k^ j^ih Ja* gu/l, 1777, for Rum delivered by fames Bogle French, Efquire, May it pleafe your Lordfhips, In obedience to your lordfhips order of reference of the 9th infant, T.«- ■ ' R om '^\ i t 5»y, .».i^..^S5ati*»)'Vg __,,'>^~-«^ ^ 11 h . lJ n I Mi Si i ■ ^ <„' f J ^f • APPEND! X, rfo, ifrM on a certificate for rum deJlivered by Tames Bogle French, Efquire, contrsuflor for furnifhing 100,000 gallons of rum from the iflands of Grenada, Saint Vincent's, Dominica, and Tobago, for the ufe of his Majefty's forces in America ; which certificate your lordfliips arc pleafcd todireft the comptrollers of the accounts of the army to con- fider, and return the fame, together with what is due, and to be paid the contractor purfuant to contrad' j I have confidcred the fame; and humbly rep/^rt to your lordftiips. That I have examined the certificate (herewithiieturned) dated from New- York, the 4th of Auguft, 1777, figned by Peter Paumicr, de- puty commiffary general at New- York, the 19th of Auguft, 1777, and William Butler, deputy-commiflary, for rum delivered there- out of The Lord Howe, Anthony Moll, Czptkin } 442 puncheons, quantity 39,7^ gallons, which appears to be Grenada rum, by John Menzies, colleftor of the faid ifland, certificate, dated the 3d June ; and find chat 01^ faid certificate of the delivery is informal, in that it does not certify that the rum is of the proper proof and ftrength of rum from Grenada, according to the inflrument fent out for afcer- taining the fame. At 4s. per gallon, being ihe cbntradl: price for Grenada rum, it amounts to £. 7,956} and, if your lordfhips fhall think fit to make any payment on account thereof, it is recommend- ed that it (hould be by impreft. I I have the honour to be, my lords, '• V Your lordfhip's moft obedient humble fervant, Cmptroner's-Officey HENRY 3UNBURY. 22d 0£f. 1777. . V, • ' '"•' No. SI. * - Copy of Comptroller's Report on James Bcglt French, Efquire' s Certifi- cate for Rum^ dated bth September f 1 77 7. May it pleale your Lordfhips, In obedience, &c. I have confidered the fame ; and humbly report to your lordfhips. That i have examined the certificate (herewith returned ) dated from head quarters, Pencader, 6th September, 1777, figned by General William Howe, and Daniel Wier, commiflary general, for rum delivered there to his Majefty's commiflary general of'^ftores and provifions, from on board the fhip Lord North, An- thony Moll niafter, 434 puncheons, containing 46,482 gallons of rum from the ifland of Grenr.dH ; which faid rum is certified to have been of the proper proof aiuJ if rength ufusArfor the rum from the faid ifland, according to proof aade thereof by an inftrument for that purpofe ; and that no payment hath been made to the faid contractor for the fame. The whole amount of the aforefaid 434 puncheons, containing 46,482 gallons of Grenada rum, at 4s. per gallon, which is accord- ing to contradl, will be £. 9,296. 8s. I muft obferve to your lord- fhips, that in the laft report from this office, on Mr. Bogle French's account, an obfervation was made, that the certificate was informal ; and '15. •-'"i.Kv.wT,_ w^ fqu'irc, ands of : ufe of hips are to con- be paid >rd(hips, ted from nier, de- t, i777» :d there- iicheons, by John 3d June; in that it rength of for afcer- price for hips Ihall ommend- vant, SBURY. e's Certlfi- )bly report (herewith ber, I777» rommiffary iry general orth, An- galloiis of ied to have jm the faid nt for that contradtor containing 1 is accord- » your lord- rle French's IS informal j and A P P E N P I X, No: 52, 53. and it was recommended, that whatever Turn your lordihips might think proper to advance the contradtor (hould be on imprefl, and /. 7,500 was ac(;ordingly impreited to the contradtor by warrant. In regard to the prefent certificate, I find, on enquiry from Mr. French, that although the name of the flwp is not the fame as that mentioned in the certificate from N<"w-York, nor the number of puncheons, or quantity of rum therein contained, the fame with the former demand, yet it is underflood by the contractor to refer to the fame fupply ) whickv (if called upon) he will more fully explain to . your lordfhips ; and as the certificate (herewith returned) is proper- ly figned, and in every refpedt regular, it is fubmitted to your lord- inips, that £. 7500, (already received ptfr warrant) be deducted froni the above fum of /. 9,296. 8s. which leaves a balance in favour of the contradtor of j^. 1,796. 8s ; and if paid, the payment is fccom- mended to your lordfhips to be made on account. I am, *&c. Comptroller' s-Office, THOUlAM BOWLBY. nth December^ I777« ;r , • No. 52. ]^xtra£} of Treafury Minutes, dated PVhitehall Treafury Chamber s, igth December, 1777. Prefent. Lord North, Mr. Cornwall, Lord Weftcote. Read report of the comptrollers of the army accounts, dated ilth inftant, on a certificate for rum delivered for the ufe of his Majefty's forces in America, by James Bogle French, Efquirej in which the comptroller ftates, that the fum o( £. 9,296 8s. is due theredh : But as this certificate is undcrftood by the contradtor to refer to the fame fupply with that reported upon in the comptroller's report of 22d Oc- tober laft ; upon which Mr. French received £. 7,500 by way of im- preft} it is fubmitted, that £. 7,500 be dedudted from the above ^.0,296. 8s. and the balance of ^. 1,796. 8s. paid on account. Read the comptroller's report of ^2d Oi9^ -ber laft. Mr. Bogle French attends, and is heard. Prepare a warrant for paying the balance of £. 1,796. 8s, No. 53. ExtraSl of a Letter from John Robinfon, Efquire, to Sir Jf^lliam Howe^ dated Whitehall Treafury Chamber Sy \\thyanuary, ITTJ. In refpedt to rum, their lordfhips have had feveral applications from^ the contradtors relative to the enfuing year's fupply j but the board, agreeable to my former letters to you, have referred them to your excellency, for you to determine upon it, and to agree with them for fuch fupplies of each fort, and from each ifland, as you Ihall think proper. The certificates for fuch fupply, which have hitherto come from your excellency, have been very exadt, corredt, and fatisfadtory, and their lordftiips have accordingly ordered payment thereon, as they will on whatever you may think necefTary to diredt in future \ R 2 but W, 'i^-'i^^ "v ^^--Mi^mm^^.. r ■' .?ji* '-xM-'*:. 4r '•sR^w- r 1 S'lSftw"; .:^M. A P P E Jf D I X. No: i;4; 55? #. ' but they don't chufe to make any further contra6):s for it here, fince your excellency can judge to much better' of your wants. ' - • '^ . ' ■ ^' , ' ■ ■ • ^ No. 54. ExtraEiofa Letter from Mr. Rohinfon^ to Sir GuyCarkton^ dated ihth Alarchy 1777. In refpeft to rum, the like complaints as above ftalcd were made, and the matters of the ihips who delive^pd a quantity of rum on the . account of Sir James Cockburne and Mr. Burfdot came home with- out proper certificates, and indeed that of Mr. Burfoot's without al- imoft any certificate. Their lordfhips therefore dircdl: me to inclofe to your excellency, in paoer No. 11, a certipcate fuch as is given from Sir William Howe's army, which they afJprove of. It appear- ing tq their lordfhips examination, that you have a confiderable quan- tity of the rum contracted for to be yet fupplied, they do not think .it neceffary td^make a further contract here, but they have enjoined the perfons who have failed in their deliveries (the caufe of which they .^Uedge was their (hips being taken by the rebels) to fend yoii their refpedlive fupplies as foon as ever the river is open j and for any further fupply of rum, their lordinips leave you to your making fuch contratft at Quebec as you (hall think right, as mentioned in my former difpatch. No. 55. Extraoi of a Letter from Sir Guy Catleton to fthn Robinfon, Efquire, * dated 2^ November, 1777. Of the nun ordered here by the lords of the treafury from the dif- ferent iflands, only the Grenada and Barbadoes proportions have been received, and fome from Halifax, forwarded by the deputy . quarter mafter general, lieutenant colonel Sherreff, before general Howe left that place, the exaft amount of which cannot be «..,ejf- tained at prefent, but falls greatly fhort of what their lordfhips hau defigned for this army ; it is now too late to make any contraft nere for a fupply of this article againft the next campaign, of which I think it neceffary their lordfhips fhould be informed. ' ' ' jExtra^ of a Letter from Mr. Robinfon to Sir Guy Carkton, dated 26th A'farch ijjy. In refpc£t to rum, the like complaints as above flated were r.jade, and the mafters of the fhins who delivered a quantity of rum on the account of Sir James Cockburne and Mr. Burfoot, came home with- out proper certificates, and indeed that of Mr. Burfoot's without al- moii any certificate; Thtir lordfhips therefore diredt me to inclofe to your excellency, in paptr No. 1 1, a certificate fuch as isgi -en from Sir William Howe's army, which they appove of. It appearing to :^ their lordfhips examin:ttion, that you have a confiderable quantity of t the rum contracted for to be yet fupplied, they do not think ^t ne- ^eflary to make a further contrail here, but they have enjoined the ISi ■■ ' ■ perfons i -:'^ m f .»*«*'. * <•>,(-. :i£^l .fflSijii; re, fince iated 26th ere made, im on the )me with- ithout al- to inclofe 5 is given It appear- ible quan- not think e enjoined of which ) fend yoii ind for any aking fuch led in mv «, Efquire, Dm the dif- [tions have the deputy ofe general be «..,er- rdfliips hau ntraft nere ■ which I dated 2itb were :.)ade, rum on the iome with- wnthout al- 2 to inclofe gi -en from jpearing to quantity of hink ^t ne- ijoined the perfons i* A :P P E N D i X, No: 55: perfons who have failed in their deliveries (the caufe of which they alledge was their fliips being taken by the rebels) to fend you their refpeftive fupplies as foon as ever the riv*,f is open j and for«ny fur- ther fupply of rum, their lordfhips leave you to your making fuch €ontra<9: at Quebec as you fhall thii>k right as irientioned in ni/ former difpatch. » • ' ' '^ v .- %M-y. Entradi of a Letter from Mr,. Robinfon to Sir JVtUlam Howe, dated i^b January^ J 777. ' In refpeft to rum, their lordftiips have had feveral applications from the contradlors relating to the enfuing year's fupply, but the board, agreeable to iiiy fiormer letters to you, has referred them to your Excellency, for you to determine upon, and to agree with them for fuch fupplies of each fort, and from each ifland, as you ihall think proper j the certificates for fuch fupply, which have hi- therto come from your Excelleacy, have been very exail, correft, and fatisfa(5\ory, and their lordmips have accordingly ofdered pay- ment thereon, is they will on whitever you may think neceffary t6 dire£t in future; but they dont chui-? to make any furthercontradls for it here, fince your Expellency can judge fo much better of your Syaqts. ExtraSi of a Letter from Sir William Howe to Mr. Robinfon, dated New-York, ^ih April, 1777. In confequence of their lordlhips di-e£lions to order fuch further fupplies of rum as I might think requifite for the ufe of this army, I called for an eftimate from the commiflary-general (a copy of which is inclofed.) Norie of the fornier contractors having appointed an agent here, excepting Meffrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, I thought It moft advifeabi? to c6nfine my eng ^ements to them, that there Smight be no difappointmerit in the '.nain objeft; and a copv of the contraiH: made thereupon, for the nett number of gallons fp^cified* is tranfmitted fdr their lordfhips corfiderafion. If it appears reafonable that an . llowance fliould be made Tor veflels loft or taken on this pre- carious fervice, or for any additional fore from Canada or Europe, their lordfhips, by refbridting MefTrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, from the exportation of more than is contraded for, will have an op- |)ortunity to enter into other engagements. In my fituation, it vould not be prudent to make a greater referve, as the feafon for pur- chafing the next crop is fonear approaching, otherwife I fhouid have waited for an opportunity to purfue tiieir lordfhips ideas, relative to other iflands.