|
1 July.
Admiralty, pcl. 152, No. 28. |
1365. B. Lien to M. "Le Marchand Dumesnil, negtà Caen." |
|
After acknowledging the receipt of bills, &c., says:— We have,
God be thanked, finished with M. de S., and he will go with us
to Compiegne, there to be presented to the Council. Will say, in
confidence, that " le Grand Maitre" has proposed our affair to a
certain person for the payment of about 25 millions, which the
King owes him. This person, a man of great consideration and of a
superior caste of mind, has been charmed and enchanted with my
project, has accepted it, and wishes to make our acquaintance.
I see him often. He has great confidence, and has charged me
with a private piece of work, which occupies us continually. As
I have been five weeks in the country for rest, and in order to
work more quietly, M. de S. has had the politeness to come and
work from time to time with me.—Paris. |
|
On the third page is a communication, signed "Asselin," addressed to the same. He says:—Our silence, doubtless, disturbs
you, and you will be charmed to know when you are to set out
for Paris. A little more patience, and you shall be satisfied. We
are working incessantly. We must polish and file. The departure
for Compiegne is fixed for the 8th. We may hope everything.
We see a good harbour, to reach which we are using our utmost
endeavour. M. de S. is in negotiation for a house to establish the
shop. (French.) |
|
[A person of the name of Dumesnil was one of those under suspicion of being connected with a plot for the burning of H.M.'s
dockyards, which was under investigation during the latter part
of 1764 and beginning of 1765, and which will be found described
under date March 1765. The Dumesnil to whom these letters are
addressed may, possibly, be the same man.] |
2 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 22, p. 238. |
1366. Mr. Stanhope to Messrs. Bayne and Adams. |
|
H.M.'s Ambassador at Madrid having, according to the desire of
the merchants concerned, represented to the Spanish Ministers their
doubts as to the construction and effect of the regulation proposed
to be established in consequence of their former memorial respecting the removal of British effects and money from the Havannah,
his Excellency has received for answer that the Court of Spain is
sincerely disposed to do everything which is just and reasonable for
the British merchants, and desirous only of preventing collusive
practices; that it is, therefore, intended that the money arising from
merchandize sold before the restitution of Havannah shall be exported duty-free; "but if such merchandize was not paid for with
ready money because it remained at the Havannah to be sold by
Spanish merchants, though in their name, "then either such money
shall pay duty upon export, or, if that shall not be thought equitable, the merchandize may be exported unsold. Though the
Spaniards pay no duty upon the exportation of bullion from the
Havannah, yet they pay the duty on its arrival in Spain, which
amounts to the same thing. |
2 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 23, p. 274. |
1367. Earl of Sandwich to the Lords of Trade. |
|
Sending an extract from a letter from the Ambassador at the
Hague, on a subject very interesting in itself, and containing many
particulars requiring immediate attention. [The subject is not
mentioned.] |
3 July.
Scotch Correspnce., 1763–95, p. 15. |
1368. Earl of Sandwich to the Lord President of the Court
of Session. |
|
Was very sorry to hear, by his letter of the 28th past, of the
inconveniences that had happened from the King's letters for supplying the two vacancies in the Court of Session, not arriving in
Edinburgh in due time. The instruments appointing Mr. Garden
and Mr. Bruce were ready at his Lordship's office on the 12th of
last month, but the agents employed by these gentlemen did not
call for them till last week. The neglect has been entirely on the
part of the gentlemen themselves or their agents. To prevent any
accident of a like nature for the future, some proper person should
be appointed in London to take out and regularly transmit all
instruments relating to Scotland.—Whitehall. |
5 July.
Dom. Geo. III., pcl. 76, No. 50 a to d. |
1369. Lords of Trade to the Earl of Halifax. |
|
Send their representation to His Majesty on two memorials from
the Marquess Caraccioli, Envoy from the King of the Two Sicilies,
the one proposing a reciprocal engagement for regulating the
visitation of merchant ships in the ports belonging to the two
Crowns, the other proposing to conclude a treaty or convention of
commerce. |
|
The representation referred to. The object of both the memorials
appears to be the same, viz., to establish a right in the Crown of
the Two Sicilies to search and visit British ships in the ports of
those kingdoms. As this would take away the privileges of the
British nation, founded by treaty, and uniformly enjoyed as well
before as since the accession of the present Royal family of the
Two Sicilies, and that without the least pretence for such an alteration, their Lordships cannot advise His Majesty to acquiece in
