To attempt to give a detailed statement of the system adopted by public libraries of a general character, would entail a long and technical description, unsuited for a Report of this nature. As in the case of investigations in 1881, of the method of col lecting, sorting and keeping the Records, &c., a very full statement has been prepared and is preserved for the internal working of this office. I would again call the attention of the possessors of family and other papers which throw a light on the social, commercial, municipal or political history of the country, to the importance of having these deposited among the Archive, either for present, or, where the contents do not now admit of it, for future reference. If not so preserved, there is little, if any, doubt that, in the course of a comparatively short time these will be destroyed, and a loss thus sustainel which can scarcely be estimated. The details of the work which follow are divided into a synopsis of papers, none of which have yet been copied for deposit among the Archives; a list of papers for comparison with those already copied; Mr. Marmette's Report, with details of work done in Paris; a selection of original letters and the catalogue of papers, manuscript and printed, contained in the Archives rooms, on the 31st December of this year. The whole respectfully submitted. OTTAWA, 31st December, 1883. 14a-2 DOUGLAS BRYMNER, Archivist. 1683. Aug. 12. 1685 Jany. 16. 1687 Nov. 11. 1688 Jany. 22 1688. No date. Aug. 31. 1690 1693 Apl. 3. Feb. 2. SYNOPSIS OF PAPERS IN THE PUBLIC RECORD COLONIAL ENTRY BOOKS, I have referred in the body of this Report to Volume 25 of this series, containing the transactions between England and France, in relation to the Hudson's Bay Company, in 1687. Believing that the New England papers in these entry books would yield results to investigation, I made as rapid an examination of these as possible. Of Volumes 59 and 60, which contain papers entirely relating to New England, the first is made up of charters, grants, &c, between the years 1628 and 1635, and the other has reports, orders, &c., from 1601 to 1679. 61. Warrant to seize interlopers from New England on the Hudson's Bay Company's Lands. (p. 187). Entry of an answer by the French as to and reply read the same date by the Board. the right claimed by the New Englanders to (p. 296). the fishery of Acadie, The dispute arose from fish off Nova Scotia. Order (James II.) for New England to assist New York against the French. (p. 368). This date is 1687, according to the old system, but is by the present system 1688. Order to prevent hostilities between the English and French. (p. 378). These are all the entries of interest to Canada. 62. Abstract of transactions between Col. Dangan and French messengers. These refer to hostilities between Canada and New England, claims and counter-claims being given, and the settlement arrivod at. The minute is not dated, but is between those of 6 July and 10 August, 1688. (p. 20). Capt. Francis Nicholson. Chiefly taken up with the proceedings of the French. Part relates to piratical attacks. (p. 30). A short account of Sir W. Phipps' expedition into Accady, and of that upon Quebec, in Canada. The first in March, 1689-90, the other on the 10 August, 1690. (p. 267). Sir W. Phipps' letter, relating to Canadian hostilities; three folio pages. (p. 423). Dated 1692-3. W. R. The King's letter to Sir W. Phipps, touching the expedition to Canada. Signed, Nottingham. (p. 454). Entry Book 63 is entirely of ships and cargoes, outwards and inwards, and is entitled: "Massachusetts, Naval Office Accounts, Between 18 May, 1686, and July, 1717." 64 contains "Meetings of the Council and of the General Assembly of Massachusetts, from 25 May, 1686, to 26 September, 1695." 1675 May 5. 1676 Jany. 26. Apl. 19. July 12. Plantations General. There is also a set of Colonial Entry Books, with the sub-title "Plantations General." Of these I made a rapid examination with the following result. No. 92 contains papers, commissions, instructions, &c., chiefly relating to the West Indies, and a few belonging to New England. No. 93 contains letters, &c., respecting the West Indies, Tangier, Algiers, Tripoli, the Dutch War, &c., with one or two papers relating to New England, and the declaration to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania of the grant to W. Penn in 1681. There is one paper con-cerning Newfoundland, the report of the Committee for foreign affairs, dated at Whitehall, 4 February, 1671-2, on propositions as to the trade of the Island. No. 94 is entitled "Booke of Petitions and references with the Reports of His Maties Councill for Forreigne Plantations thereupon, begun the of August, 1670." At page 18 is an entry of a petition from Newfoundland merchants against encroachments on the Fisheries, with a Minute of Council referring the petition to the Committee of Plantations, and their report. These papers cover 8 folio pages. At page 80, of date the 20 March, 1673, the Earl of Stirling (called Starling in the report) Ferdinand Gorges and Robert Mason propose to transfer their claims over New England to the King on receiving compensation. The King would thus, they argue, be enabled to resist the encroachments of Boston. The application was referred to the Lords of Plantations. At page 89 is the report by the Lords on Gorge's rights over Maine, and at page 90, a report recommending that Commissioners should be sent to New England. At page 141, there is a letter from Governor Sharpleigh, dated Piscattaqua River in New England, 17 December, 1672. This volume is in reality composed of five separate volumes, each beginning with page 1, but subsequently numbered consecutively. It is the new numbering I give. These land claims of Gorges and Mason, founding on the Stirling grant and the transfer to the families of Crown and Temple, are scattered over the volumes, claims being made for land in different parts of New England as they were decided adversely in others. The land transactions of Gorges will be found under the head of New England in Colonial Entry Books 59 to 64. They all appear to have sprung out of the Stirling Grant of 1621. The volume also contains an account of the capture of New York by the Dutch, and report on a rebellion in Virginia. No. 95 is a collection of commissions, &c., to Governors of the West Indies and to officers at Tangier, &c. No. 96 is entitled "Orders of His Matie in Councill relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations. From the 12 of March, 1674-5 to the Order concerning the fishery at Newfoundland. The order contains a report on the state of the fisheries, covering 6 folio pages. (p. 2.) Complaint by the Hudson's Bay Company of encroachments by the French, under a Jesuit named Albanal. The date is 1675-6. (p. 42). Instructions to the Commander in Chief of Her Majesty's ships to make inquiry as to the fisheries in Newfoundland. (p. 63). Respecting passes for the Newfoundland trade. (p. 94). 