Journal, April 1781: Volume 88

Journal, April 1781

fo. 184.

Tuesday, April 3rd. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

The minutes of the last Board were read, approved and signed.

Quebec.

Trade.

Sugar.

Mr. Elliott acquainted the Board, that pursuant to order of the 30th of last month, he had, on the 31st, written to Mr. Jackson, requesting his opinion upon the two questions respecting the power of the Legislative Council of Quebec, etc.; and to Mr. Robinson, acquainting him with the opinion of the Board upon the application of the sugar refiners for the admission of prize sugars for home consumption.

fo. 185.

Quebec.

Mr. Jackson attended and laid before the Board the following papers, vizt.,

Report upon four ordinances passed in the Province of Quebec in March and April, 1780, which ordinances are mentioned in the minutes of the 2nd of February last.

Two letters to Mr. Elliott, upon the two questions relative to the power of the Legislative Council of Quebec respecting the price of wheat and flour.

fo. 186.

Their Lordships having thereupon resumed the consideration of the several matters relative to the Province of Quebec, contained in Governor Haldimand's letter to Lord George Germain of the 25th of October last, and in the papers therewith transmitted; and having also read and considered the ordinances beforementioned, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon, and his answer to the two questions proposed to him, it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Haldimand should be prepared, acquainting him with the opinion of the Board upon the chief points contained in the said letter and in the papers therewith transmitted; and the draught of the said letter having been prepared accordingly, was approved and ordered to be transcribed.

fo. 187.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, recommending the allowance of one of the foregoing Acts intituled, An ordinance to prohibit for a limited time the exportation of wheat, pease, oats, biscuit, flour or meal of any kind, also of horned cattle, and thereby to reduce the present high price of wheat and flour; and proposing the disallowance of another of the said Acts intituled, An ordinance describing the persons who shall be deemed forestallers, regrators and ingrossers in this Province, and inflicting punishments upon those who shall be found guilty of such offences.

Barbados.

fo. 188.

Read a petition of Samuel Estwick, esquire, agent for the Island of Barbados, to the Board, praying, that he may, without entering into the general complaints against Governor Cuninghame, be at liberty to be heared by counsel upon the mere question at law as to the right of the said Governor in levying the fees, to the great oppression of the inhabitants, so that the same may be determined by the Board, and that their Lordships will in the meantime, by means of the Royal Order, interdict the levying the said fees by the said Governor.

Ordered, that Mr. Estwick be acquainted, that the Board cannot take upon them to hear counsel upon the matter of fees alone, as the complaints against Governor Cuninghame in that particular make a part of the general complaints exhibited against him, to which they have required his answer with all convenient dispatch.

Leeward Islands, Antigua.

fo. 189.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, recommending Charles Winstone, esquire, to be of the Council of Antigua; and the said draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Military Stores.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 31st, 1781, referring the petition of John Ingram, praying leave to export to New York, on board the ship Grace, certain arms therein mentioned, for the use of privateers.

Their Lordships being of opinion, the exportation should be allowed; the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon was prepared, approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 190.

Tuesday, April 10th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Langlois.

The minutes of the last Board were read, approved and signed.

Quebec.

fo. 191.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing the allowance of two ordinances passed in the Province of Quebec in March, 1780, intituled, An ordinance for regulating all such persons as keep horses and carriages to lett and hire for the accommodation of travellers, commonly called and known by the name of maîtres de postes; and an ordinance intituled, An ordinance for the regulation and establishment of fees; and the said draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed, together with a representation upon two other ordinances passed in the said Province, prepared pursuant to order of the 3rd instant; and a letter to Governor Haldimand transcribed pursuant to order of the same date.

Leeward Islands.

The draughts of general instructions and those relating to trade, for Thomas Shirley, esquire, appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands, having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

fo. 192.

Nova Scotia.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of the Council for Plantation Affairs, dated April, 1781, directing the Board to prepare the draught of an additional instruction to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, authorizing him to dissolve the present Assembly of that Province, and to call a new Assembly; and the said draught having been prepared accordingly was approved, and a report to the Lords of the Committee of the Council thereupon was signed.

Senegambia.

fo. 193.

Read a letter from Sir Grey Cooper, baronet, to Mr. Elliott, dated Treasury Chambers, April 7th, 1781, transmitting a letter from Captain Lacey, recommending, that the usual indent of goods sent out to the Governor of Goree to purchase fresh provisions for the troops may be sent by the contractor for supplying provisions, and desiring the opinion of the Board thereupon.

Their Lordships having taken the said letter into their consideration, Mr. Elliott was directed to write to Sir Grey Cooper, acquainting him, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, with the opinion of the Board thereupon; and the said letter having been prepared, was approved and ordered to be transmitted.

Barbados.

Mr. Elliott acquainted the Board, that in a note to Mr. Estwick dated the 4th instant, he had given that gentleman the answer which their Lordships directed him to make to the petition mentioned in the minutes of the 3rd instant.

fo. 194.

Thursday, April 26th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Langlois.

The minutes of the last Board were read, approved and signed.

Leeward Islands.

Read four letters from Anthony Johnson, esquire, President of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, vizt.,

St. Christopher's.

fo. 195.

