Journal, March 1766: Volume 73

Journal, March 1766

fo. 64.

Tuesday, March 4th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Nova Scotia.

The agent for Nova Scotia laid before the Board, pursuant to order, the several accounts of what is due for services incurred in Nova Scotia and not provided for; and, after examination thereof, it was ordered, that a general state of what remains due should be prepared, and the said accounts annexed thereto, in order to be laid before Parliament.

Plantations General.

fo. 65.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said accounts, together with copies of the estimates for Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida and Senegambia, and for the expences of general surveys, to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to be laid before that Board, and that he do likewise transmit therewith a state of the particulars wherein the estimates of this year differ from those of the preceding year.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships then took into consideration the state of Newfoundland, and of the territories within the government thereof, and the following papers were read, vizt.,
Letter from Hugh Pallisser, esquire, Governor of Newfoundland, to the Board, dated October 30th, 1765, relative to the trade and fisheries of his government.
Regulations for the fishery on the Coast of Labrador, Anticosta, Madelins, and whale fishery within the Gulf of St. Lawrence, April 8th, 1765.
fo. 66.
Regulations relating to the salmon fisheries in Newfoundland, April 8th, 1765.
Order for establishing a communication and trade with the Indians, April 8th, 1765.
Regulations for the fisheries on the Coast of Labrador, August 28th, 1765.
Order concerning inhabitants of Newfoundland, who deal with the French at St. Pierre and Miquelon.
Letter from Governor Pallisser to the Board, dated November 5th, 1765, transmitting,
A general scheme of the fisheries and inhabitants of Newfoundland for the year 1765.
A general account of the French fisheries at Newfoundland, at St. Pierre's in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, and on the Banks, for 1765.
fo. 67.
Engineer's report of the state of the works at St. John's, 9th October, 1765.
Report of the guns and carriages at St. John's, Newfoundland, November 1st, 1765.
State and remains of military stores at St. John's, Newfoundland, 1765.
State of the military stores at Placentia, 31st August, 1765.
Letter from the Governor of Newfoundland to the Board, dated December 18th, 1765, relative to the fisheries of that island, and desiring permission to peruse papers in this office concerning the antient practices in carrying them on.
Governor Pallisser's remarks on the present state and management of the Newfoundland fisheries, 1765.
fo. 68.
Letter from Hugh Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, to the Secretary, dated February 3rd, 1766, informing him that Mr. Cook has finished his charts of some parts of that island and delivered them in to the Board of Admiralty.

Thursday, March 6th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fytzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 69.

Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, Senegambia, Plantations General.

Mr. Rice was desired to present to the House of Commons, pursuant to his Majesty's commands, the estimates of what will be necessary for the further support of the civil establishments in the colonies of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida in America, and of Senegambia in Africa, and also for general surveys in America, together with a state of the ballance remaining due on account of services incurred in Nova Scotia and not provided for.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the state of Newfoundland and the territories thereto belonging.

fo. 70.

Friday, March 7th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the present state of Newfoundland, and the papers relative to the case of Monsieur Philibot being again brought before the Board, it was ordered, that Monsieur Philibot should have notice to attend the Board on Tuesday next.

Grenada.

fo. 71.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated March 1st, 1766, containing directions for the Board's writing to the Governor of Grenada on the constitution of an Assembly for that island, and the establishment of legislation within his government.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor of Grenada be prepared, conformable to the said order.

Tuesday, March 11th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships took into further consideration the case of Monsieur Philibot, relative to his fishing post upon the Coast of Labrador, and Monsieur Philibot attending as desired, their lordships had some conversation with him on that business.

fo. 72.

Thursday, March 13th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Grenada.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of the Southern Charribbee Islands, respecting the constituting an assembly, having been prepared pursuant to order, was laid before the Board and considered.

Massachusetts.

