Journal, April 1757: Volume 64

Journal, April 1757

Tuesday, April 5. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Sloper.

Read a letter from Mr. Secretary Pitt to the Board, dated the 4th instant, inclosing the following copy of an address to his Majesty from the House of Commons, viz.:—
House of Commons.
Veneris 1 die Aprilis, 1757.
Resolved,
Jamaica.
That an humble address be presented to his Majesty that he will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before that House copies of the proceedings of the Council of the Island of Jamaica of the 24th of January, 1753, relating to Francis Delap, Esquire, the present Marshal, and also copies of all the proceedings of the said Council from the 18th of October, 1753, to the 24th of January, 1755, both inclusive, containing their resolutions or advice with regard to the convening, prorogation or dissolution of any Assembly of the said Island, and to the Governor's giving his assent to any bills prepared by the Assembly, and to the sending any messages to the Assembly, relating to the Receiver General of that Island, and to [James] Dawes, Esquire, one of the members of the Assembly, and also a copy of the representation of the Board of Trade to his Majesty relating to the differences in the said Island, dated the 15th of October, 1754.

Ordered, that the papers mentioned in the said address of the House of Commons to his Majesty be copied with all possible dispatch and a list thereof prepared.

Wednesday, April 6. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the petty expences and incidental charges of this office from the 5th of January to the 5th of April, 1757, amounting to four hundred, twenty-eight pounds, four shillings; and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury desiring payment, and of the salaries due to the secretaries and under officers in the service of this Board for the same time, was signed.

Jamaica.

The Secretary laid before the Board copies of the papers mentioned in the address of the House of Commons to his Majesty of the 1st instant, together with a list thereof prepared pursuant to their lordships' orders, and Mr. Oswald was desired to present them to the House.

Adjourned to Wednesday, the 20th instant.

Wednesday, April 20. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Sloper.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board a paper received from Mr. Poole, one of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, which was read and is entituled as follows, viz.:—
Extract of a letter from Antigua, dated March the 2nd, 1757, containing an account that a squadron of French ships of war had taken possession of James Fort in the River Gambia.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Charles, styling himself agent for the province of New York, to the Secretary, dated the 18th of April, 1757, acquainting him that he had no observations to make upon what the Board had proposed with respect to a boundary line between New York and the Massachusets Bay, but submitted it to their lordships to do therein as they should think most proper for his Majesty's interest, and that of the province of New York.

Barbados.

Read a memorial of Thomas Barnard, clerk, rector of the parish of St. Michael in the Island of Barbados, setting forth that he did in July, 1756, obtain leave of the then Commander in Chief of that Island to come to England for the recovery of his health, and to settle his private affairs, and to be absent for the space of twelve months, in consequence of which he arrived here in September last; that since his arrival his state of health was such as would not permit him to attend to his affairs, which remained yet unsettled, and his health not being established, he therefore prays that he may have his Majesty's further leave to be absent for twelve months longer from the expiration of the leave already given him.

Their lordships upon consideration of the said memorial ordered the draught of a letter to one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State to be prepared desiring him to move his Majesty that the memorialist may have his Majesty's leave and licence to be absent for the time he requests and that the draught of a warrant for his Majesty's signature, containing such leave of absence be prepared, in case his Majesty shall approve thereof.

New York.

Read the following letters and papers received from Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York, viz.:—
Letter from Sir Charles Hardy, dated the 28th of February, 1757, transmitting the journals of the Council and Assembly of that province, and the laws passed there, and containing his observations upon them.
Journal of the Council of New York beginning the 21st of September and ending the 1st of December, 1756.
Journal of the Assembly for the same time.
Fifteen Acts passed in the province of New York, anno 1756.
Letter from Sir Charles Hardy, dated the 4th of March, 1757, relating to the present state of affairs in that province, and transmitting:—
His speech to the Council and Assembly of New York on the 16th of February, 1757.
Address of the Council of New York to Sir Charles Hardy on the 17th of February, 1757.
Address of the Assembly of New York to Sir Charles Hardy on the 19th of February, 1757.
Copy of a message of the two Houses of Assembly of the Massachusets Bay to Lieutenant Governor Phips concerning the boundary line between that province and New York.
Extract of a letter from Richard Haddon, commander of the schooner Peggy, privateer, dated off Cape Corantes on the 29th of December, 1756, relating to the supplys sent into America by the French by the way of the Mississippi.
Letter from Sir Charles Hardy, dated the 11th of March, 1757, inclosing two affidavits taken before the Mayor of New York City, with respect to a quantity of flour sent to Curacoa from Antigua in claret casks.

