Journal, January 1776: Volume 83

Journal, January 1776

fo. 1.

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

Tuesday, January 16. Present:—Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Pennsylvania, Connecticut.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the minute of this Board on the 30th of October last, by which the 30th of this month is appointed for a further hearing of the parties interested in the claims set up by the colony of Connecticut to lands within the reputed boundary of Pennsylvania, agreed that it would not be proper, in the present situation of affairs in North America, to proceed upon that business at the time appointed; and it was ordered, that the hearing should be postponed to Tuesday, the 30th of April, and notice thereof given to the parties.

fo. 2.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships read and considered a memorial of the principal merchants and traders in St. John's, Newfoundland, stating some grievances and disadvantages in the trade and fisheries of that island; and proposing the means for remedying the same; which memorial is addressed to Rear Admiral Duff, and having been presented by him to Lord George Germain, was, by his lordship's order, laid before the Board.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit copies of the said memorial to the mayors of Pool, Dartmouth, Falmouth and Plymouth, and to the Master of Merchants' Hall, Bristol, requesting that they would communicate the same to the merchants of those towns trading to Newfoundland, to the end that their lordships may have their sentiments upon what is therein proposed.

fo. 3.

St. John's.

Read a letter from Governor Patterson to the Secretary to this Board, dated December 11th, 1775, relative to services performed by his directions within his Government of St. John's, and inclosing accounts of sundry contingent disbursements.

Governor Patterson attending, was examined touching the disposal of the money granted by Parliament for building a church, a court house and a gaol in the island of St. John, and delivered in the following account thereof, vizt.
Account of the disposal of the money granted for publick buildings at Charlotte Town.

fo. 4.

St. John's.

It appearing, upon a view of the said account, that a great part of the money had been applied to services not expressed in the estimate, upon which the grant was made; and that there still remained a considerable ballance in Mr. Patterson's hands, he was acquainted, that it would be necessary, as well in justice to the publick as for his own security, to lay a state of his accounts before the Lords of the Treasury, for their lordships' directions thereupon.

Their lordships then proceeded to examine into the state of the receipt and expenditure of the quitrents reserved upon lands in the island of St. John, and Mr. Allanby, the Receiver of the said quitrents, attending, was called in, and laid before their lordships several accounts of receipts and payments of the said quitrents since his appointment to that office, and of the ballance remaining in his hands, and Governor Patterson was desired to examine the said accounts, and to compare them with his accounts during the time he acted as Receiver General, and to lay a state of the whole before the Board.

fo. 5.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of James Burrow. Esquire, one of the Council of Nova Scotia, and Comptroller of the Customs in that colony, to this Board, dated January 16th. 1776, praying their lordships to permit the agent for the said colony to discharge a bill of exchange drawn by the Governor in favour of the memorialist.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the said memorial, did not think it advisable to authorize the payment of the bill to which the memorial refers.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that Mrs. Ann Wright, the necessary woman in the service of this Board, was very aged and infirm; and therefore that he proposed, with their lordships' approbation, to appoint Mrs. Mary Searle to be assistant necessary woman; but not to receive any part of the salary or emoluments of the said office so long as Mrs. Ann Wright lives; and their lordships were pleased to approve such appointment.

fo. 6.

Tuesday, January 23. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Miscellanies.

His lordship acquainted the Board that John Pownall, Esquire, Secretary to this Board, having humbly requested his Majesty's permission to resign his office, his Majesty had been graciously pleased to approve thereof, and to signify his Majesty's pleasure, that Richard Cumberland, Esquire, should be appointed Secretary in the service of this Board, in the room of Mr. Pownall.

Mr. Cumberland was called in and acquainted therewith, and Mr. Ambrose Serle was appointed Solicitor and Clerk of the Reports, in the room of Mr. Cumberland.

fo. 7.

Trade.

Their lordships read and considered two orders of the Lords of the Privy Council referring the petitions of Messrs. Graham, Johnston and Co. of London, merchants, praying leave to export military stores to the colonies of East and West Florida.

The parties interested in the above-mentioned petitions attending, and their lordships having entered into examination of such points as they thought fit to interrogate them upon; were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draft of a report to the Lords of the Council to that effect was ordered to be prepared.

Their lordships also read and considered three Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, referring the petitions of Francis Rotch, Thomas Nixon and Samuel Scott, praying leave to export military stores.

fo. 8.

The parties attending, and their lordships having entered into examination of such points as they thought fit to interrogate them upon, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and it was ordered, that drafts of reports to that effect should be prepared.

Their lordships likewise read and considered four Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, referring the petitions of Messrs. Vidal and Tutet,—Bridges, Eade and Wilton,—Samuel Smith and Son, and William Wilson, praying leave to export military stores; and their lordships were of opinion, that it would not be expedient to allow of the exportation prayed for.

St. John's.

fo. 9.

Read an Order of the King in Council, dated June 30th, 1775, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report to a Committee of the Lords of the Privy Council for Plantation Affairs, the petition of Thomas Desbrisay, Lieutenant Governor of St. John's, praying for a grant of all the small islands adjacent and belonging to the said island of St. John, or of such part of them as his Majesty shall think fit, excepting those already granted to James Montgomery, Esquire, Lord Advocate of Scotland; and stating that the said small islands petitioned for, do not amount in the whole to more than about eight hundred acres of land.

Walter Patterson, Esquire, Governor of the island of St. John, attending, was called in, and their lordships asked some questions of him relative to the number, situation and extent of the above mentioned islands; and it was agreed to take the petitioner's request into further consideration on Tuesday next.

