Journal, April 1745: Volume 53

Journal, April 1745

Friday, April 2. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pitt.

Trade.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated March 29th, 1745, transmitting a copy of the Inspector General's Leidger of Imports and Exports, for the year 1739.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Clinton, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated January 2nd, 1744–5, giving an account of what letters he had formerly wrote, and of the public papers, therewith transmitted, and recommending again Mr. Renselaer to be of the Council of that province.

New Hampshire.

Ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared, recommending Sampson Sheaff, Esquire, to supply the vacancy made in the Council of New Hampshire by the death of Joshua Pierce, Esquire, mentioned in Governor Wentworth's letter of the 15th of November last [vide supra, folio 9].

Wednesday, April 3. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer.

New Hampshire.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, recommending Sampson Sheaff, Esquire, to be of the Council of New Hampshire, ordered by the preceding minute of yesterday, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to and signed.

New York.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Mr. Clinton be prepared, in answer to his to the Board, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, and to the other three received from him since the Board's last letter to him.

Ordered likewise that the draught of a representation be prepared, recommending to his Majesty Mr. Renselaer, to supply the vacancy in the Council of New York, occasioned by Mr. Clarke, the Lieutenant Governor, having declined qualifying himself, on account of his age and infirmities, and the said draught was accordingly prepared, agreed to and signed.

Thursday, April 4. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pitt.

New York.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Clinton, Governor of New York, ordered by the minutes of yesterday, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, and with some alterations made therein, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Friday, April 5. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pitt.

New York.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of New York having been transcribed, as ordered by the preceding minute, the same was laid before the Board, and signed.

Tuesday, April 9. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pitt.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board the eighteen following copies of Orders of Council, lately transmitted from the Council Office, and the titles thereof were read, and are:—
Massachusetts.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 6th of September, 1744, approving the draught of an instruction prepared by this Board for Governor Shirley's dispensing with the 12th article of his instructions, not to consent to the emission of more than £30,000, in Bills of Credit at one time, and allowing him, in case of emergencies, to exceed that sum in Bills of Publick Credit, during the continuance of the present war.
Massachusetts.
Nova Sctoia.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 6th of September, 1744, signifying his Majesty's pleasure that the forces raised by the said Governor for the protection of Nova Scotia shall be taken into his Majesty's pay.

Massachusetts.

New Hampshire.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 6th of September, 1744, directing the Governors of New Hampshire to move the Assembly of that province, to provide for supporting a fort built by the Massachusets government, but now in the province of New Hampshire.

Massachusetts.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 10th of January, 1744–5, dismissing the petition of the Massachusets agents, praying for a supply of small arms for that province.

Nova Scotia.

Massachusetts.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, directing the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send a ship of war, and other vessels with recruits, stores of war, etc., for the defence and security of New England, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Plantations General.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, approving a report from the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, relating to the sending a supply of ordnance stores and ammunition for the security and defence of the new settlement on the Mosquito Shore.
Barbados.

Leeward Islands.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, directing the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send guardships for the defence of Barbados and the Leeward Islands, and for annoying the enemy in those parts.
Newfoundland.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, approving the draught of a commission prepared by this Board for Richard Edwards, Esquire, to be Governor of Newfoundland in America.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, approving the draught of instructions prepared by this Board for Richard Edwards, Esquire, Governor of Newfoundland.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, directing the Board of Ordnance to send proper persons, artillery and stores to compleat the several garrisons and forts erected or erecting in Newfoundland.

Jamaica.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 6th of September, 1744, directing a regiment of foot to be forthwith sent to Jamaica, for the better defence of the same, and that the Governor do take care that barracks and other conveniences be provided at Jamaica for the said forces.

New Hampshire.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 6th of September, 1744, approving a report from the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, relating to the sending a supply of ordnance and stores to the province of New Hampshire, and directing the Master General of the Ordnance to cause the proportion of ordnance and stores, contained in the annexed paper, to be forthwith sent to the said province.

