Journal, July 1748: Volume 56

Journal, July 1748

Tuesday, July 5. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Hamilton to Mr. Pownall, dated the 30th of June, 1748, inclosing:—
A further proposal upon his petition praying for a grant of 200,000 acres of land in South Carolina.

Resolved to take Mr. Hamilton's petition into consideration to-morrow morning, and the Secretary was directed to write to Mr. Hamilton to desire his attendance to-morrow morning, at eleven o'clock.

St. Christophers.

Their lordships took into consideration the memorial and petition of Mr. Jessop, and other papers, relating to his suspension from the Council of St. Christophers, and ordered the draught of a representation thereupon to the Lords Justices to be prepared.

Wednesday, July 6. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Mr. Hamilton attending, as desired, their lordships had some conversation with him upon the subject of his petition for 200,000 acres of land in the province of South Carolina. Whereupon he acquainted their lordships, that he desired to take up no more land, at first, than should be sufficient to settle the people he should carry over with him at the proportion of 100 acres for every white person, Jews or Christians, and so from time to time to take up the like quantity for every person he should bring into the province, the land to be granted to him upon a certificate from the Custom House Officer in the province of the number of persons imported; the land to be taken up rough and smooth as it runs, and as near together as possible; and in order to shew a further probability of his making a settlement, he acquainted their lordships that a gentleman, whose name was Hempe, was ready to engage to send him as many German Protestants as he should have land to settle upon from time to time, as he should have occasion for them; whereupon he was directed to attend again on Friday morning, and to bring that gentleman with him, and likewise to reduce his proposal into writing and lay the same before the Board.

Thursday, July 7. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Jamaica.

Read three letters from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, the first, dated the 7th day of May, inclosing the undermentioned public papers; the second, dated the 10th of May, containing his observations upon the law for triennial Assemblies; the third, dated the 11th of May, signifying that he had received an Order from the Committee of Council to transmit his reasons for the removal of Messrs. Fuller, Wightwick, and Sadler, and that he should transmit to their Lordships extracts of some of his letters to this Board upon that subject.
Governor Trelawney's speech to the Council and Assembly of Jamaica, with their addresses in April, 1748.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 17th of March, 1746–7, to the 2nd of June, 1747.
Plan of Liguarea and the harbours of Port Royal and Kingston, with the roads, etc.

St. Christophers.

Mr. John Sharpe, solicitor for several of the inhabitants of the Island of St. Christophers for the repeal of an Act, passed there in 1746, for indemnifying the Sufferers by Depredations from the Enemies' Ships of War and Privateers, attending, as desired, with

St. Christophers.

Mr. Forrester, his counsel, as also Mr. James George Douglass, agent for the said Island, in support of the said Act, with Mr. Martin, his counsel, their lordships proceeded to take the said Acts into consideration, and the same having been read.

Mr. Forrester opened to their lordships that he appeared in behalf of thirty-six gentlemen, inhabitants of the Island of St. Christophers, against the Act, which he apprehended to be liable to great objections, being unprecedented and very different from any other Act passed in the Plantations, that it was very difficult to know what reasons Mr. Martin might have to support it, and that he should submit what he had to say under three heads:—
1st. The reasonableness of the provisions made by the Bill as general for all persons that may hereafter suffer.
2nd. The particular remedy and provision for the owners of the salt pans.
3rdly. Whether the provisions were adequate and proper.

That as to the first, this was the first attempt of this kind;— that when the Island was thinly inhabited Acts have been passed to oblige the inhabitants of inland parts to defend the sea coasts, but not any instance of an Act of Indemnification, and that it was not reasonable to charge a community for the negligence of a few persons; that this Act was not moved for by any particular parish or any petition presented; that private persons ought to secure their own property; that this case was similar to the Commissioners of Sewers in England, where only those lands which lye within the level are taxable out of the whole county, and if that is not sufficient they can go no further. That by this Act the inhabitants of the sea coast are not obliged to keep watch or ward, but if damaged the community is to make it good, and therefore it encourages negligence in them.

