Journal, December 1756: Volume 63

Journal, December 1756

Wednesday, December 1. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton.

Pennsylvania.

Their lordships took into further consideration that part of Sir William Johnson's letter mentioned in the preceding minutes which relates to the complaint of the Six confederate Nations of Indians concerning the lands purchased by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania at Albany in 1754, and Mr. Thomas Penn, one of the Proprietaries attending without as desired, he was called in, and their lordships had some conversation with him upon this affair, wherein he expressed his desire to take any measures that might tend to give satisfaction to the Indians and promote his Majesty's service, and having moved their lordships for an extract of so much of Sir William Johnson's letter as relates to this subject, in order that he might consider thereof, and give his thoughts more fully upon it, he withdrew and their lordships ordered an extract of the letter to be made and delivered to him.

Tuesday, December 7. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Stone.

New York.

Read a letter from Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York, dated the 27th of October, 1756, relating to the present state of defence of the city of New York and inclosing:—
Account of cannon mounted and wanting to compleat the works in the city of New York.

Ordered, that copies of the said letter and paper be made to be laid before his Majesty, and the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Thursday, December 16. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Miscellanies.

A Commission under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the 13th instant, constituting and appointing George Dunk, Earl of Halifax, Andrew Stone, James Oswald, Thomas Pelham, Soame Jenyns, Richard Rigby, and William Gerard Hamilton, together with William Sloper, Esquires, Commissioners for promoting the trade of Great Britain and the dominions thereunto belonging, and for inspecting and improving his Majesty's Plantations and Colonies in America and elsewhere, was opened and read, and the Commissioners took their seats at the Board accordingly.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial prepared by Mr. Parker, officiating for Mr. Kilby, agent for the affairs of the settlement of Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury praying that the sum of £10,000 may be issued to him to discharge two bills drawn upon the said agent by the Governor of Nova Scotia for special services in the said colony, and the said memorial and also two letters from the said Governor to their lordships containing advice of the said bills having been read, their lordships were pleased to approve thereof, and to order Mr. Parker to present the same to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury for their directions thereupon.

Jamaica.

The Secretary laid before the Board an humble representation and address to his Majesty from the Assembly of the Island of Jamaica praying that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to repeal the Act passed by the last Assembly for removing the Courts of Judicature and Offices of Record from St. Iago de la Vega to Kingston, and that the Governor may be directed to reside and call the Assembly [in] the said town of St. Iago de la Vega, which they represent to be the properest place for the seat of government, and the said representation having been read their lordships were of opinion that it should be forthwith laid before his Majesty in Council, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was accordingly prepared, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

East India.

Read an Order of a Committee of the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council, dated the 24th of November, 1756, referring to the consideration of this Board an account of the East India Company's exports from the port of London from the 29th of September, 1755, to the 29th September, 1756.

New Jersey.

New York.

Read an Order of the Lords of a Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 24th of November, 1756, referring to this Board a petition presented to his Majesty in behalf of the Proprietors of the Eastern division of New Jersey, praying that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to ascertain a line of jurisdiction between the provinces of New York and New Jersey untill the true line of jurisdiction and property can be settled by a proper Commission to be granted for that purpose.

Resolved, that the said order of reference be taken into further consideration to-morrow morning.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Henry Moore, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated Spanish Town, the 1st of October, 1756, transmitting eight depositions and examinations taken in September and October last, relative to the guard having killed two French prisoners, and wounded a third, attempting to make their escape from their confinement.

South Carolina.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers which he had received from Mr. Pinckney, agent for the Governor and Council of South Carolina, viz.:—
The representation of Mr. Pinckney in regard to the Creek Indians, and the designs of the French through them on the province of South Carolina, December 2nd, 1756.
The strength of the province of South Carolina considered, with a scheme for their present protection, etc., December 2nd, 1756.

Resolved that the said papers be taken into further consideration.

Friday, December 17. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

New Jersey.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs referring the petition of the Proprietors of the Eastern division of New Jersey, relating to the establishment of a temporary line of jurisdiction between that province and New York, mentioned in the preceding day's minutes, and after some time spent therein, resolved further to consider of the petition on Tuesday next and ordered the Secretary to give notice thereof to Mr. Paris, agent for the said Proprietors. and to Mr. Charles, agent for the province of New York, and acquaint them that their Lordships are desirous of hearing anything they may have to offer upon it.

Tuesday, December 21. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

New York.

New Jersey.

