Journal, September 1715: Journal Book R

Journal, September 1715

September 1. Present:—Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

New England.

Letter from Bridger about seizing masts.

A letter from Mr. Bridger [fo. 233, 326] of this day's date, proposing that as Surveyor General of His Majesty's Woods on the Continent of America, he may have power to seize such masts, as he shall find cut in New England upon his arrival there, was read.

New England.

Plantations General.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

Commission and instructions to Bridger.

After which, the draught of a letter [fo. 234], ordered yesterday to be prepared, for transmitting to Mr. Secry. Stanhope the draughts of a commission and instructions for the said Bridger to be Surveyor General of His Majesty's Woods on the Continent of America [fo. 259] was agreed and signed.

New York.

Acts.

Then their Lordships entered upon the consideration of the Acts passed at New York in July, 1715 [fo. 234] mentioned in yesterday's minutes, and upon reading the Act intituled, An Act for a Supply to be granted to His Majesty for supporting his Government in the province of New York, and for striking Bills of Credit for that purpose ordered yt. and abstract be made thereof.

September 2. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Virginia.

Representation.

2 shillings per hogshead.

Quit rents.

A repn. upon the Order of Council [fo. 214] of the 25th of July last, referring to this Board, an address from the Council and Assembly of Virginia, praying that his Majesty's Revenue of Quit Rents there, may be given to supply the deficiency of that of two shillings per hogshead on tobacco, for the support of the Government of the said colony was signed.

Nova Scotia.

Memorial from Colonel Vetch.

Garrison at Annapolis.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

A memorial from Col. Vetch relating to the State of the garrison at Annapolis Royal, and the fishery on the coast of Nova Scotia, was read; whereupon a copy was ordered to be made thereof, and a letter signed for transmitting the same to Mr. Secry. Stanhope.

Memorial from Spelman and Simpson on the same subject.

After which, another memorial from Francis Spelman Fort Major, and Andrew Simpson, Ensign of the forces at Annapolis to the same purpose as that beforementioned from Col. Vetch, was read; whereupon a copy was likewise ordered to be made thereof, and sent with the said letter to Mr. Secry. Stanhope, to which a postscript was added on this occasion.

Trade.

Consulships at Madera and Lisbon.

Merchants summoned.

Their Lordships again considering Mr. Secry. Stanhope's letter of the 12th mentioned in the minutes of the 23rd of the last month [fo. 223, 239], relating to the settling a consul at Madera, independent on that at Lisbon, ordered that Mr. Robert Heysham, Mr. James Milner, Mr. Samuel Ball, and Mr. John Stafford be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them on that subject at ten of the clock on Tuesday morning next.

New England.

Barbadoes.

Bermuda.

Letter to Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General.

Acts &c.

Ordered that letters be writ to Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. Solicitor General for their answers to such letters as have been formerly writ them with Acts, or upon other subjects now before them, from this Board.

September 6. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Trade.

Consulships, Madera Lisbon.

Representation of merchants.

Mr. Milner and Mr. Ball.