the proposal, or to admit any deviation from the present state of the
trade with Naples and Sicily, which has for its basis the treaty of
Madrid in 1667. |
|
With these papers are also drafts of the letters of 25 Feb. and
27 June respectively, referring these memorials. 6¾pp. |
10 July.
Admiralty, v. 149, No. 6. |
1370. Earl of Halifax to the Lords of the Admiralty. |
|
Enclosing the copy of a letter received from Mons. le Comte de
Guerchy in reply to his Lordship's answer to his memorials on the
subject of the Newfoundland fishery. As his Excellency persists
in affirming that the French fishermen have at all times been
accustomed to leave their boats and fishing utensils, &c. in huts or
sheds upon the coasts of Newfoundland during the winter, in contradiction to what his Lordship asserted upon authority of their
Lordships' report of the 21st April ult., desires proofs to support
these assertions. Asks for their opinion also on that part of his
Excellency's letter in which he enlarges on the offence of the officer
who burned the boats and plundered the effects of the French
fishermen last year, and demands that a more severe punishment
than the reprimand already conveyed should be inflicted. A draft.
2¼ pp. |
11 July.
Admiralty, pcl. 152, No. 29 a, b, c. |
1371. Mr. Philip Stephens to E. Sedgwick, Esq. |
|
Sending a copy of a letter from Captain Harrison, of H.M.S.
"Centurion," and Commander-in-chief of H.M.'s ships in the
Mediterranean, dated 25th past, at Genoa, giving an account of his
having been to Algiers, and of the reception he met with from the
Dey; of the information he had received with respect to the
Emperor of Morocco's disposition towards the English, and the
orders he had given thereupon; and also of the enclosed copy of
an account he had received of an expedition going forward at Cadiz
for the West Indies. |
|
The enclosures. The Dey gave every apparent proof of regard
and attention to His Majesty and the English nation, not only by
receiving Captain Harrison at his first audience in a very distinguished and polite manner, different to that of officers of other
nations, but by his ready acquiescence in the liberation of three
English subjects who had languished under captivity for some time
there. Relates the arrangements he has made. It is difficult to
form a judgement of the views and designs of these people. |
|
The expedition referred to was one to organize a new body of
troops that would be put on foot at the back of New Mexico,
Louisiana, and Mississippi; for which purpose the Commander-inchief of the expedition, Don Juan of Villalva and Angulo, knight
of St. James, Lieut. General in the army, and Captain General of
Andaluzia, was empowered to create officers, from a lieut. colonel
to a subaltern, and carried out blank commissions for them, and
also to confer the Order of Knighthood of St. James, Calatrava,
and Alcantara, upon such as would exert their best endeavours to
promote military discipline in that part of America, where they
were to erect fortifications, and keep a standing army of 25,000
men. Other particulars are also given. 7 pp. and parts of pages. |
11 July.
Criml. Papers, v. 10, 1760–66, p. 242. |
1372. Earl of Sandwich to Mr. Mildmay. |
|
Mr. Justice Bathurst's report on the case of John Foker is not
so favourable as to induce the King to extend his mercy further
than upon the common terms of transportation for 14 years. |
12 July.
Ordn. Entry Bk., 1760–76, p. 275. |
1373. Marquess of Granby to the Earl of Halifax. |
|
Enclosing the draft of a warrant for a new establishment of the
Royal Regiment of Artillery for augmenting the pay of the genetlemen cadets. |
13 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 22, p. 240. |
1374. Mr. Stanhope to Thomas Tyndall, Esq., King's Proctor,
Doctors' Commons. |
|
Requesting him to call upon Lord Halifax in Cleveland Row
to-morrow. |
13 July.
Admiralty, pcl. 152, No. 30 a, b. |
1375. French Property in Grenada. |
|
Report of the Attorney General in reference to a former report
of the Advocate General and of himself (the Attorney General) upon
the doubts and difficulties which had occurred with respect to the
properties and effects of certain French inhabitants of the Island of
Grenada. By a letter from Col. Scott it is found that the Commander-in-Chief there, notwithstanding directions signified to him,
has suspended the restitution of the effects seized in the houses of
persons in the Island, belonging to persons residing in France, upon
a supposition that the facts in the cases of Messrs. La Place and Co.,
of Bourdeaux, and of Mons. de la Clauserie, merchant at Nantes,
were mis-stated. On re-consideration of the case, and the facts in
Col. Scott's letter, the Attorney General sees no reason to alter
his former opinion. |
|
A copy of the former report, entering into each case individually.
