Journal, June 1777: Volume 84

Journal, June 1777

Tuesday, June 3rd. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

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

Grenada.

fo. 127.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that Mr. Drummond desired leave to have copies of the following papers relative to lands in Grenada, the said papers being necessary in a cause which is to be heard before the Privy Council, vizt.,
Letter from the Earl of Halifax to the Board, dated September 27th, 1763, inclosing,
The case of Mr. Roger Smith.
Extract from a letter from Governor Scott to the Earl of Egremont, dated July 23rd, 1763.
Report of the Attorney and Advocate General of the 25th of January, 1764.

Ordered, that copies of the said papers be made for Mr. Drummond, agreable to his request.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took into consideration two private Acts passed in the Island of Jamaica in December, 1776, intituled,

fo. 128.

1. An Act to authorize and enable Robert Cooper Lee, late of the Island of Jamaica, but now of the kingdom of Great Britain, esquire, to settle and dispose of his estates, both real and personal in this island, by deed or will as he shall think proper, notwithstanding an Act of the Governor, Council and Assembly of this island, intituled, an Act to prevent inconveniences arising from exorbitant grants and devises made by white persons and the issue of negroes and to restrain and limit such grants and devises.

fo. 129.

2. An Act to intitle Sarah Walters Bolt, a free quadroon woman, and Edward Strudwick and Theodosia Strudwick, the reputed children of Henry Strudwick, esquire, deceased, by the said Sarah Walters Bolt; and Samuel Richard Lewis, Susannah Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis and Louisa Ann Lewis, the reputed children of James Lewis, esquire, by the said Sarah Walters Bolt, to the same rights and privileges with English subjects under certain restrictions, and their lordships having also considered Mr. Jackson's report thereupon, together with two memorials of Mr. Stephen Fuller, agent for the Island of Jamaica, praying that the said two Acts may be recommended for confirmation, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing the confirmation thereof; and the draught of a representation having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated May 31st, 1777, transmitting,
Copy and extract of two letters from Sir Basil Keith to Lord George Germain, dated Jamaica, March the 30th, and April the 13th, 1777, acquainting his Lordship with the death of Mr. Foord, one of the members of his Majesty's Council for that island, and recommending Mr. Beckford to be a councillor, in the room of Mr. Foord.

Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands.

fo. 130.

Their lordships took into their consideration an Act passed in the Virgin Islands in October, 1776, intituled, an Act for appointing an agent to negotiate the affairs of these islands in Great Britain, fixing a salary and settling methods for the duly executing that trust.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing the confirmation of the abovementioned Act: which draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

West Florida.

fo. 131.

The Secretary laid before the Board a paper signed by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Douglas, dated the 19th of May last, containing his resignation of ten thousand acres of land granted to him in the Province of East Florida, upon condition, that his Majesty shall be pleased to give him a grant of the like quantity of land in the Province of West Florida, agreable to the memorial he presented to the Board on the 13th of May; upon which their lordships resumed the consideration of the said memorial, and having examined the records of the Office relative to the case of the memorialist, they were of opinion, that a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, recommending the prayer of the said memorial: and the draught of a representation having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 132.

Read a memorial of Captain Thomas Hutchins of his Majesty's 60th Regiment of Foot, to Lord George Germain, setting forth, that having many relations and friends desirous of retiring from the Provinces of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and settling in West Florida, he applied to the Governor and Council of that province for a tract of land to be reserved to him and his associates, until he should be able to introduce settlers to occupy the same; and by a minute of Council of the said province of the 2nd of June, 1773, copy of which is annexed to the memorial, the said Governor and Council did advise that a tract of twenty five thousand acres should be reserved to him and his associates for twelve months from that date: but that in consequence of his Majesty's late instructions, the Governor is restrained from granting lands, and praying therefore, that in consideration of his services, directions may be given to the Governor of West Florida, to pass a grant to the memorialist and his associates of the lands so reserved, or an equal quantity in any other part of the said province.

Africa.

fo. 133.

Mr. Caruthers with other merchants of Bristol and Liverpoole attended to return thanks to their lordships, for the care and attention they had shewn to the African trade, and expressed their wish, that a proper person might be appointed to receive the money granted by Parliament for the support of the forts and settlements on the coast of Africa, and apply it on the coast; and to survey the forts, and report their state and condition: by which a true and impartial state of the trade, and of the administration of the publick money might be known.

