Journal, May 1706: Journal Book K

Journal, May 1706

May 1. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Barbados.

Memorial from Mr. Foulerton, &c., in behalf of Mr. Skene.

Mr. Foulerton, &c. to attend on Fryday next.

A memorial from Mr. Foulerton and Mr. Tryon, agents for Mr. Skene, secretary of Barbados [fo. 36, 318], in answer to the complaints exhibited here against him by Mr. Guy Ball and others, as also the tryal of the said Skene, were read; and thereupon ordered that Mr. Foulerton and Mr. Tryon have notice to attend the Board on Fryday next.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Perry at the Board about suspension of his deputy provost marshal of Antego.

Letter to be writ to Col. Park thereupon.

Mr. John Perry, provost marshall of the Leeward Islands, attending [fo. 304], and being acquainted with what Colonel Johnson writes in his letter of the 29th January last, relating to the suspension of the deputy provost marshall of Antego, he said he was sorry his deputy had been so ill advised as not to obey the Lieutenant's orders, and that he would write to his said deputy that he may make his submission to the Governor, which, if he refuse to do, he would then nominate another in his place; whereupon the Board agreed to write to Colonel Park that, if the said deputy did make his submission accordingly, he might be restored to his place again.

Nevis.

Acts under consideration.

Their lordships took into consideration the Acts past at Nevis in 170¾ and March and July, 1705 [fo. 266, vide infra], together with Mr. Attorney General's report thereupon, and made a progress therein.

New Yorke.

New Jersey.

Letters to Lord Cornbury.

The letters to the Lord Cornbury [fo. 304], agreed at the last meeting, were signed.

May 2. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Nevis.

Acts considered.

Their lordships proceeded in the consideration of the Acts of Nevis mentioned in yesterday's minutes [vide supra and fo. 307], and agreed that the Act for establishing of Courts and setting due methods for the Administration of Justice be returned to the Governor, that he may endeavour to get a new Act past conformable to Mr. Attorney General's report, and that he be acquainted that, unless the Assembly do pass such an Act at their first sitting so amended, this Act will be repealed.

Their lordships further agreed that the Act for the better government of negroes and other slaves, the Act to settle and ascertain fees to the Cheif Judge and Assistant Justices of that Island, and the Act to regulate and settle the militia of this Island do remain as probationary Acts till they be further considered.

That the Act for making Indian Castle a shipping place be sent to my Lord Treasurer, with the desire of the Board that they may have the opinion of her Majesty's Commissioners of the Customes thereupon.

And their lordships agreed to present An Act for raising an Impost on strong liquors imported, and An Act to prevent all accidents of fire that may happen by making or throwing of squibbs or other fireworks in Charles Town or other the towns of this Island to her Majesty for her royal approbation.

Representation on Acts.

Their lordships further agreed to present the following Acts to her Majesty to be repealed, vizt.: An Act to settle and establish the Secretary's fees of this Island, and An Act to settle and establish the Marshall's fees of this Island, and a representation for laying the said Acts before her Majesty accordingly [fo. 306, 334], was signed.

May 3. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Leeward Islands.

Acts under consideration.

An Act to be returned for amendment.

Their lordships took into consideration the Acts past at a General Assembly of all the Leeward Islands, held at Nevis in June, 1705 [fo. 266], together with Mr. Attorney General's report thereupon, which was read [fo. 83, 208], as also a caveat of Mr. Stephen Duport against two of the said Acts; and thereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Stephen Duport [fo. 309] to attend their lordships on Tuesday morning next. In the meantime their lordships agreed that the Act to settle General Councills and General Assemblies for the Charibbee Islands in America and to secure to each particular Island their own particular Laws and Legal Customes, be returned to be amended according to Mr. Attorney General's report.

Virginia.

Trade.

Memorial from Mr. Linton in explanation of the extract of Col. Quary's letter.

Mr. Linton attending according to appointment, presented to the Board a memorial [fo. 302] in explanation of the extract of Colonel Quary's letter, mentioned in the minutes of the 29th of the last month, relating to the oath required at the Custome House upon the exportation of tobacco, which was read.

May 7. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Trade.

Discourse relating to the pilchard fishery.

