Journal, December 1763: Volume 70

Journal, December 1763

fo. 335.

Thursday, December 1. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice.

Newfoundland.

Read the following letters received from the Governor of Newfoundland, viz.,
Letter from Thomas Graves, Esquire, Governor of New foundland, to the Board, dated October 18th, 1763, inclosing,
Return of ordnance, etc., in the garrison of Placentia.
Return of the state of the garrison of Fort William and of the detachment of the Royal Artillery.
Return of the stores and troops on the Island of Buoy, August 13th, 1763.
Return of Captain Dover's company of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, and of the detachment of the 45th Regiment at Placentia.
fo. 336.
Returns of ordnance and ordnance stores in Fort William, etc., July 14th, 1763.
Letter from Governor Graves, dated the 20th of October, 1763, acquainting the Board with the proceedings of the French on the Islands of St. Peter and Miquelon, and desiring instructions for the regulation of his conduct, and inclosing,
Copy of a letter from Thomas Graves, Esquire, Governor of Newfoundland, to Captain Ruthven, dated October 15th, 1763, directing him to enforce the observance of the 13th Article of the Treaty of Utrecht.

Ordered, that Governor Graves' letter of the 20th of October last, and the paper inclosed therein be copied, to be transmitted to the Earl of Halifax, and a letter to his Lordship thereupon was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

fo. 337.

Virginia.

The consideration of the remonstrance of the Assembly of Virginia to the Lieutenant Governor, concerning the paper currency of that colony, was ordered to be postponed to this day sennight, and notice thereof given to the merchants.

Ordered, that the Secretary do give notice to the agent for the colony, that the consideration of this matter is fixed for this day sennight, to the end that he may attend if he thinks proper.

fo. 338.

Read a letter from Francis Fauquire, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 7th of September, 1763, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letters on a publick thanksgiving for the peace, and his correspondence with the Board; promising to regulate his future conduct with the Board's directions; acquainting them that he will attend the conference with the Indians at Augusta; and that the Northern Indians alone are troublesome; and inclosing,
Answers to queries.
Votes of the General Assembly from May 19th to May 31st, 1763.
Journal of the General Assembly from May 19th to May 31st, 1763.
Ten Acts passed in May, 1763.

Ordered, that the Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that he was desired by the parties interested in two private Acts passed in Virginia in December, 1762, to move their lordships to lay the said Acts before his Majesty, for his royal approbation, which Acts are entitled as follows, viz.
fo. 339.
An Act to dock the entail of certain lands whereof Ralph Wormley, Esquire, is seized, and for settling other lands of greater value to the same uses.
An Act to vest certain lands therein mentioned in James Hubard, and settling other lands and slaves of greater value in lieu thereof.

The said Acts having been read and considered, and also Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and no objection appearing to lye against the first of these Acts, a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of it, was agreed to and signed.

The other Act appearing liable to material objection, it was ordered to lye by, until the parties interested shall make further application upon it.

South Carolina.

Read the following letters and papers received from the Governor of South Carolina, viz.
fo. 340.
Letter from Governor Boone, dated the 15th September, 1763, acquainting the Board with the receipt of their letters and papers relative to his correspondence, to proclaiming the peace, and the establishment of a temporary line of jurisdiction between North and South Carolina.
Letter from ditto; dated the 15th of September, 1763, vindicating his proceedings with the Assembly of that province, and inclosing,
Petition to the King from the Commons House of Assembly of South Carolina, relative to their right of determining the validity of the election of their members.
Copies of messages from Governor Boone to the Assembly of South Carolina, and their answers.
fo. 341.
Journal of the House of Assembly from the 1st to 16th of September, 1763.
Letter from Governor Boone to the Board, dated the 27th of September, 1763, containing an account of a difference which has arisen between the Council and Assembly of that province, and inclosing,
Message from the Commons House of Assembly to the Council, dated May 28th, 1762.
Message from the Commons House of Assembly to the Council, dated May 29th, 1762.
Address of the Council to Governor Boone, dated September 24th, 1763.
Governor Boone's answer to the Council's address.

Ordered, that the said letters and papers be taken into further consideration this day sennight.

fo. 342.

Georgia.

Read a letter from James Wright, Esquire, Governor of Georgia, dated the 7th of September, 1763, informing the Board of the receipt of several letters and papers relative to governors' correspondence, the proclamation of the peace, and removal of Mr. Grover; and containing an account of the prosperous state of the colony, the expediency of a quit rent law, and the produce of the silk this year.

