Journal, November 1744: Volume 52

Journal, November 1744

Wednesday, November 7. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, having been prepared, as ordered by the minutes of the 24th of last month, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Denmark.

The draught of a report of a representation to his Majesty, recommending the appointment of an English consulate at Bergen (mentioned in the minutes of the 20th of September last), having been prepared, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed; which being done, that and a letter to the Earl of Granville, for enclosing the same, were signed.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Hardman, in behalf of the merchants of Liverpool, dated October 30th, 1744, acknowledging the receipt of two letters, written by order of the Board, to the last and present mayor of Liverpool, on the subject of the African trade, and promising a speedy answer.

Read also a second letter from Mr. Hardman, dated November 2nd, 1744, with a state of the trade to Africa from that place (in answer to the two letters written by order of the Board, as mentioned above), and transmitting:—
An account of ships belonging to the port of Liverpool, employed in the African trade in the year, 1743–4, with the number of negroes they go for, and the places they carry their negroes from, as also, a state of Gambia River and James Fort last year.

Massachusetts.

Read Mr. Fane's report, dated November 7th, 1744, upon an Act, passed in the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in June last, for the more effectually guarding and securing their Sea Coasts, etc., which he was desired to consider; agreed to take the said report into consideration to-morrow.

South and North Carolina.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated October 26th, 1744, transmitting, for the information and direction of the Board, a printed copy of the grant and release from his Majesty under the Great Seal of this kingdom, of one eighth part of Carolina to the Lord Carteret (now Earl of Granville), as also of the surrender of seven eighth parts of Carolina from the Earl of Granville to his Majesty.

Thursday, November 8. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Massachusetts.

The Board having reconsidered the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring to this Board two Acts, passed in the Massachusetts Bay, August 29th, 1744, and Mr. Fane's report upon one of them, entituled, An Act for the more effectual guarding and securing their Sea Coasts; [v. supra fol. 120, 129, 131.]

Ordered that the Secretary acquaint Mr. Fane, counsel to this Board, and Mr. Kilby, agent for the province of the Massachusetts Bay, that the Board desires their attendance this day sennight [Thursday, November 15th], in order to have some discourse with them on the subject of the aforesaid Act.

Read a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, to the Board, dated at Boston, August 10th, 1744, giving account of what he has done for the defence of the Province, exchange of prisoners and peace with the Indians, and desires an enlargement of his instruction about issuing paper money.

Read another letter from Mr. Shirley, dated 4th October, 1744, about the exchange of prisoners between himself and the French Governor at Louisburg, and the defence of Annapolis Royal against the assaults of the French; and transmitting:—
Copy of an agreement made between Monsieur Duquesnell, the French king's governor at Louisburg, and Captain Heron, Commanding Officer at Canço, dated at Louisburg, 14th of September, 1744, as also a copy of Governor Shirley's letter to Monsieur Duquesnell, dated at Boston, the 22nd September, 1744.

Ordered that a transcript of the said letter, dated 4th October last, be made, and the draught of a letter, for transmitting the same to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, be prepared.

Wednesday, November 14. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Leeward Islands.

Barbadoes.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary of the Customs, dated the 9th inst., desiring, for the information of the Commissioners of the Customs, to know whether any Court of Exchequer is established in his Majesty's Islands in America, and which of them, and whether the Governors have any instruction authorizing them to erect such Court.

Ordered that the Secretary answer the said letter, and give the Commissioners of the Customs such information as they desire.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Mascarene, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated at Annapolis Royal, July 27th, 1744, giving a full account of the state and condition of the garrison of Annapolis Royal.

Ordered that a copy of the said letter be transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, in the same enclosure with the transcript of Governor Shirley's letter, mentioned in the preceding minutes.

Massachusetts.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Willard, Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay, dated at Boston, August 9th, 1744, transmitting copies of the Acts passed by the General Court there, from the beginning of September, 1743, to the dissolution of that Court in March, 1743–4.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for inclosing the transcript of Mr. Shirley's letter, ordered by the preceding minutes, and a copy of Lieutenant Colonel Mascarene's letter, ordered by the minutes of this day, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, transcribed and signed.

Massachusetts.

Thursday, November 15. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Mr. Fane and Mr. Kilby attending, as appointed by the minutes of the 8th inst., the Board, after some discourse had with them in the subject of the Act of the Massachusetts for the more effectual guarding and securing their Sea Coasts, deferred the further consideration thereof to another opportunity.

Wednesday, November 21. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board, the nineteen following copies of Orders of Council, lately transmitted from the Council Office, and the titles thereof were read, viz.:—

New York.

