Edward Randolph letter to William Blathwayt, 1698 May 12

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I have given your Board an account of my Proceedings in
Maryland, the Jerseys, & Pensilvania, to which I humbly referr
your honor: I arriv'd here the 22th. of Aprill past where I find
the Earle of Bellamont arrived & settled in the ffort;
Leisler arriv'd here much about the same time with an Act
of Parliament in favour of his father, which makes a very
great faction in this Town; They are now divided upon the
Poll for choosing members of their Assembly with such heats,
they can hardly be kept from shedding blood; If Leislers
Party prevails forty or fifty of the Riches families in this
Town, will remove themselves & their Trade to Amboy, which
lyes farr more conveniently for it then New York.

The loss of the Swift ffrigott is a great disapointment & hindrance
to his Majesties affairs under my Care; i am come to this Place, to look
for a passage to Carolina, the Bahama Ilands, & Bermudas,
& depended upon the Earle of Bellamonts sending the ffowy
ffrigott thither to look after Pyrates, which wou'd have
given me both a Countenance & a secure passage to those
Places, but after staying here a month for that purpose, I am
very uncertain whether his Lordshipp will send her or no.

I have inclos'd to Mr Povey severall Papers which shew that
mr penns Government has as little regard to the Acts of Trade,
as Mr Penn himselfe has to his Promises which he makes to
the Ministers of State & others in England in relacion to Mr Mark
ham his Governments putting in Execution the Acts of Trade in
his Province of Pensilvania; Wishing the Continuance of
health & happiness to you & all your family I remain in all duty

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12 May 1698
From Mr Randolph.