Mr. Tresillian presented to their lordships a discourse setting forth the abuses practised in the taking and curing of pilchards, and giving the reason for the decay of that trade, as also proposing a remedy for the cure thereof, part whereof was read; and their lordships resolv'd [fo. 311] to proceed upon the remainder to-morrow morning.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Duport about Acts.

Mr. Stephen Duport attending in relation to the Acts past at a General Assembly of all the Leeward Islands held at Nevis in June, 1705 [fo. 308, 311], he said that he had objections to two of the said Acts, and promised to bring a memorial thereupon in writing.

Ireland.

Letter from Mr. Southwell about Mr. Cromelin's patent linnen manufacture.

Letter to the Lord Treasurer thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Southwell of the 6th instant, signifying that his Grace the Duke of Ormonde desires that Mr. Cromelin's patent for promoting the linen manufacture in Ireland [fo. 301, 337], may be inlarged for 12 years more after the expiration of the term of his present patent, was read; whereupon their lordships signed a letter to the Lord High Treasurer upon the proposals relating to that manufacture referr'd by his lordship to this Board and mentioned in the minutes of the 25th of the last month.

Trade.

Order of Council with account of bullion, goods, &c., exported to East India.

An Order of Councill of the 2nd instant, transmitting to this Board an account of goods, bullion &c., exported from the Port of London by the united trade of the East India Company, between Aprill, 1705, and Aprill, 1706, was read.

Bermuda.

Order of Councill on representation upon the petition of the Assembly against Jones.

A copy of an Order of Councill of the 4th of Aprill, 1706 [fo. 254] upon a representation of the 19th of March last, on the petition of the General Assembly of Bermuda against Mr. Jones, secretary and provost marshall of that island, approving the said representation, was read.

New Yorke.

Order on representation for confirming two Acts.

A copy of an Order of Councill of the 11th of Aprill, 1706 [fo. 283], upon a representation of the same date, for confirming two Acts of New Yorke, approving the same, was read.

May 8. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Du Port for copies of two Acts.

Mr. Du Port, desiring to have copies of two Acts past at a General Assembly of all the Leeward Islands at Nevis in June, 1705 [fo. 309], viz.: An Act to settle General Councills and General Assemblies for the Leeward Charibbee Islands in America, and to secure to each particular Island their own particular laws and legal customes, and An Act for establishing Courts and settling due methods for the administration of justice throughout all her Majesty's Leeward Islands in America, together with Mr. Attorney General's report thereupon, in order to the drawing up of his objections thereunto; ordered that copies be given him accordingly.

Trade.

Mr. Tressilian's treatise relating to the pilchard fishery.

Their lordships went through the reading of Mr. Tresillian's treatise [fo. 309, 312] relating to the pilchard fishery, mention'd in yesterday's minutes, and resolved to consider the same at a convenient opportunity.

New Yorke.

Account sent to Board of Ordnance of stores expended there.

A letter to the Board of Ordnance inclosing to them the account received from the Lord Cornbury of stores of war expended at New Yorke since his lordship's arrival in that government, and referr'd to [fo. 124] in his letter of the 8th of July last, was signed.

May 20. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Trade.

Mr. Tresillian about pilchard fishery.

Mr. Tresillian attending, their lordships returned to him his treatise [fo. 311] relating to the abuses practised in the taking and curing pilchards, and the decay of that trade &c. (mentioned in the minutes of the 8th instant), who was advised to communicate the same to the members of Parliament and other gentlemen of Cornwall for their approbation.

May 21. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen.

Bahamas.

Report from Attorney and Solicitor General upon address of House of Lords.

Representation to be prepared thereupon.

A report of Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General in answer to the letter writ them the 12th of the last month [fo. 280, 298, 352] upon an address of the House of Lords to her Majesty relating to the Bahama Islands, was read; and thereupon ordered [fo. 316] that a representation be prepared concurring with the said report, and proposing that at such time as her Majesty's other affairs shall permit she be pleased to send a Governor to the Bahama's with a sufficient force for the security of the said islands and the protection of her subjects there.

Carolina.

Report of Attorney and Sollicitor General upon address of House of Lords.

Representation to be prepared.

Another report from Mr. Attorney and Mr. Sollicitor General in answer to the letter writ them the 12th of the last month [fo. 279, 298, 352] upon an address of the House of Lords to her Majesty relating to Carolina, was read; and their lordships likewise agreeing with Mr. Attorney and Mr. Sollicitor General in their opinion, ordered [fo. 315] that a representation be prepared accordingly.

