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Jurors who over @ above that they are generally ignorant enough @ and for the most part linkedtogether by affinity are too much swayed by their particular humors @ interests, I thought fit in Feb.last by @ with y e advice @ consent of y e Council to settle and establish a Court which w'e call thecourt of Judicature [Exchequer] to bee held before y e Gov r @ Council for the time being or beforesuch @ soe many as the Gov r should for the purpose authorize, comissionat @ appoint on the firstMonday in every month at New York , which Court hath full power and authority to hear, try @determine suits matters @ variances arising betwixt his Ma‘y @ y e Inhabitants of the said Provinceconcerning the said lands, rents, rights, profits @ revenues
In answer to the Second.
The Laws in force are y e Laws called his Royal Highnesses Laws and the acts of the General Assem-Laws in kly most of which I presume y r Lop s have seen @ the rest I now send over by mrForce. Sprag to whom I refer your Lop‘ in this point.
In answer to the Third
In this Govern mt there are about four thousand foot @ three hundred horse besides one companyof Dragoons of which I shall bee able to give a more particular account when the Mustermastershall make his return.
In answer to the Fourth
At New York there is a fortification of four bastions built formerly against the Indians of dry stone@ earth with sods as a breast-work well @ pleasantly situated for the defence of the Harbor on apoint made by Hudsons River on the one side and by the sound on the other, It has Thirty-nineGunns, two Mortar pieces, thirty Barils of Powder five hundred ball some Bomb-shells @ Granadossmall arms 'for three hundred men, one Flanker, the face of the North Bastion, and three points ofBastions @ a Courlin has been done @ are rebuilt by mee with lime @ mortar @ all the rest of theFort pinnd @ rough-cast with lime since my coming here.
An d the most of the Guns I found dismounted @ some of them yet continue to bee soe which Ihope to have mounted soe soon as the mills can sawe
I am forced to renew all the Batterys with three-inch Plank @ have spoke for new planks for thatpurpose
And the breast-work upon the wall is so moultered away that its likewise needful to make a repara-tion thereof. The Officers quarters had formerly a flat roof which I finding to be chargeable tomaintain @ that it could not bee kept high, [qu. dry 1] have caused a new roof to bee upon it, asalsoe finding water to run through the arch of the Gate I have been forc’t to put a Roof over it, Iam forc’t every day by reason of the roteness of the Timber @ Boards to bee making reparations inthe Soldiers quarters or my own.
The ground that the Fort stands upon @ that belongs to it contains in quantity about two acres o rthereabouts about which I have instead of Palisadoes put a fence of Palls which is more lasting.
Thd this Fortification bee inconsiderable, yet I could wish the King had severall of them in theseparts, the people growing every day more numerous @ they generaly of a turbulent disposition.
In this Country there is a woman yet alive from whose Loynes there are upwards of three hundred@ sixty persons now living
The men that are here have generally lusty strong bodies
At Albany there is a Fort made of pine trees fifteen foot high @ foot over with Batterys and con-veniences made for men to walk about, where are nine guns, small arms for forty men four Barils ofpowder with great and small Shott in proportion, The Timber @ Boards being rotten were renewedthis year, In my opinion it were better that fort were built up of Stone @ Lime which will not bedouble the charge of this years repair which yet will not last above 6 or 7 years before it will require