Tlie West India Company and the Walloons. 



of all trades and occupations, who desire to goe into Virginia, there to 

 live in the same condition as others of his majesty's subjects." This 

 spokesman on behalf of the whole body was, without doubt, Jesse de 

 Forest, a dyer; for at the same time he presented a petition, which is 

 preserved in the public record office at London, signed by himself on 

 behalf of the rest. This petition is divided into seven clauses, or sec- 

 tions, which are, very briefly, as follows: First, whether his majesty 

 would permit fifty or sixty families of Walloons to settle in Virginia, 

 and whether he would protect aud defend them and maintain them in 

 their religion. Second, whether his majesty would furnish them for 

 the voyage with a ship equipped with cannon and other arms, in ad- 

 dition to the ship they would furnish, in order to carry them and theil 

 families and their cattle. Third, whether upon their arrival in said 

 country he would permit them to select a convenient spot for their 

 abode. Fourth, whether they would be permitted to build a town and 

 elect a governor and magistrates. Fifth, whether his majesty would 

 give them cannon and grant them the privilege of manufacturing pow- 

 der, making bullets and casting cannon. Sixth, whether his majesty 

 would grant them a territory, say sixteen miles in diameter, which 

 they might cultivate and improve, and prevent others settling therein 

 unless they had taken letters of citizenship. Seventh, whether they 

 would be permitted to hunt and fish and cut timber for ship-building 

 and commerce; all of which provisions should extend only to them- 

 selves and their families, without admitting those who might come 

 into the territory, excepting so far as this grant might give them the 

 power.* This petition was accompanied by a most curious document, 

 which is still preserved in the British public record office at London. 

 This document is eighteen inches long by thirteen inches and a hall 

 wide, and in the center of the paper is the following inscription in 

 French: " We promise his lordship, the ambassador of the most serene 

 king of Great Britain, that we will go to settle in Virginia, a part of 

 his majesty's dominions, at the earliest time practicable, and this 

 under the conditions set forth in the articles which we have communi- 

 cated to his said lordship, the ambassador, and not otherwise." Around 

 this promise in the center are the signatures of the men and their 

 trade and occupations; and outside of their signatures, but opposite 

 the individual's name is the letter «t» for wife and also the number 

 of children he had, while opposite some of the names are the words 

 " marriageable men." 



To this petition of the Walloons ami the round robin accompanying 

 * Baird's Hist. Huguenot Emigration, vol. 1, 