A representation of several Merchants of London [fo. 238, 247, 249], trading to Madera, in behalf of Mr. Miles, and setting forth reasons for the British Consulship there, being independent on that at Lisbon, was read; and Mr. Milner and Mr. Ball attending, as they had been desired, in relation to that matter, Mr. Milner declared it was his opinion that it would be most for our interest that the British Consul at Madera, as well as in all other parts of the Portugueze Dominions, should be under the Consul General residing at Lisbon; that when his brother was Consul General, Sir Jeffry Jeffries had privately procured the leaving out Madera in Mr. Milner's Patent, and obtained Mr. Hemmings's being constituted separate consul at Madera, but that even Mr. Hemming himself applied to Mr. Milner, upon whose solicitation at Lisbon, a certain duty on wines at the Maderas, which was a grievance to the merchants, was taken off. Mr. Ball then observing, that tho' indeed Mr. Hemming was a man of a very indifferent character and of little consideration, yet the forementioned service of procuring the said duty to be taken off was done by the interest of Mr. Miles. To which Mr. Milner replied that the Consul General at Lisbon is obliged to solicit all affairs at his own expence, and that the merchants concerned at Madera having paid Mr. Milner for his trouble in that affair, was a demonstration how useless an independent consul at Madera was, and that the merchants who contributed to recompence Mr. Milner at Lisbon, shewed their opinion that he performed the service. Mr. Milner further said that till Mr. Hemming's appointment the consul at Madera had been always dependent on that at Lisbon, as was most proper, because of all appeals being determined in the last mentioned place, besides that the Consul General at Lisbon has a patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, and by virtue thereof may demand an audience of the King of Portugal himself, upon extraordinary occasions, without troubling any other British Minister there. That about the year 1706 there had been a dispute before Her late Majesty, relating to these Consulships, which he believed was not decided, but that the same had been referred to Mr. Methuen, then Her Majesty's Minister at the Court of Portugal who represented his opinion that the Consulship at Madera ought to depend on that at Lisbon, that formerly there had been a separate consul at Oporto, but that such Commn. was now broke. In regard to the interest which Mr. Pointz the present Consul General might have in this affair, Mr. Milner said that the usage he had reed. from the said Pointz would rather incline him to resentment than to promote his advantage, and as to Mr. Miles for whom the independent Consulship at Madera is solicited, he knew no fitter man, if it were for the publick service that the said office should be independent.

Mr. Ball then said it was the unanimous opinion of the most considerable merchants of London, Bristol and Leverpoole trading to Madera (where Mr. Milner is not at all concerned) that it would be for the advantage of the trade to have a person at Madera of more authority, than a Deputy Consul, and that the French had found so by experience and accordingly obtained a consul to be established for them independent on the French Consul at Lisbon, since which they have had several grievances redressed, which they could not obtain before, and Mr. Ball laid before their Lordships ye following papers, which were read vizt.
Papers from Mr. Ball relating to the said Consulships.
Certificate of the French Consul at Madera relating to the prejudice which the trade of the French, English and Dutch suffers by the arbitrary proceedings of the Portugueze Governors of Madera, and the little regard had to the character of a Deputy Council.
Repn. of the merchants at Madera, praying that Mr. Miles may be confirmed Independent Consul there.
Certificate of the merchants at Madera about signing the said representation.
Certificate of several merchants of Bristol, relating to the obstructions they meet with in their trade at Madera, and representing their opinion that nothing but the authority of an Independent Consul can relieve them.

New Hampshire.

Letter from Colonel Burges.

Counsellor's.

A letter from Col. Burges [fo. 234], of this day's date, recommending several persons to be of His Majesty's Council in New Hampshire, was read.

Letter from Mr. Newman.

Councillors.

he to attend.

A letter from Mr. Newman [fo. 245] dated the 3rd instant, relating to Counsellors for New Hampshire, was likewise read; whereupon ordered that he have notice to attend the Board at ten of the clock tomorrow morning.

