Journal, November 1705: Journal Book K

Journal, November 1705

November 1. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Antigoa.

Letter from Mr. Cary about trade to St. Thomas.

A letter from Mr. Richard Cary, agent for Antigoa [fo. 86, 91], in answer to one writ him yesterday, signifying that he had received no instructions in relation to the trade of St. Thomas, was read.

Barbados.

Mr. Lillington and Bernard about copy of report on Lillington's petition, &c.

Mr. Lillington and Mr. Bernard attending [fo. 83, 90], desired a copy of their lordships' report of the 22nd of the last month upon the petition of Mr. Lillington, of Barbados, that they might compare the same with her Majesty's Order in Councill of the 26th of the said month thereupon; for they conceived the said order as it was drawn would be of no use to them in Barbados: whereupon they were acquainted that the Board having made their report to her Majesty, they could not give copies thereof without her Majesty's leave [fo. 83], that they had refused the same already to Colonel Cleland, one of the Governor's agents. And they were further told that if they did not think the said order sufficient, they might also make their application to her Majesty, if they thought fitting.

Antegoa.

Representation on Acts.

A representation upon the Acts past at Antegoa in February and March, 170¾, and June and July, 1704 [fo. 84, 157, 158], for repealing two and confirming one of the said Acts, was signed.

Jamaica.

Barbados.

Leeward Islands.

Letters to the Governors.

Letters to the Governors of Jamaica, Barbados and the Leeward Islands [fo. 87], as directed in yesterday's minutes, were signed.

November 2. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Barbados.

Letter to the agents about hurricane in Barbados.

Ordered that a letter be writ to the agents of Barbados to know if they have had any account of the late hurricane at that island.

Leeward Islands.

Instructions from thence to the agents about trade to Curacoa.

Letters to them thereon.

The instructions from the Lieutenant Governor and General Assembly of all the Leeward Islands to their agents here, inserted at the later end of the minutes of the General Councill of the said islands from the 23rd May, 1705, to the 25th June following, were read; and thereupon ordered that Colonel Jory and Mr. Richard Cary have notice [fo. 91] to attend the Board on Tuesday morning next.

Jamaica.

Coin.

Some Jamaica merchants attending [fo. 84, 91], they were acquainted with the difficulties that some of the Plantations laboured under, in relation to her Majesty's proclamation for settling the rates of foreign coin in the Plantations, and a copy of the said proclamation was communicated to them; whereupon they promised to bring their thoughts in writing on Tuesday morning next.

Pennsylvania.

Copies of Mr. Penn's charter to Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, &c.

Mr. Penn summon'd thereupon.

Copy of Mr. Penn's charter to the city of Philadelphia, dated the 25th of October, 1701, as also copy of his Charter of Priviledges to the people of Pennsylvania, dated the 28th of October, 1701, were laid before the Board, and the first of the said charters read; and thereupon ordered that Mr. Penn have notice to attend their lordships [fo. 93] on Tuesday or Thursday next in the morning.

Barbados.

Memorial from Mr. Lillington about default in the order of Councill relating to his couzen.

Copy of the representation refused without her Majesty's leave.

Mr. Lillington and Mr. Bernard presented to their lordships a memorial [fo. 87, 128], setting forth that by reason of several defects (as they conceived) in the Order of Councill of the 26th of October upon their lordships' representation of the 22nd of the same month, relating to Mr. George Lillington, of Barbados, the said order will be ineffectual, and therefore praying their lordships would give them a copy of the said representation, that they may thereby be inabled to make such proper applications for rectifying the said Order as shall be thought necessary, which was read; whereupon they were told (as yesterday), that their lordships could not do it without her Majesty's leave, and that therefore they might, if they thought fit, make their application to her Majesty [fo. 128].

November 6. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Cary about trade to St. Thomas.

