Part 20
_1 p. folio. Copies in B. M., and Signet. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, I Geo., vol. 1, p. 91. Printed in "London Gazette," October 4, 1714._
FOOTNOTE:
[1] Since the proclamation of April 1, 1676 (see p. 129, with note) the question of ship passes had been given frequent attention, but seldom directly concerned the American trade. On February 9, 1677, the Privy Council drew up a long set of regulations regarding the form and issuing of passes, with direct reference to the Plantations trade (printed in _Acts of the Privy Council_, i, 692-700) but the proclamation then ordered to be issued to explain these regulations, if published, has not been found. The treaty with Algiers of April 10, 1682, required that all English merchants should have a pass under the seal of the Lord High Admiral or his commissioners and a proclamation was issued April 13, 1683, to that effect. Further proclamations, containing reference to the treaties of 1682 and April 5, 1686, were issued on March 17, 1692 and June 9, 1700, to reinforce these provisions. On February 17, 1698, the Privy Council took action allowing the granting of passes in the Plantations (_Acts of the Privy Council_, ii, 318). Since certain passes for the trade with Algiers had been clandestinely altered, a proclamation was published on January 17, 1714, canceling all passes held twelve months from that date and requiring new ones to be issued (these proclamations are calendared in Lord Crawford's _Tudor and Stuart Proclamations_). In connection with the issuing of the above printed proclamation concerning passes for the Plantations trade, the Privy Council proposed to send a certain number of passes over to the governors of the colonies, there to be issued by them, but to this the government of Algiers objected (_Acts of the Privy Council_, ii, 682).
1714, November 22.
[Continuing Officers in the Colonies.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION
DECLARING HIS MAJESTIES PLEASURE FOR CONTINUING THE OFFICERS IN HIS MAJESTIES PLANTATIONS, TILL HIS MAJESTIES PLEASURE SHALL BE FURTHER DECLARED.
GEORGE R.
Whereas by an Act of Parliament made in the Sixth Year of the Reign of the late Queen Anne, Our most Dear Sister, Intituled, An Act for the Security of Her Majesties Person and Government, and of the Succession to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant Line,[1] It was Enacted, amongst other Things, That no Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within any of Her said late Majesties Plantations, should become Void, by reason of the Demise or Death of Her said late Majesty, but that the Person and Persons in any of the said Offices, Places, or Employments, should Continue in the respective Offices, Places, and Employments for the Space of Six Months next after such Death or Demise, unless sooner Removed and Discharged by Us; And in regard it may happen, that Our Pleasure may not, within the said time, be Declared touching the said Offices, which will, at the end of the said Six Months, become Void: We, for the Preventing the Inconveniences that may happen thereby, in Our Princely Wisdom and Care of the State (reserving to Our Judgment hereafter the Reformation and Redress of any Abuses in Misgovernment, upon due Knowledge and Examination thereof) are Pleased, and do hereby Order, Signifie, and Declare, That all Persons that, at the time of the Decease of Her said late Majesty, were Duly and Lawfully Possessed of or Invested in any Office, Place or Employment, Civil or Military, in any of Our Plantations, and which have not been since Removed from such their Offices, Places, or Employments, shall be and shall hold themselves Continued in the said Offices, Places, or Employments, as formerly they Held and Enjoyed the same, until Our Pleasure be further known, or that other Provision be made, pursuant to Her late Majesties Commissions and Instructions to Her Governors and Officers of the Plantations aforesaid.[2] And that in the mean time for the Preservation of the Peace, and necessary Proceedings in Matters of Justice, and for the Safety and Service of the State, all the said Persons, of whatsoever Degree or Condition, do not fail every one severally, according to his Place, Office, or Charge, to proceed in the Performance and Execution of all Duties thereunto belonging, as formerly appertained unto them while the late Queen was Living. And further We do hereby Will and Command all and singular Our Subjects in the said Plantations, of what Estate or Degree they or any of them be, to be Aiding, Helping and Assisting, at the Commandment of the said Officers, in the Performance and Execution of the said Offices and Places, as they tender Our Displeasure, and will answer for the contrary at their utmost Perils.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Two and twentieth Day of November, 1714. In the First Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
London, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, And by the Assigns of Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, deceas'd. 1714.
_1 p. folio. Copies in B. M., Dalk., and P. C. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, I Geo., vol. 1, p. 119. Printed in "London Gazette," November 27, 1714._
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _Statutes of the Realm_, viii, 738; 6 Anne, ch. 41 (ch. 7 in other editions of the Statutes).
[2] The Privy Council, August 5, 1714, passed an order that all officers in Great Britain and the Plantations should be continued in office, and on August 10 drafted a form of proclamation for proclaiming the King in the Plantations (_Acts of Privy Council_, ii, 682). The proclamation proceedings are printed in the records of several of the colonies.
1717, September 5.