Tuesday, January 30. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

fo. 10.

Newfoundland.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that, pursuant to their lordships' order of the 16th instant, he had written to the mayors of Pool, Dartmouth, Falmouth and Plymouth, and to the Master of Merchants' Hall, Bristol, transmitting to them a copy of the memorial presented by the principal merchants and traders in St. John's, Newfoundland to Rear Admiral Duff, and requesting them to communicate the said memorial to the merchants of those towns interested in that trade, and report their sentiments upon the propositions therein contained, for the information of this Board.

Grenada, St. Vincent's.

fo. 11.

Read an Order of his Majesty in Council, signifying that his Majesty had been pleased to approve of the draught of the Commission for Sir George Macartney, mentioned in the minutes of the 12th of December last; and also of erecting the island of St. Vincent into a separate Government, independent of Grenada, recommended in the humble representation of this Board to his Majesty of the above date; and to direct, that draughts of a Commission and instructions should be prepared for such person as his Majesty shall be pleased to appoint Governor of the said island; and that their lordships should likewise consider of, and prepare the form and device of a new Seal for the said island, and lay the same, together with the said draughts of a Commission and instructions, before his Majesty at that Board.

Lord George Germain acquainted the Board, that the King had been graciously pleased to approve of Valentine Morris, Esquire, being appointed Governor of the island of St. Vincent; and that it was his Majesty's pleasure, that they should prepare, and lay before his Majesty in Council, a draft of a Commission and instructions for the said Governor.

Plantations General.

fo. 12.

His Lordship also acquainted the Board, that it was his Majesty's pleasure, that they do take into consideration an Act passed in the present session of Parliament, for prohibiting all trade and intercourse with certain colonies therein mentioned, and that they do prepare, and lay before his Majesty in Council, draughts of such instructions to the Governors of the colonies, not comprized in the said Act, as they shall judge necessary for carrying it into effectual execution.

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

His lordship likewise signified to the Board his Majesty's pleasure, that they do prepare, and lay before the House of Commons, estimates of such sums as will be necessary for supporting the civil establishments of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida and West Florida in North America, and the Province of Senegambia in Africa; and also for continuing the service of the general Survey of his Majesty's dominions in North America, in such manner as may be compatible with the present state of affairs in America.

fo. 13.

St. John's.

Their lordships took into further consideration the petition of Thomas Desbrisay, Lieutenant Governor of St. John's, praying for a grant of all the small islands adjacent and belonging thereto; and the said islands appearing to be of no greater extent than was set forth in the petition, their lordships were of opinion, that the said petition should be complied with, and a Report to the Lords of the Committee being prepared accordingly, was transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Draughts of reports upon the petitions of Messrs. Graham, Johnston and Co.,—Francis Rotch,—Thomas Nixon and Samuel Scott, for leave to export military stores, having been prepared pursuant to order of the last meeting, were approved, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

fo. 14.

Their lordships took into consideration a private Act of Jamaica passed in December 1774, intituled, an Act to repeal part of an Act, intituled an Act to explain and enforce the last will and testament of John Wolmer, etc., together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon; and the draught of a representation to his Majesty, recommending its allowance, being prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Miscellanies.

A letter to his Majesty's Post Master General, signifying the appointment of Mr. Cumberland to be Secretary to this Board, and claiming the exemption from postage under the Act of the 4th of his present Majesty's reign, was agreed to and signed.

St. John's.

fo. 15.

The Secretary laid before the Board the state of the quitrents of the island of St. John, as prepared by Governor Patterson, pursuant to their lordships' order of the 16th instant; by which it appears, that the sum of eight hundred and eighty nine pounds, two shillings remains in the hands of Mr. Allanby, Receiver of the said quitrents; and Lord George Germain having communicated to the Board a letter from Governor Patterson, desiring, that Mr. Allanby may be directed to pay into his hands what money he has already received, and to continue to do so in future as he collects it, it was ordered, that the Secretary should transmit a copy of the said letter to the Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, and desire him to lay it before that Board, for their lordships' directions thereupon.

New York.

Their lordships read and considered an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council for Plantation Affairs, dated December 21st, 1775, referring to this Board the case of Mr. de Lotbinière for their consideration and report, in which of his Majesty's provinces in North America, to what extent, and under what conditions, a grant of land should be made to him.

fo. 16.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Lotbinière, desiring to be informed, if he has any propositions to lay before the Board relative to the subject matter of his petition.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated January 25th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of Messrs. Vidal and Tutet of London, merchants, praying leave to export to Bourdeaux certain military stores therein mentioned, for the French African trade.

The parties interested in the abovementioned petition attending, and their lordships having entered into examination of such points as they thought fit to interrogate them upon, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draft of a report to the Lords of the Council was ordered to be prepared.

fo. 17.

Trade.

Their lordships read and considered three Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, referring to this Board the petitions of Messrs. Tappenden and Co.,—Joseph Hunt and Isaac Pratt, praying leave to export certain military stores; and their lord ships were of opinion, it would not be expedient to allow the exportation prayed for.

New Jersey, St. Vincent's.

Their lordships read and considered several laws passed in the colony of New Jersey, and island of St. Vincent, together with Mr. Jackson's reports thereupon.

St. Vincent's.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty should be prepared, proposing the disallowance of an Act passed in the island of St. Vincent in March 1774. for establishing markets, encouraging the raising of live stock, settling the price of fresh provisions, settling the weights to be used, and preventing abuses in the fishery about this island.