William Byrd letter to William Blathwayt, 1696 June 23

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These accompany my accounts for the last year by
which you will understand how far the Revenue here is
anticipated, occasioned cheifly by our having not fleet from
London this year, Altho we have had abou 30 sail from Bristol
Leverpool &c yet the far greater part of them being small
vessells have little advanced our Revenue the great charge
we have been at by assisting New York and maintaining a
sloop to cruise in the Bay above a year hath considerably
augmented our charge, As to the former our Governor did
proceed to proportion and settle the Quota commanded by his
Majesty and was at charge to purchase provisions, which yet are
not brought to account hoping they may be sold again to no
great Loss) when his Excellency and Councill were certainly
Informed that the Governor of New York had accepted money of
the Neighboring Provinces in lieu of men, We being most
remote found it difficult to procure the men and much more
to raise money for their transportaten and support, tho his
Excellency offer'd to advance £1000 of his own towards that charge
yet our ordinary Revenue being so much in arrear, great
hopes of any considerable fleet to advance the same, and
truly little prospect of a scarce Indifferent crop this yeafr
makes it Impossible that Revenue should defray the ordinary
charge of the government, However that we might not be
wanting to assist New York in the best and speediest manner
we could, His Excellency & Councill Ordered me to pay the Governor of
New York £1000 current money of that Citty, which I paid
accordingly

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accordingly, £500 whereof is to be allowed out of the
imposition upon Liquors which yet hath not raised near
so much, but hope is may e're the Law Expires which will
be in October next, the remainder out of the Revenue of two
shilling per hogshead and Port duties which I have now charged
allowing abatement of 30 per cent which was what I had at
New York

The charge of sloop hire men Wages & Provisions for
little more than a year comes to £569:13:9, when the
sloop not being Longer fir for service was discharged, I cant
The commander ws wanting in his duty neither did he want
encouragement his Excellency having promisd him the 3d part of all
false traders he should detect, yet I heard not of one all last
year in this Government, those People going more towards the
head of the Bay and Eastern Shore, where the Collectors
dilligence might be of more use than any sloop, Our Governor
hath strictly required all in this Government to do their duty therein
and I hope they will not be wanting, Some extraordinary
charges have been this year for Messengers, there having been
two Expresses for New York, one about a Quota, the other with
his Majestys Packets thither and to all the Governments between and
one on the same account to Carolina, and another thither upon the
seizing an officer of this Government and carrying him into theirs

I think there is not any thing else extraordinary
except £20 for six small Iron guns for the use of the fort
at

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at James Citty, those there before being large Burnt too much
Powder in saluteing ships and such uses

You would much oblige us all to procure the extraordinry
Ballance transferred to the Revenue of Quit Rents, which if
done our Revenue would be albe to maintain the ordinary
charge of the Government, I shall not add more but assure
you that I am &c

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Virginia
23 June 1696
Copy from Collonell
Byrd