[For Suppressing Pirates in West Indies.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION
FOR SUPPRESSING OF PIRATES.
GEORGE R.
Whereas We have received Information, That several Persons, Subjects of Great Britain, have, since the Twenty fourth Day of June, in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifteen, committed divers Piracies and Robberies upon the High Seas in the West-Indies, or adjoyning to Our Plantations, which hath, and may Occasion great Damage to the Merchants of Great Britain, and others, Trading into those Parts; And though We have appointed such a Force as We Judge sufficient for Suppressing the said Piracies: Yet the more effectually to put an End to the same, We have thought fit, by and with the Advice of our Privy-Council, to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation; And We do hereby Promise and Declare, That in case any of the said Pirates shall, on or before the Fifth Day of September, in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighteen,[1] Surrender him or themselves to One of Our Principal Secretaries of State in Great Britain or Ireland, or to any Governor or Deputy-Governor of any of Our Plantations or Dominions beyond the Seas, every such Pirate and Pirates, so Surrendring him or themselves, as aforesaid, shall have Our Gracious Pardon of and for such his or their Piracy or Piracies, by him or them Committed before the Fifth Day of January next ensuing. And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Admirals, Captains, and other Officers at Sea, and all Our Governors and Commanders of any Forts, Castles, or other Places in Our Plantations, and all other Our Officers Civil and Military, to Seize and Take such of the Pirates who shall refuse or neglect to Surrender themselves accordingly. And We do hereby further Declare, That in case any Person or Persons, on or after the Sixth Day of September, One thousand seven hundred and eighteen, shall Discover or Seize, or cause or procure to be Discovered or Seized, any One or more of the said Pirates, so neglecting or refusing to Surrender themselves, as aforesaid, so as they may be brought to Justice, and Convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, so making such Discovery or Seizure, or causing or procuring such Discovery or Seizure to be made, shall have and receive as a Reward for the same, viz. For every Commander of any Pirate-Ship or Vessel the Sum of One hundred Pounds; For every Lieutenant, Master, Boatswain, Carpenter, and Gunner, the Sum of Forty Pounds; For every Inferior Officer the Sum of Thirty Pounds; And for every Private Man the Sum of Twenty Pounds. And if any Person or Persons, belonging to, and being Part of the Crew of any such Pirate-Ship or Vessel, shall, on or after the said Sixth Day of September, One thousand seven hundred and eighteen, Seize and Deliver, or cause to be Seized or Delivered, any Commander or Commanders of such Pirate-Ship or Vessel, so as that he or they be brought to Justice, and convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, as a Reward for the same, shall receive for every such Commander the Sum of Two hundred Pounds; which said Sums the Lord Treasurer, or the Commissioners of Our Treasury for the time being, are hereby required and directed to Pay accordingly.
Given at Our Court at Hampton-Court, the Fifth Day of September, 1717. In the Fourth Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
London, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, And by the Assigns of Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, deceas'd. 1717.
_1 p. folio. Copies in Dalk., P. C., and P. R. O. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, I Geo., vol. 2, p. 38. Printed in "London Gazette," September 17, 1717._
FOOTNOTE:
[1] This date was extended to July 1, 1710, according to a proclamation of December 21, 1718, printed on p. 178. On February 9, 1718, the Attorney-General was requested to interpret the meaning of several clauses in the above proclamation, and the Queries and Answers are printed in full in the _Acts of the Privy Council_, ii, 723.
1718, December 21.
[For Suppressing Pirates in West Indies.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION
GEORGE R.