Then the following papers being laid before the Board, were read, vizt.
Memorial from Sheaf.
Purchase of New Hampshire.
Memorial from Mr. Sheaf, relating to the disputes about the Title to New Hampshire, and proposing its being purchased by the Crown.
Newfoundland.
Commodore Fotherby's account of fishery.
Letter from Capt. Fotherby [fo. 68] Commodore of the Newfoundland Convoy, dated the 30th of May, 1715, with acct. of the Fishery there for the year 1714.
New England.
Banister's essay on trade.
An essay on the trade of New England, by Mr. Banister.
Nova Scotia.
Letter from Aldridge.
Copy of a letter from Captain Aldridge to Col. Nicholson, dated at Annapolis Royal, the 15th Janny., 1714–15.
Trade.
Letter from Consul Loggan, Ostend.
Letter from Mr. Loggan Consul at Ostend, dated the 15th July, 1715. N.S. with a project for making that City a freeport—and concerning his being like to be discontinued in the Consulship there.
Connectieut.
Letter from Rooke.
Letter from Mr. Richd. Rooke, dated at Boston, the 7th April, 1715, informing the Board of copper money being coined in Connecticut, and desiring the Board's recommending him for an imployment in the Customs.
Trade.
Letter from Mr. Carkesse.
Account of gross produce of Customs &c.
Letter from Mr. Paul.
Explanation.
Letter from Mr. Carkesse of the 9th August, 1715, with an account of the gross produce of the Customs, Subsidy and Drawbacks &c. from Christmas, 1708, to Christmas, 1714. As also a letter from Mr. Paul, giving an explanation of the said account.
New York.
Plantations General.
Carolina.
Letter from Mr. Pringle.
Letters from Mr. Heathcote.
Indians.
French attempts.
Naval stores.
Letter from Mr. Pringle, of the 1st. Septr. 1715, by order of Mr. Secry. Stanhope, with three letters from Mr. Caleb Heathcote of New York, relating to the insurrection of Indians in Carolina—the general danger of all our plantations, and particular attempts of the French upon the 5 Nations at New York,—to Naval Stores, &c.

September 7. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

New York.

Letter to the Governor.

The draught of a letter lately prepared to Brigadier Hunter, Govr. of New York, &c. was signed.

Trade.

Letter to the Secretary of the Turkey Company.

Accounts of exports.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Michael Carbonel, Secry. to the Turkey Company for an account of the Woollen Goods, Lead and Tin exported by them from this Kingdom [fo. 257], from Christmas, 1708 to Christmas, 1714, distinguishing each year's export of the said species from Christmas to Christmas, as also a like distinct yearly account of the Bullion exported by the said Company from Christmas, 1697 to Christmas, 1714, to be laid before this Board, as soon as conveniently may be.

New Hampshire.

Mr. Newman.

Councillors.

Mr. Newman attending [fo. 242], as desired, he communicated to the Board an abstract of a letter from Saml. Penhallow and John Wentworth Esqrs. two of His Majesty's Council in New Hampshire [fo. 234], dated the 25th of January last, recommending Theodore Atkinson, Richd. Gerish and George Jeffry, for supplying vacancies in the said Council, which was read.

Bridger on the same subject.

Mr. Bridger likewise attending recommended Thomas Westbrooke, and Richard Wybird as fit to supply vacancies in the said Council [fo. 234.]

New Hampshire.

Massachusets.

Instructions for Colonel Burges.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

Then their Lordships gave directions for filling up the names of the Councillors for the province of New Hampshire [fo. 234] in the draught of instructions prepared for Col. Burges, Govr. of the said province and having agreed the draught of a letter to Mr. Secry. Stanhope for transmitting the said draughts of instructions [fo. 248], with those likewise to Col. Burges for the Massachusets Bay, it was Ordered to be transcribed.

September 8. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburn, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Captain Walton.

Virgin Islands.

Letter to him with queries.

Mr. Docminique communicated to the Board a letter from Capt. Walton to him, of the 5th instant [fo. 231, 250], relating to the Virgin Islands, which was read; whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to him for his answer in writing tomorrow morning to the following questions, vizt.
In case His Majesty should give him a grant of Spanish Town for a term of years, and make him Lieutenant Govr. of the Virgin Islands under the Government and direction of the Capt. General or Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, is he able and willing to ingage to settle Spanish Town with fifty families in 7 years, from the date of his patent.
Will he ingage to fortifye the said Island, as he proposes, and to serve as Lieut. Governor, without any charge to the Crown.
And will he oblige himself not to disturb those who are already in the possession of any lands and have cultivated or improved the same, they paying a moderate and reasonable Quit Rent.

Trade.

Consulships, Madera, Lisbon.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

Their Lordships further considering the reference and several papers relating to the Consulship of Madera [fo. 239, 250] being independent on that at Lisbon, directions were given for preparing the draught of a letter to Mr. Secry. Stanhope upon that subject.

Letter to Mr. Carkesse.