North Carolina.

Read a memorial of the agent of North Carolina in answer to the Governor's complaints against the Lower House of Assembly, etc., etc.

Ordered, that the said memorial be taken into further consideration on this day sennight, and that the agent have notice to attend.

fo. 343.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into further consideration the Earl of Halifax's letter concerning the continuance of a superintendant upon the Mosquito Shore, and after some time spent therein, it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to his Lordship, in answer thereto, should be prepared.

Their lordships also took into consideration Sir William Johnson's last letter concerning Indian affairs, and it was ordered, that it should be copied, to be laid before the Earl of Halifax, and a letter to his Lordship thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

fo. 344.

Friday, December 2. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Mr. Gascoyne.

Nova Scotia.

Messrs. Mure, Cathcart and Spence attending without, were called in, and delivered an explanatory memorial concerning the establishment they desire upon St. John's Island, which was read, and, after some discourse had with them upon the subject matter of it, they withdrew.

Post Meridiem.

Plantations General.

The draughts of letters to the Earl of Halifax concerning the continuance of a superintendant upon the Mosquito Shore, and upon Sir William Johnson's letter concerning Indian Affairs, having been prepared pursuant to order, were agreed to, transcribed and signed.

fo. 345.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from Mr. Abraham Richards to the Board, dated November 5th, 1763, respecting his great knowledge of the Newfoundland fishery, and his plans for the advancement of it, and requesting their lordships' favour.

Read a letter from Mr. Cayley to the Board, dated the 27th of November, 1763, recommending to their lordships' favour Mr. Abraham Richards, in case a Royal Newfoundland British Company should be established.

Ordered, that the Secretary do acquaint Mr. Richards, that, if he has anything to offer for his Majesty's service in that branch of it within their lordships' department, they shall be ready to to receive it, but that it does not lye with them to recommend persons for any employment whatever.

fo. 346.

Their lordships took into consideration the present state of Newfoundland, and the other lands and islands within that government; and ordered the Secretary to write to the mayors of the several western ports carrying on trade to Newfoundland, and also to the Master of Merchants' Hall, Bristol, to desire the opinions of the gentlemen concerned in that trade in those several towns, whether a more complete and perfect from of civil government in Newfoundland will or will not be for the advantage of that trade and fishery.

Plantations General.

Read a memorial of Colonel Alexander McNutt, containing his proposals for introducing, without expence to the government, 200,000 persons in twenty years into Nova Scotia and the new governments.

Ordered, that the said memorial be taken into consideration on Friday next, and that Mr. McNutt have notice to attend.

fo. 347.

East Florida.

Read a letter from James Grant, Esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated 28th November, 1763, proposing that the east, as well as the west coast of the Peninsula of Florida, should be surveyed by the officer detached from the Squadron at Jamaica to command in the Bay of Mexico, and that two small government vessels should be constantly stationed at St. Augustine.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said letter to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to be laid before that Board, for their consideration.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from William Popple, Esquire, Governor of Bermuda, dated August 17th, 1763, respecting the proceedings of the Assembly relating to publick lands, and inclosing,
fo. 348.
Copy of the minutes of a Committee of the Council and Assembly of the 6th and 8th of August, 1763.

Trade.

East Indies.

Read an order of the Committee of Council, dated the 18th of November, 1763, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, an account of the East India Company's exports from the 29th of September, 1762, to the 29th of September, 1763.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following paper received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.
Copy of a letter from the Governor of Cape Coast Castle to the African Committee, dated the 25th of May, 1763.

fo. 349.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, to remind them of the letter wrote to them concerning the expediency of an establishment at Cape Appolonia, and for their opinion upon the complaints of the merchants of Lancaster of the practice of selling slaves to the French upon the coast.

Monday, December 5. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Mr. Gascoyne.

fo. 350.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration that part of the Earl of Halifax's letter of the 19th of September last, which directs the Board to consider of a plan for the management of Indian affairs, and several papers relative to this subject were read and considered.

Tuesday, December 6. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Plantations General.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of a plan for the management of Indian affairs.

fo. 351.

Thursday, December 8. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Virginia.

fo. 352.