Whereas We did think fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy-Council, to Issue Our Royal Proclamation, bearing Date the Fifth Day of September, One thousand seven hundred and seventeen, in the Fourth Year of Our Reign, therein taking Notice, That We had received Information, that several Persons, Subjects of Great Britain, had, since the Four and twentieth Day of June, in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifteen, committed divers Piracies and Robberies upon the High Seas in the West-Indies, or adjoyning to Our Plantations, which had and might Occasion great Damage to the Merchants of Great Britain, and others, Trading into those Parts: And We did thereby Promise and Declare, That in case any the said Pirates should, on or before the Fifth Day of September, One thousand seven hundred and eighteen, Surrender him or themselves in manner as therein is directed, every such Pirate and Pirates, so Surrendring him or themselves, as aforesaid, should have Our Gracious Pardon of and for such his or their Piracy or Piracies, by him or them committed before the Fifth Day of January then next ensuing: And whereas several of the said Pirates, not having had timely Notice of Our said Proclamation, may not have Surrendred themselves within the time therein appointed, and by reason thereof are uncapable of Receiving the Benefit of Our Royal Mercy and Clemency intended thereby: And though We have appointed such a Force, as We judge sufficient for Suppressing the said Piracies, yet the more effectually to put an end to the same, We have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy-Council, to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation; And We do hereby Promise and Declare, That in case any the said Pirates shall, on or before the First Day of July, in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and nineteen, Surrender him or themselves to One of Our Principal Secretaries of State in Great Britain or Ireland, or to any Governor or Deputy-Governor of any of Our Plantations or Dominions beyond the Seas, every such Pirate and Pirates, so Surrendring him or themselves, as aforesaid, shall have Our Gracious Pardon of and for such his or their Piracy or Piracies, by him or them Committed before such time as they shall have received Notice of this Our Royal Proclamation; which Pardon or Pardons We have Authorized and Commanded Our respective Governors to Grant accordingly. And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Admirals, Captains, and other Officers at Sea, and all Our Governors and Commanders of any Forts, Castles, or other Places in Our Plantations, and all others Our Officers Civil and Military, to Seize and Take such of the Pirates, who shall refuse or neglect to Surrender themselves accordingly. And We do hereby further Declare, That in case any Person or Persons, on or after the First Day of July, One thousand seven hundred and nineteen, shall Discover or Seize, or Cause or Procure to be Discovered or Seized, any One or more of the said Pirates, so Neglecting or Refusing to Surrender themselves, as aforesaid, so as they may be brought to Justice, and Convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, so making such Discovery or Seizure, or Causing or Procuring such Discovery or Seizure to be made, shall Have and Receive as a Reward for the same, (viz.) For every Commander of any Pirate-Ship or Vessel the Sum of One hundred Pounds; For every Lieutenant, Master, Boatswain, Carpenter, and Gunner, the Sum of Forty Pounds; For every Inferior Officer the Sum of Thirty Pounds; And for every Private Man, the Sum of Twenty Pounds; And if any Person or Persons, belonging to, and being part of the Crew of any such Pirate-Ship or Vessel, shall, on or after the said First Day of July, One thousand seven hundred and nineteen, Seize and Deliver, or cause to be Seized and Delivered, any Commander or Commanders of such Pirate-Ship or Vessel, so as that he or they be brought to Justice, and Convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, as a Reward for the same, shall Receive for every such Commander the Sum of Two hundred Pounds; which said Sums the Lord Treasurer, or the Commissioners of Our Treasury for the time being, are hereby Required and Directed to Pay accordingly.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Twenty first Day of December 1718. In the Fifth Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
London, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, And by the Assigns of Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, deceas'd. 1718.
_1 p. folio. Copies in P. C., and P. R. O. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, I Geo., vol. 2, p. 206. Printed in "London Gazette," December 27, 1718._
1722, July 19.
[Concerning Passes for Ships.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION
REQUIRING PASSES FORMERLY GRANTED TO SHIPS AND VESSELS TRADING IN THE WAY OF THE ALGERINE CRUIZERS, TO BE RETURNED INTO THE OFFICE OF THE ADMIRALTY OF GREAT BRITAIN; AND OTHER PASSES TO BE ISSUED OF A NEW FORM.
GEORGE R.
Whereas by Our Royal Proclamation bearing Date the Fourth Day of October,[1] in the First Year of Our Reign, We did Charge and Require, that the Owners and Masters of all Ships and Vessels belonging to Our loving Subjects of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as Our Foreign Governments and Plantations, which should have Occasion to trade to Portugal, the Canaries, Guinea, the Indies, into the Mediterranean, or elsewhere, in the Way of the Cruizers of the Government of Algier, should be furnished with Passes of the Form thereby directed, by or before the Thirtieth Day of July, in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifteen. And whereas Our Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland, have humbly represented unto Us, That it may have happened, that when such Ships or Vessels have either been taken in Time of War, or disposed of by Sale in Remote Parts, the Passes issued to them, as aforesaid, may have fallen into the Hands of Foreigners, or have been sold to them with the Ships or Vessels, the latter being directly contrary to the Bonds entred into by the Masters of such Ships and Vessels to return the aforesaid Passes, that so they may be Cancelled at the Admiralty-Office: And Our said Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland, having further represented unto Us, That they have been informed, that several Ships and Vessels, belonging to Foreign Princes or States, have by some Indirect Means procured and carried on their Trade with such Passes, as aforesaid; which Indirect Proceedings are not only Prejudical to Our Trading Subjects, and Our Revenue, but may occasion Misunderstandings between Us and the aforesaid Government of Algier: For Preventing whereof We have thought fit, by the Advice of Our Privy-Council, to Publish this Our Royal Proclamation, hereby Declaring, that all such Passes of the Old Form, which have been issued before the Date of this Our Royal Proclamation, shall not continue in Force longer than for the Space of Twelve Months from the Date hereof (Excepting such as have been granted to such Ships or Vessels as are gone or going to the East-Indies, or to the South-Seas, or any other long Trading Voyages.) And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Loving Subjects, who are, or shall be possessed of any such Passes, that they do, within the Space of Twelve Months from the Date of this Our Royal Proclamation, as aforesaid, return the same (Excepting such as before excepted) into the Office of the Admiralty of Great Britain, in Order to their being Cancelled; and that they do furnish themselves with Passes of a New Form, under the Hands and Seals of Our Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland, in lieu thereof, for their several Ships and Vessels, according to the Treaties concluded between Us and the said Government of Algier, and Our Instructions given to Our said Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland touching the same.