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

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Col. Johnson with account of the attempts of the French.

A letter from Colonel Johnson, Commander-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands, dated at Antego the 13th of March last, giving an account of the attempts of the French in February last upon the Islands of Nevis and St. Christopher's, as also sending a list of the present Councill of Antego, was read.

Letter from President and Councill of Nevis on the same occasion and complaining of arms sent from the Tower, and desiring great guns.

Letter to be prepared to Mr. Secretary Hedges thereon.

A letter from the President, Councill and Assembly of Nevis, dated the 12th of March last upon the same occasion and complaining of the badness of the musquets received from the Tower, and of the weakness of the companies of soldiers there, and the method practised by the officers there of inlisting the poor men and servants, and inclosing a journal of the proceedings of the French in their said attempt, with a petition to her Majesty thereupon, praying for a recruit of great guns, was read, and directions given [fo. 315] for preparing a letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges for laying the said complaints and address before her Majesty.

May 23. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Leeward Islands.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges with extract of a letter from President and Council of Nevis about the late invasion of the French.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, inclosing an extract of the letter from the President, Councill and Assembly of Nevis [fo. 314] and their address to her Majesty, upon occasion of the late invasion of the French, as directed in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Dummer with proceedings of the Prince packet boat, and journal while the French were at St. Christophers.

A letter from Mr. Dummer of the 21st instant, giving an account of the proceedings out and home of the Prince George packet-boat, as also inclosing a journal of what passed at St. Christopher's during the stay of the French there, was read.

Carolina.

Representation upon address of House of Lords.

The draught of a representation upon Mr. Secretary Hedges's letter of the 3rd of the last month [fo. 313, 316], referring to this Board an address of the House of Lords to her Majesty relating to Carolina, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

May 24. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Carolina.

Representation upon address of House of Lords.

A representation upon the address of the House of Lords relating to Carolina [fo. 315, 334], as agreed the last meeting, was signed.

Bahama Islands.

Representation upon address of House of Lords.

Letter therewith to Mr. Secretary Hedges and that about Carolina.

A representation upon an address of the House of Lords relating to the Bahama Islands [fo. 313, 331, 352], together with a letter inclosing both the said representations to Mr. Secretary Hedges, were also signed and sent.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Harley with extract of a letter from Mr. Whitworth relating to trade from Russia, with memorial from the Czar's Ministers.

Letter to Mr. Lowndes for the opinion of the Commissioners of the Customes thereon.

And to the Russia Company for their observations.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Harley of the 20th instant, referring to this Board the extract of a letter from Mr. Whitworth [fo. 326], her Majesty's Envoy in Muscovy, concerning the trade of that nation with England in their own ships, together with a memorial of the Czar's minister upon that subject, was read; and thereupon ordered that a copy of the said extract and memorial be sent to Mr. Lowndes, and that he be desired to move the Right Honourable the Lord High Treasurer that the Board may have the opinion of the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customes thereupon [fo. 352], and further ordered that another copy of the said papers be sent to the Russia Company [fo. 325] for their observation thereupon in writing on Tuesday morning next.

Newfoundland.

Mr. Thurston about sending necessaries for the com[p]any of soldiers.

Letter to Mr. Burchet thereon.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges about clothing for the said soldiers.

A letter from Mr. Thurston, signifying that by reason of a dispute depending between the company of soliders at Newfoundland and the Lord Paston's regiment, there was no cloathing provided for the said company, and further desiring a letter to the Admiralty that he may have an order to the Captain of the man-of-war now bound to Newfoundland to take on board a chest of medicines, together with shoes and stockins, prepared for the said company, was read; and thereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Burchet accordingly. And their lordships taking into consideration the necessity of sending cloathing to the said company by the men of war now bound thither, by reason that there will be no other opportunity of sending thither this year, a letter was immediately writ and signed to Mr. Secretary Hedges thereupon.

May 27. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen.

St. Christophers.

Letter from Col. Hamilton with journal of his proceedings against the French on their descent.

A letter from Colonel Hamilton, Lieutenant-Governor of St. Christopher's, dated the 15th of March, 170⁵/6, together with a journal of his proceedings against the French at the time of their descent on that Island, was read.