Trade.

fo. 134.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial of Messieurs Clark and Berkenhout, mentioned in the preceding minutes, and Mr. Berkenhout, one of the memorialists, attending, presented to the Board samples of cotton, dyed by their method, in scarlet and crimson: and also two certificates from Dr. William Saunders, teacher of chemistry, and Mr. Ambrose Godfrey, chemist, whereby those gentlemen certify, that they have tryed such samples of cotton, dyed in scarlet and crimson, as were produced to them by Mr. Berkenhout, agreable to the directions of Mr. Helot, and that they appear to be true grained colours; their lordships had also some further discourse with Mr. Berkenhout on the subject matter of the said memorial; and he being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon, should be prepared.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated May 30th, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of Peter Thellusson and Company, for leave to export to St. Malo by way of Guernsey, on board the ship New London, sundry military stores therein mentioned, to be sent to the coast of Africa by the ship Marquis de Braneas.

fo. 135.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated May 30th, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of James Baril, for leave to export to Havre de Grace by way of Campveer Ostend or Rotterdam, on board the ship Amiable Henrietta, sundry military stores therein mentioned, for the use of the French ship La Vicomtesse de Castellanne, trading to Africa.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated May 30th, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of William Todd and Company, for leave to export to Grenada, on board the ship Antigua Planter, sundry military stores therein specified, for the use of a plantation in that island.

fo. 136.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the three foregoing petitions, were of opinion that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draughts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon having been prepared accordingly, were approved, transcribed and signed.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated May 30th, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of Gill Slater, praying leave to export from Liverpoole to the Island of St. Vincent, on board the ship Bess, sundry ordnance and military stores therein specified, for arming and defending the petitioner's vessels belonging to that island, and for the private use of gentlemen there.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the above petition, were of opinion, that as the petitioner has not set forth in what manner the vessel which is to take on board the said ordnance, etc., is intended to be armed, that it would be no ways adviseable to recommend the exportation of so important a cargo.

fo. 137.

Tuesday, June 10th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

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

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June the 4th, 1777, referring the petition of Alexander Bartlett, for leave to export to the Island of Grenada sundry military stores therein mentioned, on board the ship Antigua Planter, for the defence of the Bay of Hillsborough, and of a sloop belonging to the petitioner.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the above petition, were of opinion, the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 138.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the memorial of Thomas Clark and James Berkenhout, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of May, and the 3rd instant, having been prepared according to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Martin Haulback in behalf of himself and others the settlers in the township of Lunenburgh in Nova Scotia, praying, that they may have a grant of their township confirmed to them, with a remission of fees.

Ordered, that a letter be written to Lieutenant Governor Arbuthnot, transmitting a copy of the said petition, and recommending him to enquire into the merits thereof.

Jamaica.

fo. 139.

Read a memorial of Stephen Fuller, esquire, agent for the Island of Jamaica, praying the Board to recommend it to his Majesty to permit the Governor of that island to give his assent to an Act of Assembly, for disposing of the dwelling house and appurtenances of Philip Pinnock by a raffle.

East Florida.

Read a letter from (fn. 1) Robert Knox, esquire, agent for the Province of East Florida, to Mr. Cumberland, dated June the 4th, 1777, requesting, that he will obtain the directions of the Board, respecting the payment of a bill of £179. 9. 0 drawn on him by the Reverend John Forbes, for his salary as officiating Chief Justice of that province, from the 13th of February to the 24th of June, 1776; and stating, that he had, by order of the Secretary of State, paid William Drayton, esquire, the full salary as Chief Justice of the said province for last year.

fo. 140.

Upon reading the above letter, their lordships were of opinion, that Mr. Drayton's salary having been issued to him in obedience to his Majesty's commands signified by the Secretary of State, the agent will be warranted in appropriating so much of the contingent fund, as shall serve to discharge one moiety of the salary, being the proportion due to the acting Chief Justice, during the period of Mr. Drayton's absence.

West Florida.

Read a memorial of William Roberts, in behalf of himself and his associate Samuel Fontenelle, setting forth, their having purchased two Orders of Council, for twelve thousand acres of land in East Florida, and praying the Board to recommend to his Majesty, that they may be permitted to exchange the said lands for a like quantity in West Florida, on surrendering the said two Orders in Council and their assignments.

fo. 141.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the memorial of William Roberts, be prepared.

