Journal, February 1743: Volume 51

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 8, January 1742 - December 1749. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1931.

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'Journal, February 1743: Volume 51', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 8, January 1742 - December 1749, (London, 1931) pp. 47-53. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol8/pp47-53 [accessed 24 March 2024]

Journal, February 1743

Tuesday, February 1. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

East Indies.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated January 17th, 1742–3, referring to this Board an account of the East India Company's exports, from September 29th, 1741, to September 29th, 1742, to be examined and reported thereon.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated the 17th October, 1742, enclosing the following public papers, viz.:—
State of the Leeward Islands, for their defence, in October, 1742.
State of his Majesty's Councils in the Leeward Islands, the 16th of October, 1742.
Minutes of Council of St. Christophers, from the 24th of February, 1741–2, to the 5th of August, 1742.
An Act, passed at Antigua the 6th of September, 1742, for particularly applying part of the money granted by an Act bearing date the 8th of June, 1742.

Ordered that the aforesaid Act be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Wednesday, February 2. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

New Hampshire.

The Board having gone through the consideration of the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the New Hampshire Acts, mentioned in the minutes of the 26th of last month, ordered the same to be transcribed. Agreed likewise to the draught of a representation upon an Act, passed in New Hampshire, entituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty the sum of £250 Proclamation Money or in Bills of Credit on this province, equivalent thereunto, towards the support of his Government here, and ordered the same to be transcribed.

Friday, February 4. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

New Hampshire.

The two representations to his Majesty, mentioned in the preceding minute, having been transcribed, were laid before the Board, and signed.

Bermuda.

Read two letters from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, dated October 25th, 1742, giving some account of disputes between him and the Assembly, and transmitting the several publick papers following, viz.:—
Proceedings and report of the Committee of Assembly of Bermuda, appointed by themselves, for inspecting the public accounts, the 5th and 6th of October, 1742.
The Treasurer's account, from the 10th of October, 1740, to the 4th November, 1741.
Mr. Tucker's account of Powder Money, from the 13th February, 1739–40, to the 2nd of November, 1741.
Minutes of Council, from 2nd of February, 1741–2, to the 6th of October, 1742.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from the 6th of April to the 6th of October, 1742.
Eight Naval Office lists of all vessels that entered and cleared in the Port of St. George at Bermuda, between the 25th of December, 1740, and the 25th December, 1741.

The other, dated November 25th, 1742, giving an account of the currency of a base coin called pistareens, and desiring the directions of the Board how to put a stop to it.

Tuesday, February 8. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

Read a letter from the Lord Carteret, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretary's of State, dated February 6th, 1742, transmitting, for the Board's consideration and report, several original papers lately received from Sir Thomas Robinson and Mr. Porter at Vienna, together with their letter to the Lord Carteret upon the subject of the said papers, treating of matters of great consequence and advantage to our national trade, viz.:—
The Queen of Hungary's answer.
Remarks upon the Queen of Hungary's answer.
Nos. 1 to 10. Calculations on Yorkshire cloth, camlets, druggets, calimancoes, sugar, etc.

And the said papers having been likewise read, the Board proceeded to take the same into consideration and made some progress therein.

Wednesday, February 9. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

The Board took again into consideration the subject of the papers transmitted by my Lord Carteret, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, and made some further progress therein.

Thursday, February 10. Present:—Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

Read a letter from Mr. Weston, by order of the Lord Carteret, to Colonel Bladen, dated the 9th instant, enclosing two papers, relating to the commercial negotiation now carrying on at Vienna —to be added to those lately received from Lord Carteret upon that subject, which papers were also read.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from Mr. Tinker, Governor of the Bahama Islands, dated at New Providence, December 7th, 1742, giving an account of the taking and bringing in thither a register ship and an advice boat, both from Cadiz, by two privateers fitted out at Philadelphia.

Jamaica.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated January 17th, 1742, referring to this Board the petition of Mathias Philp and William Perrin, of the Island of Jamaica, Esquires, to his Majesty, praying his Royal Letters Patent for all royal mines to be discovered by the petitioners or their agents, situate in the parish of St. Andrew, Liquiania, in the said Island of Jamaica, for 99 years, or such other term, and upon such payments and reservations as to his Majesty shall seem meet.