6 pp
|
13 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 23, p.275. |
1376. Earl of Sandwich to the Lords of Trade. |
|
Sending a copy of a letter received from Mr. Cressener, H.M.'s
Minister at Bonn, stating that a gentleman of Liege is desirous of
emigrating, with many of his countrymen, to America, if they can
acquire a settlement in some of the British colonies upon certain
conditions. Enclosing also copy of the proposals. |
13 July.
Treas. Entry Bk., v. 1, 1763–75, pp. 54–7. |
1377. Mr. E. Sedgwick to C.Jenkinson, Esq. |
|
Sending a petition of Arthur Edmond, a hostage at Bayonne,
transmitted by the Lords of the Admiralty to the Earl of Halifax,
whose case he transmitted to Mr. Jenkinson the 23rd May past. |
|
The petition entered. He had been in prison two years as a
hostage for the "Little Molly" of Barbadoes, taken into the transport service at New York. |
25 May and 17 July.
Dom. Geo.III., pcl.76, No. 53 a to h. |
1378. Arthur Edmond, Hostage at Bayonne. |
|
Letters, &c. relative to Arthur Edmond, a hostage confined in
Bayonne for the ransom of the sloop "Little Molly," chartered with
provisions for the use of H.M.'s forces in 1762, and taken by a
French privateer. They consist of:— |
|
A draft of a letter from Mr. Edward Sedgwick to Charles Jenkinson, Esq. (25 May), enclosed in which are copies of a memorial of
Capt. Baillie, late Secretary to the Island of Martinico, of an appraisement of the value of the cargo, of the treaty of ransom, and of
a letter from Sir Jeffrey Amherst to Mr. Sedgwick. [The copy of
Edmond's petition, which was also enclosed, is not with these
papers; but see the preceding entry.] |
|
Letter from Mr. C.Jenkinson to Edward Sedgwick, Esq.
(17 July); and, enclosed, a copy of a letter to the Commissioners
of Sick and Hurt, and their reply. 13 pp. or parts of pages. |
13 and 19 July.
Ordn. Entry Bk.,1760–76, p.279. |
1379. Marquess of Granby to the Earl of Halifax. |
|
Relative to engineers for the Floridas and ceded Islands.
The answer thereto. |
19 July.
Admiralty, v. 147, No. 24. |
1380. Commodore Harrison to the Same. |
|
Has reveived another letter from Consul Bruce, by which it
appears that ever since his (the Commodore's) departure the Dey [of
Algiers] has shown great uneasiness of temper, and has in effect
superseded Mr. Bruce's commission by appointing his own surgeon
and the intendant of the marine to clear out and send away an
English ship without any paper from the Consul, bill of Health, or
having his passport endorsed, absolutely refusing to pay consulage
or any national acknowledgment, or even signifying where he was
going. Does not know what the motives of this change of policy
can be, unless it be the hope of obtaining the same tribute from the
English as from the Danes, Dutch and other powers. Believes that
two renegade Spaniards, placed so high in the Dey's esteem as to
govern his councils, and who take advantage of his infirmity of
mind, incite him to this conduct. If His Majesty thinks it necessary to proceed to extremes, a very small additional force to that