Mr. Cary attending, as directed at the last meeting [fo. 87, 89], and being asked whether he had anything to offer in relation to the trade to St. Thomas, he said that he had no instructions from the Island of Antego to move upon that matter, and therefore had nothing to offer thereupon.

Col. Jory on the like head.

Colonel Jory attending, and being asked the same question as Mr. Cary [fo. 89], he said that he had nothing to add to what was inserted in the instructions to him, which are at the end of the minutes of the General Councill of all the Leeward Islands, held from the 23rd May, 1705, to the 25th June following.

Plantations General.

Merchants about coine.

Colonel Blakiston and Mr. Hyde attending in behalf of Virginia and Maryland, Colonel Lodwick and Mr. Congreve, in behalf of New Yorke, Mr. Johnson in behalf of Carolina, together with Colonel Quary [fo. 84, 89], they were acquainted with the difficulties some of the Plantations laboured under in relation to her Majesty's proclamation for settling the rates of foreign coins in the Plantations. Whereupon they all agreed that it would be of ill consequence that the proclamation should be left in force in some of the Plantations and not in others, and were therefore of opinion that all the Plantations should be bound or loose, as well Proprieties as others: whereupon their lordships resolved to take this matter into further consideration.

November 7. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges about method for signifying to the Spaniards privately.

Mr. Dummer's proposal of carrying on a correspondence, &c.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges of the 3rd instant [fo. 80, 93], in answer to one writ him the 29th of the last month, relating to Mr. Dummer's proposal of an advertisement to be published in the West Indies relating to a correspondence to be carryed on by his packet boats, and desiring to know whether the Board can think of any method for giving the Spaniards notice privately of Mr. Dummer's said undertaking, was read, and directions given for preparing an answer thereunto.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Penn. His charters to Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

Draught of surrender.

Mr. Penn attending [fo. 90], his charter to Philadelphia and his charter of priviledges to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, mentioned in the minutes of the 2nd instant, were read; and upon some discourse with Mr. Penn thereupon [fo. 59, 97], he promised to send to their lordships to-morrow a fair draught of a surrender of his government of Pennsylvania to her Majesty, for their lordships to proceed further upon.

November 8. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Plantations General.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges about method for corresponding with the Spaniards.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, in answer to his of the 3rd instant [fo. 92], desiring to know whether the Board could think of any method for giving the Spaniards notice privately of Mr. Dummer's proposal relating to a correspondence to be carryed on by his packet boats in the West Indies (as directed in yesterday's minutes), was signed.

Maryland.

Letter from Colonel Seymour.

A letter from Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland, to the Board [fo. 115], dated the 3rd of July last, was read, and the papers therein refer'd to laid before the Board, vizt.:
Maryland.
Papers of publick proceedings.
A proposal to prevent abuses in the Plantation trade, to lessen the high freight of tobacco and render the sailors imployed in the said trade more usefull to the Royal Navy.
An account of the arms and ammunition returned by the Colonels and Commanders of the respective counties in Maryland to the Governor.
Number of men, women and children and slaves in Maryland, 1704.
Minutes of the Committee of Accounts in May, 1705.
Proceedings of a Committee of Accounts in September, 1704.
Proceedings of the Committee of Accounts in December, 1704.
Minutes of Councill in Assembly from the 5th of December, 1704, to the 9th following.
Minutes of Councill in Assembly from the 5th of September to the 3rd October, 1704.
Minutes of Councill in Assembly from the 15th of May, 1705, to the 25th following.
Minutes of the Assembly from the 15th of May, 1705, to the 25th following.
Minutes of Assembly from the 5th September, 1704, to the 3rd of October following.
Minutes of Assembly from the 5th December, 1704, to the 9th following.
Colonel Seymour's remarks and observations upon the laws of Maryland, transmitted with his letter of the 3rd July, 1705.
Acts past in Maryland the 9th of December, 1704.
Acts past in Maryland the 25th May, 1705.
Acts past in Maryland the 3rd of October, 1705.

