Collo John Epes* who seems to be discontented wth me because displaced; wch I am confident the hounble Coll Morrison was surprized in (by Sherwood) as well as myself, or els his houn' would not have desired me to subscribe the request of the dedimus wch I was unwilling to doe, but alsoe Mr. Mings who was by the subscribers employed to manage the charge (wch he did with all the fierce anger, mallice and ill language he could), was appointed to be theire clerke to take the evidences, although I · after objected against it (unless he would write what the witnesses said wh hee refused to doe, yet was admitted clerke, and when the evidences were called, Mr. Mings was the onely interogator & would not write theire words, but Examine and crossExamine sometimes an houre togeather before he would put penn to paper; that he hath kept some evidences three houres togeather on Examination, and then write not theires, but such wordes as he thought came nighest theire sense, and strongest ag' me, & when I have offered Evidences' Evidence to the comiss in my owne vindication Mr. Mings opposed it, and they were not suffered to be taken, I prayed that Mr. Mings was employed to manage the charge might drawe his interogutorees (upon the articles) to the witnesses, and that neither he, nor I, mought be by, but that the comiss" mought Examin them, but that would not be admitted, and indeed I was hardly admited to speak one worde, in my owne defence but imediately I was silenced, those three Gentlemen, and Mr. Mings sayeing I delayed the county's business, and when I prayed, that since Mr. Mings (that was to manage the charge) had the evidences in his custody (night after night) might plan, or displan what wordes he pleased being never sworne, and for ought I know mought have subscribed all for his owne use, that I mought either have the copyes of the oathes ag' me, or that I mought take notes of them, that I mought thereby be enabled to make my defence, wch was utterly denyed me; How equally right and Just (these proceedings are) I humbly leave to yo' houn's considerations, although I am very confident; I have owned as

* Colonel John Epes, or Eppes, was a son of Francis Eppes, member of the Council (Henrico Records and Land Grants). As Captain John Epes he was a justice of Charles City in 1661 (Surry Records). Lieutenant-Colonel John Eppes patented 2,750 acres in Charles City in 1667.

much in my answeare as can be justly proved ag1 me onely I must intimate to yo' houn" that upon the Examination of Baxter, it may be observed that Baxter swears in his owne behalf, and theire is now a suit depending in the county Courte for w he owes me, and would by this maner of way cleare himself & defraud me, but to remember what he, or the rest have sworne, as to make answeare to I cannot, onely I observe that the moste of the Evidences were very rebells, and my particular enimyes, allwch I leave to yo' houn" moste serious considerations, and doe not doubt, but that yo' houn" will weigh every thing indifferently, soe prayeing for yo' houn" I am

Rt. hone your houn" moste humble servant,

(signed)

EDW. HILL.

Dear Sir:

SOME COLONIAL LETTERS.*

London, 18 Aprill, 1711.

I rec1 yrs y 31 Jan3, and beg you will never make any apoligys to Comand me in any thing for yr. Service. Upon yo receipt of yr. Letter and another from my good friend Coll. Carter upon ye same errand wh Mr. Perry delivered to me, both together imediately we waited upon Mr. Blathwayt for feare of looseing time, and that he might be solicited for some others as he has been since. I must doe Mr. Perry justice that recomended you both very strenuously to Mr. Blath: as both his friends, but before we went I was prevalent with Mr. Per * * to leave a little to my plea that you were * * in y' project * * * I tooke ye Liberty to tell Mr. Blath: that I was under a former promise to appeare for you more Particularly,

of

* All these letters are addressed to Philip Ludwell and are a part of the Ludwell MSS.

and to give you the preference of my small interest before Coll. Carter. Mr. Blathwayt desired three days to consider of it wch was but reasonable, and asked me some questions, amongst ye rest if you were well wth Mr. Byrd, we we both affirmed you

were.

Before Mr. Blathwayt determined who he would give it to, Mr. Perry came to me before we went y second time and comunicated another letter from you, in weh you suggested to him that Coll. Digges allowed C' and you £500 to be admitted. I frankly told Mr. Perry I would be your opponent rather than y' advocate to consent you should part with any such sume upon soe precarious a foundation as Upon Mr. Blathwayt's Life, and many other contingent accidents, besides ye cause will not beare it, but Mr. Perry seemed to think rather than you should loose it to offer a 100 or 200 of Pounds. I told him I did not doubt but we should worke it for you on better terms, for Mr. Blath: has for a late piece of friendship I have done assured me he would be ready to do any Services he could, tho' I joyn with you he is hard to make any impression upon, but by ye method you mention, but I was determined to try my interest in him. I must doe him justice; he told me frankly that if I inclined to prefer you before any other friend or was pre-engaged to you that you should have it upon terms of allowing two and a half p. ct. which I suppose is one moyety,

