Copy of a Letter sent by the Governor &c. of the Colony of Connecticut,
to the Commissioners of his Majesties Customs.

MUCH HONOURED—

Yours of May 24th came to our hand January following with the inclosed from his Majestie, with the Statutes, box of Seals and book of rates, &c. the contents whereof were of much satisfaction unto us, viz: to be informed and directed how we might serve his Majestie preventive to frauds in customs and dutys, that being part of our allegiance and duty incumbant, unto which we apprehend ourselves sufficiently impowered by his Majesties gracious Charter, granted to this Colony, and wee have the greater happiness by your early care, thus to suggest to us before we arrived at any capacitie so to defraud, for though we may not boast of our own goodness, yet pennury hath hitherto obstructed, for after above forty years sweating and toyle in this wilderness, to enlarge his Majesties dominions, at our own cost and adventure, we have neither had leisure or ability to lanch out in any considerable trade at sea, having only a few small vessells to carry our corne, hoggs and horses unto our neighbours of York and Boston, to exchange for some cloaths and utensills wherewithall to worke and subdue this country; likewise some of those comodities are carried to the Barbadoes, and those Islands, to bring in some sugar and rum to refresh the spirits of such as labour in the extream heat and cold, so to serve his Majesties inlargement of Dominions, and gett a poor living to themselves meanwhile, the substance whereof we suppose Mr. Randolph can informe, who having lately taken an interview of our parts and Colony, unto whom we have shewed civility according to our capacitie, and offered any furtherance in so good a designe to prevent fraud towards our Sovreign in trade and navigation, we have also appointed customers or collectors in our severall counties, to take speciall care that these acts of navigation and trade be duly observed and kept, and have commissioned them accordingly, they are the most aptest persons we could pitch upon, for that affaire, this work is yett novell and unknown to them, through want of experience in such occasions, but we have no cause to doubt of their fidelitie and care in the due attendance of the work and trust reposed in them, and we shall be ready to grant Mr. Randolph such necessary aid and assistance as shall be requisite, if he also shall see cause to take any cognizance of these affaires in our colony, if yourselves or any Lords of the Privy Councill or Treasury will concern themselves to further light, in this or any thing proper to our Loyalty, we shall thankfully accept the same, and do our duty therein, praying always for the long life and happy Reigne of his Majestie, and wellfare of yourselves, and all Protestant professors, as our own, who are your Honours very humble servants.*

WILLIAM LEETE, Gov'r,

JOHN TALCOTT,

JOHN ALLYN.

Note - This, according to the modern mode of dating, was 1681.