Col. Blakiston summond.

Ordered that Colonel Blakiston be acquainted [fo. 97] that the Board desire to speak with him to-morrow morning.

Maryland.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges refering extract of a letter from Col.

Seymour on several heads.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges of the 27th of the last month, refering to this Board the extract of a letter from Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland, dated the 3rd of July last [fo. 97], relating to the want of arms and ammunition, to the want of an officer for keeping and preserving the said arms, and to the irregularities of the provincial Courts there, to a salary for Mr. Bladen, the Attorney General, and to the settling of ports in five places in that province, was read; and directions given for preparing an answer thereunto.

Like reference from Mr. Lowndes, &c.

A letter from Mr. Lowndes of the 2nd instant [fo. 97], referring to this Board the like extracts of Colonel Seymour's letter abovemention'd, and particularly a scheme for preventing abuses in the trade of Maryland, was read; whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Lowndes to the same purpose as what shall be writ to Mr. Secretary Hedges upon that matter.

November 9. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen.

Maryland.

The agent about arms and ammunition.

Colonel Blakiston attending, as ordered in yesterday's minutes [fo. 95], he was asked if he know what summe there was in bank in Maryland for the buying of arms and ammunition [representation fo. 118], and what summe he had received from thence for that purpose; he said that he did not know what was in bank there, but that he had received a credit upon Mr. Perry for the buying of 200 muskets, 100 carabines, 100 cutlasses, 100 halberts, 200 cartouch boxes, 110 half barrells of powder, 22 drums, 5,000 weight of lead in bulletts.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges about arms, &c.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, in answer to his of the 27th of the last month [fo. 96], upon an extract of a letter from Colonel Seymour, as directed in the last minutes, was signed.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Penn's new draught of surrender and patent.

Mr. Penn sent to the Board a new draught of a surrender of his government of Pennsylvania to her Majesty [fo. 93, 99], as also a new draught of a patent which he desires to be granted to him upon his surrendering of his said government; whereupon their lordships agreed to proceed at their next meeting to the further consideration thereof, in order to the drawing up of a representation thereupon.

New England.

Plantations General.

Reference from Mr. Secretary Hedges relating to a person being sent to New England for instructing the inhabitants in producing naval stores.

A reference from Mr. Secretary Hedges of the 8th instant upon a petition to her Majesty of several merchants and traders to New England [vide infra], praying that her Majesty would be pleased to send over to those parts a proper person well skilled in the making tar, raising and curing hemp, &c., with such instructions as shall be necessary to direct and instruct the inhabitants in the manufacturing of those commodities, was read; and their lordships resolved to take the same into consideration on Tuesday morning next.

November 12. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

New England.

Plantations General.

Mr. Bridger desiring to be made Surveyor of the Woods for naval stores.

Mr. Bridger attending, said that being informed that a petition of several merchants and traders to New England [fo. 98, 101], praying that her Majesty would send over a proper person to instruct the inhabitants in the making of tar, pitch &c., was refer'd to this Board, he therefore desired their lordships' favourable recommendation of him to her Majesty for that service, as also for the place of surveyor of the woods; whereupon he was ordered to attend again on Wednesday morning.

Pennsylvania.

Draught of surrender and new patent.

Their lordships read Mr. Penn's new draughts of a surrender and of a new patent desired by him [fo. 97 and infra], mentioned in the last minutes, and made a progress in the consideration thereof.

November 13. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Penn about his new patent, &c.