— ^i am well aware that the price of Jamaica rum is higher than rum from the other iflands ; but as thu commifTary-ge- neral has orders to lower it before delivery, and reports to mc that it bears from 12 td 13^ gallons of water to 100 gallons of fpirit, that Confideration is leftened. This is pariicularly (pecifred, that their lordfhips may regulate the price accordingly ; which is a circum- ilanCe 1 could not undertake to ascertain, from the want of proper ' informations ^ ■m ^fe; .,i.l/!-i.,->,. fo# ^1: i i ^4 U'i # ■A'* APPENDIX, No. 5$, information j more efpecially, as you have remarked, in one of your laft letters to Mr. Chamier, that the price of rum had fallen finco the foriner contracSts werrf'wade. ^^^is v , ■••• ■*," Cupy of a Letter from Commlffary. Chamier to Generil HoiM^ dated New- York, 2Qth March^ 1777, SIR, Agreeable to your Excellency's orders, I have made the following eftimate of the rum that will be neceffary for the ufe of the troops, lor one year, when the new crop will be coming on hand. For 36,000 men, for 12 months ■' " - ^ 55o,c^o gallons. On band at this time — — — ''*^ 200,000 Remains to be fupplied Gallons 350,000 It is poilible the army may exfeed the above number } and your Excellency may think proper to make fome allowance for veflels that; may be taken by the eneriy, as was the cafe laft laft year. I hrtve the honor to be, &c. D. CHAMIER, Honourable Sir William Howe, Commiflary ^icneral. Copy of the Rum ConiraSi entered into by General m.1jw:. Articles of agreement, indented, made and concluded, this firfl; day of April, 1777, in the 17th year of our fovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great-Bri- tain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. by and between Daniel Chamier, Efquire, commifl'ary-general of ftores and provifions, authorized and empowered by his Ex- cellency General Sir William Howe, &c. &c. &c. on the one part, and Jofliua Loring Efquire, for and on behalf of.Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, of London, merchants, on the other part, '"''^hereas it is thought neceffary that a contra£t (hould be entered into with fome fit and refponfi^e perfon, for furnifhing a quantity of rum for the ufe of hlo "Vlajefty's troops on fervice in America j fucV rum to be delivered at fuch places, and to fuch perfons in Amerlc, , as the commander in chief fhall appoint : And whereas the 'li Jofhua Loring, Efquire, on behalf of the faid Meffrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, has propofed tr furnifh and deliver to the army in America 350,000 gallons of rum from the ifland of Jathaica, to be ihipped under proper certificates from the officers of his Majefty's cuftoms in the faid ifland : And whereas the price of rum is very flu6luating, and it is impofHbie to obtain fufficient information on that head ; it is agreed by and between the parties, that the fame be referred, as a point hereafter to be fettled, upon the moil reafonable t-!:iis. '5. ■■#'• k v,,, : : lAwiVi tic of your iUen linco attd New- following he tfoops, .0 gallons. )o ■ DO •• and your veiTels that; ^ieneral. I, this firft reign Lord Grcat-Bri- &c. by and general of by his Ex- on the one of.Meffrs. XSy on the be entered a quantity erica ; fuc*^ n Americ , as the ^v /lure. Son, \e army in .aica, to be Majefty's urn is very rmation on the fame be : reafonable f5 /5 A P P E N D I X, No: 55. terms, between the right honourable the lords commiflioners of his Majefty's treafury, and the faid Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atlcinfon. In witnefs whereof the faid Daniel Chamier, Efquire, and the faid Jofhua Loring, Efquire,' nave hereunto interchangeably fet their hands and feals, the day and year aforewritten. (Signed) DANIEL CHAMIEik* Approved J* JOSHUA LORING. (Signed) W. Howe. , Copy of Treafury Minutes, dated JVhltehall Treafury Chambers^ 18 *funt Prefent. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Lord Beauchamp. My lords refume the confideration of Sir William Howe's letter of the 5th of April, 1777, '^c'^'ive to the contraft he has made for 350,000 gallons oii rum, and read the paragraph in the faid letter re- lative thereto. Acquaint Sir William Howe, that my lords approve of the con- trail he has made, and the reafons his Excellency gives for making the contraiSl: for Jamaicarum ; but that their lord(hip§ being of opi- nion, that the price of rum here can be no rule whereby to guide their judgment in fettling and agreeing for a price to be paid for the rum contra£led for by him j and being unacquainted with the price of Ja- maica rum at the time the contra<5l was made, either in the ifland of Jamaica or at New-York ; their lordfhips do not think themfelves enabled to fettle and afcertain hrre the price to be paid for rum under fuch contrail; and therefore their lordfliips dehre, that he, who can receive aid and information at the place from the commiflaries of the army, will take into confideration the price to be paid for the fame, and fettle and afcertain it, and grant his warrants for' pay- ment thereof accordingly. ExtraSi of Treafury Minutes, dated Wlntehall Treafury Chambers, Q.'jth Prelent. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Lord Weftcote. My lords refume the confideration of fo much of Mr. Wier's let-\ ter as relates to rum. Read letter and inclofures from Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkin- fon, in refpeil to the price they are to receive for 350,000 gallons of rum; for the delivery of which, their agent at New- York has ■:!ontra£ted with the commifTary-general, under Sir William Howe's direiSlion. Meffrs, Mure and C«'s Letter en their Rum Contra^, dated ZJ^th fune, 1777. My Lords, ^ ^ Our agent at New- York has tranfmiti:ed us the inclofed copy. No. I, of a contrail entered into by him on our behalf with the com- miflary 1 ;«..'' 1 1 m'\ '^ ,' V m ! i '':i i'' *i.' ? :■•!; . # A P P E N B f Xf No. 55; .ft. JUiiflary general, under Sir William Howe's diredlions, for the de- livery of 350,000 gallons of Jamaica rum for the ufe of his Ma- jefty's forces; by which contraft it appears, that your lordfhips dire(Stiens refpeiling this fupply have been interpreted in a fenfe that at lead we did not underftand them in ; and that whilft the fervice is irrevocably tndertaken on our part, and. a capital of near 90,000!. flerling adlually invefted in it, at a tim^ when no other contractor offered to fupply, or had the means of fupplying, the armyj upon any conditions whatever, the price is ftill left unfettled. When the contracts were laft year made^ we were told^ that if the General made any further requifitions, beyond the quantity coh- tradled for, we might deliver it, and we gave orders accordingly; the fame direcSlions muft, we humbly apprehend, have been given to the. General ; for our agents at New- York have, in their cor- refpondence, as well with us as.with our agents in Jamaica, fre- quently mentioned fuch a requifition as likely to be made, and that our proportion thereof would be about 55,000 gallons ; which quantity was upon thofe advices bought up in Jamaica, and held in r^^d'nefs ail winter, at a very great expehce in leakage and other /'^ Undc- imprefllon of thcfe former orders, when we were, in Ac beginr... 1 of January laft, referred to Sir William Howe, and told that your lordlliips would give him direftions to agree for fuch quantities as he found he flbould haye occafion for, -and vvould order payment upon certificates of the delivery, as before, we certainly wnderftood that nothing was left to be fettled with him but the quantity j and vire can offer no flronger proof that we did fo under- ftand it, than the inclofed copies of what we wrote to his excel- lency, and to our agent, upon that occafion, marked No. 2 and 3. Permit us, my lords, to add, that it is impoffible for the Gene- ral to obtain in America the neceflary informations forjudging of the price, unlefs he obtained them from hence, becaufe it depends upon infurances which muft be made, and fhips that muft be char- tered here, at rates that cannot in thefe times be either known or fudged of beforehand in America ; and feeing that every other " point, refpedting the prime coft and incidental charges, can be judged of at bcft as well here as any where elfe, whilft thofe great articles of freight and infurance can be equitably judged of here only J and that your lordfhips will foon have the benefit of the moft impartial and n fpedable opinions that can be formed on the fub- ytct } we humbly hope that you will be pleafed to determine the price here ; for, whilft we Ihould repofe the moft unlimited confi- dence in the General's juftice, were he furnifhed with the means of information, we truft your lordfhips will pardon the anxiety we exprefs, that an engagement ot fuch magnitude, undertaken on the beft motives for the public fervice, under all the circumftances above defcribed, fhould not be fcnt back to receive a precarious determi- f, ■ '^' •" nation the de- his Ma- lordfhips fenfe that le fervice 90,0001, on traitor dyt upon hat if the itity coh- jrdingly ; !en given their cor- aica, fre- and that ; which and held kage and were, in owe, and e for fuch )uld order certainly biit the fo under- iis excel- i and 3. ie Gene- udging of it depends be char- known or ery other can be lofe great ed of here the moft 1 the fub- rmine the ted confi- means of nxiety we sn on the ices above s determi- nation APPENDIX, No. 55: Qntlon on the other fide of the gIobe> grounded perhaps on events that can have had no influence on the expence of the undertaking, and too poflibly from fome other officer, whom chance and the events of war may have placed at the head of his Majefty's forces. We have the honour to be, with the utmoft refpei^, Mv Lords, Your Lordfliips moft obedient, and moft humble Servants, MURE, SON, and ATKINSON. London y i\tb Jttney 17 77. Right Honourable the Lords Commiflioners of Tieafury, Mejfteurs Mnrg and CampoH/s Letter an their Rum Contraif, dated 22dyufyy 1777. My Lords, Having, by our letter on the aift inftant, ftated to your lord- (hips the evidence of fome matters of fait necefTary to complete the repoi t made by the referees on the rum contrail of laft year, we now beg leave, in addition to our letter of the a4th ultmt, foliciting your decifton on tht price of the prefent contract, to point out fuch variations from the eftimate contained in that report, as the alter-< ation of circumftsnces has occafioned. Having agreed to be concluded by the opinion of the referees, we fhall not offer one word on thofe parts of the eftimate which are not liable to variation; fuch is, as we conceive, the prime coft (for there is no reafon, judging beforehand, why the rum fhould be iuppofed liicely to be dearer one year than another) fuch are the (hipping and landing charges, the leakage, commiiEons, and in- tereft of money. The infurance may vary. It certainly was not, at the time of making the reference, in the contemplation of any man, that it could be obtained fo low as fifteen guineas per cent, to the port of difcharge ; but it is now fomewhat lower. We are attempting it at twelve guineas, though with very doubtful appearances of fuc- cefs. Nothing can lower it but the end of the rebellion ; many are the events that would raife it enormouOy. However, we confent to let it ftand at thirteen guineas per cent, according t.i the eftimate of the referees, becaufe we will demand no increafe, that is grounded upon any point on which men's opinions may differ. The puncheons laft year coft 35s. currency each, they now coft from 50s. to 55s. with a great probability of further advance, from the increafing price of lumber. This raifes the price of cafk per gallon from 3d. to 4^. Seamen's wages were, when the contrail was made, at and under 50s. per month } and it is determined by the referees, that ytd. per gallon was then a reafonable price for freight and primage. Thofe wages now are notorioufly from 3I. 15s, to 4I. per month ; which S alteratioa i r A 1 P E N D I X, No. 55. -ftlteratioii certainly warrants the increafe of freight from 7^. to at lead 9d. For thefe reafons^ <{d. per gallon muft be added to the former price of 5s. 