Their lordships took into consideration the remonstrance and address of the House of Burgesses of Virginia to the Lieutenant Governor, concerning the paper bills of credit of that colony, and a Committee of the merchants trading to Virginia attending without, with Mr. Montague, agent for the colony, they were called in; and the merchants and agent having been respectively heard in what they had to offer, it was declared on the part of the merchants, that, if the paper currency was so regulated, that judgments for sterling debts due to the merchants of Great Britain should not be discharged, but in sterling money in Virginia or Great Britain, they should be well satisfied; whereupon they were ordered to withdraw, and their lordships, upon full consideration, approved this proposition of the merchants, and were of opinion, that any further neglect of the Legislature of Virginia to give redress to the complaints of the merchants would be neither just or equitable.

fo. 353.

The merchants and agent being again called in, the Board acquainted them with their sentiments upon what had been proposed, and that they should immediately send the most positive orders to the Governor, to recommend this proposition in the strongest manner to the Council and Assembly, and to declare to them, that if they any longer refused doing justice to the British merchants, and did not comply with what was now proposed, the Board should think it their duty to advise his Majesty to lay the matter before Parliament.

The merchants having expressed themselves well satisfied with what was intended, and returned their thanks to the Board, for their attention to their interests, they withdrew, and it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Lieutenant Governor, agreeable to the above resolutions, should be prepared.

South Carolina.

North Carolina.

It being late, the consideration of the letters from the Governor of South Carolina, and also of the memorial of the agent of North Carolina, mentioned in the minutes of the 1st instant, was postponed.

fo. 354.

Friday, December 9. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the application of Messrs. Mure, Mill, Spence and Cathcart, for lands in the Island of St. John's, and also the application of the Sieur de Stumpel for lands upon the River St. John's in Nova Scotia, and the parties attending were further heard in explanation of their proposals.

Post Meridiem.

North Carolina.

fo. 355.

Their lordships took into consideration the memorial of the agent of North Carolina, in answer to the Governor's complaints against the Lower House of Assembly, respecting their claim of having a majority of the Assembly, to constitute a quorum, the admitting members elected without writs, and their refusing to incorporate a qualified settlement into a county; and the agent attending, was called in, and having nothing to offer in addition to what is set forth in the memorial, their lordships observed to him, that upon full consideration, they were of opinion, that the quorum of the Assembly should remain as legally established by his Majesty's authority.

That it was not becoming the Board to take any notice of what was offered on the part of the Assembly, concerning their refusal to incorporate a county, their admission of a member chosen without a writ, and the duration of the judges' Commissions.

fo. 356.

That the Act of 1754 "for appropriating a sum of money to pious uses," should be considered, and that they would write to the Governor, to know his reasons for refusing to consent to an application of the money, allotted to the province out of the grant of Parliament, to the contingent services of government.

Virginia.

The agent being withdrawn, the draught of a letter to the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of yesterday, was approved and signed.

Quebec.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration the application of Messrs. Price and Knutton for lands in Quebec, and of Mr. Marteilhe for lands in Nova Scotia, and the parties attending, were heard in explanation of their proposals.

Quebec.

fo. 357.

Read a memorial of Captain John Nairne and Lieutenant Malcolm Fraser to the Board, praying the royal confirmation of grants of a tract of land called Malbaye, made to them by Governor Murray.

Ordered, that the said memorial be taken into consideration on Friday next, and that notice be given to the memorialists' agent to attend.

Plantations General.

The consideration of Mr. McNutt's proposals, for introducing settlers into America, was postponed.

fo. 358.

Monday, December 12. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Quebec.

East Florida.

West Florida.

Grenada.

Their lordships had under consideration the civil establishment of the Colonies of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida and Grenada.

Tuesday, December 13. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

fo. 359.

Quebec.

Grenada.

Read a letter from Mr. Jenkinson, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to Mr. Pownall, dated December 13th, 1763, desiring him to move the Board, that copies may be transmitted to him of all papers in their office, relative to revenues and duties received by the French king in Canada, and the Grenadas, and accounts of revenues collected by the King's governors since they became a part of his dominions.

Ordered, that copies and extracts be made of all such papers, as have been received from the Governors of Quebec and Grenada, relative to the revenues of the said governments, and that the Secretary do transmit them to Mr. Jenkinson, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

fo. 360.

North Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration the Act passed in North Carolina in 1754, by which a sum of money is appropriated for erecting schools and endowment of parishes; and it appearing that this Act had been found, upon a former examination, to be liable to great objection, and that an instruction had been given to the Governor to recommend to the Assembly to amend it in those points, in which it was objected to, which recommendation the Assembly had refused to comply with; their lordships were of opinion that, it was not fit to grant what the Assembly now desired, until they thought proper to comply with his Majesty's reasonable expectation, in what had been recommended to them.

The agent, attending without, was called in and acquainted with their lordships' resolution.

fo. 361.

Plantations General.

Read a memorial of several merchants and others trading to his Majesty's Plantations in America, praying for a bounty on American hemp.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said memorial to the Commissioners of the Navy, and desire their opinion, whether the granting a bounty upon hemp from America would be proper and expedient, in respect to that branch of his Majesty's service within their department.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Commissioners of the Customs for an account of the quantity of hemp imported for ten years last past, distinguishing from what place.

New Hampshire.

fo. 362.

Read a letter from Benning Wentworth, Esquire, Governor of New Hampshire, dated the 21st of October, 1763, proposing the appointment of a judge of Vice-Admiralty, whose authority should extend over all the King's colonies, in matters relative to the woods set apart for his Majesty's use; and recommending John Fisher, Esquire, to be of the Council in the room of Mr. Sheaffe, resigned.

Plantations General.

Read a memorial of the agent for South Carolina, on an application to Parliament for liberty to carry rice directly to the Madeiras and other African islands, and the American islands and settlements, desiring the Board's assistance.
Report of a Committee of the House of Commons relating to rice, proposed to be carried directly to the Madeiras, etc.

fo. 363.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Commissioners of the Customs, for an account of the quantities of rice imported for ten years last past, distinguishing from what place, and what part thereof had been re-exported, and to what places.

Wednesday, December 14. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice.

Quebec.

East Florida.

West Florida.

Grenada.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that he had received from the Secretary of State's Office instructions signed by his Majesty for the Governors of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida and Grenada.

fo. 364.

Ordered, that the Governors of Grenada, East Florida and West Florida be desired to attend the Board tomorrow evening at seven o'clock.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration the Earl of Halifax's letter of the 5th ult., relating to the manner of employing convicts in some publick works in North America; and a letter to his Lordship, in answer thereto, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Poirier, Secretary to the African Committee, to Mr. Pownall, dated December 14th, 1763, acquainting him, that they are waiting to know the sense of the merchants of Bristol on the two points in his letter; but that, if they hear not in a few days from those merchants, the Committee will communicate their sentiments to the Board thereon.

fo. 365.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.
Copy of a letter from Joseph Debat, Esquire, Governor of James Fort, Gambia, to the African Committee, dated 23rd April, 1763.
Copy of a letter from Joseph Debat, Esquire, Governor of James Fort, Gambia, to Samuel Poirier, 12th July, 1763.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Pickering, agent for Barbados, to the Secretary, dated the 6th of December, 1763, communicating letters from several gentlemen interested in that island, containing their sentiments on the law passed there in May, 1762, relative to the Provost Marshall.

fo. 366.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that Mr. Walker, the present agent for Barbados, had given him a list of the names of other gentlemen, considerably interested in that island, whose opinions upon this Act had not been taken, it was ordered, that the Secretary should desire Mr. Walker to collect the sentiments of those gentlemen upon it, and transmit them to the Board as soon as possible.

Nevis.

fo. 367.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the Island of Nevis in April, 1761, with a clause suspending its execution until his Majesty's pleasure was known, entituled, an Act to encourage the trade from North America to this island, and to oblige all vessels above ninety tons burthen to pay powder and arms, and to repeal two insufficient Acts to that purpose; the one made and passed in the year 1669, intitled an Act to oblige all vessels to pay tonnage, powder and arms; the other made in the year 1734, entitled an Act to amend and explain an Act, entitled an Act for all vessels to pay powder, tonnage and arms: and no objection appearing to the said Act, it was ordered, that the Draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing its confirmation, should be prepared.

Trade.

Russia.

Read a memorial of Martin Kwyck Van Mierop, dated the 30th of November, 1763, stating the advantages which would attend the revival of the British commerce to Persia through Russia.

fo. 368.

Thursday, December 15. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice.

Grenada.

East Florida.

West Florida.

The Governors of Grenada, East Florida and West Florida attending as desired, their general instructions and those relating to the observance of the laws of trade were delivered to the two latter.