Extracts of Custome House books about importation of goods from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Penn attending and being acquainted with several objections their lordships had to the new draught of a patent desired by him, [vide supra], he said that as to the palatinate, which he desired might be in the County of Bucks, since their lordships found that unfit, he was willing to wave it, but pray'd that county might however be erected into a lordship or mannor; and by reason of some mistakes he alledged to be in the copying of the said draught of a patent [fo. 106], he desired to have it delivered back to him to be amended, as also the draught of the surrender, which was done accordingly. He then presented to their lordships three accounts extracted out of the Custome House books of goods imported from Pennsylvania to England from Christmas, 1699, to the 14th November, 1702, which are as follows, vizt.:
An account of goods and merchandize imported from Pennsylvania from Christmas, 1699, to Christmas, 1700, with the duties payable thereon.
An account of the goods and merchandize imported from Pennsylvania from Christmas, 1700, to Christmas, 1701, with the duties payable thereon.
An account of the goods and merchandize imported from Pennsylvania from Christmas, 1701, to the 14th of November, 1702, with the duties payable thereon.

New England.

Plantations General.

Merchants about Mr. Bridger's being made Surveyor General, &c.

Representation to be prepared thereupon.

Several New England merchants and traders attending, Mr. Secretary Hedges's reference upon their petition to her Majesty [fo. 98], praying that a person may be sent over to those parts to instruct the inhabitants in the making of tar, &c., was read; whereupon they said that they conceived one person would be sufficient, and they named Mr. Bridger as fit for that service in New Yorke and New England. They added that upon the passing the late Act of Parliament for incouraging the importation of naval stores from the Plantations, they had writ to their friends in those parts to apply themselves to the producing naval stores, who had returned them answer that they were ignorant of the proper method of doing the same, and that unless some skilfull person was sent over to instruct them in it, it could not be carryed on to any perfection. After these gentlemen were retired, their lordships gave directions for preparing a representation to her Majesty thereupon [fo. 102], proposing that Mr. Bridger be appointed Surveyor of the Woods, and that he have instructions to instruct the inhabitants in the making of tar &c., with a salary of 200l. per annum.

November 14. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

New Jersey.

Memorial from the Proprietors of the Western Division, &c., complaining of the Lord Cornbury.

Notes thereupon.

A memorial from the proprietors of the western division of New Jersey [fo. 121, 298], complaining of the Lord Cornbury's not having complyed with some of the articles of his instructions for that government, was read, and notes were made for speaking to the proprietors and writing to my Lord Cornbury thereupon.

New England.

Plantations General.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges with a representation for Mr. Bridger to be Surveyor of the Woods for production of naval stores, &c.

A representation to her Majesty upon Mr. Secretary Hedges's reference of the 8th instant [fo. 101, 123; R. fo. 112] upon the petition of some New England merchants, praying that a person may be sent over to instruct the inhabitants in making pitch and tar in those parts, and a letter inclosing the said representation to Mr. Secretary Hedges, was signed.

Connecticut.

Order of Councill on representation for repealing the Act intituled Hereticks.

An Order of Councill of the 11th of the last month upon a representation of the 5th ditto [fo. 50], repealing an Act of Connecticut intituled Hereticks, was read; and thereupon ordered that the said Order be sent by the first opportunity to the Government of Connecticut, to be there published and observed accordingly.

November 15. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen.

Rhode Island.

New England.

Letters from Mr. Gallop, &c., about a privateer in Rhode Island.

Letter to Mr. Burchet thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Gallop, Mr. Colman and Mr. Wocker to the Board, relating to the Governor of Rhode Islands granting a commission to a privateer of theirs, and to a prize brought into Rhode Island by the said vessell, dated the 10th of August last, was read; and thereupon ordered that an extract of the said letter, relating to the Governor of Rhode Islands granting the said commission, be sent to Mr. Burchet to be laid before his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral's Councill, and desiring to know whether commissions to private men-of-war granted by that Charter Government (Colonel Dudley being Vice-Admiral of all New England) be regular and allowed of by his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral.

Letter to Mr. Phips.

And further ordered that a copy of the foresaid letter be sent to Mr. Phips, agent for Colonel Dudley [fo. 131], desiring to know whether he have anything to say in behalf of Colonel Dudley thereupon.

Letter from Mr. Colman upon the same subject.