2ndly. That the public good was not the view of this Act, but to gratify particular persons, and that the Act was carried in Council by one vote, that of the sufferer only: That the salt pans were in a very remote part of the Island, and no watch kept there, and a tax of £2,000 laid upon the Island for a loss they could not prevent; that the salt pans are not the 47th part of the Island, that it would be equally reasonable to make good losses at sea: That several gentlemen of those Islands had insured their plantations, but the owners of salt pans did not think proper to do it, but to seek redress by an ex post facto Act: That it was an undeniable maxim that no persons should take advantage of their own negligence, but if the Bill is confirmed the owners of the salt pans will be benefited by their own carelessness; that as the Island could not defend them, it was their duty to have kept watch, and raised fortifications to protect their plantations, as the inhabitants of Jamaica have done, and notwithstanding they have suffered great losses, yet no instance of a Bill there to indemnify them.

St. Christophers.

3rdly. That the Act appoints five freeholders to be nominated by the Council and Assembly to conduct the service of this Act, but they are not upon oath; that they are to make a return, not of what is proved to be the damage, but what they believe in their conscience to be so, which leaves room for the greatest partiality, and if the provision was reasonable, yet this would be unjust, and that the Island was not in a capacity to bear so heavy a charge, as is laid upon them by this Act.

Mr. Martin in behalf of the Council and Assembly of the Island of St. Christophers, in support of the Bill, said that the Act consisted of two branches, first a provision for all future damages, and 2ndly a provision for losses sustained before the Act, which two branches had a mutual connection, and if one was reasonable, the other was doubtless too: That as the law was only a direction of the application of the money of the Island of St. Christophers, the Crown was not immediately concerned to interpose, though the Crown has an undoubted right to approve or disapprove all Acts passed in the Plantations; that the trade of the kingdom is not concerned nor the Crown's prerogative: That if the Act is rejected it will be a great hardship upon the Treasurer, who is directed to pay the money, and has doubtless paid it, and no method to recover if the Act repealed. That if the money had been applied to bad purposes, the Crown has a right to interpose, that the motives of the law were not material, for the motives might be bad and yet the law good; that it was reasonable for the public to provide for the unavoidable losses of particulars as members of the community, and such agreement would be beneficial to all, that the Island of St. Christophers differed from that of Jamaica, no part thereof being inhabited or settled above three miles from the sea, and therefore all would be equally benefited. That a law of all the Leeward Islands, to the same purpose as this, was passed at Nevis in 1701, and confirmed in 1703 as a reasonable law.

That as to the second branch of this law, as the provisions extended to all subsequent losses, those who had suffered before the Act must contribute to the losses of others, and therefore it was reasonable that they should receive the advantage of their own premiums; that as to its being restrained only to the owners of the salt pans, it appeared they were the only sufferers before the Act passed, that on account of the situation of the salt pans, their losses were most proper to be made good, being divided from the main body of the Island by inaccessible hills, and therefore not so easily defended; that the proprietors since this accident have built fortifications there; that as to the objection of commissioners not being upon oath, they are by the Act directed to be freeholders and are under the strongest tye that can be, as they are liable to pay a part of the damage, and are likewise to be nominated by the legislature.

St. Christophers.

Then Mr. Martin desired that the 7th and 8th clauses of the Act, passed in the year 1701, might be read, and the same were accordingly read and are as follow, viz.:—
And be it enacted and ordained by the Authority aforesaid and it is hereby enacted, that whereas in case a war should ensue, it may so happen, that the enemy, out of their ships of war, privateers or other vessels, may land upon any or every the respective Islands aforesaid, to rob, plunder, burn, and destroy, although they do not intend to conquer the same, which may prove to the extreme damage, if not the utter ruin of some particular persons; therefore be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any such landing to rob, plunder, burn and destroy should happen (which God forbid) on any of the respective Islands aforesaid, and any person or persons shall receive loss or damage so sustained (be it more or less) shall be made good to the person or persons so damnified, by the Treasurer for the time being, out of the public stock of each such respective Island where any such accident shall or may happen, according to an estimate as shall be taken and made by three able and discreet freeholders of the vicinage upon their oaths, and returned under their hands and seals, which shall be thereto directed and appointed by the Governor in Chief, Lieutenant Governor or President, Council and Assembly of such Island for the time being, any law, usage or custom to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Provided always and it is the true intent and meaning of this Act, that no merchandizes, goods, sum or sums of money in any of the towns on any the respective Islands aforesaid (houses and negroes only excepted) are or are intended to be comprehended and included in, or have any benefit by this Act or any clause therein contained.