Their lordships took into further consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, referring the petition of the Proprietors of the Eastern division of New Jersey to his Majesty, praying that a temporary line of jurisdiction may be established by his Majesty's authority between that province and New York; and Mr. Paris, sollicitor for the said Proprietors, and Mr. Charles, agent for the Assembly of New York, attending without, as desired, they were called in, and Mr. Paris having desired that Mr. Alexander, one of the said Proprietors then present, might be admitted to prove, that notice of this application was properly given to the government of New York, Mr. Alexander produced a copy of the said petition, and declared that he did, on the 13th of August last, deliver the same to Mr. Kennedy, one of the Council of New York, and desired him to communicate the same to the Council, which he promised to do the next day; Mr. Paris then declared, that, he was ready to advance the whole expence attending the taking out and executing any Commission either for a temporary line of jurisdiction or a final line of property, provided that in the order for such Commission, New York should be taxed with the repayment of one moiety of such expense.

Mr. Charles then observed to their lordships, that the petition had never been communicated to him, nor had he ever seen it till this day, and therefore moved their lordships for a copy of it, and that time might be allowed him to consider thereof, and be prepared to be heard more fully upon it, which was agreed to by their Lordships, and the parties being withdrawn, a copy of the said petition was ordered to be made and delivered to Mr. Charles, and their lordships agreed at their first meeting after the Christmas hollidays, to appoint a day for the further consideration of this affair, and for the parties' attendance upon it.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated Halifax, the 14th of October, 1756, inclosing duplicates of his letters of the 3rd and 11th of October preceding.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from William Henry Lyttelton, Esquire, Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated Charles Town, the 17th of October, 1756, relating to Indian Affairs.

Georgia.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Reynolds, Governor of Georgia, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Reynolds to the Board, dated 12th July, 1756, relating to the Creek Indians and inclosing:—
Abstract of grants of lands registered in the province of Georgia from the 27th January to 27th July, 1756.
Copy of the Journal of the Governor and Council of Georgia from the 3rd of August to the 12th of October following.
Copy of the Journal of the Governor and Council of Georgia from the 31st of March, 1756, to the 10th July following.
List of ships and vessels entered and cleared between the 25th of March and 29th September following.
Letter from Mr. Reynolds to the Board, dated 25th September, 1756, in consequence of the Board's orders of the 21st January, 1755, relating to the case of Mr. Bosomworth and his wife, and inclosing:—
A narrative in answer to the charges and allegations of the late President and Court of Assistants of the colony of Georgia against Mr. Bosomworth, etc., with the letters of the said President and Court to the Governor thereupon.
Letter from Mr. Reynolds to the Board, dated 29th September, 1756, relating to the present temper and disposition of the Indians surrounding the provinces of Georgia and Carolina.
Letter from Mr. Reynolds to the Board, dated the 17th of October, 1756, earnestly desiring that presents may be sent for the Indians every year.

Georgia.

South Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration those parts of the letters from Mr. Lyttelton and Mr. Reynolds which relate to the present temper and disposition of the Indians surrounding the provinces of Georgia and South Carolina, and the apprehensions of the people there of being involved in a war with the Creek Indians, and ordered a representation to his Majesty to be prepared.

Friday, December 24. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Stone, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Hamilton.

South Carolina.

Georgia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon those parts of the letters from the Governors of South Carolina and Georgia, mentioned in the minutes of the 21st instant, which relate to the temper and dispostion of the Indians surrounding those colonies, and the apprehensions of the people that they shall be involved in an Indian war, having been prepared pursuant to the said minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed, as was also a letter to Mr. Pitt, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, inclosing the same.

North Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Dobbs, Governor of North Carolina, dated the 31st of October, 1756, containing several particulars relative to the general state of affairs in that province, and inclosing:—
Copy of a letter from Major Lewis to Mr. Lyttelton, Governor of South Carolina, relating to his proceedings in building a fort in the Cherokee country.
Copy of two addresses from the Council and Assembly of North Carolina to his Majesty, dated the 14th and 22nd of October, 1756.
Governor Dobbs' speech to the Council and Assembly of North Carolina.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit an extract of so much of Mr. Dobbs' letter as relates to the want of cruizers being properly stationed for the protection of the coasts of that province to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and desire him to lay it before that Board.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit an extract of so much of the abovementioned letter as relates to the want of an officer of the Customs at Ocacock inlet to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and desire him to lay it before that Board.

Jamaica.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following addresses and representations of the Council and Assembly of the Island of Jamaica to his Majesty received from Mr. Moore, Lieutenant Governor of the said Island, viz.:—
The humble representation of the Council of the Island of Jamaica, with their opinion as to the fixing the seat of government in that Island, 7th September, 1756.
The humble representation and address of the Assembly of the Island of Jamaica to his Majesty, 3rd September, 1756.
The address and representation of the Assembly appearing to be duplicate of that laid by their lordships before his Majesty in Council on the 16th instant, ordered that the address of the Council be forthwith laid before his Majesty in Council, and a representation thereupon to his Majesty being prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.