A letter from Mr. Colman upon the same subject as the former [fo. 131], dated the 15th and 23rd of August last, was read, and a copy ordered also to be sent to Mr. Phips.

November 16. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Harley, with Imperial Envoy &c.'s reply to the answer to their memorial for carrying the Turkey trade through Germany, &c.

Letter to the Turkey Company with copy of the said reply for their opinion thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Harley of the 15th instant [fo. 289], inclosing the Imperial Envoy and Commissary of Trade's reply to the Board's answer sent to Mr. Secretary Harley the 28th of August last [fo. 33] to their proposals for carrying on a trade to Turkey through Germany and Hungary, was read, and a copy of the said reply ordered to be made [fo. 122] and sent to the Turkey Company for their opinion thereupon.

New Jersey.

Acts.

Their lordships took into consideration the Acts past at a General Assembly held in New Jersey in November, 1704 [fo. 106], and made a progress therein.

November 19. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Lowndes for accounts of receipts and payments at the Custome House, and of Exports and Imports.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Lowndes [fo. 137] to desire him to move my Lord Treasurer that the Board may have an account of the receipts and payments at the Custome House from Christmas, 1702, to this present time, as also an account from the Inspector General [fo. 138] of the exports and imports for the same time.

Letter to Sir Isaac Newton for an account of money coined.

Ordered also that a letter be writ to Sir Isaac Newton [fo. 119] for an account of the gold and silver moneys coined in the Tower from the 30th of April. 1704, to this time.

New Jersey.

Acts.

Their lordships again took into consideration the Acts past at a General Assembly of New Jersey held in November, 1704 [fo. 105, 108, 109], and made a progress therein.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Penn about surrender and laws.

Mr. Penn attending, communicated to their lordships a new draught of a surrender of his power of government of Pennsylvania to her Majesty [fo. 99; L. fo. 53], which, together with a draught of a new patent of priviledges that he desires he promised to bring to the Board in a day or two's time [fo. 78, 107], and in the meantime he prayed their lordships to go on in preparing their report to her Majesty upon the laws of Pennsylvania.

November 20. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Pennsylvania.

Letter from the Post Master General about Post Office in Pennsylvania.

A letter from Sir Robert Cotton and Sir Thomas Frankland, Post Master General, dated yesterday [fo. 22, 112], with their observations upon an Act past in Pennsylvania entituled An Act for erecting and establishing a Post Office, was read; and thereupon ordered that a copy of the said observations be sent to Mr. Penn.

Letter to Mr. Penn to know what laws he himself past.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Penn [fo. 106, 112], to desire him to certify under his hand to the Board which and how many of the laws now under consideration were actually past by him in person, during his stay in Pennsylvania.

Upon Mr. Penn's answer, a representation to be drawn.

And further ordered that, so soon as Mr. Penn shall return an answer to the forementioned letter, the draught of a representation be prepared to lay the Pennsylvania laws before her Majesty.

New Jersey.

Col. Quary about election of Representatives in New Jersey, &c.

His opinion upon the Act relating thereto.

Colonel Quary attending, their lordships communicated to him an Act past in New Jersey in November, 1704, [fo. 106, 109, 115], for altering the present constitution and regulating the election of representatives to serve in the General Assembly of that province, as also her Majesty's additional instruction of the 3rd of May last to the Lord Cornbury upon the same subject [I. fo. 365]; whereupon he said that he thought the thousand acres, limited by the instructions as a qualification to be elected a representative, was too high, for that there were very few in the province that had above eight hundred acres, and scarse any that had eight hundred cultivated of the value —; that a personal estate of 500l. sterling was not proportioned to a thousand acres of land, for 1,000 acres cost there but one hundred pounds, and therefore he thought that matter required a further consideration; that the regulations in the Act are very well, and that he thought nothing there wanting, but only to specify the number of acres or the value of a personal estate requisite to qualify the inhabitants to elect or be elected; whereupon their lordships resolved to write to the Lord Cornbury upon that matter.

