Journal, December 1749: Volume 57

Journal, December 1749

Friday, December 1. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Sir Thomas Robinson.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of the 28th of last month, was laid before the Board and signed.

Tuesday, December 5. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The Right Honourable the Paymaster General of his Majesty's Forces being present, their lordships proceeded to take into consideration the state of the expences incurred in the Northern colonies on account of the intended expedition against Canada, and for other extraordinary services, and made some further progress therein.

The Right Honourable the Lord Dupplin presented to the Board a petition of Joseph Dwight, Esquire, Colonel of a regiment raised in the province of the Massachusets Bay for the intended expedition against Canada, to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, praying payment of Bills drawn for the pay of the said regiment, which he had received from the Right Honourable the Chancellor of his Majesty's Exchequer, and the said petition was read.

Thursday, December 7. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The Right Honourable the Paymaster General of his Majesty's Forces attending, their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the state of the expence which have [sic] arisen in the Northern colonies on account of the intended expedition against Canada and for other extraordinary services.

Friday, December 8. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Pennsylvania.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon four Acts, passed in Pennsylvania in February, 1748, referred to this Board by order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of the 1st of November last.

Their lordships then took into consideration the said Acts, and ordered the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council to be prepared.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Alderman Bethel, dated the 7th instant, returning the plan for the better regulating and carrying on the trade on the coast of Africa, signed by several merchants of London concerned in that trade.

Resolved that the several proposals, which have been laid before the Board for the better securing, improving and extending the trade to Africa, be taken into consideration on Monday, the 8th of January, and that the Secretary do give notice thereof to the "merchants of London, Bristol and Liverpool trading to Africa, the gentlemen interested in and trading to his Majesty's colonies in America, and also the Deputy Governor and Court of Assistants of the Royal African Company, and desire their attendance at the Board on that day.

Monday, December 11. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Cornwallis, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated at Halifax, the 17th of October, 1749, transmitting:—
Copy of Governor Cornwallis's letter to Mr. Desherbiers, Governor of Louisbourg, dated at Chebucto, the 21st September, 1749.
Copy of a letter from M. Desherbiers, Governor of Louisbourg, in answer to one from Colonel Cornwallis, dated the 21st of September, 1749, dated at Louisbourg, 15th/4 October, 1749.
Copy of a letter from the Micmac Indians to his Excellency, Governor Cornwallis, dated 23rd September, 1749.
Copy of resolutions of the Council of Halifax against the Micmac Indians, of the 1st of October, 1749.
Copy of proclamation against the Micmac Indians, published at Halifax in Chebucto, 2nd October, 1749.
Abstract of the account of cash disbursed at Chebucto by the Governor's order, preceding 7th October, 1749.
Plan and estimate of the intended fortifications at Halifax in Chebucto.

Ordered that the abovementioned papers be copied, and that the draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Bedford be prepared, for inclosing the same.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit copies of the abstract of the account of cash disbursed at Chebucto, preceding the 7th October, 1749, and also the plan and estimate of the fortifications of Halifax, to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, to be laid before that Board.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, proposing the confirmation of four Acts, passed in Pennsylvania in February, 1748, having been prepared, pursuant to the minutes of the 8th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Tuesday, December 12. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Herbert, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The Right Honourable the Paymaster General of his Majesty's Forces being present, their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the state of the expences arisen in the Northern colonies on account of the intended expedition against Canada, and for other extraordinary services.

Mr. Waldo, late Colonel of one of the regiments raised in the province of the Massachusets Bay for the service of the said expedition, attending, presented to the Board a memorial addressed to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, which he acquainted their lordships he was directed by the Lords of the Treasury to attend upon the Board with; which said memorial set forth his service as Brigadier General and Colonel of a regiment on the expedition against Louisbourg, and since, as Brigadier General and Colonel of a regiment in the intended expedition against Canada, and as Commander in Chief of the forces intended for the reduction of Crown Point, praying that he may be ordered pay as Brigadier General and Colonel, from his first entrance into the Louisbourg expedition, to its final conclusion, and also the pay of Brigadier General and Commander in Chief, from the time of his entering upon that commission on the Canada expedition till the final dismission of the troops, and that in making up the accounts he may not be deprived of such advantages as are customary, by an unprecedented adjustment being made without his knowledge.

Mr. Waldo likewise laid before their lordships several vouchers of facts set forth in the said memorial.

Their lordships thereupon acquainted him, that with respect to his demand of pay for his services on the Louisbourg expedition, it was not within the reference of these accounts to the Board, and therefore desired to know what were his particular demands and claims for service relative to the Canada expedition.

Whereupon he acquainted their lordships, that as Mr. Shirley had thought proper to appoint him Commander in Chief by commission, he demanded £4 per day as such, including 30s. per day allowed him by Mr. Shirley and Mr. Knowles as Brigadier General, alledging that, although the expedition did not take place, he had been at great expence in preparation for it.