The Governor of Grenada not having yet received his Commission, it was ordered, that his instructions should remain in the custody of the Secretary, until his Commission was passed and delivered to him.

Quebec.

fo. 369.

Ordered, that the Secretary do deliver the instructions for the Governor of Quebec, to the person, who is possessed of his Commission, in order to be transmitted to the said Governor with the said Commission.

Nova Scotia.

A representation to his Majesty, upon the memorial of the Sieur de Stumpel, praying for a grant of lands in Nova Scotia, was agreed to and signed.

North Carolina.

A letter to the Governor of North Carolina, recommending to him to assent to any proper law the Council and Assembly shall frame and pass, for applying to the contingent services of government, the money allotted to that province out of the grant of Parliament, was agreed to and signed.

Nevis.

A representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of the Nevis Act for regulating the duty of powder and arms upon vessels trading to that island, was agreed to and signed.

fo. 370.

Trade.

Russia.

Ordered, that notice be given to Mr. Van Mierop to attend the Board on Monday next at seven o'clock in the evening.

Friday, December 16. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Mr. Gascoyne.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Mr. Gregg, praying for a grant of certain lands in the Islands of St. John and Cape Breton, as marked out in the map annexed thereto.

Mr. Gregg attending, their lordships had some conversation with him upon the subject matter of his memorial, and he being withdrawn, it was agreed that such part of the memorial, as prays a grant of lands in Cape Breton, should lye by for further consideration at another opportunity; and that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing that the memorialist may have a grant of twenty thousand acres of land in St. John's, should be prepared.

Plantations General.

Read a memorial of Captain Samuel Holland, to the Board, praying that the office of Surveyor General of the Northern District of America, may be comprized within his Commission as Surveyor of Quebec, and stating the expences which will attend the survey of a great part of the district; and his proposals relative thereto.

fo. 372.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that a survey may be made of all such parts of North America, as have not yet been surveyed, and recommending Captain Holland's proposals to his Majesty's consideration.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Mr. Alexander McNutt, praying that his grant of ten thousand acres may be allotted to him in the Island of Cape Breton on each side of the Indian Bay.

The memorialist attending, was called in, and acquainted that their lordships could not, for the present, recommend to his Majesty the making any grants in the Island of Cape Breton; but that, whenever it should be found expedient to carry such a measure into execution, the Board would recommend his having a grant of lands in that island, agreeable to the purport of his memorial.

fo. 373.

Read a memorial of Francis Peabody and other disbanded officers, who lately served in America, desiring a grant of the lands upon the River St. John, where they have made settlements.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that a township of one hundred thousand acres may be laid out upon St. John's River, where these officers and soldiers are settled, for their accommodation and such others as shall come to join them in that settlement.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that a grant may be made to Mr. Marteilhe of a township of twenty thousand acres, upon the lands petitioned for by him to the south of Baye des Chaleurs.

Quebec.

fo. 374.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that a grant may be made to Messrs. Price and Knutton of a township of twenty thousand acres, upon the lands petitioned for by them near Cape Gaspee.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from the Master of Merchants Hall, Bristol, to Mr. Pownall, dated December 13th, 1763, acquainting him, that he has laid before the merchants of that city, his letter relative to the expediency of a perfect form of civil government in Newfoundland.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from Mr. Abraham Richards to the Board, dated the 15th of December, 1763, informing them that, without a reasonable prospect of an adequate reward, he is not willing to communicate the knowledge he has gained with respect to the Island of Newfoundland.

fo. 375.

Ordered, that letters be wrote to the Mayors of Waterford and Cork, to the Provost of Glasgow, and to the Sovereign of Belfast, to the like effect as those wrote to the mayors of the western ports in England, concerning the establishment of a civil government in Newfoundland.

Tuesday, December 20. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Plantations General.

Quebec.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 376.

The draughts of representations to his Majesty, upon Captain Holland's proposals for making a survey of North America, and upon the memorials of Messrs. Price and Knutton for lands in Quebec, of Mr. Marteilhe for lands in Nova Scotia, and of several disbanded officers of the Provincial Troops settled on St. John's River, praying to have that settlement confirmed to them, were agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Read a letter from Mr. John Cathcart to the Secretary, petitioning for a grant of a township of twenty thousand acres on St. John's Island.

