The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

NEW-YORK, May 4.

By a Vessel arrived at Philadelphia from the Bay of Honduras, we have Advice, That the principal Settlers on that Bay, for cutting Logwood, and the Commanders of Vessels lying there to load, had sent a Petition to the Governor of Jamaica, setting forth, That confiding in the 16th preliminary Article of Peace, (wherein it is stipulated that the Subjects of his Britannick Majesty shall have the Privilege of cutting and carrying away Logwood in the Bay of Honduras, with Liberty to build Houses and Magazines, necessary for themselves and Families) in the Month of April last Year, they came to the said Bay to cut Logwood, on their Arrival, dispatched a Letter to the Commandant of Baccalar, the nearest Spanish Settlement, who sent it to the Governor and Capt. General of the Province of Jucatan, whose Orders upon it were, that the Petitioners should entirely comply with the 16th Preliminary Article aforesaid. That afterwards, by his Permission, several of the Settlers went to Rio Hondo, and continued cutting Logwood in good Harmony and Friendship with the Spaniards, frequently corresponding with the Governor of Jucatan, till the 4th of February, 1764, when the Settlers received Orders from him to retreat to Balize, till they produced either a Schedule from his Catholick Majesty, or Authority from the King of Great-Britain to cut Logwood. That immediately upon these Orders, they endeavoured with all possible Dispatch to remove their Effects to the New River and Balize, where they formerly had Settlements. But on the 13th of February, they were again disturbed by an Order from the Commandant of Bacalar, to evacuate every River except Balize, where they are admitted to stay a little while but they believe not to have the Privilege of cutting Logwood even there, so that they were reduced to the greatest Distres, not having Plantations, to maintain themselves and Families; and that by a total Stagnation of Business, the Settlers, and Commanders of Vessels waiting there, were in the greatest Danger of wanting Provisions. That the Settlers who had purchased the Cargoes of Vessels, were rendered unable to pay for them, and that the Vessels lately arrived seeing no Prospect of immediate pay refused to sell their Provisions. Which miserable State they were reduced to by this inhuman Treatment of the Spaniards.

The Petitioners further complain, that having no settled Authority among themselves, they are in a State of Anarchy and Confusion, which makes it impossible for them to subsist, without an immediate Remedy, which they ask and hope from the Governor.

The following is a Copy of the last Order from the Commandant of Bacalar, for the Removal of the English at Rio Hondo, to the River Balize.

Don Joseph Rosado, Lieutenant of Infantry in the Battalion of Castile, and Commandant of this Garrison, and Royal Fort of St. Philip, of Bacalar.

You, notwithstanding that the Serjeant Dionysius Chavarria, who is detached to the Look Out of St. Anthony, has the necessary Orders, that the English Logwood Cutters of Rio Hondo, do retreat to Balize, without permitting them to make any Demur, because that since the 4th Instant, when the Order of the Governor and Captain General, was by me intimated to them, they have had competent Time to evacuate the River, carrying away the Utensils of their Houses: I order and command the said Serjeant, that he receive 11 Soldiers of this Garrison well armed, which, with 4 there before completes the Number of 15, to remain at the said Look Out; that with them he is not to permit any English Vessel, under any Pretext, to enter the Mouth of this River; on the Contrary, if any Flats remain in the River, they are to go out, with the Utensils of their Houses, with so much Brevity, as not to permit them to stop any where, but retire totally; as likewise those from the New-River, because in the Order intimated to them, it is expressed, that the Retreat shall be to Balize, and no other Part; and to act on the Contrary, they expose themselves to evident Danger, as by their Disobedience they lose their Negroes, and find themselves under a violent Arrest. This Order he shall manifest to as many as are not yet gone out, that by this Means it arrive at the Notice of all the Baymen, and at no Time they may plead Ignorance. And of all that is done on the Subject by the said Serjeant, he shall give me punctual Advice; as also of what may occur to advise his Excellency the Governor and Capt General, from whom I have Orders to execute what may be needful, in Case of Contumacy, Disobedience, or Rebellion, laying to the Charge of the Baymen, all the Results that may happen between the Sovereigns, for not executing what they are ordered, and that it appear to the said Sergeant what is hereby ordered; and that he fulfil his obligation with that Zeal, Love and Conduct he ought. This Order is given in this Garrison and Royal Fort of St. Philip, Bacalar, this 22d of February 1764.

JOSEPH ROSADO.