Barbados.

Mr. Tryon and Foulerton in behalf of Mr. Skene.

Mr. Tryon and Mr. Foulerton, agents for Mr. Skene, secretary of Barbados, attending [fo. 305], their memorial (mentioned in the minutes of the 1st instant), in answer to the complaints here against the said Skene, was again read; whereupon they were acquainted that their lordships had not sufficient matter before them to report to her Majesty till Mr. Skene had returned his answer to the said complaints in writing [fo. 380], pursuant to the Orders in Councill directing the same, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th July and 29th August last.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Col. Johnson.

A letter from Colonel Johnson, Commander-in-Cheif of the Leeward Islands, dated the 13th of March last, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to laid the before the Board, and are as follows:
Papers therein referr'd to.
Certificates of the Commissioners of the Revenue and the Councills and Assemblies of Nevis and Antegoa, certifying that Colonel Johnson has had no salary, gift or present since his commanding-in-chief those islands.
Account of the publick money received and issued in the Island of Nevis from September, 1704, to September, 1705.
Account of Ordnance stores in the Island of Nevis, taken in pursuance of her Majesty's order of the 22nd February, 170⁴/5.
Imports and exports to and from the Island of Nevis from the 12th July, 1705, to the 29th September, 1705.
Imports and exports to and from the Island of Nevis from the 29th September to the 25th of December, 1705.

Nevis.

Letter from Mr. Cherret, deputy secretary.

Papers therein referr'd to.

A letter from Mr. Cherret, deputy secretary of Nevis, dated March the 14th, 170⁵/6, was read, and the papers therewith transmitted laid before the Board, and are as follows:
Account of Ordnance stores in the Island of Antegoa.
The Treasurer's account of stores of war received by order of Colonel Mathews for the use of the Island of Antegoa.
Account of gunpowder received for tonnage of vessells in the Leeward Islands, and of the quantities delivered out for the use of the said islands from the 14th of March, 1700, to the 23rd November, 1705.
Mr. Penny's account of her Majesty's revenue from the 11th of September, 1704, to the 29th of September, 1705.
Abstract of Mr. Gamble's account of her Majesty's revenue from the 11th of Aprill, 1702, to the 18th November, 1705.
Naval officers' list of ships from the 25th of June, 1705, to the 25th of December following.
Book entituled Laws of Antegoa.

Jamaica.

Letter from Col. Handasyd.

(N.B. The Board were inform'd that the Secretary of State has the like letter.)

A letter from Colonel Handasyd, Governor of Jamaica, dated the 1st of Aprill last, was read, and the papers referr'd to therein laid before the Board, viz.:
Papers therein referr'd to.
Copy of Mr. Daniel's bond for 1,000l. for returning the stores of war borrowed by him for Carolina.
Copy of two letters from Colonel Handasyd to the Governor of Carthagena, inviting him to declare for King Charles the Third.
Present strength of the soldiery in Jamaica.
Account of Ordnance stores issued for the service of the island, and of what is remaining &c.
Minutes of Councill of Jamaica from the 20th of January, 170⁵/6, to the 27th of March following.

Newfoundland.

Letter fron Lieut.

Moody about cornplaints against him.

A letter from Lieutenant Moody, praying their lordships to certify that he has cleared himself from the complaints made against him &c., was read; whereupon ordered [fo. 267] that a copy of their lordships' letter of the 3rd of Aprill last, relating to the said complaints, be given him accordingly.

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

Jamaica.

Accounts of stores of war.

Carolina.

Letter to Board of Ordnance about stores of war borrow'd by Robert Daniel of Col. Handasyd.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that having met Mr. Musgrave and Mr. Bridges, they told him that the Board of Ordnance had received from Colonel Handasyd the accounts of stores of warr mentioned in Colonel Handasyd's letter, which was read yesterday, to have been sent them; whereupon their lordships writ a letter to the Board of Ordnance [fo. 333], desiring to know what has been or what can be done upon the bond given by Robert Daniel, of Carolina, for the return of stores of war borrowed by him at Jamaica, mentioned also in Colonel Handasyd's foresaid letter.

Barbados.

Letter from the Governor with seven Acts.

A letter from Sir Beville Granville, Governor of Barbados, dated the 4th of March last, was read, and seven Acts pass'd in January and February last therein referr'd to, were laid before the Board.