Barbados.

Their lordships took into their consideration an Act passed in the Island of Barbados in March, 1776, intituled an Act to render more effectual the Act to impower the Commissioners appointed by the Act for cleansing and maintaining the Mole, to take up and borrow money on the credit of the said Act; together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor of the Island of Barbados, on the subject of the said Act, be prepared.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 142.

Georgia.

East Florida.

West Florida.

St. John's.

Senegambia.

Plantations General.

Read six memorials of the agents of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, St. John's and Senegambia; also three memorials of the agents for general surveys, to the Lords of the Treasury, praying that the money granted by Parliament for the support of the civil establishment of the said colonies, and for general surveys for the year 1777, may be issued as usual into their hands; and the Secretary was directed to certify their lordships' approbation of the said memorials being presented accordingly.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following publick papers, vizt.,
Grenada.
Minutes of Council of the Island of Grenada, commencing the 27th of July, and ending the 26th of October, 1776.
Minutes of Assembly of the Island of Grenada, commencing the 25th of July, and ending the 28th of October, 1776.

fo. 143.

Dominica.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, recommending Alexander Henderson, esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of Dominica.

Thursday, June 12th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

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

West Florida, Nova Scotia, Dominica.

fo. 144.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the memorial of William Roberts for an exchange of lands, having been prepared pursuant to the minute of the 10th instant, was approved, transcribed and signed; as was also a letter to Lieutenant Governor Arbuthnot, transmitting him a copy of the memorial of the settlers of the township of Lunenburgh in Nova Scotia, and a representation to his Majesty, recommending Alexander Henderson, esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of Dominica.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 145.

His Majesty having been pleased, by his warrant of the 3rd of December, 1776, to the Governor of Nova Scotia, to direct that Bryan Finucane, esquire, should be appointed to succeed the late Jonathan Belcher, esquire, as Chief Justice of that province, the agent requested their lordships' directions, as to the distribution of the salary granted by Parliament to that officer; whereupon their lordships were pleased to order, that one moiety of the said salary should be issued to the said Mr. Finucane from the date of his Majesty's warrant, and the other moiety to the person executing that office until the arrival of Mr. Finucane.

Thursday, June 19th. Present:—Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

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

Jamaica.

fo. 146.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the Island of Jamaica, intituled, an Act to entitle Mary Powell, a free mulatto woman, and John Brooks, the reputed son of George Brooks, esquire, to the same rights and privileges with English subjects under certain restrictions, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon; and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing the confirmation of the said Act: which draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 13th, 1777, referring the petition of Messrs. Graham, Johnston and Company, for leave to export to West Florida, for trade there, certain military stores therein specified, on board the ship Susannah.

Their lordships, on consideration of the foregoing petition, were of opinion, that it would not be proper to recommend the exportation prayed for, the said ship not being sufficiently armed.

fo. 147.

Friday, June 27th. Present:—Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Eden.

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

Senegambia.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to Mr. Cumberland, dated June 24th, 1777, transmitting, for the opinion of this Board,
Copy of the memorial of Thomas Bullock, esquire, agent for the Province of Senegambia, to the Lords of the Treasury, praying that the money granted by Parliament for the civil establishment of that province for the present year, may be issued to him.

fo. 148.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Robinson, to acquaint him for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, that this Board has no objection, under the present circumstances of that province, to the grant of Parliament for the present year being issued to the agent, agreable to the prayer of his memorial.

Trade.

The following Orders in Council were read, vizt.,
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 24th, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of James Montgomery, praying leave to export to West Florida, sundry military stores therein mentioned, on board the ship Rebecca, for trade in the said province.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 24th, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of Gill Slater, praying leave to export from Liverpool to the Island of St. Vincent, sundry military stores therein mentioned, on board the ship Bess, for arming and defending the petitioner's vessels trading at that island.

fo. 149.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the two foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and draughts of reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon having been prepared accordingly, were approved, transcribed and signed.

Dominica.

Read a letter from Thomas Shirley, esquire, Governor of Dominica, dated March 7th, 1777, relative to the Council of that island, and transmitting,
Return of the state of his Majesty's Council for the Island of Dominica, dated 7th March, 1777.
Minutes of Council from the 25th of September to the 29th of November, 1776.
Journal of Assembly from the 25th of September to the 29th of November, 1776.
Three Acts passed in October and November, 1776.

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