New Jersey Acts.

Lord Cornbury to be writ to thereupon.

Then their lordships went through the consideration of the Acts passed in New Jersey in November, 1704 [fo. 106, 108, 115], and gave directions for writing to the Lord Cornbury thereupon [fo. 110].

Barbados.

Letter from Sir Beville Granville.

A letter from Sir Beville Granville, Governor of Barbadoes, of the 15th of September last, was read, and the papers therein refer'd to laid before the Board, and are as follow, vizt.:
Papers therein referred to.
Account of the damage done to the shipping by the late high wind in Barbados the 16th of August, 1705.
Naval officers' list of ships entred and cleared in Barbadoes from the 25th of March, 1705, to the 24th June following, inclusive.
Acts past in Barbados in June, July, and August, 1705.

Mr. Chamberlain's character to be inquired into.

Ordered that inquiry be made about the character of Mr. Middleton Chamberlain [fo. 111], mentioned in the foregoing letter to have been put into the Councill by Sir Beville Granville.

November 21. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Prior.

New Jersey.

Draught of a letter to the Lord Cornbury.

Their lordships took into consideration the draught of a letter to the Lord Cornbury [fo. 109], Governor of New Jersey, and made a progress therein.

Representation for three counsellors.

A representation proposing that Mr. Townley, Mr. Cox and Mr. Mompesson [fo. 5, 127] (recommended by the Lord Cornbury in his letter of 19th February last) be constituted by her Majesty members of the Councill of New Jersey, was signed.

Letter to Mr. Dockminique with extract of what the Lord Cornbury writes about Mr. Morris.

Mr. Dockwra summon'd.

Their lordships taking again into consideration what the Lord Cornbury writ in his above-mentioned letter relating to Mr. Morris [fo. 5], ordered that an extract thereof be sent to Mr. Dockminique, and that he be acquainted that their lordships desire to speak with him thereupon on Fryday morning next [fo. 120]; and further ordered that Mr. Dockwra have notice to attend the Board on Monday morning next [fo. 114].

Barbados.

Agents to attend about Mr. Chamberlain's character, &c.

Ordered that the agents of Barbados have notice that the Board desire to speak with them to-morrow morning [fo. 109 and infra], in order to inquire of them what they know of Mr. Middleton Chamberlain, mentioned by Sir Beville Granville, in his letter read yesterday, to be put into the Councill.

New York.

Dr. Bentham's petition praying to know the personal estate of Mr. Mott, deceased, at New York.

A petition of Joseph Bentham, Dr. of Divinity, administrator to Edmund Mott, deceased, late Chaplain to the Lord Cornbury [fo. 117], praying that he may have by their lordships' assistance an account from New Yorke of the personal estate of the said Edmund Mott, was read, and directions given for writing to the Lord Cornbury thereupon.

November 22. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Barbados.

Agents about Mr. Chamber lain put into the Councill by the Governor.

The Barbados agents (according to the directions in yesterday's minutes) [vide supra], with Mr. Chester attending, and being asked what they knew about Mr. Middleton Chamberlain, put into the Councill by Sir Beville Granville, they said that the said Chamberlain was the brother of Doctor Chamberlain who lives in Essex Street, that he marryed a wife, and by her has a considerable estate in fee in Barbados, and that he is otherwise very well qualifyed to be of the Councill of that island; whereupon ordered that further inquiry be made of the character and qualification of the said Chamberlain [fo. 116] to be a member of the Councill of the said island.

The agents desire an inspection of the laws in order to print the same.

Upon consideration of the errors in the printed book of the laws of Barbados, the said agents desired that they might have recourse to the laws in this office, in order to the printing off a more compleat collection; whereupon ordered that the said laws be communicated to them accordingly.

Pennsylvania.

Letter from Mr. Penn about laws.