Read a letter from Mr. Mill to the Secretary, petitioning for a grant of a township on the south side of St. John's Island.

Read a letter from Mr. George Spence to the Secretary, petitioning for a grant of a township of twenty thousand acres on St. John's Island.

Read a letter from Mr. Hutchinson Mure to the Secretary, petitioning for a grant of twenty thousand acres on St. John's Island.

fo. 377.

Mr. Cathcart, one of the abovementioned petitioners, attending, was called in, and their lordships heard what he had to offer in explanation of his proposals.

Nova Scotia.

Georgia.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that, he was desired by Mr. Jenkinson, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to move the Board for copies of the last estimates for Nova Scotia and Georgia.

Ordered, that copies be made of the said estimates, and delivered to Mr. Jenkinson.

St. Vincent's.

St. Lucia.

fo. 378.

The Secretary also acquainted the Board that, the Sollicitor of the Treasury had desired him to move their lordships, for copies of two papers upon the books of the Office, relative to the grant to the Duke of Montague of the Islands of Santa Lucia and St. Vincent's, to be made use of in a hearing before the Attorney, Advocate, and Sollicitor General, respecting the claim of the heirs of the said Duke of Montague to the Island of St. Vincent.

Ordered, that copies be made of the said papers, and delivered to the Sollicitor of the Treasury.

Wednesday, December 21. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Gascoyne.

Plantations General.

fo. 379.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to his Majesty's Attorney General for his opinion, whether such of the French or Spanish inhabitants of Canada, Florida, and the Islands of Grenada, Dominica, St. Vincent's and Tobago, as being born out of the allegiance of his Majesty, shall remain in the said countries under the stipulations of the definitive Treaty, are or are not under the legal incapacities and disabilities put upon aliens and strangers by the laws of this kingdom in general, and particularly by the Act of Navigation and the other laws made for regulating the Plantation Trade.

Grenada.

Read a letter from Edward Sedgwick, Esquire, to the Secretary, dated the 19th of December, 1763, transmitting, by the Earl of Halifax's directions, a copy of a memorial of the Comte de Guerchy, complaining of the Governor of Grenada's refusal to permit the Dominicans to sell their sugar plantation in that island, and containing the arguments of the Court of France on that affair.

fo. 380.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said memorial to his Majesty's Advocate and Attorney General, and desire their opinion, with all possible dispatch, upon the case to which the said memorial refers, and also upon the other cases refered to them on the 24th of last month.

Pennsylvania.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated December 15th, 1763, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, sixteen Acts passed in the Province of Pennsylvania in March and April, 1763.

Quebec.

Ordered, that the Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law, with all possible dispatch.

Read a memorial of the merchants of London trading to North America in general and to Canada in particular, containing several propositions in respect to the trade and commerce of that country.

fo. 381.

Ordered, that the said memorial be taken into consideration on Friday next, and that notice thereof be given to the merchants.

Trade.

Flanders.

Read a letter from the Earl of Sandwich to the Board, dated the 16th of December, 1763, transmitting an extract of a letter from Sir James Porter to his Lordship, on the grievances complained of by the merchants of Liverpool, relative to the additional duties on rock salt in the Netherlands; and desiring such further informations from the Board on this subject, as they shall judge proper to transmit to his Lordship.

Ordered, that the said letter and paper be taken into consideration on Friday next.

Quebec.

fo. 382.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax to the Board, dated the 16th of December, 1763, transmitting, for their consideration and report, copies of a letter from the Sieur de la Fontaine, and of memorials, setting forth his claim to the Post and Islands of Mingan on the Coast of Labrador, and complaining of Governor Murray's proceedings in dispossessing him of the said post and islands, and granting or leasing them to certain English merchants.
Copy of a letter from Monsieur de la Fontaine, dated Quebec, 23rd October, 1763.
Mémoire de la proprieté et possession des heritiers Jioliet, etc., dans les Isles de Mingan.
Copie du titre du fief des Isles de Mingan, du 10^e Mars, 1679.
Mémoire of Monsieur de la Fontaine.

Ordered, that the said letter and papers be considered, when Monsieur de la Fontaine, now in England, shall make personal application to the Board, and that in the meantime the Secretary do endeavour to find out Mr. Grey, whose name is mentioned in the said papers.

fo. 383.