Mr. Forrester, by way of reply, observed that as to the Crown's not being concerned, the Crown was undoubtedly concerned in every question relating to the Island, having a general superintendency over the whole; that the Treasurer's concern does not evince the reasonableness of the law, but as he is not to issue the money till the freeholders have made a return, it was probable it had not been issued; that the owners of the salt pans had not applied for forces to defend them; that as to the Act of 1701, it provided for future damages, whereas this Act passed four or five years after damages happened: That in 1701 the Island of St. Christophers was inhabited by as many French as English, one half being in possession of the French, and therefore their situation being more precarious, the Act was reasonable; whereas this Act was only a colourable pretext for indemnifying there two gentlemen, who as their salt pans were most exposed, should have taken the most prudential methods to have defended themselves; that by the Act of 1701 the commissioners were directed to take an oath, which was certainly right, and therefore should have made it an argument on his side of the question.

The counsel being withdrawn, their lordships agreed to take the said Act into further consideration to-morrow morning.

Antigua.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act, Passed in the Island of Antigua in 1746, for preventing the Increase of Papists in that Island, and Mr. John Sharpe having acquainted their lordships that he had some objections to make thereto, he was ordered to attend thereupon on Wednesday next.

Monserrat.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of his Majesty's Council in the Island of Montserrat, and ordered a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices to be prepared, recommending George Frye, Esquire, to be of the Council of that Island, in the room of Charles Dunbar, Esquire, who resides at Antigua, where he is one of the Council.

Friday, July 8. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Mr. Hamilton attending, as desired by the minutes of the 6th instant, laid before the Board the following further proposals upon his petition for a grant of 200,000 acres of land in the province of South Carolina, viz.:—
That he may be intitled by his Majesty's Order to take up from time to time no more than 100 acres of land for each white person, Jews as well as Christians, he shall bring into, and that shall afterwards be brought to settle in the said province under his direction; and that he may be intitled to take up none by virtue of such order, but upon a certificate of an officer of the Customs that the people are arrived in the province, upon whose account he is to take it up.
That the lands shall be run out from time to time, where he can have it, good and bad as it runs, and as near together as possible, all the lands to be taken up to be free of quit rent for the first ten years from the date of each grant, under the seal of the province, and afterwards to pay 4/Proclamation Money per annum for every hundred acres.

At the same time Mr. Hamilton acquainted their lordships that Dr. Hempe, whom he was to have brought with him, was prevented by his other affairs, and would attend their lordships on Tuesday next.

St. Christophers.

The draught of a representation to their Excellencies, the Lords Justices, upon the memorial and petition of Mr. Jessop, relating to his suspension from his seat in the Council of St. Christophers, having been prepared, pursuant to the minutes of the 5th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Their lordships, pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, took into consideration the Act of St. Christophers for indemnifying the Sufferers for damages sustained by Depredations from the Enemies' Ships of War or Privateers, and ordered the draught of a representation to the Lords Justices to be prepared, proposing the confirmation thereof.

Jamaica.

Read two letters from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, both dated 7th of May, 1748, containing a proposal for establishing a friendship with the Indians of Darien, in order to open a way for the taking of Panama, and relating to the Assembly of that Island having assisted Admiral Knowles with two hundred and fifty negroes to help heave down his ships.

Ordered that the draught of a letter in answer thereto and to the letter mentioned in yesterday's minutes be prepared.

Montserrat.

