[6] William Stanhope, lord Harrington, afterward earl of Harrington, was one of the two secretaries of state from 1730 to 1742, and from 1744 to 1746.
[7] Deputy register of the vice-admiralty court in Boston.
127. (Draft of) Warrant to Governors to issue Letters of Marque. April 26, 1740.[1]
By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland, etc.
Whereas by an Act passed this present Session of Parliament (intituled, an Act for the more Effectual securing and encouraging the Trade of his Majesty's British subjects to America, and for the Encouragement of Seamen to enter into his Majesty's service)[2] it is, amongst other Things, therein enacted "That any Person or Persons in any part of America or elsewhere, by us impowered and appointed, shall, from and after the fourth Day of January, one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine, at the Request of any British Owner or Owners of any Ship or Vessel, giving such Bail and Security as have been usually taken upon granting Commissions, or Letters of Marque (except only for the payment of the Tenths of the Value of Prizes which shall be taken, to the Lord High Admiral, or Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral for the time being) cause to be issued forth in the usual manner, one or more Commission or Commissions, to any Person or Persons whom such Owner or Owners shall nominate to be Commander; or in case of Death, successively Commanders of such Ship or Vessel, for the attacking, surprizing, seizing and taking, by and with such Ship or Vessel, or the Crew thereof, any Place or Fortress upon the Land, or any Ship or Vessel, Goods, Ammunition, Arms, Stores of War, or Merchandizes, belonging to or possessed by any of his Majesty's Enemies, in any Sea, Creek, Haven, or River",
These are therefore to impower you, Edward Trelawny, Esquire, Governor of Jamaica,[3] and by these Presents we do impower and appoint you the said Edward Trelawny, Esquire, to cause to be issued forth, pursuant to the said Act, by Warrant under your Hand, and the Seal of the said Island, directed to the Judge of the Admiralty of the said Island of Jamaica, Commissions or Letters of Marque, at the Request of any British Owner or Owners of any Ship or Vessel, to any Person or Persons whom such Owner or Owners shall nominate to be Commander; or in case of Death successively Commanders of such Ship or Vessel; and to cause such Bail and Security to be taken as is directed by the said Act, and moreover to cause that, in granting such Commissions or Letters of Marque, all other Things be had and done conformable to, and as the said Act requires. For which this shall be your Warrant. Given under our Hands and the Seal of the Office of Admiralty this —— Day of —— 1740.
To ——
May it please your Lordships,
This contains a Draught of an Instrument submitted to your Lordships, as proper to be signed, and issued out to the Governors of his Majesty's Colonies and Islands in America, prepared by me; pursuant to your Lordships Order of the 15th of April 1740.