to

and I am apt

**Coll. Diggs did not pay any such sume, I will not say there was nothing given for * Mr. Blath: had conferred it upon you with a good grace and his man had order * to write your Commission, wch is to be sent to Mr. Perry this week; he gave me a hint as to the way he had been applied to by severall and amongst ye rest for Coll. Diggs who had made an interest to him weh seemed simply as if he expected some small matter, but my advice shall be to play yo us hand for you and part wth noe mony and take no obligation upon myself. Now S' I heartily wish you joy of it and should have been glad it had been of more emolument. I have here enclosed you a Copy of my letter to Coll. Carter that you may see how candidly I have dealt wth him, as you are both friends to each other as well as to my Selfe. I think it will not be necessary to let him Know I have

sent you a Duplicate of my Letter; he maye take it amiss from him who is

Yr. most Faith" *

N. BLAKISTON.

London, 28th Aprill, 1710.

Dear Sir:

The night before Coll. Spotwood left London he did me ye hon' to come and take his leave of me, and I gave him ye trouble of my Letters to my Friends in Virginia, and yrs. was amongst ye rest, but by some unlucky accident my Letter to you fell behinde ye Table where we sat and did not finde it till y Tuesday, and that night enclosed it in a Letter to Coll. Spotwood at Portsmouth, but I finde he stayed but one night there and my letter was left behinde. I have not yo vanity to think it was of any moment to you only ye hint I gave you of inviteing ye Gover to Green Spring might have been of use to you if y Gov' had carryed it; however I have sent you a duplicate of it lest ye originall should miscary, that you may see I have not been wanting in giveing you ye best information I can to facillitate yr. pretention.

I have been favoured why's ye 27 of Dec' last, and my girle is very much obliged to yr. Daughter Lucy for her Kinde remembrance of an Indian baskett, but I heare ye ship is gone into ye West Country, but Rachel gives her Services to Mrs. Lucy and thanks her for her Kinde intention and accepts yo favor as much as if she had received it.

I saw yr. Father about 2 days agoe who still continues ill in his eyes. I am Dr Sir

ye most obliged Ser.

N. BLAKISTON.

London.

Dear S':

I am to acknowledge yrs. of y 12 of June, at wh time y' Gov' was not arrived, but did in a few days afterwards.

I had y' favor of a letter from Coll. Spotswood dated ye 16 of

Aug', and I cannot helpe telling you he seemes to write wth great Frankness to me ye subject of weh he is much upon y Topick of his satisfaction he is like to have in ye society of some of my friends I tooke ye liberty to recommend to him, and I perceive he was greatly obliged by ye early opportunity you tooke in meeting him at James Town, and ye generous reception you gave him at Green Spring, weh was soe well timed that I am not without hopes you have laid a foundation to cultivate a good interest in him. He tells me he has by a side wise given Coll. Jen. to understand how much it would conduce to his own service to put a person of yr. probity in his office in his absence, and that he was not wout hopes but that he might bring it to beare, tho Jen: did not seem at that time to relish it Soe very well, but I hope he will be sensible, that it is his interest to comply and not to Shock y Gov' Especially when it is a request that will be soe Reputable for him in putting it in ye hands of a gentleman that will fully accord with him and oblige ye publique at ye same time.

By Coll. Spotswood letter to me under the rose I finde Coll. Jen: has been advancing to him some schemes of Poloticks how he was to manage ye Councill, but they were soe preposterous that Coll. Spotswood must have him in much contempt for his wild notions. I never heard that he was Consumate for yo Cabinet. I desire Coll. Spotswood thinks when he comes home he will not take any great paines to advance any thing in favour of y Councill, all I can do is to have an eye that he does not make any false Insinuation or just representations, if he does he shall heare of it.

I was in hopes our * in Spaine might have opened a scene for a glorious peace, but K. Charles I doubt has not been Seconded to support it, and these unaccountable and amazing changes in ye ministry wch ye Desolation of a good parliament has given but a darke aspect to things here, I think all People that were in office and in ye ministry are almost turned out except ye Duke of Mal. and how long he is to continue I know not, where this affaire will end requires a greater Conjourer than myselfe you, but I hope Heaven has a blessing in store for us under all our ill conduct.

I am sorry to tell you I have been attacked with a Fit of ye