Accounts of gold and silver exported.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Carkesse, to move the Commrs. of the Customs, that this Board may have an account of the Gold and Silver exported from this Kingdom, from Christmas, 1701, to Christmas last [fo. 257.]

Massachusets.

New Hampshire.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

Col. Burges's Instructions.

A letter to Mr. Secry. Stanhope transmitting to him the draughts of instructions to Col. Burges [fo. 246, 277], for the Govnt. of the Massachusets Bay, and New Hampshire, was signed.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

Instructions to Captain Paddon.

Morrocco.

Merchants summoned.

A letter from Mr. Secry. Stanhope of this day's date, with a copy of instructions prepared for Capt. Paddon [fo. 211], who is going to the Emperor of Morocco, requiring the opinion of this Board, if there be anything further necessary to be added to them for the interest and benefit of the trade of His Majesty's subjects in the Dominions of Morocco, were laid before their Lordships, whereupon ordered that Mr. Samuel Winder, Mr. John Adams, and Mr. Valentine Norton [fo. 249], be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them at ten of the clock tomorrow morning, and any other gentlemen concerned in the Barbary Trade, whom they shall think proper.

September 9. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Trade.

Mr. Winder and Adams.

Trade with Morocco.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

Instructions to Captain Paddon.

Mr. Winder and Mr. Adams, attending [fo. 248], as they had been desired, and being asked if they had anything to offer for the benefit or improvement of the British Trade with the Dominions of the Emperor of Morocco; they said, they could add nothing to their memorial presented some time since, upon the Treaty concluded by Captain Paddon with the Emperor of Morocco, which memorial (Trade Bundle N. 207) was again read; whereupon a letter to Mr. Secry. Stanhope, in answer to his of yesterday, relating to the instructions prepared for Captain Paddon as plenipotentiary to the said Emperor, was signed.

Memorial from Mr. Oldmixon.

Madera and Lisbon Consulships.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

A memorial from Mr. Oldmixon [fo. 239, 310] relating to Mr. Potter's being lately arrived from Madera, and his willingness to testify upon oath the oppressions on the British Merchants by the Portugueze Governor there, as mentioned in the memorials delivered by Mr. Ball about the necessity of having the Consulship of Madera independent from that at Lisbon, was read, after which the draught of a letter, ordered yesterday to be prepared to Mr. Secry. Stanhope [fo. 247], relating to the said Consulships of Lisbon and Madera, was agreed and signed.

Leeward Islands.

Memorial from Captain Walton.

Virgin Islands.

Representation.

A memorial from Captain Walton, in answer to the queries sent him yesterday, relating to the Virgin Islands [fo. 246, 265], was read; and a representation upon the Order of Council of 17th June last, on the petition of the said Walton concerning those Islands was signed.

Letter to General Hamilton about Virgin Islands.

Ordered that the Secry. write to General Hamilton [fo. 231], Governor of the Leeward Islands, signifying the desire of this Board that upon his arrival in those parts he make a particular enquiry into the State of the Virgin Islands, and report the same to their Lordships as soon as possible.

Trade.

Orders of Council East India accounts.

The following Orders of Council referring to the Board several accounts of the Exports of the East India Company, were read, vizt.
An Order of Council of the 19th Decr., 1711, referring to the Board an account of the East India Company, Exports from Septr., 1710 to Septr., 1711, directing the Board to examine the same &c. and to report thereupon.
Order of Council, dated the 8th of January, 1712, referring to the Board an account of the East India Company's Exports from the 29th Septr., 1711 to the 29th Septr., 1712, directing the Board to examine and compare the same with the returns of other years, and to report thereon to her Majesty in Council.
Order of Council, of the 9th Novr., 1713, referring to the Board an acct. of the East India Company's Exports from Septr., 1712 to Septr., 1713.
Order of Council, of 22nd of Novr., 1714, transmitting to the Board an account of the exports of the East India Company, from Septr., 1713 to Septr., 1714, for the Board to compare the same with the like accounts of former years &c.
Representation there upon.
And directions were given for preparing the draught of a repn. to His Majesty upon the said accounts [fo. 252.]