The following letters and papers received from the Governor of the Massachusets Bay were read, vizt.,
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Board, dated December 18th, 1765, relative to Mr. Oliver's resignation of his office of Distributor of the Stamps.
fo. 73.
Copy of a letter from Andrew Oliver, esquire, to Governor Bernard, dated December 17th, 1765, containing an account of the circumstances, which attended his resignation of the office of Distributor of Stamps.
Printed account of the resignation of Andrew Oliver, esquire, Distributor of Stamps.
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Board, dated December 19th, 1765, relative to the opposition made to the execution of the Stamp Act in that province.
Copy of a letter from Andrew Oliver, esquire, to Governor Bernard, dated December 19th, 1765, containing remarks on the printed account of his resignation.
Printed copy of a memorial of the town of Boston to the Governor in Council, December 18th, 1765.
fo. 74.
Printed resolves at a meeting of a large assembly of the respectable populace in New London, the 10th of December, 1765.
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Board, dated December 21st, 1765, relative to the proceedings of the Council on a memorial, praying that the Governor in Council would give directions that the courts of law may be opened.
Copy of a memorial of the town of Boston to the Governor in Council, December 17th, 1765, respecting the opening the courts of justice.
Copy of the minutes of the Council of the Massachusets Bay on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of December, 1765.
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Board, dated January 18th, 1766, relative to the opposition made to the carrying the Stamp Act into execution.
fo. 75.
Message of the House of Representatives of Massachusets Bay to the Governor, January 17th, 1766.
Minutes of the Assembly of Massachusets Bay on the 15th and 16th of January, 1766.

The Earl of Dartmouth acquainted the Board, that these letters and papers had been communicated to his Majesty's Ministers.

Newfoundland.

Read a memorial of Richard Abbot, referring to an appeal intended to be brought before Council from a decree of the Governor of Newfoundland, respecting a case of property, and praying leave to inspect the Governor's instructions.

Upon consideration of the said memorial, their lordships did not think fit to comply with what is desired.

fo. 76.

Bahamas.

Read a memorial of Richard Cumberland, esquire, on the behalf of Lieutenant Governor Shirley, Governor of the Bahama Islands, to the Board, praying that an augmentation may be made to his salary from the Crown, equivalent to the profits of his late Independent Company, or some other measure taken for providing further for his support in the execution of his duty.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the said memorial, ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty to be prepared, recommending such an additional salary to the Governor as shall be adequate to the loss sustained by the reduction of the Independent Company heretofore established in the Bahama Islands.

East Florida.

fo. 77.

Read a memorial of William Grover, esquire, praying that his salary as Chief Justice of East Florida may commence from the . . . . . . of August last, being the day on which the late Chief Justice died.

Upon consideration of the said memorial, their lordships were of opinion that it did not lye within their department to direct the payment of the salary from the time Mr. Grover requests it, but recommend the case to the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the state of Newfoundland, and it was ordered, that Governor Pallisser be desired to attend the Board on Tuesday next.

fo. 78.

Friday, March 14th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice.

Quebec.

A representation to his Majesty, recommending Thomas Mills, esquire, to be of his Majesty's Council in the Province of Quebec, was signed.

Tuesday, March 18th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Newfoundland.

fo. 79.

Their lordships took into further consideration the state of the government of Newfoundland, more especially in regard to the state of the Labrador Coast and other territories annexed to that government since the Treaty of Paris, upon which occasion the following papers were read, vizt.,
An account of the voyage of the four missionaries sent by the Unitas fratrum to the Esquemaux on the Coast of Labrador, from the month of May to November, 1765.
Petition of the deputies of the Unitas Fratrum to his Majesty, concerning a proposed mission and settlement on the Labrador Coast.
Quebec.
fo. 80.
Letter from the Honourable James Murray, esquire, Governor of Quebec, to the Board, dated November 11th, 1765, informing their lordships of the inconveniences arising from not allowing the inhabitants of that province the right of fishing during the winter on the Labrador Coast, and of there being no communication between them and the Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
Memorial of Mr. Cugner and others to the Board, dated November 4th, 1765, signifying their desire to register their titles to the post of Mingan, etc., and praying to be continued in their possessions.
Copy of a petition of Bayne and Brymer, etc., November 1st, 1765, praying redress for the loss sustained by Governor Palliser's order, relative to the fishery on the Labrador Coast.
Copies of several papers relative to the post of Mingan, etc.
List of Protestants in the district of Montreal, the 7th of November, 1765.
fo. 81.
Memorial of several of the French inhabitants of Quebec to Governor Murray, dated November 5th, 1765, praying permission to continue their fishery on the Labrador Coast.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships had some conversation with Governor Pallisser, after which directions were given for preparing the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the state of Newfoundland and the territories dependent thereon, as far as relates to the facts and information arising out of the abovementioned papers, and those mentioned in the minutes of the 4th instant.

fo. 82.

