Lo [#P: THIS TEXT IS VERY LONG (about 5 pages). The figures may slide around all over the place. If you're keen enough you could align them to suit your own preferred layout.] ***START HERE*** Entry Book of King's and Queen's Letters & of Reports &c Vol 15 1E-2-6 in Record Office Dublin Report of 15 February 1710/11 of Commissioners of Palatines To their Excellencies the Lords & Justices &c of Ireland May it please your Excellencies We the Commissioners appointed for the care and settlement of the poor Palatines of this Kingdom, have in obedience to your Excellencies' commands, taken into consideration the order of reference directed to use by your Excellencies dated 4 January 1710 together with a copy of a Letter from his Grace the Duke of Ormonde, Lord Lieutenant of this Kingdom dated 20 Dec last and likewise the copies of other letters mentioned by his Grace and relating to our Representation dated 25 July 1710 laid before the Lord Lieutenant containing our opinion and proposal for the settlement of the poor Palatines in this kingdom, And find by his Grace's Letter That it is expected from us (1) That We should give an entire deduction from the beginning of the management of these poor people, in order to state the matter, and put it in due light before his Grace. (2) That we should give an account of What numbers landed here (3) What money they have received (4) What sort of present they are upon together with all other observations that appear to us necessary. (5) And lastly, Our Opinion upon the whole What may be fit for her Majesty to do therein We take leave to acquaint your Excellency that we have already answered most of these Queries in a memorial formerly presented to the Lords Justices of this Kingdom and dated 18 Dec last, the particulars of which we in this repeat and enlarge, to make the answer as perfect as we can (1) As to the First of these Queries We think it our duty to represent to your Excellencies That at the first coming of these Palatines here care was taken to lodge them conveniently, and a daily subsistence allowed them, And as soon as possible the families were distributed into several Lots, most of which several Gentlemen of good credit and estates drew. These gentlemen seemed very fond of them, they being Protestant and being very much wanted in this Kingdom, And therefore in order to plant their estates with them they provided habitations for such as fell to their lots, together with firing and other conveniences, To do which they were at great charges, And most of the Palatines were taken to the several places provided for them, with all expedition. We further assure your Excellencies That all due care and endeavours were used to settle them, and that besides an allowance which the Commissioners thought necessary to appoint to be paid them out of her Majestie's Bounty of 18 pence per week for every one of them of the age of 14 and upwards, and 1 shilling for every one under 14, which had been punctually paid to them, Lands were set apart by several Gentlemen, which, as we are informed, and some of us are assured by our personal knowledge of the facts, were assigned them at very easy rates, and often at a third part of less rent, than the like lands were let to other tenants, they were likewise furnished with necessaries, and opportunities of earning their bread by their labour, and treated with humanity by their entertainers, at great expence to many of them. (2) To the 2nd Query We find That there landed from the 4th to the 7th of September 1709 798 families or 2971 persons: 1836 over 14 - 1135 under 14 on 14 Oct 1709 25 families or 100 persons: 62 over 14 - 38 under 14 on 24th January following 2 families or 2 persons both under 14 Total number landed 821 families or 3073 persons: 1898 over 14 - 1175 under 14 The ……. was reduced by ……. of relations which altered not the number of persons for which we deduct 30 from the number of families & Remains 791 families or 3073 persons: 1898 over 14 - 1175 under 14 Of these were disposed into the country as above 533 families or 2098 persons, 1284 over 14 - 814 under 14 Remained in Dublin 258 families or 975 persons, 614 over 14 - 361 under 14 (3) As to the 3rd Query There has been paid in Provisions at their first landing to the 15th September aforesaid, and in the weekly allowance of 18d to every one over the age of 16 & 12d to every one under 14, Whether they were in the country or in Dublin £. s. d. from that time to the 7th of this instant February 13200 14 6 Besides Incidental Charges & Salaries which come to 890 10 0 Total Charge to 7 Feb 1710 £14090 14 6 Towards the defraying of which charge there has been received by Charitable Collections £409 18 6¼ The remainder has been paid out of the £24000 allowed by her Majesty £13680 15 11¾ So that there remains undisposed to complete said £24000 £10319 4 0¼ £24000 0 0 We must here observe that several are dead and as soon as their deaths are known their subsistence is struck off. Others have been born, and as soon as demanded the subsistence of 1s is allowed them, except the new born of late. (4) As to the 4th Query In what sort the Palatines are at present, We answer That most of them that were settled in the country have left their settlements, notwithstanding the kind entertainment they met with, and returned again to this city. That a good many of them, whilst the Arsenal designed near this city went on, were employed in that work. That since that time they have lived on her Majestie's allowance, without troubling themselves with any labour, that we know of; That many of those that left their settlements in the country, stole away without giving the Gentlemen that entertained them any notice, as we are informed. And we further acquaint your Excellencies, that many of them have left this country and gone into Great Britain. 