The two documents below were sent on 4 March 1714 (NS) by the Lord High Treasurer, to the Board of Trade, with a request for their opinion.
[Public Record Office C.O. 391/24]To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
The humble Memorial of the Right Honorable George Earl of Orkney your Majesty's Captain General and Governor in Chief of Virginia
Humbly, Craves leave to Acquaint your Majesty that he has been greatly Importuned by your Majesty's Lt. Gov. of that Colony to Apprise your Majesty that within this 12 Month last past there has been some Discoveries made by Persons Versed in Mines, that they have met with some Ore that has Greatly the Semblance of Silver in it, And upon Tryall thereof have some Reason to hope if a due encouragement were given to one[?] Chargeable an Enterprise they might make some Progress in it But the Inhabitants of that Colony being Sensible that all Gold and Silver Mines, are your Majesty's Intire Property, and is Reserved for your Majesty's Peculiar use; they have Desisted making any further attempt til they are Encouraged by your Royal Proclamation or by what other Methods you shall think fitt to proscribe, and what Share you will please to Retain to your Self. After which the Inhabitants there, are desirous to go in Quest of this Important Project at their own proper Charges, And if Attained may be a means that great Treasure may Accrue to your Majesty's Coffers. All which is most humbly Submitted to your Most Sacred Majesty.
A true Copy
Wm. Blathwayt
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At the Court at Windsor
the 30th November 1713
Present
The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
in Council
Upon reading this day at the Board the humble Memorial of the Right Honorable George Earl of Orkney Her Majesty's Captain General & Governor in Chief of Virginia relating to some Discoveries lately made in that Colony of An Ore that has greatly the Semblance of Silver in it, and Setting forth that it may be very advantageous to Her Majesty if proper Encouragement be given to the Inhabitants of the said Colony for making furthing progress therein, Her Majesty in Council is pleased to Order, That the said Petition, Copy whereof is hereunto annexed, Be and it is hereby Referred to the Right Honorable the Lord High Treasurer to Consider thereof and to Report his Opinion thereupon to Her Majesty at this Board.
William Blathwayt
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[Some minor spelling changes were made.]
(06 Nov 01)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.