Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I have before me your letters of the 4^th Octob: 14^th Novemb:
and 30^th Dec: last which do all chiefly concern y^e Business
of the Narragansett Country and in consideration of yo^r
desires I have as much as possible further'd the dispatch of
it but by reason of the absence of the Court from Whitehall
this Summer and the multiplicity of other Business as well
as the intricacy of the case of this Province I have not
been able to procure an earlier expedition But now
I have received the directions of The Committe of Plan
tations to prepare the Draft of a Commission for The
King to signe empowering certain persons to inquire
into the severall Titles which are pretended to the
Country its jurisdiction and Propriety and to report
the true State of the whole matter to His Ma^ty This
I hope will be ready for the next ships and will be
delivered to M^r John Lewin.

I am heartily sorry for poor Mr Harris who died
as soon as he came to London.

M^r Randolph who brings you this letter comes
prepared with a Commission under the Great Seale
and with a Letter from The King to enforce the execution
of his office which will receive all countenance from
hence.

I have also given M^r Randolph a Deputation
to execute an Office in New England which his Ma^ty
has been pleased to entrust me with of Survey^r & Auditor
of his American Revenues the effect whereof will depend
very much upon the success of M^r Randolph's other
Business. For all other informations I refer you to
M^r Randolph and remain with the greatest truth

The names of the Persons nominated to be Comm^rs to examine the Severall Titles to
the Narragansett Country are viz.

M^r William Houghton
M^r Joseph Dudley
M^r Edward Randolph and y^e chief Officer of his Ma^ties Customes for y^e time being
M^r Samuel Thrimpton
M^r John Fits-Winthroppe
M^r Edward Palmes
M^r John Pyncheon Jun^r
M^r Saltinstall Jun^r

The Governor and Deputy Governor of
New Plymouth for the time being if the
Colony have no pretence and the persons are
uninterested or any three or four of them whereby y^{e four}
Governor first named and Governor of Plymouth for
the time being to be one.

22 Oct 84
To M^r Wharton