Newfoundland.

Thursday, March 20th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Lord Palmerston.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the subject matter of the several papers relative to the state of Newfoundland and the territories dependent thereupon, having been prepared pursuant to order, was read and considered, and it was agreed to take the said draught into further consideration tomorrow morning.

Bahamas.

fo. 83.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated March 1st, 1766, referring back, for the Board's re-consideration, the memorial of Mr. Symmer, relative to the expediency of making effectual settlements on Turks' Island and Inagua.

The memorial of Mr. Symmer, mentioned in the said order, having been reconsidered, it was ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council should be prepared.

Virginia.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that George William Fairfax, esquire, may be appointed of the Council of Virginia in the room of Peter Randolph, esquire, deceased.

fo. 84.

Friday, March 21st. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty recommending Mr. Fairfax to be appointed of the Council of Virginia, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Grenada.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of the Southern Charibbee Islands, containing directions for constituting an Assembly for the Island of Grenada, having been further considered, was agreed to, and it was ordered that it should be transcribed.

Bahamas.

fo. 85.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, recommending an additional salary to be given to the Governor of the Bahama Islands, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Newfoundland.

The following letters and papers from Hugh Pallisser, esquire, his Majesty's Governor of Newfoundland, were presented to the Board and read, vizt.,
Letter from Governor Pallisser to Mr. Pownall, dated March 19th, 1766, inclosing,
Answers to the enquiries relative to the sea cow fishery at the Madelaine Islands.
Oath of allegiance by the inhabitants at the Madelaine Islands, 1765.
Letter from Governor Pallisser to the Secretary, dated March 19th, 1766, inclosing,
fo. 86.
Heads of enquiry respecting the state of that part of the coast of Terra Labrador comprized within the Commission to the Governor of Newfoundland, with Governor Pallisser's answers.
General sketch of the fisheries upon the Labrador coast; and state of the fishery on the Labrador coast from 14th May, 1765, to the 10th of July ensuing, when the fleet began to disperse.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Joseph Isbister to Captain Hamilton, Commander of his Majesty's ship the Zephyr, dated August 14th, 1765.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Lymburner to Captain Hamilton, Commander of his Majesty's ship Zephyr, dated August 6th, 1765.
Draught of a part of the Labrador coast where a tribe of the Esquemeaux savages reside.

fo. 87.

Their lordships then took into further consideration the draught of the representation to his Majesty upon the whole state of Newfoundland and the territories thereto belonging, and the said draught having been agreed to, it was ordered that it should be transcribed.

Bahamas.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the draught of a report upon a reconsideration of the memorial of Mr. Symmer relative to the Bahama Islands.

fo. 88.

Tuesday, March 25. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Senegambia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a new Seal for the use of his Majesty's Province of Senegambia in Africa, and also an Order of his Majesty in Council directing the Board to prepare a warrant for his Majesty's signature, empowering the Governor to use the new Seal, and requiring them when the said warrant shall have been signed, to transmit the said Seal and warrant to the Governor.

fo. 89.

Grenada, Bahamas.

A warrant having been accordingly prepared for his Majesty's signature, a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway inclosing it, and desiring him to lay it before his Majesty, was signed; as was also a letter to the Governor of the Southern Charibbee Islands, containing directions for constituting an Assembly in Grenada; and a representation to his Majesty recommending an additional salary to the Governor of the Bahama Islands.

Plantations General.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Roberts, Secretary to General Conway, inclosing an address of the House of Commons to his Majesty for a report from this Board of the trade and manufactures set up and carried on in the colonies, and signifying that General Conway had received his Majesty's commands that this Board should prepare such report, and lay the same before the House.

Ordered, that this business be taken into further consideration on Thursday.

fo. 90.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Roberts, Secretary to General Conway, signifying that General Conway had received his Majesty's commands that this Board should prepare, in order to be laid before Parliament, copies of all such letters which they have received relative to the disturbances in America, as have not yet been communicated to his Majesty's Secretaries of State.