under his (the Commodore's) command will, he thinks, be equal to
reducing the captial and his whole naval power. Has presented
his letter of credence to the Doge of Venice, and been received
with every mark of respect.—Genoa. 3 pp. |
20 July.
Ordnance, v. 5. |
1381. Marquess of Granby to the Earl of Halifax. |
|
Sending the estimate of the stores and artillery demanded for
defence of St. Philip's Castle in the Island of Minorca. |
|
The estimate annexed.19½pp. |
20 July.
Scotch Correspnce., 1763–95, p.5. |
1382. Earl of Sandwich to the Lord Privy Seal of ScotLand (Mr.Mackenzie) at Edinburgh. |
|
Informing him of His Majesty's permission having been granted
to James, late Sir James, Kinlock, to try the benefit of his native
air for six months, or until His Majesty's further pleasure shall be
known, his physicians thinking it absolutely necessary for the
recovery of his health. Directing that those whom it may concern
should be attentive to his conduct, and transmit proper accounts
if ever he should behave unbecoming his duty. |
|
Like letters sent to the Marquess of Lorne, or the Commander of
H.M.'s forces in Scotland, and the Lord Justice Clerk. |
23 July.
Scotland, pcl.89, No. 17. |
1383. Mr. Robert Dundas to Lord [Sandwich]. |
|
Both Mr. Garden and Mr. Bruce have now been admitted judges
in consequence of H.M.'s letters, which has remedied the distress
the Court laboured under while no less than four judges were confined by indisposition. It was never believed that there was any
blame to be laid to his Lordship's door, or to any of H.M.'s servants;
but so unfortunate and singular an accident made it a duty forthwith to acquaint his Lordship, that there might be no stop to the
administration of justice.—Edinburgh. 1 p. |
24 July.
Circular Bk., 1761–1786, pp.25–32. |
1384. Earl of Sandwich to the Earl of Buckingham and
to the following Ministers; viz., Viscount Stormont,
Mr.Mitchell, Sir J.Goodricke, Mr. Wroughton, Sir Joseph
Yorke, Messrs. Titley and Cosby, Sir James Porter, and
Mr. Stanhope. |
|
Sending copies of the memorial presented by the French
Ambassador (Count Guerchy), complaining that the privileges due
to Foreign Ministers are not allowed in England, and urging the
necessity of procuring an Act of Parliament for the preservation of
the same; also of the Earl of Halifax's answer. The former, before
his departure, left copies with all the Foreign Ministers residing in
London, with intent to engage their respective Courts with him.