The draught of a representation to the Lords Justices, proposing George Frye, Esquire, to be of the Council of the Island of Montserrat, in the room of Charles Dunbar, Esquire, having been prepared, pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Tuesday, July 12. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Doctor Hempe attending, in behalf of Mr. Hamilton's petition for a grant of 200,000 acres of land in South Carolina, acquainted their lordships that he had not entered into any agreement with Mr. Hamilton, but if he obtained a grant, would furnish him with five or six Protestant families, provided their passage was paid and their property secured, when they arrived there, and being withdrawn, their lordships ordered the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the said petition to be prepared.

St. Christophers.

Montserrat.

The draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, upon Mr. Jessop's memorial and petition, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was laid before the Board and signed, as was also a representation proposing George Frye, Esquire, to be of the Council of Montserrat, in the room of Charles Dunbar, Esquire, ordered to be transcribed by the said minutes.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of Friday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

St. Christophers.

The draught of a representation to the Lords Justices upon the Act of St. Christophers for indemnifying the Sufferers by Depredations from the Enemy's Ships of War or Privateers, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of Friday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

South Carolina.

Read the four following letters from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Glen to the Board, dated the …… of February, 1747–8, containing an account of the present state of that province, with respect to their neighbouring French and Indians.
Letter from Mr. Glen to the Board, dated the 14th of April, 1748, giving an account of an incursion of the French Indians, and the steps he has taken thereupon.
Letter from Mr. Glen to the Board, dated the 14th of April, 1748, containing an account of his having refused his assent to a Bill for stamping £40,000 in Paper Money for defraying the charge of two sloops hired for the protection of the trade.
Letter from Mr. Glen to the Board, dated 23rd April, 1748, mentioning his having received the Board's letter of the 26th May, 1747, and promising to send his observations upon the Acts by the first conveyance.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford be prepared, for inclosing a copy of the abovementioned letters from Mr. Glen, relating to the incursion of the French Indians, and that the Secretary do write to Mr. Fury, agent for the province of South Carolina, to desire his attendance at the Board to-morrow morning, upon the subject of the letter from Mr. Glen, which relates to his having refused his assent to an Act for emitting £40,000 in Bills of Credit.

Wednesday, July 13. Present:—Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Mr. Fury attending, as desired, their lordships had some discourse with him upon the subject of Mr. Glen's letter, relating to his having refused his assent to an Act for emitting £40,000 in Bills of Credit for defraying the expence of two sloops hired by the Governor for the protection of the trade; he having acquainted their lordships that the whole of what he could say upon this head was contained in a letter to him from a Committee of the Assembly of South Carolina; he was desired to lay a Copy thereof before the Board, which he promised to do, as soon as possible.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford be prepared, for inclosing to his Grace a copy of the abovementioned letter from Mr. Glen, and that the draught of a letter to Mr. Glen, in answer to the several letters mentioned in yesterday's minutes, be likewise prepared.

Antigua.

Mr. John Sharpe attending, together with several gentlemen belonging to the Islands of Antigua and Montserrat, in opposition to the Act, passed in the Island of Antigua in 1746, for preventing the Increase of Papists in that Island, their lordships heard what they had to offer upon this subject, and being withdrawn, ordered the Act to be sent to the Attorney and Solicitor General, for their opinion thereupon, as soon as conveniently may be.

Thursday, July 21. Present:—Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Jamaica.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of the 12th instant, was laid before the Board and signed.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 8th of June, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

The draught of a representation to the Lords Justices having been ordered to be prepared, proposing John Dottin, Esquire, to be of the Council of Barbados, in the room of John Maycock, who has resigned on account of his private affairs, and the same having been prepared, was laid before the Board and signed.

Bahamas.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Tinker, Governor of the Bahamas, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 15th of June, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 13th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford, inclosing a copy of one from Mr. Glen, relating to the incursions of the French Indians, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 12th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Barbados.

St. Lucia.