Letter dated St. Christopher, 13th February, 1781, acquainting their Lordships, that by the death of Governor Burt, the Government has devolved upon him as senior member of the Council of St. Christopher's; that he had appointed William Wharton, esquire, to be of the Council for St. Christopher's, in the room of Mr. Hamilton, deceased, late Attorney General, which Commission he has given to Thomas Bridgewater, esquire; and that he hath transmitted the following paper, vizt.,
Nevis.
Extract of minutes of the Assembly of Nevis on the 27th January, 1781, relating to Chief Justice Dasent.

Letter dated Nevis, March 14th, 1781, acquainting their Lordships, that an illicit correspondence has been carried on by some itinerant merchants of St. Christopher's; that he hath transmitted to Lord George Germain the particulars of the transaction, and incloses the following papers relative to the Justices of Nevis, vizt.,
fo. 196.
Extract of minutes of Assembly of Nevis of the 15th February, 1781, with the report of the Committee of Council and Assembly appointed to reply to the defence of the Chief Justice; and also the reply of the Grand Jury to the said defence.
Petition and remonstrance of the Assembly of Nevis to Governor Burt, 30th November, 1780, praying, that Chief Justice Dasent may be dismissed, the complaints being now confined to him, by the death of Justice Bodie, and the resignation of Justice Browne.
Answer of Chief Justice Dasent to the above petition.

St. Christopher's.

Letter dated St. Christopher's, March 20th, 1781, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of the 13th of December last.

St. Christopher's.

Nevis.

fo. 197.

Letter dated St. Christopher, March 23rd, 1781, acquainting the Board of his having appointed Mr. George Webbe to be Assistant Justice of Nevis; and transmitting,

Leeward Islands, St. Christopher's.

Two papers containing copies of depositions taken, and papers found relative to a traitorous correspondence carried on by some itenerant merchants of Saint Christopher's and inhabitants of Guadaloupe.

Leeward Islands,

Resolved, that the foregoing letters and papers be taken into consideration on the day of

Grenada, Tobago.

Read a letter from Lieutenant Governor Ferguson to the Board, dated Tobago, January the 23rd, 1781, acquainting their Lordships, that there being only six councillors in the Island, he had appointed Mr. Kenneth Francis McKenzie to fill one of the vacant seats, and recommends Mr. William Forbes for the other; and transmitting the following Acts, vizt.,
fo. 198.
An Act, for raising a sum of money and for appropriating the balances of former taxes to pay the public debts of this colony, to extend, alter and repair the public roads, to defray the expenses incurred in erecting batteries and for other necessary purposes. Passed 16th December, 1780.
An Act, to appoint proper persons to direct and superintend the repairs, alterations and improvements of the public roads of this Island, and to apply two several sums of money appropriated for the above purposes by an Act of this colony intitled, an Act for raising a sum of money and for appropriating the balances of former taxes to pay the public debts of this colony, to extend, alter and repair the public roads, and to defray the expence incurred in erecting batteries and for other necessary purposes. Passed 16th December, 1780.
fo. 199.
An Act, to provide for the establishment of clergymen of the Church of England in this Island. Passed 9th January, 1781.
An Act, to empower the public Treasurer of this Island to appoint a deputy in case of a necessary temporary absence from the Island; and to ascertain a reasonable recompence to the present Treasurer for the time he has acted in that office, as the commissions allowed him by the money bills hitherto passed have been inadequate to the increased trouble thereof. Passed 9th January, 1781.

Ordered, that the Acts beforementioned be sent to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

fo. 200.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Elliott, dated Whitehall, April 21st, 1780, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, to be laid before the Board,
Duplicate of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Ferguson to Lord George Germain, dated Tobago, January 16th, 1781, acquainting his Lordship with the state of that Island; recommending Mr. Petrie or Mr. Wilson for the office of collector, now held by Mr. Francklyn, junior; and inclosing duplicates of the Acts beforementioned, and also the following papers, vizt.
Extract of the minutes of Council of Tobago, 18th December, 1780, respecting barracks intended to be erected.
Letter from Mr. Gardiner, surgeon to the hospital, to Lieutenant Governor Ferguson, dated 10th January, 1781, containing returns of the hospital.

fo. 201.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Sir Andrew Snape Hamond to Mr. Elliott, dated April 26th, 1781, desiring him to request of the Board, that he may be supplied with Mr. Des Barres' maps and charts of Nova Scotia, as Lieutenant Governor of that Province.

Ordered, that Mr. Elliott do acquaint Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, that Sir Richard Hughes, having, on his appointment to be Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Nova Scotia, been supplied with the said maps and charts, together with an American and West Indian Atlass, for the use of the commander in chief; the said maps and charts will of course be delivered to him, on his arrival in Nova Scotia.

fo. 202.

Trade.

Military Stores.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated 23rd April, 1781, referring the petition of Thomas Monkland, praying leave to export to the East Indies, on board the ship Earl of Chesterfield, six thousand sword blades, for the private trade of the captain and officers.

Their Lordships being of opinion, that the exportation should be allowed; the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon was prepared, approved, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

Mr. Elliott acquainted the Board, that he had this day written to Mr. Stephens, and, pursuant to order of the 29th January last, had returned to him the original papers respecting the suspension of Mr. Harrison.