3d. to put us even upon a footing with laft year's engage* ments } which have been too clearly proved to be productive of no profit at all, adequate to the inveftment of a capital in an under- taking fo hazardous. We are aware that we ftood bound by ouf own offer at the price of laft year, and fhould in filence have fubinitted to this increafe of expence, had the matter been fo fettled ; but fince we are left (after being fo far engaged in the execution of the bufinefs that we can- not retreat) ftill to contend about the price, we truft that your lordfhips will admit the juftice of being no longer bound by that offer, and that you will confider the increafcd price of 5s. 6d. as the very loweft that can be allowed us. This contrail is very different from thofe where the returns are fpeedy and frequent, and the whole management refts in the hand of the contradlor. A capital equal to the whole amount muft, in this inftance, be invefted in Jamaica, fent to an unknown port in America, from thence remitted hither ; and the whole be unavoid- ably left to agents at a diftance, whofe errors or negligences the contractor is anfwerable for, in a fcene of bufinefs moft unhappily liable to ruinous lofs, not only from the moft trifling negleCt ima- ginable^ but from accidents and mifcarriages, or detention of ad- vices, perfeClly unavoidable. Fc xample. Sir William Howe gave his orders for the prefcnt fup^ / m the beginning of April laft, which were received by our agents ;n Jamaica only one day before the date of the laft advices from thence j and we juft know that they would exert themfelves to the utmoft in immediate compliance with his Excellency's orders : but it was not poflible for them to fettle any arrangement of ftiips to load at the different ports in Jamaica in fo fhort a tin.: ; and we (hall, in all human probability, firft learn that arrangement by way of New -York, at the fame time that we may learn the arrival or lofs of many of the fliips, viz. by the very next advices from thence j we are, therefore, reduced to a neceflity of making infurances at a venture, upon fuch fhips as we think moft iikely to be fent, and for fuch quantities as we think them likely to carry,, having waited to the laft moment, in hopes of the arrival of a packet from Jamaica with fuller advices. Should our infurances, in any inftance, not happen to be correal, and the (hip be taken, we muft fuftain a total lofs. Thefe are rifques, my lords, which entitle the merchant, who fubjedts himfelf to them for the public fervice, to a liberal allowance, and as we flatter ourfelves that your lordfliips believe that we (hall not difappoint the public fervice by want of vlg- •:r in the execution, fo we confidently rely on your lordftiips protection, ^n ordering a fair and honourablje payment for a fervice undertaken in good faith, at a time when no Other n^ APPENDIX, No. 55' other contraftor was in a condition to perform it at all, but when> unfortunately, we have no longer a voice in making the bargain. The delay which this bufinefs has met with, from the unac- countable length of time the referees have taken to make their re- port, ad(J« to our anxiety j arid, whatever your lordfliips deqifion may be, we earneftly entreat that it may be ipcedy. We have the honor to be, with the greatclt refpeft. My Lords, Your Lordlhips moft obedient, and moft humble Servants, MURE, SON, and ATKINSON, London^ T.'^djuly^ \1TJ. Right Honourable the Lords Coipmiffipners pf ' his Majefty's Treafury. ^xtraSi of Treafury Minutes^ dated Whitehall Treafury Chambers, Sth Auguji, Pofi Meridiem. Prefent. Lord North, Lord Onflow, Lord Weftcote. My lords refume the confideration of the contfa6l entered into by Sir William Howe, with the agents of Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, and of their letter dated the 24th of Junp laft. Read minute of this board of i8th June laft. My lords continue in their opinion, that this bufinefs fhould be fettled by Sir William Howe, and the rum paid for there. Acquaint Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon therewith. Accjuaiftt ijiir William Howe alfo therewith, and tranfniit to him the information their lordlhips have received touching the charges* and e^cpences ellimated to be incurred in the execution of the con- trail, and diretSl him to take the fame into confideration, and the rate of exchange, and fettle the price of the rum with the contrac- tors, according to the circi|mfta)ices at the time of making the con- tract, and pay them for the |ame. Copy of a Letter from John Robirjfbn, Efquire^ Secretary to the Trea^ fury, to his Excellency Sir William Howe, dated 6th Augufi, 1777. i> I R, The board having taken into confideration the contraft made by your E;!(cellency v\rith the agent of MefTrs. Mure, Son and Atki^i^ fon, for 350,000 gallons of rum; as alfp two letters from them, dated 24th June and 23d July, of which you have copies inclofed. No. I and 2 ; t am directed to tranfmit to you copies of their mi- nutes of the j8th June, and the 5th inftant, made thereon. No. % and 4, as alfo the following papers^ containing information whiph has arifen out of an examination directed by their lordihips to be j^de into the contra6l of laft year — viz. No. 5. Extraft of the minutes of the board qf 3d June laft, on which the reference was grounded. J^p, 6. Copy of the report of the referees, S 2 't-: ^9' 1^ ^*?*- jl'l '•?• ]* u A P P E N D I X, No: SS* No. 7. Copy of a letter from Mr. Atkinfon, dated aifl July, containing obfervations on the report, and an additional minute figned by the referees. No. 8. Copy of two papers mentioned and referred to in No. 7. No. 9 and 10. KxtraiEl of the minutes of the board of 29th and 31ft July, fhewing the evidence laid before their lordfliips in further fupport of the affertions contained in No. 7, re- f^e£ting the rate of infurance. By the letter from MefTrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, it is fiated that they were attempting the infurances at twelve guineas per cent, premium. They have fmce informed the board, that they have inAired a part of the rum contrafled for by you at thai premium, but that this is only the rifque of the cargo thither, and not on the return of the fhips, which being another rifque, will occafion a further exp^nce in infurance for the voyage. This account, together with the papers, will aflift your Excellency in forming your judgment j atid my lords defire that you will thereon agree with the agent for the contradlors at fuch price as (hall appear to you to be reafonable, according to the circumftances exifting at the time of making the contra^, and according to the currenc rate of exchange, and pay them for the fame, agreeably to the minute.— Inftead of taking cam from the military chefl:, they have agreed to actiept of bills for pay- iftfetti from ihe agent of the remitters, at the current rate of ex- changid, ■If fdMT Excellency Ihall have granted any certificates for runi fufhiv^'id under Ihe new contra£t, you will ice that under this re- gdlatiion payment cannot be made thereon, except on fuch certifi-? catfes as itfe granted for the firft cargo j which Ihall have arrived with you, and be delivered to complete the quantity under the whole contrad, in lieu of the cargo of the {hip Ann, taken laft year. — For all the reft therefore the payment muft be made in Ame- rica, notwilhilanding you rnay, before the receipt hereof, have granted certificates of the delivery. I haye the honour to be, with great refpedt, Vour Excellency's ' , Moil obedient, humble Servant, ' (Signed) JOHN ROBINSON. JSxtfa^ of a Letter from Sir Wtllhm Hm^ to Mr, Robin/on, Phik' deiphia^ v-^tb Ncvafnterf 1 7 77. The only meafure 1 could purfue, in confequence of theit lord- ihips pleafure commupicated by yo\J. in regard to the Uft contraJfl ftrtr mm with Meffts. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, bv their agent Mr. Loring, was to lay the falne before the commifTary general, Mr. \Vicr, which I promifed to dn) in my letter aid O^Qbit'-i fox his opi- * nion [ft July, dditional :d to in 29th and lord(hips 0. 7, re- )n, it is e guineas infured a but that he return a further :ther with udgmcnt j agent for cafonablc, ftaking the 1, and pay (iking cam s. for pay- rate of ex- ^s for rum er this re- ich certifi-f lye arrived under the taken lail in Ame- eof, have } be, with IINSON. on, Phik' their lord- contraSt igent Mr, [eralj Mr. ]>ltiis opi- nion A P P E N D 1 X, No. 55. nfon on that heakl : his i«pott I har« now the honour to indofe ; and as I bavb every reafon to adopt his idoa$^ I hopa their lordihips will hold me excuteable for declining the determination of a point fo ap- parently out of my power t I am only to exprefs m^ regret that th« principal contra^or^, MeiTrs. Mur«, Son andAlkinfon, who havQ cKeited tliemfelves fo mtnifeftly upon every occafion which has fallen under my obfervation, fliould have thtir interefts nmaining ib long undetermined, from a chain of diftcukids they could not jfbref««^ but which I hope will be adjufted at home upon equitable terms. Co^ of « Lttttr frvm Daniel Wur^ Ef^ire^ Cim»tiJ/ary Gemrsl^ t* General Sir JVilliam HowCy relative to fixing a Price to Miffrs. Mttrt and Go's Rum Contract, SIR, In compliance with your Excdleticy*8 wqueft, »Mr>tained in your letter of the lift of Oc^ber, I hate examined tht papers therein mentioned, refpeAing the fettlement of the. price of rum contraftcd for with Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon s &nd beg leave to fub> mit the following report thereon. By the copy of the proceedings of the lords of the treafury, No. ^^ it appears, that their lordfliips approve of the contraft your Excel- lency had made for the rum ; but bditg of opinion^ that the pric^ of rum in London can be no ruk whereby to guide their judgment in Settling and agreeing for a price to be paid for the rum — and being un- acquainted with the price of Jamaica rum at the time the contraft was made, either in Jamaica or New-York— they do not think themfelves enabled to fettle a price for the rum j and therefore they defire your Excellency " will take into coflfideration the price to be paid for the fame, and fettle, and afcertain, and grant warrants for the payment thereof accordingly." By another copy of their lordihips proceedings, No. 4^ they tranf- mit your Excellency the information their lordfliips had received, touching the charges and expences eftimated to be incurred In the exo ecution of the contrail, and dired your Excellency to take the fame into confideration, and fettte the price of the rum " ^th the con» tradlors, acccording to the circumftances at the time of making the contratft, and pay them for the fame ;" which proceedings are further confirmedbyMr. Robinfon's letter of the 6th Auguft, 1777, accom- panying the papers. All trade from Jamaica or elfewhere to the colonies in rtbelliot^ being fufpended, and little rum at the New- York market, 1. appre- hend no proper judgment could be formed of the probaWe value of rum, from circumftances exifting there at the time of making the contraifl, or now. And as the very material articles of freight and imuranceare whoUy procured in London, I think your Excellency can have no bettir rule of information than the report of the referees, No. 6j in the fur-, vast r ■■■1 .If? ?