Journal, March 1740: Volume 48

Journal, March 1740

Tuesday, March 4. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Connecticut.

Read Mr. Samuel Mason's petition to the Board, in behalf of himself and brother, Trustees for the Mohican Indians, praying for a report upon the affair between the said Indians and the Colony of Connecticut; ordered that, in compliance with the said petition, the draught of a report, ordered to be prepared the 20th of December last, and considered at the Board the 10th of January, be taken into further consideration to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, March 5. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Pennsylvania.

Read a letter from Colonel Thomas, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, dated December 1st, 1739, transmitting a state of the paper money, and also of the value of gold and silver in Pennsylvania, in answer to the circular letter from the Board, upon the addresses of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the state of the paper currency, and of the rate of gold and silver coins in America.

Newfoundland.

The report, mentioned in the minutes of the 29th February, having been transcribed, was agreed to, and signed.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an Account of the Incident charges of this office, from Midsummer to Michaelmas, 1739, amounting to £283 7s. 2½d., and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, and of the salary due to the Secretary and under officers for the same time, was agreed to, and signed.

Thursday, March 6. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

New Jersey.

The Board agreed to the draught of a letter to Mr. Morris, in answer to 3 letters of his, viz.: of May 26th, October 4th, and December 6th, 1739, mentioned in the minutes of July 18th, and of November 28th, and February 19th, and ordered the same to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

The Board had again under consideration the state of the paper currency in the several provinces in America, and made some progress therein.

Friday, March 7. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts.

Read two letters from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, one dated December 24th, 1739, in answer to the Board's Circular Letter upon the addresses of both Houses of Parliament, relating to paper currency of America. The other, dated January 14th, 1739–40, relating to the state of the paper currency in the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, and transmitting a paper entituled, A brief account of the rise, progress, and present state of the Bills of Credit in New England.

New Jersey.

The letter to Mr. Morris, Governor of New Jersey, ordered by the minutes of yesterday to be transcribed, was signed.

Tuesday, March 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated January 8th, 1739–40, transmitting the state of the coin in Antigua, St. Christophers and Montserrat, in answer to the Board's Circular Letter of the 5th of July last, upon the addresses of both Houses of Parliament; inclosing also the halfyearly lists of the respective Councils in the Islands under his Government, with minutes of the Assembly of St. Christophers, mentioning likewise his having sent two Acts of that Island.

Pennsylvania.

Read a letter from Colonel Thomas, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, dated December 17th, 1739, inclosing the state of the paper currency in the counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware River.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, dated November 12th, 1739, giving an account of his having sworn into the Council Samuel Dicker and Rose Fuller, Esquires, and Sir Simon Clarke, Baronet, and his reasons for not admitting Mr. Whitehorne; transmitting at the same time copies of the petition of Joseph Blumfield, Clerk, Rector of St. Annes, as likewise of his deposition against Mr. Whitehorne.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Byng, Governor of Barbados, dated December 15th, 1739, signifying his arrival there, and his having qualified himself and taken upon him the administration of that Government. Ordered that the Secretary prepare, and lay before the Board, the draught of an answer to the said letter.

Wednesday, March 12. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Major Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated November 8th, 1739, enclosing the account of his Majesty's Revenue of 2s. per hogshead, from the 25th April to the 25th of October, 1739.

Plantations General.

The Board having had again under consideration the state of the paper currency and rates of foreign coins in his Majesty's Plantations, and having gone through the same, gave directions for preparing the draughts of reports to both Houses of Parliament, in order to transmit the accounts and papers required; at the same time the Secretary laid before the Board two copies of such accounts as has been received from the Governor of his Majesty's Plantations in America, upon the subject of paper currency and foreign coin, together with two lists of them.

Thursday, March 13. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

New York.