New York.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 18th of September, 1744, approving a representation of this Board, proposing John Rutherford, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of New York, by the death of Henry Lane, Esquire.
Virginia.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of November, 1744, approving a representation of this Board proposing John Blair, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of Virginia, by the death of William Dandridge, Esquire.
Jamaica.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 10th of January, 1744–5, approving a representation of this Board, upon An Act, passed at Jamaica, in July 1738, to entitle Anne Dufresnay, a free Mulatto Woman, the wife of Samuel Dufresnay, to the same Rights and Privileges with English subjects born of White Parents.
Antigua.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, approving a report from the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, upon the address of the Council and Assembly of Antigua, praying his Majesty would be pleased to grant them a supply of small arms; but they were ordered to provide them at their own charge.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1744–5, directing the Master of the Ordnance to cause the proportion of ordnance and stores, contained in the annexed paper, to be forthwith sent to English Harbour, in the Island of Antigua, for the better security and preservation of the stores of war and provisions lodged there.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of March, 1744–5, directing the Governor of the Leeward Islands not to pass any Act, whereby the lands, negroes, or other property of any absentee, who is his Majesty's subject, shall be higher taxed than the rest of his Majesty's subjects resident at Antigua, without a suspending clause.

New York.

Read Mr. Fane's report (dated the 8th instant), upon an Act, passed at New York, September 21st, 1744, entituled, An Act to amend part of An Act for regulating the Payment of his Majesty's Quit Rents, and for Partition of Lands in order thereto.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing the disapprobation of the said Act.

Wednesday, April 10. Present:— Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pitt.

New York.

The Board took into consideration the draught of a representation, ordered by the preceding minute of yesterday, and after some progress made therein, referred the further consideration thereof to another opportunity.

Tuesday, April 23. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Herbert.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Colonel Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated February 26th, 1744–5, acquainting the Board with the death of Colonel Diggs, member of the Council there, and recommending Mr. John Blair, the Deputy Auditor, to supply the vacancy at that Board.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 22nd instant, requiring an instruction to be prepared for Mr. Popple, relating to his appointments of salary, agreeable to that which was prepared for Alured Popple, Esquire, the late Governor of the Bermuda Islands.

Ordered that the said instruction be prepared accordingly.

South Carolina.

Read the representation of Colonel Fenwicke, late of the province of South Carolina, and for many years one of his Majesty's Council in the said province, setting forth the situation and growing power of the French settlements and garrisons on the Mobile and Missisippi Rivers; how formidable and dangerous they are in those parts to that valuable province of South Carolina; and how much the welfare and enlargement of his Majesty's Plantations in America and the trade thereof, depends on forcing the French to abandon those new acquisitions; how that may be effected, and with no great additional expence to the nation.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Fenwicke, and acquaint him, that the Board, having read his representation, are desirous of having some discourse with him on the subject thereof, any morning, about twelve, that will suit his convenience.

Wednesday, April 24. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

New York.

The Board reconsidered the draught of a representation upon an Act of New York, relating to the Payment of Quit Rents, mentioned in the minutes of the 9th and 10th instant, and after making a further progress therein, agreed to resume the further consideration thereof to–morrow.

Thursday, April 25. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

New York.

The Board having gone through the consideration of the draught of a representation upon a New York Act for regulating the Payment of Quit Rents, mentioned in the minute of yesterday, the same was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Virginia.

The Board ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared, recommending the Reverend Mr. William Dawson to supply the vacancy in the Council of Virginia, made by the death of Colonel Diggs.

Friday, April 26. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation proposing the Reverend Mr. Dawson to supply the vacancy in the Council of Virginia, ordered by the preceding minute, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, April 30. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Pitt.

Bermuda.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty for accompanying the draught of general instructions, as well as of those relating to the Acts of Trade and Navigation, for William Popple, Esquire, Governor of Bermuda, as likewise the draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for inclosing the same, having been laid before the Board, were agreed to, transcribed and signed.

New York.

The draught of a representation upon a New York Act for regulating the payment of Quit Rents, having been transcribed, as ordered by the minutes of the 25th instant, was laid before the Board, transcribed and signed.