Journal, January 1768: Volume 75

Journal, January 1768

fo. 1.

At a meeting of his Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.

Friday, January 15th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson. Mr. Fitzherbert.

Grenada, Dominica.

Read a letter to Lord Clare, subscribed by several considerable merchants, traders to Dominica, containing an address of thanks to his Lordship for his great attention to their memorial, in favour of a separate goverment for that island.

Quebec.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne to the Board, dated the 12th instant, notifying his Majesty's appointment of Guy Carleton, esquire, to be Governor of Quebec, and directing his Commission and instructions to be prepared.

fo.2.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration the draft of an estimate of what sums will be necessary for the support of the civil government of his Majesty's Colony of Nova Scotia for the year 1768.

Lord William Campbell, Governor of the said colony, submitted to their lordships a proposition for adding to the said estimate the sum of six hundred pounds for making roads.

Ordered, that one hundred pounds be added to the article of stipends and allowances to minister and schoolmasters, for a stipend to a French Protestant minister established at Cape Sable, pursuant to directions from the Treasury Board, signified to Mr. Pownall.

fo.3.

Read a letter from Charles Morris, esquire, Chief Surveyor of Land for the Province of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated October 1st, 1767, inclosing,
A memorial to the Board, stating his services and expences in the execution of his office, and praying an allowance for himself and his assistant.
Ordered, that the said memorial and letter do lye by for further consideration.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. McLean to the Secretary, dated the 6th instant, transmitting, by the Earl of Shelburne's order, an extract of a letter from Mr. President Rous to his Lordship of the 28th of October last, relative to the present state of the Council in the Island of Barbados.

fo.4.

Ordered, that such members of the Council of Barbados, as are now resident here, be desired to attend the Board this day fortnight.

Tuesday, January 19th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson.

Nova Scotia.

Plantations General.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the estimate for the support of the civil establishment of Nova Scotia, and Lord William Campbell attending, delivered in an estimate of what he conceives will be necessary for that service; after which their lordships proceeded to a consideration of the other estimates, mentioned in Mr. Cooper's letter of the 15th of December, and the following papers were read.
fo. 5.
Nova Scotia.
Estimate of the charge of maintaining the civil establishment of Nova Scotia for the year 1768.
Plantations General.
The memorial of Thomas Wright, Deputy Surveyor of the Northern District of America, praying for an allowance for his expences in bringing over the survey of the Island of Anticosti.
West Florida.
Copy of a memorial presented to Lord Shelburne by the Chief Justice of West Florida, praying for an addition to his salary, or that he may have a house provided for his residence, and for holding Courts.
Nova Scotia.
Memorial from William Nesbitt, Attorney General of Nova Scotia, praying the continuance of eighty two pounds, ten shillings per annum, formerly allowed him on the contingencies of Nova Scotia.

fo. 6.

West Florida.

The agent for West Florida attending, their lordships had some discourse with him on the subject of the ballance of the grants for that colony, now remaining in his hands.

Wednesday, January 20th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert.

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

fo. 7.

Their lordships took into further consideration the estimates for general surveys; Senegambia; Nova Scotia; Georgia; East Florida and West Florida; and the said estimates having been agreed to, it was ordered, that fair transcripts should be made, to be laid before the House of Commons.

East Florida.

Their lordships took into consideration a petition of Messrs. Robert Johnston and Thomas Ridout Johnston, merchants, praying for a grant of ten thousand acres of land in East Florida, referred by order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, and the petitioners attending were heard in support of their petition.

Ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council be prepared, recommending that the prayer of the said petition should be complied with.

Jamaica.

The Secretary, at the request of Sir William Trelawney, moved the Board for copies of several papers, relative to the government of Jamaica, which were ordered to be prepared and delivered to Sir William Trelawney.

fo. 8

Grenada, Dominica.

The Secretary also moved the Board, at the request of Sir George Colebrook, for a copy of their representation to his Majesty, recommending a separate government to be stablished for the Island of Dominica.

Ordered, that Sir George Colebrook be acquainted, that it is contrary to the rule of their lordships' proceedings to give copies of representations to his Majesty on matters of a publick nature and concern, before his Majesty has been pleased to declare his royal pleasure thereupon.

Jamaica.

A representation to his Majesty, recommending Thomas Harrison, esquire, to be appointed of the Council of Jamaica, in the room of Gilbert Ford, esquire, deceased, was signed.

fo. 9.

Thursday, January 21st. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

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

The draughts of estimates having been transcribed pursuant to order, Lord Clare was desired to present them to the House of Commons, pursuant to his Majesty's commands; and it was ordered, that the Secretary should transmit copies of them to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, with a paper containing the particulars wherein some of them differ from those of last year.

fo. 10.