Read two letters from Mr. Clarke, Lieutenant Governor of New York, one dated December 15th, 1739, inclosing a paper he received from the collector of his Majesty's Customs there, relating to illicit trade in that Province, and the discouragement to the Custom House officers in the discharge of their duty; acquainting the Board at the same time he had transmitted to the Commissioners of the Customs copies of all the papers, referred to in the case of the collector of the Customs, enclosed in his letter; the other, dated January 28th, 1739–40, mentioning some Acts, not yet arrived, his having disposed the Six Nations to a peace with the Southern Indians, and his having wrote to the Governor of the Massachusets Bay to appoint Commissioners for the running the boundary lines.

Tuesday, March 18. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated March 13th, 1739–40, signifying his Majesty's appointment of John Tinker, Esquire, to be Governor of the Bahama Islands, and directing draughts of a commission and instructions to be prepared for him. Ordered that the said draughts be prepared accordingly.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter to the Secretary of this Board, from Mr. Burchet, Secretary to the Admiralty, desiring heads of Enquiry to be prepared for Captain Smith, who is appointed to guard the fishery at Canço; ordered that the said heads of enquiry be prepared.

Maryland.

Read an account of paper money in the Province of Maryland, delivered in by Mr. John Sharpe, agent for that Province. Ordered that copies of the said paper be made, in order to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Dottin, President of the Council at Barbados, dated November 9th, 1739, relating to the paper currency, and the rate of gold and silver coins. Ordered that copies of the said letter be likewise made, in order to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

Read a letter from Mr. Byng, Governor of Barbados, dated January 7th, 1739–40, mentioning his having declared war against Spain, and ordered a review of the Militia, giving an account of the bad state of the fortifications, and hoping by the Board's recommendation to obtain 2,000 swords and firelocks; and enclosing an Act, passed there November 27th, 1739, entituled, An Act for the better ascertaining the bounds and limits of the several fortifications in this island, and for enabling and impowering the Commissioners of the said fortifications, or any three of them, to hear and determine any dispute, that has or shall arise with any of the inhabitants concerning such bounds and limits.

Massachusetts.

Read the answer of Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Governor of New England, dated Boston, December 24th, 1739, to the petition of John North, Esquire, John Wordling and others to his Majesty (mentioned in the minutes of August 9th, 1739), containing several articles of complaint against Governor Belcher.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Woodside, acquainting them, that the Board has received the said Governor's answer to the said complaints.

Wednesday, March 19. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Pennsylvania.

The Board having under consideration two Acts, passed in the Province of Pennsylvania in May, 1739, one entituled, An Act for reprinting, exchanging and re-emitting all the Bills of Credit etc., the other entituled, An Act for the more effectual preserving the credit of our paper money, etc., gave directions to the Secretary to write to some of the merchants trading to Pennsylvania, and acquaint them, that their lordships desire their attendance at the Board on Tuesday morning next, the 25th instant, in order to have some discourse with them on the subject matter of the said Acts.

Connecticut.

The Board then took into consideration the draught of a report upon the petition of Mr. Mason, complaining of the proceedings of the Government of Connecticut, with some Commissioners from Rhode Island, appointed to adjust and determine several matters in dispute between the Mohican Indians and the colony of Connecticut (mentioned in the minutes of the 4th instant), and their lordships made some progress therein.

Thursday, March 20. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts.

Captain Woodside attending, in consequence of the letter wrote to him on Tuesday last, the Board, after some discourse had with him, appointed him to attend them again on Tuesday next, the 25th March, and to bring Mr. Waldo with him.

Bermudas.

Read a letter from Alured Popple, Esqr., Governor of Bermudas, giving an account (among other things) of the value of gold and silver in his Government, in answer to the Board's Circular Letter on that subject, in pursuance of two addresses to his Majesty from the two Houses of Parliament, enclosing likewise the following papers, viz.:—

Address and Remonstrance of the Assembly to the Governor of Bermuda, dated the 9th of November, 1739.

Information of Thomas Newton, relating to the plundering Porto Plata on Hispaniola, by a Rhode Island Sloop, in September. 1739.

The Treasurer's Account, from May, 1737, to June, 1738.

The Treasurer's Account, from June, 1738, to July, 1739.

Mr. Tucker's Account of Powder Money, from August, 1737, to December, 1738.