Their Excellencies are to endeavour to traverse any scheme which
may be carrying on within their residence, and to do this in a
quiet manner, the end proposed being to prevent much disagreeable
discussion consequent on bringing before Parliament an affair in
which it is impossible to draw any certain line, or to prefix the
precise limits to what is termed the Droit des Gens. If a general
law of this sort be proposed it will be attended with unsurmountable
difficulties; and as to an Act of Parliament, declaring that Foreign
Ministers in Great Britain are entitled to the privileges allowed by
the law of nations, it is unnecessary, as there is no doubt that the
law of nations is as extensive and as sacred in England as in any
other civilized state in Europe. |
|
The enclosures referred to are entered, pp. 27,30. The matter
issued from the arrest of one of the equerries of the Ambassador
in his house by warrant from Mr. Kynaston, who, however, (as
appears by his submission, also entered, p.32,) did not give the
warrant to any constable or officer, and had given directions
that the Ambassador should have notice before the warrant was
executed. The task of giving this notice was undertaken by
Mr. Snee, a respectable neighbour, but apparently not executed
in time. The apology, and Lord Halifax's answer in this
particular case, were accepted as sufficient by his most Catholic
Majesty. |
25 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 22, p. 241. |
1385. Mr. Sedgwick to Geo. Amyand, Esq. |
|
His Majesty intends to make him a Baronet. Desires him to be
at Court next Wednesday to Kiss the King's hand. |
|
Similar letters sent to Dr. Duncan and Sir Samuel Gordon,
Knight. |
26 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 22, p.241. |
1386. Mr. Stanhope to Mr. Fiott. |
|
The Spanish Ambassador having represented to Lord Halifax
that a Spaniard in Jersey has imposed upon several persons by
taking upon himself different names, one of which is Molina, and
that he is in prison at his, Mr.Fiott's, suit, but that the latter is
willing to release him, provided he is carried to Spain to be given
up to justice; desiring a state of the case, and a copy of the commitment. |
27 July.
Admiralty, pcl, 152, No. 31. |
1387. Spanish Fishermen carried to Sea. |
|
Report of the Attorney General to the Earl of Halifax on the
memorial delivered by the Spanish Ambassador, complaining that
John Smith, captain of an English ship, the "Prince Edward,"
having, in a storm off the coast of Spain, prevailed on two Spanish
fishermen to come on board his vessel, and conduct her to St.Sebastians, carried them off afterwards, and set them on shore at the "port
of Trapezon in this kingdom," refusing to make them any recom
pense for their services. Capt. Smith may be compelled to make
satisfaction to the two Spanish fishermen, and each of them should
bring an action against him for that purpose; but it will be difficult
to maintain any criminal prosecution. 2 large pages. |
27 July.
Circular Bk., 1761–86, p.33. |
1388. Earl of Sandwich to the Earl of Buckingham, and
the following Ministers and Consuls: Sir Joseph Yorke,
Messrs. Wolters, Woodford, Mortimore, Fenwick, and
Corry (with enclosures 1, 2, and 3); Sir John Goodricke, Messrs. Titley and Cosby, Sir James Porter,
and Mr. Swallow (with enclosures 1 and 2), also to
Mr. Wallace, dated 21 Aug. (with enclosures 1, 2, and 3.) |
|
Sending enclosures received from the Lords of the Treasury.
Recommending the affair to their serious consideration in respect
to the most effectual method of putting it into execution, as the
extension of the commerce of the country upon the most just and
equitable footing to the advantage of the fair trader, and the
increase of the public revenue, engages the constant care of H.M.'s
servants. |
|
The enclosures are entered pp.34, 35, and 36, being three letters
from Mr. Whately to Mr. Phelps, at the Treasury Chambers, all
dated July 24. All persons in public character residing in Russia,
Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Flanders, or any of the Hanse
Towns, to send as accurate a report as possible of the nature of the
contraband trade thence to Great Britain or the colonies, &c., to
send intelligence and descriptions of the ships setting out from each
port, their destination, &c.; also (enclosure 3.) of the ships and persons engaged in the smuggling trade from the foreign ports on the
German Sea and British Channel. |
27 July.
Dom. Geo. III., pcl.76, No. 54 a, b. |
1389. Journeymen Tailors. |
|
Report of the Attorney General to Lord [Halifax] upon the
petition of the master tailors of Westminster. Is of opinion that
the request contained therein may be lawfully complied with; viz.,
that he might write to the justices of the peace of Middlesex to
hold a meeting thereon. |
|
The petition. It relates to the combinations among the journeymen tailors within the Bills of Mortality, which had existed so long
back as 1720, and for two years then past had been so strong that
they had exacted much greater wages and had worked less hours
than by law allowed; and, "not content with that imposition," had
formed themselves into a kind of republic, holding illegal meetings
at 42 different public-houses, and appointing from each of these
houses two persons to represent the body, and form the "Grand Committee for the management of the town," which made rules and orders
for the direction of the masters and whole body of journey men
tailors, while, whatever master or journeyman refused to comply
therewith, the master had no men to do his work, and the journeyman was fined at the will of the body of journeymen; the other
journeymen, until he had paid the fine and cleared his contempt,
not suffering him to work for any master. |
|
The petition gives an account of efforts made to settle the wages,
&c., and particularly that in January 1764 the journeymen preferred a petition at the Middlesex Quarter Sessions, stating that
their wages by law were 2s. 6d. per diem for one half year, and 2s.
for the other, besides 1½d. fot breakfast allowed by the statute, and
their hours of work from six in the morning till eight at night,
allowing one hour for dinner; and praying and increase of wages,
and a lessening of the hours of work. They were heard by counsel,
and the Court ordered that for the future their wages should be
any sum not exceeding 2s. 6d. per diem all the year round, besides
the 1½d.for breakfast, and their hours of work from six in the morning till seven in the evening from Michaelmas to Lady Day, and from
six in the morning till eight in the evening from Lady Day to
Michaelmas, allowing an hour for dinner. But, notwithstanding
this, they continued their combinations, and on the Monday previous, when they ought to have continued to work till eight in
the evening, nearly all refused to work according to the order,
and quitted their services. The master tailors therefore pray Lord
Halifax to convence by letter the justices of Middlesex and Westminister, in order to take into consideration the Act of Parliament,
and to take the most vigorous methods for suppressing the combinations. 1½ pp., and 2¼ pp. of a larger size. |
27 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 22, p.242. |
1390. Earl of Halifax to Brigadier General Draper. |
|
Transmitting a copy of a memorial received from the Spanish
Ambassador, complaining that, upon the taking of Manilla, the
Superior and the Community of the Augustines, in consequence of
their quota of the contributions, were promised the free exercise of
their religion, and that their effects should be in safety; not withstanding which, upon some opposition of the Indians in the country,