Friday, January 22nd. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board several copies of Orders in Council upon the business of the Plantations, vizt.,
Quebec.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated April 13th, 1767, dismissing the petitions and complaints against Governor Murray, as groundless, scandalous and derogatory to the honour of the said Governor.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, dismissing the petition of Anthony Merry and others respecting their trade at the posts of Tadousac and Chegotimi.
fo. 11.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, repealing an ordinance passed in the Province of Quebec in July 1766, for granting licences for retailing rum, etc.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, disallowing the draught of an ordinance for regulating and establishing the currency of the Province of Quebec
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, approving and permitting to be carried into execution in the province of Quebec, the draught of an ordinance for appointing pilots, etc.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated August 28th, 1767, containing directions for his Majesty's obtaining exact information with respect to grievances, if any, in the present state of judicature in the Province of Quebec.
fo. 12.
Nova Scotia.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, repealing an Act passed in the Province of Nova Scotia in June, 1765, to establish the number of representatives to be elected in the several counties and townships, etc.
St. John's.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated August 26th, 1767, requiring the Governor of Nova Scotia to carry into execution the regulation proposed by the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, with respect to grants of land in the Island of St. John.
New Hampshire.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, repealing an Act passed in the Province of New Hampshire for ascertaining what places may send representatives to the General Assembly.
fo. 13.
New Hampshire, New York.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated July 24th, 1767, requiring the Governor of New York not to make grants of any lands, lying on the west side of Connecticut River, which have been already granted by the late Governor of New Hampshire.
Massachusetts.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, disallowing an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusets Bay in June, 1764, to enable Abigail Lyttell of Pembroke, formerly the widow of Isaac Thomas, late of said Pembroke, gentleman, deceased, to recover of the children and heirs of the said Isaac certain sums of money due from them to the said Abigail for right of dower in the real estate that was the said Isaac's.
fo. 14.
Virginia.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, declaring his Majesty's approbation of several Acts passed in the Province of Virginia in 1765.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, declaring his Majesty's disallowance of three Acts passed in the Province of Virginia in 1765.
New York.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated April 13th, 1767, approving the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of New York, directing him to cause a suit to be commenced against Colonel John Van Renselaer, relative to his claim to a tract of land on the back of that province.
fo. 15.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 16th, 1767, repealing an Act passed in the year 1766 in the Province of New York. for erecting certain lands lying on the west side of Connecticut River, within the colony, into a separate county to be called by the name of Cumberland, etc.
New York, New Jersey.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, approving the draught of a Commission for appointing Commissioners to settle the boundary line between New York and New Jersey, from the station on Hudson's River to the station on Delaware River.
New York.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated August 26th, 1767, dismissing the petition of the ministers, elders, deacons and trustees of the Presbyterian Church of New York for a charter of incorporation.
New Jersey.
fo. 16.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated May 13th, 1767, disallowing an Act passed in the Province of New Jersey in 1766, for appointing Commissioners for supplying the several barracks erected in this colony with furniture, etc.
North Carolina.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, repealing three Acts passed in the Province of North Carolina in 1764.
South Carolina.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, repealing an Act passed in the Province of South Carolina in August 1765, for establishing a parish in Berkley County, by the name of St. Matthew, etc.
Georgia.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, repealing an Act passed in the Province of Georgia in 1765, for the better ordering and governing negroes and other slaves in this province, etc.
fo. 17.
Newfoundland.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated April 13th, 1767, dismissing the petition of Joshua Mauger and others, relative to the losses alledged to have been sustained by them by the surrender of the Island of St. Peter to the French.
Leeward Islands.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, confirming an Act passed in the Leeward Islands in January 1764, to repeal three Acts entitled, Acts for the more easy repairing the highways etc., and for making another Act to the same purpose.
Bermuda.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated June 26th, 1767, confirming five Acts passed in the Bermuda Islands in the years 1761 and 1764.

fo. 18.

Quebec.

Read a letter from Guy Carleton, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, to the Board, dated November 20th, 1767, transmitting,
A printed book of ordinances made in the Province of Quebec since the establishment of the civil government to the 27th of June, 1767.

New York.

Read a letter from Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated December 9th, 1767, transmitting.
His speech to the Council and Assembly, with a copy of their addresses in answer thereto.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Sir William Johnson, Superintendant of Indian Affairs for the Northern District of America, to the Board, dated October 20th, 1767, respecting the present state and disposition of the Indians within that district.

fo. 19.

Trade, Africa.

Read a letter from Philip Stephens, esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, to the Secretary to this Board, dated January 20th, 1768, inclosing copies of accounts of the state and condition of the forts and settlements on the Coast of Africa.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Samuel Rous, esquire, Commander in Chief of Barbados, to the Board, dated October 28th, 1767, inclosing,
Minutes of Council on the 2nd of October, 1767, relative to the appointment of the Reverend Mr. Brathwaite to be of the Council.
Duplicate of a letter from Mr. Rous to the Earl of Shelburne, dated October 28th, 1767, on the same subject.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Walter Murray, esquire, Deputy Naval Officer of the Island of Jamaica, to the Secretary, dated October 1st, 1767, transmitting,
fo. 20.
Naval Office lists from the 29th of June to the 29th of September, 1767.

Quebec.

Ordered, that the draught of a Commission appointing Guy Carleton, esquire, Governor of Quebec, in the room of James Murray, esquire, be prepared with all convenient dispatch.

