Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

The 19^th of March I gave you acc^t of the arrival
of the London fleet with her Ma^ty commands to assist
New York which I comunicated to the councill where
Resolved to do it by sea when demanded the Marching
by Land being Long and [difficult]

Our assembly sat the 18 Aprill to whom I communicated
her M^ts commands and desired a supply for that Service
which they wholy excused upon their poverty and
Necessary defence at home and could not understand
would be lessened by f[orce]s there all could be obtaned
was £500 out of an [Imposition] now laid on liq^r
Imported, which tho small I was advised not to Refuse
[but hope] it an Earnest of more

The 18^th past prorogued the Assembly to the 31 of Oct
[next] when I hope they will be Well disposed for
Publick matters

All paymts here Except their Ma^ts [Revenue ]and New
Small Incoomes on Liqurs being in Tobacco; and
difficult if obtained to be sold here or Exported for
paym^ts abroad as has been experimented, and is by ye
Quitt Rents and the known charge risque and un[certain]
Market of all Tobacco sent out besides loss of Time
of which [illegible] ^{Each hand} makes from 1000 to above 2000 pds
a year which besides the loss to the Planter Mercht and
shipping; is for Every man so Exported a Loss to his M^ts
Revenue at least £10 [illegible] and which I have mentioned
to his Grace my L^d Duke of Shrewsbury, and pray the favor
to be Enabled out of the Quit Rents or otherwise as his
Ma^ty shall think fit for New York or other service
comanded as occasion

Gov^r Nicholson from Maryland tho scurrilous of me
as am credibly informed, has been lately sev^ll times
with one serv^t thro this Governm^t on p^r tence of [service]
for the colledge, and when sent for me denyed
publickly I am satisfyd [is] inveterate and doth me
all the ill [offices] he can every where, doubt not his
writing home against me, which I hope will not
[produce] me unheard, I pray your favor in it as
occasion, particularly relating to the £500; I had by
advice of the councill in Maryland on [acct] of my
salary as comander in chief as by order of councill
[here] and warr^t and for M^r Greenbury next day signed
in councill, M Plater collector and Attorney Gen^ll allways p^rsent
and advising therein out of Money in his hands M Comis^ry
Blair would not be obliged by me tho used all endeavors &
Disputed in any of his the Church or Colledge concerns But
Estranged himself from me of which I tooke no notice til not
containing himself and particularly before the councill it was
the unanimous opinion he ought not to sit at that Board
and then I could not avoid for his Ma^tys service to suspend him
till further order. And as it is very Extraord^ry and the first I have
heard of so Handled by the whole councill, And myself not wanting
in Any thing to the church nor to Mr Blair himself even since
his Suspention in all relating to the church or colledge I hope
my Lord of London's, as well as others, just favor in not being
[censured ] or [Misapprehensions] of me till heard if
occasion for which and all else I pray your continued Just
favor having no other concern therein but my duty in supporting
his M^ts authority and service. This [Governor], all which is
humbly submitted by &c

Virga 1 June 1695
Copy from S E Andros