Bermuda.

Letter from Colonel Bennet.

A letter from Colonel Bennet, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, dated the 31st of March, 1705, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to laid before the Board, and are as follows, vizt.:
Papers therein referr'd to.
Duplicates of the opinions of the Councill of Bermuda relating to Mr. Jones's demands.
Duplicate of the copy of Mr. Jones's paper of complaints with Colonel Bennet's answer thereto.
Duplicate of Mr. Charles Minor's observations on the behaviour of Mr. Edward Jones since his last coming into Bermuda, with a list of the records &c., delivered to his custody.
Duplicates of the proceedings relating to Mr. Jones since his arrival in Bermuda.

Another letter from Col. Bennet.

Another letter from Colonel Bennet, dated the 29th of June, 1705, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to are as follows, vizt.:
Papers therein referr'd to.
Report of the Councill of Bermuda upon the matters complained of by Mr. Edward Jones.
Account of the tobacco made in Bermuda in the year 1704, and what is likely to be made in 1705, given in by the several Justices of the Peace of that island.
The Councill of Bermudas' opinions relating to the magazine ship and to planting tobacco.
Collector's account of tobacco exported from Bermuda during Colonel Bennet's government.
Nine Acts passed in Bermuda the 3rd of July, 1705.

May 29. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Bermuda.

Letter from Col. Bennet.

Letter from Colonel Bennet, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, dated the 9th of October, 1705, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to laid before the Board, and are as follows, vizt.:
Papers therein referr'd to.
A remonstrance of the judges of assize in Bermuda, relating to Mr. Jones's pretensions to be clerk of assize there.
Copy of the commissions granted formerly and now to the judges in the Island of Bermuda.
Naval officers list of ships entered and cleared in Bermuda from the 13th of June, 1701, to the 19th of September, 1705.

Plantations General.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges about a day of thanksgiving.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges [fo. 326], desiring to know her Majesty's pleasure about a day of thanksgiving to be appointed in the Plantations for the great successes of her Majesty's arms in Flanders, was signed.

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

Barbados.

Jamaica.

Bermuda.

Letters to the Governors.

Letters to the Governors of Bermuda, Jamaica and Barbados, were signed.

Barbados.

Sir John Stanley about counsellors.

Representation to be prepared.

Sir John Stanley attending, acquainted their lordships that Sir Beville Granville had not yet received her Majesty's pleasure in relation to the four suspended Counsellors [fo. 27 &c.], three of which are now dead, and only Colonel Lillington remaining, and desired that their lordships would offer those that have already been put in by Sir Beville Granville to be confirmed by her Majesty, there being at present vacancies in that Councill; whereupon ordered [fo. 326] that a representation be drawn up accordingly.

Trade.

Russia Company about Muscovy ships trading to England.

Sir Benjamin Ayloffe, Deputy Governor, with several members of the Russia Company, attending, acquainted their lordships that they had received the letter writ them the 24th instant [fo. 317], with the papers therein referr'd to, relating to the permitting of Muscovy ships to come into England, and that they had considered the same, and believed that such a permission would prove very detrimental to the trade of England, but they did not see how it could be prevented; however they promised [fo. 330] to give their reasons more fully in writing some time the next week.

May 31. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges about a day of thanksgiving.

Circular letters thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges, in answer to one writ him the 29th instant [fo. 324] signifying her Majesty's pleasure that a day of thanksgiving be observed in the Plantations, was read; and letters to all her Majesty's Governors and to the Proprietary and Charter Governments in America, directing the same, were signed.

Barbados.

Memorial from Sir J. Stanley about confirmation of counsellors.

Representation thereupon.

A memorial from Sir John Stanley, one of the agents for the Island of Barbados, praying that the counsellors admitted by Sir Beville Granville into the Councill of that island may be confirmed by her Majesty, was read; and thereupon a representation for confirming Abel Allein, William Cleland, James Colleton and Middleton Chamberlain, of the Councill of Barbados [fo. 325], as directed in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Trade to English in Russia ships.

Their lordships again took into consideration the extract of Mr. Whitworth's letter [fo. 316], relating to Russia ships trading to England (and mentioned in the minutes of the 24th instant), and made a progress therein.