Hello There will be 3 packets altogether today. This is the second. On reading the first return, I see that my little chain of dots (periods) at the end of sentences, etc - designed as a pause for reflection - comes out as 'circumflex a/box/vertical dashes'. Pity, it's a favourite piece of punctuation but this thing could confuse people. Still, that's the language of the Web: no time for such niceties. Here it comes, guys. . . [B: This doc., dated 18 June 1713, is the deposition of Thomas Watkins, gent of the City of Dublin, who delegated his job as Accountant with the PALATINE COMMISSIONERS (during the reign of Queen Anne, who was succeeded by George in 1714) to the Deponent F. Leicester whilst attending to business elsewhere …. Got it?] ***START HERE*** Kings Bench Affidavits 1711-22 2F-35-6 The Commissioners &c for the PALATINES V Francis Leicester In the Queens Bench Whereas Thomas Watkins of the city of Dublin gent being entertained and employed as clerk and accountant to the Commissioners for taking care of and settling the poor distressed Palatines in this Kingdom and the said Watkins having in May 1712 some urgent business to transact in England whereby he was obliged to be absent from the business he managed for the said Commissioners the said Watkins employed one Mr Francis Leicester as his Deputy or clerk to manage his the said Watkins business for the said Commissioners in the absence of him the said Watkins And the said Watkins did then deliver to the said Leicester all the Patents Minut Books Ledgers Books of Account Papers and other writings which he the said Watkins had in his keeping which belonged to the said Commissioners And the said Watkins business continuing as yet in England The said Commissioners have often directed the said Leicester to deliver up to them all such books papers and writings of theirs as he had left in his custody by the said Watkins. Now DANIEL HINTZ of the city of Dublin gent came this day before me and made oath that he this Deponent was at several times present at the Board where the said Commissioners frequently met to transact the business of the poor Palatines in this Kingdom, And this Deponent has heard the said Commissioners at their said Board demand their Books Papers & Writings from the said Leicester and heard the said Leicester promise to the said Commissioners that he would deliver them such Books Papers &Writings as he had of theirs and did at several times promise always to bring the said Books to the said Commissioners this That the said Commissioners did attend at their Board on the days and times the said Leicester appointed to bring the said Books in order to receive the said Books from the said Leicester but the said Leicester did not think fit to attend with the said Books &c according to his frequent promises This Deponent further saith that he this Deponent was directed by the said Commissioners to speak to the said Leicester about the said Books and to acquaint him of the said Commissioners attending to receive the said Books on the days he the said Leicester had appointed, which this Deponent accordingly did and the said Leicester then promised he would deliver up the said Books & Papers in two days to the said Commissioners. This Deponent further Deposeth that notwithstanding the said Leicester's many promises of deliveryng up the said Books to the said Commissioners He has not yet delivered up the said Books to the said Commissioners as this Deponent is informed and which he believes to be true And this Deponent saith that he has seen most of the said Books & Papers & Writings which belong to the said Commissioners in the custody of the said Leicester since the time the said Watkins left this kingdom And believes they are all now in the custody power and keeping of the said Leicester. And further Deposeth that by the said Leicester's detaining the said Books & Papers the said Commissioners are disabled from proceeding on their Commission for the benefit and advantage of the said poor distressed Palatines. And further saith not. jur' cor' me 18 die junii 1713 Richd Cox ***END HERE*** [Dramatis Personae: Daniel HINTZ, sometimes HINTS or HINCH, is the Agent or Commissary and Interpreter ('Mr Fixit') to the Commissioners. He is not liked by many other officials - including the said Leicester, who thinks such a "Foreigner" is unworthy of payment before him, the said L. See my next despatch [#C], which I should have sent before #A and #B… Sorry. Getting confused myself already. Dumber and dumber. Still, it's all good fun and the essential thing is that these various missives help us track the movements of our very important Palatines and - to some degree - get a measure of the misery they are being subjected to.] Last one coming shortly. Terry