James Grant to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, 1764
Sir,
In obedience to the Commands of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations….I shall take the liberty to inform you that what appears to me to be the most reasonable and frugal methods of Peopling and settling the new Established Colonies of America.
The Establishment of a Government in a Country where everything is to be in some measure created must at first be attended with Expense but the Load upon the Publick should not be of long Duration, for if sufficient Encouragement is given at first setting out and if that Bounty is properly disposed of by the Governor who is entrusted with the Charge, the new Colonists should certainly by able to support themselves in five years, their wants after that time may justly be considered as unnecessary Burthen upon the Mother Country and the Infant Colony will be no longer worth its Food.
People who are encouraged to go abroad, from the view of immediate subsistence, or from the temptation of a little money are commonly inclined to make that choice by their Idleness and want of Industry at home, they become an Incumbrance in the Country they are sent to and very seldom answer the Trouble and Expense of transporting them and it may be safely said that one man who finds his way to a new Colony with a view to Industry and Improvement is a greater acquisition than twenty new Settlers who are transported at the expense of Government. Therefore the best and most advantageous method of applying the Bounty of the Crown is to lay it out for the support of the Industrious Adventurers upon their Arrival in the new Country and after they have been settled in it some time in Premiums upon the Produce of the Colony which will probably consist of Rice, Indian Corn, Indigo, Cotton, Silk, Cochineal, Myrtle Wax, Log Wood, Red Barg, Pitch, Tar, Turpentine, etc.
But notwithstanding the Inconveniences which attend transporting of People at the Expense of Government it is no doubt necessary to make a beginning as was done at Halifax. Five Hundred Settlers would probably be sufficient for that Purpose if they are taken care of at the time of Embarkation and well disposed of upon their Arrival, Prosperity and Success will attend them and will draw other People to look for Settlements in the same country.
French Protestants, who are not induced to leave their Country out of Penury and Want, but from a desire to live under a free Government and enjoy the Exercise of their Religion, would be the most valuable Colonists and they with proper Encouragement may be had at the rate of eight Pounds for each Person, to be paid upon their Arrival at Augustine.
The new Settlers must be at first in want of everything, they should therefore be sent out in two Divisions in such manner that the first Division should be accommodated and settled before the second arrives, the whole at a time would be too much to provide for and sickness in that Country is the certain consequence of Neglect in point of View of Provisions and proper Accommodation. It will be an additional Encouragement to the Colonists if a Salary of £50 a year is allowed to a French clergyman till they are in a situation to support him.
An additional number of Surgeons with a proper assortment of medicines will be absolutely necessary for the Preservation of the Troops, those Surgeons may be directed to take care of the Colonists for a time.
The new Settlers cannot subsist the first year unless they receive Provisions upon the same footing with the King's Troops, a third of the Allowance should be sufficient the second year and after that time if they are not able to maintain themselves they must be considered as improper subjects for a new country and will no longer deserve the attention of Government….
The Provision Commisary should have under his charge Blankets, Tools, Stockings, Tools for Husbandry and Buildings with Gardens and all other sorts of Seeds to be issued by him in such proportions as shall be found necessary by the Governor, he should likewise have Fishing Nets under his care, for the use of the Troops and the Inhabitants, which will be a great Resource as there are Fish of all kinds in great plenty upon the coast of Florida.
Master Carpenters, Masons and Armourers with a number of workmen may be sent out from the Ordnance, a considerable quantity of Plank and Deal Boards will be wanted at first, which can be easily brought from Philadelphia and New York. Sawmills may afterwards be erected and then the country will supply itself.
One hundred Negro Slaves brought by Government would be extremely useful in carrying on public works, making Roads, supplying the Troops with Firewood and assisting the Inhabitants to lodge themselves. The first Outlay of money and two years Subsistence will be the only Expense attending those Slaves of which the Government may afterwards be reimbursed by disposing of them to the Colonists and tho' a fourth part of their number should die before that time the remaining part will see for more that the first cost will amount to.
No Lands out to be granted but to People who are actually to reside in the country and if those Lands are free from Quit Rents for ten years it will be a great Encouragement to new Settlers and in fact will be no loss to the Crown as the Quit Rents for that time would hardly pay the Salaries of the Receiver General and Auditor.
A Scout Boat will be necessary to keep up a communication with the other Provinces, it has always been allowed in Georgia and as the Discovery of a good harbour would be of great advantage to this Colony and to the Publick two small vessels in the pay of the Government may be employed in sounding the Coast and if a Reward was offered to whoever makes the Discovery the Masters of Merchantmen might become usefull.
The Surveyor General of the Province tis to be hoped will have business enough in measuring out Lands to the new Settlers, and therefore to come at the knowledge of the Country soon, it would be expedient to employ two or three other Engineers to make a sketch of it…
Till the produce of the Country is equal to the Wants of the Inhabitants Gold and Silver will disappear as fast as it comes into the Country and a Paper Currency will therefore be useful and may be supported by a fund of £10,000, this sum properly managed will enable the Inhabitants to purchase slaves much sooner than they can otherwise do and their Lands and those very Slaves will be sufficient Security for what is advanced to them, the capital will never be affected and may be repay’d when the Colony is once established, it will give an additional credit to the Paper Currency if the Paymaster of the Troops is directed to receive it at par for his Bills. You’ll see by the enclosed state that the expense of East Florida is supposed to amount the first year to £16,000 and to £8,000 for the four following years, the whole is submitted to their Lordships consideration….
I have the Honor….
JAMES GRANT