Read a letter from his Grace the Duke of Bedford, inclosing the extract of one from the Duke of Newcastle, dated at Hanover, the 12/20 July, 1748, desiring a copy of the convention relating to the evacuation of the Islands of Santa Lucia, etc., might be transmitted to the Earl of Sandwich, and desiring this Board to send to his Grace's office a copy of the said convention and of any other papers relating thereto.

Ordered that the books be searched for all such papers as relate to the evacuation of the said Islands, and his Majesty's right thereto, and that the same be copied and transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, and the draught of a letter to his Grace, in answer to the above, having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

St. Christophers.

The copy of a licence from their Excellencies, the Lords Justices, dated the 30th of June, 1748, for Richard Holmes, Esquire, one of the Council in the Island of St. Christophers, to be absent from his seat in the said Council for the space of twelve months, was laid before the Board and read.

Friday, July 22. Present:—Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, having been transcribed, pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was laid before the Board and signed.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford inclosing the copy of one from Mr. Glen, relating to his having refused his assent to a Bill emitting £40,000 in Bills of Credit, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 13th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Antigua.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following Caveat from Mr. Paris, in behalf of Mr. King, suspended from his seat in the Council of Antigua by General Mathew, viz.:—
Mr. Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, having suspended Benjamin King, Esquire, from the Council of Antigua and appointed a relation of his own, Mr. John Gunthrop, to succeed Mr. King as a member of the said Council.
I do in behalf of Mr. King, pray that this may be entered as a Caveat in your office, against any representation or report being made from the Lords Commissioners of Trade, for confirming Mr. Gunthrop in Mr. King's said place, until that I shall have had notice to be heard thereto on Mr. King's behalf.
Ferdinand John Paris.

July 22nd, 1748.

Resolved that so soon as the Board shall take into their consideration the suspension of the said Mr. King, pursuant to the minutes of the 28th of last month, Mr. Paris have notice thereof.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Fury to the Secretary, dated the 14th instant, inclosing an extract of one to him from the Committee of Assembly at South Carolina, dated the 24th of March last, relating to a Bill for granting to his Majesty £40,000, presented to the Governor for his assent.

Trade.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary of the Customs, to Mr. Hill, dated 16th instant, with a copy of the Inspector General's leidger of exports and imports for the year 1745.

Bermuda.

Read the following letters and public papers from William Popple, Esquire, Governor of the Bermuda, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 25th of May, 1748, relating to the behaviour of the Assembly, and containing his remarks upon the 71st article of his instructions relating to ships entering and clearing at Castle Harbour.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 25th May, 1748, transmitting several papers numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, relating to the proceedings of the representatives chose in consequence of writs issued by him without a dissolution of the Assembly.
No. 1. Reasons offered for the secession of the subscribing representatives in the present Assembly of Bermuda, March 8th, 1747–8, to the Governor in Council.
No. 2. The Governor's message to the House of Representatives.
No. 3. Opinion of the Attorney General of Bermuda upon a query sent him by the Governor.
No. 4. Account of some transactions that passed between the Governor and some members of the Assembly.
No. 5. The Governor's speech to the Assembly; their addresses to him and his answer thereto, the 27th of April, 1748.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 25th May, 1748, transmitting:—
An address from the Council and Assembly of that Island to his Majesty.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 26th of May, 1748, inclosing:—
Copy of a letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Duke of Bedford, dated 26th of May, 1748.
Letter from the Council of Bermuda to the Lords Commissioners of Trade, dated the 27th May, 1748, concerning some complaints intended to be transmitted to their lordships against Governor Popple.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 30th of May, 1748, transmitting the following accounts and other public papers, viz.:—
The Secretary's account of the Powder Duty collected in Bermuda, commencing the 9th of October, 1742, to the 2nd of July, 1744.
The Secretary's account of the Powder Duty collected in Bermuda between the 3rd of July, 1744, and the 12th of October, 1745.
The Treasurer's account, from the 4th of July, 1744, to the 4th of March, 1745–6.
The Treasurer's account, from the 4th of March, 1745–6, to the 11th of November, 1747.
Naval Officer's account of ships entered outwards in the port of St. George, from the 22nd of June to the 25th of December, 1747.
Naval Officer's account of ships entered inwards at the port of St. George, from the 22nd of June to the 25th of December, 1747.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from the 7th of March 1747–8, to the 30th of April, 1738.
Letter from Mr. Popple, the Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 25th of May, 1748, transmitting two Acts, passed there the 30th of April, 1748.