14 a-2 Plantations. New York. New England. Hudson's Bay Virginia. Jamaica. Charibee Islands. Windward Islands. Barbadoes. Leeward Islands. Newfoundland. Laws. Trade. This volume also contains the claims and decisions respecting the capture of vessels by the French, who allege that these are Dutch vessels covered by the English flag, as a pretext. Colbert's statement is given at page 110, embodied in report beginning at page 108 (King in Council) and followed by list of British ships captured by the French, all in European waters. No. 97 is entitled "Journal and Entries of His Mats. Forraine Plantations in General since the Establishment of ye Committee, with a Mapp of ye same." The date of the first entry is 12 March 1674-5. There is no map, the following apparently being intonded by that description. An account of His Maties Plantations in America: His Majesty's Forreigns Plantations in America are governed either by proprietors, corporations, companies, or by Governours immediately appointed by His Majesty. The plantations governed by proprietors are: New York, belonging to His Royal Highness. New Jersey, belonging to Sir George Cartwright and others. Carolina, under which is also comprehended the Lucan and The Corporations contained within the bounds of New England are: The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Colony of New Plimouth. Tho Colony of Massachusetts Bay, under which is at present comprehended The Province of Maine and New Hampshire and other small colonies adjoining, the first claimed by Mr. Gorges, the latter by Mr. Mason. The Plantations governed by companies residing in England are: The colonies and factories settled in Prince Rupert's Land and Hudson's Bay. The Bermudos, otherwise called the Summer Islands. The Plantations governed by His Majesty's immediate commission are: Virginia and the Province of Accomack. The Island of Jamaica. The Charibee Islands, divided into two parts, viz, the Windward and Leeward Islands. The Windward Islands are: Barbadoes and other uninhabited islands. The Leeward Islands are: St. Christophers, Nevis, Monserat, Antego, Anguilla and other uninhabited islands. There is, besides, a colony of English settled upon the castern coast of Newfoundland, without government, ecclesiasticall or civill, who live by catching fish. All these Plantations are governed by the laws of England or by municipal laws not repugnant to those of England. The trade of the Plantations is, by several Acts of Parliament, confined to England, whereby no sugar, tobacco, cotton-wool, indico, Religion. ginger. fustick, or other dying-wood, of the growth or manufacture of the Plantations, may be transported from thence to any other place than England, nor any European commodities to be carried thither, but wh. shall be shipped in England. The Religion of the Church of England is most practiced in the Plantations; but liberty of conscience is in all cases allowed, except in New England, where the government and discipline of Congre gational Churches excludes all others. This is the first Journal of the Lords for Trade and Plantations, who took the place of the old Council by an Order in Council dated 12 March, 1674-5. The first report made to them was on the 12 May, 1675, by the Commissioners of Customs, showing the state of the laws, as described under the head of Trade in the preceding abstract. At page 75 is a minute of an application by Louis LePage, on account of his new discoveries, dated 14 January, 1679-80, referred on the 7 September, 1681, for report (See for Louis LePage, the Report on Archives for 1881, page 26). With this exception there is nothing referring, directly or indirectly, to what is now British North America, although the volume contains very much of interest regarding the trade generally of the Plantations and Ireland. No. 98 is a volume of slight jottings. In No. 99 are a few papers relating to Canada. At page 197 is the draught of a memorial in answer to the complaint of M. de la Barre, Governor of Canada, of 16 November, 1682, respecting the assistance given by New York to the Iroquois, and that the Hudson's Bay Company were taking possession of lands held by France for twenty years. The answer, which is not dated, but appears to have been written in March or April, 1683, contains very interesting statements. On the 12 of August, 1683, the Hudson's Bay Company complain that vessels are fitted out for New England, from whence they sail to Hudson's Bay and return, for the purpose of carrying on an illicit trade. On the 12 December, 1683, is "Memoire pour sou Excellence l'Ambassadr. de France, touchant les procédés des quelques François à l'egard des Anglois dans la Baie d'Hudson." (p. 281). The other papers relate to different Colonies and to Tangier. At page 20, is a "circular for preventing hostilities between ye English and French in America, dated 22 January, 1687, and at page 21," instrument for ye quieting all disputes between English and French in America," dated 1-11 December, 1687. To the latter, I have already referred as among the Treaty papers of the Foreign Office. At page 24, is a circular to the Governors of New England, to report ye boundaries of that Government, dated 1 April, 1688. Pages 39 and 40 contain a Declarion of War with France, dated 15 April, 1689, and the second paragraph of a report at page 50, dated 16 May, 1689, recommends the sending of a Governor and arms to, and the building of a fort, &c., at St. John's, Newfoundland, for the protection of the fisheries during the War. No. 101 contains a list of Acts passed in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York, from 1638 to 1759. No. 102. Acts passed in the West Indies, from 1668 to 1758. |