Letter to him again thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Penn in answer to one writ him the 20th instant [fo. 107, 114], by which he certifies that the laws past in Pennsylvania in 1700 and 1701 were past by him whilst he was there, was read; and thereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Penn [fo. 148] to desire him to certify the same in writing upon each of the said laws, in order to their lordships reporting the same to her Majesty.

Maryland.

Laws.

The Acts past in Maryland the 3rd of October, 1704 [fo. 118], were laid before the Board, and a progress made in the consideration thereof.

Carolina.

Mr Byfield with certificates from the rope yard of the goodness of his pitch and tar.

Mr. Byfield attending, acquainted their lordships that their letter of the 17th July last [fo. 18] relating to 400 barrills of pitch and tar imported from Carolina by him and company had been referr'd to the Navy Board, who had thereupon made tryal of the said pitch and tar, and found the same to be good and fit for the service of her Majesty's Navy, according to two certificates from the officers imployed by the Navy Board in the rope yard at Woolwich, copies whereof he delivered to their lordships; he added that the Navy Board would not allow him any bounty money, as was proposed by their lordships' foresaid letter; that the Navy Board had bought all that parcell, except 100 barrills of pitch, but allowed him no more for it than they do to the Swedes.

November 23. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Pennsylvania.

Laws.

Draught of representation.

Their lordships took into consideration the draught of a representation upon the laws past in Pennsylvania in 1700 and 1701 [fo. 112, 115], and made a progress therein.

November 26. Present:—Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

New Jersey.

Mr. Dockwra and Cox about an Act relating to election of Representatives.

Copy of the said Act sent to them for their observations thereupon.

Mr. Dockwra and Mr. Cox attending (according to the directions in the minutes of the 21st instant) [fo. 110], and several questions being asked them in relation to Mr. Morris, and to the Act for altering the present constitution and regulating the election of Representatives to serve in the General Assembly of the Province of Nova Cæsaria or New Jersey, they said that they had not yet seen the said Act; whereupon ordered that a copy thereof be sent to them, and that they bring their observations thereupon [fo. 120], together with what they may have to offer concerning Mr. Morris, in writing on Fryday morning next.

Pennsylvania.

Draught of representation on laws.

The draught of a representation upon the laws of Pennsylvania [fo. 114, 148], mention'd in the last minutes, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Maryland.

Governor's letters under consideration.

Report thereon to be made.

Their lordships took again into consideration Colonel Seymour's letters of the 29th September, 1704 and 3rd July last [fo. 59, 94, 117], and gave directions for preparing a representation thereupon.

November 27. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Barbados.

Agents desiring a report to be made on several Acts.

Colonel Cleland and Mr. Holder, agents for Barbados, attending, desired their lordships would take into consideration the Acts lately received from Sir Beville Granville, and more particularly an Act past during the Lord Grey's government, intituled An Act to ratify, approve and confirm Letters Patent, gifts, grants, bargains, sales, conveyance and all other instruments of writing relating to the titles of the several owners, proprietors of the lands and tenements, slaves and other hereditaments within this island; whereupon they were told that it should be done at the first opportunity.

Barbados.

Character of Mr. Walker to be of the Councill in the room of Mr. Chamberlain.

Report to be drawn.

Then these gentlemen being asked the character of Mr. Alexander Walker [fo. 111], who stands before Mr. Middleton Chamberlain in the list of persons to supply vacancies in the Councill transmitted by Sir Beville Granville; they said that he was a man of more years and experience than Mr. Chamberlain, a longer inhabitant upon the island, well versed in the laws there, of a considerable estate, and second judge in the said island, and would be willing to serve her Majesty as a Counsellor if he was recommended by their lordships; whereupon ordered [fo. 117] that a representation be prepared for offering to her Majesty that the said Walker be put into the Councill there, instead of the said Chamberlain, put into that place by Sir Beville Granville.

November 28. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

New Yorke.