Friday, February 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer.

New England.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Colonel Dunbar, relating to the preservation of mast trees, the Government of the Province of Maine, and the French in Nova Scotia, as also a copy of Mr. Amhurst's letter to Colonel Dunbar, dated November —, 1741, relating to masts in Nova Scotia, and the Colonel's answer thereto, dated April 8th, 1742. Read likewise the copy of a letter from the Deputy Surveyors, relating to masts, and their report to Governor Wentworth, relating to a tract of land to be reserved for the use of the Royal Navy; as also a copy of the report of the Deputy Surveyors to Governor Wentworth, with a letter from Mr. Mitchel, one of them, to Colonel Dunbar, dated December 14th, 1742.

Agreed to take the said papers into consideration the first opportunity.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, transmitting copies of six letters, viz.:—
Two from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, and two from General Wentworth, as likewise two letters from Admiral Vernon, all dated at Jamaica in August and September, 1742, to Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, relating to the late invasion of Georgia by the Spaniards.

Read at the same time the duplicate of another letter from Colonel Bull, without date, referring to the minutes of Council of that province, from the 18th of June to the 14th of August, 1742 (therewith transmitted), for an account of the measures—concerted and carried into execution by the Governor of South Carolina for the relief of Georgia—transmitting likewise the duplicate of a representation to his Majesty concerning the defenceless condition of Port Royal, and the parts adjacent, and praying the Board to lay the same before his Majesty.

Ordered that a copy of the said representation be prepared, and sent inclosed in a letter to the Duke of Newcastle, in order to be laid before his Majesty.

Ordered likewise that the Secretary prepare a draught of an answer to Colonel Bull's said letters.

Saturday, February 12. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

The Board took into consideration the papers, relating to the commercial negociation at Vienna, and after some progress made therein, directed a letter to be writ to the Secretary of the Customs, for an account of the duties and drawbacks on certain commodities, mentioned in the Queen of Hungary's proposal.

Monday, February 14. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for enclosing the representation of the Lieutenant Governor and Council of South Carolina (mentioned in the minutes of the 11th instant), to be laid before his Majesty, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

The Board had again under consideration the papers received last week from the Lord Carteret, relating to the commercial negociation (mentioned in the minutes of Saturday last), and made further progress therein.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Oxenford, Assistant Inspector General of the Customs, desiring his attendance at the Board to-morrow morning, about twelve.

Tuesday, February 15. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

The Board, after some discourse had with Mr. Oxenford, Assistant Inspector General of the Customs, who attended, as desired by yesterday's minutes, proceeded to take into further consideration the papers mentioned in the same minutes.

Wednesday, February 16. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, Governor of Barbados, to the Board, dated November 27th, 1742, giving an account of a trade carried on with the French, and the ill consequences attending it, as also of the methods practiced by the French in settling the Neutral Islands, together with his opinion of a base coin called pistareens, introduced in consequence of the aforesaid trade, mentioning likewise some difficulty he has about his 87th instruction; transmitting also 5 Acts, passed there, between September, 1741, and September, 1742.

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

Ordered that an extract of that part of his letter, which relates to Santa Lucia and the Neutral Islands, be transcribed, in order to be transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

Antigua.

The Board took into consideration the request of John Yeamans, Esquire, agent for the Island of Antigua (mentioned in the minutes of the 19th of last month), and ordered a representation to his Majesty to be prepared, recommending him to supply the vacancy in the Council of the said Island, made by the death of Valentine Morris, Esquire, which was accordingly laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed, and signed.

Massachusets.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated January 25th, 1742–3, referring to this Board the extract of a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of Massachusets Bay (dated at Boston, November 16th, 1742), to the Earl of Harrington, Lord President of the Council, relating to his being empowered to consent to the emission of £7 or 8,000 extraordinary in paper bills, to complete the forts, harbours, and fortifications for the defence and security of the said province.