That as to the particular advantages [to] his regiment, he apprehended them to be deserters' pay, dead men's pay, and the cloathing the regiment, also the respited men usually allowed in established regiments, or at least the one usually allowed to the Colonel: that he might also receive such advantages as should arise in paying off the men on account of the pay not being demanded, or dead men not administered to; all which, he alledged, he apprehended he was entitled to from the time of Mr. Shirley's proclamation for encouraging persons to engage in this service.

Trade.

Plantations General.

Whereupon their lordships acquainted him, that with respect to his demand of pay as Commander in Chief they should state this case in their report to the Lords of the Treasury upon their reference, as also his other demands, but that they were of opinion Mr. Shirley had made up his accounts of the regiment, conformable to his Majesty's orders, and the proclamation published by him for raising the said regiments, and then Mr. Waldo withdrew.

Mr. Samuel de Lucena, whose memorial praying for some allowance for his services on the Canada expedition had been referred to the Board by his Grace the Duke of Bedford, as will appear from the minutes of the 27th of November last, attending, represented to the Board that he had received orders from Mr. Shirley, his Majesty's Governor of the Massachusets Bay, to raise men for the Canada expedition, promising him, if he could raise any considerable number, that he should have a commission; that in consequence of those orders, a copy whereof he produced, he did raise eighteen men, on condition of their serving under none but him, but that the said men did not receive the province bounty, nor were inrolled in his Majesty's service; wherefore he only desired some consideration for his trouble on this occasion.

Having nothing further to offer, he was ordered to withdraw, and it was agreed further to consider his memorial at another opportunity.

Their lordships then took into consideration the petition of Joseph Dwight, colonel of one of the regiments raised in the province of the Massachusets Bay for the service of the intended expedition, mentioned in the minutes of the 5th instant, praying payment of Bills drawn for the pay of the said regiment.

Whereupon Mr. Shirley, Governor of the said province, attending, represented to their lordships that Colonel Dwight's method of disposing of the Bills delivered to him, was this; he filled up most of them to the value of about £6,000 sterling with his own name, and sold them to Mr. Quincy, a merchant in Boston, who raised New England currency upon them in the following manner: Colonel Dwight drew private Bills upon Mr. Bethel of London in favour of Mr. Quincy, which Mr. Quincy indorsed, and sold at Boston at the rate of £1,100 old tenor for £100 sterling, transmitting to Mr. Bethel the £6,000 in Bills drawn by Mr. Shirley upon the Paymaster General as a fund, in case they should be paid by the government before the private Bills became due (as it was hoped they possibly might), for the payment of the private Bills; in which case a considerable advantage would have been gained, by the difference between the price, at which the Bills drawn upon the Paymaster General were sold in New England, and that of private Bills, for which Mr. Dwight's own Bills were sold; as it had happened that the publick Bills were not paid, that may have occasioned the private Bills to be protested, and damages to be sustained on that account; but be that as it will, this transaction of Colonel Dwight's raising New England currency to pay the soldiers by his private Bills, founded on the credit which the publick Bills gave them, was done without the privity of Mr. Shirley, who, had he been advised with upon it, would not have consented to it; and as it appeared to Mr. Shirley that this scheme was entered into after the merchants had begun to buy the publick Bills sold for the payment of Colonel Waldo's regiment, it seemed to have been unnecessary, and gone into for the sake of making an advantage from it; that indeed it seemed observable that Colonel Dwight does not alledge in his petition, that he has yet suffered damages, but only that he is exposed to ruin by his own Bills standing out against him, and prays for no more than that, for his indemnification, the public Bills may be soon paid off by the Government, which seemed very reasonable.

Trade.

Plantations General.

Ordered that a state of what appears upon the two aforementioned memorials of Colonel Dwight and Colonel Waldo be added to the state of the demands for the service of the Canada expedition.

Wednesday, December 13. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The Right Honourable the Paymaster General of his Majesty's Forces attending, their lordships proceeded further in the consideration of the state of the accounts of the Northern colonies on the intended expedition against Canada, and having gone through the same, ordered the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Treasury to be prepared.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to the merchants, whose names are annexed to the petition to the Treasury, referred to this Board by Mr. West's letter of the 22nd of February last, praying payment of bills and certificates drawn or granted on account of the intended expedition against Canada, to desire that if they have anything to offer thereon, they will attend the Board on Friday next, the 15th instant.

Ordered that the Secretary do also write to the agents of the respective colonies, whose accounts for expences on that expedition have been laid before the Board, or other persons concerned, to desire that if they have anything to offer thereupon, they would give their attendance on the same day.

Read a letter from Mr. Bowen, dated the 29th of last month, inclosing copy of a report of the Right Honourable the Paymaster General of the Forces and the Secretary at War, to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, on the memorial of Thomas Bladen, Esquire, late Deputy Governor of Maryland, relative to expences arising on the intended expedition to Canada.