their convent was pillaged, and the prior with three other persons
belonging to their Order were taken off the Island, and sent prisoners
to London. Requesting particulars. |
27 July.
Dom. Entry Bk., v. 22, p.242. |
1391. The Same to Admiral Cornish. |
|
Transmits a copy of a memorial, and its enclosures, delivered by
the Spanish Ambassador in March last, reclaiming the galleon "The
Most Holy Trinity" as unjustly taken at Manilla in October 1762,
and contrary to the laws of war: for information. |
27 July.
Scotland, v. 25, No. 99. |
1392. Marquess of Lorne to the Earl of Sandwich. |
|
Relative to James late Sir James Kinloch. Will take care that
His Majesty's orders be observed with regard to him in every particular.—Rosneath. 1 p. |
28 July.
Admiralty, v. 149, No. 7. |
1393. Earl of Halifax to the Lords of the Admiralty. |
|
Transmitting a copy of a letter from the Duc de Praslin to H.M.'s
Ambassador at the Court of France, with its enclosure, demanding
reparation for the violent and irregular proceedings of the commanders of an English frigate and cutter, who, having met with
a French flat-bottomed boat on her passage from Rouen to Brest,
visited her and examined her papers, pretending that they had
orders to visit French and Foreign vessels. Enquiry to be made.
A draft. 1½p
|
30 July.
Scotland, v. 25, No. 100. |
1394. Mr. J.S. Mackenzie to the Earl of Sandwich. |
|
The orders relative to the late Sir James Kinloch shall be
attended to.—Castle Menzies. 1½ p. |
31 July.
Dom. Geo. III., v. 1, No. 27. |
1395. Lords of The Admiralty to the Earl of Halifax. |
|
About the disputes relating to the Newfoundland fishery. Their
assertions as to the manner in which the French formerly proceeded
with respect to the use of the huts, and the leaving their boats and
effects on the coast, is the substance of general and concurring
information received from mariners, pilots, and officers who have
much frequented the coast. It is a matter of public notoriety and
common usage, and this appears to them to be a better kind of
evidence than individual proofs of what each man might have happened to observe in a particular spot. If they were to give names the
French would probably object to their evidence, as not being disinterested, and would attempt to bring counter evidence, and thus it
will lead to endless altercation. They, therefore, grounded their
facts, not upon any particular depositions, but on known and
common usage. As to the French demand for further punishment
to Captain Ruthven than is contained in the reprimand which he
has already received, they can only repeat that, whether any satisfaction ought to be given or not; given, or whether personal or
pecuniary, or both, they apprehend does not lie within their consideration, being a matter of state, of great moment, and of such a
nature as the Board have not been accustomed, and do not conceive themselves qualified, to advise upon. There are no instances
of their department ever having been consulted upon the punishment due to offences such as Capt. Ruthven has committed, nor
of any officer having been punished twice for the same offence.
However lightly the French may think of this reprimand, English
officers consider the falling under His Majesty's disapprobation one
of the highest degress of punishment; and Capt. Ruthven's offence
was not a direct or intended violation of the treaties, but his
having so far mistaken the disposition of the King towards the subjects of France as to have put a more rigorous construction upon,
and availed himself more of any omissions in the letter of those
treaties, than suited the candour and generous sentiments of the
King. 10 pp. |
July.
Post Office, pcl. 6, No. 5 a to k. |
1396. Hire of Vessels for Ambassadors, &c. |
|
A series of letters, from 1 Aug. 1763 to the above date, and an
account relative to the claims of Messrs. Minett and Company, of
Frenchurch Street, for hire of vessels to carry ambassadors, messengers, &c., to and from Calais, between the commencement of that
service and the 28th of Nov. 1762. 14 pp. |