■ ■j! . f. f 1 i 1 ) I if Mil' r , !ir . A P P E N D IX, No. S5' fMT cohtraft rcfpefting Jamaica rum, with Meflrs. Mure, Son, and A kinfoHi wherein the gentlemen, who are admitted to be the moft competent judges, fay, they have '* made a full allowance for every charge which might probably occur in fuch a tranfadion •" yet this report is filent as to the rcafonable profit to be allowed the contraftor io fuch engagements : of which conlequential article, I conceive^ no judgment can be well formed here, or fo well any where as in Lon- don, where the whole is tranfaited, where every circumftance ref- pcfttng the re^.l charge attending fuch contracts may be fully and with precifion afcertained, and where the value of the money, as well as time, employed in fuch a contra> '• ' 1777- ' ■'■ ■ Extras J o/Trea/ury Minutes y dated Bujhy Pari, 13/A January, 1778. I^fent. Lord North, Lord Beauchamp, Mr. Cornwall, Lora Weftcote, Lord Palmerfton. Read letter from Sir William Howp, dated Philadelphia, 30th November 1777, relative to the ri^ra fupplied to the troops by MefiVs. MurCi Son, and Atkinfon, ExtraQs ofTrtafury ^nutes, dated Ti'hitehall-Treofury Chambers, 22d^ January y 1778. Prefent. Lord North, Lord Beauchamp, Mr. Cornwall, Lord Weftcote, Lord Palmerfton. My lords refume the confideration of ^ir William Howe's letter, dated Philadelphia, 30th November, 1777, defiring, for the rea- Jbns therein ftated, to decline the determination of the price to be paid to MefTrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, for the rum fupplied by them for the troops in Aqierjca j and inclofing a report to him oa that fubjeft from Mr. Wier, commiflary-general. Read letter from Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, relative to the rum fupplied, and defiring afpeedy determination of the price to be paid them for the fame. Mi, i^tkinfqn atten4S| an4 is galled j|i and lizard hisreo^. ; on, and he moft or every yet this ntraAop eive, no in Lon- nce ref- lully and , as well n in any itry, the obtained 1 quantt- »t no do- has hap- gher thai^ VIER, General, }ry, 1778. all, Lorft >hia, 30th troops by mberSi o.id^ all, Lord i^e's letter, r the rea- rice to be applied by to him on relative to le price to APPENDIX, No. 5^; ExtraSJi of Treafury Minutes, dated irhltihall Treafury Chamber i, January, l^th 1778. Prcfent. Lord North, Mr. Cornwall, Lord Weftcote, Lord Palmcrfton. My lords' refume the confideration of that part of Sir William Howe's letter of the •^oth November laft, as relates to the contrad made with Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, for a fupply of rua for the ufe of the army. Read letter from Meffls. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, dated 12th January 1778, and the inclofures therein, relative to this bufi- nefs. Read letter from Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, dated 2id January 1778. ExtraiJs of Treafury Minutes, dated Whitehall Treafury Chambers^ loth February, 1 7 7 8 . Prefent. Lord North, Mr. Cornwall, Lord Beauchamp, Ldrl Weftcote, Lord Palmerfton. My lords refume the confideration of fo much of Sir Williant Howe's letter of the 30th of November laft, as relates to the agree- ment entered into between Mr. Chamier, late commifTary-gencral to his Majefty's troops in America, and Mr. Loring, agent to Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, for the delivery of a quantity of rum in America, for the fupply of his Majefty's troops ; and alfo the feveral letters and papers before the bo.ird relating to the fame ; and the faid papers are read. Read further letter from MeflTrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, on the fubjeift of the faid agreement, dated the 24th of January 1778. ' Read obfervations on the faid agreement, delivered in by Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon. Read certificate from ;>ir William Howe, dated 7th July 1777, of the delivery of 10,40^ "gallons of rum, on account of Meflrs. Mure and Co. Read a like certificate, dated 6th September 1777, of the delivery of 119,104 gallons. Tranfmit ai\ extract of Sir William Howe's letter of the 30th of November laft, a copy of Mr. Wier's report inclofed therein, and a copy of the agreement made between Mr. Chamier, and Mr. Loring, agent for Meflrs. Mure, and Co. for fupplying 350,000 gallojis of rum for the ufe of the troops in America, tranfmitted in Sir WUliam Howe's letter of the 5th of April laft, to Mr. Stephen Fuller'; and requeft that he will take the fame into his confideration ; and that he will be plcafed to inform my lords, what, in his opinion, at the time, and under the circumftances of the faid agreement, is a reafon- able and proper price to be allowed and paid to MeflTrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, for the rutn delivered under the faid agreement. Copy T. ^xtraSfi I 1 .' ( h' m A P )' E N D I X. No 53: Co^y of u LttUr from Mojps. Murt^ 5«i, and Mkinfin^ t^'ffing the StttUmvH of tbtir Rum Ctntra^i. , LondoHi January ittb, 1778. My Lords, By the lail packet from Philadelphia we have received »dvice that his Excellency Sir W'Uiam Howe has declined executing your lord- (hips orders to him, to Hx the price of the rum delivered by us for the ufe of the army, and to pay us the amount thereof. In being thus referred from one fide of the world to another, to learn when, where, and what price, vre are to be paid for a very im- portant fervice, which no other perfon was ii^ a condition to per- foiin — undertaken in good faith, and upon what appeared to us to be the obvious meaning of your lordihips orders — our eafe is of fuch unexampled hardfhip, that we cannot doubt but your lordfhips will think us now entitled to an immediate fettlement, efpeciaUy as every information which the nature of the cafe admits, or any fuch cafe can require, is fully before the board. It nor ftands eflablifhed by the official report of the cuitimiflary- gencr^., confirmed by the commander in chief, that the fupply was no otherwife to be haJ, and that private merchants, pofiefTed of oc- cafional fupplies, have held the price much higher than that of the contrail. It alfo flands eflabliHied by the report of the reierees on the for- mer contrail (a report furely not liable to the lead imputation of partiality towards us) that the actual coft is 4s. o|d. per -^-'illon, rec-^ koning infuiance at the rate of 13 guineas per cent, w > they are of opinion was a rcafonable eftimate thereof in Marc) '>, when the former contra^ was made. In the beginning of this novel bufinefs, the probable rifuue could only be matter of opinion; but when the a^ual rifque is alcert::iiied by the continued experience of repeated voyages, for years together, it becomes furely improper to refort to any man's opinion about the rifque to which the undertaking is fubjedl, and (we humbly fubmit) equally unjuft to expci^ an extcnfive and diftant fervice to be under- taken upon fpeculation that the infurance fhallbe obtained below the aitual rifque. — Now, of 2,185 puncheons (hipped in 1776, 673 have been loft or taken; and of 4,302 puncheons fbipped m 1777, 1,490 have been loft or taken, as will more particularly appear by the inclofed lift thereof, No. i, fo that it admits of no contradidtion, that the adual rifque has amounted upon the whole to 334 per cent, and upon the contradt now in queftion, taken feparately, to 34 -/« per cent ; alfo that the difference between the lower of thefe rates, and the rate of 13 guineas per cent, calculated upon by the referees, will alone raife the actual coft, according to their eftimate, to within a very minute fraction of 5 ftiillings per gallon, without mentioning the additional expences of at leaft two-pence per gallon in the price of cafks, fince March 1776, and the inconteftible increafe of feamens wages, V -J \ I ^tjfhtg the tbt 1778. ivice that rour lord- by us for lother, to a very im- »n to per* id to us to is of fuch dfhips will ly as every ch cafe caa ujtimiflary- fupply was bffed of oc- that of the on the for- iputation of -^llon, rec» 1 they are >, when Ifuue could alcert:;iiied irs together, )n about the jbly fubmit) to be under- ed below the 1776, 673 led m i777» ippcar by the )ntradi£tion, 34 per cent. to34^Ff e rates, and eferees, will to within a mentioning the price of le of feamens wages, APPENDIX, No. S5' wages, and other expences of navigation, during the fame period* The inclofed paper. No. 2, will (hew the eflimate of the referees, and the alteration made therein by the difFcrcnce of infurancc. As we cannot but admit that wc undertook the fervice at 5s. 3d. per gallon, and, if that price had been paid u$ without delay oi* hazard, were bound to accept it, we can only fubmit the reafon- ablenefs of allowing us an additional price, under the prcfent cir- cumftances, to your lordfliips candour. If it appears proper, we ftiall be thankful for fuch addition as your lordfliips fliall think fit to make; but, above all, we beg leave to repeat our mo/i earnt(l tntreaty for an immediate decifion, as the anxiety attending this unfortunate bufinefs, in its prefent ftate, is {jalt all pecuniary compenfation. We have the honour to be, with the higheft refpcft, My Lords, Yoiir Lordfliips moft obedient, and moft humble PervailtS, MURE, SON, and ATKINSON. Right Honourable the Lords Commiflioners of his Majcfty's Treafury. C^py of a Letter from Mejfrs. Mure^ Son, and Athnfon^ refpeSiing their Rum Contract. My Lords, London, January 21^ 1778. When I had the honour to attend you lordmips this morning at the board, on the fubje(5l of the letter of my partnerfliip of the 13th inftant, I made the reply to thofe new propofitions then intimated to me, which recurred to me upon the iriftant. On furthet conll- deration, 1 fee no reafon to alter that reply. To turn the contraft into an agency, whett accounts of the ac- tual coft are to be rendered, is an utter impoflibility, under the circumftinces of the prcfent cafe. Your Idrdfliips knowj that we ofFeJred originally to tranfaiSl this branch of bufinefs on a commif- fion, if it had been thought fit} and in that cafe, we fhould have conducted ourfelves in fuch a way, as to have been able to ftate ac- counts upon that principle : but when your lordfliips very properly determined, that fo diftant a fervice was not fit to be Carried on otherwife than upon contraft. We confidcred ourfelves as account- able to nobody for our proceedings, and executed What we had undertaken, in a way fo entirely interwoven with our other affairs irl Jamaica, and concerns in fhipping, that they cannot now be feparated ; nor is it poflible to flate the expences otherwife than by eflimate. Meeting your lordfliips ideas, as far as the nature of the cafe admits, we can offer nothing fairer than to accept the eftimate made by the referees on the former contract, altering it only in thofe items where an inconteilible increafe of expence has accrued between the dale of the former and the prefent contrad, and adding thereto T fuch iil 14 i f; • ' '^ I in u'*t i . i: I - i:-.. APPENDIX, No. 55. fuch a profit as may be adequate for the employment of a large ca- pital in fo very diftant and hazardous a fervice, and to the rifques we have run, as well fuch as have ar we cannot bring ourfelves to believe, that your lordfhips, or the public, vyill ever permit perfons to fuiFer an in- T 2 Copy jury, 13. -J. m i iUfi ''!' W jC: ! i 'A P P E N 13 IX, No? 55; jury, who, taking no advantage of the exigencies of the army, but tiulHng to the good faith of government, have, on the requifition of the commandejr in chief, effectually fexecured an arduous and hazardous fervice, abfolutely neceffary for the immediate fupply of his Majefty's forces, and which no other perfon was able to execute j to all which circuniftances the General gives his teftimony. ' I have the honour, &c. ' RICHARD ATKINSON. The Right Honourable the Lords Com- miflioners of his Majefty's Treafury. Cofy of a Letter from Meffieurs Miire^ Sotty and Jtktnfon, Merchants^ to the Lords of the Treaff^ryy dated 12th February ^ 1778. My Lords, London^ 12th February ^ 1778' Having been made acquainted with your lordftiips determination pf the loth inftant, to refer the papers on the rum bufinefs to Mr. Fuller, for his opinion what price is reafonable to be paid per gal- Jon, and offering us in the mean time a payment of 30,000/. on, account of the quantity for which we have received certificates j we piuft prefume that your lordfhips do not confider the contrait in the fenfe we did, as conclufive at 5s. 3d. per gallon. We have no ob- jeftion whatever to abide by a fair decifion of the queftion, ^an-- tum meruit i nor, beyond the delay thereby pccalioned, to your lordfhips afking any man's opinion upon that point; not doubting l)ut a full comrnuiiication will be made to him of all that will be nectfTary for his information : but we flatter ourfelves that your lordfhips yj^iU pot think it jufl to hold us bound, and yourfelvts hot bound j and that jt wil} therefore be thought reafonable to com- ply with the requeft we now beg leave to make. That you will in- form us, whether you hold us bound, by our undertaking the bq- jfinefs at 5s. 3d, per gallon, as flatcd in our former letters, to ac- cept that price, or not. ' . ' We can have no objeflion to receive the payment yqur lord,fhipfk offer, in part of the fum due to us, provided it docs not involve us in accounts at the Exchequer, to which we apprehend \ye ought not in this cafe to be liable. We have tfie honour to be. My Lords, &c. &r. kc. MURE, SON, and ATKINSON. Right Honourable tjie Lords Commiifioners of his Majefty's Treafury, Ohfervations on the CcntrrM made by the Agents cf MeJJrs. Mure.