[4] Staats Long Morris, son of the judge and brother of the "signer" Lewis Morris, was at this time a captain in the British army, later married the Dowager Duchess of Gordon, and died a British general.
200. Letter of Stephen Hopkins. January 15, 1757.[1]
Rhode Island January 15, 1759.
Sir,
You may remember that near a Year ago I wrote you by Order of the General Assembly to endeavor to procure a Judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty to be appointed within and for this Colony.[2] And as you very soon finished that Affair successfully, a Judge being appointed and commissioned, so he hath been accordingly sworn into his Office. Notwithstanding this being so far done, yet there appears to be a Deficiency of the Officers of that Court, as no Register or Marshal have been appointed. It is true there hath commonly been a Deputy Register in this Colony appointed by a Principal living in Boston at a great Distance from the Colony, and within another Jurisdiction, which seems incompatible, and it is solely at his Option, whether he will appoint a Deputy to attend in this Colony or not, the Inconvenience of which is obvious at the first View: And it doth not appear that any Commission hath been given for a Marshal of the Court of Vice Admiralty in this Colony since one Mr. Gibbs was appointed to that Office who hath been dead many years.[3]
The General Assembly, sensible of the great Inconveniences and Mischiefs likely to attend the Want of those Officers, as you will see by their Vote accompanying this Letter, have directed me in their Behalf to desire you immediately to make proper Application to the Lords of the Admiralty, and use your utmost Endeavours to obtain a Register and Marshal of the Court of Vice Admiralty to be appointed and commissioned for this Colony.[4] You will also perceive by the aforesaid Vote of the General Assembly that they desire the Office of Register may be obtained for Mr. Thomas Vernon,[5] and that of Marshal for Mr. William Mumford,[6] who have been the acting Persons in those two Offices in this Colony for near Twenty Years past, and have each in their several Duties of Office conducted themselves unblameably, and in all other Respects maintained unblemished Characters.
I am certain it must be needless for me to say any Thing further of this Matter, since you will have the General Assembly's Order concerning it, which must have infinitely Greater Weight in urging you to prosecute this Affair, with Zeal and Dispatch, than any Thing I could say.
In Behalf of the Colony and for myself, with great Regards I subscribe
Your faithful Friend, and
the Colony's Obedient Servant
Step: Hopkins.