Thursday, February 17. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusets.

Read the duplicate of a letter (the original not received), from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, dated October 18th, 1742, giving an account of his refusing his assent to 3 bills, relating to the three townships, together with his opinion about increasing the number of townships and representatives, and the ill consequences that might follow from thence, unless some stop be put to the present practice of splitting townships.

New Hampshire.

Read a letter from Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, to the Board, dated at Portsmouth, December 8th, 1742, transmitting his answer to queries from the Board, relating to the province of New Hampshire.

Report of the Deputy Surveyors of his Majesty's woods in New England, to Governor Wentworth, relating to tracts of land in New Hampshire, to be reserved and appropriated for the use of his Majesty's Navy, dated the 4th of December, 1742; and inclosing a copy of the plan returned by his Majesty's Commissioners for settling the boundaries between the provinces of New Hampshire and the Massachusets Bay, in September, 1737.

Barbados.

The draught of the letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for transmitting an extract from Sir Thomas Robinson's letter, ordered by yesterday's minutes, having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Friday, February 18. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, in answer to two lately received from him, having been prepared, as ordered by the minutes of the 11th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Monday, February 21. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

The Board had again under consideration the papers relating to the commercial negociation at Vienna (mentioned in the minutes of the 14th and 15th instants), and made some further progress therein.

Tuesday, February 22. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

The Board took again into consideration the affair, relating to the commercial negotiation (mentioned in yesterday's minutes), and made some further progress therein.

Ordered that the Secretary write a letter to Mr. John Gore, merchant, and acquaint him that the Board would be glad to speak with him on Thursday next, about twelve, if it suits his conveniency; if not, that they desire he would appoint some other day.

Ordered likewise that a letter be writ to Mr. Oxenford, Assistant Inspector General of the Customs, to know whether the papers he was desired to prepare, are yet done, or when they may be expected.

Wednesday, February 23. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

Mr. Oxenford attending this day, laid before the Board the three undermentioned papers of Custom House accounts, which were considered by the Board, and a further progress was made in the affair of the commercial negociation, mentioned in yesterday's minutes:—
Trade.
Germany.
Duties payable on several commodities imported into England.
Account of wines imported in 1736, to 1741, inclusive.
Several commodities imported into England in one year, from Christmas, 1738, to Christmas, 1739, distinguishing the countries.

Thursday, February 24. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

Mr. Gore attending, as desired by the minutes of Tuesday last, the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of the papers, relative to the commercial negotiation at Vienna, and then proceeded to take the same into consideration, and made a further progress therein.

Friday, February 25. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

Mr. Oxenford, Assistant Inspector General of the Customs, again attending, the Board had some further discourse with him on the subject of certain duties, and then proceeded to take again under consideration the papers, relating to the commercial negociation at Vienna; and Mr. Oxenford laid before the Board the following paper, viz.:—
Several commodities imported into England, from Christmas, 1739, to Christmas, 1740, distinguishing the countries.

Saturday, February 26. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

The Board then took again into consideration the papers, relating to the commercial negotiation at Vienna (mentioned in yesterday's minutes), and made some progress in the draught of a letter to the Lord Carteret, in answer to his letter, transmitting those papers, mentioned in the minutes of the 8th instant.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Porter, signifying the Board's desire to have some discourse with him on Monday morning next, about twelve, on the subject of the papers lately transmitted from his brother at Vienna at Lord Carteret.

Monday, February 28. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer.

Trade.

Hungary.

Bohemia.

Austria.

Mr. Porter attending, as desired by the preceding minute, the Board, after having had some discourse with him on the subject of the papers transmitted by his brother, made a further progress in the draught of a letter to Lord Carteret.

Barbados.

Read an Act, passed at Barbados, in August, 1742, entituled, An Act for defraying the expences his Honour the President has been at, in the exercise of the Government of this Island. Read likewise Mr. Fane's report to the Board on the said Act, to which he has no objection, in point of law.

Ordered that a draught of a representation be prepared, recommending the said Act to his Majesty, for his royal approbation.