Isaac Addington letter to John Povey, 1695 July 23

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By the Hope one of the Mast Ships Claron Everden Commander, I was honoured
with the Receipt of four several Letters from your slefe of the 27th. of August. 7th. of
September. 26th. or January and 9th. of March last, which came to hand in May
following, I render you my hearty Thanks for your Favour therein and acknowledge
myselfe your Debter: I am glad to understand that the Minutes of Council, Journal
Laws and other publick papers sent by Sr. William Phips came safe. The Accompt
of the publick Revenue, with the papers sent by the Faulkland and Nonsuch you
intimate are wanting. I sent Mr. Treasurer Phillips's Accompt by two several
Ships the last year both which I hear miscarried. to Supply which defect I have
by the Ship Swann Captain Thomas Gilbert Commander transmitted an other of the same
Accompt, being the first Conveyance for England from this place since the Governors
Assembly at their Several Sittings in September. October and Februry 1694, the first
being a Duplicate, and the Minutes of Council beginning at the 4th. of September
1694. and ending the 6th. of March following, Together with Duplicates of the
Laws made in February 1693, May, September and October 1694, and the first
of those made at the Session in February following, All which I hope will arrive
safe. I have also sent the further Accompt of the publick Revenue in the
year 1693 by the Friendship Captain Benjamin Emes Commander now also ready to sail.

Here are various Reports of divers persons solliciting his
Majestys Favour for this Government. But have no certainty that his Majesty has
declared his pleasure therein. The opportunity for serving his Majesty in so
Honorable a Station must be the greatest motive and Encouragement that I know to
any Gentleman of Estate and publick Spirit, to cove or earnestly pursue the obtaining
of the place at such a time when the Country is so greatly impoverished and
pressed with the War and the care and charge of Government is become so great
a Fatigue, the Indians having made a fresh Eruption upon some of the out skirts
of

Of this Province this Summer, and kil'd and captivated two or three of his
Majestys good Subjects, notwithstanding their pretensions of renewing their former
Engagements to cease all Acts of hostility, and to bring in the Captives before taken
Such is their base perfidiousness and treachery, the advantages they have of a
large wilderness and their ubiquitary manner of living renders the access to
them very difficult to chastise their Rebellions, whilst in the mean time they
do in their way of Sculking greatly annoy and disturb the quiet of his Majestys
good Subjects keeping them constantly upon duty for their own Safety & defence
and takes them off from their Imployment; there are three or four of their
principal Warriours, some of great Esteem with them, and no less infamous for
their bloody and barbarous Villainies, that Providence has delivered up alive
into the hands of the Government and now in hold. 'Tis hoped the Indians
concern for the preservation of their lives may somewhat awe and restrain their
murderous intentions. But so long as they entertain the French Fryars & take
their measures from them, there's little hopes of holding them steady to the
English Interest, the French making their Presents unto, and supplying of
them, having a Ship from France unto St. Johns River yearly for that purpose.
The Sorlings was ordered to cruise in the Bay of Fundy to have intercepted her
and it hapned that they met But the Frenchman proving to be a great Ship
beyond what had been accustomed, mounted with Fifty Guns, they maintained
a Sharp Dispute for seven or eight hours time and the Sorlings being disabled
in her Masts, Rigging and Sailes, the Frenchman of War got from her.

Captain Emes Commander of the Sorlings and his Company behaved themselves
very worthily and in all probability had mad Prize of her, (tho overmatched)
if that unhappy disaster had not befal'n them; She is now refitted & going
forth again with the Newport Frigat to her assistance in quest of the Frenchman

Captain James Weems Commander of one of the Foot Companys
for New Yorke presented an Order from the Right Honorable the Lords of his Majestys
mos Honorable Privy Council to make payment of what should appear due unto
him upon his Account for his Service as Commander of the Fort at Pemaquid
according to the order of the Convention here in the year 1689, which has been
accordingly ordered unto him

Sr. I write to Mr. Blathwayt per this Conveyance, Expecting That he is abroad with
the King, but pray you on my behalfe to give him the Tenders of my hearty & best
Services, and the acknowledgements of my obligations, which also please to accept unto
yourselfe from him who is Sr:

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23 July 1695
From Mr. Addington

He has transmitted the Publick
Proceedings and Treasurer Philip
account by the Swan

The Indians have made a
fresh Irruption

The Sorlings has a dispute
with a french Man of War
of 50 Guns the [illegible] of paide
& is disabled