Journal, April 1769: Volume 76

Journal, April 1769

Tuesday, April 4. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Lord Lisburne.

Several papers communicated to the Board by the Earl of Hillsborough, pursuant to his Majesty's commands, were read and considered.

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The said papers are entitled as follows, vizt.
Leeward Islands.
Extract of a letter from Governor Woodley to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated St. Christopher's, December 3rd, 1768, relative to the state of the Councils for those Islands.
Extract of a letter from Governor Woodley to the Earl of Hillsborough, 23rd of December, 1768, inclosing two Acts passed in the island of St. Christopher's.
North Carolina.
Copy of a letter from Governor Tryon to the Earl of Hills-borough, dated Brunswick, North Carolina, January 10th, 1769, containing his observations on sundry Acts passed in North Carolina during the last session of Assembly.
Barbados.
Extract of a letter from Governor Spry to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Barbados, November 12th, 1768, relative to the state of the Council for that Island.
Jamaica.
Extract of a letter from Sir William Trelawney to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Jamaica, November 11th, 1768, relative to the state of the Council for that Island, and inclosing,
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Copy of a letter from Philip Pinnock and Zachariah Bayly, Esquires, to Sir William Trelawney, dated Spanish Town, 10th November, 1768.
Plantations General.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Stuart, Superintendent of Indian affairs in the Southern district of North America, to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated February 12th, 1769, relative to the proposed alteration in the boundary line with the Cherokees, so far as relates to Virginia, and inclosing several papers on this subject.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to the proceedings of the Superintendents for Indian affairs in the settlement of a boundary line with the Indians, and the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

Newfoundland.

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The Secretary laid before the Board draughts of a Commission and instructions for the Governor of Newfoundland, prepared pursuant to order, and the said draughts having been approved, were ordered to be transcribed, and the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon to be prepared.

Virginia.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that the parties interested in a private Act passed in Virginia in December, 1766, intitled an Act to vest certain intailed lands in Ralph Wormeley, Esquire, in fee simple, and for settling other lands in lieu thereof, had desired him to move their lordships to report the said Act for confirmation.

Whereupon their lordships took the said Act into consideration, and ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing it may be confirmed, should be prepared.

Trade, East India.

Read an order of the Lords of the Council, dated December 22nd, 1768, referring to this Board, for their examination and report, an account of the East India Company's exports from the 29th of September, 1767, to the 29th of September, 1768.

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Ordered, that the said account be compared with the accounts of former years, and that a state thereof be prepared and laid before the Board with all convenient dispatch.

Hamburgh.

Read a letter from Richard Sutton, Esquire, to the Secretary to this Board, dated March 16th, 1769, transmitting, by the direction of the Earl of Rochford,
State of the British imports at Hamburgh in the year 1768, together with the valuation.
Imports of France at Hamburgh in 1768, with the valuation.
List of the trading vessels arrived at Hamburgh in 1768.

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Friday, April 7. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, with draughts of a Commission and instructions for the Governor of New-foundland, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Plantations General.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the proceedings of the Superintendents for Indian affairs, in settling a boundary line with the Indians, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved and ordered to be transcribed; as was also the draught of a representation upon two Bills, transmitted by the Governor of Nova Scotia, relative to the rate of interest in that colony, and to the preventing the importation of diseased, lame and impotent persons.

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New York.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated March 9th, 1769, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, a memorial of Sir Jeffry Amherst, praying for a grant of twenty thousand acres of land in the province of New York, under the usual terms.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the said order and petition, directed that the draught of a report thereupon should be prepared.

Trade.

Read a memorial of sundry merchants trading to the North American colonies, containing proposals for the better regulating and encouraging the importation from thence into this kingdom of tar, pitch, turpentine and oak staves and heading.

Ordered, that the said memorial be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next, and that some of the principal persons, interested therein, be desired to attend.

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Tuesday, April 11. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson.

Trade.

Their lordships took into further consideration a memorial of several merchants trading in North America, containing proposals for better regulating and encouraging the importation from thence into this kingdom of tar, pitch, turpentine, oak staves and heading; and several merchants, subscribers to the said memorial and interested in the subject thereof, attending as desired, their lordships heard what they had to offer thereupon, and the matter was reduced to the following propositions, that is to say,

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First. That the bounty on the importation of green tar, made in the manner prescribed by the Act, which gives such bounty, be altogether discontinued, there being little or no tar of such quality imported or used in the manufactures of this kingdom.

Trade

2. That the duty of 9/7 per last of 12 barrels payable upon common tar imported from North America be taken off, and the bounty of 44/- per ton upon such tar reduced to 24/-, but that no such tar be entitled to such reduced bounty or exempted from payment of the duty, unless it be shipped in America, and imported into this kingdom in well hooped casks of 32 gallons each, made with seasoned staves of 3/4ths of an inch thick each stave; the cask to be bunged at the kiln, where the tar is manufactured, with a bung made of cork or wood, so as to prevent the tar running out, or weeds, sand, dirt or water intermixing therewith, and in case of leakage, such barrel or barrels to be filled up, so as to contain thirty two gallons of clean, well conditioned tar, free from weeds, sand, dirt or water.

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3. That the bounty of 30/- per ton now payable upon turpentine imported from the colonies, be discontinued, and the duty of 38/- per ton reduced to 8/- per ton, but that no such turpentine be intitled to such reduction of duty, unless it be shipped in America, and imported into this kingdom in casks made with well seasoned staves ¾ of an inch thick each stave, well hooped, and bunged with bungs of cork or wood, so as to keep it clear from dross and water.