^ Sortf and Aikitifn^ for fupplytrig his Majejifs Forces iviih Rum. On the 14th January, 1777, the treafury gave dii'eiflions to Sir William Howe, to determine the quantity of rum he fhould ftarid in :ed of, and agree with the agents of the contraftors for fupplying and informed him that the Lords v.'ould order payment on cer- tificates of delivery, as before. Meflrs. /■ [uiution 3US and jpply of ix^cute } NSON. Merchants, 8. y, 1778. miriation s to Mr. per gal- ,000/. on atesi we lit in the e no ob- to your doubting It will be that your LTourfelvts to corn- will in- the h\\- fo ac- lord,fliip? nvolve us vve ought INSON. Tr/?v, Sony \tm. ]ns to Sir ftaiid in [upplying on cei'- fc Meflrs. A P P E N D 1 X, No. 55, Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, who had contrafted for a for- mer fupply, underftood that the price was to remain the fame, and inftruded their agiints accordingly to takt the General's orders a$ to quantity. I'he General did not think the orders were in that refpeft clear | but finding no other perfon in a condition to fupply him at all, he agreed with their agents, on the ad of April, 1777, for 350,000 allons of runi from Jamaica, leaving the price to be fettled by the ords of the treafury ; to which Mure and Go's agents did not ob- Jedl, as their advices afforded no room to doubt of th bargain be-r mg clearly underftood here. On the 5th Auguft, the board determined to refer back to Sir William Howe, the fettlement of the price for the lafl contrad, upon the principle of making an eftimate of the price at which it might at the time ha^e been reafonably undertaken, and tranfmit- ting him, for his guidance and information therein, copies of all the papers that had pafT^d about the former contraft, on which 4 reference had been made to merchants for their opinion. Sir William Howe has again thrown back the decifion upon the Treafury, regretting that MefTrs. Mure and Company, who had ex- erted themfelves fo manifeflly upon every occafion which had fallei^i under his obfervation, (hould thereby be fuch fufFerersj alio tranf'- mitting and confirming his CommifTary General's Report, That rhe fupply was no otherwife to be had, and that the occafional fupplies in the hands of private merchants had been held much higher than the price of the former contrail. On the receipt of thefe advices, MefTrs. Mure and Company applied to the board, foHciting juftice, and an immediate fetile-? ment j rtiey obferved, that either they were bound by the fenfe in which they undertook the contradl, or they were wo/, and that they were re'ady to take it in either way j if bound, they could not com- plain of any thing but the trouble. lay, and anxiety, they had been expofed to, becaufc they could . ut admit (what their let- ters in the hands of Sir William Howe mud otherwife prove) that they a6lually undertook the fervice at 5s. 3d. and tf the board fliould fo determine, there remained no queflion between th m : but ii rhe board did mt choofe to confirm the contradt in that fenfe, it cou' J only remain, that they fhould determine it on the ground they themfelves had defired Sir William Howe to determine it, \z. .4h eftmate of the price it might reafonably have been undertaken at uhen the eotitra^ was made. The board was vfy defirous to have had the whole convert'^ti into an agency, and flated as an account; to which MefTrs. MuiC and Company replied. That it was both impoflible and unjui' aat had they undertaken the bufmefs originally on commiiiion, they ihould have conduiJled themfelves in fuch a way as to be able to ftate precife accounts of every thing unmixed with other concerns j but that \ ' IV: t' Hi ^ 1 V < I It J I'' \ nH A P P E N D I X, No. 55: that having, under the option offered to the board, undertaken it on contract, they had carried it on united and interwoven with all their other extenfive concerns in Jamaica, and in fhipping, as a matter in which they had no accounts to render to any body, and in which the profit or lofs to arife from this engagement, is fo blended with the rnafs of their other affairs, that it is n^ ■longer poffible to feparate them j and that no confideration fhould ever induce them to (late to the public as an account, what in the nature of things could only be an eftimate ; that if it were pofilble, it would be un- juft, becaufe this is an undertaking of the moil hazardous kind, confidering it in every part of its execution, and expofed to many perils befides thofe which may have adually happened, and molt efpecially to a very great aggravation of expence, had a French or Spanifh war taken place ; and to conftant danger of lofl'es, without infurance, by means of the precarious conveyance of advices from Jamaica j in which way a heavy lofs had been actually fuftained under the former contradl j and that under the prefent, feveral (hips had come through the gulph of Florida, and were known to be well in the latitude of Bermudas, before any advices for infurance were received, or any infurance made u;''jn them ; alfo, that aaothcr fhip of this year had aftually been loft in that very part of the voyage which thefe fhips had fo run through uninfured : that if by thele, or any other means, a ruinous lofs had been fuftained, they had no demand upon any body to make it good j and therefore, after run- ning thefe rifles, to pay them actual expence, whether afcertaincd by account or eftimate, with any allowance in the nature of an agency, would be totally inadequate to what merchants inverting their own capital for a public fervice, which nobodv clfe was in a condition to perform, in an undertaking I'o diftant and haz^irdous, had a right to expert. Recurring therefore to 'n eftimate of what the contra6V might ^eafonably have been undertaken at in April, 1777, when it was made, they offered to offume the eftimate ot the a^luai coft made by p^c referees, as in March, 1776, altering only three items, in which a manifcft alteration had, between the two dates, taksn place, viz. the price of puncheons, the rate of freight, and the iiilurancc. Firft, as to the puncheons; The increafing price of lumber is a point not needing demonftratlpn. The wood of which puncheons ire made comes only from North-Americ.i or Europe. The price rofe, in the end of l77^, from 35s. currency per puncheon, at which the former cftimat' was madcj to 55s. and 60s. cuiiency, making a diftlrcnce of 2d. per gallon fterling on this article. , Secondly, as to freight: Ihe referees, confidering the peculiar circumftances of this undertaking, where, from the prohibitions of the reftraining bill, no returned freight could be had, had fixed the rate thereof, including primage, in March 1776, at 7 id. per gal- Jon j which they afterwards explained tc include the premium of infurance tete:^ rtaken it with all ng, as a xiy, and ► blended oflible to ice them of things Id be un- )us kind, to many and molt M'ench or ^ without ices from fuftained rerai (hips o be well ance were other (hip [le voyage by thele, ley had no after run- rtained by m agency, their own condition ad a right afl: might len it was [t made by , in which jiace, viz. mcc. umber is a pvincheons The price icheon, at cuiiency, :1c. \e peculiar libitions of fixed the d. per gal- rcniium of inl'urancc APPENDIX, No. 55. infurance thereon, feeing that the expence of freight, with (hips at monthly hires (there being no longer any conftant triders) would be incurred, whether they arrived or not. If therefore the infurance is raifed, the freight would thereby b alfo raifed j and whatever additional expence is incurred in the freight itfelf, the infurance on fuch additional expence muft alfo be allowed, — Now, that feamens wages, and every other expence of navigation, had increafed ex- ceedingly between March, 1776, and April, 1777, is inconteft- able. Every branch of the public fervice had, during that time, been obliged to raife their freight; and the Weft-India merchants and planters, at a general meeting held for the purpdfe, had, on the 27th of November, 1776, raifed the rates of freight from Jamaica, of fugar, from 3s. 6d. to 5s. gd. per hundred weight, andofrumi from 6d. to 8d. per gallon; and before April, 1777, * ^'^' further increafe of expences took place ; infomuch thati, in the fummer, 1777, the Weft-India merchants raifed the freight outwards, to double the peace cftabliftiment. Under thefe circumftances, Meflrs. Mure and Company fubmitted, that the freight and infurance thereon could not reafonably be eftimated as in April, 1777, at a lower rate than lod. inftead of 7^d. as it flood eftimated before. Thirdly, As to the great point of infurance, they fubmitted, that how fair and reafonable foever theeftimate, at the rate of 13 guineas per cent, was in March, 1776, when hoftilities by fea were but juft opening upon us, and there was no rule, beyond mere conjec- ture, to guide the judgment ; yet that, when, upon the experience of the year 1776, the atSlual rifque had been proved to be 32 per cent, not only upon all the rum fent from Jamaica, but even upon all that was (nipped by all the contractors taken together, it would have been quite out of cither juftice or probability, to expedl any contradtor to undertake the fervice for 1777 at any fuch premium as 13, or, indeed, at any lower rate than the adlual rifque of 1776 j which being the only year in which the trade in queftion had exi(ted, became the only rational ground of judging of the probable rifque in the enfuing year, unlefs the profpecSls had been materially altered for the better, which was very far indeed from being the cafe, for every hoftile appearance went on increafinr, and not diminilhingj the American privateers were growing more and more numerouu, as well as ftrongcr; they were publicly countenanced, and fitted out from the French iflands, and no protection by convoy was to be hoped for, whilft the danger of a French war was, in the general opinion, imminent: and the length of time which this bufmefs has taken to get decided, has afforded a confirmation of the truth of this rejifoning, that cannot be controverted ; for of 4,032 pun- cheons (hipped ur^der this laft contraiSt, made in April, 1777, 1,496 have been loft or taken; which is after the rate of 34 y^ per cent. And Meffrs. Mure and Company obferved, that where voyages become fo extremely perilous, the common effed is, that the pre- mium / ^:v\ ^ 1, / f. > V k ^4 '•■A ) 1 ' 1 i; « iy ( ? i 1 1. i: p ■■■ 1 ,' 1 /,' f h A (*^ A P P E N D I X, No. 55. mium rifes higher than its due proportion, and, confiderable Aims grow fcarce inlurable at all ; that aiccordingly, both the public in- furance companies had adlually refufcd to underwrite thofe riix|ues at gny premium ; and that if they had been fortunate enough to obtain) inlurances at a rate below the a£lual rifque, they had been expofed to the chance of as unreafonable a rife, without any claim for reim- burfement, bad it happened. With refpedi to all the other articles of the eftimate, they obferved, that they are not liable to variation. The prime coft of the rum, of the ftrength required^ was ftated at Us. gd. currency, or is. iiid. fterling, as a price generally reafpn- able ) and no ground exifts for fuppoftng it likely to be more or lefs fo in 1777, than in 1776. The agencies, leakage, Sec. nhiuft ever remain the fame. Many of the charges being incurred ad valorem^ an addition to one occafions additions to others, fo that the refult of the above-men- tioned alterations in the eftimate is as follows : Adding 2d. to the cafks, and 2i;d. to the freight, as herein mentioned, even leaving the jnfurance