Copy.
(No.4.)
New York, 24th April 1762
Sir,
As from Several Papers that have fallen into my hands, I have undoubted proofs of the Enemy being Supplied with Provisions from almost Every port on the Continent of North America; And that this Illicit Trade has been Carried on, by Clearing out the vessells for different ports, on the Continent, & afterwards procuring Certificates of the Delivery of their Cargoes at those Ports, altho' it is certain that many of the vessells never went near them, but proceeded to Cape François, or other Ports belonging to the Enemy.
And as the pernicious Effects of this Infamous Commerce are most Severely felt at present by the difficulty I have in procuring Sufficient Quantitys of Provisions for the Troops that are already Employed, & that are Assembling for Immediate Service; Besides the villany of Supplying the Enemy, who, by all Accots. without that, could not Subsist their Fleets in the West Indies; I have therefore Represented to the Several Governors the necessity of using their authority to prevent the Exportation of Provisions of all kinds, that the King's Service may be Carried on, & may not Suffer for want of that most Essential Article.
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To Mr. Temple New London that place Provisions at New London: and Likewise another List of vessells that I have certain Intelligence delivered their Cargoes at Cape François and Port au Paix |
But as the Evil Complained of, cannot be put a Stop to, While Some of the Officers of the Customs continue Negligent in their Duty, or what is much worse Connive at, and knowingly Support this Infamous Trade, by granting Certificates for Cargoes that never were Delivered; I must Desire You will use Your utmost Endeavors to Detect Such as may have been Guilty of these heinous Crimes, that they may be brought to Condign punishment, as a warning to Others; and I herewith Enclose You a List of Vessells that have been Cleared out, at this Port for Pensylvania & North Carolina; Several of Which there are Undoubted proofs never touched at those places, but went directly to the Enemy's Ports; altho' they have produced Certificates of the Delivery of their Cargoes at the places for which they were Cleared: The particular Articles mentioned in the Clearances are almost Sufficient Proofs that they could never be Intended for the places—they pretended to have been bound for, Since it is well known that the sending Such Stores as are in the List from one Port to another on this Continent could never Answer their purposes. |
I Need not, I am persuaded, add any thing more to Convince You of the necessity of making a Strict Enquiry into this Affair, and of giving Such directions to the Officers of the Several Ports within Your District for the due Execution of their Duty, as may prevent any Cause for Complaints of this Nature for the future.
I am,
Sir,
&ca.
Jeff: Amherst.
N.B. The Like Letter—To The Honble. John Temple Esqr. Surveyor General of His Majesty's Customs in the Northern District of North America with Alterations as ⅌ margin.
