Chidley Brooke letter to William Blathwayt, 1692 March 7

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By accident a ruff Draft of a letter writ to you by Mr
Edward Randolp about August last came to my hand wherein I
found a great deal of [illegible] against som persons, nor could I
I who never did nor thought him prejudice escape the lash
of his pen. There I am accused to you as a person so fare
disaffected to your intrest, as to oppose the passing an
order for yor sallary as Auditor Generall. Though it appears
plainly that I was The person that craved allowance
for it in the same paper where I did for my own sallary
and incident charges, and Mr Stephanus Courtland and the
rest of the gentlemen of our Councill here can evidence
that I urged it with all ^ ^the warmth and strenght of argument
I was able to use: for I did ever and do think it was and
is your just right. I find my enimies are put to hard shifts for
impeachments to spatter me withall; and rather ^ ^than want som=
thing to say against me, they'll invent : but as They never shall
have Truth to say that can prejudice me, So I Trust their lies
will be as easy demonstrable as this contrivance of that busy
Man and com as hapily to light. Tis reported he is gon for
England if so I expect he will put his invention on a second
Labour there, to do me an injury; becaus I have bin sharp
upon him for his first essay which he in his Letter to you
(which I have exacted from him in my own justification) owns
to be an untruth. I saw him write the originall of this
enclosed copy and read it before he seald it; he left it
In

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In my hand (according to my request) That I might be
assured of its going forward. and knowing it imported nothing
but what related to me, I brok open the seal and have
Drawn severall copies thereof, least the originall should
be lost, and so the designe of vindicating myself made
frustrat. When I craved allowance for sallaries &ca on Last
Christmas account I moved that your sallary at 5 per Cent. out
of the whole produce of he Revenue of this province
from the 30 of January 1690/1 to the 25 of December Last might
be allowed : And som urged the poverty of the government as
an argumeent against it: but at length it was agreed that 5 per Cent
ut supra should be allowd you for the produce in
Chrismas quarter Last, and so successively for the future
which I will accordingly keep in my hand till you
direct how it shall be diposed of from time to time. for
what time had elapsed I could before the beginning of
Chrismass quarter I could not prevail upon them to have
an allowance. Mr Stephanus Courtland espous'd your intrest like
a friend others study rather to serve themselves than you
and what favours canot seem to come from them, they will
oppose and rather suffer you to want your right than not
be obliged to them as Instruments in the acquisition.

These com by way of Boston in New England and by no certain
opertunity, or My accounts should be also sent : But a Ship is designd
from hence for London By which all publick papers will be sent.

I
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I must begg your pardon for giveing you the truble I give you
of these which is only to vindicat myself from untrue accusations
that might have renderd me most ungratefull. In the accounts
you will (I hope) receive from His Excellency Collonell ffletcher you will
be advised of the ffrench of Canada's having invaded this province
and being drove away with considerable loss. I will add no
more But that I am

The Copy of Mr Randolphs
Letter here inclosed is attested
by Mr Stephanus Van Courtland

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New York 7 March <em.1692/3
From M Brooks

Received 16 June 1693
acknowledged 29 June 1693