at 13 guineas per cent, as it ftood before, the aflual coft: will be r^ifed to a fmall fradtion above 4s. 6d. per gallon, and confc-* quently the former price of 5s. 3d. would only leave a proht of gd, per gallon, or 14 per cent. If the infurance were eftimated at 18 guineas, there would only be a profit of 10 per cent, or 6^d. per gallon. If at 20 guineas, only 8 per cent, or 5 -^ad. per gallon* If at 25 guineas, only 3 per cent, or 2d. per gallon. And if at aS^uineas (uill 5 per cent, below the aftual rifque) there would remain no profit at all. Upon the whole, therefore, Meflrs. Mure and Co. fubmitted, that they were entitled to a much higher price than 5s. 3d. upon any rate of infurance that could reafonably be aflumed ; and, if the board did not think it fit to fettle the matter upon one of the two principles thus propofed, they offered to leave the whole to the decifioh of ar- bitrators indifferently chofen. ExtraSl of a Letter from Datiiel JVier, Efquire, to John Roblnforii Ef- quire, dated 20th May^ *777' The article of rum is the next fubjeft I ftiall mention. From th« converfation I have had with the general, I find he has communica- ted to you his engagements with the agents of Meflrs. Mure and At- kinfon, for rum, of which there is but a fmall quantity remaining j however, I hope it will be fufEcient toferve the troops till veflels ar- rive here with' more, in confequence of the contradls made by his Excellency, which I think may be daily expelled ; if this event do not happen, upon an emergency I can procure a fupply here. . ExtraSi C( (C C( «c cc « le fum? bile in- ^ques at 3 ob'air^ expofed )r reim- articles ariation. ilated at r reafpn- e or lefs iuft ever m to one •ve-men- I. to the wing the tual coft nd confe-* It of gd. d only be lue) there tted, that i any rate Iboard did irinciples ion of ar- w/Jw, Ef- ' rom th« imunica- and At- laining j /effels ar- [de by his evi^nt do ExtraSf APPENDIX, No; 55? Extras of a Letter from Mr. Wier to Mr, Robinfon, dated New-York^ Sth June, 1777. . I think it proper to inform you, That I have purchafed, by the ge- neral's diredions, about 100,000 gallons of rum, of whicn I have charged myfelfvirithonly 11,279 gallons, bci"g the quantity that has been delivered. The motive of this purchafe was partly the lownefs of the price, and partly to prevent its being fmuggled to fupply the rebels. , ^, ^,. .,,..., ..^ . ., ,, .■ ... , , ..■ ,. .,, .,, Extfa^ of a Letter from John Robin/on^ Efquire^ to Daniel H^ter, Ef- quire, dated 26th Septemberf 1777. . *i - ■:^' ..Sir, Your feveral letters of the 20th May, the Sth and 22d June, and the i2th July, with their feveral inclofures, have been received, and laid before the lords commiffioners of hisMajefty'streafury, Having written, by their lordfhips orders, fully to his Excellency Sir William Howe, in refpe£l to the fupply of coals, oats, and flores fent out, it becomes unnecefTary to trouble you thereon, further than to refer you to his Excellency for what relates, as to them, to your department ; and therefore this letter will be confined to fuch articles of your letters onlyas are not immediately anfwered by the letter to his Excellency. — The regulation made by his Excellency, in refpedt to women following the camp, feems to their lordfhips very proper, and is approved by them, as it will relieve you from a great burthen. It was not propofed to fend out any more four krout, after the garden feeds were fent, and the fituation of the army became more extended. Hay you muft provide yourfelves ; and you fee the fame is much wifhed in regard to oats, for the tonnage tHy' require, and the freight of them, is a grievous burthen. The 100,000 gallons of rum you mention to have purchafed will, it is hoped, with the contra£l entered into by his Excellency, be an ample fupply for the troops ; but you do net mention the price you gave for the rum ; nor has it been ever returned -to their lordfhips, what allowance of rum is made to the men, and how it is ferved. ExtraSl of a Letter from Daniel TPter^ Efquire, Commijfary in North" Jmeiicat to Mr. Robinfon, fofar as relates to Kum. '.-:;«.: .^;i;>t. 5, s; i^ft v.- ■- '^-.o •«->•'' ^^.^' ■/;: A^ ' 10th January^ ^77^» ** I am now to reply to that part of your*s refpefting the rum, ** The diftribution of this article to the troops was regulated by an- *' order from the commander in chief, at the rate of a quart to every *' fix men per day, and frequently an extra jill has been allowed " them, when the inclemency of the weather, or thefeverity of duty ** or fatigue, was thought to require it — but this is never done but ** by the exprefs order of the general. The 100,000 gallons I pur- ** chafed before we left New-York, coft 3s. 6d. fterling per gallon, " and at that price, with the concurrence of the commander in chief, U « I have 1 > ' '^S: J} I: M 1^ 1 Iji h n^l n[ -m 'n V i cc A P P E N D I X, No. 55. I have contrafted with Mr. Loring, agent to Thomas Biirfoot^ Efquire, of London, for 100,000 gallons more, to be delivered here; copy of which contrail:. No. 2, I now inclofe for their lordibips infpe(5lion, and hope it will meet their approbation." Copy of the Controlt, No. 2, mentioned in the aforegoing Extraif. , Articles of agreement, indented, made and concluded, this 20th day of December 1777, in the 18th year of the reign of our So- vereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. by and between Daniel Wicr, Efquire, commiffary-general, &c. on the one part, and Jofhua Loring, Efquire, for and on behalf of Thomas Burfoot, Efquire, merchant, of London, on the other part. -' r|W'4 . • i /.» r. ' Whereas it is thought neceflary that a contract Ihould be entered into with fome fit and refponfible perfon, for furnifliing a quantity of rum for the ufe of his Majcfty's troops ferving in America : And whereas the faid Jofhua Loring, Efquire, on behalf of the faid Thomas Burfoot, Efquire, has propofed to furnifli and deliver to the faid Daniel Wier, Efquire, for the ufe of the army in America, 100,000 gallons of rum, from the iflands of Antigua and Barbadoes, to be (hipped under proper certificates from the officers of his Ma- jefty's cuftoms in the faid iflands refpedtively ; the faid rum, on the delivery thereof at Philadelphia, to be paid for at the rate of 3s. 6d. fterling per gallon ; which propofal the faid Daniel Wier, Efquire, has thought fit to accept : Now this indenture witnefTeth, That the faid Jofhua Loring, Efquire, for and on behalf of the faid Thomas Burfoot, Efquire, doth hereby covenant and agree with the faid Da- niel Wier, Efquire, th^t he the faid Jofhua Loring, Efquire, on behalf of the faid Thomas Burfoot, Efquire, purfuant to the faid re- cited propofal, and according to the terms and reftridions above- mentioned, fhall and will, deliver, clear of all charges and expences, to the faid Daniel Wier, Efquire, orhisafligns, at Philadelphia, for the ufe of the faid troops, 100,000 gallons of rum, of the ufual and proper proof and ftrength of each of the faid iflands refpedively from which the fame fhall be fhippetl, according to an inflrument fent to the commander in chief for afcertaining the ftrength and proof there- of. In confideration whereof, the faid Daniel Wier, Efquire, doth hereby agree with the faid Jofhua Loring, Li'quire, that he will pay orcaufe to be paid, to the faid Thomas Burfoot, Efquire, or to« the faid Jofhua Loring, Efquire, on behalf of the faid Thomas Bur- foot, Efquire, all fuch fums of money as fhall appear to be juflly and truly due to the faid Thomas Burfoot, Efquire, or to the faid Jofhua Loring, Efquire, on behalf of the faid Thomas Burfoot, Ef- { -- ■» .•^r-M^.t^fw t.-:f\tii - qutre. APPENDIX, No. 55- rfoot, ivered their s 20th iir So- ling of h, &c. ;eneral, and on ondon, entered |uantity a: And :he faid liver to America, rbadocs, his Ma- , on the f 3s. 6d. Eiquire, rhat the Thomas faid Da- uire, on [e faid re- Is above- xpences, ihia, for fual and ely from it lent to of there- lire, doth will pay lor toi the las Bur- be juftly the faid oot, £f- quire, for the feveral quantities of rum delivered, according to thb rate and price aforefaid, agreeably to the faid recited propofal. In witnefs whereof, &c. &c. Witnefs Fred. Geo. Mukaller. JOSHUA LORING. Approved, W. HOWE. Extras of a l,etter from General Howe to Mr. Roblnfn, fo far as relates lO Rum, Philadelphia, i^th January 1778. He will alfo have informed their lordfhips of an agreement he has concluded with the agent of Thomas Burfoot, Efquirc, merchant of London, for a further fupply of one hund.cd thoufand gallons of rum from the ifland of Antigua and Barbadoes, at 3s. 6d. fterlin'g per gallon, which, upon his reprefentation of the realonablenefs and expediency of fuch agreement, I have approved. — This is far ihort of the quantity that will probably be required ; but from the incon- veniences which have attended the laft contrail made with Meflrs. Mure, Son, and Atkinfon, and my wifli to condufl myfclf in this matter conformable to their lordfhips fentiments, I have with-held my confent to his entering into further engagements, until I am honoured with their lordfhips more particular directions for my guide. jExtra^ of a Letter from Mr. Chamier to fohn Robinfotty Efquirey date4 N«w-Torky 24.th September I'jyb. No veffels arriving with rum fince the two from Jamaica, which was only one fifth part of the contraft, I thought it prudent to pur-i chafe 8 or goo hogflieads from the Windward-Iflands, at 3s. flerling, the fame price as the contrail:, which I hope will meet with the ap- probation of the lords commiffioners of his Majefty*s treafury ; had I delayed it longer, as the feafon advances, that article would have ri-r fen in price, a^d the troops . .ght have failed of a proper fupply. Extra£l of a Letter from^ Mr. Chamier to, John Rpbinfony Efquire, dated New-Yorky February 15, 1777. With the approbation of Sir William Howe, I ha»/c fince pur- chafed 140 hogmeads of rum at 3s, (the contrail price) left by any unforefeen accident wc fhould fall fhort of oyr neceffary fupply be-» fore the new crop can reach us. ExtraSi of a letter from John Robinfon^ Efqutre, to Mr. Chamier y dattC^ JVlntehall Treafitry Chambersy 25 November 1776. My lords were in hopes that the contrails made for rum wouM have been a fufficient fupply ^ but as the deliveries by the contrailors have failed . and fome of tne (hips have been taken, their lordfhips approve of your having purchafed a quantity of Windward-lfland rurn. 1 am however dirdiled to obferye to you, in ^afe General U 2 How< ^ I A I '.. It- ft ■ a A P P E N D I X, No. 56, 57. ' Howe (hould find it ncceflary to continue the allowance of rum to the army (which their lord(hips wifh to be informed of) that as the price of rum has fallen fince the contrails here were made, their lord- fliips hope that in future purchafes or contradls you will procure the rum at the loweft rate poflible, without regard to the original price fettled here, which, though fixed at as low a rate as could then be contra£led for, has now varied, and become lower, from many cir- cumftances. Extraif of a Letter from Mr. Cham'ier to John Robinfottf Efquire^ dated New-Tor k, 1\Ji March X'ji'j. I am happy in having their lordfhips approbation of the purchafe I made of rum ; the price I gave was lower than any has been fold at, either before or fince \ and the event has juftified that I did righ't in purchafing, for without that fupply the army would have been un- provided, from the number of veffels taken. When I have the ge- neral's orders to make any purchafe, their lordfhips may depend it fb«ll be done on the very loweft terms poflible, and without the gene- ral's approbation I ihall not prefiime to purchafe any article in future. No. 56. ■■ Copy of a Letter from John Robinfon^ Efquire^ to the Commijfioners of • the CuJiojnSi iHth Murch, 1 776. '- Gentlemen, The lords commiifionersof his Majefty's treafury having contraijted with John Blackburne, merchant, for fupplying one hundred thou- fand gallons of rum, for the ufe of the army in America, to be ex- ported from the feveral Leeward-Iflands, and configned tb the order of Major General Howe, or the commantier in chief of his Majefty's troops i — I am commanded by their lordfhips to acquaint you there- with, and to defire you will give the neceflary orders to your officers, that fueh part thereof as may be fo configned may have proper clear- ances and certificates, in order that it may be exported free of all duty whatfoever, wherever the necellity of the fcrvice may require. I am. Gentlemen, ^reafury-Chambers, Your moft humble fervant, iHth March, 17 y6 '• ' JOHN ROBINSON. Commiflioners Cuftoms. - .... No. 57. Copy of a Letter from the Secretary of the Cujloms to the ColleSiors and Comptrollers in Barbadoes, Gentlemen, - ■ •> Mr. Robinfon, one of the A cretarles to the lords commiflioners of his Majefty's treafury, having, by his letter of the 18th inftant, ac- ' quainted the commiflioners, that their lordfhips have contracted with John Blackbump, iperchant, for fupplying 100,000 gallons of rum .