To Colo. Blakiston, 15 March 1713 [this would be 1714 by our calendar], Sir:
About the beginning January I received yours of the 3rd July, 20th of September, and 10th of October, which gave me an Account of your proceedings in relation to the Mines, as well as your Sentiments of what ye Baron had proposed about transporting his Miners, but by your Letter of ye 9th of December which I received the other day, I perceive you have altered your opinion by sending over those People, partly at my charge. This makes me believe you have now greater hopes of her Majesty's Concessions in that Affair, for I'm confident you would not on any less encouragement engage me in such an Expence, when, besides, it seems, I run the risque of the same Censure, as you say others have undergone, for transporting Forreigners into those parts, but I hope the undertaking will not have the same consequence; however, 'tis in vain to look on the worst side of a business wherein one is so far engaged and must go through. 'Tis therefore the more necessary to press an answer to the memorial presented to her Majesty, and (in) regard nothing must be undertaken here till that be obtained, without the hazard of raising so great a Clamour, especially when Mr. Nicholson arrives. Wherefore I request you will use your endeavours, and also quicken My Lord Orkney to dispatch her Majesty's answer as soon as possible, that we may have some prospect of being reimbursed the charge of maintaining to many people, which must remain idle in the meantime. - - - -
[The Germans had been at sea for almost two months and Spotswood was just learning that he would be obligated to pay a part of their transportation costs.]
To the Lords Commissioners of Trade, 21 July 1714, My Lords:
- - - - and in order to supply that part, which was to have been covered by the Tuscarursos, I have placed here a number of Prodestant Germans, built them a Fort, and finished it with 2 pieces of Cannon and some Ammunition, which will awe the Stragling parts of Northern Indians, and be a good Barrier for all that part of the Country. These Germans were invited over, some years ago, by the Baron de Graffenried, who has her Maesty's Letter to ye Governor of Virginia to furnish them with Land upon their arrival. They are generally such as have been employed in their own country as Miners, and say they are satisfied there are divers kinds of minerals in those upper parts of the Country where they are settled, and even a good appearance of Silver Oar, but that 'tis impossible for any man to know whether those Mines will turn to account with digging some depth in the Earth, a liberty I shall not give them until I receive an Answer to what I represented to your Lordships concerning your Ascertaining her Majesty's Share, which I hope by your Lordships interposition be speedily signifyed.. - - - -
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.