William Beeston letter to William Blathwayt, 1694 March 15

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I writt you largely by Captain Taylor of Bristoll, and because shee went a single Shipp, &
soe many miscarry in goeing home, I now send you the Duplicates of those Letters, to which I referr;
This is a Sloop of Sr. James Castillo's which hee sends Express, in hopes to gett the Assiento settled on him=
selfe, if hee can obtaine it, it would bee very advantagious to this Island, he being Settled here
with his wife and ffamily, beyound the thoughts of Removall: The Experiment is gone over againe
to Porto Bello, in hopes to procure the money due on the last Assient to the Merchants to be sent
over, otherwise they will bee great loosers, and shee is to Call at Cartagina, for some Prisoners we
haue there, As also to demand about 20, that are at Panama, & I expect her here about three
weeks hence.

Collonell Beckford went hence in the Hampshire ffebruaryr 26th: with my Letters to the President
of St Domingo, to Collonell Lillingston, and Captain Wilmott, and carryed Pylots with him, If hee can meet
the ffleet and soe Concert, that they fall on the ffrench, as they come (which is my Ayme in
Sending Collonell Beckford that way) it will saue their Majesties much Charge, as well as it will the
Shipps and people time, & trouble, & may facilitate the designe very much by the Surprize.

The Assembly is mett, about 14 members with the Spacker Chang'd, & Captain Bradshaw in the
Chaire, they are all very unanimous, and seem wholy design'd to pay the Debts Contracted
by the Warr, to Settle the Revenue and Quittrents, and to doe all things else that may be
for the Service of their Majesties, and the good of the Countrey, at which I am extreamly
pleased, and hope our black Starrs are passing over, for the Country is in great health, har=
mony, and quietness within, and those who were not ruin'd by the ffrench are very thriveing
Soe that wee want nothing (Provisions being alsoe very Plenty) but people and meanes to reinstate
those, who were burnt out by the warr, which is soe great a Loss, the Country think they cannot
repaire, without ruining or levelling the remaines, which they are not willing to doe, And
all this great alteracion in the face of affaires here is onely by some management to keep outthe
Old Speaker, and some of those memebers, which adhered to all his advice, I haue great hopes to
Settle all things very well, and shall think myselfe very happy if I can accomplish it:

I am now in my 3d yeare, and I doubt not, but when it is knowne the Country is healthy
& quiet and thriveing againe, but there will bee applicacion made for the Government, I haue
had my Share of the Soure, whoever he be that shall enjoy the Sweet, when any such thing is
I pray you to advise mee, and also that you procure an Instruction or his Majesties most Gracious
Letter in my favour, that I may not bee Stopt, or molested here, you know how Collonell Moles
worth was used without Cause, And I hope I haue giuen none to bee soe dealt with,
There will Shipps goe often by whom I write how the Assembly proceed, and send the
Publick Accounts which are now before them, What you please to Comunicate to the Lords
of what I write, I referr to yourselfe, and with my most humble Service am with very great
Respects

Coppy I now find the Coppy of my Instructtions to
Collonell Beckford

The Honourable William Blathwayte Esquire

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Jamaica
15 March 1694/5
From Sir William Beeston
Received 3 June 1695