••'•■■■ . . ' ' ^ . . - . . for . 1 A P P E N D I X, No; 58, 59. for the ufe of the army in America, to be exported from the fevrral Leeward-lflands, and confiencd to the order of Major General Howe, 9r the commander in chiefof his Majefty's troops ; and that he is commanded by their lordfhips to defirc this board will give the ne- ceflary orders to their officers in the faid iflands, that fuch part there- of as may be fo configncd may have proper clearances and certificates, |n order that it may be exported free of all duty whatfoever, wherever the nccefljty of the fervice may require ; I am dire£led to fignify the fame to you ; and you are to take care that their lordfhips commands be duly and ftri(5lly complied with. I am^ Gentlemen, Cujiom- ^hujty London^ Your moft humble fcrvant, ■ 22d March^ 1776. EDWARD STANLEY, This letter was fent to the colledlors and comptrollers of the cuf- toms in the iflands of Barbadoes, St. Chriftopher's, Antigua, Mont- ferrat, Nevis, and Tortola. No. 58. Copy of, a Letter from John Robinfon^ Efquircy to the Commijfuners of the Cujloms, Gentlemen, The lords commiflioners of his Majefty's treafury having contrad- ed with Thomas Burfoot, merchant, for fupplying one hundred thoufand gallons of rum for the ufe of the army in America, to be exported from Barbadoes, and configned to the order of the com- manders in chiefof his Majefty's troops there; — I am commanded by their lordftiips to acquaint you therewith, and to defire you will giv ; the neceflary orders to your officers, that fuch part thereof as qiay be fo configned, may have proper clearances and certificates, in ordor that it may be exported free of all duty whatfoever, whenever the neceffity of the fervice may require. I am. Gentlemen, Treafury Chambers J Your moft humble fervant, 12th September, 1776. * JOHN ROBINSON. Cbmmiffioners' Crftoms. No. 59. Copy of a Letter from the Secretary of the Cujloms to the Colk^ors ani Comptrollers in Barbadoes. Gentlemen, Mr. Robinfon, one of the fecretaries to the lords commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury, having, by his letter of the 1 2th inftant, fig- nified to this board, that their lordfhips had contradlcd with Thomas Burfoot, merchant, for fupplying one hundred thouland gallons of rum, for the ufe of the army in America, to be exported from youc ifland, and configned to the order of the commander in chief of his. Majefty's forces there,— I have the commiffioners orders to tranfmit ; ■ •" . , ,. ' to i t''4 14^ 1. m ' t ' !• ! m p. m .-!■■ - / ' -I APPENDIX, No. 60, 61: to you a copy of the faid letter, and to f cquire you to pay due obc* dicnce to the directions therein contained. I am, Cujtom-Houfe^ London^ Gentlemen, your moft humble fervant, i A, September, 1776. EDWARD STANLEY. This letter was fent to the coIIe»Slors and comptrollers of Bridge- Town, Hole-Town, Speights and Oiftins, in Barbadoes. , , No. 60. ' . .'■ Capy of a Letter from Sir IVtlliam Howej to Lo>d George Girmaxrt. My Lord, New-Yark, ^th June, *777« The inconveniences that have already been experienced from the Sreat importation of rum and melafles, under pretence of bringing ores to the fleet and army, have induced me to join with the ad- miral in a circular letter to the different governors in the Weft-In- dia iflands, and to Lieutenant Governor Arbuthnot, by whofe li- cences thefe vcfTels are authorized to carry on fuch commerce. I have the honour to fend your lordfhip, inclofed, copies of the letters fent; which, by fetting forth our particular motives for this coiiduft, maice it unncceflary for me to repeat them here. I have the honour to be, &c. W. HOWE. I^ight Honourable Lord George Germain, ' No. 6r. Copy of a Letter fiom Lord Hoive and Sir IFiUiam Howey to Lieutenant; Governor Arbuthnot. In Sir William Howe^i of%thJune, 1 777. New- York, 2 oth Jpril, 1777. (Circular) SIR, ' '; As grc«: p»"'?iudice has cnfucd to the king's fervlce, by the grant- ]|ng of licences for vv-iT^ls to navigate the American feas, under pre- tence of bringing ftores for tue fleet and army, neither wanted nor applied for j whereby the kmg's rebellious fubje£ls have been enabled lo obtain fupplies of a neceflary article of fubfiftence, greatly facili- tating their further oppofition to the re-eftabliftiment of his Majefty'si authority in thefe colonies : We are therefore to defire, that you will ^e pleafed not to grant licences for rum or melafles to be cleared for any port in thefe colonies, not declared at the king's peace, unlefs at our particular requ^ft, when there may be occaiion to trouble yoif iereafter in thofe refpedts. , , We have the honour to be, r o. , 5 HOWE, ' •. ' ^'S"'^ iWM.HOWE. Mariot Arbuthnot, Efquire, ^[lieuteuanc Governor of Nova Scotia. .^ No, 62. ::l^i" it :■ '^5 No, 62. APPENDIX, No. 62, 63, 64; No. 62. Copy of a Letter from the Lords of the Admlrahy to Lord Gnrgt Germain, dated iitb September, ^ITJ' My Lord, Admiralty Office, 12 Sett, ijyy* Having received letters from the Right Honourable Lord Vifcount Howe, commander in chief of all his Majefty's Ihips and veflels in North-America, dated 18th June laft, reprcfenting the improper ufes which have been made of licences, granted by the feveral {Go- vernors of the Weft-India iflands, for the importation of rum avd melaf^'^s to the port of New-York ; by which the rebels have bccrt collufively furnifhed with thofc neceflary commodities : and hi« lordfhip havin, Sy, 6S, 6g, No. 66. Copy of a Note from Beejion Longy Efquire, to William Knox, Efquire, dated Bijhopfgate-flreety 2 ^th February y 1 778. Mr. Long prefents his compliments to Mr. Knox, fends inclofed the extract of a letter received from Grenada, which has been put into his hands, as containing intelligence greatly alarming to many of the planters and merchants. Mr. L. will be much obliged to Mr. Knox, to know whether the letter has any, and what founda- tion, for the true information of the Weft-India merchants. Bijhopfgate-Jireety February i^th. , • . No. 67. Extraii of a Letter from Mejfrs. James Campbell and Company to Mr. John Rice^ dated Grenada, gth December, ijyj. We had tiie pleafure to wnte you pretty fully, the 23th and 30th ultimo, ordering infurance on the brig Venus, Captain Raynford, to New- York ; and are forry that we are obliged now to contradict that order, owing to our governor's having received exprefs ordeis, by the laft packet from the fecretary of ttate, not to allow any vef- fel to go to America with rum till further orders ; which it feems was done in confequence of a complaint from Lord and General Howe. No. 68. Copy of a Note from the Committee of Weft- India Merchants to Lord George Gennain, March the ^th, 1778. The committee of Weft-India merchants prefent their refpecStful compliments to Lord George Germain, and earneftly intreat that his lordlhip will be pleafed to difpatch the orders to the refpedtive governors in the Weft-India iflands, relative to the licence for rum, by the very firft packet; and the committee take the liberty to in- clofe to his lordfhip, a copy of the minute of a general meeting, held yefterday, with their requeft on this bufinefs. ' ' ' ' London, March ^th, 1778. ' No. 69. • ' ExtraSf of the Minutes of a General Meeting of the Wejl- India Mer- chants, '^d March, 177b*. It having been reprefented to the general meeting of Weft-India merchants, that Lord Howe and Sir William Howe had written circular letters to all the governors in the Weft-Indies, fetting forth, that an improper ufe had, in (ome cafes, been made of the licences for rum and melaflcs granted by the faid governors, in purfuance of a provifo in an aft of the i6th year of his prefent Majefty, intituled, *« An aft to prohibit all trade and intercourfe with the colonies of " New Hamplhire, &c." in confequence whereof they alledge that the rebels have been fupplied with thofe articles, to the great detri- nent of his Majefty's fervice ; and requefting the governors to X grant n !j ^ ■^jafc,-v. M' . >, .■v..'«)**»>|M»/**^'^.-»,,CT»»<'^*>'-<- '\^ w 1, I, I: I id |l. ; I ; tt? II A P P E N D I X, No. 70. grant no more licences, except to the contraiSlors for the army and navy j and that Lord George Germain, on receiving a copy of the faid circular letters, tranfmitted to his lordftiip by Sir William Hovire, had written circular letters to all the governors in the Weft- Indies, ordering them not to grant any more licences for rum or melafleS, for the ufe of the army and navy, except to the contraftors : Refdlvcd, That it appears to this meeting, that the orders fo fent by Lord George Germain, have been confidered by the governors in the Weft- Indies as a general prohibition to grant any licences, for tho ufe of the inhabitants of the towns or places garrifoned or poflefled by his Majefty's troops, as well as for the ufe of the army and navy, ex- cept to the contradlors : that fuch a prohibition is a virtual fufpen- iion of the provifo of the faid a6t of parliament, and muft defeat the intention of the legiflature, by converting the fupply of thofe ncccf- fary articles into a monopoly, equally prejudicial to the well-affefted inhabitants of America, and to the Weft-India planters : That application be therefore made to Lord George Germain, that his lordftiip will be pleafed, by the firft packet, to give orders to the feveral governors, to grant licences in conformity to the faid provifo of the faid a6l of parliament. , . , . . , . No. 70. ',•,,. Copy of a Note from the Committee of We/i- India Merchants to ' lyUUam Knox, Efquire, March gth, 1778. The committee of Weft-India merchants prefent their compli- ments to Mr. Knox, and dcfire him to make their refpe Copy of a Circular Letter from Lord George Germain to the Governors of the IJlands in the Weji- Indies. (Circular.) Whitehall^ 10th March^ 1778. The inclofed extract of the minutes of a general meeting of the Weft-India merchants, on the 3d inftant, will inform you of the alarm which has been taken at the application of Lord Howe and Sir William Howe, to reftrain the granting of licences for rum and melaffes, to be cleared out for any port in the colonies not declared at the King's peace, to the contraftors for the army ; and the King's commands, which I fignificd to you in confequence thereof, in my circular letter of the 3d of 0(5lober, to forbear to grant licences for the fupply of the fleet and army, unlefs in the cafes they had de- fcribed. Such a reftraint, it was apprehended, could not have given occa- fion to any monopoly, or have been attended with any effcdls inju- rious to the loyal inhabitajUs or traders in the Weft-India iflands : for as a fupply of rum and melafles, equal to the confumption of the fleet and army, was contrafted for, the planter^ muft, at all events, have the advantage of that confumption ; and there was no, room for any fpeculating trader to expe6l that he Ihould find purchafers in the fleet and army for any further quantity which he might fend upon a private account. All applications, therefore, of private traders for licences to fend thofe commodities to Jie fleet and army might very juftly be fufpec- ted of being made for the purpofe of covering a trade with the rebels, and in that refpeft defeating the purpofe of the prohibitory a«St, \vhich ought by no means to be fuffered or connived at. Some reftraint alfo appeared to