Thursday, December 22. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Gascoyne.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax to the Board, dated December 14th, 1763, transmitting, for their lordships' consideration and report, several papers respecting an ordonnance of the Governors of Martinique and Guadaloupe, which subjects to seizure and confiscation all vessels sailing within one league of their coasts, and permits a trade from his Majesty's northern colonies, under regulations detrimental to his Majesty's sugar colonies.
Copies of Messrs. de Fenelon and de la Rivière's answer to Brigadier Dalrymple's letter of 27th of August, 1763, and of the 13th Article of the Ordonnance published at Martinique, which occasioned this correspondence.
fo. 384.
Copy of a letter from Governor Thomas to the Earl of Egremont, Antigua, September 9th, 1763.
Papier remis par M. le Comte de Waldegrave à M. de Maurepas, le 12^me Decembre, 1738, au sujet de l'insertion du Cap Tiburon Baye, de Dame Maria et du Mole St. Nicolas dans l'Article 9 de la Convention projettée.
Dominica, 4th September, 1763, Brigadier Dalrymple to the Earl of Egremont.
Copies of Brigadier Dalrymple's letter to Monsieur de la Fenelon and Monsieur de la Rivière, General and Intendant at Martinique.
Copy of the Duke of Newcastle's letter to the Earl of Waldegrave, November 13th, 1738, and copies of the papers therein referred to.
fo. 385.
Copy of a convention negociated by the Earl Waldegrave in 1738.
Ordonnance from the Governor and Intendant of Guadeloupe.
Réponse au papier remis par M. le Comte de Waldegrave à M. de Maurepas, le 12^me Decembre, 1738.

Their lordships, after full consideration of the said letter and papers, ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 386.

Friday, December 23. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Gascoyne.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Thomas Pownall, Esquire, in behalf of himself and five other gentlemen, containing proposals for settling a county, to be divided into six townships in Passamaquodi Bay and upon the River St. Croix in Nova Scotia.

Mr. Pownall and Mr. Tucker, one of the memorialists, attending, in behalf of themselves and the rest of the gentlemen, they were called in, and the Board having heard what they had to offer in explanation of their proposals, the further consideration of their memorial was postponed.

fo. 387.

Read two memorials of Thomas Gregg and John Gregg, senior, praying each for a grant of a township, consisting of twenty thousand acres of land in the Island of St. John's.

Read a memorial of a body of reduced officers in his Majesty's land service, praying for a grant to each of twenty thousand acres of land in the Island of St. John's.

Ordered, that the said memorials be taken into further consideration at another opportunity.

Mr. Cathcart, one of the gentlemen, who proposes to make a settlement in the Island of St. John's, attending, was called in, and their lordships had some further conversation with him upon the subject matter of the proposals.

fo. 388.

Post Meridiem.

Plantations General.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the letter and papers received from the Earl of Halifax, concerning the ordonnance lately published by the French in the West Indies, for regulating the navigation of those seas, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Quebec.

Monsieur de la Fontaine, the son of the Sieur de la Fontaine, whose complaints against Governor Murray are contained in the papers transmitted to the Board with the Earl of Halifax's letter of the 16th instant, attending without, was called in, and their lordships having had some conversation with him upon the subject matter of the said complaints, it was agreed to take them into further consideration on Thursday next, and Monsieur de la Fontaine was desired to attend.

fo. 389.

Quebec.

Trade.

Flanders.

The merchants trading to Quebec not attending as desired, the consideration of the memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 21st instant, was postponed; as was also the consideration of the Earl of Sandwich's letter, mentioned in the said minutes, relating to the duties upon British rock salt in Flanders.

Saturday, December 24. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Gascoyne.

Plantations General.

fo. 390.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the letter and papers received from the Earl of Halifax, concerning the ordonnance lately published by the French in the West Indies, regulating the navigation of those seas, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed, as was also a letter to the Earl of Halifax inclosing it, and desiring his Lordship to lay it before his Majesty.

Thursday, December 29. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Gascoyne.

Quebec.

fo. 391.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relating to the Sieur de la Fontaine's complaint against Governor Murray, and his son attending, as desired, their lordships had some further discourse with him upon the subject matter of the said complaints; and he laid before their lordships an original licence, under Governor Murray's hand and seal, to his father, to carry on trade and fishery at the Post of Gros Mekatina for one year, or until his title to that post could be examined into.

Monsieur de la Fontaine being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the several papers referred by the Earl of Halifax, should be prepared.