Tuesday, January 26th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia.

fo. 21.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of Isaac Levy for the restitution of the moiety of two islands on the coast of Georgia, of which he alleges he was illegally dispossessed by the late Governor of that province, or otherwise for a grant of land in the ceded islands in the West Indies, or of a coal mine in the Island of Cape Breton.

Read a memorial of Mr. Isaac Levy to the Board, dated January, 1768, stating the inconveniences under which he labours.

Henry Ellis, esquire, whose proceedings as Governor of Georgia are referred to in Mr. Levy's petition, attended and stated to their lordships the nature and ground of those proceedings.

Ordered, that Mr. Levy's memorial be taken into further consideration tomorrow morning, and that Mr. Levy be desired to attend.

fo. 22.

Plantations General.

Their lordships then took into further consideration the subject matter contained in the Earl of Shelburne's letter of reference, dated the 5th of October last, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Wednesday, January 27th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Georgia.

The consideration of Mr. Levy's memorial was further postponed till tomorrow morning.

fo. 23.

Virginia.

Their lordships took into further consideration two private Acts relative to the estate and intail of Mr. Carter, passed in Virginia in 1766, and mentioned in the minutes of the 8th of last month, together with two other private Acts passed in the said colony in the years 1764 and 1767, relative to the estates of Messrs. Syme and Starke, and after consideration had of what Sir Mathew Lamb has reported thereupon, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, recommending two of the said Acts to be confirmed, and two other to be disallowed.

fo. 24.

Their lordships then took into consideration a publick Act passed in the said colony in January, 1764, intituled, an Act to impower the Corporation of the City of Williamsburg to assess taxes on the inhabitants thereof for the purposes therein mentioned, and for repealing a certain Act of Assembly therein also mentioned; and the said Act appearing to have been duly passed with a clause suspending its execution until his Majesty's pleasure should be known, conformable to the general instructions, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing that it may be confirmed.

Jamaica.

fo. 25.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the Island of Jamaica in 1766, entitled, an Act to intitle John Donaldson of the Parish of Clarendon in the Island of Jamaica, a free mulatto man, to the same rights and privileges with English subjects born of white parents, under certain restrictions; and the Secretary having acquainted the Board, that the parties interested therein had desired him to move the Board to lay the same before his Majesty, for his royal approbation, it was ordered (no objection appearing to lye against the said Act), that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, recommending that it may be confirmed.

North Carolina.

fo. 26.

Read and considered an Act passed in North Carolina in 1766, intitled an Act for confirming a lease made by the Tuscarora Indians to Robert Jones, William Williams and Thomas Pugh, esquires, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon. It appearing that the said Act had relation to the interests and property of the said Act had relation to the interests and property of the Earl Granville, it was ordered, that a copy of it should be sent to his Lordship, and that he be desired to acquaint the Board, whether he has any objection to it.

Thursday, January 28th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia.

Their lordships took into further consideration Mr. Levy's petition. mentioned in the minutes of the 26th instant, and had some discourse thereupon with Mr. Knox, who was one of the Council of Georgia pending the transactions referred to; after which Mr. Levy was heard in what he had to offer, and, being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council should be prepared.

fo. 27.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Michael Francklin, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated December 17th, 1767, transmitting,
A general return of the state of the Province of Nova Scotia to the 1st of January, 1767.

Proprieties, Pennsylvania.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated January 26th, 1768, referring to the Board, for their opinion and report thereupon, nineteen Acts passed in the Province of Pennsylvania in February and May 1767.

Ordered, that the Acts referred be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb, and that he be desired to report thereupon with all possible dispatch.

fo. 28.

Friday, January 29th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Barbados.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of his Majesty's Council for the Island of Barbados; and the following papers were read, vizt.,
Barbados.
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, to the Board, dated January 27th, 1768, transmitting, for their representation to his Majesty in his Privy Council,
fo. 29.
Address of the Assembly of Barbados to the King, stating the obstruction given to justice and government in that island from there not being a sufficient number of councillors resident there to transact the publick business.
Letter from Mr. Salter to the Secretary, dated January 25th, 1768, in answer to his to Richard Salter, esquire, one of the Council of Barbados, desiring his attendance at this Board.

Three other members of the Council, vizt., Messrs. Walker, Jordan and Frere, whose appearance on this day had been desired, pursuant to the minutes of the 15th instant, attended, and the Board having discoursed with them severally on the subject of the letter from Mr. President Rous and of the address to his Majesty from the Assembly, a representation to his Majesty was signed, proposing that Irenaeus Moe, esquire, and the Reverend Robert Brathwaite may be appointed of the Council of Barbados, in the room of Mr. Salter and Mr. Walker, and stating the case of the other absent members.

fo. 30.

Trade, Denmark.

Their lordships took into consideration a letter from Mr. Secretary Conway, dated in April last, relative to the establishment by the King of Denmark of a company at Altona for carrying on the herring fishery; and also the papers upon that subject, mentioned in the minutes of the 28th of May and 20th of October last, and after some time spent therein, it was ordered, that the draught of a presentation to his Majesty upon the subject should be prepared.