'Tis difficult to find out exactly the times of their deaths or births, or the number of those that are gone away, or the precise time of their leaving the Kingdom, But we have had musters made of those that are in Dublin By which we find that there are now In this city 319 families or 1321 persons, viz 776 over 14 - 545 under 14 In the country 188 families or 730 persons, viz 432 over 14 - 298 under 14 Total in the Kingdom 307 families or 2051 persons, viz 1208 over 14 - 843 under 14 Gone away 284 families or 937 persons, viz 625 over 14 - 312 under 14 Dead: 198 persons, viz 71 over 14 - 127 under 14* Born: 113 persons, viz 113 under 14* Which last being deducted from 791 families or 3181 persons, viz 1904 over 14 - 1282 under 14 There remains the Total number landed 791 families or 3073 persons, viz 1904 over 14 - 1169 under 14 We cannot certainly tell what are the motives that prevail with them to act in the manner they do, But by the best information we can get We find that They had a notion when they came into this Kingdom that her Majesty had lands here which they were to have rent free, nor can any of them be persuaded to the contrary There are also some turbulent and malicious persons amongst them that stir up the rest, and by false stories possess them, that they will fare much better in England than here, and We understand several letters have been writ to them out of England by those that are gone thither for that purpose, Particularly there is one John James Seames a tailor that lived here several years before their arrival and led a very lewd sort of life, run in debt and broke. This man has got himself to be employed by them and cheats them of several sums of money under pretence of being an Agent for them, and as we are informed, writes letters to them to go into England, and bears them in hand of some great thing he is doing for them there; And though pains have been taken to persuade them to the contrary, they will not yet be convinced for, he being their countryman they believe him before anything that can be said to them here. We are not yet certain what number intend to stay, for many of them seem to have a mind to return to their own country, at least as soon as there shall be a Peace, and pretend Letters inviting them so to do, And therefore will not take lands or come into any engagements; And many of them seem design to live on her Majestie's allowance here, till a Peace will be made, and then go back to Germany. (5) As to the last thing Our Opinion upon the whole What may be fit for her Majesty to do, Your excellencies may observe that there remain now in the Kingdom of these Palatines above 14 years of age the number of 1208 and under 14 the number of 843 the weekly charge of these according to the subsistence at present allotted them is £123 15s Besides contingencies and salaries about 9 0 Total weekly charge £141 15s That there remains of the £24000 allowed by her Majesty the sum of £10319 4s 0¼d which will subsist them if applied in the present manner, for 72 weeks and 5 days and will be exhausted 2nd July 1712. But forasmuch as there will be an absolute necessity for the families that settle here to have Cows and Horses and some other little necessaries, for which there is no other fund than the above sum, We are humbly of the opinion That If Her Majesty will be pleased to allow the 40s per annum to every family, according as proposed in our Representation of 25 July 1710 which is intended towards the payment of the Rents they shall set under, That the said sum of £10319 4s 0½d will be best employed in the following manner, viz One Moiety thereof in buying them Stock And the other Moiety continued in subsisting them at the rate of 9d per week to each person above the age of 14 and 6d per week to each person under that age. We have nothing more to add to that Memorial, only that the Palatines may be obliged to declare themselves whether they will accept of this settlement, and that such as will accept of it immediately enter into Covenants & Obligations such as other tenants do with their Landlords upon such terms as shall be settled by the Commissioners, or such persons as her Majesty shall appoint to act for them, And that such as will not, may be sent to their own country or elsewhere with the first opportunity. And We further with all humility repeat to your Excellency Our earnest request that you will be pleased to interpose your good offices for obtaining with all convenient speed an answer to our before mentioned Representation, We having received information from the Gentlemen who have yet retained several of these Palatines on their lands, That they will be obliged to return them to Dublin, in case by 25th March next, A Resolution be not taken to allow them the 40s per annum according to our proposal, that being generally the time for disposing of lands in this Kingdom for the ensuing year. All of which is humbly submitted by Your Excellencies' most humble servants Will.Dublin, W.Kildare, Pa.Dun, W.Fownes, Isaac Manley, Robt Curtis, Cha.Campbell, B.Burton Fran.Harrison, John ….. Saml Walton. dated at Dublin 15 February 1710 Enclosed in a letter ….. (of date) 3 March 1710 from Con.Phipps, Canc. ………. to Lord Ormonde ***END HERE*** [A moiety is a half - from Old French] Here on the north-eastern coast the day is drawing to a close. You will be relieved perhaps that I will be quiet for a few days now. No more screaming screens. There is still quite a bit of documentation to post, if an interest is sustained. Bye