Ordered that the draught of a letter in answer to the above be prepared.

Leeward Islands.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, in answer to those received from him since the Board's last letter to him, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Tuesday, July 26. Present:—Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Pennsylvania.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon twelve Acts, passed in the province of Pennsylvania, between May, 1744, and May 1747, referred to this Board by Order of the Lords Justices of the Committee of Council, dated the 14th of May last, and the said Acts having been taken into consideration, their lordships ordered the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council thereupon to be prepared.

Bermuda.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, in answer to his letter, mentioned in the minutes of Friday last, having been prepared, pursuant to the said minutes, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Barbados.

Santa Lucia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a list of the papers relating to the Islands of Santa Lucia, St. Vincent's, etc., ordered to be copied by the minutes of Thursday last, and the said papers were ordered to be transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Bedford.

South Carolina.

Their lordships further took into consideration Mr. Hamilton's proposals, mentioned in the minutes of the 8th instant, and ordered the said proposals to be sent to Mr. Solomon da Costa, for his opinion thereupon, and whether he and the rest of the Jews concerned with Mr. Hamilton are willing to engage in the said undertaking upon those proposals, agreeable to what they had before agreed upon, mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd of December.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act, passed in the Island of Jamaica, in the year 1741, for limiting the Duration of future Assemblies, mentioned in Mr. Trelawney's letter to the Board, dated the 10th May, and the Secretary was directed to write to Mr. John Sharpe, agent for the said Island, to desire his attendance on Thursday next, the 28th instant, upon the subject of the said Act.

Thursday, July 28. Present:—Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Proprieties.

Pennsylvania.

Read a certificate from his Majesty's Remembrancer's Office in the Exchequer, dated the 23rd of July, 1748, that James Hamilton, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, hath given security for the due execution of his said office, and the draught of a representation to the Lords Justices, with the usual instructions, relating to the laws of Trade, to the Proprietaries of the said province, was ordered to be prepared, and likewise the draught of an article to be inserted in the said instructions in consequence of the Act, passed in the last session of Parliament, for encouraging the making of Indico in the British Plantations in America.

Bermuda.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of Tuesday last, was laid before the Board and signed.

Leeward Islands.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was laid before the Board and signed.

Jamaica

Mr. John Sharpe, agent for the Island of Jamaica, attending, as desired, with two gentlemen of that Island, upon the subject of the Act, passed there in 1741, for limiting the Duration of future Assemblies, acquainted their lordships, that most of the planters and gentlemen, belonging to that Island, and himself, were not sufficiently instructed concerning the said Act, and therefore desired that the consideration of the said Act might be postponed till November next, which their lordships agreed to, and the consideration thereof was accordingly postponed.

Friday, July 29. Present:—Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of an article to be inserted in the instructions for the Proprietors of Pennsylvania, in consequence of the Act passed in the last session of Parliament, for encouraging the making of Indico in the Plantations, having been prepared, pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was laid before the Board and agreed to, as was likewise the draught of a representation to the Lords Justices, with the draught of the said instructions, and having been transcribed, was signed.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon twelve Acts, passed in the province of Pennsylvania, between 1744 and 1747, having been prepared, pursuant to the minutes of the 26th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Potter, Secretary to their Excellencies, the Lords Justices, dated the 28th July, 1748, signifying their desire that this Board do take into consideration a letter from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, relating to the Assembly of that province refusing to make provision for the expence of two sloops hired for the protection of the trade.

New Jersey.

Read a letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New Jersey, to the Board, dated at Burlington, the 5th February, 1747–8, relating to the account of the expences that province has been at, in consequence of his Majesty's orders for raising troops for the expedition to Canada.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the above letter to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and desire him to lay the same before that Board.