Letter to Lord Cornbury about Dr. Bentham.

A letter to the Lord Cornbury, as directed in the minutes of the 21st instant [fo. 111], relating to Dr. Bentham, was signed.

Barbados.

Representation for Mr. Walker to be of the Councill.

A representation offering to her Majesty that Mr. Alexander Walker be constituted a member of the Councill of Barbados [fo. 116, 127] in the stead of Mr. Middleton Chamberlain, put into that place by Sir Beville Granville, was signed.

Maryland.

Bishop of London desired to be at the Board about laws relating to Papists.

Ordered that a letter be writ to the Lord Bishop of London, to acquaint him that the Board are desirous of his lordship's assistance to-morrow morning in the consideration of two laws, lately received from Maryland, relating to popery.

Draught of a representation on Col. Seymour's letters.

The draught of a representation upon Colonel Seymour's late letters [fo. 115, 118], was taken into consideration, and a progress made therein.

November 29. Present:—Lord Bishop of London, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Maryland.

Representation on Col. Seymour's letters.

A representation upon the letters lately received from Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland [fo. 117, 175], mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Acts about Popery.

An Act past in Maryland in October, 1704 [fo. 113, 121 (fo. 76)], for preventing the growth of popery in that province, as also another Act past there in December following for suspending a clause in the said Act, were read; and their lordships agreed to proceed to-morrow in the consideration of the said Acts [fo. 121].

November 30. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Maryland.

Memorial from Sir Thomas Lawrence complaining of an Act that takes away the secretary's fees.

His caveat against another Act for limitation of officers' fees.

Sir Thomas Lawrence presented to their lordships a memorial complaining of an Act past in Maryland for regulating of ordinaries [I. fo. 354; fo. 172], for that the fees for granting of ordinary licences are by the said Act taken from the secretary's office, whereunto they formerly belonged, which was read; and Sir Thomas was acquainted that, so soon as they should receive an answer to the letter the Board had writ Colonel Seymour the 12th of Aprill last upon that subject, they would then consider Sir Thomas's objections against the said Act. He further presented to their lordships a caveat against an Act for limitation of officers' fees, which their lordships resolved to take into consideration with the Act itself.

Trade.

Account of gold and silver coined in the Tower.

A letter from Sir Isaac Newton [fo. 106], giving an account of the gold and silver coined in the Tower since the 30th of Aprill, 1704, was read.

New Jersey.

Mr. Dockwra and Mr. Cox about Act for regulating elections of Assembly men.

Mr. Dockwra and Colonel Cox attending [fo. 114], they acquainted their lordships that they had considered the Act past in New Jersey for regulating elections of Assembly men, and had no objections thereunto, but that no place for electing is appointed, whereas they thought it would be more proper that particular places in each county and district should be fixed and settled by the Act.

Mr. Dockminique, &c., about difference between Lord Cornbury and Mr. Morris, desiring upon Morris's submission he may be readmitted into the Councill.

Mr. Dockminique, with some other proprietors of the western division of New Jersey, attending [fo. 110], and being asked what they had to offer upon the extract of the Lord Cornbury's letter sent them the 21st instant, they said that they believed the misunderstandings between my Lord Cornbury and Mr. Morris might arise from too much heat on both sides; and they prayed that Mr. Morris upon a due and suitable submission to the Lord Cornbury might be re-admitted into the Councill.

Virginia.

Col. Quary about the address of the Assembly against him.

Colonel Quary attending and desiring their lordships to consider the address of the Assembly of Virginia against him [fo. 75], which was received in Colonel Nicholson's letter of the 25th of July last, that he may be cleared from the aspersions therein; he was acquainted that the said address having been sent to Mr. Secretary Hedges the 16th of the last month [fo. 59] to be laid before her Majesty, if her Majesty thought fit to refer the same back to this Board [fo. 175], their lordships would then report the matter in order to his vindication.