Mr. Tucker's Account of Powder Money, from January, 1738–9, to August following.

Six Naval Office Lists of vessels, entered and cleared at Bermuda, between the 9th of July, 1738, and Lady Day, 1739.

Minutes of Council, beginning the 5th of September, 1738, ending the 10th of November, 1739.

Minutes of the Assembly, from the 7th of August, to the 10th of November, 1739.

Four Acts, passed in August and November, 1739.

Plantations General.

The Board had under consideration the draught of a report, in pursuance of two addresses to his Majesty from the two Houses of Parliament (mentioned in the minutes of the 12th instant), and having agreed to the same, ordered it to be transcribed.

Friday, March 21. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Connecticut.

The draught of a report upon the petition of Mr. Mason, complaining of the proceedings of the Government of Connecticut etc., (as mentioned in the minutes of Wednesday last), having been again under consideration, was agreed to, and the same was ordered to be transcribed.

Tuesday, March 25. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Connecticut.

The report upon the petition of Mr. Mason, ordered by the preceding minutes to be transcribed, was signed.

Massachusetts.

Captain Woodside, attending with Mr. Waldo, as appointed by the minutes of Thursday last, on the subject of Governor Belcher's answer, the Board had some discourse with them thereupon, and at their desire were pleased to order them a copy of the same.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Paris, agent for Pennsylvania, attending, with Mr. Williams, trading to that province, and Mr. Joseph Arthur, residing in it, the Board had some discourse with them upon the subject of the two Acts, mentioned in the minutes of the 19th instant, and they informed the Board that they had no objections to the said Acts, but rather thought them absolutely necessary for the carrying on of commerce.

Barbados.

Ordered that the paragraph of a letter from Mr. Byng, Governor of Barbados, read at the Board the 18th instant, relating to a supply of fire arms, desired by him for the security of the Island, be transmitted in a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle; and the said letter being prepared, was accordingly agreed to, and signed.

Pennsylvania.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Paris, agent for Pennsylvania, desiring his attendance on Thursday next, to acquaint him that the Board is desirous of discoursing with him on the subject of Acts, passed in the three lower counties. [Thursday, 27th inst.]

Wednesday, March 26. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Bahamas.

New Providence.

Read the depositions of John Thompson, Esqr., one of the members of his Majesty's Council of the Bahama Islands, Andrew Bean, an inhabitant of Eleuthera, and John Wells, of the island of New Providence, mariner, laid before the Board by James Wimble, in support of his pretensions to a recompense for having lost his vessel in his Majesty's service, as he alledges in his petition, referred to this Board by his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, as mentioned in the minutes of March 8th, 1737–8; upon the subject of which petition and reference, a representation to his Majesty was agreed to, and signed the 12th of March following; ordered that the said papers lye by.

Thursday, March 27. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Herbert.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Paris, attending, as desired by the minutes of the 25th inst., the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of Acts, passed in the three lower counties, and ordered that the draught of a report be prepared upon six Acts, passed in Pennsylvania, in May, 1739, referred to this Board by the Lords of the Committee of Council, as mentioned in the minutes of the 5th of December last.

Massachusetts.

Read a letter from Mr. Willard, Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay, dated 12th December, 1739, transmitting several publick papers of that Province viz.:—
Minutes of Council, beginning the 1st of March, 1738–9, ending the 13th of August, 1739.
Minutes of Assembly beginning the 19th of April, and ending the 11th of July, 1739.
Acts of Assembly. Passed in June and July, 1739.

Plantations General.

A Report to the House of Lords, and another to the House of Commons, upon the subject of paper currency and gold and silver coin in the Plantations, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 12th instant, having been laid before the Board, together with the several papers and lists of them, the said reports were agreed to, and signed.

Friday, March 28. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plummer.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Byng, Governor of Barbados, in answer to his of December 15th, 1739, notifying his arrival there (ordered by the minutes of the 11th instant), as also to another from him, dated January 7th, 1739–40, having been prepared and laid before the Board, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.