4. That the duty of 9/7 per last of 12 barrels payable upon pitch imported from the colonies, be taken off, and the bounty of 20/- per ton reduced to 10/-, but that no pitch be intitled to such reduced bounty, or exempted from the duty, unless shipped in America, and imported into this kingdom in casks made of staves ¾ of an inch thick each stave, and well hooped.

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5. That certain bounties be allowed upon the importation from America into this kingdom of white oak staves and heading, the said bounties to be granted for twenty one years, divided into three periods in manner following, vizt.

That each 1200 pipe staves, 1800 hogshead, 2400 barrell staves and 3600 pieces of heading shall be allowed a bounty of £6 for the first seven years, £4 for the second seven years and 40/-shillings for the third seven years, but that no staves or heading be intitled to the bounty, unless made of white oak, free from sap and worm holes, each pipe stave to be five feet six inches long, from five to seven inches broad, and 1½ inch thick on its thin edge, each hogshead stave to be four feet six inches long, by from five to seven inches broad, and 1½ inch thick on its thin edge, each barrel stave three feet six inches long, the breadth and thickness the same as the pipe and hogshead staves, and the heading to be two feet six inches long and six inches broad, and the same thickness as the staves.

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The merchants being withdrawn, their lordships took the foregoing propositions into consideration, and were of opinion, that the regulations and encouragements mentioned therein, would, under proper limitations and restrictions to ensure the due execution of the said regulations and prevent frauds, be of commercial advantage and benefit to this kingdom and to the colonies; but as not only the revenue, but also the Navy of this kingdom are materially concerned in what is proposed, their lordships recommended to the memorialists to make application to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and to the Lords Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral, before any further steps were taken; and it was ordered, that they should have copies of their lordships' minute, in order to lay before those Boards.

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Virginia, Nova Scotia, New York, East Florida.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of a private Act of Virginia, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed; as were also a representation to his Majesty upon two Bills transmitted by the Governor of Nova Scotia; a report upon Sir Jeffrey Amherst's petition; and a report upon the petition of Messieurs John Bowman, senior and junior, for lands in East Florida.

Thursday, April 13. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson.

Trade.

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The merchants and others interested in the memorial relative to the importation of tar, pitch, turpentine and oak staves, attending, the resolutions on Tuesday last upon that memorial were read to them, and two copies of the minutes of their lordships' proceedings upon this business were delivered to them.

Friday, April 14. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia.

Read a letter to Mr. Pownall from Mr. Cooper, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, inclosing a report made to that Board by the Commissioners of the Customs upon Mr. Pownall's letter of the 14th of February last, relative to the giving bounties upon the importation of raw silk from the colonies.

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Their lordships took into consideration the proper steps to be taken for carrying what had been proposed into execution; and after some discourse with Mr. Delamar, a gentleman considerably interested in, and conversant in the silk manufacture, and also with Dr. Campbell, agent for the affairs of Georgia, Mr. Rice and Mr. Robinson were desired to take the conduct of this business in the House of Commons.

Tuesday, April 18. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Pennsylvania.

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The Secretary acquainted the Board, that he was desired by Mr. Dagge, solicitor for sundry merchants of Pennsylvania interested in a grant of lands made to them by the Delaware Indians, in compensation for losses sustained in 1763, to move their lordships for leave to have a copy of a treaty made with the said Indians in 1765, and also a copy of the minutes of the proceedings at the Congress held upon that occasion.

Ordered, that copies of the said papers be made and delivered to Mr. Dagge.

Trade, Africa.

Their lordships took into consideration the memorial of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, mentioned in the minutes of the 21st ultimo, and ordered the draught of a representation thereupon to his Majesty in Council to be prepared.

Trade, North Carolina.

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Read a letter from Henry Eustace McCulloh, Esquire, to the Secretary, dated the 14th of April, 1769, desiring, in behalf of the province of North Carolina and of the merchants of the out-ports of Great Britain, to suspend any determinations upon the application of the merchants of London, relative to the proposed regulation upon the importation of pitch, tar and turpentine from the colonies.

Ordered, that the said letter be taken into consideration, when Mr. McCulloh shall produce any testimonials of his being authorized to act in this business, either as agent for the province of North Carolina, or for the merchants of the out-ports of Great Britain.

Georgia.

Their lordships read and considered the draught of a Bill for the further encouraging the growth and culture of raw silk in his Majesty's colonies in America.

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Thursday, April 20. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the proceedings of the Superintendents for Indian affairs in settling a boundary line with the Indians.

New York.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 9th of March, 1769, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, a petition to his Majesty of Major General Murray, praying the confirmation of his title to a seigneurie on Lake Champlain, purchased by him of the subjects of France, in consequence of the treaty of peace.

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Their lordships took the said petition into consideration, together with a memorial from Colonel Christie, relative to a purchase made by him under a similar circumstance and in the same situation, and also the memorial of Captain Stobo touching the lands purchased by him, of which memorial mention is made in the minutes of the 24th of January last, and it was ordered, that the draught of a report upon these several cases should be prepared.

Tuesday, April 25. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Plantations General.

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The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the proceedings of the Superintendents for Indian affairs touching the settlement of a boundary line was further considered, and having been approved, was transcribed and signed, and the Earl of Hillsborough was requested to lay it before his Majesty.

New Jersey, Dominica, Trade, Africa.

The draughts of representations to his Majesty upon the paper Currency Bill of New Jersey, and the Treasury Bill of Dominica, and upon the memorial of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, relative to the appointment of a person to administer an oath to the officers of the Company upon the coast, having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved; as was also a report upon the petition of Major General Murray, Colonel Christie and Captain Stobo, touching their several claims to lands upon Lake Champlain.