Riggs, John to Robert Livingston re: arrest of Capt. Kidd
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.00479 Author/Creator: Riggs, John Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1699/02/22 Pagination: 2 p. + addr. 32.5 x 21.5 cm Order a Copy
Riggs informs Livingston that a ship has come for Capt. Kidd and the other pirates, and expresses concern that this may cause them to lose some money. Also states that a Mr. We[iver] has been impeached before the House of Commons, and speaks of a naval conflict between France and Spain.
Sir
I recd yours of ye 6: and can now say there is aryved at Boston ye [3 o 4] this month ye [advise] a forth [illegible] Captt Winn Command in six weeks from England, has brought my Lord greatt Packetts, and doubtles - great newse but ye keepe it to ther selves ye man of ware is Com for Captt Kidd & ye other pirets wth their Efects, Mr: Sherpos is sentt to [mirreland], that those pirats there may bee sentt forth with [heare] and our man of ware is to Carry them to boston, my Lord writs us word hee can hear nothing of our monye which puts us heare all in a swett, wee heare Can Live no Longer wth out itt, wee hear Mr We[ver] is out of his Lordships favour and it is bee [leaved] will not Com Collector, my Lord wee hear wass impeached be fore ye howse of Commonds ye 4 of decembr upon ye aCountt of Kids Commission and Instrucktions, his Lord Shipe, hass writt word heare, hee is Com of, with a greatt deall of honn, all ye English prisoners att [sallee] and [Angears] are Red[orned] from fleury ye King of france sentt out a fleett of 30 od saill of men of ware to [Kealls] [in] Spaine it is thought to awe ye Spanniards our King sentt him word he Looked upon itt as a breach of ye Peace, and desired hee would Call them home, other wayes he would bee oblidged to send a fleet to remove them upon which ye King of France remanded them home, wee heare [illegible] is aryeved but not one Letter from Colltt [Lodawicke] which is much wondered at heare ye assembly att boston is ajorned to the 13 of March, the talke heare that my [2] Lord will bee heare in Aprill but I dare nott bee Leave itt, it was ye best action his Lord shipe has don since hee Came in Ameriycae ye teaking of Kidd, for ye [tell] you hass a Letter of thanks from ye Kings [owne] hand for that serviss, this is all that offers with my humble dewty to [Madd] Livinsgston my humble servis, to my nameseake and to [Miss] [Margett] I am
Sr
yr Most humble
servantt to Comand
John Riggs
N Yorke
Febry 22d
99
[Sr] I pray my humble dewty to [Madd Ingoldsbee] I would have writt, but have not had one word of ye Colltt, her husband, so must refer her to you for ye newse, wee have I am her most humble servant
Riggs
March 4 day, I thought ye [bearer] would have [retornd] [illegible] time but has not, by this post wee have ye [newse] of Kidd [Kradish] & Gillam wth twenty five of [hard men] are on bord and were to saill ye 23 so be leave are gon, you are happye you are out of this place; whic is nothing but lyes and storeys [daylie] made, to [amaze] ye people, ye have now gott a storey, that Coll [Sellik] at Stanford should have a lletter from albany which sayes Colltt Schuyler should, tell ye [Endians] that now it is peace; ye English will now de[illegible] them all, and that we should supplie [inserted: them] wth no great quantatie of powdr , and that the foregoing to [ware] wth Boston and Conneticutt, it is now ye talke of this plase, I have writt to Colltt Schuyler - but would not [promise] itt to him, wondering how villons dare [illegible] a Gentillman
be hind his backe, that deare not Look him in ye face, but none heare of Credit can bee leave a thing of itt
[address leaf]
The Honble: Robert Livingston Esqr,
One of his Majestys Councell
att his howse in Albany
[illegible]
[docket]
Manor of Livingston 4 march 1699/700
Leiut John Riggs letter from
nyork
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