The Gold that was seized at Mr. Campbel's the Narrator traded for at Madagascar, with what came out of the Gally.
Saith, That he carried in the Adventure Gally from New-York, 154 Men; Seventy whereof came out of England with him. Some of his Sloop's Company put two Bailes of Goods on shore at Gardner's-Island, being their own proper. The Narrator delivered a Chest of Goods, viz. Muslins, Latches, Romals[23] and flowered Silke, unto Mr. Gardner of Gardner's-Island aforesaid, to be kept there for the Narrator. put no Goods on shore any-where else. Several of his Company landed their Chests and other Goods at several places.
Further saith, He delivered a small Bayle of course Callicoes unto a Sloop-Man of Rhode-Island that he had emploied there. The Gold seized at Mr. Campbell's the Narrator intended for Presents to some that he expected to do him Kindness. Some of his Company put their Chests and Bailes on board a New Yorke Sloop lying at Gardner's-Island.
Wm. Kidd.
Presented and taken, die praedict.[24] before his
Excellency and Council.
Isa. Addington, Secretary.
[1] Public Record Office, C.O. 5:860, no. 64 XXV. Printed in Commons Journal, XIII. 31-32, and by Dalton, but the same remark applies to this document (and to documents nos. [77], [79], and [82]) as to [no. 75]; they are essential to an understanding of the story. A "protest" by Kidd, July 7, of similar purport, has just been published in Portland MSS., IX. 403.
[2] Three miles down the Thames from London Bridge. The Nore was a sandbank at the mouth of the river; the Downs is the roadstead off Deal.
[3] "At the Buoy in the Nore Captain Steward, commander of the Duchess, took away all my ship's crew; but Admiral Russell [one of Kidd's owners], upon my application to him at Sittingbourne, caused my men to be restored to me." Kidd's protest; Hist. MSS. Comm., Manuscripts of the Duke of Portland, VIII. 80. England and France were at war from 1689 to the peace of Ryswyk, Sept. 20, 1697 (War of the Grand Alliance, King William's War). In such times the royal navy always relied, for its supply of men, upon impressment, especially of merchant seamen. See J.R. Hutchinson, The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore (London, 1913).
[4] See [doc. no. 71], [note 2].