be neceflary in the granting of licences for the fupply of the inhabitants of the towns polTefled by his Majefty's troops ; but as there was no contrail for their fupply, it was not thought fit to adopt the propofition of the Admiral and General, in its full extent, in refpedl to what (hould be intended for them ; and my letter to you does not therefore direct you to with-hold licences from private traders, for fending rum and me- lafies to thofe places for that purpofe, but only fignines to you his Majefty's pleafure that you fhould pay the utmoft attention eo what the Admiral and General had defired, leaving it to your difcretion to determine what were the proper reftrictions to which the granting of licences ought to be fubjeded, in order to prevent, as much as poflible, the evil complained of. It appears, however, by the merchants reprefentation, that you have judged it neceflary to with-hold licences entirely from all private traders,without malting any diftindtion between fuch as propofed fend- ing their rum and melafles for the fupply of the fleet and army, and thofe who intended it for the ufe of the inhabitants of the places uoflTeflTed by the King's troops ; and, by thus X 2 confining the fupply % I mm \ 'r it. A P P E N D r X, No. 7ii ■■#; of the inhabitants, as well as that of the fleet and army, to the con- tra£lors, the merchants apprehend they will have it. in their power, in a good degree, to fix the price at which the planters mufl fell to them, and alfo that at which the confumers muft buy from them ; and «•■ is impoflible to fay to what extent fuch a power may be exer- c'^' -, «nd how greatly both the planters and confumers may bo iujir./J, if it be left to the difcretion of the contra«Slors to limit their own gains. I am aware of the difficulty of making any regulation, in a mat- ter of fuch a nature, that will not either bear hard on the fair trader, or give an opening to the clandeftine : it is, however, necefTary that the trade fhould be fo far opened, that the planter may be able to obtain a jult price for his commodities, and the confumers have an open market to purchafe at. The fingle point to be attended to, for preventing an c«afiori of the law, is the certainty of the deli- very of the rum and meialTes at the ports for which they arc cleared out, nd the licences granted j trulting, that thofe to whom the fuperintendance of the trade is committed there, will take care that they are not fmuggled out again, or clandeftinely conveyed to the rebels; and this obje£^, it is conceived, will be beft attained, by obliging all perfons that apply for licences, to enter into engage- ments for the due landing of the rum and melaffes, according to the tenor of the licence. I am, therefore, tofignify to you his Majefly's pleafure, that you do continue to grant licences for clearing out rum and melafles for the fupply of the inhabitants of fuch places as are pofTelTed by the King's tioops, in any of the colonies not at the King's peace, to ' all the King's loyal fubjcdts that fhall apply to you for the fame, '.upon their and their fufficient fureties entering into bonds to his ■. Majefly, with condition to return a certificate under the hand of the commanding officer, or other perfon authorized for that purpofe, within "a limited time, of the due landing of the rum and mclafTes, . for which the licence fliall be granted, at the port for which it fhall . be cleared our, or of its lofs at fea, or capture by the enemy ; un- der penalty of forfeiting to his Majcily a Turn equal to double the coft of the rum or melalTes contained in the licence. The many difficulties under which the Wcfl^-India^iade at nre- lent labours, will, 1 doubt not, be a fufficient inducement to you to make the charge of thefe regi'lations as little expenlive as poffible ; , Had therefore I have only to recommend to you, and the council^ lo fettle the fees upon a icule of the greateft moderation. I am, ice. •u-t i\' J .. '■ 1 :• ■ 1" ■'■>'. ^ ■ ■pf.Q. GERMAIN, No. 72. :-;..:, 'S: M ■ ■■< s 'is! ' un- at nre- to you [AIN. APPENDIX, No. 72, 73, 74.^ ;.iV!">' No. 72. Popy of a Letter f ram Sir JVilHam Howe to Lord George Germqin. Philadelphia, iStb January, I77JJ. My Lord, I prefume to trouble your lordfliip with a copy of a letter * lately received from Lord Macartney, governor of Gre- « -pj^^ Inclofure nada ; not from any defign to offer a complaint, referred to, wa« but to (hew, that without fome further meafures omitted to be fent are taken to prevent the fending of rum, melaffes, with this letter. &c. to the coaft of America, as requefted in a circular letter from the admiral and myfelf, to the governors of the Weft-India iflands (a copy of which I had the honour to inclofe in my letter, No. 59,) the good purppfes thereby intended may be defeated ; which I humbly beg leave to fubmit to your lordfliip's confideration. I have, &c. W. HOV/E. , Lord George Germain, .:.:)■.•-,..-■ No. 73. Extraif of a Letter from Governor Baling to Lord George Germain^ dattd Jamaica, i-^th January, 1778. I have taken the liberty to inclofe copies of what I wrote to Lord and Sir William Howe, on the fubjedt of your lordfhip's circular letter of the 3d of Oftober j and the lift of vcffels which had been jhen commiifioned as letters of marque. to Lord and Sir TVilUam Howe, No. 74. Copy of a Letter from Governor DalUng, to Lor In Governor Dalling's, of 12th January, 1778. My Lord, Spanijh Town, iS OSlober, 1777- The mafters of the veffels in the inclofed lift had obtained their letters of marque, incurred the whole expence of their outfit, and were on the eve of failing, before your lordfliip's circular letter, of the 20th of April, 1777, addreffed to Sir Bafil Keith, had, from the hurry incidental to a change of office, been laid before me. I con- fidered, therefore, the a6t authorizing the grant of letters of marque atid licences, as my fole guide in thefe inftances. On reading your Jordftiip's letter, I would inftantly have recalled them ; but have been prevailed on to forbear, by the fe> eral mafters reprefenting to, me the great lofles they would thereby fuftain, and in full confidence, from the meafures I have taken, of the king's fer ice not fuftering by my pot withdrawing the prefent letters of marque and licences. Your lordfliip may be aflured, that, being now app'ifed of your dcfire, with regard to licences for any ;:i tides cleared out for the colonies, I will pay the moft implicit relpedt to it, until your directions fliall be re- ceived tg th? cc^trary. I will trouble your lordihip to direct proper certificates i i n I / v1 4 If-;' % ». I)' m^ i >!. 'I > 'l^ \ APPENDIX, No. 75, 76.. / certificates to be brought me by the feveral maftcrs mentioned in the jnclofed lift, of their compliance, or not, with their engagements, that I may take fuch fteps againft the delinquents (if any) as fliall become necelTary. I am, my Lord, &c. (Signed) JOHN DALLING. Lord Vifcount Howe. One of the fame tenor to Sir William Howe. No. 75. Ltfl of veJfeU ivith Letters of Marque^ granted by John Dalling, Ef~ quirty Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Cl^ief of Jamaica y ^c. l^c. i^c. ■"-••-■ ^ - ---- v -■■ ._• ■'.. -, ; ■■•^ '.:v-, ■■,.,--• i In Governor Dalling'sy of 12th January , 1778. •' ' '1777. Schooner Hope, Jofeph Webley, commander, be- OiStober 6th. longing to Henry Cottle, of Kingfton, merchant ; cargo, rum, to New-Providence, from thence to New- York, with turtle and fruit. (Without a li- ' cence.) X5th. Schooner Betfey, Alexander Hamilton, commander, ' • i; belonging toDick and Mi 'igan, of Kingfton, mer- t -*• chant; cargo, rum, coffee, and Sugar, to New- . - , ' York. (With a licence.) 17th. Brigantine Bateman, Nathaniel Harriot, commander, belonging to Peter and Charles Ramfay, of King- fton, merchants; cargo, rum, cofFee, and fugar, to New- York. (With a licence.) 'k. ■. . > No. 76. C'Py of a Letter from Governor Bailing to Lord and Sir William Howe^ •' ;>,' iJv. . ■ ' i^h November y 1777. ' - ■ , ' '-' - In Governor Dalit ng's J of i^ih January, 1778. .•O" My Lord, I take the liberty to inform your lordfliip, that I have granted a letter of marque to the (hip Mary, Henry Johnfon, mafter; princi- pal owner, Hercules Rofs } for New- York ; which I ftiould not pave done, but onjthe owner producing a licence from admiral Gay- ton, from New- York, for which port being loaded, fhe would have failed in confequence of the above licence, without the letter of marque, mine having been refufed to her. 1 make no doubt but the admiral a6ls from fufficient authority, and that he judges properly -, I only mean to manifeft to your lordmip, that I (hall grant no licence whatever, for New- York, till your circular letter, of the 20th of .... .. . . ^ April ,^::.-zs w in the nents, , ftiall ING. :r, be- rchant ; ence to out ali- mander, in, mer- o New- imander, )f King- id fugar. m Hovje^ ■ i\' t;ranted a princi- 3uld not Iral Gay- luld have 1 letter of It but the Iroperly i |o licence 20th of April A P P E N D I X, No. 77, 78, 79; April laft, (hall be revoked. I hope your lordfhip and Sir Williani have received mine of the i8th Odober, relative to licences, &c. -"J I have the honour to be, (Signed) JOHN DALLING. No. 77. . ' ■ ■;' ' ' Copy $fa Letter from Lord Macartney to Lord George Germain. Saint George's, Grenada y iji Dec. i']']']. My Lord, The Thynne Packet arrived here on Friday laft, and brought mo youi lordfhip's circular letter of the 3d of 0«ober. tiaving written fo fully to your lordfhip of late, I have nothing to trouble you with at prefent, bur to fay, that I (hall certainly obey his Majefcy's commands, in refufing, for the future, all licences for the clearance of rum or melafles, for the fupply of the fleet and army, except to the contradtors. I am forry that I did not receive it fooner ; for the moment that advice was brought here of the taking of Phila- delphia, three vcfl'els failed from hence with ftores and provifions for that place. I am, &c. MACARTNEY* No. 78. ExtraSl of a Letter from Governor Morris to Lord George Germain^ dated St, Vincent's, ^th December, 1777. I have never granted any licences to carry rum, or indeed any things to the American continent, on any pretence whatever, left the rebels might avail themfelves of fuch ; and ihall continue the fame caution, and alfo (hall prevent any fuch pradlice from any other quarter, agreea- ble to his Majefty's pleafure, fignified to me in your lordfhip's circu- lar letter of the 3d of October. No. 79. ExtraSi of a Letter from Governor Burt to Lord George Germain. jintigua, 16th December, 1777; Yefterday I had the honour of your lordftip's letter, No. 6, O6to- ber II. Hitherto, in compliance with his Majefty's 20th inftruftion, the precedent there given, and the aft of parliament when applied to, I have given licences to vefleis in this government to carry rum to New- York ; melafles, fcarce ever any goes from thefe iflands. The quan- tity of rum from this government has been very inconfiderable ; how- ever, your lordfhip may be aflured his Majefty's order fhall be moft ftridly obeyed, and that I will not licenie a iingle gillon to be ex- ported, which fhall come to my knowledge. I fhall immediately in the Gazette give the merchants notice of his Majefty's commands, and alfo the officers of his Majefty's cuftoms. Right Honourable Lord George Germain. N. 80. .'1 m:; ,f- % ^^m^K^m^mi^^iffmm' ••mmmmf i«ninMi«i APPEND I X, No. 8©. No. 80. £xtrfl£}ofa Letter from GoUtrnor Bruere to Lord George Germain, dated Bermuda, iqth March, 1 778. On the 14th iriftant'I had the honour to receive your lordfhip's cir- cular letter of the 3d Oftober ; and having received Lord Vifcount Howe and Sir William Howe's joint letter laft year, not to grant li- cences for either rum or melafTes, I have not given any licence fince for thofe articles. Neither did any more than three or four fmall veflels go from this port in the whole, with very fmall quantities^ before I received rhy Lord Howe's difpaich } and not any hath been cleared out fince ; and '1 0iall continue to pay perfeA obedience to thofe commands. ■\ «TV| ^ie '^m^:i-ik.yg^^S^%^, FINIS. i ' , dated >'s cir- fcount ant li- i fince m this ed rtjy \; and ^^