Read a letter from Colonel Thomas, late Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, dated Bath, the 4th December, 1749, acquainting the Board, that, pursuant to his Majesty's order, he raised, cloathed and armed four companies of one hundred men each, for the intended expedition to Canada, and that he drew Bills on the Paymaster General of his Majesty's Forces, for the money advanced by him on that service, and transmitted the accounts thereof with the Bills.

Thursday, December 14. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson, Mr. Townshend.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon four Acts, passed in the province of Pennsylvania in February, 1748, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of the 11th instant, was laid before the Board and signed.

New Hampshire.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of the 30th of last month, was laid before the Board and signed.

Trade.

East India.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 23rd November, 1749, referring to this Board an account of the East India Company's exports from London, between the 29th September, 1748, and the 29th September, 1749, to be examined and reported upon.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from the merchants of Bristol, dated the 1st of November, 1749, inclosing a scheme for extending and improving the trade to Africa.

Friday, December 15. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The draught of a report to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury upon the account of charges arising in the Northern colonies in the intended expedition against Canada, having been prepared, pursuant to the minutes of the 13th instant, was laid before the Board.

Several merchants and others, whose names were subscribed to the petition to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, mentioned in the minutes of the 13th instant, attending, were called in, and their lordships desiring to know if they had anything to offer thereupon:

Mr. Samuel Stork acquainted the Board that he, together with two other gentlemen, not present, were authorised at a general meeting of the possessors of Bills drawn on account of the intended expedition to Canada, to make it a request that five per cent. interest might be allowed to the proprietors of said Bills, from the time they became due, as many of the said proprietors have been reduced to great distress by the delay of payment, and many mortgaged their real estates as a security, until provision was made by Parliament for the payment of them.

That there was a precedent for this in the case of the possessors of Bills drawn by General Oglethorpe on account of Georgia, who demanded re-exchange, but were allowed 5 per cent.

That he, Mr. Stork, was possessor of Bills to the amount of £6,000 sterling, drawn by the governors Shirley and Clinton.

Mr. Shirley, his Majesty's Governor of the province of the Massachusets Bay, attending, acquainted their lordships upon this occasion that the Bills drawn by him for the publick service were after the rate of £900 in Bills of Credit of his province for £100 sterling, when the price of private exchange was £1,100 in said Bills of Credit for £100 sterling, whereby he observed, that the possessors of such publick Bills obtained an advantage of 18 per cent.

The said merchants not having anything further to offer, were ordered to withdraw.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The agents of several of the colonies, whose accounts of charges on the intended expedition had been laid before the Board attending as desired, were called in, and being asked if they had anything to offer:

Mr. Partridge, agent for the colony of New Jersey and Rhode Island, presented a representation to the Board, in addition to his former one, mentioned in the minutes of the 15th of November last, containing some further observations on Mr. Shirley's objections to the Rhode Island account, which he acquainted their lordships was all he had to offer thereupon.

That with respect to the price of the cloathing in the New Jersey account, objected to by Mr. Shirley, he would further observe, that as the Governor of said colony received his Majesty's directions to raise as many men, as the shortness of the time would allow, to rendezvous at Albany, all possible expedition was required; that the cloathing was purchased at as cheap a rate as possible; that if it was not so cheap as at Boston, yet it must be had; that there was no land carriage from Boston, and, if sent by sea, no convoy, and that if they had not been supplyed, the expedition would have been defeated; that he knew no other reason for the dearness of this article than that goods of all sorts are dearer at one time than another.

Mr. Leheup, agent for the colony of Virginia, acquainted their lordships, that two Bills of Exchange had been drawn by the Receiver General of that colony for the subsistance of one company raised therein for the intended expedition against Canada; that one of the said Bills had been paid; that he desired their lordships would be of opinion that that Bill, as well as the other, which remained unpaid, should not be charged insuper in the Exchequer on Sir William Gooch, who never received any part thereof, and more especially as those Bills are only for the subsistance of the company.

He further informed their lordships that the arming, cloathing and other contingencies arising upon levying the said company were provided at the expence of the colony, and that he had no authority from them to make any other demand, than for the payment of the subsistance of the said company.

Mr. Tomlinson, agent for the province of New Hampshire, acquainted their lordships that he had nothing to offer with respect to the accounts of that province, never having been apprized of what deductions or abatements were made thereon, which he should entirely submit to their lordships' judgment.

Mr. Catherwood acquainted their lordships, that he had received advice that duplicates of the accounts of Mr. Clinton for charges on the Canada expedition, and other services, were arrived in England; whereupon their lordships directed him to lay the same before this Board as soon as possible, and then the agents withdrew.

