Minutes of The General Assembly of Bermuda
Tuesday, October 6, 1795.
This day the house met, persuant to his Excellency the Governor's proclamation when his Excellency opened the Session with the following speech:
"Mr President and the Gentlemen of the Council !
Mr Speaker and the Gentlemen of the Assembly!
Captain Pender having communicated to me,
by the desire of Admiral Murray, the Admiral's persuasion of the expediency
of establishing a dockyard in these Islands for the use of his Majesty's
Ships of War, and your assistance from some peculiar circumstances, being
deemed necessary, in order to carry such a measure into effect, I was
induced to require your attendance for that purpose; nor will any of you, I
am persuaded (notwithstanding your late long and laborious application to
public business) think much of the trouble I have given you by doing so. For
your more particular information with respect to Admiral Murray's intentions
and witness up on this occasion, I shall refer you to a letter I have had
the honor of receiving from Captain Pender, in which he had explained
himself fully upon that, as well as some other matters, which the Admiral
has also in contemplation, and which, he doubts not, will meet with your
encouragement and support.
These objects are not only of the utmost importance as they regard the interests of this Colony in particular, but may be considered, even in a National View, of such magnitude, that they will naturally and necessarily engage your ready and most serious attention, without any recommendations from me. The best means of accomplishing what is expected from and depend upon you, I shall entirely submit to your own judgments, and shall content myself with briefly observing, that you cannot in my opinion, give more certain and irrefragable proofs of your patriotism nor manifest your gratitude and deny to our most gracious sovereign in a more acceptable manner, than by facilitating and promoting to the utmost of your power, and several views of the Admiral, all of which must appear to you eminently calculated to enhance the value of these Islands, and to prove of the greatest and most extensive utility to his Majesty's Naval Service."
James Craufurd. Government House, October 6 1795. (reference Royal Gazette, vol 612, 10 Oct 1795)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ House met, and a message sent to his Excellency the Governor, to acquaint him
therewith. Then Mr Nath Tucker attended and acquainted the House, that his Excellency
the Governor declared the attendance of the Speaker and House in the Council
Chamber. The Speaker and House accordingly waited upon his Excellency, soon after
returned to the house when the Speaker laid before them a copy of a speech made
by his Excellency to the Council and Assembly in the Council Chamber, which was
read: (Inserted in the last week's Gazette.) Then a letter from Captain Pender to his Excellency the Governor was laid
before the House and read. Then the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to prepare an address
to his Excellency the Governor, in answer to his speech of this morning, to
wit, Mr Solomon J Stowe a representative for Paget's Parish,
attendee, and was qualified by taking the government oaths and signing the
rest(?). Mr Foot, from the committee appointed to draw up an address in
answer to his Excellency the Governor's Speech of this morning, acquainted the
house that the committee had prepares such address, which he begged leave to
offer to the house, which was granted, and the same read. (The address was inserted in our last). end of copy (reference: Royal Gazette 17 October 1795).
Mr Foot
Mr Benj D Harvey
Mr Darrell
Mr Perott
Major Bascome