Councillor.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 21st of March, 1743–4, approving a representation of this Board, proposing John Moore, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of New York, occasioned by the death of Abraham Van Horn, Esquire.

Councillors.

Order in Council, dated 21st March, 1743–4, approving a representation of this Board proposing Peter Warren and Joseph Murray, Esquires, to be of his Majesty's Council at New York, in order to complete the number of Councillors in that province.

North and South Carolina.

Order of Council, dated 9th of May, 1744, directing a grant to pass the Great Seal, of one tract of land on the north side of Carolina to the Lord Carteret, in full, for his eighth part of North and South Carolina.
Order of Council, dated the 19th of July, 1744, for raising three independent companies in America for the defence of South Carolina, and to be under the direction of the Governor and Council of that province.

Nova Scotia.

Order of Council, dated the 19th of July, 1744, directing the Master of the Ordnance to order that the fort of Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia be put into a good posture of defence, without loss of time; and that a fort of sod-work be erected at Can¸o, with the assistance of some of his Majesty's ships of war.
Order of Council, dated 19th July, 1744, directing that the regiment at Nova Scotia, commanded by General Philips, Governor of that province, be forthwith augmented to the highest establishment, and Sir William Young, Secretary at War, is to give the necessary directions for carrying his Majesty's pleasure into immediate execution.

Newfoundland.

Commission.

Order of Council, dated 30th of May, 1744, approving a representation, with a draught of a commission prepared by this Board, for Charles Hardy, Esquire, appointed Governor of the Island of Newfoundland.

Instructions.

Order of Council, dated 30th of May, 1744, approving a representation, with a draught of instructions prepared by this Board, for Charles Hardy, Esquire, appointed Governor of the Island of Newfoundland.

Defence.

Four Orders of Council, dated the 19th of July, 1744, in relation to the fortifying and defence of Newfoundland.

Bermuda.

Order of Council, dated 14th of June, 1744, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Thomas Gilbert, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of Bermuda, by the death of Andrew Auchinleck, Esquire.

Jamaica.

Councillor.

Order of Council, dated 14th June, 1744, approving a representation of this Board proposing Thomas Fearon, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of Jamaica, by the death of Verney Philp, Esquire.
Order of Council, dated 14th June, 1744, approving a representation of this Board, proposing John Gale, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of Jamaica, by the resignation of Temple Lawes, Esquire.

Councillor.

Order of Council, dated 14th June, 1744, approving a represensation of this Board, proposing Benjamin Hume, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of Jamaica, by the resignation of Edward Garthwaite, Esquire.

Ruatan.

Order of Council, dated 19th of July, 1744, directing the Governor of Jamaica to issue a proclamation, and this Board to send proposals to the Plantations to encourage the settlement of the Island of Rattan.

Plantations General.

Ruatan.

Order of Council, dated 19th of July, 1744, directing the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to give orders to the Commander of his Majesty's squadron, stationed at Jamaica, to protect and defend the inhabitants of Rattan upon all occasions.
Order of Council, dated 19th of July, 1744, directing the Governor of Jamaica to send a detachment of his regiment to the Mosketo Shore near the logwood cutters, to protect them, and money for presents to the Indians, etc.

Massachusetts.

Act.

Order of Council, dated 9th of May, 1744, approving a representation of this Board, proposing the confirmation of an Act, passed in the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in November, 1743, for preventing the Destruction of White Pine Trees within that Province, and for encouraging the Preservation of them for the use of the Royal Navy.

Act.

Order of Council, dated 9th of May, 1744, approving a representation of this Board, proposing the confirmation of an Act, passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in November, 1743, for the more speedy finishing of the Land Bank or Manufactory Scheme.

Six Acts.

Order of Council, dated the 9th of August, 1744, approving a representation of this Board, proposing the confirmation of six Acts, passed in the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the year, 1741.

Thursday, November 22. Present:—Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated at Charles Town, September 22nd, 1744, transmitting several public papers, viz.:—
Minutes of Council, from the 15th of March, 1741–2, to the 19th of February, 1742–3.
Minutes of Council, from the 21st of February, 1742–3, to the 16th of December, 1743.
Journal of the Assembly, from the 4th of October, 1743, to the 27th of February, 1743–4.
Seventeen Acts, passed in May, 1744.

Ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereon, in point of law.

Trade.

Africa.

The Board took into consideration the state of the African trade, and directed the Secretary to write to Messrs. Lascelles and Hall, to know whether those gentlemen, whom they mentioned to the Board sometime since, as speedily to return from Africa, are yet arrived, and where they may be sent to.

Tuesday, November 27. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Antigua.