Ordered, that the aforementioned Acts received with Sir Charles Hardy's letter of the 28th of February last, be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Ordered, that an extract be made of that part of Sir Charles Hardy's letter of the 4th of March which relates to the supplys which the French throw into America by the way of Mississippi River, and that the Secretary do transmit the said extract together with a copy of the extract of Captain Haddon's letter to his owners, to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and desire him to lay them before that Board.

Ordered, that copies be made of Sir Charles Hardy's letter of the 11th of March and of the affidavits inclosed in it, relating to the illicit method of carrying provisions from the Island of Antigua to Curacoa, and that the Secretary do transmit such copies to the Secretary to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs for their information.

Thursday, April 21. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Sloper.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from the Earl of Holdernesse, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated . . . . , inclosing the copy of an address of the House of Commons to his Majesty for copys of the undermentioned papers relating to the Island of Jamaica, and signifying his Majesty's commands that the Board do cause the said copys to be laid before the House, viz.:—
House of Commons, 7th April, 1757.
Copies of all the journals and minutes of the Council and Assembly of the Island of Jamaica, preceding the time that Sir Thomas Lynch, knight, was appointed Governor thereof.
Copies of the titles of all such publick Acts (if any such there be) passed by the legislature of the Island of Jamaica, with the time of their passing, in which a clause hath been inserted to suspend the execution thereof till such Acts have received the royal confirmation.
Copies of the titles of all such Acts passed by the legislature of Jamaica with the time of their passing, which have been transmitted from that Island, and had not received the royal confirmation or disallowance before the 25th day of March, 1747.

Ordered, that the abovementioned papers be looked out for the perusal of the Board with all possible dispatch.

Jamaica.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Moore, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, viz:—
Two letters from Henry Moore, Esquire, dated the 12th of December, 1756, and 18th of January, 1757, acquainting the Board with his having suspended several of the members of his Majesty's Council there, and transmitting:—
Minutes of the Council of Jamaica on the 4th of December, 1756.
Minutes of the Council of Jamaica on the 20th of December, 1756.
Address of the Assembly of Jamaica to the Lieutenant Governor on the 22nd of December, 1756.

Ordered, that the said papers be copied to be laid before his Majesty in Council, and that the draught of a representation to his Majesty therewith be prepared.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from George Thomas, Esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated the 25th of February, 1757, relating to the present state of those Islands, and the little benefit which they have received from the squadron stationed there for their protection.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit an extract of so much of the said letter as relates to the state of the squadron of his Majesty's ships under the command of Admiral Frankland, to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to be laid before that Board.

Ordered, that an extract be made of that part of the said letter which relates to the exchange of prisoners, and the taking of the Island of St. Bartholomew to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter to the Earl of Holdernesse, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, for inclosing the same, be prepared.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Holdernesse, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, proposing that the Reverend Mr. Barnard, rector of St. Michael in Barbados, may have leave of absence from his cure for twelve months from the expiration of his former leave, having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed, and a warrant for his Majesty's signature, in case he should grant the said leave, was approved.

Friday, April 22. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the letters and papers received from Mr. Moore, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, relating to the suspension of the members of the Council, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Leeward Islands.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Holdernesse, inclosing an extract of a letter from the Governor of the Leeward Islands relating to the cartel agreed upon with the Governor of Martinico for the exchange of prisoners, and the taking of the Island of St. Bartholomew by some privateers, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Mr. Atkin, agent for Indian Affairs in the Southern District, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 1st of March, 1757, relating to the delay which has attended the execution of his Commission.

Maryland.

Read a letter from Horatio Sharpe, Esquire, Deputy Governor of Maryland, dated the 23rd of February, 1757, relating to the embargo directed by his Majesty to be laid upon ships and vessels in America, and the regulations prescribed with respect to the exportation of provisions.

