Extract of a letter from Mr.
President Mackenzie to the
Duke of Portland dated Grenada
15th September 1795
I am honoured with your Grace’s letter of the 8th
July, and was happy in being able to communicate the information that a very
considerable Detachment of Troops was on the point of embarking for these
Islands.
We are now in daily expectation of
its arrival, and an additional Force in Grenada is become essentially important
to the safety of the Colony. The great reduction which has taken place in the
Militia from weariness and disease, has nearly annihilated some of the
Regiments, and the guard for the protection of the Town is principally composed
of Negroes.
No attempt of any kind has been
made against the insurgents, since I had last the honour of writing to your
Grace, and, fortunately for us, they have been equally inactive on
their
their part- nor had the Enemy yet
attempted to throw in succours from the other Islands (a very small vessel with
Provisions and Ammunition expected) though we have several reports of a Force
preparing at Guadeloupe and St. Lucia.
The Act for
vesting the command of the Militia in the General Officer commanding His
Majesty’s Forces in the Island, during the existing Insurrection, has passed
the Legislature, and I have the honour to forward a certified Copy by this
Packet.
In the Copies
of correspondence with Brigadier General Nicolls, which I had the honour to
inclose in my letter to your Grace of the 11th Ulto,
notice was taken of a general order issued by the Brigadier forbidding any
vessel to leave the Island without first obtaining his permission. The
principal Officers of his Majesty’s Customs for the Port of St. George, have,
since the…
of
517
of that order, refused to give the
usual clearance Papers to vessels quitting the Port until the leave on the part
of the Brigadier had been first
obtained – Complaint 199
having been made to me of this
circumstance, I wrote to the principal officers a letter of which the inclosed
is a Copy. It was delivered to the Collector, but no answer has been returned
to it.- The temporary nature of my command has made me averse to the measure of
suspending these Officers, but I am satisfied that your Grace will see the
propriety of maintaining, in all those who by His Majesty’s Commission are
placed as first in command in the Colony, that authority which is requisite for
such a situation, and therefore I have thought it my duty to state this
circumstance for the information of your Grace.
Copy 519
Grenada
4th September 1795
200
Gentlemen,
It having been represented to me that, for sometime
past, vessels, which have regularly cleared at the Customs House, and complied
with the requisites prescribed by Law, have not been permitted to receive their
Papers, until they had produced a permission on the part of Brigadier General
Nicolls to quit the Port; I have to request that you would inform me whether
the representation thus made to me, is correct in point of fact.
I am &c
K.F. Mckenzie
Principal
Officers
of his
Majesty’s Customs
St. George’s
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