Given at Our Court at Kensington the Nineteenth Day of July, in the Eighth Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
London, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, And by the Assigns of Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, deceas'd. 1722.
_1 p. folio. Copies in P. C., and P. R. O. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, I Geo., vol. 4, p. 62. Printed in "London Gazette," July 24, 1722._
FOOTNOTE:
[1] See proclamation of October 4, 1714, printed on p. 172, with note.
1727, July 5.
[Continuing Officers in the Colonies.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION
DECLARING HIS MAJESTY'S PLEASURE FOR CONTINUING THE OFFICERS IN HIS MAJESTY'S PLANTATIONS, TILL HIS MAJESTY'S PLEASURE SHALL BE FURTHER SIGNIFIED.[1]
GEORGE R.
Whereas by an Act of Parliament, made in the Sixth Year of the late Queen Anne, of Blessed Memory, intituled, An Act for the Security of Her Majesty's Person and Government, and of the Succession to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant Line, it was enacted (amongst other things) That no Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within any of Her said late Majesty's Plantations, should become void by reason of the Demise, or Death of Her said late Majesty, Her Heirs, or Successors, Kings or Queens of this Realm; but that the Person and Persons in any of the Offices, Places, or Employments aforesaid, should continue in their respective Offices, Places, and Employments, for the Space of Six Months next after such Death or Demise, unless sooner removed and discharged by the next in Succession, to whom the Crown of this Realm should come, remain, and be, according to the several Acts of Parliament for limiting and settling the Succession of the Crown, as by the said recited Act may appear; and in regard it may happen, that Our pleasure may not within the said time be declared, touching the said Offices, Places, and Employments in Our Foreign Plantations, which will at the End of the said Six Months become void; We, for preventing the Inconveniences that may happen thereby, in Our Princely Wisdom, and Care of the State (reserving to Our Judgment hereafter the Reformation and Redress of any Abuses in the Execution of any such Offices, Places, and Employments, upon due Knowledge and Examination thereof) have thought fit, with the Advice of Our Privy Council, to issue this Our Royal Proclamation, and do hereby order, signify, and declare, That all Persons, that at the Time of the Decease of Our late Royal Father King George the First, of Glorious Memory, were duly and lawfully possessed of, or invested in any Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, in any of Our Plantations, and which have not been since removed from such their Offices, Places, or Employments, shall be, and shall hold themselves continued in the said Offices, Places, and Employments, as formerly they held and enjoyed the same, until Our Pleasure be further known, or other Provision be made, pursuant to the Commissions and Instructions of Our said late Royal Father, to His Governors and Officers of the Plantations aforesaid; and that in the mean time, for the Preservation of the Peace, and necessary Proceedings in Matters of Justice, and for the Safety and Service of the State, all the said Persons, of whatsoever Degree or Condition, do not fail every one severally, according to his Place, Office, or Charge, to proceed in the Performance and Execution of all Duties thereunto belonging, as formerly appertained unto them, during the life of Our said late Royal Father; and further, We do hereby will and command all and singular Our Subjects in the said Plantations, of what Estate or Degree they, or any of them be, to be aiding, helping, and assisting, at the Commandment of the said Officers, in the Performance and Execution of the said Offices and Places, as they tender Our Displeasure, and will answer the contrary at their utmost Perils.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Fifth Day of July, 1727, and in the First Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
London, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty; and Thomas Norris, Assignee to George Hills, 1727.
Price Two Pence.
_1 p. folio. Copy in P. C. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, II Geo., vol. 1, p. 32. Printed in "American Weekly Mercury," September 28, 1727._
FOOTNOTE:
[1] This proclamation, with a form of proclamation for proclaiming the new King, was sent over to each colony. In the state archives of some of the colonies, this correspondence is still preserved, and in some cases has been printed, i.e., in _Pennsylvania Archives_, ser. 1, vol. 1, p. 200.
1729, December 31.
[Concerning Passes for Ships.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION
REQUIRING PASSES FORMERLY GRANTED TO SHIPS AND VESSELS, TRADING IN THE WAY OF THE CRUIZERS BELONGING TO THE GOVERNMENTS ON THE COAST OF BARBARY, TO BE RETURNED INTO THE OFFICE OF THE ADMIRALTY OF GREAT BRITAIN, AND OTHER PASSES OF DIFFERENT FORMS TO BE ISSUED.
GEORGE R.