Letter to the Secretary of the East India Company.

Bullion &c. bought in Foreign parts and sent to India.

Ordered in the mean time that a letter [fo. 252] be writ to the Secry. of the East India Company, to desire to be informed whether the Coin and Bullion bought in Foreign Parts, and sent to India for the Company's account, be included in the accounts beforementioned and if not, that the Company would order an account thereof for the last twelve years to be transmitted to this Board, as soon as may be.

September 15. Present:—Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke.

Trade.

Letter from Secretary of East India Company.

Bullion.

Representation on the Company's accounts.

A letter from Mr. Woolley [fo. 251], Secry. to the East India Company, dated the 14th, in answer to one writ him the 9th instant, relating to the coin and bullion bought in Foreign Parts, and sent by the Company to the East Indies, was read, and the repn. [fo. 275] ordered at the last meeting to be prepared upon several of the said Company's accts. was signed.

Letter to Lords of the Treasury.

Accounts about home fishery.

A letter to the Lords Commrs. of the Treasury, for their Lordships directions to the proper officers to lay before this Board, the following accounts, relating to our home Fishery, was signed vizt.
A state of the duties upon salt [fo. 257], both foreign and domestick for 5 years past, ending at Lady Day or Midsummer last.
An account of the drawback allowed upon fish for the same time as also.
An account of the gross produce of the duty on salt, for any three years before any drawback was allowed.

Virginia.

Letter from Colonel Spotswood.

Carolina.

Indians.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

A letter from Col. Spotswood Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 15th of July last, relating to the invasion of Carolina by the Indians, the assistance given to that province from Virginia and to the want of arms in the Colony last mentioned, being read directions were given for preparing a letter to Mr. Secry. Stanhope thereupon [fo. 255.]

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Colonel Matthew.

A letter from Col. Matthew, Lieut. General of the Leeward Islands, dated at St. Christophers the 5th of July last was read.

Order of Council.

Petition of Dean.

Ship 3 Sisters.

Mr. Dean summoned.

An Order of Council [fo. 254] of the 9th instant, upon the petition of John Dean of London, Merchant, relating to the cargo of the ship Three Sisters, seized at Antegoa, as being imported in a Foreign Bottom, was read; whereupon ordered yt. the said Mr. Dean be desired to attend the Board tomorrow morning at ten of the clock.

September 16. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke.

Carolina.

Virginia.

Mr. Kettleby &c.

Memorial about Indian trading guns.

Letter to Colonel Spotswood.

Mr. Kettleby, Agent for Carolina [fo. 199], attending, presented to their Lordships a memorial from himself and several other merchts. trading thither, relating to some Indian trading guns preparing to be sent to Virginia, wherewith they apprehend the Indian Enemy may be supplied and desiring that orders may be given to Colonel Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, or such other necessary means used as may prevent the same, was read; whereupon directions were given to the Secry. for writing to Col. Spotswood accordingly, that he use his endeavours to prevent the inhabitants of Virginia from furnishing arms or any kind of warlike stores to the Indians in war with any of his Majesty's Plantations.

Leeward Islands.

Order of Council.

Petition of Dean.

Ships cargo seized at Antigua.

Representation thereupon.

The Board being informed that Mr. Dean was indisposed, and unable to attend their Lordships, as desired yesterday [fo. 253]; the Order of Council of the 9th instant, upon his petition and other papers, relating to the ship Three Sisters lost at Antegoa, and her cargo seized there, as imported on a foreign bottom, were taken into consideration and a repn. thereupon signed.

Virginia.

Carolina.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Stanhope.

Indian insurrection.

A letter to Mr. Secry. Stanhope [fo. 253] ordered yesterday to be prepared upon Colonel Spotswood's of the 15th July last, relating to the invasion of Carolina by the Indians, the assistance given to that province from Virginia, and the want of arms there, was signed.