Journal, June 1734: Journal Book L.L

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 6, January 1729 - December 1734. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1928.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Journal, June 1734: Journal Book L.L', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 6, January 1729 - December 1734, (London, 1928) pp. 393-399. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol6/pp393-399 [accessed 19 March 2024]

Journal, June 1734

June 5. Present:—Bishop of London, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

New York.

Vestry Act of a parish considered.

Mr. Paris, solicitor to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, attending, as he had been desired, as also Mr. Guerin, agent for Colonel Cosby, Governor of New York, their Lordships took again into consideration the memorial from the said Society, read the 30th of the last month, against the New York Act, to empower the vestry of the parish of Jamaica to dispose of £60, and read the said law, as also Mr. Fane's report thereupon; and Mr. Guerin being asked whether he had anything to offer in behalf of the said Act, he said, that he had received no instructions upon that head.

Vestry Act objected to by the Bishop of London.

The Bishop of London then informed the Board, that according to a statute of Henry the 8th, entituled, for the restitution of the first fruits in time of vacation to the next incumbent, the next incumbent is always entitled to the revenue arising since the death of the former, and as this law was made to extend to all the King's dominions, the Act of New York, now in question, was contrary thereto, and therefore in his opinion ought to be repealed.

Act to be repealed.

Mr. Paris and Mr. Guerin being withdrawn, and their Lordships, taking this Act into further consideration, gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation to repeal the same.

Barbadoes.

State of defence.

A representation from the agents of Barbadoes, praying for stores of war for the defence of that island, and giving an account of several Acts passed there, for raising money, etc., for their own security, was read, and directions were given for taking notice thereof in the report upon this subject, ordered to be prepared the 30th of the last month.

New England.

Letter to the Governor.

The letter to Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, ordered to be prepared the 29th of the last month, was agreed.

New York.

Mr. Fane's report on two Acts.

Mr. Fane's report upon two Acts, passed at New York in 1733, was read, and the Board resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

June 6. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Nevis.

Stores of war wanting.

A letter from Mr. Butler, agent for the Island of Nevis, relating to the want of stores of war, and what money has been raised in the Island of Nevis since 1702 for their defence, was read, and directions were given for taking notice of this also in the report upon this subject, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes.

Jamaica.

Governor's instructions.

Then the Secretary laying before the Board the draughts of general instructions, and of those, which particularly relate to the Acts of Trade, ordered to be prepared the 25th of April last, for Mr. Cunningham, appointed Governor of Jamaica, the same were agreed, and directions were given for preparing the draught of a representation to His Majesty thereupon.

June 12. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

Governor's additional salary.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle, of this day's date, directing the draught of an instruction to be prepared for Mr. Cunningham, Governor of Jamaica, relating to his additional salary, was read; and directions were given for altering the instructions accordingly.

Trade.

Russia Treaty.

Letter from the Lord Harrington, dated the 6th instant, referring to this Board:
The extract of a letter from the Lord Forbes and Mr. Rondeau to the Lord Harrington, dated May 14th, 1734, O.S., and
Draught of a treaty of commerce with Russia.

And another letter from the Lord Harrington, of yesterday's date, to hasten the Board's report on the draught of a treaty of commerce with Russia, was read, and directions were given for desiring the Lord Forbes to attend the Board to-morrow morning.

Jamaica.

Governor Hunter dead, letter from the President.

A letter from Major Ayscough, President of the Council of Jamaica, dated the 4th of April, 1734, with an account of the death of General Hunter, late Governor there, and that he had taken upon him the administration of publick affairs.

And another letter from him to the Secretary, dated the same day, with
Papers.
Minutes of Council of Jamaica, from the 3rd of July, 1733, to the 7th of March following.
Journal of the Council in Assembly, from the 3rd of July to the 16th November, 1733, and
12 Acts, passed there in November, 1733, and March, 1733–4, and

Vacancies in Council, Mr. Concanen, a new Councillor, recommended.

A third letter from Major Ayscough, dated the 13th of April last, praying their Lordships to fill up the vacancies in the Council of that island, being all read, and their Lordships taking notice of a vacancy in the Council of that island, by the death of Mr. Gomersal, a representation, proposing Mr. Concanen in his room, was agreed and signed.

South Carolina.

Naval officers' lists.

Letter from Mr. Fox, naval officer, dated in South Carolina, the 27th of March, 1734, transmitting a list of vessels entered and cleared at Charles Town, for the quarter ending at Lady Day, 1734, was read.

New York.

Report on an Act agreed.

The draught of a representation, ordered to be prepared the 5th instant, for repealing the Act, passed at New York, to empower the vestry of the parish of Jamaica to dispose of £60, etc., was agreed.

New England.

Letter to the Governor, signed.

A letter to Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, agreed the 5th instant, was signed.

June 14. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

New York.

Vestry Act reported to be repealed.

The representation for repealing an Act, passed at New York, to empower the vestry of the parish of Jamaica to dispose of £60, etc., agreed yesterday, was signed.

Trade.

Russia Treaty.

