Journal, May 1741: Volume 49

Journal, May 1741

Thursday, May 14. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

Miscellanies.

A new Commission under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the 5th day of this instant May, 1741, continuing John Lord Monson, Martin Bladen, Edward Ashe, James Brudenell, Richard Plummer, and Robert Herbert, Esq., Commissioners for promoting the trade of this Kingdom, and appointing Benjamin Keene, and Thomas Pelham, junior, Esquires, in the room of Thomas Pelham, Esq., and Sir Archer Croft, Baronet, who resigned; the said Commission was read, and Mr. Keene and Mr. Pelham this day took their places at the Board accordingly.

Trade.

Ireland.

Wool.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated April 27th, 1741, inclosing copy of an Address of the House of Commons to the king, the 5th of March last, and signifying his Majesty's directions that this Board, in the recess of Parliament, do prepare a scheme for registering the wool of Great Britain and Ireland, to be laid before that House the next session of Parliament.

New Hampshire.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 6th of May, 1741, directing this Board to prepare draughts of a commission and instructions for Benning Wentworth, Esq., appointed Governor of New Hampshire.

Ordered that the said draughts be prepared accordingly.

New York.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated April 30th, 1741, directing this Board to prepare draughts of commission and instructions for the Honourable George Clinton, Esq., appointed Governor of New York.

Ordered that the said draughts be prepared accordingly.

Wednesday, May 20. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

New Hampshire.

The draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, for enclosing draught of a commission to Benning Wentworth, Esq., appointing him Governor of New Hampshire, and likewise a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, accompanying the same, having been prepared, were agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

New York.

The draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lord Justices, for enclosing draught of a commission to the Honourable George Clinton, Esq., appointing him Governor of New York, as also a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, accompanying the same, were agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Thursday, May 21. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

New York.

A representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, enclosing draught of a commission for the Honourable George Clinton, Esq. (as mentioned in the preceding minute), as also a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for enclosing the same, were signed.

Wednesday, May 27. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

Barbados.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated April 15th, 1741, referring to this Board an Address of the Assembly of Barbados to his Majesty (read at the Board the 16th of April last), relating to the duty of four and a half per cent. upon the commodities of that island, and to the instruction, given by his Majesty, allowing the Governors of that Island to give their assent to any Act of Assembly for settling an additional salary on them.

The Board having taken the same into consideration, ordered the draught of a report thereupon to be prepared.

Pennsylvania.

Read a letter from Colonel Thomas, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, dated March 12th, 1740/1, giving an account of the state of the paper currency now subsisting in that province, with his sentiments concerning the properest methods to sink and discharge the same, as also promising a copy of the collection of laws, so soon as he shall receive one from the Assembly.

Read also (transmitted with the same letter) a copy of a message from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Assembly, and of the Assembly's answer in January, 1740/1.

Read another letter from Colonel Thomas, dated March 25th, 1741, complaining of the encroachment of the Assembly on the Regal Authority, and of the illegal appointment of Mr. Partridge, as agent in the room of Mr. Paris.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Colonel Bull, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of South Carolina, dated March 20th, 1740/1, giving an account of the death of Alexander Skene, Esq., and recommending Benjamin Whitaker, Esq., in his room; mentioning likewise the death of Captain James Sutherland, Commander of Johnson's Fort, and his having appointed Mr. John Pennefather to succeed him, till his Majesty's pleasure shall be known; taking notice also of the danger the Cherokee Indians are in from the French.

Ordered that an extract of so much of the said letter, as relates to the danger of the Indians from the French, be transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

Massachusetts.

Mr. Hutchinson attending, together with Mr. Sharpe, his solicitor, prayed the Board to appoint a day for taking into consideration his petition, mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd of last month. Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Tomlinson, agent for New Hampshire, and desire his attendance to-morrow, in order to fix a day for the hearing the said petition.

Thursday, May 28. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Pelham.

Massachusetts.

Mr. Tomlinson attending, as desired by the preceding minute of yesterday, and Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Sharpe attending likewise, the Board, after some discourse had with them, were pleased to appoint Wednesday, June 10th, for hearing the merits of Mr. Hutchinson's petition.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, enclosing an extract from Mr. Bull's letter to the Board (mentioned in yesterday's minutes), having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed, and signed.