Mr. Joseph Sherburn, late captain in the regiment raised in the province of New Hampshire, attending, was called in and presented to the Board:

A memorial setting forth his services on that occasion, and that he hath never received any pay for the same, and praying that his pay as captain may be issued to him.

Trade.

Plantations General.

He likewise laid before their lordships a state of his case, setting forth his aforementioned services, and that after the said regiment was disbanded, fresh commissions were made out for the several officers, and that Mr. Wentworth appointed two of his sons, who had not done any duty, captains in the said regiment, leaving out himself and one Mr. Gilman, a captain in the said regiment, and offering him only a lieutenant's commission, which he refused; which said papers were read, and the said Sherburn being ordered to withdraw, their lordships agreed further to consider his case at another opportunity.

Tuesday, December 19. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Herbert, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The Right Honourable the Paymaster General of his Majesty's Forces, attending, their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the report to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury upon the accounts of the charges of the Northern colonies on the intended expedition to Canada.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing Richard Corbyn to be of the Council in Virginia, in the room of John Robinson, Esquire, deceased, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, inclosing a copy of one from Colonel Cornwallis, Governor of Nova Scotia, and of several publick papers therewith received, having been prepared, pursuant to the minutes of the 11th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board Governor Clinton's accounts of expences incurred on the intended expedition against Canada, received from Mr. Catherwood, together with the vouchers.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit the said accounts to Mr. Shirley to be adjusted and liquidated, in the same manner as the accounts of the other colonies, and that he be desired to do it with all possible dispatch.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary acquainting the Board with the death of Mr. John Wilson, messenger and assistant door keeper of this office, Mr. Herbert recommended Mr. Edward Serle to supply the said vacancy, which being agreed to by the Board, he was appointed accordingly.

Wednesday, December 20. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated at Antigua, the 12th of August, 1749, transmitting the following original papers, viz.:—
Antigua.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 15th August, 1748, to the 1st June, 1749.
St. Christophers.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 16th April, 1747, to the 27th July, 1748.
Nevis.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 21st February, 1748–9, to the 15th June, 1749.
Antigua.
Three Acts, passed at Antigua, between March and June, 1749.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. George Hunter, Surveyor General of Lands and Inspector and Comptroller of the Quit Rents in South Carolina, to the Board, dated the 12th August, 1749, again praying their lordships' interest for obtaining a warrant from the Treasury for the payment of his arrears, and transmitting:—
Memorial of Mr. George Hunter to the Governor and Council of South Carolina, dated the 30th of June, 1749, relating to the arrears of salary due to him as Surveyor General, etc.
An account of the Precepts issued from the Surveyor General's Office, in pursuance of the Governor's Warrants of Survey, from the 29th of April to the 30th of October, 1748. Report No. 11.
List of Grants passed by Governor Glen and recorded in the Secretary's Office, from the 29th April to the 30th October, 1748. Report No. 11.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, dated the 7th of October, 1749, to the Board inclosing:
Attested copies of letters to him from Commodore Holburne and Captain Falkingham, relating to the French proceedings at Tobago.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from the Duke of Bedford, dated the 20th of December, 1749, signifying his Majesty's commands that they do contract with Mr. Dick of Rotterdam, or any other person, for transporting any number of foreign protestants to Nova Scotia, and for offering any reasonable encouragement they shall judge proper.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to Mr. Dick, and acquaint him therewith, and that their lordships are ready to contract with him for transporting any number of foreign protestants to Nova Scotia, not exceeding 1,500, and that he be desired to acquaint their lordships, within a month, what number of said foreign protestants he apprehends he shall be able to agree with.

Ordered that a declaration be prepared, to be signed by the Secretary and transmitted to Mr. Dick, setting forth that the following advantages will be allowed to such foreign protestants, as shall agree with Mr. Dick to transport them to Nova Scotia, viz.:—
That fifty acres of land will be granted to every foreign protestant, free from the payment of any quit rents or taxes for the term of ten years, at the expiration whereof no person to pay more than one shilling per annum for every fifty acres so granted.
That a grant of ten acres over and above the said fifty acres will be made to each foreign protestant having a family, for every person, including women and children, of which his family shall consist, and further grants made to them on the like conditions as their families shall increase, or in proportion to their abilities to cultivate the same.
That all such, as are willing to accept of the above proposals, shall, with their families, be subsisted for the space of twelve months after their arrival in the said province.
Nova Scotia.
That they shall be furnished with arms and ammunition as far as will be judged necessary, with a proper quantity of materials and utensils for husbandry, clearing and cultivating their lands, erecting habitations, carrying on the fishery, and such other purposes as shall be necessary for their support.

And as a further encouragement to the said foreign protestants, the said Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations do further declare that one guinea will be allowed to the said John Dick for every such foreign protestant as shall agree with him for their passage, in order to enable him to afford the freight of such foreign protestant at a cheaper rate.