The Lord Forbes attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships took again into consideration the two letters from the Lord Harrington, read the 12th instant, relating to the draught of a treaty of commerce with Russia; and the Secretary acquainting the Board that Mr. Holden, Governor of the Russia Company, had desired a copy of the said draught, before the Board should make any report thereupon; their Lordships agreed thereto, and desired Lord Forbes would attend again on Wednesday morning next, and that the Russia Company should likewise be desired to attend at the same time.

A letter was then signed to the Lord Harrington, to acquaint him with what the Board have done upon this subject.

Query about the Russia Company's charter, sent to Mr. Fane.

Ordered that a letter be wrote to Mr. Fane, for his opinion whether the privileges granted to Russia by an Act of Parliament, passed in 1566, particularly those of importing through Russia the produce and manufactures of Armenia, Major or Minor, Media, Hyrcania, Persia, or the countries bordering on the Caspian Sea, do still subsist, notwithstanding the Acts of Navigation and the charters of the East India Company, confirmed by Acts of Parliament, subsequent to the Russia charter.

June 18. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Leeward Islands.

Copies of instructions about revenue, sent to the Treasury.

A letter from Mr. Scrope, Secretary to the Treasury, desiring copies of such instructions to General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, as relate to the revenues, was read, and the Secretary laying before the Board copies of the said instructions, directions were given for inclosing them to Mr. Scrope accordingly.

Want of stores of war considered.

The Board taking into consideration the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, relating to the want of stores of war in the Leeward Islands, ordered to be prepared the 30th of the last month, and made a progress therein.

Massachusetts.

Four Acts, sent to Mr. Fane.

An Order of the Committee of Council, of the 22nd of March, 1733—4, referring to the Board four Acts, passed in the Massachusetts Bay in June and August, 1733, was read; ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

June 19. Present:— (fn. 1) . . . . . . .

Trade.

Russia Treaty.

The Lord Forbes attending, as he had been desired, as also Mr. Holden, the Governor of the Russia Company, and several members thereof, the Board took again into consideration the draught of a treaty of commerce with Russia, mentioned in the Minutes of the 13th instant, and desiring Mr. Holden would inform the Board what the said company had to offer upon the said draught; Mr. Holden observed to the Board, that as higher duties were laid upon the exportation of goods exported from Russia by English merchants than upon the exportation of the same goods by the Russians, the Russians might trade to this kingdom upon easier terms than the English, and therefore he proposed, that the Russians might, by this treaty, be obliged to pay to the Russian Company here, a duty equivalent to that paid by the English in Russia; and that thereby, putting the trade upon an equal foot, the Russia Company were willing to allow the Russians all the privileges of the English merchants, provided they took the oath required by the charter to be taken by the members thereof, viz., not to cover foreigners' goods exported from Russia to this kingdom.

Mr. Fane's report, concerning some privileges claimed by the Russia Company, by virtue of their charter, was then read, and directions were given for preparing the draught of a representation upon the forementioned draught of a treaty of commerce with the Court of Russia.

Jamaica.

Twelve Acts, sent to Mr. Fane.

Ordered that the twelve Jamaica Acts, received with Major Ayscough's letter to the Secretary, dated the 4th April last, and read the 12th instant, be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon.

June 20. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

South Carolina.

Settlement at Purrysburgh considered.

Mr. Purry, junior, attending, the Board read and took into consideration an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated April 18th, 1734 [fo. 106], referring to the Board of Trade the petition of Colonel Purry, his father, praying that the Governor of South Carolina may be ordered to cause the six miles round the township of Purrysburgh to be surveyed, and set apart for the use of the said town, and that such substantial inhabitants, as assist the rest to make their settlements, may be allowed such additional quantity of land within the six miles as shall be an adequate reward for their services, not exceeding 300 acres, to be certified to the Governor by the petitioner; and that such of the inhabitants, whose town lots are situated on the rivulet, may be allowed double lots in consideration of clearing the said rivulet; and that German Protestants, skilled in the production of silk and wine, may be allowed the same incouragement as Swiss, was read; and after some discourse with him thereupon, he was desired to bring to the Board at their next meeting, answers to the following queries, viz:—
Queries about the township of Purrysburgh.
What surveys have been made within the township of Purrysburgh or within six miles thereof?
What quantities of land are contained in the said surveys? for whom? and upon what pretence were they made?

Then the following Orders in Council were read.

Act of 1696, repealed.

Order in Council, of 3rd April, 1734, approving a representation of this Board for repealing An Act, passed in South Carolina in 1696, for the encouragement of the better settlement of that province.

Nova Scotia.

Orders of Council about Mrs. Campbell's claim.

Two Orders of Council, of 20th of December, 1733, upon the petition of Agatha Campbell, concerning her right to some lands in Nova Scotia, and arrears of rent due to her from several inhabitants of that province; and upon a representation of this Board upon that subject, directing the Treasury to consider what is proper to give her for the purchase of her land, and the Governor to cause her arrears of rent to be paid to her.

Jamaica.

New Councillor, Mr. Halls approved.

An Order in Council, of 3rd April, 1734, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Mr. Halls to supply Mr. Moore's vacancy in the Council of Jamaica.

