Great pains have been taken to represent the whole affair as a complaint of a private injury, in order that adminiftration might fhelter themselves under the fhallow pretence, that I did not continue to harrafs them with daily applications for redress, from the 25th of Sept. to the 17th of Dec. but this is by no means the cafe; the Britifh flag has been infulted; British feamen have been made captives in the most barbarous and difgraceful manner; and the very existence of a colony, capable of being made equal to any in the Weft Indies, is at stake.

I conceive that I have discharged my duty to the public, by communicating to his majefty's minifters, as early as poffible, all I knew of the matter; if the negociation has languifhed in their hands, it is to be hoped the day will arrive, when they fhall be made anfwerable for it.

I am,

Your most obedient fervant,

ALEX. BLAIR.

Oxendon-freet, March 4.

THE petition which was offered to the house of commons, and which is alluded to in the above letter, ftated, "That the petitioners, Capt. Blair, and Dr. Irving, an eminent man in his profeffion, and a celebrated chymift, had, by an encouragement from from government, eftablished a manufactory for expreffing oil out of vegetable fubftances, with which the Mufquita

country was known to abound: that the undertaking was accompanied with great fuccefs: that the purposes to which the oil, thus expreffed, was ufed in this country, was chiefly for oiling wool for the wool-combers. That the petitioners had incurred a very great expence in establishing this manufacture; that fome time in the month of April laft, two Spanish Guarda Coftas entered the harbour, or road, oppofite the oilworks, one of 14 guns, commanded by Don Juan Caftello, and the other of eight guns, commanded by Don Antonio Euppi, under Dutch colours; that they bore down on the Morning Star, a veffe! belonging to the faid partnerfhip, and having approached very near, hoifted Spanish colours, and fent feveral armed men on board, making prize of the Morning Star, taking the British failors prifoners on board their own fhips, where they ironed them, and carried them into Porto-Bello, and at length removed them to Carthagena, whence this informant made his efcape to Jamaica, where, before the chief justice of the common pleas for faid ifland, he fwore to the facts therein fet forth." The petition then ftated the different applications which had been made, as recited in the above let ter; and finally prayed, "that the Houfe would be pleased to take the premises into confideration, and do therein as they fhall think fit. The motion for bringing up the above petition produced a moft important and animated debate; but the queftion being put, it was rejected without a fion,

divi.

Returns

Abstract of an Act for registering the Grants of Life Annuities; and for the better Protection of Infants against fuch Grants.

FTER reciting in the preamble, that the pernicious practice of raising money by the fale of life annuities, hath of late years greatly increased, and is much promoted by the fecrecy with which fuch transactions are conducted; it is enacted that a memorial of all deeds, bonds, &c. for granting life annuities, fhall, within twenty days of the execution thereof, be enrolled in the court of chancery which shall contain the date, names of the parties, witneffes, &c. and fhall fet forth the annual fum or fums to be paid, and the name of the perfon or perfons for whofe life or lives the annuity is granted, and the confideration or confiderations of granting the fame; otherwife every fuch deed, bond, &c. fhall be void.

35,072

It further enacts, that before judgment shall be entered of record upon any warrant of attorney for recovering any annuity already granted, and before execution fhall be fued out, &c. on any judgment already entered, &c. a memorial fhall be enrolled as aforefaid; otherwife all the proceedings in the actions to be void.

It also enacts, that all future deeds for granting of annuities, fhall contain the confideration, and the names of the parties, in words at length. And that if any part of the confideration fhall be returned; or, in cafe the confideration, or any part of it, is paid in notes, if any of the notes fhall not be paid when due, or shall be cancelled or destroyed without being first paid; or if the confideration, or any part of it, is paid in goods; or if any part of the confideration is retained on pretence of answering the future payments of the annuity, or any

[R] 2

other

other pretence; the court may order the deed to be cancelled, and the judgment, if any has been entered, to be vacated.

The bill next contains directions relating to the enrollment of memorials, and the clerks fees.

It then enacts, that all contracts for the purchase of annuities with any perfon under twenty-one years of age, fhall be void; and that any perfon who fhall procure or folicit any minor to grant an annuity, or to make oath, or give his or her word of honour or folemn promife, that he or she will

not plead infancy, or make any other defence against the demand of any fuch annuity, fhall be punished by fine or imprisonment, &c.

It also enacts, that folicitors, fciveners, brokers, &c. who shall take more than 10 s. per 100 l. for procuring money for annuities, fhall be punished by fine and imprifonment; and that the perfon or perfons who fhall have paid or given any fum or fums of money, gratuity or reward, fhall be deemed a competent witness or witnesfes to prove the fame.

C

IVIL Lift

800,000

brings in clear, at least

100,000

50,000

Coal-pits at Louisburgh

12,000

Interest of debts due to the late king

150,000

1,302,000

EXPENDI

into foreign channels, muft keep us ftill a divided people, I fhall, from every private, as well as public motive, moft heartily lament that it is not the moment wherein those great objects of my ambition are to be attained; and that I am to be longer deprived of an opportunity to affure you perfonally of the regard with which I am, "Your fincere and faithful Humble fervant,

HowE. "P. S. I was disappointed of the opportunity I expected for fending this letter at the time it was dated, and have been ever fince prevented, by calms and contrary winds, from getting here to inform General Howe of the commiffion with which I have the fatisfaction to be charged, and of his being joined in it.

Off Sandy Hook, 12 July.
Superfcribed

To Benjamin Franklin,
Efq; Philadelphia."

has long been pleased to entertain of us; but it can have no other effect than that of encreasing our refentment. It is impoffible we should think of fubmiffion to a government that has, with the most wanton barbarity and cruelty, burnt our defencelefs towns, in the midft of winter; excited the favages to maffacre peaceful farmers, and our flaves to murder their masters; and is even now bringing foreign mercenaries to deluge our fettlements with blood. Thefe atrocious injuries have extinguifhed every fpark of affection for that parent country we once held fo dear: but were it poffible for us to forget and forgive them, it is not poffible for you, I mean the British nation, to forgive the people you have fo heavily injured: you can never confide again in thofe as fellow-fubjects, and permit them to enjoy equal freedom, to whom, you know, you have given fuch juft caufes of lafting enmity; and this muft impel you, if we are again under your govern. ment, to endeavour the breaking our fpirit by the fevereft tyranny, and obftructing, by every means in your power, our growing ftrength and profperity.

"But your lordship mentions, the king's paternal folicitude for promoting the establishment of lasting peace and union with the colonies.' If by peace is here meant a peace to be entered into by dif tinct ftates, now at war, and his majefty has given your lordship power to treat with us; of fuch peace, I may venture to say, though without authority, that I think a treaty for that purpose not quite impracticable, before we enter into foreign alliances;