Read Mr. Fane's report upon an Act, passed at Antigua, in June, 1744, for raising a Tax for paying public Debts and Charges, and particularly applying the said Tax, etc., with his objections to it.

Ordered that the Secretary acquaint Mr. Martin, agent for the said Island, that the Board desire his attendance on Thursday morning next, in order to appoint a day for a hearing; Mr. Paris, solicitor for the petitioners against the said Act, having this day made application to the Board for that purpose.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Corbett, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, dated the 24th of November, 1744, transmitting copies of the information their Lordships have received from Captain Boys, Commander of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, arrived from the Coast of Africa, concerning the condition of the forts and settlements there, belonging to the Royal African Company of England.
No. 1. Account of the Company's forts and factories on James Island, in the River Gambia.
State and condition of all the castles and factories belonging to the Royal African Company of England, on the Gold Coast of Africa, July, 1744.
Letter from Mr. John Boys at Sierra Leone, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 20th February, 1743–4.
Letter from the Company's officers at Cape Coast Castle, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ships the Greyhound, 9th April, 1744.
Request of several masters of ships, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, to fire into the town at Anamaboe, 12th April, 1744.
Letter from Mr. Gregory at Whydah, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 27th April, 1744.
Letter from Mr. Gregory at Whydah, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 23rd April, 1744.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Brown at Epee, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 27th April, 1744.
Letter from Mr. Crichton at Anamaboe, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 12th April, 1744.
Letter from Mr. Woohead, at Seconda Fort, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 1st April, 1744.
Letter from Mr. Boteler, at Commenda Fort, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 2nd April, 1744.
Letter from Mr. Clevland, at Bonanoes, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 21st February, 1743–4.
Copy of two letters from Mr. Dacres, at Dixcove Fort, to Captain Boys, of his Majesty's ship the Greyhound, 29th and 30th March, 1744.
An Account of the state and condition of the Dutch forts and settlements, and their trade on the Gold Coast of Africa, July, 1744.

Massachusetts.

Wednesday, November 28. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Read a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, to the Board, dated at Boston, the 25th of July, 1744, giving account of what he has done for the security of Annapolis Royal, and inclosing the following papers and letters, giving a further account of its state of defence, viz.:—
Copy of a letter from Monsieur Duquesnell, Governor of Louisburg, dated the 28th of June, 1744, to Governor Shirley, delivered to him by Ensign John Bradstreet.
Copy of a letter from Governor Shirley to Monsieur Duquesnell, Governor of Louisburg, dated at Boston, the 26th July, 1744.
Copy of the capitulation at Canço, dated 24th of May, 1744.
Representation of the President and Council of Nova Scotia, to the Governor and Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay, dated 8th June, 1744, at Annapolis Royal.
Copy of two papers, delivered to Governor Shirley by Ensign John Bradstreet, now prisoner of war at Louisburg, dated there 10th and 19th of June, 1744.
Copy of Colonel Mascarene's and Mr. Bastide's letters to Governor Shirley, dated at Annapolis Royal in July, 1744.
An account of provisions desired for the officers and families at Louisburg, and of what were allowed by the Governor and Council of the Massachusetts Bay, the 17th of July, 1744.

Read another letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, dated at Boston, the 16th of October, 1744, acquainting the Board, that he has sent some vessels with men for the reduction of the French Indians in Nova Scotia, and security of Annapolis Royal.

Ordered that the copies of both the said letters be made, and the draught of a letter, for enclosing the same to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, be prepared.

Thursday, November 29. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Antigua.

Mr. Martin, agent for the Island of Antigua, attending, as desired by the minutes of Tuesday last, and Mr. Paris, agent for the petitioners, against the Act for laying a double Tax on Absentees from that Island, mentioned in the same minutes, the Board, at their joint desire, appointed this day sennight [December 6th], for the hearing what each side has to offer for and against the said Act.

Trade.

Africa.

Ordered that the Secretary write again to Mr. Wood, Secretary of the Customs, to acquaint him that the Board is surprised that he has made no answer to the two letters of the 14th of June and 4th of August last, wrote him by order of the Board, and that they hope he will send them such information as he is able, without further delay.

The Secretary laid before the Board two letters, received from Messrs. Hall and Lascells (in answer to his letter to them of yesterday's date), with an account that Captain Hamilton and Captain Dunning, lately arrived from the Coast of Africa, are now at the Bath, and they believe will shortly be in town.

Friday, November 30. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Austria, etc.

Read a letter from my Lord Harrington, dated this day, inclosing one from Sir Thomas Robinson and Mr. Porter, dated the 21st of November, n.s., at Vienna, relating to a new regulation etc.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Porter in the city, desiring his attendance on Tuesday morning next, in order to discourse with him thereupon.