Massachusetts.

Governor allowed to accept £3000.

Order in Council of January the 10th, 1733–4, approving an additional instruction, (prepared by this Board), for the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, to give his assent to a Bill, passed there in June last, for granting the sum of £3000 for the support of His Majesty's Governor.

An Act repealed.

Order in Council, of January 10th, 1733–4, approving a representation of this Board for repealing An Act, passed in the Massachusetts Bay in 1731, in addition to the Act for ascertaining the number, and regulating the House of Representatives.

Barbadoes.

Mr. Peers and Mr. Gollop approved for new Councillors.

Two Orders in Council, of 20th December, 1723, and 3rd April, 1734, approving two representations of this Board proposing Henry Peers, junior, and John Gollop, Esqs., to supply Mr. Leslie and Williams's vacancies in the Council of Barbadoes.

Governor's additional salary Act, confirmed.

Order in Council, of 20th December, 1733, approving a representation of this Board for confirming an Act, passed at Barbadoes in 1733, for the better support of his Excellency and the dignity of the Government of that island.

Petition against the Attorney General, rejected.

Order in Council, of April 3rd, 1734, directing the Assembly of Barbadoes's petition against the Attorney General of that island for commencing suits against persons for arrears of taxes, due upon the Act for Supporting the honour and dignity of the Government, to be rejected and dismissed for non prosecution.

St. Christophers.

Audain's Act, confirmed.

Order in Council, of 10th January, 1733–4, approving a representation of this Board for confirming an Act of St. Christophers, passed in 1722, to enable Andrew and Peter Audain to sell the lands therein mentioned.

Antigua.

Want of cannon shot.

Two Orders in Council, of 31st January, and 20th March, 1733–4, approving a representation of this Board, and an estimate by the Board of Ordnance, relating to the want of cannon shot in Antigua, and to the charge thereof.

Leeward Islands.

Governor's additional salary Acts.

Copies of three Orders in Council, of the 11th of April, 1734, approving three Acts of the respective islands of Antigua, Nevis, and St. Christophers, settling additional salaries on William Mathew, Esq., Governor of the said islands, and copy of another Order for confirming another Act of St. Christophers, for raising £800 per annum by a poll tax on negroes.

June 25. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

South Carolina.

Purrysburgh.

Colonel Purry attending, presented to the Board his answers to the queries given him at the last meeting, which being read, directions were given for preparing a draught of a report thereupon [fos. 102, 120].

Trade.

Russia Treaty.

The draught of a representation upon the project of a treaty of commerce proposed to be made with Russia, was agreed.

June 26. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

Report on Russia Treaty, signed.

The representation upon the project of a treaty of commerce, proposed to be made with Russia, agreed at the last meeting, was signed, as also a letter, for enclosing the same to the Lord Harrington.

Flanders, duty on pit coal.

Two letters from the Lord Harrington, dated the 3rd and 22nd May, 1734, with the following papers, relating to the duties laid on English pit coal in Flanders, were read, viz:—
Extract of a letter from Mr. Daniel, His Majesty's Secretary at Brussels, to My Lord Harrington, dated April 28th, 1734.
And copies of two other letters from the said Mr. Daniel to his Lordship, dated the 1st and 22nd May, 1734.
Second account of duties paid in Ghent on English pit coal.

And their Lordships, taking the same into consideration, gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon.

June 27. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

Leeward Islands.

Letters and papers from the Governor.

Three letters from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Secretary, dated the 11th of February, and 19th of March, 1733–4, and the 18th of April, 1734, each inclosing another to the Board of the same date, and transmitting the following papers, viz:—
List of persons employed and fees taken in the Treasurer's office at Antigua.
An Act for building a platform and cisterns in Antigua for the use of ships of war.
Docket of the Secretary's fees of St. Christophers, continued.
A docket of fees taken by the Secretary of the Island of Montserrat.
A docket of fees taken by the Clerk of the Assembly of Montserrat.
Map of the Island of Montserrat.
Minutes of Council of Montserrat, from 22nd December, 1733, to 25th of March, 1734.
Minutes of Assembly of Montserrat, from 6th November, 1733, to 25th March, 1734.
Six Acts, passed at Montserrat in 1733 and 1734.
Minutes of Assembly at Nevis, from 8th March, 1732–3, to 28 January, 1733–4.
Minutes of Council at St. Christophers, from 8th October, 1733, to the 20th February, 1733–4.

Three Acts, passed at St. Christophers in 1733–4, were read, and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

Acts sent to Mr. Fane.

Ordered that the above-mentioned Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Stores of war wanting.

The Board then took into consideration the draught of a report, relating to the stores of war wanting at Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, mentioned in the Minutes of the 18th instant, and made a progress therein.

Nova Scotia.

Naval Stores.

Letter from Colonel Phillips, Governor of Nova Scotia, of 17th June, 1734, promising his opinion, in relation to incouragements necessary to engage the inhabitants of Nova Scotia to cultivate naval stores.

Footnotes

  • 1. List of officers present omitted in Minutes.