New Jersey.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New Jersey, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Belcher to the Board, dated the 21st of January, 1757, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter concerning the regulations for the exportation of provisions from America.
Letter from Mr. Belcher, dated the 1st of February, 1757, transmitting:—
Minutes of Council of New Jersey of 27th November, 1756, and of 13th January, 1757, and of their proceedings in the General Assembly from 17th to 24th December, 1756.
Journals of the Assembly from the 17th to the 24th of December, 1756.
A proclamation of the 13th of January, 1757, relating to the exportation of provisions.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from William Popple, Esquire, Governor of the Bermuda Islands, dated the 30th of November, 1756, containing his observations upon a bill for sale of the Crown lands in those Islands, and transmitting:—
Minutes of the Assembly of the Island of Bermuda from the 19th of July to the 20th of November, 1756.
Copy of a bill passed by the Assembly of the Bermuda Islands for raising the value of the Crown lands by vesting them in certain persons, etc., etc.
Copy of a bill proposed by the Governor of the Bermuda Islands for raising the value of the Crown lands there and for other purposes.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from the members of his Majesty's Council in the Bermuda Islands, dated the 30th of November, 1756, praying that the Board would move his Majesty for an instruction to the Governor to grant the Crown lands according to a plan formerly transmitted by him, and inclosing an address to his Majesty thereupon.

Tuesday, April 26. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Jamaica.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers relating to the Island of Jamaica for their lordships' perusal and directions in consequence of the address of the House of Commons to his Majesty on the 7th instant, viz.:—
Journals and minutes of the Council and Assembly of that Island preceding the time that Sir Thomas Lynch was appointed Governor thereof, contained in 3 volumes.
Title of an Act passed there the 18th of October, 1753, with a clause suspending its' execution untill his Majesty's pleasure was known.
Titles of all such Acts passed by the legislature of Jamaica with the time of their passing, which have been transmitted from that Island, and had not received the royal confirmation or disallowance, before the 25th of March, 1747, with observations thereupon.

Their lordships upon consideration of these papers agreed that as it would be impossible to make copies of the journals and minutes of the Assembly abovementioned within any reasonable time, the original books should be delivered in to the House of Commons, provided an Order could be obtained for their being returned.

Ordered, that the title of the Act passed in October, 1753, with a suspending clause, and also the titles of all those which have not been confirmed or disallowed before the 25th of March, 1747, be copyed, and that Mr. Oswald be desired to present all the said papers to the House of Commons pursuant to their address.

Bermuda.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter and papers received from the Governor of the Bermuda Islands, relating to the Crown lands there, mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd instant, and ordered the Secretary to transmit a copy of the bill prepared by the said Governor for raising the value of the said lands, to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and desire him to lay it before that Board for their directions thereupon.

Wednesday, April 27. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Sloper.

North Carolina.

Read a letter from Arthur Dobbs, Esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated the 20th of January, 1757, relating to the frauds and irregularities in the method of granting and surveying of lands, etc., and transmitting:—
Draught of two cases relative to grants of land, stated by Governor Dobbs for the opinion of counsel.
Journal of the Upper House of Assembly from the 30th of September to the 25th of October, 1756.
Journal of the Assembly of North Carolina for the same time. Twenty-four Acts passed in North Carolina the 25th of October, 1756.

Ordered, that the said Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb for his opinion thereupon in point of law as soon as conveniently may be.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit an extract of so much of the Governor's letter as relates to the frauds and irregularities in the method of granting and surveying of lands together with copies of the cases referred to therein, to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for their directions thereupon.

Plantations General.

Read a letter dated from Dublin, the 14th of April, 1757, and signed James Clark, relating to an illegal trade carryed on from France and other European countrys to his Majesty's colonies by a vessel belonging to some merchants in Ireland, and inclosing a copy of a memorial presented by him to the Lords Justices of Ireland touching the said matter.

Their lordships upon consideration of the letter ordered the Secretary to send a copy of it and a copy of the memorial inclosed to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury that they may give directions to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs to inquire into the truth of the facts stated therein, and take such measures thereupon as shall appear to them to be proper.

Thursday, April 28. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Sloper.

North Carolina.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board the draughts of two letters to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury which he had prepared pursuant to their lordships' orders, the one inclosing an extract of a letter from the Governor of North Carolina and other papers relating to the improper method of granting and surveying lands there, the other inclosing the copy of a letter from Dublin signed J. Clark, relating to an illicit trade carryed on from different parts of Europe to America. which draughts were approved.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Mr. Thomas Stephens to the Secretary, dated at Wilmington in North Carolina, the 24th of February, 1757, relating to the progress of the pot ash manufacture in that part of America.