Journal, September 1754: Volume 61, Part 2

Journal, September 1754

Thursday, September 26. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

Jamaica.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Knowles to the Board, dated the 26th March, 1753.
Letter from Mr. Knowles to the Board, dated 20th June, 1754, relating to the remission of a fine of fifty pounds due to his Majesty from one Fornichon, a native of France lately arrived in that Island.
Letter from Mr. Knowles to the Board, dated June 21st, 1754, inclosing the petition of the inhabitants of the parish of St. James in that Island to his Majesty.
Letter from Mr. Knowles to the Board, dated 21st June, 1754, inclosing:—
Accounts of his Majesty's revenue to March, 1754.
Letter from Mr. Knowles to the Board, dated June 24th, 1754, relating to the judges holding the Nisi Prius Courts, inclosing:—
Copy of an intended proclamation in Jamaica in case the judges persist in holding the Nisi Prius Courts.
Copy of minutes of Council in Jamaica relating to the holding of the Nisi Prius Courts, dated 18th June, 1754.
A report of the proceedings at Grand Court in Jamaica against two vessels which were seized.
Copies of two letters from the Chief Justice and his associates to Governor Knowles, in June, 1754.
Letter from Governor Knowles to the Board, dated June 29th, 1754, inclosing:—
Jamaica printed Courant.
Copy of the proceedings in Chancery in the cause of Bromfield against Beach.
Letter from Mr. Knowles to the Board, dated July 30th, 1754, inclosing:—
List of ships and vessels entered and cleared at Kingston between the 25th March and 24th June, 1754.

Their lordships took into consideration the several letters and papers received from Mr. Knowles since their last letter to him and ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the differences and disputes which have arisen and do subsist between the said Governor, the Assembly and the Courts of Justice to be prepared.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Mr. Knowles be prepared.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit to the Secretary of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury extracts of such parts of Mr. Knowles's letter of the 12th of January, 1754, as relate to the state of his Majesty's revenue with copies of the several accounts therein referred to, to be laid before their Lordships for their directions and sentiments upon them.

Ordered that the draughts of two representations to his Majesty be prepared humbly to lay before his Majesty the petitions of the parishes of St. James's and Hanover, relative to the removal of the seat of government referred to in Mr. Knowles's letter of the 19th of May and 21st of June last.

Ordered that an extract be made of that part of Mr. Knowles's letter of the 25th June, which contains his reasons for suspending Mr. Beach, his Majesty's Attorney General, and that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Ordered that a copy be made of Mr. Knowles's letter of the 29th August, containing his reasons for suspending Mr. Hyde from his seat in Council, and of the several papers relative thereto, and that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Ordered that a copy be made of Mr. Knowles's letter of the 20th June, relative to the fine imposed on Mr. Fornichon, and that the draught of a representation to His Majesty be prepared, proposing a remission of the said fine.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Mr. Harding, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, dated July 26th, 1754, desiring that the plan of the intended government of Georgia may be communicated to them, and signifying that their Lordships at the recommendation of this Board will appoint Mr. Henry Yonge and Mr. William de Braham to be joint Surveyors of land, and Sir Patrick Houston, Bart, to be Register and Receiver of quit rents there.

Ordered that the Secretary do, in answer to the said letter, transmit to Mr. Harding a copy of the Board's report to the Lords of the Committee of Council of the 7th of June, 1753, proposing a plan of civil government for the colony of Georgia.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Harding, dated 19th July, 1754, in relation to the remitting to the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia their arrears of quit rents, etc.

Ordered that the Secretary do acquaint Mr. Harding in answer thereto that there is no account in this office of the amount of the quit rents payable upon their grants.

Leeward Islands.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Mr. Thomas, Governor of the Leeward Islands, in answer to his letter of the 21st January last mentioned in the minutes of . . . . . . , be prepared.