Upon this occasion the following letters and papers were read, vizt.,
New Hampshire.
Letter from Benning Wentworth, esquire, Governor of New Hampshire, to the Board, dated January 10th, 1766, relative to Mr. Meserue's having been compelled to deliver up to the mob his warrant and instructions, as Distributor of the Stamps for that province.
fo. 91.
New York.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated January 16th, 1766, relative to the forcible entering into a ship and taking stamp papers from on board, and destroying them.
Minutes of Council on the 10th, 11th and 14th of January, 1766, on the stamp papers being destroyed, and on Mr. Secretary Conway's letter being laid before the Council.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Board, dated January 14th, 1766, stating his services, and praying a compensation for the losses he has sustained by supporting his Majesty's rights.

Ordered, that the said letters and paper, together with those from the Governor of Massachusets Bay, mentioned in the minutes of the 13th instant, be copied with all possible dispatch.

fo. 92.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, stating the expediency of having instructions in respect to the claims of property to exclusive possession in Newfoundland, and proposing several questions in respect thereto.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to his Majesty's Attorney General upon the subject matter of the above-mentioned letter from Governor Pallisser be prepared for the Board's consideration on Thursday next.

Quebec.

Read a memorial of Monsieur Philibot, praying for a grant of a particular district of land at Malbay in Quebec, in consideration of his services, and the loss he has sustained by being deprived of the benefit of an exclusive fishing post on the coast of Labrador by the regulation of Governor Pallisser.

fo. 93.

Mr. Philibot attending, their lordships had some conversation with him on the subject of his memorial, after which it was ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, recommending a grant of lands in Quebec to Monsieur Philibot.

Bahamas.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon a reconsideration of Mr. Symmer's memorial relative to the Bahamas, having been agreed to, was ordered to be transcribed.

East Florida, West Florida.

Read a letter from Mr. Secretary Conway, dated March 1st, 1766, signifying his Majesty's commands, that this Board should consider and report, whether it may be expedient to allow any further or what salary to the ministers in East and West Florida.

fo. 94.

Ordered, that the foregoing letter be taken into consideration at another opportunity.

Thursday, March 27th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the state of Newfoundland and the territories dependent on that government, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

fo. 95.

Trade.

Read a letter to Mr. Pownall from Mr. Roberts, Secretary to General Conway, inclosing an Address to his Majesty of the House of Commons, that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to direct, that there may be laid before them copies of all letters from this office to any of his Majesty's consuls abroad since the last session of Parliament, so far as the same relate to the silk manufacture, together with the answers thereto, and signifying that General Conway had received his Majesty's commands, that this Board should accordingly prepare such copies and lay them before the House.

Copies of the papers referred to in the said Address having been prepared, were laid before the Board, and Mr. Fitzherbert was desired to present them to the House of Commons, pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

fo. 96.

Bahamas.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon a reconsideration of Mr. Symmer's memorial relative to the Bahama Islands, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships had under consideration the draught of a letter from the Secretary to his Majesty's Attorney General, upon the subject matter of the questions stated in Governor Pallisser's letter, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, and the said draught was approved.

Senegambia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a warrant signed by his Majesty, empowering the Governor of Senegambia to use the new Seal approved of for that establishment, and a letter to the Governor thereupon, inclosing the said warrant and Seal, was signed.

fo. 97.

Newfoundland.

Read a memorial of the proprietors and occupiers of several exclusive fishing posts upon the coast of Labrador, setting forth their claims and pretensions to such posts, and complaining of the conduct and regulations of the Governor of Newfoundland in respect thereto.

fo. 98.

Messrs. Brymer and Grey, two of the persons who have subscribed the said memorial, attending, they were called in and acquainted that the Board made a full representation to his Majesty upon the state of Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador, in which representation everything relative to the regulations, which had been made by the Governor for that coast, was submitted to his Majesty's determination; it must be referred to the consideration of the memorialists whether they might not rather choose to submit to the Council Board, what they had to request and complain of in respect to these regulations; but if they rather chose to prosecute the matter at this Board, their lordships would appoint an early day after the holydays to hear what they had to offer. Whereupon the gentlemen said they would consult the rest of the subscribers to the memorial, and attend the Board again with their resolutions after the holydays.

Quebec.

It appearing that Monsieur Philibot was a subscriber to the abovementioned memorial, the Board thought proper to desist from any further proceedings upon his petition, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last.

Plantations General.

fo. 99.

Their lordships took into consideration the Address of the House of Commons to his Majesty, desiring that this Board may be directed to prepare and lay before that House, a report of the state of the trade and manufactures set up and carried on in the several American colonies.